freebeacon--2020-02-21--U.S., Taliban Agree to Landmark Ceasefire

The United States and the Taliban have reached a landmark agreement that will significantly reduce violence in Afghanistan and pave the way for the two sides to negotiate a peace deal that could bring the 18-year war in the country to a final end , the State Department announced on Friday .
`` The United States and the Taliban have been engaged in extensive talks to facilitate a political settlement to end the war in Afghanistan , reduce United States and Allied Forces presence , and ensure that no terrorist group ever uses Afghan soil to threaten the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Mike Pompeo said early Friday in a statement .
The agreement , being referred to officially as a `` reduction in violence '' accord , will pave the way for the Trump administration and the Taliban to engage in peace talks that could see most American forces finally exit the country .
The first prong of this agreement will go into effect later tonight , U.S. officials said .
`` In recent weeks , in consultation with the Government of National Unity , U.S. negotiators in Doha have come to an understanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationwide reduction in violence across Afghanistan , '' Pompeo said .
`` Upon a successful implementation of this understanding , signing of the U.S.-Taliban agreement is expected to move forward .
We are preparing for the signing to take place on February 29 , '' according to the secretary of state .
`` Intra-Afghan negotiations will start soon thereafter , and will build on this fundamental step to deliver a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and the future political roadmap for Afghanistan .
The only way to achieve a sustainable peace in Afghanistan is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the way forward . ''
`` Challenges remain , but the progress made in Doha provides hope and represents a real opportunity , '' Pompeo said .
`` The United States calls on all Afghans to seize this moment . ''
While peace talks planned with the Taliban broke down last year , the Trump administration has been working behind the scenes for months to hash out the reduction in violence agreement .
Rumors that this pact was close to a lock first began to circulate last week .
If it sticks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good on his promise to end the war in Afghanistan and bring American troops home .

The United States and the Taliban have reached a landmark agreement that will significantly reduce violence in Afghanistan and pave the way for the two sides to negotiate a peace deal that could bring the 18-year war in the country to a final end, the State Department announced on Friday.
"The United States and the Taliban have been engaged in extensive talks to facilitate a political settlement to end the war in Afghanistan, reduce United States and Allied Forces presence, and ensure that no terrorist group ever uses Afghan soil to threaten the United States or our allies," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said early Friday in a statement.
The agreement, being referred to officially as a "reduction in violence" accord, will pave the way for the Trump administration and the Taliban to engage in peace talks that could see most American forces finally exit the country. The first prong of this agreement will go into effect later tonight, U.S. officials said.
"In recent weeks, in consultation with the Government of National Unity, U.S. negotiators in Doha have come to an understanding with the Taliban on a significant and nationwide reduction in violence across Afghanistan," Pompeo said.
"Upon a successful implementation of this understanding, signing of the U.S.-Taliban agreement is expected to move forward. We are preparing for the signing to take place on February 29," according to the secretary of state. "Intra-Afghan negotiations will start soon thereafter, and will build on this fundamental step to deliver a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and the future political roadmap for Afghanistan. The only way to achieve a sustainable peace in Afghanistan is for Afghans to come together and agree on the way forward."
"Challenges remain, but the progress made in Doha provides hope and represents a real opportunity," Pompeo said. "The United States calls on all Afghans to seize this moment."
While peace talks planned with the Taliban broke down last year, the Trump administration has been working behind the scenes for months to hash out the reduction in violence agreement.
Rumors that this pact was close to a lock first began to circulate last week. If it sticks, it could enable Trump to make good on his promise to end the war in Afghanistan and bring American troops home.


freebeacon--2020-02-21--Disgraced Multimillionaire Remains on Bloomberg Foundation Board Despite Harassment Claims

An advertising mogul who was removed from the helm of his own business after employees said he subjected women to `` brutal and inhuman '' treatment remains on the board of Michael Bloomberg 's personal charity organization .
Martin Sorrell , a member of the Bloomberg Family Foundation 's board of directors , in 2018 was forced to resign from his position as chief executive of communications giant WPP , which he founded in 1985 .
The resignation came after Sorrell 's female assistants accused the multimillionaire of fostering a `` toxic environment '' with `` routine verbal abuse .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sorrell to `` being in an abusive relationship . ''
Sorrell was also investigated for using company funds to pay a prostitute and was forced to pay back nearly £220,000 of WPP money he used for personal matters .
Despite the allegations against Sorrell and his subsequent resignation , the businessman remains on the Bloomberg Family Foundation 's board , which he joined as an inaugural member in 2010 .
Bloomberg has faced his own allegations of workplace harassment .
Multiple female employees have accused the former New York City mayor of making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'd like to do that piece of meat '' and `` I would do you in a second . ''
Fellow Democratic candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
attacked Bloomberg over the sexism allegations during Wednesday 's debate in Las Vegas , urging the billionaire to release the women behind the accusations from nondisclosure agreements .
Bloomberg refused to do so and defended his record with women by pointing to the female leadership at his philanthropic foundation .
He said inappropriate conduct toward women would be a fireable offense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our company , we investigate it , and if it 's inappropriate , they 're gone that day , '' Bloomberg said .
`` But let me tell you what I do at my company and my foundation and in city government when I was there .
In my foundation , a person that runs it [ is ] a woman .
Seventy percent of the people there are women . ''
Bloomberg senior adviser Tim O'Brien addressed the billionaire 's alleged misconduct by touting the foundation 's female management during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` One of Mike 's key advisers for a very long time is Patti Harris , '' O'Brien said on MSNBC .
`` She was his deputy mayor when he was mayor of New York .
She ran Bloomberg Philanthropies , which has been run by women , and she 's the chairwoman of our campaign . ''
Like Bloomberg , details of the allegations against Sorrell have not been discussed publicly due to a confidentiality agreement .
The Financial Times discussed the accusations with `` more than 25 individuals who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
No accusers spoke on record .
Neither the Bloomberg campaign nor Sorrell responded to requests for comment .
Bloomberg and Sorrell 's relationship dates back to at least November 2001 , when WPP purchased Democratic consulting firm Penn , Schoen , & Berland Associates .
Bloomberg hired the firm to conduct polling for his 2001 New York mayoral campaign and employed it again in 2005 following Sorrell 's purchase .
In February 2009 , Bloomberg launched Media.NYC.2020 , a city government initiative that brought together top media executives to discuss `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to develop and be transformed in years ahead . ''
Bloomberg made Sorrell one of the initiative 's four project chairs , and Sorrell joined the Bloomberg Family Foundation board just months later .
Sorrell appeared on Bloomberg TV following his departure from WPP .
Host Francine Lacqua told him she found his exit `` surprising . ''
She did not mention the allegations that led to his resignation , and Sorrell touted his latest venture , media company S4 Capital .
`` No , '' Sorrell said .
`` Obviously I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but I think we 've made big strides with S4 Capital , and we 're focused on a new-era , new-age model . ''
Though Sorrell was not rebuked by the Bloomberg Family Foundation following the accusations , his alleged misconduct did undermine his influence with fellow business leaders .
Sorrell reportedly did not receive an invitation to the British business leaders ' lunch at the 2019 World Economic Forum in Davos , Switzerland , an event he was asked to speak at in 2018 .
As a member of the Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sorrell helps manage nearly $ 9 billion in assets .
Other prominent board members include Disney CEO Bob Iger and former Treasury secretary Hank Paulson .

An advertising mogul who was removed from the helm of his own business after employees said he subjected women to "brutal and inhuman" treatment remains on the board of Michael Bloomberg's personal charity organization.
Martin Sorrell, a member of the Bloomberg Family Foundation's board of directors, in 2018 was forced to resign from his position as chief executive of communications giant WPP, which he founded in 1985. The resignation came after Sorrell's female assistants accused the multimillionaire of fostering a "toxic environment" with "routine verbal abuse." One anonymous staffer compared working for Sorrell to "being in an abusive relationship." Sorrell was also investigated for using company funds to pay a prostitute and was forced to pay back nearly $220,000 of WPP money he used for personal matters.
Despite the allegations against Sorrell and his subsequent resignation, the businessman remains on the Bloomberg Family Foundation's board, which he joined as an inaugural member in 2010. Bloomberg has faced his own allegations of workplace harassment. Multiple female employees have accused the former New York City mayor of making crude sexual comments such as "I'd like to do that piece of meat" and "I would do you in a second."
Fellow Democratic candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) attacked Bloomberg over the sexism allegations during Wednesday's debate in Las Vegas, urging the billionaire to release the women behind the accusations from nondisclosure agreements. Bloomberg refused to do so and defended his record with women by pointing to the female leadership at his philanthropic foundation. He said inappropriate conduct toward women would be a fireable offense.
"Anybody that does anything wrong in our company, we investigate it, and if it's inappropriate, they're gone that day," Bloomberg said. "But let me tell you what I do at my company and my foundation and in city government when I was there. In my foundation, a person that runs it [is] a woman. Seventy percent of the people there are women."
Bloomberg senior adviser Tim O'Brien addressed the billionaire's alleged misconduct by touting the foundation's female management during a television appearance Wednesday ahead of the debate.
"One of Mike's key advisers for a very long time is Patti Harris," O'Brien said on MSNBC. "She was his deputy mayor when he was mayor of New York. She ran Bloomberg Philanthropies, which has been run by women, and she's the chairwoman of our campaign."
Like Bloomberg, details of the allegations against Sorrell have not been discussed publicly due to a confidentiality agreement. The Financial Times discussed the accusations with "more than 25 individuals who have worked closely with the former WPP boss." No accusers spoke on record.
Neither the Bloomberg campaign nor Sorrell responded to requests for comment.
Bloomberg and Sorrell's relationship dates back to at least November 2001, when WPP purchased Democratic consulting firm Penn, Schoen, & Berland Associates. Bloomberg hired the firm to conduct polling for his 2001 New York mayoral campaign and employed it again in 2005 following Sorrell's purchase.
In February 2009, Bloomberg launched Media.NYC.2020, a city government initiative that brought together top media executives to discuss "how New York's media ecosystem is likely to develop and be transformed in years ahead." Bloomberg made Sorrell one of the initiative's four project chairs, and Sorrell joined the Bloomberg Family Foundation board just months later.
Sorrell appeared on Bloomberg TV following his departure from WPP. Host Francine Lacqua told him she found his exit "surprising." She did not mention the allegations that led to his resignation, and Sorrell touted his latest venture, media company S4 Capital.
"Any regrets?" Lacqua asked.
"No," Sorrell said. "Obviously I'm sad about what happened at WPP, but I think we've made big strides with S4 Capital, and we're focused on a new-era, new-age model."
Though Sorrell was not rebuked by the Bloomberg Family Foundation following the accusations, his alleged misconduct did undermine his influence with fellow business leaders. Sorrell reportedly did not receive an invitation to the British business leaders' lunch at the 2019 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, an event he was asked to speak at in 2018.
As a member of the Bloomberg Family Foundation's board of directors, Sorrell helps manage nearly $9 billion in assets. Other prominent board members include Disney CEO Bob Iger and former Treasury secretary Hank Paulson.


