shareblue--2020-06-17--Gaetz loses temper at police violence hearing: 'Who in the hell do you think you are?'

Rep. Matt Gaetz ( R-FL ) lost his temper and yelled at Rep. Cedric Richmond ( D-LA ) during a congressional committee meeting on Wednesday .
The exchange occurred during a meeting of the House Judiciary Committee as members were working on the text of the Justice in Policing Act , which is aimed at addressing police violence in the wake of the killing of George Floyd .
Richmond , who joined Congress in 2011 , six years before Gaetz , said he was attempting to make it `` crystal clear '' to his Republican colleagues that his support of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the future of his Black child .
In response , Gaetz asked , `` Are you suggesting that you are certain that none of us have nonwhite children ? ''
Richmond then reclaimed his time from Gaetz , cutting off what he described as an attempt to `` sidetrack '' the debate .
`` It is not about the color of your kids .
It is about Black males , Black people in the streets that are getting killed , '' said Richmond , `` And if one of them happens to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him too .
And clearly I 'm more concerned about him than you are . ''
`` You 're claiming you have more concern for my family than I do ?
Who in the HELL do you think you are ? ''
Gaetz shouted in response .
RICHMOND : I do n't want to leave this conversation — and why I 'm speaking now instead of later — is because I do n't want you all to leave here saying , `` Well , we did n't know .
We did n't know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
I want it to be crystal clear , and I will give you the benefit of the doubt that it is unconscious bias that I 'm hearing .
Because at worst , it 's conscious bias , and that I would hate to assume from any of the people on the other side .
GAETZ : I appreciate your passion .
Are you suggesting that you 're certain that none of us have nonwhite children ?
Because you reflected on your Black son , and you said none of us could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stop .
I 'm not about to get sidetracked about the color of our children .
We 're talking about Black kids — RICHMOND : I reclaim my time .
I reclaimed my time .
I already know that there are people on the other side that have Black grandchildren .
It is not about the color of your kids .
It is about Black males , Black people in the streets that are getting killed .
And if one of them happens to be your kid , I 'm concerned about him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerned about him than you are .
So let 's be clear about that .
GAETZ : You 're claiming you have more concern for my family than I do ?
Who in the HELL do you think you are ?
GAETZ : You do n't know how much we care about our families .
It is outrageous .
You should take those words down .
I know you care about your family and love your family .
So do we , damnit !
GAETZ : Yeah !
You 're damn right it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exchange , Rep. Mike Johnson ( R-LA ) asked Richmond why Republicans were not allowed to assist with the House bill on police reform .
Richmond said : `` People on the streets right now are demanding action — right now . ''
The Republican bill introduced in the Senate , Richmond said , is a `` watered-down bill , and right now this is a national crisis . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) lost his temper and yelled at Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA) during a congressional committee meeting on Wednesday.
The exchange occurred during a meeting of the House Judiciary Committee as members were working on the text of the Justice in Policing Act, which is aimed at addressing police violence in the wake of the killing of George Floyd.
Richmond, who joined Congress in 2011, six years before Gaetz, said he was attempting to make it “crystal clear” to his Republican colleagues that his support of the bill was based on concern for the future of his Black child.
In response, Gaetz asked, “Are you suggesting that you are certain that none of us have nonwhite children?”
Richmond then reclaimed his time from Gaetz, cutting off what he described as an attempt to “sidetrack” the debate.
“It is not about the color of your kids. It is about Black males, Black people in the streets that are getting killed,” said Richmond, ” And if one of them happens to be your kid, I’m concerned about him too. And clearly I’m more concerned about him than you are.”
“You’re claiming you have more concern for my family than I do? Who in the HELL do you think you are?” Gaetz shouted in response.
From the June 17 congressional hearing:
RICHMOND: I don’t want to leave this conversation — and why I’m speaking now instead of later — is because I don’t want you all to leave here saying, “Well, we didn’t know. We didn’t know that’s how you felt, Cedric.” I want it to be crystal clear, and I will give you the benefit of the doubt that it is unconscious bias that I’m hearing. Because at worst, it’s conscious bias, and that I would hate to assume from any of the people on the other side. GAETZ: Will the gentleman yield? RICHMOND: Sure. GAETZ: I appreciate your passion. Are you suggesting that you’re certain that none of us have nonwhite children? Because you reflected on your Black son, and you said none of us could understand— RICHMOND: Matt. Matt. Stop. I’m not about to get sidetracked about the color of our children. We’re talking about Black kids — [crosstalk] RICHMOND: I reclaim my time. I reclaimed my time. I already know that there are people on the other side that have Black grandchildren. It is not about the color of your kids. It is about Black males, Black people in the streets that are getting killed. And if one of them happens to be your kid, I’m concerned about him too. And clearly I’m more concerned about him than you are. So let’s be clear about that. GAETZ: You’re claiming you have more concern for my family than I do? Who in the HELL do you think you are? RICHMOND: If the shoe fits. GAETZ: You don’t know how much we care about our families. It is outrageous. You should take those words down. I know you care about your family and love your family. So do we, damnit! RICHMOND: Was that a nerve? GAETZ: Yeah! You’re damn right it was a nerve.
After that heated exchange, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) asked Richmond why Republicans were not allowed to assist with the House bill on police reform. Richmond said: “People on the streets right now are demanding action — right now.” The Republican bill introduced in the Senate, Richmond said, is a “watered-down bill, and right now this is a national crisis.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-17--Former Army secretary endorses Biden for his 'moral leadership'

The first openly gay Army secretary says he 's supporting Joe Biden for president , the latest endorsement from a former military leader who had criticized Donald Trump over his handling of anti-racism demonstrations .
Eric Fanning , who held a variety of Navy and Air Force civilian positions and was Army secretary from 2016 to 2017 , on Wednesday cited Biden 's `` empathy '' and `` integrity '' in engaging with members of the military .
`` The next president faces a monumental task : repairing our damaged democracy and our eroded moral leadership around the world , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I know Vice President Biden will be a commander in chief who leads the world 's greatest military by upholding its values . ''
Fanning pointed to Biden 's early support of gays and lesbians , including guiding repeal of the `` Do n't Ask , Do n't Tell '' policy to allow them to serve openly in the armed forces .
He recounted Biden 's commencement speech at West Point four years ago and how the former vice president saluted class president and First Captain E.J .
Coleman , who had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden 's leadership in steering repeal of 'Do n't Ask , Do n't Tell ' ensured that E.J .
and thousands like him over the past decade were never forced to live a lie in order to serve the country they love , '' he said .
Fanning is among 89 former senior defense officials who recently signed an op-ed to voice opposition to Trump 's threatened use of active-duty troops to quell protests over George Floyd 's killing by Minneapolis police .
Colin Powell , former chairman of the Joint Chiefs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Others , including former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis , have criticized Trump 's leadership .
Retired military leaders typically are guarded in expressing private political views .
Trump , a Republican , has faced increased strain with the Pentagon over concerns about politicizing the military , with both Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Gen. Mark Milley , the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , distancing themselves from him over the protests .

The first openly gay Army secretary says he’s supporting Joe Biden for president, the latest endorsement from a former military leader who had criticized Donald Trump over his handling of anti-racism demonstrations.
Eric Fanning, who held a variety of Navy and Air Force civilian positions and was Army secretary from 2016 to 2017, on Wednesday cited Biden’s “empathy” and “integrity” in engaging with members of the military.
“The next president faces a monumental task: repairing our damaged democracy and our eroded moral leadership around the world,” Fanning said in his announcement. “I know Vice President Biden will be a commander in chief who leads the world’s greatest military by upholding its values.”
Fanning pointed to Biden’s early support of gays and lesbians, including guiding repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy to allow them to serve openly in the armed forces. He recounted Biden’s commencement speech at West Point four years ago and how the former vice president saluted class president and First Captain E.J. Coleman, who had recently come out as gay.
“Joe Biden’s leadership in steering repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ ensured that E.J. and thousands like him over the past decade were never forced to live a lie in order to serve the country they love,” he said.
Fanning is among 89 former senior defense officials who recently signed an op-ed to voice opposition to Trump’s threatened use of active-duty troops to quell protests over George Floyd’s killing by Minneapolis police.
Colin Powell, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, endorsed Biden last week. Others, including former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, have criticized Trump’s leadership. Retired military leaders typically are guarded in expressing private political views.
Trump, a Republican, has faced increased strain with the Pentagon over concerns about politicizing the military, with both Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, distancing themselves from him over the protests.
Biden clinched the Democratic presidential nomination earlier this month.


shareblue--2020-06-17--Kellyanne Conway is suddenly very worried about fact-checking

