usatoday--2020-10-12--2020 election live updates: Trump returns to campaigning with Florida stop, Barrett hearings begin

The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold its first confirmation hearing for Judge Amy Coney Barrett on Monday after President Donald Trump nominated her to the Supreme Court in September .
Barrett 's nomination has already sparked controversy and partisan rancor as Democrats argue that because Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died so close to the election , Trump and Senate Republicans should wait for the winner of that electoral contest to nominate the person to fill her seat .
In her prepared opening statement for the hearing , a copy of which was obtained by USA TODAY , Barrett pays tribute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will ever take her place '' and that she `` will be forever grateful for the path she marked and the life she led . ''
Barrett also discusses her judicial philosophy , which is that the courts `` are not designed to solve every problem or right every wrong , '' and `` policy decisions and value judgments '' should be made by elected officials .
Democrats on the Judiciary Committee have expressed concerns about potential coronavirus spread at the hearing after multiple Republican senators tested positive for COVID-19 .
Sens .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ join the hearings remotely .
Sens .
Thom Tillis and Mike Lee , who were among GOP senators who tested positive , have vowed to attend , either virtually or in-person .
• Six states above all others have emerged as the top electoral prizes in the 2020 race for president .
USA TODAY Network reporters explore those battlegrounds .
• The New York Times released another installment in its investigation into Trump 's tax returns , this time delving into how the Trump Organization has benefitted from his time in the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told House Democrats Sunday , `` we remain at an impasse '' on stimulus negotiations while the White House sent mixed signals on whether a deal was possible .
📆 22 days until Election Day , 10 days until the final presidential debate , 100 days until Inauguration Day , 82 days left in 2020 .
🗳 Voting : See USA TODAY 's Voter Guide for information on registering to vote , when your state begins voting and what the candidates think about the issues .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You can follow all of USA TODAY 's politics reporters on Twitter or subscribe to our daily On Politics newsletter .
The Senate will start confirmation hearings Monday for President Donald Trump 's Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett as Republicans aim to confirm her before Election Day .
Monday 's hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee is the first of four days of confirmation hearings .
All 22 senators on the panel will give opening 10-minute statements , including Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. Barrett will be introduced by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Mike Braun , and former Notre Dame Professor Patricia O'Hara , one of Barrett 's mentors .
The judge will also deliver her own opening statement .
President Donald Trump returns to the campaign trail Monday with a rally planned in Florida less than two weeks after he announced he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for COVID-19 .
The White House has refused to say whether Trump has tested negative for the disease since contracting it , but the president told supporters Sunday he was `` totally negative '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public memos released from his doctors , who have said he is no longer a `` transmission risk . ''
Trump has also claimed he is now immune from the virus , though medical experts say that is not guaranteed .

Sean Rossman and William Cummings, USA TODAY

2020 election live updates: White House says Trump has tested negative for COVID without saying when
Show Caption Hide Caption Judge Amy Coney Barrett on what a Trump Supreme Court would look like Judge Amy Coney Barrett spoke at Jacksonville University’s Public Policy Institute in 2016 discussing what a Trump Supreme Court would look like. USA TODAY Handout
President Donald Trump has tested negative for COVID-19 on “consecutive days,” White House physician Sean Conley said in memo released Monday.
The document, posted to Twitter by White House staff, did not disclose which days Trump tested negative. In the past, aides have declined to answer specific questions about the timing of the president’s past test results.
Conley said the results demonstrate that “the president is not infectious to others.”
Trump was tested using the Abbott BinaxNOW antigen card, according to the memo.
How a Supreme Court justice is nominated, confirmed, and opposed The Supreme Court is a vital component of our democracy. Here's how the process works to nominate, confirm, and oppose a potential justice. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
☕ The latest:
Six states above all others have emerged as the top electoral prizes in the 2020 race for president. USA TODAY Network reporters explore those battlegrounds.
The New York Times released another installment in its investigation into Trump's tax returns, this time delving into how the Trump Organization has benefitted from his time in the White House. Here are the key takeaways.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told House Democrats Sunday, "we remain at an impasse" on stimulus negotiations while the White House sent mixed signals on whether a deal was possible.
📊 What the polls are saying: Last week, Biden jumped to a 10-point lead in national polling average – and surged in the key states of Florida, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
📆 22 days until Election Day, 10 days until the final presidential debate, 100 days until Inauguration Day, 82 days left in 2020.
🗳 Voting: See USA TODAY's Voter Guide for information on registering to vote, when your state begins voting and what the candidates think about the issues.
We will update this article throughout the day. You can follow all of USA TODAY's politics reporters on Twitter or subscribe to our daily On Politics newsletter.
Donald Trump: "I don't have to be locked up in my basement"
President Donald Trump took the long way Monday in returning to the campaign trail.
Trump, who spoke for only 18 minutes at a White House event on Saturday, went for a little more than an hour during a comeback rally at Orlando Sanford International Airport in Florida.
"I don't have to be locked up in my basement and I wouldn't allow that to happen anyway," Trump told supporters. "When you're the president you can't lock yourself in the basement."
While a traditional rally speech in many ways, Trump also addressed his illness and sought to struck a positive note.
While claiming himself cured of COVID, Trump also asserted he is "immune" from the virus moving forward, though some doctors said there is no guarantee of that.
The president also said he was willing to go into the crowd – many of them maskless, like Trump – to express his affection.
"I'll kiss everyone in that audience," he said. "I'll kiss the guys and the beautiful women and the ... I'll just give you a big, fat kiss."
– David Jackson
Poll: Trump trails in Wis. and Mich., erodes support with white voters
President Donald Trump trails Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the battleground states of Michigan and Wisconsin - both of which Trump won in 2016 - according to a New York Times/Sienna College poll released Monday.
The poll found Biden leading Trump among likely voters 48%-40% in Michigan and 51%-41% in Wisconsin. The Times said Trump "faces modest but significant defections among white and independent voters," and "a groundswell of opposition from those who voted for a minor-party candidate or didn’t vote at all in 2016."
More likely voters said they support than oppose Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court nomination in both Michigan (45%-34%) and Wisconsin (44%-39%). In Michigan, thought the Senate should hold Barrett's confirmation vote before the election while thought they should only vote on Barrett if Trump wins. In Wisconsin, 44% said they thought the vote should be before the election and 42% said the Barrett shouldn't get a vote if Trump is defeated.
The margin of error was plus or minus 4.6 percentage points for the Michigan poll and 4 points for the Wisconsin poll.
– William Cummings
First day of Barrett confirmation hearings ends
Judge Amy Coney Barrett's opening statements ended the first of four confirmations hearings Monday.
All 22 members of the Senate Judiciary Committee – the panel tasked with vetting Supreme Court nominees – gave opening statements Monday followed by Barrett, whom President Donald Trump chose as his Supreme Court nominee in September.
In her opening statement, Barrett outlined her judicial philosophy, telling senators, "courts are not designed to solve every problem or right every wrong in our public life."
The policy decisions and value judgments of government must be made by the political branches elected by, and accountable to, the people," the U.S. Circuit judge said. "The public should not expect courts to do so, and courts should not try."
Senators will get the chance to ask Barrett questions on Tuesday in what is expected to be a contentious day on Capitol Hill.
– Sean Rossman
The first week of polls conducted primarily after President Donald Trump contracted COVID-19, generally did not offer much to bolster the president's reelection hopes.
Biden continued to lead Trump in 10 of 11 swing states (though Georgia is a virtual tie) – and he expanded his lead in seven of those states, including big gains in Florida, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
Nationally, Biden surged 2 percentage points to a more than 10-point lead, according to the USA TODAY average of averages, which is based on the polling averages calculated by RealClearPolitics and FiveThirtyEight. By comparison, 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's lead between the two polling averages was 6.2 points at this point four years ago.
– William Cummings
The week in polls: Biden hits double-digit lead in national average, surges in Florida, Michigan
More than 10 years after its passage, the Affordable Care Act was front and center again in Congress.
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee made the health care law signed by President Barack Obama in 2010 the centerpiece of their effort to defeat federal appeals court Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation to the Supreme Court.
Their effort reflects the politics of the moment: Rather than attacking Barrett over her devout Catholicism, which backfired on Democrats in 2017 when she was confirmed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, they focused on the popular health care law instead.
That’s because the Affordable Care Act will come back before the high court next month, when a challenge mounted by Texas and other states led by Republicans is heard by eight – or nine, if Barrett is confirmed by then – justices. The Trump administration backs the challenge.
The challenge stems from a $1.5 trillion tax cut passed by the Republican-dominated Congress in 2017, which repealed the health care law's tax on people who refuse to buy insurance. That tax was intended to prod them into the health insurance marketplace rather than let them seek emergency care while uninsured.
Many health care law analysts expect the court to save most, if not all, of the law's provisions, even with Barrett on the court.
– Richard Wolf
The Senate will start confirmation hearings Monday for President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett as Republicans aim to confirm her before Election Day.
Monday's hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee is the first of four days of confirmation hearings. All 22 senators on the panel will give opening 10-minute statements, including Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Barrett will be introduced by Indiana's two Republican senators Todd Young and Mike Braun, and former Notre Dame Professor Patricia O'Hara, one of Barrett's mentors. The judge will also deliver her own opening statement.
– Nicholas Wu
Amy Coney Barrett: Senate to begin confirmation hearings for Trump's Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett
President Donald Trump returns to the campaign trail Monday with a rally planned in Florida less than two weeks after he announced he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for COVID-19.
The White House has refused to say whether Trump has tested negative for the disease since contracting it, but the president told supporters Sunday he was "totally negative" for the virus, going beyond the public memos released from his doctors, who have said he is no longer a "transmission risk."
Trump has also claimed he is now immune from the virus, though medical experts say that is not guaranteed.
– Michael Collins


usatoday--2020-10-12--Vanessa Bryant posts emotional congrats to Lakers: 'Wish Kobe and Gigi were here to see this'

