thetennesseestar--2020-11-01--Illinois Authorities Extradite Kyle Rittenhouse to Wisconsin

WAUKEGAN , Illinois ( AP ) — A 17-year-old from Illinois accused of killing two demonstrators in Kenosha , Wisconsin , has been extradited to stand trial on homicide charges , with sheriff ’ s deputies in Illinois handing him over to their counterparts in Wisconsin shortly after a judge on Friday approved the contested extradition .
In his afternoon ruling that rejected Kyle Rittenhouse ’ s bid to remain in Illinois , Judge Paul Novak noted that defense attorneys had characterized the Wisconsin charges as politically motivated .
“ This Illinois court shall not examine any potential political impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his charging decision , ” Novak ’ s six-page ruling said .
He added that it is not for an Illinois judge to “ reevaluate probable cause determined by a Wisconsin court.
” Immediately after Novak issued the ruling at the courthouse in Waukegan , Illinois , deputies with the Lake County Sheriff ’ s Office picked up Rittenhouse and drove him five miles ( eight kilometers ) to the Illinois-Wisconsin border , sheriff ’ s office spokesman Christopher Covelli told The Associated Press .
Rittenhouse was then turned over to Kenosha County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around 3:45 p.m. , Covelli said .
The ruling and speedy transfer came several hours after a hearing Friday morning in which Judge Novak heard arguments for and against extradition .
The shootings happened Aug. 25 , two days after a white police officer trying to arrest Jacob Blake shot the 29-year-old Black man seven times in the back , paralyzing him from the waist down .
Video of the police shooting sparked outrage and helped spur on the protests .
Rittenhouse ’ s case has become a rallying point for some conservatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was exercising his right to bear arms during unrest .
Others portray him as a domestic terrorist who incited protesters by showing up wielding a rifle .
At Friday ’ s hearing , Rittenhouse ’ s lawyer said he had a change of heart since notifying the court that he planned to call witnesses , including Rittenhouse ’ s mother .
Instead , John Pierce focused on what he called “ fatal defects ” in extradition papers .
A local prosecutor said the law is unambiguous in requiring Rittenhouse ’ s extradition .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone can commit a crime and step over the ( state borderline ) and get sanctuary , ” Lake County Assistant State ’ s Attorney Stephen Scheller told Novak .
Rittenhouse sat at a defense table wearing a dress shirt and tie — mask across his face .
At least once , he turned to look at his mother , Wendy Rittenhouse , on a spectactors ’ bench .
Later , as officers led him from the hearing room , she began to cry .
In his ruling , Novak said an extradition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under several clear conditions , including if the extradition papers aren ’ t in order , if a suspect hasn ’ t yet been charged or if the identity of the suspect is in doubt .
He said none of those conditions applied .
Without witnesses from either side , the part of Friday ’ s hearing meant for evidence and testimony lasted less than 30 seconds , when Scheller handed the judge Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s signed warrant calling for Rittenhouse ’ s extradition .
Pierce told Novak that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ present charging documents to a magistrate judge and that their failure to do so rendered their extradition request invalid .
Novak dismissed that argument , saying in his ruling that Rittenhouse ’ s lawyers offered no evidence that a magistrate judge did not review the charges .
“ Even if this court were to find the complaint ( was ) not made before a magistrate … Rittenhouse ’ s argument would still fail , ” he wrote .
The warrant signed by Pritzker , he said , “ satisfies all the requirements.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wisconsin is first-degree intentional homicide , which carries a life prison sentence .
He is also charged with attempted intentional homicide in the wounding of a third protester , as well as a misdemeanor charge of underage firearm possession .
His lawyers have argued he was acting in self-defense .
Rittenhouse and the man he allegedly injured are white , as were the two men who were killed .
A day after the shooting , Rittenhouse surrendered to police in his Illinois hometown of Antioch , around 10 miles ( 16 kilometers ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sentinel , citing an arrest report it went to court to obtain after its public records request was denied , reported Friday that Rittenhouse turned himself in less than two hours after the shooting and told an officer he had “ ended a man ’ s life.
” The report said firefighters were called when Rittenhouse — described as alternating between calm , fits of crying and vomiting — had trouble breathing at one point .
The newspaper also said Rittenhouse told police the rifle used in the shooting was in the trunk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to prosecutors and court documents , Rittenhouse killed 36-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum , of Kenosha , after Rosenbaum threw a plastic bag at Rittenhouse , missing him , and tried to wrestle his rifle away .
While trying to get away in the immediate aftermath , Rittenhouse was captured on cellphone video saying , “ I just killed somebody.
” According to a complaint filed by prosecutors , someone in the crowd said , “ Beat him up !
” and another yelled , “ Get him !
Get that dude !
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was on the ground , 26-year-old Anthony Huber , of Silver Lake , hit him with a skateboard and tried to take his rifle .
Rittenhouse opened fire , killing Huber and wounding Gaige Grosskreutz , of West Allis , who was holding a handgun .
Michael Tarm is a reporter for The Associated Press .
About the Headline Photo : Kyle Rittenhouse appears for an extradition hearing in Lake County court Friday , Oct. 30 , 2020 , in Waukegan , Ill .
The 17-year-old is accused of killing two demonstrators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 , 2020 , two days after a police officer trying to arrest Jacob Blake shot him seven times in the back , paralyzing him from the waist down .
( AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh , Pool )

by Michael Tarm
WAUKEGAN, Illinois (AP) — A 17-year-old from Illinois accused of killing two demonstrators in Kenosha, Wisconsin, has been extradited to stand trial on homicide charges, with sheriff’s deputies in Illinois handing him over to their counterparts in Wisconsin shortly after a judge on Friday approved the contested extradition.
In his afternoon ruling that rejected Kyle Rittenhouse’s bid to remain in Illinois, Judge Paul Novak noted that defense attorneys had characterized the Wisconsin charges as politically motivated.
“This Illinois court shall not examine any potential political impact a Wisconsin District Attorney potentially considered in his charging decision,” Novak’s six-page ruling said. He added that it is not for an Illinois judge to “reevaluate probable cause determined by a Wisconsin court.”
Immediately after Novak issued the ruling at the courthouse in Waukegan, Illinois, deputies with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office picked up Rittenhouse and drove him five miles (eight kilometers) to the Illinois-Wisconsin border, sheriff’s office spokesman Christopher Covelli told The Associated Press. Rittenhouse was then turned over to Kenosha County sheriff deputies at the state line at around 3:45 p.m., Covelli said.
The ruling and speedy transfer came several hours after a hearing Friday morning in which Judge Novak heard arguments for and against extradition.
The shootings happened Aug. 25, two days after a white police officer trying to arrest Jacob Blake shot the 29-year-old Black man seven times in the back, paralyzing him from the waist down. Video of the police shooting sparked outrage and helped spur on the protests.
Rittenhouse’s case has become a rallying point for some conservatives who see him as a patriot who was exercising his right to bear arms during unrest. Others portray him as a domestic terrorist who incited protesters by showing up wielding a rifle.
At Friday’s hearing, Rittenhouse’s lawyer said he had a change of heart since notifying the court that he planned to call witnesses, including Rittenhouse’s mother. Instead, John Pierce focused on what he called “fatal defects” in extradition papers.
A local prosecutor said the law is unambiguous in requiring Rittenhouse’s extradition.
“You can imagine the chaos if someone can commit a crime and step over the (state borderline) and get sanctuary,” Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Stephen Scheller told Novak.
Rittenhouse sat at a defense table wearing a dress shirt and tie — mask across his face. At least once, he turned to look at his mother, Wendy Rittenhouse, on a spectactors’ bench. Later, as officers led him from the hearing room, she began to cry.
In his ruling, Novak said an extradition to another state can be halted only under several clear conditions, including if the extradition papers aren’t in order, if a suspect hasn’t yet been charged or if the identity of the suspect is in doubt. He said none of those conditions applied.
Without witnesses from either side, the part of Friday’s hearing meant for evidence and testimony lasted less than 30 seconds, when Scheller handed the judge Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signed warrant calling for Rittenhouse’s extradition.
Pierce told Novak that Wisconsin authorities were required by law to present charging documents to a magistrate judge and that their failure to do so rendered their extradition request invalid.
Novak dismissed that argument, saying in his ruling that Rittenhouse’s lawyers offered no evidence that a magistrate judge did not review the charges.
“Even if this court were to find the complaint (was) not made before a magistrate … Rittenhouse’s argument would still fail,” he wrote. The warrant signed by Pritzker, he said, “satisfies all the requirements.”
The most serious charge Rittenhouse faces in Wisconsin is first-degree intentional homicide, which carries a life prison sentence. He is also charged with attempted intentional homicide in the wounding of a third protester, as well as a misdemeanor charge of underage firearm possession. His lawyers have argued he was acting in self-defense.
Rittenhouse and the man he allegedly injured are white, as were the two men who were killed.
A day after the shooting, Rittenhouse surrendered to police in his Illinois hometown of Antioch, around 10 miles (16 kilometers) southwest of Kenosha. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, citing an arrest report it went to court to obtain after its public records request was denied, reported Friday that Rittenhouse turned himself in less than two hours after the shooting and told an officer he had “ended a man’s life.”
The report said firefighters were called when Rittenhouse — described as alternating between calm, fits of crying and vomiting — had trouble breathing at one point. The newspaper also said Rittenhouse told police the rifle used in the shooting was in the trunk of a friend’s car.
According to prosecutors and court documents, Rittenhouse killed 36-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum, of Kenosha, after Rosenbaum threw a plastic bag at Rittenhouse, missing him, and tried to wrestle his rifle away.
While trying to get away in the immediate aftermath, Rittenhouse was captured on cellphone video saying, “I just killed somebody.” According to a complaint filed by prosecutors, someone in the crowd said, “Beat him up!” and another yelled, “Get him! Get that dude!”
Video shows that Rittenhouse tripped. As he was on the ground, 26-year-old Anthony Huber, of Silver Lake, hit him with a skateboard and tried to take his rifle. Rittenhouse opened fire, killing Huber and wounding Gaige Grosskreutz, of West Allis, who was holding a handgun.
– – –
Michael Tarm is a reporter for The Associated Press.
About the Headline Photo: Kyle Rittenhouse appears for an extradition hearing in Lake County court Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, in Waukegan, Ill. The 17-year-old is accused of killing two demonstrators in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 25, 2020, two days after a police officer trying to arrest Jacob Blake shot him seven times in the back, paralyzing him from the waist down. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, Pool)


