wnd--2020-06-23--Bolton book 'undermines' impeachment agenda's worst claim

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Investigations . ]
In late January , John Bolton became the latest – and unlikeliest – official to enjoy a moment of Resistance glory .
A New York Times report about Bolton 's forthcoming memoir fueled round-the-clock expectations that the former national security adviser would substantiate the core allegation at the heart of President Trump 's then-ongoing Senate impeachment trial – that the president tried to coerce Ukraine into opening an investigation of Joe and Hunter Biden in a quid pro quo for military aid .
Compelling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of national urgency .
Bolton was never given the chance as Senate Republicans voted to block witnesses and acquit Trump on both impeachment counts .
In the publicity blitz for his new memoir , “ The Room Where It Happened , ” Bolton has tried to keep the initial narrative alive .
Speaking to ABC News , he claimed that Trump , at a meeting in August 2019 , said he `` wanted a probe of Joe Biden in exchange for delivering the security assistance . ''
That conversation , Bolton added , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ linkage .
… The specificity of the linkage , I think , was unmistakable . ''
TRENDING : Same DA charging cop who shot Rayshard Brooks is under investigation himself His memoir , however , fails to substantiate that allegation .
In fact , Bolton offers new evidence that undermines it .
What he told Martha Raddatz is not what he writes in his book .
Instead of a sharp demand of a quid pro quo , Bolton writes , Trump `` said he wasn ’ t in favor of sending [ Ukraine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related to [ Hillary ] Clinton and Biden had been turned over . ''
Bolton does not explain what he means by `` materials '' – and no interviewer has asked him to so far .
RealClearInvestigations ' request to Bolton for comment , sent through a representative , was not immediately answered .
Regardless , those were not at the heart of Trump 's impeachment .
Trump was not impeached for trying to coerce Ukraine into handing over `` Russia-investigation materials '' to the U.S. , but for allegedly trying to force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wholly separate investigation of the Bidens and Burisma , the gas company where Hunter was given a lucrative board seat while his father was running U.S. policy in Ukraine .
Yet Burisma is not even mentioned in Bolton 's book – and Hunter only in passing .
This includes an acknowledgement that Bolton does not even remember if the younger Biden was actually discussed .
At a May 8 meeting where Trump and his legal adviser Rudy Giuliani discuss the latter 's `` desire to meet with President-Elect Zelensky , '' Bolton can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to discuss [ Ukraine 's ] investigation of either Hillary Clinton 's efforts to influence the 2016 campaign or something having to do with Hunter Biden and the 2020 election , or maybe both . ''
Bolton says his recollections are not precise because the Ukraine-related theories floating around the Trump administration `` always seemed intermingled and confused , one reason I did not pay them much heed .
Even after they became public , I could barely separate the strands of the multiple conspiracy theories at work . ''
Bolton 's words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump allegedly `` said he was n't in favor of sending [ Ukraine ] anything '' is not an explicit linkage to military aid .
And as for the `` Russian-investigation materials , '' Bolton does not specify what Trump was referring to .
It seems likely Trump may have been referencing his reported theory that the Democratic National Committee server was somehow hacked with Ukrainian involvement .
Trump may also have been seeking information on the Ukrainians who openly admitted to interfering in the 2016 campaign with the aim of thwarting his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of illegal payments to Paul Manafort .
It is highly plausible that these were Trump 's priorities .
In his July 25 phone call with Zelensky , which sparked the whistleblower complaint behind Ukrainegate , Trump 's top issue – and the object of the “ favor ” he requested – was not the Bidens , but securing Zelensky 's assistance with the Justice Department 's ongoing review of how the Russia investigation began in 2016 .
Whatever the case , for Bolton to write that Trump drew a link between these issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a link to a demand that Ukraine open an investigation of the Bidens and Burisma – contradicts the impeachment case that many expected him to validate .
Bolton , perhaps inadvertently , also lends credence to the Trump administration 's public defense of its freeze on security assistance to Ukraine , which Democrats cast as the linchpin of a politically motivated quid pro quo .
In his July 25 call with Zelensky and subsequent public statements , Trump has said that he wanted NATO allies to spend more on Ukrainian military funding .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ just days after an article in Politico made the aid freeze public , including to the Ukrainian government – Trump repeated his complaints about the U.S. burden , and proposed that NATO provide Ukraine with the security assistance instead of Washington : If Trump is freezing the military aid for the sole purpose of coercing a Ukrainian investigation , it would be incongruous for him to propose an outcome that delivers the money without the investigation he is supposedly trying to compel .
As a part of their impeachment case , Democrats argued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only after getting caught through publicity surrounding the whistleblower complaint .
Yet Bolton writes that after Ukraine conducted a successful prisoner swap with Russia on Sept. 7 , `` Trump had seemingly indicated '' that the swap `` might be enough to get him to release the security assistance . ''
The money was released four days later , on Sept. 11 .
It is easy to forget why Bolton was initially cast as a savior figure in January by those hoping to remove Trump by impeachment .
When news of his memoir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial began , Democrats had failed to prove their case .
Not a single witness in the House impeachment hearings had provided direct evidence of a quid pro quo .
The only witness who even spoke to Trump about the Ukraine aid was the then-European Union Ambassador Gordon Sondland .
He reiterated multiple times that `` nobody told me directly that the aid was tied to anything , '' and that such a linkage was only his `` presumption '' and `` personal , you know , guess . ''
Sondland 's testimony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case because , according to the impeachment narrative , he was the Trump official who purportedly relayed the alleged quid pro quo to the Ukrainian side .
But Sondland revealed that he had only told Zelensky aide Andriy Yermak , in “ a very , very brief pull-aside conversation , ” that “ I didn ’ t know exactly why ” the aid has been frozen , but that a demand to open investigations “ could be a reason.
” For his part , Yermak has said he does not even remember discussing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highlighted another problem with the Democrats ’ quid pro quo allegation : Not a single Ukrainian official substantiates it .
In addition to Yermak , President Zelensky and Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko also said that they saw no tie between the frozen military funding and pressure to open investigations .
Even Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy , a staunch impeachment advocate , corroborates them : When they met in early September , Murphy recalled , Zelensky `` did not make any connection between the aid that had been cut off and the requests that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bolton confirms diplomat Fiona Hill 's testimony that he told her he did not want to be `` part of whatever drug deal Sondland and [ White House Chief of Staff Mick ] Mulvaney are cooking up . ''
But he offers context that makes that line far less explosive than it was initially received .
Bolton was not referring to leveraging any military aid , but to Sondland 's attempt to push for a hasty meeting between Trump and Zelensky at the White House where the `` Giuliani issues '' could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in July .
Bolton says he nixed the idea of a meeting because Trump had recently told him that `` he didn ’ t want to have anything to do with Ukrainians of any stripe , '' due to Ukrainian meddling against him in the 2016 campaign .
Sondland , in Bolton 's view , was `` freelancing . ''
According to Bolton , Trump had also `` resolved the visit issue just before leaving for the United Kingdom in June by saying '' he would meet with Zelensky `` not until the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ view . ''
[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Investigations . ]

