US Presidential Elections 2020 - News & Updates

[Falcon29]

Democrats push impeachment to next phase with Dec. 4 hearing

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Judiciary Committee is set to take over the impeachment probe of President Donald Trump, Democrats announced Tuesday, scheduling a hearing for next week as they push closer to a possible vote on actual charges of “high crimes and misdemeanors.”

The Judiciary panel scheduled the hearing as the separate Intelligence Committee released two last transcripts from its depositions, including from a White House budget official who detailed concerns among colleagues as Trump ordered them, through intermediaries, to put a hold on military aid to Ukraine.

Trump ordered the hold as he was pressuring Ukraine’s president to investigate Democrats — the issue at the heart of the impeachment probe. Multiple government witnesses testified in impeachment hearings held by the Intelligence panel this month that Trump directed his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, to take the lead on Ukraine policy and that Giuliani pushed an “irregular” diplomatic channel.

The Intelligence Committee is wrapping up the investigative phase of the probe and preparing its report for the next. Committee Chairman Adam Schiff has said the report could be released soon after the House returns from its Thanksgiving break.

The initial Judiciary hearing on Dec. 4, the day after lawmakers return, will feature legal experts who will examine questions of constitutional grounds as the panel decides whether to write articles of impeachment against Trump — and if so what those articles will be. Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said Tuesday that his panel’s hearing will “explore the framework put in place to respond to serious allegations of impeachable misconduct.”

Democrats are aiming for a final House vote by Christmas, which would set the stage for a likely Senate trial in January.
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Democrats push impeachment to next phase with Dec. 4 hearing

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Judiciary Committee is set to take over the impeachment probe of President Donald Trump, Democrats announced Tuesday, scheduling a hearing for next week as they push closer to a possible vote on actual charges of “high crimes and misdemeanors.”

apnews.com

 

[Falcon29]

 

[Scorpion]

Presidential candidates do not have any plans and their campaigns are total failure. They all speak about how to deal with Saudi Arabia and put it in its place lol. Same shit Trump says but then ended up visiting Saudi Arabia as first foreign trip. When the get into the white house they get access to the facts and then instead of the big talk during the campaign they come to realize how important Saudi Arabia is.

 

[Lieutenant]

Senator Kamala Harris withdraws as Democratic candidate for 2020 presidential election.

 

[space cadet]

Presidential candidates do not have any plans and their campaigns are total failure. They all speak about how to deal with Saudi Arabia and put it in its place lol. Same shit Trump says but then ended up visiting Saudi Arabia as first foreign trip. When the get into the white house they get access to the facts and then instead of the big talk during the campaign they come to realize how important Saudi Arabia is.

I never heard Trump say he was going to put Saudi Arabia in their place. Can you elaborate more on what he said regarding SA? He's a businessman, I can't imagine why he would say anything about imposing his will against SA. Unless it was about paying for military support.

 

[Scorpion]

I never heard Trump say he was going to put Saudi Arabia in their place. Can you elaborate more on what he said regarding SA? He's a businessman, I can't imagine why he would say anything about imposing his will against SA. Unless it was about paying for military support.

It was pre-election. my point is that US presidential candidates will alwayes bring Saudi Arabia to the discussion and no ever talked about US-Saudi Arabia solid relations.

 

[Falcon29]

Buttigeg and Klobuchar both drop out of Presidential race and both expected to endorse Biden tomorrow in Texas.

 

[space cadet]

Buttigeg and Klobuchar both drop out of Presidential race and both expected to endorse Biden tomorrow in Texas.

It would be interesting to find out what they were promised to drop out

 

[Falcon29]

It would be interesting to find out what they were promised to drop out

They gain political cred and prestige for running and getting somewhat far in the first place, so I don't think they need anything in return. As they are part of democrat party which overwhelmingly wants to nominate Biden. So dropping out is never a sign that they got something in return. During Trump's 2016 run republican candidates dropped out as well. Although these candidates get some sponsorships and money from various corporations or organizations which will be useful for them for future campaigning activity as well.

However, it may be possible Buttigeg will be a candidate for VP if Biden is nominated. I may be totally wrong though, lol. Haven't followed these things closely in awhile.

 

[starlord]

Bernie Sanders 2020 ...

 

[space cadet]

They gain political cred and prestige for running and getting somewhat far in the first place, so I don't think they need anything in return. As they are part of democrat party which overwhelmingly wants to nominate Biden. So dropping out is never a sign that they got something in return. During Trump's 2016 run republican candidates dropped out as well. Although these candidates get some sponsorships and money from various corporations or organizations which will be useful for them for future campaigning activity as well.

However, it may be possible Buttigeg will be a candidate for VP if Biden is nominated. I may be totally wrong though, lol. Haven't followed these things closely in awhile.

