freebeacon--2020-06-11--Hickenlooper: I Believe Tara Reade, But I’ll Still Vote for Biden

Senate candidate and former Colorado governor John Hickenlooper ( D. ) said Thursday he believes Tara Reade 's accusation of sexual assault against Joe Biden but will vote for Biden anyway .
Hickenlooper told a Colorado Sun reporter that he believed Reade 's story `` to a large extent '' and that he still `` absolutely '' supports Biden .
`` Any woman who comes forward and talks about the sexual assault that they 've had to endure , they deserve to be listened to and they deserve to be believed , '' Hickenlooper said .
`` I look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great deal of courage to come forward and talk about what happened to her . ''
`` It 's standard that you go through a process of vetting and examination of these types of allegations and this is certainly a very complicated case , '' the former governor said .
`` In the end , I still support Joe Biden for president , absolutely . ''
When pressed on whether or not he believed Reade 's allegation , Hickenlooper specified that he believed it `` to a large extent , yes . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ her up against a wall and sexually assaulted her in 1993 while Reade was a staffer in Biden 's Senate office .
Biden denied the accusation , claiming not to remember Reade .
Hickenlooper , who ran against Biden in the Democratic presidential primary , is running for the party 's nomination to challenge Republican incumbent senator Cory Gardner ( Colo. ) .
The Colorado Independent Ethics Commission last week found Hickenlooper guilty of violating a state ban on accepting gifts while in office .
He accepted free luxury travel from private donors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hold Hickenlooper in contempt for initially failing to comply with a subpoena to testify to the committee .
The Senate primary is set to take place on June 30 .

Senate candidate and former Colorado governor John Hickenlooper (D.) said Thursday he believes Tara Reade's accusation of sexual assault against Joe Biden but will vote for Biden anyway.
Hickenlooper told a Colorado Sun reporter that he believed Reade's story "to a large extent" and that he still "absolutely" supports Biden.
"Any woman who comes forward and talks about the sexual assault that they've had to endure, they deserve to be listened to and they deserve to be believed," Hickenlooper said. "I look at Tara Reade as someone who showed a great deal of courage to come forward and talk about what happened to her."
"It's standard that you go through a process of vetting and examination of these types of allegations and this is certainly a very complicated case," the former governor said. "In the end, I still support Joe Biden for president, absolutely."
When pressed on whether or not he believed Reade's allegation, Hickenlooper specified that he believed it "to a large extent, yes."
Reade alleged in March that Biden pushed her up against a wall and sexually assaulted her in 1993 while Reade was a staffer in Biden's Senate office. Biden denied the accusation, claiming not to remember Reade.
Hickenlooper, who ran against Biden in the Democratic presidential primary, is running for the party's nomination to challenge Republican incumbent senator Cory Gardner (Colo.).
The Colorado Independent Ethics Commission last week found Hickenlooper guilty of violating a state ban on accepting gifts while in office. He accepted free luxury travel from private donors twice. The commission also unanimously voted to hold Hickenlooper in contempt for initially failing to comply with a subpoena to testify to the committee.
The Senate primary is set to take place on June 30.


freebeacon--2020-06-11--U.S. to Sanction International Criminal Court for War Crimes Investigation Into U.S. and Allies

The Trump administration on Thursday took the unprecedented step of authorizing sanctions against International Criminal Court officials and any individual or affiliate participating in war crimes investigations into the United States and its allies , according to a senior Trump administration official .
A new executive order signed by President Donald Trump authorizes the State and Treasury Departments to sanction top ICC officials for participating in what the United States describes as unjust investigations into its actions in Afghanistan .
The new authorizations are being granted under national security statutes deeming the ICC ’ s actions a national emergency .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of visa restrictions against International Criminal Court officials and their family members .
The new sanctions are the latest salvo in the Trump administration 's war against the ICC .
Top U.S. officials claim the court is waging these investigations in a bid to discredit the United States and its allies on the international stage .
`` Despite repeated calls by the United States and our allies to reform , the International Criminal Court has taken no action to reform itself and continues to pursue politically-motivated investigations against us and our allies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement .
`` We are concerned that adversary nations are manipulating the International Criminal Court by encouraging these allegations against United States personnel .
Further , we have strong reason to believe there is corruption and misconduct at the highest levels of the International Criminal Court Office of the Prosecutor , calling into question the integrity of its investigation into American service members . ''
The ICC is pursuing charges against the United States for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan .
It also is investigating a case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Palestinian-controlled territories .
The new sanctions will target any individual associated with these investigations , according to a senior Trump administration official .
`` The ICC continues to pursue politically motivated investigations '' against the United States and Israel that are riddled with corruption , the administration official said , speaking only on background about the decision .
Further , the official said there is evidence that Russia is manipulating the ICC to discredit the United States and its allies .
Trump ’ s executive order will enable the State and Treasury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any ICC official designated under the new authority .
It also would block the entry to the United States of ICC employees and others who are engaged in efforts to prosecute the United States and its allies .
Determinations will be made in the coming weeks , according to the senior administration official , who declined to provide further details on the potential designations as of Thursday morning .
There are roughly 1,000 ICC employees , and it remains unclear how many could be sanctioned under the new statute .
The Washington Free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ICC is working alongside several organizations and individuals tied to terrorism .
It is believed that these groups are another driving force behind the ICC ’ s investigations into the United States and Israel .
Update 9:46 a.m. : This post has been updated with a statement from the White House press secretary .

The Trump administration on Thursday took the unprecedented step of authorizing sanctions against International Criminal Court officials and any individual or affiliate participating in war crimes investigations into the United States and its allies, according to a senior Trump administration official.
A new executive order signed by President Donald Trump authorizes the State and Treasury Departments to sanction top ICC officials for participating in what the United States describes as unjust investigations into its actions in Afghanistan. The new authorizations are being granted under national security statutes deeming the ICC’s actions a national emergency.
The president has also authorized the expansion of visa restrictions against International Criminal Court officials and their family members.
The new sanctions are the latest salvo in the Trump administration's war against the ICC. Top U.S. officials claim the court is waging these investigations in a bid to discredit the United States and its allies on the international stage.
"Despite repeated calls by the United States and our allies to reform, the International Criminal Court has taken no action to reform itself and continues to pursue politically-motivated investigations against us and our allies, including Israel," White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement. "We are concerned that adversary nations are manipulating the International Criminal Court by encouraging these allegations against United States personnel. Further, we have strong reason to believe there is corruption and misconduct at the highest levels of the International Criminal Court Office of the Prosecutor, calling into question the integrity of its investigation into American service members."
The ICC is pursuing charges against the United States for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. It also is investigating a case against Israel for its military action in the Palestinian-controlled territories. The new sanctions will target any individual associated with these investigations, according to a senior Trump administration official.
"The ICC continues to pursue politically motivated investigations" against the United States and Israel that are riddled with corruption, the administration official said, speaking only on background about the decision. Further, the official said there is evidence that Russia is manipulating the ICC to discredit the United States and its allies.
Trump’s executive order will enable the State and Treasury Departments to block the financial assets of any ICC official designated under the new authority. It also would block the entry to the United States of ICC employees and others who are engaged in efforts to prosecute the United States and its allies.
Determinations will be made in the coming weeks, according to the senior administration official, who declined to provide further details on the potential designations as of Thursday morning. There are roughly 1,000 ICC employees, and it remains unclear how many could be sanctioned under the new statute.
The Washington Free Beacon first reported last month that the ICC is working alongside several organizations and individuals tied to terrorism. It is believed that these groups are another driving force behind the ICC’s investigations into the United States and Israel.
Update 9:46 a.m.: This post has been updated with a statement from the White House press secretary.


freebeacon--2020-06-11--Continetti: Trump Could Make Up Ground by Backing Bipartisan Police Reform

Washington Free Beacon founding editor Matthew Continetti on Wednesday said President Donald Trump could recoup support by backing Sen. Tim Scott 's ( R. , S.C. ) police reform effort .
On Fox News 's Special Report , Continetti said Trump faces `` three interlocking crises '' in the form of the coronavirus pandemic , the economy , and the unrest following the killing of George Floyd by police officers .
`` The public has turned against [ Trump ] on two of those three : the pandemic and the Floyd killing .
So it 's very important for him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost ground by encouraging the bipartisan efforts of Senator Scott to work out some type of police reform bill , '' Continetti said .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Wednesday said that Trump advisers met with Scott to discuss police reform .
`` They had a very positive meeting with Sen. Scott , '' McEnany said .
`` It was very productive , and we do believe that we will have proactive policy prescriptions , whether that means legislation or an executive order . ''
Scott was asked by Senate Majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) to take the lead in drafting Republicans ' legislation to reform police practices .
House Democrats on Monday introduced the Justice in Policing Act , a broad bill seeking to reform police departments without acquiescing to the progressive demand to defund or abolish them .

