thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-12--'He disappointed me': Voter Biden once berated, then won over, backed Sanders last minute

MANCHESTER , New Hampshire — Joe Biden 's collapsing presidential bid is perhaps best represented by one of his supporters in New Hampshire , going back more than 30 years .
After a terse exchange with Biden in 1987 , during the then-Delaware senator 's first presidential run , Frank Fahey had planned on supporting him this year .
But Fahey , 76 , abandoned the former vice president in the days before the primary to vote for Bernie Sanders .
`` I really was so committed to Biden .
He disappointed me , '' the retired Claremont , New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Washington Examiner on Wednesday .
After agonizing deliberation , the Vermont senator won his vote .
`` I almost ca n't believe I did that .
But If somehow he can pull off what he wants to do , I do n't care whether they call him a socialist or anything else , '' Fahey said .
`` He may not be the man to do it , but I tossed my vote to him in the hope that he gets the people to work with him in Washington to accomplish some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party of a fiery exchange with Biden when he sought the 1988 Democratic nomination .
He asked the then-Delaware senator about his academic record in law school , and Biden 's snarky reaction was captured by C-SPAN cameras .
“ I think I have a much higher IQ than you do , I suspect .
I went to law school on a full academic scholarship , the only one in my class to have a full academic scholarship , ” Biden said .
The moment helped derail Biden 's 1988 bid , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his temper .
At a late January event for Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard 's campaign in Claremont , Fahey told the Washington Examiner that he was a longtime Biden fan through his 2008 presidential bid and 2020 campaign and planned to vote for him .
Biden remembers and has a relationship with his old foil and greeted him at his own campaign event in Claremont the next day .
Fahey volunteered to make calls for Biden in the weeks before the New Hampshire primary .
But over the last week , Fahey lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he lost sleep over what to do at the voting booth .
The former vice president 's poor showing in the Iowa caucuses was a red flag for Fahey , as was a lack of energy from Biden during Friday 's debate and the appearance of not taking New Hampshire seriously .
`` Halfway through that debate , you could see him , you know , fading away .
He was looking much more tired .
He did n't look like the same guy that came on the stage earlier in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It concerned me , the little amount of campaigning he did here in New Hampshire , '' he continued .
`` I gave him money , I met an awful lot of people who worked in his campaign , young people , and they were working their tails off for him .
And he just did n't seem to have , perhaps , the energy to go out there and match their work . ''
Biden had about half the number of staff in New Hampshire as his top-tier rivals .
He escaped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday rather than hold campaign events , and he skipped out on his own primary night party Tuesday to hold a campaign event in South Carolina .
Fahey made pro-con lists for the candidates and narrowed down his choices to former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders .
The campaigns tried hard to court him , and Sanders campaign co-chairwoman and former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner met with Fahey for about 15 minutes .
`` I probably never voted before where I had as mixed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time around , '' Fahey said .
`` I 'm not sure that I knew what I was gon na do when I went into the voting booth yesterday , and I told my wife , I said , 'Wait for me , because I think I 'm going to be in there quite a while . '
'' While Fahey is confident in his vote , he has doubts about Sanders 's ability to overcome skepticism in the party establishment and generate enthusiasm that the Democrats need in November .
And if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he would be open to supporting him .
Fahey is writing a letter to the former vice president to explain why he could not vote for him this time around .

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire — Joe Biden's collapsing presidential bid is perhaps best represented by one of his supporters in New Hampshire, going back more than 30 years.
After a terse exchange with Biden in 1987, during the then-Delaware senator's first presidential run, Frank Fahey had planned on supporting him this year. But Fahey, 76, abandoned the former vice president in the days before the primary to vote for Bernie Sanders.
"I really was so committed to Biden. He disappointed me," the retired Claremont, New Hampshire, teacher, 76, told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday.
After agonizing deliberation, the Vermont senator won his vote.
"I almost can't believe I did that. But If somehow he can pull off what he wants to do, I don't care whether they call him a socialist or anything else," Fahey said. "He may not be the man to do it, but I tossed my vote to him in the hope that he gets the people to work with him in Washington to accomplish some of his goals."
Fahey was party of a fiery exchange with Biden when he sought the 1988 Democratic nomination. He asked the then-Delaware senator about his academic record in law school, and Biden's snarky reaction was captured by C-SPAN cameras.
“I think I have a much higher IQ than you do, I suspect. I went to law school on a full academic scholarship, the only one in my class to have a full academic scholarship,” Biden said. The moment helped derail Biden's 1988 bid, and he later apologized to Fahey for losing his temper.
At a late January event for Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard's campaign in Claremont, Fahey told the Washington Examiner that he was a longtime Biden fan through his 2008 presidential bid and 2020 campaign and planned to vote for him. Biden remembers and has a relationship with his old foil and greeted him at his own campaign event in Claremont the next day. Fahey volunteered to make calls for Biden in the weeks before the New Hampshire primary.
But over the last week, Fahey lost confidence in Biden, 77, and said he lost sleep over what to do at the voting booth.
The former vice president's poor showing in the Iowa caucuses was a red flag for Fahey, as was a lack of energy from Biden during Friday's debate and the appearance of not taking New Hampshire seriously.
"Halfway through that debate, you could see him, you know, fading away. He was looking much more tired. He didn't look like the same guy that came on the stage earlier in the debate," Fahey said.
"It concerned me, the little amount of campaigning he did here in New Hampshire," he continued. "I gave him money, I met an awful lot of people who worked in his campaign, young people, and they were working their tails off for him. And he just didn't seem to have, perhaps, the energy to go out there and match their work."
Biden had about half the number of staff in New Hampshire as his top-tier rivals. He escaped to Delaware to meet with advisers on Thursday rather than hold campaign events, and he skipped out on his own primary night party Tuesday to hold a campaign event in South Carolina.
Fahey made pro-con lists for the candidates and narrowed down his choices to former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. The campaigns tried hard to court him, and Sanders campaign co-chairwoman and former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner met with Fahey for about 15 minutes.
"I probably never voted before where I had as mixed feelings and uncertainty as I did this time around," Fahey said. "I'm not sure that I knew what I was gonna do when I went into the voting booth yesterday, and I told my wife, I said, 'Wait for me, because I think I'm going to be in there quite a while.'"
While Fahey is confident in his vote, he has doubts about Sanders's ability to overcome skepticism in the party establishment and generate enthusiasm that the Democrats need in November. And if Michael Bloomberg won the Democratic presidential nomination, he would be open to supporting him.
Fahey is writing a letter to the former vice president to explain why he could not vote for him this time around.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-12--Harry Reid calls for Nevada to be first election in 2024: ‘Iowa really was an embarrassment to every

Harry Reid calls for Nevada to be first election in 2024: ‘Iowa really was an embarrassment to everybody’

Former Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid suggested that his home state of Nevada be the first state to hold a caucus election in 2024 after the “ embarrassment ” that took place in Iowa .
Vice on Wednesday that Iowa “ forfeited its chance to be number one ” after the reporting app failed on caucus night last week , leaving many to doubt the legitimacy of the results .
The former top Democrat said he doesn ’ t believe Iowa will kick off the next election cycle and suggested that Nevada be given that responsibility instead .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pundits ] have been talking about Nevada should be the first state .
Why ?
Because we ’ re a state that ’ s heavily diverse , ” the former Nevada senator said .
“ It ’ s really a state that represents what the country is all about .
So I think that Iowa really was an embarrassment to everybody.
” Following the botched results in Iowa , New Hampshire led a smooth primary on Tuesday night .
While Sen. Bernie Sanders won the popular vote in both contests , Pete Buttigieg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the delegate count .
The former South Bend , Indiana , mayor came in second in New Hampshire , however , while Sanders snagged the win .
Joe Biden , who was at one point a front-runner in the race , placed fourth in Iowa and fifth in New Hampshire .
The former senator noted that he “ thinks the world ” of Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez and hoped that donors would not hold the Iowa caucuses against the party as they continue to try to raise money for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for president , especially Sanders .
He ripped the Vermont senator for supporting the decriminalization of illegal border crossings and `` Medicare for All . ''
Many have been skeptical of how Nevada will handle its caucuses on Feb. 22 .
The state was slated to use an app developed by the same firm responsible for the botched reporting in Iowa but has since announced it would not use the product .
Reid represented Nevada for 30 years in the U.S. Senate .

