freebeacon--2020-01-17--Iran Can Take Fight Beyond its Borders, Khamenei Says in Rare Sermon

DUBAI ( Reuters ) – The Revolutionary Guards can take their fight beyond Iran 's borders , the supreme leader said on Friday , responding to the U.S. killing of his country 's most prominent commander and to anti-government unrest at home over the downing of an airliner .
In his first Friday prayers sermon in eight years , Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also told thousands of Iranians who chanted `` Death to America ! ''
that European powers could not be trusted in Iran 's nuclear standoff with Washington .
Iran 's nuclear ambitions have been at the heart of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in January into tit-for-tat military strikes between Iran and the United States .
`` Resistance must continue until the region is completely freed from the enemy 's tyranny , '' Khamenei said , demanding that U.S. troops leave neighboring Iraq and the wider Middle East .
Washington 's withdrawal in 2018 from Tehran 's nuclear deal with world powers and the reimposition of U.S. sanctions that have crippled Iran 's economy , led to the latest cycle of hostilities between Washington and Tehran , which have been at odds since the 1979 revolution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump ordered the killing in a drone strike on Jan. 3 of Qassem Soleimani , commander of the Quds Force , a unit of the Guards responsible for expanding Iran 's influence abroad .
He built up regional militias that Washington has blamed for attacks on U.S. forces .
Iran responded with missile strikes on U.S. targets in Iraq on Jan. 8 , injuring although not killing U.S. troops .
`` The fact that Iran has the power to give such a slap to a world power shows the hand of God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reference to the strikes , adding that the killing of Soleimani showed Washington 's `` terrorist nature '' .
The Quds Force `` protects oppressed nations across the region , '' Khamenei said .
`` They are fighters without borders . ''
In the tense aftermath of Iran 's missile strikes on U.S. targets when Iranian forces expected U.S. reprisals , the Guards ' air defenses shot down a Ukrainian airliner in error , killing all 176 people on board , mostly Iranians or dual nationals .
It took days for the Guards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to admit their mistake , even though a commander said he had told the authorities about the cause the same day .
The delay sparked protests across Iran , sometimes meeting a violent crackdown .
Trump sent tweets in Farsi and English to support the demonstrators , drawing a sharp response from Khamenei .
`` These American clowns who lie and say they are with the Iranian people should see who the Iranian people are , '' he said in his sermon , telling Iranians to unite and show solidarity by turning out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Khamenei called for national unity and said Iran 's `` enemies '' had tried to use the downing of Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 to shift attention from the killing of Soleimani .
Most of those on the flight were Iranians or dual nationals .
Canada , Ukraine , Britain , Sweden and Afghanistan , which all had citizens on the flight , have demanded compensation and a thorough investigation into what happened .
Khamenei described the crash as a tragedy , but stopped short of a direct apology although the Guards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the incident .
The supreme leader also called for steps to ensure there was no repeat .
The funeral of Soleimani , long portrayed as a national hero in Iran but seen by the West as a ruthless adversary , had brought huge numbers of Iranian mourners to the streets .
But scenes of mourning for Soleimani were followed by four days of protests over the plane disaster , when demonstrators chanted `` Death to Khamenei '' and scrawled it on walls .
`` Clerics get lost , '' they shouted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To quell the demonstrations , riot police were sent onto the streets in force , lining up outside universities that were a focus for the protests .
Video footage online showed protesters were beaten and also recorded gunshots and blood on the streets .
Iran 's police denied firing at protesters and said officers had been ordered to show restraint .
In the bloodiest unrest the country has seen since 1979 , Iranian authorities two months ago suppressed protests that erupted over sharp fuel price hikes , which have added to the suffering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanctions .
In reaction to Washington 's `` maximum pressure '' policy , Tehran has gradually scaled back on commitments to the nuclear deal , including lifting limits on its uranium enrichment .
Britain , France and Germany , which have been trying to salvage the pact , have subsequently launched the deal 's s dispute mechanism over Iran 's violations , starting a diplomatic process that could lead to reimposing U.N. sanctions .
`` These European countries can not be trusted .
Even their negotiations with Iran are full of deceit , @ @ @ @

By Parisa Hafezi
DUBAI (Reuters) - The Revolutionary Guards can take their fight beyond Iran's borders, the supreme leader said on Friday, responding to the U.S. killing of his country's most prominent commander and to anti-government unrest at home over the downing of an airliner.
In his first Friday prayers sermon in eight years, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also told thousands of Iranians who chanted "Death to America!" that European powers could not be trusted in Iran's nuclear standoff with Washington.
Iran's nuclear ambitions have been at the heart of a months-long crisis, which briefly erupted in January into tit-for-tat military strikes between Iran and the United States.
"Resistance must continue until the region is completely freed from the enemy's tyranny," Khamenei said, demanding that U.S. troops leave neighboring Iraq and the wider Middle East.
Washington's withdrawal in 2018 from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers and the reimposition of U.S. sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy, led to the latest cycle of hostilities between Washington and Tehran, which have been at odds since the 1979 revolution toppled the U.S.-backed shah.
U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the killing in a drone strike on Jan. 3 of Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force, a unit of the Guards responsible for expanding Iran's influence abroad. He built up regional militias that Washington has blamed for attacks on U.S. forces.
Iran responded with missile strikes on U.S. targets in Iraq on Jan. 8, injuring although not killing U.S. troops.
"The fact that Iran has the power to give such a slap to a world power shows the hand of God," said Khamenei, in a reference to the strikes, adding that the killing of Soleimani showed Washington's "terrorist nature".
The Quds Force "protects oppressed nations across the region," Khamenei said. "They are fighters without borders."
In the tense aftermath of Iran's missile strikes on U.S. targets when Iranian forces expected U.S. reprisals, the Guards' air defenses shot down a Ukrainian airliner in error, killing all 176 people on board, mostly Iranians or dual nationals.
It took days for the Guards, which answer directly to Khamenei, to admit their mistake, even though a commander said he had told the authorities about the cause the same day. The delay sparked protests across Iran, sometimes meeting a violent crackdown.
'AMERICAN CLOWNS'
Trump sent tweets in Farsi and English to support the demonstrators, drawing a sharp response from Khamenei.
"These American clowns who lie and say they are with the Iranian people should see who the Iranian people are," he said in his sermon, telling Iranians to unite and show solidarity by turning out in numbers in a February parliamentary election.
Khamenei called for national unity and said Iran's "enemies" had tried to use the downing of Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 to shift attention from the killing of Soleimani.
Most of those on the flight were Iranians or dual nationals. Canada, Ukraine, Britain, Sweden and Afghanistan, which all had citizens on the flight, have demanded compensation and a thorough investigation into what happened.
Khamenei described the crash as a tragedy, but stopped short of a direct apology although the Guards and other officials have issued profuse apologies since the incident. The supreme leader also called for steps to ensure there was no repeat.
The funeral of Soleimani, long portrayed as a national hero in Iran but seen by the West as a ruthless adversary, had brought huge numbers of Iranian mourners to the streets.
But scenes of mourning for Soleimani were followed by four days of protests over the plane disaster, when demonstrators chanted "Death to Khamenei" and scrawled it on walls. "Clerics get lost," they shouted, as protests spread to several cities.
To quell the demonstrations, riot police were sent onto the streets in force, lining up outside universities that were a focus for the protests. Video footage online showed protesters were beaten and also recorded gunshots and blood on the streets.
Iran's police denied firing at protesters and said officers had been ordered to show restraint.
In the bloodiest unrest the country has seen since 1979, Iranian authorities two months ago suppressed protests that erupted over sharp fuel price hikes, which have added to the suffering of ordinary Iranians already hurt by U.S. sanctions.
In reaction to Washington's "maximum pressure" policy, Tehran has gradually scaled back on commitments to the nuclear deal, including lifting limits on its uranium enrichment.
Britain, France and Germany , which have been trying to salvage the pact, have subsequently launched the deal's s dispute mechanism over Iran's violations, starting a diplomatic process that could lead to reimposing U.N. sanctions.
"These European countries cannot be trusted. Even their negotiations with Iran are full of deceit," Khamenei said.
(Reporting by Parisa Hafezi and Babak Dehghanpisheh; Editing by Edmund Blair and Gareth Jones)


