westernjournal--2020-05-16--FBI Questions Feinstein as Senate Stock Investigation Continues

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California has been questioned by the FBI about stock sales that have raised eyebrows over the possible misuse of inside information .
Feinstein is one of several of senators who sold stocks around the same time lawmakers in the chamber were receiving briefings indicating that the seriousness of the coronavirus was far greater than most Americans knew at the time .
The stock sales came before Wall Street nosedived amid the impact of the virus on the economy .
Feinstein , the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee , and her husband , investment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.5 million and $ 6 million worth of stock in Allogene Therapeutics , a California biotech company , between Jan. 31 and Feb. 18 , according to Senate financial disclosure forms .
However , her office has said there was nothing improper in the sales .
“ Senator Feinstein was asked some basic questions by law enforcement about her husband ’ s stock transactions , as I think all offices in the initial story were , ” a spokesman told according to Fox News .
“ She was happy to voluntarily answer those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided additional documents to show she had no involvement in her husband ’ s transactions , ” the spokesman said .
“ There have been no follow-up actions on this issue.
” At the time of the initial reports about the stock sales , a spokesman said all of Feinstein ’ s assets were in a blind trust and she had no hand in any financial transactions undertaken by her husband .
Republican Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina , another major figure in the issue of stock sales , has stepped aside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell .
“ Senator Burr contacted me this morning to inform me of his decision to step aside as Chairman of the Intelligence Committee during the pendency of the investigation , ” McConnelll said in a statement Thursday .
“ We agreed that this decision would be in the best interests of the committee and will be effective at the end of the day tomorrow.
” On Wednesday , Burr was served with a warrant to search his Washington , D.C.- area home .
Federal agents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to Senate disclosure forms , Burr made 33 stock transactions on Feb. 13 .
The forms do not disclose the exact value of transactions , but provide a range .
The sales collectively netted Burr between $ 628,000 and $ 1.72 million .
Burr ’ s attorney , Alice Fisher , has said Burr did nothing wrong .
“ The law is clear that any American — including a senator — may participate in the stock market based on public information , as Senator Burr did , ” Fisher said in March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senator Burr immediately asked the Senate Ethics Committee to conduct a complete review , and he will cooperate with that review as well as any other appropriate inquiry.
” Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler of Georgia is also under scrutiny because between late January and early March , she sold stock shares worth millions of dollars , according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution .
A spokesperson for Loeffler told Fox she has sent “ documents and information ” to the Justice Department , Securities and Exchange Commission and Senate Ethics Committee , “ establishing that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and observed both the letter and the spirit of the law .
The documents and information demonstrated her and her husband ’ s lack of involvement in their managed accounts , as well the details of those accounts .
Senator Loeffler has welcomed and responded to any questions from day one.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California has been questioned by the FBI about stock sales that have raised eyebrows over the possible misuse of inside information.
Feinstein is one of several of senators who sold stocks around the same time lawmakers in the chamber were receiving briefings indicating that the seriousness of the coronavirus was far greater than most Americans knew at the time.
The stock sales came before Wall Street nosedived amid the impact of the virus on the economy.
Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and her husband, investment banker Richard Blum, sold between $1.5 million and $6 million worth of stock in Allogene Therapeutics, a California biotech company, between Jan. 31 and Feb. 18, according to Senate financial disclosure forms.
However, her office has said there was nothing improper in the sales.
“Senator Feinstein was asked some basic questions by law enforcement about her husband’s stock transactions, as I think all offices in the initial story were,” a spokesman told according to Fox News.
“She was happy to voluntarily answer those questions to set the record straight and provided additional documents to show she had no involvement in her husband’s transactions,” the spokesman said. “There have been no follow-up actions on this issue.”
At the time of the initial reports about the stock sales, a spokesman said all of Feinstein’s assets were in a blind trust and she had no hand in any financial transactions undertaken by her husband.
Republican Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, another major figure in the issue of stock sales, has stepped aside as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, according to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Do you think Feinstein did anything wrong? Yes No
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“Senator Burr contacted me this morning to inform me of his decision to step aside as Chairman of the Intelligence Committee during the pendency of the investigation,” McConnelll said in a statement Thursday.
“We agreed that this decision would be in the best interests of the committee and will be effective at the end of the day tomorrow.”
On Wednesday, Burr was served with a warrant to search his Washington, D.C.- area home. Federal agents also took Burr’s cellphone.
According to Senate disclosure forms, Burr made 33 stock transactions on Feb. 13. The forms do not disclose the exact value of transactions, but provide a range. The sales collectively netted Burr between $628,000 and $1.72 million.
Burr’s attorney, Alice Fisher, has said Burr did nothing wrong.
“The law is clear that any American — including a senator — may participate in the stock market based on public information, as Senator Burr did,” Fisher said in March. “When this issue arose, Senator Burr immediately asked the Senate Ethics Committee to conduct a complete review, and he will cooperate with that review as well as any other appropriate inquiry.”
Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler of Georgia is also under scrutiny because between late January and early March, she sold stock shares worth millions of dollars, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
A spokesperson for Loeffler told Fox she has sent “documents and information” to the Justice Department, Securities and Exchange Commission and Senate Ethics Committee, “establishing that she and her husband acted entirely appropriately and observed both the letter and the spirit of the law. The documents and information demonstrated her and her husband’s lack of involvement in their managed accounts, as well the details of those accounts. Senator Loeffler has welcomed and responded to any questions from day one.”
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westernjournal--2020-05-16--Group Buys Abortion Clinic To Ensure Uninterrupted Baby Murder

Conservative lawmakers in Alabama last year tried to enact the nation ’ s most stringent abortion ban , though pro-choice activists say the attempt to outlaw the procedure may have indirectly helped keep one clinic open .
An Alabama-based pro-choice group used a flood of donations that poured in from across the country after the ban to purchase the state ’ s busiest abortion clinic to ensure it stays open .
Yellowhammer Fund — a group founded to help low-income women access abortion — announced the purchase of West Alabama Women ’ s Center on Friday , the one-year anniversary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I said this a year ago .
What they didn ’ t anticipate they would do is help us increase abortion access in Alabama , ” said Amanda Reyes , executive director of Yellowhammer Fund .
Reyes said the flood of donations helped the group purchase the clinic from the owner who was looking to retire .
Energized by new conservatives on the U.S. Supreme Court , pro-life advocates in several conservative states are launching direct legal challenges to the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationally .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed into law legislation that would make performing an abortion at any stage of pregnancy a felony punishable by up to 99 years or life in prison for the abortion provider .
A federal judge blocked the Alabama law from taking effect while a challenge plays out in court .
International attention on the Alabama ban prompted an outpouring of donations , as celebrities shared information on their social media accounts about the group and the fight in Alabama .
“ It was like a deluge .
It was literally like a deluge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Gloria Gray , who has owned the clinic since 1993 , said in a statement issued through Yellowhammer that she was looking to retire but had been concerned about keeping the clinic doors open .
“ I ’ ve been waiting years , holding out until I could sell my interest in the company without affecting the clinic , without preventing women from being able to get abortions in Alabama , ” Gray said .
Yellowhammer did not disclose the purchase price .
There are three clinics in Alabama that perform abortions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its proximity to Mississippi , is the busiest .
RELATED : 'The Price Is Right ' Special Sparks Outrage After Large Sum Raised for Planned Parenthood The clinic in 2017 performed about half of all abortions in the state , according to statistics from the Alabama Department of Public Health .
Reyes said she believes it is particularly important to keep the Tuscaloosa clinic open in “ a region that is particularly abortion-hostile.
” “ The stars just aligned in a kind of way where we had the resources at the right time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to more robustly fulfill our mission , ” Reyes said .
The Associated Press contributed to this report .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Conservative lawmakers in Alabama last year tried to enact the nation’s most stringent abortion ban, though pro-choice activists say the attempt to outlaw the procedure may have indirectly helped keep one clinic open.
An Alabama-based pro-choice group used a flood of donations that poured in from across the country after the ban to purchase the state’s busiest abortion clinic to ensure it stays open.
Yellowhammer Fund — a group founded to help low-income women access abortion — announced the purchase of West Alabama Women’s Center on Friday, the one-year anniversary of the passage of the Alabama ban.
“I said this a year ago. What they didn’t anticipate they would do is help us increase abortion access in Alabama,” said Amanda Reyes, executive director of Yellowhammer Fund.
Reyes said the flood of donations helped the group purchase the clinic from the owner who was looking to retire.
Energized by new conservatives on the U.S. Supreme Court, pro-life advocates in several conservative states are launching direct legal challenges to the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationally.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey last year signed into law legislation that would make performing an abortion at any stage of pregnancy a felony punishable by up to 99 years or life in prison for the abortion provider.
A federal judge blocked the Alabama law from taking effect while a challenge plays out in court.
International attention on the Alabama ban prompted an outpouring of donations, as celebrities shared information on their social media accounts about the group and the fight in Alabama.
Do you think abortion should be illegal nationwide? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 85% (35 Votes) No: 15% (6 Votes)
“It was like a deluge. It was literally like a deluge of grassroots donations,” Reyes said.
Gloria Gray, who has owned the clinic since 1993, said in a statement issued through Yellowhammer that she was looking to retire but had been concerned about keeping the clinic doors open.
“I’ve been waiting years, holding out until I could sell my interest in the company without affecting the clinic, without preventing women from being able to get abortions in Alabama,” Gray said.
Yellowhammer did not disclose the purchase price.
There are three clinics in Alabama that perform abortions. The West Alabama facility, with its proximity to Mississippi, is the busiest.
The clinic in 2017 performed about half of all abortions in the state, according to statistics from the Alabama Department of Public Health.
Reyes said she believes it is particularly important to keep the Tuscaloosa clinic open in “a region that is particularly abortion-hostile.”
“The stars just aligned in a kind of way where we had the resources at the right time. Now we are going to be able to more robustly fulfill our mission,” Reyes said.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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westernjournal--2020-05-16--Health Scare Presents ‘Perfect Opportunity’ for Criminals – And We Don’t Mean the Dems

