thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-04--Trump Doubles Down On Wishing Ghislaine Maxwell Well, Muses About How Epstein Died

President Donald Trump doubled down on his well wishes to Ghislaine Maxwell , the British socialite accused of sexual abuse against young girls alongside her former boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein , in a new interview where he blatantly says he doesn ’ t know about the allegations waged against her .
On Monday night , Axios released an interview with reporter Jonathan Swan and Trump on HBO , which covered a wide range of topics in the span of 40 minutes .
In addition to discussing his handling of the coronavirus pandemic , the late Rep. John Lewis , and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comments toward Maxwell .
Last month , at his first briefing on the coronavirus pandemic since April , New York Post reporter Steven Nelson asked Trump if he thought Maxwell ― who had been arrested in the weeks prior ― would “ turn in powerful men.
” To that , Trump said that he hadn ’ t “ really been following it too much , ” but that he just wishes “ her well , frankly.
” “ I ’ ve met her numerous times over the years , especially since I lived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding : “ I wish her well , whatever it is.
” That exchange was met with many wondering why the president would weigh in at all in regards to case pertaining to alleged child sex trafficking and the girlfriend of a convicted pedophile .
In his interview , Swan asked Trump : “ Mr .
President , Ghislaine Maxwell has been arrested on allegations of child sex trafficking .
Why would you wish such a person well ... ” Trump interjected to say , “ Well , first of all , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” which Swan countered with : “ She has .
She ’ s been arrested for that .
You know that.
” The president powered on and answered by musing about Epstein ’ s death .
The financier died by suicide while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in August 2019 , though many are skeptical about the circumstances of his death .
“ Her friend , or boyfriend , was either killed or committed suicide in jail .
She ’ s now in jail .
Yeah , I wish her well .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ d wish a lot of people well .
Good luck .
Let them prove somebody was guilty , ” said Trump .
Trump doubled down on his wishing Ghislaine Maxwell , accused child sex trafficker and abuser , well to @ axios : “ I do wish her well .
I ’ m not looking for anything bad for her ...
Her boyfriend died in jail .
Was he killed ?
Was it suicide ?
I do .
I wish her well.
” pic.twitter.com/HpywNVAMY9 — Jenna Amatulli ( @ ohheyjenna ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so you ’ re saying you hope she doesn ’ t die in jail ?
Is that what you mean by ‘ wish her well ’ ?
” asked Swan in response .
“ Her boyfriend died in jail , and people are still trying to figure out , how did it happen ?
Was it suicide ?
Was he killed ?
And I do wish her well .
I ’ m not looking for anything bad for her .
I ’ m not looking bad for anybody .
And they took that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Trump , before Swan pushed back : “ I mean , she ’ s a child sex — alleged child sex trafficker.
” “ ...
Such a big deal .
But all it is , is her boyfriend died .
He died in jail .
Was he killed ?
Was it suicide ?
I do .
I wish her well , ” Trump concluded .
The interview veered off to discuss the ongoing demonstrations against racial inequality that that have led to police brutality on videotape in Portland , Oregon .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awarding “ more than $ 35 million in Justice Department grants to organizations that provide safe housing for survivors of human trafficking , ” according to a report by The Associated Press .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
President Donald Trump doubled down on his well wishes to Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite accused of sexual abuse against young girls alongside her former boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein, in a new interview where he blatantly says he doesn’t know about the allegations waged against her.
On Monday night, Axios released an interview with reporter Jonathan Swan and Trump on HBO, which covered a wide range of topics in the span of 40 minutes. In addition to discussing his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the late Rep. John Lewis, and more, Swan asked Trump about his previous comments toward Maxwell.
Advertisement
Last month, at his first briefing on the coronavirus pandemic since April, New York Post reporter Steven Nelson asked Trump if he thought Maxwell ― who had been arrested in the weeks prior ― would “turn in powerful men.”
To that, Trump said that he hadn’t “really been following it too much,” but that he just wishes “her well, frankly.”
“I’ve met her numerous times over the years, especially since I lived in Palm Beach,” he said, adding: “I wish her well, whatever it is.”
That exchange was met with many wondering why the president would weigh in at all in regards to case pertaining to alleged child sex trafficking and the girlfriend of a convicted pedophile.
Advertisement
In his interview, Swan asked Trump: “Mr. President, Ghislaine Maxwell has been arrested on allegations of child sex trafficking. Why would you wish such a person well ... ”
Trump interjected to say, “Well, first of all, I don’t know that,” which Swan countered with: “She has. She’s been arrested for that. You know that.”
The president powered on and answered by musing about Epstein’s death. The financier died by suicide while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in August 2019, though many are skeptical about the circumstances of his death.
“Her friend, or boyfriend, was either killed or committed suicide in jail. She’s now in jail. Yeah, I wish her well. I’d wish you well. I’d wish a lot of people well. Good luck. Let them prove somebody was guilty,” said Trump.
Trump doubled down on his wishing Ghislaine Maxwell, accused child sex trafficker and abuser, well to @axios:
“I do wish her well. I’m not looking for anything bad for her... Her boyfriend died in jail. Was he killed? Was it suicide? I do. I wish her well.” pic.twitter.com/HpywNVAMY9 — Jenna Amatulli (@ohheyjenna) August 4, 2020
Advertisement
“Oh, so you’re saying you hope she doesn’t die in jail? Is that what you mean by ‘wish her well’?” asked Swan in response.
“Her boyfriend died in jail, and people are still trying to figure out, how did it happen? Was it suicide? Was he killed? And I do wish her well. I’m not looking for anything bad for her. I’m not looking bad for anybody. And they took that and they made it such ... ” said Trump, before Swan pushed back: “I mean, she’s a child sex — alleged child sex trafficker.”
“ ... Such a big deal. But all it is, is her boyfriend died. He died in jail. Was he killed? Was it suicide? I do. I wish her well,” Trump concluded.
The interview veered off to discuss the ongoing demonstrations against racial inequality that that have led to police brutality on videotape in Portland, Oregon.
Maxwell currently faces six charges including conspiracy, enticement and transportation of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, and two counts of perjury.
Advertisement
Trump’s remarks coincide with his administration awarding “more than $35 million in Justice Department grants to organizations that provide safe housing for survivors of human trafficking,” according to a report by The Associated Press.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-04--Obama Photographer Hopes New Film Reminds Viewers 'How A President Should Behave'

After capturing some of the most poignant moments in recent U.S. history , Pete Souza is stepping in front of the camera .
Souza , who served as the official White House photographer during the Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama administrations , is the subject of a forthcoming documentary , “ The Way I See It.
” Directed by Dawn Porter and due out in September , the film chronicles Souza ’ s trajectory from award-winning photojournalist to outspoken critic of President Donald Trump .
“ I know what happens in the Oval Office , and that ’ s what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 65 , explains in the film ’ s trailer , unveiled Tuesday .
“ The presidency is a serious job , and I was gon na do everything I could to make sure people didn ’ t forget that.
” These days , Souza is best known for speaking out against Trump on Instagram , often using archival images of Obama to offer biting commentary on the current administration .
He juxtaposed the Obama and Trump presidencies even further in his 2018 book , “ Shade : A Tale of Two Presidents.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” this week , Souza said he hopes “ The Way I See It ” will remind viewers that “ the office of the presidency should be respected.
” “ I ’ d like to think that this film will show how a president should behave , how a president should be a leader , how a president should deal with other people , ” he said .
Watch the trailer for “ The Way I See It ” below .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
After capturing some of the most poignant moments in recent U.S. history, Pete Souza is stepping in front of the camera.
Souza, who served as the official White House photographer during the Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama administrations, is the subject of a forthcoming documentary, “The Way I See It.” Directed by Dawn Porter and due out in September, the film chronicles Souza’s trajectory from award-winning photojournalist to outspoken critic of President Donald Trump.
Advertisement
“I know what happens in the Oval Office, and that’s what scares me,” the Massachusetts native, 65, explains in the film’s trailer, unveiled Tuesday. “The presidency is a serious job, and I was gonna do everything I could to make sure people didn’t forget that.”
These days, Souza is best known for speaking out against Trump on Instagram, often using archival images of Obama to offer biting commentary on the current administration. He juxtaposed the Obama and Trump presidencies even further in his 2018 book, “Shade: A Tale of Two Presidents.”
In an interview with “Today” this week, Souza said he hopes “The Way I See It” will remind viewers that “the office of the presidency should be respected.”
“I’d like to think that this film will show how a president should behave, how a president should be a leader, how a president should deal with other people,” he said.
Advertisement


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-04--White House Sued For Not Providing Sign Language Interpreter At COVID-19 Briefings

