usatoday--2020-12-04--Live politics updates: Biden says he will ask Americans to wear masks for first 100 days

USA TODAY 's coverage of the 2020 election and President-elect Joe Biden 's transition continues this week as he rolls out his picks for top jobs in his administration and states continue to certify their vote counts .
President Donald Trump has cleared the way for Biden 's team to use federal resources and get briefings during the transition , although Trump has yet to formally concede the race .
Be sure to refresh this page often to get the latest information on the election and the transition .
Biden says GOP senators are calling privately to congratulate him During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden said it was not important in a “ personal sense ” whether President Donald Trump , who has yet to concede the election , attends his inauguration , but he should for the country .
“ I think it is important only in one sense , not in a personal sense , but important in the sense that we are able to demonstrate , at the end of this chaos that he ’ s created , that there is peaceful transfer of power , with the competing parties standing there , shaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden stated .
He continued that he worries about the image that is being projected onto the rest of the world saying , “ they ’ re wondering , ‘ my Lord , these things happen in tinhorn dictatorships .
This is not the United States.
’ ” “ It ’ s totally his decision , and it ’ s of no personal consequence to me , ” Biden reiterated .
“ But , it is to the country.
” Biden also stated that despite Trump not publicly conceding , and continuing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overthrow the results of the election , Republican Senators have been calling to congratulate him privately .
`` There have been more than several sitting Republican senators who have privately called me to congratulate me .
And I understand the situation they find themselves in .
Until the election is clearly decided ... with the electoral college votes , they 're in a very tough position , '' Biden said .
Biden says he will ask Americans to wear masks for first 100 days President-elect Joe Biden elaborated Thursday on his plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first 100 days of his administration .
During an interview with CNN ’ s Jake Tapper , Biden said , “ Just 100 days to mask , not forever .
And I think we 'll see a significant reduction.
” Biden said that where he has authority , he will issue an order mandating that masks be worn in places like federal buildings , airplanes , and interstate transportation like buses .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that wearing a mask protects not only the person covering their face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transmitting COVID-19 .
Biden and President Donald Trump have taken drastically different approaches to the coronavirus , including wearing masks , and the rhetoric around face coverings .
Trump has fought many of the coronavirus recommendations laid out by health experts his own administration , which includes mask-wearing .
Biden has strictly followed COVID-19 guidelines throughout the duration of his campaign and often called on citizens to wear face coverings .
Trump entities raised more than $ 200M on baseless election 'fraud ' claims WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has raised $ 207.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he leveled a series of evidence-free claims of voting irregularities while simultaneously embarking on a fundraising blitz to drum up cash from supporters .
The money , partially steered toward a new political action committee that will allow him to spend on other Republican candidates , not only demonstrates a continued deep well of support among the GOP , but also underscores t the president will have the ability to remain an influential force outside of the White House .
Speculation has swirled for months about Trump 's potential next steps – and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launch a television network or continue to headline rallies .
Several aides have openly speculated that Trump may run again in 2024 , and the president himself recently hinted at the idea .
“ We are trying to do another four years .
Otherwise , I 'll see you in four years , ” Trump told supporters gathered at the White House this week for a Christmas party – remarks caught on video and shared on social media .
The numbers , provided by the campaign and not verified by USA TODAY , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in some of Trump ’ s fundraising solicitations after the election noted a portion of donations would be used to pay down debt .
The extent of that debt – which could affect how much political cash Trump will have at his disposal – won ’ t be clear until reports are officially filed with the Federal Election Commission later Thursday .
What is clear : The Trump campaign sent a barrage of fundraising requests after President-elect Joe Biden won the election , and those requests echoed many of the false or unverified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his allies have leveled from the White House .
The requests asked for contributions to defray legal costs .
While the legal fight has so far faltered and six battleground states that decided the election have already certified their results – and Biden ’ s win – the fundraising has continued at full tilt .
That has happened even as several institutional GOP donors told USA TODAY last month they are taking their money elsewhere : Namely , two runoff elections in Georgia that will decide which party controls the Senate next year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismissed reports this week about whether the president is considering another run for president in four years .
“ I 've not heard any discussions of that .
I 'm aware of the reporting , but the president 's campaign is currently pursuing active litigation , and that is the focus , at least at the moment , ” she told reporters on Wednesday .
The fundraising total provided by the campaign included amounts raised by Donald J. Trump for President , Inc. , the Republican National Committee , Trump Victory and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as the president ’ s new PAC , Save America .
Bill Stepien , Trump 2020 campaign manager , said the fundraising “ positions ” the president to “ continue leading the fight ” to “ clean up ” what he described as a corrupt elections process .
Neither Trump nor the campaign have provided evidence of corruption , and several courts – including one scathing opinion crafted by a Trump-appointed judge – have dismissed the claims .
House Democrats choose new head of campaign arm House Democrats on Thursday elected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after disappointing losses this cycle that led to about a dozen Democrats incumbents losing and a slimmed down majority .
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney , D-N.Y. , was elected in a close 119-107 vote against Rep. Tony Cárdenas to chair the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee , promising to move the party forward and being open to working with the best talent , even consulting groups that previously challenged incumbents .
The caucus also elected an array of new leaders to head House committees , including Rep. Gregory Meeks to head the House Foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defeated earlier this year in the primaries , Rep. Rosa DeLauro to chair the House Appropriations Committee as the current Chairwoman Nita Lowey is retiring , and Rep. David Scott to lead the House Agriculture Committee after Chairman Collin Peterson was defeated on Election Day .
White House communications director Alyssa Farah announced Thursday she is resigning after a three-and-a-half year stint serving the Trump administration in roles spanning the West Wing and Pentagon .
Farah , 31 , described it as an `` honor of a lifetime '' to serve the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pence 's press secretary and later as the Department of Defense spokeswoman before she returned to the White House as communications director in April .
`` I am deeply proud of the incredible things we were able to accomplish to make our country stronger , safer , and more secure , '' she said in a statement .
`` Under this Administration , the ISIS caliphate was destroyed , American hostages were returned home , NATO is stronger than ever , we ’ ve brokered historic Middle East peace deals , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the announcement of a historic peace deal between the Afghan Government and the Taliban aimed at ending America ’ s longest war . ''
The announcement signals White House aides are looking ahead to life after Jan. 20 , when President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn into office , even as President Donald Trump continues to level unfounded claims of voter fraud in an effort to overturn the election results .
Her resignation comes a month after the Nov. 3 election .
Farah 's return to the West Wing aligned with the arrival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of staff .
Farah served as Meadows ' communications director while he was a congressman and later as a spokeswoman for the House Freedom Caucus , which Meadows helped found .
`` I ’ m forever grateful to have had the opportunity to serve my country , '' she said in her statement .
President-elect Joe Biden announced Thursday that Brian Deese , an economist and climate expert , will serve as his director of the National Economic Council .
Deese is a former deputy director of the council , a deputy director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a senior adviser to former President Barack Obama .
Deese played a leading role in the U.S. auto bailout a decade ago and in negotiating the Paris climate accord when Biden was vice president , according to the transition .
Biden said in a statement that Deese is “ among the most tested and accomplished public servants in the country.
” Before joining the Obama administration , Deese was global head of sustainable investing at BlackRock , an investment management firm , where the transition said he worked on strategies to focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to low-carbon emissions .
Deese got a bachelor ’ s degree from Middlebury College and a law degree from Yale Law School .
Trump on William Barr 's future : 'Ask me that in a number of weeks' President Donald Trump offered a vague answer Thursday about whether he still has confidence in Attorney General William Barr , who on Tuesday said the Justice Department has not found evidence of voter fraud to overturn Trump 's election loss .
Asked if he still has confidence in Barr , Trump told reporters at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a number of weeks from now . ''
Trump is scheduled to leave office on Jan. 20 , just 48 days from now .
Trump also said Barr `` hasn ’ t done anything yet , '' and that his department `` should be looking at all of this fraud '' – even though judges and election officials across the country , from both parties , have ruled that the election was conducted fairly and openly .
The Justice Department declined to comment on Trump 's remarks .
Trump 's comments on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was no widespread evidence of voter fraud so far in the 2020 presidential election , contrary to assertions by Trump and his legal team .
Barr has also resisted Trump 's public pressure to prosecute President-elect Joe Biden and other former Obama administration officials on baseless claims of corruption and the surveillance of the 2016 race .
Trump again complained about the election during a brief Q-and-A session with reporters after he awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to retired football coach – and political supporter – Lou Holtz .
`` One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Trump said of Holtz , a consistent winner at Notre Dame and other schools , including William & Mary , North Carolina State , Arkansas , Minnesota , and South Carolina .
Holtz , who endorsed Trump during the campaign and gave an anti-Biden speech at the virtual Republican convention , reciprocated by calling Trump the `` greatest president in my lifetime . ''
At least 30 people attended the ceremony in the Oval Office .
Most did not wear masks , despite recent outbreaks of COVID-19 within the West Wing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will challenge the official Electoral College votes when Congress certifies President-elect Joe Biden ’ s victory on Jan. 6 .
The representative told reporters Wednesday he would challenge the results if a senator joined him in the effort .
Politico originally reported that Brooks had discussed challenging the results with close allies .
Brooks then confirmed the reporting on Twitter .
“ In my judgment , if only lawful votes by eligible American citizens were cast , Donald Trump won the Electoral College by a significant margin , and Congress ’ s certification @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Politico .
“ This election was stolen by the socialists engaging in extraordinary voter fraud and election theft measures.
” Brooks said he ’ s had “ indirect ” communications with senators about a potential Electoral College challenge but none have yet expressed interest in the effort .
There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud akin to what Brooks claims .
President Donald Trump has made repeated baseless accusations of voter fraud about the election .
Attorneys affiliated with the Trump campaign continue to file lawsuits challenging the legitimacy of the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris named three of her top staffers Thursday , as she prepares to take office Jan. 20 .
Her announcement followed President-elect Joe Biden naming his top White House staffers , along with members of his foreign-policy and economics teams .
The Harris officials are : • Tina Flournoy , who currently serves as chief of staff to former President Bill Clinton , will become chief of staff for Harris .
She previously served as assistant to the president for public policy at the American Federation of Teachers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ after graduating from Georgetown University Law Center .
• Rohini Kosoglu , who currently serves as senior advisor to Harris on the transition , will become Harris ' domestic policy adviser .
She previously served as a resident fellow at the Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University .
She was earlier chief of staff in Harris ’ Senate office and worked for Sen. Michael Bennet , D-Colo. She graduated from the University of Michigan and George Washington University .
• Nancy McEldowney , who served for more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service , will become Harris ' national security adviser .
She has served as U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria and as chargé d ’ affaires and deputy chief of mission in Turkey and Azerbaijan .
While working at the State Department , she served as director of the Foreign Service Institute and as interim president of the National Defense University .
Harris said Flournoy would bring deep experience and public policy experience to the job .
Harris called Kosoglu one of closest and most trusted aides from the Senate and campaign .
And Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans safe and advancing the country ’ s interests abroad .
Vice President Mike Pence heads to Memphis , Tennessee , on Thursday to hold a roundtable discussion on distributing a COVID-19 vaccine , as case numbers in the U.S. reach new highs .
The U.S. reached two grim daily milestones Wednesday , surpassing 3,000 coronavirus deaths and 100,000 hospitalizationsfor the first time .
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Robert Redfield said the U.S. could see 450,000 deaths by February .
More than 273,000 people have died from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johns Hopkins University data .
Though a vaccine has not yet been authorized in the U.S. , officials are preparing for mass distribution of doses .
Operation Warp Speed , the White House-led initiative to develop and distribute vaccines , plans to begin the first vaccine deliveries within 24 hours of FDA authorization .
Obama , Clinton and Bush say they 'd take COVID vaccine on camera Former Presidents Barack Obama , George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have said they are willing to take a coronavirus vaccine to prove that the treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even film themselves getting injected .
The announcement comes as large swaths of the American public have expressed concerns about taking a potential coronavirus vaccine , despite early results from several vaccine trials showing them to be highly effective at stopping COVID-19 .
`` I promise you that when it 's been made for people who are less at risk , I will be taking it , '' Obama said on an episode of SiriusXM 's `` The Joe Madison Show '' that airs Thursday .
Some audio of Obama 's comments were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may end up taking it on TV or having it filmed , just so that people know that I trust this science , '' Obama continued .
“ What I don ’ t trust is getting COVID.
” Staffers of Bush and Clinton confirmed that the ex-presidents are willing to take a coronavirus vaccine in some public manner , as well , according to CNN .

