wnd--2020-09-15--Bipartisan congressional group suggests coronavirus relief plan

( FOX NEWS ) -- A bipartisan group of House lawmakers Tuesday unveiled a compromise coronavirus package that worked out @ @ @ @ @ between Democrats and Republicans in an effort to jump-start relief to Americans still reeling from @ @ @ @ @ .
The Problem Solvers Caucus released its $ 1.5 trillion coronavirus plan as proof bipartisanship @ @ @ @ @ deliver a pre-packaged solution to Republican and Democratic leadership that would meet the nation 's @ @ @ @ @ next six to 12 months .
There 's been no progress on a new coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ months , although schools , families and businesses continue to suffer and the coronavirus continues @ @ @ @ @ killed more than 193,000 Americans .

(FOX NEWS) -- A bipartisan group of House lawmakers Tuesday unveiled a compromise coronavirus package that worked out some of the thorniest divisions between Democrats and Republicans in an effort to jump-start relief to Americans still reeling from the health and economic crisis.
The Problem Solvers Caucus released its $1.5 trillion coronavirus plan as proof bipartisanship is still afoot and to deliver a pre-packaged solution to Republican and Democratic leadership that would meet the nation's most pressing needs for the next six to 12 months.
There's been no progress on a new coronavirus package in the last four months, although schools, families and businesses continue to suffer and the coronavirus continues its deadly spread, having killed more than 193,000 Americans.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-09-18--Parents protecting 4th Amendment rights with letter to schools

Lawyers from the Rutherford Institute have created a sample letter for parents to send to schools when their children participate in online classes .
It protects the privacy and Fourth Amendment rights of the family against searches `` whether by video or otherwise . ''
Described as a precautionary `` opt out '' letter , it 's a way for families to assert their privacy rights `` and guard against intrusive government surveillance posed by remote learning technologies . ''
Already there have been several instances this year in which school officials have created havoc for parents by spotting an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to which they object .
TRENDING : Black leaders : BLM about overthrow of U.S. , not race In some cases , education bureaucrats even have dispatched police to visit the homes of students .
In one instance , a teacher spotted a toy gun in the home .
`` Remote learning should not justify the expansion of draconian zero tolerance policies to encompass so-called 'violations ' that take place in students ’ homes and home environments .
Nor should remote learning be used as a backdoor means of allowing government officials to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and home environments , '' said constitutional attorney John W. Whitehead , president of the Rutherford Institute .
`` While COVID-19 has undoubtedly introduced significant challenges for the schools , the protocols adopted for navigating these circumstances demand a heightened degree of caution lest government officials heedlessly , needlessly and unlawfully violate key constitutional safeguards established to protect the citizenry against invasive and warrantless intrusion into the home . ''
The lawyers also are warning government officials `` against leveraging the current public health situation to further erode the privacy of American citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools must not use virtual learning platforms to conduct unwarranted surveillance of students ' homes nor use observations made from within the home as a basis for alleging a crime has been or is being committed , '' they explained .
Rutherford said the letter was created after Isaiah Elliott , a seventh grader at Grand Mountain School in Colorado Springs , Colorado , was reported to police by school officials .
He had a toy gun in his room during a virtual class .
`` Not only was the 11-year-old suspended for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a firearm to school , ' but he was also traumatized when a police officer showed up at his home to interrogate him , '' the organization said .
A deputy was given a video of the art class that was recorded without the knowledge or consent of students or their parents and saw the boys playing with the toy gun .
The child was threatened with possible criminal charges in the future .
Rutherford officials have demanded that the student 's record be expunged of any offense .
The letter points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the online classes and allows the parents to state : `` Our child 's participation in remote learning pursuant to district policies and practices does not constitute my/our consent to the district or any other government official conducting a search of our property , whether by video surveillance or otherwise . ''
They also can state : `` Our resident does not become school property for purposes of applying district policies or rules by virtue of my/our child 's participation in remote learning . ''
Some teachers have demanded that parents sign an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child 's online classes , even if they are playing on a computer in the home .

Lawyers from the Rutherford Institute have created a sample letter for parents to send to schools when their children participate in online classes.
It protects the privacy and Fourth Amendment rights of the family against searches "whether by video or otherwise."
Described as a precautionary "opt out" letter, it's a way for families to assert their privacy rights "and guard against intrusive government surveillance posed by remote learning technologies."
Already there have been several instances this year in which school officials have created havoc for parents by spotting an item in the home during online classes to which they object.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
In some cases, education bureaucrats even have dispatched police to visit the homes of students. In one instance, a teacher spotted a toy gun in the home.
"Remote learning should not justify the expansion of draconian zero tolerance policies to encompass so-called 'violations' that take place in students’ homes and home environments. Nor should remote learning be used as a backdoor means of allowing government officials to conduct warrantless surveillance into students’ homes and home environments," said constitutional attorney John W. Whitehead, president of the Rutherford Institute.
"While COVID-19 has undoubtedly introduced significant challenges for the schools, the protocols adopted for navigating these circumstances demand a heightened degree of caution lest government officials heedlessly, needlessly and unlawfully violate key constitutional safeguards established to protect the citizenry against invasive and warrantless intrusion into the home."
The lawyers also are warning government officials "against leveraging the current public health situation to further erode the privacy of American citizens."
"At a minimum, schools must not use virtual learning platforms to conduct unwarranted surveillance of students' homes nor use observations made from within the home as a basis for alleging a crime has been or is being committed," they explained.
Rutherford said the letter was created after Isaiah Elliott, a seventh grader at Grand Mountain School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was reported to police by school officials.
He had a toy gun in his room during a virtual class.
"Not only was the 11-year-old suspended for five days for 'bringing' a 'facsimile of a firearm to school,' but he was also traumatized when a police officer showed up at his home to interrogate him," the organization said.
A deputy was given a video of the art class that was recorded without the knowledge or consent of students or their parents and saw the boys playing with the toy gun.
The child was threatened with possible criminal charges in the future.
Rutherford officials have demanded that the student's record be expunged of any offense.
The letter points out the "serious implications" of the online classes and allows the parents to state: "Our child's participation in remote learning pursuant to district policies and practices does not constitute my/our consent to the district or any other government official conducting a search of our property, whether by video surveillance or otherwise."
They also can state: "Our resident does not become school property for purposes of applying district policies or rules by virtue of my/our child's participation in remote learning."
Some teachers have demanded that parents sign an agreement that they will not observe their child's online classes, even if they are playing on a computer in the home.


wnd--2020-09-17--Watch: College administrators shred Constitution for 'triggered student'

A sympathetic administrator at elite Vassar College agreed to put a pocket copy of the Constitution through a shredder after an undercover Project Veritas reporter posing as a student complained that its distribution on campus `` triggered '' her .
The Constitution Day report by Project Veritas also shows a professor at Oberlin College agreeing the founding document is `` racist , '' `` discriminating '' and `` causes people pain . ''
At Vassar , the undercover reporter tells Kelly Grab , Vassar 's assistant director of equal opportunity , that she had a panic attack in reponse to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cato Institute and had been hiding in her room ever since .
Grab says the college `` certainly wants to avoid '' causing students harm .
She asks the reporter what could be done to create an `` educational moment . ''
TRENDING : Black leaders : BLM about overthrow of U.S. , not race The reporter suggests `` maybe the Constitution should be removed from campus permanently . ''
Grab does n't back that idea but asks if there was anything that could be done with the copy brought to the office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like destroy -- like is there a shredder or something ?
I think it might be really therapeutic to see that , '' the reporter asks .
`` Did you want to do it with me ? ''
Grab offers .
`` Thank you , that made me feel better , '' the reporter says after the shredding .
At Oberin , Wendy Kozol , professor of comparative American studies at Oberlin , agrees that the Constitution `` in everyday life causes people pain . ''
Kozol suggests organizing a dialogue on campus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Constitution in everyday life causes people pain . ''
The reporter says her objective is that the Constitution `` not have such a central part here at Oberlin . ''
`` I would like people to see how discriminating it is and how racist it is , '' the reporter says .
`` Do you think that ’ s a reasonable goal that we could get to ? ''
`` Absolutely , '' Kozol says .
`` I think there are a lot of people who will immediately agree with you and join @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limit , confine , or talk back ; maybe you just want to talk back to the Constitution . ''
Another Vassar administrator also agrees to put the Constitution through a shredder .
Colleen Cohen , faculty director of affirmative action and a professor of anthropology at Vassar , tells the reporter it 's `` horrible that this is something that has caused you such pain . ''
She laments that `` unless the people are from off campus , '' the college ca n't do anything prevent the Constitution from being distributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Cohen asks the reporter .
`` Or did you want to hold on to it ? ''
`` Well , could you destroy it ? ''
the reporter says .
`` Maybe it will feel , you know , therapeutic for me . ''
Cohen offers : `` I 'll put it through a shredder .
Yeah , I 'll put it in a shredder . ''

