thetorontostar--2020-01-25--Woman fatally shoots man, self at cigar bar near Chicago

LISLE , Ill. - Multiple people were injured in a shooting at a cigar lounge outside Chicago , police said @ @ @ @ @ after 10 p.m. Friday at the Humidor Cigar Lounge in Lisle , police there said @ @ @ @ @ aid , police said in a statement posted to Facebook .
The number of people @ @ @ @ @ released .
The statement said the suspect was “ accounted for.
” At this time @ @ @ @ @ to the business and there is no danger to the community , “ the statement @ @ @ @ @ ’ t immediately released .
According to its website , Humidor ’ s Lisle location @ @ @ @ @ 12,000 square feet ( 1,115 square meters ) of lounge space , including public and @ @ @ @ @ in the western Chicago suburbs , is just north of Naperville .
Get more of @ @ @ @ @ Never miss the latest news from the Star .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-25--China virus outbreak revives calls to stop wildlife trade

BEIJING - The outbreak of a new virus linked to a wildlife market in central China is prompting renewed calls for enforcement of laws against the trade in and consumption of exotic species .
It ’ s also raising questions about how it could happen again after the lessons learned from the 2002-2003 outbreak of SARS , or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome , which was traced to consumption of wild animals in the southern city of Guangzhou .
Demand for wild animals in Asia , especially China , is hastening the extinction of many species , on top of posing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed to fully address despite growing risks of a global pandemic .
In response to the crisis that has been centred in the big industrial city of Wuhan , China ’ s Agriculture Ministry issued an order earlier this week ordering tightened controls on trade in wildlife .
The New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society , meanwhile , appealed for an end to wildlife markets everywhere , not just in China .
Zoonotic diseases , or those contracted by humans that originated in other species , account for a large share of human infectious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the wildlife trade : rabies is endemic across many species and one of the biggest causes of death in the developing world .
But mixing species of wild animals increases the risk of diseases mutating and growing more virulent as they spread in unregulated markets , experts say .
The emergence of such diseases is a “ numbers game , ” said Christian Walzer , executive director of the Wildlife Conservation Society ’ s health program .
“ If these markets persist , and human consumption of illegal and unregulated wildlife persists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face heightened risks from emerging new viruses , potentially more lethal and the source of future pandemic spread , ” he said .
“ These are perfect laboratories for creating opportunities for these viruses to emerge.
“ The order issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs , dated Jan. 21 , banned all shipments of wild animals out of Wuhan .
It also called for stepped up inspections and for raising public awareness about the risks of eating them .
Researchers have not yet announced a definitive source for this latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can infect multiple species .
One of the first measures taken by Wuhan authorities was to close down the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market , where 41 of the first cases originated .
“ That ’ s the big black box right now , ” said Jon Epstein , an epidemiologist with the Ecohealth Alliance .
He was in China following the SARS outbreak and helped the ongoing global effort over nearly two decades to find the wild source of that virus , which sickened more than 8,000 and killed less than 800 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including bats and the cat-like masked palm civet .
Bats are known to harbour coronaviruses , but scientists have yet to fully understand the new virus and how it leapt from animals to people .
Epstein said researchers suspect but haven ’ t proven that the Wuhan virus came from bats .
Before it infected humans , it likely first jumped to an as yet unidentified mammal .
“ There ’ s no plausible evidence to support snakes being involved with this virus , ” Epstein said , referring to recent media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nature .
Researchers don ’ t know which species exactly were sold in the Wuhan market , but Epstein said mammals commonly found in such markets—such as ferret badgers , raccoon dogs or civets—might be involved in the transmission of the new virus to people .
The crackdown on wildlife trafficking and sales persisted only about six months after the SARS outbreak faded in mid-2003 , Walzer said .
“ The solution is simple , ” he said .
“ In the sense that we know where the problem is.
” In cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there ’ s little sign of markets catering to gourmands seeking “ ye wei , ” or “ wild flavours.
” But in provincial cities and in some parts of Laos , Vietnam , Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries , those determined to eat such exotic dishes can find all sorts of creatures for sale : pangolins , badgers , salamanders , scorpions , hedgehogs and even wolf puppies .
A photo of a menu list from a vendor in the Wuhan market called “ Wild Game Livestock for the Masses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 110 species for sale .
Court records show that authorities in Hubei , the province where Wuhan is located , investigated 250 cases related to wildlife trafficking and poaching in 2019 alone .
According to local media reports , since 2018 an estimated 16,000 wild animals were hunted in the province of more than 60 million people .
Hubei is home to Shennongjia , a UNESCO World Heritage nature reserve that is a habitat of great biodiversity with many rare species including the clouded leopard , golden snub-nosed monkey and the Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a conservation activist in eastern China ’ s Zhejiang and Anhui provinces , which also have a long tradition of consuming wild species , showed many wild species laid out for inspection in a market .
In most cases , vendors are registered to sell some unprotected species , usually a limited amount of just a few , such as hares , wild boar and muntjac , a kind of tiny deer .
But enforcement is “ not that strict , ” said Tian Jiang Ming of the Anti-Poaching Squad , a group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on illegal wildlife sales .
The illegal offerings tend to be kept hidden away in back freezers , he said .
“ The vendors are selling illegally poached animals with these licenses in hand , “ he told The Associated Press .
Only in 2014 did China criminalize consumption of protected species with a law specifying a maximum three-year jail term .
But it also has allowed commercial farming of certain species , including tigers — a practice that conservation advocates say encourages illicit trafficking in protected species .
It ’ s difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard to prove animals have been poached , Tian Jiang Ming said .
“ The forestry department needs to prove illegal poaching by the sellers but they don ’ t have the investigative resources to find them , “ he said .

Sam McNeil, Penny Yi Wang And Elaine Kurtenbach - The Associated Press

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thetorontostar--2020-01-25--Dems say oust Trump or he’ll betray again; ‘He is who he is’

WASHINGTON - Closing out their case , House Democrats warned in Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial that the president will persist in abusing his power and endangering American democracy unless Congress intervenes to remove him before the 2020 election .
They then implored Republican senators to allow new testimony before rendering a final verdict .
Schiff delivered Democrats ’ final remarks in the Senate trial after three days of methodical and impassioned arguments detailing charges that Trump abused power by asking Ukraine for politically motivated probes of political rivals , then obstructed Congress ’ investigation into the matter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ first chance to defend him Saturday , and are expected to argue he acted appropriately .
The opening arguments appear to have done nothing to shake Republicans ’ support for Trump or persuade enough centrist GOP lawmakers to call for new witnesses , including Trump ’ s former national security adviser John Bolton .
In his final appeal to lawmakers and a divided nation , Schiff argued that a guilty verdict in the Senate is the only remedy left to curb what he called the “ ’ imminent threat ” posed to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ He is who he is , ” Schiff declared .
“ You know it ’ s not going to stop .
...
It ’ s not going to stop unless the Congress does something about it.
” The moment of history was apparent , only the third impeachment trial of a U.S. president , as were the partisan views of the Trump presidency and the effort to end it .
When Schiff cited a news story with someone close to Trump saying any Republican voting with Democrats would have their “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senators in the chamber began murmuring , “ That ’ s not true.
” The House impeached Trump last month , accusing him of abusing his office by asking Ukraine for politically motivated probes of Biden and other matters while withholding military aid from a U.S. ally that was at war with bordering Russia .
A second article of impeachment accuses him of obstructing Congress by refusing to turn over documents or allow officials to testify in the House ensuing probe .
Said Trump attorney Jay Sekulow , “ We ’ re going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re going to put on an affirmative case tomorrow.
” Republicans are defending Trump ’ s actions as appropriate and are casting the impeachment trial as a politically motivated effort to weaken him in his reelection campaign .
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate , and eventual acquittal is considered likely .
Before that , senators will make a critical decision next week on Democratic demands to hear testimony from top Trump aides , including Bolton and acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney , who refused to appear before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senators to join the Democratic minority to seek witnesses , and so far the numbers appear lacking .
“ This needs to end , ” said Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , a Trump confidant .
With Chief Justice John Roberts presiding , Friday ’ s session opened with an overarching case from Democrats that Trump ’ s actions with Ukraine were not unique but part of a pattern of “ destructive behaviour ” now threatening the core foundations of American democracy .
Schiff told the senators that Trump has shown repeatedly that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political interests above those of the country he is sworn to protect .
The evidence shows , he said , that Trump bucked the advice of his own national security apparatus to chase “ kooky ” theories about Ukraine pushed by lawyer Rudy Giuliani , resulting in “ one hell of a Russian intelligence coup ” that benefited Vladimir Putin at U.S. expense .
This was not simply a foreign policy dispute , Schiff argued , but a breach of long-held American values for Trump to leverage an ally — in this case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian troops — for the investigations he wanted ahead of 2020 .
When the House started investigating his actions , Democrats said , Trump blatantly obstructed the probe .
Even then-President Richard Nixon , they argued , better understood the need to comply with Congress in some of its oversight requests .
Drawing on historical figures , from the Founding Fathers to the late GOP Sen. John McCain and the fictional Atticus Finch , Schiff made his arguments emphatically personal .
“ The next time , it just may be you , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after another .
” Do you think for a moment that if he felt it was in his interest , he wouldn ’ t ask you to be investigated ?
” The impeachment trial is set against the backdrop of the 2020 election , as voters assess Trump ’ s presidency and his run for a second term .
Four senators who are Democratic presidential candidates are off the campaign trail , seated as jurors .
A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed the public slightly more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and remove Trump from office than to say it should not , 45 % to 40 % .
But a sizable percentage , 14 % , said they didn ’ t know enough to have an opinion .
One issue with wide agreement : Trump should allow top aides to appear as witnesses at the trial .
About 7 in 10 respondents said so , including majorities of Republicans and Democrats , according to the poll .
No president has ever been removed by the Senate , neither Andrew Johnson in 1868 nor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office before a House vote that was likely to impeach him .
The House mounted its Trump case after a government whistleblower complained about his July 2019 call with Ukraine .
The House relied on testimony from current and former national security officials and diplomats , many who defied White House instructions not to appear .
Evidence presented in the House probe has shown that Trump , with Giuliani , pursued investigations of Biden and his son , Hunter , who served on a Ukrainian gas company ’ s board , and sought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine interfered in the 2016 U.S. election .
It ’ s a story line many in the president ’ s camp are still pushing .
Giuliani , in an appearance Friday on “ Fox & Friends , ” insisted he would present evidence on his new podcast .
At close , Schiff predicted the Trump team will try to distract senators from the case , in part by lodging personal attacks against all the House prosecutors .
He reminded senators what is at stake and read the articles of impeachment one more time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Alan Fram , Andrew Taylor , Laurie Kellman , Matthew Daly and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report .

