talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-06--NY AG Sues NRA In Bid To ‘Dissolve’ Group, Alleging Massive Fraud

New York Attorney General Tish James sued the National Rifle Association on Thursday , seeking to dissolve the pro-gun advocacy group over allegations of massive fraud and extensive self-dealing .
At a press conference announcing the lawsuit , filed in state court in Manhattan , James said that a pattern of law-breaking had “ contributed to the loss of more than $ 64 million.
” “ The central figure behind this scheme was none other than [ NRA Executive Vice President ] Wayne LaPierre , ” James said .
The lawsuit names LaPierre as well as three other executives as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law , James has broad powers to seek to dissolve the organization , if it ’ s found that fraud , corruption , or waste was so endemic at the organization as to have made it impossible for the group to fulfill its charitable purpose , experts told TPM last year .
The lawsuit that James filed on Thursday seeks to do just that , and argues that those “ in control of the NRA have looted or wasted the corporation assets , ” and “ have operated the NRA solely for their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lawsuit by filing one of its own , and by alleging that the case was politically motivated .
The NRA has been wracked by infighting since 2019 , sparked in part by James ’ s investigation which began the same year .
The group has been involved in vicious litigation with its longtime ad vendor Ackerman McQueen since April 2019 , in which both have aired public allegations of self-dealing and massive fraud .
James follows on that , portraying the gun lobby as a vehicle for the enrichment of its leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ routinely bill the NRA for “ private jet travel , ” “ trips to the Bahamas to vacation on a yacht owned by the principal of numerous NRA vendors , ” and “ use of a travel consultant for costly black car services.
” The complaint goes through more than a dozen private flights LaPierre took and billed to the gun group , including a $ 15,000 flight to take his niece ’ s husband from Nebraska to Las Vegas and back .
The complaint paints a picture of an organization with few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
James alleged in the document , for example , that the NRA ’ s treasurer “ learned for the first time that LaPierre ’ s wife travels alone by private charter at the NRA ’ s expense when counsel informed him the night before he was examined by the Attorney General in June 2020.
” LaPierre appears to have testified before James ’ s investigators .
The complaint says that LaPierre would frequently say that he had concealed various expenses or travel arrangements from the group ’ s board for “ security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 108-foot yacht during trips to the Bahamas , “ equipped with four staterooms , a 16-foot jet boat , and two jet skis , ” as well as a chef , all owned by an NRA vendor .
LaPierre , the filing notes , has answered “ no ” on annual questionnaires asking charities if their officers have taken gifts from people in a business relationship with the non-profit .
“ In his testimony to the Attorney General , LaPierre said that the reason he failed to disclose the use of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he considered the yacht to have been used for a legitimate business purpose , ” the complaint reads .
The lawsuit accuses LaPierre of taking $ 1.2 million in reimbursements for “ personal expenses ” from 2013 to 2017 , including $ 65,000 in Christmas gifts as well as membership fees at a D.C.-area golf club .
LaPierre did , however , have some security arrangements .
The lawsuit alleges that the NRA ’ s director of security “ procured an armored vehicle for LaPierre ” without letting the non-profit ’ s purchasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go on to document the largesse of three other NRA executives , all of whom are accused of billing massive expenses through the gun group .
But the case ends up focusing on an unnamed “ senior assistant ” of LaPierre ’ s , who is described both as being “ one of LaPierre ’ s closest and most trusted advisors ” and of having “ joined the NRA with a criminal record of embezzling from a non-profit where she had worked in the 1980s.
” That unnamed person is accused of charging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ with her son ’ s wedding in Minnesota , ” and of blowing $ 100,000 on “ two chauffeured vehicles ” during a “ two-week fundraising excursion in France.
” James also sheds light on the role of Ackerman McQueen , the NRA ’ s longtime vendor who has spent the past year in litigation with the gun group .
Ackerman , James alleged , participated in a “ pass-through expense arrangement ” with the NRA whereby Ackerman would arrange for things like NASCAR events , private jet trips , and country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NRA for the costs .
LaPierre , James alleged , would demand that Ackerman provide him with a personal assistant on business travel to handle restaurant payments , bellhops , drivers , and other logistical issues .
The assistants would allegedly take thousands of dollars in cash with them “ to cover the cost of gratuities that LaPierre would direct ” the assistants to pay .
The lawsuit documents dozens of consulting arrangements that allegedly were used to satisfy the indulgences of top NRA officials .
This allegedly included taxidermy for animals LaPierre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trips to Africa , as well as membership fees for the International Order of St. Hubertus and the Camp Fire Club .
The International Order of St. Hubertus describes itself as “ an ancient knightly organization of like-minded sportsmen , hunters and anglers , ” under the royal protection of recently exiled Spanish King Juan Carlos .
Towards the end of the filing , James lands at the conclusion of all her allegations : that the NRA massively underreported the compensation of LaPierre and other executives to the IRS .
James said at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the process of referring the NRA to the IRS .
In addition to dissolution , James is seeking LaPierre ’ s removal , and that he and the other defendants repay their salaries to the NRA with interest , and also cover the costs of “ the waste and misuse of its charitable assets .
”

New York Attorney General Tish James sued the National Rifle Association on Thursday, seeking to dissolve the pro-gun advocacy group over allegations of massive fraud and extensive self-dealing.
At a press conference announcing the lawsuit, filed in state court in Manhattan, James said that a pattern of law-breaking had “contributed to the loss of more than $64 million.”
“The central figure behind this scheme was none other than [NRA Executive Vice President] Wayne LaPierre,” James said.
The lawsuit names LaPierre as well as three other executives as defendants.
Under New York State non-profit law, James has broad powers to seek to dissolve the organization, if it’s found that fraud, corruption, or waste was so endemic at the organization as to have made it impossible for the group to fulfill its charitable purpose, experts told TPM last year.
The lawsuit that James filed on Thursday seeks to do just that, and argues that those “in control of the NRA have looted or wasted the corporation assets,” and “have operated the NRA solely for their personal benefit.”
The NRA responded to the lawsuit by filing one of its own, and by alleging that the case was politically motivated.
(1/3) NRA PRESIDENT RESPONDS TO NY AG: This was a baseless, premeditated attack on our organization and the Second Amendment freedoms it fights to defend. You could have set your watch by it: the investigation was going to reach its crescendo as… — NRA (@NRA) August 6, 2020
The NRA has been wracked by infighting since 2019, sparked in part by James’s investigation which began the same year. The group has been involved in vicious litigation with its longtime ad vendor Ackerman McQueen since April 2019, in which both have aired public allegations of self-dealing and massive fraud.
James follows on that, portraying the gun lobby as a vehicle for the enrichment of its leadership.
The lawsuit says that LaPierre would routinely bill the NRA for “private jet travel,” “trips to the Bahamas to vacation on a yacht owned by the principal of numerous NRA vendors,” and “use of a travel consultant for costly black car services.”
The complaint goes through more than a dozen private flights LaPierre took and billed to the gun group, including a $15,000 flight to take his niece’s husband from Nebraska to Las Vegas and back.
The complaint paints a picture of an organization with few financial controls for those at the top. James alleged in the document, for example, that the NRA’s treasurer “learned for the first time that LaPierre’s wife travels alone by private charter at the NRA’s expense when counsel informed him the night before he was examined by the Attorney General in June 2020.”
LaPierre appears to have testified before James’s investigators. The complaint says that LaPierre would frequently say that he had concealed various expenses or travel arrangements from the group’s board for “security reasons.”
That included the use of a 108-foot yacht during trips to the Bahamas, “equipped
with four staterooms, a 16-foot jet boat, and two jet skis,” as well as a chef, all owned by an NRA vendor.
LaPierre, the filing notes, has answered “no” on annual questionnaires asking charities if their officers have taken gifts from people in a business relationship with the non-profit.
“In his testimony to the Attorney General, LaPierre said that the reason he failed to
disclose the use of the yacht was for security reasons and because he considered the yacht to have been used for a legitimate business purpose,” the complaint reads.
The lawsuit accuses LaPierre of taking $1.2 million in reimbursements for “personal expenses” from 2013 to 2017, including $65,000 in Christmas gifts as well as membership fees at a D.C.-area golf club.
LaPierre did, however, have some security arrangements. The lawsuit alleges that the NRA’s director of security “procured an armored vehicle for LaPierre” without letting the non-profit’s purchasing division know.
James’s investigators go on to document the largesse of three other NRA executives, all of whom are accused of billing massive expenses through the gun group.
But the case ends up focusing on an unnamed “senior assistant” of LaPierre’s, who is described both as being “one of LaPierre’s closest and most trusted advisors” and of having “joined the NRA with a criminal record of embezzling from a non-profit where she had worked in the 1980s.”
That unnamed person is accused of charging the NRA $18,000 in costs associated “with her son’s wedding in Minnesota,” and of blowing $100,000 on “two chauffeured vehicles” during a “two-week fundraising excursion in France.”
James also sheds light on the role of Ackerman McQueen, the NRA’s longtime vendor who has spent the past year in litigation with the gun group.
Ackerman, James alleged, participated in a “pass-through expense arrangement” with the NRA whereby Ackerman would arrange for things like NASCAR events, private jet trips, and country music events, and then bill the NRA for the costs.
LaPierre, James alleged, would demand that Ackerman provide him with a personal assistant on business travel to handle restaurant payments, bellhops, drivers, and other logistical issues. The assistants would allegedly take thousands of dollars in cash with them “to cover the cost of gratuities that LaPierre would direct” the assistants to pay.
The lawsuit documents dozens of consulting arrangements that allegedly were used to satisfy the indulgences of top NRA officials. This allegedly included taxidermy for animals LaPierre killed on “big game” hunting trips to Africa, as well as membership fees for the International Order of St. Hubertus and the Camp Fire Club.
The International Order of St. Hubertus describes itself as “an ancient knightly organization of like-minded sportsmen, hunters and anglers,” under the royal protection of recently exiled Spanish King Juan Carlos.
Towards the end of the filing, James lands at the conclusion of all her allegations: that the NRA massively underreported the compensation of LaPierre and other executives to the IRS.
James said at a press conference that her office was in the process of referring the NRA to the IRS.
In addition to dissolution, James is seeking LaPierre’s removal, and that he and the other defendants repay their salaries to the NRA with interest, and also cover the costs of “the waste and misuse of its charitable assets.”
Read the complaint here:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-06--Giuliani Kicks Up Sand Around Presidential Debates As Trump’s Electoral Odds Dim

