thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-12--Trump looks at appointing special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden and 2020 election: Report

President Trump is pursuing the possibility of appointing a special counsel to investigate issues surrounding Hunter Biden and allegations of fraud in the 2020 elections .
The president directed his staff to look into who could serve in such a role , the Wall Street Journal reported Friday , citing sources familiar with the matter .
Justice Department regulations specify that the appointment of such a special counsel would have to be made by Attorney General William Barr .
The news came amid the president 's increasing frustration with the attorney general and persistent losses in the Trump team 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November election .
The attorney general has known about a set of investigations into Hunter Biden 's business and financial dealings since at least the spring but worked to keep it from going public during the lead-up to the election , according to a source familiar with the matter , the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday .
The investigations reportedly do not implicate President-elect Joe Biden .
The existence of the investigations became public knowledge this week after Hunter Biden admitted investigators were looking into his `` tax affairs . ''
Multiple outlets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his taxes and shady overseas business dealings in an inquiry opened as far back as 2018 .
These reports said investigators had recently begun to take “ overt ” steps after being “ covert ” in the lead-up to the election , in an apparent effort to avoid influencing the November vote .
Concerns about Hunter Biden ’ s foreign business dealings have been percolating for years , including his lucrative position on the board of Ukrainian energy giant Burisma , which played a key role in the Trump impeachment fight , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businessmen .
Trump expressed his frustration with Barr on Saturday morning , responding to a tweet from radio host Todd Starnes that read , `` If the Wall Street Journal story is true and Attorney General Barr knew in the spring about the Biden investigation and kept it quiet — he should be fired by the end of business today . ''
In another tweet , the president said , `` IF Biden gets in , nothing will happen to Hunter or Joe .
Barr will do nothing , and the new group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kill it all .
Same thing with Durham .
We caught them cold , spying , treason & more ( the hard part ) , but “ Justice ” took too long .
Will be DOA ! ''
`` Why didn ’ t Bill Barr reveal the truth to the public , before the Election , about Hunter Biden [ ? ]
'' he asked .
`` Joe was lying on the debate stage that nothing was wrong , or going on — Press confirmed .
Big disadvantage for Republicans at the polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson and Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Grassley released a report in September detailing possible corruption concerns related to Biden ’ s foreign dealings .
In October , the New York Post reported on the contents of a laptop that had belonged to Hunter Biden , and Tony Bobulinksi , a former business partner of Hunter and Joe Biden ’ s brother , James , produced a trove of documents and messages related to the foreign dealings and said Joe Biden had been aware of the efforts by Hunter and James to do business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hunter had done nothing wrong , and Democrats and many in the media were quick to dismiss many of the stories , alleging they were part of a Russian disinformation campaign , without evidence .
Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe and federal law enforcement and intelligence officials said there is no evidence the laptop was a Kremlin disinformation operation .
Perhaps explaining Barr 's unwillingness to go public with the existence of the Hunter Biden inquiries is the Justice Department 's guidance on “ election year sensitivities , '' though it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have violated the policy .
This year , Democratic critics warned of the political implications of U.S. Attorney John Durham releasing a report on his criminal inquiry into the Russia investigation before the 2020 election .
Such a report has n't materialized , but Barr quietly named Durham a special counsel in October .
Three prior attorneys general ( George W. Bush ’ s attorney general , Michael Mukasey , and Barack Obama ’ s attorneys general Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch ) released memos on investigations and elections while in office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play no role in the decisions of federal investigators or prosecutors regarding any investigations or criminal charges , ” they stated .
“ Law enforcement officers and prosecutors may never select the timing of investigative steps or criminal charges for the purpose of affecting any election , or for the purpose of giving an advantage or disadvantage to any candidate or political party.
” Barr released his own memo in February .
“ The Department has long recognized that it must exercise particular care regarding sensitive investigations and prosecutions that relate to political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sensitive individuals and organizations — especially in an election year , ” Barr said .
“ The Department remains committed to ensuring that this fall ’ s elections are conducted in a fair manner that is free from inappropriate influences.
” Relatedly , Trump cited a letter written by then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein when firing FBI Director James Comey in May 2017 , and Rosenstein ’ s letter slammed Comey ’ s handling of the Clinton investigation , saying in part that “ concerning his letter to the Congress on October 28 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision as a choice between whether he would ‘ speak ’ about the FBI 's decision to investigate the newly-discovered email messages or ‘ conceal ’ it , '' but `` when federal agents and prosecutors quietly open a criminal investigation , we are not concealing anything ; we are simply following the longstanding policy that we refrain from publicizing non-public information.
” Also frustrating the president , Barr told the Associated Press at the start of December that `` to date , we have not seen fraud on a scale that could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election . ''
Despite this , the president and his associates have continued to pursue legal battles to get thrown out what they see as unlawful votes .
On Friday , the Supreme Court declined to hear a lawsuit from Texas against Michigan , Pennsylvania , Wisconsin , and Georgia aimed at throwing out the millions of votes from those states .
One hundred twenty-six members of the House of Representatives , including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , signed on to an amicus brief in support of the failed suit .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's tweets regarding Barr .

