freebeacon--2020-07-16--The Return of Jailbreak Liberalism

The Return of Jailbreak Liberalism

Defund the police , abolish prisons , use welfare to fight crime : These ideas and more are increasingly the rallying cries of prominent Democrats eager for a revolution in America 's criminal justice system .
Criminal justice `` reform '' has also been embraced on the right , from the Koch brothers to Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner in an effort to buy political cover from bad-faith charges of prejudice .
As municipal leaders dismantle police departments , progressives are preparing to make a grand experiment of jailbreak liberalism .
What they would like you to forget is that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The reformers ' view is anchored in the belief that crime is ultimately caused by social conditions , and that the only way to fight it is to target `` root causes '' through social welfare and rehabilitation .
The criminal justice system is dismissed as useless and racist .
That framework should be familiar to anybody who lived through the decades following World War II , when rehabilitationist thinking was the consensus among academics , policymakers , and the public .
`` If in 1960 one had been asked what steps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase in the crime rate , '' the influential criminologist James Q. Wilson wrote , the popular answer would be `` reducing poverty , increasing educational attainment , eliminating dilapidated housing , encouraging community organization , and providing troubled or delinquent youth with counseling services . ''
This mindset drove policy changes .
Prisons shrunk and police were treated with suspicion .
The incarceration rate declined between 1961 and 1976 , and as late as 1981 , murderers served an average of just five years .
Rapists got 3.4 .
President Lyndon Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a symbol of `` white power , white racism , and white repression , '' and the Warren Court shackled them at every turn .
The results rolled in .
Between 1960 and 1991 , the violent crime rate rose 370 percent .
There were more than 20,000 homicides a year for much of the '80s and '90s ; at its peak , New York City alone saw over 2,600 murders annually .
The weight of this violence fell disproportionately on poor and black Americans , the same groups jailbreak liberalism meant to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saved America from the crime wave .
More violent offenders were sent away for longer sentences ; more police funding and better tactics helped to clean up streets , famously transforming New York City 's Times Square .
Proponents of criminal justice reform routinely omit these facts because the reality undercuts their narrative .
Jailbreak liberalism was meant to end crime but instead prompted a wave of violence .
Today 's progressives , many of whom did n't live through it , may not remember that .
Enabled by their allies on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies that will beget a 21st century crime wave .
Americans have watched in horror as our cities are rocked by violent shootings , while cowed cops vanish from the streets .
Expect more of this bloody tragedy , especially for the poor and oppressed that criminal justice reformers claim to help .

Defund the police, abolish prisons, use welfare to fight crime: These ideas and more are increasingly the rallying cries of prominent Democrats eager for a revolution in America's criminal justice system.
Criminal justice "reform" has also been embraced on the right, from the Koch brothers to Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner in an effort to buy political cover from bad-faith charges of prejudice.
As municipal leaders dismantle police departments, progressives are preparing to make a grand experiment of jailbreak liberalism. What they would like you to forget is that we tried it before, with disastrous consequences.
The reformers' view is anchored in the belief that crime is ultimately caused by social conditions, and that the only way to fight it is to target "root causes" through social welfare and rehabilitation. The criminal justice system is dismissed as useless and racist.
That framework should be familiar to anybody who lived through the decades following World War II, when rehabilitationist thinking was the consensus among academics, policymakers, and the public. "If in 1960 one had been asked what steps society might take to prevent a sharp increase in the crime rate," the influential criminologist James Q. Wilson wrote, the popular answer would be "reducing poverty, increasing educational attainment, eliminating dilapidated housing, encouraging community organization, and providing troubled or delinquent youth with counseling services."
This mindset drove policy changes. Prisons shrunk and police were treated with suspicion. The incarceration rate declined between 1961 and 1976, and as late as 1981, murderers served an average of just five years. Rapists got 3.4. President Lyndon Johnson's Kerner Commission derided the cops as a symbol of "white power, white racism, and white repression," and the Warren Court shackled them at every turn.
The results rolled in. Between 1960 and 1991, the violent crime rate rose 370 percent. There were more than 20,000 homicides a year for much of the '80s and '90s; at its peak, New York City alone saw over 2,600 murders annually. The weight of this violence fell disproportionately on poor and black Americans, the same groups jailbreak liberalism meant to help.
A change in governing philosophy saved America from the crime wave. More violent offenders were sent away for longer sentences; more police funding and better tactics helped to clean up streets, famously transforming New York City's Times Square.
Proponents of criminal justice reform routinely omit these facts because the reality undercuts their narrative. Jailbreak liberalism was meant to end crime but instead prompted a wave of violence.
Today's progressives, many of whom didn't live through it, may not remember that. Enabled by their allies on the "right," they are embracing policies that will beget a 21st century crime wave. Americans have watched in horror as our cities are rocked by violent shootings, while cowed cops vanish from the streets. Expect more of this bloody tragedy, especially for the poor and oppressed that criminal justice reformers claim to help.


freebeacon--2020-07-16--Democrats Spent Tens of Millions to Destroy the Hopes and Dreams of These Qualified Black Candidates

Democrats spent more than $ 50 million this cycle to ensure that white candidates won the party 's Senate nomination in Kentucky , North Carolina , and Texas .
Unfortunately , it came at the expense of the hopes and dreams of qualified black candidates attempting to bring more diversity to Congress .
White candidates Amy McGrath in Kentucky , Cal Cunningham in North Carolina , and MJ Hegar in Texas received early backing from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ( DSCC ) , which helped them win primary races against qualified black opponents .
McGrath , who has raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to unseat Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R. , Ky. ) , narrowly defeated black state lawmaker Charles Booker in June after winning the DSCC 's endorsement in February .
Prominent Democrats such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
endorsed McGrath as early as July 2019 , when McGrath first announced her candidacy .
Warren , a BIPOC politician best known for saying whatever she thinks will make her more popular with wealthy white liberals , flip-flopped on her endorsement by backing Booker days before the primary and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sparked nationwide protests against racial injustice .
In North Carolina , Cunningham handily defeated state lawmaker Erica Smith , a former Boeing engineer who attempted to become just the third black woman to serve in the U.S. Senate .
Cunningham was receiving financial assistance from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) since the moment he announced his candidacy in June 2019 .
The DSCC officially endorsed Cunningham later that year , prompting a fiery statement from Smith .
She alleged that Democratic leaders had promised her `` unequivocally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , did not intend to endorse in the primary . ''
She denounced the DSCC 's efforts to `` sway this U.S. Senate election away from the voices and voters of North Carolina '' as `` unacceptable . ''
At a campaign event in January , Smith suggested that `` Sen. Schumer , for whatever reason , did not want an African American running for Senate in North Carolina . ''
Cunningham has raised almost $ 15 million and was assisted in the primary by VoteVets , a pro-Democrat super PAC that spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidacy .
The DSCC pitched in $ 330,000 in ad spending , in addition to the $ 1.5 million it gave the North Carolina Democratic Party .
Cunningham 's victory was the realization of Schumer 's dream to nominate a white candidate who would spend the entire campaign `` in a windowless basement raising money '' to fund attack ads against his opponent , Sen. Thom Tillis ( R. , N.C. ) .
Smith was n't the only black candidate to complain about the DSCC 's racial bias during the primaries .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its endorsement of MJ Hegar , a white person running for Senate in Texas , the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats denounced the `` disrespectful '' attempt to `` rig '' the primary .
The DSCC 's endorsement came at the expense of black state lawmaker Royce West , who called it a `` slap in the face '' and accused party leaders of `` trying to lock African Americans out of the process . ''
Last month , the same group of black Democrats denounced the DSCC again for trying to `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to become the state 's first African-American U.S. senator .
The group , which represents thousands of black lawmakers in Texas , accused the DSCC of contacting donors and urging them not to support West 's campaign .
`` It 's the same basic problem we have broadly speaking in America—whenever African Americans have an opportunity to advance , they get undercut , '' said Carroll Robinson , the group 's chairman .
`` And it 's sad that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is doing it , and I wish they would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised $ 6.5 million in addition to the $ 3.4 million the DSCC already spent in Texas , defeated West on July 14 by just 4.2 points .
Many Democrats had hoped 2020 would be the year that qualified candidates of color finally got their chance to shine .
Donors and party leaders apparently felt otherwise .
They spent millions to keep black candidates from appearing on the ballot alongside presidential nominee Joe Biden , a 77-year-old white man .

