Statement from National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien

Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to ensure every American has priority access to free, safe, and effective COVID-19 vaccines. As part of the Executive Order, President Trump directed his Administration to develop a strategy for giving other nations access to United States Government COVID-19 Vaccines. After all Americans have been afforded the opportunity to be vaccinated, the United States will facilitate COVID-19 vaccine access to the international community for our allies, partners, and others.

In the coming days, my team at the National Security Council will finalize this strategy and coordinate the United States Government’s subsequent implementation. The United States leads the world in health and humanitarian assistance, and we will work to ensure that America continues to save lives and provide human dignity to our friends around the world as we fight this horrible pandemic together.

The President’s vision and energy has been the impetus behind Operation Warp Speed, which has ignited the development of these vaccines in record time. As a result of unprecedented collaboration between the United States Government, private industry, and international partners, the United States will soon have safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for the American people.

President Trump has no higher priority than defending our Nation, and in taking this action, he is ensuring the health of our citizens, strengthening our economy, and enhancing our national security. Today’s action was possible only with President Trump’s strong and decisive leadership.

>https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-national-security-advisor-robert-c-obrien-120820/

>>11953774

Executive Order on Ensuring Access to United States Government COVID-19 Vaccines

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Purpose. Through unprecedented collaboration across the United States Government, industry, and international partners, the United States expects to soon have safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines available for the American people. To ensure the health and safety of our citizens, to strengthen our economy, and to enhance the security of our Nation, we must ensure that Americans have priority access to COVID-19 vaccines developed in the United States or procured by the United States Government (“United States Government COVID-19 Vaccines”).

Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to ensure Americans have priority access to free, safe, and effective COVID-19 vaccines. After ensuring the ability to meet the vaccination needs of the American people, it is in the interest of the United States to facilitate international access to United States Government COVID-19 Vaccines.

Sec. 3. American Access to COVID-19 Vaccines. (a) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, through Operation Warp Speed and with the support of the Secretary of Defense, shall ensure safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines are available to the American people, coordinating with public and private entities — including State, territorial, and tribal governments, where appropriate — to enable the timely distribution of such vaccines.

(b) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the heads of other executive departments and agencies (agencies), as appropriate, shall ensure that Americans have priority access to United States Government COVID-19 Vaccines, and shall ensure that the most vulnerable United States populations have first access to such vaccines.

(c) The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall ensure that a sufficient supply of COVID-19 vaccine doses is available for all Americans who choose to be vaccinated in order to safeguard America from COVID-19.

Sec. 4. International Access to United States Government COVID-19 Vaccines. After determining that there exists a sufficient supply of COVID-19 vaccine doses for all Americans who choose to be vaccinated, as required by section 3(b) of this order, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, the Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation, the Chairman and President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and the heads of other agencies, shall facilitate international access to United States Government COVID-19 Vaccines for allies, partners, and others, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law.

Sec. 5. Coordination of International Access to United States Government COVID-19 Vaccines. Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs shall coordinate development of an interagency strategy for the implementation of section 4 of this order.

Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,

December 8, 2020.

>https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-ensuring-access-united-states-government-covid-19-vaccines/

>>11953787

President Donald J. Trump’s Effort To Provide Americans With A Safe And Effective Vaccine Is Delivering Results

My Administration has initiated the single greatest mobilization in U.S. history — pioneering, developing, and manufacturing therapies and vaccines in record time.

President Donald J. Trump

PUTTING AMERICANS FIRST FOR VACCINES: President Donald J. Trump is taking action to provide Americans priority access to our Nation’s COVID-19 vaccines.

Today, President Trump is signing an Executive Order to ensure that the American people are first in line to benefit from United States Government COVID-19 vaccines developed or procured using taxpayer resources.

Under this order, the Secretary of Health and Human Services is directed to provide priority access to COVID-19 vaccines to Americans.

Through this action, President Trump is putting the health and safety of Americans, the viability of our economy, and the security of our Nation first.

The United States has led and will continue to lead the world’s public health and humanitarian response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

DEVELOPING A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE VACCINE IN RECORD TIME: Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the United States is more prepared than ever before to confront the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under President Trump, America will soon deliver vaccines that will help defeat the COVID-19 pandemic and help support the global return to prosperity.