Washington Free Beacon founding editor Matthew Continetti on Wednesday said President Donald Trump could recoup support by backing Sen. Tim Scott's (R., S.C.) police reform effort.
On Fox News's Special Report, Continetti said Trump faces "three interlocking crises" in the form of the coronavirus pandemic, the economy, and the unrest following the killing of George Floyd by police officers.
"The public has turned against [Trump] on two of those three: the pandemic and the Floyd killing. So it's very important for him, I think, to recover the lost ground by encouraging the bipartisan efforts of Senator Scott to work out some type of police reform bill," Continetti said.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Wednesday said that Trump advisers met with Scott to discuss police reform.
"They had a very positive meeting with Sen. Scott," McEnany said. "It was very productive, and we do believe that we will have proactive policy prescriptions, whether that means legislation or an executive order."
Scott was asked by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) to take the lead in drafting Republicans' legislation to reform police practices. House Democrats on Monday introduced the Justice in Policing Act, a broad bill seeking to reform police departments without acquiescing to the progressive demand to defund or abolish them.


freebeacon--2020-06-12--Flight of the Superpower

Flight of the Superpower

America is contracting .
It pulls back from the world , its people pull away from each other .
Last week 's Wall Street Journal report that President Trump ordered the withdrawal of slightly more than a quarter of our troops in Germany went unnoticed amid the domestic unrest following the police killing of George Floyd .
The truth is that the two stories , foreign and domestic , are related .
They are dual aspects of a loss of national self-confidence , an outbreak of intellectual and moral uncertainty , and an unpredictable , erratic , and easily piqued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and everywhere—is the result .
The drawdown is not necessarily bad in itself .
Both George W. Bush and Barack Obama reduced troop levels in Europe .
What is troubling is not the policy per se but the manner in which it was rolled out and the context in which it will be actualized .
At the precise moment when it should be strengthening partnerships and expanding its presence to deter adversaries , including Russia and China , America sent another signal that its days of global leadership are coming to an end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaked to the Journal a few days after German chancellor Angela Merkel rejected the president ’ s invitation to Washington in June ( a senior U.S. official told the paper the two events were not connected ) .
There was no presidential explanation , no public attempt to mollify European and NATO allies .
And while Germany certainly could pay more for its defense , and Merkel has been recalcitrant on the Nord Stream II pipeline , alliance maintenance requires active measures from both sides .
One of the reasons the post-World War @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that transatlantic governments have too often put domestic politics ahead of shared interests .
It is easy to forget this mutual concern for a world order of free governments and open commons of sea , air , space , and cyber .
Institutional degradation makes it even easier .
The former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. says the American people need to decide whether the organization is `` worth it , '' the French president calls NATO braindead , the German Constitutional Court rules the European Union 's bond buying program is illegal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the American president pledges to halt funding for the World Health Organization .
No open steps have been taken to reclaim or rebuild these institutions , or to build new counter-institutions that could carry out their original functions .
The U.S.-U.K. trade deal , which could be the cornerstone of a renewed transatlantic relationship , has been subordinated to the more pressing concerns of pandemic , recession , and protest .
What characterizes international relations is conflict , antagonism , mistrust , disregard , and drift .
This is the sort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of American forces to reassure host governments of our commitment to international security and to deter opponents from hostile action .
Everywhere you look , however , America is leaving .
We want out of Syria , out of Afghanistan , out of Iraq , out of Africa , out of Germany .
In the coming years we may want out of South Korea , and even out of Japan .
One or even several of these moves might be reasonable in isolation .
Together they communicate to the world a disinterest in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has played in international politics for generations .
And the world has noticed .
Violence surged in Afghanistan despite the peace agreement with the Taliban .
ISIS has stepped up the pace of attacks in Iraq .
China has surged troops along its border with India , ramped up its activity in the South China Sea , and on June 9 Chinese fighters violated Taiwanese airspace after a U.S. overflight .
Russian bombers and fighters probe U.S. airspace , with one formation coming within eight miles of the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has severed communication with South Korea .
Iran 's centrifuges keep spinning , and recently the Iranians constructed a fake U.S. aircraft carrier so that they can blow it up in live-fire exercises .
The conditions of global disorder and domestic unrest that America experienced during the final years of the Obama administration have recapitulated ( and magnified ) themselves in advance of November 's presidential election .
The president faces three interlocking crises of public health , economics , and social instability .
The emergence of a fourth crisis , involving national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the potential to place incalculable strains on an already beleaguered system .
An international flashpoint is not inevitable , but it has happened before in similar circumstances .
The world always grows more dangerous when the superpower takes flight .

America is contracting. It pulls back from the world, its people pull away from each other. Last week's Wall Street Journal report that President Trump ordered the withdrawal of slightly more than a quarter of our troops in Germany went unnoticed amid the domestic unrest following the police killing of George Floyd. The truth is that the two stories, foreign and domestic, are related. They are dual aspects of a loss of national self-confidence, an outbreak of intellectual and moral uncertainty, and an unpredictable, erratic, and easily piqued chief executive. Violence—here, there, and everywhere—is the result.
The drawdown is not necessarily bad in itself. Both George W. Bush and Barack Obama reduced troop levels in Europe. What is troubling is not the policy per se but the manner in which it was rolled out and the context in which it will be actualized. At the precise moment when it should be strengthening partnerships and expanding its presence to deter adversaries, including Russia and China, America sent another signal that its days of global leadership are coming to an end.
The timing was inauspicious. Word leaked to the Journal a few days after German chancellor Angela Merkel rejected the president’s invitation to Washington in June (a senior U.S. official told the paper the two events were not connected). There was no presidential explanation, no public attempt to mollify European and NATO allies. And while Germany certainly could pay more for its defense, and Merkel has been recalcitrant on the Nord Stream II pipeline, alliance maintenance requires active measures from both sides. One of the reasons the post-World War II liberal international order is unraveling is that transatlantic governments have too often put domestic politics ahead of shared interests.
It is easy to forget this mutual concern for a world order of free governments and open commons of sea, air, space, and cyber. Institutional degradation makes it even easier. The former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. says the American people need to decide whether the organization is "worth it," the French president calls NATO braindead, the German Constitutional Court rules the European Union's bond buying program is illegal, the World Trade Organization is handicapped, and the American president pledges to halt funding for the World Health Organization.
No open steps have been taken to reclaim or rebuild these institutions, or to build new counter-institutions that could carry out their original functions. The U.S.-U.K. trade deal, which could be the cornerstone of a renewed transatlantic relationship, has been subordinated to the more pressing concerns of pandemic, recession, and protest. What characterizes international relations is conflict, antagonism, mistrust, disregard, and drift.
This is the sort of environment that demands the forward presence of American forces to reassure host governments of our commitment to international security and to deter opponents from hostile action. Everywhere you look, however, America is leaving. We want out of Syria, out of Afghanistan, out of Iraq, out of Africa, out of Germany. In the coming years we may want out of South Korea, and even out of Japan. One or even several of these moves might be reasonable in isolation. Together they communicate to the world a disinterest in fulfilling the role of guarantor that America has played in international politics for generations.
And the world has noticed. Violence surged in Afghanistan despite the peace agreement with the Taliban. ISIS has stepped up the pace of attacks in Iraq. China has surged troops along its border with India, ramped up its activity in the South China Sea, and on June 9 Chinese fighters violated Taiwanese airspace after a U.S. overflight. Russian bombers and fighters probe U.S. airspace, with one formation coming within eight miles of the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone on June 10. Kim Jong Un has severed communication with South Korea. Iran's centrifuges keep spinning, and recently the Iranians constructed a fake U.S. aircraft carrier so that they can blow it up in live-fire exercises.
The conditions of global disorder and domestic unrest that America experienced during the final years of the Obama administration have recapitulated (and magnified) themselves in advance of November's presidential election. The president faces three interlocking crises of public health, economics, and social instability. The emergence of a fourth crisis, involving national security and great power conflict, has the potential to place incalculable strains on an already beleaguered system. An international flashpoint is not inevitable, but it has happened before in similar circumstances. The world always grows more dangerous when the superpower takes flight.


freebeacon--2020-06-12--The Cuomo-Lemon Bro Sessions

The Cuomo-Lemon Bro Sessions

The Washington Free Beacon presents highlights of liberal CNN hosts Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon during their nightly live toss @ @ @ @ @ one another 's views is boundless .
David Rutz is senior writer at the Washington @ @ @ @ @ previously a sports reporter for two years in Atlanta and has done freelance sports reporting @ @ @ @ @ He graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2010 and lives in Marietta , Ga. His Twitter @ @ @ @ @ He can be reached at rutz @ freebeacon.com .

The Washington Free Beacon presents highlights of liberal CNN hosts Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon during their nightly live toss, where their admiration for one another's views is boundless.


freebeacon--2020-06-13--Dem Data Firm Backed by Former Google CEO Dismissed Employee for Linking Violent Protests and Voter

Dem Data Firm Backed by Former Google CEO Dismissed Employee for Linking Violent Protests and Voter Turnout

