Social distancing in the briefing room - two to a row - while we await 5pm coronavirus task force briefing. @CBSNews#COVID2019#covid-19
UPDATE: Now at 5:30pm.
UPDATED UPDATE: briefing now at 6PM.
2 mins: Dr. Fauci has arrived at briefing....along with Treasury Secretary Mnuchin & Dr. Birx.
Today mandatory White House temperature checks 🤒 were done inside our booths (small work spaces inside White House press area). They move fast but still no gloves, no masks, and still handing us stickers (to mark us as checked). #COVID2019#coronavirus#WellnessWednesday
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JUST IN: Joel Greenberg, former FL tax collector with close ties Rep Matt Gaetz, has asked a federal judge to delay his sentencing for the second time as he continues to cooperate with govt pursuant to his plea deal. (1/3)
2/3 What does it mean for Gaetz? Unclear. Greenberg has provided feds info related to Gaetz probe since last year. Greenberg, who admits to falsely accusing another man of being a pedophile, is a problematic witness so his value is in docs he can provide to DOJ related to Gaetz.
3/3 Greenberg request to delay sentencing doesn’t provide insight into status of Gaetz probe. Gaetz case has expanded beyond sex crimes to include possible lobbying violations & obstruction of justice. Takes more time & requires more witnesses & evidence than just Greenberg.
President Trump Drs briefing reporters now - appears that while White House was telling us Friday morning that President only had “mild symptoms” from #COVID he had been on oxygen for an hour?
Asked if tests show any damage to the lungs, Dr. Conely says he has “Expected findings, but nothing of concern.” He was also evasive about lung damage when asked yesterday.
Dr. Conley was asked about discrepancy between his rosy assessment yesterday and Chief of Staff’s subsequent (anonymous) more dire assessment to reporters. Dr. says he thinks Meadows was misconstrued. Meadows confirmed the statement to Associated Press.
Strong Pawnee vibes at White House this morning as a raccoon attacked multiple news crews on North Lawn. 🦝 allegedly grabbed pant leg of a photographer & then a corespondent before being fended off. (WH 🦝🦝 🦝 pictured here in more peaceful times.)
UPDATE: Sources tell @CBSNews White House reaching out to @USGSA about aggressive 🦝 who allegedly attacked crews this AM. #MondayMorning
MORE: It’s a trap. We found one of the traps set out for the 🦝 who attacked a few journalists yesterday on the White House north lawn. Feds using marshmallows as bait.... #TuesdayThoughts
JUST IN: @realDonaldTrump will hold a press conference this afternoon. Since this is not taking place during @CBSEveningNews, I will be able to attend along with other network corespondents.
President Trump is expected to sign executive orders today on coronavirus aid as talks are at a stalemate on the Hill. But action is expected to be met with litigation over whether President can circumvent Congress - this will delay or permanently block any relief. @CBSNews
Trump Club members/spectators have gathered in the back of the room where Trump will have presser. Yesterday some of them booed the press....which the President appeared to enjoy. Will note they are all wearing masks today.
THREAD: Just spoke w/Rudy Giuliani about firing of Geoffrey Berman. Tells me he was not involved in decision & he recommended Berman to be a US Attorney (in NJ, but he ended up in NY). “I recommended him. I gave him a good recommendation for that I said he'd be very good.”
2/5 @CBSNews has learned federal investigators have been looking into Giuliani’s lobbying work in Ukraine. Giuliani tells me today he has “not heard anything from DOJ in eight months.” Insists he has documents that can disprove allegations about improper lobbying.
3/5 Giuliani tells me he talks to the President, his client, all the time. When I asked if he has ever discussed Berman or federal investigations with the President, he cited attorney-client privilege.
BREAKING: DOJ files civil action against John Bolton, to prevent him publishing upcoming book. @CBSNews
In the complaint, DOJ alleges NSC learned Bolton book would be published from press reports on June 7th....without completing the pre-publican review process for classified information.
DOJ alleges Bolton engaged in review process for classified info but then "became dissatisfied at the pace of NSC's review.....decided to take matters into his own hands." Govt wants court to order him to complete review process and not disclose classified information. .....