democracy21--2020-05-07--Barr Has Failed The American People

Barr Has Failed The American People

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | May 7, 2020
“It is essential to win this fight now, as time is running out for the states to be able to use the funding effectively in advance of the November election.”
The fight over providing money for the states to run their November elections is now underway in Congress as Democratic and Republican leaders begin laying out their priorities for the next big relief package.
It is essential to win this fight now, as time is running out for the states to be able to use the funding effectively in advance of the November election.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer have indicated that their top priority in this bill is substantial support for state and local governments, who have had to absorb enormous costs to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Pelosi and Schumer have also indicated that they are committed to getting the $3.6 to $4 billion necessary for the states to run safe, secure, and honest elections in November, in the face of the pandemic.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said that his “red line” requirement in the coming negotiations and for passing the bill is to provide liability immunity for businesses. McConnell normally does not show his cards like this and the immunity provision appears to be his bottom line in return for providing states and local governments with the funding they desperately need.
Many oppose liability immunity for businesses. But if that is a deal that is made, Democracy 21 and other voting advocates must ensure that adequate funds are included in that deal for the states to conduct fair and honest elections.
If the voting money decision is left to later negotiations over the bill, our leverage will be gone, and McConnell, who strongly opposes any additional election funding for partisan reasons, will have the upper hand in withholding or minimizing the funds.
Time is of the essence.
We cannot let McConnell win this battle. At stake is the ability to ensure that every eligible voter is able to vote and have their vote fairly counted.
###


democracy21--2020-05-07--Barr Ignores Settled DOJ Policies in Obsessive Pursuit of DOJ Investigators – Wertheimer article in

Barr Ignores Settled DOJ Policies in Obsessive Pursuit of DOJ Investigators – Wertheimer article in Just Security

Attorney General Barr Ignores Long-Established DOJ Rules in Obsessive Pursuit of DOJ Investigators of Russian Interference in 2016 Election Enclosed for your information is an article by Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer entitled “ Barr Ignores Settled DOJ Policies in Run Up to 2020 Elections , ” which was published here in Just Security on May 7 , 2020 .
According to the article : “ Attorney General Barr is flouting Justice Department rules in an obsessive pursuit of the Justice Department officials who undertook to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election , ” according to Wertheimer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department that Barr is irresponsibly pursuing flies in the face of the findings by the intelligence community ( 2017 ) , the Mueller report ( 2019 ) , DOJ ’ s own Inspector General ( 2019 ) and the unanimous , bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee ( 2020 ) that the Russian investigation was undertaken with a legitimate purpose and that there was no evidence of political bias against President Trump , ” Wertheimer said .
According to the article , “ Barr has publicly discussed the ongoing criminal investigation into the origins of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s interference in the 2016 presidential election.
” The article also stated that there is “ reason for great concern ” that “ Barr is laying the groundwork to influence the 2020 presidential election by taking actions that support President Trump ’ s re-election efforts.
” The article noted that Barr has attempted to “ dramatically narrow ” the longstanding DOJ policy against doing anything in an election year that could influence an election .
Read the full article here or below .
Barr Ignores Settled Justice Department Policies in Run-Up to 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 | Just Security In his continued pursuit of investigating the origins of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election , Attorney General William Barr appears to be violating one long-established and fundamentally important U.S. Department of Justice policy and readying himself to violate another .
These established policies are essential for the department to carry out its mission “ to ensure fair and impartial justice for all Americans.
” They are also essential to protect the integrity and credibility of the department .
The first policy requires that department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The second policy requires that department officials not take any actions that would affect an election or give an advantage or disadvantage to any candidate or political party .
The Justice Department ’ s longstanding policy against any public discussion of criminal investigations is based on the principle that no one under investigation by the department should be tainted by public discussion of the investigation unless and until formal criminal charges are filed .
According to Rule 1-7.400 in the Department of Justice Manual , “ DOJ generally will not confirm the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigations.
” The Rule , further states , “ DOJ personnel shall not respond to questions about the existence of an ongoing investigation or comment on its nature or progress before charges are publicly filed.
” ( Given that several past investigations , including one by the DOJ ’ s own Inspector General , concluded that the Russia investigation was justified , there is no basis for applying the narrow exemption to this Rule that “ the community needs to be reassured that the appropriate law enforcement agency is investigating a matter.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Barr has publicly discussed the ongoing criminal investigation into the origins of the Justice Department investigation into Russia ’ s interference in the 2016 presidential election .
Barr reportedly initiated this criminal investigation in 2019 , and it is being conducted by U.S. Attorney John Durham under Barr ’ s supervision .
In a Fox News interview on April 9 , 2020 , Barr called the Justice Department ’ s investigation into Russian interference “ one of the greatest travesties in American history.
” Barr further said that the 2016 investigation had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that the investigators were “ trying to sabotage the presidency.
” Barr also said , talking about the Durham investigation , “ My own view is that the evidence shows that we ’ re not dealing with just mistakes or sloppiness , there was something far more troubling here ; and we ’ re going to get to the bottom of it.
” Barr also said about Durham and the DOJ investigation , “ He is looking to bring to justice people who were engaged in abuses if he can show there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt and in response to a question about whether he was shocked by what the Durham investigation had found to date , “ I am very troubled by it , you know .
I think the reason we have this investigation is because there are a lot of things that are unexplained .
And I think we ’ re getting deeply into the situation , and we ’ ll be able to sort out exactly what happened.
” Under DOJ rules , Barr should have refused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal investigation .
But he did not .
Barr ’ s public comments apparently violate Rule 1-7.400 of the DOJ Manual which , as noted above , prohibits public comment by department personnel on either “ the existence of an ongoing investigation ” or “ on its nature or progress before charges are publicly filed.
” This is improper conduct for any member of the department , most especially its chief law enforcement officer , the Attorney General of the United States .
Taking Action for Partisan Political Purposes : Heading into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barr , furthermore , have shown a pattern of abusing his authority as attorney general in order to support the partisan political interests of President Trump .
Democracy 21 has laid out these abuses in five complaints filed over the past year with DOJ ’ s Office of Professional Responsibility , Departmental Ethics Office , and inspector general .
The complaints were filed on April 15 , May 7 , and October 1 , 2019 , and January 17 and February 27 , 2020 .
The department ’ s policy against taking action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide the American people with credible assurance that the department is carrying out its mission “ to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.
” This policy is most critical in the middle of a presidential election and has long been spelled out in department policy positions .
As George J. Terwilliger III , a deputy attorney general under President George H.W .
Bush , said , “ There ’ s a long-standing policy of not doing anything that could influence an election.
” The policy described by Mr. Terwilliger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from President George W. Bush ’ s then-Attorney General Michael Mukasey .
Issued in March 2008 and titled “ Election Year Sensitivities , ” the Memorandum states : Similar memoranda were issued in March 2012 by then-Attorney General Eric Holder , a Democratic appointee , and again in April 2016 by then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch , also a Democratic appointee .
This longstanding policy against interference in electoral matters , as set forth in the Mukasey , Holder , and Lynch memoranda , is intended to prevent the reality or appearance of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powers being misused to influence an election .
Both Democratic and Republican administrations reportedly have interpreted this policy broadly to cover any steps that might give even the appearance of partisanship in actions or decisions by the department .
Given Barr ’ s past record of using his authority to support the partisan political interests of President Trump , it is more important now than ever for Barr to comply with the DOJ ’ s long-established election-year policy of “ not doing anything that could influence an election.
” There is reason for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is laying the groundwork to influence the 2020 presidential election by taking actions that support President Trump ’ s re-election efforts .
In February , Barr issued his own election-year memorandum in which he attempts to dramatically narrow the longstanding DOJ policy and thereby opens the door to actions influencing the 2020 presidential race .
The Barr memo covers only the opening of a criminal or counterintelligence instigation and , unlike the previous memos , does not apply to other DOJ actions relating to the conduct or disposition of a criminal investigation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ opening such an investigation must , in the case of a presidential campaign or candidate , be coordinated with his office .
Most egregiously , Barr ’ s memorandum gives him unqualified discretion to make final determinations regarding whether or not to apply departmental policies relating to non-interference in electorally sensitive matters .
This discretion allows Barr to ignore or negate the policies that restrict DOJ officials ’ actions that would influence an election .
It became clear what Barr was up to when he made a brazen assertion in a recent radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy , he is free at any time up to the November election to issue indictments arising from the Durham investigation .
Barr claimed in the interview that the department ’ s policy of non-interference in elections applies only to indictments against candidates or their close aides , and asserted that since the Durham investigation involves department officials who opened the 2016 investigation , the DOJ ’ s election-year policies would not apply .
Barr also asserted that he is free to ignore the department ’ s policies because they are not “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ prudential ” in that they call for him to make a “ judgment in each individual case.
” But Barr is making up these limitations on the longstanding policy , which applied to any DOJ criminal investigation in an election year that might “ affect ” the election or “ give an advantage or disadvantage to any candidate.
” The Mukasey , Holder , and Lynch memos state that politics must “ play no role ” in prosecutorial decisions and that prosecutors may “ never ” use the timing of criminal charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no provision in these memos that limits the election-year policies just to investigations of candidates or their close aides , or that gives the attorney general the power to make a judgment in each case of whether to follow the policies or ignore them .
Barr is misrepresenting the department ’ s longstanding policy , just as he misrepresented the Mueller report , in an attempt to give himself license to do precisely what well-established DOJ policy and past Republican and Democratic attorneys general have treated as improper conduct .
We know that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s investigation into the 2016 election , repeatedly calling the investigation a “ witch hunt , ” a “ hoax ” and claiming that it resulted from the efforts of department officials who were biased against him .
Trump ’ s claim was flatly rejected by Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz in the report he issued on December 9 , 2019 , which found that the department had sufficient basis to initiate the 2016 investigation and that there was no evidence that FBI and department officials had acted with political bias @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21 , 2020 , the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee , led by Republican Chairman Richard Burr ( R-NC ) , unanimously rejected Trump ’ s claims that the investigation was “ biased ” and a “ hoax.
” The Intelligence Committee issued a report that , as a recent New York Times article described , “ unanimously found that the intelligence community assessment , pinning blame on Russia and outlining its goals to undercut American democracy , was fundamentally sound and untainted by politics.
” Thus , the findings of the intelligence community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , the DOJ Inspector General in 2019 , and the unanimous , bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee in 2020 all confirmed that the Russia investigation was undertaken with a legitimate purpose and there was no evidence of political bias against President Trump .
This has not stopped Barr , however , from apparently seeking to provide support for Trump ’ s false claims about the Russia investigation , and help for his reelection bid .
Any indictments issued by Barr and Durham against Justice Department officials who initiated the 2016 Russia investigation in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would reignite Trump ’ s claims that the 2016 investigation was biased and that he was unfairly treated in the Mueller investigation .
Any such indictments would no doubt be used for political gain by Trump in the presidential election .
If Barr allows indictments from the Durham investigation to come out during the presidential election campaign , he would be abandoning longstanding DOJ policy and the department ’ s mission “ to provide fair and impartial justice for all Americans ” by misusing the department ’ s prosecutorial power to support Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DOJ policy to avoid interfering in elections requires that Barr immediately suspend the Durham investigation and place on hold any further public actions or public comments concerning this matter .
It also requires Barr to ensure that there be no DOJ investigations during this presidential election year aimed at the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , former Vice President Joe Biden .
Similarly , any investigation of members of the Biden family , such as of Hunter Biden , would also be targeted at influencing the election and thus be contrary to DOJ policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States , not a political lawyer whose job is to protect and advance the partisan political interests of President Trump .
As attorney general , Barr is required to represent and protect the interests of all of the American people .
He has failed to do so .

