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Biden attacks Trump's 'rushed and unprecedented' confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett – US politics live | Biden attacks Trump's 'rushed and unprecedented' confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett – US politics live |
(32 minutes later) | |
President hosted Barrett for swearing-in ceremony outside White House administered by Clarence Thomas | President hosted Barrett for swearing-in ceremony outside White House administered by Clarence Thomas |
An important note: a federal judge’s ruling that the justice department cannot intervene on Trump’s behalf in E Jean Carroll’s defamation lawsuit effectively keeps her complaint alive. | |
As Pete Williams of NBC News explained, if the judge had ruled that the justice department was allowed to take over Trump’s defense, Carroll’s lawsuit would be moot because it is not possible to sue the government for defamation. | |
Given that the judge ruled Trump was not acting in his official capacity as president when he denied Carroll’s rape allegation, as the justice department tried to argue, the defamation lawsuit can move forward. | |
Senator Ted Cruz said he did not believe Trump’s attacks on Hunter Biden were motivating “a single voter” in the final days before the presidential election. | |
Sitting down for an interview with Axios’ Jonathan Swan, Cruz reflected on Trump and Biden’s performances in the final presidential debate. | |
The Republican senator said he believed Biden’s best moment during the debate was when he said, “It’s not about his family and my family. It’s about your family, and your family is hurting badly.” | |
When Swan pressed Cruz on whether he thought the attacks on Biden’s family were effective, the senator replied, “I don’t think it moves a single voter.” | |
Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer wrote a piece for the Atlantic about the thwarted plot to kidnap her. | |
The Democratic governor writes: | |
Earlier this month, the FBI announced charges against 14 people, several of them with ties to a rightwing militia group, in connection to the plot to kidnap Whitmer. | |
A lawyer representing E Jean Carroll applauded a federal judge’s ruling denying the justice department’s bid to take over Trump’s defense in the defamation lawsuit. | A lawyer representing E Jean Carroll applauded a federal judge’s ruling denying the justice department’s bid to take over Trump’s defense in the defamation lawsuit. |
“We are very pleased that the federal court interpreted the plain text of Federal Tort Claims Act as not covering President Trump’s false statements about our client, E. Jean Carroll,” lawyer Roberta Kaplan said in a statement. | “We are very pleased that the federal court interpreted the plain text of Federal Tort Claims Act as not covering President Trump’s false statements about our client, E. Jean Carroll,” lawyer Roberta Kaplan said in a statement. |
“The simple truth is that President Trump defamed our client because she was brave enough to reveal that he had sexually assaulted her, and that brutal, personal attack cannot be attributed to the Office of the President.” | “The simple truth is that President Trump defamed our client because she was brave enough to reveal that he had sexually assaulted her, and that brutal, personal attack cannot be attributed to the Office of the President.” |
Kaplan added, “We look forward to moving forward with E. Jean Carroll’s defamation case against Donald Trump in his personal capacity in federal court.” | Kaplan added, “We look forward to moving forward with E. Jean Carroll’s defamation case against Donald Trump in his personal capacity in federal court.” |
The Trump team is delivering its own closing message, tweeting an edited video of the president throwing hats to his supporters that makes it look like he is hitting Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden with them. | The Trump team is delivering its own closing message, tweeting an edited video of the president throwing hats to his supporters that makes it look like he is hitting Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden with them. |
The video includes multiple clips of Clinton tripping, and it is edited to make it appear as though she falls after being hit by a “Make America Great Again” hat. | The video includes multiple clips of Clinton tripping, and it is edited to make it appear as though she falls after being hit by a “Make America Great Again” hat. |
Biden appears in the video only once, seeming to get hit in the head with a MAGA hat. | Biden appears in the video only once, seeming to get hit in the head with a MAGA hat. |
As a reminder, it is seven days until Election Day; Hillary Clinton is not the Democratic nominee; Trump is 9 points down against Biden in national polls; more than 225,000 Americans have died of coronavirus. | As a reminder, it is seven days until Election Day; Hillary Clinton is not the Democratic nominee; Trump is 9 points down against Biden in national polls; more than 225,000 Americans have died of coronavirus. |
A federal judge has ruled the justice department cannot intervene on Trump’s behalf in a defamation lawsuit brought by E Jean Carroll. | A federal judge has ruled the justice department cannot intervene on Trump’s behalf in a defamation lawsuit brought by E Jean Carroll. |