A sympathetic administrator at elite Vassar College agreed to put a pocket copy of the Constitution through a shredder after an undercover Project Veritas reporter posing as a student complained that its distribution on campus "triggered" her.
The Constitution Day report by Project Veritas also shows a professor at Oberlin College agreeing the founding document is "racist," "discriminating" and "causes people pain."
At Vassar, the undercover reporter tells Kelly Grab, Vassar's assistant director of equal opportunity, that she had a panic attack in reponse to the distribution of the Constitution by the Cato Institute and had been hiding in her room ever since.
Grab says the college "certainly wants to avoid" causing students harm. She asks the reporter what could be done to create an "educational moment."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The reporter suggests "maybe the Constitution should be removed from campus permanently."
Grab doesn't back that idea but asks if there was anything that could be done with the copy brought to the office.
"Honestly, can we just like destroy -- like is there a shredder or something? I think it might be really therapeutic to see that," the reporter asks.
"Did you want to do it with me?" Grab offers.
"Yeah, I could watch," the reporter replies.
See the shredding:
Today we celebrate the document that changed the world as we know it. Unless you're a professor at a progressive University that is...#ConstitutionDay #TBT pic.twitter.com/8pFTvulbtd — James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) September 17, 2020
"Thank you, that made me feel better," the reporter says after the shredding.
"Good," Grab replies.
At Oberin, Wendy Kozol, professor of comparative American studies at Oberlin, agrees that the Constitution "in everyday life causes people pain."
Kozol suggests organizing a dialogue on campus on "the ways in which the Constitution in everyday life causes people pain."
The reporter says her objective is that the Constitution "not have such a central part here at Oberlin."
"I would like people to see how discriminating it is and how racist it is," the reporter says. "Do you think that’s a reasonable goal that we could get to?"
"Absolutely," Kozol says. "I think there are a lot of people who will immediately agree with you and join the conversation and think about ways to limit, confine, or talk back; maybe you just want to talk back to the Constitution."
See the full video report:
Another Vassar administrator also agrees to put the Constitution through a shredder.
Colleen Cohen, faculty director of affirmative action and a professor of anthropology at Vassar, tells the reporter it's "horrible that this is something that has caused you such pain."
She laments that "unless the people are from off campus," the college can't do anything prevent the Constitution from being distributed.
"Can I destroy this?" Cohen asks the reporter. "Or did you want to hold on to it?"
"Well, could you destroy it?" the reporter says. "Maybe it will feel, you know, therapeutic for me."
Cohen offers: "I'll put it through a shredder. Yeah, I'll put it in a shredder."


wnd--2020-09-17--Biden goes for masks, then reverses, then does it again!

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics . ]
Joe Biden stands before a black backdrop in a dark room without any color , except for the American flag over his right shoulder , as the camera zooms in and then up as the broad-shouldered former vice president puts on a face mask and peers down at the audience with a look of stern resolve .
It is a seven-second silent film with an unmistakable hero narrative and a not-so-subtle appeal to patriotism .
The accompanying caption : “ Do your part .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders : BLM about overthrow of U.S. , not race The Centers for Disease Control has recommended as much since April .
But in the months since , the cloth coverings that muffle voices and fog glasses and soak sweat and serve as a general annoyance have become a part of pandemic politics .
With flu season upon us and the election around the corner , the question arises : would a President Biden be content to try and persuade the nation to follow his lead with public safety announcements , or would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country to cover its face ?
Biden and his campaign appear to say different things at different times .
He spent most of the summer calling for a national mask mandate , but then publicly questioned whether the federal government even had the authority to enforce such an order .
Until recently , Biden had advocated for a federalist approach to nationwide mask mandates -- individual state orders implemented by governors .
But in his most recent remarks , the Democratic nominee returned again to the idea of a federal mandate .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's notice .
“ They said at the Democrat convention they 're going to do a national mandate .
They never did it , because they ’ ve checked out and they didn ’ t do it , ” the president said at a town hall hosted by ABC .
“ And a good question is , you ask why Joe Biden – they said we ’ re going to do a national mandate on masks.
” The president is right on at least one point : Biden did call for a national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the biggest speech of his political career .
“ We ’ ll have a national mandate to wear a mask , ” Biden said halfway through his speech at the Democratic National Convention in August , “ not as a burden , but as a patriotic duty to protect one another.
” It was , he said , part of the pandemic strategy that he would implement “ on Day One.
” But a national mask mandate isn ’ t as simple as it sounds .
Who would enforce such an order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or a patchwork of state requirements ?
A campaign aide familiar with the drafting process of that speech told RealClearPolitics that Biden was referring to “ nationwide mask mandates to be put in place through governors enacting mandates in their states.
” The source pointed RCP to a plan that Biden had outlined “ days earlier.
” “ This is not about Democrat , Republican or independent .
It ’ s about saving America ’ s lives , ” Biden had said while his newly selected running mate , Sen. Kamala Harris , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s institute a mass mandate nationwide starting immediately , and we will save lives.
” Moments earlier , the former vice president encouraged every American to wear a mask in public for at least the next three months and said that “ every governor should mandate mandatory mask wearing.
” Biden ’ s dress code now matches his rhetoric , an argument usually made in the standard-issue politician blue suit and always with a sleek black mask either over his face or dangling from his ear or visibly clasped in his hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely symbolic .
Hardly anyone gets close enough to the 77-year-old elder statesman to get him sick , certainly not the socially distanced press corps standing several feet away from the nominee .
It is meant as an example and a contrast .
Biden wears a mask each and every day .
Trump does not .
This has not made the Democrat immune from criticism .
“ If the president has the unilateral power to order every single citizen to cover their face in nearly all instances , what other powers does he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , arguing that a national mandate overstepped the limits of presidential power .
At one point , Biden seemed to agree on the limits of presidential power .
Critics accused him of backtracking on his answer about a national mandate when he cited constitutional concerns in a September 6 interview with a local Arizona station .
What did he really mean by a “ national mask mandate , ” and could a president even do that ?
“ There ’ s a constitutional issue whether federal government could issue such a mandate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ could , so I wouldn ’ t issue a mandate , ” he replied .
And instead of the legally dubious mandate he ’ d been advocating , Biden explained that he would “ plead with ” people to wear a mask .
“ I ’ d set an example.
” Biden and Harris have done exactly that on a personal level with their pandemic-chic face coverings .
Their attempts at persuasion , however , have not changed policy .
As Fox News reported earlier , not a single Democratic governor has rallied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directives that citizens wear a mask when they are outdoors in public .
But 10 days later and after Trump ’ s attack , the Democratic nominee again floated the idea of a national mask mandate .
If he had the authority , Biden even said he would sign an executive order requiring masks .
`` There 's a question -- I think it can be answered in the positive -- whether I can mandate over state lines that every single state has to comply .
Our legal team thinks I can do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is a crisis in those states , and how bad things are for the country , '' Biden said Wednesday .
`` I 'd make the case why it 's necessary . ''
`` I ’ d have the scientists … lay out in detail why , and I would go to every governor , '' Biden continued , `` and I 'd say , 'We have to have this national mandate . '
We must do it .
And at a minimum what I would do , I would n't walk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The Biden campaign insists the candidate has not changed his opinion .
He just got a second legal opinion on the question of presidential power and continues to believe states should lead the way .
“ Vice President Biden has made clear that a critical way that we can stop the spread of this virus is by pushing for nationwide mask mandates -- put in place at the state and local level -- and by having leaders model the importance of mask wearing in saving lives and finally getting the pandemic under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RCP .
Biden didn ’ t offer that nuance earlier in the summer when he was pushed on the issue .
“ The one thing we do know , these masks make a gigantic difference .
I would insist that everybody out in public be wearing that mask , ” Biden said in June .
“ Anyone , to reopen , would have to make sure that they walked into a business that had masks.
” Asked at the same event if he could use “ federal leverage to mandate that , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden said he could , and “ would from an executive standpoint.
” When a Las Vegas television station reporter asked him in July if “ we need a national mask mandate , ” Biden responded , `` I think we do .
I think we need , look , there are some places where when the curve is going down , you can begin to loosen things , but we should have a mask mandate until we get this under control.
” Later , on September 1 , Biden told a local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promote a nationwide mask mandate.
” The nation already finds itself in a tug-of-war over the coverings .
In Salt Lake City , flouting CDC guidelines , hundreds turned out in August with naked faces to protest the statewide mask requirements implemented by Utah Gov .
Gary Herbert .
Others stay inside and argue about the covering on social media .
Overall , though , support for face masks remains high .
According to a July poll by the Hill-HarrisX , 82 % of Americans support a national mandate .
Biden had tightened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stopped talking about a “ national mask mandate , ” adopting a plural alternative for a moment .
His campaign recently launched six 30-second ads , four in English and two in Spanish , and each advocating for “ nationwide mask mandates.
” Aides say again that the advertisements are consistent and that the former vice president has never changed his stance .
The Trump campaign sees a flip-flop .
Hogan Gidley , national press secretary for the Trump campaign , accused the former vice president of just reading whatever script was put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time whether it has to do with a singular “ national mask mandate ” or the plural “ nationwide mask mandates.
” “ The president and the CDC , ” he told RCP , “ issued guidance to socially distance , use hand sanitizer and wear masks while Joe Biden was hiding down in his basement blankly staring into a teleprompter.
” [ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics . ]

