thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-13--Atlanta Police Chief Resigns After Cop Kills Black Man At A Wendy's (UPDATE)

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced Saturday that police Chief Erika Shields is resigning , after a Black man was killed by police at a Wendy ’ s on Friday night .
The officers were responding to a call about someone sleeping in his car , which was parked in the drive-thru at the restaurant .
Police said that Rayshard Brooks , 27 , resisted arrest following a failed sobriety test .
But video posted to social media shows Brooks running away from police before he is shot off-camera .
“ After failing the test , the officers attempted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesperson Nelly Miles said in a statement .
“ During the arrest , the male subject resisted and a struggle ensued .
The officer deployed a Taser.
” Witnesses said Brooks grabbed the Taser from the officer before being shot , according to the GBI .
Brooks was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital .
The GBI said it ’ s now investigating the incident .
“ I do not believe this was a justified use of deadly force and have called for the immediate termination of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a Saturday news conference .
The officer involved in the shooting has not been identified .
The Georgia NAACP had called for Shields to be fired prior to her resignation .
Video posted to social media shows people gathered in the Wendy ’ s parking lot condemning the shooting .
This story has been updated to include details about Atlanta police Chief Erika Shields ’ resignation .

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Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced Saturday that police Chief Erika Shields is resigning, after a Black man was killed by police at a Wendy’s on Friday night.
The officers were responding to a call about someone sleeping in his car, which was parked in the drive-thru at the restaurant.
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Police said that Rayshard Brooks, 27, resisted arrest following a failed sobriety test. But video posted to social media shows Brooks running away from police before he is shot off-camera.
“After failing the test, the officers attempted to place the male subject into custody,” Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesperson Nelly Miles said in a statement. “During the arrest, the male subject resisted and a struggle ensued. The officer deployed a Taser.”
Witnesses said Brooks grabbed the Taser from the officer before being shot, according to the GBI.
Brooks was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The GBI said it’s now investigating the incident.
“I do not believe this was a justified use of deadly force and have called for the immediate termination of the officer,” the mayor said at a Saturday news conference.
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The officer involved in the shooting has not been identified.
The Georgia NAACP had called for Shields to be fired prior to her resignation.
Video posted to social media shows people gathered in the Wendy’s parking lot condemning the shooting.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-15--Trump Tweet Mocking ‘Unpresidential’ Obama Walk Resurfaces After Ramp Incident

President Donald Trump fired off a tweet over the weekend to defend his unusually slow and tentative walk down a ramp after speaking at West Point on Saturday .
But a few years ago , he had a very different idea about how a president should walk .
Trump didn ’ t like how then-President Barack Obama walked down the stairs of Air Force One , declaring it “ inelegant and unpresidential ” : The way President Obama runs down the stairs of Air Force 1 , hopping & bobbing all the way , is so inelegant and unpresidential .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) April 23 , 2014 On Saturday , Trump raised alarms on social media after he appeared to struggle to lift a glass of water during his speech at West Point , then had difficulty walking down the ramp .
The criticism seemed to strike home .
He responded on Twitter that the ramp was “ very long & steep ” and also “ very slippery.
” However , the weather was clear and the ramp was dry and lined with no-slip strips .
His behavior caused # TrumpIsNotWell @ @ @ @ @

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President Donald Trump fired off a tweet over the weekend to defend his unusually slow and tentative walk down a ramp after speaking at West Point on Saturday.
But a few years ago, he had a very different idea about how a president should walk.
Trump didn’t like how then-President Barack Obama walked down the stairs of Air Force One, declaring it “inelegant and unpresidential”:
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The way President Obama runs down the stairs of Air Force 1, hopping & bobbing all the way, is so inelegant and unpresidential. Do not fall! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 23, 2014
On Saturday, Trump raised alarms on social media after he appeared to struggle to lift a glass of water during his speech at West Point, then had difficulty walking down the ramp.
The criticism seemed to strike home. He responded on Twitter that the ramp was “very long & steep” and also “very slippery.” However, the weather was clear and the ramp was dry and lined with no-slip strips.
His behavior caused #TrumpIsNotWell to trend on Twitter.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-15--Police Video Shows Rayshard Brooks Sobriety Test Quickly Turning Deadly

ATLANTA ( AP ) — One minute , Rayshard Brooks was chatting cooperatively with Atlanta police , saying he ’ d had a couple of drinks to celebrate his daughter ’ s birthday and agreeing to a breath test .
The next , they were wrestling on the ground and grappling over a Taser before Brooks took the weapon and ran .
Atlanta police video released Sunday showing a seemingly routine sobriety check outside a Wendy ’ s restaurant that quickly spun out of control , ending in gunfire .
The killing of the 27-year-old black man in an encounter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fiery protests in Atlanta and prompted the police chief ’ s resignation .
Police said Sunday the department terminated Officer Garrett Rolfe , who fired the fatal shots , and officer Devin Brosnan was placed on administrative duty .
Rolfe had worked for the department since October 2013 , and Brosnan since September 2018 .
This screen grab taken from body camera video provided by the Atlanta Police Department shows Rayshard Brooks speaking with Officer Garrett Rolfe in the parking lot of a Wendy 's restaurant , late Friday , June 12 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been fired following the fatal shooting of Brooks and a second officer has been placed on administrative duty .
( Atlanta Police Department via AP ) The two officers ’ body cameras and the dash-mounted cameras in their patrol cars showed they spent more than 40 minutes peacefully questioning Brooks .
The fighting erupted when they tried to handcuff Brooks .
“ The moment you put your hands on someone is when someone will decide whether to comply or resist , ” Harvey said .
“ That ’ s what happened in Atlanta.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ present the findings of its investigation to prosecutors .
Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said in a statement Sunday he hopes to reach a decision by midweek on whether to bring charges against the officers .
The officers were called late Friday over complaints of a car blocking the restaurant ’ s drive-thru lane .
Brosnan arrived first and found Brooks alone in the car , apparently asleep .
Brooks agreed to move the car , showed his license , and Rolfe arrived minutes later to conduct a sobriety check .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your job , ” Brooks says on video after consenting to a breath test .
He mentions celebrating his daughter ’ s birthday and says : ” I just had a few drinks , that ’ s all.
” '' RIP Rayshard '' is spray painted on a sign as as flames engulf a Wendy 's restaurant during protests Saturday , June 13 , 2020 , in Atlanta .
The restaurant was where Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed by police Friday evening following a struggle in the restaurant 's drive-thru line .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ shows each officer take hold of one of Brooks ’ wrists as Rolfe tries to handcuff him .
Brooks tries to run and the officers take him to the ground .
One of the dash cameras recorded the brawl .
As Brooks fights to stand , Brosnan presses a Taser to his leg and threatens to stun him .
Brooks grabs the Taser and pulls it away .
He struggles to his feet , the Taser in his hand , and starts running .
Both officers ’ body cameras were knocked to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the four police cameras captured the shooting .
Footage released from a Wendy ’ s security camera showed Brooks turn and point an object in his hand at one of the officers , who was steps behind him .
The officer draws his gun and fires .
“ As I pursued him , he turned and started firing the Taser at me , ” Rolfe told a supervisor after the shooting in a videotaped conversation .
“ ...
He definitely did shoot it at me at least once.
” “ The question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Taser , what should the officer have done ?
” U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina , said on CBS ’ “ Face The Nation.
” Scott , the Senate ’ s only black Republican , said Brooks ’ s death “ is certainly a far less clear one than the ones that we saw with George Floyd and several other ones .
”

