usatoday--2020-02-05--We know the Trump impeachment trial was historic. Here are some moments that made it memorable.

The historic impeachment trial of President Donald Trump formally began on a Thursday in January , when Chief Justice John Roberts was sworn in to preside over the affair .
Over the course of three tumultuous weeks , senators – and the country – listened to hours of arguments from House impeachment managers and lawyers for the president .
Senators got to pose questions .
They rejected motions to call witnesses .
And then they moved to a vote on the two articles of impeachment – abuse of power and obstruction of Congress – that had been approved in December @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a look at some of the memorable moments of the trial : As the marathon first-day rule-setting session dragged into the wee hours , tempers began to flare , which required the constitutionally anointed adult in the room , Roberts , to step in .
As the clock ticked toward 1:30 a.m. , House impeachment manager Jerry Nadler , D-N.Y. , argued passionately in favor of a Democratic amendment that would allow for witnesses to be called , including former national security adviser John Bolton .
It was one of 11 amendments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot down , mostly on party-line votes .
Nadler , chairman of the House Judiciary Committee , said that if senators voted against subpoenaing Bolton , they would be “ part of the cover-up.
” “ Either you want the truth and you must permit the witnesses or you want a shameful cover-up .
History will judge and so will the electorate , ” he said .
White House Counsel Pat Cipollone took umbrage and demanded that Nadler apologize to the Senate , the president and “ most of all , you owe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Mr .
Nadler came up here and made false allegations against our team .
He made false allegations against all of you .
He accused you of a cover-up , ” Cipollone told the senators .
“ The only one who should be embarrassed , Mr. Nadler , is you for the way you 've addressed this body .
This is the United States Senate .
You 're not in charge here.
” The fiery back-and-forth prompted Roberts to scold both sides .
`` I think it is appropriate at this point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ managers and the president 's counsel in equal terms to remember that they are addressing the world 's greatest deliberative body , '' Roberts said .
`` One reason it has earned that title is because its members avoid speaking in a manner and using language that is not conducive to civil discourse . ''
Sleeping senators , shaking heads : What you ca n't see on TV at impeachment trial Several days later , Nadler , D-N.Y. , challenged the oft-repeated Republican argument that impeachment must allege a violation of statutory law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played a 1999 video of Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , an ardent Trump supporter , who was a manager 20 years ago in the impeachment trial of former President Bill Clinton .
Back then Graham offered his interpretation of Constitutional impeachment phrase `` high crimes and misdemeanors , '' whose meaning has been debated during the Trump investigation .
“ What ’ s a high crime ?
” Graham asked in the well of the Senate .
“ How about an important person hurting somebody of low means ?
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s the truth .
I think that ’ s what they meant by high crimes .
Doesn ’ t even have to be a crime .
It ’ s just when you start using your office and you ’ re acting in a way that hurts people , you ’ ve committed a high crime.
” It was a classic `` gotcha '' moment .
Not to be outdone , Trump 's defense team drew from the same playbook .
As the defense concluded its side of the opening arguments , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment and removal from office would set a precedent that would leave presidents vulnerable to a Congress led by a different party .
To prove his point , he too set the WABAC Machine to 1999 and played a series of videos from Democrats decrying Clinton 's impeachment .
One of them was from , wait for it , Nadler , who at the time warned against an impeachment of Clinton supported by one party .
No Republicans have supported Trump ’ s impeachment .
“ Such an impeachment will produce the divisiveness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come , and it will call into question the very legitimacy of our political institutions , ” Nadler said .
“ You were right , ” Cipollone said to laughter in the Senate chamber .
“ But I ’ m sorry to say , you were also prophetic.
” Sen. Mike Braun , R-Ind.
, said the consequence of being in politics for a long time was sometimes contradictory positions .
“ That ’ s the irony of being here a long time , and all the different dynamics you might be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Senate trial was n't exactly a showcase for soaring oratory , but it had its moments .
One was the concluding remarks by lead House impeachment manager Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , as his team wrapped up their opening arguments during the first week of the trial .
`` If the truth doesn ’ t matter , we ’ re lost , '' said Schiff , chairman of the House Intelligence Committee .
`` Framers couldn ’ t protect us from ourselves , if right and truth don ’ t matter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) did was not right ... here , right is supposed to matter .
It ’ s what ’ s made us the greatest nation on earth .
No Constitution can protect us , right doesn ’ t matter any more .
And you know you can ’ t trust this president to do what ’ s right for this country .
You can trust he will do what ’ s right for Donald Trump .
He ’ ll do it now .
He ’ s done it before .
He ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He ’ ll do it in the election if he ’ s allowed to .
This is why if you find him guilty , you must find that he should be removed .
Because right matters .
Because right matters and the truth matters .
Otherwise , we are lost . ''
His words went viral .
By the next morning , the hashtag # RightMatters was trending on Twitter , and videos of the speech had been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times .
Even opposition Sen. James Inhoffe , R-Okla. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is very , very effective . ''
The glow did n't last .
On Friday morning , Schiff drew a backlash from even moderate GOP senators when he referenced a CBS report that quoted an anonymous Trump confidante who reportedly warned that if Republican senators voted against Trump , `` your head will be on a pike.
” For someone who kept tweeting about how boring the proceedings were , Trump sure seemed to be watching it a lot – at least when he was n't rallying the base in Michigan , New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S.-Mexico Canada trade agreement .
We know this because he told us repeatedly at about 280 characters at a time via his favorite social media platform .
On the first day of opening arguments by House impeachment managers , Trump bested his personal record for most tweets as president in a single day with 142 , which beat his old record of 123 set only a month earlier .
Of course the new record might have an asterisk because Trump started the day at the World Economic Forum in Davos , Switzerland , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Most of Trump 's posts consisted of retweets of Republican lawmakers deriding the impeachment process .
He also shared posts from the Republican National Committee and campaign videos that were tweeted from the account of Dan Scavino , Trump 's social media director who handles many of his posts .
He kept it up through out the trial , often repeating familiar themes .
`` Washington Dems have spent the last 3 years trying to overturn the last election – and we will make sure they face another crushing defeat in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to win back the House , we are going to hold the Senate , & we are going to keep the White House ! ''
one read .
The Senate impeachment trial consisted of a lot of droning .
A .
Lot .
Even by Senate standards .
Fortunately , each day started with the dulcet baritone of Senate Chaplain Barry Black as he opened each session with the daily prayer .
With a voice that even the All-State commercial guy would envy , Black , a retired naval rear admiral and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platform to wish Roberts a happy birthday on one day , but mostly he exhorted the Senate to do what 's best for the country .
`` As our lawmakers have become jurors ... help them remember that patriots reside on both sides of the aisle , that words have consequences and that how something is said can be as important as what is said , '' he intoned on the first day of opening arguments .
`` Give them a civility built upon integrity that brings consistency in their beliefs and actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is anybody 's guess , but it sure was a great way to start each session .
Nearly 200 question cards from the Senate were passed up to Roberts during the two-day question phase of the impeachment trial .
Roberts swiped right on all but one of them .
It was submitted by Sen. Rand Paul , R-Ky. Roberts read the card , then said , “ The presiding officer declines to read the question as submitted.
” He offered no explanation , but speculation immediately turned to whether Paul had tried to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initial concern about the propriety of a phone call between Trump and Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky led to the impeachment investigation .
Paul walked out of the chamber after Roberts declined the question .
He told reporters his question didn ’ t name the whistleblower – although his question , which he wrote in a tweet , mentioned the name of an official some Republicans have speculated is the whistleblower .
Paul trends : # ArrestRandPaul trends on Twitter after he walks out The question revived allegations from some Trump allies that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committee staff member to reveal information that would lead to the president ’ s impeachment .
Paul did not offer evidence for the claim .
“ It was an incorrect finding to not allow a question , ” Paul said , but he declined to say why he did not try to force a vote to overrule Roberts .
Before the question , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , opened the question session by assuring Roberts that the Senate would respect his `` unique position in reading in reading our questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to continue to assure him that that level of consideration for him will continue , '' he said .
Later , when senators each got 10 minutes to speak before the acquittal vote , Paul read his question verbatim , including the name of the person Roberts refused to read .
Despite complaints from Trump that his defense team 's Saturday morning opening day time slot was `` Death Valley '' for television ratings , they breezed through in just two hours and signaled that they 'd use nowhere near their allotted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came the Sunday surprise .
The New York Times reported that a forthcoming book by former Trump national security adviser John Bolton contained explosive revelations , namely that Trump personally told Bolton he had ordered a hold on $ 391 million in military aid to Ukraine until its president agreed to announce an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter .
The disclosure put wind in the sails of Democrats ' efforts to call witnesses in the trial , something the Republicans had successfully thwarted .
As the trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping more than three Republicans from siding with the Democrats on the issue .
House impeachment managers argued that Bolton 's claims directly contradicted key elements of Trump 's defense and that a fair trial required his testimony .
Who is John Bolton ?
Trump 's former national security adviser became a focus in impeachment trial Trump denied Bolton 's account in a tweet and later in front of reporters at the White House .
He and his defense team have argued that he withheld aid to get Ukraine to address its longstanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his desire for Ukraine ’ s president to announce an investigation into Biden .
“ I would not put people in Gitmo through this to Wednesday – that would be violating the Geneva Conventions.
” – Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , after it looked as if the impeachment trial would drag out past its expected conclusion '' This is not a banana republic .
It 's the democratic republic of the United States of America .
It 's wrong . ''
– House impeachment manager Hakeem Jeffries , D-N.Y. , on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections '' If a president does something which he believes will help him get elected in the public interest , that can not be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment . ''
– Trump impeachment defense attorney and Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz '' Richard Nixon once made this argument : 'When the president does it , that means that it is not illegal . '
He was forced to resign in disgrace .
In America , no one is above the law . ''
– Hillary Clinton on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked with other senators to make sure that we have the right to ask for more documents and witnesses , but there is no need for more evidence to prove something that has already been proven and that does not meet the United States Constitution ’ s high bar for an impeachable offense . ''
– Lamar Alexander , R-Tenn. , explaining why he voted against calling witnesses “ The Russians are coming .
The Russians are coming ... and the president has led a clear path for them to interfere , once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are currently doing.
” – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

