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☆ Big-dollar Democratic donors are split: Hold the line or abandon Biden?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-20 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Advertisement"The donors that I'm in contact with are solidly behind Biden because we know Biden and Harris can defeat Trump," Ajay Bhutoria, the deputy national finance chair of Biden's National Finance Committee, told Business Insider. A spokesperson for the Biden campaign declined to comment on this story, and a Democratic National Committee spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Two wealthy donors told BI that they've lost faith in the Biden campaign just in the past month and that a new, younger Democratic nominee is needed to energize the base. But on Wednesday, the donor told BI that their thinking, along with other donors they have spoken to, has changed. Wasn't just the debate but everything since," the donor told BI in a text message on Wednesday.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Reed Hastings, Gideon Stein, Biden, aren't, Harris, Donald Trump, Trump, Ajay Bhutoria, Lauren Hitt, Jeffrey Gural, Joe, Gural, Wasn't, Pres Biden, Bill Harris, Kamala Harris, Sen, Cory Booker of, Dem, that's, Amy Goldman Fowler, Peter Lowry, Lloyd Austin, Bhutoria, he's, Biden's Organizations: Service, Netflix, Business, Democratic, Biden, Biden's National Finance Committee, Democratic National, Fund, New York Times, Times, PayPal, Washington Post, MSNBC, The Times, Capitol, House, CNN, Senate Locations: Cory Booker of New Jersey

☆ Senators seek special counsel probe of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Associate Justice Clarence Thomas during the formal group photograph at the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. Two Democratic Senate committee leaders asked the Justice Department to appoint a special counsel to investigate whether Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas broke federal tax and ethics laws, the senators said Tuesday. "The evidence assembled thus far plainly suggests that Justice Thomas has committed numerous willful violations of federal ethics and false-statement laws," the senators alleged in the letter. It also "raises significant questions about whether he and his wealthy benefactors have complied with their federal tax obligations," Wyden and Whitehouse wrote. That evidence, they wrote, suggests that Thomas "likely violated federal law by accepting lavish gifts from wealthy benefactors and failing to report them" in violation of the Ethics in Government Act.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Ron Wyden, Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse, General Merrick Garland, Thomas, Wyden, Whitehouse Organizations: Democratic, Justice Department Locations: Washington , DC

CNN —President Joe Biden told top donors on a video call Monday that he is still the best candidate to defeat former President Donald Trump as the Biden campaign and the White House sought to move beyond a crisis threatening to consume the Democratic Party. “It’s still a huge hole to climb out of,” the Democratic donor said, speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid alienating the campaign. While the Biden campaign has pointed to a rush of small-dollar donations over the past week, a senior adviser said the falloff among high-dollar contributors was highly troubling. Morgan blamed Biden’s campaign team for his debate performance and argued that Vice President Kamala Harris is in place “if something happens” to Biden. And that’s what people need to be focusing on.”Phillips said anxious Democratic donors “need to get out of their feelings” and instead put their energy behind turning out those voters and selling them on the administration’s accomplishments.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, “, I’m, ” Biden, ”, It’s, Trump, ” “ We’re, he’ll, –, Wes Moore, “ It’s, Chris Korge, “ I’m, Joe ”, Harris, John Morgan, They’ve, Morgan, ” Morgan, Biden’s, Kamala Harris, Steve Phillips, Phillips, ” Phillips, CNN’s Donald Judd, MJ Lee Organizations: CNN, White, Democratic Party, Trump, “, House Democrats, MSNBC, Democratic, Heritage Foundation, ABC, campaign’s National Finance, Maryland Gov, National Finance Committee, Democratic National, Biden, Republicans Locations: American, Atlanta, Florida, San Francisco

President Biden spoke directly to some of his biggest fund-raisers and donors on Monday, repeating his assertion that he was staying in the race and telling them they needed to shift the focus of the campaign away from him and onto former President Donald J. Trump. “I have one job, to beat Donald Trump,” Mr. Biden said on a call with his campaign’s National Finance Committee, adding that he was “the best person” to do that, according to a listener who relayed the president’s remark to The New York Times. He said it was time to put Mr. Trump in the “bull’s-eye,” according to a second listener. The president’s 19-minute remarks to donors amounted to the most formal entreaty to his financiers since his poor debate performance over a week ago that they should stay the course. His appearance, which was announced to his fund-raisers just 24 minutes before the call was set to begin, came after he sent a defiant letter to congressional Democrats on Monday morning rejecting the idea that he should drop out and gave an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” in which he invited challengers to try to stop him at the party’s convention next month.