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ATLANTA (AP) — One minute, Rayshard Brooks was chatting cooperatively with Atlanta police, saying he’d had a couple of drinks to celebrate his daughter’s birthday and agreeing to a breath test. The next, they were wrestling on the ground and grappling over a Taser before Brooks took the weapon and ran.
Seconds later, three gunshots sounded and Brooks fell mortally wounded.
Atlanta police video released Sunday showing a seemingly routine sobriety check outside a Wendy’s restaurant that quickly spun out of control, ending in gunfire. The killing of the 27-year-old black man in an encounter with two white officers late Friday rekindled fiery protests in Atlanta and prompted the police chief’s resignation.
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Police said Sunday the department terminated Officer Garrett Rolfe, who fired the fatal shots, and officer Devin Brosnan was placed on administrative duty. Rolfe had worked for the department since October 2013, and Brosnan since September 2018.
Meanwhile, authorities announced a $10,000 reward for information finding those responsible for setting fire to the Wendy’s restaurant at the shooting scene. Flames gutted the restaurant late Saturday after demonstrations grew turbulent. The protests prompted 36 arrests.
This screen grab taken from body camera video provided by the Atlanta Police Department shows Rayshard Brooks speaking with Officer Garrett Rolfe in the parking lot of a Wendy's restaurant, late Friday, June 12, 2020, in Atlanta. Rolfe has been fired following the fatal shooting of Brooks and a second officer has been placed on administrative duty. (Atlanta Police Department via AP) ASSOCIATED PRESS
More than 100 people, some sporting umbrellas and rain gear after on-and-off rain, protested peacefully at the site Sunday evening. Police blocked some side streets, slowing traffic in the area as people held up signs.
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The two officers’ body cameras and the dash-mounted cameras in their patrol cars showed they spent more than 40 minutes peacefully questioning Brooks. The fighting erupted when they tried to handcuff Brooks.
Andy Harvey, chief of police of Ennis, Texas, who has written books and developed training on community policing, said such moments can turn in a split second.
“The moment you put your hands on someone is when someone will decide whether to comply or resist,” Harvey said. “That’s what happened in Atlanta.”
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will present the findings of its investigation to prosecutors. Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said in a statement Sunday he hopes to reach a decision by midweek on whether to bring charges against the officers.
The officers were called late Friday over complaints of a car blocking the restaurant’s drive-thru lane. Brosnan arrived first and found Brooks alone in the car, apparently asleep. Brooks agreed to move the car, showed his license, and Rolfe arrived minutes later to conduct a sobriety check.
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“I know you’re just doing your job,” Brooks says on video after consenting to a breath test. He mentions celebrating his daughter’s birthday and says: ”I just had a few drinks, that’s all.”
"RIP Rayshard" is spray painted on a sign as as flames engulf a Wendy's restaurant during protests Saturday, June 13, 2020, in Atlanta. The restaurant was where Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed by police Friday evening following a struggle in the restaurant's drive-thru line. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rolfe doesn’t tell Brooks the results though his body camera recorded a digital readout of 0.108 — higher than the 0.08-gram blood alcohol content considered too intoxicated to drive in Georgia.
“All right, I think you’ve had too much to drink to be driving,” Rolfe tells Brooks. “Put your hands behind your back.”
The video shows each officer take hold of one of Brooks’ wrists as Rolfe tries to handcuff him. Brooks tries to run and the officers take him to the ground.
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“Stop fighting!” one officers yells.
One of the dash cameras recorded the brawl. As Brooks fights to stand, Brosnan presses a Taser to his leg and threatens to stun him. Brooks grabs the Taser and pulls it away. He struggles to his feet, the Taser in his hand, and starts running.
Rolfe fires his Taser and a yelp can be heard above the weapon’s electric crackle. Rolfe runs after Brooks, and seconds later three gunshots sound.
Both officers’ body cameras were knocked to the ground in the struggle, and none of the four police cameras captured the shooting. Footage released from a Wendy’s security camera showed Brooks turn and point an object in his hand at one of the officers, who was steps behind him. The officer draws his gun and fires.
“As I pursued him, he turned and started firing the Taser at me,” Rolfe told a supervisor after the shooting in a videotaped conversation. “...He definitely did shoot it at me at least once.”
GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles said Sunday she could not confirm whether Brooks fired the Taser.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said Saturday she doesn’t believe the shooting was justified. Police Chief Erika Shields, who joined the department as a beat officer in 1995, resigned.
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Brooks’ death inflamed raw emotions in Atlanta and across the U.S. following the May 25 police custody killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Some public officials questioned whether shooting of Brooks was as clearly an abuse as Floyd’s death after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee to his neck.
“The question is when the suspect turned to fire the Taser, what should the officer have done?” U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, said on CBS’ “Face The Nation.” Scott, the Senate’s only black Republican, said Brooks’s death “is certainly a far less clear one than the ones that we saw with George Floyd and several other ones.”
Stacey Abrams, the former Democratic lawmaker who gained national prominence while running for governor in 2018, said “there’s a legitimacy to this outrage” over Brooks’ death.
L. Chris Stewart, a Brooks family attorney, said the officer who shot him should be charged for “an unjustified use of deadly force, which equals murder.”
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Stewart said that Brooks, a father of four, on Friday had celebrated the eighth birthday of one of his daughters.
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-15--Trump’s Niece To Publish Tell-All Including ‘Salacious’ Details About President: Report

President Donald Trump ’ s niece , Mary Trump , is set to publish a revealing book about her uncle just weeks before the Republican National Convention , The Daily Beast reported Sunday night .
The book , titled “ Too Much and Never Enough , ” will be released in August and reportedly include “ salacious ” stories about the president .
The Beast notes the book will reveal Mary Trump as the source behind a landmark investigation by The New York Times that detailed a series of financial schemes Trump was involved in in the 1990s that helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The story , which showed Trump inherited today ’ s equivalent of more than $ 400 million from his father ’ s real estate empire as part of the schemes , won a Pulitzer Prize .
“ As she is set to outline in her book , Mary was a primary source for the paper ’ s Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation , supplying Fred Trump Sr. ’ s tax returns and other highly confidential family financial documentation to the paper , ” the outlet reported , citing unnamed sources familiar with the book .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spotlight since 2000 when her family was engaged in a bitter court battle over the estate of the president ’ s father , Fred Trump Sr .
The Beast said the tell-all will also include conversations with Trump ’ s sister , Maryanne Trump Barry , and contain “ intimate and damning thoughts about her brother.
” Mary Trump ’ s father , Fred Trump Jr. , died in 1981 from a heart attack due to complications from alcoholism .
He had , for a time , been a potential heir to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company to work for an airline .
In an interview last year with The Washington Post , the president said he regretted pressuring his brother about the decision to leave the family business .
“ I do regret having put pressure on him , ” Trump told the outlet .
“ It was just not his thing .
.
.
.
I think the mistake that we made was we assumed that everybody would like it .
That would be the biggest mistake.
” The Daily Beast notes Mary Trump ’ s book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and allege that “ Donald and Fred Trump Sr. contributed to his death and neglected him at critical stages of his addiction.
” The book will be released on Aug. 11 by Simon & Schuster .
Several major RNC events will take place in Florida later that month , including Trump ’ s acceptance of the Republican nomination .

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President Donald Trump’s niece, Mary Trump, is set to publish a revealing book about her uncle just weeks before the Republican National Convention, The Daily Beast reported Sunday night.
The book, titled “Too Much and Never Enough,” will be released in August and reportedly include “salacious” stories about the president. The Beast notes the book will reveal Mary Trump as the source behind a landmark investigation by The New York Times that detailed a series of financial schemes Trump was involved in in the 1990s that helped his parents dodge millions in taxes.
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The story, which showed Trump inherited today’s equivalent of more than $400 million from his father’s real estate empire as part of the schemes, won a Pulitzer Prize.
“As she is set to outline in her book, Mary was a primary source for the paper’s Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation, supplying Fred Trump Sr.’s tax returns and other highly confidential family financial documentation to the paper,” the outlet reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the book.
Mary Trump has largely remained out of the spotlight since 2000 when her family was engaged in a bitter court battle over the estate of the president’s father, Fred Trump Sr.
The Beast said the tell-all will also include conversations with Trump’s sister, Maryanne Trump Barry, and contain “intimate and damning thoughts about her brother.”
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Mary Trump’s father, Fred Trump Jr., died in 1981 from a heart attack due to complications from alcoholism. He had, for a time, been a potential heir to the Trump business, but left the company to work for an airline.
In an interview last year with The Washington Post, the president said he regretted pressuring his brother about the decision to leave the family business.
“I do regret having put pressure on him,” Trump told the outlet. “It was just not his thing. . . . I think the mistake that we made was we assumed that everybody would like it. That would be the biggest mistake.”
The Daily Beast notes Mary Trump’s book will address her father’s alcoholism and allege that “Donald and Fred Trump Sr. contributed to his death and neglected him at critical stages of his addiction.”
The book will be released on Aug. 11 by Simon & Schuster. Several major RNC events will take place in Florida later that month, including Trump’s acceptance of the Republican nomination.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-15--Cuomo Warns He May Reverse Reopenings After New York Gets 25,000 Complaints

New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo warned Sunday he could roll back reopening measures in some areas after the state received 25,000 complaints of businesses violating social distancing measures amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
“ We ’ re getting reports from all across the state that there are large gatherings , social distancing is being violated , people are not wearing masks , ” Cuomo said during a news briefing .
“ We have never received more complaints in a shorter period of time .
… Think about how concerned New Yorkers are not just to see the violation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back and write a letter or call registering the complaint.
” Cuomo pointed the finger directly at businesses in Manhattan and the Hamptons , where images of residents flocking to bars circulated widely this weekend .
He said he would reverse any reopening measures regionally before considering any statewide effort and threatened to pull liquor licenses from some bars and restaurants .
The governor ’ s warning comes as other states have had to reckon with their own decisions to reopen their economies earlier than experts had hoped .
The governors of Oregon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week after infection rates spiked in the days after restrictions eased .
Nearly two dozen states have seen surges in the average daily caseload this week when compared to the previous period .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert , warned this month that the impact of the coronavirus was far from over , saying he remained troubled that the disease “ just took over the planet.
” “ Oh my goodness .
Where is it going to end ?
We ’ re still at the beginning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said during a virtual conference this week .
New York has seen a sharp decline in coronavirus transmission in recent weeks after its own stay-at-home orders .
Cuomo said Saturday the city had “ tamed the beast ” after the city saw its lowest level of hospitalizations linked to COVID-19 since March 20 .
But he continued to warn Sunday that New York would not mimic other states that had seen a surge in infections as social distancing measures were eased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with this .
You ’ re talking about jeopardizing people ’ s lives , ” he said .
“ It ’ s not hard to figure out what is happening here .
It ’ s happened in half the states in the nation .
So far , we have been the exception .
We ’ re not going to go back to that dark place because local government didn ’ t do its job .
”