Democrats spent more than $50 million this cycle to ensure that white candidates won the party's Senate nomination in Kentucky, North Carolina, and Texas. Unfortunately, it came at the expense of the hopes and dreams of qualified black candidates attempting to bring more diversity to Congress.
White candidates Amy McGrath in Kentucky, Cal Cunningham in North Carolina, and MJ Hegar in Texas received early backing from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), which helped them win primary races against qualified black opponents.
McGrath, who has raised $41 million in her pointless bid to unseat Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), narrowly defeated black state lawmaker Charles Booker in June after winning the DSCC's endorsement in February.
Prominent Democrats such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) endorsed McGrath as early as July 2019, when McGrath first announced her candidacy. Warren, a BIPOC politician best known for saying whatever she thinks will make her more popular with wealthy white liberals, flip-flopped on her endorsement by backing Booker days before the primary and weeks after the death of George Floyd sparked nationwide protests against racial injustice.
In North Carolina, Cunningham handily defeated state lawmaker Erica Smith, a former Boeing engineer who attempted to become just the third black woman to serve in the U.S. Senate. Cunningham was receiving financial assistance from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) since the moment he announced his candidacy in June 2019.
The DSCC officially endorsed Cunningham later that year, prompting a fiery statement from Smith. She alleged that Democratic leaders had promised her "unequivocally, that they were not, had not, did not intend to endorse in the primary." She denounced the DSCC's efforts to "sway this U.S. Senate election away from the voices and voters of North Carolina" as "unacceptable." At a campaign event in January, Smith suggested that "Sen. Schumer, for whatever reason, did not want an African American running for Senate in North Carolina."
Cunningham has raised almost $15 million and was assisted in the primary by VoteVets, a pro-Democrat super PAC that spent $6 million on ads supporting his candidacy. The DSCC pitched in $330,000 in ad spending, in addition to the $1.5 million it gave the North Carolina Democratic Party. Cunningham's victory was the realization of Schumer's dream to nominate a white candidate who would spend the entire campaign "in a windowless basement raising money" to fund attack ads against his opponent, Sen. Thom Tillis (R., N.C.).
Smith wasn't the only black candidate to complain about the DSCC's racial bias during the primaries. In December 2019, when the DSCC announced its endorsement of MJ Hegar, a white person running for Senate in Texas, the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats denounced the "disrespectful" attempt to "rig" the primary. The DSCC's endorsement came at the expense of black state lawmaker Royce West, who called it a "slap in the face" and accused party leaders of "trying to lock African Americans out of the process."
Last month, the same group of black Democrats denounced the DSCC again for trying to "cheat" West out of a chance to become the state's first African-American U.S. senator. The group, which represents thousands of black lawmakers in Texas, accused the DSCC of contacting donors and urging them not to support West's campaign.
"It's the same basic problem we have broadly speaking in America—whenever African Americans have an opportunity to advance, they get undercut," said Carroll Robinson, the group's chairman. "And it's sad that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is doing it, and I wish they would stop."
Hegar, who has raised $6.5 million in addition to the $3.4 million the DSCC already spent in Texas, defeated West on July 14 by just 4.2 points.
Many Democrats had hoped 2020 would be the year that qualified candidates of color finally got their chance to shine. Donors and party leaders apparently felt otherwise. They spent millions to keep black candidates from appearing on the ballot alongside presidential nominee Joe Biden, a 77-year-old white man.


freebeacon--2020-07-16--No One Batted an Eyelash at These CNN Banners

CNN media reporter Brian Stelter was horrified at a chyron from right-wing Fox Business anchor Lou Dobbs Wednesday night that @ @ @ @ @ War on America . ''
`` No one even bats an eyelash anymore '' when @ @ @ @ @ banner , Stelter sighed on Twitter .
Stelter may protest too much .
While Dobbs @ @ @ @ @ opinion host , here are some snarky , sarcastic , inflammatory , partisan chyrons during @ @ @ @ @ news programs , including Stelter 's .
NewsBusters managing editor Curtis Houck was a source @ @ @ @ @ along with other Twitter users .

CNN media reporter Brian Stelter was horrified at a chyron from right-wing Fox Business anchor Lou Dobbs Wednesday night that read, "Left's War on America."
"No one even bats an eyelash anymore" when Fox puts up such a banner, Stelter sighed on Twitter.
No one even bats an eyelash anymore when Fox puts up banners like "LEFT'S WAR ON AMERICA." pic.twitter.com/mpJA7JARdz — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) July 16, 2020
Stelter may protest too much. While Dobbs is an unabashedly pro-Trump primetime opinion host, here are some snarky, sarcastic, inflammatory, partisan chyrons during the Trump administration on CNN news programs, including Stelter's.
Blatant Editorializing
Breaking News
Just asking questions
Attempted gotchas
Sober media coverage
Medical assessments
Toughness on Democrats
Ice Cream Coverage
NewsBusters managing editor Curtis Houck was a source for several of these, along with other Twitter users.


freebeacon--2020-07-16--Supreme Court Decision Likely To Keep Ex-Cons Away From Florida Polls

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to block a Florida law that requires ex-felons to pay off fines and court-ordered restitution before their voting rights are restored , a decision that will keep thousands away from the polls in the perennial battleground state .
Thursday 's move leaves in place an appeals court order that effectively barred hundreds of thousands of ex-convicts from registering to vote .
Those would-be voters are disqualified from the state 's August primary as a result of the ruling , and their participation in November 's presidential election is now unlikely .
There are approximately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes amid a nationwide push to relax criminal sanctions and rehabilitate ex-felons for ordinary life .
The effort has resulted in new federal legislation like the First Step Act—a bipartisan sentencing reform bill—as well as state-level changes to convict voting restrictions .
In recent years , for example , New York and Colorado have extended voting rights to inmates on parole .
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden leads President Donald Trump in Sunshine State surveys by almost seven points , according to polling aggregator FiveThirtyEight .
Winning the state is essential to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ex-con voting skews heavily in favor of Democrats .
The Court did not give reasons for its decision or disclose a vote count , as is typical of such orders .
Justice Sonia Sotomayor handed down a dissenting opinion , joined by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan .
In 2018 , Floridians enacted a state constitutional amendment that restores voting rights to felons once their sentences are complete .
The proposal passed with about 65 percent of the vote .
Murderers and sex offenders are still disenfranchised under the amendment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ clarifying that ex-convicts must pay all fines , fees , and court-ordered restitution to victims before they could return to the voting booth .
The Florida Supreme Court agreed that the amendment encompasses `` all terms of sentence '' including financial penalties .
A coalition of former felons challenged what they called a `` pay-to-vote '' law in court , arguing that it amounts to wealth discrimination and an unconstitutional poll tax .
They also objected that the state has no system in place for tracking and assessing just how much ex-cons owe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A trial court sided with the plaintiffs on May 26 , and almost 100,000 former felons registered to vote in the following days .
But the 11th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals put the decision on hold , prompting an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court .
`` This case involves three-quarters of a million people who are otherwise eligible to vote but for the state 's system of wealth discrimination , imposition of an unconstitutional poll tax , and the incapable administration of a system that deprives people of notice of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ACLU and the Campaign Legal Center wrote in court filings on behalf of the plaintiffs .
Florida countered that the states have no duty to restore voting rights to ex-convicts in the first place and emphasized that courts generally do not upend election rules on short notice , given possible voter confusion and administrative burdens on election workers .
The trial court 's order , issued less than two months before the registration deadline for primary voting , `` would have thrown Florida 's primary into chaos , '' lawyers for the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the 11th Circuit for further proceedings .
Oral arguments before that panel are scheduled for Aug. 18 , the day of Florida 's primary election for congressional , state , and local races .
If a decision does not come before Oct. 5 , the registration deadline for the general election , then hundreds of thousands of prospective voters will be disqualified from the November balloting .
The case is No .
19A1071 Raysor v. DeSantis .

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to block a Florida law that requires ex-felons to pay off fines and court-ordered restitution before their voting rights are restored, a decision that will keep thousands away from the polls in the perennial battleground state.
Thursday's move leaves in place an appeals court order that effectively barred hundreds of thousands of ex-convicts from registering to vote. Those would-be voters are disqualified from the state's August primary as a result of the ruling, and their participation in November's presidential election is now unlikely. There are approximately 750,000 ex-felons in Florida.
The ruling comes amid a nationwide push to relax criminal sanctions and rehabilitate ex-felons for ordinary life. The effort has resulted in new federal legislation like the First Step Act—a bipartisan sentencing reform bill—as well as state-level changes to convict voting restrictions. In recent years, for example, New York and Colorado have extended voting rights to inmates on parole.
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden leads President Donald Trump in Sunshine State surveys by almost seven points, according to polling aggregator FiveThirtyEight. Winning the state is essential to the president's reelection prospects, and ex-con voting skews heavily in favor of Democrats.
The Court did not give reasons for its decision or disclose a vote count, as is typical of such orders. Justice Sonia Sotomayor handed down a dissenting opinion, joined by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan.
"This Court's inaction continues a trend of condoning disfranchisement," Sotomayor wrote.
In 2018, Floridians enacted a state constitutional amendment that restores voting rights to felons once their sentences are complete. The proposal passed with about 65 percent of the vote. Murderers and sex offenders are still disenfranchised under the amendment. The state legislature then passed a law clarifying that ex-convicts must pay all fines, fees, and court-ordered restitution to victims before they could return to the voting booth. The Florida Supreme Court agreed that the amendment encompasses "all terms of sentence" including financial penalties.
A coalition of former felons challenged what they called a "pay-to-vote" law in court, arguing that it amounts to wealth discrimination and an unconstitutional poll tax. They also objected that the state has no system in place for tracking and assessing just how much ex-cons owe in terms of fines or restitution.
A trial court sided with the plaintiffs on May 26, and almost 100,000 former felons registered to vote in the following days. But the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals put the decision on hold, prompting an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court.
"This case involves three-quarters of a million people who are otherwise eligible to vote but for the state's system of wealth discrimination, imposition of an unconstitutional poll tax, and the incapable administration of a system that deprives people of notice of their eligibility," lawyers from the ACLU and the Campaign Legal Center wrote in court filings on behalf of the plaintiffs.
Florida countered that the states have no duty to restore voting rights to ex-convicts in the first place and emphasized that courts generally do not upend election rules on short notice, given possible voter confusion and administrative burdens on election workers.
The trial court's order, issued less than two months before the registration deadline for primary voting, "would have thrown Florida's primary into chaos," lawyers for the state wrote.
The case will now return to the 11th Circuit for further proceedings. Oral arguments before that panel are scheduled for Aug. 18, the day of Florida's primary election for congressional, state, and local races. If a decision does not come before Oct. 5, the registration deadline for the general election, then hundreds of thousands of prospective voters will be disqualified from the November balloting.
The case is No. 19A1071 Raysor v. DeSantis.
Raysor v. DeSantis Supreme ... by Washington Free Beacon on Scribd


