democracy21--2020-08-10--D21 Calls for Senate Ethics Committee Investigation Into Whether Russian Agents are Laundering Biden

D21 Calls for Senate Ethics Committee Investigation Into Whether Russian Agents are Laundering Biden Disinformation Through Sens. Johnson and Grassley

Democracy 21 Calls for Senate Ethics Committee Investigation to Determine if Russian Agents are Laundering Biden Disinformation Campaign Through Senators Johnson and Grassley Democracy 21 sent a letter to the Senate Ethics Committee today calling for an investigation by the Committee into whether Russian agents are laundering a disinformation campaign against Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden through Senators Ron Johnson and Chuck Grassley and the Committees they chair .
According to the letter , “ If Senators Johnson and Grassley know or should know that they are facilitating Russia ’ s use of the Senate to intervene in the presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s campaign , that would constitute their participation in a direct attack on the integrity and security of the Senate and the 2020 presidential election.
” “ The Senate Ethics Committee must move immediately to determine if Russian agents are using Senators Johnson and Grassley and their committees to disseminate a Russian disinformation campaign to damage Joe Biden ’ s presidential campaign , ” Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer said .
“ If the Russians are manipulating Senators Johnson and Grassley to have the United States Senate facilitate Russia ’ s disinformation campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump , this would do incalculable damage to the Senate and our democracy , and must be shut down immediately , ” Wertheimer said .
William R. Evanina , the director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center , said last week that Russian agents are actively seeking “ to undermine former vice president [ Joe ] Biden ’ s candidacy and the Democratic Party.
” According to Evanina , “ We assess that Russia is using a range of measures to primarily denigrate former vice president Biden and what it sees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The letter also quoted an earlier New York Times report saying that in its ongoing investigation of former Vice President Biden ’ s involvement with Ukraine , the Homeland Security Committee has “ relied extensively on a former Ukrainian official , Andrii Telizhenko.
” According to the letter : In a recent letter , Senators Johnson and Grassley acknowledged that they had received information from Telizhenko but denied receiving information from Derkach .
This contradicts Derkach ’ s statement that he has provided information to the Johnson and Grassley committees .
The Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bottom of this discrepancy .
It is possible that Senators Johnson and Grassley , and their committees , may have received Derkach ’ s disinformation materials through an intermediary , such as Rudy Giuliani , President Trump ’ s attorney , who reportedly has had dealings with Derkach .
The Ethics Committee has an obligation to determine as soon as possible — and certainly before the November 3 election — if Senator Johnson and Senator Grassley and the Committees they lead are being used by agents of the Russian government to launder disinformation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempt to influence the 2020 presidential election .
This is without doubt a matter of utmost national importance .
The potential misuse of the Senate by a hostile foreign power to influence our presidential election is a direct attack on the Senate and on its integrity and competence .
It is also a direct attack on our democracy and our system of representative government .
According to the letter : If Senators Johnson and Grassley are failing to safeguard the Committee investigative process from active efforts by Russian agents to conduct a Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the harmful impact on the institutional integrity of the Senate would be enormous .
If Russian agents were to be successful in manipulating a Senate committee to disseminate disinformation to affect U.S. elections , there would be incalculable damage done to the Senate as an institution and more broadly to American democracy .
Democracy 21 calls on the Ethics Committee to undertake an immediate investigation into Senators Johnson and Grassley and the Committees they lead .
The Committee must determine whether they are involved in activities that “ reflect unfavorably ” on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate by failing to protect against Russia or its agents using the Senate Homeland Security Committee to distribute disinformation intended to damage the presidential campaign of Vice President Biden and help re-elect President Trump If the Senate Ethics Committee determines that Senators Johnson and Grassley are involved in these activities , the Committee must immediately take all steps necessary to stop Senators Johnson and Grassley from enabling Russian agents to use the Senate committee process to influence the 2020 election and undermine our democracy .

Democracy 21 Calls for Senate Ethics Committee Investigation to Determine if Russian Agents are Laundering Biden Disinformation Campaign Through Senators Johnson and Grassley
Democracy 21 sent a letter to the Senate Ethics Committee today calling for an investigation by the Committee into whether Russian agents are laundering a disinformation campaign against Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden through Senators Ron Johnson and Chuck Grassley and the Committees they chair.
According to the letter, “If Senators Johnson and Grassley know or should know that they are facilitating Russia’s use of the Senate to intervene in the presidential election to undermine Vice President Biden’s campaign, that would constitute their participation in a direct attack on the integrity and security of the Senate and the 2020 presidential election.”
“The Senate Ethics Committee must move immediately to determine if Russian agents are using Senators Johnson and Grassley and their committees to disseminate a Russian disinformation campaign to damage Joe Biden’s presidential campaign,” Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer said.
“If the Russians are manipulating Senators Johnson and Grassley to have the United States Senate facilitate Russia’s disinformation campaign to harm Joe Biden and help elect President Trump, this would do incalculable damage to the Senate and our democracy, and must be shut down immediately,” Wertheimer said.
The letter stated:
William R. Evanina, the director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, said last week that Russian agents are actively seeking “to undermine former vice president [Joe] Biden’s candidacy and the Democratic Party.” According to Evanina, “We assess that Russia is using a range of measures to primarily denigrate former vice president Biden and what it sees as an anti-Russia ‘establishment.’”
The letter noted:
The statements by Mr. Evanina confirming Russian efforts to damage Vice President Biden and influence the 2020 election, as well as separate published reports indicating that the Homeland Security Committee is one avenue for these efforts, raise serious questions that warrant an immediate investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee.
The letter stated:
According to a report in The New York Times, Mr. Evanina’s statement “called out Andriy Derkach, a pro-Russia member of Ukraine’s Parliament who has been involved in releasing information about Mr. Biden. Intelligence officials said he had ties to Russian intelligence.” According to a report in Politico, Evanina “specifically accused Andrii Derkach, a Kremlin-linked Ukrainian lawmaker, of ‘spreading claims about corruption—including through leaked phone calls—to undermine’” Vice President Biden.
The letter also quoted an earlier New York Times report saying that in its ongoing investigation of former Vice President Biden’s involvement with Ukraine, the Homeland Security Committee has “relied extensively on a former Ukrainian official, Andrii Telizhenko.”
The letter stated:
But, according to the previous Times report, FBI officials “warned lawmakers in a briefing that it had concerns that Mr. Telizhenko was a conduit for Russian disinformation about the Bidens and claims that Ukraine conspired to help Democrats in the 2016 election.”
According to the letter:
In a recent letter, Senators Johnson and Grassley acknowledged that they had received information from Telizhenko but denied receiving information from Derkach. This contradicts Derkach’s statement that he has provided information to the Johnson and Grassley committees. The Senate Ethics Committee must promptly get to the bottom of this discrepancy. It is possible that Senators Johnson and Grassley, and their committees, may have received Derkach’s disinformation materials through an intermediary, such as Rudy Giuliani, President Trump’s attorney, who reportedly has had dealings with Derkach.
The letter continued:
The Ethics Committee has an obligation to determine as soon as possible — and certainly before the November 3 election — if Senator Johnson and Senator Grassley and the Committees they lead are being used by agents of the Russian government to launder disinformation as part of Russia’s active attempt to influence the 2020 presidential election. This is without doubt a matter of utmost national importance. The potential misuse of the Senate by a hostile foreign power to influence our presidential election is a direct attack on the Senate and on its integrity and competence. It is also a direct attack on our democracy and our system of representative government.
According to the letter:
If Senators Johnson and Grassley are failing to safeguard the Committee investigative process from active efforts by Russian agents to conduct a Russian disinformation campaign to affect the presidential election, the harmful impact on the institutional integrity of the Senate would be enormous. If Russian agents were to be successful in manipulating a Senate committee to disseminate disinformation to affect U.S. elections, there would be incalculable damage done to the Senate as an institution and more broadly to American democracy.
The letter concluded:
Democracy 21 calls on the Ethics Committee to undertake an immediate investigation into Senators Johnson and Grassley and the Committees they lead. The Committee must determine whether they are involved in activities that “reflect unfavorably” on and bring “discredit” to the Senate by failing to protect against Russia or its agents using the Senate Homeland Security Committee to distribute disinformation intended to damage the presidential campaign of Vice President Biden and help re-elect President Trump If the Senate Ethics Committee determines that Senators Johnson and Grassley are involved in these activities, the Committee must immediately take all steps necessary to stop Senators Johnson and Grassley from enabling Russian agents to use the Senate committee process to influence the 2020 election and undermine our democracy.
Read the full letter here.
###


democracy21--2020-08-12--D21 Sends Letter Following Up on Aug. 10 Call for Senate Ethics Committee Investigation of Senators

D21 Sends Letter Following Up on Aug. 10 Call for Senate Ethics Committee Investigation of Senators Johnson and Grassley

