Beacon Extra 1/22/20

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STRONGER APART … "Hillary Clinton in Full: A Fiery New Documentary, Trump Regrets and Harsh Words for Bernie: ‘Nobody Likes Him’," via THR: In the doc, you're brutally honest on [Bernie] Sanders: "He was in Congress for years. He had one senator support him. Nobody likes him, nobody wants to work with him, he got nothing done. He was a career politician. It's all just baloney and I feel so bad that people got sucked into it." That assessment still hold?
CLINTON: Yes, it does.
THR: If he gets the nomination, will you endorse and campaign for him?
CLINTON: I'm not going to go there yet. We're still in a very vigorous primary season. I will say, however, that it's not only him, it's the culture around him. It's his leadership team. It's his prominent supporters.
REVOLUTIONARY GROVELS BEFORE ESTABLISHMENT … "Sanders apologizes to Biden for surrogate’s brutal op-ed," via POLITICO: "Whether or not [Joe] Biden is making choices to please donors, there is no doubt his record represents the transactional, grossly corrupt culture in Washington that long precedes Trump," wrote Zephyr Teachout, a progressive law professor.
The op-ed, published in the Guardian, was pushed out by the [Bernie] Sanders campaign newsletter, "Bern Notice." Sanders told CBS News: "It is absolutely not my view that Joe Biden is corrupt in any way. And I’m sorry that that op-ed appeared."
THEN AGAIN, SHE’S USED TO PLEADING IGNORANCE ABOUT MEN BEHAVING BADLY … "Hillary Clinton Pleads Ignorance About Harvey Weinstein Despite Multiple Warnings," by WFB’s Alex Griswold: "How could we have known?" Clinton said when asked by the Hollywood Reporter about her longstanding relationship with Weinstein. "He raised money for me, for the Obamas, for Democrats in general … And of course, if all of us had known what we know now, it would have affected our behavior."
Several Hollywood insiders have said that the Clinton camp was well aware of his predatory behavior … Clinton's professed ignorance also comes despite journalist Ronan Farrow's claim that the failed candidate's staff attempted to pressure him when he first began investigating Weinstein at NBC in 2017.
AS MEDIA INSISTS VOTER FRAUD IS A MYTH … "Non-U.S. citizens inadvertently registered to vote in Illinois," via HERALD-REVIEW: Five Republican Illinois House members are calling for an immediate hearing into the state's automatic voter registration law after more than 500 non-U.S. citizens were inadvertently registered to vote because of a programming error in the secretary of state's office.
"This is an absurd lack of compliance with state law, surfacing less than three weeks from the opening of early voting for our state's 2020 general primary election," the House members said in a letter dated Monday. The letter, sent to House Speaker Michael Madigan (D., Chicago) and seeking a House executive committee hearing, came from GOP executive committee members.
IT’S NO GREEN ROOM … "Michael Avenatti might be in El Chapo's former jail cell—and it's freezing, his attorneys say," via CNN: He is being held in New York's Metropolitan Correction Center. According to his attorneys' letter to U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe, Avenatti "has been locked down for 24 hours a day, in solitary confinement, except for attorney visits and two medical exams."
"He is in a cell reportedly once occupied by El Chapo, on a floor that houses individuals charged with terrorism offenses," the letter reads.
ARE YOU TIRED OF WINNING YET? … "Trump Lauds U.S. Economy as He Opens World Economic Forum," via WSJ: Hours before his impeachment trial was set to begin …It was a campaign-style address that appeared aimed as much at a U.S. re-election audience and the 100 senators who will act as jurors in his impeachment trial as at the other heads of state and business executives attending the World Economic Forum in this Swiss mountain resort …
David McKay, chief executive of Royal Bank of Canada, said that, based on his meetings in Davos so far, business leaders shared [President] Trump’s optimism. "There’s a general positivity about economic opportunity in the U.S.," Mr. McKay said.
CHILL, GRETA, CHILL … "Trump and the Teenager: A Climate Showdown at Davos," via NYT: [President] Trump implicitly criticized [Greta] Thunberg and other activists, saying they peddled warnings of doom at a time when his policies had ushered in a bright new era of economic prosperity for Americans.
"They are the heirs of yesterday’s foolish fortune tellers," the president said. "They predicted an overpopulation crisis in the 1960s, a mass starvation in the 70s, and an end of oil in the 1990s."
SEND THE BOMBERS … "Iran Has Spies Across U.S., Officials Warn, After Tehran Posts $3M Bounty on Trump," by WFB’s Adam Kredo: Following Iran's announcement of a three-million dollar bounty for the assassination of President Donald Trump, U.S. officials and terrorism experts are warning that Tehran has significantly expanded its terror capabilities in America, potentially allowing the Islamic Republic to conduct a domestic attack …
The bounty is the latest in a series of increasingly direct threats by Tehran. It has renewed concerns about the Islamic Republic's vast terrorism network, which stretches into the continental United States, U.S. officials and experts told the Washington Free Beacon.
LIBERAL HACK WILL BE RIGHT AT HOME … "CNN Brings on Hard-hitting White House Correspondent to Join Jim Acosta," by WFB’s David Rutz: [John] Harwood is a well-sourced veteran of Washington who can appeal to the leading experts for their insights. For instance, on Sept. 21, 2015, Harwood emailed Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta for advice on what to ask Jeb Bush during their interview the following day. Incredible access!
Six days later, he showed off his forward-thinking journalism and political prophecy when he emailed Podesta and Clinton adviser Jake Sullivan that he couldn't believe "that some people still think it's worth burning so much interview time with person most likely to be next president on her email." He was so right; Hillary Clinton very nearly became the president!
HOW DO THEY HANDLE AIRPORTS … "‘Chilling’: Reporters Whine About Going Through Metal Detector To Cover Impeachment Trial," via DAILY CALLER: New York Times White House correspondent and CNN political analyst Michael D. Shear called the arrangements an "ominous moment for the press and democracy."
Kansas City Star Washington correspondent Byron Lowry claimed the metal detectors were "not for security but meant solely to prevent people from tweeting or filing stories during the trial."
DIOS MIO … "Warren Turns Back on ‘Latinx’ in Major Campaign Departure," by WFB’s Collin Anderson: [Elizabeth] Warren has consistently used "Latinx" in favor of the gender-specific alternatives "Latino" and "Latina." … But Warren bucked the trend Tuesday when she released her "Restoring America's Promise to Latinos" plan …
Though only 2 percent of America's Latinos prefer the term, progressive activists began using it as a way to refer to all people of Latin American descent without excluding people who identify as neither male nor female.
SOME REAL NEWS FOR A CHANGE … "WATCH: Here’s What Happened at the Richmond Gun-Rights Rally," by WFB Staff: Demonstrators held signs displaying phrases like, "Gun rights are women's rights," "We will not comply," and "I want gay married couples to be able to protect their marijuana plants with guns." Stephen Gutowski, who was on the scene for his Free Beacon-presented YouTube show Range Time, said he was struck by the size of the rally and noted the absence of violence, white supremacist agitation, or even counter-protesters: "All we had were people from Virginia here to support their right to bear arms."
DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW: 1,137. Come back, Joe!
"You know who really doesn’t have it? Joe Biden." —Former President Barack Obama
Thanks for reading! Send tips to rutz@freebeacon.com.


freebeacon--2020-01-22--Journalists ‘Bury’ First Amendment in Mock Funeral as Reporter Trump Assaulted Clings to Life

ALTERNATE UNIVERSE—U.S .
journalists and other liberals attended a mock funeral for the First Amendment in front of the White House on Wednesday to protest President Donald J. Trump 's violent assault on CBS News correspondent Ed O'Keefe .
Trump struck the reporter , who was attempting to ask a question about the Senate impeachment trial , after appearing to suffer a rage stroke .
Prior to committing the assault , the president , whose eyes were bulging out of his head , could not stop repeating the word `` why . ''
O'Keefe was airlifted to George Washington University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concussion-like symptoms and possible internal injuries .
`` Pen = mightier than the fist , '' the reporter scrawled on his notebook before being loaded onto the paramedic helicopter .
MSNBC 's Rachel Maddow announced an exclusive interview with the wounded journalist scheduled to air later this evening .
Several minutes after the alleged assault took place , the New York Times published an exclusive interview with Clifton Breadshaft , a classmate of Trump 's at the New York Military Academy , where Breadshaft alleged that Trump `` viciously bullied '' him during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all over his soccer cleats .
CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta presided over the `` funeral '' ceremony on Pennsylvania Avenue , leading the crowd of dozens in a moment of silence before placing a printed-out copy of the First Amendment into a makeshift coffin made of ethically sourced African mahogany .
`` First this president went after our good friend Qassem Soleimani , and we grieved , '' Acosta said , draped in the American flag .
`` We should have known he 'd come after us next .
Be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Acosta for more information on how to fight back . ''
On Capitol Hill , Democratic lawmakers staged a `` die-in '' in the Senate chamber to `` acknowledge the fact that Donald Trump has murdered free speech in America , '' in the words of Rep. Maxine Waters ( D. , Calif. ) .
Republicans , including Rep. Greg Gianforte ( R. , Mont . )
, called the Democratic stunt `` pathetic . ''

