cnbc--2020-10-22--Here's what to watch during the final two weeks of the Trump-Biden campaign

The pandemic has been a central focus of the final year of the 2020 campaign .
Democrats have ripped Trump 's handling of the crisis , arguing that he bears responsibility for the hundreds of thousands of deaths in the U.S. that have so far been attributed to the disease .
The president , meanwhile , has frequently promised that a vaccine was on the way and that the country would be freed from Covid-19 in time for a record-breaking economic boom in 2021 .
Coronavirus cases are on the rise once again , and experts warn the pandemic could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flu season progresses .
But Trump has preemptively rejected the possibility of reapplying the strict social distancing measures that squelched the economy and sent markets plummeting downward earlier in the year .
On Capitol Hill , the window of opportunity for another round of pandemic relief before the election appears to be closing shut .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have grappled for months with Trump administration negotiators , including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows .
Trump has frequently contradicted Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill and recently walked away from the negotiating table before restarting talks — all without being directly involved in any of the deliberations himself .
Still , Pelosi said Democrats and the White House have `` continued to narrow their differences '' following an hourlong talk Monday .
Health experts have poured cold water on Trump 's repeated refrain that a vaccine could come as soon as Election Day , or possibly even sooner .
Even if it did , questions remain about its timeline for distribution .
Trump has touted his administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of doses as soon as a vaccine is approved , but officials have said it could take months before most Americans are vaccinated .
But if a major development in the search for a vaccine does occur before the election , expect the Trump campaign to shout it from the rooftops .
`` If there 's a vaccine that 's ready or if there 's a therapy that 's ready , I fully expect that the president will trumpet it , and do it very loudly , '' said Chris Campbell , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial institutions .
`` If that process yields a result prior to the election , I think that 's all that we will hear between that day and the Election Day , '' Campbell said .
The most dramatic moments in a campaign often come in the final weeks before an election , but good luck trying to spot them in advance .
`` There is always an October surprise and it at times can be needle-moving , but there 's really no way to plan for it , because it 's just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Campbell said .
In October 2016 , there were plenty .
Trump 's campaign was rocked , and largely written off , after audio surfaced of him in 2005 bragging about making sexual advances on women , saying `` when you 're a star , they let you do it . ''
But soon after , focus shifted to then-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton 's use of a private email server .
Then-FBI Director James Comey 's public remarks about the Democrat 's emails , delivered just a few days before the 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the presidency .
A New York Post report published last week , claiming to show `` smoking gun '' emails related to Biden and his son Hunter Biden is being treated as an October surprise by the Trump campaign and its surrogates .
The report , which cites Trump 's lawyer , Rudy Giuliani , and his former top advisor , Steve Bannon , as sources , has been treated with skepticism by other news outlets .
The Post alleges Hunter Biden attempted to set up a meeting between his father and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked for while Joe Biden was vice president .
It 's unclear whether the Post 's report will have a noticeable impact on the race , though the Post has also claimed polls are narrowing in the wake of its exclusive .
The president and his supporters have railed against the decisions by Facebook and Twitter to limit distribution of the story on their platforms , accusing the tech giants of politically motivated censorship .
Biden 's son was at the center of Trump 's impeachment fight , which revolved in large part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to `` look into '' the Bidens .
Trump was impeached in the House and acquitted in the Senate .
Another possible October surprise may have already come and gone : the president 's Covid-19 infection .
Trump revealed on Oct. 2 that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for the coronavirus .
He flew to Walter Reed Military Medical Center that same day , and was discharged three days later .
`` I tend to think that the president getting coronavirus was a pretty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding that Trump 's apparent recovery from the virus might work in his favor .
Trump has consistently downplayed the threat of the virus and disregarded his own administration 's guidelines for social distancing and wearing protective equipment to avoid spreading the disease .
At least 219,950 people in the U.S. have died from Covid-19 , according to Johns Hopkins University .

Joe Biden and Donald Trump Getty Images
The final debate
Trump and Biden debated face to face for the first time in late September. It didn't go well. Trump constantly interrupted, and Biden hurled unfiltered insults, as the debate offered plenty of heat but little light. Polls showed the debate was panned by majorities of viewers, though Biden's performance was generally viewed more favorably.
watch now
The coronavirus
The pandemic has been a central focus of the final year of the 2020 campaign. Democrats have ripped Trump's handling of the crisis, arguing that he bears responsibility for the hundreds of thousands of deaths in the U.S. that have so far been attributed to the disease. The president, meanwhile, has frequently promised that a vaccine was on the way and that the country would be freed from Covid-19 in time for a record-breaking economic boom in 2021. Coronavirus cases are on the rise once again, and experts warn the pandemic could be even more difficult to fight as flu season progresses. But Trump has preemptively rejected the possibility of reapplying the strict social distancing measures that squelched the economy and sent markets plummeting downward earlier in the year. On Capitol Hill, the window of opportunity for another round of pandemic relief before the election appears to be closing shut. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have grappled for months with Trump administration negotiators, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. Trump has frequently contradicted Republican leaders' desires for an additional stimulus bill and recently walked away from the negotiating table before restarting talks — all without being directly involved in any of the deliberations himself. Still, Pelosi said Democrats and the White House have "continued to narrow their differences" following an hourlong talk Monday. Health experts have poured cold water on Trump's repeated refrain that a vaccine could come as soon as Election Day, or possibly even sooner. Even if it did, questions remain about its timeline for distribution. Trump has touted his administration's efforts to prepare to ship out millions of doses as soon as a vaccine is approved, but officials have said it could take months before most Americans are vaccinated. But if a major development in the search for a vaccine does occur before the election, expect the Trump campaign to shout it from the rooftops. "If there's a vaccine that's ready or if there's a therapy that's ready, I fully expect that the president will trumpet it, and do it very loudly," said Chris Campbell, former assistant secretary of the Treasury for financial institutions. "If that process yields a result prior to the election, I think that's all that we will hear between that day and the Election Day," Campbell said.
The October surprise


cnbc--2020-10-22--Trump and Biden will have mics muted for part of last presidential debate

President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden will at times have their microphones cut during their next debate , the event 's sponsors announced Monday .
When one of the two candidates is given a chance to provide a two-minute answer to each of the six debate topics , his opponent 's microphone will be muted , the Commission on Presidential Debates said in a statement .
`` It is the hope of the Commission that the candidates will be respectful of each other 's time , which will advance civil discourse for the benefit of the viewing public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final debate scheduled between Trump and Biden is set for Thursday at 9 p.m .
ET in Nashville .
It will be moderated by NBC News ' Kristen Welker .
It will run 90 minutes in length , with each of the six topics allotted 15 minutes .
The topics , selected by Welker , are : The changes were implemented in the wake of the vicious and messy first debate in late September , during which Trump frequently interrupted the former vice president and at times argued with the moderator , Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commission 's statement Monday night said it `` considered the opinion of many who expressed concern the debate fell short of expectations , depriving voters of the opportunity to be informed of the candidates ' positions on the issues . ''
In order to allow the candidates to freely share their views in the final debate , the commission announced that `` the only candidate whose microphone will be open during these two-minute periods is the candidate who has the floor under the rules . ''
`` We realize , after discussions with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be totally satisfied with the measures announced today .
One may think they go too far , and one may think they do not go far enough , '' the commission said in the statement .
`` We are comfortable that these actions strike the right balance and that they are in the interest of the American people , for whom these debates are held . ''
The commission 's statement noted that `` both campaigns this week again reaffirmed their agreement to the two-minute , uninterrupted rule . ''
Trump campaign manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commission of bias , but said the president `` is committed to debating Joe Biden regardless of last minute rule changes . ''
Stepien 's statement also signaled that Trump would bring up allegations against Biden 's son , Hunter Biden , during the debate .
A spokesman for Biden 's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
The commission had originally scheduled three debates between the two presidential candidates .
Trump had previously pushed for a fourth debate to be scheduled .
But the second debate was canceled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the commission 's decision to hold the event virtually , rather than in person .
That move was made following Trump 's diagnosis with the coronavirus and subsequent hospitalization .
The president and his campaign have aggressively criticized the debate commission and its chosen slate of moderators .
Wallace , who had repeatedly admonished Trump during the debate to wait his turn before speaking , was attacked by the president and his surrogates .
The now-canned second debate was set to be moderated by C-SPAN 's political editor , Steve Scully .
Beforehand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bias .
After the debate had already been scrapped , Scully was suspended by C-SPAN after he admitted to lying that his Twitter account had been `` hacked . ''
Scully had made the false claim after tweeting a message to former White House official-turned-critic Anthony Scaramucci , which had apparently been intended to be private .
On Saturday , Trump said of Welker in a tweet : `` She 's always been terrible & unfair , just like most of the Fake News reporters , but I 'll still play the game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a letter on Twitter urging the debate hosts to ensure that foreign policy would be the main focus , rather than the coronavirus , climate change or race in America .