President Trump is pursuing the possibility of appointing a special counsel to investigate issues surrounding Hunter Biden and allegations of fraud in the 2020 elections.
The president directed his staff to look into who could serve in such a role, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing sources familiar with the matter. Justice Department regulations specify that the appointment of such a special counsel would have to be made by Attorney General William Barr.
The news came amid the president's increasing frustration with the attorney general and persistent losses in the Trump team's legal challenges to the outcome of the November election.
The attorney general has known about a set of investigations into Hunter Biden's business and financial dealings since at least the spring but worked to keep it from going public during the lead-up to the election, according to a source familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. The investigations reportedly do not implicate President-elect Joe Biden.
The existence of the investigations became public knowledge this week after Hunter Biden admitted investigators were looking into his "tax affairs."
Multiple outlets reported Biden was being investigated in connection to his taxes and shady overseas business dealings in an inquiry opened as far back as 2018. These reports said investigators had recently begun to take “overt” steps after being “covert” in the lead-up to the election, in an apparent effort to avoid influencing the November vote.
Concerns about Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings have been percolating for years, including his lucrative position on the board of Ukrainian energy giant Burisma, which played a key role in the Trump impeachment fight, and his connections to Chinese Communist Party-linked businessmen.
Trump expressed his frustration with Barr on Saturday morning, responding to a tweet from radio host Todd Starnes that read, "If the Wall Street Journal story is true and Attorney General Barr knew in the spring about the Biden investigation and kept it quiet — he should be fired by the end of business today."
"A big disappointment!" Trump wrote.
In another tweet, the president said, "IF Biden gets in, nothing will happen to Hunter or Joe. Barr will do nothing, and the new group of partisan killers coming in will quickly kill it all. Same thing with Durham. We caught them cold, spying, treason & more (the hard part), but “Justice” took too long. Will be DOA!"
IF Biden gets in, nothing will happen to Hunter or Joe. Barr will do nothing, and the new group of partisan killers coming in will quickly kill it all. Same thing with Durham. We caught them cold, spying, treason & more (the hard part), but “Justice” took too long. Will be DOA! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2020
"Why didn’t Bill Barr reveal the truth to the public, before the Election, about Hunter Biden[?]" he asked. "Joe was lying on the debate stage that nothing was wrong, or going on — Press confirmed. Big disadvantage for Republicans at the polls!"
Senate Homeland Security Chairman Ron Johnson and Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Grassley released a report in September detailing possible corruption concerns related to Biden’s foreign dealings.
In October, the New York Post reported on the contents of a laptop that had belonged to Hunter Biden, and Tony Bobulinksi, a former business partner of Hunter and Joe Biden’s brother, James, produced a trove of documents and messages related to the foreign dealings and said Joe Biden had been aware of the efforts by Hunter and James to do business with China.
Joe Biden repeatedly said Hunter had done nothing wrong, and Democrats and many in the media were quick to dismiss many of the stories, alleging they were part of a Russian disinformation campaign, without evidence. Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe and federal law enforcement and intelligence officials said there is no evidence the laptop was a Kremlin disinformation operation.
Perhaps explaining Barr's unwillingness to go public with the existence of the Hunter Biden inquiries is the Justice Department's guidance on “election year sensitivities," though it is not clear that investigating Hunter Biden definitely would have violated the policy.
This year, Democratic critics warned of the political implications of U.S. Attorney John Durham releasing a report on his criminal inquiry into the Russia investigation before the 2020 election. Such a report hasn't materialized, but Barr quietly named Durham a special counsel in October.
Three prior attorneys general (George W. Bush’s attorney general, Michael Mukasey, and Barack Obama’s attorneys general Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch) released memos on investigations and elections while in office.
“Simply put, politics must play no role in the decisions of federal investigators or prosecutors regarding any investigations or criminal charges,” they stated. “Law enforcement officers and prosecutors may never select the timing of investigative steps or criminal charges for the purpose of affecting any election, or for the purpose of giving an advantage or disadvantage to any candidate or political party.”
Barr released his own memo in February.
“The Department has long recognized that it must exercise particular care regarding sensitive investigations and prosecutions that relate to political candidates, campaigns, and other politically sensitive individuals and organizations — especially in an election year,” Barr said. “The Department remains committed to ensuring that this fall’s elections are conducted in a fair manner that is free from inappropriate influences.”
Relatedly, Trump cited a letter written by then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein when firing FBI Director James Comey in May 2017, and Rosenstein’s letter slammed Comey’s handling of the Clinton investigation, saying in part that “concerning his letter to the Congress on October 28, 2016, the Director cast his decision as a choice between whether he would ‘speak’ about the FBI's decision to investigate the newly-discovered email messages or ‘conceal’ it," but "when federal agents and prosecutors quietly open a criminal investigation, we are not concealing anything; we are simply following the longstanding policy that we refrain from publicizing non-public information.”
Why didn’t Bill Barr reveal the truth to the public, before the Election, about Hunter Biden. Joe was lying on the debate stage that nothing was wrong, or going on - Press confirmed. Big disadvantage for Republicans at the polls! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2020
Also frustrating the president, Barr told the Associated Press at the start of December that "to date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election."
Despite this, the president and his associates have continued to pursue legal battles to get thrown out what they see as unlawful votes.
On Friday, the Supreme Court declined to hear a lawsuit from Texas against Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Georgia aimed at throwing out the millions of votes from those states. One hundred twenty-six members of the House of Representatives, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, signed on to an amicus brief in support of the failed suit.
A DOJ spokesperson declined to comment on Trump's tweets regarding Barr.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-12--Trump campaign lawyer says Supreme Court punted Texas case on 'a political whim' and calls decision

Trump campaign lawyer says Supreme Court punted Texas case on 'a political whim' and calls decision 'morally outrageous'

One of President Trump 's campaign lawyers rebuked the Supreme Court 's decision to reject the Texas lawsuit that sought to invalidate the election results in a handful of battleground states that went for President-elect Joe Biden .
Jenna Ellis said the highest court in the country 's decision not to hear the case , which was announced on Friday evening , appears to have been made on a `` political whim , '' and she called the decision `` morally outrageous . ''
`` Now , you have the Supreme Court that really just decided , it seems like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear this case when clearly you have the interests of 80,000 American voters whose votes were disenfranchised based on the corruption , based on the ignoring the rules in these states , '' she told Grant Stinchfield on Newsmax shortly after the case was rejected .
`` How they could pass on this is shocking .
I think it ’ s morally outrageous . ''
The suit , which was filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday night , said the election “ suffered from significant and unconstitutional irregularities.
” It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in how certain voters were treated and that there was an unconstitutional “ relaxation ” of ballot-integrity laws .
Texas was hoping the Supreme Court would rule that the states can send electors to vote for Trump despite the election 's results .
`` The State of Texas ’ s motion for leave to file a bill of complaint is denied for lack of standing under Article III of the Constitution .
Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections .
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the order from the Supreme Court reads .
Conservative Justice Samuel Alito , joined by Justice Clarence Thomas , released a statement saying they would have heard the case , but it explicitly states neither justice would have granted any further relief , meaning the lawsuit would have unanimously ended with Trump 's defeat .
On Thursday and Friday , 126 House Republicans , larger than half of the party 's caucus in the House , also threw their support behind Paxton 's suit , including Minority Whip Steve Scalise of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Dan Crenshaw of Texas .
Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson led their amicus brief , after saying earlier in the week that Trump encouraged him to compile a list of supporters .
Additionally , 17 states ' attorneys general filed an amicus brief supporting Paxton .
Despite the court rejecting the suit , Ellis parroted Rudy Giuliani , fellow co-counsel , who said , `` We 're not finished , believe me , '' regarding their efforts to overturn the election in which Biden won 306 Electoral College votes and won the popular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paxton 's lawsuit , which has been deemed `` insane '' by some legal scholars , echoed claims made in similar suits filed in various courts throughout the country since the conclusion of the election .
Some of those lawsuits came from the Trump campaign , and others have come from adjacent but separate entities .
To date , the suits have been overwhelmingly unsuccessful , but the latest tactic has been to try to convince states to appoint pro-Trump electors .
Most election officials and the Department of Justice have found no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a scale large enough to overturn the election results .

One of President Trump's campaign lawyers rebuked the Supreme Court's decision to reject the Texas lawsuit that sought to invalidate the election results in a handful of battleground states that went for President-elect Joe Biden.
Jenna Ellis said the highest court in the country's decision not to hear the case, which was announced on Friday evening, appears to have been made on a "political whim," and she called the decision "morally outrageous."
"Now, you have the Supreme Court that really just decided, it seems like, on a political whim to not hear this case when clearly you have the interests of 80,000 American voters whose votes were disenfranchised based on the corruption, based on the ignoring the rules in these states," she told Grant Stinchfield on Newsmax shortly after the case was rejected. "How they could pass on this is shocking. I think it’s morally outrageous."
The suit, which was filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday night, said the election “suffered from significant and unconstitutional irregularities.” It also claimed there were “intrastate differences” in how certain voters were treated and that there was an unconstitutional “relaxation” of ballot-integrity laws. Texas was hoping the Supreme Court would rule that the states can send electors to vote for Trump despite the election's results.
"The State of Texas’s motion for leave to file a bill of complaint is denied for lack of standing under Article III of the Constitution. Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections. All other pending motions are dismissed as moot," the order from the Supreme Court reads.
Conservative Justice Samuel Alito, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas, released a statement saying they would have heard the case, but it explicitly states neither justice would have granted any further relief, meaning the lawsuit would have unanimously ended with Trump's defeat.
On Thursday and Friday, 126 House Republicans, larger than half of the party's caucus in the House, also threw their support behind Paxton's suit, including Minority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Dan Crenshaw of Texas. Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson led their amicus brief, after saying earlier in the week that Trump encouraged him to compile a list of supporters. Additionally, 17 states' attorneys general filed an amicus brief supporting Paxton.
Despite the court rejecting the suit, Ellis parroted Rudy Giuliani, fellow co-counsel, who said, "We're not finished, believe me," regarding their efforts to overturn the election in which Biden won 306 Electoral College votes and won the popular vote more by than 7 million.
Paxton's lawsuit, which has been deemed "insane" by some legal scholars, echoed claims made in similar suits filed in various courts throughout the country since the conclusion of the election. Some of those lawsuits came from the Trump campaign, and others have come from adjacent but separate entities. To date, the suits have been overwhelmingly unsuccessful, but the latest tactic has been to try to convince states to appoint pro-Trump electors.
Most election officials and the Department of Justice have found no proof to support allegations of widespread fraud on a scale large enough to overturn the election results.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-12--Sidney Powell's code-named election fraud witness never worked in military intelligence like filings

