thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-29--Tom Steyer endorses reparations for slavery

Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer endorsed reparations for slavery and asserted he is the only candidate to do so .
While speaking with CNN political analyst April Ryan on his message to black voters , Steyer said he believes there is an `` undercurrent of race in virtually every policy area . ''
Steyer , 62 , says tackling climate change , an area of focus for him , is critical to helping underprivileged communities .
`` My climate policy is called a justice-based climate policy , '' he said .
Steyer said his policies are geared toward helping the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which he claims `` ca n't breath '' or `` ask for a drink of water '' without getting sick .
The corporate billionaire and climate activist is currently hovering around 3 % support in the Iowa caucuses , according to RealClearPolitics data .
He , along with Democratic Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar , 59 , and former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg , 38 , will be canvassing voters for several days .
Steyer is embarking on a `` Beat Trump '' bus tour until the caucuses on Feb. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters and increase his standing in the polls while other candidates , such as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , 78 , remain in Washington , D.C. , for the impeachment trial of President Trump .

Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer endorsed reparations for slavery and asserted he is the only candidate to do so.
While speaking with CNN political analyst April Ryan on his message to black voters, Steyer said he believes there is an "undercurrent of race in virtually every policy area." Steyer, 62, says tackling climate change, an area of focus for him, is critical to helping underprivileged communities.
"My climate policy is called a justice-based climate policy," he said.
Steyer said his policies are geared toward helping the black community and the Latino community, which he claims "can't breath" or "ask for a drink of water" without getting sick.
The corporate billionaire and climate activist is currently hovering around 3% support in the Iowa caucuses, according to RealClearPolitics data. He, along with Democratic Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, 59, and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, 38, will be canvassing voters for several days.
Steyer is embarking on a "Beat Trump" bus tour until the caucuses on Feb. 3. The campaign hopes to rally voters and increase his standing in the polls while other candidates, such as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, 78, remain in Washington, D.C., for the impeachment trial of President Trump.
[Read more: Democratic 2020 candidate Tom Steyer accuses Trump of torturing children]


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-29--NBC anchor suggests poor crowds in Iowa spell trouble for Biden

NBC News correspondent Katy Tur questioned Joe Biden 's support in Iowa after reporting lackluster crowds at the former vice president 's campaign events .
`` Biden and [ Pete ] Buttigieg have basically had this state to themselves along with [ Andrew ] Yang and a couple others , '' Tur said .
`` Why is Buttigieg starting to surge and Biden not surging ?
What is going on with his support ? ''
Other leading Democratic primary candidates for president are busy in Washington , D.C. , presiding over the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Tur said , but only some are seizing the opportunity .
`` Over the weekend , [ Elizabeth ] Warren , [ Bernie ] Sanders , Buttigieg all got over a thousand people at rallies , Biden got a couple hundred , '' Tur reported .
`` What does that mean for his support going forward ? ''
A new Iowa poll shows Biden in the lead at 23 % , ahead of a surging Sanders , who 21 % of likely Iowa caucus-goers say is their first choice .
The Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contest of 2020 , will take place Monday .

NBC News correspondent Katy Tur questioned Joe Biden's support in Iowa after reporting lackluster crowds at the former vice president's campaign events.
"Biden and [Pete] Buttigieg have basically had this state to themselves along with [Andrew] Yang and a couple others," Tur said. "Why is Buttigieg starting to surge and Biden not surging? What is going on with his support?"
Other leading Democratic primary candidates for president are busy in Washington, D.C., presiding over the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump.
This has created an opening for non-Senate Democrats, Tur said, but only some are seizing the opportunity.
"Over the weekend, [Elizabeth] Warren, [Bernie] Sanders, Buttigieg all got over a thousand people at rallies, Biden got a couple hundred," Tur reported. "What does that mean for his support going forward?"
A new Iowa poll shows Biden in the lead at 23%, ahead of a surging Sanders, who 21% of likely Iowa caucus-goers say is their first choice.
The Iowa caucuses, the first Democratic presidential electoral contest of 2020, will take place Monday.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-29--Texas poll a warning sign for Biden

Texas poll a warning sign for Biden

Joe Biden 's Southern-focused primary strategy may be in danger , with a new poll of Texas Democrats showing his lead narrowing to rival Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont .
According to a survey released by Texas Lyceum , the former vice president leads the rest of the Democratic pack with 28 % support .
Sanders , however , is right behind him at 26 % .
The rest of the field had half of Sanders 's support or lower , with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren in third place at 13 % .
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Those numbers will certainly set off alarm bells for Biden , whose path to victory relies on running up large delegate counts in the South .
Poised for early losses in Iowa and New Hampshire , Biden has been telling supporters and donors that the South remains his firewall .
The last reputable poll of Texas conducted in December by CNN found Sanders with 15 % of the vote — behind Biden at 35 % .
On March 3 , Super Tuesday , when Texas holds its primary , the map is nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The demographics of states like Minnesota and Colorado , with heavy pockets of urban liberals , favor a candidate like Sanders .
But states with large black populations , such as Alabama and Virginia , are slated to go for Biden .
A principle reason former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was able to fend off Sanders in the 2016 Democratic primary was her ability to win by double digits in the South .
That cycle , Clinton earned 65.19 % of the vote to Sanders 's 33.19 % of the vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's 228 pledged delegates , Biden would be forced to try and compete more competitively in states such as Maine , which Sanders won handily in 2016 .
On Tuesday , Sanders announced a $ 2.5 million TV campaign in California and Texas , his first major expenditure in Super Tuesday states .
The day before , Sanders announced a Spanish ad campaign in Nevada in an effort to shore up Hispanic support .
Sanders , a Brooklyn native , has also started a campaign to win the New York primary , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The race to win New York . ''
`` There are 274 delegates up for grabs there on April 28 , '' the email reads .
`` And as a supporter of Bernie ’ s campaign , you ’ ve done more than most to help us win . ''
In 2016 , Clinton , a former New York senator , won the state 's primary by nearly 16 points , with 57.54 % of the vote .
Although Texas Lyceum found that both Biden and Sanders lost to President Trump in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percentage point stronger than Biden , at 47 % support .
Those numbers will undoubtedly be used to strengthen Sanders 's argument that he is actually the more electable candidate in the field .
The firm asked 1,200 adults from Jan. 10-19 and had a margin of error of +/- 2.83 points .

Joe Biden's Southern-focused primary strategy may be in danger, with a new poll of Texas Democrats showing his lead narrowing to rival Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
According to a survey released by Texas Lyceum, the former vice president leads the rest of the Democratic pack with 28% support. Sanders, however, is right behind him at 26%.
The rest of the field had half of Sanders's support or lower, with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren in third place at 13%. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg came in fourth at 9%.
Those numbers will certainly set off alarm bells for Biden, whose path to victory relies on running up large delegate counts in the South. Poised for early losses in Iowa and New Hampshire, Biden has been telling supporters and donors that the South remains his firewall.
The last reputable poll of Texas conducted in December by CNN found Sanders with 15% of the vote — behind Biden at 35%.
On March 3, Super Tuesday, when Texas holds its primary, the map is nearly evenly split between Northern and Southern states. The demographics of states like Minnesota and Colorado, with heavy pockets of urban liberals, favor a candidate like Sanders. But states with large black populations, such as Alabama and Virginia, are slated to go for Biden.
A principle reason former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was able to fend off Sanders in the 2016 Democratic primary was her ability to win by double digits in the South. That cycle, Clinton earned 65.19% of the vote to Sanders's 33.19% of the vote.
Should Sanders and Biden split Texas's 228 pledged delegates, Biden would be forced to try and compete more competitively in states such as Maine, which Sanders won handily in 2016.
On Tuesday, Sanders announced a $2.5 million TV campaign in California and Texas, his first major expenditure in Super Tuesday states. The day before, Sanders announced a Spanish ad campaign in Nevada in an effort to shore up Hispanic support.
Sanders, a Brooklyn native, has also started a campaign to win the New York primary, with an email to supporters sent Wednesday titled "The race to win New York."
"There are 274 delegates up for grabs there on April 28," the email reads. "And as a supporter of Bernie’s campaign, you’ve done more than most to help us win."
In 2016, Clinton, a former New York senator, won the state's primary by nearly 16 points, with 57.54% of the vote.
Although Texas Lyceum found that both Biden and Sanders lost to President Trump in a hypothetical matchup, Sanders was 1 percentage point stronger than Biden, at 47% support. Those numbers will undoubtedly be used to strengthen Sanders's argument that he is actually the more electable candidate in the field.
The firm asked 1,200 adults from Jan. 10-19 and had a margin of error of +/- 2.83 points.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-29--'FAKE NEWS': Republican Doug Collins rebukes GOP critics who blasted him for Senate run

Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia rebuked Senate Republicans who were critical of his decision to run for the Senate on Wednesday .
The National Republican Senatorial Committee bashed Collins 's announcement arguing that his candidacy could pave the way for an otherwise unlikely Democratic sweep in the state in November .
NRSC executive director Kevin McLaughlin labeled the decision `` stunning '' and claimed his `` selfishness will hurt David Perdue , Kelly Loeffler , and President Trump . ''
Collins addressed those comments on social media later in the day , arguing that the criticism was `` ridiculous .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the head of a Washington-based group whose bylaws require him to support all incumbents , even unelected ones , '' the congressman added .
The Republican congressman also answered questions about the backlash surrounding his announcement in an appearance on Fox & Friends that morning .
`` We are not concerned about that at all .
I ’ m concerned about going for the people of Georgia , '' he stated .
`` We just need to have a process that lets people decide , lets them choose for themselves how they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think we fought for the president , we fought for our state , and we fought for this country .
And we 're going to continue to do that .
I look forward to a good exchange of ideas and look forward to this election . ''
Collins , a Trump ally and part of his impeachment defense team , was passed over for an appointment to the Senate by Gov .
Brian Kemp after Johnny Isakson resigned at the end of last year .

Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia rebuked Senate Republicans who were critical of his decision to run for the Senate on Wednesday.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee bashed Collins's announcement arguing that his candidacy could pave the way for an otherwise unlikely Democratic sweep in the state in November. NRSC executive director Kevin McLaughlin labeled the decision "stunning" and claimed his "selfishness will hurt David Perdue, Kelly Loeffler, and President Trump."
Collins addressed those comments on social media later in the day, arguing that the criticism was "ridiculous."
"This is FAKE NEWS coming from the head of a Washington-based group whose bylaws require him to support all incumbents, even unelected ones," the congressman added.
[Opinion: Doug Collins's Senate bid puts Trump and GOP in a bind]
Don't be ridiculous, this is FAKE NEWS coming from the head of a Washington-based group whose bylaws require him to support all incumbents, even unelected ones. https://t.co/azpS3PzaCJ — Doug Collins (@CollinsforGA) January 29, 2020
The Republican congressman also answered questions about the backlash surrounding his announcement in an appearance on Fox & Friends that morning.
"We are not concerned about that at all. I’m concerned about going for the people of Georgia," he stated. "We just need to have a process that lets people decide, lets them choose for themselves how they want to see this vision. I think we fought for the president, we fought for our state, and we fought for this country. And we're going to continue to do that. I look forward to a good exchange of ideas and look forward to this election."
Collins, a Trump ally and part of his impeachment defense team, was passed over for an appointment to the Senate by Gov. Brian Kemp after Johnny Isakson resigned at the end of last year.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-29--‘The People’s Perfume’: Pro-Sanders group launches 'sexy’ Bérnié spoof

A grassroots political organization that supports presidential candidate Bernie Sanders released a glossy 47-second video spoof showing scantily clad women frolicking along a beach and kissing a perfume bottle adorned with a bobblehead of the Vermont senator .
`` Introducing Bérnié , the people 's perfume , '' says a woman in the ad as waves crash on a shoreline .
The video , which mocks the hypersexualized perfume industry , features the 78-year-old 's voice echoing behind an electronic beat as two women and a man are seen in close-ups caressing the perfume bottle .
At one point , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sand .
One of the actors rips up a $ 9,000 medical invoice , while another sets fire to a $ 67,000 Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation student loan bill .
The video has received 10,000 Twitter likes since it was posted on Monday .
`` Medicare for all , '' says Sanders in the video .
`` We 're going to win the Democratic nomination , and together we are going to defeat Donald Trump . ''
Director Amber Schaefer , who has created work for College Humor and Geico , filmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to her preferred candidate in the 2020 race .
“ The idea behind the ‘ campaign ’ is to complicate the white male Bernie Bro ( false ! )
narrative and show women and people of color feeling the Bern , ” Schaefer told the Nation .

A grassroots political organization that supports presidential candidate Bernie Sanders released a glossy 47-second video spoof showing scantily clad women frolicking along a beach and kissing a perfume bottle adorned with a bobblehead of the Vermont senator.
"Introducing Bérnié, the people's perfume," says a woman in the ad as waves crash on a shoreline.
The video, which mocks the hypersexualized perfume industry, features the 78-year-old's voice echoing behind an electronic beat as two women and a man are seen in close-ups caressing the perfume bottle. At one point, they carve Sanders's name into the sand.
One of the actors rips up a $9,000 medical invoice, while another sets fire to a $67,000 Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation student loan bill. The video has received 10,000 Twitter likes since it was posted on Monday.
"Medicare for all," says Sanders in the video. "We're going to win the Democratic nomination, and together we are going to defeat Donald Trump."
Director Amber Schaefer, who has created work for College Humor and Geico, filmed the advertisement for free as an ode to her preferred candidate in the 2020 race.
“The idea behind the ‘campaign’ is to complicate the white male Bernie Bro (false!) narrative and show women and people of color feeling the Bern,” Schaefer told the Nation.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-29--Biden acknowledges he might die in office: 'I'm an old guy'

Joe Biden said that his vice president needs to be capable of being president because he is so old .
`` I can think of at least eight women , at least four or five people of color , that I think are totally qualified to be vice president of the United States , '' the former vice president , 77 , said at a campaign event in Clinton , Iowa on Tuesday .
`` But for me , it has to be demonstrated that whoever I pick is two things : One , is capable of [ being ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Biden said as some in the crowd laughed .
`` No , I 'm serious .
Look , I thank God I 'm in great health .
I work out .
No , I 'm serious .
You know , I work out every morning .
I 'm in good shape — knock on wood , as my mother would say . ''
`` I released all my medical records , '' Biden added .
`` But you never know .
You never know what 's going on .
And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have — some people looking would say , 'Is the person Biden picked capable of , God forbid something happened to Biden , that they would be able to take over immediately ? ''
The remark came after a man in the crowd asked if Biden 's former primary rival Sen. Kamala Harris from California was his top vice presidential pick .
`` I think Kamala Harris has the capacity to do just about anything , along with a lot of other people .
I think she is bright as can be .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to being attorney general to being vice president to being a cabinet member to staying in the Senate , '' Biden said .
Biden said that he would consider her as his vice presidential pick the day after Harris dropped out of the presidential race in December .
The former vice president , if elected to the presidency , would be the oldest president ever .
President Ronald Reagan , the current record-holder , was 77 when he left office in 1989 .
Recent heart attack survivor Sen. Bernie Sanders , 78 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bloomberg , 77 , could each also be the oldest president ever elected .
Biden 's health records released in December revealed that he has a heart condition .
He is being treated for an irregular heartbeat , high cholesterol , acid reflux , and seasonal allergies .
Earlier on Tuesday , Biden suggested that former First Lady Michelle Obama would be a good vice president .
`` Would you consider appointing Obama for the Supreme Court ? ''
a man in Muscatine , Iowa , asked Biden .
`` Yeah , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 'd do it .
He 'd be a great Supreme Court justice , '' he responded .
`` Second question is : Which Obama ? ''
the man said .
`` Well , I sure would like Michelle to be the vice president , '' Biden said and laughed .
`` They 're both incredibly qualified people , I mean , and they 're such decent , honorable people . ''
Biden often says that it would be `` presumptuous '' of him to consider a vice presidential pick before he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible contenders .

Joe Biden said that his vice president needs to be capable of being president because he is so old.
"I can think of at least eight women, at least four or five people of color, that I think are totally qualified to be vice president of the United States," the former vice president, 77, said at a campaign event in Clinton, Iowa on Tuesday.
"But for me, it has to be demonstrated that whoever I pick is two things: One, is capable of [being] president because I'm an old guy," Biden said as some in the crowd laughed. "No, I'm serious. Look, I thank God I'm in great health. I work out. No, I'm serious. You know, I work out every morning. I'm in good shape — knock on wood, as my mother would say."
"I released all my medical records," Biden added. "But you never know. You never know what's going on. And I'm sure what would happen is I have — some people looking would say, 'Is the person Biden picked capable of, God forbid something happened to Biden, that they would be able to take over immediately?"
The remark came after a man in the crowd asked if Biden's former primary rival Sen. Kamala Harris from California was his top vice presidential pick.
"I think Kamala Harris has the capacity to do just about anything, along with a lot of other people. I think she is bright as can be. She can do anything from the court to being attorney general to being vice president to being a cabinet member to staying in the Senate," Biden said.
Biden said that he would consider her as his vice presidential pick the day after Harris dropped out of the presidential race in December.
The former vice president, if elected to the presidency, would be the oldest president ever. President Ronald Reagan, the current record-holder, was 77 when he left office in 1989. Recent heart attack survivor Sen. Bernie Sanders, 78, and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, 77, could each also be the oldest president ever elected.
Biden's health records released in December revealed that he has a heart condition. He is being treated for an irregular heartbeat, high cholesterol, acid reflux, and seasonal allergies.
Earlier on Tuesday, Biden suggested that former First Lady Michelle Obama would be a good vice president.
"Would you consider appointing Obama for the Supreme Court?" a man in Muscatine, Iowa, asked Biden.
"Yeah, I would, and I don't think he'd do it. He'd be a great Supreme Court justice," he responded.
"Second question is: Which Obama?" the man said.
"Well, I sure would like Michelle to be the vice president," Biden said and laughed. "They're both incredibly qualified people, I mean, and they're such decent, honorable people."
Biden often says that it would be "presumptuous" of him to consider a vice presidential pick before he is the nominee and rarely rules out any possible contenders.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-30--'What you hear from Hitler': Former Clinton press secretary trashes Alan Dershowitz 'public interest

'What you hear from Hitler': Former Clinton press secretary trashes Alan Dershowitz 'public interest' argument

A former White House press secretary under President Bill Clinton compared an argument made by President Trump ’ s impeachment lawyer Alan Dershowitz to ones made by genocidal regimes .
Joe Lockhart , 60 , bashed Dershowitz , 81 , for claiming on Wednesday that an alleged quid pro quo to help officials get reelected was in the “ public interest.
” “ Every public official that I know believes that his election is in the public interest , and , mostly , you 're right .
Your election is in the public interest , ” Dershowitz said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he believes will help him get elected , in the public interest , that can not be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment.
” Touting his own experience on campaigns , Lockhart said that Dershowitz ’ s argument reminded him of dictators such as Adolf Hitler .
“ There is always the sense that , 'Boy , if we win , it ’ s better for the country , ' but that doesn ’ t give you the license to commit crimes or do things that are unethical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lockhart said on CNN .
“ What I thought when I was watching it was , 'This is un-American , ' ” he continued .
“ This is what you hear from Stalin , this is what you hear from Mussolini , this is what you hear from Hitler , all of the authoritarian people who rationalized , in some cases genocide , based on what was in the public interest .
It was startling .
”