Attorney General Barr Ignores Long-Established DOJ Rules in Obsessive Pursuit of DOJ Investigators of Russian Interference in 2016 Election
Enclosed for your information is an article by Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer entitled “Barr Ignores Settled DOJ Policies in Run Up to 2020 Elections,” which was published here in Just Security on May 7, 2020.
According to the article:
In his continued pursuit of investigating the origins of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, Attorney General William Barr appears to be violating one long-established and fundamentally important U.S. Department of Justice policy and readying himself to violate another. These established policies are essential for the department to carry out its mission “to ensure fair and impartial justice for all Americans.” They are also essential to protect the integrity and credibility of the department. The first policy requires that department officials not publicly discuss ongoing criminal investigations. The second policy requires that department officials not take any actions that would affect an election or give an advantage or disadvantage to any candidate or political party.
“Attorney General Barr is flouting Justice Department rules in an obsessive pursuit of the Justice Department officials who undertook to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election,” according to Wertheimer.
“The criminal investigation of his own Department that Barr is irresponsibly pursuing flies in the face of the findings by the intelligence community (2017), the Mueller report (2019), DOJ’s own Inspector General (2019) and the unanimous, bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee (2020) that the Russian investigation was undertaken with a legitimate purpose and that there was no evidence of political bias against President Trump,” Wertheimer said.
According to the article, “Barr has publicly discussed the ongoing criminal investigation into the origins of the Justice Department investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election.”
The article stated:
Barr’s public comments apparently violate Rule 1-7.400 of the DOJ Manual which, as noted above, prohibits public comment by department personnel on either “the existence of an ongoing investigation” or “on its nature or progress before charges are publicly filed.” This is improper conduct for any member of the department, most especially its chief law enforcement officer, the Attorney General of the United States.
The article also stated that there is “reason for great concern” that “Barr is laying the groundwork to influence the 2020 presidential election by taking actions that support President Trump’s re-election efforts.”
The article noted that Barr has attempted to “dramatically narrow” the longstanding DOJ policy against doing anything in an election year that could influence an election.
The article stated:
It became clear what Barr was up to when he made a brazen assertion in a recent radio interview that, contrary to longstanding DOJ policy, he is free at any time up to the November election to issue indictments arising from the Durham investigation.
The article concluded:
Barr is Attorney General of the United States, not a political lawyer whose job is to protect and advance the partisan political interests of President Trump. As attorney general, Barr is required to represent and protect the interests of all of the American people. He has failed to do so.
Read the full article here or below.
Barr Ignores Settled Justice Department Policies in Run-Up to 2020 Elections
By Fred Wertheimer | May 7, 2020 | Just Security
In his continued pursuit of investigating the origins of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, Attorney General William Barr appears to be violating one long-established and fundamentally important U.S. Department of Justice policy and readying himself to violate another. These established policies are essential for the department to carry out its mission “to ensure fair and impartial justice for all Americans.” They are also essential to protect the integrity and credibility of the department. The first policy requires that department officials not publicly discuss ongoing criminal investigations. The second policy requires that department officials not take any actions that would affect an election or give an advantage or disadvantage to any candidate or political party.
Publicly Discussing Criminal Investigations
The Justice Department’s longstanding policy against any public discussion of criminal investigations is based on the principle that no one under investigation by the department should be tainted by public discussion of the investigation unless and until formal criminal charges are filed.
According to Rule 1-7.400 in the Department of Justice Manual, “DOJ generally will not confirm the existence of or otherwise comment about ongoing investigations.” The Rule, further states, “DOJ personnel shall not respond to questions about the existence of an ongoing investigation or comment on its nature or progress before charges are publicly filed.” (Given that several past investigations, including one by the DOJ’s own Inspector General, concluded that the Russia investigation was justified, there is no basis for applying the narrow exemption to this Rule that “the community needs to be reassured that the appropriate law enforcement agency is investigating a matter.”)
In apparent violation of this Rule, Barr has publicly discussed the ongoing criminal investigation into the origins of the Justice Department investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election. Barr reportedly initiated this criminal investigation in 2019, and it is being conducted by U.S. Attorney John Durham under Barr’s supervision.
In a Fox News interview on April 9, 2020, Barr called the Justice Department’s investigation into Russian interference “one of the greatest travesties in American history.” Barr further said that the 2016 investigation had been undertaken “without any basis” and that the investigators were “trying to sabotage the presidency.”
Barr also said, talking about the Durham investigation, “My own view is that the evidence shows that we’re not dealing with just mistakes or sloppiness, there was something far more troubling here; and we’re going to get to the bottom of it.” Barr also said about Durham and the DOJ investigation, “He is looking to bring to justice people who were engaged in abuses if he can show there were criminal violations.”
Barr further said during an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt and in response to a question about whether he was shocked by what the Durham investigation had found to date, “I am very troubled by it, you know. I think the reason we have this investigation is because there are a lot of things that are unexplained. And I think we’re getting deeply into the situation, and we’ll be able to sort out exactly what happened.”
Under DOJ rules, Barr should have refused to make any comments about an ongoing criminal investigation. But he did not.
Barr’s public comments apparently violate Rule 1-7.400 of the DOJ Manual which, as noted above, prohibits public comment by department personnel on either “the existence of an ongoing investigation” or “on its nature or progress before charges are publicly filed.” This is improper conduct for any member of the department, most especially its chief law enforcement officer, the Attorney General of the United States.
Taking Action for Partisan Political Purposes: Heading into the 2020 Election
Past actions and statements by Barr, furthermore, have shown a pattern of abusing his authority as attorney general in order to support the partisan political interests of President Trump. Democracy 21 has laid out these abuses in five complaints filed over the past year with DOJ’s Office of Professional Responsibility, Departmental Ethics Office, and inspector general. The complaints were filed on April 15, May 7, and October 1, 2019, and January 17 and February 27, 2020.
The department’s policy against taking action for partisan political purposes is intended to provide the American people with credible assurance that the department is carrying out its mission “to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.” This policy is most critical in the middle of a presidential election and has long been spelled out in department policy positions.
As George J. Terwilliger III, a deputy attorney general under President George H.W. Bush, said, “There’s a long-standing policy of not doing anything that could influence an election.”
The policy described by Mr. Terwilliger is clearly summarized in a 2008 memorandum from President George W. Bush’s then-Attorney General Michael Mukasey. Issued in March 2008 and titled “Election Year Sensitivities,” the Memorandum states:
Department of Justice employees are entrusted with the authority to enforce the laws of the United States and with the responsibility to do so in a neutral and impartial manner. This is particularly important in an election year.
The Memorandum further states (emphasis added):
As Department employees … we must be particularly sensitive to safeguarding the Department’s reputation for fairness, neutrality and nonpartisanship. Simply put, politics must play no role in the decisions of federal investigators or prosecutors regarding any investigations or criminal charges . Law enforcement officers and prosecutors may never select the timing of investigative steps or criminal charges for the purpose of affecting any election, or for the purpose of giving an advantage or disadvantage to any candidate or political party.
Similar memoranda were issued in March 2012 by then-Attorney General Eric Holder, a Democratic appointee, and again in April 2016 by then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch, also a Democratic appointee.
This longstanding policy against interference in electoral matters, as set forth in the Mukasey, Holder, and Lynch memoranda, is intended to prevent the reality or appearance of the Justice Department’s investigative and prosecutorial powers being misused to influence an election. Both Democratic and Republican administrations reportedly have interpreted this policy broadly to cover any steps that might give even the appearance of partisanship in actions or decisions by the department.
Given Barr’s past record of using his authority to support the partisan political interests of President Trump, it is more important now than ever for Barr to comply with the DOJ’s long-established election-year policy of “not doing anything that could influence an election.”
There is reason for great concern, however, that Barr is laying the groundwork to influence the 2020 presidential election by taking actions that support President Trump’s re-election efforts.
In February, Barr issued his own election-year memorandum in which he attempts to dramatically narrow the longstanding DOJ policy and thereby opens the door to actions influencing the 2020 presidential race.
The Barr memo covers only the opening of a criminal or counterintelligence instigation and, unlike the previous memos, does not apply to other DOJ actions relating to the conduct or disposition of a criminal investigation. Barr’s memorandum also requires that opening such an investigation must, in the case of a presidential campaign or candidate, be coordinated with his office.
Most egregiously, Barr’s memorandum gives him unqualified discretion to make final determinations regarding whether or not to apply departmental policies relating to non-interference in electorally sensitive matters. This discretion allows Barr to ignore or negate the policies that restrict DOJ officials’ actions that would influence an election.
It became clear what Barr was up to when he made a brazen assertion in a recent radio interview that, contrary to longstanding DOJ policy, he is free at any time up to the November election to issue indictments arising from the Durham investigation. Barr claimed in the interview that the department’s policy of non-interference in elections applies only to indictments against candidates or their close aides, and asserted that since the Durham investigation involves department officials who opened the 2016 investigation, the DOJ’s election-year policies would not apply.
Barr also asserted that he is free to ignore the department’s policies because they are not “written in stone” and are only “prudential” in that they call for him to make a “judgment in each individual case.”
But Barr is making up these limitations on the longstanding policy, which applied to any DOJ criminal investigation in an election year that might “affect” the election or “give an advantage or disadvantage to any candidate.”
The Mukasey, Holder, and Lynch memos state that politics must “play no role” in prosecutorial decisions and that prosecutors may “never” use the timing of criminal charges to affect the election. There is no provision in these memos that limits the election-year policies just to investigations of candidates or their close aides, or that gives the attorney general the power to make a judgment in each case of whether to follow the policies or ignore them.
Barr is misrepresenting the department’s longstanding policy, just as he misrepresented the Mueller report, in an attempt to give himself license to do precisely what well-established DOJ policy and past Republican and Democratic attorneys general have treated as improper conduct.
Ignoring Findings About the Russia Investigation
We know that President Trump has long criticized the DOJ’s investigation into the 2016 election, repeatedly calling the investigation a “witch hunt,” a “hoax” and claiming that it resulted from the efforts of department officials who were biased against him.
Trump’s claim was flatly rejected by Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz in the report he issued on December 9, 2019, which found that the department had sufficient basis to initiate the 2016 investigation and that there was no evidence that FBI and department officials had acted with political bias in conducting the investigation.
On April 21, 2020, the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by Republican Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC), unanimously rejected Trump’s claims that the investigation was “biased” and a “hoax.” The Intelligence Committee issued a report that, as a recent New York Times article described, “unanimously found that the intelligence community assessment, pinning blame on Russia and outlining its goals to undercut American democracy, was fundamentally sound and untainted by politics.”
Thus, the findings of the intelligence community in 2017, the Mueller report in 2019, the DOJ Inspector General in 2019, and the unanimous, bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee in 2020 all confirmed that the Russia investigation was undertaken with a legitimate purpose and there was no evidence of political bias against President Trump.
This has not stopped Barr, however, from apparently seeking to provide support for Trump’s false claims about the Russia investigation, and help for his reelection bid.
Any indictments issued by Barr and Durham against Justice Department officials who initiated the 2016 Russia investigation in the remaining months before the presidential election would reignite Trump’s claims that the 2016 investigation was biased and that he was unfairly treated in the Mueller investigation. Any such indictments would no doubt be used for political gain by Trump in the presidential election.
If Barr allows indictments from the Durham investigation to come out during the presidential election campaign, he would be abandoning longstanding DOJ policy and the department’s mission “to provide fair and impartial justice for all Americans” by misusing the department’s prosecutorial power to support Trump’s reelection campaign.
The longstanding DOJ policy to avoid interfering in elections requires that Barr immediately suspend the Durham investigation and place on hold any further public actions or public comments concerning this matter. It also requires Barr to ensure that there be no DOJ investigations during this presidential election year aimed at the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden. Similarly, any investigation of members of the Biden family, such as of Hunter Biden, would also be targeted at influencing the election and thus be contrary to DOJ policy.
Barr is Attorney General of the United States, not a political lawyer whose job is to protect and advance the partisan political interests of President Trump. As attorney general, Barr is required to represent and protect the interests of all of the American people. He has failed to do so.
###


