thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-16--Justice Department Sets New Dates To Begin Executing Federal Inmates On Death Row

Attorney General William Barr directed the federal Bureau of Prisons to schedule the executions , beginning in mid-July , of four inmates convicted of killing children .
Three of the men had been scheduled to be put to death when Barr announced the federal government would resume executions last year , ending an informal moratorium on federal capital punishment as the issue receded from the public domain .
The Justice Department had scheduled five executions set to begin in December , but some of the inmates challenged the new procedures in court , arguing that the government was circumventing proper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly .
The move is likely to add a new front to the national conversation about criminal justice reform and raise interest in an issue that has largely lain dormant in recent years amid the culture battles that President Donald Trump already is waging on matters such as abortion and immigration in the lead-up to the 2020 elections .
The federal government ’ s initial effort was put on hold by a trial judge , and the federal appeals court in Washington and the Supreme Court both declined to step in late last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeals court threw out the judge ’ s order .
Lawyers for the inmates are asking the Supreme Court to order a halt to the process .
“ The American people , acting through Congress and Presidents of both political parties , have long instructed that defendants convicted of the most heinous crimes should be subject to a sentence of death , ” Barr said in a statement .
“ The four murderers whose executions are scheduled today have received full and fair proceedings under our Constitution and laws .
We owe it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and to the families left behind , to carry forward the sentence imposed by our justice system.
” The resumption comes as the federal prison has struggled to combat the coronavirus pandemic behind bars , including at least one death at USP Terre Haute , where they will take place .
One inmate there has died from COVID-19 .
The inmates who will be executed are : Danny Lee , who was convicted in Arkansas of killing a family of three , including an 8-year-old ; Wesley Ira Purkey , of Kansas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ girl and killed an 80-year-old woman ; Dustin Lee Honken , who killed five people in Iowa , including two children ; and Keith Dwayne Nelson , who kidnapped a 10-year-old girl who was rollerblading in front of her Kansas home and raped her in a forest behind a church before strangling the young girl with a wire .
Executions on the federal level have been rare and the government has put to death only three defendants since restoring the federal death penalty in 1988 — most recently in 2003 , when Louis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , rape and murder of a young female soldier .
Though there hasn ’ t been a federal execution since 2003 , the Justice Department has continued to approve death penalty prosecutions and federal courts have sentenced defendants to death .
The attorney general said last July that the Obama-era review had been completed , clearing the way for executions to resume .
He approved a new procedure for lethal injections that replaces the three-drug combination previously used in federal executions with one drug , pentobarbital .
This is similar to the procedure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Missouri and Texas , but not all .
Barr told the AP in November that the federal Bureau of Prisons had been testing and conducting practice drills ahead of the first execution .
He would not say where the drugs would come from .
Ruth Friedman , an attorney for Danny Lee , said the government relied on “ junk science and false evidence ” in his case and said he is trying to get a court to consider problems in his case .
A federal judge denied Lee ’ s request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence presented by his attorneys “ is reasonably likely ” to have led to a different sentence .
And an attorney for Honken , Shawn Nolan , said Honken ’ s trial and sentencing proceeding were “ plagued by misconduct and the ineffectiveness of counsel ” and said he was been denied a full and fair review of the alleged defects in the case .
Nolan described Honken as a “ deeply remorseful and devout Catholic and loving father of two children .
”

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has set new dates to begin executing federal death-row inmates following a monthslong legal battle over the plan to resume the executions for the first time since 2003.
Attorney General William Barr directed the federal Bureau of Prisons to schedule the executions, beginning in mid-July, of four inmates convicted of killing children. Three of the men had been scheduled to be put to death when Barr announced the federal government would resume executions last year, ending an informal moratorium on federal capital punishment as the issue receded from the public domain.
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The Justice Department had scheduled five executions set to begin in December, but some of the inmates challenged the new procedures in court, arguing that the government was circumventing proper methods in order to wrongly execute inmates quickly.
The department wouldn’t say why the executions of two of the inmates scheduled in December hadn’t been rescheduled.
The move is likely to add a new front to the national conversation about criminal justice reform and raise interest in an issue that has largely lain dormant in recent years amid the culture battles that President Donald Trump already is waging on matters such as abortion and immigration in the lead-up to the 2020 elections.
The federal government’s initial effort was put on hold by a trial judge, and the federal appeals court in Washington and the Supreme Court both declined to step in late last year. But in April, the appeals court threw out the judge’s order. Lawyers for the inmates are asking the Supreme Court to order a halt to the process.
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“The American people, acting through Congress and Presidents of both political parties, have long instructed that defendants convicted of the most heinous crimes should be subject to a sentence of death,” Barr said in a statement. “The four murderers whose executions are scheduled today have received full and fair proceedings under our Constitution and laws. We owe it to the victims of these horrific crimes, and to the families left behind, to carry forward the sentence imposed by our justice system.”
The resumption comes as the federal prison has struggled to combat the coronavirus pandemic behind bars, including at least one death at USP Terre Haute, where they will take place. One inmate there has died from COVID-19.
The inmates who will be executed are: Danny Lee, who was convicted in Arkansas of killing a family of three, including an 8-year-old; Wesley Ira Purkey, of Kansas, who raped and murdered a 16-year-old girl and killed an 80-year-old woman; Dustin Lee Honken, who killed five people in Iowa, including two children; and Keith Dwayne Nelson, who kidnapped a 10-year-old girl who was rollerblading in front of her Kansas home and raped her in a forest behind a church before strangling the young girl with a wire.
Three of the executions — for Lee, Purkley and Honken — are scheduled days apart beginning July 13. Nelson’s execution is scheduled for Aug. 28. The Justice Department said additional executions will be set at a later date.
Executions on the federal level have been rare and the government has put to death only three defendants since restoring the federal death penalty in 1988 — most recently in 2003, when Louis Jones was executed for the 1995 kidnapping, rape and murder of a young female soldier. Though there hasn’t been a federal execution since 2003, the Justice Department has continued to approve death penalty prosecutions and federal courts have sentenced defendants to death.
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In 2014, following a botched state execution in Oklahoma, President Barack Obama directed the Justice Department to conduct a broad review of capital punishment and issues surrounding lethal injection drugs.
The attorney general said last July that the Obama-era review had been completed, clearing the way for executions to resume. He approved a new procedure for lethal injections that replaces the three-drug combination previously used in federal executions with one drug, pentobarbital. This is similar to the procedure used in several states, including Georgia, Missouri and Texas, but not all.
Barr told the AP in November that the federal Bureau of Prisons had been testing and conducting practice drills ahead of the first execution. He would not say where the drugs would come from.
Those chosen were among inmates who had exhausted their appeals, and the cases were forwarded to senior Justice Department officials who reviewed the cases and made recommendations to him, Barr said.
President Donald Trump has spoken often about capital punishment and his belief that executions serve as an effective deterrent and an appropriate punishment for some crimes, including mass shootings and the killings of police officers.
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Lawyers for the men decried the Justice Department’s decision to move ahead with the executions.
Ruth Friedman, an attorney for Danny Lee, said the government relied on “junk science and false evidence” in his case and said he is trying to get a court to consider problems in his case. A federal judge denied Lee’s request for a new trial but noted that evidence presented by his attorneys “is reasonably likely” to have led to a different sentence.
“Given all of these circumstances, it would be unconscionable for the government to execute Danny Lee,” Friedman said.
Purkey’s attorney, Rebecca Woodman, said her client suffers from schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and doesn’t understand why the government plans to execute him. “No execution should proceed unless and until the question of Wes’s competency is resolved,” she said.
And an attorney for Honken, Shawn Nolan, said Honken’s trial and sentencing proceeding were “plagued by misconduct and the ineffectiveness of counsel” and said he was been denied a full and fair review of the alleged defects in the case. Nolan described Honken as a “deeply remorseful and devout Catholic and loving father of two children.”
An attorney for Nelson did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-15--NYPD To Reassign 600 ‘Anti-Crime’ Plainclothes Officers Amid Protests

