wnd--2020-12-18--Ratcliffe delays election report amid clash over China's role

After telling a CBS News reporter that Beijing interfered in the 2020 U.S. election , Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe has delayed issuing a required intelligence community assessment report because of clashes among senior officials over the communist regime 's role .
`` Ratcliffe has been really clear about his view that China is our top national security threat , '' a senior intelligence official told the Washington Examiner .
`` But ultimately , he 's trying to ensure politics don ’ t play a role in what makes it into this report . ''
The official said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior analysts about Chinese election influence , he wants both views to get a fair shake in the report . ''
TRENDING : Obama to give green light to Dems to take Biden out ?
The report on foreign election interference , due 45 days after the election , is mandated by a 2018 executive order by President Trump .
Anticipation of the report increased with the recent revelations of Chinese infiltration in Congress and China 's reported investment in the Dominion voting machines , used by 28 states , that are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , an intelligence source told the Examiner the report will not focus on claims that voting machines flipped millions of votes or of mail-in ballot fraud .
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said last month `` there is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes , changed votes , or was in any way compromised . ''
However , President Trump fired the agency 's director , Christopher Krebs , charging his defense of the security of the election was `` highly inaccurate . ''
On Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ratcliffe told her `` there was foreign election interference by China , # Iran and Russia in November of this year , and he is anticipating a public report on those findings in January . ''
Four years ago , the intel community concluded Russia meddled in the 2016 election , bolstering the now debunked claims of Trump campaign collusion with Russia .
A DNI spokeswoman , Amanda Schoch , said Wednesday that career intelligence officials notified Ratcliffe that the Intelligence Community would not meet the Dec. 18 deadline .
She said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election and a number of agencies have not finished coordinating on the product . ''
The intelligence source who spoke to the Examiner said some analysts say China took numerous steps to influence the election , while others insist Beijing 's intent was n't to meddle or that it did n't carry out its plans .
The source said Ratcliffe wants all viewpoints reflected and there was a considerable amount of intelligence still coming in .
Former DNI Ric Grenell tweeted Wednesday that Ratcliffe `` is standing up for career analysts who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` In other words , fighting to keep intelligence from being politicized , '' he wrote .
Ratcliffe told the Examiner earlier this month that there are analysts from the Cold War era who are accustomed to Russia being the biggest threat , or terrorism , `` but the greatest threat that we face and a greater amount of our focus needs to be on China . ''
The Intelligence Community released an initial assessment on foreign interference in August that warned `` many foreign actors have a preference for who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influence efforts are rarer . ''
William Evanina , the director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center , said the assessment concluded China `` prefers that President Trump , whom Beijing sees as unpredictable , does not win reelection . ''
`` China has been expanding its influence efforts ahead of November 2020 to shape the policy environment in the United States , pressure political figures it views as opposed to China ’ s interests , and deflect and counter criticism of China , '' Evanina said .
Beijing , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current administration 's COVID-19 response , closure of China ’ s Houston Consulate , and actions on other issues . ''
Attorney General William Barr told CNN in September he believed China was the No .
1 threat regarding election interference .
Democratic House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff , a leading purveyor of the Trump-Russia claims over the past four years , called Barr 's assessment `` flat-out false . ''
In late October , Ratcliffe held a press conference with FBI Director Christopher Wray warning Russia and Iran gained access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Iran , in an effort to damage Trump , was sending spoofed emails pretending to be members of the Proud Boys .

After telling a CBS News reporter that Beijing interfered in the 2020 U.S. election, Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe has delayed issuing a required intelligence community assessment report because of clashes among senior officials over the communist regime's role.
"Ratcliffe has been really clear about his view that China is our top national security threat," a senior intelligence official told the Washington Examiner. "But ultimately, he's trying to ensure politics don’t play a role in what makes it into this report."
The official said that if there are "conflicting views among senior analysts about Chinese election influence, he wants both views to get a fair shake in the report."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The report on foreign election interference, due 45 days after the election -- which is Friday -- is mandated by a 2018 executive order by President Trump. Anticipation of the report increased with the recent revelations of Chinese infiltration in Congress and the report that a China-linked bank invested in Dominion Voting Systems, whose machines used by 28 states are the target of vote-fraud accusations in numerous lawsuits.
However, an intelligence source told the Examiner the report will not focus on claims that voting machines flipped millions of votes or of mail-in ballot fraud.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said last month "there is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised."
However, President Trump fired the agency's director, Christopher Krebs, charging his defense of the security of the election was "highly inaccurate."
Should Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe delay his election report? 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. 14% (26 Votes) 86% (162 Votes)
On Wednesday, CBS News correspondent Catherine Herridge said Ratcliffe told her "there was foreign election interference by China, #Iran and Russia in November of this year, and he is anticipating a public report on those findings in January."
#BREAKING
CBS News Senior Correspondent @CBS_Herridge reports that @DNI_Ratcliffe has "told CBS News that there was foreign election interference by China, #Iran, and Russia in November of this year [2020]." More to come.pic.twitter.com/bxoWeys5FZ — Heshmat Alavi (@HeshmatAlavi) December 16, 2020
Four years ago, the intel community concluded Russia meddled in the 2016 election, bolstering the now debunked claims of Trump campaign collusion with Russia.
A DNI spokeswoman, Amanda Schoch, said Wednesday that career intelligence officials notified Ratcliffe that the Intelligence Community would not meet the Dec. 18 deadline. She said the IC "has received relevant reporting since the election and a number of agencies have not finished coordinating on the product."
The intelligence source who spoke to the Examiner said some analysts say China took numerous steps to influence the election, while others insist Beijing's intent wasn't to meddle or that it didn't carry out its plans.
The source said Ratcliffe wants all viewpoints reflected and there was a considerable amount of intelligence still coming in.
Former DNI Ric Grenell tweeted Wednesday that Ratcliffe "is standing up for career analysts who want their views to be accurately reflected."
"In other words, fighting to keep intelligence from being politicized," he wrote.
Ratcliffe told the Examiner earlier this month that there are analysts from the Cold War era who are accustomed to Russia being the biggest threat, or terrorism, "but the greatest threat that we face and a greater amount of our focus needs to be on China."
The Intelligence Community released an initial assessment on foreign interference in August that warned "many foreign actors have a preference for who wins the election" though "covert influence efforts are rarer."
William Evanina, the director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, said the assessment concluded China "prefers that President Trump, whom Beijing sees as unpredictable, does not win reelection."
"China has been expanding its influence efforts ahead of November 2020 to shape the policy environment in the United States, pressure political figures it views as opposed to China’s interests, and deflect and counter criticism of China," Evanina said.
Beijing, he said, has become "increasingly critical of the current administration's COVID-19 response, closure of China’s Houston Consulate, and actions on other issues."
Attorney General William Barr told CNN in September he believed China was the No. 1 threat regarding election interference.
Democratic House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, a leading purveyor of the Trump-Russia claims over the past four years, called Barr's assessment "flat-out false."
In late October, Ratcliffe held a press conference with FBI Director Christopher Wray warning Russia and Iran gained access to U.S. voter registration information
The DNI said Iran, in an effort to damage Trump, was sending spoofed emails pretending to be members of the Proud Boys.
Content created by the WND News Center is available for re-publication 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--2020-12-18--A season of soul-searching: Will we bow to the authoritarians?

The eight days of Hanukkah , the Jewish Festival of Lights , end for this year at nightfall on Friday , Dec. 18 .
In America it is celebrated by the lighting of candles , family warmth , feasts that feature potato pancakes ( latkas ) or jelly donuts ( sufganyot ) and gift-giving .
But Hanukkah is rooted in serious history that in 2020 makes its meaning important to all Americans .
Almost 2,200 years ago , the Jews ' country had been stolen , and their most sacred values desecrated by foreign occupiers – but the Jews fought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just seen our own society corrupted , one of our two ruling political parties hijacked by godless democracy-destroying zealots aided by Communist China .
Our rights such as free speech and freedom of religion are being extinguished .
Our historic statues and many cities are being destroyed by intimidating violent mobs of leftist looters and arsonists .
Our police , laws , courts , watchdog press and elections now seem to be controlled by anti-American , globalist ideologues .
Do we still have the dedication and faith to regain our independence ?
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conquered by Macedonian Alexander the Great , who on his deathbed was asked which of his generals would inherit his empire .
`` The strongest , '' replied Alexander .
So his generals seized pieces of his Greek conquests for themselves – including the Ptolemies , who took Egypt , and the Seleucids , who grabbed Syria and what today we call Israel .
TRENDING : Obama to give green light to Dems to take Biden out ?
A `` progressive '' Seleucid king , Antiochus IV , who modestly called himself Epiphanes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to force `` multiculturalism '' onto devout Jews .
Pagan temples included graven images of other tribes ' `` gods . ''
The Jews , said Antiochus , must likewise be made `` tolerant . ''
Antiochus ' troops sacrificed a pig to the Greek chief `` god '' Zeus on the Jewish Temple 's altar , a desecration Scripture calls the `` abomination of Desolation '' against the Jews ' One God .
This ignited the Israelites to wage war , led by Judas Maccabeus ( the `` hammer '' ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 167-160 B.C . )
defeated the Greeks and established the Hasmonean dynasty in Judea from 167 to 37 B.C .
After their victory , the story goes , Maccabee priests searched the defiled Temple and found one container with only one day 's sanctified oil to reconsecrate the holy place .
Miraculously , this sacred oil lighted the Temple for eight days .
Ever since , Hanukkah has been celebrated over eight days , the time this surviving oil burned away the darkness during some of the shortest days of the year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dedication . ''
This celebration evokes not only the miracle of rededicating God 's Temple , but also the dedication of courageous believers who fought to defend their faith .
Because they stood firm , the Jews remain a light to the nations in this Jewish year 5781 .
Hanukkah 's call to dedication is now a lesson for all Americans .
Progressive pagans have been shutting down celebrations of Thanksgiving , a blessed day defined by Moses to the children of Israel , according to Deuteronomy 26:1-4 .
Pagan rulers in much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stifle Christmas and other elements of both Christian and Jewish religious practice , threatening to shut down the synagogues and churches of those refusing to bow to arbitrary leftist authoritarians .
Democrats justify such power by pointing to a virus unleashed on us by godless Chinese Communists and used that powerr as a weapon to defeat American nationalist President Donald Trump and replace him with Joe Biden .
Biden , a longtime puppet of Beijing , will likely choose as ambassador to China globalist Bob Iger , head of the Walt Disney conglomerate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whose 2 million Chinese-Muslim slaves enrich multinational corporations such as Nike , named for the pagan Greek goddess of victory .
The Maccabees fought not just against Greeks , but also against Hellenized Jews , who had sold out their faith for Greek status , power and wealth .
We might call them `` JINOs . ''
If we enter the `` dark winter '' promised by Joe Biden , we each face a choice .
Will we rededicate ourselves to reclaiming our Judeo-Christian faith and values and the ideals of America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our souls to those who promise a socialist heaven on Earth , a new Eden made only by the hands of men who believe that government is now god ?
We need to search our souls and decide whether we are to be free or the slaves of today 's pagans .
Things look dark , but after the winter solstice on Dec. 21 , we begin gaining an extra minute of sunlight each day .
And on Dec. 25 , we celebrate the light of God coming to Earth at Christmas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ futurist and retired Roving Editor at Reader 's Digest .
He is coauthor , with Craig R. Smith , of `` Money , Morality & the Machine : Smith 's Law in a Lawless , Over-Governed Age . ''
Ponte 's articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal , the New York Times and major other publications .

