Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas is announcing an independent investigation into the Secret Service’s handling of the Trump assassination attempt at the White House. — Andrew Leyden/NurPhoto via Getty Images
(WASHINGTON) — Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said there will be a bipartisan, independent review of the July 13 assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.
The independent review will be made up of four people: former DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano; Frances Townsend, the former Homeland Security adviser to President George W. Bush; Mark Filip, a former federal judge and deputy attorney general to President George W. Bush; and David Mitchell, the former superintendent of Maryland State Police and former Secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security for the State of Delaware.
Mayorkas said he could invite additional experts to join the panel in the coming days.
The group will have 45 days to review the policies and procedures of the Secret Service before, during and after the rally on July 13.
“All Americans share a concern about the safety of our public officials,” members of the independent review panel said in a joint statement. “We formed this bipartisan group to quickly identify improvements the U.S. Secret Service can implement to enhance their work. We must all work together to ensure events like July 13 do not happen again.”
Mayorkas said his department is committed to being transparent with the findings.
Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle is set to testify Monday before the House Oversight Committee.
U.S. Secret Service Director is interviewed about the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump by ABC News’ Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas in Milwaukee, WI on July 15, 2024. — Jack Date / ABC
(WASHINGTON) — The United States Secret Service Director will tell Congress on Monday the agency failed in protecting former President Donald Trump on July 13 and will take full responsibility for the lapses in security that day.
“The Secret Service’s solemn mission is to protect our nation’s leaders. On July 13th, we failed,” U.S. Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle is expected to testify before the House Oversight Committee, according to testimony excerpts released by the Department of Homeland Security. “As the Director of the United States Secret Service, I take full responsibility for any security lapse. As an agency, we are fully cooperating with the FBI’s investigation, the oversight you have initiated here, and conducting our own internal mission assurance review at my direction. Likewise, we will cooperate with the pending external review and the DHS Office of the Inspector General.”
In her first hearing before Congress, Cheatle is also expected to tell the committee that she will move “heaven and earth” to ensure what occurred on July 13 will never happen again, according to the excerpts obtained by ABC News.
“Our mission is not political. It is literally a matter of life and death, as the tragic events on July 13th remind us. I have full confidence in the men and women of the Secret Service,” she is expected to say. “They are worthy of our support in executing our protective mission.”
This is yet another consequential week for the Secret Service, which is tasked with providing security to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Washington, D.C., something the director has been focused on while also overseeing the security in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention.
Cheatle will face a grilling before the House Oversight Committee on Monday over how her agency handled security around the attempted assassination of Trump.
She has faced calls from multiple Republicans and at least one Democrat to resign after the former president was targeted at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
She has said she will not resign.
Lawmakers on the House Oversight and Governmental Affairs Committee will press Cheatle on what went wrong, what the Secret Service knew and when they knew it.
She will also face questions about whether her agency denied former President Trump’s security detail resources it has requested in the two years before Saturday, as first reported by The Washington Post, something her agency initially denied but then admitted over the weekend.
In a statement to ABC News, Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said, “In some instances where specific Secret Service specialized units or resources were not provided, the agency made modifications to ensure the security of the protectee. This may include utilizing state or local partners to provide specialized functions or otherwise identifying alternatives to reduce public exposure of a protectee.”
“The American People have lots of questions, and they deserve answers,” the Republican chairman, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, said on “Fox News Sunday” when asked about Monday’s hearing.
In a rare bipartisan statement, the committee’s top Democrat, Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, had joined Comer in demanding that Cheatle testify after the Department of Homeland Security asked that her appearance be delayed, resulting in Comer issuing a subpoena.
“Americans have many serious questions about the historic security failures that occurred at the campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle must appear before the House Oversight Committee without delay on Monday, July 22 to answer our many questions and provide the transparency and accountability that Americans deserve and that are at the foundation of our government,” they wrote.
The DHS inspector general has opened three separate investigations into what went wrong, the FBI is currently leading a criminal investigation and House Speaker Mike Johnson has pledged congressional resources for a separate investigation.
As the head of the agency, Cheatle said it was her responsibility to investigate what went wrong and ensure that it does not happen again.
“The buck stops with me,” she told ABC News Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas in an exclusive interview last Monday. “I am the director of the Secret Service, and I need to make sure that we are performing a review and that we are giving resources to our personnel as necessary.”
Cheatle has been in Milwaukee the past week overseeing security for the Republican National Convention and met with the former president last Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the situation.
“Secret Service is not political,” she told ABC News. “Security is not political. People’s safety is not political. And that’s what we’re focused on as an agency.”
Republicans also signaled they would question her about past statements that promoting diversity in the agency was a top priority.
DHS pushed back against criticism of women in Trump’s security detail.
“In the days following the attempted assassination of former President Trump, some people have made public statements questioning the presence of women in law enforcement, including in the United States Secret Service,” DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and other senior leaders wrote in a statement. “These assertions are baseless and insulting.”
People wait to receive food cards after registering as new arrivals at a camp for internally displaced persons (IDP) in Agari, North Kordofan, on June 17, 2024. — Guy Peterson/AFP via Getty Images
(LONDON) — Civilians across Sudan are enduring “indiscriminate and widespread” violence as fighting between the Sudanese Army (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group and allied militias approaches its 16th month, a new report by Doctors Without Borders said Monday.
The report — created by curating months of operational data, medical data and first-hand accounts from civilians and MSF teams on the ground — has found civilians across the Northeast African nation have faced “horrendous levels of violence” over the past year, “succumbing to widespread fighting and surviving repeated attacks, abuse and exploitation” by warring parties, according to the organization, which is also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF),
“The situation has deteriorated exponentially,” Ada Yee, MSF’s emergency coordinator, told ABC News over the phone from Nyala, South Darfur. “The situation in Sudan was not easy before, but now it is much worse. It has been staggering to witness this level of violence and the impact on women, children and vulnerable persons who have been left with no choice but to endure it.”
