cnbc--2020-05-14--Lawmakers keep calling essential workers 'heroes' – but Congress has yet to pass a hazard pay raise

Anyone listening to congressional leaders speak during the coronavirus outbreak has heard a lot about the `` heroes '' sustaining the rest of the country .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , on Tuesday lionized `` American heroes '' in the health-care industry whom he said should have stronger protections from lawsuits .
About a month earlier , Senate Democrats proposed a `` Heroes Fund '' to give a $ 13 an hour hazard pay raise to workers — from doctors and nurses to grocery and transit employees — who face a heightened risk of contracting Covid-19 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
House Democrats , who hold the majority in the chamber , also used the term `` heroes '' on Tuesday , calling their next $ 3 trillion relief bill the `` HEROES Act . ''
The proposal , which could pass in the Democratic-controlled House but has little chance of getting through the GOP-held Senate and becoming law , includes a $ 200 billion `` Heroes Fund '' to offer front-line employees a raise .
Two months into the pandemic , only some businesses and cities have given the people still required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While lawmakers have put forward several hazard pay plans , none of them made the cut in the four bills Congress has passed to try to mitigate the coronavirus 's devastation .
As workers deemed essential `` heroes '' during the pandemic push for better compensation , no legislation with a real chance of becoming law has yet included better pay for them .
As Republicans pump the brakes on another major federal spending bill , passage of a widespread wage hike for front-line workers appears unlikely in the coming weeks .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line , they 're essential employees .
They should be compensated for that .
This is above and beyond the normal call of duty , '' said Bob Gibson , vice president of Service Employees International Union Local 1199 in Florida , a state where the union represents more than 25,000 health-care employees .
Among the millions of Americans who face a higher risk of getting sick or passing Covid-19 to their families by going into work , many still make less than $ 15 per hour – the standard labor rights groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' even under safer conditions .
For example , Gibson said certified nursing assistants and patient care technicians make roughly between $ 9 and $ 13 an hour in Florida , depending on where they work .
The Wall Street Journal reported this month that 1 in 4 companies where employees have to work on-site are extending hazard pay , citing an April survey from WorldatWork .
Some major employers have offered essential workers raises during the pandemic : Target and Amazon at least temporarily boosted wages for front-line employees by $ 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though it plans to end the pay hike on May 17 .
Others such as Walmart gave workers one-time bonuses of $ 150 or more .
In Florida , Gibson said some health-care employers have increased wages , though getting a raise can depend on how much contact a worker has with Covid-19 patients .
Labor unions around the country have called the compensation increases inadequate relative to the risk workers face .
Federal hazard pay proposals have gained traction as the crisis drags on , though most of the support has come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Senate Democrats outlined a plan for a $ 13 per hour raise for essential workers from the date the U.S. declared a public health emergency in late January through the end of the year .
The proposal includes a $ 15,000 incentive to recruit health- and home-care workers and first responders .
Sen. Mitt Romney 's proposal this month from the Republican side shows the differences the parties would have to resolve to approve a hazard pay plan .
While the Utah Republican 's plan would hike wages by a similar amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would only take effect for May , June and July .
Employers would fund one-quarter of the raises , while the federal government would cover the remaining three-quarters through a refundable tax credit .
Molly Kinder , who has studied and written about hazard pay at the Brookings Institution , said the duration of the wage hikes and how much of the cost companies cover could emerge as sticking points if lawmakers move forward with bipartisan talks .
She noted that while certain larger companies appear better equipped to handle a share of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find it harder to cover the costs .
But she said she saw significant overlap in the plans from Democrats and Romney that would help to address `` inequality and the burden we 're asking the lowest wage workers to carry . ''
`` I do actually see a lot of common ground .
I think there 's a lot of room for moving forward , '' said Kinder , a David M. Rubenstein fellow at Brookings .
It remains to be seen whether appetite for a law to hike wages for essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A spokesman for McConnell declined to comment on whether the Kentucky Republican supports a hazard pay hike .
Labor groups will continue to push Congress for a range of protections , from hazard pay to better sick leave benefits and health coverage .
The fact that lawmakers continue to lionize `` heroes '' but have not passed a pay increase grates on Gibson of the SEIU .
`` It 's time to put your money where your mouth is , '' he said .

A view outside Bellevue hospital during the coronavirus pandemic on May 1, 2020 in New York City. Noam Galai | Getty Images
Anyone listening to congressional leaders speak during the coronavirus outbreak has heard a lot about the "heroes" sustaining the rest of the country. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on Tuesday lionized "American heroes" in the health-care industry whom he said should have stronger protections from lawsuits. About a month earlier, Senate Democrats proposed a "Heroes Fund" to give a $13 an hour hazard pay raise to workers — from doctors and nurses to grocery and transit employees — who face a heightened risk of contracting Covid-19, the deadly disease caused by the coronavirus. House Democrats, who hold the majority in the chamber, also used the term "heroes" on Tuesday, calling their next $3 trillion relief bill the "HEROES Act." The proposal, which could pass in the Democratic-controlled House but has little chance of getting through the GOP-held Senate and becoming law, includes a $200 billion "Heroes Fund" to offer front-line employees a raise. Two months into the pandemic, only some businesses and cities have given the people still required to go into work a raise. While lawmakers have put forward several hazard pay plans, none of them made the cut in the four bills Congress has passed to try to mitigate the coronavirus's devastation.
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As workers deemed essential "heroes" during the pandemic push for better compensation, no legislation with a real chance of becoming law has yet included better pay for them. As Republicans pump the brakes on another major federal spending bill, passage of a widespread wage hike for front-line workers appears unlikely in the coming weeks. "They're putting their lives on the line, they're essential employees. They should be compensated for that. This is above and beyond the normal call of duty," said Bob Gibson, vice president of Service Employees International Union Local 1199 in Florida, a state where the union represents more than 25,000 health-care employees.
Minimum wage and small pay bumps
Among the millions of Americans who face a higher risk of getting sick or passing Covid-19 to their families by going into work, many still make less than $15 per hour – the standard labor rights groups have adopted as a "living wage" even under safer conditions. For example, Gibson said certified nursing assistants and patient care technicians make roughly between $9 and $13 an hour in Florida, depending on where they work. The Wall Street Journal reported this month that 1 in 4 companies where employees have to work on-site are extending hazard pay, citing an April survey from WorldatWork. Some major employers have offered essential workers raises during the pandemic: Target and Amazon at least temporarily boosted wages for front-line employees by $2 per hour. So did Kroger , though it plans to end the pay hike on May 17. Others such as Walmart gave workers one-time bonuses of $150 or more. In Florida, Gibson said some health-care employers have increased wages, though getting a raise can depend on how much contact a worker has with Covid-19 patients. Labor unions around the country have called the compensation increases inadequate relative to the risk workers face.
The push for bigger raises
Federal hazard pay proposals have gained traction as the crisis drags on, though most of the support has come from the Democratic side. Last month, Senate Democrats outlined a plan for a $13 per hour raise for essential workers from the date the U.S. declared a public health emergency in late January through the end of the year. The proposal includes a $15,000 incentive to recruit health- and home-care workers and first responders. Sen. Mitt Romney's proposal this month from the Republican side shows the differences the parties would have to resolve to approve a hazard pay plan. While the Utah Republican's plan would hike wages by a similar amount, $12 an hour, it would only take effect for May, June and July. Employers would fund one-quarter of the raises, while the federal government would cover the remaining three-quarters through a refundable tax credit.
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cnbc--2020-05-13--GOP senator floats bonuses for people to go back to work instead of extending unemployment

Many aspects of the newly released $ 3 trillion coronavirus relief bill from House Democrats are not designed to get the economy moving again , Sen .
Rob Portman , R-Ohio , told CNBC on Wednesday .
Portman took particular issue with a provision to extend through January the $ 600-per-week federal unemployment insurance benefit , which some workers get on top of what states provide .
The federal UI program , created in the economic rescue package approved on a bipartisan basis in March , is set to expire in July .
As many states start to reopen their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lure workers who can make more on unemployment when they can get an average of $ 360 per week from their state plus the federal money , he said .
`` If you are making $ 50,000 a year , it is more advantageous to be on unemployment insurance than it is to go back to work , '' Portman said on `` Squawk Box . ''
`` That 's an example in this legislation of something that 's going to hurt , not help the economy . ''
Portman , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George W. Bush presidency , said he 's `` talking to Republicans and Democrats about '' an idea to give bonuses to people who go back to work instead of extending the $ 600-per-week federal unemployment insurance payout .
`` Why not provide a bonus to people to say , 'If you go back to work , you can take some of this unemployment insurance with you . '
If you take $ 450 , as an example , per week , remember this is per week , that would mean that in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers it would be more advantageous go back to work than to stay on unemployment insurance , '' he said .
`` If you did a $ 450 bonus to workers , good for workers , they 're going to get their salary plus that . ''
Portman argues that such a plan would `` reward workers and work in general '' and would pair with President Donald Trump 's desire for a payroll tax cut as 33.5 million American filed for jobless claims over the past seven weeks .
House Speaker Nancy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request for comment .
The Ohio Republican stressed that reopening businesses in his state and around the country needs to be done safety , and that 's why he said he supports the coronavirus testing and contact tracing provision in the House Democrats ' relief bill .
Portman , who had been discussed at one point during the 2016 campaign as a possible vice presidential pick for Trump , added that more testing is `` money well spent '' because it would make Americans feel better about knowing who 's sick and who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The new House bill could go to a vote as early as Friday .
But it faces an uncertain fate in the Senate as many Republicans on Capitol Hill and the White House want to take a pause to see how the already unprecedented emergency fiscal and monetary measures work .

