The tenants have asked a judge to block Kushner Companies from collecting rent until the Department of Buildings has approved a certificate of occupancy and is seeking class-action status. While Kushner’s lawyer referred questions to the White House, which did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment, Kushner Cos. did respond in a statement, accusing the tenants of being Democratic operatives, or something. “This is just more of the same politically motivated harassment—each of these properties has been certified by the NYC Department of Buildings as safe to occupy and in compliance with applicable building codes,” said Christopher W. Smith, general counsel of Kushner Companies. Smith did not say if all the other tenants who’ve previously accused the company of unsafe living conditions were also motivated by politics, or if they just preferred not to live alongside rodents.
Elsewhere!
Pelosi Rejects Moderate Democrat Push for Slimmer-Stimulus Vote (Bloomberg)
World Economy to Withstand Virus Better Than Forecast, OECD Says (Bloomberg)
Fed holds rates steady and promises to stay there for years (CNBC)
U.S. Plans to Ship First COVID-19 Vaccine 24 Hours After Authorization (Wall Street Journal)
Trump hails “manufacturing miracle” as factories bleed jobs (Politico)
Citigroup Employee Who Operated QAnon Website on Paid Leave (Bloomberg)
Is the company with a 20-second coronavirus test for real? (Financial Times)
Maine wedding “superspreader” event is now linked to seven deaths. None of those people attended. (Washington Post)
Invisible company owned by Rudy Giuliani got taxpayer-backed PPP money—but where did it go? (Salon)
Artist’s $180 “Karen” Halloween mask is made for 2020 (NYP)
Malaysian man’s missing phone turns up loaded with monkey selfies (UPI)
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