washingtontimes--2020-06-21--William Barr denies political interference after ouster of Manhattan U.S. attorney Geoffrey Berman

Attorney General William P. Barr denied accusations of political interference Sunday after a tumultuous weekend at the Justice Department that saw the ousting of the U.S. Attorney for Manhattan turn into an embarrassing tug of war .
“ I ’ m enforcing the law , ” Mr. Barr responded when asked by Fox News Channel ’ s Maria Bartiromo whether he was doing the president ’ s bidding .
“ And as I said when I was confirmed , any — anything within the four walls of the Department of Justice , any matter is going to be handled strictly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the facts .
It ’ s going to be reflecting our independent judgment of what the law requires , ” he said .
Mr. Barr did not directly address the disastrous firing of Geoffrey Berman , the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York .
But the abrupt personnel move late Friday raised questions of whether President Trump was purging those whom he views as disloyal to him .
Mr. Berman ’ s office has investigated Mr. Trump and his associates .
House Democrats on Sunday urged Mr. Berman to testify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Wednesday , the committee is holding a hearing on corruption claims about Mr. Barr featuring two current Justice Department officials and one former employee .
“ I certainly hope that [ Mr. Berman ] will come and testify before Congress , ” said House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff , California Democrat , It ’ s “ the most disastrous management of the Justice Department in modern memory , ” Mr. Schiff said on NBC ’ s “ Meet The Press.
” “ And like so much of what we have seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t come as a surprise any more , but yet it ’ s completely demoralizing to the people in the department and dangerous to the rule of law.
” House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler told CNN he ’ s launched an investigation into Mr. Berman ’ s firing .
But he dismissed claims it could lead to another impeachment inquiry .
“ We ’ ve seen a pattern of the president opposing , of Barr corruptly impeding all these investigations .
This is just more of the same , ” the New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They are a waste of time at this point because we know that we have a corrupt Republican majority in the Senate which will not consider an impeachment no matter what the evidence.
” Federal prosecutors in Mr. Berman ’ s office are investigating the business dealings of Mr. Trump ’ s personal attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani , including whether he failed to register as a foreign agent , according to media reports .
The office prosecuted Mr. Trump ’ s former fixer and now foe Michael Cohen , who served a brief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violating campaign-finance laws .
Mr. Berman also oversaw the prosecution of two Giuliani associates , Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman , who were charged in October with campaign finance violations , including funneling foreign money into U.S. elections .
Mr. Berman ’ s office is also probing the Turkish financial institution Halkbank for allegedly violating U.S. trade sanctions against Iran in order to free a U.S. pastor imprisoned in Turkey .
In his upcoming tell-all book , former national security advisor John Bolton claims Mr. Trump told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ releasing the American pastor .
It ’ s unclear whether any of those investigations angered the president enough to ax Mr. Berman .
The attorney general has not publicly explained the decision .
Speaking with reporters Saturday , Mr. Trump appeared to distance himself from the decision to terminate Mr. Berman .
“ Well , that ’ s up to the attorney general , ” Mr. Trump said .
“ That ’ s his department , not my department .
But we have a very capable attorney general so that ’ s really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not involved.
” The firing capped a wild Friday night and Saturday afternoon at the Justice Department in which Mr. Barr said he was replacing Mr. Berman , who fired back late Friday that he had no intention of resigning .
The standoff ended Saturday afternoon after Mr. Barr wrote a letter to the powerful federal prosecutor telling him he had been terminated by the president .
“ Unfortunately , with your statement of last night , you have chosen public spectacle over public service , ” Mr. Barr wrote in a letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because you have declared that you have no intention of resigning , I have asked the President to remove you as of today , and he has done so , ” the letter continued .
Shortly after Mr. Barr ’ s letter , Mr. Berman announced he would resign .

Jeff Mordock, Gabriella Muñoz and Jeff Mordock, Gabriella Muñoz

Attorney General William P. Barr denied accusations of political interference Sunday after a tumultuous weekend at the Justice Department that saw the ousting of the U.S. attorney for Manhattan turn into an embarrassing tug of war.
“I’m enforcing the law,” Mr. Barr responded when asked by Fox News Channel’s Maria Bartiromo whether he was doing the president’s bidding.
“And as I said when I was confirmed, any — anything within the four walls of the Department of Justice, any matter is going to be handled strictly on the laws, the law and the facts. It’s going to be reflecting our independent judgment of what the law requires,” he said.
Mr. Barr did not directly address the disastrous firing of Geoffrey Berman, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. But the abrupt personnel move late Friday raised questions of whether President Trump was purging those whom he views as disloyal to him. Mr. Berman’s office has investigated Mr. Trump and his associates.
House Democrats on Sunday urged Mr. Berman to testify this week before the Judiciary Committee. On Wednesday, the committee is holding a hearing on corruption claims about Mr. Barr featuring two current Justice Department officials and one former employee.
“I certainly hope that [Mr. Berman] will come and testify before Congress,” said House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff, California Democrat,
It’s “the most disastrous management of the Justice Department in modern memory,” Mr. Schiff said on NBC’s “Meet The Press.” “And like so much of what we have seen in this administration, it doesn’t come as a surprise any more, but yet it’s completely demoralizing to the people in the department and dangerous to the rule of law.”
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler told CNN he’s launched an investigation into Mr. Berman’s firing. But he dismissed claims it could lead to another impeachment inquiry.
“We’ve seen a pattern of the president opposing, of Barr corruptly impeding all these investigations. This is just more of the same,” the New York Democrat said on CNN. “They are a waste of time at this point because we know that we have a corrupt Republican majority in the Senate which will not consider an impeachment no matter what the evidence.”
Federal prosecutors in Mr. Berman’s office are investigating the business dealings of Mr. Trump’s personal attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani, including whether he failed to register as a foreign agent, according to media reports.
The office prosecuted Mr. Trump’s former fixer and now foe Michael Cohen, who served a brief prison sentence for lying to Congress and violating campaign-finance laws.
Mr. Berman also oversaw the prosecution of two Giuliani associates, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, who were charged in October with campaign finance violations, including funneling foreign money into U.S. elections.
Mr. Berman’s office is also probing the Turkish financial institution Halkbank for allegedly violating U.S. trade sanctions against Iran in order to free a U.S. pastor imprisoned in Turkey.
In his upcoming tell-all book, former national security advisor John Bolton claims Mr. Trump told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan he would block the probe in exchange for releasing the American pastor.
It’s unclear whether any of those investigations angered the president enough to ax Mr. Berman. The attorney general has not publicly explained the decision.
Speaking with reporters Saturday, Mr. Trump appeared to distance himself from the decision to terminate Mr. Berman.
“Well, that’s up to the attorney general,” Mr. Trump said. “That’s his department, not my department. But we have a very capable attorney general so that’s really up to him. I’m not involved.”
The firing capped a wild Friday night and Saturday afternoon at the Justice Department in which Mr. Barr said he was replacing Mr. Berman, who fired back late Friday that he had no intention of resigning. The standoff ended Saturday afternoon after Mr. Barr wrote a letter to the powerful federal prosecutor telling him he had been terminated by the president.
“Unfortunately, with your statement of last night, you have chosen public spectacle over public service,” Mr. Barr wrote in a letter obtained by The Washington Times.
“Because you have declared that you have no intention of resigning, I have asked the President to remove you as of today, and he has done so,” the letter continued.
Shortly after Mr. Barr’s letter, Mr. Berman announced he would resign.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com. • Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-21--Tear gas ban to lead to physical tactics to disperse crowds, some warn