A former White House press secretary under President Bill Clinton compared an argument made by President Trump’s impeachment lawyer Alan Dershowitz to ones made by genocidal regimes.
Joe Lockhart, 60, bashed Dershowitz, 81, for claiming on Wednesday that an alleged quid pro quo to help officials get reelected was in the “public interest.”
“Every public official that I know believes that his election is in the public interest, and, mostly, you're right. Your election is in the public interest,” Dershowitz said. “And, if a president did something that he believes will help him get elected, in the public interest, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment.”
Touting his own experience on campaigns, Lockhart said that Dershowitz’s argument reminded him of dictators such as Adolf Hitler.
“There is always the sense that, 'Boy, if we win, it’s better for the country,' but that doesn’t give you the license to commit crimes or do things that are unethical, so it was absurd,” Lockhart said on CNN.
“What I thought when I was watching it was, 'This is un-American,'” he continued. “This is what you hear from Stalin, this is what you hear from Mussolini, this is what you hear from Hitler, all of the authoritarian people who rationalized, in some cases genocide, based on what was in the public interest. It was startling.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-30--Rand Paul blocked from asking impeachment trial question naming alleged whistleblower

Sen. Rand Paul has not been allowed to ask questions at the Senate impeachment trial that would have named the alleged Ukraine whistleblower .
The Kentucky Republican made a submission , but Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts informed senators that he refuses to read any question that names the alleged whistleblower , according to Politico .
The questions submitted by Paul , which are now effectively blocked , name members of House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff 's staff and also the CIA analyst believed to have filed the complaint that sparked the impeachment proceedings .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may happen tomorrow , ” Paul told reporters Wednesday evening .
A representative for Paul did not immediately return a request for comment .
The whistleblower complaint , which the intelligence community inspector general determined to be urgent and credible , raised concerns about a July phone call between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which the American leader pressed his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate the Bidens and other Democrats .
Republicans have accused Schiff , a California Democrat who is now the lead impeachment manager , of being `` complicit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ met with a House Intelligence Committee aide seeking guidance before filing a complaint with the Intelligence Community inspector general and because Schiff recruited two former National Security Council aides who worked alongside the CIA whistleblower at the NSC during the Obama and Trump administrations .
Trump now faces two articles of impeachment : abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
The questions being asked by senators at the impeachment trial are directed at the House managers or Trump 's defense team .
Democrats are pushing for witnesses in the Senate trial .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ former national security adviser John Bolton after reports about his upcoming book containing fresh allegations of Trump leveraging nearly $ 400 million in security aid to Ukraine to pressure Kyiv to help with investigations into his political rivals .
With centrist Republican senators on the fence , Trump 's staunchest allies warn that if they vote to call witnesses , former Vice President Joe Biden 's son Hunter Biden , Schiff , and the whistleblower will be among those they seek .
But Democrats have argued that witness testimony and documents have moved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lawyers for the whistleblower have warned that identifying their client would put that person 's life in danger .
Republicans and conservative media figures believe CIA analyst Eric Ciaramella , a former official on the National Security Council , is the whistleblower .
Paul has encouraged the press to name the alleged whistleblower and named Ciaramella as the alleged whistleblower in an interview with Washington , D.C.-based WMAL in November , calling for him to testify as part of the impeachment hearings .

Sen. Rand Paul has not been allowed to ask questions at the Senate impeachment trial that would have named the alleged Ukraine whistleblower.
The Kentucky Republican made a submission, but Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts informed senators that he refuses to read any question that names the alleged whistleblower, according to reports.
The questions submitted by Paul, which are now effectively blocked, name members of House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff's staff and also the CIA analyst believed to have filed the complaint that sparked the impeachment proceedings.
“It’s still an ongoing process; it may happen tomorrow,” Paul told reporters Wednesday evening.
A representative for Paul did not immediately return a request for comment.
The whistleblower complaint, which the intelligence community inspector general determined to be urgent and credible, raised concerns about a July phone call between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which the American leader pressed his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate the Bidens and other Democrats.
Republicans have accused Schiff, a California Democrat who is now the lead impeachment manager, of being "complicit" with the whistleblower because the whistleblower met with a House Intelligence Committee aide seeking guidance before filing a complaint with the Intelligence Community inspector general and because Schiff recruited two former National Security Council aides who worked alongside the CIA whistleblower at the NSC during the Obama and Trump administrations.
Trump now faces two articles of impeachment: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The questions being asked by senators at the impeachment trial are directed at the House managers or Trump's defense team.
Democrats are pushing for witnesses in the Senate trial. They particularly want to hear testimony from former national security adviser John Bolton after reports about his upcoming book containing fresh allegations of Trump leveraging nearly $400 million in security aid to Ukraine to pressure Kyiv to help with investigations into his political rivals.
With centrist Republican senators on the fence, Trump's staunchest allies warn that if they vote to call witnesses, former Vice President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden, Schiff, and the whistleblower will be among those they seek. But Democrats have argued that witness testimony and documents have moved the impeachment case beyond the whistleblower. Lawyers for the whistleblower have warned that identifying their client would put that person's life in danger.
Republicans and conservative media figures believe CIA analyst Eric Ciaramella, a former official on the National Security Council, is the whistleblower. Paul has encouraged the press to name the alleged whistleblower and named Ciaramella as the alleged whistleblower in an interview with Washington, D.C.-based WMAL in November, calling for him to testify as part of the impeachment hearings.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-30--Doug Collins Senate bid threatens to hand Georgia to the Democrats

A Republican Party rift that is poised to put Georgia in play for Democrats , from the top of the ticket on down , is being fueled by Rep. Doug Collins ’ s bid to oust appointed Sen. Kelly Loeffler in a November special election that coincides with Election Day .
In Washington , Senate Republicans closed ranks around Loeffler as they ordered K Street to halt financial support for Collins and warned the congressman , an ally of President Trump , that challenging their colleague would extinguish his promising political career .
But , in Atlanta , top Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move up the special election primary by six months to boost Collins , who is more well known than Loeffler .
The divide is disrupting GOP strategy to court suburban swing voters and bolster support for Trump and Sen. David Perdue , who is up for reelection , heading into the fall .
Some Republicans worry that a heated Collins-Loeffler primary could facilitate a repeat of the midterm elections , when a Democratic surge flipped a historically GOP suburban House seat and the Democratic candidate came within 1.4 percentage points of the governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Collins ] has done is put two Senate seats , multiple House seats , and Georgia ’ s 16 electoral votes in play , ” said Kevin McLaughlin , executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee , in a statement .
But at least one wealthy Republican donor , a regular contributor to Trump , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky , the NRSC , and various Republican senators , said he is backing Collins .
“ This is Mitch McConnell ’ s worst nightmare , ” said Dan Eberhart , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added that the congressman has “ a MAGA following ” that would be tough for Loeffler to overcome .
Collins in an interview Wednesday said his critics ' concerns are overblown .
“ There ’ s never a problem with people having a choice on conservative values , '' he said .
Loeffler , personally wealthy and expected to self-finance at least a portion of her campaign , declined to comment .
Gov .
Brian Kemp appointed Loeffler to succeed Johnny Isakson , who resigned last month amid health issues .
Trump preferred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the House Judiciary Committee and a member of the White House impeachment defense team .
But , determined to stop the erosion of support for Republicans in the suburbs , especially among women , and to protect Georgia ’ s status as a red state , Kemp selected the 49-year-old Loeffler .
Collins ’ s allies in the Georgia state House struck back with legislation to change the rules for special Senate elections .
The Georgia House of Representatives is expected to pass a bill converting the first round of the special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set it for May .
But , even if the bill clears the state Senate , Kemp , who is committed to Loeffler , would veto it .
A senior Republican official in Georgia told the Washington Examiner the battle has sparked bitter recriminations that extend from the party ’ s power brokers down to the grassroots .
“ I ’ ve seen it in my Facebook feed , ” this official said .
“ Absolutely , people are split.
” Trump , a wild card who might influence the outcome of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Collins 's candidacy .

A Republican Party rift that is poised to put Georgia in play for Democrats, from the top of the ticket on down, is being fueled by Rep. Doug Collins’s bid to oust appointed Sen. Kelly Loeffler in a November special election that coincides with Election Day.
In Washington, Senate Republicans closed ranks around Loeffler as they ordered K Street to halt financial support for Collins and warned the congressman, an ally of President Trump, that challenging their colleague would extinguish his promising political career. But, in Atlanta, top Republicans are proposing to change Georgia law to move up the special election primary by six months to boost Collins, who is more well known than Loeffler.
The divide is disrupting GOP strategy to court suburban swing voters and bolster support for Trump and Sen. David Perdue, who is up for reelection, heading into the fall. Some Republicans worry that a heated Collins-Loeffler primary could facilitate a repeat of the midterm elections, when a Democratic surge flipped a historically GOP suburban House seat and the Democratic candidate came within 1.4 percentage points of the governor’s mansion.
“All [Collins] has done is put two Senate seats, multiple House seats, and Georgia’s 16 electoral votes in play,” said Kevin McLaughlin, executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, in a statement.
But at least one wealthy Republican donor, a regular contributor to Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the NRSC, and various Republican senators, said he is backing Collins. “This is Mitch McConnell’s worst nightmare,” said Dan Eberhart, an energy executive from Arizona, who added that the congressman has “a MAGA following” that would be tough for Loeffler to overcome.
Collins in an interview Wednesday said his critics' concerns are overblown.
“There’s never a problem with people having a choice on conservative values," he said. Loeffler, personally wealthy and expected to self-finance at least a portion of her campaign, declined to comment.
Gov. Brian Kemp appointed Loeffler to succeed Johnny Isakson, who resigned last month amid health issues. Trump preferred Collins, 53, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee and a member of the White House impeachment defense team. But, determined to stop the erosion of support for Republicans in the suburbs, especially among women, and to protect Georgia’s status as a red state, Kemp selected the 49-year-old Loeffler.
Collins’s allies in the Georgia state House struck back with legislation to change the rules for special Senate elections.
The Georgia House of Representatives is expected to pass a bill converting the first round of the special election to a closed Republican primary and set it for May. But, even if the bill clears the state Senate, Kemp, who is committed to Loeffler, would veto it. A senior Republican official in Georgia told the Washington Examiner the battle has sparked bitter recriminations that extend from the party’s power brokers down to the grassroots.
“I’ve seen it in my Facebook feed,” this official said. “Absolutely, people are split.”
Trump, a wild card who might influence the outcome of the special election, has not yet commented on Collins's candidacy.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-30--Senate 'torture' report front and center during 9/11 hearing at Guantanamo