An advocacy group for deaf Americans is suing the White House for failing to provide real-time sign language interpretation during COVID-19 news briefings , saying the omission violates the First Amendment and laws for Americans with disabilities .
The National Association of the Deaf says in a federal lawsuit filed Monday that President Donald Trump and his White House coronavirus task force briefings have not featured an American Sign Language interpreter visible on-screen , known as “ televised in frame ASL interpretation , ” since the briefings began in March .
By failing to provide an interpreter , the administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potentially life-saving information conveyed by our nation ’ s political and public health leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic , ” the lawsuit contends .
Closed captioning , required by federal law , is not a sufficient alternative because it is prone to error and can be hard to follow in real time , especially for people whose first language is not English , the suit says .
In addition , as the lawsuit explains , “ tone is also often lost in written captions .
By contrast , an interpreter is able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through facial expressions , sign choice , and demeanor.
” The group says the governors of all 50 states and mayors of many major cities have provided on-screen ASL interpreters during their COVID-19 briefings .
More than 3.4 million Americans identify as deaf , and about 17 million report having “ serious difficulty hearing , ” according to a 2014 census survey of Americans with disabilities .
Several governors faced lawsuits for initially failing to consistently provide on-screen sign language interpreters during their televised coronavirus updates .
Deaf New Yorkers and disability rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D ) for not having an on-screen ASL interpreter at his widely viewed news briefings in April , when New York was the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. A judge ordered Cuomo to do so two weeks later , and he has provided one in his briefings since .
In Florida , which has become a U.S. coronavirus hot spot , the National Association of the Deaf and Disability Rights Florida last month sued Gov .
Ron DeSantis ( R ) , saying he had provided ASL interpretation at his briefings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , does not , ” Monday ’ s lawsuit says .
“ He now stands alone in holding televised briefings regarding the COVID-19 pandemic without ever having provided any ASL interpretation .
This means that not only are [ deaf and hard-of-hearing ] Americans being denied the opportunity to understand any communication from the President of the United States during this critical time , they are also being denied the opportunity to access information , analysis , and updates from Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx — two renowned public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus in the Rose Garden of the White House , Friday , May 15 , 2020 , in Washington .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , right , and White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx listen .
In a letter to the White House on March 18 , the National Association of the Deaf said it had “ received daily complaints from deaf and hard of hearing citizens across the country asking why their President is not ensuring they are getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone else .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
An advocacy group for deaf Americans is suing the White House for failing to provide real-time sign language interpretation during COVID-19 news briefings, saying the omission violates the First Amendment and laws for Americans with disabilities.
The National Association of the Deaf says in a federal lawsuit filed Monday that President Donald Trump and his White House coronavirus task force briefings have not featured an American Sign Language interpreter visible on-screen, known as “televised in frame ASL interpretation,” since the briefings began in March.
Advertisement
By failing to provide an interpreter, the administration is blocking “access to critical, potentially life-saving information conveyed by our nation’s political and public health leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the lawsuit contends.
Closed captioning, required by federal law, is not a sufficient alternative because it is prone to error and can be hard to follow in real time, especially for people whose first language is not English, the suit says.
In addition, as the lawsuit explains, “tone is also often lost in written captions. By contrast, an interpreter is able to convey tone and context of a message through facial expressions, sign choice, and demeanor.”
The group says the governors of all 50 states and mayors of many major cities have provided on-screen ASL interpreters during their COVID-19 briefings. More than 3.4 million Americans identify as deaf, and about 17 million report having “serious difficulty hearing,” according to a 2014 census survey of Americans with disabilities.
Advertisement
Several governors faced lawsuits for initially failing to consistently provide on-screen sign language interpreters during their televised coronavirus updates. Deaf New Yorkers and disability rights advocates sued Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) for not having an on-screen ASL interpreter at his widely viewed news briefings in April, when New York was the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. A judge ordered Cuomo to do so two weeks later, and he has provided one in his briefings since.
In May, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) finally began providing an on-screen American Sign Language interpreter for his widely watched daily COVID-19 briefings. Screenshot/New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's website
In Florida, which has become a U.S. coronavirus hot spot, the National Association of the Deaf and Disability Rights Florida last month sued Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), saying he had provided ASL interpretation at his briefings only sporadically.
“President Trump, however, does not,” Monday’s lawsuit says. “He now stands alone in holding televised briefings regarding the COVID-19 pandemic without ever having provided any ASL interpretation. This means that not only are [deaf and hard-of-hearing] Americans being denied the opportunity to understand any communication from the President of the United States during this critical time, they are also being denied the opportunity to access information, analysis, and updates from Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx — two renowned public health experts.”
President Donald Trump speaks about the coronavirus in the Rose Garden of the White House, Friday, May 15, 2020, in Washington. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, right, and White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx listen. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Advertisement
Since March, the White House has ignored demands from advocacy groups and lawmakers, including 34 senators, to provide an on-screen sign language interpreter.
In a letter to the White House on March 18, the National Association of the Deaf said it had “received daily complaints from deaf and hard of hearing citizens across the country asking why their President is not ensuring they are getting the same access to emergency information as everyone else.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-04--Trump Says Mail-In Elections Are Corrupt, Except Where He Votes By Mail

President Donald Trump on Tuesday again falsely suggested broad mail-in voting is not secure — this time by claiming one place it ’ s “ safe ” is in Florida , the state where he happens to vote by mail .
“ Whether you call it Vote by Mail or Absentee Voting , in Florida the election system is Safe and Secure , Tried and True , ” Trump tweeted , falsely suggesting voting by mail is not secure in other states — which it is .
“ Florida ’ s Voting system has been cleaned up ... so in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ballot & Vote by Mail !
” Voters are likely to cast ballots by mail in record numbers in the November election as gatherings in public , including at polling places , threaten people ’ s health amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Many states have expanded mail-in voting eligibility because of the outbreak , and lawsuits in 16 other states aim to reduce barriers .
It ’ s worth noting that Trump himself voted by mail in the Florida primary in March .
Other members of his administration also have done it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ discredit broad use of vote-by-mail , falsely claiming it is “ corrupt ” or “ fraudulent.
” There is no evidence of widespread fraud in U.S. elections involving mail-in voting .
The president also has falsely tried to distinguish “ vote by mail ” from “ absentee ” voting .
Experts say both methods of voting are basically the same , involving a mailed application and a ballot .
On Monday , Trump struck a similar note during the daily White House coronavirus briefing : “ Again , absentee is great , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll do absentee , it really works ...
But universal mail-in ballots , it ’ s going to be a great embarrassment to our country.
” With the November election just three months away , the U.S. leads the world in coronavirus cases and deaths , with more than 4.7 million confirmed cases and over 155,000 dead .
On Monday , Joe Biden , Trump ’ s 2020 election rival , denounced the president ’ s baseless attacks on mail-in voting , criticizing his “ bald-faced lies ” and predicting the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ argue this election is fraudulent.
” Last week , Trump tweeted unfounded claims that universal mail-in voting would make the November election “ fraudulent ” and suggested the election should be delayed .
The president has no power to do this , and lawmakers from both parties swiftly condemned the idea .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
President Donald Trump on Tuesday again falsely suggested broad mail-in voting is not secure — this time by claiming one place it’s “safe” is in Florida, the state where he happens to vote by mail.
“Whether you call it Vote by Mail or Absentee Voting, in Florida the election system is Safe and Secure, Tried and True,” Trump tweeted, falsely suggesting voting by mail is not secure in other states — which it is. “Florida’s Voting system has been cleaned up... so in Florida I encourage all to request a Ballot & Vote by Mail!”
Advertisement
Voters are likely to cast ballots by mail in record numbers in the November election as gatherings in public, including at polling places, threaten people’s health amid the coronavirus pandemic. Many states have expanded mail-in voting eligibility because of the outbreak, and lawsuits in 16 other states aim to reduce barriers.
It’s worth noting that Trump himself voted by mail in the Florida primary in March. Other members of his administration also have done it.
Yet the president has repeatedly tried to discredit broad use of vote-by-mail, falsely claiming it is “corrupt” or “fraudulent.” There is no evidence of widespread fraud in U.S. elections involving mail-in voting.
The president also has falsely tried to distinguish “vote by mail” from “absentee” voting. Experts say both methods of voting are basically the same, involving a mailed application and a ballot.
Advertisement
On Monday, Trump struck a similar note during the daily White House coronavirus briefing: “Again, absentee is great, it works. Like in Florida, they’ll do absentee, it really works ... But universal mail-in ballots, it’s going to be a great embarrassment to our country.”
With the November election just three months away, the U.S. leads the world in coronavirus cases and deaths, with more than 4.7 million confirmed cases and over 155,000 dead.
On Monday, Joe Biden, Trump’s 2020 election rival, denounced the president’s baseless attacks on mail-in voting, criticizing his “bald-faced lies” and predicting the president will do everything in his power to “argue this election is fraudulent.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-04--Michelle Obama Celebrates Barack Obama’s Birthday With Sweet Throwback Family Snap

