freebeacon--2020-07-28--Why the Left Fears Tom Cotton

Why the Left Fears Tom Cotton

It is alarming how quickly , and shamelessly , the left and its media allies have concocted their latest smear against Senator Tom Cotton .
In an interview with an Arkansas paper about the historically illiterate 1619 Project , Cotton said ( correctly ! )
that slavery was `` the necessary evil upon which the union was built , but the union was built in a way , as Lincoln said , to put slavery on the course to its ultimate extinction . ''
Cotton 's argument is not controversial : The Founders believed they could not have both abolished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the constitutional architecture they built laid the groundwork for its abolition .
Lincoln himself saw it that way , describing the Constitution as the `` frame of silver '' which enveloped liberty for all , an `` apple of gold , '' and famously linking the struggle of the Civil War to a `` new birth of freedom '' that renewed and expanded the Founders ’ promise of liberty and equality among all people .
The principles were there , even if the sad realities of 18th-century politics prohibited their full realization .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ anodyne point has provoked several days of outrage from the left , with dishonest partisans twisting Cotton ’ s use of the term `` necessary evil '' and suggesting he believes slavery was morally justified .
The outcry is so thin in its justification that it suggests the left is hell-bent on discrediting the senator from Arkansas because they fear him—at least they are right about something .
The attacks have spread predictably , moving from the left-wing media to the mainstream and then to Democrats in Congress , as Rep. Hakeem Jeffries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the floor of the House .
The grifters at the Lincoln Project are simply calling Cotton a supporter of the Ku Klux Klan .
Maybe this outrage is just the naïveté of today 's politicians and `` reporters , '' who consider themselves more noble than our nation 's Founders .
More likely , though , it 's a calculated attempt to tar Cotton 's character .
The same was true when New York Times staffers raised selective outrage at Cotton 's op-ed calling for order in the streets , or when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statehood a racist `` dog whistle . ''
Now , as Cotton has worked to delegitimize the New York Times ’ crown jewel , the 1619 Project , the left is seeking to delegitimize him .
Labeling Cotton a racist creates a chain of `` evidence '' —made up of allegation and insinuation—to be used later .
Cotton should wear these latest attacks as a badge of honor .
Shouting `` racist '' is the progressive left ’ s most powerful , and perhaps only , weapon against those who won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contrast to his GOP colleagues in the Senate—has been standing tall in this new culture war .

It is alarming how quickly, and shamelessly, the left and its media allies have concocted their latest smear against Senator Tom Cotton.
In an interview with an Arkansas paper about the historically illiterate 1619 Project, Cotton said (correctly!) that slavery was "the necessary evil upon which the union was built, but the union was built in a way, as Lincoln said, to put slavery on the course to its ultimate extinction."
Cotton's argument is not controversial: The Founders believed they could not have both abolished slavery and united a country. But the constitutional architecture they built laid the groundwork for its abolition.
Lincoln himself saw it that way, describing the Constitution as the "frame of silver" which enveloped liberty for all, an "apple of gold," and famously linking the struggle of the Civil War to a "new birth of freedom" that renewed and expanded the Founders’ promise of liberty and equality among all people. The principles were there, even if the sad realities of 18th-century politics prohibited their full realization.
In our current cultural moment, this anodyne point has provoked several days of outrage from the left, with dishonest partisans twisting Cotton’s use of the term "necessary evil" and suggesting he believes slavery was morally justified.
The outcry is so thin in its justification that it suggests the left is hell-bent on discrediting the senator from Arkansas because they fear him—at least they are right about something.
The attacks have spread predictably, moving from the left-wing media to the mainstream and then to Democrats in Congress, as Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D., N.Y.) cited it on the floor of the House. The grifters at the Lincoln Project are simply calling Cotton a supporter of the Ku Klux Klan.
Maybe this outrage is just the naïveté of today's politicians and "reporters," who consider themselves more noble than our nation's Founders.
More likely, though, it's a calculated attempt to tar Cotton's character. The same was true when New York Times staffers raised selective outrage at Cotton's op-ed calling for order in the streets, or when left-wing journalists called his opposition to D.C. statehood a racist "dog whistle."
Now, as Cotton has worked to delegitimize the New York Times’ crown jewel, the 1619 Project, the left is seeking to delegitimize him. Labeling Cotton a racist creates a chain of "evidence"—made up of allegation and insinuation—to be used later.
Cotton should wear these latest attacks as a badge of honor. Shouting "racist" is the progressive left’s most powerful, and perhaps only, weapon against those who won’t take a knee, and Cotton—even in contrast to his GOP colleagues in the Senate—has been standing tall in this new culture war.


freebeacon--2020-07-28--Russian Space Talks Go Nowhere Amid Rising Tensions

The United States and Russia held their first talks regarding space militarization since 2013 on Monday , ending without any public progress , the Wall Street Journal reported .
The talks , which took place in Vienna , were intended to decrease tension and increase cooperation between the two world powers in their atmospheric pursuits .
Competing views of how to regulate international conduct in space , however , left the talks without a mutually agreed-upon foundation .
Neither Moscow nor Washington released public statements regarding the talks .
The United States prefers to administer voluntary norms in space relations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treaty against deploying weapons in space .
Despite Moscow ’ s insistence on codifying a stance against space-based weaponry , Russia launched its own anti-satellite weapon into orbit last week .
The Kremlin denies allegations that it did so .
As tensions with the United States on space issues have escalated , Moscow now looks to Beijing to team up on spaceflight .
Both authoritarian regimes have been active in increasing the capabilities of their space missions with new satellites , rovers , and space-based weaponry .
With few treaty laws or norms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worries about the security implications of new competition in space .
`` China and Russia present the greatest strategic threat due to their development , testing , and deployment of counterspace capabilities and their associated military doctrine for employment in conflict extending to space , '' the June 2020 Defense Space Strategy Summary reads .
`` DoD will be prepared to protect and defend U.S. and , as directed , allied , partner , and commercial space capabilities and to deter and defeat adversary hostile use of space . ''

The United States and Russia held their first talks regarding space militarization since 2013 on Monday, ending without any public progress, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The talks, which took place in Vienna, were intended to decrease tension and increase cooperation between the two world powers in their atmospheric pursuits. Competing views of how to regulate international conduct in space, however, left the talks without a mutually agreed-upon foundation.
Neither Moscow nor Washington released public statements regarding the talks.
The United States prefers to administer voluntary norms in space relations, while the Russians want a formal treaty against deploying weapons in space.
Despite Moscow’s insistence on codifying a stance against space-based weaponry, Russia launched its own anti-satellite weapon into orbit last week. The Kremlin denies allegations that it did so.
As tensions with the United States on space issues have escalated, Moscow now looks to Beijing to team up on spaceflight. Both authoritarian regimes have been active in increasing the capabilities of their space missions with new satellites, rovers, and space-based weaponry. With few treaty laws or norms against either nation enforced, the Pentagon worries about the security implications of new competition in space.
"China and Russia present the greatest strategic threat due to their development, testing, and deployment of counterspace capabilities and their associated military doctrine for employment in conflict extending to space," the June 2020 Defense Space Strategy Summary reads. "DoD will be prepared to protect and defend U.S. and, as directed, allied, partner, and commercial space capabilities and to deter and defeat adversary hostile use of space."


freebeacon--2020-07-29--Former Official Accuses Steve Bullock of Fraud, Intimidation

A former Montana health official said Democratic governor Steve Bullock threatened her and other state employees who tried to blow the whistle on welfare fraud .
Wendie Fredrickson , who served as a Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services audit reviewer for more than 20 years , said Bullock `` intimidated [ state regulators ] into ignoring fraud '' when they discovered that `` roughly about half of the payments were fraudulent '' at the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation .
After questioning the payments made to undocumented recipients , Fredrickson was stripped of her responsibilities and forced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Washington Free Beacon , Fredrickson said she uncovered the allegedly fraudulent payments after performing a `` routine review , '' but administration officials suppressed her attempt to report the payments to the state 's Legislative Audit Division .
`` When I went to write the report , they put me in a room with no phone , no internet .
They did that with quite a few auditors , anyone they were n't happy with , '' Fredrickson said .
`` I went back to my desk and I had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed to talk to legislative audit , you 're not allowed to talk to anyone . '
And if I did talk to anyone , they threatened to sue , so I was scared to death to bring things forward . ''
Fredrickson has decided to take what was once an internal battle against the governor 's office to the campaign trail , running as a Green Party candidate for the Senate—a closely watched race between Bullock and Sen. Steve Daines ( R. , Mont. )
.
Bullock 's office did not respond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokeswoman denied the allegations in 2016 , telling the local Independent Record that the questionable transactions were `` forwarded to the legislative auditor '' who `` failed to find evidence of fraud , waste , or abuse . ''
Fredrickson said that `` several other auditors who did try to bring things forward '' were `` let go and paid to sign non-disclosure agreements . ''
While the Bullock administration has not released the details of those agreements , a 2016 Independent Record report showed that at least seven officials `` raised red @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Two of those staffers said Bullock ordered top state officials to send `` questionable '' welfare payments to voters on Indian reservations .
`` If you brought things forward , they would just get rid of you , '' Fredrickson told the Free Beacon .
Republican state legislator Brad Tschida said Fredrickson 's allegations are `` indicative '' of Bullock 's tenure as governor .
He accused the administration of acting with `` very little openness and transparency . ''
`` The number of complaints that have occurred during his tenure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] a hostile work environment and harassment , have grown significantly , '' Tschida told the Free Beacon .
He added that complaints made against the Bullock administration have resulted in `` settlements that have not been made public . ''
Bullock 's alleged wrongdoings are not unique to the state 's health department .
In August 2018 , multiple Department of Corrections employees claimed they were retaliated against after levying sexual harassment accusations against director Reginald Michael .
According to MTN News , Bullock `` would n't allow top corrections officials to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A former agency official went on to file a wrongful discharge lawsuit in September 2019 , accusing Michael of engaging in a `` quid pro quo of sexual favors for career advancement . ''
Michael still serves as department director today .
Democrats are crying foul at Fredrickson 's inclusion on the ballot since Montana GOP operatives helped finance a signature-gathering effort for the former whistleblower .
Sandi Luckey , executive director of the state Democrats , told the Free Beacon that Republicans `` deceived voters and violated campaign finance law to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The state Democratic Party has now filed a lawsuit to remove Fredrickson from the ballot .
The Green Party candidate blasted the Montana Democratic Party 's lawsuit in a July op-ed , calling the effort `` no less than shameful . ''
`` Let me be abundantly clear : my run for U.S. Senate as a candidate of the Green Party is about truth and transparency in our government—and I refuse to be silenced , like so many others have , through either bullying or non-disclosure agreements , '' Fredrickson wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the accusation , saying Montana Democrats are `` spending tens of thousands of dollars on out-of-state trial lawyers to limit Montanans ' choices this November so that Governor Bullock wo n't have to face a Green Party candidate that will expose the corruption of his Administration . ''
While state Democrats have condemned their partisan counterparts for boosting Fredrickson 's candidacy , an outside group aligned with Democratic senator Jon Tester spent at least $ 500,000 boosting a Libertarian candidate in 2012 .
Tester went on to defeat Republican Denny Rehberg by just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received 6.6 percent of the vote .

