washingtontimes--2020-05-07--Kenneth Braithwaite, nominee to be secretary of Navy, acknowledges 'rough seas' for service

The culture of the U.S. Navy has been “ tarnished ” by a string of disciplinary and operational missteps in recent years , most recently with the handling of the coronavirus outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt , President Trump ’ s pick to lead the troubled military branch said Thursday .
Kenneth Braithwaite , a retired rear admiral now serving as U.S. ambassador to Norway , told a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing Thursday he would set the proper tone at the top and work to restore the appropriate culture if confirmed as the next secretary of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say that the Department of the Navy is in rough waters due to many factors , but primarily the failure of leadership , ” he told lawmakers in a visibly distanced hearing room on Capitol Hill beside bottles of hand sanitizer and disinfectant .
In a break with congressional tradition , the nominee ’ s family was unable to attend the hearing due to precautions in place throughout Congress to prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
Mr. Braithwaite was tapped to the top civilian post in the Navy last November , but his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed , the former naval aviator will succeed former Secretary Richard Spencer , who lost his job after clashing with President Trump over the legal ordeal of Navy SEAL Chief Special Operator Edward Gallagher , who was accused of war crimes in Iraq .
Mr. Braithwaite , a graduate of the U.S .
Naval Academy who worked on Mr. Trump ’ s 2016 campaign , would face arguably the toughest task of his career should he be confirmed .
A host of recent scandals have generated near-constant negative headlines for the service , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is struggling to ward off Russian power plays in the Arctic , Chinese expansion in the South China Sea and other key geopolitical priorities .
But the Navy ’ s internal politics have overshadowed those challenges .
Most recently , Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly , Mr. Spencer ’ s interim successor , was himself forced to step down following a public clash with Capt .
Brett Crozier , who headed the USS Theodore Roosevelt as COVID-19 swept through the ship and forced the nuclear-powered carrier to dock in Guam .
Mr. Modly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a letter Capt .
Crozier wrote urging action to help his stricken crew was leaked to the press , and then flew to Guam to publicly and profanely scold the Roosevelt crew for cheering their fired commander .
Mr. Modly resigned in the PR firestorm that followed , and Pentagon officials now are weighing whether to restore Capt .
Crozier to his post on the Roosevelt .
“ The Navy chain of command is in disarray , ” said Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed , the committee ’ s ranking Democrat , citing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to trust , ” Mr. Reed continued .
“ It goes to the culture of the Navy .
It goes to reliance on the chain of command by the authorities , getting advice and supporting them.
” Mr. Braithwaite told the committee that the Navy ’ s recent run of problems , including collisions at sea , troubles with the military judicial system and the USS Roosevelt incident were “ all indicative of a breakdown in the trust of those leading the service.
” He said that he supports an expanded inquiry into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ whenever you ’ re confronted with a challenge like this , it ’ s best to pause , consider all the facts and then make the right decision.
” “ I learned that in flight school , as a young naval aviator , that whenever any bell or whistle went off in your cockpit , the most important thing to do is to sit on your hands for two seconds , … because then you can assess the problem correctly before shutting down the wrong system.
” On another issue , Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a 355-ship Navy , the goal many on Capitol Hill have called for but one many in the Navy itself have only reluctantly embraced .
“ Sir , [ the fleet ] needs to be minimally 355 ships , ” Mr. Braithwaite told committee Chairman Jim Inhofe , Oklahoma Republican .
“ Hopefully we build beyond that.
” “ That ’ s a good , brief answer .
I appreciate that .
I won ’ t ask why because I agree with you , ” Mr. Inhofe responded .
The committee is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nomination , and a full Senate vote will likely be held in the coming weeks .

The culture of the U.S. Navy has been “tarnished” by a string of disciplinary and operational missteps in recent years, most recently with the handling of the coronavirus outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, President Trump’s pick to lead the troubled military branch said Thursday.
Kenneth Braithwaite, a retired rear admiral now serving as U.S. ambassador to Norway, told a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing Thursday he would set the proper tone at the top and work to restore the appropriate culture if confirmed as the next secretary of the Navy.
“It saddens me to say that the Department of the Navy is in rough waters due to many factors, but primarily the failure of leadership,” he told lawmakers in a visibly distanced hearing room on Capitol Hill beside bottles of hand sanitizer and disinfectant.
In a break with congressional tradition, the nominee’s family was unable to attend the hearing due to precautions in place throughout Congress to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Mr. Braithwaite was tapped to the top civilian post in the Navy last November, but his confirmation process had moved slowly. If confirmed, the former naval aviator will succeed former Secretary Richard Spencer, who lost his job after clashing with President Trump over the legal ordeal of Navy SEAL Chief Special Operator Edward Gallagher, who was accused of war crimes in Iraq.
Mr. Braithwaite, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy who worked on Mr. Trump’s 2016 campaign, would face arguably the toughest task of his career should he be confirmed.
A host of recent scandals have generated near-constant negative headlines for the service, at a time when the Navy also is struggling to ward off Russian power plays in the Arctic, Chinese expansion in the South China Sea and other key geopolitical priorities.
But the Navy’s internal politics have overshadowed those challenges.
Most recently, Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, Mr. Spencer’s interim successor, was himself forced to step down following a public clash with Capt. Brett Crozier, who headed the USS Theodore Roosevelt as COVID-19 swept through the ship and forced the nuclear-powered carrier to dock in Guam.
Mr. Modly relieved the captain of his command after a letter Capt. Crozier wrote urging action to help his stricken crew was leaked to the press, and then flew to Guam to publicly and profanely scold the Roosevelt crew for cheering their fired commander.
Mr. Modly resigned in the PR firestorm that followed, and Pentagon officials now are weighing whether to restore Capt. Crozier to his post on the Roosevelt.
“The Navy chain of command is in disarray,” said Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, the committee’s ranking Democrat, citing the Roosevelt fiasco.
“It goes to trust,” Mr. Reed continued. “It goes to the culture of the Navy. It goes to reliance on the chain of command by the authorities, getting advice and supporting them.”
Mr. Braithwaite told the committee that the Navy’s recent run of problems, including collisions at sea, troubles with the military judicial system and the USS Roosevelt incident were “all indicative of a breakdown in the trust of those leading the service.”
He said that he supports an expanded inquiry into the Roosevelt incident and told lawmakers that “whenever you’re confronted with a challenge like this, it’s best to pause, consider all the facts and then make the right decision.”
“I learned that in flight school, as a young naval aviator, that whenever any bell or whistle went off in your cockpit, the most important thing to do is to sit on your hands for two seconds, … because then you can assess the problem correctly before shutting down the wrong system.”
On another issue, Mr. Braithwaite vowed to be a strong advocate for a 355-ship Navy, the goal many on Capitol Hill have called for but one many in the Navy itself have only reluctantly embraced.
“Sir, [the fleet] needs to be minimally 355 ships,” Mr. Braithwaite told committee Chairman Jim Inhofe, Oklahoma Republican. “Hopefully we build beyond that.”
“That’s a good, brief answer. I appreciate that. I won’t ask why because I agree with you,” Mr. Inhofe responded.
The committee is expected to advance Mr. Braithwaite’s nomination, and a full Senate vote will likely be held in the coming weeks.
• Lauren Toms can be reached at lmeier@washingtontimes.com. • Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-07--California outlines reopening plan for retail and counties

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) - California Gov .
Gavin Newsom outlined changes to the state ’ s stay-at-home order that take effect Friday .
They allow more retailers to reopen and counties to move forward more quickly with reopening plans if they meet specific criteria .
HOW IS THE STAY-AT-HOME ORDER EASING ?
Retail stores across the state can reopen but the state recommends they only provide pick-up and delivery services .
Manufacturing plants can reopen if they close break rooms and follow a checklist of guidelines from the state that call for keeping workers at least 6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Restaurants can ’ t open for dining , though three counties are defying the state and allowing it .
Public pools and playgrounds are off limits .
Movie theaters , nail salons , tattoo parlors and gyms remain closed .
WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR COUNTIES TO GO BEYOND THE STATE ORDER ?
A number of requirements aim at ensuring health safety .
To move into the next stage of reopening , a county must record no deaths linked to the coronavirus for two weeks and no more than one confirmed case for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Counties also must be able to test for COVID-19 .
The requirement is 1.5 tests a day per 1,000 residents .
A county also must have enough shelters for at least 15 % of its homeless population and at least 15 contact tracers per 100,000 residents to track down suspected coronavirus cases .
IF COUNTIES MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS , WHAT CAN THEY REOPEN ?
Shopping malls and dine-in restaurants , although bars and gaming areas will remain shuttered .
Outdoor museums and galleries can also reopen .
Office-based businesses have the option of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state still recommends telework .
Tanning facilities can reopen , but nail salons and tattoo parlors can not .
Gyms will also stay closed , in addition to movie theaters , wineries and playgrounds .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California Gov. Gavin Newsom outlined changes to the state’s stay-at-home order that take effect Friday. They allow more retailers to reopen and counties to move forward more quickly with reopening plans if they meet specific criteria.
HOW IS THE STAY-AT-HOME ORDER EASING?
Retail stores across the state can reopen, but the state says they only provide pick-up and delivery services. Manufacturing plants can reopen if they close break rooms and follow a checklist of guidelines from the state that call for keeping workers at least 6 feet apart and wearing face coverings.
WHAT ISN’T ALLOWED?
Restaurants can’t open for dining, though three counties are defying the state and allowing it. Public pools and playgrounds are off limits. Movie theaters, nail salons, tattoo parlors and gyms remain closed.
WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR COUNTIES TO GO BEYOND THE STATE ORDER?
A number of requirements aim at ensuring health and safety. To move into the next stage of reopening, a county must record no deaths linked to the coronavirus for two weeks and no more than one confirmed case for every 10,000 residents for 14 days. Counties also must be able to test for COVID-19. The requirement is 1.5 tests a day per 1,000 residents. A county also must have enough shelters for at least 15% of its homeless population and at least 15 contact tracers per 100,000 residents to track down suspected coronavirus cases.
IF COUNTIES MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS, WHAT CAN THEY REOPEN?
Shopping malls and dine-in restaurants, although bars and gaming areas will remain shuttered. Outdoor museums and galleries can also reopen. Office-based businesses have the option of bringing back their workers, although the state still recommends telework. Tanning facilities can reopen, but nail salons and tattoo parlors cannot. Gyms will also stay closed, in addition to movie theaters, wineries and playgrounds.
___
Source: California governor’s office.