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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned Sunday he could roll back reopening measures in some areas after the state received 25,000 complaints of businesses violating social distancing measures amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“We’re getting reports from all across the state that there are large gatherings, social distancing is being violated, people are not wearing masks,” Cuomo said during a news briefing. “We have never received more complaints in a shorter period of time. … Think about how concerned New Yorkers are not just to see the violation but then to care enough to come back and write a letter or call registering the complaint.”
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Cuomo pointed the finger directly at businesses in Manhattan and the Hamptons, where images of residents flocking to bars circulated widely this weekend. He said he would reverse any reopening measures regionally before considering any statewide effort and threatened to pull liquor licenses from some bars and restaurants.
The governor’s warning comes as other states have had to reckon with their own decisions to reopen their economies earlier than experts had hoped. The governors of Oregon and Utah paused their own jumpstarts last week after infection rates spiked in the days after restrictions eased. Nearly two dozen states have seen surges in the average daily caseload this week when compared to the previous period.
“The virus makes the timeline,” Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) said. “We don’t make the timeline.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, warned this month that the impact of the coronavirus was far from over, saying he remained troubled that the disease “just took over the planet.”
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“Oh my goodness. Where is it going to end? We’re still at the beginning of really understanding,” Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said during a virtual conference this week.
New York has seen a sharp decline in coronavirus transmission in recent weeks after its own stay-at-home orders. Cuomo said Saturday the city had “tamed the beast” after the city saw its lowest level of hospitalizations linked to COVID-19 since March 20.
We lost 23 New Yorkers to COVID yesterday — a new record low.
Total COVID hospitalizations fell to 1,657, the lowest since March 20.
The data show we’re continuing to make great progress. — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 14, 2020
But he continued to warn Sunday that New York would not mimic other states that had seen a surge in infections as social distancing measures were eased.
“We are not kidding around with this. You’re talking about jeopardizing people’s lives,” he said. “It’s not hard to figure out what is happening here. It’s happened in half the states in the nation. So far, we have been the exception. We’re not going to go back to that dark place because local government didn’t do its job.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-14--Ben Carson Tells U.S. To 'Grow Up' Over Racist Gripes; Stacey Abrams Calls Him 'Infantile'

Rising Democratic star Stacey Abrams on Sunday scorched Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson after he told Americans to “ grow up ” and get over what he considers a heightened sensitivity to racist messaging .
Abrams , a Georgia gubernatorial candidate in 2018 and possible vice presidential pick , lashed Carson ’ s take as an “ infantile response , ” on ABC ’ s “ This Week.
” “ This isn ’ t about growing up , ” she added .
“ It ’ s about taking responsibility and having accountability for the actions that have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people acting on behalf of this country.
” Carson earlier on the program shrugged off concerns about monuments and U.S. military base names honoring the Confederacy and its leaders .
He also indicated it was no big deal when asked by George Stephanopoulus if it was appropriate for Trump to accept the GOP nomination in Jacksonville on the 60th anniversary in the city of a vicious attack on Black civil rights protesters by the Ku Klux Klan .
“ We ’ ve reached a point in our society where we dissect everything and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , ” Carson complained .
“ We really need to move away from that .
We need to move away from being offended by everything , of going through history and looking at everything , you know , of renaming everything.
” It “ really gets to a point of being ridiculous after a while , ” he added .
“ You know , we ’ re going to have to grow up as a society.
” Abrams shot back : “ I think that is a fairly infantile response — to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meanings , that dates don ’ t have meanings , that dates don ’ t have power.
” She pointed out that the Trump administration “ stripped away health protections ” last week for the LGBTQ community on the fourth anniversary of the mass shooting of members of the community at Orlando ’ s Pulse nightclub .
The administration on Friday revoked a provision of the Affordable Care Act that had broadened bans on sex discrimination in health care to include transgender patients .
Abrams noted that President Donald Trump also scheduled a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19 anniversary commemorating the emancipation of Black people from slavery — in Tulsa , scene of a notorious massacre of Black residents in 1921 .
Trump last week changed the date , saying he was moved by “ African American friends ” to reschedule the rally “ out of respect for this Holiday .
”

Rising Democratic star Stacey Abrams on Sunday scorched Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson after he told Americans to “grow up” and get over what he considers a heightened sensitivity to racist messaging.
Abrams, a Georgia gubernatorial candidate in 2018 and possible vice presidential pick, lashed Carson’s take as an “infantile response,” on ABC’s “This Week.”
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“This isn’t about growing up,” she added. “It’s about taking responsibility and having accountability for the actions that have been taken by this country, and by people acting on behalf of this country.”
Carson earlier on the program shrugged off concerns about monuments and U.S. military base names honoring the Confederacy and its leaders.
He also indicated it was no big deal when asked by George Stephanopoulus if it was appropriate for Trump to accept the GOP nomination in Jacksonville on the 60th anniversary in the city of a vicious attack on Black civil rights protesters by the Ku Klux Klan.
“We’ve reached a point in our society where we dissect everything and try to ascribe some nefarious notion to it,” Carson complained. “We really need to move away from that. We need to move away from being offended by everything, of going through history and looking at everything, you know, of renaming everything.”
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It “really gets to a point of being ridiculous after a while,” he added. “You know, we’re going to have to grow up as a society.”
Abrams shot back: “I think that is a fairly infantile response — to say that words don’t have meanings, that dates don’t have meanings, that dates don’t have power.”
She pointed out that the Trump administration “stripped away health protections” last week for the LGBTQ community on the fourth anniversary of the mass shooting of members of the community at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub. The administration on Friday revoked a provision of the Affordable Care Act that had broadened bans on sex discrimination in health care to include transgender patients.
Abrams noted that President Donald Trump also scheduled a MAGA rally on Juneteenth, the June 19 anniversary commemorating the emancipation of Black people from slavery — in Tulsa, scene of a notorious massacre of Black residents in 1921.
Trump last week changed the date, saying he was moved by “African American friends” to reschedule the rally “out of respect for this Holiday.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-15--Chilling New Footage Shows Police Officer Ignoring Pleas To Help George Floyd

New footage released by the attorney for the family of George Floyd shows one of the officers on the scene @ @ @ @ @ him to intervene .
“ He ’ s not fucking moving , ” one of @ @ @ @ @ officer Tou Thao as then-officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd ’ s neck @ @ @ @ @ Ben Crump showed Thao ignoring repeated calls from bystanders to intervene and help Floyd , @ @ @ @ @ to stop the assault .
Thao does not .
“ You just killed that man @ @ @ @ @ the officer .
The video , which is graphic , was posted to Crump ’ @ @ @ @ @ Floyd was later pronounced dead , triggering weeks of civil unrest and Black Lives Matter @ @ @ @ @ protesters demanded police reform .
Minneapolis has a “ duty to intervene ” law on @ @ @ @ @ take action to stop the inappropriate use of force .
Since the slaying , Chauvin @ @ @ @ @ officers have been fired and are all facing criminal charges .

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New footage released by the attorney for the family of George Floyd shows one of the officers on the scene ignoring pleas from bystanders asking him to intervene.
“He’s not fucking moving,” one of several bystanders told then-Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao as then-officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck.
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The footage posted by Ben Crump showed Thao ignoring repeated calls from bystanders to intervene and help Floyd, to check his pulse and to stop the assault. Thao does not.
“You just killed that man,” someone yelled at the officer.
The video, which is graphic, was posted to Crump’s Instagram account here.
Floyd was later pronounced dead, triggering weeks of civil unrest and Black Lives Matter demonstrations around the nation as protesters demanded police reform.
Minneapolis has a “duty to intervene” law on the books requiring officers to take action to stop the inappropriate use of force. Since the slaying, Chauvin, Thao and two other officers have been fired and are all facing criminal charges.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-14--Larry Kudlow Vows End To $600 Unemployment Aid As 'Disincentive' To Work

President Donald Trump ’ s economic adviser Larry Kudlow on Sunday vowed an end to an extra $ 600 a week in unemployment payments for the jobless , calling it a “ disincentive to work ” — assuming there is work .
Kudlow ’ s dismissive attitude about the payments amid massive unemployment amid the COVID-19 pandemic was a dramatic contrast to his defense of the Payment Protection Plan for businesses , which can use the forgivable public loans to pay exorbitant executive salaries .
He insisted to Jake Tapper on CNN ’ s “ State of the Union ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have worked for the first couple of months , ” but “ it ’ ll end in late July.
” Kudlow insisted that “ almost all businesses ... understand ” that the $ 600 additional benefit is “ a disincentive ” to work .
“ I mean we ’ re paying people ” without jobs “ not to work , ” he added .
“ It ’ s better than their salaries would get.
” He said the Trump administration is considering a “ reform measure ” that might provide an incentive to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t be as much .
The extra aid is in addition to regular unemployment payments that can be as low as an average of $ 250 a week in some states .
Kudlow ’ s comment assumes there will be jobs for everyone now collecting on unemployment , even though many experts predict jobless numbers will remain in the double digits at least until year ’ s end .
Tapper said he has a “ tough time really believing that people don ’ t want to go back to work.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ jobs aren ’ t coming back , which Kudlow called a “ fair ” point .
“ I personally agree with you ; I think people want to go back to work , ” Kudlow added , undercutting his own claim .
The mediocre aid to the average worker came up as Kudlow staunchly defended the Trump administration ’ s refusal to reveal the recipients of some $ 500 billion in PPP aid to business owners — even though Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin promised the massive taxpayer aid would be “ transparent.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ money is spent on particular costs , including rent , utilities and payroll — including hefty salaries to executives .
Tens of millions of PPP dollars are going to prop up wages in wealthy publicly traded corporations and companies owned by wealthy Trump donors .
The Heroes Act passed by the House would extend the $ 600 additional weekly unemployment benefit for workers through the end of January 2021 .
No similar legislation has been passed by the Senate .