Democracy 21 Sends Letter Today Following Up on August 10th Call for Senate Ethics Committee Investigation of Senators Johnson and Grassley Letter Includes New Report with Detailed Background Information Supporting Request to Determine if Russian Agents are Laundering Biden Disinformation Campaign Through Senators Johnson and Grassley and the Committees They Chair Democracy 21 sent a letter to the Senate Ethics Committee today following up on the organization ’ s August 10 letter calling for an investigation by the Committee into whether Russian agents are laundering a disinformation campaign against Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden through Senators Ron Johnson and Chuck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We stated in the August 10 letter that the Ethics Committee has an obligation to determine as soon as possible — and certainly before the November 3 election — if this abuse is occurring .
The August 10 letter further stated : If Senators Johnson and Grassley are failing to safeguard the committee investigative process , and if Russian agents are therefore to be successful in manipulating a Senate committee to disseminate disinformation to affect U.S. elections , there would be incalculable damage done to the Senate as an institution and more broadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter today forwarded a report published in Just Security on August 11 , 2020 by Ryan Goodman and Asha Rangappa , entitled “ How Sen. Ron Johnson ’ s Investigation Became an Enabler of Russian Disinformation : Part I.
” According to today ’ s letter , the report “ provides detailed background information that supports Democracy 21 ’ s request for an Ethics Committee investigation of this matter .
”

Democracy 21 Sends Letter Today Following Up on August 10th Call for Senate Ethics Committee Investigation of Senators Johnson and Grassley
Letter Includes New Report with Detailed Background Information Supporting Request to Determine if Russian Agents are Laundering Biden Disinformation Campaign Through Senators Johnson and Grassley and the Committees They Chair
Democracy 21 sent a letter to the Senate Ethics Committee today following up on the organization’s August 10 letter calling for an investigation by the Committee into whether Russian agents are laundering a disinformation campaign against Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden through Senators Ron Johnson and Chuck Grassley and the Committees they chair.
We stated in the August 10 letter that the Ethics Committee has an obligation to determine as soon as possible — and certainly before the November 3 election — if this abuse is occurring. The August 10 letter further stated:
If Senators Johnson and Grassley are failing to safeguard the committee investigative process, and if Russian agents are therefore to be successful in manipulating a Senate committee to disseminate disinformation to affect U.S. elections, there would be incalculable damage done to the Senate as an institution and more broadly to American democracy.
The Democracy 21 letter today forwarded a report published in Just Security on August 11, 2020 by Ryan Goodman and Asha Rangappa, entitled “How Sen. Ron Johnson’s Investigation Became an Enabler of Russian Disinformation: Part I.”
According to today’s letter, the report “provides detailed background information that supports Democracy 21’s request for an Ethics Committee investigation of this matter.”
Read the full letter here.
###


democracy21--2020-08-13--D21 President Fred Wertheimer: President Trump Corrupted the Durham Investigation Today

President Trump today plainly corrupted the criminal investigation being led by U.S. Attorney John Durham into the origins of the 2016 Justice Department investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election .
In an interview with Fox News today , Trump made the bizarre and outrageous claim that treason has been committed and called for Barr and Durham to hold accountable for the treason President Obama , Vice President Biden , former FBI Director James Comey , former CIA Director John Brennan , and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper .
Given this highly politicized claim made by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Attorney General Barr and U.S. Attorney Durham can issue a report or bring indictments based on this criminal investigation before the November 3rd presidential election without destroying the Justice Department as an institution committed to the rule of law and to the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans .
Longstanding Justice Department policy prohibits the Department from taking any action in an election year that could influence or affect an election .
President Trump has made crystal clear that he plans to use whatever actions Barr and Durham take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden , and to promote his re-election bid .
For Barr and Durham to issue a report or indictments before the election would violate Justice Department policy against taking actions in an election year that could affect or influence an election .
Any such action by Barr or Durham would be improper and irresponsible .
In the face of Trump ’ s demands and attacks today , the oath of office taken by Attorney General Barr and by U.S. Attorney Durham demands that they suspend any public action arising from the investigation until @ @ @ @

President Trump Corrupted the Durham Investigation Today
Statement of Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer
President Trump today plainly corrupted the criminal investigation being led by U.S. Attorney John Durham into the origins of the 2016 Justice Department investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
In an interview with Fox News today, Trump made the bizarre and outrageous claim that treason has been committed and called for Barr and Durham to hold accountable for the treason President Obama, Vice President Biden, former FBI Director James Comey, former CIA Director John Brennan, and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.
Given this highly politicized claim made by Trump, there is now no way that Attorney General Barr and U.S. Attorney Durham can issue a report or bring indictments based on this criminal investigation before the November 3rd presidential election without destroying the Justice Department as an institution committed to the rule of law and to the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.
Longstanding Justice Department policy prohibits the Department from taking any action in an election year that could influence or affect an election.
President Trump has made crystal clear that he plans to use whatever actions Barr and Durham take to attack his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, and to promote his re-election bid.
For Barr and Durham to issue a report or indictments before the election would violate Justice Department policy against taking actions in an election year that could affect or influence an election. Any such action by Barr or Durham would be improper and irresponsible.
In the face of Trump’s demands and attacks today, the oath of office taken by Attorney General Barr and by U.S. Attorney Durham demands that they suspend any public action arising from the investigation until after the election.
###


democracy21--2020-08-27--The Death of the Republican Party

The Death of the Republican Party

“ Trump has spent three and a half years as President working to establish that lying doesn ’ t matter , that rules , norms , and laws don ’ t apply to him , and that the powers of the presidency exist for him to impose his vengeance on those who fail to agree with him.
” The Republican Party is no more .
But there are still two major parties : the Democratic Party and the Trump Party .
The death of the Republican Party is symbolized by the fact that , for the first time since 1856 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not bother to even adopt a platform .
It is demonstrated by the fact that what used to be core principles for the Republican Party have disappeared into dust .
It is shown by the fact that congressional Republicans , with rare exception , follow Trump like lemmings headed to the sea .
The death of the Republican Party was topped off this week by President Trump treating himself like an emperor at the “ Trump Convention , ” with a horde of supplicants present to bow and scrape and feed Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump demeaned the White House by using it as a political prop .
He dishonored and damaged Fort McHenry , a national monument , in order for Vice President Pence to make a convention speech that sounded like a “ Dear Leader ” homage .
When questioned about the obvious violations of the Hatch Act that are occurring at the Trump Convention , the response from Trump ’ s Chief of Staff Mark Meadows was : “ Nobody outside of the Beltway really cares.
” This is the view of a key spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ law and order ” political playbook , while ignoring the killing of Black men and women by police officers , whose brutal actions go unremarked upon by Trump .
Trump has spent three and a half years as President working to establish that lying doesn ’ t matter , that rules , norms , and laws don ’ t apply to him , and that the powers of the presidency exist for him to impose his vengeance on those who fail to agree with him .
There are some who understandably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ representative government as envisioned by the Founders may be at stake in this presidential election .
While the stakes in the election are of enormous consequence , we will survive Trump .
A nation that survived the Civil War , two World Wars , the Great Depression , and other momentous events , will survive this charlatan who sits in the White House and delusionally believes he is the czar of the United States of America .

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | August 27, 2020
“Trump has spent three and a half years as President working to establish that lying doesn’t matter, that rules, norms, and laws don’t apply to him, and that the powers of the presidency exist for him to impose his vengeance on those who fail to agree with him.”
The Republican Party is no more.
But there are still two major parties: the Democratic Party and the Trump Party.
The death of the Republican Party is symbolized by the fact that, for the first time since 1856, the so-called “Republican Party” did not bother to even adopt a platform.
It is demonstrated by the fact that what used to be core principles for the Republican Party have disappeared into dust.
It is shown by the fact that congressional Republicans, with rare exception, follow Trump like lemmings headed to the sea.
The death of the Republican Party was topped off this week by President Trump treating himself like an emperor at the “Trump Convention,” with a horde of supplicants present to bow and scrape and feed Trump’s insecurities and fragile ego.
Trump demeaned the White House by using it as a political prop. He dishonored and damaged Fort McHenry, a national monument, in order for Vice President Pence to make a convention speech that sounded like a “Dear Leader” homage.
When questioned about the obvious violations of the Hatch Act that are occurring at the Trump Convention, the response from Trump’s Chief of Staff Mark Meadows was: “Nobody outside of the Beltway really cares.”
This is the view of a key spokesman for an administration that is rolling out the “law and order” political playbook, while ignoring the killing of Black men and women by police officers, whose brutal actions go unremarked upon by Trump.
Trump has spent three and a half years as President working to establish that lying doesn’t matter, that rules, norms, and laws don’t apply to him, and that the powers of the presidency exist for him to impose his vengeance on those who fail to agree with him.
There are some who understandably think that our democracy and system of representative government as envisioned by the Founders may be at stake in this presidential election.
While the stakes in the election are of enormous consequence, we will survive Trump.
A nation that survived the Civil War, two World Wars, the Great Depression, and other momentous events, will survive this charlatan who sits in the White House and delusionally believes he is the czar of the United States of America.
###


democracy21--2020-08-21--Trump Continues His Baseless Attacks on Vote By Mail

“ Trump is not going to scam , con , lie , and cheat his way into a second presidential term.
” Published reports have detailed major changes in Postal Service policies that would seriously delay ballots being sent to voters and received by election officials .
The impact of these changes go beyond the ballot and are leading to delays in the delivery of medicines , checks , and other items of importance to Americans .
The new Postmaster General , Louis DeJoy , who has been making these changes as we enter the final stages of the national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He has given $ 1.2 million to the Trump Victory Fund and has been in charge of fundraising to pay for the Republican National Convention .
At a Senate hearing today – in the face of House action tomorrow on legislation to prevent his changes and House hearings next week – DeJoy claimed he will back down on Postal Service changes through the election .
But , there is great skepticism about what will actually be done by DeJoy and whether the White House is actually calling the shots here .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pass legislation tomorrow to block any changes in past Postal Service policies prior to the November election .
Meanwhile , President Trump continues his wild , baseless , and irresponsible attacks on voting by mail .
Trump is plainly trying to stamp the November election as fraudulent even before any votes are cast .
He never offers any proof of voter fraud , however , because he has none .
Yesterday , Trump upped the ante by threatening to send law enforcement officials to polling precincts to ensure there is no voter fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has the authority to do this and , in any event , this would be highly improper and a blatant effort to intimidate voters .
All of Trump ’ s irresponsible actions are apparently being taken with two goals in mind : to suppress the vote for Biden and to reject the election results .
But Trump is not going to scam , con , lie , and cheat his way into a second presidential term .
An army of lawyers and tens of millions of Americans await Trump if he makes any @ @ @ @ @ @