ALTERNATE UNIVERSE—U.S. journalists and other liberals attended a mock funeral for the First Amendment in front of the White House on Wednesday to protest President Donald J. Trump's violent assault on CBS News correspondent Ed O'Keefe.
Trump struck the reporter, who was attempting to ask a question about the Senate impeachment trial, after appearing to suffer a rage stroke. Prior to committing the assault, the president, whose eyes were bulging out of his head, could not stop repeating the word "why."
O'Keefe was airlifted to George Washington University Hospital, where he was evaluated for concussion-like symptoms and possible internal injuries. "Pen = mightier than the fist," the reporter scrawled on his notebook before being loaded onto the paramedic helicopter. MSNBC's Rachel Maddow announced an exclusive interview with the wounded journalist scheduled to air later this evening.
Several minutes after the alleged assault took place, the New York Times published an exclusive interview with Clifton Breadshaft, a classmate of Trump's at the New York Military Academy, where Breadshaft alleged that Trump "viciously bullied" him during their freshman year by smearing peanut butter all over his soccer cleats.
CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta presided over the "funeral" ceremony on Pennsylvania Avenue, leading the crowd of dozens in a moment of silence before placing a printed-out copy of the First Amendment into a makeshift coffin made of ethically sourced African mahogany.
"First this president went after our good friend Qassem Soleimani, and we grieved," Acosta said, draped in the American flag. "We should have known he'd come after us next. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @Acosta for more information on how to fight back."
On Capitol Hill, Democratic lawmakers staged a "die-in" in the Senate chamber to "acknowledge the fact that Donald Trump has murdered free speech in America," in the words of Rep. Maxine Waters (D., Calif.). Republicans, including Rep. Greg Gianforte (R., Mont.), called the Democratic stunt "pathetic."


freebeacon--2020-01-22--Lawmakers Warn Georgia Over Anti-U.S. Backslide

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is warning the Georgian government that an ongoing campaign of repression by the country 's ruling political party is endangering the Eastern European ally 's pro-U.S. opposition parties and threatening to sweep the country back into authoritarianism .
For months now , Georgians have taken to the streets to protest the ruling Georgian Dream party led by Bidzina Ivanishvili , the country 's wealthiest citizen .
The demonstrations have been marred by violence and punctuated by the ruling party 's targeting of the largely pro-American opposition party .
As the country backslides into authoritarian rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Congress are demanding Ivanishvili 's ruling regime end its campaign of intimidation or face new U.S. sanctions .
The unrest marks a potential tipping point for Georgia as it shifts away from the United States and back to Russia , a move that threatens to erase more than three decades of pro-democracy progress .
`` Despite the promise shown over the past three decades , recent democratic and economic trends are negatively affecting Georgia 's image in the United States , '' Reps. Adam Kinzinger ( R. , Ill. ) , Gerry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eliot Engel ( D. , N.Y. ) , and Michael McCaul ( R. , Texas ) wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to Georgian prime minister Giorgi Gakharia .
Kinzinger and Connolly chair the House Georgia Caucus , while Engel and McCaul run the House Foreign Affairs Committee .
This is the second official letter sent to Gakharia by Kinzinger and Connolly , who expressed similar concerns about Georgia 's authoritarianism in December .
The correspondence was the result of a Georgian multiparty opposition delegation that visited Washington , D.C. , in December @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pro-Western United National Movement party who serves in Georgia 's parliament , led the delegation and highlighted the Georgian Dream party 's democratic backsliding , sources said .
`` Unfortunately , economic indicators show a sharp decline in foreign direct investment in Georgia as American and European companies have suffered harassment , causing many to reconsider their business ventures , '' the lawmakers wrote , according to a copy of the letter obtained by the Washington Free Beacon .
The lawmakers expressed particular concern over what they describe as `` the decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ associated violence against peaceful protestors . ''
In recent weeks , the effort to discredit opposition leaders pulled a page from Russia 's playbook when it ran a now-deleted series of Facebook campaigns that sought to discredit pro-U.S. voices and leaders in Georgia .
These tactics , as well as the violent suppression of pro-democracy demonstrators , have sparked increasingly stern communications by members of Congress .
`` Recent reports indicate that Facebook had to shut down an extensive network of accounts funded by Georgian Dream , '' the lawmakers write .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spreading anti-democratic , anti-Western sentiments is simply unacceptable . ''
The lawmakers are also concerned Ivanishvili 's ruling party is attempting to use Georgia 's justice system to discredit leading opposition voices .
Giga Bokeria , a prominent member of the opposing European Georgia party , which also favors closer ties to the West , found himself summoned for questioning by the country 's prosecutor 's office over a years-old case .
`` We are troubled by reports that prosecutors appointed by Georgian Dream are reopening old legal cases against the party 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` While some of these cases may have merits , others are perceived as targeting leading opposition political figures , news operators , international corporations , and civil society members .
Respect for the rule of law and an impartial justice system are key to a healthy democracy and to ensuring free and fair elections , which were guaranteed by your party . ''
The unrest in Georgia has generated concern that the upcoming elections may be corrupted .
`` We continue to encourage you to protect the legitimacy of these elections and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and external interference , '' the lawmakers wrote .
Georgia 's economy is also suffering as a result of the ongoing tumult .
The lawmakers warn that this situation is only strengthening Russian leader Vladimir Putin 's influence in Georgia .
`` Georgian Dream 's perceived political targeting of the U.S.-backed Anaklia Development Consortium has now deterred or prevented investment from American companies in this important project , '' the lawmakers wrote .
`` These developments seem to reflect an increasingly unfavorable business environment and could deter future U.S. investment in Georgia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgian people and their hopes for deeper integration with Western institutions , but it also strengthens Vladimir Putin 's hand in the region .
Georgia could be a vital hub for goods traversing from the United States and Europe to Central Asia , and vice versa , which would serve as a boon for the Georgian economy . ''
`` We raise these concerns with the hopes of strengthening Georgia as a democracy and of preventing the broad bipartisan and bicameral support that Georgia enjoys in the halls of Congress from being negatively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We hope that your government will work with the United States Congress , Ambassador Kelly Degnan , the European Union , and non-governmental organizations to strengthen democratic institutions and enhance economic prosperity for the Georgian people so that Georgia can continue to be a strategic partner of the United States for many years to come . ''

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is warning the Georgian government that an ongoing campaign of repression by the country's ruling political party is endangering the Eastern European ally's pro-U.S. opposition parties and threatening to sweep the country back into authoritarianism.
For months now, Georgians have taken to the streets to protest the ruling Georgian Dream party led by Bidzina Ivanishvili, the country's wealthiest citizen. The demonstrations have been marred by violence and punctuated by the ruling party's targeting of the largely pro-American opposition party.
As the country backslides into authoritarian rule, the U.S. State Department and members of Congress are demanding Ivanishvili's ruling regime end its campaign of intimidation or face new U.S. sanctions. The unrest marks a potential tipping point for Georgia as it shifts away from the United States and back to Russia, a move that threatens to erase more than three decades of pro-democracy progress.
"Despite the promise shown over the past three decades, recent democratic and economic trends are negatively affecting Georgia's image in the United States," Reps. Adam Kinzinger (R., Ill.), Gerry Connolly (D., Va.), Eliot Engel (D., N.Y.), and Michael McCaul (R., Texas) wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to Georgian prime minister Giorgi Gakharia. Kinzinger and Connolly chair the House Georgia Caucus, while Engel and McCaul run the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
This is the second official letter sent to Gakharia by Kinzinger and Connolly, who expressed similar concerns about Georgia's authoritarianism in December. The correspondence was the result of a Georgian multiparty opposition delegation that visited Washington, D.C., in December. Salome Samadashvili, a member of the pro-Western United National Movement party who serves in Georgia's parliament, led the delegation and highlighted the Georgian Dream party's democratic backsliding, sources said.
"Unfortunately, economic indicators show a sharp decline in foreign direct investment in Georgia as American and European companies have suffered harassment, causing many to reconsider their business ventures," the lawmakers wrote, according to a copy of the letter obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.
The lawmakers expressed particular concern over what they describe as "the decision to forego promised democratic reforms and the associated violence against peaceful protestors."
In recent weeks, the effort to discredit opposition leaders pulled a page from Russia's playbook when it ran a now-deleted series of Facebook campaigns that sought to discredit pro-U.S. voices and leaders in Georgia. These tactics, as well as the violent suppression of pro-democracy demonstrators, have sparked increasingly stern communications by members of Congress.
"Recent reports indicate that Facebook had to shut down an extensive network of accounts funded by Georgian Dream," the lawmakers write. "The fact that these accounts were apparently spreading anti-democratic, anti-Western sentiments is simply unacceptable."
The lawmakers are also concerned Ivanishvili's ruling party is attempting to use Georgia's justice system to discredit leading opposition voices. Giga Bokeria, a prominent member of the opposing European Georgia party, which also favors closer ties to the West, found himself summoned for questioning by the country's prosecutor's office over a years-old case.
"We are troubled by reports that prosecutors appointed by Georgian Dream are reopening old legal cases against the party's opponents," the lawmakers wrote. "While some of these cases may have merits, others are perceived as targeting leading opposition political figures, news operators, international corporations, and civil society members. Respect for the rule of law and an impartial justice system are key to a healthy democracy and to ensuring free and fair elections, which were guaranteed by your party."
The unrest in Georgia has generated concern that the upcoming elections may be corrupted.
"We continue to encourage you to protect the legitimacy of these elections and ensure they are guarded against both internal and external interference," the lawmakers wrote.
Georgia's economy is also suffering as a result of the ongoing tumult. The lawmakers warn that this situation is only strengthening Russian leader Vladimir Putin's influence in Georgia.
"Georgian Dream's perceived political targeting of the U.S.-backed Anaklia Development Consortium has now deterred or prevented investment from American companies in this important project," the lawmakers wrote. "These developments seem to reflect an increasingly unfavorable business environment and could deter future U.S. investment in Georgia. Decreased foreign investment not only hurts the Georgian people and their hopes for deeper integration with Western institutions, but it also strengthens Vladimir Putin's hand in the region. Georgia could be a vital hub for goods traversing from the United States and Europe to Central Asia, and vice versa, which would serve as a boon for the Georgian economy."
"We raise these concerns with the hopes of strengthening Georgia as a democracy and of preventing the broad bipartisan and bicameral support that Georgia enjoys in the halls of Congress from being negatively impacted," the letter said. "We hope that your government will work with the United States Congress, Ambassador Kelly Degnan, the European Union, and non-governmental organizations to strengthen democratic institutions and enhance economic prosperity for the Georgian people so that Georgia can continue to be a strategic partner of the United States for many years to come."