A former Montana health official said Democratic governor Steve Bullock threatened her and other state employees who tried to blow the whistle on welfare fraud.
Wendie Fredrickson, who served as a Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services audit reviewer for more than 20 years, said Bullock "intimidated [state regulators] into ignoring fraud" when they discovered that "roughly about half of the payments were fraudulent" at the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. After questioning the payments made to undocumented recipients, Fredrickson was stripped of her responsibilities and forced to retire in 2014. In an interview with the Washington Free Beacon, Fredrickson said she uncovered the allegedly fraudulent payments after performing a "routine review," but administration officials suppressed her attempt to report the payments to the state's Legislative Audit Division.
"When I went to write the report, they put me in a room with no phone, no internet. They did that with quite a few auditors, anyone they weren't happy with," Fredrickson said. "I went back to my desk and I had a note saying, 'You're not allowed to talk to legislative audit, you're not allowed to talk to anyone.' And if I did talk to anyone, they threatened to sue, so I was scared to death to bring things forward."
Fredrickson has decided to take what was once an internal battle against the governor's office to the campaign trail, running as a Green Party candidate for the Senate—a closely watched race between Bullock and Sen. Steve Daines (R., Mont.).
Bullock's office did not respond to a request for comment. His spokeswoman denied the allegations in 2016, telling the local Independent Record that the questionable transactions were "forwarded to the legislative auditor" who "failed to find evidence of fraud, waste, or abuse."
Fredrickson said that "several other auditors who did try to bring things forward" were "let go and paid to sign non-disclosure agreements." While the Bullock administration has not released the details of those agreements, a 2016 Independent Record report showed that at least seven officials "raised red flags before they were demoted or fired." Two of those staffers said Bullock ordered top state officials to send "questionable" welfare payments to voters on Indian reservations.
"If you brought things forward, they would just get rid of you," Fredrickson told the Free Beacon.
Republican state legislator Brad Tschida said Fredrickson's allegations are "indicative" of Bullock's tenure as governor. He accused the administration of acting with "very little openness and transparency."
"The number of complaints that have occurred during his tenure, in terms of those [alleging] a hostile work environment and harassment, have grown significantly," Tschida told the Free Beacon. He added that complaints made against the Bullock administration have resulted in "settlements that have not been made public."
Bullock's alleged wrongdoings are not unique to the state's health department. In August 2018, multiple Department of Corrections employees claimed they were retaliated against after levying sexual harassment accusations against director Reginald Michael. According to MTN News, Bullock "wouldn't allow top corrections officials to be interviewed" about the accusations. A former agency official went on to file a wrongful discharge lawsuit in September 2019, accusing Michael of engaging in a "quid pro quo of sexual favors for career advancement." Michael still serves as department director today.
Democrats are crying foul at Fredrickson's inclusion on the ballot since Montana GOP operatives helped finance a signature-gathering effort for the former whistleblower. Sandi Luckey, executive director of the state Democrats, told the Free Beacon that Republicans "deceived voters and violated campaign finance law to get the Green Party on the ballot." The state Democratic Party has now filed a lawsuit to remove Fredrickson from the ballot.
The Green Party candidate blasted the Montana Democratic Party's lawsuit in a July op-ed, calling the effort "no less than shameful."
"Let me be abundantly clear: my run for U.S. Senate as a candidate of the Green Party is about truth and transparency in our government—and I refuse to be silenced, like so many others have, through either bullying or non-disclosure agreements," Fredrickson wrote.
State GOP executive director Spenser Merwin denied the accusation, saying Montana Democrats are "spending tens of thousands of dollars on out-of-state trial lawyers to limit Montanans' choices this November so that Governor Bullock won't have to face a Green Party candidate that will expose the corruption of his Administration."
While state Democrats have condemned their partisan counterparts for boosting Fredrickson's candidacy, an outside group aligned with Democratic senator Jon Tester spent at least $500,000 boosting a Libertarian candidate in 2012. Tester went on to defeat Republican Denny Rehberg by just 4 points, and the Libertarian candidate received 6.6 percent of the vote.


freebeacon--2020-07-29--Media’s Favorite Anti-Trump Diplomat Is a Former Hillary Aide Who Enabled Her Email Practices

The national media 's reporting on misconduct allegations against Woody Johnson , the Trump-appointed ambassador to the U.K. , has relied on a single named source : Lew Lukens , the ambassador 's former deputy who was fired after praising former president Barack Obama in a speech .
The reporting does n't mention it , but Lukens is hardly an objective source .
Months after Donald Trump was sworn into office in 2017 , Lukens was identified as one of several U.S. diplomats engaged in a `` quiet revolt amid tensions with Trump . ''
Among other things , Lukens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweet of support for Sadiq Khan , the diminutive London mayor with whom Trump was feuding at the time .
A career diplomat who graduated from Princeton 's controversial Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs , Lukens was also a senior aide in Hillary Clinton 's State Department from 2008 to 2011 .
His role as logistics chief made him a key player in the scandal surrounding Clinton 's use of a secret email server for `` personal comfort . ''
Court records indicate that days after Obama took office in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aides discussed how to circumvent the security policies Hillary did n't want to follow as secretary of state .
Lukens suggested a `` stand-alone '' computer be placed in Clinton 's office to allow the secretary to check emails .
The suggestion was shot down because Hillary was `` not adept or not used to checking her emails on a desktop '' and insisted on using a BlackBerry connected to the secret server in her basement .
Lukens has made a number of allegations against his former boss , most notably that Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Open golf tournament to Trump 's Turnberry resort in Scotland .
Johnson , Trump , and the British government have denied the accusation , but Lukens and `` other diplomats '' told the New York Times the alleged unethical behavior not only happened , but left them feeling `` deeply unsettled . ''
Following his dismissal from the U.S. embassy in London , Lukens became a senior partner at Signum Global Advisors .
The consulting firm 's founder , investment banker Charles Myers , is a longtime Democratic donor who advised Hillary Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is currently a bundler for the Biden Victory Fund .
Myers recently expressed confidence that Biden 's efforts to court Bernie Sanders supporters would not stop a Biden administration from nominating Wall Street executives to senior cabinet positions .
Last month , Lukens and Myers coauthored a note to Signum 's clients predicting that Democrats would regain control of the Senate in 2021 .

The national media's reporting on misconduct allegations against Woody Johnson, the Trump-appointed ambassador to the U.K., has relied on a single named source: Lew Lukens, the ambassador's former deputy who was fired after praising former president Barack Obama in a speech.
The reporting doesn't mention it, but Lukens is hardly an objective source. Months after Donald Trump was sworn into office in 2017, Lukens was identified as one of several U.S. diplomats engaged in a "quiet revolt amid tensions with Trump." Among other things, Lukens's "quiet revolt" involved a tweet of support for Sadiq Khan, the diminutive London mayor with whom Trump was feuding at the time.
A career diplomat who graduated from Princeton's controversial Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Lukens was also a senior aide in Hillary Clinton's State Department from 2008 to 2011. His role as logistics chief made him a key player in the scandal surrounding Clinton's use of a secret email server for "personal comfort."
Court records indicate that days after Obama took office in 2009, Lukens and other senior Clinton aides discussed how to circumvent the security policies Hillary didn't want to follow as secretary of state. Lukens suggested a "stand-alone" computer be placed in Clinton's office to allow the secretary to check emails. The suggestion was shot down because Hillary was "not adept or not used to checking her emails on a desktop" and insisted on using a BlackBerry connected to the secret server in her basement.
Lukens has made a number of allegations against his former boss, most notably that Johnson pressured U.K. officials to move the British Open golf tournament to Trump's Turnberry resort in Scotland. Johnson, Trump, and the British government have denied the accusation, but Lukens and "other diplomats" told the New York Times the alleged unethical behavior not only happened, but left them feeling "deeply unsettled."
Following his dismissal from the U.S. embassy in London, Lukens became a senior partner at Signum Global Advisors. The consulting firm's founder, investment banker Charles Myers, is a longtime Democratic donor who advised Hillary Clinton's failed presidential campaign in 2016 and is currently a bundler for the Biden Victory Fund.
Myers recently expressed confidence that Biden's efforts to court Bernie Sanders supporters would not stop a Biden administration from nominating Wall Street executives to senior cabinet positions. Last month, Lukens and Myers coauthored a note to Signum's clients predicting that Democrats would regain control of the Senate in 2021.