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | August 21, 2020
“Trump is not going to scam, con, lie, and cheat his way into a second presidential term.”
Published reports have detailed major changes in Postal Service policies that would seriously delay ballots being sent to voters and received by election officials. The impact of these changes go beyond the ballot and are leading to delays in the delivery of medicines, checks, and other items of importance to Americans.
The new Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, who has been making these changes as we enter the final stages of the national election, is a major Trump donor. He has given $1.2 million to the Trump Victory Fund and has been in charge of fundraising to pay for the Republican National Convention.
At a Senate hearing today – in the face of House action tomorrow on legislation to prevent his changes and House hearings next week – DeJoy claimed he will back down on Postal Service changes through the election.
But, there is great skepticism about what will actually be done by DeJoy and whether the White House is actually calling the shots here. The House is expected to go forward and pass legislation tomorrow to block any changes in past Postal Service policies prior to the November election.
Meanwhile, President Trump continues his wild, baseless, and irresponsible attacks on voting by mail.
Trump is plainly trying to stamp the November election as fraudulent even before any votes are cast. He never offers any proof of voter fraud, however, because he has none.
Yesterday, Trump upped the ante by threatening to send law enforcement officials to polling precincts to ensure there is no voter fraud. It is legally questionable if he has the authority to do this and, in any event, this would be highly improper and a blatant effort to intimidate voters.
All of Trump’s irresponsible actions are apparently being taken with two goals in mind: to suppress the vote for Biden and to reject the election results. But Trump is not going to scam, con, lie, and cheat his way into a second presidential term.
An army of lawyers and tens of millions of Americans await Trump if he makes any move to steal the election.
###


democracy21--2020-08-28--Fred Wertheimer on NPR: Attorney General Barr Has Been Acting As A Political Operative

Enclosed for your information is a segment from National Public Radio ’ s Morning Edition which aired today , August @ @ @ @ @ to the report , since early June , Barr has done at least seven sit-down @ @ @ @ @ in which he has tackled politically-charged issues head on.
” “ He has been operating @ @ @ @ @ a campaign aide to the President , rather than as Attorney General of the United @ @ @ @ @ President Fred Wertheimer told NPR .
“ Barr is free to have any views he @ @ @ @ @ s not free to exercise those views as Attorney General of the United States , @ @ @ @ @ the mission of the Department of Justice to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice @ @ @ @ @ segment here .

“He has been operating as a political operative and a campaign aide to the President, rather than as Attorney General of the United States,” Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer told NPR in a segment from National Public Radio’s Morning Edition which aired today, August 28, 2020.
According to the report, since early June, Barr has done at least seven sit-down interviews with national broadcasters “in which he has tackled politically-charged issues head on.”
“Barr is free to have any views he wants, but he’s not free to exercise those views as Attorney General of the United States,” said Wertheimer, citing the mission of the Department of Justice to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice.
Listen to the full segment here.
###


democracy21--2020-08-31--How a Biden win can sink one of McConnell’s top priorities – Wertheimer op-ed in CNN

Enclosed for your information is an op-ed by Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer entitled , “ How a Biden win @ @ @ @ @ ’ s top priorities , ” which was published by CNN on August 31 , @ @ @ @ @ piece : Joe Biden ’ s acceptance of the Democratic nomination for President has brought @ @ @ @ @ mission he started 47 years ago : to create a system of public financing for @ @ @ @ @ [ … ] In his 1973 Senate testimony , Biden said that if he accomplishes @ @ @ @ @ term except to “ make some little impact on moving us toward the public financing @ @ @ @ @ consider my stint in the Senate a success.
” His moment has arrived .
A @ @ @ @ @ financing of elections happen early next year — and end the quest he began almost @ @ @ @

An op-ed by Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer entitled, “How a Biden win can sink one of McConnell’s top priorities,” which was published by CNN on August 31, 2020.
According to the piece:
Joe Biden’s acceptance of the Democratic nomination for President has brought him closer to accomplishing a mission he started 47 years ago: to create a system of public financing for presidential and congressional elections. […] In his 1973 Senate testimony, Biden said that if he accomplishes nothing else in his Senate term except to “make some little impact on moving us toward the public financing of elections, I would consider my stint in the Senate a success.” His moment has arrived. A President Biden could make public financing of elections happen early next year — and end the quest he began almost five decades ago.
Read the full piece here.
###


Fasten Your Seatbelts

“ Trump has been joined in his efforts to delegitimize the presidential election by Attorney General William Barr , who is grossly abusing the powers of his office to serve as a Trump partisan political operative.
” It has been clear for some time that President Trump is working to delegitimize the presidential election , which would set the stage for Trump to try to steal the presidency in the event he loses his reelection bid .
The President has repeatedly attacked voting by mail as subject to widespread fraud without providing any evidence to back up his false claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entirely by mail and all states allow some voting by mail .
Evidence of voter fraud is extremely rare .
The Postal Service is key to voting by mail and Trump has acted to disrupt its services .
Trump has opposed giving the Service the funding it needs to operate effectively during this critical period .
He is also responsible for placing Republican partisans in key positions in the Postal Service , and steps have been taken in recent months to significantly damage the ability of the Postal Service to facilitate voting by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chair of the Board of Governors of the Postal Service , Robert Duncan , is also a director of Senate Majority Leader McConnell ’ s Super PAC and served in the past as Chair of the RNC .
The Postmaster General , Louis DeJoy , has given more than $ 1 million to the Trump Victory Fund and also headed fundraising for the Republican National Convention .
Trump has been joined in his efforts to delegitimize the presidential election by Attorney General William Barr , who is grossly abusing the powers of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political operative .
Barr has gratuitously attacked voting by mail , claiming this week that it is “ playing with fire ” without backing up his claims with meaningful data .
Barr has also rejected the longstanding policy that the Justice Department can not take actions in an election year that could influence an election , setting the stage for Barr to take action in September or October that President Trump would no doubt use to attack Joe Biden .
In short , Barr has shown that he stands ready to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump to steal the election .
If President Trump tries to steal the election , he will fail .
But as the saying goes : fasten your seat belts .
It ’ s going to be a bumpy ride .

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | September 3, 2020
“Trump has been joined in his efforts to delegitimize the presidential election by Attorney General William Barr, who is grossly abusing the powers of his office to serve as a Trump partisan political operative.”
It has been clear for some time that President Trump is working to delegitimize the presidential election, which would set the stage for Trump to try to steal the presidency in the event he loses his reelection bid.
The President has repeatedly attacked voting by mail as subject to widespread fraud without providing any evidence to back up his false claims. There are five states that vote entirely by mail and all states allow some voting by mail. Evidence of voter fraud is extremely rare.
The Postal Service is key to voting by mail and Trump has acted to disrupt its services. Trump has opposed giving the Service the funding it needs to operate effectively during this critical period. He is also responsible for placing Republican partisans in key positions in the Postal Service, and steps have been taken in recent months to significantly damage the ability of the Postal Service to facilitate voting by mail in a timely way.
The Chair of the Board of Governors of the Postal Service, Robert Duncan, is also a director of Senate Majority Leader McConnell’s Super PAC and served in the past as Chair of the RNC. The Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, has given more than $1 million to the Trump Victory Fund and also headed fundraising for the Republican National Convention.
Trump has been joined in his efforts to delegitimize the presidential election by Attorney General William Barr, who is grossly abusing the powers of his office to serve as a Trump partisan political operative.
Barr has gratuitously attacked voting by mail, claiming this week that it is “playing with fire” without backing up his claims with meaningful data.
Barr has also rejected the longstanding policy that the Justice Department cannot take actions in an election year that could influence an election, setting the stage for Barr to take action in September or October that President Trump would no doubt use to attack Joe Biden.
In short, Barr has shown that he stands ready to be a willing participant in any effort by President Trump to steal the election.
If President Trump tries to steal the election, he will fail. But as the saying goes: fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.
###


