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| Melania Trump closes second night of RNC marked by apparent violations of Hatch Act – as it happened | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A pardon and a naturalization ceremony highlighted the second night of the convention | A pardon and a naturalization ceremony highlighted the second night of the convention |
| That’s it from us tonight. The Guardian team will be back tomorrow for more coverage of the Republican National Convention. | That’s it from us tonight. The Guardian team will be back tomorrow for more coverage of the Republican National Convention. |
| Here are the key takeaways from the night: | Here are the key takeaways from the night: |
| The first lady offered condolences to Americans who had lost loved ones to coronavirus, breaking with other speakers’ efforts to downplay the pandemic. “My deepest sympathy goes out to everyone who has lost a loved one, and my prayers are with those who are ill or suffering,” Melania Trump said. The sentiment, which was frequently expressed during last week’s Democratic National Convention, was noteworthy given Republicans have avoided acknowledging the country’s coronavirus death toll, which is nearing 180,000, far greater than any other country in the world. | The first lady offered condolences to Americans who had lost loved ones to coronavirus, breaking with other speakers’ efforts to downplay the pandemic. “My deepest sympathy goes out to everyone who has lost a loved one, and my prayers are with those who are ill or suffering,” Melania Trump said. The sentiment, which was frequently expressed during last week’s Democratic National Convention, was noteworthy given Republicans have avoided acknowledging the country’s coronavirus death toll, which is nearing 180,000, far greater than any other country in the world. |
| Unlike the first lady, the senior White House adviser Larry Kudlow tried to cast the pandemic as a thing of the past. Kudlow celebrated the pre-pandemic economy before acknowledging coronavirus has upended the country’s job market. “It was awful,” Kudlow said of the pandemic. “Hardship and heartbreak were everywhere, but presidential leadership came swiftly and effectively.” Kudlow’s use of the past tense to describe the pandemic was jarring to many commentators who noted that the country is still losing about 1,000 people a day to the virus. The US unemployment rate also remains above 10%. | Unlike the first lady, the senior White House adviser Larry Kudlow tried to cast the pandemic as a thing of the past. Kudlow celebrated the pre-pandemic economy before acknowledging coronavirus has upended the country’s job market. “It was awful,” Kudlow said of the pandemic. “Hardship and heartbreak were everywhere, but presidential leadership came swiftly and effectively.” Kudlow’s use of the past tense to describe the pandemic was jarring to many commentators who noted that the country is still losing about 1,000 people a day to the virus. The US unemployment rate also remains above 10%. |
| Trump put his presidential powers on display, prompting criticism that he was using the White House as a prop. Over the course of the night, Trump signed a full pardon for Jon Ponder, a convicted bank robber who founded a prisoner re-entry program, and oversaw a naturalization ceremony at the White House. The president’s critics congratulated Ponder and the newly minted US citizens, but they accused Trump of misusing his power for political purposes. | Trump put his presidential powers on display, prompting criticism that he was using the White House as a prop. Over the course of the night, Trump signed a full pardon for Jon Ponder, a convicted bank robber who founded a prisoner re-entry program, and oversaw a naturalization ceremony at the White House. The president’s critics congratulated Ponder and the newly minted US citizens, but they accused Trump of misusing his power for political purposes. |
| Some administration officials’ participation in the convention raised ethical concerns. The appearance of Chad Wolf, the acting secretary of homeland security, at the naturalization ceremony sparked accusations that he had violated the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in certain political activities. Earlier today, a senior House Democrat announced an investigation into whether Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state, was breaking the law by delivering his convention speech from Jerusalem during an official visit there. | Some administration officials’ participation in the convention raised ethical concerns. The appearance of Chad Wolf, the acting secretary of homeland security, at the naturalization ceremony sparked accusations that he had violated the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in certain political activities. Earlier today, a senior House Democrat announced an investigation into whether Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state, was breaking the law by delivering his convention speech from Jerusalem during an official visit there. |