Former Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid suggested that his home state of Nevada be the first state to hold a caucus election in 2024 after the “embarrassment” that took place in Iowa.
Reid told Vice on Wednesday that Iowa “forfeited its chance to be number one” after the reporting app failed on caucus night last week, leaving many to doubt the legitimacy of the results. The former top Democrat said he doesn’t believe Iowa will kick off the next election cycle and suggested that Nevada be given that responsibility instead.
“Since the debacle in Iowa, [pundits] have been talking about Nevada should be the first state. Why? Because we’re a state that’s heavily diverse,” the former Nevada senator said. “It’s really a state that represents what the country is all about. So I think that Iowa really was an embarrassment to everybody.”
Following the botched results in Iowa, New Hampshire led a smooth primary on Tuesday night. While Sen. Bernie Sanders won the popular vote in both contests, Pete Buttigieg took home a razor-thin victory in Iowa with the delegate count. The former South Bend, Indiana, mayor came in second in New Hampshire, however, while Sanders snagged the win. Joe Biden, who was at one point a front-runner in the race, placed fourth in Iowa and fifth in New Hampshire.
The former senator noted that he “thinks the world” of Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez and hoped that donors would not hold the Iowa caucuses against the party as they continue to try to raise money for the 2020 campaigns.
Reid has been critical of the candidates running for president, especially Sanders. He ripped the Vermont senator for supporting the decriminalization of illegal border crossings and "Medicare for All."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-12--Buttigieg tells illegal immigrants that America is 'your country too' in Spanish

Former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg took a moment after his second-place finish in the New Hampshire primary to tell illegal immigrants , in Spanish , that the United States is their `` country too . ''
In his speech to supporters Tuesday night , the 2020 Democrat said , adding a few lines in Spanish , `` We can say to a Dreamer , lying awake at night , questioning if this country is her own … this country is your country too . ''
The Spanish portion of his statement translates to : “ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and , yes , this country is your country too.
” Buttigieg ’ s immigration promises amnesty and a pathway to citizenship for “ undocumented people.
” Tuesday ’ s speech was not the first time Buttigieg has spoken in Spanish on the campaign trail .
He briefly to a question from a Telemundo debate moderator in Spanish during a debate last summer .
After a first-place finish in Iowa last week and coming in second in New Hampshire , Buttigieg will be heading to Nevada , where almost 500,000 Latino voters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s caucuses next week .
“ A big part of what ’ s happening right now is that voters of color who are laser-focused on defeating this president , more than anything else , want to know that you can actually win , ” Buttigieg about his popularity with minority voters .
“ The process of proving that has only really been underway for the last few days , after a year of campaigning , proposing , talking , ” he added .
“ And that , I believe , is getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as we will travel directly to states like Nevada , South Carolina , and the Super Tuesday states that have a lot of racial diversity and where we can make that case eye-to-eye . ''

Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg took a moment after his second-place finish in the New Hampshire primary to tell illegal immigrants, in Spanish, that the United States is their "country too."
In his speech to supporters Tuesday night, the 2020 Democrat said, adding a few lines in Spanish, "We can say to a Dreamer, lying awake at night, questioning if this country is her own … this country is your country too."
The Spanish portion of his statement translates to: “We celebrate your belonging in this country, and, yes, this country is your country too.”
Buttigieg Spanish translation: "We celebrate your belonging in this country and, yes, this country is your country too." pic.twitter.com/zjOYFcVQnE — Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) February 12, 2020
Buttigieg’s immigration platform promises amnesty and a pathway to citizenship for “undocumented people.” Tuesday’s speech was not the first time Buttigieg has spoken in Spanish on the campaign trail. He briefly responded to a question from a Telemundo debate moderator in Spanish during a debate last summer.
Mayor Pete Buttigieg breaks out his Spanish during #DemDebate2 https://t.co/BAe0qszHat pic.twitter.com/02JaBIdGoJ — The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) June 28, 2019
After a first-place finish in Iowa last week and coming in second in New Hampshire, Buttigieg will be heading to Nevada, where almost 500,000 Latino voters are registered , with other 2020 Democrats for the state’s caucuses next week.
“A big part of what’s happening right now is that voters of color who are laser-focused on defeating this president, more than anything else, want to know that you can actually win,” Buttigieg said about his popularity with minority voters.
“The process of proving that has only really been underway for the last few days, after a year of campaigning, proposing, talking,” he added. “And that, I believe, is getting us the look that we now need as we will travel directly to states like Nevada, South Carolina, and the Super Tuesday states that have a lot of racial diversity and where we can make that case eye-to-eye."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-12--Latest Nikki Haley fundraising event sure to fuel 2024 speculation

Nikki Haley is headed to Nashville , Tennessee , to raise money for a leading Republican Senate candidate , a move sure to attract notice as Republicans jockey to succeed President Trump in 2024 .
Haley , 48 , was President Trump ’ s first ambassador to the United Nations and is laying the foundation for a possible 2024 campaign .
In Tennessee , a red state where Trump enjoys solid support , Haley is scheduled to headline a Feb. 18 fundraiser for Bill Hagerty , the consensus Republican to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander .
Hagerty is Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a sign of Haley ’ s star power inside the party , the Hagerty campaign is holding a drawing that will offer two grassroots supporters tickets to the fundraiser for the opportunity to meet the former South Carolina governor .
“ Team Hagerty is excited to have Ambassador Nikki Haley with us in Tennessee next week , and we are so grateful she stands with us in our fight to protect the conservative values of Tennesseans , ” campaign manager Michael Sullivan said in a statement .
Hagerty , who has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to victory in Tennessee in November .
Haley declined to support Trump at the outset of his 2016 campaign , endorsing Florida Sen. Marco Rubio in the Republican primary .
But after Trump was elected , he appointed her U.N. ambassador , and she has since managed to straddle the line of supporting the president without necessarily defending all of his controversial actions and provocative rhetoric .
However , she has become a more vocal Trump supporter since leaving his cabinet .
After departing , Haley launched Stand For America .
The political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way for Haley to stay in the public eye and a platform for a future presidential bid .

Nikki Haley is headed to Nashville, Tennessee, to raise money for a leading Republican Senate candidate, a move sure to attract notice as Republicans jockey to succeed President Trump in 2024.
Haley, 48, was President Trump’s first ambassador to the United Nations and is laying the foundation for a possible 2024 campaign. In Tennessee, a red state where Trump enjoys solid support, Haley is scheduled to headline a Feb. 18 fundraiser for Bill Hagerty, the consensus Republican to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander. Hagerty is Trump’s former ambassador to Japan.
In a sign of Haley’s star power inside the party, the Hagerty campaign is holding a drawing that will offer two grassroots supporters tickets to the fundraiser for the opportunity to meet the former South Carolina governor.
“Team Hagerty is excited to have Ambassador Nikki Haley with us in Tennessee next week, and we are so grateful she stands with us in our fight to protect the conservative values of Tennesseans,” campaign manager Michael Sullivan said in a statement. Hagerty, who has been endorsed by Trump, should easily glide to victory in Tennessee in November.
Haley declined to support Trump at the outset of his 2016 campaign, endorsing Florida Sen. Marco Rubio in the Republican primary. But after Trump was elected, he appointed her U.N. ambassador, and she has since managed to straddle the line of supporting the president without necessarily defending all of his controversial actions and provocative rhetoric. However, she has become a more vocal Trump supporter since leaving his cabinet.
After departing, Haley launched Stand For America. The political nonprofit group is seen as both a way for Haley to stay in the public eye and a platform for a future presidential bid.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-12--'I’m not a dick': Andrew Yang says he wouldn't turn down 'serious' Cabinet position

2020 Democratic presidential dropout Andrew Yang said he would consider joining the administration of one of his former rivals if he or she wins the White House .
“ You know , I ’ m not a dick .
Like , obviously someone like offers me something serious and impactful but we can help do some good work , I ’ m not going to be like , ‘ F -- - that , ’ ” Yang told the Atlantic Tuesday night .
“ A secretary of technology or even … one of the existing departments , ” he added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Yang ended his long-shot presidential bid on Tuesday after a poor showing in the New Hampshire primary , outlasting the campaigns of some members of Congress and governors .
The tech entrepreneur , who is not ruling out a future run for office , said he ’ s ready to help the eventual Democratic nominee win the White House .
“ If my efforts and exertions can help ensure that Donald Trump doesn ’ t win , then I ’ ll be there every freaking moment of every freaking day , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go fight for it .
What are we doing here otherwise ?
What am I going to do , just watch Trump get reelected ?
That would be terrible .
”

2020 Democratic presidential dropout Andrew Yang said he would consider joining the administration of one of his former rivals if he or she wins the White House.
“You know, I’m not a dick. Like, obviously someone like offers me something serious and impactful but we can help do some good work, I’m not going to be like, ‘F--- that,’” Yang told the Atlantic Tuesday night.
“A secretary of technology or even … one of the existing departments,” he added about his potential choice of Cabinet positions.
Yang ended his long-shot presidential bid on Tuesday after a poor showing in the New Hampshire primary, outlasting the campaigns of some members of Congress and governors.
The tech entrepreneur, who is not ruling out a future run for office, said he’s ready to help the eventual Democratic nominee win the White House.
“If my efforts and exertions can help ensure that Donald Trump doesn’t win, then I’ll be there every freaking moment of every freaking day,” he said. “I’ll go fight for it. What are we doing here otherwise? What am I going to do, just watch Trump get reelected? That would be terrible.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-13--'No relevance': DOJ says FISA report doesn’t justify dismissing Michael Flynn case