Michelle Obama dug up an old family picture to wish her husband , former President Barack Obama , a happy 59th birthday on Tuesday .
“ Happy birthday to my favorite guy , ” the former first lady captioned a sweet throwback snap of the couple with their daughters Malia and Sasha .
“ Here ’ s to all the good days , blue skies , and new adventures to come , ” Michelle Obama added .
Check out the image here : Happy birthday to my favorite guy .
Here 's to all the good days , blue skies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 😘 pic.twitter.com/mxrnNSvJBn — Michelle Obama ( @ MichelleObama ) August 4 , 2020 Michelle Obama has in previous birthday posts hailed her husband as “ my favorite dance partner ” and “ the man who always makes me proud.
” She ’ s also lightheartedly poked fun at his greying hair : Happy birthday @ BarackObama !
The view is always better with you .
pic.twitter.com/7a6cAkjkAS — Michelle Obama ( @ MichelleObama ) August 4 , 2018 Another year older , but the same phenomenal guy I married nearly 25 years ago .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ love you so much !
pic.twitter.com/3WrcGiKgz1 — Michelle Obama ( @ MichelleObama ) August 4 , 2017 55 years young and that smile still gets me every single day .
Happy birthday , Barack .
I love you .
-mo pic.twitter.com/RbrZ7YTyc8 — First Lady- Archived ( @ FLOTUS44 ) August 4 , 2016 Happy birthday to a loving husband , wonderful father and my favorite dance partner .
54 looks good on you , @ POTUS !
-mo pic.twitter.com/B2JSxCTcCo — First Lady- Archived ( @ FLOTUS44 ) August 4 , 2015 Happy Birthday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proud .
Thank you for your friendship , honesty and compassion .
I will love you always .
-mo — First Lady- Archived ( @ FLOTUS44 ) August 4 , 2014 Happy birthday , Barack !
Your hair 's a little grayer , but I love you more than ever .
–mo pic.twitter.com/xxYTA9cMK7 — First Lady- Archived ( @ FLOTUS44 ) August 4 , 2013 Happy birthday , @ BarackObama !
Here ’ s an old favorite photo from three of your biggest fans .
We ’ re so proud of you !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ MichelleObama ) August 4 , 2012

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Michelle Obama dug up an old family picture to wish her husband, former President Barack Obama, a happy 59th birthday on Tuesday.
“Happy birthday to my favorite guy,” the former first lady captioned a sweet throwback snap of the couple with their daughters Malia and Sasha.
Advertisement
“Here’s to all the good days, blue skies, and new adventures to come,” Michelle Obama added.
Check out the image here:
Happy birthday to my favorite guy. Here's to all the good days, blue skies, and new adventures to come. 😘 pic.twitter.com/mxrnNSvJBn — Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) August 4, 2020
Michelle Obama has in previous birthday posts hailed her husband as “my favorite dance partner” and “the man who always makes me proud.”
She’s also lightheartedly poked fun at his greying hair:
Happy birthday @BarackObama! The view is always better with you. pic.twitter.com/7a6cAkjkAS — Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) August 4, 2018
Another year older, but the same phenomenal guy I married nearly 25 years ago. Happy birthday, @BarackObama -- we love you so much! pic.twitter.com/3WrcGiKgz1 — Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) August 4, 2017
Advertisement
55 years young and that smile still gets me every single day. Happy birthday, Barack. I love you. -mo pic.twitter.com/RbrZ7YTyc8 — First Lady- Archived (@FLOTUS44) August 4, 2016
Happy birthday to a loving husband, wonderful father and my favorite dance partner. 54 looks good on you, @POTUS! -mo pic.twitter.com/B2JSxCTcCo — First Lady- Archived (@FLOTUS44) August 4, 2015
Happy Birthday to the man who always makes me proud. Thank you for your friendship, honesty and compassion. I will love you always. -mo — First Lady- Archived (@FLOTUS44) August 4, 2014
Happy birthday, Barack! Your hair's a little grayer, but I love you more than ever.
–mo pic.twitter.com/xxYTA9cMK7 — First Lady- Archived (@FLOTUS44) August 4, 2013
Happy birthday, @BarackObama! Here’s an old favorite photo from three of your biggest fans. We’re so proud of you!–mo pic.twitter.com/7alDwpDQ — Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) August 4, 2012


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-04--Trump, America's Anti-Nature President, Greenwashes Conservation Record

For more than three years , Trump has prioritized fossil fuel and other development over environmental protection , cutting regulatory “ red tape ” over species conservation .
He led the largest rollback of national monuments in U.S. history and has worked to weaken safeguards for some 35 million acres ( nearly 1,000 times more than he and his team have protected ) , earning the title of the most “ anti-nature ” president ever , according to a recent analysis from the left-leaning Center for American Progress .
“ President Trump and his enablers in the Senate can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a public lands record that is unequivocally the worst in history , ” Jayson O ’ Neill , director at conservation nonprofit Western Values Project , said in a stateme .
“ This is a win for the people that spoke up , reached out , and whose overwhelming outcry to save our parks and fund our public lands forced politically vulnerable officials into action .
At the end of the day , people can tell the difference between public land champions and D.C. double-talkers.
” The bill , dubbed the Great American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fix crumbling infrastructure at America ’ s national parks and permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund , a decades-old conservation program that the Trump administration tried repeatedly to gut funding for .
Established in 1964 , LWCF uses offshore fossil fuel revenue to establish and protect parks , wildlife refuges , forests and wildlife habitat .
Only twice in history has the program received the maximum $ 900 million per year allowed by law .
And Trump sought to cut LWCF funding by as much as 95 % .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bold realization that he could combine the national parks and public lands funding bill with the Land and Water Conservation bill and do something that is completely unprecedented and historic and a game-changer for conservation , ” he said .
“ I do not believe for a minute either one of these proposals would have passed without his strong and bold action.
” Two vulnerable Republicans , Sens .
Steve Daines ( Mont . )
and Cory Gardner ( Colo. ) , helped champion the bill through Congress and are credited with securing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All it took was invoking Roosevelt .
Daines told Trump during a meeting at the White House in February that passing a public lands bill would be the biggest conservation win since the 26th president established national parks , refuges and forests across the country in the early 1900s , The New York Times reported .
“ Today we ’ re making the most significant investment in our parks since the administration of the legendary conservationist President Theodore Roosevelt , ” Trump said .
“ This landmark legislation would not have been possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of two outstanding senators , in particular , and two fine people ― Cory Gardner and Steve Daines.
” He added that people gave the two lawmakers “ zero chance ” of getting the legislation passed .
Daines and Gardner , who both previously voted in favor of slashing LWCF funding and have been vocal supporters of Trump ’ s agenda , were among those who took the podium during the 30-minute event .
Each talked about their February meeting with Trump .
Trump attempted to paint the bill ’ s passage as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact that all but three of the 132 votes against the bill in the Senate and House were cast by Republicans .
At some point people “ will have have to start thinking about the Republican Party and all the incredible things we ’ ve done on conservation , ” Trump said shortly before mispronouncing Yosemite as “ yo-semites.
” Meanwhile , Trump is pressing ahead with his pro-industry , anti-conservation efforts .
In the 10 days between the House passing the bill and Trump signing it , the administration gave its blessing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gold mine in southwest Alaska , concluding that the Pebble Mine project will not significantly damage the pristine environment .
It introduced a proposal to defining “ habitat ” under the Endangered Species Act ― a move critics say will further weaken the bedrock conservation law by limiting the areas that can be protected for imperiled species recovery .
Further undercutting any points Trump and his Senate allies might gain from the public lands bill is Trump ’ s pick to lead the Bureau of Land Management , an agency that manages more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last month , Trump last month formally nominated William Perry Pendley , a conservative lawyer with extreme anti-environmental views and a long history of advocating for the sale of federal lands , to serve as the agency ’ s director .
In a column last week that foreshadowed Tuesday ’ s remarks , Pendley boasted that Trump “ pursues a conservation ethic second only to the Rough Rider himself , ” referring to Roosevelt , and that the administration “ has furthered these ideals more than any administration in generations ” ― a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in fact .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
As a global pandemic continued to rage across much of the country, President Donald Trump held an event at the White House Tuesday to celebrate himself as a conservationist in the mold of late President Theodore Roosevelt.
Flanked by Republican lawmakers, including two Senate allies with lousy environmental records and who face tough roads to reelection in November, Trump signed into law a major public lands package that’s being celebrated as the most significant conservation legislation in a generation.
Advertisement
Much like his environmental speech last July, Trump’s address Tuesday was full of spin ― an attempt to greenwash an abysmal conservation record ahead of the 2020 election. He repeatedly mentioned and compared himself to Roosevelt, America’s conservation president.
“This is a very big deal,” Trump said at the signing ceremony. “There hasn’t been anything like this since Teddy Roosevelt, I suspect.”
President Donald Trump signs the Great American Outdoors Act during a singing ceremony in the East Room of the White House on Aug. 4 in Washington, D.C. Drew Angerer via Getty Images
For more than three years, Trump has prioritized fossil fuel and other development over environmental protection, cutting regulatory “red tape” over species conservation. He led the largest rollback of national monuments in U.S. history and has worked to weaken safeguards for some 35 million acres (nearly 1,000 times more than he and his team have protected), earning the title of the most “anti-nature” president ever, according to a recent analysis from the left-leaning Center for American Progress.
Advertisement
“President Trump and his enablers in the Senate can’t wash away the dirty reality of a public lands record that is unequivocally the worst in history,” Jayson O’Neill, director at conservation nonprofit Western Values Project, said in a stateme. “This is a win for the people that spoke up, reached out, and whose overwhelming outcry to save our parks and fund our public lands forced politically vulnerable officials into action. At the end of the day, people can tell the difference between public land champions and D.C. double-talkers.”
The bill, dubbed the Great American Outdoors Act, allocates $9.5 billion to fix crumbling infrastructure at America’s national parks and permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a decades-old conservation program that the Trump administration tried repeatedly to gut funding for. Established in 1964, LWCF uses offshore fossil fuel revenue to establish and protect parks, wildlife refuges, forests and wildlife habitat. Only twice in history has the program received the maximum $900 million per year allowed by law. And Trump sought to cut LWCF funding by as much as 95%.
Interior Secretary David Bernhardt downplayed Trump’s attempts to gut LWCF funding during a call with reporters ahead of the signing ceremony, saying “a lot of factors go into making a budget” and “that’s a process that people propose and other people dispose.”
“I think here the president made a bold realization that he could combine the national parks and public lands funding bill with the Land and Water Conservation bill and do something that is completely unprecedented and historic and a game-changer for conservation,” he said. “I do not believe for a minute either one of these proposals would have passed without his strong and bold action.”
Two vulnerable Republicans, Sens. Steve Daines (Mont.) and Cory Gardner (Colo.), helped champion the bill through Congress and are credited with securing Trump’s about-face on LWCF. All it took was invoking Roosevelt. Daines told Trump during a meeting at the White House in February that passing a public lands bill would be the biggest conservation win since the 26th president established national parks, refuges and forests across the country in the early 1900s, The New York Times reported.
Advertisement
In what many see as an election-year political stunt, Trump and his team have worked to ensure the two Republican allies get the credit.
“Today we’re making the most significant investment in our parks since the administration of the legendary conservationist President Theodore Roosevelt,” Trump said. “This landmark legislation would not have been possible without the incredible leadership and hard work of two outstanding senators, in particular, and two fine people ― Cory Gardner and Steve Daines.” He added that people gave the two lawmakers “zero chance” of getting the legislation passed.
Daines and Gardner, who both previously voted in favor of slashing LWCF funding and have been vocal supporters of Trump’s agenda, were among those who took the podium during the 30-minute event. Each talked about their February meeting with Trump.
“You said, ‘You get this bill on my desk and I’ll sign it.’ Well, five months later we’re here,” Daines said. “Perhaps it’s only fitting it took public lands to bring a divided government together.”
Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) speaks during a signing ceremony for the Great American Outdoors Act. Drew Angerer via Getty Images
Advertisement
Trump attempted to paint the bill’s passage as a largely Republican win, despite the fact that all but three of the 132 votes against the bill in the Senate and House were cast by Republicans. At some point people “will have have to start thinking about the Republican Party and all the incredible things we’ve done on conservation,” Trump said shortly before mispronouncing Yosemite as “yo-semites.”
Noticeably absent at the ceremony were many of the people who have fought throughout their careers to secure full, permanent LWCF funding ― people like Sens. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). No Democrat took the podium.
Meanwhile, Trump is pressing ahead with his pro-industry, anti-conservation efforts. In the 10 days between the House passing the bill and Trump signing it, the administration gave its blessing to a massive proposed open-pit copper and gold mine in southwest Alaska, concluding that the Pebble Mine project will not significantly damage the pristine environment. It introduced a proposal to defining “habitat” under the Endangered Species Act ― a move critics say will further weaken the bedrock conservation law by limiting the areas that can be protected for imperiled species recovery.
Further undercutting any points Trump and his Senate allies might gain from the public lands bill is Trump’s pick to lead the Bureau of Land Management, an agency that manages more than one-third of all federal land. Last month, Trump last month formally nominated William Perry Pendley, a conservative lawyer with extreme anti-environmental views and a long history of advocating for the sale of federal lands, to serve as the agency’s director.
In a column last week that foreshadowed Tuesday’s remarks, Pendley boasted that Trump “pursues a conservation ethic second only to the Rough Rider himself,” referring to Roosevelt, and that the administration “has furthered these ideals more than any administration in generations” ― a claim that appears to have no basis in fact.
Advertisement
Roosevelt protected over 230 million acres of federal land by establishing five national parks, 18 national monuments and dozens of national forests and wildlife refuges. Trump, on the other hand, has protected via executive action less than 37,000 acres, including an extension of a mining ban on 30,000 acres in former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s home state of Montana.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-04--Husband Of L.A. District Attorney Charged With Pulling Gun On Protesters