Rudy Giuliani , President Trump ’ s faithful attack dog , is now setting his sights on the Commission on Presidential Debates .
The former New York mayor on Thursday morning attempted to cast doubt on the nonpartisan nature of the commission that organizes the presidential debates .
“ I don ’ t know , ” he said when asked during a Fox & Friends interview if the commission was biased .
“ Let ’ s find out if they ’ re biased.
” Giuliani and the Trump campaign have been pushing for an additional debate to be scheduled earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would get ahead of those sending mail-in ballots .
“ Two of the debates are after half the people vote , ” Giuliani said .
“ That ’ s just not fair to anybody.
” It is the latest in an increasingly desperate ploy by Team Trump to interfere with the presidential election as the President faces increasingly long electoral odds .
Trump has doubled down on spreading false claims that mail-in voting is rife with fraud — even though he suddenly reversed course by endorsing Florida ’ s vote-by-mail program when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t giving him an edge .
The reversal seems to suggest that in the President ’ s view , mail-in ballots are only fair and legitimate in Republic-run states .
“ We might as well have them after the election , ” Giuliani said of the debates on Thursday .
“ I mean , this is like sticking to a rationale that ’ s 30 years old that has no application to today.
” He said that as it stands the presidential debate schedule which begins on Sept. 29 , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The remarks expand on an argument Giuliani made in a letter Wednesday to the Commission on Presidential Debates calling the current timetable “ an outdated dinosaur.
” In the letter , the former mayor requested that a fourth presidential debate be added to the current schedule , and if declined , that the currently scheduled final debate be moved to a date in early September before the first ballots are sent on Sept. 4 in North Carolina .
By the time of the originally scheduled first presidential debate , Giuliani wrote , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting.
” But the letter also proposed several potential moderators for the debate , including Bret Baier , Harris Faulkner , Hugh Hewitt , David Muir and Norah O ’ Donnell .
Hewitt recently published an op-ed in The Washington Post celebrating the President .
The Trump campaign had previously pitched the idea of a fourth debate in June as it was becoming glaringly clear that Trump needed to break Biden ’ s growing lead in the polls .
The June proposals were a shift from just months before when the campaign threatened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the three previously scheduled debates if they were not “ fair.
” Giuliani told the Fox & Friends hosts that Democrats were opposed to holding additional debates because it would hurt their candidate , Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
( That ’ s not actually the case . )
“ The Biden people — they are having a hard time with one debate , ” Giuliani said , meanwhile claiming that the former vice president was suffering from cognitive dysfunction .
“ There is is only one reason you wouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t do this because you think that one candidate has a real chance of making a total idiot out of himself in the debate .
And the American people may actually find out that he has an illness which is being hidden by the corrupt democratic media , ” Giuliani said .
But in a statement Wednesday , Biden campaign spokesperson Andrew Bates said the Democratic candidate has no fear of battling Trump in a debate , so long as the moderators are not handpicked by Trump .
“ We have said all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the commission in June , that Joe Biden will appear on the dates that the commission selected and in the locations they chose , ” Bates said .
“ Donald Trump has not , continually trying to insert his choice of friendly moderators , now including one who just published an op-ed offering ‘ the case ’ for Trump ’ s reelection.
” Later on Thursday the commission responded to Giuliani ’ s request saying that it “ remains committed ” to its existing schedule and that it would only consider adding a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
The commission also addressed the notion that voting by mail would render the debates irrelevant , saying that voters would be “ under no compulsion ” to cast a ballot ahead of the debates .
“ While more people will likely vote by mail in 2020 , the debate schedule has been and will be highly publicized , ” the commission said in a statement obtained by the Associated Press .
“ Any voter who wishes to watch one or more debates before voting will be well aware of that opportunity @ @

Rudy Giuliani, President Trump’s faithful attack dog, is now setting his sights on the Commission on Presidential Debates.
The former New York mayor on Thursday morning attempted to cast doubt on the nonpartisan nature of the commission that organizes the presidential debates.
“I don’t know,” he said when asked during a Fox & Friends interview if the commission was biased. “Let’s find out if they’re biased.”
Giuliani and the Trump campaign have been pushing for an additional debate to be scheduled earlier in September, suggesting that the move would get ahead of those sending mail-in ballots.
“Two of the debates are after half the people vote,” Giuliani said. “That’s just not fair to anybody.”
It is the latest in an increasingly desperate ploy by Team Trump to interfere with the presidential election as the President faces increasingly long electoral odds.
Trump has doubled down on spreading false claims that mail-in voting is rife with fraud — even though he suddenly reversed course by endorsing Florida’s vote-by-mail program when he realized that bashing Florida’s program wasn’t giving him an edge. The reversal seems to suggest that in the President’s view, mail-in ballots are only fair and legitimate in Republic-run states.
“We might as well have them after the election,” Giuliani said of the debates on Thursday. “I mean, this is like sticking to a rationale that’s 30 years old that has no application to today.”
He said that as it stands the presidential debate schedule which begins on Sept. 29, “undercuts the entire mission of the commission.”
The remarks expand on an argument Giuliani made in a letter Wednesday to the Commission on Presidential Debates calling the current timetable “an outdated dinosaur.”
In the letter, the former mayor requested that a fourth presidential debate be added to the current schedule, and if declined, that the currently scheduled final debate be moved to a date in early September before the first ballots are sent on Sept. 4 in North Carolina. By the time of the originally scheduled first presidential debate, Giuliani wrote, “16 states will already have started voting.”
But the letter also proposed several potential moderators for the debate, including Bret Baier, Harris Faulkner, Hugh Hewitt, David Muir and Norah O’Donnell. Hewitt recently published an op-ed in The Washington Post celebrating the President.
The Trump campaign had previously pitched the idea of a fourth debate in June as it was becoming glaringly clear that Trump needed to break Biden’s growing lead in the polls.
The June proposals were a shift from just months before when the campaign threatened that it would not participate in any of the three previously scheduled debates if they were not “fair.”
Giuliani told the Fox & Friends hosts that Democrats were opposed to holding additional debates because it would hurt their candidate, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. (That’s not actually the case.)
“The Biden people — they are having a hard time with one debate,” Giuliani said, meanwhile claiming that the former vice president was suffering from cognitive dysfunction.
“There is is only one reason you wouldn’t do this. You wouldn’t do this because you think that one candidate has a real chance of making a total idiot out of himself in the debate. And the American people may actually find out that he has an illness which is being hidden by the corrupt democratic media,” Giuliani said.
But in a statement Wednesday, Biden campaign spokesperson Andrew Bates said the Democratic candidate has no fear of battling Trump in a debate, so long as the moderators are not handpicked by Trump.
“We have said all along, including in a letter to the commission in June, that Joe Biden will appear on the dates that the commission selected and in the locations they chose,” Bates said. “Donald Trump has not, continually trying to insert his choice of friendly moderators, now including one who just published an op-ed offering ‘the case’ for Trump’s reelection.”
Later on Thursday the commission responded to Giuliani’s request saying that it “remains committed” to its existing schedule and that it would only consider adding a fourth debate if both sides agreed to it.
The commission also addressed the notion that voting by mail would render the debates irrelevant, saying that voters would be “under no compulsion” to cast a ballot ahead of the debates. “
While more people will likely vote by mail in 2020, the debate schedule has been and will be highly publicized,” the commission said in a statement obtained by the Associated Press. “Any voter who wishes to watch one or more debates before voting will be well aware of that opportunity.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-07--Biden Fires Back At Trump After POTUS Accuses Him Of Trying To ‘Hurt God’