We know the Trump impeachment trial was historic. Here are some moments that made it memorable.
The historic impeachment trial of President Donald Trump formally began on a Thursday in January, when Chief Justice John Roberts was sworn in to preside over the affair.
Over the course of three tumultuous weeks, senators – and the country – listened to hours of arguments from House impeachment managers and lawyers for the president. Senators got to pose questions. They rejected motions to call witnesses.
And then they moved to a vote on the two articles of impeachment – abuse of power and obstruction of Congress – that had been approved in December by the House of Representatives.
Here's a look at some of the memorable moments of the trial:
First-day fracas
As the marathon first-day rule-setting session dragged into the wee hours, tempers began to flare, which required the constitutionally anointed adult in the room, Roberts, to step in.
As the clock ticked toward 1:30 a.m., House impeachment manager Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., argued passionately in favor of a Democratic amendment that would allow for witnesses to be called, including former national security adviser John Bolton.
Trump impeachment trial begins with warning from Chief Justice Roberts Impeachment trial rules are established after a marathon session, including a warning from Chief Justice John Roberts to senators on their conduct. Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY
It was one of 11 amendments Democrats offered, all of which were shot down, mostly on party-line votes.
Nadler, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said that if senators voted against subpoenaing Bolton, they would be “part of the cover-up.”
“Either you want the truth and you must permit the witnesses or you want a shameful cover-up. History will judge and so will the electorate,” he said.
White House Counsel Pat Cipollone took umbrage and demanded that Nadler apologize to the Senate, the president and “most of all, you owe an apology to the American people.”
“Mr. Nadler came up here and made false allegations against our team. He made false allegations against all of you. He accused you of a cover-up,” Cipollone told the senators. “The only one who should be embarrassed, Mr. Nadler, is you for the way you've addressed this body. This is the United States Senate. You're not in charge here.”
The fiery back-and-forth prompted Roberts to scold both sides.
"I think it is appropriate at this point for me to admonish both the House managers and the president's counsel in equal terms to remember that they are addressing the world's greatest deliberative body," Roberts said. "One reason it has earned that title is because its members avoid speaking in a manner and using language that is not conducive to civil discourse."
Sleeping senators, shaking heads: What you can't see on TV at impeachment trial
Goose, meet gander
Several days later, Nadler, D-N.Y., challenged the oft-repeated Republican argument that impeachment must allege a violation of statutory law.
To make his point, he played a 1999 video of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., an ardent Trump supporter, who was a manager 20 years ago in the impeachment trial of former President Bill Clinton.
Back then Graham offered his interpretation of Constitutional impeachment phrase "high crimes and misdemeanors," whose meaning has been debated during the Trump investigation.
“What’s a high crime?” Graham asked in the well of the Senate. “How about an important person hurting somebody of low means? It’s not very scholarly, but I think it’s the truth. I think that’s what they meant by high crimes. Doesn’t even have to be a crime. It’s just when you start using your office and you’re acting in a way that hurts people, you’ve committed a high crime.”
It was a classic "gotcha" moment. Not to be outdone, Trump's defense team drew from the same playbook.
As the defense concluded its side of the opening arguments, Cipollone said that lowering the bar for impeachment and removal from office would set a precedent that would leave presidents vulnerable to a Congress led by a different party.
To prove his point, he too set the WABAC Machine to 1999 and played a series of videos from Democrats decrying Clinton's impeachment .
One of them was from, wait for it, Nadler, who at the time warned against an impeachment of Clinton supported by one party. No Republicans have supported Trump’s impeachment.
“Such an impeachment will produce the divisiveness and bitterness in our politics for years to come, and it will call into question the very legitimacy of our political institutions,” Nadler said.
“You were right,” Cipollone said to laughter in the Senate chamber. “But I’m sorry to say, you were also prophetic.”
Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., said the consequence of being in politics for a long time was sometimes contradictory positions.
“That’s the irony of being here a long time, and all the different dynamics you might be part of,” Braun said.
Adam Schiff's speech
The Senate trial wasn't exactly a showcase for soaring oratory, but it had its moments. One was the concluding remarks by lead House impeachment manager Adam Schiff, D-Calif., as his team wrapped up their opening arguments during the first week of the trial.
"If the truth doesn’t matter, we’re lost," said Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. "Framers couldn’t protect us from ourselves, if right and truth don’t matter. And you know that what (Trump) did was not right ... here, right is supposed to matter. It’s what’s made us the greatest nation on earth. No Constitution can protect us, right doesn’t matter any more. And you know you can’t trust this president to do what’s right for this country. You can trust he will do what’s right for Donald Trump. He’ll do it now. He’s done it before. He’ll do it for the next several months. He’ll do it in the election if he’s allowed to. This is why if you find him guilty, you must find that he should be removed. Because right matters. Because right matters and the truth matters. Otherwise, we are lost."
Rep. Adam Schiff: President Donald Trump will 'do it again' if not removed As Democrats wrapped up their closing arguments in President Donald Trump's impeachment trial, Rep. Adam Schiff implored Senators to stand up and say "enough" and vote to remove President Donald Trump from office. (Feb. 3) AP
His words went viral. By the next morning, the hashtag #RightMatters was trending on Twitter, and videos of the speech had been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times.
Even opposition Sen. James Inhoffe, R-Okla., conceded to reporters that “Schiff is very, very effective."
The glow didn't last. On Friday morning, Schiff drew a backlash from even moderate GOP senators when he referenced a CBS report that quoted an anonymous Trump confidante who reportedly warned that if Republican senators voted against Trump, "your head will be on a pike.”
Trump tweets, and tweets, and ...
For someone who kept tweeting about how boring the proceedings were, Trump sure seemed to be watching it a lot – at least when he wasn't rallying the base in Michigan, New Jersey and Iowa or signing his signature U.S.-Mexico Canada trade agreement.
We know this because he told us repeatedly at about 280 characters at a time via his favorite social media platform.
On the first day of opening arguments by House impeachment managers, Trump bested his personal record for most tweets as president in a single day with 142, which beat his old record of 123 set only a month earlier. Of course the new record might have an asterisk because Trump started the day at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, which is six hours ahead of Washington.
Most of Trump's posts consisted of retweets of Republican lawmakers deriding the impeachment process. He also shared posts from the Republican National Committee and campaign videos that were tweeted from the account of Dan Scavino, Trump's social media director who handles many of his posts.
He kept it up through out the trial, often repeating familiar themes.
"Washington Dems have spent the last 3 years trying to overturn the last election – and we will make sure they face another crushing defeat in the NEXT ELECTION. Together, we are going to win back the House, we are going to hold the Senate, & we are going to keep the White House!" one read.
Washington Dems have spent the last 3 years trying to overturn the last election – and we will make sure they face another crushing defeat in the NEXT ELECTION. Together, we are going to win back the House, we are going to hold the Senate, & we are going to keep the White House! pic.twitter.com/VshQceiwUA — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 31, 2020
A wing and a prayer
The Senate impeachment trial consisted of a lot of droning. A. Lot. Even by Senate standards. Fortunately, each day started with the dulcet baritone of Senate Chaplain Barry Black as he opened each session with the daily prayer.
With a voice that even the All-State commercial guy would envy, Black, a retired naval rear admiral and a Seventh-Day Adventist pastor, used the platform to wish Roberts a happy birthday on one day, but mostly he exhorted the Senate to do what's best for the country.
"As our lawmakers have become jurors ... help them remember that patriots reside on both sides of the aisle, that words have consequences and that how something is said can be as important as what is said," he intoned on the first day of opening arguments. "Give them a civility built upon integrity that brings consistency in their beliefs and actions."
Whether any senators paid heed is anybody's guess, but it sure was a great way to start each session.
Rejecting Rand Paul
Nearly 200 question cards from the Senate were passed up to Roberts during the two-day question phase of the impeachment trial. Roberts swiped right on all but one of them.
It was submitted by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. Roberts read the card, then said, “The presiding officer declines to read the question as submitted.”
He offered no explanation, but speculation immediately turned to whether Paul had tried to out the name of the whistleblower whose initial concern about the propriety of a phone call between Trump and Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky led to the impeachment investigation.
Paul walked out of the chamber after Roberts declined the question. He told reporters his question didn’t name the whistleblower – although his question, which he wrote in a tweet, mentioned the name of an official some Republicans have speculated is the whistleblower.
Paul trends: #ArrestRandPaul trends on Twitter after he walks out
The question revived allegations from some Trump allies that the whistleblower “conspired” with a House committee staff member to reveal information that would lead to the president’s impeachment. Paul did not offer evidence for the claim.
“It was an incorrect finding to not allow a question,” Paul said, but he declined to say why he did not try to force a vote to overrule Roberts.
Before the question, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., opened the question session by assuring Roberts that the Senate would respect his "unique position in reading in reading our questions."
“I want to be able to continue to assure him that that level of consideration for him will continue," he said.
Later, when senators each got 10 minutes to speak before the acquittal vote, Paul read his question verbatim, including the name of the person Roberts refused to read.
Bolton's bombshell
Despite complaints from Trump that his defense team's Saturday morning opening day time slot was "Death Valley" for television ratings, they breezed through in just two hours and signaled that they'd use nowhere near their allotted 24 hours of speaking time.
Then came the Sunday surprise.
The New York Times reported that a forthcoming book by former Trump national security adviser John Bolton contained explosive revelations, namely that Trump personally told Bolton he had ordered a hold on $391 million in military aid to Ukraine until its president agreed to announce an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
The disclosure put wind in the sails of Democrats' efforts to call witnesses in the trial, something the Republicans had successfully thwarted. As the trial wore on, McConnell, wrestled with keeping more than three Republicans from siding with the Democrats on the issue.
House impeachment managers argued that Bolton's claims directly contradicted key elements of Trump's defense and that a fair trial required his testimony.
Who is John Bolton? Trump's former national security adviser became a focus in impeachment trial
Trump denied Bolton's account in a tweet and later in front of reporters at the White House. He and his defense team have argued that he withheld aid to get Ukraine to address its longstanding corruption problems and that it was unrelated to his desire for Ukraine’s president to announce an investigation into Biden.
Quote, unquote
“I would not put people in Gitmo through this to Wednesday – that would be violating the Geneva Conventions.” – Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., after it looked as if the impeachment trial would drag out past its expected conclusion
"This is not a banana republic. It's the democratic republic of the United States of America. It's wrong." – House impeachment manager Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., on soliciting a foreign government's interference in elections
"If a president does something which he believes will help him get elected in the public interest, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment." – Trump impeachment defense attorney and Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz
"Richard Nixon once made this argument: 'When the president does it, that means that it is not illegal.' He was forced to resign in disgrace. In America, no one is above the law." – Hillary Clinton on Twitter in response to Dershowitz
"I worked with other senators to make sure that we have the right to ask for more documents and witnesses, but there is no need for more evidence to prove something that has already been proven and that does not meet the United States Constitution’s high bar for an impeachable offense." – Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., explaining why he voted against calling witnesses
“The Russians are coming. The Russians are coming ... and the president has led a clear path for them to interfere, once again, in our election as they are currently doing.” – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi


usatoday--2020-02-05--Mitt Romney chokes up explaining Trump impeachment vote

Mitt Romney chokes up explaining his impeachment vote to convict Trump Sen. Mitt Romney , R-Utah , gives emotional explanation @ @ @ @ @ to convict President Trump in impeachment trial

Mitt Romney chokes up explaining his impeachment vote to convict Trump
Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, gives emotional explanation of his decision to vote to convict President Trump in impeachment trial
USA TODAY, Associated Press


usatoday--2020-02-05--California could be one of the first states to ban 'virginity testing'

Lawmakers on opposite sides of the country are considering new legislation that would be the first in the nation to ban `` virginity testing . ''
The two separate bills in the New York and California legislatures were introduced after rapper T.I .
said that he subjects his 18-year-old daughter to the examinations .
The practice is widely considered medically unsound and abusive .
`` I want hymen examinations to be a class D felony , '' New York Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages , D-Elmont , told Elle Magazine after she introduced her bill late last year .
`` In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to submit legislation like this .
In a perfect world , women are treated as equal beings.
” “ So-called ‘ virginity testing ’ is a form of violence and harassment against young girls and women , ” Gonzalez said in a statement .
“ There is no medical reason for this examination .
It ’ s time for California to listen to calls from the international community and ban this traumatizing , sexist and unnecessary practice.
” Under her proposal , any doctor that either performed or supervised the test could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The hymen is a thin crescent-shaped tissue that stretches around the opening of the vagina .
Virginity tests incorrectly imply that a hymen can either be intact or not intact and can reveal a woman 's sexual experience .
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , hymens come in all shapes and sizes .
Some change shape with penetration and some do not .
Some women do not have them at all .
“ The hymen is nothing like a piece of plastic you can wrap around your food or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dølvik Brochmann said from the TED stage in Oslo .
She and Ellen Støkken Dahl , who together authored the book “ The Wonder Down Under : The Insider ’ s Guide to the Anatomy , Biology , and Reality of the Vagina ” are working to dispel the virginity myths .
“ You simply can not look a woman between her legs and read her sexual story , ” Dahl concluded .
In recent years , medical professionals like Brochmann and Dahl , women ’ s rights advocates around the world , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Organization and the United Nations have tried to combat the deeply held misperception with information campaigns and calls for an end to the traumatizing tests .
Researchers in 2017 published a review of 17 studies in the academic journal Reproductive Health that showed virginity testing has no medical utility .
`` Our review found that virginity testing is not good at detecting who has not had sexual intercourse and that it can hurt the person being tested – physically , mentally , and socially , '' the researchers summarized .
`` Our hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aware of this to prevent harm to women and girls . ''
The WHO reports that the tests are still used in 20 countries and that women and girls are often forced to undergo examinations to assess virtue and value .
The tests are also sometimes used to evaluate if a rape has occurred .
Calling the concept of `` virginity '' a `` social , cultural , and religious construct , '' the WHO also emphasizes that the practice is a form of gender discrimination that violates women 's and girl 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rapper T.I .
: Doctors get requests for sexist , unscientific 'virginity tests' '' Many women suffer from adverse short- and long-term physical , psychological and social consequences of this practice , '' the WHO wrote in an interagency statement with the United Nations calling for a global end to the testing .
`` This includes anxiety , depression and post-traumatic stress .
In extreme cases , women or girls may attempt suicide or be killed in the name of 'honor . '
'' It ’ s difficult to know how prevalent virginity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States , where privacy laws limit disclosure of whether or not they have been performed .
But a study published in 2017 , researchers surveyed close to 300 gynecologists in the U.S .
Roughly 10 % responded that they 'd been asked to conduct a virginity test and 3.5 % said they had actually performed one .
Brochmann and Dahl , who join the international bodies and legislators in calls for an end to the tests , explain that in order to truly bring about an end to virginity testing , the ideas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We wish we could say that by removing these myths , everything would be OK , that shame , harm and honor killings would all just disappear , '' Dahl said on the TED stage .
`` Sexual oppression of women comes from something much deeper than a simple anatomical misunderstanding about the properties of the hymen .
It 's a question of cultural and religious control of women 's sexuality .
And that is much harder to change — but we must try . ''
Gabrielle Canon covers California for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reach her at gcanon @ gannett.com or on Twitter @ GabrielleCanon .

Bills in California, New York seek to ban 'virginity testing'
Lawmakers on opposite sides of the country are considering new legislation that would be the first in the nation to ban "virginity testing."
The two separate bills in the New York and California legislatures were introduced after rapper T.I. said he subjects his 18-year-old daughter to the examinations. The practice is widely considered medically unsound and abusive.
"I want hymen examinations to be a class D felony," New York Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, D-Elmont, told Elle Magazine after she introduced her bill late last year. "In a perfect world, I wouldn't even have to submit legislation like this. In a perfect world, women are treated as equal beings.”
In California, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, introduced a similar bill on Jan. 8.
All California, all the time: A newsletter that wraps up all things on the Golden State. Sign up here
“So-called ‘virginity testing’ is a form of violence and harassment against young girls and women,” Gonzalez said in a statement. “There is no medical reason for this examination. It’s time for California to listen to calls from the international community and ban this traumatizing, sexist and unnecessary practice.”
Under her proposal, any doctor that either performed or supervised the test could face punishment from the medical board.
Myths about virginity fuel the abusive testing
The hymen is a thin crescent-shaped tissue that stretches around the opening of the vagina. Virginity tests incorrectly imply that a hymen can either be intact or not intact and can reveal a woman's sexual experience.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, hymens come in all shapes and sizes. Some change shape with penetration and some do not. Some women do not have them at all.
“The hymen is nothing like a piece of plastic you can wrap around your food or a seal,” Norwegian doctors Nina Dølvik Brochmann said from the TED stage in Oslo. She and Ellen Støkken Dahl, who together wrote the book “The Wonder Down Under: The Insider’s Guide to the Anatomy, Biology, and Reality of the Vagina,” are working to dispel virginity myths. “You simply cannot look a woman between her legs and read her sexual story.”
In recent years, medical professionals such as Brochmann and Dahl, women’s rights advocates around the world and international organizations including the World Health Organization and the United Nations have tried to combat the deeply held misperception with information campaigns and calls for an end to the traumatizing tests.
Researchers in 2017 published a review of 17 studies in the academic journal Reproductive Health that showed virginity testing has no medical utility.
"Our review found that virginity testing is not good at detecting who has not had sexual intercourse and that it can hurt the person being tested – physically, mentally, and socially," the researchers said. "Our hope is to make more people and countries aware of this to prevent harm to women and girls."
WHO reports that the tests are still used in 20 countries and that women and girls are often forced to undergo examinations to assess virtue and value. The tests are also sometimes used to evaluate if a rape has occurred.
Calling the concept of "virginity" a "social, cultural, and religious construct," WHO also emphasizes that the practice is a form of gender discrimination that violates women's and girls' human rights.
More: Not just rapper T.I. : Doctors get requests for sexist, unscientific 'virginity tests'
"Many women suffer from adverse short- and long-term physical, psychological and social consequences of this practice," WHO wrote in an interagency statement with the United Nations calling for a global end to the testing. "This includes anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress. In extreme cases, women or girls may attempt suicide or be killed in the name of 'honor.'"
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Despite scientific evidence, the tests endured
It’s difficult to know how prevalent virginity tests are, especially in the United States, where privacy laws limit disclosure of whether they have been performed. But a study published in 2017, researchers surveyed close to 300 gynecologists in the U.S. Roughly 10% responded that they'd been asked to conduct a virginity test, and 3.5% said they had actually performed one.
Brochmann and Dahl, who join the international bodies and legislators in calls for an end to the tests, explain that in order to truly bring about an end to virginity testing, the ideas that perpetuate the tests must be eradicated.
“We wish we could say that by removing these myths, everything would be OK, that shame, harm and honor killings would all just disappear," Dahl said on the TED stage. "Sexual oppression of women comes from something much deeper than a simple anatomical misunderstanding about the properties of the hymen. It's a question of cultural and religious control of women's sexuality. And that is much harder to change –but we must try."
Gabrielle Canon covers California for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach her at gcanon@gannett.com or on Twitter @GabrielleCanon.


