newsweek--2020-11-20--Kelly Loeffler Tells Ilhan Omar She Should Be 'Expelled From Congress' After Minnesota Rep. Defends

Kelly Loeffler Tells Ilhan Omar She Should Be 'Expelled From Congress' After Minnesota Rep. Defends Raphael Warnock

Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler told Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar she should be `` expelled from Congress '' on Friday after Omar defended Loeffler 's Democratic opponent , Rev .
Raphael Warnock .
Loeffler initially tweeted that `` The Squad '' —composed of Reps. Omar , Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York , Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan—supports Warnock and included a link to an article in the Washington Free Beacon , which reported that Omar defended Warnock 's remarks that `` nobody can serve God and the military . ''
`` It 's no wonder The Squad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supports their dangerous & extreme agenda , '' Loeffler tweeted .
`` And @ IlhanMN completely agrees with his disgraceful comments about our active service members , veterans , and their families . ''
Warnock 's remarks over military and religion were made during a 2011 sermon he gave that paraphrased Bible verse Matthew 6:24 , which says , `` No one can serve two masters . ''
`` America , nobody can serve God and the military , '' he said .
`` You ca n't serve God and money .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same time .
America , choose ye this day who you will serve . ''
The sermon resurfaced on social media following the announcement that the Georgia special election race between Warnock and Loeffler would be headed to runoffs on January 5 .
Loeffler and other GOP lawmakers , including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Georgia Rep. Doug Collins , immediately blasted Warnock on Twitter over his comments .
In response to Rubio 's criticism on Wednesday , Omar tweeted : `` The lies and smears of the GOP have no boundaries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shameful . ''
Following Loeffler 's Friday tweet , Omar fired back at the senator , calling her tweet `` blatant lies '' and warning that going against `` the Squad '' is n't going to help her chances to win re-election come January .
`` Blatant lies from the disastrous , insider trading , Qanon conspiracy supporting , fear-mongering , appointed Kelly , '' Omar wrote .
`` Pro tip : to win an election you run on ideas , debate your actual opponent and defend your record , not run against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ f # % d around and found out . ''
Omar was referencing a previous investigation into Loeffler , as well as several other members of Congress , by the Department of Justice in March following the novel coronavirus outbreak .
Loeffler , who is married to an investment professional , was accused of insider trading after certain stock trades were made ahead of the market crash caused by the pandemic .
The investigation was based on confidential briefings that Loeffler received , including a Senate Health Committee briefing about the coronavirus in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation in May , and Loeffler said she had been `` exonerated , '' according to the Wall Street Journal .
During her campaign , Loeffler also touted the support of then-congressional candidate Marjorie Taylor Greene , who has since been elected as the representative of Georgia 's 14th congressional district and who has publicly supported baseless Q-Anon conspiracy theories .
When asked about the Q-Anon controversy while on the campaign trail alongside Greene , Loeffler told reporters , `` No one in Georgia cares about this QAnon business , this is something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to bring up and ignore Antifa . ''
On Friday , Loeffler responded to Omar with a similar laundry list of accusations , including that the Muslim congresswoman is anti-Semitic .
`` Ilhan , we saw the video of you smiling and laughing while talking about al-Qaeda & 9/11 , '' Loeffler tweeted .
`` We know that you funneled MILLIONS of dollars to your new husband 's 'consulting ' firm .
And we know that you 're an unabashed anti-Semite . ''
`` You should be expelled from Congress , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2013 interview on a local PBS television show about Middle Eastern community issues resurfaced online that showed the Democratic congresswoman—then a community activist—speaking about Al Qaeda and the language people use to describe terrorist groups .
Her remarks were immediately criticized by Republicans , including President Donald Trump , who accused her of saying `` how great Al Qaeda is . ''
In the interview , Omar went on to call the acts committed by Al Qaeda and Al Shabab `` evil '' and `` atrocities , '' among other comments condemning the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ married her political consultant , Tim Mynett , which triggered complaints from conservative groups to the Federal Election Commission , alleging that campaign funds had paid for Mynett 's personal travel .
Although she assured supporters that Mynett `` received no profit whatsoever '' from the campaign funds , Omar reported this week that her campaign will no longer be doing business with her husband 's firm , according to the Star Tribune .
`` Kelly , I just won my re-election and you [ sic ] about to lose your job , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Maybe , just maybe you should n't have profited from the pandemic while your constituents needed you to inform and fight for them .
Sorry , none of this noise will drown the sound of defeat . ''
Greene inserted herself into the Twitter exchange Friday afternoon , telling Omar to `` back down '' and repeated unproven allegations that Omar previously married her brother , which the congresswoman has denied .
`` Looks like the crazy lady has logged on , '' Omar tweeted .
`` I know things might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but you have to get off the looney train now that you are in Congress . ''
Georgia notably flipped for Democrats in the presidential election , with the Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger officially certifying the results on Friday following a hand recount of the 5 million ballots cast in the state .
Both senate races , including the hotly contested race between GOP Sen. David Perdue and Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff , headed to runoffs after neither party in either race could maintain over 50 percent of the votes .

Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler told Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar she should be "expelled from Congress" on Friday after Omar defended Loeffler's Democratic opponent, Rev. Raphael Warnock.
Loeffler initially tweeted that "The Squad"—composed of Reps. Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan—supports Warnock and included a link to an article in the Washington Free Beacon, which reported that Omar defended Warnock's remarks that "nobody can serve God and the military."
"It's no wonder The Squad fully supports @ReverendWarnock: He totally supports their dangerous & extreme agenda," Loeffler tweeted. "And @IlhanMN completely agrees with his disgraceful comments about our active service members, veterans, and their families."
It’s no wonder The Squad fully supports @ReverendWarnock: He totally supports their dangerous & extreme agenda.
And @IlhanMN completely agrees with his disgraceful comments about our active service members, veterans, and their families. https://t.co/bgSkXOR7rg #gapol #gasen — Kelly Loeffler (@KLoeffler) November 20, 2020
Warnock's remarks over military and religion were made during a 2011 sermon he gave that paraphrased Bible verse Matthew 6:24, which says, "No one can serve two masters."
"America, nobody can serve God and the military," he said. "You can't serve God and money. You cannot serve God and mammon at the same time. America, choose ye this day who you will serve."
The sermon resurfaced on social media following the announcement that the Georgia special election race between Warnock and Loeffler would be headed to runoffs on January 5. Loeffler and other GOP lawmakers, including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Georgia Rep. Doug Collins, immediately blasted Warnock on Twitter over his comments.
In response to Rubio's criticism on Wednesday, Omar tweeted: "The lies and smears of the GOP have no boundaries, but this is a disgrace and shameful."
Following Loeffler's Friday tweet, Omar fired back at the senator, calling her tweet "blatant lies" and warning that going against "the Squad" isn't going to help her chances to win re-election come January.
"Blatant lies from the disastrous, insider trading, Qanon conspiracy supporting, fear-mongering, appointed Kelly," Omar wrote. "Pro tip: to win an election you run on ideas, debate your actual opponent and defend your record, not run against the Squad. Ask Trump, he f#%d around and found out."
Blatant lies from the disastrous, insider trading, Qanon conspiracy supporting, fear mongering, appointed Kelly.
Pro tip: to win an election you run on ideas, debate your actual opponent and defend your record, not run against the Squad.
Ask Trump, he f#%d around and found out. https://t.co/12vCGNLxEs — Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) November 20, 2020
Omar was referencing a previous investigation into Loeffler, as well as several other members of Congress, by the Department of Justice in March following the novel coronavirus outbreak. Loeffler, who is married to an investment professional, was accused of insider trading after certain stock trades were made ahead of the market crash caused by the pandemic.
The investigation was based on confidential briefings that Loeffler received, including a Senate Health Committee briefing about the coronavirus in January. The Justice Department closed the investigation in May, and Loeffler said she had been "exonerated," according to the Wall Street Journal.
During her campaign, Loeffler also touted the support of then-congressional candidate Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has since been elected as the representative of Georgia's 14th congressional district and who has publicly supported baseless Q-Anon conspiracy theories.
When asked about the Q-Anon controversy while on the campaign trail alongside Greene, Loeffler told reporters, "No one in Georgia cares about this QAnon business, this is something that the fake news is going to continue to bring up and ignore Antifa."
On Friday, Loeffler responded to Omar with a similar laundry list of accusations, including that the Muslim congresswoman is anti-Semitic.
"Ilhan, we saw the video of you smiling and laughing while talking about al-Qaeda & 9/11," Loeffler tweeted. "We know that you funneled MILLIONS of dollars to your new husband's 'consulting' firm. And we know that you're an unabashed anti-Semite."
"You should be expelled from Congress," she added.
Last year, a 2013 interview on a local PBS television show about Middle Eastern community issues resurfaced online that showed the Democratic congresswoman—then a community activist—speaking about Al Qaeda and the language people use to describe terrorist groups. Her remarks were immediately criticized by Republicans, including President Donald Trump, who accused her of saying "how great Al Qaeda is."
In the interview, Omar went on to call the acts committed by Al Qaeda and Al Shabab "evil" and "atrocities," among other comments condemning the terrorist group.
In March, Omar married her political consultant, Tim Mynett, which triggered complaints from conservative groups to the Federal Election Commission, alleging that campaign funds had paid for Mynett's personal travel. Although she assured supporters that Mynett "received no profit whatsoever" from the campaign funds, Omar reported this week that her campaign will no longer be doing business with her husband's firm, according to the Star Tribune.
"Kelly, I just won my re-election and you [sic] about to lose your job," Omar wrote in response to Loeffler. "Maybe, just maybe you shouldn't have profited from the pandemic while your constituents needed you to inform and fight for them. Sorry, none of this noise will drown the sound of defeat."
Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) attends a Senate GOP lunch meeting in the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill March 20, 2020 in Washington, DC. On Wednesday, Georgia Democrats accused Loeffler of violating Senate Ethics Rules by soliciting for campaign contributions in the halls of Congress. Drew Angerer/Getty
Greene inserted herself into the Twitter exchange Friday afternoon, telling Omar to "back down" and repeated unproven allegations that Omar previously married her brother, which the congresswoman has denied.
"Looks like the crazy lady has logged on," Omar tweeted. "I know things might be different where you come from, but you have to get off the looney train now that you are in Congress."
Georgia notably flipped for Democrats in the presidential election, with the Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger officially certifying the results on Friday following a hand recount of the 5 million ballots cast in the state. Both senate races, including the hotly contested race between GOP Sen. David Perdue and Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff, headed to runoffs after neither party in either race could maintain over 50 percent of the votes.