| The Trump campaign made a pitch to women voters, who have been leaning toward Joe Biden. The first lady specifically addressed American mothers during her speech, and Republicans played a video celebrating the women who serve as senior advisers to the president. The messaging appeared to be an effort to chip away at Biden’s double-digit lead among women voters, which could certainly complicate Trump’s path to victory in November’s presidential election. | The Trump campaign made a pitch to women voters, who have been leaning toward Joe Biden. The first lady specifically addressed American mothers during her speech, and Republicans played a video celebrating the women who serve as senior advisers to the president. The messaging appeared to be an effort to chip away at Biden’s double-digit lead among women voters, which could certainly complicate Trump’s path to victory in November’s presidential election. |
| The culture wars once again took center stage in Republicans’ denunciation of Democrats and the media. A number of speakers, including Covington Catholic student Nicholas Sandmann, condemned “cancel culture”. Sandmann, who gained national attention last year following his interaction with a Native American activist at the Lincoln Memorial, said, “I learned that what was happening to me had a name. It was called being cancelled.” | The culture wars once again took center stage in Republicans’ denunciation of Democrats and the media. A number of speakers, including Covington Catholic student Nicholas Sandmann, condemned “cancel culture”. Sandmann, who gained national attention last year following his interaction with a Native American activist at the Lincoln Memorial, said, “I learned that what was happening to me had a name. It was called being cancelled.” |
| Two more of Trump’s children addressed the convention, as the president’s family continues to play a key role in the event. Eric and Tiffany Trump delivered convention speeches a day after Donald Trump Jr gave his speech, and Ivanka Trump is expected to introduce the president before his Thursday remarks. Amid a convention with no party platform, the president’s children have become some of his most important endorsers. | Two more of Trump’s children addressed the convention, as the president’s family continues to play a key role in the event. Eric and Tiffany Trump delivered convention speeches a day after Donald Trump Jr gave his speech, and Ivanka Trump is expected to introduce the president before his Thursday remarks. Amid a convention with no party platform, the president’s children have become some of his most important endorsers. |
| Thanks for following along with our convention coverage tonight, and remember to tune back in tomorrow. | Thanks for following along with our convention coverage tonight, and remember to tune back in tomorrow. |
| Abby Johnson, the prominent anti-abortion activist who spoke at the RNC tonight, said “statistically, my brown son is more likely to commit a violent offense over my white sons” in a deleted video obtained by Vice. | Abby Johnson, the prominent anti-abortion activist who spoke at the RNC tonight, said “statistically, my brown son is more likely to commit a violent offense over my white sons” in a deleted video obtained by Vice. |
| She said, of her adopted son, who she described as having “a perpetual tan”: “When a police officer sees a brown man like my Jude walking down the road – as opposed to my white nerdy kids, my white nerdy men walking down the road – because of the statistics that he knows in his head, that these police officers know in their head, they’re going to know that statistically, my brown son is more likely to commit a violent offense over my white sons.” | She said, of her adopted son, who she described as having “a perpetual tan”: “When a police officer sees a brown man like my Jude walking down the road – as opposed to my white nerdy kids, my white nerdy men walking down the road – because of the statistics that he knows in his head, that these police officers know in their head, they’re going to know that statistically, my brown son is more likely to commit a violent offense over my white sons.” |
| Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood employee, said she quit working with the women’s health clinics after she assisted a doctor who performed an abortion on a woman who was thirteen weeks pregnant. But reporters have found holes in her story about how she transformed into an anti-abortion activist. | Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood employee, said she quit working with the women’s health clinics after she assisted a doctor who performed an abortion on a woman who was thirteen weeks pregnant. But reporters have found holes in her story about how she transformed into an anti-abortion activist. |
| – Maanvi Singh | – Maanvi Singh |
| Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron received praise from his fellow Republicans for his speech at the convention tonight. | Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron received praise from his fellow Republicans for his speech at the convention tonight. |