usatoday--2020-02-05--Despite Iowa caucus disaster, U.S. election systems are better than you think. Really.

WASHINGTON – The technological meltdown that turned Monday 's Iowa Democratic caucuses into fodder for comedians and conspiracy theorists has cast an untimely pall over the improving methods by which Americans vote .
For nearly 20 years , since Florida 's hanging chads delayed the 2000 presidential election results for 35 days , federal , state and local officials have invested billions of dollars in voting machines , registration databases , training programs and more .
Ironically , the end result has been a return to paper ballots , along with a trend toward early voting that has siphoned some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Polls show voters have faith in how their ballots are counted , though they fear hackers and foreign actors .
Since the Russian attempts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election , more states have switched to paper ballots , says David Becker , executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research .
Congress has also appropriated $ 800 million to help states strengthen their election infrastructure .
`` Elections are mostly better run than ever before , '' Becker said .
`` The chances that you go to vote and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are overwhelmingly high . ''
That has not prevented critics , including President Donald Trump , from claiming that millions of votes are cast illegally .
On Tuesday , Trump 's sons and campaign director hinted that the Iowa caucuses were rigged to hide what Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , on Twitter called `` a Bernie blowout and a Biden crash . ''
The reality is more mundane – a coding error in an app being used for the first time that led to a breakdown in the reporting of results , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And it reflected only the mistakes of a political party that runs elections once every four years .
`` If you 've ( wondered ) why we do n't have online voting or what 's wrong with paperless voting machines , you have your answer , '' says Larry Norden , director of the election reform program at the Brennan Center for Justice .
`` Relying solely on software to tally votes is not a good idea . ''
After two decades of fits and starts , states increasingly have returned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ devices that spit out paper records .
Only Louisiana relies solely on touch-screen machines that once were the rage , and their days are numbered .
Iowa caucuses : Buttigieg holds slim lead over Sanders after new wave of Iowa results released — updates A Pew Research Center poll taken just before the 2018 midterm elections found 82 % of Americans were confident their votes would be counted correctly , and 72 % felt similarly upbeat about votes cast elsewhere .
But Iowa 's mishap and the exaggerated reaction to it on social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Russians just want us not to trust each other and be divided , '' Becker says .
`` They want us to think that election was rigged . ''
`` It discourages people from participating in the political process , and we need the opposite of that , '' says Paul DeGregorio , former chairman of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission .
`` They do n't trust the process , and that 's unfortunate . ''
Says Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose , who previously served as a Republican state senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many more despicable things to do than scaring voters in your political self-interest . ''
For years , election officials have tried to tame technology to their task , with limited results .
Months before George W. Bush and Al Gore emerged from the 2000 election in a virtual dead heat , Arizona Democrats held the nation 's first online primary .
Voters cast ballots from work , home , public libraries , even the local Safeway .
It never caught on nationally .
Voters were confused when told to do things like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they had to risk the chance that their selections would not be secret .
`` It 's still very much in the future , '' says Wendy Underhill , director of elections and redistricting at the National Conference of State Legislatures .
`` We really are n't there yet . ''
Then came Florida .
Poorly designed ballots and punch cards resulted in undercounts and overcounts , making it nearly impossible for officials to determine many voters ' intentions .
And then came Ohio four years later , which tipped the election to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the polls and problems with voting machines and provisional ballots led to complaints from Democrats .
In between those two elections , the Help America Vote Act pushed nearly $ 4 billion from Washington to the states for election improvements .
Congress appropriated another $ 800 million in recent months .
For all the investments , states have come to believe more in paper than machines , particularly as a way to verify votes and conduct post-election audits .
In 2016 , 75 % of voters used paper ; since then , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pennsylvania have come on board .
By November , more than 90 % of ballots will be cast on paper .
“ You can ’ t hack paper , ” says Brian Corley , supervisor of elections in Pasco County , Florida .
Still , you can make mistakes .
`` Inevitably , '' says Kimball Brace , president of Election Data Services , `` the American public knows how to screw up their ballot . ''
Is the Iowa caucus dead : Chaos and partial results puts Hawkeye state 's status in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties have made other changes in recent years in hopes of combating threats to election security .
Oregon , Washington , Colorado and Hawaii hold all their elections by mail ; Utah will do so this year .
Ballot-marking devices are being improved so that voters can touch a screen and then review a paper ballot .
Los Angeles County is at the forefront of that technology , which helps voters who have disabilities or need instructions in other languages .
Thirty-nine states now use electronic poll books to check voter registrations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong polling place or check to see if they 've voted early or by absentee ballot .
California , Colorado and Texas are moving toward systems that allow voters to cast ballots anywhere in a county , rather than a specific polling place .
In California 's Orange County , all 1.6 million voters will receive a paper ballot by mail this year .
“ Paper is the best option to ensure the integrity of the election , '' says Neal Kelly , the county 's registrar of voters .
`` That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of my colleagues , but that ’ s the reason that we ’ re moving in this direction . ''
Electronic machines that record votes directly still are used in many states for voters with disabilities such as vision impairments , as well as for military and overseas voters .
Despite the progress , officials caution that problems at the polls will continue , though not as severe as Iowa 's Monday mishap .
Even there , they see a silver lining .
`` Sometimes , it just takes a while to count @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a University of Florida associate professor who maintains a database on U.S. elections .
`` We should be happy with that .
We do n't want inaccurate results . ''