The eight days of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, end for this year at nightfall on Friday, Dec. 18. In America it is celebrated by the lighting of candles, family warmth, feasts that feature potato pancakes (latkas) or jelly donuts (sufganyot) and gift-giving.
But Hanukkah is rooted in serious history that in 2020 makes its meaning important to all Americans. Almost 2,200 years ago, the Jews' country had been stolen, and their most sacred values desecrated by foreign occupiers – but the Jews fought and regained their independence.
Americans have just seen our own society corrupted, one of our two ruling political parties hijacked by godless democracy-destroying zealots aided by Communist China. Our rights such as free speech and freedom of religion are being extinguished. Our historic statues and many cities are being destroyed by intimidating violent mobs of leftist looters and arsonists.
Our police, laws, courts, watchdog press and elections now seem to be controlled by anti-American, globalist ideologues. Do we still have the dedication and faith to regain our independence?
The Jewish homeland was one of many countries conquered by Macedonian Alexander the Great, who on his deathbed was asked which of his generals would inherit his empire. "The strongest," replied Alexander. So his generals seized pieces of his Greek conquests for themselves – including the Ptolemies, who took Egypt, and the Seleucids, who grabbed Syria and what today we call Israel.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
A "progressive" Seleucid king, Antiochus IV, who modestly called himself Epiphanes, "God Manifest," tried to force "multiculturalism" onto devout Jews. Pagan temples included graven images of other tribes' "gods." The Jews, said Antiochus, must likewise be made "tolerant."
Antiochus' troops sacrificed a pig to the Greek chief "god" Zeus on the Jewish Temple's altar, a desecration Scripture calls the "abomination of Desolation" against the Jews' One God.
This ignited the Israelites to wage war, led by Judas Maccabeus (the "hammer") and his five sons. This Maccabean Revolt (167-160 B.C.) defeated the Greeks and established the Hasmonean dynasty in Judea from 167 to 37 B.C.
After their victory, the story goes, Maccabee priests searched the defiled Temple and found one container with only one day's sanctified oil to reconsecrate the holy place. Miraculously, this sacred oil lighted the Temple for eight days. Ever since, Hanukkah has been celebrated over eight days, the time this surviving oil burned away the darkness during some of the shortest days of the year.
The Hebrew word Hanukkah means "dedication." This celebration evokes not only the miracle of rededicating God's Temple, but also the dedication of courageous believers who fought to defend their faith. Because they stood firm, the Jews remain a light to the nations in this Jewish year 5781.
Hanukkah's call to dedication is now a lesson for all Americans. Progressive pagans have been shutting down celebrations of Thanksgiving, a blessed day defined by Moses to the children of Israel, according to Deuteronomy 26:1-4. Pagan rulers in much of our country have imposed lockdowns that stifle Christmas and other elements of both Christian and Jewish religious practice, threatening to shut down the synagogues and churches of those refusing to bow to arbitrary leftist authoritarians.
Democrats justify such power by pointing to a virus unleashed on us by godless Chinese Communists and used that powerr as a weapon to defeat American nationalist President Donald Trump and replace him with Joe Biden.
Biden, a longtime puppet of Beijing, will likely choose as ambassador to China globalist Bob Iger, head of the Walt Disney conglomerate. Disney makes propaganda for Red China, whose 2 million Chinese-Muslim slaves enrich multinational corporations such as Nike, named for the pagan Greek goddess of victory.
The Maccabees fought not just against Greeks, but also against Hellenized Jews, who had sold out their faith for Greek status, power and wealth. We might call them "JINOs."
If we enter the "dark winter" promised by Joe Biden, we each face a choice. Will we rededicate ourselves to reclaiming our Judeo-Christian faith and values and the ideals of America's founders? Or will we sell our souls to those who promise a socialist heaven on Earth, a new Eden made only by the hands of men who believe that government is now god?
We need to search our souls and decide whether we are to be free or the slaves of today's pagans. Things look dark, but after the winter solstice on Dec. 21, we begin gaining an extra minute of sunlight each day. And on Dec. 25, we celebrate the light of God coming to Earth at Christmas.
Lowell Ponte is a former think tank futurist and retired Roving Editor at Reader's Digest. He is coauthor, with Craig R. Smith, of "Money, Morality & the Machine: Smith's Law in a Lawless, Over-Governed Age." Ponte's articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and major other publications.
Content created by the WND News Center is available for re-publication 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--2020-12-18--After Lee, it's Lincoln's turn

After Lee, it's Lincoln's turn

First , they came for the Confederates .
And that purge is far from over .
Jefferson Davis Highway in Arlington , named for the president of the Confederacy , has been re-christened `` Richmond Highway . ''
An Arlington group is calling for the removal of Robert E. Lee 's name from Lee Highway to be replaced by `` Mildred & Richard Loving Avenue . ''
The Lovings were an interracial couple who challenged and helped overturn Virginia 's anti-miscegenation law in the Warren Court .
This month , the statue of Gen. Thomas J .
`` Stonewall '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia Military Institute , where Jackson taught before leading Confederate troops at the First Battle of Bull Run .
Jackson would die of friendly fire after his victory at Chancellorsville in 1863 .
Had he been with Lee at Gettysburg , two months later , that most decisive battle of the Civil War might have had a different outcome .
TRENDING : Obama to give green light to Dems to take Biden out ?
But the cultural-Marxist revolution has moved far beyond Davis , Lee and Jackson .
Out west , it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committee of the San Francisco school district wants the Great Emancipator 's name removed from Lincoln High School for crimes against Native Americans .
Our 16th president ordered the Navajo tribe off their Arizona lands into New Mexico , resulting in a forced march of 450 miles .
He approved the hanging of 38 Dakota Indians who had fought in the Dakota War in Minnesota in 1862 , the largest mass execution in U.S. history .
Lincoln 's Homestead and Pacific Railway acts led to the loss of large swaths of tribal lands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Francisco schools include those of George Washington , Herbert Hoover and Sen. Dianne Feinstein .
In 1984 , Mayor Feinstein allowed a Confederate Battle Flag to be flown at City Hall .
As one looks down the list of greats whose statues are to be pulled down and names removed from public buildings , there seems to be a single common great sin for which none can be forgiven .
The unpardonable heresy ?
Columbus , Washington , Jefferson , Madison , Monroe , Jackson , Polk , Lee , Teddy Roosevelt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equality of all races , peoples , cultures and civilizations .
And these men lived and acted in conformity with this disbelief .
Lincoln detested slavery but did not believe in social and political equality between the races .
As he conceded to Stephen Douglas in one of their 1858 debates , `` We can not , then , make them equal . ''
Still , between 1789 and 1960 , a republic led by those men , who preached but did not practice equality , built the greatest nation in history .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mightiest manufacturing base and the highest standard of living on earth , America was by the day of JFK the envy of mankind .
Yet , since Jamestown in 1607 , we had been governed by men who disbelieved in equality and disregarded the suggestion that , `` All men are created equal . ''
That proposition first appeared in a Declaration of Independence written by a member of Virginia 's landed aristocracy who owned scores of slaves and described the Indians against whom we fought as `` merciless savages '' in that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1776 .
For Lee , the dishonors do not stop .
A Virginia history commission just voted to replace the general 's statue in the U.S. Capitol with a statue of Barbara Rose Johns , a teenager who , in 1951 , led a strike at her high school to demand the same benefits white kids were receiving .
Was Lee really the racist and traitor of his haters ' depiction , deserving of the gallows rather than being honored for how he sought to sever the Union ?
Perhaps the last word @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revered Lee as late as 1960 , Dwight Eisenhower : '' General Robert E. Lee was … one of the supremely gifted men produced by our Nation .
He believed unswervingly in the Constitutional validity of his cause which until 1865 was still an arguable question in America ; he was a poised and inspiring leader , true to the high trust reposed in him by millions of his fellow citizens ; he was thoughtful yet demanding of his officers and men , forbearing with captured enemies but ingenious , unrelenting and personally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a reverse or obstacle .
Through all his many trials , he remained selfless almost to a fault and unfailing in his faith in God .
Taken altogether , he was noble as a leader and as a man , and unsullied as I read the pages of our history .
`` From deep conviction , I simply say this : a nation of men of Lee 's calibre would be unconquerable in spirit and soul .
Indeed , to the degree that present-day American youth will strive to emulate his rare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ land as revealed in his painstaking efforts to help heal the Nation 's wounds once the bitter struggle was over , we , in our own time of danger in a divided world , will be strengthened and our love of freedom sustained .
`` Such are the reasons that I proudly display the picture of this great American on my office wall . ''
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Read us AD-FREE by becoming a WND Insider !
Find out more .