New York City ’ s police department will transition the roughly 600 plainclothes officers that make up its “ anti-crime ” units into other roles , amid protests nationwide calling for an end to racist police brutality .
In a press conference Monday , NYPD commissioner Dermot Shea said “ meaningful reform starts from within.
” The anti-crime officers – whose units responded to violent crime — have represented a “ disproportionate percentage ” of complaints from civilians and officer-involved shootings , Shea said .
The NYPD did not immediately respond to HuffPost ’ s request to clarify exactly what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The hundreds of officers in question will be moved into neighborhood policing , detective bureaus and other assignments , Shea said .
He said the police ’ s job of responding to violent crime can be done with “ 21st century policing , ” using data , intelligence , video and other methods to build their cases .
“ Make no mistake , this is a seismic shift in the culture of how the NYPD polices this great city , ” Shea said , describing this “ big move ” as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last chapters ” of the city ’ s notorious stop-and-frisk policy , which disproportionately targeted Black and Latinx residents .
“ It is lost on no one , certainly not people that live in the neighborhoods we serve , that endure being stopped… we can do it better .
And we will , ” Shea added .
The reform comes after over nearly three weeks of protests nationwide , including in New York , calling for an end to systemic racism and police brutality following the police killing of George Floyd in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was killed by a white officer , Derek Chauvin , who knelt on his neck for several minutes , even as Floyd pleaded , “ I can ’ t breathe.
” As activists call for “ defunding ” of police ― a phrase interpreted in different ways ― some cities have moved to redirect funds from police departments to social programs .
In New York , amid the recent protests , lawmakers passed and Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) signed into law a package of police reform laws , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statute that shielded police disciplinary records from the public .
On Friday , New York City leaders proposed cuts of up to $ 1 billion from the NYPD ’ s about $ 6 billion budget .
Shea said Monday other plainclothes units still will operate within the NYPD , including surveillance and narcotics teams .
He also said that transit “ anti-crime ” teams , who work in the city ’ s public transportation system , will not be affected by the new overhaul as these “ exist for completely different purposes.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reassign hundreds of anti-crime officers was “ not a reflection ” on the officers , who he called “ amazing ” and said were “ doing what I and others before me asked.
” In the early days of the recent protests in New York City , under the curfews set by Mayor Bill de Blasio , NYPD violently cracked down on largely peaceful demonstrations , beating some people with batons and using pepper spray on others .

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New York City’s police department will transition the roughly 600 plainclothes officers that make up its “anti-crime” units into other roles, amid protests nationwide calling for an end to racist police brutality.
In a press conference Monday, NYPD commissioner Dermot Shea said “meaningful reform starts from within.” The anti-crime officers – whose units responded to violent crime — have represented a “disproportionate percentage” of complaints from civilians and officer-involved shootings, Shea said.
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The NYPD did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request to clarify exactly what proportion of police shootings involved these units.
The hundreds of officers in question will be moved into neighborhood policing, detective bureaus and other assignments, Shea said. He said the police’s job of responding to violent crime can be done with “21st century policing,” using data, intelligence, video and other methods to build their cases.
“Make no mistake, this is a seismic shift in the culture of how the NYPD polices this great city,” Shea said, describing this “big move” as “in the realm of closing one of the last chapters” of the city’s notorious stop-and-frisk policy, which disproportionately targeted Black and Latinx residents.
“It is lost on no one, certainly not people that live in the neighborhoods we serve, that endure being stopped… we can do it better. And we will,” Shea added.
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The reform comes after over nearly three weeks of protests nationwide, including in New York, calling for an end to systemic racism and police brutality following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Floyd, a Black man, was killed by a white officer, Derek Chauvin, who knelt on his neck for several minutes, even as Floyd pleaded, “I can’t breathe.”
As activists call for “defunding” of police ― a phrase interpreted in different ways ― some cities have moved to redirect funds from police departments to social programs.
WATCH LIVE as @NYPDShea updates New Yorkers on recent events. https://t.co/UsdAkmGPuk — NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) June 15, 2020
In New York, amid the recent protests, lawmakers passed and Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signed into law a package of police reform laws, including banning chokeholds and repealing 50-a, a statute that shielded police disciplinary records from the public.
On Friday, New York City leaders proposed cuts of up to $1 billion from the NYPD’s about $6 billion budget.
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Shea said Monday other plainclothes units still will operate within the NYPD, including surveillance and narcotics teams. He also said that transit “anti-crime” teams, who work in the city’s public transportation system, will not be affected by the new overhaul as these “exist for completely different purposes.”
The commissioner said Monday’s decision to reassign hundreds of anti-crime officers was “not a reflection” on the officers, who he called “amazing” and said were “doing what I and others before me asked.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-16--Trump Claims COVID-19 Will Go Away And That An AIDS Vaccine Exists. It Doesn’t.

President Donald Trump went off-topic during an address outside the White House on police reform Tuesday , declaring that the coronavirus pandemic will go away without a vaccine and that scientists have “ come up with the AIDS vaccine.
” At present , there is no scientific indication that coronavirus will go away if a vaccine is not developed and no AIDS vaccine exists .
On Tuesday , Trump signed an executive order on police reform amid a global conversation about racial inequality and police brutality in America prompted by the police killing of George Floyd in late May .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of police officers who have a history of using excessive force .
Trump made his address in the Rose Garden , telling the crowd that he was signing the order “ to deliver a future of safety and security for Americans of every race , religion , color and creed.
” He also praised law enforcement ’ s response to the protests and insisted Americans “ demand law and order.
” His speech went on to address the ongoing pandemic and how the administration is handling it .
While lauding himself and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus , he claimed that “ before the end of the year I predict we will have a very successful vaccine.
” Of the scientists , he said : “ They ’ ve come up with things .
They ’ ve come up with many other cures and therapeutics over the years .
These are the people , the best , the smartest , the most brilliant anywhere .
They ’ ve come up with the AIDS vaccine.
” “ Or the AIDS , and the as you know theres various things , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the therapeutic for AIDS .
AIDS was a death sentence and now people live a life with a pill , ” he continued .
No vaccine is currently available to prevent HIV infection , the virus which causes AIDS , or to treat those who have it , but there are many medications available for those living with HIV to manage the virus .
Outside of his erroneous claims about an AIDS vaccine , Trump once again said that the coronavirus will eventually go away if a vaccine does not get developed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , it goes away .
But if we had the vaccine ― and we will ― if we had therapeutic or cure , one thing sort of blends into the other .
It will be a fantastic day and I think that ’ s going to happen .
And it ’ s going to happen very soon , ” he rambled .
Dr. Mike Ryan , director of WHO ’ s emergencies program , told a virtual press conference from Geneva that he doesn ’ t believe “ anyone can predict when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it may “ never go away.
” “ It is important to put this on the table : This virus may become just another endemic virus in our communities , and this virus may never go away , ” Ryan said .
“ HIV has not gone away — but we have come to terms with the virus .
”

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President Donald Trump went off-topic during an address outside the White House on police reform Tuesday, declaring that the coronavirus pandemic will go away without a vaccine and that scientists have “come up with the AIDS vaccine.”
At present, there is no scientific indication that coronavirus will go away if a vaccine is not developed and no AIDS vaccine exists.
Advertisement
On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order on police reform amid a global conversation about racial inequality and police brutality in America prompted by the police killing of George Floyd in late May. The order will establish a federal database of police officers who have a history of using excessive force.
Trump made his address in the Rose Garden, telling the crowd that he was signing the order “to deliver a future of safety and security for Americans of every race, religion, color and creed.” He also praised law enforcement’s response to the protests and insisted Americans “demand law and order.”
“Without police, there is chaos,” Trump said.
His speech went on to address the ongoing pandemic and how the administration is handling it. While lauding himself and the scientists working on a vaccine for the coronavirus, he claimed that “before the end of the year I predict we will have a very successful vaccine.”
Of the scientists, he said: “They’ve come up with things. They’ve come up with many other cures and therapeutics over the years. These are the people, the best, the smartest, the most brilliant anywhere. They’ve come up with the AIDS vaccine.”
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“Or the AIDS, and the as you know theres various things, and now various companies are involved and the therapeutic for AIDS. AIDS was a death sentence and now people live a life with a pill,” he continued.
“They’ve come up with the AIDS vaccine” pic.twitter.com/Z8MQK5Bi2F — Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) June 16, 2020
No vaccine is currently available to prevent HIV infection, the virus which causes AIDS, or to treat those who have it, but there are many medications available for those living with HIV to manage the virus.
Outside of his erroneous claims about an AIDS vaccine, Trump once again said that the coronavirus will eventually go away if a vaccine does not get developed.
“I always say, even without it, it goes away. But if we had the vaccine ― and we will ― if we had therapeutic or cure, one thing sort of blends into the other. It will be a fantastic day and I think that’s going to happen. And it’s going to happen very soon,” he rambled.
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Trump claims (falsely) that coronavirus "goes away" on its own, even if a vaccine isn't developed pic.twitter.com/iw5NlYSdsE — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 16, 2020
Dr. Mike Ryan, director of WHO’s emergencies program, told a virtual press conference from Geneva that he doesn’t believe “anyone can predict when this disease will disappear” and that it may “never go away.”
“It is important to put this on the table: This virus may become just another endemic virus in our communities, and this virus may never go away,” Ryan said. “HIV has not gone away — but we have come to terms with the virus.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-16--Trump Says He Gave Out 1 Million Tickets To His Tulsa Rally. That Means 980,801 Fans Won't Fit.

