alternet--2020-10-06--White House declined CDC's offer to help contact tracing

Tom Skinner , spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , confirmed the White House , on Monday , declined the public health experts ' offer to spearhead contact tracing efforts following President Donald Trump and several aids testing positive for COVID-19 .
While the CDC is widely considered the nation 's top public health authority for contact tracing , the White House declined for the CDC to conduct an independent investigation into the recent spread of the virus which could , subsequently , endanger more people .
In a report based on USA Today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC communications , current and former CDC officials accused the White House of disregarding the outbreak while `` seeking to avoid learning the scope of the outbreaks . ''
Jeffrey Koplan , a former CDC director , spoke out with critical remarks about the White House 's stance as he noted that their goal appears to be `` petty '' and `` partisan . ''
`` CDC , when left in the hands of its scientists , makes tough decisions and helps implement them and maybe that 's not what the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They seem to be marching toward a different goal .
It 's a petty one and a partisan one .
And all of us pay the price . ''
Although Trump has tested positive on Thursday of last week , reports have revealed those who were in close proximity of the president last week still have not been contacted by the White House to conduct contact tracing , according to The New York Times .
Since Trump tested positive , the Rose Garden event has evolved into a super spreader with more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the virus .
Now , White House contact tracers are said to be focusing their contact tracing efforts on a critical 48-hour window .
During that time frame , Trump attended multiple public events including the presidential debate , his campaign rally and fundraiser in Duluth , Minnesota , and the fundraiser held at his Bedminster , N.J. , golf course on Thursday which is also the same day he tested positive for the virus .
Despite the incriminating claims from the CDC , White House spokesman Judd Deere refuted the claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` following CDC guidelines . ''
`` The White House is following CDC guidelines and has a full-time detailed CDC epidemiologist on staff who has been here since March . ''

Tom Skinner, spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), confirmed the White House, on Monday, declined the public health experts' offer to spearhead contact tracing efforts following President Donald Trump and several aids testing positive for COVID-19.
While the CDC is widely considered the nation's top public health authority for contact tracing, the White House declined for the CDC to conduct an independent investigation into the recent spread of the virus which could, subsequently, endanger more people.
In a report based on USA Today's review of multiple interviews and internal CDC communications, current and former CDC officials accused the White House of disregarding the outbreak while "seeking to avoid learning the scope of the outbreaks."
Jeffrey Koplan, a former CDC director, spoke out with critical remarks about the White House's stance as he noted that their goal appears to be "petty" and "partisan."
"CDC, when left in the hands of its scientists, makes tough decisions and helps implement them and maybe that's not what the White House wants," Koplan said. "They seem to be marching toward a different goal. It's a petty one and a partisan one. And all of us pay the price."
Although Trump has tested positive on Thursday of last week, reports have revealed those who were in close proximity of the president last week still have not been contacted by the White House to conduct contact tracing, according to The New York Times.
Since Trump tested positive, the Rose Garden event has evolved into a super spreader with more than 10 attendees who have also tested positive for the virus. Now, White House contact tracers are said to be focusing their contact tracing efforts on a critical 48-hour window.
During that time frame, Trump attended multiple public events including the presidential debate, his campaign rally and fundraiser in Duluth, Minnesota, and the fundraiser held at his Bedminster, N.J., golf course on Thursday which is also the same day he tested positive for the virus.
Despite the incriminating claims from the CDC, White House spokesman Judd Deere refuted the claims as he insisted Trump administrative officials are "following CDC guidelines."
"The White House is following CDC guidelines and has a full-time detailed CDC epidemiologist on staff who has been here since March."


alternet--2020-10-06--White House cleaning staff sick with COVID-19 told to use 'discretion' as Trump enjoys balcony photo

White House cleaning staff sick with COVID-19 told to use 'discretion' as Trump enjoys balcony photo-op

At least two members of the White House residence staff tested positive for the coronavirus on Monday , the same day President Donald Trump returned home after a three-day stay at Walter Reed Medical Center following his Covid-19 diagnosis last week—indicating that the White House outbreak has reached far beyond high-profile insiders like press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and adviser Kellyanne Conway .
The two Covid-positive housekeepers were urged to use `` discretion '' after learning of their diagnosis , while Trump arrived back at the White House to dramatically remove his face covering while posing for photos on the building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what I was worried about , '' tweeted emergency physician Megan Ranney after the housekeepers ' diagnoses were first reported by Forbes .
`` The behavior of the first family has endangered not only their own health , but that of the staff . ''
The housekeepers , who are part of a staff of more than 90 residence workers including ushers , butlers , valets , florists , and cooks—did not have direct contact with the first family in recent days , when the president and First Lady Melania Trump both announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gathering Trump hosted on Sept. 26 to celebrate his nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court has been identified as a `` super-spreader '' event , with at least eight attendees now infected .
Many attendees were maskless and did not socially-distance at the gathering , which took place both indoors and outdoors .
The president has openly mocked mask-wearing and ordered a White House reporter to remove his face covering at a briefing last month .
According to Forbes , multiple White House staffers who have been in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Covid-19 after the event have continued to report to work at the executive mansion , flouting CDC guidance—suggesting that several more members of the residence staff may have contracted the disease .
`` There 's obviously the chance that the residence team is just walking , doing their job and catching the droplets or whatever , '' Deesha Dyer , who served as White House social secretary during the Obama administration , told the Washington Post on Monday .
`` It makes me angry because I do care about these people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of them did not have a choice ... And it 's just trifling and unnecessary to put them at risk because you ca n't be bothered to wear a mask . ''
The members of the White House residence staff are largely Black and Latino .
Many are elderly , putting them at greater risk for severe Covid-19 infections .
Critics on social media condemned the president for treating the building staff `` recklessly '' and endangering them `` for his own vanity . ''
`` No one should have to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and historian James Gleick on Tuesday , responding to a video of a White House staffer in a hazmat suit sanitizing the press room .
`` Not reporters , not housekeepers , not cleaners and cooks . ''
Other congressional staffers and essential workers have also likely been exposed due to the Barrett event , said Vanita Gupta , president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights .
Outside the White House , restaurant workers in Minneapolis have been forced to quarantine for two weeks after catering a fundraiserTrump attended last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his positive Covid-19 test .
Despite his exposure to adviser Hope Hicks , whose diagnosis was revealed Wednesday , the president forged ahead with his campaign schedule , hosting a rally in Duluth and meeting with 40 contributors at a private home .
Thirteen catering staffers at Murray 's Steakhouse are now in isolation and are being tested for Covid-19 .
At least two Secret Service members were in close contact with Trump on Sunday evening as they escorted him in a vehicle to greet his supporters outside Walter Reed Medical Center while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All three occupants of the vehicle were masked , but some Secret Service members uncharacteristically spoke out about the incident .
`` He 's not even pretending to care now , '' one agent said during Trump 's appearance , according to the Washington Post .
Former First Lady Michelle Obama expressed concern for White House residence staffers and all the workers and families whose lives have and will be touched by the outbreak .
`` My heart goes out to everyone touched by this virus , from those at the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff whose service ought never be taken for granted , to all those names and stories most of us will unfortunately never know , '' Obama tweeted .

At least two members of the White House residence staff tested positive for the coronavirus on Monday, the same day President Donald Trump returned home after a three-day stay at Walter Reed Medical Center following his Covid-19 diagnosis last week—indicating that the White House outbreak has reached far beyond high-profile insiders like press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and adviser Kellyanne Conway.
The two Covid-positive housekeepers were urged to use "discretion" after learning of their diagnosis, while Trump arrived back at the White House to dramatically remove his face covering while posing for photos on the building's South Portico.
"This is what I was worried about," tweeted emergency physician Megan Ranney after the housekeepers' diagnoses were first reported by Forbes. "The behavior of the first family has endangered not only their own health, but that of the staff."
The housekeepers, who are part of a staff of more than 90 residence workers including ushers, butlers, valets, florists, and cooks—did not have direct contact with the first family in recent days, when the president and First Lady Melania Trump both announced they had tested positive.
But the gathering Trump hosted on Sept. 26 to celebrate his nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court has been identified as a "super-spreader" event, with at least eight attendees now infected. Many attendees were maskless and did not socially-distance at the gathering, which took place both indoors and outdoors. The president has openly mocked mask-wearing and ordered a White House reporter to remove his face covering at a briefing last month.
According toForbes, multiple White House staffers who have been in close contact with people who tested positive for Covid-19 after the event have continued to report to work at the executive mansion, flouting CDC guidance—suggesting that several more members of the residence staff may have contracted the disease.
"There's obviously the chance that the residence team is just walking, doing their job and catching the droplets or whatever," Deesha Dyer, who served as White House social secretary during the Obama administration, told the Washington Post on Monday. "It makes me angry because I do care about these people, and they're amazing, and so many of them did not have a choice... And it's just trifling and unnecessary to put them at risk because you can't be bothered to wear a mask."
The members of the White House residence staff are largely Black and Latino. Many are elderly, putting them at greater risk for severe Covid-19 infections.
Critics on social media condemned the president for treating the building staff "recklessly" and endangering them "for his own vanity."
"No one should have to work in this building," tweeted author and historian James Gleick on Tuesday, responding to a video of a White House staffer in a hazmat suit sanitizing the press room. "Not reporters, not housekeepers, not cleaners and cooks."
Other congressional staffers and essential workers have also likely been exposed due to the Barrett event, said Vanita Gupta, president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
Outside the White House, restaurant workers in Minneapolis have been forced to quarantine for two weeks after catering a fundraiserTrump attended last Wednesday, a day before he revealed his positive Covid-19 test. Despite his exposure to adviser Hope Hicks, whose diagnosis was revealed Wednesday, the president forged ahead with his campaign schedule, hosting a rally in Duluth and meeting with 40 contributors at a private home. Thirteen catering staffers at Murray's Steakhouse are now in isolation and are being tested for Covid-19.
At least two Secret Service members were in close contact with Trump on Sunday evening as they escorted him in a vehicle to greet his supporters outside Walter Reed Medical Center while he had an active coronavirus infection. All three occupants of the vehicle were masked, but some Secret Service members uncharacteristically spoke out about the incident.
"He's not even pretending to care now," one agent said during Trump's appearance, according to the Washington Post.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama expressed concern for White House residence staffers and all the workers and families whose lives have and will be touched by the outbreak.
"My heart goes out to everyone touched by this virus, from those at the White House, especially the Secret Service and residence staff whose service ought never be taken for granted, to all those names and stories most of us will unfortunately never know," Obama tweeted.