Sidney Powell's code-named election fraud witness never worked in military intelligence like filings claim: Report

Sidney Powell said her secret witness who can prove the election was stolen from President Trump was a former military intelligence official in court filings , but that 's apparently inaccurate .
Powell , a former federal prosecutor , has told the courts she wants to seal `` Spider 's '' identity ( sometimes referred to as `` Spyder '' ) , whom she said was an electronic intelligence analyst for the Arizona-based 305th Military Intelligence Battalion .
`` Spider , '' however , never completed the entry-level training course , said Meredith Mingledorff , a spokeswoman for the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington Post reported .
Even with her request to hide her witness 's name , one of her filings showed “ Spyder ’ s ” legal name to be Joshua Merritt , and he ’ s a 43-year-old information technology consultant in Texas .
Merritt confirmed his work with Powell and maintained that he did graduate from the intelligence training program , even though Mingledorff said , “ He kept washing out of courses ” and that “ he ’ s not an intelligence analyst.
” By his own account , he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a year over 15 years ago .
He also said that Powell ’ s characterization of him as a military intelligence officer is misleading because he was a student at the time .
“ That was one thing I was trying to backtrack on , ” Merritt said .
“ My original paperwork that I sent in didn ’ t say that.
” He also said that he had not read the filing carefully before signing the document and explained that he has decided to step away from the legal effort because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enlisted in the Army in 2003 , and he was honorably discharged 10 years later following deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan .
He spent most of that time as a wheeled vehicle mechanic .
Merritt 's affidavit used by Powell 's lawsuits in multiple states , including Arizona , Michigan , and Wisconsin , alleges that `` Dominion Voting system and software are accessible — and was compromised by rogue actors , including foreign interference by Iran and China , '' even though Spider does not say he has personally analyzed their machines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her lawsuits , referred to as Kraken lawsuits named after the mythical sea creature , have been rejected in state court , and she 's appealing those decisions .
To date , Powell 's legal challenges have been unsuccessful , and Dominion Voting Systems has vociferously denied being involved in a vote-switching sham , pointing to a joint statement released by President Trump 's Department of Homeland Security that asserted the 2020 election was `` the most secure in American history , '' adding , `` There is no evidence that any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed votes , or was in any way compromised . ''
Despite appearing alongside Trump 's campaign at times , they have sought to distance themselves from Powell and her claims , which include detailed conspiracies with ties to former Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez , George Soros , and Republican officials taking bribes .
Even with Powell and the campaign 's best efforts , President-elect Joe Biden will be inaugurated on Jan. 20 after he received 306 Electoral College votes , which are set to be finalized on Monday .

Sidney Powell said her secret witness who can prove the election was stolen from President Trump was a former military intelligence official in court filings, but that's apparently inaccurate.
Powell, a former federal prosecutor, has told the courts she wants to seal "Spider's" identity (sometimes referred to as "Spyder"), whom she said was an electronic intelligence analyst for the Arizona-based 305th Military Intelligence Battalion. "Spider," however, never completed the entry-level training course, said Meredith Mingledorff, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, the Washington Post reported.
Even with her request to hide her witness's name, one of her filings showed “Spyder’s” legal name to be Joshua Merritt, and he’s a 43-year-old information technology consultant in Texas.
Merritt confirmed his work with Powell and maintained that he did graduate from the intelligence training program, even though Mingledorff said, “He kept washing out of courses” and that “he’s not an intelligence analyst.”
By his own account, he was a trainee in the program for less than a year over 15 years ago. He also said that Powell’s characterization of him as a military intelligence officer is misleading because he was a student at the time.
“That was one thing I was trying to backtrack on,” Merritt said. “My original paperwork that I sent in didn’t say that.”
He also said that he had not read the filing carefully before signing the document and explained that he has decided to step away from the legal effort because his name has been publicized.
Merritt enlisted in the Army in 2003, and he was honorably discharged 10 years later following deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He spent most of that time as a wheeled vehicle mechanic.
Merritt's affidavit used by Powell's lawsuits in multiple states, including Arizona, Michigan, and Wisconsin, alleges that "Dominion Voting system and software are accessible — and was compromised by rogue actors, including foreign interference by Iran and China," even though Spider does not say he has personally analyzed their machines, according to Business Insider. All of her lawsuits, referred to as Kraken lawsuits named after the mythical sea creature, have been rejected in state court, and she's appealing those decisions.
To date, Powell's legal challenges have been unsuccessful, and Dominion Voting Systems has vociferously denied being involved in a vote-switching sham, pointing to a joint statement released by President Trump's Department of Homeland Security that asserted the 2020 election was "the most secure in American history," adding, "There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised."
Despite appearing alongside Trump's campaign at times, they have sought to distance themselves from Powell and her claims, which include detailed conspiracies with ties to former Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, George Soros, and Republican officials taking bribes. Even with Powell and the campaign's best efforts, President-elect Joe Biden will be inaugurated on Jan. 20 after he received 306 Electoral College votes, which are set to be finalized on Monday.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-12--'Russian disinformation' claims gave Joe Biden and media cover to dismiss Hunter allegations

President-elect Joe Biden ’ s campaign , along with many in the media , dismissed the Hunter Biden laptop story , which emerged in October , as being part of a Russian disinformation operation , without evidence .
Concerns about the younger Biden erupted into the broader sphere this week after multiple outlets reported that he is being investigated in connection to his taxes and overseas business dealings with China and other countries in an inquiry opened as far back as 2018 .
Earlier this year , during a presidential debate , Joe Biden had dismissed the laptop emails as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and inaccurately cited a letter from dozens of former intelligence officials .
Biden declared : “ There are 50 former national intelligence folks who said that what [ Trump 's ] accusing me of is a Russian plan [ or plant ] . ''
Trump retorted , “ You mean the laptop is now another 'Russia , Russia , Russia ' hoax ?
” Biden said , “ That ’ s exactly what I was told.
” Biden was referring to a Politico report that over 50 ex-intelligence officials , including Obama CIA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an article by Natasha Bertrand titled “ Hunter Biden story is Russian disinfo , dozens of former intel officials say.
” The title was misleading because the signatories never called the laptop “ Russian disinformation ” — they cited another article claiming that “ federal authorities are investigating whether the material … is part of a smoke bomb of disinformation pushed by Russia ” but said that “ we do not know whether these press reports are accurate.
” The officials claimed the laptop “ has all the classic earmarks of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ we do not have evidence of Russian involvement.
” Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said that “ there is no intelligence that supports that , and we have shared no intelligence with Chairman Schiff or any other member of Congress that Hunter Biden ’ s laptop is part of some Russian disinformation campaign.
” A senior intelligence official told the Washington Examiner that “ the IC and DOJ are in lock-step on this : there is absolutely zero evidence or intel that the laptop or the information contained therein is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official confirmed with the Washington Examiner in October that the FBI and DOJ agreed with Ratcliffe .
An intelligence official reaffirmed the intelligence community 's position Wednesday .
NPR ’ s news editor , Terence Samuels , said in October , the outlet was n't covering the laptop story because “ we don ’ t want to waste our time on stories that are not really stories.
” Meanwhile , Project Veritas released an October recording where CNN President Jeff Zucker referred to “ the Breitbart , New York Post , Fox News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and CNN political director David Chalian reportedly said , “ Obviously , we 're not going with the New York Post story right now on Hunter Biden , which seems to be giving its marching orders to Fox News and the right-wing echo chamber . ''
John Paul Mac Isaac , the computer repair shop owner who came into possession of Hunter Biden 's computer , told the New York Post he made a copy of the hard drive and provided it to a lawyer for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump throughout impeachment and worked with sources , including Ukrainian lawmaker Andrii Derkach , to push allegations that Hunter Biden abused his power in Ukraine .
Bill Evanina , who leads the National Counterintelligence and Security Center , released an intelligence assessment in August warning Russia was trying to `` denigrate ” Hunter Biden and Derkach was `` spreading claims … to undermine '' him .
The Treasury Department sanctioned Derkach , but there 's no evidence the laptop was connected to Derkach or Russia .
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff repeatedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Russian plot , claiming without evidence that “ this whole smear on Joe Biden comes from the Kremlin.
” Mac Isaac posted a video on Saturday in which he said that “ it ’ s completely absurd that anyone would ever consider me to be a Russian agent or influenced by Russia.
” James Rosen of Sinclair Broadcasting reported in October that “ a Justice Department official confirms that in 2019 , the FBI opened up a criminal investigation into ‘ Hunter Biden and his associates , ’ focused on allegations of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the FBI ’ s subpoena of a laptop and hard drive purportedly belonging to Hunter Biden came in connection with a money laundering investigation.
” Biden allies rejected those claims .
A Biden campaign lawyer , Richard Sauber , said that “ criminal investigations of Russian disinformation campaigns that include the witting participation of American citizens like Rudy Giuliani often involve investigation by the FBI of whether the American has received payment for these activities that would implicate the Federal Money Laundering statutes . ''
But Politico reported this week that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probing potential money laundering and Hunter Biden ’ s foreign ties .
”