Vanessa Bryant posted an emotional message congratulating the Los Angeles Lakers following the franchise 's 17th NBA championship on Sunday .
The widow of the late Kobe Bryant is close to general manager Rob Pelinka , who was Kobe 's agent and best friend .
The last time the Lakers held up the Larry O'Brien Trophy , Bryant was at the center of the coronation in 2010 .
Vanessa directed her message to Pelinka on an Instagram story in her private account , quoting Bryant 's advice to the Lakers ' GM on the path to a championship ring .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stay the course — blockout the noise ' Wish Kobe and Gigi were here to see this , '' she wrote , adding a heart emoji .
Bryant predicted that Pelinka would help turn around the franchise within two to three years of hiring him in 2017 .
`` I guess you were right , man , '' Pelinka told reporters as he stared up above .
`` You give me the energy to do it . ''
Bryant , along with his daughter Gianna and seven others , was killed in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commemorated Bryant 's legacy throughout the 2019-20 season , and the Lakers closed every huddle with a `` Mamba '' chant to honor Bryant 's signature mentality in how he tried to strive for living life at the fullest .
Finals MVP LeBron James and All-Star teammate Anthony Davis have credited Bryant 's spirit and legacy for being a driving force to this year 's NBA title .
Los Angeles defeated the Miami Heat in Game 6 , 106-93 , to clinch the championship – James ' fourth , putting him one behind @ @ @ @ @

Vanessa Bryant posts emotional congrats to Lakers: 'Wish Kobe and Gigi were here to see this'
Show Caption Hide Caption Why this NBA title is the most impressive one yet for Lakers, LeBron SportsPulse: The Lakers and LeBron are back on top. LA gets their 17th. LeBron get his 4th. Both should look at this championship for what it is- arguably their most impressive feat yet. SportsPulse, USA TODAY
Vanessa Bryant posted an emotional message congratulating the Los Angeles Lakers following the franchise's 17th NBA championship on Sunday.
The widow of the late Kobe Bryant is close to general manager Rob Pelinka, who was Kobe's agent and best friend. The last time the Lakers held up the Larry O'Brien Trophy, Bryant was at the center of the coronation in 2010.
Vanessa directed her message to Pelinka on an Instagram story in her private account, quoting Bryant's advice to the Lakers' GM on the path to a championship ring.
"Kobe was right RP! ‘Stay the course — blockout the noise' Wish Kobe and Gigi were here to see this," she wrote, adding a heart emoji.
"Congratulations Uncle P! Congratulations @Lakers Kobe was right, RP! "Stay the course blockout the noise." @kobebryant Wish Kobe and Gigi were here to see this."
- Vanessa Bryant congratulates Rob Pelinka pic.twitter.com/ZWRyaXcZdK — ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) October 12, 2020
Bryant predicted that Pelinka would help turn around the franchise within two to three years of hiring him in 2017.
"I guess you were right, man," Pelinka told reporters as he stared up above. "You give me the energy to do it."
Bryant, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others, was killed in a January helicopter crash. The NBA has commemorated Bryant's legacy throughout the 2019-20 season, and the Lakers closed every huddle with a "Mamba" chant to honor Bryant's signature mentality in how he tried to strive for living life at the fullest.
Finals MVP LeBron James and All-Star teammate Anthony Davis have credited Bryant's spirit and legacy for being a driving force to this year's NBA title. Los Angeles defeated the Miami Heat in Game 6, 106-93, to clinch the championship – James' fourth, putting him one behind Bryant's five titles.
Contributing: Mark Media


usatoday--2020-10-12--One piece of alleged extremist plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer included a 'plan to tar

DETROIT — Michigan law enforcement is on high alert after the FBI revealed an alleged plot by extremist groups to kidnap Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer also involved a `` plan to target and kill police . ''
`` We 're cautious .
We 're absolutely more careful , '' said First Lt. Mike Shaw of the Michigan State Police .
`` This is one of the tactics these anti-government , domestic terrorism groups use .
Law enforcement is the face of the government .
if you 're mad at the government , you 're mad at the police . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the U.S. Department of Justice charged six men with conspiracy to kidnap Whitmer , which authorities said they wanted to carry out before Election Day .
On the same day , Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel brought charges against seven other men that included supporting terrorism , gang membership , and possession of a firearm in commission of a felony .
Officials said the suspects were attempting to trigger `` civil war '' with a detailed plan to abduct the governor and attack other elected officials at the Statehouse .
Part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
FBI Special Agent Richard J. Trask II cited the risk to law enforcement officers in a criminal complaint filed last Tuesday in U.S. District Court : '' The militia group had already been brought to the attention of the FBI by a local police department in March 2020 when members of the militia group were attempting to obtain the addresses of local law enforcement officers , '' the filing says .
`` At the time , the FBI interviewed a member of the militia group who was concerned about the group 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that person agreed to become a CHS ( confidential human source ) . ''
Shaw and others said the police are on high alert as risk continues to evolve beyond traffic stops and sitting in police cars to getting fake calls for service and targeting police when they 're out of uniform .
State Police are constantly evaluating the credibility of threats against troopers and facilities and taking measures to reduce potential for harm , Shaw said .
Michigan State Police are assigned to protect the governor .
Whitmer thanked troopers for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made the arrests in the federal case .
The Free Press interviewed current and former law enforcement officers who said the threat to Michigan police by extremist groups from both ends of the political spectrum are taken seriously and reconnaissance is provided to protect public officials , as well as those guarding them , at home and at work .
Police told the Free Press that family members are rarely informed when individual officers are getting protective detail at home because it would be too unsettling to the family .
Bob Stevenson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now executive director of the Michigan Police Chiefs Association , said : `` The threat is always there but this raises it to another level of alarm when you start to target the officers when they 're not in their uniform , not on duty , not working .
Now they 're tracking you . ''
However , police have been good at identifying the threats in real time and neutralizing them , Stevenson said .
`` When I was a police officer and working undercover in narcotics , I got notified by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out on me by people I had arrested . ''
But the threat presented by anti-government groups is very real and a little bit different because of its scope , its impersonal and may involve people trained in weapons use .
`` I 've never seen any training , where it 's a right extremist group , and they 're not going to target law enforcement , '' Stevenson said .
`` In our training , we view all extremist groups as dangerous .
A ( 2010 ) case involving the Hutaree militia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack officers at the funerals .
We 're not under the illusion that because someone 's politics are left or right that they 're not dangerous . ''
Living in a free society comes with freedoms and increased opportunity to do harm , he said .
Javed Ali , a former senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council during the Trump administration and now teaching at the University of Michigan in the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy , said the fact set related to the Whitmer kidnapping case is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the affidavit , they went from being a law-abiding group of gun owners and forming a local militia to beliefs that switched to something more dangerous and sinister , '' Ali told the Free Press .
`` Officer safety is absolutely a consideration .
By trying to collect ( home ) addresses for individual law enforcement , it appears they were trying to prepare 'targeting packages ' on those officers . '
'' Using encrypted communications , weapons training , building explosives and surveilling the governor 's second residence suggests `` this was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see in my government career on the international side , '' Ali said .
`` This was n't a hoax . ''
As someone with two decades of experience with the Defense Intelligence Agency , the Department of Homeland Security and FBI , Ali said , `` I reject the notion of anyone suggesting this was a political stunt or was n't serious . ''
Two of the 13 men charged in the Michigan attack plot served in the U.S. Marine Corps .
Daniel Harris of Lake Orion , one of the six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rifleman , serving from 2014 until last year , according to his military file , the AP reported .
He attained the rank of corporal E-4 in 2019 and his final duty assignment was at Camp Lejeune , North Carolina , according to the AP More : Read the FBI affidavit in the militia plot to kidnap Gov .
Whitmer More : These 13 men were charged with conspiring to kidnap Whitmer : Here 's what we know Joseph Morrison , 26 , of Munith is one of seven men charged under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to storm the Capitol and ignite a `` civil war . ''
Morrison was a lance corporal and served in the Marine Corps Reserve from 2015 until Thursday , the day he was arraigned on state charges , AP reported .
His last assignment was with the 4th Marine Logistics Group in Battle Creek .
Ex-FBI Agent Andy Arena , who worked all over the country before finishing his career in Detroit , has had protective detail on his house because of personal threats .
He said people ca n't fathom the conspiracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` These people see ghosts everywhere in the shadows .
And they go to social media sites that support their theories and drive their anger .
Mistrust in law enforcement is a big part of that anger and mistrust . ''
He cited a previous case involving a group in Michigan and said , `` They believed FEMA ( Federal Emergency Management Agency ) was a group run by the United Nations and they were going to put everyone in concentration camps — old auto plants would be the concentration camps .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Yet they stoke it in one another . ''
While police officers , state troopers and federal agents may be targeted , sheriffs and sheriff 's deputies are less often the focus of anger from anti-government groups because a sheriff is elected by voters while others law enforcement officials are appointed .
In Michigan , Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf protested publicly against Whitmer 's stay-home orders as the coronavirus spiked , standing on a stage beside at least one defendant in the case , William Null , 38 , of Shelbyville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrests , Leaf generated `` extreme concern '' among his law enforcement peers after he went on TV and made remarks perceived to diminish the merit of the federal case and possibly justify actions on the part of the accused .
Leaf told Fox 17 in Grand Rapids on Thursday , `` It ’ s just a charge , and they say a 'plot to kidnap ' and you got to remember that .
Are they trying to kidnap ?
Because a lot of people are angry with the governor , and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to arrest or was it a kidnap attempt ?
Because you can still in Michigan , if it 's a felony , make a felony arrest . ''
More : Michigan lawmakers react on Twitter to kidnap plot : 'This is utterly terrifying' Then he cited a state statute .
The video went viral .
`` I do n't know how anybody with any time in law enforcement who could try to justify the plot these men are accused of , '' Matt Saxton , former sheriff of Calhoun County and now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Association , told the Free Press .
`` I 've been contacted by sheriffs in the state concerned about the response of one sheriff .
The Michigan Sheriffs ' Association does not in any way , shape or form support that sheriff 's views or comments .
It 's , quite frankly , disheartening a sheriff would respond that way to this incident .
`` All people are innocent until proven guilty .
But it greatly concerns me that an individual sheriff would believe that anything about this incident could be misconstrued as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He added , `` There 's no way a sheriff should be able to explain the actions of those that are alleged to have attempted this crime as being legal in any way , shape or form . ''
The concern among many sheriffs is that Leaf is making comments that reflect badly on 82 other sheriffs in Michigan , Saxton said .
State Attorney General Dana Nessel wanted to leave no doubt on the controversial TV segment .
She retweeted it on Friday and wrote , `` As Michigan ’ s top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this abundantly clear - Persons who are not sworn , licensed members of a law enforcement agency can not and should not 'arrest ' government officials with whom they have disagreements .
These comments are dangerous . ''
Leaf , a Republican from Hastings , is running for re-election on Nov. 3 unopposed .
He has been sheriff of that southwestern Michigan county since 2004 , according to WWMT in Kalamazoo .