Such is the absurdist situation President Donald Trump and his campaign are boasting about as he resumes hosting political rallies on Saturday at the Bank of Oklahoma Center in Tulsa .
“ Almost One Million people request tickets for the Saturday Night Rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma !
” Trump wrote in a statement he posted to Twitter Monday .
Later , during a White House photo opportunity , the president said an additional 40,000 would be able to watch the rally from the convention center next door on television screens .
“ Which would mean they would have over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to go .
But hopefully , they ’ ll be watching , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t know why they ’ re having a rally there at all , to be honest , ” said one Republican adviser close to the White House who spoke on condition of anonymity .
“ They ’ re fine , if you ’ re actually doing them in places that matter.
” If past is prologue , Trump may well get on stage Saturday and simply claim that those with tickets who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marshal restrictions are waiting outside – all 981,000 of them .
In reality , it is unlikely that many or even most of those who signed up for tickets on the Trump campaign ’ s website have any intention of making their way to Tulsa – a city with a population of 406,000 in a state of only 4 million .
In any event , the Trump campaign has long admitted that its rallies are a tool for harvesting cellphone numbers and email addresses of people who sign up to attend .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ text messages asking for campaign donations and targeted with ads on Facebook and Instagram .
“ It ’ s about the signing up , rather than the showing up , ” the White House adviser said , adding that each Trump rally generates thousands of new names , including many people who are not even registered to vote yet .
“ That ’ s the only thing that helps organize this campaign , is a rally.
” David Axelrod , an architect of former President Barack Obama ’ s campaign that set the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gathering the names and contact information means little unless that information can be translated into persuading those people to influence their social circle to vote for Trump .
In the case of Trump , he added , there is likely an alternate rationale , as well : “ It ’ s also about aggrandizing the president ’ s fragile ego and need , in this vulnerable moment , to be bathed in the love and approval he desperately craves.
” Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale has alluded to voter mobilization efforts along those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28 , following one attended by 8,000 in Wildwood , New Jersey , Parscale bragged on Twitter that 158,632 tickets had been requested and 73,482 voters had been identified , of whom 10.4 % had not voted in 2016 , and 26.3 % were Democrats .
How much of that money wound up in Parscale ’ s pocket can not be determined from FEC records , but it was enough to allow him to buy a $ 1.4 million waterfront home in Fort Lauderdale , Florida , a $ 400,000 boat to tie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Land Rover and a pair of $ 1 million condos .
Weaver ridiculed the idea that Trump was getting anything useful by staging a rally in Oklahoma , a state he won by 36 percentage points in 2016 .
“ Do you think any of these people are undecided ?
” he asked .
“ Do they need Facebook ads aimed at them ?
” Among all the people with confirmations , the first who show up are admitted , until the venue fills to capacity .
Trump ’ s most loyal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even a day or two early to make sure they would be close enough to the front of the line to get good seats .
That , in turn , led to a staple of Trump campaign media coverage of interviewing supporters in lines , sometimes blocks long , waiting for the doors to open .
Handing out more tickets than there is room also gives Trump a standard line at the start of each speech about how many people can not get in and have to remain outside ― although his claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranged from somewhat exaggerated to downright laughable .

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WASHINGTON ― What happens when 1 million people RSVP to say they are coming to a venue that only holds 19,199?
Such is the absurdist situation President Donald Trump and his campaign are boasting about as he resumes hosting political rallies on Saturday at the Bank of Oklahoma Center in Tulsa. “Almost One Million people request tickets for the Saturday Night Rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma!” Trump wrote in a statement he posted to Twitter Monday.
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Later, during a White House photo opportunity, the president said an additional 40,000 would be able to watch the rally from the convention center next door on television screens. “Which would mean they would have over 900,000 people that won’t be able to go. But hopefully, they’ll be watching,” he said.
It is unclear why Trump’s campaign – which has already spent three-quarters of a billion dollars since January 2017, only to trail in the polls to Democratic challenger Joe Biden – is even holding a rally in Oklahoma, a deeply Republican state nearly completely surrounded by other Republican states.
“I don’t know why they’re having a rally there at all, to be honest,” said one Republican adviser close to the White House who spoke on condition of anonymity. “They’re fine, if you’re actually doing them in places that matter.”
If past is prologue, Trump may well get on stage Saturday and simply claim that those with tickets who could not get in because of fire marshal restrictions are waiting outside – all 981,000 of them. In reality, it is unlikely that many or even most of those who signed up for tickets on the Trump campaign’s website have any intention of making their way to Tulsa – a city with a population of 406,000 in a state of only 4 million.
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In any event, the Trump campaign has long admitted that its rallies are a tool for harvesting cellphone numbers and email addresses of people who sign up to attend. Those individuals are then bombarded with emails and text messages asking for campaign donations and targeted with ads on Facebook and Instagram.
“It’s about the signing up, rather than the showing up,” the White House adviser said, adding that each Trump rally generates thousands of new names, including many people who are not even registered to vote yet. “That’s the only thing that helps organize this campaign, is a rally.”
David Axelrod, an architect of former President Barack Obama’s campaign that set the standard for data-based microtargeting, said merely gathering the names and contact information means little unless that information can be translated into persuading those people to influence their social circle to vote for Trump.
“It’s about activating them as digital organizers to get friends and family to vote, wherever they may be,” Axelrod said.
In the case of Trump, he added, there is likely an alternate rationale, as well: “It’s also about aggrandizing the president’s fragile ego and need, in this vulnerable moment, to be bathed in the love and approval he desperately craves.”
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Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale has alluded to voter mobilization efforts along those lines for previous rallies. On Jan. 28, following one attended by 8,000 in Wildwood, New Jersey, Parscale bragged on Twitter that 158,632 tickets had been requested and 73,482 voters had been identified, of whom 10.4% had not voted in 2016, and 26.3% were Democrats.
“Mind boggling,” Parscale wrote, adding an emoji of a surprised face.
Other Republican consultants, though, had a different explanation of all the hype Parscale and the campaign are using to boost Saturday’s rally in Tulsa.
“You think a Ferrari buys itself?” asked John Weaver, who worked on the presidential campaigns of John McCain and John Kasich.
President Donald Trump arrives at a rally at Bojangles' Coliseum on March 2, 2020, in Charlotte, North Carolina. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images
Parscale, who became close to Trump’s adult children when he designed websites for Trump family businesses nearly a decade ago, has grown renowned for becoming wealthy off his work for both the 2016 and 2020 campaigns, despite no previous experience in politics.
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Federal Election Commission filings show that Parscale’s companies were paid $93.9 million for the 2016 election, and $38.9 million for the 2020 election through the March 31 reporting period.
How much of that money wound up in Parscale’s pocket cannot be determined from FEC records, but it was enough to allow him to buy a $1.4 million waterfront home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a $400,000 boat to tie up behind it, a Ferrari, a Land Rover and a pair of $1 million condos.
Weaver ridiculed the idea that Trump was getting anything useful by staging a rally in Oklahoma, a state he won by 36 percentage points in 2016. “Do you think any of these people are undecided?” he asked. “Do they need Facebook ads aimed at them?”
Stuart Stevens, who worked on the campaigns of George W. Bush and Mitt Romney, said Parscale is merely trying to show Trump that he is doing something as his boss’s approval ratings slide from the coronavirus pandemic and anti-racism protests.
“I think it’s Parscale trying to save his job by bragging about it,” Stevens said. “Parscale is a process guy, not a message guy. So, when threatened, he doubles down on process.”
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The practice of “overselling” tickets to Trump’s rallies goes back to his 2016 run.
Among all the people with confirmations, the first who show up are admitted, until the venue fills to capacity. Trump’s most loyal fans adjusted by showing up hours or even a day or two early to make sure they would be close enough to the front of the line to get good seats. That, in turn, led to a staple of Trump campaign media coverage of interviewing supporters in lines, sometimes blocks long, waiting for the doors to open.
Handing out more tickets than there is room also gives Trump a standard line at the start of each speech about how many people cannot get in and have to remain outside ― although his claims as to how many are outside have ranged from somewhat exaggerated to downright laughable.
On Oct. 22, 2018, for example, Trump held a rally at the Toyota Center in Houston, which holds 18,300. He told his audience that there were “about 50,000 people outside.” According to the Houston police, there were about 3,000 people outside.
Rick Tyler, a GOP consultant who worked on Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s 2016 campaign, said he doesn’t understand why Trump and his people keep bragging about their rally attendance in the first place.
“Free tickets to a freak show are not hard to give away and a good time will be had by all,” Tyler noted. “But there is a reason the circus only comes to town until the crowds thin and it’s time to move on. The problem for team Trump is that his market share of voters has not expanded beyond people who love clown shows.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-16--Trump Administration Sues To Block Release Of Bolton Book

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The Trump administration sued former national security adviser John Bolton on Tuesday to block the @ @ @ @ @ the White House says contains classified information .
The suit in Washington ’ s federal @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump that Bolton could face a “ criminal problem ” if he doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ the book .
The administration has also said the former adviser did not complete a @ @ @ @ @ the manuscript did not contain classified material .

