freebeacon--2020-12-10--Koch and Soros-Backed Think Tank Honors Former Black Panther for ‘Responsible Statecraft’

The Quincy Institute , a think tank funded by billionaires George Soros and Charles Koch , handed its first-ever `` responsible statecraft '' award to a far-left former Black Panther who has called for defunding the Pentagon and preventing U.S. military forces from defending themselves against terrorist attacks .
The Quincy Institute , known for its isolationist advocacy , awarded Rep. Barbara Lee ( D. , Calif. ) last week for `` her advancement of ideas and actions that move U.S. foreign policy away from endless war and toward vigorous diplomacy in the pursuit of international peace , '' according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tank .
Quincy 's selection of Lee , who has called for defunding the Pentagon and voted against measures to condemn the anti-Israel Boycott , Divestment , and Sanctions movement , further positions the organization as one of Washington 's loudest isolationist voices .
While pushing for what it calls a more restrained foreign policy approach , Quincy has been engulfed in controversy since its launch in late 2019 for hiring anti-Israel voices who have attacked American Jews as warmongers .
Lee , a former Black Panther whom the FBI investigated for her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its violent tactics , was the only member of Congress to vote against the authorization for use of military force in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks in New York City .
`` I am convinced that military action will not prevent further acts of international terrorism against the United States , '' Lee said of her vote on Sept. 14 , 2001 , just days after the attacks by al Qaeda .
Lee has also called for defunding the Pentagon and has repeatedly pushed to defund American military operations in Iraq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the creation of a `` U.S. Department of Peacebuilding '' dedicated to `` the study and advancement of peace . ''
Lee served as co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus , where she has made common cause with Reps. Ilhan Omar ( D. , Minn. ) , Rashida Tlaib ( D. , Mich. ) , and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) .
In January , Lee joined Ocasio-Cortez and Omar to push a new war powers resolution that would have significantly impeded the United States ' ability to counter Iranian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The effort aligns her with Quincy 's own advocacy , which has centered around downplaying the threat posed by Tehran .
Quincy Institute officials have parroted talking points forwarded by Iran and are central to the push by isolationist foreign policy voices to lessen economic pressure on the Islamic Republic .
Lee also has opposed congressional efforts to combat the anti-Israel BDS movement , which wages economic warfare on Israel by boycotting Jewish-made goods .
She was one of 16 Democrats—including Omar , Tlaib , and Ocasio-Cortez—who voted against a 2019 measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lee appeared earlier this year alongside speakers at a gala for the American Muslims for Palestine , a prominent anti-Israel advocacy group that promotes BDS and works with individuals who have been linked to terrorism .
While Quincy has not taken a public stance on the BDS movement , it has been critical of recent Middle East peace deals that are widely seen to have greatly increased Israel 's security .

The Quincy Institute, a think tank funded by billionaires George Soros and Charles Koch, handed its first-ever "responsible statecraft" award to a far-left former Black Panther who has called for defunding the Pentagon and preventing U.S. military forces from defending themselves against terrorist attacks.
The Quincy Institute, known for its isolationist advocacy, awarded Rep. Barbara Lee (D., Calif.) last week for "her advancement of ideas and actions that move U.S. foreign policy away from endless war and toward vigorous diplomacy in the pursuit of international peace," according to a press release from the think tank.
Quincy's selection of Lee, who has called for defunding the Pentagon and voted against measures to condemn the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, further positions the organization as one of Washington's loudest isolationist voices. While pushing for what it calls a more restrained foreign policy approach, Quincy has been engulfed in controversy since its launch in late 2019 for hiring anti-Israel voices who have attacked American Jews as warmongers.
Lee, a former Black Panther whom the FBI investigated for her ties to the militant group known for its violent tactics, was the only member of Congress to vote against the authorization for use of military force in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks in New York City.
"I am convinced that military action will not prevent further acts of international terrorism against the United States," Lee said of her vote on Sept. 14, 2001, just days after the attacks by al Qaeda.
Lee has also called for defunding the Pentagon and has repeatedly pushed to defund American military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. She has further advocated for the creation of a "U.S. Department of Peacebuilding" dedicated to "the study and advancement of peace."
Lee served as co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, where she has made common cause with Reps. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.), Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.), and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.).
In January, Lee joined Ocasio-Cortez and Omar to push a new war powers resolution that would have significantly impeded the United States' ability to counter Iranian terror groups operating in the Middle East. The effort aligns her with Quincy's own advocacy, which has centered around downplaying the threat posed by Tehran. Quincy Institute officials have parroted talking points forwarded by Iran and are central to the push by isolationist foreign policy voices to lessen economic pressure on the Islamic Republic.
Lee also has opposed congressional efforts to combat the anti-Israel BDS movement, which wages economic warfare on Israel by boycotting Jewish-made goods. She was one of 16 Democrats—including Omar, Tlaib, and Ocasio-Cortez—who voted against a 2019 measure condemning the BDS movement. Additionally, Lee appeared earlier this year alongside speakers at a gala for the American Muslims for Palestine, a prominent anti-Israel advocacy group that promotes BDS and works with individuals who have been linked to terrorism.
While Quincy has not taken a public stance on the BDS movement, it has been critical of recent Middle East peace deals that are widely seen to have greatly increased Israel's security.


Obama III

This is not a third Obama term .
He has a funny way of showing it .
Biden 's recent moves provide little comfort for Americans looking for a way out of the polarization , acrimony , catastrophism , and hysteria that have characterized politics lo these many years .
Not only is Biden filling his administration with the same people who made such a hash of things from 2009 to 2017 .
He has also selected , for some of the most important offices , progressive ideologues who believe it is the bureaucracy 's job to pick new fights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's doing it all while his family and his party face new questions about their entanglement with the People 's Republic of China .
You are right to feel anxious .
Obama 's appointees were known for their elitism , imperiousness , and cocksure expertise .
What does Biden do ?
He brings them back .
John Kerry becomes a special envoy for climate—though if you assume he will restrict himself to that portfolio , there 's a bridge in Brooklyn you might like to buy .
Janet Yellen gets Treasury—and a sure-to-be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Federal Reserve .
Alejandro Mayorkas was deputy secretary of Homeland Security when he became ensnared in a visa scandal .
Biden wants to promote him .
Jeffrey Zients salvaged Healthcare.gov from its catastrophic launch .
He 'll be coronavirus czar .
Having lied about both Benghazi and Bowe Bergdahl while coordinating national security , Susan Rice will apply her mendacious talents to domestic policy .
Denis McDonough was Obama 's chief of staff during the Syrian `` red line '' debacle .
He 'll be secretary for Veterans ' Affairs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be nominated for exactly the same jobs they held during the Obama years .
The cases where Biden has struck his own path are either strange or disturbing .
Biden chose retired general Lloyd Austin , the former CENTCOM commander , for secretary of defense because `` he played a crucial role in bringing 150,000 American troops home from the theater of war '' and because he had a good relationship with Beau Biden .
The selection , which requires a congressional waiver , not only raises the fraught subject of civil-military relations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the debate over America 's 2011 withdrawal from Iraq and the subsequent growth of the Islamic State .
And it 's already created friction between Biden and members of his own party , as well as between Biden and members of the bipartisan foreign-policy elite who backed his candidacy .
Obama 's Department of Health and Human Services was notorious for rules , such as the 2012 contraceptives mandate , that restricted religious freedom in ways calculated to benefit the Democratic Party .
Our second Catholic president might try to reduce tensions between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by appointing a nonpolitical HHS secretary with a directive to cope with the pandemic above all else .
Instead , Biden picked Xavier Becerra , the far-left attorney general of California , who when not filing lawsuits against President Trump has targeted religious and pro-life organizations .
The Becerra nomination is a rebuke to social conservatives .
It puts the lie to Biden 's call for unity .
Obama must love it .
What Obama ca n't be happy about is Hunter Biden 's admission that the U.S. attorney for Delaware is looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hunter Biden 's shady overseas business dealings , despite media and tech-sector attempts to suppress the information in the days before the election , can be avoided no longer .
And Hunter 's revelation came during the week that Axios released a blockbuster report on Chinese infiltration into West Coast political circles , and disclosed that one Chinese spy became so close to Democratic congressman Eric Swalwell that the FBI gave him a defensive briefing about her in 2015 .
Swalwell will remain on the House Intelligence Committee .
`` When that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it was over , '' said Nancy Pelosi .
Well , then .
That settles it .
In truth , Biden 's denial that he would be the caretaker of Obama 's third administration was exaggerated .
He made it in an interview with Lester Holt of NBC .
His reasoning deserves a second look .
`` We face a totally different world than we faced in the Obama-Biden administration , '' he said .
`` President Trump has changed the landscape . ''
What will make his presidency novel , Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's circumstances .
The world is `` totally different . ''
Trump transformed politics , economics , diplomacy .
Hence a Biden term will be unlike Obama 's simply because it 's four years later .
This is begging the question .
Of course the world is different .
It always is .
But similar objects can inhabit varying landscapes .
What matters is whether Biden will diverge from Obama in people , policy , and style .
Not because he holds any animus toward the forty-fourth president .
Because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
Biden may not think so .
He shares Obama 's goals .
He 'd like to enjoy Obama 's popularity .
He forgets that Obama 's good marks were personal .
They never translated to the Democratic Party .
As Obama pressed ahead with his agenda despite public ambivalence and hostility , his party lost one chamber of Congress , one governor 's mansion , one state legislature after another .
Deprived of allies in Congress , Obama relied on judicial and bureaucratic means to achieve his ends .
But this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the widespread sense that the electorate no longer controlled its government .
The result was Trump .
Who promptly unwound Obama 's executive orders .
Biden seems eager to reboot this sordid drama .
But he 's playing a weaker hand than Obama enjoyed at the outset .
When the next Congress convenes in January , Democrats will have their smallest House majority since 1893 .
The best case scenario for Democrats is a 50-50 Senate .
In 2009 , Obama had a huge majority in the House and a filibuster-proof majority in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get everything he wanted .
Unusual staffing decisions , needless fights , the specter of corruption , the promise of gridlock—and inauguration is still over a month away .
Biden gives us the same team and plans as his former boss , but with more awkward presentation and additional scandal .
The third Obama term is on track to be as disappointing as the first two .