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Investigations.]
By Aaron Mate
Real Clear Investigations
In late January, John Bolton became the latest – and unlikeliest – official to enjoy a moment of Resistance glory. A New York Times report about Bolton's forthcoming memoir fueled round-the-clock expectations that the former national security adviser would substantiate the core allegation at the heart of President Trump's then-ongoing Senate impeachment trial – that the president tried to coerce Ukraine into opening an investigation of Joe and Hunter Biden in a quid pro quo for military aid. Compelling his testimony was cast as a matter of national urgency. Bolton was never given the chance as Senate Republicans voted to block witnesses and acquit Trump on both impeachment counts.
In the publicity blitz for his new memoir, “The Room Where It Happened,” Bolton has tried to keep the initial narrative alive. Speaking to ABC News, he claimed that Trump, at a meeting in August 2019, said he "wanted a probe of Joe Biden in exchange for delivering the security assistance." That conversation, Bolton added, "was the crispest indication of the linkage. … The specificity of the linkage, I think, was unmistakable."
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His memoir, however, fails to substantiate that allegation.
In fact, Bolton offers new evidence that undermines it.
What he told Martha Raddatz is not what he writes in his book. Instead of a sharp demand of a quid pro quo, Bolton writes, Trump "said he wasn’t in favor of sending [Ukraine] anything until all the Russia-investigation materials related to [Hillary] Clinton and Biden had been turned over."
Bolton does not explain what he means by "materials" – and no interviewer has asked him to so far. RealClearInvestigations' request to Bolton for comment, sent through a representative, was not immediately answered.
Regardless, those were not at the heart of Trump's impeachment. Trump was not impeached for trying to coerce Ukraine into handing over "Russia-investigation materials" to the U.S., but for allegedly trying to force Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to open a wholly separate investigation of the Bidens and Burisma, the gas company where Hunter was given a lucrative board seat while his father was running U.S. policy in Ukraine.
Yet Burisma is not even mentioned in Bolton's book – and Hunter only in passing. This includes an acknowledgement that Bolton does not even remember if the younger Biden was actually discussed. At a May 8 meeting where Trump and his legal adviser Rudy Giuliani discuss the latter's "desire to meet with President-Elect Zelensky," Bolton cannot recall if the purpose is "to discuss [Ukraine's] investigation of either Hillary Clinton's efforts to influence the 2016 campaign or something having to do with Hunter Biden and the 2020 election, or maybe both."
Bolton says his recollections are not precise because the Ukraine-related theories floating around the Trump administration "always seemed intermingled and confused, one reason I did not pay them much heed. Even after they became public, I could barely separate the strands of the multiple conspiracy theories at work."
Bolton's words are also ambiguous. The fact that Trump allegedly "said he wasn't in favor of sending [Ukraine] anything" is not an explicit linkage to military aid. And as for the "Russian-investigation materials," Bolton does not specify what Trump was referring to. It seems likely Trump may have been referencing his reported theory that the Democratic National Committee server was somehow hacked with Ukrainian involvement.
Trump may also have been seeking information on the Ukrainians who openly admitted to interfering in the 2016 campaign with the aim of thwarting his candidacy, most notably by leaking allegations of illegal payments to Paul Manafort. It is highly plausible that these were Trump's priorities. In his July 25 phone call with Zelensky, which sparked the whistleblower complaint behind Ukrainegate, Trump's top issue – and the object of the “favor” he requested – was not the Bidens, but securing Zelensky's assistance with the Justice Department's ongoing review of how the Russia investigation began in 2016.
Whatever the case, for Bolton to write that Trump drew a link between these issues and the security aid – and not a link to a demand that Ukraine open an investigation of the Bidens and Burisma – contradicts the impeachment case that many expected him to validate.
Bolton, perhaps inadvertently, also lends credence to the Trump administration's public defense of its freeze on security assistance to Ukraine, which Democrats cast as the linchpin of a politically motivated quid pro quo. In his July 25 call with Zelensky and subsequent public statements, Trump has said that he wanted NATO allies to spend more on Ukrainian military funding. Bolton recounts that on Aug. 30 – just days after an article in Politico made the aid freeze public, including to the Ukrainian government – Trump repeated his complaints about the U.S. burden, and proposed that NATO provide Ukraine with the security assistance instead of Washington:
Trump said, “I don’t give a s--- about NATO. I am ready to say, ‘If you don’t pay, we won’t defend them.’ I want the three hundred million dollars [he meant two hundred fifty million dollars, one piece of the assistance earmarked for Ukraine] to be paid through NATO." … He then said to Pence, “Call [NATO Secretary General Jens] Stoltenberg and have him have NATO pay. Say ‘The President is for you, but the money should come from NATO,’” which still didn’t make any sense.
If Trump is freezing the military aid for the sole purpose of coercing a Ukrainian investigation, it would be incongruous for him to propose an outcome that delivers the money without the investigation he is supposedly trying to compel.
As a part of their impeachment case, Democrats argued that Trump released the aid to Ukraine only after getting caught through publicity surrounding the whistleblower complaint. Yet Bolton writes that after Ukraine conducted a successful prisoner swap with Russia on Sept. 7, "Trump had seemingly indicated" that the swap "might be enough to get him to release the security assistance." The money was released four days later, on Sept. 11.
It is easy to forget why Bolton was initially cast as a savior figure in January by those hoping to remove Trump by impeachment. When news of his memoir emerged, 10 days after the Senate trial began, Democrats had failed to prove their case. Not a single witness in the House impeachment hearings had provided direct evidence of a quid pro quo. The only witness who even spoke to Trump about the Ukraine aid was the then-European Union Ambassador Gordon Sondland. He reiterated multiple times that "nobody told me directly that the aid was tied to anything," and that such a linkage was only his "presumption" and "personal, you know, guess."
Sondland's testimony was even more damaging to the impeachment case because, according to the impeachment narrative, he was the Trump official who purportedly relayed the alleged quid pro quo to the Ukrainian side. But Sondland revealed that he had only told Zelensky aide Andriy Yermak, in “a very, very brief pull-aside conversation,” that “I didn’t know exactly why” the aid has been frozen, but that a demand to open investigations “could be a reason.”
For his part, Yermak has said he does not even remember discussing the frozen aid with Sondland. That highlighted another problem with the Democrats’ quid pro quo allegation: Not a single Ukrainian official substantiates it. In addition to Yermak, President Zelensky and Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko also said that they saw no tie between the frozen military funding and pressure to open investigations. Even Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy, a staunch impeachment advocate, corroborates them: When they met in early September, Murphy recalled, Zelensky "did not make any connection between the aid that had been cut off and the requests that he was getting from Giuliani."
Bolton confirms diplomat Fiona Hill's testimony that he told her he did not want to be "part of whatever drug deal Sondland and [White House Chief of Staff Mick] Mulvaney are cooking up." But he offers context that makes that line far less explosive than it was initially received. Bolton was not referring to leveraging any military aid, but to Sondland's attempt to push for a hasty meeting between Trump and Zelensky at the White House where the "Giuliani issues" could be discussed before Ukraine’s parliamentary elections in July. Bolton says he nixed the idea of a meeting because Trump had recently told him that "he didn’t want to have anything to do with Ukrainians of any stripe," due to Ukrainian meddling against him in the 2016 campaign. Sondland, in Bolton's view, was "freelancing." According to Bolton, Trump had also "resolved the visit issue just before leaving for the United Kingdom in June by saying" he would meet with Zelensky "not until the fall, the right outcome in my view."
[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Investigations.]


wnd--2020-06-23--Barr: It's 'infuriating' that Schiff still claims 'collusion'

Rep. Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , for years has charged that he has `` evidence '' of Trump campaign collusion with Russia .
He said in 2018 `` there 's plenty of evidence ... in plain sight , '' and in 2019 he claimed there is `` ample evidence . ''
This year , after the release of transcripts of Obama officials testifying under oath that they saw no evidence of collusion , he insisted , `` There is ample evidence of the corrupt interactions between the Trump campaign and Russia , both direct and circumstantial . ''
Attorney General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TRENDING : Same DA charging cop who shot Rayshard Brooks is under investigation himself '' It is infuriating , and it ’ s the same phenomenon I discussed with the media , which is the media misled the American people grossly over a long period of time with exaggerated claims and misinformation , and they haven ’ t been held accountable — and the same for a lot of these talking heads , '' he said in an interview on Fox News ' `` Sunday Morning Futures '' with Maria Bartiromo , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's the responsibility of voters to hold Schiff accountable .
`` That ’ s why we have elections .
If the people of his district want him to continue to behave as he has , then they can send him back to office , '' he said .
Richard Grenell , then acting director of national intelligence , declassified the witness testimonies and pressured Schiff to release the transcripts .
Released in early May , the transcripts showed James Clapper , who was DNI under Barack Obama , testifying in 2017 he `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of collusion .
But in a media appearance , Clapper said the Trump campaign was `` essentially aiding and abetting the Russians and having contacts , dozens of contacts , with Russians , some of whom were connected officially to Russian intelligence , and not reporting it . ''
National Security Adviser Susan Rice , Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes , Attorney General Loretta Lynch , Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates and U.S .
Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power also said under oath that saw no evidence of collusion .
Later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while the Russians interfered in the election , he could not establish any criminal actions on the part of the Trump campaign .
Barr said it 's been `` stunning that all we have gotten from the mainstream media is sort of bovine silence in the face of the complete collapse of the so-called Russiagate scandal , which they did all they could to sensationalize and drive . ''
`` And it 's , like , not even a ‘ whoops.
’ They 're just onto the next false scandal .
So , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are n't concerned about civil liberties and the integrity of our governmental process , '' he said .
Further , DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz found the Justice Department and the FBI committed at least 17 `` significant errors and omissions '' in their application for warrants to spy on the Trump campaign .
And it 's now known that the Steele dossier , the anti-Trump document funded by the DNC and Hillary Clinton 's campaign , may have been compromised by Russian disinformation .
The whole scandal is the subject of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Durham .
Schiff 's dedication to the collusion story line has prompted some Republicans to call for an investigation of him .

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., for years has charged that he has "evidence" of Trump campaign collusion with Russia.
He said in 2018 "there's plenty of evidence ... in plain sight," and in 2019 he claimed there is "ample evidence."
This year, after the release of transcripts of Obama officials testifying under oath that they saw no evidence of collusion, he insisted, "There is ample evidence of the corrupt interactions between the Trump campaign and Russia, both direct and circumstantial."
Attorney General William Barr clearly is fed up.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"It is infuriating, and it’s the same phenomenon I discussed with the media, which is the media misled the American people grossly over a long period of time with exaggerated claims and misinformation, and they haven’t been held accountable — and the same for a lot of these talking heads," he said in an interview on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" with Maria Bartiromo, the Washington Examiner reported.
Barr said it's the responsibility of voters to hold Schiff accountable.
"That’s why we have elections. If the people of his district want him to continue to behave as he has, then they can send him back to office," he said.
Richard Grenell, then acting director of national intelligence, declassified the witness testimonies and pressured Schiff to release the transcripts.
Released in early May, the transcripts showed James Clapper, who was DNI under Barack Obama, testifying in 2017 he "never saw any direct empirical evidence" of collusion.
But in a media appearance, Clapper said the Trump campaign was "essentially aiding and abetting the Russians and having contacts, dozens of contacts, with Russians, some of whom were connected officially to Russian intelligence, and not reporting it."
National Security Adviser Susan Rice, Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates and U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power also said under oath that saw no evidence of collusion.
Later, special counsel Robert Mueller concluded that while the Russians interfered in the election, he could not establish any criminal actions on the part of the Trump campaign.
Barr said it's been "stunning that all we have gotten from the mainstream media is sort of bovine silence in the face of the complete collapse of the so-called Russiagate scandal, which they did all they could to sensationalize and drive."
"And it's, like, not even a ‘whoops.’ They're just onto the next false scandal. So, that has been surprising to me that people aren't concerned about civil liberties and the integrity of our governmental process," he said.
Further, DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz found the Justice Department and the FBI committed at least 17 "significant errors and omissions" in their application for warrants to spy on the Trump campaign.
And it's now known that the Steele dossier, the anti-Trump document funded by the DNC and Hillary Clinton's campaign, may have been compromised by Russian disinformation.
The whole scandal is the subject of a criminal investigation by U.S. Attorney John Durham.
Schiff's dedication to the collusion story line has prompted some Republicans to call for an investigation of him.