In just seven months since the President coalesced the full power of the Federal Government, private sector, and scientific community into Operation Warp Speed, this once-in-a-generation effort has developed vaccines five times faster than any other vaccine in history.

Without cutting corners in safety or effectiveness, our Nation is now on track to receive emergency use authorization for two lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines by the end of the year.

The Trump Administration is working to coordinate COVID-19 vaccine distribution plans with States, territories, tribes, local public health programs, and private industry.

The Trump Administration is prepared to ship COVID-19 vaccine doses to every corner of America within 48 hours of the issuance of an Emergency Use Authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

LEADING A HISTORIC RESPONSE: President Trump’s highest priority has always been to preserve the health, safety, and wellbeing of the American people.

From the outset of the pandemic, President Trump and his Administration have worked tirelessly to combat COVID-19 and protect Americans.

President Trump took early and aggressive action to prevent spread of the virus in America and reacted quickly to completely revolutionize America’s testing system for COVID-19.

The President has leveraged the Defense Production Act to expedite production and delivery of critically-needed medical equipment such as ventilators and personal protective equipment.

The President and his Administration have always followed a strategy rooted in the bedrock objective of saving lives and helping our country safely reopen, and stay open.

President Trump has rejected pursuing across-the-board shutdowns, mandates, and restrictions, which inflict more harm on the American people and United States economy than they would prevent.

>https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trumps-effort-provide-americans-safe-effective-vaccine-delivering-results/

>>11953801

President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts

oday, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key positions in his Administration:

Elaine L. Chao, of Kentucky, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Lynn Friess, of Wyoming, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Douglas Manchester, of California, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Hannah F. Buchan, of Florida, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Catherine B. Reynolds, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Andrew George Biggs, of Oregon, to be a Member of the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico.

Dr. Betty A. Rosa, Ph.D., of New York, to be a Member of the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico.

John E. Nixon, of Utah, to be a Member of the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico.

Rep. Mike Sanders, of Oklahoma, to be a Member of the Community Development Advisory Board.

Christopher C. Papagianis, of New York, to be a Member of the Community Development Advisory Board.

J. Steven Grist, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Community Development Advisory Board.

James H. Herbert II, of Wyoming, to be a Member of the Community Development Advisory Board.

Kellyanne Elizabeth Conway, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Board of Visitors to the United States Air Force Academy.

Douglas Macgregor, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the Board of Visitors to the United States Military Academy.

Chang Oh Turkmani, of Florida, to be a Member of the National Cancer Advisory Board.

Elizabeth M. Fago, of Florida, to be a Member of the National Cancer Advisory Board.

Dr. Jack T. Evjy, M.D., of New Hampshire, to be a Member of the National Cancer Advisory Board.

Lisa Cutone, of California, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the National Board for Education Sciences.

Marina A. DeWit, of Arizona, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the National Board for Education Sciences.

Larry Schweikart, of Arizona, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the National Board for Education Sciences.

Matthew A. Schlapp, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board.

Andrew Kloster, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Council of the Administrative Conference of the United States.

Jared Smith, of Florida, to be a Member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council.

William Ruger, of Virginia, to be a Member of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

Dr. Jonathan Bronitsky, Ph.D., of Michigan, to be a Member of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

David Kennedy, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Arctic Research Commission.

>https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-appoint-individuals-key-administration-posts-120820/

>>11953807

ONDCP Statement on President Trump Signing of Rodchenkov Act

On Friday, December 4, President Trump signed into law the Rodchenkov Act, anti-doping legislation that would add robust penalties for individuals and entities that facilitate unfair competition in international sporting events.

“The United States is committed to strengthening fair sport globally, so it should come as no surprise that the Rodchenkov Act was signed into law by President Trump following unanimous bipartisan passage in the House and Senate,” ONDCP Director Jim Carroll stated. “The Rodchenkov Act puts those who would participate in international doping fraud conspiracies on notice: there are severe consequences to flouting anti-doping rules. ONDCP thanks the many domestic and international partners who supported us in reaching this moment, including the U.S. Helsinki Commission, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency here at home, and independent organizations like Global Athlete and FairSport abroad. Bad actors who enable unfair competition should face legal consequences — a position shared by President Trump, legislators on both sides of the aisle in the United States, and athletes around the world.”

