cnbc--2020-03-02--Hillary Clinton must testify in email case, judge rules

Hillary Clinton , Former First Lady and U.S. Secretary of State , speaks during a visit to Swansea University on November 15 , 2019 in Swansea , Wales .
A federal judge Monday ordered Hillary Clinton to testify at a deposition for a lawsuit related to her use of a private email computer server for official business while working as secretary of State in the Obama administration .
The order to answer questions from lawyers for the conservative advocacy group Judicial Watch pours yet more fuel on the longstanding fire of controversy over Clinton 's private server .
That controversy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House in 2016 a fatal blow , and helped elect Donald Trump president .
`` It is time to hear directly from Secretary Clinton , '' Judge Royce Lamberth said in his order issued in U.S. District Court in Washington , D.C. , where Judicial Watch is suing the State Department over its handling of searches for Clinton 's emails .
`` As extensive as the existing record is , it does not sufficiently explain Secretary Clinton 's state of mind when she decided it would be an acceptable practice to set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conduct State Department business , '' Lamberth wrote .
Lamberth 's order on Monday limits questioning of Clinton to `` her reasons for using a private server and her understanding of State 's records management obligations . ''
The judge barred Judicial Watch 's lawyers from questioning Clinton and her former chief of staff at State , Cheryl Mills , about the preparation of talking points for then-United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice 's Sept. 16 , 2012 , media appearances about the attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi , Libya .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinton 's deposition .

Hillary Clinton, Former First Lady and U.S. Secretary of State, speaks during a visit to Swansea University on November 15, 2019 in Swansea, Wales.
Yup, her emails.
A federal judge Monday ordered Hillary Clinton to testify at a deposition for a lawsuit related to her use of a private email computer server for official business while working as secretary of State in the Obama administration.
The order to answer questions from lawyers for the conservative advocacy group Judicial Watch pours yet more fuel on the longstanding fire of controversy over Clinton's private server.
That controversy arguably dealt her Democratic candidacy for the White House in 2016 a fatal blow, and helped elect Donald Trump president.
"It is time to hear directly from Secretary Clinton," Judge Royce Lamberth said in his order issued in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., where Judicial Watch is suing the State Department over its handling of searches for Clinton's emails.
"As extensive as the existing record is, it does not sufficiently explain Secretary Clinton's state of mind when she decided it would be an acceptable practice to set up and use a private server to conduct State Department business," Lamberth wrote.
Lamberth's order on Monday limits questioning of Clinton to "her reasons for using a private server and her understanding of State's records management obligations."
The judge barred Judicial Watch's lawyers from questioning Clinton and her former chief of staff at State, Cheryl Mills, about the preparation of talking points for then-United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice's Sept. 16, 2012, media appearances about the attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya.
No date has yet been scheduled for Clinton's deposition.
Clinton's lawyer, David Kendall, declined to comment.


cnbc--2020-03-02--Sen. Amy Klobuchar will drop out of the presidential race, endorse Joe Biden

Klobuchar tried to carve out space in the Democratic primary field by running on a more moderate platform than many of her rivals and touting her ability to appeal to Midwestern voters .
But the third-term senator from Minnesota struggled to gain a foothold in a crowded field despite a flash of early success .
Biden , like Klobuchar , has positioned himself as a pragmatic candidate suited for those uncomfortable with Sanders ' sweeping policy proposals .
It is unclear whether Klobuchar supporters would be more inclined to support Biden over alternatives such as Sanders , former New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Massachusetts — though her endorsement could push them in the direction of the former vice president .
The departure of Klobuchar , and former South Bend , Ind .
Mayor Pete Buttigieg a day earlier , leaves a chunk of the vote up for grabs across the 14 states holding primaries on Tuesday .
Klobuchar and Buttigieg 's presence in the race threatened to sap delegates from Biden , who narrowly trails Sen. Bernie Sanders in the national delegate race after four contests .
The Minnesota senator will join her soon-to-be former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support his bid for the nomination , a campaign spokesman confirmed .
Klobuchar will leave the race a day before her state holds its presidential primary .
Minnesota will award 75 national pledged delegates .
Sen. Amy Klobuchar will drop out of the 2020 Democratic presidential race on Monday and endorse former Vice President Joe Biden .
Democratic presidential candidates ( L-R ) former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D-MN ) walk on stage prior to the Democratic presidential primary debate at the Charleston Gaillard Center on February 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Klobuchar focused on issues such as health care and climate change during her presidential bid .
As she tried to distance herself from her rivals in recent weeks , she criticized early frontrunner Sanders for his `` Medicare for All '' plan and Buttigieg for a lack of experience .
After a fifth-place finish in the Iowa caucus , Klobuchar rode a strong debate performance to third in the New Hampshire primary .
But she failed to replicate the success in the caucus in Nevada , a state with a more diverse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to gain traction with voters of color .
Indeed , she had another poor showing in the South Carolina primary , where black voters make up the majority of the Democratic electorate .
Only 1 % of black voters in the Palmetto State chose Klobuchar , according to exit polls .
After a sixth-place finish in Nevada , Klobuchar said her campaign `` exceeded expectations '' at every turn .
She argued she could offer a haven to voters in the middle of the ideological spectrum weary of President Donald Trump 's personality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worst nightmare is that the people in the middle , the people who are tired of the mudslinging and the name calling , will have a place to call home this November and that has been our mission from the beginning , '' the senator said after a sixth-place finish in Nevada .
After Sanders ' win in Nevada , some Democrats called for White House hopefuls to drop out of the race so voters uncomfortable with the Vermont senator could coalesce around one alternative .
Klobuchar said she would not leave the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would I get out ? ''
Klobuchar narrowly leads recent polls in Minnesota over Sanders .
The Vermont senator will hold a rally in St. Paul on Monday night as he makes his final push in the state .
Minnesota has early voting , meaning thousands of people chose their preferred Democrat before Klobuchar left the race .
In a tweet Monday congratulating Klobuchar for running a `` strong , issues oriented campaign , '' Sanders said he hoped `` her supporters will join us in our fight to defeat Donald Trump in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For most of the primary , Klobuchar failed to keep up with the fundraising pace of the top Democratic candidates .
Sanders , in particular , enjoyed success with small-dollar donors .
She did get a boost after the New Hampshire debate , taking in more than $ 12 million in a week .
She bought television ads across multiple states holding primaries on this week 's Super Tuesday , when 14 states held nominating contests .
In January , The New York Times endorsed her for president , along with Warren , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes than Klobuchar did .
But Klobuchar ultimately failed to break into the top echelon of candidates in the vast majority of primary polls .
The senator faced criticism earlier in 2019 for reports that she mistreated Senate staff members .
She responded by saying she had `` high standards '' and was `` tough '' enough to deal with world leaders .

