alternet--2020-12-23--Trump just unleashed a wave of disturbing pardons

On Tuesday night , President Donald Trump unleashed a wave of pardons and grants of clemency for 20 individuals .
Among those included in this round were two of the president 's early supporters in Congress and two figures convicted in former Special Counsel Robert Mueller 's investigation .
Since the special counsel was appointed specifically to shield the investigation from conflicts of interest with the president , these two pardons , much like the clemency offered to Trump allies Michael Flynn and Roger Stone , undercuts the integrity of Mueller probe .
Trump also gave pardons to four veterans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while working as contractors in 2007 .
Georga Papadopoulos was among those receiving a pardon on Tuesday .
He is a former adviser on the president 's 2016 campaign who pleaded guilty for lying to the FBI about his contacts with an individual offering emails from Hillary Clinton months before WikiLeaks began dumping hacked Democratic emails to influence the election .
Though Papadopoulos expressed contrition and was granted a lenient sentence , he has since argued that he was the victim of a set-up .
In a statement explaining the pardon , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a `` process-related crime . ''
Trump also pardoned Alex van der Zwaan , who was charged by Mueller for lying to investigators .
He admitted to deleting emails and misleading the investigation about his work with Rick Gates , who worked on Trump 's 2016 campaign .
This , too , was dismissed as a mere `` process-related crime . ''
In another disturbing move , Trump repaid favors to two of his earliest endorsers in Congress , former Republican Reps. Duncan Hunter of California and Chris Collins of New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funds , while Collins pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit securities fraud and lying to the FBI .
When indictments of the pair were rolled out under Attorney General Jeff Sessions , Trump attacked his hand-picked head of the Justice Department for daring to pursue the crimes of Republicans : Hunter was sentenced to 11 months in prison , while Collins received a 26-month sentence .
The only justification the White House offered for pardoning these crimes was that they came `` at the request of many Members of Congress . ''
Of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of Congress would prefer to not see their buddies go to prison .
Nicholas Slatten , Paul Slough , Evan Liberty , and Dustin Heard all received pardons from Trump on Tuesday after facing charges including first-degree murder and manslaughter in the 2007 massacre of Iraqi citizens .
They were working for the mercenary contractor Blackwater at the time , owned by Trump ally Erik Prince .
The White House said many members of Congress had lobbied for these pardons and suggested there were questions about the evidence used in the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Border Protection , Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean , also received pardons .
They were convicted on charges of assault , using a firearm during a crime of violence , and deprivation of civil rights , after an incident in which Ramos shot an immigrant suspected of smuggling marijuana at the border .
Former President George W. Bush had already commuted their sentences of 11 and 12 years in prison .

On Tuesday night, President Donald Trump unleashed a wave of pardons and grants of clemency for 20 individuals. Among those included in this round were two of the president's early supporters in Congress and two figures convicted in former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.
Since the special counsel was appointed specifically to shield the investigation from conflicts of interest with the president, these two pardons, much like the clemency offered to Trump allies Michael Flynn and Roger Stone, undercuts the integrity of Mueller probe.
Trump also gave pardons to four veterans who were convicted of killing Iraqi civilians while working as contractors in 2007.
Georga Papadopoulos was among those receiving a pardon on Tuesday. He is a former adviser on the president's 2016 campaign who pleaded guilty for lying to the FBI about his contacts with an individual offering emails from Hillary Clinton months before WikiLeaks began dumping hacked Democratic emails to influence the election. Though Papadopoulos expressed contrition and was granted a lenient sentence, he has since argued that he was the victim of a set-up. In a statement explaining the pardon, the White House dismissed Papadopoulos's illegal lies as a "process-related crime."
Trump also pardoned Alex van der Zwaan, who was charged by Mueller for lying to investigators. He admitted to deleting emails and misleading the investigation about his work with Rick Gates, who worked on Trump's 2016 campaign. This, too, was dismissed as a mere "process-related crime."
In another disturbing move, Trump repaid favors to two of his earliest endorsers in Congress, former Republican Reps. Duncan Hunter of California and Chris Collins of New York.
Hunter pleaded guilty to misusing campaign funds, while Collins pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit securities fraud and lying to the FBI. When indictments of the pair were rolled out under Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Trump attacked his hand-picked head of the Justice Department for daring to pursue the crimes of Republicans:
Hunter was sentenced to 11 months in prison, while Collins received a 26-month sentence. The only justification the White House offered for pardoning these crimes was that they came "at the request of many Members of Congress." Of course, it's not surprising that members of Congress would prefer to not see their buddies go to prison.
Nicholas Slatten, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty, and Dustin Heard all received pardons from Trump on Tuesday after facing charges including first-degree murder and manslaughter in the 2007 massacre of Iraqi citizens. They were working for the mercenary contractor Blackwater at the time, owned by Trump ally Erik Prince. The White House said many members of Congress had lobbied for these pardons and suggested there were questions about the evidence used in the case.
Two former agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, also received pardons. They were convicted on charges of assault, using a firearm during a crime of violence, and deprivation of civil rights, after an incident in which Ramos shot an immigrant suspected of smuggling marijuana at the border. Former President George W. Bush had already commuted their sentences of 11 and 12 years in prison.


