talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-28--Trump Says Coronavirus Outbreak ‘Could Get Worse Before It Gets Better’

A day after saying during a press conference at the White House that his administration will “ spend whatever is appropriate ” to combat coronavirus , President Trump again touted his administration ’ s response to the outbreak in a meeting ahead of an African American History Month reception Thursday night .
After saying that “ we ’ re almost all better now ” and that “ it would be really nice if we could be recognized by the press fairly , ” Trump discussed how he delivered a “ very good ” and “ calming ” press conference on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus outbreak Wednesday night .
“ It was a very good press conference — basically it was a calming press conference , ” Trump said .
“ It was a press conference to say we ’ re doing well.
” Trump also said that “ this is really above politics , ” regarding the funding to combat coronavirus , according to a White House pool report Thursday night .
On Wednesday , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) countered Trump on his proposal for emergency funding to combat the coronavirus by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times more than the Trump administration ’ s $ 2.5 billion request .
The next day , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) torched Trump for attempting to cut hundreds of millions of dollars from the CDC in his new budget proposal , which he issued following reports of coronavirus cases .
Trump also seemed to suggest that the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. would be worse if it hadn ’ t been for him .
“ 15 people is almost , I would say , a miracle , ” Trump said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases in the U.S. , according to Bloomberg News reporter Josh Wingrove in a Thursday evening tweet .
However , Trump added that the coronavirus outbreak could worsen before getting better .
“ It ’ s going to disappear .
One day it ’ s like a miracle , it will disappear .
And from our shores , you know , it could get worse before it gets better , ” Trump said .
“ It could maybe go away .
We ’ ll see what happens .
Nobody really knows .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve spoken to them all , nobody really knows.
” When asked about how stocks have continued to take a significant tumble as of Thursday , Trump took the opportunity to blame the press and Democrats .
According to a White House pool report Thursday evening , Trump said the press is “ out of line ” and that Democrats should not make his administration ’ s response to coronavirus a political issue given how the country is pulling together .
Trump also argued that markets are factoring the possibility of a Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equation , ” Bloomberg News reporter Josh Wingrove said in a Thursday evening tweet .

A day after saying during a press conference at the White House that his administration will “spend whatever is appropriate” to combat coronavirus, President Trump again touted his administration’s response to the outbreak in a meeting ahead of an African American History Month reception Thursday night.
After saying that “we’re almost all better now” and that “it would be really nice if we could be recognized by the press fairly,” Trump discussed how he delivered a “very good” and “calming” press conference on his administration’s response to the coronavirus outbreak Wednesday night.
“It was a very good press conference — basically it was a calming press conference,” Trump said. “It was a press conference to say we’re doing well.”
Trump also said that “this is really above politics,” regarding the funding to combat coronavirus, according to a White House pool report Thursday night.
On Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) countered Trump on his proposal for emergency funding to combat the coronavirus by asking for $8.5 billion — three times more than the Trump administration’s $2.5 billion request. The next day, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) torched Trump for attempting to cut hundreds of millions of dollars from the CDC in his new budget proposal, which he issued following reports of coronavirus cases.
Trump also seemed to suggest that the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. would be worse if it hadn’t been for him.
“15 people is almost, I would say, a miracle,” Trump said, referring to the amount of confirmed cases in the U.S., according to Bloomberg News reporter Josh Wingrove in a Thursday evening tweet.
However, Trump added that the coronavirus outbreak could worsen before getting better.
“It’s going to disappear. One day it’s like a miracle, it will disappear. And from our shores, you know, it could get worse before it gets better,” Trump said. “It could maybe go away. We’ll see what happens. Nobody really knows. The fact is the greatest experts I’ve spoken to them all, nobody really knows.”
When asked about how stocks have continued to take a significant tumble as of Thursday, Trump took the opportunity to blame the press and Democrats.
According to a White House pool report Thursday evening, Trump said the press is “out of line” and that Democrats should not make his administration’s response to coronavirus a political issue given how the country is pulling together.
Trump also argued that markets are factoring the possibility of a Democrat winning the presidential election “into the equation,” Bloomberg News reporter Josh Wingrove said in a Thursday evening tweet.
Watch Trump’s remarks below:
Trump says coronavirus press conference was "calming" pic.twitter.com/Kr6y5rOcjr — TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) February 28, 2020


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-27--WATCH: Azar Answered Apparent Q’s On Whistleblower Complaint Before It Went Public

During a congressional hearing Thursday , the Trump administration secretary for Health and Human Services answered questions apparently drawn from a coronavirus whistleblower ’ s complaint , before the complaint went public .
The complaint , from an anonymous official at the Department of Health and Human Services ’ Administration for Children and Families , alleges that the team of officials sent to receive patients from China was not properly prepared to protect itself from the virus .
Without saying whether his information was from a whistleblower complaint , Rep. Jimmy Gomez ( D-CA ) on Thursday pressed Health Secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complaint .
“ Do you think breaking basic protocols and exposing untrained human service employees to the coronavirus before allowing them to be dispersed around the country could have endangered the employees and other Americans ?
” Gomez asked Azar , after a string of questions that matched the whistleblower ’ s complaint .
“ I don ’ t believe that has taken place , ” Azar responded .
“ And the isolation and quarantine protocols should always be followed according to whatever CDC or state and local public health officials have recommended.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were not followed ?
Say , they weren ’ t followed .
What would be the steps to deal with those employees ?
” “ I ’ d want to know the full facts , and we ’ d take appropriate remedial measures , ” Azar said .

During a congressional hearing Thursday, the Trump administration secretary for Health and Human Services answered questions apparently drawn from a coronavirus whistleblower’s complaint, before the complaint went public.
The complaint, from an anonymous official at the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families, alleges that the team of officials sent to receive patients from China was not properly prepared to protect itself from the virus.
Without saying whether his information was from a whistleblower complaint, Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) on Thursday pressed Health Secretary Alex Azar on details that matched the complaint.
“Do you think breaking basic protocols and exposing untrained human service employees to the coronavirus before allowing them to be dispersed around the country could have endangered the employees and other Americans?” Gomez asked Azar, after a string of questions that matched the whistleblower’s complaint.
“I don’t believe that has taken place,” Azar responded. “And the isolation and quarantine protocols should always be followed according to whatever CDC or state and local public health officials have recommended.”
Gomez pressed: “If they were not followed? Say, they weren’t followed. What would be the steps to deal with those employees?”
“I’d want to know the full facts, and we’d take appropriate remedial measures,” Azar said.
Watch below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-27--Ukrainian Court Grants Ex-Prosecutor Shokin’s Bid To Force A Biden Probe

The ex-Ukrainian prosecutor who helped fuel President Trump ’ s smear campaign against the Bidens secured a court ruling forcing Ukraine to open an investigation into his allegations , several outlets reported Thursday .
The prosecutor Viktor Shokin went to court to demand the investigation earlier this year , just as the Senate ’ s impeachment proceedings against Trump were coming to a close .
His previous request with Ukraine ’ s State Investigation Bureau had gone nowhere , and Shokin ’ s claims about the Bidens have largely been debunked .
However , Ukrainian law allows for alleged victims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the State Bureau of Investigations to investigate their claims .
The bureau confirmed the Shokin-desired investigation had been launched , according to the Washington Post , and experts noted to the Post that the timing indicated that it had done so in response to the court ruling .
The Kyiv Post , meanwhile , described Shokin ’ s success in getting the probe launched as a “ legal technicality ” and one that was “ unlikely to lead to any serious investigation.
” Shokin ’ s allegations — which President Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media figures last year — focus on the past presence of Joe Biden ’ s son Hunter on the board of a Ukrainian energy company that has been accused of corruption and the former vice president ’ s own efforts to oust Shokin from his prosecutorial job .
Shokin has claimed that Biden pushed him out because he was investigating the company , Burisma .
In fact , it was Shokin ’ s failure to investigate Burisma and other apparent corruption that led to Joe Biden , with the backing of the broader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firing .
In his petition to the court , Shokin claimed that Biden engaged in blackmail , referring to a loan guarantee to Ukraine that the U.S. partially conditioned on Shokin ’ s removal , and that Biden violated international law by pushing for Shokin ’ s firing .
Shokin ’ s lawyer told the Washington Post that case opened by Ukrainian prosecutors does not explicitly mention the Bidens , but rather refers to a U.S. citizen .