alternet--2020-10-06--White House workers and Secret Service agents fearful as they're forced to work in 'coronavirus hots

White House workers and Secret Service agents fearful as they're forced to work in 'coronavirus hotspot'

It is n't hard to understand why workers who have a physical presence in the White House are worried .
Not only was President Donald Trump hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19 , but also , a long list of Trump allies have tested positive as well — from White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany to Republican National Committee Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel to Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway to former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie .
In an Associated Press article published this week , reporters Jill Colvin , Deb Riechmann and Colleen Long examine the very legitimate worries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. Secret Service who fear that they too could be infected with COVID-19 .
`` President Donald Trump 's decision to return home from a military hospital despite his continued illness is putting new focus on the people around him who could be further exposed if he does n't abide by strict isolation protocols , '' the AP reporters explain .
`` Throughout the pandemic , White House custodians , ushers , kitchen staff and members of the U.S. Secret Service have continued to show up for work in what is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a dozen known cases this week alone . ''
Trump 's illness , according to AP , has n't made him any more respectful of social distancing .
`` Trump , still contagious , has made clear that he has little intention of abiding by best containment practices , '' the AP journalists observe .
`` As he arrived back at the White House on Monday evening , the president defiantly removed his face mask and stopped to pose on a balcony within feet of a White House photographer .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numerous people as he taped a video message urging Americans not to fear a virus that has killed more than 210,000 in the U.S. and 1 million worldwide . ''
Colvin , Riechmann and Long report that some Secret Service agents who spoke to AP `` expressed concern over the cavalier attitude the White House has taken when it comes to masks and distancing . ''
One of them told AP that after McEnany tested positive for COVID-19 , he felt like the fact that he had n't been infected so far was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The AP reporters quote journalist/author Kate Andersen Brower as saying that some former White House employees she has spoken to fear for the health and safety of those who are still working there .
According to Brower , `` The butlers always feel protective of the first family , but there 's just a concern about whether or not the staff would get sick… .
They are people who have been on the job for 20 to 30 years .
They want to work to get their full pensions . ''

It isn't hard to understand why workers who have a physical presence in the White House are worried. Not only was President Donald Trump hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19, but also, a long list of Trump allies have tested positive as well — from White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany to Republican National Committee Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel to Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway to former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. In an Associated Press article published this week, reporters Jill Colvin, Deb Riechmann and Colleen Long examine the very legitimate worries of White House employees and members of the U.S. Secret Service who fear that they too could be infected with COVID-19.
"President Donald Trump's decision to return home from a military hospital despite his continued illness is putting new focus on the people around him who could be further exposed if he doesn't abide by strict isolation protocols," the AP reporters explain. "Throughout the pandemic, White House custodians, ushers, kitchen staff and members of the U.S. Secret Service have continued to show up for work in what is now a coronavirus hot spot, with more than a dozen known cases this week alone."
Trump's illness, according to AP, hasn't made him any more respectful of social distancing.
"Trump, still contagious, has made clear that he has little intention of abiding by best containment practices," the AP journalists observe. "As he arrived back at the White House on Monday evening, the president defiantly removed his face mask and stopped to pose on a balcony within feet of a White House photographer. He was seen inside moments later, surrounded by numerous people as he taped a video message urging Americans not to fear a virus that has killed more than 210,000 in the U.S. and 1 million worldwide."
Colvin, Riechmann and Long report that some Secret Service agents who spoke to AP "expressed concern over the cavalier attitude the White House has taken when it comes to masks and distancing." One of them told AP that after McEnany tested positive for COVID-19, he felt like the fact that he hadn't been infected so far was simply a matter of good luck.
The AP reporters quote journalist/author Kate Andersen Brower as saying that some former White House employees she has spoken to fear for the health and safety of those who are still working there. According to Brower, "The butlers always feel protective of the first family, but there's just a concern about whether or not the staff would get sick…. They are people who have been on the job for 20 to 30 years. They want to work to get their full pensions."


alternet--2020-10-06--Biden to spend $6 million on massive Texas ad buy — more than any Democratic presidential nominee in

Biden to spend $6 million on massive Texas ad buy — more than any Democratic presidential nominee in decades

Sign up for The Brief , our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news .
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden 's campaign is set to spend millions of dollars on TV ads in Texas as polls continue to show a close race in the state .
The former vice president 's campaign announced earlier this year that it would make TV reservations this fall in Texas , and as of Tuesday , it had booked more than $ 6 million through Election Day , according to the media-tracking firm Advertising Analytics .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just how important Texas is to them and it shows that Texas is in play , '' said Abhi Rahman , a spokesperson for the Texas Democratic Party .
“ It shows you their investment in Texas is real . ''
Rahman noted that Biden 's spending is the biggest investment from a Democratic presidential nominee in the last 25 years and is a drastic change from 2016 , when then-nominee Hillary Clinton did n't spend seriously in the state .
Though Biden and Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris have yet to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day , Democrats have called for the duo to invest heavily in Texas .
In a recent op-ed in the Washington Post , former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke , who endorsed Biden after dropping his own presidential bid , and Tory Gavito , the president and cofounder of the progressive donor network Way to Win , urged the Biden campaign to steer serious money to the state to ensure President Donald Trump does n't win a second term .
“ Biden , his campaign and Democrats in general need to make it clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we 'll invest whatever it takes to turn out the state 's true electoral majority and flip Texas once and for all , '' they wrote .
“ Democrats have historically failed to invest in Texas , despite the size of this prize , because they believed the door is closed to Democratic presidential candidates .
But , like many things in 2020 , this year is different — Biden has his foot in the door and needs to kick it open for a quick end to the election . ''
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September , hiring 13 more staff members — following an initial hiring announcement in early August — to his team as polls continue to pit a close race between him and Trump .
On Monday , Biden 's team deployed Douglas Emhoff , a lawyer who is married to Harris , to Edinburg and San Antonio .
He will visit Dallas on Tuesday afternoon , Biden 's campaign announced Tuesday morning .
News of the campaign 's spending through Election Day comes as The Lincoln Project , the group led by former Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a $ 1 million digital ad campaign in the state .
A spokesperson says the group is targeting over 600,000 “ suburban and rural Republican women '' and tailoring the campaign to Hispanic voters .
The Lincoln Project 's effort will feature a number of different ads , including previously released spots criticizing Trump 's handling of the coronavirus pandemic and his responses to racism and extremism throughout the country .
There will be Texas-specific ads , as well as Spanish-language spots , according to the spokesperson , Nate Nesbitt .
As speculation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's investment in the state , the Texas Democratic Party has been ramping up its advertising .
On Tuesday , the party announced a digital , print and radio campaign aimed at Black voters in Dallas , Fort Worth , Houston and East Texas .
The party described the size of the effort as “ high six figure ( s ) . ''
Trump won Texas by 9 points in 2016 , but recent statewide polls have painted a rosier picture for Biden in the state as surveys continue to show Trump essentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the former vice president .
Still , Trump 's campaign has long dismissed the notion that the state is in play .
Lt. Gov .
Dan Patrick , who chairs Trump 's reelection effort in Texas , led a bus tour through the state last month , while Texas GOP Chair Allen West expressed hope that the president would visit North Texas before Election Day .

Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's campaign is set to spend millions of dollars on TV ads in Texas as polls continue to show a close race in the state.
The former vice president's campaign announced earlier this year that it would make TV reservations this fall in Texas, and as of Tuesday, it had booked more than $6 million through Election Day, according to the media-tracking firm Advertising Analytics.
“This is historic. That shows you just how important Texas is to them and it shows that Texas is in play," said Abhi Rahman, a spokesperson for the Texas Democratic Party. “It shows you their investment in Texas is real." Rahman noted that Biden's spending is the biggest investment from a Democratic presidential nominee in the last 25 years and is a drastic change from 2016, when then-nominee Hillary Clinton didn't spend seriously in the state.
Though Biden and Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris have yet to visit Texas in the run-up to Election Day, Democrats have called for the duo to invest heavily in Texas. In a recent op-ed in the Washington Post, former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, who endorsed Biden after dropping his own presidential bid, and Tory Gavito, the president and cofounder of the progressive donor network Way to Win, urged the Biden campaign to steer serious money to the state to ensure President Donald Trump doesn't win a second term.
“Biden, his campaign and Democrats in general need to make it clear: We are competing in Texas, and we'll invest whatever it takes to turn out the state's true electoral majority and flip Texas once and for all," they wrote. “Democrats have historically failed to invest in Texas, despite the size of this prize, because they believed the door is closed to Democratic presidential candidates. But, like many things in 2020, this year is different — Biden has his foot in the door and needs to kick it open for a quick end to the election."
Biden expanded his on-the-ground presence in Texas in September, hiring 13 more staff members — following an initial hiring announcement in early August — to his team as polls continue to pit a close race between him and Trump.
On Monday, Biden's team deployed Douglas Emhoff, a lawyer who is married to Harris, to Edinburg and San Antonio. He will visit Dallas on Tuesday afternoon, Biden's campaign announced Tuesday morning.
News of the campaign's spending through Election Day comes as The Lincoln Project, the group led by former Republican strategists working to defeat Trump, launched a $1 million digital ad campaign in the state. A spokesperson says the group is targeting over 600,000 “suburban and rural Republican women" and tailoring the campaign to Hispanic voters.
The Lincoln Project's effort will feature a number of different ads, including previously released spots criticizing Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic and his responses to racism and extremism throughout the country. There will be Texas-specific ads, as well as Spanish-language spots, according to the spokesperson, Nate Nesbitt.
As speculation has swirled about the extent of Biden's investment in the state, the Texas Democratic Party has been ramping up its advertising. On Tuesday, the party announced a digital, print and radio campaign aimed at Black voters in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and East Texas. The party described the size of the effort as “high six figure(s)."
Trump won Texas by 9 points in 2016, but recent statewide polls have painted a rosier picture for Biden in the state as surveys continue to show Trump essentially tied with, or barely ahead of, the former vice president.
Still, Trump's campaign has long dismissed the notion that the state is in play. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who chairs Trump's reelection effort in Texas, led a bus tour through the state last month, while Texas GOP Chair Allen West expressed hope that the president would visit North Texas before Election Day.
Patrick Svitek contributed to this report.


alternet--2020-10-06--'Same pathological sociopath — but on steroids': Trump slammed after urging Americans to learn to li

'Same pathological sociopath — but on steroids': Trump slammed after urging Americans to learn to live with COVID

Barely twelve hours after exiting the medical care of Walter Reed hospital President Donald Trump on Tuesday once again falsely @ @ @ @ @ flu , lied about how many Americans die from it , and promoted the dangerous @ @ @ @ @ just learn to live with COVID-19 .
`` Flu season is coming up ! ''
@ @ @ @ @ people every year , sometimes over 100,000 , and despite the Vaccine , die from @ @ @ @ @ going to close down our Country ?
No , we have learned to live with @ @ @ @ @ are learning to live with Covid , in most populations far less lethal !
!
@ @ @ @ @ how many people die from the flu .
As CNN 's fact checker Daniel Dale @ @ @ @ @ , it never hit 100,000 .
More than 211,000 Americans have died from coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ from the disease every day .
Americans are furious with the president over his latest @ @ @ @ @ some are saying .

Barely twelve hours after exiting the medical care of Walter Reed hospital President Donald Trump on Tuesday once again falsely compared the coronavirus to the flu, lied about how many Americans die from it, and promoted the dangerous idea that the nation should just learn to live with COVID-19.
"Flu season is coming up!" Trump tweeted. "Many people every year, sometimes over 100,000, and despite the Vaccine, die from the Flu. Are we going to close down our Country? No, we have learned to live with it, just like we are learning to live with Covid, in most populations far less lethal!!!"
Trump lied about how many people die from the flu. As CNN's fact checker Daniel Dale was quick to point out, it never hit 100,000.
More than 211,000 Americans have died from coronavirus. About 1000 continue to die from the disease every day.
Americans are furious with the president over his latest tweet. Here's what some are saying.


alternet--2020-10-06--Fox Nation host blasted for promoting 'toxic masculinity' in attack against Joe Biden

Fox Nation host Tomi Lahren is being blasted after attacking former Vice President Joe Biden in what many are calling @ @ @ @ @ Monday night Biden responded to the astonishing images of coronavirus-infected President Donald Trump removing his @ @ @ @ @ White House .
Just minutes before Trump had returned from Walter Reed , where he @ @ @ @ @ being diagnosed with COVID-19 .
Biden urged everyone to wear a mask .
211,000 Americans @ @ @ @ @ , and well over 7 million have been infected .
About 1000 Americans die every @ @ @ @ @ and there is no end currently in sight in the U.S .
The pro-Trump Lahren @ @ @ @ @ , bigoted , and homophobic `` takes '' on the news , went on the @ @ @ @ @ many are responding :

Fox Nation host Tomi Lahren is being blasted after attacking former Vice President Joe Biden in what many are calling a homophobic tweet.
Late Monday night Biden responded to the astonishing images of coronavirus-infected President Donald Trump removing his mask before walking into the White House. Just minutes before Trump had returned from Walter Reed, where he was rushed on Friday after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
Biden urged everyone to wear a mask. 211,000 Americans have died of the coronavirus, and well over 7 million have been infected. About 1000 Americans die every day from the virus, and there is no end currently in sight in the U.S.
The pro-Trump Lahren, known for her racist, bigoted, and homophobic "takes" on the news, went on the attack.
Here's how many are responding:


alternet--2020-10-06--Arkansas GOP county chair died from COVID-19. His committee hosted a mask-less gathering last month

The chairman of the Craighead County Republican Committee in Arkansas has died from complications while fighting the coronavirus , reported @ @ @ @ @ 's GOP committee hosted a social gathering with Sen. Tom Cotton ( R-AR ) and @ @ @ @ @ ) , who just recovered from COVID-19 , in mid-September .
The Reagan Day event @ @ @ @ @ it showed very few masks being worn and no social distancing .
Farmer was admitted @ @ @ @ @ 18 , just four days after the GOP event .
He was put in the @ @ @ @ @ ventilator .
It is unclear when Farmer was first diagnosed with COVID-19 , and whether @ @ @ @ @ gathering .
By Sept. 25 , Farmer 's doctor told the family that he was @ @ @ @ @ was not going to make it through this , '' his daughter relayed .
Monday @ @ @ @ @ her father had minimal brain activity and he died .
He is survived by his @ @ @ @ @ and their three daughters and several grandchildren .

The chairman of the Craighead County Republican Committee in Arkansas has died from complications while fighting the coronavirus, reported KAIT8 News.
Steven Farmer's GOP committee hosted a social gathering with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), who just recovered from COVID-19, in mid-September. The Reagan Day event was photographed extensively, and it showed very few masks being worn and no social distancing.
Farmer was admitted to the hospital on Sept. 18, just four days after the GOP event. He was put in the ICU and placed on a ventilator.
It is unclear when Farmer was first diagnosed with COVID-19, and whether he attended The Reagan Day gathering.
By Sept. 25, Farmer's doctor told the family that he was "very worried that dad was not going to make it through this," his daughter relayed.
Monday the doctors told her that her father had minimal brain activity and he died. He is survived by his wife, Judy Davis-Farmer, and their three daughters and several grandchildren.


alternet--2020-10-06--The stars may be aligned for Trump to be prosecuted

To say that the US does n't have a great record of holding its elites accountable would be a gross understatement .
So while former prosecutors and other legal experts have argued that Donald Trump faces significant criminal liability once he 's out of office , those analyses have been greeted with quite a bit of skepticism .
People with Trump 's connections and resources are hardly ever punished so it 's understandable , especially given Joe Biden 's consistent promise to try to `` heal '' a fractured nation .
But Trump is n't a typical member of America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 75-year-old former president with the means to afford a team of high-power lawyers may not ever actually face the inside of a prison cell , there 's a better chance that he will be convicted after he leaves office than some people believe .
Ideally , if Biden wins the presidency , he would appoint a Special Counsel staffed entirely with Republicans to investigate crimes Trump is alleged to have committed in office .
Biden 's administration would emphasize that holding Trump accountable is something Republicans need to do for the good of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and promise that they would have full autonomy from the White House and the DOJ to pursue the facts wherever they may lead .
But there 's good reason to think that 's unlikely , given that Democrats tend to be wary of `` criminalizing '' politics and would see going after a polarizing former president as setting a dangerous precedent .
So Trump will probably never face federal charges for obstructing justice , coordinating with foreign powers to undermine the 2016 election , violating campaign finance laws or other offences related to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guide , he certainly wo n't be held accountable for any human rights violations committed on his watch either at home or abroad .
State-level prosecutions for financial crimes are another matter entirely .
The Manhattan DA , Cy Vance , filed a motion recently which implied that his office was pursuing charges that may include tax evasion and banking and insurance fraud .
Meanwhile , on Monday , after dodging a subpoena for weeks , Eric Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment rights rather than testify in a separate probe of Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ James .
There may be similar investigations underway in other states where The Trump Organization does business .
The crimes Trump is suspected of committing are easy-to-explain acts of fraud .
He allegedly manipulated the values of his properties to defraud the IRS , banks and insurance companies .
Those very crimes helped make the Trump family 's fortunes ; as The New York Times reported in 2018reported in 2018 , Donald Trump was earning $ 200,000 per year from his father 's tax fraud scheme as a 3-year-old and was a tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say that these kinds of offenses tend to be red-flags for money laundering , and there are a lot of questions about why Trump , who had previously done business with other people 's money , suddenly went on a buying spree acquiring money-losing properties with cash several years back .
When powerful people do face consequences for violating the law , these are exactly the kind of tawdry financial crimes that often bring them down .
More importantly , state and local prosecutors in blue states would have powerful incentives to prosecute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our political elites often enjoy impunity .
First , prosecutors guard their winning percentage , and people who can afford to drop millions on their defenses are more likely to be acquitted .
Second , they tend to be well-connected .
In many cases , they are reliable political donors .
But we should be as cynical about prosecutorial decisions as we are about the impunity that American elites typically enjoy .
After four years of attacking blue states , Trump does n't have a lot of friends in high places in states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a historically unpopular authoritarian like Trump would be a career-making move in those states .
It would make a prosecutor into an overnight star among their constituents and put their name on the national map .
Professional ambition is probably the best reason to think that Trump may end up being the rare powerful political figure who pays a price for tax evasion and fraud .
While this is n't a prediction , the stars may align for the Trump Crime Family to see some `` law and order '' up close , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