The report found the conflict has had “disastrous consequences” on the health and well-being of civilians in Sudan, physical and mental wounds of the violence exacerbated by a collapsing health system and a flow of humanitarian aid and lifesaving care routinely hindered by “widespread obstruction” by warring parties, insecurity, and looting of medical supplies.
The report highlights that many civilians are now dying from preventable complications; many unable to reach medical facilities on time due to factors such as conflict, and skyrocketing prices which have left them unable to afford medicine, if available.
“People are resilient, trying to carry on with their everyday life. But who knows what their personal story is? The ordinary person has probably been forced to relocate multiple times. Who knows how many of their family members have died or been injured? All that they have lost?”
A snapshot of the violence is illustrated through a small hospital near Sudan’s capital Khartoum: The Al-Nao Hospital in Omdurman. From August 2023 to April 2024, the hospital — one of the last functioning health facilities in Omdurman — admitted at least 6,776 war-wounded patients according to MSF, most suffering from gunshot, shrapnel or stab wounds.
In October 2023, Al-Nao Hospital’s emergency department was stuck by shelling, leaving two patient caretakers dead and at least 5 people injured. At least 399 have died from their injuries at the hospital, according to the report.
Sexual and gender-based violence was found to be “pervasive but critically underreported” due to factors such as social stigma and silence due to fear of retaliation, according to the report.
It comes as monitors warn the conflict is spreading across the Northeast African nation: Fighting recently intensifying in Sennar State as active conflict areas also continue in Sudan’s capital Khartoum, and across Darfur states.
The war broke out in Sudan in April of 2023, following months of simmering tensions between Sudan’s military and the RSF paramilitary group and allied militias over a planned transition to civilian rule.
The conflict has resulted in more than 16,000 deaths, precipitated one of the ‘world’s worst humanitarian crises in recent history’ and sparked the world’s ‘largest displacement’ crisis forcing over 10 million from their homes, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
“The humanitarian situation is horrible,” Yasin, who recently fled the besieged city of El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, told ABC News over the phone. “People no longer have homes, they need shelters.”
Like many Sudanese civilians, Yasin has been displaced at least three times since the onset of the war.
“As always in times of war, it is civilians who are bearing the brunt,” said Radhouane Nouicer, the designated expert on Sudan of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. “The scale and magnitude of human rights violations and abuses committed in Sudan are appalling.”
The U.N. says recently concluded talks with warring parties in Geneva have proven an “encouraging” first step towards an end to the war, with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ personal envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, meeting separately with delegations from the Sudanese army and the RSF under a proximity format.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced last week that the United States is providing nearly $203 million in additional humanitarian assistance to the people of Sudan and refugees who have fled to neighboring Chad, Egypt and South Sudan.
“The people of Sudan are facing the worst humanitarian crisis in the world,” Thomas-Greenfield said, adding that “only two-thirds” of the over $2.1 billion in humanitarian aid pledged during the Paris conference in April have so far been disbursed, and only “a quarter” of the response funded.
“We hope this new round of aid serves as a call to action for others to follow suit,” said Thomas-Greenfield.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor swears in Vice President-elect Kamala Harris during the Presidential Inauguration, Jan. 20, 2021, in Washington. (Gabrielle Lurie/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race on Sunday came after heavy pressure from congressional Democrats, including Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and more than 30 House lawmakers.
Biden, 81, has resisted calls to step aside that grew almost daily following his poor performance in his June 27 debate with former President Donald Trump and persistent questions about his age and mental fitness.
His decision comes just a few months before the Nov. 5 election.
Biden backed his vice president, Kamala Harris for the top of the ticket — a move that has led many others in the party to issue statements backing Harris.
Here’s how the news is developing:
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan says Biden should be ‘commended’ for exit from race
Larry Hogan, the former Maryland governor who is running for U.S. Senate, released a statement on X Sunday after President Biden ended his bid for reelection.
“I believe he made the right decision for his family and the country,” Hogan, a Republican, said of Biden, adding, “These are dangerous and unprecedented times. He should be commended for putting the country ahead of personal ambition.”
“The only way out of this cycle of chaos, divisiveness and dysfunction is to elect principled, common sense and experienced leaders who will focus on the day-to-day challenges facing Americans,” Hogan continued.
“We need less palace intrigue, less partisan nonsense, and more decisive action to solve the serious problems facing our nation,” Hogan said.
Trump donated $6,000 to Kamala Harris’s 2014 AG campaign
Then-businessman Donald Trump donated $6,000 to Kamala Harris’ 2014 California Attorney General reelection campaign, state campaign finance records show.
Trump initially donated $5,000 to Harris’s campaign in 2011, and donated another $1,000 to her campaign in 2013.
Ivanka Trump also donated $2,000 to Harris’s campaign in 2013.
Ad by pro-Trump PAC attacking Harris made days before Biden announcement
The attack ad put out on Sunday by a pro-Donald Trump PAC attacking Vice President Kamala Harris was made “days” before President Joe Biden announced his decision to drop out of the race, two sources familiar told ABC News.
One source describing the move as “just in case,” emphasizing how they had been preparing for this.
One source with the PAC told ABC News that they are viewing the switch from Biden to Harris as a “simple pivot” because Harris “owns all of Joe Biden’s failures.”
The plan is to frame Harris as a “co-conspirator” in Biden’s agenda — specifically on immigration, as the team has been reporting, the source said.