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics.]
By Philip Wegmann
Real Clear Politics
Joe Biden stands before a black backdrop in a dark room without any color, except for the American flag over his right shoulder, as the camera zooms in and then up as the broad-shouldered former vice president puts on a face mask and peers down at the audience with a look of stern resolve.
It is a seven-second silent film with an unmistakable hero narrative and a not-so-subtle appeal to patriotism. The accompanying caption: “Do your part. Wear a mask.”
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The Centers for Disease Control has recommended as much since April. But in the months since, the cloth coverings that muffle voices and fog glasses and soak sweat and serve as a general annoyance have become a part of pandemic politics. With flu season upon us and the election around the corner, the question arises: would a President Biden be content to try and persuade the nation to follow his lead with public safety announcements, or would he use the government to compel the country to cover its face?
Biden and his campaign appear to say different things at different times.
He spent most of the summer calling for a national mask mandate, but then publicly questioned whether the federal government even had the authority to enforce such an order. Until recently, Biden had advocated for a federalist approach to nationwide mask mandates -- individual state orders implemented by governors. But in his most recent remarks, the Democratic nominee returned again to the idea of a federal mandate.
The shifting positions have not escaped Donald Trump's notice. “They said at the Democrat convention they're going to do a national mandate. They never did it, because they’ve checked out and they didn’t do it,” the president said at a town hall hosted by ABC. “And a good question is, you ask why Joe Biden – they said we’re going to do a national mandate on masks.”
The president is right on at least one point: Biden did call for a national mask mandate, and he did it during the biggest speech of his political career.
“We’ll have a national mandate to wear a mask,” Biden said halfway through his speech at the Democratic National Convention in August, “not as a burden, but as a patriotic duty to protect one another.” It was, he said, part of the pandemic strategy that he would implement “on Day One.”
But a national mask mandate isn’t as simple as it sounds. Who would enforce such an order? Would it be a federal order or a patchwork of state requirements? A campaign aide familiar with the drafting process of that speech told RealClearPolitics that Biden was referring to “nationwide mask mandates to be put in place through governors enacting mandates in their states.”
The source pointed RCP to a plan that Biden had outlined “days earlier.”
“This is not about Democrat, Republican or independent. It’s about saving America’s lives,” Biden had said while his newly selected running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, stood nearby. “So, let’s institute a mass mandate nationwide starting immediately, and we will save lives.” Moments earlier, the former vice president encouraged every American to wear a mask in public for at least the next three months and said that “every governor should mandate mandatory mask wearing.”
Biden’s dress code now matches his rhetoric, an argument usually made in the standard-issue politician blue suit and always with a sleek black mask either over his face or dangling from his ear or visibly clasped in his hand. In practice, it’s largely symbolic. Hardly anyone gets close enough to the 77-year-old elder statesman to get him sick, certainly not the socially distanced press corps standing several feet away from the nominee. It is meant as an example and a contrast. Biden wears a mask each and every day. Trump does not. This has not made the Democrat immune from criticism.
“If the president has the unilateral power to order every single citizen to cover their face in nearly all instances, what other powers does he have?” Trump said August 13, arguing that a national mandate overstepped the limits of presidential power.
At one point, Biden seemed to agree on the limits of presidential power. Critics accused him of backtracking on his answer about a national mandate when he cited constitutional concerns in a September 6 interview with a local Arizona station. What did he really mean by a “national mask mandate,” and could a president even do that?
“There’s a constitutional issue whether federal government could issue such a mandate. I don’t think constitutionally they could, so I wouldn’t issue a mandate,” he replied. And instead of the legally dubious mandate he’d been advocating, Biden explained that he would “plead with” people to wear a mask. “I’d set an example.”
Biden and Harris have done exactly that on a personal level with their pandemic-chic face coverings. Their attempts at persuasion, however, have not changed policy. As Fox News reported earlier, not a single Democratic governor has rallied to Biden’s call to tighten directives that citizens wear a mask when they are outdoors in public.
But 10 days later and after Trump’s attack, the Democratic nominee again floated the idea of a national mask mandate. If he had the authority, Biden even said he would sign an executive order requiring masks.
"There's a question -- I think it can be answered in the positive -- whether I can mandate over state lines that every single state has to comply. Our legal team thinks I can do that based upon the degree to which there is a crisis in those states, and how bad things are for the country," Biden said Wednesday. "I'd make the case why it's necessary."
"I’d have the scientists … lay out in detail why, and I would go to every governor," Biden continued, "and I'd say, 'We have to have this national mandate.' We must do it. And at a minimum what I would do, I wouldn't walk around saying masks don't matter."
The Biden campaign insists the candidate has not changed his opinion. He just got a second legal opinion on the question of presidential power and continues to believe states should lead the way. “Vice President Biden has made clear that a critical way that we can stop the spread of this virus is by pushing for nationwide mask mandates -- put in place at the state and local level -- and by having leaders model the importance of mask wearing in saving lives and finally getting the pandemic under control,” spokesman Michael Gwin told RCP.
Biden didn’t offer that nuance earlier in the summer when he was pushed on the issue. “The one thing we do know, these masks make a gigantic difference. I would insist that everybody out in public be wearing that mask,” Biden said in June. “Anyone, to reopen, would have to make sure that they walked into a business that had masks.”
Asked at the same event if he could use “federal leverage to mandate that,” according to the New York Times, Biden said he could, and “would from an executive standpoint.” When a Las Vegas television station reporter asked him in July if “we need a national mask mandate,” Biden responded, "I think we do. I think we need, look, there are some places where when the curve is going down, you can begin to loosen things, but we should have a mask mandate until we get this under control.” Later, on September 1, Biden told a local Miami television station that he “would promote a nationwide mask mandate.”
The nation already finds itself in a tug-of-war over the coverings. In Salt Lake City, flouting CDC guidelines, hundreds turned out in August with naked faces to protest the statewide mask requirements implemented by Utah Gov. Gary Herbert. Others stay inside and argue about the covering on social media. Overall, though, support for face masks remains high. According to a July poll by the Hill-HarrisX, 82% of Americans support a national mandate.
Biden had tightened his language in recent weeks. He stopped talking about a “national mask mandate,” adopting a plural alternative for a moment. His campaign recently launched six 30-second ads, four in English and two in Spanish, and each advocating for “nationwide mask mandates.” Aides say again that the advertisements are consistent and that the former vice president has never changed his stance.
The Trump campaign sees a flip-flop. Hogan Gidley, national press secretary for the Trump campaign, accused the former vice president of just reading whatever script was put in front of him at any given time whether it has to do with a singular “national mask mandate” or the plural “nationwide mask mandates.”
“The president and the CDC,” he told RCP, “issued guidance to socially distance, use hand sanitizer and wear masks while Joe Biden was hiding down in his basement blankly staring into a teleprompter.”
[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics.]


wnd--2020-09-17--How does media treat the president? 'Satan gets more respect'