The Justice Department rejected claims by retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn ’ s lawyers that the agency watchdog ’ s recent surveillance abuse report contained evidence that would justify dismissing the case against him .
Prosecutors argued on Wednesday that DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz ’ s Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act abuse report bore “ no relevance ” to Flynn ’ s guilt .
“ The errors and misconduct described in the OIG report … do not amount to ‘ egregious government misconduct ' necessitating the dismissal of the charge against the defendant for making material false statements to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2017 , ” wrote Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Van Grack in a court filing .
Flynn ’ s defense team , led by former federal prosecutor Sidney Powell , argued in January that Horowitz ’ s report revealed Flynn had been unfairly targeted by the FBI .
“ Even though the investigation pertains to the abuses of the FISA process , not the FBI and DOJ ’ s misconduct regarding Mr. Flynn , the IG report simultaneously documents at least some of [ the ] FISA process abuses and misconduct against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court .
“ The IG report is replete with exculpatory evidence that , had it been known to Mr. Flynn , he never would have pled guilty.
” Flynn , 61 , pleaded guilty in December 2017 for lying to investigators in January 2017 about his conversations with Sergey Kislyak , who was at the time the Russian ambassador to the United States , but , early this year , he told the U.S. District Court in Washington , D.C. , “ In truth , I never lied , ” and , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Powell said that “ the case against Mr. Flynn should be dismissed immediately for this egregious abuse of power and trust ” laid out in Horowitz ’ s findings .
She pointed to a part of the report that showed the intelligence briefing the FBI gave to Trump ’ s team in August 2016 during the presidential campaign was actually a “ pretext ” to gather evidence to help in the counterintelligence investigation into Trump ’ s campaign .
The FBI agent who led that briefing , known as “ SSA 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believed to be FBI supervisory special agent Joseph Pientka , was the same official who accompanied FBI special agent Peter Strzok in their controversial interview of Flynn in January 2017 .
“ The fact of the briefing is neither exculpatory nor impeaching , ” the Justice Department said Wednesday .
“ SSA 1 ’ s participation in a briefing of the defendant in August 2016 has no impact on whether the defendant lied to SSA 1 five months later.
” Flynn ’ s defense team considered the January 2017 interview to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disputed the accuracy of the FBI interview notes from the meeting , claims the DOJ has rejected as “ conspiracy theories.
” “ From the FBI ’ s insertion of SSA 1 into the August 17 , 2016 , presidential briefing of candidate Trump and Mr. Flynn , to the former director of the FBI bragging and laughing on national television about his own cleverness and violations of FBI/DOJ rules in dispatching agents to the White House … everything about this prosecution has violated long-standing standards and policy for the FBI and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's report , released in December , identified at least 17 `` significant errors or omissions '' in the DOJ and the FBI ’ s use of British ex-spy Christopher Steele ’ s salacious and unverified dossier when pursuing FISA warrants to wiretap Trump campaign associate Carter Page in 2016 and 2017 .
According to the FBI , four members of Trump 's campaign , including Flynn , were initially being scrutinized as part of the Trump-Russia inquiry .
At the conclusion of his investigation , special counsel Robert Mueller did not establish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Kremlin .
The FBI never told Trump ’ s campaign about its fear that Russians might be attempting to infiltrate his campaign , but Horowitz said the bureau used an intelligence briefing to gather evidence against Trump and Flynn , and he criticized the FBI ’ s decision to use a defensive briefing in this way .
The Justice Department said on Wednesday that Horowitz 's report `` does not allege that SSA 1 ’ s participation in the briefing amounted to misconduct '' and argued Flynn 's legal team failed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this case . ''
Horowitz ’ s report stated , `` We concluded that the FBI 's use of this briefing for investigative reasons could potentially interfere with the expectation of trust and good faith among participants in strategic intelligence briefings , thereby frustrating their purpose.
” As part of his plea deal , Flynn agreed to cooperate with Mueller , admitting , then reaffirming his guilt in 2017 and 2018 .
Flynn filed to withdraw his guilty plea in January after the DOJ asked Judge Emmet Sullivan to sentence Flynn to up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Justice Department now says it believes probation would also be an appropriate punishment .
The Justice Department has also changed its tune on sentencing for another Trump associate caught up in Mueller 's investigation : Roger Stone .
The sentencing hearing for Flynn scheduled for the end of the month was canceled by the judge amid legal battles over whether Flynn ’ s previous attorneys provided him adequate representation .

The Justice Department rejected claims by retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn’s lawyers that the agency watchdog’s recent surveillance abuse report contained evidence that would justify dismissing the case against him.
Prosecutors argued on Wednesday that DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act abuse report bore “no relevance” to Flynn’s guilt.
“The errors and misconduct described in the OIG report … do not amount to ‘egregious government misconduct' necessitating the dismissal of the charge against the defendant for making material false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation on January 24, 2017,” wrote Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Van Grack in a court filing.
Flynn’s defense team, led by former federal prosecutor Sidney Powell, argued in January that Horowitz’s report revealed Flynn had been unfairly targeted by the FBI.
“Even though the investigation pertains to the abuses of the FISA process, not the FBI and DOJ’s misconduct regarding Mr. Flynn, the IG report simultaneously documents at least some of [the] FISA process abuses and misconduct against Mr. Flynn,” Powell told the court. “The IG report is replete with exculpatory evidence that, had it been known to Mr. Flynn, he never would have pled guilty.”
Flynn, 61, pleaded guilty in December 2017 for lying to investigators in January 2017 about his conversations with Sergey Kislyak, who was at the time the Russian ambassador to the United States, but, early this year, he told the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., “In truth, I never lied,” and, “I am innocent of this crime."
Powell said that “the case against Mr. Flynn should be dismissed immediately for this egregious abuse of power and trust” laid out in Horowitz’s findings.
She pointed to a part of the report that showed the intelligence briefing the FBI gave to Trump’s team in August 2016 during the presidential campaign was actually a “pretext” to gather evidence to help in the counterintelligence investigation into Trump’s campaign. The FBI agent who led that briefing, known as “SSA 1” in Horowitz’s report but believed to be FBI supervisory special agent Joseph Pientka, was the same official who accompanied FBI special agent Peter Strzok in their controversial interview of Flynn in January 2017.
“The fact of the briefing is neither exculpatory nor impeaching,” the Justice Department said Wednesday. “SSA 1’s participation in a briefing of the defendant in August 2016 has no impact on whether the defendant lied to SSA 1 five months later.”
Flynn’s defense team considered the January 2017 interview to be a setup by then-FBI Director James Comey and disputed the accuracy of the FBI interview notes from the meeting, claims the DOJ has rejected as “conspiracy theories.”
“From the FBI’s insertion of SSA 1 into the August 17, 2016, presidential briefing of candidate Trump and Mr. Flynn, to the former director of the FBI bragging and laughing on national television about his own cleverness and violations of FBI/DOJ rules in dispatching agents to the White House … everything about this prosecution has violated long-standing standards and policy for the FBI and the DOJ,” Powell said.
Horowitz's report, released in December, identified at least 17 "significant errors or omissions" in the DOJ and the FBI’s use of British ex-spy Christopher Steele’s salacious and unverified dossier when pursuing FISA warrants to wiretap Trump campaign associate Carter Page in 2016 and 2017. According to the FBI, four members of Trump's campaign, including Flynn, were initially being scrutinized as part of the Trump-Russia inquiry. At the conclusion of his investigation, special counsel Robert Mueller did not establish a criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.
The FBI never told Trump’s campaign about its fear that Russians might be attempting to infiltrate his campaign, but Horowitz said the bureau used an intelligence briefing to gather evidence against Trump and Flynn, and he criticized the FBI’s decision to use a defensive briefing in this way.
The Justice Department said on Wednesday that Horowitz's report "does not allege that SSA 1’s participation in the briefing amounted to misconduct" and argued Flynn's legal team failed to identify "any government misconduct in this case."
Horowitz’s report stated, "We concluded that the FBI's use of this briefing for investigative reasons could potentially interfere with the expectation of trust and good faith among participants in strategic intelligence briefings, thereby frustrating their purpose.”
As part of his plea deal, Flynn agreed to cooperate with Mueller, admitting, then reaffirming his guilt in 2017 and 2018.
Flynn filed to withdraw his guilty plea in January after the DOJ asked Judge Emmet Sullivan to sentence Flynn to up to six months in prison, though the Justice Department now says it believes probation would also be an appropriate punishment. The Justice Department has also changed its tune on sentencing for another Trump associate caught up in Mueller's investigation: Roger Stone.
The sentencing hearing for Flynn scheduled for the end of the month was canceled by the judge amid legal battles over whether Flynn’s previous attorneys provided him adequate representation.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-13--'They should be terrified': Republicans fear Bloomberg as Biden fades

