shareblue--2020-12-02--Historians are suing Donald Trump to stop him from destroying White House documents

Donald Trump and agencies and individuals in his administration have been named as defendants in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to ensure that they comply with the Presidential Records Act and do not destroy documents related to the Trump administration .
The plaintiffs that filed the suit are the National Security Archive , a nonprofit research institution associated with the George Washington University ; the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations and the American Historical Association , both professional organizations serving historians ; and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nonprofit ethics watchdog organization .
The named defendants are Trump ; the Executive Office of the President ; presidential adviser Jared Kushner ; David S. Ferriero , the archivist of the United States ; and the National Archives and Records Administration .
The individual plaintiffs have been sued in their official capacities .
CREW said in a statement : `` As President Trump 's term draws to a close , we face an increasing risk that historically valuable records of his presidency will be permanently lost in violation of records laws ... By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personnel to capture and preserve only portions of electronic messages they send or receive on unofficial messaging accounts , the White House is permitting the loss and destruction of Presidential record material . ''
Under the White House policy , screenshots of incomplete portions of material communicated via unofficial messaging services would count as preserving official presidential records .
CREW notes : `` But as guidance from the National Archives and Records Administration makes clear , screenshots that do not capture a message 's metadata are not 'complete copies ' as the Presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Jared Kushner has used unofficial platforms in conducting official government business .
Noah Bookbinder , CREW 's executive director , said : `` The Presidential Records Act exists for a simple reason : to prevent presidents and their staff from destroying historically valuable records .
By deleting or preserving only parts of these records , the White House is destroying essential historical records . ''
`` With the president facing potential legal and financial exposure once he leaves office , there is a growing risk that he will destroy records of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump and his White House have provided ample grounds for concern that they will destroy important records .
Two years ago , Politico reported on Trump 's habit of ripping up official papers that staff later had to tape back together in order to comply with the Presidential Records Act .
Richard Immerman , chair of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations ' historical documentation committee , said : `` For the purpose of creating a 'usable past ' for generations of future citizens , the Society for Historians of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preserving the integrity of the Trump administration 's records .
In light of the administration 's previous violations of the Presidential Records Act , it consequently judges it essential to take legal action to prevent any efforts to destroy records or otherwise fail to retain them in their entirety . ''
In addition to destroying documents , Trump has also exhibited a pattern of withholding records .
He refused to submit records subpoenaed by Congress during his impeachment earlier this year .
He has also never releases his tax returns , despite having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kept to by past presidents and do so .
Last month , the Democratic chairs of almost two dozen House committees sent letters directing the White House and more than 50 other federal agencies to comply with federal laws on record-keeping .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump and agencies and individuals in his administration have been named as defendants in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to ensure that they comply with the Presidential Records Act and do not destroy documents related to the Trump administration.
The plaintiffs that filed the suit are the National Security Archive, a nonprofit research institution associated with the George Washington University; the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations and the American Historical Association, both professional organizations serving historians; and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, a nonprofit ethics watchdog organization.
The named defendants are Trump; the Executive Office of the President; presidential adviser Jared Kushner; David S. Ferriero, the archivist of the United States; and the National Archives and Records Administration. The individual plaintiffs have been sued in their official capacities.
CREW said in a statement: “As President Trump’s term draws to a close, we face an increasing risk that historically valuable records of his presidency will be permanently lost in violation of records laws … By adopting a policy that allows White House personnel to capture and preserve only portions of electronic messages they send or receive on unofficial messaging accounts, the White House is permitting the loss and destruction of Presidential record material.”
Under the White House policy, screenshots of incomplete portions of material communicated via unofficial messaging services would count as preserving official presidential records. CREW notes: “But as guidance from the National Archives and Records Administration makes clear, screenshots that do not capture a message’s metadata are not ‘complete copies’ as the Presidential Records Act requires.” It specifies that Jared Kushner has used unofficial platforms in conducting official government business.
Noah Bookbinder, CREW’s executive director, said: “The Presidential Records Act exists for a simple reason: to prevent presidents and their staff from destroying historically valuable records. By deleting or preserving only parts of these records, the White House is destroying essential historical records.”
“With the president facing potential legal and financial exposure once he leaves office, there is a growing risk that he will destroy records of his presidency before leaving,” CREW warned.
Trump and his White House have provided ample grounds for concern that they will destroy important records.
Two years ago, Politico reported on Trump’s habit of ripping up official papers that staff later had to tape back together in order to comply with the Presidential Records Act.
Richard Immerman, chair of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations’ historical documentation committee, said: “For the purpose of creating a ‘usable past’ for generations of future citizens, the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations is gravely concerned with preserving the integrity of the Trump administration’s records. In light of the administration’s previous violations of the Presidential Records Act, it consequently judges it essential to take legal action to prevent any efforts to destroy records or otherwise fail to retain them in their entirety.”
In addition to destroying documents, Trump has also exhibited a pattern of withholding records. He refused to submit records subpoenaed by Congress during his impeachment earlier this year. He has also never releases his tax returns, despite having claimed he would comply with the norms kept to by past presidents and do so.
Last month, the Democratic chairs of almost two dozen House committees sent letters directing the White House and more than 50 other federal agencies to comply with federal laws on record-keeping.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-02--Republicans can't seem to stop lying about Jon Ossoff

A new TV ad is slamming Jon Ossoff , who is running against incumbent Republican David Perdue for a Georgia Senate seat , with the misleading suggestion that he 's accepted $ 1 billion in `` dark money '' from `` liberal megadonors '' for his campaign .
The problem is that it 's just not true .
Attack ads against Ossoff are ramping up his opponents ' false claims after neither candidate for the Georgia Senate seat managed to win a majority vote in the general election on Nov. 3 .
Ossoff is set to again face off against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held Jan. 5 .
The new ad by the Senate Leadership Fund , a Republican super PAC , claims that `` liberal megadonors '' are supporting Ossoff with `` untold millions in dark money . ''
The words `` $ 1 billion in political spending '' flit across the screen , citing in smaller print a MarketWatch radio interview as a source .
According to Factcheck.org , a shortened 15-second version of the ad makes the implication — that Ossoff has accepted $ 1 billion in 'dark money ' donations — more clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ text toward Ossoff .
But the ad 's implications are totally false .
As Factcheck.org points out , the $ 1 billion figure refers to the total spending in both of Georgia 's two runoff races — Ossoff and Perdue 's , but also Sen. Kelly Loeffler 's ( R-GA ) race against the Rev .
Raphael Warnock .
The outlet notes that Federal Election Commission has revealed that more `` dark money '' has been spent by Republicans to support Perdue 's campaign than Ossoff 's .
And a vast sum of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from dark money outlets to more transparent super PACs — has been spent on Perdue 's campaign .
According to research from the Center for Responsive Politics , $ 47.9 million of $ 49 million in gray money spent on Perdue 's Senate race came from the Senate Leadership Fund — the same Republican super PAC that created the Ossoff attack ad .
By contrast , left-wing super PACs have only spent $ 33.6 million in support of Ossoff 's campaign .
This ad is just the latest in a long line of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disinformation about Ossoff .
The Washington Post notes that GOP anti-Ossoff ads in Georgia have repeatedly accused Ossoff of being a socialist ( he is n't ) and that he supports defunding the police ( he does n't ) .
A recent racist and antisemitic ad by Perdue 's campaign used offensive tropes to attack Democratic Jews and people of color , including Ossoff , who is Jewish .
The ad freely implies that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , who is also Jewish , is part of a secret cabal of powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims Ossoff , along with his fellow Democrats , wants to `` open the borders '' and `` give voting rights to illegal immigrants , '' both of which are clear racist dog whistles .
In a now-infamous ad that was later taken down , a Perdue ad also enlarged Ossoff 's nose in an image — an offensive antisemitic attack — before again invoking the false and offensive trope that Schumer controls Ossoff behind the scenes .
And in August , the Ossoff campaign fact-checked a Republican campaign ad for Perdue that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for preexisting conditions .
`` Perdue 's campaign has Ossoff 's campaign has voted multiple times to gut protections for those with preexisting conditions and kick hundreds of thousands of Georgians off their health insurance , '' Ossoff responded to the ad .
Ossoff has also memorably fired back at some of the GOP 's attack ads in the past .
`` Sitting U.S .
Senator David Perdue 's digital attack ad distorted my face to enlarge and extend my nose .
I 'm Jewish , '' Ossoff responded on Twitter to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` This is the oldest , most obvious , least original anti-Semitic trope in history .
Senator , literally no one believes your excuses . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A new TV ad is slamming Jon Ossoff, who is running against incumbent Republican David Perdue for a Georgia Senate seat, with the misleading suggestion that he’s accepted $1 billion in “dark money” from “liberal megadonors” for his campaign.
The problem is that it’s just not true.
Attack ads against Ossoff are ramping up his opponents’ false claims after neither candidate for the Georgia Senate seat managed to win a majority vote in the general election on Nov. 3.
Ossoff is set to again face off against Perdue in the state’s runoff election held Jan. 5.
The new ad by the Senate Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC, claims that “liberal megadonors” are supporting Ossoff with “untold millions in dark money.”
The words “$1 billion in political spending” flit across the screen, citing in smaller print a MarketWatch radio interview as a source.
According to Factcheck.org, a shortened 15-second version of the ad makes the implication — that Ossoff has accepted $1 billion in ‘dark money’ donations — more clear with an arrow pointing directly from the text toward Ossoff.
But the ad’s implications are totally false.
As Factcheck.org points out, the $1 billion figure refers to the total spending in both of Georgia’s two runoff races — Ossoff and Perdue’s, but also Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s (R-GA) race against the Rev. Raphael Warnock.
The outlet notes that Federal Election Commission has revealed that more “dark money” has been spent by Republicans to support Perdue’s campaign than Ossoff’s.
And a vast sum of “gray money” — money donated from dark money outlets to more transparent super PACs — has been spent on Perdue’s campaign.
According to research from the Center for Responsive Politics, $47.9 million of $49 million in gray money spent on Perdue’s Senate race came from the Senate Leadership Fund — the same Republican super PAC that created the Ossoff attack ad.
By contrast, left-wing super PACs have only spent $33.6 million in support of Ossoff’s campaign.
This ad is just the latest in a long line of controversial attack ads by Republicans that spread disinformation about Ossoff.
The Washington Post notes that GOP anti-Ossoff ads in Georgia have repeatedly accused Ossoff of being a socialist (he isn’t) and that he supports defunding the police (he doesn’t).
A recent racist and antisemitic ad by Perdue’s campaign used offensive tropes to attack Democratic Jews and people of color, including Ossoff, who is Jewish.
The ad freely implies that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is also Jewish, is part of a secret cabal of powerful Jews controlling Ossoff.
It also falsely claims Ossoff, along with his fellow Democrats, wants to “open the borders” and “give voting rights to illegal immigrants,” both of which are clear racist dog whistles.
In a now-infamous ad that was later taken down, a Perdue ad also enlarged Ossoff’s nose in an image — an offensive antisemitic attack — before again invoking the false and offensive trope that Schumer controls Ossoff behind the scenes.
And in August, the Ossoff campaign fact-checked a Republican campaign ad for Perdue that falsely claimed Perdue has always supported protections for preexisting conditions.
“Perdue’s campaign has Ossoff’s campaign has voted multiple times to gut protections for those with preexisting conditions and kick hundreds of thousands of Georgians off their health insurance,” Ossoff responded to the ad.
Ossoff has also memorably fired back at some of the GOP’s attack ads in the past.
“Sitting U.S. Senator David Perdue’s digital attack ad distorted my face to enlarge and extend my nose. I’m Jewish,” Ossoff responded on Twitter to the ad in which his nose was enlarged. “This is the oldest, most obvious, least original anti-Semitic trope in history. Senator, literally no one believes your excuses.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-02--Judge strikes down Trump limits on skilled-worker visas

