thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-27--Trump Paid $750 In Income Taxes In 2016, 2017: NY Times Report

President Donald Trump paid just $ 750 in federal income taxes the year he ran for president and in his first year in the White House , according to a report Sunday in The New York Times .
Trump , who has fiercely guarded his tax filings and is the only president in modern times not to make them public , paid no federal income taxes in 10 of the past 15 years .
The details of the tax filings complicate Trump ’ s description of himself as a shrewd and patriotic businessman , revealing instead a series of financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come into conflict with his responsibilities as president .
The president ’ s financial disclosures indicated he earned at least $ 434.9 million in 2018 , but the tax filings reported a $ 47.4 million loss .
The disclosure , which the Times said comes from tax return data it obtained extending over two decades , comes at a pivotal moment ahead of the first presidential debate Tuesday and weeks before a divisive election against Democrat Joe Biden .
Speaking at a news conference Sunday at the White House , Trump dismissed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he has paid taxes , though he gave no specifics .
He also vowed that information about his taxes “ will all be revealed , ” but he offered no timeline for the disclosure and made similar promises during the 2016 campaign on which he never followed through .
In fact , the president has fielded court challenges against those seeking access to his returns , including the U.S. House , which is suing for access to Trump ’ s tax returns as part of congressional oversight .
During his first two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 73 million from foreign operations , which in addition to his golf properties in Scotland and Ireland included $ 3 million from the Philippines , $ 2.3 million from India and $ 1 million from Turkey .
The president in 2017 paid $ 145,400 in taxes in India and $ 156,824 in the Philippines , compared to just $ 750 in U.S. income taxes .
Trump found multiple ways to reduce his tax bills .
He has taken tax deductions on personal expenses such as housing , aircraft and $ 70,000 in haircare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owned and managed by Trump appear to have offset income from his stake in the television show “ The Apprentice ” and other entities with multiple owners .
During the first two years of his presidency , Trump relied on business tax credits to reduce his tax obligations .
The Times said $ 9.7 million worth of business investment credits that were submitted after Trump requested an extension to file his taxes allowed him to reduce his income and pay just $ 750 each in 2016 and 2017 .
Trump , starting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax refund that totaled $ 72.9 million , which the Times said was at the core of an ongoing audit by the IRS .
The president has declined to release his taxes because of the audit .
A lawyer for the Trump Organization , Alan Garten , and a spokesperson for the Trump Organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press on the report .
He said in a statement to the news organization that the president “ has paid tens of millions of dollars in personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paying millions in personal taxes since announcing his candidacy in 2015.
” During his first general election debate against Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 , Clinton said that perhaps Trump wasn ’ t releasing his tax returns because he had paid nothing in federal taxes .

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President Donald Trump paid just $750 in federal income taxes the year he ran for president and in his first year in the White House, according to a report Sunday in The New York Times.
Trump, who has fiercely guarded his tax filings and is the only president in modern times not to make them public, paid no federal income taxes in 10 of the past 15 years.
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The details of the tax filings complicate Trump’s description of himself as a shrewd and patriotic businessman, revealing instead a series of financial losses and income from abroad that could come into conflict with his responsibilities as president. The president’s financial disclosures indicated he earned at least $434.9 million in 2018, but the tax filings reported a $47.4 million loss.
The disclosure, which the Times said comes from tax return data it obtained extending over two decades, comes at a pivotal moment ahead of the first presidential debate Tuesday and weeks before a divisive election against Democrat Joe Biden.
Speaking at a news conference Sunday at the White House, Trump dismissed the report as “fake news” and said he has paid taxes, though he gave no specifics. He also vowed that information about his taxes “will all be revealed,” but he offered no timeline for the disclosure and made similar promises during the 2016 campaign on which he never followed through.
In fact, the president has fielded court challenges against those seeking access to his returns, including the U.S. House, which is suing for access to Trump’s tax returns as part of congressional oversight.
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During his first two years as president, Trump received $73 million from foreign operations, which in addition to his golf properties in Scotland and Ireland included $3 million from the Philippines, $2.3 million from India and $1 million from Turkey. The president in 2017 paid $145,400 in taxes in India and $156,824 in the Philippines, compared to just $750 in U.S. income taxes.
Trump found multiple ways to reduce his tax bills. He has taken tax deductions on personal expenses such as housing, aircraft and $70,000 in haircare. Losses in the property businesses solely owned and managed by Trump appear to have offset income from his stake in the television show “The Apprentice” and other entities with multiple owners.
During the first two years of his presidency, Trump relied on business tax credits to reduce his tax obligations. The Times said $9.7 million worth of business investment credits that were submitted after Trump requested an extension to file his taxes allowed him to reduce his income and pay just $750 each in 2016 and 2017.
Trump, starting in 2010, claimed and received an income tax refund that totaled $72.9 million, which the Times said was at the core of an ongoing audit by the IRS. The president has declined to release his taxes because of the audit.
A lawyer for the Trump Organization, Alan Garten, and a spokesperson for the Trump Organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press on the report.
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Garten told the Times that “most, if not all, of the facts appear to be inaccurate.”
He said in a statement to the news organization that the president “has paid tens of millions of dollars in personal taxes to the federal government, including paying millions in personal taxes since announcing his candidacy in 2015.”
The New York Times said it declined to provide Garten with the tax filings in order to protect its sources.
During his first general election debate against Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, Clinton said that perhaps Trump wasn’t releasing his tax returns because he had paid nothing in federal taxes.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-27--Trump Says He Will Demand Biden Take A Drug Test Ahead Of Debate

President Donald Trump on Sunday again baselessly suggested that his presidential opponent , Joe Biden , is doing drugs and tweeted that he “ will be strongly demanding ” that the former vice president take a drug test “ prior to , or after ” their first debate against one another on Tuesday .
“ His Debate performances have been record setting UNEVEN , to put it mildly .
Only drugs could have caused this discrepancy ?
?
?
” he tweeted .
He said that he would agree to take a drug test , too .
Trump didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested for or to whom he is making his demand .
But his allegation mirrored one he made in an interview with Fox News last month .
Biden has dismissed Trump ’ s accusations and called him “ a fool , ” adding that he looks forward to their debate .
He declined to comment Sunday when asked about Trump ’ s latest accusation and test request .
Trump does not smoke or drink alcohol , and his physician has reported that he is in good health .
But his health has come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be an unhealthy lifestyle .
He also made a mysterious visit to the hospital last fall .
Trump has a well-documented penchant for fast food and is classified as obese , leads a sedentary lifestyle and even reportedly said that the human body has a “ finite ” amount of energy resources that exercise depletes .
Earlier this month , Trump ’ s physician released a statement at the president ’ s request that denied that Trump had been evaluated for a “ stroke , ” “ ministroke ” or any heart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health .
Over the summer — in response to accusations in Michael Wolff ’ s tell-all book , “ Fire and Fury : Inside the Trump White House , ” that Trump was unfit for office — Trump argued that he was mentally fit by pointing to his passing score on a cognitive test .
But the test was one used to assess dementia or other cognitive decline and not IQ or intelligence .
After Trump boasted that he aced the test and that doctors lauded his performance as “ amazing , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the test was meant to be easy .
Biden , a fellow septuagenarian , is roughly three years older than Trump , who is the oldest person to assume the presidency .
A physical released by Biden ’ s doctor last week showed that , despite his age , Biden is in good health and nowhere near slowing down .
Doctors credit his good health to Biden ’ s exercising at least five days a week and not smoking or drinking alcohol .
With just weeks to go before the Nov. 3 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s attempts to delegitimize Biden and cast him as unfit for office may actually hurt the president .
Trump has repeatedly argued that Biden is incompetent and will be unable to argue or respond in the upcoming debates .
A Trump campaign ad shows a series of edited clips that appear to show Biden stumble with his words in interviews and at campaign events .
“ Geriatric mental health is no laughing matter , ” the ad said .
But Biden delivered a live speech at the Democratic National Convention last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falsely accuse him of having pretaped the speech .
Those critics argued , despite evidence to the contrary , that Biden is incapable of reading anything from a teleprompter for more than 20 minutes without messing up .
“ In trying to message that Biden may be unfit for office , the campaign also may have lowered expectations on his debate performance , ” Brett O ’ Donnell , a Republican strategist who has coached candidates ahead of debates , told The New York Times .
O ’ Donnell said the strategy may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign .

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President Donald Trump on Sunday again baselessly suggested that his presidential opponent, Joe Biden, is doing drugs and tweeted that he “will be strongly demanding” that the former vice president take a drug test “prior to, or after” their first debate against one another on Tuesday.
“His Debate performances have been record setting UNEVEN, to put it mildly. Only drugs could have caused this discrepancy???” he tweeted. He said that he would agree to take a drug test, too.
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Trump didn’t specify which drug Biden should be tested for or to whom he is making his demand. But his allegation mirrored one he made in an interview with Fox News last month.
This appears to be Trump’s latest attempt to weaponize mental health and to sow public doubt about his opponent without any supporting evidence.
I will be strongly demanding a Drug Test of Sleepy Joe Biden prior to, or after, the Debate on Tuesday night. Naturally, I will agree to take one also. His Debate performances have been record setting UNEVEN, to put it mildly. Only drugs could have caused this discrepancy??? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2020
Biden has dismissed Trump’s accusations and called him “a fool,” adding that he looks forward to their debate. He declined to comment Sunday when asked about Trump’s latest accusation and test request.
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Trump’s comments come despite public concerns about his own physical and mental fitness and speculation about recent drug use within his own family.
Trump does not smoke or drink alcohol, and his physician has reported that he is in good health. But his health has come under public scrutiny because of what appears to be an unhealthy lifestyle. He also made a mysterious visit to the hospital last fall.
Trump has a well-documented penchant for fast food and is classified as obese, leads a sedentary lifestyle and even reportedly said that the human body has a “finite” amount of energy resources that exercise depletes.
Trump made an unannounced visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center last November that raised doubts about his mental and physical health. He insisted that the visit was for a routine physical.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters outside the White House on Saturday. OLIVIER DOULIERY via Getty Images
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Earlier this month, Trump’s physician released a statement at the president’s request that denied that Trump had been evaluated for a “stroke,” “ministroke” or any heart emergency after new speculation emerged about his health.
Over the summer — in response to accusations in Michael Wolff’s tell-all book, “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House,” that Trump was unfit for office — Trump argued that he was mentally fit by pointing to his passing score on a cognitive test. But the test was one used to assess dementia or other cognitive decline and not IQ or intelligence. After Trump boasted that he aced the test and that doctors lauded his performance as “amazing,” critics ridiculed him, pointing out that the test was meant to be easy.
Biden, a fellow septuagenarian, is roughly three years older than Trump, who is the oldest person to assume the presidency. A physical released by Biden’s doctor last week showed that, despite his age, Biden is in good health and nowhere near slowing down. Doctors credit his good health to Biden’s exercising at least five days a week and not smoking or drinking alcohol.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden gives a speech Sunday in Wilmington, Delaware. ASSOCIATED PRESS
With just weeks to go before the Nov. 3 election, questions have come up about whether Trump’s attempts to delegitimize Biden and cast him as unfit for office may actually hurt the president.
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Trump has repeatedly argued that Biden is incompetent and will be unable to argue or respond in the upcoming debates. A Trump campaign ad shows a series of edited clips that appear to show Biden stumble with his words in interviews and at campaign events. “Geriatric mental health is no laughing matter,” the ad said.
But Biden delivered a live speech at the Democratic National Convention last month without issues, leading critics to falsely accuse him of having pretaped the speech. Those critics argued, despite evidence to the contrary, that Biden is incapable of reading anything from a teleprompter for more than 20 minutes without messing up.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-27--Trump Holds $421 Million In Debt, Could Owe IRS $100 Million In Penalties, Times Says

President Donald Trump personally holds $ 421 million in debt and loans that are largely coming due in the next four years , The New York Times reported Sunday after obtaining more than two decades of his long-sought tax returns .
The Times report also revealed that the president ’ s vast business interests created potential and real conflicts of interest for years and are under more financial stress than the self-described billionaire has previously disclosed .
Documents obtained by the Times painted a more detailed picture of the president ’ s personal fortune and his network of 500 business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maneuvering he has employed to pay little or no taxes for many years .
The Times found that Trump paid just $ 750 in personal income taxes in 2016 and 2017 and none at all in 10 of the previous 15 years , citing business losses in the tens or hundreds of millions of dollars to decrease his tax burden .
The Times did not obtain Trump ’ s personal tax returns for 2018 or 2019 , but the breadth of documents — including records for his first two years in office — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ properties that have become lightning rods for criticism after he refused to divest himself of his businesses while in office .
A lawyer for the Trump Organization told the publication that “ most , if not all , of the facts appear to be inaccurate , ” and the president himself said the report was “ totally fake news ” and “ made up ” in a Sunday news conference .
But the documents , obtained from unnamed sources that had legal access to them , painted by far the most detailed picture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beginning in 2015 , Trump was able to earn an extra $ 5 million a year from his club , Mar-a-Lago , in Florida .
The tax records detailed monthly credit card receipts that showed transactions ballooned at the Trump International Hotel in Washington and at Trump ’ s Doral golf resort , both of which have become favored destinations for foreign businesses and dignitaries .
Rental income at some of his properties in the United States has also risen dramatically since he won the presidency , and Trump ’ s revenue from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 73 million in his first two years in the White House — including millions from the Philippines and Turkey .
The president has relied more heavily on those sources of income as other revenue sources dried up or were leveraged , the Times reported .
The president took out a $ 100 million mortgage on commercial space in Trump Tower in 2012 on which he still owes the full amount , which is due in 2022 .
He also sold more than $ 200 million in stocks and bonds between 2014 and 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his properties .
At the same time , auditors at the IRS are probing whether the president misused a provision in the tax code that allowed him a full refund — with interest — of the taxes he paid between 2005 and 2008 , a total of $ 72.9 million .
If the refund is disallowed , Trump could owe more than $ 100 million in restitution , interest and penalties .
It ’ s unclear how Trump ’ s lenders could force him to pay up should he win reelection ; it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a sitting U.S. president who is personally liable for more than $ 400 million in loans and debts .
That gargantuan figure could likely be leveraged again in the president ’ s favor : As a tax benefit when declared as losses for years to come , the Times reported .
“ He reported paying taxes , in turn , on a number of his overseas ventures .
In 2017 , the president ’ s $ 750 contribution to the operations of the U.S. government was dwarfed by the $ 15,598 he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the $ 145,400 in India and the $ 156,824 in the Philippines , ” the Times reported .

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President Donald Trump personally holds $421 million in debt and loans that are largely coming due in the next four years, The New York Times reported Sunday after obtaining more than two decades of his long-sought tax returns.
An ongoing audit by the Internal Revenue Service, meanwhile, could cost Trump more than $100 million.
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The Times report also revealed that the president’s vast business interests created potential and real conflicts of interest for years and are under more financial stress than the self-described billionaire has previously disclosed.
Documents obtained by the Times painted a more detailed picture of the president’s personal fortune and his network of 500 business entities, as well as the legal maneuvering he has employed to pay little or no taxes for many years.
The Times found that Trump paid just $750 in personal income taxes in 2016 and 2017 and none at all in 10 of the previous 15 years, citing business losses in the tens or hundreds of millions of dollars to decrease his tax burden.
The Times did not obtain Trump’s personal tax returns for 2018 or 2019, but the breadth of documents — including records for his first two years in office — showed a large increase in income at properties that have become lightning rods for criticism after he refused to divest himself of his businesses while in office.
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A lawyer for the Trump Organization told the publication that “most, if not all, of the facts appear to be inaccurate,” and the president himself said the report was “totally fake news” and “made up” in a Sunday news conference.
But the documents, obtained from unnamed sources that had legal access to them, painted by far the most detailed picture of the president’s finances.
Beginning in 2015, Trump was able to earn an extra $5 million a year from his club, Mar-a-Lago, in Florida. The tax records detailed monthly credit card receipts that showed transactions ballooned at the Trump International Hotel in Washington and at Trump’s Doral golf resort, both of which have become favored destinations for foreign businesses and dignitaries.
Rental income at some of his properties in the United States has also risen dramatically since he won the presidency, and Trump’s revenue from properties he owns overseas totaled some $73 million in his first two years in the White House — including millions from the Philippines and Turkey.
The president has relied more heavily on those sources of income as other revenue sources dried up or were leveraged, the Times reported. The president took out a $100 million mortgage on commercial space in Trump Tower in 2012 on which he still owes the full amount, which is due in 2022. He also sold more than $200 million in stocks and bonds between 2014 and 2016, pumping much of the proceeds into his properties.
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In 2018, Trump businesses reported just $34.7 million cash on hand, 40% less than five years earlier.
At the same time, auditors at the IRS are probing whether the president misused a provision in the tax code that allowed him a full refund — with interest — of the taxes he paid between 2005 and 2008, a total of $72.9 million. If the refund is disallowed, Trump could owe more than $100 million in restitution, interest and penalties.
It’s unclear how Trump’s lenders could force him to pay up should he win reelection; it would be unprecedented for institutions to foreclose on a sitting U.S. president who is personally liable for more than $400 million in loans and debts. That gargantuan figure could likely be leveraged again in the president’s favor: As a tax benefit when declared as losses for years to come, the Times reported.
Meanwhile, Trump paid far more in taxes to foreign governments than to his own.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-27--'Freeloader-In-Chief': Twitter Afire Over Explosive Trump Tax Return Report