President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden will at times have their microphones cut during their next debate, the event's sponsors announced Monday.
When one of the two candidates is given a chance to provide a two-minute answer to each of the six debate topics, his opponent's microphone will be muted, the Commission on Presidential Debates said in a statement.
"It is the hope of the Commission that the candidates will be respectful of each other's time, which will advance civil discourse for the benefit of the viewing public," the statement said.
The final debate scheduled between Trump and Biden is set for Thursday at 9 p.m. ET in Nashville. It will be moderated by NBC News' Kristen Welker. It will run 90 minutes in length, with each of the six topics allotted 15 minutes.
The topics, selected by Welker, are:
Fighting Covid-19
American families
Race in America
Climate change
National security
Leadership
The changes were implemented in the wake of the vicious and messy first debate in late September, during which Trump frequently interrupted the former vice president and at times argued with the moderator, Fox News' Chris Wallace.
The debate commission's statement Monday night said it "considered the opinion of many who expressed concern the debate fell short of expectations, depriving voters of the opportunity to be informed of the candidates' positions on the issues."
In order to allow the candidates to freely share their views in the final debate, the commission announced that "the only candidate whose microphone will be open during these two-minute periods is the candidate who has the floor under the rules."
"We realize, after discussions with both campaigns, that neither campaign may be totally satisfied with the measures announced today. One may think they go too far, and one may think they do not go far enough," the commission said in the statement.
"We are comfortable that these actions strike the right balance and that they are in the interest of the American people, for whom these debates are held."
The commission's statement noted that "both campaigns this week again reaffirmed their agreement to the two-minute, uninterrupted rule."
Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien in a statement accused the commission of bias, but said the president "is committed to debating Joe Biden regardless of last minute rule changes."
Stepien's statement also signaled that Trump would bring up allegations against Biden's son, Hunter Biden, during the debate.
A spokesman for Biden's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The commission had originally scheduled three debates between the two presidential candidates. Trump had previously pushed for a fourth debate to be scheduled.
But the second debate was canceled after Trump refused to participate, following the commission's decision to hold the event virtually, rather than in person. That move was made following Trump's diagnosis with the coronavirus and subsequent hospitalization.
The president and his campaign have aggressively criticized the debate commission and its chosen slate of moderators. Wallace, who had repeatedly admonished Trump during the debate to wait his turn before speaking, was attacked by the president and his surrogates.
The now-canned second debate was set to be moderated by C-SPAN's political editor, Steve Scully. Beforehand, Trump had accused Scully of political bias.
After the debate had already been scrapped, Scully was suspended by C-SPAN after he admitted to lying that his Twitter account had been "hacked." Scully had made the false claim after tweeting a message to former White House official-turned-critic Anthony Scaramucci, which had apparently been intended to be private.
On Saturday, Trump said of Welker in a tweet: "She's always been terrible & unfair, just like most of the Fake News reporters, but I'll still play the game."
Earlier Monday, Stepien shared a letter on Twitter urging the debate hosts to ensure that foreign policy would be the main focus, rather than the coronavirus, climate change or race in America.
— CNBC's Amanda Macias contributed to this report.


cnbc--2020-10-22--Trump says he will take coronavirus test before next debate with Joe Biden

U.S. President Donald Trump participates in the first 2020 presidential campaign debate with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , held on the campus of the Cleveland Clinic at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland , Ohio , September 29 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump said Monday that he will take a coronavirus test before his upcoming debate with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
Trump earlier this month tested positive for Covid-19 and was hospitalized for several days on the heels of his first debate with the former vice president , but since then has been declared free of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two men are set to square off for their second and final debate Thursday evening at Belmont University in Nashville , Tennessee .
That debate originally was supposed to be the third one of the 2020 election campaign .
But the second scheduled debate , originally planned for last Thursday , was scrapped after Trump balked at a plan by the Commission on Presidential Debates to hold the showdown virtually , instead of in person , in light of the president 's positive diagnosis .
Trump has claimed he does not remember whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day of the first debate , Sept. 29 , in Cleveland .
That debate occurred two days before Trump tested positive for Covid-19 .

U.S. President Donald Trump participates in the first 2020 presidential campaign debate with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, held on the campus of the Cleveland Clinic at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, September 29, 2020.
President Donald Trump said Monday that he will take a coronavirus test before his upcoming debate with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
Trump earlier this month tested positive for Covid-19 and was hospitalized for several days on the heels of his first debate with the former vice president, but since then has been declared free of the virus by his doctor.
The two men are set to square off for their second and final debate Thursday evening at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.
That debate originally was supposed to be the third one of the 2020 election campaign.
But the second scheduled debate, originally planned for last Thursday, was scrapped after Trump balked at a plan by the Commission on Presidential Debates to hold the showdown virtually, instead of in person, in light of the president's positive diagnosis.
Trump has claimed he does not remember whether he was tested for the virus on the day of the first debate, Sept. 29, in Cleveland. That debate occurred two days before Trump tested positive for Covid-19.


cnbc--2020-10-23--Joe Biden lays out a detailed plan to fight coronavirus as new infections soar

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks about his plan to beat COVID-19 in Wilmington , Delaware , October 23 , 2020 .
WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Friday laid out exactly how a Biden administration would address the coronavirus crisis , one day after the United States recorded nearly a record daily high in new coronavirus cases .
Biden said if he were elected , he would begin carrying out his plan even before he is inaugurated .
`` I 'll reach out to every governor in every state , red and blue , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the transition , to find out what support they need and how much of it they need , '' Biden said during a speech at the Queen Theater in Wilmington , Delaware .
`` I 'll ask the new Congress to put a bill on my desk by the end of January with all the resources necessary , so that both our public health response and our economic response can be seen through to the end . ''
Here 's how Biden described each step of his plan .
• Masking : Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ask them to impose a mask mandate .
If governors refused , as they have in several states , Biden said he would turn to local officials .
He also said he will mandate masks in all federal buildings and on all interstate transportation .
• Testing : The former vice president said he would launch a national testing plan aimed at conducting as many tests each day as the U.S. currently performs each week , which would amount to approximately 7 million tests a day .
Biden would also build lab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact tracers , and ensure that tests are free and accessible regardless of immigration status .
• Personal protective equipment : Biden intends to use `` the full power of the Defense Production Act '' to drive the domestic manufacturing of masks , gloves , gowns and other equipment , including ample N95 masks for health-care workers .
Biden also said he would appoint `` a fully empowered supply commander in charge of filling in the gaps . ''
• Uniform , scientific reopening guidelines : A Biden administration , he said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trusted , detailed nationwide guidance and technical support for reopening safely and the resources to make it happen . ''
Biden also said the government would provide consultations and technical advice `` so people have a place to turn with their questions . ''
• Treatments and vaccines : Biden 's plan would put an emphasis on equitable and widespread delivery of therapeutics in the near term and eventually a free coronavirus vaccine , he said .
But Biden acknowledged that even if a vaccine is found to be effective , `` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine is widely available . ''
The speech showcased the sharp divide between President Donald Trump 's approach to combating the virus , which relies heavily on shifting authority and responsibility for pandemic response onto states , and Biden 's more centralized plan .
A Trump campaign spokesperson did not immediately respond to CNBC 's request for comment on Biden 's speech .
With just 11 days to go before Election Day , the speech both crystallized Biden 's closing argument and encapsulated his overarching campaign promise : Namely , a return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Imagine a day in the not too distant future , when you can enjoy dinner with your friends and family , and maybe even go out to a movie , '' said Biden , painting a picture of everyday American life that used to sound mundane , but now seems out of reach for many .
Trump , meanwhile , has continued to downplay the severity of the global pandemic , which has so far cost the lives of more than 220,000 Americans , the worst outcome among any of the developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday in Nashville , Trump insisted that the country is `` rounding the corner , '' and the virus is `` going away , '' despite the fact that cases are surging in most states .
`` I say we 're learning to live with it , '' he added .
Biden shot back : `` People are learning to die with it . ''

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks about his plan to beat COVID-19 in Wilmington, Delaware, October 23, 2020.
WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Friday laid out exactly how a Biden administration would address the coronavirus crisis, one day after the United States recorded nearly a record daily high in new coronavirus cases.
Biden said if he were elected, he would begin carrying out his plan even before he is inaugurated.
"I'll reach out to every governor in every state, red and blue, as well as mayors and local officials, during the transition, to find out what support they need and how much of it they need," Biden said during a speech at the Queen Theater in Wilmington, Delaware.
"I'll ask the new Congress to put a bill on my desk by the end of January with all the resources necessary, so that both our public health response and our economic response can be seen through to the end."
Here's how Biden described each step of his plan.
Masking: Biden said he would go to every governor and ask them to impose a mask mandate. If governors refused, as they have in several states, Biden said he would turn to local officials. He also said he will mandate masks in all federal buildings and on all interstate transportation.
Testing: The former vice president said he would launch a national testing plan aimed at conducting as many tests each day as the U.S. currently performs each week, which would amount to approximately 7 million tests a day. Biden would also build lab capacity, hire a national corps of contact tracers, and ensure that tests are free and accessible regardless of immigration status.
Personal protective equipment: Biden intends to use "the full power of the Defense Production Act" to drive the domestic manufacturing of masks, gloves, gowns and other equipment, including ample N95 masks for health-care workers. Biden also said he would appoint "a fully empowered supply commander in charge of filling in the gaps."
Uniform, scientific reopening guidelines: A Biden administration, he said, will "provide consistent, reliable, trusted, detailed nationwide guidance and technical support for reopening safely and the resources to make it happen." Biden also said the government would provide consultations and technical advice "so people have a place to turn with their questions."
Treatments and vaccines: Biden's plan would put an emphasis on equitable and widespread delivery of therapeutics in the near term and eventually a free coronavirus vaccine, he said. But Biden acknowledged that even if a vaccine is found to be effective, "It will still be many months before any vaccine is widely available."
The speech showcased the sharp divide between President Donald Trump's approach to combating the virus, which relies heavily on shifting authority and responsibility for pandemic response onto states, and Biden's more centralized plan.
A Trump campaign spokesperson did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on Biden's speech.
With just 11 days to go before Election Day, the speech both crystallized Biden's closing argument and encapsulated his overarching campaign promise: Namely, a return to responsible, reliable and steady leadership.
"Imagine a day in the not too distant future, when you can enjoy dinner with your friends and family, and maybe even go out to a movie," said Biden, painting a picture of everyday American life that used to sound mundane, but now seems out of reach for many.
Trump, meanwhile, has continued to downplay the severity of the global pandemic, which has so far cost the lives of more than 220,000 Americans, the worst outcome among any of the developed nations.
During the final presidential debate Thursday in Nashville, Trump insisted that the country is "rounding the corner," and the virus is "going away," despite the fact that cases are surging in most states. "I say we're learning to live with it," he added.
Biden shot back: "People are learning to die with it."