Live politics updates: Biden says he will ask Americans to wear masks for first 100 days
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19 stimulus: Biden unveils new economic team Biden said "help is on the way" and called on Congress to pass a "robust" COVID-19 relief package while unveiling his administration's economic team. Associated Press, USA TODAY
USA TODAY's coverage of the 2020 election and President-elect Joe Biden's transition continues this week as he rolls out his picks for top jobs in his administration and states continue to certify their vote counts.
President Donald Trump has cleared the way for Biden's team to use federal resources and get briefings during the transition, although Trump has yet to formally concede the race.
Be sure to refresh this page often to get the latest information on the election and the transition.
During an interview on CNN, President-elect Joe Biden said it was not important in a “personal sense” whether President Donald Trump, who has yet to concede the election, attends his inauguration, but he should for the country.
“I think it is important only in one sense, not in a personal sense, but important in the sense that we are able to demonstrate, at the end of this chaos that he’s created, that there is peaceful transfer of power, with the competing parties standing there, shaking hands, and moving on,” Biden stated.
He continued that he worries about the image that is being projected onto the rest of the world saying, “they’re wondering, ‘my Lord, these things happen in tinhorn dictatorships. This is not the United States.’”
“It’s totally his decision, and it’s of no personal consequence to me,” Biden reiterated. “But, it is to the country.”
Biden also stated that despite Trump not publicly conceding, and continuing to wage largely meritless lawsuits to try and overthrow the results of the election, Republican Senators have been calling to congratulate him privately.
"There have been more than several sitting Republican senators who have privately called me to congratulate me. And I understand the situation they find themselves in. Until the election is clearly decided... with the electoral college votes, they're in a very tough position," Biden said.
— Savannah Behrmann
President-elect Joe Biden elaborated Thursday on his plan to ask all Americans to wear masks during the first 100 days of his administration.
During an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Biden said, “Just 100 days to mask, not forever. And I think we'll see a significant reduction.”
President-elect Biden tells Jake Tapper he will ask all Americans to wear masks for the first 100 days after he takes office: "I think we'll see a significant reduction ... to drive down the numbers considerably" https://t.co/lQkT0HPc5h pic.twitter.com/PxIGzPjxP7 — CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) December 3, 2020
Biden said that where he has authority, he will issue an order mandating that masks be worn in places like federal buildings, airplanes, and interstate transportation like buses.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that wearing a mask protects not only the person covering their face but also protects those around them from transmitting COVID-19.
Biden and President Donald Trump have taken drastically different approaches to the coronavirus, including wearing masks, and the rhetoric around face coverings.
Trump has fought many of the coronavirus recommendations laid out by health experts his own administration, which includes mask-wearing. Biden has strictly followed COVID-19 guidelines throughout the duration of his campaign and often called on citizens to wear face coverings.
— Savannah Behrmann
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has raised $207.5 million since the Nov. 3 election as he leveled a series of evidence-free claims of voting irregularities while simultaneously embarking on a fundraising blitz to drum up cash from supporters.
The money, partially steered toward a new political action committee that will allow him to spend on other Republican candidates, not only demonstrates a continued deep well of support among the GOP, but also underscores t the president will have the ability to remain an influential force outside of the White House.
Speculation has swirled for months about Trump's potential next steps – and that has included reports that he may launch a television network or continue to headline rallies. Several aides have openly speculated that Trump may run again in 2024, and the president himself recently hinted at the idea.
“We are trying to do another four years. Otherwise, I'll see you in four years,” Trump told supporters gathered at the White House this week for a Christmas party – remarks caught on video and shared on social media.
The numbers, provided by the campaign and not verified by USA TODAY, come with caveats. The fine print in some of Trump’s fundraising solicitations after the election noted a portion of donations would be used to pay down debt. The extent of that debt – which could affect how much political cash Trump will have at his disposal – won’t be clear until reports are officially filed with the Federal Election Commission later Thursday.
What is clear: The Trump campaign sent a barrage of fundraising requests after President-elect Joe Biden won the election, and those requests echoed many of the false or unverified claims of voter fraud that Trump and his allies have leveled from the White House. The requests asked for contributions to defray legal costs.
While the legal fight has so far faltered and six battleground states that decided the election have already certified their results – and Biden’s win – the fundraising has continued at full tilt. That has happened even as several institutional GOP donors told USA TODAY last month they are taking their money elsewhere: Namely, two runoff elections in Georgia that will decide which party controls the Senate next year.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany dismissed reports this week about whether the president is considering another run for president in four years.
“I've not heard any discussions of that. I'm aware of the reporting, but the president's campaign is currently pursuing active litigation, and that is the focus, at least at the moment,” she told reporters on Wednesday.
The fundraising total provided by the campaign included amounts raised by Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., the Republican National Committee, Trump Victory and the Trump Make America Great Again Committee, as well as the president’s new PAC, Save America.
Bill Stepien, Trump 2020 campaign manager, said the fundraising “positions” the president to “continue leading the fight” to “clean up” what he described as a corrupt elections process. Neither Trump nor the campaign have provided evidence of corruption, and several courts – including one scathing opinion crafted by a Trump-appointed judge – have dismissed the claims.
– John Fritze and David Jackson
House Democrats on Thursday elected a new head of their campaign arm after disappointing losses this cycle that led to about a dozen Democrats incumbents losing and a slimmed down majority.
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y., was elected in a close 119-107 vote against Rep. Tony Cárdenas to chair the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, promising to move the party forward and being open to working with the best talent, even consulting groups that previously challenged incumbents.
The caucus also elected an array of new leaders to head House committees, including Rep. Gregory Meeks to head the House Foreign Affairs Committee after Chairman Eliot Engel was defeated earlier this year in the primaries, Rep. Rosa DeLauro to chair the House Appropriations Committee as the current Chairwoman Nita Lowey is retiring, and Rep. David Scott to lead the House Agriculture Committee after Chairman Collin Peterson was defeated on Election Day.
– Christal Hayes
White House communications director Alyssa Farah announced Thursday she is resigning after a three-and-a-half year stint serving the Trump administration in roles spanning the West Wing and Pentagon.
Farah, 31, described it as an "honor of a lifetime" to serve the Trump administration, first as Vice President Mike Pence's press secretary and later as the Department of Defense spokeswoman before she returned to the White House as communications director in April.
"I am deeply proud of the incredible things we were able to accomplish to make our country stronger, safer, and more secure," she said in a statement. "Under this Administration, the ISIS caliphate was destroyed, American hostages were returned home, NATO is stronger than ever, we’ve brokered historic Middle East peace deals, and I was on the ground in Kabul for the announcement of a historic peace deal between the Afghan Government and the Taliban aimed at ending America’s longest war."