President-elect Joe Biden’s campaign, along with many in the media, dismissed the Hunter Biden laptop story, which emerged in October, as being part of a Russian disinformation operation, without evidence.
Concerns about the younger Biden erupted into the broader sphere this week after multiple outlets reported that he is being investigated in connection to his taxes and overseas business dealings with China and other countries in an inquiry opened as far back as 2018.
Earlier this year, during a presidential debate, Joe Biden had dismissed the laptop emails as part of a “Russian plan” and inaccurately cited a letter from dozens of former intelligence officials.
Biden declared: “There are 50 former national intelligence folks who said that what [Trump's] accusing me of is a Russian plan [or plant]."
Trump retorted, “You mean the laptop is now another 'Russia, Russia, Russia' hoax?” Biden said, “That’s exactly what I was told.”
Biden was referring to a Politico report that over 50 ex-intelligence officials, including Obama CIA Director John Brennan, signed a letter in an article by Natasha Bertrand titled “Hunter Biden story is Russian disinfo, dozens of former intel officials say.” The title was misleading because the signatories never called the laptop “Russian disinformation” — they cited another article claiming that “federal authorities are investigating whether the material … is part of a smoke bomb of disinformation pushed by Russia” but said that “we do not know whether these press reports are accurate.” The officials claimed the laptop “has all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation” but admitted that “we do not have evidence of Russian involvement.”
Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said that “there is no intelligence that supports that, and we have shared no intelligence with Chairman Schiff or any other member of Congress that Hunter Biden’s laptop is part of some Russian disinformation campaign.” A senior intelligence official told the Washington Examiner that “the IC and DOJ are in lock-step on this: there is absolutely zero evidence or intel that the laptop or the information contained therein is a Russian op.” A federal law enforcement official confirmed with the Washington Examiner in October that the FBI and DOJ agreed with Ratcliffe. An intelligence official reaffirmed the intelligence community's position Wednesday.
NPR’s news editor, Terence Samuels, said in October, the outlet wasn't covering the laptop story because “we don’t want to waste our time on stories that are not really stories.” Meanwhile, Project Veritas released an October recording where CNN President Jeff Zucker referred to “the Breitbart, New York Post, Fox News rabbit hole of Hunter Biden,” and CNN political director David Chalian reportedly said, “Obviously, we're not going with the New York Post story right now on Hunter Biden, which seems to be giving its marching orders to Fox News and the right-wing echo chamber."
John Paul Mac Isaac, the computer repair shop owner who came into possession of Hunter Biden's computer, told the New York Post he made a copy of the hard drive and provided it to a lawyer for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and to federal investigators.
Giuliani defended Trump throughout impeachment and worked with sources, including Ukrainian lawmaker Andrii Derkach, to push allegations that Hunter Biden abused his power in Ukraine.
Bill Evanina, who leads the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, released an intelligence assessment in August warning Russia was trying to "denigrate” Hunter Biden and Derkach was "spreading claims … to undermine" him. The Treasury Department sanctioned Derkach, but there's no evidence the laptop was connected to Derkach or Russia.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff repeatedly declared on CNN that the laptop was a Russian plot, claiming without evidence that “this whole smear on Joe Biden comes from the Kremlin.”
Mac Isaac posted a video on Saturday in which he said that “it’s completely absurd that anyone would ever consider me to be a Russian agent or influenced by Russia.”
James Rosen of Sinclair Broadcasting reported in October that “a Justice Department official confirms that in 2019, the FBI opened up a criminal investigation into ‘Hunter Biden and his associates,’ focused on allegations of money-laundering.” Fox News reported then that “the FBI’s subpoena of a laptop and hard drive purportedly belonging to Hunter Biden came in connection with a money laundering investigation.”
Biden allies rejected those claims. A Biden campaign lawyer, Richard Sauber, said that “criminal investigations of Russian disinformation campaigns that include the witting participation of American citizens like Rudy Giuliani often involve investigation by the FBI of whether the American has received payment for these activities that would implicate the Federal Money Laundering statutes."
But Politico reported this week that “investigators in Delaware and Washington were ... probing potential money laundering and Hunter Biden’s foreign ties.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-14--Electoral College to gather across country to elect Biden

It 's Election Day in America , kind of .
Presidential electors will gather on Monday to select Joe Biden as the next president of the United States , marking one of the final blows to President Trump 's challenges to election results .
The 51 Electoral College meetings , across 50 states and Washington , D.C. , effectively ratify the national election on Nov. 3 .
The electors will meet in their respective state capitols across the country , with the earliest states starting at 10 a.m. EST and most states starting before 2 p.m. Certified state vote tallies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 232 for Trump .
In 2016 , Trump had been set to win 306 votes to 232 for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , but seven so-called `` faithless electors , '' who defied their states ' laws on voting for a certain candidate based on the state 's popular vote , resulted in a tally of 304 for Trump and 227 for Clinton .
A Supreme Court case decided earlier this year ruled that states can enforce `` faithless elector '' laws , meaning there could be fewer or no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set to deliver remarks on Monday evening about the Electoral College vote certification and the `` strength and resilience of our democracy . ''
A joint session of Congress will vote on certification of the results on Jan. 6 , the last step before Inauguration Day on Jan. 20 .