Many aspects of the newly released $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill from House Democrats are not designed to get the economy moving again, Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, told CNBC on Wednesday.
Portman took particular issue with a provision to extend through January the $600-per-week federal unemployment insurance benefit, which some workers get on top of what states provide. The federal UI program, created in the economic rescue package approved on a bipartisan basis in March, is set to expire in July.
As many states start to reopen their economies, businesses are finding it difficult to lure workers who can make more on unemployment when they can get an average of $360 per week from their state plus the federal money, he said.
"If you are making $50,000 a year, it is more advantageous to be on unemployment insurance than it is to go back to work," Portman said on "Squawk Box." "That's an example in this legislation of something that's going to hurt, not help the economy."
Portman, who served as budget director under during the George W. Bush presidency, said he's "talking to Republicans and Democrats about" an idea to give bonuses to people who go back to work instead of extending the $600-per-week federal unemployment insurance payout.
"Why not provide a bonus to people to say, 'If you go back to work, you can take some of this unemployment insurance with you.' If you take $450, as an example, per week, remember this is per week, that would mean that in every state for minimum [wage] workers it would be more advantageous go back to work than to stay on unemployment insurance," he said. "If you did a $450 bonus to workers, good for workers, they're going to get their salary plus that."
Portman argues that such a plan would "reward workers and work in general" and would pair with President Donald Trump's desire for a payroll tax cut as 33.5 million American filed for jobless claims over the past seven weeks.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Ohio Republican stressed that reopening businesses in his state and around the country needs to be done safety, and that's why he said he supports the coronavirus testing and contact tracing provision in the House Democrats' relief bill.
Portman, who had been discussed at one point during the 2016 campaign as a possible vice presidential pick for Trump, added that more testing is "money well spent" because it would make Americans feel better about knowing who's sick and who's not as they return to work.
The new House bill could go to a vote as early as Friday. But it faces an uncertain fate in the Senate as many Republicans on Capitol Hill and the White House want to take a pause to see how the already unprecedented emergency fiscal and monetary measures work.


cnbc--2020-05-13--Trump warns that 'rich guys' could be talking down stock market to profit

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington , D.C. , on Monday , May 11 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump pointed the finger at wealthy investors for supposedly manipulating the stock market by making strong statements .
In a tweet Wednesday , Trump said to be wary of wealthy investors using their platform to comment negatively about stocks , when they tend to profit from betting against the market .
`` When the so-called 'rich guys ' speak negatively about the market , you must always remember @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and make a lot of money if it goes down , '' Trump tweeted .
`` Then they go positive , get big publicity , and make it going up .
They get you both ways .
Barely legal ? ''
While Trump did n't specify whom he was referring to , his comments followed billionaire hedge fund manager Stanley Druckenmiller 's remarks Tuesday evening about the stock market being historically overvalued .
`` The risk-reward for equity is maybe as bad as I 've seen it in my career , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York .
`` The wild card here is the Fed can always step up their ( asset ) purchases . ''
Druckenmiller , chairman and CEO of the Duquesne Family Office , also said he thought the market was overreacting to news of progress on antiviral drugs , such as Gilead 's remdesivir .
The stock market has bounced back sharply from its March lows as investors have grown more hopeful about an eventual reopening of the economy .
After tumbling into the fastest bear market ever two months ago , the S @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 % from that bottom and is now sitting about 13 % below its record high from February .
Another big investor who has been outspoken about the market is Bill Ackman .
The activist manager from Pershing Square made an appearance on CNBC on March 18 , warning `` hell is coming '' and imploring the White House to shut down the country for a month .
Ackman turned a net profit of more than $ 2 billion a week following his TV interview .
He then used those proceeds to wager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operator Hilton Worldwide , would rebound .
He called the idea that he tried to drive down the market through his comments `` absurd . ''
CNBC 's Jim Cramer shared similar sentiment as Trump , criticizing Ackman for betting against the market while being apocalyptic publicly .
`` I 've had it with these billionaires , '' Cramer said Wednesday on CNBC 's `` Squawk on the Street . ''
Subscribe to CNBC PRO for exclusive insights and analysis , and live business day programming from around the world .

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday, May 11, 2020.
President Donald Trump pointed the finger at wealthy investors for supposedly manipulating the stock market by making strong statements.
In a tweet Wednesday, Trump said to be wary of wealthy investors using their platform to comment negatively about stocks, when they tend to profit from betting against the market.
"When the so-called 'rich guys' speak negatively about the market, you must always remember that some are betting big against it, and make a lot of money if it goes down," Trump tweeted. "Then they go positive, get big publicity, and make it going up. They get you both ways. Barely legal?"
tweet
While Trump didn't specify whom he was referring to, his comments followed billionaire hedge fund manager Stanley Druckenmiller's remarks Tuesday evening about the stock market being historically overvalued.
"The risk-reward for equity is maybe as bad as I've seen it in my career," Druckemiller told the Economic Club of New York. "The wild card here is the Fed can always step up their (asset) purchases."
Druckenmiller, chairman and CEO of the Duquesne Family Office, also said he thought the market was overreacting to news of progress on antiviral drugs, such as Gilead 's remdesivir.
The stock market has bounced back sharply from its March lows as investors have grown more hopeful about an eventual reopening of the economy. After tumbling into the fastest bear market ever two months ago, the S&P 500 has bounced more than 30% from that bottom and is now sitting about 13% below its record high from February.
Another big investor who has been outspoken about the market is Bill Ackman. The activist manager from Pershing Square made an appearance on CNBC on March 18, warning "hell is coming" and imploring the White House to shut down the country for a month.
Ackman turned a net profit of more than $2 billion a week following his TV interview. He then used those proceeds to wager that existing Pershing bets, including hotel operator Hilton Worldwide , would rebound. He called the idea that he tried to drive down the market through his comments "absurd."
CNBC's Jim Cramer shared similar sentiment as Trump, criticizing Ackman for betting against the market while being apocalyptic publicly.
"I've had it with these billionaires," Cramer said Wednesday on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street."
Subscribe to CNBC PRO for exclusive insights and analysis, and live business day programming from around the world.


cnbc--2020-05-13--China-linked hackers are targeting US coronavirus vaccine research, FBI warns

