The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) won’t testify before Congress about the election

Are they hiding something? This is wrong.

It’s very simple:

Trump and his handpicked intelligence chief cancelled all election security briefings.

Because Trump doesn’t want Congress and the American people to know that Russia is again helping his campaign.

Trump wants that help, and fears he can’t win without it. pic.twitter.com/Uyq74U7sn3
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) August 30, 2020

In other words: the Director of National Intelligence believes the situation is so dire that he and his staff are unable to testify before Congress without implicating Trump or committing perjury.

Congress should impeach the DNI. https://t.co/KbUix97es7
— Max Kennerly (@MaxKennerly) August 29, 2020

They won’t say they’re sorry.
— Harris Levy (@HarrisL585) August 29, 2020

As I tried to argue the other day, the DNI's refusal to adequately brief Congress and the public about election interference could constitute yet another way Trump is using the levers of government to corrupt the election: https://t.co/8pgeFQq1Sg https://t.co/cKc0FI8uEM
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) August 29, 2020

If the Trump regime has gotten ODNI to stand down, what other agencies may be looking the other way instead of focusing on foreign and domestic threats? He has corrupted leaders at DOJ, USPS, Census Bureau, HHS, DHS, OMB, GSA and CDC. What’s next? FBI?
— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) August 29, 2020

It's happening right in front of us. https://t.co/JCO8lwrWPE
— Don Winslow (@donwinslow) August 29, 2020

Trump hurt the lobster industry but lies and claims he helped it

The lobster industry was not suffering because of Obama. It was suffering because of Trump. https://t.co/hBOqnWgAK7 pic.twitter.com/RlhihLxp5C
— Philip Bump (@pbump) August 26, 2020

Just in case you want a taste of reality with your lobster.

Trump’s failed trade war has drowned Maine’s lobster industry.https://t.co/XEOIrPRUze
— Ted Corcoran (Red T Raccoon) (@RedTRaccoon) August 26, 2020

For those who don't get how funny this is. Lobster is a shellfish and not edible by observant Jews! https://t.co/FaNtmzIMex
— Jill Wine-Banks (@JillWineBanks) August 26, 2020

Fun lobster fact – revenue for the industry has gone down since Trump was in office.

2016: $540 million
2017: $438 million
2018: $484 million
2019: $485 million#YoureWelcome #TrumpChaos
— Lily Adams (@adamslily) August 26, 2020

At night 2 of #RNC2020, a Maine lobster fisher praised President Trump for trade moves. Democrats said troubles facing the industry — including trade hostilities with China that have taken a valuable market away — are the Republican president's fault. https://t.co/OCDjKikpqp
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) August 26, 2020

Trump is rescuing Maine lobstermen from himself, and blaming Obama https://t.co/hwJ7PY9ZQC
— Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) August 26, 2020

MORE ON TRUMP PURSUING LOBSTERMEN/WOMEN: Jason Joyce, 8th generation Maine lobsterman, speaking at GOP convention right now. https://t.co/AvslcAGhaQ
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) August 26, 2020

Republicans trash the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act is important. Government personnel (other than the President and VP) cannot participate in political acts on government time and government facilities shouldn’t be used for political purposes. I am a retired federal employee and can tell you that the we were reminded about the Hatch Act, especially around election time.

The Republicans, who claim to support law and order, have now trashed it. Sad!

This is a LOT of Hatch Act violations in 2 weeks, even for an administration that has had a shocking amount. https://t.co/hhvnTDjPL6
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) September 7, 2020

I wrote up an explainer on the Hatch Act and why it is so disturbing that Trump flouts it so openly.https://t.co/eXIvMBuxZ6
— Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) August 26, 2020

As a lawyer who used to enforce the Hatch Act at the White House, this is absolutely not how it works. If they filmed it knowing and intending that it would be used at the convention (which they obviously did), it violates the law. https://t.co/oG4r1cqVYv
— Daniel Jacobson (@Dan_F_Jacobson) August 26, 2020

This is an outrageous statement from a WH chief of staff. He should be immediately fired. He has signed up to enforce the laws of the land not opine on their popularity. He is justifying criminality. Plain and simple. https://t.co/ZIFpkO9quE
— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) August 26, 2020