Vance says he and Trump ‘are ready to save America,’ tells Dems to ‘bring it on’
Former President Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance reacted to President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the race, calling him “the worst president in my lifetime” and saying they are ready to take on Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Joe Biden has been the worst President in my lifetime and Kamala Harris has been right there with him every step of the way. Over the last four years she co-signed Biden’s open border and green scam policies that drove up the cost of housing and groceries. She owns all of these failures, and she lied for nearly four years about Biden’s mental capacity–saddling the nation with a president who can’t do the job,” Vance said in a statement on X.
“President Trump and I are ready to save America, whoever’s at the top of the Democrat ticket. Bring it on,” Vance said.
Kamala Harris begins fundraising for 2024 presidential campaign
After announcing her 2024 presidential campaign, Kamala Harris has put out a public call for fundraising.
“I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party — and unite our nation — to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda. If you’re with me, add a donation right now,” Harris wrote on X Sunday.
The statement includes a photo with President Joe Biden, who endorsed Harris immediately following his exit from the race.
Christie says it is unlikely Democrats would challenge Harris
There are practical concerns that could dissuade other Democrats from challenging Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign for president, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, an ABC News contributor, told ABC News Live on Sunday.
“There are such practical concerns for the people who might be thinking about challenging the vice president. None of them have national campaigns organized, none of them have one state director in any one of the 50 states, none of them have a national fundraising operation,” Christie said.
“I think she’ll be able to inherit the money that is in the Biden-Harris campaign right now,” Christie said.
Christie added that anyone considering running will wonder if they will be able to beat a candidate who is a sitting vice president who has been endorsed by the sitting president.
“Most of the people who would be serious candidates, I think, quite frankly, they are going to look at this and say ‘I hope she picks me for No. 2’ and move on from there,” Christie said.
“I don’t think there is going to be any challenge to Kamala Harris,” Christie said.
Major Democratic donors endorse Vice President Kamala Harris
On the heels of President Biden’s departure from the 2024 presidential race Sunday, two major Democratic donors — Reid Hoffman and Alexander Soros — publicly endorsed Kamala Harris as the next candidate.
“The Democrats are the party of policy, progress, and action. When presented with the choice between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, I believe in the American people to make the right decision for our country,” Hoffman wrote in a statement on X.
Hoffman cofounded professional networking site LinkedIn in 2003 and is a partner at venture capital firm Greylock Partners.
“The Biden-Harris administration has put this country on the right track. It’s time for us to unite. I wholeheartedly support Kamala Harris and her candidacy for President of the United States in our fight for democracy in November,” he continued.
Soros, one of five sons of billionaire George Soros, took to X to share a photo of himself with Harris, writing: “It’s time for us all to unite around Kamala Harris and beat Donald Trump. She is the best and most qualified candidate we have. Long live the American Dream! #Harris2024.”
DNC members circulate letter endorsing Harris
Sixty-three signatories had joined onto the letter, which was obtained by ABC News, as of early Sunday evening, but more signatures could be added.
“We are deeply grateful to President Biden and his family for their decades of service to our nation, including the decision he made today to pass the torch of the Democratic nomination and American democracy itself to a new generation of public servants. We strongly and enthusiastically endorse Vice President Kamala Harris — the candidate with the best experience and capacity to unite our Party and the United States — for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. We ask that you join us,” they wrote.
Firefighters union on Biden’s exit: ‘Will forever be in his debt’
The International Association of Fire Fighters, which was the first union to back Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, released a statement on his decision to exit the 2024 race.
“Past, present, and future fire fighters are better off because of Joe Biden,” IAFF general president Edward A. Kelly said Sunday.
“For nearly 50 years, he has been a champion of the IAFF. His work has directly led to the hiring of tens of thousands of fire fighters, safety improvements in this most dangerous of jobs, and a nation that is now aware of the toxic threats we face every time we put on our gear,” Kelly said.
“And, when a fire fighter makes the ultimate sacrifice, President Biden’s work has ensured their families receive the benefits they deserve,” Kelly continued.
Kelly called Biden the “greatest President fire fighters and emergency medical workers have ever had.”
“Our membership – and the communities we serve – will forever be in his debt,” Kelly said.
Al Gore calls Biden an ‘exceptional leader,’ praises climate change action
Former Vice President Al Gore joined the chorus of Democratic leaders weighing in on President Biden’s decision to leave the 2024 presidential race on Sunday.
Praising Biden’s significant action toward climate change solutions, Gore said in a statement on X, “As President, Joe Biden has been — and is — an exceptional leader. He is responsible for developing and signing the most significant investment in climate solutions into law.”
“I know that he is not done delivering for the American people and will continue to serve this nation with wisdom and dignity in the coming months,” Gore continued, adding, “In paving the way for a new generation of leadership, President Biden’s decision is a fitting testament to his profoundly consequential career.”
“I applaud his selfless decision,” Gore wrote.
Harris thanks Biden for leadership, putting country first
In a statement announcing her candidacy for president, Vice President Kamala Harris thanked President Joe Biden for his “extraordinary leadership.”
“I thank Joe Biden for his extraordinary leadership as President of the United States and for his decades of service to our country. His remarkable legacy of accomplishment is unmatched in modern American history, surpassing the legacy of many Presidents who have served two terms in office,” Harris said.
“With this selfless and patriotic act, President Biden is doing what he has done throughout his life of service: putting the American people and our country above everything else,” Harris said.
Biden endorsed Harris after announcing his exit on Sunday, saying choosing her as his running mate in 2020 was the “best decision I’ve ever made.”
“Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda,” Harris said.
Former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney calls Biden’s decision ‘courageous’
In a post on X, former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney — a Republican and frequent critic of former President Donald Trump — praised Biden’s decision to leave the race as “courageous.”
“The framers of our Constitution knew that our republic would endure only if our presidents have the character and honor to put duty ahead of self interest,” Cheney wrote. “President Biden deserves our gratitude for his decades of service to our nation and for his courageous decision today.”
Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen weighs in on Biden’s exit from 2024 race
Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen, from the key battleground state of Nevada, shared a statement on President Biden departing from the 2024 election on Sunday.
“President Biden has served our country in public office with dignity and integrity for decades,” Rosen said, adding, “I thank President Biden for his leadership and respect his decision not to seek reelection.”
“There is still a lot more work to do on behalf of Nevadans to lower costs, create more opportunity, and defend our fundamental freedoms,” Rosen said.
Rosen noticeably did not endorse Vice President Kamala Harris in her statement Sunday.
Vice President Kamala Harris says she intends to seek nomination for president
Vice President Kamala Harris has announced she intends to run for president in 2024, hours after President Joe Biden said he will be dropping out of the race.
“I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination,” Harris said in a statement Sunday.
“We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win,” Harris said.
Planned Parenthood, pro-abortion rights groups cheer on Harris
Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion rights groups are cheering on Vice President Kamala Harris, saying she will “fight like hell” for abortion rights. Harris has led the charge under Biden’s presidency with abortion rights, a major issue in the 2024 election.
“As we have navigated this public health crisis, Vice President Harris has kept the needs and experiences of patients and providers front and center. She’s the first Vice President to visit a Planned Parenthood health center — and we know that she will continue to fight like hell to rebuild a fundamental right that was stripped away,” Planned Parenthood said in a statement Sunday.
“President Biden and Vice President Harris’ record when it comes to protecting our reproductive freedoms and abortion access is unquestionable — these last two years, they have been the strongest, steadiest voice in the post-Dobbs storm,” Planned Parenthood said.
Biden told senior team one minute before announcement
President Joe Biden told his senior team that he had changed his mind about staying in the race one minute before going public, a source told ABC News.
Biden told his team at 1:45 pm on Sunday, and posted his announcement to the public at 1:46 pm, the source said.
As recently as Saturday night, according to the source, Biden’s message had still been “full speed ahead.”
Amy Klobuchar backs Kamala Harris
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., told ABC News she is backing Vice President Kamala Harris for president in the 2024 election.
“I worked with her in the Senate for years and we became closer friends even when we ran against each other,” Klobuchar said.
Klobuchar said President Joe Biden chose “the honorable path” by dropping out.
“President Biden has served with integrity and delivered results that will strengthen our country for generations to come. He passed historic legislation investing in our infrastructure, manufacturing and lowering the cost of prescription drugs. I am deeply grateful for his service, dedication, and commitment to our country and our democracy,” Klobuchar said.
Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson calls for open convention
Marianne Williamson is throwing her hat back in the 2024 presidential election ring after President Joe Biden exited the race Sunday.
“The nomination of a new Democratic candidate must be opened to a genuinely democratic process at an open convention,” Williamson told ABC News in a statement.
“No one should simply be anointed to the position of nominee; all candidates must be heard and their agendas explored,” Williamson said, seemingly referencing Biden’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Our party’s basic first principle is democracy,” Williamson continued, adding, “We cannot save our democracy without practicing it ourselves.”
“I look forward to taking my message to the American people, and convincing Democratic delegates, that I am the best candidate to take us to victory in November,” Williamson said.
Obama lauds Biden as ‘a patriot of the highest order,’ no mention of Harris
In a statement, former President Barack Obama lauded President Joe Biden for his decades of service and decision to leave the race. He did not mention Vice President Kamala Harris in the statement.
“Joe Biden has been one of America’s most consequential presidents, as well as a dear friend and partner to me,” Obama wrote. “Today, we’ve also been reminded — again — that he’s a patriot of the highest order.”
Obama praised Biden’s “outstanding track record” in office and how he “has never backed down from a fight.”
“For him to look at the political landscape and decide that he should pass the torch to a new nominee is surely one of the toughest in his life. But I know he wouldn’t make this decision unless he believed it was right for America,” he wrote. “It’s a testament to Joe Biden’s love of country — and a historic example of a genuine public servant once again putting the interests of the American people ahead of his own that future generations of leaders will do well to follow.”
Obama said he has “extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges.”
“For now, Michelle and I just want to express our love and gratitude to Joe and Jill for leading us so ably and courageously during these perilous times — and for their commitment to the ideals of freedom and equality that this country was founded on,” he wrote.
Elizabeth Warren says Kamala Harris is ready take on Trump
Ahead of President Joe Biden’s announcement that he dropped out of the 2024 presidential election, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., had voiced her support for Vice President Kamala Harris.
“If President Biden decides to step back, we have Vice President Kamala Harris, who is ready to step up, to unite the party, to take on Donald Trump, and to win in November,” Warren said.
Trump says next Democratic candidate will be ‘more of the same’
Former President Donald Trump is rallying against the Democratic Party Sunday, following the announcement President Joe Biden is leaving the 2024 race.
“Crooked Joe Biden is the Worst President, by far, in the History of our Nation. He has done everything possible to destroy our Country,” Trump said in a statement on TruthSocial.
“Whoever the Left puts up now will just be more of the same,” Trump continued.
Trump’s campaign also released a statement Sunday, calling out Vice President Kamala Harris by name, after Biden endorsed her as the next Democratic pick.
“Kamala Harris is just as much of joke as Biden is,” the campaign said, adding, “Harris will be even WORSE for the people of our Nation than Joe Biden. Harris has been the Enabler in Chief for Crooked Joe this entire time. They own each other’s records, and there is no distance between the two.”
Donors, delegates relieved Biden dropped out, but split on Harris
Democratic delegates and donors are say they are “relieved” and “thrilled” that President Biden has made the decision to step down, but they are divided on the best path forward.