It's Election Day in America, kind of.
Presidential electors will gather on Monday to select Joe Biden as the next president of the United States, marking one of the final blows to President Trump's challenges to election results. The 51 Electoral College meetings, across 50 states and Washington, D.C., effectively ratify the national election on Nov. 3.
The electors will meet in their respective state capitols across the country, with the earliest states starting at 10 a.m. EST and most states starting before 2 p.m.
Certified state vote tallies are set to give Biden 306 votes to 232 for Trump.
In 2016, Trump had been set to win 306 votes to 232 for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, but seven so-called "faithless electors," who defied their states' laws on voting for a certain candidate based on the state's popular vote, resulted in a tally of 304 for Trump and 227 for Clinton. A Supreme Court case decided earlier this year ruled that states can enforce "faithless elector" laws, meaning there could be fewer or no faithless electors this year.
Biden is set to deliver remarks on Monday evening about the Electoral College vote certification and the "strength and resilience of our democracy."
A joint session of Congress will vote on certification of the results on Jan. 6, the last step before Inauguration Day on Jan. 20.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-14--Mike Pompeo plans transition meeting with Biden secretary of state pick Antony Blinken

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo plans to provide President-elect Joe Biden ’ s secretary of state-designate , Antony Blinken , with a full briefing on State Department operations and diplomatic matters , tacitly acknowledging President Trump ’ s defeat in the Nov. 3 election .
Speaking to the Washington Examiner Monday as the Electoral College reaffirmed Biden ’ s victory , Pompeo said he planned to meet with Blinken “ at the right time ” for a conversation that is considered a regular and wholly noncontroversial part of the presidential transition process .
However , some Trump administration officials have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outgoing commander in chief claims the election was stolen and is refusing to concede .
“ I ’ ll share with him the things that I ’ ve come to see here at the State Department , the institutional , organizational , leadership things , ” Pompeo said in an interview .
“ And then , I ’ ll share with him — but I know he ’ ll have his own views — but I owe it to him to describe the things that we ’ ve done , why we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve been successful , and the places we ’ ve fallen short.
” Pompeo , 56 , spent six years as a House member from Kansas before Trump tapped him for director of the Central Intelligence Agency at the beginning of his administration .
The secretary focused on national security and foreign policy during his tenure in Congress — which coincided with Blinken ’ s service as Barack Obama ’ s deputy national security adviser and deputy secretary of state .
But the two met just once , Pompeo recalled .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d remember , ” the secretary said .
“ I don ’ t know him well.
” After Trump fired his first secretary of state , Rex Tillerson , in March 2018 , Pompeo moved from Langley to Foggy Bottom .
He is among the few prominent members of the president ’ s Cabinet to survive four years bruised but otherwise unscathed .
Trump trusts Pompeo and relies on his counsel , and the secretary enjoys a popular following among grassroots conservatives .
Yet Republican insiders who hail from the traditional wing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ally .
That , combined with Pompeo ’ s domestic travel and effort to cultivate relationships among political and business leaders , has prompted speculation that the secretary is eyeing a 2024 presidential bid .
Some Republicans are floating Pompeo ’ s name for Kansas governor ; the Democratic incumbent in his home state is up for reelection in 2022 .
Pompeo declined to rule either opportunity in or out but emphasized he had not decided on a political future .
“ When I hear people talk about these opportunities , I always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinking that I might be qualified to pursue one of those things , ” Pompeo said .
“ But I haven ’ t given it serious thought.
” “ I ’ ve been serving the country now for 10 years , six as a member of Congress , four years in the administration ; I was a soldier for five years , ” said Pompeo , who was first in his class at the U.S. Military Academy before active-duty service and then moving on to Harvard Law School .
“ That service has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and my wife ’ s life , '' he said .
`` We ’ ll leave that now for a bit , and then , the Lord will tell us what ’ s next.
” Pompeo could have run for an open Kansas Senate seat this year .
He was heavily recruited by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and would have been a shoo-in .
After hearing McConnell ’ s pitch and mulling a campaign over the holidays last year , the secretary demurred .
Meanwhile , Pompeo would not comment on reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems at the Commerce , Homeland Security , and Treasury departments .
But he conceded that Moscow continues to threaten American interests , even though Vladimir Putin ’ s government is cooperative with Washington on some issues .
“ It is clear that the Russians continue to engage in malign cyberactivity around the world .
We saw it in [ the ] 2016 election ; less so in the 2020 election .
But we ’ d seen it in the 2012 and the 2008 election as well , ” Pompeo said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ malign ] activities in Syria , in Ukraine , in places like that that are just inconsistent with how we expect every country to behave , ” he added .
“ And we can ’ t reward them for that bad behavior as well .
It ’ s a complicated relationship .
They have a big military and a big nuclear capability and one that we have to continue to take seriously .
”

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo plans to provide President-elect Joe Biden’s secretary of state-designate, Antony Blinken, with a full briefing on State Department operations and diplomatic matters, tacitly acknowledging President Trump’s defeat in the Nov. 3 election.
Speaking to the Washington Examiner Monday as the Electoral College reaffirmed Biden’s victory, Pompeo said he planned to meet with Blinken “at the right time” for a conversation that is considered a regular and wholly noncontroversial part of the presidential transition process. However, some Trump administration officials have been hesitant to discuss transition activities because the outgoing commander in chief claims the election was stolen and is refusing to concede.
“I’ll share with him the things that I’ve come to see here at the State Department, the institutional, organizational, leadership things,” Pompeo said in an interview. “And then, I’ll share with him — but I know he’ll have his own views — but I owe it to him to describe the things that we’ve done, why we’ve done them, where we’ve been successful, and the places we’ve fallen short.”
Pompeo, 56, spent six years as a House member from Kansas before Trump tapped him for director of the Central Intelligence Agency at the beginning of his administration. The secretary focused on national security and foreign policy during his tenure in Congress — which coincided with Blinken’s service as Barack Obama’s deputy national security adviser and deputy secretary of state. But the two met just once, Pompeo recalled.
“I’m not sure he’d remember,” the secretary said. “I don’t know him well.”
After Trump fired his first secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, in March 2018, Pompeo moved from Langley to Foggy Bottom. He is among the few prominent members of the president’s Cabinet to survive four years bruised but otherwise unscathed. Trump trusts Pompeo and relies on his counsel, and the secretary enjoys a popular following among grassroots conservatives. Yet Republican insiders who hail from the traditional wing of the party still view Pompeo as an ally.
That, combined with Pompeo’s domestic travel and effort to cultivate relationships among political and business leaders, has prompted speculation that the secretary is eyeing a 2024 presidential bid. Some Republicans are floating Pompeo’s name for Kansas governor; the Democratic incumbent in his home state is up for reelection in 2022. Pompeo declined to rule either opportunity in or out but emphasized he had not decided on a political future.
“When I hear people talk about these opportunities, I always thank them for being kind, for thinking that I might be qualified to pursue one of those things,” Pompeo said. “But I haven’t given it serious thought.”
“I’ve been serving the country now for 10 years, six as a member of Congress, four years in the administration; I was a soldier for five years,” said Pompeo, who was first in his class at the U.S. Military Academy before active-duty service and then moving on to Harvard Law School.
“That service has been an important part of my life and my wife’s life," he said. "We’ll leave that now for a bit, and then, the Lord will tell us what’s next.”
Pompeo could have run for an open Kansas Senate seat this year. He was heavily recruited by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and would have been a shoo-in. After hearing McConnell’s pitch and mulling a campaign over the holidays last year, the secretary demurred.
Meanwhile, Pompeo would not comment on reports that Russia hacked United States government computer systems at the Commerce, Homeland Security, and Treasury departments. But he conceded that Moscow continues to threaten American interests, even though Vladimir Putin’s government is cooperative with Washington on some issues.
“It is clear that the Russians continue to engage in malign cyberactivity around the world. We saw it in [the] 2016 election; less so in the 2020 election. But we’d seen it in the 2012 and the 2008 election as well,” Pompeo said.
“You continue to see them engaging in [malign] activities in Syria, in Ukraine, in places like that that are just inconsistent with how we expect every country to behave,” he added. “And we can’t reward them for that bad behavior as well. It’s a complicated relationship. They have a big military and a big nuclear capability and one that we have to continue to take seriously.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-14--Electoral College gathers across country to elect Biden


