freebeacon--2020-08-31--Putin Critic Beaten in Moscow

Putin Critic Beaten in Moscow

Staunch Kremlin critic and opposition voice Yegor Zhukov was savagely beaten on the streets of Moscow by unidentified assailants Sunday night , the Washington Post reported .
The thugs approached and attacked Zhukov outside of his apartment in Moscow and escaped by scooter .
Zhukov was sent to the hospital following the attack , but was released with no serious brain injury or internal bleeding .
`` I have not suffered any property damage , but my face is broken and I feel very bad , '' Zhukov said to Russian police .
`` I believe that the attackers attempted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for this purpose they inflicted multiple blows on my head , including after I fell to the ground . ''
The 22-year-old YouTube blogger is a prominent libertarian critic of the Putin regime .
He was previously arrested in 2019 on charges of organizing a protest against Moscow ’ s suppression of anti-Kremlin candidates running for city council .
`` I don ’ t know if I will be free , but Russia will definitely be free , '' he told Russian courts last December in his defense .
Zhukov is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent months to face a life-threatening attack .
Opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned this month and denied access by Russian doctors to toxicology care in a German hospital early on during his hospitalization .
And popular provincial governor Sergei Furgal was detained by Russian authorities in July on charges of murder dating back to the early 2000s , causing a wave of protests across the Russian Far East .
Some suspect these attacks are all prongs of the same Putin power grab .
Recent constitutional changes render Putin a strongman until 2036 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to beat Yegor Zhukov was given by the same people who ordered the poisoning of Navalny , '' opposition chairman Leonid Gozman said .
`` They also started a war against Ukraine , intimidate Belarus , and plunder the country . ''
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov downplayed the pattern of attacks on Putin critics .
`` We don ’ t know who beat up Zhukov , and we don ’ t know why , but we do know that officers of law enforcement are conducting inquiries , '' he said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ admittance to a prestigious master ’ s program at Moscow ’ s Higher School of Economics .
After only 90 minutes , the school revoked Zhukov ’ s admission in what he asserted was a decision `` connected to politics . ''
`` No professional political scientist with common sense would call the regime of Vladimir Putin effective and the situation in Russia today desirable , '' Zhukov told viewers hours before his beating and subsequent hospitalization .

Yegor Zhukov is the third prominent opposition voice to face retaliation in recent months
Staunch Kremlin critic and opposition voice Yegor Zhukov was savagely beaten on the streets of Moscow by unidentified assailants Sunday night, the Washington Post reported.
The thugs approached and attacked Zhukov outside of his apartment in Moscow and escaped by scooter. Zhukov was sent to the hospital following the attack, but was released with no serious brain injury or internal bleeding.
"I have not suffered any property damage, but my face is broken and I feel very bad," Zhukov said to Russian police. "I believe that the attackers attempted to cause serious harm to my health, for this purpose they inflicted multiple blows on my head, including after I fell to the ground."
The 22-year-old YouTube blogger is a prominent libertarian critic of the Putin regime. He was previously arrested in 2019 on charges of organizing a protest against Moscow’s suppression of anti-Kremlin candidates running for city council.
"I don’t know if I will be free, but Russia will definitely be free," he told Russian courts last December in his defense.
Zhukov is not the first Russian critic of Putin in recent months to face a life-threatening attack. Opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned this month and denied access by Russian doctors to toxicology care in a German hospital early on during his hospitalization. And popular provincial governor Sergei Furgal was detained by Russian authorities in July on charges of murder dating back to the early 2000s, causing a wave of protests across the Russian Far East.
Some suspect these attacks are all prongs of the same Putin power grab. Recent constitutional changes render Putin a strongman until 2036.
"I am sure that the order to beat Yegor Zhukov was given by the same people who ordered the poisoning of Navalny," opposition chairman Leonid Gozman said. "They also started a war against Ukraine, intimidate Belarus, and plunder the country."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov downplayed the pattern of attacks on Putin critics. "We don’t know who beat up Zhukov, and we don’t know why, but we do know that officers of law enforcement are conducting inquiries," he said.
The attack on Zhukov came hours after his admittance to a prestigious master’s program at Moscow’s Higher School of Economics. After only 90 minutes, the school revoked Zhukov’s admission in what he asserted was a decision "connected to politics."
"No professional political scientist with common sense would call the regime of Vladimir Putin effective and the situation in Russia today desirable," Zhukov told viewers hours before his beating and subsequent hospitalization.


freebeacon--2020-08-31--A Lifetime of Lawlessness: Joe Biden’s Scandalous Tenure as Grade School Safety Officer

Former vice president Joe Biden gave a speech in Pittsburgh on Monday to renounce the Democratic Party 's widespread complacency in the face of violent unrest .
`` Rioting is not protesting .
Looting is not protesting .
Setting fires is not protesting .
None of this is protesting , '' Biden said in a direct rebuke to CNN and other mainstream media networks .
`` It 's lawlessness .
Plain and simple .
And those who do it should be prosecuted . ''
Biden declined to take questions from the media .
Nevertheless , professional journalists agreed that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ career—surpassing the career-defining speech he gave at the Democratic convention 12 days ago .
A speech , however , is just words .
Biden 's actions in the face of lawlessness suggest those words can not be trusted .
Last week , for example , the Washington Post published a shocking account of Biden 's brief tenure as a safety patrol officer at the Catholic elementary school the former vice president attended : Instead , with his father ’ s gentle encouragement , he turned in his badge and quit the patrol .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he decided—even if members of that family stretched the rules a little .
Not surprisingly , the mainstream media have ignored this disgraceful episode and refused to hold Biden accountable .
The former VP 's brief career in law enforcement was defined by a refusal to enforce the rules and tarnished by a nepotism scandal that prompted his resignation .
Speaking directly to voters on Monday , Biden asked : `` Do I look like a radical socialist with a soft spot for rioters ? ''
Unfortunately , he neglected to provide some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Former vice president Joe Biden gave a speech in Pittsburgh on Monday to renounce the Democratic Party's widespread complacency in the face of violent unrest.
"Rioting is not protesting. Looting is not protesting. Setting fires is not protesting. None of this is protesting," Biden said in a direct rebuke to CNN and other mainstream media networks. "It's lawlessness. Plain and simple. And those who do it should be prosecuted."
Biden declined to take questions from the media. Nevertheless, professional journalists agreed that the speech was the best of Biden's career—surpassing the career-defining speech he gave at the Democratic convention 12 days ago.
A speech, however, is just words. Biden's actions in the face of lawlessness suggest those words cannot be trusted.
Last week, for example, the Washington Post published a shocking account of Biden's brief tenure as a safety patrol officer at the Catholic elementary school the former vice president attended:
When Joe Biden was in elementary school, the nuns put him on safety patrol, giving him a shiny blue badge. One day on the bus, his sister Valerie acted up, and Biden knew his duty was to report her.


freebeacon--2020-08-31--County Seizes Property From L.A. Church Challenging Coronavirus Restrictions

A California church challenged local coronavirus restrictions on worship services , and county authorities responded by canceling the church 's five-decade-old lease .
County officials informed Grace Community Church that it will terminate its decades-old lease on a parking lot after the church filed a lawsuit over local restrictions against in-person worship .
The county told the church in a letter it intends to terminate the lease of a large section of the parking lot that the church leases , threatening to forcibly remove any of the church 's property that remained in the lot .
`` If Grace fails @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the District may enter the premises and remove Grace 's personal property in accordance with the Agreement and applicable law , and Grace will be responsible for any resultant expenses incurred by the District , '' the letter states .
Jenna Ellis , special counsel to the Thomas More Society , said the move is meant to punish a religious organization for requesting the same privileges afforded to protesters .
She accused county officials of attempting to `` abuse their power through burdensome , restrictive , and unconstitutional orders '' and retaliate against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is clearly trying to evict Grace Church from use of their parking lot for no other reason than because Pastor John [ MacArthur ] stood firm and is challenging their power , '' she said .
`` This is the essence of tyranny . ''
The Public Works Department did not respond to multiple requests for comment concerning the alleged retaliation .
The church has leased the parking lot since 1975 without interruption .
The county has given the church until October 1 to vacate the lot .
Ellis , a Trump campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should not make people lose sight of how critical local elections are to the preservation of First Amendment rights .
`` This kind of blatant retaliation from government shows why state and local elections are so critically important , '' she said .
`` We have to put in office at every level people who understand their obligation is to protect and preserve the rights of pastors like John MacArthur to assemble and freely exercise religion . ''
The church returned to in-person indoor services in July following more than a month of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement .
While state and local officials turned a blind eye to—and in some cases participated in—the demonstrations that attracted tens of thousands of people , church leaders filed suit .
The lawsuit argues that the ongoing state and local coronavirus restrictions violate the church 's First Amendment rights and unconstitutionally favor political protests over religious services .
The church won a temporary victory last week when a judge rejected the county 's attempt to obtain a temporary restraining order to shut down church services .
A hearing is scheduled for Friday .

