thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-21--Chuck Schumer On Eliminating The Filibuster: 'Nothing's Off The Table'

The top Democrat in the Senate reiterated on Tuesday his openness to eliminating the filibuster , the upper chamber ’ s requirement that many bills can advance only with the support of 60 votes .
“ Once we get the majority we ’ ll discuss it in our caucus .
Nothing ’ s off the table , ” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) told HuffPost at a weekly press conference .
Schumer gave a similar answer last year when asked about eliminating the filibuster .
But his position on the matter is arguably even more meaningful now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasing likelihood of retaking the upper chamber .
The effort to nix the long-standing Senate tradition gained even more steam recently after former Vice President Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee in 2020 , opened the door to doing so if Republicans unfairly obstruct his agenda if he is elected president in November .
Biden , a longtime defender of the rule , said earlier this month it would “ depend on how obstreperous they become , ” referring to Senate Republicans .
He added , “ I have not supported the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think you have to just take a look at it.
” The filibuster isn ’ t enshrined in the Constitution , but starting in the 1800s it evolved as a Senate rule .
It allows 41 senators in the 100-member chamber to block bills from proceeding to a final vote .
Many on the left fear that Republicans will abuse the filibuster to block much of Biden ’ s agenda should he be elected president .
Democrats will need almost total unanimity in their caucus ― 51 votes ― to get rid of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing for our Democratic friends to remember is that you might not be in total control in the future , ” McConnell said in June .
“ Any time you start fiddling around with the rules of the Senate , I think you always need to put yourself in the other fellow ’ s shoes and just imagine what might happen when the winds shift .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
The top Democrat in the Senate reiterated on Tuesday his openness to eliminating the filibuster, the upper chamber’s requirement that many bills can advance only with the support of 60 votes.
“Once we get the majority we’ll discuss it in our caucus. Nothing’s off the table,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told HuffPost at a weekly press conference.
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Schumer gave a similar answer last year when asked about eliminating the filibuster. But his position on the matter is arguably even more meaningful now given that his party is facing an increasing likelihood of retaking the upper chamber.
The effort to nix the long-standing Senate tradition gained even more steam recently after former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee in 2020, opened the door to doing so if Republicans unfairly obstruct his agenda if he is elected president in November.
Biden, a longtime defender of the rule, said earlier this month it would “depend on how obstreperous they become,” referring to Senate Republicans.
He added, “I have not supported the elimination of the filibuster ... but I think you have to just take a look at it.”
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The filibuster isn’t enshrined in the Constitution, but starting in the 1800s it evolved as a Senate rule. It allows 41 senators in the 100-member chamber to block bills from proceeding to a final vote.
Many on the left fear that Republicans will abuse the filibuster to block much of Biden’s agenda should he be elected president. Democrats will need almost total unanimity in their caucus ― 51 votes ― to get rid of it.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), however, recently warned Democrats they would regret eliminating the filibuster unilaterally.
“I think the important thing for our Democratic friends to remember is that you might not be in total control in the future,” McConnell said in June. “Any time you start fiddling around with the rules of the Senate, I think you always need to put yourself in the other fellow’s shoes and just imagine what might happen when the winds shift.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-21--Minnesota Passes Police Reform Bill Two Months After George Floyd’s Death

Nearly two months after George Floyd died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck , lawmakers in Minnesota have passed a police accountability bill that would ban such physical restraints and increase use of force reporting .
The Minnesota Police Accountability Act , which was passed around 2 a.m. Tuesday , includes a statewide ban on chokeholds and neck restraints , aggressive “ warrior-style ” police training , and requires officers to intervene when a fellow officer uses unreasonable force .
“ Today , we ’ re beginning to make the overdue changes Minnesotans have been demanding to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to police violence , ” he said in a statement that referenced Floyd ’ s May 25 death , and the 2016 police killing of Philando Castile .
“ It wasn ’ t safe for George Floyd or for Philando Castile , and they deserved a better way to police that builds community , ” Mariani said .
The bill ’ s passage followed weeks of negotiations within the state ’ s divided legislature over key details , as other cities , states and countries passed their own ordinances banning chokeholds and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recites spoken word poetry at a makeshift memorial honoring George Floyd , at the spot where he was taken into custody , in Minneapolis , on June 1 .
One such point of contention within the bill was the “ warrior ” training — described in the bill as training that encourages aggressive conduct and “ increases a peace officer ’ s likelihood or willingness to use deadly force ” — which Republicans had initially refused to consider changing .
This training had been formally banned by the Minneapolis Police Department , only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city ’ s police union .
Minneapolis , like many other parts of the country , has faced ongoing unrest in the months following Floyd ’ s death .
In addition to sometimes violently intervening in protests , the city ’ s police department has faced internal turmoil , with reports of officers leaving the force in large numbers .
“ It ’ s almost like a nuclear bomb hit the city , and the people who didn ’ t perish are standing around , ” Rich Walker Sr. , a 16-year Minneapolis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told The New York Times of the atmosphere within his department .
“ I ’ m still surprised that we ’ ve got cops showing up to work , to be honest.
” Nearly 200 officers have applied to leave the department of roughly 850 officers due to what they ’ re describing as post-traumatic stress , a lawyer representing the officers told the Times .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Nearly two months after George Floyd died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck, lawmakers in Minnesota have passed a police accountability bill that would ban such physical restraints and increase use of force reporting.
The Minnesota Police Accountability Act, which was passed around 2 a.m. Tuesday, includes a statewide ban on chokeholds and neck restraints, aggressive “warrior-style” police training, and requires officers to intervene when a fellow officer uses unreasonable force.
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The bill also creates a community advisory council for the state’s police licensing board, and an independent use of force investigative unit. The bill now goes to Democratic Gov. Tim Waltz’s desk. He is expected to sign it.
State Rep. Carlos Mariani (D), who wrote the bill, called its passage long overdue.
“Today, we’re beginning to make the overdue changes Minnesotans have been demanding to help ensure no more lives are lost due to police violence,” he said in a statement that referenced Floyd’s May 25 death, and the 2016 police killing of Philando Castile.
“It wasn’t safe for George Floyd or for Philando Castile, and they deserved a better way to police that builds community,” Mariani said.
The bill’s passage followed weeks of negotiations within the state’s divided legislature over key details, as other cities, states and countries passed their own ordinances banning chokeholds and other aggressive police maneuvers.
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A man recites spoken word poetry at a makeshift memorial honoring George Floyd, at the spot where he was taken into custody, in Minneapolis, on June 1. Lucas Jackson / Reuters
One such point of contention within the bill was the “warrior” training — described in the bill as training that encourages aggressive conduct and “increases a peace officer’s likelihood or willingness to use deadly force” — which Republicans had initially refused to consider changing.
This training had been formally banned by the Minneapolis Police Department, only for it to be offered by the city’s police union.
Minneapolis, like many other parts of the country, has faced ongoing unrest in the months following Floyd’s death.
In addition to sometimes violently intervening in protests, the city’s police department has faced internal turmoil, with reports of officers leaving the force in large numbers.
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“It’s almost like a nuclear bomb hit the city, and the people who didn’t perish are standing around,” Rich Walker Sr., a 16-year Minneapolis police veteran and union official, recently told The New York Times of the atmosphere within his department. “I’m still surprised that we’ve got cops showing up to work, to be honest.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-21--Schools Can't Reopen Safely Without A Lot More Money. Congress Is Running Out Of Time.