Richard Wolf and Kristine Phillips, USA TODAY

Despite Iowa caucus disaster, U.S. election systems are better than you think. Really.
Show Caption Hide Caption Candidates give speeches amid Democratic Iowa caucus delays With no winner declared on the night of the Democratic Iowa caucuses amid delays, the candidates still gave speeches. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – The technological meltdown that turned Monday's Iowa Democratic caucuses into fodder for comedians and conspiracy theorists has cast an untimely pall over the improving methods by which Americans vote.
For nearly 20 years, since Florida's hanging chads delayed the 2000 presidential election results for 35 days, federal, state and local officials have invested billions of dollars in voting machines, registration databases, training programs and more.
Ironically, the end result has been a return to paper ballots, along with a trend toward early voting that has siphoned some of the stress from Election Day. Polls show voters have faith in how their ballots are counted, though they fear hackers and foreign actors.
Since the Russian attempts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, more states have switched to paper ballots, says David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research. Congress has also appropriated $800 million to help states strengthen their election infrastructure.
"Elections are mostly better run than ever before," Becker said. "The chances that you go to vote and that you have a really positive experience are overwhelmingly high."
That has not prevented critics, including President Donald Trump, from claiming that millions of votes are cast illegally. On Tuesday, Trump's sons and campaign director hinted that the Iowa caucuses were rigged to hide what Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on Twitter called "a Bernie blowout and a Biden crash."
The reality is more mundane – a coding error in an app being used for the first time that led to a breakdown in the reporting of results, followed by backup phone lines getting jammed. And it reflected only the mistakes of a political party that runs elections once every four years.
Iowa caucuses: The results so far
"If you've (wondered) why we don't have online voting or what's wrong with paperless voting machines, you have your answer," says Larry Norden, director of the election reform program at the Brennan Center for Justice. "Relying solely on software to tally votes is not a good idea."
After two decades of fits and starts, states increasingly have returned to paper – either hand-marked ballots or iPad-like devices that spit out paper records. Only Louisiana relies solely on touch-screen machines that once were the rage, and their days are numbered.
Iowa caucuses: Buttigieg holds slim lead over Sanders after new wave of Iowa results released — updates
A Pew Research Center poll taken just before the 2018 midterm elections found 82% of Americans were confident their votes would be counted correctly, and 72% felt similarly upbeat about votes cast elsewhere.
But Iowa's mishap and the exaggerated reaction to it on social media does present a threat.
"The Russians just want us not to trust each other and be divided," Becker says. "They want us to think that election was rigged."
"It discourages people from participating in the political process, and we need the opposite of that," says Paul DeGregorio, former chairman of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. "They don't trust the process, and that's unfortunate."
Says Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who previously served as a Republican state senator: "I cannot think of many more despicable things to do than scaring voters in your political self-interest."
Post-Florida reforms
For years, election officials have tried to tame technology to their task, with limited results.
Months before George W. Bush and Al Gore emerged from the 2000 election in a virtual dead heat, Arizona Democrats held the nation's first online primary. Voters cast ballots from work, home, public libraries, even the local Safeway.
It never caught on nationally. Voters were confused when told to do things like enable their computer's cookies, and they had to risk the chance that their selections would not be secret.
"It's still very much in the future," says Wendy Underhill, director of elections and redistricting at the National Conference of State Legislatures. "We really aren't there yet."
Then came Florida. Poorly designed ballots and punch cards resulted in undercounts and overcounts, making it nearly impossible for officials to determine many voters' intentions.
And then came Ohio four years later, which tipped the election to Bush over John Kerry. Long lines at the polls and problems with voting machines and provisional ballots led to complaints from Democrats.
In between those two elections, the Help America Vote Act pushed nearly $4 billion from Washington to the states for election improvements. Congress appropriated another $800 million in recent months.
For all the investments, states have come to believe more in paper than machines, particularly as a way to verify votes and conduct post-election audits. In 2016, 75% of voters used paper; since then, Georgia, South Carolina and most of Pennsylvania have come on board. By November, more than 90% of ballots will be cast on paper.
“You can’t hack paper,” says Brian Corley, supervisor of elections in Pasco County, Florida.
Still, you can make mistakes.
"Inevitably," says Kimball Brace, president of Election Data Services, "the American public knows how to screw up their ballot."
Is the Iowa caucus dead: Chaos and partial results puts Hawkeye state's status in question
'We should be happy'
States and counties have made other changes in recent years in hopes of combating threats to election security. Oregon, Washington, Colorado and Hawaii hold all their elections by mail; Utah will do so this year.
Ballot-marking devices are being improved so that voters can touch a screen and then review a paper ballot. Los Angeles County is at the forefront of that technology, which helps voters who have disabilities or need instructions in other languages.
Thirty-nine states now use electronic poll books to check voter registrations, allowing them to redirect voters in the wrong polling place or check to see if they've voted early or by absentee ballot. California, Colorado and Texas are moving toward systems that allow voters to cast ballots anywhere in a county, rather than a specific polling place.
In California's Orange County, all 1.6 million voters will receive a paper ballot by mail this year.
“Paper is the best option to ensure the integrity of the election," says Neal Kelly, the county's registrar of voters. "That’s not a view shared by all of my colleagues, but that’s the reason that we’re moving in this direction."
Electronic machines that record votes directly still are used in many states for voters with disabilities such as vision impairments, as well as for military and overseas voters.
Despite the progress, officials caution that problems at the polls will continue, though not as severe as Iowa's Monday mishap. Even there, they see a silver lining.
"Sometimes, it just takes a while to count things," says Michael McDonald, a University of Florida associate professor who maintains a database on U.S. elections. "We should be happy with that. We don't want inaccurate results."
Contributing: Brett Murphy


usatoday--2020-02-05--What really went wrong on Iowa caucus night? Inside the problems that led to results being delayed

DES MOINES — For two magical hours , the new and improved 2020 Iowa Democratic caucus worked almost exactly as intended .
People caucused Monday night in less time than four years ago , when participants grumbled that the process was too long .
There was less infighting among the groups aligned for their candidates .
Indeed , many caucusgoers and their precinct chairs wrapped up caucus night saying they felt good about the changes put in place to make the selection process simpler and more inclusive .
And then the precinct chairs tried to report their results to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a halt .
`` Everyone who was in the room caucusing should have left with a smile on their face , '' said Dan Callahan , chair of the Buchanan County Democrats .
`` It was efficient .
It was fun .
We did what we were supposed to do — we built a party platform and we picked a presidential candidate .
`` It was after everybody left that the problems started . ''
In county after county across Iowa , the same thing happened , according to interviews with 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All the corrective changes the party had put in place to shore up the credibility of the Iowa caucuses quickly were overshadowed by zero results reported nearly 24 hours after caucusing began .
More : Iowa Democratic Party chair apologizes for delay in results reporting , which he says was 'unacceptable' The Iowa Democratic Party has blamed the delay on a coding issue in a new smartphone app used to report results .
But precinct chairs said an overwhelmed reporting hotline that was intended as a backup was also at fault .
Troy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement the `` underlying data '' collected on the app reported only partial data .
The error was caught early Monday as precinct caucus results started coming in , and the Iowa Democratic Party ran them through accuracy and quality checks .
Price added that precinct chairs have reported data accurately , but it took time to hand count and finalize the results .
As of 11 a.m. Wednesday , the Iowa Democratic Party has released 70.82 % of the results .
Former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by just more than 1 percentage point — a virtual tie — but both had been awarded 10 of Iowa 's national delegates needed to win the Democratic nomination .
Monday 's failures could not be blamed on just one thing .
First , precinct chairs who opted to use the app were having trouble submitting data and/or completing the entire process .
Many reported the app crashing when they got to the final step — sending a photo of the math worksheet .
In several counties , precinct chairs opted not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in rural areas , lack of smartphones or downloading trouble in the days leading to caucus night .
This meant precinct chairs either chose to or were forced to call in their results — which led to the second failure .
The Iowa Democratic Party did not have enough people manning the phones to handle an influx of calls , despite that being the standard process in past years — and despite hearing concerns of the app ’ s functionality days before caucusing started .
`` The big problem was they didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place in case there was a problem with the app , '' said Betty Brummett , co-chair of the Taylor County Democrats .
`` They were n't set up to handle 1,600 people trying to call in at the same time . ''
Party chairs surveyed by the Des Moines Register said there was little-to-no training on how to use the new app by the Iowa Democratic Party .
Instead , volunteers were instructed to test using it on their own .
Because of its secure nature , it was not downloaded on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social networking apps are .
Instead , volunteers had to apply to download it , then follow multiple security prompts , including inputting a PIN that changed every few days .
`` I think the feeling that we wanted to make sure it was secure and no one ’ s hacking into it just added enough complexity to make it hard for people to navigate , '' said Bret Niles , chair of the Linn County Democrats , which covers Cedar Rapids , Iowa 's second-largest city .
Some were locked out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Others , who had successfully practiced on the app in the week leading up to caucus night , watched it crash when they attempted to input data .
David Mansheim , former chair of the Butler County Democrats , said precinct chairs in his county got all the way through the process before it shut down .
Steve Drahozal , chair of the Dubuque County Democrats , said he received an error message that he had omitted some numbers when , in double-checking , it revealed he had n't .
`` It looked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until it didn ’ t , '' Mansheim said .
`` Which things often do when you put them under stress . ''
He said one of his county 's eight precinct chairs was able to report results using the app .
The rest resorted to calling .
In some areas , such as rural Buchanan County , precinct chairs never planned to use the app to begin with .
Many of the volunteers still use flip phones and live in areas `` with limited WiFi and intermittent cell coverage , '' Callahan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County , none of the county 's precinct leaders have smartphones , said Twyla Peacock , county chair .
She told party leaders about that issue well in advance and said they were directed by the Iowa Democratic Party to call with results .
`` I 'm 77 years old , and some of these technology things are foreign to me .
I prefer the old way , '' Peacock said .
`` If we had done it the old way , instead of trying to get into the next century , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Iowa Democratic Party said there 's `` every indication '' the app was secure ; there was no cyber intrusion or hacking of the system .
County chairs reported wait times between 15 minutes and 2 hours .
It appears the earlier results were called in , the quicker precincts could wrap up reporting .
After waiting on hold with the Iowa Democratic Party for 45 minutes to report results via telephone , Elesha Gayman asked her precinct chairs in Scott County to drop off their results in person so she could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She gathered what she had — 39 of 63 precincts — and called the Iowa Democratic Party at 1:30 a.m .
It took about 90 minutes to make that report , Gayman said , noting that under a rule change for 2020 , each precinct had to report three sets of numbers : • The number of caucusgoers for each candidate in the first alignment ; • The number for each candidate in the second alignment , after non-viable candidates were eliminated ; • And the number of state delegate equivalents assigned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It 's not just like you 're calling in one number — it 's first alignment , second alignment and the state delegates .
And they 're putting in a whole math formula to back that up , '' Gayman said .
`` I do think that 's important for transparency to have that information , but it just makes it that much harder to report quickly . ''
Al Charlson , chair of the Bremer County Democrats , said he waited on hold for an hour Monday before his phone call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he could get results in .
Because of the wait , several precincts waited to report until Tuesday .
Representatives from the Iowa Democratic Party fanned across the state to pick up hard copies of results throughout the day .
`` The minimum wait time was an hour .
Some waited up to two hours , '' said Mansheim of Butler County .
`` One went to bed and phoned it in the morning . ''
In Union County , where several caucus precincts were in one building , chairs resorted to splitting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through to the hotline after about 30 to 45 minutes , '' said Tiffany Gale , chair of the Union County Democrats .
`` After he reported his results , he passed the phone to someone else , and they reported .
That ’ s how we did it . ''
She said the telephone reporting system took about 10 minutes , after the initial wait time to get through .
Several people praised the efficiency of the new caucus process — limiting caucusgoers to only a first and second alignment instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They also praised the new presidential preference cards , which caucusgoers used to write down their choices and sign their names .
It 's those cards that have given the Iowa Democratic Party confidence in the integrity of its results .
`` Because of the required paper documentation , we have been able to verify that the data recorded in the app and used to calculate State Delegate Equivalents is valid and accurate , '' Price , the state party chair , said in a statement .
`` I personally loved the presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have that visual , '' said Thaddeus Hawley , chair of the Adair County Democrats .
`` In the end , the paper trail will save us . ''
But in the hours without any caucus results , the drumbeat of calls to replace Iowa as the lead-off state — which started months ago — grew more persistent .
Concerns over diversity and inclusion have risen to the forefront this caucus cycle as a presidential field that was at one point the most diverse in history has winnowed to a mostly white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday 's results have shifted the focus back to Iowa 's arcane rules and complex process .
Several county chairs still believe the caucus process is viable , particularly given the state 's new rules .
If the Iowa Democratic Party can stick to new rules and figure out reporting , 2024 could present a successful caucus cycle , Hawley said .
Regardless , Niles , out of Linn County , said he fears reporting failures will jeopardize the state 's first-in-the-nation caucus status .
`` I could see where if there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make it even harder to defend that , '' he said .
`` With all the effort and time and money that went into these campaigns and all the training … I ’ m disappointed , going through all this effort to have this big moment , and now that moment has passed without results . ''
Register reporter Barbara Rodriguez and USA Today network reporters Kevin McCoy , Rebecca Morin , Dennis Wagner and Donovan Slack contributed to this story .
Kim Norvell covers growth and development for the Register .
Reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Follow her on Twitter @ KimNorvellDMR .