A California church challenged local coronavirus restrictions on worship services, and county authorities responded by canceling the church's five-decade-old lease.
County officials informed Grace Community Church that it will terminate its decades-old lease on a parking lot after the church filed a lawsuit over local restrictions against in-person worship. The county told the church in a letter it intends to terminate the lease of a large section of the parking lot that the church leases, threatening to forcibly remove any of the church's property that remained in the lot.
"If Grace fails to vacate the premise as required, the District may enter the premises and remove Grace's personal property in accordance with the Agreement and applicable law, and Grace will be responsible for any resultant expenses incurred by the District," the letter states.
Jenna Ellis, special counsel to the Thomas More Society, said the move is meant to punish a religious organization for requesting the same privileges afforded to protesters. She accused county officials of attempting to "abuse their power through burdensome, restrictive, and unconstitutional orders" and retaliate against those who object.
"L.A. County is clearly trying to evict Grace Church from use of their parking lot for no other reason than because Pastor John [MacArthur] stood firm and is challenging their power," she said. "This is the essence of tyranny."
The Public Works Department did not respond to multiple requests for comment concerning the alleged retaliation. The church has leased the parking lot since 1975 without interruption. The county has given the church until October 1 to vacate the lot. Ellis, a Trump campaign adviser, said that the presidential election should not make people lose sight of how critical local elections are to the preservation of First Amendment rights.
"This kind of blatant retaliation from government shows why state and local elections are so critically important," she said. "We have to put in office at every level people who understand their obligation is to protect and preserve the rights of pastors like John MacArthur to assemble and freely exercise religion."
The church returned to in-person indoor services in July following more than a month of protests tied to the Black Lives Matter movement. While state and local officials turned a blind eye to—and in some cases participated in—the demonstrations that attracted tens of thousands of people, church leaders filed suit. The lawsuit argues that the ongoing state and local coronavirus restrictions violate the church's First Amendment rights and unconstitutionally favor political protests over religious services.
The church won a temporary victory last week when a judge rejected the county's attempt to obtain a temporary restraining order to shut down church services. A hearing is scheduled for Friday.


freebeacon--2020-08-31--UMich to Stop Using Police to Enforce Coronavirus Regs

The University of Michigan announced it would no longer use local police to enforce coronavirus regulations after students complained that the practice ran afoul of widespread anti-police protests .
In a tweet on Sunday , the university said it would `` adjust '' its Michigan Ambassador program , which sends groups of two or three students , staff , campus security officers , and Ann Arbor police to patrol campus and ensure students are wearing masks and social distancing .
Now , campus security and local police will not walk alongside the students , but instead be available in situations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at risk .
The change follows a series of complaints from students who opposed the school 's use of police following a summer of racial justice and anti-police protests .
Junior Nithya Arun said employing law enforcement on campus was `` a bad idea , '' given current conversations on the use of police force .
`` We ’ re having discussions on cutting back police ties and now [ the University of Michigan ] is involving them to a greater extent on campus , '' Arun told the Michigan Daily .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program as a whole is a bad idea , but police involvement as a whole is a bad idea . ''
The program , which launched on Aug. 20 , received backlash for using police force and for not effectively enforcing health and safety measures .
Junior Bushra Hassan told the Michigan Daily the group would be ineffective because `` students can ’ t force students to do anything . ''
University president Mark Schlissel said the Michigan Ambassadors group was not created to push police presence on campus , but rather , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abide by other guidelines so that the school could proceed with in-person class .
The university also created a hotline for students to report concerns , which spokeswoman Kim Broekhuizen said was designed to `` reduce the need for law enforcement '' on campus .
The group began patrolling campus daily from noon until midnight on Aug. 20 , and as of Sunday , will now patrol Thursday through Saturday for the remainder of the semester .

The University of Michigan announced it would no longer use local police to enforce coronavirus regulations after students complained that the practice ran afoul of widespread anti-police protests.
In a tweet on Sunday, the university said it would "adjust" its Michigan Ambassador program, which sends groups of two or three students, staff, campus security officers, and Ann Arbor police to patrol campus and ensure students are wearing masks and social distancing. Now, campus security and local police will not walk alongside the students, but instead be available in situations where the ambassadors’ safety could be at risk.
The change follows a series of complaints from students who opposed the school's use of police following a summer of racial justice and anti-police protests. Junior Nithya Arun said employing law enforcement on campus was "a bad idea," given current conversations on the use of police force.
"We’re having discussions on cutting back police ties and now [the University of Michigan] is involving them to a greater extent on campus," Arun told the Michigan Daily. "I don’t think the ambassador program as a whole is a bad idea, but police involvement as a whole is a bad idea."
The program, which launched on Aug. 20, received backlash for using police force and for not effectively enforcing health and safety measures. Junior Bushra Hassan told the Michigan Daily the group would be ineffective because "students can’t force students to do anything."
University president Mark Schlissel said the Michigan Ambassadors group was not created to push police presence on campus, but rather, to remind students to wear masks and abide by other guidelines so that the school could proceed with in-person class. The university also created a hotline for students to report concerns, which spokeswoman Kim Broekhuizen said was designed to "reduce the need for law enforcement" on campus.
The group began patrolling campus daily from noon until midnight on Aug. 20, and as of Sunday, will now patrol Thursday through Saturday for the remainder of the semester.


freebeacon--2020-08-31--Portland Leftists Blame Mayor for Violence

Six left-wing groups in Portland are demanding Mayor Ted Wheeler ( D. ) resign after a fatal shooting this weekend , saying the mayor has `` fundamentally failed '' to keep the city safe .
`` What took place last night was inevitable given Mayor Wheeler ’ s repeated failure , '' the groups said in a joint statement released Sunday afternoon .
`` He has not protected or supported Portlanders .
We do not have confidence in his ability to course-correct .
He must resign . ''
The groups—which include the Oregon chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Portland Democratic Socialists of America , Next Up Action Fund , Portland ’ s Resistance , and Popular Mobilization—released the statement just hours after Wheeler tried to pin the nightly outbursts of violence in his city on President Donald Trump , who he claims has created `` hate and division . ''
But members of the far-left groups said they ’ ve feared for the lives of residents under Wheeler ’ s leadership for years .
`` I don ’ t think we can see what happened last night in a vacuum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Olivia Katbi Smith , a co-chair of Portland ’ s Democratic Socialists of America , said .
`` People are going to be killed on both sides of this because of the environment Ted Wheeler has been making in this city . ''
Anti-police protests have continued for more than 90 consecutive days in Portland .
Throughout June and July , rioters repeatedly attacked the Mark O. Hatfield federal courthouse and other government buildings , at times launching fireworks and other explosives at buildings while people were inside .
Other city officials have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a plan for addressing violence in the city , and in a recent interview with Oregon Public Radio , Wheeler said his plan to quell the violence that ’ s plagued his city for weeks was to just `` let it burn itself out . ''
Wheeler is up for reelection in November .

Six left-wing groups in Portland are demanding Mayor Ted Wheeler (D.) resign after a fatal shooting this weekend, saying the mayor has "fundamentally failed" to keep the city safe.
"What took place last night was inevitable given Mayor Wheeler’s repeated failure," the groups said in a joint statement released Sunday afternoon. "He has not protected or supported Portlanders. We do not have confidence in his ability to course-correct. He must resign."
The groups—which include the Oregon chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Oregon Justice Resource Center, the Portland Democratic Socialists of America, Next Up Action Fund, Portland’s Resistance, and Popular Mobilization—released the statement just hours after Wheeler tried to pin the nightly outbursts of violence in his city on President Donald Trump, who he claims has created "hate and division."
But members of the far-left groups said they’ve feared for the lives of residents under Wheeler’s leadership for years.
"I don’t think we can see what happened last night in a vacuum or as an isolated incident," Olivia Katbi Smith, a co-chair of Portland’s Democratic Socialists of America, said. "People are going to be killed on both sides of this because of the environment Ted Wheeler has been making in this city."
Anti-police protests have continued for more than 90 consecutive days in Portland. Throughout June and July, rioters repeatedly attacked the Mark O. Hatfield federal courthouse and other government buildings, at times launching fireworks and other explosives at buildings while people were inside.
Other city officials have said Wheeler has yet to provide them with a plan for addressing violence in the city, and in a recent interview with Oregon Public Radio, Wheeler said his plan to quell the violence that’s plagued his city for weeks was to just "let it burn itself out." Wheeler is up for reelection in November.


freebeacon--2020-08-31--TREND ALERT: Lib Journos Can’t Stop Breaking Stuff

The Atlantic has stumbled upon a curious non-viral epidemic plaguing the liberal community in the age of COVID-19 .
In a piece headlined , `` Everyone I Know Keeps Breaking Things , '' staff writer Amanda Mull argues that , among her friends and followers , reported instances of bumbling behavior are `` so common that they seem as if they might be part of a pattern instead of just random acts of clumsiness . ''
Every time I complained to someone about denting , cracking , or obliterating another object , they chimed in with their own recent examples @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on two separate occasions .
Another , along with his wife , broke four wine glasses in the space of two months .
A co-worker broke a window trying to open it , scared herself , and jumped back into a mirror , breaking it as well .
Whether these people were working from home or spending more time there because they ’ d been laid off , spilled Tupperware and bruised knees abounded .
Yet this mysterious outbreak of clumsiness appears to be most prevalent—if not exclusively so—among liberal journalists .
Might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looting and rioting that has consumed some parts of the country ?
Perhaps living amongst shattered glass in their journo apartments has led them to suspect local shopkeepers of blaming peaceful protesters for damage that was self-inflicted .
A brief scientific survey of non-libs and normal citizens turned up zero cases of this strange affliction .
Meanwhile , the popular social networking website Twitter was awash in examples of lib journos documenting their symptoms .
Many expressed relief at the thought of no longer having to suffer alone .
Could this peculiar affliction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting stuck in elevators that devastated the conservative journalism community in 2016 ?
We may never know .