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration sued former national security adviser John Bolton on Tuesday to block the publication of a book that the White House says contains classified information.
The suit in Washington’s federal court follows warnings from President Donald Trump that Bolton could face a “criminal problem” if he doesn’t halt plans to publish the book. The administration has also said the former adviser did not complete a pre-publication review to ensure that the manuscript did not contain classified material.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-16--The Democratic Party Launches Its First 2020 Ad Campaign Targeting Trump

The Democratic Party is on the airways in its offensive against President Donald Trump , running its first TV ad in this campaign cycle to help propel former Vice President Joe Biden to the White House .
The Democratic National Committee on Tuesday launched a six-figure television ad campaign , first reported by NBC , called “ Descent , ” that opens with Trump ’ s descent on the Trump Tower escalators in New York to announce his bid for the presidency in 2015 .
“ For the last five years , he ’ s taken America down with him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ad offers a laundry list of attacks against him , from his efforts to dismantle Obamacare and his push for sweeping corporate tax cuts to the administration ’ s child separation immigration policy and slow response to the coronavirus pandemic .
It also assails Trump ’ s comments about the deadly 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville , Virginia , and his reactions to the recent demonstrations against police brutality .
“ The entirety of his presidency , he ’ s been dividing our country , letting down workers , rewarding the rich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pledged to fix our problems , but instead he took us backward , ” DNC Chair Tom Perez said in a statement about the ad .
In line with Biden ’ s core campaign message — that he wants to “ restore the soul of the nation ” — party officials have been emphasizing the chaos of the Trump administration , especially during the ongoing health pandemic .
The ad includes scenes of hospitals with COVID-19 patients , takes note of the disease ’ s rising U.S. death count and replays Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No , I don ’ t take responsibility , ” when asked about the administration ’ s slow response to the pandemic ’ s early stages .
The minute-long ad also includes footage of undocumented immigrants detained at the border , scenes from the Charlottesville rally , when a white nationalist intentionally drove into a crowd of anti-racism protesters , as well as law enforcement deploying tear gas and rubber bullets on peaceful demonstrators against police brutality outside the White House earlier this month .
Trump 's descent did n't stop when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He 's shown there 's no depth he wo n't sink to — and no depth he wo n't drag our country to along with him .
pic.twitter.com/fnHqUFtrgy — DNC War Room ( @ DNCWarRoom ) June 16 , 2020 Biden and the Democratic Party raised a combined $ 80.8 Million in May , a significant jump from their $ 60.5 million haul in April .
That fundraising increase came in tandem with a rise in the polls for Biden , who now sits with an advantage of eight percentage points over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the RealClearPolitics site .
Trump ’ s campaign has not yet released its May fundraising numbers , but the president , the Republican Party and aligned super PACs have built war chests exceeding the fundraising numbers for Biden and the Democrats .
Biden ’ s campaign last went on air in March , when Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) was still in the race for the Democratic nomination .
Biden ’ s campaign has focused its investments on social media so far — outspending Trump on Facebook .
Democratic political action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bridge , have been on the air in Biden ’ s place , focusing on Trump ’ s response to the coronavirus pandemic .

Former Vice President Joe Biden has been rising n the polls in his bid to unseat President Donald Trump. ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Democratic Party is on the airways in its offensive against President Donald Trump, running its first TV ad in this campaign cycle to help propel former Vice President Joe Biden to the White House.
The Democratic National Committee on Tuesday launched a six-figure television ad campaign, first reported by NBC, called “Descent,” that opens with Trump’s descent on the Trump Tower escalators in New York to announce his bid for the presidency in 2015. “For the last five years, he’s taken America down with him,” the narrator intones.
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The ad offers a laundry list of attacks against him, from his efforts to dismantle Obamacare and his push for sweeping corporate tax cuts to the administration’s child separation immigration policy and slow response to the coronavirus pandemic. It also assails Trump’s comments about the deadly 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, and his reactions to the recent demonstrations against police brutality.
“The entirety of his presidency, he’s been dividing our country, letting down workers, rewarding the rich, and caving to China. He pledged to fix our problems, but instead he took us backward,” DNC Chair Tom Perez said in a statement about the ad.
The DNC did not specify a price tag for the ad campaign.
In line with Biden’s core campaign message — that he wants to “restore the soul of the nation” — party officials have been emphasizing the chaos of the Trump administration, especially during the ongoing health pandemic. The ad includes scenes of hospitals with COVID-19 patients, takes note of the disease’s rising U.S. death count and replays Trump’s now-infamous mid-March comments that, “No, I don’t take responsibility,” when asked about the administration’s slow response to the pandemic’s early stages.
The minute-long ad also includes footage of undocumented immigrants detained at the border, scenes from the Charlottesville rally, when a white nationalist intentionally drove into a crowd of anti-racism protesters, as well as law enforcement deploying tear gas and rubber bullets on peaceful demonstrators against police brutality outside the White House earlier this month.
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Trump's descent didn't stop when he got to the bottom of that escalator. He's shown there's no depth he won't sink to — and no depth he won't drag our country to along with him. pic.twitter.com/fnHqUFtrgy — DNC War Room (@DNCWarRoom) June 16, 2020
Biden and the Democratic Party raised a combined $80.8 million in May, a significant jump from their $60.5 million haul in April. That fundraising increase came in tandem with a rise in the polls for Biden, who now sits with an advantage of eight percentage points over Trump in the aggregate of polls listed by the RealClearPolitics site.
Trump’s campaign has not yet released its May fundraising numbers, but the president, the Republican Party and aligned super PACs have built war chests exceeding the fundraising numbers for Biden and the Democrats.
Biden’s campaign last went on air in March, when Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was still in the race for the Democratic nomination. Biden’s campaign has focused its investments on social media so far — outspending Trump on Facebook. Democratic political action committees, like Priorities USA and American Bridge, have been on the air in Biden’s place, focusing on Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump’s campaign has invested almost $19 million in TV advertising since mid-March, according to the Kantar/Campaign Media Analysis Group’s data.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-16--The Coronavirus Is Still Spreading, Trump And Congress Are Still Dithering

House Democrats passed a bill in May totaling $ 3 trillion .
White House aides are advising President Donald Trump on a relief package of at least $ 2 trillion .
And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) has told Trump he doesn ’ t want the next measure to be more than $ 1 trillion .
But disagreement on the overall size of the next bill is far from the biggest hurdle .
Perhaps the most contentious sticking point in the legislation is what Republicans don ’ t want : a continuation of extra unemployment benefits beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Republicans in May that the Senate wouldn ’ t extend the additional $ 600 a week the federal government has been supplying to the unemployed since March ― and nothing seems to have changed since he made that promise .
Republicans have been touting a better-than-expected jobs report in early June as proof that the next relief bill doesn ’ t need to be massive , and they seem to believe ending the extra $ 600 a week would force people back into the workforce .
Kudlow added that Trump would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bonus ” for people returning to work ― likely similar to a proposal from the Ways and Means ranking Republican , Kevin Brady of Texas ― but it ’ s clear Trump and Republicans have no intention of renewing the extra $ 600 a week .
The added money was designed to help people maintain their spending while staying at home to avoid catching or spreading the coronavirus , which has killed more than 116,000 Americans so far and continues to kill 500 to 1,000 Americans per day .
Republicans have totally rejected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health purpose , and the administration has been encouraging states to cut off people ’ s benefits if they turn down job offers .
Instead , the GOP view on the added unemployment benefits seems to be that it was solely an economic stimulus .
And the complaint from some employers that workers don ’ t want to return for less than they would make on unemployment has led Republicans to believe the economy will be better off by forcing those people back to their jobs .
A senior GOP aide told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate would move before July 4 .
And with Democrats still intent on extending at least some amount of extra money for unemployment ― the bill House Democrats passed in May would extend the $ 600 until the end of the year ― Republicans believe that July 31 deadline will bring Democrats to the negotiating table .
For one , McConnell has said a deal would require legal protections for businesses , schools and government agencies that reopen during the coronavirus pandemic .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) and Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have thus far opposed those sorts of protections .
And while McConnell has shifted his stance on no relief for state and local governments , Republicans and Democrats are still likely far apart on the exact number .
There ’ s also a disagreement over broad-based stimulus .
Trump himself has said he ’ d like to see a payroll tax cut , which would reduce or suspend the 6.2 % that workers and employers both pay for income up to $ 137,700 .
Meanwhile , Democrats have signaled that they want another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making less than $ 75,000 .