A federal judge on Tuesday struck down two Trump administration rules designed to drastically curtail the number of visas issued each year to skilled foreign workers .
The changes applying to the H-1B visa program announced in October include imposing salary requirements on companies employing skilled overseas workers and limits on specialty occupations .
Department of Homeland Security officials deemed it a priority because of coronavirus-related job losses and estimated as many as one-third of those who have applied for H-1B 's in recent years would be denied under the new rules .
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ procedures and its contention that the changes were an emergency response to pandemic job losses did n't hold water because the Trump administration has floated the idea for some time but only published the rules in October .
`` The COVID-19 pandemic is an event beyond defendants ' control , yet it was within defendants ' control to take action earlier than they did , '' White wrote .
The U.S. issues up to 85,000 H-1B visas each year in sectors including technology , engineering and medicine .
Usually , they 're issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the nearly 600,000 H-1B visa holders in the U.S. are from India and China .
The H-1B rules announced weeks before the election were part of Donald Trump 's wider agenda to curb nearly all forms of immigration .
In June , he issued an order temporarily suspending the H-1B program until the end of the year .
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and universities including the California Institute of Technology sued in California , arguing there was n't adequate notice or time for the public to comment on the changes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ related to requiring a prevailing wage for visa-holders , would have a drastic impact on new hires and `` sever the employment relationship of hundreds of thousands of existing employees in the United States . ''
The University of Utah cited an example where an H-1B employee seeking renewal was paid an $ 80,000 salary but would have to be paid $ 208,000 under the new rule .
The judge agreed that the federal government did n't make a case for implementing the rules under the Administrative Procedure Act , which makes agencies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detailed process for enacting regulations .
`` Defendants failed to show there was good cause to dispense with the rational and thoughtful discourse that is provided by the APA 's notice and comment requirements , '' White wrote .
The rule on wages , proposed by the Department of Labor , took effect in October , while the Homeland Security rule on occupations and other issues was supposed to take effect Monday .
It also would have placed limits on `` offsite '' firms that employ and contract out H-1B visa holders to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been limited to one year at a time .
`` This is incredibly important decision to preserve the H-1B program , '' said attorney Paul Hughes , who represented the plaintiffs .
`` This ruling enables those individuals to maintain their jobs and their families in the United States . ''
The Chamber of Commerce said in a statement that the ruling `` has many companies across various industries breathing a huge sigh of relief , '' with the visa changes having `` the potential to be incredibly disruptive to the operations of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for spokespeople with the Labor and Homeland Security departments were n't immediately returned .
The wage rule has prompted at least two other federal lawsuits in New Jersey and Washington , D.C .

A federal judge on Tuesday struck down two Trump administration rules designed to drastically curtail the number of visas issued each year to skilled foreign workers.
The changes applying to the H-1B visa program announced in October include imposing salary requirements on companies employing skilled overseas workers and limits on specialty occupations. Department of Homeland Security officials deemed it a priority because of coronavirus-related job losses and estimated as many as one-third of those who have applied for H-1B’s in recent years would be denied under the new rules.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in California said the government didn’t follow transparency procedures and its contention that the changes were an emergency response to pandemic job losses didn’t hold water because the Trump administration has floated the idea for some time but only published the rules in October.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is an event beyond defendants’ control, yet it was within defendants’ control to take action earlier than they did,” White wrote.
The U.S. issues up to 85,000 H-1B visas each year in sectors including technology, engineering and medicine. Usually, they’re issued for three years and renewable. Most of the nearly 600,000 H-1B visa holders in the U.S. are from India and China.
The H-1B rules announced weeks before the election were part of Donald Trump’s wider agenda to curb nearly all forms of immigration. In June, he issued an order temporarily suspending the H-1B program until the end of the year.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and universities including the California Institute of Technology sued in California, arguing there wasn’t adequate notice or time for the public to comment on the changes. They also said the rules, particularly related to requiring a prevailing wage for visa-holders, would have a drastic impact on new hires and “sever the employment relationship of hundreds of thousands of existing employees in the United States.”
The University of Utah cited an example where an H-1B employee seeking renewal was paid an $80,000 salary but would have to be paid $208,000 under the new rule.
The judge agreed that the federal government didn’t make a case for implementing the rules under the Administrative Procedure Act, which makes agencies accountable to the public by requiring a detailed process for enacting regulations.
“Defendants failed to show there was good cause to dispense with the rational and thoughtful discourse that is provided by the APA’s notice and comment requirements,” White wrote.
The rule on wages, proposed by the Department of Labor, took effect in October, while the Homeland Security rule on occupations and other issues was supposed to take effect Monday. It also would have placed limits on “offsite” firms that employ and contract out H-1B visa holders to other companies; their visas would have been limited to one year at a time.
“This is incredibly important decision to preserve the H-1B program,” said attorney Paul Hughes, who represented the plaintiffs. “This ruling enables those individuals to maintain their jobs and their families in the United States.”
The Chamber of Commerce said in a statement that the ruling “has many companies across various industries breathing a huge sigh of relief,” with the visa changes having “the potential to be incredibly disruptive to the operations of many businesses.”
Messages left Tuesday for spokespeople with the Labor and Homeland Security departments weren’t immediately returned.
The wage rule has prompted at least two other federal lawsuits in New Jersey and Washington, D.C.


shareblue--2020-12-02--Trump's company is profiting from the pandemic — at taxpayer expense

