usatoday--2020-07-10--'He's going to kill us:' Woman says Lyft driver shot her niece in the leg

The argument started after Henrietta Rice said she had asked the man to let her roll down the window .
On June 24 , Rice and her nieces , Rosemarie Elliott and Mae Harris , were in a Lyft on the way back from a family gathering after 3 a.m .
It was women ’ s night , and they had been playing cards and board games including Monopoly .
The vehicle was cold .
So Rice said she repeatedly asked , “ Sir , can you please let down the window ?
” The driver , she said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her .
He eventually unlocked them .
But suddenly , Rice said , the man started to call her dumb and stupid over and over again .
He ordered them out of the vehicle near the intersection of East College Avenue and South George Street in York , Pennsylvania .
Rice said she and Elliott eventually got out .
Harris told the driver that she was going to call and ask for a refund from the ride-hailing company .
She was momentarily locked inside the vehicle , but then able to step outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached down and pulled out a handgun .
Next , he fired once .
The bullet hit the curb , and a fragment from the shot struck Harris in the leg .
The driver , Jerry Miller , 51 , of Cumberland County , Pennsylvania , is charged with aggravated assault , simple assault and recklessly endangering another person in the shooting .
He ’ s set to appear for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 13 and is free on $ 25,000 unsecured bail , according to court records .
When reached , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Office told him not to talk to reporters .
He hasn ’ t yet been assigned an attorney .
But Miller then stated that he was 51 and has “ never , ever , in my entire life been arrested or anything.
” He said it was “ more than likely ” that the National Rifle Association would get involved in the case , but he did not elaborate .
“ That ’ s because the truth isn ’ t in the police report , ” Miller said .
“ They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could not be reached by the York Daily Record , part of the USA TODAY Network .
In a statement , Dana Davis , a spokesperson for Lyft , said safety is fundamental .
“ The behavior described is unacceptable , and a violation of our strict no-weapons policy for both riders and drivers , ” Davis said .
“ Upon becoming aware of the incident , we permanently removed the driver from the Lyft community and reached out to the rider .
We stand ready to assist law enforcement . ''
Rice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a family member ’ s home after the shooting and met with York City police .
Law enforcement took a report and photographed Harris ’ leg .
Police told her that justice would be done , Rice recalled on Friday during an interview at Farquhar Park in York , Pa. Jenni Chavis , an attorney who ’ s representing the family , said she and her co-counsel , Leticia Chavez-Freed , are exploring all legal options .
Lyft , she said , hired and maintained employment for the driver .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Said Chavis : “ This individual was shooting at women , and terrorizing them .
”

'He’s going to kill us:' Woman says Lyft driver shot her niece in the leg The driver, Jerry Miller, 51, of Newburg, Cumberland County, is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.
Show Caption Hide Caption Watch: Woman recounts Lyft ride that ended in shooting A Lyft driver is accused of shooting a rider in York. Here is the story from one of the passengers. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record
The argument started after Henrietta Rice said she had asked the man to let her roll down the window.
On June 24, Rice and her nieces, Rosemarie Elliott and Mae Harris, were in a Lyft on the way back from a family gathering after 3 a.m. It was women’s night, and they had been playing cards and board games including Monopoly.
The vehicle was cold. So Rice said she repeatedly asked, “Sir, can you please let down the window?” The driver, she said, acted like he didn’t hear her. He eventually unlocked them.
But suddenly, Rice said, the man started to call her dumb and stupid over and over again. He ordered them out of the vehicle near the intersection of East College Avenue and South George Street in York, Pennsylvania.
Rice said she and Elliott eventually got out. Harris told the driver that she was going to call and ask for a refund from the ride-hailing company. She was momentarily locked inside the vehicle, but then able to step outside. That’s when the man reached down and pulled out a handgun.
“He’s going to kill us,” Rice thought.
Next, he fired once. The bullet hit the curb, and a fragment from the shot struck Harris in the leg.
The driver, Jerry Miller, 51, of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person in the shooting. He’s set to appear for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 13 and is free on $25,000 unsecured bail, according to court records.
When reached, Miller said the York County Public Defender’s Office told him not to talk to reporters. He hasn’t yet been assigned an attorney.
But Miller then stated that he was 51 and has “never, ever, in my entire life been arrested or anything.” He said it was “more than likely” that the National Rifle Association would get involved in the case, but he did not elaborate.
“That’s because the truth isn’t in the police report,” Miller said. “They only got one side.”
The NRA could not be reached by the York Daily Record, part of the USA TODAY Network.
In a statement, Dana Davis, a spokesperson for Lyft, said safety is fundamental.
“The behavior described is unacceptable, and a violation of our strict no-weapons policy for both riders and drivers,” Davis said. “Upon becoming aware of the incident, we permanently removed the driver from the Lyft community and reached out to the rider. We stand ready to assist law enforcement."
Rice said she and her nieces went to a family member’s home after the shooting and met with York City police.
Law enforcement took a report and photographed Harris’ leg. Police told her that justice would be done, Rice recalled on Friday during an interview at Farquhar Park in York, Pa.
Jenni Chavis, an attorney who’s representing the family, said she and her co-counsel, Leticia Chavez-Freed, are exploring all legal options.
Lyft, she said, hired and maintained employment for the driver. That’s even though he was an independent contractor.
Said Chavis: “This individual was shooting at women, and terrorizing them.”
Contact Dylan Segelbaum at 717-771-2102.


usatoday--2020-07-10--Tropical Storm Fay makes landfall in New Jersey with heavy rain, flooding fears

ASBURY PARK , N.J. – The center of Tropical Storm Fay made landfall near Atlantic City , N.J. , Friday afternoon as forecasters warned millions about potential flash floods , soaking rain and high winds .
A tropical storm warning spanning hundreds of miles is in effect from southern New Jersey to Rhode Island , and Jersey Central Power and Light has reported large-scale power outages affecting tens of thousands across the state .
The storm has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and is moving north at 14 mph , according to the National Hurricane Center .
Fay was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of rain Friday , with the possibility of flash flooding in parts of the mid-Atlantic and southern New England , according to the Hurricane Center .
Forecasters say the biggest impact will be the heavy rainfall that will bring some flash flooding which could be life-threatening , as `` rapidly rising flood waters may quickly inundate roadways and areas of poor drainage .
Streams and creeks could leave their banks , flooding nearby properties , '' said the National Weather Service .
“ We expect some pretty heavy winds , and we need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and some flash flooding in certain parts of the city , ” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a briefing Friday morning .
The summer storm 's impact on the city was expected to be ” pretty limited , '' but de Blasio said it would be a bad night for outdoor dining — the only sit-down service allowed at city restaurants because of the pandemic .
`` Order in and keep helping our restaurant community , ” he said .
President Donald Trump said the storm is being monitored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was poised to help if needed .
Forecasters have also warned that isolated tornadoes and life-threatening rip currents are possible as the storm moves north .
Contributing : The Associated Press .
Follow Andrew J. Goudsward on Twitter : @ AGoudsward

Andrew J. Goudsward, Joshua Chung and Joel Shannon, USA TODAY NETWORK

Tropical Storm Fay makes landfall in New Jersey with heavy rain, flooding fears
ASBURY PARK, N.J. – The center of Tropical Storm Fay made landfall near Atlantic City, N.J., Friday afternoon as forecasters warned millions about potential flash floods, soaking rain and high winds.
A tropical storm warning spanning hundreds of miles is in effect from southern New Jersey to Rhode Island, and Jersey Central Power and Light has reported large-scale power outages affecting tens of thousands across the state.
The storm has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and is moving north at 14 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Fay was expected to bring 2 to 4 inches of rain Friday, with the possibility of flash flooding in parts of the mid-Atlantic and southern New England, according to the Hurricane Center.
Forecasters say the biggest impact will be the heavy rainfall that will bring some flash flooding which could be life-threatening, as "rapidly rising flood waters may quickly inundate roadways and areas of poor drainage. Streams and creeks could leave their banks, flooding nearby properties," said the National Weather Service.
“We expect some pretty heavy winds, and we need people to be ready for that, and some flash flooding in certain parts of the city,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a briefing Friday morning.
The summer storm's impact on the city was expected to be ”pretty limited," but de Blasio said it would be a bad night for outdoor dining — the only sit-down service allowed at city restaurants because of the pandemic.
"Order in and keep helping our restaurant community,” he said.
President Donald Trump said the storm is being monitored and that the Federal Emergency Management Agency was poised to help if needed.
Forecasters have also warned that isolated tornadoes and life-threatening rip currents are possible as the storm moves north.
Here's an updated look at the total rainfall amounts so far associated with Tropical Storm Fay. The heaviest rain is currently pushing northwest through New Jersey, northern Delaware and eastern Pennsylvania. #NJwx #PAwx #DEwx pic.twitter.com/uQnR4S5ymg — NWS WPC (@NWSWPC) July 10, 2020
Contributing: The Associated Press. Follow Andrew J. Goudsward on Twitter: @AGoudsward


usatoday--2020-07-10--'It was a blessing': A trio of Ohio sisters gave birth on the same day, by the same doctor

