talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-30--UN Experts: Trump Blackwater Contractor Pardons Violate International Law

President Donald Trump ’ s pre-Christmas pardon of four Blackwater contractors convicted of killing more than a dozen Iraqi civilians in 2007 violated U.S. obligations under international law , United Nations experts said in a Wednesday statement .
“ These pardons violate U.S. obligations under international law and more broadly undermine humanitarian law and human rights at a global level , ” said Jelena Aparac , chair of the U.N. ’ s working group on the use of mercenaries .
The human rights experts at the U.N. noted in the statement that the Geneva Conventions require states to hold war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when those crimes are committed by private security contractors .
The four former contractors who were pardoned last week opened fire in a Baghdad square over a decade ago and killing 14 Iraqi civilians .
The four contractors responsible for the killings were working at the time for Blackwater Worldwide , the private security firm owned by Erik Prince , the brother of Betsy DeVos , Trump ’ s education secretary .
Among them , Nicholas Slatten was convicted of first-degree murder , while Paul Slough , Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump lauded the four , all of whom were military veterans , in his pardon for “ a long history of service to the Nation.
” General David Petraeus , who was commander of U.S. forces in Iraq at the time of the violent encounter , issued a joint statement with then-U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker , condemning Trump ’ s “ hugely damaging ” pardon spree .
The pair said the action “ tells the world that Americans abroad can commit the most heinous crimes with impunity .
”

President Donald Trump’s pre-Christmas pardon of four Blackwater contractors convicted of killing more than a dozen Iraqi civilians in 2007 violated U.S. obligations under international law, United Nations experts said in a Wednesday statement.
“These pardons violate U.S. obligations under international law and more broadly undermine humanitarian law and human rights at a global level,” said Jelena Aparac, chair of the U.N.’s working group on the use of mercenaries.
The human rights experts at the U.N. noted in the statement that the Geneva Conventions require states to hold war criminals accountable for their crimes, even when those crimes are committed by private security contractors. The four former contractors who were pardoned last week opened fire in a Baghdad square over a decade ago and killing 14 Iraqi civilians.
The four contractors responsible for the killings were working at the time for Blackwater Worldwide, the private security firm owned by Erik Prince, the brother of Betsy DeVos, Trump’s education secretary. Among them, Nicholas Slatten was convicted of first-degree murder, while Paul Slough, Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard were convicted of voluntary and attempted manslaughter. Trump lauded the four, all of whom were military veterans, in his pardon for “a long history of service to the Nation.”
General David Petraeus, who was commander of U.S. forces in Iraq at the time of the violent encounter, issued a joint statement with then-U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, condemning Trump’s “hugely damaging” pardon spree.
The pair said the action “tells the world that Americans abroad can commit the most heinous crimes with impunity.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-30--GOP Sen. Hawley Vows To Object During Congressional Electoral College Certification

Sen. Josh Hawley ( R-MO ) announced on Wednesday that he would object during Congress ’ certification of the Electoral College results on January 6 , on the basis of President Donald Trump ’ s lies claiming that the 2020 election was corrupted by mass voter fraud .
“ Millions of voters concerned about election integrity deserve to be heard , ” Hawley , who is expected to campaign for president in 2024 , tweeted with an official statement on his decision .
“ I will object on January 6 on their behalf.
” Parroting Trump ’ s evidence-free accusations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not vote for certification during the joint session “ without raising the fact that some states , particularly Pennsylvania , failed to follow their own state election laws.
” The GOP senator also pledged to “ point out ” what he baselessly claimed was an “ unprecedented effort of mega corporations , including Facebook and Twitter , to interfere in this election in support of Joe Biden.
” “ At the very least , Congress should investigate allegations of voter fraud and adopt measures to secure the integrity of our elections , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has so far failed to act.
” Though Hawley ’ s objection , along with that of several House Republicans , will not prevent Congress from officially cementing President-elect Biden ’ s victory , the gambit signals an endorsement of Trump ’ s anti-democratic attempt to steal the election .

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) announced on Wednesday that he would object during Congress’ certification of the Electoral College results on January 6, on the basis of President Donald Trump’s lies claiming that the 2020 election was corrupted by mass voter fraud.
“Millions of voters concerned about election integrity deserve to be heard,” Hawley, who is expected to campaign for president in 2024, tweeted with an official statement on his decision. “I will object on January 6 on their behalf.”
Parroting Trump’s evidence-free accusations of election fraud, Hawley said he would not vote for certification during the joint session “without raising the fact that some states, particularly Pennsylvania, failed to follow their own state election laws.”
The GOP senator also pledged to “point out” what he baselessly claimed was an “unprecedented effort of mega corporations, including Facebook and Twitter, to interfere in this election in support of Joe Biden.”
“At the very least, Congress should investigate allegations of voter fraud and adopt measures to secure the integrity of our elections,” he said. “But Congress has so far failed to act.”
Though Hawley’s objection, along with that of several House Republicans, will not prevent Congress from officially cementing President-elect Biden’s victory, the gambit signals an endorsement of Trump’s anti-democratic attempt to steal the election.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-30--Rubio Takes His Trumpian ‘Anti-Elitist’ Crusade To Fox News As He Revives Fauci Attacks

Sen. Marco Rubio ( R-FL ) on Wednesday took his Trumpian rhetoric to Fox News in an op-ed rehashing his attacks against Dr. Anthony Fauci , the White House coronavirus task force member whose grave warnings on COVID-19 were at odds with Trump ’ s downplaying of the pandemic that has killed more than 330,000 Americans thus far .
On Sunday , Rubio was dragged for his misguided tweet that took aim at Fauci as a way to further propel his newfound war against the “ elite ” — a common marching order among conservatives and Trumpworld figures who attempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backgrounds in an effort to paint those who refuse to do Trump ’ s bidding , including President-elect Joe Biden , as “ elitists.
” A few days later , Rubio took his crusade against Fauci to the President ’ s on-again-off-again favorite network in an op-ed published Wednesday .
Rubio doubled down on his complaint that Fauci apparently “ ( lied ) to the American people in order to manipulate their behavior ” while also giving the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert a backhanded compliment by quipping that he “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but good intentions.
” Rubio rehashed his complaints over Fauci ’ s early mistakes on mask guidance when COVID first hit the U.S. and his remarks on the threshold of vaccination needed for herd immunity that have shifted throughout the year .
Parroting the irony in Trump ’ s anti-elitist crusade , Rubio insinuated that Fauci is an “ unelected technocrat ” and an “ unelected celebrity scientist ” who misled the public .
“ But it does mean that placing blind faith in unelected celebrity scientists — elevated by a media that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own grisly records — has its limits , and we must not be afraid to call them out when they ’ re caught overstepping their legitimate authority , ” Rubio said .
Rubio concluded his Fox News op-ed with yet another backhanded compliment aimed at Fauci .
“ I do not question Dr. Fauci ’ s motives — I trust they are noble — but I am appalled by his arrogance .
If he wants to lead the nation , he should run for office , ” Rubio said .
“ Otherwise , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transparent reading of the science , not polling data , and let the rest of us —policymakers and the American people who have elected them — do our jobs.
” Rubio ’ s op-ed comes on the heels of Fauci telling the Washington Post last week that he “ really wants to find out ” more about the unpredictable nature of the novel coronavirus and maintained that he is transparent about what he knows as well as what he doesn ’ t .
Despite his apparent distrust of Fauci , Rubio jumped on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alongside a handful of members of Congress earlier this month .
Rubio ’ s adoption of Trumpian language could foreshadow establishment Republicans ’ efforts at maintaining a stronghold in Trump ’ s populist messaging even after the President departs the White House next month .
The shift in tone by Rubio , who Trump mocked as “ little Marco ” during the 2016 presidential campaign trail , has backfired substantially on Twitter in recent weeks as his anti-elitist gripes have fallen flat given his background as a lawyer and a lifelong conservative politician @

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) on Wednesday took his Trumpian rhetoric to Fox News in an op-ed rehashing his attacks against Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House coronavirus task force member whose grave warnings on COVID-19 were at odds with Trump’s downplaying of the pandemic that has killed more than 330,000 Americans thus far.
On Sunday, Rubio was dragged for his misguided tweet that took aim at Fauci as a way to further propel his newfound war against the “elite” — a common marching order among conservatives and Trumpworld figures who attempt to distract the public from their privileged backgrounds in an effort to paint those who refuse to do Trump’s bidding, including President-elect Joe Biden, as “elitists.”
Dr. Fauci lied about masks in March Dr. Fauci has been distorting the level of vaccination needed for herd immunity It isn’t just him Many in elite bubbles believe the American public doesn’t know “what’s good for them” so they need to be tricked into “doing the right thing” — Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) December 27, 2020
A few days later, Rubio took his crusade against Fauci to the President’s on-again-off-again favorite network in an op-ed published Wednesday.
Rubio doubled down on his complaint that Fauci apparently “(lied) to the American people in order to manipulate their behavior” while also giving the nation’s top infectious disease expert a backhanded compliment by quipping that he “made the decision to mislead with nothing but good intentions.”
Rubio rehashed his complaints over Fauci’s early mistakes on mask guidance when COVID first hit the U.S. and his remarks on the threshold of vaccination needed for herd immunity that have shifted throughout the year.
Parroting the irony in Trump’s anti-elitist crusade, Rubio insinuated that Fauci is an “unelected technocrat” and an “unelected celebrity scientist” who misled the public.
“But it does mean that placing blind faith in unelected celebrity scientists — elevated by a media that award Emmys to negligent politicians with their own grisly records — has its limits, and we must not be afraid to call them out when they’re caught overstepping their legitimate authority,” Rubio said.
Rubio concluded his Fox News op-ed with yet another backhanded compliment aimed at Fauci.
“I do not question Dr. Fauci’s motives — I trust they are noble — but I am appalled by his arrogance. If he wants to lead the nation, he should run for office,” Rubio said. “Otherwise, he should give us an honest and transparent reading of the science, not polling data, and let the rest of us —policymakers and the American people who have elected them — do our jobs.”
Rubio’s op-ed comes on the heels of Fauci telling the Washington Post last week that he “really wants to find out” more about the unpredictable nature of the novel coronavirus and maintained that he is transparent about what he knows as well as what he doesn’t.
Despite his apparent distrust of Fauci, Rubio jumped on the opportunity to get a COVID-19 vaccine alongside a handful of members of Congress earlier this month.
Rubio’s adoption of Trumpian language could foreshadow establishment Republicans’ efforts at maintaining a stronghold in Trump’s populist messaging even after the President departs the White House next month.
The shift in tone by Rubio, who Trump mocked as “little Marco” during the 2016 presidential campaign trail, has backfired substantially on Twitter in recent weeks as his anti-elitist gripes have fallen flat given his background as a lawyer and a lifelong conservative politician.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-31--Sen. Perdue To Quarantine After COVID Exposure With Critical Runoff Days Away

