washingtontimes--2020-12-23--Media, NGO offices taken over by government in Nicaragua

MANAGUA , Nicaragua ( AP ) - Two media outlets and several non-governmental groups said Wednesday that their offices apparently were confiscated by the government of President Daniel Ortega , with placards were posted at the properties reading “ Property of the Health Ministry.
” The offices in most cases were closed by the government following the 2018 protests against Ortega and have been occupied by police since then .
The signs appeared outside the television station 100 % Noticias and the magazine Confidencial as well at the offices of NGOs Popol Na , Center for Health Information and Advisory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Human Rights .
The signs indicated the properties would be used as maternal welfare or drug treatment centers .
It was the latest step by the Ortega government limiting freedoms for the press and the opposition .
Journalist Carlos Fernando Chamorro , owner of the building where Confidencial had its offices , said that “ the regime is officially practicing confiscation , in violation of Nicaragua ’ s constitution.
” “ We have lived in a state of total illegality for two years , and today Ortega has confirmed there is no rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Miguel Mora , the director of 100 % Noticias , wrote in his social media accounts that “ in practice , this is bald-faced robbery .
No expropriation order exists … there has been no legal ruling about the property of 100 % Noticias.
” At least 325 people were killed in anti-government protests in 2018 , according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights .
Starting in April 2018 , Nicaragua ’ s economy was devastated by nearly five months of unrest initially sparked by cuts to social security benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ortega to step down and allow early elections .
Media outlets and NGOs accused by Ortega of supporting the protests were raided by police and in some cases shuttered .
On Monday , Nicaragua ’ s ruling party-dominated Congress approved a law that would essentially ban opposition candidates from running in the 2021 presidential election .
The law gives Ortega the power to unilaterally declare citizens “ terrorists ” or coup-mongers , classify them as “ traitors to the homeland ” and ban them from running as candidates .
Ortega initially led Nicaragua @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revolution that ousted the Somoza dictatorship .
He returned to the presidency in 2007 after three failed election attempts , and he won reelection in 2011 .
He then sidestepped term limits to get himself reelected in 2016 , and packed courts and government agencies with allies .
His Sandinista party controls the courts and the legislature .
In October , Congress approved legislation mandating prison sentences for those who use online platforms to spread false information or information that could raise alarm among people .
The bill raised alarm among opposition and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a threat to free speech .
The Special Cyber Crimes Law establishes prison terms of two to four years for “ those who promote or distribute false or misleading information that causes alarm , terror , or unease in the public.
” The law allows the government to define what information fits that description .

MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) - Two media outlets and several non-governmental groups said Wednesday that their offices apparently were confiscated by the government of President Daniel Ortega, with placards were posted at the properties reading “Property of the Health Ministry.”
The offices in most cases were closed by the government following the 2018 protests against Ortega and have been occupied by police since then.
The signs appeared outside the television station 100% Noticias and the magazine Confidencial as well at the offices of NGOs Popol Na, Center for Health Information and Advisory Services, and the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights. The signs indicated the properties would be used as maternal welfare or drug treatment centers.
It was the latest step by the Ortega government limiting freedoms for the press and the opposition.
Journalist Carlos Fernando Chamorro, owner of the building where Confidencial had its offices, said that “the regime is officially practicing confiscation, in violation of Nicaragua’s constitution.”
“We have lived in a state of total illegality for two years, and today Ortega has confirmed there is no rule of law in Nicaragua,” Chamorro said.
Miguel Mora, the director of 100% Noticias, wrote in his social media accounts that “in practice, this is bald-faced robbery. No expropriation order exists … there has been no legal ruling about the property of 100% Noticias.”
At least 325 people were killed in anti-government protests in 2018, according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
Starting in April 2018, Nicaragua’s economy was devastated by nearly five months of unrest initially sparked by cuts to social security benefits but which quickly evolved into calls for Ortega to step down and allow early elections.
Media outlets and NGOs accused by Ortega of supporting the protests were raided by police and in some cases shuttered.
On Monday, Nicaragua’s ruling party-dominated Congress approved a law that would essentially ban opposition candidates from running in the 2021 presidential election. The law gives Ortega the power to unilaterally declare citizens “terrorists” or coup-mongers, classify them as “traitors to the homeland” and ban them from running as candidates.
Ortega initially led Nicaragua from 1979 to 1990 following the Sandinista revolution that ousted the Somoza dictatorship. He returned to the presidency in 2007 after three failed election attempts, and he won reelection in 2011. He then sidestepped term limits to get himself reelected in 2016, and packed courts and government agencies with allies. His Sandinista party controls the courts and the legislature.
In October, Congress approved legislation mandating prison sentences for those who use online platforms to spread false information or information that could raise alarm among people. The bill raised alarm among opposition and human rights groups, who described it as a threat to free speech.
The Special Cyber Crimes Law establishes prison terms of two to four years for “those who promote or distribute false or misleading information that causes alarm, terror, or unease in the public.” The law allows the government to define what information fits that description.


washingtontimes--2020-12-23--Judge asked to force county to obey subpoena on Arizona vote

PHOENIX ( AP ) - A judge in Phoenix is deciding whether to order the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to comply with a sweeping subpoena issued by Republicans in the state Senate demanding access to voting machines , copies of all mail ballots and other materials from the election that saw President-elect Joe Biden win Arizona ’ s 11 electoral votes .
Superior Court Judge Randall Warner heard arguments Wednesday from lawyers for the Senate and the Board of Supervisors , which is also controlled by Republicans , but did not immediately issue a ruling .
Sen. Eddie Farnsworth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Senate President Karen Fann issued the wide-ranging subpoena last week .
The supervisors voted 4-1 to fight it and filed a lawsuit asking for a judge to decide whether they must comply , saying lawmakers are illegally seeking access to private voting information .
The lawmakers then filed their own emergency lawsuit asking Warner to force the county to comply .
“ They are allowed to investigate and see what the facts are and make a decision , just like a grand jury , ” said Kory Langhofer , a lawyer for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another chapter in efforts by President Donald Trump and his supporters to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election in Arizona and several other states he lost .
The GOP lawmakers say they want the county to turn over voting machines and records so the Legislature can audit Maricopa County ’ s handling of the election .
No evidence of widespread voter or election fraud has emerged in Arizona , which has seen eight lawsuits challenging the results of the state ’ s presidential vote fail .
Claims of sweeping voting irregularities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several other battleground states have mainly been rejected .
Stephen Tully , a former Republican lawmaker representing the Board of Supervisors , said the lawmakers aren ’ t entitled to the court order they seek , known as a writ of mandamus , nor are they entitled to send an unknown auditor to tinker with voting machines .
“ What they ’ re trying to do is unconstitutional .
It ’ s illegal , ” Tully said .

PHOENIX (AP) - A judge in Phoenix on Wednesday rejected an effort by legislative Republicans to force the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to comply with a sweeping subpoena demanding access to voting machines, copies of all mail ballots and other materials from the election that saw President-elect Joe Biden win Arizona’s 11 electoral votes.
Superior Court Judge Randall Warner said lawmakers did not follow the appropriate procedures to enforce a legislative subpoena, but he invited them to refile their case. However, the ruling is a setback to the effort by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Eddie Farnsworth and Senate President Karen Fann to get access to materials in time to audit them and send a report to Congress before Electoral College votes are counted on Jan. 6.
The dispute is another chapter in efforts by President Donald Trump and his supporters to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election in Arizona and several other states he lost. The GOP lawmakers say they want the county to turn over voting machines and records so the Legislature can audit Maricopa County’s handling of the election.
No evidence of widespread voter or election fraud has emerged in Arizona, which has seen eight lawsuits challenging the results of the state’s presidential vote fail. Claims of sweeping voting irregularities made by Trump backers in Arizona and several other battleground states have mainly been rejected.
The Board of Supervisors, which is controlled by Republicans, voted 4-1 last week to fight the subpoena and filed a lawsuit asking for a judge to decide whether they must comply, saying lawmakers are illegally seeking access to private voting information.
The lawmakers then filed their own emergency lawsuit on Monday asking Warner to force the county to comply, hoping to speed up the process.
“They are allowed to investigate and see what the facts are and make a decision, just like a grand jury,” said Kory Langhofer, a lawyer for Fann and Farnsworth.
Stephen Tully, a former Republican lawmaker representing the Board of Supervisors, said the lawmakers aren’t entitled to the court order they seek, known as a writ of mandamus, nor are they entitled to send an unknown auditor to tinker with voting machines.
“What they’re trying to do is unconstitutional. It’s illegal,” Tully said.


washingtontimes--2020-12-23--Ancestor of 1st Black California elections chief never voted