Persons: Biden, Donald J, “, Donald Trump, ” Mr, Trump, Joe ” Organizations: Trump, National Finance Committee, New York Times

“I want you to know that despite all the speculation in the press and elsewhere, I am firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump,” Biden wrote in the letter, obtained by CNN. Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us,” Biden concluded. More than a handful of top House Democrats told Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday that Biden needs to step aside amid concerns about down-ballot Democratic races. Biden offered a confusing response to a question about his letter to Hill Democrats calling for unity and lambasted Trump for being on the golf course after the debate. Biden team hosting another top donor callAlso on Monday, the Biden campaign is hosting a donor call with its national finance committee, a source familiar with the call said, another sign of outreach.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, ” Biden, Biden, ”, Hakeem Jeffries, Trump, — Joe, I’ve, hasn’t, who’ve, “ I’m, I’m, Jeffries, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, James Clyburn —, Schumer, Clyburn, Pelosi, Jerry Nadler, Adam Smith, Mark Takano, Joe Morelle —, Sen, Mark Warner, Warner, Jen O’Malley Dillon, Wes Moore, O’Malley Dillon, Moore, “, ” Moore, we’re Organizations: Washington CNN, Capitol, CNN, Democratic Convention, Trump, House, Hill Democrats, Capitol Hill, Democratic, Democrats, Biden, ABC News, Judiciary, Armed Services, Veterans Affairs, Administration, Virginia Democrat, Warner, Maryland Gov, White Locations: “, Washington

President Biden should do the same,” Doggett said in his statement Tuesday. “There’s a large and increasing group of House Democrats concerned about the president’s candidacy, representing a broad swath of the caucus,” another House Democratic lawmaker told CNN on condition of anonymity to speak candidly. They have held off going to Biden directly, hoping he would make the decision himself, but patience is wearing thin, multiple Democrats told CNN, amid signs that Biden has taken no steps to seriously consider the mounting concerns. President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden, and their granddaughters Finnegan and Natalie Biden head to Camp David on June 29, 2024. House Democrats are deep into their own polling, assessing how much damage has been done.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Lloyd Doggett of, Lyndon Johnson, Biden, ” Doggett, “, ”, ” Biden, George Stephanopoulos, Camp David, Obama, Barack Obama’s, Mitt Romney, Mike Quigley, Kasie Hunt, who’s, Nancy Pelosi, ” Pelosi, Donald Trump, Trump, Kamala Harris, Hakeem Jeffries, Jeffries, Jill Biden, “ Joe isn’t, …, Delaware Sen, Chris Coons, George W, Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse, Joe Biden, Finnegan, Natalie Biden, Haiyun Jiang, —, Jen O’Malley Dillon, Andrew Weinstein, Phil Murphy, ” Murphy, CNN’s Brianna Keilar, Jake Tapper, Annie Grayer Organizations: CNN, Democratic, House Democrats, Biden, ABC News, Camp, Republican, Capitol Hill Democratic, ”, House, Senate, MSNBC, California Democrat, Monday, “, Trump, Democratic National Convention, Democratic Party, Hamptons, Saturday, ABC, White, New York Times, Minnesota, New York Times Editorial, Democratic National Committee, campaign’s National Finance Committee, New Locations: Delaware, Lloyd Doggett of Texas, California, North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Wilmington, ”, Michigan, Ukraine