GUANTANAMO BAY , Cuba — A clash over the Senate Intelligence Committee ’ s 2014 report on the CIA ’ s enhanced interrogation program , which the Democratic majority called torture , took center stage throughout a 9/11 court hearing in Guantanamo Bay , Cuba .
Dr. James Mitchell , 68 , a psychologist who helped design interrogation techniques for the CIA in the wake of the 9/11 attacks , spent much of his testimony this week defending his actions as legal and arguing that he ’ d helped stop future attacks .
But defense lawyers for five alleged 9/11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 55 , the self-declared mastermind behind the Sept. 11 , 2001 , attacks that left nearly 3,000 Americans dead , disagreed .
The attorneys this week repeatedly pointed to a 2014 Senate report that concluded , “ the CIA 's justification for the use of its enhanced interrogation techniques rested on inaccurate claims of their effectiveness.
” The chairwoman of the committee at the time , Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California , stated that “ under any common meaning of the term , CIA detainees were tortured.
” The report criticized Mitchell and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , referring to them by the pseudonyms Grayson Swigert and Hammond Dunbar .
Mitchell , a former Air Force survival school psychologist , helped put together interrogation techniques that stemmed from the military ’ s Survival , Evasion , Resistance , and Escape program .
These included stress positions , sleep deprivation , bouncing detainees off of flexible walls , slaps to the face and stomach , and , most notably , waterboarding .
Mitchell said the techniques were authorized by the president in consultation with the National Security Council and Congress , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closely supervised by the CIA .
The psychologist personally used the simulated drowning technique against Mohammed in 15 sessions using at least 183 water pours in March 2003 .
David Nevin , a member of Mohammed ’ s defense team , pointed to passages from the Senate report showing that some of the information that emerged from interrogations turned out to be fabricated .
“ If your point is that sometimes we missed it , I concur , ” Mitchell said .
“ We ’ re wrong sometimes ... but we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack.
” Nevin claimed that after his client ’ s capture in Pakistan and prior to any enhanced interrogations , Mohammed “ provided lots of information … including admitting to 9/11.
” “ I asked him about information to stop attacks inside the U.S. , and he told me , ‘ soon you will know ’ … and intended to withhold the information , ” Mitchell said of Mohammed .
And Mitchell said his goal wasn ’ t to get Mohammed to admit to past attacks “ but rather to stop that second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hambali that was real and that we stopped.
” Riduan Isamuddin , aka Hambali , was the leader of the Southeast Asian al Qaeda-linked terror group Jemaah Islamiyah , which carried out the deadly Bali , Indonesia , nightclub bombing in 2002 , killing 202 people .
The U.S. government alleges Hambali was part of a “ second wave ” plot to launch follow-up attacks inside the United States in coordination with Mohammed .
Nevin said the Senate report casts doubt on the role of the CIA ’ s program in stopping Hambali @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have stopped any further attacks .
Mitchell said “ that argument is undercut ” by the fact that detainees he ’ d interrogated “ provided real information that stopped attacks.
” “ They didn ’ t let me testify , ” Mitchell said , adding that they “ didn ’ t let any other CIA officers involved ” testify either .
“ This is the biased response of the Senate staffer who framed it , ” Mitchell said , referencing the major role played by Dan Jones , the former Senate investigator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jones was played by Adam Driver in Amazon ’ s compelling but flawed film The Report .
“ My objection is to the entire report when it is read independent of the Senate minority report , which debunks much of its analysis , ” Mitchell said .
“ Don ’ t take my word for it , judge , ” the psychologist added .
‘ Read what the CIA said .
Read what the Senate minority report said .
They debunked this thoroughly.
” The 499-page summary of the Senate Intelligence Committee ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the CIA failed to adequately evaluate the effectiveness of its enhanced interrogation techniques.
” “ The committee reviewed 20 of the most frequent and prominent examples of purported counter-terrorism successes that the CIA has attributed to the use of its enhanced interrogation techniques , and found them to be wrong in fundamental respects , ” the report said .
Republicans on the committee , led by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and others , released a 167-page response disputing the majority ’ s conclusions .
“ We have no doubt that the CIA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vital role in weakening al Qaeda while the program was in operation , ” the GOP rebuttal said .
“ The rendition , detention , and interrogation program they created , of which enhanced interrogation was only a small part , enabled a stream of collection and intelligence validation that was unprecedented.
” The CIA ’ s 136-page 2013 response to the Senate majority report did “ agree that the agency was unprepared ” to “ undertake what would be an unprecedented program of detaining and interrogating suspected al Qaeda and affiliated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the study 's unqualified assertions that the overall detention and interrogation program did not produce unique intelligence that led terrorist plots to be disrupted , terrorists to be captured , or lives to be saved.
” The agency said it “ continues to assess that the capture of ” Hambali in 2003 “ resulted in large part from information obtained from Khalid Sheikh Muhammad ” and “ was a critical factor in the disruption of al Qaeda ’ s plan to conduct a Second Wave attack involving multiple airplanes crashing into buildings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CIA Directors George Tenet , Porter Goss , and Michael Hayden penned a joint Wall Street Journal op-ed pushing back against the Senate majority ’ s conclusions , claiming the interrogation program led to the capture of senior al Qaeda operatives , disrupted terrorist plots , and informed the agency ’ s ability to thwart al Qaeda operations .
“ The interrogation program formed an essential part of the foundation from which the CIA and the U.S. military mounted the bin Laden operation , ” the trio wrote .
Their op-ed pointed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” for more information .
In court at Guantanamo Bay , Mitchell said his book , Enhanced Interrogation , was based on the Senate ’ s majority and minority reports , the CIA ’ s response , and the “ CIA Saved Lives ” website .
“ We were at war , ” Mitchell wrote .
“ Our actions were necessary , effective , legal , authorized , and helped save lives .
”

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — A clash over the Senate Intelligence Committee’s 2014 report on the CIA’s enhanced interrogation program, which the Democratic majority called torture, took center stage throughout a 9/11 court hearing in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Dr. James Mitchell, 68, a psychologist who helped design interrogation techniques for the CIA in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, spent much of his testimony this week defending his actions as legal and arguing that he’d helped stop future attacks.
But defense lawyers for five alleged 9/11 plotters, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, 55, the self-declared mastermind behind the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that left nearly 3,000 Americans dead, disagreed. The attorneys this week repeatedly pointed to a 2014 Senate report that concluded, “the CIA's justification for the use of its enhanced interrogation techniques rested on inaccurate claims of their effectiveness.”
The chairwoman of the committee at the time, Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, stated that “under any common meaning of the term, CIA detainees were tortured.” The report criticized Mitchell and his business partner, Dr. Bruce Jessen, referring to them by the pseudonyms Grayson Swigert and Hammond Dunbar.
Mitchell, a former Air Force survival school psychologist, helped put together interrogation techniques that stemmed from the military’s Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape program. These included stress positions, sleep deprivation, bouncing detainees off of flexible walls, slaps to the face and stomach, and, most notably, waterboarding. Mitchell said the techniques were authorized by the president in consultation with the National Security Council and Congress, buttressed by Justice Department memos, and closely supervised by the CIA.
The psychologist personally used the simulated drowning technique against Mohammed in 15 sessions using at least 183 water pours in March 2003.
David Nevin, a member of Mohammed’s defense team, pointed to passages from the Senate report showing that some of the information that emerged from interrogations turned out to be fabricated.
“If your point is that sometimes we missed it, I concur,” Mitchell said. “We’re wrong sometimes ... but we’re right enough times to stop the next attack.”
Nevin claimed that after his client’s capture in Pakistan and prior to any enhanced interrogations, Mohammed “provided lots of information … including admitting to 9/11.”
“I asked him about information to stop attacks inside the U.S., and he told me, ‘soon you will know’ … and intended to withhold the information,” Mitchell said of Mohammed.
And Mitchell said his goal wasn’t to get Mohammed to admit to past attacks “but rather to stop that second wave of attacks that he planned with Hambali that was real and that we stopped.”
Riduan Isamuddin, aka Hambali, was the leader of the Southeast Asian al Qaeda-linked terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, which carried out the deadly Bali, Indonesia, nightclub bombing in 2002, killing 202 people. The U.S. government alleges Hambali was part of a “second wave” plot to launch follow-up attacks inside the United States in coordination with Mohammed.
Nevin said the Senate report casts doubt on the role of the CIA’s program in stopping Hambali and implied that the CIA interrogations may not have stopped any further attacks.
Mitchell said “that argument is undercut” by the fact that detainees he’d interrogated “provided real information that stopped attacks.”
Mitchell critiqued the Senate report.
“They didn’t let me testify,” Mitchell said, adding that they “didn’t let any other CIA officers involved” testify either.
“This is the biased response of the Senate staffer who framed it,” Mitchell said, referencing the major role played by Dan Jones, the former Senate investigator who authored much of the report. Jones was played by Adam Driver in Amazon’s compelling but flawed film The Report.
“My objection is to the entire report when it is read independent of the Senate minority report, which debunks much of its analysis,” Mitchell said. “Don’t take my word for it, judge,” the psychologist added. ‘Read what the CIA said. Read what the Senate minority report said. They debunked this thoroughly.”
The 499-page summary of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s more than 6,700-page report concluded that “the CIA failed to adequately evaluate the effectiveness of its enhanced interrogation techniques.”
“The committee reviewed 20 of the most frequent and prominent examples of purported counter-terrorism successes that the CIA has attributed to the use of its enhanced interrogation techniques, and found them to be wrong in fundamental respects,” the report said.
Republicans on the committee, led by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and others, released a 167-page response disputing the majority’s conclusions.
“We have no doubt that the CIA's detention program saved lives and played a vital role in weakening al Qaeda while the program was in operation,” the GOP rebuttal said. “The rendition, detention, and interrogation program they created, of which enhanced interrogation was only a small part, enabled a stream of collection and intelligence validation that was unprecedented.”
The CIA’s 136-page 2013 response to the Senate majority report did “agree that the agency was unprepared” to “undertake what would be an unprecedented program of detaining and interrogating suspected al Qaeda and affiliated terrorists.” But “the agency disagrees with the study's unqualified assertions that the overall detention and interrogation program did not produce unique intelligence that led terrorist plots to be disrupted, terrorists to be captured, or lives to be saved.”
The agency said it “continues to assess that the capture of” Hambali in 2003 “resulted in large part from information obtained from Khalid Sheikh Muhammad” and “was a critical factor in the disruption of al Qaeda’s plan to conduct a Second Wave attack involving multiple airplanes crashing into buildings on the U.S. West Coast.”
Former CIA Directors George Tenet, Porter Goss, and Michael Hayden penned a joint Wall Street Journal op-ed pushing back against the Senate majority’s conclusions, claiming the interrogation program led to the capture of senior al Qaeda operatives, disrupted terrorist plots, and informed the agency’s ability to thwart al Qaeda operations.
“The interrogation program formed an essential part of the foundation from which the CIA and the U.S. military mounted the bin Laden operation,” the trio wrote. Their op-ed pointed to a website called “CIA Saved Lives” for more information.
In court at Guantanamo Bay, Mitchell said his book, Enhanced Interrogation, was based on the Senate’s majority and minority reports, the CIA’s response, and the “CIA Saved Lives” website.
“We were at war,” Mitchell wrote. “Our actions were necessary, effective, legal, authorized, and helped save lives.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-30--Guantanamo Bay interrogator accuses Obama CIA chief John Brennan of throwing him 'under the bus'