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics . ]
You would think that with the miracle of modern technology and the insistence on transparency in government affairs , it would be possible for both the American people and the American president to share the same baseline on certain important facts .
Unfortunately , that doesn ’ t take account of the role of the mainstream media as the self-appointed protectors of the people .
The press can promote any agenda they choose and destroy any person who gets out of line .
Needless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of line ” every day — he marches to the beat of his own drummer , as Thoreau said , and the press can ’ t stand it .
So they engage in a near constant attack to destroy him and his presidency .
TRENDING : Black leaders : BLM about overthrow of U.S. , not race Jeffrey Goldberg ’ s reliance on unverified anonymous sources for his Atlantic hit piece accusing the president of being disdainful of slain American soldiers by calling them “ losers ” and “ suckers ” is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and exacerbate public misperceptions of Trump that they themselves planted in the first place .
Did Trump call John McCain a loser ?
Undoubtedly .
Has he ridiculed the generals who have gotten us into forever wars that have cost the lives of thousands of American soldiers ?
Yes , frequently .
But is there any evidence he said the things Goldberg alleges ?
Yeah , the testimony of five sources so brave they won ’ t go on the record with their complaints — claims that have been refuted by 19 real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the president in France when the alleged incidents occurred .
Of course , the media don ’ t stop with the initial hit job .
Without missing a beat , they use the refuted stories by Goldberg and others to create the illusion that there is a united front of opposition to Trump .
Showing interviews with random soldiers or veterans saying they are not “ losers ” promotes a “ party line ” version of the truth that is intended to shame the administration , and especially weak-kneed Republican senators , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But it is not news , and it is not fair .
The New York Times , NBC , and the rest of the major media have taken it upon themselves to adopt the role of the guardians of orthodoxy .
Their goal is to create the illusion that mainstream America hates Trump just as much as the media does .
That requires amplifying any story that attacks Trump and ignoring those that benefit him .
This has been going on for five years now .
You ’ ve seen the numbers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ coverage about Donald Trump is negative .
Satan gets more respect .
As a journalist , I have no problem condemning the repressive and manipulative tactics of the Washington press corps , but the good news is there are ways around their attempts to suppress the truth .
First of all , there is social media .
That ’ s why Trump loves Twitter .
He can tell his own story , and he does , but of course the media vultures circling his Twitter feed every day eagerly pounce on any typo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Typically , more people will hear the media ’ s denunciation of the president ’ s tweets than will read the originals and decide for themselves .
Again , it ’ s evidence of how news reporters see themselves as the wall between the people and the president .
The only other broad avenue for the people to get unbiased information is from a few news shows that don ’ t toe the liberal line — most notably “ Tucker Carlson Tonight ” on Fox News .
Since the riots began at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken it upon himself to expose the corruption of not just the media but the liberal elected establishment that has implicitly endorsed violence , racism , and disorder in the name of what is perversely called social justice .
I ’ ve called Carlson a modern-day Cassandra because his clear-eyed assessment of the danger America faces has been met with scorn , denial and derision .
But name-calling , advertising boycotts , and continued threats of violence against him and his family have not deterred Carlson from his declared mission to be “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , smugness and groupthink.
” In that regard , Carlson has long used his show to ferret out information hidden in the bowels of government and get it to the people — bypassing the media guards who increasingly see it as their sworn role to restrict the free exchange of ideas .
On Carlson ’ s Sept. 1 show , author Chris Rufo discussed his research into how critical race theory has infiltrated the federal government .
I was shocked by just how bad the situation is , something we would never learn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's absolutely astonishing how critical race theory has pervaded every institution in the federal government , '' Rufo told Carlson .
`` What I have discovered is that critical race theory has become , in essence , the default ideology of the federal bureaucracy and is now being weaponized against the American people . ''
He gave three examples of what he called “ cult indoctrination.
” For instance , he told of a trainer who “ told Treasury [ Department ] employees essentially that America was a fundamentally white supremacist country and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the system of racism and white superiority.
’ ” When Rufo explicitly urged Trump “ to immediately issue an executive order abolishing critical-race-theory training from the federal government , ” I thought to myself how that was a smart move .
It just might work .
It ’ s no secret that Trump watches Fox News .
So why not make a direct appeal to the president while you are on one of those shows ?
It ’ s the only way most guests would ever have a chance to get the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case it worked .
Just three quick days later , Trump did exactly what Rufo proposed — he issued an executive order through the director of the Office of Management and Budget to “ cease and desist from using taxpayer dollars to fund [ the ] divisive , un-American propaganda training sessions ” where federal employees are told that “ virtually all White people contribute to racism.
” When Trump reacted to Rufo ’ s revelations the same way that I and millions of people watching Tucker Carlson ’ s show reacted — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous Carlson is to the hegemony of the far left .
His show is metaphorically the tunnel under the Berlin Wall that allows direct communication between the pro-liberty , pro-American middle class and the freedom fighters in the White House , bypassing both the bureaucracy and the stunningly dishonest media that control the flow of information in and out of the Trump administration .
In order to keep our metaphor geographically , if not politically , correct , we should think of the mainstream media as the Stasi , the East German secret @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective — in suppressing free thought and dissent from the party line .
They were not just the “ enemy of the people , ” as Trump has labeled the worst of the modern media ; they were the “ enemy of the truth.
” That role has never been clearer than it was last week when Bob Woodward , the legacy commander of the media ’ s Main Directorate for Reconnaissance , issued his report on what he found when he infiltrated the White House .
Or at least what he purported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump perfidiously misled the American public about the scope and danger of the China virus because he called the virus “ deadly stuff ” in February before any Americans had died .
Also because Trump knew “ it goes through the air.
” I mean you have to be notoriously stupid , or just plain incurious , not to have figured out by February that COVID-19 was a deadly peril .
Does Woodward think that Trump shut down air travel from China at the end of January just because he wanted to hurt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new virus was deadly , but as Trump patiently explained to the thick-headed Woodward then , and still has to explain to the rest of the White House press corps virtually every day , there is no purpose served by terrifying the public .
The president told Woodward that the virus was “ more deadly than even your strenuous flus.
” That turned out to be true , but flus are also kept under control by widespread vaccination and therapeutics .
Does Woodward need to be reminded that the much more deadly pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flu ?
Of course he does , because it ’ s not helpful to the media ’ s narrative that Donald Trump is a dangerous buffoon who must not be reelected .
How could the country survive another four years with a president who insists on doing things his own way , who won ’ t be cowed by the Stasi media , who considers it his duty to improve on conventional wisdom instead of surrendering to it .
Which brings us back to Chris Rufo and his pipeline — or should I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The obstinacy of Tucker Carlson , his unwillingness to take a knee to orthodoxy , has made him the most dangerous person in America ( after Trump ) to the far-left overlords .
And when Trump acted on Rufo ’ s entreaty regarding critical race theory , it led to near hysteria as the Stasi media realized that its Berlin Wall had been breached .
As Carlson himself reported on Tuesday , Sept. 8 , “ To the news media , all of this was a disaster .
They claim to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Chris Rufo ’ s .
His coverage showed that they are complicit in an anti-American lie that is deeply unpopular with actual Americans , and they didn ’ t take it well.
” Among the many critics of Carlson for providing the president with accurate information about what is being done in his name in the federal bureaucracy , perhaps the loudest was CNN ’ s Brian Stelter , the virtual communications director for the Stasi media .
“ The ‘ Tucker ’ show gets results , ” Stelter ranted .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No more examination of systemic racism .
The Trump administration doesn ’ t want it inside federal agencies — even though 2020 is being defined in part by this long overdue reckoning about race .
Trump doesn ’ t want it to happen.
” No he doesn ’ t , and neither do the American people .
“ Systemic racism ” is a meaningless phrase that blames everyone for the despicable actions of a few .
“ White privilege ” is a rhetorical cudgel to justify redistribution of wealth and violence against white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about race ” has been ongoing since before the country itself started , and it will never end , nor should it .
Facts are facts .
Slavery was evil .
Jim Crow was evil .
Racism is evil .
But teaching white people to hate themselves does not resolve that evil ; it just compounds it .
Blaming Tucker Carlson because President Trump found out about an inherently unacceptable and unjust practice within the federal government is in a sense the media ’ s confession that its main purpose today is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people .
Just as most mainstream reporters will never ask Joe Biden about anything that doesn ’ t conform to their own hatred of Trump , they will never tolerate anything anywhere that exposes their own bias and anti-American agenda .

