WASHINGTON — Attorney General William Barr said the Justice Department will intervene if stay-at-home orders in response to the coronavirus pandemic become too restrictive, directing federal prosecutors “to be on the lookout” for state and local directives that could be violating constitutional rights.
“These kinds of restrictions have been necessary in order to stop the spread of a deadly disease — but there is no denying that they have imposed tremendous burdens on the daily lives of all Americans,” Barr said in a memo issued Monday. “If a state or local ordinance crosses the line from an appropriate exercise of authority to stop the spread of COVID-19 into an overbearing infringement of constitutional and statutory protections, the Department of Justice may have an obligation to address that overreach in federal court.”
The memo comes as states begin to reopen their economies, despite warnings from health experts that easing restrictions could cause a resurgence of coronavirus outbreaks. In Georgia, where Gov. Brian Kemp has set in motion an aggressive plan to lift restrictions, businesses such as hair salons and gyms are allowed to reopen.
In his memo, Barr said restrictions on religious liberty, discriminating against “disfavored speech” and “undue interference” with the economy violate federal laws.
“We do not want to unduly interfere with the important efforts of state and local official to protect the public,” Barr said. “But the Constitution is not suspended in times of crisis.”
Barr tapped Eric Dreiband, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division, and Matthew Schneider, the U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Michigan, which covers Detroit.
Michigan, which has been hard-hit by the pandemic — with about 38,000 COVID-19 cases and 3,400 deaths as of Monday — has imposed some of the most stringent restrictions. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered residents to stay inside except for essential purposes and nonessential businesses to not require employees to work. The Democratic governor has drawn criticism from the president, who encouraged protesters calling for reopening the state.
Barr warned last week of Justice Department intervention, telling conservative talk show host Hugh Hewitt that officials are reviewing stay-at-home restrictions.
“And if we think one goes too far, we initially try to jawbone the governors into rolling them back or adjusting them. And if they’re not and people bring lawsuits, we file statement of interest and side with the plaintiffs,” Barr said.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was first to solidify the return date, announcing Monday that his chamber will “honor our constitutional duty” and conduct business in person after being on an extended recess since March 26.
“We’re going to take whatever safeguards the Capitol physician recommends that we engage in and we believe we can do that safely,” McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a telephone interview Monday.
“Look, it doesn’t make sense for the Senate to sit on the sidelines while a lot of other people are going to work everyday and trying to get us through this,” he said.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) made a similar announcement Monday afternoon on a caucus call with House Democrats.
“Nancy and I have talked a couple of times today … We have decided we will come back on the 4th.”
But the announcement was met with almost sudden resistance, as several Democrats spoke up on the call, raising concerns about the safety of returning while many of their states remain on lockdown with strict social distancing in place.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) said returning next week would be “dangerous,” according to multiple Democrats on the call.
Other members also spoke up including Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.), Susan Wild (D-Pa.) and Veronica Escobar (D-Texas), with some asking how they were expected to take care of their families — many without childcare at home — and return to Washington for an extended stay.
The House went into recess on March 14 after passing the second in a series of coronavirus relief bills in the wee hours of the morning. But legislating long-distance has proven difficult for both chambers.
It took two weeks for Congress to pass a fourth round of coronavirus aid, an effort complicated by the ability of any one lawmaker to derail speedy passage of bills during brief House and Senate pro forma sessions. And House leaders had to call many members back to Washington to pass the last two rescue bills, despite concerns about spreading the virus.
Hoyer told House Democrats that lawmakers will participate in one vote on Monday evening, coming to the chamber in groupsrather than all at onceto limit contact and maintain social distancing.
The No. 2 Democrat added that the House could be insessiontwo weeks but he expects limited floor activity during that time, although some committees will meet in larger rooms that allow members to spread out enough to maintain social distancing.
But the modifications and cautionary notes weren’t enough to satisfy some Democrats, who were furious at the announcement. Chiefs of staff privately complained they were given no warning ahead of time, their usual weekly call with Pelosi’s office having been canceled Monday.
And several lawmakers and aides said the outspoken Democrats represented only a fraction of those angered by the decision to return.
Democrats described the move as rash, saying there has been no plan communicated with them to not only protect themselves but their staffers, Capitol police, support staff and press.
And House appropriators were particularly spooked after a call with the Capitol physician, Dr. Brian Monahan, earlier Monday. Monahan told members of the panel that there was still a lot of work to do before Congress could return to full capacity.
Monahan said it could take “years” for Congress to return to normal, according to members on the call. In the meantime, it’s not safe for members to conduct business and hearings as usual and staff should be limited and not all be in the office at the same time.
But there is no umbrella return policy as of yet, with top staffers saying they have yet to receive guidance on how to coordinate their offices beginning next week.
The decision for leaders in both chambers to forge ahead comes even as Washington remains under a stay-at-home under until May 15.The deadly virus has also hit the Capitol complex — multiple staffers and lawmakers have been diagnosed with coronavirus, in addition to nearly a dozen construction workers renovating one of the House office buildings used by hundreds of members and their staff.
And confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths continue to climb in the region.More than 180 have died and over 3,800 people have been infected in Washington. Coronavirus has claimed more than 1,600 lives and almost 37,000 have been infected in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. And D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has left open the option of extending that order if coronavirus cases don’t start to decline for a consecutive two-week period.
“There’s a lot of work that I think has to be done, in order for us to get to regular order,” Rep. Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.), whose Queens-based district has been devastated by the coronavirus, said in an interview. “How do we lay out the Capitol so that everybody can remain safe?”
“I’m ready to go in on May 4 but we’ve got to make sure that we’re paying attention to the data and the science,” Meeks said.
Still, other Democrats had different concerns on the call Monday, with Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) echoing worries of fellow vulnerable freshmen that the work lawmakers were doing wasn’t visible enough to the public.
Pelosi quipped in response that members have to be both “work horses and show horses,” according to Democrats on the call.
Senate leaders have not experienced near the level of outrage as in the House. But the upper chamber also plans to modify its usual routines in some ways.
