thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-28--UN Chief: The State Of Women's Rights Is Dire. We Must End 'Default Male Thinking.'

Feb 27 ( Reuters ) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called women ’ s inequality “ stupid ” and a cause for global shame on Thursday , as he pledged to press governments to end discriminatory laws in the face of a “ strong and relentless pushback ” against women ’ s rights .
While Guterres did not name and shame , President Donald Trump ’ s administration has led a push at the U.N. against the promotion of sexual and reproductive health services for women because the administration sees that as code for abortion .
Speaking ahead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Status of Women in New York next month , Guterres warned that the state of women ’ s rights was dire and said he would seek to end “ default male thinking ” across the United Nations .
“ Just as slavery and colonialism were a stain on previous centuries , women ’ s inequality should shame us all in the 21st .
Because it is not only unacceptable ; it is stupid , ” Guterres said in a speech to The New School in New York .
He said legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being diluted or rolled back and that in 34 countries rape within marriage was still legal .
Language promoting women ’ s sexual and reproductive health is long-agreed internationally , including in resolutions adopted by the Security Council in 2009 and 2013 and several resolutions adopted annually by the 193-member General Assembly .
However , the United States under Trump has pushed to remove such language from new U.N. resolutions .
The Trump administration also cut funding in 2017 for the U.N. Population Fund because it believed it was linked to an abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was an inaccurate perception .
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1973 that women have the right to choose whether or not to have an abortion but the issue is still divisive in the United States .
“ The U.N. should not put itself in a position of promoting or suggesting a right to abortion , whether it is humanitarian or development work , ” U.S .
Ambassador to the United Nations , Kelly Craft , said in October .
“ I find it pretty strange that the United States is mobilizing so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you look at the bigger picture is the main threat to the world today abortions ?
Or is it an assertive China ?
A Russia that is expansionist ?
Let ’ s just get our focus right here , ” said a senior European diplomat , speaking on condition of anonymity .
Last year Washington threatened to veto a Security Council resolution if a reference was not cut citing the need for U.N. bodies and donors to give timely “ sexual and reproductive health ” assistance to survivors of sexual violence in conflict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urge governments to achieve gender parity in senior leadership .
He said he achieved gender parity among his senior leadership team - on Jan. 1 , 90 women and 90 men were in the ranks of full-time senior leadership , two years ahead of the target date he set .
“ Women have equaled and outperformed men in almost every sphere , ” he said .
“ It is time to stop trying to change women , and start changing the systems that prevent them from achieving their potential .
”

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Feb 27 (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called women’s inequality “stupid” and a cause for global shame on Thursday, as he pledged to press governments to end discriminatory laws in the face of a “strong and relentless pushback” against women’s rights.
While Guterres did not name and shame, President Donald Trump’s administration has led a push at the U.N. against the promotion of sexual and reproductive health services for women because the administration sees that as code for abortion.
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U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said legal protections against rape and domestic violence were also being diluted or rolled back. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Speaking ahead of the annual meeting of the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women in New York next month, Guterres warned that the state of women’s rights was dire and said he would seek to end “default male thinking” across the United Nations.
“Just as slavery and colonialism were a stain on previous centuries, women’s inequality should shame us all in the 21st. Because it is not only unacceptable; it is stupid,” Guterres said in a speech to The New School in New York.
He said legal protections against rape and domestic violence were being diluted or rolled back and that in 34 countries rape within marriage was still legal.
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“There is a strong and relentless pushback against women’s rights,” Guterres said. “Women’s sexual and reproductive rights are under threat from different sides.”
Language promoting women’s sexual and reproductive health is long-agreed internationally, including in resolutions adopted by the Security Council in 2009 and 2013 and several resolutions adopted annually by the 193-member General Assembly.
However, the United States under Trump has pushed to remove such language from new U.N. resolutions. The Trump administration also cut funding in 2017 for the U.N. Population Fund because it believed it was linked to an abortion program, but the U.N. said that was an inaccurate perception.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1973 that women have the right to choose whether or not to have an abortion but the issue is still divisive in the United States.
“The U.N. should not put itself in a position of promoting or suggesting a right to abortion, whether it is humanitarian or development work,” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, said in October.
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The United States has received support for its stance from countries including Russia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Guatemala, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Sudan, Uganda, Poland and Hungary.
“I find it pretty strange that the United States is mobilizing so hard on this issue ... because if you look at the bigger picture is the main threat to the world today abortions? Or is it an assertive China? A Russia that is expansionist? Let’s just get our focus right here,” said a senior European diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Last year Washington threatened to veto a Security Council resolution if a reference was not cut citing the need for U.N. bodies and donors to give timely “sexual and reproductive health” assistance to survivors of sexual violence in conflict.
Guterres said on Thursday he would urge governments to achieve gender parity in senior leadership. He said he achieved gender parity among his senior leadership team - on Jan. 1, 90 women and 90 men were in the ranks of full-time senior leadership, two years ahead of the target date he set.
“Women have equaled and outperformed men in almost every sphere,” he said. “It is time to stop trying to change women, and start changing the systems that prevent them from achieving their potential.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-27--Court Keeps Ex-Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Conviction, Citing Trump Pardon

PHOENIX ( AP ) — An appeals court has denied former Phoenix-area Sheriff Joe Arpaio ’ s bid to erase his criminal conviction for disobeying a 2011 court order , saying President Donald Trump ’ s pardon makes it unnecessary .
Arpaio , who was defeated for reelection in 2016 after six terms , had argued the misdemeanor contempt of court conviction should be removed from his record so it can ’ t be raised against him in future court cases .
The 87-year-old lawman , who is running for sheriff again this year , called the decision a victory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Trump ’ s pardon removed his possible punishments and that pardons don ’ t erase convictions or the facts of cases .
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday rejected Arpaio ’ s request , saying the verdict no longer has any legal consequence because of the pardon .
The judges explained Arpaio was pardoned before he could be sentenced and that the final judgment in the case ended up dismissing the contempt charge .
Despite the ruling , Arpaio and his attorney portrayed the decision as a victory because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal consequences .
“ They can ’ t use that conviction against me in a court of law , ” Arpaio said .
“ That ’ s a win.
” Jack Wilenchik , one of Arpaio ’ s attorneys , said the appeals court gave them what they were asking for .
“ The 9th Circuit expressly found that the guilty finding has no future preclusive effect , which is what Arpaio actually sought , ” Wilenchik said .
“ This has exactly the same effect as an order ‘ vacating ’ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously said there were no legal consequences to the verdict .
The U.S. Department of Justice , which had won the conviction , later sided with Arpaio after the pardon was issued and argued the conviction should be expunged .
Arpaio was accused of prolonging his immigration patrols for 17 months to boost his 2012 re-election .
He has acknowledged continuing the patrols but insisted his disobedience wasn ’ t intentional .

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PHOENIX (AP) — An appeals court has denied former Phoenix-area Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s bid to erase his criminal conviction for disobeying a 2011 court order, saying President Donald Trump’s pardon makes it unnecessary.
Arpaio was convicted for disobeying an order barring his traffic patrols that targeted immigrants.
Arpaio, who was defeated for reelection in 2016 after six terms, had argued the misdemeanor contempt of court conviction should be removed from his record so it can’t be raised against him in future court cases. The 87-year-old lawman, who is running for sheriff again this year, called the decision a victory.
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A 2017 lower court decision also said Trump’s pardon removed his possible punishments and that pardons don’t erase convictions or the facts of cases.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday rejected Arpaio’s request, saying the verdict no longer has any legal consequence because of the pardon. The judges explained Arpaio was pardoned before he could be sentenced and that the final judgment in the case ended up dismissing the contempt charge.
Despite the ruling, Arpaio and his attorney portrayed the decision as a victory because the ruling found the guilty verdict has no legal consequences. “They can’t use that conviction against me in a court of law,” Arpaio said. “That’s a win.”
Jack Wilenchik, one of Arpaio’s attorneys, said the appeals court gave them what they were asking for.
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“The 9th Circuit expressly found that the guilty finding has no future preclusive effect, which is what Arpaio actually sought,” Wilenchik said. “This has exactly the same effect as an order ‘vacating’ the verdict.”
Special prosecutor Christopher Caldwell had previously said there were no legal consequences to the verdict.
The U.S. Department of Justice, which had won the conviction, later sided with Arpaio after the pardon was issued and argued the conviction should be expunged.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-27--Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Jesus Would Be Maligned As ‘Radical’ By Today’s Congress

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-N.Y. ) used her Christian faith to ardently defend the rights of LGBTQ Americans during a congressional committee hearing on Thursday ― calling out the “ bigotry ” of those who use Christianity to discriminate against this marginalized community .
She said it strikes her that “ if Christ himself walked through these doors and said what he said thousands of years ago ― that we should love our neighbor and our enemy , that we should welcome the stranger , fight for the least of us , that it is easier ... for a camel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needle than for a rich man to get into a kingdom of heaven ― he would be maligned as a radical and rejected from these doors.
” “ The Trump administration has been working zealously to turn the government into an instrument of hostility and opposition towards LGBTQ rights across the executive branch of government , ” Raskin said .
Last year , an NBC News and Columbia Journalism Investigation found that Trump ’ s Justice Department filed more amicus briefs in religious liberties cases in its first two years than the Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first two years .
Raskin pointed to an amicus brief the Justice Department filed in support of Masterpiece Cakeshop , the Colorado bakery that argued it had a right , for religious reasons , to refuse to make customized wedding cakes for gay customers .
He also referred to a proposed Health and Human Services Department rule that would have allowed health care workers to refuse care due to religious convictions .
A federal judge voided the “ conscience ” rule in November .
LGBTQ groups had argued that the rule would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The White House , in a response to HuffPost , accused Raskin and Ocasio-Cortez of “ deliberately distorting the president ’ s record ” and refusing to “ credit any action he ’ s taken to protect and promote LGBTQ Americans.
” “ The president believes in human dignity for all and that no one should be discriminated against , including religious organizations and the LGBTQ community , ” a White House spokesperson said in an email .
“ Since taking office , President Trump has taken actions that build on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right to religious freedom by eliminating unfair and unequal treatment by the federal government.
” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-N.Y. ) , speaking at a House committee hearing Thursday , talked about her own faith and decried those who cite religious reasons for rejecting medical care for people .
She cited a Catholic hospital that canceled a scheduled hysterectomy for a transgender man .
Among the witnesses at Thursday ’ s hearing was Evan Minton , a transgender man who is suing a Catholic hospital in California for canceling his hysterectomy .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case to justify why the conscience rule was necessary .
“ There is nothing holy about rejecting medical care of people , no matter who they are , on the grounds of what their identity is , ” she said .
“ There is nothing holy about turning someone away from a hospital.
” “ White supremacists have done it , those who justified slavery did it , those who fought against integration did it and we ’ re seeing it today , ” she said .