What really went wrong on Iowa caucus night? Inside the problems that led to results being delayed
Show Caption Hide Caption Candidates give speeches amid Democratic Iowa caucus delays With no winner declared on the night of the Democratic Iowa caucuses amid delays, the candidates still gave speeches. USA TODAY
DES MOINES — For two magical hours, the new and improved 2020 Iowa Democratic caucus worked almost exactly as intended.
People caucused Monday night in less time than four years ago, when participants grumbled that the process was too long. There was less infighting among the groups aligned for their candidates.
Indeed, many caucusgoers and their precinct chairs wrapped up caucus night saying they felt good about the changes put in place to make the selection process simpler and more inclusive.
And then the precinct chairs tried to report their results to the Iowa Democratic Party — and everything ground to a halt.
"Everyone who was in the room caucusing should have left with a smile on their face," said Dan Callahan, chair of the Buchanan County Democrats. "It was efficient. It was fun. We did what we were supposed to do — we built a party platform and we picked a presidential candidate.
"It was after everybody left that the problems started."
In county after county across Iowa, the same thing happened, according to interviews with 20 Democratic Party chairs around the state.
All the corrective changes the party had put in place to shore up the credibility of the Iowa caucuses quickly were overshadowed by zero results reported nearly 24 hours after caucusing began.
Iowa caucuses: Live Democratic results and alignment tallies
More: Iowa Democratic Party chair apologizes for delay in results reporting, which he says was 'unacceptable'
The Iowa Democratic Party has blamed the delay on a coding issue in a new smartphone app used to report results. But precinct chairs said an overwhelmed reporting hotline that was intended as a backup was also at fault.
Troy Price, state party chair, said in a statement the "underlying data" collected on the app reported only partial data. The error was caught early Monday as precinct caucus results started coming in, and the Iowa Democratic Party ran them through accuracy and quality checks.
Price added that precinct chairs have reported data accurately, but it took time to hand count and finalize the results.
As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, the Iowa Democratic Party has released 70.82% of the results. Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg led U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont by just more than 1 percentage point — a virtual tie — but both had been awarded 10 of Iowa's national delegates needed to win the Democratic nomination.
Failure on two levels
Monday's failures could not be blamed on just one thing.
First, precinct chairs who opted to use the app were having trouble submitting data and/or completing the entire process.
Many reported the app crashing when they got to the final step — sending a photo of the math worksheet.
In several counties, precinct chairs opted not to use the app, citing wireless connections in rural areas, lack of smartphones or downloading trouble in the days leading to caucus night.
This meant precinct chairs either chose to or were forced to call in their results — which led to the second failure.
The Iowa Democratic Party did not have enough people manning the phones to handle an influx of calls, despite that being the standard process in past years — and despite hearing concerns of the app’s functionality days before caucusing started.
"The big problem was they didn’t have a good Plan B in place in case there was a problem with the app," said Betty Brummett, co-chair of the Taylor County Democrats. "They weren't set up to handle 1,600 people trying to call in at the same time."
Why didn't the app work?
Party chairs surveyed by the Des Moines Register said there was little-to-no training on how to use the new app by the Iowa Democratic Party.
Instead, volunteers were instructed to test using it on their own.
Because of its secure nature, it was not downloaded on an app store like games or other social networking apps are.
Instead, volunteers had to apply to download it, then follow multiple security prompts, including inputting a PIN that changed every few days.
"I think the feeling that we wanted to make sure it was secure and no one’s hacking into it just added enough complexity to make it hard for people to navigate," said Bret Niles, chair of the Linn County Democrats, which covers Cedar Rapids, Iowa's second-largest city.
Some were locked out of the app completely on caucus night.
Others, who had successfully practiced on the app in the week leading up to caucus night, watched it crash when they attempted to input data.
David Mansheim, former chair of the Butler County Democrats, said precinct chairs in his county got all the way through the process before it shut down.
Steve Drahozal, chair of the Dubuque County Democrats, said he received an error message that he had omitted some numbers when, in double-checking, it revealed he hadn't.
"It looked like it was going to work — until it didn’t," Mansheim said. "Which things often do when you put them under stress."
He said one of his county's eight precinct chairs was able to report results using the app. The rest resorted to calling.
In some areas, such as rural Buchanan County, precinct chairs never planned to use the app to begin with. Many of the volunteers still use flip phones and live in areas "with limited WiFi and intermittent cell coverage," Callahan said.
In far southeast Van Buren County, none of the county's precinct leaders have smartphones, said Twyla Peacock, county chair. She told party leaders about that issue well in advance and said they were directed by the Iowa Democratic Party to call with results.
"I'm 77 years old, and some of these technology things are foreign to me. I prefer the old way," Peacock said. "If we had done it the old way, instead of trying to get into the next century, we would have turned out fine."
The Iowa Democratic Party said there's "every indication" the app was secure; there was no cyber intrusion or hacking of the system.
How long were phone wait times?
County chairs reported wait times between 15 minutes and 2 hours. It appears the earlier results were called in, the quicker precincts could wrap up reporting.
But around 9 p.m., a bottleneck formed.
After waiting on hold with the Iowa Democratic Party for 45 minutes to report results via telephone, Elesha Gayman asked her precinct chairs in Scott County to drop off their results in person so she could call it in as a group. She gathered what she had — 39 of 63 precincts — and called the Iowa Democratic Party at 1:30 a.m.
It took about 90 minutes to make that report, Gayman said, noting that under a rule change for 2020, each precinct had to report three sets of numbers:
The number of caucusgoers for each candidate in the first alignment;
The number for each candidate in the second alignment, after non-viable candidates were eliminated;
And the number of state delegate equivalents assigned to each candidate based on those results.
"It's not just like you're calling in one number — it's first alignment, second alignment and the state delegates. And they're putting in a whole math formula to back that up," Gayman said. "I do think that's important for transparency to have that information, but it just makes it that much harder to report quickly."
Al Charlson, chair of the Bremer County Democrats, said he waited on hold for an hour Monday before his phone call dropped. He waited another hour before he could get results in.
Because of the wait, several precincts waited to report until Tuesday. Representatives from the Iowa Democratic Party fanned across the state to pick up hard copies of results throughout the day.
"The minimum wait time was an hour. Some waited up to two hours," said Mansheim of Butler County. "One went to bed and phoned it in the morning."
In Union County, where several caucus precincts were in one building, chairs resorted to splitting phone duties.
"One person got through to the hotline after about 30 to 45 minutes," said Tiffany Gale, chair of the Union County Democrats. "After he reported his results, he passed the phone to someone else, and they reported. That’s how we did it."
She said the telephone reporting system took about 10 minutes, after the initial wait time to get through.
What did work?
Several people praised the efficiency of the new caucus process — limiting caucusgoers to only a first and second alignment instead of the unlimited reshuffling in previous years.
They also praised the new presidential preference cards, which caucusgoers used to write down their choices and sign their names. It's those cards that have given the Iowa Democratic Party confidence in the integrity of its results.
"Because of the required paper documentation, we have been able to verify that the data recorded in the app and used to calculate State Delegate Equivalents is valid and accurate," Price, the state party chair, said in a statement.
"I personally loved the presidential preference card because it was just nice to have that visual," said Thaddeus Hawley, chair of the Adair County Democrats. "In the end, the paper trail will save us."
But in the hours without any caucus results, the drumbeat of calls to replace Iowa as the lead-off state — which started months ago — grew more persistent.
More: Iowa Republicans defend state Democrats after caucus mishaps
Concerns over diversity and inclusion have risen to the forefront this caucus cycle as a presidential field that was at one point the most diverse in history has winnowed to a mostly white pool of candidates.
The problems with Monday's results have shifted the focus back to Iowa's arcane rules and complex process.
Several county chairs still believe the caucus process is viable, particularly given the state's new rules. If the Iowa Democratic Party can stick to new rules and figure out reporting, 2024 could present a successful caucus cycle, Hawley said.
Regardless, Niles, out of Linn County, said he fears reporting failures will jeopardize the state's first-in-the-nation caucus status.
"I could see where if there were questions before, this is going to make it even harder to defend that," he said. "With all the effort and time and money that went into these campaigns and all the training … I’m disappointed, going through all this effort to have this big moment, and now that moment has passed without results."
Register reporter Barbara Rodriguez and USA Today network reporters Kevin McCoy, Rebecca Morin, Dennis Wagner and Donovan Slack contributed to this story.
Kim Norvell covers growth and development for the Register. Reach her at knorvell@dmreg.com or 515-284-8259. Follow her on Twitter @KimNorvellDMR.