cnbc--2020-10-23--Jared Kushner friend, Giuliani associate Ken Kurson charged with cyber stalking

Jared Kushner and Ken Kurson attend GalleristNY celebrates New York 's Artists at The Standard on February 20 , 2013 in New York City .
Ken Kurson , the former editor of a New York newspaper when it was owned by his friend Jared Kushner , a top advisor to President Donald Trump , has been charged by federal prosecutors with interstate cyber stalking and harassment of three people .
Kurson , a political consultant who is also a confidant of Trump 's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani , is accused of repeatedly visiting his victims at work , making false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cyber activity , '' the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney 's office said .
The criminal conduct allegedly occurred in the last two months of 2015 , when Kurson was editor-in-chief of The New York Observer , then-owned by Kushner , who is also Trump 's son-in-law .
The Maplewood , New Jersey , resident surrendered to authorities on Friday morning and appeared virtually in Brooklyn federal court on Friday afternoon .
A woman identified herself to the court clerk as `` a victim '' of Kurson after she phoned into the proceeding , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus precautions .
Kurson 's release bond was set at $ 100,000 by a Magistrate Judge Ramon Reyes , who restricted his travel to the continental United States .
Reyes also ordered Kurson not to have contact with the victims in the case .
His arrest comes two years after he withdrew his name from consideration for a Trump administration appointment to the board of the National Endowment for the Humanities .
The New York Times reported in July 2018 that two doctors at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York had accused Kurson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been notified about their claims as that agency conducted a background check of Kurson for the board seat .
The background check led directly to the criminal complaint unsealed Friday .
Kurson , 52 , claimed to the Times in that same article that he had withdrawn his name because of the amount of paperwork required for the process .
The criminal complaint against Kurson says that he blamed one of the victims , whom he had been friends with for more than 20 years , `` for the dissolution of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a co-worker and supervisor of the first victim , the complaint says .
The third victim , who was the spouse of the second victim , worked for a news media publication , the complaint says .
The complaint also says FBI agents found evidence that between September 2015 and December 2015 , Kurson accessed the email and social media accounts of other victims without their knowledge and installed keystroke logging spyware on one victim 's computer .
There was also evidence that Kurson contacted victims ' employers to make claims that include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a minor , '' according to the complaint .
He used the aliases `` Jayden Wagner '' and `` Eddie Train '' in making the false claims , the complaint said .
It also said that in his 2018 questionnaire for a background check by the FBI for his would-be board appointment , `` Kurson made multiple false statements and misrepresentations , including falsely certifying that he had never used any other names or aliases . ''
It is a federal crime to lie on such a questionnaire .
Prosecutors also said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the workplace of two of the victims , taking photographs and inquiring about one victim 's work schedule . ''
An employer of two of the victims hired a security guard `` as a result of Kurson 's conduct , '' the U.S. Attorney 's Office said .
Kurson 's lawyer Marc Mukasey said , `` Ken Kurson is an honorable man , a loving dad , and a brilliant writer .
This case is hardly the stuff of a federal criminal prosecution . ''
`` He will get past it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman declined to comment on Kurson 's arrest , and on the question of whether Kushner was interviewed by the FBI or other investigators about Kurson 's alleged conduct .
The press office of Mount Sinai did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Kurson had helped run the former New York mayor Giuliani 's 2008 presidential campaign .
He later served as editor-in-chief of The New York Observer , when that then-weekly newspaper was owned by Kushner .
The news outlet now is published online under the name Observer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ advised then-presidential candidate Trump for a speech that he delivered to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in 2016 .
Kurson later sat in the Trump family box at the Republican National Convention that same year , the Times previously reported .
More recently , he founded a news website , Modern Consensus , which focuses on cryptocurrency and blockchain .
Kurson serves on the board of the cryptocurrency company Ripple .
The Times reported in 2018 that at the time Kurson allegedly began harassing the Mount Sinai doctors , he `` and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting a divorce . ''
One doctor , `` who had been a longtime friend of the couple 's , told hospital officials that she was concerned about what she saw as Mr. Kurson 's angry , erratic behavior , '' the Times reported .
Kurson called the doctor a `` very good friend '' in a Times interview .
`` I wish her nothing but the best . ''
The author Deborah Copaken in March 2018 wrote an article about Kurson in The Atlantic entitled `` How to Lose Your Job from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Copaken wrote that during a job interview with Kurson for the Observer , he made a comment about staring at her breasts .
Later , after she began writing for the newspaper , Copaken said , Kurson wrote her an email that said , `` How come you never asked me out ? ''
The Times reported in July 2018 that after her article was published , Copaken was contacted by someone who told her about Kurson 's alleged harassment of staffers at Mount Sinai Hospital .
Copaken told The Times that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as part of the background investigation of Kurson .
The newspaper said that she told the agents about the Mount Sinai situation , `` although she did not know if was true . ''
When asked for comment Friday about Kurson 's arrest , Copaken told CNBC , `` I 'm glad he will no longer be harassing and terrorizing others . ''
On the top of her Twitter feed , Copaken pinned a post about the case that said , `` Sometimes justice takes a long time .
I published this on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of others called me with similar stories and worse '' '' On 6/4/18 , two FBI agents showed up at my door .
Today , Ken Kurson is being charged with cyberstalking .
# metoo , '' Cokapen wrote in the tweet , which links to her Atlantic article .

Jared Kushner and Ken Kurson attend GalleristNY celebrates New York's Artists at The Standard on February 20, 2013 in New York City.
Ken Kurson, the former editor of a New York newspaper when it was owned by his friend Jared Kushner, a top advisor to President Donald Trump, has been charged by federal prosecutors with interstate cyber stalking and harassment of three people.
Kurson, a political consultant who is also a confidant of Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, is accused of repeatedly visiting his victims at work, making false complaints with their employers and "malicious cyber activity," the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney's office said.
The criminal conduct allegedly occurred in the last two months of 2015, when Kurson was editor-in-chief of The New York Observer, then-owned by Kushner, who is also Trump's son-in-law.
The Maplewood, New Jersey, resident surrendered to authorities on Friday morning and appeared virtually in Brooklyn federal court on Friday afternoon.
A woman identified herself to the court clerk as "a victim" of Kurson after she phoned into the proceeding, which was held over audio links because of coronavirus precautions.
Kurson's release bond was set at $100,000 by a Magistrate Judge Ramon Reyes, who restricted his travel to the continental United States. Reyes also ordered Kurson not to have contact with the victims in the case.
His arrest comes two years after he withdrew his name from consideration for a Trump administration appointment to the board of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The New York Times reported in July 2018 that two doctors at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York had accused Kurson of harassment, and that the FBI had been notified about their claims as that agency conducted a background check of Kurson for the board seat. The background check led directly to the criminal complaint unsealed Friday.
Kurson, 52, claimed to the Times in that same article that he had withdrawn his name because of the amount of paperwork required for the process.
The criminal complaint against Kurson says that he blamed one of the victims, whom he had been friends with for more than 20 years, "for the dissolution of his marriage." The second victim was a co-worker and supervisor of the first victim, the complaint says.
The third victim, who was the spouse of the second victim, worked for a news media publication, the complaint says.
The complaint also says FBI agents found evidence that between September 2015 and December 2015, Kurson accessed the email and social media accounts of other victims without their knowledge and installed keystroke logging spyware on one victim's computer.
There was also evidence that Kurson contacted victims' employers to make claims that include a "false allegation of improper contact with a minor," according to the complaint.
He used the aliases "Jayden Wagner" and "Eddie Train" in making the false claims, the complaint said.
It also said that in his 2018 questionnaire for a background check by the FBI for his would-be board appointment, "Kurson made multiple false statements and misrepresentations, including falsely certifying that he had never used any other names or aliases." It is a federal crime to lie on such a questionnaire.
Prosecutors also said that "Kurson traveled on multiple occasions to the workplace of two of the victims, taking photographs and inquiring about one victim's work schedule."
An employer of two of the victims hired a security guard "as a result of Kurson's conduct," the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
Kurson's lawyer Marc Mukasey said, "Ken Kurson is an honorable man, a loving dad, and a brilliant writer. This case is hardly the stuff of a federal criminal prosecution."
"He will get past it," Mukasey said.
A White House spokesman declined to comment on Kurson's arrest, and on the question of whether Kushner was interviewed by the FBI or other investigators about Kurson's alleged conduct.
The press office of Mount Sinai did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Kurson had helped run the former New York mayor Giuliani's 2008 presidential campaign.
He later served as editor-in-chief of The New York Observer, when that then-weekly newspaper was owned by Kushner. The news outlet now is published online under the name Observer.
While the paper's editor, Kurson advised then-presidential candidate Trump for a speech that he delivered to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in 2016. Kurson later sat in the Trump family box at the Republican National Convention that same year, the Times previously reported.
More recently, he founded a news website, Modern Consensus, which focuses on cryptocurrency and blockchain. Kurson serves on the board of the cryptocurrency company Ripple.
The Times reported in 2018 that at the time Kurson allegedly began harassing the Mount Sinai doctors, he "and his wife were on the verge of getting a divorce."
One doctor, "who had been a longtime friend of the couple's, told hospital officials that she was concerned about what she saw as Mr. Kurson's angry, erratic behavior," the Times reported.
Kurson called the doctor a "very good friend" in a Times interview.
"I wish her nothing but the best."
The author Deborah Copaken in March 2018 wrote an article about Kurson in The Atlantic entitled "How to Lose Your Job from Sexual Harassment in 33 Easy Steps."
Copaken wrote that during a job interview with Kurson for the Observer, he made a comment about staring at her breasts.
Later, after she began writing for the newspaper, Copaken said, Kurson wrote her an email that said, "How come you never asked me out?"
The Times reported in July 2018 that after her article was published, Copaken was contacted by someone who told her about Kurson's alleged harassment of staffers at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Copaken told The Times that FBI agents interviewed her in June 2018 as part of the background investigation of Kurson. The newspaper said that she told the agents about the Mount Sinai situation, "although she did not know if was true."
When asked for comment Friday about Kurson's arrest, Copaken told CNBC, "I'm glad he will no longer be harassing and terrorizing others."
On the top of her Twitter feed, Copaken pinned a post about the case that said, "Sometimes justice takes a long time. I published this on 3/9/18. In its wake, dozens of others called me with similar stories and worse"
"On 6/4/18, two FBI agents showed up at my door. Today, Ken Kurson is being charged with cyberstalking. #metoo," Cokapen wrote in the tweet, which links to her Atlantic article.