The Atlantic has stumbled upon a curious non-viral epidemic plaguing the liberal community in the age of COVID-19. In a piece headlined, "Everyone I Know Keeps Breaking Things," staff writer Amanda Mull argues that, among her friends and followers, reported instances of bumbling behavior are "so common that they seem as if they might be part of a pattern instead of just random acts of clumsiness."
For example:
Every time I complained to someone about denting, cracking, or obliterating another object, they chimed in with their own recent examples. One had smashed his phone screen on two separate occasions. Another, along with his wife, broke four wine glasses in the space of two months. A co-worker broke a window trying to open it, scared herself, and jumped back into a mirror, breaking it as well. Whether these people were working from home or spending more time there because they’d been laid off, spilled Tupperware and bruised knees abounded.
Yet this mysterious outbreak of clumsiness appears to be most prevalent—if not exclusively so—among liberal journalists. Might this explain their reluctance to condemn the looting and rioting that has consumed some parts of the country? Perhaps living amongst shattered glass in their journo apartments has led them to suspect local shopkeepers of blaming peaceful protesters for damage that was self-inflicted.
A brief scientific survey of non-libs and normal citizens turned up zero cases of this strange affliction. Meanwhile, the popular social networking website Twitter was awash in examples of lib journos documenting their symptoms. Many expressed relief at the thought of no longer having to suffer alone.
Broke a cup three weeks ago and still finding shrapnels of glass all over my kitchen. Love this by @amandamull on Quarantine Klutzes https://t.co/iwEvITo3h1 — Saahil Desai (@Saahil_Desai) August 28, 2020
Hello to the 5 out of my 6 wine glasses I have shattered https://t.co/yN1BYjWKAH — Jordyn Grzelewski (@JGrzelewski) August 28, 2020
https://twitter.com/lilyburana/status/1299408321481519104
I was so glad to read this because I thought it was just me and that perhaps I had a weird inner ear infection or was possibly going blind https://t.co/xxqhzP5VmL — Emily Goodin (@Emilylgoodin) August 28, 2020
Wow never felt more seen https://t.co/rs50Kd5jiW — Cindy Lamothe (@CRLamothe) August 28, 2020
https://twitter.com/laurenoyler/status/1299309998309289984
This explains so much. https://t.co/k8Zo9DeTRy — Amanda Wicks (@wickswrites) August 28, 2020
https://twitter.com/stephemays/status/1299391098729771008
https://twitter.com/JacquiPalumbo/status/1299332076307652615
https://twitter.com/jcrutchmer/status/1299314466610466816
Could this peculiar affliction be related somehow to the epidemic of getting stuck in elevators that devastated the conservative journalism community in 2016? We may never know.


freebeacon--2020-08-31--U.S. Universities Underreport Donations from Hostile Regimes by Over $1.5 Billion

New data from the Department of Education show that several top-tier universities , including Yale and Cornell , failed to report more than $ 3 billion in foreign gifts and funds—many of which come from anti-American regimes such as China and Qatar .
According to a new study from the Clarion Project , American colleges and universities inaccurately disclosed foreign funding to the Department of Education .
Between 2014 and 2019 , they reported a total of $ 11 billion in foreign funds .
But the Clarion Project 's data show that the true number is over $ 14 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cornell University , Texas A & M University , the University of Colorado Boulder , and Yale University .
Cornell initially reported taking $ 340 million in foreign funding , but the real number is closer to $ 1.3 billion—over $ 800 million of which came from Qatar .
The University of Colorado Boulder initially reported $ 55 million in foreign funding , but the real number is closer to $ 345 million—61 percent of which came from the United Arab Emirates .
Yale initially reported $ 128 million , but the real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million of which came from China , Qatar , Saudi Arabia , Turkey , and Russia .
Foreign influence is growing on college campuses , and universities seldom disclose their fiscal relationships with foreign actors .
A Washington Free Beacon review of federal records found that over 100 U.S. universities have Confucius Institutes , a Chinese government-backed program that often pushes Chinese Communist Party propaganda on American students .
The Department of Education has mandated that universities report all foreign money through a new online portal , which has unearthed previously hidden disparities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China , Russia , Saudi Arabia , Turkey , the UAE , and Qatar totaled $ 1.59 billion between 2014 and 2019 .
`` If it was n't for a crackdown by the Department of Education , this never would have been known .
The universities still would n't feel the need to report this , they would n't feel under the microscope or any sense of urgency , '' said Clarion Project research analyst Alex VanNess .
`` We 're seeing billions of dollars—much of which has strings attached—being used to influence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use a soft power against the United States . ''
Of the 211 universities that disclosed their foreign funding , only Yale refused to disclose where donations were coming from .
A university typically reports whether a donation came in the form of a `` monetary gift '' or `` contract , '' the gift 's country origin , and the gifter 's name .
Yale disclosed whether the money came in the form of a gift or contract and the money 's country of origin , but refused to disclose the gifters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Yale accepted donations from China , Qatar , Saudi Arabia , Turkey , and Russia .
VanNess told the Free Beacon that the lack of transparency is concerning .
`` It 's not necessarily nefarious , but the idea that it 's not being reported and not being disclosed and we 're not being told what the money is paying for and who it 's going to , that is a problem , '' VanNess said .
The Department of Education calls these discrepancies a `` black hole '' and claims that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws .
A Department of Education spokeswoman told the Free Beacon that universities have always been required to report foreign donations , but that previous department secretaries have been lax about enforcement .
`` This is an issue of national security , '' the spokeswoman said .
`` Among other concerns , foreign money—from governments , government-run corporations , NGOs , and individuals—may come with ‘ strings attached ' that compromise academic freedom . ''
Texas A & M University said that it was investigating the discrepancies .
Yale and Cornell did not @ @ @ @ @ @

New data from the Department of Education show that several top-tier universities, including Yale and Cornell, failed to report more than $3 billion in foreign gifts and funds—many of which come from anti-American regimes such as China and Qatar.
According to a new study from the Clarion Project, American colleges and universities inaccurately disclosed foreign funding to the Department of Education. Between 2014 and 2019, they reported a total of $11 billion in foreign funds. But the Clarion Project's data show that the true number is over $14 billion. Some of the biggest discrepancies involve Cornell University, Texas A&M University, the University of Colorado Boulder, and Yale University.
Cornell initially reported taking $340 million in foreign funding, but the real number is closer to $1.3 billion—over $800 million of which came from Qatar. The University of Colorado Boulder initially reported $55 million in foreign funding, but the real number is closer to $345 million—61 percent of which came from the United Arab Emirates. Yale initially reported $128 million, but the real number is $496 million—almost $42 million of which came from China, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Russia.
Foreign influence is growing on college campuses, and universities seldom disclose their fiscal relationships with foreign actors. A Washington Free Beacon review of federal records found that over 100 U.S. universities have Confucius Institutes, a Chinese government-backed program that often pushes Chinese Communist Party propaganda on American students. The Department of Education has mandated that universities report all foreign money through a new online portal, which has unearthed previously hidden disparities.
In all, unreported contributions from China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the UAE, and Qatar totaled $1.59 billion between 2014 and 2019.
"If it wasn't for a crackdown by the Department of Education, this never would have been known. The universities still wouldn't feel the need to report this, they wouldn't feel under the microscope or any sense of urgency," said Clarion Project research analyst Alex VanNess. "We're seeing billions of dollars—much of which has strings attached—being used to influence U.S. students from countries that want to use a soft power against the United States."
Of the 211 universities that disclosed their foreign funding, only Yale refused to disclose where donations were coming from. A university typically reports whether a donation came in the form of a "monetary gift" or "contract," the gift's country origin, and the gifter's name. Yale disclosed whether the money came in the form of a gift or contract and the money's country of origin, but refused to disclose the gifters' names. The data do indicate that Yale accepted donations from China, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Russia.
VanNess told the Free Beacon that the lack of transparency is concerning. "It's not necessarily nefarious, but the idea that it's not being reported and not being disclosed and we're not being told what the money is paying for and who it's going to, that is a problem," VanNess said.
The Department of Education calls these discrepancies a "black hole" and claims that universities have failed to comply with disclosure laws. A Department of Education spokeswoman told the Free Beacon that universities have always been required to report foreign donations, but that previous department secretaries have been lax about enforcement.
"This is an issue of national security," the spokeswoman said. "Among other concerns, foreign money—from governments, government-run corporations, NGOs, and individuals—may come with 'strings attached' that compromise academic freedom."
Texas A&M University said that it was investigating the discrepancies. Yale and Cornell did not respond to requests for comment.


