westernjournal--2020-12-17--Alleged Jeffrey Epstein Accomplice Who Has Been Missing for Over a Year Was Just Arrested

Millionaire and model scout Jean-Luc Brunel , an alleged associate of the late Jeffrey Epstein , has been arrested in France , according to news reports .
Brunel , who had been missing for over a year , was detained Wednesday on accusations of rape , sexual assault of minors , human trafficking and taking part in a criminal conspiracy , prosecutors told Agence France-Presse on Thursday .
A source close to the case said he had been arrested at Paris ’ Charles de Gaulle airport trying to board a plane to Senegal , AFP reported .
He could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours , according to Bloomberg .
France opened an investigation into Brunel in August 2019 , igniting the hunt for the modeling agency boss who has long been linked to Epstein , The New York Times reported .
TRENDING : Viewers Spot Bizarre Occurrence When Needle Plunges Into Nurse 's Arm at Televised Vaccination Ceremony However , a report in Britain ’ s Mirror a month after the investigation opened said that the millionaire had vanished , calling him a “ ghost who has disappeared without a trace.
” “ The victims have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” lawyer Anne-Claire Lejeune told AFP following his arrest .
“ They welcome his detention with relief and with confidence in the legal process.
” A former Dutch model , Thysia Huisman , who says she was “ drugged and raped ” by Brunel , told AFP , “ This is huge news .
I am crying with joy.
” Brunel has been accused of being part of Epstein ’ s network .
According to the U.K .
Guardian , Virginia Roberts Giuffre , who has accused Epstein of sexual abuse , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ farmed out ” young women to Epstein .
She also said she was forced to have sex with Brunel .
“ The guy was a vile pig , ” said Clayton Nelson , a photographer who worked for Brunel , according to The Guardian .
“ The girls who slept with him worked .
The girls who didn ’ t , he would tell bookers : ‘ I don ’ t want her booked for anything.
’ ” Brunel in 2015 denied any such allegations , according to The Guardian .
RELATED : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bystander Leaps Into Freezing Water To Save Him “ I strongly deny having participated , neither directly nor indirectly , in the actions Mr. Jeffrey Epstein is being accused of , ” he said at the time .
“ I strongly deny having committed any illicit act or any wrongdoing in the course of my work as a scouter or model agencies manager.
” Epstein was being held in the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City facing child sex trafficking charges at the time of his death , which was ruled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in August 2019 , which left his alleged victims angry , as many said during a hearing called to allow them the opportunity to speak before the case was closed .
Brunel and Epstein ’ s alleged relationship is documented in flight logs for the late financier ’ s private plane as far back as 2002 , where the Frenchmen turns up for a flight from Florida to the Bahamas , according to Bloomberg .
Brunel also visited Epstein in jail while he was serving a 13-month sentence in Florida for procuring an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jail logs , Bloomberg reported .
He allegedly held models in Epstein ’ s Manhattan apartments , according to a sworn deposition by a former bookkeeper , Bloomberg reported .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Millionaire and model scout Jean-Luc Brunel, an alleged associate of the late Jeffrey Epstein, has been arrested in France, according to news reports.
Brunel, who had been missing for over a year, was detained Wednesday on accusations of rape, sexual assault of minors, human trafficking and taking part in a criminal conspiracy, prosecutors told Agence France-Presse on Thursday.
A source close to the case said he had been arrested at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport trying to board a plane to Senegal, AFP reported.
He could be held for questioning for up to 96 hours, according to Bloomberg.
France opened an investigation into Brunel in August 2019, igniting the hunt for the modeling agency boss who has long been linked to Epstein, The New York Times reported.
Jeffrey Epstein’s modeling agent pal Jean-Luc Brunel detained in Paris https://t.co/9sDn9caMrC pic.twitter.com/XlVT75hdgc — New York Post (@nypost) December 17, 2020
However, a report in Britain’s Mirror a month after the investigation opened said that the millionaire had vanished, calling him a “ghost who has disappeared without a trace.”
“The victims have long awaited the arrest of Jean-Luc Brunel,” lawyer Anne-Claire Lejeune told AFP following his arrest.
“They welcome his detention with relief and with confidence in the legal process.”
Do you think this arrest will implicate powerful people in the Epstein story? Yes No
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A former Dutch model, Thysia Huisman, who says she was “drugged and raped” by Brunel, told AFP, “This is huge news. I am crying with joy.”
Brunel has been accused of being part of Epstein’s network.
According to the U.K. Guardian, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who has accused Epstein of sexual abuse, alleged in court papers that Brunel “farmed out” young women to Epstein. She also said she was forced to have sex with Brunel.
“The guy was a vile pig,” said Clayton Nelson, a photographer who worked for Brunel, according to The Guardian. “The girls who slept with him worked. The girls who didn’t, he would tell bookers: ‘I don’t want her booked for anything.’”
Brunel in 2015 denied any such allegations, according to The Guardian.
“I strongly deny having participated, neither directly nor indirectly, in the actions Mr. Jeffrey Epstein is being accused of,” he said at the time. “I strongly deny having committed any illicit act or any wrongdoing in the course of my work as a scouter or model agencies manager.”
Epstein was being held in the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City facing child sex trafficking charges at the time of his death, which was ruled a suicide. Those charges were dismissed in August 2019, which left his alleged victims angry, as many said during a hearing called to allow them the opportunity to speak before the case was closed.
Brunel and Epstein’s alleged relationship is documented in flight logs for the late financier’s private plane as far back as 2002, where the Frenchmen turns up for a flight from Florida to the Bahamas, according to Bloomberg.
Brunel also visited Epstein in jail while he was serving a 13-month sentence in Florida for procuring an underage girl for prostitution, according to jail logs, Bloomberg reported.
He allegedly held models in Epstein’s Manhattan apartments, according to a sworn deposition by a former bookkeeper, Bloomberg reported.
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westernjournal--2020-12-17--Islamic Terrorist Gets Life in Prison in Infamous Train Attack Foiled by American Heroes

A French court on Thursday convicted an Islamic State operative in a 2015 train attack was foiled by passengers .
It sentenced Morocco-born Ayoub El Khazzani to life in prison , with 22 years guaranteed behind bars .
Three accomplices , who weren ’ t on the train , were also convicted of complicity and handed sentences ranging from seven to 27 years .
The verdict closes the month-long trial of El Khazzani for attempted terrorist murder .
He had boarded the train to Paris on Aug. 21 , 2015 , with an arsenal of weapons .
TRENDING : Viewers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nurse 's Arm at Televised Vaccination Ceremony The court rejected El Khazzani ’ s contention that he had changed his mind about carrying out the attack .
He seriously wounded a French-American teacher who grabbed his Kalashnikov .
Few if any of the passengers in car No .
12 of the train from Amsterdam to Paris would have reached their destination alive if the assault had gone off as planned , prosecutors , lawyers and some witnesses contended during the trial .
El Khazzani , armed with an assault rifle , nearly 300 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a knife when he boarded the train in Brussels , was tackled , choked and knocked unconscious by three Americans .
The depictions of the heroics of California friends Spencer Stone , Alek Skarlatos and Anthony Sadler were the highlight of the trial .
The court convicted Bilal Chatra and Mohamed Bakkali of complicity and sentenced them to prison terms of 27 years and 25 years , respectively .
A third man , Redouane El Amrani Ezzerrifi , was given a seven-year sentence .
Investigators had exposed an alleged network of connections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack , in the attacks on a Paris music hall , cafes and restaurants and at a sports stadium that left 130 people dead .
The train attack was allegedly organized by Abdelhamid Abaaoud , who coordinated the November 2015 attacks in Paris as well .
El Khazzani was with Abaaoud in Syria and traveled with him to Brussels .
He told the court that Abaaoud concocted the plan for the train attack and that he followed it to the letter — until he changed his mind .
RELATED : Islamic Extremist Charged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Out Next 9/11 El Khazzani ’ s testimony was often confused , but he agreed when the presiding judge said he appeared to be “ a puppet ” of Abaaoud , who was killed by French special forces shortly after the Paris massacre .
“ I believed him .
It ’ s stupid but I believed , ” he said during testimony in November .
El Khazzani said Abaaoud told him to kill three to five American soldiers in the car .
Abaaoud had told him they were responsible for bombings in Syria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ El Khazzani said triggered his wish for revenge .
It remained unclear at the trial ’ s end how he identified the vacationing Americans as servicemen , as he claimed he had , because they were in civilian clothes .
The verdict comes a day after 14 people were convicted of involvement in the January 2015 massacre at satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and another deadly attack .
All three attackers were killed .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