Donald Trump and his senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner have allegedly enriched themselves at taxpayer expense , as more than 25 Paycheck Protection Program loans — to the tune of $ 3.65 million — were given to Trump and Kushner-owned real estate properties during the pandemic .
`` Fifteen of the properties self-reported that they only kept one job , zero jobs or did not report a number at all , '' an NBC news analysis Tuesday night reported .
The Triomphe Restaurant Corps , part of Trump International Hotel & Tower in New York City , received more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , yet did n't maintain any jobs and later closed its doors .
The outlet also reported that a company connected to Kushner 's New Jersey Bungalow Hotel received more than $ 500,000 from the program , maintaining 155 jobs .
Two 5th Avenue tenants at Trump Tower , despite a $ 100,000 PPP loan , maintained just three jobs , while four tenants at a Kushner-owned 5th Avenue property were loaned $ 204,000 , keeping six jobs , NBC reported .
The information was obtained after NBC and 10 other newsrooms across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for its release .
It 's just the latest example of a longstanding pattern of Trump serving his own financial interests on the taxpayers ' dime .
In late October , a bombshell report by the Washington Post revealed that Trump allegedly pocketed $ 2.5 million in taxpayer money — by charging exorbitant sums of money for political figures and Trump staffers to stay at Trump-owned properties .
At Trump 's Mar-a-Lago property in Florida , the report found Trump charged $ 500 to $ 2,600 a night to the federal government for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported that $ 5.6 million more in taxpayer money was also funneled into Trump 's campaign and fundraising arm .
Watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington had previously disclosed that 33 separate political events were held at Trump properties throughout Trump 's second year in office .
Trump has also consistently promoted his business interests abroad , such as when he encouraged Vice President Mike Pence to stay at a Trump-owned property 180 miles out of the way while in Dublin , Ireland , for diplomatic talks .
But it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration charged hundreds of thousands of dollars in limo services to the federal government for the trip .
Taxpayers have also paid for the trips abroad Trump 's two eldest sons have taken while on Trump Organization business in foreign countries .
Eric Trump did a promotional tour of Uruguay in January 2017 , as taxpayers funded some $ 100,000 in hotel rooms for his staff and security detail .
The next month , Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. met up at Dubai golf resort with a business colleague — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the side .
That trip cost taxpayers around $ 200,000 , according to a CREW report .
In total , the Trumps have taken 12 times as many Secret Service-protected trips as the Obama family did .
Not all of Trump 's attempts at advancing his own financial interests have been successful , however .
In February 2018 , he allegedly asked the U.S. ambassador to the U.K. to pressure the British government to hold the British Open golf tournament at a Trump-owned resort in Scotland .
And in 2019 , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 G-7 summit at his Miami , Florida , resort , potentially driving traffic to it during its off-season .
The first public evidence of Trump siphoning taxpayer money into his own coffers occurred in February 2018 , when an investigation uncovered that a General Services Administration employee spent $ 1,700 of taxpayer money at Trump 's Washington D.C. hotel .
But the conflict of interest between Trump 's business interests and his presidency has been a subject of criticism since he took office — particularly when he promised to divest himself of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then never delivered .
Trump has dismissed all criticism of his blurred financial and political boundaries over the years .
In October 2019 , he mocked the Constitution 's emoluments clause , which prohibits a president from deriving financial profit from his presidency .
Asked about his forsaken plan to hold the G-7 summit at his Miami resort , Trump slammed the emoluments clause as `` phony . ''
`` [ Other presidents ] , they ran their businesses ... .
I do n't think you people with this phony emoluments clause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would say it 's cost me anywhere from $ 2 billion to $ 5 billion to be president , '' he said .
`` And that 's okay , between what I lose and what I could 've made , if I just ran my business .
I was doing it really well . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump and his senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner have allegedly enriched themselves at taxpayer expense, as more than 25 Paycheck Protection Program loans — to the tune of $3.65 million — were given to Trump and Kushner-owned real estate properties during the pandemic.
“Fifteen of the properties self-reported that they only kept one job, zero jobs or did not report a number at all,” an NBC news analysis Tuesday night reported.
The Triomphe Restaurant Corps, part of Trump International Hotel & Tower in New York City, received more than $2 million from the program, yet didn’t maintain any jobs and later closed its doors.
The outlet also reported that a company connected to Kushner’s New Jersey Bungalow Hotel received more than $500,000 from the program, maintaining 155 jobs.
Two 5th Avenue tenants at Trump Tower, despite a $100,000 PPP loan, maintained just three jobs, while four tenants at a Kushner-owned 5th Avenue property were loaned $204,000, keeping six jobs, NBC reported.
The information was obtained after NBC and 10 other newsrooms across the country sued the Small Business Administration for its release.
It’s just the latest example of a longstanding pattern of Trump serving his own financial interests on the taxpayers’ dime.
In late October, a bombshell report by the Washington Post revealed that Trump allegedly pocketed $2.5 million in taxpayer money — by charging exorbitant sums of money for political figures and Trump staffers to stay at Trump-owned properties.
At Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property in Florida, the report found Trump charged $500 to $2,600 a night to the federal government for his pricy overnight guests.
The Post reported that $5.6 million more in taxpayer money was also funneled into Trump’s campaign and fundraising arm.
Watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington had previously disclosed that 33 separate political events were held at Trump properties throughout Trump’s second year in office.
Trump has also consistently promoted his business interests abroad, such as when he encouraged Vice President Mike Pence to stay at a Trump-owned property 180 miles out of the way while in Dublin, Ireland, for diplomatic talks.
But it was taxpayers who footed the bill when the Trump administration charged hundreds of thousands of dollars in limo services to the federal government for the trip.
Taxpayers have also paid for the trips abroad Trump’s two eldest sons have taken while on Trump Organization business in foreign countries.
Eric Trump did a promotional tour of Uruguay in January 2017, as taxpayers funded some $100,000 in hotel rooms for his staff and security detail. The next month, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. met up at Dubai golf resort with a business colleague — taking a quick jaunt to the Maldives on the side.
That trip cost taxpayers around $200,000, according to a CREW report.
In total, the Trumps have taken 12 times as many Secret Service-protected trips as the Obama family did.
Not all of Trump’s attempts at advancing his own financial interests have been successful, however.
In February 2018, he allegedly asked the U.S. ambassador to the U.K. to pressure the British government to hold the British Open golf tournament at a Trump-owned resort in Scotland.
And in 2019, Trump announced that he planned to hold the 2020 G-7 summit at his Miami, Florida, resort, potentially driving traffic to it during its off-season.
Both efforts ultimately failed.
The first public evidence of Trump siphoning taxpayer money into his own coffers occurred in February 2018, when an investigation uncovered that a General Services Administration employee spent $1,700 of taxpayer money at Trump’s Washington D.C. hotel.
But the conflict of interest between Trump’s business interests and his presidency has been a subject of criticism since he took office — particularly when he promised to divest himself of his business interests on the campaign trail and then never delivered.
Trump has dismissed all criticism of his blurred financial and political boundaries over the years.
In October 2019, he mocked the Constitution’s emoluments clause, which prohibits a president from deriving financial profit from his presidency.
Asked about his forsaken plan to hold the G-7 summit at his Miami resort, Trump slammed the emoluments clause as “phony.”
“[Other presidents], they ran their businesses…. I don’t think you people with this phony emoluments clause… and by the way, I would say it’s cost me anywhere from $2 billion to $5 billion to be president,” he said. “And that’s okay, between what I lose and what I could’ve made, if I just ran my business. I was doing it really well.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-03--Cartoon: Bribes for pardons

Cartoon: Bribes for pardons

Clay Jones is a nationally syndicated political cartoonist .
He has worked for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and The Free Lance-Star @ @ @ @ @ draws a weekly cartoon for CNN Opinion .
He lives in the Washington suburbs of @ @ @

A decade after Sandy Hook, grief remains but hope grows
December, the anniversary of the worst grade school mass shooting in the U.S. is a difficult month for many in Newton. But in the face of heartbreak and grief, some survivors and families of victims feel hope for a brighter future.
By Associated Press - December 22, 2022


shareblue--2020-12-03--Republicans now want people to accept the election results — in some races