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-15--Sen. David Perdue: Former businessman-turned-politician looking to Trump to help win his runoff race

Georgia Sen. David Perdue is used to taking late-night and early-morning phone calls from President Trump .
As one of the president 's closest confidants , the Macon , Georgia , native has weighed in on everything from immigration to the economy .
He 's stood by loyally and defended Trump through six controversies and an impeachment .
Perdue has also voted in lockstep with the president 's agenda 94 % of the time and recently sided with Trump over members of his own party on allegations of election rigging and voter fraud .
Now , as Perdue faces the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Jan. 5 runoff race against Democratic rival Jon Ossoff , he is turning to his powerful pal to get him over the finish line .
How the election shakes out will determine which party takes control of the U.S. Senate next month .
On Monday , the Perdue campaign released a 30-second ad featuring Trump .
In it , the president claims that `` nobody in Washington '' has advocated more strongly for his `` America first '' policy than Perdue .
`` There 's nobody in Washington that is more respected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , telling his unwavering base in Georgia to `` get out and vote . ''
A week earlier , Trump 's son , Donald Trump Jr. , also got in on the action and released his video imploring Georgians to cast their ballots for Perdue .
`` The radical Left wants to tear down everything we 've accomplished : defunding the police , eliminating private health insurance , and dismantling the Supreme Court .
On Jan. 5 , the U.S. Senate is on the line , and my father 's accomplishments are on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take Georgia , '' Trump Jr. said .
Perdue 's unconventional coziness with the Trumps , the elder Trump specifically , has been a double-edged sword for the GOP incumbent .
On the one hand , Perdue 's got the support of a very popular president .
On the other , his success is tied to Trump , who has blasted conspiracy theories about the integrity of the state 's election system and accused Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger , both Republicans , of working with Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tightrope Perdue finds himself on now is a far different place than his humble beginnings as the son of two schoolteachers growing up in the 1960s in Warner Robins , Georgia .
Perdue 's father , David Alfred Perdue Sr. , was elected school superintendent of the Houston County school system and was one of the first superintendents in the state to integrate a school system .
Perdue has credited his parents with teaching him `` the importance of education , hard work , and equality at a young age . ''
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Perdue enrolled at the Air Force Academy before transferring to Georgia Tech .
Perdue paid for college by working warehouse and construction jobs .
After he graduated the Atlanta college with a degree in industrial engineering , he married a woman named Bonnie Dunn , whom he had met in first grade .
They were wed in 1972 and have two sons and three grandchildren .
Before Perdue made a splash in politics — he replaced Sen. Saxby Chambliss in 2013 — Perdue , 70 , spent decades in the business world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ management consultant but quickly climbed the corporate ladder at Sarah Lee , Dollar General , and Reebok , where he is credited with rejuvenating its sneaker line .
Things took a turn after he left Reebok in 2002 to head up PillowTex , a North Carolina textile company that had emerged from bankruptcy with massive debt .
Perdue left the company after nine months , walking away with $ 1.7 million in compensation .
The company folded several months after Perdue 's departure , but an internal audit noted that he was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there and that his long absences were `` terrible for morale . ''
Perdue 's political opponents have used his background to sharpen their attacks on him .
Almost all of them , including Ossoff , have recycled a comment he made in 2005 about how he `` spent most of my career '' outsourcing jobs .
There have also been questions about his appointment to the Georgia Ports Authority by his first cousin , Sonny Perdue , Trump 's current agriculture secretary , and Georgia 's former governor .
During his time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple accusations of blurring the line between his private financial interests with his work as an elected official .
He has bought and sold shares in companies that the committees he sits on have jurisdiction over .
The Justice Department investigated him for possible insider trading , which Perdue strongly denied .
While prosecutors decided not to bring charges against him , it has n't stopped Democrats from using them to paint Perdue as someone with questionable ethics .
Perdue recently grabbed headlines when he declined to debate Ossoff at a Dec. 6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up and stood next to an empty podium while he answered questions .
The optics alone gave Ossoff more press coverage than money could buy and turned Perdue into a punchline .
His campaign manager Ben Fry said Perdue would take his `` message about what 's at stake if Democrats have total control of Congress directly to the people . ''
Perdue , who has pitched himself as `` the original outsider , '' said that if he is reelected , he will continue to roll back `` onerous regulations '' and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential . ''
He 's also pledged to cut taxes for small businesses and vowed to fight the `` defund the police '' effort .

Georgia Sen. David Perdue is used to taking late-night and early morning phone calls from President Trump.
As one of the president's closest confidants, the Macon, Georgia, native has weighed in on everything from immigration to the economy. He's stood by loyally and defended Trump through six controversies and an impeachment.
Perdue has also voted in lockstep with the president's agenda 94% of the time and recently sided with Trump over members of his own party on allegations of election-rigging and voter fraud.
Now, as Perdue faces the toughest challenge of his political career in a Jan. 5 runoff race against Democratic rival Jon Ossoff, he is turning to his powerful pal to get him over the finish line.
How the election shakes out will determine which party takes control of the U.S. Senate next month.
On Monday, the Perdue campaign released a 30-second ad featuring Trump. In it, the president claims that "nobody in Washington" has advocated more strongly for his "America first" policy than Perdue.
"There's nobody in Washington that is more respected than David Perdue," Trump added, telling his unwavering base in Georgia to "get out and vote."
A week earlier, Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. also got in on the action and released his video imploring Georgians to cast their ballots for Perdue.
"The radical Left wants to tear down everything we've accomplished: defunding the police, eliminating private health insurance, and dismantling the Supreme Court. On Jan. 5, the U.S. Senate is on the line, and my father's accomplishments are on your ballot. Don't let them take Georgia," Trump Jr. said.
Perdue's unconventional coziness with the Trumps, the elder Trump specifically, has been a double-edged sword for the GOP incumbent.
On the one hand, Perdue's got the support of a very popular president. On the other, his success is tied to Trump, who has blasted conspiracy theories about the integrity of the state's election system and accused Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, both Republicans, of working with Democrats to steal the election.
The political tightrope Perdue finds himself on now is a far different place than his humble beginnings as the son of two schoolteachers growing up in the 1960s in Warner Robins, Georgia.
Perdue's father, David Alfred Perdue Sr., was elected school superintendent of the Houston County school system and was one of the first superintendents in the state to integrate a school system.
Perdue has credited his parents with teaching him "the importance of education, hard work, and equality at a young age."
After graduating from Northside High School in 1968, Perdue enrolled at the Air Force Academy before transferring to Georgia Tech. Perdue paid for college by working warehouse and construction jobs.
After he graduated the Atlanta college with a degree in industrial engineering, he married a woman named Bonnie Dunn, whom he had met in first grade. They were wedded in 1972 and have two sons and three grandchildren.
Before he made a splash in politics — Perdue replaced Sen. Saxby Chambliss in 2013 — Perdue, 70, spent decades in the business world, where he started off as a management consultant but quickly climbed the corporate ladder at Sarah Lee, Dollar General, and Reebok, where he is credited with rejuvenating its sneaker line.
Things took a turn after he left Reebok in 2002 to head up PillowTex, a North Carolina textile company that had emerged from bankruptcy with massive debt. Perdue left the company after nine months, walking away with $1.7 million in compensation. The company folded several months after Perdue's departure, but an internal audit noted that he was a no-show much of the time he was there and that his long absences were "terrible for morale."
Perdue's political opponents have used his background to sharpen their attacks on him.
Almost all of them, including Ossoff, have recycled a comment he made in 2005 about how he spent "most of" his career outsourcing jobs.
There have also been questions about his appointment to the Georgia Ports Authority by his first cousin Sonny Perdue, Trump's current agriculture secretary and Georgia's former governor.
During his time in the Senate, Perdue has faced multiple accusations of blurring the line between his private financial interests and his work as an elected official. He has bought and sold shares in companies that the committees he sits on have jurisdiction over. The Justice Department investigated him for possible insider trading, which Perdue strongly denied.
While prosecutors decided not to bring charges against him, it hasn't stopped Democrats from using them to paint Perdue as someone with questionable ethics.
Perdue recently grabbed headlines when he declined to debate Ossoff at a Dec. 6 Atlanta Press Club event. Ossoff showed up and stood next to an empty podium while he answered questions. The optics alone gave Ossoff more press coverage than money could buy and turned Perdue into a punchline.
His campaign manager, Ben Fry, said Perdue would take his "message about what's at stake if Democrats have total control of Congress directly to the people."
Perdue, who has pitched himself as "the original outsider," said that if he is reelected, he will continue to roll back "onerous regulations" and take action to "unleash our energy potential." He's also pledged to cut taxes for small businesses and vowed to fight the "defund the police" effort.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-15--Cacophony of identity politics complicates Biden Cabinet choices

President-elect Joe Biden ’ s Cabinet and other senior staffing choices have been complicated by the competing demands for representation by the various groups inside the Democratic coalition , often breaking down along the lines of race , ethnicity , or gender .
Biden ’ s pick for secretary of veterans affairs isn ’ t a veteran .
His choice for secretary of agriculture isn ’ t black , as some civil rights activists and African American farmers groups had hoped .
His intention to appoint the first black secretary of defense came at the expense of nominating the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also facing scrutiny precisely because of his veteran status — only five years removed from being a general , he would need a congressional waiver to helm the Pentagon as a civilian , and some liberals are reluctant to give him one .
The competing demands may stem in part from the perception that the aging veteran deal-maker may be more malleable than previous presidents .
Then , there are ideological divisions among Democrats .
Biden , who campaigned for the votes of suburban Republicans and open socialists alike in his bid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to defeat President Trump , has to date selected more prominent centrists and establishment figures than breakout representatives of the party ’ s liberal wing to important jobs .
Rep. Marcia Fudge , a black woman and Ohio Democrat , had been openly campaigning for secretary of agriculture since November .
“ As this country becomes more and more diverse , we 're going to have to stop looking at only certain agencies as those that people like me fit in , ” she at the time .
“ You know , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put the black person in Labor or HUD.
” Biden then moved to put Fudge in Housing and Urban Development , choosing her as secretary for the department .
He then opted for Tom Vilsack , the former Iowa governor and two-term secretary of agriculture under President Barack Obama , to serve in that position again .
This was reportedly to avoid angering Fudge supporters by tapping former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp , a North Dakota Democrat seen as the Ohio congresswoman ’ s main rival for the job , instead .
“ He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He wasn ’ t looking for this job .
But I was persistent , ” Biden said when he announced a new round of Cabinet nominees on Friday .
“ I asked him to serve again in this role because he knows USDA inside and out.
” Yet Politico civil rights and black farmers ’ groups as “ seething over the decision to tap Vilsack , a white man.
” Michele Flournoy was widely presumed to be the favorite for secretary of defense .
She would have been the first woman to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regarded Flournoy as too hawkish and closely tied to the defense industry .
So Biden selected Lloyd Austin , who would be the first black defense secretary , instead .
That choice has also rankled some on the Left , who fear that granting a waiver to let the former general serve atop the Pentagon , coming so soon after James Mattis was provided the same exemption , could undermine civilian control of the military .
Liberals were prepared to revolt over reports that the relatively centrist Bruce Reed was going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Management and Budget .
He instead went with Neera Tanden , who was seen as less objectionable but whose harsh criticism of Bernie Sanders supporters while she was supporting Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination in 2016 still alienates many on the Left .
Then came reports that Biden was going to pass over New Mexico Gov .
Michelle Lujan Grisham , who is Hispanic , for Rhode Island Gov .
Gina Raimondo as secretary of Health and Human Services .
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra landed the job instead .
Former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McDonough is Biden 's nonveteran choice for secretary of veterans affairs .
Republicans say the dust-ups suggest the Biden administration will be mired in identity politics .
Democratic strategists say they detract attention from a Biden team that is actually quite diverse and well qualified .
Biden rolled out an all-female communications team , and there are no white men among Vice President Kamala Harris ’ s staff .
“ It ’ s a shame , really , ” said one Democrat .
“ Especially when you look at the credentials compared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is holding true to his word by appointing people that will satisfy the poles of the party , ” said Jessica Tarlov , another party strategist .
Stefan Hankin said the percentage of people who will care about the composition of Biden ’ s Cabinet “ is in the single digits.
” Democratic presidents have promised Cabinets that “ look like America ” since Bill Clinton was president in the 1990s .

President-elect Joe Biden’s Cabinet and other senior staffing choices have been complicated by the competing demands for representation by the various groups inside the Democratic coalition, often breaking down along the lines of race, ethnicity, or gender.
Biden’s pick for secretary of veterans affairs isn’t a veteran. His choice for secretary of agriculture isn’t black, as some civil rights activists and African American farmers groups had hoped. His intention to appoint the first black secretary of defense came at the expense of nominating the first woman to this post. That nominee is also facing scrutiny precisely because of his veteran status — only five years removed from being a general, he would need a congressional waiver to helm the Pentagon as a civilian, and some liberals are reluctant to give him one.
The competing demands may stem in part from the perception that the aging veteran deal-maker may be more malleable than previous presidents.
Then, there are ideological divisions among Democrats. Biden, who campaigned for the votes of suburban Republicans and open socialists alike in his bid to assemble the biggest possible electoral coalition to defeat President Trump, has to date selected more prominent centrists and establishment figures than breakout representatives of the party’s liberal wing to important jobs.
Rep. Marcia Fudge, a black woman and Ohio Democrat, had been openly campaigning for secretary of agriculture since November. “As this country becomes more and more diverse, we're going to have to stop looking at only certain agencies as those that people like me fit in,” she said at the time. “You know, it's always, ‘we want to put the black person in Labor or HUD.”
Biden then moved to put Fudge in Housing and Urban Development, choosing her as secretary for the department. He then opted for Tom Vilsack, the former Iowa governor and two-term secretary of agriculture under President Barack Obama, to serve in that position again. This was reportedly to avoid angering Fudge supporters by tapping former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, a North Dakota Democrat seen as the Ohio congresswoman’s main rival for the job, instead.
“He wasn’t anxious to come back. He wasn’t looking for this job. But I was persistent,” Biden said when he announced a new round of Cabinet nominees on Friday. “I asked him to serve again in this role because he knows USDA inside and out.” Yet Politico described civil rights and black farmers’ groups as “seething over the decision to tap Vilsack, a white man.”
Michele Flournoy was widely presumed to be the favorite for secretary of defense. She would have been the first woman to serve in this role. Some liberals regarded Flournoy as too hawkish and closely tied to the defense industry. So Biden selected Lloyd Austin, who would be the first black defense secretary, instead. That choice has also rankled some on the Left, who fear that granting a waiver to let the former general serve atop the Pentagon, coming so soon after James Mattis was provided the same exemption, could undermine civilian control of the military.
Liberals were prepared to revolt over reports that the relatively centrist Bruce Reed was going to be Biden’s director of the Office of Management and Budget. He instead went with Neera Tanden, who was seen as less objectionable but whose harsh criticism of Bernie Sanders supporters while she was supporting Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination in 2016 still alienates many on the Left.
Then came reports that Biden was going to pass over New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who is Hispanic, for Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo as secretary of Health and Human Services. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra landed the job instead.
Former Obama White House chief of staff Denis McDonough is Biden's nonveteran choice for secretary of veterans affairs.
Republicans say the dust-ups suggest the Biden administration will be mired in identity politics. Democratic strategists say they detract attention from a Biden team that is actually quite diverse and well qualified. Biden rolled out an all-female communications team, and there are no white men among Vice President Kamala Harris’s staff.
“It’s a shame, really,” said one Democrat. “Especially when you look at the credentials compared to the Trump administration."
“Biden is holding true to his word by appointing people that will satisfy the poles of the party,” said Jessica Tarlov, another party strategist. Stefan Hankin said the percentage of people who will care about the composition of Biden’s Cabinet “is in the single digits.”
Democratic presidents have promised Cabinets that “look like America” since Bill Clinton was president in the 1990s.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-15--General hypocrisy: Senate Democrats likely to flip-flop on waiver for Biden Defense pick