freebeacon--2020-07-29--Pelosi Endorses Tlaib in Democratic Primary

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) endorsed Michigan congresswoman Rashida Tlaib ( D. ) on Wednesday in her Democratic primary contest , in a change of course from her past criticisms of Tlaib and other members of `` The Squad . ''
`` Rep. Tlaib never stops fighting for her district , which she is proud to represent , '' Pelosi said .
`` And I am proud to endorse her for re-election . ''
Tlaib and the three other far-left House Democrats known as `` The Squad '' have had a contentious relationship with Pelosi and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted against the speaker 's border-aid bill last year , for example , Pelosi said the group didn ’ t `` have any following . ''
`` All these people have their public whatever and their Twitter world , '' Pelosi told New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd .
`` But they don ’ t have any following .
They ’ re four people and that ’ s how many votes they got . ''
Pelosi ’ s announcement comes just days after Tlaib said she would not endorse Democratic presidential candidate Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead focus on voter turnout in Michigan ’ s 13th Congressional District .
Tlaib will face Detroit city council president Brenda Jones in the August 4 Democratic primary .

The House speaker said last year that Tlaib and rest of 'The Squad' 'didn't have any following'
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) endorsed Michigan congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D.) on Wednesday in her Democratic primary contest, in a change of course from her past criticisms of Tlaib and other members of "The Squad."
"Rep. Tlaib never stops fighting for her district, which she is proud to represent," Pelosi said. "And I am proud to endorse her for re-election."
Tlaib and the three other far-left House Democrats known as "The Squad" have had a contentious relationship with Pelosi and the Democratic establishment. After the congresswomen voted against the speaker's border-aid bill last year, for example, Pelosi said the group didn’t "have any following."
"All these people have their public whatever and their Twitter world," Pelosi told New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd. "But they don’t have any following. They’re four people and that’s how many votes they got."
Pelosi’s announcement comes just days after Tlaib said she would not endorse Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden—whom the speaker endorsed in April—and would instead focus on voter turnout in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District.
Tlaib will face Detroit city council president Brenda Jones in the August 4 Democratic primary.


freebeacon--2020-07-29--States Have Spent Little of $150 Billion COVID Relief Fund

State and local governments have spent less than a quarter of the relief funds earmarked to help them fight the coronavirus , a recently released report from the Treasury Department indicates .
Funds from the $ 150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund , created by Congress as part of the two-trillion-dollar CARES Act and meant to help defray public health costs , appear largely unused according to the Treasury Department 's inspector general .
Some states have used less than 5 percent of the funds earmarked for them , including states like New Jersey and Connecticut , which bore the brunt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revelation complicates states ' claims that they need a hundred-billion-dollar federal bailout to ensure their solvency in the coming months .
The question of what money , if any , states should receive in the next round of coronavirus stimulus is likely to be a subject of hot debate in coming weeks , and the inspector general 's report challenges Democrats ' contention that more money is needed , particularly compared with Republicans ' proposal to free up preexisting and evidently unused funds .
The data indicate that the coronavirus relief fund is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three states—California , New York , and Colorado—have used more than half of the funds allocated to their state and local governments .
By contrast , 23 states have used less than 10 percent of their funding , while 11 have used less than half .
Of the nearly $ 2 billion earmarked for South Carolina , the state reports using just $ 763,000 .
Money available through the coronavirus relief fund was disbursed based on population , with a floor allocation of $ 1.25 billion per state .
Some locales that were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have used funds extensively—New York City , for example , has used 99.4 percent of its money—but others , like New Jersey and Connecticut , have not .
The funds are earmarked exclusively for use on public health issues—a subject of contention , as many states see the impending fiscal meltdown instigated by the current recession as an even bigger challenge than the coronavirus itself .
The National Governors Association has asked for $ 500 billion in the next round of coronavirus stimulus .
Democrats want to give it to them—Speaker of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Calif. ) proposal for the latest round of relief includes $ 540 billion for a state-and-local bailout .
But Republicans are more wary , fearing that federal bailout dollars will be used to shore up flagging state pensions already almost bankrupted by years of malinvestment .
The GOP 's solution to this problem , unveiled Monday evening , is to remove the requirement that the Coronavirus Relief Fund only be used for public health issues—thereby freeing up an apparently undersubscribed source of funding without committing to more spending on top of what already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or not to provide the states with general funding , and how much of it , is likely to be a major subject of dispute in this week 's congressional negotiations over another round of coronavirus stimulus .
That will add to disagreements over unemployment insurance and the rapidly increasing size of the federal deficit .
The result is likely to be the most acrimonious round of negotiation yet .

State and local governments have spent less than a quarter of the relief funds earmarked to help them fight the coronavirus, a recently released report from the Treasury Department indicates.
Funds from the $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund, created by Congress as part of the two-trillion-dollar CARES Act and meant to help defray public health costs, appear largely unused according to the Treasury Department's inspector general. Some states have used less than 5 percent of the funds earmarked for them, including states like New Jersey and Connecticut, which bore the brunt of early coronavirus cases.
The surprising revelation complicates states' claims that they need a hundred-billion-dollar federal bailout to ensure their solvency in the coming months. The question of what money, if any, states should receive in the next round of coronavirus stimulus is likely to be a subject of hot debate in coming weeks, and the inspector general's report challenges Democrats' contention that more money is needed, particularly compared with Republicans' proposal to free up preexisting and evidently unused funds.
The data indicate that the coronavirus relief fund is heavily undersubscribed throughout the country. Just three states—California, New York, and Colorado—have used more than half of the funds allocated to their state and local governments. By contrast, 23 states have used less than 10 percent of their funding, while 11 have used less than half. Of the nearly $2 billion earmarked for South Carolina, the state reports using just $763,000.
Money available through the coronavirus relief fund was disbursed based on population, with a floor allocation of $1.25 billion per state. Some locales that were heavily hit by the coronavirus appear to have used funds extensively—New York City, for example, has used 99.4 percent of its money—but others, like New Jersey and Connecticut, have not.
The funds are earmarked exclusively for use on public health issues—a subject of contention, as many states see the impending fiscal meltdown instigated by the current recession as an even bigger challenge than the coronavirus itself. The National Governors Association has asked for $500 billion in the next round of coronavirus stimulus.
Democrats want to give it to them—Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's (D., Calif.) proposal for the latest round of relief includes $540 billion for a state-and-local bailout. But Republicans are more wary, fearing that federal bailout dollars will be used to shore up flagging state pensions already almost bankrupted by years of malinvestment.
The GOP's solution to this problem, unveiled Monday evening, is to remove the requirement that the Coronavirus Relief Fund only be used for public health issues—thereby freeing up an apparently undersubscribed source of funding without committing to more spending on top of what already appeared in the CARES Act.
Whether or not to provide the states with general funding, and how much of it, is likely to be a major subject of dispute in this week's congressional negotiations over another round of coronavirus stimulus. That will add to disagreements over unemployment insurance and the rapidly increasing size of the federal deficit. The result is likely to be the most acrimonious round of negotiation yet.


freebeacon--2020-07-29--Chinese Immigrant Sues University for Sanctioning Tiananmen Post

A Fordham University student kicked off campus for posing with his legally owned firearm filed a lawsuit on July 23 alleging the school violated its commitment to free expression .
Rising senior Austin Tong , a Chinese immigrant who posted the picture in honor of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre , filed a lawsuit against Fordham , the school 's president , and the dean of students .
The suit alleges the university violated its free expression covenant with students by disciplining Tong for `` lawful , constitutionally protected , and non-threatening social media posts on Instagram . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as basic First Amendment jurisprudence , make it abundantly clear that uncomfortable or unpleasant impact on a speaker 's audience is not a proper ground to restrain the speech in question , '' the lawsuit reads .
The suit calls on the school to annul all disciplinary sanctions , admit that Tong 's social media posts are a permitted exercise of free speech under Fordham 's speech code , and award relief for the breach of contract between Fordham and Tong .
In its mission statement , Fordham guarantees the freedom of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explicit promise of free speech can be found in the school 's demonstration policy .
`` Each member of the University has a right to freely express his or her positions and to work for their acceptance whether they assent to or dissent from existing situations in the University or society , '' the policy reads .
Tong was told in a disciplinary letter from the university that he can not return to campus and must complete his degree online while his peers return to campus .
Tong can not hold a leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apology note to the school , and must complete a bias training or face suspension or possible expulsion .
The lawsuit alleges the sanctions against Tong are `` damaging and humiliating '' for the student as well as `` draconian . ''
The disciplinary actions force Tong to choose between his beliefs and a degree from his university of choice .
`` These sanctions have placed Tong in an untenable position , '' the lawsuit reads .
`` He must either ( 1 ) abandon his principled beliefs , forfeit his right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's unconscionable discipline , or ( 2 ) face suspension or expulsion from Fordham , which would severely damage his future academic and employment prospects . ''
Tong told the Washington Free Beacon he believed he had a good relationship with dean of students Keith Eldredge before posting his Instagram photos .
`` Not even a Chinese university would do this to their students , '' he said .
The university did not respond to multiple requests for comment .
`` The end result is that Tong and other students who do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's administrators are turned into outcasts , '' the lawsuit reads .
`` Other individuals who wish to speak out with potentially unpopular but good faith viewpoints are discouraged from exercising their right of free expression . ''
Tong 's lawyer Brett Joshpe said he could not comment on the pending litigation , but said there will be additional claims for `` the massive damages caused . ''