Trump’s Political Blackmail

“ The protections needed for our system of representative government are clear .
We must ensure that safe and secure elections take place in every state in the union.
” President Trump ’ s latest attacks on voting by mail reveal in stark terms his plans for the November presidential election .
Trump ’ s tweets threatening to withhold federal funding from Michigan and Nevada if they do not back off of efforts to implement voting by mail reeks of political blackmail .
It brings back memories of Trump ’ s effort to blackmail Ukraine by withholding needed military aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden – a scandal for which Trump was impeached .
Trump is obviously attempting to suppress the vote in the upcoming presidential election by making it as difficult as he can for eligible voters to vote .
Trump obviously believes the fewer eligible voters who exercise their constitutional right to vote , the better his chances of winning .
But Trump is up to more than this with his false claims that voting by mail will result in widespread fraud in the presidential election .
Even after he won in 2016 , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without a single shred of evidence that three to five million votes were illegally counted .
Trump appears to be setting up claims of fraudulent voting by mail as a grounds to contest the November election results if he loses .
Trump can be expected to contest a loss in November , and that would no doubt become very ugly if Trump calls on his supporters to take to the streets in protest .
Trump ’ s past conduct indicates that he will do everything he can to stay in office , regardless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue as President .
The protections needed for our system of representative government are clear .
We must ensure that safe and secure elections take place in every state in the union .
This includes enacting the $ 3.6 billion provided in the House-passed HEROES Act for states to run their elections .
We also must be ready to effectively counter every move that Trump makes before or after the presidential election to delegitimize the election results .

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | May 21, 2020
“The protections needed for our system of representative government are clear. We must ensure that safe and secure elections take place in every state in the union.”
President Trump’s latest attacks on voting by mail reveal in stark terms his plans for the November presidential election.
Trump’s tweets threatening to withhold federal funding from Michigan and Nevada if they do not back off of efforts to implement voting by mail reeks of political blackmail.
It brings back memories of Trump’s effort to blackmail Ukraine by withholding needed military aid until they opened an investigation into Joe Biden – a scandal for which Trump was impeached.
Trump is obviously attempting to suppress the vote in the upcoming presidential election by making it as difficult as he can for eligible voters to vote. Trump obviously believes the fewer eligible voters who exercise their constitutional right to vote, the better his chances of winning.
But Trump is up to more than this with his false claims that voting by mail will result in widespread fraud in the presidential election. Even after he won in 2016, Trump challenged the election results by falsely claiming without a single shred of evidence that three to five million votes were illegally counted. Trump appears to be setting up claims of fraudulent voting by mail as a grounds to contest the November election results if he loses.
Trump can be expected to contest a loss in November, and that would no doubt become very ugly if Trump calls on his supporters to take to the streets in protest.
Trump’s past conduct indicates that he will do everything he can to stay in office, regardless of the absence of any grounds to continue as President.
The protections needed for our system of representative government are clear. We must ensure that safe and secure elections take place in every state in the union.
This includes enacting the $3.6 billion provided in the House-passed HEROES Act for states to run their elections. We also must be ready to effectively counter every move that Trump makes before or after the presidential election to delegitimize the election results.
###


