talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-07--Trump Loses—Again—In Bid To Block NY Grand Jury Subpoena For His Financial Docs

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit for a second time backed a subpoena issued in New York ’ s investigation into President Trump ’ s financial conduct .
The subpoena is facing a second round of legal challenges from President Trump after the Supreme Court this summer said that being the sitting president did not give Trump immunity from state criminal investigations .
Trump now is challenging the subpoena on grounds that are in theory available to any normal defendant .
The subpoena was issued to his accounting firm Mazars USA and it seeks his tax returns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Circuit ’ s Wednesday opinion upholding the subpoena queued up the opportunity for the Supreme Court to take another look at its legality .
As part of an agreement between Trump and Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance — whose office is leading the investigation — the appeals court put on hold the enforcement of the subpoena until the Supreme Court has a chance to decide whether it wants to review it again .
The appeals court roundly rejected the arguments that Trump is making this time about the legality of the subpoena , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overbroad and issued in bad faith .
The President has endured a spree of court losses in his efforts to stymie the Vance subpoenas .
But his strategy has been effective in delaying the investigation.The Mazars subpoena was issued more than a year ago , in August 2019 , after the Trump Organization refused to turn over the requested materials .
In shooting down Trump ’ s claim that the subpoena was overbroad , the appeals court gave credence to the indications from New York that its investigation is now broader than just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payments doled out to women who claimed have extramarital trysts with the President .
The court also rejected Trump ’ s claim that the Mazars subpoena was overbroad because it sought a wider universe of documents than was initially requested from the Trump Organization .
“ It is far from reasonable to infer that a single subpoena would define the entire scope of a grand jury ’ s investigation , particularly in complex financial investigations , ” the court said .
The court was similarly unconvinced by Trump ’ s arguments alleging that @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit for a second time backed a subpoena issued in New York’s investigation into President Trump’s financial conduct.
The subpoena is facing a second round of legal challenges from President Trump after the Supreme Court this summer said that being the sitting president did not give Trump immunity from state criminal investigations. Trump now is challenging the subpoena on grounds that are in theory available to any normal defendant. The subpoena was issued to his accounting firm Mazars USA and it seeks his tax returns among other financial materials.
The Second Circuit’s Wednesday opinion upholding the subpoena queued up the opportunity for the Supreme Court to take another look at its legality. As part of an agreement between Trump and Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance — whose office is leading the investigation — the appeals court put on hold the enforcement of the subpoena until the Supreme Court has a chance to decide whether it wants to review it again.
The appeals court roundly rejected the arguments that Trump is making this time about the legality of the subpoena, which included arguments that the subpoena was overbroad and issued in bad faith.
The President has endured a spree of court losses in his efforts to stymie the Vance subpoenas. But his strategy has been effective in delaying the investigation.The Mazars subpoena was issued more than a year ago, in August 2019, after the Trump Organization refused to turn over the requested materials.
In shooting down Trump’s claim that the subpoena was overbroad, the appeals court gave credence to the indications from New York that its investigation is now broader than just a focused look at the hush money payments doled out to women who claimed have extramarital trysts with the President. The court also rejected Trump’s claim that the Mazars subpoena was overbroad because it sought a wider universe of documents than was initially requested from the Trump Organization.
“It is far from reasonable to infer that a single subpoena would define the entire scope of a grand jury’s investigation, particularly in complex financial investigations,” the court said.
The court was similarly unconvinced by Trump’s arguments alleging that the subpoena was issued in bad faith..
Read the opinion below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-08--Trump Required NDAs From Walter Reed Doctors During Surprise Medical Visit Last Year

President Donald Trump required staff at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to sign non-disclosure agreements before treating him during a surprise visit last year , four people familiar with the process told NBC News .
Trump required the NDAs from both physicians and non-medical medical staffers who were for the most part active-duty military service members during an unexpected visit to the hospital in November 2019 , NBC News reported .
At least two doctors at Walter Reed who declined signing the agreement , were not permitted to take part in President Trump ’ s care , two of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that time , Trump ’ s communication aides suggested the surprise visit was for a “ routine physical exam , ” although it was later reported that discussions regarding a need for Vice President Mike Pence to temporarily assume presidential powers in the case of emergency had been underway .
It was not known whether Trump had made the same requirement of staff previously uninvolved in his care during his most recent three-day stay at Walter Reed when he was admitted last week for treatment of coronavirus .
Trump has regularly required NDAs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but legal protections under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ( HIPAA ) guarantee patient privacy which stirs questions about why Trump would seek NDAs from Walter Reed staff .
“ Any physician caring for the President is bound by patient physician confidentiality guaranteed under HIPAA , and I ’ m not going to comment on internal procedures beyond that , ” White House Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere said in a statement to NBC News .
In addition , all personnel assigned to the White House Medical Unit , which treats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to day , are required to have achieved a high-level security clearance involving in-depth background checks .
With less than a month until the presidential election , concerns about the President ’ s health amid his COVID-19 diagnosis have been batted away by Walter Reed doctors who quickly discharged the President after only three days and were evasive about his lung health .
“ We ’ ve done routine standard imaging .
I ’ m just not at liberty to discuss , ” White House physician Dr. Sean Conley told reporters Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Trump ’ s health citing HIPAA and would not say and when he had last received a negative test for coronavirus .
Trump has closely orchestrated public appearances during his illness in a manner that projects strength , even suggesting on Wednesday that getting COVID-19 was a “ blessing from God .
”

President Donald Trump required staff at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to sign non-disclosure agreements before treating him during a surprise visit last year, four people familiar with the process told NBC News.
Trump required the NDAs from both physicians and non-medical medical staffers who were for the most part active-duty military service members during an unexpected visit to the hospital in November 2019, NBC News reported. At least two doctors at Walter Reed who declined signing the agreement, were not permitted to take part in President Trump’s care, two of the sources told NBC News.
At that time, Trump’s communication aides suggested the surprise visit was for a “routine physical exam,” although it was later reported that discussions regarding a need for Vice President Mike Pence to temporarily assume presidential powers in the case of emergency had been underway.
It was not known whether Trump had made the same requirement of staff previously uninvolved in his care during his most recent three-day stay at Walter Reed when he was admitted last week for treatment of coronavirus.
Trump has regularly required NDAs from employees at the Trump Organization, but legal protections under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guarantee patient privacy which stirs questions about why Trump would seek NDAs from Walter Reed staff.
“Any physician caring for the President is bound by patient physician confidentiality guaranteed under HIPAA, and I’m not going to comment on internal procedures beyond that,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere said in a statement to NBC News.
In addition, all personnel assigned to the White House Medical Unit, which treats the president and the vice president day to day, are required to have achieved a high-level security clearance involving in-depth background checks.
With less than a month until the presidential election, concerns about the President’s health amid his COVID-19 diagnosis have been batted away by Walter Reed doctors who quickly discharged the President after only three days and were evasive about his lung health.
“We’ve done routine standard imaging. I’m just not at liberty to discuss,” White House physician Dr. Sean Conley told reporters Monday. He has repeatedly refused to disclose information about Trump’s health citing HIPAA and would not say and when he had last received a negative test for coronavirus.
Trump has closely orchestrated public appearances during his illness in a manner that projects strength, even suggesting on Wednesday that getting COVID-19 was a “blessing from God.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-08--Next Presidential Debate Will Be Virtual Amid Trump’s Battle With COVID

President Donald Trump , who remains infected with COVID-19 after being diagnosed last week , declared on Thursday that he would not participate in the upcoming debate with his Democratic challenger Joe Biden next week after the Commission on Presidential Debates ( CPD ) changed the debate to a virtual format due to Trump ’ s illness .
Shortly after the CPD announced the change , Trump railed against the CPD ’ s decision during an interview on Fox Business , saying that the new format was “ not acceptable to us.
” “ I ’ m not going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s not what debating ’ s all about , ” Trump told Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo .
“ You sit behind a computer and do a debate…That ’ s ridiculous .
And then they cut you off whenever they want.
” The President will hold a rally instead , according to Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien , who claimed in a statement that Trump “ will have posted multiple negative tests prior to the debate.
” “ The safety of all involved can easily be achieved without canceling a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go head to head , ” Stepien said .
“ We ’ ll pass on this sad excuse to bail out Joe Biden and do a rally instead.
” Earlier on Thursday morning , the CPD announced the debate , originally slated to be held in Miami , Florida , would be virtual “ in order to protect the health and safety of all involved ” as Trump remains infected with the virus after a stay at Walter Reed Medical Center this past weekend .
“ The second presidential debate will take the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which the candidates would participate from separate remote locations , ” according to the commission .
Kate Bedingfield , the Biden campaign ’ s communications director , said the Democratic candidate “ looks forward to speaking directly to the American people and comparing his plan for bringing the country together and building back better with Donald Trump ’ s failed leadership on the coronavirus that has thrown the strong economy he inherited into the worst downturn since the Great Depression.
” On Tuesday , Biden argued that the debate in Miami , Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President remains infected with COVID-19 .
The Trump campaign pushed back against the Democrat ’ s suggestion , insisting that the President “ will be healthy and will be there.
” This post has been updated .