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - Shirley Weber , soon to become the first Black woman to serve as California ’ s top elections officer , will come to work with a deeply personal perspective about protecting the right to vote : Her grandfather never voted in the rural South decades ago .
Weber , a state legislator and retired California State University , San Diego professor , was formally introduced by Gov .
Gavin Newsom Wednesday , a day after he announced she would be nominated to fill the post now held by Secretary of State Alex Padilla .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris .
Weber , 72 , was born on a 100-acre farm in rural Hope , Arkansas , and her grandfather never voted and died before passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act , which banned racial discrimination at the ballot box .
The family fled Arkansas for California when she was 3 , after her father , a sharecropper , refused to back down in a dispute with a white farmer and a lynch mob threatened his life , she said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , ” Weber said during an online appearance .
“ My grandfather never got a chance to vote .
… My dad never voted until he came to California in the ( 19 ) 50s.
” Weber said those experiences shaped her father ’ s priorities for his children .
He had a sixth-grade education and could barely read but “ he made clear that we knew that those things are extremely important , going to school , doing the best you could but also exercising your right to vote.
” After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used their home as a polling place on Election Day , and she recalls them rearranging furniture to make room for voting equipment .
“ My dad was so proud .
My mom was so proud .
And as a family we knew on Election Day , go through the back door because people are … voting in the living room .
And that was just a part of our culture - we valued the vote.
” Weber , a Democrat like Newsom and Padilla , served as a member of the San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1996 .
Since 2012 , she has held the state Assembly seat in the 79th District in San Diego County .
In the Legislature , Weber was a lead proponent of a ballot proposal to restore affirmative action - it was rejected by voters last month .
She also authored a law , signed by Newsom in September , that creates a task force to come up with proposals for how the state could provide reparations to Black Americans , what form those reparations might take and who would be eligible to receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary of state ’ s job after Padilla became recognized nationally for voting reforms and presided at a time of record voter enrollment and participation .
Under his watch , the state hit 22 million registered voters .
Also looming is a proposed recall election that could drive Newsom from office .
Recall organizers say they have collected more than half the nearly 1.5 million petition signatures needed to place the recall on the ballot , and they have until mid-March to hit the required threshold .
The secretary of state - soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Weber - oversees the process for the recall to qualify for the ballot .
Weber said she was eager to continue expanding voter rolls and rights , especially “ in these very difficult times when people are challenging the right to vote , challenging our system itself and trying to destroy democracy.
” “ My family knows what it is like when people deny you that right , ” she said .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Shirley Weber, soon to become the first Black woman to serve as California’s top elections officer, will come to work with a deeply personal perspective about protecting the right to vote: Her grandfather never voted in the rural South decades ago.
Weber, a state legislator and retired California State University, San Diego professor, was formally introduced by Gov. Gavin Newsom Wednesday, a day after he announced she would be nominated to fill the post now held by Secretary of State Alex Padilla. He’s departing to fill the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
Weber, 72, was born on a 100-acre farm in rural Hope, Arkansas, and her grandfather never voted and died before passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which banned racial discrimination at the ballot box.
The family fled Arkansas for California when she was 3, after her father, a sharecropper, refused to back down in a dispute with a white farmer and a lynch mob threatened his life, she said.
“This is an extremely important issue for me,” Weber said during an online appearance. “My grandfather never got a chance to vote. … My dad never voted until he came to California in the (19)50s.”
Weber said those experiences shaped her father’s priorities for his children. He had a sixth-grade education and could barely read but “he made clear that we knew that those things are extremely important, going to school, doing the best you could but also exercising your right to vote.”
After moving to Los Angeles, her parents used their home as a polling place on Election Day, and she recalls them rearranging furniture to make room for voting equipment.
“My dad was so proud. My mom was so proud. And as a family we knew on Election Day, go through the back door because people are … voting in the living room. And that was just a part of our culture - we valued the vote.”
Weber, a Democrat like Newsom and Padilla, served as a member of the San Diego Board of Education from 1988 to 1996. Since 2012, she has held the state Assembly seat in the 79th District in San Diego County.
In the Legislature, Weber was a lead proponent of a ballot proposal to restore affirmative action - it was rejected by voters last month. She also authored a law, signed by Newsom in September, that creates a task force to come up with proposals for how the state could provide reparations to Black Americans, what form those reparations might take and who would be eligible to receive them.
Weber will come to the secretary of state’s job after Padilla became recognized nationally for voting reforms and presided at a time of record voter enrollment and participation. Under his watch, the state hit 22 million registered voters.
Also looming is a proposed recall election that could drive Newsom from office. Recall organizers say they have collected more than half the nearly 1.5 million petition signatures needed to place the recall on the ballot, and they have until mid-March to hit the required threshold.
The secretary of state - soon to be Newsom’s appointee, Weber - oversees the process for the recall to qualify for the ballot.
Weber said she was eager to continue expanding voter rolls and rights, especially “in these very difficult times when people are challenging the right to vote, challenging our system itself and trying to destroy democracy.”
“My family knows what it is like when people deny you that right,” she said.


washingtontimes--2020-12-23--Donald Trump sows chaos for Congress, departs for Florida

President Trump spurned Democrats and Republicans alike on Wednesday as he left Washington defiantly for the holidays , vetoing a major defense bill , imperiling a COVID-19 relief package and setting the stage for a possible government shutdown after Christmas .
Mr. Trump vetoed the $ 740 billion National Defense Authorization Act as promised , citing among his objections that lawmakers didn ’ t honor his late demand to repeal legal liability protections for big social media companies such as Twitter , Google and Facebook .
The president also rejected a provision to rename military bases that were named for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress against “ politically motivated attempts like this to wash away history and to dishonor the immense progress our country has fought for in realizing our founding principles.
” The president said the measure would so weaken his foreign policy and defense priorities that it amounted to “ a gift to China and Russia.
” Even before the president sent back the bill , House and Senate leaders in both parties were planning to return to Washington next week to vote to override his veto .
Democrats accused Mr. Trump of acting recklessly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the U.S. government that top officials think was carried out by Russia .
After issuing the ninth veto of his term , Mr. Trump flew to his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida , where he plans to stay until Jan. 3 as the final days of his presidency unfold .
In his wake , he left a Republican Party increasingly willing to clash with him publicly .
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James Inhofe , Oklahoma Republican , said the president ’ s valid concerns about Big Tech companies shouldn ’ t derail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security priorities .
He called on lawmakers to override the veto .
“ The NDAA has become law every year for 59 years straight because it ’ s absolutely vital to our national security and our troops , ” Mr. Inhofe said .
“ This year must not be an exception.
” House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney of Wyoming also disagreed with the veto .
“ In addition to hurting our troops , failing to pass the NDAA will have dire consequences for our national security , ” she said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against cyberattacks like the massive cyber operation recently launched against our government by Russia .
It also contains some of the strongest measures in years to counter the Chinese Communist Party , which is responsible for the disastrous coronavirus pandemic.
” The president openly feuded this week with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Majority Whip John Thune of South Dakota after they publicly discouraged a plan by some House Republicans to block congressional certification of the Electoral College votes for President-elect Joseph R. Biden on Jan. 6 .
Mr. Trump announced on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ amend ” a $ 900 billion coronavirus relief and economic stimulus package , after it had passed the House and Senate .
While he stopped short of a veto threat , Mr. Trump demanded that lawmakers increase direct payments for individuals from $ 600 to $ 2,000 , a move that many Republicans dislike but Democrats have embraced .
The House is scheduled to vote Thursday on a proposal to increase the direct payments to $ 2,000 .
But Senate Republican leaders gave no indication that they would accept the higher amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 1,200 payments .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was only too happy to taunt House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Mr. McConnell to agree to the president ’ s new demand .
“ More help is needed .
Will McCarthy , McConnell & Republicans reject $ 2000 for Americans in crisis ?
” she tweeted .
She also urged Mr. Trump to sign the legislation to prevent a partial government shutdown next week .
“ Mr .
President , sign the bill to keep government open !
Urge McConnell and McCarthy to agree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 2,000 direct payments !
” Mrs. Pelosi said on Twitter .
“ This can be done by noon on Christmas Eve !
” During a private House GOP conference call on Wednesday , Mr. McCarthy said he had spoken to the president and that Mr. Trump had not decided whether to veto the bill , according to a person familiar with the conversation .
Another unidentified GOP lawmaker complained that Mr. Trump had thrown Republicans who voted for the measure under a bus .
Rep. Don Bacon , Nebraska Republican , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president ’ s secretary of treasury helped negotiate this bill and encouraged us to support it .
Furthermore , the president was updated on this bill every step of the way by GOP leadership.
” Democrats will ask for the increased payments to pass by unanimous consent .
But at least one Republican is expected to object to the move , which would stop the effort .
Congress already has approved a $ 1.4-trillion omnibus spending package , combined with the COVID-19 relief , by veto-proof majorities to keep the government open through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate don ’ t agree to Mr. Trump ’ s new demands , and the president doesn ’ t sign the currently passed measure , funding for government operations would run out Tuesday .
The coronavirus relief legislation also extends the expansion of jobless benefits that cover 12 million people .
Those provisions expire on Saturday , the day after Christmas .
The legislation also would extend a federal moratorium on evictions through Jan. 31 .
Without it , the moratorium would expire Dec. 31 .
The fight over the NDAA had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president tweeted that he would reject the nearly completed bill if it lacked a repeal of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act , which shields social media companies from liability for the way they police their platforms .
Mr. Trump has long accused Big Tech companies of bias against conservatives .
And he said they no longer deserve the decades-old protection from lawsuits .
Twitter , for example , has increasingly flagged Mr. Trump ’ s posts about alleged election fraud as being unfounded .
“ Section 230 facilitates the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious threat to our national security and election integrity .
It must be repealed , ” Mr. Trump said in his veto message .
The president said in his veto message that his record on national security can not be questioned .
“ No one has worked harder , or approved more money for the military , than I have — over $ 2 trillion , ” Mr. Trump told lawmakers .
“ During my four years , with the support of many others , we have almost entirely rebuilt the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I took office .
Your failure to terminate the very dangerous national security risk of Section 230 will make our intelligence virtually impossible to conduct without everyone knowing what we are doing at every step.
” The president also objected to a provision in the NDAA that he said attempts to restrict his authority to bring home troops from deployments .
“ I oppose endless wars , as does the American public , ” Mr. Trump said .
“ Over bipartisan objections , however , this act purports to restrict the president ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Germany and South Korea .
Not only is this bad policy , but it is unconstitutional.
” Mrs. Pelosi called the veto “ an act of staggering recklessness that harms our troops , endangers our security and undermines the will of the bipartisan Congress.
” “ Disturbingly , Trump is using his final hours in office to sow chaos , including by denying our servicemembers a long-overdue pay raise and hazard duty pay ; our families paid family leave , child care , housing and health protections ; and our veterans the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia , co-chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee , slammed the president ’ s veto as “ unconscionable.
” “ The president ’ s decision to veto this bipartisan legislation on his way out the door poses a serious threat to U.S. national security , ” Mr. Warner said .
“ I look forward to overriding the president ’ s fruitless and ridiculous attempt to undermine our national security over his shifting rationale for his decision to veto , including a provision to rename @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provision that many in the president ’ s own party have supported.
” Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island , top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee , called the veto “ irrational , ” noting that it provides more protections against cyber threats after a major hack of the U.S. government allegedly perpetrated by Moscow .
“ From Confederate base names to social media liability provisions that have nothing to do with national defense to imaginary and easily refutable charges about China , it ’ s hard to keep track of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excuses for vetoing this bipartisan bill , ” Mr. Reed said .
“ On the eve of Christmas Eve , this veto seems to be Trump ’ s parting gift to [ Russian President Vladimir ] Putin and a lump of coal for our troops.
” Rep. Matt Gaetz , Florida Republican , said the president did the right thing by vetoing the measure , calling the bill “ a slap in the face to the America First movement.
” He said he will vote against a veto override .
“ It greatly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remove troops from foreign lands , and to draw down endless , unconstitutional wars , ” Mr. Gaetz tweeted .
“ Additionally , it does nothing to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
” The NDAA was approved 335-78 by the House and 84-13 in the Senate .
Each chamber would need a two-thirds majority to override the veto .
The House has scheduled a vote Monday to override Mr. Trump ’ s action .
If successful , the Senate would hold a vote Tuesday .