MANSFIELD , Ohio – The odds of three sisters having babies on the same day are astronomical .
According to an Associated Press story that ran in 1998 , the odds are 1 in 50 million .
Daneesha Haynes , Ariel Williams and Ashley Haynes had babies in a span of 4½ hours .
`` It was a blessing .
It 's amazing , '' Daneesha said .
`` This kind of blew everybody away . ''
Incredibly , the same doctor , Edroy McMillan , delivered all three babies .
He declined comment for this story .
The sisters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Journal at the home of the family matriarch , Deborah Ware , whose number of grandchildren jumped from 11 to 14 in a matter of hours .
While their mothers talked on the front porch during a hot , muggy day , all three babies slept soundly , unaware of their newfound celebrity .
The sisters gave birth naturally , though all three had their labor induced .
Coronavirus baby boom : It may actually be a 'baby bust ' as experts see spike in birth control orders '' I was due July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' she said .
`` She ( daughter ) had to be taken three weeks ahead .
They said smaller babies ca n't handle the birth process as well .
`` I was hoping and praying that I did n't have to do the C-section . ''
Weighing in at 4 pounds , 14 ounces , Emrie Haynes was born at 2:43 p.m .
Her mother calls her the runt of the trio , albeit a runt with a set of powerful lungs .
Grandma Ware predicts Emrie will catch up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's the smallest , but she 's going to pass everybody up , '' Ware said .
`` You watch . ''
A family friend had promised to buy lunch for whichever sister gave birth first .
Daneesha had her sights set on a free meal .
`` I was kind of getting emotional , '' she said .
`` We were in a race .
Once we had our water break , I was just trying to be the first . ''
`` I did n't win the lunch , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She joked about hospital staff getting the sisters mixed up when they came for their frequent appointments .
In choosing the name Emrie for her daughter , Daneesha said she likes different names and wanted to stand out .
Little Emrie had to undergo a few tests before she was allowed to go home .
Ashley Haynes delivered son Adrion at 11:26 a.m .
Among the sisters , they now have nine children .
Ashley , 27 , has five .
She said Adrion , who was due July 7 , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weighed 6 pounds , 10 ounces and did n't want to wait for his due date .
`` I was already 2 centimeters dilated and about to be in labor , '' Ashley said .
`` The epidural did n't take . ''
Williams , 20 , was the first sister to deliver her baby .
Sincere Young came into the world at 10:10 a.m. She weighed 8 pounds , 2 ounces .
`` I have a daughter named Serenity , and I wanted a similar name , '' Williams said of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who all graduated from Mansfield Senior , come from a large family of seven children .
Most of the family members had to wait for news of the births .
Because of restrictions in place for the COVID-19 pandemic , only one support person was allowed to be there .
In each case , that was the father .
`` I think I was more anxious than they were , '' auntie Brittany Haynes said .
Daneesha said their other children are already close , and she anticipates more of the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm just really excited to see what the future holds for us , '' she said .
Ware announced there will be `` no extra kids for birthday parties . ''
The future celebrations will coincide with America 's birthday as well .
`` I do n't know what kind of party we 'll have .
We 'll party for two days straight , '' Daneesha said .

'It was a blessing': A trio of Ohio sisters gave birth on the same day, by the same doctor
MANSFIELD, Ohio – The odds of three sisters having babies on the same day are astronomical.
According to an Associated Press story that ran in 1998, the odds are 1 in 50 million.
It happened July 3 at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital.
Daneesha Haynes, Ariel Williams and Ashley Haynes had babies in a span of 4½ hours.
"It was a blessing. It's amazing," Daneesha said. "This kind of blew everybody away."
Incredibly, the same doctor, Edroy McMillan, delivered all three babies. He declined comment for this story.
The sisters gathered for an interview with the News Journal at the home of the family matriarch, Deborah Ware, whose number of grandchildren jumped from 11 to 14 in a matter of hours.
While their mothers talked on the front porch during a hot, muggy day, all three babies slept soundly, unaware of their newfound celebrity.
The sisters gave birth naturally, though all three had their labor induced.
Coronavirus baby boom: It may actually be a 'baby bust' as experts see spike in birth control orders
Daneesha was the wild card.
"I was due July 23, but I was high risk," she said. "She (daughter) had to be taken three weeks ahead. They said smaller babies can't handle the birth process as well.
"I was hoping and praying that I didn't have to do the C-section."
Weighing in at 4 pounds, 14 ounces, Emrie Haynes was born at 2:43 p.m. Her mother calls her the runt of the trio, albeit a runt with a set of powerful lungs.
Grandma Ware predicts Emrie will catch up to her cousins very soon.
"She's the smallest, but she's going to pass everybody up," Ware said. "You watch."
A family friend had promised to buy lunch for whichever sister gave birth first. Daneesha had her sights set on a free meal.
"I was kind of getting emotional," she said. "We were in a race. Once we had our water break, I was just trying to be the first."
Daneesha, 25, lamented her last-place finish.
"I didn't win the lunch, and I was the hungriest," she said.
She joked about hospital staff getting the sisters mixed up when they came for their frequent appointments.
In choosing the name Emrie for her daughter, Daneesha said she likes different names and wanted to stand out.
Little Emrie had to undergo a few tests before she was allowed to go home.
Ashley Haynes delivered son Adrion at 11:26 a.m. Among the sisters, they now have nine children. Ashley, 27, has five.
She said Adrion, who was due July 7, is doing "really good." He weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces and didn't want to wait for his due date.
"I was already 2 centimeters dilated and about to be in labor," Ashley said. "The epidural didn't take."
Williams, 20, was the first sister to deliver her baby. Sincere Young came into the world at 10:10 a.m. She weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces.
"I have a daughter named Serenity, and I wanted a similar name," Williams said of her daughter's unusual moniker.
The sisters, who all graduated from Mansfield Senior, come from a large family of seven children.
Most of the family members had to wait for news of the births. Because of restrictions in place for the COVID-19 pandemic, only one support person was allowed to be there. In each case, that was the father.
"I think I was more anxious than they were," auntie Brittany Haynes said.
Daneesha said their other children are already close, and she anticipates more of the same with the new arrivals.
"I'm just really excited to see what the future holds for us," she said.
Ware announced there will be "no extra kids for birthday parties."
The future celebrations will coincide with America's birthday as well.
"I don't know what kind of party we'll have. We'll party for two days straight," Daneesha said.
Follow Mark Caudill on Twitter: @MNJCaudill


usatoday--2020-07-11--Citing COVID threat, judge blocks first federal execution in 17 years; sides with victims' family

Citing the threat posed by a resurgence of the deadly coronavirus , a judge delayed Monday 's federal execution of Daniel Lewis Lee , who would have been the first federal inmate to be put to death in 17 years .
U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson acted on a legal challenge brought by family members of the victims who asserted that the pandemic posed an unreasonable health risk to them as witnesses to Monday 's execution in Terre Haute , Indiana .
“ Earlene Branch Peterson , Kimma Gurel , and Monica Veillette are grateful to the court for this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exercise their right to attend the execution in the future while protecting themselves against the ravages of COVID-19 , '' the family attorney said in a statement Friday .
`` The family is hopeful that the federal government will support them by not appealing today ’ s ruling . ''
The family had planned to attend Lee 's execution , even though they are opposed to his death sentence for the murders of William Mueller , his wife , Nancy , and her daughter , Sarah Powell .
Peterson , the young victim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the unquestioned ringleader in the 1996 robbery-murder yet was sentenced to life in prison .
The Arkansas judge who presided at trial and the lead prosecutor in the case also have expressed their opposition to Lee 's death sentence .
`` We hope the government finally acts in a way to ease , rather than increase , the burdens of Mrs. Peterson and her family who have already been through an unspeakable tragedy , '' the family attorney said Friday .
Two other inmates are scheduled for execution next week at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it was unclear whether those would proceed as planned .

Citing COVID threat, judge blocks first federal execution in 17 years; sides with victims' family
Show Caption Hide Caption 3 million COVID-19 cases isn't stopping US from reopening Managing pandemic has become a political issue, as US struggles to keep cases from growing. USA TODAY
Citing the threat posed by a resurgence of the deadly coronavirus, a judge delayed Monday's federal execution of Daniel Lewis Lee, who would have been the first federal inmate to be put to death in 17 years.
U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson acted on a legal challenge brought by family members of the victims who asserted that the pandemic posed an unreasonable health risk to them as witnesses to Monday's execution in Terre Haute, Indiana.
“Earlene Branch Peterson, Kimma Gurel, and Monica Veillette are grateful to the court for this ruling, which will enable them to exercise their right to attend the execution in the future while protecting themselves against the ravages of COVID-19," the family attorney said in a statement Friday. "The family is hopeful that the federal government will support them by not appealing today’s ruling."
The family had planned to attend Lee's execution, even though they are opposed to his death sentence for the murders of William Mueller, his wife, Nancy, and her daughter, Sarah Powell.
Peterson, the young victim's grandmother, said Lee's co-defendant was the unquestioned ringleader in the 1996 robbery-murder yet was sentenced to life in prison.
The Arkansas judge who presided at trial and the lead prosecutor in the case also have expressed their opposition to Lee's death sentence.
"We hope the government finally acts in a way to ease, rather than increase, the burdens of Mrs. Peterson and her family who have already been through an unspeakable tragedy," the family attorney said Friday.
The Justice Department declined comment.
Two other inmates are scheduled for execution next week at the federal prison complex in Terre Haute, but it was unclear whether those would proceed as planned.


usatoday--2020-07-10--Trump postpones New Hampshire campaign rally, citing Tropical Storm Fay