One piece of alleged extremist plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer included a 'plan to target and kill police'
Show Caption Hide Caption Vehicle protests at Michigan Capitol over Gov. Whitmer stay home order 'Operation Gridlock' aims to jam the roads around the Michigan Capitol in Lansing to object to restrictions in the stay-home order. Mandi Wright, Detroit Free Press
DETROIT – Michigan law enforcement is on high alert after the FBI revealed that a suspected plot by extremist groups to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also involved a "plan to target and kill police."
"We're cautious. We're absolutely more careful," said 1st Lt. Mike Shaw of the Michigan State Police. "This is one of the tactics these anti-government, domestic terrorism groups use. Law enforcement is the face of the government. if you're mad at the government, you're mad at the police."
The suspected plot was unveiled last Thursday when the U.S. Department of Justice charged six men with conspiracy to kidnap Whitmer, an act authorities said the suspects wanted to carry out before Election Day. On the same day, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel brought charges against seven other men that included supporting terrorism, gang membership and possession of a firearm in commission of a felony.
Officials said the suspects were trying to trigger "civil war" with a detailed plan to abduct the governor and attack other elected officials at the Statehouse. Part of the plot included plans to target police.
FBI Special Agent Richard J. Trask II cited the risk to law enforcement officers in a criminal complaint filed last Tuesday in U.S. District Court:
"The militia group had already been brought to the attention of the FBI by a local police department in March 2020 when members of the militia group were attempting to obtain the addresses of local law enforcement officers," the filing says. "At the time, the FBI interviewed a member of the militia group who was concerned about the group's plan to target and kill police officers and that person agreed to become a CHS (confidential human source)."
Shaw and others said the police are on high alert as risk continues to evolve beyond traffic stops and sitting in police cars to getting fake calls for service and targeting police when they're out of uniform.
State Police are constantly evaluating the credibility of threats against troopers and facilities and taking measures to reduce potential for harm, Shaw said.
Michigan State Police are assigned to protect the governor. Whitmer thanked troopers for their commitment to public service after officials made the arrests in the federal case.
The Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, interviewed current and former law enforcement officers who said the threat to Michigan police by extremist groups from both ends of the political spectrum are taken seriously and reconnaissance is provided to protect public officials, as well as those guarding them, at home and at work.
Police told the Free Press that family members are rarely informed when individual officers are getting protective detail at home because it would be too unsettling to the family.
Bob Stevenson, a retired police chief in Livonia and now executive director of the Michigan Police Chiefs Association, said: "The threat is always there, but this raises it to another level of alarm when you start to target the officers when they're not in their uniform, not on duty, not working. Now they're tracking you."
However, police have been good at identifying the threats in real time and neutralizing them, Stevenson said.
"When I was a police officer and working undercover in narcotics, I got notified by the FBI that there was a contract out on me by people I had arrested."
But the threat presented by anti-government groups is very real and a little different because it has a wide scope, it's impersonal and it may involve people trained in using weapons.
"I've never seen any training, where it's a right extremist group, and they're not going to target law enforcement," Stevenson said. "In our training, we view all extremist groups as dangerous. A (2010) case involving the Hutaree militia, they planned to kill police and attack officers at the funerals. We're not under the illusion that because someone's politics are left or right that they're not dangerous."
Living in a free society comes with freedoms and increased opportunity to do harm, he said.
Not a 'hoax'
Javed Ali, a former senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council during the Trump administration and now teaching at the University of Michigan in the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, said the fact set related to the Whitmer kidnapping case is "brazen."
"According to the affidavit, they went from being a law-abiding group of gun owners and forming a local militia to beliefs that switched to something more dangerous and sinister," Ali told the Free Press. "Officer safety is absolutely a consideration. By trying to collect (home) addresses for individual law enforcement, it appears they were trying to prepare 'targeting packages' on those officers.'"
Using encrypted communications, training with weapons, building explosives and surveilling the governor's second residence suggests "this was a sophisticated terrorist plot like I would see in my government career on the international side," Ali said. "This wasn't a hoax."
As someone with two decades of experience with the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Department of Homeland Security and FBI, Ali said, "I reject the notion of anyone suggesting this was a political stunt or wasn't serious."
Two of the 13 men charged in the Michigan attack plot served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Daniel Harris of Lake Orion, one of the six men facing federal kidnapping charges, was a rifleman, serving from 2014 until last year, according to his military file, The Associated Press reported. He attained the rank of corporal E-4 in 2019, and his final duty assignment was at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, according to the AP.
More: Read the FBI affidavit in the militia plot to kidnap Gov. Whitmer
More: Security upgrades underway at governor's Lansing residence before kidnapping threat
More: These 13 men were charged with conspiring to kidnap Whitmer: Here's what we know
Joseph Morrison, 26, of Munith is one of seven men charged under Michigan's anti-terrorism law for allegedly planning to storm the Capitol and ignite a "civil war."
Morrison was a lance corporal and served in the Marine Corps Reserve from 2015 until Thursday, the day he was arraigned on state charges, AP reported. His last assignment was with the 4th Marine Logistics Group in Battle Creek.
'Seeing ghosts'
Ex-FBI Agent Andy Arena, who worked all over the country before finishing his career in Detroit, has had protective detail on his house because of personal threats. He said people can't fathom the conspiracy theories involved with these types of groups.
"These people see ghosts everywhere in the shadows. And they go to social media sites that support their theories and drive their anger. Mistrust in law enforcement is a big part of that anger and mistrust."
He cited a previous case involving a group in Michigan and said, "They believed FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) was a group run by the United Nations and they were going to put everyone in concentration camps – old auto plants would be the concentration camps. How can any rational person believe this? Yet they stoke it in one another."
While police officers, state troopers and federal agents may be targeted, sheriffs and sheriff's deputies are less often the focus of anger from anti-government groups because a sheriff is elected by voters while others law enforcement officials are appointed.
In Michigan, Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf protested publicly against Whitmer's stay-home orders as the coronavirus pandemic spiked, standing on a stage beside at least one defendant in the case, William Null, 38, of Shelbyville.
'Extreme concern'
Immediately after law enforcement announced the arrests, Leaf generated "extreme concern" among his law enforcement peers after he went on TV and made remarks perceived to diminish the merit of the federal case and possibly justify actions on the part of the accused.
Leaf told Fox 17 in Grand Rapids on Thursday, "It’s just a charge, and they say a 'plot to kidnap' and you got to remember that. Are they trying to kidnap? Because a lot of people are angry with the governor, and they want her arrested. So are they trying to arrest or was it a kidnap attempt? Because you can still in Michigan, if it's a felony, make a felony arrest."
More: Legal experts reveal one reason Gov. Whitmer kidnap case is strong
More: Michigan lawmakers react on Twitter to kidnap plot: 'This is utterly terrifying'
More: Ford's 2020 Explorer for police has hidden lifesaving design feature
Then he cited a state statute. The video went viral.
The action outraged a number of sheriffs statewide.
"I don't know how anybody with any time in law enforcement who could try to justify the plot these men are accused of," Matt Saxton, former sheriff of Calhoun County and now executive director of the Michigan Sheriffs' Association, told the Free Press.
"I've been contacted by sheriffs in the state concerned about the response of one sheriff. The Michigan Sheriffs' Association does not in any way, shape or form support that sheriff's views or comments. It's, quite frankly, disheartening a sheriff would respond that way to this incident.
"All people are innocent until proven guilty. But it greatly concerns me that an individual sheriff would believe that anything about this incident could be misconstrued as legal action by those arrested."
He added, "There's no way a sheriff should be able to explain the actions of those that are alleged to have attempted this crime as being legal in any way, shape or form."
The concern among many sheriffs is that Leaf is making comments that reflect badly on 82 other sheriffs in Michigan, Saxton said.
State Attorney General Dana Nessel wanted to leave no doubt on the controversial TV segment. She retweeted it on Friday and wrote, "As Michigan’s top law enforcement official, let me make this abundantly clear - Persons who are not sworn, licensed members of a law enforcement agency cannot and should not 'arrest' government officials with whom they have disagreements. These comments are dangerous."
Leaf, a Republican from Hastings, is running for reelection on Nov. 3 unopposed. He has been sheriff of that southwestern Michigan county since 2004, according to WWMT in Kalamazoo.
As Michigan’s top law enforcement official, let me make this abundantly clear-Persons who are not sworn, licensed members of a law enforcement agency cannot and should not “arrest” government offficials with whom they have disagreements. These comments are dangerous. https://t.co/UZTJKbjdfs — Dana Nessel (@dananessel) October 9, 2020
Follow Phoebe Wall Howard on Twitter @phoebesaid.