The way the FBI tells it , William Rosario Lopez put on a surgical mask and walked into the Connecticut convenience store looking to the world like a typical pandemic-era shopper as he picked up plastic wrap , fruit snacks and a few other items .
Then , when the only other customer left , he went to the counter , pulled out a small pistol , pointed it at the clerk and demanded that he open the cash register .
The scene , the FBI contends in a court document , was repeated by Lopez in four other gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April 9 arrest .
It underscores a troubling new reality for law enforcement : Masks that have made criminals stand apart long before bandanna-wearing robbers knocked over stagecoaches in the Old West and ski-masked bandits held up banks now allow them to blend in like concerned accountants , nurses and store clerks trying to avoid a deadly virus .
“ Criminals , they ’ re smart and this is a perfect opportunity for them to conceal themselves and blend right in , ” said Richard Bell , police chief in the tiny Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knows of seven recent armed robberies in the region where every suspect wore a mask .
Across the United States , masks have become more and more prevalent , first as a voluntary precaution and then as a requirement imposed by governmental agencies and businesses .
And people with masks — as well as latex gloves — have found their way into more and more crime reports .
Just how many criminals are taking advantage of the pandemic to commit crimes is impossible to estimate , but law enforcement officials have no doubt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starting to pop up across the United States and in other parts of the world of crimes pulled off in no small part because so many of us are now wearing masks .
In March , two men walked into Aqueduct Racetrack in New York wearing the same kind of surgical masks as many racing fans there and , at gunpoint , robbed three workers of a quarter-million dollars they were moving from gaming machines to a safe .
Other robberies involving suspects wearing surgical masks have occurred in North Carolina , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent weeks .
The problem isn ’ t limited to robberies .
In the troubled Cook County Jail in Chicago , the virus has led to at least nine deaths and sickened hundreds of inmates and correctional officers .
Staffers must wear masks and inmates are issued a new one every day — a policy that helped one inmate escape on May 2 .
Jahquez Scott , jailed on a gun charge and for violating his bond in a drug case , has tattoos of a small heart on one cheek and what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other .
But when he wore a mask , he posed as Quintin Henderson — who doesn ’ t have tattoos on his face and was scheduled to be released , authorities said .
Scott made it out , though he was captured a week later .
In addition to rare jailbreaks , the prevalence of masks in society has created other problems for law enforcement .
RELATED : Watch How Inmates Try To Catch COVID-19 in Attempt To Be Released Before life in a pandemic , masked marauders had to free their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ store to avoid suspicion once in the general public .
But it came with the risk of being photographed and identified through omnipresent surveillance cameras and cellphones .
These days , they can keep the masks on and blend in easily with or without being “ captured ” in images .
“ The video is much less useful if we are unable to see a face , ” Carlos Marquez , a detective division commander in the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department , said in an email .
“ Guys are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wear a mask , the police are not going to stop me on the way to a crime and back from a crime wearing a mask , ’ ” said Brendan Deenihan , chief of detectives for Chicago Police Department .
“ Now if you are going to commit a crime you can leave your house with a mask on and drive for an hour.
” With everyone basically incognito , would-be witnesses might not notice someone acting differently , and that would make it harder to get a good description or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nuñez , chief of the Los Alamitos Police Department in Southern California and president of the California Police Chiefs Association .
It ’ s less likely now that other shoppers would “ stare at them , just making mental notes of what they look like , ” Nuñez said .
“ If they look like everybody else walking in , they may not do that at all.
” It ’ s a real problem for clerks and tellers , such as Tiffany Becker , who manages a Valero convenience store in Shenandoah , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the area have been robbed by mask-wearing gunmen recently .
“ Before I would have called the police because having a mask wasn ’ t normal .
Now it ’ s normal , ” Becker said .
“ It ’ s scary because you can ’ t tell who is safe and who ’ s not.
” Even when investigators identify suspects , the protective gear makes putting cases together all that much more difficult .
The same latex gloves more people are wearing to protect themselves from picking up the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ In the past if you did a search warrant and you found surgical masks , that would be highly indicative of something [ suspicious ] , ” said FBI Special Agent Lisa MacNamara , who investigated the string of robberies in Connecticut that led to the arrest of Rosario Lopez .
“ Now everybody has masks or latex gloves.
” But the reverse can also be true .
MacNamara and her team ’ s investigation was made easier when his alleged accomplice went into the stores “ acting as a lookout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Associated Press contributed to this report .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The way the FBI tells it, William Rosario Lopez put on a surgical mask and walked into the Connecticut convenience store looking to the world like a typical pandemic-era shopper as he picked up plastic wrap, fruit snacks and a few other items.
Then, when the only other customer left, he went to the counter, pulled out a small pistol, pointed it at the clerk and demanded that he open the cash register.
The scene, the FBI contends in a court document, was repeated by Lopez in four other gas station stores over eight days before his April 9 arrest.
It underscores a troubling new reality for law enforcement: Masks that have made criminals stand apart long before bandanna-wearing robbers knocked over stagecoaches in the Old West and ski-masked bandits held up banks now allow them to blend in like concerned accountants, nurses and store clerks trying to avoid a deadly virus.
“Criminals, they’re smart and this is a perfect opportunity for them to conceal themselves and blend right in,” said Richard Bell, police chief in the tiny Pennsylvania community of Frackville. He said he knows of seven recent armed robberies in the region where every suspect wore a mask.
Across the United States, masks have become more and more prevalent, first as a voluntary precaution and then as a requirement imposed by governmental agencies and businesses. And people with masks — as well as latex gloves — have found their way into more and more crime reports.
Just how many criminals are taking advantage of the pandemic to commit crimes is impossible to estimate, but law enforcement officials have no doubt the numbers are climbing.
Reports are starting to pop up across the United States and in other parts of the world of crimes pulled off in no small part because so many of us are now wearing masks.
In March, two men walked into Aqueduct Racetrack in New York wearing the same kind of surgical masks as many racing fans there and, at gunpoint, robbed three workers of a quarter-million dollars they were moving from gaming machines to a safe.
Do you think mask mandates are unconstitutional? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 94% (16 Votes) No: 6% (1 Votes)
Other robberies involving suspects wearing surgical masks have occurred in North Carolina, and Washington, D.C, and elsewhere in recent weeks.
The problem isn’t limited to robberies. In the troubled Cook County Jail in Chicago, the virus has led to at least nine deaths and sickened hundreds of inmates and correctional officers. Staffers must wear masks and inmates are issued a new one every day — a policy that helped one inmate escape on May 2.
Jahquez Scott, jailed on a gun charge and for violating his bond in a drug case, has tattoos of a small heart on one cheek and what looks like a blood-dripping scar on the other. But when he wore a mask, he posed as Quintin Henderson — who doesn’t have tattoos on his face and was scheduled to be released, authorities said.
Scott made it out, though he was captured a week later.
In addition to rare jailbreaks, the prevalence of masks in society has created other problems for law enforcement.
Before life in a pandemic, masked marauders had to free their faces immediately after leaving a bank or store to avoid suspicion once in the general public. But it came with the risk of being photographed and identified through omnipresent surveillance cameras and cellphones.
These days, they can keep the masks on and blend in easily with or without being “captured” in images.
“The video is much less useful if we are unable to see a face,” Carlos Marquez, a detective division commander in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, said in an email.
It’s leaving law enforcement without a crucial crime-solving tool.
“Guys are like, ‘OK, I have to wear a mask, the police are not going to stop me on the way to a crime and back from a crime wearing a mask,’” said Brendan Deenihan, chief of detectives for Chicago Police Department. “Now if you are going to commit a crime you can leave your house with a mask on and drive for an hour.”
With everyone basically incognito, would-be witnesses might not notice someone acting differently, and that would make it harder to get a good description or identification of the suspect, said Eric Nuñez, chief of the Los Alamitos Police Department in Southern California and president of the California Police Chiefs Association.
It’s less likely now that other shoppers would “stare at them, just making mental notes of what they look like,” Nuñez said. “If they look like everybody else walking in, they may not do that at all.”
It’s a real problem for clerks and tellers, such as Tiffany Becker, who manages a Valero convenience store in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, where a number of stores in the area have been robbed by mask-wearing gunmen recently.
“Before I would have called the police because having a mask wasn’t normal. Now it’s normal,” Becker said. “It’s scary because you can’t tell who is safe and who’s not.”
Even when investigators identify suspects, the protective gear makes putting cases together all that much more difficult. The same latex gloves more people are wearing to protect themselves from picking up the virus will mean fewer fingerprints at crime scenes.
“In the past if you did a search warrant and you found surgical masks, that would be highly indicative of something [suspicious],” said FBI Special Agent Lisa MacNamara, who investigated the string of robberies in Connecticut that led to the arrest of Rosario Lopez.
“Now everybody has masks or latex gloves.”
But the reverse can also be true.
MacNamara and her team’s investigation was made easier when his alleged accomplice went into the stores “acting as a lookout or ‘casing’ robbery locations.”
The accomplice hadn’t worn a mask.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
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* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-05-16--84-Year-Old Man Who Helped Slaughter 800,000 People Finally Arrested 26 Years Later