CREW: "This is so obviously, blatantly, insultingly a Hatch Act violation that it's starting to seem like the Trump administration is going out of its way to find new ways to violate the law. We'll be filing a complaint." https://t.co/LWJofSarIF
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 26, 2020

As notable as it is that this administration repeatedly flouts ethics norms, it is true that there are no real world consequences and the Hatch Act means nothing to most people. Many Americans will look at the WH pageantry last night and will think it's pretty cool.
— Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) August 26, 2020

And that is the sound of rule of law collapsing – from the “law and order” folks. https://t.co/HBh0wy6erP
— Midwin Charles (@MidwinCharles) August 26, 2020

The Hatch Act exists to stop the government from becoming an arm of political campaigns.

It’s an anti-corruption law barring the misuse of public resources and positions.

The government is supposed to work for the people, not just one person.

That’s why we have the Hatch Act.
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) August 26, 2020

One of the most cynical moments I've seen in politics. https://t.co/7bPsvuAMWa
— Philip Bump (@pbump) August 26, 2020

Now that Trump's convention has openly violated the Hatch Act on national TV, a reminder: Only last week, Kayleigh McEnany refused to say whether Trump would accept the election's outcome — at an official press briefing, straight from the White House.https://t.co/QkdqVX0cQt
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) August 26, 2020

The Hatch Act was the wall standing between the government’s might and candidates. Tonight a candidate tore down that wall and wielded power for his own campaign. Citizen Trump is no longer presenting himself as a candidate. Now your government is telling you who should rule you.
— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) August 26, 2020

And let’s keep our eyes on the ball:

Normalization of these Hatch Act violations is laying the groundwork for even more serious violations in the weeks ahead — as Barr’s Department of Justice and other agencies may be used to bolster Trump’s re-election campaign. https://t.co/aBUH86Cxrw
— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) August 26, 2020

Chris Wallace on Fox citing the numerous breaches of protocol — and Hatch Act — we saw tonight.

Says people can decide for themselves whether it matters but makes clear that "all of this has never happened before."
— Jonathan Cohn (@CitizenCohn) August 26, 2020

Got some blowback for this line but… https://t.co/ivOPx2agB3
— Annie Karni (@anniekarni) August 26, 2020

The Hatch Act prohibits civil servants from using their title, office, or any sort of government resource while engaging in political activities, and the law imposes even tighter restrictions on those who work on national security matters. #RNC https://t.co/0JeVSXbC63
— BrookingsInst (@BrookingsInst) August 26, 2020

This is a good point. https://t.co/ixFFcmplNO
— Christina Reynolds (@creynoldsnc) August 26, 2020

White House role in Republican convention raises Hatch Act concerns

By ⁦⁩@myhlee⁩ and ⁦@jdawsey1⁩ https://t.co/d1I1Oma3xW
— Toluse Olorunnipa (@ToluseO) August 26, 2020

It's remarkable to see a president whose campaign is built around law-and-order violate the Hatch Act so systematically by using the White House as a RNC prop. The big law-breakers aren't in Portland, but in the White House. https://t.co/LC6BCluhcJ
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) August 26, 2020

A DHS official leading an oath ceremony in his official capacity during the RNC, behind the presidential seal, with the use of the military band – wondering about Hatch Act implications here.
— Michelle Ye Hee Lee (@myhlee) August 26, 2020

I live outside the Beltway and I care. I am a retired federal employee. Management and employees took the Hatch Act seriously when I worked and we were reminded of its provisions, especially near an election. What Trump did is disgraceful.
— Harris Levy (@HarrisL585) August 26, 2020

Do they explain why? Because this is garbage. The Rose Garden is used for official business.
— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) August 26, 2020

Before he joined the ranks of voters who supposedly don’t “care” about the Hatch Act, Mark Meadows was one of the law’s biggest supporters. https://t.co/cqS8J2gsPd
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) August 26, 2020

Mark Meadows today: “Nobody outside of the Beltway really cares” about Hatch Act. https://t.co/oAXYPmS6yz

Mark Meadows in 2014: Government attorney should be investigated for tweets supporting Democrats. “She actually violated the Hatch Act… it’s troubling.” pic.twitter.com/gAV0G7BWry
— Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) August 26, 2020