Drew Glatczak from Formulatrix sets-up Mantis automated liquid handler robot at Mirimus lab on April 8 , 2020 in Brooklyn , New York City .
Hackers linked to the Chinese government are trying to steal coronavirus-related research on vaccines , treatments and testing , the FBI and a U.S. cybersecurity agency warned Wednesday .
The FBI , in a joint statement with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency , said it is investigating `` the targeting and compromise of U.S. organizations conducting COVID-19-related research by [ People 's Republic of China ] -affiliated cyber actors and non-traditional collectors . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` identify and illicitly obtain valuable intellectual property '' and public health data related to coronavirus research , according to the statement .
`` The potential theft of this information jeopardizes the delivery of secure , effective , and efficient treatment options , '' the statement read .
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency , or CISA , is a division of the Homeland Security Department .
The federal agencies urged all U.S. organizations researching the virus to beef up their cybersecurity practices to `` prevent surreptitious review or theft of COVID-19-related material @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city of Wuhan in China 's Hubei province and has since grown to a global pandemic that has hit the U.S. harder than any other country , according to data on confirmed Covid-19 cases and deaths .
More than 1.3 million cases and at least 82,389 deaths have so far been counted in the U.S. , data from Johns Hopkins University shows .
U.S. political leaders and health experts have said that the world may not be relieved of the disease 's massive impact on daily life , which has brought the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until an effective vaccine is made widely available .
But even if a vaccine is developed at a breakneck pace , it could still be at least a year to 18 months away .
`` Biomedical research has long been at the heart of something the Chinese have wanted and something they have engaged in economic espionage to get , '' John Demers , assistant attorney general for national security , told CNBC on Monday .
`` It would be crazy to think that right now , the Chinese were not behind some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. pharmaceutical companies and targeting research institutes around the country that are doing coronavirus research , treatments and vaccines , '' Demers said on `` The Exchange . ''
The unfolding health crisis caused by the coronavirus is the latest issue to rattle relations between Beijing and Washington .
The world 's two largest economies were already engaged in a disruptive trade war with intellectual property theft proving to be a major sticking point between the two nations .
U.S. officials have long complained that Chinese intellectual property theft has cost the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of jobs and that it threatens national security .
China maintains that it does not engage in intellectual property theft .
The F-35 , the crown jewel in the defense giant Lockheed Martin 's portfolio , had its sensitive design and electronics data compromised in 2009 .
Chinese hackers were believed to be behind the cyber-intrusion .
China later announced it was developing its own fifth-generation fighter , the stealth Shenyang J-31 jet , which bears a striking resemblance to the F-35 .
The Trump administration is also working to isolate Chinese tech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telecommunications equipment manufacturer , from developing a larger foothold in U.S. partner countries .
China 's actions have received bipartisan criticism : Earlier this year , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-calif. , took a hard stand against doing business with Huawei , and warned other nations not to deal with the company .
After years of negotiations , the Trump administration and the Chinese government in January signed the first phase of a trade agreement .
But President Donald Trump has in recent weeks blamed China for the virus and sharply criticized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It could have been stopped right where it came from , '' Trump said in March .
On Wednesday morning , Trump tweeted , `` We just made a great Trade Deal , the ink was barely dry , and the World was hit by the Plague from China . ''
`` 100 Trade Deals would n't make up the difference - and all those innocent lives lost ! ''
Trump wrote .

Drew Glatczak from Formulatrix sets-up Mantis automated liquid handler robot at Mirimus lab on April 8, 2020 in Brooklyn, New York City.
Hackers linked to the Chinese government are trying to steal coronavirus-related research on vaccines, treatments and testing, the FBI and a U.S. cybersecurity agency warned Wednesday.
The FBI, in a joint statement with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said it is investigating "the targeting and compromise of U.S. organizations conducting COVID-19-related research by [People's Republic of China]-affiliated cyber actors and non-traditional collectors."
The hackers have been caught attempting to "identify and illicitly obtain valuable intellectual property" and public health data related to coronavirus research, according to the statement.
"The potential theft of this information jeopardizes the delivery of secure, effective, and efficient treatment options," the statement read.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, is a division of the Homeland Security Department.
The federal agencies urged all U.S. organizations researching the virus to beef up their cybersecurity practices to "prevent surreptitious review or theft of COVID-19-related material."
The coronavirus originated near the city of Wuhan in China's Hubei province and has since grown to a global pandemic that has hit the U.S. harder than any other country, according to data on confirmed Covid-19 cases and deaths. More than 1.3 million cases and at least 82,389 deaths have so far been counted in the U.S., data from Johns Hopkins University shows.
U.S. political leaders and health experts have said that the world may not be relieved of the disease's massive impact on daily life, which has brought the United States economy to a virtual standstill, until an effective vaccine is made widely available.
But even if a vaccine is developed at a breakneck pace, it could still be at least a year to 18 months away.
"Biomedical research has long been at the heart of something the Chinese have wanted and something they have engaged in economic espionage to get," John Demers, assistant attorney general for national security, told CNBC on Monday.
"It would be crazy to think that right now, the Chinese were not behind some of the cyberactivity we're seeing targeting U.S. pharmaceutical companies and targeting research institutes around the country that are doing coronavirus research, treatments and vaccines," Demers said on "The Exchange."
The unfolding health crisis caused by the coronavirus is the latest issue to rattle relations between Beijing and Washington. The world's two largest economies were already engaged in a disruptive trade war with intellectual property theft proving to be a major sticking point between the two nations.
U.S. officials have long complained that Chinese intellectual property theft has cost the economy billions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs and that it threatens national security. China maintains that it does not engage in intellectual property theft.
The F-35, the crown jewel in the defense giant Lockheed Martin 's portfolio, had its sensitive design and electronics data compromised in 2009. Chinese hackers were believed to be behind the cyber-intrusion.
China later announced it was developing its own fifth-generation fighter, the stealth Shenyang J-31 jet, which bears a striking resemblance to the F-35.
The Trump administration is also working to isolate Chinese tech firm Huawei, the world's largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer, from developing a larger foothold in U.S. partner countries.
China's actions have received bipartisan criticism: Earlier this year, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-calif., took a hard stand against doing business with Huawei, and warned other nations not to deal with the company.
After years of negotiations, the Trump administration and the Chinese government in January signed the first phase of a trade agreement. But President Donald Trump has in recent weeks blamed China for the virus and sharply criticized its handling of the outbreak.
"It could have been stopped right where it came from," Trump said in March.
On Wednesday morning, Trump tweeted, "We just made a great Trade Deal, the ink was barely dry, and the World was hit by the Plague from China."
"100 Trade Deals wouldn't make up the difference - and all those innocent lives lost!" Trump wrote.
TWEET


cnbc--2020-05-13--Blocking all mergers during pandemic is 'misguided,' DOJ antitrust chief says

Makan Delrahim , U.S. assistant attorney general for the antitrust division , speaks during the Wall Street Journal Tech Live global technology conference in Laguna Beach , California , U.S. , on Monday , Oct. 22 , 2019 .
Makan Delrahim , the top antitrust official at the Justice Department , told CNBC on Wednesday he believes a pandemic moratorium on big corporate mergers would be `` misguided . ''
Sen. Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass.
, and fellow progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , D-N.Y. , have proposed `` The Pandemic Anti-Monopoly Act '' to `` stop large corporations from exploiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mergers . ''
It would place a moratorium on deals for companies with more than $ 100 million in revenue , as well as some private equity funds and hedge funds .
`` We have n't seen the legislative language , so we ca n't have any official position on it , '' Delharim said in a `` Squawk Box '' interview .
`` However , I think it would be misguided to just block all attempts for transactions . ''
He added : `` For every complex problem , there 's a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong . ''
Delrahim said some transactions may be `` very necessary '' now — to ensure that companies have liquidity and to keep workers employed .
With that in mind , Delrahim said his department will not review transactions with its `` head in the sand . ''
That could mean allowing companies to use the `` failing firm '' defense to justify a deal that may have otherwise been viewed as anti-competitive .
To meet that criteria , Delrahim said , a company must prove that it is unable to meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through bankruptcy and has already made a good faith effort to find a less anti-competitive buyer .
When asked whether Amazon 's rumored interest in acquiring movie theater operator AMC Entertainment would fit within the `` failing firm '' framework , Delrahim declined to comment on the potential deal explicitly .
`` The movie exhibition industry has gone through some challenges over the years , just with the high capital expense they must continue to put in , and the movie theaters have been shut down , like theme parks , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at it again under the same three-part test — should that be a defense to the merger , '' he said , adding that the deal itself might not pose competition concerns even under normal conditions .

