thetennesseestar--2020-12-05--Georgia Secretary of State’s General Counsel Confirms During State Senate Hearing that Dominion Voti

Georgia Secretary of State’s General Counsel Confirms During State Senate Hearing that Dominion Voting Machines Were Updated Before the Election

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger ’ s General Counsel Ryan Germany confirmed during the Georgia State Senate hearing that the state ’ s voting machines received a system update before the election .
Germany shared that the updates had occurred weeks prior to Election Day .
He said , “ Number one question I need to ask is that I understand that in one of the precincts that represents my district that on the day before the election there were updates being done to the machines because of the senate race with 24 candidates , the machine was having problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true statement ?
” At first , Germany responded that there hadn ’ t been updates .
The senator pressed for further clarification .
“ I understand there were people coming in with USB drives to update machines the day before the election.
” At that point , Germany admitted that they ’ d updated the machines prior to the election .
“ We did update the machines to handle how that senate race appeared , ” Germany said .
“ It was based on something that was found when counties did logic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have a really robust logic and accuracy testing to make sure before the election the machines work like they ’ re supposed to .
They found something that was – Dominion says – was kind of a ‘ one in a million ’ thing that they found it so our election directors , the fact that they found it is just to their credit.
” However , Germany asserted that the updates didn ’ t take place the night before the election .
He explained that they took place at some unspecified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We put in a fix for that to make sure that it didn ’ t happen , ” he said .
“ It was not the day before the election it was a couple weeks , at least – or maybe – I can get you the exact date .
But no , nothing would ’ ve been changed the night before the election.
” Prior to the hearing , Dominion denied that any “ unauthorized ” or “ last-minute ” updates to their systems occurred .
Software updates to electronic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – however , the decision to do so lies with the secretary of state .
“ Any modification to the hardware , firmware , or software of a voting system which has completed Qualification , Certification , or Acceptance testing in accordance with these Rules shall invalidate the State certification unless it can be shown that the modification does not affect the overall flow of program control or the manner in which the ballots are recorded and the vote data are processed , and the modification falls into one of the following classifications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The Secretary of State shall be the sole judge of whether or not a modification requires additional testing.
” Classifications of exempt modifications to machines include “ correcting a defect ” or enabling interaction with other equipment or databases , with documentation provided to verify that the update only impacted the defect or interactions .
It is likely that the updates in question were those that were found to be problematic in court .
The judge ’ s issued order and opinion noted the significant , real concerns raised by evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the debunked testimonies of Pro V & V Laboratory Director Jack Cobb and Dominion Director of Product Strategy and Security Dr. Eric Coomer .
Raffensperger has used Pro V & V to certify Dominion systems since last year , and relied on them to conduct the post-election audit of the Dominion machines .
Cobb admitted in his testimonies that he hadn ’ t done any of the security testing referenced in his affidavits .
“ [ A ] t the injunction hearing , Mr. Cobb conceded that he accepted such representations [ from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face value rather than on any testing that he had actually done , ” wrote the judge .
“ Mr .
Cobb ’ s first affidavit discloses that Pro V & V did not itself conduct any form of penetration or security testing of the [ Dominion software ] specifically to be used in Georgia ( certified by Dominion in August 2019 ) but relied on another company ’ s security testing of earlier versions of the Dominion Democracy Suite software.
” The judge added that the court discovered through evidence that malware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Germany attested that hash values confirmed the vote results during Pro V & V ’ s audit of the machines .
However , the judge determined that the relief sought by the plaintiffs – to conduct the election with hand-marked paper ballots only – would require too much of the Secretary of State ’ s office with less than a month before the election .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” by Lance Fisher CC BY-SA 2.0 .

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s General Counsel Ryan Germany confirmed during the Georgia State Senate hearing that the state’s voting machines received a system update before the election. Germany shared that the updates had occurred weeks prior to Election Day.
Vice Chairman Senator Marty Harbin (R-GA-Tyrone) asked Germany whether Dominion’s voting machines were updated.
He said, “Number one question I need to ask is that I understand that in one of the precincts that represents my district that on the day before the election there were updates being done to the machines because of the senate race with 24 candidates, the machine was having problems in printing that – is that a true statement?”
At first, Germany responded that there hadn’t been updates. The senator pressed for further clarification.
“I understand there were people coming in with USB drives to update machines the day before the election.”
At that point, Germany admitted that they’d updated the machines prior to the election.
“We did update the machines to handle how that senate race appeared,” Germany said. “It was based on something that was found when counties did logic and accuracy testing. So in Georgia we have a really robust logic and accuracy testing to make sure before the election the machines work like they’re supposed to. They found something that was – Dominion says – was kind of a ‘one in a million’ thing that they found it so our election directors, the fact that they found it is just to their credit.”
However, Germany asserted that the updates didn’t take place the night before the election. He explained that they took place at some unspecified point in the weeks preceding the election.
“We put in a fix for that to make sure that it didn’t happen,” he said. “It was not the day before the election it was a couple weeks, at least – or maybe – I can get you the exact date. But no, nothing would’ve been changed the night before the election.”
Prior to the hearing, Dominion denied that any “unauthorized” or “last-minute” updates to their systems occurred.
Software updates to electronic voting systems require re-certification prior to use – however, the decision to do so lies with the secretary of state.
“Any modification to the hardware, firmware, or software of a voting system which has completed Qualification, Certification, or Acceptance testing in accordance with these Rules shall invalidate the State certification unless it can be shown that the modification does not affect the overall flow of program control or the manner in which the ballots are recorded and the vote data are processed, and the modification falls into one of the following classifications listed below,” the company said. “The Secretary of State shall be the sole judge of whether or not a modification requires additional testing.”
Classifications of exempt modifications to machines include “correcting a defect” or enabling interaction with other equipment or databases, with documentation provided to verify that the update only impacted the defect or interactions.
It is likely that the updates in question were those that were found to be problematic in court. The judge’s issued order and opinion noted the significant, real concerns raised by evidence brought before the court.
Issues included the debunked testimonies of Pro V&V Laboratory Director Jack Cobb and Dominion Director of Product Strategy and Security Dr. Eric Coomer. Raffensperger has used Pro V&V to certify Dominion systems since last year, and relied on them to conduct the post-election audit of the Dominion machines.
Cobb admitted in his testimonies that he hadn’t done any of the security testing referenced in his affidavits.
“[A]t the injunction hearing, Mr. Cobb conceded that he accepted such representations [from Dominion’s own documentation] on face value rather than on any testing that he had actually done,” wrote the judge. “Mr. Cobb’s first affidavit discloses that Pro V&V did not itself conduct any form of penetration or security testing of the [Dominion software] specifically to be used in Georgia (certified by Dominion in August 2019) but relied on another company’s security testing of earlier versions of the Dominion Democracy Suite software.”
The judge added that the court discovered through evidence that malware could defeat or disable hash values. Germany attested that hash values confirmed the vote results during Pro V&V’s audit of the machines.
However, the judge determined that the relief sought by the plaintiffs – to conduct the election with hand-marked paper ballots only – would require too much of the Secretary of State’s office with less than a month before the election.
– – –
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Ballot Machine” by Lance Fisher CC BY-SA 2.0.
Editor’s note: Eric Coomer filed a defamation lawsuit in December 2020 against several defendants, including Sidney Powell, in which his attorneys stated that any allegations claiming that he, a Dominion Voting Systems employee, made statements that “Trump is not going to win,” are false and defamatory.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-05--Georgia Sen. Brandon Beach Calls for Criminal Investigation into Alleged Vote Fraud, Video