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden , who is a practicing Catholic , slammed President Donald Trump on Thursday after the President falsely claimed his Democratic challenger was “ against God.
” Biden issued a scathing press release in response to Trump ’ s “ shameful ” attacks , which the former vice president called “ beneath the office he holds and it ’ s beneath the dignity the American people so rightly expect and deserve from their leaders.
” “ However , like the words of so many other insecure bullies , President Trump ’ s comments reveal more about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Biden continued .
“ They show us a man willing to stoop to any low for political gain , and someone whose actions are completely at odds with the values and teachings that he professes to believe in.
” The Democratic candidate pointed at Trump ’ s decidedly un-Christian actions during his presidency , such as separating migrant children from their families at the southern border and having peaceful protesters near the White House teargassed so he could take his infamous photo-op waving a Bible in front of St. John ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve said so many times before , we ’ re in the battle for the soul of our nation , ” Biden said .
“ And President Trump ’ s decision today to profane God and to smear my faith in a political attack is a stark reminder of what the stakes of this fight truly are.
” While giving a speech at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland , Ohio earlier on Thursday , Trump attacked Biden ’ s faith while accusing him of “ following the radical left agenda.
” “ Take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amendment , no religion , no anything , ” the President said .
“ Hurt the Bible , hurt God .
He ’ s against God .
”

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, who is a practicing Catholic, slammed President Donald Trump on Thursday after the President falsely claimed his Democratic challenger was “against God.”
Biden issued a scathing press release in response to Trump’s “shameful” attacks, which the former vice president called “beneath the office he holds and it’s beneath the dignity the American people so rightly expect and deserve from their leaders.”
“However, like the words of so many other insecure bullies, President Trump’s comments reveal more about him than they do about anyone else,” Biden continued. “They show us a man willing to stoop to any low for political gain, and someone whose actions are completely at odds with the values and teachings that he professes to believe in.”
The Democratic candidate pointed at Trump’s decidedly un-Christian actions during his presidency, such as separating migrant children from their families at the southern border and having peaceful protesters near the White House teargassed so he could take his infamous photo-op waving a Bible in front of St. John’s Church.
“As I’ve said so many times before, we’re in the battle for the soul of our nation,” Biden said. “And President Trump’s decision today to profane God and to smear my faith in a political attack is a stark reminder of what the stakes of this fight truly are.”
While giving a speech at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, Ohio earlier on Thursday, Trump attacked Biden’s faith while accusing him of “following the radical left agenda.”
“Take away your guns, destroy your Second Amendment, no religion, no anything,” the President said. “Hurt the Bible, hurt God. He’s against God.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-07--Jerry Falwell Jr. Agrees To Take ‘Indefinite Leave of Absence’ From Liberty University

Jerry Falwell , Jr. has agreed to take “ an indefinite leave of absence from his roles as President and Chancellor of Liberty University , ” the school ’ s board of trustees announced Friday afternoon .
The move would be “ effective immediately , ” the board ’ s executive committee said in a statement .
Falwell , the son of the prominent evangelical and university founder Jerry Falwell , Sr. , is a high-profile Trump ally .
But in recent years , he ’ s found himself involved in a number of bizarre scandals .
The most recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shots ” Falwell posted to Instagram .
In one , which he later deleted , he stands with his arm around a woman and his belly bulging over unzipped jeans .
He holds a glass of something dark .
“ Lots of good friends visited us on the yacht , ” the caption read .
“ I promise that ’ s just black water in my glass .
It was a prop only.
” Falwell removed the image , but not before screenshots of it were shared widely on social media .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an explanation in an interview with a Virginia radio station .
“ She ’ s pregnant so she couldn ’ t get her pants up and I was like , trying to like — I had on a pair of jeans that I hadn ’ t worn in a long time so I couldn ’ t get mine zipped either , ” he told Lynchburg ’ s WLNI 105.9 FM .
“ So I just put my belly out like hers.
” “ She ’ s my wife ’ s assistant and she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never have put it up and embarrassed her , ” he added .
“ I ’ ve apologized to everybody , and I ’ ve promised my kids … I ’ m going to try to be a good boy from here on out.
” But it was too late .
The image prompted calls for Falwell ’ s resignation , including from Rep. Mark Walker ( R-NC ) , the House Republican Conference Vice Chair and a member of the university ’ s advisory board .
“ I just think there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live by , ” Walker later told CNN .
“ Especially when you ’ re leading the largest evangelical university in the country.
” “ There ’ s been a pattern of behavior that ’ s not becoming to what that school ’ s code of conduct is , ” he added .

Jerry Falwell, Jr. has agreed to take “an indefinite leave of absence from his roles as President and Chancellor of Liberty University,” the school’s board of trustees announced Friday afternoon.
The move would be “effective immediately,” the board’s executive committee said in a statement.
Falwell, the son of the prominent evangelical and university founder Jerry Falwell, Sr., is a high-profile Trump ally. But in recent years, he’s found himself involved in a number of bizarre scandals.
The most recent controversy involves a series of “vacation shots” Falwell posted to Instagram. In one, which he later deleted, he stands with his arm around a woman and his belly bulging over unzipped jeans. He holds a glass of something dark.
wut is happening pic.twitter.com/8iEOr9EeRQ — Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) August 3, 2020
“Lots of good friends visited us on the yacht,” the caption read. “I promise that’s just black water in my glass. It was a prop only.”
Falwell removed the image, but not before screenshots of it were shared widely on social media.
How is this Jerry Falwell Jr. photo even real? Also if you're running the largest Christian university in America maybe don't put photos of yourself on social media with your pants undone on a yacht – with random women in bad wigs. So gross, so hypocritical. — Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) August 3, 2020
There were already so many good reasons not to entrust your kids to Jerry Falwell Jr’s learning institution. The unzipped pants yacht photo – of the school’s PRESIDENT – is sadly the least of them. — S.E. Cupp (@secupp) August 4, 2020
On Wednesday, the university president offered up an explanation in an interview with a Virginia radio station.
“She’s pregnant so she couldn’t get her pants up and I was like, trying to like — I had on a pair of jeans that I hadn’t worn in a long time so I couldn’t get mine zipped either,” he told Lynchburg’s WLNI 105.9 FM. “So I just put my belly out like hers.”
“She’s my wife’s assistant and she’s a sweetheart and I should never have put it up and embarrassed her,” he added. “I’ve apologized to everybody, and I’ve promised my kids … I’m going to try to be a good boy from here on out.”
But it was too late.
The image prompted calls for Falwell’s resignation, including from Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC), the House Republican Conference Vice Chair and a member of the university’s advisory board.
Jerry Falwell Jr’s ongoing behavior is appalling. As a Music Faculty Advisory Board Member and former instructor @LibertyU, I’m convinced Falwell should step down. None of us are perfect, but students, faculty, alumni and @LUPraise deserve better. — Rep. Mark Walker (@RepMarkWalker) August 6, 2020
“I just think there’s a code that leaders have to live by,” Walker later told CNN. “Especially when you’re leading the largest evangelical university in the country.”
“There’s been a pattern of behavior that’s not becoming to what that school’s code of conduct is,” he added.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-07--Canada’s Last Intact Ice Shelf Collapses Due To Warming

Much of Canada ’ s remaining intact ice shelf has broken apart into hulking iceberg islands thanks to a hot summer and global warming , scientists said .
Canada ’ s 4,000-year-old Milne Ice Shelf on the northwestern edge of Ellesmere Island had been the country ’ s last intact ice shelf until the end of July when ice analyst Adrienne White of the Canadian Ice Service noticed that satellite photos showed that about 43 % of it had broken off .
She said it happened around July 30 or 31 .
Two giant icebergs formed along with lots of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started drifting away , White said .
The biggest is nearly the size of Manhattan — 21 square miles ( 55 square kilometers ) and 7 miles long ( 11.5 kilometers ) .
They are 230 to 260 feet ( 70 to 80 meters ) thick .
“ This is a huge , huge block of ice , ” White said .
“ If one of these is moving toward an oil rig , there ’ s nothing you can really do aside from move your oil rig.
” The 72-square mile ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shelf of ridges and troughs dotted with blue meltwater had been larger than the District of Columbia but now is down to 41 square miles ( 106 square kilometers ) .
Temperatures from May to early August in the region have been 9 degrees ( 5 degrees Celsius ) warmer than the 1980 to 2010 average , University of Ottawa glaciology professor Luke Copland said .
This is on top of an Arctic that already had been warming much faster than the rest of globe , with this region warming even faster .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s climate change , ” Copland said , noting the ice shelf is melting from both hotter air above and warmer water below .
“ The Milne was very special , ” he added .
“ It ’ s an amazingly pretty location.
” Ice shelves are hundreds to thousands of years old , thicker than long-term sea ice , but not as big and old as glaciers , Copland said .
Canada used to have a large continuous ice shelf across the northern coast of Ellesmere Island in the Canadian territory of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apart over the last decades because of man-made global warming , White said .
By 2005 it was down to six remaining ice shelves but “ the Milne was really the last complete ice shelf , ” she said .
“ There aren ’ t very many ice shelves around the Arctic anymore , ” Copland said .
“ It seems we ’ ve lost pretty much all of them from northern Greenland and the Russian Arctic .
There may be a few in a few protected fjords.
” The Associated Press Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .

Much of Canada’s remaining intact ice shelf has broken apart into hulking iceberg islands thanks to a hot summer and global warming, scientists said.
Canada’s 4,000-year-old Milne Ice Shelf on the northwestern edge of Ellesmere Island had been the country’s last intact ice shelf until the end of July when ice analyst Adrienne White of the Canadian Ice Service noticed that satellite photos showed that about 43% of it had broken off. She said it happened around July 30 or 31.
Two giant icebergs formed along with lots of smaller ones, and they have already started drifting away, White said. The biggest is nearly the size of Manhattan — 21 square miles (55 square kilometers) and 7 miles long (11.5 kilometers). They are 230 to 260 feet (70 to 80 meters) thick.
“This is a huge, huge block of ice,” White said. “If one of these is moving toward an oil rig, there’s nothing you can really do aside from move your oil rig.”
The 72-square mile (187 square kilometer) undulating white ice shelf of ridges and troughs dotted with blue meltwater had been larger than the District of Columbia but now is down to 41 square miles (106 square kilometers).
Temperatures from May to early August in the region have been 9 degrees (5 degrees Celsius) warmer than the 1980 to 2010 average, University of Ottawa glaciology professor Luke Copland said. This is on top of an Arctic that already had been warming much faster than the rest of globe, with this region warming even faster.
“Without a doubt, it’s climate change,” Copland said, noting the ice shelf is melting from both hotter air above and warmer water below.
“The Milne was very special,” he added. “It’s an amazingly pretty location.”
Ice shelves are hundreds to thousands of years old, thicker than long-term sea ice, but not as big and old as glaciers, Copland said.
Canada used to have a large continuous ice shelf across the northern coast of Ellesmere Island in the Canadian territory of Nunavut, but it has been breaking apart over the last decades because of man-made global warming, White said. By 2005 it was down to six remaining ice shelves but “the Milne was really the last complete ice shelf,” she said.
“There aren’t very many ice shelves around the Arctic anymore,” Copland said. “It seems we’ve lost pretty much all of them from northern Greenland and the Russian Arctic. There may be a few in a few protected fjords.”
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Follow AP’s climate coverage at https://apnews.com/Climate
___
Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears .
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-07--NC Relaxes Restriction On More Than 10 People Gathering Indoors At GOP Convention

RALEIGH , N.C. ( AP ) — North Carolina will ease gathering restrictions for the Republican National Convention in Charlotte this month after a push by the national party for the state to be more accommodating .
But the Aug. 21-24 event culminating in President Donald Trump ’ s nomination will be nothing like conventions of previous years in which prominent politicians and party leaders addressed thousands of enthusiastic supporters .
The RNC has estimated it would have no more than 500 delegates per day at the Charlotte Convention Center and the Westin hotel .
In a letter written to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s health director and chief medical officer , Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson , said the Department of Health and Human Services understands more than 10 people may need to assemble indoors to conduct party business .
“ In the spirit of accommodating the unique interests and needs of the convention , we have expressed a willingness to flexibly enforce certain otherwise-applicable public health measures imposed by the Governor in response to the COVID-19 emergency , ” Tilson wrote .
“ For example , we recognize that convention business may require more than 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday , Democratic Gov .
Roy Cooper extended an existing executive order that limits mass indoor gatherings at event venues to 10 people .
No more than 25 people are allowed to gather outdoors at such venues under Phase 2 of North Carolina ’ s reopening plan .
Though the state said it would ease the restriction , it was adamant that mask-wearing and 6 feet of physical distancing must remain enforced .
The RNC submitted a 42-page safety plan on Monday .
In it , the national party said “ neither contract @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( National Special Security Event ) will enforce solely requirements for masks or social distancing.
” The safety proposal from the party also requires attendees to complete a pre-travel health questionnaire , take a self-administered coronavirus test from their home and agree not to travel to Charlotte if they test positive .
Tilson asked the RNC to provide a list of scheduled events at both the hotel and convention center , the number of attendees attending them , the square footage of the venues and rooms and other information .
She told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together per 1,000-square-foot ( 93-square-meter ) of space .
The back-and-forth between the state and RNC comes amid a months-long battle between Trump and North Carolina ’ s Democratic governor .
In May , Cooper denied Trump ’ s request for a full-capacity convention , prompting Trump to move the site of his nomination acceptance speech from Charlotte to Jacksonville , Florida .
But with escalating COVID-19 cases throughout Florida , the president ’ s appearance was called off .
Trump has since said he would speak at the convention in Charlotte , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would attend the convention in person .
On Wednesday , Trump told Fox News he would “ probably ” give his acceptance speech “ live from the White House , ” raising concerns he could run afoul of a 1939 law barring some executive branch workers from participating in certain forms of political activity .
While Trump and Pence are exempt from the Hatch Act , others involved in event planning could be at risk of violating the law .
Cooper has often been reluctant to criticize Trump by name , but in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the governor insisted he wasn ’ t afraid to express his disagreements with the president , especially about the RNC Convention .
“ We had a conversation about the RNC and I had to stand up to him to tell him that we were not gon na let them have a full arena for the RNC , ” Cooper said .
“ So I ’ ve stood up to him when he takes steps that I think hurt the people of North Carolina , and I ’ m not afraid to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afraid to work with him when it ’ s for the good of our state.
” Anderson is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues .

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina will ease gathering restrictions for the Republican National Convention in Charlotte this month after a push by the national party for the state to be more accommodating.
But the Aug. 21-24 event culminating in President Donald Trump’s nomination will be nothing like conventions of previous years in which prominent politicians and party leaders addressed thousands of enthusiastic supporters.
The RNC has estimated it would have no more than 500 delegates per day at the Charlotte Convention Center and the Westin hotel.
In a letter written to the RNC on Thursday, the state’s health director and chief medical officer, Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, said the Department of Health and Human Services understands more than 10 people may need to assemble indoors to conduct party business.
“In the spirit of accommodating the unique interests and needs of the convention, we have expressed a willingness to flexibly enforce certain otherwise-applicable public health measures imposed by the Governor in response to the COVID-19 emergency,” Tilson wrote. “For example, we recognize that convention business may require more than 10 people to be gathered indoors.”
On Wednesday, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper extended an existing executive order that limits mass indoor gatherings at event venues to 10 people. No more than 25 people are allowed to gather outdoors at such venues under Phase 2 of North Carolina’s reopening plan.
Though the state said it would ease the restriction, it was adamant that mask-wearing and 6 feet of physical distancing must remain enforced.
The RNC submitted a 42-page safety plan on Monday. In it, the national party said “neither contract security nor security participating in the NSSE (National Special Security Event) will enforce solely requirements for masks or social distancing.”
The safety proposal from the party also requires attendees to complete a pre-travel health questionnaire, take a self-administered coronavirus test from their home and agree not to travel to Charlotte if they test positive.
Tilson asked the RNC to provide a list of scheduled events at both the hotel and convention center, the number of attendees attending them, the square footage of the venues and rooms and other information. She told the RNC about 12 people could be gathered together per 1,000-square-foot (93-square-meter) of space.
The back-and-forth between the state and RNC comes amid a months-long battle between Trump and North Carolina’s Democratic governor.
In May, Cooper denied Trump’s request for a full-capacity convention, prompting Trump to move the site of his nomination acceptance speech from Charlotte to Jacksonville, Florida. But with escalating COVID-19 cases throughout Florida, the president’s appearance was called off.
Trump has since said he would speak at the convention in Charlotte, though he did not explicitly say he would attend the convention in person. On Wednesday, Trump told Fox News he would “probably” give his acceptance speech “live from the White House,” raising concerns he could run afoul of a 1939 law barring some executive branch workers from participating in certain forms of political activity. While Trump and Pence are exempt from the Hatch Act, others involved in event planning could be at risk of violating the law.
Cooper has often been reluctant to criticize Trump by name, but in a Thursday interview with The Associated Press, the governor insisted he wasn’t afraid to express his disagreements with the president, especially about the RNC Convention.
“We had a conversation about the RNC and I had to stand up to him to tell him that we were not gonna let them have a full arena for the RNC,” Cooper said. “So I’ve stood up to him when he takes steps that I think hurt the people of North Carolina, and I’m not afraid to do that. I’m also not afraid to work with him when it’s for the good of our state.”
___
Follow Anderson at https://twitter.com/BryanRAnderson
___
Anderson is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-07--HHS Opening Four Additional COVID Testing Sites In Texas, After All That

