Steve Bannon pleads not guilty to fraud charges over border wall campaign – live
‘He didn’t strike me as a serious candidate:’ questions about DeJoy’s qualifications
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy did not seem to be a “serious candidate” to serve as postmaster general during an interview with the agency’s board of governor’s, David Williams, a former member of the board, told Congress on Thursday.
DeJoy did “particularly badly” during his second interview for the position, when John Barger, a Trump appointee to the board, had to complete question answers for DeJoy and explain what he meant.
“He didn’t strike me as a serious candidate,” Williams told the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
DeJoy’s role in leading the agency are under heavy scrutiny amid reports of widespread mail delays across the country. Donald Trump has admitted he does not want to fund the postal service because doing so would make it easier for Americans to vote by mail this fall. DeJoy announced this week he was “suspending” recent changes believe to be causing delays until after the election, but many worry the damage has already been done.
Williams also said that Barger, not the outside search firm looking for a new postmaster general, brought DeJoy’s name to the board for consideration. The Washington Post reported Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin recruited DeJoy, a major Republican donor without prior USPS experience, to the position.
Williams said he did not believe DeJoy underwent a background check before being appointed to the position. Questions about DeJoy’s business entanglements and potential conflicts of interest have come to light in recent weeks.
Williams also raised concern about recent decisions to remove mail sorting machines and mailboxes, saying they were puzzling and would not save USPS money.
Trump repeats ‘ill-informed’ and ‘demeaning’ claim about California wildfires
This is Lois Beckett, taking over our live politics coverage from California, which is currently battling hundreds of wildfires amid a scorching heatwave. Thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes.
When Trump weighed in on the wildfires at his press conference today, it was to repeat a version of claims he has made before, that some kind of poor forest management is responsible for California’s fires, and that he did not want the federal government to have to pay for disaster relief.
“The president’s message attacking California and threatening to withhold aid to the victims of the cataclysmic fires is ill-informed, ill-timed and demeaning to those who are suffering as well as the men and women on the frontlines,” Brian K Rice, president of California Professional Firefighters, said in a statement in response to similar comments in 2018.
Trump has used his comments about forest “management” to downplay the role of the climate crisis as a factor in the state’s wildfires. Asked in 2018 if climate change was a factor, he said, ““Maybe it contributes a little bit. The big problem we have is management.”
As The Guardian reported in 2018. “Several ecologists have pointed out that ‘management’ is typically code for logging by industry, whereby large stands of trees that would typically survive a wildfire are removed, leaving behind debris that is often more effective at spreading flames. Logging, therefore, can make forest fires worse.”
The same year, Trump also claimed that Finland prevented forest fires by raking and cleaning their forests, which prompted mockery from Finns.
Aaron Rupar (@atrupar)
Trump is back on his “clean the forests” nonsense: “I see again the forest fires are starting. They’re starting again in California. You’ve gotta clean your floors, you’ve gotta clean your forests … maybe we’re gonna have to make them pay for it.” pic.twitter.com/TKnYdhHgnY
August 20, 2020
Steve Bannon appears in court in New York, in this courtroom artist’s sketch. Photograph: Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
That’s it from me for now. I’ll be back later tonight to cover the last night of the Democratic National Convention.
Here’s where the day stands so far:
Steve Bannon pleaded not guilty to fraud charges. Bannon, a former top adviser to Trump, was arrested earlier today for allegedly using money from his anti-immigrant group “We Build the Wall” on personal expenses.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana has tested positive for coronavirus. Cassidy said in a statement announcing his positive test result, “I am strictly following the direction of our medical experts and strongly encourage others to do the same.”
House speaker Nancy Pelosi endorsed Congressman Joe Kennedy’s primary challenge against Senator Ed Markey, enraging progressives. A number of progressives noted Pelosi has historically been very hesitant to support primary challenges against Democratic incumbents, but the speaker made an exception for Kennedy’s campaign against Markey, who is considered one of the most progressive members of the Senate.
A federal judge ruled that Trump must comply with the Manhattan district attorney’s subpoena of his tax returns. The district attorney’s office is conducting an investigation into hush-money payments Trump made in 2016 and possible bank and insurance fraud.
Another 1.1 million Americans filed for unemployment claims last week, according to the Department of Labor’s weekly unemployment figures. The figure marks a concerning uptick compared to the week before.
My west coast colleague, Lois Beckett, will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
Trump has just wrapped up his campaign speech in Old Forge, Pennsylvania, where he delivered a dark message about the alleged dangers of electing Joe Biden president.
“They’re coming to get you,” the president said, describing himself and his supporters as “the wall between the American dream and total insanity.”
Aaron Rupar (@atrupar)
“They’re coming to get you … me, we, we’re the wall between the American dream and total insanity and the destruction of the greatest country in the history of the world” — Trump pic.twitter.com/WBI7TwQY3v
August 20, 2020
More from Victoria Bekiempis:
The judge also said one bail condition was that Steve Bannon would have “no use of private planes or private yachts or boats.”