Klobuchar tried to carve out space in the Democratic primary field by running on a more moderate platform than many of her rivals and touting her ability to appeal to Midwestern voters. But the third-term senator from Minnesota struggled to gain a foothold in a crowded field despite a flash of early success.
Biden, like Klobuchar, has positioned himself as a pragmatic candidate suited for those uncomfortable with Sanders' sweeping policy proposals. It is unclear whether Klobuchar supporters would be more inclined to support Biden over alternatives such as Sanders, former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts — though her endorsement could push them in the direction of the former vice president.
The departure of Klobuchar, and former South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg a day earlier , leaves a chunk of the vote up for grabs across the 14 states holding primaries on Tuesday. Klobuchar and Buttigieg's presence in the race threatened to sap delegates from Biden, who narrowly trails Sen. Bernie Sanders in the national delegate race after four contests.
The Minnesota senator will join her soon-to-be former rival at a rally in Dallas and support his bid for the nomination, a campaign spokesman confirmed. Klobuchar will leave the race a day before her state holds its presidential primary. Minnesota will award 75 national pledged delegates.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar will drop out of the 2020 Democratic presidential race on Monday and endorse former Vice President Joe Biden.
Democratic presidential candidates (L-R) former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) walk on stage prior to the Democratic presidential primary debate at the Charleston Gaillard Center on February 25, 2020 in Charleston, South Carolina.
Klobuchar focused on issues such as health care and climate change during her presidential bid. As she tried to distance herself from her rivals in recent weeks, she criticized early frontrunner Sanders for his "Medicare for All" plan and Buttigieg for a lack of experience.
After a fifth-place finish in the Iowa caucus, Klobuchar rode a strong debate performance to third in the New Hampshire primary. But she failed to replicate the success in the caucus in Nevada, a state with a more diverse electorate. Polls found Klobuchar generally struggled to gain traction with voters of color.
Indeed, she had another poor showing in the South Carolina primary, where black voters make up the majority of the Democratic electorate. Only 1% of black voters in the Palmetto State chose Klobuchar, according to exit polls.
After a sixth-place finish in Nevada, Klobuchar said her campaign "exceeded expectations" at every turn. She argued she could offer a haven to voters in the middle of the ideological spectrum weary of President Donald Trump's personality and policies.
"Donald Trump's worst nightmare is that the people in the middle, the people who are tired of the mudslinging and the name calling, will have a place to call home this November and that has been our mission from the beginning," the senator said after a sixth-place finish in Nevada.
After Sanders' win in Nevada, some Democrats called for White House hopefuls to drop out of the race so voters uncomfortable with the Vermont senator could coalesce around one alternative. Klobuchar said she would not leave the race then, asking, "Why would I get out?"
Klobuchar narrowly leads recent polls in Minnesota over Sanders. The Vermont senator will hold a rally in St. Paul on Monday night as he makes his final push in the state. Minnesota has early voting, meaning thousands of people chose their preferred Democrat before Klobuchar left the race.
In a tweet Monday congratulating Klobuchar for running a "strong, issues oriented campaign," Sanders said he hoped "her supporters will join us in our fight to defeat Donald Trump in November and win real change."
Bernie Sanders tweet
For most of the primary, Klobuchar failed to keep up with the fundraising pace of the top Democratic candidates. Sanders, in particular, enjoyed success with small-dollar donors.
She did get a boost after the New Hampshire debate, taking in more than $12 million in a week. She bought television ads across multiple states holding primaries on this week's Super Tuesday, when 14 states held nominating contests.
In January, The New York Times endorsed her for president, along with Warren, whose campaign called for more drastic policy changes than Klobuchar did.
But Klobuchar ultimately failed to break into the top echelon of candidates in the vast majority of primary polls.
The senator faced criticism earlier in 2019 for reports that she mistreated Senate staff members. She responded by saying she had "high standards" and was "tough" enough to deal with world leaders.
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cnbc--2020-03-02--White House places cap on Chinese state media employees in US following expulsion of WSJ reporters