This is not a third Obama term.
—Joe Biden, November 24, 2020
He has a funny way of showing it. Biden's recent moves provide little comfort for Americans looking for a way out of the polarization, acrimony, catastrophism, and hysteria that have characterized politics lo these many years.
Not only is Biden filling his administration with the same people who made such a hash of things from 2009 to 2017. He has also selected, for some of the most important offices, progressive ideologues who believe it is the bureaucracy's job to pick new fights in the culture war. And he's doing it all while his family and his party face new questions about their entanglement with the People's Republic of China.
You are right to feel anxious.
Obama's appointees were known for their elitism, imperiousness, and cocksure expertise. What does Biden do? He brings them back. John Kerry becomes a special envoy for climate—though if you assume he will restrict himself to that portfolio, there's a bridge in Brooklyn you might like to buy. Janet Yellen gets Treasury—and a sure-to-be awkward relationship with her replacement as head of the Federal Reserve. Alejandro Mayorkas was deputy secretary of Homeland Security when he became ensnared in a visa scandal. Biden wants to promote him.
Jeffrey Zients salvaged Healthcare.gov from its catastrophic launch. He'll be coronavirus czar. Having lied about both Benghazi and Bowe Bergdahl while coordinating national security, Susan Rice will apply her mendacious talents to domestic policy. Denis McDonough was Obama's chief of staff during the Syrian "red line" debacle. He'll be secretary for Veterans' Affairs. A few officials—Vivek Murthy, Tom Vilsack—will be nominated for exactly the same jobs they held during the Obama years.
The cases where Biden has struck his own path are either strange or disturbing. Biden chose retired general Lloyd Austin, the former CENTCOM commander, for secretary of defense because "he played a crucial role in bringing 150,000 American troops home from the theater of war" and because he had a good relationship with Beau Biden. The selection, which requires a congressional waiver, not only raises the fraught subject of civil-military relations. It also guarantees a replay of the debate over America's 2011 withdrawal from Iraq and the subsequent growth of the Islamic State. And it's already created friction between Biden and members of his own party, as well as between Biden and members of the bipartisan foreign-policy elite who backed his candidacy.
Obama's Department of Health and Human Services was notorious for rules, such as the 2012 contraceptives mandate, that restricted religious freedom in ways calculated to benefit the Democratic Party. Our second Catholic president might try to reduce tensions between traditional believers and Washington, D.C., by appointing a nonpolitical HHS secretary with a directive to cope with the pandemic above all else. Instead, Biden picked Xavier Becerra, the far-left attorney general of California, who when not filing lawsuits against President Trump has targeted religious and pro-life organizations. The Becerra nomination is a rebuke to social conservatives. It puts the lie to Biden's call for unity. Obama must love it.
What Obama can't be happy about is Hunter Biden's admission that the U.S. attorney for Delaware is looking into his taxes. The reality of Hunter Biden's shady overseas business dealings, despite media and tech-sector attempts to suppress the information in the days before the election, can be avoided no longer. And Hunter's revelation came during the week that Axios released a blockbuster report on Chinese infiltration into West Coast political circles, and disclosed that one Chinese spy became so close to Democratic congressman Eric Swalwell that the FBI gave him a defensive briefing about her in 2015. Swalwell will remain on the House Intelligence Committee. "When that was made known to the members of Congress, it was over," said Nancy Pelosi.
Well, then. That settles it.
In truth, Biden's denial that he would be the caretaker of Obama's third administration was exaggerated. He made it in an interview with Lester Holt of NBC. His reasoning deserves a second look. "We face a totally different world than we faced in the Obama-Biden administration," he said. "President Trump has changed the landscape."
What will make his presidency novel, Biden revealed, is neither personnel nor approach. It's circumstances. The world is "totally different." Trump transformed politics, economics, diplomacy. Hence a Biden term will be unlike Obama's simply because it's four years later.
This is begging the question. Of course the world is different. It always is. But similar objects can inhabit varying landscapes. What matters is whether Biden will diverge from Obama in people, policy, and style. Not because he holds any animus toward the forty-fourth president. Because the success of his own presidency depends on it.
Biden may not think so. He shares Obama's goals. He'd like to enjoy Obama's popularity. He forgets that Obama's good marks were personal. They never translated to the Democratic Party. As Obama pressed ahead with his agenda despite public ambivalence and hostility, his party lost one chamber of Congress, one governor's mansion, one state legislature after another.
Deprived of allies in Congress, Obama relied on judicial and bureaucratic means to achieve his ends. But this approach enraged the Republican base while creating the widespread sense that the electorate no longer controlled its government. The result was Trump. Who promptly unwound Obama's executive orders.
Biden seems eager to reboot this sordid drama. But he's playing a weaker hand than Obama enjoyed at the outset. When the next Congress convenes in January, Democrats will have their smallest House majority since 1893. The best case scenario for Democrats is a 50-50 Senate. In 2009, Obama had a huge majority in the House and a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. He still couldn't get everything he wanted.
Unusual staffing decisions, needless fights, the specter of corruption, the promise of gridlock—and inauguration is still over a month away. Biden gives us the same team and plans as his former boss, but with more awkward presentation and additional scandal. The third Obama term is on track to be as disappointing as the first two.


freebeacon--2020-12-12--Supreme Court Rejects Texas Bid To Undo Election Results In Swing States

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to take up Texas 's bid to undo election certification in four battleground states , ending a longshot bid to secure a second term for President Donald Trump .
In an unsigned order , the High Court said Texas has no legal interest in policing election procedures in other states .
A full vote count was not given , as is typical of such orders , but the Court was unanimous that Texas could not obtain the result it wanted .
The decision clears the way for the electoral college to make Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's order snuffs out a legal challenge Trump touted as a game-changer in his legal campaign to swing the election to state legislatures .
The president called Texas ' complaint `` the case that everyone has been waiting for '' on Wednesday , and he hyped supportive legal briefs from himself , red states , and Republican lawmakers throughout the week .
Election results will be further insulated from legal challenge after members of the electoral college cast their ballots .
The decision will heighten pressure on Republican leaders , who have so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election , to acknowledge Biden 's victory .
It also means that the president will likely leave office without securing any legal recognition of his claims about election fraud .
Attorney General William Barr said on Dec. 1 that he has not seen evidence of fraud on a scale that would tilt the results of the campaign .
Justice Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas parted ways on a technical point , saying they do not believe the Court can dismiss suits like Texas 's out of hand .
But Alito also said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and I express no view on any other issue . ''
The Texas suit targeted Georgia , Michigan , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin .
It claimed that late-breaking changes to the election procedures in those states were unconstitutional and created the opportunity for widespread fraud .
`` As a result of expanded absentee and mail-in voting in defendant states , combined with defendant states ' unconstitutional modification of statutory protections designed to ensure ballot integrity , defendant states created a massive opportunity for fraud , '' Texas ' complaint reads .
Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not mince words in response .
`` Texas 's effort to get this Court to pick the next president has no basis in law or fact , '' Pennsylvania 's brief to the justices reads .
`` The Court should not abide this seditious abuse of the judicial process , and should send a clear and unmistakable signal that such abuse must never be replicated . ''
The defendant states , legal observers , and even Texas Republicans found the lawsuit peculiar .
Briefs from the four states Texas is suing attacked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem is standing , the legal right to sue .
Election procedures in different states do n't affect Texas 's interests at all , the defendants said .
They also faulted Paxton for waiting until Dec. 7 to file his lawsuit .
That 's over one month after the election , and just one week before the electoral college votes .
Another problem is what the lawsuit asked the Court to do .
Texas said the justices should disqualify any electors the defendant states had appointed and order a special election .
Alternatively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out electoral votes `` ineligible electors '' might cast .
The Supreme Court has never taken such action , and arguably has no power to do so .
`` The novel and far-reaching claims that Texas asserts , and the breathtaking remedies it seeks , are impossible to ground in legal principles , '' Georgia attorney general Christopher Carr ( R ) said in court papers .
The defendants also noted that their own courts have reviewed and rejected alleged election irregularities the Trump campaign flagged .
Ohio attorney general Dave Yost ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flip-flop .
Ohio 's brief said red states like Texas were right to sue when state courts or election officials changed election procedures late in the game .
At the time , red states said the Constitution gives legislatures , not state courts or agencies , the power to set rules for choosing electors .
But if it was wrong then to transfer electoral power from a state legislature to a state court , then it is certainly wrong now to transfer that power to a federal court .
`` The Electors Clause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago , '' Ohio 's filing reads .