One of the most wanted fugitives in Rwanda ’ s 1994 genocide , a wealthy businessman accused of supplying machetes to killers and broadcasting propaganda urging mass slaughter , has been arrested outside Paris , authorities said Saturday .
Felicien Kabuga , who had a $ 5 million bounty on his head , had been accused of equipping militias in the genocide that killed more than 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus who tried to protect them .
The 84-year-old Kabuga was arrested as a result of a joint investigation with the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals office of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He had been living in a town north of Paris , Asnieres-Sur-Seine , under an assumed name , the appeals court ’ s prosecutor ’ s office said .
The U.N. ’ s International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda indicted Kabuga in 1997 on charges related to conspiracy to commit genocide , persecution and extermination .
Rwandan prosecutors have said financial documents found in the capital , Kigali , after the genocide indicated that Kabuga used dozens of his companies to import vast quantities of machetes that were used slaughter people .
The wealthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ station Radio Television Mille Collines that broadcast vicious propaganda against the ethnic Tutsi , as well as training and equipping the Interahamwe militia that led the killing spree .
“ An important step towards justice for hundreds of thousands of genocide victims , ” Mausi Segun , Africa director at Human Rights Watch , said of his arrest .
Kabuga was close to former President Juvenal Habyarimana , whose death when his plane was shot down over Kigali sparked the 100-day genocide .
Kabuga is expected to be transferred to the custody of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand trial .
It is based at The Hague .
“ The arrest of Kabuga today is a reminder that those responsible for genocide can be brought to account , even 26 years after their crimes , ” the mechanism ’ s chief prosecutor , Serge Brammertz , said in a statement .
He said partners who contributed to the arrest included law enforcement agencies and prosecution services from Rwanda , Belgium , the United Kingdom , Germany , the Netherlands , Austria , Luxembourg , Switzerland and the United States .
Officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prosecutors , other top fugitives still at large include Protais Mpiranya , the former commandant of the Presidential Guards , and former defense minister Augustin Bizimana .
RELATED : Anti-Lockdown Demonstrations Go International as Police Arrest Protesters in Warsaw , London For years after the genocide , relations between Rwanda and France were under strain , with Rwanda ’ s ruling party blaming the French government in part for supporting the genocidal regime .
But under French President Emmanuel Macron , Kigali and Paris appear to have made some amends .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an investigation into the 1994 plane crash , citing lack of sufficient evidence .
Several people close to Rwandan President Paul Kagame had been under investigation and his government denounced the probe , calling it aimed at exonerating France ’ s suspected role in the genocide .
In 2019 , Macron announced the creation of a commission tasked with investigating France ’ s alleged role .
“ After many years , the old guards in the French government who could have been protecting Kabuga have left power and you find the young generation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fugitive under the new administration , ” asserted Gonza Muganwa , a Rwandan political analyst .
“ It ’ s clear he was being protected and some powerful people knew his hiding place .
They sold him.
” The Associated Press contributed to this report .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

One of the most wanted fugitives in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, a wealthy businessman accused of supplying machetes to killers and broadcasting propaganda urging mass slaughter, has been arrested outside Paris, authorities said Saturday.
Felicien Kabuga, who had a $5 million bounty on his head, had been accused of equipping militias in the genocide that killed more than 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus who tried to protect them.
The 84-year-old Kabuga was arrested as a result of a joint investigation with the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals office of the prosecutor, French authorities said.
He had been living in a town north of Paris, Asnieres-Sur-Seine, under an assumed name, the appeals court’s prosecutor’s office said.
The U.N.’s International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda indicted Kabuga in 1997 on charges related to conspiracy to commit genocide, persecution and extermination.
Rwandan prosecutors have said financial documents found in the capital, Kigali, after the genocide indicated that Kabuga used dozens of his companies to import vast quantities of machetes that were used slaughter people.
The wealthy businessman also was accused of establishing the station Radio Television Mille Collines that broadcast vicious propaganda against the ethnic Tutsi, as well as training and equipping the Interahamwe militia that led the killing spree.
“An important step towards justice for hundreds of thousands of genocide victims,” Mausi Segun, Africa director at Human Rights Watch, said of his arrest.
Kabuga was close to former President Juvenal Habyarimana, whose death when his plane was shot down over Kigali sparked the 100-day genocide.
Do you think Kabuga should get the death penalty? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 97% (101 Votes) No: 3% (3 Votes)
Kabuga’s daughter married Habyarimana’s son.
Kabuga is expected to be transferred to the custody of the U.N. mechanism, where he will stand trial. It is based at The Hague.
“The arrest of Kabuga today is a reminder that those responsible for genocide can be brought to account, even 26 years after their crimes,” the mechanism’s chief prosecutor, Serge Brammertz, said in a statement.
He said partners who contributed to the arrest included law enforcement agencies and prosecution services from Rwanda, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Luxembourg, Switzerland and the United States.
Officials in Rwanda hailed the arrest. According to prosecutors, other top fugitives still at large include Protais Mpiranya, the former commandant of the Presidential Guards, and former defense minister Augustin Bizimana.
For years after the genocide, relations between Rwanda and France were under strain, with Rwanda’s ruling party blaming the French government in part for supporting the genocidal regime.
But under French President Emmanuel Macron, Kigali and Paris appear to have made some amends.
In 2018, French authorities said they dropped an investigation into the 1994 plane crash, citing lack of sufficient evidence.
Several people close to Rwandan President Paul Kagame had been under investigation and his government denounced the probe, calling it aimed at exonerating France’s suspected role in the genocide.
In 2019, Macron announced the creation of a commission tasked with investigating France’s alleged role.
“After many years, the old guards in the French government who could have been protecting Kabuga have left power and you find the young generation have no interest in protecting the aging fugitive under the new administration,” asserted Gonza Muganwa, a Rwandan political analyst.
“It’s clear he was being protected and some powerful people knew his hiding place. They sold him.”
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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westernjournal--2020-05-16--Trump Fires State Dept. Inspector General After He Loses Trump’s Confidence

President Donald Trump has fired the State Department ’ s inspector general , an Obama administration appointee whose office was critical of the agency ’ s management under the Trump administration .
A senior department official said Trump removed Steve Linick from his job on Friday but gave no reason for his ouster .
In a letter to Congress , Trump said Linick , who had held the job since 2013 , no longer had his full confidence and that his removal would take effect in 30 days .
Trump did not mention Linick by name in his letter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee suggesting that Linick was fired in part in retaliation for opening an unspecified investigation into Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
“ This firing is the outrageous act of a president trying to protect one of his most loyal supporters , the secretary of state , from accountability , ” Rep. Eliot Engel of New York said in a statement .
“ I have learned that the Office of the Inspector General had opened an investigation into Secretary Pompeo .
Mr. Linick ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this is an unlawful act of retaliation.
” Engel offered no details of the investigation , although two congressional aides said it involved allegations that Pompeo may have improperly treated staff .
Linick ’ s office has issued several reports critical of the department ’ s handling of personnel matters during the Trump administration , including accusing some political appointees of retaliating against career officials .
“ If Inspector General Linick was fired because he was conducting an investigation of conduct by Secretary Pompeo , the Senate can not let this stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Connecticut said .
“ The Senate Foreign Relations Committee must get to bottom of what happened here.
” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also condemned Linick ’ s ouster , saying he had been “ punished for honorably performing his duty to protect the Constitution and our national security.
” “ The president must cease his pattern of reprisal and retaliation against the public servants who are working to keep Americans safe , particularly during this time of global emergency.
” Linick ’ s office also took issue with former Secretary of State Hillary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email server while she served as America ’ s top diplomat .
Linick will replaced by Stephen Akard , a former career foreign service officer who has close ties to Vice President Mike Pence , said the official , who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity .
Akard currently runs the department ’ s Office of Foreign Missions .
He had been nominated to be the director general of the foreign service but withdrew after objections he wasn ’ t experienced enough .
Linick , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Virginia , had overseen inspector general reports that were highly critical of the department ’ s management policies during the Trump administration .
His office had criticized several Trump appointees for their treatment of career staff who had allegedly been insufficiently supportive of Trump and his policies .
Under Linick , the State Department ’ s inspector general office was also critical of former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson ’ s hiring freeze and attempts to streamline the agency by slashing its funding and personnel .
The Associated Press contributed to this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