The announcement signals White House aides are looking ahead to life after Jan. 20, when President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn into office, even as President Donald Trump continues to level unfounded claims of voter fraud in an effort to overturn the election results. Her resignation comes a month after the Nov. 3 election.
Farah's return to the West Wing aligned with the arrival of Mark Meadows as Trump's chief of staff. Farah served as Meadows' communications director while he was a congressman and later as a spokeswoman for the House Freedom Caucus, which Meadows helped found.
"I’m forever grateful to have had the opportunity to serve my country," she said in her statement.
– David Jackson and Courtney Subramanian
President-elect Joe Biden announced Thursday that Brian Deese, an economist and climate expert, will serve as his director of the National Economic Council.
Deese is a former deputy director of the council, a deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget and a senior adviser to former President Barack Obama. Deese played a leading role in the U.S. auto bailout a decade ago and in negotiating the Paris climate accord when Biden was vice president, according to the transition.
Biden said in a statement that Deese is “among the most tested and accomplished public servants in the country.”
Before joining the Obama administration, Deese was global head of sustainable investing at BlackRock, an investment management firm, where the transition said he worked on strategies to focus on climate and to accelerate to transition to low-carbon emissions. Deese got a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College and a law degree from Yale Law School.
– Bart Jansen
President Donald Trump offered a vague answer Thursday about whether he still has confidence in Attorney General William Barr, who on Tuesday said the Justice Department has not found evidence of voter fraud to overturn Trump's election loss.
Asked if he still has confidence in Barr, Trump told reporters at the White House: "Ask me that in a number of weeks from now."
Trump is scheduled to leave office on Jan. 20, just 48 days from now.
Trump also said Barr "hasn’t done anything yet," and that his department "should be looking at all of this fraud" – even though judges and election officials across the country, from both parties, have ruled that the election was conducted fairly and openly.
The Justice Department declined to comment on Trump's remarks.
Trump's comments on Barr come after the attorney general declared there was no widespread evidence of voter fraud so far in the 2020 presidential election, contrary to assertions by Trump and his legal team. Barr has also resisted Trump's public pressure to prosecute President-elect Joe Biden and other former Obama administration officials on baseless claims of corruption and the surveillance of the 2016 race.
Trump again complained about the election during a brief Q-and-A session with reporters after he awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to retired football coach – and political supporter – Lou Holtz.
"One of the greatest coaches in American history," Trump said of Holtz, a consistent winner at Notre Dame and other schools, including William & Mary, North Carolina State, Arkansas, Minnesota, and South Carolina.
Holtz, who endorsed Trump during the campaign and gave an anti-Biden speech at the virtual Republican convention, reciprocated by calling Trump the "greatest president in my lifetime."
At least 30 people attended the ceremony in the Oval Office. Most did not wear masks, despite recent outbreaks of COVID-19 within the West Wing.
– David Jackson and Kevin Johnson
Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., will challenge the official Electoral College votes when Congress certifies President-elect Joe Biden’s victory on Jan. 6. The representative told reporters Wednesday he would challenge the results if a senator joined him in the effort.
Politico originally reported that Brooks had discussed challenging the results with close allies. Brooks then confirmed the reporting on Twitter.
“In my judgment, if only lawful votes by eligible American citizens were cast, Donald Trump won the Electoral College by a significant margin, and Congress’s certification should reflect that,” Brooks told Politico. “This election was stolen by the socialists engaging in extraordinary voter fraud and election theft measures.”
Brooks said he’s had “indirect” communications with senators about a potential Electoral College challenge but none have yet expressed interest in the effort.
There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud akin to what Brooks claims. President Donald Trump has made repeated baseless accusations of voter fraud about the election. Attorneys affiliated with the Trump campaign continue to file lawsuits challenging the legitimacy of the election, though courts have rejected most efforts.
– Matthew Brown
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris named three of her top staffers Thursday, as she prepares to take office Jan. 20.
Her announcement followed President-elect Joe Biden naming his top White House staffers, along with members of his foreign-policy and economics teams. The Harris officials are:
Tina Flournoy, who currently serves as chief of staff to former President Bill Clinton, will become chief of staff for Harris. She previously served as assistant to the president for public policy at the American Federation of Teachers. She earlier worked for Democratic campaigns, after graduating from Georgetown University Law Center.
Rohini Kosoglu, who currently serves as senior advisor to Harris on the transition, will become Harris' domestic policy adviser. She previously served as a resident fellow at the Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She was earlier chief of staff in Harris’ Senate office and worked for Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. She graduated from the University of Michigan and George Washington University.
Nancy McEldowney, who served for more than 30 years in the U.S. Foreign Service, will become Harris' national security adviser. She has served as U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria and as chargé d’affaires and deputy chief of mission in Turkey and Azerbaijan. While working at the State Department, she served as director of the Foreign Service Institute and as interim president of the National Defense University.
Harris said Flournoy would bring deep experience and public policy experience to the job. Harris called Kosoglu one of closest and most trusted aides from the Senate and campaign. And Harris said McEldowney will be invaluable in keeping Americans safe and advancing the country’s interests abroad.
– Bart Jansen
Vice President Mike Pence heads to Memphis, Tennessee, on Thursday to hold a roundtable discussion on distributing a COVID-19 vaccine, as case numbers in the U.S. reach new highs.
The U.S. reached two grim daily milestones Wednesday, surpassing 3,000 coronavirus deaths and 100,000 hospitalizationsfor the first time. Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Robert Redfield said the U.S. could see 450,000 deaths by February. More than 273,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins University data.
Though a vaccine has not yet been authorized in the U.S., officials are preparing for mass distribution of doses. Operation Warp Speed, the White House-led initiative to develop and distribute vaccines, plans to begin the first vaccine deliveries within 24 hours of FDA authorization.
– Sean Rossman, John Bacon, Adrianna Rodriguez and Grace Hauck
Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have said they are willing to take a coronavirus vaccine to prove that the treatment is safe and effective. They may even film themselves getting injected.
The announcement comes as large swaths of the American public have expressed concerns about taking a potential coronavirus vaccine, despite early results from several vaccine trials showing them to be highly effective at stopping COVID-19.
"I promise you that when it's been made for people who are less at risk, I will be taking it," Obama said on an episode of SiriusXM's "The Joe Madison Show" that airs Thursday. Some audio of Obama's comments were released Wednesday on YouTube.
"I may end up taking it on TV or having it filmed, just so that people know that I trust this science," Obama continued. “What I don’t trust is getting COVID.”
Staffers of Bush and Clinton confirmed that the ex-presidents are willing to take a coronavirus vaccine in some public manner, as well, according to CNN.
– Matthew Brown


