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US watchdog to investigate whether officials made 'improper attempts' to alter election result – live US watchdog to investigate whether officials made 'improper attempts' to alter election result – live
(32 minutes later)
Department of Justice’s internal watchdog will investigate possible internal collusion with Trump’s attempts to overturn Biden’s 2020 victoryDepartment of Justice’s internal watchdog will investigate possible internal collusion with Trump’s attempts to overturn Biden’s 2020 victory
Joe Biden is still talking at the White House, now taking press questions. He has complained that the division in government has actually led to less heated discussion on Capitol Hill, not more - at least in terms of lawmakers talking to each other across the aisle.
“There were very few debates on the Senate floor last year on any issue”, Biden said, turning to his vice president, Kamala Harris, standing close by, for affirmation.
Harris, who until she became veep was a Democratic Senator for California, nodded in agreement.
Biden continued: “I’m optimistic that. It may take some time, but if we treat each other with respect...we are going to argue like hell, but I think we can do it in a way where we can get things done for the American people.”
“The middle class built this country and the unions built the middle class, so let’s invest in them again,” US president Joe Biden just said.
He’s now signing an executive order to push the government to buy American. Now he’s going to Q&A from the press.
The first question concerns Chicago teachers who are refusing to return to in-person teaching in the classroom because they are at risk from coronavirus, while the vaccination program is behind.
Biden said: “We should make our school classrooms safe and secure” for teachers and children. He wants better ventilation, better sanitization, more testing, plastic dividers between desks and some other measures.
“They just want to work in a safe environment, and we can do that, and we should be able to open up these schools if we do this,” Biden said.
The president is creating a new role in the White House Office of Management and Budget, the director of Made in America, to oversee the administration’s efforts to maximize the US government buying American when it spends money.
One of the jobs will be to stop federal agencies waiving rules on the government buying American made goods “with impunity”, Biden just said.
The US government is the world’s biggest single buyer of goods and services. Biden just said, for example, that the government is a huge purchaser of vehicles and he wants those vehicles to become electric vehicles that are made in the US.
Joe Biden is back in front of the cameras at the White House, this time to promote his Made in America initiative to, according to officials, harness the purchasing power of the US government, the world’s biggest single buyer of goods and services, to strengthen domestic manufacturing and union jobs and create markets for new technologies.
Biden will sign an executive order aimed at closing loopholes in existing “Buy American” provisions.
Here’s some more detail and context on the Justice Department’s internal watchdog launching an investigation on whether current or former department officials made an “improper attempt” to seek to alter the results of the 2020 presidential election.Here’s some more detail and context on the Justice Department’s internal watchdog launching an investigation on whether current or former department officials made an “improper attempt” to seek to alter the results of the 2020 presidential election.
The announcement by Inspector General Michael Horowitz came after the New York Times first reported that Jeffrey Clark, then the department’s acting assistant attorney general for the Civil Division, had plotted with Donald Trump in a failed attempt to oust then-Attorney General Jeff Rosen so that he could launch a probe of alleged voter fraud in Georgia.The announcement by Inspector General Michael Horowitz came after the New York Times first reported that Jeffrey Clark, then the department’s acting assistant attorney general for the Civil Division, had plotted with Donald Trump in a failed attempt to oust then-Attorney General Jeff Rosen so that he could launch a probe of alleged voter fraud in Georgia.
Clark, Reuters reports this afternoon, was sympathetic to Trump’s so-called “Stop the Steal” campaign to overturn his defeat by Joe Biden.Clark, Reuters reports this afternoon, was sympathetic to Trump’s so-called “Stop the Steal” campaign to overturn his defeat by Joe Biden.
Clark met with Congressman Scott Perry of Pennsylvania to discuss a plan to have the department launch election fraud investigations to help achieve Trump’s goal of overturning Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.Clark met with Congressman Scott Perry of Pennsylvania to discuss a plan to have the department launch election fraud investigations to help achieve Trump’s goal of overturning Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.