I would bet that they were promised some financial gain from Biden supporters, Bidens supporters have deep pockets, maybe no show jobs on some board. Maybe lifetime gigs as advisors to the Clinton Foundation.

 

[Falcon29]

I would bet that they were promised some financial gain from Biden supporters, Bidens supporters have deep pockets, maybe no show jobs on some board. Maybe lifetime gigs as advisors to the Clinton Foundation.

You're overthinking it.

 

[space cadet]

not overthinking anything, these clowns didn't go this far just to bow out for nothing, they were in position to get paid, and you can bet they did. It's what they do.

 

[Falcon29]

not overthinking anything, these clowns didn't go this far just to bow out for nothing, they were in position to get paid, and you can bet they did. It's what they do.

Nah, you're making unsubstantiated claims. All Congressmen make money and have opportunities to make money. But, in this country when it comes to candidates running for presidency there are laws in place to prevent them from raking in money like you think. But, like I said they have other opportunities that don't involve running for President to make money.

In this case endorsing Biden means nothing. They are democrats and the democratic party wants Biden to be their frontrunner. Just like when Republicans like Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and others endorsed Trump once they dropped out. Did Rubio and Cruz get something in return just based off notion they dropped out and endorsed Republican Party candidate?

 

[Falcon29]

Here you go, this will help you educate yourself on these matters:

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Candidate salary

The candidate may receive a salary from his or her campaign committee only under the following conditions:

• The salary must be paid by the principal campaign committee;
• The salary must not exceed the lesser of the minimum annual salary for the federal office sought or what the candidate received as earned income in the previous year;
• Individuals who elect to receive a salary from their campaign committees must provide income tax records and additional proof of earnings from relevant years upon request from the Commission;
• Payments of salary from the committee must be made on a pro-rata basis (a candidate may not receive a whole year’s salary if he or she is not a candidate for an entire twelve-month period);
• Incumbent federal officeholders may not receive a salary payment from campaign funds; and
• The first payment of salary shall be made no sooner than the filing deadline for access to the primary election ballot in the state in which the candidate is running for office.

Salary payments may continue until the date when the candidate is no longer considered a candidate for office or until the date of the general election or general election runoff. For special elections, payments may continue from the date that the special election is set until the date of the special election.

Automatic personal use

The regulations list some expenses that are automatically considered to be personal use. Based on these rules, the following paragraphs discuss what kinds of expenses the campaign can and cannot pay for.

Household food items and supplies

The candidate cannot use campaign funds to pay for food purchased for daily consumption inside the home or supplies needed to maintain the household. The campaign may, however, pay for food and supplies for fundraising activities and campaign meetings (even when they take place in the candidate's home).

Funeral, cremation and burial expenses

Campaign funds cannot be used to cover expenses related to deaths within the candidate’s family. They may, however, be used to cover funeral, cremation and burial expenses for a candidate or campaign worker whose death arises out of, or in the course of, campaign activity.

Clothing

The campaign cannot pay for attire for political functions (for example, a new tuxedo or dress), but it can pay for clothing of de minimis value that is used in the campaign, such as T-shirts or caps imprinted with a campaign slogan.

Tuition payments

Campaign funds may not be used for tuition payments unless the payments are associated with training campaign staff. In AO 1997-11, the Commission allowed a federal officeholder to use campaign funds to cover her costs for a Spanish immersion class that she took to better communicate with her constituents.

Mortgage, rent and utility payments

The campaign may not pay for mortgage, rent or utilities for the personal residence of the candidate or the candidate’s family even if part of the residence is being used by the campaign. However, the Commission has allowed the use of campaign funds to pay for home security enhancements made in response to threats to an officeholder's safety. In these cases, the security upgrades were not considered personal use because the threats would not exist irrespective of the officeholders’ candidacy or duties as an officeholder.

In addition, the campaign may pay for long distance calls made for campaign purposes from the candidate’s residence or the residence of his or her family.

Investment expenses

The campaign may not pay for investment expenses such as acquiring securities on margin unless all of the investment and its proceeds are used for the purpose of influencing the candidate’s election for federal office or for one of the permissible non-campaign uses of funds discussed on this page.

Entertainment

The campaign may not pay for admission to sporting events, concerts, theater and other forms of entertainment. Campaign funds may be used, however, if the entertainment is part of a specific officeholder or campaign activity. They may not be used for a leisure outing at which the discussion occasionally focuses on the campaign or official functions.
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Personal use - FEC.gov

Using campaign funds for personal use is prohibited. FEC guidance on which expenses are considered to be personal use and which expenses are considered on a case-by-case basis, including charitable donations, gifts, candidate salary, meals, vehicles, travel and legal expenses

www.fec.gov