cnbc--2020-10-23--Fiery House election on Virginia's coast tests whether GOP can rebound in an increasingly blue state

A bitter election in Virginia 's 2nd Congressional District over a crucial House seat is boiling down to which of two Navy veterans better represents a historically Republican region that now finds itself increasingly drawn toward Democrats .
The contest , as muddy as its Tidewater setting , pits incumbent Democrat Elaine Luria against a familiar rival : GOP challenger and former Rep. Scott Taylor .
Luria ousted Taylor in an nasty contest two years ago as part of a broader Democratic sweep to win back the chamber .
The two have remained fierce opponents .
The vitriolic race between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : The district has quickly become a key battleground for Democrats and Republicans in their attempts to control the House .
Democrats , who on Nov. 3 hope to regain control of the Senate , are favored to hold on to their 232-seat majority in the House .
Despite the candidates ' common background in the Navy , the two could not appear further apart on issues ranging from gun control to climate change .
Nor could they appear happier to remind voters of just how much they disagree through incessant smears and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contest remain .
A 2018 fraud scandal dogs Taylor , whose former campaign staffers were charged with forging signatures on a petition to support a third-party spoiler candidate on the ballot .
Though Taylor himself has not been charged , two staffers have pleaded guilty and a third was indicted in September .
A debate Tuesday evening hosted by WTKR television served as a perfect opportunity for each to malign the other .
The pair swapped insults and accused each other of misrepresenting their legislative records and obscuring their positions on numerous of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said in his answer that was true is that we have real differences , '' Luria said during a question about gun control .
The first-term representative said she favors universal background checks and is open to legislation that would ban certain gun-silencing instruments that she says contributed to a 2019 mass shooting at Virginia Beach that claimed 12 victims .
Taylor , incredulous , parried by asking : `` Who is Mrs. Luria to tell us , American citizens , how many rounds we can have in a magazine to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses ? ''
Neither campaign had offered comment to CNBC at the time this article was published .
Luria has a slight lead in the race , according to a poll released Wednesday by Christopher Newport University 's Wason Center for Public Policy .
The survey , which had a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points , shows Luria leading Taylor by 7 points .
Luria enjoys double-digit leads among female and college-educated voters , the poll showed .
`` The enthusiasm that seems to be animating Democrats nationally is evident in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wason Center research director Rebecca Bromley-Trujillo .
`` But the election fraud scandal of 2018 appears to be weighing Taylor down even beyond that . ''
The Wason Center found in the same poll that 2nd District voters prefer Democrat Joe Biden over Trump by 9 points .
Statewide , an average calculated by FiveThirtyEight shows Biden up 12.9 percentage points over Trump .
A similar average generated by RealClearPolitics shows Biden 's lead at 11.4 points .
Experts say the fact that Biden and Luria 's leads have been moving in tandem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surprising since dissatisfaction with Trump continues to be a motivating factor for the region .
That marks a change from the 2016 election , when the Tidewater favored Trump over Hillary Clinton .
The 2nd District , which includes the cities of Virginia Beach and Williamsburg , as well as portions of Norfolk City , favored Trump by 3 percentage points in 2016 .
But voters have since gone Democratic— supporting Gov .
Ralph Northam in 2017 — and helped the party recapture the U.S. House in 2018 .
Though surveys on Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ read on how 2nd District voters feel about Luria and Taylor , Farrah Stone of Virginia Commonwealth University said her polling that the president may nonetheless have an impact on down-ballot contests .
Though an endorsement from Trump can often buoy a Republican 's odds , Farrah said many of the military families that make up the Eastern Shore have grown skeptical of the president 's supposed love for the rank-and-file soldiers .
`` In that Tidewater area , the military is definitely top of the list , '' Stone said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care of the military , taking care of veterans .
Those are really preeminent values there . ''
Virginia receives a disproportionate amount of defense spending , providing the commonwealth with hundreds of thousands of jobs .
If one includes the jobs created by defense-related spending as well as the thousands of contractors supporting the armed services , federal spending supported more than 880,000 jobs in Virginia as recently as fiscal 2016 , according to Rep .
Rob Wittman , R-Va. `` While Virginia contributes much to our nation 's defense , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DoD contributes to our economy by providing hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in expenditures , '' Wittman wrote in 2018 .
`` To that end , defense spending accounts for 20 percent of all economic production across the commonwealth . ''
Given the district 's deep ties to the armed services , it has for much of the 21st century voted Republican and is often represented in Congress by veterans .
But Virginia voters in Delmarva have undergone a change since 2016 , Stone explained , as military-heavy districts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respect for the Pentagon 's top brass .
A resident of the state 's 7th District , Stone said voters in her region underwent a change similar to that seen on the Eastern Shore .
`` [ Trump ] has had significant issues with military leadership over the past few years , disagreeing with them and disparaging them , '' Stone said .
`` And then you had at the beginning of September the whole thing of him disparaging soldiers ... that they 're 'losers . '
'' `` One could presume that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to believe that maybe he 's not as pro-military as we might have thought . ''
Hoping to appeal to the district 's sizable pro-military faction , Luria and Taylor have stressed their prior legislative work to improve the lives of the nation 's veterans .
Luria , a former Navy commander , has in recent weeks trumpeted legislation she sponsored to boost disabled veterans ' benefits .
Her Veterans ' Compensation Cost of Living Adjustment Act directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to boost veterans ' disability compensation , clothing allowance and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate passed in September , was signed into law this week .
The Democrat also made headlines in 2019 when she grilled Navy brass on why the new , $ 13 billion Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier had fallen so far behind schedule thanks to various glitches and a novel electromagnetic system for launching jets .
Taylor often refers to passage of his 2018 bill that placed more responsibility on the VA secretary for problems at the department 's hospitals .
The former member of Navy SEAL Team 4 said at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ VA from reassigning underperforming executives from one hospital to another .
The legislation , he argues , emphasizes retaining only the best employees and bolsters accountability .
Consistent with trends seen across the country , 2nd District voters say the economy is the most pressing issue driving their choice at the ballot box this year , according to the Wason Center .
Nearly a quarter ( 24 % ) of district voters say the economy is their No .
1 concern .
Nineteen percent said the Covid-19 pandemic was their top priority while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
No other issue reached the 10 % threshold , including gun policy , racial justice , national security , Supreme Court appointments , the environment or immigration .
`` Considering the heavy military presence throughout the region and with both candidates emphasizing their Navy service , it 's notable that only 7 percent of voters say national security is an issue that drives their vote , '' Wason Center academic director Quentin Kidd said in a press release .
The Tidewater region 's focus on the economy in the 2020 election is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its annual revenues stem from tourism along the mid-Atlantic coast .
Luria , an advocate of the popular Paycheck Protection Program , raised the alarm earlier this year for the region 's aquaculture , comprised of dozens of small-time commercial fishermen who make their living off the Chesapeake 's famed blue crab .
Between Covid-19 forcing many restaurants to shutter and a smaller number of H2B visas for immigrants who usually pick crabs , Virginia 's seafood output had already been on track for a tough year .
But when the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would receive only $ 4.5 million CARES Act funds for its seafood industry , Luria wrote a letter of complaint to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross .
The Democrat argued that since Virginia fisheries account for 7.4 % of all aquaculture in the U.S. , the state should receive the same proportion of the CARES Act funds instead of the 1.5 % apportioned .
Asked for his thoughts on whether states and local governments should receive more federal aid , Republican Taylor said he would be in favor of more relief for certain municipalities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ odds with other Republicans , who have criticized Democrats for demanding significant relief for state and local governments during stimulus talks between the White House and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. `` I think that localities and cities — not the ones who have been irresponsible in Democrat states , of course , with pensions and other things — but I 'm talking about the localities and cities who are responsible , '' Taylor said during Tuesday 's debate .
`` There 's no question about it , that they understand the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They know their people better than anybody , certainly better than Washington , '' he added .
Later in the debate , Taylor said he thinks Trump is doing a good job handling the pandemic , which has killed more than 220,000 Americans , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
But he also reserved some criticism for Democrats and said that efforts by Northam and other Democrats to shut down businesses amid the Covid-19 outbreak have put many of the state 's businesses in dire straits .
He also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain businesses nonessential `` insane . ''
`` The reality is , when I speak to business owners , they 're hurting , '' Taylor said .
`` Representatives and leaders of any position should be fighting for their people .
And Elaine Luria has remained silent .
And if you go and speak to businesses all over this district , they 'll tell you the same thing : 'Where 's Elaine ?
Where has Elaine been ? '
'' Luria objected to Taylor 's description and said that she has visited hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to access federal aid .
With Congress still at an impasse over stimulus , whether businesses and patients in the 2nd District ultimately receive the aid will hinge on how its residents vote next month .
But if the animosity between Luria and Taylor is evidence that bipartisanship is all but dead in Washington , the 2nd District must again decide which party it believes can best navigate uncertain times .

