Nov 17, 2017

Clinton calls for independent commission to probe 2016 election

Hillary Clinton in Danville, Pa., earlier this month. Photo / Matt Rourke / AP

Hillary Clinton still questions the legitimacy of the 2016 presidential election results, especially given Russia's interference, and thinks an independent commission is needed to get to the bottom of it.

In an interview with Mother Jones' Ari Berman, Clinton said the result of Moscow's meddling "wasn't just influencing voters, it was determining the outcome."

Get smart: American intelligence agencies, including the CIA, NSA, FBI and the ODNI (Office of the Director of National Intelligence) have all agreed that Russia actively worked to tilt the election in favor of Donald Trump. However, it's still unclear whether their efforts impacted the results.

The other side: Last week, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he believes Vladimir Putin's denials about election meddling, and said he is reluctant to press him further so that the U.S. and Russia can work together on other issues like North Korea and Syria.

  • Clinton told Berman that those comments reveal Trump is still operating as Putin's "puppet": "I can't believe that he's so naïve. I think that he hopes or expects the rest of us to be naïve, or at least the people who support him to be naïve," she said. "But this is a serious cyberattack on America."
  • "If we don't figure out what they did to us and take adequate steps to prevent it, they're only going to get better," Clinton later added. "This is the first time we've ever been attacked by a foreign adversary and then they suffer no real consequences."

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Minneapolis unrest as hundreds protest death of George Floyd

Tear gas is fired as police clash with protesters demonstrating against the death of George Floyd outside the 3rd Precinct Police Precinct in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Tuesday. Photo: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Minneapolis police used tear gas during clashes with protesters demanding justice Tuesday night for George Floyd, an African American who died in police custody, according to multiple news reports.

Driving the news: The FBI is investigating Floyd's death after video emerged of a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on his neck for several minutes, ignoring protests that he couldn't breathe. Hundreds of protesters attended the demonstration at the intersection where Floyd died, per the Guardian.

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Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced plans Tuesday to make wearing face coverings mandatory statewide for most people over the age of 10 when inside public places like retailers, on public transportation and government buildings. He announced the measure, effective Friday, as coronavirus case numbers increased to 39,342.

By the numbers: More than 98,900 people have died from COVID-19 and over 1.6 million have tested positive in the U.S. Over 384,900 Americans have recovered and more than 14.9 million tests have been conducted.

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World coronavirus updates

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Japan is preparing a second coronavirus stimulus package worth $1.1 trillion, or about 40% of the country's gross domestic product, Reuters first reported Tuesday night.

Zoom in: The new measure will be funded by government bonds and will include "a raft of loan guarantees and private sector contributions," per Bloomberg.

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