☆ Opinion | There’s No Reason to Resign Ourselves to Biden
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-01 | by ( Michelle Goldberg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Though Joe Biden’s debate performance last week was among the most painful things I’ve ever witnessed, it at least seemed to offer clarity. Suddenly, even many people who love this president realized that his campaign has become untenable. In the debate’s miserable aftermath, there was finally space to acknowledge the obvious: Biden is too old for this. “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced,” James Baldwin wrote. Since then, however, the Biden campaign has quickly moved to squash that reckoning, framing the divide in the Democratic Party as one between naïve, hysterical outsiders and savvy, resolute insiders.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Biden, ” James Baldwin, Biden surrogates, ”, MAGA, Quentin Fulks, Jen O’Malley Dillon, Barack Obama’s, Mitt Romney, Donald Trump’s unswerving, “, Trump, Jonathan Capehart Organizations: Democratic, Democratic Party, Obama, MSNBC

☆ Biden Campaign Will Try to Reassure Big Donors
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-01 | by ( Michael D. Shear | Theodore Schleifer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

President Biden’s top campaign official is scheduled to hold a crucial conference call with donors on Monday to try to convince them that Mr. Biden can still win the race against former President Donald J. Trump. The call with the national finance committee, scheduled hastily on Sunday, is the Biden campaign’s most formal attempt yet to tamp down panic within the ranks of major donors since Thursday’s debate. Some individual donors have received direct communication from campaign officials, and Biden fund-raisers say communication picked up over the weekend, according to people close to the conversations. The call on Monday is to be hosted by Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, the campaign chair. Preserving the donor base will be critical to the president’s argument for staying in the race, many of Mr. Biden’s allies have acknowledged.

Persons: Biden’s, Biden, Donald J, Trump, Jennifer O’Malley Dillon

☆ As Social Security faces looming fund depletion, there's fierce debate over whether a commission can help
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-15 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

"A vote for a commission is a vote to cut Social Security," the man shouted before he was escorted off the floor. How the last major reforms, in 1983, came togetherPresident Ronald Reagan signs the Social Security Act Amendment into law on April 20, 1983. The changes involved taxes on Social Security benefits, increases to payroll tax rates, a future increase to the retirement age and a near-term postponement of cost-of-living adjustments. Social Security Commission Chairman Alan Greenspan, left, shakes hands with Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, prior to a Social Security hearing on Feb. 15, 1983. Lawmakers divided on best path forwardToday, lawmakers are divided on the best path forward to address Social Security.

Persons: —, Scott Peters, Peters, Bill Huizenga, Joe Manchin, Mitt Romney, — Rep, John Larson, Connecticut —, It's, " Larson, Larson, Nancy Altman, Ronald Reagan, Alan Greenspan, Greenspan, Jim Baker, Reagan, Tip O'Neill, Robert M, Ball, O'Neill, Sen, Charles Grassley, Bob Dole, John Danforth, Altman, Bruce D, Schobel, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, California —, they're, Hakeem Jeffries, Conn, Brian Higgins, Jimmy Gomez, Jeffries, Dan Kildee, Richard Neal, Tom Williams Organizations: iStock, Social, Social Security, AARP, CNBC, Rep, Democratic, Corbis, National Commission, Social Security Reform, Greenspan, Federal Reserve, House, White, Finance, Economic Policy Institute, Republican, Greenspan Commission, Senate Finance, Bettmann, Getty, Congress, Democratic House, White House, Democrats, Security, Capitol Visitor Center, CQ, Inc Locations: Sens, R, Utah, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Iowa, California, D

☆ Jared Kushner's post-White House deal-making included badly timed bet on Amazon aggregator
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Annie Palmer | In Annierpalmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +16 min

Kushner started Affinity in 2021, shortly after leaving his advisory role in the White House alongside his wife, Ivanka Trump. Neumann, who was ultimately ousted from WeWork by top SoftBank execs, introduced Kushner to Unybrands early the following year. Affinity's investment in Unybrands, which hasn't previously been reported, was one of the private equity firm's earliest deals. Following a continued slide, the company laid off roughly 10% of its staff in November 2022, according to people familiar with the matter. The House Oversight Committee launched an investigation into the investment in 2022, looking into whether Kushner's financial interests influenced Trump's foreign policy.