usatoday--2020-10-12--Black-owned business files lawsuit against Mississippi airport, alleging discrimination

A Black-owned company that provided food and beverage concessions at the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport in Mississippi is suing the board that oversees the airport after its contract was cancelled .
Representatives for Michigan-based Jacobsen/Daniels Associates filed a federal lawsuit Oct. 2 against the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority and Chief Executive Officer Paul Brown .
Company officials allege breach of contract and that Jacobsen/Daniels was treated differently than other businesses at the airport .
According to court documents , Jacobsen/Daniels spent more than $ 2 million on improvements at the Jackson airport after assuming the food and beverage concessions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( JMAA ) treated plaintiff differently than other white-owned businesses that operates at JAN ( Jackson airport ) , specifically because plaintiff is an African American-owned business , '' Jacobsen/Daniels representatives said in the lawsuit .
But airport authority attorney Dorsey Carson said Jacobsen/Daniels breached its contract when it unilaterally shut down its last concession over the Memorial Day weekend , normally one of the busiest periods at the airport .
`` Jacobsen/Daniels informed JMAA that it would not reopen unless JMAA agreed to a new contract with favorable treatment , '' Carson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equally , and Jacobsen/Daniels was properly terminated .
The Jackson Municipal Airport Authority will vigorously defend itself against the frivolous allegations made by Jacobsen/Daniels . ''
Jacobsen/Daniels officials said they had a meeting scheduled for March 16 with Brown over the lease , but Brown cancelled the meeting .
It was during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic .
While other concessionaires in the airport terminal were closing or limiting services due to the pandemic , Jacobsen/Daniels continued to operate .
In early April , JMAA officials announced it had taken the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traffic reduction of about 90 % due to COVID-19 concerns : In April , Jacobsen/Daniels officials discussed with airport officials the impact of COVID-19 and sought some of the Cares Act funding it believed the Jackson airport received or would receive to help business partners , company attorney Matthew McLaughlin of Jackson said in the lawsuit .
The airport authority said they would defer April , May and June payments from airport businesses to early 2021 , but refused to eliminate payments , according to the lawsuit .
On May 5 , Jacobsen/Daniels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the airport authority expressing disappointment that its items had n't been considered including abatement of rent during the pandemic since JMAA had received Cares Act funds .
The airport authority board allowed Jacobsen/Daniels to temporarily close due to reduced activity at the airport because of COVID-19 in late May .
However , later JMAA said it was cancelling the agreement , according to Jacobsen/Daniels ' lawsuit .
Jacobsen/Daniels officials in the lawsuit said they havebeen unable to reach an agreement with JMAA on a revised contract .
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the board appointed by Jackson 's mayor and confirmed by the city council .
Contact Jimmie E. Gates at 601-961-7212 or jgates @ gannett.com .
Follow @ jgatesnews on Twitter .

Jimmie E. Gates, Mississippi Clarion Ledger

Black-owned business files lawsuit against Mississippi airport, alleging discrimination
Show Caption Hide Caption This city's empty airport terminal is like nothing you’ve ever seen The Southwest Airlines gates of National Airport are almost completely without flying customers, showing the impact COVID-19 is having on air travel. USA TODAY, Wochit
A Black-owned company that provided food and beverage concessions at the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport in Mississippi is suing the board that oversees the airport after its contract was cancelled.
Representatives for Michigan-based Jacobsen/Daniels Associates filed a federal lawsuit Oct. 2 against the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority and Chief Executive Officer Paul Brown. Company officials allege breach of contract and that Jacobsen/Daniels was treated differently than other businesses at the airport.
According to court documents, Jacobsen/Daniels spent more than $2 million on improvements at the Jackson airport after assuming the food and beverage concessions contract in 2018.
"The defendant (JMAA) treated plaintiff differently than other white-owned businesses that operates at JAN (Jackson airport), specifically because plaintiff is an African American-owned business," Jacobsen/Daniels representatives said in the lawsuit.
But airport authority attorney Dorsey Carson said Jacobsen/Daniels breached its contract when it unilaterally shut down its last concession over the Memorial Day weekend, normally one of the busiest periods at the airport.
"Jacobsen/Daniels informed JMAA that it would not reopen unless JMAA agreed to a new contract with favorable treatment," Carson said. "JMAA treats all vendors equally, and Jacobsen/Daniels was properly terminated. The Jackson Municipal Airport Authority will vigorously defend itself against the frivolous allegations made by Jacobsen/Daniels."
Jacobsen/Daniels officials said they had a meeting scheduled for March 16 with Brown over the lease, but Brown cancelled the meeting. It was during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. While other concessionaires in the airport terminal were closing or limiting services due to the pandemic, Jacobsen/Daniels continued to operate.
In early April, JMAA officials announced it had taken the following cutbacks to deal with a passenger traffic reduction of about 90% due to COVID-19 concerns:
A reduction in workforce of approximately 8%
A hiring freeze
Elimination of certain executive positions
Energy conservation measures
Restrictions on discretionary purchases
Decrease in consultant contracts of 67%
In April, Jacobsen/Daniels officials discussed with airport officials the impact of COVID-19 and sought some of the Cares Act funding it believed the Jackson airport received or would receive to help business partners, company attorney Matthew McLaughlin of Jackson said in the lawsuit.
The airport authority said they would defer April, May and June payments from airport businesses to early 2021, but refused to eliminate payments, according to the lawsuit.
On May 5, Jacobsen/Daniels officials said the company wrote a letter to the airport authority expressing disappointment that its items hadn't been considered including abatement of rent during the pandemic since JMAA had received Cares Act funds.
The airport authority board allowed Jacobsen/Daniels to temporarily close due to reduced activity at the airport because of COVID-19 in late May. However, later JMAA said it was cancelling the agreement, according to Jacobsen/Daniels' lawsuit.
Jacobsen/Daniels officials in the lawsuit said they have been unable to reach an agreement with JMAA on a revised contract.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages against the airport authority, the board appointed by Jackson's mayor and confirmed by the city council.
Contact Jimmie E. Gates at 601-961-7212 or jgates@gannett.com. Follow @jgatesnews on Twitter.


usatoday--2020-10-12--Indigenous Peoples Day or Columbus Day? 14 states celebrate, honor Native American histories and cul

• Across the country , states , cities and schools are observing Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day .
• Columbus Day celebrations date back to 1792 , when New York City celebrated the 300th anniversary of his landfall .
• The notion of an Indigenous Peoples Day took root at an international conference on discrimination sponsored by the United Nations in 1977 .
Scores of cities and towns plan to host virtual or outdoor events Monday to mark Indigenous Peoples Day , which celebrates and honors Native American histories and cultures .
Fourteen states – Alabama , Alaska @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan , Minnesota , New Mexico , North Carolina , Oklahoma , Oregon , South Dakota , Vermont and Wisconsin – plus the District of Columbia and more than 130 cities observe Indigenous Peoples Day instead of or in addition to Columbus Day .
The notion of an Indigenous Peoples Day took root at an international conference on discrimination sponsored by the United Nations in 1977 .
South Dakota was the first state to recognize the day in 1989 , and the cities of Berkeley and Santa Cruz , California , followed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in September .
Though some groups argue that Columbus Day celebrates Italian American heritage , many say the holiday glorifies an exploration that led to the genocide of native peoples and paved the way for slavery .
Although Columbus is credited as the `` discoverer '' of the New World , millions of people already inhabited the Americas .
Columbus made four expeditions to the Caribbean and South America over two decades , enslaving and decimating populations and opening the floodgates of European colonization .
Many groups have called for the removal of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Confederate generals .
Several Columbus statues came down this summer amid protests after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in May and cries to end systemic racism .
Columbus , Ohio , named for the explorer , removed the Columbus statue outside City Hall .
The city of Genoa , Italy , where Columbus was from , sent it as a gift 65 years ago .
In Baltimore , protesters pulled down a statue of Columbus and threw it into the city 's Inner Harbor on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , officials `` temporarily '' took down two statues of Columbus after dozens were injured in a clash between protesters and police at one of the monuments .
The fight over monuments : Who is an American hero , and who is a 'symbol of hate ' ?
Chicago 's Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans plan to hold an outdoor rally at one of the former sites of a Columbus statute – now a pedestal surrounded by chain-link fence – on Monday after Chicago 's Columbus Day Parade , like many across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the coronavirus pandemic .
`` Our Italian American community is excited to recognize an important tradition it has practiced for generations , '' Sergio Giangrande , president of the Joint Civic Committee , said in a statement .
`` Even though this year ’ s parade has been canceled due to COVID-19 , we still want to perpetuate the holiday in a very respectful , yet effective way .
Masks and social distancing will definitely be a priority . ''
More than 16 million people in the USA – nearly 5 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Census Bureau 's 2019 American Community Survey .
Columbus Day celebrations date back to 1792 , when New York City celebrated the 300th anniversary of Columbus ' landfall .
President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Columbus Day a national holiday in 1934 – one of 10 official federal holidays .
Columbus , Ohio , stopped observing the holiday in 2018 , citing a lack of funding to give city employees both Veterans Day and Columbus Day off .
In a proclamation Friday , President Donald Trump called on U.S. citizens `` to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activities '' and directed that the American flag be displayed on all public buildings Monday .
He pushed back against the movement to recognize the day as Indigenous Peoples Day .
`` Sadly , in recent years , radical activists have sought to undermine Christopher Columbus ’ s legacy .
These extremists seek to replace discussion of his vast contributions with talk of failings , his discoveries with atrocities and his achievements with transgressions , '' Trump said .
`` We must teach future generations about our storied heritage , starting with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Columbus . ''
Trump has campaigned to protect monuments and end programs aimed at teaching America 's history of racism .
In June , Trump signed an executive order that he said would provide long prison sentences to people who tear down or vandalize statues and other historical monuments .
On the Fourth of July , he announced during a speech in front of Mount Rushmore an executive order to establish a `` National Garden of American Heroes '' featuring statues of `` historically significant Americans . ''
Last month , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` pro-American curriculum '' in the nation 's schools and moved to end racial sensitivity training that addresses white privilege and critical race theory at federal agencies .
But more and more cities , states , counties and school boards observe Indigenous Peoples Day every year .
In February , the Chicago Board of Education voted to change the name of Columbus Day .
In early September , the governor of Arizona signed a proclamation that recognizes Indigenous Peoples Day on Oct. 12 but does not replace Columbus Day as a state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Massachusetts , and Montgomery , Alabama , plan to mark Indigenous Peoples Day for the first time Monday .
Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed described it as a `` recognition of the city 's true history . ''
`` We are not rewriting history .
In fact , we are allowing for a more accurate accounting of history by acknowledging the people who are native to this land , '' Reed wrote to the Montgomery Advertiser , part of the USA TODAY Network .
`` We must be honest about the past in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an even stronger community . ''
To mark the day , the Alabama Indigenous Coalition plans a gathering in downtown Montgomery with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw that will culminate in a march to the Capitol in honor of those who died along the Trail of Tears – the 5,000-mile forced march of millions of people from tribal nations across nine states to present-day Oklahoma .
`` There 's no visible Indigenous footprint here when in actuality , this is all their land , '' Valerie Adams , a member of South Dakota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lived in Montgomery for more than a decade , told the Advertiser .
Many Native American communities have been hit hard by COVID-19 .
Black , Latino and Native American households have also borne the brunt of the pandemic 's economic fallout .
According to a new report , about 55 % of Native American households reported facing serious financial problems , and a sizable share reported that household members had been unable to get medical care for serious problems .
About half of Native American households reported either having serious problems with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-speed internet connection at home .
Tori Jackson , a member of the Muscogee Nation , told the Advertiser that recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day is `` a good start . ''
`` But we have a lot more work to do , '' Jackson said .