alternet--2020-12-23--Karl Rove goes off on Sidney Powell: 'Any idiot with access to Google' can debunk her lawsuits

Fox News contributor Karl Rove on Tuesday lashed out at Michael Flynn and Sidney Powell over what he called `` idiot '' ideas about the 2020 election .
During an appearance on Fox News , Rove excoriated Flynn for suggesting that President Donald Trump declare martial law to overturn the results of the election .
`` Talk about an idiotic idea , '' Rove told Fox News host John Roberts .
`` There 's no ability for any president to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1803 , claiming that the issue has got to do with the hubbub around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority to do that . ''
`` General Flynn may have served honorably in the military , but he is sure is heck not a constitutional law scholar , '' he added .
`` And when it comes to giving good advice to the president about politics , he 's at the bottom of the list in my opinion . ''
Rove also had tough criticism of Powell , an attorney who has represented Flynn and has filed lawsuits to challenge the results of the 2020 election .
`` Ms. Powell has peddled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he explained .
`` The idea that Hugo Chavez from the grave was somehow involved in stealing this year 's election . ''
Rove pointed out that Powell 's `` expert '' witnesses had been repeatedly humiliated in court .
According to the Fox News contributor , `` any idiot with access to Google and the county election returns '' could debunk Powell 's claims .
`` What she has done to sort of throw mud on the president through her antics is unbelievable , '' Rove lamented .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowd and she 's chief among them . ''
Watch the video below from Fox News : Karl Rove : 'Any idiot with access to Google ' can debunk Sidney Powell 's lawsuits

Fox News contributor Karl Rove on Tuesday lashed out at Michael Flynn and Sidney Powell over what he called "idiot" ideas about the 2020 election.
During an appearance on Fox News, Rove excoriated Flynn for suggesting that President Donald Trump declare martial law to overturn the results of the election.
"Talk about an idiotic idea," Rove told Fox News host John Roberts. "There's no ability for any president to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1803, claiming that the issue has got to do with the hubbub around the election. No president would have the authority to do that."
"General Flynn may have served honorably in the military, but he is sure is heck not a constitutional law scholar," he added. "And when it comes to giving good advice to the president about politics, he's at the bottom of the list in my opinion."
Rove also had tough criticism of Powell, an attorney who has represented Flynn and has filed lawsuits to challenge the results of the 2020 election.
"Ms. Powell has peddled theories that have little basis in fact," he explained. "The idea that Hugo Chavez from the grave was somehow involved in stealing this year's election."
Rove pointed out that Powell's "expert" witnesses had been repeatedly humiliated in court.
According to the Fox News contributor, "any idiot with access to Google and the county election returns" could debunk Powell's claims.
"What she has done to sort of throw mud on the president through her antics is unbelievable," Rove lamented. "The president has been so ill-served by this crowd and she's chief among them."
Watch the video below from Fox News:


alternet--2020-12-22--Watch: Kayleigh McEnany flounders when asked how Trump will stay in the White House

This week , Mary Margaret Olohan , a reporter for the conservative Daily Caller , sat for an interview with outgoing White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany .
Olohan pressed McEnany on her previous comment in the briefing room that President Donald Trump `` has taken all statutory requirements necessary to either ensure a smooth transition or a continuation of power , '' and asked her how , specifically , Trump could overturn the election at this point for such a `` continuation of power . ''
McEnany had no clear answer for the question .
`` That 's a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` I would just say he has litigation across the country in several places , and he 'll continue that litigation .
He wants election integrity , and a fair election , and I 'll leave it to the campaign to pursue that litigation , but that 's what I was referencing ...
I 'm just here working at the White House and we will see what happens with the president 's litigation . ''
McEnany added that she hopes to continue `` being a voice for the movement , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country a lot back in my former role in media and at the campaign , and I got to up front meet the forgotten men and women of the Trump movement . ''
We Asked Kayleigh McEnany Point Blank : How Exactly Does Trump Stay In Office ?