thetennesseestar--2020-11-01--Rep. Steve Cohen and Democrats Accuse White House Press Secretary of Violating Hatch Act

Representative Steve Cohen ( D-TN ) and other Democrats have accused White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany of violating the HATCH Act .
Cohen retweeted an article from The New York Times that accused McEnany of breaking the law .
“ Kayleigh McEnany ’ s violations of the # HatchAct would be a scandal in any other administration , ” wrote Cohen .
“ Grifters and miscreants .
Utterly appalling .
# CultureOfCorruption ” The Hatch Act delineates the authorized and prohibited political activity for federal employees .
However , the law allows employees to “ take an active part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” as long as they aren ’ t using their official authority or influence .
It also allows employees to express their political opinions .
Formally titled the “ Hatch Act of 1939 , An Act to Prevent Pernicious Political Activities , ” the law passed after President Franklin D. Roosevelt allegedly pressured federal employees into working on his allies ’ campaigns .
If an individual were to violate the Hatch Act , they may be subject to removal from their position , demotion , suspension , or a fine up to $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Trump 2020 senior campaign adviser ” on Fox News as Election Day nears – not via her role as press secretary .
Under this capacity , McEnany has advocated for President Trump and discussed the controversy surrounding Democratic candidate Joe Biden ’ s dealings in Ukraine and China .
The Times pointed out one appearance in which McEnany came onto Fox as both a press secretary and senior campaign adviser .
In that appearance , McEnany responded to questions about Biden ’ s promise to ban fracking and expand the Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Otherwise , the article asserted that McEnany and the Trump administration were “ blurring the lines between government and political activity.
” Most recently , McEnany appeared as a campaign adviser on Fox to discuss Trump ’ s operation that rescued an American hostage in Nigeria .
McEnany also emphasized how the Biden campaign trail has targeted historically blue states like Minnesota in the last weeks leading up to the election .
In the Times article , White House spokesperson Sarah Matthews stated that McEnany appeared “ in her personal capacity as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basis .
Cohen hasn ’ t yet stated if he will file a Hatch Act complaint against McEnany .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .

Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN) and other Democrats have accused White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany of violating the HATCH Act. Cohen retweeted an article from The New York Times that accused McEnany of breaking the law.
“Kayleigh McEnany’s violations of the #HatchAct would be a scandal in any other administration,” wrote Cohen. “Grifters and miscreants. Utterly appalling. #CultureOfCorruption”
The Hatch Act delineates the authorized and prohibited political activity for federal employees. However, the law allows employees to “take an active part in political management or in political campaigns” as long as they aren’t using their official authority or influence. It also allows employees to express their political opinions.
Kayleigh McEnany’s violations of the #HatchAct would be a scandal in any other administration. Grifters and miscreants. Utterly appalling. #CultureOfCorruption https://t.co/2NsZrzRq2v — Steve Cohen (@RepCohen) October 29, 2020
Formally titled the “Hatch Act of 1939, An Act to Prevent Pernicious Political Activities,” the law passed after President Franklin D. Roosevelt allegedly pressured federal employees into working on his allies’ campaigns.
If an individual were to violate the Hatch Act, they may be subject to removal from their position, demotion, suspension, or a fine up to $1,000.
McEnany has appeared as a “Trump 2020 senior campaign adviser” on Fox News as Election Day nears – not via her role as press secretary. Under this capacity, McEnany has advocated for President Trump and discussed the controversy surrounding Democratic candidate Joe Biden’s dealings in Ukraine and China.
The Times pointed out one appearance in which McEnany came onto Fox as both a press secretary and senior campaign adviser. In that appearance, McEnany responded to questions about Biden’s promise to ban fracking and expand the Supreme Court, as well as COVID-19 recovery efforts.
Otherwise, the article asserted that McEnany and the Trump administration were “blurring the lines between government and political activity.”
Most recently, McEnany appeared as a campaign adviser on Fox to discuss Trump’s operation that rescued an American hostage in Nigeria. McEnany also emphasized how the Biden campaign trail has targeted historically blue states like Minnesota in the last weeks leading up to the election.
In the Times article, White House spokesperson Sarah Matthews stated that McEnany appeared “in her personal capacity as a private citizen” on a voluntary basis.
Cohen hasn’t yet stated if he will file a Hatch Act complaint against McEnany.
– – –
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].


thetennesseestar--2020-11-01--Congressional Candidate Leon Benjamin: It’s Pastor Time

Leon Benjamin is the senior pastor of New Life Harvest Church , former Richmond GOP Party Chairman , and a candidate for Virginia ’ s fourth Congressional district .
In an interview at the Chesterfield GOTV rally last Sunday , he told The Virginia Star how being a pastor prepared him for politics .
“ I ’ ve been pastor for 18 years and I ’ ve served in that capacity , ” Benjamin said .
“ My purpose is always the same thing , my purpose is Christ , but my calling is whatever He wants me to do.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the confidence was always there , but God had to prepare me , ” Benjamin said .
“ I believe first and foremost [ in ] dealing with things like integrity , being honest , truthful .
We [ pastors ] don ’ t always get it right , but we have to admit when it ’ s not right , let ’ s fix it.
” Benjamin said , “ Pastoring also gives the heart for people .
Please don ’ t get into this job if you don ’ t like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even looking to really hear what ’ s going on , so good listening.
” “ Benjamin said , “ Sometimes , you can ’ t say anything until you ’ ve rightfully listened to what the person is actually saying .
So I want to be able to serve the constituents of the fourth Congressional district that same way , because people don ’ t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
” “ As I served in the pulpit , I ’ m serving in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a calling , it ’ s not just a job , it ’ s a calling , ” Benjamin said .
Benjamin said his opponent incumbent Donald McEachin ( D-Richmond ) has not had the same mindset .
“ He ’ s not been accessible , he ’ s not been there for the people , and he ’ s not been around.
” “ Throughout this whole race I ’ ve been sensing that we need to be able to let the people know that you do have a voice in Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You ’ re not going to be forgotten.
” “ I think politics and religion should have never been looked upon as being separate you know , separation of church and state .
That ’ s not what the letters of Thomas Jefferson were about .
They were about not making a one-religion government only , one state religion , ” Benjamin said .
“ You know people have the freedom to worship wherever they want to worship , but please don ’ t deny my freedoms to worship who I want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because I want to worship Jesus Christ.
” Benjamin continued , “ So , I think pastors really need to start looking again at what they are really saying when they say we shouldn ’ t get involved in politics .
Your whole church is set up like government.
” “ The word government is in the Bible , ” Benjamin said .
“ So it ’ s not something we should look upon as being [ separate ] but something that is joined.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