Makan Delrahim, U.S. assistant attorney general for the antitrust division, speaks during the Wall Street Journal Tech Live global technology conference in Laguna Beach, California, U.S., on Monday, Oct. 22, 2019.
Makan Delrahim, the top antitrust official at the Justice Department, told CNBC on Wednesday he believes a pandemic moratorium on big corporate mergers would be "misguided."
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and fellow progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., have proposed "The Pandemic Anti-Monopoly Act" to "stop large corporations from exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to engage in harmful mergers." It would place a moratorium on deals for companies with more than $100 million in revenue, as well as some private equity funds and hedge funds.
"We haven't seen the legislative language, so we can't have any official position on it," Delharim said in a "Squawk Box" interview. "However, I think it would be misguided to just block all attempts for transactions."
He added: "For every complex problem, there's a very simple solution — and it's wrong."
Delrahim said some transactions may be "very necessary" now — to ensure that companies have liquidity and to keep workers employed. With that in mind, Delrahim said his department will not review transactions with its "head in the sand."
That could mean allowing companies to use the "failing firm" defense to justify a deal that may have otherwise been viewed as anti-competitive. To meet that criteria, Delrahim said, a company must prove that it is unable to meet its financial obligations or reorganize its debt through bankruptcy and has already made a good faith effort to find a less anti-competitive buyer.
When asked whether Amazon' s rumored interest in acquiring movie theater operator AMC Entertainment would fit within the "failing firm" framework, Delrahim declined to comment on the potential deal explicitly.
"The movie exhibition industry has gone through some challenges over the years, just with the high capital expense they must continue to put in, and the movie theaters have been shut down, like theme parks," he said.
"So we would look at it again under the same three-part test — should that be a defense to the merger," he said, adding that the deal itself might not pose competition concerns even under normal conditions.


cnbc--2020-05-13--Ex-Trump campaign boss Paul Manafort released as coronavirus spreads in prisons

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort exits the courtroom after his arraignment in New York Supreme Court in New York , June 27 , 2019 .
Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was released from federal prison to serve the remainder of his 7½-year sentence in home confinement amid fears about the spread of the coronavirus , NBC News reported Wednesday .
Manafort was released from a federal correctional institution in Loretto , Pennsylvania , early Wednesday morning , a source familiar with the case told NBC .
Manafort , 71 , had been sentenced in 2019 to charges brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mueller 's probe of Russian election meddling , potential Kremlin coordination with the Trump campaign and possible obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump himself .
Lawyers for Manafort did not immediately respond to CNBC 's requests for comment .
The Bureau of Prisons did not immediately confirm that Manafort had been released from FCI Loretto .
Manafort was slated to be released from prison in November 2024 , according to the Bureau of Prisons website .
But the coronavirus pandemic has swept through America 's prisons , infecting hundreds of inmates and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for early release out of concern for their safety .
Other high-profile inmates have asked to be released to home confinement .
Trump 's former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen , 53 , had reportedly been told he would be released from a federal prison camp in upstate New York .
But that promise to Cohen was rescinded in early May , people familiar with the situation told CNBC .
The reversal came shortly after a Trump Organization lawyer issued Cohen , a former Trump ally turned critic , a warning not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book ahead of the 2020 election .
The White House said that it had `` absolutely not '' interfered in the decision to delay Cohen 's planned early release .
Lanny Davis , a spokesman and lawyer for Cohen , said in a tweet that he hoped Cohen would receive the treatment as Manafort .
More than a dozen inmates and staff at Cohen 's prison in Otisville , New York , have previously tested positive for Covid-19 , according to the Bureau of Prisons .
At the time this article was published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Otisville facility was listed on the BOP website .
In contrast , the BOP says there are no known cases of coronavirus at FCI Loretto , where Manafort was serving his sentence .
Manafort was chairman of Trump 's winning presidential campaign for several months in 2016 .
He resigned amid reported concerns within the campaign about his connections and past lobbying work for pro-Russian oligarchs in Ukraine .
Manafort was later charged as part of Mueller 's probe with a slew of financial crimes , including bank fraud and filing false income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight of the 14 criminal counts against him in federal court in Alexandria , Virginia , and later pleaded guilty to additional charges in U.S. District Court in Washington , D.C. After his sentencing in those cases , Manafort was charged by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. with state criminal charges related to real estate loans Manafort received or applied for in New York .
Manafort has claimed to suffer from serious health problems throughout his prosecution .
He was hospitalized in December after experiencing a medical issue in the federal prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judge dismissed the state charges against Manafort on double jeopardy grounds .

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort exits the courtroom after his arraignment in New York Supreme Court in New York, June 27, 2019.
Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was released from federal prison to serve the remainder of his 7½-year sentence in home confinement amid fears about the spread of the coronavirus, NBC News reported Wednesday.
Manafort was released from a federal correctional institution in Loretto, Pennsylvania, early Wednesday morning, a source familiar with the case told NBC.
Manafort, 71, had been sentenced in 2019 to charges brought as part of former special counsel Robert Mueller's probe of Russian election meddling, potential Kremlin coordination with the Trump campaign and possible obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump himself.
Lawyers for Manafort did not immediately respond to CNBC's requests for comment. The Bureau of Prisons did not immediately confirm that Manafort had been released from FCI Loretto.
Manafort was slated to be released from prison in November 2024, according to the Bureau of Prisons website.
But the coronavirus pandemic has swept through America's prisons, infecting hundreds of inmates and guards and prompting many inmates to ask for early release out of concern for their safety.
Other high-profile inmates have asked to be released to home confinement. Trump's former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, 53, had reportedly been told he would be released from a federal prison camp in upstate New York. But that promise to Cohen was rescinded in early May, people familiar with the situation told CNBC.
The reversal came shortly after a Trump Organization lawyer issued Cohen, a former Trump ally turned critic, a warning not to publish a reported "tell-all" book ahead of the 2020 election. The White House said that it had "absolutely not" interfered in the decision to delay Cohen's planned early release.
Lanny Davis, a spokesman and lawyer for Cohen, said in a tweet that he hoped Cohen would receive the treatment as Manafort.
Davis TWEET
More than a dozen inmates and staff at Cohen's prison in Otisville, New York, have previously tested positive for Covid-19, according to the Bureau of Prisons. At the time this article was published, only one active case at the Otisville facility was listed on the BOP website.
In contrast, the BOP says there are no known cases of coronavirus at FCI Loretto, where Manafort was serving his sentence.
Manafort was chairman of Trump's winning presidential campaign for several months in 2016. He resigned amid reported concerns within the campaign about his connections and past lobbying work for pro-Russian oligarchs in Ukraine.
Manafort was later charged as part of Mueller's probe with a slew of financial crimes, including bank fraud and filing false income tax returns. He was convicted on eight of the 14 criminal counts against him in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, and later pleaded guilty to additional charges in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.
After his sentencing in those cases, Manafort was charged by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. with state criminal charges related to real estate loans Manafort received or applied for in New York.
Manafort has claimed to suffer from serious health problems throughout his prosecution. He was hospitalized in December after experiencing a medical issue in the federal prison in Pennsylvania. That month, a judge dismissed the state charges against Manafort on double jeopardy grounds.
ABC News first reported Manafort's release earlier Wednesday morning.


cnbc--2020-05-13--Listen live: Supreme Court hears arguments over 'faithless' Electoral College voters in dispute with

Listen live: Supreme Court hears arguments over 'faithless' Electoral College voters in dispute with 2020 implications

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ET .
Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time . ]
The Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear two cases over the Electoral College that could affect the outcome of the 2020 presidential election .
The cases concern whether voters in the Electoral College , the body that officially elects the U.S. president , have a constitutional right to buck the will of their state popular vote .
They were brought by Electoral College voters in Washington state and Colorado who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , despite her wins in those states .
Both states , and 30 others , have laws that require electors to vote for their pledged candidate .
While those electors did not ultimately affect the results of the 2016 election , it is possible that so-called faithless electors could flip the result of a presidential race .
A swing of just 10 electors would have been enough to alter the results of five previous presidential races , according to Larry Lessig , an attorney for the electors in Washington .
Lessig urged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was forced to do so in an emergency — such as if the race between President Donald Trump and apparent Democratic nominee Joe Biden were to be contested .
The justices agreed to do so in January .
Arguments in the cases will be conducted by phone and streamed live to the public , a result of health precautions taken in response to the coronavirus .
The cases are scheduled to be the last carried out in the new virtual format , which so far has been conducted largely without a hitch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be the last of the court 's term , which began in October .
Decisions are expected over the summer .
Ahead of arguments , it 's not clear how the court is likely to come down on the issue .
Courts in Washington and Colorado have come down on opposite sides .
In Washington , the state Supreme Court upheld $ 1,000 fines on three Democratic electors who cast their ballots in an unsuccessful bid to get electors for President Donald Trump to also break from their pledges , and keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the electors , those fines were the first of their type in U.S. history .
In Colorado , the 10th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals came down the other way .
A panel of the appeals court ruled 2-1 in favor of elector Micheal Baca , who attempted to cast his vote for former Ohio Gov .
John Kasich , a Republican , and two other electors who objected to voting for Clinton .
Baca was ultimately replaced before he could cast his vote .
The 10th Circuit reasoned that under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are `` free to vote as they choose . ''
In a brief submitted with the justices , the Republican National Committee said it sided with the states .
The RNC said the electors `` intended to sow chaos '' and warned them not to `` embrace the Electors ' brand of constitutional anarchism . ''
Forty-five U.S. states also urged the court to reject the `` inherently undemocratic and chaotic nature of an unbridled electoral college . ''
`` Given that state sovereignty is integral to our federal system , and states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the electoral college under the Constitution , it seems axiomatic that if the framers had wanted to limit state influence over electoral balloting and allotting electoral votes they would have done so explicitly , '' the states , led by South Dakota , wrote in a brief .