The ex-Ukrainian prosecutor who helped fuel President Trump’s smear campaign against the Bidens secured a court ruling forcing Ukraine to open an investigation into his allegations, several outlets reported Thursday.
The prosecutor Viktor Shokin went to court to demand the investigation earlier this year, just as the Senate’s impeachment proceedings against Trump were coming to a close. His previous request with Ukraine’s State Investigation Bureau had gone nowhere, and Shokin’s claims about the Bidens have largely been debunked.
However, Ukrainian law allows for alleged victims to use a court process to force the State Bureau of Investigations to investigate their claims. The bureau confirmed the Shokin-desired investigation had been launched, according to the Washington Post, and experts noted to the Post that the timing indicated that it had done so in response to the court ruling.
The Kyiv Post, meanwhile, described Shokin’s success in getting the probe launched as a “legal technicality” and one that was “unlikely to lead to any serious investigation.”
Shokin’s allegations — which President Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani laundered through Trump-aligned media figures last year — focus on the past presence of Joe Biden’s son Hunter on the board of a Ukrainian energy company that has been accused of corruption and the former vice president’s own efforts to oust Shokin from his prosecutorial job. Shokin has claimed that Biden pushed him out because he was investigating the company, Burisma.
In fact, it was Shokin’s failure to investigate Burisma and other apparent corruption that led to Joe Biden, with the backing of the broader international community, to push for his firing.
In his petition to the court, Shokin claimed that Biden engaged in blackmail, referring to a loan guarantee to Ukraine that the U.S. partially conditioned on Shokin’s removal, and that Biden violated international law by pushing for Shokin’s firing.
Shokin’s lawyer told the Washington Post that case opened by Ukrainian prosecutors does not explicitly mention the Bidens, but rather refers to a U.S. citizen.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-27--Stocks Tumble Into Correction Territory As Coronavirus Fears Spread

Stocks continued taking a significant tumble Thursday , entering correction territory , as investors ’ fears grow regarding the spread of coronavirus .
The S & P 500 closed down 4.4 % on Thursday .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 4.4 % as well .
A chart from Deutsche Bank showed that the S & P entered correction territory — where stocks fall 10 % below their peak — faster than ever before .
All this is clearly on President Trump ’ s mind , with the Washington Post reporting this week that Trump has been “ highly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aides not to give predictions that might cause further tremors.
” Vice President Mike Pence , whom Trump tasked Wednesday night to lead the Trump administration ’ s response to the outbreak , announced Thursday that both White House Chief Economic Adviser Larry Kudlow and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin had been added to the administration ’ s coronavirus task force .
During his press conference Wednesday night , Trump said that the stock market “ certainly took a hit ” because of the coronavirus outbreak , but suggested that Democratic presidential candidates also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Carolina the night before .
“ I think [ investors ] look at the people — you watched [ the debate ] last night and they say , ‘ If there ’ s even a possibility that that could happen ’ — I think it really takes a hit because of that , ” Trump said .

Stocks continued taking a significant tumble Thursday, entering correction territory, as investors’ fears grow regarding the spread of coronavirus.
The S&P 500 closed down 4.4% on Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 4.4% as well.
A chart from Deutsche Bank showed that the S&P entered correction territory — where stocks fall 10% below their peak — faster than ever before.
Incredible chart from Deutsche Bank's Torsten Slok. This is the fastest stock market correction in history pic.twitter.com/CEtY4t3CQS — Joe Weisenthal (@TheStalwart) February 27, 2020
All this is clearly on President Trump’s mind, with the Washington Post reporting this week that Trump has been “highly concerned about the market and has encouraged aides not to give predictions that might cause further tremors.”
Vice President Mike Pence, whom Trump tasked Wednesday night to lead the Trump administration’s response to the outbreak, announced Thursday that both White House Chief Economic Adviser Larry Kudlow and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin had been added to the administration’s coronavirus task force.
During his press conference Wednesday night, Trump said that the stock market “certainly took a hit” because of the coronavirus outbreak, but suggested that Democratic presidential candidates also were to blame following the debate in South Carolina the night before.
“I think [investors] look at the people — you watched [the debate] last night and they say, ‘If there’s even a possibility that that could happen’ — I think it really takes a hit because of that,” Trump said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-27--Whistleblower Claims Retaliation After Alleging Reckless Coronavirus Response

The Trump administration sent a team of government officials to receive patients from the epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic without adequate protection , a whistleblower reportedly alleged in a complaint .
The unnamed whistleblower – reportedly a high-ranking female official in the Department of Health and Human Services – alleged in the complaint to the Office of Special Counsel that Trump administration officials retaliated against her after she raised concerns about the lack of protection .
The new revelation came in reports from the Washington Post and New York Times .
Specifically , the whistleblower reportedly raised alarm bells that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive Americans returning from the coronavirus-stricken city of Wuhan , China , were not given protective gear and were not subsequently tested for the virus .
But after the tipster – who oversees HHS ’ s Administration for Children and Families ( ACF ) – complained , officials from HHS Secretary Alex Azar ’ s office allegedly retaliated against her by reassigning her .
She claims to have been told on Feb. 19 that if she did not accept the new position by March 5 , she would be fired .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will investigate this case in a timely and comprehensive manner , ” Lauren Naylor , an attorney representing the whistleblower told TPM in a statement .
“ This matter concerns HHS ’ s response to the coronavirus , and its failure to protect its employees and potentially the public.
” “ The retaliatory efforts to intimidate and silence our client must be opposed , ” she added .
Both Naylor and another attorney representing the tipster , Ari Wilkenfeld , declined to provide TPM with a copy of the complaint .
The allegations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wuhan to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield , California , and March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County , California , were greeted by ACF employees who may have been left without protection against coronavirus transmission .
Those employees , reports say , later took commercial flights around the country .
Career staff within HHS began to panic , according to an excerpt of the complaint cited by the New York Times .
In the excerpt , the complainant said that her colleagues began to express “ concerns with the lack of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being sent into quarantined areas without personal protective equipment , training or experience in managing public health emergencies , safety protocols and the potential danger to both themselves and members of the public they come into contact with.
” Travis AFB is located in Solano County , California .
Yesterday , the CDC confirmed the first American case of coronavirus in which the origin of the virus was unknown .
That patient is from Solano County .