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a signing ceremony for the U.S.-China `` phase-one '' trade agreement in Washington , D.C. , U.S. , on Wednesday , Jan. 15 , 2020 .
The reporters were expelled after outrage in China over an opinion piece printed in the Journal whose headline referred to China as `` the real sick man of Asia , '' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said during a news briefing on Feb. 19 .
The cap comes weeks after China revoked the press credentials of three Wall Street Journal reporters based in Beijing , a move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Today , we announced a personnel cap on Chinese government-controlled media organizations in the United States , '' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a tweet Monday .
`` We urge Beijing to respect freedom of expression and will continue to seek reciprocity across the bilateral relationship . ''
The Trump administration on Monday said it is imposing a cap on `` the number of Chinese citizens permitted to work '' for China 's major state-run media companies in the U.S. `` at any given time . ''
The move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Mao Zedong that China has expelled multiple journalists from one international news organization simultaneously , according to the Journal .
`` Our goal is reciprocity .
As we have done in other areas of the U.S.-China relationship , we seek to establish a long-overdue level playing field , '' Pompeo said in a statement to CNBC about the cap .
`` It is our hope that this action will spur Beijing to adopt a more fair and reciprocal approach to U.S. and other foreign press in China . ''
`` We urge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international commitments to respect freedom of expression , including for members of the press , '' Pompeo added .
The State Department cap will cut the number of Chinese nationals working for the state-run media companies in the United States to 100 employees down from 160 , according to the Wall Street Journal .
A State Department spokesperson told CNBC that the cap extends to five Chinese media entities : Xinhua News Agency , China Global Television Network , China Radio International , China Daily Distribution Corporation and Hai Tian Development USA .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ designated as foreign missions by the White House , meaning that none of the outlets will be regarded as an independent news organization in the country .
The move to impose a cap may escalate already-existing tensions between the United States and China , which come as the deadly coronavirus outbreak continues to spread globally .
The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not respond to a request for comment from CNBC .
— CNBC 's Amanda Macias and Kevin Breuninger contributed to this report .

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a signing ceremony for the U.S.-China "phase-one" trade agreement in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020.
The reporters were expelled after outrage in China over an opinion piece printed in the Journal whose headline referred to China as "the real sick man of Asia," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said during a news briefing on Feb. 19.
The cap comes weeks after China revoked the press credentials of three Wall Street Journal reporters based in Beijing, a move that sparked fury from White House officials .
"Today, we announced a personnel cap on Chinese government-controlled media organizations in the United States," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a tweet Monday. "We urge Beijing to respect freedom of expression and will continue to seek reciprocity across the bilateral relationship."
The Trump administration on Monday said it is imposing a cap on "the number of Chinese citizens permitted to work" for China's major state-run media companies in the U.S. "at any given time."
The move marked the first time since the era of Mao Zedong that China has expelled multiple journalists from one international news organization simultaneously, according to the Journal.
"Our goal is reciprocity. As we have done in other areas of the U.S.-China relationship, we seek to establish a long-overdue level playing field," Pompeo said in a statement to CNBC about the cap. "It is our hope that this action will spur Beijing to adopt a more fair and reciprocal approach to U.S. and other foreign press in China."
"We urge the Chinese government to immediately uphold its international commitments to respect freedom of expression, including for members of the press," Pompeo added.
The State Department cap will cut the number of Chinese nationals working for the state-run media companies in the United States to 100 employees down from 160, according to the Wall Street Journal.
A State Department spokesperson told CNBC that the cap extends to five Chinese media entities: Xinhua News Agency, China Global Television Network, China Radio International, China Daily Distribution Corporation and Hai Tian Development USA.
Last month, the Chinese outlets were designated as foreign missions by the White House, meaning that none of the outlets will be regarded as an independent news organization in the country.
The move to impose a cap may escalate already-existing tensions between the United States and China, which come as the deadly coronavirus outbreak continues to spread globally.
China seemed unhappy with the move, according to a Foreign Ministry spokesperson who questioned the validity of the White House's goal of "reciprocity."
"Now the US kicked off the game, let's play," she wrote on Twitter early Tuesday.
tweet
— CNBC's Amanda Macias and Kevin Breuninger contributed to this report.


cnbc--2020-03-02--Coronavirus poses low risk to troops and military logistics, Pentagon says

WASHINGTON — The nation 's top military officer downplayed concerns Monday that the coronavirus poses a significant risk to U.S. service members and the Pentagon 's global supply chain .
`` Right now the overall broad impact to the uniformed U.S. military is very , very minimal .
It 's not to say that it 's zero , but it 's very minimal , very few cases diagnosed , etc.
, '' U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , said Monday during a Pentagon news briefing .
`` That 's not surprising because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demographic , lots of immunizations , so on and so forth , '' he said , adding that the department has postponed joint military exercises on the Korean peninsula .
Last month , the U.S. military said a soldier based in South Korea was the first service member to test positive for the new coronavirus .
`` Here in the United States , we are making all due preparations to protect our bases , camps , and stations and also to act in support of Health and Human Services , '' he added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capabilities , medical capabilities , housing and so on and so forth that , if required and directed by the secretary of Defense , we will do our part . ''
Milley said that the flu-like virus , named COVID-19 , has yet to impact military logistics or the Pentagon 's expansive supply chain .

WASHINGTON — The nation's top military officer downplayed concerns Monday that the coronavirus poses a significant risk to U.S. service members and the Pentagon's global supply chain.
"Right now the overall broad impact to the uniformed U.S. military is very, very minimal. It's not to say that it's zero, but it's very minimal, very few cases diagnosed, etc.," U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Monday during a Pentagon news briefing.
"That's not surprising because we have a young demographic, healthy demographic, lots of immunizations, so on and so forth," he said, adding that the department has postponed joint military exercises on the Korean peninsula.
Last month, the U.S. military said a soldier based in South Korea was the first service member to test positive for the new coronavirus.
"Here in the United States, we are making all due preparations to protect our bases, camps, and stations and also to act in support of Health and Human Services," he added. "We've got lots of capabilities, medical capabilities, housing and so on and so forth that, if required and directed by the secretary of Defense, we will do our part."
Milley said that the flu-like virus, named COVID-19, has yet to impact military logistics or the Pentagon's expansive supply chain.


cnbc--2020-03-02--Trump defends holding campaign rallies during coronavirus outbreak: 'I think it's very safe'