Indigenous Peoples Day or Columbus Day? 14 states celebrate, honor Native American histories and cultures
Show Caption Hide Caption Columbus Day versus Indigenous Peoples Day? A growing number of cities, states and universities are replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day, also known as Native Americans Day. USA TODAY
Across the country, states, cities and schools are observing Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day.
Columbus Day celebrations date back to 1792, when New York City celebrated the 300th anniversary of his landfall.
The notion of an Indigenous Peoples Day took root at an international conference on discrimination sponsored by the United Nations in 1977.
Scores of cities and towns plan to host virtual or outdoor events Monday to mark Indigenous Peoples Day, which celebrates and honors Native American histories and cultures.
Fourteen states – Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont and Wisconsin – plus the District of Columbia and more than 130 cities observe Indigenous Peoples Day instead of or in addition to Columbus Day.
The notion of an Indigenous Peoples Day took root at an international conference on discrimination sponsored by the United Nations in 1977. South Dakota was the first state to recognize the day in 1989, and the cities of Berkeley and Santa Cruz, California, followed. California and Tennessee observe Native American Day in September.
Though some groups argue that Columbus Day celebrates Italian American heritage, many say the holiday glorifies an exploration that led to the genocide of native peoples and paved the way for slavery.
Indigenous Peoples Day: A time for greater cultural awareness, recognition of obstacles
Although Columbus is credited as the "discoverer" of the New World, millions of people already inhabited the Americas. Columbus made four expeditions to the Caribbean and South America over two decades, enslaving and decimating populations and opening the floodgates of European colonization.
Many groups have called for the removal of monuments to Columbus, as well as to Confederate generals. Several Columbus statues came down this summer amid protests after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in May and cries to end systemic racism.
Columbus, Ohio, named for the explorer, removed the Columbus statue outside City Hall. The city of Genoa, Italy, where Columbus was from, sent it as a gift 65 years ago. In Baltimore, protesters pulled down a statue of Columbus and threw it into the city's Inner Harbor on the Fourth of July. And in Chicago, officials "temporarily" took down two statues of Columbus after dozens were injured in a clash between protesters and police at one of the monuments.
The fight over monuments: Who is an American hero, and who is a 'symbol of hate'?
Chicago's Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans plan to hold an outdoor rally at one of the former sites of a Columbus statute – now a pedestal surrounded by chain-link fence – on Monday after Chicago's Columbus Day Parade, like many across the nation, was canceled this year during the coronavirus pandemic.
"Our Italian American community is excited to recognize an important tradition it has practiced for generations," Sergio Giangrande, president of the Joint Civic Committee, said in a statement. "Even though this year’s parade has been canceled due to COVID-19, we still want to perpetuate the holiday in a very respectful, yet effective way. Masks and social distancing will definitely be a priority."
More than 16 million people in the USA – nearly 5% of the population – reported Italian ancestry in the Census Bureau's 2019 American Community Survey.
Columbus Day celebrations date back to 1792, when New York City celebrated the 300th anniversary of Columbus' landfall. President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Columbus Day a national holiday in 1934 – one of 10 official federal holidays.
Columbus, Ohio, stopped observing the holiday in 2018, citing a lack of funding to give city employees both Veterans Day and Columbus Day off.
In a proclamation Friday, President Donald Trump called on U.S. citizens "to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities" and directed that the American flag be displayed on all public buildings Monday. He pushed back against the movement to recognize the day as Indigenous Peoples Day.
"Sadly, in recent years, radical activists have sought to undermine Christopher Columbus’s legacy. These extremists seek to replace discussion of his vast contributions with talk of failings, his discoveries with atrocities and his achievements with transgressions," Trump said. "We must teach future generations about our storied heritage, starting with the protection of monuments to our intrepid heroes like Columbus."
Trump has campaigned to protect monuments and end programs aimed at teaching America's history of racism. In June, Trump signed an executive order that he said would provide long prison sentences to people who tear down or vandalize statues and other historical monuments. On the Fourth of July, he announced during a speech in front of Mount Rushmore an executive order to establish a "National Garden of American Heroes" featuring statues of "historically significant Americans."
Last month, Trump called for "patriotic education" and a "pro-American curriculum" in the nation's schools and moved to end racial sensitivity training that addresses white privilege and critical race theory at federal agencies.
But more and more cities, states, counties and school boards observe Indigenous Peoples Day every year.
In February, the Chicago Board of Education voted to change the name of Columbus Day. In early September, the governor of Arizona signed a proclamation that recognizes Indigenous Peoples Day on Oct. 12 but does not replace Columbus Day as a state holiday. Rockville, Maryland, Salem, Massachusetts, and Montgomery, Alabama, plan to mark Indigenous Peoples Day for the first time Monday.
Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed described it as a "recognition of the city's true history."
"We are not rewriting history. In fact, we are allowing for a more accurate accounting of history by acknowledging the people who are native to this land," Reed wrote to the Montgomery Advertiser, part of the USA TODAY Network. "We must be honest about the past in order to heal, reconcile and become an even stronger community."
To mark the day, the Alabama Indigenous Coalition plans a gathering in downtown Montgomery with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw that will culminate in a march to the Capitol in honor of those who died along the Trail of Tears – the 5,000-mile forced march of millions of people from tribal nations across nine states to present-day Oklahoma.
"There's no visible Indigenous footprint here when in actuality, this is all their land," Valerie Adams, a member of South Dakota’s Oglala Lakota Nation who has lived in Montgomery for more than a decade, told the Advertiser.
Many Native American communities have been hit hard by COVID-19. Black, Latino and Native American households have also borne the brunt of the pandemic's economic fallout.
According to a new report, about 55% of Native American households reported facing serious financial problems, and a sizable share reported that household members had been unable to get medical care for serious problems. About half of Native American households reported either having serious problems with their internet connection or not having a high-speed internet connection at home.
Tori Jackson, a member of the Muscogee Nation, told the Advertiser that recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day is "a good start."
"But we have a lot more work to do," Jackson said.
Contributing: Safiya Charles, Montgomery Advertiser; Mark Ferenchik, The Columbus Dispatch


usatoday--2020-10-11--Trump claims he got COVID-19 from Gold Star event; evidence shows he probably was already sick by th