Asked if the Senate would resume hearings and other businesses as usual, McConnell said: “We’ll let you know how we’re going to handle these things but I’m convinced we can do it consistent with the guidelines that the Capitol physician will give us to keep operating safely.”
In the Senate, floor time is more of a factor than the House because of the chamber’s confirmation responsibilities. McConnell has also repeatedly vowed that the pandemic will not affect his plans to confirm as many of President Donald Trump’s judges as possible the rest of the year.
Congress’ return comes as congressional leaders prepare to do battle on the next coronavirus relief package, legislation Pelosi has said she wants to move in the coming weeks.
But McConnell has signaled the next response to the coronavirus won’t just center on Democrats’ and some Republicans’ request for money to send to reeling states and localities. In an interview Monday, McConnell said he will also “insist” Congress limit the liabilities of health care workers, business owners and employees from lawsuits as they reopen in the coming weeks and months.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called on McConnell to use the Senate’s return as a way to begin oversight of the Trump administration’s response to the pandemic and the nearly $3 trillion Congress has passed in coronavirus relief.
“There must be public Senate hearings, at a minimum, to examine why the United States still does not have adequate testing and why some lenders in the[Small Business Administration’s] Paycheck Protection Program have prioritized the applications of their larger and wealthier clients to the detriment of smaller businesses that have oftentimes suffered greater hardship,” Schumer said in a statement.
Reporting was contributed by Alan Blinder, Eileen Sullivan, Pam Belluck, Michael Gold, Jack Healy, Michael Powell, Shawn Hubler, Patricia Mazzei, Jonathan Martin, Karen Weise, Andrew Jacobs, Marc Santora, Ali Watkins, Michael Rothfeld, William K. Rashbaum, Brian M. Rosenthal, Anahad O’Connor, Elizabeth A. Harris, Sapna Maheshwari, Michael Corkery, Dionne Searcey, Neil MacFarquhar, Roni Carn Rabin, Nicholas Fandos and Emily Cochrane.
His autocratic tendencies are well-known. His sudden absence from public view prompted fierce speculation and rumour. One headline suggested that he was “brain-dead”.
The North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s whereabouts remain unknown. But after a lost weekend, Donald Trump bounced back into the spotlight on Monday determined to prove that he is not only healthy but working very, very hard.
“The people that know me and know the history of our Country say that I am the hardest working President in history,” Trump had tweeted on Sunday, apparently stung by a New York Times report that said he spent all morning watching TV and clocks into the Oval Office around noon. “I don’t know about that, but I am a hard worker and have probably gotten more done in the first 3 1/2 years than any President in history. The Fake News hates it!”
Trump’s aides fell into line with a Pyongyang-like lockstep. Mark Meadows, the new White House chief of staff, told the New York Post he got a call from Trump at 3.19am. “I can tell you that the biggest concern I have as a new chief of staff is making sure he gets some time to get a quick bite to eat,” he said.
It was the Gordon Gekko argument from the 1987 film Wall Street: “Lunch is for wimps.”
Kayleigh McEnany, the new White House press secretary, duly quoted Meadows on Fox News and added: “Make no mistake about it, it’s why I watch this president get up early in the morning and work until late into the evening to ensure to that end America’s workers get paid and American lives are protected.”
Yet like Kim, Trump was nowhere to be seen over a weekend that included his wife Melania’s 50th birthday and a barrage of angry tweets. Some wondered if he had retreated to a hermit-like existence following bleach-gate, his bizarre riff last Thursday musing aloud that disinfectant could be injected into coronavirus patients.
The sorry episode generated open-mouthed disbelief and derision around the world. Coronavirus task force members were said to be stunned. For White House aides and Republican allies, it was reportedly the straw that broke the camel’s back: these daily briefings had become a political liability that could cost Trump the presidential election.
So there was no briefing on Saturday, nor on Sunday. The official White House guidance said there would be on Monday. At 9.41am, Trump, whose very self-conception is based on what he sees reflected back through the media, tweeted: “There has never been, in the history of our Country, a more vicious or hostile Lamestream Media than there is right now, even in the midst of a National Emergency, the Invisible Enemy!”
At 10.52am, the briefing was abruptly cancelled without explanation. But at 1.32pm, it was officially back on again, scheduled for the rose garden at 5pm. As a poet once wrote, “Who is in charge of the clattering train?”
It turned out the rose garden was decked out with a red carpet and US national flags. Corporate chief executives gave remarks. Trump did not advise anyone to inject disinfectant into their veins, nor did he berate some hapless journalist as “a third rate reporter”, but it could hardly be described as the long-yearned for “pivot” to a presidential mien.
Stung, perhaps, by a Washington Post analysis that found over the past three weeks of briefings Trump spent two hours on attacks, 45 minutes praising himself and his administration and just 4½ minutes expressing condolences for coronavirus victim, he read scripted remarks as usual before adding: “We do grieve.”
He went on to script a political attack ad against himself: “There has been so much unnecessary death in this country. It could have been stopped and it could have been stopped short, but somebody a long time ago, it seems, decided not to do it that way. And the whole world is suffering because of it. 184 countries, at least.”
In his old self-promotional style, he boasted: “I built the greatest economy in the history of the world. I built it.”
Dr Deborah Birx outlined the taskforce’s new guidelines for state testing. Trump said the US has carried out 5.4m tests, more than double any other country. He did not mention how far it still lags behind per capita, nor how prominent task force member Dr Anthony Fauci has warned that testing levels need to at least be doubled before lockdown restrictions can be relaxed.
The president was told that at least one governor reports an increase in the improper use of disinfectants. He said: “I can’t imagine why. I can’t imagine why.”
Asked if he accepts responsibility for the sharp rise, he answered bluntly: “No, I don’t.”
Someone else wondered if Trump might try to change the date of the November election. “No, I would never change the date of the election,” he said. “November 3rd. It’s a good number.”