Lisa Mascaro, Eric Tucker And Zeke Miller - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-25--Trump’s idea of executive power is also impeachment defence

WASHINGTON - Donald Trump has always been a man of absolutes .
Something is the best or the worst , a person is a winner or a total loser , an event has never happened before , even when it has .
Absolutism was the unwritten credo of his career in business and is the guiding light of his presidency as he makes an assertion rarely heard from an American president : that he can do as he pleases .
Now that approach faces its ultimate test as a foundation of Trump ’ s defence in his impeachment trial , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority .
How that question is answered , both by the Senate in the impeachment trial and by voters in November , will define how Americans view the concept of presidential power .
Trump ’ s position reaches well beyond the charges of abuse of power and obstruction of justice made in the articles of impeachment the Senate is now considering .
The views were outlined in papers by his legal team and are expected in arguments in the trial as soon as Saturday .
“ I have the right to do whatever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declared last year , citing Article II of the Constitution .
“ It gives me all of these rights at a level nobody has ever seen before.
” Not since Richard Nixon told the interviewer David Frost , “ When a president does it , it means it ’ s not illegal , ” has a president come close to making an assertion of power as sweeping as Trump ’ s .
House Democrats prosecuting the impeachment case charge that Trump abused his office by asking Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obstructed Congress by refusing to turn over documents or allow officials to testify .
Republicans defend Trump ’ s actions as appropriate and cast the process as an effort to weaken the president in the midst of his reelection campaign .
In their trial memo , Trump ’ s attorneys contend that the obstruction charge is not valid because he was asserting his legal right and immunity granted to him by his position , adding that to question that would cause “ grave damage “ to the separation of powers .
“ President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abused the powers of the Presidency , ’ “ they argued .
” At all times , the president has faithfully and effectively executed the duties of his office on behalf of the American people.
” And his lawyers have said his election gives him the right to refuse subpoenas given to his cabinet and staff , to decline to hand over documents to investigators , and to shut down certain witnesses .
“ In order to fulfil his duties to the American people , the Constitution , the Executive Branch , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Presidency , President Trump and his Administration can not participate in your partisan and unconstitutional inquiry under these circumstances , “ White House Counsel Pat Cipollone wrote to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi .
Rep. Adam Schiff , the lead impeachment manager , has urged senators to remember the Constitution ’ s framers sought to prevent a chief executive from wielding power as if it “ was conferred upon him by divine right.
” The American Revolution was fought so that “ no person , including and especially the president , would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate on Wednesday .
” Nothing could be more dangerous to a democracy than a commander in chief who believed that he could operate with impunity , free from accountability.
” That is not a view Trump shares .
He has declared that he has an “ absolute right ” to wield executive authority at least 29 times since his election , according to an Associated Press review of his comments in Factba.se , which compiles and analyzes data on Trump ’ s presidency .
That included when he shut down the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatened to close the U.S.-Mexico border , fired Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch , asked other countries to investigate corruption , shared classified intelligence with Russia and said he could pardon himself .
“ Trump ’ s usage is , I think , novel — without precedent — in U.S. history of presidential rhetoric , ” John Wooley , co-director of the The American Presidency Project at the University of California-Santa Barbara , said in an email .
During his impeachment trial President Bill Clinton didn ’ t assert executive privilege nearly as much — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documents and allowed staff to participate .
Republicans who controlled the House impeached him on the charges of obstructing justice and lying to a grand jury in connection with his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky .
His defence was structured on inconsistencies in the perjury allegations and claims that the investigation had been tainted by political bias .
The Senate , which had a Republican majority , acquitted him .
“ In essence , there was more evidence of a crime , perjury , but it was not serious enough to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Bill McCollum , a former Florida congressman who was the impeachment manager during the Clinton trial .
“ We are just looking at a very different scenario here.
” Many presidents have sought to strengthen their hands against Congress and the judiciary , despite George Washington ’ s warning , in his farewell address , against seeking “ security and repose in the absolute power of an individual ” leader .
Andrew Jackson — whose portrait hangs in Trump ’ s Oval Office — asserted in response to Senate censure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Constitution , the laws , and the whole practice of the Government that the entire executive power is vested in the President of the United States.
” His critics widely caricatured him as “ King Andrew.
” Throughout the 20th century , presidents increasingly acted unilaterally as the executive branch grew dramatically .
“ Most of the modern presidents have tended to take a pretty expansive view of the meaning of Commander in Chief powers , ” Wooley said .
Franklin D. Roosevelt holds the record for issuing executive orders — more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 307 per year — as he led the nation out of the Great Depression and through World War II .
By comparison , Trump has issued 136 , or 47 per year , which is more frequent than any president since Ronald Reagan , whose average was 48 , the American Presidency Project database shows .
But no other president to appears to have declared that he was personally invested with such unlimited powers , according to database searches of The American Presidency Project and the University of Virginia ’ s Presidential Recordings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the secretly recorded conversations of John F. Kennedy , Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon .
And while White House recordings show Lyndon B. Johnson asserting his war powers authority to send U.S. troops to Vietnam , “ it is not Trumpian — it ’ s not a claim of , ‘ I have the absolute right , the absolute authority , ’ “ said Marc Selverstone , who chairs the Presidential Recordings Program .
Johnson was ” not making the kinds of claims President Trump is making , ” Selverstone said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal investigations — he asserted it in his efforts to keep his tax returns from being revealed in court .
Trump has also said he could not be sued by a former contestant on “ The Apprentice , “ who accused of him of defamation .
In those cases , his New York attorneys claimed he could not be charged with a crime .
Trump ’ s lawyers are also asserting there must be a crime for him to be impeached .
But legal scholars say the Constitution ’ s standard of “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is vague and open-ended to encompass abuses of power even if they aren ’ t , strictly speaking , illegal .
Each side got 24 hours over three days to present their case .
After the House prosecutors finished Friday , the president ’ s lawyers will follow Saturday .
They are expected to take only Sunday off and push into next week .

Colleen Long And Michael Warren - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-25--Campaign crunch time forces progressives to eye private jets