Perry has since confirmed that he introduced Clark to Trump.Perry has since confirmed that he introduced Clark to Trump.
“Throughout the past four years, I worked with Assistant Attorney General Clark on various legislative matters. When President Trump asked if I would make an introduction, I obliged,” Perry said in a statement.“Throughout the past four years, I worked with Assistant Attorney General Clark on various legislative matters. When President Trump asked if I would make an introduction, I obliged,” Perry said in a statement.
The plan to oust Rosen and replace him with Clark so that the department could pursue investigations of Trump’s baseless voter fraud claims collapsed after senior department leaders pledged to resign in protest, current and former Justice Department officials told Reuters.The plan to oust Rosen and replace him with Clark so that the department could pursue investigations of Trump’s baseless voter fraud claims collapsed after senior department leaders pledged to resign in protest, current and former Justice Department officials told Reuters.
The reports about Clark and Trump’s failed plan “raise deeply troubling questions regarding the Justice Department’s role in Trump’s scheme to overturn the election,” wrote nine Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee.The reports about Clark and Trump’s failed plan “raise deeply troubling questions regarding the Justice Department’s role in Trump’s scheme to overturn the election,” wrote nine Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
According to current and former officials, Clark tried to pressure Rosen and former acting Deputy Attorney General Rich Donoghue to hold a press conference to announce they were pursuing allegations of election fraud. They said he also advocated for them to send a letter he had penned to Georgia state officials announcing they were launching a probe.Rosen and Donoghue rejected both requests.According to current and former officials, Clark tried to pressure Rosen and former acting Deputy Attorney General Rich Donoghue to hold a press conference to announce they were pursuing allegations of election fraud. They said he also advocated for them to send a letter he had penned to Georgia state officials announcing they were launching a probe.Rosen and Donoghue rejected both requests.
Clark has left the Justice Department and has not responded to multiple requests for comment.Clark has left the Justice Department and has not responded to multiple requests for comment.
Tim Ryan, who briefly ran for the Democratic nomination for president in the 2020 election, says he’s “looking seriously” at running for Senate in 2022 to represent Ohio, after Republican Senator announced his retirement earlier today.Tim Ryan, who briefly ran for the Democratic nomination for president in the 2020 election, says he’s “looking seriously” at running for Senate in 2022 to represent Ohio, after Republican Senator announced his retirement earlier today.
Ryan ran as a moderate in the Democratic primary contest. The congressman was always a long-shot. When he ended his campaign in the fall of 2019, he said:Ryan ran as a moderate in the Democratic primary contest. The congressman was always a long-shot. When he ended his campaign in the fall of 2019, he said:
“I got into this race in April to really give voice to the forgotten people of our country: the workers who have been left behind, the businesses who have been left behind, the people who need health care or aren’t getting a quality education, or are saddled by tremendous debt.”“I got into this race in April to really give voice to the forgotten people of our country: the workers who have been left behind, the businesses who have been left behind, the people who need health care or aren’t getting a quality education, or are saddled by tremendous debt.”
“I’m proud of this campaign because I believe we’ve done that. We’ve given voice to the forgotten communities and the forgotten people in the United States.”“I’m proud of this campaign because I believe we’ve done that. We’ve given voice to the forgotten communities and the forgotten people in the United States.”
Joe Biden came from behind to win the nomination and then the presidency in November 2020. Rob Portman announced earlier today that he won’t run for re-election.Joe Biden came from behind to win the nomination and then the presidency in November 2020. Rob Portman announced earlier today that he won’t run for re-election.
More on the venerable Patrick Leahy, Democratic Senator from Vermont, on his upcoming role presiding over the Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump.More on the venerable Patrick Leahy, Democratic Senator from Vermont, on his upcoming role presiding over the Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump.