freebeacon--2020-08-31--Historic Israeli Flight Lands in UAE

Historic Israeli Flight Lands in UAE

American and Israeli diplomats boarded the first-ever direct flight from Israel to the United Arab Emirates Monday morning weeks after the historic Washington-brokered peace deal between the two countries , the Jerusalem Post reported .
The El Al flight hosted National Security adviser Robert O ’ Brien , top Trump aide Jared Kushner , and Israeli national security adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat .
Designated with the Arabic , Hebrew , and English word for `` peace , '' the flight transported the officials for trilateral talks regarding regional security and trade .
The talks and their corresponding flight were hailed as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israeli and American leaders alike .
`` For far too long , the Palestinians have had a veto on peace , not only between the Palestinians and Israel , but Israel and the Arab states , '' Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said .
Netanyahu also discussed the large contingent of Obama-era national security staffers who criticized Trump ’ s foreign policy in the Middle East , and in particular the decision to move America ’ s embassy to Jerusalem .
The Israeli prime minister said those critics `` have been proven dead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more tangible benefits could result from extended cooperation between the two states .
`` Combining Israel ’ s innovation and creativity with the UAE ’ s financial centers and capital [ can be ] truly incredible for the Middle East , '' O ’ Brien said .
`` Israel and the UAE are putting the region on a truly transformative path , '' O'Brien added .
Though Israel and Saudi Arabia have not normalized relations , the flight took a path through Saudi airspace—another first for an Israeli airline .
With the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ robust military , and a deep animosity for the Iranian regime , Saudi Arabia is the next expected target for increased Israeli , American , and Emirati diplomatic efforts .
Monday 's flight over Saudi airspace potentially signals future normalization between Israel and the Saudis .
Trump administration officials have expressed increasing confidence about such prospects following the August peace deal .

American and Israeli diplomats boarded the first-ever direct flight from Israel to the United Arab Emirates Monday morning weeks after the historic Washington-brokered peace deal between the two countries, the Jerusalem Post reported.
The El Al flight hosted National Security adviser Robert O’Brien, top Trump aide Jared Kushner, and Israeli national security adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat. Designated with the Arabic, Hebrew, and English word for "peace," the flight transported the officials for trilateral talks regarding regional security and trade.
The talks and their corresponding flight were hailed as landmark successes for regional diplomatic efforts by Israeli and American leaders alike.
"For far too long, the Palestinians have had a veto on peace, not only between the Palestinians and Israel, but Israel and the Arab states," Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu also discussed the large contingent of Obama-era national security staffers who criticized Trump’s foreign policy in the Middle East, and in particular the decision to move America’s embassy to Jerusalem. The Israeli prime minister said those critics "have been proven dead wrong."
O’Brien said more tangible benefits could result from extended cooperation between the two states. "Combining Israel’s innovation and creativity with the UAE’s financial centers and capital [can be] truly incredible for the Middle East," O’Brien said.
"Israel and the UAE are putting the region on a truly transformative path," O'Brien added.
Though Israel and Saudi Arabia have not normalized relations, the flight took a path through Saudi airspace—another first for an Israeli airline. With the world’s fifth-largest defense budget, a robust military, and a deep animosity for the Iranian regime, Saudi Arabia is the next expected target for increased Israeli, American, and Emirati diplomatic efforts.
Monday's flight over Saudi airspace potentially signals future normalization between Israel and the Saudis. Trump administration officials have expressed increasing confidence about such prospects following the August peace deal.


freebeacon--2020-09-01--Conservative Takeover of Appeals Court in Reach with Trump Reelection

Near-total control of the federal appeals courts is within reach for legal conservatives if President Donald Trump is reelected , administration allies believe .
While the pace of Trump 's judicial appointments has been steady , about two-thirds of his circuit court nominees have replaced Republican-appointed judges , University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias told the Washington Free Beacon .
A second Trump term would offer Republicans a chance to replace many judges nominated by Democrats as well , elevating Trump 's judicial record from productive to transformational .
The prospect of further appointments to the Supreme Court is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats that prompted the party to endorse `` structural reform '' of the judiciary during the DNC .
Research provided to the Free Beacon by the Article III Project ( A3P ) shows that 59 circuit court judges were eligible for `` senior status , '' a form of quasi-retirement , at the start of 2020—about 60 percent of them Democratic appointees .
It 's a figure that makes Trump 's supporters bullish about the future .
`` In President Trump 's second term , Republicans could take control of all 13 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the last stop for 99 percent of all federal appeals , '' A3P president Mike Davis told the Free Beacon .
The A3P is an advocacy group that supports the president 's judicial nominees .
When Trump took office , Democratic appointees had a majority on nine circuit courts to the GOP 's four .
The president has `` flipped '' three of those panels , and Davis believes Trump will turn still more in a second term .
For example , 10 Democratic appointees on the Ninth U.S .
Circuit Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ status by January 2023 .
Democratic appointees currently have a three-seat advantage on that panel , putting control of the court within reach for Republicans .
`` If President Trump is reelected , he could do the unthinkable for a Republican and flip the Ninth Circuit to conservative control , '' Davis told the Free Beacon , noting that Trump has already closed the partisan gap on that bench significantly .
Another promising venue for legal conservatives is the Fourth U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals , which covers the Carolinas , Maryland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Judges installed by Democrats have a one-seat majority on that court , but six of them will be eligible for senior status by 2023 , A3P 's figures show .
The Fourth Circuit also highlights a budding problem for Republicans and a potential windfall for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
Two right-leaning Fourth Circuit judges are at least 75 years old .
According to A3P 's data , there were 24 Republican appointees eligible for semi-retirement at the start of 2020 .
Retaining those seats will be a high priority in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats make up ground lost since 2016 should Biden prevail .
`` Fortunately , when President Trump is reelected , we will have another window of opportunity to replace these judges , '' Davis said of aging conservatives .
Mere eligibility for senior status is no guarantee of a retirement .
Many judges serve well into their later years .
U.S. District Judge Wesley Brown famously served on a federal trial court in Kansas until his death in 2012 , at age 104 .
Richmond 's Tobias suggested that Trump 's past tussles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I think some Democratic appointees are offended by Trump and his disrespect for the rule of law and what he 's done with appointments , '' Tobias told the Free Beacon .
`` Some of those appointees may be waiting to see how the election will work out . ''
The regional circuit courts hear appeals from the trial-level district courts and set precedent for the district judges in their respective areas .
Since the Supreme Court only resolves about 75 cases per term , the circuit courts give the final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases .
In addition , the 13 circuit courts are often feeders for the Supreme Court .
Eight of the nine justices were previously circuit judges .
Clerkships on the appeals courts are highly coveted by young lawyers , so installing Trump judges on the circuits has positive network effects for the conservative legal movement .
Beyond future appeals court vacancies , a top priority for the next administration is the 17 empty seats on the federal trial courts in California .
There are six Trump nominees to district courts in California awaiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are confirmed by year 's end , there will be about a dozen California vacancies for the next president to fill , with additional empty seats in Washington state .
It 's a curious omission on the administration 's part , as West Coast district judges have stymied several Trump policies , such as the travel ban or the construction of a southern border wall .
Other vacancies may be attributable to the high priority Republicans have placed on circuit court confirmations .
While stacking the Ninth Circuit is a meaningful accomplishment for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a cost .
`` The administration filled all 10 Ninth Circuit vacancies , so they did take care of that issue , but to the neglect of the district courts , '' Tobias said .
What Biden makes of all this is less clear .
The courts were not mentioned during his acceptance speech to the DNC .

Near-total control of the federal appeals courts is within reach for legal conservatives if President Donald Trump is reelected, administration allies believe.
While the pace of Trump's judicial appointments has been steady, about two-thirds of his circuit court nominees have replaced Republican-appointed judges, University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias told the Washington Free Beacon. A second Trump term would offer Republicans a chance to replace many judges nominated by Democrats as well, elevating Trump's judicial record from productive to transformational. The prospect of further appointments to the Supreme Court is also realistic, a chilling notion for Democrats that prompted the party to endorse "structural reform" of the judiciary during the DNC.
Research provided to the Free Beacon by the Article III Project (A3P) shows that 59 circuit court judges were eligible for "senior status," a form of quasi-retirement, at the start of 2020—about 60 percent of them Democratic appointees. It's a figure that makes Trump's supporters bullish about the future.
"In President Trump's second term, Republicans could take control of all 13 of the critically important U.S. Courts of Appeals, the last stop for 99 percent of all federal appeals," A3P president Mike Davis told the Free Beacon. The A3P is an advocacy group that supports the president's judicial nominees.
When Trump took office, Democratic appointees had a majority on nine circuit courts to the GOP's four. The president has "flipped" three of those panels, and Davis believes Trump will turn still more in a second term. For example, 10 Democratic appointees on the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will be eligible for senior status by January 2023. Democratic appointees currently have a three-seat advantage on that panel, putting control of the court within reach for Republicans.
"If President Trump is reelected, he could do the unthinkable for a Republican and flip the Ninth Circuit to conservative control," Davis told the Free Beacon, noting that Trump has already closed the partisan gap on that bench significantly.
Another promising venue for legal conservatives is the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers the Carolinas, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. Judges installed by Democrats have a one-seat majority on that court, but six of them will be eligible for senior status by 2023, A3P's figures show.
The Fourth Circuit also highlights a budding problem for Republicans and a potential windfall for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. Two right-leaning Fourth Circuit judges are at least 75 years old. According to A3P's data, there were 24 Republican appointees eligible for semi-retirement at the start of 2020. Retaining those seats will be a high priority in a Trump second term and could easily help Democrats make up ground lost since 2016 should Biden prevail.
"Fortunately, when President Trump is reelected, we will have another window of opportunity to replace these judges," Davis said of aging conservatives.
Mere eligibility for senior status is no guarantee of a retirement. Many judges serve well into their later years. U.S. District Judge Wesley Brown famously served on a federal trial court in Kansas until his death in 2012, at age 104.
Richmond's Tobias suggested that Trump's past tussles with judges have cost him replacement opportunities.
"I think some Democratic appointees are offended by Trump and his disrespect for the rule of law and what he's done with appointments," Tobias told the Free Beacon. "Some of those appointees may be waiting to see how the election will work out."
The regional circuit courts hear appeals from the trial-level district courts and set precedent for the district judges in their respective areas. Since the Supreme Court only resolves about 75 cases per term, the circuit courts give the final word on the overwhelming majority of federal cases.
In addition, the 13 circuit courts are often feeders for the Supreme Court. Eight of the nine justices were previously circuit judges. Clerkships on the appeals courts are highly coveted by young lawyers, so installing Trump judges on the circuits has positive network effects for the conservative legal movement.
Beyond future appeals court vacancies, a top priority for the next administration is the 17 empty seats on the federal trial courts in California.
There are six Trump nominees to district courts in California awaiting final confirmation votes. Even assuming all are confirmed by year's end, there will be about a dozen California vacancies for the next president to fill, with additional empty seats in Washington state. It's a curious omission on the administration's part, as West Coast district judges have stymied several Trump policies, such as the travel ban or the construction of a southern border wall.
Other vacancies may be attributable to the high priority Republicans have placed on circuit court confirmations. While stacking the Ninth Circuit is a meaningful accomplishment for Trump, it seems to have come at a cost.
"The administration filled all 10 Ninth Circuit vacancies, so they did take care of that issue, but to the neglect of the district courts," Tobias said.
What Biden makes of all this is less clear. The courts were not mentioned during his acceptance speech to the DNC.