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) — The husband of Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey has been charged with pointing a gun at Black Lives Matter members who demonstrated outside the couple ’ s home the day before she faced a primary election in March .
Lacey , 66 , pointed a gun at demonstrators who protested outside the couple ’ s home before dawn on March 2 and said “ I will shoot you , ” according to video of the incident .
Jackie Lacey offered an emotional apology at the time , saying her husband told her he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave .
Lacey ’ s campaign issued a statement Tuesday saying her husband thought they were in danger and was trying to protect them .
“ The events that took place earlier this year have caused my family immense pain , ” Lacey said in the statement .
“ My husband acted in fear for my safety after we were subjected to months of harassment that included a death threat no less than a week earlier.
” Lacey , the first Black person and first woman to run what is the nation ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has been targeted for nearly three years by Black Lives Matter protesters , who have held weekly demonstrations outside her office calling for her ouster .
The protests were once small , but have numbered in the hundreds and thousands after the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd .
Protesters claim she has failed to hold law enforcement accountable in fatal shootings .
She has charged one officer in a fatal on-duty killing , but has declined to file charges in more than 340 other fatal shootings .
Melina Abdullah , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the criminal complaint , declined to comment but said she would hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon before Black Lives Matter ’ s weekly “ Jackie Lacey Must Go ” protest outside the Hall of Justice .
Lacey faces a runoff in November for her third term .
She is being challenged by former San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon , a longtime police officer and former chief who vows to reform the office .
David Lacey , who is also Black , was an investigative auditor with the DA ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was seen in video shot by protesters telling them : ” I will shoot you .
Get off of my porch.
” His attorney issued a statement saying they were disappointed that he was charged with a crime , but they wouldn ’ t discuss the facts at this time .
“ We disagree entirely with their assessment , but we have the utmost faith in the justice system , and we are confident that the correct result will be reached , ” attorney Samuel Tyre said .
“ My client ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect his wife and his family and to keep them safe from physical harm .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The husband of Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey has been charged with pointing a gun at Black Lives Matter members who demonstrated outside the couple’s home the day before she faced a primary election in March.
The state attorney general filed three misdemeanor charges Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court against David Lacey for assault with a firearm for the March 2 incident.
Advertisement
Lacey, 66, pointed a gun at demonstrators who protested outside the couple’s home before dawn on March 2 and said “I will shoot you,” according to video of the incident.
Jackie Lacey offered an emotional apology at the time, saying her husband told her he pulled the gun and told protesters to leave.
Lacey’s campaign issued a statement Tuesday saying her husband thought they were in danger and was trying to protect them.
“The events that took place earlier this year have caused my family immense pain,” Lacey said in the statement. “My husband acted in fear for my safety after we were subjected to months of harassment that included a death threat no less than a week earlier.”
Advertisement
Lacey, the first Black person and first woman to run what is the nation’s largest local prosecutor’s office, has been targeted for nearly three years by Black Lives Matter protesters, who have held weekly demonstrations outside her office calling for her ouster. The protests were once small, but have numbered in the hundreds and thousands after the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd.
Protesters claim she has failed to hold law enforcement accountable in fatal shootings. She has charged one officer in a fatal on-duty killing, but has declined to file charges in more than 340 other fatal shootings.
Melina Abdullah, who is the victim named in count one of the criminal complaint, declined to comment but said she would hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon before Black Lives Matter’s weekly “Jackie Lacey Must Go” protest outside the Hall of Justice.
Lacey faces a runoff in November for her third term. She is being challenged by former San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon, a longtime police officer and former chief who vows to reform the office.
David Lacey, who is also Black, was an investigative auditor with the DA’s office until his 2016 retirement. He was seen in video shot by protesters telling them: ”I will shoot you. Get off of my porch.”
Advertisement
His attorney issued a statement saying they were disappointed that he was charged with a crime, but they wouldn’t discuss the facts at this time.
“We disagree entirely with their assessment, but we have the utmost faith in the justice system, and we are confident that the correct result will be reached,” attorney Samuel Tyre said. “My client’s human instinct is forever and always to protect his wife and his family and to keep them safe from physical harm.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-04--Trump Appointee With Anti-LGBTQ Views Fired From Aid Agency