democracy21--2020-09-10--Trump Snaps His Fingers And Barr Comes Running

“ Barr is a disgrace .
He continues to show that he is dangerous and unfit to serve as Attorney General of the United States.
” Attorney General William Barr demonstrated again this week that he is owned and operated by President Trump .
When Trump snaps his fingers , Barr comes running .
The President this week had the White House instruct Barr to have the Justice Department intervene in a New York state court defamation case brought against Trump by E. Jean Carroll .
Recently , Trump lost a key ruling that the case could proceed .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rescue by having the Justice Department intervene to move the case to federal court and kill it .
This just one more of the many examples of Barr treating the Justice Department he heads as a Trump law firm to protect , defend , and promote Trump ’ s personal and political interests .
Meanwhile , President Trump , who is running as a self-proclaimed “ law and order ” President , is both attacking voting by mail and lawlessly urging his supporters to illegally vote twice in the 2020 presidential election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time in person .
These reckless and outrageous suggestions by Trump led 25 state Attorneys General to issue a stark warning this week to voters : “ It ’ s against the law to vote twice in the election .
That is true everywhere in the United States .
Anyone who intentionally votes twice faces serious legal consequences .
So do those who direct others to engage in this illegal conduct.
” But when asked about this , Barr played dumb , saying that he didn ’ t know the election laws in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which he is responsible for enforcing , explicitly prohibits voting twice in the same election .
Of course , Barr ’ s claim of ignorance about this is absurd .
High school , if not grade school , students know that you can not vote twice in an election .
Barr ’ s willingness to play the fool to protect Trump ’ s suggestions to supporters that they engage in blatantly illegal action by voting twice in the presidential election shows just how deeply in the bag Barr is to Trump .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to show that he is dangerous and unfit to serve as Attorney General of the United States .

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | September 10, 2020
“Barr is a disgrace. He continues to show that he is dangerous and unfit to serve as Attorney General of the United States.”
Attorney General William Barr demonstrated again this week that he is owned and operated by President Trump. When Trump snaps his fingers, Barr comes running.
The President this week had the White House instruct Barr to have the Justice Department intervene in a New York state court defamation case brought against Trump by E. Jean Carroll. Recently, Trump lost a key ruling that the case could proceed.
So Trump called, and Barr rode to the rescue by having the Justice Department intervene to move the case to federal court and kill it.
This just one more of the many examples of Barr treating the Justice Department he heads as a Trump law firm to protect, defend, and promote Trump’s personal and political interests.
Meanwhile, President Trump, who is running as a self-proclaimed “law and order” President, is both attacking voting by mail and lawlessly urging his supporters to illegally vote twice in the 2020 presidential election – once by mail and a second time in person. These reckless and outrageous suggestions by Trump led 25 state Attorneys General to issue a stark warning this week to voters:
“It’s against the law to vote twice in the election. That is true everywhere in the United States. Anyone who intentionally votes twice faces serious legal consequences. So do those who direct others to engage in this illegal conduct.”
But when asked about this, Barr played dumb, saying that he didn’t know the election laws in every state, even though federal law, which he is responsible for enforcing, explicitly prohibits voting twice in the same election.
Of course, Barr’s claim of ignorance about this is absurd. High school, if not grade school, students know that you cannot vote twice in an election.
Barr’s willingness to play the fool to protect Trump’s suggestions to supporters that they engage in blatantly illegal action by voting twice in the presidential election shows just how deeply in the bag Barr is to Trump.
Barr is a disgrace. He continues to show that he is dangerous and unfit to serve as Attorney General of the United States.
###


democracy21--2020-09-08--Twenty-Five State Attorneys General Release Statement on Illegality of Voting Twice

Enclosed for your information is a September 7 press release from North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein along with a coalition of 24 other state Attorneys General .
According to the statement of the Attorneys General : “ It ’ s against the law to vote twice in the election , ” said Attorney General Josh Stein .
“ That is true everywhere in the United States .
Anyone who intentionally votes twice faces serious legal consequences .
So do those who direct others to engage in this illegal conduct .
To voters : we want each of you to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General are here to ensure your vote is counted , your voice is heard , and our elections have integrity.
” Read the full release here or below .
( RALEIGH ) Attorney General Josh Stein , along with a coalition of 24 other attorneys general , today released a statement highlighting the importance of election integrity .
“ It ’ s against the law to vote twice in the election , ” said Attorney General Josh Stein .
“ That is true everywhere in the United States .
Anyone who intentionally votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do those who direct others to engage in this illegal conduct .
To voters : we want each of you to vote and to know that state Attorneys General are here to ensure your vote is counted , your voice is heard , and our elections have integrity.
” On Wednesday , Sept. 2 , during a briefing to reporters in Wilmington , N.C. , President Trump encouraged people to vote twice in the upcoming election .
Voting twice in the same election is a felony in North Carolina and is also against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein leads a coalition joined by the Attorneys General from California , Colorado , Connecticut , Delaware , Washington , D.C. , Hawaii , Illinois , Iowa , Maine , Maryland , Massachusetts , Michigan , Minnesota , Nevada , New Jersey , New Mexico , New York , Oregon , Pennsylvania , Rhode Island , Vermont , Virginia , Washington , and Wisconsin .

Enclosed for your information is a September 7 press release from North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein along with a coalition of 24 other state Attorneys General. According to the statement of the Attorneys General:
“It’s against the law to vote twice in the election,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “That is true everywhere in the United States. Anyone who intentionally votes twice faces serious legal consequences. So do those who direct others to engage in this illegal conduct. To voters: we want each of you to vote and to know that state Attorneys General are here to ensure your vote is counted, your voice is heard, and our elections have integrity.”
Read the full release here or below.
For Immediate Release:
Monday, September 7, 2020
Contact:
Laura Brewer (919) 716-6484
(RALEIGH) Attorney General Josh Stein, along with a coalition of 24 other attorneys general, today released a statement highlighting the importance of election integrity.
“It’s against the law to vote twice in the election,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “That is true everywhere in the United States. Anyone who intentionally votes twice faces serious legal consequences. So do those who direct others to engage in this illegal conduct. To voters: we want each of you to vote and to know that state Attorneys General are here to ensure your vote is counted, your voice is heard, and our elections have integrity.”
On Wednesday, Sept. 2, during a briefing to reporters in Wilmington, N.C., President Trump encouraged people to vote twice in the upcoming election. Voting twice in the same election is a felony in North Carolina and is also against federal law.
In signing this statement, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein leads a coalition joined by the Attorneys General from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
###


democracy21--2020-09-14--D21 Letter Calls on US Attorney Durham to Resist Any AG Barr Effort to Improperly Use Durham Investi

D21 Letter Calls on US Attorney Durham to Resist Any AG Barr Effort to Improperly Use Durham Investigation

In Second Open Letter , Democracy 21 Calls on U.S. Attorney John Durham to Resist Any Effort by AG Barr to Misuse Durham ’ s Investigation to Improperly Assist Trump ’ s Re-election Enclosed for your information is an open letter sent today , September 14 , 2020 , from Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer to U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut John Durham following up on a previous open letter sent to Durham on August 6 , 2020 and published in Just Security .
U.S. Attorney Durham was appointed by Attorney General William Barr to review the origins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian interference in the 2016 elections .
According to recent reporting in the Hartford Courant , Durham ’ s top aide , federal prosecutor Nora Dannehy , resigned last week “ at least partly out of concern that the investigative team is being pressed for political reasons to produce a report before its work is done , colleagues said.
” The article also noted that Dannehy “ has been concerned in recent weeks by what she believed was pressure from Barr—who appointed Durham—to produce results before the election.
” “ Attorney General Barr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as cover to undertake a blatantly political effort to assist President Trump ’ s reelection in violation of longstanding Justice Department policy , ” said Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer .
“ Barr ’ s apparent desire to issue a report on the Durham investigation in the closing weeks of the November election has no plausible explanation other than to misuse the Justice Department to provide political assistance to President Trump ’ s re-election campaign.
” “ U.S .
Attorney Durham ’ s professional reputation and personal integrity , and the institutional integrity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line here , ” Wertheimer said .
“ U.S Attorney Durham must refuse to allow Attorney General Barr to use him as cover for improperly intervening in the election to assist President Trump .
If necessary , Mr. Durham should resign from the Justice Department .
”

In Second Open Letter, Democracy 21 Calls on U.S. Attorney John Durham to Resist Any Effort by AG Barr to Misuse Durham’s Investigation to Improperly Assist Trump’s Re-election
Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer sent an open letter today, September 14, 2020, to U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut John Durham following up on a previous open letter sent to Durham on August 6, 2020 and published in Just Security.
U.S. Attorney Durham was appointed by Attorney General William Barr to review the origins of the 2016 Justice Department investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 elections.
According to recent reporting in the Hartford Courant, Durham’s top aide, federal prosecutor Nora Dannehy, resigned last week “at least partly out of concern that the investigative team is being pressed for political reasons to produce a report before its work is done, colleagues said.” The article also noted that Dannehy “has been concerned in recent weeks by what she believed was pressure from Barr—who appointed Durham—to produce results before the election.”
“Attorney General Barr appears determined to use U.S. Attorney Durham as cover to undertake a blatantly political effort to assist President Trump’s reelection in violation of longstanding Justice Department policy,” said Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer. “Barr’s apparent desire to issue a report on the Durham investigation in the closing weeks of the November election has no plausible explanation other than to misuse the Justice Department to provide political assistance to President Trump’s re-election campaign.”
“U.S. Attorney Durham’s professional reputation and personal integrity, and the institutional integrity of the Justice Department are on the line here,” Wertheimer said. “U.S Attorney Durham must refuse to allow Attorney General Barr to use him as cover for improperly intervening in the election to assist President Trump. If necessary, Mr. Durham should resign from the Justice Department.”
The letter to Durham stated:


Barr, Unleashed

“ Trump and Barr deserve each other .
The American people deserve neither.
” Authoritarian Donald Trump and his partisan political partner , Attorney General William Barr , showed their true colors again this week .
President Trump ’ s deadly failure to protect the health and lives of the American people was unassailably revealed this week in the President ’ s own words .
Bob Woodward ’ s book , Rage , reveals that the President knew in January that the coronavirus virus was a grave threat to the American people and in March Trump himself told Woodward : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down ” to avoid creating “ a panic.
” So , Trump played the virus down and today we are at 198,000 dead Americans and counting .
Yesterday , the President asserted that Dr. Robert Redfield , head of the Centers for Disease Control , must have been confused when he testified in the Senate that it would likely be mid-2021 before vaccines are widely available and that wearing a mask may even be more important than a vaccine .
Reelection politics dripped off Trump ’ s words as he attacked Redfield ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American people that their vaccines are just around the corner .
An NBC News/SurveyMonkey poll this week , however , found that “ Fifty-two percent of adults say they don ’ t trust the president ’ s vaccine comments , while just 26 percent say they do.
” Meanwhile , Trump ’ s partner , Attorney General Barr , has apparently gone off the rails .
Yesterday , at Hillsdale College , Barr asserted absolute power in attacking his own Justice Department ’ s professional attorneys .
Barr attacked the need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and called efforts by states to curb the deadly coronavirus by stay at home orders as “ other than slavery [ … ] the greatest intrusion on civil liberties in American history.
” Last week , Barr reportedly asked Justice Department prosecutors to consider bringing criminal charges against Democratic Mayor Jenny Durkan of Seattle for her handling of the Seattle protests .
And , while campaigning in Arizona , Barr attacked ballots by mail , long used by civilian and military voters , as votes that “ impinge on the historic American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Barr deserve each other .
The American people deserve neither .

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | September 17, 2020
“Trump and Barr deserve each other. The American people deserve neither.”
Authoritarian Donald Trump and his partisan political partner, Attorney General William Barr, showed their true colors again this week.
President Trump’s deadly failure to protect the health and lives of the American people was unassailably revealed this week in the President’s own words.
Bob Woodward’s book, Rage, reveals that the President knew in January that the coronavirus virus was a grave threat to the American people and in March Trump himself told Woodward: “I wanted to always play it down” to avoid creating “a panic.”
So, Trump played the virus down and today we are at 198,000 dead Americans and counting.
Yesterday, the President asserted that Dr. Robert Redfield, head of the Centers for Disease Control, must have been confused when he testified in the Senate that it would likely be mid-2021 before vaccines are widely available and that wearing a mask may even be more important than a vaccine.
Reelection politics dripped off Trump’s words as he attacked Redfield’s testimony and falsely tried to persuade the American people that their vaccines are just around the corner. An NBC News/SurveyMonkey poll this week, however, found that “Fifty-two percent of adults say they don’t trust the president’s vaccine comments, while just 26 percent say they do.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s partner, Attorney General Barr, has apparently gone off the rails.
Yesterday, at Hillsdale College, Barr asserted absolute power in attacking his own Justice Department’s professional attorneys. Barr attacked the need to rely on coronavirus science as “nonsense” and called efforts by states to curb the deadly coronavirus by stay at home orders as “other than slavery […] the greatest intrusion on civil liberties in American history.”
Last week, Barr reportedly asked Justice Department prosecutors to consider bringing criminal charges against Democratic Mayor Jenny Durkan of Seattle for her handling of the Seattle protests. And, while campaigning in Arizona, Barr attacked ballots by mail, long used by civilian and military voters, as votes that “impinge on the historic American tradition of the secret ballot.”
Trump and Barr deserve each other. The American people deserve neither.
###


democracy21--2020-09-24--Trump & McConnell Attack Our Democracy

Trump & McConnell Attack Our Democracy

“ No matter what Trump puts the nation through in the coming months , he will not be able to steal the presidency from the American people.
” President Trump continued his assault on voting by mail yesterday .
But he also raised the issue to new heights , threatening to have tens of millions of mailed-in ballots thrown out and refusing to commit to a peaceful transition of power if he is not elected by the voters .
This comes as The Atlantic published an article on the doomsday scenarios that Trump could pursue to attempt to overthrow the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tactics , his bluster , and his blowhard comments reflect the actions of a man who believes he is going to lose the election .
In typical Trump fashion , his response is to try to steal the election and reject the decision of some 150 million expected voters .
This can , must , and will be stopped by the American people .
If key officials like Trump ’ s consigliere , Attorney General William Barr , and key Republican state legislators go along with any Trump effort to turn our country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ met by the wisdom of our Founding Fathers and the will of the American people .
The bottom line is this : No matter what Trump puts the nation through in the coming months , he will not be able to steal the presidency from the American people .
Trump ’ s acts of desperation will not succeed .
Meanwhile , his partner in political crimes , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , is working to steal his second Supreme Court seat .
In 2016 , McConnell used his scheduling powers to block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court nomination of Judge Merrick Garland for 10 months .
McConnell ’ s stated reason for his unprecedented obstruction was that the American people should decide who should appoint the nominee through their decision in the presidential election .
In 2020 , McConnell has taken the completely opposite position with no plausible justification .
In one of history ’ s greatest acts of hypocrisy , McConnell is now saying Trump ’ s nominee , to be named on Saturday , should be rammed through the Senate in just one month and on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the will of the American people be damned .
McConnell ’ s reprehensible actions have turned the Senate from “ the world ’ s greatest deliberative body ” into the law of the jungle .
He has grossly abused his office to become a one-man ruler of a Senate without a moral compass .
History will no doubt make clear the extraordinary damage Senator McConnell has done to the Senate as an institution , to our democracy , to our country , and to the American people .

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | September 24, 2020
“No matter what Trump puts the nation through in the coming months, he will not be able to steal the presidency from the American people.”
President Trump continued his assault on voting by mail yesterday. But he also raised the issue to new heights, threatening to have tens of millions of mailed-in ballots thrown out and refusing to commit to a peaceful transition of power if he is not elected by the voters.
This comes as The Atlantic published an article on the doomsday scenarios that Trump could pursue to attempt to overthrow the election results.
Trump’s despicable tactics, his bluster, and his blowhard comments reflect the actions of a man who believes he is going to lose the election.
In typical Trump fashion, his response is to try to steal the election and reject the decision of some 150 million expected voters.
This can, must, and will be stopped by the American people.
If key officials like Trump’s consigliere, Attorney General William Barr, and key Republican state legislators go along with any Trump effort to turn our country into a dictatorship, they will be met by the wisdom of our Founding Fathers and the will of the American people.
The bottom line is this: No matter what Trump puts the nation through in the coming months, he will not be able to steal the presidency from the American people.
Trump’s acts of desperation will not succeed.
Meanwhile, his partner in political crimes, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, is working to steal his second Supreme Court seat.
In 2016, McConnell used his scheduling powers to block the Senate from voting on the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Merrick Garland for 10 months. McConnell’s stated reason for his unprecedented obstruction was that the American people should decide who should appoint the nominee through their decision in the presidential election.
In 2020, McConnell has taken the completely opposite position with no plausible justification. In one of history’s greatest acts of hypocrisy, McConnell is now saying Trump’s nominee, to be named on Saturday, should be rammed through the Senate in just one month and on the very eve of the presidential election – the will of the American people be damned.
McConnell’s reprehensible actions have turned the Senate from “the world’s greatest deliberative body” into the law of the jungle. He has grossly abused his office to become a one-man ruler of a Senate without a moral compass.
History will no doubt make clear the extraordinary damage Senator McConnell has done to the Senate as an institution, to our democracy, to our country, and to the American people.
###


democracy21--2020-09-30--Democracy 21 Applauds Ethics Code Issued Today by the Biden-Harris Transition – Wertheimer Statement

The ethics code issued today by the Biden-Harris Transition is an excellent and comprehensive approach to preventing the conflicts of interest that can arise in a presidential transition .
In addition to its important prohibitions on conflicts of interest , the code also protects against appearance of conflicts by requiring any such appearance issues to be resolved by the transition general counsel .
This means the Biden-Harris Transition itself will be accountable for any such problems that arise with the transition team members .
Another important protection in the code would prevent members of the transition team from using their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The strong Biden-Harris transition ethics code indicates former Vice President Biden ’ s interest , if elected , in ending the culture of ethics abuses and conflicts of interest that has been pervasive in the Executive Branch since President Trump took office .
See CREW study entitled , President Trump ’ s 3,400 Conflicts of Interest .
The ethics code is an important first step by Vice President Biden to changing , if elected , Washington ’ s self-interest culture and to repairing our democracy and political system .
Vice President Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if elected , “ a first priority of a Biden Administration will be to lead on a comprehensive set of reforms like those reflected in the For the People Act ( H.R .
1 ) .
” H.R .
1 , and its Senate companion bill , S. 949 , are the most important and comprehensive democracy reform measures since the Watergate reforms of the 1970s .
Democracy 21 applauds the Biden-Harris Transition for adopting a transition ethics code that stands in stark contrast to the complete ethics vacuum that has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration .

Democracy 21 Applauds Ethics Code Issued Today by the Biden-Harris Transition
Statement of Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer
The ethics code issued today by the Biden-Harris Transition is an excellent and comprehensive approach to preventing the conflicts of interest that can arise in a presidential transition.
In addition to its important prohibitions on conflicts of interest, the code also protects against appearance of conflicts by requiring any such appearance issues to be resolved by the transition general counsel. This means the Biden-Harris Transition itself will be accountable for any such problems that arise with the transition team members.
Another important protection in the code would prevent members of the transition team from using their transition roles for personal or professional benefit.
The strong Biden-Harris transition ethics code indicates former Vice President Biden’s interest, if elected, in ending the culture of ethics abuses and conflicts of interest that has been pervasive in the Executive Branch since President Trump took office. See CREW study entitled, President Trump’s 3,400 Conflicts of Interest.
The ethics code is an important first step by Vice President Biden to changing, if elected, Washington’s self-interest culture and to repairing our democracy and political system. Vice President Biden has stated during the presidential campaign that, if elected, “a first priority of a Biden Administration will be to lead on a comprehensive set of reforms like those reflected in the For the People Act (H.R. 1).”
H.R. 1, and its Senate companion bill, S. 949, are the most important and comprehensive democracy reform measures since the Watergate reforms of the 1970s.
Democracy 21 applauds the Biden-Harris Transition for adopting a transition ethics code that stands in stark contrast to the complete ethics vacuum that has been a hallmark of President Trump and his administration.
###


democracy21--2020-10-01--The American People Will Decide This Election

“ The explanation for the President ’ s crazed efforts is simple .
Trump knows he is losing and so he continues to try to steal the election instead.
” This week ’ s presidential debate was a national embarrassment with President Trump wildly out of control and spouting lies about practically everything that came up .
The polling following the debate showed that Trump ’ s performance did not serve him well , but that was not his aim in turning the debate into a 90-minute fiasco .
The reality show performance Trump put on was one more part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November election and undermine voting by mail .
His support for the Proud Boys and implicit support for white supremacy , and his call to arms for his followers to show up at the polls and , in essence , intimidate voters , took his incendiary actions to new heights .
The explanation for the President ’ s crazed efforts is simple .
Trump knows he is losing and so he continues to try to steal the election instead .
The historically hypocritical effort by Senate Republicans to confirm a new Justice to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s planned end-run around our democracy .
Trump has made clear that his goal is to have the Supreme Court , not the American people , decide the presidential election .
Trump is assuming that the Republican-appointed Justices on the Court , and especially the three Justices he will have appointed – if Judge Barrett is confirmed – will elect him President .
But that will require the Justices to choose partisan politics over their oath of office and their constitutional responsibilities , and it is by no means clear they will follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indentured servants .
In the end , however , the American people will decide this election .
We have seen voters in other countries all over the world cast their votes in the face of threats , intimidation , and physical harm .
American voters will do the same in the face of our blustering , bullying , autocratic President .
In terminology that Trump would fully understand : he can take his threats , his disruptive acts , his efforts at intimidation , his incitements to mob action , his effort to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | October 1, 2020
“The explanation for the President’s crazed efforts is simple. Trump knows he is losing and so he continues to try to steal the election instead.”
This week’s presidential debate was a national embarrassment with President Trump wildly out of control and spouting lies about practically everything that came up. The polling following the debate showed that Trump’s performance did not serve him well, but that was not his aim in turning the debate into a 90-minute fiasco.
The reality show performance Trump put on was one more part in his months-long effort to discredit the November election and undermine voting by mail. His support for the Proud Boys and implicit support for white supremacy, and his call to arms for his followers to show up at the polls and, in essence, intimidate voters, took his incendiary actions to new heights.
The explanation for the President’s crazed efforts is simple. Trump knows he is losing and so he continues to try to steal the election instead.
The historically hypocritical effort by Senate Republicans to confirm a new Justice to the Supreme Court fits into Trump’s planned end-run around our democracy. Trump has made clear that his goal is to have the Supreme Court, not the American people, decide the presidential election.
Trump is assuming that the Republican-appointed Justices on the Court, and especially the three Justices he will have appointed – if Judge Barrett is confirmed – will elect him President. But that will require the Justices to choose partisan politics over their oath of office and their constitutional responsibilities, and it is by no means clear they will follow his bidding to do so, like indentured servants.
In the end, however, the American people will decide this election.
We have seen voters in other countries all over the world cast their votes in the face of threats, intimidation, and physical harm. American voters will do the same in the face of our blustering, bullying, autocratic President.
In terminology that Trump would fully understand: he can take his threats, his disruptive acts, his efforts at intimidation, his incitements to mob action, his effort to destroy our electoral process – and shove it.
###


democracy21--2020-10-08--The Trump-Barr Horror Show

The Trump-Barr Horror Show

“ Attorney General Barr is a dangerous man without a moral compass and without any perceivable commitment to the rule of law.
” This week the Trump/Barr parade of horrors continued .
Donald Trump ranted and raved ; Attorney General William Barr continued to grossly abuse his office .
Barr and Trump are engaged in new , unprecedented steps to undermine and – if necessary – try to steal the presidential election that current polls show Vice President Biden is winning .
According to an article in ProPublica yesterday , the Justice Department has issued a new guidance on election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ generally bars prosecutors not only from making any announcement about ongoing investigations close to an election but also from taking public steps — such as an arrest or a raid — before a vote is finalized.
” The change in this policy will now allow Barr , who continues to attack mailed ballots and alleged “ election fraud , ” to have the government try to block the counting of votes cast by mail .
Polls have shown that far more Democrats are planning to vote by mail than Republicans .
Barr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Department to help Trump win the election also showed up this week in steps taken by John Ratcliffe , the Trump-appointed Director of National Intelligence .
Ratcliffe , a former Republican House Member and Trump acolyte , announced he was sending the Justice Department nearly 1,000 pages of materials for Barr ’ s investigation into the FBI ’ s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election .
This information , which reportedly remains classified , is likely to end up in Trump ’ s rantings in the closing weeks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and into Wednesday , Trump engaged in a bizarre tweet storm involving dozens of tweets in which , among other things , he questioned why Barr had not arrested Barack Obama , Joe Biden , and Hillary Clinton .
These are the ravings we expect from a two-bit , third-rate dictator , not from the President of the United States .
Trump ’ s frenzied state was clear again this morning when he went after his loyal henchman , saying Barr would be treated by history as “ a very sad situation ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Attorney General Barr is a dangerous man without a moral compass and without any perceivable commitment to the rule of law .
He has been , and still is , engaged in extraordinary and unprecedented abuses of his office and perversion of the Justice Department .
Barr is doing incalculable damage to the Justice Department and potentially to our constitutional system of representative government .

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | October 8, 2020
“Attorney General Barr is a dangerous man without a moral compass and without any perceivable commitment to the rule of law.”
This week the Trump/Barr parade of horrors continued.
Donald Trump ranted and raved; Attorney General William Barr continued to grossly abuse his office.
Barr and Trump are engaged in new, unprecedented steps to undermine and – if necessary – try to steal the presidential election that current polls show Vice President Biden is winning.
According to an article in ProPublica yesterday, the Justice Department has issued a new guidance on election fraud, overriding a decades-long policy that “generally bars prosecutors not only from making any announcement about ongoing investigations close to an election but also from taking public steps — such as an arrest or a raid — before a vote is finalized.”
The change in this policy will now allow Barr, who continues to attack mailed ballots and alleged “election fraud,” to have the government try to block the counting of votes cast by mail. Polls have shown that far more Democrats are planning to vote by mail than Republicans.
Barr’s long-running effort to misuse the Justice Department to help Trump win the election also showed up this week in steps taken by John Ratcliffe, the Trump-appointed Director of National Intelligence.
Ratcliffe, a former Republican House Member and Trump acolyte, announced he was sending the Justice Department nearly 1,000 pages of materials for Barr’s investigation into the FBI’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. This information, which reportedly remains classified, is likely to end up in Trump’s rantings in the closing weeks of the presidential election.
On Tuesday night and into Wednesday, Trump engaged in a bizarre tweet storm involving dozens of tweets in which, among other things, he questioned why Barr had not arrested Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Hillary Clinton. These are the ravings we expect from a two-bit, third-rate dictator, not from the President of the United States. Trump’s frenzied state was clear again this morning when he went after his loyal henchman, saying Barr would be treated by history as “a very sad situation” if he doesn’t indict people.
Attorney General Barr is a dangerous man without a moral compass and without any perceivable commitment to the rule of law.
He has been, and still is, engaged in extraordinary and unprecedented abuses of his office and perversion of the Justice Department. Barr is doing incalculable damage to the Justice Department and potentially to our constitutional system of representative government.
###