newsweek--2020-11-20--Iran Says Giuliani Is 'Melting in Every Sense of the Word' After Controversial Press Conference

Iran has issued a criticism of President Donald Trump 's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani , taking aim at both his politics and physical appearance after a controversial press conference in which the former New York City mayor appeared to have a cosmetic malfunction .
Tweeting a picture of Giuliani perspiring a dark colored liquid from the side of his head during his tirade a day earlier , the Iranian Foreign Ministry issued an accompanying statement Friday mocking what observers have since speculated to be some form of hair dye or makeup made to run due to the Republican lawyer profusely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election earlier this month .
`` He is collapsing ( melting ) in every sense of the word , '' the Iranian Foreign Ministry wrote .
Giuliani has led the charge in Trump 's legal battles against the outcome of the recent race , in which vote counts increasingly indicate that the president lost .
During his roughly hour-and-a-half press conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington , Giuliani went on a rant laced with allegations of electoral fraud and international conspiracies , complete with a movie reference , without providing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comments were blasted by a number of mainstream fact checkers , including those at The Washington Post , who called it `` the craziest news conference of the Trump presidency . ''
Giuliani 's close allegiance to Trump has earned him criticism among political opponents in the U.S. To Iranian officials , however , the Republican attorney has been vilified due to his links to the outlawed People 's Mujahedin of Iran insurgent group , also known as Mujahedin-e-Khalq ( MeK ) .
`` The American people are probably surprised to see that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrorist in exchange for big money , but this is not new to Iranians , '' the Iranian Foreign Ministry statement said .
`` For years he 's been a devil advocate , pocketing dollars by whitewashing the despicable crimes of terrorists . ''
MeK was designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. in 1997 but removed in 2012 , a decision for which Giuliani campaigned .
The group has since established a presence in Washington , and Iran has implicated it in a number of attacks and alleged plots against the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. , Israel and Saudi Arabia among other foreign foes .
MeK also played a key role in leaking information purported to expose Iran 's nuclear program as being aimed to produce a nuclear weapon , a claim that Iranian officials to this day deny .
The U.S. and other members of the international community imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic , measures lifted by a landmark 2015 nuclear deal reached by the U.S. , Iran , China , France , Germany , Russia and the United Kingdom .
Trump abandoned the deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Plan of Action ( JCPOA ) two and half years ago , and levied increasingly tight , unilateral economic restrictions on Tehran in an effort to disrupt its trade ties and punish its support for militias abroad .
Tensions have since escalated between the two longtime foes .
The temperature has especially been high in the Persian Gulf and Iraq , where the U.S. killed Revolutionary Guard Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani in January .
Supporting the slaying , Giuliani called Soleimani `` a mass murderer '' and later spoke at a July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Resistance of Iran , where he called for regime change and described the rebel coalition as a `` shadow government '' that would govern the country after the fall of the Islamic Republic .
With much at stake , Iranian officials have expressed to Newsweek their neutrality in the U.S. election , but have since welcomed what they categorize as a popular rejection of Trump 's `` maximum pressure '' campaign , and hope that his projected Democratic successor would reverse course .
President-elect Joe Biden served as vice president during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to a divided Congress .
He has pledged to return to the deal , but said he intends to use it as a platform for talks to address other Iranian activities opposed by the U.S .
Even in what 's likely to be the last two months of his presidency , however , Trump has allegedly considered military options to be directed at the Natanz nuclear facility , according to four current and former unnamed officials cited in a Monday report by The New York Times .
The site was targeted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran alleges may have had external backing , and is since believed to host uranium stockpiles twelve times those permitted by the JCPOA .
Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan , a senior adviser to Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and declared candidate in next year 's presidential elections , responded to the reports of Trump 's consultations , warning of the potential for all-out conflict .
`` A limited , tactical conflict can turn into a full-fledged war , '' Dehghan told the Associated Press in an interview published Friday .
`` Definitely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the world can not stand such a comprehensive crisis . ''
He also asserted that his country 's missiles would not be on the table should the prospective Biden administration seek to negotiate .
While Iran has walked back from certain nuclear deal obligations in light of the U.S. withdrawal and the failure of European nations to normalize trade ties as a result of the subsequent sanctions issued by the Trump administration , the country has vowed to return to compliance with the terms of the agreement should the U.S. and European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The point was reiterated Friday by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh .
`` Following the United States ' withdrawal from the JCPOA and the re-imposition of sanctions , and considering Europe 's continued failure to live up to its commitments ... the Islamic Republic took nuclear steps according to the articles 26 and 36 of the JCPOA , '' Khatibzadeh told a press conference .
`` These steps were taken in full compliance with the JCPOA , and the country has always stressed that they will be reversible once the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in full . ''

Iran has issued a criticism of President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, taking aim at both his politics and physical appearance after a controversial press conference in which the former New York City mayor appeared to have a cosmetic malfunction.
Tweeting a picture of Giuliani perspiring a dark colored liquid from the side of his head during his tirade a day earlier, the Iranian Foreign Ministry issued an accompanying statement Friday mocking what observers have since speculated to be some form of hair dye or makeup made to run due to the Republican lawyer profusely sweating throughout his attack on the U.S. election earlier this month.
"He is collapsing (melting) in every sense of the word," the Iranian Foreign Ministry wrote.
Giuliani has led the charge in Trump's legal battles against the outcome of the recent race, in which vote counts increasingly indicate that the president lost. During his roughly hour-and-a-half press conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, Giuliani went on a rant laced with allegations of electoral fraud and international conspiracies, complete with a movie reference, without providing evidence to back his claims.
His comments were blasted by a number of mainstream fact checkers, including those at The Washington Post, who called it "the craziest news conference of the Trump presidency."
Giuliani's close allegiance to Trump has earned him criticism among political opponents in the U.S. To Iranian officials, however, the Republican attorney has been vilified due to his links to the outlawed People's Mujahedin of Iran insurgent group, also known as Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MeK).
"The American people are probably surprised to see that Giuliani is defending a lying tyrant and terrorist in exchange for big money, but this is not new to Iranians," the Iranian Foreign Ministry statement said. "For years he's been a devil advocate, pocketing dollars by whitewashing the despicable crimes of terrorists."
Rudolph "Rudy" Giuliani, President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, perspires as he speaks during a press conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, DC, on November 19. The former New York City mayor is leading Trump's battle to question the legitimacy of the U.S. election despite the attorney being caught in a series of gaffes, including being caught in an apparently compromising position in the sequel to hidden camera mockumentary film "Borat." MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images
MeK was designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. in 1997 but removed in 2012, a decision for which Giuliani campaigned. The group has since established a presence in Washington, and Iran has implicated it in a number of attacks and alleged plots against the country, claiming it has collaborated with the U.S., Israel and Saudi Arabia among other foreign foes.
MeK also played a key role in leaking information purported to expose Iran's nuclear program as being aimed to produce a nuclear weapon, a claim that Iranian officials to this day deny.
The U.S. and other members of the international community imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic, measures lifted by a landmark 2015 nuclear deal reached by the U.S., Iran, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom. Trump abandoned the deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) two and half years ago, and levied increasingly tight, unilateral economic restrictions on Tehran in an effort to disrupt its trade ties and punish its support for militias abroad.
Tensions have since escalated between the two longtime foes. The temperature has especially been high in the Persian Gulf and Iraq, where the U.S. killed Revolutionary Guard Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani in January.
Supporting the slaying, Giuliani called Soleimani "a mass murderer" and later spoke at a July gathering of the MeK's National Council of Resistance of Iran, where he called for regime change and described the rebel coalition as a "shadow government" that would govern the country after the fall of the Islamic Republic.
With much at stake, Iranian officials have expressed to Newsweek their neutrality in the U.S. election, but have since welcomed what they categorize as a popular rejection of Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign, and hope that his projected Democratic successor would reverse course.
President-elect Joe Biden served as vice president during the agreement's inception and helped to sell it to a divided Congress. He has pledged to return to the deal, but said he intends to use it as a platform for talks to address other Iranian activities opposed by the U.S.
Even in what's likely to be the last two months of his presidency, however, Trump has allegedly considered military options to be directed at the Natanz nuclear facility, according to four current and former unnamed officials cited in a Monday report by The New York Times. The site was targeted in an apparent insider attack in July that Iran alleges may have had external backing, and is since believed to host uranium stockpiles twelve times those permitted by the JCPOA.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaks to the Organization of Iranian American Communities during their march to urge "recognition of the Iranian people's right for regime change," outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York on September 24, 2019. The Republican attorney has appeared at a number of events espousing support for exiled Iranian opposition groups. ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images
Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan, a senior adviser to Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and declared candidate in next year's presidential elections, responded to the reports of Trump's consultations, warning of the potential for all-out conflict.
"A limited, tactical conflict can turn into a full-fledged war," Dehghan told the Associated Press in an interview published Friday. "Definitely, the United States, the region and the world cannot stand such a comprehensive crisis."
He also asserted that his country's missiles would not be on the table should the prospective Biden administration seek to negotiate.
While Iran has walked back from certain nuclear deal obligations in light of the U.S. withdrawal and the failure of European nations to normalize trade ties as a result of the subsequent sanctions issued by the Trump administration, the country has vowed to return to compliance with the terms of the agreement should the U.S. and European parties live up to its JCPOA obligations.
The point was reiterated Friday by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh.
"Following the United States' withdrawal from the JCPOA and the re-imposition of sanctions, and considering Europe's continued failure to live up to its commitments... the Islamic Republic took nuclear steps according to the articles 26 and 36 of the JCPOA," Khatibzadeh told a press conference. "These steps were taken in full compliance with the JCPOA, and the country has always stressed that they will be reversible once the other parties to the JCPOA implement the deal in full."