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) used her Christian faith to ardently defend the rights of LGBTQ Americans during a congressional committee hearing on Thursday ― calling out the “bigotry” of those who use Christianity to discriminate against this marginalized community.
The lawmaker suggested that Jesus himself would be “maligned as a radical” by today’s Congress for his message of love and inclusion.
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She said it strikes her that “if Christ himself walked through these doors and said what he said thousands of years ago ― that we should love our neighbor and our enemy, that we should welcome the stranger, fight for the least of us, that it is easier ... for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into a kingdom of heaven ― he would be maligned as a radical and rejected from these doors.”
Ocasio-Cortez was speaking at a Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on the ways the Trump administration has tried to undermine LGBTQ rights.
In opening remarks, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) said the Trump administration has used executive orders, amicus briefs in legal disputes, and agency guidance and regulations to roll back protections for LGBTQ people.
“The Trump administration has been working zealously to turn the government into an instrument of hostility and opposition towards LGBTQ rights across the executive branch of government,” Raskin said.
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Last year, an NBC News and Columbia Journalism Investigation found that Trump’s Justice Department filed more amicus briefs in religious liberties cases in its first two years than the Obama and George W. Bush administrations during their first two years.
Raskin pointed to an amicus brief the Justice Department filed in support of Masterpiece Cakeshop, the Colorado bakery that argued it had a right, for religious reasons, to refuse to make customized wedding cakes for gay customers.
He also referred to a proposed Health and Human Services Department rule that would have allowed health care workers to refuse care due to religious convictions. A federal judge voided the “conscience” rule in November. LGBTQ groups had argued that the rule would have let providers deny care to queer patients.
The White House, in a response to HuffPost, accused Raskin and Ocasio-Cortez of “deliberately distorting the president’s record” and refusing to “credit any action he’s taken to protect and promote LGBTQ Americans.”
“The president believes in human dignity for all and that no one should be discriminated against, including religious organizations and the LGBTQ community,” a White House spokesperson said in an email. “Since taking office, President Trump has taken actions that build on his longstanding commitment to responsibly safeguard the fundamental right to religious freedom by eliminating unfair and unequal treatment by the federal government.”
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), speaking at a House committee hearing Thursday, talked about her own faith and decried those who cite religious reasons for rejecting medical care for people. She cited a Catholic hospital that canceled a scheduled hysterectomy for a transgender man. Oversight Committee / YouTube
Among the witnesses at Thursday’s hearing was Evan Minton, a transgender man who is suing a Catholic hospital in California for canceling his hysterectomy. The Trump administration had cited Minton’s case to justify why the conscience rule was necessary.
Ocasio-Cortez said that her faith teaches her that Minton’s life is sacred and that he deserves equal access to medical care.
“There is nothing holy about rejecting medical care of people, no matter who they are, on the grounds of what their identity is,” she said. “There is nothing holy about turning someone away from a hospital.”
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The congresswoman said Thursday that America has a history of using scripture to justify bigotry.
“White supremacists have done it, those who justified slavery did it, those who fought against integration did it and we’re seeing it today,” she said.
She accused the Trump administration of advancing the idea that “faith is about exclusion.”
“I know and it is part of my faith that all people are holy and all people are sacred. Unconditionally,” Ocasio-Cortez said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-27--Hillary Clinton’s New Gig: Podcaster

Hillary Clinton’s New Gig: Podcaster

Former secretary of state and 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will launch her own podcast in the coming months , Politico reported on Thursday .
The show , which doesn ’ t have a title yet , will be co-produced by iHeartMedia and come out sometime in late spring as the 2020 election heats up , potentially giving Clinton a powerful megaphone as Democrats vie for the chance to unseat President Donald Trump .
Episodes of the podcast will feature Clinton speaking with a high-profile guest ( ranging from celebrities to world leaders ) as well as a discussion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show isn ’ t yet finalized , according to Politico , and Clinton is looking for a co-host of some kind .
Clinton is sure to play some sort of role in the coming months as the slate of Democratic candidates gets whittled down going into the party ’ s national convention in July .
She ’ s already waded into the fray at times after a period of relative quiet .
Last month , Clinton said on a podcast that she was distressed by the behavior of Sen. Bernie Sanders ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bros , ” during the 2016 campaign and berated the senator for not doing enough to unify the party after Trump defeated her in the general election .
“ I don ’ t care who the nominee is , ” Clinton said of the 2020 election , noting the division from 2016 “ could not ” happen again .
“ I don ’ t care .
As long as it ’ s somebody who can win , and as long as it ’ s somebody who understands politics is the art of addition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a documentary project set to air next month that shared her views about Sanders , her one-time rival : “ Nobody likes him , nobody wants to work with him , he got nothing done.
” Clinton was asked in January if that assessment still held , and she replied simply : “ Yes , it does.
” ( She later said she would do whatever she could to support the party ’ s nominee . )
The comments rattled the Democratic establishment , who worried they would further divide the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Politico noted Thursday that Clinton was inspired to launch the podcast after two instances : speaking with comedian Conan O ’ Brien for an episode of this audio show as she promoted a book co-written with her daughter , and a 2½-hour chat with shock jock Howard Stern last year .
A person close to Clinton told Politico the ideal format would be “ a meeting of the minds with people of grit and determination .
”

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Former secretary of state and 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will launch her own podcast in the coming months, Politico reported on Thursday.
The show, which doesn’t have a title yet, will be co-produced by iHeartMedia and come out sometime in late spring as the 2020 election heats up, potentially giving Clinton a powerful megaphone as Democrats vie for the chance to unseat President Donald Trump.
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Episodes of the podcast will feature Clinton speaking with a high-profile guest (ranging from celebrities to world leaders) as well as a discussion of recent news. The lineup of the show isn’t yet finalized, according to Politico, and Clinton is looking for a co-host of some kind.
Clinton is sure to play some sort of role in the coming months as the slate of Democratic candidates gets whittled down going into the party’s national convention in July.
She’s already waded into the fray at times after a period of relative quiet. Last month, Clinton said on a podcast that she was distressed by the behavior of Sen. Bernie Sanders’s supporters, colloquially known as “Bernie bros,” during the 2016 campaign and berated the senator for not doing enough to unify the party after Trump defeated her in the general election.
“I don’t care who the nominee is,” Clinton said of the 2020 election, noting the division from 2016 “could not” happen again. “I don’t care. As long as it’s somebody who can win, and as long as it’s somebody who understands politics is the art of addition, not subtraction.”
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She also participated in a documentary project set to air next month that shared her views about Sanders, her one-time rival: “Nobody likes him, nobody wants to work with him, he got nothing done.” Clinton was asked in January if that assessment still held, and she replied simply: “Yes, it does.” (She later said she would do whatever she could to support the party’s nominee.)
The comments rattled the Democratic establishment, who worried they would further divide the party as it works to unify against Trump.
Politico noted Thursday that Clinton was inspired to launch the podcast after two instances: speaking with comedian Conan O’Brien for an episode of this audio show as she promoted a book co-written with her daughter, and a 2½-hour chat with shock jock Howard Stern last year.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-27--Elise Stefanik, Newest Star Of Trumpworld, Has Turned Impeachment Into A Fundraising Boon