This week, Mary Margaret Olohan, a reporter for the conservative Daily Caller, sat for an interview with outgoing White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany.
Olohan pressed McEnany on her previous comment in the briefing room that President Donald Trump "has taken all statutory requirements necessary to either ensure a smooth transition or a continuation of power," and asked her how, specifically, Trump could overturn the election at this point for such a "continuation of power."
McEnany had no clear answer for the question.
"That's a question for the campaign," McEnany said. "I would just say he has litigation across the country in several places, and he'll continue that litigation. He wants election integrity, and a fair election, and I'll leave it to the campaign to pursue that litigation, but that's what I was referencing ... I'm just here working at the White House and we will see what happens with the president's litigation."
McEnany added that she hopes to continue "being a voice for the movement," and "I got to travel the country a lot back in my former role in media and at the campaign, and I got to up front meet the forgotten men and women of the Trump movement."
Watch below:


alternet--2020-12-22--Here's how the rest of Trump's desperate effort to stay in power will play out

Donald Trump is n't about to concede the presidential election to Joe Biden .
Not now , and seemingly , not ever .
Anyone who has followed Trump closely knows two things about the man that make it relatively easy to anticipate his next move .
The first is that , ideologically , Trump is a fascist who has no regard for democracy .
The second is that , psychologically , he is a malignant narcissist who suffers from a toxic stew of narcissism , paranoia , antisocial personality disorder and sadism .
As a result , it is virtually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less accept , failure .
Trump also faces the prospect of being prosecuted for a variety of state and federal felonies upon leaving office .
And while he can avoid federal jeopardy with a pardon , to do so he would either have to resign and permit Mike Pence , as his successor for the duration of the lame-duck period , to do the honors or undertake the legally dubious step of issuing a pardon to himself .
Even then , he would remain exposed to the ongoing probe conducted by Manhattan District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , business and insurance fraud under New York law .
How , then , does a fascist and a malignant narcissist who faces jail stave off defeat ?
Having lost both the popular vote and , more importantly , the tally in the Electoral College , and after being rebuked by numerous state and federal courts , including the Supreme Court , Trump is moving to his next option—staging what would amount to a coup d'état , invoking the complex provisions of the 12th Amendment , when Congress meets in a joint session @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the presidential race .
That there will be an attempted coup is no longer a matter of speculation .
In an appearance on `` Fox & Friends '' on December 14 , Stephen Miller , perhaps the most deranged and malevolent of Trump 's senior advisers , openly declared the administration 's plan to overturn the election results in the upcoming joint session .
A gambit under the 12th Amendment is a long shot , to be sure , but so was Trump 's initial presidential bid back when he descended the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to announce his first campaign and stigmatize undocumented Mexican migrants as `` rapists '' and drug traffickers .
It behooves us , then , to take Trump and Miller seriously .
Ratified in 1804 in the aftermath of the hotly disputed election of 1800 ( which ultimately seated Thomas Jefferson as the nation 's third president ) , the 12th Amendment modified the procedures that govern the Electoral College .
And while the 12th Amendment itself was modified by the 20th Amendment ( which moved up the presidential inauguration from March to January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Of particular relevance to Trump 's machinations , the 12th Amendment stipulates that after the electors of the various states ( there are 538 of them today ) cast and certify their votes for president and vice president , their ballots are transmitted to the president of the Senate .
Under the Constitution , the president of the Senate is the vice president , currently Pence .
The president of the Senate 's role thereafter is ministerial and mandatory .
Under the terms of the amendment , the president of the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ session , `` open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted ; The person having the greatest number of votes for President , shall be the President , '' provided—and this is the key to appreciating the impending coup—that such person receives a majority of the electoral votes .
But what happens if the Electoral College vote count is disputed ?
To understand what occurs then , we have to toggle back and forth between the 12th Amendment and a statute passed by Congress more than 130 years ago—the Electoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Under the ECA , if a single member of both the House and Senate signs and submits a challenge to any state 's electoral votes , the joint session must immediately go into recess to allow each chamber to meet separately and debate the merits of the objections .
To be sustained , objections require the support of a majority of the members of each chamber .
Absent a majority , the objections fail .
It 's all but certain that when the joint session convenes on January 6 , objections to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states of Arizona , Nevada , Georgia , Wisconsin , Michigan , and Pennsylvania indeed will be lodged .
Republican Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama , one of the zaniest of the GOP 's bloated stable of right-wing fanatics , has announced that he will file an objection .
Alabama Republican Senator-elect Tommy Tuberville , the thick-headed former college football coach , has suggested he will join Brooks .
A drama not seen in this country since the election of 1876 , when alternate slates of electors were sent to the Senate on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rutherford B. Hayes ( the eventual winner ) , will then ensue .
Reminiscent of 1876 , alternate pro-Trump slates of Republican electors have met in several swing states , and plan to send their votes to the Senate in time for the joint session to back up the objections that will be raised by Brooks and Tuberville .
Both the 12th Amendment and the ECA address a doomsday scenario in which no candidate wins a majority in the Electoral College , whether because of the presence of alternate electors or for other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ task of naming the next president is transferred to the House .
The House then conducts a `` contingent election , '' but with each state delegation getting one vote rather than each representative casting individual votes .
Since Republicans will hold 27 House delegations in the next Congress , Trump would emerge victorious .
Fortunately , a contingent election in the House is highly unlikely .
Because the Democrats control the House , and several Republican senators , including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , have recognized Biden as president-elect , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backed by alternate electors , are destined to fail , as their objections will be subject to an ordinary majority vote in each chamber .
In addition , to date , no votes cast by rogue pro-Trump electors have been certified by state governors or officially by any state legislatures , as required by the ECA .
But even that wo n't necessarily end Trump 's attempted coup .
According to press reports , Trump is considering advice offered by Michael Flynn to declare martial law to force a new election in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flynn , the disgraced retired Army lieutenant general and former national security adviser whom Trump pardoned in November for lying to the FBI , has been promoting the idea of martial law on Twitter and on right-wing media .
In any other era , Flynn would be dismissed as a caricature straight out of `` Dr .
Strangelove . ''
The trouble is , we 're living in the increasingly treacherous waning days of the Trump era , dominated by a fascist and a malignant narcissist desperate to remain in power .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before leaving a lasting stain on American democracy .
Bill Blum is a retired judge and a lawyer in Los Angeles .
He is a lecturer at the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication .
He writes regularly on law and politics and is the author of three widely acclaimed legal thrillers : Prejudicial Error , The Last Appeal , and The Face of Justice .
This article was produced by the Independent Media Institute .