“The President of the United States is not an ‘employee of the Government within the meaning of the relevant statutes,” wrote Judge Lewis A Kaplan in his ruling. | “The President of the United States is not an ‘employee of the Government within the meaning of the relevant statutes,” wrote Judge Lewis A Kaplan in his ruling. |
“Even if he were such an ‘employee,’ President Trump’s allegedly defamatory statements concerning Ms. Carroll would not have been within the scope of his employment.” | “Even if he were such an ‘employee,’ President Trump’s allegedly defamatory statements concerning Ms. Carroll would not have been within the scope of his employment.” |
Carroll has accused Trump of rape, an allegation that the president denied, prompting her defamation lawsuit. | Carroll has accused Trump of rape, an allegation that the president denied, prompting her defamation lawsuit. |
The justice department, under the leadership of attorney general William Barr, moved last month to take over Trump’s defense in the lawsuit. | The justice department, under the leadership of attorney general William Barr, moved last month to take over Trump’s defense in the lawsuit. |
Biden has released his closing message ads, which will air nationwide in the final week before the presidential election. | Biden has released his closing message ads, which will air nationwide in the final week before the presidential election. |
The two ads feature the nominee and his wife, Jill Biden, speaking directly to the camera about the stakes of this election. | The two ads feature the nominee and his wife, Jill Biden, speaking directly to the camera about the stakes of this election. |
In Biden’s ad, he delivers much the same message that he used to launch his campaign, arguing the US is “in a battle for the soul of the nation.” | In Biden’s ad, he delivers much the same message that he used to launch his campaign, arguing the US is “in a battle for the soul of the nation.” |
“I believe that even more deeply today,” Biden says in the ad. “Who we are, what we stand for, and maybe most importantly who we’re going to be, it’s all at stake.” | “I believe that even more deeply today,” Biden says in the ad. “Who we are, what we stand for, and maybe most importantly who we’re going to be, it’s all at stake.” |
Biden adds, “Character is on the ballot, the character of the country, and this is our opportunity to leave the dark, angry politics of the past four years behind us.” | Biden adds, “Character is on the ballot, the character of the country, and this is our opportunity to leave the dark, angry politics of the past four years behind us.” |
We’ll find out in seven days how much Biden’s message has resonated with American voters. | We’ll find out in seven days how much Biden’s message has resonated with American voters. |
This is Joan Greve in Washington, taking over for Martin Belam. | This is Joan Greve in Washington, taking over for Martin Belam. |
Today on the campaign trail: Trump will hold three rallies today in Michigan, Wisconsin and Nebraska, while Biden is delivering a speech in Georgia. | Today on the campaign trail: Trump will hold three rallies today in Michigan, Wisconsin and Nebraska, while Biden is delivering a speech in Georgia. |
It is rather remarkable that a Democratic presidential nominee is in Georgia a week before Election Day, considering the traditionally conservative state has not voted for a Democrat in a presidential race since 1992. | It is rather remarkable that a Democratic presidential nominee is in Georgia a week before Election Day, considering the traditionally conservative state has not voted for a Democrat in a presidential race since 1992. |
But polls show Biden and Trump running neck and neck in Georgia, which the president won by 5 points in 2016. A poll released yesterday by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution showed the two nominees virtually tied in the state. If Trump loses Georgia, his hopes of winning a second term will dwindle to almost nothing. | But polls show Biden and Trump running neck and neck in Georgia, which the president won by 5 points in 2016. A poll released yesterday by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution showed the two nominees virtually tied in the state. If Trump loses Georgia, his hopes of winning a second term will dwindle to almost nothing. |
And the president’s trip to Omaha, Nebraska, is also noteworthy. The state’s 2nd congressional district awards one electoral vote, and Barack Obama was the last Democrat to win it in 2008. According to FiveThirtyEight, Biden is favored to win Nebraska-2 this year. | And the president’s trip to Omaha, Nebraska, is also noteworthy. The state’s 2nd congressional district awards one electoral vote, and Barack Obama was the last Democrat to win it in 2008. According to FiveThirtyEight, Biden is favored to win Nebraska-2 this year. |
Donald Trump Jr has just retweeted Derek Hunter saying that “Leftists really seem to want dead police officers” in connection to the shooting of Walter Wallace Jr in Philadelphia. | Donald Trump Jr has just retweeted Derek Hunter saying that “Leftists really seem to want dead police officers” in connection to the shooting of Walter Wallace Jr in Philadelphia. |
Authorities in Philadelphia have said they will investigate the circumstances of the shooting. | Authorities in Philadelphia have said they will investigate the circumstances of the shooting. |