DES MOINES , Iowa - Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have spent the past year courting the Democratic Party ’ s base with appeals to the working class and sweeping promises to curb climate change .
But as they balance their responsibilities to participate in the Senate ’ s impeachment trial and rally voters on the campaign trail , they ’ re turning to private air travel , an option typically reserved for the elite and criticized as environmentally unfriendly .
Sanders is expected to charter a flight to Iowa this weekend while the Senate trial is in recess .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ but is also considering private travel , and Amy Klobuchar hasn ’ t ruled it out .
Only Michael Bennet says he ’ ll be flying commercial .
The senators are facing an unprecedented challenge in the final days before the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses .
At a time when they would typically barnstorm the state , they ’ re instead stuck in Washington as jurors in President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment case .
The little time they have for campaigning makes commercial travel tough .
But the private planes present unique @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the leading progressive voices in a crowded Democratic primary , they often criticize rivals they deem insufficiently loyal to those values .
The sudden use of private travel is an example of how ideological rigidity can sometimes collide with White House aspirations .
“ This is the problem of presenting your purity above your practicality , “ said Democratic strategist Chris Lippincott , who has not endorsed any of the 2020 primary candidates .
“ When we think about certain candidates who talk a lot about the environment ... you ’ re going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Lippincott applauded the 2020 presidential hopefuls in the Senate for being willing to fly privately , if that ’ s what their campaigns need .
“ I understand it , “ he said of trying to live progressive values at all times , “ but the reality is , there ’ s a big risk of being perceived as being an ideologue and not a problem-solver.
” Transportation emissions overall make up the largest share of U.S. climate-damaging emissions , according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration .
Globally , air travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emissions of climate-destroying carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels .
Surging growth of air travel in Asia and around the world means those emissions will triple by 2050 , the United Nations says , and recent studies say even that figure underestimates the explosive growth of air travel and its emissions .
In March , Sanders ’ campaign became the first to announce it would provide carbon offsets , donations to environmental groups meant to mitigate the environmental effects of extra emissions .
Since then , it had spent about $ 9,000 on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary challenge to Hillary Clinton in 2016 , Sanders paid around $ 14,000 for such offsets .
His campaign is making payments to NativeEnergy , based in Burlington , Vermont , which is the same company that Clinton used for them during her presidential bid in 2016 .
That ’ s also the same firm Warren uses , with her campaign paying a little more than $ 10,000 to it in September .
Some climate advocates said they weren ’ t bothered by the private travel , especially because they view a more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the climate than four more years of Trump in the White House .
“ If you ’ re a presidential candidate running to try to beat Donald Trump , who is a climate denier to his bones , and that requires you to move around the country ... you should do that , ” said Leah Stokes , a professor and researcher into climate and energy politics at the University of California-Santa Barbara .
“ World leaders fly around in airplanes — this is the modern era , ” Stokes said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ speedy train to Iowa , she said .
Trump has made a similar point for the opposite reason , poking fun at Democratic environmental plans .
“ I really don ’ t like their policy of taking away your car , of taking away your airplane rights , of ‘ Let ’ s hop a train to California , ’ “ Trump said during a rally last February .
Sanders has pledged a $ 16.3 trillion environmental plan that would declare climate change a national emergency and calls for the U.S. to move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2050 .
Warren wants to spend $ 3 trillion over 10 years to move the U.S. to 100 % clean energy .
And both are aggressive supporters of the “ Green New Deal , ” a sweeping plan to combat climate change .
Sanders recently suggested on “ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ” that he ’ d consider a kind of “ jet-pooling ” arrangement in which he and other candidates could share private flights , saying , “ Maybe we can all chip in , get one plane and come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself last weekend since Sanders , Warren and others were campaigning in Iowa and then went to South Carolina for Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations and then on to Washington to be in the Senate .
But they didn ’ t share private flights .
Still , Sanders ’ campaign says the senator ’ s comment to Colbert wasn ’ t realistic .
Even if several senators were looking to decamp from Washington to Iowa quickly after the impeachment trial concludes each day , they would be headed to different parts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just those candidates tethered to Washington by the impeachment trial who often opt to fly private .
Former Vice-President Joe Biden spent at least $ 1.2 million on charter jets through September , while Pete Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , had spent at least $ 750,000 .
That was more than Sanders ( at least $ 377,000 ) and Warren ( at least $ 190,000 ) over the same period , though impeachment could change that .
Spending data through December 2019 won ’ t be ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg mostly flies private to campaign stops .
Buttigieg ’ s , Biden ’ s and Bloomberg ’ s campaigns all say they are also paying for carbon offsets .
Buttigieg faced criticism this summer for his penchant for flying private from presidential rival Beto O ’ Rourke , who produced an online ad filmed aboard a commercial jet proclaiming “ No private planes for this campaign.
” Buttigieg responded during a CNN climate change town hall by saying , “ This is a very big country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of the whole country.
” O ’ Rourke , a former Texas congressman , dropped out of the race in November .
Sanders , meanwhile , drew fire after spending nearly $ 300,000 on private jets in September 2018 , as he crisscrossed the country campaigning for other candidates during the midterm elections .
The issue also came up in August , when Sanders travelled to Paradise , California , which had been ravaged by wildfires , to unveil his plan to fight climate change .
He was unapologetic .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California , ” Sanders replied when asked about flying private .
“ We do the best we can as an example , but I ’ m not going to sit here and tell you that we ’ re not going to use fossil fuels.
” Knickmeyer reported from Washington .
Associated Press writers Brian Slodysko in Washington and Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento , Calif. , contributed to this report .
Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast , “ Ground Game .
”

Will Weissert And Ellen Knickmeyer - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-25--Democrats speak to history with exhaustive impeachment case

WASHINGTON - At times it seemed like few senators in the chamber were really listening .
But the House Democrats presenting the impeachment case against President Donald Trump weren ’ t about to stop .
By the time they finished their three days of opening arguments late Friday , House managers had used most of the 24 hours they were given in the Senate impeachment trial .
One speech Wednesday by the lead prosecutor , Rep. Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , ran around two hours .
Overall , it was a performance that defied today ’ s short attention spans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some said exhausting — case for Trump ’ s removal from office .
Few minds appeared to be changed , and many senators all but lashed to their seats for the trial described it as tedium .
But the seven Democratic prosecutors were speaking not only to the senators — effectively Trump ’ s jurors — but also to history , which will judge his conduct long after his expected acquittal .
“ This is not just for the senators now , or the American people , but forever , ” said Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the University of North Carolina School of Law .
Gerhardt said historians would dissect video and transcripts of Democrats ’ presentation and the case that a team of lawyers representing the White House will make beginning Saturday .
The length and detail of the Democratic speeches would be a bonanza , he said .
“ History is kind of ruthless .
It ’ s not partisan , Democratic versus Republican .
It doesn ’ t care about people ’ s feelings , ” said Gerhardt , who ’ s written books on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what ’ s in the record.
” Even so , while a presidential impeachment trial is heavily political with a healthy dollop of law , lengthy arguments are a risky way to appeal to people deciding a case , said David Spratt , professor of legal rhetoric at American University ’ s Washington College of Law .
“ If you drone on over and over , you can lose credibility with your audience .
They stop listening to what ’ s being said , “ Spratt said .
To lawmakers and anyone observing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was dominating them : Schiff , the lead investigator into the Ukraine affair and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee .
Democrats laid out evidence that Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden , a presidential contender and former vice-president , by blocking military aid and a White House meeting the country ’ s new leader coveted as it battles Russia-backed separatists in a grinding war .
According to a breakdown provided by C-SPAN , the public affairs TV network that was broadcasting complete coverage of the trial , Schiff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22 hours that Democrats consumed Wednesday , Thursday and Friday .
Next closest was Rep. Hakeem Jeffries , D-N.Y. , whose remarks totalled three hours .
Democrats praised Schiff for a smooth , smart delivery and said his team presented a meticulous , methodical explanation of why Trump should be forced from the White House .
Republicans criticized the presentation as a long-winded , repetitive waste of time .
“ I ’ ve tried a lot of cases , “ said Sen. Jim Risch , R-Idaho , a former prosecutor .
” That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re trying to persuade a jury , is totally ineffective .
People can ’ t stay focused for that long on the same thing over and over again.
” “ No , ” Sen. Thom Tillis , R-N.C. , who might face a competitive reelection in November , said when asked if the lengthy Democratic arguments were effective .
“ They would have to change my mind and if they continue in about a two-hour loop , presenting the same information and asking for more evidence , then they should rethink whether or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do.
” Tillis is among a handful of GOP senators who could face challenging reelection races this fall , many from closely divided states .
For Democrats , the impeachment trial was a chance to build a case that would force those Republicans to choose between protecting Trump and angering moderate voters or voting to remove him , infuriating conservatives .
“ Hopefully we ’ ll have a little bit of magic , and it will weigh heavily on the shoulders of some of the Republicans , ” said Senate Minority Leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s tried pressing vulnerable Republicans to back Democratic calls for fresh witnesses and documents .
“ And they will go to Mitch , and they will say at least we need a fair trial , at least we need documents and witnesses.
” Rules that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky , pushed through the Senate over Democratic opposition give House prosecutors and a team of White House lawyers 24 hours each to present their cases .
The White House side planned to begin its presentation with a short session on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their seats during arguments , and not speak or look at their cellphones , a constraint they don ’ t normally face .
Pained facial expressions and the growing numbers of senators stretching their legs against the rear wall signalled the strain the long days were exacting .
“ That ’ s their problem .
The country needs to hear this , ” said Sen. Patty Murray , D-Wash. Also clear was that Democrats were targeting voters , many of whom are unfamiliar with the details of their evidence against Trump .
Though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ glued to their televisions for endless hours , the lengthy speeches gave Democrats an opportunity to make their points repeatedly and for highlights to make their way onto social media .
“ A lot of people don ’ t know doodly about this , “ said Frank Bowman , professor at the University of Missouri School of Law who ’ s written about impeachment .
“ They ’ ve essentially got a lease on 24 hours of the American public ’ s time .
If I ’ m them , I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-01-25--Trial highlights: Dems cry coverup, Trump hails activists