View Posts

President Trump steps up using the White House as an RNC backdrop despite ethical and legal concerns. https://t.co/40VMBpVZ38
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) August 26, 2020

It is likely high time for a mega-thread on the Hatch Act and threats to democracy. For the moment, though, here is a piece I wrote last summer for @madebyhistory in the @washingtonpost https://t.co/H7muB73AUP @KevinMKruse @julianzelizer @benraylujan @gmontoyamora
— Jason Scott Smith (@JasonScottSmit6) August 26, 2020

Drop boxes are safe

Trump lies about them. I plan to place my ballot in one. This is just typical Republican voter suppression.

Half the country's voters can use a drop box: Heres the list of states that have them https://t.co/yDs8L2aaN0 pic.twitter.com/fJautdQsl4
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) August 25, 2020

For the record: drop boxes are a secure, efficient way for voters to return their ballots on time & ensure they are counted. Period.

And: the primary reason we need drop boxes is due to the increasing inefficiency & unreliability of @USPS.

Don't like 'em? Fully fund the @USPS. https://t.co/8Ok3VMxgPC
— Jocelyn Benson (@JocelynBenson) August 23, 2020

Another big win for the @prioritiesUSA voting rights team & @marceelias. We are not done yet. Stay tuned. https://t.co/tmiw2mWxRf
— Guy Cecil (@guycecil) August 25, 2020

They want each county to be limited to a single dropbox, at the county board of elections. One dropbox for all ~1.1M voters in Philadelphia, one for all 900K voters in Allegheny. https://t.co/yRufITmxCt
— Adam Bonin (@adambonin) August 9, 2020

Recently I dropped my wife’s primary ballot off in a dropbox in front of the Bergen County, NJ municipal building. There were security officers there. The dropbox was clean, but I didn’t have to touch it because there was a narrow, clearly marked slot to put the ballot in! https://t.co/rrRlHEGQ8X
— George Conway (@gtconway3d) August 23, 2020

Ohio Democratic Party sues Secretary of State Frank LaRose over ballot dropbox limitationshttps://t.co/Gav1OzPQua
— Darrel Rowland (@darreldrowland) August 25, 2020

Send em out by October 20 (the latest but not guaranteed to arrive by Nov 4) OR drop them off in-person at an approved drop box! https://t.co/oskyRBv6CY
— Sarah Whittle 🥚 (@rudeunicorns) August 24, 2020

THREAD

We believe there is nothing in Ohio statute limiting drop boxes to one per county, so we filed suit in court today to prove it.

But I want to take a moment to highlight the pernicious impact of only one drop box per county for voters who rely on public transit.

1/ https://t.co/s2BFOZWVMh
— David Pepper (@DavidPepper) August 25, 2020

Fake Trump and Manson pic

lol!

I approve of this fake picture. It would make a great black velvet painting.

Dead https://t.co/v2qmB1bf0g
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) August 25, 2020

Lots of lies at the Republican National Convention (RNC) Day One

Trump lies so his defenders have to lie to support him.

CNN: RNC night one was a "parade of dishonesty…" https://t.co/Sz5lkxnqIB

WaPo: A "fire hose" of false or misleading claims… https://t.co/RuyBxi5CBo

NYT: A "fierce and misleading defense" of Trump's political record… https://t.co/M5iDYnQhKL
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) August 25, 2020

Pompeo shouldn’t talk at the Republican convention

Trump has politicized everything. Pompeo won’t follow guidance he gave his employees.

Pompeo RNC speech while in Israel for official business is worth investigating. https://t.co/kCdhvE2843
— Jill Wine-Banks (@JillWineBanks) September 6, 2020

Secretary of State Pompeo sent a cable to all U.S. diplomatic missions last month warning diplomats that under federal law they should not take overt sides in the presidential campaign.