| “I think often about my ancestors who struggled for freedom,” said Cameron, the first black attorney general in Kentucky. “I also think about Joe Biden who says ‘If you aren’t voting for me, you ain’t Black,’ who argued that Republicans would put us back in chains, who said there is no diversity of thought in the Black community.” | “I think often about my ancestors who struggled for freedom,” said Cameron, the first black attorney general in Kentucky. “I also think about Joe Biden who says ‘If you aren’t voting for me, you ain’t Black,’ who argued that Republicans would put us back in chains, who said there is no diversity of thought in the Black community.” |
| Cameron went on to say, “Mr Vice President, look at me. I am black; we are not all the same, sir. I am not in chains. My mind is my own.” | Cameron went on to say, “Mr Vice President, look at me. I am black; we are not all the same, sir. I am not in chains. My mind is my own.” |
| Some commentators praised Cameron as a potential breakout star of the convention: | Some commentators praised Cameron as a potential breakout star of the convention: |
| But a number of others were quick to criticize Cameron for not having yet pressed charges against the police officers who killed Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old black woman who was fatally shot by the officers as they carried out a no-knock warrant. | But a number of others were quick to criticize Cameron for not having yet pressed charges against the police officers who killed Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old black woman who was fatally shot by the officers as they carried out a no-knock warrant. |
| Joe Biden’s campaign released a separate statement accusing Republicans of using immigrants as “props”, after the convention featured a naturalization ceremony in tonight’s programming. | Joe Biden’s campaign released a separate statement accusing Republicans of using immigrants as “props”, after the convention featured a naturalization ceremony in tonight’s programming. |
| Jennifer Molina, the Biden campaign’s Latino media director, said in a statement, “We can’t afford four more years of the Administration and will not be persuaded by gimmicks. Immigrants and Latinos are not props, and these empty gestures won’t make us forget Donald Trump’s failures.” | Jennifer Molina, the Biden campaign’s Latino media director, said in a statement, “We can’t afford four more years of the Administration and will not be persuaded by gimmicks. Immigrants and Latinos are not props, and these empty gestures won’t make us forget Donald Trump’s failures.” |
| The televised naturalization ceremony and pardoning tonight also prompted some commentators, such as MSNBC anchor Joy Ann Reid, to accuse Trump of improperly using his presidential powers for political gain. | The televised naturalization ceremony and pardoning tonight also prompted some commentators, such as MSNBC anchor Joy Ann Reid, to accuse Trump of improperly using his presidential powers for political gain. |
| A former associate counsel in the White House Counsel’s Office, Daniel Jacobson, explains that while the Office of Special Counsel has the authority to enforce the Hatch Act, it hasn’t been aggressive in doing so: | A former associate counsel in the White House Counsel’s Office, Daniel Jacobson, explains that while the Office of Special Counsel has the authority to enforce the Hatch Act, it hasn’t been aggressive in doing so: |
| Jacobson also noted that if the naturalization ceremony featured during the RNC was filmed by staff “knowing and intending that it would be used at the convention (which they obviously did), it violates the law”. | Jacobson also noted that if the naturalization ceremony featured during the RNC was filmed by staff “knowing and intending that it would be used at the convention (which they obviously did), it violates the law”. |
| – Maanvi Singh | – Maanvi Singh |
| The Biden campaign’s communications Director Kate Bedingfield said the RNC presented “an alternative reality” and a “delusion”: | The Biden campaign’s communications Director Kate Bedingfield said the RNC presented “an alternative reality” and a “delusion”: |
| – Maanvi Singh | – Maanvi Singh |
| A White House official told the Wall Street Journal’s Rebecca Ballhaus that they’d worked around the Hatch Act... | A White House official told the Wall Street Journal’s Rebecca Ballhaus that they’d worked around the Hatch Act... |
| It’s unclear if the reasoning will hold up to legal scrutiny. | It’s unclear if the reasoning will hold up to legal scrutiny. |
| – Maanvi Singh | – Maanvi Singh |
| The government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has been documenting what it calls a pattern of Hatch Act violations by the Trump administration. | The government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has been documenting what it calls a pattern of Hatch Act violations by the Trump administration. |