Leon Benjamin is the senior pastor of New Life Harvest Church, former Richmond GOP Party Chairman, and a candidate for Virginia’s fourth Congressional district. In an interview at the Chesterfield GOTV rally last Sunday, he told The Virginia Star how being a pastor prepared him for politics.
“I’ve been pastor for 18 years and I’ve served in that capacity,” Benjamin said. “My purpose is always the same thing, my purpose is Christ, but my calling is whatever He wants me to do.”
“I’m not saying the confidence was always there, but God had to prepare me,” Benjamin said.
“I believe first and foremost [in] dealing with things like integrity, being honest, truthful. We [pastors] don’t always get it right, but we have to admit when it’s not right, let’s fix it.” Benjamin said, “Pastoring also gives the heart for people. Please don’t get into this job if you don’t like people. It’s about sometimes even looking to really hear what’s going on, so good listening.”
“Benjamin said, “Sometimes, you can’t say anything until you’ve rightfully listened to what the person is actually saying. So I want to be able to serve the constituents of the fourth Congressional district that same way, because people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
“As I served in the pulpit, I’m serving in the House of Representatives. It’s a calling, it’s not just a job, it’s a calling,” Benjamin said.
Benjamin said his opponent incumbent Donald McEachin (D-Richmond) has not had the same mindset. “He’s not been accessible, he’s not been there for the people, and he’s not been around.”
“Throughout this whole race I’ve been sensing that we need to be able to let the people know that you do have a voice in Washington D.C.,” Benjamin said. “You’re not going to be forgotten.”
Benjamin said pastors shouldn’t avoid politics.
“I think politics and religion should have never been looked upon as being separate you know, separation of church and state. That’s not what the letters of Thomas Jefferson were about. They were about not making a one-religion government only, one state religion,” Benjamin said.
“You know people have the freedom to worship wherever they want to worship, but please don’t deny my freedoms to worship who I want to worship. Don’t penalize me because I want to worship Jesus Christ.”
Benjamin continued, “So, I think pastors really need to start looking again at what they are really saying when they say we shouldn’t get involved in politics. Your whole church is set up like government.”
“The word government is in the Bible,” Benjamin said. “So it’s not something we should look upon as being [separate] but something that is joined.”
– – –
Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-11-01--Walmart Returns Guns and Ammunition to U.S. Store Displays

NEW YORK , New York ( AP ) — Walmart has reversed course , announcing it is returning ammunition and firearms to their displays in its U.S. stores .
On Thursday the nation ’ s largest retailer said it had removed the items from displays due to “ civil unrest ” in some areas of the country .
Guns and ammunition , however , had remained for sale at the stores , just not visible to shoppers .
But on Friday Walmart said the items had been restored to displays because the unrest has remained isolated .
The moves come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and an overnight curfew in Philadelphia after police fatally shot a Black man with a history of mental health problems .
“ After civil unrest earlier this week resulted in damage to several of our stores , consistent with actions we took over the summer , we asked stores to move firearms and ammunition from the sales floor to a secure location in the back of the store in an abundance of caution , “ Walmart said in a statement .
“ As the current incidents have remained geographically isolated , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these products to the sales floor today.
” The retailer based in Bentonville , Arkansas , sells firearms in about half of its 4,700 stores .
Anne D ’ Innocenzio is a reporter for The Associated Press .
Photo “ Walmart ” by Walmart Corporate .
CC BY 2.0 .

by Anne D’Innocenzio
NEW YORK, New York (AP) — Walmart has reversed course, announcing it is returning ammunition and firearms to their displays in its U.S. stores.
On Thursday the nation’s largest retailer said it had removed the items from displays due to “civil unrest” in some areas of the country. Guns and ammunition, however, had remained for sale at the stores, just not visible to shoppers.
But on Friday Walmart said the items had been restored to displays because the unrest has remained isolated.
The moves come after several days of protests, vandalism, and an overnight curfew in Philadelphia after police fatally shot a Black man with a history of mental health problems.
“After civil unrest earlier this week resulted in damage to several of our stores, consistent with actions we took over the summer, we asked stores to move firearms and ammunition from the sales floor to a secure location in the back of the store in an abundance of caution, “ Walmart said in a statement. “As the current incidents have remained geographically isolated, we have made the decision to begin returning these products to the sales floor today.”
The retailer based in Bentonville, Arkansas, sells firearms in about half of its 4,700 stores.
– – –
Anne D’Innocenzio is a reporter for The Associated Press.
Photo “Walmart” by Walmart Corporate. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-01--Commentary: A Biden Court-Packing Plan Could Be Worse Than FDR’s

Still fighting off the tail-end of the Great Depression , Americans gave President Franklin Delano Roosevelt a landslide victory over Republican challenger Alf Landon in 1936 .
Roosevelt , keen to see his New Deal legislation brought to fruition , was frustrated again and again by the Supreme Court .
The “ Four Horsemen ” – the press ’ s name for conservative justices Pierce Butler , James Clark McReynolds , George Sutherland , and Willis Van Devanter – were the main thorn in Roosevelt ’ s side .
Consistently opposed to Roosevelt ’ s progressive agenda , these justices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Industrial Recovery Act in A.L.A .
Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States , a minimum wage law in Morehead v. New York , and the Federal Farm Bankruptcy Act and several other pieces of legislation in United States v. Butler .
It was time to take a different course of action .
Roosevelt proposed the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937 , ironically based on a proposal made by Justice McReynolds in his time as Attorney General .
The legislation would have allowed Roosevelt to appoint one new justice for every justice on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years and six months , up to six justices in total .
Taking to the airwaves , Roosevelt made his court-packing plan the center of his March fireside chat , but he failed to sell the violation of the judiciary ’ s independence either to the American public or to politicians in his own party .
Pollster George Gallup conducted 18 polls on the proposal over roughly four months , as the American public talked of little else .
Support for the plan peaked at 46 percent .
Meanwhile in the Democrat-controlled Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up for months , before finally adversely reporting the legislation back to the full Senate , calling the plan “ a needless , futile and utterly dangerous abandonment of constitutional principle … without precedent or justification.
” In 1937 six justices were over the age of 70 ½ specified by Roosevelt ’ s plan , so if it had passed he would have been able to expand the court to 15 justices , ramming through the New Deal via a slate of policy-minded jurists keen to deliver Roosevelt ’ s desired result .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a favorable 9-6 decision on many cases .
This court-packing plan was tailored for the circumstances of 1937 , especially regarding the gerontological condition of the court .
Blatant as it was at the time , it would not be of as much help to a hypothetical President Joe Biden in 2021 .
Under the Roosevelt rules , Biden would be able to appoint three justices , one each in response to the ages of Clarence Thomas , Stephen Breyer , and Samuel Alito .
This would result in a 12-seat Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative wings .
The next opportunity Biden would have to add an additional seat would not happen until Christmas Day 2024 , when Sonia Sotomayor would pass the age threshold .
At this point Breyer could already be an 86-year-old retiree , resulting in a 6-5 conservative majority .
A Democratic presidential victory in 2024 would have to be a done deal as well , as there would be less than a month left until inauguration day 2025 .
Waiting to appoint another justice until Sotomayor reached six months past her 70th birthday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate in 2024 , something which has been a tenuous proposition this century .
A Biden led court-packing plan would have to be a far more brazen power grab than anything FDR ever proposed in order to be effective .
Yet his party stands ready and willing to enable an incoming Democratic president to add seats at will .
Anders Koskinen is an Editorial Associate at Intellectual Takeout .
He earned his BA from the University of Minnesota in December 2016 where he graduated with a double major in Journalism and Political Science @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .

by Anders Koskinen
Still fighting off the tail-end of the Great Depression, Americans gave President Franklin Delano Roosevelt a landslide victory over Republican challenger Alf Landon in 1936. Roosevelt, keen to see his New Deal legislation brought to fruition, was frustrated again and again by the Supreme Court.
The “Four Horsemen” – the press’s name for conservative justices Pierce Butler, James Clark McReynolds, George Sutherland, and Willis Van Devanter – were the main thorn in Roosevelt’s side. Consistently opposed to Roosevelt’s progressive agenda, these justices banded together to strike down the National Industrial Recovery Act in A.L.A. Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States, a minimum wage law in Morehead v. New York, and the Federal Farm Bankruptcy Act and several other pieces of legislation in United States v. Butler.
It was time to take a different course of action.
Roosevelt proposed the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937, ironically based on a proposal made by Justice McReynolds in his time as Attorney General. The legislation would have allowed Roosevelt to appoint one new justice for every justice on the court who was older than 70 years and six months, up to six justices in total.
Taking to the airwaves, Roosevelt made his court-packing plan the center of his March fireside chat, but he failed to sell the violation of the judiciary’s independence either to the American public or to politicians in his own party. Pollster George Gallup conducted 18 polls on the proposal over roughly four months, as the American public talked of little else. Support for the plan peaked at 46 percent.
Meanwhile in the Democrat-controlled Senate, the Judiciary Committee held the bill up for months, before finally adversely reporting the legislation back to the full Senate, calling the plan “a needless, futile and utterly dangerous abandonment of constitutional principle … without precedent or justification.”
In 1937 six justices were over the age of 70 ½ specified by Roosevelt’s plan, so if it had passed he would have been able to expand the court to 15 justices, ramming through the New Deal via a slate of policy-minded jurists keen to deliver Roosevelt’s desired result. Roosevelt likely would have ended up with a favorable 9-6 decision on many cases.
This court-packing plan was tailored for the circumstances of 1937, especially regarding the gerontological condition of the court. Blatant as it was at the time, it would not be of as much help to a hypothetical President Joe Biden in 2021.
Under the Roosevelt rules, Biden would be able to appoint three justices, one each in response to the ages of Clarence Thomas, Stephen Breyer, and Samuel Alito. This would result in a 12-seat Supreme Court deadlocked at 6-6 between the liberal and conservative wings. The next opportunity Biden would have to add an additional seat would not happen until Christmas Day 2024, when Sonia Sotomayor would pass the age threshold. At this point Breyer could already be an 86-year-old retiree, resulting in a 6-5 conservative majority. A Democratic presidential victory in 2024 would have to be a done deal as well, as there would be less than a month left until inauguration day 2025.
Waiting to appoint another justice until Sotomayor reached six months past her 70th birthday would also require Democratic control of the Senate in 2024, something which has been a tenuous proposition this century.
A Biden led court-packing plan would have to be a far more brazen power grab than anything FDR ever proposed in order to be effective. Yet his party stands ready and willing to enable an incoming Democratic president to add seats at will.
– – –
Anders Koskinen is an Editorial Associate at Intellectual Takeout. He earned his BA from the University of Minnesota in December 2016 where he graduated with a double major in Journalism and Political Science.
Photo “Joe Biden” by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-01--Governor Northam to Sign Bill Giving Earned Sentence Credits to Violent Offenders and Sexual Predato