The rush by city and state officials across the country to ban police use of tear gas and pepper spray has law enforcement professionals fearful that police will have to use more physical tactics such as billy clubs and stun guns to disperse rowdy crowds .
William Johnson , executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations , said police would be forced to choose between being overrun or exerting force , potentially deadly force .
“ It puts them in a no-win situation , ” he said , adding that chemical irritants are “ a good option for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” In Seattle , Judge Richard Jones this month issued a restraining order that stopped the city police department from using tear gas , pepper spray and other chemical agents .
He said officers violated First Amendment rights by using those crowd-dispersal methods on racial justice demonstrators , who the judge said were mostly peaceful .
The chemicals can become problematic during the COVID-19 pandemic because they can irritate the respiratory system , he said .
COVID-19 is known to affect oxygen levels and breathing .
“ Because they are indiscriminate , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or offices as they have done before , ” Judge Jones wrote in the two-week restraining order , siding with the Black Lives Matter group that brought the lawsuit .
The Seattle City Council went a step further by enacting a one-month ban on the use of tear gas against protesters .
A federal judge in Texas this month imposed a three-month ban on the Dallas Police Department ’ s use of tear gas and less-lethal weapons on protesters .
The restraining order , however , does not stop the department from using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In Ohio , state House Democrats moved to ban tear gas as part of their policing overhaul legislation .
The city of Columbus already prohibited its police from using tear gas and limited the use of pepper spray , which can be dispersed in a more individualized manner .
The Boston City Council is debating bans on the irritants .
John Cardillo , a former officer with the New York Police Department , called the actions “ moronic ” and “ demoralizing ” for police .
“ They are being punished for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Mr. Cardillo said .
He stressed that the irritants have been proved to be nonlethal for decades .
Pepper spray is organic and can even be ingested , he said , though it would be unpleasant .
Without these agents , he said , police would have to either use physical means to remove protesters or let looting and arson go unchecked .
“ It ’ s deadly for public safety , ” he said .
“ If the police don ’ t have the ability to disperse an illegal assembly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve got shops broken into , burned or looted , which I think is a far greater evil to the community than the admitted discomfort of tear gas , ” he said .
Law enforcement advocates objected to the Seattle judge ’ s citing of COVID-19 concerns because it applies a double standard .
They said protesters crowded together in violation of social distancing guidelines .
The unrest in Seattle erupted during nationwide racial justice protests after the May 25 death of George Floyd , a Black man , after a white Minneapolis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly nine minutes during an arrest .
The protest in Seattle morphed into a quasi-revolution when a group of protesters took over roughly six blocks of the downtown neighborhood known as Capitol Hill .
They commandeered an abandoned police precinct and declared the area the “ Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone.
” President Trump threatened to intervene , but leaders in Seattle , including the mayor , said they had the situation under control .
The legal challenges to police use of chemical agents are also before federal courts .
The American Civil Liberties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Lives Matter protesters this month against Mr. Trump and Attorney General William Barr .
The lawsuit says tear gas and other methods were used to disperse peaceful protesters in Lafayette Square outside the White House to clear the way for the president to walk to St. John ’ s Episcopal Church for a photo opportunity .
A fire had been started in the church ’ s basement during riots that weekend as protesters defaced monuments and looted businesses in several areas of the District of Columbia .
The ACLU contends that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Trump administration violated the crowd ’ s constitutional rights .
“ The president and attorney general of the United States ordered the violence , ” the group said .
Mr. Barr came under fire from the media and Democrats after he directed law enforcement to extend the perimeter of the park .
He said some protesters had become increasingly violent and government buildings had been set on fire and vandalized .
Rioters used crowbars to dig out pavement to throw at officers , resulting in 114 injuries to federal police .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ head injuries or concussions , Mr. Barr said .
“ They were not peaceful protesters .
And that ’ s one of the big lies that the media is — seems to be perpetuating at this point , ” Mr. Barr said .
“ The Park Police was facing what they considered to be a very rowdy and noncompliant crowd .
And there were projectiles being hurled at the police.
” U.S. Park Police said the protesters were asked three times on a loudspeaker to move back but did not retreat .
Journalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Park Police also said protesters threw projectiles such as frozen water bottles and bricks , and intelligence revealed there were calls for violence against the police .
The case is pending in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and is assigned to Judge Dabney L. Friedrich , a Trump appointee .

The rush by city and state officials across the country to ban police use of tear gas and pepper spray has law enforcement professionals fearful that police will have to use more physical tactics such as billy clubs and stun guns to disperse rowdy crowds.
William Johnson, executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations, said police would be forced to choose between being overrun or exerting force, potentially deadly force.
“It puts them in a no-win situation,” he said, adding that chemical irritants are “a good option for an officer to have at their disposal.”
In Seattle, Judge Richard Jones this month issued a restraining order that stopped the city police department from using tear gas, pepper spray and other chemical agents. He said officers violated First Amendment rights by using those crowd-dispersal methods on racial justice demonstrators, who the judge said were mostly peaceful.
The chemicals can become problematic during the COVID-19 pandemic because they can irritate the respiratory system, he said. COVID-19 is known to affect oxygen levels and breathing.
“Because they are indiscriminate, they may even spill into bystanders’ homes or offices as they have done before,” Judge Jones wrote in the two-week restraining order, siding with the Black Lives Matter group that brought the lawsuit.
The Seattle City Council went a step further by enacting a one-month ban on the use of tear gas against protesters.
A federal judge in Texas this month imposed a three-month ban on the Dallas Police Department’s use of tear gas and less-lethal weapons on protesters. The restraining order, however, does not stop the department from using the weapons in standoffs or barricade situations.
In Ohio, state House Democrats moved to ban tear gas as part of their policing overhaul legislation. The city of Columbus already prohibited its police from using tear gas and limited the use of pepper spray, which can be dispersed in a more individualized manner.
The Boston City Council is debating bans on the irritants.
John Cardillo, a former officer with the New York Police Department, called the actions “moronic” and “demoralizing” for police.
“They are being punished for things they didn’t do,” Mr. Cardillo said.
He stressed that the irritants have been proved to be nonlethal for decades. Pepper spray is organic and can even be ingested, he said, though it would be unpleasant. Without these agents, he said, police would have to either use physical means to remove protesters or let looting and arson go unchecked.
“It’s deadly for public safety,” he said.
Mr. Johnson agreed.
“If the police don’t have the ability to disperse an illegal assembly, like a riot, then you’ve got shops broken into, burned or looted, which I think is a far greater evil to the community than the admitted discomfort of tear gas,” he said.
Law enforcement advocates objected to the Seattle judge’s citing of COVID-19 concerns because it applies a double standard. They said protesters crowded together in violation of social distancing guidelines.
The unrest in Seattle erupted during nationwide racial justice protests after the May 25 death of George Floyd, a Black man, after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest.
The protest in Seattle morphed into a quasi-revolution when a group of protesters took over roughly six blocks of the downtown neighborhood known as Capitol Hill. They commandeered an abandoned police precinct and declared the area the “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone.”
President Trump threatened to intervene, but leaders in Seattle, including the mayor, said they had the situation under control.
The legal challenges to police use of chemical agents are also before federal courts.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on behalf of Black Lives Matter protesters this month against Mr. Trump and Attorney General William Barr. The lawsuit says tear gas and other methods were used to disperse peaceful protesters in Lafayette Square outside the White House to clear the way for the president to walk to St. John’s Episcopal Church for a photo opportunity.
A fire had been started in the church’s basement during riots that weekend as protesters defaced monuments and looted businesses in several areas of the District of Columbia.
The ACLU contends that the protest in Lafayette Square was peaceful and that the Trump administration violated the crowd’s constitutional rights.
“The president and attorney general of the United States ordered the violence,” the group said.
Mr. Barr came under fire from the media and Democrats after he directed law enforcement to extend the perimeter of the park. He said some protesters had become increasingly violent and government buildings had been set on fire and vandalized.
Rioters used crowbars to dig out pavement to throw at officers, resulting in 114 injuries to federal police. More than 20 were hospitalized with serious head injuries or concussions, Mr. Barr said.
“They were not peaceful protesters. And that’s one of the big lies that the media is — seems to be perpetuating at this point,” Mr. Barr said. “The Park Police was facing what they considered to be a very rowdy and noncompliant crowd. And there were projectiles being hurled at the police.”
U.S. Park Police said the protesters were asked three times on a loudspeaker to move back but did not retreat. Journalists in the area confirmed hearing the warnings.
Park Police also said protesters threw projectiles such as frozen water bottles and bricks, and intelligence revealed there were calls for violence against the police.
The case is pending in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and is assigned to Judge Dabney L. Friedrich, a Trump appointee.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com. • Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-21--NYPD commissioner suspends officer for 'apparent chokehold'

NEW YORK ( AP ) - A New York City police officer was suspended without pay Sunday after he was recorded putting his arm around a man ’ s neck in what the police commissioner called an “ apparent chokehold.
” The department ’ s action to suspend the officer was stunning in its swiftness , occurring just hours after the morning confrontation on a beach boardwalk in the Rockaway section of Queens .
A video shot by one of the men involved showed a group of officers tackling a Black man , with one of them putting his arm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the boardwalk .
In the video , someone yells , “ Stop choking him , bro !
” The officer relaxes his grip after a fellow officer taps him and pulls on his shirt .
“ Accountability in policing is essential .
After a swift investigation by the Internal Affairs Bureau , a police officer involved in a disturbing apparent chokehold incident in Queens has been suspended without pay , ” Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said in a statement Sunday evening .
“ While a full investigation is still underway , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this immediate action is necessary.
” It was unclear whether the man who was tackled suffered more than superficial injuries .
He stood under his own power after he got off the ground and refused to let medics examine him after the incident .
Police released body camera video showing that for at least 11 minutes before the arrest , three men were pacing back and forth , sometimes shouting at the officers and hurling racial insults at them , while the officers implored them to walk away and go enjoy the beach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers rushed one of the men who was acting most aggressively , and who had been taunting them by saying , “ You scared ?
” The ensuing struggle lasted about 30 seconds .
In the aftermath , one officer ’ s body camera video captured him explaining the situation to a woman who turned up at the scene and said she was a relative and that the man who had been handcuffed was mentally ill. “ They were all talking all types of crazy stuff to us and we did nothing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything is when he grabbed something and squared up and was going to hit my officer.
” The NYPD has long banned chokeholds .
Their use has been especially fraught since the 2014 death of Eric Garner after an officer put him in a chokehold while trying to arrest him .
Gov .
Andrew Cuomo recently signed into law a sweeping package of police accountability measures including a ban on chokeholds following protests over George Floyd ’ s killing .