freebeacon--2020-02-21--Battle of the Boroughs

Battle of the Boroughs

There are 329 million people in the United States of America .
They are spread across 3.8 million square miles .
The presidential race will be determined by the actions of three of them : Donald Trump , Bernie Sanders , and Michael Bloomberg .
Each is a New Yorker .
Each hails from a different borough .
Trump was born in Queens , Sanders in Brooklyn , and Bloomberg , a native of Massachusetts , has worked and lived in Manhattan since 1973 .
For a long time New York City politics stopped at the Hudson River .
Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months of septuagenarian New Yorkers yelling at each other .
The geographic , regional , ethnic , and racial diversity of America is nowhere visible .
Religion is an exception : The first Jewish presidential nominee of a major party will also be , in all likelihood , the most hostile nominee toward Israel ever .
How did this happen ?
Trump 's presence is the easiest to explain .
For one thing , he 's the incumbent .
He 's also the most significant political figure of the last 30 years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ area code 212 .
The audience that bought his books and his board game , that visited his casinos and watched his television show , drew from all walks of life , all corners of the country .
President Trump is from New York , he lived in a triplex in his black skyscraper on the most coveted piece of property in the city , but he is n't really of New York .
The Manhattan crowd treated him like an oddity .
He was an object of fun .
Even today Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rich and famous he may be , but Donald Trump never has been an insider .
Since he first appeared on the scene in the late 1980s , his key constituents have been the type of men who build his hotels .
He speaks their language , he shares their tastes , and he embodies their aspirations .
That is why he connects with the coal miner in West Virginia , the farmer in Wisconsin , the factory worker in Ohio , the restaurant server in Pennsylvania .
The 2016 Republican primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's political takeover .
Trump 's victory is instructive .
He did it through savvy manipulation of media—his city 's stock and trade—and by identifying and winning over a growing pool of potential Republican voters whom GOP elites ignored .
Disaffected Democrats , often without college degrees , alienated from a party defined by the values of liberal professionals and woke Millennials , are the most important element of the Trump coalition .
They were up for grabs for a reason .
The center left was hollowed out .
Plenty of center-left Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not have won the House in 2018 without them .
The problem is the communications apparatus of the Democratic Party—the cable networks , social media , newspapers , and public radio—is to the left of the median voter .
And media deliver the cues for national politicians .
Media set the agenda .
The headlines are filled with discussions of the Green New Deal , Medicare for All , the 1619 Project , trans rights , `` Abolish I.C.E.
, '' Russian collusion , Mothers of the Movement , the March for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left .
It drives the rest of us away .
Four years ago Trump leveraged his committed supporters against a divided field .
The institutional party could n't stop him , partly because it was unable and partly because it did n't want to .
Which institution in America today , after all , is willing to deny `` the people '' its choice ?
Trump won a plurality of votes and the nomination .
When that happened , the GOP faced a decision : Trump or Clinton .
You know the rest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ path .
He defeated the competition in Iowa and New Hampshire with around a quarter of the vote .
His splintered opposition prevents the anti-Bernie Democrats from consolidating around a single candidate .
Not since 1992 has a party nominated someone who failed to win either of the first two contests .
Not in the modern era has a party denied the nomination to the winner of the most delegates .
( Walter Mondale entered the 1984 convention with less than a majority of pledged delegates , but got the nomination . )
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ commanding position .
And why the third New Yorker , Bloomberg , is lighting $ 400 million on fire trying to prevent the Democrats from nominating a democratic socialist .
He may not be able to close the deal .
It is telling that Trump , Sanders , and Bloomberg have flexible relationships with the political parties they seek to control .
Trump has changed his party registration five times , most recently coming full circle to Republican in 2012 .
Bernie Sanders has never registered as a Democrat .
Bloomberg has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independent , and , since 2018 , a Democrat again .
The top two vote-getters in the 2016 Republican primary were Trump and Ted Cruz .
Both men ran against the party establishment .
The top two vote-getters in the 2020 Democratic primary are Sanders and Pete Buttigieg ( so far ) .
Try finding more concrete evidence that voters want outsiders than in the Democratic embrace of a man who praised the Moscow subway after a visit to the Soviet Union , and a 38-year-old who spent eight years as mayor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of media , collapse of the center left , revolt against the political establishment , and a realignment of campaign finance that privileges small-dollar contributors on the one hand and self-funding billionaires on the other have elevated the Big Apple to preeminence .
This election will be the equivalent of a Subway Series , a UFC fight at the Garden between Norman Thomas and Frank Costanza .
In such an absurd situation Larry David becomes a contested symbol , imitating Sanders on Saturday Night Live as Trump tweets clips of him wearing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And the bartender from the Bronx waits in the wings .
Only in New York , kids .
Only in New York .

There are 329 million people in the United States of America. They are spread across 3.8 million square miles. The presidential race will be determined by the actions of three of them: Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, and Michael Bloomberg. Each is a New Yorker. Each hails from a different borough. Trump was born in Queens, Sanders in Brooklyn, and Bloomberg, a native of Massachusetts, has worked and lived in Manhattan since 1973.
For a long time New York City politics stopped at the Hudson River. Now the nation faces the prospect of eight months of septuagenarian New Yorkers yelling at each other. The geographic, regional, ethnic, and racial diversity of America is nowhere visible. Religion is an exception: The first Jewish presidential nominee of a major party will also be, in all likelihood, the most hostile nominee toward Israel ever.
How did this happen?
Trump's presence is the easiest to explain. For one thing, he's the incumbent. He's also the most significant political figure of the last 30 years. His appeal has never been limited to area code 212. The audience that bought his books and his board game, that visited his casinos and watched his television show, drew from all walks of life, all corners of the country. President Trump is from New York, he lived in a triplex in his black skyscraper on the most coveted piece of property in the city, but he isn't really of New York.
The Manhattan crowd treated him like an oddity. He was an object of fun. Even today Bloomberg brags that he is wealthier than Trump. Rich and famous he may be, but Donald Trump never has been an insider. Since he first appeared on the scene in the late 1980s, his key constituents have been the type of men who build his hotels. He speaks their language, he shares their tastes, and he embodies their aspirations. That is why he connects with the coal miner in West Virginia, the farmer in Wisconsin, the factory worker in Ohio, the restaurant server in Pennsylvania.
The 2016 Republican primary was the first step in New York's political takeover. Trump's victory is instructive. He did it through savvy manipulation of media—his city's stock and trade—and by identifying and winning over a growing pool of potential Republican voters whom GOP elites ignored. Disaffected Democrats, often without college degrees, alienated from a party defined by the values of liberal professionals and woke Millennials, are the most important element of the Trump coalition. They were up for grabs for a reason. The center left was hollowed out.
Plenty of center-left Democrats remain, of course. The Democrats would not have won the House in 2018 without them. The problem is the communications apparatus of the Democratic Party—the cable networks, social media, newspapers, and public radio—is to the left of the median voter. And media deliver the cues for national politicians. Media set the agenda. The headlines are filled with discussions of the Green New Deal, Medicare for All, the 1619 Project, trans rights, "Abolish I.C.E.," Russian collusion, Mothers of the Movement, the March for Our Lives. This discourse titillates the left. It drives the rest of us away.
Four years ago Trump leveraged his committed supporters against a divided field. The institutional party couldn't stop him, partly because it was unable and partly because it didn't want to. Which institution in America today, after all, is willing to deny "the people" its choice? Trump won a plurality of votes and the nomination. When that happened, the GOP faced a decision: Trump or Clinton. You know the rest.
Bernie Sanders is following a similar path. He defeated the competition in Iowa and New Hampshire with around a quarter of the vote. His splintered opposition prevents the anti-Bernie Democrats from consolidating around a single candidate. Not since 1992 has a party nominated someone who failed to win either of the first two contests. Not in the modern era has a party denied the nomination to the winner of the most delegates. (Walter Mondale entered the 1984 convention with less than a majority of pledged delegates, but got the nomination.) That is why Sanders is in a commanding position.
And why the third New Yorker, Bloomberg, is lighting $400 million on fire trying to prevent the Democrats from nominating a democratic socialist. He may not be able to close the deal. It is telling that Trump, Sanders, and Bloomberg have flexible relationships with the political parties they seek to control. Trump has changed his party registration five times, most recently coming full circle to Republican in 2012. Bernie Sanders has never registered as a Democrat. Bloomberg has been a Democrat, a Republican, an independent, and, since 2018, a Democrat again.
The top two vote-getters in the 2016 Republican primary were Trump and Ted Cruz. Both men ran against the party establishment. The top two vote-getters in the 2020 Democratic primary are Sanders and Pete Buttigieg (so far). Try finding more concrete evidence that voters want outsiders than in the Democratic embrace of a man who praised the Moscow subway after a visit to the Soviet Union, and a 38-year-old who spent eight years as mayor of Indiana's fourth-largest city.
The power of media, collapse of the center left, revolt against the political establishment, and a realignment of campaign finance that privileges small-dollar contributors on the one hand and self-funding billionaires on the other have elevated the Big Apple to preeminence. This election will be the equivalent of a Subway Series, a UFC fight at the Garden between Norman Thomas and Frank Costanza. In such an absurd situation Larry David becomes a contested symbol, imitating Sanders on Saturday Night Live as Trump tweets clips of him wearing a MAGA hat on Curb Your Enthusiasm. And the bartender from the Bronx waits in the wings.
Only in New York, kids. Only in New York.