President Donald Trump, who remains infected with COVID-19 after being diagnosed last week, declared on Thursday that he would not participate in the upcoming debate with his Democratic challenger Joe Biden next week after the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) changed the debate to a virtual format due to Trump’s illness.
Shortly after the CPD announced the change, Trump railed against the decision during an interview on Fox Business, saying that the new format, which had been decided unilaterally by the commission, was “not acceptable to us.”
“I’m not going to waste my time on a virtual debate. That’s not what debating’s all about,” Trump told Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo. “You sit behind a computer and do a debate…That’s ridiculous. And then they cut you off whenever they want.”
The President will hold a rally instead, according to Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien, who claimed in a statement that Trump “will have posted multiple negative tests prior to the debate.”
“The safety of all involved can easily be achieved without canceling a chance for voters to see both candidates go head to head,” Stepien said. “We’ll pass on this sad excuse to bail out Joe Biden and do a rally instead.”
A Biden campaign aide told TPM that Trump abandoning the debate “shows that yet again, one candidate is leading while the other is whining.”
“It’s no surprise since Trump has spent the last four years putting himself and his own political gain above the interests of the American people,” the aide said. “This is just the latest example of why these two candidates are the polar opposite from one another.”
Earlier on Thursday morning, the CPD announced the debate, originally slated to be held in Miami, Florida, on October 15, would be virtual “in order to protect the health and safety of all involved” as Trump remains infected with the virus after a stay at Walter Reed Medical Center this past weekend.
“The second presidential debate will take the form of a town meeting, in which the candidates would participate from separate remote locations,” according to the commission.
On Tuesday, Biden argued that the debate in Miami, Florida next week ought to be cancelled if President remains infected with COVID-19.
The Trump campaign pushed back against the Democrat’s suggestion, insisting that the President “will be healthy and will be there.”
This post has been updated.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-08--The Fly And Bloodshot Eyes: Pence Fuels Meme-Worthy Debate Moments

Compared to last week ’ s Trump-fueled debate disaster , Wednesday night ’ s vice presidential debate between Vice President @ @ @ @ @ Harris ( D-CA ) was a more conventional affair , but that didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ viral ( no pun intended ) .
In the midst of Harris ’ repeated reminders @ @ @ @ @ ’ m speaking ” and the VP ’ s repeated dodges on critical issues such @ @ @ @ @ , Twitter users were quick to react to the absurd moments that involuntarily put Pence @ @ @ @ @ a mid-debate conspiracy speculating that Pence ’ s bloodshot eyes throughout the night were a @ @ @ @ @ fly that wouldn ’ t leave the VP ’ s head for several minutes , @ @ @ @ @ users ( including Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ) had a field day during the @ @

Compared to last week’s Trump-fueled debate disaster, Wednesday night’s vice presidential debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) was a more conventional affair, but that didn’t stop subtle-yet-show-stopping moments from going viral (no pun intended).
In the midst of Harris’ repeated reminders to Pence that “I’m speaking” and the VP’s repeated dodges on critical issues such as climate change and abortion, Twitter users were quick to react to the absurd moments that involuntarily put Pence under a microscope.
From a mid-debate conspiracy speculating that Pence’s bloodshot eyes throughout the night were a sign of COVID-19 to a fly that wouldn’t leave the VP’s head for several minutes, here’s how Twitter users (including Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden) had a field day during the debate:
Pitch in $5 to help this campaign fly. https://t.co/CqHAId0j8t pic.twitter.com/NbkPl0a8HV — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 8, 2020
A parody account twitter resurgence is actually the cherry on top of the worst year ever https://t.co/TqNFR9MwHm — Taylor Lorenz (@TaylorLorenz) October 8, 2020
That debate was fly (Sorry) — Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) October 8, 2020
Oh, to be a fly on the wall in that debate hall… — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 8, 2020
“That was some weird shit.”
~The Fly — Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) October 8, 2020
The fly went over its allotted two minutes — but only by 3 seconds https://t.co/cWVnFRCzzf — Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) October 8, 2020
Pence so fly — John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) October 8, 2020
The fly on Pence's head was the perfect symbol of the moral and spiritual rot eating away at Pence's core as he offered those smarmy apologetics for Trump's racism and active encouragement of white supremacy. — Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) October 8, 2020
Thoughts and prayers for this fly #VPDebate pic.twitter.com/QlDCbIsLh6 — Marcy Stech (@etchaStech) October 8, 2020
Just came to check on the bug conversation — Katie Rogers (@katierogers) October 8, 2020
pretty fly for a white guy — Philip Bump (@pbump) October 8, 2020
the fly has won this debate — John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) October 8, 2020
oh, to be a fly on the… pic.twitter.com/eogdc6aU9U — Will Steakin (@wsteaks) October 8, 2020
That's not on your TV. It's on his head. — Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) October 8, 2020
"Researchers identify pink eye as possible primary symptom of COVID-19" https://t.co/nWZ9CkjpdP — Joshua Green (@JoshuaGreen) October 8, 2020
Pence’s bleeding eye raises questions about his health but the White House says he’s fine and thankfully they’re extremely credible on such matters — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 8, 2020
Pink eye is a symptom of Covid-19. Saying that for no reason at all. — Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) October 8, 2020
Undead VP's Rona eye is so disturbing. — Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) October 8, 2020
The strangely pink eyes of Mike Pence. Move Kamala Harris back another six feet. #VPDebate pic.twitter.com/uDrl1ZM5f3 — Tim Teeman (@TimTeeman) October 8, 2020
I used to teach preschool and if a kid showed up with Mike Pence’s weird red eyes we wouldn’t have let his parents drop him off. — Josh Gondelman (@joshgondelman) October 8, 2020
Swap the red tie for a black tie, and Mike Pence and his dead eyes look like an undertaker. — Josh Newman (@Joshua_Newman) October 8, 2020


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-08--Pence Reminds Us All That The Pre-Trump GOP Is Alive, Kicking, And Terminally Smarmy

He ’ s the adult in the room .
But Mike Pence is both much more and much less than that .
His performance at the debate Wednesday night reveals what we ’ ve all known for a long time , but may have forgotten : the pre-Trump Republican party .
And Pence is that party incarnate , unifying the faux religiosity of the Bush administration , the inchoate cries for freedom of the Tea Party movement , and the smarm of using it all to sell out to noxious interests ; the glue that holds it all together .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ handling of the COVID-19 pandemic .
The Vice President cast that in terms of freedom of choice , saying that he and Trump simply believe that this is a free country , and that no crypto-commie is going to come in and impose “ mandates ” on the heartland .
“ President Trump and I trust the American people to make choices in the best interests of their health , ” Pence said .
“ Joe Biden and Kamala Harris consistently talk about mandates and not just mandates with the coronavirus , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Of course , that doesn ’ t really work in a pandemic .
The virus reveals that all of our actions are interconnected ; one group of people in a city refusing to wear masks or socially distance can quickly cause the virus to spread to the rest .
But as a justification of selfish behavior , framing the argument in terms of freedom and the evildoers who hate it was pure , pre-Trump GOP .
The same goes for Pence ’ s shout-out to the Persecution of Christians in the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration has been the President ’ s obvious lack of interest or knowledge of anything remotely spiritual .
Apart from a few ludicrous and disingenuous attempts to paint him as a shy believer , the religious right seems to understand that Trump is a tool for it to get the judges that it wants .
But you can ’ t say the same for Pence , who has the zeal of the convert after making the switch from Catholicism to Evangelical Christianity while in college .
He used that to familiar ends during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intolerant of Amy Coney Barrett ’ s Catholicism ( Biden is Catholic ) and implying that the Democratic Party is somehow anti-Christian .
“ We particularly hope we don ’ t see the kind of attacks on [ Barrett ] ’ s Christian faith that we saw before , ” Pence said , clearly hoping that we do , in fact , see such attacks .
In keeping with his religious devotion , Pence also revealed himself during the debate to be remarkably insensate , as a fly perched itself on his hair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pence as a figure walking astride history , out of the ashes of the 2016 Republican primary and into today , is the noxious positioning on matters of consequence that result .
The Vice President took a position on climate change that was remarkably similar to the Bush-era denial that global warming was even happening , and its focus on ill-defined , supposedly free market solutions .
“ President Trump and I believe that the progress that we have made in a cleaner environment has been happening precisely because we have a strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ ve done it through innovation , and through natural gas and fracking.
” He added to Harris that “ the both of you repeatedly committed to abolishing fossil fuel and banning fracking.
” Of course , the point here is not that the Republican Party won ’ t act on climate change .
That much is blindingly obvious .
Rather , it shows that the underlying reasons for that lack of action — utter commitment to specific , sectoral energy industry interests whose profits rely on a system that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stayed the same .
And so too have the talking points deployed to support them .
In fact , what ’ s stayed the same with Pence is the whole package ; selfishness justified in terms of freedom , stoking a victim complex around the country ’ s religious majority , and using it all to advance corporate interests no matter the cost .