A Fordham University student kicked off campus for posing with his legally owned firearm filed a lawsuit on July 23 alleging the school violated its commitment to free expression.
Rising senior Austin Tong, a Chinese immigrant who posted the picture in honor of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, filed a lawsuit against Fordham, the school's president, and the dean of students. The suit alleges the university violated its free expression covenant with students by disciplining Tong for "lawful, constitutionally protected, and non-threatening social media posts on Instagram."
"Fordham's policies and rules, as well as basic First Amendment jurisprudence, make it abundantly clear that uncomfortable or unpleasant impact on a speaker's audience is not a proper ground to restrain the speech in question," the lawsuit reads.
The suit calls on the school to annul all disciplinary sanctions, admit that Tong's social media posts are a permitted exercise of free speech under Fordham's speech code, and award relief for the breach of contract between Fordham and Tong.
In its mission statement, Fordham guarantees the freedom of inquiry among other freedoms, but the explicit promise of free speech can be found in the school's demonstration policy.
"Each member of the University has a right to freely express his or her positions and to work for their acceptance whether they assent to or dissent from existing situations in the University or society," the policy reads.
Tong was told in a disciplinary letter from the university that he cannot return to campus and must complete his degree online while his peers return to campus. Tong cannot hold a leadership position on campus, must write an apology note to the school, and must complete a bias training or face suspension or possible expulsion.
The lawsuit alleges the sanctions against Tong are "damaging and humiliating" for the student as well as "draconian." The disciplinary actions force Tong to choose between his beliefs and a degree from his university of choice.
"These sanctions have placed Tong in an untenable position," the lawsuit reads. "He must either (1) abandon his principled beliefs, forfeit his right to lawful expression, and submit to Fordham's unconscionable discipline, or (2) face suspension or expulsion from Fordham, which would severely damage his future academic and employment prospects."
Tong told the Washington Free Beacon he believed he had a good relationship with dean of students Keith Eldredge before posting his Instagram photos. "Not even a Chinese university would do this to their students," he said.
The university did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
"The end result is that Tong and other students who do not adhere to the political orthodoxy of Fordham's administrators are turned into outcasts," the lawsuit reads. "Other individuals who wish to speak out with potentially unpopular but good faith viewpoints are discouraged from exercising their right of free expression."
Tong's lawyer Brett Joshpe said he could not comment on the pending litigation, but said there will be additional claims for "the massive damages caused."


freebeacon--2020-07-29--House Dems Say Barr Was Sexist, Hostile at Hearing

House Democrats Madeleine Dean ( Penn . )
and Pramila Jayapal ( Wash. ) accused Attorney General William Barr of being sexist and hostile during his contentious Judiciary Committee testimony on Tuesday .
Democrats repeatedly interrupted Barr at the hearing and condemned him as corrupt , racist , and dangerous , but Dean said Wednesday that Barr was `` disrespectful '' and particularly mistreated women .
`` We have to hold him accountable to the American people , '' Dean said on MSNBC .
`` You saw his affect yesterday .
He was disrespectful , spoke over top of every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he spoke over women .
He was flanked by at least 10 staffers , not a person of color among them… .
It was so disrespectful , the way he approached Congress , the way he approached our committee . ''
The Washington Free Beacon compiled a montage of Democrats repeatedly saying they were `` reclaiming my time '' during their testy interactions with Barr on Tuesday .
On several occasions , Republicans on the Judiciary Committee gave Barr time during their questioning periods to respond to Democratic charges .
Jayapal allowed Barr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during their six-minute exchange , and he never spoke longer than 10 seconds without being interrupted by her .
Yet she told CNN that she had to control her time , because otherwise Barr might testify too much .
`` Every witness knows that the way to get away from answering questions is to just be very slow in your answers , to thank the Congress members for that excellent question , to not answer , to obfuscate , because you only have five minutes , '' she said .
`` You have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because if you do n't , the witness will do it . ''
Jayapal used much of her time to criticize Barr over the federal dispersal of protesters in Lafayette Park outside the White House on June 1 .
She accused him of a double standard by not similarly dispersing right-wing protesters at the Michigan State Capitol in May during demonstrations against Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ( D. ) and her coronavirus lockdown orders .
Barr noted the White House is a federal building while Michigan 's capitol falls under the state 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him with prioritizing Trump 's `` agenda . ''

House Democrats Madeleine Dean (Penn.) and Pramila Jayapal (Wash.) accused Attorney General William Barr of being sexist and hostile during his contentious Judiciary Committee testimony on Tuesday.
Democrats repeatedly interrupted Barr at the hearing and condemned him as corrupt, racist, and dangerous, but Dean said Wednesday that Barr was "disrespectful" and particularly mistreated women.
"We have to hold him accountable to the American people," Dean said on MSNBC. "You saw his affect yesterday. He was disrespectful, spoke over top of every one of us. In particular, he spoke over women. He was flanked by at least 10 staffers, not a person of color among them.... It was so disrespectful, the way he approached Congress, the way he approached our committee."
The Washington Free Beacon compiled a montage of Democrats repeatedly saying they were "reclaiming my time" during their testy interactions with Barr on Tuesday. On several occasions, Republicans on the Judiciary Committee gave Barr time during their questioning periods to respond to Democratic charges.
Jayapal allowed Barr to speak for less than 60 seconds during their six-minute exchange, and he never spoke longer than 10 seconds without being interrupted by her. Yet she told CNN that she had to control her time, because otherwise Barr might testify too much.
"Every witness knows that the way to get away from answering questions is to just be very slow in your answers, to thank the Congress members for that excellent question, to not answer, to obfuscate, because you only have five minutes," she said. "You have to take control of your time, because if you don't, the witness will do it."
She added Barr was a "hostile witness."
Jayapal used much of her time to criticize Barr over the federal dispersal of protesters in Lafayette Park outside the White House on June 1. She accused him of a double standard by not similarly dispersing right-wing protesters at the Michigan State Capitol in May during demonstrations against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D.) and her coronavirus lockdown orders.
Barr noted the White House is a federal building while Michigan's capitol falls under the state's jurisdiction, but Jayapal interrupted to charge him with prioritizing Trump's "agenda."


freebeacon--2020-07-29--Dem Max Baucus Attacks China Critics on Chinese State TV

Max Baucus , the former ambassador to China during the Obama administration , criticized the United States ' growing hawkishness toward China during a recent interview with a Chinese state media outlet , the Investigative Research Center reported Tuesday .
`` I think the U.S. has been hypercritical of China … sometimes without any proof , '' Baucus told state outlet CGTN during a July 15 interview .
Blaming the `` toxic '' political environment , Baucus said that `` meaningful '' policy decisions on China could not be accomplished before the November election .
`` This is a political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are using China as a scapegoat to help them get elected , '' the former ambassador said .
Baucus has appeared in Chinese state media outlets on several occasions to criticize U.S. policy toward the Communist regime .
In one interview , Baucus compared American politicians criticizing China to McCarthyism—a favorite talking point among Communist Party leadership .
`` [ Baucus 's appearances in Chinese state media are ] like going to China and … talking about your own government that way in meetings .
I think that would be pretty inappropriate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Asian Studies Center at the Heritage Foundation , told the Washington Free Beacon .
Toward the end of his recent interview , Baucus imagined a future president Joe Biden strengthening U.S.-Chinese relations by visiting China and President Xi Jinping .
There is reason to speculate that Baucus may have a significant role in potentially setting Biden 's China policy .
Just before the Iowa caucuses in early February , Baucus endorsed Biden 's presidential run .
In 2013 , then-vice president Biden `` emerged as a chief advocate '' for Baucus 's nomination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the nomination sent `` shock waves '' through the Senate , Politico reported .

Obama’s China ambassador says U.S. using China as ‘scapegoat’
Max Baucus, the former ambassador to China during the Obama administration, criticized the United States' growing hawkishness toward China during a recent interview with a Chinese state media outlet, the Investigative Research Center reported Tuesday.
"I think the U.S. has been hypercritical of China ... sometimes without any proof," Baucus told state outlet CGTN during a July 15 interview.
Blaming the "toxic" political environment, Baucus said that "meaningful" policy decisions on China could not be accomplished before the November election.
"This is a political season in the U.S., and politicians are using China as a scapegoat to help them get elected," the former ambassador said.
Baucus has appeared in Chinese state media outlets on several occasions to criticize U.S. policy toward the Communist regime. In one interview, Baucus compared American politicians criticizing China to McCarthyism—a favorite talking point among Communist Party leadership.
"[Baucus's appearances in Chinese state media are] like going to China and … talking about your own government that way in meetings. I think that would be pretty inappropriate," Walter Lohman, director of the Asian Studies Center at the Heritage Foundation, told the Washington Free Beacon.
Toward the end of his recent interview, Baucus imagined a future president Joe Biden strengthening U.S.-Chinese relations by visiting China and President Xi Jinping.
There is reason to speculate that Baucus may have a significant role in potentially setting Biden's China policy. Just before the Iowa caucuses in early February, Baucus endorsed Biden's presidential run. In 2013, then-vice president Biden "emerged as a chief advocate" for Baucus's nomination to his ambassadorship.
At the time, the nomination sent "shock waves" through the Senate, Politico reported.


freebeacon--2020-07-29--Cal Cunningham Touted ‘Merits’ of Communism as Student Leader