Senior White House aide Kellyanne Conway claimed on Wednesday that she worries that there is `` very little fact-checking '' done in books about Donald Trump .
Conway 's remarks came after she was questioned about an upcoming book from former Trump national security adviser John Bolton .
The Trump administration has sued Bolton before the book 's release .
The book reportedly contains several personally embarrassing revelations about Trump .
Without making any specific claims , Conway said that she had seen errors in previous books that have exposed the inner workings of the Trump administration .
She called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all types of work . ''
In her role as part of the administration , Conway has frequently lied and misled both reporters and the public .
Most infamously , Conway invented a terrorist attack she dubbed the `` Bowling Green Massacre '' while attempting to defend the administration 's travel ban on Muslims .
And just two weeks ago , Conway claimed it was a `` mischaracterization '' to call Trump 's photo-op at St. John 's Episcopal Church in Lafayette Park a photo-op .
KELLYANNE CONWAY : I think if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're wrong about big things .
And I really do worry that there is very little fact-checking in these books .
I 've seen ones that have been completely wrong .
I 've seen quotes attributed to somebody when it was obviously somebody else in that private meeting who said it .
Not that the private meeting should be revealed in any circumstance without permission .
But that 's a concern too , which is , what are the fact checking , what are the rigors ?
And again , I know that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I hope you 'll apply that to all types of work .
It 's not about just the Bolton book , I mean all types of work , because you have n't in the past .
There have been many errors in all these books that , as long as they 're scintillating , as long as they do n't get the story , they get the president and the people around him , we just go with it , we go with it .
`` That 's Simon and Schuster 's problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem independently .
You need to make sure that those facts are right also .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Senior White House aide Kellyanne Conway claimed on Wednesday that she worries that there is “very little fact-checking” done in books about Donald Trump.
Conway’s remarks came after she was questioned about an upcoming book from former Trump national security adviser John Bolton. The Trump administration has sued Bolton before the book’s release.
The book reportedly contains several personally embarrassing revelations about Trump.
Without making any specific claims, Conway said that she had seen errors in previous books that have exposed the inner workings of the Trump administration. She called on reporters to apply fact-checking to “all types of work.”
In her role as part of the administration, Conway has frequently lied and misled both reporters and the public.
Most infamously, Conway invented a terrorist attack she dubbed the “Bowling Green Massacre” while attempting to defend the administration’s travel ban on Muslims. And just two weeks ago, Conway claimed it was a “mischaracterization” to call Trump’s photo-op at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lafayette Park a photo-op.
From a June 17 press availability:
KELLYANNE CONWAY: I think if you’re wrong about small things, you’re wrong about big things. And I really do worry that there is very little fact-checking in these books. I’ve seen ones that have been completely wrong. I’ve seen quotes attributed to somebody when it was obviously somebody else in that private meeting who said it. Not that the private meeting should be revealed in any circumstance without permission. But that’s a concern too, which is, what are the fact checking, what are the rigors? And again, I know that you’re all for fact-checking, so I hope you’ll apply that to all types of work. It’s not about just the Bolton book, I mean all types of work, because you haven’t in the past. There have been many errors in all these books that, as long as they’re scintillating, as long as they don’t get the story, they get the president and the people around him, we just go with it, we go with it. “That’s Simon and Schuster’s problem.” No, it’s your problem independently. You need to make sure that those facts are right also.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-17--18 kinds of lawsuits Trump loves — and 8 he hates