WASHINGTON - From the floor of the Senate , Democratic impeachment prosecutors said Friday that President Donald Trump tried to cover up his actions with Ukraine , another reason to remove him from office .
A few blocks away , Trump told anti-abortion activists on the National Mall that he proudly stands with them .
“ Unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House , ” Trump said as he became the first sitting president to speak at the annual March for Life .
Highlights of Friday ’ s session and what ’ s ahead as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a president : Trump , who calls impeachment a hoax and a witch hunt , has refused to turn over documents or allow officials to testify in the House probe , an unprecedented stonewalling that Democrats said was worse than former President Richard Nixon and merits Trump ’ s removal from power .
“ Presidents can ’ t be above the law , ’ ’ said Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California , one of the House Democratic prosecutors .
She and other Democrats outlined a series of actions Trump has taken to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ articles of impeachment against him .
The House impeached Trump last month , accusing him of abusing his office by asking Ukraine to announce politically motivated probes of former Vice-President Joe Biden and other matters while withholding military aid from the key U.S. ally .
‘ IT ’ S NOT GOING TO STOP ’ Noting Trump ’ s continuing refusal to co-operate with Congress and his vow to “ fight all the subpoenas , ’ ’ Democrats said Trump is likely to abuse the power of his office again unless Congress intervenes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not going to stop .
It ’ s not going to stop unless the Congress does something about it , ” said Rep. Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and the lead Democratic prosecutor .
“ President Trump tried to cheat .
He got caught .
And then he worked hard to cover it up , ” said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York , another Democratic prosecutor .
Jeffries decried a “ toxic mess at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue ” and said it ’ s up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it up.
” As Democrats argued for Trump ’ s removal , the president was at the National Mall for the annual March for Life .
Trump was hailed in speeches and on signs as “ the most pro-life “ American president ever , a sign that white evangelical and conservative Christians remain among Trump ’ s most loyal backers .
Trump is counting on those voters to help bring him across the finish line as he campaigns for re-election .
Critics accused Trump of using the march to try to distract from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of NARAL Pro-Choice America , called the speech “ an act of desperation , plain and simple.
“ IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU Schiff , in making the case against Trump , asked senators to put themselves in the place of Biden or Marie Yovanovitch , the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine who was viewed as an obstacle to probes of Biden and his son , Hunter , and was removed from her position .
“ The next time , it just may be you , “ Schiff said , pointing at one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think for a moment that if he felt it was in his interest , he wouldn ’ t ask you to be investigated ?
” “ You can not leave a man like that in office when he has violated the oath of office , ’ ’ Schiff added .
Making the closing argument for Democrats as they wrapped up three days of discussion , Schiff urged Republican senators to show “ moral courage , ’ ’ even if means voting against their party .
He cited a CBS News story , citing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confidant had warned Republicans : “ vote against the president and your head will be on a pike.
” Schiff said he hoped the story wasn ’ t true , but Republicans reacted angrily .
“ That ’ s not true , ” Maine Sen. Susan Collins said on the floor , shaking her head .
Sen. Lisa Murkowski , R-Alaska , told reporters , ” Certainly , I have not been told that my head is upon a pike.
“ Collins and Murkowski are considered the two Republicans most likely to support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
GOP Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma called Schiff ’ s statement ” completely , totally false .
That ’ s insulting and demeaning to everyone to say that we somehow live in fear and that the president has threatened all of us.
’ ’ After Democrats dominated the stage for three days , Trump ’ s legal team is set to start making its case on Saturday .
Trump , characteristically , weighed in on the schedule on Twitter : It “ looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in T.V.
” Said Trump attorney Jay Sekulow : “ We ’ re going to rebut and refute , and we ’ re going to put on an affirmative case ’ ’ that could continue through Tuesday .
After that , senators will face a critical decision next week on Democratic demands to hear more testimony from top Trump aides , including acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton , who refused to appear before the House .
It would take four Republican senators to join the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so far the numbers appear lacking .


thetorontostar--2020-01-25--GOP shows little desire for witnesses ahead of critical vote

WASHINGTON - Republicans in the Senate appear unmoved by the Democratic push for witnesses in President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial despite persistent appeals from Rep. Adam Schiff and the other House prosecutors .
Over three days of arguments , Democrats warned that the senators will live to regret not delving deeper into Trump ’ s dealings with Ukraine .
One of the managers , House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler , even told them it was “ treacherous ” to vote against gathering more evidence .
Yet there ’ s no indication the Democrats are moving closer to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party in a critical vote expected next week — the minimum needed to reach a majority for subpoenas and extend a trial that seems on track for Trump ’ s acquittal .
“ As someone who has enjoyed really fairly strong working relationships with a lot of my colleagues , I ’ ve been struck by how little outreach and conversation there has been ” about calling witnesses , said Delaware Sen. Chris Coons , a Democrat who has often been at the centre of bipartisan negotiations .
“ I understand that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environment , but I ’ m hoping that some conversations will begin .
But so far there have been strikingly few.
” Most Republicans have solidified around the argument that the House should have sued for the witnesses who refused to testify in the House on Trump ’ s orders , rather than looked to the Senate to compel their testimony .
Others have suggested that the case hasn ’ t been convincing enough .
The central witness that Democrats are seeking is former national security adviser John Bolton , who was present @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House ’ s impeachment inquiry .
Bolton , who often clashed with Trump , refused to talk to House investigators but has said he would testify in a Senate trial .
“ We have heard plenty , ” said Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso , the Senate ’ s No .
3 Republican .
“ They shouldn ’ t need any more information to make the final decision.
“ A GOP senator who is in a tough re-election this year , Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner , also appeared to dismiss the idea Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an elevator .
“ We ’ ve heard from a lot of impeachment witnesses , “ Gardner said , referring to those who testified in the House .
Republicans say privately that beyond the potential for damaging information to come out about Trump , they don ’ t believe it would benefit themselves politically to hear witnesses .
One top GOP aide said there ’ s no political gain in working with Democrats — and no reward inside the Senate for tackling the idea .
A senior Senate Republican said that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that witnesses are unlikely to move public opinion , cements their views .
Democrats only need a simple majority of the Senate to call witnesses , but two-thirds of the chamber must vote to convict .
Both Republicans requested anonymity to discuss internal party deliberations .
Those dynamics could certainly change in a fast-moving trial where evidence has continued to come out .
Democrats are hoping for a dramatic moment similar to when the late Sen. John McCain unexpectedly voted in 2017 against legislation that would have led to repeal of President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , killing the bill .
And Schiff and the impeachment managers are working to convince Republicans , one by one .
“ This is not a trial over a speeding ticket or shoplifting , ” Schiff told senators during arguments Friday .
“ This is an impeachment trial involving the president of the United States .
These witnesses have important first-hand testimony to offer .
The House wishes to call them in the name of the American people , and the American people overwhelmingly want to hear what they have to say.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research , about 7 in 10 respondents — including majorities of Republicans and Democrats — said Trump should allow top aides to appear as witnesses .
The poll showed the public slightly more likely to say the Senate should convict and remove Trump from office than to say it should not , 45 % to 40 % .
But a sizable percentage , 14 % , said they didn ’ t know enough to have an opinion .
The battle for witnesses has been largely focused on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a moderate up for re-election who has said she is “ likely ” to want to hear from them ; Utah Sen. Mitt Romney , who has said he wants to hear from Bolton ; Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski , who worked with Collins to ensure there would be a vote on witnesses ; and Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander , who has so far remained quiet on how he will vote .
Alexander is thought to be the the least certain of the four .
“ I think the question is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we need to hear witnesses ?
Do we need more documents ?
” Alexander said Friday .
He said “ that question can only be answered ” after both the prosecution and the president ’ s defence finish their arguments , likely the middle of the next week .
Collins and Murkowski also took issue late Friday when Schiff repeated an anonymously sourced report that the White House would punish Republicans who voted against Trump .
As Democrats see it , they are only one or two votes away from a trial that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
There are 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats in the Senate , and a tie vote would mean the failure of a motion to call witnesses .
The Republican resistance to hearing more evidence has been infuriating to Democrats who say the GOP is trying to cover up Trump ’ s wrongdoing .
The two articles of impeachment charge him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress after he pushed Ukraine to announce investigations of Democrats .
At the time , Trump was withholding military aid to the country .
Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t see any kind of bipartisan group forming to negotiate the witness question , and charged that his Republican colleagues won ’ t stand up to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell .
The GOP leader has strongly supported Trump and signalled that he doesn ’ t want to prolong the trial with new documents and testimony .
“ This place is replete with head fakes that ‘ we ’ re going to stand up to McConnell , ” said Brown , referring to Republicans .
“ And in the end it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

Mary Clare Jalonick And Andrew Taylor - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-25--Senate floor belongs to Trump team as defence case opens