With Joe Biden staggering , confidence in President Trump ’ s reelection is soaring inside a once-concerned Republican establishment , with only Michael Bloomberg among the remaining Democratic contenders identified as a mortal threat .
Biden placed a demoralizing fifth place in the New Hampshire primary , and , in interviews on Wednesday , nearly a dozen senior Republican strategists dismissed the top three finishers , the Democratic Party ’ s new 2020 top tier , as fatally flawed .
Bernie Sanders is too liberal to beat Trump in key suburban and Midwestern battlegrounds , they claim , and Pete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with nonwhite voters , a core Democratic constituency that would need to turn out strongly for any Democrat to win and that is being aggressively wooed by the president .
Bloomberg suffers from some of the same vulnerabilities , but the billionaire media mogul has one undisputed advantage that has Republican insiders on edge : money .
The former New York City mayor has invested more than $ 350 million since late November , fielding a campaign so massive that it amounts to a shadow political party .
Republicans take seriously Bloomberg ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to oust Trump and concede the gambit could work .
“ Right now , Bloomberg is the biggest threat to President Trump in the fall , ” said Jason Miller , a former Trump adviser who , along with Steve Bannon , co-hosts War Room 2020 , a podcast and syndicated radio program supportive of the president .
“ They should be terrified of Bloomberg , ” a Republican ad writer said .
“ The magnitude of his financial advantage could overwhelm them.
” At least since the midterm elections that saw Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Republicans have been worried about Trump ’ s prospects despite a roaring economy that should make the president a favorite to win a second term .
Biden had been chief among their concerns since the onset of the Democratic presidential campaign because of the former vice president ’ s appeal with suburban swing voters , disaffected Republicans , and the working class .
Sanders surging to first place in most recent national polls on the heels of strong finishes in the first two Democratic contests has Republicans salivating , convinced there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the socialist Vermont senator .
“ Biden has always been the one Republicans worry about , ” a GOP consultant told the Washington Examiner .
“ He is the one who rejects the socialist drift and represents stability and less chaos , which makes him appeal to both Obama-Trump voters '' and Mitt Romney-Gary Johnson voters , the consultant said .
Romney was the Republican nominee in 2012 , Johnson the Libertarian standard-bearer in 2016 .
Some Republicans are keeping an eye on Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The two , who finished second and third , respectively , in New Hampshire , would excel with college-educated women in the suburbs and might be attractive choices for independents and swing voters who are troubled by Trump ’ s provocative behavior .
But , for now , at least , Republicans are reassured by the meager support for Buttigieg and Klobuchar among black and Hispanic voters and doubt they can recreate Obama ’ s winning 2012 coalition .
In a YouGov poll of adults for the Economist , Buttigieg was backed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of Hispanics and Klobuchar by 2 % of blacks and 4 % of Hispanics .
Republicans question whether either Democrat would achieve levels of support in urban strongholds such as Detroit , Milwaukee , and Philadelphia to produce an Electoral College victory .
“ Mayor Pete is easily the most talented candidate , but he has huge generational and demographic problems that I don ’ t believe can be solved in a general election , ” a Republican strategist said .
As Bloomberg gains steam , opponents are circulating a host of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City mayor that could be politically damaging in the Democratic primary and in November .
Although Bloomberg is a former Republican , he backs strong restrictions on gun ownership and holds culturally liberal positions that could make his candidacy a tough sell in states such as Wisconsin .
Bloomberg ’ s cash spigot , available immediately , would nullify the financial and organizational advantage Trump enjoys over other Democrats .
Bloomberg can afford to expand the map by contesting marginal states .
Meanwhile , his campaign 's vast organization makes up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the flush Republican National Committee and the underfunded Democratic National Committee .
“ I ’ m afraid of Bloomberg and Bloomberg only .
He is the only one that is not a socialist , has experience , and is double-barrel loaded , ” said a Republican operative based in the Heartland .

With Joe Biden staggering, confidence in President Trump’s reelection is soaring inside a once-concerned Republican establishment, with only Michael Bloomberg among the remaining Democratic contenders identified as a mortal threat.
Biden placed a demoralizing fifth place in the New Hampshire primary, and, in interviews on Wednesday, nearly a dozen senior Republican strategists dismissed the top three finishers, the Democratic Party’s new 2020 top tier, as fatally flawed. Bernie Sanders is too liberal to beat Trump in key suburban and Midwestern battlegrounds, they claim, and Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar are too weak with nonwhite voters, a core Democratic constituency that would need to turn out strongly for any Democrat to win and that is being aggressively wooed by the president.
Bloomberg suffers from some of the same vulnerabilities, but the billionaire media mogul has one undisputed advantage that has Republican insiders on edge: money. The former New York City mayor has invested more than $350 million since late November, fielding a campaign so massive that it amounts to a shadow political party. Republicans take seriously Bloomberg’s promise to spend whatever it takes to oust Trump and concede the gambit could work.
“Right now, Bloomberg is the biggest threat to President Trump in the fall,” said Jason Miller, a former Trump adviser who, along with Steve Bannon, co-hosts War Room 2020, a podcast and syndicated radio program supportive of the president.
“They should be terrified of Bloomberg,” a Republican ad writer said. “The magnitude of his financial advantage could overwhelm them.”
At least since the midterm elections that saw Democrats flip the House in a 40-seat swing, Republicans have been worried about Trump’s prospects despite a roaring economy that should make the president a favorite to win a second term. Biden had been chief among their concerns since the onset of the Democratic presidential campaign because of the former vice president’s appeal with suburban swing voters, disaffected Republicans, and the working class.
Sanders surging to first place in most recent national polls on the heels of strong finishes in the first two Democratic contests has Republicans salivating, convinced there’s little chance Trump would lose to the socialist Vermont senator.
“Biden has always been the one Republicans worry about,” a GOP consultant told the Washington Examiner. “He is the one who rejects the socialist drift and represents stability and less chaos, which makes him appeal to both Obama-Trump voters" and Mitt Romney-Gary Johnson voters, the consultant said. Romney was the Republican nominee in 2012, Johnson the Libertarian standard-bearer in 2016.
Some Republicans are keeping an eye on Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and Klobuchar, a Minnesota senator.
The two, who finished second and third, respectively, in New Hampshire, would excel with college-educated women in the suburbs and might be attractive choices for independents and swing voters who are troubled by Trump’s provocative behavior. But, for now, at least, Republicans are reassured by the meager support for Buttigieg and Klobuchar among black and Hispanic voters and doubt they can recreate Obama’s winning 2012 coalition.
In a YouGov poll of adults for the Economist, Buttigieg was backed by 2% of blacks and 9% of Hispanics and Klobuchar by 2% of blacks and 4% of Hispanics. Republicans question whether either Democrat would achieve levels of support in urban strongholds such as Detroit, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia to produce an Electoral College victory.
“Mayor Pete is easily the most talented candidate, but he has huge generational and demographic problems that I don’t believe can be solved in a general election,” a Republican strategist said.
As Bloomberg gains steam, opponents are circulating a host of past statements and policies he supported as New York City mayor that could be politically damaging in the Democratic primary and in November. Although Bloomberg is a former Republican, he backs strong restrictions on gun ownership and holds culturally liberal positions that could make his candidacy a tough sell in states such as Wisconsin.
But Republicans are leery.
Bloomberg’s cash spigot, available immediately, would nullify the financial and organizational advantage Trump enjoys over other Democrats. Bloomberg can afford to expand the map by contesting marginal states. Meanwhile, his campaign's vast organization makes up for the huge disparity in capability between the flush Republican National Committee and the underfunded Democratic National Committee.
“I’m afraid of Bloomberg and Bloomberg only. He is the only one that is not a socialist, has experience, and is double-barrel loaded,” said a Republican operative based in the Heartland.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-13--Votes cast in New Hampshire Democratic primary breaks 2008 record

MANCHESTER , New Hampshire — The number of voters in the Democratic presidential primary broke the record set in 2008 during the competitive race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton .
More than 296,000 people cast a ballot in Tuesday 's nominating contest , about 7,400 more than the nearly 288,672 cast in 2008 when Clinton barely beat Obama in the state primary .
In 2016 , when Vermont .
Sen. Bernie Sanders beat Clinton by 22 points , 254,780 voted in the party 's primary .
The turnout number could indicate that enthusiasm among Democrats is high in 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week had moderate participation despite high turnout expectations , with about 176,000 , compared to a record 236,000 in 2008 .
The common analysis was that increased turnout would aid Sanders , who targets first-time , younger voters .
But , according to Dave Wasserman of the Cook Political Report , turnout was highest in towns won by former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar , suggesting that those who voted in the 2016 Republican primary decided to cast a Democratic ballot this time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a party to vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary contest .
Independent voters were free to choose to vote in the more competitive Democratic contest .
In a rally on Monday night , President Trump joked that he heard his supporters would vote for the weakest Democrat in the race .
An NBC News exit poll found that 43 % of Democratic primary voters were independents , 1 point higher than in 2008 .
The ballots cast slightly exceeded New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner 's prediction that 292,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Voters also set a record on the Republican side for the number of people voting to support an incumbent president , with more than 110,000 people voting for Trump , beating the previous record of 49,000 voting in the Democratic primary when Obama was president in 2012 .

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire — The number of voters in the Democratic presidential primary broke the record set in 2008 during the competitive race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
More than 296,000 people cast a ballot in Tuesday's nominating contest, about 7,400 more than the nearly 288,672 cast in 2008 when Clinton barely beat Obama in the state primary. In 2016, when Vermont. Sen. Bernie Sanders beat Clinton by 22 points, 254,780 voted in the party's primary.
The turnout number could indicate that enthusiasm among Democrats is high in 2020. However, Iowa's Democratic caucuses last week had moderate participation despite high turnout expectations, with about 176,000, compared to a record 236,000 in 2008.
The common analysis was that increased turnout would aid Sanders, who targets first-time, younger voters. But, according to Dave Wasserman of the Cook Political Report, turnout was highest in towns won by former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, suggesting that those who voted in the 2016 Republican primary decided to cast a Democratic ballot this time.
New Hampshire allows undeclared voters not aligned with a party to vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary contest. Independent voters were free to choose to vote in the more competitive Democratic contest.
In a rally on Monday night, President Trump joked that he heard his supporters would vote for the weakest Democrat in the race.
An NBC News exit poll found that 43% of Democratic primary voters were independents, 1 point higher than in 2008.
The ballots cast slightly exceeded New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner's prediction that 292,000 people would vote in the Democratic contest.
Voters also set a record on the Republican side for the number of people voting to support an incumbent president, with more than 110,000 people voting for Trump, beating the previous record of 49,000 voting in the Democratic primary when Obama was president in 2012.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-13--Three members of Congressional Black Caucus endorse Bloomberg following stop-and-frisk controversy

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has picked up key endorsements following his controversial comments on New York 's stop-and-frisk policy .
Reps. Lucy McBath and Gregory Meeks , plus Stacey Plaskett , the congressional representative of the U.S. Virgin Islands , all Democratic members of the Congressional Black Caucus , have endorsed Bloomberg for president .
The members of Congress cite Bloomberg 's record on gun laws , while also adding he has the greatest chance to best Trump in the 2020 presidential election .
“ I first met Mike when I was searching for ways to fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my son from my life , ” McBath , whose son was shot and killed , said .
“ Mike gave grieving mothers like me a way to stand up and fight back .
Nobody running for president has done more for the gun violence prevention movement than Mike .
I am proud to stand with him in this race and [ to ] work with him when he is in the White House to keep our communities safe . ''
Plaskett said Bloomberg can unite the country around `` the common purpose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driving our economy forward into the 21st century . ''
“ The most vulnerable communities in America can not weather another four years of a Donald Trump presidency , ” Meeks said in a statement .
“ Too much is on the line to allow that to happen .
The endorsements come after audio emerged of Bloomberg from 2015 in which he argued , `` 95 % of murders — murderers and murder victims — fit one M.O .
You can just take a description , Xerox it , and pass it out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ male minorities , 16 to 25 , '' Bloomberg said .
“ The way you get the guns out of the kids ’ hands is to throw them up against the wall and frisk them … And then they start … ‘ Oh , I don ’ t want to get caught , ’ so they don ’ t bring the gun .
They still have a gun , but they leave it at home . ''
Bloomberg apologized for the policy into 2019 , prior to entering the presidential race .