President Trump spurned Democrats and Republicans alike on Wednesday as he left Washington defiantly for the holidays, vetoing a major defense bill, imperiling a COVID-19 relief package and setting the stage for a possible government shutdown after Christmas.
Mr. Trump vetoed the $740 billion National Defense Authorization Act as promised, citing among his objections that lawmakers didn’t honor his late demand to repeal legal liability protections for big social media companies such as Twitter, Google and Facebook.
The president also rejected a provision to rename military bases that were named for Confederates. He said he had warned Congress against “politically motivated attempts like this to wash away history and to dishonor the immense progress our country has fought for in realizing our founding principles.”
The president said the measure would so weaken his foreign policy and defense priorities that it amounted to “a gift to China and Russia.”
Even before the president sent back the bill, House and Senate leaders in both parties were planning to return to Washington next week to vote to override his veto. Democrats accused Mr. Trump of acting recklessly, especially after a major cyberhack of the U.S. government that top officials think was carried out by Russia.
After issuing the ninth veto of his term, Mr. Trump flew to his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, where he plans to stay until Jan. 3 as the final days of his presidency unfold. In his wake, he left a Republican Party increasingly willing to clash with him publicly.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James Inhofe, Oklahoma Republican, said the president’s valid concerns about Big Tech companies shouldn’t derail the annual defense bill that sets national security priorities. He called on lawmakers to override the veto.
“The NDAA has become law every year for 59 years straight because it’s absolutely vital to our national security and our troops,” Mr. Inhofe said. “This year must not be an exception.”
House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney of Wyoming also disagreed with the veto.
“In addition to hurting our troops, failing to pass the NDAA will have dire consequences for our national security,” she said. “This bill will help protect our nation against cyberattacks like the massive cyber operation recently launched against our government by Russia. It also contains some of the strongest measures in years to counter the Chinese Communist Party, which is responsible for the disastrous coronavirus pandemic.”
The president openly feuded this week with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Majority Whip John Thune of South Dakota after they publicly discouraged a plan by some House Republicans to block congressional certification of the Electoral College votes for President-elect Joseph R. Biden on Jan. 6.
Mr. Trump announced on Tuesday night that he wants Congress to “amend” a $900 billion coronavirus relief and economic stimulus package, after it had passed the House and Senate. While he stopped short of a veto threat, Mr. Trump demanded that lawmakers increase direct payments for individuals from $600 to $2,000, a move that many Republicans dislike but Democrats have embraced.
The House is scheduled to vote Thursday on a proposal to increase the direct payments to $2,000. But Senate Republican leaders gave no indication that they would accept the higher amount, having earlier rejected a proposal for $1,200 payments.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was only too happy to taunt House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Mr. McConnell to agree to the president’s new demand.
“More help is needed. Will McCarthy, McConnell & Republicans reject $2000 for Americans in crisis?” she tweeted.
She also urged Mr. Trump to sign the legislation to prevent a partial government shutdown next week.
“Mr. President, sign the bill to keep government open! Urge McConnell and McCarthy to agree with the Democratic unanimous consent request for $2,000 direct payments!” Mrs. Pelosi said on Twitter. “This can be done by noon on Christmas Eve!”
During a private House GOP conference call on Wednesday, Mr. McCarthy said he had spoken to the president and that Mr. Trump had not decided whether to veto the bill, according to a person familiar with the conversation. Another unidentified GOP lawmaker complained that Mr. Trump had thrown Republicans who voted for the measure under a bus.
Rep. Don Bacon, Nebraska Republican, said later in a statement, “The president’s secretary of treasury helped negotiate this bill and encouraged us to support it. Furthermore, the president was updated on this bill every step of the way by GOP leadership.”
Democrats will ask for the increased payments to pass by unanimous consent. But at least one Republican is expected to object to the move, which would stop the effort.
Congress already has approved a $1.4-trillion omnibus spending package, combined with the COVID-19 relief, by veto-proof majorities to keep the government open through September. But if the House and Senate don’t agree to Mr. Trump’s new demands, and the president doesn’t sign the currently passed measure, funding for government operations would run out Tuesday.
The coronavirus relief legislation also extends the expansion of jobless benefits that cover 12 million people. Those provisions expire on Saturday, the day after Christmas.
The legislation also would extend a federal moratorium on evictions through Jan. 31. Without it, the moratorium would expire Dec. 31.
The fight over the NDAA had been brewing since Dec. 1, when the president tweeted that he would reject the nearly completed bill if it lacked a repeal of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields social media companies from liability for the way they police their platforms.
Mr. Trump has long accused Big Tech companies of bias against conservatives. And he said they no longer deserve the decades-old protection from lawsuits.
Twitter, for example, has increasingly flagged Mr. Trump’s posts about alleged election fraud as being unfounded.
“Section 230 facilitates the spread of foreign disinformation online, which is a serious threat to our national security and election integrity. It must be repealed,” Mr. Trump said in his veto message.
The president said in his veto message that his record on national security cannot be questioned.
“No one has worked harder, or approved more money for the military, than I have — over $2 trillion,” Mr. Trump told lawmakers. “During my four years, with the support of many others, we have almost entirely rebuilt the United States military, which was totally depleted when I took office. Your failure to terminate the very dangerous national security risk of Section 230 will make our intelligence virtually impossible to conduct without everyone knowing what we are doing at every step.”
The president also objected to a provision in the NDAA that he said attempts to restrict his authority to bring home troops from deployments.
“I oppose endless wars, as does the American public,” Mr. Trump said. “Over bipartisan objections, however, this act purports to restrict the president’s ability to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, Germany and South Korea. Not only is this bad policy, but it is unconstitutional.”
Mrs. Pelosi called the veto “an act of staggering recklessness that harms our troops, endangers our security and undermines the will of the bipartisan Congress.”
“Disturbingly, Trump is using his final hours in office to sow chaos, including by denying our servicemembers a long-overdue pay raise and hazard duty pay; our families paid family leave, child care, housing and health protections; and our veterans the benefits that they need and deserve,” she said.
Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, co-chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, slammed the president’s veto as “unconscionable.”
“The president’s decision to veto this bipartisan legislation on his way out the door poses a serious threat to U.S. national security,” Mr. Warner said. “I look forward to overriding the president’s fruitless and ridiculous attempt to undermine our national security over his shifting rationale for his decision to veto, including a provision to rename bases honoring Confederate military leaders — a provision that many in the president’s own party have supported.”
Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the veto “irrational,” noting that it provides more protections against cyber threats after a major hack of the U.S. government allegedly perpetrated by Moscow.
“From Confederate base names to social media liability provisions that have nothing to do with national defense to imaginary and easily refutable charges about China, it’s hard to keep track of President Trump’s unprincipled, irrational excuses for vetoing this bipartisan bill,” Mr. Reed said. “On the eve of Christmas Eve, this veto seems to be Trump’s parting gift to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and a lump of coal for our troops.”
Rep. Matt Gaetz, Florida Republican, said the president did the right thing by vetoing the measure, calling the bill “a slap in the face to the America First movement.” He said he will vote against a veto override.
“It greatly limits the president’s ability to remove troops from foreign lands, and to draw down endless, unconstitutional wars,” Mr. Gaetz tweeted. “Additionally, it does nothing to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.”
The NDAA was approved 335-78 by the House and 84-13 in the Senate. Each chamber would need a two-thirds majority to override the veto.
The House has scheduled a vote Monday to override Mr. Trump’s action. If successful, the Senate would hold a vote Tuesday.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-23--Warner Bros. sets ‘Furiosa,’ ‘Color Purple’ musical for 2023

A “ Mad Max : Fury Road ” prequel and an adaptation of “ The Color Purple ” Broadway musical are coming to theaters in 2023 , Warner Bros. said Wednesday .
The announcement comes on the heels of the studio ’ s industry-shaking decision to release all its 2021 films simultaneously on HBO Max and in theaters .
“ Furiosa , ” the “ Mad Max ” prequel based on Charlize Theron ’ s character , stars Anya Taylor-Joy of “ The Queen ’ s Gambit ” as the titular warrior .
George Miller wrote and is returning to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chris Hemsworth and has been slated for a June 23 , 2023 release .
“ The Color Purple , ” meanwhile , has been set for a December 2023 debut .
The adaptation of the Tony-award winning musical , based on Alice Walker ’ s book and Steven Spielberg ’ s 1985 film , is set to be directed by Blitz Bazawule ( “ Black Is King ” ) .
Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey are among the producers .
Warner Bros. also announced “ Coyote vs. Acme , ” a hybrid live-action and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for June 2023 .