Sen. David Perdue ’ s ( R-GA ) campaign announced on Thursday that the lawmaker would be going under quarantine @ @ @ @ @ as his runoff election on January 5 draws ever closer .
“ This morning , @ @ @ @ @ he came into close contact with someone on the campaign who tested positive for COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
“ Both Senator Perdue and his wife tested negative today , @ @ @ @ @ s recommendations and in accordance with CDC guidelines , they will quarantine.
” The senator @ @ @ @ @ for the virus , according to the campaign , and “ the team will continue @ @ @ @ @ Perdue is currently fighting to keep his seat from Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff in one @ @ @ @ @ Senate runoff races on Tuesday that will decide which party will control the chamber next @ @ @ @ @ ( R-GA ) will face off against Democrat Raphael Warnock .

Sen. David Perdue’s (R-GA) campaign announced on Thursday that the lawmaker would be going under quarantine after being exposed to COVID-19 as his runoff election on January 5 draws ever closer.
“This morning, Senator Perdue was notified that he came into close contact with someone on the campaign who tested positive for COVID-19,” the campaign said in a statement. “Both Senator Perdue and his wife tested negative today, but following his doctor’s recommendations and in accordance with CDC guidelines, they will quarantine.”
The senator was tested “regularly” for the virus, according to the campaign, and “the team will continue to follow CDC guidelines.”
Perdue is currently fighting to keep his seat from Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff in one of Georgia’s two Senate runoff races on Tuesday that will decide which party will control the chamber next year. Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) will face off against Democrat Raphael Warnock.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-31--Graham Urges McConnell To Hold Stand-Alone Vote On $2K Relief Checks In New Congress

Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) on Thursday urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) to hold a stand-alone vote on Democrats ’ push for $ 2,000 COVID-19 stimulus checks after the new Congress begins on January 3 .
Graham told “ Fox and Friends ” that he believed the House ’ s bill increasing the $ 600 checks to $ 2000 , a measure Trump supports , would pass the Senate , but that there would be “ no way ” to get a vote on it before the current Congress ends this week .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new Congress on the $ 2,000 check , ” the senator said .
Graham noted Trump ’ s two other demands besides the relief payment increase : A repeal of Section 230 , which shields social media platforms from liability , and the creation of a commission that would boost the President ’ s false claims of mass voter fraud .
“ I ’ m urging Senator McConnell to give a stand-alone vote in the new Congress after January 3 on all three measures , ” Graham said .
“ And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand-alone vote on the $ 2,000 check , it ’ s better than 50-50 it would pass , ” he added .
The South Carolina Republican ’ s proposal marks a break from McConnell ’ s attempt to poison pill the stimulus check increase by tying it to a package with a Section 230 repeal and the commission , two conditions Democrats are unlikely to approve .
McConnell has shot down Senate Democrats ’ efforts to bring the bill to a vote on its own this week , claiming on Wednesday that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pass ” it .
On Tuesday , Graham said he supported Trump ’ s call for $ 2,000 checks , the commission , and the repeal but did not call for a stand-alone vote .
He also asserted that the relief payment increases would only pass if Sens .
Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) and David Perdue ( R-GA ) survived the Georgia runoffs on January 5 .

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Thursday urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to hold a stand-alone vote on Democrats’ push for $2,000 COVID-19 stimulus checks after the new Congress begins on January 3.
Graham told “Fox and Friends” that he believed the House’s bill increasing the $600 checks to $2000, a measure Trump supports, would pass the Senate, but that there would be “no way” to get a vote on it before the current Congress ends this week.
“I’d like a stand-alone vote in the new Congress on the $2,000 check,” the senator said.
Graham noted Trump’s two other demands besides the relief payment increase: A repeal of Section 230, which shields social media platforms from liability, and the creation of a commission that would boost the President’s false claims of mass voter fraud.
“I’m urging Senator McConnell to give a stand-alone vote in the new Congress after January 3 on all three measures,” Graham said.
“And I would predict that if you had a stand-alone vote on the $2,000 check, it’s better than 50-50 it would pass,” he added.
The South Carolina Republican’s proposal marks a break from McConnell’s attempt to poison pill the stimulus check increase by tying it to a package with a Section 230 repeal and the commission, two conditions Democrats are unlikely to approve.
McConnell has shot down Senate Democrats’ efforts to bring the bill to a vote on its own this week, claiming on Wednesday that there was “no realistic path to quickly pass” it.
On Tuesday, Graham said he supported Trump’s call for $2,000 checks, the commission, and the repeal but did not call for a stand-alone vote. He also asserted that the relief payment increases would only pass if Sens. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) and David Perdue (R-GA) survived the Georgia runoffs on January 5.
Watch Graham’s comments on Thursday below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-31--Biden Press Secretary: Briefing Room Won’t Be A ‘Platform For Propaganda’

Incoming White House press secretary Jen Psaki has said that she hopes to “ rebuild trust with the American people ” by telling the truth — a move that would represent a swift departure from the kind of false information peddling that has become routine in President Donald Trump ’ s administration .
“ I think more than any point in history… part of the job of the White House press secretary is to rebuild trust with the American people , ” Psaki told NPR ’ s Steve Inskeep in an interview published Thursday , adding that her goal from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truthful and transparent ” in peeling back the curtains for Americans .
Her comments come as President Trump has routinely attacked reporters , while calling leaked information that was unfavorable to him “ fake ” and accusing the press of acting as the “ enemy of the people.
” The White House ’ s current press secretary , Kayleigh McEnany famously pushed false information to advance Trump ’ s election gambit in public appearances and dubiously took on the dual role as Trump ’ s 2020 campaign adviser .
“ In a moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information they ’ re getting from most sources , is to be as steady and as fact-based as I can be , ” Psaki said .
The incoming communications official declared she plans to reinstate daily press briefings and take questions from reporters , but added that she wouldn ’ t prop up efforts by right-wing networks that have pushed debunked conspiracy theories .
“ We ’ re not going to allow the briefing room to be a platform for propaganda , and we will shut that down as needed as well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary said that she also has plans to handle information leaked the press differently than her predecessors .
“ Anybody who covered only the Trump administration who ’ s looking for a continuation of the Game of Thrones-style personnel sniping , they will be sorely disappointed , ” Psaki said when asked about her plans for addressing potential leaks which became a defining characteristic of the Trump administration ’ s relationship with the press .
The incoming communications official pledged a return to briefings that allow policy experts to explain an array of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , noting that some leaks would likely be inevitable .
Leaks around people ’ s personal lives and national security would be more damaging , Psaki said .
The soon-to-be White House press secretary will join the ranks of Obama administration alumni set to take on top roles when Biden takes office in January — a former spokesperson for the State Department when John Kerry was secretary of state , Psaki later served as President Barack Obama ’ s communications director .
The incoming press secretary appeared to dodge when asked if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach during Obama ’ s tenure where leakers of classified information were aggressively prosecuted and the phone records of journalists were seized .
“ I can ’ t get ahead of what that would look like and certainly not on behalf of any future Department of Justice , ” Psaki said .

Incoming White House press secretary Jen Psaki has said that she hopes to “rebuild trust with the American people” by telling the truth — a move that would represent a swift departure from the kind of false information peddling that has become routine in President Donald Trump’s administration.
“I think more than any point in history… part of the job of the White House press secretary is to rebuild trust with the American people,” Psaki told NPR’s Steve Inskeep in an interview published Thursday, adding that her goal from the podium would be to “be truthful and transparent” in peeling back the curtains for Americans.
Her comments come as President Trump has routinely attacked reporters, while calling leaked information that was unfavorable to him “fake” and accusing the press of acting as the “enemy of the people.”
The White House’s current press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany famously pushed false information to advance Trump’s election gambit in public appearances and dubiously took on the dual role as Trump’s 2020 campaign adviser.
“In a moment where people don’t trust the information they’re getting from most sources, is to be as steady and as fact-based as I can be,” Psaki said.
The incoming communications official declared she plans to reinstate daily press briefings and take questions from reporters, but added that she wouldn’t prop up efforts by right-wing networks that have pushed debunked conspiracy theories.
“We’re not going to allow the briefing room to be a platform for propaganda, and we will shut that down as needed as well,” Psaki said.
The incoming press secretary said that she also has plans to handle information leaked the press differently than her predecessors.
“Anybody who covered only the Trump administration who’s looking for a continuation of the Game of Thrones-style personnel sniping, they will be sorely disappointed,” Psaki said when asked about her plans for addressing potential leaks which became a defining characteristic of the Trump administration’s relationship with the press.
The incoming communications official pledged a return to briefings that allow policy experts to explain an array of issue ranging from COVID-19 response to immigration, noting that some leaks would likely be inevitable.
Leaks around people’s personal lives and national security would be more damaging, Psaki said.
The soon-to-be White House press secretary will join the ranks of Obama administration alumni set to take on top roles when Biden takes office in January — a former spokesperson for the State Department when John Kerry was secretary of state, Psaki later served as President Barack Obama’s communications director.
The incoming press secretary appeared to dodge when asked if the Biden administration would adopt the widely criticized approach during Obama’s tenure where leakers of classified information were aggressively prosecuted and the phone records of journalists were seized.
“I can’t get ahead of what that would look like and certainly not on behalf of any future Department of Justice,” Psaki said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-31--Trump Ditches NYE Party To Head Back To WH As GOPers Aim To Disrupt Election Certification