WASHINGTON - The floor of the U.S. Senate now belongs to President Donald Trump ’ s lawyers as they push the Republican-led chamber for an acquittal on charges that he abused his power and obstructed Congress .
The president ’ s attorneys will begin their arguments Saturday in the impeachment trial and are expected to insist the president did nothing wrong when he asked Ukraine ’ s leader to investigate political rival Joe Biden .
The attorneys have foreshadowed an aggressive , wide-ranging defence that will assert an expansive view of presidential powers and paint Trump as besieged by political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last election and ensure his defeat in the next one .
They are also expected to try to put Biden on the defensive as he campaigns for a first-place finish in the Iowa caucuses next month .
“ They put their case forward .
It ’ s our time next , ” said Trump attorney Jay Sekulow .
The opening of the defence ’ s case comes after a three-day presentation by House Democrats , who as they wrapped up Friday warned that the president will persist in abusing his power and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remove him before the 2020 election .
They implored Republicans to allow new testimony to be heard before they render a final verdict .
Schiff closed Democrats ’ case after three days of methodical and impassioned arguments detailing charges that Trump abused power by asking Ukraine for politically motivated probes of political rivals , then obstructed Congress ’ investigation into the matter .
Trump ’ s lawyers get their first chance to defend him Saturday , and are expected to argue that he was within his rights as president when he asked Ukraine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case that Trump invited Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 election , the seven Democratic prosecutors peppered their arguments with video clips , email correspondence and lessons in American history .
Republicans who found the presentation tedious and redundant can expect differences in tone and style from Trump ’ s lawyers , who plan to attack the impeachment as much on political as legal grounds .
“ It ’ s really trying to remove the president from the ballot in 2020 .
They don ’ t trust the American people to make a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawyers have signalled that they ’ ll cast Trump as a victim not only of Democratic outrage but also of overzealous agents and prosecutors .
They ’ ll likely invoke mistakes made by the FBI in its surveillance of a former Trump campaign aide in the now-concluded Russia probe .
In response to allegations that he invited foreign interference , they ’ ve already argued that it ’ s no different than Hillary Clinton ’ s campaign ’ s use of a former British spy to gather opposition research on Trump in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 53-47 majority in the Senate , and a two-thirds vote would be required for conviction — the defence team is also arguing to an American public that heads to the polls in 10 months .
Trump , eyes on the audience beyond the Senate chamber , bemoaned the schedule in a tweet , saying it “ looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on Saturday , which is called Death Valley in T.V.
” Arguments are scheduled for just a few hours Saturday in what defence lawyers called a sneak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The president is being tried in the Senate after the House impeached him last month on charges he abused his office by asking Ukraine for the probes at the same time the administration withheld hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid .
The second article of impeachment against Trump accuses him of obstructing Congress by refusing to turn over documents or allow officials to testify in the House probe .
The Senate is heading next week toward a pivotal vote on Democratic demands for testimony from top Trump aides , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former national security adviser John Bolton , who refused to appear before the House .
It would take four Republican senators to join the Democratic minority to seek witnesses , and so far the numbers appear lacking .
“ This needs to end , ” said Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , a Trump confidant .
He said he doesn ’ t want to hear from Bolton or the Bidens .
Like a prosecutor speaking to jurors for the final time before deliberations , Democrats moved Friday to preempt anticipated arguments from Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defence as “ laughable.
“ Those include that he had a legitimate basis to be concerned about potential corruption in Ukraine and to pause military aid to the country .
One of the president ’ s lawyers , Alan Dershowitz , is expected to argue that an impeachable offence requires criminal-like conduct , even though many legal scholars say that ’ s not true .
With Chief Justice John Roberts presiding , the final day of the Democratic arguments opened with Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado , a former Army ranger , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold on the aid Ukraine desperately relied on to counter Russian aggression was because he had “ gotten caught.
” “ The scheme was unraveling , ” Crow said .
The money for Ukraine was put on hold after Trump ’ s July 25 call to Ukraine that launched the impeachment probe , and released Sept. 11 once Congress intervened .
Throughout the three days , Democrats balanced the legal and history lessons with plainspoken language about what they see as at stake : the security of U.S. elections , America ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential power .
The Democrats argued that Trump ’ s motives were apparent , that he abused power like no other president in history , swept up by a “ completely bogus ” Ukraine theory pushed by attorney Rudy Giuliani .
“ Let me tell you something .
If right doesn ’ t matter , it doesn ’ t matter how good the Constitution is , “ Schiff said in an emotional plea to a pin-drop-quiet room .
“ If you find him guilty you must find that he should be removed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s abuse was for his own personal political benefit ahead of the 2020 election , even as administration officials were warning off the theory that it was Ukraine , not Russia , that interfered in the 2016 election .
The Democrats ’ challenge was clear as they tried to convince not just fidgety senators but an American public divided over the Republican president in an election year .
A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed the public slightly more likely to say the Senate should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say it should not , 45 % to 40 % .
But a sizable percentage , 14 % , said they didn ’ t know enough to have an opinion .
One issue with wide agreement : Trump should allow top aides to appear as witnesses at the trial .
About 7 in 10 respondents said so , including majorities of Republicans and Democrats , according to the poll .
After both sides have concluded their arguments next week , senators will face the question of whether to call witnesses to testify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ settled .
Republicans rejected Democratic efforts to get Trump aides , including Bolton and Mulvaney , to testify in back-to-back votes earlier this week .
As for the Ukraine connections , evidence has shown that Trump , with Giuliani , pursued investigations of Biden and his son , Hunter , who served on a Ukrainian gas company ’ s board , and sought the probe of the debunked theory that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 U.S. election .
It ’ s a story line many in the president ’ s camp are still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday on “ Fox & Friends , ” insisted he would present evidence on his new podcast of “ collusion going on in Ukraine to fix the 2016 election in favour of Hillary “ Clinton .
Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick , Alan Fram , Andrew Taylor , Laurie Kellman , Matthew Daly and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report .

Eric Tucker, Lisa Mascaro And Zeke Miller - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-25--Fortified White Sox say they’re ready to contend again

CHICAGO - The Chicago White Sox and their long-frustrated fans say they ’ re primed and pumped for the team to contend in 2020 .
The White Sox haven ’ t made the playoffs since 2008 and have endured seven straight losing seasons , but there was an optimistic buzz at the team ’ s sold-out fan convention Saturday after a splashy off-season .
“ It hard not to be excited and feel that energy they ’ re giving us , ” fourth-year manager Rick Renteria told the crowd .
“ Obviously , it ’ s our job to put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accomplish those things you want us to accomplish.
” The AL Central title — and more — may be within reach as the White Sox emerge from a rebuild and an off-season filled with free agent signings .
“ Our guys are telling our young players , ‘ Hey it ’ s time to go , ’ ” Renteria said .
“ We don ’ t have time to mess around .
We have a window of opportunity .
Let ’ s take it .
That ’ s where we ’ re at.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ words and patient with young players the past three seasons .
Chicago heads into 2020 with a lineup full of talented youngsters , including AL batting champion Tim Anderson and sluggers Yoan Moncada and Eloy Jiménez .
At least two other top prospects — centre fielder Luis Robert and second baseman Nick Madrigal — are expected to join the lineup this year .
General manager Rick Hahn aggressively pursued a mix of big-name and second-tier free agents to fill holes he identified last September as the White Sox finished with just 72 wins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the addition of 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel and veteran left-hander Gio González .
Catcher Yasmani Grandal signed a $ 73 million , four-year deal , and slugger Edwin Encarnación agreed to a $ 12 million , one-year contract .
Veteran reliever Steve Cishek joined from the crosstown Cubs to add depth , and the White Sox also brought back slugger José Abreu on a $ 50 million , three-year deal and acquired outfielder Nomar Mazara from the Texas .
“ To see the signings come through , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said the 26-year-old Anderson , who led the majors with .335 average last season .
“ It ’ s going to be exciting .
It ’ s going to be fun.
” Hahn , who has a law degree from Harvard , is more cautious despite his busy winter .
“ Winning the off-season so to speak or winning the winter or whatever you want to call it , is well and good , but until it translates into wins on the field , it ’ s pretty meaningless , ” Hahn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to know a lot more in a year about how this young core is coming together.
” Renteria is ready to embrace the expectations that come with a club pushing to compete .
His job now ?
“ I ’ ve got ta stay out of their way.
” “ We ’ ve really got a robust lineup , a much better lineup , ” Renteria said .
“ We ’ re in a good place.
” NOTES : Anderson made an MLB-leading 26 errors at shortstop last season but also turned in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fan asked if he ’ d consider moving the athletic infielder to right field .
“ I think Tim Anderson will become an elite shortstop in the big leagues , ” Renteria said .
“ He ’ s ready to make the next step.
” In a later session , Anderson acknowledged his inconsistency .
“ I ’ ve made a lot of errors , but I ’ m cleaning up , ” he said .


thetorontostar--2020-01-25--FBI says monitoring of ex-Trump aide should’ve ended sooner

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department has concluded that it should have ended its surveillance of a former Trump campaign adviser earlier than it did because there was “ insufficient predication “ to continue eavesdropping , according to an order made public Thursday by a secretive intelligence court .
The FBI obtained a warrant in 2016 to eavesdrop on former Trump national security aide Carter Page on suspicions that he was secretly a Russian agent .
The Justice Department renewed the warrant three times , including during the early months of the Trump administration .
But the Justice Department ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s handing of those applications to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court .
It says the FBI omitted from the court key details that undercut their original premise about Page , who has denied any wrongdoing and was never charged as part of the investigation into ties between Russia and the Trump campaign .
In an order made public Thursday , the court ’ s chief judge , James Boasberg , says the Justice Department informed the court last month that two of the four applications were invalid because “ there was insufficient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ( Carter ) Page was acting as an agent of a foreign power.
“ After the inspector general report , the surveillance court issued a rare and extraordinary public order saying the FBI had submitted “ unsupported “ information when it applied to eavesdrop on Page .
The court directed the FBI to report back by this month on what steps it was taking to fix the problems .
FBI Director Chris Wray has announced a series of changes designed to improve the thoroughness and accuracy of applications submitted to the surveillance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FBI when they can show probable cause that the target of their eavesdropping is an agent of a foreign power , such as a suspected spy or terrorist .
This story has been corrected to show that the Justice Department found that there was “ insufficient predication “ to continue eavesdropping .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-25--Politics weigh heavily in Trump’s Mideast peace plan

