U.S. passes 500,000 COVID-19 deaths; Biden’s AG pick Merrick Garland testifying on Capitol Hill; Supreme Court allows release of Trump tac returns to NY prosecutors;

Garland: I will be a lawyer for the people, not the president; Garland chokes up as he speaks of immigrant family and his desire to pay back the U.S. by serving as Atty General; Garland: will pursue “ring leaders” involved in Capitol attack; Garland: have not discussed Hunter Biden case with president; Garland: I don’t see why Durham should not continue in role investigating origins of Trump-Russia probe;

Sources: NY prosecutor expected to have access to Trump tax records within next few days; Trump responds to Supreme Court ruling: court “never should have let this fishing expedition happen”; Trump’s tax records won’t be released publicly for now, subject to grand jury secrecy rules;

Dr. Fauci: U.S. to make up for severe weather delays in vaccine distribution by mid-week; 75M vaccines distributed, less than 6% of U.S. vaccinated; CDC study: educators play key role in COVID-19 transmission at schools; CDC: educators among COVID cases in eight of nine clusters in Atlanta study;

Biden’s COVID relief proposal and pick for budget director face uphill battles; Video capture plane engine on fire, debris falling; Boeing recommends grounding some 777 planes after engine failure;

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