He’s the adult in the room.
But Mike Pence is both much more and much less than that. His performance at the debate Wednesday night reveals what we’ve all known for a long time, but may have forgotten: the pre-Trump Republican party.
And Pence is that party incarnate, unifying the faux religiosity of the Bush administration, the inchoate cries for freedom of the Tea Party movement, and the smarm of using it all to sell out to noxious interests; the glue that holds it all together.
Take Pence’s defense of his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Vice President cast that in terms of freedom of choice, saying that he and Trump simply believe that this is a free country, and that no crypto-commie is going to come in and impose “mandates” on the heartland.
“President Trump and I trust the American people to make choices in the best interests of their health,” Pence said. “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris consistently talk about mandates and not just mandates with the coronavirus, but a government takeover of health care.”
Of course, that doesn’t really work in a pandemic. The virus reveals that all of our actions are interconnected; one group of people in a city refusing to wear masks or socially distance can quickly cause the virus to spread to the rest.
But as a justification of selfish behavior, framing the argument in terms of freedom and the evildoers who hate it was pure, pre-Trump GOP.
The same goes for Pence’s shout-out to the Persecution of Christians in the United States.
One small blessing of the Trump administration has been the President’s obvious lack of interest or knowledge of anything remotely spiritual. Apart from a few ludicrous and disingenuous attempts to paint him as a shy believer, the religious right seems to understand that Trump is a tool for it to get the judges that it wants.
But you can’t say the same for Pence, who has the zeal of the convert after making the switch from Catholicism to Evangelical Christianity while in college.
He used that to familiar ends during the debate, accusing Democrats of being intolerant of Amy Coney Barrett’s Catholicism (Biden is Catholic) and implying that the Democratic Party is somehow anti-Christian.
“We particularly hope we don’t see the kind of attacks on [Barrett]’s Christian faith that we saw before,” Pence said, clearly hoping that we do, in fact, see such attacks.
In keeping with his religious devotion, Pence also revealed himself during the debate to be remarkably insensate, as a fly perched itself on his hair shortly thereafter.
But what really delivers Pence as a figure walking astride history, out of the ashes of the 2016 Republican primary and into today, is the noxious positioning on matters of consequence that result.
The Vice President took a position on climate change that was remarkably similar to the Bush-era denial that global warming was even happening, and its focus on ill-defined, supposedly free market solutions.
“President Trump and I believe that the progress that we have made in a cleaner environment has been happening precisely because we have a strong free market economy,” Pence said. “We’ve done it through innovation, and through natural gas and fracking.”
He added to Harris that “the both of you repeatedly committed to abolishing fossil fuel and banning fracking.”
Of course, the point here is not that the Republican Party won’t act on climate change. That much is blindingly obvious.
Rather, it shows that the underlying reasons for that lack of action — utter commitment to specific, sectoral energy industry interests whose profits rely on a system that’s destroying the future — have stayed the same. And so too have the talking points deployed to support them.
In fact, what’s stayed the same with Pence is the whole package; selfishness justified in terms of freedom, stoking a victim complex around the country’s religious majority, and using it all to advance corporate interests no matter the cost.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-08--Instead Of Promising He’d Step Down If He Loses, Pence Spouts Conspiracy Theories

Vice President Mike Pence , following in his boss ’ footsteps , refused to commit to stepping down if he and President Donald Trump lose the election .
Instead , he dipped into a right-wing grab bag of conspiracy theories .
“ But when you talk about accepting the outcome of the election , I must tell you , senator , your party has spent the last three and a half years trying to overturn the results of the last election .
It ’ s amazing , ” he said , after dodging the question about a transfer of power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win the election .
“ When Joe Biden was Vice President of the United States , the FBI actually spied on President Trump and my campaign , ” he continued .
This is beating an old drum , and it ’ s not true .
During the 2016 campaign , Trump aides had contacts with Russian operatives , and the FBI investigated those relationships .
As even the Republican-led Senate Intel Committee found in their report , those contacts were a “ grave ” threat .
But Pence , and Trump , have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand-in for their greater deep state conspiracy theorizing about the Obama administration trying to undermine Trump ’ s candidacy .
“ And we ’ ve all seen the avalanche , what you put the country through for the better part of three years until it was found there was no obstruction , no collusion , case closed , ” Pence continued , misrepresenting the findings of the Mueller report .
In reality , former special counsel Robert Mueller explicitly did “ not exonerate ” Trump from obstruction of justice .
“ And Senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Congress tried to impeach the President of the United States over a phone call , ” he concluded .
Obviously , Trump ’ s impeachment was about more than a phone call : It was about Trump trying to strongarm the Ukrainian President into manufacturing a Biden scandal in exchange for military aid and a White House visit .
Which , okay fine , did happen over the phone .
Pence was aided in slipping away from this critical question by the moderator : USA Today ’ s Susan Page oddly asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D-CA ) first — what she ’ d do if Trump refuses to step down .
It has the effect of both sides-ing a question that ’ s very premise is Pence refusing to respect American democracy .
For her part , Harris echoed Biden ’ s line from last week ’ s debate , urging people to vote .
“ We have in our power in the next 27 days to make the decision about what will be the course of our country for the next four years , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power and if we use our vote and our voice , we will win .
And we will not let anyone subvert our democracy with what Donald Trump has been doing , as he did on the debate stage last week , when in front of 70 million people , he openly attempted to suppress the vote.
” Refusing to commit to a smooth transfer of power and splashing around in the fever swamps of conspiracy theories is old hat for the Trump administration at this point .
But it ’ s notable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addressing that hostility has left the Biden/Harris campaign with one option : imploring people to vote in big enough numbers that the election is decided the night of , depriving Trump and Pence of the uncertainty they ’ d need to hijack the election .
And now we have them both on the record in a public forum — if they lose , that ’ s what they intend to do .

Vice President Mike Pence, following in his boss’ footsteps, refused to commit to stepping down if he and President Donald Trump lose the election.
Instead, he dipped into a right-wing grab bag of conspiracy theories.
“But when you talk about accepting the outcome of the election, I must tell you, senator, your party has spent the last three and a half years trying to overturn the results of the last election. It’s amazing,” he said, after dodging the question about a transfer of power by expressing faith that his ticket will win the election.
“When Joe Biden was Vice President of the United States, the FBI actually spied on President Trump and my campaign,” he continued.
This is beating an old drum, and it’s not true. During the 2016 campaign, Trump aides had contacts with Russian operatives, and the FBI investigated those relationships. As even the Republican-led Senate Intel Committee found in their report, those contacts were a “grave” threat.
But Pence, and Trump, have long used the specious accusation as a stand-in for their greater deep state conspiracy theorizing about the Obama administration trying to undermine Trump’s candidacy.
Instead of promising he'd step down if he loses, Pence spouts conspiracy theories. pic.twitter.com/BUs06VZk1p — Talking Points Memo (@TPM) October 8, 2020
“And we’ve all seen the avalanche, what you put the country through for the better part of three years until it was found there was no obstruction, no collusion, case closed,” Pence continued, misrepresenting the findings of the Mueller report. In reality, former special counsel Robert Mueller explicitly did “not exonerate” Trump from obstruction of justice.
“And Senator Harris, you and your colleagues in the Congress tried to impeach the President of the United States over a phone call,” he concluded.
Obviously, Trump’s impeachment was about more than a phone call: It was about Trump trying to strongarm the Ukrainian President into manufacturing a Biden scandal in exchange for military aid and a White House visit. Which, okay fine, did happen over the phone.
Pence was aided in slipping away from this critical question by the moderator: USA Today’s Susan Page oddly asked this question to Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) first — what she’d do if Trump refuses to step down. It has the effect of both sides-ing a question that’s very premise is Pence refusing to respect American democracy.
For her part, Harris echoed Biden’s line from last week’s debate, urging people to vote.
“We have in our power in the next 27 days to make the decision about what will be the course of our country for the next four years,” she said. “And it is within our power and if we use our vote and our voice, we will win. And we will not let anyone subvert our democracy with what Donald Trump has been doing, as he did on the debate stage last week, when in front of 70 million people, he openly attempted to suppress the vote.”
Refusing to commit to a smooth transfer of power and splashing around in the fever swamps of conspiracy theories is old hat for the Trump administration at this point. But it’s notable that the weakness of our system in addressing that hostility has left the Biden/Harris campaign with one option: imploring people to vote in big enough numbers that the election is decided the night of, depriving Trump and Pence of the uncertainty they’d need to hijack the election.
And now we have them both on the record in a public forum — if they lose, that’s what they intend to do.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-08--Pence Changes The Topic On Hard Questions Again And Again And Again

There ’ s a tried-and-true rule for cable TV talking heads : Answer the question you want to answer , not the one you ’ re asked .
Vice President Mike Pence , who hosted a talk radio show decades ago , put on an exemplary display of this strategy Wednesday night , during the vice presidential debate which pitted him against Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-CA ) .
It started when things got a little too personal for the vice president : President Donald Trump is 74 years old , moderator Susan Page noted , and he was just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a conversation or reached an agreement with President Trump about safeguards or procedures when it comes to presidential disability ?
” Pence didn ’ t apparently want to answer .
The boss , after all , was watching and live tweeting .
So instead , the vice president veered back to the previous question about the administration producing a vaccine for the virus .
Page objected .
“ Well thank you , ” he told her , “ but I would like to go back.
” Then it happened again , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more information about the President ’ s health .
His doctors have given misleading information about his COVID-19 diagnosis , she noted .
“ Let me say on behalf of the President and the first lady , how moved we ’ ve all been by the outpouring of prayers and concern for the President , ” Pence filibustered .
In short : No , the American people don ’ t deserve any more information .
And then again on climate change : “ Sen .
Harris just said that climate change is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do you believe that climate change poses an existential threat ?
” Well , yes and no .
And no and yes .
“ As I said , Susan , the climate is changing and we ’ ll follow the science , ” Pence said , without a trace of irony .
He promptly pivoted to taxes without explaining further .
A few minutes later , asked specifically if he ’ d ban abortion if he were still governor of Indiana and a reconstituted Supreme Court allowed for such a possibility , Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which he spoke about Qassim Soleimani , Pence expressed his enthusiasm about Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett and then criticized Democrats for scrutinizing her religious beliefs .
No answer on Roe v. Wade , nor what he would do if he were a governor today .
Even though his record and Coney Barrett ’ s record make their views quite clear , Pence added : “ I would never presume how Judge Amy Coney Barrett would rule on the Supreme Court of the United States , but we ’ ll continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Pence saved his best non-answer for the last half-hour of the debate , when Page asked how it was possible that the Trump administration is seeking in court to eliminate the Affordable Care Act — which provides legal protections for insurance shoppers with preexisting conditions — while at the same time claiming to have a plan for those same people .
It ’ s never offered such a plan , and there likely won ’ t be any such plan detailed before Election Day .
Pence , like most Republicans , decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you Susan , but let me just say… ” he began , before talking about abortion again , and then , for some reason , about the history of Supreme Court nominations .
Voters curious about the Trump administration ’ s currently non-existent plan to cover those with pre-existing conditions if the Supreme Court strikes down the Affordable Care Act were left empty handed .
For the President ’ s reelection campaign , perhaps that ’ s for the best .