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump postponed a highly anticipated rally planned Saturday in New Hampshire citing Tropical Storm Fay , prompting some critics to point out that it was the latest hiccup in the president 's effort to restart his campaign .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany confirmed the decision to reporters traveling with the president in Florida on Friday , noting the `` big storm '' looming off the East Coast .
She said the event would delayed `` a week or two . ''
Trump followed up with a tweet later Friday .
`` With Tropical Storm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Hampshire this weekend , we are forced to reschedule our Portsmouth , New Hampshire Rally at the Portsmouth International Airport at Pease , '' the president posted .
`` Stay safe , we will be there soon ! ''
Democrats pointed to weather forecasts indicating the storm would track west of Portsmouth and that its center was expected to be in Canada by the time of the rally 's scheduled 8 p.m. EDT start .
New Hampshire : Trump had planned New England rally amid sagging polls '' Can you draw us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can hit New Hampshire ? ''
Joe Lockhart , a former press secretary to President Bill Clinton , asked McEnany on Twitter .
`` Can ’ t find any real ones . ''
The decision to postpone follows a Trump rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma , last month that drew smaller than expected crowds and raised questions about the campaign 's ability to hold large events during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Public health officials in the state have said the rally may have contributed to a spike in cases there .
Campaign officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they had received requests for 1 million tickets .
Turnout was smaller than expected , with just 6,200 people showing up and leaving Trump addressing a lot of empty seats in a 19,000-capacity arena .
The campaign did not tout expected attendance for the New Hampshire event .
The National Weather Service forecast for Portsmouth , New Hampshire , showed a 30 % chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9 p.m. EDT .
The Weather Channel said that a stray shower or thunderstorm was possible .
The New Hampshire rally had raised flags @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of coronavirus .
A handful of Portsmouth leaders wanted to mandate face masks be worn .
Republican Gov .
Chris Sununu had said it is `` imperative '' attendees wear masks .
`` I 'm not going to put myself in the middle of a crowd of thousands of people , if that 's your question specifically , '' Sununu said earlier this week .
Tom Rath , a former New Hampshire Attorney General who has advised Republican presidential candidates , said he doubted many Republicans were disappointed by the decision to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Somewhat like learning the growth was benign , '' he said .
Trump ’ s New Hampshire rally , which was to be held at an airport hangar , was scheduled as the president is trying to recharge his struggling campaign amid a recent spike in coronavirus cases and as polls show him trailing the presumptive Democratic nominee , former Vice President Joe Biden , in November .
Trump lost New Hampshire to Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 by just 2,736 votes .
A poll last month by St. Anselm College ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trailing Biden in the Granite State by 7 points .
But while a campaign rally might help fire up Trump ’ s base and provide him with a made-for-television moment , it is unlikely to move other voters into his camp and might even turn off suburban voters , predicted Dante Scala , a political science professor at the University of New Hampshire .
In New Hampshire , `` his real dilemma right now is in the prosperous suburbs , where you find a lot of college-educated voters who are well off , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still have their jobs and so forth , but they are anxious about what ’ s happening and what will come . ''
Biden campaign spokesman TJ Ducklo poked fun at the postponement .
`` The storm is coming , '' Ducklo tweeted , `` and his name is @ JoeBiden . ''

John Fritze, David Jackson and Michael Collins, USA TODAY

Trump postpones New Hampshire campaign rally, citing Tropical Storm Fay
Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump postpones New Hampshire rally, citing bad weather The President's rally in Oklahoma sparked controversy in the era of COVID-19. Now, he's canceled the next one. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump postponed a highly anticipated rally planned Saturday in New Hampshire citing Tropical Storm Fay, prompting some critics to point out that it was the latest hiccup in the president's effort to restart his campaign.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany confirmed the decision to reporters traveling with the president in Florida on Friday, noting the "big storm" looming off the East Coast. She said the event would delayed "a week or two."
Trump followed up with a tweet later Friday.
"With Tropical Storm Fay heading towards the Great State of New Hampshire this weekend, we are forced to reschedule our Portsmouth, New Hampshire Rally at the Portsmouth International Airport at Pease," the president posted.
"Stay safe, we will be there soon!"
Democrats pointed to weather forecasts indicating the storm would track west of Portsmouth and that its center was expected to be in Canada by the time of the rally's scheduled 8 p.m. EDT start.
New Hampshire: Trump had planned New England rally amid sagging polls
Florida: Trump travels to coronavirus hotspot for trafficking briefing, fundraiser
"Can you draw us a map showing how the tropical storm can hit New Hampshire?" Joe Lockhart, a former press secretary to President Bill Clinton, asked McEnany on Twitter. "Can’t find any real ones."
The decision to postpone follows a Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, last month that drew smaller than expected crowds and raised questions about the campaign's ability to hold large events during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health officials in the state have said the rally may have contributed to a spike in cases there.
Campaign officials hyped the Tulsa event and boasted that they had received requests for 1 million tickets. Turnout was smaller than expected, with just 6,200 people showing up and leaving Trump addressing a lot of empty seats in a 19,000-capacity arena.
The campaign did not tout expected attendance for the New Hampshire event.
The National Weather Service forecast for Portsmouth, New Hampshire, showed a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9 p.m. EDT. The Weather Channel said that a stray shower or thunderstorm was possible.
The New Hampshire rally had raised flags for some local officials concerned about the spread of coronavirus. A handful of Portsmouth leaders wanted to mandate face masks be worn. Republican Gov. Chris Sununu had said it is "imperative" attendees wear masks.
Sununu planned to skip the event.
"I'm not going to put myself in the middle of a crowd of thousands of people, if that's your question specifically," Sununu said earlier this week.
Tom Rath, a former New Hampshire Attorney General who has advised Republican presidential candidates, said he doubted many Republicans were disappointed by the decision to hold off on the rally.
"Somewhat like learning the growth was benign," he said.
Trump’s New Hampshire rally, which was to be held at an airport hangar, was scheduled as the president is trying to recharge his struggling campaign amid a recent spike in coronavirus cases and as polls show him trailing the presumptive Democratic nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, in November.
Trump lost New Hampshire to Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 by just 2,736 votes. A poll last month by St. Anselm College’s New Hampshire Institute of Politics showed him trailing Biden in the Granite State by 7 points.
But while a campaign rally might help fire up Trump’s base and provide him with a made-for-television moment, it is unlikely to move other voters into his camp and might even turn off suburban voters, predicted Dante Scala, a political science professor at the University of New Hampshire.
In New Hampshire, "his real dilemma right now is in the prosperous suburbs, where you find a lot of college-educated voters who are well off," Scala said. "They likely still have their jobs and so forth, but they are anxious about what’s happening and what will come."
Biden campaign spokesman TJ Ducklo poked fun at the postponement.
"The storm is coming," Ducklo tweeted, "and his name is @JoeBiden."


usatoday--2020-07-10--Trump and conservatives hijacked the Supreme Court. We're progressives ready to fight back.

Republicans control the Supreme Court today because they fought for it — by any means necessary .
From the founding of The Federalist Society in 1982 , conservative special interests have relentlessly pursued control of the judicial branch .
Their strategy culminated in 2016 when , with a Supreme Court seat vacant following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia , Republican senators fell in line behind Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ’ s plan to deny President Barack Obama the opportunity to fill it .
Throughout , Republicans and conservatives worked to bring conservative activists and voters into the fight .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ constantly about how important the nation 's high court is .
Candidate Donald Trump even broke with tradition to announce a list of potential nominees , mobilizing and unifying conservative voters .
As progressives , we need to admit that the broad Democratic coalition — including progressive activists — did not do enough to stop Republicans from stealing that seat and , with it , control of the court .
The Supreme Court was low-profile in most progressive and Democratic messaging in 2016 — especially compared with the drumbeat from the right .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who considered the Supreme Court the “ most important factor ” in their vote by 15 points .
As a result of Senate Republicans ’ stonewalling of President Obama and changing Senate rules to confirm President Trump ’ s nominee , five Republican-appointed justices control the Supreme Court today .
The consequences have been disastrous .
They have rubber-stamped many of President Trump ’ s most dangerous policies — from his Muslim travel ban to his transgender military ban to his attacks on affordable birth control .
And they have damaged our democracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to choose between practicing safe social distancing and exercising their right to vote .
While this term brought some welcome victories for progressives , the narrow nature of those decisions and Justice Brett Kavanaugh ’ s appalling votes only go to show that the future of the Supreme Court is on the line right now , and that the dangers of Trump appointing more justices are profound .
Progressives continue to ignore the Supreme Court at their peril .
This year can , and must , be different .
We do not agree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in both the 2016 and the 2020 presidential primary .
We have devoted our careers to working on different sets of issues — and we have different visions for how the progressive movement and Democratic Party should move forward .
But we are absolutely united on this : Progressives must , and can , unite around fighting for control of the Supreme Court .
Undercutting confidence : Trump and Barr are making false claims about mail-in ballots to scare us out of voting Without action , everything we care about is at risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court to enact their deeply unpopular agenda : repealing affordable health care , undoing commonsense gun violence prevention measures , tilting the law in favor of corporations and the wealthy , making it harder for workers to organize , undercutting the fundamental freedom to make decisions about your own body and reproduction , and weakening civil rights protections .
If Trump is able to appoint more Supreme Court justices , he will cement a right-wing majority that will enact a partisan , Republican agenda from the bench for decades to come .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ progressives are ready to fight back .
While Trump ’ s hijacking of our courts has done enormous damage , it has also spurred those of us who oppose his agenda to mobilize around our judiciary .
The Kavanaugh confirmation battle showed us all just how far Republicans are willing to go to entrench their Supreme Court majority — and the court ’ s unjust recent opinions have shown how damaging their campaign is to everything we care about .
Progressives are fed up with a court that undermines democracy and civil rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favors the rich and the powerful above everyone else .
Fortunately , most Americans agree with us .
They oppose the Trump-backed lawsuit asking the court to overturn the Affordable Care Act and attacks on our democracy such as partisan gerrymandering and the court 's Citizens United decision .
We should take a page out of the conservative playbook by making sure our friends and neighbors know every time the court turns on them .
2020 election : Supreme Court 'faithless electors ' ruling aims to stabilize the election , but will it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court vacancy looming and the balance of the court on the line , the coming months could determine our country ’ s future for generations .
This is our chance to send a message that we will not allow our children to grow up in an America where people like Brett Kavanaugh control an entire branch of government .
We plan on taking it .
The authors are members of the advisory board of Supreme Court Voter : Ana Maria Archila , co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy Jess Morales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Action and civic engagement director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance Shannon Watts , founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America Randi Weingarten , president of the American Federation of Teachers Click here to follow them on Twitter .