democracy21--2020-05-14--$3.6 Billion for Safe Elections

$3.6 Billion for Safe Elections

“ These funds are needed now to allow states to begin all the operational steps that are necessary to be ready for the election.
” The House is currently scheduled to vote tomorrow on the next stimulus relief package , the HEROES Act , which provides more than $ 3 trillion to fight the coronavirus and protect the economy .
Congressional action to address the pandemic was given a big boost yesterday by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell .
He issued an ominous warning about a potential multiyear recession and “ long-term economic damage ” in supporting the need for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The House bill provides desperately needed funds to state and local governments which have been on the front lines in fighting the coronavirus .
President Trump , meanwhile , has described the federal government – his Administration – as merely a “ backup ” for the states , thereby avoiding responsibility for solving the nation ’ s health crisis .
Unlike President Truman , the buck does not stop or go anywhere near Trump .
The House package contains many other important provisions to address the economic and health problems facing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the health of our democracy by providing $ 3.6 billion for state and local election officials to run a safe and secure election in November under dramatically changed circumstances .
Vast increases in voting by mail will be required in November to allow safe and secure voting , and substantial funds are needed by state and local elections officials to adjust to this development .
Funds are also needed to provide for safe in-person voting .
Furthermore , these funds are needed now to allow states to begin all the operational steps that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election .
President Trump has attacked voting by mail as creating opportunities for fraud .
These attacks appear to be no more than an effort by him to set the stage for rejecting the election results if he loses by claiming the results are “ fraudulent.
” Unlike past stimulus bills , this will be a three-way negotiation between House Speaker Pelosi , Senate Majority Leader McConnell , and the White House , with each having their own top priorities .
This is expected to be a difficult negotiation and it may not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell has greatly shortchanged voting funds for the states in two previous bills in this Congress .
McConnell must be defeated in his likely attempt to again deny substantial funding for the states to use to ensure eligible voters are able to vote in November .

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | May 14, 2020
“These funds are needed now to allow states to begin all the operational steps that are necessary to be ready for the election.”
The House is currently scheduled to vote tomorrow on the next stimulus relief package, the HEROES Act, which provides more than $3 trillion to fight the coronavirus and protect the economy.
Congressional action to address the pandemic was given a big boost yesterday by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. He issued an ominous warning about a potential multiyear recession and “long-term economic damage” in supporting the need for Congress to provide substantially more stimulus aid.
The House bill provides desperately needed funds to state and local governments which have been on the front lines in fighting the coronavirus. President Trump, meanwhile, has described the federal government – his Administration – as merely a “backup” for the states, thereby avoiding responsibility for solving the nation’s health crisis.
Unlike President Truman, the buck does not stop or go anywhere near Trump.
The House package contains many other important provisions to address the economic and health problems facing the country.
Importantly, the legislation addresses the health of our democracy by providing $3.6 billion for state and local election officials to run a safe and secure election in November under dramatically changed circumstances.
Vast increases in voting by mail will be required in November to allow safe and secure voting, and substantial funds are needed by state and local elections officials to adjust to this development. Funds are also needed to provide for safe in-person voting.
Furthermore, these funds are needed now to allow states to begin all the operational steps that are necessary to be ready for the election.
President Trump has attacked voting by mail as creating opportunities for fraud. These attacks appear to be no more than an effort by him to set the stage for rejecting the election results if he loses by claiming the results are “fraudulent.”
Unlike past stimulus bills, this will be a three-way negotiation between House Speaker Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader McConnell, and the White House, with each having their own top priorities. This is expected to be a difficult negotiation and it may not be completed until late June.
Senator McConnell has greatly shortchanged voting funds for the states in two previous bills in this Congress. McConnell must be defeated in his likely attempt to again deny substantial funding for the states to use to ensure eligible voters are able to vote in November.
###


democracy21--2020-05-24--Wertheimer op-ed: Trump’s Michigan voter fraud comments reveal America’s desperate need for reforms

Wertheimer op-ed: Trump’s Michigan voter fraud comments reveal America’s desperate need for reforms – NBC Think

Enclosed for your information is an op-ed by Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer entitled , “ Trump ’ s Michigan voter fraud comments reveal America ’ s desperate need for reforms , ” which was published here in NBC Think on May 24 , 2020 .
Read the full piece below or here .
Trump ’ s Michigan voter fraud comments reveal America ’ s desperate need for reforms Trump seems to think that the more eligible Americans he can prevent from voting , the better his chances of being re-elected .
By Fred Wertheimer | May 24 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump took his attacks on voting by mail to new heights as he threatened to withhold federal funds from Michigan and Nevada if they continued to implement vote-by-mail their states .
“ The threatening to take money away from a state that is hurting as bad as we are right now is just scary , and , I think , something that is unacceptable , ” Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , a Democrat , told “ CBS This Morning.
” Other observers saw shades of Trump ’ s attempt to withhold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country into opening a criminal investigation into his leading Democratic rival , former Vice President Joe Biden .
This action led to Trump ’ s impeachment .
With his recent broadside , Trump is building on his continuing false charges that voting-by-mail would lead to widespread fraud — despite the absence of any evidence to support his baseless claims .
In fact , both red states and blue states have instituted the practice without problem .
Trump ’ s actions suggest he is interested in suppressing the November vote .
Why ?
Perhaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans he can prevent from voting , the better his chances of being re-elected .
If you make it easier for more people to vote with absentee and mail-in ballots , Trump said on “ Fox & Friends , “ you ’ d never have a Republican elected in this country again.
” This could also be the reason that some Republicans have been pressing to restrict voting-by-mail .
In Wisconsin , for example , the Republican state legislature blocked the Democratic governor ’ s efforts to mail ballots to all voters and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court overruled his effort to move the April primary to June .
This backfired , however , when a Democrat won an upset election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court .
This isn ’ t a purely political issue , it ’ s a question of safety .
Voting-by-mail during this pandemic means that citizens will not have to choose between their votes and their lives .
But Trump looks to be up to more than suppressing the vote .
He could be attempting to set the stage to challenge the legitimacy of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread voter fraud in the mailed ballots .
Let ’ s keep in mind that even when Trump won in 2016 , he challenged the election results , claiming without a shred of evidence that three million to five million votes were illegally counted for his opponent , Hillary Clinton .
This is the reason , he insisted , that she won the popular vote .
Much needs to be done to provide for safe and secure voting .
State and local election officials need substantial amounts of federal funds to administer the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be cast in the November elections in the face of the coronavirus .
Money is also required to make the adjustments necessary for safe in-person voting .
The House recently approved these essential funds with the HEROES Act , stimulus relief legislation , which includes $ 3.6 billion for the November elections .
This money is needed to pay for crucial additional expenditures — ballot printing , postage , drop boxes for absentee ballots and appropriate security , secure electronic absentee ballot request technology , ballot tracking , improvements to absentee ballot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ processing and storage , additional staffing to support absentee ballot processing , polling facilities that meet public health standards and increased poll worker support .
The act also provides $ 25 billion for the U.S .
Postal Service , which has an essential role to play in effective voting by mail and which has major financial woes .
Trump regularly attacks the Postal Service , has installed a political crony as postmaster general and prevented the service , to date , from receiving the federal funding it needs to properly function .
Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been slow walking this next round of stimulus legislation .
Throughout this Congress , he has also blocked adequate funding for the states to conduct the November elections .
And McConnell has prevented Senate consideration of all legislative efforts in this Congress to protect against foreign interference in our elections .
Negotiations on the next round of stimulus relief are now expected to begin in June , with a deal expected sometime in July .
But the longer it takes to get money to the states , the more difficult it will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , secure , and fair election in November .
But even when the election is over , we will still have a broken political system , a corrupt campaign finance system and an endangered democracy .
The current campaign finance system is dominated by influence-seeking billionaires and millionaires , Super PACs , dark money nonprofit groups , bundlers , lobbyists and powerful special interests .
The current voting system is rife with barriers that discriminate against minorities , suppress voting and leave tens of millions of eligible voters unregistered .
Partisan gerrymandering often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than voters choosing their representative , denying the American people fair representation .
The ethics abuses and corrupt practices of Trump and his administration are unmatched in U.S. history .
Trump ’ s refusal to give up ownership of his businesses , for example , have created enumerable domestic and foreign conflicts of interest .
Ethics problems exist in all three branches of government .
Assuming the current polls hold up in November , we will face an historic opportunity in 2021 to enact arguably the most transformational reform legislation ever considered by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our political system , reform our campaign finance laws and revitalize our democracy .
This legislative package , known as H.R .
1 , passed the House in March 2019 .
McConnell , however , has blocked its consideration in the Senate .
Unrigging the system in Washington is a prerequisite to achieving the substantive changes that could be pursued in the next Congress and future years .
Democratic congressional leaders — and their members who unanimously supported H.R.1 — have correctly recognized that Washington ’ s rigged system must be ended to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s problems .
Biden has said , should he win , a first priority for his administration will be to push through the kinds of reforms found in the bill .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi .
D-Calif. , prioritized the critical need for democracy reform by making it the first order of business in this Congress .
She has committed to doing the same in the next Congress .
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , has committed to making the bill one of his first three priorities if Democrats control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 has been carefully crafted to obtain the support it needs to pass Congress and can not become a Christmas tree on which to hang other substantive or systemic reforms without dangerously jeopardizing its enactment .
In contrast to earlier decades of bipartisan support for democracy reforms , congressional Republicans in the last 10 years have almost universally opposed these reforms .
At the state and local level , however , bipartisan democracy reforms have been enacted .
Most important , the American people object to Washington ’ s rigged system that benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many .
McConnell has now spent decades using either obstructionist filibusters by the minority or his scheduling powers in the majority to block Senate consideration of democracy reforms .
But a new Senate Democratic majority would no longer allow this .
The Senate filibuster rules may not be eliminated .
But after McConnell has used an exception to the filibuster rules to pack the federal judiciary with conservative and right-wing judges , there is bound to be room for a second exception to allow a majority to determine the rules of our democracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cusp of enacting an historic package of democracy reforms to repair our political system and restore our democracy .
The constitutional system of representative government given to us by the Founders is on the line .
Fred Wertheimer is president of Democracy 21 , a nonpartisan , nonprofit organization that works to strengthen U.S. democracy and empower citizens in the political process .