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The deputy White House liaison for the U.S. Agency for International Development has been fired after posting a series of anti-LGBTQ tweets and complaining of anti-Christian bias by her now former colleagues .
Officials said Merritt Corrigan was fired on Monday just hours after sending the torrent of tweets that also accused Democratic lawmakers of a “ corrupt campaign ” to oust her from her job .
A USAID spokeswoman confirmed that Corrigan was no longer employed by the agency .
Democrats , gay rights groups and others had criticized Corrigan ’ s hiring earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made about gay , lesbian and transgender people .
Democrats in Congress had demanded her resignation .
On Monday , Corrigan took to Twitter to say that “ gay marriage isn ’ t marriage ” and accuse the media of attacking her for her Christian beliefs .
Merritt Corrigan was the deputy White House liaison for the U.S. Agency for International Development .
“ For too long , I ’ ve remained silent as the media has attacked me for my Christian beliefs , which are shared by the majority of Americans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several tweets .
“ Let me clear : Gay marriage isn ’ t marriage ; Men aren ’ t women ; US-funded Tunisian LGBT soap operas aren ’ t America.
” She also said that the U.S. was losing the international battle for influence “ because we now refuse to help countries who don ’ t celebrate sexual deviancy.
” Corrigan said she would expose the anti-Christian bias at USAID at a news conference later this week .
USAID chief John Barsa had previously defended Corrigan and in confirming Corrigan ’ s departure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency takes any claim of discrimination seriously .
“ We will investigate any complaints of anti-Christian bias Ms. Corrigan has raised during her tenure at the agency , ” she said .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
WASHINGTON (AP) — The deputy White House liaison for the U.S. Agency for International Development has been fired after posting a series of anti-LGBTQ tweets and complaining of anti-Christian bias by her now former colleagues.
Officials said Merritt Corrigan was fired on Monday just hours after sending the torrent of tweets that also accused Democratic lawmakers of a “corrupt campaign” to oust her from her job. A USAID spokeswoman confirmed that Corrigan was no longer employed by the agency.
Advertisement
Democrats, gay rights groups and others had criticized Corrigan’s hiring earlier this year because of past comments she made about gay, lesbian and transgender people. Democrats in Congress had demanded her resignation. On Monday, Corrigan took to Twitter to say that “gay marriage isn’t marriage” and accuse the media of attacking her for her Christian beliefs.
Merritt Corrigan was the deputy White House liaison for the U.S. Agency for International Development. Mikhail Metzel via Getty Images
“For too long, I’ve remained silent as the media has attacked me for my Christian beliefs, which are shared by the majority of Americans,” she wrote in the first of several tweets. “Let me clear: Gay marriage isn’t marriage; Men aren’t women; US-funded Tunisian LGBT soap operas aren’t America.”
She also said that the U.S. was losing the international battle for influence “because we now refuse to help countries who don’t celebrate sexual deviancy.” Corrigan said she would expose the anti-Christian bias at USAID at a news conference later this week.
Advertisement


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-04--Poll: Americans Favor Renewing $600 Unemployment Benefits

Earlier this year , Congress passed a law giving people added federal unemployment benefits of $ 600 per week due to the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic .
These payments lapsed over the weekend as negotiations between the White House and congressional leaders devolved into finger-pointing .
Americans say , 54 % to 29 % , that the expanded unemployed benefits should have been renewed .
Another 17 % say they ’ re unsure .
Democrats support the renewal of benefits 73 % to 18 % ; Republicans are close to evenly split , with 40 % saying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % that they should not have been .
Within the GOP , those in households making $ 50,000 or less annually are more supportive than those with higher incomes .
Asked who is at least somewhat responsible for the benefits expiring , 39 % of Americans say Democrats in Congress are , 41 % that Republicans in Congress are , and 29 % say that President Trump is at least somewhat responsible .
Views are sharply polarized , with Republicans mostly attributing the lack of a deal to congressional Democrats , and Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House .
About two-thirds of those polled say they ’ ve followed news about the benefits expiring at least somewhat closely , and 28 % say they ’ ve followed it very closely .
Among those Americans who say that they or a household member received the expanded benefits , however , roughly half have been paying very close attention to the story .
A 77 % majority of those whose households received the expanded benefits say that those benefits should have been renewed .
Views of the federal government ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meanwhile , also remains low .
Just 35 % of Americans approve of the federal government ’ s response , with 57 % disapproving .
Approval for Trump ’ s handling of the pandemic stands at a slightly higher 41 % , with 52 % disapproving .
The HuffPost/YouGov poll consisted of 1,000 completed interviews conducted July 31-Aug. 3 among U.S. adults , using a sample selected from YouGov ’ s opt-in online panel to match the demographics and other characteristics of the adult U.S. population .
HuffPost has teamed up with YouGov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can learn more about this project and take part in YouGov ’ s nationally representative opinion polling .
More details on the polls ’ methodology are available here .
Most surveys report a margin of error that represents some but not all potential survey errors .
YouGov ’ s reports include a model-based margin of error , which rests on a specific set of statistical assumptions about the selected sample rather than the standard methodology for random probability sampling .
If these assumptions are wrong , the model-based margin of error may also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more detailed explanation of the model-based margin of error .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Public support for renewing expanded unemployment benefits far outweighs opposition to the expanded benefits that expired last Friday, a new HuffPost/YouGov survey finds.
Earlier this year, Congress passed a law giving people added federal unemployment benefits of $600 per week due to the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. These payments lapsed over the weekend as negotiations between the White House and congressional leaders devolved into finger-pointing.
Advertisement
Americans say, 54% to 29%, that the expanded unemployed benefits should have been renewed. Another 17% say they’re unsure.
Democrats support the renewal of benefits 73% to 18%; Republicans are close to evenly split, with 40% saying the benefits should have been renewed and 43% that they should not have been. Within the GOP, those in households making $50,000 or less annually are more supportive than those with higher incomes.
Asked who is at least somewhat responsible for the benefits expiring, 39% of Americans say Democrats in Congress are, 41% that Republicans in Congress are, and 29% say that President Trump is at least somewhat responsible. Views are sharply polarized, with Republicans mostly attributing the lack of a deal to congressional Democrats, and Democrats largely assigning responsibility to the GOP and the White House.
Advertisement
About two-thirds of those polled say they’ve followed news about the benefits expiring at least somewhat closely, and 28% say they’ve followed it very closely.
Among those Americans who say that they or a household member received the expanded benefits, however, roughly half have been paying very close attention to the story. A 77% majority of those whose households received the expanded benefits say that those benefits should have been renewed.
Views of the federal government’s handling of broader coronavirus issues, meanwhile, also remains low. Just 35% of Americans approve of the federal government’s response, with 57% disapproving. Approval for Trump’s handling of the pandemic stands at a slightly higher 41%, with 52% disapproving.
The HuffPost/YouGov poll consisted of 1,000 completed interviews conducted July 31-Aug. 3 among U.S. adults, using a sample selected from YouGov’s opt-in online panel to match the demographics and other characteristics of the adult U.S. population.
Advertisement
HuffPost has teamed up with YouGov to conduct daily opinion polls. You can learn more about this project and take part in YouGov’s nationally representative opinion polling. More details on the polls’ methodology are available here.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-04--Neil Young Sues Trump Campaign For Using Songs At Campaign Events

NEW YORK ( AP ) — Neil Young sued President Donald Trump ’ s reelection campaign Tuesday for copyright infringement , saying he doesn ’ t want his music used as a theme song for a “ divisive un-American campaign of ignorance and hate.
” The Grammy-award winning Canadian-born musician filed the lawsuit through his lawyers in Manhattan federal court , seeking up to $ 150,000 in statutory damages for each infringement .
The campaign has used the tunes numerous times at rallies and political events , including on June 20 in Tulsa , Oklahoma , the lawsuit said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ disrespect the rights and opinions of American citizens , who are free to support the candidate of their choosing , ” the lawsuit said .
“ However , ” it added , “ Plaintiff in good conscience can not allow his music to be used as a ‘ theme song ’ for a divisive , un-American campaign of ignorance and hate.
” Young first complained about the use of the 1990 single , “ Rockin ’ in the Free World , ” in June 2015 , when the song accompanied Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the lawsuit .
The campaign ’ s insistence in a statement then that it had obtained permission to use the music only proved that it was aware it needed permission , the lawsuit said .
It said Young has voiced continuous and public objections to the use of the music .
“ The campaign has willfully ignored Plaintiff ’ s telling it not to play the Songs and willfully proceeded to play the Songs despite its lack of a license , ” according to the lawsuit .
On July 3 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Neil Young Archives ” website , where a copy of Tuesday ’ s lawsuit was also posted , after Trump visited Mount Rushmore for an event .
“ I stand in solidarity with the Lakota Sioux & this is NOT ok with me , ” he said in support of over 100 protesters who forced the closing of a road leading to the landmark .
“ Imagine what it feels like to hear ‘ Rockin ’ in the Free World ’ after this President speaks , like it is his theme song , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I did not write it for that.
” In June , the Rolling Stones threatened to sue after the 1969 classic “ You Can ’ t Always Get What You Want ” was played at Trump ’ s Oklahoma rally , where critics said the indoor event threatened to spread the coronavirus .
The family of the late rock musician Tom Petty said it had issued a cease-and-desist order after Trump used the song “ I Won ’ t Back Down″ in Tulsa .
“ Trump was in no way authorized to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that leaves too many Americans and common sense behind , ″ the statement said .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
NEW YORK (AP) — Neil Young sued President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign Tuesday for copyright infringement, saying he doesn’t want his music used as a theme song for a “divisive un-American campaign of ignorance and hate.”
The Grammy-award winning Canadian-born musician filed the lawsuit through his lawyers in Manhattan federal court, seeking up to $150,000 in statutory damages for each infringement.
Advertisement
A message seeking comment was left with a campaign spokesperson.
The legendary singer cited repeated use of two songs: “Rockin’ in the Free World” and “Devil’s Sidewalk.”
The campaign has used the tunes numerous times at rallies and political events, including on June 20 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the lawsuit said.
Young said he was not suing to “disrespect the rights and opinions of American citizens, who are free to support the candidate of their choosing,” the lawsuit said.
“However,” it added, “Plaintiff in good conscience cannot allow his music to be used as a ‘theme song’ for a divisive, un-American campaign of ignorance and hate.”
Advertisement
Young first complained about the use of the 1990 single, “Rockin’ in the Free World,” in June 2015, when the song accompanied Trump’s announcement of his presidential campaign, according to the lawsuit.
The campaign’s insistence in a statement then that it had obtained permission to use the music only proved that it was aware it needed permission, the lawsuit said.
It said Young has voiced continuous and public objections to the use of the music.
“The campaign has willfully ignored Plaintiff’s telling it not to play the Songs and willfully proceeded to play the Songs despite its lack of a license,” according to the lawsuit.
New York attorney Ivan Saperstein, who filed the lawsuit on Young’s behalf along with attorney Robert S. Besser of Santa Monica, California, declined comment.
On July 3, Young lodged a complaint on the “Neil Young Archives” website, where a copy of Tuesday’s lawsuit was also posted, after Trump visited Mount Rushmore for an event.
Advertisement
“I stand in solidarity with the Lakota Sioux & this is NOT ok with me,” he said in support of over 100 protesters who forced the closing of a road leading to the landmark.
He complained after “Like a Hurricane” and other songs were played when Trump visited the site.
“Imagine what it feels like to hear ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’ after this President speaks, like it is his theme song,” Young said on the website. “I did not write it for that.”
Other artists have also complained after their songs were played at Trump’s events.
In June, the Rolling Stones threatened to sue after the 1969 classic “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” was played at Trump’s Oklahoma rally, where critics said the indoor event threatened to spread the coronavirus.
The family of the late rock musician Tom Petty said it had issued a cease-and-desist order after Trump used the song “I Won’t Back Down″ in Tulsa.
“Trump was in no way authorized to use this song to further a campaign that leaves too many Americans and common sense behind,″ the statement said.
Advertisement
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-04--As Trump Attacks Mail-In Voting, GOP Lawmakers Say They’ve Voted By Mail