There’s a tried-and-true rule for cable TV talking heads: Answer the question you want to answer, not the one you’re asked.
Vice President Mike Pence, who hosted a talk radio show decades ago, put on an exemplary display of this strategy Wednesday night, during the vice presidential debate which pitted him against Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA).
It started when things got a little too personal for the vice president: President Donald Trump is 74 years old, moderator Susan Page noted, and he was just hospitalized with COVID-19. “Have you had a conversation or reached an agreement with President Trump about safeguards or procedures when it comes to presidential disability?”
Pence didn’t apparently want to answer. The boss, after all, was watching and live tweeting. So instead, the vice president veered back to the previous question about the administration producing a vaccine for the virus. Page objected. “Well thank you,” he told her, “but I would like to go back.”
Pence dodges questions on "presidential disability" given Trump's recent hospitalization pic.twitter.com/Sb0mq6n6hC — TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) October 8, 2020
Then it happened again, when Page asked if the American people deserved more information about the President’s health. His doctors have given misleading information about his COVID-19 diagnosis, she noted.
“Let me say on behalf of the President and the first lady, how moved we’ve all been by the outpouring of prayers and concern for the President,” Pence filibustered. In short: No, the American people don’t deserve any more information.
And then again on climate change: “Sen. Harris just said that climate change is an existential threat. Vice President Pence, do you believe that climate change poses an existential threat?”
Well, yes and no. And no and yes.
“As I said, Susan, the climate is changing and we’ll follow the science,” Pence said, without a trace of irony. He promptly pivoted to taxes without explaining further.
Pence: ahh yes, the climate is changing. But taxes. pic.twitter.com/JiasgDo9kt — TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) October 8, 2020
A few minutes later, asked specifically if he’d ban abortion if he were still governor of Indiana and a reconstituted Supreme Court allowed for such a possibility, Pence passed entirely.
After a detour in which he spoke about Qassim Soleimani, Pence expressed his enthusiasm about Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett and then criticized Democrats for scrutinizing her religious beliefs. No answer on Roe v. Wade, nor what he would do if he were a governor today. Even though his record and Coney Barrett’s record make their views quite clear, Pence added: “I would never presume how Judge Amy Coney Barrett would rule on the Supreme Court of the United States, but we’ll continue to stand strong for the right to life.”
Pence saved his best non-answer for the last half-hour of the debate, when Page asked how it was possible that the Trump administration is seeking in court to eliminate the Affordable Care Act — which provides legal protections for insurance shoppers with preexisting conditions — while at the same time claiming to have a plan for those same people. It’s never offered such a plan, and there likely won’t be any such plan detailed before Election Day.
Pence, like most Republicans, decided to just not answer.
“Thank you Susan, but let me just say…” he began, before talking about abortion again, and then, for some reason, about the history of Supreme Court nominations.
Voters curious about the Trump administration’s currently non-existent plan to cover those with pre-existing conditions if the Supreme Court strikes down the Affordable Care Act were left empty handed. For the President’s reelection campaign, perhaps that’s for the best.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-08--‘Freedom’: Pence Offers First Defense Of Rose Garden Superspreader Event

Vice President Mike Pence offered up the first direct defense of the Rose Garden COVID-19 superspreader event to unveil Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett , casting it as a matter of freedom of choice .
During Wednesday ’ s vice presidential debate , Pence cast the Rose Garden event , where dozens are thought to have been infected with the virus , as an epiphenomenon of the larger pandemic .
Pence said that the story of both that pandemic and the Rose Garden event is not one of incompetence , or dangerous negligence on the part of the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divide between those who love freedom and liberal statists who want to impose yet another mandate on the tired millions , yearning to breathe free .
“ President Trump and I trust the American people to make choices in the best interests of their health , ” Pence said .
“ Joe Biden and Kamala Harris consistently talk about mandates and not just mandates with the coronavirus , but a government takeover of health care.
” “ We ’ re about freedom and respecting the freedom of the American people , ” Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just as a defense of the Rose Garden event , however .
Rather , he teed up that divide as a way of accounting for the whole pandemic – and as a way of painting criticism of the Trump administration ’ s response as just another whine from the meddlesome left .
Pence , head of the White House coronavirus task force since February , argued that when New York City , New Orleans , and Detroit were hit hard with COVID in March and April , the Trump administration “ told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” In theory , those sacrifices have been made in part to allow the Trump administration to organize a coherent response to the virus , which would then allow us all to return to normalcy on a faster timeframe .
That did not happen .
Rather , as Pence pointed out , the Sun Belt was hit next .
“ Americans stepped forward , ” Pence intoned .
“ But the reality is , the work of the President of the United States goes on.
” And it was then , Pence added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Supreme Court has opened up.
” So , the Rose Garden superspreader event wasn ’ t just an expression of the Trump administration ’ s love of freedom .
Rather , Pence implied , it was yet another milestone in the pandemic that has now claimed the lives of 210,000 Americans .
And in the world of Pence ’ s reply , that ’ s not a failure .
It ’ s a simple result of the fact that the “ work of the President of the United States goes on .
@

Vice President Mike Pence offered up the first direct defense of the Rose Garden COVID-19 superspreader event to unveil Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, casting it as a matter of freedom of choice.
During Wednesday’s vice presidential debate, Pence cast the Rose Garden event, where dozens are thought to have been infected with the virus, as an epiphenomenon of the larger pandemic.
Pence said that the story of both that pandemic and the Rose Garden event is not one of incompetence, or dangerous negligence on the part of the government. Rather, it’s a divide between those who love freedom and liberal statists who want to impose yet another mandate on the tired millions, yearning to breathe free.
“President Trump and I trust the American people to make choices in the best interests of their health,” Pence said. “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris consistently talk about mandates and not just mandates with the coronavirus, but a government takeover of health care.”
“We’re about freedom and respecting the freedom of the American people,” Pence added.
Pence framed that response not just as a defense of the Rose Garden event, however.
Rather, he teed up that divide as a way of accounting for the whole pandemic – and as a way of painting criticism of the Trump administration’s response as just another whine from the meddlesome left.
Pence, head of the White House coronavirus task force since February, argued that when New York City, New Orleans, and Detroit were hit hard with COVID in March and April, the Trump administration “told the American people what needed to be done.”
“And the American people made the sacrifices,” Pence added.
In theory, those sacrifices have been made in part to allow the Trump administration to organize a coherent response to the virus, which would then allow us all to return to normalcy on a faster timeframe.
That did not happen.
Rather, as Pence pointed out, the Sun Belt was hit next.
“Americans stepped forward,” Pence intoned. “But the reality is, the work of the President of the United States goes on.”
And it was then, Pence added, that “a vacancy in the the Supreme Court has opened up.”
So, the Rose Garden superspreader event wasn’t just an expression of the Trump administration’s love of freedom. Rather, Pence implied, it was yet another milestone in the pandemic that has now claimed the lives of 210,000 Americans.
And in the world of Pence’s reply, that’s not a failure. It’s a simple result of the fact that the “work of the President of the United States goes on.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-08--HHS Whistleblower Takes Aim At Trump’s ‘Reckless’ Pre-Election COVID Vaccine Push

Rick Bright , a top government vaccine scientist who warned earlier this year that the Trump administration ’ s COVID-19 response had been politicized , took to CNN on Thursday to blast the President ’ s messaging on COVID-19 as “ reckless and deadly.
” On Tuesday , Bright resigned from his post at the National Institutes of Health .
Last spring , Bright was demoted from his post as the head of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority ( BARDA ) and reassigned to a narrower role at NIH .
In an extensive whistleblower complaint , Bright alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were ignored and that his caution against the use of the Trump-touted hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 led to his removal .
During an interview on CNN ’ s “ The Lead ” on Thursday , Bright ripped Trump ’ s “ don ’ t be afraid of COVID ” assertion that was issued shortly before the President ’ s departure from Walter Reed on Monday following his COVID-19 treatment at the military hospital .
“ The messaging that President Trump gave to America and the world when he left the hospital about there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this virus is probably the most reckless and deadly piece of information I have ever heard , ” Bright said .
Bright also took aim at Trump ’ s “ irresponsible and reckless ” suggestions of a COVID-19 vaccine approval in time for the November presidential election .
“ He ’ s mentioned it on numerous occasions , that he wants the vaccine before the election , ” Bright said .
“ There ’ s no rationale in scientific judgment to move that vaccine to meet that target date .
He is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a doctor .
I say let the scientists do their job.
” Bright dismissed the notion of Trump rushing the approval of a COVID-19 as a sound effort to save lives .
“ That ’ s not true .
Not at all , ” Bright said .
“ The scientists are working at breakneck speeds .
It is unprecedented to see how fast they ’ re moving through the steps .
One step you can not rush is the safety evaluation of that vaccine after it ’ s put into people .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country ’ s appalling COVID-19 infection and fatality rate , which currently stands at more than 200,000 Americans dying from the infectious disease , Bright attributed that to “ failed leadership ” and “ a reluctance to admit there was a problem.
” “ Because of a reluctance to tell America the truth .
Because of a reluctance to take critical actions upfront , ” Bright said .
Bright added that he was “ disgusted ” to hear Vice President Mike Pence tout that the administration placed a travel ban from China in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s COVID-19 response during the VP debate on Wednesday night .
“ That is the only thing they actually talked about that they ever did .
That alone was so insufficient to get in front of this virus , ” Bright said .
“ They don ’ t recognize that many people , hundreds of thousands of people were already coming into our country with this virus .
So , that one small travel ban , that ’ s the only thing they hold out that they did , was not enough @ @