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WASHINGTON ― Two months after Congress passed its last coronavirus response bill, and despite a number of approaching deadlines, Republicans and Democrats appear far apart on another round of economic relief.
House Democrats passed a bill in May totaling $3 trillion. White House aides are advising President Donald Trump on a relief package of at least $2 trillion. And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has told Trump he doesn’t want the next measure to be more than $1 trillion.
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But disagreement on the overall size of the next bill is far from the biggest hurdle. Perhaps the most contentious sticking point in the legislation is what Republicans don’t want: a continuation of extra unemployment benefits beyond their July 31 expiration.
McConnell told House Republicans in May that the Senate wouldn’t extend the additional $600 a week the federal government has been supplying to the unemployed since March ― and nothing seems to have changed since he made that promise.
Republicans have been touting a better-than-expected jobs report in early June as proof that the next relief bill doesn’t need to be massive, and they seem to believe ending the extra $600 a week would force people back into the workforce.
“I mean, we’re paying people not to work. It’s better than their salaries,” White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said Sunday, parroting a GOP talking point about the need to let the unemployment benefits expire.
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Kudlow added that Trump would be looking to institute “some kind of bonus” for people returning to work ― likely similar to a proposal from the Ways and Means ranking Republican, Kevin Brady of Texas ― but it’s clear Trump and Republicans have no intention of renewing the extra $600 a week.
The added money was designed to help people maintain their spending while staying at home to avoid catching or spreading the coronavirus, which has killed more than 116,000 Americans so far and continues to kill 500 to 1,000 Americans per day.
Republicans have totally rejected the notion that the money had any public health purpose, and the administration has been encouraging states to cut off people’s benefits if they turn down job offers. Instead, the GOP view on the added unemployment benefits seems to be that it was solely an economic stimulus. And the complaint from some employers that workers don’t want to return for less than they would make on unemployment has led Republicans to believe the economy will be better off by forcing those people back to their jobs.
At least, it would help the unemployment rate.
That piece of economic data has been a huge cause of concern for Democrats and Republicans. The unemployment rate sits at 13.3% ― a mark higher than any point during the Great Recession.
But the rate fell by 1.4 points in May, with 2.5 million people returning to work. For Republicans, that was evidence that Congress didn’t need to rush another round of stimulus.
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“The jobs report pumped the brakes a little and put a lower ceiling on how aggressive the spending will be,” a senior White House aide told HuffPost, “but there will be one.”
The White House hasn’t wavered in their desire for some stimulus. And, with the presidential election less than 140 days away, that makes sense.
Luckily for Trump, Democrats also haven’t wavered in their desire for economic relief. And there’s general agreement from congressional Republicans that they ought to juice the economy ahead of the November elections.
The problem, however, is there’s less agreement on how much juice, how to juice, and when it will come.
A senior GOP aide told HuffPost on Monday that it was unlikely the Senate would move before July 4. And with Democrats still intent on extending at least some amount of extra money for unemployment ― the bill House Democrats passed in May would extend the $600 until the end of the year ― Republicans believe that July 31 deadline will bring Democrats to the negotiating table.
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That’s certainly possible, but a deal would likely hinge on Republicans extending a portion of that $600, just as it would hinge on a number of other sticking points.
For one, McConnell has said a deal would require legal protections for businesses, schools and government agencies that reopen during the coronavirus pandemic. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) have thus far opposed those sorts of protections. And while McConnell has shifted his stance on no relief for state and local governments, Republicans and Democrats are still likely far apart on the exact number.
Pelosi’s bill included nearly $1 trillion alone for state and local governments.
There’s also a disagreement over broad-based stimulus. Trump himself has said he’d like to see a payroll tax cut, which would reduce or suspend the 6.2% that workers and employers both pay for income up to $137,700. Meanwhile, Democrats have signaled that they want another round of $1,200 payments for people making less than $75,000.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-16--Far-Right 'Boogaloo' Supporter Charged With Murder In Deaths Of Officers

But Carrillo , who was charged last week in the killing of a Santa Cruz , California , police deputy , has ties to the right-wing movement that has shown up , sometimes heavily armed , to anti-racism protests around the country in recent weeks .
According to the new charges , Carrillo shot at Underwood and his partner , who was wounded in the attack , from the window of a white van as they guarded the Oakland Federal Building .
Federal prosecutors also charged 30-year-old Robert Alvin Justus Jr. with aiding and abetting Carrillo ’ s attack in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a getaway driver .
Justus Jr. told the FBI that he had met Carrillo on Facebook and arranged to drive together to Oakland for the Black Lives Matter protests , with Carrillo picking him up in the white van and the two driving around the city prior to the attack .
Justus Jr. claimed Carrillo dropped him off after the killing and told him to remain silent .
Underwood ’ s death launched an eight-day search that ended with Carrillo allegedly killing another law enforcement officer during a shootout with authorities after his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was spotted on June 6 in Santa Cruz .
Carrillo , 32 , was charged last week on 19 counts related to the attack in Santa Cruz .
He is accused of using an AR-15-style rifle to kill Deputy Sgt .
Damon Gutzwiller and injure another deputy as they approached his hideout .
After reportedly hijacking a car to attempt an escape , a wounded Carrillo wrote slogans related to the Boogaloo movement in his own blood on the hood of the stolen car before his arrest .
The Boogaloo is a far-right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in internet culture and message boards .
Its central ideology revolves around the idea of a coming civil war or violent uprising against the government , but it is also a somewhat amorphous community that includes groups such as militias , white supremacists , Second Amendment advocates and online trolls .
Some of its adherents have also recently been arrested at protests or charged in terrorism plots , creating growing concern over its capability for violence .
The Boogaloo movement , which is seeped in the irony and self-reference of online groups , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and igloos along with its extremist rhetoric and military-style gear .
After Carrillo was arrested , prosecutors say law enforcement searched a white van he used in the attacks and found a ballistic vest with patches sewn onto it , including an igloo and Hawaiian print .
The movement has gained increasing attention through the presence of the so-called Boogaloo Bois at nationwide anti-racism rallies as they look to co-opt the demonstrations to further their own goals .
Federal prosecutors in Nevada charged three Boogaloo supporters with terrorism offenses earlier this month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a Black Lives Matter rally and use firebombs to create chaos .
Earlier this year , police also shot and killed a neo-Nazi connected to the movement who had plotted to blow up a hospital .
“ Indiscriminate targeting of law enforcement officers by those motivated by violent extremism of any stripe is contrary to our nation ’ s values and undermines the powerful message of peaceful protesters , ” Demers said .
Facebook has been a common gathering place for Boogaloo movement supporters , and groups have proliferated on its platform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curb their activity ― such as banning the use of “ boogaloo ” when used in connection to violence ― members have largely found workarounds .
The movement ’ s symbols of igloos and Hawaiian shirts resulted from altering Boogaloo to the similar sounding “ big igloo ” or “ big luau , ” evading Facebook ’ s gesture at controlling the spread of the extremist movement .