Beacon Extra 2/20/20

Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon ’ s morning newsletter , your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom .
To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning , sign up here .
`` BILLIONAIRE BEATDOWN : ‘ Mini Mike ’ Savaged By Democratic Rivals in Nevada , '' by WFB ’ s Andrew Stiles : Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg wilted under a barrage of withering criticism from his much taller Democratic rivals during his first appearance at a primary debate … Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
came out swinging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history of degrading remarks about women .
She compared him unfavorably to President Donald J. Trump , urging Democrats not to `` substitute one arrogant billionaire for another . ''
Later in the debate , she humiliated the former mayor over his treatment of female subordinates and the nondisclosure agreements signed by numerous former Bloomberg employees .
WAR ON WOMEN … `` Bloomberg on NDAs : ‘ Maybe They Didn ’ t Like a Joke I Told ’ , '' by WFB ’ s Charles Fain Lehman : 2020 contender Michael Bloomberg during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to release potentially dozens of women , downplaying their accusations of sexual harassment as `` maybe they did n't like a joke I told '' … Wednesday evening is far from the first time Bloomberg has refused to release former female employees from nondisclosure agreements settling more than a dozen legal complaints of sexual harassment and discrimination at Bloomberg LP .
I CAN SEE RUSSIA FROM MY VACATION HOUSE … `` Bernie Says Russians May Be to Blame for Culinary Union Attacks , '' by WFB ’ s Graham Piro : Sen. Bernie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Russian trolls may be responsible for online attacks on members of Nevada 's Culinary Union .
`` It 's not thinkable '' that his supporters would harass union leadership , Sanders said at Wednesday evening 's Democratic debate in Las Vegas .
`` Not being too paranoid , all of us remember 2016 .
And what we remember is efforts by Russians and others to try to interfere in our election and divide us up , '' Sanders said during Wednesday night 's Democratic debate .
TRANSPARENCY BYPASS … `` Bernie Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Is a ‘ Smear ’ Like Birtherism , '' via DAILY BEAST : Asked by CNN if people deserve to know more about Sanders ’ health , [ Briahna Joy ] Gray said … `` What you ’ re seeing right now is really reminiscent of some of the smear and skepticism campaigns that have been run against a lot of different candidates in the past , questioning where they ’ re from and aspects of their lineage . ''
The press secretary went on : `` It ’ s really telling , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is being demonstrated for Michael Bloomberg , who ’ s the same age as Bernie Sanders and has suffered heart attacks in the past '' … Gray later clarified : `` I [ misspoke ] when I said Bloomberg had a heart attack . ''
INDIAN GIVING … `` Super PAC launches to support Elizabeth Warren , who has decried the role of super PACs , '' via WAPO : A new super PAC has formed to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to boost the presidential bid of Sen. Elizabeth Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose banner campaign issue centers on rejecting the power of moneyed interests in politics … In a statement , Warren ’ s campaign said the senator ’ s position has not changed … [ but ] did not address Warren ’ s feelings about Persist PAC … and the campaign did not respond to questions about whether the senator thinks the group should continue to exist to support her candidacy .
BLOOMBERG PROPOSES LEVERAGED BUYOUT … `` Bloomberg camp warns Sanders ‘ impossible to stop , ' unless Biden , Klobuchar , Buttigieg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` If [ Joe ] Biden , [ Pete ] Buttigieg , and [ Amy ] Klobuchar remain in the race despite having no path to appreciably collecting super delegates on Super Tuesday ( and beyond ) , they will propel [ Bernie ] Sanders to a seemingly insurmountable delegate lead by siphoning votes away from [ Michael Bloomberg ] , '' the memo said … Bloomberg 's top strategist Kevin Sheekey stressed the need for the centrist Democrats to coalesce to prevent a possible Sanders victory .
RUPERT OUT OF QUARANTINE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street Journal Reporters , '' via WSJ : China revoked the press credentials of three Wall Street Journal reporters based in Beijing , the first time in the post-Mao era that the Chinese government has expelled multiple journalists from one international news organization at the same time … The expulsions by China ’ s Foreign Ministry followed widespread public anger at the headline on the Feb. 3 opinion piece , which referred to China as `` the real sick man of Asia . ''
WFB ABROAD … `` In Africa , Pompeo Touts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Westernize ’ Continent , '' by WFB ’ s Adam Kredo : Speaking Wednesday in Ethiopia before the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa , [ Secretary of State Mike ] Pompeo touted the influx of billions of dollars in aid from the United States to Africa in what many see as a bid to erode China 's dominance across the region .
However , Pompeo 's tour across three developing African countries—Senegal , Angola , and Ethiopia—has not been without contention .
As these countries struggle to shake off years of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stymied progress and threaten to erode hard-fought gains in government and economic reform initiatives .
DOING TRUMP ’ S WORK FOR HIM … THEY IS GOING CRAZY … `` Gender Pronouns Can Be Tricky on Campus .
Harvard Is Making Them Stick.
, '' via NYT : Harvard being Harvard , changing a fixture of the classroom—even the format of name placards—could not be done without some serious discussion , said Mr. Garcia Blum , who is the vice president for diversity for the Kennedy School ’ s student government .
He wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to include gender pronouns , but Harvard declined , he said .
Instead , administrators compromised on the stickers , made available in the student lounge , `` so people can opt in . ''
IT ’ S HER TURN , AGAIN … `` ANALYSIS : Democrats Deserve a Younger , Healthier Frontrunner in 2020 , '' by WFB ’ s Andrew Stiles : Presumptive frontrunners [ Bernie ] Sanders and [ Michael ] Bloomberg are both considerably older than Trump ( 73 ) , and neither possesses the incumbent 's legendary intellectual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two were arguing about which of them had suffered the more significant heart problems … Hillary Clinton , who has yet to officially announce her candidacy for president in 2020 … is only 72 years old .
She has n't suffered any unexplained fainting spells of late—that we know of—and appears to have gotten her coughing fits under control .
She is a woman , which is nice .
Her net worth , in the $ 50 million range , is relatively modest .
Thanks for reading !
Send tips to rutz @ @ @

Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon’s morning newsletter, your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom. To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning, sign up here.
"BILLIONAIRE BEATDOWN: ‘Mini Mike’ Savaged By Democratic Rivals in Nevada," by WFB’s Andrew Stiles: Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg wilted under a barrage of withering criticism from his much taller Democratic rivals during his first appearance at a primary debate …
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) came out swinging the hardest, slamming Bloomberg over his history of degrading remarks about women. She compared him unfavorably to President Donald J. Trump, urging Democrats not to "substitute one arrogant billionaire for another." Later in the debate, she humiliated the former mayor over his treatment of female subordinates and the nondisclosure agreements signed by numerous former Bloomberg employees.
WAR ON WOMEN … "Bloomberg on NDAs: ‘Maybe They Didn’t Like a Joke I Told’," by WFB’s Charles Fain Lehman: 2020 contender Michael Bloomberg during Wednesday night's debate once again refused to release potentially dozens of women, downplaying their accusations of sexual harassment as "maybe they didn't like a joke I told" …
Wednesday evening is far from the first time Bloomberg has refused to release former female employees from nondisclosure agreements settling more than a dozen legal complaints of sexual harassment and discrimination at Bloomberg LP.
I CAN SEE RUSSIA FROM MY VACATION HOUSE … "Bernie Says Russians May Be to Blame for Culinary Union Attacks," by WFB’s Graham Piro: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) said that Russian trolls may be responsible for online attacks on members of Nevada's Culinary Union. "It's not thinkable" that his supporters would harass union leadership, Sanders said at Wednesday evening's Democratic debate in Las Vegas.
"Not being too paranoid, all of us remember 2016. And what we remember is efforts by Russians and others to try to interfere in our election and divide us up," Sanders said during Wednesday night's Democratic debate.
TRANSPARENCY BYPASS … "Bernie Sanders Campaign Says Asking for His Health Records Is a ‘Smear’ Like Birtherism," via DAILY BEAST: Asked by CNN if people deserve to know more about Sanders’ health, [Briahna Joy] Gray said … "What you’re seeing right now is really reminiscent of some of the smear and skepticism campaigns that have been run against a lot of different candidates in the past, questioning where they’re from and aspects of their lineage."
The press secretary went on: "It’s really telling, given that none of the same concern is being demonstrated for Michael Bloomberg, who’s the same age as Bernie Sanders and has suffered heart attacks in the past" … Gray later clarified: "I [misspoke] when I said Bloomberg had a heart attack."
INDIAN GIVING … "Super PAC launches to support Elizabeth Warren, who has decried the role of super PACs," via WAPO: A new super PAC has formed to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to boost the presidential bid of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), whose banner campaign issue centers on rejecting the power of moneyed interests in politics …
In a statement, Warren’s campaign said the senator’s position has not changed … [but] did not address Warren’s feelings about Persist PAC … and the campaign did not respond to questions about whether the senator thinks the group should continue to exist to support her candidacy.
BLOOMBERG PROPOSES LEVERAGED BUYOUT … "Bloomberg camp warns Sanders 'impossible to stop,' unless Biden, Klobuchar, Buttigieg bow out," via FOX BUSINESS: "If [Joe] Biden, [Pete] Buttigieg, and [Amy] Klobuchar remain in the race despite having no path to appreciably collecting super delegates on Super Tuesday (and beyond), they will propel [Bernie] Sanders to a seemingly insurmountable delegate lead by siphoning votes away from [Michael Bloomberg]," the memo said …
Bloomberg's top strategist Kevin Sheekey stressed the need for the centrist Democrats to coalesce to prevent a possible Sanders victory.
RUPERT OUT OF QUARANTINE ZONE … "China Expels Three Wall Street Journal Reporters," via WSJ: China revoked the press credentials of three Wall Street Journal reporters based in Beijing, the first time in the post-Mao era that the Chinese government has expelled multiple journalists from one international news organization at the same time …
The expulsions by China’s Foreign Ministry followed widespread public anger at the headline on the Feb. 3 opinion piece, which referred to China as "the real sick man of Asia."
WFB ABROAD … "In Africa, Pompeo Touts Billions of Dollars in Trade to Help ‘Westernize’ Continent," by WFB’s Adam Kredo: Speaking Wednesday in Ethiopia before the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, [Secretary of State Mike] Pompeo touted the influx of billions of dollars in aid from the United States to Africa in what many see as a bid to erode China's dominance across the region.
However, Pompeo's tour across three developing African countries—Senegal, Angola, and Ethiopia—has not been without contention. As these countries struggle to shake off years of authoritarian rule, terrorism and violence have stymied progress and threaten to erode hard-fought gains in government and economic reform initiatives.
DOING TRUMP’S WORK FOR HIM …
NEW: Campaign officials tell @NBCNews that Mike Bloomberg will *NOT* stand on a box during tonight's debate, despite Trump's repeated claims that he requested one to boost his height — Josh Lederman (@JoshNBCNews) February 19, 2020
THEY IS GOING CRAZY … "Gender Pronouns Can Be Tricky on Campus. Harvard Is Making Them Stick.," via NYT: Harvard being Harvard, changing a fixture of the classroom—even the format of name placards—could not be done without some serious discussion, said Mr. Garcia Blum, who is the vice president for diversity for the Kennedy School’s student government.
He wanted to reprint this year’s placards to include gender pronouns, but Harvard declined, he said. Instead, administrators compromised on the stickers, made available in the student lounge, "so people can opt in."
IT’S HER TURN, AGAIN … "ANALYSIS: Democrats Deserve a Younger, Healthier Frontrunner in 2020," by WFB’s Andrew Stiles: Presumptive frontrunners [Bernie] Sanders and [Michael] Bloomberg are both considerably older than Trump (73), and neither possesses the incumbent's legendary intellectual and physical stamina. On Wednesday, the two were arguing about which of them had suffered the more significant heart problems …
Hillary Clinton, who has yet to officially announce her candidacy for president in 2020 … is only 72 years old. She hasn't suffered any unexplained fainting spells of late—that we know of—and appears to have gotten her coughing fits under control. She is a woman, which is nice. Her net worth, in the $50 million range, is relatively modest.
Thanks for reading! Send tips to rutz@freebeacon.com.