Trump has ratcheted up his attacks on broad mail-in voting in recent weeks as some states have moved to expand mail-in voting eligibility because of the coronavirus outbreak , and as polls have continued to show him trailing presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ahead of November ’ s election .
On Monday , Trump suggested the Democratic primary in New York ’ s 12th Congressional District should be “ rerun ” because of lengthy delays in counting mail-in ballots .
Nearly six weeks after the primary , all of the votes have yet to be counted .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now I think you have to rerun that race because it ’ s a mess , ” Trump said , nearly a week after he suggested delaying the November presidential election because of expected large numbers of mail-in ballots .
The president can not act on his own to move the date of the election .
Democrats and voting experts say they ’ re increasingly concerned Trump appears to be laying the groundwork to contest the legitimacy of the presidential election if he loses .
The strategy could pour gasoline on a highly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely going to be a long wait to get election results .
In Michigan , for example , election officials reported problems with the delivery of absentee ballots ahead of Tuesday ’ s primary in the state .
They also reported extremely high demand for absentee ballots .
As of Monday , 2,066,000 absentee ballots had been sent to voters , compared with about 575,000 at the same point in August 2016 , according to The Washington Post .
There is no evidence of widespread fraud in U.S. elections involving mail-in voting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida primary in March .
Other members of his administration also have done it , as well as nearly every Republican lawmaker on Capitol Hill at one point or another .
The South Dakota Republican , however , argued that is riskier to vote in states with universal systems where absentee ballots are mailed to all active voters , even those who do not request one .
Nevada on Monday became the eighth state to approve such a plan , citing health risks posed by the coronavirus .
Election experts say there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authenticity of all ballots cast by mail .
Moreover , GOP officials in other states with all-mail voting systems ― such as the conservative bastion of Utah ― have defended voting by mail .
“ I can ’ t speak for other states but it works very well in our state .
We ’ ve been doing it for some time and the system is effective , ” Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-Utah ) said Tuesday .
Trump ’ s attacks against mail-in voting ― whether he is primarily referring to universal systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his party at a disadvantage in November .
This concern may have prompted Trump to tweet on Tuesday about how Florida ’ s election system is actually “ safe and secure ” regardless of whether one votes by mail or absentee , contradicting his weekslong attacks on mail-in voting .
Florida is a key battleground state , one that Trump badly needs to carry in November to have any chance of winning reelection .
( Polls have shown him trailing there to Biden as well ) .
The Sunshine State is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is highly vulnerable to the coronavirus and votes primarily by mail .
“ It just shows they realize their voters want to vote by mail and he ’ s undermining it all the time , ” Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D-Minn. ) told HuffPost on Tuesday when asked about the president ’ s tweet .
“ By undermining it , it feels to me he ’ s focused more on trying to undermine the whole election when he knows very well his voters are voting by mail .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Republican lawmakers say they have confidence in voting by mail even as President Donald Trump continues trying to discredit vote-by-mail systems, falsely claiming they are “corrupt” or “fraudulent.”
“I think we’ve actually had success with mail-in voting in my state. I’ve voted remotely before and I haven’t had any challenges,” Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) told HuffPost on Tuesday.
Advertisement
“No, I’m not concerned about mail-in voting in Florida,” Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said on a campaign call over the weekend.
Trump has ratcheted up his attacks on broad mail-in voting in recent weeks as some states have moved to expand mail-in voting eligibility because of the coronavirus outbreak, and as polls have continued to show him trailing presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ahead of November’s election.
On Monday, Trump suggested the Democratic primary in New York’s 12th Congressional District should be “rerun” because of lengthy delays in counting mail-in ballots. Nearly six weeks after the primary, all of the votes have yet to be counted.
“I think I can say right here and now I think you have to rerun that race because it’s a mess,” Trump said, nearly a week after he suggested delaying the November presidential election because of expected large numbers of mail-in ballots. The president cannot act on his own to move the date of the election.
Advertisement
Democrats and voting experts say they’re increasingly concerned Trump appears to be laying the groundwork to contest the legitimacy of the presidential election if he loses. The strategy could pour gasoline on a highly combustible situation, especially because there is likely going to be a long wait to get election results.
In Michigan, for example, election officials reported problems with the delivery of absentee ballots ahead of Tuesday’s primary in the state. They also reported extremely high demand for absentee ballots. As of Monday, 2,066,000 absentee ballots had been sent to voters, compared with about 575,000 at the same point in August 2016, according to The Washington Post.
There is no evidence of widespread fraud in U.S. elections involving mail-in voting. Trump himself voted by mail in the Florida primary in March. Other members of his administration also have done it, as well as nearly every Republican lawmaker on Capitol Hill at one point or another.
“I did it this year,” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said on Tuesday when asked if he’d voted by mail.
The South Dakota Republican, however, argued that is riskier to vote in states with universal systems where absentee ballots are mailed to all active voters, even those who do not request one. Nevada on Monday became the eighth state to approve such a plan, citing health risks posed by the coronavirus.
Election experts say there are strict measures in place to verify the authenticity of all ballots cast by mail. Moreover, GOP officials in other states with all-mail voting systems ― such as the conservative bastion of Utah ― have defended voting by mail.
Advertisement
“I can’t speak for other states but it works very well in our state. We’ve been doing it for some time and the system is effective,” Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said Tuesday.
Trump’s attacks against mail-in voting ― whether he is primarily referring to universal systems or not ― could actually put him and his party at a disadvantage in November. This concern may have prompted Trump to tweet on Tuesday about how Florida’s election system is actually “safe and secure” regardless of whether one votes by mail or absentee, contradicting his weekslong attacks on mail-in voting.
Whether you call it Vote by Mail or Absentee Voting, in Florida the election system is Safe and Secure, Tried and True. Florida’s Voting system has been cleaned up (we defeated Democrats attempts at change), so in Florida I encourage all to request a Ballot & Vote by Mail! #MAGA — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 4, 2020
Florida is a key battleground state, one that Trump badly needs to carry in November to have any chance of winning reelection. (Polls have shown him trailing there to Biden as well). The Sunshine State is also home to a large elderly population that is highly vulnerable to the coronavirus and votes primarily by mail.
“It just shows they realize their voters want to vote by mail and he’s undermining it all the time,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) told HuffPost on Tuesday when asked about the president’s tweet. “By undermining it, it feels to me he’s focused more on trying to undermine the whole election when he knows very well his voters are voting by mail.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-04--Live-Action 'Mulan' Will Now Air On Disney+ -- For $29.99 Extra

Disney ’ s live-action version of “ Mulan ” is no longer scheduled for theatrical release , the studio announced Tuesday .
Instead , the film will be available as a rental on Disney+ starting Sept. 4 for an additional $ 29.99 beyond the monthly subscription fee , according to Variety .
“ Mulan ” was initially scheduled for release in theaters March 27 but has been delayed several times because of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Although Disney CEO Bob Chapek called the switch to streaming “ a necessary move during the pandemic , ” he said it probably wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Mouse .
“ We ’ re looking at ‘ Mulan ’ as a one-off as opposed to , say , there ’ s some new business windowing model that we ’ re looking at , ” Chapek said Tuesday on the company ’ s earnings call , Variety reported .
Considering Mulan reportedly had a $ 200 million budget , the $ 29.99 rental fee is an attempt “ to establish a new premiere access window to capture that investment we got ” in the film , Chapek said , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t sure how to take the news that “ Mulan ” was going straight to streaming , especially since two other Disney movies , “ The New Mutants ” and “ Black Widow , ” still have theatrical releases scheduled for Aug. 28 and Nov. 6 , according to The Verge .
I was n't particularly interested in `` Mulan '' but it 's a bummer that a film of this scope , with an Asian cast , wo n't have its due - a worldwide theatrical release .
We should all pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ releases are protected and those that are not .
https : //t.co/FmhGhrQx4z — Nia DaCosta ( @ NiaDaCosta ) August 4 , 2020 It 's funny because paying $ 6.99 a month for Disney+ almost feels too low ( we use it a lot ) , but paying $ 29.99 for `` Mulan '' feels too high ?
https : //t.co/70W5ZohfAE via @ chrispalmeri @ crayton_h — Nick Turner ( @ NewsyNick ) August 4 , 2020 If I pay $ 30 for Mulan ( WITH NO SONGS OR MUSHU ) I better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot out of a firework at the end .
— Akilah Hughes ( @ AkilahObviously ) August 4 , 2020 $ 30 is what it would cost for me , Krissy and Athena to see it on opening weekend , plus we wo n't have to sit through 45 minutes of ads and trailers beforehand , so : Maybe ?
https : //t.co/4ezr1D02qj — John Scalzi ( @ scalzi ) August 4 , 2020

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Disney’s live-action version of “Mulan” is no longer scheduled for theatrical release, the studio announced Tuesday.
Instead, the film will be available as a rental on Disney+ starting Sept. 4 for an additional $29.99 beyond the monthly subscription fee, according to Variety.
Advertisement
“Mulan” was initially scheduled for release in theaters March 27 but has been delayed several times because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although Disney CEO Bob Chapek called the switch to streaming “a necessary move during the pandemic,” he said it probably wouldn’t be a new business model for the Mouse.
“We’re looking at ‘Mulan’ as a one-off as opposed to, say, there’s some new business windowing model that we’re looking at,” Chapek said Tuesday on the company’s earnings call, Variety reported.
Considering Mulan reportedly had a $200 million budget, the $29.99 rental fee is an attempt “to establish a new premiere access window to capture that investment we got” in the film, Chapek said, according to Deadline.
Advertisement
Twitter users weren’t sure how to take the news that “Mulan” was going straight to streaming, especially since two other Disney movies, “The New Mutants” and “Black Widow,” still have theatrical releases scheduled for Aug. 28 and Nov. 6, according to The Verge.
I wasn't particularly interested in "Mulan" but it's a bummer that a film of this scope, with an Asian cast, won't have its due - a worldwide theatrical release. We should all pay close attention to the movies whose theatrical releases are protected and those that are not. https://t.co/FmhGhrQx4z — Nia DaCosta (@NiaDaCosta) August 4, 2020
It's funny because paying $6.99 a month for Disney+ almost feels too low (we use it a lot), but paying $29.99 for "Mulan" feels too high? https://t.co/70W5ZohfAE via @chrispalmeri @crayton_h — Nick Turner (@NewsyNick) August 4, 2020
If I pay $30 for Mulan (WITH NO SONGS OR MUSHU) I better get buried in the avalanche scene and shot out of a firework at the end. — Akilah Hughes (@AkilahObviously) August 4, 2020
$30 is what it would cost for me, Krissy and Athena to see it on opening weekend, plus we won't have to sit through 45 minutes of ads and trailers beforehand, so: Maybe? https://t.co/4ezr1D02qj — John Scalzi (@scalzi) August 4, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-04--250,000 Bikers To Attend South Dakota's Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Despite COVID-19

Despite COVID-19 concerns , the biggest biker event in South Dakota is still set to proceed with slight modifications , likely attracting hundreds of thousands of motorcycle riders to Sturgis and the surrounding Black Hills mountain region starting Friday this week .
The 80th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally , which will run until Aug. 16 , is “ an icon of American Freedom and Independence , ” according to a press release put out on the Sturgis website in June that announced a “ modified ” version of the event .
“ After considering many options , the City Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preparations for the large influx of tourists and participants coming to enjoy the Black Hills , with a focus on preserving the safety of our residents , ” the release reads .
“ Attendees will be asked to be respectful of the community concerns by practicing social distancing and taking personal responsibility for their health by following CDC guidelines.
” The release describes “ enhanced safety and sanitization protocols ” that will be present at the event , including public hand-sanitizing stations in Sturgis ’ downtown as well as nightly sidewalk cleanings .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ signage requesting customers to socially distance , though masks are not required for the customers themselves .
Attendance at the rally is usually around 500,000 , but accounting for the coronavirus pandemic , this year it is expected to be around 250,000 , The Rapid City Journal reported in June .
Sturgis itself has a population only numbering a little over 7,200 .
“ The city knew that people were coming no matter what and we had to be prepared , so we altered our normal plan a bit and are doing our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally spokeswoman Christina Steele told The Rapid City Journal , referring to a citywide vote which showed that 60 % of Sturgis ’ residents were against canceling the event .
The decision to hold the rally comes as South Dakota surpassed 9,000 coronavirus cases as of Tuesday , and detractors on social media — including the rally ’ s Facebook page — were quick to point out that these numbers were likely to increase as tourists congregated in Sturgis from all across America .
Others speculated that the surge in visitors could have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coping with the coronavirus .
Travel restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have already been placed on two nearby tribal lands — the Pine Ridge Reservation and the Cheyenne River Reservation .
Sigh ... this isn ’ t just going to affect SD .
These bikers are going to take COVID back to their home states .
We need a national shutdown because folks can ’ t seem to act right .
South Dakota braces for 250,000 at Sturgis motorcycle rally despite coronavirus https : //t.co/k3zNkfdjA5 — Miss Aja ( @ brat2381 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Lakota people living in & around their Black Hills homelands .
The Sturgis Rally is a go .
Attendance is expected to be down from 600K to ~250K but SD has no mask mandate & uncontrolled Covid spread .
SD has the most cases it ’ s had since May .
https : //t.co/GowjqaBjYE — Ruth Hopkins ⚡❤⚡ ( @ Ruth_HHopkins ) August 3 , 2020 The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is a massive local moneymaker , with attendants spending an estimated $ 800 million in previous years .
The South Dakota Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in taxes alone for the event in 2019 .
The first Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was in 1938 .
The next three years were skipped due to gasoline rationing during World War II , but the rally returned in 1942 and has been held annually since , according to a timeline on the event ’ s website — which highlights 2020 as a year for the rally ’ s “ 80th Anniversary held during a viral pandemic .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Despite COVID-19 concerns, the biggest biker event in South Dakota is still set to proceed with slight modifications, likely attracting hundreds of thousands of motorcycle riders to Sturgis and the surrounding Black Hills mountain region starting Friday this week.
The 80th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which will run until Aug. 16, is “an icon of American Freedom and Independence,” according to a press release put out on the Sturgis website in June that announced a “modified” version of the event.
Advertisement
“After considering many options, the City Council voted in favor of moving forward with preparations for the large influx of tourists and participants coming to enjoy the Black Hills, with a focus on preserving the safety of our residents,” the release reads. “Attendees will be asked to be respectful of the community concerns by practicing social distancing and taking personal responsibility for their health by following CDC guidelines.”
The release describes “enhanced safety and sanitization protocols” that will be present at the event, including public hand-sanitizing stations in Sturgis’ downtown as well as nightly sidewalk cleanings. All vendors must wear masks and post signage requesting customers to socially distance, though masks are not required for the customers themselves.
Bikes and rallygoers fill Main Street during the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August, 2015. Kristina Barker / Reuters
Attendance at the rally is usually around 500,000, but accounting for the coronavirus pandemic, this year it is expected to be around 250,000, The Rapid City Journal reported in June. Sturgis itself has a population only numbering a little over 7,200.
Advertisement
“The city knew that people were coming no matter what and we had to be prepared, so we altered our normal plan a bit and are doing our best to keep people safe,” rally spokeswoman Christina Steele told The Rapid City Journal.
The decision to hold the rally comes as South Dakota surpassed 9,000 coronavirus cases as of Tuesday, and detractors on social media — including the rally’s Facebook page — were quick to point out that these numbers were likely to increase as tourists congregated in Sturgis from all across America. Others speculated that the surge in visitors could have a harmful impact on nearby Lakota communities coping with the coronavirus. Travel restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have already been placed on two nearby tribal lands — the Pine Ridge Reservation and the Cheyenne River Reservation.
Comments from the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Facebook page. Facebook
Sigh...this isn’t just going to affect SD. These bikers are going to take COVID back to their home states. We need a national shutdown because folks can’t seem to act right.
South Dakota braces for 250,000 at Sturgis motorcycle rally despite coronavirus https://t.co/k3zNkfdjA5 — Miss Aja (@brat2381) August 3, 2020
Please pray for Lakota people living in & around their Black Hills homelands. The Sturgis Rally is a go. Attendance is expected to be down from 600K to ~250K but SD has no mask mandate & uncontrolled Covid spread. SD has the most cases it’s had since May. https://t.co/GowjqaBjYE — Ruth Hopkins ⚡❤⚡ (@Ruth_HHopkins) August 3, 2020
Advertisement
South Dakota's Sturgis Motorcycle Rally expecting to draw 250K, amid coronavirus concerns. Bikers for Trump should be especially concerned. Obesity can be a real problem if they get the Coronavirus. — tom 🌊 (@lonestarmoocher) August 4, 2020
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is a massive local moneymaker, with attendants spending an estimated $800 million in previous years. The South Dakota Department of Revenue collected over $1 million in taxes alone for the event in 2019.
The first Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was in 1938. The next three years were skipped due to gasoline rationing during World War II, but the rally returned in 1942 and has been held annually since, according to a timeline on the event’s website — which highlights 2020 as a year for the rally’s “80th Anniversary held during a viral pandemic.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-04--Kanye West Dropping Effort To Get On New Jersey's 2020 Ballot