A Democratic consulting firm backed by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt dismissed an employee after he publicly highlighted an academic study that linked violent race riots to historically diminished electoral support for Democrats .
Civis Analytics , a data firm employed by Joe Biden ’ s presidential campaign and launched with an investment from Schmidt , terminated data analyst David Shor after he wrote on Twitter about the peer-reviewed paper .
That post triggered backlash and accusations of racism from some progressive activists , New York magazine reported this week .
The study , by Princeton University Professor Omar Wasow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published in the American Political Science Review last month .
In it , Wasow provided evidence of a connection between protester violence during the civil rights movement and reduced support for Democratic candidates in elections .
Shor linked to the paper on May 28 and wrote , `` Post-MLK-assasination race riots reduced Democratic vote share in surrounding counties by 2 % , which was enough to tip the 1968 election to Nixon .
Non-violent protests *increase* Dem vote , mainly by encouraging warm elite discourse and media coverage . ''
The post was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism from left-wing activists , prompting Wasow ’ s wife , filmmaker Jennifer Brea , to come to Shor ’ s defense .
`` This is wild .
A data scientist , after tweeting about my [ husband ’ s ] work , was accused of anti-blackness and fired from his job , '' wrote Brea on Twitter .
`` Not for nothing , but Omar majored in Race & Ethnic Relations , co-founded BlackPlanet , got a Ph.D in African-American studies , and is black . ''
The Biden campaign has paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' and `` research '' since 2019 , according to Federal Election Commission reports .
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment .
Schmidt has a history of financing companies to support Democratic causes and candidates .
He was a backer of The Groundwork and Timshel , data startups run by former Obama campaign chief technology officer Michael Slaby that assisted Hillary Clinton ’ s 2016 campaign .
This election cycle , Schmidt has co-hosted fundraisers for Biden and former Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg .
Google did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Activists had argued Shor ’ s accurate summary of the study was evidence of racism .
`` [ W ] hite dems to black people in 2020 : ‘ could you die more quietly ?
we have an election to win , ’ '' wrote one critic .
Ari Trujillo Wesler , the founder of a Democratic tech startup , called the post `` tone deaf '' and tweeted at Civis Analytics CEO and Obama administration alumnus Dan Wagner to `` Come get your boy . ''
Shor issued an apology the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` an effective messenger of [ Wasow ’ s ] findings about the power of non-violent protest .
I regret starting this conversation and will be much more careful moving forward . ''
He was fired shortly after , according to New York magazine .
The magazine also reported that Shor is party to a non-disclosure agreement with Civis Analytics that prevents him from discussing the matter .
Shor and Civis Analytics did not respond to a request for comment .
Wasow did not respond to a request for comment .
In June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Civis Analytics said it `` stands with the Black community , and it ’ s time we confront the uncomfortable truths and emotions elicited by an honest examination of our society , and more importantly , ourselves . ''
The company vowed to `` direct pro bono resources to assist organizations on the front lines fighting for Black communities , '' donate `` $ 50,000 to social justice organizations , '' and `` facilitate ongoing internal forums to discuss these critical issues . ''
Civis Analytics was founded by Wagner , a former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Schmidt , an early investor in the company , sits on the Civis Analytics board .
The firm ’ s clients include the Democratic National Committee , the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee , Planned Parenthood and the Progressive Turnout Project .

A Democratic consulting firm backed by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt dismissed an employee after he publicly highlighted an academic study that linked violent race riots to historically diminished electoral support for Democrats.
Civis Analytics, a data firm employed by Joe Biden’s presidential campaign and launched with an investment from Schmidt, terminated data analyst David Shor after he wrote on Twitter about the peer-reviewed paper. That post triggered backlash and accusations of racism from some progressive activists, New York magazine reported this week.
The study, by Princeton University professor Omar Wasow, who is African American, was published in the American Political Science Review last month. In it, Wasow provided evidence of a connection between protester violence during the civil rights movement and reduced support for Democratic candidates in elections.
Shor linked to the paper on May 28 and wrote, "Post-MLK-assassination race riots reduced Democratic vote share in surrounding counties by 2%, which was enough to tip the 1968 election to Nixon. Non-violent protests *increase* Dem vote, mainly by encouraging warm elite discourse and media coverage."
The post was met with angry responses and accusations of racism from left-wing activists, prompting Wasow’s wife, filmmaker Jennifer Brea, to come to Shor’s defense.
"This is wild. A data scientist, after tweeting about my [husband’s] work, was accused of anti-blackness and fired from his job," wrote Brea on Twitter. "Not for nothing, but Omar majored in Race & Ethnic Relations, co-founded BlackPlanet, got a Ph.D in African-American studies, and is black."
The Biden campaign has paid Civis $176,000 for "technology service" and "research" since 2019, according to Federal Election Commission reports. The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Schmidt has a history of financing companies to support Democratic causes and candidates. He was a backer of The Groundwork and Timshel, data startups run by former Obama campaign chief technology officer Michael Slaby that assisted Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign. This election cycle, Schmidt has cohosted fundraisers for Biden and former Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg. Google did not respond to a request for comment.
Activists had argued Shor’s accurate summary of the study was evidence of racism. "[W]hite dems to black people in 2020: ‘could you die more quietly? we have an election to win,’" wrote one critic. Ari Trujillo Wesler, the founder of a Democratic tech startup, called the post "tone deaf" and tweeted at Civis Analytics CEO and Obama administration alumnus Dan Wagner to "Come get your boy."
Shor issued an apology the next day, writing that he was not "an effective messenger of [Wasow’s] findings about the power of non-violent protest. I regret starting this conversation and will be much more careful moving forward." He was fired shortly after, according to New York magazine.
The magazine also reported that Shor is party to a non-disclosure agreement with Civis Analytics that prevents him from discussing the matter. Shor and Civis Analytics did not respond to a request for comment. Wasow did not respond to a request for comment.
In a June 4 statement on its website, Civis Analytics said it "stands with the Black community, and it’s time we confront the uncomfortable truths and emotions elicited by an honest examination of our society, and more importantly, ourselves."
The company vowed to "direct pro bono resources to assist organizations on the front lines fighting for Black communities," donate "$50,000 to social justice organizations," and "facilitate ongoing internal forums to discuss these critical issues."
Civis Analytics was founded by Wagner, a former senior Obama campaign aide, in 2013. Schmidt, an early investor in the company, sits on the Civis Analytics board.
The firm’s clients include the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Planned Parenthood, and the Progressive Turnout Project.


freebeacon--2020-06-12--Hickenlooper Slapped With Fine for Violating State Gift Laws

Former Colorado governor and Democratic Senate candidate John Hickenlooper was slapped with a $ 2,750 fine on Friday for violating state gift laws .
The Colorado Independent Ethics Commission also rejected Hickenlooper ’ s request to drop a contempt charge against him for initially defying a subpoena to appear at his ethics trial .
The decision caps a difficult week for Hickenlooper , which included his conviction for ethics violations , his garbled exchange with a reporter over sexual assault allegations against Joe Biden , and a scathing editorial opposing his candidacy from the Colorado Springs Gazette .
`` Governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and takes responsibility , '' Hickenlooper ’ s communications director Melissa Miller said in a statement to a Denver Post reporter .
The campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Washington Free Beacon .
Earlier this week , Hickenlooper appeared to downplay the ethics charges against him as `` smear attacks '' from Republican groups .
`` These allegations were waged by a dark-money Republican group and they 're going to lay attacks and millions of dollars of smear ads against whoever the Democratic candidate is , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hickenlooper will not appeal the sentence , according to the Denver Post .
The former governor ’ s ethics trial and conviction have vexed his Senate campaign in recent weeks , although he continues to hold a wide lead in polls over Republican incumbent senator Cory Gardner .
Hickenlooper was found guilty last week of twice accepting illicit travel gifts from business interests when he was governor , including a free private jet trip and a chauffeured Maserati limousine ride .
The initial ethics commission complaint against Hickenlooper was filed in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watchdog group founded by former Republican Colorado House speaker Frank McNulty .
The organization praised the ethics commission 's decision on Friday and called on Hickenlooper to reimburse taxpayers for legal fees connected to his trial .
`` Today the Independent Ethics Commission rightly dismissed Hickenlooper 's hail-mary attempt to erase his contempt citation and issued the largest ethics fine in their history , '' PTI counsel Suzanne Staiert told the Free Beacon .
`` [ T ] he only question left is whether Hickenlooper will pay taxpayers back for his state funded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have already reached over $ 127,000 . ''
The fine was described as the `` highest penalty '' in the history of the state ’ s independent ethics commission by the National Republican Senatorial Committee .
`` The Ethics Commission 's decision to order John Hickenlooper pay the highest penalty in Commission history is an important step toward accountability , '' NRSC spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez said in a statement .
`` Hickenlooper violated the Colorado constitution , disrespected the rule of law , and forced the commission to subpoena him and find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

Former Colorado governor and Democratic Senate candidate John Hickenlooper was slapped with a $2,750 fine on Friday for violating state gift laws.
The Colorado Independent Ethics Commission also rejected Hickenlooper’s request to drop a contempt charge against him for initially defying a subpoena to appear at his ethics trial. The decision caps a difficult week for Hickenlooper, which included his conviction for ethics violations, his garbled exchange with a reporter over sexual assault allegations against Joe Biden, and a scathing editorial opposing his candidacy from the Colorado Springs Gazette.
"Governor Hickenlooper accepts the commission’s findings and takes responsibility," Hickenlooper’s communications director Melissa Miller said in a statement to a Denver Post reporter. The campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Washington Free Beacon.
Earlier this week, Hickenlooper appeared to downplay the ethics charges against him as "smear attacks" from Republican groups.
"These allegations were waged by a dark-money Republican group and they're going to lay attacks and millions of dollars of smear ads against whoever the Democratic candidate is," Hickenlooper said in a debate on Tuesday.
Hickenlooper will not appeal the sentence, according to the Denver Post. The former governor’s ethics trial and conviction have vexed his Senate campaign in recent weeks, although he continues to hold a wide lead in polls over Republican incumbent senator Cory Gardner.
Hickenlooper was found guilty last week of twice accepting illicit travel gifts from business interests when he was governor, including a free private jet trip and a chauffeured Maserati limousine ride.
The initial ethics commission complaint against Hickenlooper was filed in 2018 by the Public Trust Institute, a watchdog group founded by former Republican Colorado House speaker Frank McNulty. The organization praised the ethics commission's decision on Friday and called on Hickenlooper to reimburse taxpayers for legal fees connected to his trial.
"Today the Independent Ethics Commission rightly dismissed Hickenlooper's hail-mary attempt to erase his contempt citation and issued the largest ethics fine in their history," PTI counsel Suzanne Staiert told the Free Beacon. "[T]he only question left is whether Hickenlooper will pay taxpayers back for his state funded, $525 per hour legal fees that have already reached over $127,000."
The fine was described as the "highest penalty" in the history of the state’s independent ethics commission by the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
"The Ethics Commission's decision to order John Hickenlooper pay the highest penalty in Commission history is an important step toward accountability," NRSC spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez said in a statement. "Hickenlooper violated the Colorado constitution, disrespected the rule of law, and forced the commission to subpoena him and find him in contempt before answering their questions."