newsweek--2020-11-20--Georgia Governor Demands 'Complete Explanation' for Voting Discrepancies After Audit

Republican Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said the official certification of President-elect Joe Biden as the winner of the state 's 16 Electoral College votes on Friday `` paves '' the way for President Donald Trump `` to pursue other legal options in a separate recount . ''
Kemp made the remarks during a Friday press conference shortly after the office of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger , also a Republican , announced that the election had been officially certified in Biden 's favor following a full audit .
Kemp said that a court ruling `` now requires the governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while emphasizing that the audit 's discovery of thousands of uncounted votes , which did not change the election outcome , had been `` simply unacceptable . ''
`` The secretary of state oversaw a complete audit , which revealed significant errors made in several counties , including Floyd , Fayette , Douglas and Walton , '' Kemp said .
`` It is important for Georgians to know that the vast majority of local election workers did their job well under unprecedented circumstances . ''
`` However , it 's quite honestly hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of uncounted ballots were found weeks after a razor thin outcome in a presidential election , '' he continued .
Kemp expressed concerns that `` lost memory cards or stacks of uncounted ballots '' could be found in the crucial U.S. Senate runoff elections that are set to take place in the state on January 5 and demanded a `` complete explanation '' of any discrepancies .
In the presidential election audit , votes that had been uncounted due to human error were found in the low thousands for both candidates , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 12,000 votes in the final tally .
Kemp also said he had heard from state residents who are `` extremely concerned '' about signature matching issues on absentee ballots , echoing recent rhetoric from Trump and his campaign .
The president has falsely claimed that a legal settlement in Georgia over absentee ballot signature verification , known as a consent decree , meant that signatures on absentee ballots could not be verified and suspect ballots were being counted .
However , legal experts have disputed the president 's claim and Raffensperger announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots rejected for signature matching issues in 2020 had increased 350 percent over those recorded in the 2018 election , while the rejection rate had remained the same in both elections .
The president has the option of requesting a further recount after certification , which would be done by machine , but it is not clear what other legal options would be available in the wake of Biden being declared the official winner .
Although Trump continues to claim without evidence that fraudulent votes were counted , the audit did not find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the election despite the president 's protests .
`` I 'm a passionate conservative and , as I 've said before , I 'm a proud Trump supporter , '' Raffensperger said during a Friday morning news conference .
`` Like other Republicans , I 'm disappointed that our candidate did n't win Georgia 's Electoral College votes ...
Numbers do n't lie .
As secretary of state , I believe that the numbers that we have presented today are correct . ''
`` The numbers reflect the verdict of the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a decision by the secretary of state 's office , or of courts , or of either campaigns . ''
With legal challenges so far failing to succeed , Trump 's strategy may now center on convincing Republican state legislatures to ignore the will of voters and appoint their own slate of Electoral College electors in his favor .
Republican leaders from Michigan , where Biden 's win is expected to be certified on Monday , were flown out to the White House for a meeting with the president on Friday .
Newsweek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment .

Republican Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said the official certification of President-elect Joe Biden as the winner of the state's 16 Electoral College votes on Friday "paves" the way for President Donald Trump "to pursue other legal options in a separate recount."
Kemp made the remarks during a Friday press conference shortly after the office of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, also a Republican, announced that the election had been officially certified in Biden's favor following a full audit.
Kemp said that a court ruling "now requires the governor's office to formalize the certification" while emphasizing that the audit's discovery of thousands of uncounted votes, which did not change the election outcome, had been "simply unacceptable."
"The secretary of state oversaw a complete audit, which revealed significant errors made in several counties, including Floyd, Fayette, Douglas and Walton," Kemp said. "It is important for Georgians to know that the vast majority of local election workers did their job well under unprecedented circumstances."
"However, it's quite honestly hard to believe that during the audit thousands of uncounted ballots were found weeks after a razor thin outcome in a presidential election," he continued.
Kemp expressed concerns that "lost memory cards or stacks of uncounted ballots" could be found in the crucial U.S. Senate runoff elections that are set to take place in the state on January 5 and demanded a "complete explanation" of any discrepancies.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp speaks during a press conference in Atlanta, Georgia on August 10, 2020. Elijah Nouvelage/Getty
In the presidential election audit, votes that had been uncounted due to human error were found in the low thousands for both candidates, but Biden still won the state by more than 12,000 votes in the final tally.
Kemp also said he had heard from state residents who are "extremely concerned" about signature matching issues on absentee ballots, echoing recent rhetoric from Trump and his campaign.
The president has falsely claimed that a legal settlement in Georgia over absentee ballot signature verification, known as a consent decree, meant that signatures on absentee ballots could not be verified and suspect ballots were being counted.
However, legal experts have disputed the president's claim and Raffensperger announced on Wednesday that the number of absentee ballots rejected for signature matching issues in 2020 had increased 350 percent over those recorded in the 2018 election, while the rejection rate had remained the same in both elections.
The president has the option of requesting a further recount after certification, which would be done by machine, but it is not clear what other legal options would be available in the wake of Biden being declared the official winner.
Although Trump continues to claim without evidence that fraudulent votes were counted, the audit did not find any and Raffensperger has defended the results of the election despite the president's protests.
"I'm a passionate conservative and, as I've said before, I'm a proud Trump supporter," Raffensperger said during a Friday morning news conference. "Like other Republicans, I'm disappointed that our candidate didn't win Georgia's Electoral College votes... Numbers don't lie. As secretary of state, I believe that the numbers that we have presented today are correct."
"The numbers reflect the verdict of the people," he added. "Not a decision by the secretary of state's office, or of courts, or of either campaigns."
With legal challenges so far failing to succeed, Trump's strategy may now center on convincing Republican state legislatures to ignore the will of voters and appoint their own slate of Electoral College electors in his favor.
Republican leaders from Michigan, where Biden's win is expected to be certified on Monday, were flown out to the White House for a meeting with the president on Friday.
Newsweek reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.


newsweek--2020-11-20--California Health Official Warns of COVID Strain on Hospitals, Says 'Cancel Your Holiday Plans'