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics.]
By Frank Miele
Real Clear Politics
You would think that with the miracle of modern technology and the insistence on transparency in government affairs, it would be possible for both the American people and the American president to share the same baseline on certain important facts.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t take account of the role of the mainstream media as the self-appointed protectors of the people. The press can promote any agenda they choose and destroy any person who gets out of line. Needless to say, Donald Trump gets “out of line” every day — he marches to the beat of his own drummer, as Thoreau said, and the press can’t stand it. So they engage in a near constant attack to destroy him and his presidency.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Jeffrey Goldberg’s reliance on unverified anonymous sources for his Atlantic hit piece accusing the president of being disdainful of slain American soldiers by calling them “losers” and “suckers” is a typical tactic. The media exploit and exacerbate public misperceptions of Trump that they themselves planted in the first place. Did Trump call John McCain a loser? Undoubtedly. Has he ridiculed the generals who have gotten us into forever wars that have cost the lives of thousands of American soldiers? Yes, frequently. But is there any evidence he said the things Goldberg alleges? Yeah, the testimony of five sources so brave they won’t go on the record with their complaints — claims that have been refuted by 19 real people with real names who were actually with the president in France when the alleged incidents occurred.
Of course, the media don’t stop with the initial hit job. Without missing a beat, they use the refuted stories by Goldberg and others to create the illusion that there is a united front of opposition to Trump. Showing interviews with random soldiers or veterans saying they are not “losers” promotes a “party line” version of the truth that is intended to shame the administration, and especially weak-kneed Republican senators, into bowing to the far-left agenda. But it is not news, and it is not fair.
The New York Times, NBC, and the rest of the major media have taken it upon themselves to adopt the role of the guardians of orthodoxy. Their goal is to create the illusion that mainstream America hates Trump just as much as the media does. That requires amplifying any story that attacks Trump and ignoring those that benefit him. This has been going on for five years now. You’ve seen the numbers. More than 90% of all news coverage about Donald Trump is negative. Satan gets more respect.
As a journalist, I have no problem condemning the repressive and manipulative tactics of the Washington press corps, but the good news is there are ways around their attempts to suppress the truth. First of all, there is social media. That’s why Trump loves Twitter. He can tell his own story, and he does, but of course the media vultures circling his Twitter feed every day eagerly pounce on any typo, misspelling, or politically incorrect pronouncement. Typically, more people will hear the media’s denunciation of the president’s tweets than will read the originals and decide for themselves. Again, it’s evidence of how news reporters see themselves as the wall between the people and the president.
The only other broad avenue for the people to get unbiased information is from a few news shows that don’t toe the liberal line — most notably “Tucker Carlson Tonight” on Fox News. Since the riots began at the end of May, Carlson has taken it upon himself to expose the corruption of not just the media but the liberal elected establishment that has implicitly endorsed violence, racism, and disorder in the name of what is perversely called social justice. I’ve called Carlson a modern-day Cassandra because his clear-eyed assessment of the danger America faces has been met with scorn, denial and derision. But name-calling, advertising boycotts, and continued threats of violence against him and his family have not deterred Carlson from his declared mission to be “the sworn enemy of lying, pomposity, smugness and groupthink.”
In that regard, Carlson has long used his show to ferret out information hidden in the bowels of government and get it to the people — bypassing the media guards who increasingly see it as their sworn role to restrict the free exchange of ideas. On Carlson’s Sept. 1 show, author Chris Rufo discussed his research into how critical race theory has infiltrated the federal government. I was shocked by just how bad the situation is, something we would never learn from CNN or MSNBC.
"It's absolutely astonishing how critical race theory has pervaded every institution in the federal government," Rufo told Carlson. "What I have discovered is that critical race theory has become, in essence, the default ideology of the federal bureaucracy and is now being weaponized against the American people."
He gave three examples of what he called “cult indoctrination.” For instance, he told of a trainer who “told Treasury [Department] employees essentially that America was a fundamentally white supremacist country and … ‘virtually all white people uphold the system of racism and white superiority.’”
When Rufo explicitly urged Trump “to immediately issue an executive order abolishing critical-race-theory training from the federal government,” I thought to myself how that was a smart move. It just might work. It’s no secret that Trump watches Fox News. So why not make a direct appeal to the president while you are on one of those shows? It’s the only way most guests would ever have a chance to get the president’s attention. And in this case it worked.
Just three quick days later, Trump did exactly what Rufo proposed — he issued an executive order through the director of the Office of Management and Budget to “cease and desist from using taxpayer dollars to fund [the] divisive, un-American propaganda training sessions” where federal employees are told that “virtually all White people contribute to racism.”
When Trump reacted to Rufo’s revelations the same way that I and millions of people watching Tucker Carlson’s show reacted — with outrage — I realized just how dangerous Carlson is to the hegemony of the far left. His show is metaphorically the tunnel under the Berlin Wall that allows direct communication between the pro-liberty, pro-American middle class and the freedom fighters in the White House, bypassing both the bureaucracy and the stunningly dishonest media that control the flow of information in and out of the Trump administration.
In order to keep our metaphor geographically, if not politically, correct, we should think of the mainstream media as the Stasi, the East German secret police who were notoriously brutal — and effective — in suppressing free thought and dissent from the party line. They were not just the “enemy of the people,” as Trump has labeled the worst of the modern media; they were the “enemy of the truth.”
That role has never been clearer than it was last week when Bob Woodward, the legacy commander of the media’s Main Directorate for Reconnaissance, issued his report on what he found when he infiltrated the White House. Or at least what he purported to find.
According to Woodward, Trump perfidiously misled the American public about the scope and danger of the China virus because he called the virus “deadly stuff” in February before any Americans had died. Also because Trump knew “it goes through the air.” I mean you have to be notoriously stupid, or just plain incurious, not to have figured out by February that COVID-19 was a deadly peril. Does Woodward think that Trump shut down air travel from China at the end of January just because he wanted to hurt the tourist industry?
Of course the new virus was deadly, but as Trump patiently explained to the thick-headed Woodward then, and still has to explain to the rest of the White House press corps virtually every day, there is no purpose served by terrifying the public. The president told Woodward that the virus was “more deadly than even your strenuous flus.” That turned out to be true, but flus are also kept under control by widespread vaccination and therapeutics. Does Woodward need to be reminded that the much more deadly pandemic of 1918 was caused by the Spanish flu?
Of course he does, because it’s not helpful to the media’s narrative that Donald Trump is a dangerous buffoon who must not be reelected. How could the country survive another four years with a president who insists on doing things his own way, who won’t be cowed by the Stasi media, who considers it his duty to improve on conventional wisdom instead of surrendering to it.
Which brings us back to Chris Rufo and his pipeline — or should I say tunnel access — to the president. The obstinacy of Tucker Carlson, his unwillingness to take a knee to orthodoxy, has made him the most dangerous person in America (after Trump) to the far-left overlords. And when Trump acted on Rufo’s entreaty regarding critical race theory, it led to near hysteria as the Stasi media realized that its Berlin Wall had been breached.
As Carlson himself reported on Tuesday, Sept. 8, “To the news media, all of this was a disaster. They claim to be journalists, but they despise actual reporting like Chris Rufo’s. His coverage showed that they are complicit in an anti-American lie that is deeply unpopular with actual Americans, and they didn’t take it well.”
Among the many critics of Carlson for providing the president with accurate information about what is being done in his name in the federal bureaucracy, perhaps the loudest was CNN’s Brian Stelter, the virtual communications director for the Stasi media.
“The ‘Tucker’ show gets results,” Stelter ranted. “No more talk about white privilege. No more examination of systemic racism. The Trump administration doesn’t want it inside federal agencies — even though 2020 is being defined in part by this long overdue reckoning about race. Trump doesn’t want it to happen.”
No he doesn’t, and neither do the American people. “Systemic racism” is a meaningless phrase that blames everyone for the despicable actions of a few. “White privilege” is a rhetorical cudgel to justify redistribution of wealth and violence against white people. “The long overdue reckoning about race” has been ongoing since before the country itself started, and it will never end, nor should it. Facts are facts. Slavery was evil. Jim Crow was evil. Racism is evil. But teaching white people to hate themselves does not resolve that evil; it just compounds it.
Blaming Tucker Carlson because President Trump found out about an inherently unacceptable and unjust practice within the federal government is in a sense the media’s confession that its main purpose today is to build a wall between the truth and the people. Just as most mainstream reporters will never ask Joe Biden about anything that doesn’t conform to their own hatred of Trump, they will never tolerate anything anywhere that exposes their own bias and anti-American agenda.
So sad.


wnd--2020-09-17--Sen. Graham: Comey to testify before Senate panel

Former FBI Director James Comey has agreed to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept. 30 , according to South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham .
Graham , the Republican chairman of the Senate panel , said in a Wednesday interview with Fox News ’ s Sean Hannity that former special counsel Robert Mueller declined a request to testify about his investigation .
TRENDING : Black leaders : BLM about overthrow of U.S. , not race “ He says he doesn ’ t have enough time , ” Graham said of Mueller .
According to Graham , the committee is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview the two FBI employees who interviewed Igor Danchenko , the primary source for Trump dossier author Christopher Steele .
The Republican also said that the committee is negotiating with former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe over a hearing appearance .
“ The day of reckoning is upon us when it comes to Crossfire Hurricane , ” Graham told Hannity .
Graham has followed up on a Justice Department inspector general ’ s investigation that found the FBI under Comey ’ s watch misled the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court in order to obtain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Page .
A report from the IG ’ s probe said investigators withheld information that undermined the credibility of the Steele dossier , which alleged that the Trump campaign conspired with the Kremlin to influence the 2016 election .
According to the IG report , Danchenko , a Russia analyst , told the FBI and Justice Department during interviews in January 2017 that Steele embellished parts of the dossier .
An FBI counterintelligence agent and a supervisory intelligence analyst took part in the interview .
The IG report said the FBI relied heavily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Page , but failed to include information from Danchenko that undermined the salacious document .
Graham said he wants to find out which FBI officials were told about Danchenko ’ s statements during the interviews .
“ Now who did the intel analyst and the case agent tell ?
” Graham said in the interview with Hannity .
“ We ’ re going to talk to them in the next week to 10 days.
” The case agent has been identified as Steven Somma , a veteran counterintelligence investigator in the FBI ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was involved in several aspects of Crossfire Hurricane .
In addition to interviewing Danchenko , he was the FBI handler for Stefan Halper , a confidential source who secretly recorded Carter Page and George Papadopoulos , another Trump campaign aide .
The IG report said Somma , who is referred to as “ Case Agent 1 ” in the report , was the first FBI investigator to propose applying for a FISA warrant against Page .
Graham requested documents in May related to Brian Auten , an FBI supervisory intelligence analyst .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the analyst discussed in the IG report .
This story originally was published by the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact [ email protected ]