NEW YORK (AP) - A New York City police officer was suspended without pay Sunday after he was recorded putting his arm around a man’s neck in what the police commissioner called an “apparent chokehold.”
The department’s action to suspend the officer was stunning in its swiftness, occurring just hours after the morning confrontation on a beach boardwalk in the Rockaway section of Queens.
A video shot by one of the men involved showed a group of officers tackling a Black man, with one of them putting his arm around his neck as he lay face-down on the boardwalk.
In the video, someone yells, “Stop choking him, bro!” The officer relaxes his grip after a fellow officer taps him on the back and pulls on his shirt - a collegial move that received praise from the mayor.
“The officer who intervened to stop his colleague did exactly the right thing,” Bill de Blasio tweeted Sunday night. “I commend him. That is what we need to see from all our officers.”
It was unclear whether the man who was tackled suffered more than superficial injuries. He stood under his own power after he got off the ground and refused to let medics examine him after the incident.
“Accountability in policing is essential. After a swift investigation by the Internal Affairs Bureau, a police officer involved in a disturbing apparent chokehold incident in Queens has been suspended without pay,” Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said in a statement Sunday evening. “While a full investigation is still underway, there is no question in my mind that this immediate action is necessary.”
Police released body camera video showing that for at least 11 minutes before the arrest, three men were pacing back and forth, sometimes shouting at the officers and hurling racial insults at them, while the officers implored them to walk away and go enjoy the beach.
Then at one point, the officers rushed one of the men who was acting most aggressively, and who had been taunting them by saying, “You scared?” The ensuing struggle lasted about 30 seconds.
In the aftermath, one officer’s body camera video captured him explaining the situation to a woman who turned up at the scene and said she was a relative of the man who had been handcuffed, and that he was mentally ill.
“They were all talking all types of crazy stuff to us and we did nothing,” he said. “What changed everything is when he grabbed something and squared up and was going to hit my officer.”
The NYPD has long banned chokeholds. Their use has been especially fraught since the 2014 death of Eric Garner after an officer put him in a chokehold while trying to arrest him.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently signed into law a sweeping package of police accountability measures including a ban on chokeholds following protests over George Floyd’s killing.
De Blasio said in his tweet that the police department’s discipline was the fastest he’s ever seen.
“This is how it needs to be,” he said.


washingtontimes--2020-06-21--Stay-at-home orders, fitness center closures pose challenge for people with obesity

Online jokes about the “ quarantine 15 ” belie the challenges faced by people with obesity amid shutdowns of fitness centers and stay-at-home orders in the coronavirus pandemic , physicians and public health experts say .
Gaining 15 pounds during pandemic protocols only increases difficulties for those trying to establish healthy habits in eating , exercise and weight control , they say .
Researchers found that 70 % of survey participants with obesity reported more difficulty achieving weight loss goals , 61 % reported more stress eating , 50 % reported more food stockpiling , 48 % reported exercising less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exercise intensity , according to a study published this month .
“ Those numbers were striking when you ’ re seeing the majority of your sample reporting these deleterious behaviors , there ’ s cause for concern for sure .
These aren ’ t typical statistics you see , ” said Sarah Messiah , a study author and a professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health who works with people who are obese .
“ A lot of patients will tell you it ’ s really easy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you don ’ t have access to your gym or fitness classes or maybe food services that you feel have been helping you get back to a healthier weight , ” Ms. Messiah said .
“ I ’ ve seen all the jokes with people in general about ‘ COVID-15 ’ and things like that .
That ’ s just the general population , ” she said .
“ Think about the people who are really struggling and challenged on a daily basis with that and not having the resources available to support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worse.
” The study , featured in the Clinical Obesity journal , included 123 patients with obesity from an obesity medicine clinic and a bariatric surgery practice .
The patients completed an online survey from April 15 to May 31 about their COVID-19 status and health behaviors during stay-at-home orders .
People who are obese often have other health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease and could be at higher risk of serious illness , hospitalization and death from COVID-19 .
Two of the survey participants had tested positive for the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported symptoms .
“ In addition to people having bias [ about obesity ] , now we have a virus that has bias .
It doesn ’ t pick on people equally .
So here we have a virus that picks on older people , people that are heavy , people that have high blood pressure and diabetes , ” said Dr. Ethan Lazarus , president-elect of the Obesity Medicine Association .
“ So for those higher risk groups , the odds of having a really bad outcome are significantly higher than young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 73 % of respondents reported increased anxiety and 84 % reported increased depression since stay-at-home orders began .
Stay-at-home orders also shut down elective medical procedures and clinical visits such as bariatric surgeries and trips to the endocrinologist , which Ms. Messiah said could worsen chronic conditions of people with obesity .
Dr. David Buchin , owner of Long Island Obesity Surgery , said he had an EMT staffer scheduled to undergo bariatric surgery on March 16 .
However , on March 14 , Dr. Buchin was told he couldn ’ t perform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The patient , who had a hard time during quarantine , struggled in managing his weight and gained 10 to 15 pounds .
The patient recently underwent bariatric surgery as procedures at the obesity surgery clinic resumed this month .
“ With all the gyms being closed , people are not active .
People have direct access to their refrigerators and pantries all day long whereas if they were at work they would not have direct access to their pantries and refrigerators .
So , that ’ s a big problem , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the high levels of anxiety in the earlier days of the pandemic .
“ There were a lot of people that gained a lot of weight during that time , whether that person was obese or not .
It affected everyone.
” Dr. Steven Heymsfield , past president of The Obesity Society and a professor at Louisiana State University , said diet drops down in priority when people are dealing with stressors such as losing a job or food insecurity .
Dr. Heymsfield expects an increase in nationwide obesity rates , which hover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think you could very well see a spike in weight when they do the next survey , ” he said .
“ Be aware , given the circumstances , that your risk of gaining weight is very significant If there was ever a time that motivated people to not gain weight or lose weight , it ’ s right now given the high risk of obesity with coronavirus .
”