The Trump administration sent a team of government officials to receive patients from the epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic without adequate protection, a whistleblower reportedly alleged in a complaint.
The unnamed whistleblower – reportedly a high-ranking female official in the Department of Health and Human Services – alleged in the complaint to the Office of Special Counsel that Trump administration officials retaliated against her after she raised concerns about the lack of protection.
The new revelation came in reports from the Washington Post and New York Times.
Specifically, the whistleblower reportedly raised alarm bells that a team of HHS officials sent to receive Americans returning from the coronavirus-stricken city of Wuhan, China, were not given protective gear and were not subsequently tested for the virus.
But after the tipster – who oversees HHS’s Administration for Children and Families (ACF) – complained, officials from HHS Secretary Alex Azar’s office allegedly retaliated against her by reassigning her. She claims to have been told on Feb. 19 that if she did not accept the new position by March 5, she would be fired.
“We are hopeful that Congress and the OSC will investigate this case in a timely and comprehensive manner,” Lauren Naylor, an attorney representing the whistleblower told TPM in a statement. “This matter concerns HHS’s response to the coronavirus, and its failure to protect its employees and potentially the public.”
“The retaliatory efforts to intimidate and silence our client must be opposed,” she added.
Both Naylor and another attorney representing the tipster, Ari Wilkenfeld, declined to provide TPM with a copy of the complaint.
The allegations as reported suggest that Americans returning from Wuhan to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California, and March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County, California, were greeted by ACF employees who may have been left without protection against coronavirus transmission.
Those employees, reports say, later took commercial flights around the country.
Career staff within HHS began to panic, according to an excerpt of the complaint cited by the New York Times. In the excerpt, the complainant said that her colleagues began to express “concerns with the lack of H.H.S. communication and coordination, staff being sent into quarantined areas without personal protective equipment, training or experience in managing public health emergencies, safety protocols and the potential danger to both themselves and members of the public they come into contact with.”
Travis AFB is located in Solano County, California. Yesterday, the CDC confirmed the first American case of coronavirus in which the origin of the virus was unknown. That patient is from Solano County.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-27--‘Sigh’: EPA Officials Were Flabbergasted By Trump’s Toilet Rant

EPA officials couldn ’ t help but be baffled by President Trump ’ s unwieldy rant about toilets during a small business roundtable at the White House in December .
According to an NBC News report Thursday , the top EPA official overseeing the agency ’ s WaterSense program couldn ’ t believe how Trump complained about how “ people are flushing toilets 10 times , 15 times , as opposed to once ” and “ end up using more water ” during the roundtable .
Trump suddenly pivoted to his toilet rant after addressing a deadly shooting at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In an email to colleagues Dec. 6 — which was one of several emails obtained by NBC News via a Freedom of Information Act request — Veronica Blette , the chief of WaterSense in the EPA ’ s Office of Wastewater Management , wrote “ I can ’ t even ” and attached a video of the President ’ s remarks .
In another tweet reacting to Trump ’ s remarks to coworkers , Blette wrote : “ Sigh , ” according to NBC News .
Not all EPA officials had the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News also noted that WaterSense brand manager Beth Livingston expressed a more playful attitude in emails to her colleagues reacting to Trump ’ s rant .
In response to a faucet company executive who suggested , “ ( you ) have your work cut out for you convincing No .
45 ( Trump ) on your program , ” Livingston responded in an email dated Dec. 9 : “ Nothing like a challenge !
” “ We don ’ t like faucets that only put one drop of water on my hands — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that might actually just drip are for Barbie doll play houses !
” Livingston wrote in the Dec. 9 email .
Responding to NBC News ’ report , an EPA spokesperson told TPM in a statement Thursday that the agency is “ working with all federal partners including ( the ) Department of Energy to review the implementation of the Federal Energy Management Plan and how its relevant programs interact with it to ensure American consumers have more choice when purchasing water products.
” The White House declined to comment when reached @ @ @ @ @

EPA officials couldn’t help but be baffled by President Trump’s unwieldy rant about toilets during a small business roundtable at the White House in December.
According to an NBC News report Thursday, the top EPA official overseeing the agency’s WaterSense program couldn’t believe how Trump complained about how “people are flushing toilets 10 times, 15 times, as opposed to once” and “end up using more water” during the roundtable. Trump suddenly pivoted to his toilet rant after addressing a deadly shooting at a Naval base in Pensacola, Florida.
In an email to colleagues Dec. 6 — which was one of several emails obtained by NBC News via a Freedom of Information Act request — Veronica Blette, the chief of WaterSense in the EPA’s Office of Wastewater Management, wrote “I can’t even” and attached a video of the President’s remarks.
In another tweet reacting to Trump’s remarks to coworkers, Blette wrote: “Sigh,” according to NBC News.
Not all EPA officials had the same reaction as Blette, however.
NBC News also noted that WaterSense brand manager Beth Livingston expressed a more playful attitude in emails to her colleagues reacting to Trump’s rant.
In response to a faucet company executive who suggested, “(you) have your work cut out for you convincing No. 45 (Trump) on your program,” Livingston responded in an email dated Dec. 9: “Nothing like a challenge!”
“We don’t like faucets that only put one drop of water on my hands — LOL — the only ones I think of that might actually just drip are for Barbie doll play houses!” Livingston wrote in the Dec. 9 email.
Responding to NBC News’ report, an EPA spokesperson told TPM in a statement Thursday that the agency is “working with all federal partners including (the) Department of Energy to review the implementation of the Federal Energy Management Plan and how its relevant programs interact with it to ensure American consumers have more choice when purchasing water products.”
The White House declined to comment when reached by TPM Thursday afternoon.
Read NBC News’ report here.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-27--WH Moves To Screen Scientists’ Statements On Coronavirus

As fears grow of a politicized White House response to the coronavirus outbreak , the White House has placed Vice President Mike Pence in charge of messaging about the virus , the New York Times reported Thursday .
Pence , who Trump said Wednesday night would be the White House point person on the outbreak , will clear public health officials ’ statements on the virus , the Times reported citing several unnamed people familiar with the matter .
The White House also announced Thursday that top economic adviser Larry Kudlow , along with the surgeon general and the Treasury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coronavirus Task Force .
If the Trump administration is telling public health officials at CDC or the National Institutes of Health what they can say , the Obama administration ’ s Ebola czar Ronald Klain tweeted of the Times ’ report , “ it is a danger to public health.
” Public health officials — rather than Trump loyalists like Kudlow — have been praised for speaking bluntly about the virus .
For example , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infections Diseases , Anthony Fauci , has spoken openly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for coronavirus .
While progress has been quick according to epidemiological standards , Fauci has repeatedly been clear that a vaccine is at least 12-18 months away .
Trump , meanwhile , has simply said that vaccines are on the way “ rapidly.
” Fauci has told associates that he ’ d been instructed by the White House not to say anything else without clearance , the Times reported Thursday .
Another public health official , Nancy Messonnier of the Centers for Disease Control , said Tuesday , “ We expect we will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Markets plunged the same day , and Kudlow subsequently went on CNBC .
The economic adviser claimed three times that the director-general of the World Health Organization had urged people not to “ overreact ” to the virus — something the WHO head hadn ’ t actually said .
Trump on Wednesday admitted his concern that the public ’ s perception of the virus was hurting markets ; reports indicated he was furious about the stock market ’ s dive .
Asked about the financial markets , the President noted , “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in terms of Fox Business , I do believe that that ’ s a factor , yeah .
”