democracy21--2020-10-15--Packing the Supreme Court, GOP-Style

Packing the Supreme Court, GOP-Style

“ McConnell ’ s day as the czar of the Senate may be ending soon .
It can not come soon enough.
” Led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , congressional Republicans are raising concerns that Democrats may try to “ pack ” the Supreme Court by adding seats to the Court if they win control of the Presidency and Congress in November .
McConnell , of all people , has publicly called out Vice President Joe Biden for his unwillingness to firmly oppose adding new seats to the Supreme Court .
In an act of pure chutzpah , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court packing , stating that “ Court-packing by either party would guarantee retribution when the Senate and the White House next changed hands .
The escalation would not end .
Our independent judiciary would spiral into one more partisan battleground .
And the judgments of Supreme Court would be delegitimized.
” This comes from a man who , in two acts of supreme hypocrisy , in essence , stole two Supreme Court seats for conservative Justices .
Led by President Trump and Senator McConnell , Republicans have “ packed ” the federal courts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and rightwing judges to the extent that the scales of justice are now tipped way out of balance in one ideological direction .
And now that Republicans have violated every norm in the books to “ pack ” the Supreme Court with a deeply conservative 6-to-3 majority , McConnell and other Republicans are raising concerns that the Democrats may not passively accept their fate .
It is by no means clear whether there is majority support among Senate Democrats for adding seats to the Supreme Court .
What there is , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s hypocritical and indefensible conduct .
In 2016 , McConnell held open the seat vacated by the death of Justice Scalia for 10 months on the false justification that the American people should be given “ a voice in the filling of this vacancy ” by their choice of a new president .
In 2020 , however , when Justice Ginsburg died in the final weeks of the presidential election , McConnell reversed everything he had said before and has acted to deny the American people a voice in filling this Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
McConnell is now slamming Trump ’ s Supreme Court nominee through the Senate at warp-speed in an unprecedented process to beat the presidential election .
McConnell ’ s day as the czar of the Senate may be ending soon .
It can not come soon enough .

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | October 15, 2020
“McConnell’s day as the czar of the Senate may be ending soon. It cannot come soon enough.”
Led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, congressional Republicans are raising concerns that Democrats may try to “pack” the Supreme Court by adding seats to the Court if they win control of the Presidency and Congress in November.
McConnell, of all people, has publicly called out Vice President Joe Biden for his unwillingness to firmly oppose adding new seats to the Supreme Court. In an act of pure chutzpah, McConnell brazenly warned about the dangers of court packing, stating that “Court-packing by either party would guarantee retribution when the Senate and the White House next changed hands. The escalation would not end. Our independent judiciary would spiral into one more partisan battleground. And the judgments of Supreme Court would be delegitimized.”
This comes from a man who, in two acts of supreme hypocrisy, in essence, stole two Supreme Court seats for conservative Justices.
Led by President Trump and Senator McConnell, Republicans have “packed” the federal courts during the past four years with conservative and rightwing judges to the extent that the scales of justice are now tipped way out of balance in one ideological direction.
And now that Republicans have violated every norm in the books to “pack” the Supreme Court with a deeply conservative 6-to-3 majority, McConnell and other Republicans are raising concerns that the Democrats may not passively accept their fate.
It is by no means clear whether there is majority support among Senate Democrats for adding seats to the Supreme Court. What there is, however, is legitimate anger and outrage at McConnell’s hypocritical and indefensible conduct.
In 2016, McConnell held open the seat vacated by the death of Justice Scalia for 10 months on the false justification that the American people should be given “a voice in the filling of this vacancy” by their choice of a new president.
In 2020, however, when Justice Ginsburg died in the final weeks of the presidential election, McConnell reversed everything he had said before and has acted to deny the American people a voice in filling this Supreme Court vacancy through the imminent presidential election.
McConnell is now slamming Trump’s Supreme Court nominee through the Senate at warp-speed in an unprecedented process to beat the presidential election.
McConnell’s day as the czar of the Senate may be ending soon. It cannot come soon enough.
###


Trump’s Authoritarian Fantasy

“ Trump would like to succeed King George III as the first dictator of the United States .
The American people are not about to let that happen.
” There may be no better example of President Trump ’ s governing tendencies as a two-bit , anti-democratic authoritarian than his obsession with jailing his political opponents and labeling them as criminals .
His actions demonstrate that his role model for the presidency is not any former American President , but rather his apparent idol , the president and dictator of Russia , Vladimir Putin .
This started with the 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 percent approval ” of his supporters ’ chants of “ lock her up ” about his opponent Hillary Clinton .
Trump ’ s un-American tactics reached a crescendo in 2019 when he attempted to coerce and blackmail the Ukraine president into opening a criminal investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter .
That failed effort led to Trump ’ s impeachment by the House of Representatives last year .
But that hasn ’ t stopped him from trying to have his political opponents thrown in jail .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to label his political opponents as criminals and attempted to get them indicted .
Earlier this month , Trump called former President Barack Obama and Vice President Biden criminals who should be indicted , absurdly claiming that they had committed “ the greatest political crime in the history of the country.
” Of course , he never provides a shred of evidence to support his unfounded claims of criminality – because there is no evidence .
Lately , Trump has been attacking Attorney General William Barr , his most loyal supplicant , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden is being investigated for criminal activity .
Earlier , this week Trump publicly pressured Barr to appoint a special prosecutor or similar investigator , saying , “ He ’ s got to act .
And he ’ s got to act fast .
This is major corruption , and this has to be known about before the election.
” This is the kind of stuff that occurs in countries run by dictators , autocrats , tyrants , and despots .
This occurs in countries that do not have the rule of law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice that protects the innocent , and do not provide constitutional protections for their citizens .
Fortunately , that ’ s not how our country operates , despite Trump ’ s recklessly irresponsible efforts .
Even Attorney General Barr , who has repeated abused his authority to advance the personal political interests of President Trump , has not been willing to walk the extra mile and indict Trump ’ s political opponents – so far .
Trump would like to succeed King George III as the first dictator of the United States .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ let that happen .

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | October 22, 2020
“Trump would like to succeed King George III as the first dictator of the United States. The American people are not about to let that happen.”
There may be no better example of President Trump’s governing tendencies as a two-bit, anti-democratic authoritarian than his obsession with jailing his political opponents and labeling them as criminals.
His actions demonstrate that his role model for the presidency is not any former American President, but rather his apparent idol, the president and dictator of Russia, Vladimir Putin.
This started with the 2016 presidential campaign, when Trump provided “100 percent approval” of his supporters’ chants of “lock her up” about his opponent Hillary Clinton.
Trump’s un-American tactics reached a crescendo in 2019 when he attempted to coerce and blackmail the Ukraine president into opening a criminal investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
That failed effort led to Trump’s impeachment by the House of Representatives last year. But that hasn’t stopped him from trying to have his political opponents thrown in jail.
In 2020, a crazed Trump has continued to label his political opponents as criminals and attempted to get them indicted.
Earlier this month, Trump called former President Barack Obama and Vice President Biden criminals who should be indicted, absurdly claiming that they had committed “the greatest political crime in the history of the country.” Of course, he never provides a shred of evidence to support his unfounded claims of criminality – because there is no evidence.
Lately, Trump has been attacking Attorney General William Barr, his most loyal supplicant, for failing to take action that would show Biden is being investigated for criminal activity. Earlier, this week Trump publicly pressured Barr to appoint a special prosecutor or similar investigator, saying, “He’s got to act. And he’s got to act fast. This is major corruption, and this has to be known about before the election.”
This is the kind of stuff that occurs in countries run by dictators, autocrats, tyrants, and despots. This occurs in countries that do not have the rule of law, do not have a system of justice that protects the innocent, and do not provide constitutional protections for their citizens.
Fortunately, that’s not how our country operates, despite Trump’s recklessly irresponsible efforts. Even Attorney General Barr, who has repeated abused his authority to advance the personal political interests of President Trump, has not been willing to walk the extra mile and indict Trump’s political opponents – so far.
Trump would like to succeed King George III as the first dictator of the United States. The American people are not about to let that happen.
###


Five Days

Staggering amounts of campaign money are being raised and spent in the 2020 presidential and congressional elections .
Total spending in this election cycle is estimated to reach a record-shattering $ 14 billion , more than twice the amount spent in the 2016 election cycle , according to the Center for Responsive Politics .
Small donors have provided a total or $ 2.7 billion or 22 percent of the contributions raised for the 2020 elections – a record amount and a record percentage .
This is a 50-percent increase over the percentage of small donations in the 2016 cycle , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independent spending by super PACs , political parties , nonprofit dark money groups , and others totaled $ 2.6 billion , the Center reported .
And , unlike small donations , this money largely consists of huge influence-seeking contributions that provide corrupting influence over federal officeholders and government policy decisions .
That ’ s why it ’ s so important to enact the small donor public matching funds system in H.R .
1 , sponsored by Rep. John Sarbanes and passed by the House in 2019 with the support of every Democrat .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We ’ re going to have H.R .
1 right off the bat ” in 2021 .
Every Senate Democrat also is on record in support of the Senate companion bill to H.R .
1 .
We can dramatically limit the impact of big money on officeholders and government policies by flooding the system with small contributions and giving candidates the non-corrupting funds they need to be free from being dependent on and obligated to influence-seeking funders .
The new small donor financing system would empower tens of millions of small donors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of up to $ 200 per donor with public funds at a 6-to-1 ratio .
When combined with the rapidly increasing ability for candidates to raise small contributions online , as shown in the 2020 elections , the small donor system would provide candidates with the resources they need to run competitive races without being dependent on big money funders .
If current polling holds up , and Democrats win the White House and Congress , we will be on the cusp of repairing the corrupt campaign finance system and enacting the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including comprehensive reforms to address voter suppression , intimidation , and discrimination .