washingtontimes--2020-05-07--Gregory McMichael and Travis McMichael arrested in Ahmaud Arbery shooting

SAVANNAH , Ga. — A white father and son accused of fatally shooting a black man on a residential Georgia @ @ @ @ @ charged with murder and aggravated assault after a national outcry that no arrests had been @ @ @ @ @ Gregory McMichael , 64 , and Travis McMichael , 34 , will be booked into @ @ @ @ @ the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a news release .
Ahmaud Arbery was killed @ @ @ @ @ port city of Brunswick .
The men who pursued him in a pickup truck told @ @ @ @ @ a burglar .
The GBI opened an investigation this week after the video was posted @ @ @ @ @ station .
Republican Gov .
Brian Kemp told reporters that he ’ s confident the @ @ @ @ @ truth .
”

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Georgia authorities arrested a white father and son Thursday and charged them with murder in the February shooting death of a black man they had pursued in a truck after spotting him running in their neighborhood.
The charges came more than two months after Ahmaud Arbery, 25, was killed on a residential street just outside the port city of Brunswick. National outrage over the case swelled this week after a cellphone video that appeared to show the shooting.
Gregory McMichael told police after the February shooting that he and his son chased after Arbery because they suspected him of being a burglar. Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper Jones, has said she believes her son, a former football player, was just jogging in the Satilla Shores neighborhood before he was killed on a Sunday afternoon.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced the arrests the day after it began its own investigation at the request of an outside prosecutor. The agency said in a news release that Gregory McMichael, 64, and his 34-year-old son, Travis McMichael, had both been jailed on charges of murder and aggravated assault.
The GBI news release said the McMichaels “confronted Arbery with two firearms. During the encounter, Travis McMichael shot and killed Arbery.” No other details were immediately released.
It was not immediately known if either of the McMichaels had an attorney who could comment on the charges.
Gregory McMichael served as an investigator for Glynn County District Attorney Jackie Johnson. He retired last year. The connection caused Johnson to recuse herself from the case.
At a news conference before the arrests were announced Thursday, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp told reporters he was confident state investigators would “find the truth.”
“Earlier this week, I watched the video depicting Mr. Arbery’s last moments alive,” Kemp told a news conference in Atlanta. “I can tell you it’s absolutely horrific, and Georgians deserve answers.”
Gregory McMichael told police he suspected the runner was the same man filmed by a security camera committing a break-in. He and his grown son, Travis McMichael, grabbed guns and began a pursuit in the truck.
The video shows a black man running at a jogging pace on the left side of a road. A truck is parked in the road ahead of him. One of the white men is inside the pickup’s bed. The other is standing beside the open driver’s side door.
The runner crosses the road to pass the pickup on the passenger side, then crosses back in front of the truck. A gunshot sounds, and the video shows the runner grappling with a man in the street over what appears to be a shotgun or rifle. A second shot can be heard, and the runner can be seen punching the man. A third shot is fired at point-blank range. The runner staggers a few feet and falls face down.
Brunswick defense attorney Alan Tucker identified himself Thursday as the person who shared the video with the radio station. In a statement, Tucker said he wasn’t representing anyone involved in the case. He said he released the video “because my community was being ripped apart by erroneous accusations and assumptions.”
Tucker did not say how he obtained the video. He did not immediately respond to a phone message or an email.
The outcry over the killing reached the White House, where President Donald Trump offered condolences Thursday to Arbery’s family.
“It’s a very sad thing,” Trump said in the Oval Office, “but I will be given a full report this evening.”
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has called Arbery’s death a “murder.” During an online roundtable Thursday, Biden compared the video to seeing Arbery “lynched before our very eyes.”
The outside prosecutor overseeing the case, Tom Durden, had said Monday that he wanted a grand jury to decide whether charges are warranted. With Georgia courts still largely closed because of the coronavirus, the soonest that could happen is mid-June.


washingtontimes--2020-05-07--Chief: Maryland police officer shoots, kills man with knife

ROCKVILLE , Md .
( AP ) - A Maryland police officer fatally shot a man who charged at him with a knife , authorities said Thursday .
Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones told reporters that officers were dispatched to a call about a man who threw a rock at a neighbor ’ s window and yelled for them to call police .
When officers arrived , Jones said they encountered the man as he held the knife .
One officer ordered the man to get on the ground , Jones said , adding that the unidentified man rushed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ignored commands to drop the knife and then came at the officer again before he was shot .
The chief said the officer performed first aid on the man before he was taken to a local hospital , where he died .
Jones said there is body-cam video as well as eyewitness video of the incident .
He also said witnesses were being interviewed by police .
The races of the officer and the man who died weren ’ t released on Thursday , and a police didn ’ t immediately respond to @ @ @ @ @ @

ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) - A Maryland police officer fatally shot a man who charged at him with a knife, authorities said Thursday.
Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones told reporters that officers were dispatched to a call about a man who threw a rock at a neighbor’s window and yelled for them to call police.
When officers arrived, Jones said they encountered the man as he held the knife. One officer ordered the man to get on the ground, Jones said, adding that the unidentified man rushed at the officer, walked backward, ignored commands to drop the knife and then came at the officer again before he was shot.
The chief said the officer performed first aid on the man before he was taken to a local hospital, where he died.
Jones said there is body-cam video as well as eyewitness video of the incident. He also said witnesses were being interviewed by police.
The races of the officer and the man who died weren’t released on Thursday, and a police didn’t immediately respond to a request for additional information.


washingtontimes--2020-05-07--Sheriff seeks help to ID human remains found near Sweet Home

SWEET HOME , Ore. ( AP ) - The Linn County Sheriff ’ s Office is seeking the public ’ @ @ @ @ @ remains found in the Willamette National Forest outside Sweet Home .
Investigators have determined the @ @ @ @ @ between ages 30 and 50 , The Oregonian/OregonLive reported .
The remains were discovered April @ @ @ @ @ east of Sweet Home .
Investigators said the woman had short , wavy brown hair @ @ @ @ @ between two months and one year .
Investigators also found an extra-small purple athletic jacket @ @ @ @ @ blue jeans and size 9.5 black boots .
Investigators are waiting for results of a @ @ @

SWEET HOME, Ore. (AP) - The Linn County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help to identify human remains found in the Willamette National Forest outside Sweet Home.
Investigators have determined the remains belonged to a woman between ages 30 and 50, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. The remains were discovered April 3 near Gordon Road, east of Sweet Home. Investigators said the woman had short, wavy brown hair and had likely been there between two months and one year.
Investigators also found an extra-small purple athletic jacket, a teal camisole, blue jeans and size 9.5 black boots.
Investigators are waiting for results of a DNA test.


washingtontimes--2020-05-07--NTSB: Houston police helicopter rotated before crashing

HOUSTON ( AP ) - Federal investigators say a video made by a witness shows a Houston police helicopter rotating @ @ @ @ @ to the ground and crashing , killing one person aboard and injuring the other .
@ @ @ @ @ Wednesday , the National Transportation Safety Board drew no conclusions as to the cause of @ @ @ @ @ .
The NTSB noted that visibility was good and winds were light when the crash @ @ @ @ @ shortly after 2 a.m .
The 12-year-old MD Helicopter 369 was equipped with an augmented @ @ @ @ @ navigation in the dark .
The NTSB said a data recording from that system has @ @ @ @ @ is scheduled for Saturday for Tactical Flight Officer Jason Knox , 35 , who was @ @ @ @ @ .
Senior Police Officer Chase Cormier , also 35 , was injured .