GUANTANAMO BAY , Cuba — The man viewed as the architect of the CIA ’ s enhanced interrogations program said in a war court hearing that former CIA director John Brennan and other Obama appointees at the spy agency threw him `` under the bus '' by allowing him to be used by former Guantanamo Bay detainees .
Dr. James Mitchell , 68 , a former Air Force survival school psychologist who worked for the CIA as an interrogator in the wake of the 9/11 attacks , leveled the accusation during hearings for the alleged plotters of the hijackings that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than a week 's testimony , the CIA psychologist was grilled by David Nevin , an attorney for self-proclaimed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed .
The lawyer asked about a 2015 lawsuit filed against Mitchell and his business partner , Dr. Bruce Jessen , by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of three former CIA black site detainees .
Those plaintiffs were Suleiman Abdullah Salim , Mohammed Ahmed Ben Soud , and Obaid Ullah as a representative of Gul Rahman , who died in agency custody in November 2002 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were tortured wrongly , ” Nevin said on Tuesday .
“ I disagree with your characterization that it was torture , ” Mitchell replied , adding that he sought medical attention for Rahman , an Afghan held at a black site dubbed “ Location 2 , ” believed to be in Afghanistan .
“ Gul Rahman — I saw him briefly for about 10 minutes , and I said to get him a physician , ” Mitchell testified .
When Rahman died , Mitchell said , the Obama administration allowed him and Jessen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Brennan and Obama political appointees at the CIA threw us under the bus.
” When the then-Democrat-led Senate Intelligence Committee released a report in December 2014 criticizing the actions taken by the CIA and by Mitchell and Jessen , Brennan acknowledged the CIA “ made mistakes ” but argued the agency ’ s enhanced interrogation program “ helped thwart attack plans.
” When Nevin pressed Mitchell on the outcome of the ACLU lawsuit , the psychologist demurred .
“ There is a settlement , ” he said , but “ there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying the amount.
” During his testimony that began last Tuesday , Mitchell repeatedly criticized the dark and grim conditions at Location 2 , where he said he only spent three hours during a one-day stop in the country .
He defended himself and Jessen against accusations of wrongdoing .
“ Let 's just take the case of Gul Rahman , ” Mitchell said last week .
“ Dr .
Jessen made a number of suggestions , right ?
Get a physician involved .
Get him some blankets .
You know , get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they continue to interrogate the guy , but if they had been interrogating him , he would n't have died of exposure , you know.
” Mitchell said he sat with Jessen as he wrote a cable to CIA ’ s ALEC Station : “ Well , he had been asked to do an assessment of whether or not EIT 's would be — should be applied to Gul Rahman , the one who unfortunately died of exposure .
And he determined that they should n't , that it would actually be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the resistance posture that he had .
But at the same time , when he wrote that cable back , he said get physicians involved , get him some blankets , get him some heaters , get him some better food , get — put Americans down there at night.
” He testified that he approached a physician 's assistant to get help for Rahman , whose wrists appeared to be infected .
`` He cursed at me and said he did n't have time to do it , '' Mitchell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that circumstance , I would have got a physician down there immediately .
And that is , in fact , what would have happened at a black site that I was at.
” The CIA psychologist quoted the medical officer as saying , “ I ’ m not here to provide medical care for fucking terrorists !
” Mitchell criticized the fact that Location 2 used native guards , likely Afghans , to guard people they ’ d just been fighting .
A January 2003 investigation by the CIA found “ no evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was deliberate.
” “ Hypothermia was the most likely cause of death of Gul Rahman , ” the CIA concluded .
“ His death was not deliberate , but resulted from his incarceration in a cold environment while nude from the waist down , and shackled in a position that prevented him from moving around to keep warm .
Additionally , this kept him in direct contact with the cold concrete floor leading to a loss of body heat through conduction.
” Mitchell and Jessen formed a consulting firm , Mitchell , Jessen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Between then and 2009 , their Spokane , Washington-based company received $ 81 million for work with the CIA ’ s rendition and detention group .
The agency gave Mitchell and Jessen an indemnification agreement protecting them from legal liability .
As of 2014 , the government had paid out $ 1 million , with an additional , undisclosed settlement paid in 2017 following the ACLU lawsuit .
Mitchell noted this week that “ President Obama ended my involvement in the CIA on his second day in office.
” Two days after he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed an executive order reversing President George W. Bush ’ s stance on enhanced interrogation techniques , ordering the U.S. government to stick to the guidelines outlined in the Army Field Manual and requiring the CIA to shut down any detention facilities it may have been operating .

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — The man viewed as the architect of the CIA’s enhanced interrogations program said in a war court hearing that former CIA director John Brennan and other Obama appointees at the spy agency threw him "under the bus" by allowing him to be used by former Guantanamo Bay detainees.
Dr. James Mitchell, 68, a former Air Force survival school psychologist who worked for the CIA as an interrogator in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, leveled the accusation during hearings for the alleged plotters of the hijackings that left nearly 3,000 people dead.
During more than a week's testimony, the CIA psychologist was grilled by David Nevin, an attorney for self-proclaimed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. The lawyer asked about a 2015 lawsuit filed against Mitchell and his business partner, Dr. Bruce Jessen, by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of three former CIA black site detainees. Those plaintiffs were Suleiman Abdullah Salim, Mohammed Ahmed Ben Soud, and Obaid Ullah as a representative of Gul Rahman, who died in agency custody in November 2002.
“You got sued by several people who were tortured wrongly,” Nevin said on Tuesday.
“I disagree with your characterization that it was torture,” Mitchell replied, adding that he sought medical attention for Rahman, an Afghan held at a black site dubbed “Location 2,” believed to be in Afghanistan.
“Gul Rahman — I saw him briefly for about 10 minutes, and I said to get him a physician,” Mitchell testified. When Rahman died, Mitchell said, the Obama administration allowed him and Jessen to take the blame and face litigation. “Brennan and Obama political appointees at the CIA threw us under the bus.”
When the then-Democrat-led Senate Intelligence Committee released a report in December 2014 criticizing the actions taken by the CIA and by Mitchell and Jessen, Brennan acknowledged the CIA “made mistakes” but argued the agency’s enhanced interrogation program “helped thwart attack plans.”
When Nevin pressed Mitchell on the outcome of the ACLU lawsuit, the psychologist demurred. “There is a settlement,” he said, but “there is a court order preventing me from saying the amount.”
During his testimony that began last Tuesday, Mitchell repeatedly criticized the dark and grim conditions at Location 2, where he said he only spent three hours during a one-day stop in the country. He defended himself and Jessen against accusations of wrongdoing.
“Let's just take the case of Gul Rahman,” Mitchell said last week. “Dr. Jessen made a number of suggestions, right? Get a physician involved. Get him some blankets. You know, get him adequate food. He suggested that they continue to interrogate the guy, but if they had been interrogating him, he wouldn't have died of exposure, you know.”
Mitchell said he sat with Jessen as he wrote a cable to CIA’s ALEC Station: “Well, he had been asked to do an assessment of whether or not EIT's would be — should be applied to Gul Rahman, the one who unfortunately died of exposure. And he determined that they shouldn't, that it would actually be a waste of time and increase his resistance because of the resistance posture that he had. But at the same time, when he wrote that cable back, he said get physicians involved, get him some blankets, get him some heaters, get him some better food, get — put Americans down there at night.”
He testified that he approached a physician's assistant to get help for Rahman, whose wrists appeared to be infected. "He cursed at me and said he didn't have time to do it," Mitchell said. "And so, in that circumstance, I would have got a physician down there immediately. And that is, in fact, what would have happened at a black site that I was at.”
The CIA psychologist quoted the medical officer as saying, “I’m not here to provide medical care for fucking terrorists!”
Mitchell criticized the fact that Location 2 used native guards, likely Afghans, to guard people they’d just been fighting.
A January 2003 investigation by the CIA found “no evidence to suggest that Rahman’s death was deliberate.”
“Hypothermia was the most likely cause of death of Gul Rahman,” the CIA concluded. “His death was not deliberate, but resulted from his incarceration in a cold environment while nude from the waist down, and shackled in a position that prevented him from moving around to keep warm. Additionally, this kept him in direct contact with the cold concrete floor leading to a loss of body heat through conduction.”
Mitchell and Jessen formed a consulting firm, Mitchell, Jessen, and Associates, in 2005. Between then and 2009, their Spokane, Washington-based company received $81 million for work with the CIA’s rendition and detention group. The agency gave Mitchell and Jessen an indemnification agreement protecting them from legal liability. As of 2014, the government had paid out $1 million, with an additional, undisclosed settlement paid in 2017 following the ACLU lawsuit.
Mitchell noted this week that “President Obama ended my involvement in the CIA on his second day in office.”
Two days after he was inaugurated in January 2009, Obama signed an executive order reversing President George W. Bush’s stance on enhanced interrogation techniques, ordering the U.S. government to stick to the guidelines outlined in the Army Field Manual and requiring the CIA to shut down any detention facilities it may have been operating.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-30--Stephen Colbert blasts 'tighty whitey' Dershowitz defense as 'logical turd'