usatoday--2020-02-05--Democrats raise 3 fingers, chant 'H.R. 3' during Trump's State of the Union speech

State of the Union : Dems raise 3 fingers to honor of Rep. Cummings Democrats chanted `` H.R .
3 @ @ @ @ @ the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act during the State of the Union @ @

State of the Union: Dems raise 3 fingers to honor of Rep. Cummings
Democrats chanted "H.R. 3" to show support for the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act during the State of the Union speech.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-02-05--State of the Union: Trump interrupted by dad of Parkland shooting victim

State of the Union : Parkland shooting victim 's dad removed for yelling Fred Guttenberg , a gun violence activist @ @ @ @ @ the Parkland , Fla. school shooting , was removed from the State of the Union @ @

State of the Union: Parkland shooting victim's dad removed for yelling
Fred Guttenberg, a gun violence activist who lost his daughter in the Parkland, Fla. school shooting, was removed from the State of the Union address.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-02-05--'Pelosi disgraced herself': GOP outraged by Pelosi ripping up Trump State of the Union speech

WASHINGTON – Republicans responded angrily after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ripped up her copy of President Donald Trump 's State of the Union address Tuesday night .
Pelosi and Trump have had a combative relationship since he took office .
Their mutual animosity has intensified since Democrats took control of the House in January 2019 and grew further with the president 's Dec. 18 impeachment on allegations of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
Their animus was on display Tuesday as Trump appeared to snub Pelosi 's attempt to shake his hand before the address and Pelosi tore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind the president on the House dais .
Pelosi later told reporters she tore up the document because it was a `` manifesto of untruths . ''
Trump-Pelosi drama on full display : He snubbed her handshake , she tore up his speech Vice President Mike Pence called Pelosi 's rending of the speech `` a new low '' and said it was an effort to make the address `` about her . ''
`` I was n't sure if she was ripping up the speech or ripping up the Constitution , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Wednesday .
`` To have her stand up and tear up that speech really dishonored the moment . ''
Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C , also slammed Pelosi for the move .
`` You can tear up the speech , but you ca n't tear up the accomplishments , '' Graham told Fox News host Sean Hannity , referring to a litany of economic and national security achievements he credited to Trump .
Graham challenged Pelosi to provide facts `` to dispute what the president said about economic growth among all sectors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tear up the speech , tell me where it 's wrong , '' he said .
`` You know why Trump 's going to win ?
The speech is absolutely the truth , and the best is yet to come . ''
`` Ripping up a piece of paper does n't change the facts that were written on it—Americans are winning , in spite of the do-nothing Democrats , '' McCarthy said in a tweet .
Rep. Mark Meadows , R-N.C. , told Fox News that Pelosi had torn up the speech in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee Chairman Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , have `` been trying to rip apart America for the last three years '' with their investigations of the Trump administration .
`` Nancy Pelosi disgraced herself , her title , the US Congress , and our great country with this disgusting response at the end of the President ’ s State of the Union address tonight.
, '' Rep. Lee Zeldin , R-N.Y. , said in a tweet .
`` She should be stripped of her gavel by the American public this November . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , called for Pelosi to be censured for the act and said her `` childishness insults our American traditions . ''
`` As Speaker of the House for four State of the Unions by a President of the other party I am disgusted and insulted by the viciously partisan action of Nancy Pelosi tearing up the speech , '' Gingrich said .
`` She isn ’ t clever or cute . ''
`` Disappointed to see @ SpeakerPelosi rip up the speech that mentioned lives we ’ ve lost and heroes we celebrated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Carolina Gov .
Nikki Haley .
`` No matter how you feel or what you disagree with , remember others are watching .
This was unbecoming of someone at her level in office . ''
The hashtags # PelosiTantrum and # NancytheRipper were trending on Twitter Wednesday morning .
Later , # NancyPelosiRocks also began to pick up steam .
Though as of 1 p.m. EST Wednesday Trump had not directly posted a tweet about Pelosi ripping up the speech , he retweeted 22 posts attacking the House speaker – most using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that called Pelosi a `` bitter drama queen pitching a little hissy fit . ''
He also retweeted a post from the White House Twitter account that implied Pelosi had ripped up the memories Americans cited in the speech .
Jody Jones – whose brother Rocky was mentioned in the speech because he was killed by a person who was in the U.S. illegally – said on `` Fox & Friends '' it was `` probably the most disrespectful thing I 've ever seen in my life . ''
`` It felt like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway echoed Gingrich 's call to censure Pelosi , whom she said , `` looked like she was reading the Cheesecake Factory menu all night , going through every single page . ''
`` There ought to be a Senate resolution denouncing her behavior last night , '' she told Fox News Wednesday .
`` And I will tell you that that ’ s the feeling of many people who believe in the decorum of the United States Congress , the sanctity of the State of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House official who helps run Trump 's Twitter account , tweeted , `` Pelosi destroyed a historical record . ''
`` The speech she ripped up was a one-of-a-kind record , signed by POTUS and full of stories of Bravery , Heroism and Patriotism .
It belonged to the AMERICAN PEOPLE , not to her .
What a disgusting display of raw partisanship ! ''
he said .
Some Democratic lawmakers said the outrage at Pelosi was misplaced .
`` If you are more offended by ripping up some pieces of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lies to the Congress and the country about trying to end protections for millions of Americans with preexisting conditions we aren ’ t going to see eye to eye here , '' said Rep. Don Beyer , D-Va. '' Folks are more outraged with @ SpeakerPelosi ripping up the speech in half than with the fact that Trump has ripped families apart at the border , '' tweeted Rep. Sylvia Garcia , D-Texas , one of the seven House impeachment managers .
`` He ’ s ripped babies from their parents ’ arms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should outrage EVERYONE ! ''
`` His words have never been worth the paper they ’ re printed on , so this makes sense , '' tweeted conservative lawyer George Conway , who is a co-founder of the anti-Trump political action committee The Lincoln Project .
He also the husband of Kellyanne Conway .
`` Thank you .
That felt good , '' said liberal filmmaker Michael Moore in a tweet , along with a photo of Pelosi in the act of tearing the speech .