Beacon Extra

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BIDEN THANKS PELOSI … `` Senator Bernie Sanders ‘ Would Rather Be In Iowa.
’ , '' via NYT : On Thursday , shortly after taking the oath to do `` impartial justice '' in President Trump ’ s impeachment trial , [ Sanders ] confessed there were places he would rather be .
`` I would rather be in Iowa today , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks , '' he said , after being asked whether he was concerned the trial would do damage to his presidential campaign .
`` I ’ d rather be in New Hampshire and in Nevada and so forth .
But I swore a constitutional oath as a United States senator to do my job and I ’ m here to do my job , and I think the people of the United States understand that . ''
FLEEING THE SINKING CANOE … `` N.H. State Rep Flees Warren for Klobuchar , '' by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ representative Michael Pedersen ( D. ) credited [ Sen. Amy ] Klobuchar with a `` proven track record of winning in Trump country '' and said Warren 's electoral victories have only been in the `` liberal northeast . ''
… He also said this week 's debate cemented his change of heart .
He saw Warren 's feud with Sanders as an indication that the two do n't `` appeal widely across the nation as Sen .
Klobuchar . ''
SHOTS FIRED … `` Dem Candidate : Chuck Schumer Does n't Think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carolina , '' by WFB ’ s Andrew Stiles : That 's what State Sen. Erica Smith ( D. ) , a former Boeing engineer , told a group of North Carolina voters at a recent campaign event while discussing the national Democratic Party 's endorsement of her white male primary opponent , Cal Cunningham .
`` Sen. Schumer , for whatever reason , did not want an African American running for Senate in North Carolina , '' said Smith , who has previously attacked the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ( DSCC ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Democratic primary .
SOMETHING ’ S ROTTEN IN THE STATE OF VERMONT … `` Bernie ‘ Will Play Dirty ' : Ex-Vermont Governor Slams Sanders , '' via POLITICO : In an interview with POLITICO , Peter Shumlin—who has endorsed Joe Biden for president in 2020 and served as Vermont ’ s governor from 2011 to 2017 , while Sanders represented the state in the Senate—warned that Sanders , an independent and self-described Democratic socialist , ultimately did not feel loyalty to Democrats .
`` What I ’ ve seen in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his team feel they ’ re holier than the rest .
In the end , they will play dirty because they think that they pass a purity test that Republicans and most Democrats don ’ t pass , '' said Shumlin .
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN WOKE … `` As Violent Crime Surged , Buttigieg Admin Lectured Cops on ‘ Sizeism ’ , '' by WFB ’ s Yuichiro Kakutani : The slides for one of the [ diversity and anti-discrimination training ] sessions urged officers to avoid the use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` hearing-impaired . ''
`` HEARING-IMPAIRED : an inappropriate term commonly used by hearing individuals referring to those who are Deaf , '' one slide read .
`` Considered offensive ; implying that their hearing is broken , and needs to be fixed . ''
SIGNED , SEALED , DELIVERED … `` Senate Passes USMCA , New North American Trade Pact , '' via WSJ : The U.S. Senate easily passed an overhaul of North America ’ s trade rules on Thursday , sending a major Trump administration priority to the president ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 10 in support of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement , which replaces the 26-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement .
The pact updates trading rules in the continent to address 21st-century technology , safeguard environmental and labor standards in Mexico and toughen requirements for auto-industry trade among the three countries .
Notably , the vote reassures farmers , manufacturers and other businesses that tariff-free trade will continue in North America .
THE TRUTH HURTS … `` BEASTMODE : McSally Calls CNN Reporter ‘ Liberal Hack ’ , '' by WFB Staff : Sen. Martha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not interested in answering impeachment questions from CNN Thursday .
The network 's senior congressional correspondent Manu Raju went up to McSally and her staff to ask whether she believed the Senate should consider new evidence as part of the impeachment trial , prompting her to say , `` You ’ re a liberal hack .
I ’ m not talking to you . ''
DISSENTING VOICE HORRIFIES COLUMNIST … `` ‘ The View ’ Has a Meghan McCain Problem , '' via NYT : For some viewers , Ms. McCain is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the American military-industrial complex .
That coalescence naturally renders her a villain to progressives , who envision her as the cathartic personification of a punching bag on social media … Post-2016 , we are presented with a platform that is devoid of the varnish of genteel , yet is still asking us to take a little time to enjoy the view .
The problem is , with Ms. McCain still on the show , there ’ s not much to enjoy .
The Never-Ending Impeachment , '' by WFB ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polarized vote on two vague and weak articles betrayed the political motivations behind the enterprise .
Impeachment shields Pelosi from leftwing recriminations in the event that Trump is reelected and Democrats retain the House … The test of Republican unity will be a motion to call witnesses .
Republican senators will have to ask why they would want to make Schumer 's job—winning the Senate for Democrats in 2020—any easier by crossing party lines .
Prolonging the trial would legitimize a flawed and politicized investigation .
Republicans understand by now that Pelosi and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact-finding mission .
They are the leaders of an impeachment that will never end .
DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW : 1,132 .
Come back , Joe !
`` You know who really doesn ’ t have it ?
Joe Biden . ''
—Former President Barack Obama Thanks for reading !
Send tips to rutz @ freebeacon.com .

Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon’s morning newsletter, your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom. To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning, sign up here.
MENSHEVIKS PREPARE FOR LAST STAND … "Democratic Leaders Willing to Risk Party Damage to Stop Bernie Sanders," via NYT: Since Mr. Sanders’s victory in Nevada’s caucuses on Saturday, the Times has interviewed 93 party officials—all of them superdelegates … and found overwhelming opposition to handing the Vermont senator the nomination if he arrived with the most delegates but fell short of a majority …
Since Mr. Sanders won Nevada’s caucuses on Saturday, four donors have approached former representative Steve Israel of New York to ask if he can suggest someone to run a super PAC aimed at blocking Mr. Sanders. He declined their offer.
THE NEW NEW DEMOCRATS … "2020 Dem Plans Reflect Party of the ‘Professional Class’," by WFB’s Charles Fain Lehman: The [Manhattan Institute] report examines the distributive impacts of major proposals, including Medicare for All, student debt forgiveness, and the repeal of key components of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). It argues that while Democratic candidates talk big about supporting workers and the poor, these programs primarily serve the interests of the wealthy …
Long branded as representatives of the working class, the Democratic Party has come to appeal primarily to the college-educated, often affluent residents of urban America, data indicate.
MIKE GOT IT DONE … "Bloomberg Locked Up Nearly Half a Million People on Marijuana Charges," by WFB’s Yuichiro Kakutani: The administrations of [Michael] Bloomberg's three predecessors … collectively arrested 226,000 people, or 25 people daily, for the same charge over a 24-year period between 1978 and 2001. During Bloomberg's tenure, approximately 471,000 people were arrested on possession charges …
The possession arrests for Bloomberg's tenure peaked in 2011 when the police hauled in more than 50,000 New Yorkers.
DOWNLOAD UNAVAILABLE IN WISCONSIN … "Coming to a podcast near you: Hillary Clinton," via POLITICO: The former first lady, secretary of State, and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee is planning to launch a new audio program in late spring, just in time for her to have a powerful new megaphone during the 2020 election …
Clinton’s show will feature her in conversation with a brand-name guest, who might be drawn from world leaders and politicians, of course, but also celebrities, authors and perhaps famous chefs.
BOOK THROWN … "Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh sentenced to 3 years for ‘Healthy Holly’ children’s book fraud scheme," via BALTIMORE SUN: [Pugh] told reporters: "This is not the last you’ll see of Catherine Pugh" …
Pugh’s political fall began in March when the Baltimore Sun revealed she had entered into a no-bid deal with the University of Maryland Medical System, where Pugh sat on the board of directors, to buy 100,000 copies of her sloppily self-published "Healthy Holly" books for $500,000.
YANG HOLDS OUT FOR BETTER OFFER … "Michael Bloomberg’s Campaign Sought Andrew Yang’s Backing, Floated Vice- Presidential Slot," via WSJ: Aides to the former New York City mayor reached out to discuss ways the two entrepreneurs-turned-politicians could work together as Mr. Bloomberg seeks the Democratic nomination, these people said.
Mr. Yang, who dropped out of the race earlier this month, didn’t commit to join forces, as he considers his own political future, a third person familiar with the discussions said.
NO SURRENDER … "Congressional Republicans Warn Trump Against Inking Peace Deal With Taliban," by WFB’s Adam Kredo: The lawmakers … are demanding they receive assurances the administration "will not place the security of the American people into the hands of the Taliban" …
The lawmakers are also demanding the release of so-called secret annexes in the draft agreement that they claim establish a set of unknown side deals with the Taliban, a move reminiscent of the Obama administration's secret agreements with Iran when the Iran nuclear deal was being negotiated.
TEHRAN MARY … "Iran Vice President Is One of 7 Officials to Contract Coronavirus," via NYT: The disclosure came a day after a cabinet meeting in which she was in close contact with other government leaders, including [Hassan] Rouhani. A photo posted by a BBC Persia reporter on Twitter showed she had been sitting a few yards from the president.
[Masoumeh] Ebtekar, one of four vice presidents, was known to Americans as "Mary" during the Tehran hostage crisis four decades ago, when, as a young revolutionary, she was a spokeswoman for the captors of the 52 Americans held at the United States Embassy.
PICTURE OF COWARDICE … "Sony World Photography Awards Removes Hong Kong Protest Images," via HYPERALLERGIC: Since pro-democracy protests prompted by the Hong Kong government’s now-scrapped extradition bill erupted across the city in spring 2019, China has tightened its grip on the media …
Now, some speculate WPO yielded to pressure from China to take down the photographs, especially because other entries featuring arguably graphic or politically sensitive content have not faced a similar fate in past competitions.
THE REAL VICTIMS … "Mark Halperin Says Murderers Are Treated More Fairly Than Canceled People," via MOTHER JONES: "I haven’t had a job interview in two years," Halperin said, adding that he has applied to work at restaurants and Target, trying to get health insurance for his three-year-old son …
When [asked to] differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate ways that he had been held accountable for his behavior … he said victims deserve "top priority" but complained again that there isn’t a mechanism for reintegrating canceled people.
THIS IS CNN … "Sasse Criticizes CNN for Referring to a Baby as a ‘Fetus That Was Born’," via CNN: "The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act is about babies who have already been born," [Sen. Ben] Sasse said to the Washington Free Beacon. "I’m glad CNN finally made the correction, but there’s no reason this needed to take two days. Planned Parenthood desperately wants to misrepresent this bipartisan, pro-babies bill, and unfortunately too many reporters have bought their spin hook, line, and sinker."
PUNK IS DEAD … "Billy Idol is helping de Blasio take on idling cars in new campaign," via NY POST: Billy Idol has a new Rebel Yell: helping Mayor Bill de Blasio fight fume-spewing vehicles that idle on Big Apple streets …
The campaign will also publicize the city’s 2018 "Citizens Air Complaint Program," where individuals who see a bus or delivery truck idling for longer than four minutes can file a complaint and collect a 25 percent bounty off the fine, worth $87.50.
"The First Postmodern Pandemic," via WFB’s Matthew Continetti: We were better off when the media focused on impeachment. Now that it is interested in coronavirus, a familiar pattern will set in. Data will be publicized without the slightest sense of proportion. The most outrageous scenarios will receive the most attention. Speculation will be paraded as fact …
The Washington Post transcribes Democratic Party talking points when it suggests Vice President Mike Pence is incapable of overseeing the government's efforts because he opposes needle-sharing programs. Among the reasons [President Donald] Trump is said to have weakened public health? He defunded Planned Parenthood.
Thanks for reading! Send tips to rutz@freebeacon.com.