U.S. President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks at a Keep America Great Rally in North Charleston , South Carolina , United States on February 28 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump on Monday brushed off concerns that holding rallies presents a public health risk , even as companies are canceling major events and restricting travel .
`` These were set up a long time ago , '' Trump told reporters Monday during his White House meeting with Colombian President Ivan Duque .
`` And you could ask that to the Democrats , because they 're having a lot of rallies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they 're campaigning , '' he added .
`` I think it 's safe , I think it 's very safe . ''
Democratic candidates have yet to cancel their major rallies and events as the field of candidates continues to shrink .
Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , held a rally Sunday in a region of northern California that has reported a few infections of the virus .
Trump , meantime , held a rally Friday night in North Charleston , South Carolina , a day ahead of the state 's Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one Monday night in Charlotte , North Carolina , the night before that state 's Super Tuesday primary .
The GOP will hold its nominating convention in late August in Charlotte .
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Health experts in most states have advised Americans to continue with their normal activity , but use good hygiene , such as washing their hands .
But as confirmed cases continue to rack up , some experts have wondered how much longer campaigns can carry on as normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday morning , there were 91 confirmed cases in the U.S. Two people , both in Washington state , have died from the virus .
States including California , Illinois and New York now have confirmed cases .
CNN on Monday reportedly said in an internal memo that parent company WarnerMedia 's major TV events , such as Democratic debates and NBA/NCAA coverage , will be staffed but limited to `` absolutely critical '' personnel .
CNN is co-hosting the next debate on March 15 in Phoenix , Arizona .
A spokesperson for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request for comment .
A spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee said in a statement to CNBC on Monday that its `` number one concern is to ensure all eligible voters are able to make their voices heard without jeopardizing anyone 's health and safety . ''
The Democratic National Convention , where the party will pick its presidential nominee , is scheduled to be held in July in Milwaukee .
The spokesperson added that it will `` continue to closely monitor as the situation develops . ''
The campaign for former New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staked his candidacy in large part to his experience in crisis management , has yet to cancel any events .
`` We have not pulled down any events but are closely monitoring the situation in multiple cities , '' a representative said .
The campaign did , however , issue guidelines to its employees for preventing infection and contending with the outbreak .
`` Events scheduled to take place in an affected city or community would be postponed , '' according to the memo .
Representatives for candidates Sanders , Sens .
Elizabeth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Joe Biden did not immediately respond to requests for comment .

U.S. President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks at a Keep America Great Rally in North Charleston, South Carolina, United States on February 28, 2020.
President Donald Trump on Monday brushed off concerns that holding rallies presents a public health risk, even as companies are canceling major events and restricting travel.
"These were set up a long time ago," Trump told reporters Monday during his White House meeting with Colombian President Ivan Duque.
"And you could ask that to the Democrats, because they're having a lot of rallies, they're all having rallies, they're campaigning," he added. "I think it's safe, I think it's very safe."
Democratic candidates have yet to cancel their major rallies and events as the field of candidates continues to shrink. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., held a rally Sunday in a region of northern California that has reported a few infections of the virus.
Trump, meantime, held a rally Friday night in North Charleston, South Carolina, a day ahead of the state's Democratic primaries. He is scheduled to hold one Monday night in Charlotte, North Carolina, the night before that state's Super Tuesday primary. The GOP will hold its nominating convention in late August in Charlotte.
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Health experts in most states have advised Americans to continue with their normal activity, but use good hygiene, such as washing their hands.
But as confirmed cases continue to rack up, some experts have wondered how much longer campaigns can carry on as normal, without looking irresponsible. As of Monday morning, there were 91 confirmed cases in the U.S. Two people, both in Washington state, have died from the virus. States including California, Illinois and New York now have confirmed cases.
CNN on Monday reportedly said in an internal memo that parent company WarnerMedia's major TV events, such as Democratic debates and NBA/NCAA coverage, will be staffed but limited to "absolutely critical" personnel. CNN is co-hosting the next debate on March 15 in Phoenix, Arizona. A spokesperson for WarnerMedia did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Tweet
A spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee said in a statement to CNBC on Monday that its "number one concern is to ensure all eligible voters are able to make their voices heard without jeopardizing anyone's health and safety." The Democratic National Convention, where the party will pick its presidential nominee, is scheduled to be held in July in Milwaukee.
The spokesperson added that it will "continue to closely monitor as the situation develops."
The campaign for former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who has staked his candidacy in large part to his experience in crisis management, has yet to cancel any events. "We have not pulled down any events but are closely monitoring the situation in multiple cities," a representative said.
The campaign did, however, issue guidelines to its employees for preventing infection and contending with the outbreak. "Events scheduled to take place in an affected city or community would be postponed," according to the memo.
Representatives for candidates Sanders, Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and former Vice President Joe Biden did not immediately respond to requests for comment.


cnbc--2020-03-02--Supreme Court says it will again decide whether Obamacare is constitutional

A demonstrator holds a sign in support of President Barack Obama 's health-care law , Obamacare , in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington , on Wednesday , March 4 , 2015 .
Obamacare will once again face a test at the nation 's highest court .
The Supreme Court said Monday that it will hear an appeal brought by Democratic-led states seeking to affirm the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act , President Barack Obama 's signature health-care legislation .
The states , led by California , have urged the justices to reverse a lower court ruling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provision unconstitutional .
The appeal comes after the federal appeals court based in New Orleans ruled late last year that the individual mandate provision of the Affordable Care Act was unlawful .
The court sent the rest of the law back to a lower court to determine if it could still stand .
The states urged the justices to take the case and resolve it this term , ahead of the 2020 presidential election .
The top court did not indicate when it will hear the case , but it will likely do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A decision would be expected by the end of June 2021 , after the next presidential term has begun .
The case is the latest challenge to the law , more commonly known as Obamacare , which has twice before withstood challenges at the Supreme Court .
Obamacare has been the target of Republican attacks in the courts since it was first passed nearly 10 years ago .
It has so far withstood scrutiny from the justices .
The current lawsuit against it is based on a technical reading of Chief Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law in 2012 .
Roberts , writing for the court at the time , upheld the individual mandate provision because he said it fell within Congress ' power to tax .
But , in 2017 , Congress lowered the penalty for not having insurance to $ 0 as part of Trump 's tax reform push .
Republican states , led by Texas and backed by the Trump administration 's Department of Justice , have contended that the effective elimination of the penalty meant the individual mandate could no longer stand as a tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court that the entire law should be eliminated .
Judge Reed O'Connor of the Northern District of Texas ruled in favor of Obamacare 's challengers in December 2018 .
O'Connor also held that the rest of the Affordable Care Act was not `` severable '' from the individual mandate , essentially scrapping the whole law .
On review , the 5th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with O'Connor that the individual mandate was unconstitutional , but urged him to review the law with a `` finer-toothed comb '' to determine `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be inseverable from the individual mandate . ''
Seeking to avoid the uncertainty that an ongoing battle in the lower courts would entail , the Democratic states and the House of Representatives filed separate petitions urging the Supreme Court to settle the matter quickly .
The court denied the request to expedite arguments in January .
Roberts and the four liberals who voted to uphold the law remain on the bench .