Online jokes about the “quarantine 15” belie the challenges faced by people with obesity amid shutdowns of fitness centers and stay-at-home orders in the coronavirus pandemic, physicians and public health experts say.
Gaining more weight during pandemic protocols only increases difficulties for those trying to establish healthy habits in eating, exercise and weight control, they say.
Researchers found that 70% of survey participants with obesity reported more difficulty achieving weight loss goals, 61% reported more stress eating, 50% reported more food stockpiling, 48% reported exercising less and 56% reported a decrease in exercise intensity, according to a study published this month.
“Those numbers were striking when you’re seeing the majority of your sample reporting these deleterious behaviors, there’s cause for concern for sure. These aren’t typical statistics you see,” said Sarah Messiah, a study author and a professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health who works with people who are obese.
“A lot of patients will tell you it’s really easy to fall back into old habits when you don’t have access to your gym or fitness classes or maybe food services that you feel have been helping you get back to a healthier weight,” Ms. Messiah said.
“I’ve seen all the jokes with people in general about ‘COVID-15’ and things like that. That’s just the general population,” she said. “Think about the people who are really struggling and challenged on a daily basis with that and not having the resources available to support their successful weight loss just makes it worse.”
The study, featured in the Clinical Obesity journal, included 123 patients with obesity from an obesity medicine clinic and a bariatric surgery practice. The patients completed an online survey from April 15 to May 31 about their COVID-19 status and health behaviors during stay-at-home orders.
People who are obese often have other health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease and could be at higher risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Two of the survey participants had tested positive for the coronavirus while almost 15% of them had reported symptoms.
“In addition to people having bias [about obesity], now we have a virus that has bias. It doesn’t pick on people equally. So here we have a virus that picks on older people, people that are heavy, people that have high blood pressure and diabetes,” said Dr. Ethan Lazarus, president-elect of the Obesity Medicine Association. “So for those higher risk groups, the odds of having a really bad outcome are significantly higher than young healthy people.”
The survey found that 73% of respondents reported increased anxiety and 84% reported increased depression since stay-at-home orders began.
Stay-at-home orders also shut down elective medical procedures and clinical visits such as bariatric surgeries and trips to the endocrinologist, which Ms. Messiah said could worsen chronic conditions of people with obesity.
Dr. David Buchin, owner of Long Island Obesity Surgery, said he had an EMT staffer scheduled to undergo bariatric surgery on March 16. However, on March 14, Dr. Buchin was told he couldn’t perform the operation due to shutdown orders. The patient, who had a hard time during quarantine, struggled in managing his weight and gained 10 to 15 pounds.
The patient recently underwent bariatric surgery as procedures at the obesity surgery clinic resumed this month.
“With all the gyms being closed, people are not active. People have direct access to their refrigerators and pantries all day long whereas if they were at work they would not have direct access to their pantries and refrigerators. So, that’s a big problem,” said Dr. Buchin, also commenting on the high levels of anxiety in the earlier days of the pandemic. “There were a lot of people that gained a lot of weight during that time, whether that person was obese or not. It affected everyone.”
Dr. Steven Heymsfield, past president of The Obesity Society and a professor at Louisiana State University, said diet drops down in priority when people are dealing with stressors such as losing a job or food insecurity.
Dr. Heymsfield expects an increase in nationwide obesity rates, which hover currently around 40%.
“I think you could very well see a spike in weight when they do the next survey,” he said. “Be aware, given the circumstances, that your risk of gaining weight is very significant If there was ever a time that motivated people to not gain weight or lose weight, it’s right now given the high risk of obesity with coronavirus.”
• Shen Wu Tan can be reached at stan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-21--D.C. area's laid-off janitors risk health care loss, still face rent payments

Thousands of janitors in the D.C. area have been laid off during the coronavirus pandemic , even those who clean commercial properties that are collecting most of their rent payments , according to the largest union for property service workers .
Contracted janitors at about half of the 600 commercial properties in the District , Maryland and Virginia have lost their jobs , even though the “ overwhelming majority ” of tenants have been paying rent during the pandemic , says the Service Employees International Union , Local 32BJ ( SEIU 32BJ ) .
“ Not only are they losing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the risk of losing their health care , ” said Jaime Contreras , SEIU 32BJ vice president for the District , Maryland and Virginia .
“ These workers are considered essential workers , and they have to report to work .
“ Not only are they exposing themselves every day to maintain our buildings , keep our offices sanitized , but they are also putting their families and their entire communities at risk.
” About 30,000 cleaning workers who are union members have lost their jobs across the nation .
Of those , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Maryland and Virginia .
Annandale resident Sara Nataly Ramirez Lopez said she worked as a day shift janitor for Red Coats at an office owned by Carr Properties for a year and a half .
She was laid off in mid-April when the building owners reportedly stopped paying the cleaning contractors , who then had to cut staff .
The 29-year-old single mother said she has no money left in savings and she barely made enough at her job to cover monthly expenses .
“ It was not fair that they placed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our health and that of our family at risk and we are even putting our lives at risk and they do not value that .
We are helping with this pandemic by keeping the buildings disinfected and clean so that the virus does not spread and that more people are not infected , ” Ms. Lopez told The Washington Times this week .
Carr Properties reportedly collected 98 % of its rent in April , but 42 % of the cleaning staff were laid off , which the company attributed to resident vacancies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prentice , senior vice president of portfolio management for Carr Properties , declined to comment on the percentage of rent the company collected in April .
“ Similar to many owners within the region , the reductions were related to decreased building occupancies and the immediate necessity to shift from staff to COVID response related expenses across the portfolio .
We have no further comment at this time , ” Mr. Prentice said .
After losing her job , Ms. Lopez applied for unemployment , but noted the process took a long time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks ago , she received her first unemployment check .
Layoffs for contracted janitorial workers at top owners ’ buildings ranged from no layoffs to around 20 % in the D.C. area , the 32BJ SEIU found .
However , representatives at one of the commercial properties , who agreed to speak on background , said their business did not technically employ the janitors , who were hired via third-party companies ; therefore , the company is not responsible for the layoffs .
Unlike Ms. Lopez , Vanessa Correa , a 50-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job as a part-time cleaner at CRS Facility Services in the District , has been unable to receive unemployment .
“ I feel depressed because I don ’ t have any income to pay for my bills , including my car payment , electricity bill , or sending money to support my father and brother in El Salvador , ” Ms. Correa said .
“ I have a second job and I have some savings , but the savings won ’ t help me with ends meet in a few months.
” She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the layoff was due to COVID-19 and that the floor was vacant .
About 14 % of janitors in the D.C. area have lost their jobs due to the pandemic , data from 32BJ SEIU shows .
The union also has reported a large percentage of cleaning staff layoffs in other metropolitan areas , including 19 % in Boston and its suburbs and 29 % in the New York City area .
According to Mr. Contreras , about 130 union members have died from COVID-19 , including 13 in the D.C. area , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and recovered .
In March , D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser , Montgomery County Executive Mark Elrich , Arlington County Board member Katie Cristol and Baltimore City Council President Brandon Scott urged building owners not to lay off or cut benefits to cleaning staff .
“ The work they do every day is invaluable and now more than ever , their hard work can literally save lives .
These men and women are the unsung heroes of the coronavirus pandemic and they can least afford to lose wages and benefits during this crisis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ At the same time that cleaners and security officers have stepped forward to do their jobs during this outbreak , they are now being threatened with layoffs and reductions .
”

Thousands of janitors in the D.C. area have been laid off during the coronavirus pandemic, even those who clean commercial properties that are collecting most of their rent payments, according to the largest union for property service workers.
Contracted janitors at about half of the 600 commercial properties in the District, Maryland and Virginia have lost their jobs, even though the “overwhelming majority” of tenants have been paying rent during the pandemic, says the Service Employees International Union, Local 32BJ (SEIU 32BJ).
“Not only are they losing their jobs, but they are running the risk of losing their health care,” said Jaime Contreras, SEIU 32BJ vice president for the District, Maryland and Virginia. “These workers are considered essential workers, and they have to report to work.
“Not only are they exposing themselves every day to maintain our buildings, keep our offices sanitized, but they are also putting their families and their entire communities at risk.”
About 30,000 cleaning workers who are union members have lost their jobs across the nation. Of those, more than 3,100 are from the District, Maryland and Virginia.
Annandale resident Sara Nataly Ramirez Lopez said she worked as a day shift janitor for Red Coats at an office owned by Carr Properties for a year and a half. She was laid off in mid-April when the building owners reportedly stopped paying the cleaning contractors, who then had to cut staff.
The 29-year-old single mother said she has no money left in savings and she barely made enough at her job to cover monthly expenses.
“It was not fair that they placed me on layoff because we are putting our health and that of our family at risk and we are even putting our lives at risk and they do not value that. We are helping with this pandemic by keeping the buildings disinfected and clean so that the virus does not spread and that more people are not infected,” Ms. Lopez told The Washington Times this week.
Carr Properties reportedly collected 98% of its rent in April, but 42% of the cleaning staff were laid off, which the company attributed to resident vacancies, according to the union.
Jackson Prentice, senior vice president of portfolio management for Carr Properties, declined to comment on the percentage of rent the company collected in April.
“Similar to many owners within the region, the reductions were related to decreased building occupancies and the immediate necessity to shift from staff to COVID response related expenses across the portfolio. We have no further comment at this time,” Mr. Prentice said.
After losing her job, Ms. Lopez applied for unemployment, but noted the process took a long time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Just two weeks ago, she received her first unemployment check.
Layoffs for contracted janitorial workers at top owners’ buildings ranged from no layoffs to around 20% in the D.C. area, the 32BJ SEIU found.
However, representatives at one of the commercial properties, who agreed to speak on background, said their business did not technically employ the janitors, who were hired via third-party companies; therefore, the company is not responsible for the layoffs.
Unlike Ms. Lopez, Vanessa Correa, a 50-year-old mother of three kids who lost her job as a part-time cleaner at CRS Facility Services in the District, has been unable to receive unemployment.
“I feel depressed because I don’t have any income to pay for my bills, including my car payment, electricity bill, or sending money to support my father and brother in El Salvador,” Ms. Correa said. “I have a second job and I have some savings, but the savings won’t help me with ends meet in a few months.”
She said the company explained to her that the layoff was due to COVID-19 and that the floor was vacant.
About 14% of janitors in the D.C. area have lost their jobs due to the pandemic, data from 32BJ SEIU shows. The union also has reported a large percentage of cleaning staff layoffs in other metropolitan areas, including 19% in Boston and its suburbs and 29% in the New York City area.
According to Mr. Contreras, about 130 union members have died from COVID-19, including 13 in the D.C. area, but thousands of janitors have fallen ill and recovered.
In March, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Montgomery County Executive Mark Elrich, Arlington County Board member Katie Cristol and Baltimore City Council President Brandon Scott urged building owners not to lay off or cut benefits to cleaning staff.
“The work they do every day is invaluable and now more than ever, their hard work can literally save lives. These men and women are the unsung heroes of the coronavirus pandemic and they can least afford to lose wages and benefits during this crisis,” they said in a statement. “At the same time that cleaners and security officers have stepped forward to do their jobs during this outbreak, they are now being threatened with layoffs and reductions.”
• Shen Wu Tan can be reached at stan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-21--Adam Schiff eyes calling John Bolton to testify in House