freebeacon--2020-01-17--As Violent Crime Surged, Buttigieg Admin Lectured Cops on ‘Sizeism’

As Mayor Pete Buttigieg contended with skyrocketing crime rates in South Bend , Ind.
, the city 's police department trained officers to combat `` sizeism '' and `` languageism , '' according to newly revealed documents .
South Bend 's police department instituted a series of diversity and anti-discrimination training sessions in 2017 .
The training sessions took place as violent crime surged in the city , reaching the highest level in 20 years in 2018 .
The training extended far beyond the immediate issues facing the city and instead lectured cops on policing their own language to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ training slides for one of the sessions contained a list of nefarious `` isms '' that allegedly perpetuate prejudice and power dynamics .
The denounced `` isms '' include familiar issues such as racism and sexism along with such topics as `` sizeism , '' `` languageism , '' and `` materialism . ''
During his eight-year tenure as mayor , Buttigieg struggled with South Bend 's rising crime rate and the deteriorating relationship between the city 's police and black community .
The city 's problems spilled into the national spotlight when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a black resident in June , forcing the mayor to leave the campaign trail and fly home .
The slides for one of the sessions urged officers to avoid the use of `` ableist '' terms , such as `` hearing-impaired . ''
`` HEARING-IMPAIRED : an inappropriate term commonly used by hearing individuals referring to those who are Deaf , '' one slide read .
`` Considered offensive ; implying that their hearing is broken , and needs to be fixed . ''
The South Bend Police Department did not respond to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were first obtained by Judicial Watch , a conservative-leaning government watchdog .
Tom Fitton , the group 's president , said the mayor 's office had prioritized political ideology over public safety .
`` These documents show how South Bend police under Mayor Buttigieg had to contend with politicized ‘ training ' that had nothing to do with the public safety , '' he said in a statement .
The training slides cited `` Cumulative Perceptual Index theory '' to explain the origins of bigotry and biases .
A Google Scholar search of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media or academic writing on the theory .
Professional Consulting Associates , the consulting firm that created the slides , did not respond to requests for comments .
The presentation also addressed the Black Lives Matter movement .
One slide , for example , supports the idea that police do not treat all races equally and alludes to an `` all lives matter '' mantra that BLM has condemned .
`` Black lives do indeed matter , but no more , and certainly no less than the lives of every community within law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` The perceptual proof of that belief is unquestionably not universally present today because such a Vision is not yet universally shared by law enforcement . ''
The training sessions took place as South Bend dealt with historically high violent crime rates that peaked in 2018 , the latest full year of data available .
Roughly 1,200 violent crimes occurred in the city of 102,000 residents .
The growing crime rate was driven by a nearly four-fold increase in aggravated assault since Buttigieg assumed office .
It is unclear what effect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sessions had in improving policing in the city .
The Buttigieg campaign did not respond to request for comment .

As Mayor Pete Buttigieg contended with skyrocketing crime rates in South Bend, Ind., the city's police department trained officers to combat "sizeism" and "languageism," according to newly revealed documents.
South Bend's police department instituted a series of diversity and anti-discrimination training sessions in 2017. The training sessions took place as violent crime surged in the city, reaching the highest level in 20 years in 2018. The training extended far beyond the immediate issues facing the city and instead lectured cops on policing their own language to be sensitive to "isms."
The training slides for one of the sessions contained a list of nefarious "isms" that allegedly perpetuate prejudice and power dynamics. The denounced "isms" include familiar issues such as racism and sexism along with such topics as "sizeism," "languageism," and "materialism."
During his eight-year tenure as mayor, Buttigieg struggled with South Bend's rising crime rate and the deteriorating relationship between the city's police and black community. The city's problems spilled into the national spotlight when a South Bend police officer fatally shot a black resident in June, forcing the mayor to leave the campaign trail and fly home.
The slides for one of the sessions urged officers to avoid the use of "ableist" terms, such as "hearing-impaired."
"HEARING-IMPAIRED: an inappropriate term commonly used by hearing individuals referring to those who are Deaf," one slide read. "Considered offensive; implying that their hearing is broken, and needs to be fixed."
The South Bend Police Department did not respond to request for comment.
The training slides were first obtained by Judicial Watch, a conservative-leaning government watchdog. Tom Fitton, the group's president, said the mayor's office had prioritized political ideology over public safety.
"These documents show how South Bend police under Mayor Buttigieg had to contend with politicized 'training' that had nothing to do with the public safety," he said in a statement.
The training slides cited "Cumulative Perceptual Index theory" to explain the origins of bigotry and biases. A Google Scholar search of the term turned up no results of media or academic writing on the theory. Professional Consulting Associates, the consulting firm that created the slides, did not respond to requests for comments.
The presentation also addressed the Black Lives Matter movement. One slide, for example, supports the idea that police do not treat all races equally and alludes to an "all lives matter" mantra that BLM has condemned.
"Black lives do indeed matter, but no more, and certainly no less than the lives of every community within law enforcement's jurisdictions," the slide said. "The perceptual proof of that belief is unquestionably not universally present today because such a Vision is not yet universally shared by law enforcement."
The training sessions took place as South Bend dealt with historically high violent crime rates that peaked in 2018, the latest full year of data available. Roughly 1,200 violent crimes occurred in the city of 102,000 residents. The growing crime rate was driven by a nearly four-fold increase in aggravated assault since Buttigieg assumed office. It is unclear what effect, if any, the diversity training sessions had in improving policing in the city.
The Buttigieg campaign did not respond to request for comment.


Beacon Extra 1/16/20

Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon ’ s morning newsletter , your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom .
To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning , sign up here .
NEITHER CAN AN ELECTION RESULT … `` Pelosi : Trump 's impeachment ‘ can not be erased ' , '' via THE HILL : `` Yes , it is a fact : When someone is impeached , they are always impeached .
It can not be erased .
So I stand by that comment , although I know you do n't like hearing it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in remarks in response to Republicans defending Trump .
Pelosi previously said that Trump is `` impeached for life . ''
RELATED … `` Pelosi Hands Out Commemorative Pens to Dems to Celebrate ‘ Somber ’ Impeachment '' COMRADES NO MORE … `` Audio reveals tense confrontation between Warren and Sanders , '' via CNN : `` I think you called me a liar on national TV , '' Warren can be heard saying .
`` I think you called me a liar on national TV , '' she repeated .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it right now .
If you want to have that discussion , we 'll have that discussion , '' Sanders said , to which Warren replied , `` Anytime . ''
`` You called me a liar , '' Sanders continued .
`` You told me — all right , let 's not do it now . ''
VOTERS HATE IT ?
SHE ’ S GOT A PLAN FOR THAT … `` Elizabeth Warren Failed to Mention `` Medicare-For-All '' Once During Tuesday 's Debate , '' via PASTE : Elizabeth Warren appears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All—at least as a talking point .
At Tuesday ’ s Democratic presidential debate in Iowa , the last before the caucuses , the 2020 hopeful did not utter the phrase a single time while discussing her health care proposal … Even early on , despite having co-sponsored Sanders ’ Medicare for All bill in 2017 , the Massachusetts senator had a tendency to equivocate when asked what her plan would ultimately look like .
LOCK HIM UP !
… `` Michael Avenatti ordered to remain in jail amid new accusations of money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal judge revoked the bail of Los Angeles attorney Michael Avenatti on Wednesday and ordered him jailed as he awaits trial on three indictments , saying new allegations of fraud and money laundering show he poses a danger to the public … Avenatti was one of President Trump ’ s fiercest critics on cable news for months after Stormy Daniels went public in 2018 with her allegation that Trump paid her $ 130,000 to keep quiet about their alleged one-night stand .
YOU HATE TO SEE IT … `` Michael Moore Laments ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' by WFB ’ s Andrew Stiles : `` Why are you doing this , so you can win ? ''
he said .
`` Well , I have news for you and anybody else running on the Democratic side .
This is n't about you winning .
This is n't about you gaining this office .
This is about us .
This is about removing Trump . ''
Moore , who officially endorsed Sanders in October at a rally in New York alongside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tendency to `` embellish the truth '' for political gain—from her false claims of Native American heritage to falsely describing her father as a `` janitor . ''
SEND THE BOMBERS … `` Trump Signs China Trade Deal , Putting Economic Conflict on Pause , '' via NYT : President Trump signed an initial trade deal with China on Wednesday , bringing the first chapter of a protracted and economically damaging fight with one of the world ’ s largest economies to a close … To critics , it is the type of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has long criticized , especially with regard to China and its control over its economy … The president ’ s approach may pay off politically .
He will head into a re-election campaign with a commitment from China to strengthen its intellectual-property protections , make large purchases of American products and pursue other economic changes that will benefit American business .
HE ’ LL HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY AFTER THE ELECTION … `` Putin Proposes Vote on Constitutional Shake-Up That Could Extend His Rule , '' via REUTERS : President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes that would shift power from the presidency to parliament and the prime minister , a move that could allow him to extend his rule after leaving the Kremlin .
In power as either president or prime minister since 1999 , Putin , 67 , is due to step down in 2024 when his fourth presidential term ends .
EUROPE HAS TROOPS ?
… `` Iran threatens European troops , as FM Zarif admits officials lied about plane , '' via TOI : Iran ’ s top diplomat acknowledged Wednesday that Iranians `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Islamic Republic accidentally shooting down a Ukrainian jetliner , killing 176 people , as the country ’ s president warned that European soldiers in the Mideast `` could be in danger '' after three nations challenged Tehran over breaking limits of its nuclear deal .
CRACK WITNESS … `` CNN Analyst : GOP Has ‘ Caricature ' of Hunter Biden as a ‘ Troubled , ' ‘ Ill-Equipped ' Witness , '' via NEWSBUSTERS : On the flip side of that , CNN analyst Michael Smerconish suggested Republicans may be unhappily surprised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witness in the Senate impeachment trial , because there 's `` this caricature that has been created of Hunter Biden being a very troubled and ill-equipped individual , '' but he graduated from Yale Law and `` comported himself well '' in a softball interview with ABC News , so `` It 's possible he comes off as credible . ''
Talk about putting on the most positive paint job !
YOU ARE SENTENCED TO 30 DAYS HARD FINGER-PAINTING … `` N.Y. Justice Dem Appears to Support Substituting Art Class for Jail Time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anderson : Democratic congressional hopeful Jamaal Bowman on Wednesday shared an article detailing a New York City program that allows arrestees to avoid prosecution by attending a two-hour art course .
Brooklyn district attorney Eric Gonzalez said the program is about `` holding people accountable . ''
Any perpetrator who attends the course has their case dismissed with no criminal record registered .
Those eligible for the program include shoplifters and trespassers .
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE … `` Meet the 16-Year-Old Competitive Shooter Working to Keep her Guns Legal in Virginia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Mia Farinelli is like any other teenage girl , except for one key difference .
Her skill as a world-class competitive shooter has brought her into the national spotlight .
She uses that spotlight to teach others about her sport , but also to do something other top high school athletes do n't have to worry about : stop political proposals seeking to ban the very guns she competes with … Find out how Mia started competing with guns , what her favorite competition is , how she hopes to influence lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could crush her dream to one day join the Army 's shooting team .
DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW : 1,131 .
Come back , Joe !
`` You know who really doesn ’ t have it ?
Joe Biden . ''
—Former President Barack Obama Thanks for reading !
Send tips to rutz @ freebeacon.com .

