freebeacon--2020-07-02--Biden Trots Out Small Business Owner Who Got Thousands in Gov’t Assistance to Argue Trump Isn’t Help

Biden Trots Out Small Business Owner Who Got Thousands in Gov’t Assistance to Argue Trump Isn’t Helping Small Business

A new campaign video from Joe Biden features a small business owner who says the Trump administration did nothing to help her during the coronavirus pandemic .
Unmentioned is that she received thousands through the administration 's Paycheck Protection Program .
Tiffany Easley , who owns NV My Eyewear in Philadelphia , received a forgivable $ 27,000 loan during the first phase of the program in April , she disclosed to local news outlet BillyPenn .
She disclosed the same to Biden during a June 11 roundtable he held in Philadelphia , telling him her major concern was creating safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back into the store .
But the disclosure is missing from the video testimonial Easley provided for the Biden campaign , in which she says the administration made `` everything worse . ''
`` I had to permanently close one location and furlough my employees , '' Easley says in the video .
`` But what 's worse , is that this president seemed to make everything else worse .
Donald Trump and his administration left the American people behind , the people he is supposed to protect and serve .
Small businesses—they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that 's why I ’ m with Joe . ''
Neither the Biden campaign nor Easley responded to a request for comment .
The new ad comes as the Biden campaign works to capitalize on the economic downturn brought by the coronavirus , which took away one of Trump 's biggest reelection talking points .
New economic data released Thursday showed a sharp decline in unemployment and the addition of 4.8 million new jobs—indicating that the economy is rebounding faster than experts predicted .
The Trump campaign called the new Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` undermine confidence '' in the ongoing economic recovery , which it says was fueled by the success of PPP .
`` The first round of President Trump 's incredibly successful Paycheck Protection Program processed more than 14 years ’ worth of loans in less than 14 days , '' said Ali Pardo , the campaign 's deputy communications director .
`` Thanks to this fast surge of support for small business owners like Tiffany , tens of millions of workers continued to receive paychecks .
The fact is , President Trump is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before and there ’ s nothing Joe Biden can do to stop it . ''
Alfredo Ortiz , president of the Job Creators Network , told the Washington Free Beacon the video should be taken down by the Biden campaign for `` false advertising . ''
`` It ignores the success of the PPP , which has helped roughly five million small business owners , including the one featured in the ad itself , '' Ortiz said .
`` The fact that the Biden campaign could n't even find a small business owner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the incompetence of the Biden brand , and just how expansive President Trump 's relief efforts have been . ''
Administered through the federal government 's Small Business Administration , PPP gave small businesses loans that were forgivable if the money was used to pay staff .
When Easley received the PPP loan , in addition to smaller grants from local relief funds , she said she was optimistic about her business .
`` I was surprised , because if you listen to the news , they were so quick to say all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in April .
`` I have a good feeling , I think we 'll be ok .
I just think it 's gon na take some time to get there . ''
Adam Michel , a senior policy analyst for the Heritage Foundation , pushed back against the claim that the government left businesses behind during the pandemic .
`` The federal coronavirus response has been nothing short of extraordinary , '' Michel said in an email .
`` More than 70 percent of small businesses have received financial support from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other provisions , like delayed tax filing deadlines , two-year delay in employer payroll tax payments , and expansions of tax loss rules , '' Michel said , adding that support for such policies has been bipartisan .
Though there were disagreements over specifics of the PPP program , it was approved by Congress in nearly unanimous votes .
Biden has worked to downplay the impact of the program , claiming that funds didn ’ t end up in the hands of small business owners like Easley .
Fact checkers have rated his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the claim Biden would be a `` partner '' for small businesses if elected , pointing to his promise to repeal tax cuts passed during Trump 's first term .
`` Far from being a ‘ partner ' in the White House , Joe Biden would be a major opponent for small businesses , '' said Ortiz .
`` Biden has called for repealing President Trump 's tax cuts , which helped generate the strongest small business economy in recent history before the pandemic hit . ''
Grover Norquist , president of Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Biden ’ s proposals would help small businesses .
`` There is nothing that Biden has proposed or endorsed that would give a small business more opportunities to succeed , keep more of their income , or more freedom to operate , '' Norquist said .
Michel explained that Biden 's proposed changes to the tax code would in fact hurt Easley 's own small business .
`` The 2017 tax cuts were a boon for all Americans , including small businesses .
Most small businesses pay their taxes as individuals and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates were lowered across the board , '' Michel said .
`` There was also a new 20 percent pass-through business deduction that benefits most small and medium-sized businesses . ''
`` To the extent Biden wants to repeal these features of the tax cuts , he will hurt small businesses like NV My Eyewear , '' Michel said .

A new campaign video from Joe Biden features a small business owner who says the Trump administration did nothing to help her during the coronavirus pandemic. Unmentioned is that she received thousands through the administration's Paycheck Protection Program.
Tiffany Easley, who owns NV My Eyewear in Philadelphia, received a forgivable $27,000 loan during the first phase of the program in April, she disclosed to local news outlet BillyPenn. She disclosed the same to Biden during a June 11 roundtable he held in Philadelphia, telling him her major concern was creating safe conditions for her furloughed staff to come back into the store.
But the disclosure is missing from the video testimonial Easley provided for the Biden campaign, in which she says the administration made "everything worse."
"I had to permanently close one location and furlough my employees," Easley says in the video. "But what's worse, is that this president seemed to make everything else worse. Donald Trump and his administration left the American people behind, the people he is supposed to protect and serve. Small businesses—they need a partner in the White House, and that's why I’m with Joe."
Small businesses are the backbone of communities across our nation, and we need to do so much more to help them. Donald Trump may have forgotten about them — but I never will. pic.twitter.com/RDYKzt1Qc1 — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 1, 2020
Neither the Biden campaign nor Easley responded to a request for comment.
The new ad comes as the Biden campaign works to capitalize on the economic downturn brought by the coronavirus, which took away one of Trump's biggest reelection talking points. New economic data released Thursday showed a sharp decline in unemployment and the addition of 4.8 million new jobs—indicating that the economy is rebounding faster than experts predicted.
The Trump campaign called the new Biden video a "dishonest" attempt to "undermine confidence" in the ongoing economic recovery, which it says was fueled by the success of PPP.
"The first round of President Trump's incredibly successful Paycheck Protection Program processed more than 14 years’ worth of loans in less than 14 days," said Ali Pardo, the campaign's deputy communications director. "Thanks to this fast surge of support for small business owners like Tiffany, tens of millions of workers continued to receive paychecks. The fact is, President Trump is restoring the historically strong economy he built before and there’s nothing Joe Biden can do to stop it."
Alfredo Ortiz, president of the Job Creators Network, told the Washington Free Beacon the video should be taken down by the Biden campaign for "false advertising."
"It ignores the success of the PPP, which has helped roughly five million small business owners, including the one featured in the ad itself," Ortiz said. "The fact that the Biden campaign couldn't even find a small business owner who hadn't received PPP funds demonstrates the incompetence of the Biden brand, and just how expansive President Trump's relief efforts have been."
Administered through the federal government's Small Business Administration, PPP gave small businesses loans that were forgivable if the money was used to pay staff. When Easley received the PPP loan, in addition to smaller grants from local relief funds, she said she was optimistic about her business.
"I was surprised, because if you listen to the news, they were so quick to say all the money was gone," Easley said in April. "I have a good feeling, I think we'll be ok. I just think it's gonna take some time to get there."
Adam Michel, a senior policy analyst for the Heritage Foundation, pushed back against the claim that the government left businesses behind during the pandemic.
"The federal coronavirus response has been nothing short of extraordinary," Michel said in an email.
"More than 70 percent of small businesses have received financial support from the PPP loans and have benefited from various other provisions, like delayed tax filing deadlines, two-year delay in employer payroll tax payments, and expansions of tax loss rules," Michel said, adding that support for such policies has been bipartisan.
Though there were disagreements over specifics of the PPP program, it was approved by Congress in nearly unanimous votes. Biden has worked to downplay the impact of the program, claiming that funds didn’t end up in the hands of small business owners like Easley. Fact checkers have rated his claims false.
Ortiz took issue with the claim Biden would be a "partner" for small businesses if elected, pointing to his promise to repeal tax cuts passed during Trump's first term.
"Far from being a 'partner' in the White House, Joe Biden would be a major opponent for small businesses," said Ortiz. "Biden has called for repealing President Trump's tax cuts, which helped generate the strongest small business economy in recent history before the pandemic hit."
Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, argued that none of Biden’s proposals would help small businesses.
"There is nothing that Biden has proposed or endorsed that would give a small business more opportunities to succeed, keep more of their income, or more freedom to operate," Norquist said.
Michel explained that Biden's proposed changes to the tax code would in fact hurt Easley's own small business.
"The 2017 tax cuts were a boon for all Americans, including small businesses. Most small businesses pay their taxes as individuals and thus received a tax cut because tax rates were lowered across the board," Michel said. "There was also a new 20 percent pass-through business deduction that benefits most small and medium-sized businesses."
"To the extent Biden wants to repeal these features of the tax cuts, he will hurt small businesses like NV My Eyewear," Michel said.


