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U.S. NEWS Monday 14 deceMber 2020

Trump raises China concerns as reason to veto defense bill

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE with Trump, had urged pas-
Associated Press sage despite Trump’s threat
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- to veto it. McConnell said it
dent Donald Trump offered was important for Congress
a new rationale Sunday for to continue its nearly six-de-
threatening to veto the an- cade long streak of passing
nual defense policy bill that the defense policy bill.
covers the military’s bud- In addition to the budget
get for equipment and pay and pay raises it would
raises for service members: provide, McConnell said
China. He did not outline the bill will “keep our forces
his concerns. ready to deter China and
Republican and Demo- stand strong in the Indo-
cratic lawmakers say the Pacific.”
wide-ranging defense pol- Gallagher tweeted last
icy bill, which the Senate week that the United States
sent to the president on was at the beginning of a
Friday, would be tough on “New Cold War” with Chi-
China and must become na and that the defense
law as soon as possible. bill “takes important steps
Both the House and Sen- This March 27, 2008 file photo shows the Pentagon in Washington. to help us meet these chal-
ate passed the measure Associated Press lenges and ultimately win
by margins large enough Mike Gallagher of Wiscon- Trump Administration has biased against him during this competition.” Thune
to override a potential sin, a member of the House ever been.” the election. had said in a tweet that the
veto from the president, Armed Services Commit- A potential override of a Congress has approved measure would help the
who has a history of failing tee, have tweeted that the veto would be a first for the bill, known as the Na- U.S. defend against threats
to carry out actions he has bill would counter threats Trump and would come tional Defense Authoriza- from China and Russia.
threatened. from countries such as Chi- not long before he leaves tion Act, for nearly 60 years “It’s important for this bill
“The biggest winner of our na. office Jan. 20. A two-thirds in a row. The current version to become law ASAP,” he
new defense bill is China! I Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Is- vote is needed in each affirms 3% pay raises for U.S. said.
will veto!” Trump said in a land, the top Democrat on chamber for the bill to be- troops and authorizes more Trump tweeted last Tues-
new tweet. the Senate Armed Services come law without Trump’s than $740 billion in military day that he will veto “the
The White House did not Committee, said Trump’s signature. programs and construc- very weak” defense bill un-
immediately respond to an declaration that China is The president has made tion. less it repeals Section 230,
emailed request for com- the biggest winner in the numerous threats over Twit- The measure guides Pen- part of the communica-
ment on Trump’s specific defense bill is false. Reed ter to veto the bill over a tagon policy and cements tions code that shields Twit-
concerns about China. also noted the shifting ex- requirement that military decisions about troop lev- ter, Facebook and other
Senate Majority Leader planations Trump has given bases honoring Confeder- els, new weapons systems tech giants from content
Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., for the veto threats. ate leaders eventually be and military readiness, mili- liability. The White House
has said the bill would help “President Trump clearly renamed. He also threat- tary personnel policy and said in a policy statement
deter Chinese aggression. hasn’t read the bill, nor ened a veto to try to force other military goals. Many that “Section 230 facilitates
Other GOP backers of the does he understand what’s lawmakers to include provi- programs can only go into the spread of disinforma-
measure, including Sen. in it,” Reed said. “There sions — unrelated to the mil- effect if the bill is approved, tion online and is a serious
John Thune of South Da- are several bipartisan pro- itary and national defense including military construc- threat to our national secu-
kota, the second-ranking visions in here that get — to punish social media tion. rity and election integrity. It
Senate leader, and Rep. tougher on China than the companies he claims were McConnell, in a rare break should be repealed.”q
Former development aide accuses Cuomo of sexual harassment

By KAREN MATTHEWS same conversation? This “To be clear: I have no in-
Associated Press was the way for years,” she terest in talking to journal-
NEW YORK (AP) — A former continued. ists. I am about validating
aide to New York Gov. An- Asked for comment, Cuo- the experience of count-
drew Cuomo who is now mo’s press secretary Cait- less women and making
running for Manhattan bor- lin Girouard said, “There sure abuse stops.”
ough president accused is simply no truth to these Boylan’s sexual harassment
him of sexual harassment in claims.” allegation against Cuomo
a series of tweets Sunday, Boylan, 36, worked for the comes after The Associ-
saying he made inappro- Cuomo administration ated Press and others re-
priate comments about her from March 2015 to Oc- ported that the 63-year-old
appearance. tober 2018, serving first as governor is under consider-

Lindsey Boylan tweeted executive vice president ation for the job of attorney
that the Democratic gov- of Empire State Develop- general in the administra-
ernor “sexually harassed ment and then as a special tion of President-elect Joe
me for years. Many saw it, adviser to Cuomo for eco- Biden. In this May 27, 2020, file photo, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo
and watched.” nomic development. “I tried to quit three times speaks during a news conference at the National Press Club in
“I could never anticipate She did not provide de- before it stuck. I’ve worked Washington.
what to expect: would I be tails of the alleged harass- hard my whole life. Hustled Associated Press
grilled on my work (which ment and didn’t immedi- — fake it till you make it later in therapy!” that Boylan resigned after
was very good) or harassed ately respond to messages style,” she wrote. “That en- Personnel memos written she was confronted about
about my looks. from The Associated Press. vironment is beyond toxic. in 2018, obtained by The complaints about her own
Or would it be both in the Boylan later tweeted, I’m still unwrapping it years Associated Press, indicate office behavior.q