WASHINGTON - A blueprint the White House is rolling out to resolve the decades-long conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians is as much about politics as it is about peace .
President Donald Trump said he would likely release his long-awaited Mideast peace plan a little before he meets Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main political rival Benny Gantz .
The Washington get-together offers political bonuses for Trump and the prime minister , but Trump ’ s opponents are doubting the viability of any plan since there ’ s been little-to-no input from the Palestinians , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s entirely about politics , ” Michael Koplow , policy director of the Israel Policy Forum , said about Tuesday ’ s meeting .
“ You simply can ’ t have a serious discussion about an Israeli-Palestinian peace plan and only invite one side to come talk about it .
This is more about the politics inside Israel and inside the U.S. than it is about any real efforts to get these two sides to an agreement.
“ Jared Kushner , a Trump adviser and the president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plan for nearly three years .
He ’ s tried to persuade academics , lawmakers , former Mideast negotiators , Arab governments and special interest groups not to reject his fresh approach outright .
People familiar with the administration ’ s thinking believe the release will have benefits even if it never gets Palestinian buy-in and ultimately fails .
According to these people , the peace team believes that if Israeli officials are open to the plan and Arab nations do not outright reject it , the proposal could help improve broader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prospect of improved ties between Israel and its Arab neighbours had been conditioned on a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict .
But the administration believes that a change in regional dynamics – due mainly to rising antipathy to Iran – will boost Israel ’ s standing with not only Egypt and Jordan , which already have peace deals with the Jewish state , but also Saudi Arabia and the smaller Gulf nations , these people say .
There have been signs of warming between Israel and the Gulf states , including both public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration sees an opening for even greater co-operation after the plan is released , according to these people .
Trump , for his part , told reporters on Air Force One this week that “ It ’ s a plan that really would work.
” He said he spoke to the Palestinians “ briefly , ” without elaborating .
Nabil Abu Rdeneh , a spokesman for the Western-backed Palestinian president , Mahmoud Abbas , says that ’ s not true .
“ There were no talks with the U.S. administration — neither briefly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The Palestinian position is clear and consistent in its rejection of Trump ’ s decisions regarding Jerusalem and other issues , and everything related to the rejected deal.
” Abbas ended contacts with the administration after it recognized disputed Jerusalem as Israel ’ s capital two years ago .
The Palestinians ’ anger mounted as Trump repeatedly broken with the international consensus around solving the conflict and took actions seen as biased toward Israel ’ s right-wing government .
The White House has cut off nearly all U.S. aid to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Washington .
In November , the Trump administration said it no longer views Jewish settlements in the occupied territories as inconsistent with international law , reversing four decades of American policy .
The Palestinians view the settlements as illegal and a major obstacle to peace , a position shared by most of the international community .
Tuesday ’ s meeting offers benefits to both leaders while they are under fire at home .
The meeting allows Trump to address a high-profile foreign policy issue during his impeachment trial , while Democrats are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the plan is pro-Israel as expected , Trump hopes it will be popular with his large base of evangelicals and maybe sway a few anti-Trump Jewish voters his way .
According to AP VoteCast , a nationwide survey of the American electorate , 79 % of white evangelical voters in the 2018 midterms approved of the job Trump was doing as president , while 74 % of Jewish voters disapproved .
Pastor John Hagee , founder and chairman of the 8 million-member Christians United for Israel , said in a statement that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most pro-Israel president in U.S. history , and I fully expect his peace proposal will be in line with that tradition.
” For Netanyahu , the meeting allows him to shift press coverage Tuesday when Israel ’ s parliament convenes a committee that is expected to reject his request for legal immunity from charges of fraud , breach of trust and accepting bribes .
“ The ‘ Trump peace plan ’ is a blatant attempt to hijack Israel ’ s March 2 election in Netanyahu ’ s favour , “ tweeted Anshel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Haaretz newspaper and the author of a biography of Netanyahu .
Netanyahu is fighting for his political survival ahead of the election .
The decision to bring Gantz along is likely aimed at forestalling any criticism that the U.S. administration is meddling in the election .
But in Israel , the meeting and the unveiling of the plan will be widely seen as a gift to the prime minister .
The prime minister has noted that it was his idea to invite Gantz , putting his rival in a position where he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that could make him look like a bystander at the White House event .
In Congress , Trump ’ s announced release of his Mideast plan has caused hardly a ripple against the backdrop of the impeachment drama .
Asked on Friday what he thought about the expected rollout , Sen. Tim Kaine , D-Va. , said : “ I ’ m on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and we ’ ve not heard anything about it.
” Sen. Jim Risch , R-Idaho , the committee chairman , defended the administration ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think the people who are working on this are working on this in good faith , “ Risch said in the halls of Congress , shortly before Trump ’ s impeachment trial resumed .
“ I think the people who are trying to do it really are acting in good faith , hoping they can come up with a solution.
” Associated Press writers Matthew Lee in Washington and Joseph Krauss and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-01-25--Margo Lion, Broadway producer of “Hairspray,” dead at 75

NEW YORK - Broadway producer Margo Lion , who helped bring the Tony Award-winning musicals “ Jelly ’ s Last Jam ” and “ Hairspray ” to the stage and also worked on Tony Kushner ’ s two-part classic “ Angels in America , ” has died at age 75 .
Her son , Matthew Nemeth , told The Associated Press that she died at a Manhattan hospital days after suffering a brain aneurysm .
A Baltimore native , Lion was a proud independent producer who sometimes offered personal possessions as collateral in her determination to stage a show .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Music-Theater Group in the 1970s and a few years later began looking into the life of jazz musician Jelly Roll Morton , the basis for “ Jelly ’ s Last Jam , ” which premiered on Broadway in 1992 and starred Gregory Hines .
A decade later , she had enormous success with “ Hairspray , ” the Tony-winning smash that was adapted from the John Waters comedy .
Lyon had seen the film on video in 1998 and quickly thought it ideal for Broadway , drawn in part to the story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I wanted to do something joyful , something celebratory , like the shows I remembered when I was a kid , ’ ’ Lion told The New York Times in 2002 .
” Halfway through ( the video ) , I literally said : ‘ Yes , this is it .
I found it.
’ “ Lion was among the producers of “ Angels in America : Millennium Approaches ” and “ Angels in America : Perestroika ” and brought in George C. Wolfe to direct , his first Broadway show .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s “ Seven Guitars ” and “ Elaine Stritch at Liberty.
” In 2009 , Barack Obama appointed her to the President ’ s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-25--French carmaker to evacuate workers from China amid outbreak

PARIS - France and a major automaker said Saturday that they are moving to get citizens out of a locked-down Chinese city where a deadly outbreak of a new virus originated and has spread worldwide .
French automaker PSA Group says it will evacuate its employees and their families from Wuhan in central China , quarantine them in another major Chinese city and then bring them back to France .
The Foreign Ministry said French officials were studying “ eventual options “ for all its nationals to leave if they wish .
It comes a day after France announced that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being treated in two French hospitals — the first confirmed in Europe .
All the patients are Chinese who had recently returned from China and are doing well , officials said .
A leading infectious disease specialist treating two of the patients said the illness appears less serious than comparable outbreaks in the past , like SARS , and that the chance of a European epidemic appears weak now .
The respiratory virus has spread to a handful of other countries from Wuhan , which is under strict rules to isolate the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sickened more than 1,200 people and killed at least 41 .
The vast majority of the infections and all the deaths have been in mainland China .
The virus comes from a large family of what are known as coronaviruses and causes cold- and flu-like symptoms .
It can worsen to pneumonia , which can be fatal .
PSA Group did not say how many employees would be part of an evacuation .
In a series of tweets , the automaker said transportation , housing and other organizational considerations are being worked out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Citroen cars in China , has a joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Corp. in Wuhan .
PSA said it was working closely with Chinese authorities and the French Consulate .
The French Foreign Ministry ’ s statement made no mention of PSA ’ s plans .
The automaker did not say how long the quarantine period would last .
However , French medical experts have said the incubation period for the virus appears to be 14 days .
PSA also said it is working with Chinese partner DFM and authorities to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t elaborate .
French authorities cautioned against panic at home but were concerned about its citizens in Wuhan and those arriving in France , which has direct flights to China .
Starting Sunday , medical teams will be at France ’ s airports , notably Paris ’ Charles de Gaulle , to help passengers arriving from Chinese cities with questions or medical needs , French health chief Jerome Salomon said .
Dr. Yazdan Yazdanpaneh said the two patients at Paris ’ Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital are a couple from Wuhan .
The 31-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Jan. 18 without symptoms , but developed them soon afterward , the doctor said .
They were taken Friday to Bichat and tested positive for the virus , Yazdanpaneh said .
The two are staying in separate , specially equipped rooms where air enters but can not escape to guard against transmission .
They are doing well , but Yazdanpaneh could not speculate when they might be released .
Ways in which the virus can be transmitted remain unclear .
Yazdanpaneh , a leading French expert who heads Bichat ’ s infectious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from China were “ not a surprise ” and that France had prepared , including by developing a test that provides rapid results for suspected cases .
On the other hand , he said , the chance of “ an epidemic in France or in Europe is weak , extremely weak.
” “ This illness is a lot less serious — and we don ’ t say this based on two patients , but talking to our international colleagues — than , for example , SARS , ” Yazdanpaneh said , referring to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ syndrome that killed hundreds of people .
The mortality rate for the virus identified last month is thought to be less than 5 % , whereas it was double that for SARS , he said .
The “ virulence and dangerousness ” of the new strand of coronavirus “ is something you evaluate by looking at the number of deaths over the number of infections , ” said Jerome Salomon , France ’ s health chief .
“ The number of deaths is increasing but more slowly than the growing number of cases.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are many more cases than those that have been confirmed , which automatically brings down the mortality rate.
” But Salomon stressed a series of unknowns , including the source .
“ We still need data , ” he said .
Alex Turnbull in Paris contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-01-25--Border Patrol allows replanting after bulldozing garden