Persons: Jared Kushner, Alex Brandon, Kushner, Weeks, Ivanka Trump, Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, WeWork, Adam Neumann, Neumann, Unybrands, hasn't, —, Catterton, Jason Somerville, Somerville, it's, didn't, headcount, Donald Trump, Gary Cohn, Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, Jonathan Ernst, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Carolyn Maloney, Ron Wyden, Kushner didn't, Ulrich Kratz, Goldman Sachs, Kratz, Kushner's, Ian Brekke, Asad Naqvi, Bret Pearlman, Roger McNamee, Max Fink, Neumann's, Brekke, Naqvi, Pearlman, Fink, Shahar Azran, Eugen Miropolski, Robyn Laguette, Mark Goldfinger, Joe Biden, Lex, Jeff Bezos, Sam Altman, Ye, I've Organizations: U.S . Capitol, Capitol, Reuters, Affinity Partners, Companies, White House, Affinity, Saudi Crown, Unybrands, WeWork, CNBC, Amazon, BlackRock, Khosla Ventures, GW Partners, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, United Arab, Saudi Arabia's, Crown, Ritz Carlton Hotel, Saudi, Republicans, Crayhill Capital Management, Barclays, Goldman, Kushner, Investments II, Blackstone, Partners, Financial Services, CNBC it's, Israeli American Council, IAC, Getty, Kanye Locations: Washington, Amazon's, South Florida, Miami, Silicon Valley, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Unybrands, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Riyadh, Yemen, American, Austin , Texas, Gulf, Israel

☆ Trump is dangling a lot of promises for a second term as he seeks support in new spaces
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Former President Donald Trump lately has dangled some very specific promises to his audiences. But Trump’s campaign has prioritized flipping Nevada and the Democratic Party’s historical advantage in Latino communities, and polling suggests they have made progress on both fronts. Trump’s campaign confirmed the former president intends to seek a legislative change. “President Trump will ask Congress to eliminate taxes on tips,” spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told CNN. Trump has published an entire website to host many of his proposals for a second term.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden’s, ” Trump, hasn’t, Ron Wyden, Sheldon Whitehouse, Trump’s, “, ”, Karoline Leavitt, “ Joe Biden, Biden, Chase Oliver, Ross Ulbricht, Ulbricht, Ross, Joe Biden, ” Oliver, Harris, ” Biden, Quentin Fulks, headwinds, Shawn Fain Organizations: CNN, Las, Libertarian, Trump, Republican, Biden, Democratic, National Rifle Association, Senate Democrats, Washington Post, Oregon Democrat, Rhode, Culinary Workers Union Local, Garden State, US Department of Justice, Black Voters, Black, United Auto Workers, Fox Locations: Las Vegas, Michigan, In Nevada, Nevada, U.S, Oregon, Rhode Island, Wildwood , New Jersey, Garden, battlegrounds, Detroit

☆ Senators demand UnitedHealth own patient data hack
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-07 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Federal law known as the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) generally requires health care providers to notify people within 60 days of discovering a breach affecting their personal health data. The Department of Health and Human Services is already investigating whether UnitedHealth is compliant with HIPAA obligations to protect patient data. HHS can use HIPAA to fine companies for failing to protect patient data. The department announced a $4.75 million settlement in February with a nonprofit hospital system in New York for “data security failures” that the department said resulted in an employee stealing and selling patient data. On May 31, the HHS Office for Civil Rights clarified that health care providers can delegate that obligation to Change Healthcare.

Persons: Andrew, New Hampshire Democratic Sen, Maggie Hassan, Tennessee Republican Sen, Marsha Blackburn, ”, Eric Hausman, Hassan, Blackburn, Sen, Ron Wyden, UnitedHealth’s Organizations: Washington CNN, UnitedHealth, New, New Hampshire Democratic, Tennessee Republican, of Health, Human Services, CNN, HHS, Healthcare, Civil Rights, American Hospital Association, Optum, Capitol, Senate, Oregon Democrat, Federal Trade Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC Locations: New Hampshire, Tennessee, New York, Wyden

☆ I.R.S. Failed to Police Puerto Rico Tax Break, Whistle-Blower Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Jesse Drucker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For the past decade, thousands of wealthy Americans have been flocking to Puerto Rico to take advantage of a tax break that can cut their tax bills to zero. For nearly as long, there have been allegations that the benefit enables multimillionaires to avoid paying what they owe when they reap big investment profits. Now, an Internal Revenue Service insider has accused the agency of failing to police the tax break. Senate officials have begun an investigation into the whistle-blower’s allegations about the Puerto Rican tax benefit. announced its enforcement campaign on this issue,” said Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