Supreme Court Voter Board members, Opinion contributors

Trump and conservatives hijacked the Supreme Court. We're progressives ready to fight back. We don't agree on everything, but we agree progressives must unite to fight for control of the court. Otherwise, everything we care about is at risk.
Republicans control the Supreme Court today because they fought for it — by any means necessary. From the founding of The Federalist Society in 1982, conservative special interests have relentlessly pursued control of the judicial branch. Their strategy culminated in 2016 when, with a Supreme Court seat vacant following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, Republican senators fell in line behind Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s plan to deny President Barack Obama the opportunity to fill it.
Throughout, Republicans and conservatives worked to bring conservative activists and voters into the fight. During the 2016 campaign, Republicans talked constantly about how important the nation's high court is. Candidate Donald Trump even broke with tradition to announce a list of potential nominees, mobilizing and unifying conservative voters.
As progressives, we need to admit that the broad Democratic coalition — including progressive activists — did not do enough to stop Republicans from stealing that seat and, with it, control of the court. The Supreme Court was low-profile in most progressive and Democratic messaging in 2016 — especially compared with the drumbeat from the right. And, ultimately,Trump won voters who considered the Supreme Court the “most important factor” in their vote by 15 points.
Dangerous policies rubber-stamped
As a result of Senate Republicans’ stonewalling of President Obama and changing Senate rules to confirm President Trump’s nominee, five Republican-appointed justices control the Supreme Court today. The consequences have been disastrous. They have rubber-stamped many of President Trump’s most dangerous policies — from his Muslim travel ban to his transgender military ban to his attacks on affordable birth control. And they have damaged our democracy, greenlighting partisan gerrymandering and forcing Wisconsinites to choose between practicing safe social distancing and exercising their right to vote.
While this term brought some welcome victories for progressives, the narrow nature of those decisions and Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s appalling votes only go to show that the future of the Supreme Court is on the line right now, and that the dangers of Trump appointing more justices are profound.
Progressives continue to ignore the Supreme Court at their peril. This year can, and must, be different.
We do not agree on everything. We supported different candidates in both the 2016 and the 2020 presidential primary. We have devoted our careers to working on different sets of issues — and we have different visions for how the progressive movement and Democratic Party should move forward. But we are absolutely united on this: Progressives must, and can, unite around fighting for control of the Supreme Court.
Undercutting confidence: Trump and Barr are making false claims about mail-in ballots to scare us out of voting
Without action, everything we care about is at risk. Republicans have long turned to the Supreme Court to enact their deeply unpopular agenda: repealing affordable health care, undoing commonsense gun violence prevention measures, tilting the law in favor of corporations and the wealthy, making it harder for workers to organize, undercutting the fundamental freedom to make decisions about your own body and reproduction, and weakening civil rights protections. If Trump is able to appoint more Supreme Court justices, he will cement a right-wing majority that will enact a partisan, Republican agenda from the bench for decades to come.
Time for progressives to fight back
We think the moment has arrived when progressives are ready to fight back. While Trump’s hijacking of our courts has done enormous damage, it has also spurred those of us who oppose his agenda to mobilize around our judiciary. The Kavanaugh confirmation battle showed us all just how far Republicans are willing to go to entrench their Supreme Court majority — and the court’s unjust recent opinions have shown how damaging their campaign is to everything we care about. Progressives are fed up with a court that undermines democracy and civil rights, threatens access to health care and favors the rich and the powerful above everyone else.
Fortunately, most Americans agree with us. They oppose the Trump-backed lawsuit asking the court to overturn the Affordable Care Act and attacks on our democracy such as partisan gerrymandering and the court's Citizens United decision. We should take a page out of the conservative playbook by making sure our friends and neighbors know every time the court turns on them.
2020 election: Supreme Court 'faithless electors' ruling aims to stabilize the election, but will it work?
With the possibility of a Supreme Court vacancy looming and the balance of the court on the line, the coming months could determine our country’s future for generations. This is our chance to send a message that we will not allow our children to grow up in an America where people like Brett Kavanaugh control an entire branch of government. We plan on taking it.
The authors are members of the advisory board of Supreme Court Voter:
Ana Maria Archila, co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy
Ady Barkan, co-founder of Be a Hero
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, physician and progressive activist
Brian Fallon, executive director of Demand Justice
Anna Galland, former executive director of MoveOn
Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America
María Teresa Kumar, president and CEO of Voto Latino
Jen Psaki, former White House communications director
Jess Morales Rocketto, executive director of Care in Action and civic engagement director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance
Alexandra Rojas, executive director of Justice Democrats
Maya Rupert, progressive strategist and writer
Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers
Click here to follow them on Twitter.


usatoday--2020-07-10--Marine dad gives family the best wake-up call ever

Marine dad gives family the best wake-up call ever After an extended deployment , U.S. Marine GySgt .
Wesley Johnson @ @ @ @ @ was the first thing his family saw when they woke up .

Marine dad gives family the best wake-up call ever
After an extended deployment, U.S. Marine GySgt. Wesley Johnson wanted to make sure he was the first thing his family saw when they woke up.
Militarykind, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-07-10--Walt Disney World welcomes first guests since coronavirus closures

Walt Disney World reopens to first guests since COVID-19 closure Annual passholders were treated to a special preview of the @ @ @ @ @ Walt Disney World has been closed for nearly four months .

Walt Disney World reopens to first guests since COVID-19 closure
Annual passholders were treated to a special preview of the Magic Kingdom's reopening. Walt Disney World has been closed for nearly four months.
USA TODAY, FLORIDA TODAY


usatoday--2020-07-10--Black officers who face insults, personal attacks get a double dose of pain and frustration

COLUMBUS , Ohio – He had held the line for hours , never flinching as protesters screamed insults , hurled rocks and frozen water bottles and dared the men and women to take off their uniforms and fight .
Then someone zeroed in on his black skin .
Protesters soon advanced on Columbus police Officer Phillip “ P.J.
” Jackson , circling back to him time and again .
“ You ’ re disgusting .
You standing on the wrong side , ” one Black woman shouted in his face .
“ We stand with our people ...
I know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can sleep good at night .
Remember my voice , Black man .
Remember my voice.
” And oh , how he does .
The insults hurt , Jackson said , and the personal attacks cut him as surely as a sharp knife .
Yet that pain only has steeled his resolve for how he can best bring about change from the inside .
It reminds him how those who judge him only by his uniform are no better than any officer who judges those they police simply by the color of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Black officer , I became a focal point and a target , ” he said .
“ Not knowing me , not knowing who I am , what I have been through , what I ’ ve done in my community and what I still continue to do.
” A night like no other He held his position in that line of officers at an intersection in downtown Columbus , Ohio , as the agitated crowd swelled to hundreds as the night wore on .
It was Thursday , May 28 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decrying police brutality and demanding widespread change in the name of George Floyd , who died in Minneapolis after a police officer pinned him down by his neck for more than eight minutes during an arrest on minor charges .
The latest : George Floyd told officers he 'ca n't breathe ' nearly 30 times , newly released body cam transcripts show And it was a night like no other Jackson has experienced in his 14 years with the Columbus Division of Police or as a state corrections officer or as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before that .
Sure , he has had his blackness used against him before and yes , people on the streets as he works his mid-watch shift have questioned his loyalty .
But he said he ’ s always been able to talk to people , to show them who he really is and what he stands for , what his colleagues stand for .
These are his streets , after all .
This is where he came from , having grown up in the Linden neighborhood and then spending 20-plus years as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this ?
This one May night and all the nights that have followed ?
They are different .
“ It hurts , ” the 46-year-old Jackson said .
He knows deep in his bones that he can , in fact , be a Black man and wear police blue at the same time .
It shouldn ’ t require him to split his loyalties .
He said he is as angry about what police did to Floyd as the people marching through the city , but he has never been ashamed to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t now .
“ I knew what was happening to that man on the ground , ” he said of Floyd .
“ Yes , I felt that pain .
But ... separating your Blackness from the uniform ?
You ’ re gon na be Black regardless .
You can ’ t turn that off.
” 'Normally , the police take control .
But not that day' The Columbus Division of Police — both its commanders and the rank and file — is mostly white .
It has one recently-promoted Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , four are Black .
Of the city ’ s 1,560 officers , about 10 % are Black , and 20 of 224 sergeants are Black .
The city has faced discrimination and racism lawsuits in the past , and a report from a consulting group released in August found that the division has a “ significant disparity of use of force against minority residents.
” As recently as last month , Lt. Melissa McFadden , a 24-year veteran of the division , said she believes the racism she sees exhibited by officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the internal racism at work .
Census data from 2019 lists 28.5 % of Columbus ’ population as Black or African American .
Increasing diversity in the police force so that it looks more like the community the division serves has long been a priority , and Detective Dana Croom , who joined in 1987 , has been a part of those efforts .
Croom , 55 , said it ’ s not like it was when he first came on , when older officers pointed out who among them were blatantly racist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even though it was difficult internally back then , he had never once thought about quitting — until the past 30 days .
Then the doubts about staying until his planned retirement next year crept in .
The personal attacks on his heritage , the calling into question his ability to be both an officer and a Black man , have been difficult , Croom said .
The assumptions that every officer is racist are unfair and wrong , he said .
Croom was drawn to law enforcement by experience .
As a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he and a friend were approached by a stranger who offered them some candy if they ’ d go with him .
A young Dana declined and went home ; his friend did not .
The friend was killed .
Prompted in part by such traumatic events , the Crooms moved to central Ohio .
His father became a longtime Licking County deputy sheriff and sergeant , and Dana Croom followed his footsteps into law enforcement .
Croom has seen plenty of protests on Columbus streets , but he said there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or so .
“ I ’ ve been shot at , I ’ ve been shot , and I can honestly tell you that that first Saturday was probably the scaredest I ’ ve ever been , ” he said .
“ Normally , the police take control .
But not that day.
” At 55 , he has been among the oldest to don the tactical gear and work the front lines of the protests .
And Croom , too , took plenty of personal barbs .
“ Uncle Tom , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot.
” Croom said he sees the frustration and anger on the faces of the protesters .
And he understands it .
But as a longtime homicide detective , he wonders why the community doesn ’ t seem to call for answers to everyday killings , especially for the young Black men claimed by street violence .
He wonders why society doesn ’ t try harder to address that .
“ Black lives matter all the time , ” he said .
“ Not just when the police do something.
” ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly 32 years with the division , Officer Jacqueline Fofana recently has been called back to the front lines , too .
Working now as a child-abuse investigator , she has long been a diversity instructor at the police academy and takes an active role in hiring recruits .
She has always thought that part of her responsibility was to help bring about change .
“ If I witness some act of discrimination or racism , I ’ m going to speak up , ” she said .
“ That myth that Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t going to speak up , it ’ s just not true.
” Even now , Fofana sees these protests as an educational opportunity .
She said she knows there are officers who have profiled the Black community .
And she knows people of color have been for so long the target of bias .
But now is the time to turn pain into action .
“ People want their pain acknowledged , ” said Fofana , 54 .
“ It shouldn ’ t be a case of them vs. us .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” She said she hopes this racial justice movement , rather than dismantling law enforcement , will increase diversity in the ranks and lead to better understanding .
“ Now is the time to step up , ” she said .
“ We ’ re in this process , this swell of change .
We can all make a difference.
” Officer Jackson , who has had maybe five days off in the past month , said he not only hears the protesters but shares their pain and anger .
But he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police officer is wrong .
He wishes more people understood his motivations .
He was 25 years old and on his way home from work in corrections when he stopped at a light .
There , he saw yellow crime-scene tape surrounding a neighborhood bar .
“ I remember these exact words coming out of my mouth : ‘ Man , somebody done got killed again today.
’ I drove home and later on we got that call.
” Robbers had shot his brother as he was leaving the bar .
The case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his mother ’ s screams of heartbreak .
So the protesters who question his loyalty to both his race and his profession ?
He only wishes they knew him better .
Other people of color , he said , shouldn ’ t treat Black officers like they should not be standing on that line .
“ That ’ s what civil rights was about — equal opportunities of employment , ” he said .
“ We needed Black police officers , doctors , firemen .
Now we ’ re having that change .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ what our people and what my grandparents fought for us to have.
” Cheyenne Woods : Changing the Game with her voice and her famous name 'Scared for my life , ' but needing a salary : Teachers weigh risks as COVID-19 looms

Black officers who face insults, personal attacks get a double dose of pain and frustration
Show Caption Hide Caption Black officer opens up about community pressure at protest Officer Phillip Jackson has served his boyhood neighborhood for over a decade, but that's not what protesters saw as demonstrations unraveled in June. USA TODAY, The Columbus Dispatch
COLUMBUS, Ohio – He had held the line for hours, never flinching as protesters screamed insults, hurled rocks and frozen water bottles and dared the men and women to take off their uniforms and fight.
Then someone zeroed in on his black skin.
Protesters soon advanced on Columbus police Officer Phillip “P.J.” Jackson, circling back to him time and again.
“You’re disgusting. You standing on the wrong side,” one Black woman shouted in his face. “We stand with our people ... I know you can hear me. I hope you can sleep good at night. Remember my voice, Black man. Remember my voice.”
And oh, how he does. The insults hurt, Jackson said, and the personal attacks cut him as surely as a sharp knife.
Yet that pain only has steeled his resolve for how he can best bring about change from the inside. It reminds him how those who judge him only by his uniform are no better than any officer who judges those they police simply by the color of their skin.
“Because I was a Black officer, I became a focal point and a target,” he said. “Not knowing me, not knowing who I am, what I have been through, what I’ve done in my community and what I still continue to do.”
A night like no other
He held his position in that line of officers at an intersection in downtown Columbus, Ohio, as the agitated crowd swelled to hundreds as the night wore on.
It was Thursday, May 28, the first night of protests in Columbus decrying police brutality and demanding widespread change in the name of George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis after a police officer pinned him down by his neck for more than eight minutes during an arrest on minor charges.
The latest: George Floyd told officers he 'can't breathe' nearly 30 times, newly released body cam transcripts show
And it was a night like no other Jackson has experienced in his 14 years with the Columbus Division of Police or as a state corrections officer or as part of a U.S. Marshal’s task force before that.
Sure, he has had his blackness used against him before and yes, people on the streets as he works his mid-watch shift have questioned his loyalty. But he said he’s always been able to talk to people, to show them who he really is and what he stands for, what his colleagues stand for.
These are his streets, after all. This is where he came from, having grown up in the Linden neighborhood and then spending 20-plus years as a youth football coach there.
But this? This one May night and all the nights that have followed? They are different.
“It hurts,” the 46-year-old Jackson said. He knows deep in his bones that he can, in fact, be a Black man and wear police blue at the same time. It shouldn’t require him to split his loyalties.
He said he is as angry about what police did to Floyd as the people marching through the city, but he has never been ashamed to be a Black police officer. And he isn’t now.
“I knew what was happening to that man on the ground,” he said of Floyd. “Yes, I felt that pain. But ... separating your Blackness from the uniform? You’re gonna be Black regardless. You can’t turn that off.”
'Normally, the police take control. But not that day'
The Columbus Division of Police — both its commanders and the rank and file — is mostly white. It has one recently-promoted Black commander, and out of 56 lieutenants, four are Black. Of the city’s 1,560 officers, about 10% are Black, and 20 of 224 sergeants are Black.
The city has faced discrimination and racism lawsuits in the past, and a report from a consulting group released in August found that the division has a “significant disparity of use of force against minority residents.” As recently as last month, Lt. Melissa McFadden, a 24-year veteran of the division, said she believes the racism she sees exhibited by officers on the street is a symptom of the internal racism at work.
Census data from 2019 lists 28.5% of Columbus’ population as Black or African American. Increasing diversity in the police force so that it looks more like the community the division serves has long been a priority, and Detective Dana Croom, who joined in 1987, has been a part of those efforts.
Croom, 55, said it’s not like it was when he first came on, when older officers pointed out who among them were blatantly racist and who he should avoid. But even though it was difficult internally back then, he had never once thought about quitting — until the past 30 days. Then the doubts about staying until his planned retirement next year crept in.
The personal attacks on his heritage, the calling into question his ability to be both an officer and a Black man, have been difficult, Croom said. The assumptions that every officer is racist are unfair and wrong, he said.
Croom was drawn to law enforcement by experience. As a child growing up in New York City, he and a friend were approached by a stranger who offered them some candy if they’d go with him. A young Dana declined and went home; his friend did not. The friend was killed.
Prompted in part by such traumatic events, the Crooms moved to central Ohio. His father became a longtime Licking County deputy sheriff and sergeant, and Dana Croom followed his footsteps into law enforcement.
Croom has seen plenty of protests on Columbus streets, but he said there’s been nothing like this past month or so.
“I’ve been shot at, I’ve been shot, and I can honestly tell you that that first Saturday was probably the scaredest I’ve ever been,” he said. “Normally, the police take control. But not that day.”
Qualified immunity: How it protects police from civil lawsuits The doctrine of qualified immunity has been used to protect police from civil lawsuits and trials. Here's why it was put in place. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
At 55, he has been among the oldest to don the tactical gear and work the front lines of the protests. And Croom, too, took plenty of personal barbs.
“Uncle Tom,” he said. “I get that a lot.”
Croom said he sees the frustration and anger on the faces of the protesters. And he understands it. But as a longtime homicide detective, he wonders why the community doesn’t seem to call for answers to everyday killings, especially for the young Black men claimed by street violence. He wonders why society doesn’t try harder to address that.
“Black lives matter all the time,” he said. “Not just when the police do something.”
'I'm going to speak up'
After nearly 32 years with the division, Officer Jacqueline Fofana recently has been called back to the front lines, too. Working now as a child-abuse investigator, she has long been a diversity instructor at the police academy and takes an active role in hiring recruits.
She has always thought that part of her responsibility was to help bring about change.
“If I witness some act of discrimination or racism, I’m going to speak up,” she said. “That myth that Black officers are here and we aren’t going to speak up, it’s just not true.”
Even now, Fofana sees these protests as an educational opportunity. She said she knows there are officers who have profiled the Black community. And she knows people of color have been for so long the target of bias.
But now is the time to turn pain into action.
“People want their pain acknowledged,” said Fofana, 54. “It shouldn’t be a case of them vs. us. We’re ready and willing to change.”
She said she hopes this racial justice movement, rather than dismantling law enforcement, will increase diversity in the ranks and lead to better understanding.
“Now is the time to step up,” she said. “We’re in this process, this swell of change. We can all make a difference.”
Officer Jackson, who has had maybe five days off in the past month, said he not only hears the protesters but shares their pain and anger.
But he said that doesn’t mean being a police officer is wrong. He wishes more people understood his motivations.
He was 25 years old and on his way home from work in corrections when he stopped at a light. There, he saw yellow crime-scene tape surrounding a neighborhood bar.
It was Mother’s Day 1999.
“I remember these exact words coming out of my mouth: ‘Man, somebody done got killed again today.’ I drove home and later on we got that call.”
Robbers had shot his brother as he was leaving the bar. The case remains unsolved.
Jackson still can hear his mother’s screams of heartbreak.
So the protesters who question his loyalty to both his race and his profession? He only wishes they knew him better. Other people of color, he said, shouldn’t treat Black officers like they should not be standing on that line.
“That’s what civil rights was about — equal opportunities of employment,” he said. “We needed Black police officers, doctors, firemen. Now we’re having that change. Don’t down us for doing what our people and what my grandparents fought for us to have.”
Follow reporter Holly Zachariah on Twitter: @hollyzachariah
Cheyenne Woods: Changing the Game with her voice and her famous name
'Scared for my life,' but needing a salary: Teachers weigh risks as COVID-19 looms


usatoday--2020-07-11--'Abandoned the rule of law': Lawmakers react to Trump granting clemency to Roger Stone

WASHINGTON – Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle reacted Friday night to news that President Donald Trump commuted the sentence of his longtime confidant Roger Stone .
Democrats accused Trump of abusing his power while some Republicans applauded the move .
Stone is a Republican operative convicted of lying to Congress to protect the president 's campaign from an investigation into Russian election interference .
More : Trump grants clemency to ally Roger Stone after railing against 'unfair ' conviction , sentencing He was convicted of lying to investigators about efforts by Trump campaign aides to learn about WikiLeaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operatives stole from Hillary Clinton 's campaign .
Special counsel Robert Mueller 's investigation found Russia undertook a `` sweeping '' campaign to help Trump , but found no evidence he coordinated with the effort .
Rep. Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , tweeted that `` Stone lied and intimidated witnesses to hide Trump ’ s exploitation of the Russian hack of his opponent ’ s campaign . ''
`` With Trump there are now two systems of justice in America : One for Trump 's criminal friends and one for everyone else , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The White House announced Trump 's decision late Friday , days before Stone was set to report to prison for a 40-month sentence handed down in February , a stunning downfall for a consultant who has advised campaigns for decades .
More : Citing COVID threat , judge blocks first federal execution in 17 years ; sides with victims ' family The campaign of former Vice President Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee , said in a statement that Trump `` has once again abused his power , releasing this commutation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet again avoid scrutiny as he lays waste to the norms and values that make our country a shining beacon to the rest of the world . ''
`` He will not be shamed .
He will only be stopped when Americans make their voice heard at the ballot box this fall .
Enough , '' the statement concluded .
Appearing on CNN Friday night , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , said that for Trump to be able to commute or issue a pardon for Stone `` based on the crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Pelosi was asked about U.S. Attorney General William Barr saying Wednesday the sentencing of Stone was fair .
`` There ought to be a law , '' she continued .
`` I ’ m recommending that we pass a law that presidents can not issue a pardon if the crime that the person is in jail for is one that is caused by protecting the President , which this was.
” Sen. Mark Warner , D-VA. , vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee , posted : `` The United States was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It seems our president has nothing but contempt for it . ''
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler , D-N.Y. , and Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney , D-N.Y. , released a joint statement , writing , `` Trump abused the powers of his office in an apparent effort to reward Roger Stone for his refusal to cooperate with investigators examining the President ’ s own conduct .
No other president has exercised the clemency power for such a patently personal and self-serving purpose . ''
Sen. Elizabeth Warren , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule of law and made a mockery of our democracy . ''
More : Army to conduct review of Ft .
Hood command after Vanessa Guillen murder , handling of her disappearance Before the clemency was officially announced , Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , tweeted , `` In my view it would be justified if President decided to commute Roger Stone 's prison sentence .
Mr. Stone is in his 70s and this was a non-violent , first-time offense , '' incorrectly stating Stone 's age , who is 67-years-old .
Jordan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hill , posted , `` Like every president , President Trump has the constitutional right to commute sentences where he believes it serves the interests of fairness and justice . ''
`` Each week , Americans learn more about how the Obama-Biden Administration weaponized the intelligence community and Justice Department to target the Trump campaign , '' he said .

'Abandoned the rule of law': Lawmakers react to Trump granting clemency to Roger Stone
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump grants clemency to Roger Stone President Donald Trump commuted the sentence of his longtime confidant Roger Stone. USA TODAY, Wochit
WASHINGTON – Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle reacted Friday night to news President Donald Trump commuted the sentence of his longtime confidant Roger Stone. Democrats accused Trump of abusing his power while some Republicans applauded the move.
Stone is a Republican operative convicted of lying to Congress to protect the president's campaign from an investigation into Russian election interference.
More: Trump grants clemency to ally Roger Stone after railing against 'unfair' conviction, sentencing
He was convicted of lying to investigators about efforts by Trump campaign aides to learn about WikiLeaks' plans to release emails that Russian operatives stole from Hillary Clinton's campaign. Former special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation found Russia undertook a "sweeping" campaign to help Trump, but found no evidence he coordinated with the effort.
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., tweeted that "Stone lied and intimidated witnesses to hide Trump’s exploitation of the Russian hack of his opponent’s campaign."
"With Trump there are now two systems of justice in America: One for Trump's criminal friends and one for everyone else," the lead House impeachment manager continued.
Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, called the commutation an "unprecedented, historic corruption," on Saturday.
"An American president commutes the sentence of a person convicted by a jury of lying to shield that very president," he wrote in a tweet.
The White House announced Trump's decision late Friday, days before Stone was set to report to prison for a 40-month sentence handed down in February, a stunning downfall for a consultant who has advised campaigns for decades.
More: Citing COVID threat, judge blocks first federal execution in 17 years; sides with victims' family
The campaign of former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, said in a statement that Trump "has once again abused his power, releasing this commutation on a Friday night, hoping to yet again avoid scrutiny as he lays waste to the norms and values that make our country a shining beacon to the rest of the world."
"He will not be shamed. He will only be stopped when Americans make their voice heard at the ballot box this fall. Enough," the statement concluded.
Appearing on CNN Friday night, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said that for Trump to be able to commute or issue a pardon for Stone "based on the crime assisting the president, is ridiculous."
Pelosi was asked about U.S. Attorney General William Barr saying Wednesday the sentencing of Stone was fair.
More: Trump asks Treasury Department to review universities' tax exemption over 'Radical Left Indoctrination'
"There ought to be a law," she continued. "I’m recommending that we pass a law that presidents cannot issue a pardon if the crime that the person is in jail for is one that is caused by protecting the President, which this was.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Trump commuting Roger Stone’s sentence: “I’m recommending that we pass a law that presidents cannot issue a pardon if the crime that the person is in jail for is one that is caused by protecting the President, which this was” https://t.co/ZzhLshSw7I pic.twitter.com/WCwCM5Xvq2 — CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) July 11, 2020
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, posted: "The United States was founded on the rule of law. It seems our president has nothing but contempt for it."
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., and Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y., released a joint statement, writing, "Trump abused the powers of his office in an apparent effort to reward Roger Stone for his refusal to cooperate with investigators examining the President’s own conduct. No other president has exercised the clemency power for such a patently personal and self-serving purpose."
Donald Trump has abandoned the rule of law and made a mockery of our democracy. He truly is the most corrupt president in history. https://t.co/GA7apdmd3Y — Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) July 11, 2020
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., tweeted Trump "abandoned the rule of law and made a mockery of our democracy."
More: Army to conduct review of Ft. Hood command after Vanessa Guillen murder, handling of her disappearance
Before the clemency was officially announced, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., tweeted, "In my view it would be justified if President decided to commute Roger Stone's prison sentence. Mr. Stone is in his 70s and this was a non-violent, first-time offense," incorrectly stating Stone's age, who is 67-years-old.
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, tweeted he supported Trump's decision.
Jordan, a staunch Trump supporter on Capitol Hill, posted, "Like every president, President Trump has the constitutional right to commute sentences where he believes it serves the interests of fairness and justice."
"Each week, Americans learn more about how the Obama-Biden Administration weaponized the intelligence community and Justice Department to target the Trump campaign," he said.
I support President Trump’s decision to commute Roger Stone’s sentence. — Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) July 11, 2020
Contributing: John Fritze, Kevin Johnson and Kristine Phillips


usatoday--2020-07-11--President Donald Trump postpones New Hampshire rally, citing tropical weather

The President 's rally in Oklahoma sparked controversy in the era of COVID-19 .
Now , he 's canceled the @ @ @

President Trump postpones New Hampshire rally, citing bad weather
The President's rally in Oklahoma sparked controversy in the era of COVID-19. Now, he's canceled the next one.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-07-10--'Ghislaine Maxwell is not Epstein': Attorneys argue for bail ahead of detention hearing, cite COVID

Attorneys for Ghislaine Maxwell , accused of procuring young victims for Jeffrey Epstein 's child sex trafficking operation , argued for her release on bail , citing the coronavirus threat while attempting to distance her from the disgraced financier .
`` Ghislaine Maxwell is not Jeffrey Epstein , '' defense lawyers said in court documents Friday in advance of next week 's detention hearing in New York .
`` Ms. Maxwell vigorously denies the charges , intends to fight them , and is entitled to the presumption of innocence , '' attorneys asserted , adding that she had not attempted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's arrest and jail suicide last year .
`` She should be treated like any other defendant who comes before this Court , including as to bail . ''
Lawyers proposed a $ 5 million bond , secured by properties in the U.S. and Great Britain ; the surrender of all travel documents ; and home confinement within the court 's Manhattan jurisdiction with electronic monitoring .
`` The government has failed to meet its burden of establishing that Ms. Maxwell presents an 'actual risk of flight ' and must be detained , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strict bail conditions ... are appropriate under the circumstances and are the least restrictive set of conditions that will reasonably assure Ms. Maxwell ’ s appearance in Court , without the health and access to counsel risks inherent in the government ’ s request that Ms. Maxwell be detained pending trial . ''
More : Federal officials seek interview with Prince Andrew as part of Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case Citing the resurgent coronavirus and the continuing threat posed to federal prisoners , attorneys said the pandemic represents an `` unprecedented health risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put , under these circumstances , if Ms. Maxwell continues to be detained , her health will be at serious risk and she will not be able to receive a fair trial , '' attorneys argued .
Maxwell , Epstein 's longtime associate , was arrested last week in New Hampshire on perjury and conspiracy charges , accusing her of helping Epstein “ recruit , groom , and ultimately abuse victims ” between 1994 and 1997 .
Both allegedly knew the victims were under age 18 and as young as 14 .
Maxwell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Epstein ’ s homes scattered across the United States and abroad , “ which Maxwell knew and intended would result in their grooming for and subjection to sexual abuse , ” federal prosecutors said .
Maxwell is the daughter of Robert Maxwell , a publishing tycoon and former member of the British Parliament who died in 1991 after falling overboard from his luxury yacht , Lady Ghislaine , named after the youngest of his nine children .
The six-count indictment filed last week outlines an alleged years-long partnership between Epstein and Maxwell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lengths to procure young victims .
Over the years , Maxwell allegedly facilitated the victims ' travel to Epstein 's homes in New York , Florida , New Mexico and London for the expressed purpose of engaging in sex acts with the financier .
At the time the charges were announced , New York FBI chief William Sweeney Jr. said investigators had been monitoring Maxwell 's movements , at some point determining that she had `` slithered away '' to a `` gorgeous '' home in New Hampshire , where she was arrested @ @ @ @