SAN DIEGO - The Border Patrol , reacting to a breach it discovered in a steel-pole border wall believed to be used by smugglers , gave activists no warning this month when it bulldozed the U.S. side of a cross-border garden on an iconic bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean .
On Saturday , after a public apology for “ the unintentional destruction , ” the agency allowed the activists in a highly restricted area to plant sticky monkey-flowers , seaside daisies and other native species in Friendship Park , which was inaugurated by first lady Pat Nixon in 1971 as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half-acre plaza separating San Diego and Tijuana has hosted cross-border yoga classes , festivals and religious services .
The garden ’ s rebirth is the latest twist in a sometimes-adversarial , sometimes-conciliatory relationship between security-minded border agents and activists who consider the park a special place to exercise rights to free expression .
“ It ’ s hard to reconcile because we have two different agendas , but we ’ re both in the same place , so we ’ re trying our best , “ said Daniel Watman , a Spanish teacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group , Friends of Friendship Park .
During an art festival in 2005 , David Smith Jr. , known as “ The Human Cannonball , ” flashed his passport , lowered himself into a barrel and was shot over the wall on the nearby beach , landing on a net with U.S. Border Patrol agents nearby .
In 2017 , professional swimmers crossed the border from the U.S. in the Pacific Ocean and landed on the same beach , where a Mexican official greeted them with stamped passports and schoolchildren cheered .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events that carry an overtly political message or that , in its view , take things too far .
In 2017 , it rejected the Dresdner Symphony Orchestra ’ s plans for a cross-border concert named , “ Tear Down This Wall.
” It also nixed a “ Let Them Hug ” signature campaign to allow “ touch time ” across the border on weekends .
Agents briefly opened a heavy steel gate several times a year but ended the practice after an American man and Mexican woman wed in a cross-border ceremony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learn later that the groom was a convicted drug smuggler whose criminal record prohibited him from entering Mexico .
Friends of Friendship Park , which advocates for “ unrestricted access to this historic meeting place , ” said the garden was created in 2007 , shortly before a second barrier created a buffer enforcement zone that the Border Patrol opens to the public on weekends only .
People can barely touch fingertips through a steel mesh screen during those weekend encounters .
The Border Patrol said in a statement after the garden was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as cover to hide smuggling activities.
” It released photos that showed a padlock on the Mexican side , which smugglers apparently used to keep the roughly 18-inch ( 46-centimetre ) opening to themselves .
Walls are often breached .
Manny Bayon , president of the National Border Patrol Council union local that represents San Diego-area agents , said some have cut through President Donald Trump ’ s new wall of high , concrete-filled steel bollards .
Smugglers use cordless grinders that cost about $ 100 .
Friends of Friendship Park met Jan. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patrol ’ s interim San Diego chief , and settled on a plan to resurrect the garden .
Harrison said the intent was to trim , not destroy , it .
“ We take full responsibility , are investigating the event , & look forward to working with ( Friends of Friendship Park ) on the path forward , ” Harrison said on Twitter .
A compromise called for the garden to be set back 4 feet ( 1.2 metres ) from the wall to give agents better visibility with minimal planting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporarily removal when construction crews replace the existing barrier with Trump ’ s wall .
There was last-minute misunderstanding Saturday when Watman said the group ’ s willingness to set the garden back came with permission to plant over a larger space , which the agents on duty wouldn ’ t allow .
Watman agreed to shrink his blueprint and take it up later .
“ Things are always up in the air somewhat , ” he said .
“ There ’ s a little bit of playing it by ear.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it values “ the friendships we have built over the years with the community.
” “ We are confident that this relationship will continue as we move into a new era of the bi-national garden , ” it said .


thetorontostar--2020-01-25--Alaska legislators suggest changes to public safety program

ANCHORAGE , Alaska - Alaska legislators have proposed changes to key elements of the state ’ s Village Public Safety Officer Program .
One in three communities in the state has no police of any kind , Anchorage Daily News reported Friday in partnership with ProPublica .
The Department of Justice subsequently declared the public safety gap a federal emergency , officials said .
The 40-year-old program uses state money to train and pay officers working in remote villages , but the number of officers fell to a record-low 38 compared to the more than 100 in 2012 , legislators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program ’ s inability to recruit and retain officers magnifies the lack of law enforcement in rural communities across the state , Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica said .
The working group spent five months seeking ways to fix the program , which includes placing more certified officers in rural Alaska , increasing morale among current officers and retaining village-based first responders who know their communities best , legislators said .
The group also proposed defining officer ’ s law enforcement powers and duties , removing barriers to officer travel and moving oversight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Commerce .
A Public Safety spokeswoman declined to comment Wednesday and said the department was still reviewing the report .
The program was launched in 1979 and officers were originally meant to be versatile enough to handle water rescues , fight fires , support troopers and provide basic law enforcement , officials said .
The working group found the program to be unsuccessful because of unclear state laws and expectations .
“ Essentially , the current VPSO statute provides virtually no mission , vision , or statutory law enforcement duties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” legislators in the working group said in a report .
Short-term ideas could be implemented within a year , while the working group ’ s long term ideas include co-operative agreements among the state , tribes and federal government to fund and deliver first-responders to villages and would take more time , legislators said .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-25--Heavy rains in Brazil cause flooding, landslides; 30 killed

RIO DE JANEIRO - Two days of heavy rains caused flooding and landslides in southeast Brazil that have killed at @ @ @ @ @ said Saturday .
Civil Defence officials said 17 people are listed as missing and 2,600 @ @ @ @ @ in Minas Gerais state , which has been buffeted by 48 hours of torrential rains @ @ @ @ @ stood at 11 earlier Saturday .
Deaths were reported in the state capital of Belo @ @ @ @ @ ’ s interior .
On Friday , Belo Horizonte received the greatest quantity of rains @ @ @ @ @ in the city .
State Gov .
Romeu Zema will fly over the affected areas @ @ @ @ @ .
More rain is expected in Minas Gerais as well as other parts of Brazil @ @ @ @ @ and Sao Paulo .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-25--Reunion site named after hero of Virginia Beach shooting

VIRGINIA BEACH , Va. - The post office where survivors reunited after a mass shooting in a Virginia Beach government office building now is named after the man who gave his own life for his co-workers .
A plaque was unveiled Friday honouring Ryan Keith Cox at the post office that now bears his name , The Virginian-Pilot reported .
Cox was one of 12 people who died in the mass shooting last May 31 at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center .
“ We are a city of heroes , and Keith is a perfect example of one of them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ceremony .
In interviews , Cox ’ s co-workers have said he ushered women into a room and told them to barricade the door .
Cox then left to see if anyone else needed help .
The gunman and shot and killed him soon after that .
Cox , 50 , had been an account clerk in Virginia Beach ’ s public utilities department for 12 years .
In August , President Donald Trump approved renaming the post office , where city workers were first led by police after the shooting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cox , told the gathering of more than 100 people that his son had been a friend to the shooter and counselled him through tough times .
“ For some reason , one day , he decided that the only way to deal with his problems was not to have counsel or to talk , but to go home , get a gun and come back and start shooting people , ” he said .
“ And the very one who had been so close at his side , who had been so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his life in line , he then carelessly took his life.
” DeWayne Craddock , the shooter , had been an engineer with the city ’ s public utilities department .
He died in a gunbattle with police .
A monthslong independent probe into the shooting ended in November , but it provided no clear answers as to why Craddock had opened fire .
It also found no warning signs by the shooter that could have prevented the tragedy .


thetorontostar--2020-01-25--Democratic candidates pour into Iowa for last-minute push

DES MOINES , Iowa - Freed momentarily from the Senate ’ s impeachment trial , several presidential candidates high-tailed it to Iowa on Saturday for a last-minute blitz of campaigning before the state ’ s caucuses kick off the battle for the Democratic nomination .
Sens .
Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts , Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota planned to hold town halls , rallies and concerts across Iowa on Saturday to keep their supporters motivated heading into the final stretch of the caucus campaign .
They ’ ll join former Vice-President Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Indiana , who don ’ t have Senate obligations and have already spent much of the past week in Iowa .
The burst of campaigning comes as the contest for the Democratic nomination enters a critical — and volatile — phase .
A New York Times/Siena College poll released Saturday showed Sanders with a slight edge over the other leading candidates , but the race remains competitive .
Several polls show Biden , Buttigieg and Warren are still among the front-runners .
“ There ’ s still plenty of time for movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Tri-County Democrats in northern Iowa .
“ Every part of the ground game counts.
” Stuck in Washington for much of the past week , the senators in the race have flooded Iowa and other early voting states with top-shelf surrogates — rock star lawmakers , former Cabinet members , celebrities and spouses .
The stand-ins aren ’ t a guaranteed way to sustain excitement or win votes , but the campaigns see it as the best way to maximize their reach in a nominating fight that could turn on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early states .
Biden isn ’ t bound to the Senate like some of his rivals , but he must navigate the trial nonetheless .
House Democrats ’ charges that Trump abused his power and obstructed Congress are rooted in the president pressuring Ukrainian officials to investigate discredited theories about Biden ’ s foreign policy duties in Ukraine as vice-president and his son Hunter ’ s personal business dealings there .
Trump ’ s defence team began its defence of the president on Saturday , and some Republicans are determined to frame the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president .
After a brief trip to New Hampshire , the second state to vote in Democrats ’ nominating process , Biden planned to return to Iowa on Saturday evening and intended to remain in the state until caucus day .
He began the day announcing an endorsement from U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne , who joined her fellow first-term congresswoman from Iowa , Abby Finkenauer , in backing Biden .
Ahead of his arrival in Iowa , Sanders sent progressive icon and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to the state .
She addressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his field offices inside a stirp mall , before heading out to canvass in Cedar Rapids .
She promised to wear her green “ Green New Deal ” baseball cap to join them on a clear but cold Saturday , amid snow drifts that piled along plowed roads , and melting ice .
“ We are here to make a revolution that lasts , ” Ocasio-Cortez said .
She will later join Sanders and filmmaker Michael Moore for a Saturday night rally in Ames .
Sanders ’ wife , Jane , and actor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Nevada , which hosts the third nominating contest .
Jane Sanders predicted a strong showing in the early voting states .
“ I think we ’ ll win Iowa , “ she told about 40 staff and volunteers .
“ I think we ’ ll win New Hampshire .
And then I think it ’ s up to you whether we win Nevada .
But it looks great.
” Sanders ’ signs of strength in Iowa are enough for the Buttigieg campaign to respond .
The campaign sent prospective donors a fundraising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s strength .
“ Bernie Sanders is raising tons of money , he ’ s surging in the polls , and he has dark money groups attacking his competitors , ” the email said .
“ If things stay steady until the Iowa Caucuses in just nine days , Bernie Sanders could be the nominee of our party.
” Warren has Julian Castro , the former Obama housing secretary and onetime presidential candidate , in Nevada .
U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley , D-Mass.
, another star of the House freshman class like Ocasio-Cortez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren .
The Senate adjourned about noon EST Saturday , giving the presidential candidates time to return to Iowa for late-afternoon and evening events .
Sen. Michael Bennet , D-Colo. , was going to New Hampshire .
The weekend is critical for them , depending on how many more days the trial will extend this coming week .
Warren ’ s campaign on Saturday hit prospective donors with a frank plea ahead of an “ important January fundraising deadline.
” Fall short of her financial targets , the campaign wrote , and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advertising plan during the most critical period of this election.
” Associated Press writers Hannah Fingerhut in Washington , Michelle L. Price in Las Vegas and Will Weissert in Cedar Rapids , Iowa , contributed to this report