Donald Trump isn't about to concede the presidential election to Joe Biden. Not now, and seemingly, not ever.
Anyone who has followed Trump closely knows two things about the man that make it relatively easy to anticipate his next move. The first is that, ideologically, Trump is a fascist who has no regard for democracy. The second is that, psychologically, he is a malignant narcissist who suffers from a toxic stew of narcissism, paranoia, antisocial personality disorder and sadism. As a result, it is virtually impossible for him to acknowledge, much less accept, failure.
Trump also faces the prospect of being prosecuted for a variety of state and federal felonies upon leaving office. And while he can avoid federal jeopardy with a pardon, to do so he would either have to resign and permit Mike Pence, as his successor for the duration of the lame-duck period, to do the honors or undertake the legally dubious step of issuing a pardon to himself. Even then, he would remain exposed to the ongoing probe conducted by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance into allegations of tax, business and insurance fraud under New York law.
How, then, does a fascist and a malignant narcissist who faces jail stave off defeat? Having lost both the popular vote and, more importantly, the tally in the Electoral College, and after being rebuked by numerous state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court, Trump is moving to his next option—staging what would amount to a coup d'état, invoking the complex provisions of the 12th Amendment, when Congress meets in a joint session on January 6 to confirm the winner of the presidential race.
That there will be an attempted coup is no longer a matter of speculation. In an appearance on "Fox & Friends" on December 14, Stephen Miller, perhaps the most deranged and malevolent of Trump's senior advisers, openly declared the administration's plan to overturn the election results in the upcoming joint session.
A gambit under the 12th Amendment is a long shot, to be sure, but so was Trump's initial presidential bid back when he descended the escalator at Trump Tower in June 2015 to announce his first campaign and stigmatize undocumented Mexican migrants as "rapists" and drug traffickers. It behooves us, then, to take Trump and Miller seriously.
Ratified in 1804 in the aftermath of the hotly disputed election of 1800 (which ultimately seated Thomas Jefferson as the nation's third president), the 12th Amendment modified the procedures that govern the Electoral College. And while the 12th Amendment itself was modified by the 20th Amendment (which moved up the presidential inauguration from March to January), its basic provisions remain intact.
Of particular relevance to Trump's machinations, the 12th Amendment stipulates that after the electors of the various states (there are 538 of them today) cast and certify their votes for president and vice president, their ballots are transmitted to the president of the Senate. Under the Constitution, the president of the Senate is the vice president, currently Pence.
The president of the Senate's role thereafter is ministerial and mandatory. Under the terms of the amendment, the president of the Senate "shall," in the joint session, "open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted; The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President," provided—and this is the key to appreciating the impending coup—that such person receives a majority of the electoral votes.
But what happens if the Electoral College vote count is disputed? To understand what occurs then, we have to toggle back and forth between the 12th Amendment and a statute passed by Congress more than 130 years ago—the Electoral Count Act (ECA) of 1887. Under the ECA, if a single member of both the House and Senate signs and submits a challenge to any state's electoral votes, the joint session must immediately go into recess to allow each chamber to meet separately and debate the merits of the objections. To be sustained, objections require the support of a majority of the members of each chamber. Absent a majority, the objections fail.
It's all but certain that when the joint session convenes on January 6, objections to the electoral votes cast in the swing states of Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania indeed will be lodged. Republican Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama, one of the zaniest of the GOP's bloated stable of right-wing fanatics, has announced that he will file an objection. Alabama Republican Senator-elect Tommy Tuberville, the thick-headed former college football coach, has suggested he will join Brooks.
A drama not seen in this country since the election of 1876, when alternate slates of electors were sent to the Senate on behalf of Democrat Samuel Tilden and Republican Rutherford B. Hayes (the eventual winner), will then ensue.
Reminiscent of 1876, alternate pro-Trump slates of Republican electors have met in several swing states, and plan to send their votes to the Senate in time for the joint session to back up the objections that will be raised by Brooks and Tuberville.
Both the 12th Amendment and the ECA address a doomsday scenario in which no candidate wins a majority in the Electoral College, whether because of the presence of alternate electors or for other reasons. In that event, the task of naming the next president is transferred to the House. The House then conducts a "contingent election," but with each state delegation getting one vote rather than each representative casting individual votes. Since Republicans will hold 27 House delegations in the next Congress, Trump would emerge victorious.
Fortunately, a contingent election in the House is highly unlikely. Because the Democrats control the House, and several Republican senators, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have recognized Biden as president-elect, the Brooks and Tuberville objections, even if backed by alternate electors, are destined to fail, as their objections will be subject to an ordinary majority vote in each chamber. In addition, to date, no votes cast by rogue pro-Trump electors have been certified by state governors or officially by any state legislatures, as required by the ECA.
But even that won't necessarily end Trump's attempted coup. According to press reports, Trump is considering advice offered by Michael Flynn to declare martial law to force a new election in the swing states that voted for Trump. Flynn, the disgraced retired Army lieutenant general and former national security adviser whom Trump pardoned in November for lying to the FBI, has been promoting the idea of martial law on Twitter and on right-wing media.
In any other era, Flynn would be dismissed as a caricature straight out of "Dr. Strangelove." The trouble is, we're living in the increasingly treacherous waning days of the Trump era, dominated by a fascist and a malignant narcissist desperate to remain in power.
Trump's coup will fail, but not before leaving a lasting stain on American democracy.
Bill Blum is a retired judge and a lawyer in Los Angeles. He is a lecturer at the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication. He writes regularly on law and politics and is the author of three widely acclaimed legal thrillers: Prejudicial Error, The Last Appeal, and The Face of Justice.
This article was produced by the Independent Media Institute.