freebeacon--2020-01-22--Stacey Abrams: ‘We Have To Stop Re-Litigating Past Elections’

Failed Democratic Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams is urging Democrats to move beyond past elections and focus on the future .
Abrams 's Wednesday remarks to a crowd of University of New England students came despite her refusal to concede to Republican governor Brian Kemp and continued insistence that she actually won the race .
Abrams struck a different tone when asked about the current 2020 Democratic presidential field .
`` We have to stop re-litigating past elections and have to start planning for future elections , '' she said , according to an Associated Press report .
She called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and efforts to purge voter rolls .
A Washington Free Beacon analysis found that Abrams had publicly stated she won the gubernatorial election a dozen times within six months of losing .
Abrams , a former state representative , told the New York Times `` I won '' and argued on MSNBC that the election was `` stolen '' by Georgia Republicans .
Abrams 's plea to forget the past came the day after former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton renewed a public feud with Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Nobody likes him , nobody wants to work with him , he got nothing done , '' Clinton said in a Hollywood Reporter interview .
`` He was a career politician .
It 's all just baloney and I feel so bad that people got sucked into it . ''
Clinton initially declined to say whether she would endorse Sanders if the socialist Vermont senator won the nomination , though she later backtracked on Twitter .
Abrams likewise struck a neutral tone in the primary , telling students that Democrats had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding that she would be `` all in '' if asked to help on the campaign trail .
She has previously expressed willingness to serve as vice president under any of the Democratic candidates .

Failed Democratic Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams is urging Democrats to move beyond past elections and focus on the future.
Abrams's Wednesday remarks to a crowd of University of New England students came despite her refusal to concede to Republican governor Brian Kemp and continued insistence that she actually won the race. Abrams struck a different tone when asked about the current 2020 Democratic presidential field.
"We have to stop re-litigating past elections and have to start planning for future elections," she said, according to an Associated Press report. She called on Democrats to fight voter ID laws and efforts to purge voter rolls.
A Washington Free Beacon analysis found that Abrams had publicly stated she won the gubernatorial election a dozen times within six months of losing. Abrams, a former state representative, told the New York Times "I won" and argued on MSNBC that the election was "stolen" by Georgia Republicans.
Abrams's plea to forget the past came the day after former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton renewed a public feud with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), her top primary challenger in 2016. "Nobody likes him, nobody wants to work with him, he got nothing done," Clinton said in a Hollywood Reporter interview. "He was a career politician. It's all just baloney and I feel so bad that people got sucked into it."
Clinton initially declined to say whether she would endorse Sanders if the socialist Vermont senator won the nomination, though she later backtracked on Twitter.
I thought everyone wanted my authentic, unvarnished views! But to be serious, the number one priority for our country and world is retiring Trump, and, as I always have, I will do whatever I can to support our nominee. — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 22, 2020
Abrams likewise struck a neutral tone in the primary, telling students that Democrats had an "extraordinary crop" of candidates, adding that she would be "all in" if asked to help on the campaign trail. She has previously expressed willingness to serve as vice president under any of the Democratic candidates.


freebeacon--2020-01-22--Poll: Two-Thirds of Americans Want Candidate Who Supports ‘Significant Restrictions’ on Abortion

Democratic presidential candidates have eagerly embraced radical pro-abortion stances , but two-thirds of Americans want to vote for political candidates who favor `` significant restrictions '' on abortion , according to a recent poll .
The annual Marist poll commissioned by the Knights of Columbus showed that 55 percent of Americans identify as pro-choice .
However , 70 percent of the country , including nearly half of self-described pro-choice respondents , oppose all abortions or believe they should be permitted only during the first 12 weeks , in medical emergencies , or in cases of rape or incest .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading Democratic presidential candidates , all of whom espouse ambitious pro-abortion policy platforms .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
wants to install a federal statutory right that `` parallels the constitutional right in Roe v. Wade '' and prohibit states from restricting abortion in later months of pregnancy .
Former vice president Joe Biden also capitulated to a progressive outcry last year and committed himself to oppose the Hyde Amendment , which prohibits federal funding for abortion through Medicaid .
Most Americans oppose these policy positions put forth by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poll .
Three-in-five Americans want the Supreme Court to reinterpret Roe v. Wade to either abolish all abortions or allow states to impose certain restrictions on abortion , and 60 percent of the country opposes the use of taxpayer money to fund abortion .
Support for such restrictions crosses ideological lines , including many people who want abortion to remain legal .
`` The variation of what people mean when they say pro-choice runs the gamut from so-called abortion-on-demand to really substantial restrictions , '' Andrew Walther , vice president of the Knights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call .
`` So , that label as an indicator of position is largely meaningless . ''
President Donald Trump has enacted several pro-life policies in office .
He has reinstated the Mexico City policy , which prohibits government funding to NGOs that promote abortion abroad .
He has also prohibited recipients of federal Title X family planning programs from advising patients to seek abortion except in case of rape , incest , or medical emergency .
Planned Parenthood , the nation 's largest abortion provider , dropped out of the program , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tends to support Trump ’ s policy on abortion .
For example , more than 75 percent of Americans oppose using tax dollars to support abortion in other countries .
The survey found that pro-life Americans are more likely than their pro-choice counterparts to consider a presidential candidate ’ s abortion stance as a `` major factor '' when deciding their vote .
Furthermore , while 78 percent of Democrats identify as pro-choice , more than two-in-five of them support some sort of `` significant restriction '' on abortion .
Pollsters interviewed more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in early January .
The results are statistically significant within a margin of 3.7 percent .

Democratic presidential candidates have eagerly embraced radical pro-abortion stances, but two-thirds of Americans want to vote for political candidates who favor "significant restrictions" on abortion, according to a recent poll.
The annual Marist poll commissioned by the Knights of Columbus showed that 55 percent of Americans identify as pro-choice. However, 70 percent of the country, including nearly half of self-described pro-choice respondents, oppose all abortions or believe they should be permitted only during the first 12 weeks, in medical emergencies, or in cases of rape or incest.
The data do not bode well for the leading Democratic presidential candidates, all of whom espouse ambitious pro-abortion policy platforms. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) wants to install a federal statutory right that "parallels the constitutional right in Roe v. Wade" and prohibit states from restricting abortion in later months of pregnancy. Former vice president Joe Biden also capitulated to a progressive outcry last year and committed himself to oppose the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding for abortion through Medicaid.
Most Americans oppose these policy positions put forth by the presidential contenders, according to the poll. Three-in-five Americans want the Supreme Court to reinterpret Roe v. Wade to either abolish all abortions or allow states to impose certain restrictions on abortion, and 60 percent of the country opposes the use of taxpayer money to fund abortion. Support for such restrictions crosses ideological lines, including many people who want abortion to remain legal.
"The variation of what people mean when they say pro-choice runs the gamut from so-called abortion-on-demand to really substantial restrictions," Andrew Walther, vice president of the Knights of Columbus, said during a press call. "So, that label as an indicator of position is largely meaningless."
President Donald Trump has enacted several pro-life policies in office. He has reinstated the Mexico City policy, which prohibits government funding to NGOs that promote abortion abroad. He has also prohibited recipients of federal Title X family planning programs from advising patients to seek abortion except in case of rape, incest, or medical emergency. Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, dropped out of the program, rather than comply.
The general public tends to support Trump’s policy on abortion. For example, more than 75 percent of Americans oppose using tax dollars to support abortion in other countries.
The survey found that pro-life Americans are more likely than their pro-choice counterparts to consider a presidential candidate’s abortion stance as a "major factor" when deciding their vote. Furthermore, while 78 percent of Democrats identify as pro-choice, more than two-in-five of them support some sort of "significant restriction" on abortion.
Pollsters interviewed more than 1,200 adults across the United States in early January. The results are statistically significant within a margin of 3.7 percent.


freebeacon--2020-01-22--Media Interest in Jeffrey Epstein Heightens Amid Scrutiny of Environmental Record

Media interest in Jeffrey Epstein , the sexual deviant and Democratic donor who was most likely murdered in his jail cell in 2019 , has ticked up amid scrutiny of the late pedophile 's environmental record .
CNN reports that a U.S. Virgin Islands lawsuit against the multimillionaire pervert 's estate accuses Epstein of having `` potentially damaged the delicate environment with illegal construction projects and brushed aside fines and other efforts to curb his behavior . ''
These alleged environmental offenses , according to the lawsuit , were `` part of a pattern of behavior in flouting the laws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Epstein ] above the law . ''
Perhaps if American journalists had known of Epstein 's environmental crimes much earlier , they might have been compelled to report on the massive international sex-trafficking ring Epstein allegedly oversaw .
The U.S. media took credit for Epstein 's arrest in July 2019—credit it certainly did not deserve .
The increased public scrutiny on Epstein 's egregious criminal activity , coming more than a decade after the financier negotiated a sweetheart plea deal with federal prosecutors in Florida , was the result of a local newspaper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump-related angle to the story .
Trump 's former secretary of labor , Alexander Acosta , signed off on Epstein 's plea deal while serving as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida .
Indeed , in the absence of a connection linking Epstein to Trump , the U.S. media was for years reluctant to publish credible allegations against the wealthy pedophile .
As early as 2002 , Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter killed a story on Epstein 's inappropriate relationships with underage girls after Epstein objected .
In 2019 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Robach complaining that she `` had this [ Epstein ] story for three years '' and criticizing the network for repeatedly refusing to air her interview with one of Epstein 's alleged victims .
If only Greta Thunberg had been around to put him on blast for polluting the sea .