There was a memorably pointed question: “Does a president deserve another term after more Americans die in six weeks than the entire Vietnam war?”
Trump, who was reportedly warned about the coronavirus by US intelligence agencies more than a dozen times in January and February, replied: “We’ve lost a lot of people. But if you look at what original projections were … we’ve made a lot of good decisions.”
Another reporter inquired about Kim’s condition. “I do have a very good idea but I can’t talk about it now,” Trump teased, game show style. “I just wish him well … I hope he’s fine. I do know how he’s doing, relatively speaking. We will see, you’ll probably be hearing in the not too distant future.”
If only the victims of the coronavirus were afforded such presidential compassion. But empathy, like lunch, is for wimps.
The Pentagon has declassified three previously leaked top secret U.S. Navy videos that show “unexplained aerial phenomena” and that some believe could show Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) in an effort “to clear up any misconceptions by the public on whether or not the footage that has been circulating was real or whether or not there is more to the videos,” said a Pentagon spokesperson.
“The aerial phenomena observed in the videos remain characterized as ‘unidentified'”, the spokesperson added.
“The Department of Defense has authorized the release of three unclassified Navy videos, one taken in November 2004 and the other two in January 2015, which have been circulating in the public domain after unauthorized releases in 2007 and 2017,” said Susan Gough, a Defense Department spokesperson in a statement released Monday.
“After a thorough review, the department has determined that the authorized release of these unclassified videos does not reveal any sensitive capabilities or systems, and does not impinge on any subsequent investigations of military air space incursions by unidentified aerial phenomena,” said Gough.
Two of the videos were included in a December 2017 New York Times article that explained how the U.S. government ran a program for investigating reports of unidentified flying objects until 2012.
The third video was released in March 2018 by To the Stars Academy of Arts and Science, a private scientific research and media group.
The releases triggered renewed interest in what the U.S. military may have learned from the videos and whether they were proof of the existence of UFOs.
“I can tell you, I think it was not from this world,” retired Cmdr. David Fravor told ABC News in 2017 of what he saw during a routine training mission on Nov. 14, 2004 off the coast of California.
“I’m not crazy, haven’t been drinking. It was — after 18 years of flying, I’ve seen pretty much about everything that I can see in that realm, and this was nothing close.”
“I have never seen anything in my life, in my history of flying that has the performance, the acceleration — keep in mind this thing had no wings,” Fravor said.
In April, 2019 the Navy acknowledged that the release of the videos had prompted the development of new guidelines for how pilots should report sightings of “unauthorized and/or unidentified aircraft.”
Reaction from award-winning journalist Lara Logan, host of ‘Lara Logan Has No Agenda’ on Fox Nation, and Joe Concha, media reporter for The Hill.
The Washington Post was slammed late Monday night for its bizarre framing of the latest developments that emerged surrounding the allegations made by Biden accuser Tara Reade.
Reade, who came forward last month accusing former Vice President Joe Biden of sexual assault as a Senate staffer in 1993, has had more corroborating evidence surface in recent days.
A clip from “Larry King Live” back in 1993 purportedly showing Reade’s mother calling into the show anonymously and alluded to her daughter’s “problems” she had with a “prominent senator” was brought to light on Friday. And on Monday, two more people, a former neighbor and a former colleague of Reade’s, came forward to back her claims after conversations they’ve had back in the 90s.
However, a piece published by The Post raised eyebrows with its original headline that read, “Developments in allegations against Biden amplify efforts to question his behavior.”
Not long after it was published, a new headline appeared in the report, “Trump allies highlight new claims regarding allegations against Biden.”
“Some allies of President Trump pointed Monday to new claims by a woman who said she was told about sexual assault allegations against Joe Biden decades ago, renewing attention to questions about the past behavior of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee,” Washington Post reporter Matt Viser began.
The transcript of the “Larry King Live” clip was first reported by The Intercept, the outlet founded by progressive journalist Glenn Greenwald, and conservative watchdog group the Media Research Center later found the clip in its archives. Rich McHugh of Business Insider, who previously worked at NBC News after having had collaborated with Ronan Farrow on the Harvey Weinstein scandal, was the journalist who broke Monday’s bombshell report.
As far as actual “Trump allies,” the Post cites tweets made by the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., in reaction to the developments and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who simply said the Biden allegations should be as scrutinized as the one leveled against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his 2018 confirmation.
The report went on to note that it has “been a topic for other top Democrats,” pointing to remarks made by potential VP candidates Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer despite the widespread silence among top Democratic lawmakers about the Biden allegations.
Viser, who was one of the reporters behind the paper’s first report about Reade’s claims on Easter Sunday, also mentioned the misconduct allegations Trump has faced.
The Post was widely panned on social media, some even pointing out the drastically different coverage Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh received when he was accused of misconduct during his 2018 confirmation.
“As an editor, I regard this headline as a hate crime and I will be pressing charges first thing in the morning,” Washington Examiner executive editor Seth Mandel reacted on Twitter.
Biden himself has not addressed the claims from Reade — but his campaign vehemently has denied the allegations. Biden’s Deputy Campaign Manager Kate Bedingfield said in a statement: “What is clear about this claim: it is untrue. This absolutely did not happen.”
Reade on Monday confirmed to Fox News the accuracy of how her conversations with former next-door neighbor Lynda LaCasse and former colleague Lorraine Sanchez were described and expressed her deep gratitude toward them for coming forward.
“I am touched that they would step forward knowing the targeted harassment I have received since I made my history with Joe Biden public. I appreciate their candor and bravery,” Reade said in a statement.
Earlier, a friend of Reade’s claimed to have been told about the alleged assault at the time it happened but chose to remain anonymous, and her brother, Collin Moulton, recalled Reade describing an incident with Biden involving a “gym bag.” The friend and Moulton both gave interviews to the Intercept.
LaCasse told Business Insider: “I remember her saying, here was this person that she was working for and she idolized him. And he kind of put her up against a wall. And he put his hand up her skirt and he put his fingers inside her. She felt like she was assaulted, and she really didn’t feel there was anything she could do.”