First, they came for the Confederates. And that purge is far from over.
Jefferson Davis Highway in Arlington, named for the president of the Confederacy, has been re-christened "Richmond Highway."
An Arlington group is calling for the removal of Robert E. Lee's name from Lee Highway to be replaced by "Mildred & Richard Loving Avenue." The Lovings were an interracial couple who challenged and helped overturn Virginia's anti-miscegenation law in the Warren Court.
This month, the statue of Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson was removed from the campus of Virginia Military Institute, where Jackson taught before leading Confederate troops at the First Battle of Bull Run.
Jackson would die of friendly fire after his victory at Chancellorsville in 1863. Had he been with Lee at Gettysburg, two months later, that most decisive battle of the Civil War might have had a different outcome.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
But the cultural-Marxist revolution has moved far beyond Davis, Lee and Jackson. Out west, it is Abraham Lincoln's turn.
A renaming committee of the San Francisco school district wants the Great Emancipator's name removed from Lincoln High School for crimes against Native Americans.
Our 16th president ordered the Navajo tribe off their Arizona lands into New Mexico, resulting in a forced march of 450 miles. He approved the hanging of 38 Dakota Indians who had fought in the Dakota War in Minnesota in 1862, the largest mass execution in U.S. history.
Lincoln's Homestead and Pacific Railway acts led to the loss of large swaths of tribal lands.
Other names to be removed from San Francisco schools include those of George Washington, Herbert Hoover and Sen. Dianne Feinstein. In 1984, Mayor Feinstein allowed a Confederate Battle Flag to be flown at City Hall.
As one looks down the list of greats whose statues are to be pulled down and names removed from public buildings, there seems to be a single common great sin for which none can be forgiven.
The unpardonable heresy? Columbus, Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson, Polk, Lee, Teddy Roosevelt, Wilson and Lincoln disbelieved in the equality of all races, peoples, cultures and civilizations. And these men lived and acted in conformity with this disbelief.
Lincoln detested slavery but did not believe in social and political equality between the races. As he conceded to Stephen Douglas in one of their 1858 debates, "We cannot, then, make them equal."
Still, between 1789 and 1960, a republic led by those men, who preached but did not practice equality, built the greatest nation in history.
Ever victorious in war, with the mightiest manufacturing base and the highest standard of living on earth, America was by the day of JFK the envy of mankind.
Yet, since Jamestown in 1607, we had been governed by men who disbelieved in equality and disregarded the suggestion that, "All men are created equal."
That proposition first appeared in a Declaration of Independence written by a member of Virginia's landed aristocracy who owned scores of slaves and described the Indians against whom we fought as "merciless savages" in that same document signed on July 4, 1776.
For Lee, the dishonors do not stop. A Virginia history commission just voted to replace the general's statue in the U.S. Capitol with a statue of Barbara Rose Johns, a teenager who, in 1951, led a strike at her high school to demand the same benefits white kids were receiving.
Was Lee really the racist and traitor of his haters' depiction, deserving of the gallows rather than being honored for how he sought to sever the Union? Perhaps the last word should go to a president who still revered Lee as late as 1960, Dwight Eisenhower:
"General Robert E. Lee was … one of the supremely gifted men produced by our Nation. He believed unswervingly in the Constitutional validity of his cause which until 1865 was still an arguable question in America; he was a poised and inspiring leader, true to the high trust reposed in him by millions of his fellow citizens; he was thoughtful yet demanding of his officers and men, forbearing with captured enemies but ingenious, unrelenting and personally courageous in battle, and never disheartened by a reverse or obstacle. Through all his many trials, he remained selfless almost to a fault and unfailing in his faith in God. Taken altogether, he was noble as a leader and as a man, and unsullied as I read the pages of our history.
"From deep conviction, I simply say this: a nation of men of Lee's calibre would be unconquerable in spirit and soul. Indeed, to the degree that present-day American youth will strive to emulate his rare qualities, including his devotion to this land as revealed in his painstaking efforts to help heal the Nation's wounds once the bitter struggle was over, we, in our own time of danger in a divided world, will be strengthened and our love of freedom sustained.
"Such are the reasons that I proudly display the picture of this great American on my office wall."
Do you appreciate WND's unfiltered hard-hitting news and commentary? Read us AD-FREE by becoming a WND Insider! Find out more.


wnd--2020-12-18--The Supreme Court has thrown future elections into doubt

Late Friday night , the Supreme Court of the United States slapped the state of Texas and around 17 other states across the face with a large , dead fish .
The Supremes claimed that Texas did not have `` standing '' ( a direct injury ) to support its demand that the Constitution be followed in the election for U.S. president .
Problem is : `` Standing '' was invented by the Supreme Court .
It only really got going as late as the 1970s .
The governing , landmark Lujan precedent dates back only to 1992 .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Texas by a 7-2 margin , stating : '' The State of Texas 's motion for leave to file a bill of complaint is denied for lack of standing under Article III of the Constitution .
Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections . ''
But was that the question ?
Or is that a dishonest caricature of the question ?
Did Texas ask the Supreme Court to dictate the `` manner in which another State conducts its elections '' ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Article II , Section 1 , what all states must do ?
TRENDING : Obama to give green light to Dems to take Biden out ?
My friend Norm Bradford often says , `` You got the right answer to the wrong question . ''
The Supreme Court dishonestly misrepresented the Texas lawsuit .
Texas asked to have all states follow the Constitution uniformly .
With their dismissal , the Supremes threw all future elections into doubt .
This will go down as destructive as the Dred Scott decision that spurred us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yes , it was always this bad .
The political world just did a better job in the past of concealing the decay and dishonesty behind the curtains .
A gullible public , hoping it could trust in the United States as a shining example of good and democracy , did n't ask too many questions .
The abuse of standing to pick and choose which lawsuits are favored has been discredited and exposed for many decades .
Few things the Supreme Court has done in the last century will be as important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The vast majority of cases the high court takes are obscure and relatively unimportant .
Standing is not mentioned in the Constitution nor in any legislation governing the federal courts .
The Constitution authorizes federal courts to decide `` all cases , in Law and Equity , arising under this U.S. Constitution , the Laws of the United States , and Treaties made , or which shall be made , under their Authority . ''
[ Article III , Section 2 , of the Constitution ( emphasis added ) . ]
Article III @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controversies '' but only for diversity cases that are not brought under federal or constitutional laws .
The U.S. Supreme Court conjured `` standing '' out of thin air , talking about a case and controversy – not case or controversy .
They invented inconsistent , self-contradictory and illogical `` rules . ''
That 's yet another way they can pick and choose policy outcomes while pretending to follow objective standards .
One of the big questions has been , can the courts provide a remedy to an obviously unconstitutional and illegal election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order that would fix some or all of the problems ?
Well , that question did n't bother the Supreme Court in Massachusetts v. EPA , 549 U.S. 497 , 516–26 ( 2007 ) .
Massachusetts sued the EPA over global warming .
Every single `` rule '' of standing was massively , grotesquely violated .
The EPA was not causing the oceans to rise , yet it was the defendant .
Massachusetts did not sue any polluting industries .
U.S. industry was not the only or primary source of carbon dioxide in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justices order a remedy against the EPA that would stop the oceans from rising ?
In the Texas case , if the justices followed consistency and logic , they could have ordered that ballots received in violation of state law established by the state legislature are invalid , actually unconstitutional , and can not be included in the tabulation of legitimate votes .
That is , the Supreme Court could merely order that only the state legislature has the microphone and everyone else in the state must sit down and zip it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ than Judge Janice Rogers Brown of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit , in politely criticizing the chaos that has been created .
Although much more diplomatic than I am , Rogers ' dissent in Arpaio v. Obama , 797 F.3d 11 ( D.C. Cir .
2015 ) , roasted the unsound mishmash of the majority opinion .
I wrote Sheriff Joe Arpaio 's Petition for Writ of Certiorari appealing to the Supreme Court , and I wrote Arpaio 's Friend of the Court brief in support of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and signature of attorney Larry Klayman .
Arpaio documented how law enforcement personnel were arresting the same illegal aliens again and again for different state law crimes .
That directly increased costs to his office and risks to his deputies .
Large parts of the briefs I wrote quoted from Judge Janice Rogers Brown 's dissent .
How could you not , when a Court of Appeals judge has made your case for you ?
In the Massachusetts case , the state stacked speculation upon speculation to `` imagineer '' ( a Disney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coast line 100 years in the future .
Good enough if you 're a liberal .
`` Standing '' games by the Supreme Court include challenging whether the harm is speculative , based on assumptions , or certain to occur .
In Massachusetts , the Supremes said , `` EPA 's steadfast refusal to regulate greenhouse gas emissions presents a risk of harm to Massachusetts that is both 'actual ' and 'imminent . '
… '' '' A risk of harm . ''
It might happen .
If this happens , then that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might be a risk .
A mere `` risk '' is standing enough if you are a liberal .
Courts dismiss conservative lawsuits because there just might be some countervailing benefits .
For example , opponents of illegal immigration lose because there might be – speculatively – economic benefits from illegal immigration .
Yet , if there were global warming , the value to Massachusetts of warmer beaches would greatly exceed the trivial loss of an inch or two of coastline .
Nobody in his right mind wants to go swimming off a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are applied .
Donald Trump 's presidency and his campaign have ripped the mask off .
Those desperately trying to hide behind the curtain lied , of course , to say it is only about Trump .
Now , the insurgency has grown so strong that the deep state had to come out of the shadows and showed themselves in full view of the American people in order to counter Trump as the figurehead .
President Trump has fundamentally changed the entire political landscape because the hidden armies had to come out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the open plains in full view of the public .
They lost their invisibility as the cost of attacking Trump .
We must make sure they are not able to shrink back into the shadows , but keep fighting .
Note : The legal world will deceitfully try to argue that the word `` corrupt '' means accusing someone of taking an envelope of cash .
That is not what we are talking about .
`` Corrupt '' also means bent and distorted from a thing 's intended purpose , as in @ @ @ @ @