Media interest in Jeffrey Epstein, the sexual deviant and Democratic donor who was most likely murdered in his jail cell in 2019, has ticked up amid scrutiny of the late pedophile's environmental record.
CNN reports that a U.S. Virgin Islands lawsuit against the multimillionaire pervert's estate accuses Epstein of having "potentially damaged the delicate environment with illegal construction projects and brushed aside fines and other efforts to curb his behavior." These alleged environmental offenses, according to the lawsuit, were "part of a pattern of behavior in flouting the laws of the Virgin Islands and holding [Epstein] above the law."
Perhaps if American journalists had known of Epstein's environmental crimes much earlier, they might have been compelled to report on the massive international sex-trafficking ring Epstein allegedly oversaw. The U.S. media took credit for Epstein's arrest in July 2019—credit it certainly did not deserve.
The increased public scrutiny on Epstein's egregious criminal activity, coming more than a decade after the financier negotiated a sweetheart plea deal with federal prosecutors in Florida, was the result of a local newspaper (the Miami Herald) pursuing a Donald Trump-related angle to the story. Trump's former secretary of labor, Alexander Acosta, signed off on Epstein's plea deal while serving as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida.
Indeed, in the absence of a connection linking Epstein to Trump, the U.S. media was for years reluctant to publish credible allegations against the wealthy pedophile. As early as 2002, Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter killed a story on Epstein's inappropriate relationships with underage girls after Epstein objected. In 2019, leaked video showed ABC News anchor Amy Robach complaining that she "had this [Epstein] story for three years" and criticizing the network for repeatedly refusing to air her interview with one of Epstein's alleged victims.
If only Greta Thunberg had been around to put him on blast for polluting the sea.


freebeacon--2020-01-22--Sanders Group Hit With Complaint Over Alleged Campaign Finance Violations

A group founded by Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) was hit with a complaint alleging that it violated campaign finance laws by accepting contributions that exceed federal limits .
Our Revolution , a nonprofit established by Sanders , is at the center of a new complaint filed Wednesday to the Federal Election Commission by watchdog group Common Cause .
An attorney for the watchdog said the pro-Sanders group violated the law by backing the Vermont senator 's presidential candidacy without registering with the FEC .
`` Because Sanders set up Our Revolution and they have raised and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Revolution is required to comply with contribution limits , register with the FEC , and disclose its donors—but it has n't , '' Paul S. Ryan , an attorney for Common Cause , told the Associated Press .
`` It 's his establishment of the group that triggers these laws .
That means a $ 5,000 limit , full donor disclosure and no contributions from prohibited sources . ''
Under FEC regulations , groups established by political candidates can not `` solicit , receive , direct , transfer , or spend funds '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limits .
Individual contributions to a campaign are capped at $ 2,800 per election , while contributions to a political action committee are capped at $ 5,000 .
The new complaint comes as Sanders has surged in national polls ahead of next month 's Iowa caucus .
While Sanders has assailed big money donors and undisclosed cash in politics , Our Revolution has taken large checks while hiding its funding sources .
The group has received nearly $ 1 million in contributions , including six-figure donations .
It is working to increase voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on social media advertisements .
Our Revolution did not respond to a request for comment .

A group founded by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) was hit with a complaint alleging that it violated campaign finance laws by accepting contributions that exceed federal limits.
Our Revolution, a nonprofit established by Sanders, is at the center of a new complaint filed Wednesday to the Federal Election Commission by watchdog group Common Cause. An attorney for the watchdog said the pro-Sanders group violated the law by backing the Vermont senator's presidential candidacy without registering with the FEC.
"Because Sanders set up Our Revolution and they have raised and spent money in candidate elections, Our Revolution is required to comply with contribution limits, register with the FEC, and disclose its donors—but it hasn't," Paul S. Ryan, an attorney for Common Cause, told the Associated Press. "It's his establishment of the group that triggers these laws. That means a $5,000 limit, full donor disclosure and no contributions from prohibited sources."
Under FEC regulations, groups established by political candidates cannot "solicit, receive, direct, transfer, or spend funds" for federal election activity that exceeds legal limits. Individual contributions to a campaign are capped at $2,800 per election, while contributions to a political action committee are capped at $5,000.
The new complaint comes as Sanders has surged in national polls ahead of next month's Iowa caucus.
While Sanders has assailed big money donors and undisclosed cash in politics, Our Revolution has taken large checks while hiding its funding sources. The group has received nearly $1 million in contributions, including six-figure donations. It is working to increase voter turnout for Sanders and has spent money on social media advertisements.
Our Revolution did not respond to a request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-01-22--Klobuchar Pledges to Fire Betsy DeVos in First 100 Days

Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D. , Minn. ) in a new ad released Wednesday pledged to fire Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos within her first 100 days as president—a likely unnecessary move given that DeVos would depart with sitting president Donald Trump .
Klobuchar lists various progressive policy wishes in the 30-second spot now airing in Iowa , sandwiching a promise to dismiss DeVos between expanding Veterans Affairs benefits and addressing mental health and addiction .
Klobuchar 's campaign did not respond to a request for comment as to why firing DeVos would be necessary , or as to whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members , as when President Barack Obama kept on Secretary of Defense Robert Gates from the Bush administration .
Klobuchar 's odd promise recalls failed 2020 hopeful , Rep. Eric Swalwell ( D. , Calif. ) , who told the New York Times he would fire Trump adviser Jared Kushner on his first day in office .
DeVos has been a popular punching bag on the left since her nomination as education secretary .
Selected by Trump in 2017 , she immediately came under fire from teachers ' unions and progressives , due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charter schools .
All 48 Senate Democrats and independents eventually voted against DeVos in one of the most bitter confirmation fights of the Trump era .
Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote to confirm her after Republican Sens .
Susan Collins ( Maine ) and Lisa Murkowski ( Alaska ) also voted against her .

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.) in a new ad released Wednesday pledged to fire Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos within her first 100 days as president—a likely unnecessary move given that DeVos would depart with sitting president Donald Trump.
Klobuchar lists various progressive policy wishes in the 30-second spot now airing in Iowa, sandwiching a promise to dismiss DeVos between expanding Veterans Affairs benefits and addressing mental health and addiction.
Klobuchar's campaign did not respond to a request for comment as to why firing DeVos would be necessary, or as to whether Klobuchar would consider keeping any Trump cabinet members, as when President Barack Obama kept on Secretary of Defense Robert Gates from the Bush administration.
Klobuchar's odd promise recalls failed 2020 hopeful, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D., Calif.), who told the New York Times he would fire Trump adviser Jared Kushner on his first day in office.
DeVos has been a popular punching bag on the left since her nomination as education secretary. Selected by Trump in 2017, she immediately came under fire from teachers' unions and progressives, due in large part to her advocacy for charter schools.
All 48 Senate Democrats and independents eventually voted against DeVos in one of the most bitter confirmation fights of the Trump era. Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote to confirm her after Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) also voted against her.


freebeacon--2020-01-22--Trump Admin Revives Influential Criminal Justice Commission

Attorney General William Barr on Wednesday announced the formation of a presidential commission on criminal justice , revitalizing a body that in the 1960s fundamentally altered the American criminal justice system .
The new members of the Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice took their oath of office , administered by Barr , Wednesday morning , and immediately set to work on their agenda for the coming months .
Barr 's remarks linked their work to the last such commission , which was organized by President Lyndon Johnson .
`` President Trump is an unwavering supporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and he recognized that this commission is much needed to support law enforcement , '' Barr said .
`` It is , to be sure , long overdue .
The last time there was a national commission on law enforcement was in 1965 . ''
Barr 's allusion to the Johnson crime commission sets the stage for a comprehensive reassessment of the criminal justice system .
The new commission 's work will likely highlight how the challenges of criminal justice have changed radically over the past half century .
The new commission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers , litigators , and stakeholders from local , state , and federal jurisdictions .
It will be chaired by Phil Keith , who currently serves as the director of the Community Oriented Policing Services office within the Justice Department .
Other board members include local sheriffs and police chiefs , U.S. attorneys , the Florida attorney general , and the acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms , and Explosives .
This group , Barr said Wednesday , will discuss key issues facing law enforcement in the 21st @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mental illness ; improving officer recruitment , training , and retention ; understanding the rise of mental health problems among police officers ; the challenges of new technologies ; the causes and effects of `` diminished respect '' toward police officers ; and the better incorporation of social services organizations into the policing process .
The push to establish a new commission on crime has commanded bipartisan backing .
Senators Gary Peters ( D. , Mich. ) , Lindsey Graham ( R. , S.C. ) , and John Cornyn ( R. , Tex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commission modeled on the one from 1965 .
President Donald Trump issued an executive order in October that formally established the commission Barr swore in Wednesday .
Cornyn cheered Wednesday 's news as a step in the right direction for American criminal justice .
`` An objective review system is necessary to reform our outdated criminal justice system and strengthen law enforcement 's ties to our communities , '' he told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` I 'm grateful to the Administration for taking this important step , and I look forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their efforts to reform our justice system and increase public safety . ''
Trump 's order articulates the commission 's function as the study of `` issues related to law enforcement and the administration of justice . ''
It is also instructed to , within a year , furnish Barr with a final report , presumably similar in scope to the Johnson commission 's own 350-page report .
That original 1967 report , The Challenge of Crime in a Free Society , is widely considered—even by critics—a landmark in the history of American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election , Johnson opponent Barry Goldwater slammed the incumbent for his lack of focus on America 's rising crime problem .
After Johnson won , he placed greater emphasis on law and order .
The 1967 report is responsible for many of today 's standard law enforcement practices .
The Challenge of Crime recommended technological improvements including separate radio bands for police , fingerprinting systems , and an emergency hotline number that later became 911 .
It was one of the first major documents to recommend combating `` ordinary street crime '' as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's `` war on crime . ''
It also systematized the role of the federal government as a major funder of local and state law enforcement , with spending reaching $ 56 billion by 2016 .
The Johnson Crime Commission followed on the 1929 National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement , generally known as the Wickersham Commission , which conducted some of the first systematic observation of law enforcement in the United States .
Barr , in his remarks , noted that radical changes in technology make a new crime commission all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pace of technological change has meant the rapid evolution of new ways to commit and conceal crimes , '' he said .
`` All of you , because you 're on the front lines , see this every day—from the proliferation of synthetic opioids to the use of warrant-proof encryption and the dark web to sexually exploit the most vulnerable members of society . ''
Important , too , is the trend of crime rates since the '60s .
In the years immediately following the Johnson commission , America experienced a precipitous increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capita rate rising nearly 400 percent between 1960 and 1991 .
Then , crime began an almost equally precipitous decline—today , it stands at roughly the lowest rate in the past 30 years .
Since multiple factors contribute to the crime rate , there is no one explanation as to what caused crime to rise and then drop .
The new commission is not tasked with offering such an explanation , but it will have to think hard about how to make sure a crime wave does not happen again .