A demonstrator holds a sign in support of President Barack Obama's health-care law, Obamacare, in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, on Wednesday, March 4, 2015.
Obamacare will once again face a test at the nation's highest court.
The Supreme Court said Monday that it will hear an appeal brought by Democratic-led states seeking to affirm the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama's signature health-care legislation.
The states, led by California, have urged the justices to reverse a lower court ruling that found the law's individual mandate provision unconstitutional.
The appeal comes after the federal appeals court based in New Orleans ruled late last year that the individual mandate provision of the Affordable Care Act was unlawful. The court sent the rest of the law back to a lower court to determine if it could still stand.
The states urged the justices to take the case and resolve it this term, ahead of the 2020 presidential election. The top court did not indicate when it will hear the case, but it will likely do so in its term beginning in October. A decision would be expected by the end of June 2021, after the next presidential term has begun.
The case is the latest challenge to the law, more commonly known as Obamacare, which has twice before withstood challenges at the Supreme Court.
Obamacare has been the target of Republican attacks in the courts since it was first passed nearly 10 years ago. It has so far withstood scrutiny from the justices. The current lawsuit against it is based on a technical reading of Chief Justice John Roberts' reason for upholding the law in 2012.
Roberts, writing for the court at the time, upheld the individual mandate provision because he said it fell within Congress' power to tax.
But, in 2017, Congress lowered the penalty for not having insurance to $0 as part of Trump's tax reform push. Republican states, led by Texas and backed by the Trump administration's Department of Justice, have contended that the effective elimination of the penalty meant the individual mandate could no longer stand as a tax.
The Trump administration has argued in court that the entire law should be eliminated.
Judge Reed O'Connor of the Northern District of Texas ruled in favor of Obamacare's challengers in December 2018. O'Connor also held that the rest of the Affordable Care Act was not "severable" from the individual mandate, essentially scrapping the whole law.
On review, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with O'Connor that the individual mandate was unconstitutional, but urged him to review the law with a "finer-toothed comb" to determine "which provisions of the ACA Congress intended to be inseverable from the individual mandate."
Seeking to avoid the uncertainty that an ongoing battle in the lower courts would entail, the Democratic states and the House of Representatives filed separate petitions urging the Supreme Court to settle the matter quickly. The court denied the request to expedite arguments in January.
Roberts and the four liberals who voted to uphold the law remain on the bench.


cnbc--2020-03-02--Supreme Court to hear case over constitutionality of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Signage is displayed inside the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) headquarters in Washington , D.C. , U.S. , on Monday , March 4 , 2019 .
The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Tuesday in a case over whether the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau , the regulatory agency established in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis , is constitutionally structured .
The case , key to the future of the CFPB , could also have broad implications on other independent federal agencies , according to experts .
A decision is expected by the end of June .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's director is given too much independence .
Under the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act , which established the regulator , the agency is headed by a single director who may be removed by the president from his or her five-year term only for `` inefficiency , neglect of duty , or malfeasance in office . ''
The CFPB also sidesteps the traditional congressional appropriations process , instead getting most of its funding from the Federal Reserve system .
The funding mechanism is similar to that of other financial regulators like the Comptroller of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The bureau , which was envisioned by Sen. Elizabeth Warren when she was a professor at Harvard Law School , is designed to rein in abusive practices in consumer credit markets such as home mortgages and credit cards .
It returned $ 12 billion to consumers between 2011 and 2017 , but largely stopped pursuing enforcement actions under President Donald Trump .
The bureau has been the subject of a number of lawsuits but has so far proved to be resilient .
The latest suit was brought by the California-based consumer law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CFPB 's insulation from presidential control is unconstitutional .
Seila Law challenged the agency after the CFPB targeted the firm in 2017 in an investigation into the marketing and sales of consumer debt-relief services .
The law firm is being supported by the Trump administration via the Department of Justice , which has submitted briefs to the top court supporting the theory that the for-cause removal provision is unconstitutional .
In a twist , the head of the CFPB has also weighed in to say the bureau is operating unlawfully .
Kathleen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the court in September that the bureau would no longer defend its own constitutionality .
Because the Trump administration is not defending the Obama-era regulator , the Supreme Court appointed a lawyer to do so .
There is some intrigue in its choice .
The lawyer , veteran Supreme Court attorney Paul Clement , is generally known for his advocacy of conservative positions , and served as solicitor general under President George W. Bush .
Clement will argue alongside Douglas Letter , an attorney representing the Democratic-led House of Representatives .
Solicitor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seila Law will present the other side .
Clement and the House face an uphill battle .
The Supreme Court 's conservatives are generally wary of agency power , and its newest member , Justice Brett Kavanaugh , made clear while a federal appeals court judge in Washington that he believes the agency 's director is too unrestrained .