usatoday--2020-12-03--Health officials lay out wish list for Biden administration: Restore the CDC, prioritize health acro

A who 's who of health officials published a commentary Wednesday outlining their wish list for the incoming Biden-Harris administration , starting with their desire for the U.S. to rejoin the global public health community .
`` A threat anywhere is a threat to all of us , '' said Dr. Michelle Williams , dean of the Harvard T.H .
Chan School of Public Health and an author of the commentary , published in The Lancet .
Basic scientific research needs more government funding , according to the group , which also included former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala , and Lawrence Gostin of Georgetown University .
The writers said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention needs to be restored .
The agency has endured budget cuts for decades and lost much of its international prestige during the COVID-19 outbreak , which many accused it of mishandling .
To recover , Williams said the CDC staff needs a morale boost , the agency must be provided with better digital tools to track disease outbreaks , and it should be encouraged to coordinate more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private sector has realized that there is no economic security without public health security , '' she said , which provides an opportunity for the CDC to help company leaders safely manage their businesses .
`` We can do this , but we 'll need leadership at the top to say that this is a historically important institution , '' she said .
`` CDC has played a very big role in equity issues around women 's health , around minority health , around interventions for vulnerable populations ... and they have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to work on those big problems . ''
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration , she said , also needs to be rebuilt to restore public trust .
She cited specifically several drugs authorized for emergency use during the pandemic despite a lack of data showing their effectiveness .
Barry Bloom , a co-author , immunologist and former Harvard school of public health dean criticized the Trump administration for dismantling the pandemic response infrastructure that previous administrations had established in the White House and said public health is an economic and national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one .
Poor health increases economic and political instability around the world which puts American security at risk , he said .
The incoming administration should rejoin the global health community , both by literally rejoining the World Health Organization , as President-elect Joe Biden has promised to do , by doubling the U.S. 's funding of the WHO , and by recommitting to global health projects like the COVID-19 Global Access Facility ( COVAX ) , which is providing vaccines to low- and middle-income countries .
`` There are many things we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can do in partnership with other countries , '' Bloom said .
`` You ca n't have any control over the world if you 're uninvolved and a partner or at least at the table for a whole variety of economic , health and political agendas . ''
Contributing to COVAX , he said , is one way to protect Americans from recurring outbreaks As long as there people in the world who have COVID-19 , it will continue to arrive on our shores , he noted .
`` Once airplanes start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from around the world , it 's less than 24 hours to bring the next epidemic back to all those who are not vaccinated , '' Bloom said .
Hope : Why this Harvard doctor is optimistic about US overcoming COVID-19 despite 'epidemic of mistrust' Williams said she sees Harvard public health faculty continuing to play a role in the rebuilding of the nation 's public health infrastructure by providing expert advice and support for government officials , as well as public commentary .
`` It 's a way for us to democratize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institutions like Harvard to the world , '' she said .
Climate change : World not doing nearly enough to stop 'catastrophic ' global warming , UN report warns The commentary also highlighted two other key issues the authors hope the Biden-Harris administration will tackle : the climate threat and growing antimicrobial resistance , which threatens to make antibiotics less protective .
Climate change poses health risks by threatening to destabilize communities and governments , create vast numbers of refugees and divert resources from public health .
`` We can without making false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more equitable , healthy and sustainable , '' Williams said .
`` That 's the undercurrent theme , that 's the wrapper of this editorial . ''
Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics , Innovation and Competition in Healthcare .
The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input .

Health officials lay out wish list for Biden administration: Restore the CDC, prioritize health across the globe
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19 vaccine: CDC committee votes on who should receive it first The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities should receive the vaccine first. USA TODAY
A who's who of health officials published a commentary Wednesday outlining their wish list for the incoming Biden-Harris administration, starting with their desire for the U.S. to rejoin the global public health community.
"A threat anywhere is a threat to all of us," said Dr. Michelle Williams, dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and an author of the commentary, published in The Lancet.
Basic scientific research needs more government funding, according to the group, which also included former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, Democratic Congresswoman and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala, and Lawrence Gostin of Georgetown University.
The writers said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention needs to be restored. The agency has endured budget cuts for decades and lost much of its international prestige during the COVID-19 outbreak, which many accused it of mishandling.
To recover, Williams said the CDC staff needs a morale boost, the agency must be provided with better digital tools to track disease outbreaks, and it should be encouraged to coordinate more closely with private industry.
"The private sector has realized that there is no economic security without public health security," she said, which provides an opportunity for the CDC to help company leaders safely manage their businesses.
"We can do this, but we'll need leadership at the top to say that this is a historically important institution," she said. "CDC has played a very big role in equity issues around women's health, around minority health, around interventions for vulnerable populations ... and they have to have the resources and the talent to continue to work on those big problems."
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, she said, also needs to be rebuilt to restore public trust. She cited specifically several drugs authorized for emergency use during the pandemic despite a lack of data showing their effectiveness.
FDA COVID vaccine timeline: When might a COVID-19 vaccine be authorized? FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn answers common questions
Barry Bloom, a co-author, immunologist and former Harvard school of public health dean criticized the Trump administration for dismantling the pandemic response infrastructure that previous administrations had established in the White House and said public health is an economic and national security issue as well as an personal one.
Poor health increases economic and political instability around the world which puts American security at risk, he said.
The incoming administration should rejoin the global health community, both by literally rejoining the World Health Organization, as President-elect Joe Biden has promised to do, by doubling the U.S.'s funding of the WHO, and by recommitting to global health projects like the COVID-19 Global Access Facility (COVAX), which is providing vaccines to low- and middle-income countries.
"There are many things we cannot do by ourselves, but we can do in partnership with other countries," Bloom said. "You can't have any control over the world if you're uninvolved and a partner or at least at the table for a whole variety of economic, health and political agendas."
Contributing to COVAX, he said, is one way to protect Americans from recurring outbreaks
As long as there people in the world who have COVID-19, it will continue to arrive on our shores, he noted.
"Once airplanes start flying, once people start doing commerce from around the world, it's less than 24 hours to bring the next epidemic back to all those who are not vaccinated," Bloom said.
Hope: Why this Harvard doctor is optimistic about US overcoming COVID-19 despite 'epidemic of mistrust'
Williams said she sees Harvard public health faculty continuing to play a role in the rebuilding of the nation's public health infrastructure by providing expert advice and support for government officials, as well as public commentary.
"It's a way for us to democratize the assets that we have at elite institutions like Harvard to the world," she said.
Climate change: World not doing nearly enough to stop 'catastrophic' global warming, UN report warns
The commentary also highlighted two other key issues the authors hope the Biden-Harris administration will tackle: the climate threat and growing antimicrobial resistance, which threatens to make antibiotics less protective.
Climate change poses health risks by threatening to destabilize communities and governments, create vast numbers of refugees and divert resources from public health.
"We can without making false choices be safer, more just, more equitable, healthy and sustainable," Williams said. "That's the undercurrent theme, that's the wrapper of this editorial."
Contact Karen Weintraub at kweintraub@usatoday.com
Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input.