Rick Bright, a top government vaccine scientist who warned earlier this year that the Trump administration’s COVID-19 response had been politicized, took to CNN on Thursday to blast the President’s messaging on COVID-19 as “reckless and deadly.”
On Tuesday, Bright resigned from his post at the National Institutes of Health. Last spring, Bright was demoted from his post as the head of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and reassigned to a narrower role at NIH. In an extensive whistleblower complaint, Bright alleged that his early warnings about the coronavirus were ignored and that his caution against the use of the Trump-touted hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 led to his removal.
During an interview on CNN’s “The Lead” on Thursday, Bright ripped Trump’s “don’t be afraid of COVID” assertion that was issued shortly before the President’s departure from Walter Reed on Monday following his COVID-19 treatment at the military hospital.
“The messaging that President Trump gave to America and the world when he left the hospital about there is no need to be afraid of this virus is probably the most reckless and deadly piece of information I have ever heard,” Bright said.
Bright also took aim at Trump’s “irresponsible and reckless” suggestions of a COVID-19 vaccine approval in time for the November presidential election.
“He’s mentioned it on numerous occasions, that he wants the vaccine before the election,” Bright said. “There’s no rationale in scientific judgment to move that vaccine to meet that target date. He is not a scientist. He’s not a doctor. I say let the scientists do their job.”
Bright dismissed the notion of Trump rushing the approval of a COVID-19 as a sound effort to save lives.
“That’s not true. Not at all,” Bright said. “The scientists are working at breakneck speeds. It is unprecedented to see how fast they’re moving through the steps. One step you cannot rush is the safety evaluation of that vaccine after it’s put into people. It takes time.”
When asked about the country’s appalling COVID-19 infection and fatality rate, which currently stands at more than 200,000 Americans dying from the infectious disease, Bright attributed that to “failed leadership” and “a reluctance to admit there was a problem.”
“Because of a reluctance to tell America the truth. Because of a reluctance to take critical actions upfront,” Bright said.
Bright added that he was “disgusted” to hear Vice President Mike Pence tout that the administration placed a travel ban from China in January as part of the Trump administration’s COVID-19 response during the VP debate on Wednesday night.
“That is the only thing they actually talked about that they ever did. That alone was so insufficient to get in front of this virus,” Bright said. “They don’t recognize that many people, hundreds of thousands of people were already coming into our country with this virus. So, that one small travel ban, that’s the only thing they hold out that they did, was not enough.”
Watch Bright’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-08--Court Blocks Extended Deadline For WI Ballots As State Explodes With COVID Cases

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has blocked a lower court ruling that would have pushed back Wisconsin ’ s voter registration deadline and required the state to count all absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day as long as they were received by November 9 .
The voter registration deadline would have been pushed from October 14 to October 21 .
The Democratic National Committee and Wisconsin Democratic Party initially sued the state legislature and secretary of the elections commission back in March .
The case is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court , though the DNC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answer TPM ’ s questions about their next moves .
In a 2 to 1 decision , the court sided with the Republican-led legislature ’ s arguments that a federal court should not change the rules of an election so close to Election Day , and that political rather than judicial officials should get to decide when a pandemic justifies voting changes .
On the timing question , the judges faulted the lower court for waiting to issue a decision until September .
And to that district judge ’ s concern that last-minute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counted , they said , essentially , not our problem .
“ The problem that concerned the district judge , rather , was the difficulty that could be encountered by voters who do not plan ahead and wait until the last day that state law allows for certain steps , ” they wrote .
“ Yet , as the Supreme Court observed last April in this very case , voters who wait until the last minute face problems with or without a pandemic.
” The dissenting member of the panel , Judge Ilana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clocking in at more than three times the length of the majority ’ s .
“ The inevitable result of the court ’ s decision today will be that many thousands of Wisconsin citizens will lose their right to vote despite doing everything they reasonably can to exercise it , ” wrote Rovner , a George H.W .
Bush appointee .
“ This is a travesty.
” She took particular aim at the majority ’ s assertion that the changes would be put into place too near to Election Day , and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wrangle the changes into place .
“ The Covid-19 pandemic is no longer new but neither is it a static phenomenon ; infection rates have ebbed and surged in multiple waves around the country and it is only now that Wisconsin is facing crisis-level conditions , ” she wrote .
Crisis-level is no exaggeration .
Wisconsin has become a raging hotspot , its cases jumping by 50 percent in the past two weeks , with 33,403 new infections .
Governor Tony Evers ( D ) has been forced to activate a field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s hospital system has been pushed to the brink of collapse from the influx in cases .
The number of patients hospitalized currently — 873 , according to the COVID Tracking Project — is the highest Wisconsin has seen during the whole pandemic .
Experts have attributed the spike to the reopening of K-12 schools , and lack of adherence to best practices like mask-wearing .
Evers , while trying to fend off challenges from the Republican legislature , has enacted through his health secretary a ban on indoor gatherings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the case law , Rovner argued , “ forecloses modifications of the kind the district court ordered in the worsening circumstances that confront Wisconsin as the election draws nigh.
” “ We can not turn a blind eye to the present circumstances and treat this as an ordinary election , ” she concluded .
“ Nor can we blindly defer to a state legislature that sits on its hands while a pandemic rages.
” “ Good luck and G-d bless , Wisconsin .
You are going to need it .
”

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has blocked a lower court ruling that would have pushed back Wisconsin’s voter registration deadline and required the state to count all absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day as long as they were received by November 9.
The voter registration deadline would have been pushed from October 14 to October 21. The Democratic National Committee and Wisconsin Democratic Party initially sued the state legislature and secretary of the elections commission back in March. The case is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, though the DNC and Wisconsin Democratic Party did not immediately answer TPM’s questions about their next moves.
In a 2 to 1 decision, the court sided with the Republican-led legislature’s arguments that a federal court should not change the rules of an election so close to Election Day, and that political rather than judicial officials should get to decide when a pandemic justifies voting changes.
On the timing question, the judges faulted the lower court for waiting to issue a decision until September. And to that district judge’s concern that last-minute voters would struggle to have their vote counted, they said, essentially, not our problem.
“The problem that concerned the district judge, rather, was the difficulty that could be encountered by voters who do not plan ahead and wait until the last day that state law allows for certain steps,” they wrote. “Yet, as the Supreme Court observed last April in this very case, voters who wait until the last minute face problems with or without a pandemic.”
The dissenting member of the panel, Judge Ilana Rovner, retorted with a scorching opinion clocking in at more than three times the length of the majority’s.
“The inevitable result of the court’s decision today will be that many thousands of Wisconsin citizens will lose their right to vote despite doing everything they reasonably can to exercise it,” wrote Rovner, a George H.W. Bush appointee. “This is a travesty.”
She took particular aim at the majority’s assertion that the changes would be put into place too near to Election Day, and that the plaintiffs had had all pandemic long to wrangle the changes into place.
“The Covid-19 pandemic is no longer new but neither is it a static phenomenon; infection rates have ebbed and surged in multiple waves around the country and it is only now that Wisconsin is facing crisis-level conditions,” she wrote.
Crisis-level is no exaggeration. Wisconsin has become a raging hotspot, its cases jumping by 50 percent in the past two weeks, with 33,403 new infections. Governor Tony Evers (D) has been forced to activate a field hospital at fairgrounds near Milwaukee, as the state’s hospital system has been pushed to the brink of collapse from the influx in cases. The number of patients hospitalized currently — 873, according to the COVID Tracking Project — is the highest Wisconsin has seen during the whole pandemic.
Experts have attributed the spike to the reopening of K-12 schools, and lack of adherence to best practices like mask-wearing. Evers, while trying to fend off challenges from the Republican legislature, has enacted through his health secretary a ban on indoor gatherings of more than 10 people.
Nothing in the case law, Rovner argued, “forecloses modifications of the kind the district court ordered in the worsening circumstances that confront Wisconsin as the election draws nigh.”
“We cannot turn a blind eye to the present circumstances and treat this as an ordinary election,” she concluded. “Nor can we blindly defer to a state legislature that sits on its hands while a pandemic rages.”
“Good luck and G-d bless, Wisconsin. You are going to need it.”
Read the decision here:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-08--MI Guv Whitmer Ties Trump’s Rhetoric To Right-Wing Plot To Kidnap Her

In Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer ’ s first public remarks about the kidnapping plot revealed Thursday against her , she went after President Trump for refusing to condemn white supremacist groups .
“ Hate groups heard the President ’ s words not as a rebuke but as a rallying cry , as a call to action , ” Whitmer said .
More than a dozen people face either federal or state charges for their involvement in the plot .
Members of the alleged conspiracy schemed to kidnap Whitmer at her vacation home in northern Michigan , according to law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thanked the state and federal agents who stopped the plot , while calling the men behind it “ sick and depraved.
” “ I knew this job would be hard , but I ’ ll be honest , I never could have imagined anything like this , ” she said .
According to the details of the scheme revealed by law enforcement , the men allegedly involved surveilled Whitmer ’ s home , purchased equipment and tested explosive devices as part of their planning .
The alleged ringleader of the operation , Adam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a right-wing militia group known as the Wolverine Watchmen , according to federal law enforcement .
He appeared motivated by the governor ’ s COVID-19 public health efforts , including her lockdown of gyms , according to court filings , which quoted a Facebook video in which Fox called Whitmer a “ tyrant bitch.
” Another person alleged to be involved in the plot , Daniel Harris , suggested in an encrypted group chat that they “ Have one person go to her house .
Knock on the door and when she answers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at this point .
Fuck it.
” In her press conference Thursday , Whitmer did not spend much time commenting on the details of the alleged scheme itself , and instead focused her remarks to the sacrifices that her state has had to make in the COVID-19 crisis .
“ This should be a moment for national unity where we all pull together as Americans to meet this challenge head on with the same might and muscle that put a man on the moon , ” Whitmer said , as she pivoted towards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instead our head of state has spent the last seven months denying science , ignoring his own health experts , stoking distrust , fomenting anger , and giving comfort to those who spread fear and hatred and division , ” she said .
She brought up last week ’ s presidential debate , where Trump repeatedly had to be asked to condemn white supremacists groups until he finally said that those groups should “ stand back and stand by.
” “ When our leaders speak , their words matter , they carry weight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our leaders meet with , encourage or fraternize with domestic terrorists , they legitimize their actions and they are complicit .
When they stoke and contribute to hate speech , they are complicit.
” In a statement to the Detroit Free Press , White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany responded by Whitmer ’ s remarks in a statement claiming Trump has “ continually condemned white supremacists and all forms of hate.
” “ Governor Whitmer is sowing division by making these outlandish allegations , ” McEnany said .
“ America stands united against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement who stopped this plot.
” Update : This story has been updated to included a statement from White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany .

In Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s first public remarks about the kidnapping plot revealed Thursday against her, she went after President Trump for refusing to condemn white supremacist groups.
“Hate groups heard the President’s words not as a rebuke but as a rallying cry, as a call to action,” Whitmer said.
More than a dozen people face either federal or state charges for their involvement in the plot. Members of the alleged conspiracy schemed to kidnap Whitmer at her vacation home in northern Michigan, according to law enforcement officials.
In her remarks, Whitmer thanked the state and federal agents who stopped the plot, while calling the men behind it “sick and depraved.”
“I knew this job would be hard, but I’ll be honest, I never could have imagined anything like this,” she said.
According to the details of the scheme revealed by law enforcement, the men allegedly involved surveilled Whitmer’s home, purchased equipment and tested explosive devices as part of their planning.
The alleged ringleader of the operation, Adam Fox allegedly sought to recruit members of a right-wing militia group known as the Wolverine Watchmen, according to federal law enforcement.
He appeared motivated by the governor’s COVID-19 public health efforts, including her lockdown of gyms, according to court filings, which quoted a Facebook video in which Fox called Whitmer a “tyrant bitch.”
Another person alleged to be involved in the plot, Daniel Harris, suggested in an encrypted group chat that they “Have one person go to her house. Knock on the door and when she answers it just cap her . . . at this point. Fuck it.”
In her press conference Thursday, Whitmer did not spend much time commenting on the details of the alleged scheme itself, and instead focused her remarks to the sacrifices that her state has had to make in the COVID-19 crisis.
“This should be a moment for national unity where we all pull together as Americans to meet this challenge head on with the same might and muscle that put a man on the moon,” Whitmer said, as she pivoted towards her criticisms of the President.
“Instead our head of state has spent the last seven months denying science, ignoring his own health experts, stoking distrust, fomenting anger, and giving comfort to those who spread fear and hatred and division,” she said.
She brought up last week’s presidential debate, where Trump repeatedly had to be asked to condemn white supremacists groups until he finally said that those groups should “stand back and stand by.”
“When our leaders speak, their words matter, they carry weight,” Whitmer said. “When our leaders meet with, encourage or fraternize with domestic terrorists, they legitimize their actions and they are complicit. When they stoke and contribute to hate speech, they are complicit.”
In a statement to the Detroit Free Press, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany responded by Whitmer’s remarks in a statement claiming Trump has “continually condemned white supremacists and all forms of hate.”
“Governor Whitmer is sowing division by making these outlandish allegations,” McEnany said. “America stands united against hate and in support of our federal law enforcement who stopped this plot.”
Update: This story has been updated to included a statement from White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-08--WATCH LIVE: Michigan Governor Addresses Foiled Alleged Militia Plot

Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ( Michigan Office of the Governor via AP , Pool )

The California State Bar is arguing that recent criminal charges against John Eastman in Fulton County, Georgia should not prevent…


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-08--Trump Fundraiser Elliott Broidy Charged In Alleged Foreign Lobbying Plot

D.C. federal prosecutors charged high-flying GOP fundraiser Elliott Broidy on Thursday over a wide-ranging foreign lobbying scheme , alleging that the 2016 Trump campaign fundraiser conspired to illegally lobby the U.S. government on behalf of a staggering array of foreign interests .
Broidy allegedly lobbied the Justice Department to drop its investigation of a massive Malaysian corruption scheme that involved bankers at Goldman Sachs , and also pushed the Trump administration to extradite an exiled Chinese billionaire living in Manhattan who had become bothersome to Beijing .
Prosecutors typically charge people via a criminal information when the defendant is expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported last month that Broidy was in plea talks .
Though the case was brought in D.C. , it is being prosecuted by the Public Integrity Section at the DOJ ’ s main office .
The charging document says that Broidy had direct access to President Trump , alleging that he used his high-level contacts “ to orchestrate back-channel , unregistered campaigns to lobby the Administration and DOJ.
” Broidy served as a deputy finance chairman at the RNC starting in April 2017 , months after President Trump ’ s victory and shortly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the the GOP financier was a vice chair .
RNC Finance Chair Steve Wynn named Broidy to that position along with Michael Cohen and Louis DeJoy , according to a since-removed press release .
Prosecutors say that Broidy quickly leveraged that access for what they describe as a series of secret foreign lobbying campaigns .
In March 2017 , the document reads , Broidy agreed to take an $ 8 million retainer to lobby the DOJ to bring the 1MDB probe to an end .
By April , Broidy allegedly took another $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exchange for “ traveling to Bangkok.
” At a May meeting in the Thai capital with the client , prosecutors say , Broidy also discussed a potential lobbying campaign to have exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui deported from the U.S. Broidy allegedly enlisted a coterie of Trumpworld figures to help in his efforts .
That , prosecutors say , included Rick Gates , who received “ $ 25,000 per month for advice and guidance with respect to navigating the administration.
” Much of the initial phases of Broidy ’ s lobbying campaign focused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and the Malaysian prime minister .
At one point in July 2017 , prosecutors say , “ Broidy emailed a high-level official from the National Security Council in an attempt to arrange a golf game ” between the two leaders .
The golf outing never took place .
But , prosecutors say , Broidy did manage to secure a meeting with President Trump in October 2017 , during which he did not bring up anything to do with the 1MDB investigation , but after which he allegedly lied to his associates that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was happening , prosecutors say , Broidy was cultivating another lucrative line of business : working for a Chinese minister to have Guo deported .
Broidy allegedly went to mainland China in May 2017 to meet with the high-ranking Chinese government official , before agreeing to help the minister set up contacts in D.C. with American government officials and to push for Guo ’ s extradition .
Former Trump campaign manager Stephen K. Bannon was arrested in August on Guo ’ s yacht on completely unrelated charges .
Since 2017 , Guo has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Chinese government , claiming to have evidence of corruption in its highest ranks and releasing documents to that end on his social media accounts .
The charging document suggests that Broidy tried to enlist GOP megadonor and casino magnate Steve Wynn into his campaign to have Guo extradited .
Guo ’ s U.S. visa was up for renewal between June and July 2017 .
Prosecutors say that Broidy attempted to use this as an opportunity to have the visa denied , and allegedly told Wynn ’ s spouse that Guo “ must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fly list…This order would need to come from the very top as [ Guo ] is well connected with former FBI who are on his private security detail.
” Broidy allegedly added in the message that Chinese President Xi Jinping had told President Trump during a meeting at Mar-a-Lago that he wanted Guo returned .
It ’ s not clear whether Broidy will cooperate with prosecutors pursuant to any plea agreement , or whether the investigation remains ongoing .

D.C. federal prosecutors charged high-flying GOP fundraiser Elliott Broidy on Thursday over a wide-ranging foreign lobbying scheme, alleging that the 2016 Trump campaign fundraiser conspired to illegally lobby the U.S. government on behalf of a staggering array of foreign interests.
Broidy allegedly lobbied the Justice Department to drop its investigation of a massive Malaysian corruption scheme that involved bankers at Goldman Sachs, and also pushed the Trump administration to extradite an exiled Chinese billionaire living in Manhattan who had become bothersome to Beijing.
Prosecutors typically charge people via a criminal information when the defendant is expected to plead guilty. The Washington Post reported last month that Broidy was in plea talks. Though the case was brought in D.C., it is being prosecuted by the Public Integrity Section at the DOJ’s main office.
The charging document says that Broidy had direct access to President Trump, alleging that he used his high-level contacts “to orchestrate back-channel, unregistered campaigns to lobby the Administration and DOJ.”
Broidy served as a deputy finance chairman at the RNC starting in April 2017, months after President Trump’s victory and shortly after President Trump inaugural, for which the the GOP financier was a vice chair.
RNC Finance Chair Steve Wynn named Broidy to that position along with Michael Cohen and Louis DeJoy, according to a since-removed press release.
Prosecutors say that Broidy quickly leveraged that access for what they describe as a series of secret foreign lobbying campaigns. In March 2017, the document reads, Broidy agreed to take an $8 million retainer to lobby the DOJ to bring the 1MDB probe to an end.
By April, Broidy allegedly took another $1 million payment from his client in exchange for “traveling to Bangkok.” At a May meeting in the Thai capital with the client, prosecutors say, Broidy also discussed a potential lobbying campaign to have exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui deported from the U.S.
Broidy allegedly enlisted a coterie of Trumpworld figures to help in his efforts.
That, prosecutors say, included Rick Gates, who received “$25,000 per month for advice and guidance with respect to navigating the administration.”
Much of the initial phases of Broidy’s lobbying campaign focused on building a personal relationship between President Trump and the Malaysian prime minister. At one point in July 2017, prosecutors say, “Broidy emailed a high-level official from the National Security Council in an attempt to arrange a golf game” between the two leaders.
The golf outing never took place. But, prosecutors say, Broidy did manage to secure a meeting with President Trump in October 2017, during which he did not bring up anything to do with the 1MDB investigation, but after which he allegedly lied to his associates that he had.
As all of this was happening, prosecutors say, Broidy was cultivating another lucrative line of business: working for a Chinese minister to have Guo deported.
Broidy allegedly went to mainland China in May 2017 to meet with the high-ranking Chinese government official, before agreeing to help the minister set up contacts in D.C. with American government officials and to push for Guo’s extradition.
Former Trump campaign manager Stephen K. Bannon was arrested in August on Guo’s yacht on completely unrelated charges. Since 2017, Guo has been waging a public media campaign against the Chinese government, claiming to have evidence of corruption in its highest ranks and releasing documents to that end on his social media accounts.
The charging document suggests that Broidy tried to enlist GOP megadonor and casino magnate Steve Wynn into his campaign to have Guo extradited.
Guo’s U.S. visa was up for renewal between June and July 2017. Prosecutors say that Broidy attempted to use this as an opportunity to have the visa denied, and allegedly told Wynn’s spouse that Guo “must also be placed on the DHS no fly list…This order would need to come from the very top as [Guo] is well connected with former FBI who are on his private security detail.”
Broidy allegedly added in the message that Chinese President Xi Jinping had told President Trump during a meeting at Mar-a-Lago that he wanted Guo returned.
It’s not clear whether Broidy will cooperate with prosecutors pursuant to any plea agreement, or whether the investigation remains ongoing.
Read the criminal information here:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-08--Donald ‘Law And Order’ Trump Keeps Blaming Cops And Soldiers For Giving Him COVID