HOUSTON (AP) - Federal investigators say a video made by a witness shows a Houston police helicopter rotating in the air before plunging to the ground and crashing, killing one person aboard and injuring the other.
In a preliminary report issued Wednesday, the National Transportation Safety Board drew no conclusions as to the cause of the deadly May 2 crash.
The NTSB noted that visibility was good and winds were light when the crash happened near Bush Intercontinental Airport shortly after 2 a.m.
The 12-year-old MD Helicopter 369 was equipped with an augmented reality mapping system to assist navigation in the dark. The NTSB said a data recording from that system has been retrieved.
A funeral is scheduled for Saturday for Tactical Flight Officer Jason Knox, 35, who was fatally injured in the crash. Senior Police Officer Chase Cormier, also 35, was injured.


washingtontimes--2020-05-07--Authorities: Georgia father and son arrested and charged with murder of black man who was killed on

BRUNSWICK , Ga. ( AP ) - Authorities : Georgia father and son arrested and charged with murder of black @ @ @ @ @ residential street .

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) - Authorities: Georgia father and son arrested and charged with murder of black man who was killed on residential street.
Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.


washingtontimes--2020-05-07--Police: Man fatally shot 83-year-old mother, then himself

LAWRENCEVILLE , Ga. ( AP ) - Authorities said a Georgia man fatally shot his 83-year-old mother , then himself @ @ @ @ @ of June Fiveash , 83 , and Russell Fiveash , 51 , were found inside @ @ @ @ @ Lawrenceville , news outlets reported .
On Thursday , Gwinnett police spokesman Cpl .
Collin @ @ @ @ @ was supposed to meet with June Fiveash but didn ’ t .
Flynn said authorities @ @ @ @ @ to a wellness check requested by the nurse .
Authorities said they believe Russell Fiveash @ @ @ @ @ shot himself .
Details regarding a possible motive weren ’ t immediately .
released .
@ @ @ @ @ ongoing .

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (AP) - Authorities said a Georgia man fatally shot his 83-year-old mother, then himself Wednesday afternoon.
The bodies of June Fiveash, 83, and Russell Fiveash, 51, were found inside a home Wednesday in unincorporated Lawrenceville, news outlets reported.
On Thursday, Gwinnett police spokesman Cpl. Collin Flynn said a hospice nurse was supposed to meet with June Fiveash but didn’t. Flynn said authorities found the bodies after responding to a wellness check requested by the nurse.
Authorities said they believe Russell Fiveash shot his mother, then shot himself. Details regarding a possible motive weren’t immediately. released.
Police said the investigation was ongoing.


washingtontimes--2020-05-07--Coronavirus death rate for union food workers low

The coronavirus outbreak has taken the lives of at least 72 workers among the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union ’ s 1.3 million members in supermarkets , pharmacies , meatpacking plants and other essential businesses that have remained open during the crisis , according to the union .
The death toll represents a per capita fatality rate of roughly 5 per 100,000 UFCW workers in the U.S. and Canada .
The rate is lower than that of the general population even though these front-line workers did not benefit until mid-April from widespread orders for people to wear masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures .
The per capita COVID-19 fatality rate for the U.S. is about 22 per 100,000 .
The data from UFCW , which was compiled from the union ’ s internal reports , does not include the total number of confirmed cases or claim to be a definitive count of fatalities .
The union members also represent only a share of the U.S. grocery store workforce , which is estimated at 2.99 million .
The union said 5,322 of its members have been directly affected by the pandemic , including workers who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work because they are ordered to self-quarantine , are awaiting test results , have been hospitalized or are symptomatic .
UFCW refused to provide additional information requested by The Washington Times .
The union ’ s tally , however , provides a glimpse into the mysterious and unpredictable nature of the disease , which has prompted unprecedented orders to close businesses and shelter in place .
David W. Hutton , a health management and policy professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health , questioned the accuracy of the union ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be surprised by lower mortality rates for UFCW workers than the general U.S. population .
Relatively young and healthy workers in grocery stores are more likely to beat the respiratory disease , Mr. Hutton said .
“ Although there is a lot we don ’ t know , it ’ s pretty clear that the risk of developing severe symptoms and dying is higher in the elderly and those with comorbidities , ” he said , referring to underlying conditions such as diabetes and heart disease that tend to contribute to COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and older account for about 80 % of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S .
Indeed , the median age of grocery store workers is 36.5 , according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics .
In hard-hit New York , which has attributed more than 20,000 deaths to COVID-19 , people ages 30 to 39 accounted for 281 fatalities , or 1.4 % of the total .
The bureau reported similar median ages for workers in other sectors that have been ordered closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus , including shoe stores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 32 ) , sporting goods and toy stores ( 34 ) , and bookstores ( 37 ) .
Workers tend to be older in jewelry stores ( 48 ) , flower shops ( 51.6 ) and manufacturing jobs ( 44 ) .
The median age of workers in animal slaughtering and processing is 40 , according to the bureau .
Meatpackers , including UFCW members , have been among the hardest hit by the pandemic .
As of Tuesday , at least 10,800 meatpacking workers had tested positive for COVID-19 and at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 45 workers at 24 plants had died from COVID-19 , according to data compiled by the nonprofit Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting .
Outbreaks have shut down at least 38 meatpacking plants at some point since the onset of the pandemic .
Grocery stores also have reported outbreaks but not to the extent of meatpacking plants , although grocery workers come into close contact with steady streams of customers .
Several Walmart supercenters in Massachusetts closed temporarily because workers tested positive for the virus .
A 69-year-old woman who worked at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
In late April , a Walmart supercenter in Aurora , Colorado , shut down after a 72-year-old worker , her 63-year-old husband and a 69-year-old security contractor at the store died from COVID-19 .
The industry has about 3 million employees in nearly 40,000 stores in the U.S. , including supermarkets , traditional grocers and warehouse stores such as Sam ’ s Club and Costco , most of which stayed open during lockdowns .
Many supermarket chains implemented safety measures in late March , including installing clear plastic barriers between cashiers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for moving too slowly to require workers to wear masks and gloves or to impose stricter social distancing rules on customers .
A UFCW spokeswoman said the safety of workers must come first in every sector and industry .
“ Since the beginning of the pandemic , we have worked closely with employers to ensure that they implement strong safety standards .
While many employers have taken important initial steps , much more must be done by both companies and elected leaders at the state and national level to further strengthen safety in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s food supply secure during this public health crisis , ” the UFCW ’ s Cynthia Montes said in an email to The Times .
So far , 30 states are reopening or planning to soon allow more businesses to reopen , but the nation ’ s economy remains in a shambles .
More than 30 million Americans have lost their jobs , and the unemployment rate is approaching levels on par with the Great Depression .
The U.S. has more than 1.2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in a population of around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been attributed to the disease , and more than 189,900 people have recovered .
New York University economics professor Paul Romer said lifting the lockdown and allowing the virus to spread unchecked could result in 1 million deaths , but he acknowledged that stay-at-home orders have not stamped out the coronavirus while devastating the economy .
“ The problem right now is we don ’ t know who ’ s infected , so we ’ re trying to contain and isolate and limit the mobility of as many people as possible , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said on a webcast about reopening the economy hosted by Sen. Patrick J. Toomey , Pennsylvania Republican .
“ We ’ re facing $ 500 billion a month in lost economic activity by containing people , and the prospect of containing people even more … by this method is just not going to be acceptable to people .
So the alternative path is to figure out who is infected and just contain , isolate them .
”