TRENTON , N.J. ( AP ) — Kanye West withdrew his petition to appear as a presidential candidate on New Jersey ’ s ballot , according to an email chain between a judge and what appears to be the rapper ’ s campaign email address .
In email correspondence obtained by The Associated Press , an unidentified person writing from a Kanye 2020 address tells Administrative Law Judge Gail Cookson that West is dropping his effort to appear on New Jersey ’ s ballot .
“ At this time , Kanye 2020 has no further option than to regrettably withdraw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to place Mr. West ’ s name on the New Jersey ballot , ” the Kanye 2020 email said late Monday .
“ I will consider this email as a request for a withdrawal of your petition to be placed in nomination for the President of the United States in the State of New Jersey , ” Cookson wrote .
Election law attorney Scott Salmon objected to West ’ s petition last month , arguing that it failed to pass legal muster because signatures were incomplete and in some cases appeared written in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a registered Democrat but brought the complaint on his own behalf , reacted positively to the news that West had withdrawn .
“ I am glad that the Kanye campaign has realized that their petition was so deficient that it wasn ’ t even worth defending , ” Salmon said in a phone interview .
“ It sort of highlights the fact that it shouldn ’ t have been submitted in the first place.
” The New Jersey petition showed a number of signatures looked nearly identical , including lower-case i ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some signatures lacked complete addresses .
On the petition , West listed his residence as Cody , Wyoming , where he bought two ranches in the area last year .
Questions about why West withdrew and whether the campaign disputed Salmon ’ s objection were sent to the Kanye 2020 email address .
The status of West ’ s presidential campaign and whether he is truly seeking the White House remains unclear .
Kim Kardashian West last month asked for empathy for her husband and said he is bipolar .
Last month in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unconventional campaign introduction speech during which he proposed a $ 1 million payout to mothers and decried Harriet Tubman for her work on the Underground Railroad .
The Kanye 2020 website invites visitors to sign a petition so he can appear on the South Carolina ballot and uses a shorthand name that West uses as his Twitter handle as a slogan : “ Ye for President .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Kanye West withdrew his petition to appear as a presidential candidate on New Jersey’s ballot, according to an email chain between a judge and what appears to be the rapper’s campaign email address.
In email correspondence obtained by The Associated Press, an unidentified person writing from a Kanye 2020 address tells Administrative Law Judge Gail Cookson that West is dropping his effort to appear on New Jersey’s ballot.
Advertisement
“At this time, Kanye 2020 has no further option than to regrettably withdraw from New Jersey and cease further efforts to place Mr. West’s name on the New Jersey ballot,” the Kanye 2020 email said late Monday.
Cookson replied Tuesday, accepting the withdrawal.
“I will consider this email as a request for a withdrawal of your petition to be placed in nomination for the President of the United States in the State of New Jersey,” Cookson wrote.
Election law attorney Scott Salmon objected to West’s petition last month, arguing that it failed to pass legal muster because signatures were incomplete and in some cases appeared written in very similar handwriting.
Salmon, who is a registered Democrat but brought the complaint on his own behalf, reacted positively to the news that West had withdrawn.
Advertisement
“I am glad that the Kanye campaign has realized that their petition was so deficient that it wasn’t even worth defending,” Salmon said in a phone interview. “It sort of highlights the fact that it shouldn’t have been submitted in the first place.”
The New Jersey petition showed a number of signatures looked nearly identical, including lower-case i’s dotted with a small circle. Some signatures lacked complete addresses. On the petition, West listed his residence as Cody, Wyoming, where he bought two ranches in the area last year.
Questions about why West withdrew and whether the campaign disputed Salmon’s objection were sent to the Kanye 2020 email address.
New Jersey is a reliably Democratic state in presidential elections, siding with the Democrat since 1988.
The status of West’s presidential campaign and whether he is truly seeking the White House remains unclear.
Advertisement
Kim Kardashian West last month asked for empathy for her husband and said he is bipolar.
Last month in South Carolina, Kanye West delivered an unconventional campaign introduction speech during which he proposed a $1 million payout to mothers and decried Harriet Tubman for her work on the Underground Railroad.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-04--Aurora Police Mistakenly Handcuff Black Family At Gunpoint For Suspected Car Theft

Police in Aurora , Colorado , detained and handcuffed a Black mother and four children at gunpoint Sunday after mistakenly identifying the SUV she was driving as a stolen motorcycle .
Video of the incident shared by witness Jenni Wurtz shows Brittany Gilliam and four children , including her sister , two nieces and 6-year-old daughter , lying face down on the asphalt in a strip mall parking lot , surrounded by officers .
“ I actually didn ’ t know what I was watching when I first started seeing what was happening .
I ’ d never seen a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CBS Denver .
“ I went from seeing kids in a car to seeing a gun pointed at the kids in the car.
” “ I am not anti-police , ” she added to ABC 7 .
“ I am anti what happened yesterday , and that was ridiculous.
” The Aurora Police Department told 9News Gilliam ’ s license plate matched up with one belonging to a motorcycle from a different state that had been reported stolen earlier Sunday morning .
Adding to the confusion , Gilliam ’ s own car was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was recovered the next day .
That explanation is of little solace to Gilliam , who is upset about the officers ’ tactics .
Gilliam said she and the children were trying to get their nails done when officers approached the car with their guns drawn and ordered them out of the vehicle .
The family was uncuffed and the officers apologized after they realized the mistake .
“ I ’ m livid .
I ’ m angry , ” she told CBS Denver .
“ Those kids are not OK.
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That was a traumatic experience .
Would your kids be OK after that ?
Having a gun pulled on them and laid on the ground .
Especially a 6 year old.
” In a statement , interim Police Chief Vanessa Wilson apologized to the family and said that APD officers are trained to treat suspected stolen cars as “ a high-risk stop.
” That involves drawing their weapons and forcing all occupants to exit the vehicle .
She acknowledged that moving forward , officers should be allowed to alter their approach when circumstances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have called the family to apologize and to offer any help we can provide , especially for the children who may have been traumatized by yesterday ’ s events , ” she said .
“ I have reached out to our victim advocates so we can offer age-appropriate therapy that the city will cover.
” Wilson was appointed Chief of Police Tuesday , taking the top job at an embattled department .
Last August , Aurora officers stopped 23-year-old Elijah McClain as he was walking home from a convenience store , setting off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McClain ’ s death .
McClain was never accused of a crime .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Police in Aurora, Colorado, detained and handcuffed a Black mother and four children at gunpoint Sunday after mistakenly identifying the SUV she was driving as a stolen motorcycle.
Video of the incident shared by witness Jenni Wurtz shows Brittany Gilliam and four children, including her sister, two nieces and 6-year-old daughter, lying face down on the asphalt in a strip mall parking lot, surrounded by officers.
Advertisement
“I actually didn’t know what I was watching when I first started seeing what was happening. I’d never seen a gun that close,” Wurtz told CBS Denver. “I went from seeing kids in a car to seeing a gun pointed at the kids in the car.”
“I am not anti-police,” she added to ABC 7. “I am anti what happened yesterday, and that was ridiculous.”
The Aurora Police Department told 9News Gilliam’s license plate matched up with one belonging to a motorcycle from a different state that had been reported stolen earlier Sunday morning.
Adding to the confusion, Gilliam’s own car was also reported stolen in February, though it was recovered the next day.
Advertisement
Aurora PD handcuff and held family at gunpoint. pic.twitter.com/GkTWKFZqkI — Joshua Rodriguez (@Joshuajered) August 3, 2020
That explanation is of little solace to Gilliam, who is upset about the officers’ tactics.
Gilliam said she and the children were trying to get their nails done when officers approached the car with their guns drawn and ordered them out of the vehicle. The family was uncuffed and the officers apologized after they realized the mistake.
“I’m livid. I’m angry,” she told CBS Denver. “Those kids are not OK. They’re never going to be OK. That was a traumatic experience. Would your kids be OK after that? Having a gun pulled on them and laid on the ground. Especially a 6 year old.”
In a statement, interim Police Chief Vanessa Wilson apologized to the family and said that APD officers are trained to treat suspected stolen cars as “a high-risk stop.” That involves drawing their weapons and forcing all occupants to exit the vehicle. She acknowledged that moving forward, officers should be allowed to alter their approach when circumstances clearly call for it.
“I have called the family to apologize and to offer any help we can provide, especially for the children who may have been traumatized by yesterday’s events,” she said. “I have reached out to our victim advocates so we can offer age-appropriate therapy that the city will cover.”
Advertisement