freebeacon--2020-06-12--Judge Dismisses Challenge to Trump Administration’s Abortion Title X Guidance

A federal judge dismissed a Maine family-planning organization 's lawsuit that challenged the Trump administration 's guidance prohibiting abortion referrals as a method of family planning .
District Judge Lance Walker cited the language of the guidance , which prohibits abortion referrals but allows for `` nondirective '' counseling of abortion services , as the reasoning for his dismissal .
Walker , a Trump administration appointee , wrote this week that the guidance `` authorizes nondirective counseling , including abortion counseling ; it only prohibits an abortion referral . ''
Because the guidance does not explicitly prohibit abortion providers from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ruled it did not violate the plaintiffs ' constitutional rights .
Maine Family Planning , the sole family-planning service in the state , argued it was forced out of the Title X program because the new guidance violated its free speech rights and harmed the ability of patients to obtain abortions .
The Title X program requires medical clinics to maintain physical and financial separation between abortion facilities , which are not eligible for federal aid , and family-planning clinics that are allowed to receive federal funding .
Walker drew heavily on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rust v. Sullivan .
In that decision , the Court held that Congress could condition federal funding on whether or not an organization recommended abortion as a family-planning method .
The Court decided the case by a 5-4 majority in the face of free speech objections from some physicians and abortion clinics .
A senior staff attorney representing Maine Family Planning told the Bangor Daily News that the organization will consider appealing the decision .
Walker 's dismissal of the lawsuit comes after he initially declined to prevent the guidance from going into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parenthood , Maine Family Planning withdrew from Title X funding last summer after the administration 's new guidance .
The organization had brought the legal challenge against the guidance in March of last year .
Maine Family Planning wrote in an op-ed explaining its decision that the organization did not want to operate under a `` gag rule . ''
`` We maintain the beliefs put forth in our motions , namely that the rule is unconstitutional and would inflict harm on Mainers by wreaking havoc on the statewide reproductive health network , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Planning did not respond to a request for comment .
`` A majority of Americans consistently say they do n't want to fund abortions with their taxes , '' March for Life president Tom McClusky said .
`` It is regrettable that pro-abortion advocates in Maine ignored both legal precedent and the wishes of most Americans , instead wasting valuable court time and public dollars in pursuit of their failing agenda . ''
`` Maine Family Planning ’ s assertion that the Protect Life Rule violates their free speech is simply false , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of communications for the Susan B. Anthony List .
`` On the other hand , to force pro-life American taxpayers to fund abortion violates their deeply held beliefs , and goes against the core values upon which our nation was founded . ''

A federal judge dismissed a Maine family-planning organization's lawsuit that challenged the Trump administration's guidance prohibiting abortion referrals as a method of family planning.
District Judge Lance Walker cited the language of the guidance, which prohibits abortion referrals but allows for "nondirective" counseling of abortion services, as the reasoning for his dismissal.
Walker, a Trump administration appointee, wrote this week that the guidance "authorizes nondirective counseling, including abortion counseling; it only prohibits an abortion referral." Because the guidance does not explicitly prohibit abortion providers from participating in the Title X program, he ruled it did not violate the plaintiffs' constitutional rights.
Maine Family Planning, the sole family-planning service in the state, argued it was forced out of the Title X program because the new guidance violated its free speech rights and harmed the ability of patients to obtain abortions.
The Title X program requires medical clinics to maintain physical and financial separation between abortion facilities, which are not eligible for federal aid, and family-planning clinics that are allowed to receive federal funding.
Walker drew heavily on precedent from the 1991 Supreme Court case Rust v. Sullivan. In that decision, the Court held that Congress could condition federal funding on whether or not an organization recommended abortion as a family-planning method. The Court decided the case by a 5-4 majority in the face of free speech objections from some physicians and abortion clinics.
A senior staff attorney representing Maine Family Planning told the Bangor Daily News that the organization will consider appealing the decision.
Walker's dismissal of the lawsuit comes after he initially declined to prevent the guidance from going into effect last summer.
Along with Planned Parenthood, Maine Family Planning withdrew from Title X funding last summer after the administration's new guidance. The organization had brought the legal challenge against the guidance in March of last year.
Maine Family Planning wrote in an op-ed explaining its decision that the organization did not want to operate under a "gag rule."
"We maintain the beliefs put forth in our motions, namely that the rule is unconstitutional and would inflict harm on Mainers by wreaking havoc on the statewide reproductive health network," the organization said.
Maine Family Planning did not respond to a request for comment.
Pro-life activists praised Judge Walker's decision.
"A majority of Americans consistently say they don't want to fund abortions with their taxes," March for Life president Tom McClusky said. "It is regrettable that pro-abortion advocates in Maine ignored both legal precedent and the wishes of most Americans, instead wasting valuable court time and public dollars in pursuit of their failing agenda."
"Maine Family Planning’s assertion that the Protect Life Rule violates their free speech is simply false," said Mallory Quigley, vice president of communications for the Susan B. Anthony List. "On the other hand, to force pro-life American taxpayers to fund abortion violates their deeply held beliefs, and goes against the core values upon which our nation was founded."


freebeacon--2020-06-12--The Sad Saga of Stacey Abrams

The Sad Saga of Stacey Abrams

Despite Georgia Dem 's campaign for VP spot , Biden has not contacted her Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams said Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden had not contacted her about joining the 2020 ticket , despite her campaign @ @ @ @ @ .
In 2019 , when rumors arose that Biden would pick her as a running @ @ @ @ @ his candidacy , Abrams told The View she would not run for `` second place @ @ @ @ @ not to run for any office in 2020 , Abrams has privately and publicly sought @ @ @ @ @ herself an `` excellent '' choice .
She also said she would be concerned if @ @ @ @ @ woman of color for the position .
Abrams is best known for her losing bid @ @ @ @ @ .
She never conceded defeat and has repeatedly blamed her defeat on voter suppression methods @

Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams said Wednesday that presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden had not contacted her about joining the 2020 ticket, despite her campaign to be his running mate.
In 2019, when rumors arose that Biden would pick her as a running mate before he even launched his candidacy, Abrams told The View she would not run for "second place." But since choosing not to run for any office in 2020, Abrams has privately and publicly sought the vice-presidential position, proclaiming herself an "excellent" choice. She also said she would be concerned if Biden did not choose a woman of color for the position.
Abrams is best known for her losing bid for Georgia governor in 2018. She never conceded defeat and has repeatedly blamed her defeat on voter suppression methods.


freebeacon--2020-06-12--UPenn Petition Aims to Disarm Police, Ban Background Checks

Students and professors are calling on the University of Pennsylvania to not only disarm police but also eliminate its crime alert system and employee background checks as part of a campaign to ban all forms of law enforcement on campus .
Social policy associate professor Toorjo Ghose penned a letter to the college 's deans and board of directors with a list of demands to divest the campus from any form of police contact .
The letter was adapted into a Change.org petition claiming UPenn has `` institutionalized '' a `` racist fascist police state . ''
It has garnered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and security measures enunciates [ sic ] a racist relationship with the community that must stop , '' the petition says .
Activists demand that the school disarm the police and implement a ban on criminal background checks for professors and employees of the university .
The letter also calls on administrators to keep students in the dark about crimes that occur on campus by eliminating text and email alerts .
Activists also demand that the university open the campus and all of its buildings to the surrounding community .
The letter also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the school-to-prison pipeline by not paying the property taxes it `` owes '' the city of Philadelphia .
A University of Pennsylvania spokesman said the school is aware of the Change.org petition but stands by the police department .
`` We strongly disagree with the assertion that there is a ‘ police state ' at Penn , '' said University of Pennsylvania spokesman Ron Ozio .
`` We have one of the finest university police departments in the country .
Racial profiling is something the University does not tolerate . ''
There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the abolition or divestment of police departments from college campuses .
The University of Minnesota 's student government successfully lobbied the school to divest from the Minneapolis Police Department following the death of George Floyd .
The Black Panther Party and # DisarmUC created a petition for the University of California system to `` demand an end to all university contracts with police on [ University of California ] campuses , the abolition of their departments , and the redistribution of their resources to provide for community members in need . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ other universities .
Prominent politicians have embraced the # defundthepolice movement as well .
Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D. , Minn. ) called to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department entirely .
She called the department a `` cancer '' and likened dismantling the police to an amputation .
Other politicians , including presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , have publicly supported the Black Lives Matter movement but have refused to join calls to completely defund the police .
The petition has drawn skepticism from conservatives .
Inez Feltscher Stepman , a fellow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she was surprised that liberal activists have joined the call to dismantle campus law enforcement in light of recent campaigns that have painted campuses as hotbeds of sexual assault and rape .
Stepman questioned the wisdom of removing resources that are designed to safeguard students .
`` It 's ironic that the same people who falsely claimed there was a rape epidemic on America 's campuses necessitating Title IX procedures that gutted due process are now removing resources , alerts , and protections for students who want to report crime .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon actually become unsafe places for women , '' Stepman said .