Public schools can not safely reopen without a massive infusion of emergency funding from Congress , which is already dangerously late to this .
Think of all the things a single school needs : Hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes for classrooms .
No-touch thermometers .
Regular deep cleanings , which means hiring more custodial staff .
Ensuring that every school has at least one full-time nurse ( 25 % of schools have no nurse at all ) .
Someone on every school bus to screen kids ’ temperatures before boarding .
Gloves and masks for staff .
Masks for students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home .
Resuming before- and after-school child care programs with new cleaning protocols .
So how much money does Congress need to pass ?
Different groups have different estimates .
The American Federation of Teachers says public schools need an additional $ 116.5 billion for the 2020-2021 calendar year .
The Council of Chief State School Officers , which represents public officials who run state departments of elementary and secondary education , puts the number between $ 158.1 billion and $ 244.6 billion .
An analysis by the Association of School Business Officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the average school district needs $ 1,778,139 , or $ 486 per student .
For larger districts , the costs would be much higher .
Nobody on Capitol Hill agrees on how much to give schools , either .
The White House is proposing $ 70 billion for K-12 schools but only for schools that fully reopen and hold in-person classes .
House Democrats passed a bill in May that included $ 100 billion for K-12 schools .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) , not to be outdone by House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill that provides $ 105 billion for schools .
He did not clarify whether that money would come with strings or if it was solely for K-12 schools .
Well , I will tell you , I am stressed .
Because every parent I ’ m talking to is stressed .
They are worried , “ How am I going to do this ?
I am barely making it .
My child care has gone away .
It ’ s going to cost more .
I ’ m trying to do my job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids.
” That ’ s the problem .
They ’ re not doing it .
They are completely stressed out .
When I hear Republicans say , “ We ’ re just going to open our schools , ” I mean , how does that make anybody feel better ?
We are in a pandemic .
A daycare can not operate like it did a year ago .
They need to have [ personal protective equipment ] .
They need to sanitize .
They need to have the right kind of spacing available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cheap or easily available .
For all of us who tried to buy Purell , you know , it ’ s not that easy .
These are the costs and challenges they ’ re trying to deal with , and at the same time , the number of people who are paying into daycare has dropped dramatically because people are staying home or they ’ ve lost their job or their businesses shut down .
And [ daycares ] are all tuition-paid , so they don ’ t have the resources .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re there .
Everybody talking about opening up businesses again and sending everybody back to work , you can ’ t do that and leave a child at home alone .
So we ’ ve got to invest in this and in K-12 seriously .
The question isn ’ t whether or not they ’ re sitting in a seat in class .
It ’ s how we ’ re going to educate them .
We need to deal with equity issues .
If people are learning online , whether they have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those kinds of questions .
If it is in school , it has to be done differently .
You can ’ t put kids jammed into a room .
You can ’ t sit them in a cafeteria .
You can ’ t do the kinds of things you had to do before .
And that ’ s just the kids .
The educators themselves need to have PPE .
We need to sanitize the school building .
They need to have different procedures for kids coming in .
They can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they jump off the bus , they run into class .
This also costs additional funds .
This should have been done two months ago so people could plan .
I was on a school board many years ago .
You don ’ t plan your budget in August .
I introduced my bill two weeks ago and finally I ’ m getting people asking me about it and understanding that this has a huge impact .
I will tell you , parents usually aren ’ t whiners when they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t want to say , “ This is really hard for me , ” because they think , well , I won ’ t keep my job if my employer thinks I ’ m having trouble here .
So people don ’ t speak up enough about the issues they are addressing at home .
That allows them to be at work without fear of their employers saying , “ Oh , well , I can have somebody else here that can do the job.
” We need to understand we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everybody is stressing and we need to be loud about it and demand the kinds of resources we need to get this right .
We ’ ve got to scream .
It makes me angry the way that it ’ s presented : “ You will send your child to school or we ’ re going to take money away from you.
” It ’ s like bullying people .
People do not need to be bullied right now .
They need the resources and the support and the policies to open safely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of whether you want to or not .
It ’ s a question of , can you do it in a way that we can educate our kids and keep them safe , as well as everybody involved in our education system .
Well , I ’ m going to reassure parents that I ’ m going stand up and fight .
I have been on this , all the way along .
What I need is for parents to stand up and fight with me and to make their voices loud and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , D.C. , know this has to be a priority .
I encourage everybody to speak up and yell .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
WASHINGTON ― In a matter of weeks, millions of children will head back to school in the middle of a pandemic, leaving millions more parents filled with anxiety about risking their child’s health ― not to mention school staff ― to get an education.
Public schools cannot safely reopen without a massive infusion of emergency funding from Congress, which is already dangerously late to this. Think of all the things a single school needs: Hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes for classrooms. No-touch thermometers. Regular deep cleanings, which means hiring more custodial staff. Ensuring that every school has at least one full-time nurse (25% of schools have no nurse at all). Someone on every school bus to screen kids’ temperatures before boarding. Gloves and masks for staff. Masks for students who don’t bring one from home. Resuming before- and after-school child care programs with new cleaning protocols.
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That doesn’t even factor what schools need if they opt for holding classes even partially online. Every student will need to have high-speed internet, a working computer and associated materials. The American Federation of Teachers estimates the cost to provide this technology to the poorest 15% of the nation’s 51 million public school students would be roughly $3.8 billion.
So how much money does Congress need to pass? Different groups have different estimates. The American Federation of Teachers says public schools need an additional $116.5 billion for the 2020-2021 calendar year. The Council of Chief State School Officers, which represents public officials who run state departments of elementary and secondary education, puts the number between $158.1 billion and $244.6 billion. An analysis by the Association of School Business Officials International and AASA/School Superintendents Association concluded that the average school district needs $1,778,139, or $486 per student. For larger districts, the costs would be much higher.
Nobody on Capitol Hill agrees on how much to give schools, either. The White House is proposing $70 billion for K-12 schools but only for schools that fully reopen and hold in-person classes. House Democrats passed a bill in May that included $100 billion for K-12 schools. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), not to be outdone by House Democrats, on Tuesday previewed a Republican bill that provides $105 billion for schools. He did not clarify whether that money would come with strings or if it was solely for K-12 schools.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, has a plan that outdoes everyone. She introduced a $435 billion bill weeks ago aimed at preventing an education and child care crisis in the fall. At the heart of her bill is $175 billion for K-12 schools, $132 billion for higher education and $50 billion to ensure that child care facilities can stay open so parents can hold down their jobs.
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Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) has the most comprehensive plan on Capitol Hill to ensure that schools can open safely in the fall and that child care providers can stay employed. Zach Gibson via Getty Images
HuffPost recently talked to Murray, who is also the Assistant Senate Democratic Leader, about how she’s feeling about schools being ready to open in the fall, whether Congress will come through with enough funding in time and how working families are facing a completely unworkable situation without schools and child care safely up and running.
Here’s a transcript of our exchange, lightly edited for brevity.
Hi, senator. Thanks for taking this call. I know it’s a slow time right now and nothing’s happening in the world. My first question is, how are you feeling about this fall in terms of schools reopening?
Well, I will tell you, I am stressed. Because every parent I’m talking to is stressed. They are worried, “How am I going to do this? I am barely making it. My child care has gone away. It’s going to cost more. I’m trying to do my job and work at home and educate my kids.”
I don’t know how parents are making it work now, being at home working with kids around. It doesn’t seem doable.
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That’s the problem. They’re not doing it. They are completely stressed out. When I hear Republicans say, “We’re just going to open our schools,” I mean, how does that make anybody feel better? We are in a pandemic. A daycare cannot operate like it did a year ago. They need to have [personal protective equipment]. They need to sanitize. They need to have the right kind of spacing available. And that is not free or cheap or easily available. For all of us who tried to buy Purell, you know, it’s not that easy.
These are the costs and challenges they’re trying to deal with, and at the same time, the number of people who are paying into daycare has dropped dramatically because people are staying home or they’ve lost their job or their businesses shut down. And [daycares] are all tuition-paid, so they don’t have the resources. We need to make sure that they’re there. Everybody talking about opening up businesses again and sending everybody back to work, you can’t do that and leave a child at home alone.
So we’ve got to invest in this and in K-12 seriously. The question isn’t whether or not they’re sitting in a seat in class. It’s how we’re going to educate them. We need to deal with equity issues. If people are learning online, whether they have the ability to be online ― all of those kinds of questions. If it is in school, it has to be done differently. You can’t put kids jammed into a room. You can’t sit them in a cafeteria. You can’t do the kinds of things you had to do before.
And that’s just the kids. The educators themselves need to have PPE. We need to sanitize the school building. They need to have different procedures for kids coming in. They can’t just jam them all on a bus, they jump off the bus, they run into class. This also costs additional funds. This should have been done two months ago so people could plan. I was on a school board many years ago. You don’t plan your budget in August.
So, to answer your first question, I am panicked and stressed that we are not dealing with this in a timely fashion. We’re going to be entering September and people are just going to lose it.
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It feels like millions of kids are just going to head back to school without schools having the resources they need to keep people safe from COVID and potentially without child care being available. Why aren’t alarm bells going off?
Child care and education is always ― well, child care in particular, education in general ― has always been a silent problem that people don’t talk about, particularly members of Congress. It is what every single family I know is talking about. It is a giant issue and it has to be addressed.
I introduced my bill two weeks ago and finally I’m getting people asking me about it and understanding that this has a huge impact. I will tell you, parents usually aren’t whiners when they’re working. And the reason is they don’t want to say, “This is really hard for me,” because they think, well, I won’t keep my job if my employer thinks I’m having trouble here. So people don’t speak up enough about the issues they are addressing at home. That allows them to be at work without fear of their employers saying, “Oh, well, I can have somebody else here that can do the job.” We need to understand we’re all in this together. Everybody is stressing and we need to be loud about it and demand the kinds of resources we need to get this right. We’ve got to scream.
Have you been working with any Republicans on this?
I have not specifically on my bill.
Senate Republicans are pulling together their own plan that proposes significantly less money for schools than you do, and the White House is insisting on tying any aid to schools to a requirement that they fully reopen. Is that a negotiable point for you?
It makes me angry the way that it’s presented: “You will send your child to school or we’re going to take money away from you.” It’s like bullying people. People do not need to be bullied right now. They need the resources and the support and the policies to open safely. It isn’t a question of whether you want to or not. It’s a question of, can you do it in a way that we can educate our kids and keep them safe, as well as everybody involved in our education system.
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Can you reassure parents and teachers that Congress will get schools the money they need and in time?
Well, I’m going to reassure parents that I’m going stand up and fight. I have been on this, all the way along. What I need is for parents to stand up and fight with me and to make their voices loud and clear, to let folks in Washington, D.C., know this has to be a priority. I encourage everybody to speak up and yell.
So … there’s no good answer to the question of whether you can reassure Americans that Congress will give schools what they need to reopen safely.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-21--Joaquin Castro Wants Democrats To Chart A New Course On Foreign Policy

