freebeacon--2020-12-09--BDS’s Latest Tool: Anti-Cop Sentiment

BDS’s Latest Tool: Anti-Cop Sentiment

The anti-Israel movement is capitalizing on anti-police sentiment to expand its boycott , divestment , and sanctions campaign against the state of Israel .
Activists—including university professors—are arguing that the `` anti-Black '' sentiments in the American policing system stem from lessons learned in police officer exchange programs with Israel .
Such activists claim that the only way to stop the alleged `` militarization '' of American law enforcement is for the country to divest entirely from the state of Israel .
The U.S.-Israel police exchange program was launched to address the counterterrorism needs of local law enforcement in both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More than 200 U.S. federal , state , and local officers have traveled to Israel to discuss effective counterterrorism techniques .
Contrary to activists ' claims , the program does not have a `` field training '' component nor does it teach officers how to use physical restraints .
In 2018 , the Jewish Voice for Peace group founded the `` End the Deadly Exchange '' campaign , which aims to end international police conferences between the United States and Israel .
The group claims that the exchange programs promote `` worst practices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and extend discriminatory and repressive policing practices that already exist in both countries . ''
Following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of the police , the `` Deadly Exchange '' campaign has gained traction , particularly on college campuses .
Steven Pomerantz , director of the Homeland Security Program at the Jewish policy think tank JINSA and former assistant director of the FBI , told the Washington Free Beacon the `` Deadly Exchange '' campaign is gaining momentum because of a burgeoning alliance between anti-Israel and anti-racist organizers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] sees this opportunity to marry these two hot issues—Israel and alleged police brutality—and they have done that , '' Pomerantz said .
`` They 're growing with allies in the Black Lives Matter movement and certainly on college campuses … where law enforcement is unpopular . ''
At Tufts University in November , student activists crafted a first-of-its-kind ballot measure demanding that `` the Tufts administration prohibit [ campus police ] officers from attending military-led and/or similar international trips in the future , refine the vetting process to prevent prior attendees from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Kevin Maguire ] , the former Tufts police chief , to a militarized training trip . ''
A similar resolution was passed by the city council of Durham , N.C. , to `` prevent the militarization '' of the police .
Professors and faculty members at Tufts are also in favor of the ballot initiative and penned a letter to the university president applauding the Students for Justice in Palestine group—which kickstarted the on-campus campaign—for `` breaking down barriers . ''
Three professors have played an outsized role in crafting the anti-Israel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bishara , the chair of the anthropology department , has been outspoken about ending the alleged `` militarization '' of the Tufts University Police Department .
In 2018 , Bishara condemned the university for sending officers to the Anti-Defamation League 's National Counter-Terrorism Seminar in Israel , saying that the `` adoption of Israeli approaches to security would endanger … students , staff , and faculty . ''
And in a recent workshop organized by the Boston Socialist Unity Project , she argued that only through divestment from Israel can American police departments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activism . ''
Greg Thomas , a Black studies professor , has likewise drawn a link between supposed Israeli `` militarization '' and the anti-police narrative .
Thomas has written that `` there is a radical kinship between Palestinians and Black Americans '' because both have lived in `` political captivity . ''
The professor has also propped up the founder of the Black Panther Party , Huey P. Newton , who claimed that `` Israel was created by Western imperialism and is maintained by Western firepower . ''
A third professor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Colonizing Palestine '' that includes lectures that show bloodied `` Palestinian kids under the occupation . ''
Abowd was previously relieved of his teaching duties at Wayne State University in Michigan and proceeded to blame `` money from Zionist community members and alumni '' for his departure .
Tufts has said it does not endorse the beliefs Abowd advocates in his courses .
Despite the pushback from faculty and students , a university spokesman told the Washington Free Beacon the school does not agree that its police department is `` militarized '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sending officers on a sponsored trip to Israel .
`` We strongly disagree with any characterization that the Tufts University Police Department is ‘ militarized , ' '' the spokesman said .
`` [ The department 's ] trip to Israel … was not a military training program , nor was it intended to serve as an endorsement of any particular policy or policing strategy . ''

The anti-Israel movement is capitalizing on anti-police sentiment to expand its campaign against the Jewish state
The anti-Israel movement is capitalizing on anti-police sentiment to expand its boycott, divestment, and sanctions campaign against the state of Israel.
Activists—including university professors—are arguing that the "anti-Black" sentiments in the American policing system stem from lessons learned in police officer exchange programs with Israel. Such activists claim that the only way to stop the alleged "militarization" of American law enforcement is for the country to divest entirely from the state of Israel.
The U.S.-Israel police exchange program was launched to address the counterterrorism needs of local law enforcement in both countries following the September 11 attacks. More than 200 U.S. federal, state, and local officers have traveled to Israel to discuss effective counterterrorism techniques. Contrary to activists' claims, the program does not have a "field training" component nor does it teach officers how to use physical restraints.
In 2018, the Jewish Voice for Peace group founded the "End the Deadly Exchange" campaign, which aims to end international police conferences between the United States and Israel. The group claims that the exchange programs promote "worst practices" that "are shared to promote and extend discriminatory and repressive policing practices that already exist in both countries." Following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of the police, the "Deadly Exchange" campaign has gained traction, particularly on college campuses.
Steven Pomerantz, director of the Homeland Security Program at the Jewish policy think tank JINSA and former assistant director of the FBI, told the Washington Free Beacon the "Deadly Exchange" campaign is gaining momentum because of a burgeoning alliance between anti-Israel and anti-racist organizers. "[Jewish Voice for Peace] sees this opportunity to marry these two hot issues—Israel and alleged police brutality—and they have done that," Pomerantz said. "They're growing with allies in the Black Lives Matter movement and certainly on college campuses … where law enforcement is unpopular."
At Tufts University in November, student activists crafted a first-of-its-kind ballot measure demanding that "the Tufts administration prohibit [campus police] officers from attending military-led and/or similar international trips in the future, refine the vetting process to prevent prior attendees from being hired, and apologize for sending [Kevin Maguire], the former Tufts police chief, to a militarized training trip." A similar resolution was passed by the city council of Durham, N.C., to "prevent the militarization" of the police.
Professors and faculty members at Tufts are also in favor of the ballot initiative and penned a letter to the university president applauding the Students for Justice in Palestine group—which kickstarted the on-campus campaign—for "breaking down barriers." Three professors have played an outsized role in crafting the anti-Israel narrative on Tufts's campus.
Amahl Bishara, the chair of the anthropology department, has been outspoken about ending the alleged "militarization" of the Tufts University Police Department. In 2018, Bishara condemned the university for sending officers to the Anti-Defamation League's National Counter-Terrorism Seminar in Israel, saying that the "adoption of Israeli approaches to security would endanger … students, staff, and faculty." And in a recent workshop organized by the Boston Socialist Unity Project, she argued that only through divestment from Israel can American police departments become places of "intersectional, anti-racist activism."
Greg Thomas, a Black studies professor, has likewise drawn a link between supposed Israeli "militarization" and the anti-police narrative. Thomas has written that "there is a radical kinship between Palestinians and Black Americans" because both have lived in "political captivity." The professor has also propped up the founder of the Black Panther Party, Huey P. Newton, who claimed that "Israel was created by Western imperialism and is maintained by Western firepower."
A third professor, Thomas Abowd, teaches a class called "Colonizing Palestine" that includes lectures that show bloodied "Palestinian kids under the occupation." Abowd was previously relieved of his teaching duties at Wayne State University in Michigan and proceeded to blame "money from Zionist community members and alumni" for his departure. Tufts has said it does not endorse the beliefs Abowd advocates in his courses.
Despite the pushback from faculty and students, a university spokesman told the Washington Free Beacon the school does not agree that its police department is "militarized" nor does it plan to apologize for sending officers on a sponsored trip to Israel.
"We strongly disagree with any characterization that the Tufts University Police Department is 'militarized,'" the spokesman said. "[The department's] trip to Israel … was not a military training program, nor was it intended to serve as an endorsement of any particular policy or policing strategy."


freebeacon--2020-12-09--Ossoff Campaign Staffer Donated to Bail Out Minneapolis Rioters

A member of Jon Ossoff 's communications team donated money to a Minneapolis group that bailed out violent criminals and championed the `` Defund the Police '' movement .
Ossoff campaign deputy press secretary Rhyan Lake in May donated to the Minnesota Freedom Fund ( MFF ) , which posts bail for violent criminals and gained national prominence during riots following the death of George Floyd .
The nonprofit pledged to `` support those protesting George Floyd 's murder and generations of police violence '' —it spent funds to bail out individuals charged with crimes including sexual assault and murder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused of attempted murder of a police officer .
In addition to Lake , Hollywood celebrities , activists , and politicians including Vice President-elect Kamala Harris have urged people to donate to the MFF , which eventually received tens of millions of dollars .
The group 's board president Greg Lewin has defended MFF bailing out people arrested for violent offenses because `` the point is the system we are fighting . ''
`` A lot of people are saying ‘ F the police , ' '' Lewin said .
`` Those same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinking ‘ F the courts , ' ‘ F the jail ' because that is part of the same cycle . ''
Lake also retweeted Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) in June after the congresswoman tweeted in defense of the `` Defund the Police '' movement , saying the goal of the movement was to `` organize support and transform public opinion , '' not appease `` DC insiders . ''
Ossoff , who is running to unseat Sen. David Perdue ( R. , Ga. ) has said that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but that `` the answer is not to defund police . ''
The Ossoff campaign did not respond to a request for comment .

