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A26 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 26 May 2020
Trump threatens to move RNC without assurances from governor

By JONATHAN DREW slated for Aug. 24-27 would
Associated Press be held at least partly in
President Donald Trump person. During a subse-
threatened Monday to pull quent Charlotte-area visit,
the Republican National Health and Human Services
Convention out of North Secretary Alex Azar sound-
Carolina if the state's Dem- ed less certain when dis-
ocratic governor doesn't cussing convention prepa-
immediately sign off on rations. He did not refer to
allowing a full-capacity a traditional in-person con-
gathering in August despite vention as a certainty, but
the ongoing COVID-19 rather noted that "we're
pandemic. several months away from
Trump's tweets about the the possibility of the RNC."
upcoming RNC in Charlotte Azar also praised Cooper's
come two days after North reopening moves.
Carolina's largest daily in- The state reported nearly
crease in virus cases yet. 24,000 positive cases Mon-
On Friday, Gov. Roy Coo- day, a daily increase of
per moved the state into a about 740. On Saturday,
second reopening phase the state reported 1,100
by loosening restrictions new cases, its biggest daily
on hair salons, barbers and In this Sept. 9, 2019, file photo, President Donald Trump participates in a briefing about Hurricane jump. Monday's state tally
restaurants. But he said the Dorian with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, left, aboard Air Force One at Marine Corps Air Station includes about 750 deaths
state must move cautious- Cherry Point in Havelock, N.C. and 600 current hospital-
ly, and he kept indoor en- Associated Press izations. Before Monday,
tertainment venues, gyms vention decisions. governors. leaders to hold the conven- Cooper and Trump had
and bars closed. "State health officials are Calling Trump's remarks "a tion there. In April, the City displayed little friction dur-
He added that Republi- working with the RNC and very reasonable request," Council voted to accept a ing the pandemic. While
cans "must be immediately will review its plans as they Pence told Fox that "hav- $50 million federal grant for Cooper has urged the fed-
given an answer by the make decisions about how ing a sense now is abso- convention security. Before eral government to pro-
Governor as to whether or to hold the convention in lutely essential because of the vote, City Attorney Pat- vide more testing supplies
not the space will be al- Charlotte," Cooper spokes- the immense preparations rick Baker noted the overall and protective gear, he's
lowed to be fully occupied. woman Dory MacMillan that are involved, and we contract requires parties avoided criticizing Trump
If not, we will be reluctantly said in an email. "North look forward to working to follow applicable laws by name. Trump, mean-
forced...to find, with all of Carolina is relying on data with Governor Cooper, and regulations, including while, has largely refrained
the jobs and economic and science to protect getting a swift response Cooper's executive orders. from calling out Cooper as
development it brings, an- our state's public health and, if needs be, if needs Cooper's current order lim- he has other Democratic
other Republican National and safety." Vice President be, moving the national its indoor gatherings to 10 governors.
Convention site." Mike Pence said Monday convention to a state that people. Baker said then Cooper narrowly beat an
Pre-pandemic, the GOP on Fox News Channel that is farther along on reopen- that GOP officials had dis- incumbent Republican
had estimated 50,000 convention planning takes ing and can say with confi- cussed convention alterna- in 2016 while Trump won
would come to Charlotte months and suggested a dence that we can gather tives but did not elaborate. the state. In this year's gu-
for the convention cen- state that's loosened more there." A week ago, Republican bernatorial election, Coo-
tered around its NBA arena. restrictions could host. He Changing sites would be National Committee chair- per faces Republican Lt.
Cooper's office responded praised reopenings in Tex- difficult for reasons includ- woman Ronna McDaniel Gov. Dan Forest, who has
that state officials are work- as, Florida and Georgia -- ing the contract between vowed on a call with re- urged a faster reopening
ing with the GOP on con- all states with Republican GOP officials and Charlotte porters that the convention of businesses.q

Fed judge rules Florida can't stop poor felons from voting

Associated Press ates a new system for de- The judge's decision could body told me that they lowing the holiday week-
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) termining whether felons have deep ramifications. did not realize that African end ruling. Julie Ebenstein,
— A federal judge in Tal- are eligible to vote. Florida's estimated 774,000 Americans tend to vote senior staff attorney with
lahassee ruled Sunday The bill, which attempted disenfranchised felons Democratic." American Civil Liberties
night that Florida law can't to define what it means represent a significant The governor's office is re- Union's Voting Rights Proj-
stop felons from voting to complete a prison sen- bloc in a state well known viewing the ruling, Helen ect, called Hinkle's ruling
because they can't pay tence, requires felons to for razor-thin election mar- Aguirre Ferré, the gover- a "tremendous victory for
back any legal fees and pay all fines, restitution gins. Many of those felons nor's spokeswoman, said voting rights."
restitution they owe. and other legal financial are black and presumably in an email Monday morn- "The court recognized that
In a 125-page ruling, U.S. obligations before their Democrats.During a trial ing. Hinkle wrote that his conditioning a person's
District Judge Robert Hin- sentences can be consid- earlier this month, Hinkle order affirms that the state right to vote on their abil-
kle called the law passed ered fully served. Florida asked during the state's of Florida can "condition ity to pay is unconstitution-
by the Florida Legislature voters approved Amend- closing argument, "Why is voting on payment of al," Ebenstein wrote in an
and signed by Republican ment 4 in 2018, restoring it all the Republicans vot- fines and restitution that a email. "This ruling means
Gov. Ron DeSantis last voting rights for felons. It ed yes, and all the Demo- person is able to pay but hundreds of thousands of
year a "pay-to-vote sys- permanently bars convict- crats voted no?" cannot condition voting Floridians will be able to
tem." ed murderers and rapists "That was not a coinci- on payment of amounts a rejoin the electorate and
Hinkle's order called court from voting, regardless of dence" Hinkle said then. "It person is unable to pay." participate in upcoming
fees a tax and said it cre- financial debts. would be stunning if some- Reaction was quick fol- elections."q