President Donald Trump is skipping his New Year ’ s Eve event at his Mar-A-Lago resort in Palm Beach , Florida on Thursday to return to the White House as several of his GOP allies plan to challenge Congress ’ official certification of the Electoral College ’ s votes for President-elect Joe Biden on January 6 .
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump departed from Palm Beach at 11 AM ET on Thursday .
According to CNN , guests had already arrived at Mar-A-Lago for the glitzy soiree .
They reportedly were not informed that Trump would not be there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been fixating on the congressional joint session next week as a hail Mary in his crusade to subvert the election after his other attempts to do so through the courts repeatedly imploded .
As such , Trump is banking on Republicans and Vice President Mike Pence , who will oversee the session , to somehow prevent the Electoral College results from being certified that day , even though they do not have the power to do so .
But despite there being no chance of any lawmaker unilaterally overturning the election , Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Republicans have announced that they will disrupt the proceedings with objections .
Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) , currently fighting to keep her seat in the Georgia runoffs , hinted on Wednesday that she may join her colleagues in the doomed ploy .
Sen. Ben Sasse ( R-NE ) slammed the scheme in a Facebook post on Wednesday , calling the involved lawmakers “ institutional arsonist members of Congress .
”

President Donald Trump is skipping his New Year’s Eve event at his Mar-A-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida on Thursday to return to the White House as several of his GOP allies plan to challenge Congress’ official certification of the Electoral College’s votes for President-elect Joe Biden on January 6.
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump departed from Palm Beach at 11 AM ET on Thursday.
According to CNN, guests had already arrived at Mar-A-Lago for the glitzy soiree. They reportedly were not informed that Trump would not be there.
CNN reports that the President has been fixating on the congressional joint session next week as a hail Mary in his crusade to subvert the election after his other attempts to do so through the courts repeatedly imploded.
As such, Trump is banking on Republicans and Vice President Mike Pence, who will oversee the session, to somehow prevent the Electoral College results from being certified that day, even though they do not have the power to do so.
But despite there being no chance of any lawmaker unilaterally overturning the election, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and several House Republicans have announced that they will disrupt the proceedings with objections. Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), currently fighting to keep her seat in the Georgia runoffs, hinted on Wednesday that she may join her colleagues in the doomed ploy.
Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) slammed the scheme in a Facebook post on Wednesday, calling the involved lawmakers “institutional arsonist members of Congress.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-31--Secret Service Will Bring Back Agents Who Previously Worked With Biden

The Secret Service is making some staff changes in the presidential detail that will protect President-elect Joe Biden , the Washington Post reported late Wednesday .
Two people familiar with the changes told the Post that the Secret Service is planning for the return of a group of senior agents who guarded Biden as vice president more than four years ago , including Darryl Volpicelli , who will become the second-in-command of President Biden ’ s detail as well as Brian McDonough .
According to the Post , the Secret Service also plans to name David Cho , second-in-command in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new special agent to lead the Biden presidential detail .
But amid concerns that some agency members had become politically-aligned with Trump ’ s agenda , some agents will no longer be serving in the White House detail .
The Post said Anthony Ornato , a former detail leader who temporarily left his job to become White House deputy chief of staff earlier this year and helped coordinate Trump rallies — will not be on Biden ’ s immediate security team .
According to the Post , Ornato will return to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overseeing the agency ’ s Rowley Training Center , a post that while prestigious will not directly protect the incoming president .

The Secret Service is making some staff changes in the presidential detail that will protect President-elect Joe Biden, the Washington Post reported late Wednesday.
Two people familiar with the changes told the Post that the Secret Service is planning for the return of a group of senior agents who guarded Biden as vice president more than four years ago, including Darryl Volpicelli, who will become the second-in-command of President Biden’s detail as well as Brian McDonough.
According to the Post, the Secret Service also plans to name David Cho, second-in-command in Trump’s protective outfit, as the new special agent to lead the Biden presidential detail.
But amid concerns that some agency members had become politically-aligned with Trump’s agenda, some agents will no longer be serving in the White House detail. The Post said Anthony Ornato, a former detail leader who temporarily left his job to become White House deputy chief of staff earlier this year and helped coordinate Trump rallies — will not be on Biden’s immediate security team.
According to the Post, Ornato will return to the Secret Service to become the assistant director overseeing the agency’s Rowley Training Center, a post that while prestigious will not directly protect the incoming president.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-31--‘Dangerous Ploy’: Sasse Rebukes GOP Effort To Object To Electoral College Votes

Republican Sen. Ben Sasse ( NE ) on Wednesday night rebuked an effort by a ragtag group of fellow Republicans who have said they intend to object to the results of the Electoral College votes when Congress meets for a joint session next week to reaffirm the victory of President-elect Joe Biden .
“ When we talk in private , I haven ’ t heard a single Congressional Republican allege that the election results were fraudulent – not one , ” Sasse wrote in a Facebook post explaining his decision not to go along with the desperate effort .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their worries about how they will “ look ” to President Trump ’ s most ardent supporters.
” The statement points at an enduring perception of President Donald Trump ’ s inflated political influence in spite of his dwindling days in office and comes after a fledgling group of Republican lawmakers reportedly met with Trump at the White House earlier this month to discuss the last-ditch move .
Members of that group , which includes some of Trump ’ s most loyal followers and conspiracy theorists , have since pledged to play along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to overturn the election results by objecting to the Electoral College vote next week .
Sasse called the effort a “ dangerous ploy ” which he said he has been urging his colleagues to reject .
“ The president and his allies are playing with fire , ” Sasse wrote .
“ If you make big claims , you had better have the evidence .
But the president doesn ’ t and neither do the institutional arsonist members of Congress who will object to the Electoral College vote , ” he added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s win and laid out what has become a repetitive exercise in debunking some of the conspiracy theories surrounding what even Trump ’ s former Attorney General Bill Barr called an election that was free from the kind of fraud that would overturn Biden ’ s win .
“ Adults don ’ t point a loaded gun at the heart of legitimate self-government , ” Sasse wrote .
While President Trump has praised members of his party who have pledged to object to the electoral votes during the traditionally routine ceremony on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record of electoral votes from each state are opened and counted , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) and others have discouraged GOP senators from what would likely be an effort that would be quickly rejected .
The blistering statement was not the first time Sasse has broken from his party in the past in condemning Trump and the efforts of his most loyal supporters .
Weeks before the election , Sasse criticized the President ’ s bungled response to the coronavirus pandemic , and tore into the President ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while appearing to “ flirt with white supremacists ” in an Oct. 14 telephone town hall with constituents .
“ All the clever arguments and rhetorical gymnastics in the world won ’ t change the fact that this January 6th effort is designed to disenfranchise millions of Americans simply because they voted for someone in a different party , ” Sasse wrote in the Wednesday statement .
“ We ought to be better than that .
If we normalize this , we ’ re going to turn American politics into a Hatfields and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopelessly divided .
”

Republican Sen. Ben Sasse (NE) on Wednesday night rebuked an effort by a ragtag group of fellow Republicans who have said they intend to object to the results of the Electoral College votes when Congress meets for a joint session next week to reaffirm the victory of President-elect Joe Biden.
“When we talk in private, I haven’t heard a single Congressional Republican allege that the election results were fraudulent – not one,” Sasse wrote in a Facebook post explaining his decision not to go along with the desperate effort. “Instead, I hear them talk about their worries about how they will “look” to President Trump’s most ardent supporters.”
The statement points at an enduring perception of President Donald Trump’s inflated political influence in spite of his dwindling days in office and comes after a fledgling group of Republican lawmakers reportedly met with Trump at the White House earlier this month to discuss the last-ditch move.
Members of that group, which includes some of Trump’s most loyal followers and conspiracy theorists, have since pledged to play along in President Trump’s wildly unsuccessful effort to overturn the election results by objecting to the Electoral College vote next week.
Sasse called the effort a “dangerous ploy” which he said he has been urging his colleagues to reject.
“The president and his allies are playing with fire,” Sasse wrote. “If you make big claims, you had better have the evidence. But the president doesn’t and neither do the institutional arsonist members of Congress who will object to the Electoral College vote,” he added.
Sasse’s statement affirmed Biden’s win and laid out what has become a repetitive exercise in debunking some of the conspiracy theories surrounding what even Trump’s former Attorney General Bill Barr called an election that was free from the kind of fraud that would overturn Biden’s win.
“Adults don’t point a loaded gun at the heart of legitimate self-government,” Sasse wrote.
While President Trump has praised members of his party who have pledged to object to the electoral votes during the traditionally routine ceremony on Jan. 6 where sealed certificates with a record of electoral votes from each state are opened and counted, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and others have discouraged GOP senators from what would likely be an effort that would be quickly rejected.
The blistering statement was not the first time Sasse has broken from his party in the past in condemning Trump and the efforts of his most loyal supporters.
Weeks before the election, Sasse criticized the President’s bungled response to the coronavirus pandemic, and tore into the President’s for “kissing dictators’ butts” while appearing to “flirt with white supremacists” in an Oct. 14 telephone town hall with constituents.
“All the clever arguments and rhetorical gymnastics in the world won’t change the fact that this January 6th effort is designed to disenfranchise millions of Americans simply because they voted for someone in a different party,” Sasse wrote in the Wednesday statement. “We ought to be better than that. If we normalize this, we’re going to turn American politics into a Hatfields and McCoys endless blood feud – a house hopelessly divided.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-31--Biden Inaugural Committee To Hold National Memorial Honoring COVID Victims

President-elect Joe Biden ’ s inaugural committee on Thursday announced plans to hold a national memorial in remembrance of the more than 340,000 Americans who have died from COVID-19 .
The memorial will be held on January 19 , the day before Biden will be sworn in , at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington , D.C .
The pool will be lit during the ceremony .
“ The inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris represents the beginning of a new national journey , ” committee communications director Pili Tobar said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pandemic–when so many Americans are grieving the loss of family , friends , and neighbors–it is important that we honor those who have died , reflect on what has been one of the more challenging periods in the nation ’ s history , and renew our commitment to coming together to end the pandemic and rebuild our nation.
” The committee ’ s announcement included an invitation for towns and cities to come together “ in a national moment of unity and remembrance ” by ringing church bells and lighting up buildings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ET .
Plans for the memorial come as the country continues to reach grim milestones during the pandemic : Johns Hopkins University reports that about 342,000 Americans have died from the virus as of Thursday morning , and Wednesday saw more than 3,740 deaths in one day , breaking the daily COVID-19 death toll for the second day in a row .