A member of Jon Ossoff's communications team donated money to a Minneapolis group that bailed out violent criminals and championed the "Defund the Police" movement.
Ossoff campaign deputy press secretary Rhyan Lake in May donated to the Minnesota Freedom Fund (MFF), which posts bail for violent criminals and gained national prominence during riots following the death of George Floyd. The nonprofit pledged to "support those protesting George Floyd's murder and generations of police violence"—it spent funds to bail out individuals charged with crimes including sexual assault and murder, and at least one who was accused of attempted murder of a police officer.
https://twitter.com/rhyanlake/status/1266126057356374016
In addition to Lake, Hollywood celebrities, activists, and politicians including Vice President-elect Kamala Harris have urged people to donate to the MFF, which eventually received tens of millions of dollars. The group's board president Greg Lewin has defended MFF bailing out people arrested for violent offenses because "the point is the system we are fighting."
"A lot of people are saying 'F the police,'" Lewin said. "Those same people, quite frankly, should be thinking 'F the courts,' 'F the jail' because that is part of the same cycle."
Lake also retweeted Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) in June after the congresswoman tweeted in defense of the "Defund the Police" movement, saying the goal of the movement was to "organize support and transform public opinion," not appease "DC insiders."
Ossoff, who is running to unseat Sen. David Perdue (R., Ga.) has said that he supports "reforming and demilitarizing policing" but that "the answer is not to defund police."
The Ossoff campaign did not respond to a request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-12-09--Biden Accused of Sexism Over Defense Pick

President-elect Joe Biden is facing criticism after he picked Lloyd Austin to serve as defense secretary , with some arguing that a woman with the same baggage as the retired general would not have been qualified for the role .
Michèle Flournoy , the longtime Pentagon policymaker who was a top contender for the position , faced a `` double standard , '' Rachel Stohl , managing director of the Stimson Center , a foreign policy think tank , told Military.com .
`` There 's really a double standard in terms of expectations for what a qualified candidate looks like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stohl said .
`` We 're comfortable with a male … with defense industry ties , but we 're not comfortable with a woman who has defense industry ties . ''
Liberal organizations , including anti-war women 's group Code Pink and Progressive Democrats of America , attacked Flournoy for her ties to Pentagon contractors as Biden narrowed in on his pick for defense secretary .
But Austin , who sits on the board of one of the Pentagon 's largest contractors , evaded similar scrutiny .
Now , the president-elect is facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or a different woman , to take a lead national security role in his administration .
Susan Glasser , a New Yorker staff writer and CNN global affairs analyst , criticized Biden for failing to select a single woman to fill top national security roles .
`` So no women as SecState , SecDef , or national security adviser in the Biden admin… just like no women in those roles for the last four years , '' Glasser tweeted on Monday .
In the lead up to Biden naming his defense secretary , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pentagon-affiliated contractors and agencies that invest in defense technology .
Flournoy cofounded WestExec , a Democratic political consulting firm known for its secretive clientele list , alongside Antony Blinken—whom Biden tapped for secretary of state .
She 's also connected to Pine Island Capital Partners , an investment group that funds military technology contractors .
Austin , meanwhile , has a board position with Raytheon Technologies—a contractor tasked with designing aerospace technologies and missile defense systems .
Austin pocketed $ 1.4 million from United Technologies , which merged with Raytheon Company this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his retirement from the military .
Like Flournoy , Austin also has ties to Pine Island .
If approved , Austin would be the first black man to serve as defense secretary .
Although he is not technically eligible for the role—the law requires a defense secretary to be at least seven years removed from serving in the military—Congress can grant him a waiver , which it also provided former defense secretary Jim Mattis in 2017 .
Biden has also faced criticism over his selection of minorities to fill cabinet and other high-level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fudge ( D. , Ohio ) said black leaders are only ever considered for a position to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development—just before Biden tapped her to head that office .

President-elect Joe Biden is facing criticism after he picked Lloyd Austin to serve as defense secretary, with some arguing that a woman with the same baggage as the retired general would not have been qualified for the role.
Michèle Flournoy, the longtime Pentagon policymaker who was a top contender for the position, faced a "double standard," Rachel Stohl, managing director of the Stimson Center, a foreign policy think tank, told Military.com.
"There's really a double standard in terms of expectations for what a qualified candidate looks like, between men and women," Stohl said. "We're comfortable with a male … with defense industry ties, but we're not comfortable with a woman who has defense industry ties."
Liberal organizations, including anti-war women's group Code Pink and Progressive Democrats of America, attacked Flournoy for her ties to Pentagon contractors as Biden narrowed in on his pick for defense secretary. But Austin, who sits on the board of one of the Pentagon's largest contractors, evaded similar scrutiny. Now, the president-elect is facing criticism for failing to pick Flournoy, or a different woman, to take a lead national security role in his administration.
Susan Glasser, a New Yorker staff writer and CNN global affairs analyst, criticized Biden for failing to select a single woman to fill top national security roles.
"So no women as SecState, SecDef, or national security adviser in the Biden admin… just like no women in those roles for the last four years," Glasser tweeted on Monday.
In the lead up to Biden naming his defense secretary, progressives scrutinized Flournoy for her connections to Pentagon-affiliated contractors and agencies that invest in defense technology. Flournoy cofounded WestExec, a Democratic political consulting firm known for its secretive clientele list, alongside Antony Blinken—whom Biden tapped for secretary of state. She's also connected to Pine Island Capital Partners, an investment group that funds military technology contractors.
Austin, meanwhile, has a board position with Raytheon Technologies—a contractor tasked with designing aerospace technologies and missile defense systems. Austin pocketed $1.4 million from United Technologies, which merged with Raytheon Company this year, after he joined its ranks following his retirement from the military.
Like Flournoy, Austin also has ties to Pine Island.
If approved, Austin would be the first black man to serve as defense secretary. Although he is not technically eligible for the role—the law requires a defense secretary to be at least seven years removed from serving in the military—Congress can grant him a waiver, which it also provided former defense secretary Jim Mattis in 2017.
Biden has also faced criticism over his selection of minorities to fill cabinet and other high-level roles in his administration. Rep. Marcia Fudge (D., Ohio) said black leaders are only ever considered for a position to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development—just before Biden tapped her to head that office.


freebeacon--2020-12-09--McCarthy: Swalwell Should Be Removed From Congress For Ties to Chinese Spy

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy ( R. , Calif. ) said Tuesday that Rep. Eric Swalwell ( D. , Calif. ) should be removed from Congress for his ties to a suspected Chinese spy .
`` He accused the president of everything that he did , by lying to the American public and sitting on the Intel Committee , '' McCarthy said of Swalwell on Fox News ’ s Ingraham Angle .
`` Not only should he be removed from the intel , he should be removed from Congress as well . ''
An Axios report this week revealed Swalwell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fang Fang .
The Chinese national worked to ingratiate herself with several Bay Area Democrats as they ran for national office , including Swalwell .
Swalwell , who suggested the story was leaked by allies of President Donald Trump , sits on the House Intelligence Committee and was the top Democrat on a CIA subcommittee when he was in contact with Fang .
McCarthy slammed Swalwell for deflecting criticism over the story and called for Democratic House leadership to be held accountable for granting Swalwell his position on the Intelligence Committee .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when she put [ Swalwell ] on the committee ? ''
McCarthy said .
`` Why is [ Swalwell ] still on the Intel Committee… .
Did Adam Schiff know , as chairman of that committee , that he had this problem ? ''
Fang 's ties to Swalwell proved strong enough to allow her to place an intern in Swalwell ’ s office and connect with Swalwell ’ s family members on social media .
When the FBI investigated Fang in 2015 , she abruptly left California and returned to China .

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) said Tuesday that Rep. Eric Swalwell (D., Calif.) should be removed from Congress for his ties to a suspected Chinese spy.
"He accused the president of everything that he did, by lying to the American public and sitting on the Intel Committee," McCarthy said of Swalwell on Fox News’s Ingraham Angle. "Not only should he be removed from the intel, he should be removed from Congress as well."
An Axios report this week revealed Swalwell’s association with suspected Chinese spy Fang Fang. The Chinese national worked to ingratiate herself with several Bay Area Democrats as they ran for national office, including Swalwell.
Swalwell, who suggested the story was leaked by allies of President Donald Trump, sits on the House Intelligence Committee and was the top Democrat on a CIA subcommittee when he was in contact with Fang. McCarthy slammed Swalwell for deflecting criticism over the story and called for Democratic House leadership to be held accountable for granting Swalwell his position on the Intelligence Committee.
"Did Nancy Pelosi know this had transpired when she put [Swalwell] on the committee?" McCarthy said. "Why is [Swalwell] still on the Intel Committee.... Did Adam Schiff know, as chairman of that committee, that he had this problem?"
Fang's ties to Swalwell proved strong enough to allow her to place an intern in Swalwell’s office and connect with Swalwell’s family members on social media. When the FBI investigated Fang in 2015, she abruptly left California and returned to China.


freebeacon--2020-12-09--BOSS LADY: Amy Coney Barrett Breaks Secret Agreement With Man Who Hired Her

Rushing to confirm Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett before the election was supposed to be a sinister Republican plot to steal a second term for President Donald J. Trump .
Obamacare would be overturned , Roe v. Wade struck down , while women and journalists were rounded up and forced to wear silly costumes .
The Pope would be installed as king .
At least that 's what Barrett agreed to when she accepted the nomination , according to the pundits , who are often right .
But the Lady Justice had other , more feminist ideas , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Supreme Court on Tuesday shot down a lawsuit seeking to nullify President-elect Joe Biden 's victory in Pennsylvania , after the case was similarly rejected at the state level .
The results of the election are not going to be overturned , and neither is Obamacare .
Journalists may yet be spared the gulag .
In failing to make good on her secret agreement with the ( male ) president , Justice Barrett was following in the feminist footsteps of her predecessor , the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , aka `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ female empowerment , RBG would have celebrated ACB 's decision to break the promise she made to the man who hired her .
It goes without saying : Trump has every right to be angry .
Barrett gave her word , and went back on it .
But unlike Barack Obama 's failure to enforce his `` red line '' in Syria , this was n't a decision fueled by cowardice .
This was a powerful woman courageously exercising her right to disagree with a man .
She changed her mind .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They already tried that , and lost . )
Barrett 's reneging on the secret deal to keep Trump in office is a disaster for America , but a triumph for women who dare have their own opinions .
Ruth Bader Ginsburg would approve .
Her legacy is in good hands .