On Tuesday, he plans to ignore his own warning by speaking to the RNC https://t.co/YWpsVAy40D
— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) August 25, 2020

Another State diplomat reached out to blast Pompeo’s RNC address tonight:

Pompeo and Trump “have obliterated the line between government work and politics. Everything in the US government is now bent in service of the president, not the American people.”
— Alex Ward (@AlexWardVox) August 25, 2020

Rules don't apply to @realDonaldTrump and his merry men. https://t.co/h4taaFOKEY
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) August 25, 2020

Colin Powell, in 2004, on refusing to attend the Republican convention: "As secretary of state, I am obliged not to participate in any way, shape, fashion, or form in parochial, political debates. I have to take no sides in the matter."https://t.co/fDMG0n96I4
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) August 25, 2020

The House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations is launching an investigation into Mike Pompeo's RNC address from Jerusalem for potentially violating rules that prohibit federal employees from engaging in political activities. https://t.co/g2TDlRJ7KR
— Axios (@axios) August 25, 2020

Good. Pompeo is one of the most corrupt members of a stunningly corrupt administration. He should be held to account for that. https://t.co/h9ddl45ECY
— Daniel Gilmore (@gilmored85) August 25, 2020

SCOOP: Just a few months ago, SecState Mike Pompeo approved updated restrictions on State Dept employees’ political activities – rules that seem to govern himself, too. Now he’s going to appear at the Republican National Convention. Weird, no? My latest: https://t.co/np9LjsGT7V
— Nahal Toosi (@nahaltoosi) August 24, 2020

“Longtime State Department employees I spoke to are furious with Pompeo’s decision to feature in the Republican Party’s showpiece.” https://t.co/RyZ26gV84i
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) August 24, 2020

It is unprecedented in modern times for a Secretary of State to address a political convention. This is not wise at a time when our chief diplomat should be focussed on restoring America’s lost global credibility. https://t.co/BGYlJULy3w
— Nicholas Burns (@RNicholasBurns) August 24, 2020

Pompeo's speech to the #RNCConvention2020 makes a mockery of the memo warning against this behavior that he issued to State Department officials. What kind of example does this set? pic.twitter.com/FERoMFXser
— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) August 24, 2020

“We should not be using American diplomacy for partisan political purposes,” a State Department official critical of Pompeo’s upcoming RNC address told me https://t.co/JYP2q8rUV7
— Alex Ward (@AlexWardVox) August 24, 2020

What is depressing about Pompeo’s legacy at State is he knows better. He graduated first from West Point and went to Harvard Law. Still he plays down to the ignorant autocrat tearing away at the heritage of America’s political and constitutional norms. https://t.co/tfT74NekAt
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) August 24, 2020

Defending the truth does not make the media biased

I expect lots of lies to be told at the Republican convention. The media should tell viewers the truth. That’s not biased against either party.

The media’s obligation is to the truth, not to either political party.
— Harris Levy (@HarrisL585) August 23, 2020

America is experiencing "asymmetric lying" – because President Trump's campaign is much more dishonest, more frequently, than Joe Biden's campaign. News outlets have to acknowledge this truth imbalance. It's news! pic.twitter.com/HxMOT4elWF
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) August 23, 2020

The is the FDA saying, in so many words, that Trump forced them to approve this thus far unproven covid treatment bc he wanted a re-election taking point https://t.co/zsmCSYHLEm
— Daniel Gilmore (@gilmored85) August 23, 2020

Trump’s FDA conspiracy theory

Dr. Paul Offit, who serves on the FDA's vaccine advisory committee, says he's seen evidence of bullying and pressure from the administration on the agency. https://t.co/BWOJEMl9YD pic.twitter.com/Ec0f8T44lA
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) August 24, 2020

Trump calls EUA for plasma a “historic announcement.”
It’s certainly a step that will expand access to convalescent plasma therapy, but it’s not the breakthrough the President is portraying it to be. Randomized clinical trials have not yet reached a conclusion on its efficacy
— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) August 23, 2020

At least news media outlets are making it very clear what is going on here with Trumps reckless, selfish decision today https://t.co/2IpWzV6Mjn
— Daniel Gilmore (@gilmored85) August 23, 2020

President Trump's aggressive stance on virus treatments raises concerns about putting politics ahead of safety https://t.co/gVbIWQefzk
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 24, 2020

Questions about Trump's convalescent plasma announcement:

– Timing? Why announced on the eve of RNC?
– Efficacy? Randomized clinical trials aren't yet conclusive.
– Equity? How will the admin ensure the therapeutic is distributed fairly given gaps in its racial Covid data? https://t.co/y8gUrLCk8j
— Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) August 23, 2020