By Ethan Barton
Daily Caller News Foundation
Former FBI Director James Comey has agreed to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept. 30, according to South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Graham, the Republican chairman of the Senate panel, said in a Wednesday interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity that former special counsel Robert Mueller declined a request to testify about his investigation.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
“He says he doesn’t have enough time,” Graham said of Mueller.
According to Graham, the committee is likely within the next 10 days to interview the two FBI employees who interviewed Igor Danchenko, the primary source for Trump dossier author Christopher Steele. The Republican also said that the committee is negotiating with former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe over a hearing appearance.
“The day of reckoning is upon us when it comes to Crossfire Hurricane,” Graham told Hannity.
Graham has followed up on a Justice Department inspector general’s investigation that found the FBI under Comey’s watch misled the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court in order to obtain surveillance orders against former Trump aide Carter Page.
A report from the IG’s probe said investigators withheld information that undermined the credibility of the Steele dossier, which alleged that the Trump campaign conspired with the Kremlin to influence the 2016 election.
According to the IG report, Danchenko, a Russia analyst, told the FBI and Justice Department during interviews in January 2017 that Steele embellished parts of the dossier.
An FBI counterintelligence agent and a supervisory intelligence analyst took part in the interview. The IG report said the FBI relied heavily on the dossier in applications to surveil Page, but failed to include information from Danchenko that undermined the salacious document.
Graham said he wants to find out which FBI officials were told about Danchenko’s statements during the interviews.
“Now who did the intel analyst and the case agent tell?” Graham said in the interview with Hannity. “We’re going to talk to them in the next week to 10 days.”
The case agent has been identified as Steven Somma, a veteran counterintelligence investigator in the FBI’s New York Field Office. Somma was involved in several aspects of Crossfire Hurricane.
In addition to interviewing Danchenko, he was the FBI handler for Stefan Halper, a confidential source who secretly recorded Carter Page and George Papadopoulos, another Trump campaign aide.
The IG report said Somma, who is referred to as “Case Agent 1” in the report, was the first FBI investigator to propose applying for a FISA warrant against Page.
Graham requested documents in May related to Brian Auten, an FBI supervisory intelligence analyst. The FBI has declined to say whether he is the analyst discussed in the IG report.
This story originally was published by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


wnd--2020-09-17--Bail fund promoted by Kamala Harris helped man suspected of assaulting child

MINNEAPOLIS — A bail fund promoted by Sen. Kamala Harris helped a man accused of sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl get out of jail in July , according to court documents obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation .
The Minnesota Freedom Fund ( MFF ) also helped post bail in August for a man accused of assaulting a 71-year-old woman as he burglarized her home , court documents show .
One week after his release the man was found to be in violation of his bail .
The Hennepin County Sheriff ’ s Office told the DCNF on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out for that man ’ s arrest .
TRENDING : Black leaders : BLM about overthrow of U.S. , not race Court documents reviewed by the DCNF reveal that the bail fund also provided support in June to a man who allegedly stomped on and robbed a victim on the streets of Minneapolis on May 25 , the same day George Floyd died while in police custody .
During the nationwide wave of protests and riots following Floyd ’ s death , Harris , the Democratic vice presidential nominee , called on her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a June 1 tweet .
The California senator said contributions to the fund would “ help post bail for those protesting on the ground in Minnesota ” against Floyd ’ s death .
The fundraising page Harris linked to in her tweet , which contains her picture and the slogan of her former presidential campaign , was still actively accepting donations as of Wednesday .
Harris ’ s continued support of the bail fund comes despite Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden ’ s condemnation of violence in August .
The MFF has struggled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received following Floyd ’ s death .
The group revealed in early September that only about 6 % of the $ 3,475,000 it has spent since Floyd ’ s death had gone to help bail out of jail people facing protest-related charges .
At least 13 staffers working for Joe Biden ’ s presidential campaign also donated to the MFF in the first week following Floyd ’ s death , according to Reuters .
The Biden campaign and Harris ’ s Senate office did not return multiple requests for comment asking why she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Neither the campaign nor Harris have publicly addressed her continued support for the bail fund .
Timothy Wayne Columbus , 36 , faces up to 30 years in prison for allegedly sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl in 2015 , court records show .
He was released from a Minneapolis jail in early July on $ 75,000 bail , according to jail records .
One day after his release , Columbus signed a document asking the court to return any refunded bail to the MFF , indicating that the fund played a role in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court document obtained by the DCNF shows .
Minnesota prosecutors provided graphic details of Columbus ’ s alleged sexual assault of the eight-year-old girl in her mother ’ s home , records reviewed by the DCNF show .
“ Victim stated ‘ Tim ’ laid her on the couch and held her down as he unbuckled his pants and pulled down her pants .
Victim stated he then ‘ put his thing inside me , ' ” the statement of probable cause read .
“ Victim stated ‘ Tim ’ told her not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her , ” the statement added .
Columbus was considered a friend of the victim ’ s family but had abruptly stopped visiting the family around the time of the alleged assault , the statement said .
The girl did not tell anyone about what happened until years later , according to the statement .
Columbus confirmed to police prior to his arrest that he knew the victim , but he denied that he abused the girl and said she “ always really liked him , ” the statement read .
Columbus was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident prior to his arrest in June , according to the statement .
A registered sex offender also received support from the MFF earlier in the summer .
Fox9 reported in August that the group paid $ 350,000 in cash to release twice-convicted rapist Christopher Boswell from jail .
Boswell currently faces charges of kidnapping and sexual assault , according to the outlet .
Richard Raynell Kelley , 53 , faces 20 years in prison on a charge of burglary and 1st-degree assault for allegedly breaking into the home a 71-year-old woman in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of protection , court records show .
After the woman , who identified herself to police as the alleged assailant ’ s mother , confronted Kelley about why he was at her home , he allegedly grabbed her shoulders , pulled her down from her stairs and began “ punching and kicking her in the ribs , back , and right eye , ” according to a statement of probable cause .
Kelley then allegedly taped the woman ’ s ankles and wrists together at the foot of the stairs and “ proceeded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple times , stepping on Victim each time he passed her , ” the statement read .
Next , Kelley allegedly told the woman he was going to kill her , but instead , he proceeded to make food inside her house and sat on a couch “ where he could keep an eye on Victim , who was still laying , duct-taped , at the bottom of the stairs , ” according to the statement .
Kelley fell asleep on the couch twice while keeping an eye on the woman , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left the house after he woke up the second time and observed that the woman had managed to move herself from the staircase to her kitchen and was in the process of cutting the duct tape from her wrists with a blender blade .
The woman waited three days after the assault to call the police because she was scared to leave the house due to the coronavirus outbreak , according to the statement .
The woman had a swollen eye and bruises on her chest , shoulders , back and legs when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the statement , which noted that the officers also observed a “ pool of blood ” at the foot of her staircase .
Kelley was arrested and released from jail on $ 4,000 bail on Aug. 10 , according to court records .
Kelley signed a document the same day requesting any refunded bail money to be returned to the MFF , according to a court document reviewed by the DCNF .
One week later , on Aug. 17 , Kelley was found to have violated his bail terms by not complying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a court document reviewed by the DCNF .
The Hennepin County Sheriff ’ s office told the DCNF Wednesday that there was still an active felony warrant for Kelley ’ s arrest .
The MFF did not return multiple requests for comment .
Kelley is the second known suspect released from jail with MFF ’ s help since Floyd ’ s death found to have violated their bail terms .
The fund bailed out Lionel Timms from jail in late July in relation to a third-degree felony assault charge he faces for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on July 11 , according to Alpha News .
Timms was arrested again while out on bail for allegedly assaulting a respected bar manager , who according to Alpha News , was left with a traumatic brain injury .
MFF Interim Executive Director Greg Lewin issued a statement in response to Timms ’ second arrest in late August , saying his arrest while out on bail was a failure of the criminal justice system .
MFF helped bail out man who allegedly stomped on his victim ’ s head Deshaun Jermain Boyd , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 70,000 bail in early July after he was charged with 1st-degree aggravated robbery , court records show .
He has since pleaded guilty and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison , according to the records .
Boyd , without warning , allegedly assaulted and robbed a man who was leaning on a cane on May 25 .
Boyd and another suspect knocked their victim to the ground , then proceeded to repeatedly kick and punch him , according to a statement of probable cause filed by Minnesota prosecutors .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face and body from the repeated blows , ” Boyd and his accomplice “ started to stomp ” on his head , according to the statement .
Following the assault , Boyd and his associate returned to the victim and stole the contents from his pockets , the statement reads .
They were arrested by police a short distance from the scene .
Boyd signed a court document a few days before his release in late June , requesting that any refunded bail be returned to the MFF .
Boyd pleaded guilty to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is scheduled to be sentenced in late September , court records reviewed by the DCNF show .
Kyle Hooten reported from Minneapolis and Andrew Kerr reported from Washington , D.C .
This story originally was published by the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact [ email protected ]