Castro seeks a role currently held by Rep. Eliot Engel ( D-N.Y. ) , who recently lost his Democratic primary race .
In a statement exclusively shared with HuffPost , Castro vowed to push for a more progressive American approach to the world that values global justice over global dominance and is frank about U.S. missteps abroad and at home .
“ Let ’ s have a national conversation about the role of the United States in the world , democracy and human rights , war and peace , and the future of our planet .
Let ’ s have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a message he later released on Medium .
“ For too long , our foreign policy has been dominated by military and other coercive tools like sanctions .
… In this moment of pandemic and protest , we are confronting hard truths about how unequal our nation remains .
Our foreign policy is due for a similar reckoning.
” The four-term member of Congress criticized interventions , argued international trade deals must not chiefly benefit corporations and said Washington should be more willing to speak with its adversaries and to cultivate new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing numbers of Americans have family ties , such as in Latin America .
( He cited his grandmother ’ s journey to the U.S. from Mexico . )
He identified the climate crisis and competing with China as America ’ s chief geopolitical challenges and emphasized valuing the lives of non-Americans .
Castro is running against Reps. Gregory Meeks ( D-N.Y. ) and Brad Sherman ( D-Calif. ) for the top post on the committee .
Engel ’ s primary challenger highlighted the incumbent ’ s hawkish positions in attacking him , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sharply change course if they take up the gavel .
Castro represents a third option for Democrats to consider when they choose who will control the committee soon after the November election if , as is widely expected , they maintain the House majority .
This is the latest competition among Democrats with different visions of how the party should operate .
Progressive groups are rallying behind Castro , who they hope would use the post to question conventional wisdom about forcefully projecting American power abroad and act as a check on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reelected President Donald Trump .
Activists want the party ’ s vocal left wing to include demands for big changes abroad as they push Democrats to be more ambitious , as some liberal favorites are already doing .
“ Wars of choice have diminished our moral standing , destabilized entire regions — as the Iraq War did to the Middle East — burdened our troops and their families , wasted limited resources , and killed innocent lives , ” wrote Castro , citing his expertise as the only current lawmaker who has served @ @ @ @ @ @ @ armed services committees and as a vice chair of the foreign affairs panel .
Notably , he hinted willingness to challenge a prospective Biden administration , a priority for antiwar groups skeptical of some of the former vice president ’ s advisers .
Meeks , the front-runner , and Sherman are more senior members of the committee than Castro .
They are both skeptical of voices to their left .
But they ’ re also trying to tap the enthusiasm among more liberal Democrats and grassroots organizations to rein in U.S. militarism , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplies for nations committing abuses , and to invest in diplomacy .
“ American foreign policy can not be consumed by only fixing what ’ s been fractured under this administration and poor decisions of the past .
We must move proactively forward , ” Meeks said , adding that he would push for greater diversity in the diplomatic corps as the first Black chair of the panel and work with overlooked communities , including Indigenous populations and Afro-Latinos .
Meeks echoed several of the concerns Castro mentioned , like the failure to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force from nearly two decades ago , which presidents have used to justify interventions , and America ’ s moral responsibility in the face of atrocities such as China ’ s crackdown on its Uighur Muslim minority .
In a sign of the difference between them , however , Castro mentioned repealing at least one of those authorizations and warned that sanctions ― a favorite tool of U.S. officials looking to address foreign concerns without using the military ― could prove unhelpful .
Castro , who heads the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential candidate , is also well-liked by colleagues .
He is relying on public interest in the position and a new approach to foreign policy to boost his bid .
The Washington Post first revealed his plan to run last week , quoting him saying the U.S. should heed Palestinian voices more in its involvement in the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians ― a view activists have succeeded in making popular in the party in recent years despite resistance from supporters of a historic pro-Israel tilt .
Well-connected advocates for a foreign policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could use their connections and public platforms to help sway the outcome .
HuffPost sought a reaction to Castro ’ s pitch from one campaigner , who requested anonymity to protect relationships in Congress .
“ The candidates are using a largely progressive frame to garner support .
That is really so heartening , ” the person said .
But they noted that Castro offered “ very few specifics ” on his plans if he were to become the committee chair .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) joined the running to take over the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, setting up a high-profile contest over U.S. foreign policy and Democrats’ traditional approach to global affairs.
Castro seeks a role currently held by Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), who recently lost his Democratic primary race. In a statement exclusively shared with HuffPost, Castro vowed to push for a more progressive American approach to the world that values global justice over global dominance and is frank about U.S. missteps abroad and at home.
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“Let’s have a national conversation about the role of the United States in the world, democracy and human rights, war and peace, and the future of our planet. Let’s have a real debate,” Castro wrote in a message he later released on Medium. “For too long, our foreign policy has been dominated by military and other coercive tools like sanctions. … In this moment of pandemic and protest, we are confronting hard truths about how unequal our nation remains. Our foreign policy is due for a similar reckoning.”
The four-term member of Congress criticized interventions, argued international trade deals must not chiefly benefit corporations and said Washington should be more willing to speak with its adversaries and to cultivate new alliances, looking to countries with which growing numbers of Americans have family ties, such as in Latin America. (He cited his grandmother’s journey to the U.S. from Mexico.) He identified the climate crisis and competing with China as America’s chief geopolitical challenges and emphasized valuing the lives of non-Americans.
Castro is running against Reps. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) for the top post on the committee. Engel’s primary challenger highlighted the incumbent’s hawkish positions in attacking him, but neither Meeks nor Sherman is expected to sharply change course if they take up the gavel. Castro represents a third option for Democrats to consider when they choose who will control the committee soon after the November election if, as is widely expected, they maintain the House majority.
“Traditionally, selecting new chairs is a behind-the-scenes process… it’s time for a more inclusive process,” Castro wrote.
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This is the latest competition among Democrats with different visions of how the party should operate. Progressive groups are rallying behind Castro, who they hope would use the post to question conventional wisdom about forcefully projecting American power abroad and act as a check on either a President Joe Biden or a reelected President Donald Trump. Activists want the party’s vocal left wing to include demands for big changes abroad as they push Democrats to be more ambitious, as some liberal favorites are already doing.
“Wars of choice have diminished our moral standing, destabilized entire regions — as the Iraq War did to the Middle East — burdened our troops and their families, wasted limited resources, and killed innocent lives,” wrote Castro, citing his expertise as the only current lawmaker who has served on the foreign affairs, intelligence and armed services committees and as a vice chair of the foreign affairs panel. Notably, he hinted willingness to challenge a prospective Biden administration, a priority for antiwar groups skeptical of some of the former vice president’s advisers.
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) said it's time for "a more inclusive process" as House leaders select a new chair for the Foreign Affairs Committee. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images
Meeks, the front-runner, and Sherman are more senior members of the committee than Castro. They are both skeptical of voices to their left. But they’re also trying to tap the enthusiasm among more liberal Democrats and grassroots organizations to rein in U.S. militarism, including funding for the military and arms supplies for nations committing abuses, and to invest in diplomacy.
Meeks announced his candidacy in a statement Friday, highlighting that he voted against the Iraq War and for President Barack Obama’s deal to limit Iran’s nuclear program ― unlike Engel and Sherman.
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“American foreign policy cannot be consumed by only fixing what’s been fractured under this administration and poor decisions of the past. We must move proactively forward,” Meeks said, adding that he would push for greater diversity in the diplomatic corps as the first Black chair of the panel and work with overlooked communities, including Indigenous populations and Afro-Latinos.
He has the support of the influential Congressional Black Caucus and is close to Democratic leadership.
Meeks echoed several of the concerns Castro mentioned, like the failure to repeal authorizations for the use of military force from nearly two decades ago, which presidents have used to justify interventions, and America’s moral responsibility in the face of atrocities such as China’s crackdown on its Uighur Muslim minority. In a sign of the difference between them, however, Castro mentioned repealing at least one of those authorizations and warned that sanctions ― a favorite tool of U.S. officials looking to address foreign concerns without using the military ― could prove unhelpful.
Castro, who heads the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and whose brother, Julian, was a Democratic presidential candidate, is also well-liked by colleagues. He is relying on public interest in the position and a new approach to foreign policy to boost his bid. The Washington Post first revealed his plan to run last week, quoting him saying the U.S. should heed Palestinian voices more in its involvement in the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians ― a view activists have succeeded in making popular in the party in recent years despite resistance from supporters of a historic pro-Israel tilt.
Well-connected advocates for a foreign policy overhaul are closely following the competition and could use their connections and public platforms to help sway the outcome. HuffPost sought a reaction to Castro’s pitch from one campaigner, who requested anonymity to protect relationships in Congress.
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“The candidates are using a largely progressive frame to garner support. That is really so heartening,” the person said. But they noted that Castro offered “very few specifics” on his plans if he were to become the committee chair.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-21--ACLU Sues To Free Michael Cohen So He Can Finish His Book About Trump

The American Civil Liberties Union and a law firm representing Michael Cohen filed a lawsuit late Monday seeking the release of Donald Trump ’ s former personal attorney from prison and his return to home confinement .
The lawsuit argues that Cohen ’ s reimprisonment earlier this month was retaliation for his plans to publish a tell-all book about the president before the November election .
The suit , filed in Manhattan federal court , names Attorney General William Barr and the director of the Bureau of Prisons .
“ The First Amendment forbids Respondents from imprisoning Mr. Cohen in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President and for seeking to publish that book soon , ” the suit says .
Yet Cohen is “ being held in retaliation for his protected speech , including drafting a book manuscript that is critical of the President — and recently making public his intention to publish that book soon , shortly before the upcoming election , ” it adds .
The suit includes the first bombshell glimpses of what Cohen plans for the book .
It “ describes the President ’ s pointedly anti-Semitic remarks and virulently racist remarks against such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nelson Mandela , neither of whom he viewed as real leaders or as worthy of respect by virtue of their race , ” the filing states .
BREAKING : We 're suing the federal government for imprisoning Michael Cohen in retaliation for his plans to publish a book critical of Trump .
We will defend the First Amendment from government censorship — as we have for a century now .
— ACLU ( @ ACLU ) July 21 , 2020 Cohen was released from the Federal Correctional Institution in Otisville , New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three-year sentence in home confinement because of the risk of contracting COVID-19 in prison .
He had spent a year behind bars after pleading guilty to a series of crimes , including campaign finance violations linked to hush-money payments during Trump ’ s 2016 campaign to women who claimed they had affairs with Trump .
Before Cohen was taken into custody , he and his attorney were presented with a gag order that barred Cohen from having any “ engagement of any kind with the media , ” including books , and prohibited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the suit .
Cohen was arrested immediately after he balked at agreeing to the order , the suit states .
The court action argues that federal authorities planned to take action to reimprison Cohen after he promised in tweets that he would “ speak soon , ” and that he was finishing his Trump book .
Cohen has been held in solitary confinement since he was returned to Otisville , according to the suit .
He ’ s now struggling with spiking blood pressure , “ leading to severe headaches , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the suit says .
He has made no progress on the book , according to the suit .
The Department of Justice has not commented on the action .