wnd--2020-06-23--Authors quit J.K. Rowling's talent agency after she defends biological sex

Four authors resigned from the Blair Partnership , a literary agency based in Britain , after the agency refused their demands to outwardly support transgender rights and commit to internal educational measures like diversity training .
The move came following a left-wing backlash to comments made on biological sex by J.K. Rowling , who is also a Blair Partnership client , according to the Guardian .
Rowling said both on Twitter and in an essay that biological sex is an important concept that is under attack by transgender activists .
Authors Drew Davies , Fox Fisher , Ugla Stefanía Kristjönudóttir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — all members of the LGBTQ+ community — published a short essay detailing their concerns with the agency ’ s neutrality towards Rowling ’ s comments .
TRENDING : Same DA charging cop who shot Rayshard Brooks is under investigation himself “ This decision is not made lightly , and we are saddened and disappointed it has come to this , ” they wrote .
“ After J. K. Rowling ’ s — who is also signed to the agency — public comments on transgender issues , we reached out to the agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to transgender rights and equality .
After our talks with them , we felt that they were unable to commit to any action that we thought was appropriate and meaningful.
” They continued : “ Freedom of speech can only be upheld if the structural inequalities that hinder equal opportunities for underrepresented groups are challenged and changed.
” Earlier this month , Rowling mocked a headline about “ people who menstruate , ” suggesting that it was ludicrous not to identify these people as women .
In response to the blowback , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rationale for supporting the notion that there is a biological distinction between men and women .
Rowling responded to the ensuing criticism from transgender and progressive activists with a lengthy blog post detailing reasons why she was critical of this faction of the transgender movement .
In a statement to the Guardian , the agency responded to the four departing authors : “ We support the rights of all of our clients to express their thoughts and beliefs , and we believe in freedom of speech .
Publishing and the creative arts are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our duty , as an agency to support all of our clients in this fundamental freedom and we do not comment on their individual views.
” “ We are disappointed by the decision that four clients have taken to part ways with the agency .
To reiterate , we believe in freedom of speech for all ; these clients have decided to leave because we did not meet their demands to be re-educated to their point of view .
We respect their right to pursue what they feel is the correct course of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 Neil Shah
Daily Caller News Foundation
Four authors resigned from the Blair Partnership, a literary agency based in Britain, after the agency refused their demands to outwardly support transgender rights and commit to internal educational measures like diversity training.
The move came following a left-wing backlash to comments made on biological sex by J.K. Rowling, who is also a Blair Partnership client, according to the Guardian. Rowling said both on Twitter and in an essay that biological sex is an important concept that is under attack by transgender activists.
Authors Drew Davies, Fox Fisher, Ugla Stefanía Kristjönudóttir Jónsdóttir, and a fourth anonymous individual — all members of the LGBTQ+ community — published a short essay detailing their concerns with the agency’s neutrality towards Rowling’s comments.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
“This decision is not made lightly, and we are saddened and disappointed it has come to this,” they wrote. “After J. K. Rowling’s — who is also signed to the agency — public comments on transgender issues, we reached out to the agency with an invitation to reaffirm their stance to transgender rights and equality. After our talks with them, we felt that they were unable to commit to any action that we thought was appropriate and meaningful.”
They continued: “Freedom of speech can only be upheld if the structural inequalities that hinder equal opportunities for underrepresented groups are challenged and changed.”
Earlier this month, Rowling mocked a headline about “people who menstruate,” suggesting that it was ludicrous not to identify these people as women. In response to the blowback, she tweeted out a Twitter thread detailing her rationale for supporting the notion that there is a biological distinction between men and women.
The idea that women like me, who’ve been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they’re vulnerable in the same way as women – ie, to male violence – ‘hate’ trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences – is a nonsense. — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2020
I respect every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. I’d march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it’s hateful to say so. — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2020
Rowling responded to the ensuing criticism from transgender and progressive activists with a lengthy blog post detailing reasons why she was critical of this faction of the transgender movement.
In a statement to the Guardian, the agency responded to the four departing authors: “We support the rights of all of our clients to express their thoughts and beliefs, and we believe in freedom of speech. Publishing and the creative arts are dependent on these things. It is our duty, as an agency to support all of our clients in this fundamental freedom and we do not comment on their individual views.”
“We are disappointed by the decision that four clients have taken to part ways with the agency. To reiterate, we believe in freedom of speech for all; these clients have decided to leave because we did not meet their demands to be re-educated to their point of view. We respect their right to pursue what they feel is the correct course of action,” the statement continues.
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--2020-06-23--'If someone is wearing MAGA hat I'm going to delete them for terror'

A Facebook moderator acknowledged in an undercover video by Project Veritas that the social media giant 's hostility to President Trump and conservatives influences its decisions regarding content .
The moderator said she deletes every Republican post that comes up in her queue .
`` Yes !
I do n't give no f -- -- .
I 'll delete it , '' she said .
The moderator said anti-Trump content is untouched , even if it violates company policy .
TRENDING : Same DA charging cop who shot Rayshard Brooks is under investigation himself '' You got ta take it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she said .
`` If you see something that ’ s not supposed to be up , it ’ s probably me . ''
Project Veritas asked another content moderator , Lara Kontakos , how she treats posts supporting the president .
`` If someone is wearing a MAGA hat , I am going to delete them for terrorism , '' she said .
`` I think we are all doing that . ''
The information was brought to Project Veritas by Facebook insider Zach McElroy .
`` Zach McElroy ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hill testimony of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg , who gave lawmakers the impression that his company only takes content that could cause harm , such as relating to terrorism or hate speech , but never for politics , '' said James O ’ Keefe , Project Veritas ’ founding CEO .
McElroy said he was willing to testify before Congress about Facebook 's bias .
He said that 75 % to 80 % of posts selected by Facebook 's algorithm for moderator review supported President Trump , Republicans or conservative causes .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plenty of statements from Mark Zuckerberg publicly about how they do n't want to meddle in the election .
They want to give everybody a free ... the platform to speak freely .
But we know that privately they have very different opinions .
I had no doubt what he said publicly is not what he means to do privately . ''
O'Keefe noted Facebook and other social media platforms are protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act , because they claim that unlike traditional publishers , they do not actively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 400 billion market capitalization is tied to this protection and our report shows for the first time anywhere Facebook ’ s robust and human-directed process for restricting the marketplace of ideas , which calls into question their CDA 230 immunity , '' he said .
Steve Grimmett , a content review lead , said it 's Facebook 's culture to target the president and his supporters .
Zuckerberg has testified to Congress that his company is a neutral platform .
He was called before the Senate Judiciary and Commerce committee in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cruz , R-Texas , commented : `` Gizmodo reported that Facebook had purposely and routinely suppressed conservative stories from trending news , including stories about CPAC , including stories about Mitt Romney , including stories about the Lois Lerner IRS scandal , including stories about Glenn Beck .
`` In addition to that , Facebook has initially shut down the Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day page , has blocked a post of a Fox News reporter , has blocked over two dozen Catholic pages , and most recently blocked Trump supporters Diamond and Silk 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , after determining their content and brand were , 'unsafe to the community . '
`` To a great many Americans that appears to be a pervasive pattern of political bias .
Do you agree with that assessment ? ''
He claimed he tries to `` root out '' of his company `` any bias . ''
The revelations in the video drew thousands of online comments .
One said that if Zuckerberg `` does n't immediately fire all of these people and launch widespread internal investigation , '' he 's just as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media companies .
Another said , `` The only question is , how long will we put up [ with ] what 's going on . ''