A French court on Thursday convicted an Islamic State operative in a 2015 train attack was foiled by passengers.
It sentenced Morocco-born Ayoub El Khazzani to life in prison, with 22 years guaranteed behind bars.
Three accomplices, who weren’t on the train, were also convicted of complicity and handed sentences ranging from seven to 27 years.
The verdict closes the month-long trial of El Khazzani for attempted terrorist murder.
He had boarded the train to Paris on Aug. 21, 2015, with an arsenal of weapons.
The court rejected El Khazzani’s contention that he had changed his mind about carrying out the attack. He seriously wounded a French-American teacher who grabbed his Kalashnikov.
Few if any of the passengers in car No. 12 of the train from Amsterdam to Paris would have reached their destination alive if the assault had gone off as planned, prosecutors, lawyers and some witnesses contended during the trial.
El Khazzani, armed with an assault rifle, nearly 300 rounds of ammunition, a hand gun and a knife when he boarded the train in Brussels, was tackled, choked and knocked unconscious by three Americans.
The depictions of the heroics of California friends Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos and Anthony Sadler were the highlight of the trial.
Do you think El Khazzani received a just sentence? 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: 74% (97 Votes) No: 26% (34 Votes)
The court convicted Bilal Chatra and Mohamed Bakkali of complicity and sentenced them to prison terms of 27 years and 25 years, respectively. A third man, Redouane El Amrani Ezzerrifi, was given a seven-year sentence.
Investigators had exposed an alleged network of connections that culminated, months after the train attack, in the attacks on a Paris music hall, cafes and restaurants and at a sports stadium that left 130 people dead.
The train attack was allegedly organized by Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who coordinated the November 2015 attacks in Paris as well.
El Khazzani was with Abaaoud in Syria and traveled with him to Brussels.
He told the court that Abaaoud concocted the plan for the train attack and that he followed it to the letter — until he changed his mind.
El Khazzani’s testimony was often confused, but he agreed when the presiding judge said he appeared to be “a puppet” of Abaaoud, who was killed by French special forces shortly after the Paris massacre.
“I believed him. It’s stupid but I believed,” he said during testimony in November.
El Khazzani said Abaaoud told him to kill three to five American soldiers in the car.
Abaaoud had told him they were responsible for bombings in Syria, including that of a mosque that El Khazzani said triggered his wish for revenge.
It remained unclear at the trial’s end how he identified the vacationing Americans as servicemen, as he claimed he had, because they were in civilian clothes.
The verdict comes a day after 14 people were convicted of involvement in the January 2015 massacre at satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and another deadly attack. All three attackers were killed.
[jwplayer xTEdOxOm]
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westernjournal--2020-12-17--CNN’s Cuomo Asks if Florida Should Get Enough COVID Vaccine

We occasionally need a friendly reminder there isn ’ t just one terrible Cuomo out there .
Yes , New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo has proven to be uniquely wretched in so many ways during the annus horribilis of 2020 .
Not that we need a recapitulation , but he ’ s now facing a sexual harassment allegation as Joe Biden considers him for the post of United States attorney general .
One is at least relieved the attorney general doesn ’ t make decisions about what hospital patients get sent back into nursing homes , but the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a reminder you didn ’ t need about the inexplicable love affair between the mainstream media and one of the worst governors since Pontius Pilate .
Lest you ’ ve forgotten , there ’ s still Chris Cuomo , though .
Since we ’ ve all been spending less time in airport terminals these last few months , some of us may have forgotten about that other Cuomo — at least after the combined Cuomos ’ COVID-briefing Smothers Brothers routines got old .
Chris Cuomo is still on CNN , though .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ And they ’ re still ghastly .
TRENDING : Viewers Spot Bizarre Occurrence When Needle Plunges Into Nurse 's Arm at Televised Vaccination Ceremony On Tuesday , he proved it while talking about the distribution of the coronaviru vaccine now available hand thanks in large part to the Trump administration ’ s Operation Warp Speed .
We don ’ t have enough of it , at least not yet .
That means there are going to be logistical challenges .
Chris Cuomo , distribution-chain expert that he is , is peeved at how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Media Research Center , his specific peeve Tuesday was that Florida is getting more vaccines than New York is getting .
Not that Cuomo knows the numbers or anything ; he ’ s only part of a massive media node and that kind of work is apparently beyond him .
However , as part of Cuomo ’ s regular “ Vacci-Nation ” ( groan ) segment , the CNN host went through the vaccine distribution numbers as he understood them , and didn ’ t like why the Sunshine State was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Where to focus the vaccine , who should get it ?
OK. Well , if you start with the obvious metric , where are the most cases , where are people dying the most ?
It ’ s going to be your big states .
New York , California , Texas , Florida .
OK , ” Cuomo said , according to the MRC transcript .
“ But now let ’ s look at those states .
They also have the most health care workers , right ?
Because you have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , most population , most cases , most health care workers , most everything .
Nursing home patients and health care workers , they need a lot and they ’ re first up for doses.
” Yes , well , you ’ re watching a news channel , so the likelihood you need Fredo explaining this to you is minute .
However , while he agrees we should focus the vaccine on states where people are dying the most , he seems to have some odd ideas on where we should go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say that “ only one of the states that I just mentioned , Texas , is even scheduled to get close to enough doses to give everyone in the first group a single dose by the end of the year .
Why Texas ?
It ’ s not the biggest ?
Certainly hasn ’ t been the most responsible .
Why Texas ?
In fact , of the five states that will get enough to give everyone in the first group a single dose by New Year ’ s , none of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the top 20 when it comes to case count .
“ Again , is this just about math ?
Or is it manipulation ?
” RELATED : Flashback : 'Science Guy ' Bill Nye Claimed It Would Take 2 Years To Develop Vaccine Duh-duh-duhhhh !
Now , I know you ’ re probably focused on the fact Cuomo is insinuating — in the absence of any proof — that Texas is getting its vaccine allocation because Trump loves him some Texas .
Mind you , every other conspiracy theory the left has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the COVID scales with Operation Warp Speed has been comprehensively disproven by the facts .
But this time , Chris Cuomo ’ s seeing through all of the lies .
However , while your brain was probably focusing on that , you should keep in mind his talk about how Texas “ hasn ’ t been the most responsible ” when it comes to stopping the spread of COVID .
It ’ ll come in handy later .
Anyway , next he talked about his brother and Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guy named Cuomo up in New York , ” Fredo said .
“ He said about 10,000 doses were administered yesterday .
That leaves him just as exposed , given the scale of need , as he was without the vaccine , relatively .
Every bit counts , of course , but New York needs so much more and a lot faster or the curve of cases is going to go up longer and include more of the people that we need on the front lines .
Time equals death here .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 100,000 to five hospitals .
But there ’ s a delay as shipments for the next two weeks are , quote , ‘ on hold right now.
’ Two issues .
One , why did they get so many more than New York , is it true , that they did ?
Because the numbers seem to suggest it .
Is that the answer ?
” After taking a couple of more shots at DeSantis , Cuomo got to his real questions about Florida : “ Did they get the doses they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , pretty much everything that came out of Chris Cuomo ’ s mouth that isn ’ t a proper noun or a conjunction is wrong , but let ’ s start with that question : Why would Florida get more vaccines than New York ?
Why would Operation Warp Speed focus efforts on Florida in a bid to inoculate people against a disease that ’ s known to be particularly brutal on the elderly ?
This question basically answers itself , but let ’ s go to the statistics just to drive the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents were estimated to be over the age of 65 in 2018 , according to the Population Reference Bureau .
That was the second-highest percentage in the United States , right after Maine .
New York was tied at number 26 with Kentucky and Tennessee , with 16.4 percent of their residents over the age of 65 .
Those over 65 , along with health care workers and those with high-risk medical conditions are considered the first group where vaccinations should go , according to a CDC planning document .
So , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Florida first .
Time equals death here , right ?
But actually , don ’ t focus on anything Chris Cuomo said , because what isn ’ t wrong is out of context .
According to the U.K. Daily Mail , New York state has 87,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine .
That ’ s less than the 170,000 it expected , but pretty much every state is dealing with production issues .
( Uncertainty about production , incidentally , is why De Santis said Florida ’ s vaccination effort is “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . )
That 10,000 number for New York state Chris Cuomo mentioned ?
It was really the number of people Andrew Cuomo announced would be vaccinated on Monday , according to the New York Post .
The state actually managed to vaccinate 4,000 , the Post reported .
As for the number of vaccines allocated to each state in the first round , The New York Times reported that the aim is to send 169,650 doses to New York and 179,400 to Florida .
California , meanwhile , is set to get 327,600 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to The Times .
In other words , this isn ’ t because Donald Trump thinks Ron DeSantis is a peachy keen guy and that Andrew Cuomo is a bad ol ’ Democrat who yells at reporters about orange zones and red zones .
The most populous state — California — is getting the highest number of doses , with the remaining states in the top four getting decreasing numbers by their population ranking .
Oh , and one last thing — Chris Cuomo ’ s implication that we should take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most responsible ” in allocating the vaccine isn ’ t just reprehensible , it also ignores the fact that that guy named Cuomo he knows up in New York sent COVID-positive seniors back into rest homes to infect and kill other seniors .
We don ’ t know how many because he refuses to let anyone investigate .
That same Cuomo guy threatened to sue other states that would force New Yorkers to quarantine at the beginning of the pandemic , when such quarantines could potentially have helped dramatically slow the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those quarantines for people visiting his state .
And , after bragging about the state ’ s ability to vaccinate 10,000 New Yorkers on Monday , he managed only 4,000 .
And Chris Cuomo wants to talk about who ’ s been “ responsible ” ?
How “ responsible ” a state has been — by liberal standards of behavior , naturally — should have nothing to do with how many doses of the vaccine it receives .
To insinuate that much is odious under any circumstances .
To insinuate that when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — during a segment in which every “ fact ” is misleading or wrong — defies description .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