freebeacon--2020-07-02--Clinton Paramour Arrested in FBI Sex Trafficking Probe

Ghislaine Maxwell , the British socialite and alleged lover of former president Bill Clinton , was arrested Thursday on charges related to the myriad sex crimes of Clinton associate Jeffrey Epstein , the wealthy financier and pedophile presumed to have been murdered by Hillary .
Maxwell , who attended the wedding of former first daughter Chelsea Clinton in 2010 , was taken into FBI custody in New Hampshire after months on the run from authorities .
She is accused of grooming underage girls for sexual abuse by Epstein , her former boyfriend who committed `` suicide '' in August 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bill Clinton traveled with Epstein aboard the financier 's private jet , nicknamed the `` Lolita Express . ''
The former president maintained a close relationship with the pedophile because he was `` getting it on '' with Maxwell , per the reporting of acclaimed investigative journalists Alana Goodman and Daniel Halper in their recently published book , A Convenient Death : The Mysterious Demise of Jeffrey Epstein .
Clinton , however , has insisted he was hanging out with Epstein for other reasons .
`` Donald Trump has at last locked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Halper told the Free Beacon in an exclusive statement .
`` The long arc of the moral universe is bending toward justice indeed . ''
Epstein 's legendary depravity was aided and abetted by the national media 's refusal to report on the numerous allegations against the pedophile .
His arrest in 2019 was prompted by a series of articles published by the Miami Herald , which was pursuing a Trump-related angle to the story .

Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite and alleged lover of former president Bill Clinton, was arrested Thursday on charges related to the myriad sex crimes of Clinton associate Jeffrey Epstein, the wealthy financier and pedophile presumed to have been murdered by Hillary.
Maxwell, who attended the wedding of former first daughter Chelsea Clinton in 2010, was taken into FBI custody in New Hampshire after months on the run from authorities. She is accused of grooming underage girls for sexual abuse by Epstein, her former boyfriend who committed "suicide" in August 2019 after being charged with numerous sex crimes.
Bill Clinton traveled with Epstein aboard the financier's private jet, nicknamed the "Lolita Express." The former president maintained a close relationship with the pedophile because he was "getting it on" with Maxwell, per the reporting of acclaimed investigative journalists Alana Goodman and Daniel Halper in their recently published book, A Convenient Death: The Mysterious Demise of Jeffrey Epstein. Clinton, however, has insisted he was hanging out with Epstein for other reasons.
"Donald Trump has at last locked up Bill Clinton's lover," Mr. Halper told the Free Beacon in an exclusive statement. "The long arc of the moral universe is bending toward justice indeed."
Epstein's legendary depravity was aided and abetted by the national media's refusal to report on the numerous allegations against the pedophile. His arrest in 2019 was prompted by a series of articles published by the Miami Herald, which was pursuing a Trump-related angle to the story.


freebeacon--2020-07-02--China Never Reported Existence of Coronavirus to World Health Organization

Contrary to claims from both Chinese officials and the World Health Organization , China did not report the existence of the coronavirus in late 2019 , according to a WHO timeline tracking the spread of the virus .
Rather , international health officials discovered the virus through information posted to a U.S. website .
The quiet admission from the international health organization , which posted an `` updated '' timeline to its website this week , flies in the face of claims from some of its top officials , including WHO director general Tedros Adhanom , who maintained for months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the emerging sickness .
China and its allies at the WHO insisted in multiple interviews and press conferences that China came to the health organization with information about the virus .
This is now known to be false .
The WHO ’ s backtracking lends credibility to a recent congressional investigation that determined China concealed information about the virus and did not initially inform the WHO , as it was required to do .
The WHO ’ s updated timeline , posted online this week , now states that officials first learned about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , through information posted on a U.S. website by doctors working in Wuhan , where the virus first emerged .
This contradicts the agency ’ s initial timeline , which said that China first presented this information at that date .
That initial timeline stated that the `` Wuhan Municipal Health Commission , China , reported a cluster of cases of pneumonia in Wuhan , Hubei Province '' on Dec. 31 .
These claims were carried in numerous American media outlets that relied on the WHO ’ s inaccurate timeline , including CNN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media also claimed for months that the communist regime informed the WHO on or around Dec. 31 .
In recent days , however , Chinese officials have dropped that talking point .
Rep. Michael McCaul ( Texas ) , lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a member of Congress ’ s China Task Force , was one of the first lawmakers to expose China ’ s lies about reporting the virus .
An interim congressional report on the virus ’ s origins published last month first disclosed the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from online postings , not China .
`` I ’ m glad to see the WHO and the Chinese Communist Party have both read my interim report on the origins of the pandemic and are finally admitting to the world the truth—the CCP never reported the virus outbreak to the WHO in violation of WHO regulation , '' McCaul told the Washington Free Beacon in a statement .
`` The question now is whether the CCP will continue their false propaganda campaign that continues to claim they warned the world , or whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work with the world health community to get to the bottom of this deadly pandemic . ''
McCaul ’ s report makes clear that WHO director general Adhanom parroted China ’ s claim about self-reporting the virus .
`` Director General Tedros actively engaged in an effort to defend the CCP ’ s leadership from criticism , negatively impacting the world ’ s understanding of the virus and hampering the global response effort , '' the report concluded .
The WHO ’ s initial timeline `` leaves out the fact that the WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the WHO headquarters in Geneva—not PRC health authorities , '' according to McCaul ’ s findings , which are now verified by the WHO ’ s revised timeline .
While initial reports of the virus did in fact originate in Wuhan , WHO officials in its headquarters found the information on an American early-warning site .
`` Director General Tedros ’ s comments seem to suggest that Wuhan or the PRC informed the WHO of the outbreak , which is untrue , '' according to the congressional report .

Contrary to claims from both Chinese officials and the World Health Organization, China did not report the existence of the coronavirus in late 2019, according to a WHO timeline tracking the spread of the virus. Rather, international health officials discovered the virus through information posted to a U.S. website.
The quiet admission from the international health organization, which posted an "updated" timeline to its website this week, flies in the face of claims from some of its top officials, including WHO director general Tedros Adhanom, who maintained for months that China had informed his organization about the emerging sickness.
China and its allies at the WHO insisted in multiple interviews and press conferences that China came to the health organization with information about the virus. This is now known to be false. The WHO’s backtracking lends credibility to a recent congressional investigation that determined China concealed information about the virus and did not initially inform the WHO, as it was required to do.
The WHO’s updated timeline, posted online this week, now states that officials first learned about the virus on Dec. 31, 2019, through information posted on a U.S. website by doctors working in Wuhan, where the virus first emerged. This contradicts the agency’s initial timeline, which said that China first presented this information at that date.
That initial timeline stated that the "Wuhan Municipal Health Commission, China, reported a cluster of cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, Hubei Province" on Dec. 31.
These claims were carried in numerous American media outlets that relied on the WHO’s inaccurate timeline, including CNN and Axios.
Chinese officials and state-controlled media also claimed for months that the communist regime informed the WHO on or around Dec. 31. In recent days, however, Chinese officials have dropped that talking point.
Rep. Michael McCaul (Texas), lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a member of Congress’s China Task Force, was one of the first lawmakers to expose China’s lies about reporting the virus. An interim congressional report on the virus’s origins published last month first disclosed the fact that the WHO found out about the virus from online postings, not China.
"I’m glad to see the WHO and the Chinese Communist Party have both read my interim report on the origins of the pandemic and are finally admitting to the world the truth—the CCP never reported the virus outbreak to the WHO in violation of WHO regulation," McCaul told the Washington Free Beacon in a statement. "The question now is whether the CCP will continue their false propaganda campaign that continues to claim they warned the world, or whether they will come clean and begin to work with the world health community to get to the bottom of this deadly pandemic."
McCaul’s report makes clear that WHO director general Adhanom parroted China’s claim about self-reporting the virus.
"Director General Tedros actively engaged in an effort to defend the CCP’s leadership from criticism, negatively impacting the world’s understanding of the virus and hampering the global response effort," the report concluded.
The WHO’s initial timeline "leaves out the fact that the WHO China Country Office was 'informed' by the WHO headquarters in Geneva—not PRC health authorities," according to McCaul’s findings, which are now verified by the WHO’s revised timeline.
While initial reports of the virus did in fact originate in Wuhan, WHO officials in its headquarters found the information on an American early-warning site.
"Director General Tedros’s comments seem to suggest that Wuhan or the PRC informed the WHO of the outbreak, which is untrue," according to the congressional report.


freebeacon--2020-07-02--U.S. Files Suit to Seize Gasoline in Four Iran Tankers Headed to Venezuela

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – U.S. prosecutors late on Wednesday filed a lawsuit to seize the gasoline aboard four tankers that Iran is shipping to Venezuela , the latest attempt by the Trump administration to increase economic pressure on the two U.S. foes .
The government of Venezuelan socialist President Nicolas Maduro has flaunted the tankers , which departed last month , to show it remains unbowed by U.S. pressure .
The United States , has been pressing for Maduro ’ s ouster with a campaign of diplomatic and punitive measures , including sanctions on state oil company PDVSA .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a member of OPEC , have grown acute due to the U.S. sanctions , and the country has undergone an economic collapse .
Still , Maduro has held on , and the failure to unseat him has been source of frustration for U.S. President Donald Trump , some American officials have said privately .
In the civil-forfeiture complaint , the federal prosecutors aim to stop delivery of Iranian gasoline aboard the Liberia-flagged Bella and the Bering , and the Pandi and the Luna , according to the lawsuit , first reported in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deter future deliveries .
The complaint , filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia , also aims to stop the flow of revenues from petroleum sales to Iran , which Washington has sanctioned over its nuclear program , ballistic missiles , and influence across the Middle East .
Tehran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes .
Zia Faruqui and two other assistant U.S. attorneys allege in the lawsuit that Iranian businessman Mahmoud Madanipour , affiliated with Iran ’ s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps , or IRGC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documents about the tankers to evade U.S. sanctions .
The lawsuit says that since September 2018 , the Revolutionary Guards ’ elite Quds Force has moved oil through a sanctioned shipping network involving dozens of ship managers , vessels and facilitators .
Profits from the shipments support the `` full range of nefarious activities , including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery , support for terrorism , and a variety of human rights abuses , at home and abroad , '' the lawsuit said .
The ships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to evade sanctions , the lawsuit said .
The Pandi , for example , engaged in such a transfer in Port Khalid in UAE to load the Iranian gasoline surreptitiously , it said .