Rep. Elaine Luria answers questions on a variety of topics during a town hall at New Hope Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, VA, on Thursday, October 3, 2019. Parker Michels-Boyce | The Washington Post | Getty Images
A bitter election in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District over a crucial House seat is boiling down to which of two Navy veterans better represents a historically Republican region that now finds itself increasingly drawn toward Democrats. The contest, as muddy as its Tidewater setting, pits incumbent Democrat Elaine Luria against a familiar rival: GOP challenger and former Rep. Scott Taylor. Luria ousted Taylor in an nasty contest two years ago as part of a broader Democratic sweep to win back the chamber. The two have remained fierce opponents. The vitriolic race between Luria and Taylor isn't without cause: The district has quickly become a key battleground for Democrats and Republicans in their attempts to control the House. Democrats, who on Nov. 3 hope to regain control of the Senate, are favored to hold on to their 232-seat majority in the House. Despite the candidates' common background in the Navy, the two could not appear further apart on issues ranging from gun control to climate change. Nor could they appear happier to remind voters of just how much they disagree through incessant smears and pithy quips.
Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards
Scars from their first contest remain. A 2018 fraud scandal dogs Taylor, whose former campaign staffers were charged with forging signatures on a petition to support a third-party spoiler candidate on the ballot. Though Taylor himself has not been charged, two staffers have pleaded guilty and a third was indicted in September. A debate Tuesday evening hosted by WTKR television served as a perfect opportunity for each to malign the other. The pair swapped insults and accused each other of misrepresenting their legislative records and obscuring their positions on numerous of issues. "The only thing that he said in his answer that was true is that we have real differences," Luria said during a question about gun control. The first-term representative said she favors universal background checks and is open to legislation that would ban certain gun-silencing instruments that she says contributed to a 2019 mass shooting at Virginia Beach that claimed 12 victims. Taylor, incredulous, parried by asking: "Who is Mrs. Luria to tell us, American citizens, how many rounds we can have in a magazine to protect themselves, or their families or their businesses?" Neither campaign had offered comment to CNBC at the time this article was published. Luria has a slight lead in the race, according to a poll released Wednesday by Christopher Newport University's Wason Center for Public Policy. The survey, which had a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points, shows Luria leading Taylor by 7 points. Luria enjoys double-digit leads among female and college-educated voters, the poll showed. "The enthusiasm that seems to be animating Democrats nationally is evident in this 2nd District race," said Wason Center research director Rebecca Bromley-Trujillo. "But the election fraud scandal of 2018 appears to be weighing Taylor down even beyond that." The Wason Center found in the same poll that 2nd District voters prefer Democrat Joe Biden over Trump by 9 points. Statewide, an average calculated by FiveThirtyEight shows Biden up 12.9 percentage points over Trump. A similar average generated by RealClearPolitics shows Biden's lead at 11.4 points. Experts say the fact that Biden and Luria's leads have been moving in tandem in the 2nd District is not necessarily surprising since dissatisfaction with Trump continues to be a motivating factor for the region. That marks a change from the 2016 election, when the Tidewater favored Trump over Hillary Clinton. The 2nd District, which includes the cities of Virginia Beach and Williamsburg, as well as portions of Norfolk City, favored Trump by 3 percentage points in 2016. But voters have since gone Democratic— supporting Gov. Ralph Northam in 2017 — and helped the party recapture the U.S. House in 2018. Though surveys on Biden and Trump are far from a perfect read on how 2nd District voters feel about Luria and Taylor, Farrah Stone of Virginia Commonwealth University said her polling that the president may nonetheless have an impact on down-ballot contests.
Former Rep. Scott Taylor, R-Va., talks with reporters in the Capitol after a meeting of the House Republican Conference. Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call Group | Getty Images
Military maybes
Though an endorsement from Trump can often buoy a Republican's odds, Farrah said many of the military families that make up the Eastern Shore have grown skeptical of the president's supposed love for the rank-and-file soldiers. "In that Tidewater area, the military is definitely top of the list," Stone said. "Traditional kind of military values: Taking care of the military, taking care of veterans. Those are really preeminent values there." Virginia receives a disproportionate amount of defense spending, providing the commonwealth with hundreds of thousands of jobs. If one includes the jobs created by defense-related spending as well as the thousands of contractors supporting the armed services, federal spending supported more than 880,000 jobs in Virginia as recently as fiscal 2016, according to Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va. "While Virginia contributes much to our nation's defense, the commonwealth also reaps some benefit as the DoD contributes to our economy by providing hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in expenditures," Wittman wrote in 2018. "To that end, defense spending accounts for 20 percent of all economic production across the commonwealth." Given the district's deep ties to the armed services, it has for much of the 21st century voted Republican and is often represented in Congress by veterans. But Virginia voters in Delmarva have undergone a change since 2016, Stone explained, as military-heavy districts across Virginia began to doubt Trump's respect for the Pentagon's top brass.
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A resident of the state's 7th District, Stone said voters in her region underwent a change similar to that seen on the Eastern Shore. "[Trump] has had significant issues with military leadership over the past few years, disagreeing with them and disparaging them," Stone said. "And then you had at the beginning of September the whole thing of him disparaging soldiers ... that they're 'losers.'" "One could presume that that could be something driving the people to believe that maybe he's not as pro-military as we might have thought." Hoping to appeal to the district's sizable pro-military faction, Luria and Taylor have stressed their prior legislative work to improve the lives of the nation's veterans. Luria, a former Navy commander, has in recent weeks trumpeted legislation she sponsored to boost disabled veterans' benefits. Her Veterans' Compensation Cost of Living Adjustment Act directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to boost veterans' disability compensation, clothing allowance and dependency benefits. That bill, which the Senate passed in September, was signed into law this week. The Democrat also made headlines in 2019 when she grilled Navy brass on why the new, $13 billion Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier had fallen so far behind schedule thanks to various glitches and a novel electromagnetic system for launching jets. Taylor often refers to passage of his 2018 bill that placed more responsibility on the VA secretary for problems at the department's hospitals. The former member of Navy SEAL Team 4 said at the time that the bill helps prevent the VA from reassigning underperforming executives from one hospital to another. The legislation, he argues, emphasizes retaining only the best employees and bolsters accountability.
Surf and turf
Consistent with trends seen across the country, 2nd District voters say the economy is the most pressing issue driving their choice at the ballot box this year, according to the Wason Center. Nearly a quarter (24%) of district voters say the economy is their No. 1 concern. Nineteen percent said the Covid-19 pandemic was their top priority while 13% said health care ranked highest. No other issue reached the 10% threshold, including gun policy, racial justice, national security, Supreme Court appointments, the environment or immigration. "Considering the heavy military presence throughout the region and with both candidates emphasizing their Navy service, it's notable that only 7 percent of voters say national security is an issue that drives their vote," Wason Center academic director Quentin Kidd said in a press release.
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cnbc--2020-10-23--Man found with van carrying guns and explosives planned Joe Biden assassination, court records say

A 19-year-old man who was arrested in North Carolina in May , after police discovered his van carrying five guns , explosives and more than $ 500,000 in cash , was planning to assassinate Joe Biden , court records show .
Alexander Hillel Treisman traveled to within four miles of the Democratic presidential nominee 's home in Delaware earlier in May , the records show .
That was within a month or so of Treisman buying an AR-15 rifle in New Hampshire , and writing a checklist note ending with the word `` execute , '' a federal magistrate judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's detention without bail on child pornography charges .
`` Should I kill joe biden ? ''
Treisman posted on the meme-sharing platform iFunny on April 15 , the court order said .
Triesman was indicted in late September in federal court in the Middle District of North Carolina on charges of possessing and transmitting child pornography .
His actions regarding Biden and other evidence against him were cited as reasons for his pretrial detention by the judge in an order signed Oct. 6 .
`` A timeline of internet searches conducted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information about Joe Biden 's home address , state gun laws , rifle parts , and night vision goggles , along with actions taken by Defendant , including posting the above mentioned meme about killing Joe Biden , purchasing an AR-15 in New Hampshire , traveling to a Wendy 's within 4 miles of Joe Biden 's home , and writing a checklist note ending with execute , '' the order said .