We occasionally need a friendly reminder there isn’t just one terrible Cuomo out there.
Yes, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has proven to be uniquely wretched in so many ways during the annus horribilis of 2020. Not that we need a recapitulation, but he’s now facing a sexual harassment allegation as Joe Biden considers him for the post of United States attorney general.
One is at least relieved the attorney general doesn’t make decisions about what hospital patients get sent back into nursing homes, but the fact that Cuomo’s even being considered is a reminder you didn’t need about the inexplicable love affair between the mainstream media and one of the worst governors since Pontius Pilate.
Lest you’ve forgotten, there’s still Chris Cuomo, though. Since we’ve all been spending less time in airport terminals these last few months, some of us may have forgotten about that other Cuomo — at least after the combined Cuomos’ COVID-briefing Smothers Brothers routines got old.
Chris Cuomo is still on CNN, though. He’s still got opinions. And they’re still ghastly.
On Tuesday, he proved it while talking about the distribution of the coronaviru vaccine now available hand thanks in large part to the Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed.
We don’t have enough of it, at least not yet. That means there are going to be logistical challenges.
Chris Cuomo, distribution-chain expert that he is, is peeved at how those challenges are being handled. According to the Media Research Center, his specific peeve Tuesday was that Florida is getting more vaccines than New York is getting.
Not that Cuomo knows the numbers or anything; he’s only part of a massive media node and that kind of work is apparently beyond him. However, as part of Cuomo’s regular “Vacci-Nation” (groan) segment, the CNN host went through the vaccine distribution numbers as he understood them, and didn’t like why the Sunshine State was getting so many of the inoculations.
Will you be taking the COVID-19 vaccine? 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: 44% (390 Votes) No: 56% (490 Votes)
“Where to focus the vaccine, who should get it? OK. Well, if you start with the obvious metric, where are the most cases, where are people dying the most? It’s going to be your big states. New York, California, Texas, Florida. OK,” Cuomo said, according to the MRC transcript.
“But now let’s look at those states. They also have the most health care workers, right? Because you have the most people. You have the most people, most population, most cases, most health care workers, most everything. Nursing home patients and health care workers, they need a lot and they’re first up for doses.”
Yes, well, you’re watching a news channel, so the likelihood you need Fredo explaining this to you is minute. However, while he agrees we should focus the vaccine on states where people are dying the most, he seems to have some odd ideas on where we should go from there.
He goes on to say that “only one of the states that I just mentioned, Texas, is even scheduled to get close to enough doses to give everyone in the first group a single dose by the end of the year. Why Texas? It’s not the biggest? Certainly hasn’t been the most responsible. Why Texas? In fact, of the five states that will get enough to give everyone in the first group a single dose by New Year’s, none of the states who will qualify that way are in the top 20 when it comes to case count.
“Again, is this just about math? Or is it manipulation?”
Duh-duh-duhhhh! Now, I know you’re probably focused on the fact Cuomo is insinuating — in the absence of any proof — that Texas is getting its vaccine allocation because Trump loves him some Texas.
Mind you, every other conspiracy theory the left has had about the administration putting its thumbs on the COVID scales with Operation Warp Speed has been comprehensively disproven by the facts. But this time, Chris Cuomo’s seeing through all of the lies.
However, while your brain was probably focusing on that, you should keep in mind his talk about how Texas “hasn’t been the most responsible” when it comes to stopping the spread of COVID. It’ll come in handy later. Anyway, next he talked about his brother and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“Context, I know this guy named Cuomo up in New York,” Fredo said. “He said about 10,000 doses were administered yesterday. That leaves him just as exposed, given the scale of need, as he was without the vaccine, relatively. Every bit counts, of course, but New York needs so much more and a lot faster or the curve of cases is going to go up longer and include more of the people that we need on the front lines. Time equals death here.
“Governor DeSantis in Florida said they sent about 100,000 to five hospitals. But there’s a delay as shipments for the next two weeks are, quote, ‘on hold right now.’ Two issues. One, why did they get so many more than New York, is it true, that they did? Because the numbers seem to suggest it. Is that the answer?”
After taking a couple of more shots at DeSantis, Cuomo got to his real questions about Florida: “Did they get the doses they need. Should they?”
Should they?
Now, pretty much everything that came out of Chris Cuomo’s mouth that isn’t a proper noun or a conjunction is wrong, but let’s start with that question: Why would Florida get more vaccines than New York? Why would Operation Warp Speed focus efforts on Florida in a bid to inoculate people against a disease that’s known to be particularly brutal on the elderly?
This question basically answers itself, but let’s go to the statistics just to drive the point home: 20.5 percent of Florida residents were estimated to be over the age of 65 in 2018, according to the Population Reference Bureau. That was the second-highest percentage in the United States, right after Maine.
New York was tied at number 26 with Kentucky and Tennessee, with 16.4 percent of their residents over the age of 65.
Those over 65, along with health care workers and those with high-risk medical conditions are considered the first group where vaccinations should go, according to a CDC planning document.
So, if you want to save lives, focus on Florida first. Time equals death here, right?
But actually, don’t focus on anything Chris Cuomo said, because what isn’t wrong is out of context. According to the U.K. Daily Mail, New York state has 87,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. That’s less than the 170,000 it expected, but pretty much every state is dealing with production issues. (Uncertainty about production, incidentally, is why De Santis said Florida’s vaccination effort is “on hold,” according to WBBH-TV.)
That 10,000 number for New York state Chris Cuomo mentioned? It was really the number of people Andrew Cuomo announced would be vaccinated on Monday, according to the New York Post. The state actually managed to vaccinate 4,000, the Post reported.
As for the number of vaccines allocated to each state in the first round, The New York Times reported that the aim is to send 169,650 doses to New York and 179,400 to Florida.
California, meanwhile, is set to get 327,600 doses, while Texas is getting 224,250, according to The Times.
In other words, this isn’t because Donald Trump thinks Ron DeSantis is a peachy keen guy and that Andrew Cuomo is a bad ol’ Democrat who yells at reporters about orange zones and red zones. The most populous state — California — is getting the highest number of doses, with the remaining states in the top four getting decreasing numbers by their population ranking.
Oh, and one last thing — Chris Cuomo’s implication that we should take into account which states have “been the most responsible” in allocating the vaccine isn’t just reprehensible, it also ignores the fact that that guy named Cuomo he knows up in New York sent COVID-positive seniors back into rest homes to infect and kill other seniors. We don’t know how many because he refuses to let anyone investigate.
That same Cuomo guy threatened to sue other states that would force New Yorkers to quarantine at the beginning of the pandemic, when such quarantines could potentially have helped dramatically slow the spread. That Cuomo is now a fan of those quarantines for people visiting his state. And, after bragging about the state’s ability to vaccinate 10,000 New Yorkers on Monday, he managed only 4,000.
And Chris Cuomo wants to talk about who’s been “responsible”?
How “responsible” a state has been — by liberal standards of behavior, naturally — should have nothing to do with how many doses of the vaccine it receives. To insinuate that much is odious under any circumstances.
To insinuate that when your brother is Andrew Cuomo, however — during a segment in which every “fact” is misleading or wrong — defies description.
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westernjournal--2020-12-17--Report: A Second COVID Meltdown from Tom Cruise Just Triggered an Exodus of Crew Members

Several members of the crew of the latest “ Mission Impossible ” film have come down with a severe case of “ enough is enough ” after actor Tom Cruise erupted again over COVID-19 protocols , according to a new report .
Earlier this week , The Sun published a leaked audiotape of Cruise lambasting the crew of the movie , being filmed in Britain , for violating coronavirus safety rules .
That report prompted another Cruise outburst , which led to five crew members walking off the set , according to The Sun .
“ The first outburst was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since .
Tension has been building for months and this was the final straw .
Since it became public there has been more anger and several staff have walked , ” the tabloid quoted a source as saying .
“ But Tom just can ’ t take any more after all the lengths they have gone to just to keep filming at all .
He ’ s upset others aren ’ t taking it as seriously as him .
In the end , he ’ s the one who carries the can , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Viewers Spot Bizarre Occurrence When Needle Plunges Into Nurse 's Arm at Televised Vaccination Ceremony But not everyone agrees that Cruise is taking the right approach .
“ After a very difficult year for freelancers working in the industry the last thing crews deserve is a multi-millionaire Hollywood star screaming abuse and threatening their jobs , ” Spencer MacDonald of the entertainment union Bectu said .
Both the British tabloid and Variety said the 58-year-old actor , one of the best-known figures in the Church of Scientology , initially exploded on the set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he saw two crew members standing too close together near a computer screen .
Cruise said studios , insurance companies and producers are “ looking at us and using us to make their movies .
We are creating thousands of jobs , you motherf—ers.
” Then came the threats , as he apparently singled out specific violators .
“ I don ’ t ever want to see it again , ever !
And if you don ’ t do it , you ’ re fired .
If I see you do it again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And if anyone in this crew does it — that ’ s it , and you too and you too .
And you , don ’ t you ever f—ing do it again , ” he said .
The Hollywood star said the future of the film industry was at stake .
“ That ’ s it !
No apologies .
You can tell it to the people that are losing their f—ing homes because our industry is shut down .
It ’ s not going to put food on their table or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s what I sleep with every night .
The future of this f—ing industry !
So I ’ m sorry , I am beyond your apologies , ” Cruise said , making clear his determination that a virus outbreak will not stop production .
“ I have told you and now I want it , and if you don ’ t do it , you ’ re out .
We are not shutting this f—ing movie down !
Is it understood ?
” he said .
“ If I see it again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and so are you .
So you ’ re going to cost him his job .
If I see it on the set , you ’ re gone and you ’ re gone .
That ’ s it .
Am I clear ?
” The film has faced delays in the past .
In February , it was filming in Venice , Italy , and had to stop because of the coronavirus outbreak there , according to Reuters .
Production resumed in September .
Much of Britain is now under Tier Three restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country ’ s three-tiered system , according to the BBC .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Several members of the crew of the latest “Mission Impossible” film have come down with a severe case of “enough is enough” after actor Tom Cruise erupted again over COVID-19 protocols, according to a new report.
Earlier this week, The Sun published a leaked audiotape of Cruise lambasting the crew of the movie, being filmed in Britain, for violating coronavirus safety rules.
That report prompted another Cruise outburst, which led to five crew members walking off the set, according to The Sun.
“The first outburst was big but things haven’t calmed since. Tension has been building for months and this was the final straw. Since it became public there has been more anger and several staff have walked,” the tabloid quoted a source as saying.
“But Tom just can’t take any more after all the lengths they have gone to just to keep filming at all. He’s upset others aren’t taking it as seriously as him. In the end, he’s the one who carries the can,” the source said.
But not everyone agrees that Cruise is taking the right approach.
“After a very difficult year for freelancers working in the industry the last thing crews deserve is a multi-millionaire Hollywood star screaming abuse and threatening their jobs,” Spencer MacDonald of the entertainment union Bectu said.
Many supported Cruise.
TOM CRUISE was 100% RIGHT to go off on #MissionImpossible7 crew members for violating COVID-19 guidelines. He said what had to be said & he expressed the frustration that so many of us feel about those who aren’t taking this killer pandemic seriously. #ImWithTom https://t.co/ZawT9eLst8 — Scott Mantz (@MovieMantz) December 17, 2020
George Clooney Weighs In on Tom Cruise Shouting Over COVID Guidelines: ‘I Understand Why He Did It’ https://t.co/B0V2rEtBBL — People (@people) December 16, 2020
“Some people don’t understand why he would get so angry. I get it.” #TheView moderator Whoopi Goldberg is coming to Tom Cruise’s defense after he was caught yelling at crew members for violating COVID-19 protocols: https://t.co/vEOpjvcSox pic.twitter.com/Kowq6UUrXg — Decider (@decider) December 16, 2020
Both the British tabloid and Variety said the 58-year-old actor, one of the best-known figures in the Church of Scientology, initially exploded on the set of “Mission Impossible 7” after he saw two crew members standing too close together near a computer screen.
Cruise said studios, insurance companies and producers are “looking at us and using us to make their movies. We are creating thousands of jobs, you motherf—ers.”
Then came the threats, as he apparently singled out specific violators.
“I don’t ever want to see it again, ever! And if you don’t do it, you’re fired. If I see you do it again, you’re f—ing gone. And if anyone in this crew does it — that’s it, and you too and you too. And you, don’t you ever f—ing do it again,” he said.
Is Tom Cruise right to threaten to fire workers over COVID protocols? Yes No
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The Hollywood star said the future of the film industry was at stake.
“That’s it! No apologies. You can tell it to the people that are losing their f—ing homes because our industry is shut down. It’s not going to put food on their table or pay for their college education. That’s what I sleep with every night. The future of this f—ing industry! So I’m sorry, I am beyond your apologies,” Cruise said, making clear his determination that a virus outbreak will not stop production.
“I have told you and now I want it, and if you don’t do it, you’re out. We are not shutting this f—ing movie down! Is it understood?” he said.
“If I see it again, you’re f—ing gone, and so are you. So you’re going to cost him his job. If I see it on the set, you’re gone and you’re gone. That’s it. Am I clear?”
The film has faced delays in the past. In February, it was filming in Venice, Italy, and had to stop because of the coronavirus outbreak there, according to Reuters. Production resumed in September.
Much of Britain is now under Tier Three restrictions, which are the tightest in the country’s three-tiered system, according to the BBC.
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westernjournal--2020-12-17--Viewers Spot Bizarre Occurrence When Needle Plunges Into Nurse’s Arm at Televised Vaccination Ceremo