Impeachment appears to have been a boon for Trump , with the president enjoying the highest approval ratings of his presidency .
Impeachment has also been a boon for Stefanik , who in November will defend the northern New York seat — in the state ’ s 21st Congressional District — that she has held since 2015 .
Stefanik ’ s most recent campaign filing revealed that she raised $ 3.2 million in the last three months of 2019 .
That exceeded the reelection haul of progressive darling Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , D-N.Y. , according to New York politics outlet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has focused progressive ire at Stefanik , potentially making the race more competitive than it would have otherwise been .
In one tweet sent in the midst of the House impeachment inquiry , George Conway , the Republican attorney who is one of Trump ’ s most ferocious opponents , called Stefanik “ lying trash ” and urged his 940,000 followers to give to her opponent .
They did , with Cobb reporting $ 2.05 million in contributions in the final fiscal quarter of 2019 .
The first public testimony in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year , with appearances from William Taylor , then the acting ambassador to Ukraine , and George Kent , a top State Department official .
As they had in earlier closed-door depositions , both career public servants provided testimony that was critical of Trump ’ s efforts to pressure Ukrainian authorities to open investigations that could benefit him .
Stefanik pushed back against their narrative .
In crisp and focused questioning of the two witnesses , she had them concede that Ukraine did struggle with corruption and that , despite concerns , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused of withholding until Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced investigations that could help Trump politically .
She also compelled Taylor to say the Trump administration had provided more military aid to Kyiv than the Obama administration had .
Members of Congress can be as partisan as they want in their appeals , but they are forbidden from using footage of hearings , or floor proceedings , in fundraising efforts .
In a letter sent on June 7 , 2018 , the House Ethics Committee reminded legislators that “ rules specifically prohibit the use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committee proceedings for any partisan political purpose.
” A complaint regarding Stefanik ’ s use of impeachment footage was filed by Susan Delehanty , a Stefanik constituent who lives in the Adirondack Mountains region of New York , and sent to Omar Ashmawy , chief counsel of the Office of Congressional Ethics , on Dec. 9 .
In her complaint , Delehanty asked Ashmawy to “ initiate an investigation ” into Stefanik , who according to the letter “ seems to have violated well-established House ethics rules that prohibit the use of official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including House committee proceedings.
” A spokesman for the Office of Congressional Ethics declined to comment on the complaint , though Delehanty was sent an email acknowledging that it had been received .
The spokesman said that if an investigation were to be launched , Stefanik would be notified .
The results of such an investigation would not necessarily be made public .
In an email exchange with Yahoo News , Delehanty reiterated that she was acting out of principle .
She said she was “ incensed ” by Stefanik ’ s behavior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw that Stefanik was using impeachment clips to raise funds for reelection , she said , her anger compounded .
She adds that she “ researched how to file a complaint ” and discussed the matter with like-minded friends , including individuals affiliated with the Cobb campaign .
It was the Cobb campaign that initially notified Yahoo News of the existence of the complaint .
A spokesman for the campaign declined to say whether anyone from the Cobb camp helped Delehanty in writing it .
When pressed on the matter , Delehanty did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was drafted .
“ I would say my letter was a group effort , but I had total control of the final product , ” she said .

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WASHINGTON — As she rose to stand in the East Room of the White House on Feb. 6, the eyes of the nation were upon Elise Stefanik. President Trump was celebrating his acquittal in the impeachment trial the day before with a freewheeling address that excoriated his critics and praised his supporters.
One by one, members of Congress stood to receive fulsome praise from the president, whether about their looks, their legal acumen or their reelection prospects.
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There was little doubt that Stefanik would be among those thanked by Trump. During the impeachment hearings that took place in the House of Representatives in November, she emerged as a conservative celebrity for her dogged defense of the president.
“It’s most incredible what’s going on with you, Elise,” Trump said to Stefanik. “You were killing them.”
Impeachment appears to have been a boon for Trump, with the president enjoying the highest approval ratings of his presidency. Impeachment has also been a boon for Stefanik, who in November will defend the northern New York seat — in the state’s 21st Congressional District — that she has held since 2015. Stefanik’s most recent campaign filing revealed that she raised $3.2 million in the last three months of 2019. That exceeded the reelection haul of progressive darling Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., according to New York politics outlet City & State.
Stefanik has raised money from the likes of former libertarian presidential candidate Ross Perot Jr. and Karl Rove, the mastermind behind George W. Bush’s successful 2000 presidential campaign. While the amounts they donated are not enormous, the donations themselves are significant, adding credibility to the notion that Stefanik is indeed a conservative on the rise.
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At the same time, she has accepted contributions from a disgraced casino magnate, as well as from a Florida-based donor who made racist statements about President Barack Obama.
While impeachment has proved helpful for her fundraising, it’s also sparked a backlash against her. Before impeachment, no national effort to unseat Stefanik was underway: Trump won NY-21 by 14 points.
That had also been Stefanik’s margin over Tedra Cobb, a county politician who is challenging her for the seat again. “She’s not vulnerable in 2020,” concluded polling expert Dave Wasserman, observing that Stefanik is “well-aligned with her North Country district,” which voted twice for Obama before moving sharply right in 2016.
Impeachment, however, has focused progressive ire at Stefanik, potentially making the race more competitive than it would have otherwise been. In one tweet sent in the midst of the House impeachment inquiry, George Conway, the Republican attorney who is one of Trump’s most ferocious opponents, called Stefanik “lying trash” and urged his 940,000 followers to give to her opponent. They did, with Cobb reporting $2.05 million in contributions in the final fiscal quarter of 2019.
Act Blue, the progressive political group, has also singled her out. “We don’t need another grandstanding Trump sycophant in Congress,” it says on an anti-Stefanik fundraising page.
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Mark Wilson via Getty Images
All this has turned a picturesque swath of the Adirondack Mountains into a proxy battle over the Trump administration, with Stefanik having become — as both supporters and detractors will note — a symbol of loyalty to Trump.
Like many Republicans, Stefanik cast impeachment as a partisan affair, an effort they charged Democrats launched to negate the 2016 election and sway the 2020 contest.
The first public testimony in the impeachment inquiry came on Nov. 13 of last year, with appearances from William Taylor, then the acting ambassador to Ukraine, and George Kent, a top State Department official. As they had in earlier closed-door depositions, both career public servants provided testimony that was critical of Trump’s efforts to pressure Ukrainian authorities to open investigations that could benefit him.
Stefanik pushed back against their narrative. In crisp and focused questioning of the two witnesses, she had them concede that Ukraine did struggle with corruption and that, despite concerns, Ukraine still received the aid Trump was accused of withholding until Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced investigations that could help Trump politically. She also compelled Taylor to say the Trump administration had provided more military aid to Kyiv than the Obama administration had.
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Just hours after that testimony, Stefanik’s reelection campaign sent an email to supporters. “WATCH: I EXPOSED ADAM SCHIFF,” the subject line said. The body of the email shows a prominent “Elise for Congress” logo.
“Today, millions of Americans tuned into the first public hearing focused on impeachment,” the text of the email reads. “This is after two months of closed door meetings in the basement of the Capitol as part of Adam Schiff’s Regime of Secrecy. WATCH my questions from today.” There follows a YouTube clip of her questioning Taylor and Kent.
The email ends with an appeal for funds: “Please donate today to stand against this partisan political process orchestrated by Adam Schiff.”
Members of Congress can be as partisan as they want in their appeals, but they are forbidden from using footage of hearings, or floor proceedings, in fundraising efforts. In a letter sent on June 7, 2018, the House Ethics Committee reminded legislators that “rules specifically prohibit the use of footage of House Floor activities and committee proceedings for any partisan political purpose.”
The Stefanik campaign’s YouTube page — which features the campaign logo — also contains several videos from the impeachment inquiry. The clips have titles like “Adam Schiff Refuses to yield to Stefanik at Impeachment Hearing Day 2.”
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A complaint regarding Stefanik’s use of impeachment footage was filed by Susan Delehanty, a Stefanik constituent who lives in the Adirondack Mountains region of New York, and sent to Omar Ashmawy, chief counsel of the Office of Congressional Ethics, on Dec. 9. In her complaint, Delehanty asked Ashmawy to “initiate an investigation” into Stefanik, who according to the letter “seems to have violated well-established House ethics rules that prohibit the use of official House resources for partisan campaign purposes, including House committee proceedings.”
The letter notes that in addition to the fundraising email and the YouTube channel, Stefanik sent out clips of the impeachment hearings from a Twitter account associated with her reelection campaign.
Delehanty told Yahoo News that while she is a supporter of Stefanik’s opponent, Cobb, “I am sick and tired of Stefanik putting herself and her party ahead of the North County,” she said in a written statement. “I watched in shock at the Congresswoman’s partisan behavior in the House Intelligence Committee Hearings this November.”
A spokesman for the Office of Congressional Ethics declined to comment on the complaint, though Delehanty was sent an email acknowledging that it had been received. The spokesman said that if an investigation were to be launched, Stefanik would be notified. The results of such an investigation would not necessarily be made public.
In an email exchange with Yahoo News, Delehanty reiterated that she was acting out of principle. She said she was “incensed” by Stefanik’s behavior during the impeachment inquiry. When she saw that Stefanik was using impeachment clips to raise funds for reelection, she said, her anger compounded. She adds that she “researched how to file a complaint” and discussed the matter with like-minded friends, including individuals affiliated with the Cobb campaign.
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Handout . / Reuters
It was the Cobb campaign that initially notified Yahoo News of the existence of the complaint. A spokesman for the campaign declined to say whether anyone from the Cobb camp helped Delehanty in writing it. When pressed on the matter, Delehanty did not divulge specifics regarding how the complaint was drafted. “I would say my letter was a group effort, but I had total control of the final product,” she said.
The Stefanik campaign maintains that it did nothing wrong.
“Our office has never been notified about an ethics investigation since Congresswoman Stefanik was sworn into office,” said Stefanik spokeswoman Maddie Anderson, who is both part of her campaign and her House office staff (such arrangements are not uncommon in Washington).
Several top ethics attorneys who reviewed Delehanty’s complaint agreed with its core argument.
“I think Rep. Stefanik’s use of video of the House hearing to solicit political contributions is a serious violation of that rule,” says Larry Noble, the former general counsel of the Federal Election Commission. “The rule is clear, and so is the guidance given by the House Ethics Committee.”
Donald K. Sherman, general counsel of the ethics watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington — a group that routinely opposes the Trump administration — agrees with that assessment. “House Ethics Committee guidance clearly prohibits Members from using video of committee proceedings for campaign purposes,” said Sherman, who was previously a high-ranking Senate attorney, “which Rep. Stefanik appears to have done nine times in the last six months.
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“It seems that in her rush to defend the misconduct of a corrupt President, Rep. Stefanik has joined him in breaking ethics rules for political purposes.”
Stefanik has also been criticized for sending a Jan. 9 fundraising appeal that showed a doctored photograph of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The image was manipulated to make Pelosi look older and more sinister. Stefanik took the criticism in stride: “Thanks @washingtonpost for your article promoting & advertising my donation page urging Pelosi to stop her political games,” she wrote on Twitter. The message included emojis of stacks of cash, which Stefanik said were “flying in.”
The money does appear to be flying in. But with that comes scrutiny of who is doing the giving. Cobb’s campaign has recently begun to criticize her for taking money from Steve Wynn, a Las Vegas hotelier worth $3.1 billion. The onetime finance chairman of the Republican National Committee, Wynn was accused of sexual improprieties in 2018.
Stefanik also received $5,600 in 2019 from Steven Alembik, who was widely criticized in 2018 for making racist statements about President Obama and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Ron DeSantis, who was then a Florida gubernatorial candidate, was pressured to return Alembik’s donations, though he ultimately declined to do so. Alembik’s page on LinkedIn contains several photographs of him and DeSantis.
Stefanik’s campaign said it “condemns” Alembik’s “racist” statements and “will continue to speak out clearly and consistently against racism and sexism.”
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Her campaign declined to say whether she would return the money.
_____