Attorney General William Barr on Wednesday announced the formation of a presidential commission on criminal justice, revitalizing a body that in the 1960s fundamentally altered the American criminal justice system.
The new members of the Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice took their oath of office, administered by Barr, Wednesday morning, and immediately set to work on their agenda for the coming months. Barr's remarks linked their work to the last such commission, which was organized by President Lyndon Johnson.
"President Trump is an unwavering supporter of our men and women in blue, and he recognized that this commission is much needed to support law enforcement," Barr said. "It is, to be sure, long overdue. The last time there was a national commission on law enforcement was in 1965."
Barr's allusion to the Johnson crime commission sets the stage for a comprehensive reassessment of the criminal justice system. The new commission's work will likely highlight how the challenges of criminal justice have changed radically over the past half century.
The new commission is a diverse group of law enforcement officers, litigators, and stakeholders from local, state, and federal jurisdictions. It will be chaired by Phil Keith, who currently serves as the director of the Community Oriented Policing Services office within the Justice Department. Other board members include local sheriffs and police chiefs, U.S. attorneys, the Florida attorney general, and the acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
This group, Barr said Wednesday, will discuss key issues facing law enforcement in the 21st century. These include the challenges of mental illness; improving officer recruitment, training, and retention; understanding the rise of mental health problems among police officers; the challenges of new technologies; the causes and effects of "diminished respect" toward police officers; and the better incorporation of social services organizations into the policing process.
The push to establish a new commission on crime has commanded bipartisan backing. Senators Gary Peters (D., Mich.), Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), and John Cornyn (R., Tex.) introduced legislation to establish a commission modeled on the one from 1965. President Donald Trump issued an executive order in October that formally established the commission Barr swore in Wednesday.
Cornyn cheered Wednesday's news as a step in the right direction for American criminal justice.
"An objective review system is necessary to reform our outdated criminal justice system and strengthen law enforcement's ties to our communities," he told the Washington Free Beacon. "I'm grateful to the Administration for taking this important step, and I look forward to working with them to build upon their efforts to reform our justice system and increase public safety."
Trump's order articulates the commission's function as the study of "issues related to law enforcement and the administration of justice." It is also instructed to, within a year, furnish Barr with a final report, presumably similar in scope to the Johnson commission's own 350-page report.
That original 1967 report, The Challenge of Crime in a Free Society, is widely considered—even by critics—a landmark in the history of American criminal justice. During the 1964 presidential election, Johnson opponent Barry Goldwater slammed the incumbent for his lack of focus on America's rising crime problem. After Johnson won, he placed greater emphasis on law and order.
The 1967 report is responsible for many of today's standard law enforcement practices. The Challenge of Crime recommended technological improvements including separate radio bands for police, fingerprinting systems, and an emergency hotline number that later became 911. It was one of the first major documents to recommend combating "ordinary street crime" as a matter of policy, concretizing Johnson's "war on crime." It also systematized the role of the federal government as a major funder of local and state law enforcement, with spending reaching $56 billion by 2016.
The Johnson Crime Commission followed on the 1929 National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement, generally known as the Wickersham Commission, which conducted some of the first systematic observation of law enforcement in the United States.
Barr, in his remarks, noted that radical changes in technology make a new crime commission all the more urgent.
"The incredible pace of technological change has meant the rapid evolution of new ways to commit and conceal crimes," he said. "All of you, because you're on the front lines, see this every day—from the proliferation of synthetic opioids to the use of warrant-proof encryption and the dark web to sexually exploit the most vulnerable members of society."
Important, too, is the trend of crime rates since the '60s. In the years immediately following the Johnson commission, America experienced a precipitous increase in violent crime, with the per capita rate rising nearly 400 percent between 1960 and 1991. Then, crime began an almost equally precipitous decline—today, it stands at roughly the lowest rate in the past 30 years.
Since multiple factors contribute to the crime rate, there is no one explanation as to what caused crime to rise and then drop. The new commission is not tasked with offering such an explanation, but it will have to think hard about how to make sure a crime wave does not happen again.


freebeacon--2020-01-22--Fifteen Years Ago Today, Hillary Clinton Learned the Meaning of True Love

On this day in 2005 , Donald J. Trump married the love of his life , Melania Knauss , in a tasteful church ceremony in Palm Beach , Fla. A grateful nation wishes them all the best as they celebrate 15 happy years together .
One of the attendees at the wedding happened to be a U.S. senator who would go on to become one of the least successful female presidential candidates in American history .
Watching the Trumps declare their love for one another must have been one of the most poignant moments of Hillary Clinton 's life up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 'd be fun to go to his wedding , because it 's always entertaining , '' Clinton said in 2015 , more than a year prior to her humiliating loss to Trump in the general election .
For once , she was telling the truth .
One can only imagine the pride Hillary must feel at having witnessed such a historic event , the joy she must have felt at seeing true love manifested for perhaps the first time in her life .
As a self-proclaimed champion of women , Hillary must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that of a hard-working immigrant model who fled the soul-crushing autocracy of the Iron Curtain only to become the highest-ranking woman in the freest country on earth .

On this day in 2005, Donald J. Trump married the love of his life, Melania Knauss, in a tasteful church ceremony in Palm Beach, Fla. A grateful nation wishes them all the best as they celebrate 15 happy years together.
One of the attendees at the wedding happened to be a U.S. senator who would go on to become one of the least successful female presidential candidates in American history. Watching the Trumps declare their love for one another must have been one of the most poignant moments of Hillary Clinton's life up to that point.
"I thought it'd be fun to go to his wedding, because it's always entertaining," Clinton said in 2015, more than a year prior to her humiliating loss to Trump in the general election. For once, she was telling the truth.
One can only imagine the pride Hillary must feel at having witnessed such a historic event, the joy she must have felt at seeing true love manifested for perhaps the first time in her life. As a self-proclaimed champion of women, Hillary must be in awe of Melania's story, that of a hard-working immigrant model who fled the soul-crushing autocracy of the Iron Curtain only to become the highest-ranking woman in the freest country on earth.
Congratulations, President and Mrs. Trump!


freebeacon--2020-01-22--Gabbard Sues Clinton for Calling Her a ‘Russian Asset’

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard ( D. , Hawaii ) on Wednesday filed a defamation lawsuit against twice-failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton for `` carelessly and recklessly '' accusing her of being a Russian asset .
`` Tulsi Gabbard is running for President of the United States , a position Clinton has long coveted , but has not been able to attain , '' Gabbard 's attorney Brian Dunne said in a statement .
`` Although Rep. Gabbard 's presidential campaign continues to gain momentum , she has seen her political and personal reputation smeared and her candidacy intentionally damaged by Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Gabbard 's lawsuit , which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York , says it seeks to hold `` political elites '' like Clinton accountable for `` distorting the truth in the middle of a critical Presidential election . ''
It also contends that Clinton made her accusations with `` obvious malicious intent . ''
`` The Defamatory Statements have injured Tulsi ’ s reputation , '' the lawsuit says .
`` As a direct and proximate result of Clinton ’ s intentional and malicious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage to her reputation , with direct and substantial injury to her positions as United States Congresswoman ; Presidential candidate ; and officer in the Army National Guard . ''
The lawsuit , which estimates the damages to be $ 50 million and counting , is in response to an October interview in which Clinton claimed President Donald Trump 's reelection campaign is preparing the Russian `` favorite '' Gabbard to run as a third-party candidate .
`` I 'm not making any predictions , but I think they 've got their eye @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic primary and are grooming her to be the third-party candidate , '' Clinton said .
`` She 's the favorite of the Russians .
They have a bunch of sites and bots and other ways of supporting her so far . ''
`` That 's assuming Jill Stein will give it up , which she might not , because she 's also a Russian asset , '' Clinton added .
`` She 's a Russian asset , I mean totally . ''
Gabbard responded at the time by calling Clinton the `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corruption , and personification of the rot that has sickened the Democratic Party for so long . ''