The Department of Health and Human Services will set up four COVID-19 testing sites in Texas , the agency announced on Friday in a joint statement with Texas Governor Greg Abbott ( R ) .
The four sites will be in Harris County , where Houston and its suburbs are located .
Two of the sites have already opened , and another two are scheduled to open on Monday .
The announcement of the “ temporary COVID-19 surge testing sites ” comes over a month after the Trump administration nearly let support for seven testing sites in Texas lapse .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Brett Giroir called the sites “ antiquated ” and said that local officials would take control of the sites .
Texas officials disagreed .
Sens .
Ted Cruz and John Cornyn sent a letter to the Trump administration demanding that the sites be kept open , while local officials made similar requests of the feds .
HHS reversed that decision amid complaints from local officials regarding the federal withdrawal .
HHS has issued extensions for the sites every two weeks since .
Since then , Texas has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as cases continued to skyrocket until late last month .
Meanwhile , the country has a whole has faced delays in getting test results , with the majority of tests submitted to commercial labs taking more than three days to turn around as of last week .
The new sites will each be able to process 1,250 tests per day .
The release says that that will result in “ a total of 60,000 tests across the four sites.
” Giroir announced the opening with Gov .
Abbott , saying in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and demographic data will inform how to shift state and local resources to reduce the occurrence of COVID-19 .
”

The Department of Health and Human Services will set up four COVID-19 testing sites in Texas, the agency announced on Friday in a joint statement with Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R).
The four sites will be in Harris County, where Houston and its suburbs are located. Two of the sites have already opened, and another two are scheduled to open on Monday.
The announcement of the “temporary COVID-19 surge testing sites” comes over a month after the Trump administration nearly let support for seven testing sites in Texas lapse.
After TPM reported on the move, HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Brett Giroir called the sites “antiquated” and said that local officials would take control of the sites.
Texas officials disagreed. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn sent a letter to the Trump administration demanding that the sites be kept open, while local officials made similar requests of the feds.
HHS reversed that decision amid complaints from local officials regarding the federal withdrawal. HHS has issued extensions for the sites every two weeks since.
Since then, Texas has seen thousands of deaths due to COVID-19, as cases continued to skyrocket until late last month. Meanwhile, the country has a whole has faced delays in getting test results, with the majority of tests submitted to commercial labs taking more than three days to turn around as of last week.
The new sites will each be able to process 1,250 tests per day. The release says that that will result in “a total of 60,000 tests across the four sites.”
Giroir announced the opening with Gov. Abbott , saying in a statement that “data including positive rates and demographic data will inform how to shift state and local resources to reduce the occurrence of COVID-19.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-07--New Research Highlights Gaps In How Black And White Voters Approach Vote By Mail

Hispanic and Black voters in a Philadelphia County requested mail ballots on average several days later than their white counterparts during the primary , according to an internal analysis by a voting rights group .
Later application submissions , in turn , decreased the likelihood that those ballots were returned , the Pennsylvania chapter of All Voting Is Local found .
Altogether , the group ’ s research from the June primary reenforced the need to close the education gap surrounding vote-by-mail , All Voting Is Local ’ s Pennsylvania director Scott Seeborg told TPM .
“ This shows a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ground level community education effort , ” Seeborg said .
The group found similar trends in Allegheny County , which is home to Pittsburgh , though Allegheny had a higher rate of absentee ballots that were requested and ultimately returned .
The use of vote by mail in the state has skyrocketed this year .
Even before the pandemic , Pennsylvania election officials were already preparing for an uptick because of a 2019 law change that removed the state ’ s excuse requirements for absentee voting .
The June 2 primary over-performed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nonetheless , Black and Hispanic communities sought to use vote by mail at lower rates than white areas of Philadelphia , the All Voting is Local analysis found , and there was also a gap between white and Black communities in Allegheny County .
“ Rich and whiter areas were requesting and returning more absentee ballots .
Black , lower income , and areas with more people age 18 to 24 were requesting and returning fewer ballots , ” the analysis said .
All Voting Is Local shared its analysis with TPM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published in full .
The group compared census tract data with state information about absentee voting in the primary , meaning use rates were derived from total population rather than number of registered voters .
Seeborg pointed to a number of factors that could explain why communities of color were less likely adopt the practice .
“ Philadelphia … has had an extremely strong history of in-person voting , ” he said , particularly among the Black community .
“ The introduction of the pandemic created a lot of uncertainty , and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do vote by mail , because the tool was so new , ” he said .
One key question is whether delays in ballots being delivery were hampering the use of vote by mail among people of color , given the trend of Black and Hispanic voters submitting their requests later on average than white voters .
In Philadelphia , requests from Black and Hispanic voters were on average received by election offices 10 days later than those from white voters , who on average got their requests in by May 2 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided to apply for an absentee ballot , 50 % had not done so by May 18 and 19 respectively , ” the analysis said .
“ That means about 50 % of Black and Hispanic applications came with less than two weeks before Election Day.
” The average submission date gap between Hispanic and white voters was much less pronounced in Allegheny County , but still Black voters submitted their requests six days later on average than white voters , who on average submitted their request by May 5 .
A “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vote by mail on May 19 or later did not ultimately submit those ballots , the analysis said .
About 40 percent of Allegheny County residents who applied to vote absentee within that period did not submit those ballots , while that rate was 30 percent in Philadelphia County .
Seeborg told TPM that , beyond the need for more education around vote-by-mail , the research highlights the need for making in-person voting and drop boxes for absentee ballots widely accessible this fall , even as more people than ever choose to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislators to allow for voters to drop off mail ballots at in-person election sites .
“ The pathway to victory , if you will , on getting the ballot in was really narrow ” in the primary , Seeborg said , particularly as the civil unrest at the time of the early June primary made Philadelphia ’ s in-person voting sites and drop boxes less accessible .

Hispanic and Black voters in a Philadelphia County requested mail ballots on average several days later than their white counterparts during the primary, according to an internal analysis by a voting rights group.
Later application submissions, in turn, decreased the likelihood that those ballots were returned, the Pennsylvania chapter of All Voting Is Local found.
Altogether, the group’s research from the June primary reinforced the need to close the education gap surrounding vote-by-mail, All Voting Is Local’s Pennsylvania director Scott Seeborg told TPM.
“This shows a need for a way more robust and ground level community education effort,” Seeborg said.
The group found similar trends in Allegheny County, which is home to Pittsburgh, though Allegheny had a higher rate of absentee ballots that were requested and ultimately returned.
The use of vote by mail in the state has skyrocketed this year. Even before the pandemic, Pennsylvania election officials were already preparing for an uptick because of a 2019 law change that removed the state’s excuse requirements for absentee voting.
The June 2 primary over-performed, by several times, those initial expectations.
Nonetheless, Black and Hispanic communities sought to use vote by mail at lower rates than white areas of Philadelphia, the All Voting is Local analysis found, and there was also a gap between white and Black communities in Allegheny County.
“Rich and whiter areas were requesting and returning more absentee ballots. Black, lower income, and areas with more people age 18 to 24 were requesting and returning fewer ballots,” the analysis said. All Voting Is Local shared its analysis with TPM on the agreement that it not be published in full.
The group compared census tract data with state information about absentee voting in the primary, meaning use rates were derived from total population rather than number of registered voters.
Seeborg pointed to a number of factors that could explain why communities of color were less likely adopt the practice.
“Philadelphia … has had an extremely strong history of in-person voting,” he said, particularly among the Black community.
“The introduction of the pandemic created a lot of uncertainty, and that uncertainty was combined with this push to do vote by mail, because the tool was so new,” he said.
One key question is whether delays in ballots being delivery were hampering the use of vote by mail among people of color, given the trend of Black and Hispanic voters submitting their requests later on average than white voters.
In Philadelphia, requests from Black and Hispanic voters were on average received by election offices 10 days later than those from white voters, who on average got their requests in by May 2.
“For Black and Hispanic voters who decided to apply for an absentee ballot, 50% had not done so by May 18 and 19 respectively,” the analysis said. “That means about 50% of Black and Hispanic applications came with less than two weeks before Election Day.”
The average submission date gap between Hispanic and white voters was much less pronounced in Allegheny County, but still Black voters submitted their requests six days later on average than white voters, who on average submitted their request by May 5.
A “sizable portion” of voters who applied to vote by mail on May 19 or later did not ultimately submit those ballots, the analysis said.
About 40 percent of Allegheny County residents who applied to vote absentee within that period did not submit those ballots, while that rate was 30 percent in Philadelphia County.
Seeborg told TPM that, beyond the need for more education around vote-by-mail, the research highlights the need for making in-person voting and drop boxes for absentee ballots widely accessible this fall, even as more people than ever choose to vote absentee. He also called on legislators to allow for voters to drop off mail ballots at in-person election sites.
“The pathway to victory, if you will, on getting the ballot in was really narrow” in the primary, Seeborg said, particularly as the civil unrest at the time of the early June primary made Philadelphia’s in-person voting sites and drop boxes less accessible.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-07--Fox News Contributor: There Is Still ‘Some Debate’ About Whether Masks Are ‘Good’

Fox News contributor Rachel Campos-Duffy suggested during a segment Friday that there is still “ some debate ” about whether or not masks are “ good , ” even within the scientific community .
“ I think that there is some debate about — even within the scientific community — about whether masks are good or not , ” Campos-Duffy said when Fox News ’ Harris Faulkner asked her about people refusing to wear masks amid scientific evidence that indicates wearing masks can protect against spread .
Fox News co-host Dagen McDowell quickly dismissed Campos-Duffy ’ s remarks point-blank , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s no debate.
” Campos-Duffy , a television personality who makes regular appearances on the Fox News show “ Outnumbered , ” is the spouse of former Republican Rep. Sean Duffy ( R-WI ) and formerly appeared on the reality television show “ The Real World.
” When Faulkner pressed on the question of wearing masks at the very least in the presence of seniors who face greater risk if infected with the virus , Campos-Duffy — who recently made a Trump campaign list of recommended moderators for a proposed additional presidential debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , claiming that 99 percent of those infected with the virus would recover .
“ There are consequences to poverty and economic depression that we are not considering , that maybe — and I believe are more serious than the chance of getting COVID , which 99 percent of the people will recover from , ” Campos-Duffy said .
The comments — which blatantly ignore consensus in the scientific community that wearing masks helps to curb the spread of coronavirus — echo sentiments repeatedly expressed by President Trump that are simply untrue .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ took action against Trump for spreading falsehood about the coronavirus , even removing a video posted to the President ’ s official and campaign accounts that features a video in which the President falsely says that children are “ almost immune ” to COVID-19 .