Viewers Spot Bizarre Occurrence When Needle Plunges Into Nurse’s Arm at Televised Vaccination Ceremony

A publicity effort to show the coronavirus vaccine being administered to several nurses at the University of El Paso Medical Center had some unanticipated side effects on Tuesday .
The first doses of the long-awaited vaccine arrived in El Paso , Texas , on Tuesday morning .
A few hours later , the first nurses to be given the vaccine were brought before cameras to document the event .
“ As a health care worker , I am super excited , ” emergency room nurse Crystal Molina said , according to the El Paso Times .
“ I am hopeful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being , I am not going to lie ; I was a little bit nervous , but overall excited and , hopefully , it will do its job and protect us , ” she said .
But when the second nurse , whose name was not released , was vaccinated , there appeared to be a bit of glitch that was spotted by viewers of the event , according to KFOX-TV .
TRENDING : Viewers Spot Bizarre Occurrence When Needle Plunges Into Nurse 's Arm at Televised Vaccination Ceremony As video of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which the vaccine was supposed to be appeared to be empty , and the plunger on the syringe was already depressed instead of being withdrawn .
Although the needle went into the nurse ’ s arm , the person performing the vaccination did not appear to push the already-depressed plunger to administer the shot .
A full examination of the video of all the nurses showed that all but the second nurse appeared to undergo the same routine : The plunger would be depressed after the needle was inserted .
The odd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media .
RELATED : Billionaire Bill Gates Advocates for Shutdown of Small Businesses , Claims COVID Impact Will Continue Into 2022 On Wednesday , the University of El Paso Medical Center tried to resolve questions raised by the video .
“ After numerous reports emerged on social media claiming one of the five nurses receiving a vaccination on Tuesday did not receive a full dose of vaccine , we want to remove any doubt raised that he was not fully vaccinated and further strengthen confidence in the vaccination process , ” the medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The nurse in question today was vaccinated again .
UMC has confirmed with the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices ( ACIP ) that re-vaccinating the nurse will not cause adverse effects .
“ The nurse will need to return after three weeks to receive his second dose.
” Dr. Hector Ocaranza , who oversees public health in El Paso , called the vaccinations “ a day of hope.
” “ Even though it is just the beginning , we know that a lot of people in our community will benefit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ More so our health care providers who are taking care all the vulnerable people and our loved ones in the hospital .
Now they will be able to continue working tirelessly.
” He noted that the first vaccines are not the end of the fight against the virus .
Vaccines for the general public are not expected to be available until well into 2021 .
“ Even though we have the vaccine , people still need to be wearing masks , ” Ocaranza said .
“ People still need to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are going to go back to old normal .
We still need to observe social distancing .
We still need to be caring for each other .
“ The vaccine is another tool we have in our fight against the pandemic , but it doesn ’ t mean we are going to be changing everything completely.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

A publicity effort to show the coronavirus vaccine being administered to several nurses at the University of El Paso Medical Center had some unanticipated side effects on Tuesday.
The first doses of the long-awaited vaccine arrived in El Paso, Texas, on Tuesday morning. A few hours later, the first nurses to be given the vaccine were brought before cameras to document the event.
“As a health care worker, I am super excited,” emergency room nurse Crystal Molina said, according to the El Paso Times.
“I am hopeful for the vaccine. As a human being, I am not going to lie; I was a little bit nervous, but overall excited and, hopefully, it will do its job and protect us,” she said.
But when the second nurse, whose name was not released, was vaccinated, there appeared to be a bit of glitch that was spotted by viewers of the event, according to KFOX-TV.
As video of the shot being administered shows, the syringe in which the vaccine was supposed to be appeared to be empty, and the plunger on the syringe was already depressed instead of being withdrawn.
Although the needle went into the nurse’s arm, the person performing the vaccination did not appear to push the already-depressed plunger to administer the shot.
A full examination of the video of all the nurses showed that all but the second nurse appeared to undergo the same routine: The plunger would be depressed after the needle was inserted.
The odd scene was met with skepticism on social media.
Unless there is a new engineering on the syringe I don’t know what going on here.?????????? — Arturo Martinez (@arturo99martin1) December 16, 2020
All lies. — Diana Garcia (@gadias) December 17, 2020
You’re telling me a nurse giving one of the first COVID vaccines in El Paso really tried to play off not vaccinating another healthcare worker with an empty syringe? Of course it would be here in El Paso — Deanna✨ (@Deanna_Nicole13) December 16, 2020
Board of Medicine and Board of Nursing must be notified and given access to this footage. Please follow this up… — Elias Said, MD, FACEP (@MdFacep) December 16, 2020
On Wednesday, the University of El Paso Medical Center tried to resolve questions raised by the video.
“After numerous reports emerged on social media claiming one of the five nurses receiving a vaccination on Tuesday did not receive a full dose of vaccine, we want to remove any doubt raised that he was not fully vaccinated and further strengthen confidence in the vaccination process,” the medical center said in a statement to KFOX.
“The nurse in question today was vaccinated again. UMC has confirmed with the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) that re-vaccinating the nurse will not cause adverse effects.
“The nurse will need to return after three weeks to receive his second dose.”
First five healthcare workers in El Paso receive Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. pic.twitter.com/n1UIw4i1Pe — City of El Paso (@ElPasoTXGov) December 15, 2020
Dr. Hector Ocaranza, who oversees public health in El Paso, called the vaccinations “a day of hope.”
“Even though it is just the beginning, we know that a lot of people in our community will benefit from the vaccine,” Ocaranza said. “More so our health care providers who are taking care all the vulnerable people and our loved ones in the hospital. Now they will be able to continue working tirelessly.”
Do you have doubts about the coronavirus vaccine? Yes No
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He noted that the first vaccines are not the end of the fight against the virus. Vaccines for the general public are not expected to be available until well into 2021.
“Even though we have the vaccine, people still need to be wearing masks,” Ocaranza said. “People still need to be conscious that this not a way we are going to go back to old normal. We still need to observe social distancing. We still need to be caring for each other.
“The vaccine is another tool we have in our fight against the pandemic, but it doesn’t mean we are going to be changing everything completely.”
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westernjournal--2020-12-17--Conspirators Charged in Alleged Scheme To Kidnap Michigan Gov. Whitmer

