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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 20 March 2020
Carlson says he felt obligation to meet with Trump on virus

By DAVID BAUDER navirus, to the point where
NEW YORK (AP) — Fox News Dr. Anthony Fauci implored
Channel's Tucker Carlson him last week not to ignore
says he felt a "moral obliga- the new disease's lethality.
tion" to meet with President Most people who get the
Donald Trump and warn coronavirus have only mild
him personally about the or moderate symptoms.
seriousness of the coronavi- For some, especially older
rus pandemic. adults and people with
Carlson told Vanity Fair that existing health problems, it
"I didn't feel it was my role" can cause more severe ill-
but was convinced by his ness, including pneumonia.
wife to meet with Trump at The vast majority of people
Mar-a-Lago on March 7. recover.
Two nights later on his Fox Fox confirmed that Carlson
show, he issued a pointed has not been tested for the
warning to viewers to pre- disease and hasn't experi-
pare for the coming storm. enced any symptoms.
It speaks to both Fox News' Carlson told Vanity Fair
influence with the president that he told Trump "exactly
and his supporters that a what I've said on TV, that
cable news host was able this could be really bad."
to contact the White House He hasn't talked about his
and successfully request In this March 2, 2017 file photo, Tucker Carlson, host of "Tucker Carlson Tonight," poses for photos meeting on television and
the two-hour meeting. in a Fox News Channel studio, in New York. wanted to keep it a secret,
Carlson drove to the presi- Associated Press although it was revealed
dent's resort from his Florida in a story by The New York
home, ironically on the day viewers that "you should be "People you know will get trust — people you proba- Times.
some guests at Mar-a-Lago concerned." sick," Carlson said that bly voted for — have spent After weeks of trying to
were exposed to the virus. Yet his blunt March 9 com- night. "Some may die. This is weeks minimizing what is downplay the risk of the
He declined a request to mentary was eye-opening, real. That's the point of this clearly a very serious prob- coronavirus, Trump has tak-
speak to The Associated particularly in how it con- script — to tell you that." lem. It's just partisan politics, en a more urgent tone in
Press about it on Wednes- trasted with attitudes ex- Carlson said the nation's they say, calm down. In the recent days and led daily
day, and the White House pressed by some Fox col- leaders haven't helped citi- end this is just like the flu briefings with federal lead-
had no comment on a pri- leagues. At the same time zens take it seriously, criticiz- and people die of that ev- ers about developments.
vate meeting. as he was talking, Trish ing liberals for saying it was ery year." "I think a lot of people
Carlson had sounded the Regan on the sister Fox racist to refer to "The Chi- It's not, he said, noting that around him, and I mean
alarm about the coronavi- Business Network was de- nese Coronavirus" — words the death rate for the coro- broadly around him —
rus on his show earlier than nouncing the "coronavirus displayed on the screen navirus was much higher. particularly Republican
this month. On Jan. 28, he impeachment scam," sug- behind him. He named no names. His members on Capitol Hill,
criticized the media for gesting the stories were an "If we're being honest, the fellow Fox News host, Sean in leadership, too — were
spending more time on the attempt to attack the presi- other side has not been Hannity, has repeatedly determined to pretend this
impeachment trial than the dent. Four days later, Fox especially helpful, either," brought up seasonal flu in wasn't happening," he told
virus and, on Feb. 3, told shelved her show. Carlson said. "People you connection with the coro- the magazine.q

Weinstein moved to state prison day before 68th birthday

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and be evaluated to determine Weinstein, the Oscar-win-
TOM HAYS which state prison facility ning producer of "Shake-
Associated Press meets his security, medical, speare in Love," was con-
NEW YORK (AP) — Harvey mental health and other victed of raping an aspiring
Weinstein was transferred needs. actress in 2013 and forcibly
to a state prison in New Weinstein's spokesman performing oral sex on a
York on Wednesday as he called the move "harsh." TV and film production as-
begins to serve a 23-year Weinstein, convicted Feb. sistant in 2006. His lawyers
sentence for rape and sex- 24 and sentenced last have said they'll appeal.
ual assault in his landmark week, had been splitting Within hours of Weinstein's
#MeToo case. time between New York sentencing, prosecutors in
The disgraced film mogul, City's notorious Rikers Island Los Angeles announced
who will turn 68 on Thurs- jail complex and a Man- they were beginning the
day, is locked up at the hattan hospital. extradition process to send
maximum security Wende Weinstein left court in an him there for an arraign-
Correctional Facility near ambulance after the guilty ment on charges he raped In this Feb. 24, 2020 file photo, Harvey Weinstein arrives at a
Buffalo, according to state verdict and detoured to a woman and sexually as- Manhattan courthouse as jury deliberations continue in his rape
prison officials. He is known Bellevue Hospital, com- saulted another in 2013. trial in New York.
behind bars as inmate No. plaining of chest pains and That's now on hold because Associated Press
20B0584. high blood pressure. He of the coronavirus crisis that
The prison, six hours by car later had a stent inserted has shuttered courthouses an inauspicious homecom- in the area as a concert
from Manhattan, is likely just to unblock an artery. After and limited travel. ing. He attended college promoter bringing the likes
a temporary stop for Wein- his sentencing, he returned For Weinstein, being sent nearby and got his start in of Frank Sinatra and the
stein. While he's there, he'll with more chest pains. to the Buffalo-area prison is the entertainment business Rolling Stones to town.q