LaCasse said Reade was “upset” when she told her about the allegation and “the more she talked about it, the more she started crying.” She said she remembered urging Reade to file a police report but did not recall specific details from the alleged incident, such as the location or remarks Biden allegedly made to Reade.
“I don’t remember all the details,” LaCasse told Business Insider. “I remember the skirt. I remember the fingers. I remember she was devastated.”
LaCasse, a retired staffer of San Luis Obispo General Hospital, said she lived in the same apartment complex as Reade in Morro Bay, Calif. She recalled how the two of them had talked about “violent stories” they’ve experienced, which was when Reade told her “about the senator that she had worked for and he put his hand up her skirt.”
“I personally am a Democrat, a very strong Democrat,” LaCasse said. “I’m for Biden, regardless. But still, I have to come out and say this.”
Reade’s former neighbor said she “volunteered” to come forward, saying, “If this was me, I would want somebody to stand up for me. It takes a lot of guts to do what she’s doing.”
“I have to support her just because that’s what happened,” LaCasse continued. “We need to stand up and tell the truth.”
Sanchez said she did not recall Reade referring to Biden by name but remembered “reassuring her that nothing like that would ever happen to her here in our office, that she was in a safe place, free from any sexual harassment.”
“It takes great courage and strength to come forward,” Sanchez said in praising Reade. “It’s much easier to keep silent. However, I also understand the duty we have as women to share our story regardless of who the perpetrator may be.”
“We certainly are going to act in a swift fashion to try to have this ruling overturned, certainly put a stay in place,” the governor said. “I mean it’s, frankly, it’s insulting, it’s dangerous, and people’s safety and health has now been put at risk. There may be people who contract coronavirus as a result of what Darren Bailey has done now.”
On Monday Los Angeles County reported 29 more coronavirus-related deaths. That’s an uptick from the 18 reported on Sunday, and bucks the downward trend of the past few days. The new reporting moved the region’s total death toll from the virus to 942.
Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the County Department of Public Health, said on Monday that there were 900 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number to 20,417.
Those numbers may be an undercount, as Ferrar said last week that the county is still awaiting test results from several labs.
Earlier in the day, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a radio interview that he foresees “baby steps” toward re-opening the city “in the next two to six weeks.” Garcetti added that “it’s not really about a date, or how few cases you have…It’s really about scaling testing.”
Garcetti said the city is focused on “making sure we have the people to track and trace, and the testing to make sure we know what the prevalence is, and the infectiousness at any given time.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom sees a similar timeline.
“We’ve made real progress,” Newsom said in his daily COVID update on Monday. “We are just weeks away, not months away, from making meaningful changes to our stay-at-home order.”
But Newsom sounded a note of caution, as well, registering his displeasure at reports of Californians flocking to Southland beaches over the weekend.
“We can’t see the images like we saw, particularly on Saturday in Newport Beach and elsewhere in the state of California…This virus does not take the weekend off.”
People enjoy a day out on Sunday in Huntington Beach, Calif. High numbers of beachgoers over the weekend prompted warnings from officials that defying stay-at-home orders could reverse progress and bring the coronavirus surging back.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
hide caption
toggle caption
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
People enjoy a day out on Sunday in Huntington Beach, Calif. High numbers of beachgoers over the weekend prompted warnings from officials that defying stay-at-home orders could reverse progress and bring the coronavirus surging back.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
High temperatures drew large crowds to beaches along the California coastline over the weekend, and Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that photos of the packed shorelines show “what not to do.”
That behavior could putthe progress the state has made in battling the coronavirus pandemicin jeopardy, the governor warned at a news conference.
“I cannot impress upon you more, to those Californians watching, that we can’t see the images like we saw, particularly on Saturday in Newport Beach and elsewhere, in the state of California,” Newsom said. “This virus doesn’t go home because it’s a beautiful sunny day around our coasts.”
Many counties across the state have shut down beach access in the face of the pandemic but Orange, Ventura and Santa Cruz county beaches have largely remained open.
Modifications of the statewide order, are “weeks, not months away,” the governor said, but any gradual loosening of that order is “driven by data and behavior.”
“The only thing that will set us back is people stopping to practice physical distancing and appropriate social distancing,” Newsom said. “That’s the only thing that’s going to slow down our ability to reopen this economy.”
Newsom urged Californians to continue to heed the state’s stay-at-home order, which was put in place in March, and has yet to expire. On Monday, Bay Area officials announced an extension of their shelter in place order through May.
As of Monday, 43,600 Californians have been sickened with coronavirus and over 1,700 have died. While those numbers have continued to rise over the last month, the number of patients with COVID-19 in hospitals has leveled in the last week.
The governor’s warning comes as states such as Georgia and South Carolina are reopening access to many businesses and beaches.
Newsom also mentioned in the briefing more aggressive enforcement was likely in those beach communities that saw high traffic. Law enforcement and local officials in Orange and Santa Cruz counties plan to meet in the coming daysto discuss potential tactics or additional orders to limit beach access.
Video caption
What Trump voters think of his handling of the virus outbreak
President Donald Trump has said he “can’t imagine why” US hotline calls about disinfectant have risen after he suggested injecting the substance to treat coronavirus.
The governors of Michigan and Maryland on Sunday blamed the president for the spike in such calls.
Following heavy criticism from medical professionals, Mr Trump said his remarks were made sarcastically.
Disinfectants are hazardous substances and can be poisonous if ingested.
During Monday’s Covid-19 news conference, a reporter noted that the state of Maryland’s emergency hotline had received hundreds of calls in recent days seeking guidance about Mr Trump’s comments.
“I can’t imagine why,” the president said, moving quickly on. “I can’t imagine that.”
When asked whether he took responsibility at all for the increase in calls, Mr Trump replied: “No, I don’t.”
Last week, the Maryland governor’s office said it had issued a statewide alert warning against ingesting or injecting disinfectants following the president’s remarks.