Fox News contributor Rachel Campos-Duffy suggested during a segment Friday that there is still “some debate” about whether or not masks are “good,” even within the scientific community.
“I think that there is some debate about — even within the scientific community — about whether masks are good or not,” Campos-Duffy said when Fox News’ Harris Faulkner asked her about people refusing to wear masks amid scientific evidence that indicates wearing masks can protect against spread.
Fox News co-host Dagen McDowell quickly dismissed Campos-Duffy’s remarks point-blank, repeating twice over that “there’s no debate.”
Campos-Duffy, a television personality who makes regular appearances on the Fox News show “Outnumbered,” is the spouse of former Republican Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) and formerly appeared on the reality television show “The Real World.”
When Faulkner pressed on the question of wearing masks at the very least in the presence of seniors who face greater risk if infected with the virus, Campos-Duffy — who recently made a Trump campaign list of recommended moderators for a proposed additional presidential debate — pivoted to talk about the economy, claiming that 99 percent of those infected with the virus would recover.
“There are consequences to poverty and economic depression that we are not considering, that maybe — and I believe are more serious than the chance of getting COVID, which 99 percent of the people will recover from,” Campos-Duffy said.
The comments — which blatantly ignore consensus in the scientific community that wearing masks helps to curb the spread of coronavirus — echo sentiments repeatedly expressed by President Trump that are simply untrue.
Earlier this week, social media companies took action against Trump for spreading falsehood about the coronavirus, even removing a video posted to the President’s official and campaign accounts that features a video in which the President falsely says that children are “almost immune” to COVID-19.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-07--DNI Warns For The First Time That Russia Wants To Damage Biden In The 2020 Election

The Russian government is supporting efforts to damage Joe Biden and boost President Trump , counterintelligence chief William Evanina said on Friday .
The statement from Evanina also says that China ” prefers ” for Trump to lose re-election to Biden .
The new announcement comes two weeks after Evanina released a similar , but less specific statement warning of interference by Russia , China , and Iran in the November elections .
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) reportedly chastised Evanina last week over the statement , accusing him of withholding key information about foreign meddling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian support for President Trump ’ s re-election .
The new , Friday afternoon statement fell short of outright stating that Moscow wants Trump re-elected for a second term , instead noting that the Kremlin “ is using a range of measures to primarily denigrate ” both Biden and “ an anti-Russia ‘ establishment . '
” The statement does name Ukrainian MP Andriy Derkach as an example of those “ measures.
” Derkach , a graduate of Moscow ’ s Felix Dzerzhinsky Higher School of State Security , has spent much of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recordings of phone calls between Biden and Ukraine ’ s president in 2016 .
Derkach met with Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani in Kyiv in December 2019 , giving him a packet of information about the Bidens .
Sens .
Ron Johnson ( R-WI ) and Chuck Grassley ( R-IA ) , who are running an investigation that drives at much of the same themes found in the Russian government-sponsored efforts to damage Biden , have denied that their probe has taken information from Derkach .
The Ukrainian MP has said that he gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( R-CA ) , ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee , would not say last week whether he took information from Derkach .
House Democrats raised the issue after finding a DHL receipt for documents from the Ukrainian parliamentarian .
The new statement from the DNI also comes in the wake of failed efforts by Congress and the White House in 2016 to state clearly that the Russian government was meddling in that year ’ s elections .
It was later reported that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would refuse to sign on to any statement identifying the Russian government-backed meddling as being in support of the Trump campaign .
The new statement categorizes Russian efforts in the same league as those of Iran and China , saying that the latter two states prefer for Trump to lose .
The statement also does not make explicit who Moscow would prefer to win .
“ Many foreign actors have a preference for who wins the election , which they express through a range of overt and private statements ; covert influence efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before listing the three efforts as having broadly the same objectives .
China , Evanina said , is running an influence campaign aimed at shaping U.S. policy towards Beijing .
“ For example , it has harshly criticized the Administration ’ s statements and actions on Hong Kong , TikTok , the legal status of the South China Sea , and China ’ s efforts to dominate the 5G market , ” Evanina wrote .
“ Beijing recognizes that all of these efforts might affect the presidential race.
” Evanina drives at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying that the Islamic Republic is “ spreading disinformation on social media ” partly because it believes that Trump ’ s reelection “ would result in a continuation of U.S. pressure on Iran in an effort to foment regime change.
” In a statement released Friday evening , Reps. Pelosi and Adam Schiff ( D-CA ) thanked Evanina for naming Derkach and for saying that the Kremlin ’ s aim was to hurt Biden and boost Trump .
But the Democratic leaders accused Evanina of treating “ three actors of differing intent and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections.
” “ Members of Congress have now been briefed on the specific threats facing the 2020 election , and we have been clear with the Intelligence Community that the American people must be provided with specific information that would allow voters to appraise for themselves the respective threats posed by these foreign actors , and distinguish these actors ’ different and unequal aims , current actions , and capabilities , ” the two members of congress said .

The Russian government is supporting efforts to damage Joe Biden and boost President Trump, counterintelligence chief William Evanina said on Friday.
The statement from Evanina also says that China”prefers” for Trump to lose re-election to Biden.
The new announcement comes two weeks after Evanina released a similar, but less specific statement warning of interference by Russia, China, and Iran in the November elections.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) reportedly chastised Evanina last week over the statement, accusing him of withholding key information about foreign meddling campaigns in the 2020 elections, including Russian support for President Trump’s re-election.
The new, Friday afternoon statement fell short of outright stating that Moscow wants Trump re-elected for a second term, instead noting that the Kremlin “is using a range of measures to primarily denigrate” both Biden and “an anti-Russia ‘establishment.'”
The statement does name Ukrainian MP Andriy Derkach as an example of those “measures.” Derkach, a graduate of Moscow’s Felix Dzerzhinsky Higher School of State Security, has spent much of 2020 releasing what appear to be edited recordings of phone calls between Biden and Ukraine’s president in 2016.
Derkach met with Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani in Kyiv in December 2019, giving him a packet of information about the Bidens.
Sens. Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who are running an investigation that drives at much of the same themes found in the Russian government-sponsored efforts to damage Biden, have denied that their probe has taken information from Derkach. The Ukrainian MP has said that he gave the senators information.
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, would not say last week whether he took information from Derkach. House Democrats raised the issue after finding a DHL receipt for documents from the Ukrainian parliamentarian.
The new statement from the DNI also comes in the wake of failed efforts by Congress and the White House in 2016 to state clearly that the Russian government was meddling in that year’s elections. It was later reported that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said at a September 2016 meeting that he would refuse to sign on to any statement identifying the Russian government-backed meddling as being in support of the Trump campaign.
The new statement categorizes Russian efforts in the same league as those of Iran and China, saying that the latter two states prefer for Trump to lose. The statement also does not make explicit who Moscow would prefer to win.
“Many foreign actors have a preference for who wins the election, which they express through a range of overt and private statements; covert influence efforts are rarer,” Evanina wrote, before listing the three efforts as having broadly the same objectives.
China, Evanina said, is running an influence campaign aimed at shaping U.S. policy towards Beijing.
“For example, it has harshly criticized the Administration’s statements and actions on Hong Kong, TikTok, the legal status of the South China Sea, and China’s efforts to dominate the 5G market,” Evanina wrote. “Beijing recognizes that all of these efforts might affect the presidential race.”
Evanina drives at a similar conclusion with regard to Iran, saying that the Islamic Republic is “spreading disinformation on social media” partly because it believes that Trump’s reelection “would result in a continuation of U.S. pressure on Iran in an effort to foment regime change.”
In a statement released Friday evening, Reps. Pelosi and Adam Schiff (D-CA) thanked Evanina for naming Derkach and for saying that the Kremlin’s aim was to hurt Biden and boost Trump.
But the Democratic leaders accused Evanina of treating “three actors of differing intent and capability as equal threats to our democratic elections.”
“Members of Congress have now been briefed on the specific threats facing the 2020 election, and we have been clear with the Intelligence Community that the American people must be provided with specific information that would allow voters to appraise for themselves the respective threats posed by these foreign actors, and distinguish these actors’ different and unequal aims, current actions, and capabilities,” the two members of congress said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-07--GA High School Lifts Suspension Of Student Who Took Viral Pic Of Crowded Hallway

