INSIDER
New round of Trump clemency benefits Manafort, other allies
Read full article: New round of Trump clemency benefits Manafort, other alliesFILE - In this Thursday, June 27, 2019 file photo, Paul Manafort arrives in court in New York. President Trump's former campaign manager is to be arraigned on state mortgage fraud charges. Manafort, who led Trump's campaign during a pivotal period in 2016 before being ousted over his ties to Ukraine, was among the first people charged as part of Mueller’s investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. Though the charges against Manafort did not concern the central thrust of Mueller's mandate — whether the Trump campaign and Russia colluded to tip the election — he was nonetheless a pivotal figure in the investigation. Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009.
A look at the 29 people Trump pardoned or gave commutations
Read full article: A look at the 29 people Trump pardoned or gave commutationsTrump commuted his sentence in July just days before he was scheduled to report to federal prison. The president commuted her sentence; the White House said the commutation was supported by several former U.S. attorneys general. A White House news release praised the men as “model prisoners,” who had earned support and praise from other inmates. She was in the White House when Trump signed the overhaul measure, known as the First Step Act, into law. Black was a co-defendant in the case and was also convicted; Trump previously pardoned him.
The Latest: Aide says Biden will appoint 'COVID coordinator'
Read full article: The Latest: Aide says Biden will appoint 'COVID coordinator'Joe Biden has chosen his longtime adviser Ron Klain to reprise his role as his chief of staff, installing an aide with decades of experience across. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)WASHINGTON – The Latest on President-elect Joe Biden (all times local):10:45 p.m.Incoming White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain says President-elect Joe Biden will appoint a “COVID coordinator” who will lead the administration’s pandemic response. ___3:25 p.m.President-elect Joe Biden has spoken with the top two Democrats in Congress — but not their Republican counterparts yet. ___1 p.m.President-elect Joe Biden has spoken by phone with Pope Francis as he continues to talk with leaders around the world. Democrats already control the House, and Democrat Joe Biden is the president-elect after beating President Donald Trump in their White House contest.
EXPLAINER: Why AP hasn't called Pennsylvania
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Why AP hasn't called Pennsylvania(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)WHY AP HASN’T CALLED PENNSYLVANIA:The Associated Press has not declared a winner in the battleground state of Pennsylvania because there were hundreds of thousands of votes left to count Thursday morning in the contest between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden. Pennsylvania is among a handful of battleground states Trump and Biden are narrowly contesting as they seek the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency. Trump, who held a 675,000-vote lead early Wednesday, prematurely declared victory in the state. We’re up 690,000 votes in Pennsylvania. One reason: Under state law, elections officials are not allowed to process mail-in ballots until Election Day.
WHAT TO WATCH: Melania, Pompeo and Trump at GOP convention
Read full article: WHAT TO WATCH: Melania, Pompeo and Trump at GOP conventionWhat to watch at the convention Tuesday:TRUMPTrump appeared frequently during the first day of his partys convention. THE FIRST LADYFirst lady Melania Trump is set to give the marquee address from the Rose Garden. Her speech at the 2016 GOP convention, the night she introduced herself to voters, was well-received but was later found to have included lines that were very close to what former first lady Michelle Obama said in her 2008 speech at the Democratic convention. Two of the presidents children, Eric Trump and Tiffany Trump, are scheduled, along with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Iowa Gov. BIDENUnlike Trump, who planned events to counter the Democratic convention, the Biden campaign has not scheduled their candidate to make appearances during the GOP gathering.
LIVE COVERAGE: Republican National Convention Day 2
Read full article: LIVE COVERAGE: Republican National Convention Day 2All rights reserved)WASHINGTON Watch live coverage of the Republican National Convention as President Donald Trump is officially nominated as the partys candidate for president. Featured speakers include: First lady Melania Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Sen. Rand Paul, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuez, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, Abby Johnson, Jason Joyce, Myron Lizer, Mary Ann Mendoza, Megan Pauley, Cris Peterson, John Peterson, Nicholas Sandmann, Eric Trump and Tiffany Trump. Watch the coverage at 8 p.m.:
White House impeachment hire Bondi winding down foreign work
Read full article: White House impeachment hire Bondi winding down foreign workThe White House announced this week that Bondi is one of two new staffers who will join the White House on a temporary basis to bolster its messaging and communications in response to the impeachment inquiry, which is unfolding at a rapid pace. Helping craft the White House response to the impeachment inquiry will be Bondi, a longtime Trump supporter who stepped down as Florida's attorney general in January. Bondi is now winding up her work for Ballard Partners, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham told The Associated Press. The group paid Ballard $80,000 this year to lobby the White House and Congress on "anti-human trafficking issues." White House counselor Kellyanne Conway on Thursday dismissed questions about Bondi's lobbying, saying, "She's not here to lobby.