Signage is displayed inside the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, March 4, 2019.
The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Tuesday in a case over whether the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the regulatory agency established in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, is constitutionally structured.
The case, key to the future of the CFPB, could also have broad implications on other independent federal agencies, according to experts. A decision is expected by the end of June.
The dispute turns on whether the CFPB's director is given too much independence. Under the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act, which established the regulator, the agency is headed by a single director who may be removed by the president from his or her five-year term only for "inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office."
The CFPB also sidesteps the traditional congressional appropriations process, instead getting most of its funding from the Federal Reserve system. The funding mechanism is similar to that of other financial regulators like the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.
The bureau, which was envisioned by Sen. Elizabeth Warren when she was a professor at Harvard Law School, is designed to rein in abusive practices in consumer credit markets such as home mortgages and credit cards. It returned $12 billion to consumers between 2011 and 2017, but largely stopped pursuing enforcement actions under President Donald Trump.
The bureau has been the subject of a number of lawsuits but has so far proved to be resilient. The latest suit was brought by the California-based consumer law firm Seila Law, which alleged that the CFPB's insulation from presidential control is unconstitutional. Seila Law challenged the agency after the CFPB targeted the firm in 2017 in an investigation into the marketing and sales of consumer debt-relief services.
The law firm is being supported by the Trump administration via the Department of Justice, which has submitted briefs to the top court supporting the theory that the for-cause removal provision is unconstitutional.
In a twist, the head of the CFPB has also weighed in to say the bureau is operating unlawfully. Kathleen Kraninger, the Trump-appointed CFPB director, told the court in September that the bureau would no longer defend its own constitutionality.
Because the Trump administration is not defending the Obama-era regulator, the Supreme Court appointed a lawyer to do so.
There is some intrigue in its choice. The lawyer, veteran Supreme Court attorney Paul Clement, is generally known for his advocacy of conservative positions, and served as solicitor general under President George W. Bush.
Clement will argue alongside Douglas Letter, an attorney representing the Democratic-led House of Representatives. Solicitor General Noel Francisco and an attorney representing Seila Law will present the other side.
Clement and the House face an uphill battle. The Supreme Court's conservatives are generally wary of agency power, and its newest member, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, made clear while a federal appeals court judge in Washington that he believes the agency's director is too unrestrained.


cnbc--2020-03-02--Trump considering travel restrictions at US-Mexico border over coronavirus

President Donald Trump said Saturday his administration was considering restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border , after he authorized new hurdles on travel with Iran and heightened advisories for areas in South Korea and Italy as the coronavirus spreads across the globe .
`` We are thinking about the southern border , `` Trump said at a White House press conference .
`` We are looking at that very strongly . ''
Trump 's comments come after the news agency Reuters reported the White House was considering imposing entry restrictions with Mexico to prevent the spread of the coronavirus , although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The United States , on the other hand , had confirmed 66 cases of the illness .
There are more than 85,000 confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide and at least 2,941 deaths , the overwhelming majority of them in China , where the illness first surfaced .
Asia and Europe are the hardest hit areas of the world , while Latin America has reported very few cases so far .
In addition to Mexico , Brazil has reported 1 confirmed case of the virus .
Trump appeared to roll back his statement when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for considering action on the U.S. southern border , given how few cases of the coronavirus there are in Mexico at the moment .
`` We 're thinking about all borders , we have to think about that border , '' Trump said .
`` This is not a border that seems to be much of a problem right now , we hope we will not have to do that . ''
Trump threatened to close the border with Mexico last March if the country did not meet his demands on stemming migrants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the United States .
The president 's push to build a wall along the southern border has also been a source of fierce partisan battle in Washington , leading to a 35-day government shutdown in late 2018 through early 2019 .

President Donald Trump said Saturday his administration was considering restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border, after he authorized new hurdles on travel with Iran and heightened advisories for areas in South Korea and Italy as the coronavirus spreads across the globe.
"We are thinking about the southern border, " Trump said at a White House press conference. "We are looking at that very strongly."
Trump's comments come after the news agency Reuters reported the White House was considering imposing entry restrictions with Mexico to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, although only three cases have been confirmed there. The United States, on the other hand, had confirmed 66 cases of the illness.
There are more than 85,000 confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide and at least 2,941 deaths, the overwhelming majority of them in China, where the illness first surfaced. Asia and Europe are the hardest hit areas of the world, while Latin America has reported very few cases so far. In addition to Mexico, Brazil has reported 1 confirmed case of the virus.
Trump appeared to roll back his statement when challenged by a reporter over his reason for considering action on the U.S. southern border, given how few cases of the coronavirus there are in Mexico at the moment.
"We're thinking about all borders, we have to think about that border," Trump said. "This is not a border that seems to be much of a problem right now, we hope we will not have to do that."
Trump threatened to close the border with Mexico last March if the country did not meet his demands on stemming migrants and asylum seekers from crossing the border into the United States. The president's push to build a wall along the southern border has also been a source of fierce partisan battle in Washington, leading to a 35-day government shutdown in late 2018 through early 2019.


cnbc--2020-03-03--Bernie Sanders looks for a Texas primary triumph as Joe Biden nips at his heels