According to the New York Times, the former Trump adviser was apprehended this morning on a $35-million yacht owned by Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui.
More from Victoria Bekiempis:
SteveBannon will be released on a $5 million bond, backed by $1.75 million in cash or real estate.
The former senior Trump adviser has until 3 September to get this collateral together.
The Guardian’s Victoria Bekiempis reports:
Steve Bannon has just appeared in court via video. The former Trump adviser is wearing a white face mask and a button-down shirt and looks sunburned in the face.
Bannon was arrested at about 7:15 am on a yacht off the coast of Connecticut, it was said in court. He was brought to New York City several hours later.
Bannon’s lawyer entered a not guilty plea for the fraud charges he is facing. Bannon is accused of using money from his anti-immigrant group “We Build the Wall” on personal expenses.
Speaking to reporters in Pennsylvania, Trump reiterated his belief that he would only lose the presidential election if it were “rigged.”
“The only way they’re going to win is by a rigged election, I really believe that,” the president said.
Trump pointed to his large crowd of supporters to justify that claim. However, recent national polls have found Joe Biden leading by several points, and the RealClearPolitics average of Pennsylvania polls shows Biden ahead by 5.7 points.
Trump noted that Joe Biden will speak at the Democratic convention tonight to formally accept the presidential nomination.
“Tonight, Slow Joe will speak at the Democratic convention, and I’m sure he’ll knock ‘em dead,” Trump sarcastically said.
The president went on to accuse Biden of having “abandoned” his birthplace of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
“He left,” Trump said. “He abandoned Pennsylvania. He abandoned Scranton.”
That accusation is a bit odd, considering Biden’s family left Scranton when he was 10 for his father’s work, so the young Biden probably didn’t have much say in the matter.
Trump is now addressing supporters in Old Forge, Pennsylvania, marking his latest effort to provide some counterprogramming to this week’s Democratic National Convention.
Trump opened his remarks by noting he watched Barack Obama’s convention speech last night, in which the former president warned the future of American democracy was on the line in November’s elections.
Barack Obama condemns Trump in powerful Democratic convention speech – video
The president oddly co-opted Obama’s language, arguing that he was the one who was protecting the future of the country.
“At stake in this election is the survival of our nation,” Trump said. “Because we’re dealing with crazy people on the other side.”
Senator Ed Markey offered a courteous message to House speaker Nancy Pelosi after she endorsed his primary challenger, Congressman Joe Kennedy.
“Speaker Pelosi is an effective leader who has shattered glass ceilings throughout her career,” Markey said in a tweet.
“I had the privilege to work alongside Nancy in the House for decades and any candidate would be proud to have her endorsement. I congratulate Joe Kennedy on securing her support.”
Ed Markey (@EdMarkey)
Speaker Pelosi is an effective leader who has shattered glass ceilings throughout her career. I had the privilege to work alongside Nancy in the House for decades and any candidate would be proud to have her endorsement. I congratulate Joe Kennedy on securing her support.
August 20, 2020
Markey and Pelosi served alongside each other in the House for more than two decades, but Pelosi said she was endorsing Kennedy because the time demands that Americans elect “courageous leaders.”
A number of Markey’s supporters criticized Pelosi for her endorsement because the speaker has consistently resisted backing primary challengers but is now trying to defeat one of the most progressive sitting senators.
Trump has arrived in Pennsylvania, where he will hold an event with supporters on “Joe Biden’s record of failure,” according to his campaign.
Monica Alba (@albamonica)
Despite President Trump’s call to boycott the company, the tires on the Beast in the motorcade are still Goodyear. This was taken at JBA before departure. We’re now wheels down in Scranton, Pennsylvania. What brand are those wheels, you ask? Also Goodyear. pic.twitter.com/xTHQBbYzAj
August 20, 2020
According to the pool report, the president was greeted by supporters chanting “Four more years!” and “We want Trump!” as he exited Air Force One.
Several White House reporters noted that, despite Trump’s call to boycott Goodyear tires, the presidential limousine is still using them.
Progressive Democrats are bullish on Senator Ed Markey’s chances of a primary victory against Congressman Joe Kennedy, despite House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s endorsement of Kennedy today.
Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna)
Pelosi endorsing Kennedy is just evidence that supports @EdMarkey case against dynasty and smoke filled rooms anointing candidates. Bold prediction: it will backfire. Markey’s up two. My guess is now he’ll win the race by more than 5. t.co/o4gqZneCGw
August 20, 2020
“Pelosi endorsing Kennedy is just evidence that supports @EdMarkey case against dynasty and smoke filled rooms anointing candidates,” tweeted Congressman Ro Khanna, who has endorsed Markey.
“Bold prediction: it will backfire. Markey’s up two. My guess is now he’ll win the race by more than 5.”
Recent polls have shown Markey and Kennedy in a dead heat in the primary, which will take place on Sept. 1.