A “Mad Max: Fury Road” prequel and an adaptation of “The Color Purple” Broadway musical are coming to theaters in 2023, Warner Bros. said Wednesday.
The announcement comes on the heels of the studio’s industry-shaking decision to release all its 2021 films simultaneously on HBO Max and in theaters.
“Furiosa,” the “Mad Max” prequel based on Charlize Theron’s character, stars Anya Taylor-Joy of “The Queen’s Gambit” as the titular warrior. George Miller wrote and is returning to direct the film, which also stars Chris Hemsworth and has been slated for a June 23, 2023 release.
“The Color Purple,” meanwhile, has been set for a December 2023 debut. The adaptation of the Tony-award winning musical, based on Alice Walker’s book and Steven Spielberg’s 1985 film, is set to be directed by Blitz Bazawule (“Black Is King”). Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey are among the producers.
Warner Bros. also announced “Coyote vs. Acme,” a hybrid live-action and animated film about the Looney Tunes character, for June 2023.


washingtontimes--2020-12-23--Woman sues after Chicago police drag her from car by hair

CHICAGO ( AP ) - A woman who says she was yanked by her hair from a car by Chicago police during a shopping mall encounter has filed a federal lawsuit against the city .
Mia Wright , 25 , and four family members claim their civil rights were violated and asserts the May confrontation left her blind in one eye from flying glass caused by police breaking the windows of the car to get to its passengers .
“ During this attack , Mia Wright could not breathe and was in paralyzing fear as her face and neck were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago .
The incident occurred during unrest in Chicago and around the nation following the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd .
Police said they were responding to reports of looting at the mall when they came across a car containing Wright and others .
Officers said they suspected the people in the car were there to “ disturb the peace.
” But Wright has said she and others in the vehicle were at the mall to shop for a birthday party and did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the unrest .
The lawsuit says video shows two Chicago police officers huddling and talking before walking to Wright ’ s car and pulling her out of the car while other officers hurled profanities at her .
One officer pressed his knee into Wright ’ s back as she lay prone on the ground .
Two officers have been relieved of their duties while the Civilian Office of Police Accountability investigates the case .
Chicago ’ s Law Department said Wednesday it hasn ’ t been served with a copy of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Chicago Police Department also declined to comment .

CHICAGO (AP) - A woman who says she was yanked by her hair from a car by Chicago police during a shopping mall encounter has filed a federal lawsuit against the city.
Mia Wright, 25, and four family members claim their civil rights were violated and asserts the May confrontation left her blind in one eye from flying glass caused by police breaking the windows of the car to get to its passengers.
“During this attack, Mia Wright could not breathe and was in paralyzing fear as her face and neck were smashed against the concrete ground,” says the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
The incident occurred during unrest in Chicago and around the nation following the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd. Police said they were responding to reports of looting at the mall when they came across a car containing Wright and others.
Officers said they suspected the people in the car were there to “disturb the peace.” But Wright has said she and others in the vehicle were at the mall to shop for a birthday party and did not realize it had been closed because of the unrest.
The lawsuit says video shows two Chicago police officers huddling and talking before walking to Wright’s car and pulling her out of the car while other officers hurled profanities at her. One officer pressed his knee into Wright’s back as she lay prone on the ground.
Two officers have been relieved of their duties while the Civilian Office of Police Accountability investigates the case.
Chicago’s Law Department said Wednesday it hasn’t been served with a copy of the lawsuit and couldn’t comment. The Chicago Police Department also declined to comment.


washingtontimes--2020-12-23--Ex-'Survivor' contestant charged with larceny in Virginia

DANVILLE , Va. ( AP ) - A former “ Survivor ” contestant has been charged in Virginia with grand larceny , authorities said .
Jonny Fairplay , who while competing on the show in 2003 became known for orchestrating a lie that his grandmother had died , was charged after a silver necklace and furniture were taken from a residence , the Pittsylvania County Sheriff ’ s Office said .
Also charged was Fairplay ’ s mother , Patsy Terry Hall , 68 , the Danville Register & Bee reported Wednesday .
The sheriff ’ s office said Fairplay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to TV station WSET .
Sheriff ’ s office officials would not say who lived at the home , according to the Register & Bee .
Fairplay , 46 , and Hall turned themselves in at a magistrate ’ s office Friday after Danville police served them warrants , a police spokesman told the newspaper .
“ I ( we ) have been unjustly charged by a family member .
I welcome the opportunity to vindicate myself ( and my mother ) , ” Fairplay wrote in a message to The Associated @ @ @ @ @

DANVILLE, Va. (AP) - A former “Survivor” contestant has been charged in Virginia with grand larceny, authorities said.
Jonny Fairplay, who while competing on the show in 2003 became known for orchestrating a lie that his grandmother had died, was charged after a silver necklace and furniture were taken from a residence, the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office said. Also charged was Fairplay’s mother, Patsy Terry Hall, 68, the Danville Register & Bee reported Wednesday.
The sheriff’s office said Fairplay’s aunt filed the complaint, according to TV station WSET. Sheriff’s office officials would not say who lived at the home, according to the Register & Bee.
Fairplay, 46, and Hall turned themselves in at a magistrate’s office Friday after Danville police served them warrants, a police spokesman told the newspaper.
“I (we) have been unjustly charged by a family member. I welcome the opportunity to vindicate myself (and my mother),” Fairplay wrote in a message to The Associated Press on Wednesday evening.


washingtontimes--2020-12-23--Joe Biden selects Miguel Cardona to be next secretary of education

President-elect Joseph R. Biden introduced Miguel Cardona as his pick for education secretary Wednesday , declaring the public schools chief from Connecticut to be “ as American as apple pie and rice and beans.
” The multicultural reference underscored Mr. Cardona ’ s Hispanic heritage and Mr. Biden ’ s determination to have the most diverse Cabinet in U.S. history .
The pick also signaled a dramatic pivot from the Trump administration in K-12 education .
“ In this critical moment in our nation ’ s history , it ’ s essential that there is an educator serving as secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I want to make that clear again : an educator , someone who has taught in the classroom , comes out of the classroom.
” His public schools background means Mr. Cardona will “ be ready from Day One , ” Mr. Biden said .
Mr. Cardona , 45 , spent his entire life in public schools and most recently held the position of education commissioner in Connecticut .
The son of a Meriden , Connecticut , police officer , Mr. Cardona assumed his latest duties in February , and consequently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge was devoted to dealing with the coronavirus pandemic .
Mr. Cardona took an aggressive stance in favor of keeping schools open , a position that put him at odds with the powerful teachers unions .
“ There is no substitute for in-classroom learning , ” Mr. Cardona said in a recent Connecticut radio interview .
“ The issue of attendance and enrollment and engagement disproportionately affects our urban centers that are a little more dense or have greater need.
” Despite that stance , it was the teachers unions who were most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ His commitment to public education , to our students and to listening to and respecting the wisdom of educators will be crucial as the Biden administration helps school districts across America meet the social , emotional and instructional needs of students and moves to safely , responsibly and equitably reopen school buildings , ” said Randi Weingarten , president of the American Federation of Teachers .
Before joining the administration of Gov .
Ned Lamont , a Democrat , Mr. Cardona rose to the top of the Meriden public school district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roughly 7,500 students , 70 % of whom are minorities , according to public records .
The district ranks in the bottom half of the state in graduation rates and proficiency in math and reading .
Even some of those who favor more choice in the public education landscape embraced Mr. Cardona ’ s position on keeping schools open during the pandemic , a position shared by the American Pediatric Association .
“ President-elect Joe Biden ’ s choice is good news for the millions of parents and students whose fates have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Jeanne Allen , founder the chief executive officer of the Center for Education Reform .
“ Had Biden picked a union leader or equivalent , it would have been akin to an act of war on the progress of the last three decades of pushing power to parents , and on those who have fought to get their kids educated this year.
” Teachers unions in many states vigorously fought to keep schools closed during the pandemic , insisting the classroom environment poses a health threat to education professionals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was a huge push from the unions to keep schools closed in the fall , ” said Marc Fitch , a Hartford-based researcher who has tracked public education in Connecticut for the Yankee Institute .
On the school choice issue , however , Mr. Cardona will be an ally of teachers unions and stand in stark contrast to outgoing Education Secretary Betsy DeVos .
Mrs. DeVos suffered harsh criticism from the unions and other supporters of the current public school system .
She and President Trump have been strong proponents of vouchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ view as a threat to the public school model .
In February 2019 , Mrs. DeVos created an Education Freedom Scholarship , which is now a $ 5 billion initiative offering tax credits to people and businesses that provide money to pay for scholarships that provide alternatives to parents and students .
The AFT and the National Education Association , the two largest teachers unions , oppose all vouchers , scholarships and other methods of school choice .
The idea that the Biden administration would take money that might have been earmarked for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the existing public school structure delighted unions .
“ With his experience as a student , fourth-grade teacher , principal , assistant superintendent and commissioner in Connecticut , Dr. Cardona — a former AFT member — will transform the Education Department to help students thrive , a reversal of the DeVos disaster of the last four years , ” Ms. Weingarten ’ s statement read .
But the system Mr. Cardona oversaw offers many examples of how school choice has benefited students , Mr. Fitch said .
“ School choice has been one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said of a system that spends $ 24,000 a year for students in many poorly performing urban schools .
“ There is a huge achievement gap here , ” Mr. Fitch said .
“ Probably 95 % of the public schools are great by national standards .
But in urban areas , the schools are just terrible .
”