[This stream is slated to begin at 10 a.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.]
The Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear two cases over the Electoral College that could affect the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
The cases concern whether voters in the Electoral College, the body that officially elects the U.S. president, have a constitutional right to buck the will of their state popular vote.
They were brought by Electoral College voters in Washington state and Colorado who refused to back Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, despite her wins in those states. Both states, and 30 others, have laws that require electors to vote for their pledged candidate.
While those electors did not ultimately affect the results of the 2016 election, it is possible that so-called faithless electors could flip the result of a presidential race.
A swing of just 10 electors would have been enough to alter the results of five previous presidential races, according to Larry Lessig, an attorney for the electors in Washington.
Lessig urged the court to hear the case before it was forced to do so in an emergency — such as if the race between President Donald Trump and apparent Democratic nominee Joe Biden were to be contested. The justices agreed to do so in January.
Arguments in the cases will be conducted by phone and streamed live to the public, a result of health precautions taken in response to the coronavirus.
The cases are scheduled to be the last carried out in the new virtual format, which so far has been conducted largely without a hitch. The two cases are also expected to be the last of the court's term, which began in October. Decisions are expected over the summer.
Ahead of arguments, it's not clear how the court is likely to come down on the issue. Courts in Washington and Colorado have come down on opposite sides.
In Washington, the state Supreme Court upheld $1,000 fines on three Democratic electors who cast their ballots in an unsuccessful bid to get electors for President Donald Trump to also break from their pledges, and keep him from winning the election. According to the electors, those fines were the first of their type in U.S. history.
In Colorado, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals came down the other way. A panel of the appeals court ruled 2-1 in favor of elector Micheal Baca, who attempted to cast his vote for former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, and two other electors who objected to voting for Clinton. Baca was ultimately replaced before he could cast his vote.
The 10th Circuit reasoned that under the Constitution's 12th Amendment, electors are "free to vote as they choose."
In a brief submitted with the justices, the Republican National Committee said it sided with the states. The RNC said the electors "intended to sow chaos" and warned them not to "embrace the Electors' brand of constitutional anarchism."
Forty-five U.S. states also urged the court to reject the "inherently undemocratic and chaotic nature of an unbridled electoral college."
"Given that state sovereignty is integral to our federal system, and states are central to the role and function of the electoral college under the Constitution, it seems axiomatic that if the framers had wanted to limit state influence over electoral balloting and allotting electoral votes they would have done so explicitly," the states, led by South Dakota, wrote in a brief.


cnbc--2020-05-13--Ex-Trump advisor Michael Flynn objects to judge letting outsiders oppose criminal case dismissal

The judge who has been asked by the Justice Department to dismiss its prosecution of ex-national security advisor Michael Flynn said Tuesday that he will first accept recommendations on whether he should do so from people and groups not involved in the case .
But Flynn 's lawyers promptly opposed Judge Emmet Sullivan 's unusual decision to consider third-party legal arguments , saying in a filing that court rules do not allow it .
Defense lawyers also argued that the judge had previously `` summarily refused to permit any third party to inject themselves or their views into this case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same now .
The move by Sullivan to allow third-party comments offers a rare chance for critics of Flynn , who briefly served as one of President Donald Trump 's top advisors , to possibly thwart the Justice Department 's controversial effort to dismiss the case .
That dismissal bid has outraged many former prosecutors and ex-Justice officials , who have noted that Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents , and that he restated his guilt during another proceeding before the judge .
But Sullivan 's willingness to access the so-called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also sets the stage for supporters of Flynn to lobby the judge to strongly accept the department 's recommendation , which was filed last Thursday .
`` Given the current posture of this case , the Court anticipates that individuals and organizations will seek leave of the Court to file amicus curiae briefs , '' Sullivan wrote in an order posted in U.S. District Court in Washington , D.C. Sullivan wrote that he would set a schedule for friend-of-the-court submissions later .
But he cautioned , quoting the words of his colleague , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while there may be individuals with an interest in this matter , a criminal proceeding is not a free-for-all . ''
Sullivan 's order is the first time that the judge acted in the case since the Justice Department moved to dismiss the prosecution .
A group of former federal prosecutors calling themselves the `` Watergate Prosecutors '' is planning to file an amicus brief , according to the filing Tuesday evening by Flynn 's lawyer Sidney Powell and other defense attorneys .
Flynn 's attorneys argued in that filing that the Watergate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and no authority whatsoever to insert themselves in this litigation on behalf of anyone . ''
`` This travesty of justice has already consumed three or more years of an innocent man 's life — and that of his entire family , '' the defense attorneys wrote .
`` No further delay should be tolerated or any further expense caused to him and his defense .
This Court should enter the order proposed by the government immediately . ''
Powell , in an earlier filing Tuesday wrote that Flynn 's lawyers agreed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismissal of this case meets the interests of justice and requests that this matter be dismissed immediately , with prejudice . ''
Powell did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC .
The Justice Department 's request to dismiss the case came after it concluded that it had a duty to drop the charges after finding that the FBI did not have grounds to conduct a counterintelligence investigation of Flynn at the time agents interviewed him , Attorney William Barr has said .
Timothy Shea , the interim U.S. Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dismissal request wrote that even if Flynn had lied , the government `` does not believe Mr. Flynn 's statements were material '' in a legal sense .
The Justice Department also did not believe it could prove he was guilty of making false statements beyond a reasonable doubt , Shea wrote .
Shea 's motion also cited the recent release of previously undisclosed documents , including handwritten notes written by the FBI officials investigating Flynn .
One note , written by then-FBI counterintelligence chief Bill Priestap , was prepared shortly before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Russia 's then-ambassador to the United States , Sergey Kislyak in the weeks before Trump took office .
`` What 's our goal ?
Truth/Admission or get him to lie , so we can prosecute him or get him fired ? ''
Priestap had written .
Flynn , 61 , served only several weeks as national security advisor before being forced out in February 2017 after lying to Vice President Mike Pence about the nature of his discussions with Kislyak .
Flynn had told Pence he did not dicuss U.S. sanctions imposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which led the vice president to defend him in television interviews .
In fact , Flynn did talk about those sanctions with Kislyak .
Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to FBI agents about the Kislyak conversations .
As part of his plea , Flynn agreed to cooperate in the then-special prosecutor Robert Mueller 's probe of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election .
His scheduled sentencing hearing in December 2018 was dramatically aborted after Sullivan indicated he might send Flynn to jail if the retired Army lieutenant general did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sold your country out , '' the judge fumed at the hearing .
Sullivan then allowed Flynn to remain free pending sentencing to give him time to finish his cooperation with Mueller .
Months later , Flynn dismissed his legal team and hired a new criminal defense attorney , the Mueller critic Powell , who soon began efforts to undo the criminal case .
Powell accused prosecutors of withholding exculpatory information from Flynn , a claim that the Justice Department for months repeatedly denied .