Cal Cunningham , the former state legislator who defeated a qualified black woman in North Carolina 's Democratic Senate primary , touted the `` merits '' of communist and Marxist ideology as UNC-Chapel Hill student body president in the 1990s .
Cunningham expounded on the virtues of communism and Marxism during an interview with a UNC student newspaper in 1995 following the collapse of the Soviet Union .
Asked if there was `` merit '' in communist ideology , Cunningham offered a mostly positive assessment , making the familiar argument that true communism has n't really been tried .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communist ideology , but you have to be careful how you define it , '' he said .
`` I think that in practice , what we saw in the Soviet Union was totalitarianism in action . ''
Cunningham , who claimed to have studied Marxist philosophy `` quite thoroughly , '' went on to say that despite some `` fundamental flaws , '' there were `` a lot of things we can still take '' from Marxism .
Communism , for all it 's merits , Cunningham argued , is `` something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Cunningham is running against incumbent Sen. Thom Tillis ( R. , N.C. ) in a race that could determine which party controls the Senate in 2021 .
What had been a tight race through June has opened up in recent weeks , with Cunningham currently enjoying a 6.2 percentage-point lead in the RealClearPolitics polling average .
The $ 7.4 million Cunningham raised in the second quarter of 2020 was the highest ever reported by a North Carolina Senate candidate .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) has supported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the former state legislator raise money from New York donors .
Schumer made clear early on what kind of Senate candidate he wanted Democrats to nominate in North Carolina : a boring white man who , in Schumer 's words , would spend the entire campaign `` in a windowless basement raising money '' to fund attack ads against Tillis .
Cunningham certainly fits the bill .
Cunningham 's opponent in the Democratic primary , former Boeing engineer Erica Smith , who is black , accused Schumer and other party leaders of racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary .
After the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee formally endorsed Cunningham in October 2019 , Smith issued an angry press release alleging that party leaders had promised her `` unequivocally '' that they would not endorse a candidate in the primary .
At a campaign event in January , Smith suggested that `` Sen. Schumer , for whatever reason , did not want an African American running for Senate in North Carolina . ''
Smith is not the only black Senate candidate to allege racial bias against the Democratic Party , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this cycle on behalf of a white candidate running against a person of color .
MORE : Democrats Spent Tens of Millions to Destroy the Hopes and Dreams of These Qualified Black Candidates

Cal Cunningham, the former state legislator who defeated a qualified black woman in North Carolina's Democratic Senate primary, touted the "merits" of communist and Marxist ideology as UNC-Chapel Hill student body president in the 1990s.
Cunningham expounded on the virtues of communism and Marxism during an interview with a UNC student newspaper in 1995 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Asked if there was "merit" in communist ideology, Cunningham offered a mostly positive assessment, making the familiar argument that true communism hasn't really been tried.
"There’s very much merit in communist ideology, but you have to be careful how you define it," he said. "I think that in practice, what we saw in the Soviet Union was totalitarianism in action." Cunningham, who claimed to have studied Marxist philosophy "quite thoroughly," went on to say that despite some "fundamental flaws," there were "a lot of things we can still take" from Marxism. Communism, for all it's merits, Cunningham argued, is "something that we have more trouble achieving."
Cunningham is running against incumbent Sen. Thom Tillis (R., N.C.) in a race that could determine which party controls the Senate in 2021. What had been a tight race through June has opened up in recent weeks, with Cunningham currently enjoying a 6.2 percentage-point lead in the RealClearPolitics polling average. The $7.4 million Cunningham raised in the second quarter of 2020 was the highest ever reported by a North Carolina Senate candidate.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) has supported Cunningham's candidacy since 2019, helping the former state legislator raise money from New York donors. Schumer made clear early on what kind of Senate candidate he wanted Democrats to nominate in North Carolina: a boring white man who, in Schumer's words, would spend the entire campaign "in a windowless basement raising money" to fund attack ads against Tillis. Cunningham certainly fits the bill.
Cunningham's opponent in the Democratic primary, former Boeing engineer Erica Smith, who is black, accused Schumer and other party leaders of racial bias due to their conduct in the primary. After the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee formally endorsed Cunningham in October 2019, Smith issued an angry press release alleging that party leaders had promised her "unequivocally" that they would not endorse a candidate in the primary. At a campaign event in January, Smith suggested that "Sen. Schumer, for whatever reason, did not want an African American running for Senate in North Carolina."
Smith is not the only black Senate candidate to allege racial bias against the Democratic Party, which has actively intervened in at least three races this cycle on behalf of a white candidate running against a person of color.
MORE: Democrats Spent Tens of Millions to Destroy the Hopes and Dreams of These Qualified Black Candidates


freebeacon--2020-07-29--Pentagon Announces Troop Withdrawal From Germany

Defense Department officials announced a plan to remove nearly 12,000 troops from Germany , Defense One reported Wednesday .
Under the plan , 5,600 troops will be moved to other NATO countries , while 6,400 other troops will return to the United States , cutting America ’ s footprint in Germany by nearly 33 percent .
Repositioning the contingent is expected to raise costs by several billion dollars , Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said .
`` I am confident that the alliance will be all the better and stronger for it , '' Esper told reporters .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The move comes shortly after four German states signed a letter imploring Congress not to allow the repositioning of American troops .
The American forces `` form the backbone of the U.S. presence in Europe and NATO 's ability to act , '' the letter reads .
The White House announced the move after repeated demands that Berlin pay a larger share of security costs for NATO .
The largest economy in Europe , and fourth largest in the world , Germany puts forth only 1.36 percent of its GDP toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 3.42 percent .
Some in the GOP condemned the move as an abandonment of NATO allies , saying it strengthens Russia during a time when Moscow has opportunistically flexed its muscles .
`` This is a matter of extraordinary significance to American foreign policy , '' Senator Mitt Romney ( R. , Utah ) warned in a Senate floor speech last week .
He said Congress should give due consideration to `` this vital provision of our support for our friend , Germany , of our support for our interests in NATO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as our desire not to give Russia a gift particularly at a time when America has been silent as Russia has been supporting the Taliban and potentially even paying hostages to kill Americans . ''

Defense Department officials announced a plan to remove nearly 12,000 troops from Germany, Defense One reported Wednesday.
Under the plan, 5,600 troops will be moved to other NATO countries, while 6,400 other troops will return to the United States, cutting America’s footprint in Germany by nearly 33 percent. Repositioning the contingent is expected to raise costs by several billion dollars, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said.
"I am confident that the alliance will be all the better and stronger for it," Esper told reporters. "We can see some moves begin within weeks."
The move comes shortly after four German states signed a letter imploring Congress not to allow the repositioning of American troops. The American forces "form the backbone of the U.S. presence in Europe and NATO's ability to act," the letter reads.
The White House announced the move after repeated demands that Berlin pay a larger share of security costs for NATO. The largest economy in Europe, and fourth largest in the world, Germany puts forth only 1.36 percent of its GDP toward defense costs, compared with Washington’s 3.42 percent.
"Germany is delinquent," President Donald Trump said Wednesday.
Some in the GOP condemned the move as an abandonment of NATO allies, saying it strengthens Russia during a time when Moscow has opportunistically flexed its muscles.
"This is a matter of extraordinary significance to American foreign policy," Senator Mitt Romney (R., Utah) warned in a Senate floor speech last week. He said Congress should give due consideration to "this vital provision of our support for our friend, Germany, of our support for our interests in NATO, the interest of our military, as well as our desire not to give Russia a gift particularly at a time when America has been silent as Russia has been supporting the Taliban and potentially even paying hostages to kill Americans."


freebeacon--2020-07-29--Twitter Greenlights Ayatollah’s Calls for Genocide

Twitter came under fire Wednesday during a meeting of the Knesset—Israel 's unicameral legislature—for allowing Iran 's Supreme Leader to post anti-Semitic tweets promoting genocide .
The social media platform has refused to apply the same standards to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that it holds President Donald Trump to .
Many of the president ’ s tweets have been taken down for `` glorifying violence , '' while the Ayatollah ’ s tweets—some of which advocate for the genocide of Israeli Jews—remain untouched .
Twitter 's head of policy for the Nordics and Israel Ylwa Pettersson came before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ digital policy on political speech .
When the topic of Khamenei 's tweets came up , a line of intense questioning emerged .
`` Calling for genocide on Twitter is okay , but commenting on political situations in certain countries is not okay ? ''
asked member of the Knesset Michal Cotler-Wunsh .
`` I think that what ’ s come up again and again through different examples is actually a sense of double standards , '' she added .
When Trump tweeted in May that he was willing to use the military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` when the looting starts , the shooting starts , '' Twitter suppressed the tweet with a warning that the post `` violated the Twitter Rules about glorifying violence . ''
But Twitter failed to take similar action against tweets from Khamenei that likened Israel to a `` cancerous growth '' and encouraged violence against Israelis .
This is not the first time in recent weeks Twitter has been lambasted by accusations of unfairly applied policies .
National security adviser for Sen. Ted Cruz ( R. , Tex . )
Omri Ceren argued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States law by permitting Iranian state speech .
According to Ceren , Twitter is `` almost certainly in criminal violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act because you provide services to Iranian officials designated under EO 13876 . ''
Israeli international human-rights lawyer and executive director of the Israeli Jewish Congress Arsen Ostrovsky added his own frustrations about the hearing .
`` The blatant hypocrisy and double standard from the Twitter representative was jarring and shocking , '' Ostrovsky told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` She literally looked us in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's call for genocide against Israel and Jews was an acceptable form of political discourse , '' Ostrovsky said .
`` Twitter can not on the one hand say it is committed to tackling hate and violence , when it continues to provide an unfiltered platform to the Iranian leader to continue espousing calls for genocide and terror . ''