A Facebook moderator acknowledged in an undercover video by Project Veritas that the social media giant's hostility to President Trump and conservatives influences its decisions regarding content.
The moderator said she deletes every Republican post that comes up in her queue.
"Yes! I don't give no f----. I'll delete it," she said.
The moderator said anti-Trump content is untouched, even if it violates company policy.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"You gotta take it down but I leave it up," she said. "If you see something that’s not supposed to be up, it’s probably me."
Project Veritas asked another content moderator, Lara Kontakos, how she treats posts supporting the president.
"If someone is wearing a MAGA hat, I am going to delete them for terrorism," she said. "I think we are all doing that."
The video:
The information was brought to Project Veritas by Facebook insider Zach McElroy.
"Zach McElroy’s story raises serious doubts about the Capitol Hill testimony of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who gave lawmakers the impression that his company only takes content that could cause harm, such as relating to terrorism or hate speech, but never for politics," said James O’Keefe, Project Veritas’ founding CEO.
McElroy said he was willing to testify before Congress about Facebook's bias. He said that 75% to 80% of posts selected by Facebook's algorithm for moderator review supported President Trump, Republicans or conservative causes.
The insider said: "We've seen plenty of statements from Mark Zuckerberg publicly about how they don't want to meddle in the election. They want to give everybody a free ... the platform to speak freely. But we know that privately they have very different opinions. I had no doubt what he said publicly is not what he means to do privately."
O'Keefe noted Facebook and other social media platforms are protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, because they claim that unlike traditional publishers, they do not actively edit content.
"Facebook’s $400 billion market capitalization is tied to this protection and our report shows for the first time anywhere Facebook’s robust and human-directed process for restricting the marketplace of ideas, which calls into question their CDA 230 immunity," he said.
Steve Grimmett, a content review lead, said it's Facebook's culture to target the president and his supporters.
"It’s a very progressive company, who’s very anti-MAGA."
Zuckerberg has testified to Congress that his company is a neutral platform.
He was called before the Senate Judiciary and Commerce committee in 2018.
A panel member, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, commented: "Gizmodo reported that Facebook had purposely and routinely suppressed conservative stories from trending news, including stories about CPAC, including stories about Mitt Romney, including stories about the Lois Lerner IRS scandal, including stories about Glenn Beck.
"In addition to that, Facebook has initially shut down the Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day page, has blocked a post of a Fox News reporter, has blocked over two dozen Catholic pages, and most recently blocked Trump supporters Diamond and Silk's page, with 1.2 million Facebook followers, after determining their content and brand were, 'unsafe to the community.'
"To a great many Americans that appears to be a pervasive pattern of political bias. Do you agree with that assessment?"
Zuckerberg disagreed.
He claimed he tries to "root out" of his company "any bias."
The revelations in the video drew thousands of online comments.
One said that if Zuckerberg "doesn't immediately fire all of these people and launch widespread internal investigation," he's just as bad as the CEO's of other social media companies.
Another said, "The only question is, how long will we put up [with] what's going on."


wnd--2020-06-23--Feds find $1B in anonymous foreign funding at colleges

( WASHINGTON EXAMINER ) -- An Education Department investigation unearthed $ 1 billion in anonymous foreign funding on campuses nationwide @ @ @ @ @ direct contracts with the Chinese Communist Party , leading to reforms instituted Monday .
The @ @ @ @ @ foreign funding on campus was launched in 2019 , and since July of last year @ @ @ @ @ have reported $ 6.5 billion in previously undisclosed foreign gifts and contracts , according to @ @ @ @ @ that institutions have “ anonymized ” the identities of the donors of at least $ @ @ @ @ @ flowing in from China , Russia , Qatar , and Saudi Arabia .
The Education @ @ @ @ @ yet completed the nationwide investigation , unveiled an online portal on Monday “ that will @ @ @ @ @ to report foreign gifts and contracts ” above $ 250,000 as required by Section 117 @ @ @ @ @ .

(WASHINGTON EXAMINER) -- An Education Department investigation unearthed $1 billion in anonymous foreign funding on campuses nationwide and discovered a school with direct contracts with the Chinese Communist Party, leading to reforms instituted Monday.
The broad, yearlong inquiry into foreign funding on campus was launched in 2019, and since July of last year, U.S. colleges and universities have reported $6.5 billion in previously undisclosed foreign gifts and contracts, according to a press release which added that institutions have “anonymized” the identities of the donors of at least $1.14 billion in foreign funds flowing in from China, Russia, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
The Education Department, which has not yet completed the nationwide investigation, unveiled an online portal on Monday “that will make it easier for schools to report foreign gifts and contracts” above $250,000 as required by Section 117 of the Higher Education Act.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-06-24--Porn star charged with sexually assaulting 4 women, faces life in prison

( FOX NEWS ) -- Adult film actor Ron Jeremy has been charged with the sexual assault of four women @ @ @ @ @ District Attorney announced Tuesday that the popular adult film star has been charged with forcibly @ @ @ @ @ assaulting another in separate incidents dating as far back as 2014 .
Specifically , Jeremy @ @ @ @ @ Jeremy Hyatt , 67 , was charged with three counts of forcible rape and forcible @ @ @ @ @ and one count each of forcible oral copulation and sexual battery , according to a @ @ @ @ @ Lacey 's office .

(FOX NEWS) -- Adult film actor Ron Jeremy has been charged with the sexual assault of four women.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney announced Tuesday that the popular adult film star has been charged with forcibly raping three women and sexually assaulting another in separate incidents dating as far back as 2014.
Specifically, Jeremy, who was born Ronald Jeremy Hyatt, 67, was charged with three counts of forcible rape and forcible penetration by a foreign object and one count each of forcible oral copulation and sexual battery, according to a release from District Attorney Jackie Lacey's office.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-06-24--Joy Behar and husband drive around looking for people not wearing masks

( FOX NEWS ) -- The View '' co-host Joy Behar revealed on Tuesday that she regularly spends time looking @ @ @ @ @ around without masks during the coronavirus pandemic .
`` I do n't have much faith @ @ @ @ @ end anytime soon ... Barring a vaccine , all we have is social distancing and @ @ @ @ @ is happening in this country right now ... this is going to go on and @ @ @ @ @ I 'll tell you the truth , it 's making me crazy , '' she @ @ @ @ @ do is I get in my car maybe with Steve and we go around town @ @ @ @ @ not wearing masks , '' she added , referring to her husband .

(FOX NEWS) -- The View" co-host Joy Behar revealed on Tuesday that she regularly spends time looking at people who are walking around without masks during the coronavirus pandemic.
"I don't have much faith that this is going to end anytime soon ... Barring a vaccine, all we have is social distancing and masks -- neither of which is happening in this country right now ... this is going to go on and on and on, and I'll tell you the truth, it's making me crazy," she said.
"All I do is I get in my car maybe with Steve and we go around town looking for people who are not wearing masks," she added, referring to her husband.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-06-24--Florida governor has 'grim reaper' threat for businesses defying corona restrictions

( FOX NEWS ) -- Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis issued a stark warning on Tuesday to businesses that defy @ @ @ @ @ guidelines as confirmed cases have risen throughout recent weeks .
During a news conference in @ @ @ @ @ revoke business licenses from bars and restaurants that operate in violation of social distancing guidelines @ @ @ @ @ been able to operate at 50 percent indoor capacity with appropriate social distancing , but @ @ @ @ @ been hosting “ big parties.
” “ If you go in and it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Dance Party USA ’ and it ’ s packed to the rafters , that ’ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not just an innocent mistake , ” DeSantis said .

(FOX NEWS) -- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a stark warning on Tuesday to businesses that defy the state’s coronavirus-related guidelines as confirmed cases have risen throughout recent weeks.
During a news conference in Orlando, DeSantis threatened to revoke business licenses from bars and restaurants that operate in violation of social distancing guidelines. Restaurants and pubs have been able to operate at 50 percent indoor capacity with appropriate social distancing, but DeSantis said some establishments have been hosting “big parties.”
“If you go in and it’s just mayhem, like ‘Dance Party USA’ and it’s packed to the rafters, that’s just cut-and-dry and that’s not just an innocent mistake,” DeSantis said.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-06-24--Ben & Jerry's joins boycott of Facebook and Instagram ads

( CNBC ) -- Ben & Jerry ’ s said on Tuesday that it will pause all paid advertising on @ @ @ @ @ U.S. beginning on July 1 , joining the ” # StopHateForProfit ” campaign .
Last @ @ @ @ @ six organizations , including the Anti-Defamation League , the National Association for the Advancement of @ @ @ @ @ and Color of Change , called on Facebook advertisers to halt their spending on the @ @ @ @ @ month of July .
They ’ re asking large brands “ to show they will @ @ @ @ @ puts profit over safety.
” Patagonia , The North Face , REI , Upwork and @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll follow suit .

(CNBC) -- Ben & Jerry’s said on Tuesday that it will pause all paid advertising on Facebook and Instagram in the U.S. beginning on July 1, joining the ”#StopHateForProfit” campaign.
Last week, a group of six organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Sleeping Giants and Color of Change, called on Facebook advertisers to halt their spending on the social media platform during the month of July. They’re asking large brands “to show they will not support a company that puts profit over safety.”
Patagonia, The North Face, REI, Upwork and others have since said they’ll follow suit.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-06-24--Governor promises to defend Mount Rushmore from vandals: 'Not on my watch'

As leftist demonstrators take aim at statues and monuments that honor former American presidents , South Dakota Gov .
Kristi Noem has announced that Mount Rushmore will be protected .
On Monday , conservative commentator Ben Shapiro gave his take on a movement by anti-American demonstrators to destroy statues and other monuments .
“ So , when is our woke historical revisionist priesthood going to insist on blowing up Mount Rushmore ?
” he asked in a tweet .
Mount Rushmore is in the southwestern portion of South Dakota , and Noem , a Republican , said she will ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Not on my watch , ” Noem wrote in response to Shapiro .
Mount Rushmore was constructed between 1927 and 1941 and honors former Presidents George Washington , Thomas Jefferson , Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt .
The American landmark boasts roughly 3 million visitors a year , according to the state ’ s tourism website .
But in the last few weeks , as protests and acts of violence have escalated since the May 25 death of George Floyd in police custody , monuments honoring three of the presidents on Mount Rushmore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oregon , vandals toppled statues of Washington and Jefferson .
Washington ’ s statue in the city was wrapped in an American flag and set on fire before being taken down .
A Jefferson statue was also knocked down by vandals .
But the sentiment against former presidents is not limited to street demonstrators .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio both announced this week they support the removal of a statue of Roosevelt at the Museum of Natural History .
The mayor described the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flanked by Native American and African men -- as “ not acceptable.
” “ The statue has representations that clearly do not represent today ’ s values .
The statute clearly presents a white man as superior to people of color and that ’ s just not acceptable in this day and age and it never should have been acceptable , ” de Blasio said , according to the New York Post .
Fellow Democrat Cuomo agreed with the decision , saying , `` I think the museum has a made a decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environment is in bad taste , they want to take it down , I support their decision . ''
President Donald Trump announced Monday he is planning to take executive action to force cities to protect national moments from vandalism .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