President Donald Trump has publicly suggested that he caught COVID-19 during a ceremony to honor fallen soldiers .
It ’ s more likely he was the one exposing the military families to the virus .
Epidemiologists familiar with USA TODAY ’ s efforts to trace the contacts of White House officials say Trump likely was in the early stages of COVID-19 days before hosting a series of events leading up to the ceremony for the Gold Star families on Sunday , Sept. 27 .
Reporters have scoured photos , video , social media and travel schedules to identify and trace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aides and those in their orbit who have contracted the novel coronavirus .
Aside from the president and first lady , so far the only others from the Gold Star event known to have tested positive are Coast Guard Adm. Charles Ray and press secretary Kayleigh McEnany .
By contrast , at least a dozen people who attended the announcement of the president ’ s nominee for the Supreme Court the previous day , Saturday , have tested positive .
“ There are several other people who got sick , and the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they attended the Saturday event , ” said Jorge Salinas , hospital epidemiologist and clinical assistant professor of infectious diseases at the University of Iowa .
“ That ’ s the smoking gun.
” It was during an interview Thursday with Fox Business that Trump implied he caught the virus during the annual veterans event , which was held indoors at the White House .
According to those who were there , about 25 families were involved , and they were required to take a rapid COVID-19 test before entering .
Based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of time it takes to develop symptoms , infectious disease specialists familiar with USA TODAY ’ s reporting say it ’ s more likely Trump contracted the virus earlier .
They said they can not pinpoint “ patient zero ” of the White House outbreak without access to more robust government tracing and molecular typing to identify matching virus samples .
Further complicating matters is the administration ’ s refusal to disclose the date of Trump ’ s last negative test .
Contact tracing and visualizing the people exposed to COVID-19 by Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has followed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for contact tracing , which has included going back 48 hours from a positive test involving any White House staff .
For those with no official ties to the White House , it was up to their own doctor to attempt tracing .
The point of contact tracing is to curb the spread by encouraging those exposed to the virus to quarantine .
By now , some epidemiologists believe the window of opportunity for that already has closed .
After months of downplaying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Oct. 2 that he had contracted the coronavirus .
More than 33 people tied to the White House have since tested positive , including the first lady , senior adviser Hope Hicks and McEnany .
USA TODAY found some of those people came in dangerously close contact with at least 120 others in the days around the Supreme Court event .
Many then scattered across the country and continued to go about their daily lives , traveling , attending campaign rallies and fundraisers , going to the gym and leading religious sermons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump suggested he caught the virus because he had such close contact with veterans ' families .
“ I can ’ t back up and say : ‘ Give me room .
I want room .
Give me 12 feet .
Stay 12 feet away when you talk , ’ ” Trump said .
The military family members had “ come within an inch of my face , sometimes .
They want to hug me , and they want to kiss me .
And they do .
And , frankly , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I ’ m not doing it.
” It can take up to 14 days for someone infected with COVID-19 to fully develop symptoms , but about half begin feeling ill within a week , and by day 10 , it ’ s 90 % .
On average , a person can begin to spread COVID two days before they ’ re symptomatic – the critical 48 hours on which the White House is focusing .
But health experts note that it ’ s complicated to estimate when exactly a patient becomes contagious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ With the president ’ s schedule and behavior , it will be very hard to identify exactly when he got infected , ” said Amesh Adalja , a medical doctor and senior scholar for the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security , referring to both the veterans ceremony and the SCOTUS celebration .
“ If you ’ re going to have events like this , you ’ re going to get cases .
… This is something you would expect to happen .
It was only a matter of time.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the event now pegged as the outbreak ’ s superspreader , when hundreds of conservative officials and evangelicals from across the country gathered in the Rose Garden for the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court .
Many did not wear masks or social-distance .
Some were photographed shaking hands , hugging and kissing , including at indoor receptions affiliated with the outdoor ceremony .
Public health officials tasked with stopping the spread of COVID-19 say comprehensive tracing of everyone who attended the SCOTUS event is the only way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak originated and how far it has traveled .
Based solely on the timeline of his positive test , epidemiologists say it is indeed possible that Trump could have caught the virus at the Gold Star Families event .
But , they said , other factors almost entirely rule out the possibility .
Ray , the admiral who confirmed he had COVID-19 on Oct. 5 , and McEnany were the only other people beyond the Trumps to attend the Gold Star event and catch the virus .
Meanwhile , among those at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went on to test positive for the coronavirus .
That includes Barrett supporters , like Notre Dame president Rev .
John Jenkins , who has no official ties to the White House and did not attend the Gold Star event .
Help USA TODAY : We need assistance identifying everyone at the White House Rose Garden SCOTUS event .
Experts also point to the size and nature of both events as natural spreaders for an outbreak that could have been spawned even earlier .
By mid-September , a White House staff member already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bailey , head of the White House security office , has been hospitalized with coronavirus symptoms since late last month , Bloomberg News has reported .
Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel , who also has tested positive , attended a private fundraiser with Trump at the Trump International Hotel in Washington , D.C. , on Sept. 25 .
That same night , Trump was with Hicks at a rally in Virginia .
An RNC spokesman said that after her meeting with Trump , McDaniel went home to Michigan and stayed there .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hicks tested positive the following day , Trump the day after that .
The president 's comments about the Gold Star event drew ire from Democrats in Congress and some military supporters , who cited his disrespect for the troops and lackluster response to the deadly pandemic .
But military families who attended the event themselves told USA TODAY they felt safe at the ceremony and were not bothered by the president ’ s remarks .
White House spokeswoman Alyssa Farah has tried to walk back Trump ’ s comments about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We by no means are blaming anyone who was present , and we did take a lot of precautions for that event so based on contact tracing and the data we have , we do n't think it arose from that event . ''
She said the president ’ s point was that “ in the time frame that he was potentially exposed , there were a number of different venues that he 'd been at and individuals he 'd interacted with that it could have come from.
” The group VoteVets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , tweeted this week , “ Like everything else , Donald Trump 's White House did n't follow CDC guidelines with this event , and still is n't being straight with families , or doing real contact tracing through the CDC to put their minds at ease.
” Several Democrats in Congress took to social media and issued statements lambasting Trump for his remarks , demanding an apology .
“ President Trump seems to think it ’ s okay to try and shift the blame and scapegoat others for his own failures , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee , said in a statement .
“ Instead of casting aspersions on the families of the fallen for infecting him , President Trump should be transparent about his own actions , who he met with and when , and release detailed medical information including a timeline and do some real contact tracing to help stop the spread.
” Others also condemned Trump for his comments – and for allowing the White House outbreak to metastasize .
“ For Donald Trump to continue to insult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spreading a deadly pandemic that he ’ s actually the one spreading is beyond shameful , ” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth , D-Ill. , who is a retired Army National Guard lieutenant colonel .
Multiple people who attended the veterans ceremony told USA TODAY they felt comfortable with the health precautions taken .
After being tested on arrival , families said they were kept isolated until they received their test results .
They also continued to wear masks during small group tours of the White House .
Families said they were given the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the event and could choose whether to mingle with other guests or be taken to a private room .
Britt Harris , whose husband , Army Spc .
Christopher Harris , was killed in 2017 in Afghanistan , said she and her mother-in-law opted to spend time in a private room because they were there with Harris ’ 2-year-old daughter .
They rejoined the other families and officials later that evening for a ceremony that included speeches from the president and Gold Star father Steven G. Xiarhos as well as lighting candles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being honored .
Harris said she didn ’ t expect her husband ’ s name to be one of two highlighted in the president ’ s speech .
“ It was a big deal to our family , ” she said .
“ It was really special to have him talk about Chris.
” She said her mother-in-law tested negative for COVID-19 after the event .
Harris did not get tested but quarantined with her daughter .
Texas resident Ruth Holler , whose son Lance Cpl .
Luke Holler died in 2006 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heartwarming ” and “ the trip of a lifetime.
” Holler and one of her daughters told USA TODAY the seven members of their family who attended the event have not been tested , but none are showing symptoms .
Hank Cramer , whose father , Capt .
Harry G. Cramer , was killed in Vietnam in 1957 , also said he felt safe throughout the evening .
Cramer said the president spent several minutes asking about his father ’ s service .
He and other attendees said they stood 6 feet away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands .
“ I think he was probably speaking realistically that he might have caught the virus in any public meeting that he ’ s been at in the last few weeks , ” Cramer said .
“ And I appreciate the fact that he did not shy away from us .
That he came and spent the evening with us and was willing to talk with us.
” Cramer , who lives in Washington state , said he learned the president had COVID-19 from the news .
That day , Cramer called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked if he and his wife could be tested .
The receptionist asked if they were showing symptoms and , when he said they were not , explained that the office offered testing only to those who were ill. “ I said , ‘ Well I ’ m asking to get tested because I was at the White House with the president of the United States last Sunday , and he has COVID , ’ and there was a silence at the end of the phone , ” Cramer said .
“ They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , come on down.
’ ” He said he and his wife ’ s tests came back negative .
A USA TODAY review of timelines and travel schedules for many of the officials now confirmed ill shows the virus had infiltrated the White House much earlier than the president let on in his Fox Business interview .
Trump confirmed in a briefing with reporters at the White House on Sept. 16 that at least one case had emerged within the administration .
At the time , the White House would not confirm whom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether he was referring to Crede or another staffer entirely .
“ It was one person .
That ’ s – I mean , so not too much – not a person that I was associated with , ” Trump said at the time .
Following the disclosure , Trump and his administration continued to flout public health guidelines by organizing large public gatherings , with little regard for face coverings and proper social distancing .
In the last two weeks of September , the president participated in at least 11 rallies and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump spoke without a mask at the White House Conference on American History , while first lady Melania Trump visited a firehouse in Manchester , New Hampshire , to discuss substance abuse .
President Trump then flew to events in Minnesota , North Carolina , Ohio , Wisconsin and Pennsylvania .
The president and U.S. Attorney General William Barr met with the attorneys general in various states about protecting consumers from social media abuse , and he hosted a Latinos for Trump roundtable at the Trump National Doral Miami on Sept. 25 before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them without masks .
He traveled to a black economic empowerment event near Atlanta on Sept. 25 , where he elbow-bumped NFL legend Herschel Walker and mingled with other supporters .
The Sept. 18 Trump rally in Minnesota alone has been associated with nine COVID-19 cases , including two hospitalizations , according to MPR News .
Even after the outbreak snowballed and Trump himself tested positive , members of the White House have continued to skirt basic recommendations about such events , relying instead upon a strategy of testing those who are to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stopped at faith summits , campaign rallies and other political fundraisers , where they came into contact with thousands .
Sen. Ron Johnson , R-Wis. , a vocal critic of mask mandates , attended a fundraiser after he had taken a test for the virus but before the results came back positive .
McEnany continued to interact with members of the media without a mask before she tested positive .
And at least six faith leaders from the Rose Garden Supreme Court event gave in-person sermons the following Sunday – after Trump announced @ @ @ @ @

Josh Salman, Marisa Kwiatkowski, Tricia L. Nadolny, Dinah Voyles Pulver and Katie Wedell, USA TODAY