Donald Trump announced this week that he would use the courts to try to stop publication of an unfavorable book about him .
But a review of his history reveals his contradictory views about the circumstances in which lawsuits are and are not legitimate .
Trump 's Justice Department filed a lawsuit on Tuesday aiming to block publication of a book by his former national security adviser , John Bolton .
Trump warned Monday that Bolton might face a `` criminal problem '' if the book revealed information the administration deemed classified .
Trump asserted that `` every conversation '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Daily Beast reported on Wednesday that Trump may also sue his niece , Mary Trump , to stop her from publishing a book about their family .
Throughout his business and political careers , Trump has been involved in thousands of lawsuits .
He has frequently threatened to sue his critics and enemies , but has often attacked the lawsuits filed against him as illegitimate .
The White House did not respond to an inquiry for comment about these inconsistencies .
Here are 18 reasons Trump thinks it 's fine to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical of him In addition to his attempts to silence John Bolton , Trump threatened in January 2018 to sue author Michael Wolff , his publisher Henry Holt , and one of Wolff 's sources .
Trump called Wolff 's unflattering `` Fire and Fury : Inside the Trump White House '' a `` really boring and untruthful book . ''
Trump threatened in 2015 to sue the Club for Growth for millions of dollars after the conservative group ran ads questioning his conservative credentials .
`` We will not sit idly by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action committees like yours to defame Mr. Trump , '' his lawyer wrote .
He made a similar threat that year against primary opponent John Kasich over ads produced by a super PAC that supported the Ohio governor 's run .
To retaliate against the media Trump reportedly threatened to sue the Associated Press over an October 2015 article about a Trump-branded project in Panama .
In May 2016 , he told the Washington Post that he would `` be bringing more libel suits '' against `` unfair '' media outlets , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2013 , Trump brought — and then dropped — a $ 5 million lawsuit against television host Bill Maher .
Maher had satirized Trump 's racist crusade against Barack Obama , claiming that Obama was not born in the United States , by offering to donate money to charity if Trump could prove he himself was not the son of an orangutan .
To stop stations from airing negative ads about him Trump filed a lawsuit in April against a Wisconsin television station for airing a super PAC ad hitting his response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatened other stations with legal action and loss of broadcasting licenses if they continued to run the spot , which he claimed was misleading .
To undermine questions about his net worth Trump unsuccessfully sued author Timothy O'Brien after O'Brien 's 2005 book `` TrumpNation : The Art of Being Donald '' put Trump 's net worth at only $ 150 million to $ 250 million .
Trump , who had claimed to be worth more than $ 5 billion , claimed this was defamation .
According to a 2018 ProPublica report , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get reduced tax assessments .
The outlet found `` at least nine new lawsuits '' filed by Trump 's companies `` arguing for lower tax bills '' since he was elected .
To stop beauty pageant contestants from questioning his competitions Trump announced in 2012 that he was suing a `` Miss Pennsylvania , '' Sheena Monnin , after she wrote on Facebook that his Miss Universe competition was `` fraudulent '' and `` trashy . ''
`` When she 's using the word 'fraud , ' that 's pretty strong , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her on that basis , '' Trump told NBC News .
To force a television network to air his beauty pageants Trump sued Univision in 2015 after the network terminated its contract with the Miss Universe Organization over his `` insulting remarks about Mexican immigrants . ''
In his breach-of-contract and defamation suit , Trump called the move a `` politically motivated attempt to suppress '' his free speech .
To silence women who accuse him of sexual predation Over the past four years , at least 41 women have accused Trump of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of the charges , he threatened during the 2016 campaign to sue his accusers .
`` All of these liars will be sued after the election is over , '' he vowed .
After backing previous legal challenges to Obamacare , Trump announced last month that he would again push the Supreme Court to strike down the law in its entirety .
`` We want to terminate health care under Obamacare , '' he told reporters .
To challenge Ted Cruz 's eligibility to be president Trump said in February 2016 that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican primary opponent Sen. Ted Cruz ineligible for the presidency based on the fact that he was born in Canada .
`` If @ TedCruz does n't clean up his act , stop cheating , & doing negative ads , '' he tweeted , `` I have standing to sue him for not being a natural born citizen . ''
To challenge his loss in the 2016 Iowa caucuses After Cruz won the 2016 Iowa caucuses , Trump claimed he had been the victim of fraud .
He threatened to challenge the results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the fraud committed by Senator Ted Cruz during the Iowa Caucus , either a new election should take place or Cruz results nullified . ''
To force a prominent chef to open a restaurant at his hotel Trump 's Washington , D.C. , hotel filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Chef José Andrés ' company in 2015 after it pulled out of a deal over Trump 's racist comments about Mexican immigrants .
Andrés countersued .
The case was settled in 2017 .
To go after members of Congress who oppose him In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted to sue Rep. Adam Schiff ( D-CA ) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over the impeachment process .
`` I actually told my lawyers , I said , 'Sue him anyway , ' '' he said after Schiff paraphrased a conversation between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky .
`` He 's got immunity , but they ca n't mean immunity for that .
I said , 'Sue him anyway .
Even if we lose , the American public will understand . '
And sue Nancy Pelosi , or maybe we should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lying , and what they are doing is a terrible thing for our country . ''
To punish Twitter users who trick him After a Twitter user tricked Trump into retweeting a photo of serial killers in 2014 , Trump angrily threatened a lawsuit .
`` Some jerk fraudulently tweeted that his parents said I was a big inspiration to them + pls RT—out of kindness I retweeted , '' Trump said .
`` Maybe I 'll sue . ''
The Trump administration filed lawsuits against governments in California , New Jersey , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanctuary '' laws limiting state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts .
Trump had previously sued California over the same issue in 2018 , calling its laws `` illegal and unconstitutional . ''
After cyclist Lance Armstrong admitted in 2013 to doping , Trump repeatedly tweeted that he would and should be sued .
`` Lance Armstrong 's liability & lawsuits against him have just increased tenfold—his lawyers will be very happy—lots of fees ! ''
he said in one .
`` Lance Armstrong just got sued by the Federal Government-they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
What was he thinking when he did that [ interview ] ? ''
he asked in another .
Here are eight kinds of lawsuits he strongly opposes : Trump complained in 2018 after New York 's attorney general sued his charitable foundation that the `` sleazy '' Democrats `` are doing everything they can to sue me on a foundation that took in $ 18,800,000 and gave out to charity more money than it took in , $ 19,200,000 .
I wo n't settle this case ! ''
He paid $ 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump was similarly defiant when former students sued his defunct `` Trump University '' for fraud .
Trump claimed in 2016 : `` Trump University has a 98 % approval rating .
I could have settled but wo n't out of principle ! ''
He paid $ 25 million to claimants in a 2018 settlement .
Lawsuits against his campaign over coronavirus safety Trump 's campaign plans to hold its first rally since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the nation this weekend in Tulsa , Oklahoma .
Those signing up to attend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waiver acknowledging their risk of contracting the coronavirus and waiving any right to sue Trump 2020 or the venue should they be infected .
Lawsuits against businesses that spread the coronavirus Trump has pushed to provide immunity to businesses that reopen from suits filed by customers and employees who get the virus , even if the business was responsible .
He demanded in May that Congress pass `` lawsuit indemnification '' as part of its next coronavirus response legislation .
Lawsuits against him while he is in office Trump has sought to block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidency , claiming immunity .
`` I have an Article II , where I have the right to do whatever I want as president , '' he told an audience of conservative teens last summer , asserting that the Constitution grants him protection from even being investigated .
Trump angrily tweeted in 2012 that , according to a right-wing site , medical malpractice claims would increase under Obamacare .
`` Remember how @ ObamaCare did not have any tort reform ?
Now the trial lawyers are getting ready for even more lawsuits , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical of other medical malpractice torts .
In 2017 , he proposed strict caps on damages , a shorter statute of limitation for claims , and other rules to make it harder for patients to sue .
His budget proposal stated this would `` reduce defensive medicine … limit liability , reduce provider burden , promote evidence-based practices , and strengthen the physician-patient relationship . ''
After New York Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez was implicated in a performance-enhancing drug scandal in 2013 , Trump repeatedly attacked him .
He tweeted , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sue the @ Yankees .
He will go down as the biggest sports embarrassment of all time . ''
Rodriguez did not sue the Yankees .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump announced this week that he would use the courts to try to stop publication of an unfavorable book about him. But a review of his history reveals his contradictory views about the circumstances in which lawsuits are and are not legitimate.
Trump’s Justice Department filed a lawsuit on Tuesday aiming to block publication of a book by his former national security adviser, John Bolton. Trump warned Monday that Bolton might face a “criminal problem” if the book revealed information the administration deemed classified. Trump asserted that “every conversation” he has had as president is classified.
The Daily Beast reported on Wednesday that Trump may also sue his niece, Mary Trump, to stop her from publishing a book about their family.
Throughout his business and political careers, Trump has been involved in thousands of lawsuits. He has frequently threatened to sue his critics and enemies, but has often attacked the lawsuits filed against him as illegitimate.
The White House did not respond to an inquiry for comment about these inconsistencies.
Here are 18 reasons Trump thinks it’s fine to sue:
To block books that are critical of him
In addition to his attempts to silence John Bolton, Trump threatened in January 2018 to sue author Michael Wolff, his publisher Henry Holt, and one of Wolff’s sources. Trump called Wolff’s unflattering “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House” a “really boring and untruthful book.”
To punish opponents for negative ads
Trump threatened in 2015 to sue the Club for Growth for millions of dollars after the conservative group ran ads questioning his conservative credentials. “We will not sit idly by and allow special interest groups and political action committees like yours to defame Mr. Trump,” his lawyer wrote. He made a similar threat that year against primary opponent John Kasich over ads produced by a super PAC that supported the Ohio governor’s run.
To retaliate against the media
Trump reportedly threatened to sue the Associated Press over an October 2015 article about a Trump-branded project in Panama. In May 2016, he told the Washington Post that he would “be bringing more libel suits” against “unfair” media outlets, including “maybe against you folks.”
To stop satire
In 2013, Trump brought — and then dropped — a $5 million lawsuit against television host Bill Maher. Maher had satirized Trump’s racist crusade against Barack Obama, claiming that Obama was not born in the United States, by offering to donate money to charity if Trump could prove he himself was not the son of an orangutan.
To stop stations from airing negative ads about him
Trump filed a lawsuit in April against a Wisconsin television station for airing a super PAC ad hitting his response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also threatened other stations with legal action and loss of broadcasting licenses if they continued to run the spot, which he claimed was misleading.
To undermine questions about his net worth
Trump unsuccessfully sued author Timothy O’Brien after O’Brien’s 2005 book “TrumpNation: The Art of Being Donald” put Trump’s net worth at only $150 million to $250 million. Trump, who had claimed to be worth more than $5 billion, claimed this was defamation.
To avoid local taxes
According to a 2018 ProPublica report, Trump’s companies have sued local governments to get reduced tax assessments. The outlet found “at least nine new lawsuits” filed by Trump’s companies “arguing for lower tax bills” since he was elected.
To stop beauty pageant contestants from questioning his competitions
Trump announced in 2012 that he was suing a “Miss Pennsylvania,” Sheena Monnin, after she wrote on Facebook that his Miss Universe competition was “fraudulent” and “trashy.”
“When she’s using the word ‘fraud,’ that’s pretty strong, so we’re going to be suing her on that basis,” Trump told NBC News.
To force a television network to air his beauty pageants
Trump sued Univision in 2015 after the network terminated its contract with the Miss Universe Organization over his “insulting remarks about Mexican immigrants.” In his breach-of-contract and defamation suit, Trump called the move a “politically motivated attempt to suppress” his free speech.
To silence women who accuse him of sexual predation
Over the past four years, at least 41 women have accused Trump of sexual assault. In addition to denying all of the charges, he threatened during the 2016 campaign to sue his accusers. “All of these liars will be sued after the election is over,” he vowed.
To eliminate Obamacare
After backing previous legal challenges to Obamacare, Trump announced last month that he would again push the Supreme Court to strike down the law in its entirety. “We want to terminate health care under Obamacare,” he told reporters.
To challenge Ted Cruz’s eligibility to be president
Trump said in February 2016 that he might ask the courts to rule Republican primary opponent Sen. Ted Cruz ineligible for the presidency based on the fact that he was born in Canada. “If @TedCruz doesn’t clean up his act, stop cheating, & doing negative ads,” he tweeted, “I have standing to sue him for not being a natural born citizen.”
To challenge his loss in the 2016 Iowa caucuses
After Cruz won the 2016 Iowa caucuses, Trump claimed he had been the victim of fraud. He threatened to challenge the results in court, tweeting: “Based on the fraud committed by Senator Ted Cruz during the Iowa Caucus, either a new election should take place or Cruz results nullified.”
To force a prominent chef to open a restaurant at his hotel
Trump’s Washington, D.C., hotel filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Chef José Andrés’ company in 2015 after it pulled out of a deal over Trump’s racist comments about Mexican immigrants. Andrés countersued. The case was settled in 2017.
To go after members of Congress who oppose him
In October 2019, Trump told supporters he wanted to sue Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over the impeachment process. “I actually told my lawyers, I said, ‘Sue him anyway,'” he said after Schiff paraphrased a conversation between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “He’s got immunity, but they can’t mean immunity for that. I said, ‘Sue him anyway. Even if we lose, the American public will understand.’ And sue Nancy Pelosi, or maybe we should just impeach them. Because they’re lying, and what they are doing is a terrible thing for our country.”
To punish Twitter users who trick him
After a Twitter user tricked Trump into retweeting a photo of serial killers in 2014, Trump angrily threatened a lawsuit. “Some jerk fraudulently tweeted that his parents said I was a big inspiration to them + pls RT—out of kindness I retweeted,” Trump said. “Maybe I’ll sue.”
To force localities to enforce federal immigration laws
The Trump administration filed lawsuits against governments in California, New Jersey, and Washington state in February over “sanctuary” laws limiting state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts. Trump had previously sued California over the same issue in 2018, calling its laws “illegal and unconstitutional.”
To punish Lance Armstrong for doping
After cyclist Lance Armstrong admitted in 2013 to doping, Trump repeatedly tweeted that he would and should be sued. “Lance Armstrong’s liability & lawsuits against him have just increased tenfold—his lawyers will be very happy—lots of fees!” he said in one. “Lance Armstrong just got sued by the Federal Government-they want their money back-I told you so! What was he thinking when he did that [interview]?” he asked in another.
Here are eight kinds of lawsuits he strongly opposes:
Lawsuits against his “charitable” foundation
Trump complained in 2018 after New York’s attorney general sued his charitable foundation that the “sleazy” Democrats “are doing everything they can to sue me on a foundation that took in $18,800,000 and gave out to charity more money than it took in, $19,200,000. I won’t settle this case!” He paid $2 million to settle the case in 2019.
Lawsuits against his “university”
Trump was similarly defiant when former students sued his defunct “Trump University” for fraud. Trump claimed in 2016: “Trump University has a 98% approval rating. I could have settled but won’t out of principle!” He paid $25 million to claimants in a 2018 settlement.
Lawsuits against his campaign over coronavirus safety
Trump’s campaign plans to hold its first rally since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the nation this weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Those signing up to attend have been told they must sign a waiver acknowledging their risk of contracting the coronavirus and waiving any right to sue Trump 2020 or the venue should they be infected.
Lawsuits against businesses that spread the coronavirus
Trump has pushed to provide immunity to businesses that reopen from suits filed by customers and employees who get the virus, even if the business was responsible. He demanded in May that Congress pass “lawsuit indemnification” as part of its next coronavirus response legislation.
Lawsuits against him while he is in office
Trump has sought to block any lawsuits filed against him during his presidency, claiming immunity. “I have an Article II, where I have the right to do whatever I want as president,” he told an audience of conservative teens last summer, asserting that the Constitution grants him protection from even being investigated.
Lawsuits for malpractice under Obamacare
Trump angrily tweeted in 2012 that, according to a right-wing site, medical malpractice claims would increase under Obamacare. “Remember how @ObamaCare did not have any tort reform? Now the trial lawyers are getting ready for even more lawsuits,” he asserted.
Lawsuits about medical malpractice in general
Trump has been critical of other medical malpractice torts. In 2017, he proposed strict caps on damages, a shorter statute of limitation for claims, and other rules to make it harder for patients to sue. His budget proposal stated this would “reduce defensive medicine … limit liability, reduce provider burden, promote evidence-based practices, and strengthen the physician-patient relationship.”
Lawsuits brought by Alex Rodriguez
After New York Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez was implicated in a performance-enhancing drug scandal in 2013, Trump repeatedly attacked him. He tweeted, “Druggie @AROD is now scheming to sue the @Yankees. He will go down as the biggest sports embarrassment of all time.” Rodriguez did not sue the Yankees.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-17--McEnany: Trump rallies are just like protests against police brutality