Andrew Kerr and Kyle Hooten
Daily Caller News Foundation
MINNEAPOLIS — A bail fund promoted by Sen. Kamala Harris helped a man accused of sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl get out of jail in July, according to court documents obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The Minnesota Freedom Fund (MFF) also helped post bail in August for a man accused of assaulting a 71-year-old woman as he burglarized her home, court documents show. One week after his release the man was found to be in violation of his bail. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office told the DCNF on Wednesday there is still an active felony warrant out for that man’s arrest.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Court documents reviewed by the DCNF reveal that the bail fund also provided support in June to a man who allegedly stomped on and robbed a victim on the streets of Minneapolis on May 25, the same day George Floyd died while in police custody.
During the nationwide wave of protests and riots following Floyd’s death, Harris, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, called on her followers to donate to the MFF in a June 1 tweet. The California senator said contributions to the fund would “help post bail for those protesting on the ground in Minnesota” against Floyd’s death.
The fundraising page Harris linked to in her tweet, which contains her picture and the slogan of her former presidential campaign, was still actively accepting donations as of Wednesday.
Harris’s continued support of the bail fund comes despite Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s condemnation of violence in August.
If you’re able to, chip in now to the @MNFreedomFund to help post bail for those protesting on the ground in Minnesota. https://t.co/t8LXowKIbw — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) June 1, 2020
The MFF has struggled to spend the $35 million it received following Floyd’s death. The group revealed in early September that only about 6% of the $3,475,000 it has spent since Floyd’s death had gone to help bail out of jail people facing protest-related charges.
At least 13 staffers working for Joe Biden’s presidential campaign also donated to the MFF in the first week following Floyd’s death, according to Reuters.
The Biden campaign and Harris’s Senate office did not return multiple requests for comment asking why she continues to actively fundraise for MFF. Neither the campaign nor Harris have publicly addressed her continued support for the bail fund.
He ‘put his thing inside me’
Timothy Wayne Columbus, 36, faces up to 30 years in prison for allegedly sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl in 2015, court records show. He was released from a Minneapolis jail in early July on $75,000 bail, according to jail records.
One day after his release, Columbus signed a document asking the court to return any refunded bail to the MFF, indicating that the fund played a role in securing his release from jail, a court document obtained by the DCNF shows.
Minnesota prosecutors provided graphic details of Columbus’s alleged sexual assault of the eight-year-old girl in her mother’s home, records reviewed by the DCNF show.
“Victim stated ‘Tim’ laid her on the couch and held her down as he unbuckled his pants and pulled down her pants. Victim stated he then ‘put his thing inside me,'” the statement of probable cause read.
“Victim stated ‘Tim’ told her not to tell anyone and continued to penetrate her,” the statement added.
Columbus was considered a friend of the victim’s family but had abruptly stopped visiting the family around the time of the alleged assault, the statement said. The girl did not tell anyone about what happened until years later, according to the statement.
Columbus confirmed to police prior to his arrest that he knew the victim, but he denied that he abused the girl and said she “always really liked him,” the statement read.
Columbus was a registered predatory offender for a separate incident prior to his arrest in June, according to the statement. A registered sex offender also received support from the MFF earlier in the summer.
Fox9 reported in August that the group paid $350,000 in cash to release twice-convicted rapist Christopher Boswell from jail. Boswell currently faces charges of kidnapping and sexual assault, according to the outlet.
MFF-supported defendant violated bail one week after release
Richard Raynell Kelley, 53, faces 20 years in prison on a charge of burglary and 1st-degree assault for allegedly breaking into the home a 71-year-old woman in April in violation of an active order of protection, court records show.
After the woman, who identified herself to police as the alleged assailant’s mother, confronted Kelley about why he was at her home, he allegedly grabbed her shoulders, pulled her down from her stairs and began “punching and kicking her in the ribs, back, and right eye,” according to a statement of probable cause.
Kelley then allegedly taped the woman’s ankles and wrists together at the foot of the stairs and “proceeded to run up and down the stairs multiple times, stepping on Victim each time he passed her,” the statement read.
Next, Kelley allegedly told the woman he was going to kill her, but instead, he proceeded to make food inside her house and sat on a couch “where he could keep an eye on Victim, who was still laying, duct-taped, at the bottom of the stairs,” according to the statement.
Kelley fell asleep on the couch twice while keeping an eye on the woman, the statement alleged. It stated that he left the house after he woke up the second time and observed that the woman had managed to move herself from the staircase to her kitchen and was in the process of cutting the duct tape from her wrists with a blender blade.
The woman waited three days after the assault to call the police because she was scared to leave the house due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to the statement.
The woman had a swollen eye and bruises on her chest, shoulders, back and legs when officers arrived at her house, according to the statement, which noted that the officers also observed a “pool of blood” at the foot of her staircase.
Kelley was arrested and released from jail on $4,000 bail on Aug. 10, according to court records. Kelley signed a document the same day requesting any refunded bail money to be returned to the MFF, according to a court document reviewed by the DCNF.
One week later, on Aug. 17, Kelley was found to have violated his bail terms by not complying with electronic home monitoring rules, according to a court document reviewed by the DCNF.
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s office told the DCNF Wednesday that there was still an active felony warrant for Kelley’s arrest.
The MFF did not return multiple requests for comment.
Kelley is the second known suspect released from jail with MFF’s help since Floyd’s death found to have violated their bail terms.
The fund bailed out Lionel Timms from jail in late July in relation to a third-degree felony assault charge he faces for allegedly assaulting a person on a bus on July 11, according to Alpha News. Timms was arrested again while out on bail for allegedly assaulting a respected bar manager, who according to Alpha News, was left with a traumatic brain injury.
MFF Interim Executive Director Greg Lewin issued a statement in response to Timms’ second arrest in late August, saying his arrest while out on bail was a failure of the criminal justice system.
MFF helped bail out man who allegedly stomped on his victim’s head
Deshaun Jermain Boyd, 33, was released from jail on $70,000 bail in early July after he was charged with 1st-degree aggravated robbery, court records show. He has since pleaded guilty and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, according to the records.
Boyd, without warning, allegedly assaulted and robbed a man who was leaning on a cane on May 25. Boyd and another suspect knocked their victim to the ground, then proceeded to repeatedly kick and punch him, according to a statement of probable cause filed by Minnesota prosecutors.
As the victim “attempted to shield his face and body from the repeated blows,” Boyd and his accomplice “started to stomp” on his head, according to the statement.
Following the assault, Boyd and his associate returned to the victim and stole the contents from his pockets, the statement reads. They were arrested by police a short distance from the scene.
Boyd signed a court document a few days before his release in late June, requesting that any refunded bail be returned to the MFF.
Boyd pleaded guilty to 1st-degree aggravated robbery in late July and is scheduled to be sentenced in late September, court records reviewed by the DCNF show.
Kyle Hooten reported from Minneapolis and Andrew Kerr reported from Washington, D.C.
This story originally was published by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


wnd--2020-09-17--Emails show Nashville officials covered up low number of COVID-19 cases

Confirmed coronavirus cases from Nashville ’ s bars and restaurants were so low that the Tennessee city ’ s Metro Health Department decided to withhold the data from the public , emails from the mayor ’ s office show .
The emails discuss the low amount of coronavirus cases traced to restaurants and bars and how to hide those figures , Fox 17 Nashville reported .
Contact tracing commissioned over the summer found that construction crews and nursing homes were more responsible for the virus ’ s spread than Nashville ’ s restaurants and bars , which reported just 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Black leaders : BLM about overthrow of U.S. , not race In response to the findings , one health department official asked , “ This isn ’ t going to be publicly released , right ?
Just info for Mayor ’ s Office ?
” the emails showed .
“ Correct , not for public consumption , ” said Benjamin Eagles , a senior advisor to Nashville Mayor John Cooper , the following message shows .
A month later , Nashville ’ s health department was confronted about a rumor that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led to only 80 cases by a reporter for the Tennessean , according to Fox 17 .
“ The figure you gave of ‘ more than 80 ’ does lead to a natural question : If there have been over 20,000 positive cases of COVID-19 in Davidson [ County ] and only 80 or so are traced to restaurants and bars , doesn ’ t that mean restaurants and bars aren ’ t a big problem ?
” the reported asked .
In an internal email shortly after , health department official Brian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ please advise how you recommend I respond.
” Officials responded to Tood , confirming that data relating to restaurants and bars had not been released “ because those numbers are low per site , ” Fox 17 reported .
“ We could still release the total though , and then a response to the over 80 could be because that number is increasing all the time and we don ’ t want to say a specific number , ” the response to Todd said .
Though neither the mayor ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authenticity of the emails , Nashville councilmember Steven Glover inquired via a Metro staff attorney who said they are real , Fox17 reported .
“ I was able to get verification from the Mayor ’ s Office and the Department of Health that these emails are real , ” the staff attorney told the councilmember .
Glover said that the coverup was enough to completely erode people ’ s trust in the mayor ’ s office and the public health department .
“ They are fabricating information , ” he said , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve blown their entire credibility .
It ’ s gone , I don ’ t trust a thing they say going forward …nothing.
” Glover also said that he has been contacted by hundreds of restaurant and bar owners , questioning why officials would not release the data , especially if it could have allowed them to reopen safely .
The mayor ’ s office has denied the allegations of a coverup to Fox 17 , the Tennessee outlet reported .
This story originally was published by the Daily Caller News Foundation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact [ email protected ]