The social media reaction was huge Sunday after The New York Times published a bombshell report detailing President Donald Trump ’ s tax information .
The self-described billionaire , who has resisted releasing his tax returns despite promising to do so in his 2016 presidential campaign , paid just $ 750 in federal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017 , the Times reported .
Trump is the only president in modern history not to make his tax returns public .
Trump paid no federal income taxes in 10 of the 15 years before 2016 , according to the Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return data it obtained that extends across more than two decades .
He reportedly paid dramatically more tax on overseas ventures than he did to the U.S. government .
The Times reported that Trump faces a “ gathering storm ” of financial threats in the coming years , as ongoing business losses , tens of millions in personal debt and an Internal Revenue Service audit converge .
The Times characterized Trump ’ s tax filings as revealing “ chronic losses and years of tax avoidance.
” Asked about the report at his Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news but didn ’ t offer any evidence to refute it .
He said the taxes he paid will “ all be revealed ” after audits are complete .
( The IRS has said it does not bar people from releasing their returns while under audit . )
Twitter lit up swiftly following the publication of the report .
Here ’ s a snapshot of the chatter .
I helped prepare thousands of taxes for my families accounting , tax , and insurance business .
I ’ ve never seen anything like this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ file 1099 taxes , pay more taxes than Trump .
Trump is a complete and utter criminal .
# TrumpTaxReturns # LockHimUp — Matthew Ryan Best ( @ BestforKY ) September 27 , 2020 The # TrumpTaxReturns confirm @ realDonaldTrump is a massive fraud .
He grossly mismanaged his businesses & personal finances the same way he mismanaged our government : by repeatedly lying and conning those around him .
The emperor has no clothes .
And the ones he has are coming due .
https : //t.co/9X8JuxtFmc — Ted Lieu ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an undocumented immigrant , I can now say that I 've paid more in taxes than the President .
According to NYT , @ realDonaldTrump paid only `` $ 750 in federal income taxes the year he won the presidency . ''
Meanwhile , I paid $ 1,559.85 in *quarterly taxes* for Q4 '19.
# TrumpTaxReturns pic.twitter.com/6D3m9qPhK0 — Rodrigo P. Pimentel ( @ rdrigopimentel ) September 27 , 2020 Donald Trump , a self-professed “ billionaire , ” pays only $ 750 a year in taxes ...
While millions of working class Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump Administration won ’ t approve a relief bill in a pandemic that he also lied about .
# TrumpTaxReturns — AprilDRyan ( @ AprilDRyan ) September 27 , 2020 Trump claims he ’ s still under audit , which he ’ s been claiming for the past five years .
“ It ’ s under audit , it ’ s been under audit for a long time , ” he says of his tax returns , which he has refused to release .
He says of the IRS , which he controls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ badly.
” https : //t.co/3tSWDzpmSp — Manu Raju ( @ mkraju ) September 27 , 2020 Trump , asked how much he paid in taxes , doesn ’ t say .
Claims he pays a lot , including state taxes .
Another reporter presses him to explain how much he has paid in federal taxes , he doesn ’ t answer .
“ You ’ re very rude to him , ” pointing to another reporter — Manu Raju ( @ mkraju ) September 27 , 2020 You pay more taxes than Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it up .
You do .
# TrumpTaxReturns — Grey DeLisle-Griffin ( @ GreyDeLisle ) September 27 , 2020 A tweet for everything !
Look at what Mr $ 750 had to say in 2012 , the year he chickened out of running against Obama .
# TrumpTaxReturns https : //t.co/hHCRlZct6i — Christine Pelosi ( @ sfpelosi ) September 27 , 2020 It is a disgrace that Trump became the first major-party presidential candidate since the 1970s to avoid releasing his tax returns .
This critical information should have been available for voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
# TrumpTaxReturns https : //t.co/5liLizaGGw — Larry Sabato ( @ LarrySabato ) September 27 , 2020 Excessive debt is viewed as a national security vulnerability and generally means no security clearance allowed .
Why ?
Not only because a debt ridden person is desperate , but because the entity loaning has undue influence over the person .
# TrumpTaxReturns — Juliette Kayyem ( @ juliettekayyem ) September 27 , 2020 This is what we tweet about today , tomorrow & forever .
1 .
Trump is NOT a billionaire .
He 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less in taxes than ANYONE .
3 .
Trump paid 750 dollars in taxes .
4 .
Trump is in massive DEBT .
5 .
Trump SCREWED workers .
He never helped them .
6 .
Trump LIED again — Don Winslow ( @ donwinslow ) September 27 , 2020

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The social media reaction was huge Sunday after The New York Times published a bombshell report detailing President Donald Trump’s tax information.
The self-described billionaire, who has resisted releasing his tax returns despite promising to do so in his 2016 presidential campaign, paid just $750 in federal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017, the Times reported. Trump is the only president in modern history not to make his tax returns public.
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Trump paid no federal income taxes in 10 of the 15 years before 2016, according to the Times, which based its reporting on tax return data it obtained that extends across more than two decades.
He reportedly paid dramatically more tax on overseas ventures than he did to the U.S. government.
The Times reported that Trump faces a “gathering storm” of financial threats in the coming years, as ongoing business losses, tens of millions in personal debt and an Internal Revenue Service audit converge.
The Times characterized Trump’s tax filings as revealing “chronic losses and years of tax avoidance.”
Asked about the report at his Sunday news briefing, Trump called it fake news but didn’t offer any evidence to refute it. He said the taxes he paid will “all be revealed” after audits are complete. (The IRS has said it does not bar people from releasing their returns while under audit.)
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Twitter lit up swiftly following the publication of the report. Here’s a snapshot of the chatter.
Donald Trump is the Freeloader-in-Chief#TrumpTaxReturns — Charlotte Clymer 🏳🌈 (@cmclymer) September 27, 2020
Raise your hand if you pay more taxes than supposed “billionaire” Donald Trump. 🖐 — The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) September 27, 2020
I helped prepare thousands of taxes for my families accounting, tax, and insurance business. I’ve never seen anything like this. Seasonal farm workers, who mostly file 1099 taxes, pay more taxes than Trump. Trump is a complete and utter criminal. #TrumpTaxReturns #LockHimUp — Matthew Ryan Best (@BestforKY) September 27, 2020
The #TrumpTaxReturns confirm @realDonaldTrump is a massive fraud. He grossly mismanaged his businesses & personal finances the same way he mismanaged our government: by repeatedly lying and conning those around him.
The emperor has no clothes. And the ones he has are coming due. https://t.co/9X8JuxtFmc — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) September 27, 2020
As an undocumented immigrant, I can now say that I've paid more in taxes than the President. According to NYT, @realDonaldTrump paid only "$750 in federal income taxes the year he won the presidency."
Meanwhile, I paid $1,559.85 in *quarterly taxes* for Q4 '19.#TrumpTaxReturns pic.twitter.com/6D3m9qPhK0 — Rodrigo P. Pimentel (@rdrigopimentel) September 27, 2020
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Donald Trump, a self-professed “billionaire,” pays only $750 a year in taxes...
While millions of working class Americans are struggling because Mitch McConnell & the Trump Administration won’t approve a relief bill in a pandemic that he also lied about. #TrumpTaxReturns — AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) September 27, 2020
Trump claims he’s still under audit, which he’s been claiming for the past five years. “It’s under audit, it’s been under audit for a long time,” he says of his tax returns, which he has refused to release. He says of the IRS, which he controls: “They treat me very very badly.” https://t.co/3tSWDzpmSp — Manu Raju (@mkraju) September 27, 2020
Trump, asked how much he paid in taxes, doesn’t say. Claims he pays a lot, including state taxes. Another reporter presses him to explain how much he has paid in federal taxes, he doesn’t answer. “You’re very rude to him,” pointing to another reporter — Manu Raju (@mkraju) September 27, 2020
You pay more taxes than Donald Trump does. No need to look it up. You do. #TrumpTaxReturns — Grey DeLisle-Griffin (@GreyDeLisle) September 27, 2020
A tweet for everything! Look at what Mr $750 had to say in 2012, the year he chickened out of running against Obama. #TrumpTaxReturns https://t.co/hHCRlZct6i — Christine Pelosi (@sfpelosi) September 27, 2020
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My son paid more in taxes for his summer internship than mister so-called billionaire stable genius paid in 2017. #TrumpTaxReturns — Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) September 27, 2020
It is a disgrace that Trump became the first major-party presidential candidate since the 1970s to avoid releasing his tax returns. This critical information should have been available for voters to consider in 2016. Never again! #TrumpTaxReturns https://t.co/5liLizaGGw — Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) September 27, 2020
Excessive debt is viewed as a national security vulnerability and generally means no security clearance allowed. Why? Not only because a debt ridden person is desperate, but because the entity loaning has undue influence over the person. #TrumpTaxReturns — Juliette Kayyem (@juliettekayyem) September 27, 2020
I paid this much in taxes when I worked at Blockbuster. #TrumpTaxReturns https://t.co/TGrIqrMQVk — Allie Goertz (@AllieGoertz) September 27, 2020
This is what we tweet about today, tomorrow & forever.
1. Trump is NOT a billionaire. He's a FRAUD.
2. Trump paid less in taxes than ANYONE.
3. Trump paid 750 dollars in taxes.
4. Trump is in massive DEBT.
5. Trump SCREWED workers. He never helped them.
6. Trump LIED again — Don Winslow (@donwinslow) September 27, 2020
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-27--Top Democrat: We Can 'Slow' Barrett's Confirmation Process But 'Can't Stop' It

Sen. Dick Durbin ( D-Ill. ) , a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee , said Sunday that Democrats will be able to “ slow ” Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett ’ s confirmation process but “ can ’ t stop ” it .
During an appearance on ABC ’ s “ This Week , ” Durbin confirmed an ABC News report that Democrats are without a “ silver bullet ” for stopping Barrett ’ s confirmation before the Nov. 3 election .
Durbin said the timing and even the outcome of the confirmation process could change if at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holding it ahead of Election Day .
So far , Sens .
Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine are the only Republicans who have done so .
Democratic strategists ― including Adam Jentleson , who served as deputy chief of staff for former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid ( D-Nev. ) ― have outlined ways they believe Democrats could derail Barrett ’ s confirmation .
“ We can slow it down perhaps a matter of hours ― maybe days at the most ― but we can ’ t stop the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added that Democrats should address Barrett ’ s nomination “ respectfully ” but also understand the context : Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) claimed to have no time to attend to negotiations on coronavirus relief legislation , but was willing to drop everything to push Barrett ’ s confirmation through the Senate ahead of Election Day .
“ Now we ’ re going hellbent on getting this done before the election , ” Durbin said of McConnell ’ s efforts .
“ And the second thing , of course , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years ago saying we should wait for the next president to fill the vacancy.
” Democrats have accused Republicans of being hypocrites for flip-flopping on the issue of confirming a Supreme Court justice during a presidential election year .
In 2016 , McConnell blocked Merrick Garland , then-President Barack Obama ’ s pick to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia .
McConnell had said Garland ’ s confirmation would be too close to the election and that whoever won the presidency should pick the nominee .
But McConnell and many of Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s death earlier this month .
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C. ) , who vehemently opposed confirming Garland because of the process ’ s proximity to the 2016 election , has said he supports Trump ’ s push to swiftly confirm Barrett .
Graham said Saturday that his committee will begin Barrett ’ s confirmation hearings on Monday , Oct. 12 with opening statements .
Tuesday and Wednesday of that week will be reserved for committee members to ask Barrett questions before the committee begins the markup process that @ @