Enclosed for your information is an op-ed by Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer entitled, “Trump’s Michigan voter fraud comments reveal America’s desperate need for reforms,” which was published here in NBC Think on May 24, 2020.
Read the full piece below or here.
Trump’s Michigan voter fraud comments reveal America’s desperate need for reforms
Trump seems to think that the more eligible Americans he can prevent from voting, the better his chances of being re-elected.
By Fred Wertheimer | May 24, 2020 | NBC Think
Last week, President Donald Trump took his attacks on voting by mail to new heights as he threatened to withhold federal funds from Michigan and Nevada if they continued to implement vote-by-mail their states.
“The threatening to take money away from a state that is hurting as bad as we are right now is just scary, and, I think, something that is unacceptable,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, told “CBS This Morning.” Other observers saw shades of Trump’s attempt to withhold military equipment from Ukraine to extort that country into opening a criminal investigation into his leading Democratic rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. This action led to Trump’s impeachment.
With his recent broadside, Trump is building on his continuing false charges that voting-by-mail would lead to widespread fraud — despite the absence of any evidence to support his baseless claims. In fact, both red states and blue states have instituted the practice without problem.
Trump’s actions suggest he is interested in suppressing the November vote. Why? Perhaps because he thinks that the more eligible Americans he can prevent from voting, the better his chances of being re-elected. If you make it easier for more people to vote with absentee and mail-in ballots, Trump said on “Fox & Friends, “you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again.”
This could also be the reason that some Republicans have been pressing to restrict voting-by-mail. In Wisconsin, for example, the Republican state legislature blocked the Democratic governor’s efforts to mail ballots to all voters and the Republican majority on the state Supreme Court overruled his effort to move the April primary to June. This backfired, however, when a Democrat won an upset election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
This isn’t a purely political issue, it’s a question of safety. Voting-by-mail during this pandemic means that citizens will not have to choose between their votes and their lives.
But Trump looks to be up to more than suppressing the vote. He could be attempting to set the stage to challenge the legitimacy of the election if he loses — by claiming widespread voter fraud in the mailed ballots. Let’s keep in mind that even when Trump won in 2016, he challenged the election results, claiming without a shred of evidence that three million to five million votes were illegally counted for his opponent, Hillary Clinton. This is the reason, he insisted, that she won the popular vote.
Much needs to be done to provide for safe and secure voting. State and local election officials need substantial amounts of federal funds to administer the vastly increased number of mailed-in ballots that will be cast in the November elections in the face of the coronavirus. Money is also required to make the adjustments necessary for safe in-person voting.
The House recently approved these essential funds with the HEROES Act, stimulus relief legislation, which includes $3.6 billion for the November elections. This money is needed to pay for crucial additional expenditures — ballot printing, postage, drop boxes for absentee ballots and appropriate security, secure electronic absentee ballot request technology, ballot tracking, improvements to absentee ballot processing, additional facilities for both ballot processing and storage, additional staffing to support absentee ballot processing, polling facilities that meet public health standards and increased poll worker support.
The act also provides $25 billion for the U.S. Postal Service, which has an essential role to play in effective voting by mail and which has major financial woes. Trump regularly attacks the Postal Service, has installed a political crony as postmaster general and prevented the service, to date, from receiving the federal funding it needs to properly function.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. R-Ky., has been slow walking this next round of stimulus legislation. Throughout this Congress, he has also blocked adequate funding for the states to conduct the November elections. And McConnell has prevented Senate consideration of all legislative efforts in this Congress to protect against foreign interference in our elections.
Negotiations on the next round of stimulus relief are now expected to begin in June, with a deal expected sometime in July. But the longer it takes to get money to the states, the more difficult it will be for them to conduct a safe, secure, and fair election in November.
But even when the election is over, we will still have a broken political system, a corrupt campaign finance system and an endangered democracy.
The current campaign finance system is dominated by influence-seeking billionaires and millionaires, Super PACs, dark money nonprofit groups, bundlers, lobbyists and powerful special interests. The current voting system is rife with barriers that discriminate against minorities, suppress voting and leave tens of millions of eligible voters unregistered.
Partisan gerrymandering often results in officeholders choosing their voters rather than voters choosing their representative, denying the American people fair representation. The ethics abuses and corrupt practices of Trump and his administration are unmatched in U.S. history. Trump’s refusal to give up ownership of his businesses, for example, have created enumerable domestic and foreign conflicts of interest. Ethics problems exist in all three branches of government.
Assuming the current polls hold up in November, we will face an historic opportunity in 2021 to enact arguably the most transformational reform legislation ever considered by Congress. It is designed to repair our political system, reform our campaign finance laws and revitalize our democracy.
This legislative package, known as H.R. 1, passed the House in March 2019. McConnell, however, has blocked its consideration in the Senate.
Unrigging the system in Washington is a prerequisite to achieving the substantive changes that could be pursued in the next Congress and future years. Democratic congressional leaders — and their members who unanimously supported H.R.1 — have correctly recognized that Washington’s rigged system must be ended to pave the way for solving the nation’s problems.
Biden has said, should he win, a first priority for his administration will be to push through the kinds of reforms found in the bill. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. D-Calif., prioritized the critical need for democracy reform by making it the first order of business in this Congress. She has committed to doing the same in the next Congress. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has committed to making the bill one of his first three priorities if Democrats control the Senate in January 2021.
H.R 1 has been carefully crafted to obtain the support it needs to pass Congress and cannot become a Christmas tree on which to hang other substantive or systemic reforms without dangerously jeopardizing its enactment.
In contrast to earlier decades of bipartisan support for democracy reforms, congressional Republicans in the last 10 years have almost universally opposed these reforms. At the state and local level, however, bipartisan democracy reforms have been enacted. Most important, the American people object to Washington’s rigged system that benefits the few at the expense of the many.
McConnell has now spent decades using either obstructionist filibusters by the minority or his scheduling powers in the majority to block Senate consideration of democracy reforms. But a new Senate Democratic majority would no longer allow this.
The Senate filibuster rules may not be eliminated. But after McConnell has used an exception to the filibuster rules to pack the federal judiciary with conservative and right-wing judges, there is bound to be room for a second exception to allow a majority to determine the rules of our democracy.
It looks like we are on the cusp of enacting an historic package of democracy reforms to repair our political system and restore our democracy. The constitutional system of representative government given to us by the Founders is on the line.
Fred Wertheimer is president of Democracy 21, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to strengthen U.S. democracy and empower citizens in the political process.
###


democracy21--2020-05-28--Trump’s Attempts to Delegitimize the 2020 Election Won’t Work

“ Eligible voters should not have to choose between their votes and their lives.
” While President Trump rants and raves , falsely , that voting by mail means widespread fraud and will result in a rigged presidential election , there are signs Congress may be getting ready to send the states at least some of the substantial funding they need to run the November elections .
The coronavirus pandemic is requiring major changes in how states will administer the elections , including adjustments to deal with a dramatic increase in voting by mail and to provide safe in-person voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the states , needed by red and blue states alike .
Eligible voters should not have to choose between their votes and their lives .
The next , or fifth , relief bill for the country , the HEROES Act , passed the House this month and included $ 3.6 billion for the states to run the national election .
The bill is awaiting Senate action .
Until recently , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been stonewalling on any new relief bill .
But this week , he said there would “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the next month or so.
” Senator Roy Blunt ( R-MO ) , Chair of the Senate Rules Committee with jurisdiction over election funding , also said this week about more money for the states to run elections , “ I think it ’ s likely and it ’ s likely necessary.
” The Brennan Center for Justice and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights have been leading the outside effort , which includes Democracy 21 , to obtain the federal funding needed by the states .
The Brennan Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states will have to incur in order to run effective elections .
Meanwhile , no one should kid themselves about what Trump is up to .
The President is not out to restrict voting by mail .
Trump is instead undertaking an insidious attempt to delegitimize the election and set the stage for claiming , falsely , that widespread fraud occurred in the mailed ballots .
Trump will have no qualms about causing a constitutional crisis by rejecting the election results or refusing to leave the White House .
It is not going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevail , no matter how irrational , irresponsible , and reckless Trump is .