Pelosi gloats, two socialists aren't comrades anymore, and Putin will have more flexibility after the election
Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon’s morning newsletter, your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom. To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning, sign up here.
NEITHER CAN AN ELECTION RESULT … "Pelosi: Trump's impeachment 'cannot be erased'," via THE HILL: "Yes, it is a fact: When someone is impeached, they are always impeached. It cannot be erased. So I stand by that comment, although I know you don't like hearing it," [Speaker Nancy] Pelosi said in remarks in response to Republicans defending Trump.
Pelosi previously said that Trump is "impeached for life."
RELATED … "Pelosi Hands Out Commemorative Pens to Dems to Celebrate ‘Somber’ Impeachment"
COMRADES NO MORE … "Audio reveals tense confrontation between Warren and Sanders," via CNN: "I think you called me a liar on national TV," Warren can be heard saying.
"What?" Sanders responded.
"I think you called me a liar on national TV," she repeated.
"You know, let's not do it right now. If you want to have that discussion, we'll have that discussion," Sanders said, to which Warren replied, "Anytime."
"You called me a liar," Sanders continued. "You told me -- all right, let's not do it now."
VOTERS HATE IT? SHE’S GOT A PLAN FOR THAT … "Elizabeth Warren Failed to Mention "Medicare-For-All" Once During Tuesday's Debate," via PASTE: Elizabeth Warren appears to have given up on Medicare for All—at least as a talking point. At Tuesday’s Democratic presidential debate in Iowa, the last before the caucuses, the 2020 hopeful did not utter the phrase a single time while discussing her health care proposal …
Even early on, despite having co-sponsored Sanders’ Medicare for All bill in 2017, the Massachusetts senator had a tendency to equivocate when asked what her plan would ultimately look like.
LOCK HIM UP! … "Michael Avenatti ordered to remain in jail amid new accusations of money laundering," via LAT: A federal judge revoked the bail of Los Angeles attorney Michael Avenatti on Wednesday and ordered him jailed as he awaits trial on three indictments, saying new allegations of fraud and money laundering show he poses a danger to the public …
Avenatti was one of President Trump’s fiercest critics on cable news for months after Stormy Daniels went public in 2018 with her allegation that Trump paid her $130,000 to keep quiet about their alleged one-night stand.
YOU HATE TO SEE IT … "Michael Moore Laments ‘The Sad Downfall of Elizabeth Warren’," by WFB’s Andrew Stiles: "Why are you doing this, so you can win?" he said. "Well, I have news for you and anybody else running on the Democratic side. This isn't about you winning. This isn't about you gaining this office. This is about us. This is about removing Trump."
Moore, who officially endorsed Sanders in October at a rally in New York alongside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.), went on to criticize Warren's tendency to "embellish the truth" for political gain—from her false claims of Native American heritage to falsely describing her father as a "janitor."
SEND THE BOMBERS … "Trump Signs China Trade Deal, Putting Economic Conflict on Pause," via NYT: President Trump signed an initial trade deal with China on Wednesday, bringing the first chapter of a protracted and economically damaging fight with one of the world’s largest economies to a close …
To critics, it is the type of managed trade approach that the United States has long criticized, especially with regard to China and its control over its economy … The president’s approach may pay off politically. He will head into a re-election campaign with a commitment from China to strengthen its intellectual-property protections, make large purchases of American products and pursue other economic changes that will benefit American business.
HE’LL HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY AFTER THE ELECTION … "Putin Proposes Vote on Constitutional Shake-Up That Could Extend His Rule," via REUTERS: President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday proposed a nationwide vote on sweeping constitutional changes that would shift power from the presidency to parliament and the prime minister, a move that could allow him to extend his rule after leaving the Kremlin.
In power as either president or prime minister since 1999, Putin, 67, is due to step down in 2024 when his fourth presidential term ends.
EUROPE HAS TROOPS? … "Iran threatens European troops, as FM Zarif admits officials lied about plane," via TOI: Iran’s top diplomat acknowledged Wednesday that Iranians "were lied to" for days following the Islamic Republic accidentally shooting down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing 176 people, as the country’s president warned that European soldiers in the Mideast "could be in danger" after three nations challenged Tehran over breaking limits of its nuclear deal.
CRACK WITNESS … "CNN Analyst: GOP Has 'Caricature' of Hunter Biden as a 'Troubled,' 'Ill-Equipped' Witness," via NEWSBUSTERS: On the flip side of that, CNN analyst Michael Smerconish suggested Republicans may be unhappily surprised if they called Hunter Biden as a witness in the Senate impeachment trial, because there's "this caricature that has been created of Hunter Biden being a very troubled and ill-equipped individual," but he graduated from Yale Law and "comported himself well" in a softball interview with ABC News, so "It's possible he comes off as credible."
Talk about putting on the most positive paint job!
YOU ARE SENTENCED TO 30 DAYS HARD FINGER-PAINTING … "N.Y. Justice Dem Appears to Support Substituting Art Class for Jail Time," by WFB’s Collin Anderson: Democratic congressional hopeful Jamaal Bowman on Wednesday shared an article detailing a New York City program that allows arrestees to avoid prosecution by attending a two-hour art course. Brooklyn district attorney Eric Gonzalez said the program is about "holding people accountable." Any perpetrator who attends the course has their case dismissed with no criminal record registered.
Those eligible for the program include shoplifters and trespassers.
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE … "Meet the 16-Year-Old Competitive Shooter Working to Keep her Guns Legal in Virginia," by WFB’s Stephen Gutowski: Mia Farinelli is like any other teenage girl, except for one key difference. Her skill as a world-class competitive shooter has brought her into the national spotlight. She uses that spotlight to teach others about her sport, but also to do something other top high school athletes don't have to worry about: stop political proposals seeking to ban the very guns she competes with …
Find out how Mia started competing with guns, what her favorite competition is, how she hopes to influence lawmakers, and how a ban on AR-15s could crush her dream to one day join the Army's shooting team.
DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW: 1,131. Come back, Joe!
"You know who really doesn’t have it? Joe Biden." —Former President Barack Obama
Thanks for reading! Send tips to rutz@freebeacon.com.


freebeacon--2020-01-16--Judge Upholds VA Gov.’s Gun Ban for Capitol Rally, Organizers Vow to Appeal