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Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Sunday that Democrats will be able to “slow” Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation process but “can’t stop” it.
During an appearance on ABC’s “This Week,” Durbin confirmed an ABC News report that Democrats are without a “silver bullet” for stopping Barrett’s confirmation before the Nov. 3 election.
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“That’s true,” Durbin told host George Stephanopoulos.
President Donald Trump formally nominated Barrett on Saturday to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, moving one step closer to establishing a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court.
NEW: Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin tells @GStephanopoulos that Senate Democrats can “slow” the process of confirming Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett “perhaps a matter of hours, maybe days at the most, but we can’t stop the outcome.” https://t.co/zTNMzk2uyg pic.twitter.com/mA8TYkY9Df — This Week (@ThisWeekABC) September 27, 2020
Durbin said the timing and even the outcome of the confirmation process could change if at least four GOP senators speak out against holding it ahead of Election Day. So far, Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine are the only Republicans who have done so.
Democratic strategists ― including Adam Jentleson, who served as deputy chief of staff for former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) ― have outlined ways they believe Democrats could derail Barrett’s confirmation.
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But Durbin said Sunday that such plans could only temporarily stall the process.
“We can slow it down perhaps a matter of hours ― maybe days at the most ― but we can’t stop the outcome,” Durbin said.
He added that Democrats should address Barrett’s nomination “respectfully” but also understand the context: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) claimed to have no time to attend to negotiations on coronavirus relief legislation, but was willing to drop everything to push Barrett’s confirmation through the Senate ahead of Election Day.
“Now we’re going hellbent on getting this done before the election,” Durbin said of McConnell’s efforts. “And the second thing, of course, he reversed the position he took four years ago saying we should wait for the next president to fill the vacancy.”
Democrats have accused Republicans of being hypocrites for flip-flopping on the issue of confirming a Supreme Court justice during a presidential election year. In 2016, McConnell blocked Merrick Garland, then-President Barack Obama’s pick to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
McConnell had said Garland’s confirmation would be too close to the election and that whoever won the presidency should pick the nominee. But McConnell and many of Trump’s Republican allies changed course following Ginsburg’s death earlier this month.
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Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who vehemently opposed confirming Garland because of the process’s proximity to the 2016 election, has said he supports Trump’s push to swiftly confirm Barrett.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-27--Trump Blasts Bombshell Report On His $750 U.S. Tax Bills As 'Fake News'

President Donald Trump slammed The New York Times ’ shocking report Sunday that he paid just $ 750 in federal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017 as “ fake news.
” “ It ’ s fake news , totally fake news , made up , ” he said at a White House news conference when asked about the detailed investigative report on his tax records .
The self-proclaimed billionaire reportedly paid little or nothing in taxes , citing massive business losses , but Trump nevertheless complained that the Internal Revenue Service did “ not treat me well .
… @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that “ basically ” the Times story was “ saying I paid nothing , ” which he denied .
“ First of all , I paid a lot , and I paid a lot of state income taxes , too .
...
It ’ ll all be revealed .
It ’ s going to come out — but after the auditors.
” The Times reported that it obtained several years of Trump ’ s tax information before 2018 .
In 10 of 15 years before his election in 2016 , Trump didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ income taxes , according to the newspaper .
It characterized his financial history as years of “ chronic ” business losses and “ tax avoidance.
” Before Trump ’ s news conference began , he appeared to be caught on a hot mike saying , “ Ah , shit.
” The Times didn ’ t immediately directly comment on Trump ’ s “ fake news ” accusation .
But Executive Editor Dean Baquet posted on Twitter that the newspaper reported Trump ’ s tax information “ because we believe citizens should understand as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During his campaign , Trump repeatedly promised to release his tax returns once elected president , but since then has refused to do so , arguing falsely that an ongoing IRS audit prohibits their release — a point made in the Times ’ story .
Trump also fought in court to keep his returns out of the hands of prosecutors .
Cyrus Vance Jr. , New York County ’ s district attorney , is seeking the president ’ s tax returns as part of an investigation into fraud involving Trump and his company @ @ @ @ @

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President Donald Trump slammed The New York Times’ shocking report Sunday that he paid just $750 in federal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017 as “fake news.”
“It’s fake news, totally fake news, made up,” he said at a White House news conference when asked about the detailed investigative report on his tax records.
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The self-proclaimed billionaire reportedly paid little or nothing in taxes, citing massive business losses, but Trump nevertheless complained that the Internal Revenue Service did “not treat me well. … They treat me very badly.”
Trump said that “basically” the Times story was “saying I paid nothing,” which he denied. “First of all, I paid a lot, and I paid a lot of state income taxes, too. ... It’ll all be revealed. It’s going to come out — but after the auditors.”
Listen to this pathetically weak pushback on the New York Times report about his tax returns. Trump is a con man. pic.twitter.com/be15BS005Z — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 27, 2020
He again slammed the report on Twitter Monday, arguing that it is based on “illegally obtained information” and “bad intent.”
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“I paid many millions of dollars in taxes but was entitled, like everyone else, to depreciation & tax credits,” he tweeted.
The Times reported that it obtained several years of Trump’s tax information before 2018. In 10 of 15 years before his election in 2016, Trump didn’t pay a penny in federal income taxes, according to the newspaper. It characterized his financial history as years of “chronic” business losses and “tax avoidance.”
Before Trump’s news conference began, he appeared to be caught on a hot mike saying, “Ah, shit.”
Somebody on a hot mic on the Fox News broadcast says "ah, shit" as Trump's press conference begins pic.twitter.com/aqXcU3al11 — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 27, 2020
The Times didn’t immediately directly comment on Trump’s “fake news” accusation. But Executive Editor Dean Baquet posted on Twitter that the newspaper reported Trump’s tax information “because we believe citizens should understand as much as possible about their leaders.”
New York Times executive editor Dean Baquet on today's investigation into President Trump's taxes: https://t.co/N5qhp6SEBQ pic.twitter.com/nag3RLSNvr — NYTimes Communications (@NYTimesPR) September 27, 2020
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During his campaign, Trump repeatedly promised to release his tax returns once elected president, but since then has refused to do so, arguing falsely that an ongoing IRS audit prohibits their release — a point made in the Times’ story.
Trump also fought in court to keep his returns out of the hands of prosecutors.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-27--Joe Biden Warns Americans' Health Care On The Line With Barrett Confirmation

During a press conference in Wilmington , Delaware , Biden warned Americans that their health care will be in jeopardy if Barrett is confirmed and the court gains a 6-3 conservative majority .
“ It ’ s no mystery what is happening here : President Trump is trying to throw out the Affordable Care Act , ” Biden said .
“ He ’ s been trying to do it for the last four years .
The Republican Party has been trying to eliminate it for a decade.
” He continued : “ Twice already the Supreme Court has upheld that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... Now , all of a sudden , this administration believes they ’ ve found a loophole in the tragedy of Justice Ginsburg ’ s death.
” In 2016 , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) blocked confirmation hearings for Merrick Garland , then-President Barack Obama ’ s pick to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia .
McConnell had said the confirmation would be too close to the election and that whoever won the presidency should pick the nominee .
But just hours after Ginsburg died , McConnell reversed course and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vote on the Senate floor .
Many of Trump ’ s Republican allies have fallen in line , eager to confirm Trump ’ s anti-abortion nominee .
Scalia died 10 months before the 2016 election .
Barrett ’ s confirmation hearings are set to begin Oct. 12 ― less than three weeks from Election Day .
What ’ s more , voters have already begun casting their ballots .
“ Never before in our nation ’ s history has a Supreme Court Justice been nominated and installed while a presidential election is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It defies every precedent , every expectation of a nation where the people ... are sovereign and the rule of law reigns.
” In June , the Trump administration filed a brief asking the Supreme Court to overturn the Affordable Care Act , stating the entire federal statute “ must fall.
” The legal request was made as the coronavirus crisis continued to plague the country , with more than 100,000 deaths in the U.S. at the time .
More than 23 million people would lose their health care coverage should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to an analysis published in June by the liberal-leaning think tank Center for American Progress .
“ If [ Trump ] has his way , more than 100 million people with preexisting conditions like asthma , diabetes , and cancer could once again be denied coverage , ” Biden said Sunday .
“ Complications from COVID-19 , like lung scarring and heart damage , could become the next flood of preexisting conditions used as an excuse to deny coverage to millions.
” He called on Republican senators to stand up against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s confirmation before the election results are in .
He demanded Trump ’ s nomination be withdrawn should the Democratic nominee win .