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-28--Tom Steyer Predicts Coronavirus Will Be Donald Trump's Hurricane Katrina

Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer issued a stark warning to President Donald Trump about his administration ’ s handling of the coronavirus , saying it “ could be Trump ’ s Katrina.
” In an interview with Sirius XM host Dean Obeidallah on Thursday , the billionaire businessman questioned Trump ’ s ability to manage an outbreak of the COVID-19 virus , which the president controversially assigned to Vice President Mike Pence .
Trump “ is absolutely incompetent , ” said Steyer .
“ He stripped the Centers for Disease Control of its money and of its capability .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is a huge deal and he ’ s turning it over to Mike Pence ?
I can ’ t be more scared .
This is a much bigger deal than I think people in the United States understand in terms of how many people are going to be infected and how much economic impact this is going to have .
Trump is incompetent .
He is doing a terrible job on this .
Steyer recalled Republicans being “ up in arms ” over the 2014 outbreak of the Ebola virus and hailed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it “ masterfully ” because “ he believed in analysis and science.
” “ I think this a huge , huge deal , because this is like George W. Bush with the hurricane and flooding down in New Orleans , ” Steyer added .
“ It ’ s a total executive failure by an incompetent executive.
” The Bush administration was widely criticized by a slow and sloppy response to the devastating 2005 storm that caused an estimated $ 161 billion of damage and was responsible for more than 1,800 deaths .
Steyer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which he claimed “ we are witnessing a total failure on the part of the White House right now that risks a Katrina level disaster for our country.
” The “ chaos that reigns inside the White House ” puts “ millions of American lives at risk , ” the email said .
It urged Trump to fully fund the CDC and to take the agency ’ s advice seriously by acting “ immediately and appropriately to protect the lives of American citizens .
”

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Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer issued a stark warning to President Donald Trump about his administration’s handling of the coronavirus, saying it “could be Trump’s Katrina.”
In an interview with Sirius XM host Dean Obeidallah on Thursday, the billionaire businessman questioned Trump’s ability to manage an outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, which the president controversially assigned to Vice President Mike Pence.
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Trump “is absolutely incompetent,” said Steyer. “He stripped the Centers for Disease Control of its money and of its capability. He’s months late on this.”
He added:
This is a huge deal and he’s turning it over to Mike Pence? I can’t be more scared. This is a much bigger deal than I think people in the United States understand in terms of how many people are going to be infected and how much economic impact this is going to have. Trump is incompetent. He is doing a terrible job on this.
Steyer recalled Republicans being “up in arms” over the 2014 outbreak of the Ebola virus and hailed former President Barack Obama for dealing with it “masterfully” because “he believed in analysis and science.”
“That’s not what is happening here,” he lamented.
“I think this a huge, huge deal, because this is like George W. Bush with the hurricane and flooding down in New Orleans,” Steyer added. “It’s a total executive failure by an incompetent executive.”
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The Bush administration was widely criticized by a slow and sloppy response to the devastating 2005 storm that caused an estimated $161 billion of damage and was responsible for more than 1,800 deaths.
Check out the interview here:
Steyer followed up Friday with a campaign email in which he claimed “we are witnessing a total failure on the part of the White House right now that risks a Katrina level disaster for our country.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-27--Joe Biden Bets Big On South Carolina, But Super Tuesday Could Be A Problem

Hours earlier , Biden ’ s longtime friend and the highest-ranking Black member of Congress , Rep. Jim Clyburn ( D-S.C. ) , delivered an emotional endorsement for his presidential bid .
Though expected , the congressman ’ s nod was welcome news to a campaign that has struggled to gain traction this year .
With last week ’ s second-place finish in Nevada under its belt , however , Biden ’ s team is hoping that a victory in South Carolina will help catapult him to further success in next week ’ s Super Tuesday contests , where he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a lack of resources .
Biden ’ s attention to California , in particular , has been almost nonexistent .
He hasn ’ t held a major event there since November .
The New York Times reported “ no sign of life ” at one of his campaign offices in Los Angeles this month .
He ’ ll head there on Tuesday , the day of its primary , after making a stop in North Carolina this weekend .
Meanwhile , over 1 million California Democrats have already voted in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t be more different from that of Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) , the front-runner who has out-organized and out-fundraised everyone else in the race .
The Vermont senator is making moves to potentially collect enough delegates by the middle of March that no one else can catch up with him in the race for the nomination .
He ’ s leading in the polls in most Super Tuesday states , including in California .
His campaign this week scheduled stops in Sen. Elizabeth Warren ’ s home state of Massachusetts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state of Minnesota ― a power play aimed at spoiling their chances of sweeping all delegates there .
He ’ s got a big Los Angeles rally scheduled for Sunday .
Biden got off to a good start in South Carolina this week with a strong performance at Tuesday ’ s Democratic debate in Charleston , where he delivered blows against Sanders over his past opposition to gun control measures , and at a CNN town hall on Wednesday in which he appeared to win over some voters .
An emotional answer he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beau , who died of brain cancer , to the loss a reverend experienced when his wife was killed in the 2015 Charleston church shooting also won him high marks with the town hall audience .
It was the kind of heartfelt answer Biden can give when he ’ s not feeling pressed for time , as he often is on the debate stage .
The former vice president , who struggled with a speech impediment as a child , appears more comfortable in town hall settings than under the glare of stage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and delivers disjointed statements .
The former hedge fund manager held a meet and greet at a small Baptist church in Georgetown on Wednesday , just blocks away from Biden ’ s event .
Hand fans with Steyer ’ s face emblazoned on them were spread out on a table for attendees , as well as T-shirts that said “ Invest in HBCUs , ” or historically black colleges and universities .
An introductory speaker warmed up the crowd by leading a chant that will sound awfully familiar to Obama supporters : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Ready to go !
” the crowd shouted back .
Steyer ’ s connection with Black voters in South Carolina has not gone unnoticed by Biden ’ s campaign .
During one particularly heated exchange in Tuesday ’ s presidential primary debate , Biden brought up Steyer ’ s hedge fund ’ s investment in the country ’ s largest private prison corporation in the early 2000s .
He “ bought a system that was a private prison system after he knew that , in fact , what happened was they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this state , ” Biden alleged .
Steyer , meanwhile , said Biden was being misleading .
“ I bought stock in a prison company thinking they ’ d do a better job , and I investigated , and I sold it , ” he said .
What has had surprisingly little effect in the race here so far is a New York Times article from last week that called into question a story Biden has told on the campaign trail in recent weeks : that on a visit to South Africa decades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mandela in prison and got arrested .
The Times was unable to verify the claim about his arrest , and the Biden campaign did not respond to queries about it for several days .
On Tuesday , the day of the debate , however , a senior Biden campaign official offered this explanation : that Biden got “ separated ” from a congressional delegation on the trip and that he was referring to that event on the campaign trail .
The former vice president has not repeated the story while campaigning in South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in South Carolina this week ahead of the primary on Saturday .
Trump , meanwhile , is scheduled to hold a rally in North Charleston on Friday .
One wild-card factor in the race is an effort by some state Republican activists to get party voters to support Sanders in the open primary , boosting the candidate many in the GOP view as the easiest rival for Trump in November .
A pro-Trump super PAC has also aired an ad in the state attacking Biden by using misleading audio from Obama .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it be taken down .