A health officer with Santa Clara County Public Health in northern California warned residents against traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday , as the county reported its highest single-day increase in new COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began .
If infection rates continue rising at the current rate , Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said county hospitals could be overwhelmed in just three weeks .
`` We are indeed at a critical juncture in this pandemic , '' Cody said during a virtual news conference on Friday .
`` The choices that each of us make in the next few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital capacity to care for all of us and our families and friends , and not enough . ''
Cody said county health officials reported a record 407 new COVID-19 cases on Friday , while the number of hospitalizations in the area increased by about 50 percent in the last week .
Santa Clara is one of several California counties that recently moved into the state 's most restrictive purple tier as a result of its rising infection rate .
Approximately 94 percent of the state 's population lived in counties under purple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the statewide testing positivity rate was about 5.2 percent by that same date , according to the state 's data .
California exceeded 1 million total cases last week , becoming the second state to do so .
In response to the high case count and rising infection rate throughout the state , Governor Gavin Newsom announced a travel advisory on November 13 and a limited stay-at-home order on Thursday .
`` We are sounding the alarm , '' Newsom said in a news conference announcing the limited order .
`` It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and slow hospitalizations before the death count surges .
We 've done it before and we must do it again . ''
Cody on Friday identified two ways in which Santa Clara County residents can help slow the spread of the virus in their community .
`` Number one , cancel your holiday plans , '' Cody said .
`` Do n't travel .
Celebrate the holiday at home with your loved ones from your household .
If you 're going to have people from outside your household , limit it to two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear your face covering and keep your distance . ''
The other step Cody said residents can take is to leave testing resources for essential workers and individuals who know that they have been exposed to the virus .
`` Right now , the demand for testing is extraordinarily high , '' Cody said , acknowledging that some people who do plan to travel or gather with friends and family may be requesting COVID-19 tests in anticipation of those activities .
`` Simply postpone your travel , postpone your gathering until we 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic and ensure that those who really need to get tested have that capacity .
Because there are plenty , plenty , plenty of people in essential work who may have had exposures that really , really do need to test , '' Cody said .
Dr. Ahmad Kamal , the director for the Health Care Preparedness Branch at Santa Clara County Public Health , told Newsweek that health officials have been working with area hospitals over the last nine months on their surge plans .
When hospitals become overwhelmed , those plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work , shifting staff assignments and potentially transferring patients from one hospital to another .
`` That only works for so long , '' Kamal said , adding that the COVID-19 spike was not solely a Santa Clara County issue .
Kamal said tightened restrictions could protect hospitals from getting overwhelmed—but the situation will largely depend on how people behave during the Thanksgiving holiday .
`` We are hopeful , but I think that it 's a very tenuous situation , '' Kamal told Newsweek .
`` I think the purple tier will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to what extent are people going to curtail their activities around the holidays . ''
Kamal said one `` silver lining '' to the county 's current pandemic predicament was that officials gained experience handling the virus since the pandemic first struck the area earlier this year .
`` One of my concerns is that , this time around , it 's not going to be so much an ICU-type surge as it 's going to be an emergency room volume , '' he said .
County health officials have been working with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to handle potential surges in their emergency rooms , he added .
In light of Cody 's earlier warnings about hospitals facing the possibility of going into overdrive , Kamal reiterated that behavior during the upcoming holiday will directly impact its pandemic experience in the weeks ahead .
`` What we need is for private gatherings to be reconsidered , '' he said .
`` A lot of transmission happens in private gatherings . ''
Update ( 11/20/2020 , 7:01 p.m .
ET ) : This article has been updated to include comments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County Public Health 's Health Care Preparedness Branch .

A health officer with Santa Clara County Public Health in northern California warned residents against traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday, as the county reported its highest single-day increase in new COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began.
If infection rates continue rising at the current rate, Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said county hospitals could be overwhelmed in just three weeks.
"We are indeed at a critical juncture in this pandemic," Cody said during a virtual news conference on Friday. "The choices that each of us make in the next few weeks may mean the difference between enough hospital capacity to care for all of us and our families and friends, and not enough."
Cody said county health officials reported a record 407 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, while the number of hospitalizations in the area increased by about 50 percent in the last week.
Nurses care for a coronavirus COVID-19 patient in the intensive care unit at Regional Medical Center on May 21, 2020, in San Jose, California. On Friday, a health official in Santa Clara County encouraged residents to cancel their holiday plans amid a recent spike in new COVID-19 cases. Justin Sullivan/Getty
Santa Clara is one of several California counties that recently moved into the state's most restrictive purple tier as a result of its rising infection rate. Approximately 94 percent of the state's population lived in counties under purple tier restrictions by November 16, while the statewide testing positivity rate was about 5.2 percent by that same date, according to the state's data.
California exceeded 1 million total cases last week, becoming the second state to do so. In response to the high case count and rising infection rate throughout the state, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a travel advisory on November 13 and a limited stay-at-home order on Thursday.
"We are sounding the alarm," Newsom said in a news conference announcing the limited order. "It is crucial that we act to decrease transmission and slow hospitalizations before the death count surges. We've done it before and we must do it again."
Cody on Friday identified two ways in which Santa Clara County residents can help slow the spread of the virus in their community.
"Number one, cancel your holiday plans," Cody said. "Don't travel. Celebrate the holiday at home with your loved ones from your household. If you're going to have people from outside your household, limit it to two other households, have it outside, wear your face covering and keep your distance."
The other step Cody said residents can take is to leave testing resources for essential workers and individuals who know that they have been exposed to the virus.
"Right now, the demand for testing is extraordinarily high," Cody said, acknowledging that some people who do plan to travel or gather with friends and family may be requesting COVID-19 tests in anticipation of those activities.
"Simply postpone your travel, postpone your gathering until we're out of this critical phase in this pandemic and ensure that those who really need to get tested have that capacity. Because there are plenty, plenty, plenty of people in essential work who may have had exposures that really, really do need to test," Cody said.
Dr. Ahmad Kamal, the director for the Health Care Preparedness Branch at Santa Clara County Public Health, told Newsweek that health officials have been working with area hospitals over the last nine months on their surge plans. When hospitals become overwhelmed, those plans may include converting nonclinical areas for clinical work, shifting staff assignments and potentially transferring patients from one hospital to another.
"That only works for so long," Kamal said, adding that the COVID-19 spike was not solely a Santa Clara County issue. Kamal said tightened restrictions could protect hospitals from getting overwhelmed—but the situation will largely depend on how people behave during the Thanksgiving holiday.
"We are hopeful, but I think that it's a very tenuous situation," Kamal told Newsweek. "I think the purple tier will help, but the real question is to what extent are people going to curtail their activities around the holidays."
Kamal said one "silver lining" to the county's current pandemic predicament was that officials gained experience handling the virus since the pandemic first struck the area earlier this year.
"One of my concerns is that, this time around, it's not going to be so much an ICU-type surge as it's going to be an emergency room volume," he said. County health officials have been working with area hospitals to help them strategize how to handle potential surges in their emergency rooms, he added.
In light of Cody's earlier warnings about hospitals facing the possibility of going into overdrive, Kamal reiterated that behavior during the upcoming holiday will directly impact its pandemic experience in the weeks ahead. "What we need is for private gatherings to be reconsidered," he said. "A lot of transmission happens in private gatherings."
Update (11/20/2020, 7:01 p.m. ET): This article has been updated to include comments from Dr. Ahmad Kamal with Santa Clara County Public Health's Health Care Preparedness Branch.


newsweek--2020-11-20--Financial Impact of COVID-19 Depends on Location and Economic Class