Live from Georgia Friday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed Georgia Senator Brandon Beach to the show to discuss what he saw on the State Farm Arena video take place in the middle of the election night as suitcases were pulled from underneath an unmarked black table @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fredericks : Let ’ s get to Senator Brandon Beach from Cherokee County .
Republican at the hearing yesterday .
Beach is one of the ringleaders and putting this together .
They got a press release coming out today .
Senator Beach , thank you for being with us , and thank you for what you did yesterday .
I thought you were fantastic sir .
Beach : Well , thank you , John .
Thank you for being there and thank you for all you ’ re doing to bring light to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the video was very telling .
It was very disturbing to watch .
I think we all just couldn ’ t believe what we were watching with that State Farm Arena video with you know votes being counted in the middle of the night by three or four people .
Suitcases coming from underneath the table that just appeared .
It was very troubling to watch that .
Fredericks : How did you feel when you saw that Senator Beach ?
Beach : Well , I mean , I felt like my vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like my vote was compromised .
I felt like my vote was diluted .
I felt like my vote didn ’ t matter .
When I stood in line and showed my ID and voted , you know , as I tell that story of that lady that called me .
She stood in line for two and a half hours in that Florida Library .
She showed her valid driver ’ s license and photo ID .
She signed her name , it matched the signature and the data unit system the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ card .
She voted .
She felt good .
She got her sticker .
She went home and felt so good about voting .
Now she finds you get an absentee ballot without a photo ID .
You don ’ t have to have your signature match the database system , the ENOS system and she just feels like her vote again compromised , diluted , and didn ’ t matter and she ’ s disenfranchised .
And I hope she goes back to the polls in January because she is she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now feeling like there were two different sets of rules .
One for absentee ballots and then one for showing a photo ID and having a signature match in the database .
And that ’ s what we ’ ve got to fix .
Fredericks : Senator , we ’ re going to get to that in a second .
But seeing that video are you convinced now that there was voter fraud or shenanigans going on ?
Beach : I am totally convinced that there were some shenanigans going on and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ admitted there was fraud .
He works for the secretary of state ’ s office , but he didn ’ t know the extent .
I think this proves the extent .
And when that expert witness said you could do 3,000 ballots an hour and they were in there for two two and a half hours that means they could do 15,000 to 18,000 ballots that they processed .
And I think the key to it is we need to call on Vic Reynolds or the head of GBI to start investigating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the State Farm Arena .
They can be identified .
They need to be interviewed deposed .
And we need to get to the bottom of it .
And then we also need to see if we can get the timestamp data on how many ballots were run between 10:30 p.m. and 1:00 o ’ clock a.m. on those three scanners that were in State Farm Arena .
That data should be available .
Fredericks : And this was basically the time after those in charge of the State Farm Arena threw out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poll watchers .
threw everybody out .
said go home .
We ’ re going to start counting again at eight .
go get some sleep .
get something to eat .
turned out the lights .
Shut the windows .
Closed the blinds .
Facebook just put out a disclaimer about that video saying that the video is not proven .
That the video is false .
And that it ’ s been debunked .
Facebook just put that out .
How has it been debunked ?
What was false about it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tell you that was not a video from the Republican party .
It was not a video from the secretary of state ’ s office .
It was a video from State Farm Arena .
It was their video .
So we were able to obtain that and that ’ s their video .
That was nobody else .
So I don ’ t know how you debunk State Farm Arena ’ s video .
And they have video all the time for concerts and basketball games and such .
And that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at every event .
So I don ’ t know how you would the bunk that .
That video is pretty telling and it ’ s pretty obvious what happened .
Fredericks : Facebook comes out and says with a disclaimer that it ’ s fake .
There were no ballots in the suitcases .
What video did I see ?
they took the suitcases out .
They opened them up .
There were ballots .
They were stuffed with ballots .
Beach : You ’ re not missing anything .
Facebook , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re putting a disclaimer out there like that because it is obvious .
The video is Crystal Clear when you watch it what happened .
And so you ’ re not missing a thing , John .
You ’ re on target .
I think Vic Reynolds and again the GBI needs to look into this .
And one of the things we need to start doing is if there ’ s election fraud we need to start prosecuting these folks .
And I ’ ve been saying also , how are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and registering before December seventh that don ’ t have any intention of really living here .
We need to enforce that too .
You can ’ t just come here and vote in a January fifth run off without consequences .
So we ’ ve got to make sure we have enforcement measures for that .
And that ’ s what we have our GBI for .
Fredericks : You ’ re on the John Fredericks Radio Network Truck ’ n the truth Across America .
We are on our 12 city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Locust Grove today .
Senator Brandon Beach with us via phone one .
He is of the ringleaders and getting this job hearing set up and really a hero in Georgia .
We gave him the nickname # BeachBalls because this isn ’ t easy to do because you had a buck your own party .
Buck your leadership .
And Brandon Beach for Chairman of the North Fulton Chamber of Commerce .
I mean , you know , it ’ s not easy to do but I appreciate your courage on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Beach : I appreciate that .
But I also had some help from that but I also had some help from Burt Jones , Greg Dolezal , and William Ligon .
And William Ligon did a fine job chairing that committee .
And I want you to know William is leaving office .
He didn ’ t have to do this .
His last day is January first , and he could have just said I ’ m not doing it .
But he cares about this state and he cares about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we need to instill in this election process .
And he is a true American , Patriot , and a great Georgian .
We ’ re going to miss him .
He served 10 years .
But I thought he did a heck of a job yesterday .
I thought Rudy Giuliani and Ray Smith laid their cases out .
They had just enough witnesses .
And don ’ t forget they had another hundred affidavits .
They could have called more witnesses .
So and I think that young girl from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Beach : She was very good at explaining what happened to her .
And if that happened to her that happened to a lot of college kids that voted and didn ’ t even know they voted .
Listen to the full show here :

Live from Georgia Friday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond, WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia, WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 (7-9 PM) Hampton Roads, WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed Georgia Senator Brandon Beach to the show to discuss what he saw on the State Farm Arena video take place in the middle of the election night as suitcases were pulled from underneath an unmarked black table after poll watchers were sent home.
Fredericks: Let’s get to Senator Brandon Beach from Cherokee County. Republican at the hearing yesterday. Beach is one of the ringleaders and putting this together. They got a press release coming out today. Senator Beach, thank you for being with us, and thank you for what you did yesterday. I thought you were fantastic sir.
Beach: Well, thank you, John. Thank you for being there and thank you for all you’re doing to bring light to this matter. I tell you that the video was very telling. It was very disturbing to watch. I think we all just couldn’t believe what we were watching with that State Farm Arena video with you know votes being counted in the middle of the night by three or four people. Suitcases coming from underneath the table that just appeared. It was very troubling to watch that.
Fredericks: How did you feel when you saw that Senator Beach?
Beach: Well, I mean, I felt like my vote was I was disenfranchised. I felt like my vote was compromised. I felt like my vote was diluted. I felt like my vote didn’t matter. When I stood in line and showed my ID and voted, you know, as I tell that story of that lady that called me. She stood in line for two and a half hours in that Florida Library. She showed her valid driver’s license and photo ID. She signed her name, it matched the signature and the data unit system the voter registration system. She got her card. She voted. She felt good. She got her sticker. She went home and felt so good about voting.
Now she finds you get an absentee ballot without a photo ID. You don’t have to have your signature match the database system, the ENOS system and she just feels like her vote again compromised, diluted, and didn’t matter and she’s disenfranchised. And I hope she goes back to the polls in January because she is she was not happy standing in line. And now feeling like there were two different sets of rules. One for absentee ballots and then one for showing a photo ID and having a signature match in the database. And that’s what we’ve got to fix.
Fredericks: Senator, we’re going to get to that in a second. But seeing that video are you convinced now that there was voter fraud or shenanigans going on?
Beach: I am totally convinced that there were some shenanigans going on and that there was fraud. Even Gabriel Sterling admitted there was fraud. He works for the secretary of state’s office, but he didn’t know the extent. I think this proves the extent. And when that expert witness said you could do 3,000 ballots an hour and they were in there for two two and a half hours that means they could do 15,000 to 18,000 ballots that they processed.
And I think the key to it is we need to call on Vic Reynolds or the head of GBI to start investigating and interviewing those people that were in the State Farm Arena. They can be identified. They need to be interviewed deposed. And we need to get to the bottom of it. And then we also need to see if we can get the timestamp data on how many ballots were run between 10:30 p.m. and 1:00 o’clock a.m. on those three scanners that were in State Farm Arena. That data should be available.
Fredericks: And this was basically the time after those in charge of the State Farm Arena threw out the Republicans. Threw out the the poll watchers. threw everybody out. said go home. We’re going to start counting again at eight. go get some sleep. get something to eat. turned out the lights. Shut the windows. Closed the blinds. Facebook just put out a disclaimer about that video saying that the video is not proven. That the video is false. And that it’s been debunked. Facebook just put that out. How has it been debunked? What was false about it?
Beach: Well, I can tell you that was not a video from the Republican party. It was not a video from the secretary of state’s office. It was a video from State Farm Arena. It was their video. So we were able to obtain that and that’s their video. That was nobody else. So I don’t know how you debunk State Farm Arena’s video. And they have video all the time for concerts and basketball games and such. And that’s the same video cameras they use at every event. So I don’t know how you would the bunk that. That video is pretty telling and it’s pretty obvious what happened.
Fredericks: Facebook comes out and says with a disclaimer that it’s fake. There were no ballots in the suitcases. What video did I see? they took the suitcases out. They opened them up. There were ballots. They were stuffed with ballots.
Beach: You’re not missing anything. Facebook, I don’t know why they’re putting a disclaimer out there like that because it is obvious. The video is Crystal Clear when you watch it what happened. And so you’re not missing a thing, John. You’re on target. I think Vic Reynolds and again the GBI needs to look into this. And one of the things we need to start doing is if there’s election fraud we need to start prosecuting these folks.
And I’ve been saying also, how are we going to enforce people moving here and registering before December seventh that don’t have any intention of really living here. We need to enforce that too. You can’t just come here and vote in a January fifth run off without consequences. So we’ve got to make sure we have enforcement measures for that. And that’s what we have our GBI for.
Fredericks: You’re on the John Fredericks Radio Network Truck’n the truth Across America. We are on our 12 city and 12 days tour in Georgia in Locust Grove today. Senator Brandon Beach with us via phone one. He is of the ringleaders and getting this job hearing set up and really a hero in Georgia. We gave him the nickname #BeachBalls because this isn’t easy to do because you had a buck your own party. Buck your leadership. And Brandon Beach for Chairman of the North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. I mean, you know, it’s not easy to do but I appreciate your courage on this Beach. And you are a hero.
Beach: I appreciate that. But I also had some help from that but I also had some help from Burt Jones, Greg Dolezal, and William Ligon. And William Ligon did a fine job chairing that committee. And I want you to know William is leaving office. He didn’t have to do this. His last day is January first, and he could have just said I’m not doing it.
But he cares about this state and he cares about the voter integrity and the voter confidence that we need to instill in this election process. And he is a true American, Patriot, and a great Georgian. We’re going to miss him. He served 10 years. But I thought he did a heck of a job yesterday. I thought Rudy Giuliani and Ray Smith laid their cases out. They had just enough witnesses. And don’t forget they had another hundred affidavits. They could have called more witnesses. So and I think that young girl from college…
Fredericks: She was very good.
Beach: She was very good at explaining what happened to her. And if that happened to her that happened to a lot of college kids that voted and didn’t even know they voted.
Listen to the full show here:
– – –
Background Photo “Georgia Vote Counters” by Right Side Broadcasting Network.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-05--Virginia FOIA Advisory Council Recommended Approval to Change Electronic Meetings Laws

The Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council on Wednesday backed legislation that revises state laws on electronic meetings and gives members of public bodies more freedom to participate virtually instead of in-person .
The council recommended approval of the changes to the Virginia General Assembly , where the final decision will happen , by a 10-2 vote .
Specifically , there were two changes within the proposal .
The first change adds language for members of public bodies to attend meetings electronically if they have a family member whose medical condition requires that member to provide care and therefore preventing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the number of times a member can attend meetings virtually because of personal reasons , which has to be specified to the body .
Under current Virginia Law , members can only cite personal reasons for participating electronically two times , but the revision allows for 25 percent of meetings during a calendar year .
The bill would still require a body to have a quorum of members that are physically present .
The cap on virtual meetings only applies to members who are not participating for personal reasons and does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family member with a medical condition .
Proponents of the changes argue that it allows for increased flexibility for members , and especially helps single parents or primary caretakers of children or sick relatives .
Delegate Mark Levine ( D-Arlington ) initially introduced these changes in legislation during the 2020 regular session .
The bill passed the House of Delegates , but was eventually sent to the council for further study .
“ The medical part [ of the bill ] , has to do more with real struggles that some local officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the meeting .
“ The vice mayor of Alexandria had to take care of her mother who was very ill in Florida and a county board member in Arlington actually had a premature child that obviously required her attention.
” Levine also brought up that because public bodies hold vastly different amounts of meetings throughout the year , the two-meeting cap would be difficult for members of bodies that meet much more frequently compared to others .
Councilmember Cullen Seltzer , one of those proponents , said the overall consensus from a past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to participate in more meetings electronically will make public service more accessible to citizens that have a desire to participate .
The majority of the public comments made during consideration of the proposal , many from other elected officials in the Commonwealth , supported the changes .
Opponents believe that expanding electronic meetings will hurt accountability and transparency as well as face-to-face interactions between citizens and members .
“ I think we are again going down a dangerous path by expanding the second part of this – the percentage of meetings – because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes it more difficult when folks are participating remotely for the public to have access to those people , ” Councilmember Bruce Potter said .
Councilmember William Colburn also voiced objections to the changes .
Colburn and Potter were the only councilmembers that voted against recommending approval .
Senator Richard Stuart ( R-King George ) and Councilmember Lee Bujakowski were not present when voting was taking place .
Two outside groups that expressed concerns were the Virginia Coalition for Open Government ( VCOG ) and the Virginia Press Association ( VPA ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said she had been persuaded that more flexibility is needed yet was not willing to fully endorse the changes .
“ I agree that 21st century technology should be used and it should be used to make sure that more and more of the public are able to witness the operations of government by being able to see what ’ s going on , ” Rhyne said .
“ It is not to be used necessarily for the benefit of elected officials to make their difficult jobs more convenient.
” Mark Hickman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group had no objection to the part about assisting a family member with medical conditions , but did not think the two-meeting limit should be adjusted , instead recommending to look at that change in another study .
With the revisions now approved to the General Assembly , state legislators will need to give final approval when the 2021 regular session begins on January 13 .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Fonseca CC2.0

The Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council on Wednesday backed legislation that revises state laws on electronic meetings and gives members of public bodies more freedom to participate virtually instead of in-person.
The council recommended approval of the changes to the Virginia General Assembly, where the final decision will happen, by a 10-2 vote.
Specifically, there were two changes within the proposal. The first change adds language for members of public bodies to attend meetings electronically if they have a family member whose medical condition requires that member to provide care and therefore preventing in-person attendance.
The second change deals with the number of times a member can attend meetings virtually because of personal reasons, which has to be specified to the body. Under current Virginia Law, members can only cite personal reasons for participating electronically two times, but the revision allows for 25 percent of meetings during a calendar year.
The bill would still require a body to have a quorum of members that are physically present. The cap on virtual meetings only applies to members who are not participating for personal reasons and does not count toward when taking care of a family member with a medical condition.
Proponents of the changes argue that it allows for increased flexibility for members, and especially helps single parents or primary caretakers of children or sick relatives.
Delegate Mark Levine (D-Arlington) initially introduced these changes in legislation during the 2020 regular session. The bill passed the House of Delegates, but was eventually sent to the council for further study.
“The medical part [of the bill], has to do more with real struggles that some local officials have had,” Levine said during the meeting. “The vice mayor of Alexandria had to take care of her mother who was very ill in Florida and a county board member in Arlington actually had a premature child that obviously required her attention.”
Levine also brought up that because public bodies hold vastly different amounts of meetings throughout the year, the two-meeting cap would be difficult for members of bodies that meet much more frequently compared to others.
Councilmember Cullen Seltzer, one of those proponents, said the overall consensus from a past subcommittee meeting was that allowing for members to participate in more meetings electronically will make public service more accessible to citizens that have a desire to participate.
The majority of the public comments made during consideration of the proposal, many from other elected officials in the Commonwealth, supported the changes.
Opponents believe that expanding electronic meetings will hurt accountability and transparency as well as face-to-face interactions between citizens and members.
“I think we are again going down a dangerous path by expanding the second part of this – the percentage of meetings – because it doesn’t promote transparency and makes it more difficult when folks are participating remotely for the public to have access to those people,” Councilmember Bruce Potter said.
Councilmember William Colburn also voiced objections to the changes.
Colburn and Potter were the only councilmembers that voted against recommending approval. Senator Richard Stuart (R-King George) and Councilmember Lee Bujakowski were not present when voting was taking place.
Two outside groups that expressed concerns were the Virginia Coalition for Open Government (VCOG) and the Virginia Press Association (VPA).
Megan Rhyne, executive director of VCOG, said she had been persuaded that more flexibility is needed yet was not willing to fully endorse the changes.
“I agree that 21st century technology should be used and it should be used to make sure that more and more of the public are able to witness the operations of government by being able to see what’s going on,” Rhyne said. “It is not to be used necessarily for the benefit of elected officials to make their difficult jobs more convenient.”
Mark Hickman, a VPA lobbyist, said the group had no objection to the part about assisting a family member with medical conditions, but did not think the two-meeting limit should be adjusted, instead recommending to look at that change in another study.
With the revisions now approved to the General Assembly, state legislators will need to give final approval when the 2021 regular session begins on January 13.
– – –
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 “Virginia Capitol” by Mike Fonseca CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-12-06--Pollster: Fraud Prone Drop Boxes Cost Trump and GOP the Election if Biden Wins GA; State Legislature

Pollster: Fraud Prone Drop Boxes Cost Trump and GOP the Election if Biden Wins GA; State Legislature Must Fix This Before Senate Runoffs