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors late on Wednesday filed a lawsuit to seize the gasoline aboard four tankers that Iran is shipping to Venezuela, the latest attempt by the Trump administration to increase economic pressure on the two U.S. foes.
The government of Venezuelan socialist President Nicolas Maduro has flaunted the tankers, which departed last month, to show it remains unbowed by U.S. pressure. The United States, has been pressing for Maduro’s ouster with a campaign of diplomatic and punitive measures, including sanctions on state oil company PDVSA.
Gasoline shortages in Venezuela, like Iran a member of OPEC, have grown acute due to the U.S. sanctions, and the country has undergone an economic collapse. Still, Maduro has held on, and the failure to unseat him has been source of frustration for U.S. President Donald Trump, some American officials have said privately.
In the civil-forfeiture complaint, the federal prosecutors aim to stop delivery of Iranian gasoline aboard the Liberia-flagged Bella and the Bering, and the Pandi and the Luna, according to the lawsuit, first reported in the Wall Street Journal. It also seeks to deter future deliveries.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, also aims to stop the flow of revenues from petroleum sales to Iran, which Washington has sanctioned over its nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and influence across the Middle East. Tehran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
Zia Faruqui and two other assistant U.S. attorneys allege in the lawsuit that Iranian businessman Mahmoud Madanipour, affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, helped arrange the shipments by changing documents about the tankers to evade U.S. sanctions.
The lawsuit says that since September 2018, the Revolutionary Guards’ elite Quds Force has moved oil through a sanctioned shipping network involving dozens of ship managers, vessels and facilitators.
Profits from the shipments support the "full range of nefarious activities, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, support for terrorism, and a variety of human rights abuses, at home and abroad," the lawsuit said.
The ships carrying Iranian gasoline engaged in ship-to-ship transfers to evade sanctions, the lawsuit said. The Pandi, for example, engaged in such a transfer in Port Khalid in UAE to load the Iranian gasoline surreptitiously, it said.
(Reporting by Timothy Gardner and Daphne Psaledakis in Washington and Luc Cohen in New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis)


freebeacon--2020-07-02--Five Million Americans Back to Work in June

Nearly five million Americans returned to work last month , new data released Thursday show , with unemployment numbers outpacing economists ' projections for the second month in a row .
The overall unemployment rate fell to 11.1 percent in June , the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported , with drops in unemployment across all sexes and ethnic groups .
Those hopeful topline figures , however , obscured what Adam Ozimek , chief economist at freelancing platform Upwork , told the Washington Free Beacon were `` ominous signs below the surface . ''
In particular , while 4.8 million people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thanks largely to the coronavirus crisis ) returned to work in June , the number of individuals reporting a permanent job loss rose by 588,000 to 2.9 million—a sign of more American businesses folding amid the ongoing shutdown .
`` Given that demand remains so weak in leisure and hospitality and other sectors , and so many small businesses remain short on cash , '' Ozimek said , `` we 're going to see continued small business failure in coming months and that means more permanent job loss . ''
That underlying ambiguity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of congressional negotiations in the coming month , as Republicans and Democrats spar over whether to extend , modify , or let lapse the massive expansion of unemployment insurance passed in March .
It will also stunt the jobs report 's political usefulness , constraining both President Donald Trump 's ability to tout it and Democratic nominee Joe Biden 's leverage for criticism .
June 's employment gains mark the second consecutive month of rebound following April , which saw the single largest spike in unemployment on record—the effective end of the Trump-era @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to work was driven by the leisure and hospitality industries , previously battered by the coronavirus shutdown , which recovered 2.1 million jobs last month alone .
That trend likely reflects the reopening of restaurants and bars as many states lift their coronavirus quarantine orders .
Ernie Tedeschi , an economist with macro advisory firm Evercore ISI , told the Free Beacon that the overall increase represents `` two consecutive months of historically large jobs growth . ''
Average job growth in May and June—3.8 million added jobs a month— has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected , '' Tedeschi said . ''
President Donald Trump heralded the results Thursday morning , describing it as `` spectacular news for American workers and American families , and for our country as a whole . ''
`` Today 's announcement proves that our economy is roaring back , '' Trump said .
`` It 's coming back extremely strong . ''
At the same time , the new job numbers offer cause for caution .
Tedeschi noted that unemployment still remains elevated above both where it was in February , before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even than its worst point during the Great Recession .
May and June 's job increases have only recovered one third of jobs lost during the recession .
Recent surges in coronavirus cases in major states like Arizona , Texas , and California are also leading governors to reengage some economic restrictions .
That , Tedeschi cautioned , means that `` the July jobs report could be far weaker , or even negative again . ''
The overall jobs increase also obscures a deeper disparity .
The coronavirus shutdown prompted many small business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowing employees to go on expanded unemployment with the expectation that they would return to work when restrictions were lifted .
Most of the recovery in jobs is attributable to those returning workers—but hundreds of thousands of other workers report having lost their jobs permanently—a sour sign for the long-run health of the economy .
`` There are now 1.6 million more who say they are permanently unemployed than pre-crisis , '' Ozimek said .
`` This means 1.6 million new jobs must be created by expanding or new businesses , and this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice president for economic policy at the Tax Foundation , told the Free Beacon that he finds this increase particularly worrying , suggesting it augurs `` the beginning stages of a major recession . ''
`` That it 's at the beginning means there is still time to head this off , but it also tells us that the underlying shock from the shutdowns is still rippling through the economy , '' Smith said .
How , or whether , to head off that longer-term economic damage will be at the top of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ round of coronavirus stimulus .
The addition of $ 600 per person per month in unemployment insurance , established by the CARES Act in March , is scheduled to run out at the end of July .
Democrats have loudly advocated for extending the benefit , while Republicans are divided over a reduced extension or cutting the funding altogether amid concerns that it is stymieing job growth .
Those decisions—and the economic situation overall—are likely to play a major role in November 's general election , where Trump had hoped to run on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The state of the economy in April through June has historically played a major role in presidents ' reelection chances , political scientist Alan Abramowitz noted in March , with a one-point increase in second-quarter real GDP predicting a gain of 20 electoral votes for incumbents running for reelection since 1945 .