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GEORGETOWN, S.C. ― “Today was an important day for me,” former Vice President Joe Biden declared Wednesday at a town hall packed with supporters in South Carolina, a state that is critical to his chances of becoming the Democratic presidential nominee and taking on President Donald Trump in November.
Hours earlier, Biden’s longtime friend and the highest-ranking Black member of Congress, Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), delivered an emotional endorsement for his presidential bid. Though expected, the congressman’s nod was welcome news to a campaign that has struggled to gain traction this year. With last week’s second-place finish in Nevada under its belt, however, Biden’s team is hoping that a victory in South Carolina will help catapult him to further success in next week’s Super Tuesday contests, where he’s not been as visible due to a lack of resources.
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“I know Joe. We know Joe. But most importantly, Joe knows us,” Clyburn said Wednesday at a press conference in North Charleston that Biden is banking on to solidify his support with Black voters, who make up roughly two-thirds of registered Democrats in South Carolina.
Biden doesn’t just need to win in the Palmetto State ― he needs to dominate. A blowout victory here would help boost his momentum across the 14 states that will head to the polls on March 3 ― which together contain about 40 percent of the U.S. population.
Joe Biden campaigns in Georgetown, South Carolina. Igor Bobic/HuffPost
Unlike other candidates in the race who are more flush with cash, however, Biden hasn’t been able to focus on competing in Super Tuesday states. His campaign only began running ads encouraging early voting in Super Tuesday states this week. They’re backed by a relatively paltry six-figure sum that likely won’t make a dent in expensive media markets like those of California and Texas.
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Biden’s attention to California, in particular, has been almost nonexistent. He hasn’t held a major event there since November. The New York Times reported “no sign of life” at one of his campaign offices in Los Angeles this month. He’ll head there on Tuesday, the day of its primary, after making a stop in North Carolina this weekend. Meanwhile, over 1 million California Democrats have already voted in the state’s primary.
The strategy couldn’t be more different from that of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the front-runner who has out-organized and out-fundraised everyone else in the race. The Vermont senator is making moves to potentially collect enough delegates by the middle of March that no one else can catch up with him in the race for the nomination. He’s leading in the polls in most Super Tuesday states, including in California. His campaign this week scheduled stops in Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s home state of Massachusetts and Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s home state of Minnesota ― a power play aimed at spoiling their chances of sweeping all delegates there. He’s got a big Los Angeles rally scheduled for Sunday.
Sanders is also threatening Biden’s standing in South Carolina. A Monmouth University poll of the state released Thursday showed him trailing Biden, 36% to 16%. But if he can finish above the 15% threshold, Sanders can deny Biden a clean delegate sweep here.
“Biden appears to be holding on to his core support among African Americans in South Carolina. The recent endorsement by Rep. James Clyburn should help solidify that,” Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, said in a statement.
Biden got off to a good start in South Carolina this week with a strong performance at Tuesday’s Democratic debate in Charleston, where he delivered blows against Sanders over his past opposition to gun control measures, and at a CNN town hall on Wednesday in which he appeared to win over some voters. An emotional answer he gave connecting the loss of his son Beau, who died of brain cancer, to the loss a reverend experienced when his wife was killed in the 2015 Charleston church shooting also won him high marks with the town hall audience.
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“I kind of know what it’s like to lose family. And my heart goes out to you,” Biden said, wiping away tears from his eyes.
It was the kind of heartfelt answer Biden can give when he’s not feeling pressed for time, as he often is on the debate stage. The former vice president, who struggled with a speech impediment as a child, appears more comfortable in town hall settings than under the glare of stage lights where he often cuts himself off and delivers disjointed statements.
Steve Williams, a retired educator from Georgetown, called himself a “rock-solid” supporter of the former vice president even if his debate performances haven’t been quite up to par.
“I’m going to support him until there’s no need to support him anymore. I think he’s going to win,” Williams, who belongs to the local branch of the NAACP, said on Wednesday. “I wish Joe was a better debater but being a president is more than a debate.”
Veroncia Butler-Byre, an office manager at the College of Charleston who is undecided about who to support in Saturday’s primary, said she appreciated Biden’s work with former President Barack Obama.
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“I love Obama. He was tied to Obama. I’m not down with senators and politicians in general, but his experience can bring something to the table,” Butler-Byre said as she waited to hear the vice president at a rally on Monday in Charleston.
But other Black voters in South Carolina expressed concern about Biden’s age and his ability to debate because he’ll likely have to face Trump on stage later this year if he wins the Democratic nomination. Some are turning to other options ― like environmentalist billionaire Tom Steyer ― who has made racial justice a significant portion of his campaign stump speech.
“I love him ... but Trump’s going to mess him up,” Sherry Vanderhoff, a retiree who plans on supporting Steyer, said when asked about Biden.
Steyer has put significant time and money into the state’s Democratic primary. His campaign has essentially had the airwaves to itself for months here, spending millions of dollars on TV and radio ads. He, too, could stand in the way of Biden winning South Carolina in a total blowout.
The former hedge fund manager held a meet and greet at a small Baptist church in Georgetown on Wednesday, just blocks away from Biden’s event. Hand fans with Steyer’s face emblazoned on them were spread out on a table for attendees, as well as T-shirts that said “Invest in HBCUs,” or historically black colleges and universities. An introductory speaker warmed up the crowd by leading a chant that will sound awfully familiar to Obama supporters: “Steyered up!” the speaker shouted. “Ready to go!” the crowd shouted back.
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Steyer appeared and launched into a speech focused on racial justice and climate issues, calling for more recognition of African American contributions to society. He gave a shoutout to Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) for being the only member of Congress who voted against authorizing the war in Iraq and pushed back on the notion that he was defined by his wealth.
Wesley Gibson from Georgetown said Steyer won him over after spending a week with him at his “Need to Impeach” event in Washington, D.C., last year. Gibson said Steyer flew 500 people to the event, including him and his daughter, and paid for their hotel.
“Tom puts his money where his mouth his,” Gibson said Wednesday. “After spending a week with him, I was convinced that he’s the man. I was on the Joe [Biden] bandwagon. He’s a good statesman but I think Tom Steyer is the future because he knows the economy, he grew a small business into a multibillion-dollar business. He’s taking his money and taking it back into the community.”
Tom Steyer supporter Wesley Gibson holds up a photo of him and the businessman taken at an impeachment rally in Washington, D.C. Igor Bobic/HuffPost
Asked about Steyer, Butler-Byre said she didn’t know much except what she saw on TV.
“His commercials are really good,” was all she had to offer on Monday.
Steyer’s connection with Black voters in South Carolina has not gone unnoticed by Biden’s campaign. During one particularly heated exchange in Tuesday’s presidential primary debate, Biden brought up Steyer’s hedge fund’s investment in the country’s largest private prison corporation in the early 2000s. He “bought a system that was a private prison system after he knew that, in fact, what happened was they hogtied young men in prison here in this state,” Biden alleged. Steyer, meanwhile, said Biden was being misleading. “I bought stock in a prison company thinking they’d do a better job, and I investigated, and I sold it,” he said.
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What has had surprisingly little effect in the race here so far is a New York Times article from last week that called into question a story Biden has told on the campaign trail in recent weeks: that on a visit to South Africa decades ago, he tried to visit Nelson Mandela in prison and got arrested. The Times was unable to verify the claim about his arrest, and the Biden campaign did not respond to queries about it for several days. On Tuesday, the day of the debate, however, a senior Biden campaign official offered this explanation: that Biden got “separated” from a congressional delegation on the trip and that he was referring to that event on the campaign trail. The former vice president has not repeated the story while campaigning in South Carolina.
The story went unmentioned by the candidates on stage at Tuesday’s debate, but Steyer did respond to a question about it afterward.
“I don’t know the details. Do I think it’s right to make up stuff? I don’t think that’s right,” Steyer told HuffPost. “I don’t know any of the details. But to the extent he’s been doing that, that’s just wrong.”
Biden is making additional stops in South Carolina this week ahead of the primary on Saturday. Trump, meanwhile, is scheduled to hold a rally in North Charleston on Friday. One wild-card factor in the race is an effort by some state Republican activists to get party voters to support Sanders in the open primary, boosting the candidate many in the GOP view as the easiest rival for Trump in November. A pro-Trump super PAC has also aired an ad in the state attacking Biden by using misleading audio from Obama. A lawyer for the former president has requested it be taken down.
As Republicans attempt to sow discord, the stakes for Biden’s campaign couldn’t be higher. Even his most prominent supporters acknowledge he’ll need to do better than win by a narrow margin to change the trajectory of the race.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-27--Bloomberg On Ex-Felon Voting Rights In 2018: 'They're Not Going To Vote Anyway'

During an event at New York University in May 2018 , the former New York mayor lamented that “ good government ” advocates , such as those who pushed for a moratorium on earmarks , were getting in the way of “ practical stuff , ” including elections apparently .
“ What is the purpose of elections ?
In America , it is to give everybody the ability to express themselves , ” Bloomberg said during the Q & A with Miami Marlins co-owner Ari Ackerman .
“ And so we argue about whether or not convicted felons who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t know why we spend so much time ― they ’ re not going to vote anyway .
They ’ re so few , come on.
” He added : “ We argue about whether the right age is 21 or 18 , or whatever .
Why don ’ t we maybe say , ‘ If you ’ ve never taken a civics course , or you don ’ t know history and you can ’ t read , you shouldn ’ t be able to vote.
’ That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , our elections are on making sure people have a right to express themselves.
” For instance , in 2018 , he argued that increasing the minimum wage was one of the many “ impediments to job creation.
” Now that he ’ s running for president , he supports a $ 15 minimum wage , following the rest of the Democratic field .
What ’ s more , Bloomberg was a staunch proponent of the controversial stop-and-frisk policing policy , which disproportionately affected Black and Latino communities , during most of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the policy as recently as 2015 , claiming “ all the crime ” takes place in minority communities .
There are 11 states in the U.S. that strip individuals with felony convictions of their right to vote indefinitely ( unless granted a governor ’ s pardon in certain cases ) .
In 21 additional states , convicted felons don ’ t immediately regain their right to vote after finishing their sentences and may be required to pay fees first .
Like stop and frisk , felony disenfranchisement policies have a disproportionate impact on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 6.1 million voters were barred from voting due to such policies , according to the Sentencing Project .
About 2.2 million Black citizens are prohibited from voting , the group reported .
Black Americans of voting age are four times more likely to lose their voting rights than the overall adult population , and in four states ― Florida , Kentucky , Tennessee and Virginia ― more than one in five Black adults are disenfranchised , according to the Sentencing Project .
“ In prison , they made sure to tell us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vote , unless the governor restores your rights , ’ ” Assaddique Abdul-Rahman , a convicted felon who became an organizer for voting rights after his release , told The New York Times in 2018 .
“ I knew that those who could not vote did not have power .
We were the underbelly.
” But Bloomberg , that same year , shrugged off the issue , declaring in his throwaway remark that convicted felons wouldn ’ t vote even if they had the chance .
Of course , his statement 13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those rights struck a decidedly different tone .
“ The right to vote is the fundamental right that protects all of the others , but in states around the country , it is under attack , ” he said in his statement .
“ That ’ s a disgrace to our Constitution and an insult to generations of people who fought and marched to win the right to vote.
” “ Xi Jinping changed term limits ― I ’ m a little bit conflicted in this , ” Bloomberg said with a chuckle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audience .
“ But Xi Jinping changed term limits and there was no outcry .
Why ?
Because they think he ’ s doing a good job .
And if he ’ s not doing a good job , they ’ ll find a way to get rid of him .
...
When I changed term limits , some people didn ’ t like it , but it was perfectly legal.
” While Xi has maintained substantial support among impoverished communities , he has increased censorship and mass surveillance , and intensified a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for punishment under Xi ’ s regime , there was , in fact , some public outcry over the government ’ s decision to abolish presidential term limits .