President Donald Trump’s economic adviser Larry Kudlow on Sunday vowed an end to an extra $600 a week in unemployment payments for the jobless, calling it a “disincentive to work” — assuming there is work.
Kudlow’s dismissive attitude about the payments amid massive unemployment amid the COVID-19 pandemic was a dramatic contrast to his defense of the Payment Protection Plan for businesses, which can use the forgivable public loans to pay exorbitant executive salaries.
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He insisted to Jake Tapper on CNN’s “State of the Union” that the extra unemployment aid “might have worked for the first couple of months,” but “it’ll end in late July.”
Kudlow insisted that “almost all businesses ... understand” that the $600 additional benefit is “a disincentive” to work. “I mean we’re paying people” without jobs “not to work,” he added. “It’s better than their salaries would get.”
He said the Trump administration is considering a “reform measure” that might provide an incentive to return to work — but that it won’t be as much.
The extra aid is in addition to regular unemployment payments that can be as low as an average of $250 a week in some states.
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Kudlow’s comment assumes there will be jobs for everyone now collecting on unemployment, even though many experts predict jobless numbers will remain in the double digits at least until year’s end.
Tapper said he has a “tough time really believing that people don’t want to go back to work.” He also pointed out that some workers’ jobs aren’t coming back, which Kudlow called a “fair” point.
“I personally agree with you; I think people want to go back to work,” Kudlow added, undercutting his own claim.
The mediocre aid to the average worker came up as Kudlow staunchly defended the Trump administration’s refusal to reveal the recipients of some $500 billion in PPP aid to business owners — even though Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin promised the massive taxpayer aid would be “transparent.”
PPP loans become grants if the money is spent on particular costs, such as rent, utilities and payroll — including salaries up to $100,000. Only 9% of Americans earn $100,000 a year or more, leaving the 91% of taxpayers who earn less to subsidize the top rate covered by public PPP funds.
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Tens of millions of PPP dollars are going to prop up wages in wealthy publicly traded corporations and companies owned by wealthy Trump donors.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-15--Supreme Court Says LGBTQ Employees Are Protected By Civil Rights Employment Statutes

“ An individual ’ s homosexuality or transgender status is not relevant to employment decisions , ” Gorsuch wrote .
“ That ’ s because it is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender without discriminating against that individual based on sex.
” “ We agree that homosexuality and transgender status are distinct concepts from sex , ” he added later .
“ But , as we ’ ve seen , discrimination based on homosexuality or transgender status necessarily entails discrimination based on sex ; the first can not happen without the second.
” The rulings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court heard in October in which justices considered whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 , the federal law that prohibits workplace discrimination , applies to LGBTQ and transgender workers .
While Title VII bars discrimination on the basis of “ race , color , national origin , sex , and religion , ” the original bill didn ’ t define “ sex ” as a term .
The Trump administration used that ambiguity to argue that lawmakers ’ original intent focused solely on protecting women ’ s rights and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extended to include sexual orientation or gender identity .
“ The issue is not whether Congress can or should prohibit employment discrimination because of sexual orientation , ” Solicitor General Noel J. Francisco , who represented the Trump administration , argued .
“ The issue , rather , is whether it did so when it prohibited discrimination because of sex.
” “ There is only one word for what the Court has done today : legislation , ” Alito wrote .
“ The document that the Court releases is in the form of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but that is deceptive.
” Near the end of arguments in October , Justice Sonia Sotomayor , a member of the court ’ s liberal bloc , appeared to argue that Title VII should indeed be used to protect groups that historically have faced discrimination .
“ We can ’ t deny that homosexuals are being fired merely for being who they are and not because of religious reasons , not because they are performing their jobs poorly , not because they can ’ t do whatever is required of a position , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because they ’ re a suspect class to some people.
” In Altitude Express Inc. v. Zarda , a Long Island skydiving instructor named Don Zarda was fired after telling a client he was gay .
While the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ruled Zarda ’ s firing was discriminatory , the 11th Circuit ruled the opposite way in a similar case , Bostock v. Clayton County , Georgia , in which plaintiff Gerald Bostock said he was fired after joining a gay recreational softball team .
“ There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elated I am , ” Bostock said in a statement Monday .
“ When I was fired seven years ago , I was devastated .
But this fight became about so much more than me .
I am sincerely grateful to the Supreme Court , my attorneys , advocacy organizations like GLAAD , and every person who supported me on this journey .
“ Today , we can go to work without the fear of being fired for who we are and who we love .
Yet , there is more work to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this world , and I will not rest until we have equal rights for all.
” “ Discrimination against employees , either because of their failure to conform to sex stereotypes or their transgender and transitioning status , is illegal under Title VII , ” the court said .
“ It is analytically impossible to fire an employee based on that employee ’ s status as a transgender person without being motivated , at least in part , by the employee ’ s sex .
”

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The Supreme Court ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects LGBTQ employees from being discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
The court on Monday issued opinions on two major decisions with far-reaching implications for the civil rights of transgender and LGBTQ individuals.
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It was a 6-3 ruling, with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Neil Gorsuch joining the four liberal justices in the majority.
Writing for the majority, Gorsuch argued that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity is fundamentally no different than discrimination based on sex.
“An individual’s homosexuality or transgender status is not relevant to employment decisions,” Gorsuch wrote. “That’s because it is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender without discriminating against that individual based on sex.”
“We agree that homosexuality and transgender status are distinct concepts from sex,” he added later. “But, as we’ve seen, discrimination based on homosexuality or transgender status necessarily entails discrimination based on sex; the first cannot happen without the second.”
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The rulings rest on a pair of arguments the court heard in October in which justices considered whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the federal law that prohibits workplace discrimination, applies to LGBTQ and transgender workers.
“Discrimination based on homosexuality or transgender status necessarily entails discrimination based on sex; the first cannot happen without the second.” - Justice Neil Gorsuch
While Title VII bars discrimination on the basis of “race, color, national origin, sex, and religion,” the original bill didn’t define “sex” as a term. The Trump administration used that ambiguity to argue that lawmakers’ original intent focused solely on protecting women’s rights and, therefore, shouldn’t be extended to include sexual orientation or gender identity.
“The issue is not whether Congress can or should prohibit employment discrimination because of sexual orientation,” Solicitor General Noel J. Francisco, who represented the Trump administration, argued. “The issue, rather, is whether it did so when it prohibited discrimination because of sex.”
Questions posed by members of the court’s conservative majority in October suggested they largely agreed and believed the remedy should be legislative, not judicial.
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“If the court takes this up and interprets this 1964 statute to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation,” Justice Samuel Alito said, “we will be acting exactly like a legislature.”
Justice Alito returned to that theme in a dissenting opinion joined by Justice Clarence Thomas.
“There is only one word for what the Court has done today: legislation,” Alito wrote. “The document that the Court releases is in the form of a judicial opinion interpreting a statute, but that is deceptive.”
Near the end of arguments in October, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a member of the court’s liberal bloc, appeared to argue that Title VII should indeed be used to protect groups that historically have faced discrimination.
“We can’t deny that homosexuals are being fired merely for being who they are and not because of religious reasons, not because they are performing their jobs poorly, not because they can’t do whatever is required of a position,” she said, “but merely because they’re a suspect class to some people.”
The Supreme Court reached the decision after considering a trio of cases all filed in 2018.
Transgender activist Aimee Stephens sits in her wheelchair outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., October 8, 2019. SAUL LOEB via Getty Images
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In Altitude Express Inc. v. Zarda, a Long Island skydiving instructor named Don Zarda was fired after telling a client he was gay. While the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ruled Zarda’s firing was discriminatory, the 11th Circuit ruled the opposite way in a similar case, Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, in which plaintiff Gerald Bostock said he was fired after joining a gay recreational softball team.
“There are truly no words to describe just how elated I am,” Bostock said in a statement Monday. “When I was fired seven years ago, I was devastated. But this fight became about so much more than me. I am sincerely grateful to the Supreme Court, my attorneys, advocacy organizations like GLAAD, and every person who supported me on this journey.
“Today, we can go to work without the fear of being fired for who we are and who we love. Yet, there is more work to be done. Discrimination has no place in this world, and I will not rest until we have equal rights for all.”
And in a third lawsuit, R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes Inc. v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a transgender woman named Aimee Stephens was fired from her job of six years after she announced plans to transition.
Stephens’ lawyers argued her firing was a clear example of discrimination because of her sex, and the 6th Circuit agreed.
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“The unrefuted facts show that the Funeral Home fired Stephens because she refused to abide by her employer’s stereotypical conception of her sex,” the court wrote in a 49-page decision.
“Discrimination against employees, either because of their failure to conform to sex stereotypes or their transgender and transitioning status, is illegal under Title VII,” the court said. “It is analytically impossible to fire an employee based on that employee’s status as a transgender person without being motivated, at least in part, by the employee’s sex.”
Stephens told Vox last year she hoped her lawsuit would encourage others to “always strive to be who you are” regardless of the case’s outcome.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-15--Trump Suggests Stopping COVID-19 Tests Would Result In Fewer Cases