Rushing to confirm Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett before the election was supposed to be a sinister Republican plot to steal a second term for President Donald J. Trump.
Obamacare would be overturned, Roe v. Wade struck down, while women and journalists were rounded up and forced to wear silly costumes. The Pope would be installed as king. At least that's what Barrett agreed to when she accepted the nomination, according to the pundits, who are often right. But the Lady Justice had other, more feminist ideas, and a sinister plot of her own.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday shot down a lawsuit seeking to nullify President-elect Joe Biden's victory in Pennsylvania, after the case was similarly rejected at the state level. The results of the election are not going to be overturned, and neither is Obamacare. Journalists may yet be spared the gulag.
In failing to make good on her secret agreement with the (male) president, Justice Barrett was following in the feminist footsteps of her predecessor, the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, aka "Notorious RBG." An icon of female empowerment, RBG would have celebrated ACB's decision to break the promise she made to the man who hired her.
It goes without saying: Trump has every right to be angry. Barrett gave her word, and went back on it. But unlike Barack Obama's failure to enforce his "red line" in Syria, this wasn't a decision fueled by cowardice. This was a powerful woman courageously exercising her right to disagree with a man. She changed her mind. So sue her. (Oh, wait. They already tried that, and lost.)
Barrett's reneging on the secret deal to keep Trump in office is a disaster for America, but a triumph for women who dare have their own opinions. Ruth Bader Ginsburg would approve. Her legacy is in good hands.


freebeacon--2020-12-10--Virginia District to Rename Schools Named After Founding Fathers

A Virginia school board voted Wednesday to change the names of two public schools named after one of the first presidents and another Founding Father because both men owned slaves , NBC4 Washington reported .
Falls Church City Public Schools will rename Thomas Jefferson Elementary School and George Mason High School following a unanimous vote to approve the measure Wednesday .
While the majority of community members opposed renaming the schools , board chairman Greg Anderson said the change was `` in the best interest '' of students and `` a necessary part of our equity work . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students , staff , and community members feel safe , supported , and inspired , '' Anderson said .
The school board conducted a survey to vet the community 's interest in changing the schools ' names .
Only 26 percent of the nearly 3,500 parents , students , and staff members surveyed supported renaming the George Mason school , and only 23 percent supported renaming the Thomas Jefferson school .
By contrast , 56 percent opposed renaming both schools .
Buildings named after presidents and Founding Fathers became the target of leftist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of often violent racial-justice protests .
Washington , D.C. , mayor Muriel Bowser ( D. ) created a commission this summer to rename dozens of structures in the nation 's capital , including federal monuments and buildings in addition to local public schools .
Denver public schools have also floated the idea of renaming buildings .
On the university level , Berkeley , Georgetown , and Harvard have all recently announced that they were dropping problematic building names .

A Virginia school board voted Wednesday to change the names of two public schools named after one of the first presidents and another Founding Father because both men owned slaves, NBC4 Washington reported.
Falls Church City Public Schools will rename Thomas Jefferson Elementary School and George Mason High School following a unanimous vote to approve the measure Wednesday. While the majority of community members opposed renaming the schools, board chairman Greg Anderson said the change was "in the best interest" of students and "a necessary part of our equity work."
"Our schools must be places where all students, staff, and community members feel safe, supported, and inspired," Anderson said.
The school board conducted a survey to vet the community's interest in changing the schools' names. Only 26 percent of the nearly 3,500 parents, students, and staff members surveyed supported renaming the George Mason school, and only 23 percent supported renaming the Thomas Jefferson school. By contrast, 56 percent opposed renaming both schools.
Buildings named after presidents and Founding Fathers became the target of leftist attacks this year, which saw months of often violent racial-justice protests. Washington, D.C., mayor Muriel Bowser (D.) created a commission this summer to rename dozens of structures in the nation's capital, including federal monuments and buildings in addition to local public schools. Denver public schools have also floated the idea of renaming buildings.
On the university level, Berkeley, Georgetown, and Harvard have all recently announced that they were dropping problematic building names.


freebeacon--2020-12-11--Continetti: Joe Biden Has Never Answered What Hunter Was Doing in China

Washington Free Beacon founding editor Matthew Continetti on Thursday said Joe Biden has never answered for his son 's business @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden has never had an answer to what Hunter Biden was doing in China @ @ @ @ @ stressing the younger Biden 's relationship with a group of Chinese entrepreneurs connected to the @ @ @ @ @ president-elect 's son revealed Wednesday that he is under investigation for tax fraud by a @ @ @ @ @ joint statement with the Biden-Harris transition team , he said he took the matter `` @ @ @ @ @ confident that the audit would reveal he `` handled [ his ] affairs legally and @ @ @ @ @ Hunter Biden 's business dealings likely affected undecided voters in President Donald Trump 's favor @ @ @ @ @ on former business associate Tony Bobulinski coming forward to implicate Joe Biden .
`` You @ @ @ @ @ 's actually the late deciders who tended to break for Trump , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ imagine that discussions of Hunter Biden played some role in that . ''

Washington Free Beacon founding editor Matthew Continetti on Thursday said Joe Biden has never answered for his son's business dealings in China.
"Joe Biden has never had an answer to what Hunter Biden was doing in China," he said, stressing the younger Biden's relationship with a group of Chinese entrepreneurs connected to the Chinese Communist Party.
The president-elect's son revealed Wednesday that he is under investigation for tax fraud by a federal prosecutor. In a joint statement with the Biden-Harris transition team, he said he took the matter "very seriously" but remained confident that the audit would reveal he "handled [his] affairs legally and appropriately."
Continetti said Hunter Biden's business dealings likely affected undecided voters in President Donald Trump's favor, despite a media blackout on former business associate Tony Bobulinski coming forward to implicate Joe Biden.
"You look at the exit polls—it's actually the late deciders who tended to break for Trump," he said. "One has to imagine that discussions of Hunter Biden played some role in that."


freebeacon--2020-12-10--CNN Anchor Sports Pricey Resistance Cashmere Sweater

CNN 's Kate Bolduan anchored her show Thursday in a $ 380 cashmere sweater bearing the network 's `` Facts @ @ @ @ @ `` Facts First '' sweater is among a collection of other pricey , partisan garments @ @ @ @ @ York City brand Lingua Franca .
Other items in the collection include a $ 160 @ @ @ @ @ 's sweater , a $ 380 `` USPS Forever '' sweater , and a $ @ @ @ @ @ '' sweater , a reference to a words spoken by Kamala Harris during her debate @ @ @ @ @ .
CNN 's head of strategic communications Matt Dornic bragged on Twitter that he owned @ @ @ @ @ .
Bolduan tweeted later that the sweater was a `` special gift from a very @ @ @ @ @ year . ''
Lingua Franca also sells sweaters bearing the social media-inspired term `` Cuomosexual @ @ @ @ @ by fans of New York governor Andrew Cuomo ( D. ) .

CNN's Kate Bolduan anchored her show Thursday in a $380 cashmere sweater bearing the network's "Facts First" slogan.
The "Facts First" sweater is among a collection of other pricey, partisan garments hand-stitched by the feminist New York City brand Lingua Franca. Other items in the collection include a $160 "Stable Genius" children's sweater, a $380 "USPS Forever" sweater, and a $380 "I'm Speaking" sweater, a reference to a words spoken by Kamala Harris during her debate with Vice President Mike Pence.
CNN's head of strategic communications Matt Dornic bragged on Twitter that he owned the same $380 sweater.
https://twitter.com/mdornic/status/1337098294594592768?s=21
Bolduan tweeted later that the sweater was a "special gift from a very good friend after a long year."
Lingua Franca also sells sweaters bearing the social media-inspired term "Cuomosexual," a term coined by fans of New York governor Andrew Cuomo (D.).


freebeacon--2020-12-10--Abuse Allegations and Health-Code Violations Plagued Warnock Summer Camp, Records Show