President-elect Joe Biden’s inaugural committee on Thursday announced plans to hold a national memorial in remembrance of the more than 340,000 Americans who have died from COVID-19.
The memorial will be held on January 19, the day before Biden will be sworn in, at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. The pool will be lit during the ceremony.
“The inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris represents the beginning of a new national journey,” committee communications director Pili Tobar said in a statement. “However, in the midst of a pandemic–when so many Americans are grieving the loss of family, friends, and neighbors–it is important that we honor those who have died, reflect on what has been one of the more challenging periods in the nation’s history, and renew our commitment to coming together to end the pandemic and rebuild our nation.”
The committee’s announcement included an invitation for towns and cities to come together “in a national moment of unity and remembrance” by ringing church bells and lighting up buildings when the memorial begins at 5:30 AM ET.
Plans for the memorial come as the country continues to reach grim milestones during the pandemic: Johns Hopkins University reports that about 342,000 Americans have died from the virus as of Thursday morning, and Wednesday saw more than 3,740 deaths in one day, breaking the daily COVID-19 death toll for the second day in a row.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-31--China OKs First Homegrown Vaccine As COVID-19 Surges Globally

BEIJING ( AP ) — China authorized its first homegrown COVID-19 vaccine for general use Thursday , adding another shot that could see wide use in poorer countries as the virus surges back around the globe .
The Sinopharm vaccine had already been given to groups such as health care professionals and essential workers under emergency-use guidelines as part of China ’ s program to inoculate 50 million people before the Lunar New Year holiday in February .
But the go-ahead should allow it to be supplied more broadly at home and moves Beijing closer to being able to ship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after British regulators authorized AstraZeneca ’ s inexpensive and easy-to-handle vaccine .
Both shots have been closely watched by developing countries , many of which have been unable to secure the Pfizer and Moderna doses being snapped up by rich nations .
Pakistan ’ s science minister said Thursday that his government will buy 1.2 million doses of a Sinopharm shot , two days after its death toll topped 10,000 .
The greenlight came a day after the state-owned company announced that preliminary data from last-stage trials had shown it to be 79.3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detail the size of the control group , how many people were vaccinated and at what point the efficacy rate was reached after injection , and experts have cautioned that trial data needs to be shared .
Officials have said the vaccine standards were developed in “ close cooperation ” with the World Health Organization .
Securing WHO ’ s so-called pre-qualification could go some way toward assuring the rest of the world about the quality of Chinese vaccines , which already face a reputation problem back home .
It would also open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distributed in the global vaccine consortium , COVAX , and potentially in countries that don ’ t have their own regulatory agencies .
China is eager to ship its vaccines globally , driven by a desire to repair the damage to its image caused by the pandemic that started a year ago in the central city of Wuhan .
Technically , China granted conditional approval for the vaccine , meaning that research is still ongoing , and the company will be required to submit follow-up data as well as reports of any adverse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the market , Chen Shifei , the deputy commissioner of the National Medical Products Administration , told a news conference .
Final proof of its effectiveness will depend on publication of more data .
Sinopharm , which has another shot under development , is one of at least five Chinese developers that are in a global race to create vaccines for the disease that has killed more than 1.8 million people .
While the Pfizer and Moderna shots have been greeted with much fanfare in the West , those shots must be stored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distribution .
The Sinopharm vaccine , like the AstraZeneca one , could be easier for countries around the world to handle since they can be stored at normal fridge temperatures .
Both shots , as well as Russia ’ s Sputnik , are expected to be supply much of the developing world .
That means the cost will also be important .
AstraZeneca is expected to cost about $ 2.50 a dose , while Russia has said its doses will be priced at $ 10 for the global market .
Pfizer ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moderna ’ s is $ 15 to $ 25 , based on agreements with the U.S. government .
Chinese officials declined to name a particular price and gave conflicting statements about it .
One official said it would be affordable for the Chinese public , but another jumped in to clarify that it will be free .
President Xi Jinping had previously vowed to donate a Chinese-made vaccine as a public good to the world .
The Sinopharm shot is already under mass production , though officials did not answer questions about current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain , and is slated for use next in Morocco .
Other countries have also been buying doses of another Chinese vaccine candidate , made by Sinovac Biotech .
Turkey received shipments this week of 3 million doses , and Indonesia and Brazil have also purchased it .
Belarus and Argentina both launched mass vaccinations Wednesday using Russia ’ s vaccine , and Guinea has begun giving it to government officials .
In addition to the emergency vaccinations already underway in China , the country plans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seniors as well as people with existing chronic illnesses .
Officials did not say what percentage of the population they will vaccinate in China .
“ This is very exciting that there is another vaccine and one that can be distributed in locations that don ’ t have the cold chain , ” said Ashley St. John , an immunologist at the Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore .
“ But at the same time we have to temper the excitement .
We have to understand the long term efficacy , effect on transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @

BEIJING (AP) — China authorized its first homegrown COVID-19 vaccine for general use Thursday, adding another shot that could see wide use in poorer countries as the virus surges back around the globe.
The Sinopharm vaccine had already been given to groups such as health care professionals and essential workers under emergency-use guidelines as part of China’s program to inoculate 50 million people before the Lunar New Year holiday in February. But the go-ahead should allow it to be supplied more broadly at home and moves Beijing closer to being able to ship it abroad. It comes one day after British regulators authorized AstraZeneca’s inexpensive and easy-to-handle vaccine.
Both shots have been closely watched by developing countries, many of which have been unable to secure the Pfizer and Moderna doses being snapped up by rich nations. Pakistan’s science minister said Thursday that his government will buy 1.2 million doses of a Sinopharm shot, two days after its death toll topped 10,000.
The greenlight came a day after the state-owned company announced that preliminary data from last-stage trials had shown it to be 79.3% effective. That announcement did not detail the size of the control group, how many people were vaccinated and at what point the efficacy rate was reached after injection, and experts have cautioned that trial data needs to be shared.
Officials have said the vaccine standards were developed in “close cooperation” with the World Health Organization. Securing WHO’s so-called pre-qualification could go some way toward assuring the rest of the world about the quality of Chinese vaccines, which already face a reputation problem back home. It would also open the path for the shots to be distributed in the global vaccine consortium, COVAX, and potentially in countries that don’t have their own regulatory agencies.
China is eager to ship its vaccines globally, driven by a desire to repair the damage to its image caused by the pandemic that started a year ago in the central city of Wuhan.
Technically, China granted conditional approval for the vaccine, meaning that research is still ongoing, and the company will be required to submit follow-up data as well as reports of any adverse effects after the vaccine is sold on the market, Chen Shifei, the deputy commissioner of the National Medical Products Administration, told a news conference. Final proof of its effectiveness will depend on publication of more data.
Sinopharm, which has another shot under development, is one of at least five Chinese developers that are in a global race to create vaccines for the disease that has killed more than 1.8 million people. While the Pfizer and Moderna shots have been greeted with much fanfare in the West, those shots must be stored at ultra-cold or freezer temperatures, complicating distribution.
The Sinopharm vaccine, like the AstraZeneca one, could be easier for countries around the world to handle since they can be stored at normal fridge temperatures.
Both shots, as well as Russia’s Sputnik, are expected to be supply much of the developing world. That means the cost will also be important. AstraZeneca is expected to cost about $2.50 a dose, while Russia has said its doses will be priced at $10 for the global market. Pfizer’s vaccine costs about $20, while Moderna’s is $15 to $25, based on agreements with the U.S. government.
Chinese officials declined to name a particular price and gave conflicting statements about it. One official said it would be affordable for the Chinese public, but another jumped in to clarify that it will be free. President Xi Jinping had previously vowed to donate a Chinese-made vaccine as a public good to the world.
The Sinopharm shot is already under mass production, though officials did not answer questions about current capacity. It has already been approved in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, and is slated for use next in Morocco.
Other countries have also been buying doses of another Chinese vaccine candidate, made by Sinovac Biotech. Turkey received shipments this week of 3 million doses, and Indonesia and Brazil have also purchased it.
Belarus and Argentina both launched mass vaccinations Wednesday using Russia’s vaccine, and Guinea has begun giving it to government officials.
In addition to the emergency vaccinations already underway in China, the country plans to start vaccinating high-risk population, such as seniors as well as people with existing chronic illnesses. Officials did not say what percentage of the population they will vaccinate in China.
“This is very exciting that there is another vaccine and one that can be distributed in locations that don’t have the cold chain,” said Ashley St. John, an immunologist at the Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore. “But at the same time we have to temper the excitement. We have to understand the long term efficacy, effect on transmission and effect on severe disease.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-01-31--Alexander’s ‘No’ Almost Guarantees Witness-less Senate Trial

Sen. Lamar Alexander ( R-TN ) ’ s announcement that he will not support additional witnesses or document subpoenas in the impeachment trial , almost guarantees that no witnesses will be called .
At best , Democrats can hope for a 50-50 tie when the Senate votes Friday on a resolution on whether to allow for the House or Trump ’ s team to request witness or document subpoenas .
There ’ s a chance that Chief Justice John Roberts — who is serving as the presiding officer , a role in other circumstances played by the Vice President — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tie .
But there ’ s no requirement that he cast such a vote , and Roberts ’ desire to appear above the political fray suggests he won ’ t .
There ’ s precedent in impeachments for the presiding chief justice for casting tie-breaking votes and for declining to break ties .
Without such a tiebreaker , the motion to open the door to witnesses will fail .
So far , the only other witness-curious Republican to announce her vote on Friday was Sen. Susan Collins ( R-ME ) , who said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motion .
Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) has also sent strong signals that he ’ ll support it , even though he has not yet issued his official position .
Sen. Lisa Murkowski ( R-AK ) , the moderate whose vote Democrats will need just for a tie , said she will release a statement with her position on Friday morning .
Murkowski delaying her decision overnight puts Republicans — and Roberts — in a position of waiting to see if Roberts will break a tie , or if Alexander ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely that she ’ ll support the measure .
Alexander and Murkwoski met in private at the last major break in Thursday ’ s impeachment proceedings .