A federal grand jury has charged six men with conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer in what investigators say was a plot by anti-government extremists angry over her coronavirus restrictions .
The indictment released Thursday by U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge levied the conspiracy charge against Adam Dean Fox , Barry Gordon Croft Jr. , Ty Gerard Garbin , Kaleb James Franks , Daniel Joseph Harris and Brandon Michael-Ray Caserta .
They are all from Michigan except for Croft , who lives in Delaware .
The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison , Birge said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in early October following an FBI investigation into an alleged plot to kidnap the Democratic governor at her vacation home in northern Michigan .
TRENDING : Viewers Spot Bizarre Occurrence When Needle Plunges Into Nurse 's Arm at Televised Vaccination Ceremony Defense attorneys have said their clients were “ big talkers ” who didn ’ t intend to follow through on the alleged plan .
The indictment repeats allegations made during an October hearing , in which agent Richard Trask testified that the men were involved with paramilitary groups .
Fox and Croft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ohio , at which the possible kidnapping of governors and other actions were discussed , the indictment states .
During the hearing , Trask said Virginia ’ s Democratic governor , Ralph Northam , was among those mentioned as potential targets .
It says Fox later met Garbin , a leader of a Michigan group called the “ Wolverine Watchmen , ” at a rally outside of the Michigan Capitol in Lansing .
At a meeting in Grand Rapids , the two men and other members of the Watchmen agreed to work together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the document says .
It describes live-fire “ field training exercises ” and other preparations , including the surveillance of Whitmer ’ s vacation house and the exchange of encrypted messages .
During one training event , “ they practiced assaulting a building in teams , and discussed tactics for fighting the governor ’ s security detail with improvised explosive devices , a projectile launcher , and other weapons , ” the indictment says .
They also discussed destroying a highway bridge near Whitmer ’ s house to prevent law enforcement from responding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that in an electronic message , Caserta wrote that if the men encountered police during a reconnaissance mission , “ they should give the officers one opportunity to leave , and kill them if they did not comply.
” They were arrested after four members scheduled an Oct. 7 meeting in Ypsilanti , west of Detroit , to meet an undercover FBI agent and buy explosives and other supplies , the indictment says .
Eight other men who are said to be members or associates of the Wolverine Watchmen are charged in state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for terrorist acts .
Some of them are accused of taking part in the alleged plot against Whitmer .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

A federal grand jury has charged six men with conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in what investigators say was a plot by anti-government extremists angry over her coronavirus restrictions.
The indictment released Thursday by U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge levied the conspiracy charge against Adam Dean Fox, Barry Gordon Croft Jr., Ty Gerard Garbin, Kaleb James Franks, Daniel Joseph Harris and Brandon Michael-Ray Caserta.
They are all from Michigan except for Croft, who lives in Delaware.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, Birge said in a statement.
The six were arrested in early October following an FBI investigation into an alleged plot to kidnap the Democratic governor at her vacation home in northern Michigan.
Defense attorneys have said their clients were “big talkers” who didn’t intend to follow through on the alleged plan.
The indictment repeats allegations made during an October hearing, in which agent Richard Trask testified that the men were involved with paramilitary groups.
Fox and Croft attended a June meeting in Dublin, Ohio, at which the possible kidnapping of governors and other actions were discussed, the indictment states.
During the hearing, Trask said Virginia’s Democratic governor, Ralph Northam, was among those mentioned as potential targets.
Do you think these men are guilty of conspiracy? 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: 40% (22 Votes) No: 60% (33 Votes)
It says Fox later met Garbin, a leader of a Michigan group called the “Wolverine Watchmen,” at a rally outside of the Michigan Capitol in Lansing.
At a meeting in Grand Rapids, the two men and other members of the Watchmen agreed to work together “toward their common goals,” the document says.
It describes live-fire “field training exercises” and other preparations, including the surveillance of Whitmer’s vacation house and the exchange of encrypted messages.
During one training event, “they practiced assaulting a building in teams, and discussed tactics for fighting the governor’s security detail with improvised explosive devices, a projectile launcher, and other weapons,” the indictment says.
They also discussed destroying a highway bridge near Whitmer’s house to prevent law enforcement from responding, it states.
The indictment says that in an electronic message, Caserta wrote that if the men encountered police during a reconnaissance mission, “they should give the officers one opportunity to leave, and kill them if they did not comply.”
They were arrested after four members scheduled an Oct. 7 meeting in Ypsilanti, west of Detroit, to meet an undercover FBI agent and buy explosives and other supplies, the indictment says.
Eight other men who are said to be members or associates of the Wolverine Watchmen are charged in state court with counts including providing material support for terrorist acts. Some of them are accused of taking part in the alleged plot against Whitmer.
[jwplayer xTEdOxOm]
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--2020-12-17--Feminists Get Taste of Their Own Medicine, Fined Under Gender Equality Act for Hiring Too Many Women

In 2013 , France decided to strike un petit blow against the patriarchy .
No more could top positions be filled with sclerotic white males and/or future sclerotic white males .
Instead , only 60 percent of management could be of one gender .
As for those elsewhere on the gender spectrum , well , I ’ m sure the Fifth Republic will catch up with you sometime soon , assuming they haven ’ t already .
The move was purportedly done to ensure gender parity .
A noble cause — except that ’ s not really what it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of us know about the regulation is that it ’ s caused an international furor because Paris ’ mayor got fined for appointing too many women to senior roles .
According to AFP , Socialist Anne Hidalgo said $ 110,100 fine for her 2018 staffing decisions was “ absurd.
” And yet , there it was — her new management hires consisted of 11 women , five men .
That ’ s 69 percent female .
TRENDING : Viewers Spot Bizarre Occurrence When Needle Plunges Into Nurse 's Arm at Televised Vaccination Ceremony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have been fined , ” she said during a City Council meeting Tuesday after France ’ s public service ministry levied the penalty .
AFP described her as saying “ that she had been filled with joy when she learned of the penalty.
” Before some of you seize on a certain word in the past few paragraphs and assume Hidalgo is some sort of radical , realize that the Socialist Party is pretty much the only viable vehicle on France ’ s left .
It ’ s basically their Democratic Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not going to win any awards as a voice of moderation in the European political landscape , she ’ s hardly out of the ordinary .
And to Hidalgo , having 11 females and five males seems perfectly fine because , well , turnabout ’ s fair play .
“ The management of the city hall has , all of a sudden , become far too feminist , ” Hidalgo said .
“ This fine is obviously absurd , unfair , irresponsible and dangerous , ” she said .
Is it because her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inordinately female was the result of the best possible candidates filling the positions ?
If that were the case , this would be merely an example of cruel irony .
That ’ s not quite what it sounds like , though , since Hidalgo said women must be promoted with “ vigor because the lag everywhere in France is still very great.
” “ Yes , to one day achieve parity , we must speed up the tempo and ensure that more women are appointed than men , ” she said .
RELATED @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elected Office , Makes It Onto List of World 's 100 Most Powerful Women So , in no uncertain terms , this was about discrimination — just discrimination we ’ re supposed to like .
# Girlboss !
And just in case you were concerned , the mayor , who was re-elected this year , needn ’ t worry about fines in the future .
According to the BBC , French Public Service Minister Amélie de Montchalin tweeted that the laws had been changed from 2019 onward .
Now , so long as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ achieved within an organization , you can hire a glut of women or men to new positions .
Go to town — just so long as the gender balance isn ’ t thrown off .
That ’ s not quite what Hidalgo seems to want , though , at least judging by her quotes .
After all , if you throw off the gender balance to ensure that historical wrongs are righted , why should that matter ?
Speed up the tempo , mes amis !
If your career needs to hit a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrongs — well , just be assured it ’ s for the greater good .
Well , thankfully , the money the city will fork over for violating laws against gender parity by hiring too many women in public servant roles will be spent to promote getting more women into public servant roles .
In a message to Hidalgo , Montchalin said that “ the fine paid by Paris for 2018 to finance concrete actions to promote women in the public service .
I invite you to the ministry to discuss them.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the only thing “ absurd ” here .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

In 2013, France decided to strike un petit blow against the patriarchy.
No more could top positions be filled with sclerotic white males and/or future sclerotic white males. Instead, only 60 percent of management could be of one gender. As for those elsewhere on the gender spectrum, well, I’m sure the Fifth Republic will catch up with you sometime soon, assuming they haven’t already.
The move was purportedly done to ensure gender parity. A noble cause — except that’s not really what it was about, since the only reason most of us know about the regulation is that it’s caused an international furor because Paris’ mayor got fined for appointing too many women to senior roles.
According to AFP, Socialist Anne Hidalgo said $110,100 fine for her 2018 staffing decisions was “absurd.”
And yet, there it was — her new management hires consisted of 11 women, five men. That’s 69 percent female.
“I am happy to announce that we have been fined,” she said during a City Council meeting Tuesday after France’s public service ministry levied the penalty. AFP described her as saying “that she had been filled with joy when she learned of the penalty.”
Before some of you seize on a certain word in the past few paragraphs and assume Hidalgo is some sort of radical, realize that the Socialist Party is pretty much the only viable vehicle on France’s left. It’s basically their Democratic Party — and while it’s certainly not going to win any awards as a voice of moderation in the European political landscape, she’s hardly out of the ordinary.
And to Hidalgo, having 11 females and five males seems perfectly fine because, well, turnabout’s fair play.
11 femmes, 5 hommes… La Ville de Paris a été condamnée à 90.000 euros d’amende parce que trop de femmes directrices ont été nommées. Avec mes adjointes, les directrices et les présidentes de groupe, nous irons donc porter ce chèque à la Ministre de la Fonction publique. pic.twitter.com/yMDAeH86eS — Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) December 15, 2020
“The management of the city hall has, all of a sudden, become far too feminist,” Hidalgo said.
“This fine is obviously absurd, unfair, irresponsible and dangerous,” she said.
Is it because her decision to hire a staff that skewed inordinately female was the result of the best possible candidates filling the positions? If that were the case, this would be merely an example of cruel irony.
That’s not quite what it sounds like, though, since Hidalgo said women must be promoted with “vigor because the lag everywhere in France is still very great.”
“Yes, to one day achieve parity, we must speed up the tempo and ensure that more women are appointed than men,” she said.
So, in no uncertain terms, this was about discrimination — just discrimination we’re supposed to like. #Girlboss!
And just in case you were concerned, the mayor, who was re-elected this year, needn’t worry about fines in the future.
According to the BBC, French Public Service Minister Amélie de Montchalin tweeted that the laws had been changed from 2019 onward. Now, so long as there’s an overall gender balance achieved within an organization, you can hire a glut of women or men to new positions. Go to town — just so long as the gender balance isn’t thrown off.
Do you support gender quota laws? 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% (11 Votes) No: 96% (290 Votes)
That’s not quite what Hidalgo seems to want, though, at least judging by her quotes.
After all, if you throw off the gender balance to ensure that historical wrongs are righted, why should that matter? Speed up the tempo, mes amis! If your career needs to hit a speed bump or three to address historical wrongs — well, just be assured it’s for the greater good.
Well, thankfully, the money the city will fork over for violating laws against gender parity by hiring too many women in public servant roles will be spent to promote getting more women into public servant roles. In a message to Hidalgo, Montchalin said that “the fine paid by Paris for 2018 to finance concrete actions to promote women in the public service. I invite you to the ministry to discuss them.”
In short, the fine is hardly the only thing “absurd” here.
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westernjournal--2020-12-17--Trump Admin Blocks Hundreds of Millions of Dollars from California as DOJ Takes Legal Action