Home sales have set a 14-year high , but consumer spending has slowed , and unemployment has increased and may worsen after government health officials warned against holiday travel as part of the effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 .
In the past , economic performance often varied by region based on the type , strength and variety of industries as well as educational level .
It was no mystery why California 's Silicon Valley prospered while the Midwest 's Rust Belt contracted or isolated regions in the South stagnated .
The coronavirus pandemic appears to have injected a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Interestingly , differences produced by class are n't rigidly defined by region .
Home sales rose for the fifth straight month in October and hit a 14-year high .
The U.S. Federal Reserve , the nation 's central bank , has slashed interest rates as part of the effort to stimulate and support an economy pummeled by shutdowns .
Mortgage rates are now at the lowest level since Freddie Mac started tracking the market in 1971 .
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 2.72 % last week , the agency reported .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priced out of the market , while white collar employees who can work from home have money to upgrade their homes as they ignore , and in many cases , escape the travails of big-city life .
In Manhattan , many upscale residents have fled the City for upstate New York , the Hamptons on Eastern Long Island , Connecticut and New Jersey .
Meanwhile , the National Association of Realtors reported that October sales of existing houses in the Midwest outpaced all other regions of the nation .
The jump in home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new coronavirus infections as the weather turns brisk .
On Thursday , there were 187,833 new coronavirus cases , exceeding the previous record by more than 10,000 , according to statistics compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
A total of 2,015 people died from COVID-19 on Thursday , boosting the total to 252,555 .
Worldwide , about 57 million people have been infected and about 1.36 million have died , Johns Hopkins reported .
In response , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) urged people to stay home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is likely to further damage the struggling travel , hotel , restaurant and entertainment industries if it continues into 2021 .
More cutbacks in those sectors could mean public-facing workers will be hit with another round of layoffs , dropping them farther behind those who can work from home .
Travel increases the chance of getting and spreading the coronavirus .
Staying home , especially during the holidays , is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 , the CDC said .
`` COVID-19 is turning out to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Walke , the CDC 's incident manager for the federal agency 's coronavirus response , said Thursday during a phone-in news conference .
`` At this critical phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic , CDC is recommending against travel during the Thanksgiving holiday , '' he said .
For those who do travel , the CDC recommended wearing a mask in public settings , including public transportation , keeping six feet away from others not from the same household , and frequent hand-washing with soap and water or a hand sanitizer .
The job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation 's overall economic activity .
First-time jobless claims increased last week to 742,000 , topping the 710,000 expected by analysts surveyed by Dow Jones .
The uptick in jobless claims was the first after four consecutive weeks of decline , the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported .
But continuing claims , or workers who have received unemployment benefits for at least one week , fell 428,000 to 6.37 million , a new low during the coronavirus pandemic .
The unemployment rate , or the percentage of workers receiving benefits compared with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4.3 % .
It peaked at 14.7 % in April .
The highest unemployment rates for the week ending October 31 were in California ( 8.3 % ) , Hawaii ( 8.3 % ) , New Mexico ( 8.0 % ) , Nevada ( 7.6 % ) , Georgia ( 6.5 % ) , Pennsylvania ( 6.4 % ) , Alaska ( 6.2 % ) , Massachusetts ( 6.2 % ) , District of Columbia ( 6.0 % ) , and Illinois ( 5.7 % ) , the Bureau of Labor Statistics said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for economic reasons grew by 383,000 to 6.7 million in October after declining for five consecutive months .
These workers , who wanted to work full-time , had their hours cut or were unable to find full-time work , government statistics showed .
Growing unemployment , the move to part-time work and an increasing number of coronavirus infections appears to be making consumers more cautious .
U.S. retail sales increased 0.3 % in October , slower than expected , the U.S. Commerce Department said .
Economists surveyed by Reuters expected a 0.5 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a 1.6 % increase from the initially reported 1.9 % jump .
Consumer spending represents about two-thirds of the U.S. economy .
Macy 's said third quarter sales fell to $ 3.99 billion from $ 5.17 billion a year ago , a decline of 22.82 % .
The results , released a week before Black Friday , suggest a difficult holiday season ahead for the nationwide retailer .
That could indicate there will be fewer temporary retail jobs this year , especially as online sales continue to grow and established retailers file @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government-imposed restrictions and a decision by many to avoid bars and restaurants could further erode consumer spending and create another cascade of layoffs .
The economy is likely to remain uneven and the recovery spotty until COVID-19 vaccines are widely distributed and the pandemic abates .
On Friday , Pfizer and BioNTech announced plans to seek an emergency authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for their new coronavirus vaccine .
If approved , the vaccine is likely to be made available first to front-line healthcare workers , the elderly and those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vaccine to be 95 % effective .
A safe and effective vaccine is the key to restoring public confidence and re-starting the economy , but it 's unclear how many people will get the shots .
`` Filing in the U.S. represents a critical milestone in our journey to deliver a COVID-19 vaccine to the world , and we now have a more complete picture of both the efficacy and safety profile of our vaccine , giving us confidence in its potential , '' Pfizer CEO Dr. Albert Bourla said in a @ @

Home sales have set a 14-year high, but consumer spending has slowed, and unemployment has increased and may worsen after government health officials warned against holiday travel as part of the effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.
In the past, economic performance often varied by region based on the type, strength and variety of industries as well as educational level. It was no mystery why California's Silicon Valley prospered while the Midwest's Rust Belt contracted or isolated regions in the South stagnated.
A man checks a display board at a currency exchange shop in the Iranian capital Tehran, on September 29, 2020. ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images/Getty
The coronavirus pandemic appears to have injected a new element into the mix: class. Interestingly, differences produced by class aren't rigidly defined by region.
Here's a quick look:
Home sales rose for the fifth straight month in October and hit a 14-year high.
The U.S. Federal Reserve, the nation's central bank, has slashed interest rates as part of the effort to stimulate and support an economy pummeled by shutdowns.
Mortgage rates are now at the lowest level since Freddie Mac started tracking the market in 1971. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 2.72% last week, the agency reported.
Even so, many working class renters are priced out of the market, while white collar employees who can work from home have money to upgrade their homes as they ignore, and in many cases, escape the travails of big-city life.
In Manhattan, many upscale residents have fled the City for upstate New York, the Hamptons on Eastern Long Island, Connecticut and New Jersey.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Realtors reported that October sales of existing houses in the Midwest outpaced all other regions of the nation.
The jump in home sales plays out against an increase in new coronavirus infections as the weather turns brisk. On Thursday, there were 187,833 new coronavirus cases, exceeding the previous record by more than 10,000, according to statistics compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
A total of 2,015 people died from COVID-19 on Thursday, boosting the total to 252,555. Worldwide, about 57 million people have been infected and about 1.36 million have died, Johns Hopkins reported.
In response, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urged people to stay home during the Thanksgiving break next week–a move that is likely to further damage the struggling travel, hotel, restaurant and entertainment industries if it continues into 2021.
More cutbacks in those sectors could mean public-facing workers will be hit with another round of layoffs, dropping them farther behind those who can work from home.
Travel increases the chance of getting and spreading the coronavirus. Staying home, especially during the holidays, is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, the CDC said.
"COVID-19 is turning out to be a formidable foe," Dr. Henry Walke, the CDC's incident manager for the federal agency's coronavirus response, said Thursday during a phone-in news conference.
"At this critical phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic, CDC is recommending against travel during the Thanksgiving holiday," he said.
For those who do travel, the CDC recommended wearing a mask in public settings, including public transportation, keeping six feet away from others not from the same household, and frequent hand-washing with soap and water or a hand sanitizer.
The job market offered another downbeat indicator of the nation's overall economic activity. First-time jobless claims increased last week to 742,000, topping the 710,000 expected by analysts surveyed by Dow Jones. The uptick in jobless claims was the first after four consecutive weeks of decline, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.
But continuing claims, or workers who have received unemployment benefits for at least one week, fell 428,000 to 6.37 million, a new low during the coronavirus pandemic. The unemployment rate, or the percentage of workers receiving benefits compared with the entire labor force, fell to 4.3%. It peaked at 14.7% in April.
The highest unemployment rates for the week ending October 31 were in California (8.3%), Hawaii (8.3%), New Mexico (8.0%), Nevada (7.6%), Georgia (6.5%), Pennsylvania (6.4%), Alaska (6.2%), Massachusetts (6.2%), District of Columbia (6.0%), and Illinois (5.7%), the Bureau of Labor Statistics said.
The number of people working part-time for economic reasons grew by 383,000 to 6.7 million in October after declining for five consecutive months. These workers, who wanted to work full-time, had their hours cut or were unable to find full-time work, government statistics showed.
Growing unemployment, the move to part-time work and an increasing number of coronavirus infections appears to be making consumers more cautious. U.S. retail sales increased 0.3% in October, slower than expected, the U.S. Commerce Department said. Economists surveyed by Reuters expected a 0.5% increase. September's figure was cut to a 1.6% increase from the initially reported 1.9% jump.
Consumer spending represents about two-thirds of the U.S. economy.
Macy's said third quarter sales fell to $3.99 billion from $5.17 billion a year ago, a decline of 22.82%. The results, released a week before Black Friday, suggest a difficult holiday season ahead for the nationwide retailer. That could indicate there will be fewer temporary retail jobs this year, especially as online sales continue to grow and established retailers file for bankruptcy amid the pandemic.
New government-imposed restrictions and a decision by many to avoid bars and restaurants could further erode consumer spending and create another cascade of layoffs. The economy is likely to remain uneven and the recovery spotty until COVID-19 vaccines are widely distributed and the pandemic abates.
On Friday, Pfizer and BioNTech announced plans to seek an emergency authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for their new coronavirus vaccine. If approved, the vaccine is likely to be made available first to front-line healthcare workers, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.
Testing showed the vaccine to be 95% effective. A safe and effective vaccine is the key to restoring public confidence and re-starting the economy, but it's unclear how many people will get the shots.
"Filing in the U.S. represents a critical milestone in our journey to deliver a COVID-19 vaccine to the world, and we now have a more complete picture of both the efficacy and safety profile of our vaccine, giving us confidence in its potential," Pfizer CEO Dr. Albert Bourla said in a statement.


newsweek--2020-11-20--NJ Democrat Calls for Rudy Giuliani, Other Trump Attorneys to be Disbarred