'Ghislaine Maxwell is not Epstein': Attorneys argue for bail ahead of detention hearing, cite COVID threat
Show Caption Hide Caption Ghislaine Maxwell: Epstein associate arrested for part in sex trafficking Ghislaine Maxwell, longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, has been arrested as part of the continuing federal inquiry into the child sex trafficking. USA TODAY
Attorneys for Ghislaine Maxwell, accused of procuring young victims for Jeffrey Epstein's child sex trafficking operation, argued for her release on bail, citing the coronavirus threat while attempting to distance her from the disgraced financier.
"Ghislaine Maxwell is not Jeffrey Epstein," defense lawyers said in court documents Friday in advance of next week's detention hearing in New York.
"Ms. Maxwell vigorously denies the charges, intends to fight them, and is entitled to the presumption of innocence," attorneys asserted, adding that she had not attempted to flee the United States following Epstein's arrest and jail suicide last year. "She should be treated like any other defendant who comes before this Court, including as to bail."
Lawyers proposed a $5 million bond, secured by properties in the U.S. and Great Britain; the surrender of all travel documents; and home confinement within the court's Manhattan jurisdiction with electronic monitoring.
"The government has failed to meet its burden of establishing that Ms. Maxwell presents an 'actual risk of flight' and must be detained," the documents stated. "The strict bail conditions ... are appropriate under the circumstances and are the least restrictive set of conditions that will reasonably assure Ms. Maxwell’s appearance in Court, without the health and access to counsel risks inherent in the government’s request that Ms. Maxwell be detained pending trial."
More: Days after Ghislaine Maxwell's arrest, Epstein accuser demands investigation into sexual battery allegation
More: Federal officials seek interview with Prince Andrew as part of Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case
Citing the resurgent coronavirus and the continuing threat posed to federal prisoners, attorneys said the pandemic represents an "unprecedented health risk to incarcerated individuals."
"Simply put, under these circumstances, if Ms. Maxwell continues to be detained, her health will be at serious risk and she will not be able to receive a fair trial," attorneys argued.
Maxwell, Epstein's longtime associate, was arrested last week in New Hampshire on perjury and conspiracy charges, accusing her of helping Epstein “recruit, groom, and ultimately abuse victims” between 1994 and 1997.
Both allegedly knew the victims were under age 18 and as young as 14.
Maxwell and Epstein enticed and lured the victims to Epstein’s homes scattered across the United States and abroad, “which Maxwell knew and intended would result in their grooming for and subjection to sexual abuse,” federal prosecutors said.
Maxwell is the daughter of Robert Maxwell, a publishing tycoon and former member of the British Parliament who died in 1991 after falling overboard from his luxury yacht, Lady Ghislaine, named after the youngest of his nine children.
The six-count indictment filed last week outlines an alleged years-long partnership between Epstein and Maxwell in which the pair went to great lengths to procure young victims.
Over the years, Maxwell allegedly facilitated the victims' travel to Epstein's homes in New York, Florida, New Mexico and London for the expressed purpose of engaging in sex acts with the financier.
At the time the charges were announced, New York FBI chief William Sweeney Jr. said investigators had been monitoring Maxwell's movements, at some point determining that she had "slithered away" to a "gorgeous" home in New Hampshire, where she was arrested Thursday without incident.


usatoday--2020-07-10--Trump travels to coronavirus hotspot Florida for anti-drug-trafficking briefing and campaign fundrai

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump descended on Florida Friday in his latest trip to a red state grappling with a dramatic uptick in coronavirus cases that have exhausted local hospitals and health resources .
Trump arrived in Doral , Florida , where he toured the U.S. Southern Command and attended a briefing on anti-drug trafficking in South America before hosting a roundtable discussion on Venezuela at the nearby Iglesia Doral Jesus Worship Center .
The latter event is aimed at courting Hispanic voters ahead of the November election .
Later he att a private political fundraiser in Hillsboro Beach , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sought to highlight his administration 's efforts to curb the flow of drugs from Central America into the U.S. as part of his re-election effort , but the event will likely be overshadowed by the state 's struggle with a new surge in coronavirus cases , making it the global epicenter of the pandemic following its reopening .
The Sunshine State reported 11,433 new coronavirus cases on Friday , falling just short of the state 's single-day record of 11,458 recorded last Saturday .
The spike has also strained the state 's hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care units are at least 90 % full , and more than 1 in 5 are completely full , state data shows .
More than 17,100 Floridians have been hospitalized for COVID-19 and more than 4,000 have died since the start of the pandemic .
Florida 's Republican Gov .
Ron DeSantis , a fierce defender of Trump , was among the first to ease coronavirus restrictions and allow bars and restaurants to reopen as the president pressured states to begin lifting lockdown measures that crippled the U.S. economy .
The Republican governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to allow students to return to class in the fall , ordering K-12 schools to reopen in August despite the state 's rising infection rate and growing concerns among school administrators and teachers .
DeSantis said he `` would not hesitate '' to send his own kids to school when the academic year starts .
“ I 'm confident , if you can do Home Depot , if you can do Walmart , if you can do these things , we absolutely can do the schools , '' he said during a news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeSantis force Florida schools to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic ?
Some school leaders seem doubtful The statewide spike also raises questions about whether the Republican party will be able to hold a full national convention in Jacksonville next month , packed with thousands of people , as the president has envisioned .
Several Republican lawmakers announced they 'll skip the convention over coronavirus concerns while the city has mandated that masks be worn in public and at indoor locations .
Masks have become a political lightning rod since the pandemic unfolded as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines that urge people to wear masks in public settings to contain the spread of the virus .
The president , however , has signaled he 's more open to facial coverings in recent weeks , after several prominent Republicans publicly endorsed face masks .
Trump told Fox News ' Sean Hannity in a phone interview Thursday night he plans to wear a mask while visiting Walter Reed Medical Center on Saturday .
`` I expect to be wearing a mask when I go into Walter Reed .
You 're in a hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very appropriate thing , '' Trump said .
`` I have no problem with a mask . ''
The president 's fundraising visit in Miami also comes after one of his White House aides stirred controversy earlier this week over comments attributed to her in a new book about the administration 's `` zero tolerance '' immigration policy .
The author , NBC reporter Jacob Soboroff , shared those excerpts on MSNBC 's `` The Rachel Maddow Show . ''
Katie Miller , communications director to Vice President Mike Pence , is quoted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Security sent her to the border to make her `` more compassionate '' but `` it did n't work . ''
Miller , a South Florida native who is married to Stephen Miller , one of the architects of Trump 's immigration policy , added that she believed immigrants should assimilate in the U.S. '' Why do we need to have a 'Little Havana ? '
'' she asked , referring to the predominantly Cuban area in Miami .
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Wednesday that Miller told her `` those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the book '' and called the president an `` ally of the Cuban community . ''
The White House has ramped up the president 's travel schedule in recent weeks as the president 's sagging poll numbers show him trailing former Vice President Joe Biden by an average of nearly 9 percentage points , according to RealClearPolitics .
Trump narrowly won Florida in 2016 and campaign officials see the state as crucial to his re-election path in November .
Trump has held election rallies in Oklahoma and Arizona , two states that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Tulsa ’ s top health official said Wednesday that the rally and the protests that accompanied it likely contributed to the city ’ s recent surge in coronavirus cases .

Trump travels to coronavirus hotspot Florida for anti-drug-trafficking briefing and campaign fundraiser
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: Pres. Trump urges governors to reopen schools in fall Donald Trump's push to reopen schools comes amid a nationwide debate over whether it's safe for children to return to the classroom amid coronavirus. Associated Press, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump descended on Florida Friday in his latest trip to a red state grappling with a dramatic uptick in coronavirus cases that have exhausted local hospitals and health resources.
Trump arrived in Doral, Florida, where he toured the U.S. Southern Command and attended a briefing on anti-drug trafficking in South America before hosting a roundtable discussion on Venezuela at the nearby Iglesia Doral Jesus Worship Center. The latter event is aimed at courting Hispanic voters ahead of the November election. Later he att a private political fundraiser in Hillsboro Beach, just outside Miami.
The president has sought to highlight his administration's efforts to curb the flow of drugs from Central America into the U.S. as part of his re-election effort, but the event will likely be overshadowed by the state's struggle with a new surge in coronavirus cases, making it the global epicenter of the pandemic following its reopening.
The Sunshine State reported 11,433 new coronavirus cases on Friday, falling just short of the state's single-day record of 11,458 recorded last Saturday. The spike has also strained the state's hospital system as nearly half of its intensive care units are at least 90% full, and more than 1 in 5 are completely full, state data shows. More than 17,100 Floridians have been hospitalized for COVID-19 and more than 4,000 have died since the start of the pandemic.
Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, a fierce defender of Trump, was among the first to ease coronavirus restrictions and allow bars and restaurants to reopen as the president pressured states to begin lifting lockdown measures that crippled the U.S. economy.
Florida governor tells state 'no need to be fearful' amid coronavirus Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told people to "focus on facts" as coronavirus cases climb. Associated Press, USA TODAY
The Republican governor has also followed the president's push to allow students to return to class in the fall, ordering K-12 schools to reopen in August despite the state's rising infection rate and growing concerns among school administrators and teachers.
DeSantis said he "would not hesitate" to send his own kids to school when the academic year starts.
“I'm confident, if you can do Home Depot, if you can do Walmart, if you can do these things, we absolutely can do the schools," he said during a news conference.
More: Can Gov. DeSantis force Florida schools to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic? Some school leaders seem doubtful
The statewide spike also raises questions about whether the Republican party will be able to hold a full national convention in Jacksonville next month, packed with thousands of people, as the president has envisioned. Several Republican lawmakers announced they'll skip the convention over coronavirus concerns while the city has mandated that masks be worn in public and at indoor locations.
Masks have become a political lightning rod since the pandemic unfolded as Trump has repeatedly shrugged off federal health guidelines that urge people to wear masks in public settings to contain the spread of the virus. The president, however, has signaled he's more open to facial coverings in recent weeks, after several prominent Republicans publicly endorsed face masks.
Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity in a phone interview Thursday night he plans to wear a mask while visiting Walter Reed Medical Center on Saturday.
"I expect to be wearing a mask when I go into Walter Reed. You're in a hospital setting, I think it's a very appropriate thing," Trump said. "I have no problem with a mask."
The president's fundraising visit in Miami also comes after one of his White House aides stirred controversy earlier this week over comments attributed to her in a new book about the administration's "zero tolerance" immigration policy. The author, NBC reporter Jacob Soboroff, shared those excerpts on MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show."
Katie Miller, communications director to Vice President Mike Pence, is quoted as saying that the Department of Homeland Security sent her to the border to make her "more compassionate" but "it didn't work."
Miller, a South Florida native who is married to Stephen Miller, one of the architects of Trump's immigration policy, added that she believed immigrants should assimilate in the U.S.
"Why do we need to have a 'Little Havana?'" she asked, referring to the predominantly Cuban area in Miami.
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Wednesday that Miller told her "those quotes are not true as described in the book" and called the president an "ally of the Cuban community."
The White House has ramped up the president's travel schedule in recent weeks as the president's sagging poll numbers show him trailing former Vice President Joe Biden by an average of nearly 9 percentage points, according to RealClearPolitics.
Trump narrowly won Florida in 2016 and campaign officials see the state as crucial to his re-election path in November.
Trump has held election rallies in Oklahoma and Arizona, two states that have also seen dramatic surges in coronavirus cases. Tulsa’s top health official said Wednesday that the rally and the protests that accompanied it likely contributed to the city’s recent surge in coronavirus cases.
Contributing: Savannah Bermann, USA TODAY; Frank Gluck, Fort Myers News-Press