A high school student in Dallas , Georgia who was suspended for tweeting a photo of her school ’ s crowded hallway amid COVID-19 announced on Friday that the suspension had been cancelled .
Hannah Watters , a sophomore at North Paulding High School , tweeted that the school had called her earlier that morning to inform her she was no longer suspended .
“ To be 100 % clear , I can go back to school on Monday , ” she wrote .
“ I couldn ’ t have done this without all the support , thank you.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspension a day after she tweeted a photo of her fellow students stuffed together in a hallway with a caption that read “ This is not ok. ” The photo then went viral .
Watters told local news outlet 11Alive on Thursday that the school had cited the school district ’ s policies prohibiting the use of cell phones in the hallways and going on social media during school hours .
However , the hallway restriction does not apply to students in 9th through 12th grade , per the district ’ s code @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that she had posted the photo after school hours .
The student admitted to violating the policy on recording other students without permission but said she was unaware of the rule at the time .
“ I was mostly anxious , nervous and scared because this virus is very serious obviously and we weren ’ t taking the right precautions to keep people from getting it at the school , ” Watters told 11Alive .
“ So I took that picture out of concern for the county and all the kids there and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brian Otott , the Paulding County School District superintendent , sent a letter to the community stating that the photo “ does not look good ” ( emphasis his ) but that people were “ using it without context to criticize our school reopening efforts.
” Otott ’ s letter was first obtained by CNN .
The school district did not respond to TPM ’ s request for comment .

A high school student in Dallas, Georgia who was suspended for tweeting a photo of her school’s crowded hallway amid COVID-19 announced on Friday that the suspension had been cancelled.
Hannah Watters, a sophomore at North Paulding High School, tweeted that the school had called her earlier that morning to inform her she was no longer suspended.
“To be 100% clear, I can go back to school on Monday,” she wrote. “I couldn’t have done this without all the support, thank you.”
On Wednesday, Watters was handed a suspension a day after she tweeted a photo of her fellow students stuffed together in a hallway with a caption that read “This is not ok.” The photo then went viral.
Day two at North Paulding High School. It is just as bad. We were stopped because it was jammed. We are close enough to the point where I got pushed multiple go to second block. This is not ok. Not to mention the 10% mask rate. pic.twitter.com/JKbGYqG9RS — hannah (@ihateiceman) August 4, 2020
Watters told local news outlet 11Alive on Thursday that the school had cited the school district’s policies prohibiting the use of cell phones in the hallways and going on social media during school hours.
However, the hallway restriction does not apply to students in 9th through 12th grade, per the district’s code of conduct. Additionally, Watters said that she had posted the photo after school hours.
The student admitted to violating the policy on recording other students without permission but said she was unaware of the rule at the time.
“I was mostly anxious, nervous and scared because this virus is very serious obviously and we weren’t taking the right precautions to keep people from getting it at the school,” Watters told 11Alive. “So I took that picture out of concern for the county and all the kids there and all the teachers and staff.”
Dr. Brian Otott, the Paulding County School District superintendent, sent a letter to the community stating that the photo “does not look good” (emphasis his) but that people were “using it without context to criticize our school reopening efforts.”
Otott’s letter was first obtained by CNN. The school district did not respond to TPM’s request for comment.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-07--Citing New York’s COVID Success, Cuomo Gives Schools Green Light To Open In Fall

ALBANY , N.Y. ( AP ) — New York schools can bring children back to classrooms for the start of the school year , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo announced Friday , citing success in battling the coronavirus in the state that once was the U.S. heart of the pandemic .
The Democratic governor ’ s decision clears the way for schools to offer at least some days of in-person classes , alongside remote learning .
Students will be required to wear masks throughout school day .
“ Everywhere in the state , every region is below the threshold that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference call with reporters .
“ If there ’ s a spike in the infection rate , if there ’ s a matter of concern in the infection rate , then we can revisit.
” Many New York school districts have planned to start the year with students in school buildings only a few days a week , while learning at home the rest of the time .
Cuomo said individual districts will decide how to instruct students .
More than 1 million public school students in New York City — the largest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last day of in-class instruction on March 13 , just as waves of sick people were beginning to hit city hospitals .
All schools statewide were closed by March 18 .
The city ’ s mayor , Bill de Blasio , has been saying since the spring that his goal for fall was to bring students back on schedule , with as much classroom time as possible while still allowing for social distancing .
That plan has looked exceedingly ambitious as other large school systems have backed away from in-person instruction in recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miami and Houston , among other places , all announced they would start the school year with students learning remotely .
De Blasio , while cautioning that he could change course at any time , had expressed hope that the relatively low rate of transmission of the virus in the city would allow students and staff to return safely .
He had also said a return to classroom instruction is vital to jump-starting the city ’ s economy , now hobbled by parents being forced to stay home with their children .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think most parents feel strongly that even some time in school is a lot better for their kids than none , “ de Blasio said Friday at a separate briefing earlier in the day .
Cuomo warned that New York ’ s roughly 750 districts still need to address the fears of parents and teachers that schools will be unsafe .
He said he will ask school districts to post their remote learning plan and require “ discussion sessions ” with parents .
“ They have to communicate with the parents and explain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the parents , ” Cuomo said .
The outbreak , while reduced , is not over in New York .
Around 10,000 New York City residents tested positive for the virus in July .
On Wednesday , two unions , New York State United Teachers and the United Federation of Teachers , demanded clearer health protocols dictating that schools should shut down immediately for two weeks if any student or member of the staff contracts the virus .
Teachers are prohibited from striking in New York , but it has been unclear whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classroom instruction for medical reasons or simply refuse to work .
Parents , too , have struggled to decide whether to send their children to school or opt solely for online instruction at home .
Schools have spent the summer coming up with safety plans , securing protective gear and figuring out how to fit fewer students into classrooms and school buses .
Cuomo required all school systems to submit plans detailing their reopening plans , saying that the state would not allow any district with an unsafe plan to bring students back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Health will continue to go through plans over weekend , and will notify school districts where incomplete or deficient .
He said about 50 school district health plans are incomplete or deficient .
A district can ’ t open if its health plan is rejected .
State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker warned this week that “ an ill-prepared reopening could put students , staff and parents in peril.
” Earlier this summer , Cuomo set a general metric to help measure when it was safe to bring students back , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regions where fewer than 5 % of people tested for COVID-19 came back positive .
The entire state has been well under that threshold all summer , but Cuomo had also recently stressed that , even if he allowed schools to reopen , it wouldn ’ t work if parents and teachers aren ’ t sure they are safe .

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York schools can bring children back to classrooms for the start of the school year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Friday, citing success in battling the coronavirus in the state that once was the U.S. heart of the pandemic.
The Democratic governor’s decision clears the way for schools to offer at least some days of in-person classes, alongside remote learning. Students will be required to wear masks throughout school day.
“Everywhere in the state, every region is below the threshold that we established,” Cuomo said during a conference call with reporters. “If there’s a spike in the infection rate, if there’s a matter of concern in the infection rate, then we can revisit.”
Many New York school districts have planned to start the year with students in school buildings only a few days a week, while learning at home the rest of the time. Cuomo said individual districts will decide how to instruct students.
More than 1 million public school students in New York City — the largest district in the U.S. — had their last day of in-class instruction on March 13, just as waves of sick people were beginning to hit city hospitals. All schools statewide were closed by March 18.
The city’s mayor, Bill de Blasio, has been saying since the spring that his goal for fall was to bring students back on schedule, with as much classroom time as possible while still allowing for social distancing.
That plan has looked exceedingly ambitious as other large school systems have backed away from in-person instruction in recent weeks.
Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Houston, among other places, all announced they would start the school year with students learning remotely.
De Blasio, while cautioning that he could change course at any time, had expressed hope that the relatively low rate of transmission of the virus in the city would allow students and staff to return safely.
He had also said a return to classroom instruction is vital to jump-starting the city’s economy, now hobbled by parents being forced to stay home with their children.
“It will not be easy but I think most parents feel strongly that even some time in school is a lot better for their kids than none,“ de Blasio said Friday at a separate briefing earlier in the day.
School reopening plans, though, face enormous hurdles.
Cuomo warned that New York’s roughly 750 districts still need to address the fears of parents and teachers that schools will be unsafe. He said he will ask school districts to post their remote learning plan and require “discussion sessions” with parents.
“They have to communicate with the parents and explain the plan and answer the questions of the parents,” Cuomo said.
The outbreak, while reduced, is not over in New York. Around 10,000 New York City residents tested positive for the virus in July.
On Wednesday, two unions, New York State United Teachers and the United Federation of Teachers, demanded clearer health protocols dictating that schools should shut down immediately for two weeks if any student or member of the staff contracts the virus.
Teachers are prohibited from striking in New York, but it has been unclear whether large numbers would either opt out of classroom instruction for medical reasons or simply refuse to work.
Parents, too, have struggled to decide whether to send their children to school or opt solely for online instruction at home.
Schools have spent the summer coming up with safety plans, securing protective gear and figuring out how to fit fewer students into classrooms and school buses. Cuomo required all school systems to submit plans detailing their reopening plans, saying that the state would not allow any district with an unsafe plan to bring students back to classrooms.
The governor said the Department of Health will continue to go through plans over weekend, and will notify school districts where incomplete or deficient. He said about 50 school district health plans are incomplete or deficient. A district can’t open if its health plan is rejected.
State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker warned this week that “an ill-prepared reopening could put students, staff and parents in peril.”
Earlier this summer, Cuomo set a general metric to help measure when it was safe to bring students back, saying the state would allow a return in regions where fewer than 5% of people tested for COVID-19 came back positive.
The entire state has been well under that threshold all summer, but Cuomo had also recently stressed that, even if he allowed schools to reopen, it wouldn’t work if parents and teachers aren’t sure they are safe.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-07--Dems Paint Meadows’ Positions As ‘Hardened,’ Say COVID Compromise Offer Rejected