To say that the US doesn't have a great record of holding its elites accountable would be a gross understatement. So while former prosecutors and other legal expertshave argued that Donald Trump faces significant criminal liability once he's out of office, those analyses have been greeted with quite a bit of skepticism. People with Trump's connections and resources are hardly ever punished so it's understandable, especially given Joe Biden's consistent promise to try to "heal" a fractured nation.
But Trump isn't a typical member of America's ruling class, and while a 75-year-old former president with the means to afford a team of high-power lawyers may not ever actually face the inside of a prison cell, there's a better chance that he will be convicted after he leaves office than some people believe.
Ideally, if Biden wins the presidency, he would appoint a Special Counsel staffed entirely with Republicans to investigate crimes Trump is alleged to have committed in office. Biden's administration would emphasize that holding Trump accountable is something Republicans need to do for the good of their party as well as the country and promise that they would have full autonomy from the White House and the DOJ to pursue the facts wherever they may lead.
But there's good reason to think that's unlikely, given that Democrats tend to be wary of "criminalizing" politics and would see going after a polarizing former president as setting a dangerous precedent. So Trump will probably never face federal charges for obstructing justice, coordinating with foreign powers to undermine the 2016 election, violating campaign finance laws or other offences related to his presidency. If history is any guide, he certainly won't be held accountable for any human rights violations committed on his watch either at home or abroad.
State-level prosecutions for financial crimes are another matter entirely. The Manhattan DA, Cy Vance, filed a motion recently which implied that his office was pursuing charges that may include tax evasion and banking and insurance fraud. Meanwhile, on Monday, after dodging a subpoena for weeks, Eric Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment rights rather than testify in a separate probe of Trump's businesses by New York State AG Tish James. There may be similar investigations underway in other states where The Trump Organization does business.
The crimes Trump is suspected of committing are easy-to-explain acts of fraud. He allegedly manipulated the values of his properties to defraud the IRS, banks and insurance companies. Those very crimes helped make the Trump family's fortunes; as The New York Times reported in 2018reported in 2018, Donald Trump was earning $200,000 per year from his father's tax fraud scheme as a 3-year-old and was a tax fraud millionaire by age 8.
Experts say that these kinds of offenses tend to be red-flags for money laundering, and there are a lot of questions about why Trump, who had previously done business with other people's money, suddenly went on a buying spree acquiring money-losing properties with cash several years back.
When powerful people do face consequences for violating the law, these are exactly the kind of tawdry financial crimes that often bring them down.
More importantly, state and local prosecutors in blue states would have powerful incentives to prosecute Trump. There are two reasons why our political elites often enjoy impunity. First, prosecutors guard their winning percentage, and people who can afford to drop millions on their defenses are more likely to be acquitted. Second, they tend to be well-connected. In many cases, they are reliable political donors.
But we should be as cynical about prosecutorial decisions as we are about the impunity that American elites typically enjoy. After four years of attacking blue states, Trump doesn't have a lot of friends in high places in states like New York or California. Prosecuting a historically unpopular authoritarian like Trump would be a career-making move in those states. It would make a prosecutor into an overnight star among their constituents and put their name on the national map. Professional ambition is probably the best reason to think that Trump may end up being the rare powerful political figure who pays a price for tax evasion and fraud.
While this isn't a prediction, the stars may align for the Trump Crime Family to see some "law and order" up close, from the other side of the system.


alternet--2020-10-06--'They're bluffing': Vulnerable GOP senators up for re-election downplay conservative future of Supre

'They're bluffing': Vulnerable GOP senators up for re-election downplay conservative future of Supreme Court

Several Republican senators up for re-election are walking a fine line in regard to some of the hard Supreme Court issues that could ultimately shape the future of America .
With their Senate seats in jeopardy , Sens .
Joni Ernst , ( R-Iowa ) and Thom Tillis ( R-N.C. ) , have taken a more moderate approach to pertinent issues like Roe v. Wade in an effort to distance from hard right views .
As they both are fighting uphill battles to retain their seats , they 've made it a point to steer clear on critical issues , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the likelihood of Roe v. Wade being overturned is very minimal , '' Ernst said during a debate last week .
`` I do n't see that happening , truly .
I do n't see that happening .
But what we can do is certainly educate the public on how important life is ...
I 'm adamantly pro-life .
I will stand behind that . ''
Tillis also weighed in with a stance similar to Ernst .
`` I 've heard my opponent talk about Justice Barrett will get on the bench and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in the race 's final debate Thursday night .
`` Nobody knows how she 's going to rule on that . ''
Despite their claims , Jeff Timmer , former executive director of the Michigan Republican Party , argues otherwise .
Although there has not been a direct conversation regarding Barrett 's stance on abortion , Timmer has insisted that her stance could not be more clearer .
During an interview on Friday , the a veteran GOP strategist argued his point .
`` I think it 's the worst poker playing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` They 're bluffing ... She has a clear paper trail on abortion ...
I mean , is Trump going to withdraw the lawsuit ?
It 's ludicrous to say that it 's not going to happen .
That 's the impetus for getting her confirmed ahead of time because it 's politically dangerous for them to rush forward . ''
The latest news comes as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) continues his efforts to move forward with the Senate floor vote for Trump 's Supreme Court nomination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposition from Democratic lawmakers and multiple Republican lawmakers currently infected with coronavirus , McConnell is still adamant about moving forward with the vote in an effort to seal the deal before Election Day .
While Trump was hospitalized with COVID-19 at Walter Reed Medical Center over the weekend , he tweeted to reiterate his intentions .
McConnell made it clear that the Senate would move on despite the president and multiple senators battling coronavirus .
`` Full steam ahead with the fair , thorough , timely process that the nominee , the Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell tweeted .
McConnell has been met with sharp criticism since the latest coronavirus outbreak at the White House appears to have stemmed from the Rose Garden event for Barrett 's nomination .

Several Republican senators up for re-election are walking a fine line in regard to some of the hard Supreme Court issues that could ultimately shape the future of America.
With their Senate seats in jeopardy, Sens. Joni Ernst, (R-Iowa) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), have taken a more moderate approach to pertinent issues like Roe v. Wade in an effort to distance from hard right views. As they both are fighting uphill battles to retain their seats, they've made it a point to steer clear on critical issues, namely abortion rights.
"I think the likelihood of Roe v. Wade being overturned is very minimal," Ernst said during a debate last week. "I don't see that happening, truly. I don't see that happening. But what we can do is certainly educate the public on how important life is... I'm adamantly pro-life. I will stand behind that."
Tillis also weighed in with a stance similar to Ernst.
"I've heard my opponent talk about Justice Barrett will get on the bench and overturn Roe v. Wade," he said in the race's final debate Thursday night. "Nobody knows how she's going to rule on that."
Despite their claims, Jeff Timmer, former executive director of the Michigan Republican Party, argues otherwise. Although there has not been a direct conversation regarding Barrett's stance on abortion, Timmer has insisted that her stance could not be more clearer. During an interview on Friday, the a veteran GOP strategist argued his point.
"I think it's the worst poker playing I've ever seen," Timmer said. "They're bluffing...She has a clear paper trail on abortion...I mean, is Trump going to withdraw the lawsuit? It's ludicrous to say that it's not going to happen. That's the impetus for getting her confirmed ahead of time because it's politically dangerous for them to rush forward."
The latest news comes as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) continues his efforts to move forward with the Senate floor vote for Trump's Supreme Court nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Despite opposition from Democratic lawmakers and multiple Republican lawmakers currently infected with coronavirus, McConnell is still adamant about moving forward with the vote in an effort to seal the deal before Election Day.
While Trump was hospitalized with COVID-19 at Walter Reed Medical Center over the weekend, he tweeted to reiterate his intentions. McConnell made it clear that the Senate would move on despite the president and multiple senators battling coronavirus.
"Full steam ahead with the fair, thorough, timely process that the nominee, the Court, & the country deserve," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell tweeted.
McConnell has been met with sharp criticism since the latest coronavirus outbreak at the White House appears to have stemmed from the Rose Garden event for Barrett's nomination.


alternet--2020-10-06--Martha McSally is losing badly in Arizona’s US Senate race: poll