Late-night comic Stephen Colbert slammed President Trump 's lawyer Alan Dershowitz by calling his defense of Trump a `` logical turd . ''
`` Sifting through , sifting through the logical turd Dershowitz just pinched out in the Senate well there , it 's hard to find the largest corn kernel of logical fallacy , '' said the host of The Late Show .
`` It 's we the people — not you , the douchebag . ''
Dershowitz , 81 , opposed the impeachment of President Bill Clinton and has argued that Trump 's alleged abuse of power is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ twist his perfectly logical defense .
`` Of course , esteemed counselor Tighty Whitey does think some quid pro quo might be possibly bad , '' continued Colbert before playing a clip of Dershowitz 's defense from Wednesday .
Meghan McCain , co-host of The View , said Dershowitz `` must be a pretty good lawyer '' after his successful defense of O.J .
Simpson in his murder case .
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham called Colbert a `` disgrace '' last week after the comedian attacked tweets posted by first lady @ @ @

Late-night comic Stephen Colbert slammed President Trump's lawyer Alan Dershowitz by calling his defense of Trump a "logical turd."
"Sifting through, sifting through the logical turd Dershowitz just pinched out in the Senate well there, it's hard to find the largest corn kernel of logical fallacy," said the host of The Late Show. "It's we the people — not you, the douchebag."
Dershowitz, 81, opposed the impeachment of President Bill Clinton and has argued that Trump's alleged abuse of power is not an impeachable offense while his opponents twist his perfectly logical defense.
"Of course, esteemed counselor Tighty Whitey does think some quid pro quo might be possibly bad," continued Colbert before playing a clip of Dershowitz's defense from Wednesday.
Meghan McCain, co-host of The View, said Dershowitz "must be a pretty good lawyer" after his successful defense of O.J. Simpson in his murder case.
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham called Colbert a "disgrace" last week after the comedian attacked tweets posted by first lady Melania Trump.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-30--'We’ve requested a simple saliva sample': Trump rape accuser seeks his DNA

A woman accusing President Trump of raping her decades ago has asked for a DNA sample to determine if his genetic material is on a dress she says she wore during the incident .
Writer E. Jean Carroll ’ s lawyers served notice to a Trump attorney Thursday for the president to submit a DNA sample on March 2 in Washington for “ analysis and comparison against unidentified male DNA present on the dress , ” the Associated Press reported .
An analysis of the Donna Karan black wool coat-style dress found a mix of DNA from at least four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on the sleeves , the lab report included with the legal notice said .
Several other people , whose names were redacted , were tested and ruled out as possible contributors , according to the lab report .
“ We ’ ve requested a simple saliva sample from Mr. Trump to test his DNA , and there really is no valid basis for him to object , ” Carroll ’ s lawyer Roberta Kaplan said .
Carroll , 76 , sued Trump , 73 , for defamation last year , claiming he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he raped her in a dressing room at Manhattan department store Bergdorf Goodman in the 1990s .
Trump called Carroll a liar and claimed he had never met her .
A New York state judge ruled earlier this month that the lawsuit could move forward after Trump ’ s legal team sought dismissal , arguing that the New York courts lack jurisdiction in the case because Trump was not living in the state when he made the comments that Carroll alleges defamed her .
“ Unidentified male DNA on the dress could prove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am , but also that he violently assaulted me in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman and then defamed me by lying about it and impugning my character , ” Carroll said in a statement Thursday .
President Bill Clinton submitted to a DNA test during an investigation into whether he had a sexual relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky .
Clinton lied under oath about the affair until Clinton ’ s semen was found on a blue dress belonging to Lewinsky .
He then acknowledged an “ inappropriate intimate relationship @ @ @ @

A woman accusing President Trump of raping her decades ago has asked for a DNA sample to determine if his genetic material is on a dress she says she wore during the incident.
Writer E. Jean Carroll’s lawyers served notice to a Trump attorney Thursday for the president to submit a DNA sample on March 2 in Washington for “analysis and comparison against unidentified male DNA present on the dress,” the Associated Press reported.
An analysis of the Donna Karan black wool coat-style dress found a mix of DNA from at least four people, including at least one male, on the sleeves, the lab report included with the legal notice said.
Several other people, whose names were redacted, were tested and ruled out as possible contributors, according to the lab report.
“We’ve requested a simple saliva sample from Mr. Trump to test his DNA, and there really is no valid basis for him to object,” Carroll’s lawyer Roberta Kaplan said.
Carroll, 76, sued Trump, 73, for defamation last year, claiming he lied when he denied her accusations that he raped her in a dressing room at Manhattan department store Bergdorf Goodman in the 1990s. Trump called Carroll a liar and claimed he had never met her.
A New York state judge ruled earlier this month that the lawsuit could move forward after Trump’s legal team sought dismissal, arguing that the New York courts lack jurisdiction in the case because Trump was not living in the state when he made the comments that Carroll alleges defamed her.
“Unidentified male DNA on the dress could prove that Donald Trump not only knows who I am, but also that he violently assaulted me in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman and then defamed me by lying about it and impugning my character,” Carroll said in a statement Thursday.
President Bill Clinton submitted to a DNA test during an investigation into whether he had a sexual relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Clinton lied under oath about the affair until Clinton’s semen was found on a blue dress belonging to Lewinsky. He then acknowledged an “inappropriate intimate relationship” with Lewinsky.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-30--Trump announces coronavirus task force

Trump announces coronavirus task force

President Trump announced the formation of a coronavirus task force , which the White House said has met daily since the start of the week .
Coordinated through the National Security Council , the group is led by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and includes national security adviser Robert O'Brien , Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun , Department of Homeland Security acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli , and Domestic Policy Council Director Joseph Grogan .
Azar worked under President George W. Bush during the SARS crisis and anthrax attack , while Anthony Fauci , a National Institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , also involved in the response , has managed federal health crisis responses since the 1980s .
Infectious disease experts are advising the group .
In a meeting led by the president Wednesday , Trump tweeted photos and praised the response by government agencies .
`` We have the best experts anywhere in the world , and they are on top of it 24/7 ! ''
Trump has otherwise said little on the growing health crisis , instead focusing his attention publicly on the White House 's Middle East peace plan and North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Global health experts said they planned to declare Thursday whether to announce a public health emergency as cases of coronavirus multiply .
Five confirmed cases are in the United States .