As fears grow of a politicized White House response to the coronavirus outbreak, the White House has placed Vice President Mike Pence in charge of messaging about the virus, the New York Times reported Thursday.
Pence, who Trump said Wednesday night would be the White House point person on the outbreak, will clear public health officials’ statements on the virus, the Times reported citing several unnamed people familiar with the matter.
The White House also announced Thursday that top economic adviser Larry Kudlow, along with the surgeon general and the Treasury secretary, would join the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
If the Trump administration is telling public health officials at CDC or the National Institutes of Health what they can say, the Obama administration’s Ebola czar Ronald Klain tweeted of the Times’ report, “it is a danger to public health.”
Public health officials — rather than Trump loyalists like Kudlow — have been praised for speaking bluntly about the virus.
For example, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infections Diseases, Anthony Fauci, has spoken openly about the timetables for vaccines and therapies for coronavirus. While progress has been quick according to epidemiological standards, Fauci has repeatedly been clear that a vaccine is at least 12-18 months away. Trump, meanwhile, has simply said that vaccines are on the way “rapidly.”
Fauci has told associates that he’d been instructed by the White House not to say anything else without clearance, the Times reported Thursday.
Another public health official, Nancy Messonnier of the Centers for Disease Control, said Tuesday, “We expect we will see community spread in this country.”
Markets plunged the same day, and Kudlow subsequently went on CNBC. The economic adviser claimed three times that the director-general of the World Health Organization had urged people not to “overreact” to the virus — something the WHO head hadn’t actually said.
Trump on Wednesday admitted his concern that the public’s perception of the virus was hurting markets; reports indicated he was furious about the stock market’s dive.
Asked about the financial markets, the President noted, “I do believe in terms of CNBC and in terms of Fox Business, I do believe that that’s a factor, yeah.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-27--McCarthy: It Wasn’t Partisan For Trump To Insult Dems At Coronavirus Presser!

It ’ s come to this — arguing over partisanship as a global health crisis unfolds .
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy ( R-CA ) , with a straight face , denied Thursday that President Trump was being partisan when he slammed Democratic leaders during a statement on the outbreak of Coronavirus the night before .
During a Thursday morning press conference , McCarthy was asked about why he believes that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) were being partisan in response to the Trump administration ’ s handling of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called Pelosi “ incompetent ” and Schumer “ crying Chuck Schumer ” during Wednesday night ’ s presser , the reporter asked whether Trump himself was being partisan in the midst of a health scare .
“ I don ’ t believe so , because he was referring to a question on the basis of what those leaders had already said , ” McCarthy said , before listing criticisms by Pelosi , Schumer and House Judiciary chair Jerrold Nadler ( D-NY ) Earlier Thursday , Pelosi criticized the “ chaotic response ” by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countered Trump on his proposal for emergency funding to combat the coronavirus by asking for $ 8.5 billion — three times more than the Trump administration ’ s $ 2.5 billion request .
McCarthy added Thursday that the Trump administration is set to brief all members of Congress Friday before arguing that “ the idea [ that Democrats ] would take it to that level right now ” harms the American public .

It’s come to this — arguing over partisanship as a global health crisis unfolds.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), with a straight face, denied Thursday that President Trump was being partisan when he slammed Democratic leaders during a statement on the outbreak of Coronavirus the night before.
During a Thursday morning press conference, McCarthy was asked about why he believes that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) were being partisan in response to the Trump administration’s handling of the coronavirus.
Citing how the President called Pelosi “incompetent” and Schumer “crying Chuck Schumer” during Wednesday night’s presser, the reporter asked whether Trump himself was being partisan in the midst of a health scare.
“I don’t believe so, because he was referring to a question on the basis of what those leaders had already said,” McCarthy said, before listing criticisms by Pelosi, Schumer and House Judiciary chair Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
Earlier Thursday, Pelosi criticized the “chaotic response” by the administration.
On Wednesday, Schumer countered Trump on his proposal for emergency funding to combat the coronavirus by asking for $8.5 billion — three times more than the Trump administration’s $2.5 billion request.
In a Tuesday statement, Nadler called the Trump administration’s preparation “dangerously inadequate.”
McCarthy added Thursday that the Trump administration is set to brief all members of Congress Friday before arguing that “the idea [that Democrats] would take it to that level right now” harms the American public.
Watch McCarthy’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-28--Dissent Excoriates McGahn Decision For Assuring ‘Future Presidential Stonewalling’

The Friday appeals court decision not to enforce a House subpoena of former White House counsel Don McGahn eviscerates congressional power and all but ensures “ future Presidential stonewalling , ” appellate judge Judith W. Rogers wrote in a blistering dissent .
Rogers ’ dissent came as two of her fellow judges on a D.C. appeals panel ruled to allow McGahn to defy a subpoena from the House Judiciary Committee for his testimony regarding President Trump ’ s obstruction of the Mueller investigation .
House attorneys had argued that the obstruction to which McGahn bore witness could constitute an impeachable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple times in her dissent .
“ In the context of impeachment , when the accuracy and thoroughness of the investigation may well determine whether the President remains in office , the House ’ s need for information is at its zenith , ” she wrote .
Rogers addressed the origin of the subpoena : the Mueller investigation .
In his April 2019 report , Special Counsel Robert Mueller noted that sitting presidents can not be indicted under current Justice Department policy .
“ Thus , as the Special Counsel noted , impeachment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which to address potential Presidential misconduct identified in the Report , ” Rogers wrote .
“ The House ’ s power of impeachment thus serves as a critical check upon the President.
” Rogers added that Trump had made himself the first President in U.S. history to meet “ the House ’ s attempt to perform its constitutional responsibility with sweeping categorical resistance.
” Rogers went on to say that it was “ unsurprising ” that there is a surfeit of case law on what happens in disputes between Congress and the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obey subpoenas issued by lawmakers .
After all , she wrote , “ the history of Presidential cooperation means that there have been few occasions necessitating resort to the courts.
” “ The degree of Presidential interference with the constitutional responsibilities of Congress , giving rise to the instant lawsuit , is a dramatic break with past Presidential practice of acknowledging the gravity of Congress ’ s constitutional responsibilities , including impeachment , and responding with requested information , ” she added .
She went on to note the lack of Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the long history of Presidential cooperation with congressional investigations.
” The D.C. appeals court ordered that the case be dismissed on threshold issues of jurisdiction , ruling that the House did not have standing to sue .
It came to that decision in part by suggesting that the House had other options available to it , including referring McGahn to the Justice Department for prosecution for his noncompliance and invoking its own power of inherent contempt , by which the House would order the sergeant-at-arms to barge into the White House and arrest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Judge Rogers lambasted those examples as “ strain [ ing ] credulity.
” In particular , the supposition that “ the President would direct McGahn not to comply with the subpoena at issue and subsequently countenance a criminal prosecution of his former White House Counsel for failing to comply with the subpoena ” struck Rogers as unrealistic .
She went on to argue that the House ’ s power of inherent contempt would “ risk physical combat with the Executive Branch.
” Rogers concluded that the ruling in favor of McGahn had removed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to engage in the negotiation process seeking accommodation.
” She added that it “ all but assures future Presidential stonewalling of Congress , and further impairs the House ’ s ability to perform its constitutional duties .
”