On Wednesday , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany compared political rallies promoting Donald Trump 's reelection to protests occurring across the country against police brutality .
During the briefing , McEnany was asked about concerns from health officials regarding the possible transmission of COVID-19 at the Trump rally planned for Saturday in Oklahoma .
In response , McEnany complained about press coverage of protest rallies over the past few weeks .
CNN reporter Jim Acosta noted that , in one instance , citizens have been protesting decades of injustice and death , and that by contrast , the rallies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
McEnany objected to the comparison and went on to equate the two types of events , saying , `` We do rally in support of something . ''
KAYLEIGH MCENANY : It 's really remarkable , and I think the American people have taken notice , when , for instance , NBC tweets at 4:05 p.m. on June 14 , `` Rally for Black trans lives draws packed crowds to Brooklyn Museum Plaza . ''
They seem to be lauding the protest , and then less than an hour and a half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans to rally but health experts are questioning that decision . ''
MCENANY : ... We do rally in support of something .
We rally in support of the president who got us the lowest number Black employment in the history of our country and paychecks going up .
We rally that HBCU funding for historically Black colleges and universities is permanent because of President Trump .
MCENANY : Jim , you suggested , you suggested that we do n't rally on behalf of anything , so let me note one more thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ACOSTA , CNN : You rally on behalf of the president .
MCENANY : We rally on behalf of criminal justice reform and the First Step Act , which President Obama and Vice President Biden talked about , but we did .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

On Wednesday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany compared political rallies promoting Donald Trump’s reelection to protests occurring across the country against police brutality.
During the briefing, McEnany was asked about concerns from health officials regarding the possible transmission of COVID-19 at the Trump rally planned for Saturday in Oklahoma.
In response, McEnany complained about press coverage of protest rallies over the past few weeks.
CNN reporter Jim Acosta noted that, in one instance, citizens have been protesting decades of injustice and death, and that by contrast, the rallies are about Trump’s personal political fortunes.
McEnany objected to the comparison and went on to equate the two types of events, saying, “We do rally in support of something.”
From a June 17 press briefing:
KAYLEIGH MCENANY: It’s really remarkable, and I think the American people have taken notice, when, for instance, NBC tweets at 4:05 p.m. on June 14, “Rally for Black trans lives draws packed crowds to Brooklyn Museum Plaza.” They seem to be lauding the protest, and then less than an hour and a half later they say, “President Trump plans to rally but health experts are questioning that decision.” CBS had a similarly logically inconsistent tweet. […] MCENANY: … We do rally in support of something. We rally in support of the president who got us the lowest number Black employment in the history of our country and paychecks going up. We rally that HBCU funding for historically Black colleges and universities is permanent because of President Trump. […] MCENANY: Jim, you suggested, you suggested that we don’t rally on behalf of anything, so let me note one more thing. We rally on behalf of— JIM ACOSTA, CNN: You rally on behalf of the president. MCENANY: We rally on behalf of criminal justice reform and the First Step Act, which President Obama and Vice President Biden talked about, but we did.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-17--US still won't ban dangerous anti-LGBTQ 'therapy' despite international pressure

The United States still has not implemented a federal ban on a widely discredited `` therapy '' that harms LGBTQ people , one month after the United Nations called on countries to discontinue the practice .
The U.N. first released a report back on May 1 that urged nations across the globe to ban the dangerous practice known as `` conversion therapy , '' which is used to try to change a queer person 's sexuality or a transgender person 's gender .
The so-called `` therapy '' is banned in 20 states and the District of Columbia , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal level have been unsuccessful .
At least 68 countries still use `` conversion therapy , '' according to the U.N. report .
Treatment can include what is known as `` corrective rape , '' where people , usually women , are raped to `` correct '' their sexuality ; forcing people to take hormone or steroid therapy ; being taken to religious camps and informed that their sexuality or gender is sinful ; and `` aversion , '' where a person undergoes negative , painful , and generally distressing sensations while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the systemic level , leaders of faith-based organizations and political authorities have endorsed the practice in countries as diverse as Colombia , Israel , the Philippines , Uganda and the United States , '' the U.N. report states .
It also refers to a 2019 Williams Institute report in which researchers estimated that nearly 700,000 LGBTQ Americans between 18 and 59 years old had experienced some kind of `` conversion therapy '' and that 16,000 LGBTQ people between 13 and 17 will endure the practice before they turn 18 in states that do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first time that the U.N. has condemned the `` therapy . ''
In 2014 , the U.N. Committee Against Torture pressed State Department officials on why `` conversion therapy '' was still allowed .
At that time , 48 states were utilizing the practice against LGBTQ people .
In 2015 , the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights released a report that said states had an obligation to protect LGBTQ people from `` torture and other cruel , inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment , '' which included `` conversion therapy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ end to these acts in 2015 after a transgender girl , Leelah Alcorn , died by suicide .
In her suicide note , she wrote that she was taken to Christian therapists who told her that being transgender was wrong .
Government officials and activists from across the world have recently shown an interest in learning more about the practice and its dangers .
In March , Harvard Law School hosted international medical experts , government officials , and human rights activists to talk about the harm of `` conversion therapy . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on LGBTQ issues to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau , and Laurence Vanceunebrock-Mialon , a member of the French parliament , were present at the meeting , which was convened by Victor Madrigal-Borloz , a U.N. independent expert on violence against LGBTQ people .
U.S. lawmakers , meanwhile , have tried to introduce federal legislation banning the `` therapy , '' to no avail .
Rep. Ted Lieu ( D-CA ) introduced legislation to ban the practice in 2015 , 2017 , and 2019 , but none of those attempts ever advanced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ co-sponsors , none of whom were Republican .
At the state level , some officials have implemented bans with penalties allowing licensing boards to discipline any mental health professional uses the practice , including by suspending their license .
However most of those bans do not apply to religious providers , according to the Movement Advancement Project , which tracks anti- '' conversion therapy '' laws .
As global officials urge countries to disband the practice , some in the United States are doing the opposite .
Last week , the Republican National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platform unchanged from 2016 .
The 2016 platform includes a number of transphobic and homophobic statements , including language that appears to support `` conversion therapy . ''
Though the dangerous practice is not mentioned by name , the platform states that the party supports parents ' complete control over their children 's healthcare , which no exceptions , noting that they should be able to `` determine the proper medical treatment and therapy for their minor children . ''
As the U.N. noted in its report last month , LGBTQ young people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' because they do n't have the legal protections to ensure they receive the health care they want .
Total family control over these decisions can subject them to medically discredited practices that have been associated with poor mental health outcomes , such as an increased likelihood of attempted suicide .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The United States still has not implemented a federal ban on a widely discredited “therapy” that harms LGBTQ people, one month after the United Nations called on countries to discontinue the practice.
The U.N. first released a report back on May 1 that urged nations across the globe to ban the dangerous practice known as “conversion therapy,” which is used to try to change a queer person’s sexuality or a transgender person’s gender.
The so-called “therapy” is banned in 20 states and the District of Columbia, but attempts to pass legislation banning it at the federal level have been unsuccessful.
At least 68 countries still use “conversion therapy,” according to the U.N. report. Treatment can include what is known as “corrective rape,” where people, usually women, are raped to “correct” their sexuality; forcing people to take hormone or steroid therapy; being taken to religious camps and informed that their sexuality or gender is sinful; and “aversion,” where a person undergoes negative, painful, and generally distressing sensations while exposed to a stimulus.
“At the systemic level, leaders of faith-based organizations and political authorities have endorsed the practice in countries as diverse as Colombia, Israel, the Philippines, Uganda and the United States,” the U.N. report states.
It also refers to a 2019 Williams Institute report in which researchers estimated that nearly 700,000 LGBTQ Americans between 18 and 59 years old had experienced some kind of “conversion therapy” and that 16,000 LGBTQ people between 13 and 17 will endure the practice before they turn 18 in states that do not ban it.
This is not the first time that the U.N. has condemned the “therapy.” In 2014, the U.N. Committee Against Torture pressed State Department officials on why “conversion therapy” was still allowed. At that time, 48 states were utilizing the practice against LGBTQ people.
In 2015, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights released a report that said states had an obligation to protect LGBTQ people from “torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment,” which included “conversion therapy.”
President Barack Obama called for an end to these acts in 2015 after a transgender girl, Leelah Alcorn, died by suicide. In her suicide note, she wrote that she was taken to Christian therapists who told her that being transgender was wrong.
Government officials and activists from across the world have recently shown an interest in learning more about the practice and its dangers.
In March, Harvard Law School hosted international medical experts, government officials, and human rights activists to talk about the harm of “conversion therapy.” Randy Boissonnault, former MP and adviser on LGBTQ issues to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Laurence Vanceunebrock-Mialon, a member of the French parliament, were present at the meeting, which was convened by Victor Madrigal-Borloz, a U.N. independent expert on violence against LGBTQ people.
U.S. lawmakers, meanwhile, have tried to introduce federal legislation banning the “therapy,” to no avail.
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) introduced legislation to ban the practice in 2015, 2017, and 2019, but none of those attempts ever advanced to a vote, despite having hundreds of co-sponsors, none of whom were Republican.
At the state level, some officials have implemented bans with penalties allowing licensing boards to discipline any mental health professional uses the practice, including by suspending their license. However most of those bans do not apply to religious providers, according to the Movement Advancement Project, which tracks anti-“conversion therapy” laws.
As global officials urge countries to disband the practice, some in the United States are doing the opposite.
Last week, the Republican National Committee voted to leave its official party platform unchanged from 2016. The 2016 platform includes a number of transphobic and homophobic statements, including language that appears to support “conversion therapy.”
Though the dangerous practice is not mentioned by name, the platform states that the party supports parents’ complete control over their children’s healthcare, which no exceptions, noting that they should be able to “determine the proper medical treatment and therapy for their minor children.”
As the U.N. noted in its report last month, LGBTQ young people are often forced into “conversion therapy” because they don’t have the legal protections to ensure they receive the health care they want. Total family control over these decisions can subject them to medically discredited practices that have been associated with poor mental health outcomes, such as an increased likelihood of attempted suicide.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-17--Fact check: Trump claims there's an AIDS vaccine. There isn't.