Governor Northam to Sign Bill Giving Earned Sentence Credits to Violent Offenders and Sexual Predators

Governor Ralph Northam will sign a bill granting earned sentence credits to violent offenders and sexual predators .
Certain inmates will be eligible to reduce their sentencing by up to fifty percent .
The bill , House Bill ( HB ) 5148 , includes those sentenced for certain classifications of murder , rape , robbery , abduction , kidnapping , lynching , terrorism , domestic assault , strangulation , genital mutilation , child pornography , and stalking .
These credits are awarded using a “ four-level classification system ” within programs administered by the Virginia Department of Corrections Director .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” law mandated felons to serve at least 85 percent of their time .
This law was a response to previous issues with inmates serving as little as a fifth of their sentence .
The government reported historically low crime rates after truth-in-sentencing took effect .
Prisoners may not apply sentence credits to time preceding parole eligibility .
HB 5148 is a partisan effort : all seventeen House patrons and three Senate patrons are Democrats .
In an interview with The Virginia Star , Delegate Joe Morrissey ( D-Richmond ) stated that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go further .
“ Earned sentence credits are a good thing .
It incentivizes people to do well while they ’ re in prison , take advantage of the programs , earn an education , and stay out of trouble .
When they do , they get out to become productive and purposeful .
The problem with these bills is that they don ’ t go far enough .
They have a carve-out for all these crimes .
It should be a blanket-earned sentence credit.
” One of the bill ’ s patrons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told The Star that she agreed with Morrissey ’ s assessment .
Boysko also noted that the Virginia Code isn ’ t organized well , which is why certain crimes that appear to match or surpass the severity of crimes eligible for sentencing credits aren ’ t included in the bill .
“ When the initial bill was put forth for earned sentencing credits , there were no exclusions in it .
Unfortunately , my colleagues didn ’ t all see it in the same way .
They had concerns .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ code , it lumps different groups of sentences in categories , and so [ legislators ] would come to me and say , ‘ I ’ m not going to vote for your bill unless it has this category of crimes in it.
’ In the best world , we would go through the criminal code and clean it up so it makes logical sense .
[ My colleagues ] said , ‘ This group of offenses , I want them out.
’ And so , some things got caught up that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve liked to have seen them in the final version [ of the bill ] .
” Additionally , Boysko explained that there were only a few types of crimes she would ’ ve excluded from sentencing credits .
“ My intention would ’ ve been to exclude intentionally violent crimes and sex crimes against children and rape , if we were going to get them excluded.
” The bill also directed the Department of Corrections to create a work group to study the legislation ’ s impact , and to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which prisoners could earn sentence credits .
Northam recommended minor edits to the bill , only striking a law concerning individuals who die from a mob attempting to lynch another person .
Northam also extended the work group study deadline by another year .
Virginia Beach attorney Tim Anderson told The Star that he acknowledged that different criminals have different recidivism rates , but he stated that the bill included those that shouldn ’ t receive sentencing credits .
“ I ’ m all about trying to release non-violent offenders and getting them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in society that need to be kept away from the general public .
I don ’ t subscribe to that philosophy that we should have blanket sentencing credits.
” Anderson also emphasized the risk this bill imposes on true justice for victims and their families , as well as public safety .
“ It shouldn ’ t matter if you got a good grade in prison – it should matter how much of a threat you present to society .
If I had a daughter and she was raped , and then her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I found out he got a sentencing credit because he became a barber in prison ?
I would be very upset about that.
” In a statement issued to The Star , Fraternal Order of Police President John Ohmberger stated that prosecution and sentencing officials would better serve to remark on the bill , and expressed hope that those granting credits to prisoners will use good judgment .
Boysko expressed a hope that further education on the data concerning earned sentencing credits will broaden the system in the future .
Corinne Murdock is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .

Governor Ralph Northam will sign a bill granting earned sentence credits to violent offenders and sexual predators. Certain inmates will be eligible to reduce their sentencing by up to fifty percent.
The bill, House Bill (HB) 5148, includes those sentenced for certain classifications of murder, rape, robbery, abduction, kidnapping, lynching, terrorism, domestic assault, strangulation, genital mutilation, child pornography, and stalking.
These credits are awarded using a “four-level classification system” within programs administered by the Virginia Department of Corrections Director.
Prior to this bill, “truth-in-sentencing” law mandated felons to serve at least 85 percent of their time. This law was a response to previous issues with inmates serving as little as a fifth of their sentence. The government reported historically low crime rates after truth-in-sentencing took effect.
Prisoners may not apply sentence credits to time preceding parole eligibility.
HB 5148 is a partisan effort: all seventeen House patrons and three Senate patrons are Democrats.
In an interview with The Virginia Star, Delegate Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond) stated that he’d hoped for the bill to go further.
“Earned sentence credits are a good thing. It incentivizes people to do well while they’re in prison, take advantage of the programs, earn an education, and stay out of trouble. When they do, they get out to become productive and purposeful. The problem with these bills is that they don’t go far enough. They have a carve-out for all these crimes. It should be a blanket-earned sentence credit.”
One of the bill’s patrons, Delegate Jennifer Boysko (D-Herndon) told The Star that she agreed with Morrissey’s assessment. Boysko also noted that the Virginia Code isn’t organized well, which is why certain crimes that appear to match or surpass the severity of crimes eligible for sentencing credits aren’t included in the bill.
“When the initial bill was put forth for earned sentencing credits, there were no exclusions in it. Unfortunately, my colleagues didn’t all see it in the same way. They had concerns. If you’ve ever looked at the criminal code, it lumps different groups of sentences in categories, and so [legislators] would come to me and say, ‘I’m not going to vote for your bill unless it has this category of crimes in it.’ In the best world, we would go through the criminal code and clean it up so it makes logical sense. [My colleagues] said, ‘This group of offenses, I want them out.’ And so, some things got caught up that I’m regretful for, and would’ve liked to have seen them in the final version [of the bill].”
Additionally, Boysko explained that there were only a few types of crimes she would’ve excluded from sentencing credits.
“My intention would’ve been to exclude intentionally violent crimes and sex crimes against children and rape, if we were going to get them excluded.”
The bill also directed the Department of Corrections to create a work group to study the legislation’s impact, and to ensure that every correctional facility had programs under which prisoners could earn sentence credits.
Northam recommended minor edits to the bill, only striking a law concerning individuals who die from a mob attempting to lynch another person. Northam also extended the work group study deadline by another year.
Virginia Beach attorney Tim Anderson told The Star that he acknowledged that different criminals have different recidivism rates, but he stated that the bill included those that shouldn’t receive sentencing credits.
“I’m all about trying to release non-violent offenders and getting them out sooner. There are certain people in society that need to be kept away from the general public. I don’t subscribe to that philosophy that we should have blanket sentencing credits.”
Anderson also emphasized the risk this bill imposes on true justice for victims and their families, as well as public safety.
“It shouldn’t matter if you got a good grade in prison – it should matter how much of a threat you present to society. If I had a daughter and she was raped, and then her rapist got ten years, and then I found out he got a sentencing credit because he became a barber in prison? I would be very upset about that.”
In a statement issued to The Star, Fraternal Order of Police President John Ohmberger stated that prosecution and sentencing officials would better serve to remark on the bill, and expressed hope that those granting credits to prisoners will use good judgment.
Boysko expressed a hope that further education on the data concerning earned sentencing credits will broaden the system in the future.
– – –
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].


thetennesseestar--2020-11-01--Biden Calls Trump Supporters ‘Ugly Folks’ at Minnesota Rally

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden referred to a large group of pro-Trump counter protesters as “ ugly folks ” during a rally Friday evening in Falcon Heights , Minnesota .
“ Dr .
Fauci called for a mask mandate last week .
This isn ’ t a political statement like those ugly folks over there beeping the horns , ” said Biden , who has been running on a platform of unifying the country .
He was referring to a crowd of pro-Trump protesters who congregated outside a parking lot at the State Fairgrounds where the event was held .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the State Fairgrounds to protest Biden in response to a call put out by Senate candidate Jason Lewis , who was infuriated with state leaders for pressuring the Trump campaign into limiting attendance to 250 people at the president ’ s Friday night Rochester rally .
The former vice president referenced the counter protesters at various points throughout his speech .
“ These guys are not very polite .
They ’ re like Trump , ” he said .
“ Now look , there ’ s a reason they don ’ t want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president doesn ’ t say anything so they ’ re used to not hearing anything , ” Biden said later in his speech .
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News .
He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform , and reported for The Daily Caller .
Photo “ Joe Biden Minnesota Speech ” by Joe Biden .