Trump claims he got COVID-19 from Gold Star event; evidence shows he probably was already sick by then
Show Caption Hide Caption Ben Carson adds to the list of Trump's circle positive for COVID-19 Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson adds to the running list of people who tested positive for COVID-19 since the president's diagnosis. USA TODAY
President Donald Trump has publicly suggested that he caught COVID-19 during a ceremony to honor fallen soldiers. It’s more likely he was the one exposing the military families to the virus.
Epidemiologists familiar with USA TODAY’s efforts to trace the contacts of White House officials say Trump likely was in the early stages of COVID-19 days before hosting a series of events leading up to the ceremony for the Gold Star families on Sunday, Sept. 27.
Reporters have scoured photos, video, social media and travel schedules to identify and trace the whereabouts of White House officials, aides and those in their orbit who have contracted the novel coronavirus.
Aside from the president and first lady, so far the only others from the Gold Star event known to have tested positive are Coast Guard Adm. Charles Ray and press secretary Kayleigh McEnany.
By contrast, at least a dozen people who attended the announcement of the president’s nominee for the Supreme Court the previous day, Saturday, have tested positive.
“There are several other people who got sick, and the only thing that they had in common is that they attended the Saturday event,” said Jorge Salinas, hospital epidemiologist and clinical assistant professor of infectious diseases at the University of Iowa. “That’s the smoking gun.”
It was during an interview Thursday with Fox Business that Trump implied he caught the virus during the annual veterans event, which was held indoors at the White House. According to those who were there, about 25 families were involved, and they were required to take a rapid COVID-19 test before entering.
Based on how COVID-19 incubates and the amount of time it takes to develop symptoms, infectious disease specialists familiar with USA TODAY’s reporting say it’s more likely Trump contracted the virus earlier.
They said they cannot pinpoint “patient zero” of the White House outbreak without access to more robust government tracing and molecular typing to identify matching virus samples. Further complicating matters is the administration’s refusal to disclose the date of Trump’s last negative test.
Tracing the White House COVID-19 outbreak:
White House officials said the administration has followed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for contact tracing, which has included going back 48 hours from a positive test involving any White House staff. For those with no official ties to the White House, it was up to their own doctor to attempt tracing.
The point of contact tracing is to curb the spread by encouraging those exposed to the virus to quarantine. By now, some epidemiologists believe the window of opportunity for that already has closed.
After months of downplaying the disease’s dangers, Trump announced on Oct. 2 that he had contracted the coronavirus. More than 33 people tied to the White House have since tested positive, including the first lady, senior adviser Hope Hicks and McEnany.
USA TODAY found some of those people came in dangerously close contact with at least 120 others in the days around the Supreme Court event. Many then scattered across the country and continued to go about their daily lives, traveling, attending campaign rallies and fundraisers, going to the gym and leading religious sermons.
During the Fox Business interview, Trump suggested he caught the virus because he had such close contact with veterans' families.
“I can’t back up and say: ‘Give me room. I want room. Give me 12 feet. Stay 12 feet away when you talk,’” Trump said. The military family members had “come within an inch of my face, sometimes. They want to hug me, and they want to kiss me. And they do. And, frankly, I’m not telling them to back up. I’m not doing it.”
COVID-19 testing: Positivity rates and why they are so important COVID-19 widespread testing is crucial to fighting the pandemic, but is there enough testing? The answer is in the positivity rates. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
It can take up to 14 days for someone infected with COVID-19 to fully develop symptoms, but about half begin feeling ill within a week, and by day 10, it’s 90%. On average, a person can begin to spread COVID two days before they’re symptomatic – the critical 48 hours on which the White House is focusing.
But health experts note that it’s complicated to estimate when exactly a patient becomes contagious because early symptoms can be so subtle.
“With the president’s schedule and behavior, it will be very hard to identify exactly when he got infected,” said Amesh Adalja, a medical doctor and senior scholar for the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, referring to both the veterans ceremony and the SCOTUS celebration. “If you’re going to have events like this, you’re going to get cases. … This is something you would expect to happen. It was only a matter of time.”
The veterans ceremony came just one day after the event now pegged as the outbreak’s superspreader, when hundreds of conservative officials and evangelicals from across the country gathered in the Rose Garden for the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
Many did not wear masks or social-distance. Some were photographed shaking hands, hugging and kissing, including at indoor receptions affiliated with the outdoor ceremony.
Public health officials tasked with stopping the spread of COVID-19 say comprehensive tracing of everyone who attended the SCOTUS event is the only way to know for sure where the White House outbreak originated and how far it has traveled.
Based solely on the timeline of his positive test, epidemiologists say it is indeed possible that Trump could have caught the virus at the Gold Star Families event. But, they said, other factors almost entirely rule out the possibility.
Ray, the admiral who confirmed he had COVID-19 on Oct. 5, and McEnany were the only other people beyond the Trumps to attend the Gold Star event and catch the virus.
Meanwhile, among those at the Barrett nomination ceremony, at least 12 went on to test positive for the coronavirus. That includes Barrett supporters, like Notre Dame president Rev. John Jenkins, who has no official ties to the White House and did not attend the Gold Star event.
Help USA TODAY: We need assistance identifying everyone at the White House Rose Garden SCOTUS event.
Experts also point to the size and nature of both events as natural spreaders for an outbreak that could have been spawned even earlier.
By mid-September, a White House staff member already had tested positive for COVID-19. Crede Bailey, head of the White House security office, has been hospitalized with coronavirus symptoms since late last month, Bloomberg News has reported.
Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel, who also has tested positive, attended a private fundraiser with Trump at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 25. That same night, Trump was with Hicks at a rally in Virginia.
An RNC spokesman said that after her meeting with Trump, McDaniel went home to Michigan and stayed there. Four days later, she tested positive. Hicks tested positive the following day, Trump the day after that.
Gold Star event described as 'heartwarming'
The president's comments about the Gold Star event drew ire from Democrats in Congress and some military supporters, who cited his disrespect for the troops and lackluster response to the deadly pandemic. But military families who attended the event themselves told USA TODAY they felt safe at the ceremony and were not bothered by the president’s remarks.
White House spokeswoman Alyssa Farah has tried to walk back Trump’s comments about the Gold Star ceremony, telling reporters, “We by no means are blaming anyone who was present, and we did take a lot of precautions for that event so based on contact tracing and the data we have, we don't think it arose from that event."
She said the president’s point was that “in the time frame that he was potentially exposed, there were a number of different venues that he'd been at and individuals he'd interacted with that it could have come from.”
The group VoteVets, which has been critical of Trump, tweeted this week, “Like everything else, Donald Trump's White House didn't follow CDC guidelines with this event, and still isn't being straight with families, or doing real contact tracing through the CDC to put their minds at ease.”
Like everything else, Donald Trump's White House didn't follow CDC guidelines with this event, and still isn't being straight with families, or doing real contact tracing through the CDC to put their minds at ease. (1/2) https://t.co/6vkTmXU1GX — VoteVets (Text VOTEVETS to 88424) (@votevets) October 8, 2020
Several Democrats in Congress took to social media and issued statements lambasting Trump for his remarks, demanding an apology.
“President Trump seems to think it’s okay to try and shift the blame and scapegoat others for his own failures,” U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, said in a statement. “Instead of casting aspersions on the families of the fallen for infecting him, President Trump should be transparent about his own actions, who he met with and when, and release detailed medical information including a timeline and do some real contact tracing to help stop the spread.”
Others also condemned Trump for his comments – and for allowing the White House outbreak to metastasize.
“For Donald Trump to continue to insult Gold Star Families and blame them for spreading a deadly pandemic that he’s actually the one spreading is beyond shameful,” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., who is a retired Army National Guard lieutenant colonel.
Multiple people who attended the veterans ceremony told USA TODAY they felt comfortable with the health precautions taken. After being tested on arrival, families said they were kept isolated until they received their test results. They also continued to wear masks during small group tours of the White House.
Families said they were given the option of wearing masks for the rest of the event and could choose whether to mingle with other guests or be taken to a private room.
Britt Harris, whose husband, Army Spc. Christopher Harris, was killed in 2017 in Afghanistan, said she and her mother-in-law opted to spend time in a private room because they were there with Harris’ 2-year-old daughter.
They rejoined the other families and officials later that evening for a ceremony that included speeches from the president and Gold Star father Steven G. Xiarhos as well as lighting candles for each of the 25 service members being honored. Harris said she didn’t expect her husband’s name to be one of two highlighted in the president’s speech.
“It was a big deal to our family,” she said. “It was really special to have him talk about Chris.”
She said her mother-in-law tested negative for COVID-19 after the event. Harris did not get tested but quarantined with her daughter.
Texas resident Ruth Holler, whose son Lance Cpl. Luke Holler died in 2006 in Iraq, said her experience was “heartwarming” and “the trip of a lifetime.” Holler and one of her daughters told USA TODAY the seven members of their family who attended the event have not been tested, but none are showing symptoms.
Hank Cramer, whose father, Capt. Harry G. Cramer, was killed in Vietnam in 1957, also said he felt safe throughout the evening. Cramer said the president spent several minutes asking about his father’s service. He and other attendees said they stood 6 feet away from the president and did not shake hands.
“I think he was probably speaking realistically that he might have caught the virus in any public meeting that he’s been at in the last few weeks,” Cramer said. “And I appreciate the fact that he did not shy away from us. That he came and spent the evening with us and was willing to talk with us.”
Cramer, who lives in Washington state, said he learned the president had COVID-19 from the news. That day, Cramer called a clinic in his small town and asked if he and his wife could be tested. The receptionist asked if they were showing symptoms and, when he said they were not, explained that the office offered testing only to those who were ill.
“I said, ‘Well I’m asking to get tested because I was at the White House with the president of the United States last Sunday, and he has COVID,’ and there was a silence at the end of the phone,” Cramer said. “They said, ‘Well in that case, come on down.’”
He said he and his wife’s tests came back negative.
Virus infiltrated White House by mid-September
A USA TODAY review of timelines and travel schedules for many of the officials now confirmed ill shows the virus had infiltrated the White House much earlier than the president let on in his Fox Business interview.
Trump confirmed in a briefing with reporters at the White House on Sept. 16 that at least one case had emerged within the administration. At the time, the White House would not confirm whom he meant, and it remains unclear whether he was referring to Crede or another staffer entirely.
“It was one person. That’s – I mean, so not too much – not a person that I was associated with,” Trump said at the time.
Following the disclosure, Trump and his administration continued to flout public health guidelines by organizing large public gatherings, with little regard for face coverings and proper social distancing. In the last two weeks of September, the president participated in at least 11 rallies and fundraisers.
The very next day, Trump spoke without a mask at the White House Conference on American History, while first lady Melania Trump visited a firehouse in Manchester, New Hampshire, to discuss substance abuse.
President Trump then flew to events in Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
The president and U.S. Attorney General William Barr met with the attorneys general in various states about protecting consumers from social media abuse, and he hosted a Latinos for Trump roundtable at the Trump National Doral Miami on Sept. 25 before more than 150 people, many of them without masks. He traveled to a black economic empowerment event near Atlanta on Sept. 25, where he elbow-bumped NFL legend Herschel Walker and mingled with other supporters.
The Sept. 18 Trump rally in Minnesota alone has been associated with nine COVID-19 cases, including two hospitalizations, according to MPR News.
Even after the outbreak snowballed and Trump himself tested positive, members of the White House have continued to skirt basic recommendations about such events, relying instead upon a strategy of testing those who are to have contact with the president.
They stopped at faith summits, campaign rallies and other political fundraisers, where they came into contact with thousands. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., a vocal critic of mask mandates, attended a fundraiser after he had taken a test for the virus but before the results came back positive.
McEnany continued to interact with members of the media without a mask before she tested positive. And at least six faith leaders from the Rose Garden Supreme Court event gave in-person sermons the following Sunday – after Trump announced he had the coronavirus.
Contributing: Kyle Bagentose and Nicholas Wu