House Democrats on Sunday blasted John R. Bolton for not helping remove President Trump from office when he had the chance , saying there is no point in pursuing another impeachment now .
However , Democrats are still weighing whether or not to bring the former national security adviser to Capitol Hill to testify .
Lawmakers across party lines have condemned Mr. Bolton , who refused to testify during the impeachment process , for promoting his new book by connecting it to the proceedings .
“ John Bolton is a political opportunist and profiteer , ” House Democratic Caucus Chairman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ served as an impeachment manager during the trial , said on ABC News ’ “ This Week.
” Despite the criticism , some Democrats are taking the allegations in Mr. Bolton ’ s book , “ The Room Where It Happened , ” seriously , and there is talk of calling him to testify before Congress .
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler , New York Democrat , was hesitant to embrace those calls .
“ We ’ re not interested in Bolton ’ s testimony , ” he said on CNN ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” though he later walked that back and left the door open with a “ we ’ ll see.
” Rep. Adam B. Schiff , chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence , said he and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , both California Democrats , will make a decision on Mr. Bolton sometime after the book is released Tuesday .
A judge over the weekend denied President Trump ’ s request to halt the release of the book .
“ We do need , I think , to expose the length @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depravity and how much it is endangering the country .
So those facts are going to need to come out , and we are discussing with the speaker and my fellow chairs just how to do that , ” Mr. Schiff said on NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press.
” “ I don ’ t think we should wait [ until November ] if we conclude that there are important things that he says that need to be exposed to the public .
The public needs to know exactly what they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mrs. Pelosi has said she doesn ’ t plan on spending any money on a “ book that was a substitute for testifying before Congress.
” Even if Mr. Bolton does talk to lawmakers under oath , trying to charge the president would not be worth the effort , said Mr. Nadler , pointing out the upcoming elections and Senate Republicans ’ approach to the last impeachment .
“ I believe the president has done a number of impeachable things , including what Mr. Bolton is talking about , ” Mr. Nadler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point be a waste of time.
” Mr. Bolton ’ s allegations made him a key player in the impeachment case against Mr. Trump in January , as the earliest leaks reportedly asserted that Mr. Trump told him that military aid to Ukraine was being blocked until that country turned over information on former Vice President Joseph R. Biden and on whether Ukraine meddled in the 2016 election .
The latest leaks from the book include allegations that Mr. Trump pushed the importance of agricultural trade on his reelection campaign to Chinese President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan to build “ concentration camps.
” Mr. Bolton also claims the president promised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2018 that he would “ take care of ” a Justice Department investigation into the Turkish state-owned bank Halkbank and that the investigators were Obama appointees he could replace .
Democrats received criticism for not pursuing a subpoena for Mr. Bolton , who said he would not cooperate with the House .
Senate Democrats used Mr. Bolton ’ s information to ramp up pressure on vulnerable Senate Republicans to support their push for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr. Schiff and Mr. Nadler , whose committee spearheaded the impeachment investigation and subsequent litigation , defended their decision to keep the case narrowly focused on Ukraine allegations , despite Mr. Bolton ’ s accusation in his book of “ malpractice ” for not broadening the scope .
“ The fact is the president could have been impeached on other grounds too , including obstruction of justice in the Russia investigation .
We chose to keep it simple , ” Mr. Nadler said .
“ Bolton , who has — as we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could have offered and refused to offer , is certainly no one to talk.
” Mr. Schiff said House Democrats have been locked in a court battle since last year to secure testimony from former White House counsel Don McGahn , who defied a subpoena regarding the Russia investigation .
“ Our decision has been vindicated by the fact that we are still in court now over a year later trying to get McGahn to testify .
Bolton said he would sue us if we subpoenaed him , ” he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Bolton ’ s testimony today .
And given that the president was trying to cheat in the upcoming election , we couldn ’ t afford to wait another year to get John Bolton to testify .
”

House Democrats on Sunday blasted John R. Bolton for not helping remove President Trump from office when he had the chance, saying there is no point in pursuing another impeachment now.
However, Democrats are still weighing whether or not to bring the former national security adviser to Capitol Hill to testify.
Lawmakers across party lines have condemned Mr. Bolton, who refused to testify during the impeachment process, for promoting his new book by connecting it to the proceedings.
“John Bolton is a political opportunist and profiteer,” House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who served as an impeachment manager during the trial, said on ABC News’ “This Week.”
Despite the criticism, some Democrats are taking the allegations in Mr. Bolton’s book, “The Room Where It Happened,” seriously, and there is talk of calling him to testify before Congress.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, New York Democrat, was hesitant to embrace those calls.
SEE ALSO: Hakeem Jeffries rips John Bolton as ‘political opportunist and profiteer’
“We’re not interested in Bolton’s testimony,” he said on CNN’s “State of the Union,” though he later walked that back and left the door open with a “we’ll see.”
Rep. Adam B. Schiff, chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said he and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, both California Democrats, will make a decision on Mr. Bolton sometime after the book is released Tuesday.
A judge over the weekend denied President Trump’s request to halt the release of the book.
“We do need, I think, to expose the length and breadth of this president’s depravity and how much it is endangering the country. So those facts are going to need to come out, and we are discussing with the speaker and my fellow chairs just how to do that,” Mr. Schiff said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
“I don’t think we should wait [until November] if we conclude that there are important things that he says that need to be exposed to the public. The public needs to know exactly what they have in this president,” he added.
Mrs. Pelosi has said she doesn’t plan on spending any money on a “book that was a substitute for testifying before Congress.”
Even if Mr. Bolton does talk to lawmakers under oath, trying to charge the president would not be worth the effort, said Mr. Nadler, pointing out the upcoming elections and Senate Republicans’ approach to the last impeachment.
“I believe the president has done a number of impeachable things, including what Mr. Bolton is talking about,” Mr. Nadler said. “That would at this point be a waste of time.”
Mr. Bolton’s allegations made him a key player in the impeachment case against Mr. Trump in January, as the earliest leaks reportedly asserted that Mr. Trump told him that military aid to Ukraine was being blocked until that country turned over information on former Vice President Joseph R. Biden and on whether Ukraine meddled in the 2016 election.
The latest leaks from the book include allegations that Mr. Trump pushed the importance of agricultural trade on his reelection campaign to Chinese President Xi Jinping and praised China’s plan to build “concentration camps.”
Mr. Bolton also claims the president promised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2018 that he would “take care of” a Justice Department investigation into the Turkish state-owned bank Halkbank and that the investigators were Obama appointees he could replace.
Democrats received criticism for not pursuing a subpoena for Mr. Bolton, who said he would not cooperate with the House.
Senate Democrats used Mr. Bolton’s information to ramp up pressure on vulnerable Senate Republicans to support their push for key witnesses, which did not succeed.
Mr. Schiff and Mr. Nadler, whose committee spearheaded the impeachment investigation and subsequent litigation, defended their decision to keep the case narrowly focused on Ukraine allegations, despite Mr. Bolton’s accusation in his book of “malpractice” for not broadening the scope.
“The fact is the president could have been impeached on other grounds too, including obstruction of justice in the Russia investigation. We chose to keep it simple,” Mr. Nadler said. “Bolton, who has — as we now know — had evidence that he could have offered and refused to offer, is certainly no one to talk.”
Mr. Schiff said House Democrats have been locked in a court battle since last year to secure testimony from former White House Counsel Don McGahn, who defied a subpoena regarding the Russia investigation.
“Our decision has been vindicated by the fact that we are still in court now over a year later trying to get McGahn to testify. Bolton said he would sue us if we subpoenaed him,” he said. “We would still be trying to get John Bolton’s testimony today. And given that the president was trying to cheat in the upcoming election, we couldn’t afford to wait another year to get John Bolton to testify.”
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-21--Bill de Blasio: Theodore Roosevelt statue be to removed by American Museum of Natural History