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN)’s announcement that he will not support additional witnesses or document subpoenas in the impeachment trial, almost guarantees that no witnesses will be called.
At best, Democrats can hope for a 50-50 tie when the Senate votes Friday on a resolution on whether to allow for the House or Trump’s team to request witness or document subpoenas.
There’s a chance that Chief Justice John Roberts — who is serving as the presiding officer, a role in other circumstances played by the Vice President — could cast a vote to break the tie. But there’s no requirement that he cast such a vote, and Roberts’ desire to appear above the political fray suggests he won’t.
There’s precedent in impeachments for the presiding chief justice for casting tie-breaking votes and for declining to break ties.
Without such a tiebreaker, the motion to open the door to witnesses will fail.
So far, the only other witness-curious Republican to announce her vote on Friday was Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), who said she will support Friday’s witness motion. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) has also sent strong signals that he’ll support it, even though he has not yet issued his official position.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), the moderate whose vote Democrats will need just for a tie, said she will release a statement with her position on Friday morning.
Murkowski delaying her decision overnight puts Republicans — and Roberts — in a position of waiting to see if Roberts will break a tie, or if Alexander’s opposition to witnesses will make it less likely that she’ll support the measure.
Alexander and Murkwoski met in private at the last major break in Thursday’s impeachment proceedings.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-01-31--Trump Team Declares Biden Is The One Who Should Be Impeached!

Joe Biden should be impeached under a legal theory laid out by Alan Dershowitz , President Trump ’ s legal team argued at the end of the questioning phase of the Senate impeachment trial on Thursday .
A group of Republican senators asked whether unsupported allegations around Biden and a Ukrainian gas company called Burisma could amount to a successful case for impeachment .
There is no evidence to support the allegations , which suggest that Biden used his position as vice president to have a Ukrainian prosecutor fired for investigating Burisma , on whose board his son sat .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to support the notion that the prosecutor in question was investigating Burisma , or anything at all .
Biden pushed for his firing , along with everyone observing Ukraine at the time with neurons firing , because of the prosecutor ’ s failure to fight corruption .
But that was no obstacle to Patrick Philbin , an attorney for the President .
“ One could put together fairly easily from those known facts the suggestion that there was a family financial benefit coming from the end of that investigation , ” Philbin said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the younger Biden on the board.
” So , Biden could be impeached because his son drew a salary for his position on the board of Burisma .
Philbin described it as “ purely private pecuniary financial gain , ” motive that , if driving an act undertaken by a President , “ would be the problematic category.
” There is no evidence to suggest that Hunter Biden ’ s position at Burisma – regardless of how untoward it may have been – affected the elder Biden ’ s official work with @ @ @ @

Joe Biden should be impeached under a legal theory laid out by Alan Dershowitz, President Trump’s legal team argued at the end of the questioning phase of the Senate impeachment trial on Thursday.
A group of Republican senators asked whether unsupported allegations around Biden and a Ukrainian gas company called Burisma could amount to a successful case for impeachment.
There is no evidence to support the allegations, which suggest that Biden used his position as vice president to have a Ukrainian prosecutor fired for investigating Burisma, on whose board his son sat.
In fact, there is no evidence to support the notion that the prosecutor in question was investigating Burisma, or anything at all. Biden pushed for his firing, along with everyone observing Ukraine at the time with neurons firing, because of the prosecutor’s failure to fight corruption.
But that was no obstacle to Patrick Philbin, an attorney for the President.
“One could put together fairly easily from those known facts the suggestion that there was a family financial benefit coming from the end of that investigation,” Philbin said, “because it protected the position of the younger Biden on the board.”
So, Biden could be impeached because his son drew a salary for his position on the board of Burisma.
Philbin described it as “purely private pecuniary financial gain,” motive that, if driving an act undertaken by a President, “would be the problematic category.”
There is no evidence to suggest that Hunter Biden’s position at Burisma – regardless of how untoward it may have been – affected the elder Biden’s official work with regard to Ukraine.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-03--Trump Confuses Kansas City, Missouri, For A City In Kansas State

After the Kansas City Chiefs , a team that hails from Missouri , won the Superbowl on Sunday night , @ @ @ @ @ upon himself to congratulate the wrong state .
“ Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs @ @ @ @ @ and a fantastic comeback , under immense pressure , ” he tweeted at 10:15 PM @ @ @ @ @ the Great State of Kansas and , in fact , the entire USA , so @ @ @ @ @ his mistake , Trump deleted the tweet a little over ten minutes later and posted @ @ @ @ @ PM .
“ Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs on a great game and a @ @ @ @ @ , ” he wrote in the new tweet .
“ We are proud of you @ @ @ @ @ Missouri.
” This isn ’ t the first time the President has struggled with basic @ @ @ @ @ , he bragged about building his U.S.-Mexico border wall in…Colorado .

Really?
After the Kansas City Chiefs, a team that hails from Missouri, won the Super Bowl on Sunday night, President Donald Trump took it upon himself to congratulate the wrong state.
“Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs on a great game, and a fantastic comeback, under immense pressure,” he tweeted at 10:15 PM EST. “You represented the Great State of Kansas and, in fact, the entire USA, so very well.”
Additionally, Slate reporter Ashley Feinberg noted that the White House retweeted Trump’s erroneous post.
Apparently realizing his mistake, Trump deleted the tweet a little over ten minutes later and posted a new one at 10:27 PM.
“Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs on a great game and a fantastic comeback under immense pressure,” he wrote in the new tweet. “We are proud of you and the Great State of Missouri.”
This isn’t the first time the President has struggled with basic U.S. geography. Last October, he bragged about building his U.S.-Mexico border wall in…Colorado.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-02--Ernst Warns That GOP Could Impeach Biden Over Ukraine If He Wins Election

On the eve of the Iowa caucuses , Sen. Joni Ernst ( R-IA ) entertained the idea of impeaching Joe Biden if he were to win the presidency in this year ’ s election during an interview with Bloomberg News Sunday .
Ernst ’ s latest remarks come on the heels of her controversial comment last week when she wondered aloud to reporters whether the Trump legal team ’ s Biden-focused arguments in the Senate impeachment trial would influence Democratic Iowa caucus-goers .
“ I ’ m really interested to see how this discussion today informs and influences the Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Ernst said last Monday .
“ Will they be supporting Vice President Biden at this point ?
” In her interview with Bloomberg News Sunday , Ernst suggested that if elected , Biden would run the risk of being impeached by Republicans because “ this door of impeachable whatever has been opened.
” “ Joe Biden should be very careful what he ’ s asking for because , you know , we can have a situation where if it should ever be President Biden , that immediately , people , right the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be saying , ‘ Well , we ’ re going to impeach him , ’ ” Ernst said .
Ernst also told Bloomberg News that Biden would be impeached “ for being assigned to take on Ukrainian corruption yet turning a blind eye to Burisma because his son was on the board making over a million dollars a year , ” stoking the debunked claim by former Ukraine prosecutor general Viktor Shokin that his investigation into Burisma led to his ouster after then-President Barack Obama sent Biden to Ukraine to fight corruption .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect his son , Hunter , who sat on the company ’ s board .
Earlier Sunday , Ernst denied on CNN that her remark last week indicates that she ’ s focused on Biden because he poses the greatest threat to Trump .
Ernst then argued that she was “ just pointing out that Iowa has very smart voters , very educated caucus-goers ” and that “ if they ’ re paying attention to all the dynamics with the candidates , that might be something that they would take into consideration .
@

On the eve of the Iowa caucuses, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) entertained the idea of impeaching Joe Biden if he were to win the presidency in this year’s election during an interview with Bloomberg News Sunday.
Ernst’s latest remarks come on the heels of her controversial comment last week when she wondered aloud to reporters whether the Trump legal team’s Biden-focused arguments in the Senate impeachment trial would influence Democratic Iowa caucus-goers.
“I’m really interested to see how this discussion today informs and influences the Iowa caucus voters, those Democratic caucus-goers,” Ernst said last Monday. “Will they be supporting Vice President Biden at this point?”
In her interview with Bloomberg News Sunday, Ernst suggested that if elected, Biden would run the risk of being impeached by Republicans because “this door of impeachable whatever has been opened.”
“Joe Biden should be very careful what he’s asking for because, you know, we can have a situation where if it should ever be President Biden, that immediately, people, right the day after he would be elected would be saying, ‘Well, we’re going to impeach him,’” Ernst said.
Ernst also told Bloomberg News that Biden would be impeached “for being assigned to take on Ukrainian corruption yet turning a blind eye to Burisma because his son was on the board making over a million dollars a year,” stoking the debunked claim by former Ukraine prosecutor general Viktor Shokin that his investigation into Burisma led to his ouster after then-President Barack Obama sent Biden to Ukraine to fight corruption. Shokin also accused Biden of wanting to protect his son, Hunter, who sat on the company’s board.
Earlier Sunday, Ernst denied on CNN that her remark last week indicates that she’s focused on Biden because he poses the greatest threat to Trump. Ernst then argued that she was “just pointing out that Iowa has very smart voters, very educated caucus-goers” and that “if they’re paying attention to all the dynamics with the candidates, that might be something that they would take into consideration.”
Read Bloomberg News’ interview here.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-02--Pompeo: Booting NPR Reporter From Press Pool Sends ‘A Perfect Message’