usatoday--2020-12-03--Former Presidents Obama, Clinton and Bush say they'd get a COVID-19 vaccine on camera to prove safet

Former Presidents Barack Obama , George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have said they are willing to get a coronavirus vaccine to prove the treatment is safe and effective .
They may even film themselves getting injected .
Explainer : Will there be side effects from a COVID-19 vaccine ?
When can you get it ?
We answer your vaccine questions The announcement comes as large swaths of the American public have expressed concerns about taking a potential coronavirus vaccine , despite early results from several vaccine trials showing them to be highly effective at stopping COVID-19 .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made for people who are less at risk , I will be taking it , '' Obama said on an episode of SiriusXM 's `` The Joe Madison Show . ''
Some audio of Obama 's comments were released on YouTube Wednesday .
More : Coronavirus is changing everyday life across the US '' I may end up taking it on TV or having it filmed , just so that people know that I trust this science , '' Obama said .
“ What I don ’ t trust is getting COVID.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bush confirmed to CNN that he would be willing to get a vaccine to boost public trust as well .
“ President Clinton will definitely take a vaccine as soon as available to him , based on the priorities determined by public health officials .
And he will do it in a public setting if it will help urge all Americans to do the same , '' Angel Ureña , a spokesman for Clinton , told USA TODAY .
A November Gallup poll found 58 % of Americans are willing to receive a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the year when hesitancy about vaccines was widespread .
More : Barack Obama criticizes progressives over 'defund the police , ' saying slogan can drive away moderates Public health experts say at least 60 % to 70 % of the population needs to take a vaccine to achieve `` herd immunity , '' a public health term for when a critical mass of the public is inoculated against a given infectious disease .
The resistance against vaccines is especially high among communities of color , with Black Americans expressing the most doubts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I understand , historically , everything dating back all the way to the Tuskegee experiments and so forth , why the African American community would have some skepticism , ” Obama said in his SiriusXM interview .
“ But the fact of the matter is , is that vaccines are why we don ’ t have polio anymore .
And they ’ re the reason why we don ’ t have a whole bunch of kids dying from measles and smallpox and diseases that used to decimate entire populations and communities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulators are expected to confirm several of the most promising vaccines in the coming weeks , with states and biopharmaceutical companies already planning on mass distribution of vaccines throughout the country during the early months of next year .

Former Presidents Obama, Clinton and Bush say they'd get a COVID-19 vaccine on camera to prove safety
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19 vaccine: Dr. Fauci talks about the timeline for distribution Dr. Anthony Fauci said distribution of vaccines for the coronavirus could begin by December or early January. USA TODAY
Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have said they are willing to get a coronavirus vaccine to prove the treatment is safe and effective. They may even film themselves getting injected.
Explainer: Will there be side effects from a COVID-19 vaccine? When can you get it? We answer your vaccine questions
The announcement comes as large swaths of the American public have expressed concerns about taking a potential coronavirus vaccine, despite early results from several vaccine trials showing them to be highly effective at stopping COVID-19.
"I promise you that when it's been made for people who are less at risk, I will be taking it," Obama said on an episode of SiriusXM's "The Joe Madison Show." Some audio of Obama's comments were released on YouTube Wednesday.
More: Coronavirus is changing everyday life across the US
"I may end up taking it on TV or having it filmed, just so that people know that I trust this science," Obama said. “What I don’t trust is getting COVID.”
The office of former President George W. Bush confirmed to CNN that he would be willing to get a vaccine to boost public trust as well.
“President Clinton will definitely take a vaccine as soon as available to him, based on the priorities determined by public health officials. And he will do it in a public setting if it will help urge all Americans to do the same," Angel Ureña, a spokesman for Clinton, told USA TODAY.
A November Gallup poll found 58% of Americans are willing to receive a coronavirus vaccine, an increase from early in the year when hesitancy about vaccines was widespread.
Fact check: What's true and what's false about coronavirus?
More: Barack Obama criticizes progressives over 'defund the police,' saying slogan can drive away moderates
Public health experts say at least 60% to 70% of the population needs to take a vaccine to achieve "herd immunity," a public health term for when a critical mass of the public is inoculated against a given infectious disease.
The resistance against vaccines is especially high among communities of color, with Black Americans expressing the most doubts about taking a vaccine in polls.
“I understand, historically, everything dating back all the way to the Tuskegee experiments and so forth, why the African American community would have some skepticism,” Obama said in his SiriusXM interview.
Transition: President-elect Joe Biden calls on Congress to approve 'robust' COVID-19 stimulus plan
“But the fact of the matter is, is that vaccines are why we don’t have polio anymore. And they’re the reason why we don’t have a whole bunch of kids dying from measles and smallpox and diseases that used to decimate entire populations and communities," the former president said.
Federal regulators are expected to confirm several of the most promising vaccines in the coming weeks, with states and biopharmaceutical companies already planning on mass distribution of vaccines throughout the country during the early months of next year.


usatoday--2020-12-03--Can Trump pardon himself? What's a preemptive pardon? Experts explain the sweeping power