President Trump announced the formation of a coronavirus task force, which the White House said has met daily since the start of the week.
Coordinated through the National Security Council, the group is led by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and includes national security adviser Robert O'Brien, Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, Department of Homeland Security acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli, and Domestic Policy Council Director Joseph Grogan.
Azar worked under President George W. Bush during the SARS crisis and anthrax attack, while Anthony Fauci, a National Institute of Health director specializing in infectious disease, also involved in the response, has managed federal health crisis responses since the 1980s. Infectious disease experts are advising the group.
In a meeting led by the president Wednesday, Trump tweeted photos and praised the response by government agencies. "We have the best experts anywhere in the world, and they are on top of it 24/7!"
Just received a briefing on the Coronavirus in China from all of our GREAT agencies, who are also working closely with China. We will continue to monitor the ongoing developments. We have the best experts anywhere in the world, and they are on top of it 24/7! pic.twitter.com/rrtF1Stk78 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2020
Trump has otherwise said little on the growing health crisis, instead focusing his attention publicly on the White House's Middle East peace plan and North American trade deal with Mexico and Canada.
Global health experts said they planned to declare Thursday whether to announce a public health emergency as cases of coronavirus multiply. Five confirmed cases are in the United States.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-30--Bolton lawyer argues book doesn't contain top secret information and asks for expedited review

An attorney for John Bolton pushed back on the White House assertion that the former national security adviser ’ s forthcoming book contains classified information .
In an email sent to the White House on Jan. 24 , Bolton ’ s lawyer Charles Cooper asked for an expedited review of a chapter about Ukraine in case the former national security adviser is called to testify in President Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
“ We do not believe that any of that information could reasonably be considered classified , ” Cooper wrote , according to a copy of the email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 71 , is “ preparing ” for the possibility that he is called to testify and argued that it is “ imperative that we have the results of your review of that chapter as soon as possible.
” Bolton ’ s tell-all book about his time in the White House is set to be released March 17 , but the White House 's National Security Council 's Records Management Division sent a letter to Bolton 's attorney last week that said his manuscript `` appears to contain significant amounts of classified information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nondisclosure agreements your client signed , as a condition for gaining access to classified information , the manuscript may not be published or otherwise disclosed without the deletion of this classified information , ” the letter said .
Revelations about the contents of Bolton ’ s book have fueled calls to bring him in as a witness in the Senate trial .
Bolton alleged that Trump made security aid to Ukraine dependent on the country investigating his political rival Joe Biden , undermining the Trump defense team 's claim that the freeze @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the investigation .
Trump , 73 , has claimed the allegations in the book are “ untrue .
”

An attorney for John Bolton pushed back on the White House assertion that the former national security adviser’s forthcoming book contains classified information.
In an email sent to the White House on Jan. 24, Bolton’s lawyer Charles Cooper asked for an expedited review of a chapter about Ukraine in case the former national security adviser is called to testify in President Trump’s impeachment trial.
“We do not believe that any of that information could reasonably be considered classified,” Cooper wrote, according to a copy of the email he released Wednesday.
Cooper said Bolton, 71, is “preparing” for the possibility that he is called to testify and argued that it is “imperative that we have the results of your review of that chapter as soon as possible.”
Bolton’s tell-all book about his time in the White House is set to be released March 17, but the White House's National Security Council's Records Management Division sent a letter to Bolton's attorney last week that said his manuscript "appears to contain significant amounts of classified information."
"Under federal law and the nondisclosure agreements your client signed, as a condition for gaining access to classified information, the manuscript may not be published or otherwise disclosed without the deletion of this classified information,” the letter said.
Revelations about the contents of Bolton’s book have fueled calls to bring him in as a witness in the Senate trial. Bolton alleged that Trump made security aid to Ukraine dependent on the country investigating his political rival Joe Biden, undermining the Trump defense team's claim that the freeze of security assistance was not linked to the investigation.
Trump, 73, has claimed the allegations in the book are “untrue.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-30--WATCH LIVE: White House press briefing with Kellyanne Conway, drug czar, and public health official

The White House will hold a press briefing at 10 a.m. EST on Thursday with senior counselor Kellyanne Conway , @ @ @ @ @ Policy Director Jim Carroll , and Assistant Secretary of Public Health Adm. Brett Giroir .

The White House will hold a press briefing at 10 a.m. EST on Thursday with senior counselor Kellyanne Conway, Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Jim Carroll, and Assistant Secretary of Public Health Adm. Brett Giroir.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-30--Kellyanne Conway ‘not confident’ Obama holdovers aren't working against Trump

Top White House adviser Kellyanne Conway claimed that she believes there could be members of the executive branch hired under the previous administration who are undermining President Trump .
Trump took office more than three years ago , but Conway said his impeachment shows that several people put into power by President Barack Obama have sharp disagreements with the current president .
During a Wednesday interview on Fox News , Conway revealed that she believes some Democratic-appointed officials are still opposed to working for Trump .
“ People talk about the deep state , I talk about the shallow state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be that deep , and you don ’ t have to be here that long , but if you 're working cross-purposes to the president ’ s agenda , ” Conway began .
Host Laura Ingraham then asked Conway if she felt confident that most of the members of the executive branch who had ill-will toward Trump were out of the administration .
“ I ’ m not confident , ” Conway replied .
“ I ’ ve expressed that many times to many people , I am confident about that .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MAGA-world has a point when they say there are so many of us who would love to serve in this administration and never got a chance .
So I think that is a question for personnel and , frankly , for transition.
” Several people who were appointed under previous administrations have been involved in the impeachment process , including former U.S .
Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch , whom Trump eventually removed from her post .
The alleged whistleblower Eric Ciaramella , whose complaint sparked the proceedings , also worked under Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved in the proceedings , including U.S .
Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland , who testified in the House 's impeachment hearings .
Conway , 53 , is a counselor to the president in the White House .
She has been with Trump since leading his campaign in 2016 , despite his turbulent record with personnel .

Top White House adviser Kellyanne Conway claimed that she believes there could be members of the executive branch hired under the previous administration who are undermining President Trump.
Trump took office more than three years ago, but Conway said his impeachment shows that several people put into power by President Barack Obama have sharp disagreements with the current president. During a Wednesday interview on Fox News, Conway revealed that she believes some Democratic-appointed officials are still opposed to working for Trump.
“People talk about the deep state, I talk about the shallow state. It doesn’t have to be that deep, and you don’t have to be here that long, but if you're working cross-purposes to the president’s agenda,” Conway began.
Host Laura Ingraham then asked Conway if she felt confident that most of the members of the executive branch who had ill-will toward Trump were out of the administration.
“I’m not confident,” Conway replied. “I’ve expressed that many times to many people, I am confident about that. And I am confident about one thing: MAGA-world has a point when they say there are so many of us who would love to serve in this administration and never got a chance. So I think that is a question for personnel and, frankly, for transition.”
Several people who were appointed under previous administrations have been involved in the impeachment process, including former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, whom Trump eventually removed from her post. The alleged whistleblower Eric Ciaramella, whose complaint sparked the proceedings, also worked under Obama.
However, Trump-appointed officials were also involved in the proceedings, including U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, who testified in the House's impeachment hearings.
Conway, 53, is a counselor to the president in the White House. She has been with Trump since leading his campaign in 2016, despite his turbulent record with personnel.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-30--'I will not dignify those smears': Schiff shuts down question on aide with ties to alleged whistlebl

'I will not dignify those smears': Schiff shuts down question on aide with ties to alleged whistleblower

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff refused to answer a question during President Trump 's impeachment trial about why he hired a former colleague of the alleged Ukraine whistleblower .
Sen. Ron Johnson , a Republican from Wisconsin , asked the opposing legal teams on Thursday why the California Democrat hired former National Security Council official Sean Misko , 37 , the day after the July 25 phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that became an inciting incident for impeachment and what role he has played in the impeachment investigation .
Schiff , who is the lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the `` attacks '' on his staff and called the reporting on his staff a bunch of `` smears . ''
`` I will not dignify those smears on my staff by giving them any credence whatsoever , nor will I share any information that I believe could or could not lead to the identification of the whistleblower , '' he said .
Misko was the director for the Gulf States at the National Security Council between 2015 until the first half of 2018 .
The Washington Examiner has established that the whistleblower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NSC during the Obama administration and worked on Ukrainian issues with Joe Biden , the 2020 Democratic candidate , when he was vice president .
Republicans and conservative media figures believe CIA analyst Eric Ciaramella is the whistleblower whose complaint sparked impeachment proceedings , and the Washington Examiner was told by a former senior White House official that both had a close , “ bro-like ” relationship while working at the NSC together .
According to a RealClearInvestigations report , which Johnson cited , Misko once told Ciaramella , `` 'We need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out the president.
’ '' Supreme Court Justice John Roberts , who is presiding over the Senate impeachment trial , has rejected any question that name the alleged whistleblower , prompting Sen. Rand Paul , a Kentucky Republican , to read Ciaramella 's name to reporters on Thursday .
Johnson 's question mentions the alleged whistleblower but did not state a name .
Schiff argued that Republicans are using press reports about the alleged whistleblower to `` smear '' his staff and spoke about the need to protect whistleblowers in the government , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they deal with classified information .
`` When you jeopardize a whistleblower by trying to out them this way , then you are threatening not just this whistleblower but the entire system , '' Schiff said .
`` The president would like nothing better than that .
And I 'm sure the president is applauding this question because he wants his pound of flesh .
And he wants to punish anyone that has the courage to stand up to him . ''
Schiff has faced accusations of a `` cover-up '' because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff before filing the complaint and because he walked back a claim in an interview last year in which he said , `` We have not spoken directly to the whistleblower . ''
On Thursday , Schiff denied knowing the identity of the whistleblower but declared the whistleblower `` should be every one of us . ''