The judge who has been asked by the Justice Department to dismiss its prosecution of ex-national security advisor Michael Flynn said Tuesday that he will first accept recommendations on whether he should do so from people and groups not involved in the case.
But Flynn's lawyers promptly opposed Judge Emmet Sullivan's unusual decision to consider third-party legal arguments, saying in a filing that court rules do not allow it.
Defense lawyers also argued that the judge had previously "summarily refused to permit any third party to inject themselves or their views into this case" 24 times and should do the same now.
The move by Sullivan to allow third-party comments offers a rare chance for critics of Flynn, who briefly served as one of President Donald Trump's top advisors, to possibly thwart the Justice Department's controversial effort to dismiss the case.
That dismissal bid has outraged many former prosecutors and ex-Justice officials, who have noted that Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents, and that he restated his guilt during another proceeding before the judge.
But Sullivan's willingness to access the so-called amicus curiae, or friend-of-the-court briefs, also sets the stage for supporters of Flynn to lobby the judge to strongly accept the department's recommendation, which was filed last Thursday.
"Given the current posture of this case, the Court anticipates that individuals and organizations will seek leave of the Court to file amicus curiae briefs," Sullivan wrote in an order posted in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.
Sullivan wrote that he would set a schedule for friend-of-the-court submissions later.
But he cautioned, quoting the words of his colleague, Judge Amy Berman Jackson, that "while there may be individuals with an interest in this matter, a criminal proceeding is not a free-for-all."
Sullivan's order is the first time that the judge acted in the case since the Justice Department moved to dismiss the prosecution.
A group of former federal prosecutors calling themselves the "Watergate Prosecutors" is planning to file an amicus brief, according to the filing Tuesday evening by Flynn's lawyer Sidney Powell and other defense attorneys.
Flynn's attorneys argued in that filing that the Watergate Prosecutors group "has no special role and no authority whatsoever to insert themselves in this litigation on behalf of anyone."
"This travesty of justice has already consumed three or more years of an innocent man's life — and that of his entire family," the defense attorneys wrote. "No further delay should be tolerated or any further expense caused to him and his defense. This Court should enter the order proposed by the government immediately."
Powell, in an earlier filing Tuesday wrote that Flynn's lawyers agreed with the Justice Department that "that the dismissal of this case meets the interests of justice and requests that this matter be dismissed immediately, with prejudice."
Powell did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC.
The Justice Department's request to dismiss the case came after it concluded that it had a duty to drop the charges after finding that the FBI did not have grounds to conduct a counterintelligence investigation of Flynn at the time agents interviewed him, Attorney William Barr has said.
Timothy Shea, the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, in the dismissal request wrote that even if Flynn had lied, the government "does not believe Mr. Flynn's statements were material" in a legal sense. The Justice Department also did not believe it could prove he was guilty of making false statements beyond a reasonable doubt, Shea wrote.
Shea's motion also cited the recent release of previously undisclosed documents, including handwritten notes written by the FBI officials investigating Flynn.
One note, written by then-FBI counterintelligence chief Bill Priestap, was prepared shortly before FBI agents questioned Flynn about his discussions with Russia's then-ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak in the weeks before Trump took office.
"What's our goal? Truth/Admission or get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?" Priestap had written.
Flynn, 61, served only several weeks as national security advisor before being forced out in February 2017 after lying to Vice President Mike Pence about the nature of his discussions with Kislyak.
Flynn had told Pence he did not dicuss U.S. sanctions imposed by the Obama administration against Russia, which led the vice president to defend him in television interviews. In fact, Flynn did talk about those sanctions with Kislyak.
Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to FBI agents about the Kislyak conversations.
As part of his plea, Flynn agreed to cooperate in the then-special prosecutor Robert Mueller's probe of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
His scheduled sentencing hearing in December 2018 was dramatically aborted after Sullivan indicated he might send Flynn to jail if the retired Army lieutenant general did not postpone the proceeding
"Arguably you sold your country out," the judge fumed at the hearing.
Sullivan then allowed Flynn to remain free pending sentencing to give him time to finish his cooperation with Mueller.
Months later, Flynn dismissed his legal team and hired a new criminal defense attorney, the Mueller critic Powell, who soon began efforts to undo the criminal case. Powell accused prosecutors of withholding exculpatory information from Flynn, a claim that the Justice Department for months repeatedly denied.


cnbc--2020-05-13--Biden urges governors to 'listen to Dr. Fauci' as they reopen their states

Former Vice President Joe Biden , presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , wears a protective mask during a NowThis economic address seen on a smartphone in Arlington , Virginia , U.S. , on Friday , May 8 , 2020 .
Former Vice President Joe Biden urged governors on Tuesday to `` listen to Dr. Fauci '' as they reopen their states ' economies while the coronavirus continues to spread .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's leading infectious disease specialist and a key member of President Donald Trump 's White House coronavirus task force , is expected to publicly warn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will cause `` needless suffering and death . ''
Trump , going against the advice of Fauci and other health officials , has been urging states to reopen businesses to prop up the U.S. economy , which has been ravaged by the pandemic .
Biden , the 2020 apparent Democratic nominee , said that if he were president now , he would advise governors to heed Fauci 's warnings in their plans .
`` We 're in a situation where there 's a great crisis .
Dr. Fauci talks about if we open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be needless deaths and we have to have things in place .
Everybody wants to open , '' Biden said in an interview on ABC 's `` Good Morning America . ''
`` The governors want to open .
But they want to open in a rational way .
The president has n't done his work .
The president has n't done what he 's supposed to do . ''
Biden went on , scorching Trump for claiming in March that `` anybody who wants a test gets a test .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortage of tests across the country .
That shortage , along with tight restrictions on who can be tested , has allowed infected people to go undetected and further spread Covid-19 , health officials have said .
`` Anyone ca n't get a test around the country , '' Biden said .
The former vice president also unleashed a withering attack on Trump 's response to the outbreak and pandemic .
`` Granted , more tests are coming forward but look , this needless complacency the president has engaged in from the very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the way back in January and February , '' Biden said .
`` He 's been incompetent the way in which he 's responded to it .
We have 80,000 deaths .
We have more of the virus than any nation in the world .
What 's the story here ?
I mean , come on .
This is just Fantasyland that he 's talking about . ''
As Biden was giving his interview , Trump unleashed a tweetstorm in which he defended the U.S. response to the coronavirus .
`` Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , by FAR !
Numbers are coming down in most parts of our Country , which wants to open and get going again .
It is happening , safely ! ''
Trump tweeted .
The Trump 2020 campaign , when reached for comment , called Biden 's words a `` false attack '' and defended the president 's response to the coronavirus outbreak .
`` President Trump acted early and decisively by restricting travel from China while Biden called it 'xenophobic ' and 'fear-mongering , ' '' Tim Murtaugh , communications director for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
`` The President also has called out China and pinpointed it as the source of the virus while Biden fears the exposure of his long record of being soft on the Communist Chinese government . ''
Murtaugh 's statement continued : `` President Trump led the hard work to establish the United States as the world 's leader in coronavirus testing , while Biden sat in his basement offering nothing but relentless criticism designed to divide Americans and erode their confidence in the government 's response .
Joe Biden is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading the nation in the war against the virus . ''
The outbreak has spread to dozens of countries globally , with more than 4.1 million confirmed cases worldwide and over 286,336 deaths , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
The U.S. has had more than 1.3 million cases and at least 79,528 deaths , according to the latest tallies .

Former Vice President Joe Biden, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, wears a protective mask during a NowThis economic address seen on a smartphone in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., on Friday, May 8, 2020.
Former Vice President Joe Biden urged governors on Tuesday to "listen to Dr. Fauci" as they reopen their states' economies while the coronavirus continues to spread.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease specialist and a key member of President Donald Trump's White House coronavirus task force, is expected to publicly warn states Tuesday that prematurely reopening their economies will cause "needless suffering and death."
Trump, going against the advice of Fauci and other health officials, has been urging states to reopen businesses to prop up the U.S. economy, which has been ravaged by the pandemic.
Biden, the 2020 apparent Democratic nominee, said that if he were president now, he would advise governors to heed Fauci's warnings in their plans.
"We're in a situation where there's a great crisis. Dr. Fauci talks about if we open needlessly or open soon, there's going to be needless deaths and we have to have things in place. Everybody wants to open," Biden said in an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America."
"The governors want to open. But they want to open in a rational way. The president hasn't done his work. The president hasn't done what he's supposed to do."
Biden went on, scorching Trump for claiming in March that "anybody who wants a test gets a test."
Health officials have warned about a shortage of tests across the country. That shortage, along with tight restrictions on who can be tested, has allowed infected people to go undetected and further spread Covid-19, health officials have said.
"Anyone can't get a test around the country," Biden said.
The former vice president also unleashed a withering attack on Trump's response to the outbreak and pandemic.
"Granted, more tests are coming forward but look, this needless complacency the president has engaged in from the very beginning. He knew about this crisis all the way back in January and February," Biden said. "He's been incompetent the way in which he's responded to it. We have 80,000 deaths. We have more of the virus than any nation in the world. What's the story here? I mean, come on. This is just Fantasyland that he's talking about."
As Biden was giving his interview, Trump unleashed a tweetstorm in which he defended the U.S. response to the coronavirus.
"Our Testing is the BEST in the World, by FAR! Numbers are coming down in most parts of our Country, which wants to open and get going again. It is happening, safely!" Trump tweeted.
Tweet
The White House declined to comment.
The Trump 2020 campaign, when reached for comment, called Biden's words a "false attack" and defended the president's response to the coronavirus outbreak.
"President Trump acted early and decisively by restricting travel from China while Biden called it 'xenophobic' and 'fear-mongering,'" Tim Murtaugh, communications director for the Trump campaign, told CNBC in a statement. "The President also has called out China and pinpointed it as the source of the virus while Biden fears the exposure of his long record of being soft on the Communist Chinese government."
Murtaugh's statement continued: "President Trump led the hard work to establish the United States as the world's leader in coronavirus testing, while Biden sat in his basement offering nothing but relentless criticism designed to divide Americans and erode their confidence in the government's response. Joe Biden is practicing despicable politics while President Trump is leading the nation in the war against the virus."
The outbreak has spread to dozens of countries globally, with more than 4.1 million confirmed cases worldwide and over 286,336 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. has had more than 1.3 million cases and at least 79,528 deaths, according to the latest tallies.