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Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Sunday lashed out against Republican efforts to push Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation through the Senate ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
During a press conference in Wilmington, Delaware, Biden warned Americans that their health care will be in jeopardy if Barrett is confirmed and the court gains a 6-3 conservative majority.
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“It’s no mystery what is happening here: President Trump is trying to throw out the Affordable Care Act,” Biden said. “He’s been trying to do it for the last four years. The Republican Party has been trying to eliminate it for a decade.”
He continued: “Twice already the Supreme Court has upheld that law, the Affordable Care Act. ... Now, all of a sudden, this administration believes they’ve found a loophole in the tragedy of Justice Ginsburg’s death.”
President Donald Trump formally nominated Barrett on Saturday to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died earlier this month at age 87 from complications of cancer.
Democrats, including Biden, have condemned Republicans for their plans to push Barrett’s confirmation process through the Senate ahead of Election Day.
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In 2016, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) blocked confirmation hearings for Merrick Garland, then-President Barack Obama’s pick to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia. McConnell had said the confirmation would be too close to the election and that whoever won the presidency should pick the nominee.
But just hours after Ginsburg died, McConnell reversed course and said Trump’s nominee would receive a vote on the Senate floor. Many of Trump’s Republican allies have fallen in line, eager to confirm Trump’s anti-abortion nominee.
Scalia died 10 months before the 2016 election. Barrett’s confirmation hearings are set to begin Oct. 12 ― less than three weeks from Election Day. What’s more, voters have already begun casting their ballots.
“Never before in our nation’s history has a Supreme Court Justice been nominated and installed while a presidential election is already underway,” Biden said Sunday. “It defies every precedent, every expectation of a nation where the people ... are sovereign and the rule of law reigns.”
In June, the Trump administration filed a brief asking the Supreme Court to overturn the Affordable Care Act, stating the entire federal statute “must fall.” The legal request was made as the coronavirus crisis continued to plague the country, with more than 100,000 deaths in the U.S. at the time.
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More than 23 million people would lose their health care coverage should the Supreme Court rule against the ACA, according to an analysis published in June by the liberal-leaning think tank Center for American Progress.
“If [Trump] has his way, more than 100 million people with preexisting conditions like asthma, diabetes, and cancer could once again be denied coverage,” Biden said Sunday. “Complications from COVID-19, like lung scarring and heart damage, could become the next flood of preexisting conditions used as an excuse to deny coverage to millions.”
He called on Republican senators to stand up against McConnell and Trump, and oppose Barrett’s confirmation before the election results are in. He demanded Trump’s nomination be withdrawn should the Democratic nominee win.
“Uphold your constitutional duty,” Biden urged Republicans. “Summon your conscience. Stand up for the people. Stand up for our cherished system of checks and balances. Americans are watching.”
Watch Biden’s full remarks below:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-27--Amy Coney Barrett Confirmation Hearings To Begin Oct. 12, Sen. Lindsey Graham Says

He said opening statements from the committee and Barrett will take place on Oct. 12 , a Monday .
Tuesday and Wednesday of that week will allow committee members to question Barrett before the committee begins the markup process on Thursday .
“ That ’ d be up to [ Senate Majority Leader ] Mitch McConnell what to do after that , ” Graham told Pirro when asked when the full Senate would potentially vote on whether to confirm Barrett .
During an interview Sunday on Fox News , Graham said he expects to report out the committee ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less than two weeks before Election Day .
President Donald Trump nominated Barrett on Saturday to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
If confirmed , she would be the youngest justice on the bench and would give the court a 6-3 conservative majority .
Barrett has a judicial record of being against abortion access , startling women ’ s rights activists who fear her confirmation could lead to the overturning of Roe v. Wade , the landmark 1973 decision establishing a woman ’ s right to an abortion under the Constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hypocrites in their efforts to push through Barrett ’ s confirmation before the Nov. 3 election .
In 2016 , McConnell blocked Merrick Garland , then-President Barack Obama ’ s pick to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia , from ever having a confirmation hearing .
McConnell said at the time that Garland ’ s confirmation would have been too close to the 2016 presidential election and that whoever won that election should pick the nominee .
But McConnell and many of Trump ’ s Republican allies , including Graham , have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seat .
“ I want you to use my words against me , ” Graham said in 2016 .
“ If there ’ s a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term , you can say Lindsey Graham said , ‘ Let ’ s let the next president , whoever it might be , make that nomination.
’ And you could use my words against me and you ’ d be absolutely right.
” Graham has attributed his flip-flopping on the issue to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during his explosive confirmation hearings in 2018 , which centered around Christine Blasey Ford ’ s accusation that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were in high school .
“ The nominee will be challenged and that ’ s appropriate to challenge the nominee , ” Graham said Saturday .
“ But if [ Democrats ] treat Judge Barrett like they did Justice Kavanaugh , it ’ s gon na blow up in their face big time.
” “ Why is it that conservatives got treated this badly ?
” he continued .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to demean this outstanding nominee , I think the American people will push back and push back hard .
Kavanaugh really did help Republicans pick up Senate seats because [ Democrats ] went too far.
” A majority of voters ― about 56 % ― said whoever wins the election in November should nominate Ginsburg ’ s replacement , according to a poll released Sunday by The New York Times and Siena College .
That same poll showed Biden with an 8-point lead over Trump nationally .
At least two Senate Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s confirmation hearings , though Democratic officials told The Washington Post there was little appetite among party members for doing so .

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Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Saturday that confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett are scheduled to begin Oct. 12.
“That’d be 16 days from nomination,” Graham told Fox News’ Jeanine Pirro, adding that confirmation hearings for 24 of the 42 Supreme Court justices were held within 16 days of their nominations.
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He said opening statements from the committee and Barrett will take place on Oct. 12, a Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday of that week will allow committee members to question Barrett before the committee begins the markup process on Thursday.
Graham said he hopes to “get her out of the committee” by Oct. 26.
“That’d be up to [Senate Majority Leader] Mitch McConnell what to do after that,” Graham told Pirro when asked when the full Senate would potentially vote on whether to confirm Barrett.
During an interview Sunday on Fox News, Graham said he expects to report out the committee’s recommendation on Barrett on Oct. 22, less than two weeks before Election Day.
President Donald Trump nominated Barrett on Saturday to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. If confirmed, she would be the youngest justice on the bench and would give the court a 6-3 conservative majority.
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Barrett has a judicial record of being against abortion access, startling women’s rights activists who fear her confirmation could lead to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision establishing a woman’s right to an abortion under the Constitution.
Democrats have accused Republicans of being hypocrites in their efforts to push through Barrett’s confirmation before the Nov. 3 election. In 2016, McConnell blocked Merrick Garland, then-President Barack Obama’s pick to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia, from ever having a confirmation hearing.
McConnell said at the time that Garland’s confirmation would have been too close to the 2016 presidential election and that whoever won that election should pick the nominee. But McConnell and many of Trump’s Republican allies, including Graham, have been pushing to quickly fill Ginsburg’s seat.
Scalia died 269 days before the 2016 presidential election. Ginsburg died 46 days before the 2020 presidential election.
“I want you to use my words against me,” Graham said in 2016. “If there’s a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term, you can say Lindsey Graham said, ‘Let’s let the next president, whoever it might be, make that nomination.’ And you could use my words against me and you’d be absolutely right.”
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Graham has attributed his flip-flopping on the issue to the “treatment” of Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his explosive confirmation hearings in 2018, which centered around Christine Blasey Ford’s accusation that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were in high school.
“The nominee will be challenged and that’s appropriate to challenge the nominee,” Graham said Saturday. “But if [Democrats] treat Judge Barrett like they did Justice Kavanaugh, it’s gonna blow up in their face big time.”
“Why is it that conservatives got treated this badly?” he continued. “If they continue this pattern of trying to demean this outstanding nominee, I think the American people will push back and push back hard. Kavanaugh really did help Republicans pick up Senate seats because [Democrats] went too far.”
A majority of voters ― about 56% ― said whoever wins the election in November should nominate Ginsburg’s replacement, according to a poll released Sunday by The New York Times and Siena College. That same poll showed Biden with an 8-point lead over Trump nationally.
At least two Senate Democrats have floated the possibility of boycotting Barrett’s confirmation hearings, though Democratic officials told The Washington Post there was little appetite among party members for doing so.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-27--United Nations' Failures On Coronavirus Underscore Need For Reforms

UNITED NATIONS ( AP ) — The coronavirus that has claimed nearly 1 million lives has underscored the failure of the United Nations to bring countries together to defeat it , prompting renewed calls to reform the world body so that it can meet challenges far different — and more daunting — than those it faced at its birth .
The first-ever virtual meeting of world leaders at the General Assembly , highlighted increasing tensions among major powers , the growing inequality between rich and poor countries , and the escalating difficulty of getting the U.N. ’ s 193 member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let alone unite on reforms .
Born out of the ashes of World War II with 50 members , the United Nations has since expanded dramatically .
Seventy-five years after its founding nations signed the U.N. Charter in San Francisco and vowed “ to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war , ” conflicts continue to rage around a world beset by inequality , hunger and a massive climate crisis .
“ We could criticize the U.N. for this — but who are we really talking about , when we blame ` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Simonetta Sommaruga asked .
“ We are in fact talking about ourselves , because the U.N. is its member states .
And it is often member states that stand in the way of the U.N. ’ s work.
” “ Our societies have never been so interdependent , ” he added .
“ And at the very moment when all this is happening , never have we been so out of tune , so out of alignment.
” For many leaders , the U.N. ’ s most important role is its convening power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ― but there are many frustrations about its rules , including requiring all 193 countries to agree on key documents such as the declaration commemorating the 75th anniversary , which took months of negotiations .
The most contentious debate , which began in 1979 and has gone on for 40 years with no end in sight , is over reforming the Security Council , whose five permanent members reflect the international power structure at the end of World War II : the U.S. , China , Russia , France and Britain .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among members who serve two-year terms .
One sought permanent seats without veto power for Germany , Japan , Brazil and India on a 25-member council .
A group of middle-ranking countries including Italy and Pakistan wanted a 25-member council with 10 new nonpermanent seats .
And the African Union wanted a 26-member council with six additional permanent seats , including two for Africa with veto power , and five nonpermanent seats .
St. Lucia ’ s Prime Minister Allen Chastanet noted in his prerecorded address Saturday that the 15th anniversary of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being marked , and he joined other countries “ in encouraging text-based negotiations so the reform efforts will be expedited.
” India ’ s Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked in his speech Saturday : “ For how long will India be kept out of the decision-making structures of the United Nations ?
” With 1.3 billion people , he said , India is the world ’ s largest democracy , has 18 % of the world ’ s population and is strongly committed “ to maintain the relevance of this great institution .
@