by Anthony Gockowski
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden referred to a large group of pro-Trump counter protesters as “ugly folks” during a rally Friday evening in Falcon Heights, Minnesota.
“Dr. Fauci called for a mask mandate last week. This isn’t a political statement like those ugly folks over there beeping the horns,” said Biden, who has been running on a platform of unifying the country.
.@JoeBiden, who frequently references uniting Americans vs dividing them, appears to call @realDonaldTrump supports "ugly folks over there beeping their horns." pic.twitter.com/WcReGGC6gL — Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) October 30, 2020
He was referring to a crowd of pro-Trump protesters who congregated outside a parking lot at the State Fairgrounds where the event was held.
Joe Biden being drowned out by Minnesota Trump supporters right now. pic.twitter.com/gN4Y5Xcohq — Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) October 30, 2020
Roughly 200 Trump supporters showed up at the State Fairgrounds to protest Biden in response to a call put out by Senate candidate Jason Lewis, who was infuriated with state leaders for pressuring the Trump campaign into limiting attendance to 250 people at the president’s Friday night Rochester rally.
Up to nearly 200 Minnesota Trump supporters outside Biden event as more arrive in location in St. Paul pic.twitter.com/cD4YseqeKp — Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) October 30, 2020
The former vice president referenced the counter protesters at various points throughout his speech.
“These guys are not very polite. They’re like Trump,” he said.
“Now look, there’s a reason they don’t want to hear me because they know the president doesn’t say anything so they’re used to not hearing anything,” Biden said later in his speech.
Nearly 150 Minnesota Trump supporters now gathered reciting the pledge of allegiance outside Biden event. pic.twitter.com/8KP4WP38fL — Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) October 30, 2020
– – –
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and reported for The Daily Caller.
Photo “Joe Biden Minnesota Speech” by Joe Biden.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-01--Michigan Fraternity Sued Over Nonbinary, Female Members

An all-male fraternity at the University of Michigan is being sued by its national organization after accepting nonbinary and female members .
ABC News reports the lawsuit , which was filed by Sigma Phi Society on Oct. 20 in the U.S. District Court in Detroit , alleges that the conduct of members at UM ’ s chapter of Sigma Phi has caused “ irreparable harm to the valuable Trademarks , including infringement and dilution thereof , and to National Sigma Phi ’ s image , identity , and goodwill.
” U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise Page Hood heard oral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ease an order that bars Michigan Sigma Phi from using the national fraternity ’ s name and Greek letters .
The Judge said she won ’ t issue a written opinion about the injunction request until next week .
Stephanie Stoneback joined Michigan ’ s Sigma Phi in the fall of 2016 which included five men and four other women at a time when a fraternity member who was male began to identify as a woman and another began to identify as non-binary .
Since then Sigma Phi has accepted dozens of members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are nonbinary , a gender identity that is not strictly male or female , said Stoneback , a graduate who was president in 2017-18 .
“ It did feel sort of like we were pioneering something , ” Stoneback told The Detroit News .
“ But honestly , it really just felt like I was joining a group of friends.
” Sigma Phi Society , the New York-based national organization , said membership decisions in Ann Arbor are harming the group .
“ In a nutshell , defendants want to continue to operate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a Sigma Phi chapter , and use the trademarks — without following the rules .
Respectfully , defendants can not have it both ways , ” the lawsuit states .
Michigan Sigma Phi was struggling to find people to live in the fraternity house when it decided to expand membership , according to ABC News .
“ These are progressive University of Michigan fraternity members , ” said David Nacht , a lawyer for Michigan Sigma Phi .
“ That is not a phrase you hear often .
These are people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inclusion and gender equality .
And we just want to give them a right to do so and have a voice.
” Catherine Smith reports for American Greatness .
Photo “ Sigma Phi Society ” by Alpha of Vermont .

by Catherine Smith
An all-male fraternity at the University of Michigan is being sued by its national organization after accepting nonbinary and female members.
ABC News reports the lawsuit, which was filed by Sigma Phi Society on Oct. 20 in the U.S. District Court in Detroit, alleges that the conduct of members at UM’s chapter of Sigma Phi has caused “irreparable harm to the valuable Trademarks, including infringement and dilution thereof, and to National Sigma Phi’s image, identity, and goodwill.”
U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise Page Hood heard oral arguments from both sides Thursday whether to ease an order that bars Michigan Sigma Phi from using the national fraternity’s name and Greek letters. The Judge said she won’t issue a written opinion about the injunction request until next week.
Stephanie Stoneback joined Michigan’s Sigma Phi in the fall of 2016 which included five men and four other women at a time when a fraternity member who was male began to identify as a woman and another began to identify as non-binary. Since then Sigma Phi has accepted dozens of members who aren’t men or who are nonbinary, a gender identity that is not strictly male or female, said Stoneback, a graduate who was president in 2017-18.
“It did feel sort of like we were pioneering something,” Stoneback told The Detroit News. “But honestly, it really just felt like I was joining a group of friends.”
Sigma Phi Society, the New York-based national organization, said membership decisions in Ann Arbor are harming the group.
“In a nutshell, defendants want to continue to operate as a Sigma Phi chapter, identify as a Sigma Phi chapter, and use the trademarks — without following the rules. Respectfully, defendants cannot have it both ways,” the lawsuit states.
Michigan Sigma Phi was struggling to find people to live in the fraternity house when it decided to expand membership, according to ABC News.
“These are progressive University of Michigan fraternity members,” said David Nacht, a lawyer for Michigan Sigma Phi. “That is not a phrase you hear often. These are people who are standing up for civil rights, inclusion and gender equality. And we just want to give them a right to do so and have a voice.”
– – –
Catherine Smith reports for American Greatness.
Photo “Sigma Phi Society” by Alpha of Vermont.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-01--Ohio Governor Says Guard Will be Ready If Asked on Election Day

Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine did not hesitate when asked if the Ohio National Guard would be used on election day to help keep the peace .
Troops will provide support , although DeWine hopes a need doesn ’ t arise .
Speaking this week at a news conference to announce $ 5 billion of help for businesses across the state during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic , DeWine said guard troops could be used in the same roles as during summer protests in some cities , as support for local law enforcement .
“ The guard will play the role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play , and this is as a backup , ” DeWine said .
However , he said mayors or sheriffs must request the help .
“ I will not hesitate if a mayor or sheriff requests that help , ” DeWine said .
“ We will have that discussion , and then we will deploy the National Guard .
We hope we don ’ t have that situation.
” Speaking later in the week , DeWine said Ohioans should feel confident in going to the polls .
“ We have a long history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free and peaceful elections .
We ’ ve done that for over 200 years , and we ’ ve done exceedingly well , ” DeWine said .
“ Are there people out there who might want to disrupt that ?
Of course there are .
If we need to do things , we will do that .
The National Guard is limited by federal law as to what they can do , particularly around elections .
I think people should have confidence they can go to the polls.
” Because many poll workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not available , some states , like Kentucky , will use non-uniformed guard troops to help at polling locations in a variety of ways .
Ohio , however , reported a record number of poll workers trained as of Thursday .
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said 56,789 Ohioans are trained and prepared to serve as poll workers in the general election , passing his goal of a little more than 55,000 .
That number is 150 % of the minimum needed on election day .
“ Ohioans are stepping up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a pace never seen before , showing the world the civic engagement and can-do sense of public service our state has always exemplified , ” LaRose said .
“ We will continue supporting our counties however we can , while holding the bipartisan board of elections accountable , so that voters who haven ’ t already cast their ballot will have a safe and positive experience at their polling locations next Tuesday.
” While Ohio set a record for poll workers , five counties still lag behind their 150 % goal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pike and Vinton .
An Ohio native , J.D .
Davidson is a veteran journalist with more than 30 years of experience in newspapers in Ohio , Georgia , Alabama and Texas .
He has served as a reporter , editor , managing editor and publisher .
Davidson is a regional editor for The Center Square .
Photo “ Ohio National Guard ” by National Guard CC BY 2.0 .