Democratic New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell asked bar associations in five states on Friday to prevent President Donald Trump 's personal attorney and 22 other members of Trump 's legal team from continuing to practice law .
Although many media outlets have called the presidential election for President-elect Joe Biden , Trump has repeatedly stated that he actually won the election .
Trump has alleged that widespread voter fraud tipped the election in Biden 's favor .
Trump 's legal team has challenged the voting process in some states .
On Thursday , Giuliani held a press conference in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of hundreds of affidavits proving voting improprieties .
Many observers have described Trump 's claims of voting fraud as unsubstantiated .
On Friday , Pascrell described lawsuits filed by Trump 's legal team as `` frivolous . ''
`` We live together in extraordinary and increasingly dangerous national circumstances , '' Pascrell wrote in his letters requesting the disbarment of Trump attorneys .
`` At present , our sitting President has refused to accept the outcome of our national election and is attacking the integrity of our electoral system to keep himself in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these individuals to effectuate Mr. Trump 's sinister arson is a danger not just to our legal system but is also unprecedented in our national life . ''
Pascrell added that the attorneys violated the `` Rules of Professional Conduct they swore to uphold and should face the severest sanction your body can mete out : revocation of their law licensures . ''
In a letter to the State of New York Grievance Committee for the Second , Eleventh and Thirteenth Judicial Districts , Pascrell called for an investigation into Giuliani 's actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the committee to `` consider sanctions for his conduct up to and including revocation of Mr. Giuliani 's licenses to practice law in your jurisdiction . ''
Newsweek reached out to Giuliani for comment .
Pascrell also sent letters to the bar associations in Arizona , Michigan , Nevada and Pennsylvania requesting sanctions against Trump campaign lawyers .
Trump 's campaign has filed election-related lawsuits in all of those states .
During his Thursday press conference , Giuliani alleged election workers conspired with the Democrat Party to funnel votes away from Trump .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud had allegedly occurred were `` controlled by Democrats , which means they can get away with anything they want to do . ''
The Democratic influence Giuliani referred to allegedly included exerting control over election boards and law enforcement officials .
`` And unfortunately , '' Giuliani added , `` they will have some friendly judges that will issue ridiculously irrational opinions just to come out in their favor . ''
Critics of Giuliani 's press conference noted a lack of presented evidence for his assertions .
Trump campaign legal adviser Jenna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ served as an `` opening statement . ''
`` This is something where we have told you what the evidence will show and we have given you a brief description , '' Ellis said .
`` That happens in a courtroom all the time , where that 's not the fact-finding process , this is just an overview . ''
Biden spokesman Michael Gwin dismissed the Trump campaign 's attempts to obtain a second term in the White House .
`` No matter how hard Trump and the flailing Giuliani try , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` they can not overturn the will of the American people , who resoundingly picked Joe Biden to be the next President of the United States . ''
Although the final results have yet to be determined , Biden has been projected to win the election .
According to the Associated Press , Biden has received 306 electoral votes while Trump has received 232 electoral votes .
A candidate needs to receive 270 electoral votes to become the president .

Democratic New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell asked bar associations in five states on Friday to prevent President Donald Trump's personal attorney and 22 other members of Trump's legal team from continuing to practice law.
Although many media outlets have called the presidential election for President-elect Joe Biden, Trump has repeatedly stated that he actually won the election. Trump has alleged that widespread voter fraud tipped the election in Biden's favor. Trump's legal team has challenged the voting process in some states.
On Thursday, Giuliani held a press conference in which he asserted that he was in possession of hundreds of affidavits proving voting improprieties. Many observers have described Trump's claims of voting fraud as unsubstantiated. On Friday, Pascrell described lawsuits filed by Trump's legal team as "frivolous."
"We live together in extraordinary and increasingly dangerous national circumstances," Pascrell wrote in his letters requesting the disbarment of Trump attorneys. "At present, our sitting President has refused to accept the outcome of our national election and is attacking the integrity of our electoral system to keep himself in power. The pattern of behavior by these individuals to effectuate Mr. Trump's sinister arson is a danger not just to our legal system but is also unprecedented in our national life."
Pascrell added that the attorneys violated the "Rules of Professional Conduct they swore to uphold and should face the severest sanction your body can mete out: revocation of their law licensures."
In a letter to the State of New York Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh and Thirteenth Judicial Districts, Pascrell called for an investigation into Giuliani's actions on behalf of Trump. Pascrell asked the committee to "consider sanctions for his conduct up to and including revocation of Mr. Giuliani's licenses to practice law in your jurisdiction."
Newsweek reached out to Giuliani for comment.
Democratic Congressman Bill Pascrell wants President Donald Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani to be investigated and possibly disbarred. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty
Pascrell also sent letters to the bar associations in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and Pennsylvania requesting sanctions against Trump campaign lawyers. Trump's campaign has filed election-related lawsuits in all of those states.
During his Thursday press conference, Giuliani alleged election workers conspired with the Democrat Party to funnel votes away from Trump. Giuliani claimed that cities in which voter fraud had allegedly occurred were "controlled by Democrats, which means they can get away with anything they want to do." The Democratic influence Giuliani referred to allegedly included exerting control over election boards and law enforcement officials.
"And unfortunately," Giuliani added, "they will have some friendly judges that will issue ridiculously irrational opinions just to come out in their favor."
Critics of Giuliani's press conference noted a lack of presented evidence for his assertions. Trump campaign legal adviser Jenna Ellis told reporters that the press conference served as an "opening statement."
"This is something where we have told you what the evidence will show and we have given you a brief description," Ellis said. "That happens in a courtroom all the time, where that's not the fact-finding process, this is just an overview."
Biden spokesman Michael Gwin dismissed the Trump campaign's attempts to obtain a second term in the White House. "No matter how hard Trump and the flailing Giuliani try," Gwin said Thursday according to CNBC, "they cannot overturn the will of the American people, who resoundingly picked Joe Biden to be the next President of the United States."
Although the final results have yet to be determined, Biden has been projected to win the election. According to the Associated Press, Biden has received 306 electoral votes while Trump has received 232 electoral votes. A candidate needs to receive 270 electoral votes to become the president.


newsweek--2020-11-20--Trump Falsely Claims He Won Election in Press Briefing 2 Weeks After Election

President Donald Trump has n't taken reporters ' questions in 17 days .
He held a news conference on Friday in which he claimed , falsely , that he won the November 3 election , even as President-elect Joe Biden works his background transition .
Trump , announcing health care updates amid the coronavirus pandemic , referred to `` the campaign , which I won by the way , '' though Democratic rival Joe Biden has been projected the winner in the race by all major media outlets .
Trump did n't take questions from reporters after his briefing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The president has shied away from most public appearances since the election was called on Saturday , November 7 .
Trump has continued legal challenges in crucial states to try to upturn the results .
He has n't taken a reporter 's question since the election and did not acknowledge shouted questions after his briefing on Friday .
Since losing the election , Trump has stayed mostly behind the scenes after weeks of high-profile rallies in battleground states .
He held a news conference earlier this week to give updates on coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either .
Trump , 74 , was seeking a second term as president against former Vice President Biden .
He has refused to concede despite widespread evidence that he has lost .
Biden , 78 , has continued to work on a `` transition '' effort , even though the Trump White House has not granted him access to typical transition resources .
Biden has had multiple discussions with world leaders and members of Congress to build up his administration ahead of the January 20 inauguration .
During his news conference on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are multiple coronavirus vaccines in the pipeline , after he had downplayed the pandemic in the early stages .
Trump said the disease would `` go away '' by summer , but nearly 250,000 people have died from it this year and states continue to see surges into the winter .
`` This is a very big thing , '' Trump said Friday .
`` I do n't know if anyone 's going to appreciate it . ''
Trump 's campaign has unsuccessfully challenged the results in crucial swing states .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win , despite experts determining Biden as the winner .
Trump , a New Yorker who recently moved to Florida , trails Pennsylvania-Delaware native Biden 306-232 in the Associated Press ' Electoral College projection .

President Donald Trump hasn't taken reporters' questions in 17 days. He held a news conference on Friday in which he claimed, falsely, that he won the November 3 election, even as President-elect Joe Biden works his background transition.
Trump, announcing health care updates amid the coronavirus pandemic, referred to "the campaign, which I won by the way," though Democratic rival Joe Biden has been projected the winner in the race by all major media outlets.
Trump didn't take questions from reporters after his briefing, and he hasn't since the election.
The president has shied away from most public appearances since the election was called on Saturday, November 7. Trump has continued legal challenges in crucial states to try to upturn the results.
He hasn't taken a reporter's question since the election and did not acknowledge shouted questions after his briefing on Friday.
President Donald Trump speaks to the press at the White House on November 20. Trump held his first press conference in over a week to make an announcement on prescription drug prices as he continues to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election. Tasos Katopodis/Getty
Since losing the election, Trump has stayed mostly behind the scenes after weeks of high-profile rallies in battleground states.
He held a news conference earlier this week to give updates on coronavirus vaccines but didn't take questions there either.
Trump, 74, was seeking a second term as president against former Vice President Biden. He has refused to concede despite widespread evidence that he has lost.
Biden, 78, has continued to work on a "transition" effort, even though the Trump White House has not granted him access to typical transition resources. Biden has had multiple discussions with world leaders and members of Congress to build up his administration ahead of the January 20 inauguration.
During his news conference on Friday, Trump claimed success for news that there are multiple coronavirus vaccines in the pipeline, after he had downplayed the pandemic in the early stages. Trump said the disease would "go away" by summer, but nearly 250,000 people have died from it this year and states continue to see surges into the winter.
"This is a very big thing," Trump said Friday. "I don't know if anyone's going to appreciate it."
Trump's campaign has unsuccessfully challenged the results in crucial swing states. He's trying to upend Biden's decisive win, despite experts determining Biden as the winner.
Trump, a New Yorker who recently moved to Florida, trails Pennsylvania-Delaware native Biden 306-232 in the Associated Press' Electoral College projection.
Trump won a surprise victory four years ago over Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton 304-227.


newsweek--2020-11-20--Who Is Gary Owen and Why Are People Defending Him From Racist Accusations?