usatoday--2020-10-12--Barrett must recuse from 2020 election cases, shield Supreme Court from Trump corruption

Amy Coney Barrett will almost certainly be the next justice of the U.S. Supreme Court .
Her first act should be to recuse herself from any case involving the 2020 general election .
Whether Barrett ’ s confirmation comes before Election Day or in its immediate aftermath , her participation in any case involving the presidential election would create a manifest appearance of injustice so great that it could potentially threaten institutional reverence for the Supreme Court itself .
As a lifelong conservative and member of the Federalist Society since law school , I believe that Barrett will make a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ qualified and prepared to serve on our nation ’ s highest bench .
Liberal objections to the potential impact she might have on their preferred policies are overblown , simplistic and irrelevant .
Barrett will interpret the law as written .
She is not going to let her personal religious beliefs dictate outcomes or attempt to legislate from the bench .
That is precisely why I have always preferred the conservative approach to judicial ideology ; it begins with setting aside personal belief .
Nobody put it more succinctly than Barrett ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who observed , “ The judge who always likes the results he reaches is a bad judge.
” That is why liberals seem so shocked when Republican-appointed justices pen opinions like Bostock v. Clayton County .
The ruling , written by Justice Neil Gorsuch , said LGBTQ people were protected on the job under a federal civil rights law banning sex discrimination in the workplace .
Of course , such judicial discipline does appear on the left as well .
For example , months before her recent passing , Justice Ruth Bader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women , offered a discouraging analysis of the Equal Rights Amendment designed to write gender equality into the Constitution .
She said it had not been ratifiedby the required 38 states by the 1982 deadline , so any attempt to pass it would have to start over .
Nonetheless , ruling on cases involving the election presents an entirely different scenario .
Barrett , who has so far not committed to recuse , would be making monumental decisions regarding the man who had just nominated her , President Donald Trump .
Given that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's death created a vacancy , it is impossible to shed the appearance of undue influence .
Brilliant and principled : I 've known Amy Coney Barrett for over 20 years .
Her intellect and heart are unrivaled .
Even if Barrett could rule impartially , the appearance of her taking part could condemn the Supreme Court to a terrible erosion in faith and confidence among the American public .
Democrats would surely see a cynical system rigged by a man they loathe .
Republicans would feel vindicated that the “ right ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of legal support .
Unaffiliated and independent voters would see another reason to drift further from the broken system they ’ ve already abandoned .
That is too much to risk .
We ’ ve seen the corrupting influence Trump can exert on another coequal branch of government .
The willful capitulation of Congress to Trump 's whims , particularly the U.S. Senate , has led to the greatest abdication of power since the New Deal .
Trump has taken advantage of that limp will to increase his own executive power with impunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a sitting president has put the peaceful transition of power into question .
We need more justices : The Supreme Court is helping Republicans suppress voters .
Make it bigger to fix democracy .
Barrett ruling on election-related cases would send the judiciary down a similar path .
And it isn ’ t necessary .
In 2016 , we set precedent for proceeding through a contentious election with only eight justices seated and prepared to rule on election-related cases .
Barrett will likely serve on the Supreme Court for decades .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ venerable institution , she must immediately and unequivocally announce her intention to recuse herself from cases related to the 2020 presidential election .
Mario Nicolais , a veteran election law attorney and campaign operative , is the legal adviser to The Lincoln Project .
He was senior research analyst for Rudy Giuliani in 2008 and general counsel for Gary Johnson in 2012 .
Follow him on Twitter : @ MarioNicolaiEsq

Barrett must recuse from 2020 election cases, shield Supreme Court from Trump corruption Barrett will be a fine justice. But Trump has had a corrupting influence on Congress and she'd put the court on a similar path if she rules on his fate.
Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump names Amy Coney Barrett as pick for Supreme Court Amy Coney Barrett, a Catholic, law professor and Court of Appeals judge, is President Donald Trump's pick for his third Supreme Court nomination. USA TODAY, Wochit
Amy Coney Barrett will almost certainly be the next justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Her first act should be to recuse herself from any case involving the 2020 general election.
Whether Barrett’s confirmation comes before Election Day or in its immediate aftermath, her participation in any case involving the presidential election would create a manifest appearance of injustice so great that it could potentially threaten institutional reverence for the Supreme Court itself.
As a lifelong conservative and member of the Federalist Society since law school, I believe that Barrett will make a fine jurist. She is smart, qualified and prepared to serve on our nation’s highest bench. Liberal objections to the potential impact she might have on their preferred policies are overblown, simplistic and irrelevant.
Barrett will interpret the law as written. She is not going to let her personal religious beliefs dictate outcomes or attempt to legislate from the bench. That is precisely why I have always preferred the conservative approach to judicial ideology; it begins with setting aside personal belief.
Monumental decisions about Trump
Nobody put it more succinctly than Barrett’s mentor, the late Justice Antonin Scalia, who observed, “The judge who always likes the results he reaches is a bad judge.”
That is why liberals seem so shocked when Republican-appointed justices pen opinions like Bostock v. Clayton County. The ruling, written by Justice Neil Gorsuch, said LGBTQ people were protected on the job under a federal civil rights law banning sex discrimination in the workplace.
Of course, such judicial discipline does appear on the left as well. For example, months before her recent passing, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an icon of empowerment for women, offered a discouraging analysis of the Equal Rights Amendment designed to write gender equality into the Constitution. She said it had not been ratified by the required 38 states by the 1982 deadline, so any attempt to pass it would have to start over.
Nonetheless, ruling on cases involving the election presents an entirely different scenario. Barrett, who has so far not committed to recuse, would be making monumental decisions regarding the man who had just nominated her, President Donald Trump. Given that early voting started two weeks before Ginsburg's death created a vacancy, it is impossible to shed the appearance of undue influence.
Brilliant and principled: I've known Amy Coney Barrett for over 20 years. Her intellect and heart are unrivaled.
Even if Barrett could rule impartially, the appearance of her taking part could condemn the Supreme Court to a terrible erosion in faith and confidence among the American public. Democrats would surely see a cynical system rigged by a man they loathe. Republicans would feel vindicated that the “right” judges will support their policy positions regardless of legal support. Unaffiliated and independent voters would see another reason to drift further from the broken system they’ve already abandoned.
That is too much to risk.
How a Supreme Court justice is nominated, confirmed, and opposed The Supreme Court is a vital component of our democracy. Here's how the process works to nominate, confirm, and oppose a potential justice. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Trump's corrupting influence
We’ve seen the corrupting influence Trump can exert on another coequal branch of government. The willful capitulation of Congress to Trump's whims, particularly the U.S. Senate, has led to the greatest abdication of power since the New Deal. Trump has taken advantage of that limp will to increase his own executive power with impunity. For the first time in history, a sitting president has put the peaceful transition of power into question.
We need more justices: The Supreme Court is helping Republicans suppress voters. Make it bigger to fix democracy.
Barrett ruling on election-related cases would send the judiciary down a similar path. And it isn’t necessary. In 2016, we set precedent for proceeding through a contentious election with only eight justices seated and prepared to rule on election-related cases.
Barrett will likely serve on the Supreme Court for decades. If she wants to protect and preserve that venerable institution, she must immediately and unequivocally announce her intention to recuse herself from cases related to the 2020 presidential election.
Mario Nicolais, a veteran election law attorney and campaign operative, is the legal adviser to The Lincoln Project. He was senior research analyst for Rudy Giuliani in 2008 and general counsel for Gary Johnson in 2012. Follow him on Twitter: @MarioNicolaiEsq