Republicans have promoted baseless claims of widespread voter fraud in the Nov. 3 general election for a month in refusing to admit Donald Trump lost — but now they 're selectively accepting some election results and not others .
Fearful of losing seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate , prominent Republicans are suddenly speaking up in defense of the election as free and fair , in some cases just days after promoting myths of voter fraud .
Iowa Republican Sens .
Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst issued a joint statement Thursday in support of Mariannette Miller-Meeks ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District .
After a statewide recount , Miller-Meeks ' lead in the election dropped from double digits to single digits .
Her challenger , Democrat Rita Hart , has announced that her campaign will contest the election by filing a request directly with the House in accordance with the Federal Contested Elections Act , according to the Associated Press .
Grassley and Ernst are now slamming a losing candidate for questioning the results of an election .
They say : `` Rita Hart declined to take legitimate legal action in Iowa courts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who should have no say in who represents Iowans .
That 's an insult to Iowa voters and our nonpartisan election process .
We are confident in the fairness and accuracy of Iowa 's election system . ''
Neither Grassley nor Ernst has congratulated President-elect Joe Biden on his win against Donald Trump last month .
Just the day before he defended the results of the election in Iowa , Grassley posted on Twitter in language that avoided acknowledging Biden 's win , tweeting : `` I realize this might hurt their chances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ select an Iowan or Heidi Heitkamp or Collin Peterson to be Ag Secretary . ''
Other Republicans who have publicly contested the election results were horrified when Trump ally Lin Wood weaponized their own arguments against them .
Even Republican lawmakers who deny Trump 's loss in the general election were swift to blast Trump ally Lin Wood 's call for GOP voters to boycott the Jan. 5 runoff elections in the Georgia Senate races .
But Wood 's rationale was not dissimilar to their own : He argued that the election was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , advocating for a boycott because of what he said was failure on the part of Republican incumbent Sens .
David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler to stand up for Trump in his dispute of election results in the state .
`` They have not earned your vote , '' Wood said .
`` Do n't you give it to them .
Why would you go back and vote in another rigged election for god 's sake !
Fix it !
You got ta fix it ! ''
Sen. Ted Cruz ( R-TX ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter fraud for weeks , was quick to call Wood a `` clown . ''
`` I do n't know who this clown is , but anyone saying America would be better off w/ Chuck Schumer as Majority Leader—producing huge tax increases , the Green New Deal , massive amnesty & a packed Supreme Court destroying the Bill of Rights—is trying to mislead the people of Georgia , '' he tweeted Thursday .
Just the day before , Cruz urged the Supreme Court to hear an appeal of one of Trump 's election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` This appeal raises serious legal issues , and I believe the Court should hear the case on an expedited basis . ''
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich , too , was swift to condemn Wood 's objections to the election results as `` destructive '' to American democracy .
`` Lin Wood and Sidney Powell are totally destructive , '' Gingrich tweeted .
`` Every Georgia conservative who cares about America MUST vote in the runoff .
Their dont vote strategy will cripple America . ''
But 12 hours previously , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public statement disputing the election results .
And earlier this week , Gingrich spoke on a podcast with Wisconsin Republican Party chair Andrew Hitt and complained about `` voter irregularities '' in the election .
Seth Hill , a University of California-San Diego political scientist , told the New York Times this week that it 's possible some Republicans are simply exhibiting wishful thinking , even if they know that President-elect Biden won the election .
`` The evidence is strong that a number of people out there , even if they know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answer , '' Hill said .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Republicans have promoted baseless claims of widespread voter fraud in the Nov. 3 general election for a month in refusing to admit Donald Trump lost — but now they’re selectively accepting some election results and not others.
Fearful of losing seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate, prominent Republicans are suddenly speaking up in defense of the election as free and fair, in some cases just days after promoting myths of voter fraud.
Iowa Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst issued a joint statement Thursday in support of Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ win in the state’s 2nd Congressional District. After a statewide recount, Miller-Meeks’ lead in the election dropped from double digits to single digits.
Her challenger, Democrat Rita Hart, has announced that her campaign will contest the election by filing a request directly with the House in accordance with the Federal Contested Elections Act, according to the Associated Press.
Grassley and Ernst are now slamming a losing candidate for questioning the results of an election. They say: “Rita Hart declined to take legitimate legal action in Iowa courts and instead chose to appeal to Washington partisans who should have no say in who represents Iowans. That’s an insult to Iowa voters and our nonpartisan election process. We are confident in the fairness and accuracy of Iowa’s election system.”
Neither Grassley nor Ernst has congratulated President-elect Joe Biden on his win against Donald Trump last month. Just the day before he defended the results of the election in Iowa, Grassley posted on Twitter in language that avoided acknowledging Biden’s win, tweeting: “I realize this might hurt their chances but if Biden becomes president he should select an Iowan or Heidi Heitkamp or Collin Peterson to be Ag Secretary.”
Other Republicans who have publicly contested the election results were horrified when Trump ally Lin Wood weaponized their own arguments against them.
Even Republican lawmakers who deny Trump’s loss in the general election were swift to blast Trump ally Lin Wood’s call for GOP voters to boycott the Jan. 5 runoff elections in the Georgia Senate races.
But Wood’s rationale was not dissimilar to their own: He argued that the election was rigged.
But Wood took it farther, advocating for a boycott because of what he said was failure on the part of Republican incumbent Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler to stand up for Trump in his dispute of election results in the state.
“They have not earned your vote,” Wood said. “Don’t you give it to them. Why would you go back and vote in another rigged election for god’s sake! Fix it! You gotta fix it!”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who has spread false claims of voter fraud for weeks, was quick to call Wood a “clown.”
“I don’t know who this clown is, but anyone saying America would be better off w/ Chuck Schumer as Majority Leader—producing huge tax increases, the Green New Deal, massive amnesty & a packed Supreme Court destroying the Bill of Rights—is trying to mislead the people of Georgia,” he tweeted Thursday.
Just the day before, Cruz urged the Supreme Court to hear an appeal of one of Trump’s election fraud lawsuits in Pennsylvania, stating: “This appeal raises serious legal issues, and I believe the Court should hear the case on an expedited basis.”
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, too, was swift to condemn Wood’s objections to the election results as “destructive” to American democracy.
“Lin Wood and Sidney Powell are totally destructive,” Gingrich tweeted. “Every Georgia conservative who cares about America MUST vote in the runoff. Their dont vote strategy will cripple America.”
But 12 hours previously, he himself retweeted Donald Trump’s most recent public statement disputing the election results. And earlier this week, Gingrich spoke on a podcast with Wisconsin Republican Party chair Andrew Hitt and complained about “voter irregularities” in the election.
Seth Hill, a University of California-San Diego political scientist, told the New York Times this week that it’s possible some Republicans are simply exhibiting wishful thinking, even if they know that President-elect Biden won the election.
“The evidence is strong that a number of people out there, even if they know the truth, will give a cheerleading answer,” Hill said.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-03--Trump left Biden a demolished refugee program that will be a nightmare to fix

President-elect Joe Biden vowed during the 2020 campaign to increase the number of refugees admitted to the United States .
However , the Trump administration 's drastic cuts to the country 's refugee program will require a lot of time and effort to reverse , experts say .
As the Washington Post wrote this week , in October , Trump set the refugee admissions limit to 15,000 for the 2021 fiscal year , which runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 , 2021 .
That number is far less than during the 2020 fiscal year , with its 18,000-admission limit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refugee admission cap set by former President Barack Obama during his last year in office .
Biden pledged to increase the refugee admissions to a historic high of 125,000 and establish a 95,000 annual minimum , making the announcement on World Refugee Day on June 20 .
`` The United States has always strived to serve as a beacon of hope — a role model in resettling refugees and leading the humanitarian response abroad , '' he said in a Medium post .
`` Fear-mongering , xenophobia , and racism are the unabashed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy ... but we will not , and we can not , allow hate and rage to divide us further . ''
However , experts say Trump hurt refugee admissions so significantly that restoring them wo n't be as simple as just increasing the limit , as Biden plans to do .
`` It is going to be hard , '' Nazanin Ash , International Rescue Committee vice president , told the Post .
`` ...
The Trump administration was extreme with respect to the refugee admissions program , and they really looked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the demographics and reduce the population and the pipeline of people coming to the United States . ''
Trump and his administration have waged an all-out war against all forms of immigration since he took office , making a special target of refugees and asylum seekers .
In January 2017 , just one week after taking office , Trump signed an executive order temporarily freezing the critical United States refugee resettlement program .
Trump 's top immigration adviser Stephen Miller also went so far as to suppress a study from the Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 63 billion surplus of revenue generated by refugees over a 10-year period , with the White House insisting instead `` that refugees with few skills coming from war-torn countries take more government benefits from the Department of Health and Human Services than the average population , and are not a net benefit to the U.S. economy , '' according to the New York Times .
Last year , Trump stripped protections for those fleeing violence in Venezuela , whose government the United Nations says has killed thousands of its citizens .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ status to those asylum seekers , allowing for them to be deported .
Trump has sought to end similar protections for immigrants from El Salavdor , Haiti , Nicaragua , and Sudan .
The Trump administration 's `` zero-tolerance '' policy at the southern border also resulted in hundreds of migrant children being forcibly separated from their parents , with no plans to reunite them .
Many of those families were fleeing violence in their home countries in Central America , hoping to find refuge in the United States , but were turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last month , a federal judge ordered a halt to the Trump administration 's expulsion of immigrant children who had crossed the southern border by themselves in search of protection .
Lee Gelernt , an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer , called the policy , which `` was sending thousands of young children back to danger '' without a court hearing , `` gratuitously cruel and unlawful . ''
The Trump administration 's `` destruction '' of the refugee admissions program specifically has been `` extreme , '' Ash said .
Shelly Callahan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a New York-based non-profit and part of the New York State Enhanced Services to Refugees Program , similarly told the Gotham Gazette last month that `` the damage this administration has done can not be undone . ''
`` To get back to the point where we can settle 110,000 refugees a year , it 's going to take a lot of time , '' Callahan said .
`` We also have huge lack-of-workforce issues across the state .
... We 're not keeping at pace with the population growth that we need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , chief executive of the Emgage Foundation for Muslim American civic engagement , told the Post that because a large number of nationwide resettlement offices had been closed down due to low refugee admissions in the last four years , many of the government officials who interview refugees overseas had also been directed to perform other duties , leaving in place a bare-bones system .
`` It will be hard to rebuild these programs quickly '' with infrastructure and decades of expertise having been `` essentially eliminated , '' Bob Carey , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the DHS 's Office of Refugee Resettlement , told Business Insider on Wednesday .
`` [ T ] here is an opportunity to rethink what could work better '' under Biden , he added .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