freebeacon--2020-07-16--Russia Tries to Breach Sensitive COVID Vaccine Data

Moscow-backed hackers are attempting to steal valuable coronavirus treatment research from medical and educational institutions worldwide , Reuters reported Thursday .
The hacking group APT29 , which is also called Cozy Bear , is widely suspected to be an arm of the Kremlin 's intelligence services .
The group uses malware and phishing to breach American , British , and Canadian anti-coronavirus operations , according to Britain 's National Cyber Security Centre ( NCSC ) .
`` We condemn these despicable attacks against those doing vital work to combat the coronavirus pandemic , '' said NCSC director of operations Paul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's suspicions , saying there was insufficient evidence to back claims of state sabotage .
Recent developments in the fight against COVID-19 render data theft especially pernicious .
One American vaccine 's success in boosting immune systems led to authorization on Wednesday for the final stage of testing .
If confirmed , this would not be the first instance of Russian hackers interfering with domestic affairs in the transatlantic alliance .
Cozy Bear is suspected to have orchestrated a hack of the Democratic National Committee before the 2016 presidential election .
Russia also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information earlier this year .
Beyond hacking attempts , Russia has muscled up in the political arena .
In recent weeks , Moscow and Beijing took steps toward a relationship based on countering American power .
Moscow has also flaunted the Open Skies Treaty , deploying reconnaissance planes to gather intelligence on the United States .
Inside the country itself , President Vladimir Putin proposed constitutional changes that would allow him to remain in executive power until 2036 .

Moscow-backed hackers are attempting to steal valuable coronavirus treatment research from medical and educational institutions worldwide, Reuters reported Thursday.
The hacking group APT29, which is also called Cozy Bear, is widely suspected to be an arm of the Kremlin's intelligence services. The group uses malware and phishing to breach American, British, and Canadian anti-coronavirus operations, according to Britain's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
"We condemn these despicable attacks against those doing vital work to combat the coronavirus pandemic," said NCSC director of operations Paul Chichester. A Russian spokesman denied London's suspicions, saying there was insufficient evidence to back claims of state sabotage.
Recent developments in the fight against COVID-19 render data theft especially pernicious. One American vaccine's success in boosting immune systems led to authorization on Wednesday for the final stage of testing.
If confirmed, this would not be the first instance of Russian hackers interfering with domestic affairs in the transatlantic alliance. Cozy Bear is suspected to have orchestrated a hack of the Democratic National Committee before the 2016 presidential election. Russia also attempted to hack military families' personal information earlier this year.
Beyond hacking attempts, Russia has muscled up in the political arena. In recent weeks, Moscow and Beijing took steps toward a relationship based on countering American power. Moscow has also flaunted the Open Skies Treaty, deploying reconnaissance planes to gather intelligence on the United States.
Inside the country itself, President Vladimir Putin proposed constitutional changes that would allow him to remain in executive power until 2036.


freebeacon--2020-07-17--Top Gun-Control Group Will Spend $1.25 Million in Colorado After Affiliate Received PPP Loan

One of the country 's leading gun-control groups received up to $ 350,000 from taxpayers to deal with the fallout from coronavirus , but that has not affected its political arm 's plans to spend millions on the 2020 election .
Giffords PAC , one of the largest gun-control political action committees in the country , told Colorado Politics that it would spend $ 1.25 million on television ads to support Democrat John Hickenlooper 's 2020 Colorado Senate campaign .
The announcement came just two months after the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence took a Paycheck Protection Program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 350,000 in order to meet payroll for 16 employees , according to the Small Business Administration .
Congress established PPP loans in March to provide relief to small businesses affected by coronavirus shutdowns , but the taxpayer-backed loans may have been used to support the salaries of workers spearheading Giffords PAC 's multimillion-dollar campaign operations .
A Washington Free Beacon review of financial disclosures found money has moved between the PAC , Law Center , and a Washington , D.C.-based social welfare arm called Giffords .
The PAC has paid Giffords more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from staffing costs to rentals .
Giffords and the Law Center share staff , according to federal disclosures .
Neither the Giffords PAC nor the Law Center responded to a request for comment .
While advocacy groups routinely commingle money between nonprofit and political operations , the use of taxpayer money could lead to legal trouble , according to some legal experts .
Hans A. von Spakovsky , a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation 's Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies , warned that the arrangement could prove legally problematic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to support Hickenlooper .
`` To the extent this organization commingles or uses any federal funds in support of a member of Congress because of his anti-gun position , they may be in violation of [ federal law ] , '' Spakovsky said .
`` If they use federal funds for partisan political purposes they could potentially be charged with ‘ defrauding ' the United States . ''
Second Amendment activist Alan Gottlieb said the two nonprofits he works with have struggled from lagging donations during the pandemic , but the notion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his mind .
He called on the Giffords Law Center to return its PPP loans and said politicians should repudiate endorsements from the group .
`` This is yet another fraud committed by the Giffords PAC against the American people , '' Gottlieb told the Free Beacon .
`` They should use that money to repay the loans they took for their allied sister organization that they claim is not political .
Morally this is disgusting and Hickenlooper should denounce them for it . ''
The Hickenlooper campaign did not respond to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another leading gun-control group whose affiliate took up to $ 1 million from the small business relief program , also told the Colorado publication it would `` spend big '' in support of Hickenlooper .
The PAC did not respond to questions about how much it planned to spend in the race .
A spokesman for the Brady Center , which received the PPP loan , told the Free Beacon on Friday the loan was needed to make up for shortfalls in fundraising associated with events canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic .

One of the country's leading gun-control groups received up to $350,000 from taxpayers to deal with the fallout from coronavirus, but that has not affected its political arm's plans to spend millions on the 2020 election.
Giffords PAC, one of the largest gun-control political action committees in the country, told Colorado Politics that it would spend $1.25 million on television ads to support Democrat John Hickenlooper's 2020 Colorado Senate campaign. The announcement came just two months after the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence took a Paycheck Protection Program loan worth between $150,000 and $350,000 in order to meet payroll for 16 employees, according to the Small Business Administration.
Congress established PPP loans in March to provide relief to small businesses affected by coronavirus shutdowns, but the taxpayer-backed loans may have been used to support the salaries of workers spearheading Giffords PAC's multimillion-dollar campaign operations. A Washington Free Beacon review of financial disclosures found money has moved between the PAC, Law Center, and a Washington, D.C.-based social welfare arm called Giffords. The PAC has paid Giffords more than $845,000 since March 2019 for everything from staffing costs to rentals. Giffords and the Law Center share staff, according to federal disclosures.
Neither the Giffords PAC nor the Law Center responded to a request for comment.
While advocacy groups routinely commingle money between nonprofit and political operations, the use of taxpayer money could lead to legal trouble, according to some legal experts. Hans A. von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation's Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, warned that the arrangement could prove legally problematic if any of the PPP funds were used to support Hickenlooper.
"To the extent this organization commingles or uses any federal funds in support of a member of Congress because of his anti-gun position, they may be in violation of [federal law]," Spakovsky said. "If they use federal funds for partisan political purposes they could potentially be charged with 'defrauding' the United States."
Second Amendment activist Alan Gottlieb said the two nonprofits he works with have struggled from lagging donations during the pandemic, but the notion of taking taxpayer dollars did not cross his mind. He called on the Giffords Law Center to return its PPP loans and said politicians should repudiate endorsements from the group.
"This is yet another fraud committed by the Giffords PAC against the American people," Gottlieb told the Free Beacon. "They should use that money to repay the loans they took for their allied sister organization that they claim is not political. Morally this is disgusting and Hickenlooper should denounce them for it."
The Hickenlooper campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Brady PAC, another leading gun-control group whose affiliate took up to $1 million from the small business relief program, also told the Colorado publication it would "spend big" in support of Hickenlooper. The PAC did not respond to questions about how much it planned to spend in the race. A spokesman for the Brady Center, which received the PPP loan, told the Free Beacon on Friday the loan was needed to make up for shortfalls in fundraising associated with events canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.


freebeacon--2020-07-17--WV Dem Denied Dept. Request for Health Crisis Funding Prior to Pandemic

West Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ben Salango accused the state of failing to prepare for the coronavirus just one year after he denied funding to address potential health emergencies .
In his role as Kanawha County commissioner , Salango rejected a budget request from his county health department that would have bolstered funding for an emergency , including the potential outbreak of a flu-like illness .
Kanawha-Charleston Health Department officials asked for $ 160,000 from Salango 's committee—the same amount they received for three consecutive fiscal years—in February 2019 .
Salango was one of three commissioners to vote down the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rubin said would help `` pay for unforeseen emergencies … like H1N1 . ''
Salango was skeptical of the request .
`` If you 're using county commission money for specific projects , why ca n't you just come in and ask for the money when you have the need ?
Why does it have to be given now ? ''
Salango said .
`` Anybody else that needs a car or an air-conditioning unit or whatever , they will just come in and ask . ''
Salango went on to approve just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that if health officials need additional funds in the future , `` you come in and ask for it . ''
County budget documents show Salango also cut funding for `` mental health '' from $ 120,000 to $ 55,000 .
Just one year later , he promised to be a governor `` who can plan for the worst . ''
Salango has repeatedly criticized Gov .
Jim Justice 's ( R. ) pandemic response , saying he was `` caught flat-footed '' by the virus .
`` West Virginia needs new leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in May .
`` The time to plan for a crisis is n't weeks or months after it starts , it 's months and years in advance . ''
Salango did not respond to a request for comment .
Salango , who was elected to the county commission in 2018 and also works as an attorney , became the state 's Democratic gubernatorial nominee in June after winning a tight primary .
Salango spent $ 1.1 million in the race to defeat community organizer Stephen Smith , who spent just $ 581,000 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a Democrat but became a Republican in August 2017 .
He has won the support of GOP voters , winning 63 percent in the June primary , overcoming a $ 2 million spending deficit in his race against former West Virginia Department of Commerce secretary Woody Thrasher .
Justice and Solango will face off in November .
Justice enjoys an advantage in the conservative state , according to the nonpartisan Cook Political Report , which said West Virginia was `` not likely to become closely contested . ''

West Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ben Salango accused the state of failing to prepare for the coronavirus just one year after he denied funding to address potential health emergencies.
In his role as Kanawha County commissioner, Salango rejected a budget request from his county health department that would have bolstered funding for an emergency, including the potential outbreak of a flu-like illness. Kanawha-Charleston Health Department officials asked for $160,000 from Salango's committee—the same amount they received for three consecutive fiscal years—in February 2019. Salango was one of three commissioners to vote down the request, which department chairman Dr. Arthur Rubin said would help "pay for unforeseen emergencies ... like H1N1." Salango was skeptical of the request.
"If you're using county commission money for specific projects, why can't you just come in and ask for the money when you have the need? Why does it have to be given now?" Salango said. "Anybody else that needs a car or an air-conditioning unit or whatever, they will just come in and ask."
Salango went on to approve just $80,000 for the department, saying that if health officials need additional funds in the future, "you come in and ask for it." County budget documents show Salango also cut funding for "mental health" from $120,000 to $55,000. Just one year later, he promised to be a governor "who can plan for the worst."
Salango has repeatedly criticized Gov. Jim Justice's (R.) pandemic response, saying he was "caught flat-footed" by the virus.
"West Virginia needs new leadership," Salango told the Charleston Gazette-Mail in May. "The time to plan for a crisis isn't weeks or months after it starts, it's months and years in advance."
Salango did not respond to a request for comment.
Salango, who was elected to the county commission in 2018 and also works as an attorney, became the state's Democratic gubernatorial nominee in June after winning a tight primary. Salango spent $1.1 million in the race to defeat community organizer Stephen Smith, who spent just $581,000.
Justice won the 2016 governor's race as a Democrat but became a Republican in August 2017. He has won the support of GOP voters, winning 63 percent in the June primary, overcoming a $2 million spending deficit in his race against former West Virginia Department of Commerce secretary Woody Thrasher.
Justice and Solango will face off in November. Justice enjoys an advantage in the conservative state, according to the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, which said West Virginia was "not likely to become closely contested."


freebeacon--2020-07-18--UConn Med. School May Shutter Honor Society Amid Diversity Feud

The University of Connecticut School of Medicine is suspending nominations to its honor society and considering getting rid of its chapter entirely amid fears that the merit-based criteria for membership are racist , the Washington Free Beacon has learned .
UConn 's chapter of AΩA , the national honor society of medical schools across the United States , was established just last year .
But the young group is already considering closure amid fierce campus debate over the criteria for admissions , which some argue are racially biased .
Five members of the UConn faculty made the announcement in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington Free Beacon .
According to the email , the board of the UConn chapter is temporarily suspending admissions as it considers whether or not to disband itself .
The decision is backed , the letter says , by the school 's dean .
`` If we are going to directly address issues of social injustice , we should not continue biased practices while we make the overall decision on the future of the AΩA chapter , '' the letter says .
Leaders of many elite institutions now say that a merit-based admissions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outcomes .
The New York Times , for example , recently published an op-ed arguing for ending blind auditions in America 's orchestras .
Such moves indicate an overturning of decades of consensus that neutral meritocratic standards foster racial diversity and signal an institutional shift towards explicit racial quotas .
Neither the school of medicine nor the signatories immediately responded to a request for comment .
In their letter , the signatories indicate that they believe that `` implicit bias in grading and assessment of students '' may be behind the racial disparity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ write , `` makes it necessary for us to serious re-examine the pathway forward . ''
UConn School of Medicine does not report the ethnic composition of its class .
But recent data indicate that 23 percent of students `` are from underrepresented groups in medicine . ''

The University of Connecticut School of Medicine is suspending nominations to its honor society and is considering getting rid of its chapter entirely amid fears that the merit-based criteria for membership are racist, the Washington Free Beacon has learned.
UConn's chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha, the national honor society of medical schools across the United States, was established just last year. But the young group is already considering closure amid fierce campus debate over the criteria for admissions, which some argue are racially biased.
Five members of the UConn faculty made the announcement in an email sent Friday and obtained by the Washington Free Beacon. According to the email, the board of the UConn chapter is temporarily suspending admissions as it considers whether or not to disband itself. The decision is backed, the letter says, by the school's dean.
"If we are going to directly address issues of social injustice, we should not continue biased practices while we make the overall decision on the future of the AΩA chapter," the letter says.
Leaders of many elite institutions now say that a merit-based admissions policy may lead to unacceptable racially unequal outcomes. The New York Times, for example, recently published an op-ed arguing for ending blind auditions in America's orchestras. Such moves indicate an overturning of decades of consensus that neutral meritocratic standards foster racial diversity and signal an institutional shift towards explicit racial quotas.
Neither the school of medicine nor the signatories immediately responded to a request for comment.
In their letter, the signatories indicate that they believe that "implicit bias in grading and assessment of students" may be behind the racial disparity in Alpha Omega Alpha membership. This, they write, "makes it necessary for us to seriously re-examine the pathway forward."
UConn School of Medicine does not report the ethnic composition of its class. But recent data indicate that 23 percent of students "are from underrepresented groups in medicine."
Full e-mail below:


freebeacon--2020-07-18--U.S. Sanctions Chinese Firm, Traffickers for Fentanyl Imports

The Department of the Treasury announced sanctions on four individuals and one company for their engagement in the fentanyl trafficking industry , Reuters reported Friday .
The department announced the sanctioned individuals are Songyan Ji , Longbao Zhang , Guifeng Cheng , and Guangfu Zheng , while the company is called Global United Biotechnology Inc .
Owned by drug trafficker Fujing Zheng and the Zheng Drug Trafficking Organization ( DTO ) , the biotech company 's proprietors fell in violation of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act for drug trafficking last August .
Global United Biotechnology was deemed `` a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' according to the Treasury Department .
Under the new designation , all the company 's property and the property of the sanctioned individuals in the United States must be `` blocked and reported '' to the department .
China is the top trafficker of fentanyl to the United States , the Washington Free Beacon reported last year .
In 2018 alone , the deadly drug and its analogs led to at least 30,000 overdose deaths .
The drug is 80 times more powerful than morphine .
`` Fentanyl and other drugs have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Deputy Treasury Secretary Justin Muzinich .
`` The United States is committed to holding drug traffickers and those who facilitate their operations accountable for the suffering they impose upon American families . ''

The Department of the Treasury announced sanctions on four individuals and one company for their engagement in the fentanyl trafficking industry, Reuters reported Friday.
The department announced the sanctioned individuals are Songyan Ji, Longbao Zhang, Guifeng Cheng, and Guangfu Zheng, while the company is called Global United Biotechnology Inc. Owned by drug trafficker Fujing Zheng and the Zheng Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO), the biotech company's proprietors fell in violation of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act for drug trafficking last August.
Global United Biotechnology was deemed "a virtual storefront for the Zheng DTO," according to the Treasury Department. Under the new designation, all the company's property and the property of the sanctioned individuals in the United States must be "blocked and reported" to the department.
China is the top trafficker of fentanyl to the United States, the Washington Free Beacon reported last year. In 2018 alone, the deadly drug and its analogs led to at least 30,000 overdose deaths. The drug is 80 times more powerful than morphine.
"Fentanyl and other drugs have caused overwhelming devastation to communities across America," said Deputy Treasury Secretary Justin Muzinich. "The United States is committed to holding drug traffickers and those who facilitate their operations accountable for the suffering they impose upon American families."


freebeacon--2020-07-18--Clinton’s Former UN Ambassador Fails To Secure American Hostages From Venezuela

American diplomat Bill Richardson returned to the United States unable to bring home eight American citizens imprisoned by Venezuela 's Maduro regime , Reuters reported on Friday .
Richardson—the former Democratic governor of New Mexico and ambassador to the United Nations under President Bill Clinton 's administration—conducted the diplomatic mission privately , upon request of the prisoners ’ families .
`` I am glad we were able to meet with President Maduro to discuss the potential release of the American prisoners and other COVID-19 humanitarian issues , '' a statement released by Richardson reads .
`` We regret that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Americans .
Our thoughts are with the families of the six Citgo executives—Tomeu Vadell , Alirio Zambrano , Jose Luis Zambrano , Gustavo Cardenas , Jorge Toledo , and Jose Angel Pereira – as well as with former Green Berets Luke Denman and Airan Berry . ''
The six Citgo executives are imprisoned on what Washington calls `` baseless '' charges of embezzlement , while the two special forces veterans are detained for their role in an attempted overthrow of the Maduro regime in May .
United States envoy to Venezuela @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release of the Americans .
`` The Department of State will continue our efforts to free them until the day when they are released , '' he said .
The rescue mission was attempted at a potential tipping point for the Maduro regime .
Recent U.S. sanctions applied to Venezuelan oil exports , in addition to the coronavirus , have ravaged the regime .
Washington holds fast in its support of claimant to the Venezuelan presidency Juan Guaidó , opposing the weakening communist state .