freebeacon--2020-02-21--Omar Pal Says Congresswoman Married Her Brother

A Somali community leader who claims to have known Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D. , Minn. ) for an extensive period of time said she married her brother to help him stay in the United States .
The Daily Mail reported that Abdihakim Osman alleged that Omar told friends the second man she married was her brother , and that she married him for immigration purposes : Abdihakim Osman is the first person to go on record to speak of how Omar said she wanted to get her brother papers so he could stay in the United States , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her first husband Ahmed Hirsi .
But hardly anyone realized that meant marrying him .
‘ No one knew there had been a wedding until the media turned up the marriage certificate years later , ' Osman , 40 , exclusively told DailyMail.com .
The allegations are the latest in a series of controversies Omar has faced concerning her personal life .
Last month , the New York Post reported that the FBI was reviewing the claims that Omar married her brother .
The allegations have not been conclusively proved because of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Somalia , but the agency is reviewing documents concerning the 2009 marriage .
In 2002 , Omar applied for a marriage license in Minnesota to marry Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi , according to the Associated Press .
A marriage certificate was not issued , and Omar said the two got married in their faith tradition .
They had two children together , then separated in 2008 .
Omar legally married Ahmed Nur Said Elmi , who is alleged to be her brother , in 2009 .
Omar said Elmi was a British citizen at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ college in the United States .
The two separated in 2011 but did not legally divorce until 2017 .
Omar then reunited with Hirsi , and the couple had a third child together .
They were married legally shortly after her divorce from Elmi was finalized .
Omar then faced allegations she had an affair with a D.C. political consultant , and she filed for divorce in October 2019 .
Omar 's office did not comment on the specific allegations concerning her brother but has called allegations that she married him `` disgusting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not commit immigration fraud .
`` Insinuations that Ahmed Nur Said Elmi is my brother are absurd and offensive , '' she said in a statement .
`` The Congresswoman is focused on the work her constituents sent her to Washington to accomplish , '' her spokesman told the Daily Mail .

A Somali community leader who claims to have known Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) for an extensive period of time said she married her brother to help him stay in the United States.
The Daily Mail reported that Abdihakim Osman alleged that Omar told friends the second man she married was her brother, and that she married him for immigration purposes:
Abdihakim Osman is the first person to go on record to speak of how Omar said she wanted to get her brother papers so he could stay in the United States, at a time when she was married to her first husband Ahmed Hirsi. But hardly anyone realized that meant marrying him. 'No one knew there had been a wedding until the media turned up the marriage certificate years later,' Osman, 40, exclusively told DailyMail.com.
The allegations are the latest in a series of controversies Omar has faced concerning her personal life.
Last month, the New York Post reported that the FBI was reviewing the claims that Omar married her brother. The allegations have not been conclusively proved because of a lack of paperwork about their relationship from Somalia, but the agency is reviewing documents concerning the 2009 marriage.
In 2002, Omar applied for a marriage license in Minnesota to marry Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi, according to the Associated Press. A marriage certificate was not issued, and Omar said the two got married in their faith tradition. They had two children together, then separated in 2008.
Omar legally married Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, who is alleged to be her brother, in 2009. Omar said Elmi was a British citizen at the time, and he began attending college in the United States. The two separated in 2011 but did not legally divorce until 2017. Omar then reunited with Hirsi, and the couple had a third child together. They were married legally shortly after her divorce from Elmi was finalized.
Omar then faced allegations she had an affair with a D.C. political consultant, and she filed for divorce in October 2019.
Omar's office did not comment on the specific allegations concerning her brother but has called allegations that she married him "disgusting." Her office has maintained she did not commit immigration fraud.
"Insinuations that Ahmed Nur Said Elmi is my brother are absurd and offensive," she said in a statement.
"The Congresswoman is focused on the work her constituents sent her to Washington to accomplish," her spokesman told the Daily Mail.


freebeacon--2020-02-22--Sanders Takes Aim at Washington Post for Timing of Russia Story

Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) on Friday said the Washington Post report about Russian attempts to boost his 2020 presidential campaign was released to harm his campaign ahead of the Nevada caucuses .
`` How do you think it came out now if you had the briefing a month ago ? ''
a reporter asked Sanders as he was walking up to a jet in Bakersfield , Calif. '' I 'll let you guess about one day before the Nevada caucus , '' Sanders said .
`` Why do you think it came out ?
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The Sanders campaign in the past has complained about the Washington Post being owned by Jeff Bezos , one of the richest men in the world and a frequent target of Sanders 's anti-billionaire rhetoric , and the candidate has alleged the Post ‘ s campaign coverage is biased against him .
The Post told the Washington Free Beacon Friday that it did not time its report to harm Sanders and reiterated editor Marty Baron 's guarantee that Bezos has no influence over the newspaper 's coverage .
`` As Marty Baron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newsroom operates with complete editorial independence and Jeff is not involved in news coverage , '' said Shani George , the Post ‘ s communications director .
`` We report news when we learn it , '' said Kristine Coratti Kelly , the paper 's vice president of communications .
Vox reported last year that Bezos asked fellow billionaire Michael Bloomberg if he would run for president , several months before Bloomberg announced his candidacy .
It is unclear if `` good friends '' is a reference to Bezos and Bloomberg or to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not respond to a request for comment .
Sanders and Bloomberg sparred during Wednesday 's debate over the value of capitalism , with Sanders denouncing the power of billionaires and Bloomberg saying `` communism '' had failed .
Sanders attacked the Post last year , alleging its reporters are biased against him because Bezos is the newspaper 's owner .
From a USA Today report : '' Anybody here know how much Amazon paid in taxes last year ? ''
`` I talk about that all of the time , and then I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is owned by Jeff Bezos , who owns Amazon , does n't write particularly good articles about me .
I do n't know why , but I guess maybe there 's a connection , '' said Sanders , to laughter from the audience .
Sanders on Friday denounced any Russian interference into his campaign .
`` Here 's the message to Russia : Stay out of American elections , '' the senator said .
`` They try to divide us up—that 's what they did in 2016 , and that is the ugliest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are trying to cause chaos , they are trying to cause hatred in America . ''

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) on Friday said the Washington Post report about Russian attempts to boost his 2020 presidential campaign was released to harm his campaign ahead of the Nevada caucuses.
"How do you think it came out now if you had the briefing a month ago?" a reporter asked Sanders as he was walking up to a jet in Bakersfield, Calif.
"I'll let you guess about one day before the Nevada caucus," Sanders said. "Why do you think it came out? It was the Washington Post? Good friends."
The Sanders campaign in the past has complained about the Washington Post being owned by Jeff Bezos, one of the richest men in the world and a frequent target of Sanders's anti-billionaire rhetoric, and the candidate has alleged the Post's campaign coverage is biased against him.
The Post told the Washington Free Beacon Friday that it did not time its report to harm Sanders and reiterated editor Marty Baron's guarantee that Bezos has no influence over the newspaper's coverage.
"As Marty Baron has stated publicly numerous times, the newsroom operates with complete editorial independence and Jeff is not involved in news coverage," said Shani George, the Post's communications director.
"We report news when we learn it," said Kristine Coratti Kelly, the paper's vice president of communications.
Vox reported last year that Bezos asked fellow billionaire Michael Bloomberg if he would run for president, several months before Bloomberg announced his candidacy.
It is unclear if "good friends" is a reference to Bezos and Bloomberg or to others, and the Sanders campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Sanders and Bloomberg sparred during Wednesday's debate over the value of capitalism, with Sanders denouncing the power of billionaires and Bloomberg saying "communism" had failed.
Sanders attacked the Post last year, alleging its reporters are biased against him because Bezos is the newspaper's owner. From a USA Today report:
"Anybody here know how much Amazon paid in taxes last year?"
"Nothing," shouted back the audience.
"I talk about that all of the time, and then I wonder why the Washington Post, which is owned by Jeff Bezos, who owns Amazon, doesn't write particularly good articles about me. I don't know why, but I guess maybe there's a connection," said Sanders, to laughter from the audience.
Sanders on Friday denounced any Russian interference into his campaign.
"Here's the message to Russia: Stay out of American elections," the senator said. "They try to divide us up—that's what they did in 2016, and that is the ugliest thing that they are doing. They are trying to cause chaos, they are trying to cause hatred in America."