President Donald Trump has now blamed police officers , soldiers and Gold Star families for infecting him and aide Hope Hicks with COVID-19 .
“ Sometimes , I ’ d be in groups of , for instance , Gold Star families .
I met with Gold Star families .
I didn ’ t want to cancel that , ” he told Fox Business ’ Maria Bartiromo on Thursday .
“ But they all came in , and they all talk about their son and daughter and father .
And , you know , they all came up to me , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ They want to hug me , and they want to kiss me .
And they do , ” he added .
“ And , frankly , I ’ m not telling them to back up .
I ’ m not doing it.
” Trump and first lady Melania Trump attended a fundraiser with Gold Star families on Sunday .
Notably , Trump does not allow for the possibility that he could have been the one infecting the families , which could have happened if he caught the virus from RNC chairwoman Ronna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garden Supreme Court announcement-turned-super spreader event on Saturday .
Trump again turned to the military as likely vectors of the disease last week , in the hours after Hicks ’ positive diagnosis broke .
“ But it ’ s very , very hard when you are with people from the military or law enforcement , and they come over to you , and they want to hug you .
And they want to kiss you , because we really have done a good job for them , ” Trump said .
“ And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” It ’ s still unclear exactly when Trump was infected , and the timeline is hard to nail down due to the White House ’ s refusal to clarify when Trump first exhibited symptoms and when he last tested negative .
Hicks reportedly fell ill Wednesday night , but , per the White House ’ s timeline , Trump was not tested until Thursday evening .
That time lapse seems even more egregious given that White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said he knew about her positive test Thursday afternoon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a fundraiser in Bedminster , New Jersey .

President Donald Trump has now blamed police officers, soldiers and Gold Star families for infecting him and aide Hope Hicks with COVID-19.
“Sometimes, I’d be in groups of, for instance, Gold Star families. I met with Gold Star families. I didn’t want to cancel that,” he told Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo on Thursday. “But they all came in, and they all talk about their son and daughter and father. And, you know, they all came up to me, and they tell me a story.”
“They want to hug me, and they want to kiss me. And they do,” he added. “And, frankly, I’m not telling them to back up. I’m not doing it.”
Trump hypothesizing that Gold Star families gave him COVID pic.twitter.com/yQzqZWCN6X — TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) October 8, 2020
Trump and first lady Melania Trump attended a fundraiser with Gold Star families on Sunday. Notably, Trump does not allow for the possibility that he could have been the one infecting the families, which could have happened if he caught the virus from RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel on Friday or at the Rose Garden Supreme Court announcement-turned-super spreader event on Saturday.
Trump again turned to the military as likely vectors of the disease last week, in the hours after Hicks’ positive diagnosis broke.
“But it’s very, very hard when you are with people from the military or law enforcement, and they come over to you, and they want to hug you. And they want to kiss you, because we really have done a good job for them,” Trump said. “And you get close, and things happen.”
It’s still unclear exactly when Trump was infected, and the timeline is hard to nail down due to the White House’s refusal to clarify when Trump first exhibited symptoms and when he last tested negative. Hicks reportedly fell ill Wednesday night, but, per the White House’s timeline, Trump was not tested until Thursday evening. That time lapse seems even more egregious given that White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said he knew about her positive test Thursday afternoon, as Trump and his entourage were headed to a fundraiser in Bedminster, New Jersey.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-08--Judge Sets $100,000 Bail For Hoaxsters Facing Charges For Bogus Vote-By-Mail Robocalls

A duo of far-right fringe hoaxsters each face a $ 100,000 bond related to voter intimidation charges brought by the Michigan Attorney General .
Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl — who have been caught up in comically bogus plots to go after President Trump ’ s foes in the past — were accused last week of being behind robocalls that made false and racially-charged claims about mail-in voting .
They turned themselves in Thursday morning , and at a bail hearing a lawyer from Attorney General ’ s Dana Nessel ’ s office said that her investigation had turned up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Wohl to the robocalls .
An attorney for Burkman , meanwhile , accused Nessel , without irony , of engaging in a “ political stunt ” by bringing the charges .
The AG ’ s office asked a magistrate judge to impose $ 1 million bond , which they said was needed to deter Wohl and Burkman from continuing to engage in schemes aimed at illegally interfering in the election .
“ It ’ s the protection of the public that we are most concerned about — the protection and the integrity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfair tactics to try to affect the outcome of the election , ” Bill Cunningham , an assistant attorney general , told the court .
Cunningham said that Wohl and Burkman , when showing up to turn themselves in , brandished $ 100 bills and had a film crew in tow .
“ These are gentlemen that make a mockery of our system of justice , ” Cunningham said .
In addition to the $ 100,000 bond , the judge also imposed as a condition of their release a ban on them engaging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the day after the election .
Nessel ’ s office announced her investigation into the robocalls in August .
The calls told recipients that voting by mail would put them in databases for debt collection , arrest warrants and mandatory vaccines .
The calls went out to more than 11,000 people in the Detroit area , Nessell ’ s office said , and attorneys general in several other states told Nessel that similar calls had been reported their jurisdictions , as well .
At the bond hearing , Burkman ’ s lawyer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat to voters the robocalls imposed .
“ This is not involving threats in front of a voting booth or anything like that , ” Grabel said .
“ This was not about deterring voting .
The message was about concerns about mail in voting only.
” He said that Nessel ’ s request for a cash bond was a “ publicity stunt ” that was “ insulting ” to the judge ’ s intelligence .
“ Is your attorney general going to go on Rachel Maddow again for her political point ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ broad strokes , Cunningham walked the judge through the evidence he said his office had obtained linking Wohl and Burkman to the scheme .
Search warrants linked the calls to Burkman ’ s phone number , and produced records showing Wohl ’ s involvement , Cunningham said .
Cunnigham said that through records from a third party robocall delivery company and from live witness testimony , his office had learned that Burkman put out the message .
“ We learned also that Mr. Wohl participated in this through his email , uploading the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cunningham said .
Wohl and Burkman will proceed through next stage of the case separately , with each scheduled for a Oct. 15 probable cause conference in front of different judges .

A duo of far-right fringe hoaxsters each face a $100,000 bond related to voter intimidation charges brought by the Michigan Attorney General. Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl — who have been caught up in comically bogus plots to go after President Trump’s foes in the past — were accused last week of being behind robocalls that made false and racially-charged claims about mail-in voting.
They turned themselves in Thursday morning, and at a bail hearing a lawyer from Attorney General’s Dana Nessel’s office said that her investigation had turned up both records and witness testimony connecting Burkman and Wohl to the robocalls.
An attorney for Burkman, meanwhile, accused Nessel, without irony, of engaging in a “political stunt” by bringing the charges.
The AG’s office asked a magistrate judge to impose $1 million bond, which they said was needed to deter Wohl and Burkman from continuing to engage in schemes aimed at illegally interfering in the election.
“It’s the protection of the public that we are most concerned about — the protection and the integrity of the election process, and using unfair tactics to try to affect the outcome of the election,” Bill Cunningham, an assistant attorney general, told the court.
Cunningham said that Wohl and Burkman, when showing up to turn themselves in, brandished $100 bills and had a film crew in tow.
“These are gentlemen that make a mockery of our system of justice,” Cunningham said.
In addition to the $100,000 bond, the judge also imposed as a condition of their release a ban on them engaging in robocalls between now and Nov. 4, the day after the election.
Nessel’s office announced her investigation into the robocalls in August. The calls told recipients that voting by mail would put them in databases for debt collection, arrest warrants and mandatory vaccines. The calls went out to more than 11,000 people in the Detroit area, Nessell’s office said, and attorneys general in several other states told Nessel that similar calls had been reported their jurisdictions, as well.
At the bond hearing, Burkman’s lawyer, Scott Grabel, played down the threat to voters the robocalls imposed.
“This is not involving threats in front of a voting booth or anything like that,” Grabel said. “This was not about deterring voting. The message was about concerns about mail in voting only.”
He said that Nessel’s request for a cash bond was a “publicity stunt” that was “insulting” to the judge’s intelligence.
“Is your attorney general going to go on Rachel Maddow again for her political point?” Grabel shot at Cunnigham.
In broad strokes, Cunningham walked the judge through the evidence he said his office had obtained linking Wohl and Burkman to the scheme.
Search warrants linked the calls to Burkman’s phone number, and produced records showing Wohl’s involvement, Cunningham said.
Cunnigham said that through records from a third party robocall delivery company and from live witness testimony, his office had learned that Burkman put out the message.
“We learned also that Mr. Wohl participated in this through his email, uploading the message…so it could go out,” Cunningham said.
Wohl and Burkman will proceed through next stage of the case separately, with each scheduled for a Oct. 15 probable cause conference in front of different judges.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-08--BREAKING: Feds Thwart Alleged Militia Plot To Kidnap Michigan Governor