Persons: I.R.S, “ It’s, ”, Ron Wyden Organizations: Internal Revenue Service, The New York Times, Puerto, Democrat, Senate Finance Locations: Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican, Oregon

☆ Wealth inequality starts at birth. Lawmakers debate whether child savings accounts can help
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An unequal distribution of wealth in the U.S. can make it so some children are behind from birth. Now lawmakers are considering whether federal children's savings accounts can help. One proposal — the 401Kids Savings Act — would create savings accounts for all newborns. Children's savings accounts are currently available statewide in seven states — California, Illinois, Maine, Nebraska, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. At the end of last year, there were 121 children's savings account programs in 39 states serving 5.8 million children.

Persons: Warren Buffett's, Sen, Ron Wyden, Mike Crapo, Crapo Organizations: Finance, Senate Finance Locations: U.S, — California , Illinois, Maine , Nebraska , Nevada , Pennsylvania, Rhode, Oregon, Idaho

☆ BMW imported 8,000 Mini Coopers with banned Chinese parts into U.S., Senate report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

German automaker BMW imported at least 8,000 Mini Cooper vehicles into the United States with electronic components from a banned Chinese supplier, a U.S. Senate report released on Monday said. A report by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden's staff said BMW imported 8,000 Mini Coopers with parts from a Chinese supplier banned under a 2021 law and that BMW continued to import products with the banned parts until at least April. BMW Group said in an email it had "taken steps to halt the importation of affected products." The report found that Bourns Inc, a California-based auto supplier, had sourced components from Sichuan Jingweida Technology Group (JWD). That Chinese company was added to the UFLPA Entity List in December, which means its products are presumed to be made with forced labor.

Persons: Ron Wyden's, Wyden Organizations: BMW, U.S, Senate, Senate Finance, Coopers, BMW Group, Labor, Customs and Border Protection, Inc, Sichuan Jingweida Technology Locations: Leipzig, Germany, United States, China's Xinjiang, China, California, Sichuan

☆ Senate Inquiry Finds BMW Imported Cars Tied to Forced Labor in China
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Ana Swanson | Jack Ewing | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A congressional investigation found that BMW, Jaguar Land Rover and Volkswagen purchased parts that originated from a Chinese supplier flagged by the United States for participating in forced labor programs in Xinjiang, a far western region of China where the local population is subject to mass surveillance and detentions. BMW shipped to the United States at least 8,000 MINI vehicles containing the part after the Chinese supplier was added in December to a U.S. government list of companies participating in forced labor. Volkswagen took steps to correct the issue. The investigation, which began in 2022 by the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Ron Wyden of Oregon, a Democrat, highlights the risk for major automakers as the United States tries to enforce a two-year-old law aimed at blocking goods from Xinjiang. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act bars goods made in whole or in part in Xinjiang from being imported to the United States, unless the importer can prove that they were not made with forced labor.

Persons: Ron Wyden Organizations: BMW, Jaguar, Rover, Volkswagen, Senate Finance, United States, Labor Locations: United States, Xinjiang, China, U.S, Oregon, United

☆ Biden’s tariffs on Chinese imports are boosting these beaten-down stocks
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Beaten-down clean energy stocks have rallied this week. The iShares Global Clean Energy exchange-traded fund, which tracks sectors from renewable electricity to semiconductors to solar energy, has gained roughly 3%. Plug Power shares have climbed 33%, Enphase Energy shares have gained 8% and NextEra Energy shares have added 4%. Some investors warn that though the tariffs could continue boosting clean energy stocks, the recent rally isn’t driven by just improving fundamentals. Damaging hacks expose the weak underbelly of America’s health care systemA pair of recent ransomware attacks crippled computer systems at two major American health care firms, disrupting patient care and exposing fundamental weaknesses in the US health care system’s defenses against hackers, reports my colleague Sean Lyngaas.