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to take up Texas's bid to undo election certification in four battleground states, ending a longshot bid to secure a second term for President Donald Trump.
In an unsigned order, the High Court said Texas has no legal interest in policing election procedures in other states. A full vote count was not given, as is typical of such orders. The decision clears the way for the Electoral College to make Joe Biden's election official on Monday.
Friday's order snuffs out a legal challenge Trump touted as a game-changer in his legal campaign to swing the election to state legislatures. The president called Texas's complaint "the case that everyone has been waiting for" on Wednesday, and he hyped supportive legal briefs from himself, red states, and Republican lawmakers throughout the week. Election results will be further insulated from legal challenge after members of the Electoral College cast their ballots.
The decision will heighten pressure on Republican leaders, who have so far been equivocal about the outcome of the election, to acknowledge Biden's victory. It also means that the president will likely leave office without securing any legal recognition of his claims about election fraud. Attorney General William Barr said on Dec. 1 that he has not seen evidence of fraud on a scale that would tilt the results of the campaign.
Justice Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas parted ways on a technical point, saying they do not believe the Court can dismiss suits like Texas's out of hand. But Alito also said he "would not grant other relief, and I express no view on any other issue."
The Texas suit targeted Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. It claimed that late-breaking changes to the election procedures in those states were unconstitutional and created the opportunity for widespread fraud.
"As a result of expanded absentee and mail-in voting in defendant states, combined with defendant states' unconstitutional modification of statutory protections designed to ensure ballot integrity, defendant states created a massive opportunity for fraud," Texas's complaint reads.
Pennsylvania attorney general Josh Shapiro (D.) did not mince words in response.
"Texas's effort to get this Court to pick the next president has no basis in law or fact," Pennsylvania's brief to the justices reads. "The Court should not abide this seditious abuse of the judicial process, and should send a clear and unmistakable signal that such abuse must never be replicated."
The defendant states, legal observers, and even Texas Republicans found the lawsuit peculiar. Briefs from the four states Texas is suing attacked the suit from multiple directions.
One problem is standing, the legal right to sue. Election procedures in different states don't affect Texas's interests at all, the defendants said. They also faulted Paxton for waiting until Dec. 7 to file his lawsuit. That's over one month after the election, and just one week before the Electoral College votes.
Another problem is what the lawsuit asked the Court to do. Texas said the justices should disqualify any electors the defendant states had appointed and order a special election. Alternatively, Paxton urged the Court to toss out electoral votes "ineligible electors" might cast. The Supreme Court has never taken such action, and arguably has no power to do so.
"The novel and far-reaching claims that Texas asserts, and the breathtaking remedies it seeks, are impossible to ground in legal principles," Georgia attorney general Christopher Carr (R.) said in court papers.
The defendants also noted that their own courts have reviewed and rejected alleged election irregularities the Trump campaign flagged.
Ohio attorney general Dave Yost (R.) needled Texas for an apparent flip-flop. Ohio's brief said red states like Texas were right to sue when state courts or election officials changed election procedures late in the game. At the time, red states said the Constitution gives legislatures, not state courts or agencies, the power to set rules for choosing electors. But if it was wrong then to transfer electoral power from a state legislature to a state court, then it is certainly wrong now to transfer that power to a federal court.
"The Electors Clause means today what it meant a month ago," Ohio's filing reads.
Texas v. Pennsylvania order by Washington Free Beacon


freebeacon--2020-12-11--Bloomberg Staffer Detained By China

Bloomberg Staffer Detained By China

Despite former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg 's repeated insistence that Chinese leader `` Xi Jinping is not a dictator , '' Chinese authorities have detained a journalist who works for him .
Chinese authorities detained Haze Fan , a Bloomberg News assistant , on Monday for `` jeopardiz [ ing ] national security . ''
She was last seen being taken into custody by plainclothes police , according to the outlet .
`` We are very concerned for her , and have been actively speaking to Chinese authorities to better understand the situation .
We are continuing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while we seek more information , '' a Bloomberg spokesperson said .
Bloomberg , a billionaire media mogul , repeatedly defended the Chinese government during his short-lived bid for the Democratic presidential nomination , arguing that Xi is not a dictator because he is accountable to the Politburo , which is not elected by the Chinese people .
`` Xi Jinping is not a dictator ; he has to satisfy his constituents or he 's not going to survive , '' Bloomberg told Firing Line host Margaret Hoover in September 2019 .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate in February .
Bloomberg has considerable business interests in China .
The failed presidential candidate runs a `` Davos-style event '' in Beijing that brings him considerable profit and has expanded his core financial-services business into Chinese markets .
The business considerations made their way into the newsroom : Bloomberg News decided to kill an investigative piece on Xi 's relatives in 2013 , according to the wife of the journalist who wrote the piece .

Despite former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg's repeated insistence that Chinese leader "Xi Jinping is not a dictator," Chinese authorities have detained a journalist who works for him.
Chinese authorities detained Haze Fan, a Bloomberg News assistant, on Monday for "jeopardiz[ing] national security." She was last seen being taken into custody by plainclothes police, according to the outlet.
"We are very concerned for her, and have been actively speaking to Chinese authorities to better understand the situation. We are continuing to do everything we can to support her while we seek more information," a Bloomberg spokesperson said.
Bloomberg, a billionaire media mogul, repeatedly defended the Chinese government during his short-lived bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, arguing that Xi is not a dictator because he is accountable to the Politburo, which is not elected by the Chinese people.
"Xi Jinping is not a dictator; he has to satisfy his constituents or he's not going to survive," Bloomberg told Firing Line host Margaret Hoover in September 2019. He reiterated the claim in a Democratic primary debate in February.
Bloomberg has considerable business interests in China. The failed presidential candidate runs a "Davos-style event" in Beijing that brings him considerable profit and has expanded his core financial-services business into Chinese markets. The business considerations made their way into the newsroom: Bloomberg News decided to kill an investigative piece on Xi's relatives in 2013, according to the wife of the journalist who wrote the piece.


freebeacon--2020-12-11--Dem Dark Money Network Rakes in $715 Million to Bankroll Liberal Causes

Anonymous donors pumped an eye-popping $ 715 million into a massive dark money network used to bankroll liberal efforts across the country , new tax forms reveal .
The cash went to funds managed by Arabella Advisors , a D.C.-based consulting firm , in 2019 .
Once donors send the cash to the funds , it is then transferred to dozens of left-wing initiatives that fall under their auspices , as well as to outside groups .
The Arabella network consists of four funds : the Sixteen Thirty Fund , New Venture Fund , Windward Fund , and Hopewell Fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and legal status to the groups that sit beneath them .
Under this setup , known as fiscal sponsorship , the sponsored groups are not standalone nonprofits and do not have to file tax forms to the IRS , effectively obscuring information such as financials , board members , and other important details .
The four funds combined to raise an astounding $ 714.7 million for left-wing initiatives in 2019 , the tax forms show .
The New Venture Fund is the group 's largest entity and raked in $ 450 million in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 83 million—to pass off to groups .
The Sixteen Thirty Fund received $ 137.2 million , including one donation of $ 33 million .
The Hopewell Fund pulled in $ 84.2 million , with a single $ 36 million donation .
The Windward Fund took in $ 43.3 million .
Its largest donation was $ 8.5 million .
The funds disbursed a total of $ 648 million last year .
Nearly $ 400 million went to outside groups that include America Votes , Center for American Progress , Center for Popular Democracy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Change .
The dark money network houses some of the nation 's most prominent liberal groups .
The Sixteen Thirty Fund , for example , houses Demand Justice , a group led by former Hillary Clinton press secretary Brian Fallon to push back against Republican judicial nominations .
While Demand Justice does not have to file tax documents to the IRS due to its affiliation with the Sixteen Thirty Fund , the Washington Free Beacon found it received $ 2.6 million from billionaire George Soros around the time of its inception in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donors felt compelled to give as never before to support our democracy and advance progressive goals , including some who previously supported Republicans or were not engaged in politics , '' Amy Kurtz , the fund 's executive director , told the Free Beacon .
`` Through advocacy , fiscal sponsorship , and the types of electoral action typical of 501 ( c ) 4 organizations , the Sixteen Thirty Fund was able to invest in the health and strength of our democracy .
We have lobbied in favor of reform to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
1 ) , but we remain equally committed to following the current laws to level the playing field for progressives in this election and the future . ''
The Sixteen Thirty Fund 's Douglas Hattaway runs a strategic communications firm that has advised Soros 's Open Society Foundations , according to a cached version of his company 's website .
Scott Nielsen , the managing director of advocacy at Arabella , has worked with the Open Society Foundations and the Democracy Alliance , a wealthy donor club co-founded by Soros that helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Democracy Alliance named Arabella-managed funds in confidential documents as avenues to bankroll initiatives .
The Sixteen Thirty Fund has paid the alliance hundreds of thousands of dollars in consulting fees in the past .
Sixteen Thirty also funneled $ 55 million in secret cash into the 2020 elections to support Joe Biden and other Democrats .
The New Venture Fund fiscally sponsors groups such as Abortion on Our Own Terms and Lady Parts Justice League .
The Windward Fund focuses on environmental initiatives .
The Hopewell Fund contains groups such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` to ensure transparency and accountability among anti-reproductive health groups and individuals . ''
`` Hopewell Fund is proud of the work we did in 2019 to help make the world a more equitable place through fiscal sponsorship , charitable initiatives , and grant making , '' the group said in an email statement .
`` Our work last year helped nonprofit projects address issues related to income inequality , civic engagement , health care access , and more in the United States . ''
Eric Kessler , a former Bill Clinton appointee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is the founder and head of Arabella Advisors .
The tax forms show that Arabella was paid nearly $ 34 million for administrative , operations , and management services for the four funds .
Arabella did not respond to a request for comment .