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff refused to answer a question during President Trump's impeachment trial about why he hired a former colleague of the alleged Ukraine whistleblower.
Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, asked the opposing legal teams on Thursday why the California Democrat hired former National Security Council official Sean Misko, 37, the day after the July 25 phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that became an inciting incident for impeachment and what role he has played in the impeachment investigation.
Schiff, who is the lead impeachment manager, answered first by condemning the "attacks" on his staff and called the reporting on his staff a bunch of "smears."
"I will not dignify those smears on my staff by giving them any credence whatsoever, nor will I share any information that I believe could or could not lead to the identification of the whistleblower," he said.
.@RepAdamSchiff: "This question refers to allegation in a newspaper article which are circulating smears on my staff and ask me to respond to those smears. I will not dignify those smears on my staff by giving them any credence whatsoever." pic.twitter.com/femseSnEDJ — CSPAN (@cspan) January 30, 2020
Misko was the director for the Gulf States at the National Security Council between 2015 until the first half of 2018. The Washington Examiner has established that the whistleblower is a CIA officer who was on the NSC during the Obama administration and worked on Ukrainian issues with Joe Biden, the 2020 Democratic candidate, when he was vice president.
Republicans and conservative media figures believe CIA analyst Eric Ciaramella is the whistleblower whose complaint sparked impeachment proceedings, and the Washington Examiner was told by a former senior White House official that both had a close, “bro-like” relationship while working at the NSC together. According to a RealClearInvestigations report, which Johnson cited, Misko once told Ciaramella, "'We need to do everything we can to take out the president.’"
Supreme Court Justice John Roberts, who is presiding over the Senate impeachment trial, has rejected any question that name the alleged whistleblower, prompting Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, to read Ciaramella's name to reporters on Thursday. Johnson's question mentions the alleged whistleblower but did not state a name.
Schiff argued that Republicans are using press reports about the alleged whistleblower to "smear" his staff and spoke about the need to protect whistleblowers in the government, particularly those in the intelligence community because they deal with classified information.
"When you jeopardize a whistleblower by trying to out them this way, then you are threatening not just this whistleblower but the entire system," Schiff said. "The president would like nothing better than that. And I'm sure the president is applauding this question because he wants his pound of flesh. And he wants to punish anyone that has the courage to stand up to him."
Schiff has faced accusations of a "cover-up" because the whistleblower met with a member of his staff before filing the complaint and because he walked back a claim in an interview last year in which he said, "We have not spoken directly to the whistleblower."
On Thursday, Schiff denied knowing the identity of the whistleblower but declared the whistleblower "should be every one of us."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-30--Pelosi: Without new witnesses, Trump 'cannot be acquitted'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters the president will not be exonerated if the Senate acquits him by this weekend because the trial would not be a fair one .
“ He will not be acquitted , ” Pelosi said Thursday .
“ You can not be acquitted if you do n't have a trial .
And you do n't have a trial if you do n't have witnesses and documentation.
” The Senate is poised to vote Friday on whether to end the trial and vote on two impeachment charges or continue the proceedings by calling new witnesses and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Senate Republican majority is growing confident they can defeat a motion to call new witnesses , but it might be close .
The party controls 53 votes , and at least three Republicans are considering a vote to call witnesses .
A 50-50 vote could result — in which case , the motion would fail and no new witnesses would be called .
Pelosi said in the event of a tie , the Senate should let Chief Justice John Roberts , a GOP high court appointee , be the tie breaker .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trial that would have authorized Roberts to subpoena witnesses and documents .
“ Republican-appointed in a Republican majority court , ” Pelosi said .
“ I would think that they would have confidence in the chief justice of the United States .
That 's his — really his title .
And that 's interesting to me , that they 're afraid of breaking a tie with a chief justice of the United States.
” Murkowski has expressed interest in hearing witness testimony but is undecided on how she will ultimately vote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain .
It takes 67 votes to convict the president on either of two impeachment articles .

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters the president will not be exonerated if the Senate acquits him by this weekend because the trial would not be a fair one.
“He will not be acquitted,” Pelosi said Thursday. “You cannot be acquitted if you don't have a trial. And you don't have a trial if you don't have witnesses and documentation.”
The Senate is poised to vote Friday on whether to end the trial and vote on two impeachment charges or continue the proceedings by calling new witnesses and seeking documents from the Trump administration.
The Senate Republican majority is growing confident they can defeat a motion to call new witnesses, but it might be close.
The party controls 53 votes, and at least three Republicans are considering a vote to call witnesses.
A 50-50 vote could result — in which case, the motion would fail and no new witnesses would be called.
Pelosi said in the event of a tie, the Senate should let Chief Justice John Roberts, a GOP high court appointee, be the tie breaker.
That’s unlikely.
Senate Republicans blocked a motion early in the trial that would have authorized Roberts to subpoena witnesses and documents.
“Republican-appointed in a Republican majority court,” Pelosi said. “I would think that they would have confidence in the chief justice of the United States. That's his — really his title. And that's interesting to me, that they're afraid of breaking a tie with a chief justice of the United States.”
Senate Republicans want to avoid a tie vote.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, met privately Wednesday morning with Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, a key Republican swing vote.
Murkowski has expressed interest in hearing witness testimony but is undecided on how she will ultimately vote.
Trump’s acquittal is all but certain. It takes 67 votes to convict the president on either of two impeachment articles.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-30--House repeals 2002 war authorization and upholds Constitution in bipartisan vote

It ’ s a rare day that constitutional conservatives ought to applaud far-left Democratic Reps. Ro Khanna and Barbara Lee .
But today is that day .
The House of Representatives voted Thursday afternoon on an amendment the two sponsored that repeals the 2002 Authorization of the Use of Military Force .
It ’ s an amendment that deserves applause even from conservatives , as it 's a first step toward reasserting Congress ’ s proper war powers and limiting the potential of future executive abuse .
It would also require that , in light of President Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soleimani , the president obtain proper congressional authorization if any protracted military conflict with Iran emerges before funds can be used .
Seeing as how costly and difficult a war with Iran would be , this measure is well-warranted , as the president should have to go through the proper process before launching any such full-blown conflict if it does ever come to that .
What is the It granted the president authorization to use limited military force in Iraq to protect the United States and take down Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. government ’ s assertion that Hussein had at his disposal “ weapons of mass destruction , ” which we know now was not really the case .
The authorization covered a goal we have already achieved ( Hussein was killed in 2006 ) based on a faulty premise .
It stretches incredulity to argue that such a resolution can be used to authorize instances of military engagement such as Soleimani 's killing ( an Iranian , not Iraqi ) now , in a completely different situation in Iraq .
Yet that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials If we truly need to take military action in Iraq today , the president needs to seek proper modern authorization to do so .
There are , of course , several other arguments that can be made as to why Trump ’ s strike on Soleimani was within his proper authority .
But citing the 2002 authorization is not one of them , and claims otherwise are a prime example of why Congress should not leave this outdated authorization on the books at the disposal of future presidents , ripe for abuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this .
Conservative veterans group Concerned Veterans for America came out in support of the 2002 authorization repeal , as did its Americans for Prosperity .
Additionally , about a dozen House Republicans , including Reps. Chip Roy , Matt Gaetz , and Thomas Massie voted in support of repeal , and stalwarts in the Senate such as Sen. Rand Paul have long advocated for reform on this issue .
Meanwhile , staunchly pro-Trump Freedom Caucus leaders Reps. Andy Biggs and Warren Davidson support the repeal , writing in a Washington Examiner that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bipartisan status quo by refusing to debate the authorization , while continuing to fund more wars in more places.
” We need more strong conservative leaders to stand up for the Constitution ’ s properly defined war powers to take a stand against the endless wars and Middle East adventurism that has cost taxpayers trillions and sent thousands of American heroes to early graves .
Repealing the 2002 war authorization is just the start .

It’s a rare day that constitutional conservatives ought to applaud far-left Democratic Reps. Ro Khanna and Barbara Lee. But today is that day.
The House of Representatives voted Thursday afternoon on an amendment the two sponsored that repeals the 2002 Authorization of the Use of Military Force. It’s an amendment that deserves applause even from conservatives, as it's a first step toward reasserting Congress’s proper war powers and limiting the potential of future executive abuse.
It would also require that, in light of President Trump’s killing of Iranian general and terrorist Qassem Soleimani, the president obtain proper congressional authorization if any protracted military conflict with Iran emerges before funds can be used. Seeing as how costly and difficult a war with Iran would be, this measure is well-warranted, as the president should have to go through the proper process before launching any such full-blown conflict if it does ever come to that.
.@RepBarbaraLee and I are saying:
1. Any current AUMFs do NOT cover a war with Iran.
2. We should repeal the 2002 AUMF anyway, because that was a disaster.
3. The President *must* come to Congress before he takes any offensive military action, or uses any Pentagon $$. pic.twitter.com/RNXz8V4l81 — Rep. Ro Khanna (@RepRoKhanna) January 30, 2020
What is the 2002 authorization?
It granted the president authorization to use limited military force in Iraq to protect the United States and take down Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. It was based in large part on the U.S. government’s assertion that Hussein had at his disposal “weapons of mass destruction,” which we know now was not really the case. The authorization covered a goal we have already achieved (Hussein was killed in 2006) based on a faulty premise.
It stretches incredulity to argue that such a resolution can be used to authorize instances of military engagement such as Soleimani's killing (an Iranian, not Iraqi) now, in a completely different situation in Iraq. Yet that’s one of the justifications administration officials have cited. If we truly need to take military action in Iraq today, the president needs to seek proper modern authorization to do so.
There are, of course, several other arguments that can be made as to why Trump’s strike on Soleimani was within his proper authority. But citing the 2002 authorization is not one of them, and claims otherwise are a prime example of why Congress should not leave this outdated authorization on the books at the disposal of future presidents, ripe for abuse.
Thankfully, many constitutional conservatives understand this. Conservative veterans group Concerned Veterans for America came out in support of the 2002 authorization repeal , as did its sister organization Americans for Prosperity.
Amen, Mr. President. I will vote "yes" on repealing the 2002 Iraq AUMF.
Also, after operating for 18-years under the 2001 AUMF, which is being used to justify U.S. military activities in more than a dozen countries, including Yemen and Somalia, we should debate a new, modern... https://t.co/SxJgASz47f — Rep. Chip Roy (@RepChipRoy) January 29, 2020
Additionally, about a dozen House Republicans, including Reps. Chip Roy, Matt Gaetz, and Thomas Massie voted in support of repeal, and stalwarts in the Senate such as Sen. Rand Paul have long advocated for reform on this issue.
Meanwhile, staunchly pro-Trump Freedom Caucus leaders Reps. Andy Biggs and Warren Davidson support the repeal, writing in a Washington Examiner opinion piece that “successive Congresses have preserved the broken bipartisan status quo by refusing to debate the authorization, while continuing to fund more wars in more places.”
We need more strong conservative leaders to take a stand against the endless wars and Middle East adventurism that has cost taxpayers trillions and sent thousands of American heroes to early graves. Repealing the 2002 Iraq war authorization is just the start.