"A timeline of internet searches conducted by Defendant between March and May 2020 seeking information about Joe Biden's home address, state gun laws, rifle parts, and night vision goggles, along with actions taken by Defendant, including posting the above-mentioned meme about killing Joe Biden, purchasing an AR-15 in New Hampshire, traveling to a Wendy's within 4 miles of Joe Biden's home, and writing a checklist note ending with 'execute,' " the order said.
His actions regarding Biden and other evidence against him were cited as reasons for his pretrial detention by the judge in an order signed Oct. 6.
Treisman was indicted in late September in federal court in the Middle District of North Carolina on charges of possessing and transmitting child pornography.
"Should I kill joe biden?" Treisman posted on the meme-sharing platform iFunny on April 15, the court order said.
Treisman traveled to within four miles of the Democratic presidential nominee's home in Delaware earlier in May, within a month or so of the man buying an AR-15 rifle in New Hampshire, according to the records. Treisman had also written a checklist note ending with the word "execute," a federal magistrate judge said in a court order justifying the man's detention without bail on child pornography charges.
Alexander Hillel Treisman was arrested in North Carolina in May after police discovered his van along with five guns, explosives and more than $500,000 in cash. The 19-year-old was possibly planning to assassinate former vice president and presidential candidate Joe Biden , court records show.
While Treisman has no prior criminal history, the judge concluded that "no combination of available release conditions would reasonably assure the safety of the community, and that a preponderance of evidence establishes that no conditions would ensure Defendant's presence in court."
A lawyer for Treisman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The detention order cites testimony by an FBI agent explaining how Treisman came to be the subject of a criminal investigation that uncovered the information about Biden.
The agent said that on May 28, police in Kannapolis, North Carolina, who were responding to a report of an abandoned van in a bank parking lot, looked through the vehicle's window and saw an AR-15 style rifle, a box for a .380-caliber handgun, a canister "of the explosive material Tannerite," and a box of 5.56-caliber ammunition, according to the order.
After the van was towed, a search of the vehicle found about "$509,000 in U.S. currency (believed to be [Treisman's] inheritance), books (about survival, bomb-making, improvised weapons and Islam), drawings of swastikas and planes crashing into buildings," along with a Sig Sauer AR Rifle, a 9 mm Luger, a Kel-Tec Sub-2000, a .22-caliber rifle, and a Russian Mosin Nagant M91/30 bolt-action rifle.
Treisman arrived at the bank later that day in a Honda Accord and asked about the towed van, according to court documents. Police went to the bank after employees contacted them and took Treisman into custody, the documents said.
A search of the Honda revealed two more handguns, a .380-caliber, and a 9 mm Luger "found concealed in a clothes hamper," the order said.
Treisman was carrying driver's licenses from three states, including one that bore the name Alexander S. Theiss, the order said.
Treisman was arrested for allegedly carrying a concealed weapon. In a recorded phone call with his mother from jail on May 29, a day after his arrest, his mother, Kimberly Treisman suggested that he "should 'jump bail,' " the order said.
During interviews with police and investigators from the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Treisman "disclosed he has an interest in terrorist incidents and mass shootings," and that he had been driving across the country buying firearms in different states, the order said.
A search of online aliases for Treisman showed him making references to pedophilia "and executing those he hates," the order said. One post by his alias expressed "a desire to perform a mass shooting," it said.
Searches of Treisman's cellphone and 15 other electronic devices seized from his vehicle turned up thousands of images of child pornography and more than 1,200 child porn videos, the order said.
A note on the phone, written on Oct. 15, 2019, described "a plan to perform a mass shooting at a mall food court on Christmas or Black Friday," the order said.
On April 8, 2020, an internet post by one of Treisman's aliases, "AlextheBodacious," said he "was going to do a columbine for a while, [but] I think it would be better to put it towards something more memorable."
A week later, he posted a meme on iFunny with the caption, "Should I kill joe biden?" according to the court documents.


cnbc--2020-10-23--Wisconsin's Kenosha County shows why hoping for a last-minute shake-up could be perilous for Trump

President Donald Trump 's chances of defeating former Vice President Joe Biden on Election Day are growing slimmer every day that passes without a major shake-up that could boost his standing with voters .
But such an October surprise could be less likely to move the needle in the coming days than in past cycles , a potential damper on Trump 's shot at reelection .
Trump is down in state and national polls and nonpartisan election models give him about a 1-in-10 shot of winning the Electoral College , a historically low figure for an incumbent .
A look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corner of battleground Wisconsin , provides an illustration of the difficulty that Trump faces in reshaping the race .
Trump was the first Republican to win in Wisconsin since 1984 — and the first to take Kenosha since 1972 , which he did by just 255 votes .
Trump won Wisconsin by a slim 23,000 votes .
The county , tucked between Milwaukee to the north and Chicago to the south , was seen as a telling indicator of Trump 's ability to harness resentment against perceived liberal elites , and win over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had n't voted before or had cast ballots for Democrats .
Over the summer , Kenosha appeared to be right at the center of just the kind of event that might have swung the race .
Jacob Blake , a 29-year-old Black man , was shot in the back seven times by Rusten Sheskey , a police officer , in front of Blake 's three sons , on Aug. 23 .
During the protests that followed , two protesters were killed and one was injured in a shooting for which a 17-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the markings of a game changer .
It took place a day before the Republican National Convention gave Trump a national audience to pitch himself as the law-and-order candidate .
Afterward , both Trump and Biden descended on Kenosha .
Kellyanne Conway , a longtime Trump advisor who masterminded his strategy to win over women in 2016 , said the violence gave Trump an opening .
`` The more chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence reigns , the better it is for the very clear choice on who 's best on public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she declared after the shooting .
Two months later , however , the political significance of the shooting and the protests that followed has been swallowed up .
An average of Wisconsin polls from the day of the shooting showed Biden with an advantage of just under 5 percentage points .
He held the same lead in the state Wednesday .
It 's also not clear how much Trump 's push to cast himself as the law-and-order candidate shored up his favorability among the county 's suburbanites .
In an August poll before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters living in Milwaukee 's suburbs expressed a favorable opinion of Trump , compared with 50 % who had an unfavorable opinion , according to a Marquette University Law School poll .
The week after the shooting , the numbers were almost unchanged , at 46 % favorable to 48 % unfavorable .
`` There are very few people who have n't already made up their minds , '' explained Katherine Cramer , the author of the 2016 book `` The Politics of Resentment '' and a researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the country , which was reflected in Wisconsin , nothing short of a new international military conflict was likely to change many minds .
And , even then , she said , it was hard to imagine people who did n't like Trump suddenly rallying around him if the U.S. went to war .
`` It 's hard to imagine something that would change the race at this point , '' she said .
The stickiness of voters ' preferences is n't all bad for Trump .
It could also mute the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an ordinary race , hurt the incumbent .
On Monday , for instance , the tech website The Verge published a major investigation showing that a Foxconn LCD factory that Trump had touted as an economic engine for southeastern Wisconsin will almost certainly never create the jobs he had promised .
On Wednesday , Wisconsin reported a record number of deaths from the spreading Covid-19 pandemic .
Seventy-four people in Kenosha County , which has a population of under 200,000 , died of the disease as of Tuesday .
Cramer said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those events in ways that suit their preferred candidate , meaning Trump might not suffer a political hit as a different president might .
Joe Zepecki , a Democratic strategist in the state , said the fact that the Blake shooting did not swing the race in Wisconsin was a bad sign for Trump , who needs the race to shift quickly .
Early voting kicked off across Wisconsin on Tuesday .
Worse for the president , Zepecki predicted that Covid-19 's recent uptick in the state will prove to be more salient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the most important shoe to fall has been Covid-19 , '' Zepecki said .
`` That 's not to say that everyone who voted for him is abandoning him . ''
Zepecki believes the race will be close but that Biden will come away the winner .
Trump , who visited southern Wisconsin for an event on Saturday , continued to downplay the virus .
`` I wish you had a Republican governor because , frankly , you 've got to open your state up .
You 've got to open it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added that if he wins Wisconsin `` we win the whole ball game . ''
A spokeswoman for the Trump campaign said that they will beat Biden in the state with an effective ground game .
`` President Trump built the greatest economy in the world , created jobs , and has stood up for law and order , whereas Biden oversaw the slowest economic recovery since the Great Depression , killed Wisconsin jobs , and has been weak in the face of his supporters ' violent riots , '' the spokeswoman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The Trump campaign 's massive ground game ensures we will turn out President Trump 's supporters by Election Day , and Biden simply wo n't be able to compete with a nonexistent field program , '' Zager said .
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment .

U.S. President Donald Trump talks to reporters as he stands with local law enforcement and business people while examining property damage while visiting Kenosha in the aftermath of recent protests against police brutality and racial injustice and the ensuing violence after the shooting of Jacob Blake by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, September 1, 2020. Leah Millis | Reuters
President Donald Trump's chances of defeating former Vice President Joe Biden on Election Day are growing slimmer every day that passes without a major shake-up that could boost his standing with voters. But such an October surprise could be less likely to move the needle in the coming days than in past cycles, a potential damper on Trump's shot at reelection. Trump is down in state and national polls and nonpartisan election models give him about a 1-in-10 shot of winning the Electoral College, a historically low figure for an incumbent. A look at Kenosha County, in the southeastern corner of battleground Wisconsin, provides an illustration of the difficulty that Trump faces in reshaping the race. Trump was the first Republican to win in Wisconsin since 1984 — and the first to take Kenosha since 1972, which he did by just 255 votes. Trump won Wisconsin by a slim 23,000 votes. The county, tucked between Milwaukee to the north and Chicago to the south, was seen as a telling indicator of Trump's ability to harness resentment against perceived liberal elites, and win over White, suburban voters and blue-collar workers who hadn't voted before or had cast ballots for Democrats.
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Over the summer, Kenosha appeared to be right at the center of just the kind of event that might have swung the race. Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot in the back seven times by Rusten Sheskey, a police officer, in front of Blake's three sons, on Aug. 23. During the protests that followed, two protesters were killed and one was injured in a shooting for which a 17-year-old was charged. The Blake shooting had the markings of a game changer. It took place a day before the Republican National Convention gave Trump a national audience to pitch himself as the law-and-order candidate. Afterward, both Trump and Biden descended on Kenosha. Kellyanne Conway, a longtime Trump advisor who masterminded his strategy to win over women in 2016, said the violence gave Trump an opening. "The more chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence reigns, the better it is for the very clear choice on who's best on public safety and law and order," she declared after the shooting. Two months later, however, the political significance of the shooting and the protests that followed has been swallowed up. An average of Wisconsin polls from the day of the shooting showed Biden with an advantage of just under 5 percentage points. He held the same lead in the state Wednesday. It's also not clear how much Trump's push to cast himself as the law-and-order candidate shored up his favorability among the county's suburbanites. In an August poll before the shooting, 49% of registered voters living in Milwaukee's suburbs expressed a favorable opinion of Trump, compared with 50% who had an unfavorable opinion, according to a Marquette University Law School poll. The week after the shooting, the numbers were almost unchanged, at 46% favorable to 48% unfavorable. "There are very few people who haven't already made up their minds," explained Katherine Cramer, the author of the 2016 book "The Politics of Resentment" and a researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
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cnbc--2020-10-23--GOP pollster says Trump won the final debate but Biden 'won the war'

President Donald Trump won the final debate against Democrat Joe Biden , but that 's not going to be enough to get him reelected , Republican pollster and strategist Frank Luntz told CNBC on Friday .
`` You got to give Trump a minor victory because he 'll bring some [ undecided ] voters home , and it 'll close the race a little bit .
But in the end , I think Joe Biden won the war , '' Luntz said in a `` Squawk Box '' interview , predicting that Trump , with 11 days until the Nov. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes already cast , does not have enough time to overcome Biden 's national and swing state polling leads .
Luntz said that even if the polls are wrong , as they were in 2016 when Trump pulled off an upset victory over Hillary Clinton , it 's `` virtually impossible '' for the president to win .
Luntz , who predicted Clinton would win then , noted that polls four years ago were only off a few points but Biden 's lead in the 2020 race is wide enough to overcome any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that pollsters like himself have been much more cautious during this campaign cycle .
Luntz said the candidates ' answers to the final question — what they would say in their inaugural address to the Americans who did n't vote for them — were indicative of why Biden looks to be unstoppable .
Trump went negative , arguing why Biden would be bad for the country rather than really answering the question .
`` If he gets in , you will have a depression the likes of which you 've never seen .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to hell , and it 'll be a very very sad day for this country , '' the president said .
Biden went in the opposite direction , saying , `` I 'm an American president .
I represent all of you .
Whether you voted for me or against me , I 'm going to make sure you 're represented .
I 'm going to give you hope . ''
Luntz said Biden 's positive approach compared with Trump 's forceful but negative tone is the reason the former vice president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and minds of American voters .
He also said he believes that America should know who won the presidency four days after Election Day .
The pollster said his focus group after the debate again voiced their dislike of Trump , as they did after the president 's and Biden 's dueling town halls last week .
But Thursday night , they also continued to express concern over Biden 's policies .
Luntz said Biden `` made no effort to clarify '' his proposals on things such as tax hikes and his positions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court .
Trump started off Thursday night 's debate calmer but appeared to grow more agitated as the exchange went on , Luntz said .
Overall , the debate was nothing like their chaotic first affair .
While the candidates did go after each , the debate was much more focused on the issues , including the coronavirus , climate change , their personal finances and health care .

President Donald Trump won the final debate against Democrat Joe Biden, but that's not going to be enough to get him reelected, Republican pollster and strategist Frank Luntz told CNBC on Friday.
"You got to give Trump a minor victory because he'll bring some [undecided] voters home, and it'll close the race a little bit. But in the end, I think Joe Biden won the war," Luntz said in a "Squawk Box" interview, predicting that Trump, with 11 days until the Nov. 3 election and more than 47 million votes already cast, does not have enough time to overcome Biden's national and swing state polling leads.
Luntz said that even if the polls are wrong, as they were in 2016 when Trump pulled off an upset victory over Hillary Clinton, it's "virtually impossible" for the president to win. Luntz, who predicted Clinton would win then, noted that polls four years ago were only off a few points but Biden's lead in the 2020 race is wide enough to overcome any margin of error. Luntz also said that pollsters like himself have been much more cautious during this campaign cycle.
Luntz said the candidates' answers to the final question — what they would say in their inaugural address to the Americans who didn't vote for them — were indicative of why Biden looks to be unstoppable.
Trump went negative, arguing why Biden would be bad for the country rather than really answering the question. "If he gets in, you will have a depression the likes of which you've never seen. Your 401(k)s will go to hell, and it'll be a very very sad day for this country," the president said.
Biden went in the opposite direction, saying, "I'm an American president. I represent all of you. Whether you voted for me or against me, I'm going to make sure you're represented. I'm going to give you hope."
Luntz said Biden's positive approach compared with Trump's forceful but negative tone is the reason the former vice president's message appears to be winning heart and minds of American voters. He also said he believes that America should know who won the presidency four days after Election Day.
The pollster said his focus group after the debate again voiced their dislike of Trump, as they did after the president's and Biden's dueling town halls last week. But Thursday night, they also continued to express concern over Biden's policies. Luntz said Biden "made no effort to clarify" his proposals on things such as tax hikes and his positions on issues including the future for the Supreme Court.
Trump started off Thursday night's debate calmer but appeared to grow more agitated as the exchange went on, Luntz said. Overall, the debate was nothing like their chaotic first affair. While the candidates did go after each, the debate was much more focused on the issues, including the coronavirus, climate change, their personal finances and health care.


cnbc--2020-10-23--Here are the key moments from the final Trump-Biden presidential debate

President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden were hardly cordial in their final debate — but both candidates seem to have taken to heart the largely negative reaction to their vicious first showing .
There was less fury and more urgency in the 90-minute debate in Nashville on Thursday night , just 12 days out from Election Day .
The moderator , NBC News ' Kristen Welker , kept a tight lid on the Republican president and the Democratic nominee as she peppered them with questions about the coronavirus pandemic , the economy and foreign interference in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' finances .
Compared with the first debate — which was defined by furious crosstalk and personal insults — the final face-off was an almost staid affair .
But despite the clearer delivery , neither candidate pulled punches , and the volume started to rise later in the evening .
`` He does n't want to talk about the substantive issues , '' Biden said at one point after a lengthy exchange with Trump , in which each candidate shot accusations at the other about money they had allegedly received .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family .
It 's about your family , '' Biden said , speaking into the camera .
`` That 's a typical political statement , '' Trump responded .
`` 'Let 's get off the subject of China , let 's talk around sitting around the table . '
Come on , Joe , you can do better . ''
Asked how he could boost Americans ' confidence to take a vaccine if and when it arrives , Biden said he would `` make sure it 's totally transparent . ''
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winter , '' Biden said .
`` And [ Trump ] has no clear plan and there 's no prospect that there 's going to be a vaccine available for a majority of the people until the middle of next year . ''
Trump pushed back : `` I do n't think we 're going to have a dark winter at all .
We 're opening up our country , we 've learned and studied and understand the disease , which we did n't at the beginning . ''
The president also took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden , noting that the former vice president criticized him in January when he put restrictions on travel from China .
`` Now he 's saying , 'Oh , I should have moved quicker . '
But he did n't move quicker , he was months behind me , '' Trump said .
`` Joe got $ 3.5 million from Russia that came through [ Russian leader Vladimir ] Putin because he was friendly with the mayor of Moscow , '' Trump said .
`` I never got any money from Russia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of money , and they probably still are , '' Trump claimed .
`` I think you owe an explanation to the American people . ''
Biden replied , `` I have not taken a penny from any foreign source in my life . ''
`` We learned this president does business in China , has a secret bank account in China and is talking about me taking money ?
I have not taken a penny from a single country whatsoever , '' Biden said .
`` No .
2 ...
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , go look at them .
You have not released a single solitary year of your tax return , '' Biden said .
`` What are you hiding ?
Why are you unwilling ? ''
Trump then said , as he has for years , that he ca n't release his tax returns because they are under audit by the IRS .
If the Supreme Court rules the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional , Biden said his next move would be to `` pass Obamacare with a public option : Bidencare . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public option would mean that `` if you qualify for Medicaid and you do not have the wherewithal in your state to get Medicaid , you are automatically enrolled . ''
Additionally , the Democrat said his plan would reduce premiums and allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices with insurance companies .
Biden also pushed back on Trump , who beforehand called Biden 's health-care proposal `` socialized medicine . ''
Trump said , `` I 'd like to terminate Obamacare , come up with a brand new beautiful health care ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always protecting people with preexisting conditions . ''
Biden responded by attacking Trump for not having a clear health-care plan , despite promising that he would unveil it .
`` There 's no way he can protect preexisting conditions .
None .
Zero , '' Biden said .
`` You ca n't do it in the ether . ''
`` Small businesses , by raising the minimum wage — that is not helping , '' said Trump .
`` It should be a state option .
Alabama is different from New York .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Every state is different .
We have to help our small businesses . ''
The question of whether raising the minimum wage contributes to unemployment on a macro level is still hotly debated by economists .
Welker pressed Trump on his previous suggestion that he 'd consider raising the minimum wage .
`` I would consider it to an extent , '' Trump said .
`` But not to a level that is going to put all these businesses out of business .
It should be a state option .
Different places are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 is not so bad .
In other places , $ 15 [ is good ] . ''
Biden jumped in .
`` These people are working two jobs , because one job is below poverty , '' Biden said .
`` People are making $ 6 , $ 7 an hour .
These first responders , we clap as they come down the street ...
They deserve a minimum wage of $ 15 .
Anything below that puts you below the poverty level .
And there is no evidence that when you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of business . ''