alternet--2020-12-22--Trump allies wanted a data expert to find fraud in Nevada's election — but he debunked their claims

Trump allies wanted a data expert to find fraud in Nevada's election — but he debunked their claims instead

Nevada is among the battleground states where supporters of President Donald Trump have concocted a narrative that President-elect Joe Biden 's victory was due to widespread fraud .
In the hope of making their case , Trump supporters asked Rex Briggs — a Nevada resident who specializes in data analysis — to investigate that state 's election returns .
But when Briggs conducted an investigation as they requested , their claims fell apart .
He ended up debunking their arguments , rather than finding proof for them .
This should be no surprise , of course .
Not only are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without credible evidence , but they 're also made so wildly and out of proportion with reality that there 's no indication the people making such allegations care about the truth at all .
In an article published by the Nevada Independent , Briggs explains : `` I was enlisted by 'The Trump Digital Army , Election Integrity Division ' on November 8 , 2020 to look at the source data in each battleground state , and compare 2016 to 2020 results to find any outliers/anomalies in the 2020 election results that could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Briggs analyzed , at the request of Trump supporters , included `` voter registration , 2016 vs. 2020 '' and `` turnout by county , 2016 vs. 2020 '' as well as `` turnout exceeding registered voters '' and `` margin of victory by county , Republicans vs. Democrats , 2016 and 2020 . ''
Briggs was also asked to analyze `` age anomalies in voter registration : e.g.
, potentially dead voters or under-age voters '' and `` out-of-state voters and party registration . ''
After analyzing the data , Briggs found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter registration process for Biden in Nevada '' and `` no evidence of rigging turnout for Biden in Nevada '' as well as `` no evidence of stuffing ballots for Biden in Nevada . ''
`` Turnout exceeding registered voters would indicate ballot-stuffing , '' Briggs notes .
`` However , there is no county where the number of ballots cast exceeded the number of registered voters .
The three highest voter turnout figures are from Humboldt , Douglas and Eureka , all counties that pulled heavily for Trump . ''
In Democrat-leaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Briggs found that Biden underperformed slightly .
Not only did the results in Clark County not show Democrats inflating Biden 's numbers — they were slightly disappointing to Democrats .
If Democrats had really stolen votes in Clark County , as Trump supporters claim , the vote count would n't have showed Biden losing ground there compared to 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton four years ago .
`` Democrats actually lost ground in votes in Clark County , the main source of Democratic support in the state , slipping from 10.7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2020 , '' Briggs observes .
`` This makes Clark County an unlikely source of systemic widespread fraud by Democrats . ''
Sidney Powell and other pro-Trump attorneys have been claiming that the software used by Dominion Voting Systems was used to swing the election unfairly to Biden .
Powell has even claimed that the same Dominion equipment that gave Biden an unfair advantage helped the late President Hugo Chavez steal elections in Venezuela — which would have been impossible because according to Dominion , its product was never even used in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussing Dominion software and Nevada , explains , `` I investigated the pre-election machine testing and the verification process that confirms that what is entered matches the vote tallies .
I also checked a machine when I voted in-person and could examine the printed tape .
I also checked the methodology of the post-election audit of the electronic vote tally vs. the tape count .
All of them aligned , and all of those processes were open to the public and had both parties observe the audits . ''
The bottom line , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won Nevada fairly , albeit by smaller margins than Democrats would have liked .
`` I found nothing in the data that shows the election was rigged , '' Briggs notes .
`` If anything , there are a few small factors that tilt slightly in favor of Republicans . ''