During his trip to Kazakhstan Sunday , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denied that a “ confrontation interview ” was behind his decision to boot an NPR reporter from his travel press pool .
Last month , Pompeo berated NPR “ All Things Considered ” co-host Mary Louise Kelly for asking him about the Ukraine scandal during an interview .
Following Pompeo ’ s public statement that accused Kelly of lying , NPR diplomatic correspondent Michele Kelemen was booted from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ’ s traveling press pool for his upcoming trip to Ukraine .
“ I didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an NPR reporter any more than I have confrontational interviews all the time in America , ” Pompeo said .
“ That ’ s the greatness of our nation .
Reporters like yourself ask me any question , all questions , we take hundreds and hundreds of questions .
We talk openly .
We express our views , they ask their questions .
That ’ s how we proceed in America.
” Pompeo added that “ with respect to who travels with me , I always bring a big press contingent , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ And that ’ s simply telling the truth and being honest , and when they ’ ll do that , they get to participate , ” Pompeo said .
“ And if they don ’ t , it ’ s just not appropriate — frankly , it ’ s not fair to the rest of the journalists who are participating alongside of them.
” When asked what kind of message his behavior toward NPR sends , Pompeo replied that “ it ’ s a perfect message about press freedoms .
”

During his trip to Kazakhstan Sunday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denied that a “confrontation interview” was behind his decision to boot an NPR reporter from his travel press pool.
Last month, Pompeo berated NPR “All Things Considered” co-host Mary Louise Kelly for asking him about the Ukraine scandal during an interview. Following Pompeo’s public statement that accused Kelly of lying, NPR diplomatic correspondent Michele Kelemen was booted from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s traveling press pool for his upcoming trip to Ukraine.
“I didn’t have a confrontational interview with an NPR reporter any more than I have confrontational interviews all the time in America,” Pompeo said. “That’s the greatness of our nation. Reporters like yourself ask me any question, all questions, we take hundreds and hundreds of questions. We talk openly. We express our views, they ask their questions. That’s how we proceed in America.”
Pompeo added that “with respect to who travels with me, I always bring a big press contingent, but we ask for certain sets of behaviors.”
“And that’s simply telling the truth and being honest, and when they’ll do that, they get to participate,” Pompeo said. “And if they don’t, it’s just not appropriate — frankly, it’s not fair to the rest of the journalists who are participating alongside of them.”
When asked what kind of message his behavior toward NPR sends, Pompeo replied that “it’s a perfect message about press freedoms.”
Watch Pompeo’s remarks below:
Asked by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service whether the removal of an NPR journalist from his pool came in retaliation to his confrontational interview with NPR journalist Mary Louise Kelly, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denied that the interview was confrontational (1): pic.twitter.com/5e5Eqc4DYr — Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (@RFERL) February 2, 2020


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-02--Dershowitz Insists His Stunning Senate Trial Assertion Was ‘Deliberately Distorted’

Trump lawyer Alan Dershowitz clashed with Fox News ’ Chris Wallace over the stunning assertion he made last week during the Senate impeachment trial , arguing that “ if a president does something which he believes will help him get elected in the public interest , that can not be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment.
” When Wallace pressed him on why he got “ into this question of whether or not the President thinks his reelection is in the public interest ” given how that seems to imply that “ somehow that gives him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dershowitz pushed back .
“ If the President did something completely lawful , the fact that part of his motivation may have been to help his election can not be the quid pro quo , ” Dershowitz said .
“ That ’ s what I said.
” Dershowitz went on to say that his stunning assertion , which added to the controversy behind his notorious flip-flopping on what constitutes an impeachable offense , was “ deliberately distorted ” because “ they saw that I was having an impact on some of the senators.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t argue that Trump could get away with criminal actions , Wallace said he doesn ’ t “ even know why intent is an issue and why you got into it.
” Wallace hit back by telling Dershowitz that his point is that “ the activity is what you say is the key.
” “ If it ’ s criminal or criminal-like activity , then it can be impeachable , ” Wallace said .
“ If it ’ s not criminal activity , it doesn ’ t matter what the motive is @ @

Trump lawyer Alan Dershowitz clashed with Fox News’ Chris Wallace over the stunning assertion he made last week during the Senate impeachment trial, arguing that “if a president does something which he believes will help him get elected in the public interest, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment.”
When Wallace pressed him on why he got “into this question of whether or not the President thinks his reelection is in the public interest” given how that seems to imply that “somehow that gives him an extra level of immunity,” Dershowitz pushed back.
“If the President did something completely lawful, the fact that part of his motivation may have been to help his election cannot be the quid pro quo,” Dershowitz said. “That’s what I said.”
Dershowitz went on to say that his stunning assertion, which added to the controversy behind his notorious flip-flopping on what constitutes an impeachable offense, was “deliberately distorted” because “they saw that I was having an impact on some of the senators.”
After Dershowitz insisted that he didn’t argue that Trump could get away with criminal actions, Wallace said he doesn’t “even know why intent is an issue and why you got into it.”
“Because I was asked,” Dershowitz said.
Wallace hit back by telling Dershowitz that his point is that “the activity is what you say is the key.”
“If it’s criminal or criminal-like activity, then it can be impeachable,” Wallace said. “If it’s not criminal activity, it doesn’t matter what the motive is.”
Watch Dershowitz’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-02--GOP Chair Won’t Defend Her Uncle Mitt Romney After Witness Vote Backlash

So much for blood is thicker than water .
Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel dodged when asked to respond to the GOP backlash her uncle Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) has faced since being one of two Republicans who voted in favor of witnesses in the Senate impeachment trial Friday .
During an interview on CBS ’ “ Face the Nation ” Sunday morning , host Margaret Brennan asked McDaniel what her reaction is to the Conservative Political Action Conference disinviting Romney and whether that is “ proper political retaliation.
” McDaniel instead attempted to comment on Brennan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reshaped the Republican Party , which is reflected in his fraught relationship with Romney .
“ I disagree that the President ’ s changed the Republican Party .
I think the President ’ s strengthened our party .
And if you look at things that he ’ s done— ” McDaniel said , before Brennan cut in to point out CPAC ’ s online ad featuring Romney .
After McDaniel claimed that had not seen the ad , she continued to dodge the question by arguing that CPAC is “ the grassroots part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upset.
” “ They ’ re upset when people aren ’ t supporting the President and supporting our party , ” McDaniel said .
“ And they think if you ’ re not supporting him , you ’ re helping a Democrat get elected .
That ’ s a very common belief among the grassroots of our party.
” “ But I will say , this President has stood for life .
He stood for rule of law judges .
He stood for tax cuts .
He stood for deregulation , energy independence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McDaniel said .
“ And he has made the RNC significantly stronger by supporting our party .
And we will be stronger after him because of the investment he ’ s put in data and digital and the things to make us strong beyond his presidency.
” Brennan concluded the interview by telling McDaniel , “ I understand you don ’ t want to comment on your comfort and your uncle and the comments about him .
”

So much for blood is thicker than water.
Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel dodged when asked to respond to the GOP backlash her uncle Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) has faced since being one of two Republicans who voted in favor of witnesses in the Senate impeachment trial Friday.
During an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation” Sunday morning, host Margaret Brennan asked McDaniel what her reaction is to the Conservative Political Action Conference disinviting Romney and whether that is “proper political retaliation.”
McDaniel instead attempted to comment on Brennan’s earlier point that President Trump reshaped the Republican Party, which is reflected in his fraught relationship with Romney.
“I disagree that the President’s changed the Republican Party. I think the President’s strengthened our party. And if you look at things that he’s done—” McDaniel said, before Brennan cut in to point out CPAC’s online ad featuring Romney.
After McDaniel claimed that had not seen the ad, she continued to dodge the question by arguing that CPAC is “the grassroots part of our party and they’re upset.”
“They’re upset when people aren’t supporting the President and supporting our party,” McDaniel said. “And they think if you’re not supporting him, you’re helping a Democrat get elected. That’s a very common belief among the grassroots of our party.”
McDaniel then sang Trump’s praises.
“But I will say, this President has stood for life. He stood for rule of law judges. He stood for tax cuts. He stood for deregulation, energy independence. These are Republican ideals,” McDaniel said. “And he has made the RNC significantly stronger by supporting our party. And we will be stronger after him because of the investment he’s put in data and digital and the things to make us strong beyond his presidency.”
Brennan concluded the interview by telling McDaniel, “I understand you don’t want to comment on your comfort and your uncle and the comments about him.”
Watch McDaniel’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-02--O’Brien Is ‘Very Confident’ No One At NSC Leaked Details Of Bolton’s Book