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) said that they offered to take the topline of their relief package down $ 1 trillion if the White House negotiators would offer an additional $ 1 trillion in their proposals .
The compromise , Schumer said , was rejected by White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin with “ vehemence.
” “ The Speaker made a very fair offer — let ’ s narrow each — and you should ’ ve seen the vehemence , ” Schumer said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You should ’ ve seen their faces , ‘ absolutely not.
’ I said , ‘ you mean you want it to go almost all in your direction or you won ’ t negotiate ?
’ and they said , ‘ yeah . '
” Schumer said that their compromise would have been “ mainly in terms of dates , ” implying that the figures in the Democrats ’ plan would ’ ve gone down by shortening the lifespan of certain aid and benefits .
The Democratic leaders seemed to take particular umbrage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congressman who is generally seen as less eager to make a deal than Mnuchin , who has successfully brokered compromises with Democratic leadership in the past .
“ His positions are very hardened and non-compromising , more so than Mnuchin , ” Schumer said .
The White House negotiators also rejected last night the Democrats ’ injection in the HEROES Bill of $ 3.6 billion in election aid , per Schumer , despite him getting “ excited ” and “ firm ” about its necessity .
Schumer acknowledged that the two did come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democrats ’ direction on direct aid to state and local governments , but “ not in the middle , or close to it.
” In a dear colleague letter sent out during the press conference , Pelosi said that Meadows and Mnuchin offered only $ 150 billion to Democrats ’ desired $ 915 billion in direct aid , an amount she said “ would guarantee mass layoffs of health care workers , first responders , transit workers , sanitation and food workers and teachers.
” Pelosi also said in the letter that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundred billion dollars apart ” in funds for schools , adding that the White House negotiators are insisting that the money only go to schools that are re-opening in person .
Democrats painting the Republicans as unyielding is a bit of script flip of recent days .
Some Senate Republicans have been going so far as to imply that Democrats were refusing to compromise because they see the decimated economy as politically advantageous , while President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans try to defend their seats .
The four negotiators are scheduled to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three-hour negotiation Thursday evening .
Meadows threatened earlier in the week to cut off the negotiations if no deal was brokered by Friday , floating executive orders that Trump could issue as an alternative .
It is unclear if Trump has the authority to make unilateral moves on all of the issues suggested — eviction moratoriums , payroll taxes , student loan relief and redistributing already allotted funds — and when he would sign the orders .
He has threatened to do so as soon as Friday evening .
Pelosi did not take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference if Democrats would challenge the executive orders in court .
“ If and when he does it , we ’ ll let you know , ” she said before departing the stage .

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said that they offered to take the topline of their relief package down $1 trillion if the White House negotiators would offer an additional $1 trillion in their proposals.
The compromise, Schumer said, was rejected by White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin with “vehemence.”
“The Speaker made a very fair offer — let’s narrow each — and you should’ve seen the vehemence,” Schumer said at a Friday press briefing. “You should’ve seen their faces, ‘absolutely not.’ I said, ‘you mean you want it to go almost all in your direction or you won’t negotiate?’ and they said, ‘yeah.'”
Schumer said that their compromise would have been “mainly in terms of dates,” implying that the figures in the Democrats’ plan would’ve gone down by shortening the lifespan of certain aid and benefits.
The Democratic leaders seemed to take particular umbrage with Meadows, a former Tea Party congressman who is generally seen as less eager to make a deal than Mnuchin, who has successfully brokered compromises with Democratic leadership in the past.
“His positions are very hardened and non-compromising, more so than Mnuchin,” Schumer said.
The White House negotiators also rejected last night the Democrats’ injection in the HEROES Bill of $3.6 billion in election aid, per Schumer, despite him getting “excited” and “firm” about its necessity.
Schumer acknowledged that the two did come a “little tiny bit” in the Democrats’ direction on direct aid to state and local governments, but “not in the middle, or close to it.” In a dear colleague letter sent out during the press conference, Pelosi said that Meadows and Mnuchin offered only $150 billion to Democrats’ desired $915 billion in direct aid, an amount she said “would guarantee mass layoffs of health care workers, first responders, transit workers, sanitation and food workers and teachers.”
Pelosi also said in the letter that the two sides are “a couple hundred billion dollars apart” in funds for schools, adding that the White House negotiators are insisting that the money only go to schools that are re-opening in person.
Democrats painting the Republicans as unyielding is a bit of script flip of recent days. Some Senate Republicans have been going so far as to imply that Democrats were refusing to compromise because they see the decimated economy as politically advantageous, while President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans try to defend their seats.
The four negotiators are scheduled to meet Friday afternoon after a largely unsuccessful three-hour negotiation Thursday evening.
Meadows threatened earlier in the week to cut off the negotiations if no deal was brokered by Friday, floating executive orders that Trump could issue as an alternative. It is unclear if Trump has the authority to make unilateral moves on all of the issues suggested — eviction moratoriums, payroll taxes, student loan relief and redistributing already allotted funds — and when he would sign the orders. He has threatened to do so as soon as Friday evening.
Pelosi did not take the bait when asked at the press conference if Democrats would challenge the executive orders in court.
“If and when he does it, we’ll let you know,” she said before departing the stage.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-08--Trump Abruptly Ends Briefing When Challenged For Falsely Taking Credit For Veterans Choice

President Donald Trump abruptly ended a news conference Saturday when he was pressed by a reporter regarding his false claim that he was the first to sign the Veterans Choice bill into law , a feat that he said “ no president has ever been able to do.
” “ I ’ ve just signed two bills that are great for our vets , our vets are very special , ” Trump announced during a news conference in Bedminster , New Jersey — his second in just two days .
“ We passed Veterans Choice , as you know , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been trying to get that passed for decades and decades and no president has ever been able to do it.
” The President has repeatedly taken full credit for Veterans Choice – a bill that includes health care improvements that were first passed by his predecessor , Barack Obama .
Trump said in a news conference announcing he had signed a series of executive orders , that former American leaders had tried and failed to pass Veterans Choice .
But in reality , the Choice program , which enables veterans to be treated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at taxpayer expense , was first passed in 2014 under President Obama .
After calling on CBS reporter Paula Reid , who asked , “ Why do you keep saying you passed Veterans Choice ?
” Trump tried to avoid the question , moving onto another reporter but Reid persisted , calling out the President for the claim .
“ It was a false statement , sir , ” she said .
Refusing to address the question , Trump quickly ended the briefing and stepped away from the podium – “ thank you @ @ @ @ @ @ @

President Donald Trump abruptly ended a news conference Saturday when he was pressed by a reporter regarding his false claim that he was the first to sign the Veterans Choice bill into law, a feat that he said “no president has ever been able to do.”
“I’ve just signed two bills that are great for our vets, our vets are very special,” Trump announced during a news conference in Bedminster, New Jersey — his second in just two days. “We passed Veterans Choice, as you know, and Veterans Accountability. They’ve been trying to get that passed for decades and decades and no president has ever been able to do it.”
President Donald Trump abruptly left a news conference amid reporter questions Saturday, when he was challenged on a false claim that he signed the Veterans Choice bill into law, a feat that he said "no president has ever been able to do." pic.twitter.com/6G0tx8knK5 — TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) August 8, 2020
The President has repeatedly taken full credit for Veterans Choice – a bill that includes health care improvements that were first passed by his predecessor, Barack Obama.
Trump said in a news conference announcing he had signed a series of executive orders, that former American leaders had tried and failed to pass Veterans Choice. But in reality, the Choice program, which enables veterans to be treated by doctors outside the government-run VA system at taxpayer expense, was first passed in 2014 under President Obama.
After calling on CBS reporter Paula Reid, who asked, “Why do you keep saying you passed Veterans Choice?” Trump tried to avoid the question, moving onto another reporter but Reid persisted, calling out the President for the claim.
“It was a false statement, sir,” she said.
Refusing to address the question, Trump quickly ended the briefing and stepped away from the podium – “thank you very much,” he said.