American diplomat Bill Richardson returned to the United States unable to bring home eight American citizens imprisoned by Venezuela's Maduro regime, Reuters reported on Friday.
Richardson—the former Democratic governor of New Mexico and ambassador to the United Nations under President Bill Clinton's administration—conducted the diplomatic mission privately, upon request of the prisoners’ families.
"I am glad we were able to meet with President Maduro to discuss the potential release of the American prisoners and other COVID-19 humanitarian issues," a statement released by Richardson reads.
"We regret that we were not able to secure the release of the Americans. Our thoughts are with the families of the six Citgo executives—Tomeu Vadell, Alirio Zambrano, Jose Luis Zambrano, Gustavo Cardenas, Jorge Toledo, and Jose Angel Pereira—as well as with former Green Berets Luke Denman and Airan Berry."
The six Citgo executives are imprisoned on what Washington calls "baseless" charges of embezzlement, while the two special forces veterans are detained for their role in an attempted overthrow of the Maduro regime in May.
United States envoy to Venezuela Elliott Abrams lambasted the decision to withhold release of the Americans. "The Department of State will continue our efforts to free them until the day when they are released," he said.
The rescue mission was attempted at a potential tipping point for the Maduro regime. Recent U.S. sanctions applied to Venezuelan oil exports, in addition to the coronavirus, have ravaged the regime.
Washington holds fast in its support of claimant to the Venezuelan presidency Juan Guaidó, opposing the weakening communist state.


freebeacon--2020-07-17--St. Louis Gun Couple to Join Friday Night Trump Campaign Event

The St. Louis couple at the center of a firestorm over their armed confrontation with a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters will join an official Trump campaign event on Friday night .
Mark and Patricia McCloskey , who were thrust into the national spotlight after video was captured of them holding firearms to protect their home from protesters on their property , are among the featured guests on the campaign 's Friday night livestream .
The campaign says the discussion , hosted by former Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle , will focus on the Second Amendment and what it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the heels of Trump 's endorsement from the National Rifle Association ( NRA ) .
The group praised the president in an endorsement letter , saying he had `` done more than any president to protect the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms '' during his first term .
The NRA spent more than $ 30 million in support of his 2016 victory and is expected to spend heavily for his reelection .
The McCloskeys have been in the middle of a controversy since video of their altercation with protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowd entered the McCloskeys ' property through a gate marked `` private '' —which was destroyed during the incident—the couple pointed firearms at some members of the crowd and yelled at them to leave .
Joel Schwartz , who represents the McCloskeys , told the Free Beacon on Tuesday police had seized the couple 's guns .
He expects charges to be filed against them soon .
Schwartz added , however , that he is confident the couple 's actions were legal under Missouri 's defense of property law .
`` People violently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ property—they had every right to defend themselves to a means necessary under the circumstances , '' Schwartz said .
`` And that 's what they did . ''
The campaign said it expects the event to draw more than one million views , noting that its streaming campaign events had reached more than 1.1 billion video views since April .
In addition to the McCloskeys , the event will feature Donald Trump Jr. , Rep. Matt Gaetz ( R. , Florida ) , and Utah attorney general Sean Reyes ( R. ) .

The St. Louis couple at the center of a firestorm over their armed confrontation with a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters will join an official Trump campaign event on Friday night.
Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who were thrust into the national spotlight after video was captured of them holding firearms to protect their home from protesters on their property, are among the featured guests on the campaign's Friday night livestream. The campaign says the discussion, hosted by former Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle, will focus on the Second Amendment and what it means for America.
The event comes on the heels of Trump's endorsement from the National Rifle Association. The group praised the president in an endorsement letter, saying he had "done more than any president to protect the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms" during his first term. The NRA spent more than $30 million in support of his 2016 victory and is expected to spend heavily for his reelection.
The McCloskeys have been in the middle of a controversy since video of their altercation with protesters went viral in June. As the crowd entered the McCloskeys' property through a gate marked "private"—which was destroyed during the incident—the couple pointed firearms at some members of the crowd and yelled at them to leave.
Joel Schwartz, who represents the McCloskeys, told the Free Beacon on Tuesday police had seized the couple's guns. He expects charges to be filed against them soon. Schwartz added, however, that he is confident the couple's actions were legal under Missouri's defense of property law.
"People violently burst down the gate onto their private property—they had every right to defend themselves to a means necessary under the circumstances," Schwartz said. "And that's what they did."
The campaign said it expects the event to draw more than 1 million views, noting that its streaming campaign events had reached more than 1.1 billion video views since April. In addition to the McCloskeys, the event will feature Donald Trump Jr., Rep. Matt Gaetz (R., Fla.), and Utah's Republican attorney general Sean Reyes.


freebeacon--2020-07-17--Chinese Mars Rocket Moves Into Place for Launch

Beijing placed a spacefaring rocket meant for Mars exploration via rover in position for launch Friday , the Associated Press reported .
The rocket , known as Tianwen-1 , marks China 's first attempt at a mission to Mars .
Planning to launch next week , the PRC hopes this will be the first of many moves in its attempt to dominate space .
If the mission succeeds , `` China will really have made its stand for its space agency and for its country , '' Namrata Goswami , an analyst for an Indian defense analysis institute , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ramped up space activity for geopolitical ends under Xi Jinping 's leadership .
In recent weeks , Moscow hinted at a potential partnership with the space mission .
Russia and China are developing anti-satellite weapons with grave security implications for American technology in orbit .
China also landed a robotic explorer on the moon 's far side last year , the first time in history such a feat has been accomplished .
Wu Yanhua , the deputy chief of China 's National Space Administration , said in 2017 that Beijing 's `` overall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , China will be among the major space powers of the world . ''
NASA has never worked with China due to national security concerns .
China has countered the United States and its allies in spacefaring missions by increasing its capabilities over the past two decades .
Space missions could give the communist regime a strong position against American technological prowess and could assist its domestic-facing propaganda campaigns .
`` The Chinese government has certainly tried to use space as part of its arguments for de facto legitimacy , '' Heritage Foundation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 .
`` It is no accident that senior science leaders are consistently photographed at the launch of major missions . ''
Washington has attempted to address the rising Chinese space program with renewed investment in its own extraterrestrial efforts .
Last year , Vice President Mike Pence and NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine unveiled the Artemis program , which strives to put American boots on the moon by 2024 .
`` It is America 's destiny to be the leader amongst nations in our adventure into the great unknown , '' Pence said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it . ''

Beijing placed a spacefaring rocket meant for Mars exploration via rover in position for launch Friday, the Associated Press reported.
The rocket, known as Tianwen-1, marks China's first attempt at a mission to Mars. Planning to launch next week, the PRC hopes this will be the first of many moves in its attempt to dominate space.
If the mission succeeds, "China will really have made its stand for its space agency and for its country," Namrata Goswami, an analyst for an Indian defense analysis institute, told the Wall Street Journal.
China has ramped up space activity for geopolitical ends under Xi Jinping's leadership. In recent weeks, Moscow hinted at a potential partnership with the space mission. Russia and China are developing anti-satellite weapons with grave security implications for American technology in orbit. China also landed a robotic explorer on the moon's far side last year, the first time in history such a feat has been accomplished.
Wu Yanhua, the deputy chief of China's National Space Administration, said in 2017 that Beijing's "overall goal is that, by around 2030, China will be among the major space powers of the world."
NASA has never worked with China due to national security concerns. China has countered the United States and its allies in spacefaring missions by increasing its capabilities over the past two decades. Space missions could give the communist regime a strong position against American technological prowess and could assist its domestic-facing propaganda campaigns.
"The Chinese government has certainly tried to use space as part of its arguments for de facto legitimacy," Heritage Foundation scholar Dean Cheng told the Atlantic in 2017. "It is no accident that senior science leaders are consistently photographed at the launch of major missions."
Washington has attempted to address the rising Chinese space program with renewed investment in its own extraterrestrial efforts. Last year, Vice President Mike Pence and NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine unveiled the Artemis program, which strives to put American boots on the moon by 2024.
"It is America's destiny to be the leader amongst nations in our adventure into the great unknown," Pence said last year. "And we believe it."


freebeacon--2020-07-17--NC Teachers Union Demands Universal Health Care, Welfare for Illegal Immigrants to Reopen Schools

A North Carolina teachers ' union is calling for the implementation of universal health care and welfare benefits for illegal immigrants in order to reopen schools in the fall .
Just days after the Durham Association of Educators ( DAE ) issued a statement railing against the school district 's reopening plan , Durham Public Schools voted unanimously to hold all classes virtually for at least the first nine weeks of the school year .
Included in the DAE statement was a call to adopt a variety of far-left policy goals before holding in-person classes , including Medicare for All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigration status . ''
`` There are concrete policies that have permitted other countries to flatten the curve and return to public life : moratoriums on rent and mortgage , universal health care , direct income support regardless of immigration status , '' the statement reads .
`` We must fight together , collectively , for changes that will permit our communities to thrive during this pandemic and beyond . ''
The union 's statement also calls for a full shutdown of the state , saying `` until that is done , remote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The district did not respond to a request for comment .
The 2020-2021 school year has become a hot-button issue in recent weeks amid an aggressive push from President Donald Trump to reopen campuses .
On July 8 , he threatened to cut federal funding for schools that fail to reopen in the fall , sparking pushback from teachers ' unions at the local , state , and national levels .
Some health experts have emphasized the need for students to attend in-person classes moving forward .
The American Academy of Pediatrics released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that warned parents and policymakers of the `` considerable risk of morbidity and , in some cases , mortality '' associated with `` lengthy time away from school . ''
In addition , a JAMA Pediatrics review of 18 studies found that most children who contract coronavirus `` generally required supportive care only , and typically had a good prognosis and recovered within one to two weeks . ''
In its statement , the DAE acknowledged that `` all children are suffering without school—some without enough food to eat , others without sufficiently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without internet access , and others with too much mindless screen time . ''
The union , however , claimed that the Trump administration 's reopening push was aimed at `` protecting wealth and big business . ''
North Carolina GOP spokesman Tim Wigginton criticized the union 's stance .
He noted that the state 's top public health official , Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Mandy Cohen , said that she plans to send her daughters back to school for in-person instruction .
`` Once again , teachers ' unions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agenda that puts special interests first and kids last , '' Wigginton said at a July 16 briefing .
`` We need to do what 's best for our children , and according to the pediatricians , that 's letting them return to school . ''
The DAE is a direct affiliate of the North Carolina Association of Educators ( NCAE ) , and former DAE president Bryan Proffitt was elected NCAE vice president in April .
Proffitt has decried the school-choice and charter-school movements , as well as online education .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They 're going to push online education , they 're going to push charters , they 're going to push [ the narrative ] we did n't need teachers in the first place , '' Proffitt said in April .
`` Our side has to be willing to fight back just as hard . ''
Neither DAE nor NCAE responded to requests for comment .
Durham Public Schools planned to hold in-person classes for elementary , middle , and `` exceptional '' high school students before the union spoke out .
It cited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ youngest and most vulnerable students '' as `` one of the reasons for choosing this approach . ''
The district reversed course on Thursday , however , opting for remote classes only .
The decision will last for a minimum of nine weeks , meaning district leaders may permit in-person classes starting just weeks before the November election .
The DAE is not the first local union to tie school reopenings to far-left policies .
A Los Angeles teachers ' union included a call to defund police in its list of school reopening @ @