“No one I know wants a coronation. In fact, Kamala will be stronger to go through a mini primary and we need to have an alternative or two,” one key donor told ABC News.
“We need to put best ticket together and let delegates vote,” the donor added. “Not sure it’ll happen but we are trying.”
Another delegate and donor told ABC News they are fully behind Harris.
“Now big donor money will start flowing again. His selfless act will save our republic,” a second donor said.
Biden and Harris spoke ahead of the president’s decision to leave 2024 race
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke on Sunday, ahead of Biden’s decision to end his bid for reelection and endorse Harris to be the next Democratic pick.
“Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year,” Biden wrote in a statement on X.
Sen. Cory Booker expresses ‘profound gratitude’ to Biden
In a statement on X, Sen. Cory Booker expressed his “profound gratitude” to Biden following news that he would end his reelection campaign.
“I cannot overstate the gravity of the noble and history-making decision that President Biden just made. The feeling that I have right now is one of profound gratitude,” Booker wrote. “I am grateful that Joe Biden has been a friend, the most dedicated of public servants, and an extraordinary president.”
“I am grateful that we have a president whose patriotism and love of country drove him to run and win against demagoguery in 2020, and who now, because of that same fierce love and devotion to his fellow Americans, has decided to be the bridge to a new generation of leaders,” he wrote.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer weighs in on Biden’s decision
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised President Biden’s legacy and said he “put the country, his party, and our future first” with his decision Sunday.
“Joe, today shows you are a true patriot and great American,” he said.
Schumer’s statement comes days after sources told ABC News that Schumer privately urged Biden to drop out of the race.
Schumer had a blunt conversation with Biden, sources said, making the case it would be best if Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race.
Sen. Bernie Sanders says Biden has served with ‘honor and dignity’
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders reacted to Biden’s decision to end his bid for reelection on Sunday.
“Joe Biden has served our country with honor and dignity,” Sanders wrote in a statement on X.
“As the first president to ever walk on a picket line with striking workers, he has been the most pro-working class president in modern American history,” Sanders continued.
Sanders ran against Biden for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 presidential race.
“Thank you, Mr. President, for all you’ve done,” Sanders wrote.
Biden ‘patriotic American who has always put our country first’: Pelosi
Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi called President Joe Biden “a patriotic American who has always put our country first.”
“His legacy of vision, values and leadership make him one of the most consequential Presidents in American history. With love and gratitude to President Biden for always believing in the promise of America and giving people the opportunity to reach their fulfillment,” Pelosi said in a statement Sunday.
“God blessed America with Joe Biden’s greatness and goodness,” Pelosi said.
Bill and Hillary Clinton endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president
Bill and Hillary Clinton endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president, saying in a statement that they would “fight with everything we’ve got” to elect her.
“We are honored to join the President in endorsing Vice President Harris and will do whatever we can to support her,” they wrote.
DNC Chair Jaime Harrison says party will announce next steps in nomination
Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison said the Democratic Party will be soon announcing next steps and the path forward for the nomination process for the 2024 presidential candidate.
“As we move forward to formally select our Party’s nominee, our values as Democrats remain the same — lowering costs, restoring freedom, protecting the rights of all people, and saving our democracy from the threat of dictatorship. We have and will continue to make this case to the American people,” Harrison said in a statement Sunday.
Harrison also thanked Biden for “the unparalleled progress he has delivered over the last four years.”
“We will honor that legacy, and the decision that he has made today, through a firm commitment to nominating and electing a Democratic president this November who will carry that torch into the next four years,” Harrison said.
Biden-Harris staff was caught off guard by decision to step down: Sources
Staff members who work for both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had no indication Biden had made his decision to step down from the 2024 race, sources told ABC News.
The administration’s staff was not aware, even as his letter was being distributed, sources said.
Pete Buttigieg commends Biden for prioritizing ‘what is best for our country’
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who ran against Biden in 2020, commended President Biden’s decision to leave the race in a post on X.
“Joe Biden has earned his place among the best and most consequential presidents in American history,” he wrote. “I am so proud to serve under his leadership, and thankful for his unwavering focus on what is best for our country.”
Former DNC Chair Donna Brazile backs Harris, predicts she will be nominee
Former DNC Chair Donna Brazile is backing Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election and predicted she would be the nominee, but left open the possibility of an open convention that would land her the nomination.
“Part A was Biden-Harris. Part B was Harris and her running mate. Part C would likely be an open convention” where Harris would likely prevail, Brazile, an ABC News contributor, told ABC News Live.
Harris has not yet said whether she will be running for president.
“She would be and is the strongest candidate,” Brazile said.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer praises Biden as a ‘great public servant’
After Biden’s announcement that he would end his reelection campaign, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer praised him in a post on X.
“President Biden is a great public servant who knows better than anyone what it takes to defeat Donald Trump,” she wrote. “His remarkable work to lower prescription drug costs, fix the damn roads, bring supply chains home, address climate change, and ensure America’s global leadership over decades will go down in history.”
“My job in this election will remain the same: doing everything I can to elect Democrats and stop Donald Trump, a convicted felon whose agenda of raising families’ costs, banning abortion nationwide, and abusing the power of the White House to settle his own scores is completely wrong for Michigan,” she wrote.
‘A good day for the Democratic Party,’ Sen. Heitkamp says
Minutes after President Joe Biden announced he was stepping down from the 2024 presidential race, former North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp said that while she considers Biden an ally and a friend, Sunday is “a good day for the Democratic Party.”
Heitkamp called his decision “a sacrifice he is making for the country.”
“He has served this country so ably, it can’t have been easy,” Heitkamp said, in an interview on ABC News Live.
Biden endorses Vice President Kamala Harris
After announcing he would exit the 2024 race, President Joe Biden has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president.