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has picked up key endorsements following his controversial comments on New York's stop-and-frisk policy.
Reps. Lucy McBath and Gregory Meeks, plus Stacey Plaskett, the congressional representative of the U.S. Virgin Islands, all Democratic members of the Congressional Black Caucus, have endorsed Bloomberg for president. The members of Congress cite Bloomberg's record on gun laws, while also adding he has the greatest chance to best Trump in the 2020 presidential election.
“I first met Mike when I was searching for ways to fight against the dangerous gun laws that ripped my son from my life,” McBath, whose son was shot and killed, said. “Mike gave grieving mothers like me a way to stand up and fight back. Nobody running for president has done more for the gun violence prevention movement than Mike. I am proud to stand with him in this race and [to] work with him when he is in the White House to keep our communities safe."
Plaskett said Bloomberg can unite the country around "the common purpose of rebuilding our nation's infrastructure and driving our economy forward into the 21st century."
“The most vulnerable communities in America cannot weather another four years of a Donald Trump presidency,” Meeks said in a statement. “Too much is on the line to allow that to happen.
The endorsements come after audio emerged of Bloomberg from 2015 in which he argued, "95% of murders — murderers and murder victims — fit one M.O. You can just take a description, Xerox it, and pass it out to all the cops. They are male minorities, 16 to 25," Bloomberg said. “The way you get the guns out of the kids’ hands is to throw them up against the wall and frisk them … And then they start … ‘Oh, I don’t want to get caught,’ so they don’t bring the gun. They still have a gun, but they leave it at home."
Bloomberg apologized for the policy into 2019, prior to entering the presidential race.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-13--'No evidence of any wrongdoing': Ethics commission releases findings of Eric Greitens investigation

Nearly two years after Missouri Gov .
Eric Greitens , a rising star in the Republican Party , resigned in the wake of misconduct allegations , an ethics commission announced that it found no evidence of wrongdoing .
The Missouri Ethics Commission released its findings on Thursday and concluded that although there were two violations in reporting of in-kind contributions , no other wrongdoing was found , despite numerous and varied allegations leveled against the former governor .
“ After a review of the complaint , 235 pages of supporting documentation ; the issuance of 23 subpoenas , which resulted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documents , emails , and videos ; approximately 20 interviews conducted by Commission investigators .
… The MEC found no evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of Eric Greitens , individually , and no evidence that Governor Greitens knew of the two reporting violations , ” the panel wrote .
The commission also conducted a “ review of publicly available documents provided on the Internet by the Federal Election Commission , the Internal Revenue Service , and the Federal Communications Commission ” as part of the lengthy investigation .
For the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about $ 178,000 .
`` If the respondent pays $ 38,000 of the total fee within 45 days after the date of this Consent Order , the remainder will be stayed , '' the document reads .
Despite the panel ’ s finding of two reporting violations , “ The Commission did not find reasonable grounds to support the remaining allegations contained in the complaint filed with the Commission , '' it wrote .
Greitens , a 45-year-old former Rhodes Scholar and Navy SEAL , told the Washington Examiner that he was pleased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ It ’ s good to have been exonerated , and I ’ m glad to have been vindicated , ” Greitens said .
“ I ’ m grateful the truth has won out , but this was never really about me — they launched this attack because we were fighting for the people of Missouri.
” Although the determination is a significant win for Greitens , it is a small consolation for a political figure once pegged as a future presidential candidate .
The former governor , who was once named @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influential people , resigned in June 2018 after a political and sexual scandal turned into a possible impeachment scenario .
Although he was indicted in February 2018 on two counts , one of invasion of privacy and another of computer tampering , both charges were later dropped .
The invasion of privacy charge was tied to accusations that he blackmailed a woman who he was having an extramarital affair with .
Greitens admitted he was involved in an affair with the woman , but denied he blackmailed her .
The computer privacy charge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ethics commission about how he obtained a donor list from a charity for veterans .
From the start , Greitens and his allies said that the accusations leveled against him were part of a political attack and characterized the entire situation as a “ witch hunt.
” A person close to Greitens told the Washington Examiner at the conclusion of the ethics investigation that the former governor did not intend to run for any political office this year but would likely “ leave his options ” open for future endeavors .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a book and working to launch a new service organization .

Nearly two years after Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, a rising star in the Republican Party, resigned in the wake of misconduct allegations, an ethics commission announced that it found no evidence of wrongdoing.
The Missouri Ethics Commission released its findings on Thursday and concluded that although there were two violations in reporting of in-kind contributions, no other wrongdoing was found, despite numerous and varied allegations leveled against the former governor.
“After a review of the complaint, 235 pages of supporting documentation; the issuance of 23 subpoenas, which resulted in the production of roughly 8,000 multi-page documents, emails, and videos; approximately 20 interviews conducted by Commission investigators. … The MEC found no evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of Eric Greitens, individually, and no evidence that Governor Greitens knew of the two reporting violations,” the panel wrote.
The commission also conducted a “review of publicly available documents provided on the Internet by the Federal Election Commission, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Communications Commission” as part of the lengthy investigation.
For the two violations Greitens was ordered to be fined about $178,000.
"If the respondent pays $38,000 of the total fee within 45 days after the date of this Consent Order, the remainder will be stayed," the document reads.
Despite the panel’s finding of two reporting violations, “The Commission did not find reasonable grounds to support the remaining allegations contained in the complaint filed with the Commission," it wrote.
Greitens, a 45-year-old former Rhodes Scholar and Navy SEAL, told the Washington Examiner that he was pleased that “the truth has won out.”
“It’s good to have been exonerated, and I’m glad to have been vindicated,” Greitens said. “I’m grateful the truth has won out, but this was never really about me — they launched this attack because we were fighting for the people of Missouri.”
Although the determination is a significant win for Greitens, it is a small consolation for a political figure once pegged as a future presidential candidate.
In this May 17, 2018, photo, Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens stands off to the side before stepping up to the podium to deliver remarks to a small group of supporters near the capitol announcing the release of funds for the state's biodiesel program in Jefferson City, Mo. (Jeff Roberson/AP)
The former governor, who was once named one of Time’s 100 most influential people, resigned in June 2018 after a political and sexual scandal turned into a possible impeachment scenario. Although he was indicted in February 2018 on two counts, one of invasion of privacy and another of computer tampering, both charges were later dropped.
The invasion of privacy charge was tied to accusations that he blackmailed a woman who he was having an extramarital affair with. Greitens admitted he was involved in an affair with the woman, but denied he blackmailed her.
The computer privacy charge came from allegations that he knowingly deceived the state ethics commission about how he obtained a donor list from a charity for veterans.
From the start, Greitens and his allies said that the accusations leveled against him were part of a political attack and characterized the entire situation as a “witch hunt.”
A person close to Greitens told the Washington Examiner at the conclusion of the ethics investigation that the former governor did not intend to run for any political office this year but would likely “leave his options” open for future endeavors.
The friend said that Greitens was writing a book and working to launch a new service organization.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-13--Stone, Ukraine, and Durham: Barr’s Justice Department asserts itself in high-profile investigations