The Office of Civil Rights within the Department of Health and Human Services is taking the side of pro-life advocates who say they have been compelled to effectively support abortion .
In a statement on the HHS website , the OCR announced that it will “ disallow $ 200 million in federal Medicaid funds going to California in the upcoming quarter due to the state illegally mandating that all health care plans subject to regulation by the California Department of Managed Health Care ( DMHC ) cover abortion without exclusion or limitation.
” The HHS ruling gives California the option @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money .
“ If the State does not come into compliance , additional disallowances will be imposed at a rate of $ 200 million per quarter , ” read the statement , which , in summing up , said the action was “ due to [ California ’ s ] unlawful abortion insurance mandate.
” In a separate case , HHS announced that the University of Vermont Medical Center will be sued by the Department of Justice , saying that the medical center “ unlawfully forced a nurse to assist in an elective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conscience-based objections and has refused to change its policies to prevent future coercion.
” TRENDING : Viewers Spot Bizarre Occurrence When Needle Plunges Into Nurse 's Arm at Televised Vaccination Ceremony “ Under President Trump , HHS has worked like never before to enforce laws Congress has passed to protect Americans ’ religious freedom and conscience rights , ” HHS Secretary Alex Azar said .
“ California and the University of Vermont Medical Center have violated federal conscience laws and refused to work with us to take corrective action , so we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account.
” “ Entities that receive HHS funds should think twice before flouting federal law and refusing to come into compliance , ” OCR Director Roger Severino added .
“ As a result of our actions today , California will be losing $ 200 million in federal funds per quarter , and UVMMC will have to answer for its conduct in court.
” “ Whatever one thinks of the legality of abortion , no one should be punished for declining to pay for or assist in the taking of human life , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based upon complaints that date back to 2017 from the Missionary Guadalupanas of the Holy Spirit , Inc. in Los Angeles , a Catholic order of religious women , and the Skyline Wesleyan Church of LaMesa , California .
Both said they were forced by the state to pay for elective abortion insurance despite religious objections to abortion .
“ As a result of California ’ s mandate , health plan issuers were compelled to remove coverage exclusions and limitations regarding abortion coverage , which forced employer groups associated with over 28,000 individuals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had chosen to not cover elective abortions , ” HHS said in its statement .
“ California ’ s mandate violates a federal antidiscrimination law known as the Weldon Amendment , which protects entities from being forced to provide , pay for , or provide coverage for abortions .
“ California has refused to come into compliance with the Weldon Amendment , despite several demands from OCR as well as offers from OCR to assist it in coming into compliance.
” Negotiations to bring the state into compliance failed , according to HHS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to $ 800 million in Medicaid costs per year until the state comes into compliance .
RELATED : Baby Born at Just 25 Weeks and 1 Pound Heavy Celebrates Milestone 'Graduation' The Vermont case centers around a 2018 complaint from a nurse who alleges that she was forced to assist in an abortion in spite of her moral objections to the practice .
After its investigation , the OCR ruled in 2019 that the center “ has forced and attempted to force health care personnel ( including nurses ) into assisting with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ intentionally , unnecessarily , and knowingly schedules nurses or other health-care personnel who have religious or moral objections to abortion to assist with abortions ; ” “ subjects health-care personnel ( including nurses ) who have religious or moral objections to abortion to different terms or conditions of employment than health-care personnel who do not share the same religious or moral objections ; ” and “ discriminates against health care personnel ( including nurses ) because of their religious beliefs or moral convictions in opposition to abortion.
” In its statement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to DOJ , which filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont on behalf of HHS , seeking a court order requiring UVMMC to comply with the Church Amendments and uphold its contractual obligations.
” The medical center denies the claim , according to WCAX-TV .
“ I want to be very clear we are very sensitive to our employees ’ religious and moral beliefs , and we believe are very confident that we have a policy that protects our employees ’ rights while being certain to offer all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seek our care , ” said Dr. Stephen Leffler , president and CEO of the medical center .
“ The idea that you ’ re going to file this type of lawsuit 35 days to go before there is a change in the administration where you will have a new attorney general , frankly , is baffling , ” T.J. Donovan said .
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The Office of Civil Rights within the Department of Health and Human Services is taking the side of pro-life advocates who say they have been compelled to effectively support abortion.
In a statement on the HHS website, the OCR announced that it will “disallow $200 million in federal Medicaid funds going to California in the upcoming quarter due to the state illegally mandating that all health care plans subject to regulation by the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) cover abortion without exclusion or limitation.”
The HHS ruling gives California the option of dropping coercive language or losing more money.
“If the State does not come into compliance, additional disallowances will be imposed at a rate of $200 million per quarter,” read the statement, which, in summing up, said the action was “due to [California’s] unlawful abortion insurance mandate.”
In a separate case, HHS announced that the University of Vermont Medical Center will be sued by the Department of Justice, saying that the medical center “unlawfully forced a nurse to assist in an elective abortion procedure over the nurse’s conscience-based objections and has refused to change its policies to prevent future coercion.”
“Under President Trump, HHS has worked like never before to enforce laws Congress has passed to protect Americans’ religious freedom and conscience rights,” HHS Secretary Alex Azar said.
“California and the University of Vermont Medical Center have violated federal conscience laws and refused to work with us to take corrective action, so we are now taking action to hold them to account.”
“Entities that receive HHS funds should think twice before flouting federal law and refusing to come into compliance,” OCR Director Roger Severino added. “As a result of our actions today, California will be losing $200 million in federal funds per quarter, and UVMMC will have to answer for its conduct in court.”
“Whatever one thinks of the legality of abortion, no one should be punished for declining to pay for or assist in the taking of human life,” he said.
Do you think pro-life advocates should be forced to for elective abortion insurance? Yes No
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The California case is based upon complaints that date back to 2017 from the Missionary Guadalupanas of the Holy Spirit, Inc. in Los Angeles, a Catholic order of religious women, and the Skyline Wesleyan Church of LaMesa, California. Both said they were forced by the state to pay for elective abortion insurance despite religious objections to abortion.
“As a result of California’s mandate, health plan issuers were compelled to remove coverage exclusions and limitations regarding abortion coverage, which forced employer groups associated with over 28,000 individuals out of plans that until that time had chosen to not cover elective abortions,” HHS said in its statement.
“California’s mandate violates a federal antidiscrimination law known as the Weldon Amendment, which protects entities from being forced to provide, pay for, or provide coverage for abortions.
“California has refused to come into compliance with the Weldon Amendment, despite several demands from OCR as well as offers from OCR to assist it in coming into compliance.”
Negotiations to bring the state into compliance failed, according to HHS, leading to the decision to disallow up to $800 million in Medicaid costs per year until the state comes into compliance.
The Vermont case centers around a 2018 complaint from a nurse who alleges that she was forced to assist in an abortion in spite of her moral objections to the practice.
After its investigation, the OCR ruled in 2019 that the center “has forced and attempted to force health care personnel (including nurses) into assisting with abortions over their conscience-based objections;” “intentionally, unnecessarily, and knowingly schedules nurses or other health-care personnel who have religious or moral objections to abortion to assist with abortions;” “subjects health-care personnel (including nurses) who have religious or moral objections to abortion to different terms or conditions of employment than health-care personnel who do not share the same religious or moral objections;” and “discriminates against health care personnel (including nurses) because of their religious beliefs or moral convictions in opposition to abortion.”
In its statement, HHS said it “referred the matter to DOJ, which filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont on behalf of HHS, seeking a court order requiring UVMMC to comply with the Church Amendments and uphold its contractual obligations.”
The medical center denies the claim, according to WCAX-TV.
“I want to be very clear we are very sensitive to our employees’ religious and moral beliefs, and we believe are very confident that we have a policy that protects our employees’ rights while being certain to offer all legal and safe procedures for patients that seek our care,” said Dr. Stephen Leffler, president and CEO of the medical center.
Vermont’s Democratic attorney general ridiculed the HHS’ action.
“The idea that you’re going to file this type of lawsuit 35 days to go before there is a change in the administration where you will have a new attorney general, frankly, is baffling,” T.J. Donovan said.
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westernjournal--2020-12-17--Look Who Was Just Let Out of Jail Thanks to Insane COVID Fear