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Democratic presidential hopeful Michael Bloomberg released a plan last month to restore voting rights to convicted felons who have served their sentences, but he didn’t seem too enthusiastic about the issue just a year earlier.
During an event at New York University in May 2018, the former New York mayor lamented that “good government” advocates, such as those who pushed for a moratorium on earmarks, were getting in the way of “practical stuff,” including elections apparently.
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“What is the purpose of elections? In America, it is to give everybody the ability to express themselves,” Bloomberg said during the Q&A with Miami Marlins co-owner Ari Ackerman. “And so we argue about whether or not convicted felons who have served their time could vote. I don’t know why we spend so much time ― they’re not going to vote anyway. They’re so few, come on.”
He added: “We argue about whether the right age is 21 or 18, or whatever. Why don’t we maybe say, ‘If you’ve never taken a civics course, or you don’t know history and you can’t read, you shouldn’t be able to vote.’ That’s not what we do. In America, our elections are on making sure people have a right to express themselves.”
Scroll down to watch Bloomberg’s Q&A with Ari Ackerman.
Bloomberg has abruptly reversed his positions on several controversial issues in the months surrounding the November announcement of his presidential candidacy, and his take on restoring voting rights for convicted felons appears to fit the pattern.
For instance, in 2018, he argued that increasing the minimum wage was one of the many “impediments to job creation.” Now that he’s running for president, he supports a $15 minimum wage, following the rest of the Democratic field.
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What’s more, Bloomberg was a staunch proponent of the controversial stop-and-frisk policing policy, which disproportionately affected Black and Latino communities, during most of his mayoral tenure. He was heard defending the policy as recently as 2015, claiming “all the crime” takes place in minority communities.
Just months before formally announcing his presidential campaign, Bloomberg publicly apologized for embracing stop and frisk, which has been condemned by his fellow Democratic candidates and civil rights activists as racist.
There are 11 states in the U.S. that strip individuals with felony convictions of their right to vote indefinitely (unless granted a governor’s pardon in certain cases). In 21 additional states, convicted felons don’t immediately regain their right to vote after finishing their sentences and may be required to pay fees first.
Like stop and frisk, felony disenfranchisement policies have a disproportionate impact on communities of color. As of 2016, 6.1 million voters were barred from voting due to such policies, according to the Sentencing Project. About 2.2 million Black citizens are prohibited from voting, the group reported.
Black Americans of voting age are four times more likely to lose their voting rights than the overall adult population, and in four states ― Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia ― more than one in five Black adults are disenfranchised, according to the Sentencing Project.
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“In prison, they made sure to tell us, ‘You will never be able to vote, unless the governor restores your rights,’” Assaddique Abdul-Rahman, a convicted felon who became an organizer for voting rights after his release, told The New York Times in 2018. “I knew that those who could not vote did not have power. We were the underbelly.”
But Bloomberg, that same year, shrugged off the issue, declaring in his throwaway remark that convicted felons wouldn’t vote even if they had the chance. Of course, his statement 13 months later announcing his plan to restore those rights struck a decidedly different tone.
“The right to vote is the fundamental right that protects all of the others, but in states around the country, it is under attack,” he said in his statement. “That’s a disgrace to our Constitution and an insult to generations of people who fought and marched to win the right to vote.”
Bloomberg’s eyebrow-raising remarks at NYU didn’t end with voting rights for ex-felons. He went on to suggest that he doesn’t “find a problem” with requiring certain academic and professional criteria for presidential candidates, like in Singapore.
He also defended Chinese President Xi Jinping’s move to end presidential term limits, joking that he’s “a little conflicted.” New York’s city council voted in 2008 to extend term limits from two terms to three terms so Bloomberg could run as mayor again.
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“Xi Jinping changed term limits ― I’m a little bit conflicted in this,” Bloomberg said with a chuckle, drawing muffled laughter from the NYU audience. “But Xi Jinping changed term limits and there was no outcry. Why? Because they think he’s doing a good job. And if he’s not doing a good job, they’ll find a way to get rid of him. ... When I changed term limits, some people didn’t like it, but it was perfectly legal.”
While Xi has maintained substantial support among impoverished communities, he has increased censorship and mass surveillance, and intensified a crackdown on dissent. Despite the potential for punishment under Xi’s regime, there was, in fact, some public outcry over the government’s decision to abolish presidential term limits.
One Chinese newspaper editor told The Associated Press at the time that the measure would “sow the seeds of chaos.” A pro-reform businessman called it “an outright betrayal.”
But Bloomberg, a billionaire businessman with financial interests in China, has shielded Xi, an autocratic leader, from public scrutiny to protect his own fortune.
Bloomberg’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Watch Bloomberg’s full interview with Ackerman below. His comments about voting rights for ex-felons begin around the 41:30 mark.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-27--Canada Won't Cover Prince Harry And Meghan Markle's Security Costs After March

TOBY MELVILLE via Getty Images The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend the annual WellChild Awards in London on Oct. 15 , 2019 .
A statement , first reported by CBC News , confirmed that cost-sharing arrangement between the federal police force and the Metropolitan Police in the U.K. will end “ in the coming weeks ” in synchronicity with the end of the Duke and Duchess ’ royal duties on March 31 .
The couple have been on Vancouver Island on a part-time basis since November , but have been formally living there since January .
“ The Duke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Canada on a part-time basis presented our government with a unique and unprecedented set of circumstances .
The RCMP has been engaged with officials in the U.K. from the very beginning regarding security considerations .
“ As the Duke and Duchess are currently recognized as Internationally Protected Persons , Canada has an obligation to provide security assistance on an as needed basis .
At the request of the Metropolitan Police , the RCMP has been providing assistance to the Met since the arrival of the Duke and Duchess to Canada intermittently since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the coming weeks , in keeping with their change in status.
” The Duke and Duchess ’ desire to live more independent lives based from Vancouver Island , and to have their finances no longer reliant on public funds , has caused tremendous discussion how such an arrangement could work as members of the Royal Family .
The statement from the public safety minister ’ s office settles questions about if Harry and Meghan would still be considered Internationally Protected Persons as private citizens living in Canada .
“ This is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trudeau government for doing the right thing .
Canadians were unequivocal that the Duke and Duchess are welcome here , but that they need to pay their own way , ” said Aaron Wudrick , federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers ’ Federation , in a statement following the news .
The advocacy group had launched a petition protesting the idea that taxpayers should be on the hook for security costs for the soon-to-be ex-royals .
“ We wish the Duke and Duchess all the best as they embark on their new , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wudrick said .
The RCMP did not respond to a request for comment asking how much associated security costs for the Duke and Duchess have so far cost Canadians .
Uncertainty reigned in the wake of initial confirmation that the Duke and Duchess were planning to step back from their royal duties to split their time between the U.K. and North America .
Harry and Meghan are set to participate in their last tour of royal duties .
They will both be in the U.K. to take part in Commonwealth Day celebrations alongside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 9 — three months to the day after they announced their surprising plan to step back and “ carve out a progressive new role within this institution.
” Federal officials have previously been unclear if the pair and their son , Archie , would be eligible for protection services paid for by taxpayers in their new life as private citizens .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was vague when asked in January about who would be responsible for the security bills , saying Canada has “ responsibilities ” to support the Duke and @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend the annual WellChild Awards in London on Oct. 15, 2019. TOBY MELVILLE via Getty Images
OTTAWA — The Royal Canadian Mounted Police will no longer help with “security assistance” after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle retire as working royals, the office of Canada’s public safety minister confirmed Thursday.
A statement, first reported by CBC News, confirmed that cost-sharing arrangement between the federal police force and the Metropolitan Police in the U.K. will end “in the coming weeks” in synchronicity with the end of the Duke and Duchess’ royal duties on March 31. The couple have been on Vancouver Island on a part-time basis since November, but have been formally living there since January.
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The full statement from the public safety minister’s office reads:
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex choosing to relocate to Canada on a part-time basis presented our government with a unique and unprecedented set of circumstances. The RCMP has been engaged with officials in the U.K. from the very beginning regarding security considerations.
“As the Duke and Duchess are currently recognized as Internationally Protected Persons, Canada has an obligation to provide security assistance on an as needed basis. At the request of the Metropolitan Police, the RCMP has been providing assistance to the Met since the arrival of the Duke and Duchess to Canada intermittently since November 2019. The assistance will cease in the coming weeks, in keeping with their change in status.”
Watch: Prince starts last royal duties insisting on informality. Story continues below video.
The Duke and Duchess’ desire to live more independent lives based from Vancouver Island, and to have their finances no longer reliant on public funds, has caused tremendous discussion how such an arrangement could work as members of the Royal Family.
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Members of the Royal Family are considered Internationally Protected Persons, a class of individuals afforded “special protections” under international law.
The statement from the public safety minister’s office settles questions about if Harry and Meghan would still be considered Internationally Protected Persons as private citizens living in Canada.
“This is a tremendous victory for Canadian taxpayers and the Trudeau government for doing the right thing. Canadians were unequivocal that the Duke and Duchess are welcome here, but that they need to pay their own way,” said Aaron Wudrick, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation, in a statement following the news.
The advocacy group had launched a petition protesting the idea that taxpayers should be on the hook for security costs for the soon-to-be ex-royals.
“We wish the Duke and Duchess all the best as they embark on their new, financially independent life in Canada,” Wudrick said.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex depart Canada House on Jan. 7 in London. Chris Jackson via Getty Images
The RCMP did not respond to a request for comment asking how much associated security costs for the Duke and Duchess have so far cost Canadians.
Uncertainty reigned in the wake of initial confirmation that the Duke and Duchess were planning to step back from their royal duties to split their time between the U.K. and North America.
Harry and Meghan are set to participate in their last tour of royal duties. They will both be in the U.K. to take part in Commonwealth Day celebrations alongside other members of the Royal Family on March 9 — three months to the day after they announced their surprising plan to step back and “carve out a progressive new role within this institution.”
Federal officials have previously been unclear if the pair and their son, Archie, would be eligible for protection services paid for by taxpayers in their new life as private citizens.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was vague when asked in January about who would be responsible for the security bills, saying Canada has “responsibilities” to support the Duke and Duchess’ move to British Columbia.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-27--Tribal Leader Blasts Border Wall Construction On Sacred Burial Land In Powerful Testimony