Drop-boxes will have cost President Donald Trump the election if Biden wins Georgia , and this points to the state ’ s most important concern for the upcoming Senate runoffs , Pollster John McLaughlin said in an exclusive statement to The Georgia Star News .
McLaughlin is CEO and partner of national survey research and strategic services company McLaughlin & Associates .
The Star News ran a story Saturday , available here , citing a poll McLaughlin conducted .
His company called 800 likely voters at the end of last month .
The methodology was described as a random selection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the November 3 general election.
” A majority of likely voters in January ’ s runoff election want Governor Brian Kemp to call a special session of the Georgia General Assembly for absentee ballot signature verification .
McLaughlin exclusively shared the poll results with The Star News , revealing that the bipartisan voters strongly desire a special legislative session addressing signature verification for every mail-in ballot .
So far , Kemp has refused to call a special legislative session before January 5 .
McLaughlin is also pointing to the state legislature ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a followup , McLaughlin provided this exclusive quote to The Star News : Your reports about the lack of ballot security and potential for fraud due to the drop boxes in Georgia clearly point to the single most important reason for Republicans ’ concern in the upcoming senate runoff .
Since the Georgia Secretary of State can not report how many ballots actually arrived from the US mail vs drop boxes , the results of our poll are the best indicator of the impact of the drop boxes on the Georgia election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivered Joe Biden ’ s current recount margin .
According to our recent Georgia poll , among the 5 million voters , only 20 % of the voters voted in person on Election Day .
President Trump won among those voters 68 % to 30 % .
These Election Day voters were very important to the President ’ s success in Georgia and applying these percentages to the reported vote , they would have given the President a 380 thousand vote advantage over Biden .
However the majority of voters , 54 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before election day .
According to our poll Joe Biden won narrowly among these voters 52 % to 47 % .
Again applying these percentages to the reported vote , Biden would have netted about 127 thousand votes and reduced the President ’ s lead .
The remaining voters , 26 % of the total , voted by mail or drop box .
14 % told us they voted by US mail .
Those who voted by US mail voted for President Trump 50 % to 49 % .
This would have added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s margin .
Those who voted via the Zuckerberg paid drop boxes told us that they voted for Biden 73 % to 27 % .
Among the roughly 5 million votes , according to our poll about 595 thousand votes would have come in via drop box .
According to the poll , Biden would have gotten 432 thousand drop box votes and President Trump 159 thousand .
Therefore , Biden won the drop box vote by 273 thousand votes .
If Biden wins Georgia the fraud prone , unaccountable drop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election .
The legislature needs to fix this ASAP before the January 5 runoff .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .
Photo “ Mail in Ballots ” by Cindy Shebley .
CC BY 2.0 .

Drop-boxes will have cost President Donald Trump the election if Biden wins Georgia, and this points to the state’s most important concern for the upcoming Senate runoffs, Pollster John McLaughlin said in an exclusive statement to The Georgia Star News.
McLaughlin is CEO and partner of national survey research and strategic services company McLaughlin & Associates.
The Star News ran a story Saturday, available here, citing a poll McLaughlin conducted. His company called 800 likely voters at the end of last month. The methodology was described as a random selection “to correlate with actual voter turnout in the November 3 general election.”
A majority of likely voters in January’s runoff election want Governor Brian Kemp to call a special session of the Georgia General Assembly for absentee ballot signature verification. McLaughlin exclusively shared the poll results with The Star News, revealing that the bipartisan voters strongly desire a special legislative session addressing signature verification for every mail-in ballot.
So far, Kemp has refused to call a special legislative session before January 5.
McLaughlin is also pointing to the state legislature’s need to address drop boxes.
In a followup, McLaughlin provided this exclusive quote to The Star News:
Your reports about the lack of ballot security and potential for fraud due to the drop boxes in Georgia clearly point to the single most important reason for Republicans’ concern in the upcoming senate runoff. Since the Georgia Secretary of State cannot report how many ballots actually arrived from the US mail vs drop boxes, the results of our poll are the best indicator of the impact of the drop boxes on the Georgia election and it is clear that drop boxes delivered Joe Biden’s current recount margin. According to our recent Georgia poll, among the 5 million voters, only 20% of the voters voted in person on Election Day. President Trump won among those voters 68% to 30%. These Election Day voters were very important to the President’s success in Georgia and applying these percentages to the reported vote, they would have given the President a 380 thousand vote advantage over Biden. However the majority of voters, 54%, claim they voted early in person before election day. According to our poll Joe Biden won narrowly among these voters 52% to 47%. Again applying these percentages to the reported vote, Biden would have netted about 127 thousand votes and reduced the President’s lead. The remaining voters, 26% of the total, voted by mail or drop box. 14% told us they voted by US mail. Those who voted by US mail voted for President Trump 50% to 49%. This would have added another almost 6 thousand votes to President Trump’s margin. Those who voted via the Zuckerberg paid drop boxes told us that they voted for Biden 73% to 27%. Among the roughly 5 million votes, according to our poll about 595 thousand votes would have come in via drop box. According to the poll, Biden would have gotten 432 thousand drop box votes and President Trump 159 thousand. Therefore, Biden won the drop box vote by 273 thousand votes. If Biden wins Georgia the fraud prone, unaccountable drop boxes cost President Trump and the Republicans the election. The legislature needs to fix this ASAP before the January 5 runoff.
– – –
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.
Photo “Mail in Ballots” by Cindy Shebley. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-06--Commentary: Cleaning Up the Mess of Our Electoral System

For those of us who are sane responsible citizens with some modicum of moral and ethical standards , it is time to admit that our electoral system is a complete and utter mess .
What has transpired since November 3 does not take place in serious , advanced societies .
It ’ s what takes place in countries teetering on the edge of becoming banana republics , in which elections are more an opioid for the masses than they are a means to the end of self-government .
Our elections now seem designed to give people the impression that their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing could be further from the truth .
We should understand that currently the United States is most assuredly outside the norm when it comes to election integrity .
Canada , and for that matter , most of Europe and other developed nations around the world have put measures in place to ensure that their leaders are elected in free and fair elections .
If we are smart and still a self-respecting people , we will take the next four years to do the same .
Most of the countries we should emulate—countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working from the premise that the more complex the voting system is , the easier it is to hack and manipulate .
That is why so many modern nations around the world have outlawed electronic voting machines ( EVMs ) in favor of good , old-fashioned paper ballots .
In 2009 , Germany ’ s Supreme Court ruled that voting through “ EVMs was unconstitutional , holding that transparency is a constitutional right but efficiency is not a constitutionally protected value.
” Germany is not the only country to take such measures : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 90 percent of the world don ’ t use EVMs .
Why ?
Because many agree with the German court : EVMs do not live up to the “ constitutional principle of transparency of elections , which requires that voting machines be safeguarded against potential manipulation or error through procedures that are understandable to the average citizen.
” Which leads us to why Canada only allows paper ballots .
People in the 21st century may scoff at such a quaint notion that we would have a 19th-century approach to our national elections .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ methods of voting make elections very difficult to hack .
Voting in person , on paper ballots , while requiring a voter ID , makes it virtually impossible for widespread fraud to take place .
Guess what else it also does ?
It makes it impossible for dead people to vote .
Seriously .
When was the last time you saw a dead person voting in person ?
But somehow in key states in 2020 , thousands of dead people magically resurrected by that election trumpet sound did their civic duty and voted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adults don ’ t let dead people vote .
We also must examine the foolish idea that universal mail-in voting isn ’ t rife with fraud .
Most of the world has dismissed that delusion which is why it is strictly regulated around the world .
France banned it in 1975 except for under severely limited circumstances .
Why ?
Because authorities discovered , specifically in Corsica , that “ postal ballots were stolen or bought and voters cast multiple votes .
Mail-in ballots were used to cast the votes of dead people.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this : In fact , of the 37 countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ( OECD ) , 47 percent ban mail-in voting unless the individual is living abroad .
Even then , 30 percent of the countries require a photo ID to obtain a ballot .
Though some exceptions have been made this year due to the coronavirus , it still doesn ’ t change the fact that many of these countries have had these rules in place for decades .
In addition to all of these steps , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cleaning of voter rolls in the states .
The only reason dead people and “ ghost voters ” continue to vote by mail is that they ’ re still on the rolls .
Dirty data leads to dirty elections .
Time to clean up the very foundation from which come free , fair , and clean elections .
And while we ’ re at it , it ’ s time to perhaps fudge a bit on the principle of federalism when it comes to federal elections : having all 50 states willy nilly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach federal and national elections doesn ’ t work for me anymore .
If the individual states would like to screw up their own state and local elections , more power to them .
But I ’ m done with letting corrupt morons in one state cancel out the perfectly good legal vote in another .
Congress needs to look at national election standards .
Regardless of the eventual outcome of the 2020 elections , we would be utter fools to let this happen again in 2024 , or even 2022 .
Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by not immediately confronting Marc Elias and Mark Zuckerberg post-2018 and conducting aggressive lawfare against their efforts to enact universal mail-in ballots and “ secure ” ballot drop boxes .
But one bright spot of 2020 is that Republicans gained multiple state legislative bodies and increased their majorities in others which gives us the legislative power to make positive change happen .
While we should have learned all of these lessons about electoral integrity decades ago , the next best time to learn them is now , immediately .
And despite all that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity .
Starting in the first quarter of 2021 , regardless of what the corrupt incompetents at the RNC do—or more likely , don ’ t do—we should begin lawfare to dismantle the electoral systems the Left has put in place .
We should write model legislation for the various states with Republican majorities to enact , among other things , outlawing EVMs , outlawing universal mail-in ballots , and forcing the cleaning of voter rolls .
We only have ourselves to blame for not putting into practice these methods that neighboring developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not look back in four years and realize we compounded our mistakes by doing nothing .
Ned Ryun is a former presidential writer for George W. Bush and the founder and CEO of American Majority .
You can find him on Twitter @ nedryun .
Photo “ Voters ” by Phil Roeder .
CC BY 2.0 .