cnbc--2020-05-13--Trump says Fauci's warnings about reopening amid coronavirus crisis are not 'acceptable'

Top coronavirus health expert Dr. Anthony Fauci 's recent warning about the potentially dire consequences of reopening states and schools too soon was `` not an acceptable answer , '' President Donald Trump said Wednesday .
Trump told reporters at the White House that he was `` surprised '' by Fauci 's answers during a hearing before the Senate Committee on Health , Education , Labor and Pensions .
Trump did not single out which specific answer from Fauci that he found unacceptable , but referenced Fauci 's testimony about reopening schools in the fall .
Fauci , the director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House task force , said at the hearing that he doubted that an effective vaccine or treatment for the virus would be available by the fall when schools are set to reopen .
`` In this case that the idea of having treatments available or a vaccine to facilitate the reentry of students into the fall term would be something that would be a bit of a bridge too far , '' he said .
He later added : `` We just have to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the period of time with the fall about reopening the schools , exactly where we will be in the dynamics of the outbreak .
Fauci also said that reopening states too soon amid the Covid-19 crisis could bring even more `` suffering and death , '' and that he was concerned that rushing to reopen `` would almost turn the clock back rather than going forward . ''
His testimony came as more governors start to relax their strict social distancing rules , which are intended to slow the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a virtual halt in the process .
Trump has cheered on some of the state leaders who are pushing to reopen the businesses that had been shut down amid the crisis .
Asked if he agreed with Fauci 's concerns , Trump said , `` Look , he wants to play all sides of the equation . ''
`` I was surprised by his answer , actually '' Trump said when asked for clarification .
`` To me it 's not an acceptable answer , especially when it comes to schools .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be acceptable , as I said , would be professors , teachers , et cetera , over a certain age , '' Trump added .
`` Because this is a disease that attacks age , and it attacks health . ''
Students and young children , the president added , are statistically far less vulnerable to the disease .
That sentiment also clashed with Fauci , who said during a testy exchange with Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul that `` I think we better be careful that we 're not cavalier in thinking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deleterious effects '' of Covid-19 .
The official position of the White House is that it should be left to individual governors whether to follow the guidelines set out by the Centers for Disease Control , which describe criteria that states should reach before they begin a phased reopening .
These include a downward trajectory in the number of `` positive tests '' or `` documented cases '' of coronavirus for at least two consecutive weeks .
Other recommendations include being able to provide `` robust contact tracing '' for people who test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for high-risk groups .
But many states are reopening despite not having met these criteria , a move that experts like Fauci say could put lives at risk .
Texas and Colorado , for example , have yet to see two weeks straight of steadily decreasing cases , but they are nonetheless moving ahead with plans to restart their economies and reopen businesses .

Top coronavirus health expert Dr. Anthony Fauci's recent warning about the potentially dire consequences of reopening states and schools too soon was "not an acceptable answer," President Donald Trump said Wednesday.
Trump told reporters at the White House that he was "surprised" by Fauci's answers during a hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
Trump did not single out which specific answer from Fauci that he found unacceptable, but referenced Fauci's testimony about reopening schools in the fall.
Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House task force, said at the hearing that he doubted that an effective vaccine or treatment for the virus would be available by the fall when schools are set to reopen.
"In this case that the idea of having treatments available or a vaccine to facilitate the reentry of students into the fall term would be something that would be a bit of a bridge too far," he said.
He later added: "We just have to see on a step-by-step basis as we get into the period of time with the fall about reopening the schools, exactly where we will be in the dynamics of the outbreak.
Fauci also said that reopening states too soon amid the Covid-19 crisis could bring even more "suffering and death," and that he was concerned that rushing to reopen "would almost turn the clock back rather than going forward."
His testimony came as more governors start to relax their strict social distancing rules, which are intended to slow the spread of the virus but have ground the U.S. economy to a virtual halt in the process. Trump has cheered on some of the state leaders who are pushing to reopen the businesses that had been shut down amid the crisis.
Asked if he agreed with Fauci's concerns, Trump said, "Look, he wants to play all sides of the equation."
"I was surprised by his answer, actually" Trump said when asked for clarification. "To me it's not an acceptable answer, especially when it comes to schools."
"The only thing that would be acceptable, as I said, would be professors, teachers, et cetera, over a certain age," Trump added. "Because this is a disease that attacks age, and it attacks health."
Students and young children, the president added, are statistically far less vulnerable to the disease.
That sentiment also clashed with Fauci, who said during a testy exchange with Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul that "I think we better be careful that we're not cavalier in thinking that children are completely immune to the deleterious effects" of Covid-19.
The official position of the White House is that it should be left to individual governors whether to follow the guidelines set out by the Centers for Disease Control, which describe criteria that states should reach before they begin a phased reopening.
These include a downward trajectory in the number of "positive tests" or "documented cases" of coronavirus for at least two consecutive weeks. Other recommendations include being able to provide "robust contact tracing" for people who test positive, and "surveillance testing" for high-risk groups. But many states are reopening despite not having met these criteria, a move that experts like Fauci say could put lives at risk.
Texas and Colorado, for example, have yet to see two weeks straight of steadily decreasing cases, but they are nonetheless moving ahead with plans to restart their economies and reopen businesses.


cnbc--2020-05-14--FBI seizes Senate Intel chairman Richard Burr's cellphone amid probe of coronavirus stock sales

WASHINGTON — Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr turned over his cellphone to FBI agents in response to a search warrant served on him as part of a federal investigation of stock sales he made early in the coronavirus outbreak , NBC News confirmed on Thursday .
A spokeswoman for Burr declined to comment on the search warrant when contacted by CNBC , and a Justice Department spokesperson did not immediately respond to an email .
The warrant was first reported by the Los Angeles Times .
A senior law enforcement official confirmed to NBC that the FBI obtained the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone on Wednesday represents a new phase in a federal investigation into Burr 's sale on Feb. 13 of stock worth $ 630,000 to $ 1.7 million , a sizable portion of the senator 's portfolio .
The one-day sale involved 33 individual trades , and occurred just a day after the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached a historic all-time closing high of 29,551.42 .
One week later , on Feb. 20 markets began a steep slide over fears that the coronavirus would paralyze the global economy .
In the weeks following Burr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of its value , but it has since recovered some of those losses .
As chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee , Burr was given access to classified intelligence reports in January and early February that contained dire warnings about the coronavirus , according to The Washington Post , which reported on the intelligence assessments .
After years of work , Burr is still finalizing his committee 's bipartisan report on the investigation of Russia 's meddling in the 2016 election .
New questions about Burr 's stock sales arose last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very day that Burr sold his stocks , Feb. 13 , Burr 's brother-in-law , Trump appointee Gerald Fauth , also sold tens of thousands of dollars worth of stock .
Fauth is a former transportation consultant , who was appointed by President Donald Trump in 2017 to a seat on the three-member National Mediation Board , a federal agency that helps facilitate labor relations for the transportation industry .
Burr 's attorney , Alice Fisher , told ProPublica that Burr `` participated in the stock market based on public information , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his decision to trade on Feb. 13 with Mr .
Fauth . ''
According to the LA Times , federal agents served an earlier warrant on Apple for information about Burr 's iCloud account .
They then used that information as evidence to obtain a search warrant from a judge for Burr 's phone .
It was unclear whether Fauth had also been served with a warrant .
CNBC called the number for Fauth 's consulting firm , but there was no answer .
Members of Congress are prohibited by law from using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positions in order to personally profit off the stock market .
The STOCK Act that codified this ban was signed by President Barack Obama in 2012 , after passing the Senate in a 96-3 vote .
Burr was one of only three senators who voted against the STOCK Act .