National security adviser Robert O ’ Brien doubted that anyone at the NSC is responsible for details in John Bolton ’ s book leaking out during an interview on CBS ’ “ Face the Nation ” Sunday morning .
When CBS ’ Margaret Brennan asked about the White House ’ s effort to block parts of his predecessor Bolton ’ s book and the NSC ’ s insistence that the book contains significant amounts of classified material — which Bolton ’ s lawyers have denied — O ’ Brien didn ’ t directly address whether he has reviewed the book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the thing , the book is — I want to be very careful about talking about this because it could end up in judicial proceedings or litigation , ” O ’ Brien said .
Brennan then pressed O ’ Brien on whether this means that the White House is prepared to block the release of Bolton ’ s book .
“ Well here ’ s the thing : when Ambassador Bolton came in or when I came in and you ’ re read into sensitive , compartmented , classified programs and you see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in meetings where state secrets are discussed , you sign a document , a nondisclosure agreement saying that you won ’ t disclose that material , ” O ’ Brien said .
“ If you want to write a book afterwards or you want to give a speech or publish an article , you have to put that through the review process .
And there are career professionals who go through the manuscript and , very carefully , and determine whether there ’ s classified material.
” O ’ Brien added that said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Ambassador Bolton ’ s lawyer and they ’ ll continue to be in touch , ” before he clarified that they ’ ve been in touch since the NSC ’ s letter this week but that the NSC needs to “ make sure that state secrets and important classified information that could jeopardize American lives are not released.
” When Brennan asked if anyone in the NSC leaked details of Bolton ’ s book — which include the claim that President Trump directed Bolton to help Rudy Giuliani pressure the Ukrainian government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political rivals — O ’ Brien said that he ’ s “ very confident ” that no one at the NSC leaked it and that he has asked members of the NSC about it .
Asked if anyone on the NSC can verify what Bolton has alleged in his book , and whether Bolton “ memorialized these conversations he says he witnessed between the President and others telling him to get involved with Giuliani , ” O ’ Brien responded that he thinks the kind of notes Bolton possibly took is “ something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” O ’ Brien then pointed to denials by Trump , Attorney General Bill Barr and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo regarding Bolton ’ s allegations that Trump directed him to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky .
“ And so , look , it ’ s always disappointing when someone who has access to the most confidential , close information , a close relationship with the President , decides to leave the White House and do a tell all-book , ” O ’ Brien said .
“ Look , if someone has political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ ve got to be careful about the classified information .
”

National security adviser Robert O’Brien doubted that anyone at the NSC is responsible for details in John Bolton’s book leaking out during an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation” Sunday morning.
When CBS’ Margaret Brennan asked about the White House’s effort to block parts of his predecessor Bolton’s book and the NSC’s insistence that the book contains significant amounts of classified material — which Bolton’s lawyers have denied — O’Brien didn’t directly address whether he has reviewed the book personally.
“So here’s the thing, the book is — I want to be very careful about talking about this because it could end up in judicial proceedings or litigation,” O’Brien said.
Brennan then pressed O’Brien on whether this means that the White House is prepared to block the release of Bolton’s book.
“Well here’s the thing: when Ambassador Bolton came in or when I came in and you’re read into sensitive, compartmented, classified programs and you see classified documents and you’re involved in meetings where state secrets are discussed, you sign a document, a nondisclosure agreement saying that you won’t disclose that material,” O’Brien said. “If you want to write a book afterwards or you want to give a speech or publish an article, you have to put that through the review process. And there are career professionals who go through the manuscript and, very carefully, and determine whether there’s classified material.”
O’Brien added that said career professionals “have been in touch with Ambassador Bolton’s lawyer and they’ll continue to be in touch,” before he clarified that they’ve been in touch since the NSC’s letter this week but that the NSC needs to “make sure that state secrets and important classified information that could jeopardize American lives are not released.”
When Brennan asked if anyone in the NSC leaked details of Bolton’s book — which include the claim that President Trump directed Bolton to help Rudy Giuliani pressure the Ukrainian government into digging up false allegations against his political rivals — O’Brien said that he’s “very confident” that no one at the NSC leaked it and that he has asked members of the NSC about it.
Asked if anyone on the NSC can verify what Bolton has alleged in his book, and whether Bolton “memorialized these conversations he says he witnessed between the President and others telling him to get involved with Giuliani,” O’Brien responded that he thinks the kind of notes Bolton possibly took is “something that’s going to be investigated.”
O’Brien then pointed to denials by Trump, Attorney General Bill Barr and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo regarding Bolton’s allegations that Trump directed him to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“And so, look, it’s always disappointing when someone who has access to the most confidential, close information, a close relationship with the President, decides to leave the White House and do a tell all-book,” O’Brien said. “Look, if someone has political differences, that’s fine. We’ve got to be careful about the classified information.”
Watch O’Brien’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-02--Schiff: ‘Nothing’ Dems Could’ve Done Differently Because ‘We Proved Our Case’

House impeachment manager Adam Schiff ( D-CA ) expressed no regrets when asked if he could ’ ve done anything differently in the Senate impeachment trial during an interview on CBS ’ “ Face the Nation ” Sunday morning .
When CBS ’ Margaret Brennan asked Schiff for his response to Sen. Lisa Murkowski ’ s ( R-AK ) statement regarding her vote against calling witnesses to testify — which included calling the articles of impeachment flawed and saying that the partisan nature of this impeachment gets in the way of a fair trial in the Senate — Schiff said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not mere spectators here ” and that “ it ’ s up to the senators to make it a fair trial.
” “ It is within their power to make it a fair trial with four votes , with four courageous senators saying , ‘ no , we ’ re going to demand a fair trial no matter what this president may say , ' ” Schiff said .
“ There would have been a fair trial .
There would have been witnesses and testimony .
So it ’ s not as if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this.
” Asked whether there is anything he would have done differently , Schiff said “ there ’ s nothing that I can see that we could have done differently because as the senators have already admitted , we proved our case.
” Schiff went on to argue that just because the president ’ s lawyers have said that “ the process in this impeachment was different than in Nixon and Clinton , ” that is “ not an excuse that should be used by any senator for not fulfilling their obligation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re not spectators .
They have control over the proceedings .
And they could have insisted on witnesses and documents and for whatever reason , chose not to , ” Schiff said .
“ And for those who would say , well , let ’ s let the voters decide when the President is trying to cheat in that very election — and they don ’ t want the voters to have the full information — they want the president to continue to be able to cover it up .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @

House impeachment manager Adam Schiff (D-CA) expressed no regrets when asked if he could’ve done anything differently in the Senate impeachment trial during an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation” Sunday morning.
When CBS’ Margaret Brennan asked Schiff for his response to Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s (R-AK) statement regarding her vote against calling witnesses to testify — which included calling the articles of impeachment flawed and saying that the partisan nature of this impeachment gets in the way of a fair trial in the Senate — Schiff said that Murkowski and other senators are “not mere spectators here” and that “it’s up to the senators to make it a fair trial.”
“It is within their power to make it a fair trial with four votes, with four courageous senators saying, ‘no, we’re going to demand a fair trial no matter what this president may say,'” Schiff said. “There would have been a fair trial. There would have been witnesses and testimony. So it’s not as if she was powerless to do something about this.”
Asked whether there is anything he would have done differently, Schiff said “there’s nothing that I can see that we could have done differently because as the senators have already admitted, we proved our case.”
Schiff went on to argue that just because the president’s lawyers have said that “the process in this impeachment was different than in Nixon and Clinton,” that is “not an excuse that should be used by any senator for not fulfilling their obligation to hold a fair trial.”
“They’re not spectators. They have control over the proceedings. And they could have insisted on witnesses and documents and for whatever reason, chose not to,” Schiff said. “And for those who would say, well, let’s let the voters decide when the President is trying to cheat in that very election — and they don’t want the voters to have the full information — they want the president to continue to be able to cover it up. That’s just completely unsatisfactory.”
Watch Schiff’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-02--Ernst Defends Biden Remark: ‘Just Pointing Out That Iowa Has Very Smart Voters’

During an interview on CNN Sunday morning , Sen. Joni Ernst ( R-IA ) responded to the backlash she received for her remark last week regarding whether the Trump legal team ’ s Biden-focused arguments would influence Democratic Iowa caucusgoers .
“ Iowa caucuses are this next Monday evening , ” Ernst said to reporters last Monday .
“ And I ’ m really interested to see how this discussion today informs and influences the Iowa caucus voters , those Democratic caucus-goers .
Will they be supporting Vice President Biden at this point ?
” When Tapper asked if she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you think he poses the greatest threat to Trump , ” Ernst blamed the House managers for supposedly bringing up the Bidens excessively .
“ No , I think that in that conversation we were having with reporters the other day , it was quite evident the House managers brought up Vice President Biden and his son Hunter and Burisma over 400 times in their opening argument — 400 times in their opening arguments , ” Ernst said , before adding that “ the Democrats did that ” and “ the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out the situation with Burisma.
” Ernst then argued that she was “ just pointing out that Iowa has very smart voters , very educated caucus-goers ” and that “ if they ’ re paying attention to all the dynamics with the candidates , that might be something that they would take into consideration.
” When pressed by Tapper about whether her remarks undermine the GOP argument that Trump ’ s Ukraine pressure campaign had nothing to do with electoral politics nor Biden ’ s campaign , Ernst said , “ I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ I think that , again , what we have seen is the Democrats presenting their case .
And I think it just really did show that there was something of concern with Burisma , ” Ernst said .
“ And so I think that the Democrats can can follow that .
They will make that decision as they go to the caucuses tonight.
” After Ernst insisted that “ there is a corruption issue in Ukraine , ” Tapper asked to clarify that this is “ not necessarily about the Bidens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Ernst agreed .
“ And , of course , the President honed in on that and took that issue on , ” Ernst said .
“ But , again , you know , we want to see how this influences our caucus-goers tomorrow evening as they head out to their polling places.
” Tapper then went back to pressing Ernst on how her remarks “ seem to undermine the argument that this wasn ’ t about electoral politics , ” given the lack of evidence behind any illegal activity regarding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out that “ Joe Biden was carrying out U.S. policy ” and that Ernst ’ s remarks “ does seem to suggest that you think that this could have an effect ” on the election , Ernst said she “ thinks this does ” because “ whether that was the intention or not , now everything is tied together .
”