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UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The coronavirus that has claimed nearly 1 million lives has underscored the failure of the United Nations to bring countries together to defeat it, prompting renewed calls to reform the world body so that it can meet challenges far different — and more daunting — than those it faced at its birth.
As U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last week, “The pandemic is a clear test of international cooperation – a test we have essentially failed.”
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There is a “disconnect between leadership and power,” he said, warning that in the 21st century’s interconnected world, “solidarity is self-interest,” and “if we fail to grasp that fact, everyone loses.”
The first-ever virtual meeting of world leaders at the General Assembly, highlighted increasing tensions among major powers, the growing inequality between rich and poor countries, and the escalating difficulty of getting the U.N.’s 193 member nations to agree on major issues — let alone unite on reforms.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, second from right bottom, seen on a computer monitor at United Nations headquarters during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) ASSOCIATED PRESS
Born out of the ashes of World War II with 50 members, the United Nations has since expanded dramatically. Seventy-five years after its founding nations signed the U.N. Charter in San Francisco and vowed “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war,” conflicts continue to rage around a world beset by inequality, hunger and a massive climate crisis.
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“We could criticize the U.N. for this — but who are we really talking about, when we blame `the U.N.?’” Switzerland President Simonetta Sommaruga asked. “We are in fact talking about ourselves, because the U.N. is its member states. And it is often member states that stand in the way of the U.N.’s work.”
Tensions were on display at a Security Council meeting when the United States and China — two of the council’s five veto-wielding permanent members — accused each other of mishandling and politicizing the coronavirus.
Russia backed Beijing, a close ally, as it has in recent years, leaving the U.N.’s most powerful body charged with maintaining international peace and security more deeply divided and unable to address major issues, including conflicts like the one in Syria.
The U.N. has had “such a hard time agreeing on so little” that it “ran the risk of impotence,” President Emmanuel Macron of France said.
“Our societies have never been so interdependent,” he added. “And at the very moment when all this is happening, never have we been so out of tune, so out of alignment.”
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Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta noted that “at 75, the United Nations is older than most of its member states, and more importantly older than over 96% of our global population.”
“A clear majority of the global population today cannot relate to the circumstances of its founding,” he said, and posed the question: “What does it bring to the world today?”
For many leaders, the U.N.’s most important role is its convening power — bringing all nations together to talk ― but there are many frustrations about its rules, including requiring all 193 countries to agree on key documents such as the declaration commemorating the 75th anniversary, which took months of negotiations.
Lebanese President Michel Naim Aoun is seen on a video screen in an empty conference room remotely addressing the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) ASSOCIATED PRESS
The most contentious debate, which began in 1979 and has gone on for 40 years with no end in sight, is over reforming the Security Council, whose five permanent members reflect the international power structure at the end of World War II: the U.S., China, Russia, France and Britain. The council’s 10 other seats rotate among members who serve two-year terms.
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While there is widespread support for revamping the 15-member council to reflect current global realities, efforts have remained mired in national and regional rivalries.
In 2005, deep divisions forced the General Assembly to shelve three rival resolutions on expansion.
One sought permanent seats without veto power for Germany, Japan, Brazil and India on a 25-member council. A group of middle-ranking countries including Italy and Pakistan wanted a 25-member council with 10 new nonpermanent seats. And the African Union wanted a 26-member council with six additional permanent seats, including two for Africa with veto power, and five nonpermanent seats.
That year, world leaders called for the early reform of the council so it would be “more broadly representative, efficient and transparent.”
St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Allen Chastanet noted in his prerecorded address Saturday that the 15th anniversary of the summit where that was adopted was also being marked, and he joined other countries “in encouraging text-based negotiations so the reform efforts will be expedited.”
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked in his speech Saturday: “For how long will India be kept out of the decision-making structures of the United Nations?” With 1.3 billion people, he said, India is the world’s largest democracy, has 18% of the world’s population and is strongly committed “to maintain the relevance of this great institution.”
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Namibia’s President Hage Geingob said he expressed hope at last year’s in-person General Assembly meeting that the 75th anniversary would be “an opportunity” to conclude the council’s reform — but lamented it hasn’t happened.
Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez said the U.N. not only needs Security Council reform but new energy to live up to its mandate.
“We need a United Nations 4.0, with its fundamental values intact and with the clarity to incorporate the immense technological changes underway, to make them more human, more democratic and more socially inclusive,” he said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said “the Security Council is all too often deadlocked when clear decisions are called for” and reforms are need so the U.N. is in a position “to master the global challenges of the 21st century.”
“At the end of the day,” she said, “the United Nations can be only as effective as its members are united.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-27--Trump Gripes 'Fake News' Didn't Tout His 2 Nobel Peace Prizes (That Never Existed)

“ Somebody had a show where they said the amount of time devoted to Donald Trump ’ s Nobel Peace Prize — two of ’ em — [ was ] zero on the networks , zero , ” he emphasized .
“ It is so disgraceful .
They ’ re so bad.
” Earlier in his speech , Trump did refer to his Nobel Prize “ nomination.
” He said he was so disappointed as he sat with first lady Melania Trump in front of the TV that news reports failed to mention his nomination and instead focused on “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened to be the beginning of Hurricane Sally .
He then falsely claimed he was nominated for another peace prize the very next day .
FactCheck.org has taken Trump to task for “ repeatedly conflating winning a Nobel Peace Prize with being nominated for one.
” Trump has grumbled about the huge media coverage of Barack Obama ’ s nomination for a prize , when in fact Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 .
Christian Tybring-Gjedde , a far-right member of the Norwegian Parliament , told Fox News in early September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prize .
( He says he also nominated Trump in 2018 . )
Two days later , Magnus Jacobsson , a member of Sweden ’ s Parliament for the Christian Democrats , announced on Twitter that he nominated “ the U.S. government ” for the award — along with the governments of Kosovo and Serbia — “ for their joint work for peace and economic development.
” I have nominated the US Gov .
and the governments of Kosovo and Serbia for the Nobel Peace Prize for their joint work for peace and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed in the White House .
Trade and communications are important building blocks for peace .
pic.twitter.com/XuhkLbHZAV — Magnus Jacobsson ( @ magnusjacobsson ) September 11 , 2020 While the Nobel Prize Committee reports numbers of nominees , it does not identify — nor confirm — who has been nominated .
Trump was also nominated in 2017 and 2018 for his “ ideology of peace through force ” strategy — a very Trumpian kind of concept .
Those recommendations were believed to have been made by the same mysterious American who assumed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to an official of the Norwegian Nobel Committee .
He refused to reveal the identity of the American whom committee members suspect .
Being nominated is not quite the “ big thing ” Trump makes it out to be , according to FactCheck .
There are 318 candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize for 2020 — 211 individuals and 107 organizations .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also been nominated for the 2021 peace prize .
Joseph Stalin was nominated — twice .
“ Any person or organization can be nominated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Nobel Committee website states .
There are potentially hundreds of thousands of people eligible to nominate a candidate .

President Donald Trump complained at a Pennsylvania campaign rally Saturday night that the “fake news” completely skipped reporting his two Nobel Peace Prizes.
Trump has no Nobel Peace Prizes.
He was nominated this year for a 2021 prize.
On Saturday, Trump grumbled that there wasn’t a word in the “fake news” about his Nobel recognition.
“Somebody had a show where they said the amount of time devoted to Donald Trump’s Nobel Peace Prize — two of ’em — [was] zero on the networks, zero,” he emphasized. “It is so disgraceful. They’re so bad.”
Trump is talking as though he actually won two Nobel prizes instead of merely being nominated for them pic.twitter.com/q5XKsfHwbW — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 27, 2020
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Earlier in his speech, Trump did refer to his Nobel Prize “nomination.” He said he was so disappointed as he sat with first lady Melania Trump in front of the TV that news reports failed to mention his nomination and instead focused on “weather.” That weather in early September happened to be the beginning of Hurricane Sally. He then falsely claimed he was nominated for another peace prize the very next day.
FactCheck.org has taken Trump to task for “repeatedly conflating winning a Nobel Peace Prize with being nominated for one.” Trump has grumbled about the huge media coverage of Barack Obama’s nomination for a prize, when in fact Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009.
Christian Tybring-Gjedde, a far-right member of the Norwegian Parliament, told Fox News in early September that he nominated Trump for the 2021 prize. (He says he also nominated Trump in 2018.)
Two days later, Magnus Jacobsson, a member of Sweden’s Parliament for the Christian Democrats, announced on Twitter that he nominated “the U.S. government” for the award — along with the governments of Kosovo and Serbia — “for their joint work for peace and economic development.”
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I have nominated the US Gov. and the governments of Kosovo and Serbia for the Nobel Peace Prize for their joint work for peace and economic development, through the cooperation agreement signed in the White House. Trade and communications are important building blocks for peace. pic.twitter.com/XuhkLbHZAV — Magnus Jacobsson (@magnusjacobsson) September 11, 2020
While the Nobel Prize Committee reports numbers of nominees, it does not identify — nor confirm — who has been nominated.
Trump was also nominated in 2017 and 2018 for his “ideology of peace through force” strategy — a very Trumpian kind of concept. Those recommendations were believed to have been made by the same mysterious American who assumed the identity of a qualified nominator both times, according to an official of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. He refused to reveal the identity of the American whom committee members suspect.
“Any person or organization can be nominated by anyone eligible to nominate,” the Nobel Committee website states. There are potentially hundreds of thousands of people eligible to nominate a candidate.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-27--Federal Judge Postpones Trump's TikTok Ban