Maryland health officials deemed Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Raphael Warnock 's church-run summer camp unsafe to operate due to a spate of unreported child abuse allegations and safety-code violations , according to state records obtained by the Washington Free Beacon .
The records , from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene , paint a picture of an environment where campers were routinely left unsupervised , staffers were not subject to required criminal background checks , and at least five cases of child abuse or neglect were brought against the camp 's director , who was ultimately forced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Warnock , who has faced scrutiny over his 2002 arrest for allegedly hindering and obstructing a child abuse investigation at the camp by Maryland State Police .
In an arrest report published by the Free Beacon , police said Warnock interrupted police interviews with counselors , discouraged subjects from talking to investigators without the camp 's lawyer present , and was `` extremely uncooperative and disruptive . ''
The charges against Warnock were later dropped by the state attorney 's office .
The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene records indicate that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Douglas Memorial Community Church , the camp it operated—known as Camp Farthest Out—failed to properly report multiple child abuse incidents involving camp staff , leading the department to revoke its certificate to operate .
The camp 's director , Brian Carter , was `` party to several findings of indicated child abuse or neglect brought on behalf of the following individuals while he was a camp counselor for the Camp , '' according to a letter from Camp Farthest Out lawyer Paul D. Shelton to the county prosecutor 's office on July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five Department of Social Services findings , with the alleged victims ' names redacted , that were filed against Carter between January and March 2003 .
Shelton argued that the camp was not notified of the findings , which is why it had failed to properly report them .
That was six months after Warnock allegedly interfered with police officers who had shown up at the camp as part of an investigation into child abuse allegations .
Warnock was hired as the pastor for Douglas Memorial in September 2001 .
It 's not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but he said in 2018 that he served as pastor for `` about five years . ''
His leadership plan included expanding the church 's summer camp .
`` As part of his vision for Douglas , Warnock wants to attract support from corporations and foundations to expand Camp Farthest Out , a 50-acre facility in Carroll County that provides a residential camp experience for disadvantaged children , '' reported the Baltimore Sun in a Sept. 28 , 2001 , interview with Warnock .
Warnock 's campaign did not respond to a request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene visited the camp site in 2002 , they found multiple health and safety violations .
`` Staff are not supervising campers , '' wrote a health inspector in a July 31 , 2002 , report .
`` Conversations w/ medical staff & pool staff indicate that this is routine among the counselors .
It was observed during inspection today . ''
The camp had no fire marshal approval , no approval for the plumbing or electrical system , incomplete child medical records , inadequate child abuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the report .
The health inspector observed around 80 children in the swimming pool with `` only 2 lifeguards + 1 counselor present , '' calling this a `` [ r ] epeat violation from 2001 . ''
A total of 11 violations were noted in the report .
In June 2003 , the Department of Health denied Camp Farthest Out 's certificate to operate a youth camp .
One reason for the denial , according to the records , was that the camp failed to report at least five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against its director by the Department of Social Services .
Camp Farthest Out appealed the decision .
Camp Farthest Out later reached a settlement agreement with the Department of Health to appeal the denial that same year .
As part of the deal , the camp agreed to `` immediately remove Brian Carter … as its director '' and terminate any association with two additional camp staffers , Drenard Tucker and Corey Ferguson .
In addition , Camp Farthest Out said it would comply with criminal record check requirements and child abuse reporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maryland couple filed a lawsuit against Warnock , Camp Farthest Out , the Douglas Memorial Community Church , Tucker , and Ferguson in Baltimore .
Details of the lawsuit are unavailable .
The Circuit Court for Baltimore City told the Free Beacon that it no longer has the case records because they were transferred to the Maryland State Archives several years ago .
The Maryland State Archives told the Free Beacon that it never received the records and is unable to locate them .
An attorney for the Maryland couple declined to speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ settled in May 2005 .
Two months later , Warnock was hired as the pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta , Georgia .

Maryland health officials deemed Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Raphael Warnock's church-run summer camp unsafe to operate due to a spate of unreported child abuse allegations and safety-code violations, according to state records obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.
The records, from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, paint a picture of an environment where campers were routinely left unsupervised, staffers were not subject to required criminal background checks, and at least five cases of child abuse or neglect were brought against the camp's director, who was ultimately forced to resign.
The documents raise new questions for Warnock, who has faced scrutiny over his 2002 arrest for allegedly hindering and obstructing a child abuse investigation at the camp by Maryland State Police. In an arrest report published by the Free Beacon, police said Warnock interrupted police interviews with counselors, discouraged subjects from talking to investigators without the camp's lawyer present, and was "extremely uncooperative and disruptive." The charges against Warnock were later dropped by the state attorney's office.
The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene records indicate that during Warnock's tenure as the pastor for Douglas Memorial Community Church, the camp it operated—known as Camp Farthest Out—failed to properly report multiple child abuse incidents involving camp staff, leading the department to revoke its certificate to operate.
The camp's director, Brian Carter, was "party to several findings of indicated child abuse or neglect brought on behalf of the following individuals while he was a camp counselor for the Camp," according to a letter from Camp Farthest Out lawyer Paul D. Shelton to the county prosecutor's office on July 10, 2003.
The letter lists five Department of Social Services findings, with the alleged victims' names redacted, that were filed against Carter between January and March 2003. Shelton argued that the camp was not notified of the findings, which is why it had failed to properly report them.
That was six months after Warnock allegedly interfered with police officers who had shown up at the camp as part of an investigation into child abuse allegations.
Warnock was hired as the pastor for Douglas Memorial in September 2001. It's not clear when he left the church, but he said in 2018 that he served as pastor for "about five years." His leadership plan included expanding the church's summer camp.
"As part of his vision for Douglas, Warnock wants to attract support from corporations and foundations to expand Camp Farthest Out, a 50-acre facility in Carroll County that provides a residential camp experience for disadvantaged children," reported the Baltimore Sun in a Sept. 28, 2001, interview with Warnock.
Warnock's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
When inspectors from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene visited the camp site in 2002, they found multiple health and safety violations.
"Staff are not supervising campers," wrote a health inspector in a July 31, 2002, report. "Conversations w/ medical staff & pool staff indicate that this is routine among the counselors. It was observed during inspection today."
The camp had no fire marshal approval, no approval for the plumbing or electrical system, incomplete child medical records, inadequate child abuse reporting procedures, and insufficient CPR certification, according to the report. The health inspector observed around 80 children in the swimming pool with "only 2 lifeguards + 1 counselor present," calling this a "[r]epeat violation from 2001." A total of 11 violations were noted in the report.
In June 2003, the Department of Health denied Camp Farthest Out's certificate to operate a youth camp. One reason for the denial, according to the records, was that the camp failed to report at least five findings of child abuse or neglect levied against its director by the Department of Social Services. Camp Farthest Out appealed the decision.
Camp Farthest Out later reached a settlement agreement with the Department of Health to appeal the denial that same year. As part of the deal, the camp agreed to "immediately remove Brian Carter … as its director" and terminate any association with two additional camp staffers, Drenard Tucker and Corey Ferguson. In addition, Camp Farthest Out said it would comply with criminal record check requirements and child abuse reporting procedures.
In December 2003, a Maryland couple filed a lawsuit against Warnock, Camp Farthest Out, the Douglas Memorial Community Church, Tucker, and Ferguson in Baltimore. Details of the lawsuit are unavailable. The Circuit Court for Baltimore City told the Free Beacon that it no longer has the case records because they were transferred to the Maryland State Archives several years ago. The Maryland State Archives told the Free Beacon that it never received the records and is unable to locate them. An attorney for the Maryland couple declined to speak on the record.
The case was settled in May 2005. Two months later, Warnock was hired as the pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia.


freebeacon--2020-12-10--Minneapolis Cuts Nearly $8 Million in Police Funding as Murder Rate Soars

The Minneapolis City Council voted to cut millions in funding from the city 's police department on Thursday as homicide and violent crime rates in the city skyrocket .
The 2021 fiscal year budget , approved Thursday morning , reallocates $ 7.7 million in police department funding to other community services .
Meanwhile , homicides in Minneapolis are up 62.5 percent this year , according to police department data .
The city 's number of recorded gunshots this year also more than doubles 2019 's tally .
And the Washington Post reported that shootings in the city are at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 5-year high .
Anti-police activists , including Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D. , Minn. ) , whose congressional district includes Minneapolis , advocated for disbanding the Minneapolis Police Department after George Floyd died in May while in police custody .
The city council passed a resolution to abolish the city 's police department this summer , but the Minneapolis Charter Commission blocked the resolution from being placed on November 's ballot .
The funds cut from the police department on Thursday will be distributed to mental health and violence prevention services .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vote a `` defining '' moment for Minneapolis in a statement and said that , despite high crime rates , the funding cut gives residents a reason to be `` optimistic '' for the future of their city .
`` We all share a deep and abiding reverence for the role our local government plays in service of the people of our city , '' Frey said .
`` And today , there are good reasons to be optimistic about the future in Minneapolis . ''
Homicide and shooting rates rose in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have remained elevated since , the Washington Free Beacon previously reported .
There have been 30 more homicides this year in Minneapolis compared with 2019 , according to police department data .
Aggravated assaults in the city are up 18 percent and violent crimes overall are up 20 percent .
Minneapolis joins New York City , Portland , Seattle , and a handful of other U.S. cities that have passed massive police department budget cuts following months of anti-police protests .