Anonymous donors pumped an eye-popping $715 million into a massive dark money network used to bankroll liberal efforts across the country, new tax forms reveal.
The cash went to funds managed by Arabella Advisors, a D.C.-based consulting firm, in 2019. Once donors send the cash to the funds, it is then transferred to dozens of left-wing initiatives that fall under their auspices, as well as to outside groups.
The Arabella network consists of four funds: the Sixteen Thirty Fund, New Venture Fund, Windward Fund, and Hopewell Fund. Each Arabella-managed fund provides its tax and legal status to the groups that sit beneath them. Under this setup, known as fiscal sponsorship, the sponsored groups are not standalone nonprofits and do not have to file tax forms to the IRS, effectively obscuring information such as financials, board members, and other important details.
The four funds combined to raise an astounding $714.7 million for left-wing initiatives in 2019, the tax forms show. The New Venture Fund is the group's largest entity and raked in $450 million in anonymous cash—including a single donation of $83 million—to pass off to groups. The Sixteen Thirty Fund received $137.2 million, including one donation of $33 million. The Hopewell Fund pulled in $84.2 million, with a single $36 million donation. The Windward Fund took in $43.3 million. Its largest donation was $8.5 million.
The funds disbursed a total of $648 million last year. Nearly $400 million went to outside groups that include America Votes, Center for American Progress, Center for Popular Democracy, Latino Victory Project, and Color of Change.
The dark money network houses some of the nation's most prominent liberal groups. The Sixteen Thirty Fund, for example, houses Demand Justice, a group led by former Hillary Clinton press secretary Brian Fallon to push back against Republican judicial nominations. While Demand Justice does not have to file tax documents to the IRS due to its affiliation with the Sixteen Thirty Fund, the Washington Free Beacon found it received $2.6 million from billionaire George Soros around the time of its inception in 2018.
"In 2019 and 2020 many donors felt compelled to give as never before to support our democracy and advance progressive goals, including some who previously supported Republicans or were not engaged in politics," Amy Kurtz, the fund's executive director, told the Free Beacon. "Through advocacy, fiscal sponsorship, and the types of electoral action typical of 501(c)4 organizations, the Sixteen Thirty Fund was able to invest in the health and strength of our democracy. We have lobbied in favor of reform to the current campaign finance system (through H.R. 1), but we remain equally committed to following the current laws to level the playing field for progressives in this election and the future."
The Sixteen Thirty Fund's Douglas Hattaway runs a strategic communications firm that has advised Soros's Open Society Foundations, according to a cached version of his company's website. Scott Nielsen, the managing director of advocacy at Arabella, has worked with the Open Society Foundations and the Democracy Alliance, a wealthy donor club co-founded by Soros that helped launch well-known groups such as Media Matters.
The Democracy Alliance named Arabella-managed funds in confidential documents as avenues to bankroll initiatives. The Sixteen Thirty Fund has paid the alliance hundreds of thousands of dollars in consulting fees in the past.
Sixteen Thirty also funneled $55 million in secret cash into the 2020 elections to support Joe Biden and other Democrats.
The New Venture Fund fiscally sponsors groups such as Abortion on Our Own Terms and Lady Parts Justice League. The Windward Fund focuses on environmental initiatives. The Hopewell Fund contains groups such as Equity Forward, a watchdog that seeks "to ensure transparency and accountability among anti-reproductive health groups and individuals."
"Hopewell Fund is proud of the work we did in 2019 to help make the world a more equitable place through fiscal sponsorship, charitable initiatives, and grant making," the group said in an email statement. "Our work last year helped nonprofit projects address issues related to income inequality, civic engagement, health care access, and more in the United States."
Eric Kessler, a former Bill Clinton appointee and member of the Clinton Global Initiative, is the founder and head of Arabella Advisors. The tax forms show that Arabella was paid nearly $34 million for administrative, operations, and management services for the four funds.
Arabella did not respond to a request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-12-11--Judge Dismisses Dem Prosecutor for Fundraising Off Armed Couple’s Standoff with BLM

A Missouri judge on Thursday dismissed Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner ( D. ) from her role in prosecuting a St. Louis man who , together with his wife , brandished guns outside their home in a show of opposition against Black Lives Matter protesters .
Gardner exploited the high-profile cases against Mark and Patricia McCloskey in fundraising emails .
That drew a rebuke from Circuit Judge Thomas Clark II , who was trying Mark McCloskey 's case .
Clark slammed Gardner for compromising the couple 's right to a fair trial .
`` The campaign emails demonstrate the Circuit Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raise the appearance of impropriety and jeopardize the Defendant 's right to a fair trial , '' Clark ruled .
Defense attorney Joel Schwartz said Gardner 's fundraising appeal called into question the validity of the charges .
`` It appears that she chose to prosecute them to rile her base in order to raise money and votes , '' he told the Washington Free Beacon .
Schwartz said he filed the motion to remove Gardner from the case because he did not believe she could be unbiased in her examination of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objective prosecutor would drop the charges against Mark McCloskey .
`` I want to get an unbiased prosecutor taking a fresh look at the evidence , '' he said .
`` It is my belief , as it has been from day one , that there is no crime and the evidence will indicate that . ''
Gardner 's campaign began fundraising off of the case even before charges were announced .
She linked the McCloskeys to her political opponents , including Missouri senator Josh Hawley ( R. ) , Governor Mike Parson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In one email , the campaign wrote , `` The Senator of Missouri … has requested that the DOJ launch an investigation against Kim for upholding the law — because he believes the couple 's right to wave guns around at people who were not threatening them to be a civil right . ''
In another email , the campaign told constituents that Gardner `` is n't afraid to stand up and hold those accountable who are perpetuating a system of systemic racism and police brutality , '' immediately before soliciting donations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office from the case , reasoning that no assistant attorney under Gardner 's supervision and employment could be effectively screened from the appearance of impropriety .
Gardner 's office declined to comment on the ruling beyond a public statement that the prosecutor 's office will `` review the court order and determine our options . ''
Schwartz said he planned to file a similar motion to dismiss Gardner from the separate case against Patricia McCloskey that stemmed from the same incident .
`` I would hope that [ a new ] prosecutor after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the charges against both of them , '' he told the Free Beacon .
Gardner charged Mark and Patricia McCloskey in July for brandishing firearms at a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters on their private street in St. Louis .
Photos and videos of the incident went viral , and the couple , who argue they acted in self-defense , later joined a Trump campaign event in July and spoke at the Republican National Convention .

A Missouri judge on Thursday dismissed Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner (D.) from her role in prosecuting a St. Louis man who, together with his wife, brandished guns outside their home in a show of opposition against Black Lives Matter protesters.
Gardner exploited the high-profile cases against Mark and Patricia McCloskey in fundraising emails. That drew a rebuke from Circuit Judge Thomas Clark II, who was trying Mark McCloskey's case. Clark slammed Gardner for compromising the couple's right to a fair trial.
"The campaign emails demonstrate the Circuit Attorney's personal interest in this case, raise the appearance of impropriety and jeopardize the Defendant's right to a fair trial," Clark ruled.
Defense attorney Joel Schwartz said Gardner's fundraising appeal called into question the validity of the charges.
"It appears that she chose to prosecute them to rile her base in order to raise money and votes," he told the Washington Free Beacon.
Schwartz said he filed the motion to remove Gardner from the case because he did not believe she could be unbiased in her examination of the case. He argued that a more objective prosecutor would drop the charges against Mark McCloskey.
"I want to get an unbiased prosecutor taking a fresh look at the evidence," he said. "It is my belief, as it has been from day one, that there is no crime and the evidence will indicate that."
Gardner's campaign began fundraising off of the case even before charges were announced. She linked the McCloskeys to her political opponents, including Missouri senator Josh Hawley (R.), Governor Mike Parson (R.), and President Trump.
In one email, the campaign wrote, "The Senator of Missouri … has requested that the DOJ launch an investigation against Kim for upholding the law — because he believes the couple's right to wave guns around at people who were not threatening them to be a civil right."
In another email, the campaign told constituents that Gardner "isn't afraid to stand up and hold those accountable who are perpetuating a system of systemic racism and police brutality," immediately before soliciting donations.
The judge removed Gardner's entire office from the case, reasoning that no assistant attorney under Gardner's supervision and employment could be effectively screened from the appearance of impropriety.
Gardner's office declined to comment on the ruling beyond a public statement that the prosecutor's office will "review the court order and determine our options."
Schwartz said he planned to file a similar motion to dismiss Gardner from the separate case against Patricia McCloskey that stemmed from the same incident.
"I would hope that [a new] prosecutor after taking a look at this will dismiss the charges against both of them," he told the Free Beacon.
Gardner charged Mark and Patricia McCloskey in July for brandishing firearms at a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters on their private street in St. Louis. Photos and videos of the incident went viral, and the couple, who argue they acted in self-defense, later joined a Trump campaign event in July and spoke at the Republican National Convention.