by J.D. Davidson
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine did not hesitate when asked if the Ohio National Guard would be used on election day to help keep the peace. Troops will provide support, although DeWine hopes a need doesn’t arise.
Speaking this week at a news conference to announce $5 billion of help for businesses across the state during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, DeWine said guard troops could be used in the same roles as during summer protests in some cities, as support for local law enforcement.
“The guard will play the role that the guard should play and does play, and this is as a backup,” DeWine said.
However, he said mayors or sheriffs must request the help.
“I will not hesitate if a mayor or sheriff requests that help,” DeWine said. “We will have that discussion, and then we will deploy the National Guard. We hope we don’t have that situation.”
Speaking later in the week, DeWine said Ohioans should feel confident in going to the polls.
“We have a long history in this country of having fair, free and peaceful elections. We’ve done that for over 200 years, and we’ve done exceedingly well,” DeWine said. “Are there people out there who might want to disrupt that? Of course there are. If we need to do things, we will do that. The National Guard is limited by federal law as to what they can do, particularly around elections. I think people should have confidence they can go to the polls.”
Because many poll workers are at a vulnerable age and are not available, some states, like Kentucky, will use non-uniformed guard troops to help at polling locations in a variety of ways.
Ohio, however, reported a record number of poll workers trained as of Thursday.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said 56,789 Ohioans are trained and prepared to serve as poll workers in the general election, passing his goal of a little more than 55,000. That number is 150% of the minimum needed on election day.
“Ohioans are stepping up to serve as poll workers this election season at a pace never seen before, showing the world the civic engagement and can-do sense of public service our state has always exemplified,” LaRose said. “We will continue supporting our counties however we can, while holding the bipartisan board of elections accountable, so that voters who haven’t already cast their ballot will have a safe and positive experience at their polling locations next Tuesday.”
While Ohio set a record for poll workers, five counties still lag behind their 150% goal, including Ashtabula, Greene, Jackson, Pike and Vinton.
– – –
An Ohio native, J.D. Davidson is a veteran journalist with more than 30 years of experience in newspapers in Ohio, Georgia, Alabama and Texas. He has served as a reporter, editor, managing editor and publisher. Davidson is a regional editor for The Center Square.
Photo “Ohio National Guard” by National Guard CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-01--Sean Perryman: It’s Time For a New Generation of Leaders to Emerge

Virginia Lieutenant Governor candidate Sean Perryman does not want to use the position as a stepping stone or to be just another cog in the political machine .
Instead , he is aiming to lead the Commonwealth by solving key issues currently facing the majority of Virginians .
“ Sometimes people look at lieutenant governor as a role where if you sit quietly and don ’ t offend anyone then you can become governor .
I have no interest in that , ” Perryman said in an interview with The Virginia Star .
“ I am going to be very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ values that we should be championing , and let the chips fall where they may .
I am not going to stifle myself or take a position to further political ambitions , I am going to do what I think is right.
” Perryman , an attorney and president of the Fairfax County NAACP branch , formally announced his Democratic bid for Lt. Gov .
earlier this month , joining a seemingly ever-growing list of candidates on both sides of the aisle .
Even with the duties and responsibilities of the lieutenant governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would make good use of the role and its social platform .
“ I look at the Lt. Gov .
position as one of three statewide elected offices where it doesn ’ t seem like it has a lot of inherent power , but it is a platform where you can stand up for values and the policies that we need to adopt in the Commonwealth to make it better for everyone , ” Perryman said .
Some of the factors that led Perryman into making his bid was the poor handling of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of government , George Floyd ’ s death and seeing some of the people he admired and looked up to pass away like former U.S .
Representatives Elijah Cummings and John Lewis .
Perryman said the platform he will be running on centers around education , equity , economy and the environment .
“ Some of the big ideas I have on education and equity is we need to have an infrastructure project that deals with broadband access .
If you don ’ t have a reliable internet , you can not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remotely , ” Perryman said .
“ You can ’ t have parts of the state that just don ’ t have internet access anymore , it ’ s not sustainable during the pandemic and it won ’ t be sustainable after the pandemic.
” He also mentioned how economic recovery is an issue that will be especially pertinent to Virginia in 2021 and argued legalizing cannabis can not only help solve issues with the economy , but also issues involving equity in the criminal justice system .
Currently working on technology policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adamant the he is not your typical political candidate .
“ I don ’ t want to do politics as usual , I ’ m excited to run for certain values that I [ believe in ] and run for the people on the ground , ” Perryman told The Star .
“ I want to be the person who can unite folks and fight for certain issues when there needs to be a strong advocate for them .
“ I am advocating for values and policies that I think will serve as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m not ashamed of that.
” Despite never holding or being elected to political office , Perryman said he is not concerned that other candidates have served as lawmakers or have more experience working in state-level politics .
Joining Perryman as candidates in the Democratic primary are Del .
Hala Ayala ( D-Prince William ) , Del .
Elizabeth Guzman ( D-Prince William ) , Del .
Sam Rasoul ( D-Roanoke ) , former Democratic Party of Virginia Chairman Paul Goldman and lobbyist Xavier Warren .
According to previous reporting from The Star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Babur Lateef and Norfolk City Council member Andria McClellan are seriously considering bids .
Additionally , Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman is rumored to be considering the race .
“ I would describe myself as a leader who puts themselves out there as someone who is honest , probably to a fault , and also willing to go to the map on the issues that are important to people , ” Perryman said .
“ More than anything , I would say my leadership style is I ’ m someone who is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broker with the public.
” Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Sean Perryman ” by Sean Perryman .
Photo “ Virginia State Capitol ” by Ron Cogswell .
CC BY 2.0 .

Virginia Lieutenant Governor candidate Sean Perryman does not want to use the position as a stepping stone or to be just another cog in the political machine. Instead, he is aiming to lead the Commonwealth by solving key issues currently facing the majority of Virginians.
“Sometimes people look at lieutenant governor as a role where if you sit quietly and don’t offend anyone then you can become governor. I have no interest in that,” Perryman said in an interview with The Virginia Star. “I am going to be very vocal on a set of policies and values that we should be championing, and let the chips fall where they may. I am not going to stifle myself or take a position to further political ambitions, I am going to do what I think is right.”
Perryman, an attorney and president of the Fairfax County NAACP branch, formally announced his Democratic bid for Lt. Gov. earlier this month, joining a seemingly ever-growing list of candidates on both sides of the aisle.
Even with the duties and responsibilities of the lieutenant governor being fairly limited, Perryman believes he would make good use of the role and its social platform.
“I look at the Lt. Gov. position as one of three statewide elected offices where it doesn’t seem like it has a lot of inherent power, but it is a platform where you can stand up for values and the policies that we need to adopt in the Commonwealth to make it better for everyone,” Perryman said.
Some of the factors that led Perryman into making his bid was the poor handling of the coronavirus pandemic at all three levels of government, George Floyd’s death and seeing some of the people he admired and looked up to pass away like former U.S. Representatives Elijah Cummings and John Lewis.
Perryman said the platform he will be running on centers around education, equity, economy and the environment.
“Some of the big ideas I have on education and equity is we need to have an infrastructure project that deals with broadband access. If you don’t have a reliable internet, you cannot be educated and you can’t work remotely,” Perryman said. “You can’t have parts of the state that just don’t have internet access anymore, it’s not sustainable during the pandemic and it won’t be sustainable after the pandemic.”
He also mentioned how economic recovery is an issue that will be especially pertinent to Virginia in 2021 and argued legalizing cannabis can not only help solve issues with the economy, but also issues involving equity in the criminal justice system.
Currently working on technology policy at the Internet Association, Perryman is adamant the he is not your typical political candidate.
“I don’t want to do politics as usual, I’m excited to run for certain values that I [believe in] and run for the people on the ground,” Perryman told The Star. “I want to be the person who can unite folks and fight for certain issues when there needs to be a strong advocate for them.
“I am advocating for values and policies that I think will serve as many Virginians as possible and I’m not ashamed of that.”
Despite never holding or being elected to political office, Perryman said he is not concerned that other candidates have served as lawmakers or have more experience working in state-level politics.
Joining Perryman as candidates in the Democratic primary are Del. Hala Ayala (D-Prince William), Del. Elizabeth Guzman (D-Prince William), Del. Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke), former Democratic Party of Virginia Chairman Paul Goldman and lobbyist Xavier Warren.
According to previous reporting from The Star, Prince William County School Board Chair Babur Lateef and Norfolk City Council member Andria McClellan are seriously considering bids.
Republican candidates include: Del. Glenn Davis (R-Virginia Beach), former Del. Tim Hugo, lobbyist Puneet Ahluwalia and veteran Lance Allen (R).
Additionally, Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman is rumored to be considering the race.
“I would describe myself as a leader who puts themselves out there as someone who is honest, probably to a fault, and also willing to go to the map on the issues that are important to people,” Perryman said. “More than anything, I would say my leadership style is I’m someone who is going to take responsibility and be an honest broker with the public.”
– – –
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Follow Jacob on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Sean Perryman” by Sean Perryman. Photo “Virginia State Capitol” by Ron Cogswell. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-01--Governor Lee Extends State of Emergency Through End of Year

Governor Bill Lee has officially extended the state of emergency for the remainder of 2020 .
The executive order followed Lee ’ s own quarantine due to exposure from the coronavirus .
The extension of the order means that Tennessee will receive further federal funding , mayors can continue to implement their own guidelines , and government officials can continue to meet virtually .
Additionally , the governor commended the county mayors that have or will implement mask mandates .
“ Due to the surge in cases , a number of county mayors , many in the last several days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ Many are considering it , we ’ ve had a lot of conversations with those mayors .
As of now , about 62 percent of our population is under a mask requirement.
” Tennessee hospital spokesperson , Dr. Wendy Long , stated that hospitalizations are increasing at an “ alarming rate ” across the state .
Long attributed the case rate and hospitalization reduction that occurred earlier this summer to Tennesseans that “ buckled down and masked up.
” Long warned that the flu cases compounded with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ hospital ] capacity issues.
” As such , the doctor recommended that individuals wear a mask , social distance , and receive a flu shot .
Lee added that the state will continue its pop-up testing facilities into election week .
Two federal programs covering pandemic unemployment assistance and pandemic emergency unemployment compensation will continue until December 26 .
However , the government ’ s team encouraged individuals to return to work .
Tennessee ’ s vaccine plan is still in its drafting stages .
Certain classes of citizens will receive the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elderly , first responders , and prison systems .
The Tennessee Department of Health ( TDH ) announced Friday that the state ’ s national electronic disease surveillance system will be down on the weekend prior to Election Day .
The system shutdown will hinder COVID-19 case data updates , but won ’ t prevent individuals from receiving their test results .
Spokespersons for the governor didn ’ t respond to inquiries regarding the future possibility of implementing a statewide mask mandate .
Tennessee ’ s state of emergency is scheduled to expire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Bill Lee ” by Bill Lee .