For many years , Arizona was a deep red state that was closely identified with Sen. Barry Goldwater and later , Sen. John McCain .
But Arizona has evolved into a swing state in recent years .
And if a New York Times/Siena College poll released on October 5 is accurate , Arizona could end up with two Democratic senators in 2021 — and President Donald Trump might lose Arizona 's electoral votes to former Vice President Joe Biden .
According to the poll , incumbent Republican Sen. Martha McSally is trailing her Democratic challenger , Mark Kelly , by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate race .
That poll is even worse for McSally than a Times/Siena poll released in September : that one found Kelly ahead by 8 % .
And if Kelly defeats McSally in November , a Democrat will taking over the U.S. Senate seat once held by Goldwater and later , McCain .
Meanwhile , the Times/Siena poll found Biden ahead by 9 % in Arizona in the 2020 presidential race .
If Biden wins Arizona 's 11 electoral votes , he would be the first Democrat to win a presidential race in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1996 .
The Times/Siena poll follows a USA Today/Suffolk poll that was released on October 2 and found Kelly leading McSally by 9 % .
Arizona already has one Democratic U.S. senator : Kyrsten Sinema , who defeated McSally in the 2018 midterms .
Sinema took over the seat formerly held by Republican Sen. Jeff Flake , a hardcore conservative who has been quite critical of Trump at times and has endorsed Biden in the presidential race .
And McSally ended up in the Senate in 2019 after Republican Gov .
Doug Ducey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate seat .
The New York Times ' Jonathan Martin , discussing the Times/Siena poll , explains , `` The same constituencies lifting Mr. Biden — women , younger people and Latino voters — are also propelling Mr. Kelly .
Both Democrats are benefiting from the alienation some more moderate Arizona Republicans feel toward the hardline , Trump-led party . ''
Martin also notes that in Arizona , Trump 's `` standing with female voters and independents in the state has plunged since his victory four years ago — and significantly , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third-party candidates this year . ''
Recently , Trump supporters in Arizona were furious when John McCain 's widow , Republican Cindy McCain , endorsed Biden — which they viewed as another kick in the teeth following Flake 's endorsement of Biden .
Cindy McCain , however , has not made an endorsement in Arizona 's U.S. Senate race .

For many years, Arizona was a deep red state that was closely identified with Sen. Barry Goldwater and later, Sen. John McCain. But Arizona has evolved into a swing state in recent years. And if a New York Times/Siena College poll released on October 5 is accurate, Arizona could end up with two Democratic senators in 2021 — and President Donald Trump might lose Arizona's electoral votes to former Vice President Joe Biden.
According to the poll, incumbent Republican Sen. Martha McSally is trailing her Democratic challenger, Mark Kelly, by 11% in Arizona's 2020 U.S. Senate race. That poll is even worse for McSally than a Times/Siena poll released in September: that one found Kelly ahead by 8%. And if Kelly defeats McSally in November, a Democrat will taking over the U.S. Senate seat once held by Goldwater and later, McCain.
Meanwhile, the Times/Siena poll found Biden ahead by 9% in Arizona in the 2020 presidential race. If Biden wins Arizona's 11 electoral votes, he would be the first Democrat to win a presidential race in that southwestern state since Bill Clinton in 1996.
The Times/Siena poll follows a USA Today/Suffolk poll that was released on October 2 and found Kelly leading McSally by 9%.
Arizona already has one Democratic U.S. senator: Kyrsten Sinema, who defeated McSally in the 2018 midterms. Sinema took over the seat formerly held by Republican Sen. Jeff Flake, a hardcore conservative who has been quite critical of Trump at times and has endorsed Biden in the presidential race. And McSally ended up in the Senate in 2019 after Republican Gov. Doug Ducey appointed her to Arizona's other U.S. Senate seat.
The New York Times' Jonathan Martin, discussing the Times/Siena poll, explains, "The same constituencies lifting Mr. Biden — women, younger people and Latino voters — are also propelling Mr. Kelly. Both Democrats are benefiting from the alienation some more moderate Arizona Republicans feel toward the hardline, Trump-led party."
Martin also notes that in Arizona, Trump's "standing with female voters and independents in the state has plunged since his victory four years ago — and significantly, there appears to be far less interest in third-party candidates this year."
Recently, Trump supporters in Arizona were furious when John McCain's widow, Republican Cindy McCain, endorsed Biden — which they viewed as another kick in the teeth following Flake's endorsement of Biden. Cindy McCain, however, has not made an endorsement in Arizona's U.S. Senate race.


alternet--2020-10-07--McConnell admits White House has engaged in 'risky behaviors' while appeasing COVID-positive Trump

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell weighed in on President Donald Trump 's latest antics as he distanced himself from the madness currently taking place at the White House .
While discussing his plan to move forward with the vote on the Senate floor for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett , McConnell offered his take on all that has transpired over the last several days .
When asked if he thought the White House was engaging in risky behavior , the Kentucky lawmaker admitted that he did .
However , he also insisted Senate Republications bare none of the blame @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garden event and other public events without masks or social distancing .
`` I do think there have been risky behaviors , but not in the Senate , '' McConnell said .
`` And this nomination is now in the Senate .
We know how to handle this .
We 've been dealing with this since May , and we 'll handle it successfully . ''
`` So you 're saying you think the White House has taken too many risks ? ''
Fox News host Martha MacCallum asked .
`` Well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the infections occurred elsewhere and not here , '' he replied , likely in reference to the Rose Garden superspreader even .
He also assured that the Senate would `` follow the CDC guidelines and get the job done . ''
Although McConnell has vowed that Senate Republicans will follow mitigation guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , history has highlighted the inconsistencies in their efforts to do so .
As of Wednesday morning , three Senate Republicans that are in quarantine following positive COVID-19 tests .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Thom Tillis ( R-N.C. ) , and Ron Johnson ( R-Wisc . )
have all tested positive for COVID-19 over the last week .
Photos and footage from the Rose Garden event captured Lee and Tillis socializing at the event without masks .
Although McConnell is facing multiple COVID challenges as he continues his efforts to move forward with the vote on the Supreme Court nominee , he is still fighting to move forward .
With so many senators battling coronavirus , McConnell may soon end up disregarding the very CDC guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to move forward with his own agenda .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell weighed in on President Donald Trump's latest antics as he distanced himself from the madness currently taking place at the White House.
While discussing his plan to move forward with the vote on the Senate floor for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, McConnell offered his take on all that has transpired over the last several days.
When asked if he thought the White House was engaging in risky behavior, the Kentucky lawmaker admitted that he did. However, he also insisted Senate Republications bare none of the blame despite many of them attending the Rose Garden event and other public events without masks or social distancing.
"I do think there have been risky behaviors, but not in the Senate," McConnell said. "And this nomination is now in the Senate. We know how to handle this. We've been dealing with this since May, and we'll handle it successfully."
"So you're saying you think the White House has taken too many risks?" Fox News host Martha MacCallum asked.
"Well, there's no question that some of the infections occurred elsewhere and not here," he replied, likely in reference to the Rose Garden superspreader even. He also assured that the Senate would "follow the CDC guidelines and get the job done."
Although McConnell has vowed that Senate Republicans will follow mitigation guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), history has highlighted the inconsistencies in their efforts to do so. As of Wednesday morning, three Senate Republicans that are in quarantine following positive COVID-19 tests. Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) have all tested positive for COVID-19 over the last week.
Photos and footage from the Rose Garden event captured Lee and Tillis socializing at the event without masks. Although McConnell is facing multiple COVID challenges as he continues his efforts to move forward with the vote on the Supreme Court nominee, he is still fighting to move forward.
With so many senators battling coronavirus, McConnell may soon end up disregarding the very CDC guidelines he has vowed to abide by just to move forward with his own agenda.


alternet--2020-10-07--President’s physician releases update on Trump’s health that is remarkably devoid of details

Physician to the President Sean Conley on Tuesday afternoon released a memo updating the American people on President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ it 's remarkably devoid of details .
`` Today he reports no symptoms , '' @ @ @ @ @ fire for appearing to be more politician than practitioner , writes .
`` Vital signs @ @ @ @ @ , with an ambulatory oxygen saturation level of 95-97 % .
Overall he continues to @ @ @ @ @ will provide updates as we know more . ''
There are far more details Dr. @ @ @ @ @ First of all , Trump `` reports no symptoms '' is different than he has @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Conley observed no symptoms .
Does the President have a fever ?
How is @ @ @ @ @ Trump appeared short of breath Monday night after arriving at the White House .
Conley @ @ @ @ @ what he found on Trump 's lung x-rays .
And has Trump 's medical regime @ @ @ @ @ if he is still being given Dexamethasone , a powerful corticosteroid ?