“ These sites are not only sacred to the Nation ; they are a part of our shared cultural heritage as United States citizens , ” Tohono O ’ odham Chairman Ned Norris Jr. said before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States .
“ For us , this is no different from [ the Department of Homeland Security ] building a 30-foot wall along Arlington Cemetery or through the grounds of the National Cathedral , ” he said .
“ The federal government owes our government and the governments of local border communities more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration continued to bulldoze and detonate areas of land along the U.S.-Mexico border to make way for a wall .
Such targeted sites include the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument , a UNESCO biosphere reserve that ’ s internationally protected .
It ’ s the only place in the U.S. where the state-protected organ pipe cactus , which can live over 150 years , grows .
An aquifer beneath the national monument ’ s Quitobaquito spring , where ancient bone fragments were found last year , is also being used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down dirt roads .
This pumping has ignited concerns about water levels and animals that inhabit the area .
Rep. Raúl Grijalva ( D-Ariz. ) was among those expressing anger over the land ’ s destruction at the hearing , saying he toured areas facing demolition with the tribe in January and was shown several cultural sites that lay in its path .
“ Thousands of years of history and cultural significance disappeared .
Since my visit , 50 % of the sacred sites identified by the nation have been destroyed .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to blast this area with human bone fragments ... is quite frankly barbarous , ” he told the committee .
“ What would normally be considered a war crime for destroying cultural sites in another country is now considered status quo of this president and the administration , and this needs to stop , ” he added .
The Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument , located along Arizona ’ s border with Mexico , is a UNESCO biosphere reserve that contains Indigenous cultural and burial sites .
It is also a known pathway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he looks forward to hearing “ why the administration continues to treat tribes as second-class citizens .
The lands they ’ ve owned , they ’ ve owned and lived on before the very development of this country.
” Border Patrol Chief Roy D. Villareal , in statements shared Tuesday on Twitter , said that no burial sites or human remains have been found by archaeological monitors working with Customs and Border Protection .
He added that construction and demolition along Monument Hill are taking place in areas where fencing had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R-Ariz. ) , the only Republican to speak at the hearing , emphasized the Trump administration ’ s mission to prevent illegal drugs , cartels , terrorists and illegal traffickers from entering the U.S. from Mexico .
He said he ’ s “ disappointed when illegal activities have caused cultural sites to be lost ” but that to date only two bone fragments have been discovered and both are in the process of being returned to tribal leaders .
He went on to accuse Democrats and the Native American tribes of making the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about cultural heritage or the environment , arguing that migrants crossing through the reserve from Mexico have led to an abundance of trash and have destroyed land from their vehicles .
“ I get it .
You don ’ t want the wall .
You don ’ t want to work with [ the ] Trump administration in building the wall .
In fact , you offer no alternatives in securing the border , ” said Gosar .
“ Despite your inaction , the wall is being built , President Trump is doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no one , no one should be shocked about that outcome .
”

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The Tohono O’odham Nation’s tribal leader delivered emotional testimony Wednesday likening construction of President Donald Trump’s border wall through Arizona’s Indigenous cultural and burial sites to the desecration of Arlington National Cemetery.
“These sites are not only sacred to the Nation; they are a part of our shared cultural heritage as United States citizens,” Tohono O’odham Chairman Ned Norris Jr. said before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States.
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“For us, this is no different from [the Department of Homeland Security] building a 30-foot wall along Arlington Cemetery or through the grounds of the National Cathedral,” he said. “The federal government owes our government and the governments of local border communities more respect.”
A strip of land prepared for a border wall is seen along Monument Hill in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Laiken Jordahl/Center for Biological Diversity
Norris’ testimony came as the Trump administration continued to bulldoze and detonate areas of land along the U.S.-Mexico border to make way for a wall. Such targeted sites include the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, a UNESCO biosphere reserve that’s internationally protected. It’s the only place in the U.S. where the state-protected organ pipe cactus, which can live over 150 years, grows.
In addition to containing endangered species, the national monument features ancient Native American burial sites, including that of Monument Hill, which to tribal members’ horror underwent a controlled detonation ahead of Wednesday’s hearing.
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Human bone fragments linked to the Tohono O’odham Tribe are still found on Monument Hill, archaeologist Rick Martynec, who has worked in the area for 30 years, told NPR in a recent interview.
“They killed Apache warriors. They would take ― bring the warriors up to the top of the hill and just leave them,” he said.
A sign warns of impending detonations at Monument Hill in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Laiken Jordahl/Center for biological Diversity
An aquifer beneath the national monument’s Quitobaquito spring, where ancient bone fragments were found last year, is also being used to pump water for mixing cement and watering down dirt roads. This pumping has ignited concerns about water levels and animals that inhabit the area.
Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) was among those expressing anger over the land’s destruction at the hearing, saying he toured areas facing demolition with the tribe in January and was shown several cultural sites that lay in its path.
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“Thousands of years of history and cultural significance disappeared. Since my visit, 50% of the sacred sites identified by the nation have been destroyed. The fact that the federal government has continued to blast this area with human bone fragments ... is quite frankly barbarous,” he told the committee.
“What would normally be considered a war crime for destroying cultural sites in another country is now considered status quo of this president and the administration, and this needs to stop,” he added.
The Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, located along Arizona’s border with Mexico, is a UNESCO biosphere reserve that contains Indigenous cultural and burial sites. It is also a known pathway for migrants and illegal traffickers. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Grijalva said he looks forward to hearing “why the administration continues to treat tribes as second-class citizens. The lands they’ve owned, they’ve owned and lived on before the very development of this country.”
The White House and the Department of Homeland Security did not send representatives to the hearing.
Border Patrol Chief Roy D. Villareal, in statements shared Tuesday on Twitter, said that no burial sites or human remains have been found by archaeological monitors working with Customs and Border Protection. He added that construction and demolition along Monument Hill are taking place in areas where fencing had been previously erected.
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A border fence, surrounded by cacti, is seen at the national monument in 2017. A Border Patrol official has argued that current construction efforts are taking place where fencing was previously erected. JIM WATSON via Getty Images
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), the only Republican to speak at the hearing, emphasized the Trump administration’s mission to prevent illegal drugs, cartels, terrorists and illegal traffickers from entering the U.S. from Mexico. He said he’s “disappointed when illegal activities have caused cultural sites to be lost” but that to date only two bone fragments have been discovered and both are in the process of being returned to tribal leaders.
He went on to accuse Democrats and the Native American tribes of making the construction a political issue rather than one about cultural heritage or the environment, arguing that migrants crossing through the reserve from Mexico have led to an abundance of trash and have destroyed land from their vehicles.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-27--Ex-Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh Sentenced To 3 Years In Children's Book Scam

A federal judge sentenced former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh on Thursday to three years in prison and three years of probation for a children ’ s book scam she used to funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars into her personal bank account and to her campaign .
Pugh released a 13-minute video on Wednesday in which she apologized for the fraud , acknowledging she ’ d used a series of children ’ s books she wrote and self-published to solicit funds from government partners and private contractors .
“ I just want to apologize to the citizens , to young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ― everyone I ’ ve offended , everyone I ’ ve hurt — and city ’ s image — by pleading guilty and being a part of all of this that had led me here today , ” Pugh said .
“ I accept responsibility , I accept total responsibility.
” Prosecutors said Pugh ’ s scam brought in more than $ 850,000 , which she used to run for mayor and to purchase and renovate a house .
As part of the sentence , U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow also ordered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restitution and to forfeit $ 669,688 in property , which includes the house .
Pugh pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud , conspiracy to defraud the government and tax evasion last November .
Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh leaves the federal courthouse after pleading guilty to conspiracy and tax evasion related to her Healthy Holly books .
“ I have yet frankly to hear any explanation that makes sense , ” the judge added .
“ This was not a tiny mistake , lapse of judgment .
This became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and circumstances of this offense , clearly , I think are extremely , extremely serious.
” The mayor sold upwards of 140,000 copies of the “ Healthy Holly ” books between 2011 and 2018 to institutions like the University of Maryland Medical System and Baltimore City Public Schools .
From 2015 through 2018 , health care provider Kaiser Permanente also purchased 20,000 of the books for $ 114,000 .
Kaiser ’ s payments to Pugh overlapped with a $ 48 million contract the company signed with the city of Baltimore in September 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pugh controlled at the time .
In an earlier statement to HuffPost , Kaiser denied any wrongdoing and said it purchased copies of “ Healthy Holly ” as part of a broader program to distribute health-centered literature that ’ s been ongoing since 2013 .
Pugh resigned as mayor last year as evidence of her misconduct continued to grow , after initially dismissing an investigation by The Baltimore Sun as a “ witch hunt .
”