During an interview on CNN Sunday morning, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) responded to the backlash she received for her remark last week regarding whether the Trump legal team’s Biden-focused arguments would influence Democratic Iowa caucusgoers.
“Iowa caucuses are this next Monday evening,” Ernst said to reporters last Monday. “And I’m really interested to see how this discussion today informs and influences the Iowa caucus voters, those Democratic caucus-goers. Will they be supporting Vice President Biden at this point?”
When Tapper asked if she’s “focused on Biden because you think he poses the greatest threat to Trump,” Ernst blamed the House managers for supposedly bringing up the Bidens excessively.
“No, I think that in that conversation we were having with reporters the other day, it was quite evident the House managers brought up Vice President Biden and his son Hunter and Burisma over 400 times in their opening argument — 400 times in their opening arguments,” Ernst said, before adding that “the Democrats did that” and “the White House counsel spent a number of hours laying out the situation with Burisma.”
Ernst then argued that she was “just pointing out that Iowa has very smart voters, very educated caucus-goers” and that “if they’re paying attention to all the dynamics with the candidates, that might be something that they would take into consideration.”
When pressed by Tapper about whether her remarks undermine the GOP argument that Trump’s Ukraine pressure campaign had nothing to do with electoral politics nor Biden’s campaign, Ernst said, “I don’t think it undermined at all.”
“I think that, again, what we have seen is the Democrats presenting their case. And I think it just really did show that there was something of concern with Burisma,” Ernst said. “And so I think that the Democrats can can follow that. They will make that decision as they go to the caucuses tonight.”
After Ernst insisted that “there is a corruption issue in Ukraine,” Tapper asked to clarify that this is “not necessarily about the Bidens” but a corruption issue in general, and Ernst agreed.
“And, of course, the President honed in on that and took that issue on,” Ernst said. “But, again, you know, we want to see how this influences our caucus-goers tomorrow evening as they head out to their polling places.”
Tapper then went back to pressing Ernst on how her remarks “seem to undermine the argument that this wasn’t about electoral politics,” given the lack of evidence behind any illegal activity regarding the Bidens and Ukraine.
After Tapper pointed out that “Joe Biden was carrying out U.S. policy” and that Ernst’s remarks “does seem to suggest that you think that this could have an effect” on the election, Ernst said she “thinks this does” because “whether that was the intention or not, now everything is tied together.”
Watch Ernst’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-02--Alexander: Even If It Weren’t An Election Year, I’d ‘Probably’ Still Vote Against Witnesses

Sen. Lamar Alexander ( R-TN ) insists that even if the Senate impeachment trial wasn ’ t happening during an election year , he would still vote against additional witnesses or document subpoenas .
During an interview on MSNBC ’ s “ Meet the Press , ” Chuck Todd pressed Alexander on his Thursday night release announcing his vote against witnesses — which argued that the trial was too close to the 2020 election — by asking whether a witness vote itself would have been “ helpful for the people to decide if they had more information.
” “ Well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight witnesses who say someone left the scene of an accident , why do you need nine ?
” Alexander said .
“ I mean , the question for me was : Do I need more evidence to conclude that the president did what he did ?
And I concluded no.
” After Todd asked what he believes President Trump did , Alexander said that he believes “ he called the president of Ukraine and asked him to become involved in investigating Joe Biden.
” However , when Todd asked if that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Alexander expressed uncertainty .
“ I don ’ t know about that .
But he admitted that .
The president admitted that .
He released a transcript , he said on television , ” Alexander said .
“ The second thing was , at least in part , he delayed the military and other assistance to Ukraine in order to encourage that investigation .
Those are the two things he did.
” Alexander then added that he thinks Trump “ shouldn ’ t have done it , ” it was “ wrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line ” and that “ the only question left is who decides what to do about that.
” When Todd asked “ who decides what to do about that , ” Lamar responded “ the people is my conclusion ” and that it struck him that “ we ’ re not just being asked to remove the president from office.
” After Lamar argued that “ we ’ re saying , ‘ tell him he can ’ t run in the 2020 election which begins Monday in Iowa , ' ” Todd pressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at impeachment “ differently ” if this weren ’ t an election year .
Although Lamar said that he “ would have looked it differently , ” he insisted that he would “ probably come to the same conclusion ” because “ what he did is a long way from treason , bribery , high crimes , and misdemeanors.
” “ I don ’ t think it ’ s the kind of inappropriate action that the framers would expect the Senate to substitute its judgment for the people in picking a president , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Todd that the framers of the Constitution had the fear of foreign interference in mind , the Tennessee senator argued that if Trump was “ upset about Joe Biden and his son and what they were doing in Ukraine , he should have called the Attorney General and told him that and let the Attorney General handle it the way they always handle cases that involve public figures.
” “ And why do you think he didn ’ t do that ?
” Todd asked .
“ Maybe he didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) insists that even if the Senate impeachment trial wasn’t happening during an election year, he would still vote against additional witnesses or document subpoenas.
During an interview on MSNBC’s “Meet the Press,” Chuck Todd pressed Alexander on his Thursday night release announcing his vote against witnesses — which argued that the trial was too close to the 2020 election — by asking whether a witness vote itself would have been “helpful for the people to decide if they had more information.”
“Well, I mean, if you have eight witnesses who say someone left the scene of an accident, why do you need nine?” Alexander said. “I mean, the question for me was: Do I need more evidence to conclude that the president did what he did? And I concluded no.”
After Todd asked what he believes President Trump did, Alexander said that he believes “he called the president of Ukraine and asked him to become involved in investigating Joe Biden.” However, when Todd asked if that was the origin of Trump’s wrongdoing, Alexander expressed uncertainty.
“I don’t know about that. But he admitted that. The president admitted that. He released a transcript, he said on television,” Alexander said. “The second thing was, at least in part, he delayed the military and other assistance to Ukraine in order to encourage that investigation. Those are the two things he did.”
Alexander then added that he thinks Trump “shouldn’t have done it,” it was “wrong,” “improper, crossing the line” and that “the only question left is who decides what to do about that.”
When Todd asked “who decides what to do about that,” Lamar responded “the people is my conclusion” and that it struck him that “we’re not just being asked to remove the president from office.”
After Lamar argued that “we’re saying, ‘tell him he can’t run in the 2020 election which begins Monday in Iowa,'” Todd pressed him on whether he would have looked at impeachment “differently” if this weren’t an election year.
Although Lamar said that he “would have looked it differently,” he insisted that he would “probably come to the same conclusion” because “what he did is a long way from treason, bribery, high crimes, and misdemeanors.”
“I don’t think it’s the kind of inappropriate action that the framers would expect the Senate to substitute its judgment for the people in picking a president,” Alexander said.
After Alexander agreed with Todd that the framers of the Constitution had the fear of foreign interference in mind, the Tennessee senator argued that if Trump was “upset about Joe Biden and his son and what they were doing in Ukraine, he should have called the Attorney General and told him that and let the Attorney General handle it the way they always handle cases that involve public figures.”
“And why do you think he didn’t do that?” Todd asked.
“Maybe he didn’t know to do it,” Alexander said.
Watch Alexander’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-01--Pressuring Ukraine For Biden Dirt Was ‘A Long Way’ From Impeachable, GOP Sen Asserts

Sen. Lamar Alexander ( R-TN ) said in a new interview set to air Sunday that President Donald Trump ’ s actions have been proven , but that they are “ a long way ” from impeachable .
Alexander ’ s vote , along with 50 of his Senate Republican colleagues ’ , tipped the scales against the Senate hearing new witnesses at President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
In a statement accompanying the announcement of his vote Thursday , Alexander said that the “ there is no need for more evidence to prove something that has already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States Constitution ’ s high bar for an impeachable offense.
” Alexander essentially acknowledged in the statement , and in a new interview with NBC News ’ Chuck Todd that ’ s set to air in full Sunday , that the House managers were successful in proving their case .
“ He called the President of Ukraine and asked him to become involved in investigating Joe Biden , ” Alexander said in the interview , referring to Trump .
“ Second thing , was that at least in part , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine in order to encourage that investigation.
” In his statement , Alexander called Trump ’ s behavior “ inappropriate.
” To Todd , he added that Trump “ shouldn ’ t have done it.
” “ I think it was wrong [ … ] improper , crossing the line.
” But it wasn ’ t enough for impeachment , said the senator , who is retiring in 2020 .
“ I think what he did is a long way from treason , bribery , high crimes and misdemeanors , ” Alexander said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s the kind of inappropriate action that the framers would expect the Senate to substitute its judgement for the people in picking a president .
”

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) said in a new interview set to air Sunday that President Donald Trump’s actions have been proven, but that they are “a long way” from impeachable.
Alexander’s vote, along with 50 of his Senate Republican colleagues’, tipped the scales against the Senate hearing new witnesses at President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial.
In a statement accompanying the announcement of his vote Thursday, Alexander said that the “there is no need for more evidence to prove something that has already been proven and that does not meet the United States Constitution’s high bar for an impeachable offense.”
Alexander essentially acknowledged in the statement, and in a new interview with NBC News’ Chuck Todd that’s set to air in full Sunday, that the House managers were successful in proving their case.
“He called the President of Ukraine and asked him to become involved in investigating Joe Biden,” Alexander said in the interview, referring to Trump. “Second thing, was that at least in part, he delayed the military and other assistance to Ukraine in order to encourage that investigation.”
In his statement, Alexander called Trump’s behavior “inappropriate.” To Todd, he added that Trump “shouldn’t have done it.”
“I think it was wrong […] improper, crossing the line.”
But it wasn’t enough for impeachment, said the senator, who is retiring in 2020.
“I think what he did is a long way from treason, bribery, high crimes and misdemeanors,” Alexander said. “I don’t think it’s the kind of inappropriate action that the framers would expect the Senate to substitute its judgement for the people in picking a president.”