In a message on X, Biden called picking Harris as his running mate in 2020 the “best decision” he has made.
“My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” he wrote. “My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made.”
“Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year,” he wrote. “Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”
Biden says he’ll ‘stand down’ from 2024 election
President Joe Biden has announced he is stepping down from the 2024 presidential race.
Biden made the announcement on Sunday, saying in a statement, “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
The president said he will address the nation later this week with more details about his decision.
(PHILADELPHIA) — Nine people were shot, three fatally, when gunfire involving multiple gunmen erupted early Sunday at a party in Philadelphia, authorities said.
The mass shooting unfolded around 2 a.m. on the 1200 block of North Alden Street in the Carroll Park neighborhood of West Philadelphia, where a party attended by more than 100 people was taking place, according to the Philadelphia Police Department.
When officers arrived, they found victims suffering from gunshot wounds and multiple spent shell casings scattered in the area, Philadelphia police Inspector D.F. Pace said during a news conference at the scene.
“It appears that there were multiple shooters. It’s unclear at this time how many. But we have counted at least 25 to 30 spent shell casings at this time,” Pace said. “We’re not sure if it was a block party or just simply a group of individuals who were invited from other parts of the city. It’s just not clear at this time.”
Pace initially said a total of 10 people were shot, including the three who were killed. But in the latest statement released Sunday, police said nine victims were shot.
One gun was recovered at the scene, officials said.
“Preliminary information indicates an exchange of gunfire between multiple parties resulting in a nonuple shooting and triple homicide,” police said in a statement.
The shell casings recovered from the scene indicate different caliber weapons were used in the shooting, which is “consistent with an exchange of gunfire between individuals on location,” according to the latest police statement.
Investigators were working to identify those involved in the shooting. No arrests have been announced and the names of the victims killed were not immediately released.
A motive for the shooting was also under investigation, police said.
Three men ages 23, 29 and 33 were killed in the shooting, police said. One died at the scene and two were taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead, police said.
The other shooting victims were a 26-year-old woman and five men ranging in age from 26 to 30, according to police. All were listed in stable condition, police said.
Two of the victims who survived the shooting were taken to hospitals in private vehicles, police said.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the Constitutional Convention of the UNITE HERE hospitality union in New York on June 21, 2024. (ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
(WASHINGTON) — Vice President Kamala Harris thanked President Joe Biden for his leadership following the news Sunday that he will not continue his bid for reelection.
Her statement comes amid a growing chorus of endorsements for her candidacy in the 2024 presidential race.
“On behalf of the American people, I thank Joe Biden for his extraordinary leadership as president of the United States and for his decades of service to our country,” she said in a statement released Sunday.
“His remarkable legacy of accomplishment is unmatched in modern American history, surpassing the legacy of many presidents who have served two terms in office,” she said.
Biden endorsed Harris in his statement on his exit, offering his “full support and endorsement” for her to be the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee.
At a July 11 press conference, Biden also hinted at his belief in Harris’ ability to lead, saying at the time: “I wouldn’t have picked her unless I thought she was qualified to be president.”
Former President Bill Clinton and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also endorsed Harris.
“We are honored to join the president in endorsing Vice President Harris and will do whatever we can to support her,” the two said in a statement on X.
In the House, Harris has received endorsements so far from: Rep. Jamal Bowman, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Rep. Ami Bera, Rep. Eric Swallwell, Rep. Joaquin Castro, Rep. Salud Carbajal, Rep. Dan Kildee and Rep. Haley Stevens.
In the Senate, Harris has received endorsements so far from: Sen. Mazie Hirono, Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Mark Warner, Sen. Tina Smith, Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Ed Markey.
In her statement Sunday, Harris continued, “It is a profound honor to serve as his vice president, and I am deeply grateful to the president, [first lady] Dr. [Jill] Biden, and the entire Biden family. I first came to know President Biden through his son Beau. We were friends from our days working together as attorneys gneral of our home states. As we worked together, Beau would tell me stories about his dad. The kind of father — and the kind of man — he was. And the qualities Beau revered in his father are the same qualities, the same values, I have seen every single day in Joe’s leadership as president: His honesty and integrity. His big heart and commitment to his faith and his family. And his love of our country and the American people.”
President Joe Biden speaks alongside Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala before a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, April 15, 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden is leaving the 2024 race after a halting debate performance against Donald Trump led to questions from Democrats about his age, ability to carry out his campaign and whether he could serve a second term.
Biden said in a statement posted Sunday that he will “stand down.”
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” he wrote, in part, in a letter posted on X. “And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
“I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision,” he added.
In another post on X, Biden gave his “full support and endorsement” for Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic Party’s nominee.
First lady Jill Biden reposted her husband’s post announcing he’s dropping out with a hearts emoji.
The stunning move upends what has been a long general election rematch between Biden and Trump, both of whom handily won their party’s primaries, with less than four months until the November contest.
While concerns about Biden’s age plagued him since he launched his reelection campaign in April 2023, they reached a fever pitch following his showdown with Trump at the CNN debate in Atlanta in late June.
Biden, who at 81 is the oldest sitting president in history, spoke with a hoarse voice that his team attributed to a cold. But coupled with his meandering answers and inability to hit Trump hard on key Democratic issues, his performance left some pundits and politicians speechless.
The White House and campaign chalked up the performance as a “bad night.” Biden defiantly insisted he would remain in the race, repeatedly telling Democrats he was the best option to defeat Trump.
“I convinced myself of two things. I’m the most qualified person to beat him, and I know how to get things done,” Biden told ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos in his first post-debate television interview.
“Look. I mean, if the Lord Almighty came down and said, ‘Joe, get outta the race,’ I’d get outta the race. The Lord Almighty’s not comin’ down,” Biden said at the time.