The Friday appeals court decision not to enforce a House subpoena of former White House counsel Don McGahn eviscerates congressional power and all but ensures “future Presidential stonewalling,” appellate judge Judith W. Rogers wrote in a blistering dissent.
Rogers’ dissent came as two of her fellow judges on a D.C. appeals panel ruled to allow McGahn to defy a subpoena from the House Judiciary Committee for his testimony regarding President Trump’s obstruction of the Mueller investigation.
House attorneys had argued that the obstruction to which McGahn bore witness could constitute an impeachable offense — a point Rogers hit upon multiple times in her dissent.
“In the context of impeachment, when the accuracy and thoroughness of the investigation may well determine whether the President remains in office, the House’s need for information is at its zenith,” she wrote.
Rogers addressed the origin of the subpoena: the Mueller investigation.
In his April 2019 report, Special Counsel Robert Mueller noted that sitting presidents cannot be indicted under current Justice Department policy.
“Thus, as the Special Counsel noted, impeachment would be the only available mechanism through which to address potential Presidential misconduct identified in the Report,” Rogers wrote. “The House’s power of impeachment thus serves as a critical check upon the President.”
Rogers added that Trump had made himself the first President in U.S. history to meet “the House’s attempt to perform its constitutional responsibility with sweeping categorical resistance.”
Rogers went on to say that it was “unsurprising” that there is a surfeit of case law on what happens in disputes between Congress and the White House when the executive branch refuses to obey subpoenas issued by lawmakers.
After all, she wrote, “the history of Presidential cooperation means that there have been few occasions necessitating resort to the courts.”
“The degree of Presidential interference with the constitutional responsibilities of Congress, giving rise to the instant lawsuit, is a dramatic break with past Presidential practice of acknowledging the gravity of Congress’s constitutional responsibilities, including impeachment, and responding with requested information,” she added.
She went on to note the lack of Supreme Court precedent for similar cases, “given the long history of Presidential cooperation with congressional investigations.”
The D.C. appeals court ordered that the case be dismissed on threshold issues of jurisdiction, ruling that the House did not have standing to sue.
It came to that decision in part by suggesting that the House had other options available to it, including referring McGahn to the Justice Department for prosecution for his noncompliance and invoking its own power of inherent contempt, by which the House would order the sergeant-at-arms to barge into the White House and arrest whichever cabinet official it deemed noncompliant.
Judge Rogers lambasted those examples as “strain[ing] credulity.” In particular, the supposition that “the President would direct McGahn not to comply with the subpoena at issue and subsequently countenance a criminal prosecution of his former White House Counsel for failing to comply with the subpoena” struck Rogers as unrealistic.
She went on to argue that the House’s power of inherent contempt would “risk physical combat with the Executive Branch.”
Rogers concluded that the ruling in favor of McGahn had removed “any incentive for the Executive Branch to engage in the negotiation process seeking accommodation.”
She added that it “all but assures future Presidential stonewalling of Congress, and
further impairs the House’s ability to perform its constitutional duties.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-28--Trump Taps John Ratcliffe For Director Of National Intelligence — Again

President Donald Trump on Friday afternoon tweeted that he was nominating Rep. John Ratcliffe ( R-TX ) to be the director of national intelligence .
Trump previously withdrew a plan to nominate Ratcliffe for the job in August , after several reports revealed that the Texas congressman had exaggerated his accomplishments as a federal prosecutor in Texas .
“ Rather than going through months of slander and libel , I explained to John how miserable it would be for him and his family to deal with these people , ” Trump tweeted at the time .
“ John has therefore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has done such an outstanding job representing the people of Texas , and our Country.
” The re-upping of Ratcliffe — whose previous nomination was met with barely lukewarm support from Republicans — buys potentially months more time in office for the acting intelligence director , the outspoken Trump loyalist and ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell .
Grenell ’ s past foreign clients and aggressive public presence have clouded his short tenure as acting DNI .
The New York Times reported last week that Grenell had installed as his deputy Kash Patel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( R-CA ) with a history of spreading conspiracy theories .
Patel ’ s appointment — and news that Grenell had asked to see the intelligence used in the election interference briefing Maguire ’ s staff gave lawmakers this month — raised concerns that Grenell was using his new powers toward political ends .
CNN reported Tuesday that Trump was again considering Ratcliffe for the role .
Trump grew to like the Texas congressman for his vociferous defenses of the President during the Russia probe and recent impeachment investigation .
At a White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges earlier this month , Trump compared his future DNI pick to the fictional expert defense lawyer played by Raymond Burr a half century ago .
“ If we ’ re doing a remake of ‘ Perry Mason , ’ a man I get , there is nobody in Hollywood like this , ” Trump said .
Ratcliffe has scant experience in intelligence matters and , reportedly , not much interest in them .
Grenell , the acting intelligence director , followed Joseph Maguire in that role .
Maguire resigned after Trump made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the role permanently .
Trump reportedly soured on Maguire after staff from the then-acting DNI ’ s office briefed lawmakers on Russia election interference efforts on Trump ’ s behalf in 2020 , earlier this month .
This post has been updated .

President Donald Trump on Friday afternoon tweeted that he was nominating Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) to be the director of national intelligence.
I am pleased to announce the nomination of @RepRatcliffe (Congressman John Ratcliffe) to be Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Would have completed process earlier, but John wanted to wait until after IG Report was finished. John is an outstanding man of great talent! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 28, 2020
Trump previously withdrew a plan to nominate Ratcliffe for the job in August, after several reports revealed that the Texas congressman had exaggerated his accomplishments as a federal prosecutor in Texas.
“Rather than going through months of slander and libel, I explained to John how miserable it would be for him and his family to deal with these people,” Trump tweeted at the time. “John has therefore decided to stay in Congress where he has done such an outstanding job representing the people of Texas, and our Country.”
The re-upping of Ratcliffe — whose previous nomination was met with barely lukewarm support from Republicans — buys potentially months more time in office for the acting intelligence director, the outspoken Trump loyalist and ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell.
Grenell’s past foreign clients and aggressive public presence have clouded his short tenure as acting DNI.
The New York Times reported last week that Grenell had installed as his deputy Kash Patel, a former aide to Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) with a history of spreading conspiracy theories. Patel’s appointment — and news that Grenell had asked to see the intelligence used in the election interference briefing Maguire’s staff gave lawmakers this month — raised concerns that Grenell was using his new powers toward political ends.
CNN reported Tuesday that Trump was again considering Ratcliffe for the role.
Trump grew to like the Texas congressman for his vociferous defenses of the President during the Russia probe and recent impeachment investigation.
At a White House event celebrating his acquittal from impeachment charges earlier this month, Trump compared his future DNI pick to the fictional expert defense lawyer played by Raymond Burr a half century ago.
“If we’re doing a remake of ‘Perry Mason,’ a man I get, there is nobody in Hollywood like this,” Trump said.
Ratcliffe has scant experience in intelligence matters and, reportedly, not much interest in them.
Grenell, the acting intelligence director, followed Joseph Maguire in that role. Maguire resigned after Trump made it clear he would not nominate him to the role permanently.
Trump reportedly soured on Maguire after staff from the then-acting DNI’s office briefed lawmakers on Russia election interference efforts on Trump’s behalf in 2020, earlier this month.
This post has been updated.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-28--Azar Ordered Probe Of Coronavirus Whistleblower Claim, ‘Will Never Tolerate’ Retaliation