As leftist demonstrators take aim at statues and monuments that honor former American presidents, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has announced that Mount Rushmore will be protected.
On Monday, conservative commentator Ben Shapiro gave his take on a movement by anti-American demonstrators to destroy statues and other monuments.
“So, when is our woke historical revisionist priesthood going to insist on blowing up Mount Rushmore?” he asked in a tweet.
So, when is our woke historical revisionist priesthood going to insist on blowing up Mount Rushmore? — Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) June 22, 2020
Mount Rushmore is in the southwestern portion of South Dakota, and Noem, a Republican, said she will ensure the national treasure is preserved.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
“Not on my watch,” Noem wrote in response to Shapiro.
Not on my watch. https://t.co/U6gGap5Ib6 — Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) June 23, 2020
Mount Rushmore was constructed between 1927 and 1941 and honors former Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
The American landmark boasts roughly 3 million visitors a year, according to the state’s tourism website.
But in the last few weeks, as protests and acts of violence have escalated since the May 25 death of George Floyd in police custody, monuments honoring three of the presidents on Mount Rushmore have been attacked.
In Portland, Oregon, vandals toppled statues of Washington and Jefferson.
Washington’s statue in the city was wrapped in an American flag and set on fire before being taken down.
Antifa rioters on Sandy Blvd. in Portland draped a US flag over a George Washington statue & set it on fire. They then toppled the statue. “Genocidal colonist” & “f— cops” are sprayed on monument. Rioters have began to build another autonomous zone nearby. pic.twitter.com/TrZkhPK9zp — Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) June 19, 2020
A Jefferson statue was also knocked down by vandals.
Thomas Jefferson statue now toppled over at Jefferson High School. This was the meeting spot for tonight’s march in Portland. Wasn’t like this before we left at 7:15. A speaker here says, “We’re taking the city back, one racist statue at a time.” #Portland #breakingnews pic.twitter.com/PiRh00yPzv — Bonnie Silkman KPTV (@BonnieSilkman) June 15, 2020
But the sentiment against former presidents is not limited to street demonstrators.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio both announced this week they support the removal of a statue of Roosevelt at the Museum of Natural History.
The mayor described the statue -- which features Roosevelt on horseback flanked by Native American and African men -- as “not acceptable.”
“The statue has representations that clearly do not represent today’s values. The statute clearly presents a white man as superior to people of color and that’s just not acceptable in this day and age and it never should have been acceptable,” de Blasio said, according to the New York Post.
Fellow Democrat Cuomo agreed with the decision, saying, "I think the museum has a made a decision. They think the statue in this environment is in bad taste, they want to take it down, I support their decision."
President Donald Trump announced Monday he is planning to take executive action to force cities to protect national monuments from vandalism.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-06-24--White House condemns TV host's 'insensitive' mocking of Barron Trump

The Office of the First Lady quickly came to Barron Trump 's defense after a Twitter attack from a Food Network host .
`` I hope Barron gets to spend today with whoever his dad is , '' John Henson wrote in a since-deleted tweet on Sunday , Father 's Day 2020 .
Henson is the host of `` Halloween Baking Championship '' and anchored seven seasons of ABC 's `` Wipeout , '' the Washington Examiner reported .
Melania Trump 's spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham called the comment `` inappropriate and insensitive '' in a statement to the Daily Caller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inappropriate and insensitive comments about the President 's son , '' Grisham said .
`` As with every other Administration , a minor child should be off limits and allowed to grow up with no judgment or hate from strangers and the media . ''
Melania Trump has had to defend her son in the past when Pamela Karlan , a witness during the impeachment proceedings , referenced Barron by name in her testimony .
`` The Constitution says there can be no titles of nobility , so while the president can name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make him a baron , '' Karlan said in December .
`` A minor child deserves privacy and should be kept out of politics , '' she wrote .
`` Pamela Karlan , you should be ashamed of your very angry and obviously biased public pandering , and using a child to do it . ''
The East Wing also recently criticized a book from a Washington Post reporter that said the First Lady had waited to move to the White House so she could renegotiate her prenuptial agreement with President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump with false information and sources , '' Grisham told reporters , according to The Hill .
`` This book belongs in the fiction genre . ''
Grisham 's statement did not address any specific claims in the book .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .
UPDATE , June 23 , 2020 : After the publication of this article , John Henson deleted his tweet referencing Barron Trump .
This article has been updated to include that fact and a screen shot of the deleted tweet .

The Office of the First Lady quickly came to Barron Trump's defense after a Twitter attack from a Food Network host.
"I hope Barron gets to spend today with whoever his dad is," John Henson wrote in a since-deleted tweet on Sunday, Father's Day 2020.
@FoodNetwork Is this what you meant when you tweeted that you're committed to change? pic.twitter.com/YCK7P0TZvh — BellaLuna (@BellaLunaBotana) June 22, 2020
Henson is the host of "Halloween Baking Championship" and anchored seven seasons of ABC's "Wipeout," the Washington Examiner reported.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Melania Trump's spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham called the comment "inappropriate and insensitive" in a statement to the Daily Caller.
"Sadly we continue to see inappropriate and insensitive comments about the President's son," Grisham said.
"As with every other Administration, a minor child should be off limits and allowed to grow up with no judgment or hate from strangers and the media."
Melania Trump has had to defend her son in the past when Pamela Karlan, a witness during the impeachment proceedings, referenced Barron by name in her testimony.
"The Constitution says there can be no titles of nobility, so while the president can name his son Barron, he can't make him a baron," Karlan said in December.
Melania Trump responded on Twitter.
"A minor child deserves privacy and should be kept out of politics," she wrote.
"Pamela Karlan, you should be ashamed of your very angry and obviously biased public pandering, and using a child to do it."
A minor child deserves privacy and should be kept out of politics. Pamela Karlan, you should be ashamed of your very angry and obviously biased public pandering, and using a child to do it. — Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) December 4, 2019
The East Wing also recently criticized a book from a Washington Post reporter that said the First Lady had waited to move to the White House so she could renegotiate her prenuptial agreement with President Donald Trump.
"Yet another book about Mrs. Trump with false information and sources," Grisham told reporters, according to The Hill.
"This book belongs in the fiction genre."
Grisham's statement did not address any specific claims in the book.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
UPDATE, June 23, 2020: After the publication of this article, John Henson deleted his tweet referencing Barron Trump. This article has been updated to include that fact and a screen shot of the deleted tweet.


wnd--2020-06-24--Billion-dollar firm leads 'mass exodus' from occupied Seattle

On the heels of a longtime Seattle business owner predicting a `` mass exodus , '' an investment-advisory company has announced it 's leaving the political and cultural unrest in Seattle and moving its headquarters to Phoenix .
`` The unrest that has taken place in the city of Seattle ... there really is not a downtown business community today , '' said Smead Capital Management President and CEO Cole Smead told KTAR news radio in Phoenix .
`` My biggest concern for Seattle was what the business community is going to come back to , and what kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers , '' said Smead , whose firm as of May 31 managed approximately $ 1.58 billion .
The Phoenix area offers a better quality of life , the CEO contended .
`` My colleagues can pick the socio-economic rung of life that they want ... live their lives , build their households and have a family if they 'd like , '' Smead said .
`` Where we 're coming from just wasn ’ t like that . ''
Last Thursday , Seattle business owner Joey Rodolfo was asked in an interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was going to stay in that city after having lived there for 38 years .
`` Speaking for myself and for other friends that have either restaurants or other businesses , '' Rodolfo replied , `` I can tell you that Seattle is going to experience a mass exodus . ''
He said he 's planning to move to Arizona .
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Rodolfo said Seattle 's troubles began long before demonstrators took over six city blocks and established the `` Capitol Hill Occupied Protest , '' or CHOP .
`` Tucker , I 've lived in Seattle for 38 years , for 38 years , '' said Rodolfo , an apparel designer and co-founder of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over ] the last three years , I 've seen the crime rate surge .
I 've seen homeless , drugs and gangs take over our downtown .
Not to mention the destruction of property .
He said all of that is happening with no consequences .
`` We have a judicial system here that is a revolving door .
So if you 're a store owner or a restaurant in Seattle , these are very , very difficult times , '' he said .
The CHOP began with six city blocks near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody .
After negotiation with the city , the area was reduced to three blocks to allow greater traffic flow .
`` We have reached a point here in Seattle where I call it , we are now a utopian socialist city , honestly , on the backs of all of us , of all outside taxpaying citizens , '' Rodolfo said .
`` Downtown has been decimated , '' he told Carlson .
`` All you see is plywood , particle board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no chance that this town will soon come alive again .
Although if you talk to the mayor , she 'll tell you that 's our goal here .
But I 'll tell you , this is , you know , things could n't get crazier . ''