Governor Bill Lee has officially extended the state of emergency for the remainder of 2020.
The executive order followed Lee’s own quarantine due to exposure from the coronavirus. The extension of the order means that Tennessee will receive further federal funding, mayors can continue to implement their own guidelines, and government officials can continue to meet virtually.
Additionally, the governor commended the county mayors that have or will implement mask mandates.
“Due to the surge in cases, a number of county mayors, many in the last several days have implemented mask requirements in their communities,” he said. “Many are considering it, we’ve had a lot of conversations with those mayors. As of now, about 62 percent of our population is under a mask requirement.”
Tennessee hospital spokesperson, Dr. Wendy Long, stated that hospitalizations are increasing at an “alarming rate” across the state. Long attributed the case rate and hospitalization reduction that occurred earlier this summer to Tennesseans that “buckled down and masked up.”
Long warned that the flu cases compounded with COVID-19 cases would lead to “statewide [hospital] capacity issues.” As such, the doctor recommended that individuals wear a mask, social distance, and receive a flu shot.
Lee added that the state will continue its pop-up testing facilities into election week. Two federal programs covering pandemic unemployment assistance and pandemic emergency unemployment compensation will continue until December 26. However, the government’s team encouraged individuals to return to work.
Tennessee’s vaccine plan is still in its drafting stages. Certain classes of citizens will receive the first rounds of vaccinations, including the elderly, first responders, and prison systems.
The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) announced Friday that the state’s national electronic disease surveillance system will be down on the weekend prior to Election Day. The system shutdown will hinder COVID-19 case data updates, but won’t prevent individuals from receiving their test results.
Spokespersons for the governor didn’t respond to inquiries regarding the future possibility of implementing a statewide mask mandate.
Tennessee’s state of emergency is scheduled to expire December 29.
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Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Bill Lee” by Bill Lee.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-01--The Prize for the Ukrainian Prosecutor Who Settled Burisma Case Was a Meeting with the Clinton Campa

The Prize for the Ukrainian Prosecutor Who Settled Burisma Case Was a Meeting with the Clinton Campaign

A few months after Joe Biden forced the firing of Ukraine 's chief prosecutor , his son 's company Burisma Holdings courted the replacement with a promise to bring him to Washington to meet with Hillary Clinton 's campaign in the final weeks of the 2016 election , newly released State Department memos reveal .
Burisma 's effort to woo — through its Democrat-tied U.S. lobbying firm — newly installed Ukraine Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko raised concerns at the highest levels of the U.S. embassy in Kiev , where officials tried to talk the prosecutor out of the trip given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the gas company .
`` Lutsenko now likely not to go to DC with Blue Star , '' senior State official George Kent wrote then-Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch in September 2016 after talking with Lutsenko about the bad optics of the trip .
`` He got the drift , '' Kent added .
`` Not ideal timing , little receptive audience and wrong facilitator .
He said he 'd figure out a better time when there would be more traction/better audience . ''
Kent 's discussion was one of many inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behavior and efforts to use U.S. Democratic contacts to make its corruption probe in Ukraine go away created concern for U.S. officials .
Kent recently testified to Senate investigators he believed Joe Biden created the appearance of a conflict of interest by continuing to oversee U.S. anti-corruption policy — including firing Lutsenko 's predecessor Viktor Shokin — while his son Hunter 's Ukrainian employer remained under corruption investigation .
Kent twice reported to his superiors alleged efforts by Burisma to make bribes to Ukrainian officials , and he and other officials routinely chronicled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lobbying firm Blue Star Strategies to pressure U.S. and Ukrainian officials to drop corruption investigations of the gas firm .
Burisma has always denied wrongdoing .
Kent 's and Yovanovitch 's concerns about the effort to lobby Lutsenko grew to alarm when in December 2016 — just a few weeks before Joe Biden and Barack Obama left office — the Ukrainian prosecutors announced they settled the cases against Burisma for a modest tax penalty , the memos show .
`` The Burisma tale of getting a court to shut down a PGO investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same mechanism — rich connected businessman politician seeks to use the court/judge of unknown reputation to close an investigation of a business with a dodgy reputation , '' a deflated Kent wrote Yovanovitch on Jan. 13 , 2017 , one week before President Trump took office .
Officials for Blue Star , Lutsenko and Burisma did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
The newly released memos , provided to Just the News on Friday under a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed with the Southeastern Legal Foundation , provided extraordinary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden in March 2016 prompted the firing of his predecessor as Ukraine 's chief prosecutor in the middle of the Burisma probe .
Biden has admitted he got Shokin fired in March 2016 by threatening to withhold $ 1 billion in U.S.-backed loans to prosecutors but insisted it had nothing to do with Burisma and was warranted because Shokin was considered ineffective .
Shokin claims he was fired because he would n't drop the case against Burisma and had made plans to summon Hunter Biden as a witness .
Whatever the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ window for Burisma and its American lawyers to try to get the corruption probe settled .
The memos show State officials began to get word of Blue Star 's efforts to bring Lutsenko to Washington for his first major meeting with American officials in August 2016 and then jumped into motion to try to head off what they viewed as embarrassing optics .
Kent reported to Yovanovitch the results of his conversations with Lutsenko on Sept. 3 , 2016 , expressing confidence Lutsenko would turn down Blue Star 's offer to meet with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We talked through options of trip planning for his notional Aug 25 dash 27 visit .
He confirmed he had been pitched by blue star , not sought them out .
He said he honestly did n't know how blue star was to get paid- he did n't have funds , '' Kent wrote .
`` Blue Star CEO Tramontano 's pitch was that she could gain him access to high levels of the Clinton campaign ( GPK note : she was Podesta 's deputy as deputy COS the last year of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kent reported that Lutsenko had found the offer `` appeals — to meet the possible next Presidential Chief of Staff .
But I pointed out that was n't too likely 6 weeks before the election . ''
In an interview with Senate investigators , Tramontano admitted having two contacts with Lutsenko starting in June 2016 concerning efforts to settle the case .
She was not , however , asked about Lutsenko 's trip to Washington .
`` It was to state that the cases had been pending for a long time , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Lutsenko as the new prosecutor general , what plans he had regarding these cases , '' she explained .