President Donald Trump has made a lot of concerning statements about COVID-19 , but he outdid himself on Monday .
During a roundtable on “ Fighting for America ’ s Seniors , ” the president suggested that not testing for the coronavirus could be one way of reducing reported cases .
“ If we stop testing right now , we ’ d have very few cases , if any , ” the president said .
Trump on the number of coronavirus cases , per pool : “ If we stop testing right now , we ’ d have very few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ballhaus ( @ rebeccaballhaus ) June 15 , 2020 It ’ s an argument the president has made before .
To be clear : Not testing people for COVID-19 would reduce the number of new cases being reported , but would have no effect on reducing the number of people who actually have the disease .
Vice President Mike Pence supported the president ’ s statement , which Trump may have meant as a PR tactic rather than literal scientific evidence .
Trump has consistently been concerned about the PR aspect of rising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a field day taking the president ’ s quotes to hilarious extremes .
And if we got rid of the bathroom scale , I 'd fit into skinny jeans .
https : //t.co/G3CFLFUbAv — Kevin Allman ( @ KevinAllman ) June 15 , 2020 When I was struggling in math , I kept telling teachers to stop testing me — Gregory Zuckerman ( @ GZuckerman ) June 15 , 2020 '' If I close my eyes right now , it wo n't be sunny anymore ! ''
— Trumpy Trumpy ( parody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 If I stare into an eclipse before you tell me it 's one I will be fine — RJ O .
( @ YeahHeDid ) June 15 , 2020 Well , yes , in the same way that if you stopped charging people with murder you 'd have no murder convictions .
https : //t.co/YjxfENJVoU — Philip Bump ( @ pbump ) June 15 , 2020 “ If we got rid of X-rays we ’ d have very few cavities , if any.
” https : //t.co/7G9rfWrTl4 — Michael Green ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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President Donald Trump has made a lot of concerning statements about COVID-19, but he outdid himself on Monday.
During a roundtable on “Fighting for America’s Seniors,” the president suggested that not testing for the coronavirus could be one way of reducing reported cases.
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“If we stop testing right now, we’d have very few cases, if any,” the president said.
Trump on the number of coronavirus cases, per pool: “If we stop testing right now, we’d have very few cases, if any.” — Rebecca Ballhaus (@rebeccaballhaus) June 15, 2020
It’s an argument the president has made before. To be clear: Not testing people for COVID-19 would reduce the number of new cases being reported, but would have no effect on reducing the number of people who actually have the disease.
Vice President Mike Pence supported the president’s statement, which Trump may have meant as a PR tactic rather than literal scientific evidence. Trump has consistently been concerned about the PR aspect of rising coronavirus figures.
Still, Twitter users had a field day taking the president’s quotes to hilarious extremes.
And if we got rid of the bathroom scale, I'd fit into skinny jeans. https://t.co/G3CFLFUbAv — Kevin Allman (@KevinAllman) June 15, 2020
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When I was struggling in math, I kept telling teachers to stop testing me — Gregory Zuckerman (@GZuckerman) June 15, 2020
"If I close my eyes right now, it won't be sunny anymore!" — Trumpy Trumpy (parody) (@outofcontroljb) June 15, 2020
If I stare into an eclipse before you tell me it's one I will be fine — RJ O. (@YeahHeDid) June 15, 2020
Big “if I don’t check my bank account, the problem doesn’t exist!!!” energy https://t.co/ZK4wyNvbCc — Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) June 15, 2020
Well, yes, in the same way that if you stopped charging people with murder you'd have no murder convictions. https://t.co/YjxfENJVoU — Philip Bump (@pbump) June 15, 2020
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“If we got rid of X-rays we’d have very few cavities, if any.” https://t.co/7G9rfWrTl4 — Michael Green (@andmichaelgreen) June 15, 2020
Does this work with student loans? https://t.co/3yGgaPnVRv — Erica Pishdadian (@ericapishdadian) June 15, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-15--It’s ‘Clear’ Firing Someone For Being Gay Is Wrong, Gorsuch Says In Title VII Opinion

“ Today , we can go to work without the fear of being fired for who we are and who @ @ @ @ @ there is more work to be done .
Discrimination has no place in this world @ @ @ @ @ rest until we have equal rights for all.
” The American Civil Liberties Union also @ @ @ @ @ landmark victory ” as “ the work of decades of LGBTQ people — led by @ @ @ @ @ for our community.
” The ACLU credited Bostock as well as its clients Aimee Stephens @ @ @ @ @ discrimination cases were also considered in the court ’ s ruling , for speaking out @ @ @ @ @

“Today, we can go to work without the fear of being fired for who we are and who we love. Yet, there is more work to be done. Discrimination has no place in this world, and I will not rest until we have equal rights for all.”
The American Civil Liberties Union also heralded Monday’s “landmark victory” as “the work of decades of LGBTQ people — led by Black trans women — fighting for our community.” The ACLU credited Bostock as well as its clients Aimee Stephens and Don Zarda, whose discrimination cases were also considered in the court’s ruling, for speaking out when they experienced discrimination.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-15--John Cleese Mocks Fox News For Confusing Monty Python With CHAZ Protesters

In a Friday segment , Fox tried to suggest there was trouble brewing between protesters in the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone , a roughly six-block area of Seattle that demonstrators against police brutality and systemic injustice occupied last week .
The quote-unquote evidence of infighting came from a post on Reddit , supposedly written by someone within CHAZ , that read in part : “ I thought we were an autonomous collective ?
An anarcho-syndicalist commune at the least .
We should take turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week.
” The trouble is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scene from the 1975 comedy classic “ Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
” The scene shows two peasants , played by Monty Python ’ s Terry Jones and Michael Palin , explaining their society to a befuddled King Arthur , played by Graham Chapman .
“ We ’ re an anarcho-syndicalist commune , ” Palin ’ s character says .
“ We take it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week .
But all the decisions of that officer have to be ratified at a special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the case of purely internal affairs , but by a two-thirds majority in the case of more major issues.
” Python fans and news junkies spent the weekend ribbing Fox News for getting played , but Cleese delivered the final blow on Monday .
Fox News ’ coverage of the autonomous zone has been alarmist and misleading at best .
Tucker Carlson has described the zone as “ chaos and craziness , ” and Laura Ingraham called it “ a Marxist cultural revolution ” that hopes to “ destroy everything that came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who has repeatedly visited CHAZ , described something much calmer and more community-oriented in a dispatch from the zone this weekend .
The Seattle Times has accused Fox News of publishing digitally altered photos in stories about CHAZ , saying the Fox coverage was “ a clear violation of ethical standards for news organizations.
” Fox News apologized on Sunday and admitted it “ did not clearly delineate ” the splicing together of multiple images from different locations .

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In a Friday segment, Fox tried to suggest there was trouble brewing between protesters in the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, a roughly six-block area of Seattle that demonstrators against police brutality and systemic injustice occupied last week.
The quote-unquote evidence of infighting came from a post on Reddit, supposedly written by someone within CHAZ, that read in part: “I thought we were an autonomous collective? An anarcho-syndicalist commune at the least. We should take turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week.”
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The trouble is, the Reddit post was actually referencing a scene from the 1975 comedy classic “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”
The scene shows two peasants, played by Monty Python’s Terry Jones and Michael Palin, explaining their society to a befuddled King Arthur, played by Graham Chapman.
“We’re an anarcho-syndicalist commune,” Palin’s character says. “We take it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week. But all the decisions of that officer have to be ratified at a special biweekly meeting ― by a simple majority in the case of purely internal affairs, but by a two-thirds majority in the case of more major issues.”
Fox News fell for a Monty Python joke on Reddit lmao pic.twitter.com/Yo34yuQvlD — Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) June 13, 2020
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Python fans and news junkies spent the weekend ribbing Fox News for getting played, but Cleese delivered the final blow on Monday.
Fox News’ coverage of the autonomous zone has been alarmist and misleading at best. Tucker Carlson has described the zone as “chaos and craziness,” and Laura Ingraham called it “a Marxist cultural revolution” that hopes to “destroy everything that came before it.”
HuffPost reporter Michael Hobbes, who has repeatedly visited CHAZ, described something much calmer and more community-oriented in a dispatch from the zone this weekend.
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The Seattle Times has accused Fox News of publishing digitally altered photos in stories about CHAZ, saying the Fox coverage was “a clear violation of ethical standards for news organizations.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-15--'A Shocking Dereliction Of Duty': Supreme Court Brushes Off Police Immunity Cases