A quick reminder of the timeline. The article of impeachment (charge against Donald Trump of incitement to insurrection) will be delivered from the House of Representatives across the halls of Congress to the Senate this evening.A quick reminder of the timeline. The article of impeachment (charge against Donald Trump of incitement to insurrection) will be delivered from the House of Representatives across the halls of Congress to the Senate this evening.
Senators will be sworn tomorrow in as jurors. Then there’s a pause in the proceedings and the trial begins on Monday February 8. It’s not known yet how long the trial is expected to last, but it should be pretty swift, perhaps wrapping up that same week.Senators will be sworn tomorrow in as jurors. Then there’s a pause in the proceedings and the trial begins on Monday February 8. It’s not known yet how long the trial is expected to last, but it should be pretty swift, perhaps wrapping up that same week.
Here’s my colleague Lauren Gambino:Here’s my colleague Lauren Gambino:
Another flashback to January 6 and the deadly insurrection at the US Capitol by pro-Trump supporters egged on by the-then president.Another flashback to January 6 and the deadly insurrection at the US Capitol by pro-Trump supporters egged on by the-then president.
Just watched the video that George Conway tweeted. The footage is pretty brutal in reference to Mike Pence.Just watched the video that George Conway tweeted. The footage is pretty brutal in reference to Mike Pence.
More on Harriet Tubman.More on Harriet Tubman.
The redesigned $20 bill was initially due to be unveiled last year, but those efforts were halted by the Treasury after the former president, Donald Trump, called them an example of “pure political correctness”, whatever the heck that means in this context.The redesigned $20 bill was initially due to be unveiled last year, but those efforts were halted by the Treasury after the former president, Donald Trump, called them an example of “pure political correctness”, whatever the heck that means in this context.
Here’s a depiction of what the new bill could look like.Here’s a depiction of what the new bill could look like.
As a presidential candidate, Trump suggested Tubman would be better-suited for the $2 bill, a note that is not widely circulated, Reuters further reports.As a presidential candidate, Trump suggested Tubman would be better-suited for the $2 bill, a note that is not widely circulated, Reuters further reports.
Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told lawmakers in May 2019 that he was focused on redesigning the bills to address counterfeiting issues, not making any changes to their imagery.Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told lawmakers in May 2019 that he was focused on redesigning the bills to address counterfeiting issues, not making any changes to their imagery.
Tubman, who was born into slavery and grew up on a Maryland plantation before escaping in her late 20s, would replace Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, on the front of the $20 bill.Tubman, who was born into slavery and grew up on a Maryland plantation before escaping in her late 20s, would replace Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, on the front of the $20 bill.
Tubman returned to the South many times to help hundreds of slaves to freedom and later worked as a Union spy during the Civil War. She died in 1913.Tubman returned to the South many times to help hundreds of slaves to freedom and later worked as a Union spy during the Civil War. She died in 1913.
There have been no women depicted on US bills since former first lady Martha Washington, who was featured on the $1 silver certificate from 1891 to 1896, and Native American woman Pocahontas, who was included in a group image on the $20 bill from 1865 to 1869.There have been no women depicted on US bills since former first lady Martha Washington, who was featured on the $1 silver certificate from 1891 to 1896, and Native American woman Pocahontas, who was included in a group image on the $20 bill from 1865 to 1869.
Other women, including Native American interpreter Sacagawea, suffragist Susan B. Anthony and author and activist Helen Keller have been featured on coins, Reuters reminds us.Other women, including Native American interpreter Sacagawea, suffragist Susan B. Anthony and author and activist Helen Keller have been featured on coins, Reuters reminds us.
In the redesign announced in 2016, Andrew Jackson would have remained on the back of the $20 bill.In the redesign announced in 2016, Andrew Jackson would have remained on the back of the $20 bill.
Treasury officials had no immediate comment.Treasury officials had no immediate comment.