Students and professors are calling on the University of Pennsylvania to not only disarm police but also eliminate its crime alert system and employee background checks as part of a campaign to ban all forms of law enforcement on campus.
Social policy associate professor Toorjo Ghose penned a letter to the college's deans and board of directors with a list of demands to divest the campus from any form of police contact. The letter was adapted into a Change.org petition claiming UPenn has "institutionalized" a "racist fascist police state." It has garnered nearly 12,000 signatures.
"Overzealous policing and security measures enunciates [sic] a racist relationship with the community that must stop," the petition says.
Activists demand that the school disarm the police and implement a ban on criminal background checks for professors and employees of the university. The letter also calls on administrators to keep students in the dark about crimes that occur on campus by eliminating text and email alerts. Activists also demand that the university open the campus and all of its buildings to the surrounding community. The letter also claims the Ivy League university is strengthening the school-to-prison pipeline by not paying the property taxes it "owes" the city of Philadelphia.
A University of Pennsylvania spokesman said the school is aware of the Change.org petition but stands by the police department.
"We strongly disagree with the assertion that there is a 'police state' at Penn," said University of Pennsylvania spokesman Ron Ozio. "We have one of the finest university police departments in the country. Racial profiling is something the University does not tolerate."
There is a growing movement of left-wing organizations pushing for the abolition or divestment of police departments from college campuses. The University of Minnesota's student government successfully lobbied the school to divest from the Minneapolis Police Department following the death of George Floyd. The Black Panther Party and #DisarmUC created a petition for the University of California system to "demand an end to all university contracts with police on [University of California] campuses, the abolition of their departments, and the redistribution of their resources to provide for community members in need." The campaign has spread to dozens of other universities.
Prominent politicians have embraced the #defundthepolice movement as well. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) called to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department entirely. She called the department a "cancer" and likened dismantling the police to an amputation. Other politicians, including presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, have publicly supported the Black Lives Matter movement but have refused to join calls to completely defund the police.
The petition has drawn skepticism from conservatives. Inez Feltscher Stepman, a fellow at the Independent Women's Forum, said she was surprised that liberal activists have joined the call to dismantle campus law enforcement in light of recent campaigns that have painted campuses as hotbeds of sexual assault and rape. Stepman questioned the wisdom of removing resources that are designed to safeguard students.
"It's ironic that the same people who falsely claimed there was a rape epidemic on America's campuses necessitating Title IX procedures that gutted due process are now removing resources, alerts, and protections for students who want to report crime. If these demands are met, universities may soon actually become unsafe places for women," Stepman said.


freebeacon--2020-06-12--Liberal Dark Money Behemoth Seeks to Scrub Wikipedia Page of Free Beacon Reporting

A powerful liberal network is seeking to scrub its Wikipedia page of unfavorable reporting on its financial activity by the Washington Free Beacon .
Arabella Advisors , a hub for dozens of liberal groups and causes , has hired the public relations firm Porter Novelli to expunge citations from its Wikipedia page , according to a report by the Daily Beast .
The firm suggested edits to the Arabella Advisors Wikipedia entry on June 1 , saying that reports about Arabella Advisors 's attempts to shield financial information from the public are unreliable and should be removed .
Mary Gaulke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Novelli , suggested the edits but said she would not edit the article directly , citing conflict of interest concerns .
Gaulke also suggested that the Free Beacon should only be considered a reliable source when cited as opinion .
Arabella Advisors sought to have Wikipedia delete portions of the page that cited a 2019 Free Beacon report detailing how the group funneled hundreds of millions of dollars to liberal initiatives .
It also asked for a sentence citing the Center for Responsive Politics , a research database on money in politics , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COI [ conflict of interest ] disclosure .
I do n't feel comfortable acting on these requests , though .
The fact that this page was created less than a month ago and Arabella has already retained a paid editor is not , to me , a good sign , '' Wikipedia user Marquardtika said .
`` As we can see from the article , Arabella has a massive amount of money and exerts tremendous influence across a wide range of channels .
Its Wikipedia page should not be one of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accept Gaulke 's attempt to influence the webpage would undermine Wikipedia 's impartiality .
`` What chance does the layman have at crafting a truly impartial encyclopedic article if volunteer editors here are asked to do the bidding of a paid editor on behalf of a gigantic and powerful company ?
It is truly David vs. Goliath , '' Marquardtika said .

A powerful liberal network is seeking to scrub its Wikipedia page of unfavorable reporting on its financial activity by the Washington Free Beacon.
Arabella Advisors, a hub for dozens of liberal groups and causes, has hired a public relations specialist to expunge citations from its Wikipedia page, according to a report by the Daily Beast. The firm suggested edits to the Arabella Advisors Wikipedia entry on June 1, saying that reports about Arabella Advisors's attempts to shield financial information from the public are unreliable and should be removed.
The public relations specialist, Mary Gaulke, suggested the edits but said she would not edit the article directly, citing conflict of interest concerns. Gaulke also suggested that the Free Beacon should only be considered a reliable source when cited as opinion.
Arabella Advisors sought to have Wikipedia delete portions of the page that cited a 2019 Free Beacon report detailing how the group funneled hundreds of millions of dollars to liberal initiatives. It also asked for a sentence citing the Center for Responsive Politics, a research database on money in politics, to be removed.
A Wikipedia editor rejected the suggested edits, citing Arabella's considerable influence as a chief concern.
"I appreciate the COI [conflict of interest] disclosure. I don't feel comfortable acting on these requests, though. The fact that this page was created less than a month ago and Arabella has already retained a paid editor is not, to me, a good sign," Wikipedia user Marquardtika said. "As we can see from the article, Arabella has a massive amount of money and exerts tremendous influence across a wide range of channels. Its Wikipedia page should not be one of those channels."
Marquardtika said that to accept Gaulke's attempt to influence the webpage would undermine Wikipedia's impartiality.
"What chance does the layman have at crafting a truly impartial encyclopedic article if volunteer editors here are asked to do the bidding of a paid editor on behalf of a gigantic and powerful company? It is truly David vs. Goliath," Marquardtika said.
UPDATE June 13, 9:30 a.m.: This report has been updated to reflect the fact that Arabella Advisers hired a freelance public relations specialist, not the public relations firm Porter Novelli.


freebeacon--2020-06-12--Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rakes in Cash from Lawyer Who Pushed to Suppress Police Shooting Vi

Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rakes in Cash from Lawyer Who Pushed to Suppress Police Shooting Video

Congressional Black Caucus chair Karen Bass ( D. , Calif. ) , who is leading Democratic police reform efforts , accepted thousands from an attorney who worked to block the release of a video showing the fatal police shooting of a black teenager .
Chicago attorney Steve Patton sent the maximum primary contribution of $ 2,800 to Bass 's campaign and another $ 2,800 to the Democrat 's joint fundraising committee this cycle .
Patton was the Chicago city hall attorney who tried to suppress the dash-cam recording depicting the events that led to 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 's death in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buttigieg faced intense scrutiny last year after it was discovered that he had taken campaign cash from the lawyer .
Buttigieg returned the money and canceled a fundraiser following a media firestorm .
Bass is now leading the congressional charge for federal police reform following the death of George Floyd .
The California congresswoman has said reforms will come quickly and will focus on `` accountability . ''
She was among a handful of Democratic politicians to unveil a bill earlier this week aimed at overhauling police practices .
At a Monday press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should have to see `` the slow murder of an individual by a uniformed police officer . ''
Patton pushed to make sure no one saw video of the murder of McDonald .
In 2014—when he worked for then-mayor Rahm Emanuel—Patton fought the release of the video evidence that ultimately led to the conviction of Jason Van Dyke , a white Chicago cop who shot the black teenager 16 times .
The event set off protests across Chicago .
Chicago police had maintained that McDonald was armed with a knife and `` lunged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dyke opening fire .
One year after the event , however , a judge ordered the video 's release .
The footage showed McDonald walking away from the officers and carrying a pocket knife .
Van Dyke was convicted of second-degree murder .
He was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison .
The case found itself back in the national spotlight last year when the Associated Press reported that Patton had given campaign contributions to Buttigieg and was set to cohost a fundraiser for the South Bend mayor .
Buttigieg , facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dumped the contributions and canceled the fundraiser .
`` It 's frustrating , '' he said of the donations .
`` I 'm going to figure out how it happened and make sure it does n't happen again , but these things do happen and we accept responsibility and keep going . ''
Charlene Carruthers , a Black Lives Matter activist , told NBC News that `` the worst case scenario is [ Buttigieg 's ] people know and they just do n't care , or they do n't know and have n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bass 's campaign and the treasurer of the Democrat 's civic action fund did not respond to inquiries .
Patton did not return a request for comment on the donations .