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A federal judge sentenced former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh on Thursday to three years in prison and three years of probation for a children’s book scam she used to funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars into her personal bank account and to her campaign.
Pugh released a 13-minute video on Wednesday in which she apologized for the fraud, acknowledging she’d used a series of children’s books she wrote and self-published to solicit funds from government partners and private contractors.
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“I just want to apologize to the citizens, to young people, to partners, my friends ― everyone I’ve offended, everyone I’ve hurt — and city’s image — by pleading guilty and being a part of all of this that had led me here today,” Pugh said. “I accept responsibility, I accept total responsibility.”
Prosecutors said Pugh’s scam brought in more than $850,000, which she used to run for mayor and to purchase and renovate a house. As part of the sentence, U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow also ordered Pugh to pay nearly $412,000 in restitution and to forfeit $669,688 in property, which includes the house.
Pugh pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the government and tax evasion last November.
Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh leaves the federal courthouse after pleading guilty to conspiracy and tax evasion related to her Healthy Holly books. Baltimore Sun via Getty Images
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Chasanow called the breadth of Pugh’s crime “astounding” in her sentencing remarks Thursday.
“I have yet frankly to hear any explanation that makes sense,” the judge added. “This was not a tiny mistake, lapse of judgment. This became a very large fraud. The nature and circumstances of this offense, clearly, I think are extremely, extremely serious.”
The mayor sold upwards of 140,000 copies of the “Healthy Holly” books between 2011 and 2018 to institutions like the University of Maryland Medical System and Baltimore City Public Schools.
From 2015 through 2018, health care provider Kaiser Permanente also purchased 20,000 of the books for $114,000. Kaiser’s payments to Pugh overlapped with a $48 million contract the company signed with the city of Baltimore in September 2017 ― a contract approved by a board Pugh controlled at the time.
In an earlier statement to HuffPost, Kaiser denied any wrongdoing and said it purchased copies of “Healthy Holly” as part of a broader program to distribute health-centered literature that’s been ongoing since 2013.
Pugh resigned as mayor last year as evidence of her misconduct continued to grow, after initially dismissing an investigation by The Baltimore Sun as a “witch hunt.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-27--Report: U.S. Right-Wing Extremists Killed 330 People In Last Decade

Domestic right-wing extremists have killed over 300 people in the United States in the last 10 years , a new study finds , with a deadly attack at a Walmart in El Paso , Texas , closing out a decade marked by white nationalist terror .
There were 42 murders in the U.S. committed by extremists in 2019 , according to the Anti-Defamation League ’ s annual “ Murder and Extremism ” report published Wednesday .
Of those murders , 38 were committed by people subscribing to far-right ideologies .
The bulk of last year ’ s domestic extremist murders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Walmart in El Paso , when a 21-year-old white man — who allegedly posted a racist screed online about the white nationalist “ great replacement ” conspiracy theory — shot and killed 22 people in one of the deadliest anti-Latino hate crimes in American history .
There was also the April 2019 shooting at a synagogue in Poway , California , when a 20-year-old man opened fire on a crowd of about 100 parishioners .
He killed one woman and injured three others before his gun jammed .
He later called 911 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to “ destroy all white people.
” These murders , according to the ADL ’ s report , helped make 2019 the sixth-deadliest year for extremist-related violence since 1970 .
The four preceding years , from 2015 to 2018 , were four of the five deadliest years on record for extremist violence in the U.S. All told , domestic right-wing extremists murdered 330 people from 2010 to 2019 .
According to the ADL , that number accounts for 76 % of the 435 domestic extremist murders during that time .
Antonio Basco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was one of 22 killed by a gunman at a local Walmart , lays flowers in her honor at a makeshift memorial near the scene on August 16 , 2019 , in El Paso , Texas .
The ADL ’ s report underscores growing concern over far-right violence in the U.S .
In the month after the El Paso attack , HuffPost found that authorities had arrested about a dozen potential mass shooters with links to the far right .
On Tuesday , federal authorities arrested five alleged members of the Atomwaffen Division @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murders across the country , for intimidating and threatening journalists .
“ Over the last decade , right-wing extremists have been responsible for more than 75 percent of extremist-related murders in this country , ” ADL CEO Jonathan A. Greenblatt said in a statement Wednesday .
“ This should no longer come as a shock to anyone .
Lawmakers , law enforcement and the public need to recognize the grave and dangerous threat posed by violent white supremacy .
We can not begin to defeat this deadly form of hatred if we fail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report also includes the murders of a police officer and three people inside a Kosher supermarket in Jersey City , New Jersey .
These murders are classified in the report as being committed by “ other/miscellaneous ” extremists .
That ’ s because the two alleged shooters had ties to the Black Hebrew Israelite movement , which the ADL says “ defies a simple ‘ left-right ’ classification scheme.
” Some murders in the report were also described as non-ideological , having stemmed from gang activity , domestic violence and robberies .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first year since 2012 that there were no murders linked to domestic Islamist extremism .

Domestic right-wing extremists have killed over 300 people in the United States in the last 10 years, a new study finds, with a deadly attack at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, closing out a decade marked by white nationalist terror.
There were 42 murders in the U.S. committed by extremists in 2019, according to the Anti-Defamation League’s annual “Murder and Extremism” report published Wednesday. Of those murders, 38 were committed by people subscribing to far-right ideologies.
The bulk of last year’s domestic extremist murders occurred during the August massacre at a Walmart in El Paso, when a 21-year-old white man — who allegedly posted a racist screed online about the white nationalist “great replacement” conspiracy theory — shot and killed 22 people in one of the deadliest anti-Latino hate crimes in American history.
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There was also the April 2019 shooting at a synagogue in Poway, California, when a 20-year-old man opened fire on a crowd of about 100 parishioners. He killed one woman and injured three others before his gun jammed. He later called 911 and reportedly told the dispatcher that Jews were trying to “destroy all white people.”
These murders, according to the ADL’s report, helped make 2019 the sixth-deadliest year for extremist-related violence since 1970. The four preceding years, from 2015 to 2018, were four of the five deadliest years on record for extremist violence in the U.S.
All told, domestic right-wing extremists murdered 330 people from 2010 to 2019. According to the ADL, that number accounts for 76% of the 435 domestic extremist murders during that time.
Antonio Basco, whose wife, Margie Reckard, was one of 22 killed by a gunman at a local Walmart, lays flowers in her honor at a makeshift memorial near the scene on August 16, 2019, in El Paso, Texas. Sandy Huffaker via Getty Images
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The ADL’s report underscores growing concern over far-right violence in the U.S. In the month after the El Paso attack, HuffPost found that authorities had arrested about a dozen potential mass shooters with links to the far right. On Tuesday, federal authorities arrested five alleged members of the Atomwaffen Division, a neo-Nazi group connected to multiple murders across the country, for intimidating and threatening journalists.
“Over the last decade, right-wing extremists have been responsible for more than 75 percent of extremist-related murders in this country,” ADL CEO Jonathan A. Greenblatt said in a statement Wednesday. “This should no longer come as a shock to anyone. Lawmakers, law enforcement and the public need to recognize the grave and dangerous threat posed by violent white supremacy. We cannot begin to defeat this deadly form of hatred if we fail to even recognize it.”
The ADL report also includes the murders of a police officer and three people inside a Kosher supermarket in Jersey City, New Jersey. These murders are classified in the report as being committed by “other/miscellaneous” extremists. That’s because the two alleged shooters had ties to the Black Hebrew Israelite movement, which the ADL says “defies a simple ‘left-right’ classification scheme.”
Some murders in the report were also described as non-ideological, having stemmed from gang activity, domestic violence and robberies.
The ADL report notes that 2019 also marked the first year since 2012 that there were no murders linked to domestic Islamist extremism.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-27--Ex-Defense Secretary Delivers Scathing Rebuke Of Senate: Vegetating, Not Legislating

Former Defense Secretary William Cohen on Wednesday issued a blistering critique of the GOP-controlled Senate , scolding its lawmakers for “ vegetating ” instead of legislating .
The Republican former senator for Maine , who led the Pentagon under President Bill Clinton , told CNN the Senate ’ s failure to curb President Donald Trump was not a new phenomenon , but one that stretched back at least a decade .
“ Some of it has to do with external pressures , that of social media , talk radio , specific channels that have a particular view and then hammer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then pressure the members of Congress , ” he explained .
“ But you have to ask yourself .
Why are you a senator ?
Why are you there ?
Are you acting out of sheer fear that if you speak up and take a position that ’ s controversial you ’ ll be punished ?
” Cohen continued .
“ If that ’ s the reason you ’ re in the Senate , to simply be safe and to play it safe , then you really , you really are undercutting what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Earlier this week , Cohen joined a bipartisan group of 70 former senators with an open letter calling out Congress for “ not fulfilling its constitutional duties .
”

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Former Defense Secretary William Cohen on Wednesday issued a blistering critique of the GOP-controlled Senate, scolding its lawmakers for “vegetating” instead of legislating.
The Republican former senator for Maine, who led the Pentagon under President Bill Clinton, told CNN the Senate’s failure to curb President Donald Trump was not a new phenomenon, but one that stretched back at least a decade.
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“Some of it has to do with external pressures, that of social media, talk radio, specific channels that have a particular view and then hammer that view home to the constituents who then pressure the members of Congress,” he explained.
“But you have to ask yourself. Why are you a senator? Why are you there? Are you acting out of sheer fear that if you speak up and take a position that’s controversial you’ll be punished?” Cohen continued. “If that’s the reason you’re in the Senate, to simply be safe and to play it safe, then you really, you really are undercutting what the role of that Senate should be.”
Earlier this week, Cohen joined a bipartisan group of 70 former senators with an open letter calling out Congress for “not fulfilling its constitutional duties.”