President Donald Trump has fired the State Department’s inspector general, an Obama administration appointee whose office was critical of the agency’s management under the Trump administration.
A senior department official said Trump removed Steve Linick from his job on Friday but gave no reason for his ouster. In a letter to Congress, Trump said Linick, who had held the job since 2013, no longer had his full confidence and that his removal would take effect in 30 days. Trump did not mention Linick by name in his letter.
Democrats in Congress immediately cried foul, with the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee suggesting that Linick was fired in part in retaliation for opening an unspecified investigation into Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
“This firing is the outrageous act of a president trying to protect one of his most loyal supporters, the secretary of state, from accountability,” Rep. Eliot Engel of New York said in a statement. “I have learned that the Office of the Inspector General had opened an investigation into Secretary Pompeo. Mr. Linick’s firing amid such a probe strongly suggests that this is an unlawful act of retaliation.”
.@RepEliotEngel, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Cmte, says Trump fired the State Dept. IG to protect Pompeo. pic.twitter.com/SDhC9g6l98 — John Bresnahan (@BresPolitico) May 16, 2020
Engel offered no details of the investigation, although two congressional aides said it involved allegations that Pompeo may have improperly treated staff.
Linick’s office has issued several reports critical of the department’s handling of personnel matters during the Trump administration, including accusing some political appointees of retaliating against career officials.
“If Inspector General Linick was fired because he was conducting an investigation of conduct by Secretary Pompeo, the Senate cannot let this stand,” Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said. “The Senate Foreign Relations Committee must get to bottom of what happened here.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also condemned Linick’s ouster, saying he had been “punished for honorably performing his duty to protect the Constitution and our national security.”
The late-night, weekend firing of State Department IG Steve Linick is an acceleration of the President’s dangerous pattern of retaliation against the patriotic public servants charged with conducting oversight on behalf of the American people. https://t.co/VavmuJpX25 — Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) May 16, 2020
“The president must cease his pattern of reprisal and retaliation against the public servants who are working to keep Americans safe, particularly during this time of global emergency.”
Linick’s office also took issue with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server while she served as America’s top diplomat.
Linick will replaced by Stephen Akard, a former career foreign service officer who has close ties to Vice President Mike Pence, said the official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Was Trump right to fire Linick? Yes No
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Akard currently runs the department’s Office of Foreign Missions. He had been nominated to be the director general of the foreign service but withdrew after objections he wasn’t experienced enough.
Linick, a former assistant U.S. attorney in California and Virginia, had overseen inspector general reports that were highly critical of the department’s management policies during the Trump administration.
His office had criticized several Trump appointees for their treatment of career staff who had allegedly been insufficiently supportive of Trump and his policies.
Under Linick, the State Department’s inspector general office was also critical of former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s hiring freeze and attempts to streamline the agency by slashing its funding and personnel.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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westernjournal--2020-05-18--Trump Fires Back with Vicious Video After Mitt Romney Attack

President Donald Trump ripped into Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah on Twitter in response to the former GOP presidential nominee criticizing his firing of the State Department ’ s inspector general on Friday .
Trump terminated inspector general Steve Linick Friday in a move that was heavily criticized by Democrats and the establishment media .
Romney responded to the news of Linick ’ s firing by siding with Democrats and attacking the president .
“ The firings of multiple Inspectors General is unprecedented ; doing so without good cause chills the independence essential to their purpose , ” Romney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat to accountable democracy and a fissure in the constitutional balance of power.
” TRENDING : Hospital Worker with Coronavirus Found Dead with Her Small Child by Her Side , Hospital Issues Statement Trump fired back on Monday with his own critique of Romney , reminding him he was defeated in November 2012 by former President Barack Obama .
Trump shared a video montage of news coverage of Romney ’ s 2012 defeat and contrasted it with coverage of his 2016 victory over Hillary Clinton .
Romney , who has been critical of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , was the only Republican who voted to convict the president on one of two articles of impeachment in the Senate trial in February .
Romney sided with Democrats on a charge of abuse of power , making him the only senator in American history to vote against a president from his own party during an impeachment trial , The New York Times reported .
RELATED : Trump Reveals He 's Been Taking Hydroxychloroquine for a Week and a Half “ As a senator-juror , I swore an oath , before God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am a profoundly religious person .
I take an oath before God as enormously consequential , ” Romney said , according to USA Today .
Trump excoriated Romney on Twitter after the vote with a video similar to Monday ’ s , which described the former GOP nominee as a “ Democrat asset.
” Donald Trump Jr. also commented on Romney ’ s vote , linking it to Romney ’ s failed presidential bid .
“ Mitt Romney is forever bitter that he will never be POTUS .
He was too weak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s joining them now , ” the younger Trump tweeted .
He concluded of Romney : “ He ’ s now officially a member of the resistance & should be expelled from the @ GOP.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

President Donald Trump ripped into Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah on Twitter in response to the former GOP presidential nominee criticizing his firing of the State Department’s inspector general on Friday.
Trump terminated inspector general Steve Linick Friday in a move that was heavily criticized by Democrats and the establishment media.
Romney responded to the news of Linick’s firing by siding with Democrats and attacking the president.
“The firings of multiple Inspectors General is unprecedented; doing so without good cause chills the independence essential to their purpose,” Romney tweeted Saturday.
“It is a threat to accountable democracy and a fissure in the constitutional balance of power.”
The firings of multiple Inspectors General is unprecedented; doing so
without good cause chills the independence essential to their purpose. It is a threat to accountable democracy and a fissure in the constitutional balance of power. — Senator Mitt Romney (@SenatorRomney) May 16, 2020
Trump fired back on Monday with his own critique of Romney, reminding him he was defeated in November 2012 by former President Barack Obama.
Trump shared a video montage of news coverage of Romney’s 2012 defeat and contrasted it with coverage of his 2016 victory over Hillary Clinton.
“LOSER!” the president captioned the tweet.
Romney, who has been critical of Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, was the only Republican who voted to convict the president on one of two articles of impeachment in the Senate trial in February.
Romney sided with Democrats on a charge of abuse of power, making him the only senator in American history to vote against a president from his own party during an impeachment trial, The New York Times reported.
“As a senator-juror, I swore an oath, before God, to exercise ‘impartial justice.’ I am a profoundly religious person. I take an oath before God as enormously consequential,” Romney said, according to USA Today.
Trump excoriated Romney on Twitter after the vote with a video similar to Monday’s, which described the former GOP nominee as a “Democrat asset.”
Donald Trump Jr. also commented on Romney’s vote, linking it to Romney’s failed presidential bid.
“Mitt Romney is forever bitter that he will never be POTUS. He was too weak to beat the Democrats then so he’s joining them now,” the younger Trump tweeted.
Mitt Romney is forever bitter that he will never be POTUS. He was too weak to beat the Democrats then so he’s joining them now. He’s now officially a member of the resistance & should be expelled from the @GOP. — Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 5, 2020
He concluded of Romney: “He’s now officially a member of the resistance & should be expelled from the @GOP.”
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westernjournal--2020-05-18--While Celebrities Tell Americans ‘We’re All in This Together,’ Pat Sajak Has a Different Message