Jen Psaki’s White House briefing having wrapped up, and indeed former press secretary Sarah Sanders having confirmed her run for governor in Arkansas earlier today, it seems as apposite a time as any to check in with the Washington Post’s fact checkers, who have released their final count of Donald Trump’s lies in office, whether from the White House podium, from stages at rallies or, who knows, in tweets sent from the bath:Jen Psaki’s White House briefing having wrapped up, and indeed former press secretary Sarah Sanders having confirmed her run for governor in Arkansas earlier today, it seems as apposite a time as any to check in with the Washington Post’s fact checkers, who have released their final count of Donald Trump’s lies in office, whether from the White House podium, from stages at rallies or, who knows, in tweets sent from the bath:
So writes Glenn Kessler in a valedictory post, released late on Friday night, that is of course well worth reading.So writes Glenn Kessler in a valedictory post, released late on Friday night, that is of course well worth reading.
Psaki’s briefings have started smoothly, the experienced press secretary riffling through her binder, stating the administration’s position, deflecting if caught off guard and, today, complimenting one reporter’s mask. Psaki also announced the return of regular Covid briefings, a practice which fell victim to Trump’s extraordinary appetite for untruth.Psaki’s briefings have started smoothly, the experienced press secretary riffling through her binder, stating the administration’s position, deflecting if caught off guard and, today, complimenting one reporter’s mask. Psaki also announced the return of regular Covid briefings, a practice which fell victim to Trump’s extraordinary appetite for untruth.
Nor were reporters subjected to attacks from the podium as they were under Sanders. Her campaign announcement, inevitably, included an attack on the media:Nor were reporters subjected to attacks from the podium as they were under Sanders. Her campaign announcement, inevitably, included an attack on the media:
Here’s more on South Africa and coronavirus travel restrictions in relation to the US.Here’s more on South Africa and coronavirus travel restrictions in relation to the US.
The White House confirmed Joe Biden is signing an order today imposing a ban on most non-US citizens entering the country who have recently been in South Africa, starting on Saturday.The White House confirmed Joe Biden is signing an order today imposing a ban on most non-US citizens entering the country who have recently been in South Africa, starting on Saturday.
Spokeswoman Jen Psaki also confirmed Biden will re-impose an entry ban on nearly all non-US-citizen travelers who have been in Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ireland and 26 countries in Europe that allow travel across open borders - a ban that was set to expire tomorrow.Spokeswoman Jen Psaki also confirmed Biden will re-impose an entry ban on nearly all non-US-citizen travelers who have been in Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ireland and 26 countries in Europe that allow travel across open borders - a ban that was set to expire tomorrow.
“With the pandemic worsening and more contagious variants spreading, this isn’t the time to be lifting restrictions on international travel,” Psaki said at a news briefing, Reuters reports.“With the pandemic worsening and more contagious variants spreading, this isn’t the time to be lifting restrictions on international travel,” Psaki said at a news briefing, Reuters reports.
The briefing is just about to wrap up.The briefing is just about to wrap up.
The Treasury Department is taking steps to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill, as was planned in the Obama administration.The Treasury Department is taking steps to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill, as was planned in the Obama administration.
Harriet Tubman was an American abolitionist and political activist who as a young age escaped slavery herself and subsequently made incredibly dangerous missions back to slaveholders’ estates to rescue enslaved people, using the network of activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad.Harriet Tubman was an American abolitionist and political activist who as a young age escaped slavery herself and subsequently made incredibly dangerous missions back to slaveholders’ estates to rescue enslaved people, using the network of activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad.
Barack Obama decided that Tubman should replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill, leading to celebrations that an escaped slave would be honored over a slaveowner president, as the Guardian put it at the time, 2016.Barack Obama decided that Tubman should replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill, leading to celebrations that an escaped slave would be honored over a slaveowner president, as the Guardian put it at the time, 2016.