Nearly five million Americans returned to work last month, new data released Thursday show, with unemployment numbers outpacing economists' projections for the second month in a row.
The overall unemployment rate fell to 11.1 percent in June, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported, with drops in unemployment across all sexes and ethnic groups. Those hopeful topline figures, however, obscured what Adam Ozimek, chief economist at freelancing platform Upwork, told the Washington Free Beacon were "ominous signs below the surface."
In particular, while 4.8 million people who had been temporarily laid off (thanks largely to the coronavirus crisis) returned to work in June, the number of individuals reporting a permanent job loss rose by 588,000 to 2.9 million—a sign of more American businesses folding amid the ongoing shutdown.
"Given that demand remains so weak in leisure and hospitality and other sectors, and so many small businesses remain short on cash," Ozimek said, "we're going to see continued small business failure in coming months and that means more permanent job loss."
That underlying ambiguity is likely to be at the heart of congressional negotiations in the coming month, as Republicans and Democrats spar over whether to extend, modify, or let lapse the massive expansion of unemployment insurance passed in March. It will also stunt the jobs report's political usefulness, constraining both President Donald Trump's ability to tout it and Democratic nominee Joe Biden's leverage for criticism.
June's employment gains mark the second consecutive month of rebound following April, which saw the single largest spike in unemployment on record—the effective end of the Trump-era job boom.
Much of June's return to work was driven by the leisure and hospitality industries, previously battered by the coronavirus shutdown, which recovered 2.1 million jobs last month alone. That trend likely reflects the reopening of restaurants and bars as many states lift their coronavirus quarantine orders.
Ernie Tedeschi, an economist with macro advisory firm Evercore ISI, told the Free Beacon that the overall increase represents "two consecutive months of historically large jobs growth." Average job growth in May and June—3.8 million added jobs a month— has been "faster than many economists including me expected," Tedeschi said."
President Donald Trump heralded the results Thursday morning, describing it as "spectacular news for American workers and American families, and for our country as a whole."
"Today's announcement proves that our economy is roaring back," Trump said. "It's coming back extremely strong."
At the same time, the new job numbers offer cause for caution. Tedeschi noted that unemployment still remains elevated above both where it was in February, before the coronavirus crisis, and remains higher even than its worst point during the Great Recession. May and June's job increases have only recovered one third of jobs lost during the recession.
Recent surges in coronavirus cases in major states like Arizona, Texas, and California are also leading governors to reengage some economic restrictions. That, Tedeschi cautioned, means that "the July jobs report could be far weaker, or even negative again."
The overall jobs increase also obscures a deeper disparity. The coronavirus shutdown prompted many small business owners to close their doors temporarily, allowing employees to go on expanded unemployment with the expectation that they would return to work when restrictions were lifted. Most of the recovery in jobs is attributable to those returning workers—but hundreds of thousands of other workers report having lost their jobs permanently—a sour sign for the long-run health of the economy.
"There are now 1.6 million more who say they are permanently unemployed than pre-crisis," Ozimek said. "This means 1.6 million new jobs must be created by expanding or new businesses, and this takes time."
Karl Smith, vice president for economic policy at the Tax Foundation, told the Free Beacon that he finds this increase particularly worrying, suggesting it augurs "the beginning stages of a major recession."
"That it's at the beginning means there is still time to head this off, but it also tells us that the underlying shock from the shutdowns is still rippling through the economy," Smith said.
How, or whether, to head off that longer-term economic damage will be at the top of lawmakers' minds as they weigh another round of coronavirus stimulus. The addition of $600 per person per month in unemployment insurance, established by the CARES Act in March, is scheduled to run out at the end of July. Democrats have loudly advocated for extending the benefit, while Republicans are divided over a reduced extension or cutting the funding altogether amid concerns that it is stymieing job growth.
Those decisions—and the economic situation overall—are likely to play a major role in November's general election, where Trump had hoped to run on the uber-hot economy he oversaw through February. The state of the economy in April through June has historically played a major role in presidents' reelection chances, political scientist Alan Abramowitz noted in March, with a one-point increase in second-quarter real GDP predicting a gain of 20 electoral votes for incumbents running for reelection since 1945.


freebeacon--2020-07-02--In Setback for Democrats, Supreme Court Will Hear Case On Sealed Mueller Evidence

The Supreme Court agreed Thursday to hear the Trump administration 's bid to shield secret grand jury materials from House Democrats , all but ensuring that those records wo n't feature in the presidential election .
The High Court previously blocked House Democrats from viewing the materials while it considered the administration 's appeal , and that order will remain in place until Thursday 's case is decided .
Arguments will likely be scheduled near the end of the year , and a decision will follow some months later , long after the November balloting .
House Democrats say former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the prospect that President Donald Trump made false or misleading statements in written answers to questions from the special counsel .
Some of those questions concern WikiLeaks and the publication of Clinton campaign chief John Podesta 's emails .
Though Mueller declined to reach a conclusion about obstruction of justice on Trump 's part , congressional investigators claim redacted grand jury records could cast new light on the president 's actions .
Grand jury materials are protected by secrecy rules .
The legal question in the case is whether Congress can obtain records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exception to secrecy that permits release `` in connection with a judicial proceeding . ''
House Democrats say that exception applies here because the Mueller records will help them decide whether to bring new articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump .
`` The redacted grand-jury material bears on whether the president committed impeachable offenses by obstructing the special counsel ’ s investigation , '' congressional lawyers wrote in a legal filing before the Court .
`` The assertion is belied by subsequent developments : The House already has impeached the president , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and neither respondent nor the House has provided any indication that a second impeachment is imminent , '' Solicitor General Noel Francisco countered in a May legal brief .
The administration also says that an impeachment inquiry does not count as a `` judicial proceeding '' and that the case presents thorny questions about the balance of power between the branches of government , warranting the Court 's intervention .
In October 2019 , U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ordered the Justice Department to release the redacted portions of Mueller ’ s two-volume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as any transcripts or exhibits those sections reference .
A federal appeals court ruled for House Democrats thereafter .
`` Courts must take care not to second-guess the manner in which the House plans to proceed with its impeachment investigation or interfere with the House ’ s sole power of impeachment , '' Judge Judith Rogers wrote in a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C .
Circuit siding with House Democrats .
Rogers elsewhere wrote that federal courts allowed congressional investigators to access secret grand jury files @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occasions in the past .
Judge Neomi Rao dissented .
In the coming days , the Supreme Court is also expected to rule on a set of subpoenas from House investigators for the president 's personal and professional financial records .
The case is No .
19-1328 Department of Justice v. House Committee on the Judiciary .

The Supreme Court agreed Thursday to hear the Trump administration's bid to shield secret grand jury materials from House Democrats, all but ensuring that those records won't feature in the presidential election.
The High Court previously blocked House Democrats from viewing the materials while it considered the administration's appeal, and that order will remain in place until Thursday's case is decided. Arguments will likely be scheduled near the end of the year, and a decision will follow some months later, long after the November balloting.
House Democrats say former special counsel Robert Mueller's report raises the prospect that President Donald Trump made false or misleading statements in written answers to questions from the special counsel. Some of those questions concern WikiLeaks and the publication of Clinton campaign chief John Podesta's emails. Though Mueller declined to reach a conclusion about obstruction of justice on Trump's part, congressional investigators claim redacted grand jury records could cast new light on the president's actions.
Grand jury materials are protected by secrecy rules. The legal question in the case is whether Congress can obtain records from the Mueller grand jury under an exception to secrecy that permits release "in connection with a judicial proceeding." House Democrats say that exception applies here because the Mueller records will help them decide whether to bring new articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.
"The redacted grand-jury material bears on whether the president committed impeachable offenses by obstructing the special counsel’s investigation," congressional lawyers wrote in a legal filing before the Court.
"The assertion is belied by subsequent developments: The House already has impeached the president, the Senate already has acquitted him, and neither respondent nor the House has provided any indication that a second impeachment is imminent," Solicitor General Noel Francisco countered in a May legal brief.
The administration also says that an impeachment inquiry does not count as a "judicial proceeding" and that the case presents thorny questions about the balance of power between the branches of government, warranting the Court's intervention.
In October 2019, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ordered the Justice Department to release the redacted portions of Mueller’s two-volume report that House Democrats are seeking, as well as any transcripts or exhibits those sections reference. A federal appeals court ruled for House Democrats thereafter.
"Courts must take care not to second-guess the manner in which the House plans to proceed with its impeachment investigation or interfere with the House’s sole power of impeachment," Judge Judith Rogers wrote in a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit siding with House Democrats.
Rogers elsewhere wrote that federal courts allowed congressional investigators to access secret grand jury files in connection with impeachment proceedings on five occasions in the past. Judge Neomi Rao dissented.
In the coming days, the Supreme Court is also expected to rule on a set of subpoenas from House investigators for the president's personal and professional financial records.
The case is No. 19-1328 Department of Justice v. House Committee on the Judiciary.


freebeacon--2020-07-02--D.C. Black Lives Matter Protest Turns Anti-Semitic

A Black Lives Matter march in Washington , D.C. , on Wednesday turned anti-Semitic as protesters began accusing the Jewish state of murdering children .
`` Israel , we know you ; you murder children too , '' protesters chanted at one point , following this with alternating chants of `` Black Lives Matter ! ''
and `` Palestinian Lives Matter ! ''
Christian Tabash , a rising senior at Harvard , led the march from the Lincoln Memorial to Capitol Hill , according to the Washington Examiner .
Tabash said during the protest that Palestinian liberation was `` intrinsically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He also said `` American capitalism '' and the state of Israel were founded on the repression of minorities .
Poetry readings took place as part of the protest , with some of the poems invoking anti-Semitic stereotypes .
One such poem referred to Israel as the `` puppet master of continents . ''
Jewish groups criticized the Black Lives Matter movement in 2016 for endorsing the BDS movement and calling Israel an `` apartheid state '' and accusing it of `` genocide . ''
Following coverage of the protest by the Examiner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden to condemn the anti-Semitic chants by protesters .
`` We are horrified by this vicious hate-mongering by Black Lives Matter protesters .
The Black Lives Matter charter is filled with anti-Israel and antisemitic lies .
It is deeply disturbing , but not surprising , to hear those sentiments chanted in the streets of Washington , DC , '' they said in a statement .
`` We call on former Vice President Joe Biden , as the standard bearer of the Democrat Party , to condemn these antisemitic chants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wing of the Democratic Party has threatened to withhold U.S. security assistance to Israel if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu moves forward with a plan to annex parts of the disputed West Bank .
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) has led this effort , touting the support she has from groups that are prominent leaders of the BDS movement .