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump 's unrestrained use of his pardon powers , which he has used to help allies , has raised a question debated among legal experts : Can a president pardon himself ?
This question has been percolating since at least 2018 when the special counsel investigation on Russian election interference was well underway and some of Trump 's closest aides , including former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former national security adviser Michael Flynn , had been indicted .
There was speculation , fueled by Trump himself , about whether he would attempt to undo the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by issuing a slew of pardons – even for himself .
Here are answers to some of the most common questions about what Trump can and can not do with the broad pardon powers of the president : Justice Department policy says Trump can not pardon himself because no one can be a judge whose official actions would directly affect himself or herself .
`` Under the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case , the President can not pardon himself , '' stated an Office of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1974 , days before President Richard Nixon resigned .
The opinion , though , outlines another way : The president could step down under the 25th Amendment , at which time the vice president steps in and grants him the pardon , and then the president resumes office .
Still , there is no consensus among legal experts on whether or not a president can pardon himself .
Because no president has ever done so , courts have not had to tackle the question .
Can Trump really do that ?
: The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Harvard Law School constitutional professor ; Richard Painter , a White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush ; and Norman Eisen , a White House ethics lawyer under President Barack Obama agreed with Justice Department guidelines .
They said that the Constitution gives the president the power to act as a judge in another person 's criminal case as he sees fit .
It also allows him to pardon anyone at anytime , as long as the crime is a federal offense .
But it does not give him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own actions .
`` The Constitution specifically bars the president from using the pardon power to prevent his own impeachment or removal , '' they wrote in a 2017 Washington Post op-ed .
`` It adds that any official removed through impeachment remains fully subject to criminal prosecution .
That provision makes no sense if the president could pardon himself . ''
A president might also avoid taking such action for political reasons , Brian Kalt , a law professor at Michigan State University , wrote in 1996 .
`` He might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the imputation of guilt carried by a pardon , '' Kalt wrote .
But John Yoo , a former Justice Department official under George W. Bush , argued that the president 's pardon powers are absolute .
He can pardon anyone , including himself .
A self-pardon ?
: Trump says he can pardon himself in Mueller inquiry — but maintains he 's done 'nothing wrong' Jonathan Turley , a law professor at George Washington University , argued the Constitution does not bar presidents from pardoning whomever they want .
`` There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be the subject of a pardon .
The president is simply given the power to pardon for any federal crime , '' Turley wrote in a 2018 USA TODAY op-ed .
A preemptive pardon is granted to someone who has not been charged or convicted of a crime .
The Supreme Court held in 1866 that a president can issue pardons `` at any time after '' an offense is committed , `` either before legal proceedings are taken , or during their pendency , or after conviction and judgment . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported that Trump 's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani discussed a possible preemptive pardon that would shield him from the prospect of federal criminal charges arising from his work as the president 's aggressive defender-in-chief .
The pardon discussion involving Giuliani prompted a swift denial from the former mayor .
`` NYT lies again , '' Giuliani tweeted .
`` Never had the discussion they falsely attribute to an anonymous source .
Hard to keep up with all their lies . ''
Giuliani 's attorney , Robert Costello , maintained that Giuliani had no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giuliani did nothing wrong , '' the attorney said .
`` That 's always been our position , and that has n't changed . ''
Federal investigators in New York have been examining Giuliani 's business dealings with two men who were indicted last year on campaign finance violations .
Ukrainian-born Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman of Belarus are accused of conspiring to circumvent federal campaign finance laws by funneling foreign money to U.S. political candidates in a scheme to buy influence .
Preemptive pardons are unusual but not unprecedented .
President Gerald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for any crimes he might have committed related to the Watergate scandal .
President Jimmy Carter preemptively pardoned hundreds of thousands of men who avoided the draft during the Vietnam War .
President George H.W .
Bush pardoned former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger and former CIA official Duane Clarridge before they were tried on charges tied to the Iran-Contra scandal .
The two have been charged , but Bush pardoned them before their trials were set to begin .
Generally , pardons are irreversible .
Congress and courts ca n't reverse them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extent .
In 2008 , President George W. Bush took the unusual step of revoking a pardon he gave to Isaac Robert Toussie , a real estate developer convicted of mail fraud after learning that Toussie 's father was a major Republican donor .
Bush was able to revoke the pardon , which he granted just the day before , because the pardon attorney had not signed the grant of clemency .
Still , the Supreme Court has not tackled the question of when a pardon is no longer revocable .
`` Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president signs a warrant that the pardon is effective .
Others could just as plausibly argue that there also has to be some form of communication or delivery to the person who 's pardoned .
And that the president , until that occurs , could change his mind , so I think the operative question here is going to be what constitutes delivery and we do n't have a Supreme Court opinion on exactly what that would be , '' Dan Kobil , a law professor at Capital University in Ohio , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bush reversed the pardon .
What is the difference between pardon , clemency and commuting a sentence ?
Clemency is a broad term that encompasses both pardons and commuting a sentence .
Pardons and sentence commutations are the two common forms of clemency , which is a way to provide relief to someone who had been convicted of a crime .
A pardon forgives past crimes and restores a person 's civil rights .
A commutation reduces a person 's sentence , either partially or completely .
Roger Stone gets clemency : Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ railing against 'unfair ' conviction , sentencing Trump 's use of his clemency powers has drawn scrutiny because he has granted these to people with personal or political connections to him or in cases indirectly tied to him .
And he has done so often without consulting with the Justice Department 's Office of the Pardon Attorney , which traditionally advises the president on who qualifies for clemency .
Most notably , Trump pardoned Flynn , who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his communications with a former Russian ambassador .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stone , a longtime ally who was convicted of lying to Congress for protecting Trump and his campaign from the Russia investigation .
So far , Trump has granted 27 pardons and 11 commutations .

Kristine Phillips and Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY

Can Trump pardon himself? What's a preemptive pardon? Experts explain the sweeping power
Show Caption Hide Caption Flynn: Trump gives 'full pardon' to ex-national security advisor Michael Flynn pleaded guilty three years ago to lying about his conversations with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump's unrestrained use of his pardon powers, which he has used to help allies, has raised a question debated among legal experts: Can a president pardon himself?
This question has been percolating since at least 2018 when the special counsel investigation on Russian election interference was well underway and some of Trump's closest aides, including former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former national security adviser Michael Flynn, had been indicted.
There was speculation, fueled by Trump himself, about whether he would attempt to undo the work of former special counsel Robert Mueller by issuing a slew of pardons – even for himself.
Pardon for money: DOJ reviewing 'secret' pardon for money scheme targeting White House officials
Here are answers to some of the most common questions about what Trump can and cannot do with the broad pardon powers of the president:
Can Trump pardon himself?
Justice Department policy says Trump cannot pardon himself because no one can be a judge whose official actions would directly affect himself or herself.
"Under the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case, the President cannot pardon himself," stated an Office of Legal Counsel opinion dated Aug. 5, 1974, days before President Richard Nixon resigned.
The opinion, though, outlines another way: The president could step down under the 25th Amendment, at which time the vice president steps in and grants him the pardon, and then the president resumes office.
Still, there is no consensus among legal experts on whether or not a president can pardon himself. Because no president has ever done so, courts have not had to tackle the question.
Can Trump really do that?: The presidential pardon power, explained
Laurence Tribe, a Harvard Law School constitutional professor; Richard Painter, a White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush; and Norman Eisen, a White House ethics lawyer under President Barack Obama agreed with Justice Department guidelines.
They said that the Constitution gives the president the power to act as a judge in another person's criminal case as he sees fit. It also allows him to pardon anyone at anytime, as long as the crime is a federal offense. But it does not give him the power to make such decisions regarding his own actions.
"The Constitution specifically bars the president from using the pardon power to prevent his own impeachment or removal," they wrote in a 2017 Washington Post op-ed. "It adds that any official removed through impeachment remains fully subject to criminal prosecution. That provision makes no sense if the president could pardon himself."
A president might also avoid taking such action for political reasons, Brian Kalt, a law professor at Michigan State University, wrote in 1996.
"He might choose to maintain his innocence and avoid the imputation of guilt carried by a pardon," Kalt wrote.
But John Yoo, a former Justice Department official under George W. Bush, argued that the president's pardon powers are absolute. He can pardon anyone, including himself.
A self-pardon?: Trump says he can pardon himself in Mueller inquiry — but maintains he's done 'nothing wrong'
Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, argued the Constitution does not bar presidents from pardoning whomever they want.
"There is no language specifying who may or may not be the subject of a pardon. The president is simply given the power to pardon for any federal crime," Turley wrote in a 2018 USA TODAY op-ed.
What is a preemptive pardon?
A preemptive pardon is granted to someone who has not been charged or convicted of a crime. The Supreme Court held in 1866 that a president can issue pardons "at any time after" an offense is committed, "either before legal proceedings are taken, or during their pendency, or after conviction and judgment."
On Tuesday, the New York Times reported that Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani discussed a possible preemptive pardon that would shield him from the prospect of federal criminal charges arising from his work as the president's aggressive defender-in-chief.
The pardon discussion involving Giuliani prompted a swift denial from the former mayor.
"NYT lies again," Giuliani tweeted. "Never had the discussion they falsely attribute to an anonymous source. Hard to keep up with all their lies."
Giuliani's attorney, Robert Costello, maintained that Giuliani had no need for a pardon.
"Rudy Giuliani did nothing wrong," the attorney said. "That's always been our position, and that hasn't changed."
Federal investigators in New York have been examining Giuliani's business dealings with two men who were indicted last year on campaign finance violations. Ukrainian-born Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman of Belarus are accused of conspiring to circumvent federal campaign finance laws by funneling foreign money to U.S. political candidates in a scheme to buy influence.
Preemptive pardons are unusual but not unprecedented.
President Gerald Ford pardoned his predecessor, Nixon, for any crimes he might have committed related to the Watergate scandal. President Jimmy Carter preemptively pardoned hundreds of thousands of men who avoided the draft during the Vietnam War.
President George H.W. Bush pardoned former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger and former CIA official Duane Clarridge before they were tried on charges tied to the Iran-Contra scandal. The two have been charged, but Bush pardoned them before their trials were set to begin.
The history of presidential pardons and executive clemency From Roger Stone to Chelsea Manning to Thanksgiving turkeys, here's all you need to know about presidential pardons and executive clemency. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Can a pardon be reversed?
Generally, pardons are irreversible. Congress and courts can't reverse them, but a president can – to some extent.
In 2008, President George W. Bush took the unusual step of revoking a pardon he gave to Isaac Robert Toussie, a real estate developer convicted of mail fraud after learning that Toussie's father was a major Republican donor. Bush was able to revoke the pardon, which he granted just the day before, because the pardon attorney had not signed the grant of clemency.
Still, the Supreme Court has not tackled the question of when a pardon is no longer revocable.
"Some people would argue that as soon as the president signs a warrant that the pardon is effective. Others could just as plausibly argue that there also has to be some form of communication or delivery to the person who's pardoned. And that the president, until that occurs, could change his mind, so I think the operative question here is going to be what constitutes delivery and we don't have a Supreme Court opinion on exactly what that would be," Dan Kobil, a law professor at Capital University in Ohio, told NPR in 2008, shortly after Bush reversed the pardon.
What is the difference between pardon, clemency and commuting a sentence?
Clemency is a broad term that encompasses both pardons and commuting a sentence. Pardons and sentence commutations are the two common forms of clemency, which is a way to provide relief to someone who had been convicted of a crime.
A pardon forgives past crimes and restores a person's civil rights. A commutation reduces a person's sentence, either partially or completely.
Flynn gets a pardon: President Trump pardons ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn; ends three-year legal odyssey
Roger Stone gets clemency: Trump grants clemency to ally Roger Stone after railing against 'unfair' conviction, sentencing
Trump's use of his clemency powers has drawn scrutiny because he has granted these to people with personal or political connections to him or in cases indirectly tied to him. And he has done so often without consulting with the Justice Department's Office of the Pardon Attorney, which traditionally advises the president on who qualifies for clemency.
Most notably, Trump pardoned Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his communications with a former Russian ambassador. He commuted the entire sentence of Roger Stone, a longtime ally who was convicted of lying to Congress for protecting Trump and his campaign from the Russia investigation.
So far, Trump has granted 27 pardons and 11 commutations.
SUPREME COURT: Upholding 'double jeopardy' standards could blunt impact of Trump pardons