If you follow longtime “ Wheel of Fortune ” host Pat Sajak ’ s online activities , you ’ re aware that the game show host doesn ’ t see eye to eye with many in show business .
If you ’ re not a follower of Sajak ’ s Twitter account , you might consider it — he is a breath of fresh air in a sea of celebrities who take themselves too seriously .
The 73-year-old has hosted “ Wheel ” since 1981 , but he could easily moonlight as a comedic commentator .
Sajak , despite being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , has somehow stayed down to earth as an apparently ordinary man full of wit and lighthearted quips .
He has also never been afraid to call out celebrities and elected officials for their malarkey , and is a frequent critic of leftist politics .
TRENDING : Hospital Worker with Coronavirus Found Dead with Her Small Child by Her Side , Hospital Issues Statement One of the themes on social media since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic is a sentiment from those in politics , the media and Hollywood that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Don ’ t tell Sajak that .
He ’ s not one to sit idly by as those who are drawing a paycheck tell the rest of the country how to behave .
“ When a disc jockey or a talk show host or a journalist who is being paid to work from his or her home tells people who can ’ t work , pay bills or pay their rent or mortgage to ‘ Stay home and be careful because we ’ re all in this together , ’ it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Sajak tweeted on Saturday .
You don ’ t have to try to hard to guess where the TV host stands on the notion that everyone can afford to stay home until all of the ills of the world pass .
Take a look at some of Sajak ’ s other recent tweets if you could use a good chuckle .
The TV host is not afraid to stand up for working people , and seems to effortlessly disavow everything that is wrong with star power .
Perhaps he more closely aligns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those he sits next to at the Daytime Emmy Awards .
Sajak actually began his career as a disc jockey , and took his talents to Vietnam in 1968 , where he was a DJ for the American Forces Vietnam Network in Saigon while in the Army .
“ I used to feel a bit guilty about my relatively ‘ soft ’ duty , ” Sajak wrote for the USO in 2014 .
“ But I always felt a little better when I met guys who came into town from the field and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit of home , ” he added .
“ I always thought it was strange that they should be thanking me , given what so many of them were going through on a daily basis .
But they reminded me of the importance of providing entertainment to those who serve — something the USO knows very well.
” “ To this day , my fellow vets from that era repeat those thank-yous , and it ’ s really very humbling , ” he added .
“ My respect for those who serve has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and my time in the military — particularly my time in Vietnam — are among those things in my life of which I ’ m most proud.
” As celebrities ask us all to stay hunkered down from their mansions , and politicians such as California Democrat and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi enjoy expensive ice cream and use our livelihoods as chess pieces , Sajak is singing a different tune .
Sajak will be the first person to tell you that someone in his position is not equipped to tell you how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is exactly what makes him qualified to chime in on the subject .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

If you follow longtime “Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak’s online activities, you’re aware that the game show host doesn’t see eye to eye with many in show business.
If you’re not a follower of Sajak’s Twitter account, you might consider it — he is a breath of fresh air in a sea of celebrities who take themselves too seriously.
The 73-year-old has hosted “Wheel” since 1981, but he could easily moonlight as a comedic commentator.
Sajak, despite being in the public eye for so many years, has somehow stayed down to earth as an apparently ordinary man full of wit and lighthearted quips.
He has also never been afraid to call out celebrities and elected officials for their malarkey, and is a frequent critic of leftist politics.
One of the themes on social media since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic is a sentiment from those in politics, the media and Hollywood that “We’re all in this together.”
Do you think it is time to end shutdowns nationwide? Yes No
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Don’t tell Sajak that. He’s not one to sit idly by as those who are drawing a paycheck tell the rest of the country how to behave.
“When a disc jockey or a talk show host or a journalist who is being paid to work from his or her home tells people who can’t work, pay bills or pay their rent or mortgage to ‘Stay home and be careful because we’re all in this together,’ it’s okay to question the premise,” Sajak tweeted on Saturday.
When a disc jockey or a talk show host or a journalist who is being paid to work from his or her home tells people who can’t work, pay bills or pay their rent or mortgage to “Stay home and be careful because we’re all in this together,” it’s okay to question the premise. — Pat Sajak (@patsajak) May 16, 2020
You don’t have to try too hard to guess where the TV host stands on the notion that everyone can afford to stay home until all of the ills of the world pass.
Take a look at some of Sajak’s other recent tweets if you could use a good chuckle.
I’m so tired of the term “two weeks” (as in, “two weeks to flatten the curve,” “we’ll know more in two weeks,” “it takes two weeks…” etc, etc.) When this is over, I plan to bring back the word “fortnight” so I never have to use the TW words again. — Pat Sajak (@patsajak) May 10, 2020
I hope you understand how difficult this situation is for celebrities. Instead of being pampered and flattered by everyone, we are forced to sit in our homes just like regular people. Please don’t forget about us. Any kind words of support would be appreciated. #AdoptACelebrity — Pat Sajak (@patsajak) April 27, 2020
No one was recognizing me when I went out wearing a face mask. Had to resort to carrying an 8×10 glossy of myself. Celebrityhood can be challenging. — Pat Sajak (@patsajak) April 24, 2020
I’m sick of hearing how we celebrities are in some kind of bubble and we don’t understand real life. When I’m out in public and people approach me, I’m always interested in what they have to say to my security detail. — Pat Sajak (@patsajak) January 9, 2020
Surprised to learn that selling vowels is not an essential job. — Pat Sajak (@patsajak) April 23, 2020
The TV host is not afraid to stand up for working people, and seems to effortlessly disavow everything that is wrong with star power.
Perhaps he more closely aligns with his show’s contestants than those he sits next to at the Daytime Emmy Awards.
Sajak actually began his career as a disc jockey, and took his talents to Vietnam in 1968, where he was a DJ for the American Forces Vietnam Network in Saigon while in the Army.
“I used to feel a bit guilty about my relatively ‘soft’ duty,” Sajak wrote for the USO in 2014.
“But I always felt a little better when I met guys who came into town from the field and thanked us for bringing them a little bit of home,” he added. “I always thought it was strange that they should be thanking me, given what so many of them were going through on a daily basis. But they reminded me of the importance of providing entertainment to those who serve — something the USO knows very well.”
“To this day, my fellow vets from that era repeat those thank-yous, and it’s really very humbling,” he added. “My respect for those who serve has stayed with me throughout my life, and my time in the military — particularly my time in Vietnam — are among those things in my life of which I’m most proud.”
As celebrities ask us all to stay hunkered down from their mansions, and politicians such as California Democrat and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi enjoy expensive ice cream and use our livelihoods as chess pieces, Sajak is singing a different tune.
Sajak will be the first person to tell you that someone in his position is not equipped to tell you how to live your life — and ironically, that is exactly what makes him qualified to chime in on the subject.
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westernjournal--2020-05-18--After 31 Years of Service, Navy Veteran Stunned When Community Surprises Him

People who have had birthdays during the past two months have had to modify their celebrations .
People who graduated this year after putting in years of work have had to deal with the disappointment of canceled commencements .
And for Navy Command Master Chief Gregory Williams ?
After 31 years of service , a retirement ceremony aboard the U.S.S .
Lexington was taken from him thanks to the virus .
But his wife saw him quietly mourning the loss of the celebration and knew she had to plan something .
“ Watching him those next few days just not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something , ” Cynthia Williams told KIII .
TRENDING : Hospital Worker with Coronavirus Found Dead with Her Small Child by Her Side , Hospital Issues Statement Neighbors and family were happy to help .
“ He ’ s a family man , takes care of his children , you know makes sure they have everything they need , ” neighbor Gordon Means said .
“ He is a humble man , but he ’ s a very strong man.
” “ A lot of the stuff that he does we don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s still doing everything for us and his country , ” Williams ’ son Isaiah said .
“ It means a lot to me.
” Cynthia had her sights set on even more participants , though .
“ Well maybe I can get some of his chiefs involved , ” she recalled thinking .
The yard was decorated , the neighbors assembled , and an automobile parade waited just around the block .
Cynthia asked her husband to step outside , and he walked out to “ The Star-Spangled Banner ” being played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years of honorable service to our Navy and this Great Nation , NAS Corpus Christi CMDCM Gregory Williams was cheated out of his retirement ceremony today due to the coronavirus pandemic , ” Ron Gunner Retzlaff shared on April 24 along with video of the surprise that has now gone viral .
RELATED : Air Force Band Teams Up with Virginia Teachers To Promise 'We Wo n't Give Up on You' “ His wife Cynthia jumped into action and brought together the neighborhood , the Chiefs Mess and the CO/XO to do a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humbled and thankful to know that we appreciate his many years of service and sacrifice.
” “ I got him , he DID SHED A TEAR OR 2 !
!
” Cynthia posted on Facebook .
“ CONGRATULATIONS BABE !
!
We had to cancel your real retirement ceremony for today but I COULDN ’ T let today go by without recognizing YOU !
!
!
Here ’ s to serving 31 years in the US NAVY !
!
” He even shared the “ gotcha ” video himself , admitting that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love and support .
“ I had to cancel my retirement ceremony that was scheduled for today , ” the man of the hour himself wrote .
“ However I was surprised by my family , friends , shipmates , and neighbors !
I feel so blessed !
” “ Initially just blown away , ” he elaborated to KIII .
“ Not knowing what I was walking out into and what was going on.
” “ My brothers and sisters in arms and my chief ’ s mess and my commanding officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meant a lot to me .
It kind of choked me up.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