Video caption
Doctors dismantle Trump’s treatment comments
Mr Trump made the disinfectant remarks on Thursday, after an official presented the results of US government research that showed Covid-19 could be killed in minutes by bleach.
“I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute,” Mr Trump said. “And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning?”
Video caption
Trump made the comments about “heat and light” during a government briefing
On Friday afternoon, Mr Trump told journalists: “I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen.”
During Monday’s Rose Garden press conference, Mr Trump was also asked whether he would delay the presidential election in November.
“I never even thought of changing the date of the election,” he said. “Why would I do that?”
Former US Vice-President Joe Biden, Mr Trump’s presumptive Democratic opponent, said last week he thought Mr Trump would “try to kick back the election somehow”.
But Mr Trump told reporters the idea was “made-up propaganda”.
“I look forward to that election,” Mr Trump said.
Constitutional scholars have already noted that if a president wanted to change the timing of a White House election he would be unable to do so – even in an emergency – because the date is set by Congress.
Mr Trump was also asked by a reporter if a president who has lost more Americans over six weeks than died during the two decades of the Vietnam war deserved to be re-elected.
He said his administration had done an “unbelievable” job.
The total number of confirmed US Covid-19 cases is almost at one million. There have been over 55,000 deaths thus far.
If the family member doesn’t need hospitalization and can be cared for at home, you should help him or her with basic needs and monitor the symptoms, while also keeping as much distance as possible, according to guidelines issued by the C.D.C. If there’s space, the sick family member should stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom. If masks are available, both the sick person and the caregiver should wear them when the caregiver enters the room. Make sure not to share any dishes or other household items and to regularly clean surfaces like counters, doorknobs, toilets and tables. Don’t forget to wash your hands frequently.
Reuters brings you the latest business, finance and breaking news video from around the globe. Our reputation for accuracy and impartiality is unparalleled.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee visits a drive-through COVID-19 testing location on April 18 in Franklin, Tenn.
Mark Humphrey/AP
hide caption
toggle caption
Mark Humphrey/AP
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee visits a drive-through COVID-19 testing location on April 18 in Franklin, Tenn.
Mark Humphrey/AP
Restaurants across Tennessee are able to welcome dine-in customers Monday for the first time in nearly a month as the state eases restrictions put in place to help stem the spread of the coronavirus.
The step toward some semblance of normalcy comes a day after the state reported its highest single-day jump in newly confirmed COVID-19 cases, 478, which officials say represents a 5.2% increase from the previous day.
The number of people confirmed to have the virus statewide as of Monday morning was just shy of 10,000 cases at 9,667, according to data compiled by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
State officials say the spike in confirmed cases is due primarily to an increase in testing. The state’s department of health tweeted that it conducted more than 7,000 tests this past weekend.
That is in addition to the more than 11,000 tests performed throughout the state the previous weekend, state officials said.
When Republican Gov. Bill Lee unveiled his “Tennessee Pledge” plan last week for reopening businesses in 89 of the state’s 95 counties, he mandated several protocols for restaurants to follow when welcoming customers.
“Tennesseans pulled together to flatten the curve, and it is time for people to begin to get back to work and back to their businesses,” Lee said in a statement on Friday. “We are pursuing a careful, measured approach to reopening our economy that does not depend on heavy-handed mandates but instead provides practical tools for businesses of all sizes.”
The new restrictions include limiting capacity to 50% and ensuring tables are no less than 6 feet apart, with no more than half a dozen people per table. They also say businesses should screen both employees and customers for signs of illness.
Bar areas will remain closed, “live music should not be permitted” and employees must wear masks and gloves at all times, the governor’s rules say. Self-serve buffets are also ruled out.
Retail businesses will follow similar guidelines on Wednesday, when they are slated to start reopening.
Not all jurisdictions in the state will have businesses reopen this week, as the Tennessean reports:
“Tennessee’s largest counties, though, including where Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville are located, will be setting their own reopening timelines in conjunction with their local health departments.”
As member station WPLN in Nashville reports, the coronavirus has been confirmed in 93 Tennessee counties.
“Over seven weeks, the coronavirus has been confirmed in all but two Tennessee counties. Only rural Hancock and Pickett counties are yet to report a case to the state,” WPLN reports.
The station adds that while cases are mounting throughout the state, officials point to other data as signs of progress in the fight against the virus.
“The state has consistently found that only about 7% of people tested are confirmed to be positive for the coronavirus, and that figure has been slowly ticking down. Likewise, among confirmed COVID-19 cases, Tennessee has consistently seen that about 10% of require hospitalization and 2% are fatal.”
Tennessee has reported that 181 people have died from coronavirus-related complications.
The former neighbor of a woman who claims Joe Biden sexually assaulted her in the mid-1990s said she recalls the former Senate staffer telling her about the alleged attack.
Lynda LaCasse, 60, told Business Insider that Tara Reade recounted the alleged assault by Biden in 1995 or 1996.
Reade has claimed the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee pinned her against a wall in 1993, reached under her skirt and assaulted her. The Biden campaign has strenuously denied the allegations.
LaCasse says Reade told her about the assault one evening when both women lived in Morro Bay, California.
“We were talking about violent stories,” LaCasse said, “because I had a violent situation. We just started talking about things and she just told me about the senator that she had worked for and he put his hand up her skirt.”
“She felt like she was assaulted, and she really didn’t feel there was anything she could do,” LaCasse said.
LaCasse, a former staffer at San Luis Obispo General Hospital in California, recalled Reade becoming emotional when speaking about the incident.
“She was crying,” she said. “She was upset. And the more she talked about it, the more she started crying. I remember saying that she needed to file a police report.”
“I don’t remember all the details,” LaCasse continued. “I remember the skirt. I remember the fingers. I remember she was devastated.”
LaCasse said she decided to speak up because she believed Reade’s account when she first heard it. She identified as a Democrat and said she would vote for Biden, regardless.
Business Insider also spoke to Lorraine Sanchez, a former legislative staffer in the office of California state Sen. Jack O’Connell, where Reade worked after she left Washington DC in the mid-90s.