usatoday--2020-12-04--Republicans are hit the hardest as coronavirus spreads among elected leaders

Taking their cues from President Donald Trump , Republicans at every level of government have flouted public health guidelines to reduce the risk of catching and spreading the coronavirus .
They eschewed masks , attended large gatherings and failed to socially distance .
Now , as the pandemic infiltrates the White House , Congress and statehouses across the nation , Republicans bear the brunt of those infections , a USA TODAY analysis shows .
At least 81 elected officials in state and federal government roles have tested positive for the coronavirus since Sept. 1 , just as the nation 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nearly three out of four are Republican .
Elected officials who have tested positive for COVID-19 since Sept. 1 Republicans ’ refusal to adhere to safety measures puts not only the elected officials themselves at risk , but also the public , health experts told USA TODAY .
Those who hold office set the example of expected behavior .
And it starts , they said , with the commander in chief .
“ We ’ re incredibly frustrated , angry , sad and despondent , ” said epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding , a senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He likens it to Trump piloting a plane on a trajectory to crash with 330 million Americans aboard .
“ Epidemiologists who know how to steer this plane are pounding on the cockpit door begging him to please listen , please follow the evidence , ” Feigl-Ding said .
“ It ’ s a living nightmare.
” Just past midnight on Oct. 2 , the world learned from a tweet that Trump had the coronavirus .
In the days leading up to his diagnosis , the president attended large campaign rallies and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ceremonies , and he debated his Democratic challenger , Joe Biden .
He did not practice social distancing .
He rarely wore a mask .
Since then , at least 55 people in his orbit also have tested positive , including many who attended the Sept. 26 Rose Garden ceremony announcing his nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court .
The longest stretch between announcements of new positive cases tied to the White House was 10 days – from the Oct. 25 disclosure that Vice President Mike Pence ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had the coronavirus to the Nov. 4 revelation that White House chief of staff Mark Meadows had it .
Considering the incubation period for the virus is 14 days or more , it has likely been “ one big outbreak that has just been perpetuating , ” said Syra Madad , an infectious disease expert in New York City .
“ That clock resets every time you have a new infection and they expose more people , but it ’ s stemming from that same original outbreak.
” That ’ s just the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the positive results tied to the Secret Service .
Also not included in the tally are at least 20 people who tested positive after attending Trump rallies .
The White House does not announce cases and hasn ’ t cooperated with outside health organizations to formally investigate the outbreak .
Media outlets , including Bloomberg and The New York Times , have reported most positive test results .
“ The frequency with which cases keep occurring among people connected to the White House , weeks after the Coney Barrett ceremony , is much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were not active transmission going on there , ” said Joseph Lewnard , an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of California-Berkeley .
“ It would be exceedingly unlikely for all of these people to be getting infected in the community.
” Physicians were particularly alarmed to see Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson , a neurosurgeon , among those not wearing masks on election night in the White House , where more than 100 people gathered in the East Room .
Carson and four others tested positive in the days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a damn neurosurgeon and can ’ t be described as ‘ anti-science , ’ ” Craig Spencer , director of global health in emergency medicine for New York-Presbyterian Hospital , said in an email .
“ I think it just shows how the ignorance and fealty has extended to even the least expected.
” Congressional members were more than twice as likely to test positive for the coronavirus than the general public , according to a USA TODAY data analysis that looked at cases since Sept. 1 .
Among the nation ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % have tested positive for the coronavirus since Sept. 1 .
Over that same period , 23 U.S. senators and representatives have tested positive , about 4.3 % of the 535 members of Congress , according to Ballotpedia .
Of those , 74 % are Republican .
Public health experts attributed the higher positive rate among congressional members to their jobs , which put them in more regular contact with the public , and to their greater access to tests .
The political divide between the parties about coronavirus safety precautions have sparked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nov. 14 , Democratic Ohio senator Sherrod Brown scolded his maskless Republican colleagues during a meeting .
He was interrupted by his Republican colleague from Alaska , Dan Sullivan , who told him , “ I don ’ t wear a mask when I ’ m speaking like most senators .
… I don ’ t need your instruction.
” Not all Republicans have bought into the party line to disregard preventive measures .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell hasn ’ t wavered from the pro-mask stance he adopted as early as May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks .
He told reporters in October that he had avoided the White House for months because its approach was different from his .
Ohio ’ s Republican governor , Mike DeWine , also has been a consistent advocate for wearing masks and taking precautions .
Still , U.S. Rep. Darren Soto , D-Fla. , wasn ’ t surprised to learn that more of his Republican colleagues are being infected than Democrats .
“ I would urge my colleagues now that the election is over to do the right thing , ” Soto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks .
They should be social distancing.
” COVID-19 also has struck more GOP elected officials at the state level , with a big increase this fall .
Of the 57 known state officials who have tested positive for the coronavirus from Sept. 1 to Dec. 1 , 40 were Republicans and 17 were Democrats .
One of those is Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano , a Republican who learned he had tested positive for the coronavirus while he was in a meeting Nov. 25 with Trump in the Oval Office , The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave the meeting .
Earlier that day , Mastriano had hosted a mostly maskless meeting with other Republican state lawmakers and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani in Gettysburg to discuss efforts to challenge the state ’ s election results .
A party breakdown shows that as mask use and social distancing took hold over the summer , numbers of new cases among Democrats declined , while cases among Republicans accelerated .
Former Arkansas state legislator Nate Bell , a self-employed businessman , watched with apprehension as the Republican stance against masks and social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ My biggest fear from the very beginning is that my dad would get it .
He runs in the MAGA circles , ” said Bell , who left the Republican Party in 2015 and now calls himself politically homeless .
“ It ’ s a lot like teenagers in many ways , with negative peer pressure .
If you wear a mask you get denigrated ; if you take precautions , they call you a sheep.
” Bell ’ s fears were realized this fall when his father was hospitalized with COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brother , while my dad is in the hospital , posted a picture on Facebook of a bunch of sheep wearing masks and another picture of lions that says “ be a lion , not a sheep.
” That ’ s literally while his brother is in his hospital bed barely surviving.
” People question the seriousness of a disease outbreak during every pandemic , but this time it seems a greater percentage doubt the coronavirus pandemic , Madad said .
“ The amount of misinformation , disinformation , has been so widespread.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ veering from the party line .
With cases escalating in his own state , Wyoming Gov .
Mark Gordon , a Republican , said in a Nov. 14 press conference that people are being “ knuckleheads ” about the virus .
“ It ’ s time that Wyoming woke up , ” Gordon said , “ and got serious about what it ’ s doing .
”