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The American Civil Liberties Union and a law firm representing Michael Cohen filed a lawsuit late Monday seeking the release of Donald Trump’s former personal attorney from prison and his return to home confinement.
The lawsuit argues that Cohen’s reimprisonment earlier this month was retaliation for his plans to publish a tell-all book about the president before the November election. The suit, filed in Manhattan federal court, names Attorney General William Barr and the director of the Bureau of Prisons.
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“The First Amendment forbids Respondents from imprisoning Mr. Cohen in retaliation for drafting a book about the President and for seeking to publish that book soon,” the suit says.
Yet Cohen is “being held in retaliation for his protected speech, including drafting a book manuscript that is critical of the President — and recently making public his intention to publish that book soon, shortly before the upcoming election,” it adds.
The suit includes the first bombshell glimpses of what Cohen plans for the book.
It “describes the President’s pointedly anti-Semitic remarks and virulently racist remarks against such Black leaders as President Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela, neither of whom he viewed as real leaders or as worthy of respect by virtue of their race,” the filing states.
BREAKING: We're suing the federal government for imprisoning Michael Cohen in retaliation for his plans to publish a book critical of Trump.
We will defend the First Amendment from government censorship — as we have for a century now. — ACLU (@ACLU) July 21, 2020
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Cohen was released from the Federal Correctional Institution in Otisville, New York, in May to serve out his three-year sentence in home confinement because of the risk of contracting COVID-19 in prison. He had spent a year behind bars after pleading guilty to a series of crimes, including campaign finance violations linked to hush-money payments during Trump’s 2016 campaign to women who claimed they had affairs with Trump.
Before Cohen was taken into custody, he and his attorney were presented with a gag order that barred Cohen from having any “engagement of any kind with the media,” including books, and prohibited him from posting on social media, according to the suit. Cohen was arrested immediately after he balked at agreeing to the order, the suit states.
The court action argues that federal authorities planned to take action to reimprison Cohen after he promised in tweets that he would “speak soon,” and that he was finishing his Trump book.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-21--Chicago Mayor Urges Trump Not To Send 'Secret' Federal Agents To City

CHICAGO ( AP ) — The war of words between Chicago ’ s mayor and President Donald Trump escalated after a weekend when 12 were killed in the city and dozens injured by gunfire , with Lori Lightfoot rejecting any suggestion federal law enforcement officers should be dispatched to the city and Trump all but promising to send them .
In a letter sent to the president on Monday , Lightfoot said the deployment of secret , federal agents who “ arrest , and detain residents without any cause ” is a bad idea and urged the president not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Security was planning to deploy about 150 Homeland Security Investigations agents to Chicago , according to an official with direct knowledge of the plans who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity .
Those agents generally do lengthy investigations into human trafficking , drugs and weapons smuggling and child exploitation , but they have also been deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border during the height of the crisis there to help .
The Trump administration sent federal officers in Portland , Oregon , after weeks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injustice that followed the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Oregon ’ s governor and Portland ’ s mayor have expressed anger with the presence of the federal agents , saying that the city ’ s protests had started to ease just as the federal agents started taking action .
However , Trump , framing such protests in the nation ’ s large cities as a failure by “ liberal Democrats ” who run them , praised the officers ’ actions and said he was looking to send agents to other cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you say they need help after this weekend ?
” Trump told reporters at the White House .
“ You know the numbers that you hear , the numbers ?
Many , many shot .
Many , many killed.
” “ Reasonable local police officials , including our superintendent , know that it is a dangerous road for us to go down , ” Lightfoot said late Monday in an interview on MSNBC .
“ We are not going to have people who don ’ t know our streets don ’ t know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in clearly unconstitutional conduct operating at will in our city.
” In Chicago , the Homeland Security Investigations agents were expected to stay in Chicago at least two months , the official who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity said .
It ’ s possible they may also be deployed to other locations at some point .
They would essentially be working under the Justice Department , the official said .
None of the weekend shootings were connected to a Friday night protest where people marching against police brutality and racial injustice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Columbus , and Trump did not specifically reference that .
Video shows officers using batons to beat protesters , some of whom threw fireworks , pieces of pipe and frozen bottles of water at police .
Trump ’ s comments about Chicago come after the president of the local police officer ’ s union wrote him a letter asking “ for help from the federal government ” to help combat gun violence .
The city has seen 414 homicides this year , compared with 275 during the same period last year .
Fraternal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vocal supporter of Trump , called Lightfoot a “ complete failure who is either unwilling or unable to maintain law and order , ” but did not say what kind of help he was asking for or whether he wants federal troops to be sent to the city .
Trump ’ s comments Monday were not the first time he has made disparaging comments about Chicago leaders , and what he says is their inability to control violence .
Just last month , Trump sent a letter criticizing Lightfoot and Democratic Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of leadership ” in stemming gun violence .
Lightfoot dismissed Trump ’ s letter as a “ litany of nonsense.
” As for the protest Friday night , more than 20 complaints have been filed against police , according to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability .
They included claims of excessive force and unnecessary use of pepper spray .
The agency is also investigating video of an officer striking 18-year-old Miracle Boyd , an activist who says at least one of her teeth was knocked out .

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CHICAGO (AP) — The war of words between Chicago’s mayor and President Donald Trump escalated after a weekend when 12 were killed in the city and dozens injured by gunfire, with Lori Lightfoot rejecting any suggestion federal law enforcement officers should be dispatched to the city and Trump all but promising to send them.
In a letter sent to the president on Monday, Lightfoot said the deployment of secret, federal agents who “arrest, and detain residents without any cause” is a bad idea and urged the president not to do it.
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Lightfoot, a frequent Trump critic, slammed the president in the letter for “unhelpful” rhetoric and detailed ways the federal government could help the city to reduce violence, including gun safety reform, public safety support, community outreach and community investment.
The Department of Homeland Security was planning to deploy about 150 Homeland Security Investigations agents to Chicago, according to an official with direct knowledge of the plans who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. Those agents generally do lengthy investigations into human trafficking, drugs and weapons smuggling and child exploitation, but they have also been deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border during the height of the crisis there to help.
The Trump administration sent federal officers in Portland, Oregon, after weeks of protests there over police brutality and racial injustice that followed the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Oregon’s governor and Portland’s mayor have expressed anger with the presence of the federal agents, saying that the city’s protests had started to ease just as the federal agents started taking action.
However, Trump, framing such protests in the nation’s large cities as a failure by “liberal Democrats” who run them, praised the officers’ actions and said he was looking to send agents to other cities.
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He pointed to rising gun violence in Chicago, the nation’s third-largest city, where more than 63 people were shot, 12 fatally, over the weekend.
“How about Chicago? Would you say they need help after this weekend?” Trump told reporters at the White House. “You know the numbers that you hear, the numbers? Many, many shot. Many, many killed.”
“Reasonable local police officials, including our superintendent, know that it is a dangerous road for us to go down,” Lightfoot said late Monday in an interview on MSNBC. “We are not going to have people who don’t know our streets don’t know our neighborhoods and then who are engaging in clearly unconstitutional conduct operating at will in our city.”
Lightfoot, a former assistant U.S. attorney, said she is prepared to file a lawsuit to block efforts to place federal agents not under the direction of Chicago police in the city.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois rejected any deployment of federal forces in Chicago, vowing to hold the “Trump administration and any such federal forces accountable for unconstitutional actions.”
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In Chicago, the Homeland Security Investigations agents were expected to stay in Chicago at least two months, the official who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity said. It’s possible they may also be deployed to other locations at some point. They would essentially be working under the Justice Department, the official said.
A DHS spokesman said the department doesn’t comment on “allegedly leaked operations.”
None of the weekend shootings were connected to a Friday night protest where people marching against police brutality and racial injustice tried to topple a statue of Christopher Columbus, and Trump did not specifically reference that. Video shows officers using batons to beat protesters, some of whom threw fireworks, pieces of pipe and frozen bottles of water at police.
“We’re going to have more federal law enforcement, that I can tell you,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Trump’s comments about Chicago come after the president of the local police officer’s union wrote him a letter asking “for help from the federal government” to help combat gun violence. The city has seen 414 homicides this year, compared with 275 during the same period last year.
Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara, a vocal supporter of Trump, called Lightfoot a “complete failure who is either unwilling or unable to maintain law and order,” but did not say what kind of help he was asking for or whether he wants federal troops to be sent to the city.
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Lightfoot in turn called Catanzara ``an unhinged leader of the Fraternal Order of Police who is craven and trying to get attention.”
Trump’s comments Monday were not the first time he has made disparaging comments about Chicago leaders, and what he says is their inability to control violence. Just last month, Trump sent a letter criticizing Lightfoot and Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker for a “lack of leadership” in stemming gun violence. Lightfoot dismissed Trump’s letter as a “litany of nonsense.”
As for the protest Friday night, more than 20 complaints have been filed against police, according to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. They included claims of excessive force and unnecessary use of pepper spray. The agency is also investigating video of an officer striking 18-year-old Miracle Boyd, an activist who says at least one of her teeth was knocked out.
Lightfoot also said video had surfaced showing a small group of people had broken off from marching protesters, changed into black clothes and, using umbrellas to shield themselves from view, threw the items at police.
“That’s not peaceful protest, that’s anarchy and we are going to put that down,” she said.
Police Superintendent David Brown said 49 officers were injured, 18 of whom required hospital treatment.
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“Peaceful demonstrations have been hijacked by organized mobs,” said Brown, adding that he will order officers to wear “any and all protective gear” at protests.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-21--Ex-Fox News Host Says Ed Henry Lawsuit Shows Network Is 'Rotten To The Core'

CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota on Tuesday reversed course on previous remarks she made about her former employer Fox News , saying she now believes the network is indeed “ rotten to the core ” in light of a disturbing new lawsuit containing allegations of rape and sexual misconduct at the network .
Speaking with Brian Stelter on CNN ’ s “ New Day , ” Camerota asked to amend a statement she made in 2016 after sexual assault allegations against former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes finally resulted in his ouster from the network .
“ I remember four years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you interviewed me about things that went on with Roger Ailes and you asked me then , ‘ God , is Fox just rotten to the core ?
’ And I said something like , ‘ No , it ’ s not rotten to the core , there are good people there just trying to do their jobs , ’ ” Camerota said .
“ I ’ d like to amend my answer now if I may , ” she continued .
“ Because given everything that has come out since then , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ core .
I guess that even though there are really good people there who are trying to do their jobs , it ’ s not enough , because unless you get rid of and stamp out the predators , then , of course , the culture is still going to be rotten.
” “ Yes , I can still be shocked by these things , ” CNN ’ s Alisyn Camerota says about details of a new lawsuit accusing former Fox News host Ed Henry of rape .
“ I ’ m sad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the young women there feel like they ’ re still having to operate in this culture ” pic.twitter.com/8v2lWPYrsl — New Day ( @ NewDay ) July 21 , 2020 Camerota , who has spoken out about her former employer on many occasions and has detailed her own experience of sexual harassment from Ailes , declared her reversal of opinion during a conversation about a federal lawsuit filed Monday .
Jennifer Eckhart and Cathy Areu , both of whom previously worked with the network , accused a number of Fox News personalities of sexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Fox News correspondent Ed Henry ― who was recently fired for sexual misconduct ― raped and sexually harassed Eckhart .
The lawsuit also levied allegations against other Fox News personalities , including Sean Hannity , Tucker Carlson and Howard Kurtz , and said the network was aware of complaints against Henry since 2017 .
“ And didn ’ t they know this ?
When that outside law firm Paul Weiss did their investigation back in 2016 , didn ’ t Ed Henry ’ s name come up ?
” Camerota asked .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Ed Henry and yet they promoted him ?
And doesn ’ t that tell us all we need to know about the culture ?
” Stelter pointed to reporting that indicated the network was warned multiple times about Henry ’ s conduct “ and yet he was promoted anyway ” because he was “ a rising star , he was a favorite of the network ’ s president Suzanne Scott.
” “ And then finally , when they couldn ’ t hold on to him anymore because these complaints were made , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to think that four years after Ailes was forced out , this is still going on at Fox News .
”

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CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota on Tuesday reversed course on previous remarks she made about her former employer Fox News, saying she now believes the network is indeed “rotten to the core” in light of a disturbing new lawsuit containing allegations of rape and sexual misconduct at the network.
Speaking with Brian Stelter on CNN’s “New Day,” Camerota asked to amend a statement she made in 2016 after sexual assault allegations against former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes finally resulted in his ouster from the network.
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“I remember four years ago, back in 2016, when you interviewed me about things that went on with Roger Ailes and you asked me then, ‘God, is Fox just rotten to the core?’ And I said something like, ‘No, it’s not rotten to the core, there are good people there just trying to do their jobs,’” Camerota said.
“I’d like to amend my answer now if I may,” she continued. “Because given everything that has come out since then, I guess it is rotten to the core. I guess that even though there are really good people there who are trying to do their jobs, it’s not enough, because unless you get rid of and stamp out the predators, then, of course, the culture is still going to be rotten.”
“Yes, I can still be shocked by these things,” CNN’s Alisyn Camerota says about details of a new lawsuit accusing former Fox News host Ed Henry of rape. “I’m sad that four years after Roger Ailes... the young women there feel like they’re still having to operate in this culture” pic.twitter.com/8v2lWPYrsl — New Day (@NewDay) July 21, 2020
Camerota, who has spoken out about her former employer on many occasions and has detailed her own experience of sexual harassment from Ailes, declared her reversal of opinion during a conversation about a federal lawsuit filed Monday. Jennifer Eckhart and Cathy Areu, both of whom previously worked with the network, accused a number of Fox News personalities of sexual misconduct and harassment. This included allegations that Fox News correspondent Ed Henry ― who was recently fired for sexual misconduct ― raped and sexually harassed Eckhart.
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The lawsuit also levied allegations against other Fox News personalities, including Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson and Howard Kurtz, and said the network was aware of complaints against Henry since 2017.
“And didn’t they know this? When that outside law firm Paul Weiss did their investigation back in 2016, didn’t Ed Henry’s name come up?” Camerota asked. “Didn’t they know things about Ed Henry and yet they promoted him? And doesn’t that tell us all we need to know about the culture?”
A Fox News spokesperson told HuffPost: “There were not sexual harassment claims against Ed Henry at Fox News prior to Jennifer Eckhart’s claim on June 25, 2020.”
Stelter pointed to reporting that indicated the network was warned multiple times about Henry’s conduct “and yet he was promoted anyway” because he was “a rising star, he was a favorite of the network’s president Suzanne Scott.”
“And then finally, when they couldn’t hold on to him anymore because these complaints were made, he was fired. It is incredible to think that four years after Ailes was forced out, this is still going on at Fox News.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-21--New York City's Election Mess Gives White House Ammunition In War On Mail-In Voting

The White House pointed on Tuesday to the chaos of June ’ s congressional primary elections in the New York City metropolitan area to raise doubts about the viability of mail-in ballots for the general election .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany , who called the elections an “ absolute catastrophe ” at her Tuesday press conference , also pointed to the high percentage of absentee ballots disqualified on technical grounds as a sign that making mail-in voting available nationwide would be impractical .
McEnany was attacking New York ’ s elections to discredit the idea of expanded mail-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a political threat .
In June , Trump admitted that mail-in voting , which he has baselessly alleged enables fraud , could cost him the election by making it easier for Democrats to vote .
The technical reasons for disqualified ballots are a source of frustration for good government advocates who have long argued that voting by mail should be easier and less vulnerable to human or bureaucratic error .
A particularly galling example is that through no fault of voters , some post offices failed to stamp ballots with an ink @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mailed by Election Day .
Cuomo issued an executive order in late March allowing New York residents to cast absentee ballots by mail due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
The state mailed every registered voter an absentee ballot request form that they could complete to request an absentee ballot .
Then voters could mail in their absentee ballots using envelopes with pre-paid postage .
One reason for the dearth of postmarks on those envelopes is that ordinarily , post offices do not postmark envelopes with prepaid postage .
Disqualified ballots played a glaring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congressional District , which encompasses Manhattan ’ s East Side , as well as parts of northwest Brooklyn and Queens .
Rep. Carolyn Maloney ( D ) and progressive challenger Suraj Patel are still locked in a neck-and-neck race that is likely to come down to hundreds of votes .
But local boards of elections in three New York City boroughs have disqualified about 13,000 ballots ― an estimated 19 % of those cast in Manhattan and Queens , and 28 % of those cast in Brooklyn .
( For comparison , NPR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rarely top 1 % in other states . )
All of the candidates in New York ’ s 12th issued a statement on July 17 calling for Cuomo to direct local authorities to retroactively validate any ballots received by Election Day regardless of whether they had a postmark or not .
The group of candidates , which also includes activists Lauren Ashcraft and Peter Harrison , are specifically asking Cuomo to update his executive order to retroactively validate ballots that are not postmarked but arrived at the Board of Elections by June 26 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the issue is not primarily his responsibility .
At a press conference on Tuesday , he said it was up to the legislature to pass a new law validating ballots that arrived by Election Day but did not contain a postmark .
Patel , who is an attorney , maintains that Cuomo has the legal authority to change the law .
Requiring a postmark on a ballot that has already arrived on time amounts to an unnecessary doubling up , according to Patel ― a case lawyers and business people describe as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Patel , whose base is in the disproportionately disqualified precincts of the district ’ s young and liberal Brooklyn neighborhoods , is one of several plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit charging Cuomo and the New York State Board of Elections with committing an “ election snafu ” that disenfranchised voters .