In May , as our nation embarked on a prison-emptying spree to stop the spread of COVID-19 , Washington state came within one state supreme court vote of letting two-thirds of its inmates free — including Gary Ridgeway , the Green River Killer , who was convicted of killing 48 women and could have killed as many as 80 .
That effort to release “ inmates over age 50 , inmates with an underlying health issue including pregnancy , or inmates with 18 months or less remaining on their sentence ” failed .
Of course , no one would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s most prolific serial killers , out of prison if they were merely looking at the individual merits of his case , considering he ’ s serving 48 life sentences without the possibility of parole .
Adel Abdel Bary , on the other hand , was set to be released on Oct. 28 .
The name probably doesn ’ t ring a bell .
You ’ re probably not immediately familiar with his case .
However , when it comes to body count , Bary far exceeded Ridgeway , having played a part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twelve of those victims were American citizens .
To be fair , though , he was only a henchman in the crime .
You may be familiar with the man he took orders from , though : Osama bin Laden .
According to the New York Post , Bary spent 21 years in a New Jersey federal prison for his role in the near-simultaneous bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa on Aug. 7 , 1998 .
He was sentenced to 25 years in 2015 , although he received credit for the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kingdom while he was fighting extradition to U.S. TRENDING : Viewers Spot Bizarre Occurrence When Needle Plunges Into Nurse 's Arm at Televised Vaccination Ceremony According to the U.K. Sun , Bary was bin Laden ’ s de facto spokesman in Europe and prosecutors said he claimed responsibility for the truck bombings at U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania , carried out by the al Qaeda terror cell he led .
For a man like that , a 25-year sentence — shortened by credit for time served , no less — isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But a federal judge in Manhattan said his comorbidities made him a coronavirus risk — and released him even earlier than his sentence demanded .
“ Defendant ’ s obesity and somewhat advanced age make COVID-19 significantly more risky to him than to the average person , ” wrote U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan in his decision granting the release , the Post reported .
In addition to being obese , the 60-year-old Bary has asthma , according to his lawyers .
“ Mr .
Bary ’ s continued incarceration now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which could wreak disastrous health outcomes , ” his lawyer wrote , according to the Post .
Bary ’ s release was quietly granted on Oct. 9 and he was handed over last week to officials in the U.K .
He joined his wife in their $ 1 million-plus apartment in London , the Sun reported .
One of his lawyers told The New York Times in November that “ all Mr. Bary wants is to enjoy a quiet life with his family.
” While Bary is Egyptian , the U.K. can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1997 and returning him to his native country would expose him to execution or torture , the Post reported .
“ His return remains a huge headache for ” British Home Secretary Priti Patel , a source in the U.K. told the Sun .
“ She is intent on ridding the country of threats , but here ’ s a notorious terrorist dumped right on her doorstep.
” And to add receipts to injury , the U.K. Daily Mail reported the British people would have to spend up to £400,000 monitoring Bury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mashed Potatoes with Hands as COVID Hysteria Gets Utensils Banned in School This , one hopes , remains Britain ’ s problem and Britain ’ s problem alone — although al Qaeda can certainly be an export business .
It ’ s curious , the deference shown to Mr. Bary by releasing him 19 days early , however , when you consider the gravity of his crimes .
According to The New York Times , seven of the other conspirators in the case are serving life sentences .
In fact , aside from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the only man charged and convicted in the case who has been let out of prison .
The families of his victims are outraged .
“ Just serving a sentence doesn ’ t mean that a person has been rehabilitated , doesn ’ t mean that their core thinking has changed , ” said Edith Bartley , whose father and younger brother were killed in the bombings , according to The Times .
“ This is a person who can still do harm in the world.
” George Mason University professor Susan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the attack , called the sentence “ on the lower end of just , as far as I ’ m concerned.
” But it ’ s 19 days , right ?
This isn ’ t Gary Ridgeway material .
No , not precisely — but it ’ s part of the unnerving new normal when it comes to our penal system under COVID .
Nonviolent drug trafficker ?
Sure , spend these next few months under house arrest .
As much as Michael Avenatti should be in a jail cell under normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not currently behind bars doesn ’ t particularly bug me .
Bary ’ s light sentence , in and of itself , should disturb us .
He was at the head of a terror cell that took 224 lives ( that we know about ) .
And now , because of his adipose body and advanced age , he ’ s given an early release because of fears about the coronavirus .
Slightly early , yes — but this was a man who shouldn ’ t have been serving a day less than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t wish death upon anyone .
I also don ’ t think fears about COVID-19 could give special dispensation to those who did wish death upon people — and got their wish by the hundreds .
Serial killers like Gary Ridgeway stay in prison .
Mass murderers like Adel Abdel Bary should be rotting there , too .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

In May, as our nation embarked on a prison-emptying spree to stop the spread of COVID-19, Washington state came within one state supreme court vote of letting two-thirds of its inmates free — including Gary Ridgeway, the Green River Killer, who was convicted of killing 48 women and could have killed as many as 80.
That effort to release “inmates over age 50, inmates with an underlying health issue including pregnancy, or inmates with 18 months or less remaining on their sentence” failed. Of course, no one would have let Ridgeway, one of America’s most prolific serial killers, out of prison if they were merely looking at the individual merits of his case, considering he’s serving 48 life sentences without the possibility of parole.
Adel Abdel Bary, on the other hand, was set to be released on Oct. 28. The name probably doesn’t ring a bell. You’re probably not immediately familiar with his case. However, when it comes to body count, Bary far exceeded Ridgeway, having played a part in no less than 224 murders. Twelve of those victims were American citizens.
To be fair, though, he was only a henchman in the crime. You may be familiar with the man he took orders from, though: Osama bin Laden.
According to the New York Post, Bary spent 21 years in a New Jersey federal prison for his role in the near-simultaneous bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa on Aug. 7, 1998. He was sentenced to 25 years in 2015, although he received credit for the time he spent in prison in the United Kingdom while he was fighting extradition to U.S.
According to the U.K. Sun, Bary was bin Laden’s de facto spokesman in Europe and prosecutors said he claimed responsibility for the truck bombings at U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, carried out by the al Qaeda terror cell he led.
For a man like that, a 25-year sentence — shortened by credit for time served, no less — isn’t nearly enough, considering his crimes.
But a federal judge in Manhattan said his comorbidities made him a coronavirus risk — and released him even earlier than his sentence demanded.
“Defendant’s obesity and somewhat advanced age make COVID-19 significantly more risky to him than to the average person,” wrote U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan in his decision granting the release, the Post reported.
In addition to being obese, the 60-year-old Bary has asthma, according to his lawyers.
“Mr. Bary’s continued incarceration now significantly increases his risk of infection, which could wreak disastrous health outcomes,” his lawyer wrote, according to the Post.
Bary’s release was quietly granted on Oct. 9 and he was handed over last week to officials in the U.K. He joined his wife in their $1 million-plus apartment in London, the Sun reported. One of his lawyers told The New York Times in November that “all Mr. Bary wants is to enjoy a quiet life with his family.”
While Bary is Egyptian, the U.K. cannot deport him because he was granted asylum in 1997 and returning him to his native country would expose him to execution or torture, the Post reported.
“His return remains a huge headache for” British Home Secretary Priti Patel, a source in the U.K. told the Sun. “She is intent on ridding the country of threats, but here’s a notorious terrorist dumped right on her doorstep.”
And to add receipts to injury, the U.K. Daily Mail reported the British people would have to spend up to £400,000 monitoring Bury.
EXCLUSIVE: Osama bin Laden pal Adel Abdel Bary to cost taxpayer £400,000 after return to UK https://t.co/RtGlvfwZPD — Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) December 11, 2020
This, one hopes, remains Britain’s problem and Britain’s problem alone — although al Qaeda can certainly be an export business. It’s curious, the deference shown to Mr. Bary by releasing him 19 days early, however, when you consider the gravity of his crimes.
According to The New York Times, seven of the other conspirators in the case are serving life sentences. In fact, aside from witnesses who cooperated with prosecutors, Bary is the only man charged and convicted in the case who has been let out of prison.
The families of his victims are outraged.
“Just serving a sentence doesn’t mean that a person has been rehabilitated, doesn’t mean that their core thinking has changed,” said Edith Bartley, whose father and younger brother were killed in the bombings, according to The Times. “This is a person who can still do harm in the world.”
George Mason University professor Susan F. Hirsch, who lost her husband in the attack, called the sentence “on the lower end of just, as far as I’m concerned.”
Should this convicted terrorist have been let out of jail? Yes No
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But it’s 19 days, right? This isn’t Gary Ridgeway material. No, not precisely — but it’s part of the unnerving new normal when it comes to our penal system under COVID.
Nonviolent drug trafficker? Sure, spend these next few months under house arrest. As much as Michael Avenatti should be in a jail cell under normal circumstances, the fact he’s not currently behind bars doesn’t particularly bug me.
Bary’s light sentence, in and of itself, should disturb us. He was at the head of a terror cell that took 224 lives (that we know about).
And now, because of his adipose body and advanced age, he’s given an early release because of fears about the coronavirus.
Slightly early, yes — but this was a man who shouldn’t have been serving a day less than he was sentenced. I don’t wish death upon anyone. I also don’t think fears about COVID-19 could give special dispensation to those who did wish death upon people — and got their wish by the hundreds.
Serial killers like Gary Ridgeway stay in prison. Mass murderers like Adel Abdel Bary should be rotting there, too.
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westernjournal--2020-12-17--Dem Mayor Backs Down, Eases Worship Restrictions Following Lawsuit from Religious Leader

Washington , D.C. , Mayor Muriel Bowser has eased restrictions on houses of worship following a lawsuit accusing the Democratic mayor of imposing “ arbitrary ” and “ discriminatory ” restrictions on churches .
In a lawsuit filed Dec. 11 , the Archbishop of Washington said Bowser ’ s restrictions “ bear no relation to either the size of the building or the safety of the activity ” and “ single out religious worship as a disfavored activity , even though it has been proven safer than many other activities the District favors.
” Represented by the Becket Fund for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injunction allowing “ sufficient time before Christmas Eve to allow the Archdiocese to plan and celebrate Mass with percentage-based limits rather than a 50-person cap.
” Bowser modified the city ’ s attendance limits in a Wednesday order , removing the 50-person limit for religious gatherings and instead capping attendance at 25 percent capacity with a maximum of 250 people .
TRENDING : Viewers Spot Bizarre Occurrence When Needle Plunges Into Nurse 's Arm at Televised Vaccination Ceremony Bowser ’ s office has not responded to requests for comment from the Daily Caller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ article appeared on the Daily Caller News Foundation website .
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Read our editorial standards .