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | May 28, 2020
“Eligible voters should not have to choose between their votes and their lives.”
While President Trump rants and raves, falsely, that voting by mail means widespread fraud and will result in a rigged presidential election, there are signs Congress may be getting ready to send the states at least some of the substantial funding they need to run the November elections.
The coronavirus pandemic is requiring major changes in how states will administer the elections, including adjustments to deal with a dramatic increase in voting by mail and to provide safe in-person voting. This requires substantial federal funding for the states, needed by red and blue states alike.
Eligible voters should not have to choose between their votes and their lives.
The next, or fifth, relief bill for the country, the HEROES Act, passed the House this month and included $3.6 billion for the states to run the national election. The bill is awaiting Senate action.
Until recently, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been stonewalling on any new relief bill. But this week, he said there would “likely” be such a bill “in the next month or so.” Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO), Chair of the Senate Rules Committee with jurisdiction over election funding, also said this week about more money for the states to run elections, “I think it’s likely and it’s likely necessary.”
The Brennan Center for Justice and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights have been leading the outside effort, which includes Democracy 21, to obtain the federal funding needed by the states. The Brennan Center has detailed the kind of new expenses states will have to incur in order to run effective elections.
Meanwhile, no one should kid themselves about what Trump is up to.
The President is not out to restrict voting by mail. Trump is instead undertaking an insidious attempt to delegitimize the election and set the stage for claiming, falsely, that widespread fraud occurred in the mailed ballots. Trump will have no qualms about causing a constitutional crisis by rejecting the election results or refusing to leave the White House.
It is not going to work. Our constitutional system will prevail, no matter how irrational, irresponsible, and reckless Trump is.
###


democracy21--2020-06-05--An Inflection Point for America

An Inflection Point for America

The tragic , senseless , brutal killing of African American George Floyd by a police officer , aided and abetted by three fellow officers , and its aftermath , may well turn out to be an inflection point for America .
The killing has awakened the nation to the need to face up to the country ’ s ingrained racism and racial injustice in ways we have not seen since the civil rights movement in the 1960s .
It has educated a generation of young Americans on the need at times for massive peaceful protests to right fundamental wrongs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous instincts , autocratic practices , and disdain for the Constitution of the worst President in the nation ’ s history .
The massive protests in the country have been overwhelmingly peaceful .
These protests are the essence of citizens exercising their constitutional rights to free speech , to peaceably assemble , and to petition the government for redress .
The indefensible looting and violence that has occurred has involved the smallest fraction of the hundreds of thousands , if not millions , of Americans who have marched for justice .
At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our democracy caused by the President were captured by Retired Marine General and former Trump Secretary of Defense James Mattis .
In a powerful rejection of the Trump presidency , Mattis said yesterday : Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people — does not even pretend to try .
Instead he tries to divide us .
We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort .
We know that we are better than the abuse of executive authority that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution .
At the same time , we must remember Lincoln ’ s “ better angels , ” and listen to them , as we work to unite .
Former Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , Retired Navy Admiral Mike Mullen also attacked Trump ’ s actions , writing : Whatever Trump ’ s goal in conducting his visit , he laid bare his disdain for the rights of peaceful protest in this country , gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who take comfort in our domestic strife , and risked further politicizing the men and women of our armed forces .
… This is not the time for stunts .
This is the time for leadership.
” The national protests began with the police killing of George Floyd .
But , they reach back to the police killings of African Americans Breonna Taylor and Eric Garner , among numerous others , and the killing of African American jogger Ahmaud Arbery by a former policeman .
The protests also reach to a broad set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racial injustice for African Americans and other communities of color in our country .
And they have raised in stark terms the question of whether we as a people are going to finally begin doing something about these century-long problems .
Meanwhile , nothing can tell you more about the President ’ s autocratic , narcissistic misuse and abuse of his office — and the enabling of Trump by his consigliere , Attorney General William Barr — than the events of this week .
In response to the killing of George Floyd and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has said and done nothing to calm the waters or to recognize the pain being felt by the Floyd family and protesting Americans .
Instead , Trump used this seminal moment to again divide the country for his own partisan political purposes .
He has used this moment for self-promotion and self-aggrandizement , and to demean and attack the nation ’ s governors , to threaten to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 , to improperly use the United States military , and to irreligiously use the Bible and a prominent Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photo op .
On Monday , Trump in authoritarian fashion unleashed an attack , ordered by Barr , on peaceful protestors in Washington , DC ’ s Lafayette Park by shield-wielding police from federal agencies and National Guard troops .
They used horses , batons , rubber bullets , riot shields , pepper spray — a form of tear gas — and flash-bang grenades to rough up and push back the protesters .
Why ?
Not to maintain order but to allow Trump to walk over to St. John ’ s Episcopal Church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a prop for a photo-op .
In the process , Trump desecrated religious grounds .
The Episcopal Bishop of Washington , the Right Reverend Mariann Budde , expressed outrage at Trump ’ s actions saying , “ The President just used a Bible , the most sacred text of the Judeo-Christian tradition , and one of the churches of my diocese , without permission , as a backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus.
” Bishop Budde denounced Trump ’ s use of a Bible “ that declares that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has said and done is to enflame violence.
” On Tuesday and Wednesday , anonymous federal law enforcement officers roamed the D.C. streets without any identification showing on their uniforms , bringing back memories of the Russian soldiers who invaded Ukraine without wearing any identification in order to avoid being held accountable for their actions .
All of this is the stock and trade of dictators around the world , many jealously admired by Trump such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping .
It is also the stuff of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacks on voting by mail , combined with his recent threats to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 without any justifiable grounds , should make plain to all that we can expect Trump to reject the election results when he loses in November .
He will wrongfully use every power of his office to do everything he can to delegitimize the election .
He will falsely challenge the vote results as being riddled with fraud , and refuse to leave the White House .
To put it simply , Trump is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country when he loses , without the slightest concern for our country , and in order to attempt to become the first illegitimate President of the United States .
The American people will not let this happen .
Our constitutional system of representative government has prevailed for more than two centuries .
The Constitution and the American people will prevail in 2020 .
A new President will be sworn in on January 20 , 2021 and Trump will be gone , even if we need a tow truck to remove him from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way .

An Inflection Point for America
(Fred Wertheimer | June 5, 2020 | Medium)
The tragic, senseless, brutal killing of African American George Floyd by a police officer, aided and abetted by three fellow officers, and its aftermath, may well turn out to be an inflection point for America.
The killing has awakened the nation to the need to face up to the country’s ingrained racism and racial injustice in ways we have not seen since the civil rights movement in the 1960s.
It has educated a generation of young Americans on the need at times for massive peaceful protests to right fundamental wrongs. It has shown the worst and most dangerous instincts, autocratic practices, and disdain for the Constitution of the worst President in the nation’s history.
The massive protests in the country have been overwhelmingly peaceful. These protests are the essence of citizens exercising their constitutional rights to free speech, to peaceably assemble, and to petition the government for redress. The indefensible looting and violence that has occurred has involved the smallest fraction of the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Americans who have marched for justice.
At the same time, the grave threats to our democracy caused by the President were captured by Retired Marine General and former Trump Secretary of Defense James Mattis. In a powerful rejection of the Trump presidency, Mattis said yesterday:
Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people — does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort.
Mattis also said:
We know that we are better than the abuse of executive authority that we witnessed in Lafayette Square. We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution. At the same time, we must remember Lincoln’s “better angels,” and listen to them, as we work to unite.
Former Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Retired Navy Admiral Mike Mullen also attacked Trump’s actions, writing:
Whatever Trump’s goal in conducting his visit, he laid bare his disdain for the rights of peaceful protest in this country, gave succor to the leaders of other countries who take comfort in our domestic strife, and risked further politicizing the men and women of our armed forces. … This is not the time for stunts. This is the time for leadership.”
The national protests began with the police killing of George Floyd. But, they reach back to the police killings of African Americans Breonna Taylor and Eric Garner, among numerous others, and the killing of African American jogger Ahmaud Arbery by a former policeman.
The protests also reach to a broad set of problems arising from systemic racism and racial injustice for African Americans and other communities of color in our country. And they have raised in stark terms the question of whether we as a people are going to finally begin doing something about these century-long problems.
Meanwhile, nothing can tell you more about the President’s autocratic, narcissistic misuse and abuse of his office — and the enabling of Trump by his consigliere, Attorney General William Barr — than the events of this week.
In response to the killing of George Floyd and the massive nationwide protests it triggered, Trump has said and done nothing to calm the waters or to recognize the pain being felt by the Floyd family and protesting Americans.
Instead, Trump used this seminal moment to again divide the country for his own partisan political purposes.
He has used this moment for self-promotion and self-aggrandizement, and to demean and attack the nation’s governors, to threaten to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807, to improperly use the United States military, and to irreligiously use the Bible and a prominent Washington church as a prop for a reelection photo op.
On Monday, Trump in authoritarian fashion unleashed an attack, ordered by Barr, on peaceful protestors in Washington, DC’s Lafayette Park by shield-wielding police from federal agencies and National Guard troops. They used horses, batons, rubber bullets, riot shields, pepper spray — a form of tear gas — and flash-bang grenades to rough up and push back the protesters.
Why? Not to maintain order but to allow Trump to walk over to St. John’s Episcopal Church to use a Bible and the Church as a prop for a photo-op. In the process, Trump desecrated religious grounds.
The Episcopal Bishop of Washington, the Right Reverend Mariann Budde, expressed outrage at Trump’s actions saying, “The President just used a Bible, the most sacred text of the Judeo-Christian tradition, and one of the churches of my diocese, without permission, as a backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus.” Bishop Budde denounced Trump’s use of a Bible “that declares that God is love and when everything he has said and done is to enflame violence.”
On Tuesday and Wednesday, anonymous federal law enforcement officers roamed the D.C. streets without any identification showing on their uniforms, bringing back memories of the Russian soldiers who invaded Ukraine without wearing any identification in order to avoid being held accountable for their actions.
All of this is the stock and trade of dictators around the world, many jealously admired by Trump such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. It is also the stuff of banana republics.
Trump’s repeated attacks on voting by mail, combined with his recent threats to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 without any justifiable grounds, should make plain to all that we can expect Trump to reject the election results when he loses in November. He will wrongfully use every power of his office to do everything he can to delegitimize the election. He will falsely challenge the vote results as being riddled with fraud, and refuse to leave the White House.
To put it simply, Trump is going to create an unprecedented constitutional crisis for the country when he loses, without the slightest concern for our country, and in order to attempt to become the first illegitimate President of the United States.
The American people will not let this happen. Our constitutional system of representative government has prevailed for more than two centuries.
The Constitution and the American people will prevail in 2020.
A new President will be sworn in on January 20, 2021 and Trump will be gone, even if we need a tow truck to remove him from the White House and send him on his way.