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The White House pointed on Tuesday to the chaos of June’s congressional primary elections in the New York City metropolitan area to raise doubts about the viability of mail-in ballots for the general election.
Due to the unprecedented number of absentee ballots cast, a number of contentious Democratic Party primary races are unresolved more than three weeks after in-person voting took place on June 23.
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White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who called the elections an “absolute catastrophe” at her Tuesday press conference, also pointed to the high percentage of absentee ballots disqualified on technical grounds as a sign that making mail-in voting available nationwide would be impractical.
“There are questions about mass mail-out voting,” McEnany concluded.
McEnany was attacking New York’s elections to discredit the idea of expanded mail-in voting, which President Donald Trump sees as a political threat. In June, Trump admitted that mail-in voting, which he has baselessly alleged enables fraud, could cost him the election by making it easier for Democrats to vote.
In a statement to HuffPost, Rich Azzopardi, a spokesperson for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), called McEnany’s remarks “absurd.”
Yet notwithstanding McEnany’s cynical motives, she is taking advantage of New Yorkers’ real concerns that people are unfairly being disenfranchised.
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The technical reasons for disqualified ballots are a source of frustration for good government advocates who have long argued that voting by mail should be easier and less vulnerable to human or bureaucratic error. A particularly galling example is that through no fault of voters, some post offices failed to stamp ballots with an ink postmark attesting that the ballot had been mailed by Election Day.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany speaks during a press briefing at the White House on July 16, 2020. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cuomo issued an executive order in late March allowing New York residents to cast absentee ballots by mail due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The state mailed every registered voter an absentee ballot request form that they could complete to request an absentee ballot. Then voters could mail in their absentee ballots using envelopes with pre-paid postage. One reason for the dearth of postmarks on those envelopes is that ordinarily, post offices do not postmark envelopes with prepaid postage. (The day before the election, Common Cause New York and a host of other government reform groups sent a letter to Cuomo expressing concern about the potential postmark problem and calling for him to allow envelopes that arrived by June 30 with missing or illegible postmarks to be presumed valid.)
Disqualified ballots played a glaring role in New York’s 12th Congressional District, which encompasses Manhattan’s East Side, as well as parts of northwest Brooklyn and Queens. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D) and progressive challenger Suraj Patel are still locked in a neck-and-neck race that is likely to come down to hundreds of votes.
But local boards of elections in three New York City boroughs have disqualified about 13,000 ballots ― an estimated 19% of those cast in Manhattan and Queens, and 28% of those cast in Brooklyn. (For comparison, NPR found that absentee ballot rejection rates very rarely top 1% in other states.)
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All of the candidates in New York’s 12th issued a statement on July 17 calling for Cuomo to direct local authorities to retroactively validate any ballots received by Election Day regardless of whether they had a postmark or not. The group of candidates, which also includes activists Lauren Ashcraft and Peter Harrison, are specifically asking Cuomo to update his executive order to retroactively validate ballots that are not postmarked but arrived at the Board of Elections by June 26.
“Put bluntly: A missing postmark, over which voters had no control, should not disenfranchise those voters,” the four candidates said.
Thus far, Cuomo has said that the issue is not primarily his responsibility. At a press conference on Tuesday, he said it was up to the legislature to pass a new law validating ballots that arrived by Election Day but did not contain a postmark.
“If they change the date, and I can understand the rationale for changing the date ... that would be fine,” he said.
Patel, who is an attorney, maintains that Cuomo has the legal authority to change the law. Requiring a postmark on a ballot that has already arrived on time amounts to an unnecessary doubling up, according to Patel ― a case lawyers and business people describe as a “belt and suspenders” redundancy.
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Failing to take corrective action is “unjust ― especially at a time when Republicans are trying to suppress votes,” Patel said.
Patel, whose base is in the disproportionately disqualified precincts of the district’s young and liberal Brooklyn neighborhoods, is one of several plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit charging Cuomo and the New York State Board of Elections with committing an “election snafu” that disenfranchised voters.
Jerry Goldfeder, a leading New York City election attorney, argued against the governor or the legislature changing the rules for ballot qualifications after Election Day, regardless of their authority.
“It’s never a good idea to retroactively change a law that might very well have an impact on the outcome of an election,” he said.
Instead, Goldfeder expressed hope that the federal courts would provide relief for voters whose ballots were not postmarked despite being mailed on time.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-21--New York Man Fakes Death To Avoid Jail But Typo Gives Him Away

Nassau County District Attorney 's Office via AP The Nassau County District Attorney 's office in Mineola , N.Y. , said Robert Berger tried faking his death to avoid a jail sentence , but the phony death certificate his lawyer submitted had a glaring spelling error that made it a dead giveaway for a fraud .
NEW YORK ( AP ) — A Long Island criminal defendant tried faking his death to avoid a jail sentence , but the phony death certificate his lawyer submitted had a glaring spelling error that made it a dead giveaway for a fraud , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 , of Huntington , New York , now faces up to four years in prison if convicted in the alleged scheme .
That ’ s in addition to pending sentences for earlier guilty pleas to charges of possession of a stolen Lexus and attempted grand larceny of a truck — punishment prosecutors say he was looking to avoid .
“ It will never cease to amaze me the lengths some people will go to to avoid being held accountable on criminal charges , ” Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday because of the coronavirus pandemic , Berger pleaded not guilty to a single count of offering a false instrument for filing .
A judge set bail at $ 1 but ordered Berger back to jail because of his underlying cases .
His next court date is scheduled for July 29 .
A message seeking comment was left with a public defender who took over Berger ’ s case after the lawyer who submitted the suspicious death certificate claimed he ’ d been used as a pawn and had nothing to do with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentenced to a year in jail last October on the theft-related charges , Berger fled the state , while taking steps to convince his then-lawyer , prosecutors and the judge that he had killed himself — including allegedly using his fiance to pass along a bogus death certificate , prosecutors said .
At first glance , Berger ’ s purported death certificate looked like an official document issued by the New Jersey Department of Health , Vital Statistics and Registry , but there was one big problem : Registry was spelled “ Regsitry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also inconsistencies in the font type and size that raised suspicions , they said .
Berger was alive , but not entirely well .
While supposedly dead , he ’ d been arrested in suburban Philadelphia on charges including allegations he provided a false identity to law enforcement and stole from a Catholic college .
He was sentenced in January to up to a year in jail , according to Pennsylvania court records .
Berger ’ s case was reminiscent of one six years ago in which a former Coast Guard petty officer-turned-shoe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , soliciting clients and appearing in court .
That man , Kenneth Goldstein , was outed as a fraud when he started rambling in an un-lawyerlike fashion in a Long Island courtroom .
“ You ’ re gon na get caught , ” Singas said .
“ We say it all the time .
Crime doesn ’ t pay .
We ’ ll catch up with you eventually .
In this case , it ’ s never a good idea to submit phony documents to the district attorney .
We were able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to get away with it .
”

The Nassau County District Attorney's office in Mineola, N.Y., said Robert Berger tried faking his death to avoid a jail sentence, but the phony death certificate his lawyer submitted had a glaring spelling error that made it a dead giveaway for a fraud. Nassau County District Attorney's Office via AP
NEW YORK (AP) — A Long Island criminal defendant tried faking his death to avoid a jail sentence, but the phony death certificate his lawyer submitted had a glaring spelling error that made it a dead giveaway for a fraud, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Robert Berger, 25, of Huntington, New York, now faces up to four years in prison if convicted in the alleged scheme. That’s in addition to pending sentences for earlier guilty pleas to charges of possession of a stolen Lexus and attempted grand larceny of a truck — punishment prosecutors say he was looking to avoid.
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“It will never cease to amaze me the lengths some people will go to to avoid being held accountable on criminal charges,” Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said in a telephone interview.
Arraigned by video Tuesday because of the coronavirus pandemic, Berger pleaded not guilty to a single count of offering a false instrument for filing. A judge set bail at $1 but ordered Berger back to jail because of his underlying cases. His next court date is scheduled for July 29.
A message seeking comment was left with a public defender who took over Berger’s case after the lawyer who submitted the suspicious death certificate claimed he’d been used as a pawn and had nothing to do with the alleged shenanigans.
Scheduled to be sentenced to a year in jail last October on the theft-related charges, Berger fled the state, while taking steps to convince his then-lawyer, prosecutors and the judge that he had killed himself — including allegedly using his fiance to pass along a bogus death certificate, prosecutors said.
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At first glance, Berger’s purported death certificate looked like an official document issued by the New Jersey Department of Health, Vital Statistics and Registry, but there was one big problem: Registry was spelled “Regsitry,” prosecutors said. There were also inconsistencies in the font type and size that raised suspicions, they said.
The real New Jersey Department of Health, Vital Statistics and Registry confirmed that Berger’s death certificate was a fake, prosecutors said.
Berger was alive, but not entirely well. While supposedly dead, he’d been arrested in suburban Philadelphia on charges including allegations he provided a false identity to law enforcement and stole from a Catholic college. He was sentenced in January to up to a year in jail, according to Pennsylvania court records.
Berger’s case was reminiscent of one six years ago in which a former Coast Guard petty officer-turned-shoe salesman posed as a former military lawyer, soliciting clients and appearing in court. That man, Kenneth Goldstein, was outed as a fraud when he started rambling in an un-lawyerlike fashion in a Long Island courtroom.
“You’re gonna get caught,” Singas said. “We say it all the time. Crime doesn’t pay. We’ll catch up with you eventually. In this case, it’s never a good idea to submit phony documents to the district attorney. We were able to make sure that he wasn’t able to get away with it.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-21--Gag Order Lifted Against 4 Officers Charged In George Floyd Case