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D., Hawaii) on Wednesday filed a defamation lawsuit against twice-failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton for "carelessly and recklessly" accusing her of being a Russian asset.
"Tulsi Gabbard is running for President of the United States, a position Clinton has long coveted, but has not been able to attain," Gabbard's attorney Brian Dunne said in a statement. "Although Rep. Gabbard's presidential campaign continues to gain momentum, she has seen her political and personal reputation smeared and her candidacy intentionally damaged by Clinton's malicious and demonstrably false remarks."
Gabbard's lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, says it seeks to hold "political elites" like Clinton accountable for "distorting the truth in the middle of a critical Presidential election." It also contends that Clinton made her accusations with "obvious malicious intent."
"The Defamatory Statements have injured Tulsi’s reputation," the lawsuit says. "As a direct and proximate result of Clinton’s intentional and malicious misconduct, Tulsi has suffered anguish and damage to her reputation, with direct and substantial injury to her positions as United States Congresswoman; Presidential candidate; and officer in the Army National Guard."
The lawsuit, which estimates the damages to be $50 million and counting, is in response to an October interview in which Clinton claimed President Donald Trump's reelection campaign is preparing the Russian "favorite" Gabbard to run as a third-party candidate.
"I'm not making any predictions, but I think they've got their eye on somebody who is currently in the Democratic primary and are grooming her to be the third-party candidate," Clinton said. "She's the favorite of the Russians. They have a bunch of sites and bots and other ways of supporting her so far."
"That's assuming Jill Stein will give it up, which she might not, because she's also a Russian asset," Clinton added. "She's a Russian asset, I mean totally."
Gabbard responded at the time by calling Clinton the "the queen of warmongers, embodiment of corruption, and personification of the rot that has sickened the Democratic Party for so long."
https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1185289627936219136?s=20
https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1185289629148291078?s=20


freebeacon--2020-01-22--Biden: ‘Amazing’ That Sanders Would Criticize My Old Statement

Immediately after criticizing Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) for digging into his old votes in the Senate , former vice president Joe Biden took aim at votes Sanders took back in the 1990s .
`` I find it amazing that we go back and look at statements , most of them taken out of context of 10 , 20 , 30 , 35 years ago .
It 's like my going back and pointing out how Bernie voted against the Brady Bill five times while I was trying to get it passed when he was in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday appearance on Morning Joe .
`` Or how he voted to protect gun manufacturers as the only group in America you ca n't sue . ''
`` He 's made up for that , '' Biden added .
Morning Joe co-anchor Willie Geist asked Biden about Sanders 's criticism of his record on Social Security .
Biden and Sanders have attacked each other over the issue of entitlement spending .
Sanders posted a campaign advertisement Tuesday night with a recording of Biden talking on the Senate floor in 1995 about freezing federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entitlement programs .
`` When I argued if we should freeze federal spending , I meant Social Security as well .
I meant Medicare and Medicaid .
I meant veterans ' benefits .
I meant every single solitary thing in the government , '' Biden says in the advertisement .
`` Well we 've got some bad news for them , '' Sanders tells a crowd in the advertisement .
`` We are not going to cut Social Security , we 're going to expand benefits . ''
Geist asked if Biden would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elected president .
Biden said he would n't cut benefits and defended his 1995 comments as occurring in the context of an impending government shutdown .
`` Did you think these attacks from the Sanders campaign are dishonest ? ''
Geist asked .
`` What I do n't want to do is start to characterize them .
I accept the apology and I hope we 'll argue on the facts , '' Biden said .
Sanders apologized to Biden on Tuesday for an op-ed written by Sanders surrogate Zephyr Teachout alleging that Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` It looks like ‘ Middle Class ' Joe has perfected the art of taking big contributions , then representing his corporate donors at the cost of middle- and working-class Americans , '' Teachout wrote .
`` It is absolutely not my view that Joe is corrupt in any way .
And I ’ m sorry that that op-ed appeared , '' Sanders said .
Sanders voted against five versions of the Brady Bill , which mandated waiting periods for background checks on gun purchases , as a representative between 1991 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comments on Social Security .

Immediately after criticizing Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) for digging into his old votes in the Senate, former vice president Joe Biden took aim at votes Sanders took back in the 1990s.
"I find it amazing that we go back and look at statements, most of them taken out of context of 10, 20, 30, 35 years ago. It's like my going back and pointing out how Bernie voted against the Brady Bill five times while I was trying to get it passed when he was in the House," Biden said during a Wednesday appearance on Morning Joe. "Or how he voted to protect gun manufacturers as the only group in America you can't sue."
"He's made up for that," Biden added.
Morning Joe co-anchor Willie Geist asked Biden about Sanders's criticism of his record on Social Security. Biden and Sanders have attacked each other over the issue of entitlement spending. Sanders posted a campaign advertisement Tuesday night with a recording of Biden talking on the Senate floor in 1995 about freezing federal spending, including Social Security and other entitlement programs.
"When I argued if we should freeze federal spending, I meant Social Security as well. I meant Medicare and Medicaid. I meant veterans' benefits. I meant every single solitary thing in the government," Biden says in the advertisement.
"Well we've got some bad news for them," Sanders tells a crowd in the advertisement. "We are not going to cut Social Security, we're going to expand benefits."
Let’s be honest, Joe. One of us fought for decades to cut Social Security, and one of us didn’t. But don’t take it from me. Take it from you. pic.twitter.com/qh7qb1Hmcl — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) January 22, 2020
Geist asked if Biden would cut Social Security benefits if he was elected president. Biden said he wouldn't cut benefits and defended his 1995 comments as occurring in the context of an impending government shutdown.
"Did you think these attacks from the Sanders campaign are dishonest?" Geist asked.
"What I don't want to do is start to characterize them. I accept the apology and I hope we'll argue on the facts," Biden said.
Sanders apologized to Biden on Tuesday for an op-ed written by Sanders surrogate Zephyr Teachout alleging that Biden has a "big corruption problem."
"It looks like 'Middle Class' Joe has perfected the art of taking big contributions, then representing his corporate donors at the cost of middle- and working-class Americans," Teachout wrote.
"It is absolutely not my view that Joe is corrupt in any way. And I’m sorry that that op-ed appeared," Sanders said.
Sanders voted against five versions of the Brady Bill, which mandated waiting periods for background checks on gun purchases, as a representative between 1991 and 1993, two years before Biden's comments on Social Security.


freebeacon--2020-01-22--Virginia Dem: Gun-Rights Rally Was ‘Terrorism’

A Virginia Democrat said Tuesday that Second Amendment supporters who protested new gun-control legislation at the Virginia State Capitol had `` terrorized Richmond . ''
House Delegate Lee Carter , a self-professed democratic socialist , accused participants in Monday 's peaceful protest of menacing lawmakers , saying the thousands of `` idiots '' who demonstrated would only embolden the Democratic majority on gun control .
`` The ‘ pro-gun ' people that terrorized Richmond yesterday probably do n't realize that all they did was tag team with fascists , strengthen the liberals ' resolve to pass gun control bills , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me ) to not show up for a day , '' Carter said .
`` Idiots .
Absolute idiots . ''
Contrary to Carter 's rhetoric , Monday 's rally `` concluded without a single incidence of mayhem or civil unrest , '' reported Washington Free Beacon staff writer Stephen Gutowski , who interviewed various protesters .
Gov .
Ralph Northam ( D. ) , who declared a state of emergency leading up to the rally , acknowledged the event was peaceful .
One rally supporter criticized Carter on Twitter for mischaracterizing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bunch of dudes in masks terrorist [ sic ] yesterday for…..wearing masks . ''
`` Nah , '' Carter responded , `` pretty sure it was the terrorism . ''
Carter declined to comment when the Free Beacon asked to clarify what he meant by `` terrorism . ''
Upon declaring the state of emergency , Northam temporarily banned firearms from capitol grounds .
Carter claimed he spent Monday at a safe house after he received death threats on social media in the weeks leading up to the rally .
Monday 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defense League , a pro-Second Amendment group .

A Virginia Democrat said Tuesday that Second Amendment supporters who protested new gun-control legislation at the Virginia State Capitol had "terrorized Richmond."
House Delegate Lee Carter, a self-professed democratic socialist, accused participants in Monday's peaceful protest of menacing lawmakers, saying the thousands of "idiots" who demonstrated would only embolden the Democratic majority on gun control.
"The 'pro-gun' people that terrorized Richmond yesterday probably don't realize that all they did was tag team with fascists, strengthen the liberals' resolve to pass gun control bills, and force the most gun-friendly Dem (me) to not show up for a day," Carter said. "Idiots. Absolute idiots."
The "pro-gun" people that terrorized Richmond yesterday probably don't realize that all they did was tag team with fascists, strengthen the liberals' resolve to pass gun control bills, and force the most gun-friendly Dem (me) to not show up for a day. Idiots. Absolute idiots. — Lee J. Carter (@carterforva) January 21, 2020
Contrary to Carter's rhetoric, Monday's rally "concluded without a single incidence of mayhem or civil unrest," reported Washington Free Beacon staff writer Stephen Gutowski, who interviewed various protesters. Gov. Ralph Northam (D.), who declared a state of emergency leading up to the rally, acknowledged the event was peaceful.
One rally supporter criticized Carter on Twitter for mischaracterizing the protest, saying he had called "a bunch of dudes in masks terrorist [sic] yesterday for.....wearing masks."
"Nah," Carter responded, "pretty sure it was the terrorism."
Nah, pretty sure it was the terrorism. https://t.co/OvWsdfWz8P — Lee J. Carter (@carterforva) January 21, 2020
Carter declined to comment when the Free Beacon asked to clarify what he meant by "terrorism."
Upon declaring the state of emergency, Northam temporarily banned firearms from capitol grounds. Carter claimed he spent Monday at a safe house after he received death threats on social media in the weeks leading up to the rally.
.@Iraqveteran8888 FYI, your video titled "Gun Gripes #217" starts off with blatantly wrong information about one of my bills, which you disseminated to your 2.2M subscribers. People have been threatening to assassinate me over that misinformation. Retract it and let's talk. — Lee J. Carter (@carterforva) December 31, 2019
Monday's rally was organized by the Virginia Citizens Defense League, a pro-Second Amendment group.