freebeacon--2020-09-01--California Tries to Save Gun Magazine Confiscation Scheme

California Democrats are launching a longshot legal maneuver to protect a gun-control law that a federal appeals court declared unconstitutional .
Attorney General Xavier Becerra ( D. ) requested an `` en banc '' review of a three-judge panel that ruled the state 's ban on the possession of any magazine holding more than 10 rounds , even those Californians previously bought legally , ran afoul of the Second Amendment .
Such a review would convene every judge in the Ninth Circuit .
Chuck Michel , president of the California Rifle & Pistol Association , said gun-rights advocates are willing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Supreme Court if Becerra succeeds in his appeal .
`` This case may present the opportunity to set things straight on the broader issue of what the standard of review test should be when considering any Second Amendment challenge , '' he told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` The Supreme Court seems inclined to do away with the complicated subjective tests that many courts have wrongly applied in Second Amendment cases , in favor of a clearer , more objective ‘ originalist ' approach that considers the text , history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determine what infringements might be tolerated . ''
Becerra said in a statement that he disagreed with the initial ruling and will `` continue to use every tool we have to defend the constitutionality of our laws . ''
In 2016 , a Ninth Circuit `` en banc '' panel overturned a similar three-judge panel 's decision in Peruta v. San Diego , which declared California 's restrictive gun-carry law unconstitutional .
President Donald Trump has since appointed 10 new judges to the circuit , which may make the new panel more sympathetic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules in favor of the plaintiffs , the outcome could have a significant impact on the future of magazine bans or mass confiscation orders .
Gun-rights advocates have been disappointed by the Supreme Court 's reluctance to take Second Amendment cases in recent years .
While the High Court reaffirmed that modern devices like stun guns are covered by Second Amendment protections in the unanimous Caetano v. Massachusetts in 2016 , it has denied numerous challenges to state gun restrictions .
The confiscation measure is not being enforced due to the rulings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capable of holding more than ten rounds remains in place as the case is being deliberated .

California Democrats are launching a longshot legal maneuver to protect a gun-control law that a federal appeals court declared unconstitutional.
Attorney General Xavier Becerra (D.) requested an "en banc" review of a three-judge panel that ruled the state's ban on the possession of any magazine holding more than 10 rounds, even those Californians previously bought legally, ran afoul of the Second Amendment. Such a review would convene a randomly-chosen 11-member panel of Ninth Circuit judges. Chuck Michel, president of the California Rifle & Pistol Association, said gun-rights advocates are willing to take the case all the way to the Supreme Court if Becerra succeeds in his appeal.
"This case may present the opportunity to set things straight on the broader issue of what the standard of review test should be when considering any Second Amendment challenge," he told the Washington Free Beacon. "The Supreme Court seems inclined to do away with the complicated subjective tests that many courts have wrongly applied in Second Amendment cases, in favor of a clearer, more objective 'originalist' approach that considers the text, history, and tradition of a law to determine what infringements might be tolerated."
Becerra said in a statement that he disagreed with the initial ruling and will "continue to use every tool we have to defend the constitutionality of our laws."
In 2016, a Ninth Circuit "en banc" panel overturned a similar three-judge panel's decision in Peruta v. San Diego, which declared California's restrictive gun-carry law unconstitutional. President Donald Trump has since appointed 10 new judges to the circuit, which may make the new panel more sympathetic toward gun-rights arguments. If the panel rules in favor of the plaintiffs, the outcome could have a significant impact on the future of magazine bans or mass confiscation orders.
Gun-rights advocates have been disappointed by the Supreme Court's reluctance to take Second Amendment cases in recent years. While the High Court reaffirmed that modern devices like stun guns are covered by Second Amendment protections in the unanimous Caetano v. Massachusetts in 2016, it has denied numerous challenges to state gun restrictions.
The confiscation measure is not being enforced due to the rulings, but the ban on sales of magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds remains in place as the case is being deliberated.


freebeacon--2020-09-01--WATCH: Joy Reid Accuses Trump Supporters of Acting Like ‘Muslims’

Joy Reid , the MSNBC host who ( sort of ) acknowledged and ( sort of ) apologized for having authored homophobic blog posts , condemned Donald Trump for encouraging violence and radicalizing his supporters `` the way Muslims [ do ] . ''
`` When leaders , let 's say in the Muslim world , talk a lot of violent talk , and encourage their supporters to be willing to commit violence , including on their own bodies , in order to win against whoever they decide is the enemy , we in the U.S. media describe that as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , particularly when they 're radicalizing young people , '' Reid said during a panel discussion about Trump 's response to the violence taking place in Kenosha , Wisc .
`` That 's how we talk about the way Muslims act . ''
Leftwing radicals criticized Reid for engaging in Islamophobia .
Linda Sarsour , the controversial activist whose proclivity for anti-Semitism precipitated her resignation from the Women 's March movement , described Reid 's comments as `` not good . ''
It remains to be seen whether Reid will attempt to blame @ @ @ @ @ @ @ altered the text in her teleprompter or simply issue a half-hearted apology .

Joy Reid, the MSNBC host who (sort of) acknowledged and (sort of) apologized for having authored homophobic blog posts, condemned Donald Trump for encouraging violence and radicalizing his supporters "the way Muslims [do]."
"When leaders, let's say in the Muslim world, talk a lot of violent talk, and encourage their supporters to be willing to commit violence, including on their own bodies, in order to win against whoever they decide is the enemy, we in the U.S. media describe that as they are 'radicalizing' those people, particularly when they're radicalizing young people," Reid said during a panel discussion about Trump's response to the violence taking place in Kenosha, Wis. "That's how we talk about the way Muslims act."
Leftwing radicals criticized Reid for engaging in Islamophobia. Linda Sarsour, the controversial activist whose proclivity for anti-Semitism precipitated her resignation from the Women's March movement, described Reid's comments as "not good."
It remains to be seen whether Reid will attempt to blame her vile outburst on foreign hackers who altered the text in her teleprompter or simply issue a half-hearted apology.


freebeacon--2020-09-01--August Shatters Another Gun Sales Record

August 2020 saw more gun sales than any other August on record as Americans continue to rush to gun stores at a record pace .
A Washington Free Beacon analysis of FBI data released on Tuesday found a 57 percent increase in sales compared to August 2019 .
There were at least 1.6 million sales in August 2020 .
Only two previous Augusts had broken a million sales , though limitations in FBI reporting means that not every gun sale is captured in the data .
August represents the sixth month in a row to set a new sales record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of any month in the history of the FBI background check system .
Sales thus far in 2020 have soared past previous years .
Sales through the first eight months of the year are up 43 percent over the previous record .
`` In 15 years of teaching firearm safety , I have never seen a higher level of interest in guns , '' Rick Ector , a Detroit-based firearms instructor , told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` I do not need to advertise , and my phone is constantly ringing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry 's trade group indicated dealers believed 40 percent of buyers since March have been first-time owners .
The group pegged the total number of new owners at just under five million .
If the estimated percentage of new owners holds for August , that would mean at least 640,000 Americans bought a gun for the first time in August .
The surge in firearm owners could have a significant impact on gun politics and American elections for years to come .
Ector said the sales are driven by concerns over the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rioting in places like Kenosha , Wisconsin , and Portland , Oregon .
He expects the record sales to keep up through the end of the year , pointing to Democrat nominee Joe Biden 's strict new gun-control policies and his lead in national polling .
`` Any single issue by itself would lead to an increase of people buying guns , '' he said .
`` We have all four factors ‘ in play ' and the run on guns is no surprise to me . ''
The number of checks run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Background Check System is not a one-to-one representation of total gun sales , but is widely considered the best gauge because the checks are required on all sales done through licensed dealers .
The Free Beacon removed checks from the count that were coded for gun-carry permits or other non-gun sales to reach the final sales numbers .