Pete Buttigieg came under heavy fire last year for donations from the same attorney
Congressional Black Caucus chair Karen Bass (D., Calif.), who is leading Democratic police reform efforts, accepted thousands from an attorney who worked to block the release of a video showing the fatal police shooting of a black teenager.
Chicago attorney Steve Patton sent the maximum primary contribution of $2,800 to Bass's campaign and another $2,800 to the Democrat's joint fundraising committee this cycle. Patton was the Chicago city hall attorney who tried to suppress the dash-cam recording depicting the events that led to 17-year-old Laquan McDonald's death in 2014. Failed Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg faced intense scrutiny last year after it was discovered that he had taken campaign cash from the lawyer. Buttigieg returned the money and canceled a fundraiser following a media firestorm.
Bass is now leading the congressional charge for federal police reform following the death of George Floyd. The California congresswoman has said reforms will come quickly and will focus on "accountability." She was among a handful of Democratic politicians to unveil a bill earlier this week aimed at overhauling police practices. At a Monday press conference, Bass said that no one should have to see "the slow murder of an individual by a uniformed police officer."
Patton pushed to make sure no one saw video of the murder of McDonald. In 2014—when he worked for then-mayor Rahm Emanuel—Patton fought the release of the video evidence that ultimately led to the conviction of Jason Van Dyke, a white Chicago cop who shot the black teenager 16 times. The event set off protests across Chicago.
Chicago police had maintained that McDonald was armed with a knife and "lunged" at the officers prior to Van Dyke opening fire. One year after the event, however, a judge ordered the video's release. The footage showed McDonald walking away from the officers and carrying a pocket knife. Van Dyke was convicted of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison.
The case found itself back in the national spotlight last year when the Associated Press reported that Patton had given campaign contributions to Buttigieg and was set to cohost a fundraiser for the South Bend mayor.
Buttigieg, facing an onslaught of negative media coverage, dumped the contributions and canceled the fundraiser. "It's frustrating," he said of the donations. "I'm going to figure out how it happened and make sure it doesn't happen again, but these things do happen and we accept responsibility and keep going."
Charlene Carruthers, a Black Lives Matter activist, told NBC News that "the worst case scenario is [Buttigieg's] people know and they just don't care, or they don't know and haven't vetted [Patton] thoroughly."
Bass's campaign and the treasurer of the Democrat's civic action fund did not respond to inquiries. Patton did not return a request for comment on the donations.


freebeacon--2020-06-12--Biden Dropped $4.7 Million on Facebook Ads in June While Decrying ‘Misinformation’ on Platform

Joe Biden ’ s campaign has massively ramped up its spending on Facebook advertisements in June , even as it wages a public relations war against the tech giant for allegedly allowing the Trump campaign to peddle `` misinformation '' through paid ads .
The Biden campaign spent $ 4.7 million on Facebook ads over the past week , according to records published by the social media platform—more than it spent in the entirety of 2019 .
As Biden pours money into Facebook postings , he has also ramped up a pressure campaign aimed at changing the website ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being circulated in pro-Trump political ads .
His campaign website is urging supporters to sign its petition calling for stricter fact checking at the company and published an open letter to founder Mark Zuckerberg claiming that other politicians are using the platform to `` spread fear and misleading information . ''
The spending indicates how reliant the campaign is on the social media platform for voter outreach , despite Biden 's criticism .
`` I am calling on you to make clear rules—applied to everyone , including Donald Trump—that prohibit threatening behavior and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said on his website .
`` After foreign operatives and rightwing trolls used Facebook to hack the 2016 election , Facebook vowed ‘ never again ’ and promised to take action .
But with fewer than 5 months until the 2020 election , Facebook seems to be on a crash course to let the same mistakes happen again . ''
Biden also asked supporters to sign a `` petition '' his campaign drafted against Facebook and encouraged them to `` slide into Facebook ’ s DMs and ask what they are doing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ads has skyrocketed in recent weeks , with the New York Times reporting that the campaign spent a record-breaking $ 1.6 million in a single day last week .
One recent Biden ad claimed that Trump `` wo n't deliver anything more than Twitter tantrums and self-serving photos that require unleashing tear-gas and rubber bullets on peaceful protestors to get . ''
The comment is a reference to a June incident in which the U.S. Park Police cleared protesters from a park near the White House shortly before President Trump walked through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Park Police disputed the accuracy of some of the claims Biden makes in the ad , including the characterization of the protesters as `` peaceful . ''
`` At approximately 6:33 pm , violent protesters on H Street NW began throwing projectiles including bricks , frozen water bottles and caustic liquids , '' the National Park Service said in a statement on June 2 .
`` The protesters also climbed onto a historic building at the north end of Lafayette Park that was destroyed by arson days prior .
Intelligence had revealed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and officers found caches of glass bottles , baseball bats , and metal poles hidden along the street . ''
The agency also claimed `` officers then employed the use of smoke canisters and pepper balls .
No tear gas was used by USPP officers or other assisting law enforcement partners to close the area at Lafayette Park . ''
Many of Biden ’ s paid posts appear to be aimed at collecting names and addresses of potential supporters , according to a review of Facebook ’ s public ad database .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asks supporters to sign a petition to `` condemn Donald Trump '' for promoting `` white supremacy and hatred in our country . ''
One version of the post , which started running on June 6 , says that `` over 800,000 Americans have already '' signed the petition , but more were needed to reach the goal of 2.5 million signatures `` before midnight . ''
A second version , which started running three days later , claimed that 623,000 people had signed the petition .
Two other ads , which have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the campaign needs `` 83 more Americans to speak out before 11:59 p.m. tonight '' by answering a survey question and that Biden needs to raise `` another $ 1,027 before midnight . ''
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment .

Campaign spent more money on Facebook ads over the past week than all of 2019
Joe Biden’s campaign has massively ramped up its spending on Facebook advertisements in June, even as it wages a public relations war against the tech giant for allegedly allowing the Trump campaign to peddle "misinformation" through paid ads.
The Biden campaign spent $4.7 million on Facebook ads over the past week, according to records published by the social media platform—more than it spent in the entirety of 2019.
As Biden pours money into Facebook postings, he has also ramped up a pressure campaign aimed at changing the website’s advertising policy to squelch false information from being circulated in pro-Trump political ads. His campaign website is urging supporters to sign its petition calling for stricter fact checking at the company and published an open letter to founder Mark Zuckerberg claiming that other politicians are using the platform to "spread fear and misleading information." The spending indicates how reliant the campaign is on the social media platform for voter outreach, despite Biden's criticism.
"I am calling on you to make clear rules—applied to everyone, including Donald Trump—that prohibit threatening behavior and the spread of misinformation," Biden said on his website.
"After foreign operatives and rightwing trolls used Facebook to hack the 2016 election, Facebook vowed ‘never again’ and promised to take action. But with fewer than 5 months until the 2020 election, Facebook seems to be on a crash course to let the same mistakes happen again."
Biden also asked supporters to sign a "petition" his campaign drafted against Facebook and encouraged them to "slide into Facebook’s DMs and ask what they are doing."
Biden’s spending on Facebook ads has skyrocketed in recent weeks, with the New York Times reporting that the campaign spent a record-breaking $1.6 million in a single day last week.
One recent Biden ad claimed that Trump "won't deliver anything more than Twitter tantrums and self-serving photos that require unleashing tear-gas and rubber bullets on peaceful protestors to get." The comment is a reference to a June incident in which the U.S. Park Police cleared protesters from a park near the White House shortly before President Trump walked through the area to give a speech.
The U.S. Park Police disputed the accuracy of some of the claims Biden makes in the ad, including the characterization of the protesters as "peaceful."
"At approximately 6:33 pm, violent protesters on H Street NW began throwing projectiles including bricks, frozen water bottles and caustic liquids," the National Park Service said in a statement on June 2. "The protesters also climbed onto a historic building at the north end of Lafayette Park that was destroyed by arson days prior. Intelligence had revealed calls for violence against the police, and officers found caches of glass bottles, baseball bats, and metal poles hidden along the street."
The agency also claimed "officers then employed the use of smoke canisters and pepper balls. No tear gas was used by USPP officers or other assisting law enforcement partners to close the area at Lafayette Park."
Many of Biden’s paid posts appear to be aimed at collecting names and addresses of potential supporters, according to a review of Facebook’s public ad database.
One of Biden’s most frequent ads asks supporters to sign a petition to "condemn Donald Trump" for promoting "white supremacy and hatred in our country."
One version of the post, which started running on June 6, says that "over 800,000 Americans have already" signed the petition, but more were needed to reach the goal of 2.5 million signatures "before midnight." A second version, which started running three days later, claimed that 623,000 people had signed the petition.
Two other ads, which have run for multiple days, claim that the campaign needs "83 more Americans to speak out before 11:59 p.m. tonight" by answering a survey question and that Biden needs to raise "another $1,027 before midnight."
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-06-13--REVIEW: ‘No, You Shut Up’ by Symone Sanders