NEW YORK — The American Museum of Natural History will remove a prominent statue of Theodore Roosevelt from its entrance after years of objections that it symbolizes colonial expansion and racial discrimination , Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday .
The bronze statue that has stood at the museum ’ s Central Park West entrance since 1940 depicts Roosevelt on horseback with a Native American man and an African man standing next to the horse .
“ The American Museum of Natural History has asked to remove the Theodore Roosevelt statue because it explicitly depicts Black and Indigenous people as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blasio said in a written statement .
“ The City supports the Museum ’ s request .
It is the right decision and the right time to remove this problematic statue.
” The museum ’ s president , Ellen Futter , told the New York Times that the museum ’ s “ community has been profoundly moved by the ever-widening movement for racial justice that has emerged after the killing of George Floyd.
” “ We have watched as the attention of the world and the country has increasingly turned to statues as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Futter told the Times .
Officials said it hasn ’ t been determined when the Roosevelt statue will be removed and where it will go .
“ The composition of the Equestrian Statue does not reflect Theodore Roosevelt ’ s legacy , ” Theodore Roosevelt IV , a great-grandson of the president , said in a statement to the Times .
“ It is time to move the statue and move forward.
” Futter said the museum objects to the statue but not to Roosevelt , a pioneering conservationist whose father @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and who served as New York ’ s governor before becoming the 26th president .
She said the museum is naming its Hall of Biodiversity for Roosevelt “ in recognition of his conservation legacy.
” In 2017 , protesters splashed red liquid on the statue ’ s base to represent blood and published a statement calling for its removal as an emblem of “ patriarchy , white supremacy and settler-colonialism .
”

NEW YORK — The American Museum of Natural History will remove a prominent statue of Theodore Roosevelt from its entrance after years of objections that it symbolizes colonial expansion and racial discrimination, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday.
The bronze statue that has stood at the museum’s Central Park West entrance since 1940 depicts Roosevelt on horseback with a Native American man and an African man standing next to the horse.
“The American Museum of Natural History has asked to remove the Theodore Roosevelt statue because it explicitly depicts Black and Indigenous people as subjugated and racially inferior,” de Blasio said in a written statement. “The City supports the Museum’s request. It is the right decision and the right time to remove this problematic statue.”
The museum’s president, Ellen Futter, told the New York Times that the museum’s “community has been profoundly moved by the ever-widening movement for racial justice that has emerged after the killing of George Floyd.”
“We have watched as the attention of the world and the country has increasingly turned to statues as powerful and hurtful symbols of systemic racism,” Futter told the Times.
Officials said it hasn’t been determined when the Roosevelt statue will be removed and where it will go.
“The composition of the Equestrian Statue does not reflect Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy,” Theodore Roosevelt IV, a great-grandson of the president, said in a statement to the Times. “It is time to move the statue and move forward.”
Futter said the museum objects to the statue but not to Roosevelt, a pioneering conservationist whose father was a founding member of the institution and who served as New York’s governor before becoming the 26th president. She said the museum is naming its Hall of Biodiversity for Roosevelt “in recognition of his conservation legacy.”
In 2017, protesters splashed red liquid on the statue’s base to represent blood and published a statement calling for its removal as an emblem of “patriarchy, white supremacy and settler-colonialism.”


washingtontimes--2020-06-21--Balk in baseball coronavirus talks as negotiations drag on

NEW YORK ( AP ) - An email from baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred to union head Tony Clark led to a balk in the drawn-out talks to start the pandemic-delayed season .
The executive committee of the players ’ association was set to vote and reject Major League Baseball ’ s latest offer for a 60-game season on Sunday .
Players want 70 games and $ 275 million more than teams are offering .
They are worried that if a resurgence of the new coronavirus causes the 2020 season to be cut short , the deal being negotiated would lock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ union ’ s bargaining power .
Manfred wrote that if fewer than the agreed-upon number of games are played this year , the 2021 changes would be voided in a manner that would leave them up for renegotiation , people familiar with the email told The Associated Press .
The people spoke on condition of anonymity because no statements were authorized .
Players didn ’ t take a vote and will consider their next move .
Among the items in the proposed deal for 2020 and 2021 are expanded playoffs , use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ League teams and allowing advertisements on uniforms .
The 2020 only items include starting extra innings with runner on second and a discussion of whether to allow tie games after a specified total of innings plus player re-entry in extra innings .
Some players would prefer there not be a deal and that Manfred unilaterally order the schedule .
Because players have insisted on full prorated pay , he has threatened a schedule of about 50 games .
The proposed deal would give Manfred the right to suspended or cancel play if “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are imposed ” or if he determines after consulting medical experts and the union that there has been a change in circumstances posing “ an unreasonable health and safety risk to players or staff to stage those games , even without fans in attendance.
” MLB ’ s proposal for 60 games includes $ 1.48 billion in salary plus a $ 25 million postseason players ’ pool , while the union ’ s plan includes $ 1.73 billion in salary and a $ 50 million pool .
Absent an agreement , the union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the provision in the March 26 agreement recognizing “ that each of the parties shall work in good faith to as soon as is practicable commence , play , and complete the fullest 2020 championship season and post-season that is economically feasible , ” subject to several provisions .
Those provisions say that without MLB ’ s consent , the season shall not start until there are no legal restrictions on playing in front of fans at the 30 regular-season ballparks , no relevant travel restrictions and no health or safety risk to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 30 regular ballparks .
The agreement also says the sides “ will discuss in good faith the economic feasibility of playing games in the absence of spectators or at appropriate substitute neutral sites.
” MLB had proposed having the season run from July 19 or 20 through Sept. 27 , the shortest since the 1870s , while the union agreed to the start date and said it should end Sept. 30 , or earlier using doubleheaders .
Both sides proposed pitchers and catchers report June 26 , followed by position players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running out of time to finalize a schedule that would allow players time to meet those dates .
A rise in positive tests last week in Florida caused MLB to close all 30 training camps for deep cleaning and disinfecting .
The Philadelphia Phillies announced Friday that five players had tested positive for COVID-19 .
Twenty-nine of the 30 teams now intend to hold training at their regular season stadiums rather than spring training sites .
Toronto may be an exception due to Canadian federal and Ontario provincial restrictions .

NEW YORK — An email from baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred to union head Tony Clark led to a balk in the drawn-out talks to start the pandemic-delayed season.
The executive committee of the players’ association was set to vote and reject Major League Baseball’s latest offer for a 60-game season on Sunday.
Players want 70 games and $275 million more than teams are offering. They are worried that if a resurgence of the new coronavirus causes the 2020 season to be cut short, the deal being negotiated would lock in innovations for 2021 and lessen the union’s bargaining power.
Manfred wrote that if fewer than the agreed-upon number of games are played this year, the 2021 changes would be voided in a manner that would leave them up for renegotiation, people familiar with the email told The Associated Press. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because no statements were authorized.
Players didn’t take a vote and will consider their next move.
Among the items in the proposed deal for 2020 and 2021 are expanded playoffs, use of the designated hitter in games involving National League teams and allowing advertisements on uniforms. The 2020 only items include starting extra innings with runner on second and a discussion of whether to allow tie games after a specified total of innings plus player re-entry in extra innings.
Some players would prefer there not be a deal and that Manfred unilaterally order the schedule. Because players have insisted on full prorated pay, he has threatened a schedule of about 50 games.
The proposed deal would give Manfred the right to suspended or cancel play if “restrictions on travel throughout the United States are imposed” or if he determines after consulting medical experts and the union that there has been a change in circumstances posing “an unreasonable health and safety risk to players or staff to stage those games, even without fans in attendance.”
MLB’s proposal for 60 games includes $1.48 billion in salary plus a $25 million postseason players’ pool, while the union’s plan includes $1.73 billion in salary and a $50 million pool.
Absent an agreement, the union would file a grievance claiming MLB violated the provision in the March 26 agreement recognizing “that each of the parties shall work in good faith to as soon as is practicable commence, play, and complete the fullest 2020 championship season and post-season that is economically feasible,” subject to several provisions.
Those provisions say that without MLB’s consent, the season shall not start until there are no legal restrictions on playing in front of fans at the 30 regular-season ballparks, no relevant travel restrictions and no health or safety risk to players, staff or spectators to playing in the 30 regular ballparks. The agreement also says the sides “will discuss in good faith the economic feasibility of playing games in the absence of spectators or at appropriate substitute neutral sites.”
MLB had proposed having the season run from July 19 or 20 through Sept. 27, the shortest since the 1870s, while the union agreed to the start date and said it should end Sept. 30, or earlier using doubleheaders. Both sides proposed pitchers and catchers report June 26, followed by position players two days later, but they are running out of time to finalize a schedule that would allow players time to meet those dates.
A rise in positive tests last week in Florida caused MLB to close all 30 training camps for deep cleaning and disinfecting. The Philadelphia Phillies announced Friday that five players had tested positive for COVID-19.
Twenty-nine of the 30 teams now intend to hold training at their regular season stadiums rather than spring training sites. Toronto may be an exception due to Canadian federal and Ontario provincial restrictions.