>https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/ondcp-statement-president-trump-signing-rodchenkov-act/

>>11953814

“Pure Armenian Blood” Members And Associates Indicted For Racketeering And Fraud Offenses

<Coast-to-Coast Enterprise Operated under the Criminal Patronage of a U.S.-Based Vor v Zakone

According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[[1]]

Pure Armenian Blood was an organized criminal group operating under the direction and protection of an unindicted co-conspirator (“CC-1”), a “vor v zakone” or “vor,” which are Russian phrases translated roughly as “Thief-in-Law” or “Thief,” and which refer to an order of elite criminals from the former Soviet Union who receive tribute from other criminals, offer protection, and use their recognized status as vor to adjudicate disputes among lower-level criminals. Members and associates of Pure Armenian Blood operated under the direction and protection of CC-1, a vor of Armenian descent previously based in Los Angeles before being deported in or about 2018. Pure Armenian Blood operated through groups of individuals, often with overlapping members or associates, dedicated to particular criminal tasks, particularly identity theft, access device fraud and credit card fraud, among others. While Pure Armenian Blood exploited victims and the financial system in New York City, it had operations in various locations throughout the United States and abroad, including through the use of purportedly legitimate business entities operating under the control and in conjunction with members of P.A.B. at various points throughout the conspiracy.

NAREK MARUTYAN, ALBERT MARUTYAN, a/k/a “Abo,” MIKAYEL YEGHOYAN, a/k/a “Misho,” DAVIT YEGHOYAN and VAHE HOVHANNISYAN are charged in Count One of the Indictment with racketeering conspiracy. P.A.B.’s illicit activities included:

The use of counterfeit credit cards and stolen personal identifying information;

Selling goods purchased with counterfeit credit cards for profit;

Fraudulently opening and exhausting lines of credit, and then falsifying documents to “clean” the credit of account holders in whose names the lines of credit were opened (the “Account Holders”), who were often relatives or acquaintances of members and associates of Pure Armenian Blood;

Selling access device fraud devices to other criminals to install in order to steal personal identifying information; and

Making purchases at collusive businesses with counterfeit credit cards or credit cards that were fraudulently opened.

Along with Pure Armenian Blood members NAREK MARUTYAN, ALBERT MARUTYAN, a/k/a “Abo,” MIKAYEL YEGHOYAN, a/k/a “Misho,” DAVIT YEGHOYAN and VAHE HOVHANNISYAN, two additional defendants, LUSO GHAZARYAN and SARO MOURADIAN, a/k/a “Paul Mouradian,” are charged in Counts Two and Three with conspiracy to commit fraud relating to means of identification and conspiracy to commit access device fraud. Each of these seven defendants, as well as ZAVEN YERKARYAN, are charged in Count Four with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

Defendants MIKAYEL YEGHOYAN and DAVIT YEGHOYAN are each charged with one count of Aggravated Identity Theft, in Counts Five and Six, respectively

>https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/pure-armenian-blood-members-and-associates-indicted-racketeering-and-fraud-offenses

>>11953851

Member of the Violent Extremist Group “The Base” Pleads Guilty in Maryland to Federal Charges for Transporting an Illegal Alien—A Fellow Base Member Whom He Knew Was Planning to Engage in Subversive and/or Criminal Activity in the United States

<Defendant Sentenced To Five Years In Federal Prison After Pleading Guilty; Admits Attending Three Base Training Camps Where He Received Military-Style Training

According to his plea agreement, Bilbrough was a member of The Base, a racially motivated violent extremist group. Since 2018, The Base has built a coalition of white supremacist members within the United States and abroad through, among other things, online chat rooms, in-person meetings, propaganda, and military-style training. Bilbrough participated in a regional training camp conducted by members of The Base in Georgia from August 2 through August 4, 2019, including participating in tactical training and firearms drills. Later that month, Bilbrough attended another Base training camp in a different state.

As detailed in his plea agreement, on August 30, 2019, Bilbrough and a co-conspirator traveled in the co-conspirator’s truck from Maryland to southern Michigan to pick up a member of The Base who had fled from Winnipeg, Canada and illegally entered the United States. Bilbrough admitted that he knew the person they were picking up had entered the United States illegally and that they were picking him up in order to transport him to the East Coast where he could safely reside and continue his participation in The Base. Bilbrough and his co-conspirator remained in Michigan for approximately two hours, after which all three men headed back east. Bilbrough drove at least part of the time and was dropped off at his house in Maryland on the evening of August 31, 2019. Bilbrough brought back a few souvenirs, including a flag for The Base and a book widely distributed in white nationalist circles.