Twitter came under fire Wednesday during a meeting of the Knesset—Israel's unicameral legislature—for allowing Iran's Supreme Leader to post anti-Semitic tweets promoting genocide.
The social media platform has refused to apply the same standards to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that it holds President Donald Trump to. Many of the president’s tweets have been taken down for "glorifying violence," while the Ayatollah’s tweets—some of which advocate for the genocide of Israeli Jews—remain untouched.
Twitter's head of policy for the Nordics and Israel Ylwa Pettersson came before the Knesset to answer questions related to digital policy on political speech. When the topic of Khamenei's tweets came up, a line of intense questioning emerged.
"Calling for genocide on Twitter is okay, but commenting on political situations in certain countries is not okay?" asked member of the Knesset Michal Cotler-Wunsh. "I think that what’s come up again and again through different examples is actually a sense of double standards," she added.
When Trump tweeted in May that he was willing to use the military to combat violent riots and said, "when the looting starts, the shooting starts," Twitter suppressed the tweet with a warning that the post "violated the Twitter Rules about glorifying violence." But Twitter failed to take similar action against tweets from Khamenei that likened Israel to a "cancerous growth" and encouraged violence against Israelis.
This is not the first time in recent weeks Twitter has been lambasted by accusations of unfairly applied policies. National security adviser for Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Tex.) Omri Ceren argued last week that Twitter is breaking United States law by permitting Iranian state speech.
According to Ceren, Twitter is "almost certainly in criminal violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act because you provide services to Iranian officials designated under EO 13876."
Israeli international human-rights lawyer and executive director of the Israeli Jewish Congress Arsen Ostrovsky added his own frustrations about the hearing. "The blatant hypocrisy and double standard from the Twitter representative was jarring and shocking," Ostrovsky told the Washington Free Beacon.
"She literally looked us in the face and said that the Iranian leader's call for genocide against Israel and Jews was an acceptable form of political discourse," Ostrovsky said. "Twitter cannot on the one hand say it is committed to tackling hate and violence, when it continues to provide an unfiltered platform to the Iranian leader to continue espousing calls for genocide and terror."


freebeacon--2020-07-29--Local Officials Buck Virginia Dems’ Gun-Control Push

Local officials across Virginia are resisting the push from Virginia Democrats to adopt gun-free zones .
Lawmakers in Powhatan County—located just outside Richmond— unanimously passed a `` No Local Gun Control '' resolution that would prevent localities from creating gun-free zones .
The debate over gun restrictions that dominated Gov .
Ralph Northam 's ( D. ) agenda in the early months of 2020 has moved back to the local level after state Democrats passed a law allowing local governments to ban the presence of firearms at certain buildings and events .
Larry Nordvig , the independent Powhatan County supervisor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the Washington Free Beacon he hopes the resolution sends a message to the statehouse .
`` The tension is growing and the blame is entirely theirs , '' he said .
`` Our natural-born rights are being eroded at lightning speed , and I intend to help citizens stand against government overreach .
This resolution contained a plan of action to defund any unconstitutional actions .
The time for talk is over .
It 's time for action . ''
Powhatan is the fifth county to pass the resolution since the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Other cities have embraced the new regulatory power , with Alexandria , Newport News , and Richmond using the state law to establish gun bans in government buildings , parks , and at permitted events .
The gun-free zone debate sets the stage for a second showdown between liberal strongholds , Democratic leaders , and the rest of the state over more restrictive gun laws .
Nordvig said the new law has the potential to lead well-meaning Virginia gun owners into legal trouble .
`` Conceivably , you could be walking , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and inadvertently be in violation of a new gun law , '' he said .
`` It would also have a chilling effect on personal protection while traveling , since each locality would have a confusing patchwork of different laws , a result which I think is intentional . ''
The counties of Amherst , Appomattox , Patrick , and Pittsylvania have also bucked the push for increased local gun control .
Trevor Hipps , an independent Appomattox County supervisor who voted for the resolution , said the new gun restrictions would hurt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by and large , are gun-owning folks , '' he told the Free Beacon .
`` In my district , most households have guns—and this is Democrat and Republican alike .
We wanted to make it very clear to our constituents where we stood on this issue . ''
John Hinkle , another independent Appomattox County supervisor , said that local officials have been overly restrictive in enacting blanket bans on firearms possession .
He pointed to some cities that did not carve out exemptions for visiting police officers and concealed-carry permit holders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` nightmare '' for legal gun owners .
`` Virginia is becoming a nightmare for those exercising their Second Amendment rights , '' Hinkle said .
`` We needed it to affirm to our residents and potential visitors that in Appomattox County they would not be burdened by additional restrictions when state laws are restrictive beyond necessity now . ''
Philip Van Cleave , president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League ( VCDL ) , is spearheading the resolution .
The Second Amendment activist expects more localities to pass similar legislation .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to move , '' he told the Free Beacon .
`` We have five localities that have passed the resolution and many more that are in various stages of consideration . ''
VCDL was one of the driving forces behind the `` Second Amendment sanctuary '' movement , a local legislative push mirrored on Democratic efforts to undermine immigration enforcement .
The movement eventually persuaded 147 localities , including 91 of the state 's 95 counties , to adopt resolutions saying they would not use local resources to enforce any gun laws the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now hoping to repeat the success of the `` Second Amendment sanctuary '' movement .
`` I hope other counties follow suit just like they did with the Second Amendment Sanctuary [ bills ] that took Virginia counties by storm starting this past November and earlier this year , '' Hipps said .
`` Imagining a landscape where gun rights are supported in one county but not in a neighboring county , causes a lot of confusion for the good and law-abiding gun owners of this state .
People seem to forget ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ shall not be infringed . '
'' VCDL said it already has a step up on those pushing the new gun-free zones because several of the `` Second Amendment sanctuary '' resolutions passed earlier this year also preclude new gun-free zones .
The group counts the city of Colonial Heights as well as the counties of Pulaski and Southampton as having passed sanctuary resolutions forbidding local gun-control laws .
VCDL said an additional seven localities have already had `` No Local Gun Control '' resolutions officially submitted and Gloucester County is set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 .

Local officials across Virginia are resisting the push from Virginia Democrats to adopt gun-free zones.
Lawmakers in Powhatan County—located just outside Richmond— unanimously passed a "No Local Gun Control" resolution that would prevent localities from creating gun-free zones. The debate over gun restrictions that dominated Gov. Ralph Northam's (D.) agenda in the early months of 2020 has moved back to the local level after state Democrats passed a law allowing local governments to ban the presence of firearms at certain buildings and events. Larry Nordvig, the independent Powhatan County supervisor who introduced the county's resolution, told the Washington Free Beacon he hopes the resolution sends a message to the statehouse.
"The tension is growing and the blame is entirely theirs," he said. "Our natural-born rights are being eroded at lightning speed, and I intend to help citizens stand against government overreach. This resolution contained a plan of action to defund any unconstitutional actions. The time for talk is over. It's time for action."
Powhatan is the fifth county to pass the resolution since the new gun-control measures went into effect in July. Other cities have embraced the new regulatory power, with Alexandria, Newport News, and Richmond using the state law to establish gun bans in government buildings, parks, and at permitted events. The gun-free zone debate sets the stage for a second showdown between liberal strongholds, Democratic leaders, and the rest of the state over more restrictive gun laws.
Nordvig said the new law has the potential to lead well-meaning Virginia gun owners into legal trouble.
"Conceivably, you could be walking, or driving, past a local festival and inadvertently be in violation of a new gun law," he said. "It would also have a chilling effect on personal protection while traveling, since each locality would have a confusing patchwork of different laws, a result which I think is intentional."
The counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Patrick, and Pittsylvania have also bucked the push for increased local gun control. Trevor Hipps, an independent Appomattox County supervisor who voted for the resolution, said the new gun restrictions would hurt his constituents.
"Rural Virginians, by and large, are gun-owning folks," he told the Free Beacon. "In my district, most households have guns—and this is Democrat and Republican alike. We wanted to make it very clear to our constituents where we stood on this issue."
John Hinkle, another independent Appomattox County supervisor, said that local officials have been overly restrictive in enacting blanket bans on firearms possession. He pointed to some cities that did not carve out exemptions for visiting police officers and concealed-carry permit holders, saying such restrictions would create a "nightmare" for legal gun owners.
"Virginia is becoming a nightmare for those exercising their Second Amendment rights," Hinkle said. "We needed it to affirm to our residents and potential visitors that in Appomattox County they would not be burdened by additional restrictions when state laws are restrictive beyond necessity now."
Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL), is spearheading the resolution. The Second Amendment activist expects more localities to pass similar legislation.
"It is a snowball that is starting to move," he told the Free Beacon. "We have five localities that have passed the resolution and many more that are in various stages of consideration."
VCDL was one of the driving forces behind the "Second Amendment sanctuary" movement, a local legislative push mirrored on Democratic efforts to undermine immigration enforcement. The movement eventually persuaded 147 localities, including 91 of the state's 95 counties, to adopt resolutions saying they would not use local resources to enforce any gun laws the locality deemed unconstitutional. Gun-rights advocates are now hoping to repeat the success of the "Second Amendment sanctuary" movement.
"I hope other counties follow suit just like they did with the Second Amendment Sanctuary [bills] that took Virginia counties by storm starting this past November and earlier this year," Hipps said. "Imagining a landscape where gun rights are supported in one county but not in a neighboring county, causes a lot of confusion for the good and law-abiding gun owners of this state. People seem to forget; it says our right to bear arms 'shall not be infringed.'"
VCDL said it already has a step up on those pushing the new gun-free zones because several of the "Second Amendment sanctuary" resolutions passed earlier this year also preclude new gun-free zones. The group counts the city of Colonial Heights as well as the counties of Pulaski and Southampton as having passed sanctuary resolutions forbidding local gun-control laws.
VCDL said an additional seven localities have already had "No Local Gun Control" resolutions officially submitted and Gloucester County is set to vote on its resolution on August 4.