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser has eased restrictions on houses of worship following a lawsuit accusing the Democratic mayor of imposing “arbitrary” and “discriminatory” restrictions on churches.
In a lawsuit filed Dec. 11, the Archbishop of Washington said Bowser’s restrictions “bear no relation to either the size of the building or the safety of the activity” and “single out religious worship as a disfavored activity, even though it has been proven safer than many other activities the District favors.”
Represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, the archbishop requested an injunction allowing “sufficient time before Christmas Eve to allow the Archdiocese to plan and celebrate Mass with percentage-based limits rather than a 50-person cap.”
Bowser modified the city’s attendance limits in a Wednesday order, removing the 50-person limit for religious gatherings and instead capping attendance at 25 percent capacity with a maximum of 250 people.
The order still discourages large gatherings.
Bowser’s office has not responded to requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of their original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
A version of this article appeared on the Daily Caller News Foundation website.
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westernjournal--2020-12-17--Watch: Restaurant Owner’s Brother Criticized Rioters, Just Days Later the Restaurant Was Set Ablaze

Owners of businesses on a busy downtown boulevard in the Hollywood District of Portland , Oregon , learned Nov. 21 that 27 area buildings had been vandalized .
Local media outlet KOIN-TV reported that “ a group of about 50 people gathered at NE Halsey Street and NE 52nd Avenue before beginning a long streak of vandalism up and down NE Sandy Boulevard.
” Reo ’ s Ribs , a restaurant owned by Reo Varenado , was spared that night .
KOIN spoke to the owner ’ s brother , Ricky Varenado , who said , “ I just hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ catch the people who ’ s doing it and be prosecuted for what they ’ ve done .
I mean , because this is really a sad time of the year they are doing this , with the coronavirus epidemic that ’ s going on , people are having a hard time trying to make it in life and this makes it even worse.
” He did not blame antifa or any affiliated groups for the destruction despite the fact that the radical leftist movement has long been at the forefront of Portland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Varenado ’ s comments , Reo ’ s Ribs was set on fire .
TRENDING : Viewers Spot Bizarre Occurrence When Needle Plunges Into Nurse 's Arm at Televised Vaccination Ceremony On Tuesday , over three weeks after the restaurant was torched , KOIN shared surveillance video of a suspect dousing a newspaper with gasoline , lighting it on fire and tossing it into an enclosed area in the back of the restaurant .
The footage was recorded at 2 a.m. Nov. 23 .
The outlet reported that several hours later , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pouring out of the roof ” from the rear of the restaurant and “ then discovered flames both on the exterior and interior ” of the building .
According to KOIN , this was the second time Reo ’ s Ribs was ravaged by fire .
Officials concluded that the first fire , in 2017 , was accidental .
Reo Varenado , however , believes it was arson .
Following the widespread violence on Nov. 21 , the city ’ s far-left mayor , Ted Wheeler , issued a statement that read : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destruction are an affront to our community .
They are working in direct opposition to the needs of the people they say they speak for .
They are criminals .
They are being played by political forces who are set on preserving the status quo or worse.
” Wheeler added , “ None of this should sit well with any thinking Portlander .
To those participating in violence , I want to be clear : I denounce your actions .
Law enforcement will do everything possible to find you and hold you accountable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past due , but I absolutely denounce the violence and criminal destruction.
” RELATED : Watch : Video Shows Portland Cops Forced To Run Away from Leftist Mob Physically Attacking Them Since the May 25 death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police officers , Portland has been plagued by riots and violence .
On Sept. 4 , the city marked a grim milestone : 100 consecutive nights of destruction .
The riots often went well beyond vandalism .
It ’ s good that Wheeler denounced the actions of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but why has he done so little to stop the destruction in his city ?
During the months of demonstrations in Portland , the mayor has often sided with those protesting and in some cases engaging in violence .
In July , Wheeler joined activists in the streets amid a nightly campaign to destroy the city ’ s federal building .
When federal agents were sent to Portland to end the violence , the mayor denounced the move as an occupation .
Wheeler said in a tweet that his “ biggest immediate concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our streets in recent days , ” adding , “ We do not need or want their help.
” On Sept. 21 , the Department of Justice issued a news release that identified Portland , along with New York City and Seattle , as “ jurisdictions permitting violence and destruction of property.
” Attorney General Bill Barr said , “ When state and local leaders impede their own law enforcement officers and agencies from doing their jobs , it endangers innocent citizens who deserve to be protected , including those who are trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added : “ We can not allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of the citizenry hangs in the balance .
It is my hope that the cities identified by the Department of Justice today will reverse course and become serious about performing the basic function of government and start protecting their own citizens.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Owners of businesses on a busy downtown boulevard in the Hollywood District of Portland, Oregon, learned Nov. 21 that 27 area buildings had been vandalized.
Local media outlet KOIN-TV reported that “a group of about 50 people gathered at NE Halsey Street and NE 52nd Avenue before beginning a long streak of vandalism up and down NE Sandy Boulevard.”
Reo’s Ribs, a restaurant owned by Reo Varenado, was spared that night. KOIN spoke to the owner’s brother, Ricky Varenado, who said, “I just hope whoever is doing this, they would catch the people who’s doing it and be prosecuted for what they’ve done. I mean, because this is really a sad time of the year they are doing this, with the coronavirus epidemic that’s going on, people are having a hard time trying to make it in life and this makes it even worse.”
He did not blame antifa or any affiliated groups for the destruction despite the fact that the radical leftist movement has long been at the forefront of Portland’s violent demonstrations.
Two days after Varenado’s comments, Reo’s Ribs was set on fire.
On Tuesday, over three weeks after the restaurant was torched, KOIN shared surveillance video of a suspect dousing a newspaper with gasoline, lighting it on fire and tossing it into an enclosed area in the back of the restaurant. The footage was recorded at 2 a.m. Nov. 23.
Investigators with @PDXFire say the fire at Reo’s Ribs last month was intentionally set and they have a suspect they would like to question. This is surveillance footage from that night. Full story: https://t.co/NZ6AwixEV6 pic.twitter.com/wUGqkYCsRz — KOIN News (@KOINNews) December 15, 2020
The outlet reported that several hours later, Portland firefighters arrived to find “smoke pouring out of the roof” from the rear of the restaurant and “then discovered flames both on the exterior and interior” of the building.
According to KOIN, this was the second time Reo’s Ribs was ravaged by fire. Officials concluded that the first fire, in 2017, was accidental. Reo Varenado, however, believes it was arson.
Following the widespread violence on Nov. 21, the city’s far-left mayor, Ted Wheeler, issued a statement that read: “The people who engaged in criminal destruction are an affront to our community. They are working in direct opposition to the needs of the people they say they speak for. They are criminals. They are being played by political forces who are set on preserving the status quo or worse.”
Wheeler added, “None of this should sit well with any thinking Portlander. To those participating in violence, I want to be clear: I denounce your actions. Law enforcement will do everything possible to find you and hold you accountable. We all agree racial justice is past due, but I absolutely denounce the violence and criminal destruction.”
Would you open up a business in Portland? 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: 0% (1 Votes) No: 100% (393 Votes)
Since the May 25 death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police officers, Portland has been plagued by riots and violence. On Sept. 4, the city marked a grim milestone: 100 consecutive nights of destruction.
The riots often went well beyond vandalism.
It’s good that Wheeler denounced the actions of those perpetrating the violence on Nov. 21, but why has he done so little to stop the destruction in his city?
During the months of demonstrations in Portland, the mayor has often sided with those protesting and in some cases engaging in violence. In July, Wheeler joined activists in the streets amid a nightly campaign to destroy the city’s federal building.
When federal agents were sent to Portland to end the violence, the mayor denounced the move as an occupation.
Wheeler said in a tweet that his “biggest immediate concern is the violence federal officers brought to our streets in recent days,” adding, “We do not need or want their help.”
On Sept. 21, the Department of Justice issued a news release that identified Portland, along with New York City and Seattle, as “jurisdictions permitting violence and destruction of property.”
Attorney General Bill Barr said, “When state and local leaders impede their own law enforcement officers and agencies from doing their jobs, it endangers innocent citizens who deserve to be protected, including those who are trying to peacefully assemble and protest.”
He added: “We cannot allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of the citizenry hangs in the balance. It is my hope that the cities identified by the Department of Justice today will reverse course and become serious about performing the basic function of government and start protecting their own citizens.”
Time to wake up, Mayor Wheeler.
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