Dinah Voyles Pulver, Carlie Procell and Javier Zarracina, USA TODAY

Correction & clarification: A prior graphic incorrectly included Wisconsin Assemblyman Jim Ott, who did not test positive for COVID-19 and only quarantined after a colleague became infected. The error was reflected in a tally of infected lawmakers in an accompanying story; of 56 state elected officials known to have tested positive, 39 are Republicans.
Taking their cues from President Donald Trump, Republicans at every level of government have flouted public health guidelines to reduce the risk of catching and spreading the coronavirus. They eschewed masks, attended large gatherings and failed to socially distance.
Now, as the pandemic infiltrates the White House, Congress and statehouses across the nation, Republicans bear the brunt of those infections, a USA TODAY analysis shows. At least 80 elected officials in state and federal government roles have tested positive for the coronavirus since Sept. 1, just as the nation's case counts were about to rebound. Nearly three out of four are Republican.
Elected officials who have tested positive for COVID-19 since Sept. 1
Republicans’ refusal to adhere to safety measures puts not only the elected officials themselves at risk, but also the public, health experts told USA TODAY. Those who hold office set the example of expected behavior. And it starts, they said, with the commander in chief.
“We’re incredibly frustrated, angry, sad and despondent,” said epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding, a senior fellow at the Federation of American Scientists. He likens it to Trump piloting a plane on a trajectory to crash with 330 million Americans aboard.
“Epidemiologists who know how to steer this plane are pounding on the cockpit door begging him to please listen, please follow the evidence,” Feigl-Ding said. “It’s a living nightmare.”
COVID-19 at the White House
Just past midnight on Oct. 2, the world learned from a tweet that Trump had the coronavirus.
In the days leading up to his diagnosis, the president attended large campaign rallies and private fundraisers, he held White House ceremonies, and he debated his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden. He did not practice social distancing. He rarely wore a mask.
Since then, at least 55 people in his orbit also have tested positive, including many who attended the Sept. 26 Rose Garden ceremony announcing his nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The longest stretch between announcements of new positive cases tied to the White House was 10 days – from the Oct. 25 disclosure that Vice President Mike Pence’s chief of staff, Marc Short, had the coronavirus to the Nov. 4 revelation that White House chief of staff Mark Meadows had it.
Considering the incubation period for the virus is 14 days or more, it has likely been “one big outbreak that has just been perpetuating,” said Syra Madad, an infectious disease expert in New York City. “That clock resets every time you have a new infection and they expose more people, but it’s stemming from that same original outbreak.”
Eric Feigl-Ding, epidemiologist “Epidemiologists who know how to steer this plane are pounding on the cockpit door begging him to please listen, please follow the evidence. It’s a living nightmare.” Quote icon
That’s just the publicly known cases and does not include the positive results tied to the Secret Service. Also not included in the tally are at least 20 people who tested positive after attending Trump rallies. The White House does not announce cases and hasn’t cooperated with outside health organizations to formally investigate the outbreak. Media outlets, including Bloomberg and The New York Times, have reported most positive test results.
“The frequency with which cases keep occurring among people connected to the White House, weeks after the Coney Barrett ceremony, is much higher than would be expected if there were not active transmission going on there,” said Joseph Lewnard, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of California-Berkeley. “It would be exceedingly unlikely for all of these people to be getting infected in the community.”
Physicians were particularly alarmed to see Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon, among those not wearing masks on election night in the White House, where more than 100 people gathered in the East Room. Carson and four others tested positive in the days after the party.
“The man is a damn neurosurgeon and can’t be described as ‘anti-science,’” Craig Spencer, director of global health in emergency medicine for New York-Presbyterian Hospital, said in an email. “I think it just shows how the ignorance and fealty has extended to even the least expected.”
Flouting guidelines in Congress
Congressional members were more than twice as likely to test positive for the coronavirus than the general public, according to a USA TODAY data analysis that looked at cases since Sept. 1.
Among the nation’s 382.2 million people, about 2.4% have tested positive for the coronavirus since Sept. 1.
Over that same period, 23 U.S. senators and representatives have tested positive, about 4.3% of the 535 members of Congress, according to Ballotpedia. Of those, 74% are Republican.
Public health experts attributed the higher positive rate among congressional members to their jobs, which put them in more regular contact with the public, and to their greater access to tests.
The political divide between the parties about coronavirus safety precautions have sparked harsh words in recent weeks. On Nov. 14, Democratic Ohio senator Sherrod Brown scolded his maskless Republican colleagues during a meeting.
He was interrupted by his Republican colleague from Alaska, Dan Sullivan, who told him, “I don’t wear a mask when I’m speaking like most senators. … I don’t need your instruction.”
Not all Republicans have bought into the party line to disregard preventive measures. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell hasn’t wavered from the pro-mask stance he adopted as early as May when he began urging others to wear masks. He told reporters in October that he had avoided the White House for months because its approach was different from his.
Ohio’s Republican governor, Mike DeWine, also has been a consistent advocate for wearing masks and taking precautions.
Still, U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., wasn’t surprised to learn that more of his Republican colleagues are being infected than Democrats.
“I would urge my colleagues now that the election is over to do the right thing,” Soto said. “They should be wearing masks. They should be social distancing.”
COVID-19 among state leaders
COVID-19 also has struck more GOP elected officials at the state level, with a big increase this fall. Of the 56 known state officials who have tested positive for the coronavirus from Sept. 1 to Dec. 1, 39 were Republicans and 17 were Democrats.
One of those is Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano, a Republican who learned he had tested positive for the coronavirus while he was in a meeting Nov. 25 with Trump in the Oval Office, The Associated Press reported. He had to leave the meeting. Earlier that day, Mastriano had hosted a mostly maskless meeting with other Republican state lawmakers and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani in Gettysburg to discuss efforts to challenge the state’s election results.
A party breakdown shows that as mask use and social distancing took hold over the summer, numbers of new cases among Democrats declined, while cases among Republicans accelerated.
Former Arkansas state legislator Nate Bell, a self-employed businessman, watched with apprehension as the Republican stance against masks and social distancing escalated over the spring and summer.
“My biggest fear from the very beginning is that my dad would get it. He runs in the MAGA circles,” said Bell, who left the Republican Party in 2015 and now calls himself politically homeless. “It’s a lot like teenagers in many ways, with negative peer pressure. If you wear a mask you get denigrated; if you take precautions, they call you a sheep.”
Nate Bell, former legislator “It’s a lot like teenagers in many ways, with negative peer pressure. If you wear a mask you get denigrated; if you take precautions, they call you a sheep.” Quote icon
Bell’s fears were realized this fall when his father was hospitalized with COVID-19.
“My dad’s own brother, while my dad is in the hospital, posted a picture on Facebook of a bunch of sheep wearing masks and another picture of lions that says “be a lion, not a sheep.” That’s literally while his brother is in his hospital bed barely surviving.”
People question the seriousness of a disease outbreak during every pandemic, but this time it seems a greater percentage doubt the coronavirus pandemic, Madad said. “The amount of misinformation, disinformation, has been so widespread.”
Lately however, more Republicans are veering from the party line. With cases escalating in his own state, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, a Republican, said in a Nov. 14 press conference that people are being “knuckleheads” about the virus.
“It’s time that Wyoming woke up,” Gordon said, “and got serious about what it’s doing.”