Ryan J. Reilly / HuffPost A protester carries a sign that reads `` Supreme Court lets cops get away with murder '' during a Black Lives Matter protest near the White House .
WASHINGTON ― On the same morning that the Supreme Court issued a landmark opinion upholding the rights of gay and transgender Americans , the nation ’ s highest court brushed aside a number of cases that would have allowed it to readdress law enforcement officers ’ broad immunity from lawsuits over police brutality .
Justices on the Supreme Court turned away more than a dozen lawsuits related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which lets police officers escape accountability for using tactics that haven ’ t been expressly banned in prior court decisions .
Even when police officers clearly violate constitutional rights , they are often not held liable because the right that they violate wasn ’ t clearly established by the courts at the time .
The decision came three weeks after the police killing of George Floyd sparked nationwide protests .
The mass support of the Black Lives Matter movement has swiftly ushered in public opinion shifts on law enforcement issues , even though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will once again stave off broader changes to America ’ s policing system .
The Supreme Court , per standard practice , didn ’ t explain why it brushed off the cases .
But Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that he had previously expressed his doubt about “ our qualified immunity jurisprudence.
” Justice Sonia Sotomayor has previously criticized the court for failing to get involved in police violence cases and said in 2015 that the court has been “ sanctioning a ‘ shoot first , think later ’ approach to policing.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denial of review in the ACLU ’ s challenge to qualified immunity underscores how far off course the law has strayed , ” Cole said .
“ We have seen the deadly consequences play out on the streets , and Black Americans have largely paid the price .
Recent events demonstrate the urgent need for Congress to stand up for the rule of law and abolish qualified immunity — for anyone acting under color of law — to close the loophole allowing government officials to escape accountability for violating constitutional rights.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court to decline this golden opportunity to begin addressing its mistakes in creating and propagating the doctrine of qualified immunity , ” Schweikert said .
“ The petitions before the Court plainly demonstrated both the moral injustices and practical absurdities of the ‘ clearly established law ’ standard.
” Schweikert said the “ senseless violence committed by Derek Chauvin—and the stunning indifference of the officers standing by as George Floyd begged for his life—is the product of our culture of near-zero accountability for law enforcement.
” He said qualified immunity “ will go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court ’ s most egregious , costly , and embarrassing mistakes.
” A HuffPost/YouGov survey found that curtailing qualified immunity for police officers is a broadly popular policy proposal .
But Republicans want to leave qualified immunity out of police reform proposals , with Sen. Tim Scott ( R-S.C. ) calling qualified immunity a “ poison pill ” that would kill broader police reform efforts in Congress .

A protester carries a sign that reads "Supreme Court lets cops get away with murder" during a Black Lives Matter protest near the White House. Ryan J. Reilly / HuffPost
WASHINGTON ― On the same morning that the Supreme Court issued a landmark opinion upholding the rights of gay and transgender Americans, the nation’s highest court brushed aside a number of cases that would have allowed it to readdress law enforcement officers’ broad immunity from lawsuits over police brutality.
Justices on the Supreme Court turned away more than a dozen lawsuits related to qualified immunity, the legal doctrine which lets police officers escape accountability for using tactics that haven’t been expressly banned in prior court decisions. Even when police officers clearly violate constitutional rights, they are often not held liable because the right that they violate wasn’t clearly established by the courts at the time.
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The decision came three weeks after the police killing of George Floyd sparked nationwide protests. The mass support of the Black Lives Matter movement has swiftly ushered in public opinion shifts on law enforcement issues, even though it’s unclear whether law enforcement will once again stave off broader changes to America’s policing system.
The Supreme Court, per standard practice, didn’t explain why it brushed off the cases. But Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that he had previously expressed his doubt about “our qualified immunity jurisprudence.” Justice Sonia Sotomayor has previously criticized the court for failing to get involved in police violence cases and said in 2015 that the court has been “sanctioning a ‘shoot first, think later’ approach to policing.”
David Cole, national legal director at the American Civil Liberties Union, called the Supreme Court’s decision “deeply disappointing,” especially in a “time of national reckoning over police violence.”
“Justice Thomas’s dissent from the denial of review in the ACLU’s challenge to qualified immunity underscores how far off course the law has strayed,” Cole said. “We have seen the deadly consequences play out on the streets, and Black Americans have largely paid the price. Recent events demonstrate the urgent need for Congress to stand up for the rule of law and abolish qualified immunity — for anyone acting under color of law — to close the loophole allowing government officials to escape accountability for violating constitutional rights.”
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Cato Policy Analyst Jay Schweikert called the Supreme Court’s decision “a shocking dereliction of duty” that “could not come at a worse time.”
“There was simply no excuse for the Court to decline this golden opportunity to begin addressing its mistakes in creating and propagating the doctrine of qualified immunity,” Schweikert said. “The petitions before the Court plainly demonstrated both the moral injustices and practical absurdities of the ‘clearly established law’ standard.”
Schweikert said the “senseless violence committed by Derek Chauvin—and the stunning indifference of the officers standing by as George Floyd begged for his life—is the product of our culture of near-zero accountability for law enforcement.”
He said qualified immunity “will go down in history as one of the Supreme Court’s most egregious, costly, and embarrassing mistakes.”
A HuffPost/YouGov survey found that curtailing qualified immunity for police officers is a broadly popular policy proposal. But Republicans want to leave qualified immunity out of police reform proposals, with Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) calling qualified immunity a “poison pill” that would kill broader police reform efforts in Congress.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-15--Supreme Court Declines To Hear Trump's Legal Challenge To 'Sanctuary' Laws

WASHINGTON , June 15 ( Reuters ) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday handed President Donald Trump a defeat in his legal showdown with the most-populous U.S. state , declining to hear his administration ’ s challenge to “ sanctuary ” laws in California that protect immigrants from deportation .
The justices left in place a lower court ruling that upheld the bulk of three laws in the Democratic-governed state that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement authorities .
The Trump administration had appealed that ruling to the high court .
Trump , seeking re-election on Nov. 3 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus of his presidency , including a crackdown on legal and illegal immigration .
His administration sued California in 2018 in federal court , accusing the state of unlawfully obstructing enforcement of federal immigration law and saying the measures violate the U.S. Constitution ’ s provision that federal laws take precedence over state laws .
The California “ sanctuary ” laws in question prohibit private employers in the state from voluntarily cooperating with federal immigration officials and bar local law enforcement authorities from sharing information with federal officials about the release of potentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General Xavier Becerra , a Democrat , has argued that the laws protect privacy in the workplace and prevent the state from being coerced into enforcing federal immigration law .

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WASHINGTON, June 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday handed President Donald Trump a defeat in his legal showdown with the most-populous U.S. state, declining to hear his administration’s challenge to “sanctuary” laws in California that protect immigrants from deportation.
The justices left in place a lower court ruling that upheld the bulk of three laws in the Democratic-governed state that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement authorities. The Trump administration had appealed that ruling to the high court.
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Trump, seeking re-election on Nov. 3, has made his hardline immigration policies a focus of his presidency, including a crackdown on legal and illegal immigration.
His administration sued California in 2018 in federal court, accusing the state of unlawfully obstructing enforcement of federal immigration law and saying the measures violate the U.S. Constitution’s provision that federal laws take precedence over state laws.
The California “sanctuary” laws in question prohibit private employers in the state from voluntarily cooperating with federal immigration officials and bar local law enforcement authorities from sharing information with federal officials about the release of potentially deportable immigrants from custody.
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, has argued that the laws protect privacy in the workplace and prevent the state from being coerced into enforcing federal immigration law.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-15--Partisan Fault Lines Emerge In Congress Over Police Reform

As Washington turns its attention to police reforms following nationwide protests over George Floyd ’ s death , congressional lawmakers are already at odds about the steps needed to curb police misconduct and hold law enforcement more accountable .
The issue of qualified immunity has emerged as the biggest sticking point in the GOP-controlled Senate , where support would be necessary for any related legislation to pass .
The legal doctrine of qualified immunity gives police officers a broad liability shield in courts , making it all but impossible to successfully sue police officers over claims of wrongdoing .
Ending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Democrats and activists following the deaths of dozens of Black Americans at the hands of law enforcement in recent years .
“ We have to ask ourselves as a society , do we want to have a nation where police officers who do really awful things can not be held accountable ?
” Sen. Cory Booker ( D-N.J. ) said Sunday on CBS News ’ “ Face the Nation.
” The Supreme Court on Monday turned down reviewing a host of petitions that challenged the doctrine of qualified immunity .
Only one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dissented .
The lone Black justice on the court reiterated his opposition to qualified immunity , writing that he would allow challenges to proceed given his “ strong doubts ” about the doctrine .
Although there is some bipartisan support for at least reexamining the issue of qualified immunity , most congressional Republicans oppose ending it outright .
Sen. Tim Scott ( R-S.C. ) said in a separate “ Face the Nation ” interview on Sunday that ending qualified immunity for police officers is “ off the table ” for his party , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump .
He called the proposal a “ poison pill ” in any future discussions .
Democrats would go further than Scott ’ s expected proposal , however , by explicitly banning the use of chokeholds , including the kind used by a police officer in the death of Floyd last month .
The would also prohibit no-knock warrants in drug cases , a tactic that led to the death of Breonna Taylor in Louisville , Kentucky , in March .
House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy also told reporters last week that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boosting chances that some kind of measure can pass the lower chamber .
Complicating the situation is an increasingly erratic Trump , who is facing reelection with a recession on his hands and a sinking approval rating .
The president and his top aides have steered clear of discussing particular police reform initiatives , only making it clear that they oppose defunding law enforcement , which many activists have called for .
Trump could endorse whatever deal Congress comes up with , or he could blow up the talks by setting red lines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cross ― as he has done in the past on immigration , health care and gun control .
Even without federal action , reforms are taking hold in many police departments across the country .
Some cities have already banned chokeholds and neck restraints like the one used on Floyd , while others are moving to shift resources away from law enforcement and toward other public safety and health initiatives .