Late Friday night, the Supreme Court of the United States slapped the state of Texas and around 17 other states across the face with a large, dead fish. The Supremes claimed that Texas did not have "standing" (a direct injury) to support its demand that the Constitution be followed in the election for U.S. president.
Problem is: "Standing" was invented by the Supreme Court. It only really got going as late as the 1970s. The governing, landmark Lujan precedent dates back only to 1992.
So, the Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit by Texas by a 7-2 margin, stating:
"The State of Texas's motion for leave to file a bill of complaint is denied for lack of standing under Article III of the Constitution. Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections."
But was that the question? Or is that a dishonest caricature of the question? Did Texas ask the Supreme Court to dictate the "manner in which another State conducts its elections"? Or did the U.S. Constitution already mandate in Article II, Section 1, what all states must do?
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
My friend Norm Bradford often says, "You got the right answer to the wrong question." The Supreme Court dishonestly misrepresented the Texas lawsuit. Texas asked to have all states follow the Constitution uniformly.
With their dismissal, the Supremes threw all future elections into doubt. This will go down as destructive as the Dred Scott decision that spurred us into the Civil War.
Unfortunately, yes, it was always this bad. The political world just did a better job in the past of concealing the decay and dishonesty behind the curtains. A gullible public, hoping it could trust in the United States as a shining example of good and democracy, didn't ask too many questions.
The abuse of standing to pick and choose which lawsuits are favored has been discredited and exposed for many decades. Few things the Supreme Court has done in the last century will be as important as the Texas lawsuit just dismissed. The vast majority of cases the high court takes are obscure and relatively unimportant.
Standing is not mentioned in the Constitution nor in any legislation governing the federal courts. The Constitution authorizes federal courts to decide "all cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this U.S. Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority." [Article III, Section 2, of the Constitution (emphasis added).] Article III, Section 2, refers to "controversies" but only for diversity cases that are not brought under federal or constitutional laws.
The U.S. Supreme Court conjured "standing" out of thin air, talking about a case and controversy – not case or controversy. They invented inconsistent, self-contradictory and illogical "rules." That's yet another way they can pick and choose policy outcomes while pretending to follow objective standards.
One of the big questions has been, can the courts provide a remedy to an obviously unconstitutional and illegal election? Could the high court issue an order that would fix some or all of the problems?
Well, that question didn't bother the Supreme Court in Massachusetts v. EPA, 549 U.S. 497, 516–26 (2007). Massachusetts sued the EPA over global warming. Every single "rule" of standing was massively, grotesquely violated.
The EPA was not causing the oceans to rise, yet it was the defendant. Massachusetts did not sue any polluting industries. U.S. industry was not the only or primary source of carbon dioxide in the world – so how could the justices order a remedy against the EPA that would stop the oceans from rising?
In the Texas case, if the justices followed consistency and logic, they could have ordered that ballots received in violation of state law established by the state legislature are invalid, actually unconstitutional, and cannot be included in the tabulation of legitimate votes. That is, the Supreme Court could merely order that only the state legislature has the microphone and everyone else in the state must sit down and zip it.
No one has done a better job than Judge Janice Rogers Brown of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, in politely criticizing the chaos that has been created. Although much more diplomatic than I am, Rogers' dissent in Arpaio v. Obama, 797 F.3d 11 (D.C. Cir. 2015), roasted the unsound mishmash of the majority opinion.
I wrote Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Petition for Writ of Certiorari appealing to the Supreme Court, and I wrote Arpaio's Friend of the Court brief in support of Texas, with the direction, review and signature of attorney Larry Klayman. Arpaio documented how law enforcement personnel were arresting the same illegal aliens again and again for different state law crimes. That directly increased costs to his office and risks to his deputies.
Large parts of the briefs I wrote quoted from Judge Janice Rogers Brown's dissent. How could you not, when a Court of Appeals judge has made your case for you?
In the Massachusetts case, the state stacked speculation upon speculation to "imagineer" (a Disney term) that perhaps Massachusetts might lose coast line 100 years in the future. Good enough if you're a liberal.
"Standing" games by the Supreme Court include challenging whether the harm is speculative, based on assumptions, or certain to occur. In Massachusetts, the Supremes said, "EPA's steadfast refusal to regulate greenhouse gas emissions presents a risk of harm to Massachusetts that is both 'actual' and 'imminent.' …"
"A risk of harm." It might happen. If this happens, then that happens, then that happens, there might be a risk. A mere "risk" is standing enough if you are a liberal.
Courts dismiss conservative lawsuits because there just might be some countervailing benefits. For example, opponents of illegal immigration lose because there might be – speculatively – economic benefits from illegal immigration.
Yet, if there were global warming, the value to Massachusetts of warmer beaches would greatly exceed the trivial loss of an inch or two of coastline. Nobody in his right mind wants to go swimming off a freezing Massachusetts beach. But inconsistent standards are applied.
Donald Trump's presidency and his campaign have ripped the mask off. Those desperately trying to hide behind the curtain lied, of course, to say it is only about Trump. Now, the insurgency has grown so strong that the deep state had to come out of the shadows and showed themselves in full view of the American people in order to counter Trump as the figurehead.
President Trump has fundamentally changed the entire political landscape because the hidden armies had to come out of the forest and engage in open warfare on the open plains in full view of the public. They lost their invisibility as the cost of attacking Trump. We must make sure they are not able to shrink back into the shadows, but keep fighting.
Note: The legal world will deceitfully try to argue that the word "corrupt" means accusing someone of taking an envelope of cash. That is not what we are talking about. "Corrupt" also means bent and distorted from a thing's intended purpose, as in the corruption from decay.
Content created by the WND News Center is available for re-publication 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--2020-12-18--Joe Biden addresses Hunter scandal, calling son 'the smartest man I know' in