President-elect Joe Biden vowed during the 2020 campaign to increase the number of refugees admitted to the United States. However, the Trump administration’s drastic cuts to the country’s refugee program will require a lot of time and effort to reverse, experts say.
As the Washington Post wrote this week, in October, Trump set the refugee admissions limit to 15,000 for the 2021 fiscal year, which runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2021. That number is far less than during the 2020 fiscal year, with its 18,000-admission limit, and diminutive compared to the 110,000 refugee admission cap set by former President Barack Obama during his last year in office.
Biden pledged to increase the refugee admissions to a historic high of 125,000 and establish a 95,000 annual minimum, making the announcement on World Refugee Day on June 20.
“The United States has always strived to serve as a beacon of hope — a role model in resettling refugees and leading the humanitarian response abroad,” he said in a Medium post. “Fear-mongering, xenophobia, and racism are the unabashed tenets of Trump’s refugee and immigration policy … but we will not, and we cannot, allow hate and rage to divide us further.”
However, experts say Trump hurt refugee admissions so significantly that restoring them won’t be as simple as just increasing the limit, as Biden plans to do.
“It is going to be hard,” Nazanin Ash, International Rescue Committee vice president, told the Post. “…The Trump administration was extreme with respect to the refugee admissions program, and they really looked at every possible way to massively alter the demographics and reduce the population and the pipeline of people coming to the United States.”
Trump and his administration have waged an all-out war against all forms of immigration since he took office, making a special target of refugees and asylum seekers.
In January 2017, just one week after taking office, Trump signed an executive order temporarily freezing the critical United States refugee resettlement program.
Trump’s top immigration adviser Stephen Miller also went so far as to suppress a study from the Department of Health and Human Services that showed a $63 billion surplus of revenue generated by refugees over a 10-year period, with the White House insisting instead “that refugees with few skills coming from war-torn countries take more government benefits from the Department of Health and Human Services than the average population, and are not a net benefit to the U.S. economy,” according to the New York Times.
Last year, Trump stripped protections for those fleeing violence in Venezuela, whose government the United Nations says has killed thousands of its citizens. The Trump administration refused to grant temporary protection status to those asylum seekers, allowing for them to be deported.
Trump has sought to end similar protections for immigrants from El Salavdor, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Sudan.
The Trump administration’s “zero-tolerance” policy at the southern border also resulted in hundreds of migrant children being forcibly separated from their parents, with no plans to reunite them. Many of those families were fleeing violence in their home countries in Central America, hoping to find refuge in the United States, but were turned away illegally at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Last month, a federal judge ordered a halt to the Trump administration’s expulsion of immigrant children who had crossed the southern border by themselves in search of protection.
Lee Gelernt, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer, called the policy, which “was sending thousands of young children back to danger” without a court hearing, “gratuitously cruel and unlawful.”
The Trump administration’s “destruction” of the refugee admissions program specifically has been “extreme,” Ash said.
Shelly Callahan, executive director of The Center, a New York-based non-profit and part of the New York State Enhanced Services to Refugees Program, similarly told the Gotham Gazette last month that “the damage this administration has done cannot be undone.”
“To get back to the point where we can settle 110,000 refugees a year, it’s going to take a lot of time,” Callahan said. “We also have huge lack-of-workforce issues across the state. … We’re not keeping at pace with the population growth that we need in these areas.”
Wa’el Alzayat, chief executive of the Emgage Foundation for Muslim American civic engagement, told the Post that because a large number of nationwide resettlement offices had been closed down due to low refugee admissions in the last four years, many of the government officials who interview refugees overseas had also been directed to perform other duties, leaving in place a bare-bones system.
“It will be hard to rebuild these programs quickly” with infrastructure and decades of expertise having been “essentially eliminated,” Bob Carey, who worked for the Obama administration as director of the DHS’s Office of Refugee Resettlement, told Business Insider on Wednesday.
“[T]here is an opportunity to rethink what could work better” under Biden, he added.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-03--Trump aide banned from DOJ for trying to pass sensitive info to White House

The official serving as Donald Trump 's eyes and ears at the Justice Department has been banned from the building after trying to pressure staffers to give up sensitive information about election fraud and other matters she could relay to the White House , three people familiar with the matter tell the Associated Press .
Heidi Stirrup , an ally of top Trump adviser Stephen Miller , was quietly installed at the Justice Department as a White House liaison a few months ago .
She was told within the last two weeks to vacate the building after top Justice officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information about ongoing cases and the department 's work on election fraud , the people said .
Stirrup is accused of approaching staffers in the department demanding they give her information about investigations , including election fraud matters , the people said .
They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter .
The effort came as Trump continues to level baseless claims that he won the election and alleges without evidence that massive voting fraud was responsible for his defeat to President-elect Joe Biden .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ political allies for positions at some of the highest levels of the Justice Department without consulting any senior department officials or the White House counsel 's office and also attempted to interfere in the hiring process for career staffers , a violation of the government 's human resources policies , one of the people said .
The Justice Department declined to comment .
Attempts to reach Stirrup for comment were not immediately successful .
Earlier this week , Attorney General William Barr told the AP that U.S. attorneys and the FBI had looked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no evidence of widespread voting fraud that would change the outcome of the election .
`` To date , we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election , '' he said on Tuesday .
Trump shot back at Barr on Thursday , saying the Justice Department `` has n't looked very hard '' and calling it a disappointment .
But he stopped short of implying Barr 's future as attorney general could be cut short .
`` Ask me that in a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said when asked if he still has confidence in Barr .
`` They should be looking at all of this fraud , '' Trump said .
He was also critical of Barr 's statement that much of what has been presented so far by the Trump campaign and its allies amounts to allegations that belong in lawsuits , not federal crimes .
`` This is not civil .
This is criminal stuff .
This is very bad , criminal stuff , '' Trump said .
Stirrup , who previously was a central figure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard-line immigration policies , technically still remains in her position after being placed at the Justice Department by the White House Office of Presidential Personnel .
The Trump administration has been working to have liaisons report directly to the White House instead of the agencies where they work .
Across the administration , there have been concerns that the liaisons were undercutting the work not just of career professionals but also of Trump 's own political appointees .
Shortly after the election , the presidential personnel office had also instructed the liaisons to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for jobs while Trump refused to accept the election results .
Trump 's term ends at noon on Jan. 20 .
Several thousand political appointees across the government will see their jobs end by that date .
The White House personnel office has been headed by former Trump personal assistant John McEntee , who has renewed Trump 's push to rid the administration of those deemed `` disloyal '' to him .
In September , Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson inadvertently made public his anger with McEntee when cameras captured writing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was consulting during a speech .
In a reference to the White House Presidential Personnel Office , Carson 's notes said : `` I am not happy with the way PPO is handling my agency . ''
It 's a sentiment that has been shared across the government .
Stirrup , a close ally of Miller , previously served as the acting director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement and was also a deputy White House liaison at the Department of Health and Human Services .

The official serving as Donald Trump’s eyes and ears at the Justice Department has been banned from the building after trying to pressure staffers to give up sensitive information about election fraud and other matters she could relay to the White House, three people familiar with the matter tell the Associated Press.
Heidi Stirrup, an ally of top Trump adviser Stephen Miller, was quietly installed at the Justice Department as a White House liaison a few months ago. She was told within the last two weeks to vacate the building after top Justice officials learned of her efforts to collect insider information about ongoing cases and the department’s work on election fraud, the people said.
Stirrup is accused of approaching staffers in the department demanding they give her information about investigations, including election fraud matters, the people said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.
The effort came as Trump continues to level baseless claims that he won the election and alleges without evidence that massive voting fraud was responsible for his defeat to President-elect Joe Biden.
Stirrup had also extended job offers to political allies for positions at some of the highest levels of the Justice Department without consulting any senior department officials or the White House counsel’s office and also attempted to interfere in the hiring process for career staffers, a violation of the government’s human resources policies, one of the people said.
The Justice Department declined to comment. Attempts to reach Stirrup for comment were not immediately successful.
Earlier this week, Attorney General William Barr told the AP that U.S. attorneys and the FBI had looked into allegations of election irregularities and found no evidence of widespread voting fraud that would change the outcome of the election.
“To date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election,” he said on Tuesday.
Trump shot back at Barr on Thursday, saying the Justice Department “hasn’t looked very hard” and calling it a disappointment. But he stopped short of implying Barr’s future as attorney general could be cut short.
“Ask me that in a number of weeks from now,” Trump said when asked if he still has confidence in Barr.
“They should be looking at all of this fraud,” Trump said.
He was also critical of Barr’s statement that much of what has been presented so far by the Trump campaign and its allies amounts to allegations that belong in lawsuits, not federal crimes.
“This is not civil. This is criminal stuff. This is very bad, criminal stuff,” Trump said.
Stirrup, who previously was a central figure in the Trump administration’s push for hard-line immigration policies, technically still remains in her position after being placed at the Justice Department by the White House Office of Presidential Personnel.
The Trump administration has been working to have liaisons report directly to the White House instead of the agencies where they work. Across the administration, there have been concerns that the liaisons were undercutting the work not just of career professionals but also of Trump’s own political appointees.
Shortly after the election, the presidential personnel office had also instructed the liaisons to fire any political appointees who were looking for jobs while Trump refused to accept the election results. Trump’s term ends at noon on Jan. 20. Several thousand political appointees across the government will see their jobs end by that date.
The White House personnel office has been headed by former Trump personal assistant John McEntee, who has renewed Trump’s push to rid the administration of those deemed “disloyal” to him.
In September, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson inadvertently made public his anger with McEntee when cameras captured writing on the back of a page he was consulting during a speech.
In a reference to the White House Presidential Personnel Office, Carson’s notes said: “I am not happy with the way PPO is handling my agency.” It’s a sentiment that has been shared across the government.
Stirrup, a close ally of Miller, previously served as the acting director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement and was also a deputy White House liaison at the Department of Health and Human Services.


shareblue--2020-12-03--9 financial scandals Georgia Sen. David Perdue doesn't want to explain