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As Washington turns its attention to police reforms following nationwide protests over George Floyd’s death, congressional lawmakers are already at odds about the steps needed to curb police misconduct and hold law enforcement more accountable.
The issue of qualified immunity has emerged as the biggest sticking point in the GOP-controlled Senate, where support would be necessary for any related legislation to pass.
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The legal doctrine of qualified immunity gives police officers a broad liability shield in courts, making it all but impossible to successfully sue police officers over claims of wrongdoing. Ending qualified immunity has become a top demand for Democrats and activists following the deaths of dozens of Black Americans at the hands of law enforcement in recent years.
“We have to ask ourselves as a society, do we want to have a nation where police officers who do really awful things cannot be held accountable?” Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) said Sunday on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.”
People protesting police brutality walk through Times Square with a portrait of George Floyd. Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images
The Supreme Court on Monday turned down reviewing a host of petitions that challenged the doctrine of qualified immunity. Only one justice ― conservative stalwart Clarence Thomas ― dissented. The lone Black justice on the court reiterated his opposition to qualified immunity, writing that he would allow challenges to proceed given his “strong doubts” about the doctrine.
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Although there is some bipartisan support for at least reexamining the issue of qualified immunity, most congressional Republicans oppose ending it outright.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) said in a separate “Face the Nation” interview on Sunday that ending qualified immunity for police officers is “off the table” for his party, citing opposition from police unions and President Donald Trump. He called the proposal a “poison pill” in any future discussions.
Leadership has tasked Scott, the only Black GOP senator, with crafting the Senate Republican police reform proposal. He’s expected to unveil the legislation, including a modest list of reforms, this week.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) has been tasked with crafting the Senate Republican police reform proposal. Caroline Brehman via Getty Images
Democrats would go further than Scott’s expected proposal, however, by explicitly banning the use of chokeholds, including the kind used by a police officer in the death of Floyd last month. The would also prohibit no-knock warrants in drug cases, a tactic that led to the death of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky, in March.
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“This is not a time for lowest-common-denominator, watered-down reforms,” Booker said. “It’s a time to stop the problem.”
House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy also told reporters last week that he supports a ban on chokeholds, boosting chances that some kind of measure can pass the lower chamber.
Complicating the situation is an increasingly erratic Trump, who is facing reelection with a recession on his hands and a sinking approval rating. The president and his top aides have steered clear of discussing particular police reform initiatives, only making it clear that they oppose defunding law enforcement, which many activists have called for.
Trump could endorse whatever deal Congress comes up with, or he could blow up the talks by setting red lines Republicans won’t be willing to cross ― as he has done in the past on immigration, health care and gun control.
Even without federal action, reforms are taking hold in many police departments across the country. Some cities have already banned chokeholds and neck restraints like the one used on Floyd, while others are moving to shift resources away from law enforcement and toward other public safety and health initiatives.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-15--Joe Biden And The DNC Raised $80 Million In May

Former Vice President Joe Biden and the Democratic National Committee raised a combined $ 80.8 million in May , as larger donations and a more robust online fundraising operation help the candidate keep pace with President Donald Trump ’ s fundraising juggernaut .
Biden , the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , did not reveal how much cash his campaign or the DNC has on hand .
Trump and the Republican National Committee have yet to announce their May fundraising numbers .
The two campaigns essentially tied in April ― Trump raised $ 61.7 million , while Biden raised just over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m in awe of this sum of money , ” Biden wrote in an email to supporters .
“ Just a few months ago , people were ready to write this campaign off .
Now , we are making huge dents in Donald Trump ’ s warchest .
Every single dollar is going to make sure he is only a one-term president.
” Biden struggled with fundraising at times during the primary , with Sens .
Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) and Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
both routinely outraising him despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign has invested heavily in building out its email list ― it has spent more than $ 8 million on Facebook in the last 30 days , with especially robust investment since the death of George Floyd and the subsequent protests .
The effort seems to be paying off : More than half of the campaign ’ s donors in May were new , and the number of online donors to the campaign has tripled since February .
The campaign says its average online donation in May was $ 30 , though it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defining an online donation .
Biden has held Zoom fundraisers with tickets costing tens of thousands of dollars since the coronavirus pandemic has put an end to most gatherings .
May was the first month where Biden was able to take full advantage of a joint fundraising committee with the DNC and state Democratic parties .
A single donor is able to give up to $ 620,000 to a candidate under the arrangement , which Trump has taken advantage of for years .
Biden ’ s haul outpaced that of both President Barack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the same time frame .
Obama and the DNC raised $ 59.1 million in May 2012 ; Clinton raised $ 38 million four years ago .

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Former Vice President Joe Biden and the Democratic National Committee raised a combined $80.8 million in May, as larger donations and a more robust online fundraising operation help the candidate keep pace with President Donald Trump’s fundraising juggernaut.
Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, did not reveal how much cash his campaign or the DNC has on hand.
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Trump and the Republican National Committee have yet to announce their May fundraising numbers. The two campaigns essentially tied in April ― Trump raised $61.7 million, while Biden raised just over $60 million.
“I’m in awe of this sum of money,” Biden wrote in an email to supporters. “Just a few months ago, people were ready to write this campaign off. Now, we are making huge dents in Donald Trump’s warchest. Every single dollar is going to make sure he is only a one-term president.”
Biden struggled with fundraising at times during the primary, with Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) both routinely outraising him despite bypassing traditional high-dollar fundraisers.
The Biden campaign has invested heavily in building out its email list ― it has spent more than $8 million on Facebook in the last 30 days, with especially robust investment since the death of George Floyd and the subsequent protests. The effort seems to be paying off: More than half of the campaign’s donors in May were new, and the number of online donors to the campaign has tripled since February.
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The campaign says its average online donation in May was $30, though it’s unclear how the campaign is defining an online donation. Biden has held Zoom fundraisers with tickets costing tens of thousands of dollars since the coronavirus pandemic has put an end to most gatherings.
May was the first month where Biden was able to take full advantage of a joint fundraising committee with the DNC and state Democratic parties. A single donor is able to give up to $620,000 to a candidate under the arrangement, which Trump has taken advantage of for years.
Biden’s haul outpaced that of both President Barack Obama and 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton for the same time frame. Obama and the DNC raised $59.1 million in May 2012; Clinton raised $38 million four years ago.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-15--Politicians Praise Supreme Court’s Decision On LGBTQ Worker Protections

“ [ I ] t is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender without discriminating against that individual based on sex , ” Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the opinion .
Gerald Bostock , a plaintiff in the case , said in a statement that he was “ elated ” over the decision .
He was employed by Clayton County , Georgia , until he was fired in 2013 for joining a gay softball league .
“ There are truly no words to describe just how elated I am , ” Bostock said .
“ When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was devastated .
But this fight became about so much more than me .
... Today , we can go to work without the fear of being fired for who we are and who we love .
Yet , there is more work to be done .
Discrimination has no place in this world , and I will not rest until we have equal rights for all.
” Aimee Stephens and Don Zarda , also plaintiffs in the landmark case , both died before the decision was released .
Stephens , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after announcing she would return to her job as a funeral director after having gender reassignment surgery .
Zarda , a skydiving instructor from New York , was fired from his job after revealing he was gay .
“ The decision gives us hope that as a country we can unite for the common good and continue the fight for LGBTQ acceptance , ” Ellis said .
“ Especially at a time when the Trump Administration is rolling back the rights of transgender people and anti-transgender violence continues to plague our nation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dignity of transgender people , and all LGBTQ people.
” The Trump administration on Friday released a regulation to roll back protections against gender identity discrimination in health care .
It would allow health insurance companies , doctors and hospitals regulated by the Affordable Care Act the ability to discriminate based on gender identity , posing a threat to transgender people seeking health care .
Joseph Fons holds a Pride Flag while standing in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building on Monday , after the court ruled that LGBTQ people can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their sexual orientation .
With Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Neil Gorsuch joining the Democratic appointees , the court ruled 6-3 that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 bans bias based on sexual orientation or gender identity .
“ Congratulations to the LGBTQ+ community on this monumental victory for equality , ” tweeted Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) , who said it was a “ historic day.
” “ We must never stop fighting to end all forms of discrimination and build a nation based on justice for all.
” Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is said to be on the shortlist to become Joe Biden ’ s running mate , called the decision a step in the right direction , but said there was more work to be done .
“ No one should have to live in fear of discrimination , ” she wrote on Twitter .
“ The Supreme Court ’ s decision to uphold protections for LGBTQ+ workers preserves the LGBTQ+ movement ’ s hard-won progress—but we must keep up the pressure to ensure every LGBTQ+ person is free to be who they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next step is to pass H.R .
5 - Equality Act .
The bill would prohibit discrimination based on sex , sexual orientation or gender identity .
It has passed in the House and has been sent to committee in the Senate .