| “We’ve never seen this many repeated Hatch Act violations by senior officials of an administration in so short a time,” the group has noted in a statement documenting alleged violations throughout Trump’s tenure. | “We’ve never seen this many repeated Hatch Act violations by senior officials of an administration in so short a time,” the group has noted in a statement documenting alleged violations throughout Trump’s tenure. |
| Kathleen Clark, a legal and government ethics professor at Washington University School of Law in St Louis, noted that the RNC video of Donald Trump and Chad Wolf presiding over a naturalization ceremony amounted to a crime: | Kathleen Clark, a legal and government ethics professor at Washington University School of Law in St Louis, noted that the RNC video of Donald Trump and Chad Wolf presiding over a naturalization ceremony amounted to a crime: |
| – Maanvi Singh | – Maanvi Singh |
| That the White House would feature in the convention so prominently had raised early concerns that the convention was in violation of the Hatch Act, which bans government employees from participating in politics while they’re at work. | That the White House would feature in the convention so prominently had raised early concerns that the convention was in violation of the Hatch Act, which bans government employees from participating in politics while they’re at work. |
| The president and vice president are both exempt from the act, but other officials who participated in the RNC tonight – including Chad Wolf, the acting head of homeland security, and Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state – are not. | The president and vice president are both exempt from the act, but other officials who participated in the RNC tonight – including Chad Wolf, the acting head of homeland security, and Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state – are not. |
| The Office of Special Counsel told Congressional Democrats earlier this month that although Trump could deliver his speech from White House grounds, the Hatch Act prevented White House employees from working the event. | The Office of Special Counsel told Congressional Democrats earlier this month that although Trump could deliver his speech from White House grounds, the Hatch Act prevented White House employees from working the event. |
| – Maanvi Singh | – Maanvi Singh |
| Today both Melania Trump and Cissie Graham Lynch claimed that Trump was the first president to talk about the importance of religious freedom in front of the United Nations. | Today both Melania Trump and Cissie Graham Lynch claimed that Trump was the first president to talk about the importance of religious freedom in front of the United Nations. |
| He was not. | He was not. |
| Here is Barack Obama speaking about religious freedom in front of the UN. | Here is Barack Obama speaking about religious freedom in front of the UN. |
| Here is George W Bush doing the same. | Here is George W Bush doing the same. |
| – Maanvi Singh | – Maanvi Singh |
| During her speech, first lady Melania Trump said she admired her husband’s authentic approach to the job of president. | During her speech, first lady Melania Trump said she admired her husband’s authentic approach to the job of president. |
| “Whether you like it or not, you always know what he’s thinking,” the first lady said of her husband. | “Whether you like it or not, you always know what he’s thinking,” the first lady said of her husband. |
| Even the president’s critics would probably agree with that assessment. | Even the president’s critics would probably agree with that assessment. |
| “Like all of you, I have reflected on the racial unrest in our country,” Melania Trump said. “We are not proud of parts of our history.” | “Like all of you, I have reflected on the racial unrest in our country,” Melania Trump said. “We are not proud of parts of our history.” |
| She has however, in the past defended her husband’s racist birtherism rampage against Barack Obama. In a 2011 interview with Joy Behar, Melanie Trump said that it wasn’t just her husband who wanted to see Obama’s birth certificate, “It’s American people who voted for him and who didn’t vote for him. They want to see that.” | She has however, in the past defended her husband’s racist birtherism rampage against Barack Obama. In a 2011 interview with Joy Behar, Melanie Trump said that it wasn’t just her husband who wanted to see Obama’s birth certificate, “It’s American people who voted for him and who didn’t vote for him. They want to see that.” |
| First lady Melania Trump has concluded her speech at the White House, wrapping up the second night of the Republican convention. | First lady Melania Trump has concluded her speech at the White House, wrapping up the second night of the Republican convention. |
| The blog will have more reactions and analysis coming up, so stay tuned. | The blog will have more reactions and analysis coming up, so stay tuned. |
| Melania Trump said she admired her husband for never giving up on his policy agenda and for supporting her. | Melania Trump said she admired her husband for never giving up on his policy agenda and for supporting her. |