“[Reade said] she had been sexually harassed by her former boss while she was in DC,” Sanchez said, “and as a result of her voicing her concerns to her supervisors, she was let go, fired.”
Reade told the outlet that she had been referring to Biden.
Last week, video emerged of a woman calling into CNN’s “Larry King Live” in August 1993 to voice concerns about “problems” her daughter suffered at while working for a “prominent senator” — without mentioning sexual harassment or identifying Biden by name.
Reade said it was her mother, who died in 2016, on the call.
Earlier this month, Reade filed a police report in Washington DC about the alleged assault. Cops said Saturday that the case had been “moved to an inactive status.”
Other former Senate staffers have cast doubt on Reade’s accusations, including Marianne Baker, Biden’s executive assistant for almost two decades, who said she never witnessed or heard about any inappropriate behavior.
In a statement earlier this month, Kate Bedingfield, Biden’s communications director said: “Women have a right to tell their story, and reporters have an obligation to rigorously vet those claims. We encourage them to do so, because these accusations are false.”
When asked about LaCasse’s statements, Bedingfield referred Business Insider to that statement.
AS OF NOW, THE PRESIDENT is not holding a news briefing for the third day in a row, and instead has opened up a 4 p.m. meeting with industry executives to the smaller White House press pool.
THE PARTICIPANTS in the 4 p.m. event: Walgreens President Richard Ashworth; Thermo Fisher Scientific CEO Marc Casper; Rite-Aid CEO Heyward Donigan; American Clinical Laboratory Association President Julie Khani; U.S. Cotton CEO and President John Nims; Walmart CEO Doug McMillon; CVS CEO Larry Merlo; CVS EVP Tom Moriarty; Quest Diagnostics Chairman and President Stephen Rusckowski; and LabCorp CEO Adam Schecter.
HERE’S AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC: Speaker NANCY PELOSI — the top Democrat in government and a frequent irritant of the president — is planning daily television appearances for the foreseeable future. PELOSI was on MSNBC with Stephanie Ruhle this morning, and on Sunday, she was on NPR’s “All Things Considered,” CNN’s “State of the Union” with Jake Tapper and MSNBC’s “AM Joy” with Joy Reid.
TRUMP’S NEW MEDIA POSTURE COMES as he has again switched positions on a critical and high-profile issue, abandoning his support for aid to state and local governments hit hard by the coronavirus — the chief Democratic ask for the next stimulus bill.
— @realDonaldTrump at 10:41 a.m.:“Why should the people and taxpayers of America be bailing out poorly run states (like Illinois, as example) and cities, in all cases Democrat run and managed, when most of the other states are not looking for bailout help? I am open to discussing anything, but just asking?”
NEW … SEN. RICK SCOTT (R-Fla.) in the Capitol this morning, per a pool report by TRISH TURNER of ABC, on aid to states: “It’s not fair to the taxpayers of Florida. We sit here, we live within our means, and then New York, Illinois, California and other states don’t. And we’re supposed to go bail them out? That’s not right. … I get it.
“WE SHOULD HELP THE STATES with the coronavirus. If you go back to how FEMA works — the federal government doesn’t pay for everything. And states have an obligation, cities have an obligation to balance their budgets and watch how they spend money, too.”
NEW … MICHIGAN GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER joined us this morning for a virtual Playbook Interview. When asked about her interest in becoming JOE BIDEN’S VP, Whitmer said she was not actively lobbying for the slot, a considerable difference from other much-talked about Democrats like STACEY ABRAMS.
— MORE VIA QUINT FORGEY: “Whitmer said she was unsure how Biden’s eventual running mate would campaign for office while governing or legislating amid the coronavirus outbreak in the United States. ‘Beats me! I don’t know. I mean, I’m not running for anything,’ Whitmer said, adding: ‘I just know that, you know, you don’t run for that. That is a selection of the top of the ticket, and everyone else should be just busy doing their jobs.’
“The governor also revealed she has provided no documents to the Biden campaign to facilitate a vetting process, but spoke in glowing terms about her personal relationship with the former vice president and presumptive Democratic nominee — who has pledged to select a female running mate.
“‘We’re cut from a similar cloth. He loves people. He is, you know, regularly checking in with me about what’s going on here in Michigan, what do we need. I’ve gotten some counsel from him in terms of, you know, just trying to communicate to people what we’re really confronting,’ Whitmer said. ‘I’m grateful for the friendship, and that’s — you know, everything that I’m doing right now is focused on helping the people of my state through this crisis,’ she said. ‘And that’s all the energy that I have is going into that effort.’” POLITICO
WHERE WE GO FROM HERE … “White House is reviewing expanded guidance on reopening society,” by WaPo’s Lena Sun and Josh Dawsey: “The White House is finalizing expanded guidelines to allow the phased reopening of schools and camps, child-care programs, certain workplaces, houses of worship, restaurants and mass transit, according to documents under review by administration officials. …
“It represents the most detailed guidance to date on the administration’s plan to gradually reopen key sectors of society … The guidelines have sparked sharp debates within the administration between public health experts and other officials … Among the most contentious issues are the guidelines for faith communities and restaurants.” WaPo … The 17-page guidance
Good Monday afternoon.
ENGAGED — Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) has gotten engaged to Nadine Arslanian, an international businesswoman from Bergen County, N.J. They met at a campaign rally many years ago. Pic
AP/NEW YORK: “New York officials make unprecedented decision to cancel June 23 presidential primary due to virus concerns.”
WHAT ELSE IS ON THE PRESIDENT’S MIND — @realDonaldTrump at 8:20 a.m.: “Blame the Democrats for any ‘lateness’ in your Enhanced Unemployment Insurance. I wanted the money to be paid directly, they insisted it be paid by states for distribution. I told them this would happen, especially with many states which have old computers.”