On the heels of a longtime Seattle business owner predicting a "mass exodus," an investment-advisory company has announced it's leaving the political and cultural unrest in Seattle and moving its headquarters to Phoenix.
"The unrest that has taken place in the city of Seattle ... there really is not a downtown business community today," said Smead Capital Management President and CEO Cole Smead told KTAR news radio in Phoenix.
"My biggest concern for Seattle was what the business community is going to come back to, and what kind of businesses are going to come back for customers," said Smead, whose firm as of May 31 managed approximately $1.58 billion.
The Phoenix area offers a better quality of life, the CEO contended.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"My colleagues can pick the socio-economic rung of life that they want ... live their lives, build their households and have a family if they'd like," Smead said.
"Where we're coming from just wasn’t like that."
Last Thursday, Seattle business owner Joey Rodolfo was asked in an interview with "Tucker Carlson Tonight" if he was going to stay in that city after having lived there for 38 years.
"Speaking for myself and for other friends that have either restaurants or other businesses," Rodolfo replied, "I can tell you that Seattle is going to experience a mass exodus."
Do you expec a mass exodus of businesses from riot-prone cities? Yes No Completing this poll entitles you to WND news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use You're logged in to Facebook. Click here to log out. 99% (623 Votes) 1% (8 Votes)
He said he's planning to move to Arizona.
FREE SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE REPORT ON ANTIFA! What exactly is ANTIFA and what are its real goals? Why does it viciously attack America at every opportunity, prompting President Trump to label it a "domestic terror group"? WND is offering an original, in-depth investigative report on ANTIFA – absolutely FREE! Sign-up here for your copy of this powerful 22,000-word e-book exposing ANTIFA, which will be delivered to you immediately!
Rodolfo said Seattle's troubles began long before demonstrators took over six city blocks and established the "Capitol Hill Occupied Protest," or CHOP.
"Tucker, I've lived in Seattle for 38 years, for 38 years," said Rodolfo, an apparel designer and co-founder of the Buki clothing brand. "And [over] the last three years, I've seen the crime rate surge. I've seen homeless, drugs and gangs take over our downtown. Not to mention the destruction of property.
He said all of that is happening with no consequences.
"We have a judicial system here that is a revolving door. So if you're a store owner or a restaurant in Seattle, these are very, very difficult times," he said.
The CHOP began with six city blocks near the police department's East Precinct following protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. After negotiation with the city, the area was reduced to three blocks to allow greater traffic flow.
"We have reached a point here in Seattle where I call it, we are now a utopian socialist city, honestly, on the backs of all of us, of all outside taxpaying citizens," Rodolfo said.
"Downtown has been decimated," he told Carlson. "All you see is plywood, particle board. Stores opened up and there is no chance that this town will soon come alive again. Although if you talk to the mayor, she'll tell you that's our goal here. But I'll tell you, this is, you know, things couldn't get crazier."


wnd--2020-06-24--FBI's collusion claims based on 'statutory relic'

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Investigations . ]
Newly released documents reveal the FBI never had even preliminary evidence of a Trump campaign conspiracy with Russia , and instead used a rarely enforced statutory relic – the Foreign Agents Registration Act – as the legal rationale for opening investigations in 2016-2017 and surveilling Trump campaign aides .
On July 31 , 2016 , the FBI opened a counterintelligence probe of the Trump campaign ’ s alleged ties with Russia – nicknamed Crossfire Hurricane – not under espionage conspiracy laws but under FARA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four separate FARA cases into people associated with the Trump campaign .
Two other FARA cases were added the next year .
Only one involved an individual with connections to Russia : Carter Page .
The recently disclosed documents , which surfaced thanks to declassification efforts , court filings and FOIA lawsuits , reveal that the initial target of the probe – then-Trump foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos -- was suspected of working for Israel , not Russia .
Other FARA cases involved alleged ties to Turkey ( Trump national security adviser Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paul Manafort and his deputy Rick Gates ) and Egypt ( Trump Mideast adviser Walid Phares ) .
All six sensitive cases were approved through the Justice Department ’ s counterintelligence and export control section , run at the time by former Justice official David Laufman .
Before the flurry of Trump-related cases , only three people had been found guilty of violating the seldom-enforced law since 1966 .
Passed in the run-up to World War II to curb Nazi propaganda , FARA mainly requires people to fill out a two-page form disclosing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nevertheless , the FBI used FARA as the basis for a wide-ranging probe of a presidential campaign and then a presidency that included the use of confidential sources to secretly record Trump ’ s advisers , according to a December report by the Justice Department ’ s watchdog .
At the same time , the FBI dispatched agents to tail them , stake out their homes and dig through their trash — none of which is typically ordered in FARA probes , which rarely even result in fines .
As has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resurrected an even older and less frequently used law , the Logan Act of 1799 , to raise questions about Flynn ’ s contacts with Russia ’ s ambassador to Washington during the transition to the Trump administration .
Only two people have ever been charged under the statute barring unauthorized citizen dealings with foreign governments – both before the Civil War .
Neither was convicted .
Investigators for the Republican-led Senate looking into the conduct of the FBI and Special Counsel Robert Mueller ’ s team told RealClearInvestigations they believe the FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as pretext to authorize investigations into individuals against whom there was no other significant evidence , raising fresh concerns about the predication for the nearly three-year investigation of Trump .
Mueller also used the threat of FARA prosecutions to squeeze individuals for Russia information .
Only one of the six was indicted for FARA-related violations , and none was charged with any espionage or conspiracy crimes related to Russia .
In April 2019 , Mueller reported that his “ investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Former FBI Director James Comey and his deputy Andrew McCabe have publicly testified they had sufficient evidence to justify investigating the Trump campaign for coordinating with Moscow to hack Clinton campaign emails and troll social media to influence the 2016 presidential election — a scheme that , if true , would have violated espionage laws and warranted serious felony charges .
But the raft of new documents reveals that the actual basis for the cases was the suspicion that Trump campaign aides failed to file FARA forms with Washington bureaucrats and pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One Senate investigator told RealClearInvestigations that Laufman , then Justice ’ s top counterintelligence official , was the “ mastermind ” behind the strategy to dust off and “ weaponize ” FARA against Trump campaign officials .
Investigators for at least one committee seek to question Laufman under oath .
His name appears on a subpoena list of witnesses approved by the GOP-led Senate Judiciary Committee .
Laufman signed off on the wiretapping of Trump campaign adviser Page , which the Department of Justice inspector general determined was conducted under false pretenses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence , and other malfeasance .
An Obama campaign donor , Laufman helped oversee a wide range of politically charged cases as the DoJ ’ s counterintelligence section chief – including the department ’ s investigation of Hillary Clinton concerning her mishandling of classified emails as secretary of state .
He could not be reached for comment .
Since leaving the government for private practice in 2018 , Laufman has made several appearances on cable TV shows criticizing the Trump administration .
Last year he boasted of his “ more aggressive approach ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paper .
“ There have been nearly as many criminal prosecutions for FARA violations in the last 18 months ( five ) as during the 40-year period from 1966 to 2015 ( seven ) , ” he gloated in the February 2019 paper on “ FARA Enforcement . ''
Before advising Mueller , the inspector general ’ s report revealed that Laufman worked closely with FBI counterintelligence official Peter Strzok – who was fired from the bureau in 2018 because of anti-Trump text messages sent while he was investigating the candidate and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its Russia “ collusion ” investigation of the Trump camp on July 31 , 2016 , the opening case memo written by Strzok stated that `` this investigation is being opened to determine whether individual ( s ) associated with the Trump campaign are witting of and/or coordinating activities with the government of Russia.
” However , the FBI assigned the investigation a case number used internally by the bureau for possible violations of FARA .
That means even the FBI ’ s larger umbrella case was at its core a regulatory , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The revelation is contained in a redacted version of the Electronic Communication obtained last month by Judicial Watch as part of a FOIA lawsuit the Washington watchdog group filed against the FBI .