| “Donald is a husband who supports me in all that I do,” Trump said. “We will be honored to serve this incredible country for four more years.” | “Donald is a husband who supports me in all that I do,” Trump said. “We will be honored to serve this incredible country for four more years.” |
| Nearing the end of her speech, the first lady noted she had not spent much of her time criticizing Democrats. | Nearing the end of her speech, the first lady noted she had not spent much of her time criticizing Democrats. |
| “I don’t want to use this precious time attacking the other side, because, as we saw last week, that kind of talk only serves to divide the country further,” Trump said. | “I don’t want to use this precious time attacking the other side, because, as we saw last week, that kind of talk only serves to divide the country further,” Trump said. |
| Melania Trump said she became a US citizen “after 10 years of paperwork and patience... with hard work and determination.” | Melania Trump said she became a US citizen “after 10 years of paperwork and patience... with hard work and determination.” |
| Her experience isn’t unique – many immigrants (including this reporter) – have to wait years to obtain a green card and then citizenship. The arduous process has only gotten more so under the Trump administration, which, in addition to criminalizing and detaining migrants, imposing a “public charge” rule to deter immigrants from using benefits like food stamps and public healthcare, restricting travel from many Muslim-majority countries, and limiting the number of refugees admitted to a historical low, has overseen increases in backlogs for immigrants who’ve made it past the maze of deterrents and are seeking naturalization. | Her experience isn’t unique – many immigrants (including this reporter) – have to wait years to obtain a green card and then citizenship. The arduous process has only gotten more so under the Trump administration, which, in addition to criminalizing and detaining migrants, imposing a “public charge” rule to deter immigrants from using benefits like food stamps and public healthcare, restricting travel from many Muslim-majority countries, and limiting the number of refugees admitted to a historical low, has overseen increases in backlogs for immigrants who’ve made it past the maze of deterrents and are seeking naturalization. |
| The time it takes for those who want citizenship to gain it is now nearly double what it was two years ago, per the New York Times. | The time it takes for those who want citizenship to gain it is now nearly double what it was two years ago, per the New York Times. |
| – Maanvi Singh | – Maanvi Singh |
| Melania Trump touched on the national reckoning over racism in her speech at the Republican convention. | Melania Trump touched on the national reckoning over racism in her speech at the Republican convention. |
| “I urge people to come together in a civil manner,” Trump said. “I also ask people to stop the violence and looting being done in the name of justice. And never make assumptions based on the color of a person’s skin.” | “I urge people to come together in a civil manner,” Trump said. “I also ask people to stop the violence and looting being done in the name of justice. And never make assumptions based on the color of a person’s skin.” |
| As Trump spoke, protests continued in Kenosha, Wisconsin, over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, an African American man who was repeatedly shot in the back by officers. | As Trump spoke, protests continued in Kenosha, Wisconsin, over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, an African American man who was repeatedly shot in the back by officers. |
| Melania Trump expressed admiration for her husband, who she noted was not a “traditional” politician. | Melania Trump expressed admiration for her husband, who she noted was not a “traditional” politician. |
| “He demands action, and he gets results,” the first lady said of the president. | “He demands action, and he gets results,” the first lady said of the president. |
| According to Politifact, Trump has broken about half of the promises he has made since becoming president. | According to Politifact, Trump has broken about half of the promises he has made since becoming president. |
| Melania Trump said she was “honored” to have served as the first lady of the United States for the past three and a half years. | Melania Trump said she was “honored” to have served as the first lady of the United States for the past three and a half years. |
| “It is my greatest honor to serve you,” Trump said in her convention speech. | “It is my greatest honor to serve you,” Trump said in her convention speech. |
| The first lady’s speech so far has been very personal, from offering condolences to families affected by coronavirus to recounting her experience becoming a US citizen. | The first lady’s speech so far has been very personal, from offering condolences to families affected by coronavirus to recounting her experience becoming a US citizen. |