August 2020 saw more gun sales than any other August on record as Americans continue to rush to gun stores at a record pace.
A Washington Free Beacon analysis of FBI data released on Tuesday found a 57 percent increase in sales compared to August 2019. There were at least 1.6 million sales in August 2020. Only two previous Augusts had broken a million sales, though limitations in FBI reporting means that not every gun sale is captured in the data. August represents the sixth month in a row to set a new sales record with March seeing the most gun sales of any month in the history of the FBI background check system.
Sales thus far in 2020 have soared past previous years. Sales through the first eight months of the year are up 43 percent over the previous record.
"In 15 years of teaching firearm safety, I have never seen a higher level of interest in guns," Rick Ector, a Detroit-based firearms instructor, told the Washington Free Beacon. "I do not need to advertise, and my phone is constantly ringing."
A June report from the gun industry's trade group indicated dealers believed 40 percent of buyers since March have been first-time owners. The group pegged the total number of new owners at just under five million. If the estimated percentage of new owners holds for August, that would mean at least 640,000 Americans bought a gun for the first time in August. The surge in firearm owners could have a significant impact on gun politics and American elections for years to come.
Ector said the sales are driven by concerns over the pandemic, the economic downturn, and recent rioting in places like Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Portland, Oregon. He expects the record sales to keep up through the end of the year, pointing to Democrat nominee Joe Biden's strict new gun-control policies and his lead in national polling.
"Any single issue by itself would lead to an increase of people buying guns," he said. "We have all four factors 'in play' and the run on guns is no surprise to me."
The number of checks run through the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System is not a one-to-one representation of total gun sales, but is widely considered the best gauge because the checks are required on all sales done through licensed dealers. The Free Beacon removed checks from the count that were coded for gun-carry permits or other non-gun sales to reach the final sales numbers.
Charles Fain Lehman contributed to this report.


freebeacon--2020-09-01--Pelosi Caught Getting Hair Done at Closed Salon, Infuriating Owner

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) got around coronavirus restrictions to get her hair done at a San Francisco hair salon Monday , a move the salon owner described as a `` slap in the face . ''
Pelosi went to the salon after an assistant arranged an appointment there with an independent hairdresser who rents a chair from the salon owner , Fox News reported .
San Francisco 's coronavirus guidance allowed salons to reopen on Tuesday , but only for outdoor services .
Customers are also required to wear masks while getting their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slap in the face that she went in , you know , that she feels that she can just go and get her stuff done while no one else can go in , and I can ’ t work , '' the salon owner told Fox News .
`` We ’ re supposed to look up to this woman , right ?
It is just disturbing . ''
A Pelosi spokesman insisted his boss did not violate city rules because she was the only customer in the salon .
`` The Speaker always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID requirements .
This business offered for the Speaker to come in on Monday and told her they were allowed by the city to have one customer at a time in the business .
The Speaker complied with the rules as presented to her by this establishment , '' he said .
Security footage shows Pelosi walking through the salon without a mask , although she appears to be wearing a face covering around her neck .
The salon owner added that she has been fighting for months to reopen the salon and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She also said she is unable to provide outdoor services because certain chemicals the salon uses are prohibited from being used outside .
Fresh off her trip to the salon , Pelosi appeared on MSNBC Tuesday and excoriated President Donald Trump for not taking coronavirus seriously .
Pelosi is not the first Democratic lawmaker to outmaneuver coronavirus restrictions during the pandemic .
New Mexico governor Michelle Lujan Grisham ( D. ) purchased jewelry days after ordering all nonessential businesses to close in the state .
Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer 's ( D. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boat out onto a lake before Memorial Day , even going so far as to invoke Whitmer 's name when questioned about his actions .

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) got around coronavirus restrictions to get her hair done at a San Francisco hair salon Monday, a move the salon owner described as a "slap in the face."
Pelosi went to the salon after an assistant arranged an appointment there with an independent hairdresser who rents a chair from the salon owner, Fox News reported. San Francisco's coronavirus guidance allowed salons to reopen on Tuesday, but only for outdoor services. Customers are also required to wear masks while getting their hair cut.
"It was a slap in the face that she went in, you know, that she feels that she can just go and get her stuff done while no one else can go in, and I can’t work," the salon owner told Fox News. "We’re supposed to look up to this woman, right? It is just disturbing."
A Pelosi spokesman insisted his boss did not violate city rules because she was the only customer in the salon.
"The Speaker always wears a mask and complies with local COVID requirements. This business offered for the Speaker to come in on Monday and told her they were allowed by the city to have one customer at a time in the business. The Speaker complied with the rules as presented to her by this establishment," he said.
Security footage shows Pelosi walking through the salon without a mask, although she appears to be wearing a face covering around her neck.
The salon owner added that she has been fighting for months to reopen the salon and had expected to do so in July. She also said she is unable to provide outdoor services because certain chemicals the salon uses are prohibited from being used outside.
Fresh off her trip to the salon, Pelosi appeared on MSNBC Tuesday and excoriated President Donald Trump for not taking coronavirus seriously.
Pelosi is not the first Democratic lawmaker to outmaneuver coronavirus restrictions during the pandemic. New Mexico governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D.) purchased jewelry days after ordering all nonessential businesses to close in the state. Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer's (D.) husband violated guidance to take his boat out onto a lake before Memorial Day, even going so far as to invoke Whitmer's name when questioned about his actions.


freebeacon--2020-09-01--Quincy Institute VP Parrots Anti-Trump Iranian Regime Talking Points

A senior official with a Washington , D.C. , think tank that has promoted anti-Semitic voices parroted pro-Iran talking points earlier this week , just minutes after a senior leader of the Islamic Republic blasted the Trump administration ’ s stance on violent protests across America .
Trita Parsi , executive vice president of the Quincy Institute , an isolationist think tank funded by billionaires George Soros and Charles Koch , copied criticisms of Trump 's response to Portland protests first spread by Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif , an architect of the Iran nuclear deal .
`` Another sign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The phrase ‘ all options on the table ’ has been used for decades to hint at the use of force against other countries , '' Parsi tweeted Sunday .
`` Now it 's used against the American people .
This was inevitable . ''
Parsi 's tweet echoed Zarif ’ s tweet stating : `` ’ All options on the table ’ has long been a staple of U.S. foreign policy .
It simply means the law of the jungle : disregard for a fundamental principle of [ international ] law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump regime is using the same threat against Americans .
A wake-up call ?
God willing . ''
Parsi ’ s apparent effort to boost Zarif ’ s message raises questions about the Quincy Institute ’ s relationship with Iran and its senior leaders .
Quincy has been at the forefront of a push among isolationist foreign policy voices to lessen economic pressure on Iran and convince the Trump administration to back down from a confrontation with the globe ’ s foremost sponsor of terrorism .
Parsi is a longtime supporter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iranian American Council , which allegedly served as an unregistered lobbying shop for Tehran in D.C. Iran and its allies in America have seized on the Black Lives Matter protests to sow further division in America .
While Iran ’ s government has long been the subject of protests demanding regime change in the country , its leaders view the American protest movement as an opportunity to undermine President Donald Trump on the international stage .
Iran ’ s judiciary chief this week said that `` U.S. leaders should stand trial before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homicide and racial discrimination . ''
In addition to promoting Iranian regime talking points , the Quincy Institute has championed anti-Israel causes that are a hallmark of the isolationist movement .
Among the think tank 's experts is Stephen Walt , coauthor of a 2007 book that accused Israel of manipulating American foreign policy .
Kaveh Shahrooz , an Iranian dissident and Toronto-based senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute , said Parsi ’ s tweet is part and parcel of an effort by Tehran ’ s American allies to elevate the regime ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of us who follow Iran closely and who fight for human rights and democracy there have been concerned about the existence of a network of individuals and institutions that serve to amplify the narrative of the Iranian regime and whitewash the crimes of that regime for the D.C. crowd , '' Shahrooz said .
`` Parsi 's tweet lays bare what we have long been concerned about . ''