People who have had birthdays during the past two months have had to modify their celebrations. People who graduated this year after putting in years of work have had to deal with the disappointment of canceled commencements.
And for Navy Command Master Chief Gregory Williams? After 31 years of service, a retirement ceremony aboard the U.S.S. Lexington was taken from him thanks to the virus.
But his wife saw him quietly mourning the loss of the celebration and knew she had to plan something.
“Watching him those next few days just not being himself, I got to do something,” Cynthia Williams told KIII.
Neighbors and family were happy to help.
“He’s a family man, takes care of his children, you know makes sure they have everything they need,” neighbor Gordon Means said. “He is a humble man, but he’s a very strong man.”
“A lot of the stuff that he does we don’t see I know that he’s still doing everything for us and his country,” Williams’ son Isaiah said. “It means a lot to me.”
Cynthia had her sights set on even more participants, though.
“Well maybe I can get some of his chiefs involved,” she recalled thinking.
The yard was decorated, the neighbors assembled, and an automobile parade waited just around the block. Cynthia asked her husband to step outside, and he walked out to “The Star-Spangled Banner” being played on a trumpet.
“After 31 years of honorable service to our Navy and this Great Nation, NAS Corpus Christi CMDCM Gregory Williams was cheated out of his retirement ceremony today due to the coronavirus pandemic,” Ron Gunner Retzlaff shared on April 24 along with video of the surprise that has now gone viral.
“His wife Cynthia jumped into action and brought together the neighborhood, the Chiefs Mess and the CO/XO to do a make shift drive-by ceremony. He was humbled and thankful to know that we appreciate his many years of service and sacrifice.”
“I got him, he DID SHED A TEAR OR 2!!” Cynthia posted on Facebook. “CONGRATULATIONS BABE!! We had to cancel your real retirement ceremony for today but I COULDN’T let today go by without recognizing YOU!!! Here’s to serving 31 years in the US NAVY!!”
He even shared the “gotcha” video himself, admitting that he was deeply moved by the show of love and support.
“I had to cancel my retirement ceremony that was scheduled for today,” the man of the hour himself wrote. “However I was surprised by my family, friends, shipmates, and neighbors! I feel so blessed!”
“Initially just blown away,” he elaborated to KIII. “Not knowing what I was walking out into and what was going on.”
“My brothers and sisters in arms and my chief’s mess and my commanding officer you know drive by it kind of meant a lot to me. It kind of choked me up.”
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westernjournal--2020-05-18--Pelosi Called Trump’s IG Firing ‘Dangerous,’ Was Silent When Obama Went an Entire Term Without One

President Barack Obama speaks during a town hall meeting for the Obama Foundation at the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg on July 18 , 2018 .
( Themba Hadebe / POOL / AFP via Getty Images An American president ’ s personnel issues are typically a mundane part of the job — unless the man in office happens to be President Donald Trump , in which case it becomes the catalyst for yet another investigation .
On Friday , Trump sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi giving the requisite 30 days notice that State Department Inspector General Steve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Trump has fired the State Department inspector general in his latest effort targeting key watchdogs across the government , ” is how Manu Raju of CNN characterized it in a tweet with an image of the president ’ s letter .
“ According to this letter he sent to Pelosi , Trump says he ‘ no longer ’ has the ‘ fullest confidence ’ in the State inspector general .
Effective in 30 days.
” TRENDING : Hospital Worker with Coronavirus Found Dead with Her Small Child by Her Side , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completely within his right to fire an inspector general with the appropriate notice .
Nevertheless , as if right on cue , Pelosi expressed her outrage with the proper legalese to justify what inevitably comes next : another investigation .
“ The late-night , weekend firing of State Department IG Steve Linick is an acceleration of the President ’ s dangerous pattern of retaliation against the patriotic public servants charged with conducting oversight on behalf of the American people , ” Pelosi tweeted regarding the ouster of the Obama administration holdover .
Sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prompted an investigation which Democratic lawmakers launched Saturday , according to Reuters ( although these days , just about everything the president does leads to some sort of Democratic investigation ) .
New York Rep. Eliot Engel , the House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman , and New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez , the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , accused the president of misconduct in an open letter to the White House .
The Democratic politicians asserted that Trump wrongly fired Linick because of his investigation of Secretary of State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal act of retaliation.
” “ We unalterably oppose the politically-motivated firing of inspectors general and the President ’ s gutting of these critical positions.
” RELATED : Even Amid Media 's COVID Smear Job , Trump Scores Higher Approval Than Obama Had at Same Point Although the Trump administration did not elaborate further , the Daily Caller countered with the theory that Linick was fired after last year ’ s Department of Defense inspector general investigation “ for mishandling sensitive material ” pertaining to another one the left ’ s witch hunt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of aid to Ukraine in a quid pro quo .
Despite the sky-is-falling nature of their reaction , Pelosi and her cohorts apparently forgot that during the Obama administration , there was no “ patriotic public servant ” in that IG role at all for four years .
In fact , for the entire tenure of then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , and until five months after she left the position , former President Barack Obama did not put forth or confirm a nominee for the position , The Wall Street Journal reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once fired an inspector general for the Corporation for National and Community Service , Gerald Walpin in June 2009 .
Just like Trump , he too cited lack of confidence in a letter to Pelosi and then-Vice President Joe Biden at the time , according to The New York Times .
But unlike with Trump , Walpin had already uncovered inappropriate use of AmeriCorps funds and believed his firing had something to do with investigations of Obama ’ s buddy Kevin Johnson , the former Democratic mayor of Sacramento and ex-NBA player .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost his lawsuit since he did not have a sufficient case under the 2008 Inspector General Reform Act for either the reason given or his right to the position ( it will be interesting to see how it may be applied this time ) .
Like the rest of the scandals the Democrats have thrown at Trump , this too will turn out to be nothing except a waste of time and proof that miraculously , Trump is the cleanest politician ever to grace the Oval Office .
Democrats are beating the war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get ” the president for another phony scandal , and this time their blatant hypocrisy will be their undoing .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

An American president’s personnel issues are typically a mundane part of the job — unless the man in office happens to be President Donald Trump, in which case it becomes the catalyst for yet another investigation.
On Friday, Trump sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi giving the requisite 30 days notice that State Department Inspector General Steve Linick would be removed from his position.
“Trump has fired the State Department inspector general in his latest effort targeting key watchdogs across the government,” is how Manu Raju of CNN characterized it in a tweet with an image of the president’s letter.
“According to this letter he sent to Pelosi, Trump says he ‘no longer’ has the ‘fullest confidence’ in the State inspector general. Effective in 30 days.”
Trump has fired the State Department inspector general in his latest effort targeting key watchdogs across the government. According to this letter he sent to Pelosi, Trump says he “no longer” has the “fullest confidence” in the State inspector general. Effective in 30 days. pic.twitter.com/9U4Q3HXd9W — Manu Raju (@mkraju) May 16, 2020
But the president is completely within his right to fire an inspector general with the appropriate notice.
Nevertheless, as if right on cue, Pelosi expressed her outrage with the proper legalese to justify what inevitably comes next: another investigation.
“The late-night, weekend firing of State Department IG Steve Linick is an acceleration of the President’s dangerous pattern of retaliation against the patriotic public servants charged with conducting oversight on behalf of the American people,” Pelosi tweeted regarding the ouster of the Obama administration holdover.
The late-night, weekend firing of State Department IG Steve Linick is an acceleration of the President’s dangerous pattern of retaliation against the patriotic public servants charged with conducting oversight on behalf of the American people. https://t.co/VavmuJpX25 — Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) May 16, 2020
Sure enough, the “dangerous” firing prompted an investigation which Democratic lawmakers launched Saturday, according to Reuters (although these days, just about everything the president does leads to some sort of Democratic investigation).
New York Rep. Eliot Engel, the House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman, and New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, accused the president of misconduct in an open letter to the White House.
The Democratic politicians asserted that Trump wrongly fired Linick because of his investigation of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, calling it an “illegal act of retaliation.”
“We unalterably oppose the politically-motivated firing of inspectors general and the President’s gutting of these critical positions.”
Although the Trump administration did not elaborate further, the Daily Caller countered with the theory that Linick was fired after last year’s Department of Defense inspector general investigation “for mishandling sensitive material” pertaining to another one the left’s witch hunt investigations, Trump’s supposed withholding of aid to Ukraine in a quid pro quo.
Despite the sky-is-falling nature of their reaction, Pelosi and her cohorts apparently forgot that during the Obama administration, there was no “patriotic public servant” in that IG role at all for four years.
In fact, for the entire tenure of then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and until five months after she left the position, former President Barack Obama did not put forth or confirm a nominee for the position, The Wall Street Journal reported in 2015.
Do you think this is another phony scandal Pelosi and the Democrats are trying to pin on President Trump? Yes No
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Furthermore, Obama himself once fired an inspector general for the Corporation for National and Community Service, Gerald Walpin in June 2009.
Just like Trump, he too cited lack of confidence in a letter to Pelosi and then-Vice President Joe Biden at the time, according to The New York Times.
But unlike with Trump, Walpin had already uncovered inappropriate use of AmeriCorps funds and believed his firing had something to do with investigations of Obama’s buddy Kevin Johnson, the former Democratic mayor of Sacramento and ex-NBA player.
Walpin sought restitution in court but ultimately lost his lawsuit since he did not have a sufficient case under the 2008 Inspector General Reform Act for either the reason given or his right to the position (it will be interesting to see how it may be applied this time).
Like the rest of the scandals the Democrats have thrown at Trump, this too will turn out to be nothing except a waste of time and proof that miraculously, Trump is the cleanest politician ever to grace the Oval Office.
Democrats are beating the war drums once again to try to “get” the president for another phony scandal, and this time their blatant hypocrisy will be their undoing.
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westernjournal--2020-05-18--College Targets Professor Over ‘Islamophobic’ Quiz, Chancellor Later Apologizes