The Justice Department under Attorney General William Barr has asserted itself in high-profile investigations , including GOP operative Roger Stone ’ s sentencing , Rudy Giuliani ’ s Ukraine foray , the investigation of the Trump-Russia investigators , and more , recent court filings show .
These moves come in the context of DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz ’ s report on Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act abuse released in December .
The report found “ significant ” missteps related to the electronic surveillance of Trump campaign associate Carter Page through the FISA court .
The Senate acquitted President Trump on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Congress in early February following months of allegations that the president pressured Ukraine to announce investigations into Joe and Hunter Biden .
In recent weeks , Barr has established new rules for launching investigations into political candidates , requiring they be approved by the heads of the FBI and DOJ .
He also set up a process outside of DOJ headquarters for analyzing the information Giuliani is digging up overseas and controversially reversed the nearly decadelong prison sentence the DOJ recommended for Stone .
As a result , Barr increasingly has become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congratulations to Attorney General Bill Barr for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought , ” Trump tweeted about Stone on Wednesday morning .
“ Evidence now clearly shows that the Mueller Scam was improperly brought & tainted.
” Barr took the reins at DOJ in February 2019 near the end of special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s two-year investigation , which concluded last April that the Kremlin interfered in a “ sweeping and systematic fashion ” in 2016 but didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and Russia .
The special counsel laid out ten possible instances of obstruction , but Barr concluded that Trump had not obstructed .
Trump gave Barr “ full and complete authority to declassify information ” in his investigation of the investigators last May , and the attorney general selected U.S. Attorney John Durham of Connecticut as his right-hand man .
Following the DOJ watchdog ’ s FISA report , Barr said he told Durham to focus just as much on the FBI ’ s actions after Trump ’ s election as before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adviser , was swept up in a Mueller spin-off case and found guilty on five counts of making false statements to the House Intelligence Committee during its 2017 investigation into Russian interference .
Stone was also found guilty of obstructing Congress and intimidating a witness .
The DOJ ’ s D.C. office told the court Monday , it was recommending Stone receive up to nine years behind bars , and Trump tweeted late that night that he “ can not allow this miscarriage of justice !
” The DOJ reversed itself Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case , including former Mueller team members , withdrew .
The DOJ said its decision was made Monday night before Barr was aware of Trump ’ s position .
Trump denied pressuring the DOJ .
Timothy Shea , the interim U.S. attorney for D.C. who took over as lead counsel a couple of weeks ago , walked back the “ unduly high ” sentence recommendation for Stone , suggesting three to four years instead .
Democrats called for investigations into the DOJ ’ s actions .
Some Republicans criticized Trump for weighing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Obama appointee who presided over Stone ’ s trial , will hand down the sentence next week .
Jessie Liu , the previous U.S. attorney who oversaw Stone ’ s case as well as ones against Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn and others , had her nomination to a Treasury Department perch pulled on Tuesday .
Some questions have been raised about whether Barr asserted influence over the Flynn case , given the D.C. office appearing to somewhat soften its punishment recommendation for the former Trump national security adviser .
That sentencing hearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was canceled by the presiding judge , Emmet Sullivan , as Flynn ’ s legal team battles the DOJ and seeks to withdraw his guilty plea .
Separately , during a Monday press conference , Barr said he was willing to receive information from Ukraine from Giuliani but would be careful to ensure it was n't disinformation .
“ The DOJ has the obligation to have an open door to anybody who wishes to provide us information that they think is relevant , ” Barr said .
Barr emphasized Giuliani ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to him but handled through “ an intake process in the field ” so it could be “ carefully scrutinized ” to assess its `` provenance '' and `` credibility.
” It was later revealed that the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office in Pittsburgh has been “ quietly ” reviewing records related to Ukraine for “ several weeks.
” The DOJ 's Ukraine review is separate from Durham 's investigation , which is expected to wrap up by the spring or summer .

The Justice Department under Attorney General William Barr has asserted itself in high-profile investigations, including GOP operative Roger Stone’s sentencing, Rudy Giuliani’s Ukraine foray, the investigation of the Trump-Russia investigators, and more, recent court filings show.
These moves come in the context of DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s report on Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act abuse released in December. The report found “significant” missteps related to the electronic surveillance of Trump campaign associate Carter Page through the FISA court. The Senate acquitted President Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in early February following months of allegations that the president pressured Ukraine to announce investigations into Joe and Hunter Biden.
In recent weeks, Barr has established new rules for launching investigations into political candidates, requiring they be approved by the heads of the FBI and DOJ. He also set up a process outside of DOJ headquarters for analyzing the information Giuliani is digging up overseas and controversially reversed the nearly decadelong prison sentence the DOJ recommended for Stone.
As a result, Barr increasingly has become the focus of harsh criticism.
“Congratulations to Attorney General Bill Barr for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought,” Trump tweeted about Stone on Wednesday morning. “Evidence now clearly shows that the Mueller Scam was improperly brought & tainted.”
Barr took the reins at DOJ in February 2019 near the end of special counsel Robert Mueller’s two-year investigation, which concluded last April that the Kremlin interfered in a “sweeping and systematic fashion” in 2016 but didn’t establish any criminal conspiracy between Trump and Russia. The special counsel laid out ten possible instances of obstruction, but Barr concluded that Trump had not obstructed.
Trump gave Barr “full and complete authority to declassify information” in his investigation of the investigators last May, and the attorney general selected U.S. Attorney John Durham of Connecticut as his right-hand man. Following the DOJ watchdog’s FISA report, Barr said he told Durham to focus just as much on the FBI’s actions after Trump’s election as before it.
Stone, a longtime Trump adviser, was swept up in a Mueller spin-off case and found guilty on five counts of making false statements to the House Intelligence Committee during its 2017 investigation into Russian interference. Stone was also found guilty of obstructing Congress and intimidating a witness.
The DOJ’s D.C. office told the court Monday, it was recommending Stone receive up to nine years behind bars, and Trump tweeted late that night that he “cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!” The DOJ reversed itself Tuesday, and the four main prosecutors on the case, including former Mueller team members, withdrew.
The DOJ said its decision was made Monday night before Barr was aware of Trump’s position. Trump denied pressuring the DOJ.
Timothy Shea, the interim U.S. attorney for D.C. who took over as lead counsel a couple of weeks ago, walked back the “unduly high” sentence recommendation for Stone, suggesting three to four years instead. Democrats called for investigations into the DOJ’s actions. Some Republicans criticized Trump for weighing in too.
Judge Amy Berman Jackson, the Obama appointee who presided over Stone’s trial, will hand down the sentence next week.
Jessie Liu, the previous U.S. attorney who oversaw Stone’s case as well as ones against Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn and others, had her nomination to a Treasury Department perch pulled on Tuesday.
Some questions have been raised about whether Barr asserted influence over the Flynn case, given the D.C. office appearing to somewhat soften its punishment recommendation for the former Trump national security adviser. That sentencing hearing, scheduled for the end of February, was canceled by the presiding judge, Emmet Sullivan, as Flynn’s legal team battles the DOJ and seeks to withdraw his guilty plea.
Separately, during a Monday press conference, Barr said he was willing to receive information from Ukraine from Giuliani but would be careful to ensure it wasn't disinformation.
“The DOJ has the obligation to have an open door to anybody who wishes to provide us information that they think is relevant,” Barr said.
Barr emphasized Giuliani’s Ukraine information was not being passed directly to him but handled through “an intake process in the field” so it could be “carefully scrutinized” to assess its "provenance" and "credibility.” It was later revealed that the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh has been “quietly” reviewing records related to Ukraine for “several weeks.”
The DOJ's Ukraine review is separate from Durham's investigation, which is expected to wrap up by the spring or summer.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-13--Ukrainian president fires chief of staff and replaces him with aide tied to Giuliani

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has fired his chief of staff and replaced him with Andriy Yermak , an aide linked to President Trump ’ s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani .
The presidential decrees dismissing Andriy Bohdan and replacing him with Yermak were signed on Tuesday and released to the public .
It is not clear what was behind the executive shake-up .
Testimony during Trump ’ s impeachment trial revealed that Giuliani and Yermak met last summer , and Giuliani “ strongly ” urged Yermak , then a Zelensky adviser , to investigate Joe Biden and his son ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bohdan was initially appointed to the chief of staff role in May after Zelensky beat incumbent President Petro Poroshenko by running on an anti-corruption platform .
His appointment was controversial because he was once the lawyer for a tycoon who fled Ukraine to avoid criminal charges .
The tycoon , Ihor Kolomoisky , returned to the country just days before Zelensky was sworn into office .
Poroshenko ’ s government had accused Kolomoisky of stealing $ 5.5 billion , and some in the country believed that Kolomoisky had returned so that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bohdan .

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has fired his chief of staff and replaced him with Andriy Yermak, an aide linked to President Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani.
The presidential decrees dismissing Andriy Bohdan and replacing him with Yermak were signed on Tuesday and released to the public. It is not clear what was behind the executive shake-up.
Testimony during Trump’s impeachment trial revealed that Giuliani and Yermak met last summer, and Giuliani “strongly” urged Yermak, then a Zelensky adviser, to investigate Joe Biden and his son’s connections to Ukrainian energy company Burisma Holdings.
Bohdan was initially appointed to the chief of staff role in May after Zelensky beat incumbent President Petro Poroshenko by running on an anti-corruption platform. His appointment was controversial because he was once the lawyer for a tycoon who fled Ukraine to avoid criminal charges. The tycoon, Ihor Kolomoisky, returned to the country just days before Zelensky was sworn into office.
Poroshenko’s government had accused Kolomoisky of stealing $5.5 billion, and some in the country believed that Kolomoisky had returned so that he could influence the newly elected Zelensky through Bohdan.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-13--Trump to host dozens of Border Patrol agents at White House on Friday

President Trump will host dozens of Border Patrol agents at the White House Friday afternoon in what is expected to be a celebration of union President Brandon Judd 's reelection , according to an email provided to the Washington Examiner .
The event would mark the first time Trump has hosted a large group consisting mainly of Border Patrol agents .
In this case , most are union members who work part time as agents and also represent fellow rank-and-file agents in legal matters .
Last January , Trump hosted a handful of senior Border Patrol union officials , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House briefing room .
Judd and dozens of National Border Patrol Council members are in Washington for the union 's annual meeting this week , as well as the election of leadership , which happens every three years .
Judd endorsed Trump in March 2016 and has largely backed the Trump administration 's agenda in its first three years as it relates to border security and operations .
Trump , in turn , has been supportive of Judd , who speaks for the union 's roughly 18,000 members .
Several union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expect Judd to win a third term when delegates cast their votes Thursday , and the union and White House will capitalize on the moment with a joint event to affirm the relationship .
At the 2019 NBPC conference , Trump recorded a personal video touting his support for Judd , though the union president was not up for reelection at the time .
One senior union official said he believed that the decision to have so many agents visit the White House on Friday is just a political stunt meant to scratch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's not clear whether the union or White House requested the event .
The agents visiting Washington this week work across the country on the southwest , southeast , and northern borders .
The Border Patrol comprises approximately 21,000 employees , three-quarters of whom are rank-and-file agents .
Border Patrol is a division of U.S. Customs and Border Protection , an agency within the Department of Homeland Security .
NBPC is a part of the American Federation of Government Employees .