If you 're like most level-headed Americans and do n't pay attention to cable news , you might not know that Symone Sanders has been on television .
After reading her recently published memoir , you wo n't be able to forget it .
`` Power is also the ability to go on CNN wearing whatever shade of fuchsia or tangerine or turquoise I want , speaking loudly and truthfully and daring someone to tell me to shut up , '' Sanders writes in the appropriately titled , No , You Shut Up .
It is a fitting political manifesto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with attitude and self-promotion .
`` I 'm a young , intelligent , well-spoken Black woman who has already served as a national press secretary for a leading presidential candidate , a paid regular contributor on CNN , a political pundit and commentator , and a juvenile justice advocate , '' Sanders writes—in the book , not on her LinkedIn profile—while noting that her role at CNN involved `` doing my part to speak truth to power , '' which she did `` on a daily basis , from September 2016 to April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say that Sanders 's professional journey from her hometown of Omaha , Neb.
, to the top of the Washington , D.C. , establishment and her current role as an adviser to presidential candidate Joe Biden is not impressive .
Her ascent to the elite echelon of political punditry was fueled by personal ambition and a strong social network acquired through church , family friends , volunteer organizations , grade-school mentoring programs , and a close-knit local community .
In other words , the sort of `` civic society '' that reform-minded conservatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sanders 's story is a testament to how a vibrant civic society , largely removed from the apparatus of government , can enhance lives and foster success among individuals driven to succeed , even if the odds seem high .
`` Accessing the apparatus seemed about as likely as making my way to Oz .
But I did n't let that stop me , '' writes the 30-year-old senior adviser to the Biden campaign .
`` I 'd find my way there in my Louboutins , ruby slippers be damned . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the point where she can fondly reminisce about the times she `` sat next to world leaders and hung out with Diane von Furstenberg . ''
At the same time , the memoir laments that Sanders 's level of success is `` unreachable '' in America today .
It is an argument for how a `` more equitable , inclusive society '' can be achieved by refusing to shut up , telling the bad the people to shut up , and by giving Symone Sanders even greater access to power , presumably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a role she wants and will probably get if Biden is elected .
`` While standing up and acting on behalf of others , you also need to look out for yourself , '' Sanders says in the book , which is sprinkled with tidbits of career advice for ambitious young professionals , as well as ruminations on life 's challenges that people face `` even if you 're not on TV . ''
It 's a lesson that most liberal elites have taken to heart , refusing to allow their opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building homeless shelters and affordable housing units in their neighborhoods to diminish their feelings of self-righteousness .
It 's why former Obama officials did n't think twice before accepting high-paying gigs at Uber , Amazon , and McDonald 's .
Perhaps the most interesting anecdote involved Sanders 's tenure as national press secretary for Bernie Sanders ( no relation ) in 2016 .
The author embraces a narrative in which the campaign hired her as a pep rally prop to defuse tensions with Black Lives Matter activists who had been disrupting their events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to respond to press requests that did n't come from BET or Telemundo .
No harm , no foul , though , because Sanders was also exploiting the campaign to advance her career .
`` Was I being used in the moment ?
Yes , definitely , '' Sanders says .
`` But I damn well knew I could also use the moment to my own benefits . ''
That would explain how an ambitious operative could so easily transition from a candidate promising to burn it all down to a candidate promising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
The book 's timing is perhaps unfortunate , given how much has changed since it was being written at the start of the Democratic primary season .
Especially among the ascendent coalition of radical progressives , there seems to be little patience for those who argue , as Sanders does , that America needs only to be `` restored '' or `` reclaimed , '' as opposed to radically transformed—by abolishing the police , for example .
`` We live in a culture right now where we can choose to isolate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think like us , look like us , vote like us , '' Sanders writes .
She suggests this partisan isolation is an impediment to progress .
But for many of the activists she hopes to engage in the political process , including a substantial number of New York Times employees , purging the public sphere of people who do n't `` think like us '' is precisely the point .
`` When you 're speaking truth and spitting facts , sometimes the powers that be try to shut you down , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be long before she learns what it 's like to be on the other side of that equation .

If you're like most level-headed Americans and don't pay attention to cable news, you might not know that Symone Sanders has been on television. After reading her recently published memoir, you won't be able to forget it.
"Power is also the ability to go on CNN wearing whatever shade of fuchsia or tangerine or turquoise I want, speaking loudly and truthfully and daring someone to tell me to shut up," Sanders writes in the appropriately titled, No, You Shut Up.
It is a fitting political manifesto for these times—thin on substance, dripping with attitude and self-promotion. "I'm a young, intelligent, well-spoken Black woman who has already served as a national press secretary for a leading presidential candidate, a paid regular contributor on CNN, a political pundit and commentator, and a juvenile justice advocate," Sanders writes—in the book, not on her LinkedIn profile—while noting that her role at CNN involved "doing my part to speak truth to power," which she did "on a daily basis, from September 2016 to April 2018."
This is not to say that Sanders's professional journey from her hometown of Omaha, Neb., to the top of the Washington, D.C., establishment and her current role as an adviser to presidential candidate Joe Biden is not impressive. Her ascent to the elite echelon of political punditry was fueled by personal ambition and a strong social network acquired through church, family friends, volunteer organizations, grade-school mentoring programs, and a close-knit local community.
In other words, the sort of "civic society" that reform-minded conservatives used to talk about before Donald Trump. Sanders's story is a testament to how a vibrant civic society, largely removed from the apparatus of government, can enhance lives and foster success among individuals driven to succeed, even if the odds seem high.
"Accessing the apparatus seemed about as likely as making my way to Oz. But I didn't let that stop me," writes the 30-year-old senior adviser to the Biden campaign. "I'd find my way there in my Louboutins, ruby slippers be damned." Sure enough, she made it, to the point where she can fondly reminisce about the times she "sat next to world leaders and hung out with Diane von Furstenberg."
At the same time, the memoir laments that Sanders's level of success is "unreachable" in America today. It is an argument for how a "more equitable, inclusive society" can be achieved by refusing to shut up, telling the bad the people to shut up, and by giving Symone Sanders even greater access to power, presumably as White House press secretary. It's a role she wants and will probably get if Biden is elected.
"While standing up and acting on behalf of others, you also need to look out for yourself," Sanders says in the book, which is sprinkled with tidbits of career advice for ambitious young professionals, as well as ruminations on life's challenges that people face "even if you're not on TV."
It's a lesson that most liberal elites have taken to heart, refusing to allow their opposition to integrating their children's schools or building homeless shelters and affordable housing units in their neighborhoods to diminish their feelings of self-righteousness. It's why former Obama officials didn't think twice before accepting high-paying gigs at Uber, Amazon, and McDonald's.
Perhaps the most interesting anecdote involved Sanders's tenure as national press secretary for Bernie Sanders (no relation) in 2016. The author embraces a narrative in which the campaign hired her as a pep rally prop to defuse tensions with Black Lives Matter activists who had been disrupting their events, and initially didn't want her to respond to press requests that didn't come from BET or Telemundo.
No harm, no foul, though, because Sanders was also exploiting the campaign to advance her career. "Was I being used in the moment? Yes, definitely," Sanders says. "But I damn well knew I could also use the moment to my own benefits." That would explain how an ambitious operative could so easily transition from a candidate promising to burn it all down to a candidate promising to merely turn the clock back four years.
The book's timing is perhaps unfortunate, given how much has changed since it was being written at the start of the Democratic primary season. Especially among the ascendent coalition of radical progressives, there seems to be little patience for those who argue, as Sanders does, that America needs only to be "restored" or "reclaimed," as opposed to radically transformed—by abolishing the police, for example.
"We live in a culture right now where we can choose to isolate ourselves in echo chambers with people who think like us, look like us, vote like us," Sanders writes. She suggests this partisan isolation is an impediment to progress. But for many of the activists she hopes to engage in the political process, including a substantial number of New York Times employees, purging the public sphere of people who don't "think like us" is precisely the point.
"When you're speaking truth and spitting facts, sometimes the powers that be try to shut you down," Sanders writes, fiercely. It might not be long before she learns what it's like to be on the other side of that equation.


freebeacon--2020-06-13--Excellence in Broadcasting: Celebrating the Talented Members of the MSNBC All-Decade Team

Every journalist who appears on television has courage .
That 's a given .
But joining the elite ranks of the world 's most noble profession requires something few possess—that rare combination of talent , charisma , grace , humility , eloquence , and cheeky bravado .
What a truly remarkable achievement , then , that one network—MSNBC—has managed to accumulate so many all-star journalists and contributors over the past 10 years .
Congratulations to the members of the MSNBC All-Decade Team !
Martin Bashir : Forced to resign after suggesting someone defecate in Sarah Palin 's mouth and suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equivalent of using the n-word .
Al Sharpton : Former fat activist , forced to concede defeat in his ongoing war against the teleprompter when his weekday show—PoliticsNation—was relegated to the weekend due to low ratings .
Chris Matthews : Forced to resign after admitting to inappropriate sexual behavior on set , compared the early success of Sen. Bernie Sanders 's ( I. , Vt. ) presidential campaign to the successful Nazi invasion of France in 1940 , and suggested it was racist to oppose President Obama or to call him `` Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donating to Democratic candidates and forced to apologize for describing former Sen. Scott Brown ( R. , Mass . )
as `` an irresponsible , homophobic , racist , reactionary , ex-nude model , tea-bagging supporter of violence against women and against politicians with whom he disagrees . ''
Joy-Ann Reid : Forced to apologize , but never punished , for a series of homophobic blog posts that resurfaced in 2018 .
Despite apologizing and accepting responsibility for the posts , Reid later claimed she was the victim of a malicious hacker who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ old blog .
FBI cybersecurity experts were called in to investigate , but have yet to identify the hacker .
Brian Williams : Suspended in 2015 for telling false war stories about coming under fire in Iraq , continues to struggle with basic math .
Melissa Harris-Perry : Show canceled due to low ratings and the host 's preference for discussing Beyoncé music videos instead of politics , forced to apologize for making fun of Mitt Romney 's adopted black grandchild .
Once described as `` America 's foremost public intellectual , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obamacare '' was racist .
Mark Halperin : Fired as senior political analyst after several former colleagues accused him of inappropriate sexual behavior , previously suspended for calling President Obama a `` dick . ''
Touré : Former cohost of The Cycle forced to apologize for sexual harassment in 2019 , hired despite publicly suggesting there was something `` really fishy '' about the 9/11 terrorist attacks .
Nicolle Wallace : Former Republican operative best known for fawning over Democrats , dating sources , and comparing everything Trump does to Hitler .
Lisa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analyst , the former FBI lawyer is best known for having an extramarital affair with colleague Peter Strzok , who led the bureau 's investigation into the Trump campaign 's so-called `` collusion '' with Russia .
John Brennan : Former CIA director best known for lying and supporting communism .
Ben Rhodes : Failed aspiring novelist best known for bragging about his ability to manipulate `` often-clueless reporters '' into supporting Obama 's effort to fund the Iranian government .
Luke Russert : Prominent son best known for wearing a sport jersey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quit his job in 2016 in order to find himself .