Sen. David Perdue ( R-GA ) has in recent days come under renewed scrutiny for his financial activities , including trades in his stock portfolio .
With accusations of insider trading and other violations , Perdue has a lot going on in the lead-up to the runoff election for his Senate seat in Georgia on Jan. 5 .
Perdue 's Democratic challenger , Jon Ossoff , blasted the incumbent on social media Wednesday night , tweeting : `` We 've got a political system where money buys access .
If Goldman Sachs ' stock were plunging overnight , David Perdue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DC , passing a bill within 6 hours .
When it comes to regular people , the Senate has n't passed any economic relief since early summer . ''
Since a video of Ossoff slamming Perdue 's COVID response during their Oct. 28 debate went viral , Perdue has refused to debate Ossoff again .
In the clip , Ossoff suggests Perdue was too busy dodging insider trading probes to look after the health of Georgians .
Perdue responded by canceling the final debate before the general election , attending a Trump rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pre-runoff Dec. 6 debate at the Atlanta Press Club , blaming the media for not holding Ossoff `` accountable '' for embarrassing him .
Here 's a rundown of some of the top financial scandals in which Perdue 's been embroiled during his time in the Senate .
1 .
He sold $ 1 million in Cardlytics stock after an email exchange with the company 's CEO .
In late January , after an email exchange with the CEO of Cardlytics , a financial company , Perdue sold $ 1 million worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six weeks before its chief executive announced he 'd be stepping down and its market value plummeted .
Two days before the sale , the CEO , Scott Grimes , sent a personal email to Perdue that mentioned an upcoming meeting with the company 's chief financial officer and `` upcoming changes . ''
When Perdue said he did n't know about the meeting , Grimes replied : `` David , Sorry .
That email was not meant for you .
Wrong David ! ''
Perdue then got in touch with his Goldman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sell off the shares in Cardlytics ; the sale took place Jan. 23 .
The transaction was one among several that led to an investigation of Perdue 's trading activity by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission .
Perdue was cleared of wrongdoing over the summer .
The Washington Post reported that Walter Shaub , the former head of the Office of Government Ethics , said of the trade : `` He paid consideration to purchase the now public stocks by exercising stock options on terms not generally available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question as to whether he violated the STOCK Act of 2012 . ''
2 .
He lied about controlling his own stock portfolio .
The New York Times reported Wednesday that while Perdue has always claimed to the media that he does n't control his own stock portfolio and that it is managed by outside advisers , that 's not quite true .
`` Senator Perdue does n't handle the day-to-day decisions of his portfolio — all of his holdings are managed by outside financial advisers who make recommendations , set strategy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' John Burke , Perdue 's campaign communications director , told the Times .
But the Times reported on Nov. 25 that three separate sources said the Cardlytics trade was carried out on Perdue 's direct instructions and that the a source said Goldman Sachs had recorded the orders in an internal memo .
3 .
He profited off a malware-detecting company while sitting on the Senate 's cybersecurity panel .
During his time in the Senate , Perdue also repeatedly bought and sold shares in malware-detecting company FireEye .
Almost half of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while he was a member of the Senate 's cybersecurity subcommittee and could potentially have been privy to nonpublic information .
They netted him $ 15,000 .
And during Perdue 's time on the subcommittee , FireEye scored a contract worth $ 30 million with the Army Cyber Command .
4 .
He bought and sold shares in companies overseen by his own banking , housing , and urban affairs committee .
Since 2017 , Perdue has served on the Senate Committee on Banking , Housing , and Urban Affairs .
During that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporting discloses , Perdue repeatedly traded shares in companies that were directly overseen by the committee , including financial giants Regions Financial , Bank of America , and JPMorgan Chase .
5 .
He pushed for obscure tax breaks for some of his biggest donors .
ProPublica reported on Nov. 20 that Perdue wrote a letter to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin in 2019 urging him to extend to the owners of professional sports teams a tax break for other kinds of businesses included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a professional sports club is not allowed the 199A deduction .
I hope you will reconsider . ''
Mnuchin did not take Perdue 's advice .
ProPublica noted that Perdue 's campaign contributions have included over $ 425,000 from professional sports team owners over the years , including from the family of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos , which owns the Orlando Magic , as well as fellow Georgia Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler , who owns the Atlanta Dream .
6 .
He bought stock in a company that makes high-tech submarine parts just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seapower .
The Daily Beast reported on Nov. 19 that Perdue bought up $ 190,000 in stock in BWX Technologies , a company that makes high-tech submarine parts — just before he was named chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee 's Subcommittee on Seapower , which oversees the U.S. Navy .
Perdue helped to shape the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act , which allotted $ 4.7 billion to Virginia-class submarines , for which BWX Technologies makes parts .
The Daily Beast noted that the company is also one of only a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those parts .
According to Perdue 's 2019 financial disclosures , he earned $ 15,000 to $ 50,000 from his trades of stock in BWX .
7 .
He bought stock in personal protective equipment at the start of the pandemic .
Perdue did some of his heaviest trading as the coronavirus threat spread , according to a report by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution , logging 112 transactions in early March .
Perdue also notoriously began buying stock in DuPont de Nemours , a company that manufactures personal protective equipment — the kind used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combating the coronavirus — on the very same day the Senate received a private briefing on the pandemic .
Perdue 's team says he did not attend the meeting in question .
`` I ca n't address anybody else 's situation , but I can just tell you over the last five years I 've had outside professionals manage my personal affairs , '' Perdue said in an interview on March 20 .
`` I do n't deal with [ my stock portfolio ] on a day-to-day basis . ''
Meanwhile , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worse than the flu .
8 .
He made some good — and well-timed — investments early in the pandemic .
At the beginning of the pandemic , Perdue invested $ 245,000 in pharmaceutical company Pfizer and sold off up to $ 165,000 in stocks in Caesar Entertainment , a casino company that would later close its doors as a safety measure .
Both transactions have drawn scrutiny due to their timing .
9 .
He bought stock in Netflix at the top of the pandemic .
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Perdue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Netflix at the beginning of the pandemic in March .
This acquisition too came after the private briefing for senators on the coronavirus threat that Perdue denies having attended .
Netflix shares have soared more than 60 % since the beginning of the pandemic due to a sharp uptick in numbers of people staying at home , a Forbes report notes .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) has in recent days come under renewed scrutiny for his financial activities, including trades in his stock portfolio.
With accusations of insider trading and other violations, Perdue has a lot going on in the lead-up to the runoff election for his Senate seat in Georgia on Jan. 5.
Perdue’s Democratic challenger, Jon Ossoff, blasted the incumbent on social media Wednesday night, tweeting: “We’ve got a political system where money buys access. If Goldman Sachs’ stock were plunging overnight, David Perdue would be on the first jet to DC, passing a bill within 6 hours. When it comes to regular people, the Senate hasn’t passed any economic relief since early summer.”
And Perdue isn’t offering any explanations.
Since a video of Ossoff slamming Perdue’s COVID response during their Oct. 28 debate went viral, Perdue has refused to debate Ossoff again.
In the clip, Ossoff suggests Perdue was too busy dodging insider trading probes to look after the health of Georgians.
Perdue responded by canceling the final debate before the general election, attending a Trump rally instead.
He also refused to attend a pre-runoff Dec. 6 debate at the Atlanta Press Club, blaming the media for not holding Ossoff “accountable” for embarrassing him.
Here’s a rundown of some of the top financial scandals in which Perdue’s been embroiled during his time in the Senate.
1. He sold $1 million in Cardlytics stock after an email exchange with the company’s CEO.
In late January, after an email exchange with the CEO of Cardlytics, a financial company, Perdue sold $1 million worth of the company’s stock, just six weeks before its chief executive announced he’d be stepping down and its market value plummeted.
Two days before the sale, the CEO, Scott Grimes, sent a personal email to Perdue that mentioned an upcoming meeting with the company’s chief financial officer and “upcoming changes.” When Perdue said he didn’t know about the meeting, Grimes replied: “David, Sorry. That email was not meant for you. Wrong David!”
Perdue then got in touch with his Goldman Sachs wealth manager and told him to sell off the shares in Cardlytics; the sale took place Jan. 23.
The transaction was one among several that led to an investigation of Perdue’s trading activity by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Perdue was cleared of wrongdoing over the summer.
The Washington Post reported that Walter Shaub, the former head of the Office of Government Ethics, said of the trade: “He paid consideration to purchase the now public stocks by exercising stock options on terms not generally available to the public. This raises a question as to whether he violated the STOCK Act of 2012.”
2. He lied about controlling his own stock portfolio.
The New York Times reported Wednesday that while Perdue has always claimed to the media that he doesn’t control his own stock portfolio and that it is managed by outside advisers, that’s not quite true.
“Senator Perdue doesn’t handle the day-to-day decisions of his portfolio — all of his holdings are managed by outside financial advisers who make recommendations, set strategy, and manage trades and personal finances,” John Burke, Perdue’s campaign communications director, told the Times.
But the Times reported on Nov. 25 that three separate sources said the Cardlytics trade was carried out on Perdue’s direct instructions and that the a source said Goldman Sachs had recorded the orders in an internal memo.
3. He profited off a malware-detecting company while sitting on the Senate’s cybersecurity panel.
During his time in the Senate, Perdue also repeatedly bought and sold shares in malware-detecting company FireEye.
Almost half of Perdue’s 61 FireEye transactions took place while he was a member of the Senate’s cybersecurity subcommittee and could potentially have been privy to nonpublic information. They netted him $15,000. And during Perdue’s time on the subcommittee, FireEye scored a contract worth $30 million with the Army Cyber Command.
4. He bought and sold shares in companies overseen by his own banking, housing, and urban affairs committee.
Since 2017, Perdue has served on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. During that time, the New York Times’ reporting discloses, Perdue repeatedly traded shares in companies that were directly overseen by the committee, including financial giants Regions Financial, Bank of America, and JPMorgan Chase.
5. He pushed for obscure tax breaks for some of his biggest donors.
ProPublica reported on Nov. 20 that Perdue wrote a letter to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin in 2019 urging him to extend to the owners of professional sports teams a tax break for other kinds of businesses included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
Perdue wrote that “an owner of a professional sports club is not allowed the 199A deduction. I hope you will reconsider.” Mnuchin did not take Perdue’s advice.
ProPublica noted that Perdue’s campaign contributions have included over $425,000 from professional sports team owners over the years, including from the family of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, which owns the Orlando Magic, as well as fellow Georgia Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who owns the Atlanta Dream.
6. He bought stock in a company that makes high-tech submarine parts just before becoming chair of a subcommittee on seapower.
The Daily Beast reported on Nov. 19 that Perdue bought up $190,000 in stock in BWX Technologies, a company that makes high-tech submarine parts — just before he was named chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Seapower, which oversees the U.S. Navy.
Perdue helped to shape the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, which allotted $4.7 billion to Virginia-class submarines, for which BWX Technologies makes parts.
The Daily Beast noted that the company is also one of only a few vendors contracted with the Pentagon to make those parts.
According to Perdue’s 2019 financial disclosures, he earned $15,000 to $50,000 from his trades of stock in BWX.
7. He bought stock in personal protective equipment at the start of the pandemic.
Perdue did some of his heaviest trading as the coronavirus threat spread, according to a report by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, logging 112 transactions in early March.
Perdue also notoriously began buying stock in DuPont de Nemours, a company that manufactures personal protective equipment — the kind used by medical personnel on the front lines combating the coronavirus — on the very same day the Senate received a private briefing on the pandemic.
Perdue’s team says he did not attend the meeting in question.
“I can’t address anybody else’s situation, but I can just tell you over the last five years I’ve had outside professionals manage my personal affairs,” Perdue said in an interview on March 20. “I don’t deal with [my stock portfolio] on a day-to-day basis.”
Meanwhile, he was publicly declaring that COVID-19 was no worse than the flu.
8. He made some good — and well-timed — investments early in the pandemic.
At the beginning of the pandemic, Perdue invested $245,000 in pharmaceutical company Pfizer and sold off up to $165,000 in stocks in Caesar Entertainment, a casino company that would later close its doors as a safety measure.
Both transactions have drawn scrutiny due to their timing.
9. He bought stock in Netflix at the top of the pandemic.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Perdue snatched up $50,000 in stock in Netflix at the beginning of the pandemic in March. This acquisition too came after the private briefing for senators on the coronavirus threat that Perdue denies having attended.
Netflix shares have soared more than 60% since the beginning of the pandemic due to a sharp uptick in numbers of people staying at home, a Forbes report notes.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-03--Alabama keeps trying to ban abortion but refuses to help new moms