A North Carolina teachers' union is calling for the implementation of universal health care and welfare benefits for illegal immigrants in order to reopen schools in the fall.
Just days after the Durham Association of Educators (DAE) issued a statement railing against the school district's reopening plan, Durham Public Schools voted unanimously to hold all classes virtually for at least the first nine weeks of the school year. Included in the DAE statement was a call to adopt a variety of far-left policy goals before holding in-person classes, including Medicare for All and "direct income support regardless of immigration status."
"There are concrete policies that have permitted other countries to flatten the curve and return to public life: moratoriums on rent and mortgage, universal health care, direct income support regardless of immigration status," the statement reads. "We must fight together, collectively, for changes that will permit our communities to thrive during this pandemic and beyond."
The union's statement also calls for a full shutdown of the state, saying "until that is done, remote learning should remain the default."
The district did not respond to a request for comment.
The 2020-2021 school year has become a hot-button issue in recent weeks amid an aggressive push from President Donald Trump to reopen campuses. On July 8, he threatened to cut federal funding for schools that fail to reopen in the fall, sparking pushback from teachers' unions at the local, state, and national levels.
Some health experts have emphasized the need for students to attend in-person classes moving forward. The American Academy of Pediatrics released a set of reopening guidelines in June that warned parents and policymakers of the "considerable risk of morbidity and, in some cases, mortality" associated with "lengthy time away from school." In addition, a JAMA Pediatrics review of 18 studies found that most children who contract coronavirus "generally required supportive care only, and typically had a good prognosis and recovered within one to two weeks."
In its statement, the DAE acknowledged that "all children are suffering without school—some without enough food to eat, others without sufficiently supportive adult and peer relationships, many without internet access, and others with too much mindless screen time." The union, however, claimed that the Trump administration's reopening push was aimed at "protecting wealth and big business."
North Carolina GOP spokesman Tim Wigginton criticized the union's stance. He noted that the state's top public health official, Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Mandy Cohen, said that she plans to send her daughters back to school for in-person instruction.
"Once again, teachers' unions are distorting the facts to accomplish their agenda that puts special interests first and kids last," Wigginton said at a July 16 briefing. "We need to do what's best for our children, and according to the pediatricians, that's letting them return to school."
The DAE is a direct affiliate of the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE), and former DAE president Bryan Proffitt was elected NCAE vice president in April. Proffitt has decried the school-choice and charter-school movements, as well as online education.
"The privatizers are hungry right now. They're going to push online education, they're going to push charters, they're going to push [the narrative] we didn't need teachers in the first place," Proffitt said in April. "Our side has to be willing to fight back just as hard."
Neither DAE nor NCAE responded to requests for comment.
Durham Public Schools planned to hold in-person classes for elementary, middle, and "exceptional" high school students before the union spoke out. It cited "the need for childcare for our youngest and most vulnerable students" as "one of the reasons for choosing this approach." The district reversed course on Thursday, however, opting for remote classes only. The decision will last for a minimum of nine weeks, meaning district leaders may permit in-person classes starting just weeks before the November election.
The DAE is not the first local union to tie school reopenings to far-left policies. A Los Angeles teachers' union included a call to defund police in its list of school reopening requirements.


freebeacon--2020-07-17--ANALYSIS: Media Obsession With Meme Journalist Taylor Lorenz Is Out of Control

Most journalists do n't get their own glowing profile published in the New York Times , especially the ones who also work at the Times .
But then again , most journalists are n't Taylor Lorenz .
For whatever reason , the extremely online Times reporter and thirty-something expert on teen culture is one of the most celebrated ( and most profiled ) media professionals of the modern age—the Robin DiAngelo of internet memes .
`` Taylor Lorenz spends most of her days reporting on the ways we use the internet .
Here 's how she does it , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published on Thursday .
Lorenz explains that her goal in covering teens on the internet is convincing people `` that influencing and creating things online is a valid career and should be taken seriously . ''
That explains her abiding interest in TikTok celebs .
Though maybe not her recent obsession with the social media habits of Kellyanne Conway 's teenaged daughter .
That was n't even the first piece the Times published about its star employee .
The subhead for a nearly identical article published in December 2019 reads : `` Taylor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , explains how she keeps her finger on the pulse . ''
In that article , Lorenz discussed her recent reporting on `` how pineapples became a meme in the world of in vitro fertilization '' and her purchase of a Tamagotchi .
Granted , there are few things journalists enjoy more than fawning over fellow journalists , but this situation is out of control .
Professional journalists , traditionally loath to be the subject of a story , have been interviewing Lorenz since as far back as 2014 when Politico interviewed her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Daily Mail .
On Thursday , the Los Angeles Times published an entire article about Lorenz asking a question about L.A. neighborhoods on Twitter .
Lorenz was also the subject of a Digiday profile published in March , in which she describes how being a female reporter makes it easier to randomly message teenagers without coming across as a creep .
She also discusses some of her `` self-care '' habits , such as watching a horror movie `` almost every night . ''
Just days earlier , Lorenz 's Brooklyn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lifestyle blog .
( She has a wall-mounted projector and a brick fireplace filled with books . )
Earlier this year , she was interviewed by the Caret , a weekly newsletter dedicated to `` innovators and visionaries shaping the digital landscape . ''
Lorenz discussed how she first developed an interest in online culture in high school when she would casually `` lurk '' on strangers by looking at party photos posted on the internet .
`` There were these girls from Hollins College that would post and I can tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group even though they never knew who I was , '' she said .
`` I followed them for years . ''
In 2019 , Lorenz was on the cover of Meme Insider , the `` leading internet trends magazine . ''
She was also a featured speaker at the Aspen Ideas Festival , VidCon , and the Online Marketing Rockstars Festival in Hamburg , Germany , where conference planners `` put images of speaker Taylor Lorenz 's face on coffee cups , pillows , and water bottles—and even put her name on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coverage of Lorenz has been so fawning .
The reporter was widely mocked in 2018 after she tweeted her disappointment about the $ 22 avocado toast she ordered on Seamless .
More recently , Lorenz faced ridicule for being a child of privilege who grew up in Greenwich , Conn. , and attended an expensive Swiss boarding school .
She is currently at the center of a burgeoning East Coast-West Coast rivalry between elite journalists and Silicon Valley tech bros who want to replace the existing media establishment with cryptocurrency and venture capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tweeting about boobs and retweeting other journalists who are constantly praising her work , Lorenz is reporting on `` hyper-realistic cakes '' and the dramatic conflict brewing between `` some of the most high-profile teenage influencers … an event that became known as ‘ TikTokalypse . '
'' This is the so-called culture at stake in the debate over whether U.S. lawmakers should ban TikTok , the Chinese-owned data-harvesting social media app that recently hired an army of lobbyists to boost its reputation on Capitol Hill .
Lorenz has defended TikTok by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wary of xenophobia dressed up as privacy concerns '' and making the case that TikTok really is n't that different from Facebook .
Which is basically true—if Facebook employees were forced to attend government-sponsored loyalty sessions .
Why are the media obsessed with Taylor Lorenz ?
Why did the New York Times feel the need to publish multiple interviews with its own reporter ?
Why is this article so long ?
Who knows .
Why is Taylor Lorenz the most profiled journalist of the TikTok era ?
That 's an easier question because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And the answer is probably as much an indictment of our culture as of the media themselves .
God help us .