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Federal prosecutors in California have charged Steven Carrillo, a supporter of the far-right “Boogaloo” movement, with the murder of federal protective security officer Dave Underwood during a May 29 anti-racism protest in Oakland.
Federal leaders initially suggested antifa, a loosely organized group of anti-fascist activists, was behind the killing. “This antifa violent activity has to stop,” White House national security adviser Robert O’Brien said May 31, referring to Underwood’s death.
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But Carrillo, who was charged last week in the killing of a Santa Cruz, California, police deputy, has ties to the right-wing movement that has shown up, sometimes heavily armed, to anti-racism protests around the country in recent weeks.
According to the new charges, Carrillo shot at Underwood and his partner, who was wounded in the attack, from the window of a white van as they guarded the Oakland Federal Building. Federal prosecutors also charged 30-year-old Robert Alvin Justus Jr. with aiding and abetting Carrillo’s attack in Oakland, accusing him of functioning as a getaway driver. Justus Jr. told the FBI that he had met Carrillo on Facebook and arranged to drive together to Oakland for the Black Lives Matter protests, with Carrillo picking him up in the white van and the two driving around the city prior to the attack. Justus Jr. claimed Carrillo dropped him off after the killing and told him to remain silent.
Underwood’s death launched an eight-day search that ended with Carrillo allegedly killing another law enforcement officer during a shootout with authorities after his van full of weapons and bomb-making materials was spotted on June 6 in Santa Cruz.
Carrillo, 32, was charged last week on 19 counts related to the attack in Santa Cruz. He is accused of using an AR-15-style rifle to kill Deputy Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller and injure another deputy as they approached his hideout. After reportedly hijacking a car to attempt an escape, a wounded Carrillo wrote slogans related to the Boogaloo movement in his own blood on the hood of the stolen car before his arrest.
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The Boogaloo is a far-right, anti-government extremist movement with its roots in internet culture and message boards. Its central ideology revolves around the idea of a coming civil war or violent uprising against the government, but it is also a somewhat amorphous community that includes groups such as militias, white supremacists, Second Amendment advocates and online trolls. Some of its adherents have also recently been arrested at protests or charged in terrorism plots, creating growing concern over its capability for violence.
The Boogaloo movement, which is seeped in the irony and self-reference of online groups, has embraced symbols such as Hawaiian shirts and igloos along with its extremist rhetoric and military-style gear. After Carrillo was arrested, prosecutors say law enforcement searched a white van he used in the attacks and found a ballistic vest with patches sewn onto it, including an igloo and Hawaiian print.
The movement has gained increasing attention through the presence of the so-called Boogaloo Bois at nationwide anti-racism rallies as they look to co-opt the demonstrations to further their own goals. Federal prosecutors in Nevada charged three Boogaloo supporters with terrorism offenses earlier this month, detailing a plot to incite mass violence at a Black Lives Matter rally and use firebombs to create chaos. Earlier this year, police also shot and killed a neo-Nazi connected to the movement who had plotted to blow up a hospital.
On Tuesday, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers condemned Carrillo’s attack and described the killings as extremist attacks.
“Indiscriminate targeting of law enforcement officers by those motivated by violent extremism of any stripe is contrary to our nation’s values and undermines the powerful message of peaceful protesters,” Demers said.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-16--Congress Could Make Juneteenth A National Holiday

Congress hasn ’ t created a new holiday since 1983 , when it made one for Martin Luther King Jr. ’ s birthday .
Now some lawmakers are talking about a day commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. on June 19 , known as “ Juneteenth.
” This Friday marks the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth , the day the Union Army announced in Texas that “ all slaves are free.
” The Civil War was over and President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation two years earlier , but the news hadn ’ t yet reached the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have long celebrated Juneteenth , but it ’ s not a federally recognized holiday .
“ I can not imagine this nation healing from the enormous and penetrating impact of race , racism and the history of slavery without officially acknowledging a day in the nation ’ s history that really speaks to freedom and independence for those who carried the burden of slavery , ” Jackson Lee told HuffPost .
Sen. Tim Scott ( R-S.C. ) , who has been leading the GOP ’ s efforts on police reform in the wake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said over the weekend that he was “ open ” to the idea of designating Juneteenth as a federal holiday .
“ I ’ ve been talking to some of my friends throughout the country , including at the White House , ” Scott said on NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press.
” “ I think that ’ s a brilliant idea , the conservatives in the House seem to be interested in that .
So you never know what may happen.
” The federal government observes 11 national holidays , some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and others honoring military service and workers .
Adding a holiday is pretty straightforward ― there doesn ’ t need to be a blue ribbon commission , a lengthy committee process or a major national conversation .
Congress just needs to write a bill , vote on it and get the president ’ s signature .
In addition to her “ Juneteenth Independence Day ” legislation that would make it an official holiday , Jackson Lee said she will also introduce a resolution commemorating the day ’ s importance and supporting “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide an opportunity for the people of the United States to learn more about the past.
” It ’ s unclear how many Democrats will embrace the idea of adding a new holiday in an election year with a lot of other stuff going on .
The Congressional Black Caucus has been pushing a broad police reform measure , and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) has been urging the Senate to adopt the House ’ s most recent coronavirus relief package .
But President Donald Trump may have already demonstrated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help Americans better understand their own history .
He had planned a political rally for June 19 in Tulsa , Oklahoma , a city where a white mob burned a thriving Black community to the ground 99 years ago this month .
He later canceled the event amid heavy criticism .
“ Many of my African American friends and supporters have reached out to suggest that we consider changing the date out of respect for this Holiday , and in observance of this important occasion and all that it represents , ” Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national holiday ... we would all know about Juneteenth , ” Scott said .
“ We ’ d all have an opportunity to celebrate it and frankly there would be fewer mistakes on that day.
” In the U.S. , national holidays grant time off to federal workers but private businesses are not required to do the same .
Many private companies decline to follow the government ’ s example .
Less than a quarter of private-sector workers receive paid time off for Martin Luther King Day , for example .
The lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortage of free time for Americans relative to workers in other countries .
“ It was surprising that it happened .
Ronald Reagan at first was saying maybe King was tied up with communists because the FBI had been passing that idea around a long time , ” said Michael Honey , Haley professor of humanities at the University of Washington Tacoma and author of “ To the Promised Land : Martin Luther King and the Fight for Economic Justice.
” The Reagan administration considered other reasons to oppose the new holiday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government of another paid day off , but relented partly because , as a 1983 White House memo put it , “ growing numbers of Americans are beginning to look upon Dr. King ’ s contributions to America , and Americans generally , not just Black Americans.
” Jackson Lee said she recognized how difficult it might be to make a new holiday , but she thinks that Republicans have put themselves in an untenable situation on race .
Some GOP lawmakers may want to reclaim the moral ground their party held when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1863 , she said .
And this would be a good moment to do it .