The coronavirus outbreak has taken the lives of at least 72 workers among the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union’s 1.3 million members in supermarkets, pharmacies, meatpacking plants and other essential businesses that have remained open during the crisis, according to the union.
The death toll represents a per capita fatality rate of roughly 5 per 100,000 UFCW workers in the U.S. and Canada. The rate is lower than that of the general population even though these front-line workers did not benefit until mid-April from widespread orders for people to wear masks in public and take other robust safety measures.
The per capita COVID-19 fatality rate for the U.S. is about 22 per 100,000.
The data from UFCW, which was compiled from the union’s internal reports, does not include the total number of confirmed cases or claim to be a definitive count of fatalities.
The union members also represent only a share of the U.S. grocery store workforce, which is estimated at 2.99 million.
The union said 5,322 of its members have been directly affected by the pandemic, including workers who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have missed work because they are ordered to self-quarantine, are awaiting test results, have been hospitalized or are symptomatic.
UFCW refused to provide additional information requested by The Washington Times.
The union’s tally, however, provides a glimpse into the mysterious and unpredictable nature of the disease, which has prompted unprecedented orders to close businesses and shelter in place.
David W. Hutton, a health management and policy professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, questioned the accuracy of the union’s fatality count but said he would not be surprised by lower mortality rates for UFCW workers than the general U.S. population.
Relatively young and healthy workers in grocery stores are more likely to beat the respiratory disease, Mr. Hutton said.
“Although there is a lot we don’t know, it’s pretty clear that the risk of developing severe symptoms and dying is higher in the elderly and those with comorbidities,” he said, referring to underlying conditions such as diabetes and heart disease that tend to contribute to COVID-19 deaths.
He also said people 65 and older account for about 80% of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S.
Indeed, the median age of grocery store workers is 36.5, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In hard-hit New York, which has attributed more than 20,000 deaths to COVID-19, people ages 30 to 39 accounted for 281 fatalities, or 1.4% of the total.
The bureau reported similar median ages for workers in other sectors that have been ordered closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, including shoe stores (26), clothing stores (32), sporting goods and toy stores (34), and bookstores (37).
Workers tend to be older in jewelry stores (48), flower shops (51.6) and manufacturing jobs (44).
The median age of workers in animal slaughtering and processing is 40, according to the bureau.
Meatpackers, including UFCW members, have been among the hardest hit by the pandemic.
As of Tuesday, at least 10,800 meatpacking workers had tested positive for COVID-19 and at least 167 plants had reported infections. At least 45 workers at 24 plants had died from COVID-19, according to data compiled by the nonprofit Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting.
Outbreaks have shut down at least 38 meatpacking plants at some point since the onset of the pandemic.
Grocery stores also have reported outbreaks but not to the extent of meatpacking plants, although grocery workers come into close contact with steady streams of customers.
Several Walmart supercenters in Massachusetts closed temporarily because workers tested positive for the virus. A 69-year-old woman who worked at a store in Quincy died this week from COVID-19.
In late April, a Walmart supercenter in Aurora, Colorado, shut down after a 72-year-old worker, her 63-year-old husband and a 69-year-old security contractor at the store died from COVID-19.
The industry has about 3 million employees in nearly 40,000 stores in the U.S., including supermarkets, traditional grocers and warehouse stores such as Sam’s Club and Costco, most of which stayed open during lockdowns.
Many supermarket chains implemented safety measures in late March, including installing clear plastic barriers between cashiers and customers. Unions have criticized employers for moving too slowly to require workers to wear masks and gloves or to impose stricter social distancing rules on customers.
A UFCW spokeswoman said the safety of workers must come first in every sector and industry.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have worked closely with employers to ensure that they implement strong safety standards. While many employers have taken important initial steps, much more must be done by both companies and elected leaders at the state and national level to further strengthen safety in these plants and keep our country’s food supply secure during this public health crisis,” the UFCW’s Cynthia Montes said in an email to The Times.
So far, 30 states are reopening or planning to soon allow more businesses to reopen, but the nation’s economy remains in a shambles.
More than 30 million Americans have lost their jobs, and the unemployment rate is approaching levels on par with the Great Depression.
The U.S. has more than 1.2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in a population of around 330 million. More than 73,000 deaths have been attributed to the disease, and more than 189,900 people have recovered.
New York University economics professor Paul Romer said lifting the lockdown and allowing the virus to spread unchecked could result in 1 million deaths, but he acknowledged that stay-at-home orders have not stamped out the coronavirus while devastating the economy.
“The problem right now is we don’t know who’s infected, so we’re trying to contain and isolate and limit the mobility of as many people as possible, and this is really causing enormous loss,” he said on a webcast about reopening the economy hosted by Sen. Patrick J. Toomey, Pennsylvania Republican.
“We’re facing $500 billion a month in lost economic activity by containing people, and the prospect of containing people even more … by this method is just not going to be acceptable to people. So the alternative path is to figure out who is infected and just contain, isolate them.”
• Dave Boyer contributed to this report.
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-07--Ex-Florida sheriff's removal lawsuit dismissed

TALLAHASSEE , Fla. ( AP ) - A federal judge has ruled that the due process rights of a former Florida sheriff ousted by the governor following the Parkland high school massacre were not violated when the state Senate refused to reinstate him .
U.S. District Judge Mark Walker dismissed ex-Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel ’ s lawsuit on Tuesday .
The lawsuit had been filed in November in Tallahassee federal court .
Israel contends that Gov .
Ron DeSantis and the state Senate deprived him of due process and failed to follow a special master ’ s recommendation that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from office .
Shortly after taking office in January 2019 , DeSantis removed Israel from his job , deeming him incompetent in his department ’ s response to the February 2018 shooting that killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School .
The federal judged wrote in his order that Israel ’ s due process rights weren ’ t violated because the governor and Senate followed the legal process for removing an elected official from office , regardless of whether the removal was fair or justified .
DeSantis appointed Gregory Tony to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tony and others to get his old job back in this year ’ s election .
Israel ’ s attorney , Stuart Kaplan , said Israel is disappointed with the court ’ s decision but is focused on winning the upcoming election .

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A federal judge has ruled that the due process rights of a former Florida sheriff ousted by the governor following the Parkland high school massacre were not violated when the state Senate refused to reinstate him.
U.S. District Judge Mark Walker dismissed ex-Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel’s lawsuit on Tuesday. The lawsuit had been filed in November in Tallahassee federal court.
Israel contends that Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Senate deprived him of due process and failed to follow a special master’s recommendation that he shouldn’t have been suspended from office. Shortly after taking office in January 2019, DeSantis removed Israel from his job, deeming him incompetent in his department’s response to the February 2018 shooting that killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
The federal judged wrote in his order that Israel’s due process rights weren’t violated because the governor and Senate followed the legal process for removing an elected official from office, regardless of whether the removal was fair or justified.
DeSantis appointed Gregory Tony to replace Israel. Israel is running against Tony and others to get his old job back in this year’s election.
Israel’s attorney, Stuart Kaplan, said Israel is disappointed with the court’s decision but is focused on winning the upcoming election.


washingtontimes--2020-05-07--Ex-Green Beret behind Venezuela raid suspected of plagiarism

MIAMI ( AP ) - The former Green Beret behind a failed military incursion in Venezuela can add another infraction to his growing list of potential screw ups - cut and paste plagiarism .
The website for Jordan Goudreau ’ s Silvercorp USA appears to have lifted entire passages from the website of the Department of Homeland Security and as well as one run by a crisis management firm .
There are also pages found on the website , without active hyperlinks , with wording nearly identical to online texts from inspirational speaker Tony Robbins , a more-established competitor in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ print of online educational website MasterClass .
Goudreau has claimed responsibility for a failed military incursion Sunday to capture socialist leader Nicolás Maduro that resulted in the detention in Venezuela of two of his former special forces colleagues .
The Trump administration has denied any responsibility for the armed raid .
Goudreau has said he was hired last year by opposition leader Juan Guaidó , something the U.S.-backed Venezuelan lawmaker has denied .
An Associated Press investigation found that last year Goudreau helped train a team of Venezuelan military deserters in Colombia to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a crisis arises , the first thing people often look for is a leader : the person who knows how to solve the problem and will take the necessary steps to do so , ” reads the homepage of SilvercorpUSA.com , which features images of Goudreau firing machine guns in battle , running shirtless up a pyramid and flying on a private jet .
Except for the substituted word Silvercorp , the five-sentence blurb is identical to a passage on the website of Tucker/Hall , a Jacksonville , Florida-based PR firm that specializes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the website promoting his firm ’ s expertise on “ Natural Disaster Mitigation ” lifts three sentences verbatim from the Homeland Security website .
Goudreau ’ s apparent intellectual property theft was first detected by an anonymous social media sleuth who published his findings under the handle @ Z3dster on Twitter .
“ That # SilvercorpUSA site is special , ” the person wrote .
“ If anyone was doing business with him , this should ’ ve raised some serious red flags , ” @ Z3dster said in an interview on what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after first being reached via a direct message on Twitter .
He declined to provide his real name or location but said he is a system administrator with a degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison .
Z3dster achieved renown in 2017 for discovering former Trump campaign boss Paul Manafort may have used the online password “ Bond007.
” Goudreau hung up when contacted by phone on Thursday .
David Volk , whose Melbourne , Florida-based law firm represented Goudreau in his past dealings with Guaidó aides in Miami , declined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ represents the special forces veteran with three Bronze Stars .
“ Please stop contacting our office , ” Volk said in a response to an AP e-mail .
Befitting Goudreau ’ s own James Bond-like aura , he had a gmail account ending with “ 007 ” that Z3dster found .
A friend of Goudreau confirmed that the account belongs to the ex-Green Beret .
A photo icon associated with that account matches one of a U.S. combat soldier peering through a long-lens camera in mountainous terrain that has appeared on Silvercorp ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The friend , speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations , said he believes Goudreau designed the website himself .
The domain was registered in February 2018 by a former business partner .
A copy of the site was downloaded by AP on April 12 , indicating the plagiarized passages existed before Goudreau was at the center of a major U.S. foreign policy crisis .
In one sloppy mistake on the Silvercorp website , Goudreau appears to have even copied the small print of MasterClass , leaving a trail of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the privacy terms of his website .
The link to the privacy terms was not active .
“ Anyone embarking on a personal journey toward higher achievement and deeper fulfillment needs a strong core , a foundation on which to build their new life , ” reads a sentence on the “ Ask Jordan ” section of the Silvercorp website that is identical to an “ Ask Tony ” on Robbins ’ website .
The section remains on the Silvercorp website but is no longer active .
Sean McFarte , a former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private military contractor , said Goudreau ’ s behavior should raise serious concerns about the lack of enforcement of U.S. laws requiring Americans who conduct private military training abroad to obtain U.S. government licensing .
“ Charlatans and amateurs have always haunted the mercenary business , ” said McFarte , who is the author of “ The New Rules of War ” on the foreign policy implications of privatized warfare .
“ But Goudreau finds the new bottom .
Silvercorp is literally ’ the gang that can ’ t shoot straight.
’ ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributed to this report .