“ It shows there was no serious basis for the Obama administration to launch an unprecedented spy operation on the Trump campaign , '' Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said .
“ We now have more proof that Crossfire Hurricane was a scam.
” In August 2016 , Laufman began huddling with Strzok about the Crossfire Hurricane investigation , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefings on all the Trump-related cases that flowed from it .
On Aug. 10 , 2016 , they opened separate FARA cases on Page , Manafort and Papadopoulos , under code names assigned by the FBI .
The Papadopoulos case , for instance , was code-named `` Crossfire Typhoon.
” Then on Aug. 16 , they opened another FARA case on Flynn , under the code name , “ Crossfire Razor.
” Documents indicate they strained to convert FARA cases into counterintelligence investigations .
Even though the cases were predicated on possible FARA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was reason to believe that the Trump targets “ may wittingly or unwittingly ” be involved in activity on behalf of Russia , which may constitute a federal crime or threat to national security .
The targets are not specifically named as `` agents of a foreign power ” — the key language in the federal espionage statute ( under 50 U.S.C . )
making it a crime to knowingly aid or abet any person in sabotage or clandestine intelligence-gathering activities for a foreign power .
Rather , the case files cite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statute , even though they state that the primary goal of the investigation was to determine whether the targets were “ directed and controlled by and/or coordinated activities with the Russian Federation in a manner which is a threat to the national security.
” Mark Wauck , a former FBI attorney who worked counterintelligence cases for the bureau , told RealClearInvestigations that FARA served as a `` smokescreen ” to justify spying on the Trump campaign and its aides , under the “ baseless theory '' that they might be clandestine agents of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence Kevin Brock is equally skeptical of the motives for opening the cases .
He said there was not enough evidence to support the FARA allegations and justify them standing alone as criminal investigations .
“ In a normal EC opening a FARA case , we should expect to see a list of reasons why the FBI believes individuals associated with a U.S. presidential campaign had been engaged by the Russian government to represent and advocate that government ’ s goals , ” he said .
“ Try as we might to spot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anywhere in the document.
” Added Brock : “ There was no attempt by Strzok to articulate any factors that address the elements of FARA .
He couldn ’ t , because there are none . ''
While the FBI used FARA to justify the launch of the investigation , Mueller later wielded it to pressure targets .
Phares , a Lebanese-born American scholar and commentator who advised the presidential campaign of Mitt Romney in 2012 and Trump in 2016 , confirmed in a RealClearInvestigations interview last month that he , too , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was interviewed by two Washington agents working for Mueller in 2017 .
“ They were looking for FARA violations , ” Phares said .
“ They couldn ’ t find anything about Russia , so they started asking me about Egypt , ” he told RCI .
“ It ’ s laughable.
” Despite rummaging through his bank records , he said , they never filed any charges against him .
Phares complained the FBI conducted a fishing expedition .
He believes the FBI was also monitoring him during the 2016 campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he noted .
“ Not on the Russians , because I have no contacts [ in ] or ties to Russia , but on my work with Egypt.
” Their real goal , he contended , was to spy on Trump and his campaign .
Some legal experts say the predication for opening a probe of Phares appears thin .
“ There is no logical basis for such an investigation , ” said Wauck , who has been a persistent critic of the Trump/Russia probe .
Still , Mueller ended up bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his campaign to link Trump and his advisers to Russian efforts to influence the 2016 presidential campaign , all of which were approved by Laufman .
Laufman helped him build FARA prosecutions against Flynn , Papadopoulos and Manafort , as well as Gates .
( It ’ s not immediately clear if he also was involved in the Phares probe . )
The results : • In September 2018 , Manafort pleaded guilty to , among other crimes , violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act , and making false and misleading FARA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Ukraine .
He was sentenced to 43 months in federal prison .
• In February 2018 , Gates also was indicted for FARA violations unrelated to the 2016 campaign , but the government dropped the FARA charges against him after he agreed to cooperate against Manafort .
• In November 2017 , Mueller used the threat of a FARA prosecution against both Flynn and his son to coerce a false statement plea from Flynn regarding phone conversations he had with the Russian ambassador a few weeks before he took office as Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the end was never charged with a FARA violation .
Still , Laufman listed the FARA accusation — that he 'd also allegedly made “ false statements ” in his FARA registration involving his work with Turkey — in the “ statement of offense ” against Flynn , even though it was not part of the plea agreement .
( Last month , the Justice Department dropped its case against Flynn , though a federal judge has not yet granted its motion to dismiss the charges . )
• In October 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mueller ’ s agents after they put the screws to him over possible FARA violations and came up empty on any Russian funny business involving the campaign .
Papadopoulos said Mueller threatened to “ lock me up ” for violating FARA .
To get him on a FARA rap , Mueller obtained multiple warrants to search his residence and electronic devices based not on his ties to Russia but to Israel , one of America ’ s strongest allies .
Papadopoulos said the piling on of charges convinced him to take a plea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to investigators about what turned out to be an innocuous Russia-related conversation he had in London in exchange for minimal jail time .
“ I pled guilty when they came after me with FARA violations , ” he told RCI .
As with Flynn , the plea bargain allowed Mueller ’ s prosecutors to insert the word “ Russia ” in court filings , making it look like he was hiding Russian-related crimes and keeping the Russia “ collusion ” narrative alive in the media .
Mueller even used the obscure FARA statute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — as well as 13 Russian nationals — accused of running an influence operation against the 2016 campaign .
In February 2018 , they were charged with conspiracy to violate the regulation .
( Justice recently dropped charges against one of the Russian companies that was a key defendant in the Mueller case . )
Senate investigators say that the unprecedented practice of resurrecting and applying FARA in the Trump-Russia investigation indicated that Mueller and Justice Department holdovers grasped at any conceivable legal tool they could find to pressure Trump associates to cop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia “ collusion '' crimes .
They also said they intend to question Laufman , in particular , about whether threatening these dubious charges constituted a new and unequal application of the law .
Richard T. Higgins , a former National Security Council director and Pentagon official , said he doubts that Laufman and other former administration officials ever believed the Trump-Russia conspiracy theory .
Rather , he contends that the FARA and other sub-cases they opened on Trump aides were “ fabricated ” as part of a political operation against the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even the larger umbrella probe was a “ cover story ” to hide that alleged operation .
“ The operation was consolidated and conducted under the codename ‘ Crossfire Hurricane.
’ The cover story , if one should be needed ( in the event Clinton lost ) , was that its mission was to expose Russian interference in the American election , ” said Higgins , who worked in the Trump White House .
“ The true mission was not to expose Russian interference , but to disrupt the Trump campaign and ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed out that the top Russiagate investigators — Strzok and FBI lawyers Lisa Page and Kevin Clinesmith — were all caught exchanging anti-Trump , pro-Clinton messages during 2016 .
Before the election , Strzok even promised Page he would “ stop ” Trump , whom he called a “ f -- -- -- idiot ” supported by “ smell [ y ] '' Wal-Mart shoppers .
His concern was not that he was an agent supported by Russians , but by supposed rednecks .
After the election , Clinesmith feared the Affordable Care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismantled by Trump and vowed to “ fight ” him for that reason .
The IG report said Clinesmith forged email evidence used in applications to renew FISA warrants to spy on Trump aide Page .
The IG referred Clinesmith to U.S. prosecutors for possible criminal investigation .
Higgins also noted that most of Mueller ’ s prosecutors were exposed as registered Democrats , who had given generously to Clinton ’ s campaign .
His legal “ pit bull , ” Andrew Weissmann , even attended Clinton ’ s election night event in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to be blind not to see it was their political bias that motivated them , ” he said .
[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Investigations . ]