Health Secretary Alex Azar said Friday that he had ordered a probe into a whistleblower ’ s claims that federal officials sent to repatriate Americans from coronavirus-striken Wuhan , China were not given protective gear or prepared to follow safety protocols .
The whistleblower also alleged they were reassigned after raising concerns about the situation .
Azar said he wouldn ’ t tolerate retaliation .
“ I have ordered an immediate , full investigation , ” Azar said in an interview on Fox News .
“ What matters to us ?
First , our employees must be protected .
Second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine protocols .
Third , we must have a full investigation to learn if there ’ s any truth to these allegations .
And fourth , we will never tolerate any form of retaliation against a whistleblower.
” The remarks were in stark contrast to Azar ’ s testimony Thursday night after Rep. Jimmy Gomez ( D-CA ) asked Azar about safety protocols .
Gomez appeared to draw questions from the whistleblower ’ s complaint , which hadn ’ t yet been reported publicly .
Gomez asked the Department of Health and Human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading the White House ’ s coronavirus task force under Vice President Mike Pence , “ Do you think breaking basic protocols and exposing untrained human service employees to the coronavirus before allowing them to be dispersed around the country could have endangered the employees and other Americans ?
” “ I don ’ t believe that has taken place , ” Azar responded , before emphasizing isolation and quarantine protocols .
Azar told Fox News ’ Bill Hemmer Friday that he didn ’ t learn of the whistleblower ’ s complaint until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Ron Wyden ( D-OR ) wrote to Azar with a list of pointed questions about the complaint .
According to the whistleblower , Wyden wrote , human services staff from the HHS Administration for Children and Families “ were asked to interact directly with quarantined individuals without adequate procedures , safety protocols , training , or protective equipment.
” “ Such mismanagement on the part of HHS placed these human services staff at risk , ” he said .
“ Not only that , but the general public was also put at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returned to their communities and jobs at the Department post-deployment , by commercial air flights with no precautions.
” The complaint was submitted to the Office of the Special Counsel , which is investigating the whistleblower ’ s concerns .

Health Secretary Alex Azar said Friday that he had ordered a probe into a whistleblower’s claims that federal officials sent to repatriate Americans from coronavirus-striken Wuhan, China were not given protective gear or prepared to follow safety protocols.
The whistleblower also alleged they were reassigned after raising concerns about the situation. Azar said he wouldn’t tolerate retaliation.
“I have ordered an immediate, full investigation,” Azar said in an interview on Fox News. “What matters to us? First, our employees must be protected. Second, they must follow all isolation and quarantine protocols. Third, we must have a full investigation to learn if there’s any truth to these allegations. And fourth, we will never tolerate any form of retaliation against a whistleblower.”
The remarks were in stark contrast to Azar’s testimony Thursday night after Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) asked Azar about safety protocols. Gomez appeared to draw questions from the whistleblower’s complaint, which hadn’t yet been reported publicly.
Gomez asked the Department of Health and Human Services secretary, who’s also leading the White House’s coronavirus task force under Vice President Mike Pence, “Do you think breaking basic protocols and exposing untrained human service employees to the coronavirus before allowing them to be dispersed around the country could have endangered the employees and other Americans?”
“I don’t believe that has taken place,” Azar responded, before emphasizing isolation and quarantine protocols.
Azar told Fox News’ Bill Hemmer Friday that he didn’t learn of the whistleblower’s complaint until later Thursday night.
On Friday, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) wrote to Azar with a list of pointed questions about the complaint.
According to the whistleblower, Wyden wrote, human services staff from the HHS Administration for Children and Families “were asked to interact directly with quarantined individuals without adequate procedures, safety protocols, training, or protective equipment.”
“Such mismanagement on the part of HHS placed these human services staff at risk,” he said. “Not only that, but the general public was also put at risk since your employees were then immediately returned to their communities and jobs at the Department post-deployment, by commercial air flights with no precautions.”
The complaint was submitted to the Office of the Special Counsel, which is investigating the whistleblower’s concerns.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-28--Trump Scores Major Win In Fight Over House Subpoena Of Don McGahn

A federal appeals court in D.C. gave President Trump a major legal win on Friday by refusing to enforce the House ’ s subpoena of former White House Counsel Don McGahn .
The majority opinion said that the court agreed with the Justice Department ’ s argument “ that Article III of the Constitution forbids federal courts from resolving this kind of interbranch information dispute.
” Ruling in the Trump administration ’ s favor were Judges Thomas Griffith and Karen Henderson , both appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals by President George W. Bush .
Judge Judith Rogers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruling .
Trump ’ s victory comes amid his unprecedented war against Congress ’ oversight of his conduct .
While so far he ’ s mostly lost in the courts , the slow pace of the judicial system has allowed him to stymie much of the Democratic-controlled House ’ s investigations into him .
An appeal to the full D.C .
Circuit Court of Appeals , which leans liberal , is likely , and the case could end up before the Supreme Court , which is already reviewing the House ’ s subpoena @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The House ’ s effort to obtain McGahn ’ s testimony about Trump ’ s alleged obstruction of justice as laid out in special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s report dates back to April 2019 .
The House filed its lawsuit that summer .
A lower court rejected Trump ’ s claim in the case that McGahn had “ absolute immunity ” from testifying because he was a close presidential advisor .
But the appeals court said Friday that the courts lacked the power to make that call .
“ The Committee ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dispute that we have no authority to resolve , ” the majority opinion , which came down at 5 p.m. on a Friday , said .
Though the court noted that the “ the legal issue in this case is quite narrow , ” the court worried about unending “ judicial entanglements.
” “ If the Committee can enforce this subpoena in the courts , chambers of Congress ( and their duly authorized committees ) can enforce any subpoena , ” the court said .
The court speculated that if it had ordered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would just prompt another legal battle over executive privilege .
“ The walk from the Capitol to our courthouse is a short one , and if we resolve this case today , we can expect Congress ’ s lawyers to make the trip often , ” the court said .
It pointed to other “ tools ” Congress has available to force compliance with its subpeonas , including withholding funding , blocking appointments or even impeachment .
“ Congress can wield these political weapons without dragging judges into the fray , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that courts had never settled cases like this before , asserting that cases like the Nixon case focused on court-authorized subpoenas , rather than congressionally issued ones .
It also said this case was different than other congressional subpoena cases that were focused on an private citizen ’ s compliance , rather than an interbranch dispute .
The court later added that it was not endorsing the DOJ argument that Congress can never go to court to enforce a subpoena , only that it would not settle subpoena disputes between the branches of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rogers castigated the majority for all but assuring “ future Presidential stonewalling of Congress.
” “ The fact that the Supreme Court has not squarely addressed the question presented here is unsurprising , given the long history of Presidential cooperation with congressional investigations , ” Rogers wrote .
The decision was also bashed by Constitutional Accountability Center President Elizabeth Wydra , who said in a statement that , if allowed to stand , the ruling “ threatens to weaken Congress ’ s ability to perform its constitutional duty and its role in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it was “ extremely pleased with today ’ s historic ruling.
” “ Suits like this one are without precedent in our Nation ’ s history and are inconsistent with the Constitution ’ s design , ” DOJ spokeswoman Brianna Herlihy said .
“ The D.C.
Circuit ’ s cogent opinion affirms this fundamental principle .
”