Most journalists don't get their own glowing profile published in the New York Times, especially the ones who also work at the Times. But then again, most journalists aren't Taylor Lorenz. For whatever reason, the extremely online Times reporter and thirty-something expert on teen culture is one of the most celebrated (and most profiled) media professionals of the modern age—the Robin DiAngelo of internet memes.
"Taylor Lorenz spends most of her days reporting on the ways we use the internet. Here's how she does it," reads the tagline to a Times interview published on Thursday. Lorenz explains that her goal in covering teens on the internet is convincing people "that influencing and creating things online is a valid career and should be taken seriously." That explains her abiding interest in TikTok celebs. Though maybe not her recent obsession with the social media habits of Kellyanne Conway's teenaged daughter.
That wasn't even the first piece the Times published about its star employee. The subhead for a nearly identical article published in December 2019 reads: "Taylor Lorenz, who writes about internet culture, explains how she keeps her finger on the pulse." In that article, Lorenz discussed her recent reporting on "how pineapples became a meme in the world of in vitro fertilization" and her purchase of a Tamagotchi.
Granted, there are few things journalists enjoy more than fawning over fellow journalists, but this situation is out of control. Professional journalists, traditionally loath to be the subject of a story, have been interviewing Lorenz since as far back as 2014 when Politico interviewed her about her role as social media director for the Daily Mail.
On Thursday, the Los Angeles Times published an entire article about Lorenz asking a question about L.A. neighborhoods on Twitter.
Lorenz was also the subject of a Digiday profile published in March, in which she describes how being a female reporter makes it easier to randomly message teenagers without coming across as a creep. She also discusses some of her "self-care" habits, such as watching a horror movie "almost every night." Just days earlier, Lorenz's Brooklyn apartment was featured on Apartment Therapy, a lifestyle blog. (She has a wall-mounted projector and a brick fireplace filled with books.)
https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz/status/1237433205084622852?lang=en
Earlier this year, she was interviewed by the Caret, a weekly newsletter dedicated to "innovators and visionaries shaping the digital landscape." Lorenz discussed how she first developed an interest in online culture in high school when she would casually "lurk" on strangers by looking at party photos posted on the internet. "There were these girls from Hollins College that would post and I can tell you every single social dynamic in that group even though they never knew who I was," she said. "I followed them for years."
In 2019, Lorenz was on the cover of Meme Insider, the "leading internet trends magazine." She was also a featured speaker at the Aspen Ideas Festival, VidCon, and the Online Marketing Rockstars Festival in Hamburg, Germany, where conference planners "put images of speaker Taylor Lorenz's face on coffee cups, pillows, and water bottles—and even put her name on a car."
https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz/status/1231712520852905994
Not all the coverage of Lorenz has been so fawning. The reporter was widely mocked in 2018 after she tweeted her disappointment about the $22 avocado toast she ordered on Seamless.
More recently, Lorenz faced ridicule for being a child of privilege who grew up in Greenwich, Conn., and attended an expensive Swiss boarding school. She is currently at the center of a burgeoning East Coast-West Coast rivalry between elite journalists and Silicon Valley tech bros who want to replace the existing media establishment with cryptocurrency and venture capital funds.
These days, in addition to tweeting about boobs and retweeting other journalists who are constantly praising her work, Lorenz is reporting on "hyper-realistic cakes" and the dramatic conflict brewing between "some of the most high-profile teenage influencers ... an event that became known as 'TikTokalypse.'"
They posted clapbacks on Twitter, stoked controversy on Instagram Live and shared cheating accusations using the Notes app. Top YouTubers like Tana Mongeau poured gasoline on the flames by reacting in real time on TikTok. Shortly after the Sway House boys stepped out of their car and paparazzi crowded around, they were ushered into the 14,000-square-foot Hype House mansion and resolved the feud in private. At 1:20 a.m. the TikTok star Jaden Hossler, 19, tweeted: "we talked. no fighting. it’s settled."
This is the so-called culture at stake in the debate over whether U.S. lawmakers should ban TikTok, the Chinese-owned data-harvesting social media app that recently hired an army of lobbyists to boost its reputation on Capitol Hill. Lorenz has defended TikTok by promoting articles urging Americans to "be wary of xenophobia dressed up as privacy concerns" and making the case that TikTok really isn't that different from Facebook. Which is basically true—if Facebook employees were forced to attend government-sponsored loyalty sessions.
Why are the media obsessed with Taylor Lorenz? Why did the New York Times feel the need to publish multiple interviews with its own reporter? Why is this article so long? Who knows.
Why is Taylor Lorenz the most profiled journalist of the TikTok era? That's an easier question because it's mostly a rhetorical one. And the answer is probably as much an indictment of our culture as of the media themselves. God help us.


freebeacon--2020-07-17--Marine General: Taliban Violence Sets Region on ‘Dangerous Path’

The top general of the United States Central Command warned of declining prospects for long-term peace in Afghanistan in an interview with NPR Friday morning .
Marine Corps general Frank McKenzie—who oversees military operations in Central Asia , the Middle East , and South Asia—spent the last 13 days visiting 10 countries in those regions .
Though McKenzie said he had productive meetings with Afghan president Ashraf Ghani , he remained concerned about intensifying Taliban offensives in northern Afghanistan .
The general said he expects a `` dangerous path '' for the region if the Taliban continue their violent campaigns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go forward , '' McKenzie said of peace prospects .
`` The level of violence is still too high . ''
The Taliban continue to shield al Qaeda operations and grow their own political influence through violence in the wake of U.S. negotiations for troop withdrawal .
Al Qaeda remains a critical threat to American security—a jihadi traced to the al Qaeda network committed a mass shooting at a naval air station in Pensacola , Fla. , in December .
McKenzie also expressed concern over the outsized role Russia plays in Afghanistan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pursue its own national interests in the region , adding that the country provides the Taliban with moral support and other forms of aid .
`` They are not our friend , '' he said of Moscow .
`` They do n't wish us success anywhere . ''
McKenzie could not confirm allegations that the Taliban actively received bounties from Russian agents to kill American soldiers .
He did , however , assert that such a policy , if confirmed , would cross a `` very fine line '' for American policymakers @

The top general of the United States Central Command warned of declining prospects for long-term peace in Afghanistan in an interview with NPR Friday morning.
Marine Corps general Frank McKenzie—who oversees military operations in Central Asia, the Middle East, and South Asia—spent the last 13 days visiting 10 countries in those regions. Though McKenzie said he had productive meetings with Afghan president Ashraf Ghani, he remained concerned about intensifying Taliban offensives in northern Afghanistan. The general said he expects a "dangerous path" for the region if the Taliban continue their violent campaigns.
"We have a narrow path to go forward," McKenzie said of peace prospects. "The level of violence is still too high."
The Taliban continue to shield al Qaeda operations and grow their own political influence through violence in the wake of U.S. negotiations for troop withdrawal. Al Qaeda remains a critical threat to American security—a jihadist traced to the al Qaeda network committed a mass shooting at a naval air station in Pensacola, Fla., in December.
McKenzie also expressed concern over the outsized role Russia plays in Afghanistan. The general noted Russia's ambitions to pursue its own national interests in the region, adding that the country provides the Taliban with moral support and other forms of aid. "They are not our friend," he said of Moscow. "They don't wish us success anywhere."
McKenzie could not confirm allegations that the Taliban actively received bounties from Russian agents to kill American soldiers. He did, however, assert that such a policy, if confirmed, would cross a "very fine line" for American policymakers.


freebeacon--2020-07-17--Mayor de Blasio: NYC Is Safer With Fewer People in Jail

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio ( D. ) said Thursday that his city is safer and better with fewer people in jail , even as shootings and violence have spiked in the city this summer .
`` We now have fewer people in our jails than any time since WWII and we are safer for it and better for it , '' de Blasio said .
But the city has experienced a dramatic uptick in crime this year .
According to the most recent NYPD crime statistics , violent crimes—including shootings , murders , and burglaries—have all skyrocketed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have increased by 61 percent , and the number of shooting victims has increased by 70 percent .
Earlier this year , thousands of prisoners were released from Rikers Island—New York City ’ s main jail—over fears that prisoners were at risk of spreading coronavirus , as well as calls from anti-police protesters to reform and defund police .
New York City police commissioner Dermot Shea said the city ’ s police force has been `` handcuffed '' by recent police-reform regulations .
`` You ca n't have the 1 percent driving agendas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 99 percent , particularly on people of color in inner cities , '' Shea said .
`` And that ’ s what ’ s happening right now . ''
Last month , de Blasio announced the disbanding of the NYPD 's plain clothes anti-crime unit and a $ 1 billion cut in police funding in response to the anti-police protests .

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio (D.) said Thursday that his city is safer and better with fewer people in jail, even as shootings and violence have spiked in the city this summer.
"We now have fewer people in our jails than any time since WWII and we are safer for it and better for it," de Blasio said.
But the city has experienced a dramatic uptick in crime this year. According to the most recent NYPD crime statistics, violent crimes—including shootings, murders, and burglaries—have all skyrocketed. Year-to-date shooting incidents in the city have increased by 61 percent, and the number of shooting victims has increased by 70 percent.
Earlier this year, thousands of prisoners were released from Rikers Island—New York City’s main jail—over fears that prisoners were at risk of spreading coronavirus, as well as calls from anti-police protesters to reform and defund police.
New York City police commissioner Dermot Shea said the city’s police force has been "handcuffed" by recent police-reform regulations.
"You can't have the 1 percent driving agendas that have a negative impact on the 99 percent, particularly on people of color in inner cities," Shea said. "And that’s what’s happening right now."
Last month, de Blasio announced the disbanding of the NYPD's plain clothes anti-crime unit and a $1 billion cut in police funding in response to the anti-police protests.


freebeacon--2020-07-17--Atlanta Mayor Alleges Without Evidence Trump Behind Lawsuit Against Her

Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms ( D. ) suggested Friday without proof that President Donald Trump ordered the Georgia governor to sue her over the city 's coronavirus mask mandate .
`` I do n't think it 's happenstance that this lawsuit came the day after Donald Trump visited Atlanta , and I pointed out that he was violating city law by not having on a mask at Atlanta 's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport , '' she said on Today .
She went on to say she `` absolutely '' believes the governor 's lawsuit was brought at the bidding of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's ( R. ) lawsuit against Bottoms and the Atlanta city council challenges her city-wide mask mandate as `` void and unenforceable , '' and also targets other coronavirus restrictions such as closing dining rooms .
Kemp has urged Georgians to wear masks to help contain coronavirus but said he will not implement a state-wide order .
In a statement , he said he filed the suit on behalf of business owners and their employees .
Bottoms is on the shortlist of potential running mates for presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Atlanta visit Wednesday when he arrived at the airport without a mask .
Bottoms , who is in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 , hedged in a later interview on CBS This Morning when asked again if she thought Trump was behind Kemp 's lawsuit .
`` I ca n't speak to whatever conversations that they had , but I do know our governor is a Trump loyalist , and he seems to work very hard to please the president of the United States , and that is often at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' she said .
Kemp spokesman Cody Hall directed the Washington Free Beacon to the governor 's statement when asked about Bottoms 's accusation .
`` I 'll just note that our statement makes no reference to the president , '' Hall said .
Kemp filed the lawsuit a day after his Wednesday ban on mask mandates in Georgia cities .
Atlanta , Augusta , and Savannah are among the major Georgia cities attempting to enforce such rules .
Kemp 's lawsuit argues local governments can not implement more or less restrictive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states .
`` Mayor Bottoms ' mask mandate can not be enforced , '' the governor said at a Friday news conference .
`` But her decision to shutter businesses and undermine economic growth is devastating… .
I refuse to sit back and watch as disastrous policies threaten the lives and livelihoods of our citizens . ''
The White House did not respond to a request for comment .

Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D.) suggested Friday without proof that President Donald Trump ordered the Georgia governor to sue her over the city's coronavirus mask mandate.
"I don't think it's happenstance that this lawsuit came the day after Donald Trump visited Atlanta, and I pointed out that he was violating city law by not having on a mask at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport," she said on Today. She went on to say she "absolutely" believes the governor's lawsuit was brought at the bidding of the president.
Georgia governor Brian Kemp's (R.) lawsuit against Bottoms and the Atlanta city council challenges her city-wide mask mandate as "void and unenforceable" and also targets other coronavirus restrictions such as closing dining rooms. Kemp has urged Georgians to wear masks to help contain coronavirus but said he will not implement a statewide order. In a statement, he said he filed the suit on behalf of business owners and their employees.
Bottoms is on the shortlist of potential running mates for presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden. She previously said Trump broke the law during his Atlanta visit Wednesday when he arrived at the airport without a mask.
Bottoms, who is in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19, hedged in a later interview on CBS This Morning when asked again if she thought Trump was behind Kemp's lawsuit.
"I can't speak to whatever conversations that they had, but I do know our governor is a Trump loyalist, and he seems to work very hard to please the president of the United States, and that is often at the expense of the people in our state," she said.
Kemp spokesman Cody Hall directed the Washington Free Beacon to the governor's statement when asked about Bottoms's accusation.
"I'll just note that our statement makes no reference to the president," Hall said.
Kemp filed the lawsuit a day after his Wednesday ban on mask mandates in Georgia cities. Atlanta, Augusta, and Savannah are among the major Georgia cities attempting to enforce such rules. Kemp's lawsuit argues local governments cannot implement more or less restrictive guidelines than those put in place by states.
"Mayor Bottoms's mask mandate cannot be enforced," the governor said at a Friday news conference. "But her decision to shutter businesses and undermine economic growth is devastating.... I refuse to sit back and watch as disastrous policies threaten the lives and livelihoods of our citizens."
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-07-17--Labor Watchdog Calls on Biden to Repudiate ‘Corrupt’ Union Ally

A labor watchdog group is urging presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden to reject the support he 's received from corrupt union leaders after a top party ally pleaded guilty to embezzlement in June .
National Right to Work Committee president Mark Mix sent a letter to Biden on Thursday , calling on the Democrat to `` put the rights of workers above the demands of union bosses '' and `` disavow the support '' from top brass at the United Auto Workers union .
Just weeks earlier , former UAW president Gary Jones pleaded guilty to embezzlement , racketeering , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prominent Democratic ally , admitted to spending more than $ 1 million in union funds on miscellaneous luxuries such as premium cigars and liquor , fine dining , vacation rentals , golf outings , and clothing .
The union endorsed Biden in April , prior to Jones 's guilty plea .
`` It seems as though UAW officials are deliberately stalling in a clinical ploy to ‘ run out the clock ' on the Trump Justice Department , in the hopes that your administration will let them off the hook , '' Mix @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no surprise , therefore , that these same union bosses are currently spending millions to get you elected . ''
The UAW is still under investigation after a federal probe into the union began more than five years ago .
The investigation has led to the convictions of at least 11 top union officials , including former UAW vice president and DNC delegate Norwood Jewell , who admitted to receiving illegal benefits from Fiat Chrysler executives .
Biden has repeatedly praised the union throughout the probe , saying he was `` proud to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went on strike in September 2019 .
Nine union officials had admitted wrongdoing at the time , including former Region 5 director Vance Pearson , who participated in negotiations with GM days before attending a Missouri federal court hearing .
Pearson pleaded guilty to embezzlement in February .
The UAW has spent more than $ 2.3 million on legal fees stemming from the investigation , its latest Labor Department filing shows .
Top Democrats on the House Committee on Education and Labor ignored Republican calls to investigate the union in November .
Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 300,000 in UAW money , and Biden accepted at least $ 10,000 in direct contributions from the union as a member of Congress .
UAW leaders have given more than $ 4.25 million to Democrats since the FBI 's corruption investigation began in 2015 .
`` If you are elected , a refusal to stand up to the UAW would taint your Justice Department from day one , sending a clear message to American workers that union boss malfeasance will continue to go unpunished as long as Big Labor has greased the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his letter to Biden .
The Trump administration 's Justice Department has threatened to seize control of the union in order to root out corruption , and current UAW president Rory Gamble met with federal prosecutors in late June in an attempt to avoid the takeover .
Reached for comment , UAW spokesman Brian Rothenberg called Mix 's letter `` ridiculous . ''
He pointed to a joint statement issued by Gamble and U.S. attorney Matthew Schneider following their meeting .
`` I look forward to continued discussions in the near future that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opening new brighter chapters for members of the UAW , '' Gamble said in the statement .
Biden labor allies outside of the UAW have also been ensnared in embezzlement allegations .
According to an internal probe , International Association of Fire Fighters president Harold Schaitberger helped siphon millions of dollars from the union 's pension fund over the last two decades for personal profit .
The IAFF became the first national union to endorse Biden in April 2019 under Schaitberger 's direction , and the union has spent nearly $ 80,000 supporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18,000 IAFF members objected to the endorsement .
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment .

A labor watchdog group is urging presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden to reject the support he's received from corrupt union leaders after a top party ally pleaded guilty to embezzlement in June.
National Right to Work Committee president Mark Mix sent a letter to Biden on Thursday, calling on the Democrat to "put the rights of workers above the demands of union bosses" and "disavow the support" from top brass at the United Auto Workers union. Just weeks earlier, former UAW president Gary Jones pleaded guilty to embezzlement, racketeering, and tax evasion. Jones, a prominent Democratic ally, admitted to spending more than $1 million in union funds on miscellaneous luxuries such as premium cigars and liquor, fine dining, vacation rentals, golf outings, and clothing. The union endorsed Biden in April, prior to Jones's guilty plea.
"It seems as though UAW officials are deliberately stalling in a clinical ploy to 'run out the clock' on the Trump Justice Department, in the hopes that your administration will let them off the hook," Mix's letter states. "It is no surprise, therefore, that these same union bosses are currently spending millions to get you elected."
The UAW is still under investigation after a federal probe into the union began more than five years ago. The investigation has led to the convictions of at least 11 top union officials, including former UAW vice president and DNC delegate Norwood Jewell, who admitted to receiving illegal benefits from Fiat Chrysler executives.
Biden has repeatedly praised the union throughout the probe, saying he was "proud to stand with UAW" as GM employees went on strike in September 2019. Nine union officials had admitted wrongdoing at the time, including former Region 5 director Vance Pearson, who participated in negotiations with GM days before attending a Missouri federal court hearing. Pearson pleaded guilty to embezzlement in February. The UAW has spent more than $2.3 million on legal fees stemming from the investigation, its latest Labor Department filing shows.
Top Democrats on the House Committee on Education and Labor ignored Republican calls to investigate the union in November. Democrats on the committee have taken more than $300,000 in UAW money, and Biden accepted at least $10,000 in direct contributions from the union as a member of Congress. UAW leaders have given more than $4.25 million to Democrats since the FBI's corruption investigation began in 2015.
"If you are elected, a refusal to stand up to the UAW would taint your Justice Department from day one, sending a clear message to American workers that union boss malfeasance will continue to go unpunished as long as Big Labor has greased the right palms," Mix wrote in his letter to Biden.
The Trump administration's Justice Department has threatened to seize control of the union in order to root out corruption, and current UAW president Rory Gamble met with federal prosecutors in late June in an attempt to avoid the takeover. Reached for comment, UAW spokesman Brian Rothenberg called Mix's letter "ridiculous." He pointed to a joint statement issued by Gamble and U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider following their meeting.
"I look forward to continued discussions in the near future that advance toward closing one dark chapter and opening new brighter chapters for members of the UAW," Gamble said in the statement.
Biden labor allies outside of the UAW have also been ensnared in embezzlement allegations. According to an internal probe, International Association of Fire Fighters president Harold Schaitberger helped siphon millions of dollars from the union's pension fund over the last two decades for personal profit. The IAFF became the first national union to endorse Biden in April 2019 under Schaitberger's direction, and the union has spent nearly $80,000 supporting the Democrat's candidacy. More than 18,000 IAFF members objected to the endorsement.
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment.