usatoday--2020-05-27--Trump threatens to 'strongly regulate' or 'close down' social media platforms after Twitter fact che

President Donald Trump is threatening to `` strongly regulate '' or `` close down '' social media platforms a day after Twitter added a `` fact check '' label to two of his tweets about mail-in ballots .
After tweeting Tuesday that `` Twitter is now interfering in the 2020 Presidential Election '' and `` stifling FREE SPEECH , '' Trump initially tweeted again Wednesday about social media platforms without specifically naming Twitter , which has been his favorite platform to post unfiltered views to his millions of followers .
Video meetings : Use these tips to make a better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Study says most people did n't have one before coronavirus Asserting that `` Republicans feel that Social Media Platforms totally silence conservatives voices , '' Trump tweeted , `` We will strongly regulate , or close them down , before we can ever allow this to happen . ''
Hours later he called out Twitter in a tweet and wrote : `` Twitter has now shown that everything we have been saying about them ( and their other compatriots ) is correct .
Big action to follow ! ''
He also repeated his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeting that expanding mail-in voting `` would be a free for all on cheating , forgery and the theft of Ballots . ''
A fact check label had not been added to the new tweet about mail-in ballots as of Wednesday morning .
Twitter labels : Social media giant says it will label disputed coronavirus tweets About two hours after Trump first tweeted Wednesday , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted about joining the Freedom Online Coalition ’ s call to promote and protect internet freedom `` at all times . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not tolerate , government-imposed Internet shutdowns and other forms of censorship during or after this pandemic , '' Pompeo tweeted Wednesday .
Robert A. Destro , assistant secretary for democracy , human rights , and labor , also tweeted about joining with the coalition and calling on governments to ensure that human rights are protected online in response to the COVID-19 pandemic .
The president ca n't unilaterally regulate or close the companies , which would require action by Congress or the Federal Communications Commission .
But that did n't stop Trump from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's use of a `` fact check '' label is not a violation of the First Amendment , said Jameel Jaffer , executive director at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University .
The institute successfully sued in 2019 to prevent the president from blocking Twitter followers .
“ It ’ s disturbing that the President misunderstands the First Amendment so fundamentally , '' Jaffer said in a statement .
`` In fact , there would be no First Amendment issue with Twitter banning the president from the platform altogether .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it doesn ’ t restrict Twitter or other social media platforms .
The only First Amendment issue here arises from the president ’ s threat to punish Twitter in some way for fact-checking his statements.
” The First Amendment actually protects Twitter in this face-off , said Kate Ruane , senior legislative counsel for the ACLU .
`` The First Amendment significantly constrains any action the president could take to regulate social media platforms , '' Ruane said in a statement .
`` The First Amendment also clearly prohibits the president from taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out his blatant lies about voting by mail . ''
This is not the first time Trump said he was looking at new regulations for tech giants .
During the 2016 presidential campaign , conservatives accused Facebook of censoring right-leaning voices .
Trump also accused Twitter of silencing conservative voices in July 2018 .
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said at the time that his company ’ s employees are “ left-leaning ” but said political ideology does not determine what appears on Twitter .
Back in August 2018 , his top economic adviser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considering new regulations on Google 's search engine to address his concern that it turns up too many stories that are critical of him .
Trump said then that Google was `` taking advantage '' of people and also attacked Twitter and Facebook as unfair .
Google , Facebook and Twitter have long cast themselves as neutral purveyors of information , attempting to strike a balance between users freely expressing themselves and keeping hate , abuse and misinformation off their platforms .
Trump and his campaign lashed out Tuesday after Twitter added a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called mail-in ballots `` fraudulent '' and predicted that `` mail boxes will be robbed , '' among other things .
The warning phrase reads , “ Get the facts about mail-in ballots.
” When clicked on , that opens a Twitter “ moments ” page that includes news stories and fact checks about Trump ’ s claims .
Twitter has said it would start using `` labels and warning messages to provide additional explanations or clarifications in situations where the risks of harm associated with a Tweet are less severe but where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the content . ''
Twitter spokeswoman Katie Rosborough told USA TODAY on Tuesday that the two tweets `` contain potentially misleading information about voting processes and have been labeled to provide additional context around mail-in ballots .
This decision is in line with the approach we shared earlier this month . ''
It was the first time Twitter labeled any of Trump 's posts as misleading , Rosborough said .
Some Trump allies , who have alleged bias on the part of tech companies , have questioned whether platforms like Twitter and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as `` platforms '' under federal law – or be treated more like publishers , which could face lawsuits over content .
The protections have been credited with allowing the unfettered growth of the internet for more than two decades , but now some are advocating that social media companies face more scrutiny .
`` Big tech gets a huge handout from the federal government , '' Republican Sen. Josh Hawley told Fox News .
`` They get this special immunity , this special immunity from suits and from liability that 's worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Why are they getting subsidized by federal taxpayers to censor conservatives , to censor people critical of China . ''
Contributing : Savannah Behrmann and Mike Snider , USA TODAY ; The Associated Press

Trump threatens to 'strongly regulate' or 'close down' social media platforms after Twitter fact check
Show Caption Hide Caption WH defends Trump's Scarborough conspiracy tweets White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany is defending President Donald Trump's promotion of a baseless conspiracy theory suggesting MSNBC "Morning Joe" host Joe Scarborough murdered a woman who accidentally died in his office two decades ago. (May 26) AP
President Donald Trump is threatening to "strongly regulate" or "close down" social media platforms a day after Twitter added a "fact check" label to two of his tweets about mail-in ballots.
After tweeting Tuesday that "Twitter is now interfering in the 2020 Presidential Election" and "stifling FREE SPEECH," Trump initially tweeted again Wednesday about social media platforms without specifically naming Twitter, which has been his favorite platform to post unfiltered views to his millions of followers.
Video meetings: Use these tips to make a better impression online
Home offices are expensive: Study says most people didn't have one before coronavirus
Asserting that "Republicans feel that Social Media Platforms totally silence conservatives voices," Trump tweeted, "We will strongly regulate, or close them down, before we can ever allow this to happen."
Hours later he called out Twitter in a tweet and wrote: "Twitter has now shown that everything we have been saying about them (and their other compatriots) is correct. Big action to follow!"
He also repeated his claims Wednesday morning about mail-in ballots, tweeting that expanding mail-in voting "would be a free for all on cheating, forgery and the theft of Ballots."
A fact check label had not been added to the new tweet about mail-in ballots as of Wednesday morning.
Twitter adds fact check to Trump tweets: 'Contain potentially misleading information'
Twitter labels: Social media giant says it will label disputed coronavirus tweets
....happen again. Just like we can’t let large scale Mail-In Ballots take root in our Country. It would be a free for all on cheating, forgery and the theft of Ballots. Whoever cheated the most would win. Likewise, Social Media. Clean up your act, NOW!!!! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 27, 2020
About two hours after Trump first tweeted Wednesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted about joining the Freedom Online Coalition’s call to promote and protect internet freedom "at all times."
"The U.S. stands against, and will not tolerate, government-imposed Internet shutdowns and other forms of censorship during or after this pandemic," Pompeo tweeted Wednesday.
The U.S. stands against, and will not tolerate, government-imposed Internet shutdowns and other forms of censorship during or after this pandemic. We join @FO_Coalition’s call to promote and protect #InternetFreedom at all times. — Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) May 27, 2020
Robert A. Destro, assistant secretary for democracy, human rights, and labor, also tweeted about joining with the coalition and calling on governments to ensure that human rights are protected online in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The president can't unilaterally regulate or close the companies, which would require action by Congress or the Federal Communications Commission. But that didn't stop Trump from issuing his strong warning Wednesday.
Twitter's use of a "fact check" label is not a violation of the First Amendment, said Jameel Jaffer, executive director at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University. The institute successfully sued in 2019 to prevent the president from blocking Twitter followers.
“It’s disturbing that the President misunderstands the First Amendment so fundamentally," Jaffer said in a statement. "In fact, there would be no First Amendment issue with Twitter banning the president from the platform altogether. The First Amendment restricts only government actors; it doesn’t restrict Twitter or other social media platforms. The only First Amendment issue here arises from the president’s threat to punish Twitter in some way for fact-checking his statements.”
"It’s disturbing that the president misunderstands the First Amendment so fundamentally. There is absolutely no First Amendment issue with Twitter adding a label to the president’s tweets," @JameelJaffer.
More at the link.https://t.co/drxPCocCvC pic.twitter.com/RqazADsLYH — Knight First Amendment Institute (@knightcolumbia) May 27, 2020
The First Amendment actually protects Twitter in this face-off, said Kate Ruane, senior legislative counsel for the ACLU. "The First Amendment significantly constrains any action the president could take to regulate social media platforms," Ruane said in a statement. "The First Amendment also clearly prohibits the president from taking any action to stop Twitter from pointing out his blatant lies about voting by mail."
This is not the first time Trump said he was looking at new regulations for tech giants.
During the 2016 presidential campaign, conservatives accused Facebook of censoring right-leaning voices.
Trump also accused Twitter of silencing conservative voices in July 2018. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said at the time that his company’s employees are “left-leaning” but said political ideology does not determine what appears on Twitter.
Back in August 2018, his top economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, said Trump was considering new regulations on Google's search engine to address his concern that it turns up too many stories that are critical of him. Trump said then that Google was "taking advantage" of people and also attacked Twitter and Facebook as unfair.
Google, Facebook and Twitter have long cast themselves as neutral purveyors of information, attempting to strike a balance between users freely expressing themselves and keeping hate, abuse and misinformation off their platforms.
Trump and his campaign lashed out Tuesday after Twitter added a warning phrase to two Trump tweets that called mail-in ballots "fraudulent" and predicted that "mail boxes will be robbed," among other things.
The warning phrase reads, “Get the facts about mail-in ballots.” When clicked on, that opens a Twitter “moments” page that includes news stories and fact checks about Trump’s claims.
Twitter has said it would start using "labels and warning messages to provide additional explanations or clarifications in situations where the risks of harm associated with a Tweet are less severe but where people may still be confused or misled by the content."
Twitter spokeswoman Katie Rosborough told USA TODAY on Tuesday that the two tweets "contain potentially misleading information about voting processes and have been labeled to provide additional context around mail-in ballots. This decision is in line with the approach we shared earlier this month."
It was the first time Twitter labeled any of Trump's posts as misleading, Rosborough said.
Some Trump allies, who have alleged bias on the part of tech companies, have questioned whether platforms like Twitter and Facebook should continue to enjoy liability protections as "platforms" under federal law – or be treated more like publishers, which could face lawsuits over content.
The protections have been credited with allowing the unfettered growth of the internet for more than two decades, but now some are advocating that social media companies face more scrutiny.
....Twitter is completely stifling FREE SPEECH, and I, as President, will not allow it to happen! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 26, 2020
"Big tech gets a huge handout from the federal government," Republican Sen. Josh Hawley told Fox News. "They get this special immunity, this special immunity from suits and from liability that's worth billions of dollars to them every year. Why are they getting subsidized by federal taxpayers to censor conservatives, to censor people critical of China."
Contributing: Savannah Behrmann and Mike Snider, USA TODAY; The Associated Press
Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko


usatoday--2020-05-27--Trump pushes ahead on July Fourth parade in DC despite objections from local Democratic lawmakers

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump plans to push ahead with plans for a July 4 parade in Washington , D.C. , despite objections from local lawmakers and the city 's prohibition on gatherings of more than 10 people as it enters a phased reopening on Friday .
`` As President Trump has said , there will be an Independence Day celebration this year and it will have a different look than 2019 to ensure the health and safety of those attending , '' White House spokesperson Judd Deere told USA TODAY .
Deere noted the American people `` deserve celebration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their fight against the coronavirus pandemic .
Washington , D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Wednesday the city would begin its phased reopening process on Friday .
The `` phase one '' reopening of the city 's businesses prohibits gatherings over 10 people .
Under the city 's guidelines , gatherings of more than 250 people , or the fourth and final phase of reopening , will not be allowed until a vaccine is found for the coronavirus or the public health risk is eliminated or drastically reduced .
The mayor 's office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment .
On Tuesday , lawmakers representing the Washington , D.C. region sent a letter to the Secretaries of Defense and the Interior to state their opposition to the plan .
More : Joe Biden strikes back at President Trump for being 'critical ' about face masks More : Fauci : I wear a mask as a 'symbol ' of what 'you should be doing ' amid coronavirus pandemic '' Given the number of individuals that would try to attend such an event , logistically such an event would be impossible to put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all Democrats , wrote .
Rep. Don Beyer , who represents Washington , D.C. suburbs in Virginia , wrote the letter , which was signed by : Trump 's `` Salute to America '' event on the National Mall for last year 's July Fourth celebrations brought tens of thousands to downtown D.C. for the military parade , jet flyovers , and Trump 's speech at the Lincoln Memorial .
In April , Trump said this summer 's parade would have to be downsized because of the coronavirus .
During the 1918 Spanish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases and deaths to surge afterward compared to other cities that took steps to mitigate the spread.. More:100 years ago , Philadelphia chose a parade over social distancing during the 1918 Spanish flu – and paid a heavy price

Trump pushes ahead on July Fourth parade in DC despite objections from local Democratic lawmakers
Show Caption Hide Caption Kellyanne Conway defends Trump's use of Twitter White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway says President Donald Trump is the most "prolific user" of Twitter and should not be fact-checked. (May 27) AP
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump plans to push ahead with plans for a July 4 parade in Washington, D.C., despite objections from local lawmakers and the city's prohibition on gatherings of more than 10 people as it enters a phased reopening on Friday.
"As President Trump has said, there will be an Independence Day celebration this year and it will have a different look than 2019 to ensure the health and safety of those attending," White House spokesperson Judd Deere told USA TODAY. Deere noted the American people "deserve celebration on America's birthday this year" in their fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Wednesday the city would begin its phased reopening process on Friday. The "phase one" reopening of the city's businesses prohibits gatherings over 10 people. Under the city's guidelines, gatherings of more than 250 people, or the fourth and final phase of reopening, will not be allowed until a vaccine is found for the coronavirus or the public health risk is eliminated or drastically reduced.
The mayor's office did not respond to a request for comment.
On Tuesday, lawmakers representing the Washington, D.C. region sent a letter to the Secretaries of Defense and the Interior to state their opposition to the plan.
More: Joe Biden strikes back at President Trump for being 'critical' about face masks
More: Fauci: I wear a mask as a 'symbol' of what 'you should be doing' amid coronavirus pandemic
"Given the number of individuals that would try to attend such an event, logistically such an event would be impossible to put on safely," the lawmakers, all Democrats, wrote.
Rep. Don Beyer, who represents Washington, D.C. suburbs in Virginia, wrote the letter, which was signed by:
Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C.
Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va.
Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md.
Rep. Anthony Brown, D-Md.
Rep. David Trone, D-Md.
Trump's "Salute to America" event on the National Mall for last year's July Fourth celebrations brought tens of thousands to downtown D.C. for the military parade, jet flyovers, and Trump's speech at the Lincoln Memorial. In April, Trump said this summer's parade would have to be downsized because of the coronavirus.
During the 1918 Spanish flu, Philadelphia held a parade causing cases and deaths to surge afterward compared to other cities that took steps to mitigate the spread..
More: 100 years ago, Philadelphia chose a parade over social distancing during the 1918 Spanish flu – and paid a heavy price
Contributing: Associated Press


usatoday--2020-05-27--'Battle against the swamp': Steve King fighting for his political life in competitive primary

DES MOINES – When Iowa conservative Christian leader Bob Vander Plaats weighs in on debates over abortion , same-sex marriage or politics , Republicans tend to listen .
This year , he is weighing in on Iowa 's 4th Congressional District primary race .
His advice to Republicans : Vote against U.S. Rep. Steve King .
`` Whatever you think of Steve King , it 's clear he 's no longer effective , '' Vander Plaats says in a television ad airing on behalf of King 's most prominent Republican primary challenger , state Sen. Randy Feenstra .
Vander Plaats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ King frequently attends events sponsored by The Family Leader , a conservative evangelical group run by Vander Plaats , and both men served as co-chairs of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz 's 2016 presidential campaign .
The evangelical leader said he does n't believe he 's endorsed King in past elections , `` primarily because I never really had to . ''
Except for 2018 , when King faced a tough November race , the Kiron Republican has cruised to reelection every two years since he was first elected in 2002 .
This year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and GOP-aligned groups are splitting with King — either by siding with Feenstra or sitting on the sidelines as King faces a competitive five-way primary on June 2 .
Gov .
Kim Reynolds , who made King a co-chair of her 2018 gubernatorial campaign , has not made an endorsement in the race .
Neither have Republican U.S. Sens .
Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst .
Meanwhile , former Iowa Gov .
Terry Branstad cut a check to Feenstra 's campaign .
Other erstwhile King supporters are backing his rivals .
An analysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2012 shows dozens of people who donated to King in the past have donated to Feenstra or another of King 's opponents this cycle .
King has framed his primary fight as one being waged against the `` swamp . ''
He has lashed out against Feenstra for the support he has won from national Republican-aligned groups .
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce , National Right to Life and the Republican Jewish Coalition are all backing Feenstra and spending heavily to support him .
`` Iowa ’ s 4th Congressional District Republican primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the swamp right now , '' King wrote in a Sioux City Journal guest column on May 20 .
`` You ’ ve seen attack ads and mailers paid for by billionaire coastal RINO-NeverTrumper , globalist , neocon elites .
These are the people who now own Randy Feenstra .
He may not know it yet , but I do because I ’ ve said 'no ' to them for years .
I know their names and their agenda .
I answer only to 4th District voters . ''
King 's campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interviewed for this article .
Feenstra says King 's attacks are those of a desperate man .
`` Congressman King is attacking conservative groups whose support he proudly touted in his previous campaigns .
He 's desperate and he 's resorted to deception , '' Feenstra said in a statement .
More : In Iowa 's 4th District , GOP challengers seek to show they 're as conservative as Steve King , but would be more effective King 's opponents have leaned into the argument that King ca n't be effective in Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S. House of Representatives in January 2019 following remarks he made to the New York Times about white nationalism .
`` He ca n't deliver for President Trump , and he ca n't advance our conservative values , '' Vander Plaats says in the ad .
King has denied supporting white nationalism and has said those comments were taken out of context for political reasons .
He 's described the backlash as an orchestrated campaign against him .
But that is n't the only time King has faced criticism for making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a strident critic of legal abortion and illegal immigration , making remarks that Republicans have had to distance themselves from .
The 4th District , in conservative northwest Iowa , has long favored Republicans .
King won in 2016 with 61 % of the vote — a 22 percentage-point margin over his Democratic challenger .
That same year , President Donald Trump won the district , besting Democrat Hillary Clinton by nearly 30 percentage points .
In 2018 , King defeated Democrat J.D .
Scholten by just 3.4 % , his smallest margin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scholten is running again this year and will face the Republican primary winner in November .
King frequently argues that he 's led on conservative issues , including opposing abortion and the 2010 Affordable Care Act .
At a debate hosted by the Cerro Gordo County Republicans on May 21 , King blamed his opponents for not coming to his defense .
`` That heat comes at me because I ’ m up front .
And when it came time to defend me for the things that they did to my representation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who was there to help me ?
None of these guys .
Nobody stepped forward and said , 'Put Steve King back on his committees , ' '' he said .
But Vander Plaats said King has lost not only his committees , but also his standing with the president and fellow Republicans in Congress .
`` When I say it ’ s clear he ’ s no longer effective , yeah , it ’ s been about having his committee assignments stripped , '' he said .
`` But it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been exceptionally marginalized by people that we ’ d want to listen , or have listen to the congressman of the 4th District . ''
King claimed at a forum this month that he would regain his committee assignments and said House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy had agreed to advocate for him .
`` Congressman King 's comments can not be exonerated , and I never said that , '' McCarthy said at a news conference .
The denial did n't stop King .
At a May 23 forum hosted by the Story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 's had `` several meetings '' with McCarthy this year about regaining his committee seats .
Andy Cable , a Republican State Central Committee member and former Hardin County Republican chair , said King 's loss of his committees is `` probably the single biggest divisive issue '' in the race .
`` That is a major concern with a lot of people , '' said Cable , who is neutral in the primary .
`` But on the flip side , the congressman has very strong backing on people that feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and punished .
And that only strengthens their resolve to support the congressman . ''
The outside support for Feenstra has come with an influx of contributions funding a television advertising spree in the final weeks of the race .
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce , which endorsed Feenstra this month , has aired or reserved more than $ 206,000 worth of advertising on broadcast and cable television in the Des Moines and Ames media market , according to Advertising Analytics , a company that tracks ad spending .
Priorities for Iowa Political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Plaats ad , is run by Ryan Koopmans , a former legal counsel and chief of staff to Reynolds , and was founded by Reynolds ' current chief of staff , Sara Craig Gongol .
That organization is spending nearly $ 190,000 between May 19 and Election Day to air the Vander Plaats ad in the Des Moines/Ames market .
The group intends to reserve an additional $ 100,000 , Koopmans said on May 22 .
Feenstra 's own campaign has spent well over $ 200,000 on television advertising this year , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , $ 46,000 in the Des Moines market and $ 8,000 in the Mason City market .
King , who had $ 27,000 in the bank as of March 31 , has not advertised on television this year .
Nor have candidates Steve Reeder , Bret Richards and Jeremy Taylor .
Brett Barker , who chairs the Story County Republican Party , said that money benefits Feenstra by getting his message out , but it also comes with a downside .
`` I think Iowans in general bristle at outsiders telling them how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I do see a lot of fire being aligned towards Feenstra , '' Barker said .
`` So it tells me that candidates are probably feeling some momentum there that they ’ re trying to slow . ''

Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register

'Battle against the swamp': Steve King fighting for his political life in competitive primary
Show Caption Hide Caption Election 2020: Iowa's congressional delegates face competitive races Iowa's Sen. Joni Ernst and Reps. Steve King, Cindy Axne and Abby Finkenauer likely face competitive races in 2020. Olivia Sun, Des Moines Register
DES MOINES – When Iowa conservative Christian leader Bob Vander Plaats weighs in on debates over abortion, same-sex marriage or politics, Republicans tend to listen.
This year, he is weighing in on Iowa's 4th Congressional District primary race. His advice to Republicans: Vote against U.S. Rep. Steve King.
"Whatever you think of Steve King, it's clear he's no longer effective," Vander Plaats says in a television ad airing on behalf of King's most prominent Republican primary challenger, state Sen. Randy Feenstra.
Vander Plaats and King have worked closely before. King frequently attends events sponsored by The Family Leader, a conservative evangelical group run by Vander Plaats, and both men served as co-chairs of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's 2016 presidential campaign. The evangelical leader said he doesn't believe he's endorsed King in past elections, "primarily because I never really had to."
Except for 2018, when King faced a tough November race, the Kiron Republican has cruised to reelection every two years since he was first elected in 2002.
This year is different: Iowa and national Republicans and GOP-aligned groups are splitting with King — either by siding with Feenstra or sitting on the sidelines as King faces a competitive five-way primary on June 2.
Gov. Kim Reynolds, who made King a co-chair of her 2018 gubernatorial campaign, has not made an endorsement in the race. Neither have Republican U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst. Meanwhile, former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad cut a check to Feenstra's campaign.
Other erstwhile King supporters are backing his rivals. An analysis of campaign finance data going back to 2012 shows dozens of people who donated to King in the past have donated to Feenstra or another of King's opponents this cycle.
King has framed his primary fight as one being waged against the "swamp." He has lashed out against Feenstra for the support he has won from national Republican-aligned groups. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Right to Life and the Republican Jewish Coalition are all backing Feenstra and spending heavily to support him.
"Iowa’s 4th Congressional District Republican primary race is the epicenter of the battle against the swamp right now," King wrote in a Sioux City Journal guest column on May 20. "You’ve seen attack ads and mailers paid for by billionaire coastal RINO-NeverTrumper, globalist, neocon elites. These are the people who now own Randy Feenstra. He may not know it yet, but I do because I’ve said 'no' to them for years. I know their names and their agenda. I answer only to 4th District voters."
King's campaign did not respond to requests to be interviewed for this article.
Feenstra says King's attacks are those of a desperate man.
"Congressman King is attacking conservative groups whose support he proudly touted in his previous campaigns. He's desperate and he's resorted to deception," Feenstra said in a statement.
More: In Iowa's 4th District, GOP challengers seek to show they're as conservative as Steve King, but would be more effective
Opponents argue King's voice has been 'marginalized'
King's opponents have leaned into the argument that King can't be effective in Congress since he was stripped of his committees in the U.S. House of Representatives in January 2019 following remarks he made to the New York Times about white nationalism.
"He can't deliver for President Trump, and he can't advance our conservative values," Vander Plaats says in the ad.
King has denied supporting white nationalism and has said those comments were taken out of context for political reasons. He's described the backlash as an orchestrated campaign against him.
But that isn't the only time King has faced criticism for making controversial comments. He has long been a strident critic of legal abortion and illegal immigration, making remarks that Republicans have had to distance themselves from.
The 4th District, in conservative northwest Iowa, has long favored Republicans. King won in 2016 with 61% of the vote — a 22 percentage-point margin over his Democratic challenger. That same year, President Donald Trump won the district, besting Democrat Hillary Clinton by nearly 30 percentage points.
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In 2018, King defeated Democrat J.D. Scholten by just 3.4%, his smallest margin of victory in a general election. Scholten is running again this year and will face the Republican primary winner in November.
King frequently argues that he's led on conservative issues, including opposing abortion and the 2010 Affordable Care Act. At a debate hosted by the Cerro Gordo County Republicans on May 21, King blamed his opponents for not coming to his defense.
"That heat comes at me because I’m up front. And when it came time to defend me for the things that they did to my representation of all of you in the 4th District, who was there to help me? None of these guys. Nobody stepped forward and said, 'Put Steve King back on his committees,'" he said.
But Vander Plaats said King has lost not only his committees, but also his standing with the president and fellow Republicans in Congress.
"When I say it’s clear he’s no longer effective, yeah, it’s been about having his committee assignments stripped," he said. "But it’s also about: His voice has been exceptionally marginalized by people that we’d want to listen, or have listen to the congressman of the 4th District."
King claimed at a forum this month that he would regain his committee assignments and said House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy had agreed to advocate for him.
McCarthy quickly disputed that claim.
"Congressman King's comments cannot be exonerated, and I never said that," McCarthy said at a news conference.
The denial didn't stop King. At a May 23 forum hosted by the Story County GOP, King again claimed that he's had "several meetings" with McCarthy this year about regaining his committee seats.
Andy Cable, a Republican State Central Committee member and former Hardin County Republican chair, said King's loss of his committees is "probably the single biggest divisive issue" in the race.
"That is a major concern with a lot of people," said Cable, who is neutral in the primary. "But on the flip side, the congressman has very strong backing on people that feel that he was misjudged, unfairly judged and punished. And that only strengthens their resolve to support the congressman."
Expensive primary race
The outside support for Feenstra has come with an influx of contributions funding a television advertising spree in the final weeks of the race.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which endorsed Feenstra this month, has aired or reserved more than $206,000 worth of advertising on broadcast and cable television in the Des Moines and Ames media market, according to Advertising Analytics, a company that tracks ad spending.
Priorities for Iowa Political Fund, the group airing the Vander Plaats ad, is run by Ryan Koopmans, a former legal counsel and chief of staff to Reynolds, and was founded by Reynolds' current chief of staff, Sara Craig Gongol.
That organization is spending nearly $190,000 between May 19 and Election Day to air the Vander Plaats ad in the Des Moines/Ames market. The group intends to reserve an additional $100,000, Koopmans said on May 22.
Feenstra's own campaign has spent well over $200,000 on television advertising this year, including $183,000 in the Sioux City market, $46,000 in the Des Moines market and $8,000 in the Mason City market.
King, who had $27,000 in the bank as of March 31, has not advertised on television this year. Nor have candidates Steve Reeder, Bret Richards and Jeremy Taylor.
Brett Barker, who chairs the Story County Republican Party, said that money benefits Feenstra by getting his message out, but it also comes with a downside.
"I think Iowans in general bristle at outsiders telling them how to vote," he said.
"I do see a lot of fire being aligned towards Feenstra," Barker said. "So it tells me that candidates are probably feeling some momentum there that they’re trying to slow."


usatoday--2020-05-27--Justice Department clears 3 senators in stock sales investigation, but Burr's case appears ongoing

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department has closed its investigation into three senators over stock sales made just before the market slide triggered by the coronavirus outbreak , according to people familiar with the matter .
Federal prosecutors notified Sens .
Dianne Feinstein , D-Calif. ; Kelly Loeffler , R-Ga. ; and James Inhofe , R-Okla. ; that the Justice Department will not be pursuing insider trading charges against them , people familiar with the matter said .
A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment on the development , which was first reported by the New York Times .
The investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who stepped down as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee this month after the FBI seized his phone , appears to be ongoing .
A spokeswoman for Burr declined to comment .
Stock sales : Sen. Richard Burr steps down as chairman of Intelligence Committee as FBI seizes phone in investigation The Justice Department began investigating the stock sales of the four senators this year after their financial-disclosure statements showed that they , their spouses or advisers , sold large chunks of stock around the time lawmakers were receiving behind-the-scenes briefings about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senators who have been cleared have denied any wrongdoing .
`` Today 's clear exoneration by the Department of Justice affirms what Senator Loeffler has said all along – she did nothing wrong , '' Loeffler 's spokesman , Stephen Lawson , said in a statement , calling the allegations a `` politically-motivated attack . ''
Sales risk : Lawmakers could face legal scrutiny for stock selloffs before virus-driven market crash , analysts say Loeffler was appointed by Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp this year and faces a tough primary race against Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ husband , New York Stock Exchange Chairman Jeffrey Sprecher , sold $ 1 million to $ 2.49 million in February , according to disclosure statements .
Inhofe sold $ 50,000 to $ 100,000 in stock , and Feinstein 's disclosure report showed sales of $ 1 million to $ 5 million in stocks .
Loeffler responds : Sen. Loeffler says she 'll sell off all individual stocks amid scrutiny during coronavirus spread Loeffler and Inhofe said their financial transactions were handled by third-party advisers .
A spokesman for Feinstein said the stock sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the senator , and the couple 's assets are separate .
Burr asked the Senate Ethics Committee to review his transactions involving up to $ 1.6 million .
He has said that he made the trades based on news reports about the pandemic , and not on private information senators received during briefings .

Justice Department clears 3 senators in stock sales investigation, but Burr's case appears ongoing
Show Caption Hide Caption Burr: Probe is a distraction to Intel Committee Sen. Richard Burr said the probe into his stock sales has become a distraction to the "important" work of the Senate Intelligence Committee. He's stepped aside as chairman of the panel after the FBI served a search warrant for his phone. (May 14) AP
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department has closed its investigation into three senators over stock sales made just before the market slide triggered by the coronavirus outbreak, according to people familiar with the matter.
Federal prosecutors notified Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.; Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga.; and James Inhofe, R-Okla.; that the Justice Department will not be pursuing insider trading charges against them, people familiar with the matter said.
A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment on the development, which was first reported by the New York Times.
The investigation into Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., who stepped down as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee this month after the FBI seized his phone, appears to be ongoing. A spokeswoman for Burr declined to comment.
Stock sales: Sen. Richard Burr steps down as chairman of Intelligence Committee as FBI seizes phone in investigation
The Justice Department began investigating the stock sales of the four senators this year after their financial-disclosure statements showed that they, their spouses or advisers, sold large chunks of stock around the time lawmakers were receiving behind-the-scenes briefings about the severity of the coronavirus.
The three senators who have been cleared have denied any wrongdoing.
"Today's clear exoneration by the Department of Justice affirms what Senator Loeffler has said all along – she did nothing wrong," Loeffler's spokesman, Stephen Lawson, said in a statement, calling the allegations a "politically-motivated attack."
Sales risk: Lawmakers could face legal scrutiny for stock selloffs before virus-driven market crash, analysts say
Loeffler was appointed by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp this year and faces a tough primary race against Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga.
She and her husband, New York Stock Exchange Chairman Jeffrey Sprecher, sold $1 million to $2.49 million in February, according to disclosure statements. Inhofe sold $50,000 to $100,000 in stock, and Feinstein's disclosure report showed sales of $1 million to $5 million in stocks.
Loeffler responds: Sen. Loeffler says she'll sell off all individual stocks amid scrutiny during coronavirus spread
Loeffler and Inhofe said their financial transactions were handled by third-party advisers. A spokesman for Feinstein said the stock sales were made by her husband, not the senator, and the couple's assets are separate.
Burr asked the Senate Ethics Committee to review his transactions involving up to $1.6 million. He has said that he made the trades based on news reports about the pandemic, and not on private information senators received during briefings.
More: Rubio named acting Senate Intelligence chairman amid FBI probe into Sen. Richard Burr
Contributing: Kevin Johnson, Ledyard King and Nicholas Wu


usatoday--2020-05-27--Clyburn: I 'cringed' at Biden 'you ain't black' comment but compare him 'to the alternative, not the

WASHINGTON – Congressman James Clyburn , D-S.C. , a longtime friend of Joe Biden , said Tuesday that he `` cringed '' at the former vice president 's comments that “ you ain ’ t black ” if you are not sure whether to vote for him or President Donald Trump .
Clyburn , who gave Biden a his coveted endorsement three days before his state 's crucial February primary , told `` The View '' Tuesday , `` Joe did not do as well as I hoped in responding , but I will say this , I go about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to the alternative , not the Almighty . ''
`` He is not a perfect person .
None of us are .
So what my decision now is to determine who I feel should be the next president of the United States , and I do that by comparing the candidates to each other , not to the Almighty , ” Clyburn said .
More : DeSantis , Kemp offer to take Republican convention from North Carolina after Trump complains Biden made the comments on Friday while an interview with African American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Breakfast Club radio show , where Biden emphasized his ties to the African American community , and touted his record on civil rights .
At the end of the interview , Biden retorted : `` If you have a problem figuring out whether you ’ re for me or Trump , then you ain ’ t black . ''
The Trump campaign immediately slammed the remarks , calling them `` disgusting '' and quoting rapper Kanye West as saying , `` I will not be told who I 'm gon na vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More : Widower of late Scarborough staffer asks Twitter to remove Trump tweets , Twitter says no In a Trump campaign conference call with reporters later Friday , Sen. Tim Scott , R-S.C. , the only black Republican in the Senate , said he was appalled by Biden 's comments .
`` I ’ ve been black for 54 years .
I was struck by the condescension and the arrogance .
I could not believe my ears that he would stoop so low , '' Scott said Later Friday , on a call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Inc , Biden apologized , saying , `` I should not have been so cavalier .
I 've never , never , ever taken the African-American community for granted , '' and added he `` should n't have been such a wise guy . ''
' I should not have been so cavalier ' : Joe Biden apologizes for suggesting black Trump voters 'ai n't black' Clyburn is the House Majority Whip and the highest-ranking African American in Congress .
His endorsement was considered a key turning point in Biden 's candidacy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden in South Carolina .
`` You brought me back , '' a beaming Biden told Clyburn after that endorsement .
It was no exaggeration .
Clyburn is a landmark figure in a state where roughly 60 % of all Democratic voters are black .
Exit polls indicated that nearly half – 47 % – of Democratic primary voters in South Carolina said Clyburn ’ s endorsement was an important factor in their vote .
Moreover , 24 % said it was the most important factor .
More : Republicans sue to block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to all voters Clyburn reiterated his support for Biden on Tuesday when asked about his message to African American voters who were offended by the comments , and attributed them to Biden misspeaking as he is `` not a perfect person . ''
“ We sometimes say things we do not really mean , they come out a little bit wrong , and that 's what happened here .
I think all of us know Joe Biden , ” Clyburn said .
“ I know him , and he knows me .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I 've done a lot of stuff for Joe Biden over the years , and I would not have supported him if I did not think that he was best suited to be the next president of the United States .
It 's just that simple .
”

Clyburn: I 'cringed' at Biden 'you ain't black' comment but compare him 'to the alternative, not the Almighty'
Show Caption Hide Caption SC's influential Rep. Clyburn endorses Biden U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, the highest-ranking black member of Congress and the kingmaker of South Carolina's Democratic political orbit, has endorsed Joe Biden's presidential campaign. (Feb. 26) AP
WASHINGTON – Congressman James Clyburn, D-S.C., a longtime friend of Joe Biden, said Tuesday that he "cringed" at the former vice president's comments that “you ain’t black” if you are not sure whether to vote for him or President Donald Trump.
Clyburn, who gave Biden a his coveted endorsement three days before his state's crucial February primary, told "The View" Tuesday, "Joe did not do as well as I hoped in responding, but I will say this, I go about my business every day comparing Joe Biden, to the alternative, not the Almighty."
"He is not a perfect person. None of us are. So what my decision now is to determine who I feel should be the next president of the United States, and I do that by comparing the candidates to each other, not to the Almighty,” Clyburn said.
More: DeSantis, Kemp offer to take Republican convention from North Carolina after Trump complains
More: New Mexico may elect historic all-female US House delegation
Biden made the comments on Friday while an interview with African American radio host Charlamagne tha God's on The Breakfast Club radio show, where Biden emphasized his ties to the African American community, and touted his record on civil rights. At the end of the interview, Biden retorted: "If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black."
Rep. James Clyburn tells us he “cringed” at Joe Biden’s “ain’t black” comment, but says Biden “is not a perfect person — none of us are.”
“I would not have supported him if I did not think he was best suited to be the next president of the United States.” https://t.co/pmnCrwmnmq pic.twitter.com/5ZZmgghlvd — The View (@TheView) May 26, 2020
The Trump campaign immediately slammed the remarks, calling them "disgusting" and quoting rapper Kanye West as saying, "I will not be told who I'm gonna vote on because of my color."
More: Widower of late Scarborough staffer asks Twitter to remove Trump tweets, Twitter says no
In a Trump campaign conference call with reporters later Friday, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., the only black Republican in the Senate, said he was appalled by Biden's comments.
"I’ve been black for 54 years. I was struck by the condescension and the arrogance. I could not believe my ears that he would stoop so low," Scott said
Later Friday, on a call with members of the U.S. Black Chambers Inc, Biden apologized, saying, "I should not have been so cavalier. I've never, never, ever taken the African-American community for granted," and added he "shouldn't have been such a wise guy."
'I should not have been so cavalier': Joe Biden apologizes for suggesting black Trump voters 'ain't black'
Clyburn is the House Majority Whip and the highest-ranking African American in Congress. His endorsement was considered a key turning point in Biden's candidacy, and is largely credited for helping boost Biden in South Carolina. "You brought me back," a beaming Biden told Clyburn after that endorsement.
It was no exaggeration. Clyburn is a landmark figure in a state where roughly 60% of all Democratic voters are black.
Exit polls indicated that nearly half – 47% – of Democratic primary voters in South Carolina said Clyburn’s endorsement was an important factor in their vote. Moreover, 24% said it was the most important factor.
More: Republicans sue to block California Gov. Newsom from mailing ballots to all voters
Clyburn reiterated his support for Biden on Tuesday when asked about his message to African American voters who were offended by the comments, and attributed them to Biden misspeaking as he is "not a perfect person."
“We sometimes say things we do not really mean, they come out a little bit wrong, and that's what happened here. I think all of us know Joe Biden,” Clyburn said. “I know him, and he knows me. He knows the African American community very well.
"I've done a lot of stuff for Joe Biden over the years, and I would not have supported him if I did not think that he was best suited to be the next president of the United States. It's just that simple.”
Contributing: Nicholas Wu, Deborah Barfield Berry, Ledyard King, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-05-28--'This report is ... a joke': House Democrats blast CDC over racial disparity data amid coronavirus

WASHINGTON — House Democrats slammed federal health officials Wednesday , calling a report on the racial breakdown of cases and deaths from the coronavirus `` pitiful '' and saying it hurts efforts to target resources to communities of color .
“ We deserve to know the facts and have quality analysis , ’ ’ said U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly , a Democrat from Illinois and chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust .
“ Once again , they are showing us they just don ’ t care.
” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is required under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act to submit a report to Congress with racial data related to COVID-19 , including cases , deaths and hospitalizations .
But Kelly and other lawmakers complained that the recently released four-page report doesn ’ t provide much new information and doesn ’ t do enough to show the national impact of disparities in communities of color .
'People are really suffering ' : Black and Latino communities help their own amid coronavirus crisis “ This report is not only completely unacceptable , it is a joke , ’ ’ said Rep. Judy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broken down by race or ethnic group .
Chu , chairwoman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus , said there is information about the hospitalization rates for whites , blacks and Hispanics , but not other groups , including Native Americans and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders .
“ In the middle of this crisis , time is of the essence , ” said Rep. Joaquin Castro , D-Texas , chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus .
For months , members of congressional caucuses representing communities of color , along with community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials to track and release racial data of people testing positive for the coronavirus and those who died from it .
President Donald Trump vowed earlier this year that the CDC would do just that , but so far only a few states have released racial information .
Early data released by those states and counties show communities of color , including African Americans , Native Americans and Latinos , are dying at a disproportionately higher rate compared with whites .
The other COVID-19 risk factors : How race , income , ZIP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ayanna Pressley , D-Mass.
, said while there has been anecdotal data about the disparity , it 's important to have the actual racial breakdown and at the national level .
“ This is about saving lives , ’ ’ said Pressley , a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform .
“ When we have a congressional mandate and they provide us with an insulting cut-and-paste hyperlink report , with antiquated hyperlinks at that , it ’ s infuriating.
” CDC officials said earlier some of data had not been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by states .
They said Wednesday the agency is `` leveraging all our available surveillance systems to monitor COVID-19 and protect vulnerable communities . ''
The agency also said it 's working to improve that data , including hospitalizations and mortality .
But Rep. Karen Bass , chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus , said the CDC could demand more reliable information from states .
“ It is a question of political will and it ’ s a question of leadership from the top , ” said Bass , a Democrat from California @

'This report is ... a joke': House Democrats blast CDC over racial disparity data amid coronavirus
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: How R-0 can be used to fight COVID-19 R-0 may be the most important scientific term you’ve never heard of when it comes to stopping the coronavirus pandemic. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — House Democrats slammed federal health officials Wednesday, calling a report on the racial breakdown of cases and deaths from the coronavirus "pitiful" and saying it hurts efforts to target resources to communities of color.
“We deserve to know the facts and have quality analysis,’’ said U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, a Democrat from Illinois and chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust. “Once again, they are showing us they just don’t care.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is required under the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act to submit a report to Congress with racial data related to COVID-19, including cases, deaths and hospitalizations.
But Kelly and other lawmakers complained that the recently released four-page report doesn’t provide much new information and doesn’t do enough to show the national impact of disparities in communities of color.
'People are really suffering': Black and Latino communities help their own amid coronavirus crisis
“This report is not only completely unacceptable, it is a joke,’’ said Rep. Judy Chu, noting that testing is not broken down by race or ethnic group.
Chu, chairwoman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said there is information about the hospitalization rates for whites, blacks and Hispanics, but not other groups, including Native Americans and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
“In the middle of this crisis, time is of the essence,” said Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
For months, members of congressional caucuses representing communities of color, along with community activists, have called for federal health officials to track and release racial data of people testing positive for the coronavirus and those who died from it.
President Donald Trump vowed earlier this year that the CDC would do just that, but so far only a few states have released racial information.
Early data released by those states and counties show communities of color, including African Americans, Native Americans and Latinos, are dying at a disproportionately higher rate compared with whites.
The outbreak has put a magnifying glass on disparities in Indian Country, said Rep. Deb Haaland, co-chair of the Native American Caucus. “You can’t get resources to where they’re needed most if you don’t have correct data,’’ said the Democrat from New Mexico.
The other COVID-19 risk factors: How race, income, ZIP code can influence life and death
Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., said while there has been anecdotal data about the disparity, it's important to have the actual racial breakdown and at the national level.
“This is about saving lives,’’ said Pressley, a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. “When we have a congressional mandate and they provide us with an insulting cut-and-paste hyperlink report, with antiquated hyperlinks at that, it’s infuriating.”
CDC officials said earlier some of data had not been complete and some had not been submitted by states.
They said Wednesday the agency is "leveraging all our available surveillance systems to monitor COVID-19 and protect vulnerable communities."
The agency also said it's working to improve that data, including hospitalizations and mortality.
But Rep. Karen Bass, chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said the CDC could demand more reliable information from states.
“It is a question of political will and it’s a question of leadership from the top,” said Bass, a Democrat from California.
Follow Deborah Berry on Twitter @dberrygannett


usatoday--2020-05-28--As churches reopen, Supreme Court faces balancing act between physical and spiritual health

WASHINGTON – The coronavirus has left the Supreme Court with a difficult task : balancing the nation 's physical and spiritual health .
As all 50 states ease restrictions put in place to combat the pandemic , churches and other religious institutions are seeking equal treatment .
Legal battles in several states have led to showdowns in California , Illinois and elsewhere on the eve of Pentacost Sunday , when churches largely shuttered since before Easter are eager to greet worshippers .
On one side : President Donald Trump , Vice President Mike Pence and many religious leaders who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ churches the same as most businesses .
Trump last week labeled churches , synagogues and mosques as `` essential places that provide essential services . ''
More : Trump calls for Memorial Day church reopenings but sends mixed signals on enforcement On the other side : governors and public health authorities , including the Centers for Disease Control , which has linked religious services to outbreaks of COVID-19 .
In one example , the CDC said 38 % of those attending a rural Arkansas church in early March caught the virus , resulting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become the latest protesters against strict state coronavirus restrictions .
Legal battles in Kansas , Kentucky , Minnesota , Mississippi , Virginia and elsewhere follow other skirmishes involving abortion clinics , retail businesses and primary election voters .
More : Are lockdowns being relaxed in my state ?
Here 's how America is reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic .
While 29 states no longer have prohibitions on religious gatherings , 21 impose restrictions .
In eight of those , churches are subject to unequal treatment , according to the Becket Fund for Religious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Nevada , New Hampshire , New York , Oregon , Rhode Island and Washington .
The Supreme Court has said that `` religious activities ca n't be treated worse than similarly situated secular activities , '' said Richard Garnett , director of the program on church , state and society at Notre Dame Law School .
The open question : what is the proper comparison ?
Now a Pentecostal church in southern California has asked the Supreme Court to weigh in on its behalf .
Despite Gov .
Gavin Newsom 's revised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 25 % capacity , with no more than 100 worshippers , the church is seeking the high court 's intervention .
`` Thousands of churches across the country and in California plan to reopen by May 31 , 2020 – the Christian holy day of Pentecost – in defiance of any state executive orders , leading to widespread civil unrest , '' lawyers for South Bay United Pentecostal Church warned in court papers .
`` This application concerns an issue of widespread national importance whose resolution is needed to avert a constitutional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two Romanian-American churches in Illinois arrived at the high court late Wednesday , challenging Gov .
Jay Pritzker 's limit of 10 worshippers at religious services .
`` With each passing Sunday , churches are suffering under the yoke of the governor ’ s unconstitutional orders prohibiting churches from freely exercising their sincerely held religious beliefs requiring assembling themselves together to worship God , '' their lawyers argued in court papers .
Federal district and appeals court judges ruled against the California and Illinois churches , with the U.S. Court of Appeals for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is `` a highly contagious and often fatal disease for which there presently is no known cure . ''
The panel 's 2-1 majority quoted the late Associate Justice Robert Jackson , who said if a court `` does not temper its doctrinaire logic with a little practical wisdom , it will convert the constitutional Bill of Rights into a suicide pact . ''
But the dissenting judge , Trump nominee Daniel Collins , said California can accomplish its public health objectives `` without resorting to its current inflexible and overbroad ban on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was lifted after the court 's decision . )
The Supreme Court 's slim conservative majority has come down on the side of religious liberty consistently in recent years .
In the next few weeks alone , it will decide if state funds can be used to help pay religious school tuition , if employers with religious or moral objections can refuse to offer insurance coverage for contraceptives , and if religious employers can sidestep job discrimination laws .
The dispute over reopening churches involves the Constitution 's protection of religious freedom , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battle over numbers and percentages .
If retail stores can open at 50 % capacity , the argument goes , how can states such as California set different limits for religious gatherings ?
`` Plaintiffs ’ sanctuary seats 600 persons , and each service normally brings in between 200 and 300 congregants , '' the California church 's lawyers wrote .
`` Some of the larger houses of worship in California can seat 1,000 congregants or more .
But under California ’ s guidelines , plaintiffs will only be permitted to welcome 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the justification for this arbitrary cap . ''
Some experts in religion law see a difference , however , between retail stores with pedestrian traffic and houses of worship where congregants sit in pews for lengthy periods .
`` The relevant category is not retail , but meetings or gatherings , '' said Douglas Laycock , one of the nation 's leading scholars in religious liberty at the University of Virginia School of Law .
`` If movies , theaters , political rallies , and other secular meetings are still closed , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' San Diego County , where the Pentecostal church is located , notified the Supreme Court Wednesday that it now allows religious services under Newsom 's revised order .
But the state 's guidance still recommends outdoor ceremonies and remote streaming technology , `` given the high risk of this activity . ''
`` At the back of the line '' Federal appeals courts have divided on the issue of religious worship during the pandemic , amid indications that some judges would rather leave it up to state and local officials when possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elected officials have backed down in the face of religious protests .
Faced with a lawsuit , Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz said last weekend that churches could operate at 25 % capacity or with up to 250 congregants .
He already had allowed much of the state to reopen with restrictions , including retail stores and shopping malls , and is preparing to open barber shops , hair salons and tattoo parlors next week .
“ People say , 'Why am I at the back of the line ? '
'' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Becket Fund .
Why should churches face strict limits , he said , `` if you ’ re opening up the Mall of America and tattoo parlors ? ''
In April , a Mississippi mayor facing two lawsuits and the wrath of the U.S. Justice Department allowed for drive-in church services , given that drive-in restaurants already were open .
When courts have been forced to intervene , some have sought to strike a balance .
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit , based in Cincinnati , ruled earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baptist church from holding drive-in services if it adhered to social distancing and hygiene rules in place for non-religious activities .
`` Restrictions inexplicably applied to one group and exempted from another ... do much to burden religious freedom , '' the court said .
`` Assuming all of the same precautions are taken , why is it safe to wait in a car for a liquor store to open but dangerous to wait in a car to hear morning prayers ? ''
`` While the law may take periodic naps during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` we will not let it sleep through one . ''

As churches reopen, Supreme Court faces balancing act between physical and spiritual health
Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump tells governors to open 'essential places' of worship As the US approaches 100,000 coronavirus deaths, President Donald Trump is calling on governors to allow houses of worship to open. White House, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – The coronavirus has left the Supreme Court with a difficult task: balancing the nation's physical and spiritual health.
As all 50 states ease restrictions put in place to combat the pandemic, churches and other religious institutions seek equal treatment. Legal battles have led to showdowns in California, Illinois and elsewhere on the eve of Pentacost Sunday, when churches largely shuttered since before Easter are eager to greet worshippers.
On one side: President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and many religious leaders who demand that state and local governments treat churches the same as most businesses. Last week, Trump labeled churches, synagogues and mosques as "essential places that provide essential services."
More: Trump calls for Memorial Day church reopenings but sends mixed signals on enforcement
On the other side: governors and public health authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has linked religious services to outbreaks of COVID-19. In one example, the CDC said 38% of those attending a rural Arkansas church in early March caught the virus, resulting in four deaths.
The churches have become the latest protesters against strict state coronavirus restrictions. Legal battles in Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Virginia and elsewhere follow other skirmishes involving abortion clinics, retail businesses and primary election voters.
Are lockdowns being relaxed in my state? Here's how America is reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Twenty-nine states no longer have prohibitions on religious gatherings, and 21 impose restrictions. In eight states, churches are subject to unequal treatment, according to the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. Those are California, Maine, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington.
The Supreme Court has said "religious activities can't be treated worse than similarly situated secular activities," said Richard Garnett, director of the program on church, state and society at Notre Dame Law School. The open question: What is the proper comparison?
A Pentecostal church in Southern California asked the Supreme Court to weigh in on its behalf. Despite Gov. Gavin Newsom's revised order on Monday allowing churches to reopen at 25% capacity, with no more than 100 worshippers, the church seeks the high court's intervention.
"Thousands of churches across the country and in California plan to reopen by May 31, 2020 – the Christian holy day of Pentecost – in defiance of any state executive orders, leading to widespread civil unrest," lawyers for South Bay United Pentecostal Church warned in court papers. "This application concerns an issue of widespread national importance whose resolution is needed to avert a constitutional crisis."
A similar petition from two Romanian American churches in Illinois arrived at the high court late Wednesday, challenging Gov. Jay Pritzker's limit of 10 worshippers at religious services.
"With each passing Sunday, churches are suffering under the yoke of the governor’s unconstitutional orders prohibiting churches from freely exercising their sincerely held religious beliefs requiring assembling themselves together to worship God," their lawyers argued in court papers.
'A suicide pact'
Federal district and appeals court judges ruled against the California and Illinois churches. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit noted that the coronavirus is "a highly contagious and often fatal disease for which there presently is no known cure."
The panel's 2-1 majority quoted the late Associate Justice Robert Jackson, who said if a court "does not temper its doctrinaire logic with a little practical wisdom, it will convert the constitutional Bill of Rights into a suicide pact."
The dissenting judge, Trump nominee Daniel Collins, said California can accomplish its public health objectives "without resorting to its current inflexible and overbroad ban on religious services." (The ban was lifted after the court's decision.)
The Supreme Court's slim conservative majority has come down on the side of religious liberty consistently in recent years. In the next few weeks, it will decide if state funds can be used to help pay religious school tuition, if employers with religious or moral objections can refuse to offer insurance coverage for contraceptives and if religious employers can sidestep job discrimination laws.
The dispute over reopening churches involves the Constitution's protection of religious freedom, but it also breaks down into a battle over numbers and percentages. If retail stores can open at 50% capacity, the argument goes, how can states such as California set different limits for religious gatherings?
"Plaintiffs’ sanctuary seats 600 persons, and each service normally brings in between 200 and 300 congregants," the California church's lawyers wrote. "Some of the larger houses of worship in California can seat 1,000 congregants or more. But under California’s guidelines, plaintiffs will only be permitted to welcome 100 congregants, with no explanation as to the justification for this arbitrary cap."
Some experts in religion law see a difference between retail stores with pedestrian traffic and houses of worship where congregants sit in pews for lengthy periods.
"The relevant category is not retail but meetings or gatherings," said Douglas Laycock, one of the nation's leading scholars in religious liberty at the University of Virginia School of Law. "If movies, theaters, political rallies and other secular meetings are still closed, then churches can be closed, too."
San Diego County, where the Pentecostal church is located, notified the Supreme Court Wednesday that it allows religious services under Newsom's revised order. The state's guidance still recommends outdoor ceremonies and remote streaming technology, "given the high risk of this activity."
‘At the back of the line’
Federal appeals courts have divided on the issue of religious worship during the pandemic, amid indications that some judges would rather leave it up to state and local officials when possible.
From Minnesota to Mississippi, elected officials have backed down in the face of religious protests.
Faced with a lawsuit, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said last weekend that churches could operate at 25% capacity or with up to 250 congregants. He already had allowed much of the state to reopen with restrictions, including retail stores and shopping malls, and is preparing to open barber shops, hair salons and tattoo parlors next week.
“People say, 'Why am I at the back of the line?’ ” said Eric Rassbach, senior counsel at the Becket Fund. Why should churches face strict limits, he said, “if you’re opening up the Mall of America and tattoo parlors?”
In April, a Mississippi mayor facing two lawsuits and the wrath of the U.S. Justice Department allowed for drive-in church services, given that drive-in restaurants already were open.
When courts have been forced to intervene, some have sought to strike a balance. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, based in Cincinnati, ruled this month that Kentucky could not stop a Baptist church from holding drive-in services if it adhered to social distancing and hygiene rules in place for nonreligious activities.
"Restrictions inexplicably applied to one group and exempted from another ... do much to burden religious freedom," the court said. "Assuming all of the same precautions are taken, why is it safe to wait in a car for a liquor store to open but dangerous to wait in a car to hear morning prayers?
"While the law may take periodic naps during a pandemic," the court said, "we will not let it sleep through one."


usatoday--2020-05-28--Attorney general taps prosecutor to look into episodes of 'unmasking' by Obama administration offici

WASHINGTON — Attorney General William Barr has tapped an outside federal prosecutor to look into episodes of unmasking involving Obama administration officials – the latest in a series of probes by the Justice Department on issues that matter to President Donald Trump and his allies .
Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec told Fox News host Sean Hannity Wednesday night that Barr has appointed John Bash , U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas , to look into instances of unmasking before and after the 2016 presidential election .
Unmasking is a common and – until now – an obscure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone who 's mentioned in an intelligence report .
But it became a hot-button topic among conservatives after the declassification of a document listing the names of government officials who requested to unmask former national security adviser Michael Flynn before and after Trump 's election .
The list includes former Vice President Joe Biden , former Chief of Staff Denis McDonough and several high-ranking intelligence and law enforcement officials .
What is 'unmasking ? '
: How intelligence agencies treat U.S. citizens Republicans have seized on the issue to raise questions about possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 , then-House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes , R-Calif. , alleged that the Obama administration may have improperly identified Trump transition officials in classified reports .
The declassified documents state that the officials who requested to unmask Flynn had authority to do so .
Kupec acknowledged that unmasking is n't `` inherently wrong '' but the reasoning behind such requests can raise questions .
`` Looking specifically at who was unmasking whom can add a lot to our understanding of motivation , '' Kupec said .
Current and previous administrations make thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Security Agency unmasked 9,217 people from September 2015 to August 2016 in response to requests from other agencies .
These numbers went up during the Trump administration : 9,529 in 2017 ; 16,721 in 2018 ; and 10,012 in 2019 .
The appointment of Bash comes a few months after Barr appointed another federal prosecutor , Jeffrey Jensen , to review the criminal case against Flynn .
The Justice Department has since sought to drop its prosecution of the former Army general , who pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian ambassador after Trump 's election .
The Flynn case : Retired judge to examine if Michael Flynn should be held in contempt , challenge DOJ 's bid to drop case Undoing the Mueller probe : Michael Flynn case continues DOJ 's dismantling of Robert Mueller 's investigation 'brick by brick' U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan appointed a third party to challenge the Justice Department 's bid to drop the prosecution and to examine whether Flynn committed perjury for claiming he 's innocent of a crime he had earlier admitted .
Flynn is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intervene by forcing Sullivan to dismiss the case .
Kupec said on Hannity that the Justice Department has the discretion to drop the case .
She said Jensen 's review revealed that the prosecution of Flynn should not have continued .
Earlier this year , Barr appointed two federal prosecutors to look into unsubstantiated allegations of wrongdoing in Ukraine based on information provided by Rudy Giuliani .
Last year , Barr tapped the top federal prosecutor in Connecticut to investigate the origins of the Russia probe and the FBI 's surveillance activities – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a separate review involving Hillary Clinton .
Trump nominated Bash to the Texas post in 2017 .
Before that , Bash was an associate White House counsel and spent five years representing the Justice Department before the Supreme Court .
He clerked for the late Justice Antonin Scalia and for Justice Brett Kavanaugh when Kavanaugh was a federal appeals court judge .

Attorney general taps prosecutor to look into episodes of 'unmasking' by Obama administration officials
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 — Attorney General William Barr has tapped an outside federal prosecutor to look into episodes of unmasking involving Obama administration officials – the latest in a series of probes by the Justice Department on issues that matter to President Donald Trump and his allies.
Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec told Fox News host Sean Hannity Wednesday night that Barr has appointed John Bash, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas, to look into instances of unmasking before and after the 2016 presidential election.
Unmasking is a common and, until recently, an obscure government practice to reveal the identity of someone who's mentioned in an intelligence report. But it became a hot-button topic among conservatives after the declassification of a document listing the names of government officials who requested to unmask former national security adviser Michael Flynn in the weeks before and after Trump's election. The list includes former Vice President Joe Biden, former Chief of Staff Denis McDonough and several high-ranking intelligence and law enforcement officials.
What is 'unmasking?': How intelligence agencies treat U.S. citizens
Republicans have seized on the issue to raise questions about possible wrongdoing during the Obama administration. In 2017, then-House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., alleged that the Obama administration may have improperly identified Trump transition officials in classified reports.
The declassified documents state that the officials who requested to unmask Flynn had authority to do so.
Kupec acknowledged that unmasking isn't "inherently wrong" but the reasoning behind such requests can raise questions. "Looking specifically at who was unmasking whom can add a lot to our understanding of motivation," Kupec said.
Current and previous administrations make thousands of unmasking requests every year. The National Security Agency unmasked 9,217 people from September 2015 to August 2016 in response to requests from other agencies. These numbers went up during the Trump administration: 9,529 in 2017; 16,721 in 2018; and 10,012 in 2019.
The appointment of Bash comes a few months after Barr appointed another federal prosecutor, Jeffrey Jensen, to review the criminal case against Flynn. The Justice Department has since sought to drop its prosecution of the former Army general, who pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about his communications with a former Russian ambassador after Trump's election.
The Flynn case: Retired judge to examine if Michael Flynn should be held in contempt, challenge DOJ's bid to drop case
Undoing the Mueller probe: Michael Flynn case continues DOJ's dismantling of Robert Mueller's investigation 'brick by brick'
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan appointed a third party to challenge the Justice Department's bid to drop the prosecution and to examine whether Flynn committed perjury for claiming he's innocent of a crime he had earlier admitted. Flynn is now asking a federal appeals court to intervene by forcing Sullivan to dismiss the case.
Kupec said on Hannity that the Justice Department has the discretion to drop the case. She said Jensen's review revealed that the prosecution of Flynn should not have continued.
Earlier this year, Barr appointed two federal prosecutors to look into unsubstantiated allegations of wrongdoing in Ukraine based on information provided by Rudy Giuliani.
Last year, Barr tapped the top federal prosecutor in Connecticut to investigate the origins of the Russia probe and the FBI's surveillance activities – while another prosecutor was in the midst of a separate review involving Hillary Clinton.
Trump nominated Bash to the Texas post in 2017. Before that, Bash was an associate White House counsel and spent five years representing the Justice Department before the Supreme Court. He clerked for the late Justice Antonin Scalia and for Justice Brett Kavanaugh when Kavanaugh was a federal appeals court judge.
Contributing: Kevin Johnson


usatoday--2020-05-28--Donald Trump's 2020 campaign app gets a boost with Phunware partnership, one day after Twitter fact-

Are Twitter notifications from @ realDonaldTrump not enough ?
Want to check your phone and immediately know what President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are up to in the campaign trail ?
The Official Trump 2020 App is getting a boost in functionality – and no pesky fact-checking from Twitter .
Phunware , a Texas-based software development company , announced Wednesday its partnership with American Made Media Consultants on the development , launch and ongoing management of the Trump-Pence 2020 Reelection Campaign ’ s mobile application portfolio for Apple iOS and Google Android smartphones .
Tech meets politics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course with the truth Regulation : Trump threatens to 'strongly regulate ' or 'close down ' social media platforms The mobile application , launched last month , will continue to `` let people engage with the campaign from their couch , or wherever they are , '' as Brad Parscale , Trump 's presidential campaign manager said , through : • Dedicated news feed to read articles , watch videos and stay up-to-date with Trump ’ s social feed • Sign-up tool to volunteer , fundraise and help Trump ’ s reelection campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for local , state and national events • Gamified loyalty system to accumulate reward points , including redemption capabilities for exclusive merchandise and upgraded experiences '' Our software provides the Trump-Pence team with powerful mobile tools for their high profile reelection campaign , allowing seamless one-to-one user engagement and interactions on a reliable and proven global platform , '' Alan S. Knitowski , president , CEO and co-founder of Phunware , said in a statement .
Earlier Wednesday , Trump threatened to `` strongly regulate '' or `` close down '' social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` fact check '' label to two of his tweets about mail-in ballots .
`` Republicans feel that Social Media Platforms totally silence conservatives voices , '' Trump tweeted , `` We will strongly regulate , or close them down , before we can ever allow this to happen . ''
The Official Trump 2020 App that 's currently available for download has a 3.9 rating in Apple 's App Store and a 3.8 rating in the Google Play Store .

