BREAKING: A top Pentagon official, retired Brigadier General Anthony Tata, has tested positive for coronavirus, sources tell me. It's the second time the coronavirus outbreak has hit senior ranks of the U.S. military.
Tata, who is performing the duties of an undersecretary of Defense, was in meetings with other top Pentagon officials this week including Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller, Deputy SecDef David Norquist, Gen. Mark Milley. Miller on Wednesday visited troops at Fort Bragg.
Tata likely infected by visiting officials, I’m told. Lithuanian Embassy told Pentagon their minister of defense had tested positive for coronavirus. Raimundas Karoblis met with Tata, as well as acting SecDef Chris Miller and US secretaries of the Army and Air Force, on Friday.
The Lithuanian defense official who has coronavirus met with acting SecDef Chris Miller and the US Air Force and Army secretaries Nov. 13. He met with US Navy sec Monday.
Those US officials aren’t quarantining because CDC guidelines were followed during the mtgs, Pentagon says.
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NEWS: Hope Hicks, who traveled with Trump aboard Air Force One to and from the presidential debate on Tuesday, and to his Minnesota rally yesterday, has coronavirus, sources tell me.
White House works to limit COVID-19 exposure “to the greatest extent possible” both on complex and when the president is traveling, spokesman Judd Deere says in a statement, without mentioning by name the aide who has coronavirus.
Scoop: No indication Trump has contracted coronvirus, but inner circle aide Hope Hicks has it, and is experiencing symptoms of the disease. She was in close proximity to him, maskless, in recent days. She was quarantined on AF1 on trip back from Minnesota. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
NEWS: Senate Republicans are developing plans to begin confirmation hearings around Oct. 12 for Trump's pick to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the US Supreme Court. It's all TENTATIVE. But could lead to a final vote by the full Senate the week of Oct. 26, sources say.
NEWS: Hearings on Trump's SCOTUS pick could begin as soon as Oct. 8, but more likely Oct. 12, per tentative GOP schedule. Full Senate vote week of Oct. 26.
But Dems could move to delay process, sources say.
Trump says “from what I heard” Senate Judiciary’s @LindseyGrahamSC
“doesn't even have to hold a hearing” because those on his SCOTUS shortlist “just went through the process” and most Rs “have already made their intentions very clear. Even Josh (Hawley) and that's a tough vote."
SPOTTED at the White House today: Amy Coney Barrett, I'm told.
NEW: Amy Coney Barrett met with Trump in the Oval, and met separately with White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, sources tell me. The vetting of Barrett for the SCOTUS seat is taking on a new level.
BREAKING: JUSTICE GINSBURG HAS DIED, U.S. SUPREME COURT SAYS
Trump may be the last to know the news of RBG’s death. He was already speaking at his Minnesota rally when the news broke.
PENCE has been informed of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death, I’m told.
TRUMP, midstream in a campaign speech in Minnesota, joking about not looking at his teleprompter, still doesn’t know this consequential news, per sources.
NEW: Pence’s speech for GOP convention tonight will involve combat veterans in a display of patriotism--imagery intended at least in part as criticism of pro athletes who kneel during national anthem, sources tell @MarioDParker@SalehaMohsin and me bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
The GOP designed the finale of its convention tonight to include veterans with disabilities standing in respect for the flag as Trace Adkins sang “Star-Spangled Banner” at Fort McHenry, the fort that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words.
Trump hasn’t publicly brought up Jacob Blake or NBA players’ boycott, although he did speak out against “lawlessness on American streets,” China, Hurricane Laura amid a string of tweets of videos of GOP convention. WH declined to confirm yday whether he tried to call Blake’s mom.