by Ned Ryun
For those of us who are sane responsible citizens with some modicum of moral and ethical standards, it is time to admit that our electoral system is a complete and utter mess.
What has transpired since November 3 does not take place in serious, advanced societies. It’s what takes place in countries teetering on the edge of becoming banana republics, in which elections are more an opioid for the masses than they are a means to the end of self-government. Our elections now seem designed to give people the impression that their voices and votes matter when in fact nothing could be further from the truth.
We should understand that currently the United States is most assuredly outside the norm when it comes to election integrity. Canada, and for that matter, most of Europe and other developed nations around the world have put measures in place to ensure that their leaders are elected in free and fair elections. If we are smart and still a self-respecting people, we will take the next four years to do the same.
Most of the countries we should emulate—countries like France, Canada, and Germany—begin working from the premise that the more complex the voting system is, the easier it is to hack and manipulate. That is why so many modern nations around the world have outlawed electronic voting machines (EVMs) in favor of good, old-fashioned paper ballots.
In 2009, Germany’s Supreme Court ruled that voting through “EVMs was unconstitutional, holding that transparency is a constitutional right but efficiency is not a constitutionally protected value.” Germany is not the only country to take such measures: the Netherlands, Italy, and about 90 percent of the world don’t use EVMs. Why? Because many agree with the German court: EVMs do not live up to the “constitutional principle of transparency of elections, which requires that voting machines be safeguarded against potential manipulation or error through procedures that are understandable to the average citizen.”
Which leads us to why Canada only allows paper ballots. People in the 21st century may scoff at such a quaint notion that we would have a 19th-century approach to our national elections. Scoff away but guess what: low-tech methods of voting make elections very difficult to hack. Voting in person, on paper ballots, while requiring a voter ID, makes it virtually impossible for widespread fraud to take place.
Guess what else it also does? It makes it impossible for dead people to vote. Seriously. When was the last time you saw a dead person voting in person? But somehow in key states in 2020, thousands of dead people magically resurrected by that election trumpet sound did their civic duty and voted. Sarcasm aside, thoughtful countries of adults don’t let dead people vote.
We also must examine the foolish idea that universal mail-in voting isn’t rife with fraud. Most of the world has dismissed that delusion which is why it is strictly regulated around the world. France banned it in 1975 except for under severely limited circumstances. Why? Because authorities discovered, specifically in Corsica, that “postal ballots were stolen or bought and voters cast multiple votes. Mail-in ballots were used to cast the votes of dead people.”
France is not alone in doing this: In fact, of the 37 countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 47 percent ban mail-in voting unless the individual is living abroad. Even then, 30 percent of the countries require a photo ID to obtain a ballot. Though some exceptions have been made this year due to the coronavirus, it still doesn’t change the fact that many of these countries have had these rules in place for decades.
In addition to all of these steps, we must be serious about enforcing annual cleaning of voter rolls in the states. The only reason dead people and “ghost voters” continue to vote by mail is that they’re still on the rolls. Dirty data leads to dirty elections. Time to clean up the very foundation from which come free, fair, and clean elections.
And while we’re at it, it’s time to perhaps fudge a bit on the principle of federalism when it comes to federal elections: having all 50 states willy nilly deciding how they’re going to approach federal and national elections doesn’t work for me anymore. If the individual states would like to screw up their own state and local elections, more power to them. But I’m done with letting corrupt morons in one state cancel out the perfectly good legal vote in another. Congress needs to look at national election standards.
Regardless of the eventual outcome of the 2020 elections, we would be utter fools to let this happen again in 2024, or even 2022. Republican leadership failed us miserably leading into 2020 by not immediately confronting Marc Elias and Mark Zuckerberg post-2018 and conducting aggressive lawfare against their efforts to enact universal mail-in ballots and “secure” ballot drop boxes. But one bright spot of 2020 is that Republicans gained multiple state legislative bodies and increased their majorities in others which gives us the legislative power to make positive change happen.
While we should have learned all of these lessons about electoral integrity decades ago, the next best time to learn them is now, immediately. And despite all that has happened, we absolutely have an opportunity.
Starting in the first quarter of 2021, regardless of what the corrupt incompetents at the RNC do—or more likely, don’t do—we should begin lawfare to dismantle the electoral systems the Left has put in place. We should write model legislation for the various states with Republican majorities to enact, among other things, outlawing EVMs, outlawing universal mail-in ballots, and forcing the cleaning of voter rolls.
We only have ourselves to blame for not putting into practice these methods that neighboring developed countries have used for years. Let’s not look back in four years and realize we compounded our mistakes by doing nothing.
– – –
Ned Ryun is a former presidential writer for George W. Bush and the founder and CEO of American Majority. You can find him on Twitter @nedryun.
Photo “Voters” by Phil Roeder. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-06--CDC Tells Americans to ‘Stay at Home and Not Travel’ for Christmas

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discouraged Americans from Christmas travel due to the coronavirus pandemic during a telephone press conference Wednesday .
“ We did put out a message to postpone and stay at home [ … ] around Thanksgiving and we ’ re putting out the same message : The best thing for Americans to do in the upcoming holiday season is to stay at home and not travel , ” Dr. Henry Walke , director of the Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections ( DPEI ) in the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that the CDC has guidance concerning travel should people decide to do so , and said that the CDC is “ releasing guidance related to consider testing before and after travel ” on Wednesday .
The CDC ’ s guidance discourages travel to avoid the coronavirus , but recommends testing should someone choose to travel , according to the organization ’ s website .
The CDC encouraged people to weigh “ getting tested ” within certain days before and after traveling .
Dr. Cindy Friedman , chief of the Travelers ’ Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have guidance for families and friends weighing whether to travel during the pandemic , according to the transcript .
“ I think it ’ s a good thing that people have options to prevent infection and they can take time now before the Christmas holidays .
We have several weeks to really think about the safest option for them and their family , which we think is to postpone travel .
And then we ’ ve outlined all the other measures that they can take if they do have to travel , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC guidance urging Americans to avoid traveling during Thanksgiving , a TSA spokesperson said over 1.17 million travelers on Sunday went through airport security checkpoints , the most travelers in a single day since the mid-March .
– – – Mary Rose Corkery is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .

by Mary Rose Corkery
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discouraged Americans from Christmas travel due to the coronavirus pandemic during a telephone press conference Wednesday.
“We did put out a message to postpone and stay at home […] around Thanksgiving and we’re putting out the same message: The best thing for Americans to do in the upcoming holiday season is to stay at home and not travel,” Dr. Henry Walke, director of the Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections (DPEI) in the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, said in the briefing.
Walke said that the CDC has guidance concerning travel should people decide to do so, and said that the CDC is “releasing guidance related to consider testing before and after travel” on Wednesday.
CDC urges Americans not to travel for Christmas amid fears that holiday gatherings could worsen pandemic https://t.co/eAxPpkyVN6 pic.twitter.com/Pbh48OzRCO — The Hill (@thehill) December 2, 2020
The CDC’s guidance discourages travel to avoid the coronavirus, but recommends testing should someone choose to travel, according to the organization’s website. The CDC encouraged people to weigh “getting tested” within certain days before and after traveling.
Dr. Cindy Friedman, chief of the Travelers’ Health Branch at the CDC, said they have guidance for families and friends weighing whether to travel during the pandemic, according to the transcript.
“I think it’s a good thing that people have options to prevent infection and they can take time now before the Christmas holidays. We have several weeks to really think about the safest option for them and their family, which we think is to postpone travel. And then we’ve outlined all the other measures that they can take if they do have to travel,” Friedman said at the briefing.
Despite CDC guidance urging Americans to avoid traveling during Thanksgiving, a TSA spokesperson said over 1.17 million travelers on Sunday went through airport security checkpoints, the most travelers in a single day since the mid-March.
– – –
Mary Rose Corkery is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-06--CBP Program to Collect DNA from Illegal Immigrant Detainees in ‘Full Force’ by the End of the Year