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President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden were hardly cordial in their final debate — but both candidates seem to have taken to heart the largely negative reaction to their vicious first showing. There was less fury and more urgency in the 90-minute debate in Nashville on Thursday night, just 12 days out from Election Day. The moderator, NBC News' Kristen Welker, kept a tight lid on the Republican president and the Democratic nominee as she peppered them with questions about the coronavirus pandemic, the economy and foreign interference in the election, as well as the candidates' finances. Compared with the first debate — which was defined by furious crosstalk and personal insults — the final face-off was an almost staid affair. But despite the clearer delivery, neither candidate pulled punches, and the volume started to rise later in the evening. "He doesn't want to talk about the substantive issues," Biden said at one point after a lengthy exchange with Trump, in which each candidate shot accusations at the other about money they had allegedly received. "It's not about his family and my family. It's about your family," Biden said, speaking into the camera. "That's a typical political statement," Trump responded. "'Let's get off the subject of China, let's talk around sitting around the table.' Come on, Joe, you can do better." Here are the highlights:
Coronavirus contrasts
Biden warned that the U.S. is headed for a "dark winter" as it continues to grapple with the coronavirus, but Trump maintained that he had taken quick action to respond to the pandemic.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden speaks during the second 2020 presidential campaign debate with U.S. President Donald Trump at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, October 22, 2020. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
Asked how he could boost Americans' confidence to take a vaccine if and when it arrives, Biden said he would "make sure it's totally transparent." "We're about to go into a dark winter," Biden said. "And [Trump] has no clear plan and there's no prospect that there's going to be a vaccine available for a majority of the people until the middle of next year." Trump pushed back: "I don't think we're going to have a dark winter at all. We're opening up our country, we've learned and studied and understand the disease, which we didn't at the beginning." The president also took his first shot of the night at Biden, noting that the former vice president criticized him in January when he put restrictions on travel from China. "Now he's saying, 'Oh, I should have moved quicker.' But he didn't move quicker, he was months behind me," Trump said.
Sparring over personal finances
Trump claimed Biden makes money from Russia, China and Ukraine, an allegation the former vice president strongly denied before mocking Trump for failing to publicly release his income tax returns and for having a bank account in China.
US President Donald Trump and Democratic Presidential candidate and former US Vice President Joe Biden argue during the final presidential debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 22, 2020. Morry Gash | AFP | Getty Images
"Joe got $3.5 million from Russia that came through [Russian leader Vladimir] Putin because he was friendly with the mayor of Moscow," Trump said. "I never got any money from Russia." "Russia was paying you a lot of money, and they probably still are," Trump claimed. "I think you owe an explanation to the American people." Biden replied, "I have not taken a penny from any foreign source in my life." "We learned this president does business in China, has a secret bank account in China and is talking about me taking money? I have not taken a penny from a single country whatsoever," Biden said. "No. 2 ... I released all my tax returns — 22 years, go look at them. You have not released a single solitary year of your tax return," Biden said. "What are you hiding? Why are you unwilling?" Trump then said, as he has for years, that he can't release his tax returns because they are under audit by the IRS.
If the Supreme Court rules the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional, Biden said his next move would be to "pass Obamacare with a public option: Bidencare." Biden said that under his plan, the public option would mean that "if you qualify for Medicaid and you do not have the wherewithal in your state to get Medicaid, you are automatically enrolled." Additionally, the Democrat said his plan would reduce premiums and allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices with insurance companies. Biden also pushed back on Trump, who beforehand called Biden's health-care proposal "socialized medicine." Trump said, "I'd like to terminate Obamacare, come up with a brand new beautiful health care ... Come up with better health care, always protecting people with preexisting conditions." Biden responded by attacking Trump for not having a clear health-care plan, despite promising that he would unveil it. "There's no way he can protect preexisting conditions. None. Zero," Biden said. "You can't do it in the ether."
Nationwide minimum wage
Trump and Biden differed sharply on the question of a national minimum wage. The current national minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, and Trump argued that the minimum wage should be left to the states. Biden backed a nationwide $15 minimum wage.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's presidential debate is broadcast on television and watched outside a tavern in San Diego, California, October 22, 2020. Mike Blake | Reuters


cnbc--2020-10-23--Hearing in rape claim defamation case against Trump called off after DOJ lawyer barred from court ov

Hearing in rape claim defamation case against Trump called off after DOJ lawyer barred from court over New York's Covid restrictions

President Donald Trump rape accuser E. Jean Carroll and her lawyers arrive for her hearing at federal court during the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) pandemic in the New York , October 21 , 2020 .
A Manhattan federal court hearing for a case that hinges on the allegation that President Donald Trump raped a writer more than two decades ago ended abruptly Wednesday , after a government lawyer was barred from the courthouse due to New York 's coronavirus rules .
Lawyers for the Department of Justice had planned to make oral arguments in person before Judge Lewis Kaplan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be allowed to intervene in E. Jean Carroll 's defamation lawsuit against Trump .
But one of those lawyers was denied entry to the courthouse in lower Manhattan earlier in the day because he had traveled there from his home in Virginia .
Virginia is among a group of states whose residents must quarantine for 14 days if they travel to New York state , because of Covid-19 precautions .
DOJ lawyer William Lane told Judge Lewis Kaplan via a telephone hookup that DOJ would rest on its current written court filings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oral arguments over the phone , or having a fellow prosecutor do so in person .
The case involves Carroll 's claim that Trump defamed her when he said she was lying about having been raped by him in a Manhattan department store in the mid-1990s .
The DOJ last month said it wanted the case transferred to federal court from New York state court and wanted to substitute the U.S. government as the defendant in the case , replacing Trump .
The DOJ has said that it had certified that Trump `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office or employment at the time of the incident out of which the claim arose . ''
In other words , the DOJ argues that Trump was acting as president when he adamantly denied Carroll 's allegations and said she was motivated by money .
Carroll 's lawyers are opposing the DOJ 's request to swap out Trump as a defendant .
In a written filing shortly before the hearing , Lane 's fellow DOJ lawyer Stephen Terrell asked Kaplan for a postponement of the hearing because of one of the DOJ lawyers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

President Donald Trump rape accuser E. Jean Carroll and her lawyers arrive for her hearing at federal court during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the New York, October 21, 2020.
A Manhattan federal court hearing for a case that hinges on the allegation that President Donald Trump raped a writer more than two decades ago ended abruptly Wednesday, after a government lawyer was barred from the courthouse due to New York's coronavirus rules.
Lawyers for the Department of Justice had planned to make oral arguments in person before Judge Lewis Kaplan to support their position that the DOJ should be allowed to intervene in E. Jean Carroll's defamation lawsuit against Trump.
But one of those lawyers was denied entry to the courthouse in lower Manhattan earlier in the day because he had traveled there from his home in Virginia.
Virginia is among a group of states whose residents must quarantine for 14 days if they travel to New York state, because of Covid-19 precautions.
DOJ lawyer William Lane told Judge Lewis Kaplan via a telephone hookup that DOJ would rest on its current written court filings in the case, instead of making oral arguments over the phone, or having a fellow prosecutor do so in person.
The case involves Carroll's claim that Trump defamed her when he said she was lying about having been raped by him in a Manhattan department store in the mid-1990s.
The DOJ last month said it wanted the case transferred to federal court from New York state court and wanted to substitute the U.S. government as the defendant in the case, replacing Trump.
The DOJ has said that it had certified that Trump "was acting within the scope of his office or employment at the time of the incident out of which the claim arose."
In other words, the DOJ argues that Trump was acting as president when he adamantly denied Carroll's allegations and said she was motivated by money.
Carroll's lawyers are opposing the DOJ's request to swap out Trump as a defendant.
In a written filing shortly before the hearing, Lane's fellow DOJ lawyer Stephen Terrell asked Kaplan for a postponement of the hearing because of one of the DOJ lawyers being blocked due to the coronavirus restrictions.