freebeacon--2020-07-29--EU Sanctions China Over Hong Kong National Security Law

The European Union will sanction China for its imposition of a harsh national security law on Hong Kong , the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday .
The new sanctions hope to mitigate the strength and reach of Chinese extraterritorial power by limiting the export of surveillance hardware to Hong Kong—technology China could use to extradite Chinese nationals from anywhere in the world under the new national security law .
Also following in the footsteps of the United Kingdom—which now offers a pathway to citizenship for Hong Kong refugees—the EU is attempting to provide visas for Hong Kongers .
Additional steps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come at the end of the year .
China rebuffed these new policies , saying that it is time for the EU to `` to stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and China 's internal affairs in any way . ''
`` China is firmly against the EU 's wrong moves and has made serious representations with the EU side , '' a Chinese spokesman added .
A large amount of Chinese capital is bound up in EU countries—particularly the economic powerhouse of Germany—which has rendered European countries more hesitant to criticize China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coalition , the EU has also struggled to get all member states to take a stand against Beijing .
For example , the EU caved to Chinese pressure in April to soften its criticisms of the PRC in an official coronavirus disinformation report .
Washington hopes , however , that this unified stand against China 's hostile takeover of Hong Kong could signify further cooperation against the PRC in the future .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo alluded to the necessity of a `` coalition '' to brush back China in his remarks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to see every nation who understands freedom and democracy … to understand this threat that the Chinese Communist Party is posing to them , '' Pompeo said .

The European Union will sanction China for its imposition of a harsh national security law on Hong Kong, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.
The new sanctions hope to mitigate the strength and reach of Chinese extraterritorial power by limiting the export of surveillance hardware to Hong Kong—technology China could use to extradite Chinese nationals from anywhere in the world under the new national security law. Also following in the footsteps of the United Kingdom—which now offers a pathway to citizenship for Hong Kong refugees—the EU is attempting to provide visas for Hong Kongers. Additional steps to support those fleeing Hong Kong may come at the end of the year.
China rebuffed these new policies, saying that it is time for the EU to "to stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs in any way."
"China is firmly against the EU's wrong moves and has made serious representations with the EU side," a Chinese spokesman added.
A large amount of Chinese capital is bound up in EU countries—particularly the economic powerhouse of Germany—which has rendered European countries more hesitant to criticize China than the United States. As a coalition, the EU has also struggled to get all member states to take a stand against Beijing. For example, the EU caved to Chinese pressure in April to soften its criticisms of the PRC in an official coronavirus disinformation report.
Washington hopes, however, that this unified stand against China's hostile takeover of Hong Kong could signify further cooperation against the PRC in the future. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo alluded to the necessity of a "coalition" to brush back China in his remarks in London last week.
"We want to see every nation who understands freedom and democracy … to understand this threat that the Chinese Communist Party is posing to them," Pompeo said.


freebeacon--2020-07-29--Russia Behind COVID Disinformation Campaign, U.S. Officials Say

Three English-language websites have been flagged as fronts for Russian intelligence service disinformation campaigns , the Associated Press reported Wednesday .
Two government officials identified three websites—InfoRos.ru , Infobrics.org , and OneWorld.press—as sources of Russian state-backed disinformation .
Between late May and early July , the sites published about 150 articles about COVID-19 designed to delegitimize U.S. responses and bolster Russia ’ s reputation .
The articles included `` Russia ’ s Counter COVID-19 Aid to America Advances Case for Détente , '' which asserted that Russia had sent the United States critical COVID aid , and `` Beijing Believes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which repeated dubious statements from the Chinese government .
Some of the stories aimed to take advantage of current unrest in U.S. cities .
A Tuesday article from InfoRos.ru called `` Chaos in the Blue Cities '' lambasted increasing crime rates in New York , arguing that New Yorkers living under tough-on-crime mayors Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg `` have zero street smarts '' and must now `` adapt to life in high-crime urban areas . ''
This disinformation campaign is not the first time in recent weeks Russia has engaged in cyber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials warned that a Kremlin-backed hacker ring had attempted to extract sensitive COVID vaccine information from medical research and educational institutions .
Russia also has designs to partner with China on cyber efforts .
On Tuesday , a Kremlin spokeswoman announced Moscow ’ s intention to work more closely with Beijing in information war efforts against the United States .
`` Countries should not adopt double standards , interfere in others ’ internal affairs or level groundless accusations on other countries ’ political systems , development path and state governance based on ideology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokeswoman Maria Zakharova and her Chinese counterpart Hua Chunying when the partnership was announced .

Three English-language websites have been flagged as fronts for Russian intelligence service disinformation campaigns, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.
Two government officials identified three websites—InfoRos.ru, Infobrics.org, and OneWorld.press—as sources of Russian state-backed disinformation. Between late May and early July, the sites published about 150 articles about COVID-19 designed to delegitimize U.S. responses and bolster Russia’s reputation.
The articles included "Russia’s Counter COVID-19 Aid to America Advances Case for Détente," which asserted that Russia had sent the United States critical COVID aid, and "Beijing Believes COVID-19 is a Biological Weapon," which repeated dubious statements from the Chinese government.
Some of the stories aimed to take advantage of current unrest in U.S. cities. A Tuesday article from InfoRos.ru called "Chaos in the Blue Cities" lambasted increasing crime rates in New York, arguing that New Yorkers living under tough-on-crime mayors Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg "have zero street smarts" and must now "adapt to life in high-crime urban areas."
This disinformation campaign is not the first time in recent weeks Russia has engaged in cyber warfare. On July 16, U.S. officials warned that a Kremlin-backed hacker ring had attempted to extract sensitive COVID vaccine information from medical research and educational institutions.
Russia also has designs to partner with China on cyber efforts. On Tuesday, a Kremlin spokeswoman announced Moscow’s intention to work more closely with Beijing in information war efforts against the United States.
"Countries should not adopt double standards, interfere in others’ internal affairs or level groundless accusations on other countries’ political systems, development path and state governance based on ideology and political prejudice," said Russian spokeswoman Maria Zakharova and her Chinese counterpart Hua Chunying when the partnership was announced.


freebeacon--2020-07-29--Dem Governor Donates to Ilhan Omar’s Primary Opponent

Democratic Colorado governor Jared Polis signaled his opposition to Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D. , Minn. ) with a donation to her primary opponent , new filings show .
Polis sent a $ 1,000 donation on Monday to Antone Melton-Meaux , who is running against Omar in Minnesota 's Fifth Congressional District .
Melton-Meaux has attracted significant attention after raising $ 3.2 million last quarter , while the incumbent only took in $ 471,000 .
The donation from Polis , who is Jewish , could signal a rejection of Omar 's rhetoric , which has included anti-Semitic tropes and anti-Israel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' member was named anti-Semite of the year in 2019 by StopAntiSemitism.org , an organization that seeks to combat anti-Jewish bias .
The group said Omar `` perpetuated anti-Semitic tropes on Twitter to nearly two million followers and introduced an anti-Semitic resolution in Congress that promoted boycotts of the State of Israel and likened them to boycotts of Nazi Germany . ''
Prominent Omar backer Keith Ellison , Minnesota 's attorney general , has accused Melton-Meaux of taking millions in `` corporate and Republican dollars . ''
But individuals who reside in Omar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support behind Melton-Meaux .
The Democratic challenger raised $ 273,000 from constituents compared with Omar 's $ 8,000 this past quarter .
Likewise , individuals across the state of Minnesota provided $ 323,000 to Melton-Meaux , while Omar took in $ 11,000 .
Melton-Meaux has a significant cash advantage leading up to the August 11 primary .
His campaign reported $ 2 million in cash on hand to Omar 's $ 1 million .
Omar has burned through campaign cash at an alarming rate , sending more than $ 1 million of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D.C.-based consulting firm .
Polis 's office did not respond to a request for comment on his donation .