MIAMI (AP) - The former Green Beret behind a failed military incursion in Venezuela can add another infraction to his growing list of potential screw ups - cut and paste plagiarism.
The website for Jordan Goudreau’s Silvercorp USA appears to have lifted entire passages from the website of the Department of Homeland Security and as well as one run by a crisis management firm. There are also pages found on the website, without active hyperlinks, with wording nearly identical to online texts from inspirational speaker Tony Robbins, a more-established competitor in the private security industry and the fine print of online educational website MasterClass.
Goudreau has claimed responsibility for a failed military incursion Sunday to capture socialist leader Nicolás Maduro that resulted in the detention in Venezuela of two of his former special forces colleagues. The Trump administration has denied any responsibility for the armed raid.
Goudreau has said he was hired last year by opposition leader Juan Guaidó, something the U.S.-backed Venezuelan lawmaker has denied. An Associated Press investigation found that last year Goudreau helped train a team of Venezuelan military deserters in Colombia to carry out a raid.
“When a crisis arises, the first thing people often look for is a leader: the person who knows how to solve the problem and will take the necessary steps to do so,” reads the homepage of SilvercorpUSA.com, which features images of Goudreau firing machine guns in battle, running shirtless up a pyramid and flying on a private jet.
Except for the substituted word Silvercorp, the five-sentence blurb is identical to a passage on the website of Tucker/Hall, a Jacksonville, Florida-based PR firm that specializes in crisis management.
A section of the website promoting his firm’s expertise on “Natural Disaster Mitigation” lifts three sentences verbatim from the Homeland Security website.
Goudreau’s apparent intellectual property theft was first detected by an anonymous social media sleuth who published his findings under the handle @Z3dster on Twitter. “That #SilvercorpUSA site is special,” the person wrote.
“If anyone was doing business with him, this should’ve raised some serious red flags,” @Z3dster said in an interview on what he said was a burner phone, after first being reached via a direct message on Twitter. He declined to provide his real name or location but said he is a system administrator with a degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Z3dster achieved renown in 2017 for discovering former Trump campaign boss Paul Manafort may have used the online password “Bond007.”
Goudreau hung up when contacted by phone on Thursday. David Volk, whose Melbourne, Florida-based law firm represented Goudreau in his past dealings with Guaidó aides in Miami, declined to comment or even confirm whether he represents the special forces veteran with three Bronze Stars.
“Please stop contacting our office,” Volk said in a response to an AP e-mail.
Befitting Goudreau’s own James Bond-like aura, he had a gmail account ending with “007” that Z3dster found. A friend of Goudreau confirmed that the account belongs to the ex-Green Beret. A photo icon associated with that account matches one of a U.S. combat soldier peering through a long-lens camera in mountainous terrain that has appeared on Silvercorp’s website, according to Z3dster.
The friend, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations, said he believes Goudreau designed the website himself. The domain was registered in February 2018 by a former business partner. A copy of the site was downloaded by AP on April 12, indicating the plagiarized passages existed before Goudreau was at the center of a major U.S. foreign policy crisis.
In one sloppy mistake on the Silvercorp website, Goudreau appears to have even copied the small print of MasterClass, leaving a trail of 37 citations of the popular educational website in the privacy terms of his website. The link to the privacy terms was not active.
“Anyone embarking on a personal journey toward higher achievement and deeper fulfillment needs a strong core, a foundation on which to build their new life,” reads a sentence on the “Ask Jordan” section of the Silvercorp website that is identical to an “Ask Tony” on Robbins’ website. The section remains on the Silvercorp website but is no longer active.
Sean McFate, a former U.S. Army paratrooper who worked as a private military contractor, said Goudreau’s behavior should raise serious concerns about the lack of enforcement of U.S. laws requiring Americans who conduct private military training abroad to obtain U.S. government licensing.
“Charlatans and amateurs have always haunted the mercenary business,” said McFate, who is the author of “The New Rules of War” on the foreign policy implications of privatized warfare. “But Goudreau finds the new bottom. Silvercorp is literally ’the gang that can’t shoot straight.’ ”
___
AP Technology Writer Frank Bajak in Boston contributed to this report.
___
Joshua Goodman on Twitter: @APJoshGoodman


washingtontimes--2020-05-07--Judge to hear lawsuit on Puerto Rico school food crisis

SAN JUAN , Puerto Rico ( AP ) - A judge on Thursday agreed to consider a lawsuit filed by a group of mothers and nonprofits who accuse the U.S. territory ’ s government of dodging its responsibility to feed public school children amid a coronavirus lockdown .
The judge ’ s refusal to dismiss the lawsuit as requested by the government comes amid new problems that have arisen since the island ’ s Department of Education abruptly changed its position last week and announced it would open school cafeterias under certain restrictions .
It had previously refused to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students and cafeteria workers , of which 64 % are elderly .
Since the reopening of certain school cafeterias , the government revealed that more than 30 workers have tested positive for COVID-19 while activists say many students are not receiving meals , noting also that only one instead of the usual two meals a day are being distributed .
“ We can not be satisfied until there ’ s no one left to feed , ” attorney Osvaldo Burgos said in a phone interview .
The judge set a hearing for May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Burgos worries that the ongoing problems will only worsen .
Nearly 70 % of public school students in Puerto Rico are poor , and many on the island were outraged that cafeterias had remained closed for more than a month since the lockdown was imposed in mid-March .
The Department of Education had offloaded its food to nonprofit organizations and a food bank , but teachers and others warned it wasn ’ t enough and that it wasn ’ t reaching those most in need .
On Thursday , education officials said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second day since some cafeterias reopened , and that another 35 cafeterias will reopen next week in what Education Secretary Eligio Hernández described as “ complicated logistics.
” “ Each day , we ’ ll be making adjustments , ” he said in a statement .
Spokesman Aniel Bigio did not immediately return a request for comment regarding the judge ’ s ruling .
The judge said he would decide next week whether the lawsuit , which was filed before school cafeterias reopened , has been rendered moot .
If that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would resolve the concerns raised in the lawsuit .

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - A judge on Thursday agreed to consider a lawsuit filed by a group of mothers and nonprofits who accuse the U.S. territory’s government of dodging its responsibility to feed public school children amid a coronavirus lockdown.
The judge’s refusal to dismiss the lawsuit as requested by the government comes amid new problems that have arisen since the island’s Department of Education abruptly changed its position last week and announced it would open school cafeterias under certain restrictions. It had previously refused to do so, citing concerns of contagion among students and cafeteria workers, of which 64% are elderly.
Since the reopening of certain school cafeterias, the government revealed that more than 30 workers have tested positive for COVID-19 while activists say many students are not receiving meals, noting also that only one instead of the usual two meals a day are being distributed.
“We cannot be satisfied until there’s no one left to feed,” attorney Osvaldo Burgos said in a phone interview.
The judge set a hearing for May 15, and in the meantime, Burgos worries that the ongoing problems will only worsen.
Nearly 70% of public school students in Puerto Rico are poor, and many on the island were outraged that cafeterias had remained closed for more than a month since the lockdown was imposed in mid-March. The Department of Education had offloaded its food to nonprofit organizations and a food bank, but teachers and others warned it wasn’t enough and that it wasn’t reaching those most in need.
On Thursday, education officials said that more than 46,000 meals were distributed in the second day since some cafeterias reopened, and that another 35 cafeterias will reopen next week in what Education Secretary Eligio Hernández described as “complicated logistics.”
“Each day, we’ll be making adjustments,” he said in a statement.
Spokesman Aniel Bigio did not immediately return a request for comment regarding the judge’s ruling.
The judge said he would decide next week whether the lawsuit, which was filed before school cafeterias reopened, has been rendered moot. If that’s not the case, he said he would resolve the concerns raised in the lawsuit.


washingtontimes--2020-05-07--News Corp.: Fiscal 3Q Earnings Snapshot

News Corp.: Fiscal 3Q Earnings Snapshot

NEW YORK ( AP ) - News Corp. ( NWSA ) on Thursday reported a fiscal third-quarter loss of $ 730 million , after reporting a profit in the same period a year earlier .
On a per-share basis , the New York-based company said it had a loss of $ 1.24 .
Adjusted for one-time gains and costs , it posted a profit of 3 cents per share .
The results exceeded Wall Street expectations .
The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 2 cents per share .
The publishing company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted revenue of $ 2.27 billion in the period .
News Corp. shares have dropped 32 % since the beginning of the year , while the Standard & Poor ’ s 500 index has declined 11 % .
In the final minutes of trading on Thursday , shares hit $ 9.65 , a fall of 17 % in the last 12 months .
This story was generated by Automated Insights ( http : //automatedinsights.com/ap ) using data from Zacks Investment Research .
Access a Zacks stock report on NWSA at https : //www.zacks.com/ap/NWSA