President-elect Joseph R. Biden introduced Miguel Cardona as his pick for education secretary Wednesday, declaring the public schools chief from Connecticut to be “as American as apple pie and rice and beans.”
The multicultural reference underscored Mr. Cardona’s Hispanic heritage and Mr. Biden’s determination to have the most diverse Cabinet in U.S. history.
The pick also signaled a dramatic pivot from the Trump administration in K-12 education.
“In this critical moment in our nation’s history, it’s essential that there is an educator serving as secretary of education,” Mr. Biden said. “I want to make that clear again: an educator, someone who has taught in the classroom, comes out of the classroom.”
His public schools background means Mr. Cardona will “be ready from Day One,” Mr. Biden said.
Mr. Cardona, 45, spent his entire life in public schools and most recently held the position of education commissioner in Connecticut.
The son of a Meriden, Connecticut, police officer, Mr. Cardona assumed his latest duties in February, and consequently, most of his short tenure in charge was devoted to dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. Mr. Cardona took an aggressive stance in favor of keeping schools open, a position that put him at odds with the powerful teachers unions.
“There is no substitute for in-classroom learning,” Mr. Cardona said in a recent Connecticut radio interview. “The issue of attendance and enrollment and engagement disproportionately affects our urban centers that are a little more dense or have greater need.”
Despite that stance, it was the teachers unions who were most pleased with Mr. Biden’s nomination.
“His commitment to public education, to our students and to listening to and respecting the wisdom of educators will be crucial as the Biden administration helps school districts across America meet the social, emotional and instructional needs of students and moves to safely, responsibly and equitably reopen school buildings,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.
Before joining the administration of Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, Mr. Cardona rose to the top of the Meriden public school district, which consists of 12 schools and roughly 7,500 students, 70% of whom are minorities, according to public records. The district ranks in the bottom half of the state in graduation rates and proficiency in math and reading.
Even some of those who favor more choice in the public education landscape embraced Mr. Cardona’s position on keeping schools open during the pandemic, a position shared by the American Pediatric Association.
“President-elect Joe Biden’s choice is good news for the millions of parents and students whose fates have been so derailed by the coronavirus this year,” said Jeanne Allen, founder the chief executive officer of the Center for Education Reform. “Had Biden picked a union leader or equivalent, it would have been akin to an act of war on the progress of the last three decades of pushing power to parents, and on those who have fought to get their kids educated this year.”
Teachers unions in many states vigorously fought to keep schools closed during the pandemic, insisting the classroom environment poses a health threat to education professionals.
“Cardona did a commendable job because there was a huge push from the unions to keep schools closed in the fall,” said Marc Fitch, a Hartford-based researcher who has tracked public education in Connecticut for the Yankee Institute.
On the school choice issue, however, Mr. Cardona will be an ally of teachers unions and stand in stark contrast to outgoing Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
Mrs. DeVos suffered harsh criticism from the unions and other supporters of the current public school system. She and President Trump have been strong proponents of vouchers and charter schools, which teachers unions view as a threat to the public school model.
In February 2019, Mrs. DeVos created an Education Freedom Scholarship, which is now a $5 billion initiative offering tax credits to people and businesses that provide money to pay for scholarships that provide alternatives to parents and students.
The AFT and the National Education Association, the two largest teachers unions, oppose all vouchers, scholarships and other methods of school choice.
The idea that the Biden administration would take money that might have been earmarked for school choice and pour it back into the existing public school structure delighted unions.
“With his experience as a student, fourth-grade teacher, principal, assistant superintendent and commissioner in Connecticut, Dr. Cardona — a former AFT member — will transform the Education Department to help students thrive, a reversal of the DeVos disaster of the last four years,” Ms. Weingarten’s statement read.
But the system Mr. Cardona oversaw offers many examples of how school choice has benefited students, Mr. Fitch said.
“School choice has been one of the only bright spots,” he said of a system that spends $24,000 a year for students in many poorly performing urban schools.
“There is a huge achievement gap here,” Mr. Fitch said. “Probably 95% of the public schools are great by national standards. But in urban areas, the schools are just terrible.”
• James Varney can be reached at jvarney@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-23--Donald Trump pardons Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Charles Kushner, others: Report

President Trump granted full pardons to 26 more people on Wednesday night , including former 2016 campaign chairman Paul Manafort , longtime confidante Roger Stone and Charles Kushner , father of the president ’ s senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner .
The second wave of clemency this week followed 20 pardons and commutations issued on Tuesday , as Mr. Trump nears the end of his term .
Both Mr. Stone and Mr. Manafort were convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s investigation .
The president said Stone , 68 , whose sentence he had commuted in July , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ Due to prosecutorial misconduct by Special Counsel Mueller ’ s team , Mr. Stone was treated very unfairly , ” the White House said .
“ He was subjected to a pre-dawn raid of his home , which the media conveniently captured on camera .
Mr. Stone also faced potential political bias at his jury trial .
Pardoning him will help to right the injustices he faced at the hands of the Mueller investigation.
” He had been convicted of obstructing Congress and threatening a witness .
The White House said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years in prison for bank and tax fraud , illegal foreign lobbying and witness tampering , was a victim of “ blatant prosecutorial overreach.
” “ Mr .
Manafort has already spent two years in prison , including a stretch of time in solitary confinement – treatment worse than what many of the most violent criminals receive , ” the statement said .
Since May , Mr. Manafort has been released to home confinement as a result of COVID-19 concerns .
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. , who is pursuing mortgage fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state , slammed the pardon .
Mr. Trump ’ s pardon only shields Mr. Manafort from federal charges , not the state level crimes Mr. Vance has accused him of .
New York ’ s highest court dismissed the charges last month , saying they are too similar to the federal counts Mr. Manafort was convicted of in 2018 .
Mr. Vance is appealing that decision .
“ This action underscores the urgent need to hold Mr. Manafort accountable for his crimes against the People of New York as alleged in our indictment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appellate remedies , ” a spokesman for Mr. Vance said of the pardon .
Mr. Stone , a GOP political strategist and longtime confidante of Mr. Trump , twice benefited from the president ’ s pardon powers .
The president first commuted his prison sentence and now granted him a full pardon .
He was convicted last year of lying to Congress , witness tampering and obstructing the U.S. House probe into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia during the 2016 election .
A judge sentenced Mr. Stone to 40 months in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentence before it started .
Mr. Stone still pursued pardon , saying he was praying for one .
Mr. Kushner , 66 , a real estate developer , is the father of one of Mr. Trump ’ s closest advisers .
Jared Kushner is married to Ivanka Trump , the president ’ s elder daughter .
Mr. Kushner was prosecuted by then-U.S. Attorney Chris Christie in 2004 and pleaded guilty to 18 counts of illegal campaign contributions , tax evasion , and witness tampering , involving campaign donations to Democratic candidates .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ camp in Alabama .
The White House said former U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah Brett Tolman and American Conservative Union officials Matt Schlapp and David Safavian support a pardon of Mr. Kushner .
“ Since completing his sentence in 2006 , Mr. Kushner has been devoted to important philanthropic organizations and causes , such as Saint Barnabas Medical Center and United Cerebral Palsy , ” the White House said .
“ This record of reform and charity overshadows Mr. Kushner ’ s conviction and 2-year sentence for preparing false tax returns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statements to the FEC.
” Jared Kushner has been a point man for the president ’ s efforts at criminal justice reform .
Margaret Hunter , the wife and former campaign manager of ex-Rep. Duncan Hunter , received a full pardon one day after her husband .
She filed for divorce last month .
The absence of her name on a list of people pardoned by Mr. Trump on Tuesday was widely criticized by supporters and friends of the former Congressman , who resigned earlier this year after pleading guilty to violating campaign-finance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 that they diverted roughly $ 250,000 in political donations for personal use .
They each initially pled not guilty , but Margaret later admitted to a single felon charge in June 2019 .
She also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and testify against her husband .
A federal judge sentenced her to eight months of home confinement and three years probation .
The president also pardoned former Rep. Mark Siljander of Michigan , a Republican who served served a year in prison after pleading guilty in 2010 to obstruction of justice and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Registration Act .
“ Since his incarceration , Mr. Siljander has devoted himself to traveling in the Middle East and Africa to promote peace and mutual understanding , ” the White House said .
His pardon was supported by former Attorney General Edwin Meese , former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich , former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee , Alabama Rep. Robert Aderholt , and Pastor Andrew Brunson .
The statement said that Siljander was one of Congress ’ “ most stalwart defenders of pro-life principles and the namesake of the ‘ Siljander @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from being used to lobby for or against abortion.
” On Tuesday , Mr. Trump granted clemency to three other former Republican House members .
Also receiving a full pardon was Stephanie Mohr , a former police officer in Prince George ’ s County Maryland .
The county ’ s first female police dog trainer , she was sentenced to 10 years in prison for civil rights violations after her dog bit a fleeing burglary suspect .
The suspect , an illegal immigrant , needed 10 stitches .
She insists she was scapegoated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Earlier this year , Mohr appeared on Newsmax TV to plead with Mr. Trump for a full pardon .
“ I believe that justice has yet to make its final finish on my case , and President Trump is able to do that , ” she said at the time .
Former Border Patrol agent Gary Brugman also was granted a full pardon on his conviction of deprivation of constitutional rights .
“ While protecting our borders at Eagle Pass , Texas , Mr. Brugman intercepted nearly a dozen illegal immigrants , pursued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the White House said .
“ Mr .
Brugman was accused of knocking one of the illegal immigrants to the ground and was prosecuted on that basis for deprivation of rights.
” He served 27 months in prison , “ where other inmates sought to harm him because of his law enforcement background.
” His clemency is supported by Texas Lt .
Governor Dan Patrick , Texas Republican Sens .
Ted Cruz and John Cornyn , other elected officials and media figures Laura Ingraham , Sara Carter , Glenn Beck and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sex trafficking victim who was arrested for money laundering tax evasion in 2006 , also received a full pardon .
She was arrested as part of prostitution ring operating of an upscale neighborhood in Denton .
She and the other women were seen as victims , lured into the illicit lifestyle and brainwashed and beaten if they did not follow orders .
After her arrest , Charleston became a champion for sex trafficking survivors and volunteers her time to assist victims .
Democrats assailed the president ’ s actions , accusing him of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Manafort and Stone during the Mueller probe .
“ Pardons for Paul Manafort and Roger Stone serve neither justice nor mercy , ” House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler of New York tweeted .
“ President Trump is handing out rewards to his co-conspirators and shielding his own conduct from scrutiny.
” House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff , of California , cited reports that Trump ’ s lawyer had dangled a pardon before Manafort , one of the few Mueller targets who didn ’ t cooperate .
“ Manafort withdrew his cooperation with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then Trump praised him for not “ ratting.
” Trump ’ s pardon now completes the corrupt scheme .
Lawless until the bitter end , ” he wrote on Twitter .
Andrew Weissmann , who was one of Mr. Mueller ’ s top managers and was head of the Justice Department ’ s criminal fraud section under President Obama , blasted the pardons .
“ The pardons from this President are what you would expect to get if you gave the pardon power to a mob boss , ” Mr. Weissmann tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said of the new round of clemency , “ This is rotten to the core .
”