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Investigations.]
By Paul Sperry
Real Clear Investigations
Newly released documents reveal the FBI never had even preliminary evidence of a Trump campaign conspiracy with Russia, and instead used a rarely enforced statutory relic – the Foreign Agents Registration Act – as the legal rationale for opening investigations in 2016-2017 and surveilling Trump campaign aides.
On July 31, 2016, the FBI opened a counterintelligence probe of the Trump campaign’s alleged ties with Russia – nicknamed Crossfire Hurricane – not under espionage conspiracy laws but under FARA.
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The next month the FBI opened four separate FARA cases into people associated with the Trump campaign. Two other FARA cases were added the next year. Only one involved an individual with connections to Russia: Carter Page.
The recently disclosed documents, which surfaced thanks to declassification efforts, court filings and FOIA lawsuits, reveal that the initial target of the probe – then-Trump foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos -- was suspected of working for Israel, not Russia. Other FARA cases involved alleged ties to Turkey (Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn), Ukraine (campaign manager Paul Manafort and his deputy Rick Gates) and Egypt (Trump Mideast adviser Walid Phares).
All six sensitive cases were approved through the Justice Department’s counterintelligence and export control section, run at the time by former Justice official David Laufman.
Before the flurry of Trump-related cases, only three people had been found guilty of violating the seldom-enforced law since 1966. Passed in the run-up to World War II to curb Nazi propaganda, FARA mainly requires people to fill out a two-page form disclosing work on behalf of a foreign entity.
Nevertheless, the FBI used FARA as the basis for a wide-ranging probe of a presidential campaign and then a presidency that included the use of confidential sources to secretly record Trump’s advisers, according to a December report by the Justice Department’s watchdog. At the same time, the FBI dispatched agents to tail them, stake out their homes and dig through their trash — none of which is typically ordered in FARA probes, which rarely even result in fines.
As has been widely reported, Obama administration officials also resurrected an even older and less frequently used law, the Logan Act of 1799, to raise questions about Flynn’s contacts with Russia’s ambassador to Washington during the transition to the Trump administration. Only two people have ever been charged under the statute barring unauthorized citizen dealings with foreign governments – both before the Civil War. Neither was convicted.
Investigators for the Republican-led Senate looking into the conduct of the FBI and Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team told RealClearInvestigations they believe the FBI and, later, Mueller used FARA as pretext to authorize investigations into individuals against whom there was no other significant evidence, raising fresh concerns about the predication for the nearly three-year investigation of Trump. Mueller also used the threat of FARA prosecutions to squeeze individuals for Russia information.
Only one of the six was indicted for FARA-related violations, and none was charged with any espionage or conspiracy crimes related to Russia.
In April 2019, Mueller reported that his “investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in election interference activities.”
Former FBI Director James Comey and his deputy Andrew McCabe have publicly testified they had sufficient evidence to justify investigating the Trump campaign for coordinating with Moscow to hack Clinton campaign emails and troll social media to influence the 2016 presidential election — a scheme that, if true, would have violated espionage laws and warranted serious felony charges.
But the raft of new documents reveals that the actual basis for the cases was the suspicion that Trump campaign aides failed to file FARA forms with Washington bureaucrats and pay the required $305 in registration fees.
One Senate investigator told RealClearInvestigations that Laufman, then Justice’s top counterintelligence official, was the “mastermind” behind the strategy to dust off and “weaponize” FARA against Trump campaign officials.
Investigators for at least one committee seek to question Laufman under oath. His name appears on a subpoena list of witnesses approved by the GOP-led Senate Judiciary Committee.
Laufman signed off on the wiretapping of Trump campaign adviser Page, which the Department of Justice inspector general determined was conducted under false pretenses involving doctored email, suppression of exculpatory evidence, and other malfeasance.
An Obama campaign donor, Laufman helped oversee a wide range of politically charged cases as the DoJ’s counterintelligence section chief – including the department’s investigation of Hillary Clinton concerning her mishandling of classified emails as secretary of state.
He could not be reached for comment. Since leaving the government for private practice in 2018, Laufman has made several appearances on cable TV shows criticizing the Trump administration. Last year he boasted of his “more aggressive approach” to enforcing FARA in a legal white paper.
“There have been nearly as many criminal prosecutions for FARA violations in the last 18 months (five) as during the 40-year period from 1966 to 2015 (seven),” he gloated in the February 2019 paper on “FARA Enforcement."
The FBI and Justice declined comment.
Before advising Mueller, the inspector general’s report revealed that Laufman worked closely with FBI counterintelligence official Peter Strzok – who was fired from the bureau in 2018 because of anti-Trump text messages sent while he was investigating the candidate and then president.
When the FBI initially launched its Russia “collusion” investigation of the Trump camp on July 31, 2016, the opening case memo written by Strzok stated that "this investigation is being opened to determine whether individual(s) associated with the Trump campaign are witting of and/or coordinating activities with the government of Russia.”
However, the FBI assigned the investigation a case number used internally by the bureau for possible violations of FARA. That means even the FBI’s larger umbrella case was at its core a regulatory, not a national security, matter.
The revelation is contained in a redacted version of the Electronic Communication obtained last month by Judicial Watch as part of a FOIA lawsuit the Washington watchdog group filed against the FBI.
“It shows there was no serious basis for the Obama administration to launch an unprecedented spy operation on the Trump campaign," Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said. “We now have more proof that Crossfire Hurricane was a scam.”
In August 2016, Laufman began huddling with Strzok about the Crossfire Hurricane investigation, according to the IG report, getting regular briefings on all the Trump-related cases that flowed from it.
On Aug. 10, 2016, they opened separate FARA cases on Page, Manafort and Papadopoulos, under code names assigned by the FBI. The Papadopoulos case, for instance, was code-named "Crossfire Typhoon.” Then on Aug. 16, they opened another FARA case on Flynn, under the code name, “Crossfire Razor.”
Documents indicate they strained to convert FARA cases into counterintelligence investigations. Even though the cases were predicated on possible FARA violations, the Electronic Communications stated that there was reason to believe that the Trump targets “may wittingly or unwittingly” be involved in activity on behalf of Russia, which may constitute a federal crime or threat to national security.
The targets are not specifically named as "agents of a foreign power” — the key language in the federal espionage statute (under 50 U.S.C.) making it a crime to knowingly aid or abet any person in sabotage or clandestine intelligence-gathering activities for a foreign power. Rather, the case files cite the “Foreign Agents Registration Act” statute, even though they state that the primary goal of the investigation was to determine whether the targets were “directed and controlled by and/or coordinated activities with the Russian Federation in a manner which is a threat to the national security.”
Mark Wauck, a former FBI attorney who worked counterintelligence cases for the bureau, told RealClearInvestigations that FARA served as a "smokescreen” to justify spying on the Trump campaign and its aides, under the “baseless theory" that they might be clandestine agents of Russia.
Former FBI assistant director of intelligence Kevin Brock is equally skeptical of the motives for opening the cases. He said there was not enough evidence to support the FARA allegations and justify them standing alone as criminal investigations.
“In a normal EC opening a FARA case, we should expect to see a list of reasons why the FBI believes individuals associated with a U.S. presidential campaign had been engaged by the Russian government to represent and advocate that government’s goals,” he said. “Try as we might to spot them, those reasons are not found anywhere in the document.”
Added Brock: “There was no attempt by Strzok to articulate any factors that address the elements of FARA. He couldn’t, because there are none."
While the FBI used FARA to justify the launch of the investigation, Mueller later wielded it to pressure targets. Phares, a Lebanese-born American scholar and commentator who advised the presidential campaign of Mitt Romney in 2012 and Trump in 2016, confirmed in a RealClearInvestigations interview last month that he, too, was targeted under FARA.
Phares said he was interviewed by two Washington agents working for Mueller in 2017. “They were looking for FARA violations,” Phares said. “They couldn’t find anything about Russia, so they started asking me about Egypt,” he told RCI. “It’s laughable.”
Despite rummaging through his bank records, he said, they never filed any charges against him. Phares complained the FBI conducted a fishing expedition. He believes the FBI was also monitoring him during the 2016 campaign.
“But on different grounds,” he noted. “Not on the Russians, because I have no contacts [in] or ties to Russia, but on my work with Egypt.” Their real goal, he contended, was to spy on Trump and his campaign. Some legal experts say the predication for opening a probe of Phares appears thin.
“There is no logical basis for such an investigation,” said Wauck, who has been a persistent critic of the Trump/Russia probe.
Still, Mueller ended up bringing a half dozen indictments using the statute in his campaign to link Trump and his advisers to Russian efforts to influence the 2016 presidential campaign, all of which were approved by Laufman. Laufman helped him build FARA prosecutions against Flynn, Papadopoulos and Manafort, as well as Gates. (It’s not immediately clear if he also was involved in the Phares probe.) The results:
In September 2018, Manafort pleaded guilty to, among other crimes, violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and making false and misleading FARA statements related to consulting work he did in Ukraine. He was sentenced to 43 months in federal prison.
In February 2018, Gates also was indicted for FARA violations unrelated to the 2016 campaign, but the government dropped the FARA charges against him after he agreed to cooperate against Manafort.
In November 2017, Mueller used the threat of a FARA prosecution against both Flynn and his son to coerce a false statement plea from Flynn regarding phone conversations he had with the Russian ambassador a few weeks before he took office as Trump’s national security adviser. Flynn in the end was never charged with a FARA violation. Still, Laufman listed the FARA accusation — that he'd also allegedly made “false statements” in his FARA registration involving his work with Turkey — in the “statement of offense” against Flynn, even though it was not part of the plea agreement. (Last month, the Justice Department dropped its case against Flynn, though a federal judge has not yet granted its motion to dismiss the charges.)
In October 2017, Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to Mueller’s agents after they put the screws to him over possible FARA violations and came up empty on any Russian funny business involving the campaign. Papadopoulos said Mueller threatened to “lock me up” for violating FARA. To get him on a FARA rap, Mueller obtained multiple warrants to search his residence and electronic devices based not on his ties to Russia but to Israel, one of America’s strongest allies.
Papadopoulos said the piling on of charges convinced him to take a plea deal in which he copped to lying to investigators about what turned out to be an innocuous Russia-related conversation he had in London in exchange for minimal jail time.
“I pled guilty when they came after me with FARA violations,” he told RCI.
As with Flynn, the plea bargain allowed Mueller’s prosecutors to insert the word “Russia” in court filings, making it look like he was hiding Russian-related crimes and keeping the Russia “collusion” narrative alive in the media.
Mueller even used the obscure FARA statute to obtain indictments against three Russian companies — as well as 13 Russian nationals — accused of running an influence operation against the 2016 campaign. In February 2018, they were charged with conspiracy to violate the regulation. (Justice recently dropped charges against one of the Russian companies that was a key defendant in the Mueller case.)
Senate investigators say that the unprecedented practice of resurrecting and applying FARA in the Trump-Russia investigation indicated that Mueller and Justice Department holdovers grasped at any conceivable legal tool they could find to pressure Trump associates to cop to what turned out to be nonexistent Russia “collusion" crimes. They also said they intend to question Laufman, in particular, about whether threatening these dubious charges constituted a new and unequal application of the law.
FARA Cases 'Fabricated' as Part of a Political Operation
Richard T. Higgins, a former National Security Council director and Pentagon official, said he doubts that Laufman and other former administration officials ever believed the Trump-Russia conspiracy theory.
Rather, he contends that the FARA and other sub-cases they opened on Trump aides were “fabricated” as part of a political operation against the Trump campaign and presidency. He argued that even the larger umbrella probe was a “cover story” to hide that alleged operation.
“The operation was consolidated and conducted under the codename ‘Crossfire Hurricane.’ The cover story, if one should be needed (in the event Clinton lost), was that its mission was to expose Russian interference in the American election,” said Higgins, who worked in the Trump White House. “The true mission was not to expose Russian interference, but to disrupt the Trump campaign and ensure the election of Hillary Clinton.”
He pointed out that the top Russiagate investigators — Strzok and FBI lawyers Lisa Page and Kevin Clinesmith — were all caught exchanging anti-Trump, pro-Clinton messages during 2016. Before the election, Strzok even promised Page he would “stop” Trump, whom he called a “f------ idiot” supported by “smell[y]" Wal-Mart shoppers. His concern was not that he was an agent supported by Russians, but by supposed rednecks. After the election, Clinesmith feared the Affordable Care Act and other Obama legacies would be dismantled by Trump and vowed to “fight” him for that reason. The IG report said Clinesmith forged email evidence used in applications to renew FISA warrants to spy on Trump aide Page. The IG referred Clinesmith to U.S. prosecutors for possible criminal investigation.
Higgins also noted that most of Mueller’s prosecutors were exposed as registered Democrats, who had given generously to Clinton’s campaign. His legal “pit bull,” Andrew Weissmann, even attended Clinton’s election night event in New York.
“You’d have to be blind not to see it was their political bias that motivated them,” he said.
[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Investigations.]