But early polling showed the debate’s negative impact. In 538’s national polling average, Trump now leads by 2 percentage points over Biden, while the two candidates were just about tied on the day of the June 27 debate.
And despite Biden and his campaign’s furious attempts at damage control, including a press conference after concluding a NATO summit in Washington where he took reporter questions for nearly an hour and tried to make the case he must “finish the job,” a steady drumbeat of Democratic lawmakers and public figures called on him to step aside as the nominee.
“The one thing I know for sure is that we can do better than Joe Biden as a person who can deliver our message in this election cycle,” Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., told ABC News. “And we have time to do that. And we should.”
To emphasize how closely held Biden’s decision was, a source familiar with the matter told ABC Senior White House Correspondent Selina Wang that Biden has informed his senior team that he changed his mind about staying in the race at 1:45 p.m. Sunday.
Biden’s letter came out at 1:46 p.m. — so his staff was told just one minute before the public announcement that he was dropping out.
Before Biden’s revelation Sunday, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had publicly said they supported Biden making a decision during the party’s turmoil. But privately, they were said to have been sympathetic to the view held by a growing number of congressional Democrats that Biden was on a path to lose to Trump.
Schumer went to Delaware to speak to Biden and made the case it would be best if Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race, ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl reported.
As scrutiny of Biden intensified, focus increased on Vice President Kamala Harris as a possible choice to replace him as the Democratic nominee.
“I wouldn’t have picked her unless I thought she was qualified to be president,” Biden said of Harris at his press conference on July 11.
The Democratic Party’s dysfunction stood in sharp contrast to the steadfast party unity shown to Trump during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
As he accepted his party’s nomination, Trump spoke of the “love in the room” and enthusiasm for what’s to come.
“I am running to be president for all of America, not half of America, because there is no victory in winning for half of America,” Trump said.
(NEW YORK) — Over 30 million remain under heat alerts from Arizona up through Washington State, where widespread highs in the triple digits are expected. Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories will still in effect through Sunday — and into next week for parts of the Pacific Northwest.
Hot, dry and windy conditions will also keep fire danger high, especially for crews working tirelessly to contain and control current wildfires across parts of California and the Pacific Northwest.
The potential for dry thunderstorms producing abundant lightning will increase over across portions of Oregon and Washington. This could spark new fires, increasing the risk even more. Red Flag Warnings remain in effect through Sunday evening.
The combination of the heat and smoke from wildfires will also bring poor air quality across portions of the Pacific Northwest as well. As a result, Air Quality Alerts remain in effect for parts of the region.
Intensifying heat out West
The heat dome over the West Coast will intensify and expand northward over the weekend, bringing temperatures back into record-setting territory for much of the region Saturday and Sunday.
Temperatures could reach record highs this weekend with Las Vegas, Nevada, potentially reaching 113 degrees; Needles, California, potentially reaching 118 degrees; and Mount Shasta, California, potentially reaching 100 degrees on Saturday.
On Sunday, places that could break record highs include Boise, Idaho, which could reach 107 degrees; Spokane, Washington, which could reach 108 degrees; Yakima, Washington, which could reach 105 degrees; Baker, Oregon, which could reach 102 degrees; and Las Vegas, Nevada, which could reach 113 degrees.
High heat and humidity will also impact parts of Central and South Florida Saturday and Sunday. Near Orlando, Sanford, Florida could see temperatures peak near record levels Saturday, with highs forecast to climb into the mid-90s.
Heat Advisories remain in effect through Sunday evening across South Florida, where heat index values up to 108 degrees are possible.
Heavy rainfall and flash flooding in the South
Weather conditions in the South will stay soggy and unsettled over the next stretch of days. A few severe storms could generate damaging winds, but heavy rainfall and the threat for flash flooding remain a bigger concern.
The stalled front responsible for rain and storms in the South will continue to bring locally heavy downpours to parts of the region in the days ahead.
Another 2 to 3 inches of rain is forecast through next week, from Texas to Virginia and the Carolinas, with higher amounts possible locally.
Flooding remains a bigger threat across portions of southeastern Virginia, where flood alerts remain in effect. After receiving as much as 4 to 6 inches across parts of the state, additional rainfall in the days ahead will only increase the potential for flooding, if not exacerbate any flooding that is already ongoing.
Meanwhile, shower and storm activity affecting the Central U.S. continues to keep temperatures near or below normal over the next few days and into next week.
Strong storms producing damaging winds, hail and locally heavy downpours could fire up across parts of the High Plains on Saturday afternoon and evening, too.
Flood alerts also remain in effect across portions of the southern Rockies in New Mexico, where additional rainfall from storms could lead to flooding through Saturday night.
(GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.) — Former President Donald Trump is returning to the campaign trail in the battleground state of Michigan — days after accepting the Republican nomination for president at the party’s convention for the third time.
This time, though, Trump will be joined by his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, for the first time at a campaign rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Saturday evening. It marks Trump’s first rally since his assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania last Saturday.
The rally will be held inside the Van Andel Arena, an easier-to-secure indoor venue after the gunman at last week’s outdoor venue fired from a nearby roof. The indoor venue is a change from Trump’s previous rallies this election cycle, which are primarily outdoors, weather permitting.
Van Andel Arena accommodates more than 12,000 people, although it’s unclear how many people will attend. The arena is located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, surrounded by several restaurants and hotels. Attendees can expect heightened security given last week’s attempted assassination.
Many attendees said they came to show Trump they weren’t afraid after what happened last week. Some camped overnight outside the venue to get a good spot.
“He’s not afraid to fight for us and we’re not afraid to fight for him,” Lisa Donlin, a Michigan mother, told ABC News.