President Trump granted full pardons to 26 more people on Wednesday night, including former 2016 campaign chairman Paul Manafort, longtime confidante Roger Stone and Charles Kushner, father of the president’s senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The second wave of clemency this week followed 20 pardons and commutations issued on Tuesday, as Mr. Trump nears the end of his term.
Both Mr. Stone and Mr. Manafort were convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation. The president said Stone, 68, whose sentence he had commuted in July, is afflicted with “numerous medical conditions.”
“Due to prosecutorial misconduct by Special Counsel Mueller’s team, Mr. Stone was treated very unfairly,” the White House said. “He was subjected to a pre-dawn raid of his home, which the media conveniently captured on camera. Mr. Stone also faced potential political bias at his jury trial. Pardoning him will help to right the injustices he faced at the hands of the Mueller investigation.”
He had been convicted of obstructing Congress and threatening a witness.
The White House said Mr. Manafort, who spent nearly two years in prison for bank and tax fraud, illegal foreign lobbying and witness tampering, was a victim of “blatant prosecutorial overreach.”
“Mr. Manafort has already spent two years in prison, including a stretch of time in solitary confinement – treatment worse than what many of the most violent criminals receive,” the statement said.
Since May, Mr. Manafort has been released to home confinement as a result of COVID-19 concerns.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., who is pursuing mortgage fraud charges against Mr. Manafort in New York state, slammed the pardon.
Mr. Trump’s pardon only shields Mr. Manafort from federal charges, not the state level crimes Mr. Vance has accused him of.
New York’s highest court dismissed the charges last month, saying they are too similar to the federal counts Mr. Manafort was convicted of in 2018. Mr. Vance is appealing that decision.
“This action underscores the urgent need to hold Mr. Manafort accountable for his crimes against the People of New York as alleged in our indictment and we will continue to pursue our appellate remedies,” a spokesman for Mr. Vance said of the pardon.
Mr. Stone, a GOP political strategist and longtime confidante of Mr. Trump, twice benefited from the president’s pardon powers. The president first commuted his prison sentence and now granted him a full pardon.
He was convicted last year of lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstructing the U.S. House probe into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia during the 2016 election.
A judge sentenced Mr. Stone to 40 months in prison, but Mr. Trump commuted that sentence before it started. Mr. Stone still pursued pardon, saying he was praying for one.
Mr. Kushner, 66, a real estate developer, is the father of one of Mr. Trump’s closest advisers. Jared Kushner is married to Ivanka Trump, the president’s elder daughter.
Mr. Kushner was prosecuted by then-U.S. Attorney Chris Christie in 2004 and pleaded guilty to 18 counts of illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion, and witness tampering, involving campaign donations to Democratic candidates. He served 14 months at a federal prison camp in Alabama.
The White House said former U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah Brett Tolman and American Conservative Union officials Matt Schlapp and David Safavian support a pardon of Mr. Kushner.
“Since completing his sentence in 2006, Mr. Kushner has been devoted to important philanthropic organizations and causes, such as Saint Barnabas Medical Center and United Cerebral Palsy,” the White House said. “This record of reform and charity overshadows Mr. Kushner’s conviction and 2-year sentence for preparing false tax returns, witness retaliation, and making false statements to the FEC.”
Jared Kushner has been a point man for the president’s efforts at criminal justice reform.
Margaret Hunter, the wife and former campaign manager of ex-Rep. Duncan Hunter, received a full pardon one day after her husband. She filed for divorce last month.
The absence of her name on a list of people pardoned by Mr. Trump on Tuesday was widely criticized by supporters and friends of the former congressman, who resigned earlier this year after pleading guilty to violating campaign-finance rules.
Both Hunters were indicted in 2018 after they diverted roughly $250,000 in political donations for personal use.
They each initially pleaded not guilty, but Margaret later admitted to a single felon charge in June 2019. She also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and testify against her husband. A federal judge sentenced her to eight months of home confinement and three years probation.
The president also pardoned former Rep. Mark Siljander of Michigan, a Republican who served served a year in prison after pleading guilty in 2010 to obstruction of justice and failing to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
“Since his incarceration, Mr. Siljander has devoted himself to traveling in the Middle East and Africa to promote peace and mutual understanding,” the White House said. His pardon was supported by former Attorney General Edwin Meese, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Alabama Rep. Robert Aderholt and Pastor Andrew Brunson.
The statement said that Mr. Siljander was one of Congress’ “most stalwart defenders of pro-life principles and the namesake of the ‘Siljander Amendment,’ which prohibits U.S. funds from being used to lobby for or against abortion.”
On Tuesday, Mr. Trump granted clemency to three other former Republican House members.
Also receiving a full pardon was Stephanie Mohr, a former police officer in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
The county’s first female police dog trainer, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison for civil rights violations after her dog bit a fleeing burglary suspect. The suspect, an illegal immigrant, needed 10 stitches.
She insists she was scapegoated by politically motivated, anti-police prosecutors.
Earlier this year, Mohr appeared on Newsmax TV to plead with Mr. Trump for a full pardon.
“I believe that justice has yet to make its final finish on my case, and President Trump is able to do that,” she said at the time.
Former Border Patrol agent Gary Brugman also was granted a full pardon on his conviction of deprivation of constitutional rights.
“While protecting our borders at Eagle Pass, Texas, Mr. Brugman intercepted nearly a dozen illegal immigrants, pursued them on foot, and apprehended them,” the White House said. “Mr. Brugman was accused of knocking one of the illegal immigrants to the ground and was prosecuted on that basis for deprivation of rights.”
He served 27 months in prison, “where other inmates sought to harm him because of his law enforcement background.”
His clemency is supported by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Texas Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, other elected officials and media figures Laura Ingraham, Sara Carter, Glenn Beck and Lou Dobbs.
Rebekah Charleston, a sex trafficking victim who was arrested for money laundering tax evasion in 2006, also received a full pardon.
She was arrested as part of prostitution ring operating of an upscale neighborhood in Denton. She and the other women were seen as victims, lured into the illicit lifestyle and brainwashed and beaten if they did not follow orders.
After her arrest, Charleston became a champion for sex trafficking survivors and volunteers her time to assist victims.
Democrats assailed the president’s actions, accusing him of trading pardons in exchange for the silence of Mr. Manafort and Mr. Stone during the Mueller probe.
“Pardons for Paul Manafort and Roger Stone serve neither justice nor mercy,” House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler of New York tweeted. “President Trump is handing out rewards to his co-conspirators and shielding his own conduct from scrutiny.”
House Intelligence Chairman Adam B. Schiff, of California, cited reports that Trump’s lawyer had dangled a pardon before Mr. Manafort, one of the few Mueller targets who didn’t cooperate.
“Manafort withdrew his cooperation with prosecutors, lied, was convicted, and then Trump praised him for not ‘ratting.’ Trump’s pardon now completes the corrupt scheme. Lawless until the bitter end,” he wrote on Twitter.
Andrew Weissmann, who was one of Mr. Mueller’s top managers and was head of the Justice Department’s criminal fraud section under President Barack Obama, blasted the pardons.
“The pardons from this President are what you would expect to get if you gave the pardon power to a mob boss,” Mr. Weissmann tweeted.
Sen. Ben Sasse, Nebraska Republican, said of the new round of clemency, “This is rotten to the core.”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com. • Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-23--Donald Trump renews call for special counsel on election fraud as William Barr leaves office