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Politicians and LGBTQ rights advocates are applauding the Supreme Court’s ruling that employers cannot fire an employee based on their sexual orientation, calling Monday a historic day in the fight for equality.
In a 6-3 ruling, the court announced Title VII from the Civil Rights Act of 1964 offers protections from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
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“[I]t is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender without discriminating against that individual based on sex,” Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the opinion.
Gerald Bostock, a plaintiff in the case, said in a statement that he was “elated” over the decision. He was employed by Clayton County, Georgia, until he was fired in 2013 for joining a gay softball league.
“There are truly no words to describe just how elated I am,” Bostock said. “When I was fired seven years ago, I was devastated. But this fight became about so much more than me. ... Today, we can go to work without the fear of being fired for who we are and who we love. Yet, there is more work to be done. Discrimination has no place in this world, and I will not rest until we have equal rights for all.”
Aimee Stephens and Don Zarda, also plaintiffs in the landmark case, both died before the decision was released. Stephens, a transgender woman from Michigan, was fired after announcing she would return to her job as a funeral director after having gender reassignment surgery. Zarda, a skydiving instructor from New York, was fired from his job after revealing he was gay.
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“There is no question: LGBTQ people are protected from discrimination in the workplace,” the American Civil Liberties Union said in a tweet praising the Supreme Court’s decision.
Sarah Kate Ellis, the president and CEO of LGBTQ rights group GLAAD, said the decision “affirms what shouldn’t have even been a debate.”
“The decision gives us hope that as a country we can unite for the common good and continue the fight for LGBTQ acceptance,” Ellis said. “Especially at a time when the Trump Administration is rolling back the rights of transgender people and anti-transgender violence continues to plague our nation, this decision is a step towards affirming the dignity of transgender people, and all LGBTQ people.”
The Trump administration on Friday released a regulation to roll back protections against gender identity discrimination in health care. It would allow health insurance companies, doctors and hospitals regulated by the Affordable Care Act the ability to discriminate based on gender identity, posing a threat to transgender people seeking health care.
Joseph Fons holds a Pride Flag while standing in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building on Monday, after the court ruled that LGBTQ people can not be disciplined or fired based on their sexual orientation. With Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Neil Gorsuch joining the Democratic appointees, the court ruled 6-3 that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 bans bias based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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Many politicians also expressed excitement over Monday’s court ruling.
“Congratulations to the LGBTQ+ community on this monumental victory for equality,” tweeted Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who said it was a “historic day.” “We must never stop fighting to end all forms of discrimination and build a nation based on justice for all.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who is said to be on the shortlist to become Joe Biden’s running mate, called the decision a step in the right direction, but said there was more work to be done.
“No one should have to live in fear of discrimination,” she wrote on Twitter. “The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold protections for LGBTQ+ workers preserves the LGBTQ+ movement’s hard-won progress—but we must keep up the pressure to ensure every LGBTQ+ person is free to be who they are without fear.”
The congressional LQBTQ+ Equality Caucus also encouraged people to keep fighting.
Democrats say the next step is to pass H.R. 5 - Equality Act. The bill would prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation or gender identity. It has passed in the House and has been sent to committee in the Senate.
“The long march for equality takes a step forward,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Monday. “The real answer is to pass the Equality Act, but we all breathe a sigh of relief that the Supreme Court did the right thing.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-15--Voice Of America Denounces CDC For Blacklisting Reporters After White House Smear

The bizarre White House attack on the federally funded VOA said “ much of the U.S. media takes its lead from China.
” The broadside was so odd that many initially thought hackers had posted it on the White House website , The New York Times reported .
The Voice of America ’ s director on Sunday angrily responded to the CDC , calling the freeze on its reporters “ shocking ” and “ troubling ” and comparing the action to authoritarian nations without a free press — like China .
In the April 30 CDC email , obtained by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Just Security and released Friday , Michawn Rich informs the organization ’ s press staff : “ As a rule , do not send up [ press interview ] requests from [ VOA reporter ] Greta von Susteren or anyone working for VOA because of this ” — and links to the White House statement .
Rich , communications director for Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue , was assigned to the CDC in March to shape the CDC ’ s press response to the coronavirus pandemic .
The White House statement posted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of amplifying “ Beijing ’ s propaganda.
” As an example , the statement cited a comment in a VOA article that China ’ s strict lockdown at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak was successful in stemming the spread of the disease — a view widely held by scientists around the world .
The statement also accused the VOA of using “ Communist government statistics ” to compare China ’ s coronavirus death toll to America ’ s .
In fact , the VOA used figures provided by the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the gold standard of pandemic statistics .
At the time the statement was issued , the U.S. COVID-19 death toll had surpassed China , and President Donald Trump had begun to accuse the Chinese government of lying about its figures — and blaming China for the pandemic .
The VOA responded to the White House statement with a long list of its articles critical of China based on what it called “ verifiable facts.
” It also bitingly pointed out the difference between “ state-controlled ” media — compelled to follow the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” like the VOA , which “ shows all sides of an issue.
” “ We were shocked to read the internal CDC documents instructing the agency ’ s media relations office to refuse media requests from ‘ anyone associated with Voice of America , ’ citing White House ” accusations that the VOA was spreading “ Chinese propaganda , ” director Amanda Bennett , a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist , said in a statement .
“ VOA , a federally funded independent news organization , strongly rejects the accusations and calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instructions.
” The attack on the VOA is occurring as Trump is making a power play to control the organization and force it to spin positive coverage for his administration .
The Senate early this month voted to make conservative filmmaker and Steve Bannon pal Michael Pack head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media , the federal agency that oversees the VOA .
The New York Times reported that Trump intervened to nail down Pack ’ s confirmation quickly amid an investigation by the attorney general for the District of Columbia into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million in donations to his nonprofit organization to his for-profit film company .
That investigation is continuing .
VOA is commendably rejecting Trump 's call for VOA to be his own personal propaganda outlet .
But Trump 's newly appointed CEO , Michael Pack , could change that .
Pack is an associate of Steve Bannon and has collaborated with him in the past .
He could remake VOA a the new Brietbart./2 — Walter Shaub ( @ waltshaub ) June 14 , 2020

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The bizarre White House attack on the federally funded VOA said “much of the U.S. media takes its lead from China.” The broadside was so odd that many initially thought hackers had posted it on the White House website, The New York Times reported.
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The Voice of America’s director on Sunday angrily responded to the CDC, calling the freeze on its reporters “shocking” and “troubling” and comparing the action to authoritarian nations without a free press — like China.
In the April 30 CDC email, obtained by the Knight First Amendment Institute and published by Just Security and released Friday, Michawn Rich informs the organization’s press staff: “As a rule, do not send up [press interview] requests from [VOA reporter] Greta von Susteren or anyone working for VOA because of this” — and links to the White House statement. Rich, communications director for Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, was assigned to the CDC in March to shape the CDC’s press response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The White House statement posted in early April accused the Voice of America of amplifying “Beijing’s propaganda.” As an example, the statement cited a comment in a VOA article that China’s strict lockdown at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak was successful in stemming the spread of the disease — a view widely held by scientists around the world.
The statement also accused the VOA of using “Communist government statistics” to compare China’s coronavirus death toll to America’s. In fact, the VOA used figures provided by the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center in Baltimore, widely considered the gold standard of pandemic statistics.
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At the time the statement was issued, the U.S. COVID-19 death toll had surpassed China, and President Donald Trump had begun to accuse the Chinese government of lying about its figures — and blaming China for the pandemic.
The VOA responded to the White House statement with a long list of its articles critical of China based on what it called “verifiable facts.” It also bitingly pointed out the difference between “state-controlled” media — compelled to follow the party line — and “publicly-funded independent media,” like the VOA, which “shows all sides of an issue.”
On Sunday, the VOA issued a scathing response to the CDC email.
“We were shocked to read the internal CDC documents instructing the agency’s media relations office to refuse media requests from ‘anyone associated with Voice of America,’ citing White House” accusations that the VOA was spreading “Chinese propaganda,” director Amanda Bennett, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist, said in a statement. “VOA, a federally funded independent news organization, strongly rejects the accusations and calls on the CDC to immediately withdraw the instructions.”
For a “federal agency’s public affairs office to categorically deny in advance interview requests from VOA journalists ... based on a White House opinion statement ... is even more troubling,” Bennett continued.
The attack on the VOA is occurring as Trump is making a power play to control the organization and force it to spin positive coverage for his administration. The Senate early this month voted to make conservative filmmaker and Steve Bannon pal Michael Pack head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, the federal agency that oversees the VOA.
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The New York Times reported that Trump intervened to nail down Pack’s confirmation quickly amid an investigation by the attorney general for the District of Columbia into whether Pack diverted at least $1.6 million in donations to his nonprofit organization to his for-profit film company. That investigation is continuing.
VOA is commendably rejecting Trump's call for VOA to be his own personal propaganda outlet. But Trump's newly appointed CEO, Michael Pack, could change that. Pack is an associate of Steve Bannon and has collaborated with him in the past. He could remake VOA a the new Brietbart./2 — Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) June 14, 2020
The CDC did not respond to HuffPost’s requests for comment.