democracy21--2020-06-11--D21 Files 6th DOJ Complaint Against AG Barr, This Time for Appointing Former Trump Aide to Lead Crim

D21 Files 6th DOJ Complaint Against AG Barr, This Time for Appointing Former Trump Aide to Lead Criminal Investigation into Obama Administration ‘Unmasking’

Democracy 21 Files Sixth DOJ Complaint Against AG Barr , This Time for Appointing Former Trump White House Aide to Lead Criminal Investigation into Obama Administration ‘ Unmasking ’ Complaint Says Barr Should Not Have Opened Investigation Just Months Before Presidential Election and Bash Should Not Be Leading the Investigation Democracy 21 filed a today with the Inspector General and the Office of Professional Responsibility at the Department of Justice requesting an investigation and appropriate action against Attorney General William Barr for his “ appointment of U.S. Attorney John F. Bash to lead a criminal investigation into the ‘ unmasking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials.
” The complaint also requested an investigation of “ Bash ’ s failure to recuse himself from the appointment in light of his apparent conflict of interest in doing so.
” This is the sixth Justice Department complaint filed by Democracy 21 against AG Barr since April 2019 .
The previous complaints were filed on April 15 , May 7 , and October 1 , 2019 , and January 17 and February 27 , 2020 .
“ Attorney General Barr has repeatedly misused his office to advance the partisan political interests of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21 President Fred Wertheimer , who filed the complaint for the group .
“ AG Barr opened a criminal investigation into Obama Administration ‘ unmasking ’ just months before the presidential election , and appointed a former Trump Special Assistant and Associate White House Counsel to lead the investigation .
This is just one more example of Barr ’ s misuse of his office to benefit Trump ’ s partisan political interests and of his failing to comply with the Justice Department ’ s core mission ‘ to ensure fair and impartial administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” according to Wertheimer .
According to the Democracy 21 complaint : John Bash is the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas .
He was nominated by President Trump and sworn into that position on December 11 , 2017 .
Prior to his appointment , Bash served in the White House as Special Assistant to President Trump and Associate White House Counsel .
An individual who has worked as a Trump Special Assistant and White House Counsel has no public credibility to head a criminal investigation about the “ unmasking ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
President Trump has been attacking the “ unmasking ” as part of his undefined and unexplained assertions about “ Obamagate , ” which appears to be nothing more than a label created for the purpose of damaging his presidential opponent , Joe Biden , who served as Vice President in the Obama Administration .
It is plainly inappropriate to name a former Special Assistant and Associate White House Counsel to Trump to conduct this politicized investigation , all the more so just months before a presidential election in which Trump is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barr has opened this investigation at all plays into Trump ’ s use of the pejorative “ Obamagate ” label and furthers Trump ’ s efforts to discredit the Flynn investigation by Obama Administration officials , despite the fact that Flynn pleaded guilty and admitted his guilt under oath on multiple occasions .
Any Department investigation of such a politically charged matter should not be opened at all just months before the presidential election , but if it is , the investigation must be undertaken in a manner that leaves no room for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the investigation or the investigators .
In this light , Attorney General Barr ’ s appointment of U.S. Attorney Bash to lead the investigation and Bash ’ s acceptance of the assignment is self-evidently improper , and in direct conflict with the Department ’ s core mission “ to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.
” This unmasking allegation is publicly associated with President Trump and his allies , and with Trump ’ s efforts to damage and defeat Vice President Biden .
Trump thus has a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how the investigation of that allegation is undertaken and resolved , within the scope of the Justice Department ’ s conflict of interest and recusal rules .
Thus , under DOJ conflict of interest rules , Bash has a “ political relationship ” with President Trump , and Trump has a “ direct and substantial ” interest in the conduct and outcome of the unmasking investigation .
Under DOJ conflict of interest rules , Barr should not have appointed Bash to lead this investigation and Bash should never have accepted the position .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ unmasking ” investigation and must withdraw immediately from doing so .
The complaint also pointed out that the whole premise of the “ unmasking ” investigation “ may well be wrong.
” The complaint said : According to The Washington Post It was the FBI , not the NSA , that wiretapped Kislyak ’ s calls and created the summary and transcript , the former officials said .
“ When the FBI circulated [ the report ] , they included Flynn ’ s name from the beginning ” because it was essential to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior U.S. official , who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe sensitive intelligence .
“ There were therefore no requests for the unmasking of that information.
” The decision to appoint Bash , with his close ties to President Trump , to lead an investigation initiated just months before a presidential election – an investigation that serves Trump ’ s partisan political aim of damaging his opponent in the coming presidential election – could not be more improper and in apparent violation of the Justice Department rules .
Democracy 21 strongly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this matter and to take appropriate action to have U.S. Attorney Bash comply with the Justice Department ’ s recusal rules and to hold Attorney General Barr and Bash accountable for their apparent violation of the Department ’ s conflict of interest rules .