SCOTUS WATCH … SUSANNAH LUTHI: “Supreme Court rules government must pay billions to Obamacare insurers”: “The 8-1 decision could open the floodgates for federal cash to the insurance industry. Insurers who accused the government of a ‘bait and switch’ claimed they’re owed $12 billion from the Affordable Care Act program. …
“The decision will have little impact on Obamacare. The law faces a legal threat in a separate case brought by Republican-led states challenging the law’s constitutionality, which the Supreme Court has agreed to hear, likely later this year. But the ruling represents a loss for the Trump administration, which argued it wasn’t obligated to make the risk corridor payments and is supporting the red states’ lawsuit.” POLITICO … The opinion
— “Court tosses NY case that could have expanded gun rights,” by AP’s Mark Sherman: “The justices threw out a challenge from gun rights groups. It ruled that the city’s move to ease restrictions on taking licensed, locked and unloaded guns outside the city limits, coupled with a change in state law to prevent New York from reviving the ban, left the court with nothing to decide. The court asked a lower court to consider whether the city’s new rules still pose problems for gun owners. …
“Although the opinion was unsigned, the court was split, 6-3, over the outcome. Gorsuch joined Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas in dissenting from the dismissal. Kavanaugh wrote a brief concurring opinion in which he agreed with the result, but also said the court should take up another guns case soon.” AP
A CLASSIC AMERICAN SMALL BUSINESS … ESPN’S KEVIN ARNOVITZ: “The Los Angeles Lakers have returned approximately $4.6 million that they received from a federal government program intended to help small businesses weather the economic burden caused by the coronavirus pandemic.”ESPN
WAR REPORT — “Trump tells advisers U.S. should pull troops as Afghanistan COVID-19 outbreak looms,” by NBC’s Carol Lee and Courtney Kube: “Trump complains almost daily that U.S. troops are still in Afghanistan and are now vulnerable to the pandemic, the officials said. His renewed push to withdraw all of them has been spurred by the convergence of his concern that coronavirus poses a force protection issue for thousands of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and his impatience with the halting progress of his peace deal with the Taliban, the officials said.” NBC
HEADS UP — “Unreliable antibody tests flood the market as FDA waives quality reviews,” by Zachary Brennan and David Lim: “The Food and Drug Administration is dealing with a flood of inaccurate coronavirus antibody tests after it allowed more than 120 manufacturers and labs to bring the tests to market without an agency review. … Agency leaders have said they tried to create more flexibility for makers of antibody tests …
“But many of the tests available now aren’t accurate enough for such purposes. Some are giving too many false positive results, which could mislead some people into thinking they have already been infected. … The current FDA commissioner, Stephen Hahn, told POLITICO that the agency has discussed changing the current policy.” POLITICO
OVERSIGHT WATCH — “Federal watchdogs name top staffer to oversee pandemic response,” by Kyle Cheney: “A council of inspectors general that went dark after President Donald Trump removed the top coronavirus relief watchdog earlier this month resurfaced Monday, naming a top staffer to oversee the government’s pandemic response and launching a website that will catalog their efforts. …
“[Robert] Westbrooks, a certified public accountant, attorney and inspector general of a massive federal retirement benefit program, has held senior watchdog positions at the Small Business Administration, the Department of Transportation, the Postal Service and the National Archives.” POLITICO
FASCINATING — “Can Estrogen and Other Sex Hormones Help Men Survive Covid-19?” by NYT’s Roni Caryn Rabin: “[O]ne disadvantaged group has demonstrated a remarkable resistance. Women, whether from China, Italy or the U.S., have been less likely to become acutely ill — and far more likely to survive. Which has made doctors wonder: Could hormones produced in greater quantities by women be at work?
“Now scientists on two coasts, acting quickly on their hunches in an effort to save men’s lives, are testing the hypothesis. … Last week, doctors on Long Island in New York started treating Covid-19 patients with estrogen in an effort to increase their immune systems, and next week, physicians in Los Angeles will start treating male patients with another hormone that is predominantly found in women, progesterone.” NYT
FOR YOUR RADAR — “The Secret Group of Scientists and Billionaires Pushing Trump on a Covid-19 Plan,” by WSJ’s Rob Copeland: “These scientists and their backers describe their work as a lockdown-era Manhattan Project, a nod to the World War II group of scientists who helped develop the atomic bomb. This time around, the scientists are marshaling brains and money to distill unorthodox ideas gleaned from around the globe.
“They call themselves Scientists to Stop Covid-19, and they include chemical biologists, an immunobiologist, a neurobiologist, a chronobiologist, an oncologist, a gastroenterologist, an epidemiologist and a nuclear scientist. … This group, whose work hasn’t been previously reported, has acted as the go-between for pharmaceutical companies looking for a reputable link to Trump administration decision makers. They are working remotely as an ad hoc review board for the flood of research on the coronavirus, weeding out flawed studies before they reach policy makers.” WSJ
MEDIAWATCH — “Many Newspapers Want Coronavirus Stimulus. Four Out of Five Can’t Get It,” by WSJ’s Keach Hagey, Jeffrey Trachtenberg and Lindsay Wise: “Seattle Times Co. received a nearly $10 million loan last week as part of the federal government’s rescue program for small businesses. … The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is in essentially the same financial distress as the Times, with a similar size workforce among its parent’s publications. Yet it isn’t eligible for the aid and had to furlough or cut pay for 10% of its 900 employees this month.
“The reason: its parent company, WEHCO Media Inc., has more than 1,000 employees — the Small Business Administration’s maximum size for newspapers to qualify for the forgivable loans. … Papers representing more than 80% of U.S. circulation are disqualified from the government’s Paycheck Protection Program because of the way their companies are structured, according to data from the Alliance for Audited Media. The issue has prompted a bipartisan push in Congress to either amend PPP rules to make an exception for local news, or get news organizations other forms of aid in the next stimulus bill.” WSJ
— Fox News announced it would award the inaugural Dr. Charles Krauthammer Memorial Scholarship to high school seniors Ami Carey and Michael Carey. Ami will attend UCLA in the fall and is the daughter of Fox News’ SVP of technical operations, Steve Carey. Michael will study accounting and finance and is the son of Fox News’ senior director of IT operations, John Carey. The announcement
#MONDAYMOOD … JESSE VENTURA (@GovJVentura): “OK, I’ve decided I’m going to test the waters. IF I were going to run for president, the GREEN party would be my first choice. I’ve endorsed the party and I’m testing the waters. #mondaythoughts #MondayMorning #MondayMotivaton #MondayMood”
TRANSITION — REALCLEARPOLITICS’ @PhilipWegmann: “New: Pence deputy press secretary @DarinBMiller moved over to the White House today. He’s a special assistant to the president and will be working with conservative press.”