The Minneapolis City Council voted to cut millions in funding from the city's police department on Thursday as homicide and violent crime rates in the city skyrocket.
The 2021 fiscal year budget, approved Thursday morning, reallocates $7.7 million in police department funding to other community services. Meanwhile, homicides in Minneapolis are up 62.5 percent this year, according to police department data. The city's number of recorded gunshots this year also more than doubles 2019's tally. And the Washington Post reported that shootings in the city are at a 10-year high and violent crimes are at a 5-year high.
Anti-police activists, including Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.), whose congressional district includes Minneapolis, advocated for disbanding the Minneapolis Police Department after George Floyd died in May while in police custody. The city council passed a resolution to abolish the city's police department this summer, but the Minneapolis Charter Commission blocked the resolution from being placed on November's ballot.
The funds cut from the police department on Thursday will be distributed to mental health and violence prevention services.
Mayor Jacob Frey (D.) called the vote a "defining" moment for Minneapolis in a statement and said that, despite high crime rates, the funding cut gives residents a reason to be "optimistic" for the future of their city.
"We all share a deep and abiding reverence for the role our local government plays in service of the people of our city," Frey said. "And today, there are good reasons to be optimistic about the future in Minneapolis."
Homicide and shooting rates rose in the days following Floyd's death and have remained elevated since, the Washington Free Beacon previously reported. There have been 30 more homicides this year in Minneapolis compared with 2019, according to police department data. Aggravated assaults in the city are up 18 percent and violent crimes overall are up 20 percent.
Minneapolis joins New York City, Portland, Seattle, and a handful of other U.S. cities that have passed massive police department budget cuts following months of anti-police protests.


freebeacon--2020-12-10--Supreme Court Puts Agents on Financial Hook for Religious Freedom Violations

The Supreme Court said Thursday that federal agents can be forced to pay out of their own pocket for religious liberty violations .
The decision allows three Muslim men to seek monetary damages from FBI agents who allegedly placed them on the no-fly list as retaliation for turning down requests to become informants .
Justice Clarence Thomas delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court .
`` This is a good decision that makes it easier to hold the government accountable when it violates Americans ' religious liberties , '' said Lori Windham of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The plaintiffs in Thursday 's case , Muhammad Tanvir , Jameel Algibhah , and Naveed Shinwari , are Muslim citizens or green card holders who say FBI special agents attempted to recruit them as informants in the New York City area and abroad .
For example , Algibhah alleges that agents asked him to attend particular mosques , behave like an extremist , and engage on online Islamic forums .
All three men refused , citing their Muslim faith .
They said informing amounts to bearing false witness , worshiping under false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fellow Muslims .
A short time later , the agents added them to the no-fly list .
`` The agents relied upon what they assumed would be the irresistible coercion of the no fly list—causing each [ plaintiff ] to be placed on the list and then either threatening to keep him on the list for refusing to accede to the FBI 's demands , or offering the incentive of being removed from the list in exchange for services as an FBI informant , '' the plaintiffs ' lawyers wrote in a brief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plaintiffs filed a lawsuit under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act ( RFRA ) .
Though their names have since been removed from the list , they are still seeking monetary compensation directly from the agents responsible .
The men want to recoup the cost of wasted plane tickets or job opportunities lost due to their inability to travel .
Tanvir could n't obtain a full refund from his airline after he had to cancel a trip to visit his ailing mother in Pakistan .
The Trump administration opposed the plaintiffs before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Department said the plaintiffs can only sue the agents in their official capacities , meaning the government would cover the cost of any financial judgment against them .
RFRA says plaintiffs can seek damages `` against a government , '' not individuals , the DOJ argued .
They also warned that putting agents on the hook for their mistakes or abuses would badly affect split-second national security decisions .
In his opinion for the Court , Thomas said RFRA 's text creates an expansive definition of `` government '' that covers individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' under RFRA , extends beyond the term 's plain meaning to include officials , '' Thomas wrote .
`` And the term ‘ official ' does not refer solely to an office , but rather to the actual person ‘ who is invested with an office . '
'' The decision also noted that qualified immunity is available as a defense against such lawsuits , which could blunt the practical impact of Thursday 's decision .
The case is No .
19-71 Tanzin v. Tanvir .

The Supreme Court said Thursday that federal agents can be forced to pay out of their own pocket for religious liberty violations.
The decision allows three Muslim men to seek monetary damages from FBI agents who allegedly placed them on the no-fly list as retaliation for turning down requests to become informants. Justice Clarence Thomas delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court.
"This is a good decision that makes it easier to hold the government accountable when it violates Americans' religious liberties," said Lori Windham of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which filed a brief supporting the plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs in Thursday's case, Muhammad Tanvir, Jameel Algibhah, and Naveed Shinwari, are Muslim citizens or green card holders who say FBI special agents attempted to recruit them as informants in the New York City area and abroad. For example, Algibhah alleges that agents asked him to attend particular mosques, behave like an extremist, and engage on online Islamic forums.
All three men refused, citing their Muslim faith. They said informing amounts to bearing false witness, worshiping under false pretenses, and betraying the trust of fellow Muslims. A short time later, the agents added them to the no-fly list.
"The agents relied upon what they assumed would be the irresistible coercion of the no fly list—causing each [plaintiff] to be placed on the list and then either threatening to keep him on the list for refusing to accede to the FBI's demands, or offering the incentive of being removed from the list in exchange for services as an FBI informant," the plaintiffs' lawyers wrote in a brief to the justices.
In turn, the plaintiffs filed a lawsuit under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Though their names have since been removed from the list, they are still seeking monetary compensation directly from the agents responsible. The men want to recoup the cost of wasted plane tickets or job opportunities lost due to their inability to travel. Tanvir couldn't obtain a full refund from his airline after he had to cancel a trip to visit his ailing mother in Pakistan.
The Trump administration opposed the plaintiffs before the justices. In court papers, the Justice Department said the plaintiffs can only sue the agents in their official capacities, meaning the government would cover the cost of any financial judgment against them. RFRA says plaintiffs can seek damages "against a government," not individuals, the DOJ argued. They also warned that putting agents on the hook for their mistakes or abuses would badly affect split-second national security decisions.
In his opinion for the Court, Thomas said RFRA's text creates an expansive definition of "government" that covers individual officials.
"A 'government,' under RFRA, extends beyond the term's plain meaning to include officials," Thomas wrote. "And the term 'official' does not refer solely to an office, but rather to the actual person 'who is invested with an office.'"
The decision also noted that qualified immunity is available as a defense against such lawsuits, which could blunt the practical impact of Thursday's decision.
The case is No. 19-71 Tanzin v. Tanvir.
Tanzin v. Tanvir Supreme Co... by Washington Free Beacon


freebeacon--2020-12-10--Lincoln Project’s ‘Viral’ Ads Were Laughably Ineffective, Science Finds

A new scientific study has shed more light on the Lincoln Project 's failure to achieve its ( nominal ) goal of making a difference in the 2020 election by persuading Republican and independent voters in battleground states to support Democratic candidates .
The vanity super PAC , founded by a group of shlubby ex-Republican grifters , spent $ 12 million trying to defeat seven incumbent GOP senators and boasted frequently of its talent for producing compelling political ads .
Every single one of the targeted Senate Republicans won reelection , in most cases by a double-digit margin .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic Party 's most prolific super PAC , suggests the Lincoln Project 's edgiest ads , which often went viral on social media , were laughably ineffective .
The Daily Beast reports : According to Nick Ahamed , Priorities ’ analytics director , the correlation of Twitter metrics—likes and retweets—and persuasion was -0.3 , `` meaning that the better the ad did on Twitter , the less it persuaded battleground state voters . ''
The most viral of the Lincoln Project ’ s ads—a spot called Bounty , which was RTed 116,000 times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be the least persuasive of those Priorities tested .
That 's embarrassing , but only if you take the Lincoln Project founders at their word .
Those same viral ads helped the group raise tens of millions of dollars from # Resistance libs , much of which was spent on services provided by businesses owned by Lincoln Project employees .
If the goal was to influence the outcome of the election by persuading voters to support Democrats , the Lincoln Project failed miserably .
If the goal was to enrich a bunch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too much time on Twitter , that 's a different story .
Mission accomplished .

A new scientific study has shed more light on the Lincoln Project's failure to achieve its (nominal) goal of making a difference in the 2020 election by persuading Republican and independent voters in battleground states to support Democratic candidates.
The vanity super PAC, founded by a group of shlubby ex-Republican grifters, spent $12 million trying to defeat seven incumbent GOP senators and boasted frequently of its talent for producing compelling political ads. Every single one of the targeted Senate Republicans won reelection, in most cases by a double-digit margin.
A recent analysis by Priorities USA, the Democratic Party's most prolific super PAC, suggests the Lincoln Project's edgiest ads, which often went viral on social media, were laughably ineffective. The Daily Beast reports:
According to Nick Ahamed, Priorities’ analytics director, the correlation of Twitter metrics—likes and retweets—and persuasion was -0.3, "meaning that the better the ad did on Twitter, the less it persuaded battleground state voters." The most viral of the Lincoln Project’s ads—a spot called Bounty, which was RTed 116,000 times and liked more than 210,000 times—turned out to be the least persuasive of those Priorities tested.
That's embarrassing, but only if you take the Lincoln Project founders at their word. Those same viral ads helped the group raise tens of millions of dollars from #Resistance libs, much of which was spent on services provided by businesses owned by Lincoln Project employees.
If the goal was to influence the outcome of the election by persuading voters to support Democrats, the Lincoln Project failed miserably. If the goal was to enrich a bunch of shlubby white dudes who spend way too much time on Twitter, that's a different story. Mission accomplished.