freebeacon--2020-02-21--Left-Wing Young Turks Refuses to Recognize Employees’ Union

The Young Turks , a left-wing and pro-Bernie Sanders YouTube network , is refusing to recognize its employees ' new labor union .
A week after TYT Union was formed to represent production and post-production workers at the popular liberal channel , the group announced that company leadership had refused voluntary recognition of the union .
The refusal , which comes after Sanders proposed penalizing companies that refuse to recognize unions , is the latest instance of a left-leaning news outlet resisting unionization among its employees .
`` This is a disappointing decision from an organization that presents itself as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Theatrical Stage Employees ( IATSE ) , the parent organization of TYT Union , tweeted .
`` Join us in telling [ The Young Turks ] to respect their so-called principles and respect their workers ! ''
Boasting over 200 million views a month , TYT is one of the most popular media voices in the leftist wing of the Democratic Party .
Both of its cohosts endorsed Sanders , who supports legislation that would automatically grant their employees the recognition TYT has withheld .
Under current labor laws , the National Labor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election if 30 percent of a workplace 's employees sign a union card .
If a majority of employees vote to unionize , the NLRB will certify the union , but employers can choose whether to recognize it .
Under Sanders 's labor plan , `` when a majority of workers in a bargaining unit sign valid authorization cards to join a union , they will have a union .
If employers refuse to negotiate in good faith , we will impose strong penalties on those companies . ''
According to a press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TYT 's employees signed union cards .
In a statement last week announcing its formation , TYT Union invoked the network 's left-wing , pro-union stance .
`` We 're proud to work behind the scenes at TYT to create online content that 's bold , entertaining , and unapologetically progressive , '' the group wrote .
`` There is no other news and talk network quite like TYT , and the perspective our network brings to its political coverage is resolutely pro-justice and pro-worker . ''
Sanders endorsed TYT founder and cohost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retracted his endorsement a day later after critics noted Uygur 's history of sexist and homophobic comments .
The decision from TYT—which did not respond to a request for comment—comes as other left-wing outlets have resisted employee attempts to form unions .
In September , the Center for American Progress 's outlet ThinkProgress was accused of union-busting after it fired its entire staff and `` relaunched '' with non-union employees .
Months earlier , Vox Media publicly clashed with its writers ' union , resulting in a site-wide walkout .

The Young Turks, a left-wing and pro-Bernie Sanders YouTube network, is refusing to recognize its employees' new labor union.
A week after TYT Union was formed to represent production and post-production workers at the popular liberal channel, the group announced that company leadership had refused voluntary recognition of the union. The refusal, which comes after Sanders proposed penalizing companies that refuse to recognize unions, is the latest instance of a left-leaning news outlet resisting unionization among its employees.
When we announced our decision to go union with @IATSE over a week ago, we had hoped @TheYoungTurks would respect our choice and voluntarily recognize our union. We are dismayed to report that they have refused. #TYTlive — TYTUnion (@TYTUnion) February 21, 2020
"This is a disappointing decision from an organization that presents itself as progressive," the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), the parent organization of TYT Union, tweeted. "Join us in telling [The Young Turks] to respect their so-called principles and respect their workers!"
Boasting over 200 million views a month, TYT is one of the most popular media voices in the leftist wing of the Democratic Party. Both of its cohosts endorsed Sanders, who supports legislation that would automatically grant their employees the recognition TYT has withheld.
Under current labor laws, the National Labor Relations Board sets up a secret ballot election if 30 percent of a workplace's employees sign a union card. If a majority of employees vote to unionize, the NLRB will certify the union, but employers can choose whether to recognize it. Under Sanders's labor plan, "when a majority of workers in a bargaining unit sign valid authorization cards to join a union, they will have a union. If employers refuse to negotiate in good faith, we will impose strong penalties on those companies." According to a press release from IATSE, a majority of TYT's employees signed union cards.
In a statement last week announcing its formation, TYT Union invoked the network's left-wing, pro-union stance.
"We're proud to work behind the scenes at TYT to create online content that's bold, entertaining, and unapologetically progressive," the group wrote. "There is no other news and talk network quite like TYT, and the perspective our network brings to its political coverage is resolutely pro-justice and pro-worker."
Sanders endorsed TYT founder and cohost Cenk Uygur for Congress in December but retracted his endorsement a day later after critics noted Uygur's history of sexist and homophobic comments.
The decision from TYT—which did not respond to a request for comment—comes as other left-wing outlets have resisted employee attempts to form unions. In September, the Center for American Progress's outlet ThinkProgress was accused of union-busting after it fired its entire staff and "relaunched" with non-union employees. Months earlier, Vox Media publicly clashed with its writers' union, resulting in a site-wide walkout.


freebeacon--2020-02-21--HERE COMES THROUPLE: Hacker Tied to Katie Hill Arrested for Cyber Attack on Her Opponent

The FBI on Friday arrested a man married to a staffer for former Democratic representative Katie Hill for a hacking spree against one of Hill 's political opponents .
Arthur Dam , the husband of Hill 's campaign fundraiser and eventual district director Kelsey O ’ Hara , is charged with intentionally damaging and attempting to damage a protected computer for committing cyber attacks against Hill 's Democratic rival Bryan Caforio .
Two of the attacks came at crucial points during their 25th Congressional District primary fight , the Intercept reported .
According to the complaint , Caforio 's website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the 2018 campaign due to distributed denial of service attacks , a cyber attack that effectively shuts down a website from being used by interfering with its host or provider .
Two of the hacks happened directly before a primary debate and a week before the primary election .
The FBI connected Dam to the attack through `` subscriber information , IP addresses , geolocation history , and open sources , '' as well as through his wife .
The FBI traced the hacking to an anonymous Amazon Web Services account that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ card .
Hill 's Federal Election Commission records list a $ 500 in-kind contribution from Dam on March 25 , 2018 , for `` graphic design and website security consultation , '' the Intercept reported .
The complaint stated the attacks cost Caforio upwards of $ 30,000 in expenditures and lost time to investigate and mitigate them .
The hacks occurring at high-buzz times in the campaign exacerbated their harm .
Caforio said in a statement to the media that he was `` shocked and saddened '' that the arrested hacker was connected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be `` a reminder that Russia is not the only threat to our democracy . ''
Democrat Jess Phoenix 's website was also attacked during the campaign , although Caforio is the only victim referred to in the criminal complaint .
Hill finished less than 2,700 votes ahead of Caforio in the jungle primary , allowing her to advance to the general election against Republican Steve Knight .
Hill went on to defeat him in November .
Hill resigned last year after admitting to having a sexual relationship with a female campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hill , who is bisexual , accused her estranged husband Kenny Heslep of leaking nude photos of her to media outlets .
Heslep has denied this .
Hill was accused of having a sexual relationship with a different staff member while she was in Congress , which would have violated House rules .
She has denied that accusation .
In a series of interviews this week , Hill said she stepped down from her congressional seat so she would n't be a headache for her colleagues .

The FBI on Friday arrested a man married to a staffer for former Democratic representative Katie Hill for a hacking spree against one of Hill's political opponents.
Arthur Dam, the husband of Hill's campaign fundraiser and eventual district director Kelsey O’Hara, is charged with intentionally damaging and attempting to damage a protected computer for committing cyber attacks against Hill's Democratic rival Bryan Caforio. Two of the attacks came at crucial points during their 25th Congressional District primary fight, the Intercept reported.
According to the complaint, Caforio's website went down for a combined 21 hours during the 2018 campaign due to distributed denial of service attacks, a cyber attack that effectively shuts down a website from being used by interfering with its host or provider. Two of the hacks happened directly before a primary debate and a week before the primary election. The FBI connected Dam to the attack through "subscriber information, IP addresses, geolocation history, and open sources," as well as through his wife.
Arthur Dam, arrested by the FBI, listed a $500 in-kind contribution to Hill's campaign in March 2018 for "graphic design and website security consultation." pic.twitter.com/2KhK7xNDD4 — Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) February 21, 2020
The FBI traced the hacking to an anonymous Amazon Web Services account that was paid for by Dam's credit card. Hill's Federal Election Commission records list a $500 in-kind contribution from Dam on March 25, 2018, for "graphic design and website security consultation," the Intercept reported.
The complaint stated the attacks cost Caforio upwards of $30,000 in expenditures and lost time to investigate and mitigate them. The hacks occurring at high-buzz times in the campaign exacerbated their harm.
Caforio said in a statement to the media that he was "shocked and saddened" that the arrested hacker was connected to Hill's campaign, adding it should be "a reminder that Russia is not the only threat to our democracy." Democrat Jess Phoenix's website was also attacked during the campaign, although Caforio is the only victim referred to in the criminal complaint.
Hill finished less than 2,700 votes ahead of Caforio in the jungle primary, allowing her to advance to the general election against Republican Steve Knight. Hill went on to defeat him in November.
Hill resigned last year after admitting to having a sexual relationship with a female campaign staffer during her 2018 bid for Congress. Hill, who is bisexual, accused her estranged husband Kenny Heslep of leaking nude photos of her to media outlets. Heslep has denied this.
Hill was accused of having a sexual relationship with a different staff member while she was in Congress, which would have violated House rules. She has denied that accusation. In a series of interviews this week, Hill said she stepped down from her congressional seat so she wouldn't be a headache for her colleagues.