freebeacon--2020-01-23--Elizabeth Warren Should Do The Right Thing and Drop Out Now

Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) is probably right that a female candidate does n't stand a chance of beating President Donald J. Trump in the general election .
That does n't mean a woman ca n't win the Democratic primary .
In fact , for all intents and purposes , a woman has already won the contest and her name is n't Elizabeth Warren .
Thanks to Pelosi 's strategic decision to delay sending the House-approved articles of impeachment to the Senate , Warren does n't really have a choice but to drop out .
The most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states does not bode well for her chances .
A new WBUR poll published Thursday found Warren in fourth place at 13 percent among likely Democratic voters in New Hampshire .
Sanders , meanwhile , had opened up a commanding lead , at 29 percent , which is an improvement of 14 percentage points since December .
Unemployed 38-year-old Pete Buttigieg was in second place at 17 percent , while Joe Biden placed third at 14 percent .
The WBUR poll also showed Sanders with a significant advantage in terms of favorability , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favorable opinion of the elderly socialist , compared to just 60 percent for Warren and 57 percent for Biden .
The most recent voter survey from `` the best pollster in Iowa '' also found Sanders leading both Warren and Biden , albeit by a smaller margin .
National polling , meanwhile , continues to show Warren lagging behind in third place .
She is polling at just 14.8 percent nationally , according to the RealClearPolitics polling average , compared to 22 percent for Sanders and 28.7 percent for Biden .
A recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders outperforming all other Democratic candidates in a hypothetical matchup against President Trump .
According to the poll , voters preferred Sanders to Trump by a margin of 52 percent to 43 percent , while Warren edged the incumbent president by a much smaller margin , 48 percent to 45 percent .
Warren 's desperate gambit to improve her standing in the race , which involved the not-so-subtle `` leak '' of a private conversation in which Sanders allegedly told her he did n't think a woman could become president , has failed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by ending her misguided campaign in order to focus on the important work of impeaching Trump in the Senate .
Meanwhile , Biden , the Democratic frontrunner , can hit the campaign trail in Iowa and New Hampshire , where he 'll either lock up the party 's nomination or humiliate himself out of contention , paving the way for a Sanders victory .
Warren is understandably upset by how the Democratic primary has played out .
She 's even managed to disappoint Michael Moore , of all people .
After her attempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planned , Warren has taken to lashing out at voters on the campaign trail .
The stress of those endless `` selfie '' sessions is clearly starting to weigh on her .
It 's time for Warren to do the right thing and stop the madness before things get out of hand .

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) is probably right that a female candidate doesn't stand a chance of beating President Donald J. Trump in the general election. That doesn't mean a woman can't win the Democratic primary. In fact, for all intents and purposes, a woman has already won the contest and her name isn't Elizabeth Warren.
It's Nancy Pelosi.
Thanks to Pelosi's strategic decision to delay sending the House-approved articles of impeachment to the Senate, Warren doesn't really have a choice but to drop out. The most recent polling out of the early primary states does not bode well for her chances.
A new WBUR poll published Thursday found Warren in fourth place at 13 percent among likely Democratic voters in New Hampshire. Sanders, meanwhile, had opened up a commanding lead, at 29 percent, which is an improvement of 14 percentage points since December. Unemployed 38-year-old Pete Buttigieg was in second place at 17 percent, while Joe Biden placed third at 14 percent.
The WBUR poll also showed Sanders with a significant advantage in terms of favorability, with 74 percent of respondents expressing a favorable opinion of the elderly socialist, compared to just 60 percent for Warren and 57 percent for Biden.
The most recent voter survey from "the best pollster in Iowa" also found Sanders leading both Warren and Biden, albeit by a smaller margin. National polling, meanwhile, continues to show Warren lagging behind in third place. She is polling at just 14.8 percent nationally, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average, compared to 22 percent for Sanders and 28.7 percent for Biden.
A recent SurveyUSA poll of registered voters nationwide found Sanders outperforming all other Democratic candidates in a hypothetical matchup against President Trump. According to the poll, voters preferred Sanders to Trump by a margin of 52 percent to 43 percent, while Warren edged the incumbent president by a much smaller margin, 48 percent to 45 percent.
Warren's desperate gambit to improve her standing in the race, which involved the not-so-subtle "leak" of a private conversation in which Sanders allegedly told her he didn't think a woman could become president, has failed. She should do the right thing by ending her misguided campaign in order to focus on the important work of impeaching Trump in the Senate.
Meanwhile, Biden, the Democratic frontrunner, can hit the campaign trail in Iowa and New Hampshire, where he'll either lock up the party's nomination or humiliate himself out of contention, paving the way for a Sanders victory.
Warren is understandably upset by how the Democratic primary has played out. She's even managed to disappoint Michael Moore, of all people. After her attempt to shiv Bernie didn't go as planned, Warren has taken to lashing out at voters on the campaign trail. The stress of those endless "selfie" sessions is clearly starting to weigh on her. It's time for Warren to do the right thing and stop the madness before things get out of hand.


freebeacon--2020-01-23--Pole Dancers Condemn Buttigieg For Canceling Event at Gay Club Over Stripper Pole

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg may want to get his supporters to the polls , but his refusal to bring them to a pole is drawing the ire of some in the LGBT community .
The former South Bend , Ind.
, mayor 's campaign canceled a fundraiser at Dark Lady , a gay Rhode Island nightclub , following a dispute over the presence of a stripper pole , according to the venue .
Dark Lady 's manager told WPRI that campaign staffers asked the club to remove the pole before the event .
When the club refused , staffers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is what the gay candidate does to the gay community !
# downonthepoles # dancersforanyoneelse , '' the owners complained on Facebook .
`` We 're open , we 're here , we 're queer , get over it ! ''
The Buttigieg campaign 's cancellation angered pole dancers including Steven Retchless , an America 's Got Talent semi-finalist and the 2010 American Pole Fitness Champion .
`` The pole stigma is associated with sex work , but sex workers whether they 're on a pole or not are humans , too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for providing a service as old as time , '' Retchless told the Washington Blade .
`` Get over it and support the whole gay community . ''
Philip Deal , founder of Mr .
Pole Dance America , told the LGBT publication that Buttigieg 's decision was `` shameful . ''
`` This points to a bigger issue in the LGBT community which is young gay people do n't know our history and that 's a serious problem .
LGBTQ people died for the right to walk into a bar , dance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without having to fear police brutality , '' Deal said .
`` If Pete Buttigieg does not want to embrace our glorious gay culture , he does n't need the gay vote . ''
The Rhode Island fundraiser was supposed to feature an appearance from Buttigieg 's husband , Chasten .
The openly gay candidate disputed the idea that he was insensitive to `` inclusive spaces . ''
`` Our commitment to LGBTQ+ spaces is strong and we always strive to hold events in inclusive spaces , '' the Buttigieg campaign said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know first-hand how important it is for members of the LGBTQ+ community to have a safe space to gather and our campaign would never do anything to intentionally disrespect such a space . ''

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg may want to get his supporters to the polls, but his refusal to bring them to a pole is drawing the ire of some in the LGBT community.
The former South Bend, Ind., mayor's campaign canceled a fundraiser at Dark Lady, a gay Rhode Island nightclub, following a dispute over the presence of a stripper pole, according to the venue.
Dark Lady's manager told WPRI that campaign staffers asked the club to remove the pole before the event. When the club refused, staffers canceled the fundraiser. "We guess this is what the gay candidate does to the gay community! #downonthepoles #dancersforanyoneelse," the owners complained on Facebook. "We're open, we're here, we're queer, get over it!"
The Buttigieg campaign's cancellation angered pole dancers including Steven Retchless, an America's Got Talent semi-finalist and the 2010 American Pole Fitness Champion.
"The pole stigma is associated with sex work, but sex workers whether they're on a pole or not are humans, too, and shouldn't be discriminated against for providing a service as old as time," Retchless told the Washington Blade. "Get over it and support the whole gay community."
Philip Deal, founder of Mr. Pole Dance America, told the LGBT publication that Buttigieg's decision was "shameful."
"This points to a bigger issue in the LGBT community which is young gay people don't know our history and that's a serious problem. LGBTQ people died for the right to walk into a bar, dance, and hold hands with their lovers without having to fear police brutality," Deal said. "If Pete Buttigieg does not want to embrace our glorious gay culture, he doesn't need the gay vote."
The Rhode Island fundraiser was supposed to feature an appearance from Buttigieg's husband, Chasten. The openly gay candidate disputed the idea that he was insensitive to "inclusive spaces."
"Our commitment to LGBTQ+ spaces is strong and we always strive to hold events in inclusive spaces," the Buttigieg campaign said in a statement. "Pete and Chasten know first-hand how important it is for members of the LGBTQ+ community to have a safe space to gather and our campaign would never do anything to intentionally disrespect such a space."


freebeacon--2020-01-23--San Francisco D.A. Announces End to Cash Bail

Chesa Boudin , San Francisco 's notoriously progressive district attorney , announced Wednesday that his office will no longer support cash bail , becoming the latest law enforcement figure to come out against the practice .
Instead of asking judges to set cash bail as a condition of a defendant 's release before trial , Boudin 's office will instead proffer a `` risk assessment '' as to whether or not a defendant is likely to abscond or pose a threat to public safety .
The abolition of bail was one of Boudin 's main promises during his campaign for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco Chronicle reports .
`` For years I ’ ve been fighting to end this discriminatory and unsafe approach to pretrial detention , '' Boudin said .
`` From this point forward , pretrial detention will be based on public safety , not on wealth . ''
The move further marks Boudin—the son of jailed left-wing terrorists who campaigned on refusing to prosecute quality-of-life offenses—as at the forefront of the `` progressive prosecutor '' movement .
It is also another milestone in the push for abolishing cash bail , a practice opponents call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice experts the Washington Free Beacon spoke to , however , cautioned that Boudin 's decision was both outside of his discretion and will likely further embroil his city in a petty crime crisis .
Boudin 's decision extends the work of his predecessor , George Gascón , who helped organize a pilot program to use a risk assessment algorithm to help judges make bail decisions .
Boudin 's office on Wednesday praised the tool , which was designed by the left-leaning Laura and John Arnold Foundation , a major player in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals released by the algorithm reoffended , KQED reports , while 20 percent failed to appear for subsequent hearings .
Boudin 's announcement adopts a familiar argument from opponents of cash bail—imposing a monetary barrier to release discriminates on the basis of wealth , meaning that poor people are routinely locked up without even having been convicted .
As Boudin 's campaign put it on its website , `` Money bail is the system where innocent people can be kept in jail because they 're poor , while wealthy people who are guilty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same time , the end of bail may mean higher rates of release , particularly for petty criminals , i.e.
, those not judged dangerous by the algorithm , but are a nuisance to society .
That could be a major issue for a city already struggling with quality-of-life offenses .
As the Free Beacon recently reported , San Francisco has faced a surge of transit crime , which a grand jury report linked to pervasive disorder and fare evasion .
Such disorder extends to San Francisco 's streets , which are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and human feces . ''
Drug overdose is also on the rise , as preliminary data from the San Francisco Chronicle indicate that deaths involving the opioids fentanyl and heroin more than doubled between 2018 and 2019 .
Amid this chaos , Boudin said during his campaign that he would not prosecute quality-of-life offenses like `` public camping , offering or soliciting sex , public urination , and blocking a sidewalk , '' but would instead focus on police misconduct and corporate crime .
Kerry Jackson , a fellow at the Pacific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety issues , told the Free Beacon that Boudin 's choice to end cash bail is part-and-parcel with his unwillingness to address San Francisco 's crime problems .
`` It fits with his decision to look the other way at the quality-of-life crimes that are driving the city downward , '' Jackson said .
`` I think people are going to say he 's making the best effort possible to increase crime in San Francisco .
That might not be his intention , but that 's likely to be the outcome . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision : whether he has the discretion to unilaterally abolish cash bail .
Although San Franciscans elected Boudin knowing his plans for money bail , a larger controversy around bail reform is still brewing in the Golden State .
In 2018 , then-governor Jerry Brown ( D. ) signed legislation , S.B .
10 , to abolish cash bail statewide .
But a coalition organized to get a veto referendum on the 2020 ballot , putting S.B .
10 on hold until Californians decide if cash bail should be enshrined in their state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Sacramento-based Criminal Justice Legal Foundation , told the Free Beacon that Boudin 's move risks usurping this democratic process .
`` California 's Constitution and laws include cash bail in appropriate cases , and it is not for the district attorney to repeal these provisions by not requesting bail , '' Scheidegger said .
`` Judges should continue the present practice until the people vote on it in November , no matter what the DA says . ''
Both Boudin 's decision and the California referendum play into the national drama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate .
A number of states have implemented various alternatives to cash bail .
Early evidence suggests that there have been successes , but some jurisdictions have also faced backlash .
Alaska rolled back its bail reforms after violent crime rates soared ( although whether the changes caused the increase is up for debate ) .
New York state is facing its own crisis as its bail reform law , in effect since the start of the year , has been blamed for exacerbating the rash of anti-Semitic violence in New York City @ @ @ @

Chesa Boudin, San Francisco's notoriously progressive district attorney, announced Wednesday that his office will no longer support cash bail, becoming the latest law enforcement figure to come out against the practice.
Instead of asking judges to set cash bail as a condition of a defendant's release before trial, Boudin's office will instead proffer a "risk assessment" as to whether or not a defendant is likely to abscond or pose a threat to public safety. The abolition of bail was one of Boudin's main promises during his campaign for D.A. last year, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
"For years I’ve been fighting to end this discriminatory and unsafe approach to pretrial detention," Boudin said. "From this point forward, pretrial detention will be based on public safety, not on wealth."
The move further marks Boudin—the son of jailed left-wing terrorists who campaigned on refusing to prosecute quality-of-life offenses—as at the forefront of the "progressive prosecutor" movement. It is also another milestone in the push for abolishing cash bail, a practice opponents call unfair and socioeconomically discriminatory. California criminal justice experts the Washington Free Beacon spoke to, however, cautioned that Boudin's decision was both outside of his discretion and will likely further embroil his city in a petty crime crisis.
Boudin's decision extends the work of his predecessor, George Gascón, who helped organize a pilot program to use a risk assessment algorithm to help judges make bail decisions. Boudin's office on Wednesday praised the tool, which was designed by the left-leaning Laura and John Arnold Foundation, a major player in the bail reform movement. Six percent of individuals released by the algorithm reoffended, KQED reports, while 20 percent failed to appear for subsequent hearings.
Boudin's announcement adopts a familiar argument from opponents of cash bail—imposing a monetary barrier to release discriminates on the basis of wealth, meaning that poor people are routinely locked up without even having been convicted. As Boudin's campaign put it on its website, "Money bail is the system where innocent people can be kept in jail because they're poor, while wealthy people who are guilty and dangerous go free."
At the same time, the end of bail may mean higher rates of release, particularly for petty criminals, i.e., those not judged dangerous by the algorithm, but are a nuisance to society. That could be a major issue for a city already struggling with quality-of-life offenses.
As the Free Beacon recently reported, San Francisco has faced a surge of transit crime, which a grand jury report linked to pervasive disorder and fare evasion. Such disorder extends to San Francisco's streets, which are increasingly strewn with "trash, needles, and human feces." Drug overdose is also on the rise, as preliminary data from the San Francisco Chronicle indicate that deaths involving the opioids fentanyl and heroin more than doubled between 2018 and 2019.
Amid this chaos, Boudin said during his campaign that he would not prosecute quality-of-life offenses like "public camping, offering or soliciting sex, public urination, and blocking a sidewalk," but would instead focus on police misconduct and corporate crime.
Kerry Jackson, a fellow at the Pacific Research Institute who has written on public safety issues, told the Free Beacon that Boudin's choice to end cash bail is part-and-parcel with his unwillingness to address San Francisco's crime problems.
"It fits with his decision to look the other way at the quality-of-life crimes that are driving the city downward," Jackson said. "I think people are going to say he's making the best effort possible to increase crime in San Francisco. That might not be his intention, but that's likely to be the outcome."
There's another concern about Boudin's decision: whether he has the discretion to unilaterally abolish cash bail. Although San Franciscans elected Boudin knowing his plans for money bail, a larger controversy around bail reform is still brewing in the Golden State. In 2018, then-governor Jerry Brown (D.) signed legislation, S.B. 10, to abolish cash bail statewide. But a coalition organized to get a veto referendum on the 2020 ballot, putting S.B. 10 on hold until Californians decide if cash bail should be enshrined in their state constitution.
Kent Scheidegger, legal director of the Sacramento-based Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, told the Free Beacon that Boudin's move risks usurping this democratic process.
"California's Constitution and laws include cash bail in appropriate cases, and it is not for the district attorney to repeal these provisions by not requesting bail," Scheidegger said. "Judges should continue the present practice until the people vote on it in November, no matter what the DA says."
Both Boudin's decision and the California referendum play into the national drama of the ongoing "bail reform" debate. A number of states have implemented various alternatives to cash bail. Early evidence suggests that there have been successes, but some jurisdictions have also faced backlash. Alaska rolled back its bail reforms after violent crime rates soared (although whether the changes caused the increase is up for debate). New York state is facing its own crisis as its bail reform law, in effect since the start of the year, has been blamed for exacerbating the rash of anti-Semitic violence in New York City and outlying suburbs.


freebeacon--2020-01-23--Adam Schiff Dazzles the Press

Adam Schiff Dazzles the Press

Mainstream media and liberal commentators said Rep. Adam Schiff ( D. , Calif. ) would be remembered for `` generations @ @ @ @ @ `` dazzling , '' `` masterful , '' `` very very good , '' `` @ @ @ @ @ `` awfully impressive , '' `` expert , '' `` brilliant , '' `` absolutely @ @ @ @ @ `` virtuoso '' in his opening statement for President Donald Trump 's impeachment trial .
@ @ @ @ @ at the Washington Free Beacon .
He was previously a sports reporter for two years @ @ @ @ @ freelance sports reporting for the Washington Post .
He graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2010 @ @ @ @ @ Ga. His Twitter handle is @ DavidRutz .
He can be reached at rutz @ @ @

Mainstream media and liberal commentators said Rep. Adam Schiff (D., Calif.) would be remembered for "generations to come" and was "dazzling," "masterful," "very very good," "very very powerful," "awfully impressive," "expert," "brilliant," "absolutely brilliant," and a "virtuoso" in his opening statement for President Donald Trump's impeachment trial.