A major organizer of an upcoming gun-rights rally at the Virginia state capitol vowed to appeal a state judge 's ruling in favor of Democratic governor Ralph Northam 's temporary ban on guns on capitol grounds .
The Virginia Citizens Defense League ( VCDL ) and Gun Owners of America brought suit against Northam 's ban in state court on Thursday but were rebuffed by Judge Joi Taylor the same day .
`` We 're definitely going to appeal , '' Philip Van Cleave , president of the VCDL , told the Washington Free Beacon .
The judge wrote that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courts must defer to the executive branch when dealing with emergencies .
She concluded that Northam had sufficient authority to issue the ban .
`` Because individuals have limited right to bear arms , '' Taylor said in the ruling , `` the Plaintiffs in this case will not suffer an irreparable harm sufficient to justify the injunction sought by the Plaintiffs . ''
Van Cleave described the ruling as `` bizarre '' and criticized it for ignoring the gun-rights group 's central claims .
The legal confrontation is the latest skirmish over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control of the state government—to enact new gun-control laws .
Northam has framed the order as necessary to ensure public safety at the gun-rights rally VCDL has slated for Monday in Richmond , especially in light of the arrest of three individuals alleged to be planning violence .
But VCDL has contended that the ban is not only unconstitutional , but an attempted `` smear '' of gun owners .
The outcome of the suit could test the limits of the governor 's powers , and will likely drive up the rally 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The dispute stems from a 2012 law that limits the governor 's ability to use emergency powers to ban gun carry .
That law stipulates that emergency powers do not give the governor the power to `` in any way limit or prohibit the rights of the people to keep and bear arms '' and specifically includes the lawful carrying of guns .
However , it provides exceptions for ensuring `` public safety in any place or facility designated or used by the Governor , any political subdivision of the Commonwealth , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency shelter or for the purpose of sheltering persons . ''
Northam 's office did not respond to a request for comment on the legal basis for the order .
Northam said in his executive order `` available information '' indicates a `` substantial number '' of those planning to attend Monday 's rally are coming from out of state with the intention of causing `` violence , rioting , and insurrection . ''
He further argued the temporary ban was necessary to ensure that the Virginia capitol grounds , where the rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ places . ''
`` Assuring that Virginia 's Capitol Square and surrounding public areas are sheltered safe places for those who come to participate in the democratic process , as well as those who work on or near Capitol Square , is my greatest priority , '' Northam 's order said .
`` The anticipated effects of the potential convergence of tens of thousands of demonstrators on Capitol Square , some of whom may not come to assemble peacefully , constitutes an emergency . ''
The gun-rights groups argued that the very provisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bar him from issuing the ban .
They also contended that the order violates the United States and Virginia constitutions .
`` Neither statute relied on by the Governor comes close to providing him the authority that he purports to exercise in the EO , '' the groups said in the initial suit .
`` On the contrary , they expressly prohibit the Governor 's actions . ''
The FBI on Thursday arrested three alleged extremists and accused them of illegally transporting firearms with the intention of committing a felony in connection with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleged to be members of a violent neo-Nazi group .
One of the men , a Canadian , is also accused of illegally crossing the border in hopes of inciting racist violence in the United States .
Northam said in a speech announcing the order that his intention was to prevent the kind of violence experienced in Charlottesville , Va. , in 2017 when racist groups clashed with counter-protesters , and a car attack resulted in the death of 32-year-old Heather Heyer .
Northam said threats from extremist groups outside the state were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including firearms , from capitol grounds .
He acknowledged that the people organizing the event were doing so legitimately and were not connected to the extremist groups .
Northam went on to compliment an NRA-organized event in Richmond earlier this week that occurred without incident .
In an email to supporters , VCDL questioned whether a large number of out-of-state extremists are planning to commit violence at Monday 's rally and said neither the governor nor law enforcement had informed the group of any threats .
`` The Democrats are afraid of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peaceful assembly of law-abiding gun owners in the worst possible way , '' the group said .
`` They would love for it to degenerate to ‘ violence , rioting , and insurrection ' in order to smear gun owners . ''
The group noted that it has conducted similar protests annually since 2002 without any violent incidents , adding that `` the only difference '' was the expectation of a substantially larger crowd size , `` due to the Democrat leadership 's promise to pass draconian gun control laws that would adversely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on criminals . ''
The group condemned violence , emphasizing that it would be harmful to its political goals , and called on members to report anyone attempting to incite violence to the police .
The appeal in the case against Northam 's emergency gun ban will likely be heard in short order , as the ban goes into effect on Friday afternoon .
The gun-rights groups are still hoping to block enforcement of the ban ahead of Monday 's rally .

A major organizer of an upcoming gun-rights rally at the Virginia state capitol vowed to appeal a state judge's ruling in favor of Democratic governor Ralph Northam's temporary ban on guns on capitol grounds.
The Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) and Gun Owners of America brought suit against Northam's ban in state court on Thursday but were rebuffed by Judge Joi Taylor the same day. "We're definitely going to appeal," Philip Van Cleave, president of the VCDL, told the Washington Free Beacon.
The judge wrote that Second Amendment rights are limited and that courts must defer to the executive branch when dealing with emergencies. She concluded that Northam had sufficient authority to issue the ban. "Because individuals have limited right to bear arms," Taylor said in the ruling, "the Plaintiffs in this case will not suffer an irreparable harm sufficient to justify the injunction sought by the Plaintiffs."
Van Cleave described the ruling as "bizarre" and criticized it for ignoring the gun-rights group's central claims.
The legal confrontation is the latest skirmish over the effort by Virginia Democrats—who recently won control of the state government—to enact new gun-control laws. Northam has framed the order as necessary to ensure public safety at the gun-rights rally VCDL has slated for Monday in Richmond, especially in light of the arrest of three individuals alleged to be planning violence. But VCDL has contended that the ban is not only unconstitutional, but an attempted "smear" of gun owners. The outcome of the suit could test the limits of the governor's powers, and will likely drive up the rally's turnout, already expected to be high.
The dispute stems from a 2012 law that limits the governor's ability to use emergency powers to ban gun carry. That law stipulates that emergency powers do not give the governor the power to "in any way limit or prohibit the rights of the people to keep and bear arms" and specifically includes the lawful carrying of guns. However, it provides exceptions for ensuring "public safety in any place or facility designated or used by the Governor, any political subdivision of the Commonwealth, or any other governmental entity as an emergency shelter or for the purpose of sheltering persons."
Northam's office did not respond to a request for comment on the legal basis for the order.
Northam said in his executive order "available information" indicates a "substantial number" of those planning to attend Monday's rally are coming from out of state with the intention of causing "violence, rioting, and insurrection." He further argued the temporary ban was necessary to ensure that the Virginia capitol grounds, where the rally will occur, are "sheltered safe places."
"Assuring that Virginia's Capitol Square and surrounding public areas are sheltered safe places for those who come to participate in the democratic process, as well as those who work on or near Capitol Square, is my greatest priority," Northam's order said. "The anticipated effects of the potential convergence of tens of thousands of demonstrators on Capitol Square, some of whom may not come to assemble peacefully, constitutes an emergency."
The gun-rights groups argued that the very provisions in state law the Governor invoked actually bar him from issuing the ban. They also contended that the order violates the United States and Virginia constitutions.
"Neither statute relied on by the Governor comes close to providing him the authority that he purports to exercise in the EO," the groups said in the initial suit. "On the contrary, they expressly prohibit the Governor's actions."
The FBI on Thursday arrested three alleged extremists and accused them of illegally transporting firearms with the intention of committing a felony in connection with Monday's rally. The three are alleged to be members of a violent neo-Nazi group. One of the men, a Canadian, is also accused of illegally crossing the border in hopes of inciting racist violence in the United States.
Northam said in a speech announcing the order that his intention was to prevent the kind of violence experienced in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017 when racist groups clashed with counter-protesters, and a car attack resulted in the death of 32-year-old Heather Heyer. Northam said threats from extremist groups outside the state were enough to justify temporarily banning all weapons, including firearms, from capitol grounds. He acknowledged that the people organizing the event were doing so legitimately and were not connected to the extremist groups. Northam went on to compliment an NRA-organized event in Richmond earlier this week that occurred without incident.
In an email to supporters, VCDL questioned whether a large number of out-of-state extremists are planning to commit violence at Monday's rally and said neither the governor nor law enforcement had informed the group of any threats.
"The Democrats are afraid of the voters and want to portray this peaceful assembly of law-abiding gun owners in the worst possible way," the group said. "They would love for it to degenerate to 'violence, rioting, and insurrection' in order to smear gun owners."
The group noted that it has conducted similar protests annually since 2002 without any violent incidents, adding that "the only difference" was the expectation of a substantially larger crowd size, "due to the Democrat leadership's promise to pass draconian gun control laws that would adversely affect law-abiding citizens while having minimal impact on criminals." The group condemned violence, emphasizing that it would be harmful to its political goals, and called on members to report anyone attempting to incite violence to the police.
The appeal in the case against Northam's emergency gun ban will likely be heard in short order, as the ban goes into effect on Friday afternoon. The gun-rights groups are still hoping to block enforcement of the ban ahead of Monday's rally.


freebeacon--2020-01-16--More Than 120 Members of Congress Issue Letters of Support to Leading Anti-Israel Group

More than 120 members of Congress privately issued letters of support to a controversial Islamic-American advocacy group known for its involvement in one of America 's most prominent terrorism financing cases , according to a copy of these official communications obtained by the Washington Free Beacon .
The Council on American Islamic Relations ( CAIR ) , an advocacy group with deep ties to the anti-Israel movement in America , touted its support among congressional leaders during its 2019 gala conference in November in Washington , D.C .
Prominent opponents of the pro-Israel community , including anti-Israel activist Linda Sarsour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minn. ) , headlined the conference .
A copy of CAIR 's conference agenda , obtained by the Free Beacon and published here for the first time , includes well over 100 letters from Democratic and Republican members of Congress , all of whom expressed their support for the controversial organization .
Democrats issued the majority of the letters , with only two coming from Republican members of Congress .
The breadth of congressional support for CAIR is likely to generate concern in the pro-Israel community , which has long been at odds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promotion of anti-Israel activists and causes .
Democratic 2020 presidential contenders Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
, Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D. , Minn. ) , and Tom Steyer all penned letters of support .
Prominent Democrats such as Omar , Reps. Adam Schiff ( D. , Calif. ) , Rashida Tlaib ( D. , Mich ) , and Eric Swalwell ( D. , Calif. ) also lent their support to CAIR 's agenda , according to materials reviewed by the Free Beacon .
CAIR has long been central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` CAIR 's anti-Israel agenda dates back to its founding by leaders of the Islamic Association for Palestine ( IAP ) , a Hamas affiliated anti-Semitic propaganda organization , '' according to the Anti-Defamation League ( ADL ) , which combats anti-Israel bias .
`` While CAIR has denounced specific acts of terrorism in the U.S. and abroad , for many years it refused to unequivocally condemn Palestinian terror organizations and Hezbollah by name , which the U.S. and international community have condemned and isolated . ''
CAIR is also known for its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Muslim Brotherhood that sought to support the Hamas terror organization .
That case , known as the Holy Land Foundation trial , unearthed evidence that CAIR and its founders sought to lend backchannel support to Hamas .
In fact , `` the Federal Bureau of Investigation has distanced itself from CAIR over the years , '' according to the ADL .
`` In an April 2009 letter to the Subcommittee on Terrorism , Technology , and Homeland Security , the FBI explained that it suspended contact with CAIR because of evidence introduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrating that CAIR and its founders were part of a group set up by the Muslim Brotherhood to support Hamas . ''
Additionally , in 2014 , CAIR was placed on the United Arab Emirates 's terrorism list for alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood organization .
The full conference agenda , list of speakers , and congressional letters can be viewed here :