A federal appeals court in D.C. gave President Trump a major legal win on Friday by refusing to enforce the House’s subpoena of former White House Counsel Don McGahn.
The majority opinion said that the court agreed with the Justice Department’s argument “that Article III of the Constitution forbids federal courts from resolving this kind of interbranch information dispute.”
Ruling in the Trump administration’s favor were Judges Thomas Griffith and Karen Henderson, both appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals by President George W. Bush. Judge Judith Rogers, a Clinton appointee, dissented from the ruling.
Trump’s victory comes amid his unprecedented war against Congress’ oversight of his conduct. While so far he’s mostly lost in the courts, the slow pace of the judicial system has allowed him to stymie much of the Democratic-controlled House’s investigations into him. An appeal to the full D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, which leans liberal, is likely, and the case could end up before the Supreme Court, which is already reviewing the House’s subpoena of Trump’s financial records.
The House’s effort to obtain McGahn’s testimony about Trump’s alleged obstruction of justice as laid out in special counsel Robert Mueller’s report dates back to April 2019. The House filed its lawsuit that summer.
A lower court rejected Trump’s claim in the case that McGahn had “absolute immunity” from testifying because he was a close presidential advisor.
But the appeals court said Friday that the courts lacked the power to make that call.
“The Committee’s suit asks us to settle a dispute that we have no authority to resolve,” the majority opinion, which came down at 5 p.m. on a Friday, said.
Though the court noted that the “the legal issue in this case is quite narrow,” the court worried about unending “judicial entanglements.”
“If the Committee can enforce this subpoena in the courts, chambers of Congress (and their duly authorized committees) can enforce any subpoena,” the court said.
The court speculated that if it had ordered McGahn to show up to testify, it would just prompt another legal battle over executive privilege.
“The walk from the Capitol to our courthouse is a short one, and if we resolve this case today, we can expect Congress’s lawyers to make the trip often,” the court said.
It pointed to other “tools” Congress has available to force compliance with its subpeonas, including withholding funding, blocking appointments or even impeachment.
(In the recent impeachment fight Trump’s lawyers argued that the Senate should not call witnesses because the House had failed to go to court to enforce the subpoena fight.)
“Congress can wield these political weapons without dragging judges into the fray,” the court said.
The majority said that courts had never settled cases like this before, asserting that cases like the Nixon case focused on court-authorized subpoenas, rather than congressionally issued ones. It also said this case was different than other congressional subpoena cases that were focused on an private citizen’s compliance, rather than an interbranch dispute.
The court later added that it was not endorsing the DOJ argument that Congress can never go to court to enforce a subpoena, only that it would not settle subpoena disputes between the branches of government.
In a blistering dissent, Rogers castigated the majority for all but assuring “future Presidential stonewalling of Congress.”
“The fact that the Supreme Court has not squarely addressed the question presented here is unsurprising, given the long history of Presidential cooperation with congressional investigations,” Rogers wrote.
The decision was also bashed by Constitutional Accountability Center President Elizabeth Wydra, who said in a statement that, if allowed to stand, the ruling “threatens to weaken Congress’s ability to perform its constitutional duty and its role in our tripartite governmental structure.”
The Justice Department said it was “extremely pleased with today’s historic ruling.”
“Suits like this one are without precedent in our Nation’s history and are inconsistent with the Constitution’s design,” DOJ spokeswoman Brianna Herlihy said. “The D.C. Circuit’s cogent opinion affirms this fundamental principle.”
Read the opinion below:
Josh Kovensky contributed reporting.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-28--Far Right Pizzagater Mike Cernovich Injects Self Into Bid For Roger Stone Juror Info

Far-right blogger Mike Cernovich demanded access to the questionnaire answers of the jury foreperson in the Roger Stone prosecution , a court filing revealed on Friday shows .
Cernovich asked U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson to allow him to join the case as an intervenor in order to obtain access to the questionnaire answers .
She has not yet ruled on his request .
Cernovich apparently wished to follow up on whatever notoriety he gained from publicizing the juror ’ s Twitter account , by demanding access to her questionnaire answers .
The request first came on Feb. 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ constitutional law scholar ” saying that the foreperson ’ s “ public conduct has raised grave constitutional concerns regarding the fairness of the jury trial in the instant matter.
” The President and his allies have tried to discredit the guilty verdict of Stone , a longtime Trump adviser , by claiming that the jury foreperson was biased due to social media posts and an earlier attempt she had made to run for office as a Democrat .
The allegation ignores the fact that the juror disclosed her political affiliations during jury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partisan political beliefs do not disqualify one from serving on a jury .
Cernovich played a key , early role in propagating the allegations against the juror .
He first publicized tweets that the foreperson had made , and angrily tweeted about her affiliation with the Democratic Party ; all of which later made it onto Fox News .
President Trump then jumped on the allegation of “ bias , ” attacking the foreperson on Twitter by citing Fox News reports about the juror .
In the filing , Cernovich argues that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know whether public trials are being conducted consistently with constitutional requirements .
” “ Mr .
Cernovich ’ s vigorous and conscientious journalism has raised significant questions as to whether Mr. Stone received a fair jury trial , ” the right-wing provocateur added about himself .
The bid for document access is taking place after Judge Berman Jackson sentenced Stone to 40 months behind bars on charges of obstruction , witness tampering , and lying to Congress .
Stone pushed for a retrial by claiming that the jury foreperson was biased .
Judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which she hauled in jurors on the case , showing that Stone ’ s claims were groundless .
Cernovich concluded in an affidavit attached to the filing that he had not consulted with anyone in making the request .
“ I have not coordinated this filing with any other party , including the United States , ” the filing reads .

Far-right blogger Mike Cernovich demanded access to the questionnaire answers of the jury foreperson in the Roger Stone prosecution, a court filing revealed on Friday shows.
Cernovich asked U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson to allow him to join the case as an intervenor in order to obtain access to the questionnaire answers. She has not yet ruled on his request.
Cernovich apparently wished to follow up on whatever notoriety he gained from publicizing the juror’s Twitter account, by demanding access to her questionnaire answers.
The request first came on Feb. 20, with the pizzagate propagator and self-described “constitutional law scholar” saying that the foreperson’s “public conduct has raised grave constitutional concerns regarding the fairness of the jury trial in the instant matter.”
The President and his allies have tried to discredit the guilty verdict of Stone, a longtime Trump adviser, by claiming that the jury foreperson was biased due to social media posts and an earlier attempt she had made to run for office as a Democrat. The allegation ignores the fact that the juror disclosed her political affiliations during jury selection, as required, and that partisan political beliefs do not disqualify one from serving on a jury.
Cernovich played a key, early role in propagating the allegations against the juror. He first publicized tweets that the foreperson had made, and angrily tweeted about her affiliation with the Democratic Party; all of which later made it onto Fox News.
President Trump then jumped on the allegation of “bias,” attacking the foreperson on Twitter by citing Fox News reports about the juror.
In the filing, Cernovich argues that “the public has a constitutional right to know whether public trials are being conducted consistently with constitutional requirements. ”
“Mr. Cernovich’s vigorous and conscientious journalism has raised significant questions as to whether Mr. Stone received a fair jury trial,” the right-wing provocateur added about himself.
The bid for document access is taking place after Judge Berman Jackson sentenced Stone to 40 months behind bars on charges of obstruction, witness tampering, and lying to Congress.
Stone pushed for a retrial by claiming that the jury foreperson was biased. Judge Berman Jackson held a hearing on Wednesday in which she hauled in jurors on the case, showing that Stone’s claims were groundless.
Cernovich concluded in an affidavit attached to the filing that he had not consulted with anyone in making the request.
“I have not coordinated this filing with any other party, including the United
States,” the filing reads.
Read the filing here:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-28--Pompeo Refuses To Deny Coronavirus Is ‘Hoax’ While Stonewalling House Dems