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) — A Minnesota judge on Tuesday lifted a gag order in the criminal case against four former officers charged in death of George Floyd , but said he would take a news media coalition ’ s request to make body camera footage more widely available under advisement .
Hennepin County District Court Judge Peter Cahill also ruled Tuesday that he would not hold Attorney General Keith Ellison in contempt of court , saying a statement Ellison made when he announced that additional attorneys would be assisting in the prosecution was innocuous and did not violate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order was vacated , Cahill said he still expects all attorneys in the case to follow the rules on disclosure of information .
Floyd , a Black man who was handcuffed , died May 25 after Derek Chauvin , a white police officer , pressed his knee against Floyd ’ s neck for nearly eight minutes as Floyd said he couldn ’ t breathe .
Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder , third-degree murder and manslaughter .
Three other officers who were at the scene , Tou Thao , Thomas Lane and J.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter .
All four officers were fired .
Police body camera videos were filed with the court this month by Lane ’ s attorney , Earl Gray , as part of a request to have Lane ’ s case dismissed .
Gray said he wanted the videos to be made public — prompting Cahill to issue an order barring attorneys and parties from discussing the case .
Defense attorneys for all four of the former officers asked that the gag order be lifted .
The Associated Press is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gag order .
Cahill made the videos available for in-person , by-appointment viewing only .
Media attorney Leita Walker objected to that format , saying it violated the common law , rules of public access to records and the First Amendment , and was essentially equivalent to keeping the videos under seal .
Records of all courts are presumed to be open for public inspection with limited exceptions .
Prosecutors said a court may impose restrictions if that access will interfere with the fair and impartial administration of justice , and that reasonable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ibrahim is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues .

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota judge on Tuesday lifted a gag order in the criminal case against four former officers charged in death of George Floyd, but said he would take a news media coalition’s request to make body camera footage more widely available under advisement.
Hennepin County District Court Judge Peter Cahill also ruled Tuesday that he would not hold Attorney General Keith Ellison in contempt of court, saying a statement Ellison made when he announced that additional attorneys would be assisting in the prosecution was innocuous and did not violate the gag order.
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Even though the gag order was vacated, Cahill said he still expects all attorneys in the case to follow the rules on disclosure of information.
Floyd, a Black man who was handcuffed, died May 25 after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for nearly eight minutes as Floyd said he couldn’t breathe. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. Three other officers who were at the scene, Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Kueng, are charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter. All four officers were fired.
Police body camera videos were filed with the court this month by Lane’s attorney, Earl Gray, as part of a request to have Lane’s case dismissed. Gray said he wanted the videos to be made public — prompting Cahill to issue an order barring attorneys and parties from discussing the case.
Defense attorneys for all four of the former officers asked that the gag order be lifted. The Associated Press is among news organizations that objected to the gag order.
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Cahill made the videos available for in-person, by-appointment viewing only. Media attorney Leita Walker objected to that format, saying it violated the common law, rules of public access to records and the First Amendment, and was essentially equivalent to keeping the videos under seal.
Records of all courts are presumed to be open for public inspection with limited exceptions. Prosecutors said a court may impose restrictions if that access will interfere with the fair and impartial administration of justice, and that reasonable alternatives aren’t adequate.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-21--Asian Americans Are 'Not A Virus,' New PSA From Director Alan Yang Powerfully Declares

A powerful new ad produced and directed by Alan Yang , the Emmy-winning co-creator of Netflix ’ s “ Master of None ” and writer-director of “ Tigertail , ” aims to remind Americans of the alarming rise in racism against members of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
The one-minute online ad , produced in conjunction with the nonprofit Ad Council and released on Tuesday , features AAPI individuals — several of whom are essential workers — painfully recounting experiences of racism .
The pandemic has exposed a terrible strain of anti-Asian sentiment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the @ adcouncil and some wonderful subjects and crew members to shoot this piece remotely and raise awareness .
Please share and help stop the spread of anti-Asian racism .
pic.twitter.com/naJzMcbhTL — Alan Yang 楊維榕 ( @ alanyang ) July 21 , 2020 At the end of the ad , they each remove their masks and say they ’ re “ not a virus.
” “ My biggest fear is that all the stereotypes that we ’ ve worked so hard to break are just going to be reversed .
And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” one of the subjects , “ Top Chef ” winner Melissa King , says in the ad .
Since the pandemic began earlier this year , people of Asian descent worldwide have experienced racist attacks and harassment , such as being blamed for the virus .
Racist rhetoric from leaders like President Donald Trump has only exacerbated the problem .
In March , a coalition of AAPI advocacy groups and scholars , Stop AAPI Hate , launched an online form for individuals around the country to report incidents of anti-Asian racism related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Stop AAPI Hate has collected 2,173 incidents and counting , including reports of being called a racial slur , spat on , refused service , or being physically assaulted .
Last month , a Pew Research Center survey found that nearly 40 % of Asian Americans reported experiencing racism because of COVID-19 .
More than one-third said they feared that they would be targeted for wearing masks in public .
In many parts of the U.S. , the issue of masks has become politicized and contentious , despite widespread consensus from public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reduce the transmission of the virus .
In a tweet on Tuesday morning , the same day the PSA launched , Trump — who has repeatedly used racist rhetoric to discuss the pandemic while downplaying its severity — congratulated himself for his handling of “ the China Virus .
”

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A powerful new ad produced and directed by Alan Yang, the Emmy-winning co-creator of Netflix’s “Master of None” and writer-director of “Tigertail,” aims to remind Americans of the alarming rise in racism against members of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The one-minute online ad, produced in conjunction with the nonprofit Ad Council and released on Tuesday, features AAPI individuals — several of whom are essential workers — painfully recounting experiences of racism.
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The pandemic has exposed a terrible strain of anti-Asian sentiment all over the country. I worked with the @adcouncil and some wonderful subjects and crew members to shoot this piece remotely and raise awareness. Please share and help stop the spread of anti-Asian racism. pic.twitter.com/naJzMcbhTL — Alan Yang 楊維榕 (@alanyang) July 21, 2020
“A passenger told me that I should go back to China.”
“I’ve had strangers cough at me.”
“People move away from me.”
“Someone spit three times towards my direction. I felt so violated.”
At the end of the ad, they each remove their masks and say they’re “not a virus.”
“My biggest fear is that all the stereotypes that we’ve worked so hard to break are just going to be reversed. And I won’t let that happen,” one of the subjects, “Top Chef” winner Melissa King, says in the ad.
Since the pandemic began earlier this year, people of Asian descent worldwide have experienced racist attacks and harassment, such as being blamed for the virus. Racist rhetoric from leaders like President Donald Trump has only exacerbated the problem.
In March, a coalition of AAPI advocacy groups and scholars, Stop AAPI Hate, launched an online form for individuals around the country to report incidents of anti-Asian racism related to COVID-19.
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As of this month, Stop AAPI Hate has collected 2,173 incidents and counting, including reports of being called a racial slur, spat on, refused service, or being physically assaulted.
Last month, a Pew Research Center survey found that nearly 40% of Asian Americans reported experiencing racism because of COVID-19. More than one-third said they feared that they would be targeted for wearing masks in public. In many parts of the U.S., the issue of masks has become politicized and contentious, despite widespread consensus from public health experts that wearing masks greatly helps to reduce the transmission of the virus.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-21--Walmart Will Be Closed Thanksgiving Day To Honor Workers Amid COVID-19 Crisis

NEW YORK ( AP ) —Walmart Inc. said that it will be closing its namesake stores and Sam ’ s Clubs on Thanksgiving Day this year , saying that it wants to have its employees spend time with their families during the coronavirus .
The move , announced Tuesday , marks the first major indication of how COVID will affect Black Friday store shopping , which for almost a decade kicked off with big crowds on the turkey feast and expanded into Friday .
However , given safety concerns , stores are rethinking their plans for the kickoff .
Given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s largest retailer , other major retailers could follow its lead .
Macy ’ s CEO Jeff Gennette said earlier this month that the department store will be pivoting its Black Friday business more toward online and will likely be going “ full force ” with holiday marketing right after Halloween .
It also will be staggering events to reduce customer traffic in the stores .
Walmart also said Tuesday that it will be giving out another round of bonuses for workers on the front lines of the coronavirus .
The company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 300 for full-time hourly workers and $ 150 for part-time hourly and temporary workers .
Drivers , managers and assistant managers in stores , clubs , distribution centers and fulfillment centers and health and wellness will also receive a bonus .
It will add up to approximately $ 428 million , Walmart said .
The bonuses will be included in Aug. 20 paychecks for eligible workers employed as of July 31 .
“ Our associates have been working at an incredible pace , they ’ ve solved problems , and they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said John Furner , president and CEO of Walmart U.S. , in a corporate blog post .
“ To further appreciate their incredible work , we are pleased to share another special cash bonus this summer.
” Walmart and others have been under increasing pressure by labor-backed groups to extend bonus pay for front line workers as surges in new cases have spiked in many states .