More than 120 members of Congress privately issued letters of support to a controversial Islamic-American advocacy group known for its involvement in one of America's most prominent terrorism financing cases, according to a copy of these official communications obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.
The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), an advocacy group with deep ties to the anti-Israel movement in America, touted its support among congressional leaders during its 2019 gala conference in November in Washington, D.C. Prominent opponents of the pro-Israel community, including anti-Israel activist Linda Sarsour and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.), headlined the conference.
A copy of CAIR's conference agenda, obtained by the Free Beacon and published here for the first time, includes well over 100 letters from Democratic and Republican members of Congress, all of whom expressed their support for the controversial organization. Democrats issued the majority of the letters, with only two coming from Republican members of Congress.
The breadth of congressional support for CAIR is likely to generate concern in the pro-Israel community, which has long been at odds with the advocacy group due to its promotion of anti-Israel activists and causes.
Democratic 2020 presidential contenders Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.), and Tom Steyer all penned letters of support. Prominent Democrats such as Omar, Reps. Adam Schiff (D., Calif.), Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich), and Eric Swalwell (D., Calif.) also lent their support to CAIR's agenda, according to materials reviewed by the Free Beacon.
CAIR has long been central to the anti-Israel movement in America.
"CAIR's anti-Israel agenda dates back to its founding by leaders of the Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP), a Hamas affiliated anti-Semitic propaganda organization," according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which combats anti-Israel bias. "While CAIR has denounced specific acts of terrorism in the U.S. and abroad, for many years it refused to unequivocally condemn Palestinian terror organizations and Hezbollah by name, which the U.S. and international community have condemned and isolated."
CAIR is also known for its involvement in a fundraising scheme tied to the Muslim Brotherhood that sought to support the Hamas terror organization. That case, known as the Holy Land Foundation trial, unearthed evidence that CAIR and its founders sought to lend backchannel support to Hamas.
In fact, "the Federal Bureau of Investigation has distanced itself from CAIR over the years," according to the ADL. "In an April 2009 letter to the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology, and Homeland Security, the FBI explained that it suspended contact with CAIR because of evidence introduced during the Holy Land Foundation trial, demonstrating that CAIR and its founders were part of a group set up by the Muslim Brotherhood to support Hamas."
Additionally, in 2014, CAIR was placed on the United Arab Emirates's terrorism list for alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood organization.
The full conference agenda, list of speakers, and congressional letters can be viewed here:
Cair PDF Full by Washington Free Beacon on Scribd


freebeacon--2020-01-16--WaPo in 2014: GAO Ruling Against Obama Nothing More Than ‘Political Talking Point’

The Washington Post rallied behind the Government Accountability Office ( GAO ) after it released a negative report about the Trump administration 's handling of Ukrainian aid on Thursday .
But the outlet brushed off similar findings from the agency in 2014 , calling them nothing more than a `` political talking point '' aimed at the Obama administration .
After the non-partisan agency released a report saying the White House acted illegally when it withheld defense aid to Ukraine , the Post responded with multiple stories lambasting the president .
`` The GAO severely rebukes Trump 's Ukraine ploy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense , '' read one piece .
`` The GAO just said Trump broke the law .
It 's another reason impeachment was necessary , '' said another .
The outlet was much more forgiving when the GAO ruled against the White House in 2014 .
When the watchdog group found that the Obama administration broke the law by swapping five Taliban terrorists for Army Sgt .
Bowe Bergdahl , the Post downplayed the ruling , saying it would likely become nothing more than a `` political talking point . ''
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reinforcement of two of their key critiques : that Obama routinely oversteps his executive authority , and that his maneuvers on foreign policy make the country less safe , '' the article said .
`` But the actual effect of the letter from the nonpartisan agency may be only that—that it becomes a political talking point . ''
The article went on to analyze past GAO rulings of illegality , concluding that `` the substance of the charge has always fallen far short of allegations that the chief executive violated federal legislation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ rejecting the agency 's findings .
`` We strongly disagree with GAO 's conclusion , and we reject the implication that the administration acted unlawfully , '' White House spokesman Eric Schultz said in 2014 .
Trump has yet to respond to the GAO 's ruling directly , but the Office of Management and Budget ( OMB ) pushed back against the report .
`` We disagree with GAO 's opinion , '' spokesperson Rachel Semmel said .
`` OMB uses its apportionment authority to ensure taxpayer dollars are properly spent consistent with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law . ''
Top Democrats quickly used the GAO 's findings to advance their case for impeaching Trump .
`` The president not only undermined our diplomatic relationships for his own personal , political gain—he also broke the law , '' said Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass. )
.
`` He must be held accountable or he will continue breaking the law and putting the country at risk . ''
The Senate is now beginning a formal impeachment trial centered on Trump 's handling of Ukrainian aid after House Democrats voted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The Washington Post rallied behind the Government Accountability Office (GAO) after it released a negative report about the Trump administration's handling of Ukrainian aid on Thursday. But the outlet brushed off similar findings from the agency in 2014, calling them nothing more than a "political talking point" aimed at the Obama administration.
After the non-partisan agency released a report saying the White House acted illegally when it withheld defense aid to Ukraine, the Post responded with multiple stories lambasting the president.
"The GAO severely rebukes Trump's Ukraine ploy, undermines his 'no crime' defense," read one piece. "The GAO just said Trump broke the law. It's another reason impeachment was necessary," said another.
The outlet was much more forgiving when the GAO ruled against the White House in 2014. When the watchdog group found that the Obama administration broke the law by swapping five Taliban terrorists for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the Post downplayed the ruling, saying it would likely become nothing more than a "political talking point."
"The review handed opponents of President Obama powerful reinforcement of two of their key critiques: that Obama routinely oversteps his executive authority, and that his maneuvers on foreign policy make the country less safe," the article said. "But the actual effect of the letter from the nonpartisan agency may be only that—that it becomes a political talking point."
The article went on to analyze past GAO rulings of illegality, concluding that "the substance of the charge has always fallen far short of allegations that the chief executive violated federal legislation."
Obama responded to the ruling by rejecting the agency's findings.
"We strongly disagree with GAO's conclusion, and we reject the implication that the administration acted unlawfully," White House spokesman Eric Schultz said in 2014.
Trump has yet to respond to the GAO's ruling directly, but the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pushed back against the report.
"We disagree with GAO's opinion," spokesperson Rachel Semmel said. "OMB uses its apportionment authority to ensure taxpayer dollars are properly spent consistent with the president's priorities and with the law."
Top Democrats quickly used the GAO's findings to advance their case for impeaching Trump.
"The president not only undermined our diplomatic relationships for his own personal, political gain—he also broke the law," said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.). "He must be held accountable or he will continue breaking the law and putting the country at risk."
The Senate is now beginning a formal impeachment trial centered on Trump's handling of Ukrainian aid after House Democrats voted to impeach the president on Dec. 18.


freebeacon--2020-01-17--Sayonara, Keg Sweats! This Brett Kavanaugh-Inspired Pizza Looks Like The Perfect Hangover Cure

Brett Kavanaugh 's official duties as the junior member of the Supreme Court include running the cafeteria .
That 's great news for ambitious young law clerks who love beer but do n't want a pesky hangover to get in the way of their own duties advising the justices and/or babysitting Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
Roll Call reports that the Supreme Court cafeteria has started serving pizza at Kavanaugh 's request .
The junior justice actually joked about the lack of pizza in November during a speech at the Federalist Society .
`` When I arrived , I noticed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kavanaugh said .
`` I thought , ‘ What an outrage . '
My legacy is secure .
It 's fine by me if I 'm ever known as the ‘ pizza justice . '
'' Roll Call even went so far as to review the new pizza offering , giving it two stars out of five while praising the generous pepperoni topping and the affordable price : The crust is slightly burnt around the edges where the cheese bubbles .
The pepperonis are large , oily and plentiful , so no complaints @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a flavor comparison , I ’ d rank it just below Pizza Hut and just above the average gas station offering .
The meal comes with a small container of mesclun greens that some people ( not me ) would call a salad .
And at $ 8 , it ’ s a decent price point .
Food critics are unlikely to be impressed , but it 's safe to say that Brett has scored a hit with this one , and is already living up to his reputation as the `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better option than a greasy pizza when it comes to delivering sustenance to the body after a long night of kegging .
How it looks , or even how it tastes , is irrelevant .
It 's pizza , for crying out loud .
Here 's hoping that Kavanaugh can continue to make his mark on the cafeteria in what little time he has left before President Donald J. Trump inevitably nominates another highly qualified justice to the Supreme Court .