After being accused of “ islamophobia , ” one college professor was told by his school that he had to apologize .
Instead , the professor stood firm in his convictions and fought back .
In the end , it was the school doing the apologizing , adding a tick in the victory box for academic freedom .
Nicholas Damask , chairman of the political science department at Scottsdale Community College , describes himself as “ the only tenured political science faculty currently teaching in Arizona to write a doctoral dissertation on terrorism , ” according to FrontPage Magazine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a quiz about contemporary terrorism that angered one student and prompted the school to demand that Damask apologize .
The three quiz questions were “ Who do terrorists strive to emulate ?
” “ Where is terrorism encouraged in Islamic doctrine and law ?
” and “ Terrorism is __ in Islam , ” with the answers being “ Mohammed , ” “ the Medina verses ” and “ justified within the context of jihad , ” according to FrontPage Magazine .
TRENDING : Hospital Worker with Coronavirus Found Dead with Her Small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Statement A student emailed Damask to say the quiz “ offended ” him because it was “ in distaste of Islam.
” In turn , Damask sent back a lengthy reply explaining why he believed there was nothing wrong with the quiz questions .
Shortly after that , the professor was being attacked on social media and receiving death threats .
Comments were added to unrelated Instagram posts from Scottsdale Community College , calling it a “ RACIST SCHOOL ” and saying , “ You need better professors who don ’ t spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , college officials posted an apology to the student and the Islamic community as a whole on the school ’ s official Instagram page , according to Campus Reform .
In the post , the school said Damask would be “ required ” to apologize .
However , that post has since been taken down , Campus Reform reported .
Damask stood with his convictions and refused to cave in to pressure from the school or the death threats he was receiving .
“ It goes without saying that I will not apologize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appropriate to discuss Islam , Muhammad , the Quran , the hadiths and any other matter related to Islamic terrorism , ” he said , according to FrontPage Magazine .
RELATED : Elite Football Coach Fires Back at Critics of His Christianity “ Incidentally : there has been no official complaint , no due process for me , just a mad scramble by the school to appease Islam , ” the professor said .
Damask then fought back against the school ’ s insistence for him to apologize and enlisted the help of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a letter sent to the school on May 7 , FIRE said , “ Although the student who expressed his concern to Damask and the numerous other individuals who commented on Instagram were offended by the quiz questions , this reaction does not give SCC license to restrict Damask ’ s expressive and academic rights.
” Only a few days after FIRE sent the letter , on May 11 , Scottsdale Community College ’ s interim chancellor , Steven Gonzales , issued an apology for the school ’ s actions in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am troubled by what appears to be a rush to judgement in how the college responded to the controversy and the apparent failure to follow policy and procedure in addressing both the student ’ s concerns and the faculty member ’ s rights , ” Gonzales wrote .
“ I apologize , personally , and on behalf of the Maricopa Community Colleges , for the uneven manner in which this was handled and for our lack of full consideration for our professor ’ s right of academic freedom.
” Additionally , Gonzales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking steps to prevent similar situations from happening in the future .
“ Today , I am announcing the formation of the Committee on Academic Freedom , to be led by Provost Karla Fisher with members identified by the end of the week , to champion academic freedom education and training and to resolve academic freedom disputes in the hope of ensuring this fundamental academic value is better understood and realized alongside our longstanding commitment to the value of inclusion , ” he said .
FIRE responded to the academic freedom victory in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ FIRE will continue monitoring the situation , but we ’ re heartened that professor Damask can now focus on his teaching instead of defending his basic rights from his own institution , ” it said .
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Read our editorial standards .

After being accused of “islamophobia,” one college professor was told by his school that he had to apologize. Instead, the professor stood firm in his convictions and fought back.
In the end, it was the school doing the apologizing, adding a tick in the victory box for academic freedom.
Nicholas Damask, chairman of the political science department at Scottsdale Community College, describes himself as “the only tenured political science faculty currently teaching in Arizona to write a doctoral dissertation on terrorism,” according to FrontPage Magazine.
Using his expertise, the professor wrote a quiz about contemporary terrorism that angered one student and prompted the school to demand that Damask apologize.
The three quiz questions were “Who do terrorists strive to emulate?” “Where is terrorism encouraged in Islamic doctrine and law?” and “Terrorism is __ in Islam,” with the answers being “Mohammed,” “the Medina verses” and “justified within the context of jihad,” according to FrontPage Magazine.
A student emailed Damask to say the quiz “offended” him because it was “in distaste of Islam.”
In turn, Damask sent back a lengthy reply explaining why he believed there was nothing wrong with the quiz questions.
Shortly after that, the professor was being attacked on social media and receiving death threats.
Comments were added to unrelated Instagram posts from Scottsdale Community College, calling it a “RACIST SCHOOL” and saying, “You need better professors who don’t spread hate ideology!”
On May 1, college officials posted an apology to the student and the Islamic community as a whole on the school’s official Instagram page, according to Campus Reform.
In the post, the school said Damask would be “required” to apologize.
However, that post has since been taken down, Campus Reform reported.
Damask stood with his convictions and refused to cave in to pressure from the school or the death threats he was receiving.
“It goes without saying that I will not apologize for anything, that it is perfectly appropriate to discuss Islam, Muhammad, the Quran, the hadiths and any other matter related to Islamic terrorism,” he said, according to FrontPage Magazine.
“Incidentally: there has been no official complaint, no due process for me, just a mad scramble by the school to appease Islam,” the professor said.
Damask then fought back against the school’s insistence for him to apologize and enlisted the help of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.
In a letter sent to the school on May 7, FIRE said, “Although the student who expressed his concern to Damask and the numerous other individuals who commented on Instagram were offended by the quiz questions, this reaction does not give SCC license to restrict Damask’s expressive and academic rights.”
Only a few days after FIRE sent the letter, on May 11, Scottsdale Community College’s interim chancellor, Steven Gonzales, issued an apology for the school’s actions in restricting Damask’s freedoms.
“I am troubled by what appears to be a rush to judgement in how the college responded to the controversy and the apparent failure to follow policy and procedure in addressing both the student’s concerns and the faculty member’s rights,” Gonzales wrote.
“I apologize, personally, and on behalf of the Maricopa Community Colleges, for the uneven manner in which this was handled and for our lack of full consideration for our professor’s right of academic freedom.”
Additionally, Gonzales announced that the school district would be taking steps to prevent similar situations from happening in the future.
Do you think Damask should have apologized? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 4% (17 Votes) No: 96% (389 Votes)
“Today, I am announcing the formation of the Committee on Academic Freedom, to be led by Provost Karla Fisher with members identified by the end of the week, to champion academic freedom education and training and to resolve academic freedom disputes in the hope of ensuring this fundamental academic value is better understood and realized alongside our longstanding commitment to the value of inclusion,” he said.
FIRE responded to the academic freedom victory in a May 11 post on its website.
“FIRE will continue monitoring the situation, but we’re heartened that professor Damask can now focus on his teaching instead of defending his basic rights from his own institution,” it said.
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westernjournal--2020-05-18--Trump Reveals He’s Been Taking Hydroxychloroquine for a Week and a Half