Seizing on a medical milestone that does n't exist , Donald Trump said Tuesday he thinks the same scientific expertise that produced a vaccine for AIDS can deliver one soon for COVID-19 , too .
There is no vaccine for AIDS .
A look at his statement : TRUMP , on scientists : `` These are the people – the best , the smartest , the most brilliant anywhere , and they 've come up with the AIDS vaccine .
They 've come up with ... various things . ''
— Tuesday at the White House .
THE FACTS : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine for AIDS , nor is there a cure .
Nearly 38,000 people were diagnosed with HIV infection in the U.S. and about 1.7 million globally in 2018 , according to the latest totals .
However , powerful medicines have turned HIV into a manageable chronic condition for many patients , prompting major global efforts to get those drugs to more of the people who need them .
In addition , taking certain anti-HIV drugs every day also can work as prevention , dramatically reducing the chances that someone who is still healthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use .
A small fraction of the Americans who might benefit use that so-called `` pre-exposure prophylaxis . ''
Yet there is `` no vaccine available that will prevent HIV infection or treat those who have it , '' says the U.S. Health & Human Services Department in outlining efforts to develop one .
Trump may have been trying to correct himself when he followed up with the comment that science has `` various things '' for AIDS .
As for a vaccine to end the coronavirus pandemic , Trump appears confident one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the year , but public health authorities warn there 's no guarantee that any of the candidates currently being tested will pan out .
Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health says a vaccine by year 's end is conceivable only if everything goes right in final testing this summer .

Seizing on a medical milestone that doesn’t exist, Donald Trump said Tuesday he thinks the same scientific expertise that produced a vaccine for AIDS can deliver one soon for COVID-19, too. There is no vaccine for AIDS.
A look at his statement:
TRUMP, on scientists: “These are the people – the best, the smartest, the most brilliant anywhere, and they’ve come up with the AIDS vaccine. They’ve come up with … various things.” — Tuesday at the White House.
THE FACTS: No one has come up with a vaccine for AIDS, nor is there a cure. Nearly 38,000 people were diagnosed with HIV infection in the U.S. and about 1.7 million globally in 2018, according to the latest totals.
However, powerful medicines have turned HIV into a manageable chronic condition for many patients, prompting major global efforts to get those drugs to more of the people who need them.
In addition, taking certain anti-HIV drugs every day also can work as prevention, dramatically reducing the chances that someone who is still healthy becomes infected through sex or injection drug use. A small fraction of the Americans who might benefit use that so-called “pre-exposure prophylaxis.”
Yet there is “no vaccine available that will prevent HIV infection or treat those who have it,” says the U.S. Health & Human Services Department in outlining efforts to develop one.
Trump may have been trying to correct himself when he followed up with the comment that science has “various things” for AIDS.
As for a vaccine to end the coronavirus pandemic, Trump appears confident one will be ready by the end of the year, but public health authorities warn there’s no guarantee that any of the candidates currently being tested will pan out. Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health says a vaccine by year’s end is conceivable only if everything goes right in final testing this summer.


shareblue--2020-06-17--Trump's policing order makes zero mention of racism

Following weeks of national protests since the death of George Floyd , Donald Trump signed an executive order he said would encourage better police practices .
But he made no mention of the roiling national debate over racism spawned by police killings of black people .
Trump met privately with the families of several black Americans killed in interactions with police before his Rose Garden signing ceremony and said he grieved for the lives lost and families devastated .
But he quickly shifted his tone and devoted most of his public remarks to a need to respect and support `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who police our streets and keep us safe . ''
He characterized the officers who 've used excessive force as a `` tiny '' number of outliers among `` trustworthy '' police ranks .
`` Reducing crime and raising standards are not opposite goals , '' he said before signing the order Tuesday , flanked by police officials .
Trump and Republicans in Congress have been rushing to respond to the mass demonstrations against police brutality and racism that have raged for weeks across the country in response to the deaths of Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sudden shift that underscores how quickly the protests have changed the political conversation and pressured Washington to act .
But Trump , who has faced criticism for failing to acknowledge systemic racism and has advocated for rougher police treatment of suspects , has continued to hold his `` law and order '' line .
At the signing event , he railed against those who committed violence during the largely peaceful protests while hailing the vast majority of officers as selfless public servants .
Trump 's executive order would establish a database that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their records .
Many officers who wind up involved in fatal interactions have long complaint histories , including Derek Chauvin , the white Minneapolis police officer charged with murder in Floyd 's death .
Those records are often not made public , making it difficult to know if an officer has such a history .
The order would give police departments a financial incentive to adopt best practices and encourage co-responder programs , in which social workers join police when they respond to nonviolent calls involving mental health , addiction and homelessness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the order , the use of chokeholds , which have become a symbol of police brutality , would be banned `` except if an officer 's life is at risk . ''
Actually , the order instructs the Justice Department to push local police departments to be certified by a `` reputable independent credentialing body '' with use-of-force policies that prohibit the use of chokeholds , except when the use of deadly force is allowed by law .
Chokeholds are already largely banned in police departments nationwide .
While Trump hailed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats and other critics said he did n't go nearly far enough .
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said , `` One modest inadequate executive order will not make up for his decades of inflammatory rhetoric and his recent policies designed to roll back the progress that we 've made in previous years . ''
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the order `` falls sadly and seriously short of what is required to combat the epidemic of racial injustice and police brutality that is murdering hundreds of Black Americans . ''
Kristina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order `` amounts to a Band-Aid for a bullet wound . ''
But Trump said others want to go too far .
He framed his plan as an alternative to the `` defund the police '' movement to fully revamp departments that has emerged from the protests and that he slammed as `` radical and dangerous . ''
`` Americans know the truth : Without police there is chaos .
Without law there is anarchy and without safety there is catastrophe , '' he said .
Trump 's audience included police officials and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ met privately at the White House with the families of people who have been killed in interactions with police .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters that many tears were shed at the meeting and `` the president was devastated . ''
Trump listed the families ' relatives who died and said : `` To all the hurting families , I want you to know that all Americans mourn by your side .
Your loved ones will not have died in vain . ''
White House adviser Ja'Ron Smith said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the families not to attend the public signing .
The White House action came as Democrats and Republicans in Congress have been rolling out their own packages of policing changes .
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina , the sole African American Republican in the Senate , has been crafting the GOP legislative package , which will include new restrictions on police chokeholds and greater use of police body cameras , among other provisions .
While the emerging GOP package is n't as extensive as sweeping Democratic proposals , which are headed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes perhaps the most far-reaching proposed changes ever from a party that often echoes Trump 's `` law and order '' rhetoric .
It remains unclear whether the parties will be able to find common ground .
Though their proposals share many similar provisions — both would create a national database so officers can not transfer from one department to another without public oversight of their records , for instance — differences remain .
The Republican bill does n't go as far as the Democrats ' on the issue of eliminating qualified immunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement personnel to sue for damages .
The White House has said that 's a step too far .
As an alternative , Scott has suggested a `` decertification '' process for officers involved in misconduct .
During the Obama administration , Attorney General Eric Holder opened a series of civil rights investigations into local law enforcement practices that often ended with court-approved consent decrees that mandated reforms .
Those included Ferguson , Missouri , after the killing of Michael Brown and Baltimore following the police custody death of Freddie Gray .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ first attorney general in November 2018 , Jeff Sessions signed a memo that sharply curtailed the use of consent decrees .