Nevada is among the battleground states where supporters of President Donald Trump have concocted a narrative that President-elect Joe Biden's victory was due to widespread fraud. In the hope of making their case, Trump supporters asked Rex Briggs — a Nevada resident who specializes in data analysis — to investigate that state's election returns.
But when Briggs conducted an investigation as they requested, their claims fell apart. He ended up debunking their arguments, rather than finding proof for them. This should be no surprise, of course. Not only are the pro-Trump claims of election fraud made without credible evidence, but they're also made so wildly and out of proportion with reality that there's no indication the people making such allegations care about the truth at all.
In an article published by the Nevada Independent, Briggs explains: "I was enlisted by 'The Trump Digital Army, Election Integrity Division' on November 8, 2020 to look at the source data in each battleground state, and compare 2016 to 2020 results to find any outliers/anomalies in the 2020 election results that could signal fraud."
And the data Briggs analyzed, at the request of Trump supporters, included "voter registration, 2016 vs. 2020" and "turnout by county, 2016 vs. 2020" as well as "turnout exceeding registered voters" and "margin of victory by county, Republicans vs. Democrats, 2016 and 2020."
Briggs was also asked to analyze "age anomalies in voter registration: e.g., potentially dead voters or under-age voters" and "out-of-state voters and party registration."
After analyzing the data, Briggs found that "no evidence of rigging the voter registration process for Biden in Nevada" and "no evidence of rigging turnout for Biden in Nevada" as well as "no evidence of stuffing ballots for Biden in Nevada."
"Turnout exceeding registered voters would indicate ballot-stuffing," Briggs notes. "However, there is no county where the number of ballots cast exceeded the number of registered voters. The three highest voter turnout figures are from Humboldt, Douglas and Eureka, all counties that pulled heavily for Trump."
In Democrat-leaning Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, Briggs found that Biden underperformed slightly. Not only did the results in Clark County not show Democrats inflating Biden's numbers — they were slightly disappointing to Democrats. If Democrats had really stolen votes in Clark County, as Trump supporters claim, the vote count wouldn't have showed Biden losing ground there compared to 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton four years ago.
"Democrats actually lost ground in votes in Clark County, the main source of Democratic support in the state, slipping from 10.7% margin in 2016 to 10.0% in 2020," Briggs observes. "This makes Clark County an unlikely source of systemic widespread fraud by Democrats."
Sidney Powell and other pro-Trump attorneys have been claiming that the software used by Dominion Voting Systems was used to swing the election unfairly to Biden. Powell has even claimed that the same Dominion equipment that gave Biden an unfair advantage helped the late President Hugo Chavez steal elections in Venezuela — which would have been impossible because according to Dominion, its product was never even used in that South American country.
Briggs, discussing Dominion software and Nevada, explains, "I investigated the pre-election machine testing and the verification process that confirms that what is entered matches the vote tallies. I also checked a machine when I voted in-person and could examine the printed tape. I also checked the methodology of the post-election audit of the electronic vote tally vs. the tape count. All of them aligned, and all of those processes were open to the public and had both parties observe the audits."
The bottom line, according to Briggs, is that Biden won Nevada fairly, albeit by smaller margins than Democrats would have liked.
"I found nothing in the data that shows the election was rigged," Briggs notes. "If anything, there are a few small factors that tilt slightly in favor of Republicans."


alternet--2020-12-22--Pro-Trump protesters arrested after disrupting Oregon legislative session

When members of the Oregon State Legislature met in Portland on Monday to discuss COVID-19 relief bills and other matters , far-right protestors gathered outside the Oregon Capitol Building to protest coronavirus restrictions and social distancing measures .
And according to reporters for Portland 's CBS-affiliated KOIN Channel 6 , four of them were arrested for unlawful assembly .
KOIN 's Lindsey Nadrich reports that the protesters `` disrupted a special session of the Oregon Legislature Monday , breaking a glass door on the side of the State Capitol . ''
That disruption , according to Nadrich , `` was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in four arrests . ''
The bills being considered during the special session proposed , among other matters , $ 800 million in relief to Oregon residents who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic or wildfires .
Before the session adjourned , Nadrich notes , the Oregon House of Representatives and Oregon Senate `` passed all the bills they considered : the $ 800 million in relief , cocktails to-go , rent relief for landlords , extension of the eviction moratorium and a bill limiting liability of schools for COVID claims .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Kate Brown , a Democrat , to be signed into law .
The four protesters arrested include Ronald Vanvlack , Jerry Dyerson , Jeremiah Pruitt and 41-year-old Ryan Lyles , who according to Nadrich , is `` facing charges including trespassing and assaulting a police officer . ''
Lykes , Nadrich reports , is accused of using `` bear spray against police officers . ''
Photos of the protesters , described by KOIN as `` pro-Trump and anti-mask , '' show them carrying pro-Trump signs — and many of them are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together .