A senior official with a Washington, D.C., think tank that has promoted anti-Semitic voices parroted pro-Iran talking points earlier this week, just minutes after a senior leader of the Islamic Republic blasted the Trump administration’s stance on violent protests across America.
Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute, an isolationist think tank funded by billionaires George Soros and Charles Koch, copied criticisms of Trump's response to Portland protests first spread by Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif, an architect of the Iran nuclear deal.
"Another sign of America's endless wars coming home. The phrase ‘all options on the table’ has been used for decades to hint at the use of force against other countries," Parsi tweeted Sunday. "Now it's used against the American people. This was inevitable."
Parsi's tweet echoed Zarif’s tweet stating: "’All options on the table’ has long been a staple of U.S. foreign policy. It simply means the law of the jungle: disregard for a fundamental principle of [international] law: Non-Use of Force. Now, the Trump regime is using the same threat against Americans. A wake-up call? God willing."
Parsi’s apparent effort to boost Zarif’s message raises questions about the Quincy Institute’s relationship with Iran and its senior leaders. Quincy has been at the forefront of a push among isolationist foreign policy voices to lessen economic pressure on Iran and convince the Trump administration to back down from a confrontation with the globe’s foremost sponsor of terrorism. Parsi is a longtime supporter of these views and formerly headed the National Iranian American Council, which allegedly served as an unregistered lobbying shop for Tehran in D.C.
Iran and its allies in America have seized on the Black Lives Matter protests to sow further division in America. While Iran’s government has long been the subject of protests demanding regime change in the country, its leaders view the American protest movement as an opportunity to undermine President Donald Trump on the international stage. Iran’s judiciary chief this week said that "U.S. leaders should stand trial before the international courts on a charge of deliberate homicide and racial discrimination."
In addition to promoting Iranian regime talking points, the Quincy Institute has championed anti-Israel causes that are a hallmark of the isolationist movement. Among the think tank's experts is Stephen Walt, coauthor of a 2007 book that accused Israel of manipulating American foreign policy.
Kaveh Shahrooz, an Iranian dissident and Toronto-based senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, said Parsi’s tweet is part and parcel of an effort by Tehran’s American allies to elevate the regime’s propaganda.
"For years, many of us who follow Iran closely and who fight for human rights and democracy there have been concerned about the existence of a network of individuals and institutions that serve to amplify the narrative of the Iranian regime and whitewash the crimes of that regime for the D.C. crowd," Shahrooz said. "Parsi's tweet lays bare what we have long been concerned about."


freebeacon--2020-09-01--RBG Risks It All for Love, Setting Bad Example

Ruth Bader Ginsburg , the Supreme Court justice who could have retired during the Obama administration but may not have felt comfortable letting a black man choose her successor , delivered a stunning rebuke to her liberal fangirls over the weekend by officiating a wedding WITHOUT A MASK during a global pandemic .
Ginsburg , 87 , whose personal trainer was named a 2018 Washington Free Beacon Man of the Year for making her feel healthy enough to shirk retirement during the Obama years , risked it all to perform a wedding ceremony at the behest of a family friend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was undergoing chemotherapy treatment for lesions on her liver—the justice 's fifth bout with cancer .
After the bride , Barb Solish , tweeted a photo of the recklessly maskless lib justice officiating the wedding , at least one Twitter user expressed anxiety over the potential consequences for the future of Western civilization .
`` Honestly … the ramifications of her getting sick at a wedding ( which has been happening ) could be catastrophic , '' wrote Twitter user Salty John .
`` Seeing this is the scariest thing I 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I hope you did n't just destroy Western civilization for a cool wedding photo . ''
Solish , who married Danny Kazin , an executive at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee , attempted to calm the mob of terrified libs .
`` Do n't worry , we tested negative ! ''
she tweeted vaguely , declining to clarify the meaning of `` we . ''
The ordinarily vigilant media , meanwhile , have for some reason been hesitant to sound the alarm .
It was n't the first example of Ginsburg 's blasé @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans are still unable to go to the gym , RBG and her personal trainer have continued working out together in the Supreme Court 's private gym .
FUN FACT : There are 141 days until a new president will ( potentially ) be inaugurated and granted the authority to nominate new Supreme Court justices .

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Supreme Court justice who could have retired during the Obama administration but may not have felt comfortable letting a black man choose her successor, delivered a stunning rebuke to her liberal fangirls over the weekend by officiating a wedding WITHOUT A MASK during a global pandemic.
Ginsburg, 87, whose personal trainer was named a 2018 Washington Free Beacon Man of the Year for making her feel healthy enough to shirk retirement during the Obama years, risked it all to perform a wedding ceremony at the behest of a family friend. Just weeks earlier, Ginsburg announced she was undergoing chemotherapy treatment for lesions on her liver—the justice's fifth bout with cancer.
After the bride, Barb Solish, tweeted a photo of the recklessly maskless lib justice officiating the wedding, at least one Twitter user expressed anxiety over the potential consequences for the future of Western civilization.
"Honestly ... the ramifications of her getting sick at a wedding (which has been happening) could be catastrophic," wrote Twitter user Salty John. "Seeing this is the scariest thing I've seen all week. Congratulations, but I hope you didn't just destroy Western civilization for a cool wedding photo."
Solish, who married Danny Kazin, an executive at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, attempted to calm the mob of terrified libs. "Don't worry, we tested negative!" she tweeted vaguely, declining to clarify the meaning of "we." The ordinarily vigilant media, meanwhile, have for some reason been hesitant to sound the alarm.
It wasn't the first example of Ginsburg's blasé attitude toward coronavirus restrictions. While most Americans are still unable to go to the gym, RBG and her personal trainer have continued working out together in the Supreme Court's private gym.
FUN FACT: There are 141 days until a new president will (potentially) be inaugurated and granted the authority to nominate new Supreme Court justices.


freebeacon--2020-09-01--TRUTH BLAST: The Most Outrageous Lies Brian Stelter EXPOSES in Anti-Fox News Book

Brian Stelter , the CNN personality sometimes referred to as `` Humpty Dumpty , '' is among the many far-left authors seeking to cash in on the raging hot market for Trump-related literature .
His latest work , Hoax : Donald Trump , Fox News , and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth , was panned in a New York Times review that condemned the `` gratuitous gossip '' and `` name calling '' in a book that documents the author 's distress over being called names .
Hoax does not fail , however , in its take-no-prisoners quest to hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ celebration of professional journalists ' `` dedication to the truth '' might seem extravagant if not for the litany of lies Stelter boldly exposes throughout the text .
Here are some examples : '' You have the number one rated show on television , '' President Trump told Sean Hannity in March of this year .
Stelter UNLOADS on Trump 's fact-lacking assertion , writing : Stelter concludes his lethal fact check with a biting quip : `` [ Trump 's ] call with Hannity was the highlight of his day . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ any evidence to support this claim .
If you ca n't trust a public relations official , whom can you trust ?
Stelter was left to grapple with this question—and the accompanying existential angst—following a harrowing encounter with a member of Hannity 's staff at a party : At 8:30 his PR person pushed him toward the door , insisting to me that he had to get to the studio for his nine o'clock show .
I later realized that the PR person had lied to me—Hannity had already pretaped his show before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Only a Fox employee would commit such a brazen assault on the truth and expect to get away with it .
In this case , however , journalism prevailed .
In one of the most riveting sections of the book , Stelter EVISCERATES Trump after catching the president in an egregious falsehood : The DVRs were the critical part of his television setup .
He called TiVo `` one of the great inventions of all time '' and said television was `` practically useless without TiVo . ''
But TiVo , which was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brand name for a generic concept , like people who `` Xeroxed '' a paper on a different brand of copier .
Trump said he had `` Super TiVo '' in the White House , but he actually had the DirecTV Genie HD DVR , a whole-home system that recorded multiple channels at the same time and let users watch those recordings from any screen in the home .
It was genuinely awesome technology for a TV junkie .
Sunlight is the best disinfectant , as the saying goes .
Inject that into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ host Tucker Carlson , who once described Stelter as a `` eunuch , '' is taken to task for failing to provide crucial context .
`` On Tuesday , March 10 , [ Carlson ] compared coronavirus deaths to gun violence deaths in Chicago without noting that shootings are not contagious , '' Stelter scolds .

Brian Stelter, the CNN personality sometimes referred to as "Humpty Dumpty," is among the many far-left authors seeking to cash in on the raging hot market for Trump-related literature. His latest work, Hoax: Donald Trump, Fox News, and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth, was panned in a New York Times review that condemned the "gratuitous gossip" and "name calling" in a book that documents the author's distress over being called names.
Hoax does not fail, however, in its take-no-prisoners quest to hold the powerful to account. Its unironic celebration of professional journalists' "dedication to the truth" might seem extravagant if not for the litany of lies Stelter boldly exposes throughout the text. Here are some examples:
The Ratings LIE
"You have the number one rated show on television," President Trump told Sean Hannity in March of this year. Stelter UNLOADS on Trump's fact-lacking assertion, writing:
The ratings claim was a lie, since Hannity's show had always been eclipsed by numerous other television shows, from NBC Nightly News to American Idol, Wheel of Fortune to Survivor. But Trump was only talking about cable. He didn't care nearly as much about broadcast networks. He was a cable guy.
Stelter concludes his lethal fact check with a biting quip: "[Trump's] call with Hannity was the highlight of his day." Regrettably, the journalist does not provide any evidence to support this claim.
The Public Relations DECEIT
If you can't trust a public relations official, whom can you trust? Stelter was left to grapple with this question—and the accompanying existential angst—following a harrowing encounter with a member of Hannity's staff at a party:
At 8:30 his PR person pushed him toward the door, insisting to me that he had to get to the studio for his nine o'clock show. I later realized that the PR person had lied to me—Hannity had already pretaped his show before coming to the party.
Chilling. Only a Fox employee would commit such a brazen assault on the truth and expect to get away with it. In this case, however, journalism prevailed.
The TiVo TALL TALE
In one of the most riveting sections of the book, Stelter EVISCERATES Trump after catching the president in an egregious falsehood:
The DVRs were the critical part of his television setup. He called TiVo "one of the great inventions of all time" and said television was "practically useless without TiVo." But TiVo, which was invented in 1999, was just the brand name for a generic concept, like people who "Xeroxed" a paper on a different brand of copier. Trump said he had "Super TiVo" in the White House, but he actually had the DirecTV Genie HD DVR, a whole-home system that recorded multiple channels at the same time and let users watch those recordings from any screen in the home. It was genuinely awesome technology for a TV junkie.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant, as the saying goes. Inject that into your veins, DRUMPF!
The Pandemic PREVARICATION
Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who once described Stelter as a "eunuch," is taken to task for failing to provide crucial context. "On Tuesday, March 10, [Carlson] compared coronavirus deaths to gun violence deaths in Chicago without noting that shootings are not contagious," Stelter scolds.
Nice try, bow tie.