Following weeks of national protests since the death of George Floyd, Donald Trump signed an executive order he said would encourage better police practices. But he made no mention of the roiling national debate over racism spawned by police killings of black people.
Trump met privately with the families of several black Americans killed in interactions with police before his Rose Garden signing ceremony and said he grieved for the lives lost and families devastated. But he quickly shifted his tone and devoted most of his public remarks to a need to respect and support “the brave men and women in blue who police our streets and keep us safe.”
He characterized the officers who’ve used excessive force as a “tiny” number of outliers among “trustworthy” police ranks.
“Reducing crime and raising standards are not opposite goals,” he said before signing the order Tuesday, flanked by police officials.
Trump and Republicans in Congress have been rushing to respond to the mass demonstrations against police brutality and racism that have raged for weeks across the country in response to the deaths of Floyd and other black Americans. It’s a sudden shift that underscores how quickly the protests have changed the political conversation and pressured Washington to act.
But Trump, who has faced criticism for failing to acknowledge systemic racism and has advocated for rougher police treatment of suspects, has continued to hold his “law and order” line. At the signing event, he railed against those who committed violence during the largely peaceful protests while hailing the vast majority of officers as selfless public servants.
Trump’s executive order would establish a database that tracks police officers with excessive use-of-force complaints in their records. Many officers who wind up involved in fatal interactions have long complaint histories, including Derek Chauvin, the white Minneapolis police officer charged with murder in Floyd’s death. Those records are often not made public, making it difficult to know if an officer has such a history.
The order would give police departments a financial incentive to adopt best practices and encourage co-responder programs, in which social workers join police when they respond to nonviolent calls involving mental health, addiction and homelessness issues.
Trump said that, as part of the order, the use of chokeholds, which have become a symbol of police brutality, would be banned “except if an officer’s life is at risk.” Actually, the order instructs the Justice Department to push local police departments to be certified by a “reputable independent credentialing body” with use-of-force policies that prohibit the use of chokeholds, except when the use of deadly force is allowed by law. Chokeholds are already largely banned in police departments nationwide.
While Trump hailed his efforts as “historic,” Democrats and other critics said he didn’t go nearly far enough.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said, “One modest inadequate executive order will not make up for his decades of inflammatory rhetoric and his recent policies designed to roll back the progress that we’ve made in previous years.”
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the order “falls sadly and seriously short of what is required to combat the epidemic of racial injustice and police brutality that is murdering hundreds of Black Americans.”
Kristina Roth at Amnesty International USA said the order “amounts to a Band-Aid for a bullet wound.”
But Trump said others want to go too far. He framed his plan as an alternative to the “defund the police” movement to fully revamp departments that has emerged from the protests and that he slammed as “radical and dangerous.”
“Americans know the truth: Without police there is chaos. Without law there is anarchy and without safety there is catastrophe,” he said.
Trump’s audience included police officials and members of Congress and came after he met privately at the White House with the families of people who have been killed in interactions with police.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters that many tears were shed at the meeting and “the president was devastated.” Trump listed the families’ relatives who died and said: “To all the hurting families, I want you to know that all Americans mourn by your side. Your loved ones will not have died in vain.”
White House adviser Ja’Ron Smith said it was “a mutual decision” for the families not to attend the public signing.
The White House action came as Democrats and Republicans in Congress have been rolling out their own packages of policing changes. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the sole African American Republican in the Senate, has been crafting the GOP legislative package, which will include new restrictions on police chokeholds and greater use of police body cameras, among other provisions.
While the emerging GOP package isn’t as extensive as sweeping Democratic proposals, which are headed for a House vote next week, it includes perhaps the most far-reaching proposed changes ever from a party that often echoes Trump’s “law and order” rhetoric.
It remains unclear whether the parties will be able to find common ground. Though their proposals share many similar provisions — both would create a national database so officers cannot transfer from one department to another without public oversight of their records, for instance — differences remain.
The Republican bill doesn’t go as far as the Democrats’ on the issue of eliminating qualified immunity, which would allow people injured by law enforcement personnel to sue for damages. The White House has said that’s a step too far. As an alternative, Scott has suggested a “decertification” process for officers involved in misconduct.
During the Obama administration, Attorney General Eric Holder opened a series of civil rights investigations into local law enforcement practices that often ended with court-approved consent decrees that mandated reforms. Those included Ferguson, Missouri, after the killing of Michael Brown and Baltimore following the police custody death of Freddie Gray.
Hours before he resigned as Trump’s first attorney general in November 2018, Jeff Sessions signed a memo that sharply curtailed the use of consent decrees.


shareblue--2020-06-17--House to require face masks after Republican who wouldn't wear one tests positive for virus

After Rep. Tom Rice ( R-SC ) announced on Monday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will require members to wear face masks .
Rice was one of several House Republicans who had refused to wear a face covering in Congress .
Pelosi requested on Tuesday night that all House committee chairs mandate masks at their hearings .
`` This requirement will be enforced by the Sergeant at Arms and non-compliant Members will be denied entry , '' a senior aide told the Washington Post .
`` Ultimately , Chairs will have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceedings that fail to comply with the mask requirement . ''
The sergeant at arms will be authorized to bar members without face coverings from committee rooms .
Any member who refuses to wear a mask will be allowed to participate in committee meetings virtually , from a remote location .
Pelosi 's decision came after congressional physician Dr. Brian P. Monahan updated his safety guidance to require masks for all those `` in a limited enclosed space , such as a committee hearing room , for greater than 15 minutes . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for everyone on the House floor and in the Capitol building .
On Monday , Rice used a racist term for the disease when he posted on social media that he and two family members `` all have the Wuhan Flu . ''
Public health experts have warned that describing diseases based on their supposed geographic area of origin `` has had unintended negative impacts by stigmatizing certain communities or economic sectors . ''
Rice and several other House Republicans have attended committee hearings and floor votes without masks , despite Monahan 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The fourth-term lawmaker told the Wall Street Journal on Monday that he did not regret his actions .
`` My understanding is that a mask does n't really protect you as much as it protects other people , '' he said .
`` I do n't think it would have made much of a difference .
That is , if I caught it on the House floor ...
I doubt that had anything to do with it . ''
Rice and other Republicans have refused to take advantage of a recent temporary rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cast their votes by proxy during the pandemic .
Last month , Rice complained that proxy voting broke more than `` 230 years of precedent , '' tweeting that it was `` a huge power grab attempt '' by Democrats and `` violates the Constitution . ''
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and others in the GOP caucus have challenged the rule in court , though legal experts say the House has wide authority to set its own rules and procedures .
Rice is not the first member of Congress to test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven representatives and one senator have been diagnosed with the virus since the start of the pandemic .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

After Rep. Tom Rice (R-SC) announced on Monday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will require members to wear face masks. Rice was one of several House Republicans who had refused to wear a face covering in Congress.
Pelosi requested on Tuesday night that all House committee chairs mandate masks at their hearings. “This requirement will be enforced by the Sergeant at Arms and non-compliant Members will be denied entry,” a senior aide told the Washington Post. “Ultimately, Chairs will have the option of not recognizing Members in committee proceedings that fail to comply with the mask requirement.”
The sergeant at arms will be authorized to bar members without face coverings from committee rooms. Any member who refuses to wear a mask will be allowed to participate in committee meetings virtually, from a remote location.
Pelosi’s decision came after congressional physician Dr. Brian P. Monahan updated his safety guidance to require masks for all those “in a limited enclosed space, such as a committee hearing room, for greater than 15 minutes.” Masks are also “strongly recommended” for everyone on the House floor and in the Capitol building.
On Monday, Rice used a racist term for the disease when he posted on social media that he and two family members “all have the Wuhan Flu.” Public health experts have warned that describing diseases based on their supposed geographic area of origin “has had unintended negative impacts by stigmatizing certain communities or economic sectors.”
Rice and several other House Republicans have attended committee hearings and floor votes without masks, despite Monahan’s earlier urging that they be worn.
The fourth-term lawmaker told the Wall Street Journal on Monday that he did not regret his actions. “My understanding is that a mask doesn’t really protect you as much as it protects other people,” he said. “I don’t think it would have made much of a difference. That is, if I caught it on the House floor…I doubt that had anything to do with it.”
Rice and other Republicans have refused to take advantage of a recent temporary rule change allowing members to work from home and cast their votes by proxy during the pandemic.
Last month, Rice complained that proxy voting broke more than “230 years of precedent,” tweeting that it was “a huge power grab attempt” by Democrats and “violates the Constitution.” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and others in the GOP caucus have challenged the rule in court, though legal experts say the House has wide authority to set its own rules and procedures.
Rice is not the first member of Congress to test positive for the coronavirus. At least seven representatives and one senator have been diagnosed with the virus since the start of the pandemic.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-18--Iowa lawmakers pass secret abortion bill in the dead of night

