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Biden takes jabs at Trump during primetime speech on coronavirus plans
In his first primetime address to the nation Thursday night, President Biden lobbed barely concealed criticism at former President Trump over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
"A year ago, we were hit with a virus that was met with silence and spread unchecked, denials for days, weeks then months -- that led to more deaths, more infections, more stress, and more loneliness," Biden said. "We lost faith in whether our government and our democracy can deliver on really hard things for the American people."
Without ever naming Trump, Biden highlighted issues over which his predecessor has been criticized, like the importance of wearing a mask and "listening to the science" in deciding how to best reopen the economy.
"A mask, the easiest thing to do to save lives, sometimes it divides us, states pit it against one another instead of working with each other," he noted, nodding to the recent decision by Republican-led states to lift coronavirus restrictions, including mask mandates.
Biden encouraged Americans to listen to the advice issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in continuing to wear masks "to save lives."
Trump’s refusal to wear a mask until several months into the pandemic was an issue Biden was critical of throughout the presidential race. CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON OUR TOP STORY.
In other developments:
- Biden directs states to make all adults eligible for vaccines by May 1
- Mark Levin rips Biden over 'disgusting, propagandistic' address to nation on coronavirus pandemic
- Ratcliffe: Biden so concerned with proving Trump wrong, he'll prove him right
- Kansas hospital trashes hundreds of coronavirus vaccine doses due to mistake
- Hannity urges Biden to 'just thank Donald Trump' for Operation Warp Speed: 'No Trump, no vaccine, Joe'
- McConnell trashes Biden's COVID relief package as 'multitrillion-dollar Trojan horse'
Cuomo facing New York state Assembly's 'first step' toward impeachment
The New York state Assembly is opening an investigation with full subpoena power, the first step in pursuing a potential impeachment of Gov. Andrew Cuomo amid sexual misconduct allegations.
Police in Albany, the state capital, said Thursday they received a report from the New York State Executive Chamber, which is the governor's office, involving an incident that allegedly involved a female aide and took place at Cuomo's executive mansion. The news came just after the Albany Times-Union reported on an allegation that Cuomo had groped a female aide last year.
That marked the sixth allegation of inappropriate conduct against Cuomo since last month. The governor has denied the most recent allegation and said he was confident in the pending results of Attorney General Letitia James' investigation.
After multiple allegations surfaced in February, the governor released a statement in which he denied inappropriately touching anybody but acknowledged his jokes at work might have been misinterpreted. CLICK HERE FOR MORE.
In other developments:
- Rachel Maddow breaks silence on Cuomo, warns MSNBC viewers his scandals are 'developing by the second'
- New York Democrat lawmaker: Cuomo 'not focusing on leading the state', should 'really think about' resigning
- High-profile Democrat women proving themselves 'frauds' with silence on Cuomo allegations: Tammy Bruce
- Schumer won't say if Cuomo should resign, backs 'thorough investigation'
- Silence on Cuomo continues for Kamala Harris, who crusaded against Brett Kavanaugh
- De Blasio calls for Cuomo to resign after latest allegations: 'He can no longer serve as governor'
Ghislaine Maxwell’s brother says infamous Prince Andrew photo with accuser was taken at alleged madam's home
An infamous photo of Prince Andrew embracing his sex abuse accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre was taken at the London home of Ghislaine Maxwell, the alleged madam’s brother said in an interview this week.
Ian Maxwell, 64, told the BBC he recognized the setting for the 2001 photo after an initial reluctance to talk about it in his first broadcast interview in 30 years, The New York Post reported. Ghislaine Maxwell, 59, is in the photo herself.
"I don’t know anything about the photograph other than that I’ve seen it’s been published," he told the U.K. broadcaster in the interview aired Wednesday. "I know it’s of interest to your listeners, but nonetheless I am not here to talk about that."
Prince Andrew, who is accused of having sex with Guiffre when she was allegedly being sexually trafficked by Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein while she was underage, has suggested the photo is fake and has even denied knowing her.
Giuffre, 17 at the time, has repeatedly said the photo was taken on the first night Maxwell and Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in prison after additional sex trafficking charges, forced her to have sex with the prince.
Prince Andrew has also said he doesn’t remember ever going upstairs in Maxwell’s home where the photo was apparently taken. CLICK HERE FOR MORE.
In other developments:
- Palace investigating Meghan Markle, not Prince Andrew, proves 'double standard' by royal family: author
- Ghislaine Maxwell offers to give up UK, French citizenship to get out of jail
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TODAY'S MUST-READS:
- Psaki says Americans can start seeing stimulus money in their bank accounts 'as soon as this weekend'
- Utah medical examiner says 39-year-old mom’s death 4 days after taking COVID vaccine is ‘temporally related’
- Texas porch pirate, topless and barefoot, swipes Nordstrom dress – on video
- Uber passenger in viral video is arrested, another plans to turn self in: reports
- Stolen playground slide found mounted to child's bedroom
- Georgetown Law fires professor who made 'reprehensible statements' about Black students on viral video
THE LATEST FROM FOX BUSINESS:
- Molson Coors says cyberattack impacting brewing operations
- Uber, Lyft agree to share info on banned drivers in safety push
- Netflix password sharing crackdown underway with new test and warning
- Tesla foils carjacker attempt, Navy officer says
-American, United Airlines cancel 27,000 furloughs after COVID-19 relief passes
- Biden's coronavirus relief bill includes $60B in surprise tax hikes
#The Flashback: CLICK HERE to find out what happened on "This Day in History."
SOME PARTING WORDS
President Biden should call and thank former President Trump for all he did to fight the coronavirus pandemic, Fox News host Sean Hannity said on Thursday’s edition of "Hannity."
"According to Joe, it was the Biden administration that stepped in heroically saved America from COVID-19 [but] none of this is true," Hannity said.
"Where’s the unity, Joe? All due respect to the president, he didn’t have anything to do with that vaccine. … There you have it: Joe Biden, unity president ... that he is taking credit for someone else’s work. Joe, you want unity? Why don’t you just thank Donald Trump?"
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Fox News First was compiled by Fox News' Jack Durschlag. Thank you for making us your first choice in the morning! Have a good weekend, stay safe and we’ll see you in your inbox first thing Monday.
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