thetorontostar--2020-01-25--NH GOP committeeman loses reelection effort

MANCHESTER , N.H. - A prominent member of the New Hampshire Republican Party has lost his national post .
New Hampshire national Republican committeeman Steve Duprey lost Saturday to Chris Ager in voting at the 2020 annual meeting of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee , a state GOP spokesman said .
Duprey then resigned his post for Ager to take over the rest of his term .
Ager is chairman of the Hillsborough County Republican Committee .
As he promoted his campaign for a fifth term earlier this month , Duprey announced the endorsement of President Donald Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was also backed by the state ’ s leading Republican , Gov .
Chris Sununu .
Like many establishment Republicans , Duprey was critical of Trump before he won the presidency but became a staunch defender .
One point of contention was Trump ’ s consistent criticism of Duprey ’ s close friend , Sen. John McCain , which continued even after the Arizona Republican ’ s death in 2018 .
Duprey repeatedly defended McCain against Trump ’ s jabs .
“ President Trump is in very good shape in New Hampshire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ He ’ s the prohibitive favourite .
I just take offence when he criticized John McCain .
If other Republicans don ’ t like it , too bad.
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thetorontostar--2020-01-25--In recording Trump asks how long Ukraine can resist Russians

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump inquired how long Ukraine would be able to resist Russian aggression without U.S. assistance during a 2018 meeting with donors that included the indicted associates of his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani .
“ How long would they last in a fight with Russia ?
” Trump is heard asking in the audio portion of a video recording , moments before he calls for the firing of U.S .
Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch .
She was removed a year later after a campaign to discredit her by Giuliani and others , an action that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the removal of the president in his Senate impeachment trial .
A video recording of the entire 80-minute dinner at the Trump Hotel in Washington was obtained Saturday by The Associated Press .
Excerpts were first published Friday by ABC News .
People can be seen in only some portions of the recording .
The recording contradicts the president ’ s statements that he did not know the Giuliani associates Lev Parnas or Igor Fruman , key figures in the investigation who were indicted last year on campaign finance charges .
The recording @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press for witnesses and other evidence to be considered during the impeachment trial .
On the recording , a voice that appears to be Parnas ’ can be heard saying , “ The biggest problem there , I think where we need to start is we got to get rid of the ambassador.
“ He later can be heard telling Trump : “ She ’ s basically walking around telling everybody , ‘ Wait , he ’ s gon na get impeached .
Just wait.
’ ” Trump responds : “ Get rid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I don ’ t care .
Get her out tomorrow .
Take her out .
OK ?
Do it.
” Ukraine came up during the dinner in the context of a discussion of energy markets , with the voice appearing to be Parnas ’ describing his involvement in the purchase of a Ukrainian energy company .
The group then praises Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , to which the president says : “ Pompeo ’ s going to be good .
He ’ s doing a good job .
Already he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beginning of the video , Trump is seen posing for photos before entering the blue-walled dining room .
A voice that appears to be Fruman ’ s is heard saying that “ it ’ s a great room ” before a chuckle .
“ I couldn ’ t believe myself.
” Also visible in the video are the president ’ s son Donald Trump Jr. and former counsellor to the president Johnny DeStefano .
Jack Nicklaus III , the grandson of the golf icon , and New York real estate developer Stanley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-Trump group .
Just a few minutes into the conversation , Trump can be heard railing against former President George W. Bush , China , the World Trade Organization and the European Union .
“ Bush , he gets us into the war , he gets us into the Middle East , that was a beauty , ” Trump says .
“ We ’ re in the Middle East right now for $ 7 trillion.
” He later says : “ China rips us off for years and we owe them $ 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because it “ allowed China to do what they ’ re doing.
” “ The WTO is worse , ” than China , he declares .
“ China didn ’ t become great until the WTO.
” Trump also seemed to question the U.S. involvement in the Korean War : “ How we ever got involved in South Korea in the first place , tell me about it .
How we ended up in a Korean War.
“ Trump provided the guests with an update ahead of his first meeting with North Korean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ d settled on a date and location .
One of the people in attendance sought to pitch a different location : Songdo , South Korea , which is 70 % owned by Gale International and features a Nicklaus-designed golf course .
“ You know that Kim Jong Un is a great golfer , ” Trump is heard telling the guests , who roar with laughter .
Trump also discussed the border crisis and plans for a border wall with Mexio , insisting that he wants to build a concrete wall but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it isn ’ t viable .
“ You do have to be able to see through the wall , I think , ” Trump says .
He says drug dealers would throw heavy bundles of drugs over the wall , which could kill Border Patrol agents .
“ They have a catapult and they throw it over the wall , and it lands on the other side of the wall and it can hit people .
Can you imagine you get hit with 100 pounds ?
” the president says .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve loved to have seen to see a concrete wall , but you just can ’ t do that.
” Toward the end of the dinner , the discussion turns to the upcoming election and media .
“ I think cable TV is OK .
If we ever lost an election , cable TV is dead , ” he says , the party goers laughing .
“ Can you imagine if they had a normal candidate ?
It ’ s all they talk about .
If they had Hillary , crooked Hillary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump says that he believes he would have had a harder time in 2016 if Bernie Sanders had been the Democratic nominee .
Near the end of the dinner Parnas can be heard presenting what he says is a gift to Trump from “ the head rabbi in Ukraine ” and rabbis in Israel drawing a parallel between Trump and the messiah .
“ It ’ s like messiah is the person that ’ s come to save the whole world .
So it ’ s like you ’ re the saviour of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Ukraine , they are praying for you , ” Fruman says , as Parnas tells Trump to show the gift to Jared Kushner , the president ’ s Jewish son-in-law and senior adviser , to explain its meaning .
In the video , it appears Fruman is seated across the narrow part of the rectangular table and one seat over from the president .
Trump also tells the assembled guests that it is “ ridiculous ” and “ wrong ” that he can ’ t hold political fundraisers inside the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money compared to driving him the four blocks to his hotel .

Zeke Miller, Colleen Long, Mike Balsamo And Lynn Berry - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-25--Netanyahu tries to rally global opposition to possible International Criminal Court war-crimes case

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is calling on the world to take “ concrete actions ” against the International Criminal Court ahead of a possible war-crimes case against Israel .
The ICC ’ s chief prosecutor , Fatou Bensouda , said last month that there was a “ reasonable basis ” to open a war crimes probe into Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip as well as Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank .
She has asked the court to determine whether she has territorial jurisdiction before proceeding with the case .
Israel , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has said the court has no jurisdiction and accused Bensouda of being driven by anti-Semitism .
In an interview with the Christian network TBN to be aired later Tuesday , Netanyahu praised President Donald Trump for criticizing the ICC and called on others to follow suit .
“ I think that everybody should rise up against this , ” he said , according to excerpts released by his office .
“ I urge all your viewers to do the same and to ask for concrete actions , sanctions against the international court , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ They ’ re basically in a full frontal attack on the democracies , both on the democracies ’ right to defend themselves , and on Israel ’ s right , the Jewish people ’ s right , to live in their ancestral homeland , the Land of Israel , ” he said .
There was no immediate reaction from Bensouda .
But in a recent interview , she told the Israeli news site Times of Israel that accusing her of anti-Semitism was “ particularly regrettable ” and “ without merit.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its officials “ will continue to do their work in accordance with the mandate bestowed upon them ” in accordance with the principle of the rule of law .
The TBN interview came ahead of a gathering in Jerusalem on Thursday where dozens of world leaders are to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazis ’ Auschwitz death camp and to speak out against anti-Semitism .
Netanyahu is expected to use the gathering to try to rally international opposition to the ICC case against Israel .
In the Hague @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case when they asked Bensouda to resubmit her jurisdiction request because her original request was too long .
The judges have 120 days to rule after they receive the new request .
Associated Press writer Mike Corder contributed reporting from The Hague .