Joe Biden on Thursday went on a television comedy show to defend his son , Hunter , who has been caught up in a series of financial scandals stemming from his business deals with foreigners including reportedly Communist Party-linked business operatives that could even involve his father .
`` We have great confidence in our son .
I am not concerned about any accusations made against him .
It 's used to get to me .
I think it 's kind of foul play .
But look it is what it is .
And uh he 's a grown man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know , I mean from a pure intellectual capacity .
And uh and as long as he 's good , we 're good , '' Joe Biden said .
The overarching circumstances are that evidence appears to indicate Hunter Biden and other members of the Biden family were getting , or strategizing to get , huge paychecks from Chinese operatives , for what critics suggest essentially was introductions and access to American contacts .
TRENDING : Obama to give green light to Dems to take Biden out ?
Hunter Biden already has admitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his deal for huge paychecks from a deal he pulled off while his father was vice president for Barack Obama is well known .
Then , he negotiated a deal to be paid tens of thousands of dollars a month to be on the board of Burisma , a Ukrainian gas company that was suspected of corruption .
It came just as Joe Biden was given responsibility for American Ukraine policy for Obama .
Joe Biden is on video boasting how he then threatened Ukraine with the loss of American aid if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into Burisma corruption .
A French website reported that fired prosecutor , Victor Shokin , later filed a criminal complaint against Joe Biden for his actions .
It states that Biden 's request `` concerning my ousting from the post of the Attorney General of Ukraine as a condition for the granting of financial ( economic ) assistance is qualified as pressure , which represents interference in the internal affairs of Ukraine on the part of a foreign power in violation of one of the principles of international law . ''
Fox News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Jill Biden , accepted an interview with entertainer Stephen Colbert to make the statements .
And , the report said , the Biden camp later explained that Biden `` was not referring to the investigation as 'foul play , ' but rather to Republicans who have used Hunter Biden 's business dealings to go after him personally for months . ''
The Delaware U.S. Attorney is investigating Hunter Biden ’ s taxes – a probe that has been ongoing since 2018 but essentially was concealed from voters until after the election .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ China , Hunter Biden also has connections in Russia .
Hunter Biden also was kicked out of the Navy , for using cocaine , in 2014 , then had an affair with his late brother 's wife , and also was proven to have fathered a child with former stripper Lunden Roberts in 2019 after she sued him for paternity .
The issues are clouding a potential Joe Biden White House for reasons that include this week 's revelations of emails in which a business associate of Hunter Biden wrote a text message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a China deal , because that would make it look like a `` truly family business . ''
Fox News reported it was in text messages dating back to 2017 , shortly after Joe Biden left the office of vice president , Hunter Biden business associates James Gilliar and Tony Bobulinski sought to `` get Joe involved . ''
The deal was the joint venture with CEFC China Energy that Bobulinski has discussed in media interviews .
Bobulinski claims he met twice with Joe Biden and is certain that an email indicating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get a 10 % cut referred to the former vice president .
Further , a Senate report issued this month said that among the Communist Party-tied nationals with whom Hunter Biden did business was Ye Jianming , founder of CEFC China Energy .
Ye was affiliated with the People 's Liberation Army , the report said .
The New York Times reported in 2018 that Ye wanted `` access to the corridors of power in Washington '' and he soon `` was meeting with the family of Joseph R. Biden Jr. '' Ye @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into custody by Chinese authorities in 2018 on suspicion of economic crimes .
The scandals have implications larger than typical Washington scandals because a post-election survey found more than one-third of voters who chose Joe Biden were not aware of the evidence linking the former vice president to corrupt financial dealings with China through his son Hunter .
Had they known , according to the survey commissioned by the Media Research Center , President Trump would have won at least 289 Electoral College votes .
Fox News reported Gilliar , in a back-and-forth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent a text to Bobulinski in 2017 stating , `` Man U are right let 's get the company set up , then tell H and family the high stakes and get Joe involved . ''
Joe Biden repeatedly has denied being involved with – or even knowing about – his son 's business schemes .
Another email exchange had Bobulinski asking `` what is the deal w Jim Biden as he wasn ’ t part of the discussion but now seems a focal point . ''
The recent Senate report warned that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in deals with Chinese nationals with `` deep connections '' to the Communist Party .
The Senate Finance and Homeland Security Committees named Hunter Biden and the former vice president 's brother James and James ' wife Sara .
.

On a late-night talk show Thursday, Joe Biden defended his son Hunter Biden, calling him "the smartest man I know" amid an investigation of the younger Biden's taxes related to his many foreign business deals while the former vice president was in office.
"We have great confidence in our son. I am not concerned about any accusations made against him," he told Stephen Colbert while sitting alongside his wife, Jill Biden.
"It's used to get to me. I think it's kind of foul play. But look it is what it is," he continued. "And, uh, he's a grown man. He's the smartest man I know, I mean from a pure intellectual capacity. And uh and as long as he's good, we're good."
See the interview:
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Fox News reported the Biden camp later insisted that Biden "was not referring to the investigation as 'foul play,' but rather to Republicans who have used Hunter Biden's business dealings to go after him personally for months."
The Delaware U.S. Attorney has been investigating Hunter Biden’s taxes since 2018, but the probe was not disclosed until after the November election.
Hunter Biden struck lucrative deals in Ukraine, China and other nations that, according to considerable evidence, were based on access to his vice president father. He was kicked out of the Navy in 2014 for using cocaine then had an affair with his late brother's wife and was proven to have fathered a child with a former stripper in 2019 after she sued him for paternity.
Can Joe Biden still claim his son is "smart"? 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. 4% (2 Votes) 96% (52 Votes)
This week, Fox News reported a business associate of Hunter Biden wrote a text message requesting that "Joe" be involved in a deal with a Chinese energy firm tied to the Communist Party, because it would make it look like a "truly family business."
Former business associate Tony Bobulinski has claimed he met twice with Joe Biden regarding the China deal and is certain that an email indicating the "big guy" was to get a 10% cut referred to the former vice president.
A Senate report issued this month said that among the Communist Party-tied nationals with whom Hunter Biden did business was Ye Jianming, founder of CEFC China Energy. Ye was affiliated with the People's Liberation Army, the report said.
The New York Times reported in 2018 that Ye wanted "access to the corridors of power in Washington" and he soon "was meeting with the family of Joseph R. Biden Jr."
Ye has been a fugitive since being taken into custody by Chinese authorities in 2018 on suspicion of economic crimes.
The media's suppression of the Hunter Biden scandal before the election had an impact. A post-election survey found more than one-third of voters who chose Joe Biden were not aware of the evidence linking the former vice president to corrupt financial dealings with China through his son Hunter.
Had they known, according to the survey commissioned by the Media Research Center, President Trump would have won at least 289 Electoral College votes.
Fox News reported a Hunter Biden business associate, James Gilliar sent a text to Bobulinski in 2017 stating, "Man U are right let's get the company set up, then tell H and family the high stakes and get Joe involved."
Joe Biden repeatedly has denied even knowing about his son's business schemes.
Another email exchange had Bobulinski asking "what is the deal w Jim Biden as he wasn’t part of the discussion but now seems a focal point."
The recent Senate report also named the former vice president's brother James and James' wife Sara.
Content created by the WND News Center is available for re-publication 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--2020-12-18--Chicago mayor changes story about botched raid

( FOX NEWS ) -- Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Thursday that her staff informed her in November 2019 about @ @ @ @ @ happened nine months earlier – thus revising her office ’ s Tuesday claim that she @ @ @ @ @ the February 2019 raid until this week .
The mayor stood by her claim that @ @ @ @ @ video of the raid until this week but said she had no recollection of the @ @ @ @ @ staff when she spoke at a news conference Wednesday , Chicago ’ s WBBM-TV reported @ @ @ @ @ a battering ram to enter the home of social worker Anjanette Young with their guns @ @ @ @ @ the felon they were seeking actually lived next door , reports said .
The police @ @ @ @ @ fact that Young was naked at the time , changing her clothes after returning from @ @

(FOX NEWS) -- Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Thursday that her staff informed her in November 2019 about a botched police raid that happened nine months earlier – thus revising her office’s Tuesday claim that she hadn’t learned about the February 2019 raid until this week.
The mayor stood by her claim that she hadn’t viewed video of the raid until this week but said she had no recollection of the November 2019 briefing from her staff when she spoke at a news conference Wednesday, Chicago’s WBBM-TV reported.
City police officers used a battering ram to enter the home of social worker Anjanette Young with their guns drawn, not realizing that the felon they were seeking actually lived next door, reports said. The police error was compounded by the fact that Young was naked at the time, changing her clothes after returning from work.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-12-18--Dems snub AOC for committee that could review a Green New Deal

( FOX NEWS ) -- The House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee on Thursday voted to seat Rep. Kathleen Rice @ @ @ @ @ her New York colleague Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the latest example of House Democrats bucking @ @ @ @ @ and Queens .
With five open slots on the House Energy and Commerce Committee , @ @ @ @ @ D-Calif. , nominated four people and left the fifth spot open for members to choose @ @ @ @ @ in a vote , according to Politico .
The outlet reported that Rice decisively won @ @ @ @ @ Energy and Commerce Committee handles some of the most critical legislation in the House , @ @ @ @ @ care to nuclear facilities .
Its site says that it `` has the broadest jurisdiction @ @ @ @ @ Congress . ''

(FOX NEWS) -- The House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee on Thursday voted to seat Rep. Kathleen Rice on a coveted committee over her New York colleague Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the latest example of House Democrats bucking the firebrand who represents Brooklyn and Queens.
With five open slots on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., nominated four people and left the fifth spot open for members to choose between the two New Yorkers in a vote, according to Politico. The outlet reported that Rice decisively won the vote 46-13.
The Energy and Commerce Committee handles some of the most critical legislation in the House, from the environment to health care to nuclear facilities. Its site says that it "has the broadest jurisdiction of any authorizing committee in Congress."
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-12-18--Biden inauguration committee offers 'future in-person event' for cash

( WASHINGTON EXAMINER ) -- Fundraising by President-elect Joe Biden 's planning committee for the inauguration has stoked the ire @ @ @ @ @ flank by seeking big-dollar contributions .
In keeping with this year 's scaled-back campaign , @ @ @ @ @ inauguration will be mostly virtual , with a `` footprint '' that the Biden-Harris Presidential @ @ @ @ @ statement this week as `` extremely limited . ''
Still , the committee is inviting @ @ @ @ @ itemized packages that include networking and photo opportunities , according to a menu of options @ @ @ @ @ Times .