Last weekend , Iowa legislators stayed up all night working on the state 's budget and key policy priorities as their legislative session came to a close for the year .
They also used that time to push through a 24-hour waiting period before a person can obtain an abortion .
Republican GOP Gov .
Kim Reynolds , a longtime abortion opponent who once proposed an amendment to the Iowa Constitution that would have banned abortion , has not said outright she will sign the bill on the waiting period , but she has indicated its passage was one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bodies passed the bill within just a few hours , with the House passing it just before midnight on Saturday and the Senate passing it at 5:30 the next morning .
It requires that physicians confirm at least 24 hours before performing an abortion that the patient has undergone an ultrasound , received an opportunity to view and hear a description of the ultrasound , and been given information about carrying the pregnancy to term , giving up a child for adoption , and the risks associated with abortion .
Save for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill is in all respects identical to a 72-hour waiting period bill passed in 2018 .
That bill was declared unconstitutional by the Iowa Supreme Court , but the composition of the court has changed since then , with Reynolds having appointed four new conservative justices to the seven-member panel .
Democratic members of Iowa 's legislature pointed out the absurdity and poor timing of the bills .
`` They 've kept this plan secret for weeks and released it on a Saturday night so they did n't have to hear from Iowans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
State Sen. Janet Petersen said the legislators had imposed a 24-hour period but `` did n't even give women 24 hours ' notice that you would be stripping them of their rights . ''
Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell said , `` It 's appalling to see my GOP colleagues exploit this moment of national pandemic to advance an ideological agenda that is out of touch with Iowans . ''
This was n't the only time that conservatives in the Iowa legislature had tried to use the pandemic to push through an anti-abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imposed a ban on all `` nonessential and elective '' procedures and said that included abortions .
The ban was later modified to allow surgical abortions in some instances .
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says that waiting periods for abortions are unnecessary , and the Guttmacher Institute , which researches abortion policies , notes that waiting periods are designed to make abortion less accessible .
One study showed that delays in receiving abortion care end up being much longer than an actual waiting period .
After Utah imposed a 72-hour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an average of eight days between the required counseling and the actual abortion .
Additionally , waiting periods ensure people have to make at least two trips to visit an abortion provider , pushing the abortion later into pregnancy and potentially making it more costly .
An examination of abortion costs in Tennessee , where there is a 48-hour mandatory waiting period , found that it could increase the cost of an abortion up to $ 929 .
People also have to plan for the potential extra costs incurred for lodging if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two trips , child care for a longer period , and lost wages from needing to take time off for travel .
That same study also found that more than 60 % of patients got abortions later than they did on average before the waiting period was established .
Iowa 's imposition of a waiting period is only one of several barriers the state has imposed in a quest to make abortion more difficult to obtain .
The state already has a mandatory notice provision that requires parents of a minor to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion .
Abortion after 20 weeks is banned , which , Guttmacher notes , `` is based on the assertion , which is inconsistent with scientific evidence and has been rejected by the medical community , that a fetus can feel pain at that point in pregnancy . ''
Furthermore , Iowa is down to only nine clinics that provide abortion care , and 93 % of all counties in the state do n't have a provider , making access even more difficult if people live far away from any of the nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased costs can lead to abortions later in pregnancy , or to people being unable to obtain an abortion at all .
Should Iowa 's latest attempt to impose a waiting period be declared constitutional by the state Supreme Court , more Iowans may find abortion out of reach .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Last weekend, Iowa legislators stayed up all night working on the state’s budget and key policy priorities as their legislative session came to a close for the year. They also used that time to push through a 24-hour waiting period before a person can obtain an abortion.
Republican GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds, a longtime abortion opponent who once proposed an amendment to the Iowa Constitution that would have banned abortion, has not said outright she will sign the bill on the waiting period, but she has indicated its passage was one of her key legislative priorities.
Both legislative bodies passed the bill within just a few hours, with the House passing it just before midnight on Saturday and the Senate passing it at 5:30 the next morning. It requires that physicians confirm at least 24 hours before performing an abortion that the patient has undergone an ultrasound, received an opportunity to view and hear a description of the ultrasound, and been given information about carrying the pregnancy to term, giving up a child for adoption, and the risks associated with abortion.
Save for the length of the waiting period, the bill is in all respects identical to a 72-hour waiting period bill passed in 2018. That bill was declared unconstitutional by the Iowa Supreme Court, but the composition of the court has changed since then, with Reynolds having appointed four new conservative justices to the seven-member panel.
Democratic members of Iowa’s legislature pointed out the absurdity and poor timing of the bills.
“They’ve kept this plan secret for weeks and released it on a Saturday night so they didn’t have to hear from Iowans,” House Democratic Whip Jo Oldson said.
State Sen. Janet Petersen said the legislators had imposed a 24-hour period but “didn’t even give women 24 hours’ notice that you would be stripping them of their rights.”
Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell said, “It’s appalling to see my GOP colleagues exploit this moment of national pandemic to advance an ideological agenda that is out of touch with Iowans.”
This wasn’t the only time that conservatives in the Iowa legislature had tried to use the pandemic to push through an anti-abortion agenda. In late March, Reynolds imposed a ban on all “nonessential and elective” procedures and said that included abortions. The ban was later modified to allow surgical abortions in some instances.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says that waiting periods for abortions are unnecessary, and the Guttmacher Institute, which researches abortion policies, notes that waiting periods are designed to make abortion less accessible.
One study showed that delays in receiving abortion care end up being much longer than an actual waiting period. After Utah imposed a 72-hour waiting period, the delay amounted to an average of eight days between the required counseling and the actual abortion. Additionally, waiting periods ensure people have to make at least two trips to visit an abortion provider, pushing the abortion later into pregnancy and potentially making it more costly.
An examination of abortion costs in Tennessee, where there is a 48-hour mandatory waiting period, found that it could increase the cost of an abortion up to $929. People also have to plan for the potential extra costs incurred for lodging if the clinic is far away, transportation for two trips, child care for a longer period, and lost wages from needing to take time off for travel. That same study also found that more than 60% of patients got abortions later than they did on average before the waiting period was established.
Iowa’s imposition of a waiting period is only one of several barriers the state has imposed in a quest to make abortion more difficult to obtain. The state already has a mandatory notice provision that requires parents of a minor to be notified before the minor can obtain an abortion. Abortion after 20 weeks is banned, which, Guttmacher notes, “is based on the assertion, which is inconsistent with scientific evidence and has been rejected by the medical community, that a fetus can feel pain at that point in pregnancy.”
Furthermore, Iowa is down to only nine clinics that provide abortion care, and 93% of all counties in the state don’t have a provider, making access even more difficult if people live far away from any of the nine clinics still operating.
Increased barriers and increased costs can lead to abortions later in pregnancy, or to people being unable to obtain an abortion at all. Should Iowa’s latest attempt to impose a waiting period be declared constitutional by the state Supreme Court, more Iowans may find abortion out of reach.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-18--GOP governors refuse to take blame for virus spikes after rushing to reopen

At least four GOP governors are trying to shift blame after their push to prematurely reopen their states led to a spike in COVID-19 cases .
On April 16 , the White House released its three-phase set of guidelines for how states could more safely easy social distancing rules .
Govs .
Greg Abbott of Texas , Ron DeSantis of Florida , Doug Ducey of Arizona , and Henry McMaster of South Carolina were among the many governors who quickly pushed to reopen their economies , despite not having met the five federal criteria for doing so , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington Post reported that their states were among 14 seeing their highest seven-day average of new coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic .
On Tuesday , Arizona , Florida , and Texas saw their highest-ever number of daily positive tests , according to Reuters .
But rather than acknowledging that they moved too quickly , the governors of those states have sought to explain away the sudden spike in cases by casting blame on random culprits .
Abbott complained on Monday that twenty-somethings in Texas were behind the abrupt shift .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that people of that age group , they 're not following these appropriate best health and safety practices , '' he told a local television station .
`` They 're not wearing face masks , they 're not sanitizing their hands , they 're not maintaining the safe distancing practices .
And as a result , they are contracting COVID-19 at a record pace in the state of Texas.
” DeSantis also placed some of the blame for Florida 's spikes on young people , but pinned most of the problem on agricultural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working conditions , particularly in these farm camps or with some of these construction workers , '' he said on Tuesday .
`` You know some of these guys , they go to work in a school bus , and they 're like sardines going across like Palm Beach County or some of these other places , and you know just all these opportunities to have transmission . ''
A spokesperson for Florida 's agriculture commissioner disputed this , noting that `` the vast majority of farmworkers left agricultural communities several weeks ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeSantis also claimed some of the new cases were from increased testing of people ages 20 to 45 .
`` These are the people who are in the low-risk groups , '' he told reporters last Friday .
Ducey , for his part , claimed that a few Arizona businesses were behind the problem .
`` As we have reopened , there 's been good actors , '' he told reporters on Wednesday .
`` But there have been more than an outlier here and there .
There have been some bad actors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the good actors trying to promote responsible decisions and good business management , but we need to address the folks that are not in line . ''
Meanwhile , in South Carolina , McMaster said that residents were being irresponsible by not staying away from each other .
`` It 's disappointing going to places and seeing people in crowds , '' he told a local television station last week .
`` We all have to practice social responsibility .
Not becoming infected and not infecting others . ''
Despite the rise in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan to shut down the state again , according to the outlet .
Public health experts have warned that reopening states too quickly may cause further damage and trigger a spike in infections across the country .
`` What we are seeing is indeed , when people ease too quickly , that they do then see a rise in infections , '' Dr. Margaret Harris , a member of the World Health Organization 's coronavirus response team , told NPR last month .
`` One of the issues is when people see their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 'Well , that 's done , done and dusted . '
But that is not the case . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