freebeacon--2020-12-11--U.S. Warns Iran Moving Closer to Nuclear Weapon

The United States on Friday warned Iran is moving closer to obtaining a nuclear weapon , citing a new law passed by the Islamic Republic ’ s ruling authority that orders the country to enrich uranium to levels needed to fuel a bomb .
Iranian leaders approved a new law last week that requires the country to stockpile large amounts of enriched uranium , the key component in a nuclear weapon .
Iran seeks to raise the level of its enriched stockpiles to around 20 percent , a threshold level typically used only for the purposes of a bomb , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of enrichment `` moves Iran closer to the ability to obtain a nuclear weapon , '' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on the new law .
`` Iran has provided no credible technical rationale for why it needs to move precipitously to enrich uranium to that level for any peaceful purpose . ''
Iran 's move is meant to pressure Western nations into granting Iran relief from crippling economic sanctions .
It also sets up a standoff with the incoming Biden administration , which has already expressed a willingness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contested nuclear program .
Pompeo , in his final weeks in office , urged Western powers to reject what he described as Iran ’ s `` nuclear extortion . ''
`` The international community must not reward the regime ’ s dangerous gamesmanship with economic appeasement , '' he said .
`` If the Iranian regime seeks sanctions relief and economic opportunity , then it must first demonstrate that it is serious about fundamentally changing its behavior by ceasing its nuclear extortion and negotiating a comprehensive deal that addresses its development of ballistic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unjust detention , and other destabilizing activities in the region . ''
Pompeo ’ s comments establish clear markers for the incoming Biden administration .
President Donald Trump abandoned the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 , demanding Iran cease its regional terror operations and come to the negotiating table without preconditions , such as sanctions relief .
Several European countries are still party to the deal , and the Biden administration will have a decision to make on whether it rolls back America ’ s tough sanctions regime as a way to entice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , head of the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ) , the world ’ s nuclear watchdog , expressed concern that Iran ’ s move will limit the organization ’ s ability to conduct oversight on the country ’ s program .
`` If implemented , these measures would be an even further deviation from the commitments that Iran entered into when it joined the agreement , '' Grossi told Sky News in a Thursday interview , his first comments on the matter since Iran blocked access to his inspectors and vowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its top nuclear scientists .
The IAEA has been locked in a standoff with Iran for months over its refusal to grant inspectors access to key nuclear sites believed to be housing the country ’ s illicit weapons research .
Iranian diplomat Kazem Gharibabadi , the regime 's representative to the Vienna-based International Organizations group , slammed the IAEA on Friday , saying that it has no right to offer an `` assessment or analysis '' of Iran ’ s nuclear work .
The murder late last month of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its weapons program , spurred Tehran ’ s decision to ramp up its illicit activities , such as stockpiling enriched uranium .
Iran has vowed to take revenge against Israel , which is widely suspected of orchestrating the attack that killed Fakhrizadeh .
`` The Islamic Republic will take harsh revenge on the Zionist regime , '' Major General Hossein Salami , commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps , was quoted as saying on Friday in Iran ’ s state-controlled press .
Iran also is pressuring its Arab neighbors to reject peace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peace agreements reached between Israel , the United Arab Emirates , Bahrain , and , most recently , Morocco as a threat to its regional hegemony .

The United States on Friday warned Iran is moving closer to obtaining a nuclear weapon, citing a new law passed by the Islamic Republic’s ruling authority that orders the country to enrich uranium to levels needed to fuel a bomb.
Iranian leaders approved a new law last week that requires the country to stockpile large amounts of enriched uranium, the key component in a nuclear weapon. Iran seeks to raise the level of its enriched stockpiles to around 20 percent, a threshold level typically used only for the purposes of a bomb, rather than nuclear energy.
This level of enrichment "moves Iran closer to the ability to obtain a nuclear weapon," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on the new law. "Iran has provided no credible technical rationale for why it needs to move precipitously to enrich uranium to that level for any peaceful purpose."
Iran's move is meant to pressure Western nations into granting Iran relief from crippling economic sanctions. It also sets up a standoff with the incoming Biden administration, which has already expressed a willingness to reopen negotiations with Iran over its contested nuclear program. Pompeo, in his final weeks in office, urged Western powers to reject what he described as Iran’s "nuclear extortion."
"The international community must not reward the regime’s dangerous gamesmanship with economic appeasement," he said. "If the Iranian regime seeks sanctions relief and economic opportunity, then it must first demonstrate that it is serious about fundamentally changing its behavior by ceasing its nuclear extortion and negotiating a comprehensive deal that addresses its development of ballistic missiles and its support for terrorism, unjust detention, and other destabilizing activities in the region."
Pompeo’s comments establish clear markers for the incoming Biden administration. President Donald Trump abandoned the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, demanding Iran cease its regional terror operations and come to the negotiating table without preconditions, such as sanctions relief. Several European countries are still party to the deal, and the Biden administration will have a decision to make on whether it rolls back America’s tough sanctions regime as a way to entice Iran back into talks.
Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the world’s nuclear watchdog, expressed concern that Iran’s move will limit the organization’s ability to conduct oversight on the country’s program. "If implemented, these measures would be an even further deviation from the commitments that Iran entered into when it joined the agreement," Grossi told Sky News in a Thursday interview, his first comments on the matter since Iran blocked access to his inspectors and vowed revenge for the assassination of one of its top nuclear scientists.
The IAEA has been locked in a standoff with Iran for months over its refusal to grant inspectors access to key nuclear sites believed to be housing the country’s illicit weapons research. Iranian diplomat Kazem Gharibabadi, the regime's representative to the Vienna-based International Organizations group, slammed the IAEA on Friday, saying that it has no right to offer an "assessment or analysis" of Iran’s nuclear work.
The murder late last month of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a leading Iranian nuclear scientist and architect of its weapons program, spurred Tehran’s decision to ramp up its illicit activities, such as stockpiling enriched uranium. Iran has vowed to take revenge against Israel, which is widely suspected of orchestrating the attack that killed Fakhrizadeh.
"The Islamic Republic will take harsh revenge on the Zionist regime," Major General Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was quoted as saying on Friday in Iran’s state-controlled press.
Iran also is pressuring its Arab neighbors to reject peace with Israel. Tehran views the historic peace agreements reached between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and, most recently, Morocco as a threat to its regional hegemony.


freebeacon--2020-12-11--Biden Urges Activists to Drop ‘Defund the Police’ Rhetoric Until After Georgia Runoffs

President-elect Joe Biden urged a group of activists to remain silent on his `` promise '' to `` change policing '' until after Georgia 's January Senate runoff elections , arguing that the push could alienate Peach State voters .
`` I also do n't think that we should get too far ahead of ourselves on dealing with police reform in that , because they 've already labeled us as being ‘ defund the police , ' '' Biden said of Republicans .
`` Anything we put forward in terms of the organizational structure to change policing—which I promise you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yourself and give me advice whether we should do that before January 5th , because that 's how they beat the living hell out of us across the country , saying that we 're talking about defunding the police . ''
`` How much do we push between now and January 5th—we need those two seats—about police reform ? ''
Biden went on to ask .
Biden 's comments came during a Tuesday call with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris , NAACP president Derrick Johnson , and other progressive activists , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week ahead of Biden 's first runoff campaign stop with Democratic Senate hopefuls Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock .
While Ossoff and Warnock have recently distanced themselves from calls to defund police , both Democrats have expressed hostility toward law enforcement in the past .
Ossoff argued that funding for police departments has to be `` on the line '' in June and highlighted the need to hold `` entire departments accountable . ''
Warnock , meanwhile , said that many police officers behave like gangsters and thugs in a series of 2015 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his self-described `` running mate , '' claiming that ads targeting Warnock 's sermons are `` nonsense '' and `` fear-mongering . ''
Both Ossoff and Warnock campaign staffers have also backed the call to defund police .
Ossoff campaign deputy press secretary Rhyan Lake in May donated to bail out `` Defund the Police '' rioters in Minnesota .
Lake went on to share a tweet from far-left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) defending the defund police movement .
In addition , Warnock senior adviser Dasheika Ruffin argued that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' policy in a June tweet , claiming that the movement is `` about a complete reimagining of law enforcement in the United States . ''
Ossoff and Warnock have received extensive support from the Black Lives Matter PAC , which calls to end federal funding for police and `` close all federal prisons . ''
The pair of Democrats will face Republican senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler , respectively , in the state 's January 5 runoffs .