freebeacon--2020-02-21--Bloomberg Bashes Bernie on Guns

Bloomberg Bashes Bernie on Guns

Bloomberg criticized Sanders in a series of tweets over the senator 's voting record on gun issues .
He pointed to Sanders 's votes against a bill establishing a gun-purchase background check system and in favor of a bill protecting gun makers and dealers from frivolous lawsuits .
He also painted Sanders as cozy with the National Rifle Association , saying the gun-rights group `` put Bernie Sanders in Congress . ''
Bloomberg 's recent attack targeted a vulnerability for Sanders , who has attempted to reverse his position on guns since his 2016 primary defeat .
Though Sanders has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a number of gun-control proposals , his 2020 primary opponents still view his history on the issue as a liability .
His reversal may cut against his image—crafted over decades in Congress—as an independent outsider .
Former vice president Joe Biden similarly criticized Sanders on the issue .
At a speech in Las Vegas , Biden described Sanders 's vote to protect the gun industry from frivolous lawsuits as `` flat out immoral . ''
Sanders 's effort to shift on the issue has included sustained attacks on the NRA and gun makers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president because we must end the epidemic of gun violence in this country , '' Sanders said in his campaign launch video .
`` We need to take on the NRA , expand background checks , end the gun show loophole , and ban the sale and distribution of assault weapons . ''
Sanders 's recent statements have not stopped other 2020 candidates from saying gun-control supporters ca n't trust the Vermont senator .
`` Senator Sanders has said that he ’ ll stand up to ‘ the NRA and its corrupting effect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` But the truth is that if the NRA has corrupted Washington , Bernie is among the corrupt . ''
Bloomberg has been the primary funder for the gun-control movement in America , spending over $ 270 million on the issue since 2007 , according to a recent New York Times report .
The National Rifle Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Bloomberg 's claims .
The group has said Sanders 's shift on gun control is representative of the Democratic Party 's movement on the issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't trust Sanders either .
`` Sanders 's increased intolerance of the NRA and law-abiding gun owners fits in perfectly with the larger narrative of a Democratic Party that is increasingly hostile toward the Second Amendment , '' Amy Hunter , an NRA spokeswoman , told the Washington Free Beacon on Tuesday .
`` Each year , anti-gun Democrats become more extreme and their policies become more dangerous .
Now , candidates are openly supporting registration , confiscation , and bans .
Law-abiding gun owners must recognize the threat to their rights and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-gun president . ''

Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg attacked frontrunner Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) as soft on gun control Thursday.
Bloomberg criticized Sanders in a series of tweets over the senator's voting record on gun issues. He pointed to Sanders's votes against a bill establishing a gun-purchase background check system and in favor of a bill protecting gun makers and dealers from frivolous lawsuits. He also painted Sanders as cozy with the National Rifle Association, saying the gun-rights group "put Bernie Sanders in Congress."
Bloomberg's recent attack targeted a vulnerability for Sanders, who has attempted to reverse his position on guns since his 2016 primary defeat. Though Sanders has changed his rhetoric on guns and cosponsored a number of gun-control proposals, his 2020 primary opponents still view his history on the issue as a liability. His reversal may cut against his image—crafted over decades in Congress—as an independent outsider.
Former vice president Joe Biden similarly criticized Sanders on the issue. At a speech in Las Vegas, Biden described Sanders's vote to protect the gun industry from frivolous lawsuits as "flat out immoral."
Sanders's effort to shift on the issue has included sustained attacks on the NRA and gun makers.
"I’m running for president because we must end the epidemic of gun violence in this country," Sanders said in his campaign launch video. "We need to take on the NRA, expand background checks, end the gun show loophole, and ban the sale and distribution of assault weapons."
Sanders's recent statements have not stopped other 2020 candidates from saying gun-control supporters can't trust the Vermont senator.
"Senator Sanders has said that he’ll stand up to 'the NRA and its corrupting effect on Washington,'" Bloomberg tweeted. "But the truth is that if the NRA has corrupted Washington, Bernie is among the corrupt."
Bloomberg has been the primary funder for the gun-control movement in America, spending over $270 million on the issue since 2007, according to a recent New York Times report.
The National Rifle Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Bloomberg's claims. The group has said Sanders's shift on gun control is representative of the Democratic Party's movement on the issue. It added that gun-rights supporters can't trust Sanders either.
"Sanders's increased intolerance of the NRA and law-abiding gun owners fits in perfectly with the larger narrative of a Democratic Party that is increasingly hostile toward the Second Amendment," Amy Hunter, an NRA spokeswoman, told the Washington Free Beacon on Tuesday. "Each year, anti-gun Democrats become more extreme and their policies become more dangerous. Now, candidates are openly supporting registration, confiscation, and bans. Law-abiding gun owners must recognize the threat to their rights and turn out in November to elect a pro-gun president."


freebeacon--2020-02-21--Global Watchdog Places Iran on Terrorism Financing Blacklist

PARIS ( Reuters ) – The global dirty money watchdog placed Iran on its blacklist on Friday after it failed to comply with international anti-terrorism financing norms , a move that will deepen the country 's isolation from financial markets .
The decision came after more than three years of warnings from the Paris-based Financial Action Taskforce ( FATF ) urging the Islamic Republic to either enact terrorist financing conventions or see its reprieve from the blacklist lifted and some counter-measures imposed .
`` Given Iran 's failure to enact the Palermo and Terrorist Financing Conventions in line with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the suspension of counter-measures and calls on its members and urges all jurisdictions to apply effective counter-measures , '' the group 's 39 members said in a statement after a week-long plenary session .
These would entail more scrutiny of transactions with Iran , tougher external auditing of financing firms operating in the country and extra pressure on the few foreign banks and businesses still dealing with Iran .
`` The consequence of ( Iran 's ) inaction is higher costs of borrowing and isolation from the financial system , '' a Western @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commended the task force 's action after what it said was Tehran 's failure to adhere to FATF 's standards .
Iran `` must face consequences for its continued failure to abide by international norms , '' U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement .
Iran 's central bank chief dismissed FATF 's decision .
`` ( It ) is politically motivated and not a technical decision , '' the state news agency IRNA quoted Abdolnasser Hemmati as saying .
`` I can assure our nation that it will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the stability of our exchange rate . ''
The FATF appeared to leave the door open for some engagement with Iran saying in its statement : `` Countries should also be able to apply countermeasures independently of any call by the FATF to do so . ''
`` It 's a middle solution .
A sort of a fudge to leave the door open for the Iranians , '' said one of the diplomats .
Foreign businesses say Iran 's compliance with FATF rules is essential if it wants to attract investors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanctions on Tehran in 2018 after quitting a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and other big powers .
Iran 's leaders have been divided over approach to the FATF .
Supporters of cooperation say it could ease foreign trade with Europe and Asia , offsetting U.S. sanctions .
Hardliners argue that passing legislation to join the FATF could hamper Iran 's support for its allies , including Lebanon 's Hezbollah .
Washington has since pushed a policy of `` maximum pressure '' on Iran , saying a broader deal should be negotiated to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missile program and Iranian support for proxy forces around the Middle East .
France , Britain and Germany have tried to salvage the nuclear accord but have faced growing pressure from the United States to join its efforts to isolate Iran .
`` The United States was pushing for the toughest position ( by FATF ) , while other countries like China and Russia preferred something more flexible , '' said a European official .
`` The Europeans were looking for something in between . ''
U.S. sanctions have crippled Iran 's economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sealing it off from the international financial system .
`` Until Iran implements the measures required to address the deficiencies identified with respect to countering terrorism-financing… , the FATF will remain concerned with the terrorist financing risk emanating from Iran and the threat this poses to the international financial system , '' the FATF said .
Iran 's action plan to meet with the FATF requirements , implemented in 2016 , expired in January 2018 .
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif this week appeared resigned to the FATF blacklisting , accusing Washington of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influence at the FATF .
In another important decision on Friday , the FATF granted Pakistan an extra four months to meet anti-terrorism financing norms , keeping Islamabad for now on its `` grey list '' of countries that do not adequately comply with its rules .

By John Irish and Leigh Thomas
PARIS (Reuters) - The global dirty money watchdog placed Iran on its blacklist on Friday after it failed to comply with international anti-terrorism financing norms, a move that will deepen the country's isolation from financial markets.
The decision came after more than three years of warnings from the Paris-based Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) urging the Islamic Republic to either enact terrorist financing conventions or see its reprieve from the blacklist lifted and some counter-measures imposed.
"Given Iran's failure to enact the Palermo and Terrorist Financing Conventions in line with the FATF Standards, the FATF fully lifts the suspension of counter-measures and calls on its members and urges all jurisdictions to apply effective counter-measures," the group's 39 members said in a statement after a week-long plenary session.
These would entail more scrutiny of transactions with Iran, tougher external auditing of financing firms operating in the country and extra pressure on the few foreign banks and businesses still dealing with Iran.
"The consequence of (Iran's) inaction is higher costs of borrowing and isolation from the financial system," a Western diplomat told Reuters.
The United States commended the task force's action after what it said was Tehran's failure to adhere to FATF's standards.
Iran "must face consequences for its continued failure to abide by international norms," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.
Iran's central bank chief dismissed FATF's decision. "(It) is politically motivated and not a technical decision," the state news agency IRNA quoted Abdolnasser Hemmati as saying. "I can assure our nation that it will have no impact on Iran's foreign trade and the stability of our exchange rate."
The FATF appeared to leave the door open for some engagement with Iran saying in its statement: "Countries should also be able to apply countermeasures independently of any call by the FATF to do so."
"It's a middle solution. A sort of a fudge to leave the door open for the Iranians," said one of the diplomats.
Foreign businesses say Iran's compliance with FATF rules is essential if it wants to attract investors, especially since the United States reimposed sanctions on Tehran in 2018 after quitting a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and other big powers.
Iran's leaders have been divided over approach to the FATF.
Supporters of cooperation say it could ease foreign trade with Europe and Asia, offsetting U.S. sanctions. Hardliners argue that passing legislation to join the FATF could hamper Iran's support for its allies, including Lebanon's Hezbollah.
MAXIMUM PRESSURE
Washington has since pushed a policy of "maximum pressure" on Iran, saying a broader deal should be negotiated to encompass nuclear issues, Iran's ballistic missile program and Iranian support for proxy forces around the Middle East.
France, Britain and Germany have tried to salvage the nuclear accord but have faced growing pressure from the United States to join its efforts to isolate Iran.
"The United States was pushing for the toughest position (by FATF), while other countries like China and Russia preferred something more flexible," said a European official. "The Europeans were looking for something in between."
U.S. sanctions have crippled Iran's economy, decimating its oil exports and largely sealing it off from the international financial system.
"Until Iran implements the measures required to address the deficiencies identified with respect to countering terrorism-financing..., the FATF will remain concerned with the terrorist financing risk emanating from Iran and the threat this poses to the international financial system," the FATF said.
Iran's action plan to meet with the FATF requirements, implemented in 2016, expired in January 2018.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif this week appeared resigned to the FATF blacklisting, accusing Washington of using its maximum pressure campaign to exert influence at the FATF.
In another important decision on Friday, the FATF granted Pakistan an extra four months to meet anti-terrorism financing norms, keeping Islamabad for now on its "grey list" of countries that do not adequately comply with its rules.
(Additional reporting by Parisa Hafezi in Dubai, and Susan Heavey in Washington; Editing by Mark Heinrich and David Gregorio)