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Congress hasn’t created a new holiday since 1983, when it made one for Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. Now some lawmakers are talking about a day commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. on June 19, known as “Juneteenth.”
This Friday marks the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth, the day the Union Army announced in Texas that “all slaves are free.” The Civil War was over and President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation two years earlier, but the news hadn’t yet reached the most remote Confederate state. Black Americans have long celebrated Juneteenth, but it’s not a federally recognized holiday.
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Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) wants to change that, and plans to introduce legislation this week making it a national holiday.
“I cannot imagine this nation healing from the enormous and penetrating impact of race, racism and the history of slavery without officially acknowledging a day in the nation’s history that really speaks to freedom and independence for those who carried the burden of slavery,” Jackson Lee told HuffPost.
“These past years of constant evidence of disparities in the African American community shows that the stain of slavery has not ended,” she said.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who has been leading the GOP’s efforts on police reform in the wake of mass Black Lives Matter protests, said over the weekend that he was “open” to the idea of designating Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
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“I’ve been talking to some of my friends throughout the country, including at the White House,” Scott said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “I think that’s a brilliant idea, the conservatives in the House seem to be interested in that. So you never know what may happen.”
A spokesperson for Scott declined to elaborate on his support for a new holiday, and the White House declined to comment.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) speaks as family and guests attend the funeral service for George Floyd at The Fountain of Praise church on June 9 in Houston, Texas. DAVID J. PHILLIP via Getty Images
The federal government observes 11 national holidays, some respecting traditions such as Christmas and Thanksgiving, and others honoring military service and workers. Adding a holiday is pretty straightforward ― there doesn’t need to be a blue ribbon commission, a lengthy committee process or a major national conversation. Congress just needs to write a bill, vote on it and get the president’s signature.
In addition to her “Juneteenth Independence Day” legislation that would make it an official holiday, Jackson Lee said she will also introduce a resolution commemorating the day’s importance and supporting “the continued celebration of Juneteenth Independence Day to provide an opportunity for the people of the United States to learn more about the past.”
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The House and Senate have approved similar resolutions on Juneteenth in recent years, but Jackson Lee said this year’s version will have more than 200 original co-sponsors. Only 57 lawmakers co-sponsored last year’s, by comparison.
It’s unclear how many Democrats will embrace the idea of adding a new holiday in an election year with a lot of other stuff going on. The Congressional Black Caucus has been pushing a broad police reform measure, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has been urging the Senate to adopt the House’s most recent coronavirus relief package.
But President Donald Trump may have already demonstrated how a national holiday for Juneteenth would help Americans better understand their own history. He had planned a political rally for June 19 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a city where a white mob burned a thriving Black community to the ground 99 years ago this month. He later canceled the event amid heavy criticism.
“Many of my African American friends and supporters have reached out to suggest that we consider changing the date out of respect for this Holiday, and in observance of this important occasion and all that it represents,” Trump tweeted.
If Juneteenth were an actual federal holiday, Scott said Sunday, the president, who used inflammatory racism to get elected, might have avoided his racially inflammatory scheduling snafu.
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“If there was a national holiday ... we would all know about Juneteenth,” Scott said. “We’d all have an opportunity to celebrate it and frankly there would be fewer mistakes on that day.”
In the U.S., national holidays grant time off to federal workers but private businesses are not required to do the same. Many private companies decline to follow the government’s example. Less than a quarter of private-sector workers receive paid time off for Martin Luther King Day, for example. The lack of widely recognized holidays contributes to a shortage of free time for Americans relative to workers in other countries.
Despite the possible bipartisan support for commemorating Juneteenth, making a new holiday can be politically difficult.
Former Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) first introduced a bill creating a holiday for Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday almost immediately after his assassination in 1968. It took 15 years of public pressure, lobbying by his widow Coretta Scott King, plus a hit Stevie Wonder song before President Ronald Reagan signed the legislation in 1983.
“It was surprising that it happened. Ronald Reagan at first was saying maybe King was tied up with communists because the FBI had been passing that idea around a long time,” said Michael Honey, Haley professor of humanities at the University of Washington Tacoma and author of “To the Promised Land: Martin Luther King and the Fight for Economic Justice.”
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The Reagan administration considered other reasons to oppose the new holiday, such as the cost to the federal government of another paid day off, but relented partly because, as a 1983 White House memo put it, “growing numbers of Americans are beginning to look upon Dr. King’s contributions to America, and Americans generally, not just Black Americans.”
And there’s no guarantee states will go along. Mississippi, for instance, celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.’s and Confederate general Robert E. Lee’s birthdays together.
Jackson Lee said she recognized how difficult it might be to make a new holiday, but she thinks that Republicans have put themselves in an untenable situation on race. Some GOP lawmakers may want to reclaim the moral ground their party held when Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, she said. And this would be a good moment to do it.
King used nonviolent protests to dramatize the brutal mistreatment of Black people. The Black Lives Matter protesters who have been demonstrating worldwide for more than three weeks now are doing the same thing.
“They’re asking to be heard, they want people to know black lives not only matter but they are valued,” Jackson Lee said. “They want a reformational transformational change in how America treats its people, and Juneteenth is a perfect symbol of the freedom of people who’ve been oppressed.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-16--Ex-Trump Aide Sebastian Gorka May Get Role Atop Voice Of America: Report

Gorka , a divisive figure who departed the Trump White House in 2017 , has emerged as a candidate for a role atop the U.S. Agency for Global Media , according to the cable channel .
The installation of a stridently pro-Trump mouthpiece would further shake the leadership ranks of Voice of America , the U.S.-funded international news agency with a record of independent reporting , and inflame fears that the White House aims to mold it into a propaganda empire .
HuffPost couldn ’ t reach Gorka for comment .
Michael Pack , a conservative filmmaker and friend of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is taking over as head of the Agency for Global Media after the Senate finally succumbed to White House pressure to confirm him .
The Voice of America ’ s top two editors ― both veteran journalists appointed during the Obama administration ― resigned on Monday , citing Pack ’ s arrival .
“ As the Senate-confirmed CEO , he has the right to replace us with his own VOA leadership , ” VOA director Amanda Bennett and deputy Sandy Sugawara wrote to staff on Monday .
CDC media affairs manager Michawn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the weekend to freeze out VOA reporters because of the White House criticism .
Bennett , a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist , on Sunday responded with a statement calling the blacklisting of VOA reporters “ shocking ” and “ troubling , ” and compared the action to authoritarian nations without a free press — like China .
The CDC did not respond to HuffPost ’ s repeated requests for comment .
Gorka , who worked with Bannon at Breitbart before Trump ’ s election , left the Trump administration after an eight-month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His departure followed a furious backlash over his anti-Islam comments and reported ties to a far-right Hungarian political group with historical links to the Nazi party .
Gorka was born in Britain to Hungarian parents and lived in Hungary from 1992 to 2008 .
He surfaced earlier this month to call former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis , a retired Marine general , “ no Marine ” in an op-ed after Mattis attacked Trump for striving to divide the nation .
Mattis was our Country ’ s most overrated General .
He talked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home the bacon.
” He was terrible !
Someday I will tell the real story on him and others - both good and bad !
https : //t.co/WgAQMkfgvr — Donald J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) June 9 , 2020

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Gorka, a divisive figure who departed the Trump White House in 2017, has emerged as a candidate for a role atop the U.S. Agency for Global Media, according to the cable channel.
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The installation of a stridently pro-Trump mouthpiece would further shake the leadership ranks of Voice of America, the U.S.-funded international news agency with a record of independent reporting, and inflame fears that the White House aims to mold it into a propaganda empire. HuffPost couldn’t reach Gorka for comment.
Michael Pack, a conservative filmmaker and friend of former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, is taking over as head of the Agency for Global Media after the Senate finally succumbed to White House pressure to confirm him.
The Voice of America’s top two editors ― both veteran journalists appointed during the Obama administration ― resigned on Monday, citing Pack’s arrival.
“As the Senate-confirmed CEO, he has the right to replace us with his own VOA leadership,” VOA director Amanda Bennett and deputy Sandy Sugawara wrote to staff on Monday.
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CDC media affairs manager Michawn Rich ordered staff in an email disclosed over the weekend to freeze out VOA reporters because of the White House criticism.
Bennett, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist, on Sunday responded with a statement calling the blacklisting of VOA reporters “shocking” and “troubling,” and compared the action to authoritarian nations without a free press — like China.
The CDC did not respond to HuffPost’s repeated requests for comment.
Gorka, who worked with Bannon at Breitbart before Trump’s election, left the Trump administration after an eight-month stint as a White House deputy assistant. His departure followed a furious backlash over his anti-Islam comments and reported ties to a far-right Hungarian political group with historical links to the Nazi party. Gorka was born in Britain to Hungarian parents and lived in Hungary from 1992 to 2008.
He surfaced earlier this month to call former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, a retired Marine general, “no Marine” in an op-ed after Mattis attacked Trump for striving to divide the nation.
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Trump retweeted a message containing Gorka’s comments and responded by calling Mattis our “most overrated general.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-16--Nebraska Democrats Renounce Their Senate Pick Over Comments

OMAHA , Neb .
( AP ) — The Nebraska Democratic Party called on its U.S. Senate nominee to drop out of the race Tuesday after he made sexually repugnant comments about a campaign staffer in a group text with her and other staffers .
Janicek , the owner of an Omaha cupcake bakery , is challenging Republican Sen. Ben Sasse , who is seeking a second term .
Janicek accepted the Democratic nomination a little more than a month ago after winning a seven-candidate primary race , but the odds of winning in November were against him in Republican-dominated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support .
“ Our Democratic Party has no tolerance for sexual harassment , ” state Democratic Party Chairwoman Jane Kleeb said in a statement .
“ Our party will not extend resources or any type of support to any candidate that violates our code of conduct and doesn ’ t treat men and women with the dignity and respect they deserve.
” The text messages , which were obtained by The Associated Press , were from a group chat involving Janicek and five other people , including the female staffer .
At one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argued with her and then asked whether the campaign should spend money on “ getting her laid.
” “ I ’ m going on no sleep and a bunch of exuberant excitement and I think I was out of line , ” he wrote .
The female staffer texted back that she was appalled by his comments and could no longer support his campaign .
“ You are my boss and a candidate running for Senate , ( an ) office held by just 100 Americans representing approximately 330 million of her people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is zero tolerance for what you said.
” The campaign staffer , who has since quit , filed a formal complaint with the party alleging that Janicek violated its code of conduct that prohibits sexual harassment .
In a brief phone interview , Janicek said he doesn ’ t plan to drop out of the race .
He alleged that the party was targeting him because he disagreed with its more liberal activists on issues such as abortion rights and gun control .
Janicek didn ’ t deny that he made offensive comments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them and assumed the matter would be kept private .
Vince Powers , a Lincoln attorney and former state party chairman who is representing the female staffer , said Janicek also apologized to his client in person , but that she still wants him out of the race .
“ People go to work for Democratic candidates in an underdog race because they ’ re idealists , ” Powers said .
“ So when you get a text like this , it ’ s just devastating.
” Party officials can only replace Janicek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he files a request with the Nebraska secretary of state ’ s office to have his name removed .
If Janicek does withdraw , the party would have a few months to field a replacement .
The last day for the secretary of state ’ s office to certify candidates this year is Sept. 11 , which is 50 days before the general election .