NEW YORK (AP) - News Corp. (NWSA) on Thursday reported a fiscal third-quarter loss of $730 million, after reporting a profit in the same period a year earlier.
On a per-share basis, the New York-based company said it had a loss of $1.24. Adjusted for one-time gains and costs, it posted a profit of 3 cents per share.
The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 2 cents per share.
The publishing company whose flagship is The Wall Street Journal posted revenue of $2.27 billion in the period.
News Corp. shares have dropped 32% since the beginning of the year, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index has declined 11%. In the final minutes of trading on Thursday, shares hit $9.65, a fall of 17% in the last 12 months.
_____
This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on NWSA at https://www.zacks.com/ap/NWSA


washingtontimes--2020-05-07--Steven Mnuchin: Stimulus check sent to dead people should be return by kin

President Donald Trump , Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin – and now the IRS – are urging people who received coronavirus relief payments for a deceased taxpayer to return the money to the government .
But legal experts say there is no law requiring people do that .
Some of the more than 130 million economic impact payments that went out to taxpayers as part of the $ 2.2 trillion economic relief package were sent to dead people .
That happened mainly because of a lag in reporting data on who is deceased .
It ’ s happened with past federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is almost inevitable .
However , this is the first time the IRS has asked for the money back from the deceased taxpayers ’ survivors .
Some law experts say the government may not have the legal authority to require it be returned .
They also suggest the move may be just the IRS responding to pressure from the White House and the Treasury Department .
Trump and Mnuchin have both said publicly in recent weeks that money sent to deceased taxpayers should be returned .
But the IRS didn ’ t issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Wednesday , it updated its website , stating that if a person died before the payment was issued , the money should be returned .
It also provided instructions on how to do so .
The IRS and Treasury did not say what would happen if these payments were not returned or otherwise repaid .
Former Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson said that there is nothing in the law prohibiting payments from going to the deceased .
Nor is there anything in the law requiring people to return the payments .
And she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IRS website does not say that returning the payments is required by law .
“ We are starting from these two soundbites and working backward , ” Olson , who now runs the nonprofit Center for Taxpayer Rights , said .
The Treasury did not respond to multiple requests for comment .
The relief payments were made to taxpayers based on the information filed on their 2019 or 2018 taxes .
But it is considered a rebate on 2020 taxes .
The government used the prior tax forms to help speed along payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economic devastation from the coronavirus pandemic .
The problem is , some people who filed those taxes may no longer be alive .
Those payments are sent to an heir or executor of their estate .
If the payment is based off a final tax return completed after their death , an economic impact payment check may even denote that the person is deceased next to their name .
It ’ s confusing at best .
But it is also would be a legal and logistical mess for the government to try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are unlikely to be pursued , Olson and others said .
“ They don ’ t have a legal leg to stand on , ” she said .
The coronavirus rescue package , which included the relief payments , was passed at the end of March .
The government started issuing the payments in April .
There is no official count of how many payments went to dead people .
Bryan Camp , a law professor at Texas Tech University , is more cautious .
He said that the legality of the payment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died .
If someone died in 2020 , they should be due the money but before that , likely not .
The IRS guidelines , however , are more fuzzy – only that the death must be prior to the payments , some of which are still pending .
Olson and others , including Keith Fogg , a clinical professor of law at Harvard , don ’ t expect the government will go to extreme measures to claw back the money .
The government would be hard pressed to prove survivors weren ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first place as the law is written .
“ Someone dies in March of COVID-19 , really you are going to say ( to their survivors ) that you you have to return that payment ?
” Olson said .
“ No .
I ’ ll take that lawsuit.
” So what should someone do if they received a check for someone is deceased ?
Camp says if it is not due to you , to give it back .
Olson said to hold on to it , the IRS has pivoted on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again .
“ If you feel bad , send it back .
If you don ’ t feel bad about it I wouldn ’ t say you have to send it back , ” Fogg said .
“ You are not breaking the law as I see it .
”

President Donald Trump, Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin — and now the IRS — are urging people who received coronavirus relief payments for a deceased taxpayer to return the money to the government.
But legal experts say there is no law requiring people do that.
Some of the more than 130 million economic impact payments that went out to taxpayers as part of the $2.2 trillion economic relief package were sent to dead people. That happened mainly because of a lag in reporting data on who is deceased. It’s happened with past federal stimulus payments, and tax experts say is almost inevitable.
However, this is the first time the IRS has asked for the money back from the deceased taxpayers’ survivors. Some law experts say the government may not have the legal authority to require it be returned. They also suggest the move may be just the IRS responding to pressure from the White House and the Treasury Department.
Trump and Mnuchin have both said publicly in recent weeks that money sent to deceased taxpayers should be returned. But the IRS didn’t issue any formal guidance until this week. On Wednesday, it updated its website, stating that if a person died before the payment was issued, the money should be returned. It also provided instructions on how to do so.
The IRS and Treasury did not say what would happen if these payments were not returned or otherwise repaid.
Former Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson said that there is nothing in the law prohibiting payments from going to the deceased. Nor is there anything in the law requiring people to return the payments. And she noted that the language used on the IRS website does not say that returning the payments is required by law.
“We are starting from these two soundbites and working backward,” Olson, who now runs the nonprofit Center for Taxpayer Rights, said.
The Treasury did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
The relief payments were made to taxpayers based on the information filed on their 2019 or 2018 taxes. But it is considered a rebate on 2020 taxes. The government used the prior tax forms to help speed along payments to the public to offset some of the economic devastation from the coronavirus pandemic.
The problem is, some people who filed those taxes may no longer be alive. Those payments are sent to an heir or executor of their estate. If the payment is based off a final tax return completed after their death, an economic impact payment check may even denote that the person is deceased next to their name.
It’s confusing at best. But it is also would be a legal and logistical mess for the government to try to take back all the money that are unlikely to be pursued, Olson and others said.
“They don’t have a legal leg to stand on,” she said.
The coronavirus rescue package, which included the relief payments, was passed at the end of March. The government started issuing the payments in April. There is no official count of how many payments went to dead people.
Bryan Camp, a law professor at Texas Tech University, is more cautious. He said that the legality of the payment may depend more on when the person died. If someone died in 2020, they should be due the money but before that, likely not.
The IRS guidelines, however, are more fuzzy – only that the death must be prior to the payments, some of which are still pending.
Olson and others, including Keith Fogg, a clinical professor of law at Harvard, don’t expect the government will go to extreme measures to claw back the money. The government would be hard pressed to prove survivors weren’t entitled to the payments in the first place as the law is written.
“Someone dies in March of COVID-19, really you are going to say (to their survivors) that you you have to return that payment?” Olson said. “No. I’ll take that lawsuit.”
So what should someone do if they received a check for someone is deceased?
Camp says if it is not due to you, to give it back. Olson said to hold on to it, the IRS has pivoted on some of the rules before and may again.
“If you feel bad, send it back. If you don’t feel bad about it I wouldn’t say you have to send it back,” Fogg said. “You are not breaking the law as I see it.”


washingtontimes--2020-05-07--Trump at National Day of Prayer event asks 'for recovery and for renewal'