washingtontimes--2020-06-21--Museum to remove Roosevelt statue decried as white supremacy

NEW YORK ( AP ) - The American Museum of Natural History will remove a prominent statue of Theodore Roosevelt from its entrance after years of objections that it symbolizes colonial expansion and racial discrimination , Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday .
The bronze statue that has stood at the museum ’ s Central Park West entrance since 1940 depicts Roosevelt on horseback with a Native American man and an African man standing next to the horse .
“ The American Museum of Natural History has asked to remove the Theodore Roosevelt statue because it explicitly depicts Black and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” de Blasio said in a written statement .
“ The City supports the Museum ’ s request .
It is the right decision and the right time to remove this problematic statue.
” The museum ’ s president , Ellen Futter , told the New York Times that the museum ’ s “ community has been profoundly moved by the ever-widening movement for racial justice that has emerged after the killing of George Floyd.
” “ We have watched as the attention of the world and the country has increasingly turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of systemic racism , ” Futter told the Times .
Officials said it hasn ’ t been determined when the Roosevelt statue will be removed and where it will go .
“ The composition of the Equestrian Statue does not reflect Theodore Roosevelt ’ s legacy , ” Theodore Roosevelt IV , a great-grandson of the president , said in a statement to the Times .
“ It is time to move the statue and move forward.
” Futter said the museum objects to the statue but not to Roosevelt , a pioneering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the institution and who served as New York ’ s governor before becoming the 26th president .
She said the museum is naming its Hall of Biodiversity for Roosevelt “ in recognition of his conservation legacy.
” In 2017 , protesters splashed red liquid on the statue ’ s base to represent blood and published a statement calling for its removal as an emblem of “ patriarchy , white supremacy and settler-colonialism .
”

NEW YORK (AP) - The American Museum of Natural History will remove a prominent statue of Theodore Roosevelt from its entrance after years of objections that it symbolizes colonial expansion and racial discrimination, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday.
The bronze statue that has stood at the museum’s Central Park West entrance since 1940 depicts Roosevelt on horseback with a Native American man and an African man standing next to the horse.
“The American Museum of Natural History has asked to remove the Theodore Roosevelt statue because it explicitly depicts Black and Indigenous people as subjugated and racially inferior,” de Blasio said in a written statement. “The City supports the Museum’s request. It is the right decision and the right time to remove this problematic statue.”
Taking to Twitter, President Donald Trump objected to the statue’s removal.
“Ridiculous, don’t do it!” he tweeted.
The museum’s president, Ellen Futter, told the New York Times that the museum’s “community has been profoundly moved by the ever-widening movement for racial justice that has emerged after the killing of George Floyd.”
“We have watched as the attention of the world and the country has increasingly turned to statues as powerful and hurtful symbols of systemic racism,” Futter told the Times.
Officials said it hasn’t been determined when the Roosevelt statue will be removed and where it will go.
“The composition of the Equestrian Statue does not reflect Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy,” Theodore Roosevelt IV, a great-grandson of the president, said in a statement to the Times. “It is time to move the statue and move forward.”
Futter said the museum objects to the statue but not to Roosevelt, a pioneering conservationist whose father was a founding member of the institution and who served as New York’s governor before becoming the 26th president. She said the museum is naming its Hall of Biodiversity for Roosevelt “in recognition of his conservation legacy.”
In 2017, protesters splashed red liquid on the statue’s base to represent blood and published a statement calling for its removal as an emblem of “patriarchy, white supremacy and settler-colonialism.”


washingtontimes--2020-06-21--Joe BIden bets on familiar policies after Trump disruption

America ’ s path forward on the global stage for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden begins by looking backward .
The former vice president ’ s inner circle on international affairs and national security is populated heavily by familiar Obama-era officials and recognizable names in what has become the Democratic Party ’ s 21st-century foreign policy establishment .
While holed up in Delaware , Mr. Biden is routinely holding foreign policy discussions with former top officials who served alongside him during his eight years as vice president , according to sources familiar with the Biden campaign ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ built his presidential bid in 2016 by pitching a fundamentally new view of what America ’ s role in the world should be , Mr. Biden is crafting something of a hybrid approach that is open to new ideas but is largely reliant on a return to many of the policies and principles in place during his time in power .
Sources with knowledge of the Biden campaign ’ s plan say “ evergreen ” principles are a central pillar of how the longtime senator from Delaware will frame his foreign policy pitch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the presidential race .
Most polls give Mr. Biden a sizable lead over Mr. Trump just over four months before Election Day .
While they stress that Mr. Biden is fully aware that the world has changed over the past decade , the headline of his foreign policy platform will be an escape from the wrenching break with tradition that Mr. Trump ushered in .
Political analysts describe the platform as “ restoration , ” with Mr. Biden assembling a team that can help him best articulate how he would reverse the perceived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past four years and rebuild bridges with traditional allies in Western Europe and East Asia , while repairing strained relationships with key international organizations such as the United Nations , NATO and the World Health Organization .
Unlike Mr. Trump in 2016 , Mr. Biden would come to the job with a long and varied record on foreign policy , including three stints as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee during more than three decades in the Senate .
Mr. Biden ’ s bet , specialists say , is that a strong plurality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of returning to the more predictable foreign policy of 2009 to 2017 .
Although voters tend to reward new ways of thinking and bold ideas , Mr. Trump ’ s unique approach may have radically changed the dynamic .
“ I think the Trump foreign policy … has been such an outlier that any new president just has huge scope for pretty dramatic change by doing things that people would have taken for granted five , 10 , 15 years ago , ” said Thomas Wright , a senior foreign policy fellow at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Mr. Biden ’ s foreign policy approach .
“ Normally , when a presidential candidate in an election year says ‘ I want to do more with allies , strengthen our alliance , ’ it sounds a little trite .
Every candidate , with the exception of our current president , says that , ” Mr. Wright said .
“ Bush said it .
Obama said it .
Normally , it doesn ’ t mean much .
But this time I think it means quite a lot.
” Mr. Biden ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate pact , a reluctance to use tariffs as a policy pressure point , and a much less antagonistic attitude toward traditional allies such as Germany .
To do that , Mr. Biden is assembling a familiar cast .
Former Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken ; Jake Sullivan , Mr. Biden ’ s former national security adviser ; Elizabeth Rosenberg , former Treasury Department undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence ; and a host of other Obama administration officials are among key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s ear .
Much of Mr. Biden ’ s national security brain trust is centered within several powerful left-leaning think tanks and advocacy groups in Washington , such as National Security Action , which describes a central part of its mission as “ restoring American leadership ” and reversing what it calls damage done by Mr. Trump .
Mr. Sullivan is a co-chairman of the organization , as is Ben Rhodes , who was deputy national security adviser to Mr. Obama .
Still , Democratic insiders argue that the world has changed dramatically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden can make the deepest inroads on foreign policy , they say , by marrying attacks on Mr. Trump ’ s leadership with a clear path forward that recognizes where the U.S. stands today and where it needs to go .
“ America has been represented by an empty chair ” during the Trump presidency , said one source with knowledge of Mr. Biden ’ s campaign strategy .
“ Even when you have these evergreen strategies and approaches , rebuilding alliances and leveraging partnerships around the world , those are going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And it ’ s a reality that doesn ’ t look anything like the reality he saw when he was vice president.
” Perhaps the clearest example of that dual strategy is with China .
Mr. Biden favors a more collaborative working relationship with China on issues such as climate change , but he also seems keenly aware that Mr. Trump to some degree has successfully cast Beijing as a villain in U.S. popular opinion .
Mr. Biden seems willing to ramp up his rhetoric toward China ’ s Communist Party leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a guy who doesn ’ t have a democratic-with-a-small- ‘ d ’ bone in his body , ” Mr. Biden said of Chinese President Xi Jinping during a Democratic primary debate in February .
Global competition with China also could push Mr. Biden toward Mr. Trump ’ s positions in other arenas , specialists say .
The need to increase American military presence in the Pacific , they say , could lead Mr. Biden to more emphatically back the Trump doctrine of ending U.S. participation in “ endless wars ” in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you see some people [ in the Democratic foreign policy realm ] saying the China challenge is so important that we need to actually do less and pull back ?
” said Mr. Wright .
The Biden campaign did not respond to requests for comment .
Other analysts say a heavy focus on the past could invite scrutiny of Mr. Biden ’ s mixed record on foreign policy .
Former Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates , who served as Pentagon chief in the early years of the Obama-Biden administration , has said Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades , ” including his opposition to the 1991 Persian Gulf War authorization , his vision for Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein and his positions on the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan .
President Trump revived that critique in his address to a rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma , on Saturday night , and his allies have been preparing on that front .
The Republican National Committee this month circulated an email blasting Mr. Biden ’ s support for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposition to the 2011 raid that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and other foreign policy issues .
The email cited numerous news articles and columns that have cast Mr. Biden ’ s foreign policy platform as “ opaque , ” unclear and as less of a priority than many of his domestic proposals .
Specialists say Mr. Biden ’ s relatively safe foreign policy approach also could frustrate the liberal wing of his party , which wants decreased military spending and a more determined move away from interventions in conflicts abroad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frustrate the Democratic base , but he could win over , I think , independents , moderate Republicans , people of a more mainstream persuasion , ” said Stephen Zunes , a professor at the University of San Francisco who studies the intersection of politics and foreign policy .
“ Biden is really going to have to distance himself from his support for the Iraq War .
… Biden is really going to have to remake himself as an anti-interventionist , ” Mr. Zunes said .
“ The good thing for Biden is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself on foreign policy .
He ’ s gone basically where the wind blows on foreign policy .
”