Donald Trump, who placed a portrait of “bloody, bloody” Andrew Jackson, murderous enemy of Native Americans, prominently in the Oval Office, squished that plan. Now it looks like Joe Biden has revived it (as well as replacing the Jackson portrait in the Oval with one of Benjamin Franklin).Donald Trump, who placed a portrait of “bloody, bloody” Andrew Jackson, murderous enemy of Native Americans, prominently in the Oval Office, squished that plan. Now it looks like Joe Biden has revived it (as well as replacing the Jackson portrait in the Oval with one of Benjamin Franklin).
Obama at one point nicknamed what he hoped would be the forthcoming new $20 bills as “Tubmans”.Obama at one point nicknamed what he hoped would be the forthcoming new $20 bills as “Tubmans”.
As my colleague Amanda Holpuch wrote:As my colleague Amanda Holpuch wrote:
Among 200-year-old facts that will be new to many is that Tubman was the first woman in US history to plan and lead an armed expedition, liberating nearly 750 enslaved men and women in the process.Among 200-year-old facts that will be new to many is that Tubman was the first woman in US history to plan and lead an armed expedition, liberating nearly 750 enslaved men and women in the process.
She also fought for decades to gain compensation for her work as a spy, scout and nurse during the US civil war and was an advocate for both women’s suffrage and proper care of the elderly.She also fought for decades to gain compensation for her work as a spy, scout and nurse during the US civil war and was an advocate for both women’s suffrage and proper care of the elderly.
The US federal government under the new president, Joe Biden, does not know exactly how many doses of coronavirus vaccines are in the federal supply or immediately incoming right now.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki just said that the administration was in a mode of “eyes wide open” about the lack of organized plan it inherited from the Trump administration on vaccine supplies, distribution and administration (shots actually getting into arms).
“We knew we were not walking into circumstances where there was going to be a concrete plan presented to us,” she said.
The new head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Rochelle Walensky, said this morning that the agency “does not know how much vaccine we have or how much is coming [from producers Pfizer and Moderna] in the next two to three weeks.”
Meanwhile, Psaki said public officials will hold Covid-19 briefings three times a week, beginning on Wednesday.
Psaki just announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been dispatched to assist at an under-staffed vaccination site.
More details shortly.
Psaki just confirmed that Joe Biden tore up Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the military.
And Biden is to maintain travel restrictions on Europe, Britain, Ireland and Brazil and add South Africa restrictions, to try to curb the spread of variants of the coronavirus disease.
An update, the vaccination center was in West Virginia, MSNBC reports.
The White House press briefing has just begun. Press sec Jen Psaki just announced that from now on, her briefings will be accompanied by someone delivering the material using sign language.
Five days after the end of Donald Trump’s presidency, the supreme court today halted lawsuits accusing him of violating the US Constitution’s anti-corruption provisions by maintaining ownership of his business empire, including a hotel near the White House while in office.
The action means that after four years of litigation the top US judicial body will not rule on the meaning and scope of the Constitution’s so-called emoluments provisions, a largely untested area of constitutional law.
The provisions bar presidents from accepting gifts or payments from foreign and state governments without congressional approval.
The justices threw out lower court rulings that had allowed the lawsuits to proceed, Reuters reports, and ordered the two cases dismissed because they became moot with Trump leaving office.
One of the cases was filed by the District of Columbia and the state of Maryland, while the other by plaintiffs including the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). Trump had appealed the lower court rulings.
“Only Trump losing the presidency and leaving office ended these corrupt constitutional violations and stopped these groundbreaking lawsuits,” CREW Executive Director Noah Bookbinder said in a statement.
Maryland attorney general Brian Frosh and District of Columbia attorney general Karl Racine said in a joint statement that their case was significant because a lower court “ruled on the meaning of ‘emoluments’ for the first time in American history.”
Frosh and Racine said Trump and his Justice Department appointees who defended him “went to extreme lengths to prevent us from uncovering the true extent of his corruption.”
The Justice Department, now under Democratic president Joe Biden’s administration, declined to comment on the Supreme Court’s action.