freebeacon--2020-12-10--Defense Bill Targets Wallets of Rogue States, Terrorists

Congress is weighing new disclosure laws to close a financial loophole that has been exploited by the United States ' enemies to fund terrorist and trafficking operations .
The National Defense Authorization Act before the Senate includes a measure that would require shell companies to identify owners and store their names in a private database .
Previously , rogue states and terrorists used lax disclosure requirements to circumvent U.S. sanctions , allowing Chinese , Russian , and terror-related entities to conduct transactions within the United States and with American dollars .
The U.S. financial system is regularly ranked among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowing terrorists and regimes to bankroll extensive operations at the expense of American consumers .
Adversaries such as Iran , China , Russia , Hezbollah , and trafficking organizations regularly use this to their advantage to move billions of dollars in U.S. markets .
Scott Greytak , advocacy director of the nonprofit Transparency International , said that new registration laws would strike a direct blow against illicit finance .
`` A lot of that money that is connected to and funding authoritarian regimes is parked in the United States , '' Greytak told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is something that hits every part of the economy , every part of American life . ''
As early as 2011 , federal authorities discovered that Hezbollah employed used-car sales as a front to launder money for drug trafficking operations and terror financing .
Chinese drug traffickers pumped the lethal synthetic opioid fentanyl into the United States through shell companies , leading to millions of dollars in profit and the deaths of scores of Americans by drug overdose .
Non-state actors are not the only groups striving to game the American system , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Hudson Institute 's Kleptocracy Initiative .
`` We 've come to realize the extent to which it 's not just terrorists using these financial networks , '' Sibley told the Free Beacon .
`` It 's rogue regimes , it 's kleptocrats , it 's all sorts of people . ''
In 2017 , federal authorities discovered that a Fifth Avenue skyscraper in New York City had effectively been in the control of the Iranian government since 1989 .
Authoritarian regimes such as Venezuela and Russia also use similar means to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their access to the U.S. dollar .
The legislation—which was a 12-year effort—encompasses all the illicit uses of the American financial network , and has been included in the National Defense Authorization Act .
Experts say the bill will increase the effectiveness of American sanctions by limiting opportunities for countries and non-state actors to skirt them .
It also entrenches the overlooked foundations of American international power , Sibley said .
Washington acts as `` the guardian of the global reserve economy , '' he said .
`` Everybody uses the U.S. dollar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Tyler Stapleton , director of congressional relations for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies Action arm , said the bill 's contributions were historic .
`` The U.S. Congress is poised to enact the most significant [ anti-money laundering and counterterrorism ] law in recent years , '' Stapleton said .
`` This years-long effort to update U.S. law to combat abuse of the U.S. financial system by malign actors appears to be finally coming to fruition . ''
The bill has attracted bipartisan support , as well as the backing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national president Patrick Yoes told the Free Beacon the bill makes Americans safer .
`` All too often , investigations hit a dead end when law enforcement encounters a company with hidden ownership , '' Yoes said .
`` When we can expose the link between shell companies and drug trafficking , corruption , organized crime , and terrorist financing , law enforcement will be able to bring these criminals to justice and ensure that our citizens and our nation are safer . ''
President Trump has publicly weighed vetoing the National Defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bill by a 335-78 vote Tuesday—enough to overcome any veto .
The Senate is expected to vote on the bill later in the month .

Congress is weighing new disclosure laws to close a financial loophole that has been exploited by the United States' enemies to fund terrorist and trafficking operations.
The National Defense Authorization Act before the Senate includes a measure that would require shell companies to identify owners and store their names in a private database. Previously, rogue states and terrorists used lax disclosure requirements to circumvent U.S. sanctions, allowing Chinese, Russian, and terror-related entities to conduct transactions within the United States and with American dollars.
The U.S. financial system is regularly ranked among the largest tax havens in the world, allowing terrorists and regimes to bankroll extensive operations at the expense of American consumers. Adversaries such as Iran, China, Russia, Hezbollah, and trafficking organizations regularly use this to their advantage to move billions of dollars in U.S. markets. Scott Greytak, advocacy director of the nonprofit Transparency International, said that new registration laws would strike a direct blow against illicit finance.
"A lot of that money that is connected to and funding authoritarian regimes is parked in the United States," Greytak told the Washington Free Beacon. "This is something that hits every part of the economy, every part of American life."
As early as 2011, federal authorities discovered that Hezbollah employed used-car sales as a front to launder money for drug trafficking operations and terror financing. Chinese drug traffickers pumped the lethal synthetic opioid fentanyl into the United States through shell companies, leading to millions of dollars in profit and the deaths of scores of Americans by drug overdose.
Non-state actors are not the only groups striving to game the American system, said Nate Sibley, a research fellow for the Hudson Institute's Kleptocracy Initiative.
"We've come to realize the extent to which it's not just terrorists using these financial networks," Sibley told the Free Beacon. "It's rogue regimes, it's kleptocrats, it's all sorts of people."
In 2017, federal authorities discovered that a Fifth Avenue skyscraper in New York City had effectively been in the control of the Iranian government since 1989. Authoritarian regimes such as Venezuela and Russia also use similar means to dodge American sanctions that would otherwise hinder their access to the U.S. dollar.
The legislation—which was a 12-year effort—encompasses all the illicit uses of the American financial network, and has been included in the National Defense Authorization Act. Experts say the bill will increase the effectiveness of American sanctions by limiting opportunities for countries and non-state actors to skirt them.
It also entrenches the overlooked foundations of American international power, Sibley said. Washington acts as "the guardian of the global reserve economy," he said. "Everybody uses the U.S. dollar, that's why sanctions work."
Tyler Stapleton, director of congressional relations for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies Action arm, said the bill's contributions were historic.
"The U.S. Congress is poised to enact the most significant [anti-money laundering and counterterrorism] law in recent years," Stapleton said. "This years-long effort to update U.S. law to combat abuse of the U.S. financial system by malign actors appears to be finally coming to fruition."
The bill has attracted bipartisan support, as well as the backing of law enforcement. Fraternal Order of Police national president Patrick Yoes told the Free Beacon the bill makes Americans safer.
"All too often, investigations hit a dead end when law enforcement encounters a company with hidden ownership," Yoes said. "When we can expose the link between shell companies and drug trafficking, corruption, organized crime, and terrorist financing, law enforcement will be able to bring these criminals to justice and ensure that our citizens and our nation are safer."
President Trump has publicly weighed vetoing the National Defense Authorization Act, but the House passed the bill by a 335-78 vote Tuesday—enough to overcome any veto. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill later in the month.


freebeacon--2020-12-10--Inmates, Homeless Will Be Among First to Receive Vaccine in D.C., Mayor Says

District of Columbia mayor Muriel Bowser ( D. ) announced Thursday that prison inmates and the city 's homeless population will be in the first wave of city residents to get access to a coronavirus vaccine .
Slotted in behind only the city 's health care workers in `` Phase 1b '' of the vaccine-distribution plan are `` residents experiencing homelessness , '' residents living in one of D.C. 's transitional housing facilities , and `` department of corrections residents and staff , '' according to the city 's latest situational report .
Among those included in the same phase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living in nursing homes , law enforcement , school employees , grocery-store employees , and all individuals over the age of 65 or with high-risk health conditions .
The city says the phases were determined with an eye on creating an `` equitable distribution . ''
`` Our community has worked hard and sacrificed , since March , to save lives and protect our most vulnerable residents , '' the city said in the Thursday update .
`` Now , we are ready to lead an equitable distribution of a safe and effective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be made to the general public until everyone in phase 1a and 1b has had the opportunity to receive it .
It remains unclear how many vaccines the city will receive and when it will receive them .
The push for inmates to receive first dibs on a vaccine has come largely from anti-prison activists—Ashish Prashar , who believes prisons should be abolished altogether , was published in the `` hot take '' section of NBC News arguing that society has a `` moral '' responsibility to prioritize the incarcerated .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , too—ones often at high risk during crises because their health and well-being are rarely prioritized , '' Prashar wrote .
Decisions on access have varied across the country .
In Massachusetts , Republican governor Charlie Baker decided to put inmates in the first phase along with the state 's health care workers .
In Colorado , however , Democratic governor Jared Polis said there 's `` no way '' he 'd take that step .
`` There 's no way it 's going to go to prisoners before it goes to people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Polis said .
`` That 's obvious . ''
Bowser has come under fire for selectively violating her own coronavirus restrictions when it was politically advantageous to do so .
She declared it `` essential travel '' for her and staff to attend a victory event for President-elect Joe Biden in Delaware and refused to quarantine when she returned despite requirements that city residents do so after crossing state lines .
She also encouraged Black Lives Matter protesters to gather in the city during the height of the coronavirus 's spread .

District of Columbia mayor Muriel Bowser (D.) announced Thursday that prison inmates and the city's homeless population will be in the first wave of city residents to get access to a coronavirus vaccine.
Slotted in behind only the city's health care workers in "Phase 1b" of the vaccine-distribution plan are "residents experiencing homelessness," residents living in one of D.C.'s transitional housing facilities, and "department of corrections residents and staff," according to the city's latest situational report.
Among those included in the same phase as the inmates and homeless are those living in nursing homes, law enforcement, school employees, grocery-store employees, and all individuals over the age of 65 or with high-risk health conditions.
The city says the phases were determined with an eye on creating an "equitable distribution."
"Our community has worked hard and sacrificed, since March, to save lives and protect our most vulnerable residents," the city said in the Thursday update. "Now, we are ready to lead an equitable distribution of a safe and effective vaccine."
A potential vaccine will not be made to the general public until everyone in phase 1a and 1b has had the opportunity to receive it. It remains unclear how many vaccines the city will receive and when it will receive them.
The push for inmates to receive first dibs on a vaccine has come largely from anti-prison activists—Ashish Prashar, who believes prisons should be abolished altogether, was published in the "hot take" section of NBC News arguing that society has a "moral" responsibility to prioritize the incarcerated.
"Incarcerated people are members of our society, too—ones often at high risk during crises because their health and well-being are rarely prioritized," Prashar wrote.
Decisions on access have varied across the country. In Massachusetts, Republican governor Charlie Baker decided to put inmates in the first phase along with the state's health care workers. In Colorado, however, Democratic governor Jared Polis said there's "no way" he'd take that step.
"There's no way it's going to go to prisoners before it goes to people who haven't committed any crime," Polis said. "That's obvious."
Bowser has come under fire for selectively violating her own coronavirus restrictions when it was politically advantageous to do so. She declared it "essential travel" for her and staff to attend a victory event for President-elect Joe Biden in Delaware and refused to quarantine when she returned despite requirements that city residents do so after crossing state lines. She also encouraged Black Lives Matter protesters to gather in the city during the height of the coronavirus's spread.