A Black Lives Matter march in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday turned anti-Semitic as protesters began accusing the Jewish state of murdering children.
"Israel, we know you; you murder children too," protesters chanted at one point, following this with alternating chants of "Black Lives Matter!" and "Palestinian Lives Matter!"
Christian Tabash, a rising senior at Harvard, led the march from the Lincoln Memorial to Capitol Hill, according to the Washington Examiner.
Tabash said during the protest that Palestinian liberation was "intrinsically tied to Black Lives Matter." He also said "American capitalism" and the state of Israel were founded on the repression of minorities.
It was only a matter of time before the DC protests turned anti-Semitic. pic.twitter.com/YTbwwGuOYh — Nic Rowan (@NicXTempore) July 1, 2020
Poetry readings took place as part of the protest, with some of the poems invoking anti-Semitic stereotypes. One such poem referred to Israel as the "puppet master of continents."
Jewish groups criticized the Black Lives Matter movement in 2016 for endorsing the BDS movement and calling Israel an "apartheid state" and accusing it of "genocide."
Following coverage of the protest by the Examiner, the Republican Jewish Coalition called on presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden to condemn the anti-Semitic chants by protesters.
"We are horrified by this vicious hate-mongering by Black Lives Matter protesters. The Black Lives Matter charter is filled with anti-Israel and antisemitic lies. It is deeply disturbing, but not surprising, to hear those sentiments chanted in the streets of Washington, DC," they said in a statement. "We call on former Vice President Joe Biden, as the standard bearer of the Democrat Party, to condemn these antisemitic chants by BLM protesters."
The left wing of the Democratic Party has threatened to withhold U.S. security assistance to Israel if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu moves forward with a plan to annex parts of the disputed West Bank. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) has led this effort, touting the support she has from groups that are prominent leaders of the BDS movement.


freebeacon--2020-07-02--Job Growth Accelerates in June

Job Growth Accelerates in June

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – The U.S. economy created jobs at a record clip in June as more restaurants and bars resumed operations , further evidence that the COVID-19 recession was probably over , though a surge in cases of the coronavirus threatens the fledgling recovery .
Nonfarm payrolls increased by 4.8 million jobs in June , the Labor Department ’ s closely watched monthly employment showed on Thursday .
That was the most since the government started keeping records in 1939 .
Payrolls rebounded 2.699 million in May .
The job gains added to a stream of data , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rebound in activity .
But the reopening of businesses after being shuttered in mid-March has unleashed a wave of coronavirus infections in large parts of the country , including the populous California , Florida and Texas .
Several states have been scaling back or pausing reopenings since late June and sent some workers home .
The impact of these decisions did not show up in the employment data as the government surveyed businesses in the middle of the month .
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell this week acknowledged the rebound in activity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important new phase and ( had ) done so sooner than expected . ''
But Powell cautioned the outlook `` is extraordinarily uncertain '' and would depend on `` our success in containing the virus . ''
The unemployment rate fell to 11.1 % last month from 13.3 % in May .
Employment is increasing largely as companies rehire workers laid off when non-essential businesses like restaurants , bars , gyms and dental offices among others were closed to slow the spread of COVID-19 .
Economists have attributed the burst in job gains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Program , which gives businesses loans that can be partially forgiven if used for wages .
Those funds are drying up .
In an economy that had already fallen into recession as of February , many companies , including some not initially impacted by lockdown measures , are struggling with weak demand .
Economists and industry watchers say this , together with the exhaustion of the PPP loans , has triggered a new wave of layoffs that is keeping weekly new applications for unemployment benefits extraordinarily high .
In another report on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for state unemployment benefits totaled a seasonally adjusted 1.427 million in the week ended June 27 , down from 1.482 million in the prior week .

By Lucia Mutikani
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy created jobs at a record clip in June as more restaurants and bars resumed operations, further evidence that the COVID-19 recession was probably over, though a surge in cases of the coronavirus threatens the fledgling recovery.
Nonfarm payrolls increased by 4.8 million jobs in June, the Labor Department’s closely watched monthly employment showed on Thursday. That was the most since the government started keeping records in 1939. Payrolls rebounded 2.699 million in May.
The job gains added to a stream of data, including consumer spending, showing a sharp rebound in activity. But the reopening of businesses after being shuttered in mid-March has unleashed a wave of coronavirus infections in large parts of the country, including the populous California, Florida and Texas.
Several states have been scaling back or pausing reopenings since late June and sent some workers home. The impact of these decisions did not show up in the employment data as the government surveyed businesses in the middle of the month.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell this week acknowledged the rebound in activity, saying the economy had "entered an important new phase and (had) done so sooner than expected." But Powell cautioned the outlook "is extraordinarily uncertain" and would depend on "our success in containing the virus."
The unemployment rate fell to 11.1% last month from 13.3% in May. Employment is increasing largely as companies rehire workers laid off when non-essential businesses like restaurants, bars, gyms and dental offices among others were closed to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Economists have attributed the burst in job gains to the government’s Paycheck Protection Program, which gives businesses loans that can be partially forgiven if used for wages. Those funds are drying up.
In an economy that had already fallen into recession as of February, many companies, including some not initially impacted by lockdown measures, are struggling with weak demand.
Economists and industry watchers say this, together with the exhaustion of the PPP loans, has triggered a new wave of layoffs that is keeping weekly new applications for unemployment benefits extraordinarily high.
In another report on Thursday, the Labor Department said initial claims for state unemployment benefits totaled a seasonally adjusted 1.427 million in the week ended June 27, down from 1.482 million in the prior week.
(Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)


freebeacon--2020-07-03--Federal Workers Accuse Biden Labor Ally of Sexual Misconduct, Racial Discrimination

Federal workers are accusing powerful Democratic labor allies of gross sexual misconduct , ranging from the use of a company limo to visit male prostitutes to licking the ear of a subordinate .
A new lawsuit accuses 16 senior officials of the American Federation of Government Employees ( AFGE ) , a public-sector union with more than 300,000 members , of either directly perpetuating racial and sexual misconduct or helping to cover up of such incidents .
The lawsuit contains new details about former union president Jeffrey David Cox 's abuse of power as the top honcho of the union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company limo to travel to strip clubs or procure male prostitutes .
It also accuses his successor , Dr. Everett Kelley , of shielding Cox and other union officials accused of sexual abuse and harassment .
The members claim leadership frequently ignored allegations or reappointed accused officials to their posts shortly after they were removed .
`` The toxic environment that existed under Cox continues unabated after his departure and under Defendants ' leadership , '' the lawsuit says .
AFGE did not respond to a request for comment .
The union is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It endorsed Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Cox served in several posts in the Obama administration .
The union also provided an early boost to Biden 's campaign , hosting the former vice president at an event one week before he officially announced his candidacy .
AFGE will most likely endorse the vice president for the 2020 election since its internal poll showed that a majority of its members support Biden over President Donald Trump .
The government union is also a prodigious campaign donor , funneling more than $ 1.1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee during the 2018 election cycle , according to the Center for Responsive Politics .
The group also spent $ 1.8 million on lobbying in 2019 , advocating for pro-labor legislation .
AFGE has faced a # MeToo reckoning in recent months after dozens of current and former staffers and members accused Cox of multiple incidents of sexual assault , including one incident in which Cox licked the ear of a subordinate .
The union has since distanced itself from its former president and tapped Kelley to replace him in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual impropriety leveled against additional top union members , the new lawsuit could throw a wrench into AFGE 's plans to move forward .
A prior independent investigation into Cox 's conduct—commissioned by AFGE—largely let Kelley off the hook .
The lawsuit , however , contests the investigation 's conclusion , accusing Kelley of routinely covering up Cox 's troubling conduct .
For example , when Cox inappropriately touched a male pool attendant at a hotel during an AFGE conference in 2017 , Kelley did some `` fast talking '' to convince the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay , according to a sworn statement provided by Pam Baca , an AFGE official .
Cox suffered no repercussions for his sexual misconduct other than being forced to stay in his hotel room for the duration of the conference .
`` Defendant Kelley did not appear to be alarmed or even surprised by the … sexual misconduct complaint , '' according to the lawsuit .
`` In fact , Defendant Kelley 's response to Ms. Baca concerning the news was casual and even jocular . ''
Kelley also allegedly tolerated sexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 , an AFGE trustee removed Jamie Dukes , vice president of a local union for a Georgia Army base , after learning that Dukes sent pictures of his genitalia to female union members .
Kelley ordered Dukes 's reinstatement one month later , allowing him to continue his predatory behaviors , according to the lawsuit .
The lawsuit also brings to light new racial discrimination involving Cox and other senior union officials .
Cox repeatedly referred to his Pakistani limo driver as a `` sand n— '' and drunkenly told his African-American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ folks are going to hang you black people , '' according to the legal document .
The problem went beyond Cox , however .
When a local union president called the union 's highest-ranking black official a `` n— , '' the senior officials of the union `` took no remedial or disciplinary action '' against the president .
Instead , they attempted to discipline the black official for `` overreacting to being called a slur . ''
Cox 's rampant abuse of power was an `` open secret '' shared by all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the lawsuit .
Cox , however , prevented senior officials from speaking out `` through a combination of cronyism and fear—rewarding his allies with bonuses and/or extravagant trips at union members ' expense , while threatening to destroy anyone who challenged his authority , '' according to the lawsuit .
The plaintiffs add that the officials continue to protect Cox , criticizing them for signing a secret separation agreement that allegedly paid Cox to walk away from the union .
The plaintiffs in the case are demanding thousands of dollars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anguish and deleterious health effects of the union official 's actions .
They also request that the court establish an `` independent , neutral federal monitor '' to oversee a series of antidiscrimination and anticorruption reforms for the union .
`` Defendants are responsible for Cox 's actions that were the direct and proximate cause of the racial discrimination , pain and suffering and damages suffered by Plaintiffs , '' the complaint says .
The case is now before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia .

Federal workers are accusing powerful Democratic labor allies of gross sexual misconduct, ranging from the use of a company limo to visit male prostitutes to licking the ear of a subordinate.
A new lawsuit accuses 16 senior officials of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), a public-sector union with more than 300,000 members, of either directly perpetuating racial and sexual misconduct or helping to cover up of such incidents.
The lawsuit contains new details about former union president Jeffrey David Cox's abuse of power as the top honcho of the union, alleging that he frequently used the company limo to travel to strip clubs or procure male prostitutes. It also accuses his successor, Dr. Everett Kelley, of shielding Cox and other union officials accused of sexual abuse and harassment. The members claim leadership frequently ignored allegations or reappointed accused officials to their posts shortly after they were removed.
"The toxic environment that existed under Cox continues unabated after his departure and under Defendants' leadership," the lawsuit says.
AFGE did not respond to a request for comment.
The union is closely affiliated with the Democratic Party: It endorsed Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Cox served in several posts in the Obama administration.
The union also provided an early boost to Biden's campaign, hosting the former vice president at an event one week before he officially announced his candidacy. AFGE will most likely endorse the vice president for the 2020 election since its internal poll showed that a majority of its members support Biden over President Donald Trump.
The government union is also a prodigious campaign donor, funneling more than $1.1 million to Democratic operations such as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee during the 2018 election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The group also spent $1.8 million on lobbying in 2019, advocating for pro-labor legislation.
AFGE has faced a #MeToo reckoning in recent months after dozens of current and former staffers and members accused Cox of multiple incidents of sexual assault, including one incident in which Cox licked the ear of a subordinate.
The union has since distanced itself from its former president and tapped Kelley to replace him in February. But with fresh allegations of sexual impropriety leveled against additional top union members, the new lawsuit could throw a wrench into AFGE's plans to move forward.
A prior independent investigation into Cox's conduct—commissioned by AFGE—largely let Kelley off the hook. The lawsuit, however, contests the investigation's conclusion, accusing Kelley of routinely covering up Cox's troubling conduct. For example, when Cox inappropriately touched a male pool attendant at a hotel during an AFGE conference in 2017, Kelley did some "fast talking" to convince the hotel managers to allow the AFGE delegation to stay, according to a sworn statement provided by Pam Baca, an AFGE official. Cox suffered no repercussions for his sexual misconduct other than being forced to stay in his hotel room for the duration of the conference.
"Defendant Kelley did not appear to be alarmed or even surprised by the … sexual misconduct complaint," according to the lawsuit. "In fact, Defendant Kelley's response to Ms. Baca concerning the news was casual and even jocular."
Kelley also allegedly tolerated sexual misconduct allegations against his subordinates. In 2015, an AFGE trustee removed Jamie Dukes, vice president of a local union for a Georgia Army base, after learning that Dukes sent pictures of his genitalia to female union members. Kelley ordered Dukes's reinstatement one month later, allowing him to continue his predatory behaviors, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit also brings to light new racial discrimination involving Cox and other senior union officials. Cox repeatedly referred to his Pakistani limo driver as a "sand n—" and drunkenly told his African-American driver, "You know we white folks are going to hang you black people," according to the legal document. The problem went beyond Cox, however. When a local union president called the union's highest-ranking black official a "n—," the senior officials of the union "took no remedial or disciplinary action" against the president. Instead, they attempted to discipline the black official for "overreacting to being called a slur."
Cox's rampant abuse of power was an "open secret" shared by all members of the union's senior leadership, according to the lawsuit. Cox, however, prevented senior officials from speaking out "through a combination of cronyism and fear—rewarding his allies with bonuses and/or extravagant trips at union members' expense, while threatening to destroy anyone who challenged his authority," according to the lawsuit. The plaintiffs add that the officials continue to protect Cox, criticizing them for signing a secret separation agreement that allegedly paid Cox to walk away from the union.
The plaintiffs in the case are demanding thousands of dollars from the defendants, citing the emotional anguish and deleterious health effects of the union official's actions. They also request that the court establish an "independent, neutral federal monitor" to oversee a series of antidiscrimination and anticorruption reforms for the union.
"Defendants are responsible for Cox's actions that were the direct and proximate cause of the racial discrimination, pain and suffering and damages suffered by Plaintiffs," the complaint says.
The case is now before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.


freebeacon--2020-07-03--How to Celebrate July 4 Without Getting Canceled for Glorifying White Supremacy

The United States of America turns 244 this weekend .
Normally that would be cause for celebration , but not anymore , now that the prevailing cultural sentiment demands that athletes issue statements to explain why they did n't take a knee during the national anthem .
If you plan on celebrating—or even acknowledging—the signing of the Declaration of Independence , an archaic and confusing document that promotes violence , please be mindful not to invite cancellation by `` glorifying white supremacy . ''
That 's how the Democratic National Committee described President Donald Trump 's plan to attend a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's definitely off limits .
But here are a few suggestions for other things to avoid this holiday weekend .
American Flags — Despite their common usage in July 4 celebrations , it is advisable to refrain from flying the American flag given its close association to the United States of America , a country founded on British colonialism , genocide , and tax evasion .
If you must incorporate the stars and stripes into your festivities , consider adding a 51st star to show your support for D.C. statehood and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there .
Hot Dogs — Offensively phallic and bad for the environment , hot dogs are often consumed at baseball stadiums .
John Rocker , a confirmed racist , used to play baseball in those very stadiums .
Blackface — Unless you are an elected Democrat , it 's best to avoid blatant displays of racism , cultural appropriation , or bad taste , especially in a public setting where journalists might be present .
Alcoholic Beverages — Alcohol is the gas fueling the engine of America 's demonstrably pro-rape culture .
Brett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Joe Biden does n't drink .
Enough said .
Friends and Family — Remember the time your Uncle Strickland tried to mansplain the Constitution at Thanksgiving ?
He was probably too drunk to remember and has an even better lecture planned for Independence Day .
Do n't bother printing out those Vox.com articles , just avoid the family cookout altogether .
There will be another funeral soon enough .
Hitler-Themed Costume Parties — If you are going to host a costume party this weekend , consider picking a theme that has nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of July .
But do n't go crazy .
A Hitler-themed costume party would also be problematic .
Bodies of Water — Slaves came to the United States on ships , which sailed on bodies of water commonly referred to as oceans .
Bodies of water also feature prominently in the persecution of so-called `` witches . ''
Mark Twain 's racist novel , Huckleberry Finn , is set in a fictional town on the banks of the Mississippi River , a famous body of water .
Entertainment — Independence Day starring Harry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time of year , but no major studio would bring it to market these days due to the Chinese military 's nonexistent role in defeating the alien invaders .
Harvey Weinstein did n't produce it , but he did produce a lot of other movies .
In addition , the vast majority of stand-up comedy specials were filmed before 2019 , and can be disregarded .
Better safe than sorry .
Walls — Because walls denote exclusion and oppression , and have come to symbolize President Trump 's violent anti-Latinx agenda , steer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are fine , but ceilings are more problematic , given their association with inequality and Hillary Clinton 's failed presidential campaign .
Being Kind to Your Neighbors — They might be racist , so do n't bother .
Oh , and most importantly , remember to have fun !

The United States of America turns 244 this weekend. Normally that would be cause for celebration, but not anymore, now that the prevailing cultural sentiment demands that athletes issue statements to explain why they didn't take a knee during the national anthem.
If you plan on celebrating—or even acknowledging—the signing of the Declaration of Independence, an archaic and confusing document that promotes violence, please be mindful not to invite cancellation by "glorifying white supremacy."
That's how the Democratic National Committee described President Donald Trump's plan to attend a fireworks display at Mount Rushmore. So that's definitely off limits. But here are a few suggestions for other things to avoid this holiday weekend.
American Flags — Despite their common usage in July 4 celebrations, it is advisable to refrain from flying the American flag given its close association to the United States of America, a country founded on British colonialism, genocide, and tax evasion. If you must incorporate the stars and stripes into your festivities, consider adding a 51st star to show your support for D.C. statehood and the hundreds of disenfranchised journalists forced to reside there.
Hot Dogs — Offensively phallic and bad for the environment, hot dogs are often consumed at baseball stadiums. John Rocker, a confirmed racist, used to play baseball in those very stadiums.
Blackface — Unless you are an elected Democrat, it's best to avoid blatant displays of racism, cultural appropriation, or bad taste, especially in a public setting where journalists might be present.
Alcoholic Beverages — Alcohol is the gas fueling the engine of America's demonstrably pro-rape culture. Brett Kavanaugh liked beer, and still does. Joe Biden doesn't drink. Enough said.
Friends and Family — Remember the time your Uncle Strickland tried to mansplain the Constitution at Thanksgiving? He was probably too drunk to remember and has an even better lecture planned for Independence Day. Don't bother printing out those Vox.com articles, just avoid the family cookout altogether. There will be another funeral soon enough.
Hitler-Themed Costume Parties — If you are going to host a costume party this weekend, consider picking a theme that has nothing to do with America or the Fourth of July. But don't go crazy. A Hitler-themed costume party would also be problematic.
Bodies of Water — Slaves came to the United States on ships, which sailed on bodies of water commonly referred to as oceans. Bodies of water also feature prominently in the persecution of so-called "witches." Mark Twain's racist novel, Huckleberry Finn, is set in a fictional town on the banks of the Mississippi River, a famous body of water.
Entertainment — Independence Day starring Harry Connick Jr. is a popular choice this time of year, but no major studio would bring it to market these days due to the Chinese military's nonexistent role in defeating the alien invaders. Harvey Weinstein didn't produce it, but he did produce a lot of other movies. In addition, the vast majority of stand-up comedy specials were filmed before 2019, and can be disregarded. Better safe than sorry.
Walls — Because walls denote exclusion and oppression, and have come to symbolize President Trump's violent anti-Latinx agenda, steer clear of walls this weekend. Floors are fine, but ceilings are more problematic, given their association with inequality and Hillary Clinton's failed presidential campaign.
Being Kind to Your Neighbors — They might be racist, so don't bother.
Oh, and most importantly, remember to have fun!