A more comprehensive ban remains scheduled for November , about a week after the presidential election .
The judge , Carl Nichols of the U.S District Court for the District of Columbia , did not agree to postpone the later ban .
The ruling followed an emergency hearing Sunday morning in which lawyers for TikTok argued that the administration ’ s app-store ban would infringe on First Amendment rights and do irreparable harm to the business .
Earlier this year , President Donald Trump declared that TikTok , owned by Chinese company ByteDance , was a threat to national security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. operations to American companies or be barred from the country .
TikTok is still scrambling to firm up a deal tentatively struck a week ago in which it would partner with Oracle , a huge database-software company , and Walmart in an effort to win the blessing of both the Chinese and American governments .
In the meantime , it is fighting to keep the app available in the U.S. TikTok said in a statement that it was pleased with the court ruling and continues to work to turn its deal proposal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department , which is responsible for the specific orders banning TikTok , said it will comply with the judge ’ s order but intends to vigorously defend the administration ’ s efforts against the app .
Judge Nichols did not explain his reasoning publicly , and instead filed his judicial opinion under seal .
Initially both the U.S. government ’ s brief in the case and the entire Sunday morning hearing were also due to be sealed from the public , although the court later relented .
“ If that prohibition goes into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are grave , ’ ” Hall said .
“ It would be no different than the government locking the doors to a public forum , roping off that town square ” at a time when a free exchange of ideas is necessary heading into a polarized election .
TikTok lawyers also argued that a ban on the app would affect the ability of tens of thousands of potential viewers and content creators to express themselves every month and would also hurt its ability to hire new talent .
In addition , Hall argued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from automatically receiving security updates , eroding national security .
Justice Department lawyer Daniel Schwei said that Chinese companies are not purely private and are subject to intrusive laws compelling their cooperation with intelligence agencies .
The Justice Department has also argued that economic regulations of this nature generally are not subject to First Amendment scrutiny .
“ This is the most immediate national security threat , ” argued Schwei .
“ It is a threat today .
It is a risk today and therefore it deserves to be addressed today even while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Trump set the process in motion with executive orders in August that declared TikTok and another Chinese app , WeChat , threats to national security .
The White House says the video service is a security risk because the personal information of its millions of U.S. users could be handed over to Chinese authorities .
Trump has given tentative approval to a proposed deal in which Oracle and Walmart could initially own a combined 20 % of a new U.S. entity , TikTok Global .
But Trump also said he could retract @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have “ total control ” of the company ; the president did not explain what he meant by that .
The deal remains unfinalized , and the two sides have also appeared at odds over the corporate structure of TikTok Global .
ByteDance said last week that it will still own 80 % of the U.S. entity after a financing round .
Oracle , meanwhile , put out a statement saying that Americans “ will be the majority and ByteDance will have no ownership in TikTok Global.
” Government-owned media in China have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
ByteDance said Thursday it has applied for a Chinese technology export license after Beijing tightened control over exports last month in an effort to gain leverage over Washington ’ s attempt to force an outright sale of TikTok to U.S. owners .

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NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge on Sunday postponed a Trump administration order that would have banned the popular video sharing app TikTok from U.S. smartphone app stores around midnight.
A more comprehensive ban remains scheduled for November, about a week after the presidential election. The judge, Carl Nichols of the U.S District Court for the District of Columbia, did not agree to postpone the later ban.
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The ruling followed an emergency hearing Sunday morning in which lawyers for TikTok argued that the administration’s app-store ban would infringe on First Amendment rights and do irreparable harm to the business.
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump declared that TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, was a threat to national security and that it must either sell its U.S. operations to American companies or be barred from the country.
TikTok is still scrambling to firm up a deal tentatively struck a week ago in which it would partner with Oracle, a huge database-software company, and Walmart in an effort to win the blessing of both the Chinese and American governments. In the meantime, it is fighting to keep the app available in the U.S.
TikTok said in a statement that it was pleased with the court ruling and continues to work to turn its deal proposal into an actual agreement. The Commerce Department, which is responsible for the specific orders banning TikTok, said it will comply with the judge’s order but intends to vigorously defend the administration’s efforts against the app.
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Judge Nichols did not explain his reasoning publicly, and instead filed his judicial opinion under seal. Initially both the U.S. government’s brief in the case and the entire Sunday morning hearing were also due to be sealed from the public, although the court later relented.
In arguments to Judge Nichols, TikTok lawyer John Hall said that TikTok is more than an app, since it functions as a “modern day version of a town square.”
“If that prohibition goes into effect at midnight, the consequences immediately are grave,’” Hall said. “It would be no different than the government locking the doors to a public forum, roping off that town square” at a time when a free exchange of ideas is necessary heading into a polarized election.
TikTok lawyers also argued that a ban on the app would affect the ability of tens of thousands of potential viewers and content creators to express themselves every month and would also hurt its ability to hire new talent. In addition, Hall argued that a ban would prevent existing users from automatically receiving security updates, eroding national security.
Justice Department lawyer Daniel Schwei said that Chinese companies are not purely private and are subject to intrusive laws compelling their cooperation with intelligence agencies. The Justice Department has also argued that economic regulations of this nature generally are not subject to First Amendment scrutiny.
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“This is the most immediate national security threat,” argued Schwei. “It is a threat today. It is a risk today and therefore it deserves to be addressed today even while other things are ongoing and playing out.”
Schwei also argued that TikTok lawyers failed to prove the company would suffer irreparable business harm.
The Justice Department laid out its objections to TikTok’s motion for a temporary injunction in a brief under seal, but it was unsealed in redacted form to protect confidential business information.
Trump set the process in motion with executive orders in August that declared TikTok and another Chinese app, WeChat, threats to national security. The White House says the video service is a security risk because the personal information of its millions of U.S. users could be handed over to Chinese authorities.
Trump has given tentative approval to a proposed deal in which Oracle and Walmart could initially own a combined 20% of a new U.S. entity, TikTok Global. But Trump also said he could retract his approval if Oracle doesn’t have “total control” of the company; the president did not explain what he meant by that.
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The deal remains unfinalized, and the two sides have also appeared at odds over the corporate structure of TikTok Global. ByteDance said last week that it will still own 80% of the U.S. entity after a financing round. Oracle, meanwhile, put out a statement saying that Americans “will be the majority and ByteDance will have no ownership in TikTok Global.”
Government-owned media in China have criticized the deal as bullying and extortion. ByteDance said Thursday it has applied for a Chinese technology export license after Beijing tightened control over exports last month in an effort to gain leverage over Washington’s attempt to force an outright sale of TikTok to U.S. owners.
China’s foreign ministry has said the government will “take necessary measures” to safeguard its companies but gave no indication what steps it can take to affect TikTok’s fate in the United States.
TikTok is also asking a federal court to declare Trump’s Aug. 6 executive order unlawful.
The Chinese firm said the president doesn’t have the authority to take these actions under the national-security law he cited; that the ban violates TikTok’s First Amendment speech rights and Fifth Amendment due-process rights; and that there’s no authority for the restrictions because they are not based on a national emergency.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-27--Brad Parscale Reportedly Surrenders Himself To Police After Wife's 911 Call

Brad Parscale , President Donald Trump ’ s former reelection campaign manager , turned himself in to police custody in Florida on Sunday night after his wife called 911 to say he was threatening to harm himself , local media outlets reported .
Officials with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel officers responded to the Parscale home after his wife said he had barricaded himself inside with access to multiple guns .
“ We went out and it was very short , ” Police Chief Karen Dietrich told the publication .
“ We went and got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parscale did not threaten any police officers and went willingly with authorities before he was taken to a hospital for treatment .
Local 10 , an ABC affiliate , said Parscale was placed under the Baker Act , which allows police to detain anyone who is a potential threat to themselves or others .
Tim Murtaugh , the Trump campaign ’ s communications director , told NBC News later Sunday that the campaign was “ ready to support him and his family in any way possible.
” “ Brad Parscale is a member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him , ” Murtaugh said in a statement to the publication .
Parscale was demoted in July — just four months before the election — amid the president ’ s lagging poll numbers and a disastrous rally in Oklahoma .
The event was meant to “ reboot ” Trump ’ s campaign after a spate of shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic , but despite the president ’ s claims that just under a million people had requested tickets , only about 6,000 showed up .
He was replaced by Bill Stepien , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie and had been working as Trump ’ s deputy campaign manager .
At the time of the shake-up , Trump praised Parscale , who he said had been with the president for “ a very long time.
” “ I look forward to having a big and very important second win together , ” he said in July , noting Parscale would remain a senior adviser to the campaign .
“ This one should be a lot easier as our poll numbers are rising fast , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ therapeutics will soon be on the way , and Americans want safe streets and communities !
” If you or someone you know needs help , call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline .
You can also text HOME to 741-741 for free , 24-hour support from the Crisis Text Line .
Outside of the U.S. , please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of resources .