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | October 29, 2020
Staggering amounts of campaign money are being raised and spent in the 2020 presidential and congressional elections.
Total spending in this election cycle is estimated to reach a record-shattering $14 billion, more than twice the amount spent in the 2016 election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Small donors have provided a total or $2.7 billion or 22 percent of the contributions raised for the 2020 elections – a record amount and a record percentage. This is a 50-percent increase over the percentage of small donations in the 2016 cycle, according to the Center.
However, independent spending by super PACs, political parties, nonprofit dark money groups, and others totaled $2.6 billion, the Center reported. And, unlike small donations, this money largely consists of huge influence-seeking contributions that provide corrupting influence over federal officeholders and government policy decisions.
That’s why it’s so important to enact the small donor public matching funds system in H.R. 1, sponsored by Rep. John Sarbanes and passed by the House in 2019 with the support of every Democrat. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated today, “We’re going to have H.R. 1 right off the bat” in 2021. Every Senate Democrat also is on record in support of the Senate companion bill to H.R. 1.
We can dramatically limit the impact of big money on officeholders and government policies by flooding the system with small contributions and giving candidates the non-corrupting funds they need to be free from being dependent on and obligated to influence-seeking funders.
The new small donor financing system would empower tens of millions of small donors by matching small contributions to federal candidates of up to $200 per donor with public funds at a 6-to-1 ratio.
When combined with the rapidly increasing ability for candidates to raise small contributions online, as shown in the 2020 elections, the small donor system would provide candidates with the resources they need to run competitive races without being dependent on big money funders.
If current polling holds up, and Democrats win the White House and Congress, we will be on the cusp of repairing the corrupt campaign finance system and enacting the other historic reforms in H.R. 1, including comprehensive reforms to address voter suppression, intimidation, and discrimination.
###


Two Days Later

“ Right now , the overriding issue for our democracy is to end the presidency of the most dangerous and destructive President in our history .
The indications are that Vice President Biden is going to accomplish that task on January 20 , 2021.
” As I write this , former Vice President Joe Biden appears headed toward victory .
He can win by prevailing in Pennsylvania , or by winning Nevada and Arizona , or by winning Georgia and either Nevada or Arizona .
Meanwhile , President Trump is heading to the courts to claim voter fraud as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even before any votes were cast .
Trump has no real evidence to back him up , and it has been clear for some time that Trump was going to try anything and everything he could to steal the election .
If Biden reaches or exceeds 270 electoral votes soon , the courts would then have to take the presidency away from him , which would be exceedingly difficult if not impossible to do under any circumstances .
The Biden campaign has put together a superstar team of lawyers to represent them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The team is headed by three former Solicitors General of the United States , as described by The Hill : “ The Biden team , while denied the decisive victory they expected , has for months assembled a team of top-tier lawyers .
The most important are the constitutional legal team headed by three former U.S. solicitors general , Seth Waxman , Walter Dellinger , and Donald Verrilli — the ‘ SG 3s.
’ They have hundreds of lawyers working with them and are prepared for challenges in any contested state.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control of the Senate .
It currently sits at 50 Republicans and 48 Democrats , with one runoff for the Senate seat in Georgia , and a runoff for the second Senate seat in Georgia still possible .
If the Republicans reach 51 Senators and Biden becomes President , it is likely that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , a career-long obstructionist , will make it hard for Biden to govern the country .
But that is a battle for later .
Right now , the overriding issue for our democracy is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and destructive President in our history .
The indications are that Vice President Biden is going to accomplish that task on January 20 , 2021 .

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | November 5, 2020
“Right now, the overriding issue for our democracy is to end the presidency of the most dangerous and destructive President in our history. The indications are that Vice President Biden is going to accomplish that task on January 20, 2021.”
As I write this, former Vice President Joe Biden appears headed toward victory. He can win by prevailing in Pennsylvania, or by winning Nevada and Arizona, or by winning Georgia and either Nevada or Arizona.
Meanwhile, President Trump is heading to the courts to claim voter fraud as he promised during the campaign he would do, even before any votes were cast. Trump has no real evidence to back him up, and it has been clear for some time that Trump was going to try anything and everything he could to steal the election.
If Biden reaches or exceeds 270 electoral votes soon, the courts would then have to take the presidency away from him, which would be exceedingly difficult if not impossible to do under any circumstances.
The Biden campaign has put together a superstar team of lawyers to represent them in the post-election court battles already underway. The team is headed by three former Solicitors General of the United States, as described by The Hill:
“The Biden team, while denied the decisive victory they expected, has for months assembled a team of top-tier lawyers. The most important are the constitutional legal team headed by three former U.S. solicitors general, Seth Waxman, Walter Dellinger, and Donald Verrilli — the ‘SG 3s.’ They have hundreds of lawyers working with them and are prepared for challenges in any contested state.”
Meanwhile, Senate Republicans have apparently retained control of the Senate. It currently sits at 50 Republicans and 48 Democrats, with one runoff for the Senate seat in Georgia, and a runoff for the second Senate seat in Georgia still possible.
If the Republicans reach 51 Senators and Biden becomes President, it is likely that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a career-long obstructionist, will make it hard for Biden to govern the country.
But that is a battle for later.
Right now, the overriding issue for our democracy is to end the presidency of the most dangerous and destructive President in our history. The indications are that Vice President Biden is going to accomplish that task on January 20, 2021.
###


democracy21--2020-11-13--H.R. 1: The Fight Goes On

H.R. 1: The Fight Goes On

“ The battle to enact H.R .
1 will continue full speed ahead – for as long as it takes – to repair our democracy.
” History makes clear that fundamental change does not come easily or happen quickly .
That is why at a press conference on January 8 , 2019 supporting H.R .
1 , historic democracy reform legislation , I said : “ We do not enter this battle with rose-colored glasses .
We know the battle will be difficult and will take time .
We envision a three- to five-year battle.
” We are now about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five-year battle .
We have made great progress in the past two years .
In March 2019 , H.R .
1 passed the House with the support of every Democrat .
Later that month , H.R .
1 ’ s Senate companion bill was supported by every Democratic Senator and the two Independent Senators .
The 2020 elections produced a new President and a Democratic-controlled House led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi .
Both are committed , along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer , to enacting H.R .
1 .
Control of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate runoff races in Georgia in January .
Earlier this year , President-elect Biden said H.R .
1 would be a top priority for him if elected .
Speaker Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Schumer have also said it is a top priority for them .
Biden is a longtime national leader on public financing of federal elections , which is essential to combat the corrupting influence of big money in American politics .
In 2016 , Biden explained his strong support for public financing , stating , “ If you want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process in America and the way we handle issues , have public financing .
I guarantee you it would change overnight.
” Last week , Speaker Pelosi announced that H.R .
1 would again be the first order of business for the House in 2021 , saying : “ Our Democratic House will proudly pass our election reform , anticorruption and voting rights legislation by passing H.R .
1 on the first day of the new Congress.
” The enormous campaign finance and voting rights problems revealed in the 2020 elections have only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fix our broken political system and corrupt campaign finance system .
The battle to enact H.R .
1 will continue full speed ahead – for as long as it takes – to repair our democracy .

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | November 12, 2020
“The battle to enact H.R. 1 will continue full speed ahead – for as long as it takes – to repair our democracy.”
History makes clear that fundamental change does not come easily or happen quickly. That is why at a press conference on January 8, 2019 supporting H.R. 1, historic democracy reform legislation, I said:
“We do not enter this battle with rose-colored glasses. We know the battle will be difficult and will take time. We envision a three- to five-year battle.”
We are now about to enter Year Three of this potential five-year battle. We have made great progress in the past two years. In March 2019, H.R. 1 passed the House with the support of every Democrat. Later that month, H.R. 1’s Senate companion bill was supported by every Democratic Senator and the two Independent Senators.
The 2020 elections produced a new President and a Democratic-controlled House led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Both are committed, along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, to enacting H.R. 1. Control of the Senate will be decided by the two Senate runoff races in Georgia in January.
Earlier this year, President-elect Biden said H.R. 1 would be a top priority for him if elected. Speaker Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Schumer have also said it is a top priority for them. Biden is a longtime national leader on public financing of federal elections, which is essential to combat the corrupting influence of big money in American politics.
In 2016, Biden explained his strong support for public financing, stating, “If you want to change overnight, instantaneously, the electoral process in America and the way we handle issues, have public financing. I guarantee you it would change overnight.”
Last week, Speaker Pelosi announced that H.R. 1 would again be the first order of business for the House in 2021, saying:
“Our Democratic House will proudly pass our election reform, anticorruption and voting rights legislation by passing H.R. 1 on the first day of the new Congress.”
The enormous campaign finance and voting rights problems revealed in the 2020 elections have only affirmed just how essential it is to fix our broken political system and corrupt campaign finance system.
The battle to enact H.R. 1 will continue full speed ahead – for as long as it takes – to repair our democracy.
###