freebeacon--2020-02-21--What to Expect at Saturday’s Nevada Caucuses

Two words sum up the Democratic approach to Nevada 's Saturday caucuses : damage control .
Fearing a repeat of the Iowa disaster , Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez has said he will not commit to releasing results the day of the caucus .
He emphasized the need for `` accuracy '' over speed .
The state party has dumped the app that failed catastrophically in Iowa , although caucus volunteers have described rushed and confusing training on the replacement system .
The caucus 's timing—a Saturday , when the public will be focused on weekend relaxation—may shield against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a statewide contest will succeed if the party simply manages to count the votes , although that is far from guaranteed .
At the same time , as it scrambles to ensure the integrity of the vote , the Democratic establishment seems to be doing little to counteract the other danger it faces : the likelihood that Saturday 's vote will further cement outsider Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) as the frontrunner .
Nevada is the second of just four states to hold a Democratic caucus in the 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Virgin Islands , and American Samoa will also hold them ) .
The Silver State 's caucuses work much like Iowa 's .
Voters will gather at precincts and organize themselves into groups by candidate ( first preference ) .
If a candidate meets the 15 percent threshold to earn delegates , his or her support is locked in ; those supporting nonviable candidates realign themselves to viable candidates ( final preference ) .
Delegates are finally allocated based on viable candidates ' share of the precinct vote .
Nevada has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year : early , ranked-preference voting .
Between Saturday , Feb. 15 , and Tuesday , Feb. 18 , Nevadans could go to their local polling place and record their ordered preference vote for at least three and at most five of the candidates .
On Saturday , absentee votes will be incorporated at the caucus during the final preference allocation process .
It is quite possible that the majority of voters will be absentee .
The Nevada Democratic Party estimated about 75,000 early votes , a total comparable to the 84,000 who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As with other reforms , the addition of absentee voters adds another point at which the process could fail , as precinct captains will be forced to deal with a complicated new system for incorporating absentee ballots .
This new complexity has Perez and others ultra-focused on making sure things go smoothly .
That may be why the Nevada Democratic establishment has done so little to influence the vote 's outcome .
All the available evidence suggests Sanders will run away with Saturday 's vote .
With one exception , he has commanded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the past month .
The most recent , from Emerson College , has him 13 points ahead of Pete Buttigieg and 14 points ahead of former vice president Joe Biden .
Sanders 's lead is aided by the state 's demographics .
Nevada is the first state in the Democratic primary cycle with a substantial Hispanic population—29 percent , compared with Iowa 's 6 percent and New Hampshire 's 4 percent .
Sanders trounces his opponents among Nevada Hispanic voters , a recent Univision poll found , leading Biden by 11 points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being a caucus state—his campaign dominated caucuses in 2016 .
At the same time , Sanders 's lead shows how the Democratic establishment has struggled to find someone , anyone , to unify behind besides the septuagenarian democratic socialist who is not technically a Democrat .
This was part of the goal of the New Hampshire primary , but results there—which boosted Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D. , Minn. ) while Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
fell behind—only muddled the `` anyone but Bernie '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clarity , as Buttigieg and Klobuchar both do poorly outside their base of college-educated whites .
The Emerson poll showed all four of the major alternatives within 6 points of each other , far behind Sanders .
Further complicating the picture is former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg , who is not on the Nevada ballot .
Despite not yet competing in a contest , Bloomberg seemed set to consolidate the `` moderate '' lane , until a less-than-stellar debate performance on Wednesday stunted his odds .
Election watchers will need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) to see if the billionaire can convert $ 400 million in spending into actual votes .
In spite of the Sanders wave , opposition to the Vermont senator in Nevada has been anemic .
The state 's powerful Culinary Workers Union , generally considered the tastemaker among blue-collar voters in the Democratic strongholds of Reno and Las Vegas , feuded with Sanders over Medicare for All but declined to endorse anyone .
The Las Vegas Sun labeled Sanders a `` clear non-starter '' but split its endorsement between Biden and Klobuchar .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the kingpin of Nevada Democratic politics , has boosted Biden but stopped short of endorsing him .
In other words , the anti-Sanders effort has been far weaker than it could be .
The Culinary Union 's non-endorsement may signal a split between union leadership and the rank-and-file , at least some of whom are circulating a petition supporting Sanders .
That division may also be why Reid is playing his cards close to his chest .
While he has all but called for the DNC to deny Sanders the nomination in July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an alternative would damage his reputation among voters and sow division within the party .
That is the real damage control Democratic elites have struggled to conduct .
While endorsements from party leaders have flowed to Biden and , increasingly , Bloomberg , voters do not seem to care .
The establishment may want someone else , but , as is becoming increasingly apparent , the people want Bernie .

Two words sum up the Democratic approach to Nevada's Saturday caucuses: damage control.
Fearing a repeat of the Iowa disaster, Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez has said he will not commit to releasing results the day of the caucus. He emphasized the need for "accuracy" over speed. The state party has dumped the app that failed catastrophically in Iowa, although caucus volunteers have described rushed and confusing training on the replacement system. The caucus's timing—a Saturday, when the public will be focused on weekend relaxation—may shield against possible fallout.
Democrats' third attempt at a statewide contest will succeed if the party simply manages to count the votes, although that is far from guaranteed. At the same time, as it scrambles to ensure the integrity of the vote, the Democratic establishment seems to be doing little to counteract the other danger it faces: the likelihood that Saturday's vote will further cement outsider Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) as the frontrunner.
Nevada is the second of just four states to hold a Democratic caucus in the 2020 cycle (the U.S. protectorates of Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa will also hold them). The Silver State's caucuses work much like Iowa's. Voters will gather at precincts and organize themselves into groups by candidate (first preference). If a candidate meets the 15 percent threshold to earn delegates, his or her support is locked in; those supporting nonviable candidates realign themselves to viable candidates (final preference). Delegates are finally allocated based on viable candidates' share of the precinct vote.
Nevada has, however, introduced a wrinkle this year: early, ranked-preference voting. Between Saturday, Feb. 15, and Tuesday, Feb. 18, Nevadans could go to their local polling place and record their ordered preference vote for at least three and at most five of the candidates. On Saturday, absentee votes will be incorporated at the caucus during the final preference allocation process.
It is quite possible that the majority of voters will be absentee. The Nevada Democratic Party estimated about 75,000 early votes, a total comparable to the 84,000 who turned out for 2016's caucuses. As with other reforms, the addition of absentee voters adds another point at which the process could fail, as precinct captains will be forced to deal with a complicated new system for incorporating absentee ballots.
This new complexity has Perez and others ultra-focused on making sure things go smoothly. That may be why the Nevada Democratic establishment has done so little to influence the vote's outcome.
All the available evidence suggests Sanders will run away with Saturday's vote. With one exception, he has commanded the lead in every poll of Nevada over the past month. The most recent, from Emerson College, has him 13 points ahead of Pete Buttigieg and 14 points ahead of former vice president Joe Biden.
Sanders's lead is aided by the state's demographics. Nevada is the first state in the Democratic primary cycle with a substantial Hispanic population—29 percent, compared with Iowa's 6 percent and New Hampshire's 4 percent. Sanders trounces his opponents among Nevada Hispanic voters, a recent Univision poll found, leading Biden by 11 points. He may also benefit from Nevada being a caucus state—his campaign dominated caucuses in 2016.
At the same time, Sanders's lead shows how the Democratic establishment has struggled to find someone, anyone, to unify behind besides the septuagenarian democratic socialist who is not technically a Democrat.
This was part of the goal of the New Hampshire primary, but results there—which boosted Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.) while Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) fell behind—only muddled the "anyone but Bernie" lane. Nevada is unlikely to add clarity, as Buttigieg and Klobuchar both do poorly outside their base of college-educated whites. The Emerson poll showed all four of the major alternatives within 6 points of each other, far behind Sanders.
Further complicating the picture is former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is not on the Nevada ballot. Despite not yet competing in a contest, Bloomberg seemed set to consolidate the "moderate" lane, until a less-than-stellar debate performance on Wednesday stunted his odds. Election watchers will need to wait until Super Tuesday (March 3) to see if the billionaire can convert $400 million in spending into actual votes.
In spite of the Sanders wave, opposition to the Vermont senator in Nevada has been anemic. The state's powerful Culinary Workers Union, generally considered the tastemaker among blue-collar voters in the Democratic strongholds of Reno and Las Vegas, feuded with Sanders over Medicare for All but declined to endorse anyone. The Las Vegas Sun labeled Sanders a "clear non-starter" but split its endorsement between Biden and Klobuchar. Former Senate majority leader Harry Reid, the kingpin of Nevada Democratic politics, has boosted Biden but stopped short of endorsing him.
In other words, the anti-Sanders effort has been far weaker than it could be. The Culinary Union's non-endorsement may signal a split between union leadership and the rank-and-file, at least some of whom are circulating a petition supporting Sanders. That division may also be why Reid is playing his cards close to his chest. While he has all but called for the DNC to deny Sanders the nomination in July, Reid may realize that officially backing an alternative would damage his reputation among voters and sow division within the party.
That is the real damage control Democratic elites have struggled to conduct. While endorsements from party leaders have flowed to Biden and, increasingly, Bloomberg, voters do not seem to care. The establishment may want someone else, but, as is becoming increasingly apparent, the people want Bernie.