President-elect Joe Biden urged a group of activists to remain silent on his "promise" to "change policing" until after Georgia's January Senate runoff elections, arguing that the push could alienate Peach State voters.
"I also don't think that we should get too far ahead of ourselves on dealing with police reform in that, because they've already labeled us as being 'defund the police,'" Biden said of Republicans. "Anything we put forward in terms of the organizational structure to change policing—which I promise you will occur, promise you—just think to yourself and give me advice whether we should do that before January 5th, because that's how they beat the living hell out of us across the country, saying that we're talking about defunding the police."
"How much do we push between now and January 5th—we need those two seats—about police reform?" Biden went on to ask.
Biden's comments came during a Tuesday call with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, NAACP president Derrick Johnson, and other progressive activists, according to the Intercept. The call also came one week ahead of Biden's first runoff campaign stop with Democratic Senate hopefuls Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.
While Ossoff and Warnock have recently distanced themselves from calls to defund police, both Democrats have expressed hostility toward law enforcement in the past. Ossoff argued that funding for police departments has to be "on the line" in June and highlighted the need to hold "entire departments accountable." Warnock, meanwhile, said that many police officers behave like gangsters and thugs in a series of 2015 sermons. Ossoff defended the comments of his self-described "running mate," claiming that ads targeting Warnock's sermons are "nonsense" and "fear-mongering."
Both Ossoff and Warnock campaign staffers have also backed the call to defund police. Ossoff campaign deputy press secretary Rhyan Lake in May donated to bail out "Defund the Police" rioters in Minnesota. Lake went on to share a tweet from far-left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) defending the defund police movement. In addition, Warnock senior adviser Dasheika Ruffin argued that defunding police is not a "radical" policy in a June tweet, claiming that the movement is "about a complete reimagining of law enforcement in the United States."
Ossoff and Warnock have received extensive support from the Black Lives Matter PAC, which calls to end federal funding for police and "close all federal prisons." The pair of Democrats will face Republican senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, respectively, in the state's January 5 runoffs.


freebeacon--2020-12-11--Terrorist Released from U.S. Prison Due to Coronavirus

A terrorist who collaborated with Osama bin Laden was released early from U.S. prison due to coronavirus fears , the New York Post reported Friday .
Adel Abdel Bary , who was responsible for the 1998 al-Qaeda bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania , is too obese to complete his sentence , a U.S. district court ruled in October .
`` Defendant 's obesity and somewhat advanced age make COVID-19 significantly more risky to him than to the average person , '' wrote U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan when granting the terrorist 's release .
In 2012 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United Kingdom to face trial for his role in the African embassy bombings , which killed more than 200 people , including 12 Americans .
The terrorist , known as `` Bin Laden 's spokesman in Europe , '' received a 25-year sentence in 2015 .
Because of a plea agreement , however , Bary 's release was slated for Oct. 28 .
The district court 's ruling freed him weeks earlier , on Oct. 9 .
U.S. authorities transferred Bary to British custody on Wednesday .
The convicted terrorist will now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apartment .
Edith Bartley , whose father and brother died in the al-Qaeda bombings , said that Bary is `` a person who can still do harm in the world . ''
`` Just serving a sentence does n't mean that a person has been rehabilitated , does n't mean that their core thinking has changed , '' Bartley told the New York Times .
In recent months , thousands of U.S. prisoners have earned early releases , supposedly to stop the spread of the coronavirus .
Just last month , New Jersey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 2,000 inmates over COVID fears .
Earlier this year , New York City cited the pandemic as justification for releasing 2,500 prisoners from Rikers Island .

A terrorist who collaborated with Osama bin Laden was released early from U.S. prison due to coronavirus fears, the New York Post reported Friday.
Adel Abdel Bary, who was responsible for the 1998 al-Qaeda bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, is too obese to complete his sentence, a U.S. district court ruled in October.
"Defendant's obesity and somewhat advanced age make COVID-19 significantly more risky to him than to the average person," wrote U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan when granting the terrorist's release.
In 2012, the United States extradited Bary from the United Kingdom to face trial for his role in the African embassy bombings, which killed more than 200 people, including 12 Americans. The terrorist, known as "Bin Laden's spokesman in Europe," received a 25-year sentence in 2015. Because of a plea agreement, however, Bary's release was slated for Oct. 28. The district court's ruling freed him weeks earlier, on Oct. 9.
U.S. authorities transferred Bary to British custody on Wednesday. The convicted terrorist will now return to his family and million-dollar London apartment.
Bary's son, Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary, is a former ISIS militant.
Edith Bartley, whose father and brother died in the al-Qaeda bombings, said that Bary is "a person who can still do harm in the world."
"Just serving a sentence doesn't mean that a person has been rehabilitated, doesn't mean that their core thinking has changed," Bartley told the New York Times.
In recent months, thousands of U.S. prisoners have earned early releases, supposedly to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Just last month, New Jersey governor Phil Murphy (D.) released more than 2,000 inmates over COVID fears. Earlier this year, New York City cited the pandemic as justification for releasing 2,500 prisoners from Rikers Island.


freebeacon--2020-12-11--U.S. Moves Forward With Jerusalem Embassy Construction Amid Questions About Biden’s Israel Policy

The United States is expanding its embassy in Jerusalem , according to a new State Department notification transmitted to Congress and obtained by the Washington Free Beacon .
The move comes amid speculation that incoming president Joe Biden , who has said he will not move the embassy , will reverse other Trump-administration policies in the region , such as recognizing Israeli sovereignty in the Golan Heights , cutting off aid to the Palestinian government , and withdrawing from the landmark nuclear agreement with Iran .
The Dec. 3 notification , which was submitted to Congress as part of reporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1995 , reveals the United States plans to expand its office space in Jerusalem in 2021 and will continue its search for `` a permanent embassy office building '' in the holy city .
Trump moved the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May 2018 , bucking years of conventional American foreign policy by recognizing the city as Israel ’ s official capital .
Given that incoming president Joe Biden has indicated that he will leave the embassy in Jerusalem , Trump 's embassy move could be a lasting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out .
Other Trump policies may not share the same fate .
Biden has shown an openness to adopting harsher policies toward Israel .
He discussed the possibility of opening a U.S. consulate in east Jerusalem , giving legitimacy to Palestinian claims on this portion of the city .
It is also likely a Biden administration will resume aid to the Palestinian government , which was cut by Trump amid revelations the Palestinians were using aid funds to pay convicted terrorists and their families .
Further , Biden wants to reenter the 2015 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government has rejected over concerns it enabled Iran to fund its regional terror proxy groups .
Anti-Israel organizations are pushing Biden ’ s transition team to tap scores of officials who are critical of the United States ' close relationship with the world ’ s only Jewish state .
And some of the more radical elements of the Democratic Party have called for conditioning U.S. aid to Israel on territorial concessions to the Palestinians in a bid to restart peace talks .
It also remains to be seen how Biden will handle the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israeli sovereignty in the Golan Heights area bordering Syria .
Unless Biden intervenes in the first days of his presidency , the State Department will complete the construction of an expanded office space near its temporary embassy facility in Jerusalem , according to a copy of the State Department ’ s progress report to Congress .
The expansion will add new workspaces , as well as a Controlled Access Area to its current facility .
As the United States finishes this construction , it is assessing potential sites for a permanent Jerusalem embassy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and security .
Biden will enter office amid concerns about his future dealings with Israel .
Israelis say they expect `` a downturn in relations with the United States '' once Biden enters office , according to a new poll published in the Jewish press .
Around 74 percent of those polled said they believed Biden would be `` less friendly '' than Trump .
Biden ’ s relationship with Israel has not always been good .
In 2010 , during a trip to the Jewish state as vice president , Biden became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s decision to build hundreds of new homes in east Jerusalem , which the Obama administration considered disputed territory .
Biden was reportedly livid with the Israeli government for announcing the construction while he was in the country .
In 2016 , as the Obama administration was leaving office , Biden was forced to deny accusations he lobbied foreign nations to support an anti-Israel resolution at the United Nations .
One regional expert said it will be difficult for the Biden administration to walk back Trump ’ s decision to back Israeli sovereignty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be hard to reverse course on the Golan , given that Syria is barely a state , '' said Jonathan Schanzer , a Middle East expert and vice president for research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies .
`` But it is likely that the new administration will restore funding and recognition to the Palestinians .
The Biden team is also signaling a possible return to the [ Iran nuclear deal ] , which would be the move that would prompt the most alarm in Israel . ''

The United States is expanding its embassy in Jerusalem, according to a new State Department notification transmitted to Congress and obtained by the Washington Free Beacon. The move comes amid speculation that incoming president Joe Biden, who has said he will not move the embassy, will reverse other Trump-administration policies in the region, such as recognizing Israeli sovereignty in the Golan Heights, cutting off aid to the Palestinian government, and withdrawing from the landmark nuclear agreement with Iran.
The Dec. 3 notification, which was submitted to Congress as part of reporting requirements under the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, reveals the United States plans to expand its office space in Jerusalem in 2021 and will continue its search for "a permanent embassy office building" in the holy city. Trump moved the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May 2018, bucking years of conventional American foreign policy by recognizing the city as Israel’s official capital.
Given that incoming president Joe Biden has indicated that he will leave the embassy in Jerusalem, Trump's embassy move could be a lasting victory for the administration on its way out.
Other Trump policies may not share the same fate. Biden has shown an openness to adopting harsher policies toward Israel. He discussed the possibility of opening a U.S. consulate in east Jerusalem, giving legitimacy to Palestinian claims on this portion of the city. It is also likely a Biden administration will resume aid to the Palestinian government, which was cut by Trump amid revelations the Palestinians were using aid funds to pay convicted terrorists and their families. Further, Biden wants to reenter the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which the Israeli government has rejected over concerns it enabled Iran to fund its regional terror proxy groups.
Anti-Israel organizations are pushing Biden’s transition team to tap scores of officials who are critical of the United States' close relationship with the world’s only Jewish state. And some of the more radical elements of the Democratic Party have called for conditioning U.S. aid to Israel on territorial concessions to the Palestinians in a bid to restart peace talks. It also remains to be seen how Biden will handle the Trump administration’s landmark recognition of Israeli sovereignty in the Golan Heights area bordering Syria.
Unless Biden intervenes in the first days of his presidency, the State Department will complete the construction of an expanded office space near its temporary embassy facility in Jerusalem, according to a copy of the State Department’s progress report to Congress. The expansion will add new workspaces, as well as a Controlled Access Area to its current facility. As the United States finishes this construction, it is assessing potential sites for a permanent Jerusalem embassy that can provide the appropriate work space and security.
Biden will enter office amid concerns about his future dealings with Israel. Israelis say they expect "a downturn in relations with the United States" once Biden enters office, according to a new poll published in the Jewish press. Around 74 percent of those polled said they believed Biden would be "less friendly" than Trump.
Biden’s relationship with Israel has not always been good. In 2010, during a trip to the Jewish state as vice president, Biden became entangled in a dispute over Israel’s decision to build hundreds of new homes in east Jerusalem, which the Obama administration considered disputed territory. Biden was reportedly livid with the Israeli government for announcing the construction while he was in the country.
In 2016, as the Obama administration was leaving office, Biden was forced to deny accusations he lobbied foreign nations to support an anti-Israel resolution at the United Nations.
One regional expert said it will be difficult for the Biden administration to walk back Trump’s decision to back Israeli sovereignty in the Golan Heights.
"It would be hard to reverse course on the Golan, given that Syria is barely a state," said Jonathan Schanzer, a Middle East expert and vice president for research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "But it is likely that the new administration will restore funding and recognition to the Palestinians. The Biden team is also signaling a possible return to the [Iran nuclear deal], which would be the move that would prompt the most alarm in Israel."


freebeacon--2020-12-11--Trump and Other Real Heroes Snubbed as Biden, Harris Share ‘Person of the Year’ Honors

For the fourth consecutive year , President Donald J. Trump was robbed of his rightful place on the cover of TIME magazine 's `` Person of the Year '' issue .
The once-relevant publication did n't have to choose Trump , who won the honor after defeating Hillary Clinton in 2016 and has deserved it every year of his presidency .
There was an abundance of other worthy heroes the magazine could have celebrated for their achievements in 2020 .
What about the frontline health care workers who , like Trump , put their lives on the line every day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the scientists who , under Trump 's leadership , invented a revolutionary vaccine in record time ?
What about Trump 's children , who supported him every step of the way ?
What about the troops ?
TIME decided to go in a different direction , however , as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were collectively named Person of the Year for `` changing America 's story , '' whatever that means .
It 's not like they did anything heroic .
Trump , on the other hand , personally defeated COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invented a vaccine for everyone else .
Biden 's achievements in 2020 , physical and otherwise , are underwhelming by comparison .
He had cosmetic surgery , struggled to overcome his cognitive decline , and broke his foot while attempting to play with his dog .
If he can survive for a few more weeks , he will become the oldest president to be sworn into office .
Harris , on the other hand , wowed the media in 2020 by wearing trendy shoes .
She is the first former lover of 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Willie Brown to win a national election .
She will also be the second person of color to serve as vice president .
And journalists wonder why so many people think they 're out of touch .

For the fourth consecutive year, President Donald J. Trump was robbed of his rightful place on the cover of TIME magazine's "Person of the Year" issue.
The once-relevant publication didn't have to choose Trump, who won the honor after defeating Hillary Clinton in 2016 and has deserved it every year of his presidency. There was an abundance of other worthy heroes the magazine could have celebrated for their achievements in 2020.
What about the frontline health care workers who, like Trump, put their lives on the line every day to combat a global pandemic? What about the scientists who, under Trump's leadership, invented a revolutionary vaccine in record time? What about Trump's children, who supported him every step of the way? What about the troops?
TIME decided to go in a different direction, however, as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were collectively named Person of the Year for "changing America's story," whatever that means. It's not like they did anything heroic. Trump, on the other hand, personally defeated COVID-19 within his own body, and practically invented a vaccine for everyone else.
Biden's achievements in 2020, physical and otherwise, are underwhelming by comparison. He had cosmetic surgery, struggled to overcome his cognitive decline, and broke his foot while attempting to play with his dog. If he can survive for a few more weeks, he will become the oldest president to be sworn into office.
Harris, on the other hand, wowed the media in 2020 by wearing trendy shoes. She is the first former lover of 2019 Washington Free Beacon Man of the Year Willie Brown to win a national election. She will also be the second person of color to serve as vice president.
And journalists wonder why so many people think they're out of touch.


freebeacon--2020-12-11--Priest Prevails Over California as Judge Suspends COVID Restrictions

A priest locked in an extended struggle with the state of California won a major victory Thursday after a judge temporarily suspended coronavirus restrictions on in-person worship .
A California superior court ruled that state restrictions constituted `` a total and complete ban of indoor religious services '' in many parts of the state .
Judge Gregory Pulskamp suspended the restrictions pending a full trial .
`` These restrictions are arguably harsher than any other set of restrictions considered by the courts in all of the cases cited by the parties in this action , '' Pulskamp wrote in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successfully argued that the Supreme Court 's recent decisions in favor of religious institutions meant that California 's restrictions could not stand .
Religious institutions could not be treated differently than secular essential businesses , they said .
`` Our challenge is to any restrictions on houses of worship that are not applied to essential businesses , '' Burfitt 's attorney Christopher Ferrara from the Thomas More Society told the judge during oral arguments .
`` The Supreme Court heard all those same arguments and were not persuaded that they had anything to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ houses of worship . ''
The victory adds to a string of triumphs for religious institutions taking state leaders to court over coronavirus restrictions .
The judge 's decision drew heavily on a Supreme Court ruling in favor of a coalition of Orthodox Jewish groups and an appeals court decision in favor of a California Pentecostal church .
Both decisions found that strict coronavirus restrictions on religious groups are unconstitutional and state authorities could not treat indoor religious gatherings more harshly than similar indoor secular gatherings .
`` It doesn ’ t matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a problem especially for people of a certain age subset , '' Ferrara said .
`` That is beside the point .
The Supreme Court made that clear .
No matter the severity of the pandemic , religious activity must be given the same treatment as secular activity . ''
The Newsom administration , which did not respond to a request for comment , argued that restrictions are based on risk , not social value .
The state 's attorney said that other activities are not being favored over worship but are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` different risk profile . ''
`` The plaintiff is a priest , not an epidemiologist , so he can not fairly judge the spread of asymptomatic spread , '' the attorney said , pointing out that other churches would experience the same problem if the state removed all limits on indoor worship .
Los Angeles County fined Burfitt 's church in October for allegedly violating COVID restrictions after local authorities saw individuals leaving the church dressed in prayer veils .
The church also claimed that agents returned days after levying the fine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

A priest locked in an extended struggle with the state of California won a major victory Thursday after a judge temporarily suspended coronavirus restrictions on in-person worship.
A California superior court ruled that state restrictions constituted "a total and complete ban of indoor religious services" in many parts of the state. Judge Gregory Pulskamp suspended the restrictions pending a full trial.
"These restrictions are arguably harsher than any other set of restrictions considered by the courts in all of the cases cited by the parties in this action," Pulskamp wrote in the decision.
Attorneys for Father Trevor Burfitt successfully argued that the Supreme Court's recent decisions in favor of religious institutions meant that California's restrictions could not stand. Religious institutions could not be treated differently than secular essential businesses, they said.
"Our challenge is to any restrictions on houses of worship that are not applied to essential businesses," Burfitt's attorney Christopher Ferrara from the Thomas More Society told the judge during oral arguments. "The Supreme Court heard all those same arguments and were not persuaded that they had anything to do with the constitutionality of restrictions on houses of worship."
The victory adds to a string of triumphs for religious institutions taking state leaders to court over coronavirus restrictions. The judge's decision drew heavily on a Supreme Court ruling in favor of a coalition of Orthodox Jewish groups and an appeals court decision in favor of a California Pentecostal church. Both decisions found that strict coronavirus restrictions on religious groups are unconstitutional and state authorities could not treat indoor religious gatherings more harshly than similar indoor secular gatherings.
"It doesn’t matter how severe the pandemic is. It is a problem especially for people of a certain age subset," Ferrara said. "That is beside the point. The Supreme Court made that clear. No matter the severity of the pandemic, religious activity must be given the same treatment as secular activity."
The Newsom administration, which did not respond to a request for comment, argued that restrictions are based on risk, not social value. The state's attorney said that other activities are not being favored over worship but are being treated differently because they have a "different risk profile."
"The plaintiff is a priest, not an epidemiologist, so he cannot fairly judge the spread of asymptomatic spread," the attorney said, pointing out that other churches would experience the same problem if the state removed all limits on indoor worship.
Los Angeles County fined Burfitt's church in October for allegedly violating COVID restrictions after local authorities saw individuals leaving the church dressed in prayer veils. The church also claimed that agents returned days after levying the fine to threaten the church with more citations.