Editors Note: This article has been updated to include comment from National Border Patrol Council President Brandon Judd and to clarify the content of an email provided to the Washington Examiner.
President Trump will host dozens of Border Patrol agents at the White House Friday afternoon, according to an email provided to the Washington Examiner.
The event is expected to be a celebration of union President Brandon Judd's reelection, according to two sources, one a Department of Homeland Security source and the other a Customs & Border Protection official.
Judd endorsed Trump in March 2016 and has largely backed the Trump administration's agenda in its first three years as it relates to border security and operations. Trump, in turn, has been supportive of Judd, who speaks for the union's roughly 18,000 members. Several union officials told the Washington Examiner they fully expect Judd to win a third term when delegates cast their votes Thursday, and the union and White House will capitalize on the moment with a joint event to affirm the relationship.
In an interview Friday, after this article was originally published Thursday evening, Judd denied that the event, which has since been put on the president's Friday schedule, was in any way a celebration of his reelection.
"This visit is all about family members of the agents, to have the president talk to them about what he is doing to secure the border," Judd said. He denied that any union officials had said the event was designed to "capitalize" on his reelection.
Judd and dozens of members of the National Border Patrol Council, the union for Border Patrol officers, are in Washington for the union's annual meeting this week, as well as the election of leadership, which happens every three years.
The event would mark the first time Trump has hosted a large group consisting mainly of Border Patrol agents. In this case, most are union members who work part time as agents and also represent fellow rank-and-file agents in legal matters. Last January, Trump hosted a handful of senior Border Patrol union officials, including Judd, for a press conference in the White House briefing room.
At the 2019 NBPC conference, Trump recorded a personal video touting his support for Judd, though the union president was not up for reelection at the time. One senior union official said he believed that the decision to have so many agents visit the White House on Friday is just a political stunt meant to scratch the backs of union leadership and Trump. It's not clear whether the union or White House requested the event. Judd said senior official he has spoke with denied they said the event was a "political stunt."
The agents visiting Washington this week work across the country on the southwest, southeast, and northern borders. The Border Patrol comprises approximately 21,000 employees, three-quarters of whom are rank-and-file agents. Border Patrol is a division of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, an agency within the Department of Homeland Security. NBPC is a part of the American Federation of Government Employees.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-13--'Why would I not?': Kansas City Chiefs cornerback says he's looking forward to White House

Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Bashaud Breeland expressed excitement Wednesday about the newly crowned Super Bowl champions ' upcoming visit to the White House .
“ Why would I not [ go ] , man ?
” he .
“ It 's an experience that everybody , every kid would want to go to.
” “ I want to go see what the White House is like !
” he added .
White House visits by athletic teams have become controversial in recent years , and the trend has only amplified during the Trump presidency .
Several teams have declined to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump , including the U.S. women ’ s national soccer team , the University of South Carolina women ’ s basketball team , the NBA ’ s Golden State Warriors , and the WNBA ’ s Minnesota Lynx .
Other members of the Kansas City Chiefs organization have expressed similar excitement over visiting the White House .
`` That would be great , '' star wide receiver Tyreek Hill about potentially visiting the White House .
“ I ’ m here to represent the Kansas City Chiefs , ” safety Tyrann Mathieu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I think my teammates feel the same way .
Any time we get the opportunity to represent Kansas City the right way , represent our teammates the right way , I don ’ t see any wrong in that.
” Kansas City head coach Andy Reid also said he plans to attend the White House if an official date is set .
“ I mean , I ’ ll be there , ” he said .
“ I ’ ll be there .
If they ’ re inviting us , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quite an honor , I think.
” Trump said earlier this month that the team would be visiting the White House `` very soon . ''
“ By the way , your Super Bowl champions are coming , ” Trump said during a press conference .
“ I think next week , or soon .
Very soon.
” “ Every one of them want to be here , ” he added .
“ And the coach loves us .
The coach is great .
Andy Reid .
”

Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Bashaud Breeland expressed excitement Wednesday about the newly crowned Super Bowl champions' upcoming visit to the White House.
“Why would I not [go], man?” he said to TMZ . “It's an experience that everybody, every kid would want to go to.”
“I want to go see what the White House is like!” he added.
White House visits by athletic teams have become controversial in recent years, and the trend has only amplified during the Trump presidency.
Several teams have declined to attend the White House in protest of President Trump, including the U.S. women’s national soccer team, the University of South Carolina women’s basketball team, the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, and the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx.
Other members of the Kansas City Chiefs organization have expressed similar excitement over visiting the White House.
"That would be great," star wide receiver Tyreek Hill said about potentially visiting the White House.
“I’m here to represent the Kansas City Chiefs,” safety Tyrann Mathieu said regarding a trip to Washington. “I think my teammates feel the same way. Any time we get the opportunity to represent Kansas City the right way, represent our teammates the right way, I don’t see any wrong in that.”
Kansas City head coach Andy Reid also said he plans to attend the White House if an official date is set.
“I mean, I’ll be there,” he said. “I’ll be there. If they’re inviting us, I’ll be there. It’s quite an honor, I think.”
Trump said earlier this month that the team would be visiting the White House "very soon."
“By the way, your Super Bowl champions are coming,” Trump said during a press conference. “I think next week, or soon. Very soon.”
“Every one of them want to be here,” he added. “And the coach loves us. The coach is great. Andy Reid.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-13--Trump budget chief: 'I don't anticipate' administration withholding Ukraine aid again

Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget Russ Vought doesn ’ t expect the Trump administration to place another hold on security aid to Ukraine .
“ I am not going to take any tools that the president has off the table , but I don ’ t anticipate anything on that front , ” he said Wednesday , according to Politico .
President Trump ’ s decision to freeze around $ 400 million in military aid to Ukraine last year played a prominent role in the House ’ s impeachment investigation .
A federal watchdog later concluded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Management and Budget officials objected to the finding .
The president ’ s former national security adviser , John Bolton , alleged in an unpublished manuscript that Trump told him he wanted to continue to withhold the aid to Ukraine until the country investigated his political rivals .
Bolton ’ s claims undercut Trump ’ s impeachment defense that the freeze was not related to the president pressuring Ukraine for investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden , who worked for a Ukrainian energy firm while his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acquitted last week by the Senate of charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .

Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget Russ Vought doesn’t expect the Trump administration to place another hold on security aid to Ukraine.
“I am not going to take any tools that the president has off the table, but I don’t anticipate anything on that front,” he said Wednesday, according to Politico.
President Trump’s decision to freeze around $400 million in military aid to Ukraine last year played a prominent role in the House’s impeachment investigation. A federal watchdog later concluded the move was illegal, but Office of Management and Budget officials objected to the finding.
The president’s former national security adviser, John Bolton, alleged in an unpublished manuscript that Trump told him he wanted to continue to withhold the aid to Ukraine until the country investigated his political rivals.
Bolton’s claims undercut Trump’s impeachment defense that the freeze was not related to the president pressuring Ukraine for investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, who worked for a Ukrainian energy firm while his father was in office.
Trump was acquitted last week by the Senate of charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-13--Why Trump is wrong to attack John Kelly's White House service

President Trump obviously has the right to rebuke his critics .
But just as liberal elitists who do much the same , he was wrong to personally insult former White House chief of staff John Kelly by saying he had been in `` way over his head . ''
Kelly served in that position between July 2017 and January 2019 , and Trump attacked him in a tweet on Thursday .
Trump 's particular anger seems rooted in comments Kelly made on Wednesday .
According to the Atlantic , Kelly defended the recently fired National Security Council official , Lt. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Vindman was right to report his concerns over Trump 's dealings with Ukraine up his chain of command .
Do n't get me wrong : I get why Kelly 's words upset Trump .
Kelly is n't just the former head manager of Trump 's White House workforce : He 's a combat veteran and retired Marine general .
His words on military issues thus carry immense import with conservatives in the country and the commentariat .
They damage Trump 's claims that his firing of Vindman was necessary and legitimate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kelly as he does .
Because while it 's true that Kelly did not fully master the politics of executive branch leadership , his White House tenure ultimately failed for two different reasons .
Neither of which speaks to flaws on Kelly 's part .
Kelly 's first problem was that he lacked what any senior leader needs in order to lead effectively : common respect for his clear chain of command .
Seeking to unify Trump 's workforce in shared action , Kelly was relentlessly obstructed by various vying factions .
Numerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jared Kushner were particularly successful in circumventing Kelly 's authority .
But Kelly also faced a deeper challenge , one that has limited the efficacy of all of Trump 's chiefs of staff thus far .
Namely , the president does not like countermanding advice and often acts on whims .
That is the president 's prerogative , of course .
After all , he 's chief executive and the only elected official actually in the White House on most days .
But it also explains why Kelly could not bring his 41 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effectively .
There 's one final reason the president should n't have posted his tweet : Kelly 's lifetime record and continuing conduct .
Even where he has criticized Trump since leaving the White House , Kelly has done so with careful language and only on specific points .
And that fits with his legacy of national service .
It 's a choice of service that has cost Kelly 's family a great deal .