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Brad Parscale, President Donald Trump’s former reelection campaign manager, turned himself in to police custody in Florida on Sunday night after his wife called 911 to say he was threatening to harm himself, local media outlets reported.
Officials with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel officers responded to the Parscale home after his wife said he had barricaded himself inside with access to multiple guns.
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“We went out and it was very short,” Police Chief Karen Dietrich told the publication. “We went and got him help.”
The Sun-Sentinel added that Parscale did not threaten any police officers and went willingly with authorities before he was taken to a hospital for treatment. Local 10, an ABC affiliate, said Parscale was placed under the Baker Act, which allows police to detain anyone who is a potential threat to themselves or others.
Tim Murtaugh, the Trump campaign’s communications director, told NBC News later Sunday that the campaign was “ready to support him and his family in any way possible.”
“Brad Parscale is a member of our family and we all love him,” Murtaugh said in a statement to the publication.
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Parscale was demoted in July — just four months before the election — amid the president’s lagging poll numbers and a disastrous rally in Oklahoma. The event was meant to “reboot” Trump’s campaign after a spate of shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, but despite the president’s claims that just under a million people had requested tickets, only about 6,000 showed up.
He was replaced by Bill Stepien, a longtime political operative who worked for former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and had been working as Trump’s deputy campaign manager.
At the time of the shake-up, Trump praised Parscale, who he said had been with the president for “a very long time.”
“I look forward to having a big and very important second win together,” he said in July, noting Parscale would remain a senior adviser to the campaign. “This one should be a lot easier as our poll numbers are rising fast, the economy is getting better, vaccines and therapeutics will soon be on the way, and Americans want safe streets and communities!”
If you or someone you know needs help, call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can also text HOME to 741-741 for free, 24-hour support from the Crisis Text Line. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of resources.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-27--Evidence Doesn’t Support Kentucky AG’s Claim That Breonna Taylor’s Boyfriend Shot First: Report

Jonathan Ernst / Reuters Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron delivers a live address to the largely virtual 2020 Republican National Convention from the Mellon Auditorium in Washington , Aug. 25 .
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst Since Wednesday , when Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced a grand jury would not charge local police officers for killing 26-year-old Breonna Taylor , multiple outlets have reported ballistics information that undermines Cameron ’ s claim that officers shot and killed Taylor in self-defense .
Specifically , a Kentucky State Police ballistics report , first shared by Vice News on Friday , doesn ’ t rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , one of three officers who shot into Taylor ’ s home , had been shot by “ friendly fire ” — which Cameron had claimed earlier this week .
Cameron said three plainclothes officers shot more than 30 rounds into Taylor ’ s home while serving a no-knock warrant in March because Kenneth Walker , Taylor ’ s boyfriend , first shot Mattingly in the thigh .
But the ballistics report from Kentucky police says the bullet that hit Mattingly “ was neither identified nor eliminated as having been fired ” from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were allegedly investigating a drug ring involving a suspect who did not live in Taylor ’ s home but whom they thought received packages there , they said .
After the shooting , Kentucky police admitted that the suspect had actually been arrested earlier in the day .
Walker , a legal gun owner who faces no charges from the shooting , said he fired a warning shot after the officers , who were banging on Taylor ’ s door early in the morning , failed to identify themselves .
Former officer Brett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the only officer involved in the shooting to face charges .
The three counts of “ wanton endangerment ” he faces stem from shots he fired into the homes of Taylor ’ s neighbors ― not shots aimed at Taylor or her boyfriend .
Still , on Wednesday , Cameron claimed he was certain Hankinson didn ’ t shoot Mattingly because all three officers were carrying .40 caliber handguns and the bullet that hit Mattingly came from a 9mm .
One of Walker ’ s attorneys , Steve Romines , has refuted Cameron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying Hankinson ’ s file shows he was administered a 9mm handgun .
The local Courier-Journal reports it has not received a response to its open records request for Hankinson ’ s file .
Taylor ’ s killing is among a growing list police killings involving Black victims year , and , similar to the killing of George Floyd , protesters against police violence have used Taylor ’ s name as a rallying cry to demand criminal justice reform .
All the while , Cameron , a Republican and vocal ally of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his support as President Donald Trump has endorsed violent crackdowns by police and defended officers who kill on the job .

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Since Wednesday, when Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced a grand jury would not charge local police officers for killing 26-year-old Breonna Taylor, multiple outlets have reported ballistics information that undermines Cameron’s claim that officers shot and killed Taylor in self-defense.
Specifically, a Kentucky State Police ballistics report, first shared by Vice News on Friday, doesn’t rule out the possibility that Officer John Mattingly, one of three officers who shot into Taylor’s home, had been shot by “friendly fire” — which Cameron had claimed earlier this week.
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Cameron said three plainclothes officers shot more than 30 rounds into Taylor’s home while serving a no-knock warrant in March because Kenneth Walker, Taylor’s boyfriend, first shot Mattingly in the thigh. But the ballistics report from Kentucky police says the bullet that hit Mattingly “was neither identified nor eliminated as having been fired” from Walker’s gun.
The officers were allegedly investigating a drug ring involving a suspect who did not live in Taylor’s home but whom they thought received packages there, they said. After the shooting, Kentucky police admitted that the suspect had actually been arrested earlier in the day.
Walker, a legal gun owner who faces no charges from the shooting, said he fired a warning shot after the officers, who were banging on Taylor’s door early in the morning, failed to identify themselves.
Former officer Brett Hankinson was fired in June and is the only officer involved in the shooting to face charges. The three counts of “wanton endangerment” he faces stem from shots he fired into the homes of Taylor’s neighbors ― not shots aimed at Taylor or her boyfriend.
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Still, on Wednesday, Cameron claimed he was certain Hankinson didn’t shoot Mattingly because all three officers were carrying .40 caliber handguns and the bullet that hit Mattingly came from a 9mm.
One of Walker’s attorneys, Steve Romines, has refuted Cameron’s allegation on television and online, saying Hankinson’s file shows he was administered a 9mm handgun.
The local Courier-Journal reports it has not received a response to its open records request for Hankinson’s file.
Taylor’s killing is among a growing list police killings involving Black victims year, and, similar to the killing of George Floyd, protesters against police violence have used Taylor’s name as a rallying cry to demand criminal justice reform.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-27--Dwayne Johnson Backs Biden And Harris In First-Ever Presidential Endorsement

The self-described “ registered independent with centrist ideologies ” has voted for both parties in the past , but the “ Fast and Furious ” franchise star remained silent on his political beliefs for much of his career .
Johnson sat down with the duo in a virtual conversation via his YouTube channel Sunday .
“ It ’ s DJ , ” Biden said at the start of the video with Harris , who added that she ’ s a “ huge fan ” of Johnson ’ s films and cited his “ Fast and Furious ” films and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I have been a lucky guy over the years in my life and my career to have been part of and participated in some real defining moments , and I ’ ve never publicly endorsed a presidential candidate or vice-presidential candidate in my life over my career , ” Johnson said .
The former WWE wrestler went on to praise the presidential hopeful ’ s experience and political career , commending Biden for leading with “ great compassion and heart and drive , but also soul.
” Asked by Johnson about how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respect of all the American people , ” Biden offered a direct response about restoring accountability to the White House .
“ By doing what we say we ’ re going to do .
By keeping our word .
By leveling with the American people .
By taking responsibility .
When we fail , acknowledge it .
We ’ re not going to be perfect , but take responsibility .
Say , ‘ This is what I ’ m going to do .
This is what I believe.
’ And tell the truth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration , DJ , is going to look like America .
It ’ s going to be representative of all of America.
” “ You must speak truth , but here ’ s the reality : Truth can sometimes be really difficult to hear .
And for that reason sometimes people don ’ t speak it .
But you can not have trust if you don ’ t speak truth , ” she said .
Harris added : “ That has to be part of the core of what we do as we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we ’ re facing as a country so many challenges , and people are grieving .
“ I mean , people are grieving the loss of life , the loss of jobs , the loss of certainty , the loss of normalcy .
And to heal and get through this , we ’ re gon na have to be honest about what healing will require , ” she said .
The sentiment hit home with Johnson , who revealed earlier this month that he and his family were recovering from COVID-19 after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressed interest in a political career , calling his potential candidacy for president a “ real possibility ” back in 2017 .
He has since buddied up to former Democratic candidate and unabashed “ Ballers ” fan Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts , with the two frequently showing each other love on social media .

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson made his first-ever political endorsement. zz/KGC-254/STAR MAX/IPx
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson cooked up his first-ever presidential endorsement with one for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris of California.
The self-described “registered independent with centrist ideologies” has voted for both parties in the past, but the “Fast and Furious” franchise star remained silent on his political beliefs for much of his career.
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But ahead of this “critical presidential election,” Johnson made it clear: He’s backing Biden and Harris come November.
Johnson sat down with the duo in a virtual conversation via his YouTube channel Sunday. “It’s DJ,” Biden said at the start of the video with Harris, who added that she’s a “huge fan” of Johnson’s films and cited his “Fast and Furious” films and “Jumanji” as her personal favorites.
As a political independent & centrist, I’ve voted for both parties in the past. In this critical presidential election, I’m endorsing @JoeBiden & @KamalaHarris.
Progress takes courage, humanity, empathy, strength, KINDNESS & RESPECT.
We must ALL VOTE: https://t.co/rZi1mxh8DC pic.twitter.com/auLbc8xDBv — Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) September 27, 2020
“I have been a lucky guy over the years in my life and my career to have been part of and participated in some real defining moments, and I’ve never publicly endorsed a presidential candidate or vice-presidential candidate in my life over my career,” Johnson said.
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The former WWE wrestler went on to praise the presidential hopeful’s experience and political career, commending Biden for leading with “great compassion and heart and drive, but also soul.”
Johnson then dubbed Harris a “certified badass” for her work as California’s attorney general, with a special mention of her approach during Senate hearings.
Asked by Johnson about how the two plan to “earn the respect of all the American people,” Biden offered a direct response about restoring accountability to the White House.
“By doing what we say we’re going to do. By keeping our word. By leveling with the American people. By taking responsibility. When we fail, acknowledge it. We’re not going to be perfect, but take responsibility. Say, ‘This is what I’m going to do. This is what I believe.’ And tell the truth,” he said. “Our administration, DJ, is going to look like America. It’s going to be representative of all of America.”
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Harris also drilled down on reestablishing trust with voters.
“You must speak truth, but here’s the reality: Truth can sometimes be really difficult to hear. And for that reason sometimes people don’t speak it. But you cannot have trust if you don’t speak truth,” she said.
Harris added: “That has to be part of the core of what we do as we go forward because, to your point, we’re facing as a country so many challenges, and people are grieving.
“I mean, people are grieving the loss of life, the loss of jobs, the loss of certainty, the loss of normalcy. And to heal and get through this, we’re gonna have to be honest about what healing will require,” she said.
The sentiment hit home with Johnson, who revealed earlier this month that he and his family were recovering from COVID-19 after testing positive weeks ago.
“When you’re honest with a scenario and people who you care about, ... it leads right into making progress but through a humanity,” he said.
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