A few months after Joe Biden forced the firing of Ukraine's chief prosecutor, his son's company Burisma Holdings courted the replacement with a promise to bring him to Washington to meet with Hillary Clinton's campaign in the final weeks of the 2016 election, newly released State Department memos reveal.
Burisma's effort to woo — through its Democrat-tied U.S. lobbying firm — newly installed Ukraine Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko raised concerns at the highest levels of the U.S. embassy in Kiev, where officials tried to talk the prosecutor out of the trip given the fact he was overseeing a probe of the gas company.
"Lutsenko now likely not to go to DC with Blue Star," senior State official George Kent wrote then-Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch in September 2016 after talking with Lutsenko about the bad optics of the trip.
"He got the drift," Kent added. "Not ideal timing, little receptive audience and wrong facilitator. He said he'd figure out a better time when there would be more traction/better audience."
Kent's discussion was one of many inside the State Department, where Burisma's behavior and efforts to use U.S. Democratic contacts to make its corruption probe in Ukraine go away created concern for U.S. officials.
Kent recently testified to Senate investigators he believed Joe Biden created the appearance of a conflict of interest by continuing to oversee U.S. anti-corruption policy — including firing Lutsenko's predecessor Viktor Shokin — while his son Hunter's Ukrainian employer remained under corruption investigation.
Kent twice reported to his superiors alleged efforts by Burisma to make bribes to Ukrainian officials, and he and other officials routinely chronicled efforts by Burisma and its high-powered Democrat lobbying firm Blue Star Strategies to pressure U.S. and Ukrainian officials to drop corruption investigations of the gas firm. Burisma has always denied wrongdoing.
Kent's and Yovanovitch's concerns about the effort to lobby Lutsenko grew to alarm when in December 2016 — just a few weeks before Joe Biden and Barack Obama left office — the Ukrainian prosecutors announced they settled the cases against Burisma for a modest tax penalty, the memos show.
"The Burisma tale of getting a court to shut down a PGO investigation noted below would amount to nearly the same mechanism — rich connected businessman politician seeks to use the court/judge of unknown reputation to close an investigation of a business with a dodgy reputation," a deflated Kent wrote Yovanovitch on Jan. 13, 2017, one week before President Trump took office.
Officials for Blue Star, Lutsenko and Burisma did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The newly released memos, provided to Just the News on Friday under a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed with the Southeastern Legal Foundation, provided extraordinary detail on how Lutsenko got courted after Joe Biden in March 2016 prompted the firing of his predecessor as Ukraine's chief prosecutor in the middle of the Burisma probe.
Biden has admitted he got Shokin fired in March 2016 by threatening to withhold $1 billion in U.S.-backed loans to prosecutors but insisted it had nothing to do with Burisma and was warranted because Shokin was considered ineffective. Shokin claims he was fired because he wouldn't drop the case against Burisma and had made plans to summon Hunter Biden as a witness.
Whatever the case, Shokin's firing opened a new window for Burisma and its American lawyers to try to get the corruption probe settled.
The memos show State officials began to get word of Blue Star's efforts to bring Lutsenko to Washington for his first major meeting with American officials in August 2016 and then jumped into motion to try to head off what they viewed as embarrassing optics.
Kent reported to Yovanovitch the results of his conversations with Lutsenko on Sept. 3, 2016, expressing confidence Lutsenko would turn down Blue Star's offer to meet with then Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta.
"We talked through options of trip planning for his notional Aug 25 dash 27 visit. He confirmed he had been pitched by blue star, not sought them out. He said he honestly didn't know how blue star was to get paid- he didn't have funds," Kent wrote.
"Blue Star CEO Tramontano's pitch was that she could gain him access to high levels of the Clinton campaign (GPK note: she was Podesta's deputy as deputy COS the last year of Bill Clinton's tenure)."
Kent reported that Lutsenko had found the offer "appeals — to meet the possible next Presidential Chief of Staff. But I pointed out that wasn't too likely 6 weeks before the election."
In an interview with Senate investigators, Tramontano admitted having two contacts with Lutsenko starting in June 2016 concerning efforts to settle the case. She was not, however, asked about Lutsenko's trip to Washington.
"It was to state that the cases had been pending for a long time, that it would be good to know what Mr. Lutsenko as the new prosecutor general, what plans he had regarding these cases," she explained.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-31--Commentary: Is China Funding the Phony Joe Biden Campaign?

Joe Biden is running a profoundly phony campaign .
Hillary ’ s defeat is famously blamed on her low-energy decision to not show up in the Rust Belt .
But Biden isn ’ t showing up anywhere .
No candidate since George Washington has campaigned so little and with so few live supporters .
Joe Biden is no George Washington .
How can Biden be a contender when he gets 30 supporters at his rallies and Trump attracts 30,000 ?
Biden attracted 130 cars to hear him in must-win Pennsylvania .
In Miami , Latinos for Trump organized a 30,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rare joint appearance , Joe Biden and Kamala Harris went to Phoenix .
Biden needs Arizona to win .
Zero supporters turned out to greet them .
Zero .
Video of the eerie empty scene was carried on a local news station only .
The Biden campaign says they did not let the public know about the visit to avoid large crowds .
More oddities : The Democrats are not mounting a ground game .
No volunteers knocking on doors .
Very little effort to register new voters , either .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test for an honest campaign .
The answer , as usual in politics , is to follow the money .
President Obama never came close to the money supporting Biden ’ s campaign .
Democrat leadership doesn ’ t care who their figurehead candidate is because Democrats have enough dark money to buy the election .
They are outspending Republicans in swing states by a large margin .
Money on this scale has never been seen before in American politics .
Christian Adams , of the Public Interest Legal Foundation ( PILF ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defeat Democratic election fraud .
In a phone interview this week , Adams called it a “ tsunami of dark money.
” Adams told me , “ The Democrats have hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of millions of new dollars that never existed before…well in excess of a billion dollars…it is an avalanche of money .
Hundreds of millions are being given to local election officials.
” Hundreds of millions of dollars to local election officials in Kenosha , Madison , Milwaukee , Detroit , and Philadelphia .
Adams added “ [ Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ litigating to break down election rules .
Where is it coming from ?
New money that has never been there ?
Is there really that much excess money in American philanthropy ?
Suddenly we conjure up a billion dollars that never existed before ?
” ActBlue has raised $ 3.5 billion in the last 10 months .
ActBlue ’ s $ 3.5 billion is on top of the Democrats ’ big donors .
It doesn ’ t include the half a billion or more from Democrats ’ 50billionaire backers .
It doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion Open Society Foundation 2020 budget .
It doesn ’ t include Facebook ’ s Mark Zuckerberg ’ s legally questionable privatization of our election process by spending $ 400 million for unmonitored ballot boxes in Democratic districts only ( an invitation to illegal ballot harvesting ) .
Where does that $ 3.5 billion in ActBlue money to defeat Trump and buy Congress come from ?
No one knows .
But we have some educated guesses .
We do know the Democrats are lying about where they are getting this cash .
Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in small donations from unemployed people .
ActBlue claims almost 50 percent of its donors are unemployed .
The Democrat National Committee claims 40 percent of its donors are unemployed .
The Biden campaign claims 51 percent of its donors are unemployed .
Compare this to the Trump campaign : 3 percent unemployed .
The Republican Party ’ s online WinRed : 4 percent .
How many unemployed people are there in America during the period in question ?
4 percent .
It seems the Democrats ’ numbers are fake .
Democrats also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s $ 3.5 billion came from donations above $ 200 .
This also defies the laws of physics in terms of normal fundraising .
Could ActBlue ’ s unemployed donors with billions of dollars to give actually be fake names ?
Is this a scam to hide billions in dark money from a large donor or donors , including bad state actors ?
Answer : easily .
Phill Kline , head of Gotfreedom.org , wrote about ActBlues ’ shady shenanigans for Real Clear Politics : Under ActBlue ’ s set up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buy gift cards in bulk to hide the identity of the source of the money .
It isn ’ t even hard .
John Pudner and his team at Take Back Action have found that ActBlue has more than 10.9 million “ express ” donors who contribute repeatedly .
According to ActBlue itself , these express donors account for 40 percent of the money they raise .
The Take Back Action team downloaded and number crunched the 380 million ActBlue transactions .
In one single day , ActBlue moved $ 26 million into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donations attributed to names that have never shown up as a donor to anything else before .
Pudner says bluntly , “ ActBlue ’ s system , which fails to use standard banking verification , could allow for a single donor to make unlimited small contributions using stolen identities.
” He warns , “ ActBlue provides an easy process to funnel illegal money , including potentially foreign dollars , to liberal causes and candidates.
” Equally illegal : ActBlue lumps together charitable and political donations , providing another route for secret large political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blind eye , has not investigated .
In the last election , Russia is said to have spent $ 200,000 on their crude disinformation campaign on Facebook .
After four years of President Trump in action , how much do you think China would give to get rid of Trump and put Biden in power ?
Does anyone doubt that the Democratic Party – if they thought they could get away with it – would accept Chinese money ?
One thing is certain : ActBlue has been able to inject $ 3.5 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Karin McQuillan served in the Peace Corps in West Africa , was a clinical social worker and psychotherapist , and is now a writer and regular contributor to American Thinker and American Greatness .
Photo “ Joe Biden Campaigning ” by Gage Skidmore CC2.0 and “ Xi Jinping ” by the US Department of State .

Live from Music Row Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio for another edition of Crom’s Crommentary.
CROM CARMICHAEL:
Michael, yesterday, the Supreme Court heard a very, very important case, Texas versus Biden. And the Wall Street Journal wrote a very interesting article about that case. It appeared on Monday. So it was before the case was heard. There was a law passed in 1996 and Biden voted for the law. The law says that migrants who are, ‘Not clearly and beyond doubt, (not reasonable doubt, beyond doubt,) entitled to be admitted shall be detained.’ It goes on to say that the law also says that DHS can parole individual migrants on a case by case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.
That’s what the law that was passed in 1996 says. According to some reports I read this morning about the hearing yesterday, the case by case part of the 1996 law is what some justices may try to hang their hat on to allow Biden to eliminate or rescind Trump’s Remain in Mexico policy on the basis that we only can detain 34,000 illegal immigrants at the same time. That’s all we can detain. And so Trump said we can’t follow the law, so we’re going to make them stay in Mexico.
Now, the left says, well, you can’t make them stay in Mexico because Mexico won’t necessarily agree to that. Well, they already have. Under Trump they did agree to it and they did do it. So it’s not a function of whether or not Mexico can and will do it because they did do it under pressure, but they did do it. This is going to be a very interesting decision that will come down from the courts to see whether or not the courts believe that the law itself has written is what the administration should adhere to. I think that decision will come out very quickly. I don’t think it’ll be months. I think it will be weeks, and maybe even days before that decision comes out.
Listen to the Crommentary:
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Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510. Listen online at iHeart Radio.