freebeacon--2020-12-11--Revenge Porn Dem Slapped With Restraining Order for Stalking Opponent’s Campaign Manager

The 20-year-old Kansas Democratic state representative-elect who has been dogged with allegations of revenge porn was slapped with a temporary @ @ @ @ @ a political opponent ’ s campaign manager said he stalked her , tried to get @ @ @ @ @ her messages she viewed as threatening .
Wyandotte County District Judge Kathleen Lynch ordered Aaron @ @ @ @ @ is scheduled to join the Kansas legislature in January , to cease all attempts to @ @ @ @ @ the campaign manager of a Democrat Coleman defeated in the primary .
Judge Lynch said @ @ @ @ @ of evidence to show that Coleman 's harassment rose to the level of banning him @ @ @ @ @ faces a video hearing on Dec. 16 that will determine if Judge Lynch ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Despite Coleman ’ s admission that he published revenge porn , his veiled death threat @ @ @ @ @ governor , and his sexual harassment of teen girls , he won his November election @

The 20-year-old Kansas Democratic state representative-elect who has been dogged with allegations of revenge porn was slapped with a temporary anti-stalking order this week after a political opponent’s campaign manager said he stalked her, tried to get her evicted, and sent her messages she viewed as threatening.
Wyandotte County District Judge Kathleen Lynch ordered Aaron Coleman, a Democrat who is scheduled to join the Kansas legislature in January, to cease all attempts to communicate with Brandie Armstrong, the campaign manager of a Democrat Coleman defeated in the primary.
Judge Lynch said Armstrong presented a sufficient amount of evidence to show that Coleman's harassment rose to the level of banning him from contacting her.
Coleman faces a video hearing on Dec. 16 that will determine if Judge Lynch’s ban stays in place. Despite Coleman’s admission that he published revenge porn, his veiled death threat against Kansas’s Democratic governor, and his sexual harassment of teen girls, he won his November election.


freebeacon--2020-12-11--Second Amendment Advocates Sound Alarm Over HHS Pick

Second Amendment advocates say Joe Biden 's pick to head Health and Human Services could use the position to endanger the rights of American gun owners .
The National Rifle Association and others are raising alarm that California attorney general Xavier Becerra ( D. ) , Biden 's HHS pick , could use the massive federal agency to curtail gun rights .
Becerra has promoted and defended California 's strict gun-control measures—including an AR-15 ban , ammunition magazine confiscation , a restrictive gun-carry permit law , and a one-of-a-kind ammunition background-check law .
`` Xavier Becerra has made a career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun owners in California and disregarding their constitutional rights , '' Amy Hunter , a spokeswoman for the NRA , told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` In a cabinet position , he ’ ll do the same for all of America . ''
Attorney General Becerra 's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Second Amendment advocates ' concerns were heightened by comments made by Stef Feldman , national policy director of the Biden campaign , on Tuesday .
She said Biden plans to use `` existing executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bold changes '' on a number of issues , including `` gun violence . ''
She said `` experts '' working for the campaign have identified ways Biden can act on gun control and other major issues without action from Congress .
`` On a range of issues there 's really a lot you can do through guidance and executive action , '' Feldman said at a Georgetown University event first reported by the Washington Examiner .
The National Shooting Sports Foundation said Becerra is likely to aggressively pursue any gun-control agenda handed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It expects the Democrats to use executive agencies to push gun restrictions that they are unable to push through Congress .
`` We saw in the Obama/Biden administration that they used [ the Department of Housing and Urban Development ] and HHS to deny people their Second Amendment rights , '' Mark Oliva , a spokesman for the group , told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` There 's no avenue of government authority that they will not exploit . ''
The Biden transition team did not respond to a request for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama 's effort to use Social Security evaluations to prohibit certain seniors from owning guns in 2015 , as well as his executive order telling HHS to change the process for adding certain records to the background-check system in 2016 .
NSSF 's legal team expects the Biden administration to take an expansive approach to executive authority .
General counsel Larry Keane said in an op-ed that he fears Becerra could use health concerns as a pretext to implement gun regulations instigated by Biden executive orders .
`` The problem with Attorney General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency is that any issue he finds politically unfavorable can be labeled a public health crisis and be used to justify unprecedented restrictions on constitutionally protected individual liberties , '' he said .
`` That nomination would put a firebrand gun-control collaborator at the helm of the nation ’ s leading health organization delivering services and support of scientific advances in medicine , public health , and social services .
This is a harbinger that the federal office that employs 80,000 and has a $ 1.3 trillion budget will be used to push @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Second Amendment advocates say Joe Biden's pick to head Health and Human Services could use the position to endanger the rights of American gun owners.
The National Rifle Association and others are raising alarm that California attorney general Xavier Becerra (D.), Biden's HHS pick, could use the massive federal agency to curtail gun rights. Becerra has promoted and defended California's strict gun-control measures—including an AR-15 ban, ammunition magazine confiscation, a restrictive gun-carry permit law, and a one-of-a-kind ammunition background-check law.
"Xavier Becerra has made a career out of curtailing the rights of law-abiding gun owners in California and disregarding their constitutional rights," Amy Hunter, a spokeswoman for the NRA, told the Washington Free Beacon. "In a cabinet position, he’ll do the same for all of America."
Attorney General Becerra's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Second Amendment advocates' concerns were heightened by comments made by Stef Feldman, national policy director of the Biden campaign, on Tuesday. She said Biden plans to use "existing executive authority" to "make big, bold changes" on a number of issues, including "gun violence." She said "experts" working for the campaign have identified ways Biden can act on gun control and other major issues without action from Congress.
"On a range of issues there's really a lot you can do through guidance and executive action," Feldman said at a Georgetown University event first reported by the Washington Examiner.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation said Becerra is likely to aggressively pursue any gun-control agenda handed down by Biden once he takes office. It expects the Democrats to use executive agencies to push gun restrictions that they are unable to push through Congress.
"We saw in the Obama/Biden administration that they used [the Department of Housing and Urban Development] and HHS to deny people their Second Amendment rights," Mark Oliva, a spokesman for the group, told the Washington Free Beacon. "There's no avenue of government authority that they will not exploit."
The Biden transition team did not respond to a request for comment.
Oliva pointed to President Barack Obama's effort to use Social Security evaluations to prohibit certain seniors from owning guns in 2015, as well as his executive order telling HHS to change the process for adding certain records to the background-check system in 2016. NSSF's legal team expects the Biden administration to take an expansive approach to executive authority. General counsel Larry Keane said in an op-ed that he fears Becerra could use health concerns as a pretext to implement gun regulations instigated by Biden executive orders.
"The problem with Attorney General Becerra leading the nation’s health agency is that any issue he finds politically unfavorable can be labeled a public health crisis and be used to justify unprecedented restrictions on constitutionally protected individual liberties," he said. "That nomination would put a firebrand gun-control collaborator at the helm of the nation’s leading health organization delivering services and support of scientific advances in medicine, public health, and social services. This is a harbinger that the federal office that employs 80,000 and has a $1.3 trillion budget will be used to push an anti-gun ideology over science."


freebeacon--2020-12-11--AOC: Dems Get Liberal Wishlist With Wins in Georgia

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) on Thursday pushed Democratic voters to turn out in Georgia to boost long-sought liberal objectives like the $ 15 minimum wage and universal health care .
`` If we win in Georgia , we can help transition this country to a $ 15 minimum wage ; we can make sure that we expand people 's access to health care , '' she said , adding that Americans deserved a steady flow of stimulus checks as a response to the coronavirus pandemic .
For years Ocasio-Cortez has backed increasing the federal minimum wage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has the support of President-elect Joe Biden but could kill as many as two million jobs .
She has long criticized moderates on policy in the Democratic Party , favoring instead big-ticket liberal proposals , such as Medicare for All and the Green New Deal—each of which would cost U.S. taxpayers trillions .
While Georgia Senate candidate Jon Ossoff ( D. ) has expressed admiration for the progressive goals of Medicare for All and the Green New Deal , he has avoided endorsing them during his run .
Fellow Democratic candidate Raphael Warnock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) on Thursday pushed Democratic voters to turn out in Georgia to boost long-sought liberal objectives like the $15 minimum wage and universal health care.
"If we win in Georgia, we can help transition this country to a $15 minimum wage; we can make sure that we expand people's access to health care," she said, adding that Americans deserved a steady flow of stimulus checks as a response to the coronavirus pandemic.
. @aoc on IG Live tonight said if Democrats win Georgia then they will be able to pass her radical healthcare and economic agenda. pic.twitter.com/3PyjiHdAL0 — John Gage (@johnrobertgage) December 11, 2020
For years Ocasio-Cortez has backed increasing the federal minimum wage to $15, a goal that has the support of President-elect Joe Biden but could kill as many as two million jobs. She has long criticized moderates on policy in the Democratic Party, favoring instead big-ticket liberal proposals, such as Medicare for All and the Green New Deal—each of which would cost U.S. taxpayers trillions.
While Georgia Senate candidate Jon Ossoff (D.) has expressed admiration for the progressive goals of Medicare for All and the Green New Deal, he has avoided endorsing them during his run. Fellow Democratic candidate Raphael Warnock has likewise dodged questions about both of them.