Donald Trump's 2020 campaign app gets a boost with Phunware partnership, one day after Twitter fact-check
Show Caption Hide Caption Expert: Fact-checking Trump tweets 'appropriate' President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened social media companies with new regulation or even shuttering a day after Twitter added fact checks to two of his tweets. (May 27) AP
Are Twitter notifications from @realDonaldTrump not enough? Want to check your phone and immediately know what President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are up to in the campaign trail?
The Official Trump 2020 App is getting a boost in functionality – and no pesky fact-checking from Twitter.
Phunware, a Texas-based software development company, announced Wednesday its partnership with American Made Media Consultants on the development, launch and ongoing management of the Trump-Pence 2020 Reelection Campaign’s mobile application portfolio for Apple iOS and Google Android smartphones.
Tech meets politics: Twitter and Trump on a collision course with the truth
Regulation: Trump threatens to 'strongly regulate' or 'close down' social media platforms
The mobile application, launched last month, will continue to "let people engage with the campaign from their couch, or wherever they are," as Brad Parscale, Trump's presidential campaign manager said, through:
Dedicated news feed to read articles, watch videos and stay up-to-date with Trump’s social feed
Sign-up tool to volunteer, fundraise and help Trump’s reelection campaign
Scheduling tool to discover and register for local, state and national events
Gamified loyalty system to accumulate reward points, including redemption capabilities for exclusive merchandise and upgraded experiences
Livestream events for virtual engagement
Mobile ticketing for in-person events
"Our software provides the Trump-Pence team with powerful mobile tools for their high profile reelection campaign, allowing seamless one-to-one user engagement and interactions on a reliable and proven global platform," Alan S. Knitowski, president, CEO and co-founder of Phunware, said in a statement.
Earlier Wednesday, Trump threatened to "strongly regulate" or "close down" social media platforms a day after Twitter added a "fact check" label to two of his tweets about mail-in ballots.
"Republicans feel that Social Media Platforms totally silence conservatives voices," Trump tweeted, "We will strongly regulate, or close them down, before we can ever allow this to happen."
The Official Trump 2020 App that's currently available for download has a 3.9 rating in Apple's App Store and a 3.8 rating in the Google Play Store.
Follow Josh Rivera on Twitter: @Josh1Rivera.


usatoday--2020-05-29--2020 Republican convention: RNC sends Gov. Ray Cooper 'safety protocols' for Charlotte event

WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee sent North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper a letter Thursday evening specifying `` safety protocols '' they want him to approve for their party 's convention this August amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
The letter , obtained by USA TODAY , comes after Cooper , a Democrat , said earlier Thursday that RNC organizers had yet to provide written plans for how they envisioned to safely hold the convention in Charlotte .
More : Trump 's social media order to have agencies review whether Twitter , Facebook can be sued for content RNC Chairman Ronna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously discussed , it is our shared goal to host the Republican Nation Convention in Charlotte and to showcase the Queen City , and all of the Carolinas , to the entire world in August.
” The RNC told Cooper 's office they want a response by June 3 .
President Donald Trump said earlier this week that he wanted to know “ within a week ” whether the convention could be held in North Carolina .
“ We don ’ t have much time , ” Trump told reporters in the Rose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t tell us very soon , unfortunately we ’ ll have no choice .
The people want it.
” More : Trump wants to know 'within a week ' if North Carolina will host Republican convention More : Texas GOP says it would welcome Republican National Convention if NC falters There is no mention of wearing face masks or social distancing in the letter , which are both currently the state 's guidelines .
Some of the procedures listed in the letter , that are now waiting to be approved by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Pre-travel health surveys through the RNC partnership with local health care providers .
• Anti-bacterial gel will be widely available .
• Planned transportation buses will be dropped off at the Charlotte Convention Center which will act as a mandatory hub for a final health care screening by health care officials .
• All attendees would have to pass a clean health check prior to entering dedicated chute to the Spectrum Arena - where all attendees would then be processed through normal United States Secret Service screening with normal event queue lines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be subject to food service guidelines similar to any other restaurant . ''
“ If there are any additional guidelines to what is outlined above that we will be expected to meet , you need to let us know , '' the letter continued .
`` Time is of the essence.
” In a statement provided to USA TODAY in response , the governor 's spokesperson Sadie Weiner said , “ We are still waiting for a plan from the RNC , but our office will work with state health officials to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tomorrow.
” More : Pennsylvania state lawmaker rips GOP members for silence after testing positive for coronavirus The GOP convention is scheduled for the week of Aug. 24 .
North Carolina , which is undergoing a phased reopening of the state , does not allow gatherings of more than 10 people indoors .
The Republican convention is expected to draw up to 50,000 to Charlotte , the state 's largest city .
Trump has stressed wanting to be able to `` fully occupy '' the convention space , and has threatened to potentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We don ’ t know what our situation is going to be regarding COVID-19 in North Carolina .
We have to have options . ''
'This report is ... a joke ' : House Democrats blast CDC over racial disparity data amid coronavirus More : Democrats take step to allow virtual voting by delegates for 2020 convention Cooper has maintained that he will rely upon health officials to decide how the GOP convention would be managed .
He said Tuesday , `` I hope that we can find some kind of reasonable accommodation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sacrifice the health and safety of North Carolinians , and that 's the bottom line . ''
The Democratic National Convention , after delaying their convention by about a month , have been exploring potentially `` creative '' alternatives to holding a traditional national meeting in Milwaukee this August , including perhaps virtual aspects , depending on the status of the coronavirus pandemic .
The letter was first reported by the New York Times .

2020 Republican convention: RNC sends Gov. Roy Cooper 'safety protocols' for Charlotte event
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump may seek alternative RNC convention location President Donald Trump is weighing his options after threatening to pull the Republican National Convention out of North Carolina in August. Two Republican governors have offered up their states as alternatives. (May 27) AP
WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee sent North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper a letter Thursday evening specifying "safety protocols" they want him to approve for their party's convention this August amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The letter, obtained by USA TODAY, comes after Cooper, a Democrat, said earlier Thursday that RNC organizers had yet to provide written plans for how they envisioned to safely hold the convention in Charlotte.
More: Trump's social media order to have agencies review whether Twitter, Facebook can be sued for content
RNC Chairman Ronna McDaniel wrote, “As we have previously discussed, it is our shared goal to host the Republican Nation Convention in Charlotte and to showcase the Queen City, and all of the Carolinas, to the entire world in August.”
The RNC told Cooper's office they want a response by June 3. President Donald Trump said earlier this week that he wanted to know “within a week” whether the convention could be held in North Carolina.
“We don’t have much time,” Trump told reporters in the Rose Garden. “If the governor can’t tell us very soon, unfortunately we’ll have no choice. The people want it.”
More: Trump wants to know 'within a week' if North Carolina will host Republican convention
More: Texas GOP says it would welcome Republican National Convention if NC falters
There is no mention of wearing face masks or social distancing in the letter, which are both currently the state's guidelines.
Some of the procedures listed in the letter, that are now waiting to be approved by the governor's office, include:
"Pre-travel health surveys through the RNC partnership with local health care providers.
Daily health care questionnaires delivered via an app.
Thermal scans of mandatory attendees prior to boarding sanitized, pre-arranged transportation.
Anti-bacterial gel will be widely available.
Aggressive sanitizing protocol for all public areas.
Planned transportation buses will be dropped off at the Charlotte Convention Center which will act as a mandatory hub for a final health care screening by health care officials.
All attendees would have to pass a clean health check prior to entering dedicated chute to the Spectrum Arena - where all attendees would then be processed through normal United States Secret Service screening with normal event queue lines.
Media suites and hospitality areas will be subject to food service guidelines similar to any other restaurant."
“If there are any additional guidelines to what is outlined above that we will be expected to meet, you need to let us know," the letter continued. "Time is of the essence.”
In a statement provided to USA TODAY in response, the governor's spokesperson Sadie Weiner said, “We are still waiting for a plan from the RNC, but our office will work with state health officials to review the letter and share a response tomorrow.”
More: Pennsylvania state lawmaker rips GOP members for silence after testing positive for coronavirus
The GOP convention is scheduled for the week of Aug. 24.
North Carolina, which is undergoing a phased reopening of the state, does not allow gatherings of more than 10 people indoors. The Republican convention is expected to draw up to 50,000 to Charlotte, the state's largest city.
Trump has stressed wanting to be able to "fully occupy" the convention space, and has threatened to potentially move the convention, saying, "We don’t know what our situation is going to be regarding COVID-19 in North Carolina. We have to have options."
'This report is ... a joke': House Democrats blast CDC over racial disparity data amid coronavirus
More: Democrats take step to allow virtual voting by delegates for 2020 convention
Cooper has maintained that he will rely upon health officials to decide how the GOP convention would be managed. He said Tuesday, "I hope that we can find some kind of reasonable accommodation. But we’re not going to sacrifice the health and safety of North Carolinians, and that's the bottom line."
The Democratic National Convention, after delaying their convention by about a month, have been exploring potentially "creative" alternatives to holding a traditional national meeting in Milwaukee this August, including perhaps virtual aspects, depending on the status of the coronavirus pandemic.
The letter was first reported by the New York Times.
Contributing: John Fritze, Maureen Groppe USA TODAY
Read the letter here.


usatoday--2020-05-28--White House: President Trump briefed on George Floyd death

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany says President Trump was upset upon viewing George Floyd video , wanted the investigation @ @

White House: President Trump briefed on George Floyd death
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany says President Trump was upset upon viewing George Floyd video, wanted the investigation expedited.
USA TODAY