President Trump prayed for the nation to begin healing Thursday as the coronavirus penetrated the president ’ s inner circle at the White House and the total number of Americans who have lost their jobs in the pandemic rose to more than 33 million .
At a National Day of Prayer event in the White House Rose Garden , Mr. Trump hosted faith leaders in a call for unity and strength .
“ America is engaged in a fierce battle against a very terrible disease , ” the president prayed .
“ We ask our Lord in heaven for strength @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for hope and healing , for recovery and for renewal.
” Mr. Trump said the country has endured “ grave hardship , ” both in lives lost and livelihoods disrupted .
The Labor Department reported Thursday that 3.2 million Americans filed claims for unemployment benefits last week , bringing the seven-week jobless total during the crisis to 33.5 million .
Analysts say the April unemployment rate , due out Friday , likely rose to a staggering 16 % or higher , with numbers not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis , said the true jobless rate is probably near 24 % and that the nation should steel itself for a “ long , gradual ” recovery .
“ A lot of people who have just lost their jobs and were all sheltering in place — they ’ re not actively looking for work , ” Mr. Kashkari said on NBC ’ s “ Today ” show .
“ It ’ s devastating.
” In February , before the coronavirus outbreak took hold in the U.S. , the jobless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a high-end department store chain , filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Thursday on the heels of retailer J.Crew ’ s bankruptcy action earlier this week .
And venerable retailer Lord & Taylor plans to liquidate once coronavirus restrictions are lifted , sources told Reuters .
The Dallas-based Neiman Marcus , with 43 stores nationwide , said it had secured $ 675 million in financing from creditors to keep operating during the restructuring .
Mr. Trump said the unemployment numbers “ will start coming down at an appropriate time.
” “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being a very important quarter because that will be a transition , ” he told reporters during an Oval Office meeting .
“ President Trump had months to take action and stave off the worst of this crisis .
He should have been deploying tests , marshaling medical supplies and bracing the public to slow the spread from the minute he was briefed on its dangers this winter , ” Mr. Biden said .
The president met with Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott , a Republican , about the state ’ s reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issued an order freeing salon owner Shelley Luther from jail , where she had been sentenced for one week for operating her business in violation of a local stay-at-home order .
“ These people who spent their life building up a business and being told to shut it down and lose every penny they have , and then … they are subject to arrest , ” Mr. Abbott said .
“ That is wrong .
No one can be put behind bars because they ’ re not following an executive order.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move .
“ We ’ re working very hard now .
Texas is opening up , ” Mr. Trump said .
“ I ’ m not sure we even have a choice .
I think we have to do it .
This country can ’ t stay closed and locked down.
” The number of deaths from COVID-19 rose to more than 75,000 on Thursday .
More than 1.2 million Americans have been infected with the virus in a population of almost 330 million .
The White House confirmed that a member of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ valet to the president has tested positive for COVID-19 .
CNN said the aide started showing symptoms Wednesday .
The president said he had “ very little contact ” with the aide .
“ It ’ s a little bit strange , but it ’ s one of those things , ” Mr. Trump said .
“ Right now , we ’ re all warriors together.
” He said his valets wear masks , as do many other White House staffers .
The White House said Mr. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ they remain in great health.
” Mr. Trump also said his teenage son , Barron , and first lady Melania Trump “ are in great shape.
” It is the second time the president is known to have come into contact with someone infected with the virus .
Mr. Trump hosted a Brazilian delegation in early March for dinner at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida where one or more people tested positive .
Widespread testing is considered the critical piece in reopening the American economy .
The diagnostics root out who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t show symptoms , and make sure they are isolated for a sufficient amount of time instead of spreading it .
Sen. Lamar Alexander , Tennessee Republican and chairman of the Senate Health , Education , Labor and Pensions Committee , said the U.S. has conducted more than 7.5 million tests and soon will be conducting 2 million per week .
“ But to contain the disease and give confidence to Americans that it is safe to leave our homes , we will need tens of millions of tests , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ Testing is necessary to identify the small number of those with the disease and those exposed to it so they can be quarantined , instead of quarantining the whole country.
” Mr. Alexander said it will be important to conduct sweeping testing at nursing homes , hospitals and prisons to limit the spread of the disease .
The National Institutes of Health is running a “ Shark Tank ” competition to find technologies that can radically scale up testing capacity over the summer , as colleges reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal with the virus and flu season at the same time in the fall .
The name of the contest refers to the television show in which entrepreneurs compete for investors .
Dr. Francis Collins , director of the National Institutes of Health , said 1,000 developers submitted applications after the agency called for new ideas “ from the basement to the boardroom.
” Nearly 80 applications are complete , and 20 of those are ready to move into the first phase of scrutiny .
A panel of business and clinical experts will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to the next phase .
“ I have honestly never seen anything move this quickly , ” Dr. Collins told the Senate health committee .
“ The game is on , and it ’ s going to be a wild ride.
” The goal of the project , he said , is to “ help make millions more accurate and easy-to-use tests per week available to all Americans by the end of summer and even more in time for the flu season.
” Dr. Collins said the technologies must produce tests that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and be sensitive enough to flag people who are infected but don ’ t show symptoms .
He said some innovators in the shark tank might be “ big enough fish ” to skip initial steps in development .
At the same time , the technology has to be validated and sound .
“ Anything that fails will basically fall out of the tank , ” he said .

President Trump prayed for the nation to begin healing Thursday as the coronavirus penetrated the president’s inner circle at the White House and the total number of Americans who have lost their jobs in the pandemic rose to more than 33 million.
At a National Day of Prayer event in the White House Rose Garden, Mr. Trump hosted faith leaders in a call for unity and strength.
“America is engaged in a fierce battle against a very terrible disease,” the president prayed. “We ask our Lord in heaven for strength and solace, for courage and comfort, for hope and healing, for recovery and for renewal.”
Mr. Trump said the country has endured “grave hardship,” both in lives lost and livelihoods disrupted.
The Labor Department reported Thursday that 3.2 million Americans filed claims for unemployment benefits last week, bringing the seven-week jobless total during the crisis to 33.5 million.
Analysts say the April unemployment rate, due out Friday, likely rose to a staggering 16% or higher, with numbers not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, said the true jobless rate is probably near 24% and that the nation should steel itself for a “long, gradual” recovery.
“A lot of people who have just lost their jobs and were all sheltering in place — they’re not actively looking for work,” Mr. Kashkari said on NBC’s “Today” show. “It’s devastating.”
In February, before the coronavirus outbreak took hold in the U.S., the jobless rate was 3.5%.
Neiman Marcus, a high-end department store chain, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Thursday on the heels of retailer J.Crew’s bankruptcy action earlier this week. And venerable retailer Lord & Taylor plans to liquidate once coronavirus restrictions are lifted, sources told Reuters. The Dallas-based Neiman Marcus, with 43 stores nationwide, said it had secured $675 million in financing from creditors to keep operating during the restructuring.
Mr. Trump said the unemployment numbers “will start coming down at an appropriate time.”
“I’m viewing the third quarter as being a very important quarter because that will be a transition,” he told reporters during an Oval Office meeting.
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden called the jobless statistics “the cost of complacency.”
“President Trump had months to take action and stave off the worst of this crisis. He should have been deploying tests, marshaling medical supplies and bracing the public to slow the spread from the minute he was briefed on its dangers this winter,” Mr. Biden said.
The president met with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, about the state’s reopening on the same day that the governor issued an order freeing salon owner Shelley Luther from jail, where she had been sentenced for one week for operating her business in violation of a local stay-at-home order.
“These people who spent their life building up a business and being told to shut it down and lose every penny they have, and then … they are subject to arrest,” Mr. Abbott said. “That is wrong. No one can be put behind bars because they’re not following an executive order.”
The president agreed with the governor’s move.
“We’re working very hard now. Texas is opening up,” Mr. Trump said. “I’m not sure we even have a choice. I think we have to do it. This country can’t stay closed and locked down.”
The number of deaths from COVID-19 rose to more than 75,000 on Thursday. More than 1.2 million Americans have been infected with the virus in a population of almost 330 million.
The White House confirmed that a member of the Navy who serves as a personal valet to the president has tested positive for COVID-19. CNN said the aide started showing symptoms Wednesday.
The president said he had “very little contact” with the aide.
“It’s a little bit strange, but it’s one of those things,” Mr. Trump said. “Right now, we’re all warriors together.”
He said his valets wear masks, as do many other White House staffers.
The White House said Mr. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence subsequently tested negative for the coronavirus and “they remain in great health.”
Mr. Trump also said his teenage son, Barron, and first lady Melania Trump “are in great shape.”
It is the second time the president is known to have come into contact with someone infected with the virus. Mr. Trump hosted a Brazilian delegation in early March for dinner at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida where one or more people tested positive.
Widespread testing is considered the critical piece in reopening the American economy. The diagnostics root out who is carrying the disease, especially those who don’t show symptoms, and make sure they are isolated for a sufficient amount of time instead of spreading it.
Sen. Lamar Alexander, Tennessee Republican and chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said the U.S. has conducted more than 7.5 million tests and soon will be conducting 2 million per week.
“But to contain the disease and give confidence to Americans that it is safe to leave our homes, we will need tens of millions of tests, many more than our current technologies can produce,” he said. “Testing is necessary to identify the small number of those with the disease and those exposed to it so they can be quarantined, instead of quarantining the whole country.”
Mr. Alexander said it will be important to conduct sweeping testing at nursing homes, hospitals and prisons to limit the spread of the disease.
The National Institutes of Health is running a “Shark Tank” competition to find technologies that can radically scale up testing capacity over the summer, as colleges reopen and the health care system prepares to deal with the virus and flu season at the same time in the fall. The name of the contest refers to the television show in which entrepreneurs compete for investors.
Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, said 1,000 developers submitted applications after the agency called for new ideas “from the basement to the boardroom.”
Nearly 80 applications are complete, and 20 of those are ready to move into the first phase of scrutiny. A panel of business and clinical experts will vet the technologies to determine which make it to the next phase.
“I have honestly never seen anything move this quickly,” Dr. Collins told the Senate health committee. “The game is on, and it’s going to be a wild ride.”
The goal of the project, he said, is to “help make millions more accurate and easy-to-use tests per week available to all Americans by the end of summer and even more in time for the flu season.”
Dr. Collins said the technologies must produce tests that are accessible, spit out fast results and be sensitive enough to flag people who are infected but don’t show symptoms.
He said some innovators in the shark tank might be “big enough fish” to skip initial steps in development.
“We don’t hold anybody back,” Dr. Collins said.
At the same time, the technology has to be validated and sound.
“Anything that fails will basically fall out of the tank,” he said.
• David Sherfinski contributed to this report.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com. • Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-07--Orange County beaches approved for active uses by state

SANTA ANA , Calif. ( AP ) - California Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s administration approved plans for Orange County to reopen the last of its beaches Thursday after he previously shut them down when a heat wave drove large crowds to the shore .
All 42 miles ( 67.59 kilometers ) of county beaches must follow social distancing guidelines designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
The approval allows active recreation such as walking , swimming and surfing but not sunbathing or building sandcastles , the county said in a statement .
Some county-run beaches will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have regular hours .
The approval came after a heated debate among Orange County supervisors about whether to even ask Newsom ’ s administration for authorization to reopen .
Two supervisors opposed the request , saying his decision to close down the county ’ s beaches was arbitrary .
The others said they should seek to restore beach access to aid residents ’ physical and mental health .
Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said the county received approval for a four-phased approach to reopening that “ prioritizes public health and safety , while recognizing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want Orange County residents to get back to fully enjoying their beaches as safely and quickly as possible , ” she said in a statement .
The state already approved plans by the world-famous surfing mecca of Huntington Beach , along with Newport Beach and others , to reopen for active use .
Newsom announced a week ago he was ordering all Orange County beaches to shut down after a spring heat spell prompted thousands of people to head to the coast , including some from landlocked inland counties and from Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Orange County is California ’ s third-most populous county , with more than 3 million residents .
It has recorded more than 3,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 66 deaths .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .
The vast majority of people recover .