Witnesses say that Wallace’s mother was there attempting to shield her son from the officers, while the dead man’s father has subsequently told reporters “Why didn’t they use a taser? His mother was trying to defuse the situation. He has mental issues. Why you have to gun him down?” | Witnesses say that Wallace’s mother was there attempting to shield her son from the officers, while the dead man’s father has subsequently told reporters “Why didn’t they use a taser? His mother was trying to defuse the situation. He has mental issues. Why you have to gun him down?” |
Read more here: Philadelphia protesters take to streets after police killing of black man | Read more here: Philadelphia protesters take to streets after police killing of black man |
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany once praised Joe Biden as “a man of the people” capable of “coming off as human” and “resonating with middle class voters”. | White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany once praised Joe Biden as “a man of the people” capable of “coming off as human” and “resonating with middle class voters”. |
In an interview with a New York radio station in 2015, she also said that though she thought Donald Trump would be more likely to beat Biden, then considering a run for president, than Hillary Clinton, “I think the juxtaposition of kind of the man of the people and kind of this tycoon, is a problem.” | In an interview with a New York radio station in 2015, she also said that though she thought Donald Trump would be more likely to beat Biden, then considering a run for president, than Hillary Clinton, “I think the juxtaposition of kind of the man of the people and kind of this tycoon, is a problem.” |
A week before Trump faces Biden for re-election, the comments from five years ago were reported by Andrew Kaczynski of CNN, a reporter who specialises in burrowing through the strata of internet time, looking for forgotten comments by public figures which now seem unfortunate or embarrassment. | A week before Trump faces Biden for re-election, the comments from five years ago were reported by Andrew Kaczynski of CNN, a reporter who specialises in burrowing through the strata of internet time, looking for forgotten comments by public figures which now seem unfortunate or embarrassment. |
“I think the Republicans run into a problem if it is Joe Biden and if it is maybe a Trump on the other side,” McEnany told AM970 in 2015. “Because Joe Biden, one of the things he is remarkable at is really kind of being a man of the people and resonating with middle class voters. Feeling like – coming off as human. His gaffes – as much as we make fun of them – to a certain extent they make him look human. So not, since he’s likable.” | “I think the Republicans run into a problem if it is Joe Biden and if it is maybe a Trump on the other side,” McEnany told AM970 in 2015. “Because Joe Biden, one of the things he is remarkable at is really kind of being a man of the people and resonating with middle class voters. Feeling like – coming off as human. His gaffes – as much as we make fun of them – to a certain extent they make him look human. So not, since he’s likable.” |
McEnany also said, presciently, that though “the juxtaposition of kind of the man of the people and kind of this tycoon, is a problem” in any Biden-Trump match-up, “Donald Trump’s remarkably coming off as a man of the people despite being this wealthy business tycoon.” | McEnany also said, presciently, that though “the juxtaposition of kind of the man of the people and kind of this tycoon, is a problem” in any Biden-Trump match-up, “Donald Trump’s remarkably coming off as a man of the people despite being this wealthy business tycoon.” |
The same week, McEnany spoke to Fox Business Network. | The same week, McEnany spoke to Fox Business Network. |
“When you have Joe Biden here who’s funny and likeable and can resonate with the middle class,’ she said, “he really can speak to the average, everyday American, versus Hillary Clinton who’s cold and somber. Remember when she had to – that calculated move of drinking a drink at a bar to seem like a human being. Joe Biden is a human and people will resonate with that. I predict he will be the nominee.” | “When you have Joe Biden here who’s funny and likeable and can resonate with the middle class,’ she said, “he really can speak to the average, everyday American, versus Hillary Clinton who’s cold and somber. Remember when she had to – that calculated move of drinking a drink at a bar to seem like a human being. Joe Biden is a human and people will resonate with that. I predict he will be the nominee.” |
Biden wasn’t, of course, but he is now and a week out from election day he leads the incumbent president in most national polls and in most battleground states, though some leads are narrowing as Trump campaigns hard. | Biden wasn’t, of course, but he is now and a week out from election day he leads the incumbent president in most national polls and in most battleground states, though some leads are narrowing as Trump campaigns hard. |
In a statement to CNN, McEnany parroted Trump administration attack lines when she had now learned of Biden’s “profound personal corruption” and called him “an empty vessel for the liberal elites and far left”. | In a statement to CNN, McEnany parroted Trump administration attack lines when she had now learned of Biden’s “profound personal corruption” and called him “an empty vessel for the liberal elites and far left”. |