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) and his wife Jane Sanders wave to the crowd at the end of a campaign rally at Vic Mathias Shores Park on February 23 , 2020 in Austin , Texas .
An increasingly young and diverse red state that the Democratic Party sees as a core piece of its future will get its chance Tuesday to define which white septuagenarian will represent the party against President Donald Trump .
Texas will hold its presidential primary Tuesday , joining 13 other states that will dole out more than a third of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Lone Star State will allocate 228 delegates , more than any state voting this week other than California .
The huge and still growing Texas will test 78-year-old Sen. Bernie Sanders ' efforts to boost turnout among young and Latino voters , core parts of a coalition he hopes will propel him to the Democratic nomination and the White House .
Carried to his first primary win by overwhelming support from black voters in South Carolina , former Vice President Joe Biden , 77 , hopes black voters in Texas and elsewhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders in the national delegate race .
Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg 's appearance on ballots for the first time complicates their efforts to rack up votes in Texas .
The 78-year-old billionaire , who has spent more than $ 500 million on his campaign across a range of states such as Texas , has made inroads with older voters of color , who have typically leaned toward supporting Biden , according to recent Texas polls .
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , 70 , has also drawn a major chunk of support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With its mammoth delegate haul , the Texas primary will play a major role in deciding who gets the nomination .
It will also give a clue about whether presidential candidates can harness increased Democratic energy and a rising Latino voting bloc in a state central to the party 's ambitions in the coming years .
`` There is incredible progressive momentum on the ground in Texas .
... Latinos ' massive growth as a voting bloc is largely driven and attributed to the youth coming of age .
Young Latinos in Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Antonio Arellano , interim executive director of Jolt , an organization that aims to increase engagement and voting among young Latinos in Texas .
The group has endorsed Sanders for president .
Texas typically votes Republican in presidential elections .
Trump , 73 , won the state by 9 percentage points in 2016 .
Yet Democrats have high hopes for Texas after flipping several congressional districts and coming just short of winning a U.S. Senate race in 2018 .
Democrats aim to defend or flip U.S. House seats around Austin , Houston and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have made them skew more Democratic .
The party also has designs on flipping the Texas state house this year .
Along with winning over disaffected independents and Republicans , mobilizing voters of color is a part of the party 's strategy .
In the 2016 Texas primary , Hispanic or Latino voters made up 32 % of the Democratic electorate , according to exit polls .
About one-fifth , or 19 % , were black .
Hillary Clinton beat Sanders by at least 40 percentage points among both groups of voters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trends to change this year , and polls indicate they have .
An NBC News/Marist poll — taken before Biden 's blowout South Carolina primary win and Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg 's decisions to drop out of the race and endorse the former vice president — found Sanders leading among Latinos with 46 % of support .
Bloomberg and Biden followed at 14 % and 13 % , respectively .

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and his wife Jane Sanders wave to the crowd at the end of a campaign rally at Vic Mathias Shores Park on February 23, 2020 in Austin, Texas.
An increasingly young and diverse red state that the Democratic Party sees as a core piece of its future will get its chance Tuesday to define which white septuagenarian will represent the party against President Donald Trump.
Texas will hold its presidential primary Tuesday, joining 13 other states that will dole out more than a third of all pledged delegates in the 2020 race. The Lone Star State will allocate 228 delegates, more than any state voting this week other than California.
The huge and still growing Texas will test 78-year-old Sen. Bernie Sanders' efforts to boost turnout among young and Latino voters, core parts of a coalition he hopes will propel him to the Democratic nomination and the White House. Carried to his first primary win by overwhelming support from black voters in South Carolina, former Vice President Joe Biden, 77, hopes black voters in Texas and elsewhere Tuesday will help him keep pace with Sanders in the national delegate race.
Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg's appearance on ballots for the first time complicates their efforts to rack up votes in Texas. The 78-year-old billionaire, who has spent more than $500 million on his campaign across a range of states such as Texas, has made inroads with older voters of color, who have typically leaned toward supporting Biden, according to recent Texas polls.
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, 70, has also drawn a major chunk of support and could win delegates in Texas.
With its mammoth delegate haul, the Texas primary will play a major role in deciding who gets the nomination. It will also give a clue about whether presidential candidates can harness increased Democratic energy and a rising Latino voting bloc in a state central to the party's ambitions in the coming years.
"There is incredible progressive momentum on the ground in Texas. ... Latinos' massive growth as a voting bloc is largely driven and attributed to the youth coming of age. Young Latinos in Texas are growing in power," said Antonio Arellano, interim executive director of Jolt, an organization that aims to increase engagement and voting among young Latinos in Texas. The group has endorsed Sanders for president.
Texas typically votes Republican in presidential elections. Trump, 73, won the state by 9 percentage points in 2016. Yet Democrats have high hopes for Texas after flipping several congressional districts and coming just short of winning a U.S. Senate race in 2018. Democrats aim to defend or flip U.S. House seats around Austin, Houston and Dallas, cities with changing demographics that have made them skew more Democratic. The party also has designs on flipping the Texas state house this year.
Along with winning over disaffected independents and Republicans, mobilizing voters of color is a part of the party's strategy.
In the 2016 Texas primary, Hispanic or Latino voters made up 32% of the Democratic electorate, according to exit polls. About one-fifth, or 19%, were black.
Hillary Clinton beat Sanders by at least 40 percentage points among both groups of voters, exit surveys showed. Sanders needs those trends to change this year, and polls indicate they have.
An NBC News/Marist poll — taken before Biden's blowout South Carolina primary win and Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg's decisions to drop out of the race and endorse the former vice president — found Sanders leading among Latinos with 46% of support. Bloomberg and Biden followed at 14% and 13%, respectively.


cnbc--2020-03-03--Joe Biden has racked up some big endorsements since he dominated in South Carolina