A pilot program to collect DNA samples from individuals in Customs and Border Protection custody will be fully implemented on Dec. 31 , officials announced Thursday .
The pilot program began in January of this year and was given three years to meet the legal requirements to implement national collection , according to CBP .
The program was expanded in monthly phases and is on track to reach nationwide operation capacity by the end of this year .
The samples will be collected from illegal immigrants , U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents between the ages of 14-79 who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Samples will also be collected from illegal immigrants who are being processed for inadmissibility or removal and U.S. citizens with outstanding federal warrants .
The program was created to collect DNA samples from individuals in custody for the Combined DNA Index System , according to Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) .
The agency does not store , use or maintain the samples , which are submitted to the FBI .
“ The Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) , which includes CBP , had been exempt from DNA collection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resource limitations ; however , on March 9 , 2020 , the Department of Justice ( DOJ ) published a final rule that eliminated the DHS discretion to exclude DNA collection , effective April 8 , 2020 , ” CBP said in a press release .
CBP collects DNA samples from people who are arrested , facing or convicted of criminal charges , or illegal immigrants who are detained in compliance with the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005 , according to CBP .
CBP will not collect DNA samples from immigrants .
who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S. , immigrants being considered for admission at a port of entry , or if there is already a profile associated with the individual , according to CBP .
Kaylee Greenlee is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .

by Kaylee Greenlee
A pilot program to collect DNA samples from individuals in Customs and Border Protection custody will be fully implemented on Dec. 31, officials announced Thursday.
The pilot program began in January of this year and was given three years to meet the legal requirements to implement national collection, according to CBP. The program was expanded in monthly phases and is on track to reach nationwide operation capacity by the end of this year.
The samples will be collected from illegal immigrants, U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents between the ages of 14-79 who are facing federal charges, according to CBP. Samples will also be collected from illegal immigrants who are being processed for inadmissibility or removal and U.S. citizens with outstanding federal warrants.
NEW: Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are expected to begin collecting the DNA samples of people arrested across the country later this year, according to two former Department of Homeland Security officials with knowledge of the program.https://t.co/WVSLzjFJeD — Hamed Aleaziz (@Haleaziz) September 18, 2020
The program was created to collect DNA samples from individuals in custody for the Combined DNA Index System, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The agency does not store, use or maintain the samples, which are submitted to the FBI.
“The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which includes CBP, had been exempt from DNA collection since 2010 due to operational exigencies or resource limitations; however, on March 9, 2020, the Department of Justice (DOJ) published a final rule that eliminated the DHS discretion to exclude DNA collection, effective April 8, 2020,” CBP said in a press release.
CBP collects DNA samples from people who are arrested, facing or convicted of criminal charges, or illegal immigrants who are detained in compliance with the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005, according to CBP.
CBP will not collect DNA samples from immigrants. who are being processed or who are legally in the U.S., immigrants being considered for admission at a port of entry, or if there is already a profile associated with the individual, according to CBP.
– – –
Kaylee Greenlee is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-06--Anthony Fauci Among People Magazine’s ‘2020 People of the Year’

Top U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci was named one of People magazine ’ s four “ 2020 People of the Year , ” the magazine announced Wednesday .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the long-time director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ( NIAID ) , received the honor alongside Hollywood stars George Clooney and Regina King , and singer Selena Gomez , according to People .
Fauci has been at the forefront of the U.S. effort to stop the spread of coronavirus throughout the pandemic .
“ Dr .
Anthony Fauci stepped up to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providing steady guidance during the pandemic , ” People magazine wrote .
“ Even though he and his family were getting death threats , he continued to be out front , reassuring us during turbulent times with his devoted public service , unflappable common sense , and life-saving leadership , ” the article continued .
Fauci , who participated in a photo shoot for his “ People of the Year ” feature , condemned “ divisiveness in society ” in an interview with the magazine .
He added that over the course of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the level of hostility that exists in the U.S. now .
“ Even someone who is trying to get people to implement public health measures that will be saving their lives , is met with enough hostility to trigger threats of violence against not only me , but against my family , ” Fauci told People .
Throughout the pandemic , President Donald Trump has publicly butted heads with Fauci .
The president even floated firing the NIAID director before the Nov. 3 election .
“ He ’ s a nice man though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a lot , ” Trump said on Nov. 2 .
“ Do not under any circumstances wear a mask , he said .
Do not close up to China , he said , then he said later on that Trump — President Trump saved tens of thousands of lives because I closed early.
” Clooney received the honor for his work with the Clooney Foundation for Justice , according to People .
The actor donated $ 500,000 to the Equal Justice Initiative following the death of George Floyd , who died in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received the award because of her activism urging people to vote , arguing for greater support in minority communities hit hard by the pandemic and calling for an end to police violence , according to People .
Gomez was honored for her activism against police brutality and for launching a makeup brand that aims to raise $ 100 million for mental health services .
Thomas Catenacci is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .

by Thomas Catenacci
Top U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci was named one of People magazine’s four “2020 People of the Year,” the magazine announced Wednesday.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the long-time director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), received the honor alongside Hollywood stars George Clooney and Regina King, and singer Selena Gomez, according to People. Fauci has been at the forefront of the U.S. effort to stop the spread of coronavirus throughout the pandemic.
“Dr. Anthony Fauci stepped up to be the doctor America needed in 2020, providing steady guidance during the pandemic,” People magazine wrote.
“Even though he and his family were getting death threats, he continued to be out front, reassuring us during turbulent times with his devoted public service, unflappable common sense, and life-saving leadership,” the article continued.
Fauci, who participated in a photo shoot for his “People of the Year” feature, condemned “divisiveness in society” in an interview with the magazine. He added that over the course of his career, he has never seen the level of hostility that exists in the U.S. now.
“Even someone who is trying to get people to implement public health measures that will be saving their lives, is met with enough hostility to trigger threats of violence against not only me, but against my family,” Fauci told People.
Throughout the pandemic, President Donald Trump has publicly butted heads with Fauci. The president even floated firing the NIAID director before the Nov. 3 election.
“He’s a nice man though, but he’s been wrong on a lot,” Trump said on Nov. 2. “Do not under any circumstances wear a mask, he said. Do not close up to China, he said, then he said later on that Trump — President Trump saved tens of thousands of lives because I closed early.”
Clooney received the honor for his work with the Clooney Foundation for Justice, according to People. The actor donated $500,000 to the Equal Justice Initiative following the death of George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis police custody in May.
King received the award because of her activism urging people to vote, arguing for greater support in minority communities hit hard by the pandemic and calling for an end to police violence, according to People. Gomez was honored for her activism against police brutality and for launching a makeup brand that aims to raise $100 million for mental health services.
– – –
Thomas Catenacci is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-06--Socialist Bernie Sanders Wants Georgia Residents to Send Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock to Washingto

Socialist Bernie Sanders Wants Georgia Residents to Send Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock to Washington, D.C.

“ We ’ re all working as hard as we can to make sure that the two Democratic candidates win in Georgia , ” Sanders , a socialist , said on MSNBC .
As reported , U.S. Sen. David Perdue ( R-GA ) and U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) are on the January 5 , 2021 ballot for the U.S. Senate against Ossoff and Warnock , respectively .
“ I welcome his support , ” Ossoff said .
“ Again , look , I think that his advocacy for ensuring that health care is a human right in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is appreciated .
And so is his support.
” “ Socialist Bernie Sanders , AOC , and radical left-wing groups like BLM PAC are all in for Warnock and Ossoff so they can turn America into a socialist country , ” Sigler said .
“ We can not allow that to happen .
We must send David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler back to the Senate to fight for the America we know and love.
” As The Georgia Star News reported last month , members of a left-leaning environmental group said Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the key to them and their political allies in Washington , D.C. enacting the Green New Deal into law .
According to an emailed Sunrise Movement newsletter , members think they can use the Georgia U.S. Senate elections “ to transform this country.
” The newsletter did not identify which of the four primary U.S. Senate candidates would help them achieve their goals .
The Green New Deal , however , is a Democratic Party initiative .
“ Everyone has got Georgia on their minds .
The power to build a Green New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reach .
These races are important to me because I see what Georgia looks like .
For too long , this state has been controlled by people who work with fossil fuel executives and lobbyists—not for the people of Georgia .
But their power is crumbling and Georgia finally has a chance not only to contribute to the growing demand for a fair America and the Green New Deal , but to build political power toward a vision that is so much bigger than our state alone , ” according to the Sunrise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Jon Ossoff ” by Jon Ossoff .
Photo “ Raphael Warnock ” by Raphel Warnock .