Physician to the President Sean Conley on Tuesday afternoon released a memo updating the American people on President Donald Trump's health status, and it's remarkably devoid of details.
"Today he reports no symptoms," Dr. Conley, already under fire for appearing to be more politician than practitioner, writes. "Vital signs and physical exam remain stable, with an ambulatory oxygen saturation level of 95-97%. Overall he continues to do extremely well, I will provide updates as we know more."
Multiple reporters, including Bloomberg's Josh Wingrove, noted Conley's memo "offers fewer specifics than yesterday."
There are far more details Dr. Conley should have provided.
First of all, Trump "reports no symptoms" is different than he has no symptoms, or that Dr. Conley observed no symptoms. Does the President have a fever? How is his breathing? Many noted Trump appeared short of breath Monday night after arriving at the White House.
Conley reportedly has refused to say what he found on Trump's lung x-rays.
And has Trump's medical regime changed? Why no mention if he is still being given Dexamethasone, a powerful corticosteroid?
This attorney offers a thorough review:


alternet--2020-10-07--Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis seems to have highlighted one singular truth for voters

Donald Trump is a man who has no idea what 's happening in the real world because he 's so desperately committed to his demented version of reality .
To him , spending a mere three days in Walter Reed Medical Center and leaving while he 's still highly infectious projects strength .
To the vast majority of Americans , it 's foolish .
To him , taking a joy ride in his SUV caravan to wave at a dozen or so supporters outside the hospital projected his connection to voters .
To the vast majority of Americans , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walking up the stairs of the White House to pose on the balcony , rip off his mask , and greet cameras upon his return from Walter Reed was triumphant .
To the vast majority of Americans , it was just pathetically selfish as he gasped for air , putting everyone around him at risk .
To him , telling Americans not to let the coronavirus `` dominate '' their lives was strong .
To the vast majority of Americans , it 's insane , particularly because they do n't have the luxury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their house , a helicopter at their disposal , and access to any number of medications , FDA approved or otherwise .
What we appear to be seeing in the early polling is that Trump has taken whatever goodwill he might have gotten from contracting COVID-19 and thoroughly trashed it .
Between his epic meltdown at last Tuesday 's debate and his truly unfathomable handling of his own COVID diagnosis , rather than becoming more accessible , Trump is becoming further removed from voters—almost otherworldly , and not in a good way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this in the notable movement on who voters trust more to handle the pandemic , with voters choosing Joe Biden by 21 points—a 9-point shift toward Biden since last month 's CNN/SSRS poll .
There 's also evidence of a post-diagnosis shift toward Biden in the new SurveyUSA poll released Monday that gave Biden a 10-point lead nationally .
When the interviews with voters were broken down into time periods , Biden led by 8 points shortly after the debate ( before Trump 's positive test became public ) , but then Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Trump was airlifted to Walter Reed .
It all averaged out to a 10-point advantage .
The polling outfit writes : `` Of likely voters interviewed by SurveyUSA after Trump and Biden debated 09/29/2020 but before Trump had revealed his COVID diagnosis , Biden led Trump by 8 points , 51 % to 43 % .
In the tiny window of time between when Trump acknowledged his illness but before he was hospitalized , Trump closed to within 4 points , Biden 50 % , Trump 46 .
In interviews completed after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden appears to have consolidated support , leading by 16 points among likely voters interviewed most recently , 56 % to 40 % . ''
Obviously , this situation is fluid .
But watch for more of these trends in the coming polls .
What appears to be happening is that Trump—through his complete disconnect from the real world—has convinced the tiny sliver of voters who were still sitting on the fence that he is definitively not the man for the job .

Donald Trump is a man who has no idea what's happening in the real world because he's so desperately committed to his demented version of reality.
To him, spending a mere three days in Walter Reed Medical Center and leaving while he's still highly infectious projects strength. To the vast majority of Americans, it's foolish.
To him, taking a joy ride in his SUV caravan to wave at a dozen or so supporters outside the hospital projected his connection to voters. To the vast majority of Americans, it was positively reckless.
To him, walking up the stairs of the White House to pose on the balcony, rip off his mask, and greet cameras upon his return from Walter Reed was triumphant. To the vast majority of Americans, it was just pathetically selfish as he gasped for air, putting everyone around him at risk.
To him, telling Americans not to let the coronavirus "dominate" their lives was strong. To the vast majority of Americans, it's insane, particularly because they don't have the luxury of having a fully functional medical wing in their house, a helicopter at their disposal, and access to any number of medications, FDA approved or otherwise.
What we appear to be seeing in the early polling is that Trump has taken whatever goodwill he might have gotten from contracting COVID-19 and thoroughly trashed it. Between his epic meltdown at last Tuesday's debate and his truly unfathomable handling of his own COVID diagnosis, rather than becoming more accessible, Trump is becoming further removed from voters—almost otherworldly, and not in a good way.
The CNN/SSRS poll released Tuesday reflected this in the notable movement on who voters trust more to handle the pandemic, with voters choosing Joe Biden by 21 points—a 9-point shift toward Biden since last month's CNN/SSRS poll.
There's also evidence of a post-diagnosis shift toward Biden in the new SurveyUSA poll released Monday that gave Biden a 10-point lead nationally. When the interviews with voters were broken down into time periods, Biden led by 8 points shortly after the debate (before Trump's positive test became public), but then Biden's lead bumped up to 16 points after Trump was airlifted to Walter Reed. It all averaged out to a 10-point advantage.
The polling outfit writes: "Of likely voters interviewed by SurveyUSA after Trump and Biden debated 09/29/2020 but before Trump had revealed his COVID diagnosis, Biden led Trump by 8 points, 51% to 43%. In the tiny window of time between when Trump acknowledged his illness but before he was hospitalized, Trump closed to within 4 points, Biden 50%, Trump 46. In interviews completed after Trump had been helicoptered to Bethesda, Biden appears to have consolidated support, leading by 16 points among likely voters interviewed most recently, 56% to 40%."
Obviously, this situation is fluid. But watch for more of these trends in the coming polls. What appears to be happening is that Trump—through his complete disconnect from the real world—has convinced the tiny sliver of voters who were still sitting on the fence that he is definitively not the man for the job.


alternet--2020-10-07--Electoral College nightmare: Legal scholars warn about the potential for a new constitutional crisis

Both of the two major parties ' presidential candidates are septuagenarians ; one of them , former Vice President Joe Biden , was recently in close proximity to a group of coronavirus-positive people , while the other , President Donald Trump , has contracted COVID-19 and is currently in the most crucial phase of infection .
The two men 's age , and their proximity to a disease that kills about 12 % of those in their mid-70s and older , has prompted many outside observers and legal experts to be forced to confront the unthinkable : if President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dies before Election Day — or after the election but before the Electoral College convenes — will America enter a constitutional crisis ?
As such a horrific scenario has suddenly entered the realm of possibility , Salon posed the question to several experts .
The answer , as it turns out , is startling .
Harvard Law professor Laurence Tribe , when asked what might happen if Donald Trump were to pass before Election Day , warned that things could get messy .
`` The likeliest outcome of the death you 're imagining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convene in an emergency session , '' and , utilizing the best legal advice available to them , would `` decide how best to accommodate their respective deadlines for qualifying candidates , or more precisely the electoral slates committed to particular candidates , for the presidential election to be held this November 3 , '' Tribe said over email .
This process would be complicated , of course , by the fact that millions of Americans have already voted by mail — and their ballots can not be retroactively changed .
To accommodate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` lunacy '' to ask people to resubmit their ballots , `` my hope would be that the state chapters of the RNC would all agree simply to revise the instructions given to the electors committed at that time to the Trump/Pence slate in each of those States so as to conform those instructions to whatever new ticket the RNC were to choose – say , [ Vice President ] Mike Pence and [ former United Nations Ambassador ] Nikki Haley . ''
Yet according to Tribe , that might not be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that some electors could declare that they are only legally bound to support a Trump-Pence ticket and , if they do not want Pence to be president , resign rather than be compelled to cast their ballot for him .
He cited the July Supreme Court case of Chiafalo v. Washington , in which the unanimous ruling was that states can legally force electors to back the candidates they had previously pledged to support .
That case came about because a group of Democratic electors known as the Hamilton Electors attempted to convince @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won the 2016 election , so that he would not receive an Electoral College majority of 270 votes .
That , in turn , would have thrown the election into the House of Representatives , where each state would have one vote to cast among the top three candidates .
The Hamilton Electors had tried to convince Republican electors to back a member of their party who is n't Trump , such as Ohio Gov .
John Kasich or former Secretary of State Colin Powell .
Robert Alexander , a political scientist at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email that the attorney who represented the Hamilton Electors at the Supreme Court had anticipated a scenario similar to the one that would unfold if Trump or Biden dies between now and the start of the new presidential term .
`` Larry Lessig pointed out the potential problems associated with binding electors to vote for the popular vote winner in their state if indeed such a situation were to arise , '' Alexander explained .
`` The Court did n't appear to be moved by his concern over potential unanticipated consequences of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that states could handle such a situation if it were to arise .
However , I 'm not convinced that all states that bind electors have attended to the problem convincingly . ''
With the Hamilton Electors , however , the so-called `` faithless electors '' were trying to stop the election of a man they considered unfit to be president .
In this theoretical scenario , they 'd be trying to figure out what to do after being pledged to vote for a literal dead man .
`` Predictably , many of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far-sighted to have enacted any legislative provisions on point , an eventuality that would trigger litigation , '' Tribe explained to Salon .
`` Hopefully ... .
before November 3 , the highest judicial tribunal of each such State would decide what to do on the basis of the background principles of that State 's laws , including its constitution . ''
He argued that the Supreme Court 's ruling to settle the controversial 2000 election , Bush v. Gore , could arise as precedent .
As Tribe notes , there is `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disputes over the process of choosing electors be resolved strictly in terms of the directives laid down by the State Legislature , without resort to the State Constitution to change outcomes . ''
This would lead to a `` legal morass , '' Tribe explained , `` but not necessarily a 'constitutional crisis . '
'' Rick Pildes , a professor of constitutional law at New York University , wrote to Salon about the possible outcomes if a candidate wins the presidential election but then died before the Electoral College can convene .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the electoral college , it might not be as much of a crisis as one might fear .
`` The electors from that state would be able to vote for a different candidate for President , '' Pildes told Salon .
`` There is the slight complexity that in around 16 states , state laws require the electors to vote for the candidate who won the popular vote ; those laws impose sanctions for failing to do that , but most of those sanctions are minimal fines .
So if this happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from states he won would vote for another candidate .
If the RNC [ Republican National Committee ] – which is a 168 member body — voted to anoint another figure , the electors might well coalesce and vote for that figure . ''
That scenario could be complicated , however , if the Republican Party can not coalesce behind Vice President Mike Pence or some other alternative .
If that resulted in no candidate receiving 270 electoral votes then , once again , the election would be thrown into the House of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote , one delegation , and a candidate needs a majority of the delegations to become elected , '' Pildes told Salon .
There have only been two presidential elections that were thrown into the House of Representatives : the 1800 contest that elected Thomas Jefferson , and the 1824 contest that elected John Quincy Adams .
Yet neither of those anomalies occurred because of a candidates ' death or incapacitation .
However , America has come close to that situation on one occasion .
During the 1872 election , President Ulysses S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ticket against newspaper editor Horace Greeley , who had the support of both the Democratic Party and a splinter faction of the Republicans .
Greeley died after Election Day but before the Electoral College could meet .
That could have resulted in a constitutional crisis had Greeley won .
Fortuitously , Grant won in a landslide , so there was no constitutional crisis and no test of the presidential voting system .
Ultimately , Greeley only won 66 electoral votes to Grant 's 286 electoral votes , and 63 of Greeley 's 66 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other Democrats when casting their vote .
`` When Congress met , they decided not to count those votes since he was dead and thusly ineligible to serve , '' Alexander explained .
`` It would seem to me that a precedent was set .
If electors are forced to vote for the candidate who won the vote in their state and that candidate dies before they meet , then I 'm not sure the states with binding laws have adequately dealt with such a possibility . ''
He added , though , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remove an elector for not voting as anticipated .
Among these , only Utah 's statute permits an elector to break their pledge in case of a death of a nominee .
Arizona , Colorado and Maine require electors to vote for the popular vote winner in their respective states ( or districts ) .
This would seem to force them to potentially vote for a deceased candidate if they were to die after the election and before they met . ''
Because electors could argue that they are actually bound to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might be able to sidestep accusations of being faithless electors if their party chose a different nominee .
Even so , Alexander explained , `` no doubt , legal challenges would ensue as a result . ''
If there is one thing we can say for certain , it is that any scenario in which Trump or Biden dies before the Electoral College casts its votes would be hell on the electors themselves .
`` This helps justify me putting aside my life for a year to try to fight for this country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Salon about his battle to allow electors the autonomy to vote their conscience .
`` It 's almost been completely proven that we were right to fear exactly what we thought was coming .
As for electors this year , I feel horrible for them because if they make the wrong decision — based on the far-right of this country — their lives will probably be forfeit . ''
He added , `` They 're going to get more death threats than I did , and I got hundreds .
So if I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'd be terrified .
I 'd be buying guns and a bulletproof vest . ''