Democracy 21 Files Sixth DOJ Complaint Against AG Barr, This Time for Appointing Former Trump White House Aide to Lead Criminal Investigation into Obama Administration ‘Unmasking’
Complaint Says Barr Should Not Have Opened Investigation Just Months Before Presidential Election and Bash Should Not Be Leading the Investigation
Democracy 21 filed a complaint today with the Inspector General and the Office of Professional Responsibility at the Department of Justice requesting an investigation and appropriate action against Attorney General William Barr for his “appointment of U.S. Attorney John F. Bash to lead a criminal investigation into the ‘unmasking’ of Michael Flynn by Obama Administration officials.” The complaint also requested an investigation of “Bash’s failure to recuse himself from the appointment in light of his apparent conflict of interest in doing so.” This is the sixth Justice Department complaint filed by Democracy 21 against AG Barr since April 2019. The previous complaints were filed on April 15, May 7, and October 1, 2019, and January 17 and February 27, 2020. “Attorney General Barr has repeatedly misused his office to advance the partisan political interests of President Trump,” according to Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer, who filed the complaint for the group. “AG Barr opened a criminal investigation into Obama Administration ‘unmasking’ just months before the presidential election, and appointed a former Trump Special Assistant and Associate White House Counsel to lead the investigation. This is just one more example of Barr’s misuse of his office to benefit Trump’s partisan political interests and of his failing to comply with the Justice Department’s core mission ‘to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans,’” according to Wertheimer. According to the Democracy 21 complaint:
John Bash is the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas. He was nominated by President Trump and sworn into that position on December 11, 2017. Prior to his appointment, Bash served in the White House as Special Assistant to President Trump and Associate White House Counsel. An individual who has worked as a Trump Special Assistant and White House Counsel has no public credibility to head a criminal investigation about the “unmasking” of Michael Flynn by Obama Administration officials. President Trump has been attacking the “unmasking” as part of his undefined and unexplained assertions about “Obamagate,” which appears to be nothing more than a label created for the purpose of damaging his presidential opponent, Joe Biden, who served as Vice President in the Obama Administration. It is plainly inappropriate to name a former Special Assistant and Associate White House Counsel to Trump to conduct this politicized investigation, all the more so just months before a presidential election in which Trump is a candidate.
The complaint continued:
The fact that Attorney General Barr has opened this investigation at all plays into Trump’s use of the pejorative “Obamagate” label and furthers Trump’s efforts to discredit the Flynn investigation by Obama Administration officials, despite the fact that Flynn pleaded guilty and admitted his guilt under oath on multiple occasions. Any Department investigation of such a politically charged matter should not be opened at all just months before the presidential election, but if it is, the investigation must be undertaken in a manner that leaves no room for questioning the fairness, impartiality and credibility of the investigation or the investigators. In this light, Attorney General Barr’s appointment of U.S. Attorney Bash to lead the investigation and Bash’s acceptance of the assignment is self-evidently improper, and in direct conflict with the Department’s core mission “to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.”
The complaint stated:
This unmasking allegation is publicly associated with President Trump and his allies, and with Trump’s efforts to damage and defeat Vice President Biden. Trump thus has a “specific and substantial” political interest in how the investigation of that allegation is undertaken and resolved, within the scope of the Justice Department’s conflict of interest and recusal rules. Thus, under DOJ conflict of interest rules, Bash has a “political relationship” with President Trump, and Trump has a “direct and substantial” interest in the conduct and outcome of the unmasking investigation.
The complaint continued:
Under DOJ conflict of interest rules, Barr should not have appointed Bash to lead this investigation and Bash should never have accepted the position. Bash is prohibited from conducting the “unmasking” investigation and must withdraw immediately from doing so.
The complaint also pointed out that the whole premise of the “unmasking” investigation “may well be wrong.” The complaint said:
According to The Washington Post It was the FBI, not the NSA, that wiretapped Kislyak’s calls and created the summary and transcript, the former officials said. “When the FBI circulated [the report], they included Flynn’s name from the beginning” because it was essential to understanding its significance, said a former senior U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe sensitive intelligence. “There were therefore no requests for the unmasking of that information.”
The complaint concluded:
The decision to appoint Bash, with his close ties to President Trump, to lead an investigation initiated just months before a presidential election – an investigation that serves Trump’s partisan political aim of damaging his opponent in the coming presidential election – could not be more improper and in apparent violation of the Justice Department rules. Democracy 21 strongly urges you to open an immediate investigation of this matter and to take appropriate action to have U.S. Attorney Bash comply with the Justice Department’s recusal rules and to hold Attorney General Barr and Bash accountable for their apparent violation of the Department’s conflict of interest rules.
Read the full complaint here
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democracy21--2020-06-19--Trump’s Very Bad Week

Trump’s Very Bad Week

“ Trump will no doubt go down as the worst President in U.S. history.
” President Trump is having a very bad week .
On Monday , Trump ’ s first Supreme Court appointment , Justice Neil Gorsuch , wrote a landmark decision for the Court ’ s 6-to-3 majority that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects gay and transgender workers from discrimination in the workplace .
The decision was a great disappointment to a key portion of the President ’ s “ base.
” Yesterday , excerpts began showing up from former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump presidency .
According to The New York Times , the book “ is a withering portrait of a president ignorant of even basic facts about the world , susceptible to transparent flattery by authoritarian leaders manipulating him and prone to false statements , foul-mouthed eruptions and snap decisions that aides try to manage or reverse.
” According to Bolton ’ s critique : “ Trump commingled the personal and the national not just on trade questions but across the whole field of national security .
I am hard-pressed to identify any significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that wasn ’ t driven by reelection calculations.
” Today , in another major defeat for Trump and another key portion of his “ base , ” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote a decision for the Court ’ s 5-to-4 majority that rejected Trump ’ s nearly three years attempt to end the DACA program that protects “ Dreamers.
” Nate Silver ’ s FiveThirtyEight also published today a cumulation of national and state polls that presents a grim picture of Trump ’ s chances of being reelected .
On top of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health crisis that Trump has completely mishandled and makes believe does not exist .
And the brutal , senseless murder of George Floyd by a police officer has given birth to a new , diverse national movement against racial injustice , and police brutality and misconduct , to which Trump is incapable of responding .
We have known since he was first elected that Trump is unfit to serve as President .
The Bolton book simply confirms with stark details how extraordinarily unfit Trump is to be President .
Trump will no doubt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. history .

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | June 18, 2020
“Trump will no doubt go down as the worst President in U.S. history.”
President Trump is having a very bad week.
On Monday, Trump’s first Supreme Court appointment, Justice Neil Gorsuch, wrote a landmark decision for the Court’s 6-to-3 majority that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects gay and transgender workers from discrimination in the workplace. The decision was a great disappointment to a key portion of the President’s “base.”
Yesterday, excerpts began showing up from former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton’s explosive new book on the Trump presidency. According to The New York Times, the book “is a withering portrait of a president ignorant of even basic facts about the world, susceptible to transparent flattery by authoritarian leaders manipulating him and prone to false statements, foul-mouthed eruptions and snap decisions that aides try to manage or reverse.”
According to Bolton’s critique: “Trump commingled the personal and the national not just on trade questions but across the whole field of national security. I am hard-pressed to identify any significant Trump decision during my White House tenure that wasn’t driven by reelection calculations.”
Today, in another major defeat for Trump and another key portion of his “base,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote a decision for the Court’s 5-to-4 majority that rejected Trump’s nearly three years attempt to end the DACA program that protects “Dreamers.”
Nate Silver’s FiveThirtyEight also published today a cumulation of national and state polls that presents a grim picture of Trump’s chances of being reelected.
On top of this, the country is facing a pandemic health crisis that Trump has completely mishandled and makes believe does not exist. And the brutal, senseless murder of George Floyd by a police officer has given birth to a new, diverse national movement against racial injustice, and police brutality and misconduct, to which Trump is incapable of responding.
We have known since he was first elected that Trump is unfit to serve as President. The Bolton book simply confirms with stark details how extraordinarily unfit Trump is to be President. Trump will no doubt go down as the worst President in U.S. history.
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democracy21--2020-06-11--Election Chaos in Georgia Highlights Voting Needs in November

“ We are not going to let Trump take our democracy and our constitutional system of representative government away from us .
“ The chaotic primary election in Georgia on Tuesday gave us the latest real life example of what we may be facing throughout the country on November 3 if state and local election officials do not get the federal funding they need to conduct safe , secure , and fair elections .
In Georgia ’ s primary , minority areas faced inexcusable delays and extra-long lines .
There were not enough polling precincts open .
There were problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s horrendous experience shows why it is essential for Congress to provide the multi-billion dollar funding state and local election officials need to administer massive increases in vote-by-mail and to create safe in-person voting opportunities , resulting from the coronavirus pandemic .
The Postal Service also needs major funding to avoid going bankrupt in the fall .
We know Trump , in his lawless ways , will do everything he can to disrupt the November elections .
He has repeatedly attacked voting by mail with blatantly false claims that it results in widespread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to block the federal funding desperately needed by states and local jurisdictions and by the Postal Service .
It appears that , after stonewalling , Senate Republicans may be moving toward support for funding for the states when negotiations take place over the next relief bill .
This bill is not likely to pass until the end of July .
However , President Trump could try to block the state funding and the $ 25 billion needed for the Post Office , which Trump is constantly attacking .
It will be up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump tries to do that .
Meanwhile , former Vice President Biden said yesterday , “ This president is going to try to steal this election.
” He further said that making sure a fair voting process occurs is “ my greatest concern .
My single greatest concern.
” We and many others will do all that is necessary to prevent Trump from stealing or delegitimizing the presidential election .
To put it simply , we are not going to let Trump take our democracy and our constitutional system of representative government away @ @ @

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | June 11, 2020
“We are not going to let Trump take our democracy and our constitutional system of representative government away from us. “
The chaotic primary election in Georgia on Tuesday gave us the latest real life example of what we may be facing throughout the country on November 3 if state and local election officials do not get the federal funding they need to conduct safe, secure, and fair elections.
In Georgia’s primary, minority areas faced inexcusable delays and extra-long lines. There were not enough polling precincts open. There were problems with voting by mail.
Georgia’s horrendous experience shows why it is essential for Congress to provide the multi-billion dollar funding state and local election officials need to administer massive increases in vote-by-mail and to create safe in-person voting opportunities, resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. The Postal Service also needs major funding to avoid going bankrupt in the fall.
We know Trump, in his lawless ways, will do everything he can to disrupt the November elections. He has repeatedly attacked voting by mail with blatantly false claims that it results in widespread fraud and cheating. He also could try to block the federal funding desperately needed by states and local jurisdictions and by the Postal Service.
It appears that, after stonewalling, Senate Republicans may be moving toward support for funding for the states when negotiations take place over the next relief bill. This bill is not likely to pass until the end of July. However, President Trump could try to block the state funding and the $25 billion needed for the Post Office, which Trump is constantly attacking. It will be up to congressional Democrats to hold firm if Trump tries to do that.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Biden said yesterday, “This president is going to try to steal this election.” He further said that making sure a fair voting process occurs is “my greatest concern. My single greatest concern.”
We and many others will do all that is necessary to prevent Trump from stealing or delegitimizing the presidential election. To put it simply, we are not going to let Trump take our democracy and our constitutional system of representative government away from us.
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