Andrew Trunsky
Daily Caller News Foundation
CORRECTION POSTED BY THE DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION: The Daily Caller updated its original story to provide full context as to what coronavirus case numbers were withheld and why, according to emails from local government emails. The corrected story has also been updated to include the mayor's demand for an apology from Fox 17, and Fox 17's retraction for reporting quotes that lacked full context and were, consequently, misleading. This story reported the published emails similarly and has been thoroughly corrected. This version will remain published for full transparency. This story also removed comments from a Nashville council member since his remarks were made prior to Fox 17's retraction. The DCNF regrets the error. You can read the entire corrected story here.
ORIGINAL STORY: Confirmed coronavirus cases from Nashville’s bars and restaurants were so low that the Tennessee city’s Metro Health Department decided to withhold the data from the public, emails from the mayor’s office show.
The emails discuss the low amount of coronavirus cases traced to restaurants and bars and how to hide those figures, Fox 17 Nashville reported. Contact tracing commissioned over the summer found that construction crews and nursing homes were more responsible for the virus’s spread than Nashville’s restaurants and bars, which reported just 22 cases as of June 30.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
In response to the findings, one health department official asked, “This isn’t going to be publicly released, right? Just info for Mayor’s Office?” the emails showed.
“Correct, not for public consumption,” said Benjamin Eagles, a senior advisor to Nashville Mayor John Cooper, the following message shows.
A month later, Nashville’s health department was confronted about a rumor that the state capital’s restaurants and bars led to only 80 cases by a reporter for the Tennessean, according to Fox 17.
Hi @JohnCooper4Nash. Why won’t you respond to media inquiries about your coronavirus cases?https://t.co/4Y3OBne9Jd — Cernovich (@Cernovich) September 17, 2020
“The figure you gave of ‘more than 80’ does lead to a natural question: If there have been over 20,000 positive cases of COVID-19 in Davidson [County] and only 80 or so are traced to restaurants and bars, doesn’t that mean restaurants and bars aren’t a big problem?” the reported asked.
In an internal email shortly after, health department official Brian Todd asked others in the department, “please advise how you recommend I respond.”
Officials responded to Tood, confirming that data relating to restaurants and bars had not been released “because those numbers are low per site,” Fox 17 reported.
“We could still release the total though, and then a response to the over 80 could be because that number is increasing all the time and we don’t want to say a specific number,” the response to Todd said.
Though neither the mayor’s office nor the health department would confirm the authenticity of the emails, Nashville councilmember Steven Glover inquired via a Metro staff attorney who said they are real, Fox17 reported.
“I was able to get verification from the Mayor’s Office and the Department of Health that these emails are real,” the staff attorney told the councilmember.
Glover said that the coverup was enough to completely erode people’s trust in the mayor’s office and the public health department.
“They are fabricating information,” he said, according to Fox 17. “They’ve blown their entire credibility. It’s gone, I don’t trust a thing they say going forward …nothing.”
Glover also said that he has been contacted by hundreds of restaurant and bar owners, questioning why officials would not release the data, especially if it could have allowed them to reopen safely.
The mayor’s office has denied the allegations of a coverup to Fox 17, the Tennessee outlet reported.
This story originally was published by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


wnd--2020-09-17--State-sponsored Iranian hackers indicted for trying to steal U.S. aerospace tech

Federal prosecutors have indicted three state-sponsored Iranian hackers who tried on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to infiltrate U.S. companies ' networks and steal `` critical information related to U.S. aerospace and satellite technology . ''
`` This case highlights the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ' efforts to infiltrate the networks of American companies in search of valuable commercial information and intellectual property , '' said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers .
`` It is yet another effort by a rogue foreign nation to steal the fruits of this country ’ s hard work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia , said : `` We will relentlessly pursue and expose those who seek to harm American companies and individuals wherever they reside in the world .
The use of malware , the theft of commercial data and intellectual property , and the use of social engineering to steal the identities of U.S. citizens to accomplish unlawful acts will not be tolerated . ''
TRENDING : Black leaders : BLM about overthrow of U.S. , not race The accused are Said Pourkarim Arabi , 34 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Mohammad Bayati , 34 .
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia has issued warrants for their arrest .
Arabi , a member of the IRGC , is accused of conspiracy to commit computer intrusions , obtaining information by unauthorized access to protected computers , intentional damage to protected computers , aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit wire fraud .
Esphargham is charged with conspiracy to commit computer intrusions , obtaining information by unauthorized access to protected computers , intentional damage to protected computers , and conspiracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charged with conspiracy to commit computer intrusions and conspiracy to commit wire fraud .
Possible penalties include jail terms of five to 20 years for each of the counts .
All three are residents and nationals of Iran .
Prosecutors allege the defendants ' hacking campaign targeted numerous companies and organizations in the United States and abroad .
It allegedly began in approximately July 2015 and continued until at least February 2019 .
`` According to the indictment , the defendants at one time possessed a target list of over 1,800 online accounts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies involved in aerospace or satellite technology and international government organizations in Australia , Israel , Singapore , the United States , and the United Kingdom , '' the prosecutors said .
They `` engaged in a coordinated campaign of social engineering to identify real U.S. citizens working in the satellite and aerospace fields whose identities the defendants could assume online .
The defendants then impersonated those individuals and used their stolen identities to register email addresses and fraudulently purchase domains and hacking tools for use in the scheme .
The defendants then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be from the individuals whose identities the defendants had stolen , in an attempt to entice the recipients to click on malicious links embedded in the emails .
Once a recipient clicked on a malicious link , malware would be downloaded to the individual ’ s computer , giving the defendants unauthorized access to the recipient ’ s computer and network . ''
`` Today ’ s charges are yet another example of the FBI ’ s dedication to investigating those who target and attempt to steal data and proprietary information from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dawson , assistant director in charge of the FBI 's Washington field office .
`` Today 's charges allege that these individuals conspired in a coordinated campaign with known IRGC members and acted at their direction . ''

Federal prosecutors have indicted three state-sponsored Iranian hackers who tried on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to infiltrate U.S. companies' networks and steal "critical information related to U.S. aerospace and satellite technology."
"This case highlights the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' efforts to infiltrate the networks of American companies in search of valuable commercial information and intellectual property," said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. "It is yet another effort by a rogue foreign nation to steal the fruits of this country’s hard work and expertise."
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said: "We will relentlessly pursue and expose those who seek to harm American companies and individuals wherever they reside in the world. The use of malware, the theft of commercial data and intellectual property, and the use of social engineering to steal the identities of U.S. citizens to accomplish unlawful acts will not be tolerated."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The accused are Said Pourkarim Arabi, 34, Mohammad Reza Espargham, age unknown, and Mohammad Bayati, 34. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia has issued warrants for their arrest.
Arabi, a member of the IRGC, is accused of conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, obtaining information by unauthorized access to protected computers, intentional damage to protected computers, aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Esphargham is charged with conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, obtaining information by unauthorized access to protected computers, intentional damage to protected computers, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Bayati is charged with conspiracy to commit computer intrusions and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Possible penalties include jail terms of five to 20 years for each of the counts.
All three are residents and nationals of Iran.
Prosecutors allege the defendants' hacking campaign targeted numerous companies and organizations in the United States and abroad. It allegedly began in approximately July 2015 and continued until at least February 2019.
"According to the indictment, the defendants at one time possessed a target list of over 1,800 online accounts, including accounts belonging to organizations and companies involved in aerospace or satellite technology and international government organizations in Australia, Israel, Singapore, the United States, and the United Kingdom," the prosecutors said.
They "engaged in a coordinated campaign of social engineering to identify real U.S. citizens working in the satellite and aerospace fields whose identities the defendants could assume online. The defendants then impersonated those individuals and used their stolen identities to register email addresses and fraudulently purchase domains and hacking tools for use in the scheme. The defendants then created customized spear phishing emails that purported to be from the individuals whose identities the defendants had stolen, in an attempt to entice the recipients to click on malicious links embedded in the emails. Once a recipient clicked on a malicious link, malware would be downloaded to the individual’s computer, giving the defendants unauthorized access to the recipient’s computer and network."
"Today’s charges are yet another example of the FBI’s dedication to investigating those who target and attempt to steal data and proprietary information from the U.S.," said James A. Dawson, assistant director in charge of the FBI's Washington field office. "Today's charges allege that these individuals conspired in a coordinated campaign with known IRGC members and acted at their direction."