Persons: New York CNN — It’s, Joe Biden, CNN’s Kayla Tausche, ”, Steve Sosnick, Roaring Kitty, Keith Gill, Dow, Nicole Goodkind, stoking, Gary Pzegeo, ” Read, Sean Lyngaas, cybersecurity, ” Joshua Corman, Sen, Ron Wyden Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Clean Energy, Enphase Energy, NextEra Energy, Biden, Federal Reserve, Interactive Brokers, CNN, GameStop, AMC Entertainment, Roaring, Dow Jones Industrial, Nasdaq, Markets, Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIBC Private Wealth, “ Industry, Oregon Democrat Locations: New York, China

☆ Damaging hacks expose the weak underbelly of America’s health care system
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Washington CNN —A pair of recent ransomware attacks crippled computer systems at two major American health care firms, disrupting patient care and exposing fundamental weaknesses in the US health care system’s defenses against hackers. Health care lags other industries such as big financial institutions and energy providers when it comes to IT security, according to some experts. The two ransomware attacks hit different nerves of the health care system. Momentum is also growing on Capitol Hill to force health care organizations to meet basic cybersecurity standards. More broadly, the Justice Department last week announced a task force to examine “health care monopolies and collusion” that will guide the department’s approach to “civil and criminal enforcement in health care markets,” where warranted.

Persons: cybersecurity, ” Joshua Corman, Sen, Ron Wyden, ”, cybercriminals, Biden, Anne Neuberger, Mark Warner, ” Carter Groome, Corman, ‘, ” Sen, Marsha Blackburn, Andrew Organizations: Washington CNN, Biden, “ Industry, CNN, Oregon Democrat, ransomware, Change Healthcare, White House, American Hospital Association, Department of Health, Human Services, Virginia Democrat, Healthcare, cybersecurity, Health, Cavalry, UnitedHealth, Optum, Tennessee Republican, Justice Department, UnitedHealth Group, Wall Street, Department Locations: St, Louis, United States, Virginia, Tennessee

Associate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas arrives for the swearing-in ceremony of Neil Gorsuch as an Associate Supreme Court Justice in the Rose Garden of the White House, Washington, D.C., April 10, 2017. Two leading Democratic senators are pressing Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to say whether he repaid a wealthy friend any of the principal for a $267,230 loan he used to buy a luxury motorhome. The letter to Thomas's lawyer, dated Tuesday, raises questions about potential tax violations by the conservative justice, who is the longest-serving member of the Supreme Court. Democrats point to reports that his wife, Ginni Thomas, took part in efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The Supreme Court heard arguments in Trump's immunity appeal on April 25, with Thomas on the bench.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Ron Wyden, Sheldon Whitehouse, Thomas, Anthony Welters, Prevost Le, Wyden, Elliot Berke, Whitehouse, Justice Thomas, Welters, Berke, ProPublica, Harlan Crow, Harlan, Donald Trump, Ginni Thomas Organizations: Justice, White House, D.C, New York Times, Finance Committee Locations: Rose, Washington, Welters

☆ Clarence Thomas, who has faced scrutiny over his ethics, discusses people who 'bomb your reputation'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. The subsequent uproar resulted in Thomas updating financial disclosures to indicate his ties to the conservative donor. "I think what you are going to find and especially in Washington, people pride themselves on being awful. It is a hideous place as far as I'm concerned," Thomas told his Friday audience, per the AP. Representatives for Thomas and the Supreme Court did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: —, Clarence Thomas, he's, Thomas, Justice, Kathryn Kimball Mizelle —, Donald Trump, it's, Harlan Crow, Ginni Thomas Organizations: Service, Circuit Judicial, Associated Press, Business, US, The New York Times, Finance Locations: Clear , Alabama, Washington

☆ UnitedHealth CEO tells lawmakers the company paid hackers a $22 million ransom
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Ashley Capoot | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Change Healthcare provides payment, revenue management and other solutions like e-prescription software. UnitedHealth told CNBC in April that it paid a ransom to try and protect patient data. Its business unit Optum — which provides care to 103 million customers — and Change Healthcare — which touches one in three patient records — merged in 2022. Committee Chairman Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said in his opening remarks that the Change Healthcare breach serves as a "dire warning about the consequences of too-big-to-fail mega-corporations." Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., pressed Witty to share how UnitedHealth is working to ensure something like the Change Healthcare breach will not happen again.