A recent review of maternal mortality in Alabama found that many of the deaths were entirely preventable .
One of the ways to fix this , the report noted , was ensuring access to a broad range of women 's health services , including contraceptives and abortion care .
The Alabama Department of Public Health , along with the Alabama Maternal Mortality Review Committee , examined all maternal mortality deaths in the state for 2016 .
An overwhelming majority — nearly 70 % — of the pregnancy-associated or pregnancy-related deaths could have been prevented .
Regrettably , it is n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outcomes , including death .
While the state has done a great deal to restrict abortion , it has done very little to foster women 's health .
When it comes to supportive policies — policies that help ensure good health outcomes for women and families — Alabama has very few .
That 's in keeping with other states which restrict abortion rights : the more restrictions a state imposes , the less it has laws that support maternal and child health .
Alabama has refused to expand Medicaid , does not provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not mandate paid sick leave , and does not have expanded family or medical leave .
Pregnant people who have mental health or substance abuse issues are especially at risk in Alabama .
There are n't many in-patient beds for pregnant people with substance use issues and the state criminally charges women with felonies if they expose their fetus to drugs .
This leads , the report noted , to people avoiding getting appropriate care because of fear of negative consequences .
Where Alabama takes very few steps to care for pregnant people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to limit access to abortion .
It imposes unnecessary standards on abortion facilities and limits who may provide abortions .
There are mandatory counseling requirements , mandatory waiting periods , and mandatory ultrasounds .
Parental consent is required , and telemedicine to administer medication abortion is prohibited .
Abortion is prohibited in nearly all cases after 20 weeks .
Recently , Alabama has n't been content with these myriad restrictions .
In 2019 , the state passed a law that would have banned nearly all abortions , though it was later blocked by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state used the COVID-19 crisis to try to block access to abortion by declaring it a nonessential medical procedure .
Simply expanding Medicaid and allowing for longer postpartum coverage could make a huge difference in maternal mortality in Alabama .
Right now , Alabama ends Medicaid pregnancy coverage only six weeks after childbirth .
If women have pregnancy-related issues that arise after that time , they may have no meaningful medical care .
But that 's not enough .
The report also found that increased access to contraception in the postpartum period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safely spaced out would help decrease maternal mortality .
Ensuring rural hospitals stay open and making sure there are enough family practitioners , nurse practitioners , and nurse midwives would also help .
And finally , the report declared that `` safe abortion services and access to contraceptives are also imperative to women 's health . ''
Contraception and abortion services are part of a continuum of maternal health care .
Alabama has largely ignored that continuum , choosing instead to try to ban abortion and restrict the behavior of pregnant people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach simply does n't work .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A recent review of maternal mortality in Alabama found that many of the deaths were entirely preventable. One of the ways to fix this, the report noted, was ensuring access to a broad range of women’s health services, including contraceptives and abortion care.
The Alabama Department of Public Health, along with the Alabama Maternal Mortality Review Committee, examined all maternal mortality deaths in the state for 2016. An overwhelming majority — nearly 70% — of the pregnancy-associated or pregnancy-related deaths could have been prevented.
Regrettably, it isn’t surprising that Alabama has poor maternal health outcomes, including death. While the state has done a great deal to restrict abortion, it has done very little to foster women’s health.
When it comes to supportive policies — policies that help ensure good health outcomes for women and families — Alabama has very few. That’s in keeping with other states which restrict abortion rights: the more restrictions a state imposes, the less it has laws that support maternal and child health.
Alabama has refused to expand Medicaid, does not provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers, does not mandate paid sick leave, and does not have expanded family or medical leave.
Pregnant people who have mental health or substance abuse issues are especially at risk in Alabama. There aren’t many in-patient beds for pregnant people with substance use issues and the state criminally charges women with felonies if they expose their fetus to drugs. This leads, the report noted, to people avoiding getting appropriate care because of fear of negative consequences.
Where Alabama takes very few steps to care for pregnant people, it takes nearly every possible step to limit access to abortion.
It imposes unnecessary standards on abortion facilities and limits who may provide abortions. There are mandatory counseling requirements, mandatory waiting periods, and mandatory ultrasounds. Parental consent is required, and telemedicine to administer medication abortion is prohibited. Abortion is prohibited in nearly all cases after 20 weeks.
Recently, Alabama hasn’t been content with these myriad restrictions. In 2019, the state passed a law that would have banned nearly all abortions, though it was later blocked by the courts. Earlier this year, the state used the COVID-19 crisis to try to block access to abortion by declaring it a nonessential medical procedure.
Simply expanding Medicaid and allowing for longer postpartum coverage could make a huge difference in maternal mortality in Alabama. Right now, Alabama ends Medicaid pregnancy coverage only six weeks after childbirth. If women have pregnancy-related issues that arise after that time, they may have no meaningful medical care.
But that’s not enough. The report also found that increased access to contraception in the postpartum period so that births might be appropriately and safely spaced out would help decrease maternal mortality. Ensuring rural hospitals stay open and making sure there are enough family practitioners, nurse practitioners, and nurse midwives would also help. And finally, the report declared that “safe abortion services and access to contraceptives are also imperative to women’s health.”
Contraception and abortion services are part of a continuum of maternal health care. Alabama has largely ignored that continuum, choosing instead to try to ban abortion and restrict the behavior of pregnant people. Alabama’s maternal mortality review shows this approach simply doesn’t work.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-03--GOP tries to shut down Congress because they're mad about virus rules