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on Saturday endorsed Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock to represent Georgia in the U.S. Senate.
“We’re all working as hard as we can to make sure that the two Democratic candidates win in Georgia,” Sanders, a socialist, said on MSNBC.
“Those two elections will clearly have a profound impact on everybody in our country.”
As reported, U.S. Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) and U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) are on the January 5, 2021 ballot for the U.S. Senate against Ossoff and Warnock, respectively.
On CNN last week, Ossoff embraced Sanders. “I welcome his support,” Ossoff said. “Again, look, I think that his advocacy for ensuring that health care is a human right in this country is welcome, is necessary, is appreciated. And so is his support.”
Georgia Republican Party spokeswoman Abigail Sigler said in a press release that socialism is on the ballot on January 5.
“Socialist Bernie Sanders, AOC, and radical left-wing groups like BLM PAC are all in for Warnock and Ossoff so they can turn America into a socialist country,” Sigler said.
“We cannot allow that to happen. We must send David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler back to the Senate to fight for the America we know and love.”
As The Georgia Star News reported last month, members of a left-leaning environmental group said Georgia’s two U.S. Senate races are the key to them and their political allies in Washington, D.C. enacting the Green New Deal into law.
Members of this group, the Sunrise Movement, announced their intentions late last month.
According to an emailed Sunrise Movement newsletter, members think they can use the Georgia U.S. Senate elections “to transform this country.” The newsletter did not identify which of the four primary U.S. Senate candidates would help them achieve their goals. The Green New Deal, however, is a Democratic Party initiative.
“Everyone has got Georgia on their minds. The power to build a Green New Deal future is in arm’s reach. These races are important to me because I see what Georgia looks like. For too long, this state has been controlled by people who work with fossil fuel executives and lobbyists—not for the people of Georgia. But their power is crumbling and Georgia finally has a chance not only to contribute to the growing demand for a fair America and the Green New Deal, but to build political power toward a vision that is so much bigger than our state alone,” according to the Sunrise Movement’s newsletter.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Jon Ossoff” by Jon Ossoff. Photo “Raphael Warnock” by Raphel Warnock.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-06--Multiple Illegal Immigrants with Previous Deportations and Serious Crime Convictions Found in Texas

Multiple Illegal Immigrants with Previous Deportations and Serious Crime Convictions Found in Texas by CBP

Over 20 illegal immigrants , including some with prior deportations , criminal histories , and gang affiliations , were arrested within a 24-hour period near Laredo , Texas , officials announced Thursday .
The arrests were part of a “ troubling trend ” of agents detaining large groups of illegal immigrants , including finding detainees with significant criminal histories , according to Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) .
Over the past 10 days , three illegal immigrants with prior sexual offense convictions were apprehended , the CBP said .
“ Over the past 10 days , agents in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempting to illegally enter the United States that have prior convictions for sexual offenses and 36 criminal aliens , ” Laredo Sector Chief Patrol Agent Matthew Hudak said , according to CBP .
Jorge Gonzalez-Del Cid , 26 , of El Salvador , was arrested with 13 other illegal immigrants by Hebbronville Sector agents on Dec. 3 , according to CBP .
Gonzalez-Del Cid ’ s records showed that he is an active member of MS-13 who has been previously deported with a prior immigration offense .
Mexican national Artemio Telles-Garcia , 32 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with five other illegal immigrants on Dec. 2 , according to CBP .
Telles-Garcia was convicted of child molestation and sentenced to 15 years probation in May 2016 in Rincon , Georgia .
Telles-Garcia failed to register as a sex offender , so his probation was revoked in February 2017 , according to CBP .
Records indicate he had previously been deported .
“ Border security is national security , and what happens on the border directly impacts public safety at the border and throughout our country , ” Hudak said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Telles-Garcia remain in CBP custody pending transfer to the U.S .
Marshal Service , according to CBP .
Kaylee Greenlee is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .

by Kaylee Greenlee
Over 20 illegal immigrants, including some with prior deportations, criminal histories, and gang affiliations, were arrested within a 24-hour period near Laredo, Texas, officials announced Thursday.
The arrests were part of a “troubling trend” of agents detaining large groups of illegal immigrants, including finding detainees with significant criminal histories, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Over the past 10 days, three illegal immigrants with prior sexual offense convictions were apprehended, the CBP said.
“Over the past 10 days, agents in the Laredo Sector have arrested 3 aliens attempting to illegally enter the United States that have prior convictions for sexual offenses and 36 criminal aliens,” Laredo Sector Chief Patrol Agent Matthew Hudak said, according to CBP.
#USBP Laredo Sector continue to make a large number of significant arrests within 24 hours of each other. more information at https://t.co/TpH2Ufucv8@usbpchieflrt pic.twitter.com/mg7WBQ0eJA — CBP South Texas (@CBPSouthTexas) December 3, 2020
Jorge Gonzalez-Del Cid, 26, of El Salvador, was arrested with 13 other illegal immigrants by Hebbronville Sector agents on Dec. 3, according to CBP. Gonzalez-Del Cid’s records showed that he is an active member of MS-13 who has been previously deported with a prior immigration offense.
Mexican national Artemio Telles-Garcia, 32, was arrested by Laredo Sector agents along with five other illegal immigrants on Dec. 2, according to CBP. Telles-Garcia was convicted of child molestation and sentenced to 15 years probation in May 2016 in Rincon, Georgia.
Telles-Garcia failed to register as a sex offender, so his probation was revoked in February 2017, according to CBP. Records indicate he had previously been deported.
“Border security is national security, and what happens on the border directly impacts public safety at the border and throughout our country,” Hudak said, according to CBP.
Gonzalez-Del Cid and Telles-Garcia remain in CBP custody pending transfer to the U.S. Marshal Service, according to CBP.
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Kaylee Greenlee is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-06--3,800 People Shot This Year in Chicago

3,800 People Shot This Year in Chicago

Gun violence continues in Chicago , with the city seeing a significant uptick in shootings and murders compared to last year .
3,790 people were shot through Nov. 30 , compared to 2,403 in the same time period last year , a 58 % increase , according to a Chicago Police Department report released Tuesday .
Police reported homicides had increased by 54 % , with 716 murders through the end of November , compared to the 464 in 2019 .
Shootings in November increased from 154 last year to 267 , a 73 % increase , and nearly 340 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to police figures .
The report released Tuesday highlights some improvements in 2020 .
Due to the colder weather , the number of shootings and murders in November , while significant , reached a seven-month low .
According to NBC , improvements highlighted in the report include : Officers recovered more than 10,000 illegal guns through the end of November , and made 6,600 gun arrests — which police expect to be a 10-year high .
Overall crime numbers — including murder , robbery , sex assault , theft and burglary — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of November last year .
Reports of theft are down 27 % through November compared to 2019 .
Police said that the “ dramatic reduction remains the primary driver of Chicago ’ s decrease in overall crime.
” Reports of burglary and theft remain at 20-year lows , according to year-to-date statistics .
“ This has been a difficult year for law enforcement throughout the country as COVID-19 and civil unrest have converged to create changed environments in major U.S. cities , ” police Superintendent David Brown said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And yet , our officers continue to work hard every day to make our home a safer place , ” He said police officers faced a nearly 300 % increase in violence directed at themselves .
“ Chicago police officers have been shot at 71 times this year , and 10 officers have been struck by bullets .
In the same period of 2019 , officers were shot at 18 times , with three officers struck by gunfire .
In July , three police officers were shot when a prisoner opened fire at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” NBC reports .

by Catherine Smith
Gun violence continues in Chicago, with the city seeing a significant uptick in shootings and murders compared to last year.
3,790 people were shot through Nov. 30, compared to 2,403 in the same time period last year, a 58% increase, according to a Chicago Police Department report released Tuesday.
Police reported homicides had increased by 54%, with 716 murders through the end of November, compared to the 464 in 2019.
Shootings in November increased from 154 last year to 267, a 73% increase, and nearly 340 people were shot over the month, according to police figures.
The report released Tuesday highlights some improvements in 2020. Due to the colder weather, the number of shootings and murders in November, while significant, reached a seven-month low.
According to NBC, improvements highlighted in the report include:
Officers recovered more than 10,000 illegal guns through the end of November, and made 6,600 gun arrests — which police expect to be a 10-year high.
Overall crime numbers — including murder, robbery, sex assault, theft and burglary — fell 7% in 2020 compared with the end of November last year.
Reports of theft are down 27% through November compared to 2019. Police said that the “dramatic reduction remains the primary driver of Chicago’s decrease in overall crime.”
Reports of burglary and theft remain at 20-year lows, according to year-to-date statistics.
“This has been a difficult year for law enforcement throughout the country as COVID-19 and civil unrest have converged to create changed environments in major U.S. cities,” police Superintendent David Brown said in a statement. “Chicago is no exception. And yet, our officers continue to work hard every day to make our home a safer place,”
He said police officers faced a nearly 300% increase in violence directed at themselves.
“Chicago police officers have been shot at 71 times this year, and 10 officers have been struck by bullets. In the same period of 2019, officers were shot at 18 times, with three officers struck by gunfire. In July, three police officers were shot when a prisoner opened fire at a police station on the Northwest Side,” NBC reports.
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Catherine Smith reports for American Greatness.
Photo “Police Tape” by Tony Webster. CC BY-SA 4.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-06--Vice President Pence Urges Support for Senators Perdue, Loeffler During Savannah Rally