freebeacon--2020-07-04--Cornell Improperly Sends Student Fees to BLM Activists

The student government at Cornell University improperly donated thousands of dollars in student fees to a coalition of Black Lives Matter activists and left-leaning organizations .
The Student Activities Funding Committee ( SAFC ) , a student-led panel that allocates fees to campus groups , sent $ 10,000 to the Cornell Students for Black Lives fundraising initiative .
The initiative , which is not a registered student organization , describes itself as a student organization `` coalition . ''
According to the funding guidelines in the student government charter , for a group to be `` eligible to request funds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] must register with and be approved by the Campus Activities Office by when the budgets are due in each semester . ''
The contributions have drawn objections from other student groups .
Conservative student leaders penned a letter to the editor at the Cornell Daily Sun expressing their concern that the spending violated the SAFC charter and funding guidelines .
`` Nothing in SAFC 's charter , bylaws or guidelines for funding authorizes the transfer of funds to non-registered groups , '' the letter reads .
`` No meeting on the record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The Cornell Students for Black Lives initiative has already generated a financial windfall , raising more than $ 118,000 from a GoFundMe page in collaboration with the Cornell Black Alumni Association .
Neither the initiative nor the alumni association returned a request for comment .
Some student government officials defended the allocation .
The student assembly 's vice president of finance Moriah Adeghe believes the campus government is within its boundaries to spend appropriated money on the `` humanity of black people . ''
Adeghe claims any student against the donation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is inherently `` anti-black . ''
`` Your fixation on the rules and guidelines shows that you are more concerned with bureaucracy than you are with the lives and humanity of black people , '' Adeghe wrote in response to the letter to the editor .
`` Black lives being important is not a political issue and quite frankly , if rules need to be broken to support that cause they will be… .
If you think that a donation to a cause that uplifts black people is wrong , no matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are anti-black . ''
Adeghe did not respond to request for comment .
The donation raised eyebrows from some committee members .
According to Morgan Baker , a current member of the SAFC , the student government does have the power to modify or waive the SAFC 's guidelines , but it requires `` explicit approval '' by the student assembly .
`` There is no indication that such approval was ever sought , '' Baker said .
The GoFundMe donations will be split between several groups : Black Lives Matter of Greater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reform , the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund , Southside Community Center , and Showing Up for Racial Justice .
Several of these groups have endorsed radical police reforms and former presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) .
The GoFundMe organizers could not be reached for comment .
Cornell College Republicans president Weston Barker called on members of the student government to honor their bylaws .
He said the student government has thus far treated the controversial donation with `` bad faith '' rather than the accountability that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` If [ Adeghe ] managed to make the donation technically legal by hiding its justification in a quagmire of bureaucratic paperwork , that just speaks to how far some of these bad-faith student actors will go to project their own political agendas onto actual student affairs , '' Barker said .
Cornell University did not respond to request for comment .

The student government at Cornell University improperly donated thousands of dollars in student fees to a coalition of Black Lives Matter activists and left-leaning organizations.
The Student Activities Funding Committee (SAFC), a student-led panel that allocates fees to campus groups, sent $10,000 to the Cornell Students for Black Lives fundraising initiative. The initiative, which is not a registered student organization, describes itself as a student organization "coalition." According to the funding guidelines in the student government charter, for a group to be "eligible to request funds or to spend allocated funds [it] must register with and be approved by the Campus Activities Office by when the budgets are due in each semester."
The contributions have drawn objections from other student groups. Conservative student leaders penned a letter to the editor at the Cornell Daily Sun expressing their concern that the spending violated the SAFC charter and funding guidelines.
"Nothing in SAFC's charter, bylaws or guidelines for funding authorizes the transfer of funds to non-registered groups," the letter reads. "No meeting on the record was held and no vote was recorded."
The Cornell Students for Black Lives initiative has already generated a financial windfall, raising more than $118,000 from a GoFundMe page in collaboration with the Cornell Black Alumni Association. Neither the initiative nor the alumni association returned a request for comment.
Some student government officials defended the allocation. The student assembly's vice president of finance Moriah Adeghe believes the campus government is within its boundaries to spend appropriated money on the "humanity of black people." Adeghe claims any student against the donation should not "mansplain" their dissent and is inherently "anti-black."
"Your fixation on the rules and guidelines shows that you are more concerned with bureaucracy than you are with the lives and humanity of black people," Adeghe wrote in response to the letter to the editor. "Black lives being important is not a political issue and quite frankly, if rules need to be broken to support that cause they will be.... If you think that a donation to a cause that uplifts black people is wrong, no matter where the money came from, you are anti-black." Adeghe did not respond to request for comment.
The donation raised eyebrows from some committee members. According to Morgan Baker, a current member of the SAFC, the student government does have the power to modify or waive the SAFC's guidelines, but it requires "explicit approval" by the student assembly. "There is no indication that such approval was ever sought," Baker said.
The GoFundMe donations will be split between several groups: Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, Communities United for Police Reform, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Southside Community Center, and Showing Up for Racial Justice. Several of these groups have endorsed radical police reforms and former presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.). The GoFundMe organizers could not be reached for comment.
Cornell College Republicans president Weston Barker called on members of the student government to honor their bylaws. He said the student government has thus far treated the controversial donation with "bad faith" rather than the accountability that should come with handling student fees.
"If [Adeghe] managed to make the donation technically legal by hiding its justification in a quagmire of bureaucratic paperwork, that just speaks to how far some of these bad-faith student actors will go to project their own political agendas onto actual student affairs," Barker said.
Cornell University did not respond to request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-07-05--Some Struggle To Buy Guns as Coronavirus Shutdowns Linger

Marine Corps reservist Ben Nordstrom looked to purchase a rifle to defend his new home after moving to California in May .
The coronavirus shutdowns of some gun stores in the state proved a minor inconvenience at first , but while stores have reopened , Nordstrom is still without his firearm .
State law mandates that weapons can only be legally sold to people with valid California photo IDs .
The Marine can not get one because of coronavirus restrictions in the state .
In addition , thanks to a rare restriction on ammunition purchases , California also requires state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ammunition , which means he ca n't buy ammo for the gun he already owns .
While temporary pandemic restrictions , such as store capacity limits , have inconvenienced gun buyers in many places , the shutdowns have been particularly harsh in states with stricter gun laws and more complicated buying processes .
Several prospective gun buyers who spoke with the Washington Free Beacon said continued licensing-office closures and appointment slowdowns associated with the virus have extended their purchase process by months or made a legal purchase impossible .
Nordstrom said those effects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` They don ’ t really have the ability to suspend rights do they ? ''
Nordstrom asked .
`` But what am I supposed to do if there ’ s a breakdown like what we ’ ve seen and I don ’ t have a way to obtain the means to defend myself , my family , and our property ?
Am I supposed to circumvent the process and obtain something illegally ?
And then get punished once order is restored ?
Something is wrong with that scenario especially when citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to acquire firearms and ammo . ''
Jose Pagliery , an investigative journalist who recently moved from New York to New Jersey , said his attempts to buy a gun for home defense have also been thwarted by the continued shutdown of the state 's process for issuing drivers licenses .
While gun stores in the state reopened at the end of March , Pagliery said New Jersey will not allow him to buy a gun without a valid photo ID issued by the state .
And since he 's still unable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of trying , he is effectively barred from buying guns in the state despite his clean record .
`` This is a de facto ban on new residents legally acquiring firearms , '' Pagliery told the Free Beacon .
`` Now my concern is that they 'll push it back until it 's clear that COVID is n't going away , then they 'll push it back indefinitely . ''
His repeated attempts to obtain a New Jersey license or provide alternative forms of ID have failed .
When the state 's motor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June 29 , Pagliery planned to show up at dawn .
Then state officials pushed reopening to July 7 .
`` It bothers me that a person who is hell-bent on doing this the right way has no option .
Especially when the whole point of these kinds of laws is to , reportedly , create a safer atmosphere and environment for the general public , '' he said .
`` When I was in Florida , there was no problem with me getting a firearm and now I 'm going to say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I definitely feel less safe . ''
Pagliery is not the only New Jersey resident who has run into roadblocks en route to legal gun ownership .
Local teacher Dan Kuzma began the permitting process in December 2019 to purchase a gun .
He was not able to take home his Remington 870 pump-action shotgun until June due to bureaucratic shutdowns and slowdowns of gun stores and police licensing offices .
`` When you 're dealing with a bureaucratic process that takes a long time it slows that down and it takes even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be , '' Kuzma told the Free Beacon .
`` I can see where people would at some point put their hands up like , ‘ I 'm not doing this . '
'' The offices of New Jersey governor Phil Murphy ( D. ) and California governor Gavin Newsom ( D ) did not respond to requests for comment .
Robert , a 24-year-old software engineer in Massachusetts who asked not to be named for fear of backlash during the application process , said he is still suffering delays from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State law requires in-person interviews with police in order to obtain a carry permit , but those operations were curtailed during the shutdown .
He has been unable to get an appointment with the East Bridgewater Police Department even after the application office reopened on June 15 .
Local officials at one point warned Robert that they were not accepting new applicants , according to an email reviewed by the Free Beacon .
`` Denying [ License To Carry ] applications has nothing to do with public health/safety and everything to do with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The police department did not return a request for comment .
Several of the men are now considering taking legal action to challenge these processes or otherwise accelerate their progress .
Nordstrom , however , said he may take things a step further and reconsider his move to California .
`` Why does n't the government have plans in place to maintain continuity of something like this , especially in California where the requirements are so onerous ? ''
Nordstrom asked .
`` I should n't be punished because of a situation out @ @ @ @ @