WASHINGTON — Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr turned over his cellphone to FBI agents in response to a search warrant served on him as part of a federal investigation of stock sales he made early in the coronavirus outbreak, NBC News confirmed on Thursday.
A spokeswoman for Burr declined to comment on the search warrant when contacted by CNBC, and a Justice Department spokesperson did not immediately respond to an email. The warrant was first reported by the Los Angeles Times. A senior law enforcement official confirmed to NBC that the FBI obtained the cellphone.
Burr will step down as chairman of the intelligence panel while the probe is ongoing, effective Friday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday.
The seizure of Burr's phone on Wednesday represents a new phase in a federal investigation into Burr's sale on Feb. 13 of stock worth $630,000 to $1.7 million, a sizable portion of the senator's portfolio.
The one-day sale involved 33 individual trades, and occurred just a day after the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached a historic all-time closing high of 29,551.42.
One week later, on Feb. 20 markets began a steep slide over fears that the coronavirus would paralyze the global economy. In the weeks following Burr's sale, the Dow lost 30% of its value, but it has since recovered some of those losses.
As chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Burr was given access to classified intelligence reports in January and early February that contained dire warnings about the coronavirus, according to The Washington Post, which reported on the intelligence assessments.
After years of work, Burr is still finalizing his committee's bipartisan report on the investigation of Russia's meddling in the 2016 election.
New questions about Burr's stock sales arose last week, when ProPublica reported that on the very day that Burr sold his stocks, Feb. 13, Burr's brother-in-law, Trump appointee Gerald Fauth, also sold tens of thousands of dollars worth of stock.
Fauth is a former transportation consultant, who was appointed by President Donald Trump in 2017 to a seat on the three-member National Mediation Board, a federal agency that helps facilitate labor relations for the transportation industry.
Burr's attorney, Alice Fisher, told ProPublica that Burr "participated in the stock market based on public information," and that "he did not coordinate his decision to trade on Feb. 13 with Mr. Fauth."
According to the LA Times, federal agents served an earlier warrant on Apple for information about Burr's iCloud account. They then used that information as evidence to obtain a search warrant from a judge for Burr's phone.
It was unclear whether Fauth had also been served with a warrant. CNBC called the number for Fauth's consulting firm, but there was no answer.
Members of Congress are prohibited by law from using nonpublic information they obtain through their official positions in order to personally profit off the stock market. The STOCK Act that codified this ban was signed by President Barack Obama in 2012, after passing the Senate in a 96-3 vote.
Burr was one of only three senators who voted against the STOCK Act.


cnbc--2020-05-14--GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham rejects Trump demand that Obama testify on Russia probe

U.S .
Senator Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) speaks to the media on his way to the Republican caucus launch .
Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , on Thursday shot down President Donald Trump 's demand that his predecessor , former President Barack Obama , be called to testify before Congress .
`` I think it 'd be a bad precedent to compel a former president to come before the Congress , '' Graham , a close ally of Trump 's , told reporters on Capitol Hill .
`` That would open up a can of worms and for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's a good idea , '' Graham said .
But the senator does plan to hold hearings on matters related to the Russia investigation , he said in a statement Thursday .
Trump had tweeted earlier Thursday morning that , `` If I were a Senator or Congressman , the first person I would call to testify about the biggest political crime and scandal in the history of the USA , by FAR , is former President Obama .
He knew EVERYTHING . ''
Trump tagged Graham , chairman of the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Do it @ LindseyGrahamSC , just do it .
No more Mr. Nice Guy .
No more talk ! ''
Trump did not say in his tweet what he thinks Obama should testify about .
The president has ramped up his attacks against Obama in the last week , after the Department of Justice 's surprise move to dismiss its case against Michael Flynn , Trump 's first national security advisor .
Flynn had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversations in the weeks before Trump 's inauguration with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend , Trump used the term `` Obamagate '' amid a slew of tweets and retweets attacking the FBI 's conduct in Flynn 's case .
The phrase appears to serve as a catchall for multiple allegations against Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden , who is now the apparent Democratic presidential nominee , which NBC News reported are not backed up by evidence .
Trump has long described former special counsel Robert Mueller 's investigation of Russian election meddling , possible Kremlin coordination with Trump 's 2016 campaign and possible obstruction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a `` hoax . ''
When a reporter at the White House on Monday asked what crime Trump was accusing Obama of committing , the president did not specify .
`` You know what the crime is , '' Trump said .
`` The crime is very obvious to everybody .
All you have to do is read the newspapers , except yours . ''
Last Friday , Yahoo News published audio of Obama saying in a private call that the Justice Department 's move to drop its prosecution of Flynn made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law is at risk . ''
A spokeswoman for Obama did not respond to CNBC 's request for comment on Trump 's Thursday morning tweet .
Graham plans to hold congressional hearings in June regarding Flynn 's case and other aspects of the Mueller probe , including whether Mueller `` should have ever been appointed as Special Counsel . ''
Graham said in his statement that he plans to hold congressional hearings in June regarding Flynn 's case and other aspects of the Mueller probe , including whether Mueller `` should have ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` To say we are living in unusual times is an understatement , '' Graham 's statement added .
`` We have the sitting president ( Trump ) accusing the former president ( Obama ) of being part of a treasonous conspiracy to undermine his presidency .
We have the former president suggesting the current president is destroying the rule of law by dismissing the General Flynn case . ''
If Graham or another senator were to subpoena Obama to testify , it would be a move made apparently without precedent in U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a small handful of sitting presidents – including George Washington and Abraham Lincoln – have voluntarily testified under oath , JustSecurity reported .

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) speaks to the media on his way to the Republican caucus launch.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on Thursday shot down President Donald Trump's demand that his predecessor, former President Barack Obama, be called to testify before Congress.
"I think it'd be a bad precedent to compel a former president to come before the Congress," Graham, a close ally of Trump's, told reporters on Capitol Hill.
"That would open up a can of worms and for a variety of reasons I don't think that's a good idea," Graham said.
But the senator does plan to hold hearings on matters related to the Russia investigation, he said in a statement Thursday.
Trump had tweeted earlier Thursday morning that, "If I were a Senator or Congressman, the first person I would call to testify about the biggest political crime and scandal in the history of the USA, by FAR, is former President Obama. He knew EVERYTHING."
Trump tagged Graham, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, in the tweet: "Do it @LindseyGrahamSC, just do it. No more Mr. Nice Guy. No more talk!"
TWEET
Trump did not say in his tweet what he thinks Obama should testify about.
The president has ramped up his attacks against Obama in the last week, after the Department of Justice's surprise move to dismiss its case against Michael Flynn, Trump's first national security advisor. Flynn had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversations in the weeks before Trump's inauguration with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.
Over the weekend, Trump used the term "Obamagate" amid a slew of tweets and retweets attacking the FBI's conduct in Flynn's case.
The phrase appears to serve as a catchall for multiple allegations against Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden, who is now the apparent Democratic presidential nominee, which NBC News reported are not backed up by evidence.
Trump has long described former special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian election meddling, possible Kremlin coordination with Trump's 2016 campaign and possible obstruction of justice by the president himself, as a "hoax."
When a reporter at the White House on Monday asked what crime Trump was accusing Obama of committing, the president did not specify.
"You know what the crime is," Trump said. "The crime is very obvious to everybody. All you have to do is read the newspapers, except yours."
Last Friday, Yahoo News published audio of Obama saying in a private call that the Justice Department's move to drop its prosecution of Flynn made him worry that "the rule of law is at risk."
A spokeswoman for Obama did not respond to CNBC's request for comment on Trump's Thursday morning tweet.
Graham plans to hold congressional hearings in June regarding Flynn's case and other aspects of the Mueller probe, including whether Mueller "should have ever been appointed as Special Counsel."
Graham said in his statement that he plans to hold congressional hearings in June regarding Flynn's case and other aspects of the Mueller probe, including whether Mueller "should have ever been appointed as Special Counsel."
"To say we are living in unusual times is an understatement," Graham's statement added. "We have the sitting president (Trump) accusing the former president (Obama) of being part of a treasonous conspiracy to undermine his presidency. We have the former president suggesting the current president is destroying the rule of law by dismissing the General Flynn case."
If Graham or another senator were to subpoena Obama to testify, it would be a move made apparently without precedent in U.S. history. However, some former presidents and a small handful of sitting presidents – including George Washington and Abraham Lincoln – have voluntarily testified under oath, JustSecurity reported.
-- CNBC's Christina Wilkie contributed to this report.