'Pelosi disgraced herself': GOP outraged by Pelosi ripping up Trump State of the Union speech
Show Caption Hide Caption Nancy Pelosi rips up Trump's State of the Union speech Speaker Nancy Pelosi ripped up President Donald Trump's State of the Union script as he ended his speech. USA TODAY, Associated Press
WASHINGTON – Republicans responded angrily after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ripped up her copy of President Donald Trump's State of the Union address Tuesday night.
Pelosi and Trump have had a combative relationship since he took office. Their mutual animosity has intensified since Democrats took control of the House in January 2019 and grew further with the president's Dec. 18 impeachment on allegations of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
Their animus was on display Tuesday as Trump appeared to snub Pelosi's attempt to shake his hand before the address and Pelosi tore up the speech afterward from her position behind the president on the House dais.
Pelosi later told reporters she tore up the document because it was a "manifesto of untruths."
Trump-Pelosi drama on full display: He snubbed her handshake, she tore up his speech
Vice President Mike Pence called Pelosi's rending of the speech "a new low" and said it was an effort to make the address "about her."
"I wasn't sure if she was ripping up the speech or ripping up the Constitution," Pence said on "Fox & Friends" Wednesday. "To have her stand up and tear up that speech really dishonored the moment."
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C, also slammed Pelosi for the move.
"You can tear up the speech, but you can't tear up the accomplishments," Graham told Fox News host Sean Hannity, referring to a litany of economic and national security achievements he credited to Trump.
Graham challenged Pelosi to provide facts "to dispute what the president said about economic growth among all sectors of society."
"Don't tear up the speech, tell me where it's wrong," he said. "You know why Trump's going to win? The speech is absolutely the truth, and the best is yet to come."
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy called Pelosi's act "petty."
"Ripping up a piece of paper doesn't change the facts that were written on it—Americans are winning, in spite of the do-nothing Democrats," McCarthy said in a tweet.
How petty of Pelosi. Ripping up a piece of paper doesn't change the facts that were written on it—Americans are winning, in spite of the do-nothing Democrats. — Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) February 5, 2020
Trump: The best is yet to come!
Pelosi: Rips up speech — Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) February 5, 2020
Speaking of Nancy Pelosi, rumor has it her impeachment articles are due to be ripped up tomorrow. — Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS (@RepGosar) February 5, 2020
Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., told Fox News that Pelosi had torn up the speech in the same way she and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., have "been trying to rip apart America for the last three years" with their investigations of the Trump administration.
Fact checking SOTU: Trump's claims on jobs, wealth and wages
"Nancy Pelosi disgraced herself, her title, the US Congress, and our great country with this disgusting response at the end of the President’s State of the Union address tonight.," Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., said in a tweet. "She should be stripped of her gavel by the American public this November."
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., called for Pelosi to be censured for the act and said her "childishness insults our American traditions."
"As Speaker of the House for four State of the Unions by a President of the other party I am disgusted and insulted by the viciously partisan action of Nancy Pelosi tearing up the speech," Gingrich said. "She isn’t clever or cute."
"Disappointed to see @SpeakerPelosi rip up the speech that mentioned lives we’ve lost and heroes we celebrated at the SOTU," tweeted former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. "No matter how you feel or what you disagree with, remember others are watching. This was unbecoming of someone at her level in office."
The hashtags #PelosiTantrum and #NancytheRipper were trending on Twitter Wednesday morning. Later, #NancyPelosiRocks also began to pick up steam.
Though as of 1 p.m. EST Wednesday Trump had not directly posted a tweet about Pelosi ripping up the speech, he retweeted 22 posts attacking the House speaker – most using the #PelosiTantrum hashtag, including one that called Pelosi a "bitter drama queen pitching a little hissy fit."
He also retweeted a post from the White House Twitter account that implied Pelosi had ripped up the memories Americans cited in the speech.
Speaker Pelosi just ripped up:
One of our last surviving Tuskegee Airmen.
The survival of a child born at 21 weeks.
The mourning families of Rocky Jones and Kayla Mueller.
A service member's reunion with his family.
That's her legacy. — The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 5, 2020
Jody Jones – whose brother Rocky was mentioned in the speech because he was killed by a person who was in the U.S. illegally – said on "Fox & Friends" it was "probably the most disrespectful thing I've ever seen in my life."
"It felt like she ripped out hearts out," he said.
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway echoed Gingrich's call to censure Pelosi, whom she said, "looked like she was reading the Cheesecake Factory menu all night, going through every single page."
"There ought to be a Senate resolution denouncing her behavior last night," she told Fox News Wednesday. "And I will tell you that that’s the feeling of many people who believe in the decorum of the United States Congress, the sanctity of the State of the Union."
Dan Scavino, the White House official who helps run Trump's Twitter account, tweeted, "Pelosi destroyed a historical record."
"The speech she ripped up was a one-of-a-kind record, signed by POTUS and full of stories of Bravery, Heroism and Patriotism. It belonged to the AMERICAN PEOPLE, not to her. What a disgusting display of raw partisanship!" he said.
Nancy Pelosi destroyed a historical record tonight at #SOTU
The speech she ripped up was a one-of-a-kind record, signed by POTUS and full of stories of Bravery, Heroism and Patriotism. It belonged to the AMERICAN PEOPLE, not to her. What a disgusting display of raw partisanship! pic.twitter.com/CRXHPE6vdm — Dan Scavino (@DanScavino) February 5, 2020
Some Democratic lawmakers said the outrage at Pelosi was misplaced.
"If you are more offended by ripping up some pieces of paper than by the President telling disgraceful lies to the Congress and the country about trying to end protections for millions of Americans with preexisting conditions we aren’t going to see eye to eye here," said Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va.
"Folks are more outraged with @SpeakerPelosi ripping up the speech in half than with the fact that Trump has ripped families apart at the border," tweeted Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, one of the seven House impeachment managers. "He’s ripped babies from their parents’ arms and put them in cages. That should outrage EVERYONE!"
Other Trump critics embraced Pelosi's act.
"His words have never been worth the paper they’re printed on, so this makes sense," tweeted conservative lawyer George Conway, who is a co-founder of the anti-Trump political action committee The Lincoln Project. He also the husband of Kellyanne Conway.
"Thank you. That felt good," said liberal filmmaker Michael Moore in a tweet, along with a photo of Pelosi in the act of tearing the speech.


usatoday--2020-02-06--Gay civil rights leader pardoned 67 years later as part of LGBTQ clemency initiative

California Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that civil rights leader Bayard Rustin — an openly gay man who was arrested and imprisoned in Pasadena , Calif. , in 1953 on a misdemeanor “ lewd conduct ” charge after having consensual sex with men — has been posthumously pardoned .
He isthe first in a series of pardons Newsom plans to issue as part of a new clemency initiative that will take a step toward undoing decades of wrongful prosecution targeting lesbian , gay , bisexual , transgender and queer people in the state .
“ In California and across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used as legal tools of oppression , and to stigmatize and punish LGBTQ people and communities and warn others what harm could await them for living authentically , ” Newsom said in a statement .
“ I thank those who advocated for Bayard Rustin ’ s pardon , and I want to encourage others in similar situations to seek a pardon to right this egregious wrong.
” The request for Rustin ’ s pardon came from lawmakers in the LGBTQ and Black caucuses who petitioned the governor on Jan. 21 , the anniversary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he spent in jail after being arrested for engaging in consensual sex with a man in a car nearly derailed his activist career and added new obstacles to his advocacy efforts .
Forced to register as a sex offender , he was pushed out of speaking engagements and the offense was used to criticize the civil rights movement he helped build .
Other leaders would distance themselves from Rustin in the years following his wrongful conviction , but he continued fighting for the future .
A key strategist for nonviolent demonstrations , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now considered a humanitarian icon for his work .
Describing Rustin as an “ unyielding activist for civil rights , dignity , and equality for all ” President Barack Obama posthumously awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the highest civilian honor — in 2013 .
He died in 1987 .
In his pardon , Newsom described the “ long and reprehensible history of criminal prohibitions ” against LGBTQ people and the discrimination that took many forms , from shaming and surveillance to social isolation , and physical violence .
With an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the governor called for others to apply for pardons , opening and expediting the process of seeking clemency who , like Rustin , were subjected to unjust arrest and discrimination .
“ The Arc of Justice is long , but it took nearly 70 years for Bayard Rustin to have his legacy in the Civil Rights movement uncompromised by this incident , ” Assemblymember Shirley Weber , D-San Diego , chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus said in a statement .
“ Rustin was a great American who was both gay and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact of being either or both could land you in jail.
” She and Sen. Scott Wiener , D-San Francisco , who chairs the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus , called on the governor to issue this pardon and heralded his decision to expand his offer of clemency to included others impacted by the homophobic discrimination .
“ Generations of LGBT people – including countless gay men – were branded criminals and sex offenders simply because they had consensual sex .
This was often life-ruining , and many languished on the sex offender registry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
“ The governor ’ s actions today are a huge step forward in our community ’ s ongoing quest for full acceptance and justice .
”

Gay civil rights leader pardoned 67 years later as part of LGBTQ clemency initiative
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that civil rights leader Bayard Rustin — an openly gay man who was arrested and imprisoned in Pasadena, Calif., in 1953 on a misdemeanor “lewd conduct” charge after having consensual sex with men — has been posthumously pardoned. He is the first in a series of pardons Newsom plans to issue as part of a new clemency initiative that will take a step toward undoing decades of wrongful prosecution targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people in the state.
“In California and across the country, many laws have been used as legal tools of oppression, and to stigmatize and punish LGBTQ people and communities and warn others what harm could await them for living authentically,” Newsom said in a statement. “I thank those who advocated for Bayard Rustin’s pardon, and I want to encourage others in similar situations to seek a pardon to right this egregious wrong.”
The request for Rustin’s pardon came from lawmakers in the LGBTQ and Black caucuses who petitioned the governor on Jan. 21, the anniversary of his arrest. The 50 days he spent in jail after being arrested for engaging in consensual sex with a man in a car nearly derailed his activist career and added new obstacles to his advocacy efforts. Forced to register as a sex offender, he was pushed out of speaking engagements and the offense was used to criticize the civil rights movement he helped build.
Other leaders would distance themselves from Rustin in the years following his wrongful conviction, but he continued fighting for the future. A key strategist for nonviolent demonstrations, including the Montgomery bus boycott, he is now considered a humanitarian icon for his work. Describing Rustin as an “unyielding activist for civil rights, dignity, and equality for all” President Barack Obama posthumously awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the highest civilian honor — in 2013. He died in 1987.
In his pardon, Newsom described the “long and reprehensible history of criminal prohibitions” against LGBTQ people and the discrimination that took many forms, from shaming and surveillance to social isolation, and physical violence. With an Executive Order that accompanied the pardon, the governor called for others to apply for pardons, opening and expediting the process of seeking clemency who, like Rustin, were subjected to unjust arrest and discrimination.
“The Arc of Justice is long, but it took nearly 70 years for Bayard Rustin to have his legacy in the Civil Rights movement uncompromised by this incident,” Assemblymember Shirley Weber, D-San Diego, chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus said in a statement. “Rustin was a great American who was both gay and black at a time when the sheer fact of being either or both could land you in jail.”
She and Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, who chairs the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, called on the governor to issue this pardon and heralded his decision to expand his offer of clemency to included others impacted by the homophobic discrimination.
“Generations of LGBT people – including countless gay men – were branded criminals and sex offenders simply because they had consensual sex. This was often life-ruining, and many languished on the sex offender registry for decades,” Wiener said in a statement. “The governor’s actions today are a huge step forward in our community’s ongoing quest for full acceptance and justice.”