Marine Corps reservist Ben Nordstrom looked to purchase a rifle to defend his new home after moving to California in May. The coronavirus shutdowns of some gun stores in the state proved a minor inconvenience at first, but while stores have reopened, Nordstrom is still without his firearm. State law mandates that weapons can only be legally sold to people with valid California photo IDs. The Marine cannot get one because of coronavirus restrictions in the state. In addition, thanks to a rare restriction on ammunition purchases, California also requires state ID and a background check to purchase ammunition, which means he can't buy ammo for the gun he already owns.
While temporary pandemic restrictions, such as store capacity limits, have inconvenienced gun buyers in many places, the shutdowns have been particularly harsh in states with stricter gun laws and more complicated buying processes. Several prospective gun buyers who spoke with the Washington Free Beacon said continued licensing-office closures and appointment slowdowns associated with the virus have extended their purchase process by months or made a legal purchase impossible.
Nordstrom said those effects have placed law-abiding citizens in a bind.
"They don’t really have the ability to suspend rights do they?" Nordstrom asked. "But what am I supposed to do if there’s a breakdown like what we’ve seen and I don’t have a way to obtain the means to defend myself, my family, and our property? Am I supposed to circumvent the process and obtain something illegally? And then get punished once order is restored? Something is wrong with that scenario especially when citizens in other states are still legally able to acquire firearms and ammo."
Jose Pagliery, an investigative journalist who recently moved from New York to New Jersey, said his attempts to buy a gun for home defense have also been thwarted by the continued shutdown of the state's process for issuing drivers licenses. While gun stores in the state reopened at the end of March, Pagliery said New Jersey will not allow him to buy a gun without a valid photo ID issued by the state. And since he's still unable to attain one after more than a month of trying, he is effectively barred from buying guns in the state despite his clean record.
"This is a de facto ban on new residents legally acquiring firearms," Pagliery told the Free Beacon. "Now my concern is that they'll push it back until it's clear that COVID isn't going away, then they'll push it back indefinitely."
His repeated attempts to obtain a New Jersey license or provide alternative forms of ID have failed. When the state's motor vehicle commission announced it would reopen on June 29, Pagliery planned to show up at dawn. Then state officials pushed reopening to July 7.
"It bothers me that a person who is hell-bent on doing this the right way has no option. Especially when the whole point of these kinds of laws is to, reportedly, create a safer atmosphere and environment for the general public," he said. "When I was in Florida, there was no problem with me getting a firearm and now I'm going to say it was supposed to be safer and I definitely feel less safe."
Pagliery is not the only New Jersey resident who has run into roadblocks en route to legal gun ownership. Local teacher Dan Kuzma began the permitting process in December 2019 to purchase a gun. He was not able to take home his Remington 870 pump-action shotgun until June due to bureaucratic shutdowns and slowdowns of gun stores and police licensing offices.
"When you're dealing with a bureaucratic process that takes a long time it slows that down and it takes even longer. That's not how it should be," Kuzma told the Free Beacon. "I can see where people would at some point put their hands up like, 'I'm not doing this.'"
The offices of New Jersey governor Phil Murphy (D.) and California governor Gavin Newsom (D) did not respond to requests for comment.
Robert, a 24-year-old software engineer in Massachusetts who asked not to be named for fear of backlash during the application process, said he is still suffering delays from the shutdown even as restrictions are lifted. State law requires in-person interviews with police in order to obtain a carry permit, but those operations were curtailed during the shutdown. He has been unable to get an appointment with the East Bridgewater Police Department even after the application office reopened on June 15. Local officials at one point warned Robert that they were not accepting new applicants, according to an email reviewed by the Free Beacon.
"Denying [License To Carry] applications has nothing to do with public health/safety and everything to do with denying rights," Robert said.
A spokesperson for the police department confirmed to the Free Beacon that new carry-permit applications had been put on hold due to coronavirus restrictions, and that the department is now processing applications again since restrictions have been eased. "We are a small department and each new applicant was notified that we would process applications as quickly as possible but there will be some back up," the spokesperson said.
Several of the men are now considering taking legal action to challenge these processes or otherwise accelerate their progress. Nordstrom, however, said he may take things a step further and reconsider his move to California.
"Why doesn't the government have plans in place to maintain continuity of something like this, especially in California where the requirements are so onerous?" Nordstrom asked. "I shouldn't be punished because of a situation out of my control."


freebeacon--2020-07-05--Asked to Defend Founding Fathers, VP Contender Ducks

Sen. Tammy Duckworth ( D. , Ill. ) on Sunday refused to defend the legacies of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson from protesters who want to tear down the statues of the Founding Fathers , saying instead that politicians should `` listen to everybody . ''
`` We should start off by having a national dialogue , '' Duckworth said when asked about the issue on CNN 's State of the Union .
`` I think we should listen to everybody .
I think we should listen to the argument there . ''
Duckworth added that Mount Rushmore , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` stand [ s ] on ground that was stolen from Native Americans , who had actually been given that land during a treaty . ''
The Illinois senator 's comments come after weeks of protests following the death of George Floyd , during which statues of Washington , Jefferson , Christopher Columbus , and figures of the Confederacy have been torn down by protesters .
Some have even torn down progressive monuments .
Mount Rushmore was also singled out last week as President Trump traveled to South Dakota to deliver a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Fourth of July .
The Democratic National Committee tweeted that the event was meant to `` glorify white supremacy . ''
The New York Times also published an article highlighting Mount Rushmore 's `` history of contention , '' focusing on racist or nativist remarks made by the four presidents represented on the national monument .
Breaking with the more progressive wing of his party , presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden recently defended the legacies of Washington , Jefferson , and Columbus against protesters who would see statues of the figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toppling the Christopher Columbus statue or the George Washington statue , I think that is something that the government has an opportunity and a responsibility to protect from happening , '' he said .
Biden is heavily considering Duckworth as a potential running mate .

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D., Ill.) on Sunday refused to defend the legacies of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson from protesters who want to tear down the statues of the Founding Fathers, saying instead that politicians should "listen to everybody."
"We should start off by having a national dialogue," Duckworth said when asked about the issue on CNN's State of the Union. "I think we should listen to everybody. I think we should listen to the argument there."
Duckworth added that Mount Rushmore, which bears the likenesses of Washington and Jefferson, "stand[s] on ground that was stolen from Native Americans, who had actually been given that land during a treaty."
The Illinois senator's comments come after weeks of protests following the death of George Floyd, during which statues of Washington, Jefferson, Christopher Columbus, and figures of the Confederacy have been torn down by protesters. Some have even torn down progressive monuments.
Mount Rushmore was also singled out last week as President Trump traveled to South Dakota to deliver a speech and hold a fireworks display before the Fourth of July. The Democratic National Committee tweeted that the event was meant to "glorify white supremacy." The New York Times also published an article highlighting Mount Rushmore's "history of contention," focusing on racist or nativist remarks made by the four presidents represented on the national monument.
Breaking with the more progressive wing of his party, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden recently defended the legacies of Washington, Jefferson, and Columbus against protesters who would see statues of the figures torn down.
"Taking down, toppling the Christopher Columbus statue or the George Washington statue, I think that is something that the government has an opportunity and a responsibility to protect from happening," he said.
Biden is heavily considering Duckworth as a potential running mate.