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Democratic Party called on its U.S. Senate nominee to drop out of the race Tuesday after he made sexually repugnant comments about a campaign staffer in a group text with her and other staffers.
The party said its state executive committee voted unanimously on Monday evening to withdraw all of its resources from Chris Janicek’s campaign.
Janicek, the owner of an Omaha cupcake bakery, is challenging Republican Sen. Ben Sasse, who is seeking a second term. Janicek accepted the Democratic nomination a little more than a month ago after winning a seven-candidate primary race, but the odds of winning in November were against him in Republican-dominated Nebraska even before his party withdrew its support.
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“Our Democratic Party has no tolerance for sexual harassment,” state Democratic Party Chairwoman Jane Kleeb said in a statement. “Our party will not extend resources or any type of support to any candidate that violates our code of conduct and doesn’t treat men and women with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
The text messages, which were obtained by The Associated Press, were from a group chat involving Janicek and five other people, including the female staffer. At one point, he wrote that he had argued with her and then asked whether the campaign should spend money on “getting her laid.”
“It will probably take three guys,” he wrote, before describing in graphic detail an imagined group sex scene involving the female staffer.
He then tried walk back those comments as “a joke,” and texted an apology to the group.
“I’m going on no sleep and a bunch of exuberant excitement and I think I was out of line,” he wrote.
The female staffer texted back that she was appalled by his comments and could no longer support his campaign.
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“You are my boss and a candidate running for Senate, (an) office held by just 100 Americans representing approximately 330 million of her people,” she wrote. “There is zero tolerance for what you said.”
Party officials said they demanded that Janicek withdraw as the party’s nominee, which he refused to do.
The campaign staffer, who has since quit, filed a formal complaint with the party alleging that Janicek violated its code of conduct that prohibits sexual harassment.
In a brief phone interview, Janicek said he doesn’t plan to drop out of the race. He alleged that the party was targeting him because he disagreed with its more liberal activists on issues such as abortion rights and gun control.
“They’re using this as a crutch,” he said.
Janicek didn’t deny that he made offensive comments, but he said he apologized for them and assumed the matter would be kept private.
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Vince Powers, a Lincoln attorney and former state party chairman who is representing the female staffer, said Janicek also apologized to his client in person, but that she still wants him out of the race.
“People go to work for Democratic candidates in an underdog race because they’re idealists,” Powers said. “So when you get a text like this, it’s just devastating.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-16--Laura Ingraham Calls Anthony Fauci ‘Medical Deep State’

The host of “ The Ingraham Angle ” also urged President Donald Trump ’ s campaign to ignore the “ alarmist COVID drivel ” ahead of his planned indoor rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma .
Public health officials have warned Saturday ’ s event at the 19,000-capacity BOK Center could prove catastrophic in spreading the virus that has now killed more than 118,000 people nationwide .
But Ingraham , a staunch defender of Trump , argued the warnings were bunk .
She mocked Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an interview with Britain ’ s Daily Telegraph in which he warned that “ we could get back to some degree of normality within a year or so , but I don ’ t think it ’ s this winter or fall.
” “ The medical deep state strikes again , ” Ingraham quipped , slamming “ the science ” that “ has deemed it OK , essential , actually , to pack together outdoors in large crowds to protest in the name of liberal political causes ” but “ considers it unacceptably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I ’ m sure it ’ s just a coincidence that these super-spreader events happen to exactly match the campaign rally that Trump had planned over the weekend , ” she said .
“ The president and his campaign should simply not react to any of this alarmist COVID drivel from here on out , ” continued Ingraham .
“ None of these people , sadly including Dr. Fauci , can be really taken all that seriously anymore given what we ’ ve seen , because science , just like journalism and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Now why did none of these people wailing about the health hazards of Trump ’ s future rallies voice any real sustained concern about the shoulder to shoulder protesters screaming at the top of their lungs , some not wearing masks , some taking them on and off , carrying BLM , antifa , or nasty anti-Trump signs , no worries , ” she added .
Ingraham seemed not to have noticed that political leaders , public health experts and physicians have repeatedly warned that the protests could cause surges in coronavirus @ @

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Fox News’ Laura Ingraham on Monday disparagingly referred to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, as “the medical deep state.”
The host of “The Ingraham Angle” also urged President Donald Trump’s campaign to ignore the “alarmist COVID drivel” ahead of his planned indoor rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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Public health officials have warned Saturday’s event at the 19,000-capacity BOK Center could prove catastrophic in spreading the virus that has now killed more than 118,000 people nationwide. But Ingraham, a staunch defender of Trump, argued the warnings were bunk.
She mocked Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the White House coronavirus task force, for an interview with Britain’s Daily Telegraph in which he warned that “we could get back to some degree of normality within a year or so, but I don’t think it’s this winter or fall.”
“The medical deep state strikes again,” Ingraham quipped, slamming “the science” that “has deemed it OK, essential, actually, to pack together outdoors in large crowds to protest in the name of liberal political causes” but “considers it unacceptably dangerous to attend large indoor gatherings.”
“I’m sure it’s just a coincidence that these super-spreader events happen to exactly match the campaign rally that Trump had planned over the weekend,” she said.
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“The president and his campaign should simply not react to any of this alarmist COVID drivel from here on out,” continued Ingraham. “None of these people, sadly including Dr. Fauci, can be really taken all that seriously anymore given what we’ve seen, because science, just like journalism and entertainment, has become obscenely politicized.”
“Now why did none of these people wailing about the health hazards of Trump’s future rallies voice any real sustained concern about the shoulder to shoulder protesters screaming at the top of their lungs, some not wearing masks, some taking them on and off, carrying BLM, antifa, or nasty anti-Trump signs, no worries,” she added.
Ingraham seemed not to have noticed that political leaders, public health experts and physicians have repeatedly warned that the protests could cause surges in coronavirus infections.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-16--PG&E Pleads Guilty To Involuntary Manslaughter Of 84 People In Deadly California Fire

Utilities company Pacific Gas and Electric pleaded guilty on Tuesday to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter in the case over the devastating 2018 wildfire in Paradise , California .
“ Our equipment started that fire , ” PG & E CEO Bill Johnson said in a court hearing , during which the names of each person who died in the fire were read aloud , reported Northern California NBC news affiliate KCRA .
“ PG & E will never forget the Camp fire and all that it took away from the region.
” The company announced it would submit a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pay a fine of $ 3.5 million .
The Camp fire in November 2018 was the deadliest-ever wildfire in state history .
The fast-moving blaze tore through the rural town of Paradise in Northern California , torching nearly 90 % of the community .
For months afterward , survivors were sleeping on others ’ couches , doubled up in homes and squeezed into trailers or other vehicles .
Some were in homeless shelters .
PG & E equipment has been linked to several fires in the state .
The company filed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pay billions of dollars in settlements in lawsuits from victims of wildfires in 2017 and 2018 .
Earlier this year Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener pushed legislation to turn PG & E into a publicly owned utility , though such a bill would likely be difficult to pass .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Utilities company Pacific Gas and Electric pleaded guilty on Tuesday to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter in the case over the devastating 2018 wildfire in Paradise, California.
“Our equipment started that fire,” PG&E CEO Bill Johnson said in a court hearing, during which the names of each person who died in the fire were read aloud, reported Northern California NBC news affiliate KCRA. “PG&E will never forget the Camp fire and all that it took away from the region.”
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The company announced it would submit a guilty plea earlier this year and agreed to pay a fine of $3.5 million.
The Camp fire in November 2018 was the deadliest-ever wildfire in state history. The fast-moving blaze tore through the rural town of Paradise in Northern California, torching nearly 90% of the community. For months afterward, survivors were sleeping on others’ couches, doubled up in homes and squeezed into trailers or other vehicles. Some were in homeless shelters.
PG&E equipment has been linked to several fires in the state. The company filed for bankruptcy in January 2019 and has agreed to pay billions of dollars in settlements in lawsuits from victims of wildfires in 2017 and 2018.
Earlier this year Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener pushed legislation to turn PG&E into a publicly owned utility, though such a bill would likely be difficult to pass.