In one of the cases, plaintiffs including CREW, a hotel owner and a restaurant trade group said the Republican former president’s failure to disentangle himself from his businesses had made him vulnerable to inducements by officials seeking to curry favor.
The plaintiffs said that they lost patronage, wages and commissions from clients who chose Trump’s businesses over theirs because of the ability to gain his favor. After a federal judge initially threw out the case, the New York-based 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals revived it in 2019.
A 2020 decision by the Richmond, Virginia-based 4th US circuit court of appeals allowed the similar lawsuit by the District of Columbia and Maryland to proceed. That suit focused on the Trump International Hotel in Washington, which became a favored lodging and event space for some foreign and state officials visiting Washington.
A third lawsuit filed by congressional Democrats against Trump ended last year after the Supreme Court refused to hear their appeal of a lower court ruling that the lawmakers lacked the necessary legal standing to pursue the case.
Walter Shaub, the former top US government ethics watchdog, who resigned early in the Trump administration, was sharply critical of the Scotus decision. today.
Shaub had previously strongly criticized the president over his failure to divest from his business holdings, saying he was “extremely troubled” that Trump simply turned over his investments to his two oldest sons.
It looks as though Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy will preside over Donald Trump’s impeachment trial in the senate next month.
It was known that it wouldn’t be Supreme Court chief justice John Roberts, as it was during Trump’s 2019 impeachment trial when Trump was a sitting president, and there was growing speculation that vice-president Kamala Harris, as the president of the Senate, would not preside over the upcoming melodrama.
So it looks like Leahy will be in charge, as president pro tempore.
The senate describes the role of president pro tempore as: the person who presides over the [senate] chamber in the absence of the vice president. The president pro tempore (or, “president for a time”) is elected by the Senate and is, by custom, the senator of the majority party with the longest record of continuous service.
Leahy is also a movie star.....having appeared in Batman films.
Major changes.
Some more details on that new investigation by the DoJ watchdog:
The Justice Department’s inspector general is launching an investigation to examine whether any former or current department officials “engaged in an improper attempt” to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Inspector General Michael Horowitz said today that the investigation will investigate allegations concerning the conduct of former and current Justice Department officials - but will not extend to other government officials, The AP reports.
The investigation comes after The New York Times reported that a former assistant attorney general, Jeffrey Clark, had been discussing a plan with the then-president, Donald Trump, to oust the acting attorney general, try to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential race and suggest falsely that there had been widespread election fraud.
The announcement of the investigation comes two days after Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer demanded the inspector general launch a probe “into this attempted sedition.”
The New York Democrat, Schumer, said it was “unconscionable a Trump Justice Department leader would conspire to subvert the people’s will.”
Election officials across the country, along with Trump’s former attorney general, William Barr, have confirmed there was no widespread fraud in the election.
Republican governors in Arizona and Georgia, key battleground states won by Biden, also vouched for the integrity of the elections in their states.
The vast majority of the legal challenges from Trump and his allies have been dismissed by judges, including two tossed by the Supreme Court, which includes three justices nominated by Trump.
Well that jogged things along. Joe Biden just signed the executive order at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office reversing Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the military.
Biden said he would take questions later in the day, from gathered media. This was just a ‘spray’ as it’s known - a brief witnessing by members of the selected press pool of the president meeting someone or announcing something at the White House, etc.
Biden was wearing a mask to prevent the spread of coronavirus, as was the vice-president Kamala Harris, and the new defense secretary, Lloyd Austin.
Austin is the first Black American to serve as US defense sec and, of course, Harris is the first female and first Black veep, as Biden continues to mark the changes from the Trump era.
As we await Joe Biden and Kamala Harris appearing at the White House for an event with Lloyd Austin (20 mins behind published schedule, and counting....), here are some details from the WH fact sheet released with the announcement that the president is dropping Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people serving openly in the military, thanks to my Washington colleague Joan Greve for pinging that on in full.
We paws for happy news.