America’s path forward on the global stage for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden begins by looking backward.
The former vice president’s inner circle on international affairs and national security is populated heavily by familiar Obama-era officials and recognizable names in what has become the Democratic Party’s 21st-century foreign policy establishment.
While holed up in Delaware, Mr. Biden is routinely holding foreign policy discussions with former top officials who served alongside him during his eight years as vice president, according to sources familiar with the Biden campaign’s strategy.
Unlike President Trump, who built his presidential bid in 2016 by pitching a fundamentally new view of what America’s role in the world should be, Mr. Biden is crafting something of a hybrid approach that is open to new ideas but is largely reliant on a return to many of the policies and principles in place during his time in power.
Sources with knowledge of the Biden campaign’s plan say “evergreen” principles are a central pillar of how the longtime senator from Delaware will frame his foreign policy pitch to voters during the home stretch of the presidential race. Most polls give Mr. Biden a sizable lead over Mr. Trump just over four months before Election Day.
While they stress that Mr. Biden is fully aware that the world has changed over the past decade, the headline of his foreign policy platform will be an escape from the wrenching break with tradition that Mr. Trump ushered in.
Political analysts describe the platform as “restoration,” with Mr. Biden assembling a team that can help him best articulate how he would reverse the perceived damage Mr. Trump has caused over the past four years and rebuild bridges with traditional allies in Western Europe and East Asia, while repairing strained relationships with key international organizations such as the United Nations, NATO and the World Health Organization.
Unlike Mr. Trump in 2016, Mr. Biden would come to the job with a long and varied record on foreign policy, including three stints as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee during more than three decades in the Senate.
Mr. Biden’s bet, specialists say, is that a strong plurality of voters will warm to the idea of returning to the more predictable foreign policy of 2009 to 2017. Although voters tend to reward new ways of thinking and bold ideas, Mr. Trump’s unique approach may have radically changed the dynamic.
“I think the Trump foreign policy … has been such an outlier that any new president just has huge scope for pretty dramatic change by doing things that people would have taken for granted five, 10, 15 years ago,” said Thomas Wright, a senior foreign policy fellow at the Brookings Institution who has written extensively on Mr. Biden’s foreign policy approach.
“Normally, when a presidential candidate in an election year says ‘I want to do more with allies, strengthen our alliance,’ it sounds a little trite. Every candidate, with the exception of our current president, says that,” Mr. Wright said. “Bush said it. Obama said it. Normally, it doesn’t mean much. But this time I think it means quite a lot.”
Familiar faces
Mr. Biden’s restoration of foreign policy could include a return to the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate pact, a reluctance to use tariffs as a policy pressure point, and a much less antagonistic attitude toward traditional allies such as Germany.
To do that, Mr. Biden is assembling a familiar cast. Former Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken; Jake Sullivan, Mr. Biden’s former national security adviser; Elizabeth Rosenberg, former Treasury Department undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence; and a host of other Obama administration officials are among key voices in the former vice president’s ear.
Much of Mr. Biden’s national security brain trust is centered within several powerful left-leaning think tanks and advocacy groups in Washington, such as National Security Action, which describes a central part of its mission as “restoring American leadership” and reversing what it calls damage done by Mr. Trump.
Mr. Sullivan is a co-chairman of the organization, as is Ben Rhodes, who was deputy national security adviser to Mr. Obama.
Still, Democratic insiders argue that the world has changed dramatically over the past four years. Mr. Biden can make the deepest inroads on foreign policy, they say, by marrying attacks on Mr. Trump’s leadership with a clear path forward that recognizes where the U.S. stands today and where it needs to go.
“America has been represented by an empty chair” during the Trump presidency, said one source with knowledge of Mr. Biden’s campaign strategy. “Even when you have these evergreen strategies and approaches, rebuilding alliances and leveraging partnerships around the world, those are going to have to adapt to the present reality. And it’s a reality that doesn’t look anything like the reality he saw when he was vice president.”
Perhaps the clearest example of that dual strategy is with China. Mr. Biden favors a more collaborative working relationship with China on issues such as climate change, but he also seems keenly aware that Mr. Trump to some degree has successfully cast Beijing as a villain in U.S. popular opinion.
Mr. Biden seems willing to ramp up his rhetoric toward China’s Communist Party leadership to an unprecedented level.
“This is a guy who doesn’t have a democratic-with-a-small-‘d’ bone in his body,” Mr. Biden said of Chinese President Xi Jinping during a Democratic primary debate in February.
Mr. Biden also labeled the Chinese leader a “thug.”
Global competition with China also could push Mr. Biden toward Mr. Trump’s positions in other arenas, specialists say. The need to increase American military presence in the Pacific, they say, could lead Mr. Biden to more emphatically back the Trump doctrine of ending U.S. participation in “endless wars” in the Middle East and Asia.
“Would you see some people [in the Democratic foreign policy realm] saying the China challenge is so important that we need to actually do less and pull back?” said Mr. Wright.
The Biden campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
Facing his record
Other analysts say a heavy focus on the past could invite scrutiny of Mr. Biden’s mixed record on foreign policy. Former Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who served as Pentagon chief in the early years of the Obama-Biden administration, has said Mr. Biden “has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades,” including his opposition to the 1991 Persian Gulf War authorization, his vision for Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein and his positions on the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan.
President Trump revived that critique in his address to a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday night, and his allies have been preparing on that front.
The Republican National Committee this month circulated an email blasting Mr. Biden’s support for the 2003 Iraq invasion, his initial opposition to the 2011 raid that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and other foreign policy issues.
The email cited numerous news articles and columns that have cast Mr. Biden’s foreign policy platform as “opaque,” unclear and as less of a priority than many of his domestic proposals.
Specialists say Mr. Biden’s relatively safe foreign policy approach also could frustrate the liberal wing of his party, which wants decreased military spending and a more determined move away from interventions in conflicts abroad.
“He’s going to frustrate the Democratic base, but he could win over, I think, independents, moderate Republicans, people of a more mainstream persuasion,” said Stephen Zunes, a professor at the University of San Francisco who studies the intersection of politics and foreign policy.
“Biden is really going to have to distance himself from his support for the Iraq War. … Biden is really going to have to remake himself as an anti-interventionist,” Mr. Zunes said. “The good thing for Biden is he’s really good at remaking himself on foreign policy. He’s gone basically where the wind blows on foreign policy.”
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.