(WASHINGTON EXAMINER) -- Fundraising by President-elect Joe Biden's planning committee for the inauguration has stoked the ire of the party's left flank by seeking big-dollar contributions.
In keeping with this year's scaled-back campaign, the events marking Biden's inauguration will be mostly virtual, with a "footprint" that the Biden-Harris Presidential Inauguration Committee billed in a statement this week as "extremely limited."
Still, the committee is inviting donors to give lavishly, itemized packages that include networking and photo opportunities, according to a menu of options published by the New York Times.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-12-19--Withholding vaccine from elderly whites will 'level the playing field a bit'

A University of Pennsylvania expert in health policy says older people should not necessarily be on a priority list for COVID-19 vaccinations because they tend to be white .
And making them a lower priority will `` level the playing field a bit . ''
The expert , Harald Schmidt was quoted in a New York Times article titled `` Who should get the coronavirus vaccine first ? ''
`` Older populations are whiter , '' he said .
`` Society is structured in a way that enables them to live longer .
Instead of giving additional health benefits to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we can start to level the playing field a bit . ''
TRENDING : Health-care worker hospitalized for serious allergic reaction to coronavirus vaccine His argued it was reasonable to put `` essential workers '' ahead of older populations , at least partly because they are disproportionately minorities .
The Centers for Disease Control , he said , should integrate the agency 's `` social vulnerability index '' to determine the order in which people get vaccinated .
The `` index '' considers 15 components of the Census , such as crowded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poverty .
The Times report was published Dec. 5 , before the FDA authorized distribution of COVID-19 vaccines .
`` Should the country 's immunization program focus in the early months on the elderly and people with serious medical conditions , who are dying of the virus at the highest rates , or on essential workers , an expansive category encompassing Americans who have borne the greatest risk of infection ? ''
it asks .
It explained that under existing CDC plans , health care workers and residents of long-term-care facilities likely would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list .
But it then debates who goes next .
`` Ultimately , the choice comes down to whether preventing death or curbing the spread of the virus and returning to some semblance of normalcy is the highest priority . ''
Dr. Scott Gottlieb , a former commissioner for the Food and Drug Administration said : `` If your goal is to maximize the preservation of human life , then you would bias the vaccine toward older Americans .
If your goal is to reduce the rate of infection , then you would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what impact you ’ re trying to achieve . ''
Dr. Peter Szilagyi of the University of California Los Angeles said , `` To me the issue of ethics is very significant , very important for this country , and clearly favors the essential worker group because of the high proportion of minority , low-income and low-education workers among essential workers . ''
The World Health Organization , the National Academies of Sciences , Engineering , and Medicine and others have said reducing deaths by protecting the elderly is their priority .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope to `` prioritize the elderly . ''
Ultimately , the states will determine who gets vaccinated first .
The Times report said Marc Lipsitch , an infectious-disease epidemiologist at Harvard ’ s T.H .
Chan School of Public Health , argued that teachers should not be regarded as essential workers if the objective is to reduce health inequities .
`` Teachers have middle-class salaries , are very often white , and they have college degrees , '' Lipsitch said .
`` Of course they should be treated better , but they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

A University of Pennsylvania expert in health policy says older people should not necessarily be on a priority list for COVID-19 vaccinations because they tend to be white.
And making them a lower priority will "level the playing field a bit."
The expert, Harald Schmidt was quoted in a New York Times article titled "Who should get the coronavirus vaccine first?"
"Older populations are whiter," he said. "Society is structured in a way that enables them to live longer. Instead of giving additional health benefits to those who already had more of them, we can start to level the playing field a bit."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
His argued it was reasonable to put "essential workers" ahead of older populations, at least partly because they are disproportionately minorities.
The Centers for Disease Control, he said, should integrate the agency's "social vulnerability index" to determine the order in which people get vaccinated.
The "index" considers 15 components of the Census, such as crowded housing, lack of vehicle access and poverty.
The Times report was published Dec. 5, before the FDA authorized distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
Should the use of vaccines 'level the playing field'? 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. 3% (11 Votes) 97% (354 Votes)
"Should the country's immunization program focus in the early months on the elderly and people with serious medical conditions, who are dying of the virus at the highest rates, or on essential workers, an expansive category encompassing Americans who have borne the greatest risk of infection?" it asks.
It explained that under existing CDC plans, health care workers and residents of long-term-care facilities likely would be put at the top of the list.
But it then debates who goes next.
"Ultimately, the choice comes down to whether preventing death or curbing the spread of the virus and returning to some semblance of normalcy is the highest priority."
Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a former commissioner for the Food and Drug Administration said: "If your goal is to maximize the preservation of human life, then you would bias the vaccine toward older Americans. If your goal is to reduce the rate of infection, then you would prioritize essential workers. So it depends what impact you’re trying to achieve."
Dr. Peter Szilagyi of the University of California Los Angeles said, "To me the issue of ethics is very significant, very important for this country, and clearly favors the essential worker group because of the high proportion of minority, low-income and low-education workers among essential workers."
The World Health Organization, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and others have said reducing deaths by protecting the elderly is their priority.
And CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield has expressed hope to "prioritize the elderly."
Ultimately, the states will determine who gets vaccinated first.
The Times report said Marc Lipsitch, an infectious-disease epidemiologist at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, argued that teachers should not be regarded as essential workers if the objective is to reduce health inequities.
"Teachers have middle-class salaries, are very often white, and they have college degrees," Lipsitch said. "Of course they should be treated better, but they are not among the most mistreated of workers."
Content created by the WND News Center is available for re-publication 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--2020-12-19--House Republicans call for election-fraud hearings

Republican Rep. Mo Brooks , who already has pledged to contest the certification of the Electoral College votes on Jan. 6 , has been joined by 18 Congress members in a request for hearings on election fraud before the joint session .
The letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and various House and Senate committee chairs asks them to `` do their jobs , '' Brooks ' office said in a news release .
The letter , the news release said , calls on the congressional leaders to `` conduct voter fraud and election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Senators will be better informed when Congress faces contests and questions about the legitimacy and validity of various federal elections held on November 3 , 2020 . ''
This week , White House trade adviser Peter Navarro issued a comprehensive report to back the Trump campaign 's claim of election `` theft by a thousand cuts . ''
TRENDING : Health-care worker hospitalized for serious allergic reaction to coronavirus vaccine Titled `` The Immaculate Deception : Six Key Dimensions of Election Irregularities , '' it employs charts and other graphics to summarize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan , Nevada Pennsylvania and Wisconsin .
Navarro charges Democrats carried out a `` coordinated strategy to effectively stack the election deck against the Trump-Pence ticket . ''
He concludes that `` the weight of evidence and patterns of irregularities uncovered in this report are such that it is irresponsible for anyone – especially the mainstream media – to claim that there is 'no evidence ' of fraud or irregularities . ''
Navarro identifies six major dimensions of alleged election irregularities across the six states : `` outright voter fraud , ballot mishandling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clause violations , voting machine irregularities and significant statistical anomalies . ''
In a Senate hearing Wednesday that erupted into a heated exchange between the chairman and the ranking member , Republican Sen. Rand Paul charged the 2020 election was `` stolen , '' arguing courts never addressed the evidence .
`` The courts have n't decided the facts .
They never looked at the facts , '' the Kentucky senator said .
`` The fraud happened .
The election in many ways was stolen and the only way it will be fixed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws , '' he said .
Paul 's remarks came after former independent counsel Ken Starr affirmed that some 60 court cases brought by the Trump campaign and its allies were rejected primarily for procedural reasons as opposed to their merits .
`` I think it 's important that we look at this and understand what courts are saying and not saying , '' Paul said .
`` The courts have not said there was n't fraud .
The courts simply did n't rule on or hear [ about ] the fraud .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona , Mike Rogers of Alabama , Jim Banks of Indiana , David Rouzer of North Carolina , Paul Gosar of Ariona , Ted Budd of North Carolina , Lance Gooden of Texas , Brian Babin of Texas , Bob Gibbs of Ohio , Ralph Norman of South Carolina , Gregory Steube of Florida , Jody Hice of Georgia , Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania , Jeff Duncan of South Carolina , Louie Gohmert of Texas , Randy Weber of Texas , Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee and Mike Garcia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report Tuesday that in a private call , McConnell warned Republican senators not to join any effort to support President Trump 's challenge to the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6 .
Trump campaign attorney Jenna Ellis said Wednesday the legal team will continue to contest the election results even after Jan. 6 .
`` We 're going to continue to press for these critical investigations and I 'm happy to see , you know , that Michigan , and Georgia , and other states , and Arizona are starting to make some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said told Newsmax .
She insisted it 's not a partisan issue .
`` This is something that every American should be concerned with , so we 're going to continue to fight that battle , '' she said .
`` We 're gon na fight regardless of what happens come January 6 , and I hope that we do rectify the correct results of this election . ''
'The law is very clear' Brooks said Monday he is trying to build support for a challenge when the votes are read Jan. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear , '' he said in a Fox Business `` Lou Dobbs Tonight '' interview .
`` The House of Representatives in combination with the United States Senate has the lawful authority to accept or reject Electoral College vote submissions from states that have such flawed election systems that they 're not worthy of our trust . ''
He said he 's confident that if only lawful votes in the Nov. 3 election are counted , Trump would win the Electoral College .
`` We should not be counting illegal votes and putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States , '' he said .
To mount a challenge in Congress , Brooks would also need a senator to object .
The New York Times reported Sens .
Ron Johnson , R-Wis. , and Rand Paul , R-Ky. , have indicated they would be open to objecting .
However , there appears to be no support from Republican leadership in the Senate .
Sen. Mike Rounds , R-S.D.
, said it `` does not sound to me like that would add any credibility to our electoral process . ''
On Tuesday morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has spoken , '' saying he he wanted to `` congratulate President-elect Joe Biden '' and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris .

Republican Rep. Mo Brooks, who already has pledged to contest the certification of the Electoral College votes on Jan. 6, has been joined by 18 Congress members in a request for hearings on election fraud before the joint session.
The letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and various House and Senate committee chairs asks them to "do their jobs," Brooks' office said in a news release.
The letter, the news release said, calls on the congressional leaders to "conduct voter fraud and election theft hearings and investigations so that Congressmen and Senators will be better informed when Congress faces contests and questions about the legitimacy and validity of various federal elections held on November 3, 2020."
This week, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro issued a comprehensive report to back the Trump campaign's claim of election "theft by a thousand cuts."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Titled "The Immaculate Deception: Six Key Dimensions of Election Irregularities," it employs charts and other graphics to summarize the evidence from Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Navarro charges Democrats carried out a "coordinated strategy to effectively stack the election deck against the Trump-Pence ticket."
He concludes that "the weight of evidence and patterns of irregularities uncovered in this report are such that it is irresponsible for anyone – especially the mainstream media – to claim that there is 'no evidence' of fraud or irregularities."
Navarro identifies six major dimensions of alleged election irregularities across the six states: "outright voter fraud, ballot mishandling, contestable process fouls, Equal Protection Clause violations, voting machine irregularities and significant statistical anomalies."
Has election fraud taken place? 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% (814 Votes) 1% (6 Votes)
In a Senate hearing Wednesday that erupted into a heated exchange between the chairman and the ranking member, Republican Sen. Rand Paul charged the 2020 election was "stolen," arguing courts never addressed the evidence.
"The courts haven't decided the facts. They never looked at the facts," the Kentucky senator said.
"The fraud happened. The election in many ways was stolen and the only way it will be fixed is by in the future reinforcing the laws," he said.
Paul's remarks came after former independent counsel Ken Starr affirmed that some 60 court cases brought by the Trump campaign and its allies were rejected primarily for procedural reasons as opposed to their merits.
"I think it's important that we look at this and understand what courts are saying and not saying," Paul said. "The courts have not said there wasn't fraud. The courts simply didn't rule on or hear [about] the fraud."
18 House colleagues joined me in sending a letter to @senatemajldr, @SpeakerPelosi, and various House & Senate committee chairs seeking election fraud hearings ahead of the Jan 6th Electoral College vote submissions. pic.twitter.com/IcRvZ5pSED — Mo Brooks (@RepMoBrooks) December 17, 2020
The signatories of Brooks' letter are Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Mike Rogers of Alabama, Jim Banks of Indiana, David Rouzer of North Carolina, Paul Gosar of Ariona, Ted Budd of North Carolina, Lance Gooden of Texas, Brian Babin of Texas, Bob Gibbs of Ohio, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Gregory Steube of Florida, Jody Hice of Georgia, Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania, Jeff Duncan of South Carolina, Louie Gohmert of Texas, Randy Weber of Texas, Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee and Mike Garcia of California.
Meanwhile, The Hill report Tuesday that in a private call, McConnell warned Republican senators not to join any effort to support President Trump's challenge to the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6.
Trump campaign attorney Jenna Ellis said Wednesday the legal team will continue to contest the election results even after Jan. 6.
"We're going to continue to press for these critical investigations and I'm happy to see, you know, that Michigan, and Georgia, and other states, and Arizona are starting to make some moves in their state legislatures," she said told Newsmax.
She insisted it's not a partisan issue.
"This is something that every American should be concerned with, so we're going to continue to fight that battle," she said. "We're gonna fight regardless of what happens come January 6, and I hope that we do rectify the correct results of this election."
'The law is very clear'
Brooks said Monday he is trying to build support for a challenge when the votes are read Jan. 6.
"The law is very clear," he said in a Fox Business "Lou Dobbs Tonight" interview. "The House of Representatives in combination with the United States Senate has the lawful authority to accept or reject Electoral College vote submissions from states that have such flawed election systems that they're not worthy of our trust."
He said he's confident that if only lawful votes in the Nov. 3 election are counted, Trump would win the Electoral College.
"We should not be counting illegal votes and putting in an illegitimate President of the United States," he said.
To mount a challenge in Congress, Brooks would also need a senator to object. The New York Times reported Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., have indicated they would be open to objecting.
However, there appears to be no support from Republican leadership in the Senate.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told Newsweek it's "a pretty wild idea."
Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said it "does not sound to me like that would add any credibility to our electoral process."
On Tuesday morning, McConnell declared "the Electoral College has spoken," saying he he wanted to "congratulate President-elect Joe Biden" and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
Content created by the WND News Center is available for re-publication 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--2020-12-19--Nurse faints after getting COVID-19 vaccine

Video footage shows a nurse fainted on Thursday when talking to reporters after she was vaccinated for the coronavirus .
TRENDING : Health-care worker hospitalized for serious allergic reaction to coronavirus vaccine Nurse Manager Tiffany Dover told reporters she was experiencing dizziness and fainted after trying to walk off seconds later during the video .
Someone caught Dover while she fainted and medical professionals rushed to help .
Dover told NEWS Channel 9 ABC she wasn ’ t surprised by the fainting since she usually does when experiencing pain due to a condition .
“ It just hit me all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it coming on .
I felt a little disoriented but I feel fine now , and the pain in my arm is gone , ” Dover said , according to NEWS Channel 9 ABC Dover felt fine after fainting and was able to stand up minutes afterwards , NEWS Channel 9 ABC reported .
CHI Memorial Hospital doctors said the fainting isn ’ t connected to the Pfizer vaccine ’ s ingredients .
Dover told reporters before fainting that she knew that morning she would be receiving the vaccine during the video .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know all of my staff , we are excited to get the vaccine .
We are in the COVID unit , so therefore you know my team will be getting first chances to get the vaccine .
And I know that it ’ s , really , I ’ m sorry I ’ m feeling really dizzy .
I ’ m sorry , ” Dover said during the video .
Video footage showed the first shipment of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine leaving the company ’ s location on Sunday .
The U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ granted emergency authorization for the vaccine on Dec.11 .
Pain or anxiety usually triggers fainting and there are many potential causes , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) said .
Fainting from almost all types of vaccines has been reported to the CDC , the majority being from three adolescent vaccines ( HPV , MCV4 and Tdap ) .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact [ email protected ]

By Mary Rose Corkery
Daily Caller News Foundation
Video footage shows a nurse fainted on Thursday when talking to reporters after she was vaccinated for the coronavirus.
A nurse who got the COVID vaccine in Chattanooga, Tennessee today passed out while speaking to media about the vaccine shortly after receiving it. pic.twitter.com/Odv6fA1IVa — Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) December 18, 2020
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Nurse Manager Tiffany Dover told reporters she was experiencing dizziness and fainted after trying to walk off seconds later during the video. Someone caught Dover while she fainted and medical professionals rushed to help.
Dover told NEWS Channel 9 ABC she wasn’t surprised by the fainting since she usually does when experiencing pain due to a condition.
“It just hit me all of the sudden, I could feel it coming on. I felt a little disoriented but I feel fine now, and the pain in my arm is gone,” Dover said, according to NEWS Channel 9 ABC
Dover felt fine after fainting and was able to stand up minutes afterwards, NEWS Channel 9 ABC reported. CHI Memorial Hospital doctors said the fainting isn’t connected to the Pfizer vaccine’s ingredients.
Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe? 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. 25% (10 Votes) 75% (30 Votes)
Dover told reporters before fainting that she knew that morning she would be receiving the vaccine during the video.
“I did, yes. So you know all of my staff, we are excited to get the vaccine. We are in the COVID unit, so therefore you know my team will be getting first chances to get the vaccine. And I know that it’s, really, I’m sorry I’m feeling really dizzy. I’m sorry,” Dover said during the video.
Video footage showed the first shipment of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine leaving the company’s location on Sunday.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency authorization for the vaccine on Dec.11.
Pain or anxiety usually triggers fainting and there are many potential causes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said. Fainting from almost all types of vaccines has been reported to the CDC, the majority being from three adolescent vaccines (HPV,MCV4 and Tdap).
Scientists believe fainting results from “the vaccination process and not to the vaccines themselves” since all three adolescent vaccines carry different ingredients, the CDC said. There isn’t a solid answer regarding if a ingredient triggers fainting or if the probability of teenagers fainting is higher than adults or children fainting.
CHI Memorial Hospital didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
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--2020-12-19--Peter Schweizer: Hunter Biden scandal about 'enrichment' of Joe Biden

The Hunter Biden scandal is not only about the former vice president 's son getting rich , and matters of national security and foreign policy , it 's about the `` enrichment '' of Joe Biden himself , contends investigative reporter Peter Schweizer .
Schweizer , who has reported on Biden family influence peddling for several years , said Thursday that emails and text messages from Hunter Biden 's abandoned laptop and other sources make it clear `` he 's also paying a lot of the family ’ s bills , including his father 's and his mother 's , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is an issue of enrichment involving Joe Biden himself , '' he said in an interview with Fox News ' Sean Hannity .
Messages between Hunter Biden 's business partners , he said , show `` how the Biden family actually operates in this commercial space . ''
TRENDING : Health-care worker hospitalized for serious allergic reaction to coronavirus vaccine Schweizer said Joe Biden is trying to distance himself from his son 's business deals , but `` that 's just not simply how the family has operated . ''
`` And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as we look to a Biden administration ahead . ''
Hannity noted that emails -- including one indicating Joe Biden was to get a cut of a China deal -- and the testimony of former business partners such as Tony Bobulinski shows there 's `` no way '' the former vice president did n't know about his son 's influence peddling .
And he recalled Joe Biden boasting , on video , he threatened to withhold U.S. aid if Ukraine 's president did n't fire the country 's top prosecutor , who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some 83,000 a month .
`` They were using the tools of the vice presidency to get this deals , '' Schweizer affirmed .
He noted that Hunter Biden joined his father on Air Force Two to Beijing where the younger Biden struck a deal with a state-controlled Chinese bank worth $ 1.5 billion .
`` You do n't think that on the 20-hour flight that father and son did n't have a conversation about what Hunter was doing there ? ''
he asked .
`` And that when Hunter introduced him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were no questions asked ?
Of course there were . ''
Schweizer pointed to Joe Biden 's many statements over the years of how close the family is and how Hunter is `` the heartbeat of the family , '' arguing you ca n't `` pretend that these commercial deals are never discussed , there 's no conversation , there 's no interaction . ''
`` So , that 's where I think the reporting needs to go next , '' he said .
Meanwhile , after Biden told late-night host Stephen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his son , calling him `` the smartest man I know , '' the Biden transition team on Friday was asked no questions from journalists about Hunter Biden in its weekly briefing , Fox News reported .
Ignoring questions from Fox News and others , Biden officials called on only five reporters , from the New York Times , CNN , Washington Post , PBS and Politico .
Last week , the Biden transition team issued a statement from Hunter Biden acknowledged his taxes were under investigation by the U.S. Attorney in Delaware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Colbert , said Republicans and others pressing the issue are engaging in `` foul play . ''
`` I have , we have , great confidence in our son , '' Biden said on the CBS program `` The Late Show . ''
`` I am not concerned about any accusations being made against him .
It 's used to get to me .
I think it ’ s kind of foul play .
`` But look , it is what it is , '' Biden continued , `` and he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the smartest man I know .
I mean , from a pure intellectual capacity – and as long as he ’ s good , we 're good . ''