Resistance against appointing the first black Department of Defense secretary may come strongest from Senate Democrats .
Although some have already voiced their opposition to President-elect Joe Biden 's intention to nominate Gen. Lloyd Austin to run the country 's national security and military agency , earning the votes of many Democrats in a confirmation hearing would require a transparent act of hypocrisy .
During the 2017 confirmation hearing for James Mattis , who served as President Trump 's first defense secretary , Democrats objected to giving the post to someone with a career in the military , citing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces .
Former military personnel who wish to serve as Defense Department secretaries must first receive a waiver from Congress .
Such exemptions have only been granted twice in the department 's history .
Seventeen Democrats voted against the waiver for Mattis , including Sens .
Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin , Cory Booker of New Jersey , Dick Durbin of Illinois , Kirsten Gillibrand of New York , Patrick Leahy of Vermont , Ed Markey of Massachusetts , Jeff Merkley of Oregon , Chris Murphy of Connecticut , Patty Murray of Washington , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Van Hollen of Maryland , and Ron Wyden of Oregon .
Some senators have already signaled their opposition to Austin , including Sens .
Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts , Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut , Jon Tester of Montana , and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois .
“ I have a lot of respect and admiration for General Austin … but I believe that a waiver for the seven-year rule would contravene the basic principle that there should be civilian control over a nonpolitical military , ” Blumenthal told reporters earlier this month .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s the reason for the statute , which I think has to be applied , unfortunately , in this instance.
” Those `` no '' votes appeared aligned with the Democratic National Committee 's platform , which pledged to `` end the Trump administration 's politicization of the armed forces and distortion of civilian and military roles in decision-making .
We will reinstate national security policymaking processes that advance competent civilian control . ''
Some senators who voted against Mattis , such as Sanders , appear ready to perform an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview with MSNBC 's Katy Tur on Dec. 8 , Sanders said his `` inclination is '' to support a waiver for Austin , despite outcry from the Democratic Party 's left-wing base that his history of working with defense contractors is disqualifying .
`` We also find it distressing that within months of retiring from the Pentagon , Austin joined the board of weapons maker Raytheon , a company that makes bombs that the Saudis are using to inflict tremendous death and suffering on the people of Yemen , '' activist group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Another concern is his investments in the private equity fund Pine Island Capital Partners , a private equity firm that specializes in military contractors . ''
Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island , the ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee , promised never to grant another waiver following Mattis 's confirmation .
But in a recent statement , the senator 's position appears to be softening , saying , `` I think the burden of proof is on the administration , and it also comes down ultimately to the quality of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ split on the issue with Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer saying he needed to `` study '' Austin 's nomination , while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi applauded Biden for the announcement , calling Austin `` a highly qualified and widely respected leader . ''
The building resistance to Austin 's nomination means Biden may depend on Republicans to confirm one of his most important Cabinet picks .
Only one GOP House member objected to Mattis receiving a waiver in 2017 , and some Senate Republicans have signaled an openness to Biden 's pick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Sen. James Inhofe , an Oklahoma Republican and chairman of the Armed Services Committee , when asked about Austin 's nomination .
However , other Republicans , such as Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton , echoed the same concerns as some Democrats about falling into a pattern of granting exemptions to the department 's long history of leadership having a clear distance from the military .
“ I , like many other senators , have real reservations about giving another waiver , '' Cotton said .
`` I can tell you that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats to conservative Republicans , are opposed to doing that again . ''
Should he be confirmed , Austin would be the first black defense chief .
His previous military experience included serving as commander of U.S. Central Command .
He retired from the military in 2016 after nearly 40 years .

Resistance against appointing the first black Department of Defense secretary may come strongest from Senate Democrats.
Although some have already voiced their opposition to President-elect Joe Biden's intention to nominate Gen. Lloyd Austin to run the country's national security and military agency, earning the votes of many Democrats in a confirmation hearing would require a transparent act of hypocrisy.
During the 2017 confirmation hearing for James Mattis, who served as President Trump's first defense secretary, Democrats objected to giving the post to someone with a career in the military, citing the precedent of civilian control over the armed forces. Former military personnel who wish to serve as Defense Department secretaries must first receive a waiver from Congress. Such exemptions have only been granted twice in the department's history.
Seventeen Democrats voted against the waiver for Mattis, including Sens. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Patty Murray of Washington, Tom Udall of New Mexico, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, and Ron Wyden of Oregon.
Some senators have already signaled their opposition to Austin, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Jon Tester of Montana, and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois.
“I have a lot of respect and admiration for General Austin … but I believe that a waiver for the seven-year rule would contravene the basic principle that there should be civilian control over a nonpolitical military,” Blumenthal told reporters earlier this month. “That principle is essential to our democracy. That’s the reason for the statute, which I think has to be applied, unfortunately, in this instance.”
Those "no" votes appeared aligned with the Democratic National Committee's platform, which pledged to "end the Trump administration's politicization of the armed forces and distortion of civilian and military roles in decision-making. We will reinstate national security policymaking processes that advance competent civilian control."
Some senators who voted against Mattis, such as Sanders, appear ready to perform an about-face on the issue. In an interview with MSNBC's Katy Tur on Dec. 8, Sanders said his "inclination is" to support a waiver for Austin, despite outcry from the Democratic Party's left-wing base that his history of working with defense contractors is disqualifying.
"We also find it distressing that within months of retiring from the Pentagon, Austin joined the board of weapons maker Raytheon, a company that makes bombs that the Saudis are using to inflict tremendous death and suffering on the people of Yemen," activist group Code Pink wrote in a statement. "Another concern is his investments in the private equity fund Pine Island Capital Partners, a private equity firm that specializes in military contractors."
Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, promised never to grant another waiver following Mattis's confirmation. But in a recent statement, the senator's position appears to be softening, saying, "I think the burden of proof is on the administration, and it also comes down ultimately to the quality of the nominee."
Democratic leadership appears split on the issue with Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer saying he needed to "study" Austin's nomination, while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi applauded Biden for the announcement, calling Austin "a highly qualified and widely respected leader."
The building resistance to Austin's nomination means Biden may depend on Republicans to confirm one of his most important Cabinet picks. Only one GOP House member objected to Mattis receiving a waiver in 2017, and some Senate Republicans have signaled an openness to Biden's pick.
“I always support waivers,” said Sen. James Inhofe, an Oklahoma Republican and chairman of the Armed Services Committee, when asked about Austin's nomination.
However, other Republicans, such as Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, echoed the same concerns as some Democrats about falling into a pattern of granting exemptions to the department's long history of leadership having a clear distance from the military.
“I, like many other senators, have real reservations about giving another waiver," Cotton said. "I can tell you that senators across the spectrum, from liberal Democrats to conservative Republicans, are opposed to doing that again."
Should he be confirmed, Austin would be the first black defense chief. His previous military experience included serving as commander of U.S. Central Command. He retired from the military in 2016 after nearly 40 years.