Democratic Colorado governor Jared Polis signaled his opposition to Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) with a donation to her primary opponent, new filings show.
Polis sent a $1,000 donation on Monday to Antone Melton-Meaux, who is running against Omar in Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District. Melton-Meaux has attracted significant attention after raising $3.2 million last quarter, while the incumbent only took in $471,000.
The donation from Polis, who is Jewish, could signal a rejection of Omar's rhetoric, which has included anti-Semitic tropes and anti-Israel conspiracy theories. The freshman "Squad" member was named anti-Semite of the year in 2019 by StopAntiSemitism.org, an organization that seeks to combat anti-Jewish bias. The group said Omar "perpetuated anti-Semitic tropes on Twitter to nearly two million followers and introduced an anti-Semitic resolution in Congress that promoted boycotts of the State of Israel and likened them to boycotts of Nazi Germany."
Prominent Omar backer Keith Ellison, Minnesota's attorney general, has accused Melton-Meaux of taking millions in "corporate and Republican dollars." But individuals who reside in Omar's district appear to be throwing their support behind Melton-Meaux. The Democratic challenger raised $273,000 from constituents compared with Omar's $8,000 this past quarter. Likewise, individuals across the state of Minnesota provided $323,000 to Melton-Meaux, while Omar took in $11,000.
Melton-Meaux has a significant cash advantage leading up to the August 11 primary. His campaign reported $2 million in cash on hand to Omar's $1 million. Omar has burned through campaign cash at an alarming rate, sending more than $1 million of the campaign's expenditures to her husband's D.C.-based consulting firm.
Polis's office did not respond to a request for comment on his donation.


freebeacon--2020-07-29--Russian Oligarchs Evaded U.S. Sanctions in Multimillion-Dollar Art Scheme

Russian oligarchs evaded U.S. sanctions by trading in high-value art in a scheme that has helped them move tens of millions of dollars out of America and back to Moscow , according to findings published Wednesday by Congress ’ s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations .
Shell companies linked to Russian businessmen Arkady and Boris Rotenberg have conducted nearly $ 100 million in art transactions since the two were sanctioned by the Obama administration in 2014 , according to the committee ’ s findings .
These deals were facilitated by a U.S. business associate and conducted via private art sellers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Christie ’ s and Sotheby ’ s .
Senate investigators said the Rotenbergs , who have close ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin , used the secretive nature of the American art market to hide their role in the transactions and ultimately move millions back to Russia .
The Senate ’ s two-year investigation was sparked by concerns that U.S. sanctions on Russian oligarchs had not been effective in containing their empires .
Transactions were hidden in a web of shell companies that enabled the Rotenbergs to avoid detection by U.S. authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is enough evidence to prosecute the Russian and American businessmen involved in the scheme .
The findings could also spur regulation of the art industry , which is largely exempt from U.S. banking and transparency laws requiring that transactions be fully documented to prevent laundering .
`` It is shocking that U.S. banking regulations do n't currently apply to multi-million-dollar art transactions , and we can not let that continue , '' Sen .
Rob Portman ( R. , Ohio ) , chair of the Senate ’ s investigation committee , said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently operates under a curtain of secrecy with art advisers representing both the seller and the buyer while masking their identities as well as the source of the funds , making art transactions easy to use to evade sanctions .
I look forward to working with [ subcommittee ranking member Sen. Tom ] Carper on legislation to ensure necessary reforms in the art industry as well as working with federal agencies to make sure American sanctions are effective enforcement tools moving forward . ''
Investigators reviewed thousands of financial documents and conducted interviews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banks to determine how the Rotenbergs were able to pull off the art scheme .
They found more than $ 100 million in deals with private sellers and major auction houses , including at least $ 91 million in sales that came after sanctions were implemented in 2014 .
But that is likely just the tip of the iceberg , according to one investigator .
A majority of the Rotenberg-linked art deals were allegedly facilitated by an American adviser named Gregory Baltser , according to the Senate report .
Baltser runs an art @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as providing `` complete anonymity . ''
Baltser declined to be interviewed by Senate investigators , telling them he was currently in Moscow and had no plans to travel back to America .
Major art houses like Christie ’ s and Sotheby ’ s engaged in deals with Baltser , who was able to hide the identity of his clients , according to the report .
Due to lax regulations in the art industry , Baltser was able to secure the titles to high-price artworks without disclosing that these transactions were conducted on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found the Rotenbergs transferred some $ 120 million in assets back to Russia during a four-day window in 2014 when sanctions had not yet been fully implemented .
Much of the Rotenberg art collection was shipped to Germany for storage , according to the findings .
In August 2019 , as the committee was investigating the scheme , a Rotenberg-linked shell company named Taide Connoisseur Selection closed its account with the German storage company and shipped all the artwork back to Moscow , generating further concerns about the culpability of other nations in @ @ @

Russian oligarchs evaded U.S. sanctions by trading in high-value art in a scheme that has helped them move tens of millions of dollars out of America and back to Moscow, according to findings published Wednesday by Congress’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
Shell companies linked to Russian businessmen Arkady and Boris Rotenberg have conducted nearly $100 million in art transactions since the two were sanctioned by the Obama administration in 2014, according to the committee’s findings. These deals were facilitated by a U.S. business associate and conducted via private art sellers, as well as high-profile auction houses such as Christie’s and Sotheby’s. Senate investigators said the Rotenbergs, who have close ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin, used the secretive nature of the American art market to hide their role in the transactions and ultimately move millions back to Russia.
The Senate’s two-year investigation was sparked by concerns that U.S. sanctions on Russian oligarchs had not been effective in containing their empires. Transactions were hidden in a web of shell companies that enabled the Rotenbergs to avoid detection by U.S. authorities. Congress is now determining whether there is enough evidence to prosecute the Russian and American businessmen involved in the scheme. The findings could also spur regulation of the art industry, which is largely exempt from U.S. banking and transparency laws requiring that transactions be fully documented to prevent laundering.
"It is shocking that U.S. banking regulations don't currently apply to multi-million-dollar art transactions, and we cannot let that continue," Sen. Rob Portman (R., Ohio), chair of the Senate’s investigation committee, said in a statement. "The art industry currently operates under a curtain of secrecy with art advisers representing both the seller and the buyer while masking their identities as well as the source of the funds, making art transactions easy to use to evade sanctions. I look forward to working with [subcommittee ranking member Sen. Tom] Carper on legislation to ensure necessary reforms in the art industry as well as working with federal agencies to make sure American sanctions are effective enforcement tools moving forward."
Investigators reviewed thousands of financial documents and conducted interviews with more than 20 art suppliers and banks to determine how the Rotenbergs were able to pull off the art scheme. They found more than $100 million in deals with private sellers and major auction houses, including at least $91 million in sales that came after sanctions were implemented in 2014. But that is likely just the tip of the iceberg, according to one investigator.
A majority of the Rotenberg-linked art deals were allegedly facilitated by an American adviser named Gregory Baltser, according to the Senate report. Baltser runs an art business in Moscow and advertises his services as providing "complete anonymity." Baltser declined to be interviewed by Senate investigators, telling them he was currently in Moscow and had no plans to travel back to America.
Major art houses like Christie’s and Sotheby’s engaged in deals with Baltser, who was able to hide the identity of his clients, according to the report. Due to lax regulations in the art industry, Baltser was able to secure the titles to high-price artworks without disclosing that these transactions were conducted on the Rotenbergs’ behalf.
Investigators also found the Rotenbergs transferred some $120 million in assets back to Russia during a four-day window in 2014 when sanctions had not yet been fully implemented.
Much of the Rotenberg art collection was shipped to Germany for storage, according to the findings. In August 2019, as the committee was investigating the scheme, a Rotenberg-linked shell company named Taide Connoisseur Selection closed its account with the German storage company and shipped all the artwork back to Moscow, generating further concerns about the culpability of other nations in this scheme.


freebeacon--2020-07-30--Huawei Now World’s Biggest Smartphone Seller

Chinese state-backed tech giant Huawei has surpassed Samsung as the world ’ s largest smartphone seller , the Associated Press reported Thursday .
Officials at tech company Canalys told AP that Huawei sold 55.8 million devices in the second quarter of 2020 alone .
Over the same period , Huawei ’ s shipments in China rose 8 percent .
China accounts for 70 percent of Huawei ’ s smartphone sales .
`` If it wasn ’ t for COVID-19 , it wouldn ’ t have happened , '' Canalys senior analyst Ben Stanton said .
`` Huawei has taken full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reignite its smartphone business . ''
Huawei ’ s rise has brought extensive security concerns in recent months .
Huawei ’ s cooperation and hardware sharing with Beijing—particularly in the military arena—have led many countries to close the door on further transactions with the company .
Standing up to Huawei has been a growing focus for cooperation between Washington and democratic allies .
Following America 's lead , Britain , France , and an increasing portion of the EU have decided to effectively ban Huawei from contributing to 5G development .
China has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington insiders to lobby for the firm .
Huawei has also maintained a relationship with the Peterson Institute for International Economics , a prominent U.S. think tank .
It appears , however , that the current administration will continue to oppose such subversion .
`` The danger our nation faces from foreign adversaries like China looking to infiltrate our systems is great , '' director of the White House Office of Management and Budget Ross Vought said earlier this month .
`` The Trump Administration is keeping our government strong against nefarious networks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Federal procurement . ''

Chinese state-backed tech giant Huawei has surpassed Samsung as the world’s largest smartphone seller, the Associated Press reported Thursday.
Officials at tech company Canalys told AP that Huawei sold 55.8 million devices in the second quarter of 2020 alone. Over the same period, Huawei’s shipments in China rose 8 percent. China accounts for 70 percent of Huawei’s smartphone sales.
"If it wasn’t for COVID-19, it wouldn’t have happened," Canalys senior analyst Ben Stanton said. "Huawei has taken full advantage of the Chinese economic recovery to reignite its smartphone business."
Huawei’s rise has brought extensive security concerns in recent months. Huawei’s cooperation and hardware sharing with Beijing—particularly in the military arena—have led many countries to close the door on further transactions with the company.
Standing up to Huawei has been a growing focus for cooperation between Washington and democratic allies. Following America's lead, Britain, France, and an increasing portion of the EU have decided to effectively ban Huawei from contributing to 5G development.
China has responded by enlisting a cadre of experienced Washington insiders to lobby for the firm. Huawei has also maintained a relationship with the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a prominent U.S. think tank.
It appears, however, that the current administration will continue to oppose such subversion.
"The danger our nation faces from foreign adversaries like China looking to infiltrate our systems is great," director of the White House Office of Management and Budget Ross Vought said earlier this month. "The Trump Administration is keeping our government strong against nefarious networks like Huawei by fully implementing the ban on Federal procurement."