The FBI intervened in an alleged militia plot to kidnap Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ( D ) , according to court records and remarks by federal and state officials Thursday .
Six men face federal charges and seven others face state charges in connection with the plot , authorities said Thursday .
All of them are in custody .
The plot allegedly included surveillance of Whitmer ’ s vacation home and construction of an improvised explosive device using a firework .
In July , one of the alleged kidnapping plotters , Adam Fox , described the plan as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI informant , according to an affidavit filed in federal court .
“ Grab the fuckin ’ governor , ” he allegedly said .
“ Just grab the bitch .
Because at that point , we do that , dude — it ’ s over.
” A militia group referenced in the federal charges is the “ Wolverine Watchmen , ” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said at a press conference Thursday .
Nessel announced a slew of separate state charges against seven defendants not named in the federal case who appear to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Several members talked about murdering ‘ tyrants ’ or ‘ taking ’ a sitting governor , ” one FBI agent alleged in the affidavit .
“ The group decided they needed to increase their numbers and encouraged each other to talk to their neighbors and spread their message.
” The Detroit News first reported on the FBI bust .
The News and WXYZ , in another report , tied the alleged plot to a raid carried out by the FBI and Michigan State Police on a home in Hartland overnight .
“ All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public to know that federal and state law enforcement are committed to working together to make sure violent extremists never succeed with their plans , particularly when they target our duly elected leaders , ” Andrew Birge , the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan , said at a press conference Thursday .
Six men were accused by federal law enforcement of conspiring to kidnap Whitmer : Fox , Barry Croft , Ty Garbin , Kaleb Franks , Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta .
All except Croft are from Michigan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Delaware .
Whitmer , who said in televised remarks Thursday that she considered President Donald Trump “ complicit , ” separately told the Detroit Free Press that she ’ d known about the alleged plot for several weeks .
At a June 2020 meeting in Ohio , according to the FBI affidavit , Croft , Fox and others discussed governments that they believed “ were violating the U.S. Constitution , ” including Michigan ’ s .
They agreed to “ increase their numbers , ” per the affidavit , and at that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the militia .
By that point , according to the affidavit , the group had already come to the attention of local law enforcement and the FBI for allegedly “ attempting to obtain the addresses of local law-enforcement officers.
” Croft and Fox met with the militia group throughout June , according to the affidavit , including with Garbin , a leader in the group , at a Second Amendment rally on June 18 .
It was there that Fox told Garbin and a confidential human source that “ he planned to attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces , ” the affidavit alleged .
The eventual plot to kidnap the governor included months of planning and alleged surveillance trips to Whitmer ’ s vacation home , the location of which is not revealed in the court documents .
In early August , Harris allegedly texted others with a straightforward proposal : ‘ “ Have one person go to her house .
Knock on the door and when she answers it just cap her .
.
.
at this point .
Fuck it.
” “ I mean .
.
.
fuck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and act like a passers-by and fixing dome her then yourself whoever does it , ” he added .
Later , during an Aug. 29 surveillance trip , Fox allegedly said he was willing to kill law enforcement who responded to an incident at the vacation home .
“ We ain ’ t gon na let ‘ em burn our fuckin ’ state down , ” he said , per the affidavit .
“ I don ’ t give a fuck if there ’ s only 20 or 30 of us , dude @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and use deadly force.
” The group began finalizing plans to kidnap the governor in September , according to the affidavit .
Fox claimed to an FBI informant that he ’ d purchased an 800,000-volt taser .
Fox also allegedly examined the underside of a Michigan state highway bridge , law enforcement said , for the purposes of placing an explosive .
The group even detonated an improvised explosive device wrapped in shrapnel to test its “ anti-personnel capabilities , ” Birge said .
Fox , Garbin , Harris and Franks planned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unbeknownst to them , was an undercover law enforcement officer , to make a payment on explosives and exchange tactical gear , according to the affidavit .
That is when law enforcement stepped in .
The seven defendants facing state charges are also in custody , Nessel said .
“ The individuals in custody are suspected to have attempted to identify the home addresses of law enforcement officers in order to target them , made threats of violence intended to instigate a civil war , and engaged in planning and training for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan and kidnap government officials , including the governor of Michigan , ” she said .
Discussing the investigation Thursday , Birge said that the group used encrypted communications and codewords to avoid detection .
On two occasions , members of the alleged conspiracy surveilled Whitmer ’ s vacation home and plotted to use explosives to divert police from the area , Birge said .
Or as Garbin allegedly put it in a text message to his co-conspirators , referring to potential to delay a police response if a nearby bridge was destroyed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it also ❌ the 🌊.
” This post has been updated .

The FBI intervened in an alleged militia plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), according to court records and remarks by federal and state officials Thursday. Six men face federal charges and seven others face state charges in connection with the plot, authorities said Thursday. All of them are in custody.
The plot allegedly included surveillance of Whitmer’s vacation home and construction of an improvised explosive device using a firework.
In July, one of the alleged kidnapping plotters, Adam Fox, described the plan as a “snatch and grab” to an FBI informant, according to an affidavit filed in federal court.
“Grab the fuckin’ governor,” he allegedly said. “Just grab the bitch. Because at that point, we do that, dude — it’s over.”
A militia group referenced in the federal charges is the “Wolverine Watchmen,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said at a press conference Thursday.
Nessel announced a slew of separate state charges against seven defendants not named in the federal case who appear to be connected to Wolverine Watchmen.
“Several members talked about murdering ‘tyrants’ or ‘taking’ a sitting governor,” one FBI agent alleged in the affidavit. “The group decided they needed to increase their numbers and encouraged each other to talk to their neighbors and spread their message.”
The Detroit News first reported on the FBI bust. The News and WXYZ, in another report, tied the alleged plot to a raid carried out by the FBI and Michigan State Police on a home in Hartland overnight.
“All of us standing here today want the public to know that federal and state law enforcement are committed to working together to make sure violent extremists never succeed with their plans, particularly when they target our duly elected leaders,” Andrew Birge, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, said at a press conference Thursday.
Six men were accused by federal law enforcement of conspiring to kidnap Whitmer: Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta. All except Croft are from Michigan, according to the affidavit. Croft is from Delaware.
Whitmer, who said in televised remarks Thursday that she considered President Donald Trump “complicit,” separately told the Detroit Free Press that she’d known about the alleged plot for several weeks.
At a June 2020 meeting in Ohio, according to the FBI affidavit, Croft, Fox and others discussed governments that they believed “were violating the U.S. Constitution,” including Michigan’s. They agreed to “increase their numbers,” per the affidavit, and at that point, Fox allegedly reached out to the militia.
By that point, according to the affidavit, the group had already come to the attention of local law enforcement and the FBI for allegedly “attempting to obtain the addresses of local law-enforcement officers.”
Croft and Fox met with the militia group throughout June, according to the affidavit, including with Garbin, a leader in the group, at a Second Amendment rally on June 18.
It was there that Fox told Garbin and a confidential human source that “he planned to attack the Capitol and asked them to combine forces,” the affidavit alleged.
The eventual plot to kidnap the governor included months of planning and alleged surveillance trips to Whitmer’s vacation home, the location of which is not revealed in the court documents.
In early August, Harris allegedly texted others with a straightforward proposal: ‘“Have one person go to her house. Knock on the door and when she answers it just cap her . . . at this point. Fuck it.”
“I mean . . . fuck, catch her walking into the building and act like a passers-by and fixing dome her then yourself whoever does it,” he added.
Later, during an Aug. 29 surveillance trip, Fox allegedly said he was willing to kill law enforcement who responded to an incident at the vacation home.
“We ain’t gonna let ‘em burn our fuckin’ state down,” he said, per the affidavit. “I don’t give a fuck if there’s only 20 or 30 of us, dude, we’ll go out there and use deadly force.”
The group began finalizing plans to kidnap the governor in September, according to the affidavit. Fox claimed to an FBI informant that he’d purchased an 800,000-volt taser.
Fox also allegedly examined the underside of a Michigan state highway bridge, law enforcement said, for the purposes of placing an explosive.
The group even detonated an improvised explosive device wrapped in shrapnel to test its “anti-personnel capabilities,” Birge said.
Fox, Garbin, Harris and Franks planned to meet on Wednesday with someone who, unbeknownst to them, was an undercover law enforcement officer, to make a payment on explosives and exchange tactical gear, according to the affidavit. That is when law enforcement stepped in.
The seven defendants facing state charges are also in custody, Nessel said.
“The individuals in custody are suspected to have attempted to identify the home addresses of law enforcement officers in order to target them, made threats of violence intended to instigate a civil war, and engaged in planning and training for an operation to attack the capitol building of Michigan and kidnap government officials, including the governor of Michigan,” she said.
Discussing the investigation Thursday, Birge said that the group used encrypted communications and codewords to avoid detection. On two occasions, members of the alleged conspiracy surveilled Whitmer’s vacation home and plotted to use explosives to divert police from the area, Birge said.
Or as Garbin allegedly put it in a text message to his co-conspirators, referring to potential to delay a police response if a nearby bridge was destroyed, “If the ? go ?, it also ❌ the ?.”
Read the affidavit below:
This post has been updated.