freebeacon--2020-09-01--D.C. Committee Recommends Stripping Names of Presidents From Sites

A committee created by Washington , D.C. , mayor Muriel Bowser ( D. ) is recommending the city `` rename , remove , or contextualize '' buildings and other city assets—including the Washington Monument—whose namesakes have been deemed problematic .
Bowser formed the District of Columbia Facilities and Commemorative Expressions Working Group , or D.C. FACES , in July to review the city ’ s stock of 1,330 named assets and address 153 assets named after `` persons of concern . ''
The committee submitted their final report to the mayor on Monday .
Public schools named after Alexander Graham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jefferson were included in the list of names to scrub .
The committee also recommended the city rename the Key Bridge , named after Francis Scott Key ; Bruce-Monroe Community Garden , named after President James Monroe ; and Harrison Playground , named after President William Henry Harrison .
`` In all instances we believe strongly that all District of Columbia owned public spaces , facilities , and commemorative works should only honor those individuals who exemplified those values such as equity , opportunity and diversity that DC residents hold dear , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ introduction .
Washington , D.C. , is not the first city to consider renaming buildings after a wave of racial-justice protests this summer .
In June , the Denver school board looked to rename some of its school buildings .
Some colleges and universities across the country have also decided to change the names of buildings or schools and remove statues and images .

A committee created by Washington, D.C., mayor Muriel Bowser (D.) is recommending the city "rename, remove, or contextualize" buildings and other city assets—including the Washington Monument—whose namesakes have been deemed problematic.
Bowser formed the District of Columbia Facilities and Commemorative Expressions Working Group, or D.C. FACES, in July to review the city’s stock of 1,330 named assets and address 153 assets named after "persons of concern." The committee submitted their final report to the mayor on Monday.
Public schools named after Alexander Graham Bell, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson were included in the list of names to scrub. The committee also recommended the city rename the Key Bridge, named after Francis Scott Key; Bruce-Monroe Community Garden, named after President James Monroe; and Harrison Playground, named after President William Henry Harrison.
"In all instances we believe strongly that all District of Columbia owned public spaces, facilities, and commemorative works should only honor those individuals who exemplified those values such as equity, opportunity and diversity that DC residents hold dear," the committee wrote in the report's introduction.
Washington, D.C., is not the first city to consider renaming buildings after a wave of racial-justice protests this summer. In June, the Denver school board looked to rename some of its school buildings. Some colleges and universities across the country have also decided to change the names of buildings or schools and remove statues and images.


freebeacon--2020-09-01--Chicago Shootings Spike Amid Anti-Police Protests

The number of shooting victims in Chicago increased by nearly 88 percent in August 2020 compared with August 2019 , according to Chicago Police Department crime statistics released Tuesday .
In August , 503 people were shot and 63 were killed in Chicago , compared with 268 shooting victims and 49 fatalities in August 2019 .
While murders declined 45 percent from July—the city 's deadliest month since 1992—and 35 percent from June , the city 's year-to-date murder rate is 49 percent higher than 2019 .
National police data indicate that a spike in crime began earlier this summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beacon reported last month .
Nearly 75 percent of major cities , including Chicago , have experienced double-digit increases in murder rates .
According to the recently released data , 744 more shootings occurred between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31 this year than within the first eight months of 2019 , resulting in nearly 1,000 more shooting victims in the same time frame .
Unrest in Chicago began in May following the death of George Floyd .
Rioters have on multiple occasions swarmed the city to vandalize businesses—recently , hundreds caravaned into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along the city 's Magnificent Mile after rumors spread that police had fatally shot a 15-year-old .

The number of shooting victims in Chicago increased by nearly 88 percent in August 2020 compared with August 2019, according to Chicago Police Department crime statistics released Tuesday.
In August, 503 people were shot and 63 were killed in Chicago, compared with 268 shooting victims and 49 fatalities in August 2019. While murders declined 45 percent from July—the city's deadliest month since 1992—and 35 percent from June, the city's year-to-date murder rate is 49 percent higher than 2019.
National police data indicate that a spike in crime began earlier this summer alongside anti-police protests, the Washington Free Beacon reported last month. Nearly 75 percent of major cities, including Chicago, have experienced double-digit increases in murder rates.
According to the recently released data, 744 more shootings occurred between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31 this year than within the first eight months of 2019, resulting in nearly 1,000 more shooting victims in the same time frame.
Unrest in Chicago began in May following the death of George Floyd. Rioters have on multiple occasions swarmed the city to vandalize businesses—recently, hundreds caravaned into the city's downtown area to loot stores along the city's Magnificent Mile after rumors spread that police had fatally shot a 15-year-old.


freebeacon--2020-09-01--Trump Wins Short Reprieve in Bid to Shield Tax Records From Manhattan DA

President Donald Trump won another reprieve Tuesday in his bid to shield his financial records from investigators .
The Second U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance can not yet enforce a subpoena for the president 's financial records in a short afternoon order that followed oral arguments earlier in the day .
The order , called a stay , will remain in effect while the appeals court weighs Trump 's argument that the subpoena is overbroad .
The decision will keep the Supreme Court out of the fray , at least for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's request for a pause , the president likely would have asked the justices to step in .
`` The idea that the district attorney needs these records so badly that there ’ s no time for appellate review—after he voluntarily stayed enforcement for nearly a year—is implausible , '' Trump 's lawyers wrote in filings that pressed the Second Circuit to stall the Vance subpoena while his appeal goes forward .
The victory is only a temporary one .
The appeals court put Trump 's case on the fast track , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 , meaning that a decision before the end of the year , or even before the election , is plausible .
U.S. district judge Victor Marrero rejected Trump 's bid to quash Vance 's subpoena on Sept. 1 , prompting Trump 's appeal .
`` This is a continuation of the witch hunt , the greatest witch hunt in history .
There 's never been anything like it , '' Trump said in August after Marrero sided with Vance .
The Supreme Court rejected Trump 's argument that he is `` absolutely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July .
When the case returned to the district court , Trump 's lawyers launched new attacks , arguing that the subpoena is overbroad and that prosecutors showed bad faith by asking his accounting firm , a third party , to hand over his personal and professional financial records .
While Marrero rejected those arguments , they seemed to draw at least a little sympathy during Tuesday morning 's hearing before the Second Circuit .
Judge John Walker noted Vance 's subpoena covers almost a dozen entities doing business on several continents , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the subpoena is overbroad .
Vance is investigating hush money payments made to two women who claimed they had affairs with Trump before the 2016 campaign .
The case is No .
20-2766 Trump v. Vance .

President Donald Trump won another reprieve Tuesday in his bid to shield his financial records from investigators.
The Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance cannot yet enforce a subpoena for the president's financial records in a short afternoon order that followed oral arguments earlier in the day. The order, called a stay, will remain in effect while the appeals court weighs Trump's argument that the subpoena is overbroad.
The decision will keep the Supreme Court out of the fray, at least for the moment. Had the Second Circuit denied Trump's request for a pause, the president likely would have asked the justices to step in.
"The idea that the district attorney needs these records so badly that there’s no time for appellate review—after he voluntarily stayed enforcement for nearly a year—is implausible," Trump's lawyers wrote in filings that pressed the Second Circuit to stall the Vance subpoena while his appeal goes forward.
The victory is only a temporary one. The appeals court put Trump's case on the fast track, scheduling another set of arguments for Sept. 25, meaning that a decision before the end of the year, or even before the election, is plausible.
U.S. district judge Victor Marrero rejected Trump's bid to quash Vance's subpoena on Sept. 1, prompting Trump's appeal.
"This is a continuation of the witch hunt, the greatest witch hunt in history. There's never been anything like it," Trump said in August after Marrero sided with Vance.
The Supreme Court rejected Trump's argument that he is "absolutely immune" from state criminal processes in July. When the case returned to the district court, Trump's lawyers launched new attacks, arguing that the subpoena is overbroad and that prosecutors showed bad faith by asking his accounting firm, a third party, to hand over his personal and professional financial records.
While Marrero rejected those arguments, they seemed to draw at least a little sympathy during Tuesday morning's hearing before the Second Circuit. Judge John Walker noted Vance's subpoena covers almost a dozen entities doing business on several continents, a nod to the president's argument that the subpoena is overbroad.
Vance is investigating hush money payments made to two women who claimed they had affairs with Trump before the 2016 campaign. The case is No. 20-2766 Trump v. Vance.