When members of the Oregon State Legislature met in Portland on Monday to discuss COVID-19 relief bills and other matters, far-right protestors gathered outside the Oregon Capitol Building to protest coronavirus restrictions and social distancing measures. And according to reporters for Portland's CBS-affiliated KOIN Channel 6, four of them were arrested for unlawful assembly.
KOIN's Lindsey Nadrich reports that the protesters "disrupted a special session of the Oregon Legislature Monday, breaking a glass door on the side of the State Capitol." That disruption, according to Nadrich, "was quickly declared an unlawful assembly, resulting in four arrests."
The bills being considered during the special session proposed, among other matters, $800 million in relief to Oregon residents who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic or wildfires. Before the session adjourned, Nadrich notes, the Oregon House of Representatives and Oregon Senate "passed all the bills they considered: the $800 million in relief, cocktails to-go, rent relief for landlords, extension of the eviction moratorium and a bill limiting liability of schools for COVID claims." And the bills moved to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, to be signed into law.
The four protesters arrested include Ronald Vanvlack, Jerry Dyerson, Jeremiah Pruitt and 41-year-old Ryan Lyles, who according to Nadrich, is "facing charges including trespassing and assaulting a police officer." Lykes, Nadrich reports, is accused of using "bear spray against police officers."
Photos of the protesters, described by KOIN as "pro-Trump and anti-mask," show them carrying pro-Trump signs — and many of them are not wearing masks despite being gathered close together.


alternet--2020-12-22--A mysterious super PAC draws scrutiny in the heated Georgia runoffs

With just two weeks left until the Georgia Senate runoff , a new Republican super politician action committee ( PAC ) has emerged with a massive financial contribution to help boost Republicans ' chances of retaining control of the Senate .
However , there are mounting questions about the donors who contributed the funds to this political group .
According to the Associated Press , Peachtree PAC — reportedly spearheaded by an organization known as Senate Leadership Fund ( SLF ) — will kick off a $ 43 million-dollar television campaign on behalf of Georgia Republican Sens .
Kelly Loeffler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ad is only a percentage of the projected $ 245 million the Republican National Committee ( RNC ) plans to spend on television and radio advertisements according to ad-tracking statistics from the firm Kantar/CMAG , the problem centers on Peachtree PAC 's efforts to conceal the identities of its contributors .
The lack of transparency raises more concerns about secret groups ' ability to manipulate elections by circumventing rules and protocols to achieve political goals .
Brendan Fischer , director of federal reform at the Washington , D.C.-based Campaign Legal Center , weighed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inability to know the people who are tailoring ads to influence their political opinions .
`` Voters have a right to know who is trying to influence their vote , '' said Fischer .
`` Disclosure of donors tells voters who is trying to influence them , and also who potentially stands to benefit from the election of a particular candidate . ''
However , SLF President Steven Law also released a statement as he defended Peachtree PAC .
He also stressed the importance of the upcoming Georgia Senate runoff and how it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The fate of our country hangs in the balance in Georgia .
This new activity through Peachtree PAC will articulate the stakes could n't be higher as the future of freedom is on the ballot , '' Law said in a statement .

With just two weeks left until the Georgia Senate runoff, a new Republican super politician action committee (PAC) has emerged with a massive financial contribution to help boost Republicans' chances of retaining control of the Senate. However, there are mounting questions about the donors who contributed the funds to this political group.
According to the Associated Press, Peachtree PAC — reportedly spearheaded by an organization known as Senate Leadership Fund (SLF)— will kick off a $43 million-dollar television campaign on behalf of Georgia Republican Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue.
While the television ad is only a percentage of the projected $245 million the Republican National Committee (RNC) plans to spend on television and radio advertisements according to ad-tracking statistics from the firm Kantar/CMAG, the problem centers on Peachtree PAC's efforts to conceal the identities of its contributors.
The lack of transparency raises more concerns about secret groups' ability to manipulate elections by circumventing rules and protocols to achieve political goals.
Brendan Fischer, director of federal reform at the Washington, D.C.-based Campaign Legal Center, weighed in with his concerns about voters' inability to know the people who are tailoring ads to influence their political opinions.
"Voters have a right to know who is trying to influence their vote," said Fischer. "Disclosure of donors tells voters who is trying to influence them, and also who potentially stands to benefit from the election of a particular candidate."
However, SLF President Steven Law also released a statement as he defended Peachtree PAC. He also stressed the importance of the upcoming Georgia Senate runoff and how it could ultimately impact the country's direction.
"The fate of our country hangs in the balance in Georgia. This new activity through Peachtree PAC will articulate the stakes couldn't be higher as the future of freedom is on the ballot," Law said in a statement.