Both of the two major parties' presidential candidates are septuagenarians; one of them, former Vice President Joe Biden, was recently in close proximity to a group of coronavirus-positive people, while the other, President Donald Trump, has contracted COVID-19 and is currently in the most crucial phase of infection. The two men's age, and their proximity to a disease that kills about 12% of those in their mid-70s and older, has prompted many outside observers and legal experts to be forced to confront the unthinkable: if President Donald Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden dies before Election Day — or after the election but before the Electoral College convenes — will America enter a constitutional crisis?
As such a horrific scenario has suddenly entered the realm of possibility, Salon posed the question to several experts. The answer, as it turns out, is startling.
Harvard Law professor Laurence Tribe, when asked what might happen if Donald Trump were to pass before Election Day, warned that things could get messy. "The likeliest outcome of the death you're imagining is that the Republican National Committee would convene in an emergency session," and, utilizing the best legal advice available to them, would "decide how best to accommodate their respective deadlines for qualifying candidates, or more precisely the electoral slates committed to particular candidates, for the presidential election to be held this November 3," Tribe said over email.
This process would be complicated, of course, by the fact that millions of Americans have already voted by mail — and their ballots cannot be retroactively changed. To accommodate this, and since it would be "lunacy" to ask people to resubmit their ballots, "my hope would be that the state chapters of the RNC would all agree simply to revise the instructions given to the electors committed at that time to the Trump/Pence slate in each of those States so as to conform those instructions to whatever new ticket the RNC were to choose – say, [Vice President] Mike Pence and [former United Nations Ambassador] Nikki Haley."
Yet according to Tribe, that might not be the end of the matter. He noted that some electors could declare that they are only legally bound to support a Trump-Pence ticket and, if they do not want Pence to be president, resign rather than be compelled to cast their ballot for him.
He cited the July Supreme Court case of Chiafalo v. Washington, in which the unanimous ruling was that states can legally force electors to back the candidates they had previously pledged to support. That case came about because a group of Democratic electors known as the Hamilton Electors attempted to convince enough Republicans to abandon Trump after he won the 2016 election, so that he would not receive an Electoral College majority of 270 votes. That, in turn, would have thrown the election into the House of Representatives, where each state would have one vote to cast among the top three candidates. The Hamilton Electors had tried to convince Republican electors to back a member of their party who isn't Trump, such as Ohio Gov. John Kasich or former Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Robert Alexander, a political scientist at Ohio Northern University, told Salon by email that the attorney who represented the Hamilton Electors at the Supreme Court had anticipated a scenario similar to the one that would unfold if Trump or Biden dies between now and the start of the new presidential term.
"Larry Lessig pointed out the potential problems associated with binding electors to vote for the popular vote winner in their state if indeed such a situation were to arise," Alexander explained. "The Court didn't appear to be moved by his concern over potential unanticipated consequences of a ruling removing elector freedom. They indicated that states could handle such a situation if it were to arise. However, I'm not convinced that all states that bind electors have attended to the problem convincingly."
With the Hamilton Electors, however, the so-called "faithless electors" were trying to stop the election of a man they considered unfit to be president. In this theoretical scenario, they'd be trying to figure out what to do after being pledged to vote for a literal dead man.
"Predictably, many of the States will not have been sufficiently far-sighted to have enacted any legislative provisions on point, an eventuality that would trigger litigation," Tribe explained to Salon. "Hopefully .... before November 3, the highest judicial tribunal of each such State would decide what to do on the basis of the background principles of that State's laws, including its constitution." He argued that the Supreme Court's ruling to settle the controversial 2000 election, Bush v. Gore, could arise as precedent. As Tribe notes, there is "at least one possible reading requiring that disputes over the process of choosing electors be resolved strictly in terms of the directives laid down by the State Legislature, without resort to the State Constitution to change outcomes." This would lead to a "legal morass," Tribe explained, "but not necessarily a 'constitutional crisis.'"
Rick Pildes, a professor of constitutional law at New York University, wrote to Salon about the possible outcomes if a candidate wins the presidential election but then died before the Electoral College can convene. Pildes thought that because of the nature of the electoral college, it might not be as much of a crisis as one might fear.
"The electors from that state would be able to vote for a different candidate for President," Pildes told Salon. "There is the slight complexity that in around 16 states, state laws require the electors to vote for the candidate who won the popular vote; those laws impose sanctions for failing to do that, but most of those sanctions are minimal fines. So if this happened with President Trump, the Republican electors from states he won would vote for another candidate. If the RNC [Republican National Committee] – which is a 168 member body — voted to anoint another figure, the electors might well coalesce and vote for that figure."
That scenario could be complicated, however, if the Republican Party cannot coalesce behind Vice President Mike Pence or some other alternative. If that resulted in no candidate receiving 270 electoral votes then, once again, the election would be thrown into the House of Representatives.
"The House votes one vote, one delegation, and a candidate needs a majority of the delegations to become elected," Pildes told Salon.
There have only been two presidential elections that were thrown into the House of Representatives: the 1800 contest that elected Thomas Jefferson, and the 1824 contest that elected John Quincy Adams. Yet neither of those anomalies occurred because of a candidates' death or incapacitation.
However, America has come close to that situation on one occasion. During the 1872 election, President Ulysses S. Grant ran for reelection on the Republican ticket against newspaper editor Horace Greeley, who had the support of both the Democratic Party and a splinter faction of the Republicans. Greeley died after Election Day but before the Electoral College could meet.
That could have resulted in a constitutional crisis had Greeley won. Fortuitously, Grant won in a landslide, so there was no constitutional crisis and no test of the presidential voting system. Ultimately, Greeley only won 66 electoral votes to Grant's 286 electoral votes, and 63 of Greeley's 66 electors decided to support one of several other Democrats when casting their vote.
"When Congress met, they decided not to count those votes since he was dead and thusly ineligible to serve," Alexander explained. "It would seem to me that a precedent was set. If electors are forced to vote for the candidate who won the vote in their state and that candidate dies before they meet, then I'm not sure the states with binding laws have adequately dealt with such a possibility."
He added, though, that "fourteen states have laws that remove an elector for not voting as anticipated. Among these, only Utah's statute permits an elector to break their pledge in case of a death of a nominee. Arizona, Colorado and Maine require electors to vote for the popular vote winner in their respective states (or districts). This would seem to force them to potentially vote for a deceased candidate if they were to die after the election and before they met."
Because electors could argue that they are actually bound to vote for their party's nominees, they might be able to sidestep accusations of being faithless electors if their party chose a different nominee.
Even so, Alexander explained, "no doubt, legal challenges would ensue as a result."
If there is one thing we can say for certain, it is that any scenario in which Trump or Biden dies before the Electoral College casts its votes would be hell on the electors themselves.
"This helps justify me putting aside my life for a year to try to fight for this country," Hamilton Elector alumnus Chiafalo told Salon about his battle to allow electors the autonomy to vote their conscience. "It's almost been completely proven that we were right to fear exactly what we thought was coming. As for electors this year, I feel horrible for them because if they make the wrong decision — based on the far-right of this country — their lives will probably be forfeit."
He added, "They're going to get more death threats than I did, and I got hundreds. So if I was one of the electors. I'd be terrified. I'd be buying guns and a bulletproof vest."