Brett Kavanaugh's official duties as the junior member of the Supreme Court include running the cafeteria. That's great news for ambitious young law clerks who love beer but don't want a pesky hangover to get in the way of their own duties advising the justices and/or babysitting Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Roll Call reports that the Supreme Court cafeteria has started serving pizza at Kavanaugh's request. The junior justice actually joked about the lack of pizza in November during a speech at the Federalist Society.
"When I arrived, I noticed the cafeteria did not serve pizza," Kavanaugh said. "I thought, 'What an outrage.' My legacy is secure. It's fine by me if I'm ever known as the 'pizza justice.'"
Brett Kavanaugh oversees the Supreme Court cafeteria and made it start serving pizza. This is the pizza. https://t.co/YVOdUhbTsH pic.twitter.com/9UdObxNXso — Andrew Beaujon (@abeaujon) January 14, 2020
Roll Call even went so far as to review the new pizza offering, giving it two stars out of five while praising the generous pepperoni topping and the affordable price:
The crust is slightly burnt around the edges where the cheese bubbles. The pepperonis are large, oily and plentiful, so no complaints there.... If you’re looking for a flavor comparison, I’d rank it just below Pizza Hut and just above the average gas station offering. The meal comes with a small container of mesclun greens that some people (not me) would call a salad. And at $8, it’s a decent price point.
Food critics are unlikely to be impressed, but it's safe to say that Brett has scored a hit with this one, and is already living up to his reputation as the "pizza justice." There's no better option than a greasy pizza when it comes to delivering sustenance to the body after a long night of kegging. How it looks, or even how it tastes, is irrelevant. It's pizza, for crying out loud.
Here's hoping that Kavanaugh can continue to make his mark on the cafeteria in what little time he has left before President Donald J. Trump inevitably nominates another highly qualified justice to the Supreme Court.


freebeacon--2020-01-17--The Root Attacks ‘White’ National Review Writer… Who’s Actually Black

A left-wing website attacked a `` white '' National Review Online writer for his perspective on black history , failing to realize the writer in question is black .
Peter Kirsanow , a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and a former member of the National Labor Relations Board , argued in a piece published Thursday that the New York Times ‘ s 1619 Project has an `` obsession '' with slavery at the expense of the rest of American history .
Michael Harriot , a senior reporter for the liberal African-American publication The Root , responded in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , According to White People . ''
Harriot referred to Kirsanow as white throughout the post .
`` As white people are wont to do , Kirsanow framed his argument in the context of Martin Luther King Jr. , '' Harriot wrote .
`` White people love to quote King because he is a mythical figure who has been whitewashed by the very version of America that Kirsanow wants to perpetuate … ‘ The 1619 Project ’ s obsession with race , standing alone , is bad enough , ' Kirsanow writes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discover that he is caucasian .
`` Well , I guess if Elizabeth Warren can be Cherokee , I can be white , '' Kirsanow told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` Wait till my wife finds out . ''
Harriot did not respond to a request for comment .
National Review Online editor Charles Cooke mocked the error on Twitter Friday , tweeting , `` Today I learned that Peter Kirsanow is white . ''

'Well, I guess if Elizabeth Warren can be Cherokee, I can be white'
A left-wing website attacked a "white" National Review Online writer for his perspective on black history, failing to realize the writer in question is black.
Peter Kirsanow, a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and a former member of the National Labor Relations Board, argued in a piece published Thursday that the New York Times's 1619 Project has an "obsession" with slavery at the expense of the rest of American history. Michael Harriot, a senior reporter for the liberal African-American publication The Root, responded in a piece titled, "Black History, According to White People." Harriot referred to Kirsanow as white throughout the post.
"As white people are wont to do, Kirsanow framed his argument in the context of Martin Luther King Jr.," Harriot wrote. "White people love to quote King because he is a mythical figure who has been whitewashed by the very version of America that Kirsanow wants to perpetuate ... 'The 1619 Project’s obsession with race, standing alone, is bad enough,' Kirsanow writes, whitely."
Kirsanow was surprised to discover that he is caucasian.
"Well, I guess if Elizabeth Warren can be Cherokee, I can be white," Kirsanow told the Washington Free Beacon. "Wait till my wife finds out."
Harriot did not respond to a request for comment.
National Review Online editor Charles Cooke mocked the error on Twitter Friday, tweeting, "Today I learned that Peter Kirsanow is white."


freebeacon--2020-01-17--Trump Admin Sanctions Top Iranian General for Slaughtering Anti-Regime Protesters

The Trump administration issued new sanctions on Friday against a top Iranian general who oversaw the killing of nearly 150 Iranian anti-regime protesters , according to U.S. officials .
The State Department applied new economic sanctions on Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ( IRGC ) brigadier general Hassan Shahvarpour for overseeing a recent assault on Iranian demonstrators who have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest the regime 's downing of a Ukrainian civilian airliner .
The sanctions on Shahvarpour were issued as a result of the State Department 's Iran tip line , which has empowered Iranian citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuses and send on-the-ground testimonials directly to the Trump administration via a secure channel .
More than 88,000 videos , pictures , and testimonials have been sent to the State Department since it established the network late last year .
`` General Shahvarpour committed gross violations of human rights against protesters in Mahshahr , '' Trump administration Iran envoy Brian Hook announced to reporters .
`` He oversaw the massacre of 148 helpless Iranians in the Mahshahr region last November . ''
`` Shahvarpour was in command of units responsible for the violent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Hook disclosed .
`` This is the first designation on an Iranian regime official being taken under '' new State Department sanctions authorities .
The Iran tip line played an instrumental role in exposing Shahvarpour 's crimes , Hook said .
`` This action taken today was made possible through the information we received on the tip line that the secretary established , '' he said .
`` We use this information to expose the criminality of the regime and to hold violators accountable .
Since the violent crackdown on protests last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two judges and eight other regime officials for their roles in brutalizing the Iranian people .
We are continuing to review all information we receive from the Iranian people , and we will continue to hold more regime officials responsible for human rights violations . ''
Hook also said that a host of new sanctions issued during the past year on Iran have decimated the country 's economy and contributed to the popular anti-regime demonstrations currently taking place .
The imposition of oil sanctions alone has deprived the Iranian regime of around $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion has been lost due to a host of other economic sanctions , according to Hook .
`` The sanctions we have imposed are the toughest ever , '' Hook said .
`` They are making an enormous difference , and the Iranian people are rightly blaming their own government for 40 years of corruption , mismanagement , and kleptocracy . ''
Hook vowed the Trump administration would continue strangling the country 's economy until it abandons its pursuit of nuclear weapons and support for regional terror organizations .
`` Yesterday , [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against European troops , '' he said .
`` Today , the supreme leader [ Ayatollah ] Khamenei , lashed out against Europe for standing up to Iran 's nuclear blackmail .
As long as the regime threatens the world , it will become further isolated .
Until Iran behaves like a normal nation , its isolation will only deepen . ''

The Trump administration issued new sanctions on Friday against a top Iranian general who oversaw the killing of nearly 150 Iranian anti-regime protesters, according to U.S. officials.
The State Department applied new economic sanctions on Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) brigadier general Hassan Shahvarpour for overseeing a recent assault on Iranian demonstrators who have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest the regime's downing of a Ukrainian civilian airliner.
The sanctions on Shahvarpour were issued as a result of the State Department's Iran tip line, which has empowered Iranian citizens to document the regime's human rights abuses and send on-the-ground testimonials directly to the Trump administration via a secure channel. More than 88,000 videos, pictures, and testimonials have been sent to the State Department since it established the network late last year.
"General Shahvarpour committed gross violations of human rights against protesters in Mahshahr," Trump administration Iran envoy Brian Hook announced to reporters. "He oversaw the massacre of 148 helpless Iranians in the Mahshahr region last November."
"Shahvarpour was in command of units responsible for the violent crackdown and lethal repression around Mahshahr," Hook disclosed. "This is the first designation on an Iranian regime official being taken under" new State Department sanctions authorities.
The Iran tip line played an instrumental role in exposing Shahvarpour's crimes, Hook said.
"This action taken today was made possible through the information we received on the tip line that the secretary established," he said. "We use this information to expose the criminality of the regime and to hold violators accountable. Since the violent crackdown on protests last November, the United States has sanctioned two judges and eight other regime officials for their roles in brutalizing the Iranian people. We are continuing to review all information we receive from the Iranian people, and we will continue to hold more regime officials responsible for human rights violations."
Hook also said that a host of new sanctions issued during the past year on Iran have decimated the country's economy and contributed to the popular anti-regime demonstrations currently taking place.
The imposition of oil sanctions alone has deprived the Iranian regime of around $50 billion annually. Another $200 billion has been lost due to a host of other economic sanctions, according to Hook.
"The sanctions we have imposed are the toughest ever," Hook said. "They are making an enormous difference, and the Iranian people are rightly blaming their own government for 40 years of corruption, mismanagement, and kleptocracy."
Hook vowed the Trump administration would continue strangling the country's economy until it abandons its pursuit of nuclear weapons and support for regional terror organizations.
"Yesterday, [Iranian] president Rouhani made veiled threats against European troops," he said. "Today, the supreme leader [Ayatollah] Khamenei, lashed out against Europe for standing up to Iran's nuclear blackmail. As long as the regime threatens the world, it will become further isolated. Until Iran behaves like a normal nation, its isolation will only deepen."


freebeacon--2020-01-17--Senator Biden Paid Men More Than Women, Now Blames Pay Gap on White Men

Biden told the Times editorial board in an interview released Friday that wealthy Americans oppose equal pay because they `` do n't like the idea '' of women being paid as much as men .
However , women working in Biden 's Senate office earned as little as 44 percent of what male employees made .
Over the course of Biden 's 36 years in the Senate , women on average earned just 67 cents for each dollar earned by men .
`` All white guys are just basically , they do n't give a damn about women .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Biden said in the interview .
`` The people that do n't like equal pay are at the top of the heap .
I do n't like the idea that you 're going to get paid as much as a man doing your job . ''
Biden distinguished himself from wealthy Americans by invoking his middle-class background , saying that in `` neighborhoods I come from '' equal pay means `` you can put four new tires on the car .
… It means you can replace your water heater .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to that community college . ''
But Biden himself was at the `` top of the heap '' as a senator .
His 1973 freshman Senate salary of $ 42,500 equates to $ 256,370.77 in 2019 dollars .
Biden paid women just 68 cents for each dollar earned by men in 1973 , and continued to pay women less than their male counterparts during the entirety of his 36 years in the Senate , a Washington Free Beacon analysis found .
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as someone who 's `` fought for women 's rights his whole career , '' his Senate office paid women two-thirds , on average , the amount male employees received .
The pay gap was highest in 1983 and 1984 , when Biden 's female employees made only 44 percent of what male employees made .
Biden has also faced allegations of misconduct from at least eight different women .
One accuser , Alexandra Tara Reade , served in Biden 's Senate office for nine months .
According to Reade , Biden would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and run his finger up my neck , '' and asked her to serve drinks at an event because he `` liked her legs . ''
Reade reported the misconduct to Senate personnel and left Biden 's office shortly thereafter .
She accused the former Delaware senator of reprimanding her for blowing the whistle on his alleged misconduct .
Biden 's record with women has drawn criticism during the presidential campaign .
During a July Democratic debate , Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand ( D. , N.Y. ) criticized the Democratic frontrunner 's opposition to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` When the Senate was debating middle-class affordability for child care , [ Biden ] wrote an op-ed , '' Gillibrand said .
`` What he wrote in an op-ed was that he believed that women working outside the home would ‘ create the deterioration of family . '
He also said that women who were working outside the home were ‘ avoiding responsibility . '
''