— DARIN is also a MARK MEADOWS alum — they worked together in the Freedom Caucus days.
WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Taylor Hittle, chief of staff for the HHS assistant secretary for financial resources, and Matthew Hittle, senior adviser to the CMS administrator, welcomed Maximilian Peter Hittle on Sunday — which was also Matthew’s birthday. Pic
— Brody Mullins, an investigative reporter at the Wall Street Journal, and Lauren Mullins, senior director of communications at Georgetown’s McCourt School of Public Policy, welcomed Robert James “Bobby” Mullins on April 4. He came in at 5 lbs, 13 oz. Pic
— Mary Ann Weiss, a program officer at the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, and Brandon Rattiner, an associate at Covington & Burling, welcomed Neleh Joy Rattiner on March 16. Pic… Another pic
Some states are deterring from White House guidelines to reopen while other states extend stay-at-home orders; Byron York reacts.
Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here.
Tennessee, Mississippi, and Montana allowed some businesses to reopen Monday under new health guidelines as several states begin to relax coronavirus lockdown restrictions in a bid to get America’s workers safely back to work.
The moves to reopen follow in the steps of Georgia, Oklahoma, and Alaska, which on Friday began loosening lockdown restrictions on businesses despite health officials warning the gradual return to daily life might be happening too soon.
Tennessee has seen the average daily infection rate remain stable for two weeks following a ramp-up in testing, and let restaurants reopen Monday at 50 percent capacity in 89 of the state’s 95 counties, Gov. Bill Lee’s office said in a news release.
Retailers are expected to reopen Wednesday under the same rules, with workers in both industries asked to wear face coverings and follow federal guidelines regarding hygiene under the governor’s plan, dubbed the “Tennessee Pledge.”
A man stands in the middle of Broadway to take a photo where the streets and sidewalks are normally filled in Nashville, Tenn. on March 23. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
The COVID-19 outbreak has put a burden on families and small businesses in the state, Lee said, with 15 percent of the state’s workforce – more than 400,000 people – filing unemployment claims as of last week.
“Like the rest of the country, Tennessee has taken an unprecedented economic hit with families and small businesses feeling the most pain,” the Republican governor said. “We must stay vigilant as a state, continue to practice social distancing, and engage in best practices at our businesses so that we can stay open.”
The remaining six counties – Davidson, Shelby, Knox, Madison, Hamilton, and Sullivan – operate their own health departments and decided to hold off on opening businesses until more progress is made against the spread of the virus, the Tennessean reported.
Mississippi “Safer at Home”
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves signed a “Safer at Home” executive order Friday that lets most retailers reopen Monday with a 50 percent reduced capacity. Businesses that cannot avoid social contact, like salons and gyms, will not be allowed to reopen, Reeves’ office said.
Movie theaters and museums will also remain closed, while restaurants will be allowed to resume take-out service.
“Wall Street and Hollywood will be fine,” the Republican governor wrote in part of a lengthy statement on Facebook. “Mississippi small businesses and workers are not. That’s who has been asked to shoulder the country’s burden. It’s not fair, and it’s not right. We have to safely, quickly re-open. That’s what we’re starting to do.”
Montana’s rollout
Montana’s Democrat Gov. Steve Bullock also gave retailers the green light to reopen Monday, with bars, restaurants, and casinos would be eligible to open May 4, as part of the state’s plan to gradually reopen.
The Treasure State took its first step Sunday, allowing churchgoers to attend services after a month-long hiatus.
Members of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Billings, Montana sing a hymn during a service Sunday following a phase-in reopening of businesses and gathering places as infection rates from the coronavirus decline in the state. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
Gyms, pools, movie theaters, and bowling alleys, however, will remain closed. Residents are still asked to minimize nonessential travel and to self-quarantine for 14 days after returning to the state.
“Montana was early in combating this virus,” Bullock said Friday during a news conference announcing the phased plan. “We’ve taken the right steps at the right time.”
The slow restart to normalcy in the trio of states comes just days after Republican governors in Georgia and Oklahoma allowed salons, spas, and barbershops to reopen despite the White House’s recommendations for how soon states should get back up and running.
In responding to President Trump’s criticism of his decision to reopen, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp tweeted: “I appreciate his bold leadership and insight during these difficult times and the framework provided by the White House to safely move states forward. Our next measured step is driven by data and guided by state public health officials. We will continue with this approach to protect the lives – and livelihoods – of all Georgians.”
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt joins Chris Wallace on ‘Fox News Sunday.’
Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma defended his decision to reopen his state’s economy, telling “Fox News Sunday” that it was “time for a measured reopening,” before adding that “we have to continue with the social distancing” because coronavirus does remain an issue.
“I can’t speak to what’s happening in other states, but in my state, we’re seeing the trending going down, our testing going up, our tracing, we put 80 different testing sites up, we’ve tested over 55,000 folks, our positive tests right now are 6.3 percent, and again 300 hospitalized cases across the state with a capacity for 4,600, we think it’s a reasonable time to reopen,” Stitt said.
Meanwhile, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy opened the way for restaurants to resume dine-in service and retail shops and other businesses to open their doors, all with limitations. However, some Alaska municipalities chose to maintain stricter rules.
This is a widget area - If you go to "Appearance" in your WP-Admin you can change the content of this box in "Widgets", or you can remove this box completely under "Theme Options"