The Hunter Biden scandal is not only about the former vice president's son getting rich, and matters of national security and foreign policy, it's about the "enrichment" of Joe Biden himself, contends investigative reporter Peter Schweizer.
Schweizer, who has reported on Biden family influence peddling for several years, said Thursday that emails and text messages from Hunter Biden's abandoned laptop and other sources make it clear "he's also paying a lot of the family’s bills, including his father's and his mother's, with these foreign gains."
"This is an issue of enrichment involving Joe Biden himself," he said in an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity.
Messages between Hunter Biden's business partners, he said, show "how the Biden family actually operates in this commercial space."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Schweizer said Joe Biden is trying to distance himself from his son's business deals, but "that's just not simply how the family has operated."
"And that needs to remain front and center as we look to a Biden administration ahead."
Hannity noted that emails -- including one indicating Joe Biden was to get a cut of a China deal -- and the testimony of former business partners such as Tony Bobulinski shows there's "no way" the former vice president didn't know about his son's influence peddling.
And he recalled Joe Biden boasting, on video, he threatened to withhold U.S. aid if Ukraine's president didn't fire the country's top prosecutor, who was probing the natural gas firm paying his some 83,000 a month.
Is the Hunter Biden scandal about the 'enrichment' of Joe Biden? 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% (87 Votes) 1% (1 Votes)
"They were using the tools of the vice presidency to get this deals," Schweizer affirmed.
He noted that Hunter Biden joined his father on Air Force Two to Beijing where the younger Biden struck a deal with a state-controlled Chinese bank worth $1.5 billion.
"You don't think that on the 20-hour flight that father and son didn't have a conversation about what Hunter was doing there?" he asked. "And that when Hunter introduced him to his Chinese business partner on that trip there were no questions asked? Of course there were."
Schweizer pointed to Joe Biden's many statements over the years of how close the family is and how Hunter is "the heartbeat of the family," arguing you can't "pretend that these commercial deals are never discussed, there's no conversation, there's no interaction."
"So, that's where I think the reporting needs to go next," he said.
See the interview:
Meanwhile, after Biden told late-night host Stephen Colbert he has "confidence" in his son, calling him "the smartest man I know," the Biden transition team on Friday was asked no questions from journalists about Hunter Biden in its weekly briefing, Fox News reported.
Ignoring questions from Fox News and others, Biden officials called on only five reporters, from the New York Times, CNN, Washington Post, PBS and Politico.
Last week, the Biden transition team issued a statement from Hunter Biden acknowledged his taxes were under investigation by the U.S. Attorney in Delaware.
Joe Biden, in the interview with Colbert, said Republicans and others pressing the issue are engaging in "foul play."
"I have, we have, great confidence in our son," Biden said on the CBS program "The Late Show." "I am not concerned about any accusations being made against him. It's used to get to me. I think it’s kind of foul play.
"But look, it is what it is," Biden continued, "and he’s a grown man, he is the smartest man I know. I mean, from a pure intellectual capacity – and as long as he’s good, we're good."
Content created by the WND News Center is available for re-publication 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--2020-12-19--Cyber attack: Russia 'now has playbook to take down U.S. energy grid'

The massive cyber attack on major government agencies and Defense Department contractors could be a prelude to an attempt to take down the entire U.S. electric grid , warned a former senior State Department cybersecurity expert .
Morgan Wright told Fox Business host Lou Dobbs on Thursday it had `` the hallmarks '' of the Russian malware attack on Ukraine in December 2015 that took out power in 700,000 homes .
`` They were practicing this in other areas .
This is their kind of tradecraft , '' he said .
Wright warned that Russia , by gaining access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our capabilities '' and `` vulnerabilities . ''
TRENDING : Health-care worker hospitalized for serious allergic reaction to coronavirus vaccine '' Russia now has the playbook if they want to take down the U.S. energy grid , '' he said .
The Department of Homeland Security , calling the attack a `` grave threat , '' said hackers uploaded malware into updates for SolarWinds software .
It impacted 18,000 companies , including Defense Department contractors and U.S. nuclear agencies , the Treasury Department and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission .
Dobbs , noting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop it , said he could n't recall a more serious attack .
`` Any time you call a meeting on Saturday in the National Security Counsel , it 's serious , '' Wright said .
`` This is almost like a prelude to war . ''
He said the attack required several months of preparation that could have begun after the 2018 election .
`` After they were kind of silent during that time , this is Russia 's way of getting back in the game , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be looking at them for the election , so what did they do ?
They took a different tack and , instead , they attacked the one company that had over 300,000 clients , many of those government clients and very significant private sector clients , '' said Wright .
While SolarWinds said `` only '' 18,000 of its 300,000 global customers were affected , Wright said the attack could not be dimissed as `` just a minor thing . ''
The hackers , he said , `` exploited the trust mechanism that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' referring to the uploading of malware through a software update .
Dobbs noted that along with the nuclear stockpile , it 's also likely that nuclear laboratories have been compromised .
Worse , he pointed out , `` there is no fix here , and right now foreign actors are in control of the U.S. federal networks and systems . ''
`` There 's no other way to read this , is there ? ''
Dobbs asked Wright .
`` No , '' replied Wright , noting the DHS cybersecurity branch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Energy `` you 're on your own , we do n't have the bandwidth to support you . ''
Dobbs recalled a doctrine that began under the Obama administration in which such a cyber attack would be considered an act of war .
`` What in hell is the U.S. government doing waiting to respond ? ''
the Fox Business host asked .
Wright replied the U.S. is being careful about assigning responsibility for the attack , but he insisted officials must be more transparent about what is going on and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The massive cyber attack on major government agencies and Defense Department contractors could be a prelude to an attempt to take down the entire U.S. electric grid, warned a former senior State Department cybersecurity expert.
Morgan Wright told Fox Business host Lou Dobbs on Thursday it had "the hallmarks" of the Russian malware attack on Ukraine in December 2015 that took out power in 700,000 homes.
"They were practicing this in other areas. This is their kind of tradecraft," he said.
Wright warned that Russia, by gaining access to top U.S. agencies, is "assessing our capabilities" and "vulnerabilities."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"Russia now has the playbook if they want to take down the U.S. energy grid," he said.
The Department of Homeland Security, calling the attack a "grave threat," said hackers uploaded malware into updates for SolarWinds software. It impacted 18,000 companies, including Defense Department contractors and U.S. nuclear agencies, the Treasury Department and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Dobbs, noting the DHS admitted it had no capacity to stop it, said he couldn't recall a more serious attack.
"Any time you call a meeting on Saturday in the National Security Counsel, it's serious," Wright said. "This is almost like a prelude to war."
Could Russia take down the U.S. power grid? 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. 91% (205 Votes) 9% (20 Votes)
He said the attack required several months of preparation that could have begun after the 2018 election.
"After they were kind of silent during that time, this is Russia's way of getting back in the game," he said.
"They knew we were going to be looking at them for the election, so what did they do? They took a different tack and, instead, they attacked the one company that had over 300,000 clients, many of those government clients and very significant private sector clients," said Wright.
While SolarWinds said "only" 18,000 of its 300,000 global customers were affected, Wright said the attack could not be dimissed as "just a minor thing."
The hackers, he said, "exploited the trust mechanism that every company relied upon to patch vulnerabilities," referring to the uploading of malware through a software update.
Dobbs noted that along with the nuclear stockpile, it's also likely that nuclear laboratories have been compromised.
Worse, he pointed out, "there is no fix here, and right now foreign actors are in control of the U.S. federal networks and systems."
"There's no other way to read this, is there?" Dobbs asked Wright.
"No," replied Wright, noting the DHS cybersecurity branch, CISA, already has told the Department of Energy "you're on your own, we don't have the bandwidth to support you."
Dobbs recalled a doctrine that began under the Obama administration in which such a cyber attack would be considered an act of war.
"What in hell is the U.S. government doing waiting to respond?" the Fox Business host asked.
Wright replied the U.S. is being careful about assigning responsibility for the attack, but he insisted officials must be more transparent about what is going on and the steps that need to be taken.
See the interview:
Prelude to War: @MorganWright_US lays out how a foreign power infiltrated our federal agencies to carry out a cyberattack #MAGA #AmericaFirst #Dobbs pic.twitter.com/t4QJvYM6Iu — Lou Dobbs (@LouDobbs) December 17, 2020
Content created by the WND News Center is available for re-publication without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].