This will be Vance’s first official campaign rally as part of the GOP ticket. It shouldn’t be seen as a coincidence that Trump and Vance’s first rally together is taking place in Michigan, a key battleground state.
The Trump-Vance campaign has made it clear since Vance was announced as Trump’s running mate that they see the Ohio senator as crucial in their strategy to win the battleground states in the midwest: Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
During his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention earlier this week, Vance emphasized his background growing up in Middletown, Ohio, and living in the Rust Belt.
“I promise you one more thing, to the people of Middletown, Ohio, and all the forgotten communities in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and every corner of our nation: I will be a vice president who never forgets where he came from,” Vance said Wednesday night.
But Vance has come a long way since his Rust Belt days, having gone on to attend Yale Law School and worked in the tech industry as a venture capitalist.
In 2016, Vance released his memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy,” which shared his story of growing up in poverty in America’s Rust Belt and being surrounded by violence and addiction.
A few years later, he launched his campaign for Ohio’s open Senate seat, winning the general election in 2022, defeating then-Rep. Tim Ryan.
Michigan is an essential state for both candidates. President Joe Biden defeated Trump in Michigan in 2020, however, Trump won the state in 2016 over Hillary Clinton.
The arena will be a familiar venue to Trump as he held a rally there in March 2019. In his previous election cycles, Trump made Michigan his final stop before Election Day.
During Trump’s keynote address at the RNC on Thursday, the former president mentioned the auto industry several times in an attempt to appeal to Michigan, home of many auto manufacturers. Although Trump pledges to bring back auto industry jobs, Trump disparaged United Auto Workers’ leadership, saying the union’s leader should be “fired immediately.”
“So with all the other things happening on our border, and they’re being built by China to make cars and sell them into our country, no tax, no anything. The United Auto Workers ought to be ashamed for allowing this to happen and the leader of the United Auto Workers should be fired immediately,” Trump said.
UAW, which endorsed Biden in January, responded in a post on X Thursday night, saying “.@realDonaldTrump is a scab and a billionaire and that’s who he represents. We know which side we’re on. Not his.”
(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden’s symptoms from COVID-19 “continue to improve steadily,” but he is “still experiencing a loose, non-productive cough and hoarseness,” his doctor said on Saturday.
“His pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and temperature remain absolutely normal. His oxygen saturation continues to be excellent on room air. His lungs remain clear,” Dr. Kevin O’Connor said in a new letter.
Biden completed his sixth dose of Paxlovid Saturday and results returned showing that the president’s COVID variant is KP.2.3, which accounts for roughly a third of new cases in the U.S., according to the CDC.
O’Connor said Friday that Biden’s symptoms had “improved meaningfully from yesterday.”
Biden, 81, tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, following a campaign event in Las Vegas, the White House said.
UnidosUS CEO Janet Murguía announced the diagnosis from the podium at a conference in Las Vegas where the president was set to speak.
“He is vaccinated and boosted and he is experiencing mild symptoms,” the White House said in a statement Wednesday night. “He will be returning to Delaware where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time.”
In a statement Friday, Biden said he will be returning to the campaign trail next week.
First lady Jill Biden was in Rehoboth, Delaware, with the president as he self-isolated following his COVID diagnosis. Jill Biden was already in Rehoboth prior to the president’s diagnosis, her office said on Thursday. No additional family is in Rehoboth, according to her office.
When asked if she has been tested for COVID or was showing any symptoms, her office said, “She is tested as determined appropriate by her doctor — she is not symptomatic and up to date with her vaccines.”
President Biden is being “kept up to speed” on national security matters while he isolates, national security communications adviser John Kirby told reporters Thursday afternoon.
“I think we can all understand that while he’s certainly focused on getting better, as anybody who’s had COVID would want to do, he is — he’s being kept up to speed as appropriate, by his leadership team, and certainly that includes on the national security front,” Kirby said in an audio-only gaggle.
Kirby didn’t have any specific briefings to speak to, but said that the president is being “kept updated and up to speed as he normally would.”
The White House said it will provide regular updates on the president’s status “as he continues to carry out the full duties of the office while in isolation.”
The White House had shared a note Wednesday from Biden’s doctor, who said the president had upper respiratory symptoms — including a running nose and cough — and “general malaise” Wednesday afternoon.
“He felt OK for his first event of the day, but given that he was not feeling better, point of care testing for COVID-19 was conducted, and the results were positive for the COVID-19 virus,” his doctor said, according to the White House.
The president gave a thumbs-up to reporters as he prepared to depart Las Vegas on Wednesday when asked how he was feeling and responded, “Good. I feel good,” according to the pool.
He was seen maskless boarding Air Force One in Las Vegas on Wednesday afternoon to head to Rehoboth.
Biden also shared his COVID-19 diagnosis on X later Wednesday night, writing, “I am feeling good and thank everyone for the well wishes.”
“I will be isolating as I recover, and during this time I will continue to work to get the job done for the American people,” he said.
Biden previously tested positive for COVID-19 in 2022 and took Paxlovid then, the White House said at the time.
The president was slated to deliver remarks Wednesday afternoon at the annual conference for UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization, when Murguía announced from the stage that he would no longer be able to appear.
“Regrettably, I was just on the phone with President Biden and he shared his deep disappointment at not being able to join us this afternoon,” Murguía told the crowd. “The president has been at many events as we all know, and he just tested positive for COVID. So, of course, we understand that he needs to take the precautions that have been recommended, and he did not obviously want to put anybody at risk.”
“He said to tell my folks that you’re not going to get rid of him that quickly,” Murguía continued. “We’re going to have a chance to hear from him in the future directly. He’s just really sorry he couldn’t be with us.”
ABC News’ Mary K. Bruce, Molly Nagle and Justin Ryan Gomez contributed to this report.