In a New York Times interview, presidential hopeful Joe Biden said the barrier to equal pay for women has been white men at the "top of the heap"—but he took no blame for the unequal results in the one organization that had him at the top of the heap. Biden paid his male staffers more than his female staffers in each of his 36 years in the Senate.
Biden told the Times editorial board in an interview released Friday that wealthy Americans oppose equal pay because they "don't like the idea" of women being paid as much as men. However, women working in Biden's Senate office earned as little as 44 percent of what male employees made. Over the course of Biden's 36 years in the Senate, women on average earned just 67 cents for each dollar earned by men.
"All white guys are just basically, they don't give a damn about women. They don't care about equal pay," Biden said in the interview. "The people that don't like equal pay are at the top of the heap. I don't like the idea that you're going to get paid as much as a man doing your job."
Biden distinguished himself from wealthy Americans by invoking his middle-class background, saying that in "neighborhoods I come from" equal pay means "you can put four new tires on the car. ... It means you can replace your water heater. It means you can send your kid back to that community college."
But Biden himself was at the "top of the heap" as a senator. His 1973 freshman Senate salary of $42,500 equates to $256,370.77 in 2019 dollars. Biden paid women just 68 cents for each dollar earned by men in 1973, and continued to pay women less than their male counterparts during the entirety of his 36 years in the Senate, a Washington Free Beacon analysis found.
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Though Biden has campaigned for the presidency as someone who's "fought for women's rights his whole career," his Senate office paid women two-thirds, on average, the amount male employees received. The pay gap was highest in 1983 and 1984, when Biden's female employees made only 44 percent of what male employees made.
Biden has also faced allegations of misconduct from at least eight different women. One accuser, Alexandra Tara Reade, served in Biden's Senate office for nine months. According to Reade, Biden would "put his hand on my shoulder and run his finger up my neck," and asked her to serve drinks at an event because he "liked her legs."
Reade reported the misconduct to Senate personnel and left Biden's office shortly thereafter. She accused the former Delaware senator of reprimanding her for blowing the whistle on his alleged misconduct.
Biden's record with women has drawn criticism during the presidential campaign. During a July Democratic debate, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D., N.Y.) criticized the Democratic frontrunner's opposition to a proposed child tax credit expansion.
"When the Senate was debating middle-class affordability for child care, [Biden] wrote an op-ed," Gillibrand said. "What he wrote in an op-ed was that he believed that women working outside the home would 'create the deterioration of family.' He also said that women who were working outside the home were 'avoiding responsibility.'"


freebeacon--2020-01-17--Biden Denies That He Told Aides He’ll Only Serve One Term If Elected

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden denied in his interview with the New York Times that he has signaled to aides that he would serve only one term as president if elected , saying reports on the matter were `` simply not true . ''
`` I never hinted that , '' Biden told the paper 's editorial board in an interview published Friday .
`` That is simply not true . ''
Biden 's denial came after the editorial board 's Kathleen Kingsbury said the former vice president had `` hinted a little bit '' that he 'd be willing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The transcript of the interview cites a December Politico report that Biden was `` quietly indicating that he will almost certainly not run for a second term . ''
The report cites four top campaign advisers who said Biden would not publicly make a one-term pledge but recognized that it was inconceivable for him to run for reelection in 2024 at the age of 82 .
Biden said in the interview that he did n't know where the suggestions were coming from .
`` I don ’ t know where it came from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somebody who in fact , I guess , thinks that they know me and thinks that maybe , I don ’ t know , '' Biden said .
A spokesman for Politico said the outlet `` stands by the story and our reporting of it . ''
Kate Bedingfield , the deputy campaign manager and communications director for Biden 's campaign , pushed back on the Politico report when it was first published .
`` This is not a conversation our campaign is having and not something VP Biden is thinking about , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was asked earlier this year by the Associated Press if he would only serve one term and was noncommittal .
`` I feel good and all I can say is , watch me , you ’ ll see , '' Biden said .
`` It doesn ’ t mean I would run a second term .
I ’ m not going to make that judgment at this moment . ''

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden denied in his interview with the New York Times that he has signaled to aides that he would serve only one term as president if elected, saying reports on the matter were "simply not true."
"I never hinted that," Biden told the paper's editorial board in an interview published Friday. "That is simply not true."
Biden's denial came after the editorial board's Kathleen Kingsbury said the former vice president had "hinted a little bit" that he'd be willing to serve just a single term. The transcript of the interview cites a December Politico report that Biden was "quietly indicating that he will almost certainly not run for a second term." The report cites four top campaign advisers who said Biden would not publicly make a one-term pledge but recognized that it was inconceivable for him to run for reelection in 2024 at the age of 82.
Biden said in the interview that he didn't know where the suggestions were coming from.
"I don’t know where it came from, but it did not—it came from somebody who in fact, I guess, thinks that they know me and thinks that maybe, I don’t know," Biden said.
A spokesman for Politico said the outlet "stands by the story and our reporting of it."
Kate Bedingfield, the deputy campaign manager and communications director for Biden's campaign, pushed back on the Politico report when it was first published.
"This is not a conversation our campaign is having and not something VP Biden is thinking about," Bedingfield said in December.
Biden was asked earlier this year by the Associated Press if he would only serve one term and was noncommittal.
"I feel good and all I can say is, watch me, you’ll see," Biden said. "It doesn’t mean I would run a second term. I’m not going to make that judgment at this moment."


freebeacon--2020-01-17--Elizabeth Warren Takes Credit for Sponsoring Bills She Voted Against

Three of the items included in that tally , however , are bills that Warren ultimately voted against .
The Gambling Addiction Prevention Act , the Sexual Trauma Response And Treatment Act , and the National Guard Promotion Accountability Act all passed the Senate in August 2018 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act ( NDAA ) for Fiscal Year 2019 .
Warren was one of only 10 senators who voted against the 2019 NDAA , along with fellow 2020 contenders Kamala Harris ( RIP ) , Kirsten Gillibrand ( RIP ) , and Bernie Sanders .
The Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for comment on the apparent discrepancy .
Warren does not appear to have issued a press release explaining her decision to vote against the 2019 military spending bill .
She voted for and celebrated the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2018 , and was criticized by progressive activists for doing so .
Warren missed the vote on the defense spending bill for 2020 , as did Sanders .
Warren 's campaign website applauds the senator 's work on the National Guard Promotion Accountability Act , which was designed to streamline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It cites the bill as an example of how Warren is `` looking after our veterans and servicemembers . ''
The website says Warren added `` key provisions '' to the 2019 NDAA , which `` was passed into law . ''
The bill passed without Warren 's approval .
The passage of bills she voted against is not the worst thing for which Warren has tried to claim undeserved credit ( Native American heritage ) .
Anti-capitalist filmmaker Michael Moore said on his podcast that Warren has a propensity to `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exaggerations for political gain .
Warren is hardly the first Democrat in the Trump era to claim credit for legislation she voted against .
In late December , celebrity freshman representative Ilhan Omar ( D. , Minn. ) applauded the House 's passage of a bill that included debt relief for her native Somalia , despite being one of the 75 Democrats who voted against the legislation .

Underperforming presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) has portrayed herself as a bipartisan dealmaker by taking credit for sponsoring bills she ultimately voted against. "I do work with the other side," Warren said in October during a radio interview in New Hampshire. "I've gotten more than a dozen bills passed into law, and they've been bipartisan. And that's just been since Donald Trump has been elected president." A post on the "Fact Squad" section of Warren's campaign website similarly boasts that "Donald Trump has signed more than a dozen of Elizabeth's proposals into law" and lists 15 pieces of legislation Warren sponsored.
Three of the items included in that tally, however, are bills that Warren ultimately voted against. The Gambling Addiction Prevention Act, the Sexual Trauma Response And Treatment Act, and the National Guard Promotion Accountability Act all passed the Senate in August 2018 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019. Warren was one of only 10 senators who voted against the 2019 NDAA, along with fellow 2020 contenders Kamala Harris (RIP), Kirsten Gillibrand (RIP), and Bernie Sanders.
The Warren campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the apparent discrepancy.
Warren does not appear to have issued a press release explaining her decision to vote against the 2019 military spending bill. She voted for and celebrated the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2018, and was criticized by progressive activists for doing so. Warren missed the vote on the defense spending bill for 2020, as did Sanders.
Warren's campaign website applauds the senator's work on the National Guard Promotion Accountability Act, which was designed to streamline the promotion process for National Guard officers. It cites the bill as an example of how Warren is "looking after our veterans and servicemembers." The website says Warren added "key provisions" to the 2019 NDAA, which "was passed into law." The bill passed without Warren's approval.
The passage of bills she voted against is not the worst thing for which Warren has tried to claim undeserved credit (Native American heritage). Anti-capitalist filmmaker Michael Moore said on his podcast that Warren has a propensity to "embellish the truth" with half-truths and exaggerations for political gain.
Warren is hardly the first Democrat in the Trump era to claim credit for legislation she voted against. In late December, celebrity freshman representative Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) applauded the House's passage of a bill that included debt relief for her native Somalia, despite being one of the 75 Democrats who voted against the legislation.