Comedian Gary Owen was feeling the wrath of Twitter on Friday following a comment he shared during the Jeezy and Gucci Mane `` Verzuz '' battle .
Owen was tuned into the highly anticipated Instagram Live concert , and at one point during the show , he wrote , `` I want some Hennessy & a black & mild for some reason watching this . ''
While Black people enjoy a plethora of brands of spirits and various types of tobacco products , like every other race of people , Hennessy and Black & Mild cigars have long been associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person shared a screenshot of the comment on Twitter , there were some people who were offended by Owen 's joke , considering that he 's a white man .
Another person suggested that the Ohio-born Owen has `` been a racist '' while one Twitter user claimed the 46-year-old should n't have been in attendance at the Verzuz show in the first place .
`` Gary Owen is not funny to me .
He should not be in our spaces and it always feels performative and like he 's trying too hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed was an onslaught of fans taking to Twitter to defend Owen .
`` Gary Owen is NOT a racist , he is blacker than many black men I know .
1 .
Treats his black wife with more respect that most black men treat black women .
2 .
Protects his black Queen .
3 .
He has done alot for the community .
Can we give this energy to the 73M who deserve it ?
, '' one Twitter user wrote , adding , `` Gary Owen can give y'all a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and respect a black woman .
I 'm not letting anyone call Owen a racist when most black men ca n't treat a black woman with half the respect he treats his black Queen with . ''
Owen got his big break after he was invited to appear on the BET stand-up showcase Comic View in 1997 .
Since then , he has garnered a large Black following of fans who have come to enjoy his comedic takes on issues like racism , interracial marriage and being a white father to three Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kenya Duke .
Along with starring in comedies like Daddy Daycare , Little Man and College , Owen has also been featured in two standup specials , including Hulu 's 2017 special I Agree With Myself and # DoinWhatIDo , which was released on Amazon Prime Video in 2019 .
Fans have also heralded Owen as an ally for racial equality .
One person online responded to the viral tweet by sharing a 2019 Instagram video in which Owen speaks out against Delta Airline 's wrongful and racist treatment of his wife .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a little education to why Gary Owen is certified !
This is just one of the reasons , '' the tweet reads .
Meanwhile , others suggested that Owen 's comment was n't nearly as degrading as some comments that conservatives like Candace Owens and David Clarke have made about the Black community .

Comedian Gary Owen was feeling the wrath of Twitter on Friday following a comment he shared during the Jeezy and Gucci Mane "Verzuz" battle.
Owen was tuned into the highly anticipated Instagram Live concert, and at one point during the show, he wrote, "I want some Hennessy & a black & mild for some reason watching this."
Gary Owen visits The Build Series to discuss his new BET Show "The Gary Owen Show" at AOL HQ on November 9, 2016, in New York City. Mireya Acierto/FilmMagic/Getty Images
While Black people enjoy a plethora of brands of spirits and various types of tobacco products, like every other race of people, Hennessy and Black & Mild cigars have long been associated with Black culture. So when a person shared a screenshot of the comment on Twitter, there were some people who were offended by Owen's joke, considering that he's a white man.
"This feels racist," the tweet reads.
Another person suggested that the Ohio-born Owen has "been a racist" while one Twitter user claimed the 46-year-old shouldn't have been in attendance at the Verzuz show in the first place. "Gary Owen is not funny to me. He should not be in our spaces and it always feels performative and like he's trying too hard," the tweet reads.
I have always liked Gary Owen even when he as on BET years ago. I also appreciate he has been an ally to the black community on many occasions which says more than a lot of people. — DiMo (@thisisDiMo) November 20, 2020
What followed was an onslaught of fans taking to Twitter to defend Owen.
"Gary Owen is NOT a racist, he is blacker than many black men I know. 1. Treats his black wife with more respect that most black men treat black women. 2. Protects his black Queen. 3. He has done alot for the community. Can we give this energy to the 73M who deserve it?," one Twitter user wrote, adding, "Gary Owen can give y'all a lesson on how to love, protect and respect a black woman. I'm not letting anyone call Owen a racist when most black men can't treat a black woman with half the respect he treats his black Queen with."
Gary Owen is NOT a racist, he is blacker than many black men I know.
1. Treats his black wife with more respect that most black men treat black women.
2. Protects his black Queen.
3. He has done alot for the community
Can we give this energy to the 73M who deserve it? — Mange Kimambi (@mangekimambi) November 20, 2020
Owen got his big break after he was invited to appear on the BET stand-up showcase Comic View in 1997. Since then, he has garnered a large Black following of fans who have come to enjoy his comedic takes on issues like racism, interracial marriage and being a white father to three Black children, whom he shares with wife Kenya Duke. Along with starring in comedies like Daddy Daycare, Little Man and College, Owen has also been featured in two standup specials, including Hulu's 2017 special I Agree With Myself and #DoinWhatIDo, which was released on Amazon Prime Video in 2019.
Fans have also heralded Owen as an ally for racial equality. One person online responded to the viral tweet by sharing a 2019 Instagram video in which Owen speaks out against Delta Airline's wrongful and racist treatment of his wife.
"For the young folks that need a little education to why Gary Owen is certified! This is just one of the reasons," the tweet reads.
For the young folks that need a little education to why Gary Owen is certified! This is just one of the reasons https://t.co/LTx50PBuwr — drteeth (@callingdrteeth) November 20, 2020
Meanwhile, others suggested that Owen's comment wasn't nearly as degrading as some comments that conservatives like Candace Owens and David Clarke have made about the Black community.
Sheriff Clarke and Candace Owens are not more kinfolk than Gary Owen just cause they got black skin. Y'all need to turn the "wokeness" down a few notches. You gettin outrageous — Drew Comments (@sjs856) November 20, 2020


newsweek--2020-11-20--Charli D'Amelio's Fans React to News That the TikTok Star Is Cancelled

In the wake of cancel culture coming for Charli D'Amelio , fans have weighed in on whether or not the backlash she 's received was necessary .
After the TikTok star 's family shared a controversial YouTube video on Monday called `` Dinner With the D'Amelios , '' fans called out D'Amelio and her sister , Dixie , for being rude to the chef who prepared the gourmet meal that 's featured in the clip .
In the 16-minute video , the girls gagged and made faces at the delicacies being served to them .
Dixie even ran outside to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ served escargot .
On Thursday , after her number of followers dropped by the hundreds of thousands , Charli reacted to the backlash in an Instagram Live clip , in which she tearfully said she may leave TikTok altogether .
It 's fair to say that reactions to the whole controversy have been mixed , with some people on the Internet has called to cancel Charli .
One Twitter user wrote , `` 12 year olds after commenting 'my respect for you went [ graphs of a downward slope emojis ] [ angry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's tik tok , '' alongside a photo of someone wearing a clown mask and holding an iPhone .
One user compared the Internet 's reaction to how two-faced Mean Girls icon Regina George was .
`` [ G ] en z wan na cancel everyone until we try to cancel charli d'amelio then it 's 'she did nothing wrong ' and ' y'all are so sensitive , ' '' they wrote .
Some folks were shocked that fans were so focused on the D'Amelio drama , despite everything else that 's happening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] he fact that there 's people that are DYING and yall are up in arms about trisha paytas calling charli d'amelio boring , '' one user said .
`` [ G ] et a job mama . ''
Some users had Charli 's back .
`` [ S ] tan charli d'amelio for being a positive influence and role model , '' one fan tweeted .
Another noted that Charli is only 16 years old , and used her age as an explanation for her behavior .
`` If charli d'amelio did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not actually offensive ) why would u be ( sic ) suprised when she 's literally a 16 year old teenager , '' they wrote .
Another user agreed .
`` did we all collectively forget that charli d'amelio is a 16 year old CHILD ? ''
One user defended D'Amelio wanting 100 million followers , which she mentioned in the `` Dinner With the D'Amelios '' video .
`` [ T ] his Charli D'Amelio situation really does n't sit right with me why are people so happy to see the downfall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an even number of followers make it make sense . ''