President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday that he has been taking the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine for almost two weeks as a way to prevent him from contracting COVID-19 .
“ A lot of good things have come out ” about the drug , Trump said during an event at the White House for business leaders .
“ You ’ d be surprised at how many people are taking it , especially the front-line workers .
Before you catch it .
The front-line workers , many , many are taking it .
“ I happen to be taking it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Right now , yeah .
Couple of weeks ago , I started taking it .
Because I think it ’ s good .
I ’ ve heard a lot of good stories.
” He later told reporters he was “ just waiting to see your eyes light up when I said this , when I announced this .
But I ’ ve taken it for about a week and a half now , and I ’ m still here.
” Trump was an early advocate of the drug in the potential treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use around the world .
TRENDING : Hospital Worker with Coronavirus Found Dead with Her Small Child by Her Side , Hospital Issues Statement He said during Monday ’ s event he had received a letter from a doctor who has treated hundreds of COVID-19 patients in Westchester , New York , just north of New York City , who said he had used the drug in combination with antibiotic azithromycin , commonly known as a Z-Pak , as well as zinc .
The president said the doctor had lost none of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physicians have raised about the drug ’ s use , saying he believes it is safe , and he took it along with a zinc supplement in consultation with his White House doctor .
“ I ’ m not gon na get hurt by it .
It ’ s been around for 40 years , ” he said .
“ For malaria , for lupus , for other things .
“ I take it .
Front-line workers take it .
A lot of doctors take it — excuse me , a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Last month , South Dakota Gov .
Kristi Noem initiated a statewide study to test hydroxychloroquine ’ s efficacy for the treatment of COVID-19 patients and whether it works as a prophylactic in preventing patients from contracting the illness .
Noem said she made direct requests to Trump and Vice President Mike Pence to provide South Dakota with enough hydroxychloroquine to make it available for every hospitalized person .
She also said wanted to make the drug available to health care workers on the front lines and those in the most vulnerable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take it as a prophylactic .
RELATED : After 31 Years of Service , Navy Veteran Stunned When Community Surprises Him When asked last month about the use of the drug in New York , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said that while no extensive scientific study had been done at that time that he was aware of , “ anecdotally , it ’ s been positive.
” Dr. Stephen Smith , founder of the Smith Center for Infectious Diseases and Urban Health in East Orange , New Jersey , proclaimed the remarkable results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin marks the “ beginning of the end ” of the coronavirus pandemic .
Similarly , Dr. Anthony Cardillo of Los Angeles told KABC-TV last month that he has been prescribing hydroxychloroquine in combination with zinc for the most severely ill COVID-19 patients with astounding results .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday that he has been taking the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine for almost two weeks as a way to prevent him from contracting COVID-19.
“A lot of good things have come out” about the drug, Trump said during an event at the White House for business leaders. “You’d be surprised at how many people are taking it, especially the front-line workers. Before you catch it. The front-line workers, many, many are taking it.
“I happen to be taking it. I’m taking it, hydroxychloroquine. Right now, yeah. Couple of weeks ago, I started taking it. Because I think it’s good. I’ve heard a lot of good stories.”
He later told reporters he was “just waiting to see your eyes light up when I said this, when I announced this. But I’ve taken it for about a week and a half now, and I’m still here.”
Trump was an early advocate of the drug in the potential treatment for the coronavirus, noting its widespread use around the world.
He said during Monday’s event he had received a letter from a doctor who has treated hundreds of COVID-19 patients in Westchester, New York, just north of New York City, who said he had used the drug in combination with antibiotic azithromycin, commonly known as a Z-Pak, as well as zinc.
The president said the doctor had lost none of his patients.
Trump addressed the concerns some physicians have raised about the drug’s use, saying he believes it is safe, and he took it along with a zinc supplement in consultation with his White House doctor.
Do you think taking hydroxychloroquine is a good idea? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 97% (195 Votes) No: 3% (6 Votes)
“I’m not gonna get hurt by it. It’s been around for 40 years,” he said. “For malaria, for lupus, for other things.
“I take it. Front-line workers take it. A lot of doctors take it — excuse me, a lot of doctors take it. I take it.”
Last month, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem initiated a statewide study to test hydroxychloroquine’s efficacy for the treatment of COVID-19 patients and whether it works as a prophylactic in preventing patients from contracting the illness.
Noem said she made direct requests to Trump and Vice President Mike Pence to provide South Dakota with enough hydroxychloroquine to make it available for every hospitalized person.
She also said wanted to make the drug available to health care workers on the front lines and those in the most vulnerable populations, if they would like to take it as a prophylactic.
When asked last month about the use of the drug in New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that while no extensive scientific study had been done at that time that he was aware of, “anecdotally, it’s been positive.”
Dr. Stephen Smith, founder of the Smith Center for Infectious Diseases and Urban Health in East Orange, New Jersey, proclaimed the remarkable results he saw in his COVID-19 patients using hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin marks the “beginning of the end” of the coronavirus pandemic.
Similarly, Dr. Anthony Cardillo of Los Angeles told KABC-TV last month that he has been prescribing hydroxychloroquine in combination with zinc for the most severely ill COVID-19 patients with astounding results.
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westernjournal--2020-05-18--Barr Reveals Whether Biden or Obama Are Likely To Face Criminal Investigation

Attorney General William Barr told reporters Monday that neither former President Barack Obama nor former Vice President Joe Biden will face a criminal investigation regarding the origins of the Russian collusion investigation .
Barr was giving an update alongside FBI Director Christopher Wray regarding new information on the shooting last year at the Pensacola Naval Air Station when he was asked about a probe into the Russia investigation being conducted by U.S. Attorney John Durham .
Barr , reading from apparently prepared remarks , said his department would not go after Obama or Biden over their alleged involvement in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 campaign .
Instead , Barr offered a rebuke of law enforcement agencies and government officials who he said had used investigations in the past to go after their political adversaries .
TRENDING : Hospital Worker with Coronavirus Found Dead with Her Small Child by Her Side , Hospital Issues Statement “ Over the past few decades , there have been increasing attempts to use the criminal justice system as a political weapon , ” he said .
“ The legal tactic has been to gin up allegations of criminality by one ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of legal theories .
This is not a good development .
This is not good for our political life and it ’ s not good for the criminal justice system.
” “ As long as I ’ m attorney general , the criminal justice system will not be used for partisan political ends and this is especially true for the upcoming elections in November , ” he continued .
Barr further said that “ we live in a very divided country ” and that it is his belief that another investigation could essentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the credibility of the nation ’ s top law enforcement agencies .
The political process can not be “ hijacked by efforts to drum up criminal investigations of either candidate , ” Barr said , adding , “ any effort to pursue an investigation of either candidate has to be approved by me.
” Barr further said that Trump ’ s treatment in the Russia investigation “ was abhorrent , ” and added the country ’ s top law enforcement agencies abused their power to pursue an investigation based on a “ false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t allow this ever to happen again , ” he vowed .
On the question of whether Obama or Biden will face legal consequences over their potential involvement in the investigation into the Trump campaign , Barr said the probe will focus on other individuals .
“ As to President Obama and Vice President Biden , whatever their level of involvement based on the information I have today , I don ’ t expect Mr. Durham ’ s work will lead to a criminal investigation of either man , ” Barr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminality is focused on others.
” RELATED : In Midst of Flynn Unmasking Scandal , Trump Reveals What He Thinks Obama Was Really Doing On the Durham probe , Barr said that “ some aspects of the matter are being investigated as potential crimes.
” Barr ’ s Monday statements come as Trump has called on Obama to testify before a congressional hearing about his administration ’ s alleged involvement in the unmasking of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn .
A letter sent to Republican senators by acting Director of National Intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly two dozen other Obama administration officials who were allegedly involved in targeting Flynn .
The New York Post reported nine names in the letter were redacted .
Biden had denied any knowledge of an apparent plan to target the Trump campaign only a day prior to Grenell ’ s letter being sent .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Attorney General William Barr told reporters Monday that neither former President Barack Obama nor former Vice President Joe Biden will face a criminal investigation regarding the origins of the Russian collusion investigation.
Barr was giving an update alongside FBI Director Christopher Wray regarding new information on the shooting last year at the Pensacola Naval Air Station when he was asked about a probe into the Russia investigation being conducted by U.S. Attorney John Durham.
Barr, reading from apparently prepared remarks, said his department would not go after Obama or Biden over their alleged involvement in the investigation into President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Instead, Barr offered a rebuke of law enforcement agencies and government officials who he said had used investigations in the past to go after their political adversaries.
“Over the past few decades, there have been increasing attempts to use the criminal justice system as a political weapon,” he said.
“The legal tactic has been to gin up allegations of criminality by one’s political opponent based on the flimsiest of legal theories. This is not a good development. This is not good for our political life and it’s not good for the criminal justice system.”
“As long as I’m attorney general, the criminal justice system will not be used for partisan political ends and this is especially true for the upcoming elections in November,” he continued.
Barr further said that “we live in a very divided country” and that it is his belief that another investigation could essentially undermine the coming election and further damage the credibility of the nation’s top law enforcement agencies.
Do you think former President Obama should answer questions about the Russia investigation before Congress? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 99% (592 Votes) No: 1% (7 Votes)
The political process cannot be “hijacked by efforts to drum up criminal investigations of either candidate,” Barr said, adding, “any effort to pursue an investigation of either candidate has to be approved by me.”
Barr further said that Trump’s treatment in the Russia investigation “was abhorrent,” and added the country’s top law enforcement agencies abused their power to pursue an investigation based on a “false and utterly baseless narrative.”
“We can’t allow this ever to happen again,” he vowed.
On the question of whether Obama or Biden will face legal consequences over their potential involvement in the investigation into the Trump campaign, Barr said the probe will focus on other individuals.
“As to President Obama and Vice President Biden, whatever their level of involvement based on the information I have today, I don’t expect Mr. Durham’s work will lead to a criminal investigation of either man,” Barr said. “Our concern over potential criminality is focused on others.”
On the Durham probe, Barr said that “some aspects of the matter are being investigated as potential crimes.”
Barr’s Monday statements come as Trump has called on Obama to testify before a congressional hearing about his administration’s alleged involvement in the unmasking of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.
A letter sent to Republican senators by acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell last week implicated Biden and nearly two dozen other Obama administration officials who were allegedly involved in targeting Flynn.
The New York Post reported nine names in the letter were redacted.
Biden had denied any knowledge of an apparent plan to target the Trump campaign only a day prior to Grenell’s letter being sent.
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