At least four GOP governors are trying to shift blame after their push to prematurely reopen their states led to a spike in COVID-19 cases.
On April 16, the White House released its three-phase set of guidelines for how states could more safely easy social distancing rules.
Govs. Greg Abbott of Texas, Ron DeSantis of Florida, Doug Ducey of Arizona, and Henry McMaster of South Carolina were among the many governors who quickly pushed to reopen their economies, despite not having met the five federal criteria for doing so, according to analysis by ProPublica.
Last week the Washington Post reported that their states were among 14 seeing their highest seven-day average of new coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic. On Tuesday, Arizona, Florida, and Texas saw their highest-ever number of daily positive tests, according to Reuters.
But rather than acknowledging that they moved too quickly, the governors of those states have sought to explain away the sudden spike in cases by casting blame on random culprits.
Abbott complained on Monday that twenty-somethings in Texas were behind the abrupt shift.
“What we’re seeing there is that people of that age group, they’re not following these appropriate best health and safety practices,” he told a local television station. “They’re not wearing face masks, they’re not sanitizing their hands, they’re not maintaining the safe distancing practices. And as a result, they are contracting COVID-19 at a record pace in the state of Texas.”
DeSantis also placed some of the blame for Florida’s spikes on young people, but pinned most of the problem on agricultural workers.
“You have very risky working conditions, particularly in these farm camps or with some of these construction workers,” he said on Tuesday. “You know some of these guys, they go to work in a school bus, and they’re like sardines going across like Palm Beach County or some of these other places, and you know just all these opportunities to have transmission.”
A spokesperson for Florida’s agriculture commissioner disputed this, noting that “the vast majority of farmworkers left agricultural communities several weeks ago, as harvests have ended.”
DeSantis also claimed some of the new cases were from increased testing of people ages 20 to 45. “These are the people who are in the low-risk groups,” he told reporters last Friday.
Ducey, for his part, claimed that a few Arizona businesses were behind the problem.
“As we have reopened, there’s been good actors,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “But there have been more than an outlier here and there. There have been some bad actors. I have chosen to focus on the good actors trying to promote responsible decisions and good business management, but we need to address the folks that are not in line.”
Meanwhile, in South Carolina, McMaster said that residents were being irresponsible by not staying away from each other. “It’s disappointing going to places and seeing people in crowds,” he told a local television station last week. “We all have to practice social responsibility. Not becoming infected and not infecting others.”
Despite the rise in cases, McMaster said he did not plan to shut down the state again, according to the outlet.
Public health experts have warned that reopening states too quickly may cause further damage and trigger a spike in infections across the country.
“What we are seeing is indeed, when people ease too quickly, that they do then see a rise in infections,” Dr. Margaret Harris, a member of the World Health Organization’s coronavirus response team, told NPR last month. “One of the issues is when people see their particular outbreak coming down, they go, ‘Well, that’s done, done and dusted.’ But that is not the case.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-18--Republicans attack conservative Supreme Court after week of historic decisions

Donald Trump and several Republican lawmakers are launching attacks on the conservative-leaning Supreme Court after it handed down two decisions the Trump administration fought against .
The first win came Monday , when the court said in a 6-3 decision that employers can not discriminate against employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity .
The Trump administration had argued against expanding protections to LGBTQ workers .
And on Thursday , the court ruled in a 5-4 decision that Trump unlawfully terminated the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program — which allows undocumented immigrants who were brought to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fault of their own to attend school and work in the U.S. That decision , written by Chief Justice John Roberts , was less of a concrete win for immigrant rights advocates , as it gave an opening for Trump to terminate the program again , according to legal experts .
The decision merely ruled that the way Trump initially terminated the program was unlawful .
Still , it was a rebuke that angered both Trump and other members of the Republican Party .
`` These horrible & politically charged decisions coming out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the face of people that are proud to call themselves Republicans or Conservatives , '' Trump tweeted Thursday morning .
`` We need more Justices or we will lose our 2nd .
Amendment & everything else .
Vote Trump 2020 ! ''
Rep. Jim Jordan ( R-OH ) , one of Trump 's fiercest defenders on Capitol Hill , specifically attacked Roberts , the George W. Bush appointee who was the deciding vote on the DACA case .
`` Chief Justice Roberts does it again .
First , Obamacare .
Now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our second amendment gun rights ? ''
Jordan tweeted , referencing a 2012 decision in which Roberts sided with the liberal justices to rule that the Affordable Care Act was constitutional .
Rep. Andy Biggs ( R-AZ ) posted a video to Twitter attacking Roberts for the decision .
`` I 'm extremely disappointed in this decision & in CJ Roberts for continuing to side against the rule of law , '' Biggs tweeted .
Sen. Tom Cotton ( R-AR ) also had choice words for Roberts , who he suggested was legislating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chief Justice believes his political judgment is so exquisite , I invite him to resign , travel to Iowa , and get elected , '' Cotton told CNN 's Manu Raju .
`` I suspect voters will find his strange views no more compelling than do the principled justices . ''
Rep. Scott Desjarlais , a Tennessee Republican who once urged multiple women he had sexual relations with to get abortions despite being publicly anti-abortion , called Roberts ' DACA decision `` painful . ''
`` Roberts is wrapping himself around the axle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political decision rather than make the right legal determination , '' DesJarlais tweeted .
`` Sounds like he 's in Congress instead of the Supreme Court . ''
And Sen. Josh Hawley ( R-MO ) said this week has been the `` most disappointing week at this # SCOTUS in years . ''
`` The Court continues to fashion one set of review standards under the Administrative Procedure Act for Democrat administrations and another for Republicans , '' Hawley tweeted .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump and several Republican lawmakers are launching attacks on the conservative-leaning Supreme Court after it handed down two decisions the Trump administration fought against.
The first win came Monday, when the court said in a 6-3 decision that employers cannot discriminate against employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The Trump administration had argued against expanding protections to LGBTQ workers.
And on Thursday, the court ruled in a 5-4 decision that Trump unlawfully terminated the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program — which allows undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as minors under no fault of their own to attend school and work in the U.S.
That decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, was less of a concrete win for immigrant rights advocates, as it gave an opening for Trump to terminate the program again, according to legal experts. The decision merely ruled that the way Trump initially terminated the program was unlawful.
Still, it was a rebuke that angered both Trump and other members of the Republican Party.
“These horrible & politically charged decisions coming out of the Supreme Court are shotgun blasts into the face of people that are proud to call themselves Republicans or Conservatives,” Trump tweeted Thursday morning. “We need more Justices or we will lose our 2nd. Amendment & everything else. Vote Trump 2020!”
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), one of Trump’s fiercest defenders on Capitol Hill, specifically attacked Roberts, the George W. Bush appointee who was the deciding vote on the DACA case.
“Chief Justice Roberts does it again. First, Obamacare. Now, DACA. What’s next? Our second amendment gun rights?” Jordan tweeted, referencing a 2012 decision in which Roberts sided with the liberal justices to rule that the Affordable Care Act was constitutional.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) posted a video to Twitter attacking Roberts for the decision.
“I’m extremely disappointed in this decision & in CJ Roberts for continuing to side against the rule of law,” Biggs tweeted.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) also had choice words for Roberts, who he suggested was legislating from the bench.
“If the Chief Justice believes his political judgment is so exquisite, I invite him to resign, travel to Iowa, and get elected,” Cotton told CNN’s Manu Raju. “I suspect voters will find his strange views no more compelling than do the principled justices.”
Rep. Scott Desjarlais, a Tennessee Republican who once urged multiple women he had sexual relations with to get abortions despite being publicly anti-abortion, called Roberts’ DACA decision “painful.”
“Roberts is wrapping himself around the axle to find a way to punt a political decision rather than make the right legal determination,” DesJarlais tweeted. “Sounds like he’s in Congress instead of the Supreme Court.”
And Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) said this week has been the “most disappointing week at this #SCOTUS in years.”
“The Court continues to fashion one set of review standards under the Administrative Procedure Act for Democrat administrations and another for Republicans,” Hawley tweeted.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.