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) - California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration approved plans for Orange County to reopen the last of its beaches Thursday after he previously shut them down when a heat wave drove large crowds to the shore.
A regulatory agency approved plans to reopen Capistrano Beach, South Laguna Beach, Salt Creek and Strands Beach.
All 42 miles (67.59 kilometers) of county beaches must follow social distancing guidelines designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The approval allows active recreation such as walking, swimming and surfing but not sunbathing or building sandcastles, the county said in a statement. Some county-run beaches will be open weekday mornings while others will have regular hours.
The approval came after a heated debate among Orange County supervisors about whether to even ask Newsom’s administration for authorization to reopen. Two supervisors opposed the request, saying his decision to close down the county’s beaches was arbitrary. The others said they should seek to restore beach access to aid residents’ physical and mental health.
Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said the county received approval for a four-phased approach to reopening that “prioritizes public health and safety, while recognizing the importance of outdoor recreation.”
“We want Orange County residents to get back to fully enjoying their beaches as safely and quickly as possible,” she said in a statement.
The state already approved plans by the world-famous surfing mecca of Huntington Beach, along with Newport Beach and others, to reopen for active use.
Newsom announced a week ago he was ordering all Orange County beaches to shut down after a spring heat spell prompted thousands of people to head to the coast, including some from landlocked inland counties and from Los Angeles County, where beaches remain closed.
Orange County is California’s third-most populous county, with more than 3 million residents. It has recorded more than 3,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 66 deaths.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death. The vast majority of people recover.


washingtontimes--2020-05-07--Dead taxpayers got relief checks. Can survivors keep them?

President Donald Trump , Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin - and now the IRS - are urging people who received coronavirus relief payments for a deceased taxpayer to return the money to the government .
But legal experts say there is no law requiring people do that .
Some of the more than 130 million economic impact payments that went out to taxpayers as part of the $ 2.2 trillion economic relief package were sent to dead people .
That happened mainly because of a lag in reporting data on who is deceased .
It ’ s happened with past federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is almost inevitable .
However , this is the first time the IRS has asked for the money back from the deceased taxpayers ’ survivors .
Some law experts say the government may not have the legal authority to require it be returned .
They also suggest the move may be just the IRS responding to pressure from the White House and the Treasury Department .
Trump and Mnuchin have both said publicly in recent weeks that money sent to deceased taxpayers should be returned .
But the IRS didn ’ t issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Wednesday , it updated its website , stating that if a person died before the payment was issued , the money should be returned .
It also provided instructions on how to do so .
The IRS and Treasury did not say what would happen if these payments were not returned or otherwise repaid .
Former Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson said that there is nothing in the law prohibiting payments from going to the deceased .
Nor is there anything in the law requiring people to return the payments .
And she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IRS website does not say that returning the payments is required by law .
“ We are starting from these two soundbites and working backward , ” Olson , who now runs the nonprofit Center for Taxpayer Rights , said .
The Treasury did not respond to multiple requests for comment .
The relief payments were made to taxpayers based on the information filed on their 2019 or 2018 taxes .
But it is considered a rebate on 2020 taxes .
The government used the prior tax forms to help speed along payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economic devastation from the coronavirus pandemic .
The problem is , some people who filed those taxes may no longer be alive .
Those payments are sent to an heir or executor of their estate .
If the payment is based off a final tax return completed after their death , an economic impact payment check may even denote that the person is deceased next to their name .
It ’ s confusing at best .
But it is also would be a legal and logistical mess for the government to try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are unlikely to be pursued , Olson and others said .
“ They don ’ t have a legal leg to stand on , ” she said .
The coronavirus rescue package , which included the relief payments , was passed at the end of March .
The government started issuing the payments in April .
There is no official count of how many payments went to dead people .
Bryan Camp , a law professor at Texas Tech University , is more cautious .
He said that the legality of the payment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died .
If someone died in 2020 , they should be due the money but before that , likely not .
The IRS guidelines , however , are more fuzzy - only that the death must be prior to the payments , some of which are still pending .
Olson and others , including Keith Fogg , a clinical professor of law at Harvard , don ’ t expect the government will go to extreme measures to claw back the money .
The government would be hard pressed to prove survivors weren ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first place as the law is written .
“ Someone dies in March of COVID-19 , really you are going to say ( to their survivors ) that you you have to return that payment ?
” Olson said .
“ No .
I ’ ll take that lawsuit.
” So what should someone do if they received a check for someone is deceased ?
Camp says if it is not due to you , to give it back .
Olson said to hold on to it , the IRS has pivoted on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again .
“ If you feel bad , send it back .
If you don ’ t feel bad about it I wouldn ’ t say you have to send it back , ” Fogg said .
“ You are not breaking the law as I see it.
” Richard Neal , D-Mass.
, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee , agreed that that there is nothing in the law requiring the money to be returned .
While families that don ’ t need the cash should give it back , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use the assistance to cover costs associated with losing a loved one due to the virus , ” Neal said in a statement .
“ People with that kind of need should be able to put the money to use as they grapple with the ongoing crisis .
”

President Donald Trump, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin - and now the IRS - are urging people who received coronavirus relief payments for a deceased taxpayer to return the money to the government.
But legal experts say there is no law requiring people do that.
Some of the more than 130 million economic impact payments that went out to taxpayers as part of the $2.2 trillion economic relief package were sent to dead people. That happened mainly because of a lag in reporting data on who is deceased. It’s happened with past federal stimulus payments, and tax experts say is almost inevitable.
However, this is the first time the IRS has asked for the money back from the deceased taxpayers’ survivors. Some law experts say the government may not have the legal authority to require it be returned. They also suggest the move may be just the IRS responding to pressure from the White House and the Treasury Department.
Trump and Mnuchin have both said publicly in recent weeks that money sent to deceased taxpayers should be returned. But the IRS didn’t issue any formal guidance until this week. On Wednesday, it updated its website, stating that if a person died before the payment was issued, the money should be returned. It also provided instructions on how to do so.
The IRS and Treasury did not say what would happen if these payments were not returned or otherwise repaid.
Former Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson said that there is nothing in the law prohibiting payments from going to the deceased. Nor is there anything in the law requiring people to return the payments. And she noted that the language used on the IRS website does not say that returning the payments is required by law.
“We are starting from these two soundbites and working backward,” Olson, who now runs the nonprofit Center for Taxpayer Rights, said.
The Treasury did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
The relief payments were made to taxpayers based on the information filed on their 2019 or 2018 taxes. But it is considered a rebate on 2020 taxes. The government used the prior tax forms to help speed along payments to the public to offset some of the economic devastation from the coronavirus pandemic.
The problem is, some people who filed those taxes may no longer be alive. Those payments are sent to an heir or executor of their estate. If the payment is based off a final tax return completed after their death, an economic impact payment check may even denote that the person is deceased next to their name.
It’s confusing at best. But it is also would be a legal and logistical mess for the government to try to take back all the money that are unlikely to be pursued, Olson and others said.
“They don’t have a legal leg to stand on,” she said.
The coronavirus rescue package, which included the relief payments, was passed at the end of March. The government started issuing the payments in April. There is no official count of how many payments went to dead people.
Bryan Camp, a law professor at Texas Tech University, is more cautious. He said that the legality of the payment may depend more on when the person died. If someone died in 2020, they should be due the money but before that, likely not.
The IRS guidelines, however, are more fuzzy - only that the death must be prior to the payments, some of which are still pending.
Olson and others, including Keith Fogg, a clinical professor of law at Harvard, don’t expect the government will go to extreme measures to claw back the money. The government would be hard pressed to prove survivors weren’t entitled to the payments in the first place as the law is written.
“Someone dies in March of COVID-19, really you are going to say (to their survivors) that you you have to return that payment?” Olson said. “No. I’ll take that lawsuit.”
So what should someone do if they received a check for someone is deceased?
Camp says if it is not due to you, to give it back. Olson said to hold on to it, the IRS has pivoted on some of the rules before and may again.
“If you feel bad, send it back. If you don’t feel bad about it I wouldn’t say you have to send it back,” Fogg said. “You are not breaking the law as I see it.”
Richard Neal, D-Mass., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, agreed that that there is nothing in the law requiring the money to be returned.
While families that don’t need the cash should give it back, “some families receiving these payments could use the assistance to cover costs associated with losing a loved one due to the virus,” Neal said in a statement. “People with that kind of need should be able to put the money to use as they grapple with the ongoing crisis.”