On the same day that Attorney General William P. Barr left office , President Trump renewed his call on Wednesday night for a special counsel to investigate election fraud “ immediately.
” “ After seeing the massive Voter Fraud in the 2020 Presidential Election , I disagree with anyone that thinks a strong , fast , and fair Special Counsel is not needed , IMMEDIATELY , ” Mr. Trump tweeted from his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida .
“ This was the most corrupt election in the history of our Country , and it must be closely examined !
’ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his farewell to employees at the Justice Department .
Mr. Barr resisted appointing a special counsel to look into election fraud , saying he would have done so if he felt it were warranted .
“ But I haven ’ t , and I ’ m not going to , ” Mr. Barr said in his final press conference on Tuesday .
The president ’ s tweet could signal that he intends to press the issue with Mr. Barr ’ s replacement , Jeffrey Rosen , the current deputy attorney general .
Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an acting basis until Mr. Trump ’ s term ends on Jan. 20 .
The president has considered appointing lawyer Sidney Powell as a special counsel on election fraud to work in the White House counsel ’ s office .
But he reportedly abandoned that idea this week .
Minutes after the president ’ s tweet , his allies began to join the chorus .
“ A special counsel must be appointed to investigate this election fraud , ” tweeted Ryan Fournier , co-chair of Students for Trump .
“ Whoever the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
”

On the same day that Attorney General William P. Barr left office, President Trump renewed his call on Wednesday night for a special counsel to investigate election fraud “immediately.”
“After seeing the massive Voter Fraud in the 2020 Presidential Election, I disagree with anyone that thinks a strong, fast, and fair Special Counsel is not needed, IMMEDIATELY,” Mr. Trump tweeted from his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. “This was the most corrupt election in the history of our Country, and it must be closely examined!’
The tweet came hours after Mr. Barr delivered his farewell to employees at the Justice Department. Mr. Barr resisted appointing a special counsel to look into election fraud, saying he would have done so if he felt it were warranted.
“But I haven’t, and I’m not going to,” Mr. Barr said in his final press conference on Tuesday.
The president’s tweet could signal that he intends to press the issue with Mr. Barr’s replacement, Jeffrey Rosen, the current deputy attorney general. Mr. Rosen will lead the Justice Department on an acting basis until Mr. Trump’s term ends on Jan. 20.
The president has considered appointing lawyer Sidney Powell as a special counsel on election fraud to work in the White House counsel’s office. But he reportedly abandoned that idea this week.
Minutes after the president’s tweet, his allies began to join the chorus.
“A special counsel must be appointed to investigate this election fraud,” tweeted Ryan Fournier, co-chair of Students for Trump. “Whoever the new acting Attorney General is must do this!”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-23--Driver of truck that killed 5 bicyclists due in Vegas court

LAS VEGAS ( AP ) - The driver of a truck that struck and killed five bicyclists on a Nevada highway arrived Wednesday in custody in Las Vegas , where he was scheduled to face a judge Thursday on felony driving under the influence charges .
Jordan Alexander Barson , 45 , is expected to have a lawyer representing him on 12 charges also including reckless driving in the Dec. 10 crash involving a box truck and a line of bicyclists on U.S. 95 between Boulder City and Searchlight , Nevada .
Barson , of Kingman , Arizona , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , blood tests showed he had almost 950 nanograms per milliliter of methamphetamine in his system , prosecutor Eric Bauman said .
Methamphetamine is not legal , but criminal charges are typically not filed unless blood amounts top 100 nanograms per milliliter , Bauman said .
Authorities said he was driving a regular delivery route from Las Vegas to the Arizona cities of Bullhead City and Kingman when the flat-faced truck plowed into bicyclists and a support vehicle about 60 miles ( 97 kilometers ) south of Las Vegas .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an annual ride through scenic Nevada and California desert areas .

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The driver of a truck that struck and killed five bicyclists on a Nevada highway arrived Wednesday in custody in Las Vegas, where he was scheduled to face a judge Thursday on felony driving under the influence charges.
Jordan Alexander Barson, 45, is expected to have a lawyer representing him on 12 charges also including reckless driving in the Dec. 10 crash involving a box truck and a line of bicyclists on U.S. 95 between Boulder City and Searchlight, Nevada.
Barson, of Kingman, Arizona, told investigators he fell asleep at the wheel. However, blood tests showed he had almost 950 nanograms per milliliter of methamphetamine in his system, prosecutor Eric Bauman said.
Methamphetamine is not legal, but criminal charges are typically not filed unless blood amounts top 100 nanograms per milliliter, Bauman said.
Barson was arrested Dec. 16 in Kingman.
Authorities said he was driving a regular delivery route from Las Vegas to the Arizona cities of Bullhead City and Kingman when the flat-faced truck plowed into bicyclists and a support vehicle about 60 miles (97 kilometers) south of Las Vegas.
The bicyclists were part of a group making an annual ride through scenic Nevada and California desert areas.


washingtontimes--2020-12-23--Confederate statues stay in U.S. Capitol Statuary Hall collection despite Democrats' opposition

Robert E. Lee may be gone , but other Confederate statues survived House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ’ s attempt to oust them from the U.S. Capitol collection .
Mrs. Pelosi and fellow Democrats had written a provision into one of the House ’ s spending bills earlier this year that would have set a 45-day deadline for ousting all Confederal statues and Confederate busts from public areas in the Capitol .
But that demand was stricken from the final coronavirus spending bill Congress passed Monday .
The statues are part of the Statuary Hall collection , under which each state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whatever figures that state deems worthy of inclusion in the hallowed halls of Congress .
A number of states are now grappling with their choices , particularly those with ties to the Confederacy , and the debate has grown more intense in recent months with racial justice protests that have swept the country — in many cases leading to vigilante urban planning , as mobs tear down statues .
In June , as the protests were at their most intense , Mrs. Pelosi announced she wanted 11 Confederate figures out of Congress ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said at the time .
She specifically named Jefferson Davis , the president of the Confederacy who was in fact charged with treason , though the case was dropped , and Alexander Stephens , the Confederate vice president .
Democrats first tried to have the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress , which oversees the statues , act .
But the top Republican on the committee , Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri , rebuffed her attempt , saying it ’ s up each state to decide its two statues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made several more attempts in July .
They passed a stand-alone bill through the House on a bipartisan 305-113 vote to remove the statues and busts , but it never saw action in the Senate .
And led by Rep. Tim Ryan , Ohio Democrat and chairman of the subcommittee that oversees Congress own internal budget , they inserted language into the 2021 spending bill setting the 45-day deadline for extirpating the Confederates .
Mr. Ryan went further , though , and also called for ouster of others like John C. Calhoun , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1850 , more than a decade before the Civil War , and Charles Aycock , who was only a year old at the outset of the war but who , as North Carolina governor in the early 20th century , oversaw segregation .
And Mr. Ryan called for removal of a bust of Roger B. Taney , a former Supreme Court chief justice who authored the Dred Scott decision denying citizenship to Black persons and finding they could be legal property under the Constitution .
“ The placement of statues in the Capitol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government of the United States or who were white supremacists has been controversial for years and offensive to many of the visitors who come to the Capitol each year .
The committee believes their removal is long overdue , ” Mr. Ryan and his colleagues said in the report .
His bill cleared the House Appropriations Committee , and was stacked up in the late-year spending negotiations against the Senate ’ s version , which lacked those provisions .
In this week ’ s final compromise , the Confederate language was dropped .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Senate Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill , and it was not included in the omnibus package approved by the Congress this week , ” one aide confirmed .
Mr. Ryan ’ s office didn ’ t respond to an inquiry from The Washington Times on Wednesday .
No action from Congress means that the decisions still lie in the hands of the states .
Virginia has already acted , pulling its statue of Lee , the top Confederate general , last weekend .
A state panel has recommended that civil-rights-era figure Barbara @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replacement , to join the state ’ s other statue — George Washington .
Mrs. Pelosi , during her first stint as speaker a decade ago , had the Lee statue removed from its high-profile location in National Statuary Hall , the one-time chamber of the House that ’ s a centerpiece of congressional tours , and placed in a less-trafficked location .
The speaker ’ s office didn ’ t respond to a request for comment Wednesday , but after Lee ’ s removal , Mrs. Pelosi said she ’ s still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Congress will continue our work to rid the Capitol of homages to hate , as we fight to end the scourge of racism in our country , ” she said in a statement cheering the removal of Lee .
“ There is no room for celebrating the bigotry of the Confederacy in the Capitol or any other place of honor in our country.
” Congress did take another swipe at Confederate commemoration in the annual defense policy , approving a directive to rename military bases that bear Confederate names .
President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Capitol Hill will attempt to override it later this month .