Bilbrough acknowledged that on about October 30, 2019, Bilbrough’s co-conspirator picked him up at his Maryland residence and the two drove to Georgia to attend a training camp at the property of another member of The Base. The illegal alien whom they had picked up in August was already residing at the Georgia property and also attended the training camp. While in Georgia, on November 2, 2019, Bilbrough and his co-conspirator purchased approximately 1,550 rounds of 5.56 ammunition for $558.54. Later that day, Bilbrough, his co-conspirator, and the illegal alien traveled from Georgia to Maryland, with Bilbrough driving at least part of the way.

As detailed in the plea agreement, as of November 2019, Bilbrough’s co-conspirator and the illegal alien lived at a residence in Delaware. Bilbrough visited the Delaware residence on at least one occasion. On December 21, 2019, Bilbrough arrived at the Delaware residence and handled an assault rifle that the illegal alien had constructed with the co-conspirator’s assistance and encouragement. Bilbrough and the two men discussed an upcoming rally in Virginia, activities of The Base, and other members of the organization. Bilbrough also discussed with them the manufacture of DMT (dimethyltryptamine), a controlled substance, and attempted to actually manufacture DMT. Bilbrough stated that he may try to sell DMT to the people to whom he delivers pizza and stated that he knew DMT was illegal and that it was a felony to have DMT.

Bilbrough admitted that he knew the illegal alien had entered the United States to engage in subversive activity or other serious criminal activity, and had never disavowed that purpose while Bilbrough transported and otherwise interacted with the illegal alien.

Federal charges in Maryland and Delaware remain pending against two other alleged members of The Base, Brian Mark Lemley, age 34, of Elkton, Maryland, and Newark, Delaware; and Canadian national Patrik Jordan Mathews, age 28, most recently of Newark, Delaware. Both defendants have motions pending and no trial date has been set. The defendants remain detained.

>https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/member-violent-extremist-group-base-pleads-guilty-maryland-federal-charges-transporting

>>11953896

Navy Mechanic Admits Sexually Assaulting 7 Young Girls, Producing Child Pornography

According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 1, 2019, Tilton was arrested on state sexual assault charges after he admitted in an interview with Town of Groton Police that he had sexually assaulted several minor victims, and that he had recorded some of the sexual assaults. Subsequent examination of a laptop, tablet, cellphone and two flash drives seized from Tilton revealed that, beginning in approximately 2014, Tilton sexually assaulted seven girls who were between the ages of four months and eight years old. Tilton photographed and video recorded many of these sexual assaults. Some of the images depict a minor victim bound and restrained while Tilton sexually assaulted her. Tilton distributed some of the images and videos of these sexual assaults on the dark web through the Tor network.

Tilton’s electronic devices also included thousands of images and videos of the sexual abuse of other minors, including sadomasochistic images of minors in bondage, sexual assaults on infants, and sexual acts on the corpse of a minor.

When he was arrested, Tilton was employed as a forward auxiliary mechanic in the U.S. Navy. The investigation revealed that Tilton sexually assaulted children in Connecticut, New Hampshire and California.

Tilton pleaded guilty to seven counts of production of child pornography, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years on each count.

At sentencing, which is scheduled for March 1, 2021, the government will argue for a sentence of 210 years of imprisonment.

Tilton has been detained since his arrest.

>https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/navy-mechanic-admits-sexually-assaulting-7-young-girls-producing-child-pornography

Question: On the Nomination (Confirmation:Nathan A. Simington, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission

Vote Number: 257Vote Date: December 8, 2020, 04:43 PM

Required For Majority: 1/2Vote Result: Nomination Confirmed

Nomination Number: PN2239

Nomination Description: Nathan A. Simington, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission for a term of five years from July 1, 2019

Vote Counts:YEAs49 (R)

NAYs46 (D)

Not Voting:

5 Harris (D-CA)

Loeffler (R-GA)

Perdue (R-GA)

Rounds (R-SD)

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=116&session=2&vote=00257