Following Vice President Mike Pence ’ s Defend the Majority rally Friday in Savannah , the Georgia Republican Party released a video highlighting his unwavering support for U.S. Sens .
David Perdue ( R-GA ) and Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) .
The Georgia GOP tweeted , “ NEW VIDEO @ Mike_Pence : ‘ Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are wrong for Georgia and wrong for America.
’ ” “ The road to the Senate Republican Majority runs right through the state of Georgia , ” Vice President Pence said .
“ We need Senator David Perdue and Senator Kelly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election have never been higher .
Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock ’ s agenda is of higher taxes , open borders , socialized medicine , a Green New Deal , defunding the police and packing the courts .
Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are wrong for Georgia and wrong for America.
” Pence also tweeted , “ We ’ re going to keep fighting until every LEGAL vote is counted .
We ’ re going to keep fighting until every illegal vote is thrown out .
And we will never stop fighting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s visit came a day before President Donald Trump was to travel to Georgia to show his support for the two senators , The Georgia Star News reported .
His administration has made it a point to rally voters to the two senators for the runoff despite pledges by some to boycott over discontent with election fraud .
The January 5 runoff election will determine control of the U.S. Senate .
Perdue is running against Democrat Jon Ossoff .
Loeffler is running against Democrat Raphael Warnock .
Pence also said , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ to Ossoff and Warnock and ‘ Yes ’ to Senator David Perdue and Senator Kelly Loeffler on January 5.
” People who do not want to vote by mail may vote in person starting December 14 , Pence said .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .

Following Vice President Mike Pence’s Defend the Majority rally Friday in Savannah, the Georgia Republican Party released a video highlighting his unwavering support for U.S. Sens. David Perdue (R-GA) and Kelly Loeffler (R-GA).
The Georgia GOP tweeted, “NEW VIDEO @Mike_Pence: ‘Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are wrong for Georgia and wrong for America.’”
NEW VIDEO @Mike_Pence: "Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are wrong for Georgia and wrong for America." pic.twitter.com/4rZhZSbU8v — GAGOP (@GaRepublicans) December 5, 2020
“The road to the Senate Republican Majority runs right through the state of Georgia,” Vice President Pence said. “We need Senator David Perdue and Senator Kelly Loeffler back. The stakes in this election have never been higher. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock’s agenda is of higher taxes, open borders, socialized medicine, a Green New Deal, defunding the police and packing the courts. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are wrong for Georgia and wrong for America.”
Pence also tweeted, “We’re going to keep fighting until every LEGAL vote is counted. We’re going to keep fighting until every illegal vote is thrown out. And we will never stop fighting to Make America Great Again!”
We're going to keep fighting until every LEGAL vote is counted. We're going to keep fighting until every illegal vote is thrown out. And we will never stop fighting to Make America Great Again! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/5yIWQ3zmm3 — Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) December 4, 2020
Pence’s visit came a day before President Donald Trump was to travel to Georgia to show his support for the two senators, The Georgia Star News reported. His administration has made it a point to rally voters to the two senators for the runoff despite pledges by some to boycott over discontent with election fraud.
The January 5 runoff election will determine control of the U.S. Senate. Perdue is running against Democrat Jon Ossoff. Loeffler is running against Democrat Raphael Warnock.
Pence also said, “We need Georgia to say ‘No’ to Ossoff and Warnock and ‘Yes’ to Senator David Perdue and Senator Kelly Loeffler on January 5.”
People who do not want to vote by mail may vote in person starting December 14, Pence said.
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Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-06--December 8 Deadline for Selection of Electors Does Not Apply to Disputed States, Amistad Project Say

December 8 Deadline for Selection of Electors Does Not Apply to Disputed States, Amistad Project Says

In a white paper released Friday , The Amistad Project of the non-partisan Thomas More Society is arguing that the current Electoral College deadlines are both arbitrary and a direct impediment to states ’ obligations to investigate disputed elections .
The research paper breaks down the history of Electoral College deadlines and makes clear that this election ’ s December 8 and December 14 deadlines for the selection of Electors , the assembly of the Electoral College , and the tallying of its votes , respectively , are not only elements of a 72-year old federal statute with no Constitutional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the states from fulfilling their constitutional — and ethical — obligation to hold free and fair elections .
Experts believe that the primary basis for these dates was to provide enough time to affect the presidential transition of power , a concern which is obsolete in the age of internet and air travel .
The Amistad Project ’ s announcement is available here .
The white paper also shows that the December 8 “ safe harbor ” deadline for appointing presidential electors does not apply to states where flagrant violations of state election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote .
The only Constitutionally set date in the election process is the assumption of office by the president on January 20 .
The Amistad Project has filed litigation in several key swing states arguing that illegal conduct by state and local officials led to more than 1.2 million potentially fraudulent ballots , including illegal votes that were counted and legal votes that were not counted .
In each state , the number of potentially fraudulent ballots far exceeds the margin separating the leading presidential candidate .
One such case was a lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asking justices to physically secure all evidence of irregularities in the 2020 election and declare the results invalid , The Georgia Star News reported .
The organization also filed a lawsuit in Georgia contesting election results , saying fraudulent votes cast were 15 times greater than the margin separating Donald Trump and Joe Biden , The Star News reported .
Phill Kline , director of The Amistad Project , said , “ Through rigorous investigations supporting our litigation , we demonstrate that state and local officials brazenly violated election laws in several swing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political agenda .
As a result , it is impossible for those states to determine their presidential electors in line with the arbitrary deadline set forth via federal statute in 1948 , and thus , the only deadline that matters is January 20 , 2021.
” Although federal law sets December 8 for determinations of electors made pursuant to state election law to automatically become official , the law does not require electors to be designated by that date in order to be counted , The Amistad Project says .
Because the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electors in the hands of state legislatures , it is the responsibility of the people ’ s elected representatives to judge the relevant facts and appoint an appropriate slate of electors , subject only to the sole deadline set forth in the U.S. Constitution — noon on January 20 , 2021 .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .

In a white paper released Friday, The Amistad Project of the non-partisan Thomas More Society is arguing that the current Electoral College deadlines are both arbitrary and a direct impediment to states’ obligations to investigate disputed elections.
The research paper breaks down the history of Electoral College deadlines and makes clear that this election’s December 8 and December 14 deadlines for the selection of Electors, the assembly of the Electoral College, and the tallying of its votes, respectively, are not only elements of a 72-year old federal statute with no Constitutional basis, but are also actively preventing the states from fulfilling their constitutional — and ethical — obligation to hold free and fair elections. Experts believe that the primary basis for these dates was to provide enough time to affect the presidential transition of power, a concern which is obsolete in the age of internet and air travel.
The Amistad Project’s announcement is available here.
The white paper also shows that the December 8 “safe harbor” deadline for appointing presidential electors does not apply to states where flagrant violations of state election laws affected the outcome of the popular vote. The only Constitutionally set date in the election process is the assumption of office by the president on January 20.
The Amistad Project has filed litigation in several key swing states arguing that illegal conduct by state and local officials led to more than 1.2 million potentially fraudulent ballots, including illegal votes that were counted and legal votes that were not counted. In each state, the number of potentially fraudulent ballots far exceeds the margin separating the leading presidential candidate.
One such case was a lawsuit filed with the Michigan Supreme Court, asking justices to physically secure all evidence of irregularities in the 2020 election and declare the results invalid, The Georgia Star News reported.
The organization also filed a lawsuit in Georgia contesting election results, saying fraudulent votes cast were 15 times greater than the margin separating Donald Trump and Joe Biden, The Star News reported.
Phill Kline, director of The Amistad Project, said, “Through rigorous investigations supporting our litigation, we demonstrate that state and local officials brazenly violated election laws in several swing states in order to advance a partisan political agenda. As a result, it is impossible for those states to determine their presidential electors in line with the arbitrary deadline set forth via federal statute in 1948, and thus, the only deadline that matters is January 20, 2021.”
Although federal law sets December 8 for determinations of electors made pursuant to state election law to automatically become official, the law does not require electors to be designated by that date in order to be counted, The Amistad Project says. Because the U.S. Constitution places ultimate authority for designating presidential electors in the hands of state legislatures, it is the responsibility of the people’s elected representatives to judge the relevant facts and appoint an appropriate slate of electors, subject only to the sole deadline set forth in the U.S. Constitution — noon on January 20, 2021.
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Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.