Persons: Andrew, UnitedHealth, Sen, Ron Wyden, Wyden, Thom Tillis, they're, Tillis, Blackcat, Michael Bennet Organizations: Senate, Capitol, U.S ., Finance, UnitedHealth, Healthcare, CNBC, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, U.S . Department of Justice Locations: Washington , DC

☆ IRS free tax filing pilot processed more than 140,000 returns, saved consumers $5.6 million in prep fees
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel testifies during the Senate Finance Committee hearing on the fiscal 2024 IRS budget and the IRS' 2023 filing season, in the Dirksen Building in Washington, D.C., on April 19, 2023. This season, more than 140,000 taxpayers successfully filed returns using IRS Direct File, a free tax filing pilot from the IRS, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS. The program fully opened for certain taxpayers in 12 states in early March and saved filers an estimated $5.6 million in tax preparation fees for federal returns, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel told reporters on a press call. Direct File surveyed more than 15,000 users and some 90% rated their experience as "excellent," the agencies reported. The IRS plans to release a more detailed report about the Direct File pilot "in the coming days," he added.

Persons: Danny Werfel, Werfel Organizations: Senate, IRS, Washington , D.C, U.S . Department of, Treasury, Finance Locations: Washington ,

☆ Bank of America's dealings with Leon Black and Jeffrey Epstein are in the Senate's crosshairs
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A Senate committee is asking Bank of America about payments from Leon Black to Jeffrey Epstein. The Senate is investigating tax avoidance strategies used by the mega-rich, The New York Times reports. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementA Senate committee investigating $158 million in payments that private equity investor Leon Black made to Jeffrey Epstein has brought Bank of America into the mix.

Persons: Leon Black, Jeffrey Epstein, —, Ron Wyden Organizations: Bank of America, New York Times, Black, Service, Senate Finance Committee, Business Locations: Oregon

☆ Lawmakers Question Bank of America About Leon Black’s Payments to Epstein
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Matthew Goldstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A U.S. Senate committee investigating the tax avoidance work that Jeffrey Epstein, the registered sex offender, did for the private equity mogul Leon Black has questioned Bank of America over Mr. Black’s hefty payments to Mr. Epstein, according to a letter viewed by The New York Times. They included fees paid to Mr. Epstein for advising on a sophisticated trust that saved Mr. Black more than $1 billion in taxes. Mr. Black’s decades-long business dealings and personal relationship with Mr. Epstein have dogged him ever since Mr. Epstein was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges in July 2019. (Mr. Epstein hanged himself in a federal jail a month after his arrest.) Mr. Black, a co-founder of Apollo Global Management, with a net worth of $13 billion, ultimately stepped down from all leadership posts because of the controversy.

Persons: Jeffrey Epstein, Leon Black, Epstein, Ron Wyden, Black, Banks Organizations: U.S, of America, Mr, The New York Times, Senate Finance Committee, Apollo Global Management Locations: Oregon

☆ Ron DeSantis tells donors he plans to help fundraise for Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Kit Maher | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Ron DeSantis told donors and supporters at an appreciation retreat over the weekend that he would help fundraise for former presidential rival Donald Trump, two sources familiar with the details told CNN. “He’s committed to helping Trump in any and every way,” said Texas businessman Roy Bailey, who attended the retreat. The appreciation retreat, which was held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, was for large donors, major fundraisers and finance committee members of the DeSantis campaign. It was held on the same weekend the Trump campaign announced a record $50.5 million haul at a fundraiser in Mar-a-Lago. “How I can help nationally, I want to be able to do that, I don’t know exactly.”NBC News was first to report that DeSantis plans to help fundraise for Trump.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, fundraise, Donald Trump, “ He’s, ”, Roy Bailey, Joe, Biden, ” Bailey, DeSantis, Casey, Trump, that’s, ” DeSantis Organizations: CNN, Florida Gov, Trump, Casino, White, Republican, NBC Locations: Texas, Hollywood , Florida, Mar, Florida

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