alternet--2020-12-22--New ethics complaint takes aim at Trump lawyers for their conduct in Arizona

Joe Biden made history in Arizona when he became the first Democrat to win the state in a presidential election since Bill Clinton in 1996 .
But supporters of President Donald Trump , making baseless claims of widespread voter fraud , filed one election-related lawsuit after another in Arizona — and now , according to the NBC-affiliated Channel 12 News in Phoenix , an ethics complaint has been filed against 21 pro-Trump attorneys involved in those lawsuits .
The complaint was filed by two former presidents of the Arizona State Bar , Roxana Bacon and Amelia Craig Cramer , along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an eight-page letter , they slam the 21 pro-Trump attorneys for bringing ten `` utterly meritless cases '' against Arizona elections officials .
The letter reads , `` Confidence in the legal system is seriously eroded when attorneys treat lawsuits as a platform for broadcasting gossip and innuendo utterly devoid of factual proof as a political stunt . ''
In the letter , the seven attorneys making the complaint ask the Arizona State Bar to conduct an investigation and ask `` that appropriate action be taken . ''
According to Channel 12 News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21 pro-Trump attorneys named in the ethics complaint are practicing in Arizona .
Others are practicing in other states , including Sidney Powell — an ally of Atlanta-based attorney Lin Wood , who has been asking Trump to declare martial law in response to voter fraud allegations he has been unable to prove .
Bob McWhirter , one of the seven attorneys making the ethics complaint , told Channel 12 News , `` You 're not allowed to use the courts as your political playground… .
It 's not a liberal or conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not filing frivolous lawsuits which wastes thousands and thousands of taxpayer dollars . ''

Joe Biden made history in Arizona when he became the first Democrat to win the state in a presidential election since Bill Clinton in 1996. But supporters of President Donald Trump, making baseless claims of widespread voter fraud, filed one election-related lawsuit after another in Arizona — and now, according to the NBC-affiliated Channel 12 News in Phoenix, an ethics complaint has been filed against 21 pro-Trump attorneys involved in those lawsuits.
The complaint was filed by two former presidents of the Arizona State Bar, Roxana Bacon and Amelia Craig Cramer, along with five other attorneys. And in an eight-page letter, they slam the 21 pro-Trump attorneys for bringing ten "utterly meritless cases" against Arizona elections officials.
The letter reads, "Confidence in the legal system is seriously eroded when attorneys treat lawsuits as a platform for broadcasting gossip and innuendo utterly devoid of factual proof as a political stunt." In the letter, the seven attorneys making the complaint ask the Arizona State Bar to conduct an investigation and ask "that appropriate action be taken."
According to Channel 12 News reporter Joe Dana, 11 of the 21 pro-Trump attorneys named in the ethics complaint are practicing in Arizona. Others are practicing in other states, including Sidney Powell — an ally of Atlanta-based attorney Lin Wood, who has been asking Trump to declare martial law in response to voter fraud allegations he has been unable to prove.
Bob McWhirter, one of the seven attorneys making the ethics complaint, told Channel 12 News, "You're not allowed to use the courts as your political playground…. It's not a liberal or conservative thing at all. It's about not filing frivolous lawsuits which wastes thousands and thousands of taxpayer dollars."


alternet--2020-12-22--Dr. Deborah Birx abruptly says she's retiring

Dr. Deborah Birx , one of the most visible public faces of the Trump White House 's COVID-19 response , @ @ @ @ @ will be retiring less than a month before President Donald Trump is set to leave @ @ @ @ @ that Birx has vowed to help President-elect Joe Biden 's transition team with whatever they @ @ @ @ @ `` I will be helpful in any role that people think I can be helpful @ @ @ @ @ will retire , '' she said .
Earlier this fall , CNN reported that Birx @ @ @ @ @ position as White House coordinator of the coronavirus task force because she was `` distressed @ @ @ @ @ White House 's response to the pandemic was taking .
Birx was reportedly particularly upset @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Scott Atlas , who has pushed for a strategy of `` herd immunity '' @ @ @ @ @ say could leave millions of Americans dead .

Dr. Deborah Birx, one of the most visible public faces of the Trump White House's COVID-19 response, announced this week that she will be retiring less than a month before President Donald Trump is set to leave.
The Associated Press reports that Birx has vowed to help President-elect Joe Biden's transition team with whatever they need before she goes.
"I will be helpful in any role that people think I can be helpful in, and then I will retire," she said.
Earlier this fall, CNN reported that Birx was considering resigning from her position as White House coordinator of the coronavirus task force because she was "distressed" at the direction the White House's response to the pandemic was taking.
Birx was reportedly particularly upset at Trump's embrace of Dr. Scott Atlas, who has pushed for a strategy of "herd immunity" for the virus that experts say could leave millions of Americans dead.