Rep. Andy Biggs ( R-AZ ) tried to force the House into recess on Thursday , all because he 's angry that Democratic leadership is allowing members of Congress to cast votes remotely to avoid the spread of the deadly coronavirus .
Biggs moved to adjourn Congress over his opposition to proxy voting , which allows House members to vote on legislation without being on the floor .
It was a rule change the House implemented to keep members of Congress from traveling back to their districts and spreading the virus — which has torn through Capitol Hill , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` They do n't feel like they all need to be here to deal with this issue , so they 're going to mail it in , they 're going to phone in their votes , quite frankly in a most disturbing and unconstitutional manner , '' Biggs said in a floor speech .
`` We can be here , they should be here .
If this meant everything that they say it does , they would show up . ''
Biggs ' opposition to measures intended to slow the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surging nationwide .
Hospitalizations are at their highest rate throughout the pandemic , with the United States hitting the grim milestone on Wednesday of the most coronavirus deaths in a single day .
More than 273,000 people have died from the virus in the United States to date , with millions more suffering from the economic impacts of the pandemic .
Yet rather than working on ways to stop the virus from spreading , he instead tried to stop congressional business out of a protest over proxy voting .
Democratic members of Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is batty , '' Rep. Eric Swalwell ( D-CA ) tweeted .
`` Americans are in dire need of food and paychecks .
More people died yesterday from # COVID19 than any day since .
We have work to do .
Yet , @ HouseGOP just motioned to adjourn Congress .
What the hell are they doing ? ''
`` We ’ re trying to get COVID relief and stimulus checks out to people and right now Republicans are trying to prematurely adjourn Congress , '' she tweeted .
`` People are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this like a game .
Leaders do n't abandon people in their time of greatest need . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) tried to force the House into recess on Thursday, all because he’s angry that Democratic leadership is allowing members of Congress to cast votes remotely to avoid the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
Biggs moved to adjourn Congress over his opposition to proxy voting, which allows House members to vote on legislation without being on the floor. It was a rule change the House implemented to keep members of Congress from traveling back to their districts and spreading the virus — which has torn through Capitol Hill, with multiple members testing positive with the virus.
“They don’t feel like they all need to be here to deal with this issue, so they’re going to mail it in, they’re going to phone in their votes, quite frankly in a most disturbing and unconstitutional manner,” Biggs said in a floor speech. “We can be here, they should be here. If this meant everything that they say it does, they would show up.”
Biggs’ opposition to measures intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus come as the virus is surging nationwide. Hospitalizations are at their highest rate throughout the pandemic, with the United States hitting the grim milestone on Wednesday of the most coronavirus deaths in a single day.
More than 273,000 people have died from the virus in the United States to date, with millions more suffering from the economic impacts of the pandemic.
Yet rather than working on ways to stop the virus from spreading, he instead tried to stop congressional business out of a protest over proxy voting.
Democratic members of Congress were aghast at his stunt.
“This is batty,” Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) tweeted. “Americans are in dire need of food and paychecks. More people died yesterday from #COVID19 than any day since. We have work to do. Yet, @HouseGOP just motioned to adjourn Congress. What the hell are they doing?”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez echoed those sentiments.
“We’re trying to get COVID relief and stimulus checks out to people and right now Republicans are trying to prematurely adjourn Congress,” she tweeted. “People are going hungry and they’re treating this like a game. Leaders don’t abandon people in their time of greatest need.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-03--Sen. Loeffler backs a rabidly anti-LGBTQ adoption agency — with a big check

Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) gave $ 3,800 to an adoption agency that asks prospective adoptive parents to abide by a `` statement of faith '' that strongly discriminates against LGBTQ people .
Loeffler , the wealthiest person in Congress , donated part of her congressional salary this year to the Georgia-based Covenant Care Adoptions , BuzzFeed News reported Wednesday .
The Covenant Care Adoptions website explains to prospective parents that `` both husband and wife must be professing Christians and regularly attending members of the same evangelical church . ''
Its page on the adoption process further directs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faith , which rejects transgender people and lesbian , bisexual , and gay people .
Parents must agree that `` God created Adam and Eve male and female in His own image as the crown of creation and entrusted them and their descendants with the cultural mandate to subdue and populate the earth , '' the statement says .
They must also agree that `` God created the institution of marriage between one man and one woman as His ordained means of filling the earth with His image bearers . ''
The agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gender , and sexuality that clarifies in depth the beliefs prospective parents must hold in order to adopt with the agency , which includes the disapproval of transgender people .
`` Rejection of ones biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person , '' the adoption agency explains .
On LGB people , it says that `` God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other , '' and adds that `` bisexual conduct '' and `` homosexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to God . ''
It compares being LGB with incest and bestiality .
In addition to discouraging any LGBTQ families from adopting children through the agency , the statement of faith also threatens the wellbeing of LGBTQ children who may be adopted through the agency .
Research has found that parental support of transgender adolescents is associated with fewer depressive symptoms and higher life satisfaction and that family rejection of transgender and gender non-conforming people is associated with higher odds of suicide attempts and substance misuse .
LGB young people who come from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also have higher attempted suicide rates compared to LGB youth who come from families with no or lower levels of rejection .
Loeffler 's support for the agency fits her anti-trans record in the Senate .
She is the lead sponsor of the Protection of Girls and Women in Sports Act , which threatens to take funding from schools that support transgender girls in sports .
The bill requires schools to define sex by `` solely on a person 's reproductive biology and genetics at birth . ''
The Alliance Defending Freedom , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an anti-LGBTQ hate group , praised the legislation .
Loeffler also has a record of hiring anti-LGBTQ staffers , namely Paul Fitzpatrick , her deputy chief of staff .
Fitzpatrick spent 20 years working for the Family Research Council , which the Southern Poverty Law Center has also designated as an anti-LGBTQ hate group .
News of Loeffler 's donation to an anti-LGBTQ adoption agency comes in the midst of conservative efforts to shield transphobic and homophobic foster care agencies from nondiscrimination protections .
In August , the House Ways and Means Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an investigation of a Trump administration waiver granted to South Carolina in 2019 , which provided the state 's child welfare system an exemption from anti-discrimination regulations .
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster ( R ) requested the waiver for the foster care provider Miracle Hill Ministries , which requires foster care parents to agree with its doctrinal statement that marriage must be between one man and one woman and that `` God creates each person as either male or female . ''
The committee report stated that the waiver had violated people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and children , and should be withdrawn immediately .
The Supreme Court also recently heard arguments in a case involving anti-LGBTQ discrimination in foster care .
The case , Fulton v. Philadelphia , features a group of foster parents and Catholic Social Services , a foster care provider , which is challenging Philadelphia 's decision to no longer refer children to the agency .
In 2018 , the city found out that the Catholic Social Services was not willing to certify potential foster parents who were same-sex couples .
The ACLU has said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major consequences for LGBTQ people 's equal access to social services more broadly .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) gave $3,800 to an adoption agency that asks prospective adoptive parents to abide by a “statement of faith” that strongly discriminates against LGBTQ people.
Loeffler, the wealthiest person in Congress, donated part of her congressional salary this year to the Georgia-based Covenant Care Adoptions, BuzzFeed News reported Wednesday.
The Covenant Care Adoptions website explains to prospective parents that “both husband and wife must be professing Christians and regularly attending members of the same evangelical church.”
Its page on the adoption process further directs applicants to agree to a statement of faith, which rejects transgender people and lesbian, bisexual, and gay people.
Parents must agree that “God created Adam and Eve male and female in His own image as the crown of creation and entrusted them and their descendants with the cultural mandate to subdue and populate the earth,” the statement says. They must also agree that “God created the institution of marriage between one man and one woman as His ordained means of filling the earth with His image bearers.”
The agency also provides a statement on marriage, gender, and sexuality that clarifies in depth the beliefs prospective parents must hold in order to adopt with the agency, which includes the disapproval of transgender people.
“Rejection of ones biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person,” the adoption agency explains.
On LGB people, it says that “God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other,” and adds that “bisexual conduct” and “homosexual behavior” is “sinful and offensive to God.” It compares being LGB with incest and bestiality.
In addition to discouraging any LGBTQ families from adopting children through the agency, the statement of faith also threatens the wellbeing of LGBTQ children who may be adopted through the agency.
Research has found that parental support of transgender adolescents is associated with fewer depressive symptoms and higher life satisfaction and that family rejection of transgender and gender non-conforming people is associated with higher odds of suicide attempts and substance misuse.
LGB young people who come from families with higher rates of family rejection also have higher attempted suicide rates compared to LGB youth who come from families with no or lower levels of rejection.
Loeffler’s support for the agency fits her anti-trans record in the Senate. She is the lead sponsor of the Protection of Girls and Women in Sports Act, which threatens to take funding from schools that support transgender girls in sports. The bill requires schools to define sex by “solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.”
The Alliance Defending Freedom, which the Southern Poverty Law Center considers an anti-LGBTQ hate group, praised the legislation.
Loeffler also has a record of hiring anti-LGBTQ staffers, namely Paul Fitzpatrick, her deputy chief of staff. Fitzpatrick spent 20 years working for the Family Research Council, which the Southern Poverty Law Center has also designated as an anti-LGBTQ hate group.
News of Loeffler’s donation to an anti-LGBTQ adoption agency comes in the midst of conservative efforts to shield transphobic and homophobic foster care agencies from nondiscrimination protections.
In August, the House Ways and Means Committee’s Democratic majority released a report following an investigation of a Trump administration waiver granted to South Carolina in 2019, which provided the state’s child welfare system an exemption from anti-discrimination regulations.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster (R) requested the waiver for the foster care provider Miracle Hill Ministries, which requires foster care parents to agree with its doctrinal statement that marriage must be between one man and one woman and that “God creates each person as either male or female.” The committee report stated that the waiver had violated people’s civil rights and harmed LGBTQ families and children, and should be withdrawn immediately.
The Supreme Court also recently heard arguments in a case involving anti-LGBTQ discrimination in foster care. The case, Fulton v. Philadelphia, features a group of foster parents and Catholic Social Services, a foster care provider, which is challenging Philadelphia’s decision to no longer refer children to the agency. In 2018, the city found out that the Catholic Social Services was not willing to certify potential foster parents who were same-sex couples.
The ACLU has said the decision in this case could have major consequences for LGBTQ people’s equal access to social services more broadly.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.