alternet--2020-10-07--The Justice Department may have violated Attorney General Barr’s own policy memo

ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom .
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When the Justice Department recently publicized an ongoing investigation into potentially improperly discarded Trump ballots , critics accused it of violating long-standing agency policy against interfering in an election .
But the unusual decision to publicly detail the Pennsylvania case may also have run afoul of guidelines that Attorney General William Barr himself issued to federal prosecutors this year , according to a memo obtained by ProPublica .
In May , Barr wrote a directive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be “ particularly sensitive to safeguarding the Department 's reputation for fairness , neutrality , and non-partisanship '' when it comes to election-related crimes .
“ Partisan politics , '' he wrote , “ must play no role in the decisions of federal investigators or prosecutors regarding any investigations or criminal charges .
Law enforcement officers and prosecutors may never select the timing of public statements ( attributed or not ) , investigative steps , criminal charges , or any other action in any matter or case for the purpose of affecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of giving an advantage or disadvantage to any candidate or political party . ''
Nevertheless , last month Barr 's Justice Department issued a press release announcing an investigation into whether local elections officials illegally discarded nine mail-in military ballots in Pennsylvania .
The announcement of an open investigation was highly unusual .
Even more abnormal was that the press release specified that at least seven of those ballots were for President Donald Trump .
While the motivation of the Pennsylvania press release is unclear , Barr had personally briefed Trump on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post subsequently reported , citing an anonymous source .
The president raised it in a media interview and then DOJ 's Pennsylvania office announced the investigation .
Then , the Trump campaign quickly jumped on the Pennsylvania case to bolster those claims .
“ BREAKING : FBI finds military mail-in ballots discarded in Pennsylvania .
100 % of them were cast for President Trump .
Democrats are trying to steal the election , '' a campaign official tweeted .
Justin Levitt , a former deputy assistant attorney general in the DOJ 's civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release was “ flatly inconsistent '' with Barr 's memo “ and shamefully so . ''
“ There 's absolutely no legitimate law enforcement reason I know of to mention who the ballots were cast for : They were either dealt with properly or not properly , '' he said .
“ And if there 's no good reason , it leaves only the most likely bad reason : that the identity of the candidate was revealed for partisan political purposes . ''
Some experts did not agree .
Samuel Buell , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professor at Duke Law School , said Barr could argue that “ any public announcement about a ballot investigation complies with [ the memo ] because the language is so broad . ''
Barr , he said , could say the “ purpose '' of the Pennsylvania announcement was not to affect the outcome of the election or support a particular candidate , but some other non-prohibited motivation like “ protecting the vote . ''
The Barr memo closelymirrored election-year guidance that previous attorneys general sent out under both the Obama and George @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at his Senate confirmation hearings last year that the election policies were in place because the incumbent party has “ their hands on the levers of the law enforcement apparatus of the country , and you do not want it used against the opposing political party . ''
Asked whether the Pennsylvania announcement ran afoul of the agency 's election policies , Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec responded : “ No . ''
She declined to elaborate .
The U.S. attorney overseeing the case is David Freed , a former Republican nominee for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his current role by Trump in 2017 .
In a publicly released letter , Freed said he was detailing initial findings despite an ongoing investigation “ based on the limited amount of time before the general election and the vital public importance of these issues . ''
A second memo obtained by ProPublica , issued in August by Corey Amundson , chief of the DOJ 's Public Integrity Section , was even more explicit .
In it , Amundson reiterated the Justice Department 's long-standing policy in election fraud cases : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be taken in matters involving alleged fraud in the manner in which votes were cast or counted until the election in question has been concluded . ''
The memo was addressed to the Attorney General Advisory Committee , a group of U.S. attorneys that advise the attorney general .
The policy Amundson cites appears to make an exception for extraordinary cases .
But it seems unlikely that would apply to the case in Pennsylvania .
That involved only nine ballots , which appear to have been discarded by a sole contract employee .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempt to follow Pennsylvania rules barring ballots sent back without the proper envelope .
Current and former Justice Department officials told ProPublica that , even without the memos from top agency officials including Barr , the Pennsylvania press release violated long-standing department policy .
They explained that prosecutors not only should not announce that they are investigating , but that they should be slow even to start an election-sensitive investigation during the campaign .
Such an investigation is so sensitive , an opposing candidate could use it to smear his or her opponent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into us : the policy of non-interference and never , ever , ever announcing an investigation , '' one official said .
“ That 's why the thing in Pennsylvania is bonkers , completely bonkers . ''
Barr has amplified Trump 's attempt to discredit mail-in voting before , claiming falsely that there is widespread fraud .

ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.
When the Justice Department recently publicized an ongoing investigation into potentially improperly discarded Trump ballots, critics accused it of violating long-standing agency policy against interfering in an election.
But the unusual decision to publicly detail the Pennsylvania case may also have run afoul of guidelines that Attorney General William Barr himself issued to federal prosecutors this year, according to a memo obtained by ProPublica.
In May, Barr wrote a directive to all Justice Department employees imploring them to be “particularly sensitive to safeguarding the Department's reputation for fairness, neutrality, and non-partisanship" when it comes to election-related crimes.
“Partisan politics," he wrote, “must play no role in the decisions of federal investigators or prosecutors regarding any investigations or criminal charges. Law enforcement officers and prosecutors may never select the timing of public statements (attributed or not), investigative steps, criminal charges, or any other action in any matter or case for the purpose of affecting any election, or for the purpose of giving an advantage or disadvantage to any candidate or political party."
Nevertheless, last month Barr's Justice Department issued a press release announcing an investigation into whether local elections officials illegally discarded nine mail-in military ballots in Pennsylvania. The announcement of an open investigation was highly unusual. Even more abnormal was that the press release specified that at least seven of those ballots were for President Donald Trump.
While the motivation of the Pennsylvania press release is unclear, Barr had personally briefed Trump on the matter before the announcement, The Washington Post subsequently reported, citing an anonymous source. The president raised it in a media interview and then DOJ's Pennsylvania office announced the investigation.
Then, the Trump campaign quickly jumped on the Pennsylvania case to bolster those claims.
“BREAKING: FBI finds military mail-in ballots discarded in Pennsylvania. 100% of them were cast for President Trump. Democrats are trying to steal the election," a campaign official tweeted.
Justin Levitt, a former deputy assistant attorney general in the DOJ's civil rights division, said the Pennsylvania press release was “flatly inconsistent" with Barr's memo “and shamefully so."
“There's absolutely no legitimate law enforcement reason I know of to mention who the ballots were cast for: They were either dealt with properly or not properly," he said. “And if there's no good reason, it leaves only the most likely bad reason: that the identity of the candidate was revealed for partisan political purposes."
Some experts did not agree . Samuel Buell, a former federal prosecutor who is now a professor at Duke Law School, said Barr could argue that “any public announcement about a ballot investigation complies with [the memo] because the language is so broad."
Barr, he said, could say the “purpose" of the Pennsylvania announcement was not to affect the outcome of the election or support a particular candidate, but some other non-prohibited motivation like “protecting the vote."
The Barr memo closelymirrored election-year guidance that previous attorneys general sent out under both the Obama and George W. Bush administrations. Barr himself said at his Senate confirmation hearings last year that the election policies were in place because the incumbent party has “their hands on the levers of the law enforcement apparatus of the country, and you do not want it used against the opposing political party."
Asked whether the Pennsylvania announcement ran afoul of the agency's election policies, Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec responded: “No." She declined to elaborate.
The U.S. attorney overseeing the case is David Freed, a former Republican nominee for Pennsylvania state attorney general who was nominated for his current role by Trump in 2017. In a publicly released letter, Freed said he was detailing initial findings despite an ongoing investigation “based on the limited amount of time before the general election and the vital public importance of these issues."
A second memo obtained by ProPublica, issued in August by Corey Amundson, chief of the DOJ's Public Integrity Section, was even more explicit.
In it, Amundson reiterated the Justice Department's long-standing policy in election fraud cases: “Overt criminal investigative measures should not ordinarily be taken in matters involving alleged fraud in the manner in which votes were cast or counted until the election in question has been concluded."
The memo was addressed to the Attorney General Advisory Committee, a group of U.S. attorneys that advise the attorney general.
The policy Amundson cites appears to make an exception for extraordinary cases. But it seems unlikely that would apply to the case in Pennsylvania. That involved only nine ballots, which appear to have been discarded by a sole contract employee. The motivation may have been an innocuous attempt to follow Pennsylvania rules barring ballots sent back without the proper envelope.
Current and former Justice Department officials told ProPublica that, even without the memos from top agency officials including Barr, the Pennsylvania press release violated long-standing department policy. They explained that prosecutors not only should not announce that they are investigating, but that they should be slow even to start an election-sensitive investigation during the campaign. Such an investigation is so sensitive, an opposing candidate could use it to smear his or her opponent.
“That's what they drill into us: the policy of non-interference and never, ever, ever announcing an investigation," one official said. “That's why the thing in Pennsylvania is bonkers, completely bonkers."
A spokeswoman for Freed declined to comment.
Barr has amplified Trump's attempt to discredit mail-in voting before, claiming falsely that there is widespread fraud.