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden takes a picture with a supporter after speaking at his South Carolina primary night rally in Columbia , South Carolina , February 29 , 2020 .
On the eve of Super Tuesday , former Vice President Joe Biden 's presidential campaign is rolling out a lengthy — and growing — list of new Democratic endorsements .
More than a dozen politicians and other public figures have endorsed Biden , 77 , in the days leading up to the 14-state primary election extravaganza , where more than 1,300 delegates are at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will endorse Biden on Monday , a spokesman confirmed to CNBC , just hours after she dropped out of the 2020 race .
Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg , who ended his campaign a day earlier , was also reportedly preparing to endorse Biden before Super Tuesday .
Klobuchar and Buttigieg had been expected to join Biden at a rally in Dallas on Monday night .
However , a Buttigieg campaign spokeswoman said he would not attend the rally , although the Democratic rising star did appear with Biden at another event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primaries Tuesday .
Here are several of the big endorsements Biden locked up : The sudden swell of support from the Democratic establishment comes on the heels of Biden 's blowout victory in South Carolina , which looks to have delivered the shot in the arm his campaign needed to remain competitive against current front-runner Sen. Bernie Sanders , a self-described democratic socialist .
`` I think there 's some momentum here , '' Biden told NBC News on Monday .
`` I think what people were waiting to see is , 'Well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first two [ primary elections ] , I wonder whether the second two he could do well and what 's going to happen now . '
'' `` I think that the win in South Carolina was consequential , '' Biden said .
The former vice president and senator finished fourth in Iowa , fifth in New Hampshire and second in Nevada .
Biden , who has been a prime target of President Donald Trump 's ire throughout the primary campaign , is expected to gain more endorsements before polling centers open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polling aggregates showed Biden 's once-steady lead deflating as rapidly as Sanders ' popularity was rising .
Biden 's at-times fumbling debate performances , and his poor showings in the first two elections in Iowa and New Hampshire , contrasted with Sanders ' wins in New Hampshire and Nevada .
Many Democratic strategists are quick to call Sanders a risky pick to become the Democratic nominee .
His narrow base of support , they argue , may not extend to more moderate or conservative voters , and his candidacy could harm other Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has even taken aim at the so-called Democratic establishment — a sure sign to his critics that he has less interest in coalition-building than in maintaining an ideologically pure political movement .
Biden 's decades of Washington experience , including at the White House under President Barack Obama , and strong support with African American voters make him — on paper — a candidate with broader appeal .
But Biden carries risks , too .
His opponents are quick to highlight his gaffes on the campaign trail , and he and his son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment in the Senate that is sure to be weaponized in a general election .
Rep. James Clyburn 's endorsement last week was widely seen as a difference-making pickup for Biden , giving him an added boost among the high proportion of black voters in South Carolina .
`` I know Joe .
We know Joe .
But most importantly , Joe knows us , '' said Clyburn , the House majority whip and top-ranking African American in that chamber .
By the time nearly 100 % of results were in , Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote in South Carolina .

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden is joined on stage by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) during a campaign event on March 2, 2020 in Dallas, Texas.
How's this for Joe-mentum?
On the eve of Super Tuesday, former Vice President Joe Biden's presidential campaign is rolling out a lengthy — and growing — list of new Democratic endorsements.
More than a dozen politicians and other public figures have endorsed Biden, 77, in the days leading up to the 14-state primary election extravaganza, where more than 1,300 delegates are at stake.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota will endorse Biden on Monday, a spokesman confirmed to CNBC, just hours after she dropped out of the 2020 race. Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who ended his campaign a day earlier, was also reportedly preparing to endorse Biden before Super Tuesday.
Klobuchar and Buttigieg had been expected to join Biden at a rally in Dallas on Monday night. However, a Buttigieg campaign spokeswoman said he would not attend the rally, although the Democratic rising star did appear with Biden at another event. Texas is among the states holding primaries Tuesday.
Here are several of the big endorsements Biden locked up:
Harry Reid, former Nevada senator
Darrio Melton, mayor of Selma, Alabama
Bobby Scott, Virginia representative
Jennifer Wexton, Virginia representative
Don Beyer, Virginia representative
Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Florida representative and former DNC chair
Greg Stanton, Arizona representative
Terry McAuliffe, former Virginia governor
Barbara Boxer, former California senator
Blanche Lincoln, former Arkansas senator
Jesse White, Illinois secretary of state
Betty Yee, California state controller
Walter Burnett, Chicago alderman
Carol Alvarado, Texas state senator
Billy Richardson, North Carolina state representative
Fred Guttenberg, Florida gun safety activist
The sudden swell of support from the Democratic establishment comes on the heels of Biden's blowout victory in South Carolina, which looks to have delivered the shot in the arm his campaign needed to remain competitive against current front-runner Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist.
"I think there's some momentum here," Biden told NBC News on Monday. "I think what people were waiting to see is, 'Well, Joe didn't do well in the first two [primary elections], I wonder whether the second two he could do well and what's going to happen now.'"
"I think that the win in South Carolina was consequential," Biden said. The former vice president and senator finished fourth in Iowa, fifth in New Hampshire and second in Nevada.
Biden, who has been a prime target of President Donald Trump's ire throughout the primary campaign, is expected to gain more endorsements before polling centers open Tuesday.
Earlier this month, national polling aggregates showed Biden's once-steady lead deflating as rapidly as Sanders' popularity was rising. Biden's at-times fumbling debate performances, and his poor showings in the first two elections in Iowa and New Hampshire, contrasted with Sanders' wins in New Hampshire and Nevada.
Many Democratic strategists are quick to call Sanders a risky pick to become the Democratic nominee. His narrow base of support, they argue, may not extend to more moderate or conservative voters, and his candidacy could harm other Democrats down the ballot in November.
Sanders has even taken aim at the so-called Democratic establishment — a sure sign to his critics that he has less interest in coalition-building than in maintaining an ideologically pure political movement.
SANDERS TWEET I've got news for the Republican establishment. I've got news for the Democratic establishment. They can't stop us.
Biden's decades of Washington experience, including at the White House under President Barack Obama, and strong support with African American voters make him — on paper — a candidate with broader appeal.
But Biden carries risks, too. His opponents are quick to highlight his gaffes on the campaign trail, and he and his son have a central connection to Trump's impeachment in the Senate that is sure to be weaponized in a general election.
Rep. James Clyburn's endorsement last week was widely seen as a difference-making pickup for Biden, giving him an added boost among the high proportion of black voters in South Carolina.
"I know Joe. We know Joe. But most importantly, Joe knows us," said Clyburn, the House majority whip and top-ranking African American in that chamber.
By the time nearly 100% of results were in, Biden had clinched about 48% of the vote in South Carolina.