freebeacon--2020-12-10--Department of Education Launches Free-Speech Hotline

The Department of Education has launched a `` free speech hotline '' to combat the censorship of `` dissenting voices '' on college campuses .
The department unveiled the hotline at an event on Tuesday and said it will give college students the ability to report campus free-speech violations directly to the department , which can then investigate the incidents .
The creation of the hotline follows months of racial unrest and a renewed push to punish students , faculty , and others who espouse ideas that do not comport with left-wing ideology .
Private organizations , such as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FIRE ) and the Young America 's Foundation , already offer similar hotlines .
In a September report , FIRE discovered an unprecedented number of First Amendment violations amid the ongoing wave of racial protests .
A separate FIRE study found that 88 percent of American universities maintain policies that restrict free expression .
Many of these restrictions exist at public universities , where the First Amendment is legally binding .
Bob King , assistant secretary for post-secondary education , said during the event that threats to free speech are incongruent with living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Cancel culture is ] dangerous not only because it shuts out conservative voices , but also cancels all dissenting voices , '' King said .
`` It chills free speech and prohibits pursuit of the truth , and has no place in free society . ''
The rollout of the hotline follows the launch of several high-profile investigations into taxpayer-funded schools .
The Education Department is currently investigating whether Princeton University violated the Civil Rights Act when its president said that racism remains `` embedded '' in the university .
The University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a series of anti-Semitic incidents caught the department 's attention .
The free-speech hotline was created with students in mind , though it may prove beneficial for professors as well .
Bret Weinstein , formerly a biology professor at Evergreen State College , detailed his experience of campus censorship during the Education Department 's online announcement .
After activists demanded that white students stay off campus for a day to highlight racial injustice , Weinstein sent a university-wide email criticizing the demand .
His email sparked a violent campaign of harassment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Weinstein ended up resigning from the college at which he had taught for 15 years , citing its descent into `` anarchy and madness . ''
`` This is n't just a free-speech crisis , it is in no way limited to college campuses , and it is far more dangerous than the term ‘ cancel culture ' suggests , '' Weinstein said at Tuesday 's event .
`` The movement wields incredible power , it often silences critics , and the control of free speech is a means to the @ @ @

The Department of Education has launched a "free speech hotline" to combat the censorship of "dissenting voices" on college campuses.
The department unveiled the hotline at an event on Tuesday and said it will give college students the ability to report campus free-speech violations directly to the department, which can then investigate the incidents. The creation of the hotline follows months of racial unrest and a renewed push to punish students, faculty, and others who espouse ideas that do not comport with left-wing ideology.
Private organizations, such as the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) and the Young America's Foundation, already offer similar hotlines. In a September report, FIRE discovered an unprecedented number of First Amendment violations amid the ongoing wave of racial protests. A separate FIRE study found that 88 percent of American universities maintain policies that restrict free expression. Many of these restrictions exist at public universities, where the First Amendment is legally binding.
Bob King, assistant secretary for post-secondary education, said during the event that threats to free speech are incongruent with living "in free society."
"[Cancel culture is] dangerous not only because it shuts out conservative voices, but also cancels all dissenting voices," King said. "It chills free speech and prohibits pursuit of the truth, and has no place in free society."
The rollout of the hotline follows the launch of several high-profile investigations into taxpayer-funded schools. The Education Department is currently investigating whether Princeton University violated the Civil Rights Act when its president said that racism remains "embedded" in the university. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is also under investigation after a series of anti-Semitic incidents caught the department's attention.
The free-speech hotline was created with students in mind, though it may prove beneficial for professors as well. Bret Weinstein, formerly a biology professor at Evergreen State College, detailed his experience of campus censorship during the Education Department's online announcement. After activists demanded that white students stay off campus for a day to highlight racial injustice, Weinstein sent a university-wide email criticizing the demand. His email sparked a violent campaign of harassment, which the university did little to quell, and Weinstein ended up resigning from the college at which he had taught for 15 years, citing its descent into "anarchy and madness."
"This isn't just a free-speech crisis, it is in no way limited to college campuses, and it is far more dangerous than the term 'cancel culture' suggests," Weinstein said at Tuesday's event. "The movement wields incredible power, it often silences critics, and the control of free speech is a means to the end."


freebeacon--2020-12-10--Warnock Compared Netanyahu to George Wallace in 2016 Sermon

Warnock likened Netanyahu ’ s stance opposing a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians to Wallace ’ s ardent segregationist views , Fox News reported Wednesday .
Warnock told his congregation that the Israeli prime minister may as well say , `` occupation today , occupation tomorrow , occupation forever , '' echoing the Democratic Alabama governor 's call for `` segregation now , segregation tomorrow , segregation forever . ''
Warnock , who has been dogged by accusations that he tolerates anti-Semitism , also said that true democracy is incompatible with the current system in Israel .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Palestinian state , you can not have a Jewish democracy , '' Warnock said .
`` That state will either be Jewish , or it will be a democracy… .
If you do not have a Palestinian state , you will have to have apartheid in Israel that denies other citizens , sisters and brothers , citizenship . ''
Anti-Israel activist Linda Sarsour came to Warnock 's defense on Twitter Wednesday night .
`` Warnock was absolutely correct , '' she said .
In 2019 , Warnock signed a letter likening Israel to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Warnock has also repeatedly praised Rev .
Jeremiah Wright , a noted anti-Semite .
Warnock has attempted to mend his spotty record on Israel , touting an endorsement from Democratic Majority for Israel .
The Republican Jewish Coalition said Warnock has a history of `` hatemongering . ''
`` His 2016 comparison of Prime Minister Netanyahu to segregationist George Wallace in front of an African-American audience was simple hatemongering , '' the group said in a release .
`` The preponderance of anti-Israel statements in his past argues that he will side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic Party and against Israel at every opportunity . ''
Warnock is challenging incumbent Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R. , Ga. ) in a critical January runoff that may determine control of the Senate .

Georgia Senate hopeful Raphael Warnock (D.) compared Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to segregationist George Wallace in a 2016 sermon.
Warnock likened Netanyahu’s stance opposing a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians to Wallace’s ardent segregationist views, Fox News reported Wednesday. Warnock told his congregation that the Israeli prime minister may as well say, "occupation today, occupation tomorrow, occupation forever," echoing the Democratic Alabama governor's call for "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever."
Warnock, who has been dogged by accusations that he tolerates anti-Semitism, also said that true democracy is incompatible with the current system in Israel.
"If you don’t have a Palestinian state, you cannot have a Jewish democracy," Warnock said. "That state will either be Jewish, or it will be a democracy.... If you do not have a Palestinian state, you will have to have apartheid in Israel that denies other citizens, sisters and brothers, citizenship."
Anti-Israel activist Linda Sarsour came to Warnock's defense on Twitter Wednesday night. "Warnock was absolutely correct," she said.
In 2019, Warnock signed a letter likening Israel to apartheid South Africa and Cold War-era Berlin. Warnock has also repeatedly praised Rev. Jeremiah Wright, a noted anti-Semite. Warnock has attempted to mend his spotty record on Israel, touting an endorsement from Democratic Majority for Israel.
The Republican Jewish Coalition said Warnock has a history of "hatemongering."
"His 2016 comparison of Prime Minister Netanyahu to segregationist George Wallace in front of an African-American audience was simple hatemongering," the group said in a release. "The preponderance of anti-Israel statements in his past argues that he will side with Israel’s opponents in the Democratic Party and against Israel at every opportunity."
Warnock is challenging incumbent Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R., Ga.) in a critical January runoff that may determine control of the Senate.


freebeacon--2020-12-10--Andrew Cuomo Wins ‘Leadership’ Award Named for Murderous Sex Pest as NY Nears 35K COVID Deaths

Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D. , N.Y. ) , who recently won an Emmy award for doing his job , received the 2020 Edward M. Kennedy Institute Award for Inspired Leadership in a virtual ceremony on Wednesday .
`` I learned so much from Senator Kennedy , '' Cuomo said .
`` The humanity , the substance , the results , and the touch , the touch , the charisma . ''
It is perhaps fitting that Cuomo—aka `` The Butcher of Albany '' —whose decision to send elderly COVID-19 patients back into nursing homes at the height of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would win an award named for a notorious sex pest who suffered no real consequences after murdering a woman with his car in 1969 , and fleeing the crime scene because he was worried about his political career .
Hundreds of New Yorkers have been killed by the virus since mid-October , when Cuomo published his book on `` leadership lessons . ''
More than 2,000 New Yorkers have died since mid-July , when Cuomo unveiled his mission accomplished poster declaring victory in the fight against the pandemic .
Kennedy is , inexplicably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic circles .
Apart from his involvement in the death of Mary Jo Kopechne , he is best known for the perverted hijinks he got into with former senator Chris Dodd ( D. , Conn. ) , who co-chaired Joe Biden 's vice presidential selection committee .
GQ magazine offered a colorful recounting of a 1985 incident at a fancy Washington , D.C. , restaurant during which Kennedy and Dodd allegedly sexually assaulted a waitress while their dates— '' two very young blondes '' —were in the bathroom .
Kennedy reportedly grabbed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her on their table , shattering plates and glasses , before tossing her onto Dodd 's lap and `` rubbing his genital area against hers . ''

Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D., N.Y.), who recently won an Emmy award for doing his job, received the 2020 Edward M. Kennedy Institute Award for Inspired Leadership in a virtual ceremony on Wednesday. "I learned so much from Senator Kennedy," Cuomo said. "The humanity, the substance, the results, and the touch, the touch, the charisma."
It is perhaps fitting that Cuomo—aka "The Butcher of Albany"—whose decision to send elderly COVID-19 patients back into nursing homes at the height of the pandemic resulted in numerous deaths, would win an award named for a notorious sex pest who suffered no real consequences after murdering a woman with his car in 1969, and fleeing the crime scene because he was worried about his political career.
Hundreds of New Yorkers have been killed by the virus since mid-October, when Cuomo published his book on "leadership lessons." More than 2,000 New Yorkers have died since mid-July, when Cuomo unveiled his mission accomplished poster declaring victory in the fight against the pandemic.
The Sea of Division. The Boyfriend Cliff. The Sun On The Other Side. See it all for yourself. Pre-order the #NewYorkTough poster here: — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) July 14, 2020
Kennedy is, inexplicably, still regarded as a hero in Democratic circles. Apart from his involvement in the death of Mary Jo Kopechne, he is best known for the perverted hijinks he got into with former senator Chris Dodd (D., Conn.), who co-chaired Joe Biden's vice presidential selection committee.
GQ magazine offered a colorful recounting of a 1985 incident at a fancy Washington, D.C., restaurant during which Kennedy and Dodd allegedly sexually assaulted a waitress while their dates—"two very young blondes"—were in the bathroom. Kennedy reportedly grabbed the waitress, Carla Gaviglio, and threw her on their table, shattering plates and glasses, before tossing her onto Dodd's lap and "rubbing his genital area against hers."
Congrats on the award, Mr. Governor!


freebeacon--2020-12-10--Israel, Morocco Agree to Normalize Relations in Latest U.S.-Brokered Deal

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – Israel and Morocco agreed on Thursday to normalize relations in a deal brokered with the help of the United States , making Morocco the fourth Arab country to set aside hostilities with Israel in the past four months .
As part of the agreement , U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to recognize Morocco ’ s sovereignty over the Western Sahara , where there has been a decades-old territorial dispute with Morocco pitted against the Algeria-backed Polisario Front , a breakaway movement that seeks to establish an independent state in the territory .
Trump sealed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Morocco ’ s King Mohammed VI , the senior U.S. official said .
Morocco is the fourth country since August to strike a deal aimed at normalizing relations with Israel .
The others were the United Arab Emirates , Bahrain and Sudan .
Under the agreement , Morocco will establish full diplomatic relations and resume official contacts with Israel , grant overflights and also direct flights to and from Israel for all Israelis .
`` They are going to reopen their liaison offices in Rabat and Tel Aviv immediately with the intention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to promote economic cooperation between Israeli and Moroccan companies , '' White House senior adviser Jared Kushner told Reuters .
`` Today the administration has achieved another historic milestone .
President Trump has brokered a peace agreement between Morocco and Israel – the fourth such agreement between Israel and an Arab/Muslim nation in four months .
`` Through this historic step , Morocco is building on its longstanding bond with the Moroccan Jewish community living in Morocco and throughout the world , including in Israel .
This is a significant step forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It further enhances Israel ’ s security , while creating opportunities for Morocco and Israel to deepen their economic ties and improve the lives of their people . ''
A White House statement on the phone call between Trump and the king of Morocco said Trump `` reaffirmed his support for Morocco ’ s serious , credible , and realistic autonomy proposal as the only basis for a just and lasting solution to the dispute over the Western Sahara territory . ''
`` And as such the president recognized Moroccan sovereignty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the statement said .
Palestinians have been critical of the normalization deals , saying Arab countries have set back the cause of peace by abandoning a longstanding demand that Israel give up land for a Palestinian state before it can receive recognition .
With Trump to leave office on Jan. 20 , the Morocco deal could be among the last his team , led by Kushner and U.S. envoy Avi Berkowitz , is able to negotiate before they give way to President-elect Joe Biden ’ s incoming administration .
Much of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ present a united front against Iran and roll back its regional influence .
The Trump White House has tried to get Saudi Arabia to sign on to a normalization deal with Israel , believing if the Saudis agreed other Arab nations would follow , but the Saudis have signaled they are not ready .
One more Middle East breakthrough is possible .
Last week Kushner and his team traveled to Saudi Arabia and Qatar seeking an end to a three-year rift between Doha and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries .
A tentative deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was far from clear whether a final agreement to end a blockade of Qatar will be sealed .
Saudi Arabia , the United Arab Emirates , Bahrain and Egypt have maintained a diplomatic , trade and travel embargo on Qatar since mid-2017 .
While Biden is expected to move U.S. foreign policy away from Trump ’ s `` America First '' posture , he has indicated he will continue the pursuit of what Trump calls `` the Abraham Accords '' between Israel and Arab and Muslim nations .

By Steve Holland
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Israel and Morocco agreed on Thursday to normalize relations in a deal brokered with the help of the United States, making Morocco the fourth Arab country to set aside hostilities with Israel in the past four months.
As part of the agreement, U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara, where there has been a decades-old territorial dispute with Morocco pitted against the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, a breakaway movement that seeks to establish an independent state in the territory.
Trump sealed the agreement in a phone call on Thursday with Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, the senior U.S. official said.
Morocco is the fourth country since August to strike a deal aimed at normalizing relations with Israel. The others were the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan.
Under the agreement, Morocco will establish full diplomatic relations and resume official contacts with Israel, grant overflights and also direct flights to and from Israel for all Israelis.
"They are going to reopen their liaison offices in Rabat and Tel Aviv immediately with the intention to open embassies. And they are going to promote economic cooperation between Israeli and Moroccan companies," White House senior adviser Jared Kushner told Reuters.
"Today the administration has achieved another historic milestone. President Trump has brokered a peace agreement between Morocco and Israel – the fourth such agreement between Israel and an Arab/Muslim nation in four months.
"Through this historic step, Morocco is building on its longstanding bond with the Moroccan Jewish community living in Morocco and throughout the world, including in Israel. This is a significant step forward for the people of Israel and Morocco.
"It further enhances Israel’s security, while creating opportunities for Morocco and Israel to deepen their economic ties and improve the lives of their people."
A White House statement on the phone call between Trump and the king of Morocco said Trump "reaffirmed his support for Morocco’s serious, credible, and realistic autonomy proposal as the only basis for a just and lasting solution to the dispute over the Western Sahara territory."
"And as such the president recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the entire Western Sahara territory," the statement said.
Palestinians have been critical of the normalization deals, saying Arab countries have set back the cause of peace by abandoning a longstanding demand that Israel give up land for a Palestinian state before it can receive recognition.
With Trump to leave office on Jan. 20, the Morocco deal could be among the last his team, led by Kushner and U.S. envoy Avi Berkowitz, is able to negotiate before they give way to President-elect Joe Biden’s incoming administration.
Much of the momentum behind the deal-making has been to present a united front against Iran and roll back its regional influence.
The Trump White House has tried to get Saudi Arabia to sign on to a normalization deal with Israel, believing if the Saudis agreed other Arab nations would follow, but the Saudis have signaled they are not ready.
One more Middle East breakthrough is possible. Last week Kushner and his team traveled to Saudi Arabia and Qatar seeking an end to a three-year rift between Doha and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
A tentative deal has been reached on this front but it was far from clear whether a final agreement to end a blockade of Qatar will be sealed. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt have maintained a diplomatic, trade and travel embargo on Qatar since mid-2017.
While Biden is expected to move U.S. foreign policy away from Trump’s "America First" posture, he has indicated he will continue the pursuit of what Trump calls "the Abraham Accords" between Israel and Arab and Muslim nations.
(Reporting by Steve Holland, Editing by Howard Goller)


freebeacon--2020-12-10--Report: Schumer Had to Tell Feinstein to Step Down Twice—She Forgot the First Time

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) had to tell Sen. Dianne Feinstein ( D. , Calif. ) twice to step down as the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee because she forgot about the first conversation , a new report claims .
The 87-year-old senator `` wasn ’ t really all that aware of the extent to which she ’ d been compromised '' as the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee , a source told the New Yorker .
Schumer had to confront Feinstein twice about stepping down in a `` distressing '' conversation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It was like Groundhog Day , but with the pain fresh each time , '' the source said .
The report also said Feinstein has issues with short-term memory , frequently forgetting briefings she receives from staff and becoming upset when she gets confused by briefings .
One source compared the situation to taking away car keys from an elderly relative .
`` The staff is in such a bad position , '' a former Senate aide said .
`` They have to defend her and make her seem normal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be stepping down as the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee in the next Congress .
She faced backlash from left-wing groups for not being aggressive enough during the confirmation hearings for Amy Coney Barrett , who went on to be confirmed to the Supreme Court .
Feinstein 's term will end in 2024 when she is 91 years old .

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) had to tell Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) twice to step down as the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee because she forgot about the first conversation, a new report claims.
The 87-year-old senator "wasn’t really all that aware of the extent to which she’d been compromised" as the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, a source told the New Yorker. Schumer had to confront Feinstein twice about stepping down in a "distressing" conversation after she forgot about the first conversation. "It was like Groundhog Day, but with the pain fresh each time," the source said.
The report also said Feinstein has issues with short-term memory, frequently forgetting briefings she receives from staff and becoming upset when she gets confused by briefings. One source compared the situation to taking away car keys from an elderly relative.
"The staff is in such a bad position," a former Senate aide said. "They have to defend her and make her seem normal."
Feinstein announced last month that she will be stepping down as the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee in the next Congress. She faced backlash from left-wing groups for not being aggressive enough during the confirmation hearings for Amy Coney Barrett, who went on to be confirmed to the Supreme Court.
Feinstein's term will end in 2024 when she is 91 years old.