freebeacon--2020-02-21--GLAAD Gives Bloomberg a Pass on Calling Trans Woman ‘It’

GLAAD , a leading watchdog for the gay , lesbian , bisexual , and transgender community that regularly singles out public figures for displaying a lack of sensitivity towards the LGBTQ community , continues to remain silent about the offensive remarks of one of its longtime corporate partners : former New York City mayor turned Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg .
Even as other advocacy organizations to which Bloomberg has donated over the years have come forward to criticize him for referring to a transgender individual as `` it '' as recently as last year , GLAAD has not issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Previously known as the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation , GLAAD has been a leading watchdog for the LGBTQ community for decades .
Last December alone , GLAAD set its sights on Politico for its use of the term `` pillow fight , '' which a spokesman for the organization said was `` sexist and homophobic , '' on the Hallmark Channel for its refusal to air an ad featuring a same-sex kiss , and on Harry Potter series author J.K. Rowling for stating that gender was a real thing .
Rowling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideology that denies the basic humanity of people who are transgender , '' the group said .
The group is silent , however , in the wake of reports that Bloomberg multiple times referred to transgender women as `` some guy wearing a dress , '' and used the pronoun `` it '' to reference such individuals .
Bloomberg received widespread condemnation for the remarks , including from similar groups like the Human Rights Campaign , which demanded an apology and said Bloomberg used `` language that demoralizes and dehumanizes '' trans people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inquiries on the comments from Bloomberg , whose company , Bloomberg L.P. , has been listed as a `` corporate partner '' of the group for several years .
It remains unclear what the partnership between the two entities entails .
GLAAD annual reports reveal Bloomberg L.P. became a corporate partner of the organization as early as 2014 , which is the oldest annual report the group has available online .
The company was identically listed in each of the three available annual reports that followed , but was not listed as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report covering 2019 .
Bloomberg , who has already spent more than $ 400 million on his presidential bid , has given more than $ 10 billion since 2013 through philanthropy and political giving to liberal groups around the country , building himself a massive network of allies .
A New York Times examination of Bloomberg 's `` national infrastructure of influence '' found that many groups , including liberal giants such as the Center for American Progress and EMILY 's List , have been reluctant to criticize the billionaire due to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simply good will that Mr. Bloomberg has built , '' the Times wrote .
`` His political and philanthropic spending has also secured the allegiance or cooperation of powerful institutions and leaders within the Democratic Party who might take issue with parts of his record were they not so reliant on his largess . ''
The Human Rights Campaign also has ties to the former New York City mayor , who received its 2011 Ally for Equality Award and was featured at its national gala dinner .
He also made the maximum allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2010 .
But the Human Rights Campaign did not let the resurfaced remarks from Bloomberg slide .
`` Transgender women aren ’ t ‘ he-she or it , ' they ’ re women , '' said the group 's president Alphonso David shortly after Bloomberg 's comments were reported .
`` LGBTQ people are human and deserve to be treated with respect . ''
`` Words matter and Mayor Bloomberg should apologize for using language that demoralizes and dehumanizes members of our community , '' David said .
The comments were resurfaced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Bloomberg 's presidential campaign unveiled a new video promoting his support in the LGBTQ community with famed fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi praising Bloomberg as `` so incredibly sensitive '' to the issue of inclusivity .
The Buzzfeed report highlighted comments Bloomberg made during a March 2019 speech in New York , in which he argued that discussions of transgender rights were n't going to help Democratic candidates win in 2020 .
`` If your conversation during a presidential election is about some guy wearing a dress and whether he , she , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room with their daughter , that ’ s not a winning formula for most people , '' he said .
The comment mirrored remarks Bloomberg made in December 2016 , when he argued that the `` vast bulk of people '' do n't want to hear that `` some man wearing a dress should be in a locker room with their daughter '' during an overseas speech at Oxford University , where he referenced the debate over whether transgender women should be able to use the bathroom of their choice .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are familiar with the bathroom issue in the United States , '' Bloomberg said .
`` If you want to know if somebody 's a good salesman , give them the job of going to the midwest , picking a town , and selling to the town that some man wearing a dress should be in the locker room with their daughter . ''
Here 's @ MikeBloomberg in December 2016 at Oxford explaining how trans rights simply wo n't fly in the midwest because only the `` intelligentsia '' can understand why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be in a locker room with their daughter . ''
pic.twitter.com/g6aa8aB1jq `` We the intelligentsia , '' Bloomberg said .
`` We believe in a lot of things in terms of equality and protecting individual rights that make no sense to the vast bulk of people . ''
The Bloomberg campaign has not addressed his previous remarks .
It did not respond to a request for comment on whether it has been in communication with GLAAD .

GLAAD, a leading watchdog for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community that regularly singles out public figures for displaying a lack of sensitivity towards the LGBTQ community, continues to remain silent about the offensive remarks of one of its longtime corporate partners: former New York City mayor turned Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg.
Even as other advocacy organizations to which Bloomberg has donated over the years have come forward to criticize him for referring to a transgender individual as "it" as recently as last year, GLAAD has not issued any public comment on the matter.
Previously known as the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, GLAAD has been a leading watchdog for the LGBTQ community for decades. Last December alone, GLAAD set its sights on Politico for its use of the term "pillow fight," which a spokesman for the organization said was "sexist and homophobic," on the Hallmark Channel for its refusal to air an ad featuring a same-sex kiss, and on Harry Potter series author J.K. Rowling for stating that gender was a real thing. Rowling had aligned herself "with an anti-science ideology that denies the basic humanity of people who are transgender," the group said.
The group is silent, however, in the wake of reports that Bloomberg multiple times referred to transgender women as "some guy wearing a dress," and used the pronoun "it" to reference such individuals. Bloomberg received widespread condemnation for the remarks, including from similar groups like the Human Rights Campaign, which demanded an apology and said Bloomberg used "language that demoralizes and dehumanizes" trans people.
GLAAD did not respond to repeated inquiries on the comments from Bloomberg, whose company, Bloomberg L.P., has been listed as a "corporate partner" of the group for several years. It remains unclear what the partnership between the two entities entails.
GLAAD annual reports reveal Bloomberg L.P. became a corporate partner of the organization as early as 2014, which is the oldest annual report the group has available online. The company was identically listed in each of the three available annual reports that followed, but was not listed as a corporate partner in the most recent annual report covering 2019.
Bloomberg, who has already spent more than $400 million on his presidential bid, has given more than $10 billion since 2013 through philanthropy and political giving to liberal groups around the country, building himself a massive network of allies. A New York Times examination of Bloomberg's "national infrastructure of influence" found that many groups, including liberal giants such as the Center for American Progress and EMILY's List, have been reluctant to criticize the billionaire due to his financial support.
"It is not simply good will that Mr. Bloomberg has built," the Times wrote. "His political and philanthropic spending has also secured the allegiance or cooperation of powerful institutions and leaders within the Democratic Party who might take issue with parts of his record were they not so reliant on his largess."
The Human Rights Campaign also has ties to the former New York City mayor, who received its 2011 Ally for Equality Award and was featured at its national gala dinner. He also made the maximum allowed contribution to the Human Rights Campaign PAC in 2010.
But the Human Rights Campaign did not let the resurfaced remarks from Bloomberg slide.
"Transgender women aren’t 'he-she or it,' they’re women," said the group's president Alphonso David shortly after Bloomberg's comments were reported. "LGBTQ people are human and deserve to be treated with respect."


freebeacon--2020-02-21--Sanders on Bloomberg: Trump Would ‘Chew Him Up and Spit Him Out’ on Debate Stage

Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) said that his 2020 rival Michael Bloomberg 's poor debate performance shows the billionaire would likely lose to President Donald Trump .
`` If that 's what happened in a Democratic debate , I think it 's quite likely that Trump will chew him up and spit him out , '' Sanders said during a 60 Minutes interview that will air in full Sunday .
CNN anchor and 60 Minutes contributor Anderson Cooper asked Sanders whether he was less worried about Bloomberg being a threat in the Democratic primary following the debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an `` unprecedented amount of money being spent on a campaign . ''
Sanders and some of the other Democratic presidential candidates criticized the billionaire former mayor of New York during Wednesday night 's debate in Las Vegas for his history of sexist comments , his wealth , and his stop-and-frisk program , which gave New York police officers the authority to stop anyone without a warrant if they suspected them of committing a crime .
Trump mocked Bloomberg 's debate performance during his rally on Thursday night .
`` I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s debate , '' Trump said .
`` And you know what , Mini Mike didn ’ t do well last night .
I was going to send him a note , saying , ‘ It ’ s not easy doing what I do , is it ? '
'' He went on to say Bloomberg `` choked . ''

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) said that his 2020 rival Michael Bloomberg's poor debate performance shows the billionaire would likely lose to President Donald Trump.
"If that's what happened in a Democratic debate, I think it's quite likely that Trump will chew him up and spit him out," Sanders said during a 60 Minutes interview that will air in full Sunday.
CNN anchor and 60 Minutes contributor Anderson Cooper asked Sanders whether he was less worried about Bloomberg being a threat in the Democratic primary following the debate. Sanders said he was worried about an "unprecedented amount of money being spent on a campaign."
Sanders and some of the other Democratic presidential candidates criticized the billionaire former mayor of New York during Wednesday night's debate in Las Vegas for his history of sexist comments, his wealth, and his stop-and-frisk program, which gave New York police officers the authority to stop anyone without a warrant if they suspected them of committing a crime.
Trump mocked Bloomberg's debate performance during his rally on Thursday night.
"I don’t know if anybody watched last night’s debate," Trump said. "And you know what, Mini Mike didn’t do well last night. I was going to send him a note, saying, 'It’s not easy doing what I do, is it?'"
He went on to say Bloomberg "choked."