usatoday--2020-07-10--Federal Judge Emmet Sullivan asks appeals court to rehear Michael Flynn case

WASHINGTON – The judge overseeing the case of Michael Flynn is asking a federal appeals court in Washington to make the unusual decision of rehearing the appeal of President Donald Trump 's former national security adviser .
If the full appeals court agrees to rehear the case , it would resurrect the prospect of challenging the Justice Department 's controversial decision to drop the case against Flynn , a defendant who twice pleaded guilty .
And it would give U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan another shot at convincing the higher court that his equally controversial action – appointing a third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to drop the case and to examine whether Flynn had committed perjury for pleading guilty and later claiming to be innocent – was justified .
The Flynn saga : Federal appeals court orders dismissal of Michael Flynn case , likely ending prosecution of ex-Trump adviser Last month , a three-judge panel from the appeals court ruled that it was n't .
The panel , in a 2-1 decision , ordered the dismissal of Flynn 's case , handing a key victory to both Flynn and the Justice Department , which has cast doubt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency 's investigation of Flynn .
D.C .
Circuit Court Judge Neomi Rao , who wrote the opinion , called Sullivan 's actions `` unprecedented intrusions on individual liberty '' and on the Justice Department 's prosecutorial powers .
Rao described Sullivan 's actions as a `` mistaken understanding '' of a judge 's role .
His intent to `` scrutinize the reasoning and motives of the Department of Justice constitute irreparable harms that can not be remedied on appeal , '' said Rao , who was appointed by Trump last year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's attorney , Beth Wilkinson , said the panel 's ruling circumvents Supreme Court precedent about separation of powers between the judiciary and executive branches of government .
`` The panel ’ s decision threatens to turn ordinary judicial process upside down .
It is the district court ’ s job to consider and rule on pending motions , even ones that seem straightforward .
This Court , if called upon , reviews those decisions – it does not preempt them , '' Wilkinson wrote .
Wilkinson argued that Sullivan 's main goal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue , which became impossible in Flynn 's case because both defense and prosecutors agreed to dismiss the case .
`` Judicial decisions are supposed to be based on the record before the court , not speculation about what the future may hold , '' Wilkinson said .
`` All the district court has done is ensure adversarial briefing and the opportunity to ask questions about a pending motion . ''
The appeals court on Friday temporarily blocked its previous ruling from going into effect until it decides whether or not to rehear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask for a rehearing is yet another unusual development in Flynn 's case – which began as a seemingly straightforward prosecution of a defendant who admitted lying to the FBI but has since devolved into a tangled and politically fraught saga that has pitted one branch of government against another .
The Roger Stone case : 'What had happened was wrong ' : DOJ lawyers accuse agency leaders of abusing power in Roger Stone case , other probes Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about his communications with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course , claiming investigators entrapped him into making false statements .
The Justice Department , under Attorney General William Barr , also reversed course and sought to dismiss the case .
The Justice Department , which tapped an outside prosecutor to review the case , argued that the January 2017 interview , during which Flynn made false statements to the FBI , was `` unjustified . ''
The interview did not have `` a legitimate investigative basis , '' making Flynn 's statements irrelevant `` even if untrue , '' the department argued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that FBI notes and documents declassified in recent weeks are exculpatory evidence that prosecutors failed to disclose .
His legal team , led by Sidney Powell , a conservative lawyer and frequent Fox News commentator , has accused the FBI under the Obama administration of conspiring to frame Flynn .
Instead of granting dismissal , Sullivan appointed retired federal judge John Gleeson to argue against the Justice Department 's motion to dismiss and to examine whether Flynn had committed perjury .
Gleeson said the Justice Department showed a `` gross abuse of prosecutorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case .
`` The Department of Justice has a solemn responsibility to prosecute this case – like every other case – without fear or favor , '' Gleeson argued .
`` It has abdicated that responsibility through a gross abuse of prosecutorial power , attempting to provide special treatment to a favored friend and political ally of the President of the United States . ''
Flynn 's attorneys asked the federal appeals court to intervene by ordering Sullivan to dismiss the case .

Federal Judge Emmet Sullivan asks appeals court to rehear Michael Flynn case
Show Caption Hide Caption Justice Department dropping its case against Gen. Michael Flynn The DOJ will drop the criminal case against Gen. Michael Flynn for lying to the FBI about contact with a Russian Ambassador. Flynn pleaded guilty. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – The judge overseeing the case of Michael Flynn is asking a federal appeals court in Washington to make the unusual decision of rehearing the appeal of President Donald Trump's former national security adviser.
If the full appeals court agrees to rehear the case, it would resurrect the prospect of challenging the Justice Department's controversial decision to drop the case against Flynn, a defendant who twice pleaded guilty.
And it would give U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan another shot at convincing the higher court that his equally controversial action – appointing a third party to challenge the prosecutors' bid to drop the case and to examine whether Flynn had committed perjury for pleading guilty and later claiming to be innocent – was justified.
The Flynn saga: Federal appeals court orders dismissal of Michael Flynn case, likely ending prosecution of ex-Trump adviser
Last month, a three-judge panel from the appeals court ruled that it wasn't.
The panel, in a 2-1 decision, ordered the dismissal of Flynn's case, handing a key victory to both Flynn and the Justice Department, which has cast doubt on the legitimacy and fairness of the agency's investigation of Flynn.
D.C. Circuit Court Judge Neomi Rao, who wrote the opinion, called Sullivan's actions "unprecedented intrusions on individual liberty" and on the Justice Department's prosecutorial powers. Rao described Sullivan's actions as a "mistaken understanding" of a judge's role. His intent to "scrutinize the reasoning and motives of the Department of Justice constitute irreparable harms that cannot be remedied on appeal," said Rao, who was appointed by Trump last year.
In a court filing Thursday, Sullivan's attorney, Beth Wilkinson, said the panel's ruling circumvents Supreme Court precedent about separation of powers between the judiciary and executive branches of government.
"The panel’s decision threatens to turn ordinary judicial process upside down. It is the district court’s job to consider and rule on pending motions, even ones that seem straightforward. This Court, if called upon, reviews those decisions – it does not preempt them," Wilkinson wrote.
Wilkinson argued that Sullivan's main goal is to consider both sides of an issue, which became impossible in Flynn's case because both defense and prosecutors agreed to dismiss the case.
"Judicial decisions are supposed to be based on the record before the court, not speculation about what the future may hold," Wilkinson said. "All the district court has done is ensure adversarial briefing and the opportunity to ask questions about a pending motion."
The appeals court on Friday temporarily blocked its previous ruling from going into effect until it decides whether or not to rehear the case.
Sullivan's move to ask for a rehearing is yet another unusual development in Flynn's case – which began as a seemingly straightforward prosecution of a defendant who admitted lying to the FBI but has since devolved into a tangled and politically fraught saga that has pitted one branch of government against another.
The Roger Stone case: 'What had happened was wrong': DOJ lawyers accuse agency leaders of abusing power in Roger Stone case, other probes
Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about his communications with a former Russian ambassador, but later reversed course, claiming investigators entrapped him into making false statements.
The Justice Department, under Attorney General William Barr, also reversed course and sought to dismiss the case. The Justice Department, which tapped an outside prosecutor to review the case, argued that the January 2017 interview, during which Flynn made false statements to the FBI, was "unjustified." The interview did not have "a legitimate investigative basis," making Flynn's statements irrelevant "even if untrue," the department argued.
Flynn's attorneys have also argued that FBI notes and documents declassified in recent weeks are exculpatory evidence that prosecutors failed to disclose. His legal team, led by Sidney Powell, a conservative lawyer and frequent Fox News commentator, has accused the FBI under the Obama administration of conspiring to frame Flynn.
Instead of granting dismissal, Sullivan appointed retired federal judge John Gleeson to argue against the Justice Department's motion to dismiss and to examine whether Flynn had committed perjury.
Gleeson said the Justice Department showed a "gross abuse of prosecutorial power" in its push to drop the case.
"The Department of Justice has a solemn responsibility to prosecute this case – like every other case – without fear or favor," Gleeson argued. "It has abdicated that responsibility through a gross abuse of prosecutorial power, attempting to provide special treatment to a favored friend and political ally of the President of the United States."
Flynn's attorneys asked the federal appeals court to intervene by ordering Sullivan to dismiss the case.