Every journalist who appears on television has courage. That's a given. But joining the elite ranks of the world's most noble profession requires something few possess—that rare combination of talent, charisma, grace, humility, eloquence, and cheeky bravado.
What a truly remarkable achievement, then, that one network—MSNBC—has managed to accumulate so many all-star journalists and contributors over the past 10 years. Congratulations to the members of the MSNBC All-Decade Team!
First Team
Martin Bashir: Forced to resign after suggesting someone defecate in Sarah Palin's mouth and suggested that criticizing the IRS was the modern-day equivalent of using the n-word.
Ed Schultz: Suspended after calling Laura Ingraham a "right-wing slut." (Rest in peace, big daddy.)
Al Sharpton: Former fat activist, forced to concede defeat in his ongoing war against the teleprompter when his weekday show—PoliticsNation—was relegated to the weekend due to low ratings.
Chris Matthews: Forced to resign after admitting to inappropriate sexual behavior on set, compared the early success of Sen. Bernie Sanders's (I., Vt.) presidential campaign to the successful Nazi invasion of France in 1940, and suggested it was racist to oppose President Obama or to call him "Obama."
Keith Olbermann: Suspended for donating to Democratic candidates and forced to apologize for describing former Sen. Scott Brown (R., Mass.) as "an irresponsible, homophobic, racist, reactionary, ex-nude model, tea-bagging supporter of violence against women and against politicians with whom he disagrees."
Second Team
Joy-Ann Reid: Forced to apologize, but never punished, for a series of homophobic blog posts that resurfaced in 2018. Despite apologizing and accepting responsibility for the posts, Reid later claimed she was the victim of a malicious hacker who planted "fabricated" posts on her old blog. FBI cybersecurity experts were called in to investigate, but have yet to identify the hacker.
Brian Williams: Suspended in 2015 for telling false war stories about coming under fire in Iraq, continues to struggle with basic math.
Melissa Harris-Perry: Show canceled due to low ratings and the host's preference for discussing Beyoncé music videos instead of politics, forced to apologize for making fun of Mitt Romney's adopted black grandchild. Once described as "America's foremost public intellectual," she once argued that the word "Obamacare" was racist.
Mark Halperin: Fired as senior political analyst after several former colleagues accused him of inappropriate sexual behavior, previously suspended for calling President Obama a "dick."
Touré: Former cohost of The Cycle forced to apologize for sexual harassment in 2019, hired despite publicly suggesting there was something "really fishy" about the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Third Team
Nicolle Wallace: Former Republican operative best known for fawning over Democrats, dating sources, and comparing everything Trump does to Hitler.
Lisa Page: Recently hired as a legal analyst, the former FBI lawyer is best known for having an extramarital affair with colleague Peter Strzok, who led the bureau's investigation into the Trump campaign's so-called "collusion" with Russia.
John Brennan: Former CIA director best known for lying and supporting communism.
Ben Rhodes: Failed aspiring novelist best known for bragging about his ability to manipulate "often-clueless reporters" into supporting Obama's effort to fund the Iranian government.
Luke Russert: Prominent son best known for wearing a sport jersey in public and being rich enough to quit his job in 2016 in order to find himself.


freebeacon--2020-06-13--Johns Hopkins Halts Plans For Campus PD

Johns Hopkins Halts Plans For Campus PD

On Friday evening Johns Hopkins University ( JHU ) announced it will push back the creation of a private campus police force amid national unrest following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody .
In an online announcement , the school said it will delay the development of a campus police department for at least two years , `` so that it may benefit from the national re-evaluation of policing in society brought about by the death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police . ''
`` We share the continued anguish and anger at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police , and the unjust loss of so many other Black lives , '' the university said in a statement signed by school president Ronald Daniels and other administrators .
`` Taking the immediate implementation of the JHPD off the table … will allow us the time to improve our existing non-sworn campus safety and security operations through enhanced training , professional development , and oversight . ''
JHU moved to create a police force to deal with a `` sustained surge in violent crime directly impacting our students , '' but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dating back to 2019 .
Four JHU students and three Baltimore residents were arrested during those protests .
In light of the Black Lives Matter protests sparked by the death of George Floyd , students and faculty created a petition calling for JHU to abolish the creation of a police department .
`` Law enforcement agencies across the nation have been unable to avoid the unjustifiable use of force and officer-involved assaults , '' the petition reads .
`` The unfortunate reality is that an unjustified shooting or killing involving a Hopkins officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead to deep pain across our University , damage our relationship with the city [ of Baltimore ] , shatter our reputation as a global leader in education , and further jeopardize our financial stability . ''
The petition has garnered nearly 5,500 signatures and claims black and brown students , faculty , and staff at JHU are disproportionately targeted by the police and are threatened by the very existence of a police force .
Universities across the country have faced similar demands to cut ties with local police departments and private campus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ university to bow to the demands of anti-police activists .
The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities , for example , severed contracts with the Minneapolis Police Department in the wake of Floyd 's death .
The creators of the petition did not respond to requests for comment .
Plans for the department began in 2018 after violent crime and armed robberies increased near campus and quickly won the support of Baltimore 's Democratic mayor Catherine Pugh .
The mayor—who has since been sentenced to prison on corruption charges—argued JHU 's plan would free up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and would keep police officers in high-crime neighborhoods .
JHU 's decision , however , has not satisfied some activists on campus .
Smitha Mahesh , who has helped to organize campus opposition , told the Washington Free Beacon the school should abolish law enforcement completely .
`` Given the strong outcry and petitions by students , faculty , and Baltimore City as a whole , there is such a strong voice for the complete abolishment of the private police force .
So why stop at pause ? ''
Mahesh said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it completely right now and denounce ever creating a police department . ''
A university spokesman declined to comment , instead directing the Free Beacon to Daniels 's letter , which did not rule out abandoning the plan completely .
According to JHU president Daniels , he wants the university to be part of the conversation regarding whether there is a role for sworn policing in the country .
`` Many people see no role whatsoever for sworn policing in our country .
Many others accept the necessity of some role for sworn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reimagination of how that role can be discharged equitably , '' Daniels wrote .
`` We want Johns Hopkins to be part of the conversation about what is possible for our city and country in rethinking the appropriate boundaries and responsibilities of policing . ''

On Friday evening Johns Hopkins University (JHU) announced it will push back the creation of a private campus police force amid national unrest following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.
In an online announcement, the school said it will delay the development of a campus police department for at least two years, "so that it may benefit from the national re-evaluation of policing in society brought about by the death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police."
"We share the continued anguish and anger at the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, and the unjust loss of so many other Black lives," the university said in a statement signed by school president Ronald Daniels and other administrators. "Taking the immediate implementation of the JHPD off the table ... will allow us the time to improve our existing non-sworn campus safety and security operations through enhanced training, professional development, and oversight."
JHU moved to create a police force to deal with a "sustained surge in violent crime directly impacting our students," but the decision has faced protests from student activists dating back to 2019. Four JHU students and three Baltimore residents were arrested during those protests. In light of the Black Lives Matter protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, students and faculty created a petition calling for JHU to abolish the creation of a police department.
"Law enforcement agencies across the nation have been unable to avoid the unjustifiable use of force and officer-involved assaults," the petition reads. "The unfortunate reality is that an unjustified shooting or killing involving a Hopkins officer is likely. A preventable tragedy will lead to deep pain across our University, damage our relationship with the city [of Baltimore], shatter our reputation as a global leader in education, and further jeopardize our financial stability."
The petition has garnered nearly 5,500 signatures and claims black and brown students, faculty, and staff at JHU are disproportionately targeted by the police and are threatened by the very existence of a police force. Universities across the country have faced similar demands to cut ties with local police departments and private campus security. JHU is not the first university to bow to the demands of anti-police activists. The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, for example, severed contracts with the Minneapolis Police Department in the wake of Floyd's death.
The creators of the petition did not respond to requests for comment.
Plans for the department began in 2018 after violent crime and armed robberies increased near campus and quickly won the support of Baltimore's Democratic mayor Catherine Pugh. The mayor—who has since been sentenced to prison on corruption charges—argued JHU's plan would free up city resources for the Baltimore Police Department and would keep police officers in high-crime neighborhoods.
JHU's decision, however, has not satisfied some activists on campus. Smitha Mahesh, who has helped to organize campus opposition, told the Washington Free Beacon the school should abolish law enforcement completely.
"Given the strong outcry and petitions by students, faculty, and Baltimore City as a whole, there is such a strong voice for the complete abolishment of the private police force. So why stop at pause?" Mahesh said. "The university should just get rid of it completely right now and denounce ever creating a police department."
A university spokesman declined to comment, instead directing the Free Beacon to Daniels's letter, which did not rule out abandoning the plan completely. According to JHU president Daniels, he wants the university to be part of the conversation regarding whether there is a role for sworn policing in the country.
"Many people see no role whatsoever for sworn policing in our country. Many others accept the necessity of some role for sworn policing but seek a fundamental and vigorous reimagination of how that role can be discharged equitably," Daniels wrote. "We want Johns Hopkins to be part of the conversation about what is possible for our city and country in rethinking the appropriate boundaries and responsibilities of policing."