President Trump obviously has the right to rebuke his critics. But just as liberal elitists who do much the same, he was wrong to personally insult former White House chief of staff John Kelly by saying he had been in "way over his head."
Kelly served in that position between July 2017 and January 2019, and Trump attacked him in a tweet on Thursday.
When I terminated John Kelly, which I couldn’t do fast enough, he knew full well that he was way over his head. Being Chief of Staff just wasn’t for him. He came in with a bang, went out with a whimper, but like so many X’s, he misses the action & just can’t keep his mouth shut,. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 13, 2020
Trump's particular anger seems rooted in comments Kelly made on Wednesday. According to the Atlantic, Kelly defended the recently fired National Security Council official, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman. Kelly apparently suggested that Vindman was right to report his concerns over Trump's dealings with Ukraine up his chain of command.
Don't get me wrong: I get why Kelly's words upset Trump.
Kelly isn't just the former head manager of Trump's White House workforce: He's a combat veteran and retired Marine general. His words on military issues thus carry immense import with conservatives in the country and the commentariat. They damage Trump's claims that his firing of Vindman was necessary and legitimate.
Regardless, Trump is wrong to attack Kelly as he does.
Because while it's true that Kelly did not fully master the politics of executive branch leadership, his White House tenure ultimately failed for two different reasons. Neither of which speaks to flaws on Kelly's part.
Kelly's first problem was that he lacked what any senior leader needs in order to lead effectively: common respect for his clear chain of command. Seeking to unify Trump's workforce in shared action, Kelly was relentlessly obstructed by various vying factions. Numerous reports have suggested that Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner were particularly successful in circumventing Kelly's authority.
But Kelly also faced a deeper challenge, one that has limited the efficacy of all of Trump's chiefs of staff thus far. Namely, the president does not like countermanding advice and often acts on whims. That is the president's prerogative, of course. After all, he's chief executive and the only elected official actually in the White House on most days. But it also explains why Kelly could not bring his 41 years of Marine Corps service to bear effectively.
There's one final reason the president shouldn't have posted his tweet: Kelly's lifetime record and continuing conduct.
Even where he has criticized Trump since leaving the White House, Kelly has done so with careful language and only on specific points. And that fits with his legacy of national service. It's a choice of service that has cost Kelly's family a great deal.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-13--Sean Spicer to host new television show

Sean Spicer to host new television show

Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer will host a new TV show on Newsmax scheduled to debut next month .
The new show , Spicer & Co , will debut on March 3 , at 6 p.m. , and it will air every weekday at that time .
The program will feature `` an ensemble of Washington insiders , experts , journalists , and power brokers to analyze the day 's top headlines , '' according to a press release from the outlet .
“ We are going to offer viewers a unique perspective and insights into what ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who ’ s down and most importantly how it ’ s going to affect their lives , ’ ’ Spicer said in the statement .
“ I ’ ve had a front row seat to how Washington works at the highest levels — in the White House , Congress , the Pentagon and K Street .
We are going to invite our viewers into a conversation that is totally unique .
We will ask the questions and cover the topics that everyone in America is thinking about but no one is asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ served as President Trump 's first press secretary , performed on the recent season of Dancing with the Stars .
“ Sean has been on the inside of how decisions are made in a way so few have , ” Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy said .
“ He was a success as White House press secretary because he connected to ordinary Americans.
” Ruddy noted that at the White House , Spicer ’ s TV ratings for press conferences were “ off the charts , a phenomenon that hasn ’ t happened before @ @ @ @

Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer will host a new TV show on Newsmax scheduled to debut next month.
The new show, Spicer & Co, will debut on March 3, at 6 p.m., and it will air every weekday at that time. The program will feature "an ensemble of Washington insiders, experts, journalists, and power brokers to analyze the day's top headlines," according to a press release from the outlet.
“We are going to offer viewers a unique perspective and insights into what’s really happening, who is up, who’s down and most importantly how it’s going to affect their lives,’’ Spicer said in the statement. “I’ve had a front row seat to how Washington works at the highest levels — in the White House, Congress, the Pentagon and K Street. We are going to invite our viewers into a conversation that is totally unique. We will ask the questions and cover the topics that everyone in America is thinking about but no one is asking or talking about.”
Spicer, who served as President Trump's first press secretary, performed on the recent season of Dancing with the Stars.
“Sean has been on the inside of how decisions are made in a way so few have,” Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy said. “He was a success as White House press secretary because he connected to ordinary Americans.” Ruddy noted that at the White House, Spicer’s TV ratings for press conferences were “off the charts, a phenomenon that hasn’t happened before or since.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-13--Rare eats: $50,000 for George Washington ‘birthday plate’ and $30,000 for Thomas Jefferson china

An auction of rare presidential china is set to break records this week , with George Washington ’ s “ birthday feast plate , ” which had been gifted to another former president , Andrew Jackson , leading the sale with an expected hammer price of $ 50,000 .
And for an estimated $ 30,000 final price , RR Auction , which is conducting the sale online , is offering a plate from former President Thomas Jefferson ’ s White House that shows his initial .
“ An incredibly rare opportunity to acquire such an attractive piece of U.S. history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , of the other china from the first three presidents were destroyed when the British ransacked and burned the Executive Mansion during the War of 1812 , ” the auction house said .
The auction , which concludes today , includes 39 items from 13 presidents , including Abraham Lincoln , Woodrow Wilson , Franklin Roosevelt , Harry Truman , Ronald Reagan , and Bill Clinton .
They were part of the celebrated presidential collection held by the late Raleigh DeGeer Amyx , a historian and expert of rare White House relics .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Amyx collected the plates and glasses and befriended presidents and White House staff members .
One of the more unusual items in the sale is a hand-carved , wooden beer stein used by Truman .
Other items include a plate from Dwight Eisenhower ’ s Air Force One china , FDR ’ s “ yachting saucer , ” former first lady Nancy Reagan ’ s breakfast plate , and plates from two versions of Bill Clinton ’ s china .
`` More than an assortment of artifacts , Raleigh DeGeer Amyx ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of one man , a personal quest to preserve and share American history — indeed , the collection assembled by Raleigh DeGeer Amyx embodied the nation ’ s past at its finest .
As a young man , his avid interest in history and politics led him to employment with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1957 , at first serving as a messenger to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover , while also attending night school at American University .
It was in this FBI position that he began to come into contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eisenhower , Lyndon B. Johnson , and a young senator named John F. Kennedy were among his personal encounters .
`` It was these important brushes with greatness while in Washington that inspired his re-alization that there were hundreds of first hand witnesses to history milling about the nation ’ s capital , each with their own fragment of history .
Raleigh DeGeer Amyx , possessing a major background in American history , made it his quest to become acquainted with these folks — Mr. Amyx met the valets , housekeepers , cooks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agents , groundskeepers , upholsterers , and other career up-stairs assistants who had served presidents , many of whom worked at the White House for decades .
Through these close personal connections , Mr. Amyx assembled the story of America , piece by piece , a project that took decades of diligence and continual contact with key career assistants . ''

An auction of rare presidential china is set to break records this week, with George Washington’s “birthday feast plate,” which had been gifted to another former president, Andrew Jackson, leading the sale with an expected hammer price of $50,000.
And for an estimated $30,000 final price, RR Auction, which is conducting the sale online, is offering a plate from former President Thomas Jefferson’s White House that shows his initial.
“An incredibly rare opportunity to acquire such an attractive piece of U.S. history, as most, if not all, of the other china from the first three presidents were destroyed when the British ransacked and burned the Executive Mansion during the War of 1812,” the auction house said.
This Truman beer stein could fetch over $400. Photo/RR Auction
The auction, which concludes today, includes 39 items from 13 presidents, including Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton.
They were part of the celebrated presidential collection held by the late Raleigh DeGeer Amyx, a historian and expert of rare White House relics.
The auction house said that over decades, Amyx collected the plates and glasses and befriended presidents and White House staff members.
One of the more unusual items in the sale is a hand-carved, wooden beer stein used by Truman.
Other items include a plate from Dwight Eisenhower’s Air Force One china, FDR’s “yachting saucer,” former first lady Nancy Reagan’s breakfast plate, and plates from two versions of Bill Clinton’s china.
Said RR Auctions:
"More than an assortment of artifacts, Raleigh DeGeer Amyx’s collection represents the life long dream of one man, a personal quest to preserve and share American history — indeed, the collection assembled by Raleigh DeGeer Amyx embodied the nation’s past at its finest. As a young man, his avid interest in history and politics led him to employment with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1957, at first serving as a messenger to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, while also attending night school at American University. It was in this FBI position that he began to come into contact with the news-makers themselves — Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson, and a young senator named John F. Kennedy were among his personal encounters.
"It was these important brushes with greatness while in Washington that inspired his re-alization that there were hundreds of first hand witnesses to history milling about the nation’s capital, each with their own fragment of history. Raleigh DeGeer Amyx, possessing a major background in American history, made it his quest to become acquainted with these folks — Mr. Amyx met the valets, housekeepers, cooks, secretaries, butlers, Secret Service agents, groundskeepers, upholsterers, and other career up-stairs assistants who had served presidents, many of whom worked at the White House for decades. Through these close personal connections, Mr. Amyx assembled the story of America, piece by piece, a project that took decades of diligence and continual contact with key career assistants."