In the wake of cancel culture coming for Charli D'Amelio, fans have weighed in on whether or not the backlash she's received was necessary.
After the TikTok star's family shared a controversial YouTube video on Monday called "Dinner With the D'Amelios," fans called out D'Amelio and her sister, Dixie, for being rude to the chef who prepared the gourmet meal that's featured in the clip. In the 16-minute video, the girls gagged and made faces at the delicacies being served to them. Dixie even ran outside to throw up at one point after being served escargot.
On Thursday, after her number of followers dropped by the hundreds of thousands, Charli reacted to the backlash in an Instagram Live clip, in which she tearfully said she may leave TikTok altogether.
It's fair to say that reactions to the whole controversy have been mixed, with some people on the Internet has called to cancel Charli.
One Twitter user wrote, "12 year olds after commenting 'my respect for you went [graphs of a downward slope emojis] [angry face emojis]' under charli d'amelio's tik tok," alongside a photo of someone wearing a clown mask and holding an iPhone.
12 year olds after commenting “my respect for you went📉📉📉📉😡😡” under charli d’amelio’s tik tok. pic.twitter.com/GK0evIUcQV — ariana ☾ (@agirlnamedari) November 19, 2020
One user compared the Internet's reaction to how two-faced Mean Girls icon Regina George was. "[G]en z wanna cancel everyone until we try to cancel charli d'amelio then it's 'she did nothing wrong' and 'y'all are so sensitive,'" they wrote.
gen z wanna cancel everyone until we try to cancel charli d'amelio then it's "she did nothing wrong" and "y'all are so sensitive" pic.twitter.com/6NCiV6ngik — Pablo💿 (@realpxblo) November 19, 2020
Some folks were shocked that fans were so focused on the D'Amelio drama, despite everything else that's happening in the world. "[T]he fact that there's people that are DYING and yall are up in arms about trisha paytas calling charli d'amelio boring," one user said. "[G]et a job mama."
the fact that there’s people that are DYING and yall are up in arms about trisha paytas calling charli d’amelio boring😭😭get a job mama pic.twitter.com/xSgJkRDhik — shin ryujin supremacist✨ (@BarbzieDreams) November 19, 2020
Some users had Charli's back. "[S]tan charli d'amelio for being a positive influence and role model," one fan tweeted.
stan charli d’amelio for being a positive influence and role model. — sissy sheridan (@sissysheridan) November 20, 2020
Another noted that Charli is only 16 years old, and used her age as an explanation for her behavior. "If charli d'amelio did something unprofessional or childish (that's not actually offensive) why would u be (sic) suprised when she's literally a 16 year old teenager," they wrote.
if charli d'amelio did something unprofessional or childish (that's not actually offensive) why would u be suprised when she's literally a 16 year old teenager — leo (@storybyIeo) November 19, 2020
Another user agreed. "did we all collectively forget that charli d'amelio is a 16 year old CHILD?"
did we all collectively forget that charli d’amelio is a 16 year old CHILD? pic.twitter.com/L4lTQsZxbh — alyx🍸 (@chastainfilm) November 19, 2020
One user defended D'Amelio wanting 100 million followers, which she mentioned in the "Dinner With the D'Amelios" video. "[T]his Charli D'Amelio situation really doesn't sit right with me why are people so happy to see the downfall of a literal child because she wants an even number of followers make it make sense."
this Charli D’Amelio situation really doesn’t sit right with me why are people so happy to see the downfall of a literal child because she wants an even number of followers make it make sense — plumbella (@plumbellayt) November 20, 2020


newsweek--2020-11-20--Rudy Giuliani's Son Potentially Exposed Most of Trump's Legal Team to COVID During RNC Press Confere

Rudy Giuliani's Son Potentially Exposed Most of Trump's Legal Team to COVID During RNC Press Conference

A campaign lawyer for President Donald Trump said that most of his legal team may have been exposed to COVID-19 .
During a conference call Friday morning , Trump campaign lawyer Jenna Ellis said that the legal team was likely exposed—after Andrew Giuliani , Rudy Giuliani 's son , tested positive for the virus on Friday , Axios reported .
Later that afternoon , Ellis tweeted that she and Rudy Giuliani , who is President Donald Trump 's personal attorney , had so far tested negative for the virus , and that the rest of the legal team will continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our doctors . ''
Andrew Giuliani , a White House staffer , is thought to have exposed members of the legal team at a press conference , which featured his father , at the Republican National Committee ( RNC ) headquarters in Washington , D.C. , on Thursday .
On Friday morning , the younger Giuliani tweeted that he was experiencing mild symptoms and following recommended protocols to prevent spreading the virus further .
`` This morning , I tested positive for COVID-19 .
I am experiencing mild symptoms , and am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in quarantine and conducting contact tracing , '' Andrew Giuliani wrote .
He is the latest of many Trump administration and campaign officials to have become infected with the coronavirus .
Over the course of the pandemic , there have been three separate White House outbreaks .
The news of Andrew Giuliani 's positive test comes as his father , Rudy Giuliani , continues to lead Trump 's legal battles in an effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election .
According to Axios , during Friday 's conference call , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would prevent key members of the Giuliani legal team from attending a meeting at the White House between the president and two Michigan GOP lawmakers .
The meeting appears to be the latest attempt by the Trump campaign to subvert Michigan 's election results , after the two GOP officials voted to certify the states 16 electoral votes to President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday evening .
On Wednesday , Trump claimed that Michigan could not certify its election results due to fraud , just hours after the state became one of the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State of Michigan , with votes being far greater than the number of people who voted , can not certify the election , '' the president tweeted , adding : `` The Democrats cheated big time , and got caught . ''
Trump 's lawyers have repeatedly pushed the narrative that the election was stolen due to widespread fraud and have pursued lawsuits in each of the key swing states that Biden has been projected to win , but have so far gained little to no success in court .
Of lawsuits filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pennsylvania , two cases have been dismissed , one has been denied , and three more have been dropped by his team .
During Thursday 's RNC press conference , Rudy Giuliani said that he was in possession of `` hundreds '' of affidavits proving voter fraud , but said he could not release them to the press due to matters of national security .
In response , many critics said that Giuliani 's claims were filled with misinformation and pointed to his lack of evidence to support the allegations .
Former Cybersecurity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who was fired by Trump on Wednesday , called the statements `` dangerous . ''
`` That press conference was the most dangerous 1hr 45 minutes of television in American history , '' Krebs tweeted Thursday .
`` And possibly the craziest .
If you do n't know what I 'm talking about , you 're lucky . ''
Newsweek reached out to Rudy Giuliani and the Trump campaign for additional comment , but did not receive a response in time for publication .

A campaign lawyer for President Donald Trump said that most of his legal team may have been exposed to COVID-19.
During a conference call Friday morning, Trump campaign lawyer Jenna Ellis said that the legal team was likely exposed—after Andrew Giuliani, Rudy Giuliani's son, tested positive for the virus on Friday, Axios reported.
Later that afternoon, Ellis tweeted that she and Rudy Giuliani, who is President Donald Trump's personal attorney, had so far tested negative for the virus, and that the rest of the legal team will continue to "follow the advice and protocols of our doctors."
Mayor @RudyGiuliani and I have both tested negative for COVID-19.
The entire legal team will continue to follow the advice and protocols of our doctors. — Jenna Ellis (@JennaEllisEsq) November 20, 2020
Andrew Giuliani, a White House staffer, is thought to have exposed members of the legal team at a press conference, which featured his father, at the Republican National Committee (RNC) headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Thursday.
On Friday morning, the younger Giuliani tweeted that he was experiencing mild symptoms and following recommended protocols to prevent spreading the virus further.
"This morning, I tested positive for COVID-19. I am experiencing mild symptoms, and am following all appropriate protocols, including being in quarantine and conducting contact tracing," Andrew Giuliani wrote.
He is the latest of many Trump administration and campaign officials to have become infected with the coronavirus. Over the course of the pandemic, there have been three separate White House outbreaks.
The news of Andrew Giuliani's positive test comes as his father, Rudy Giuliani, continues to lead Trump's legal battles in an effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani speaks during a press conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, DC, on November 19, 2020. On Friday, his son, Andrew Giuliani, tested positive for COVID-19, possible exposing numerous individuals on Trump's legal team. MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty
According to Axios, during Friday's conference call, Trump lawyers said that possible coronavirus exposure would prevent key members of the Giuliani legal team from attending a meeting at the White House between the president and two Michigan GOP lawmakers.
The meeting appears to be the latest attempt by the Trump campaign to subvert Michigan's election results, after the two GOP officials voted to certify the states 16 electoral votes to President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday evening.
On Wednesday, Trump claimed that Michigan could not certify its election results due to fraud, just hours after the state became one of the latest to do so.
"The Great State of Michigan, with votes being far greater than the number of people who voted, cannot certify the election," the president tweeted, adding: "The Democrats cheated big time, and got caught."
Trump's lawyers have repeatedly pushed the narrative that the election was stolen due to widespread fraud and have pursued lawsuits in each of the key swing states that Biden has been projected to win, but have so far gained little to no success in court.
Of lawsuits filed in Michigan, Georgia, Arizona and Pennsylvania, two cases have been dismissed, one has been denied, and three more have been dropped by his team.
During Thursday's RNC press conference, Rudy Giuliani said that he was in possession of "hundreds" of affidavits proving voter fraud, but said he could not release them to the press due to matters of national security.
In response, many critics said that Giuliani's claims were filled with misinformation and pointed to his lack of evidence to support the allegations. Former Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Christopher Krebs, who was fired by Trump on Wednesday, called the statements "dangerous."
"That press conference was the most dangerous 1hr 45 minutes of television in American history," Krebs tweeted Thursday. "And possibly the craziest. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you're lucky."
Newsweek reached out to Rudy Giuliani and the Trump campaign for additional comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.