Robert E. Lee may be gone, but other Confederate statues survived House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s attempt to oust them from the U.S. Capitol collection.
Mrs. Pelosi and fellow Democrats had written a provision into one of the House’s spending bills earlier this year that would have set a 45-day deadline for ousting all Confederal statues and Confederate busts from public areas in the Capitol.
But that demand was stricken from the final coronavirus spending bill Congress passed Monday.
The statues are part of the Statuary Hall collection, under which each state is allowed to place two statues of whatever figures that state deems worthy of inclusion in the hallowed halls of Congress.
A number of states are now grappling with their choices, particularly those with ties to the Confederacy, and the debate has grown more intense in recent months with racial justice protests that have swept the country — in many cases leading to vigilante urban planning, as mobs tear down statues.
In June, as the protests were at their most intense, Mrs. Pelosi announced she wanted 11 Confederate figures out of Congress’s collection.
“They committed treason,” she said at the time.
She specifically named Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy who was in fact charged with treason, though the case was dropped, and Alexander Stephens, the Confederate vice president.
Democrats first tried to have the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress, which oversees the statues, act. But the top Republican on the committee, Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri, rebuffed her attempt, saying it’s up each state to decide its two statues in the Statuary Hall collection.
Democrats made several more attempts in July.
They passed a stand-alone bill through the House on a bipartisan 305-113 vote to remove the statues and busts, but it never saw action in the Senate.
And led by Rep. Tim Ryan, Ohio Democrat and chairman of the subcommittee that oversees Congress own internal budget, they inserted language into the 2021 spending bill setting the 45-day deadline for extirpating the Confederates.
Mr. Ryan went further, though, and also called for ouster of others like John C. Calhoun, a South Carolina politician who died in 1850, more than a decade before the Civil War, and Charles Aycock, who was only a year old at the outset of the war but who, as North Carolina governor in the early 20th century, oversaw segregation.
And Mr. Ryan called for removal of a bust of Roger B. Taney, a former Supreme Court chief justice who authored the Dred Scott decision denying citizenship to Black persons and finding they could be legal property under the Constitution.
“The placement of statues in the Capitol commemorating men who tried to overthrow the government of the United States or who were white supremacists has been controversial for years and offensive to many of the visitors who come to the Capitol each year. The committee believes their removal is long overdue,” Mr. Ryan and his colleagues said in the report.
His bill cleared the House Appropriations Committee, and was stacked up in the late-year spending negotiations against the Senate’s version, which lacked those provisions.
In this week’s final compromise, the Confederate language was dropped.
“A similar provision was not included in the Senate Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill, and it was not included in the omnibus package approved by the Congress this week,” one aide confirmed.
Mr. Ryan’s office didn’t respond to an inquiry from The Washington Times on Wednesday.
No action from Congress means that the decisions still lie in the hands of the states.
Virginia has already acted, pulling its statue of Lee, the top Confederate general, last weekend. A state panel has recommended that civil-rights-era figure Barbara Johns be sent as Lee’s replacement, to join the state’s other statue — George Washington.
Mrs. Pelosi, during her first stint as speaker a decade ago, had the Lee statue removed from its high-profile location in National Statuary Hall, the one-time chamber of the House that’s a centerpiece of congressional tours, and placed in a less-trafficked location.
The speaker’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment Wednesday, but after Lee’s removal, Mrs. Pelosi said she’s still intent on ousting the others.
“The Congress will continue our work to rid the Capitol of homages to hate, as we fight to end the scourge of racism in our country,” she said in a statement cheering the removal of Lee. “There is no room for celebrating the bigotry of the Confederacy in the Capitol or any other place of honor in our country.”
Congress did take another swipe at Confederate commemoration in the annual defense policy, approving a directive to rename military bases that bear Confederate names.
President Trump on Wednesday vetoed that bill, and Capitol Hill will attempt to override it later this month.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-23--Arkansas hits new record high in virus hospitalizations

LITTLE ROCK , Ark .
( AP ) - Gov .
Asa Hutchinson urged caution Wednesday ahead of Christmas gatherings as Arkansas reported another one-day high of coronavirus hospitalizations .
“ This is frequently a time to gather with our family in large groups , but this year that presents an increased risk of spreading COVID-19 , so let ’ s plan with our safety guidelines in mind , ” Hutchinson said .
“ Please protect yourself and your family.
” U.S. health officials have been more direct : asking people to stay home instead of getting together .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that if people do travel , they should get tested for the virus before leaving home and when they get back .
The Arkansas Department of Health reported Wednesday that 1,110 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 , a new record number pushing past the previous high of 1,103 hospitalizations set Tuesday .
The state reported more than 2,000 new coronavirus cases Wednesday .
There are currently 22,516 active cases of COVID-19 .
The 7-day rolling average of the positivity rate in Arkansas has risen over the past two weeks from 16.31 % on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22 .

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Gov. Asa Hutchinson urged caution Wednesday ahead of Christmas gatherings as Arkansas reported another one-day high of coronavirus hospitalizations.
“This is frequently a time to gather with our family in large groups, but this year that presents an increased risk of spreading COVID-19, so let’s plan with our safety guidelines in mind,” Hutchinson said. “Please protect yourself and your family.”
U.S. health officials have been more direct: asking people to stay home instead of getting together. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that if people do travel, they should get tested for the virus before leaving home and when they get back.
The Arkansas Department of Health reported Wednesday that 1,110 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, a new record number pushing past the previous high of 1,103 hospitalizations set Tuesday.
The state reported more than 2,000 new coronavirus cases Wednesday. There are currently 22,516 active cases of COVID-19.
The 7-day rolling average of the positivity rate in Arkansas has risen over the past two weeks from 16.31% on Dec. 8 to 18.98% on Dec. 22.


washingtontimes--2020-12-23--Man charged with voting-related threats against House member

COLLEGE PARK , Md .
( AP ) - Federal authorities on Wednesday arrested a man accused of threatening to kill a member of Congress from Maryland earlier this month if the lawmaker tried to ” mess ” with the man ’ s vote .
Sidhartha Kumar Mathur , 34 , of West Friendship , Maryland , was charged Monday in a criminal complaint that was unsealed after his arrest .
The charge he faces , making threats against a federal official , carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison .
Court filings don ’ t name the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the target of a threatening voicemail and message sent through the lawmaker ’ s website .
Marcia Murphy , a spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Robert Hur ’ s office , said she can ’ t identify the House member .
All eight of Maryland ’ s current House members are men .
Seven are Democrats .
Rep. Andy Harris is the lone Republican and the only member of the state ’ s congressional delegation who has supported President Donald Trump ’ s efforts to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rigged , the Baltimore Sun has reported .
On Dec. 8 , Harris was one of 126 House Republicans who signed a brief supporting a Texas lawsuit that sought to overturn Democrat Joe Biden ’ s victory .
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the lawsuit .
On Dec. 10 , a man whom authorities believe to be Mathur left a threatening voicemail at the House member ’ s Maryland district office .
“ If you even mess with my vote , I ’ m going to come and I ’ ll slit your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family , ” the man said , according to a U.S. Capitol Police special agent ’ s affidavit .
That same evening , a message sent through the House member ’ s website threatened to blow up the lawmaker ’ s office “ if you try to take my vote away.
” Mathur denied sending the web message but told investigators that he left the threatening voicemail “ out of anger , ” the agent ’ s affidavit says .
“ Mathur acknowledged that he may have taken his statements too far and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the agent wrote .
Investigators seized Mathur ’ s phone , computer and other electronic media when they searched his home on Wednesday .
U.S. Magistrate Judge DiGirolamo agreed Wednesday to free Mathur from custody under the court ’ s supervision .
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers , who is prosecutin

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Federal authorities on Wednesday arrested a man accused of threatening to kill a member of Congress from Maryland earlier this month if the lawmaker tried to ”mess” with the man’s vote.
Sidhartha Kumar Mathur, 34, of West Friendship, Maryland, was charged Monday in a criminal complaint that was unsealed after his arrest. The charge he faces, making threats against a federal official, carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Court filings don’t name the U.S. House of Representatives member who was the target of a threatening voicemail and message sent through the lawmaker’s website. Marcia Murphy, a spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Robert Hur’s office, said she can’t identify the House member.
All eight of Maryland’s current House members are men. Seven are Democrats. Rep. Andy Harris is the lone Republican and the only member of the state’s congressional delegation who has supported President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election based on unfounded claims that the election was rigged, the Baltimore Sun has reported.
On Dec. 8, Harris was one of 126 House Republicans who signed a brief supporting a Texas lawsuit that sought to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s victory. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the lawsuit.
On Dec. 10, a man whom authorities believe to be Mathur left a threatening voicemail at the House member’s Maryland district office. “If you even mess with my vote, I’m going to come and I’ll slit your throat and I’ll kill your family,” the man said, according to a U.S. Capitol Police special agent’s affidavit.
That same evening, a message sent through the House member’s website threatened to blow up the lawmaker’s office “if you try to take my vote away.”
Mathur denied sending the web message but told investigators that he left the threatening voicemail “out of anger,” the agent’s affidavit says.
“Mathur acknowledged that he may have taken his statements too far and indicated that his statements were conditional,” the agent wrote.
Investigators seized Mathur’s phone, computer and other electronic media when they searched his home on Wednesday.
U.S. Magistrate Judge DiGirolamo agreed Wednesday to free Mathur from custody under the court’s supervision.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers, who is prosecutin


washingtontimes--2020-12-23--Two indicted for ballot harvesting in Arizona's Yuma County

YUMA , Ariz. ( AP ) - The Attorney General ’ s Office says two people have been accused of @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Yuma County .
The office announced Wednesday that a state Grand Jury has @ @ @ @ @ Juarez , both of the Yuma County city of San Luis , Arizona , on @ @ @ @ @ abuse , or ballot harvesting .
The indictment alleges that during the August 2020 primary @ @ @ @ @ collected four voted ballots from another person in violation of Arizona law , then deposited @ @ @ @ @ to be processed by the Yuma County Recorder .
Under state law , only a @ @ @ @ @ , household member , or caregiver can collect voted or unvoted early ballots from another @ @ @ @ @ a felony that carries a possible sentence of up to two years in prison and @ @ @ @ @

YUMA, Ariz. (AP) - The Attorney General’s Office says two people have been accused of ballot harvesting in the state’s Yuma County.
The office announced Wednesday that a state Grand Jury has indicted Guillermina Fuentes and Alma Juarez, both of the Yuma County city of San Luis, Arizona, on one count each of ballot abuse, or ballot harvesting.
The indictment alleges that during the August 2020 primary election, the two knowingly collected four voted ballots from another person in violation of Arizona law, then deposited them into a ballot box to be processed by the Yuma County Recorder.
Under state law, only a voter’s family member, household member, or caregiver can collect voted or unvoted early ballots from another person.
Ballot abuse is a felony that carries a possible sentence of up to two years in prison and a $150,000 fine.