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NEW YORK (AP) —Walmart Inc. said that it will be closing its namesake stores and Sam’s Clubs on Thanksgiving Day this year, saying that it wants to have its employees spend time with their families during the coronavirus.
The move, announced Tuesday, marks the first major indication of how COVID will affect Black Friday store shopping, which for almost a decade kicked off with big crowds on the turkey feast and expanded into Friday. However, given safety concerns, stores are rethinking their plans for the kickoff.
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Given Walmart’s clout as the nation’s largest retailer, other major retailers could follow its lead. Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette said earlier this month that the department store will be pivoting its Black Friday business more toward online and will likely be going “full force” with holiday marketing right after Halloween. It also will be staggering events to reduce customer traffic in the stores.
Walmart also said Tuesday that it will be giving out another round of bonuses for workers on the front lines of the coronavirus. The company said that it will be doling out $300 for full-time hourly workers and $150 for part-time hourly and temporary workers. Drivers, managers and assistant managers in stores, clubs, distribution centers and fulfillment centers and health and wellness will also receive a bonus. It will add up to approximately $428 million, Walmart said.
The bonuses will be included in Aug. 20 paychecks for eligible workers employed as of July 31.
“Our associates have been working at an incredible pace, they’ve solved problems, and they’ve set an amazing example for others,” said John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart U.S., in a corporate blog post. “To further appreciate their incredible work, we are pleased to share another special cash bonus this summer.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-21--NFL To Allow Players To Put Social Justice Decals On Helmets

The NFL is planning to allow players to have decals on the back of their helmets bearing names or initials of victims of systemic racism and police violence .
The league has been in talks with individual players and their union since June about somehow honoring such victims .
The initiative will be done leaguewide , with each team deciding who it will honor and how to display the names or initials .
Unlike the NBA , which is allowing players to wear slogans on their jerseys , the NFL will stick to names and initials once a final agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ association .
The program will continue for the entire season .
This initiative is something of a breakthrough because the league has not allowed such messaging , except for during its October NFL Crucial Catch program in conjunction with the fight against breast cancer , and in its November salutes to the military .
Players also have been allowed to represent a cause on their cleats one weekend per season .
But a 17-week campaign such as the one being planned is something new for the NFL .
A list of names and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is being put together by the league and the NFLPA .
Players have been encouraged to provide those names and initials .

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The NFL is planning to allow players to have decals on the back of their helmets bearing names or initials of victims of systemic racism and police violence.
The league has been in talks with individual players and their union since June about somehow honoring such victims. The initiative will be done leaguewide, with each team deciding who it will honor and how to display the names or initials.
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Unlike the NBA, which is allowing players to wear slogans on their jerseys, the NFL will stick to names and initials once a final agreement has been reached with the players’ association. The program will continue for the entire season.
This initiative is something of a breakthrough because the league has not allowed such messaging, except for during its October NFL Crucial Catch program in conjunction with the fight against breast cancer, and in its November salutes to the military. Players also have been allowed to represent a cause on their cleats one weekend per season.
But a 17-week campaign such as the one being planned is something new for the NFL.
A list of names and initials for use on the helmet decals is being put together by the league and the NFLPA. Players have been encouraged to provide those names and initials.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-21--Amber Heard Tells British Court She Never Pooped In Johnny Depp's Bed

LONDON ( AP ) — Amber Heard denied Tuesday that she fabricated injuries to show that her then-husband Johnny Depp had been violent toward her as she took to the witness box for her second day of evidence in Depp ’ s libel case against a British tabloid over allegations of domestic violence .
At Britain ’ s High Court in London , Depp ’ s lawyer , Eleanor Laws , sought to show via a series of video clips from an elevator at the couple ’ s Los Angeles apartment building that Heard fabricated any injury as a result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 that ended up with police arriving on scene .
Laws also wondered why others in the building did not notice injuries in the days after .
“ I thought it could stay under wraps for a few days and those few days were a precious few days in the hardest time of my life , and presumably difficult for Johnny as well , and I would have done anything to have those few days of privacy , ” Heard said .
Heard also denied that she had had an “ illicit relationship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Depp , specifically with either Tesla CEO Elon Musk or actor James Franco .
“ Not that that matters much , ” Heard said .
The court is examining Depp ’ s libel suit against The Sun newspaper over an April 2018 article that labelled him a “ wife beater ” for allegedly abusing Heard .
Depp is suing The Sun ’ s publisher , News Group Newspapers , and the paper ’ s executive editor , Dan Wootton , over the article .
The Hollywood star strongly denies abusing Heard and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Monday , during her first day of testimony , she accused her ex-husband of abusing her both physically and verbally while he was allegedly bingeing on alcohol and drugs , claiming that at various times during their tempestuous relationship she feared for her life .
Depp and Heard met on the set of the comedy “ The Rum Diary , ” released in 2011 , and officially became a couple a year later .
They married in Los Angeles in February 2015 .
Heard filed for divorce the following year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the first nine days of testimony at the High Court , judge Andrew Nicol heard from Depp and from several current or former employees who have backed his version of events .
In his testimony , Depp said he was the one being abused by Heard and that she had a history of being violent against him .
“ You ’ re making this up as you go along at times , ” Laws said of Heard , to which the actress replied : “ All of this happened to me and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what happens when you are in this situation , that ’ s the truth , ” she said .
“ I knew better than to fight with him about the details of the fight , and what he perceived as injuries to him .
My job was to say sorry and get him on track , and move on to bigger things.
” She said the first time she struck Depp was in March 2015 but that she only did so to defend her sister , Whitney , for fear that he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleged he had done to model Kate Moss when they dated back in the 1990s .
Depp ’ s counsel wondered why Heard had not mentioned the Moss allegation in her deposition .
Heard said the feces came from one of their Yorkshire Terriers , Pistol and Boo , but that Boo had had issues ever since he had allegedly eaten some of Depp ’ s marijuana as a puppy , or “ since the weed.
” In written testimony released to the court , Heard said that at various times during their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , kicking , head-butting and choking.
” She said “ some incidents were so severe that I was afraid he was going to kill me , either intentionally or just by losing control and going too far .
”

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LONDON (AP) — Amber Heard denied Tuesday that she fabricated injuries to show that her then-husband Johnny Depp had been violent toward her as she took to the witness box for her second day of evidence in Depp’s libel case against a British tabloid over allegations of domestic violence.
At Britain’s High Court in London, Depp’s lawyer, Eleanor Laws, sought to show via a series of video clips from an elevator at the couple’s Los Angeles apartment building that Heard fabricated any injury as a result of an incident on May 21, 2016 that ended up with police arriving on scene. Laws also wondered why others in the building did not notice injuries in the days after.
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The actress has alleged that Depp, 57, threw a phone at her “like he was a baseball pitcher” that evening, hitting her on the right cheek and eye.
Heard, 34, denied the allegation she was making things up and said she wears makeup when leaving home that could have camouflaged any injury.
“Of course I had an injury,” she said.
Laws also questioned Heard about text messages she sent Depp in the days after the alleged incident and about why she hadn’t filed a restraining order in its immediate aftermath.
“I thought it could stay under wraps for a few days and those few days were a precious few days in the hardest time of my life, and presumably difficult for Johnny as well, and I would have done anything to have those few days of privacy,” Heard said.
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Heard also denied that she had had an “illicit relationship” with anyone during her time with Depp, specifically with either Tesla CEO Elon Musk or actor James Franco. “Not that that matters much,” Heard said.
The court is examining Depp’s libel suit against The Sun newspaper over an April 2018 article that labelled him a “wife beater” for allegedly abusing Heard. Depp is suing The Sun’s publisher, News Group Newspapers, and the paper’s executive editor, Dan Wootton, over the article. The Hollywood star strongly denies abusing Heard and was at the court to hear his ex-wife.
On Monday, during her first day of testimony, she accused her ex-husband of abusing her both physically and verbally while he was allegedly bingeing on alcohol and drugs, claiming that at various times during their tempestuous relationship she feared for her life.
Depp and Heard met on the set of the comedy “The Rum Diary,” released in 2011, and officially became a couple a year later. They married in Los Angeles in February 2015. Heard filed for divorce the following year, and it was finalized in 2017.
In the first nine days of testimony at the High Court, judge Andrew Nicol heard from Depp and from several current or former employees who have backed his version of events. In his testimony, Depp said he was the one being abused by Heard and that she had a history of being violent against him.
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“You’re making this up as you go along at times,” Laws said of Heard, to which the actress replied: “All of this happened to me and I remember it.”
Via audio recordings of the couple discussing various incidents that were played in court, Depp’s lawyer sought to show that Heard admitted that she had been violent against Depp.
Heard said any contact during their altercations was purely in self-defense.
“That is what happens when you are in this situation, that’s the truth,” she said. “I knew better than to fight with him about the details of the fight, and what he perceived as injuries to him. My job was to say sorry and get him on track, and move on to bigger things.”
She said the first time she struck Depp was in March 2015 but that she only did so to defend her sister, Whitney, for fear that he would throw her down the stairs as she alleged he had done to model Kate Moss when they dated back in the 1990s. Depp’s counsel wondered why Heard had not mentioned the Moss allegation in her deposition.
Heard denied the allegation that she, or one of her friends, defecated on the couple’s bed the morning after Heard’s 30th birthday party in April 2016.
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“That’s absolutely disgusting,” Heard said. “I cannot fathom what adult would do such a thing.”
Heard said the feces came from one of their Yorkshire Terriers, Pistol and Boo, but that Boo had had issues ever since he had allegedly eaten some of Depp’s marijuana as a puppy, or “since the weed.”
In written testimony released to the court, Heard said that at various times during their relationship she endured “punching, slapping, kicking, head-butting and choking.” She said “some incidents were so severe that I was afraid he was going to kill me, either intentionally or just by losing control and going too far.”
According to Heard, Depp “explicitly threatened to kill me many times, especially later in our relationship.” She said he blamed his actions on “a self-created third party” that he referred to as “the monster.”