!!! "Let's be clear: there is no great study right now regarding convalescent plasma and its therapeutic benefit in Covid-19 … Is this a miracle cure? Definitely not." — Dr. Vin Gupta (@VinGuptaMD) on @MSNBC
— Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) August 23, 2020

Trump makes it explicit. He wants a vaccine approved before a political deadline that has great personal significance to him: Election Day. https://t.co/ZUd55C56p7
— Eric Lipton (@EricLiptonNYT) August 22, 2020

Here's what the FDA says: "The FDA concluded, as outlined in its decision memorandum, this product may be effective in treating COVID-19 and that the known and potential benefits of the product outweigh the known and potential risks of the product."
— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) August 23, 2020

This would come–if it happens as STAT suggests–just a few days after FDA put the treatment on hold. https://t.co/45b3rHmN7q
— Eric Lipton (@EricLiptonNYT) August 23, 2020

Mr. President, you are full of it.
Vaccine makers aren't complaining about @SteveFDA or anybody else at the agency. Every aspect of #COVID19 #vaccine R&D is moving at a record-breaking pace. Gee, @realDonaldTrump you wouldn't want anybody to die from an unsafe product, would you? https://t.co/0i26O24tA4
— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) August 22, 2020

Trump on Saturday baselessly accused the FDA — which he likened to the "deep state, or whoever" — of making it harder for drug companies to distribute coronavirus treatments and vaccines.https://t.co/BP2IQo5w0f
— Axios (@axios) August 22, 2020

President Trump on Saturday suggested that his own FDA is making it difficult for drug companies to enroll people in clinical trials for vaccines and therapies to treat Covid-19, part of a "deep state" plot to hinder his re-election prospects https://t.co/6bDmyqmzEE
— POLITICO (@politico) August 22, 2020

BREAKING: White House takes away FDA authority to regulate COVID tests. It’s August, de-regulating & politically meddling are not what FDA needs right now.

More soon. Follow if interested.
— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) August 21, 2020

According to two sources in the Monday meeting, Peter Navarro had aggressively confronted FDA officials, saying, "You are all Deep State and you need to get on Trump Time." Navarro declined to comment.
https://t.co/3eop6Q7FUa
— Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) August 23, 2020

Ridiculous conspiracy theory that Biden’s speech was prerecorded

There were dozens of witnesses there when he gave the speech! What’s wrong with these Trump cult members? They don’t want to admit that he did a good job.

.@JoeBiden's convention speech was carried live on TV, streamed live online and delivered live before a room of reporters, campaign staff and Secret Service agents.

Rush Limbaugh falsely claimed that it was pre-taped and edited. It was not. https://t.co/7H06ReOlIE
— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) August 24, 2020

“Biden’s speech was prerecorded” is a lame conspiracy theory; should go with Joe Biden exists only as CGI being created from powerful workstations in a basement in Delaware.
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) August 22, 2020

The fact that GOP responses to the DNC are easily debunked conspiracy theories – Trump saying “under God” was removed, Limbaugh saying the Biden speech was taped – represents a backhanded compliment
— Don Moynihan (@donmoyn) August 22, 2020

Rush Limbaugh Floats Conspiracy Theory DNC Pre-Taped, Edited Together Biden's Speech (Dozens of Journalists Watched Him Give It Live) https://t.co/ibTXBctERi
— Mediaite (@Mediaite) August 21, 2020

not just reporters, but Secret Service agents, plus a few campaign aides and event staff

conspiracy theories at least usually have some tiny scrap of ambiguity to hook onto. Pushing that Biden didn't give his speech live is a deliberate lie — and a dumb one at that https://t.co/rzHjIKlj3B
— Edward-Isaac Dovere (@IsaacDovere) August 22, 2020

I was in the room, people. https://t.co/LHjJd7Er3h pic.twitter.com/h4IRP7SLcK
— Annie Linskey (@AnnieLinskey) August 23, 2020

This is the dumbest conspiracy theory ever. Sarah — among many other reporters — were in the room!!! https://t.co/DUCxfEvs94
— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) August 22, 2020