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo continued to toe the Trump administration line in a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Friday , this time leading him to refuse to deny that coronavirus is a “ hoax.
” Pompeo ’ s non-denial of the rapidly spreading virus came under questioning from Rep. Ted Lieu ( D-CA ) , who asked the country ’ s top diplomat whether he believed that the coronavirus is the “ hoax of the day.
” “ The State Department is doing everything it can to protect American citizens around the world , ” Pompeo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a gotcha moment , it ’ s not useful.
” Lieu raised the question at a hearing devoted to Trump administration policy towards Iran .
Multiple lawmakers used the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in the Islamic republic as a springboard to question Pompeo about the Trump administration ’ s response to the virus .
Lieu referenced comments made by Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney that the press is covering the coronavirus outbreak due to the end of the impeachment “ hoax.
” “ The reason you ’ re seeing so much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think this is what ’ s going to bring down the President , ” Mulvaney said at CPAC on Friday morning .
“ That ’ s what this is all about.
” Lieu slightly mischaracterized Mulvaney ’ s remarks , asking Pompeo if he agreed with Mulvaney that “ the coronavirus is the hoax of the day.
” “ I ’ m not gon na comment on what others are saying , ” Pompeo replied .
“ I ’ m just telling you what the secretary of state is doing.
” Lieu then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave the hearing to speak at CPAC .
“ So you can only give two hours to this bipartisan group of members of Congress and instead of answering questions on life and death issues from a bipartisan group of representatives you ’ re gon na go talk to a special interest group ?
” Lieu asked .
Lieu ’ s fulmination and Pompeo ’ s dismissive stonewalling characterized much of the hearing , as Democrats assailed Pompeo for only giving the House two hours of his time .
Rep. Gregory Meeks ( D-NY @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a predecessor of his — Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — during the Benghazi hearings .
“ I can remember vividly , you thundering away at Secretary Clinton during the Benghazi hearing , “ You know what ?
She showed up voluntarily , sat there for 11 hours .
But with you , sir , we had to move heaven and earth to get you here today for just two hours , ” Meeks said .
“ To me that shows disregard for the oversight responsibilities of the United States Congress .
@

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo continued to toe the Trump administration line in a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Friday, this time leading him to refuse to deny that coronavirus is a “hoax.”
Pompeo’s non-denial of the rapidly spreading virus came under questioning from Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), who asked the country’s top diplomat whether he believed that the coronavirus is the “hoax of the day.”
“The State Department is doing everything it can to protect American citizens around the world,” Pompeo replied, dismissing the question as “a gotcha moment, it’s not useful.”
Lieu raised the question at a hearing devoted to Trump administration policy towards Iran. Multiple lawmakers used the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in the Islamic republic as a springboard to question Pompeo about the Trump administration’s response to the virus.
Lieu referenced comments made by Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney that the press is covering the coronavirus outbreak due to the end of the impeachment “hoax.”
“The reason you’re seeing so much attention to it today is that they think this is what’s going to bring down the President,” Mulvaney said at CPAC on Friday morning. “That’s what this is all about.”
Lieu slightly mischaracterized Mulvaney’s remarks, asking Pompeo if he agreed with Mulvaney that “the coronavirus is the hoax of the day.”
“I’m not gonna comment on what others are saying,” Pompeo replied. “I’m just telling you what the secretary of state is doing.”
Lieu then asked Pompeo if he was going to leave the hearing to speak at CPAC.
“So you can only give two hours to this bipartisan group of members of Congress and instead of answering questions on life and death issues from a bipartisan group of representatives you’re gonna go talk to a special interest group?” Lieu asked.
“Yes,” Pompeo replied.
Lieu’s fulmination and Pompeo’s dismissive stonewalling characterized much of the hearing, as Democrats assailed Pompeo for only giving the House two hours of his time.
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) recalled Pompeo “thundering away” at a predecessor of his — Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — during the Benghazi hearings.
“I can remember vividly, you thundering away at Secretary Clinton during the Benghazi hearing,
“You know what? She showed up voluntarily, sat there for 11 hours. But with you, sir, we had to move heaven and earth to get you here today for just two hours,” Meeks said. “To me that shows disregard for the oversight responsibilities of the United States Congress.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-28--Mulvaney Outlandishly Accuses Media Of Covering Coronavirus Threat To Hurt Trump

Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney on Friday made the ridiculous claim that the media was trying to damage President Donald Trump politically with its coverage of the deadly coronavirus .
During a Q & A at the Conservative Political Action Conference ( CPAC ) , Mulvaney claimed the media was inflating the disease because its coverage of the impeachment “ hoax ” failed to sabotage Trump .
“ The reason you ’ re seeing so much attention to it today is that they think this is what ’ s going to bring down the President , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audience .
“ That ’ s what this is all about.
” “ I got a note today from a reporter saying ‘ What are you going to do today to calm the markets ?
’ ” he continued .
“ I ’ m like , ‘ Really what I might do to calm the markets is tell people to turn their televisions off for 24 hours.
” Mulvaney also downplayed the severity of the deadly virus by arguing that while the illness “ absolutely is real , ” its death rate doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ebola virus .
“ When you look at the severity of diseases , one of the ways you can look at it is by looking at the percentage of people who get it who die , ” he told the audience .
“ I know that ’ s sort of hard-hearted , but that ’ s how we look at certain-that ’ s probably how you would look at it .
If I get a cold , am I gon na die ?
No ?
Okay.
” On Tuesday , White House economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar point about the virus ’ fatality when he said markets ought not to “ overreact.
” “ I don ’ t want to sound heartless or cruel or anything .
This is a human tragedy , ” Kudlow said during an interview on CNBC .
“ It ’ s mostly centered in China .
There is contagion elsewhere , Italy , Iran , I think that ’ s what ’ s upset the market.
” Trump and his administration have been putting much of their focus this week on shielding the President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to address the coronavirus and attempting to stabilize the rapidly plunging stock market .

Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney on Friday made the ridiculous claim that the media was trying to damage President Donald Trump politically with its coverage of the deadly coronavirus.
During a Q&A at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Mulvaney claimed the media was inflating the disease because its coverage of the impeachment “hoax” failed to sabotage Trump.
“The reason you’re seeing so much attention to it today is that they think this is what’s going to bring down the President,” the White House official told the CPAC audience. “That’s what this is all about.”
“I got a note today from a reporter saying ‘What are you going to do today to calm the markets?’” he continued. “I’m like, ‘Really what I might do to calm the markets is tell people to turn their televisions off for 24 hours.”
Mulvaney also downplayed the severity of the deadly virus by arguing that while the illness “absolutely is real,” its death rate doesn’t compare to that of the Ebola virus.
“When you look at the severity of diseases, one of the ways you can look at it is by looking at the percentage of people who get it who die,” he told the audience. “I know that’s sort of hard-hearted, but that’s how we look at certain-that’s probably how you would look at it. If I get a cold, am I gonna die? No? Okay.”
On Tuesday, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow tried to make a similar point about the virus’ fatality when he said markets ought not to “overreact.”
“I don’t want to sound heartless or cruel or anything. This is a human tragedy,” Kudlow said during an interview on CNBC. “It’s mostly centered in China. There is contagion elsewhere, Italy, Iran, I think that’s what’s upset the market.”
Trump and his administration have been putting much of their focus this week on shielding the President from unflattering news coverage on his fumbling efforts to address the coronavirus and attempting to stabilize the rapidly plunging stock market.