freebeacon--2020-10-27--Amy Coney Barrett Sworn in at the White House

After Senate Republicans voted to confirm her to the U.S. Supreme Court , Amy Coney Barrett took an oath in @ @ @ @ @ the White House Monday night .
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas swore in Barrett in @ @ @ @ @ House 's South Lawn .
She will officially become a justice tomorrow at the Supreme @ @ @ @ @ oath in a ceremony with Chief Justice John Roberts .
Senate Republicans voted to confirm @ @ @ @ @ Republican voting against her confirmation .
No Democrats voted in her favor .
She will @ @ @ @ @ a busy time .
Justices will soon be ruling on high-profile cases involving absentee mail-in @ @ @ @ @ religious freedom , and other contentious topics .
Despite having gained a majority of the @ @ @ @ @ course of her confirmation hearings , Barrett faced criticism from Democrats because of her originalist @ @ @ @ @ .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) called her confirmation `` @ @ @ @ @ in the 231-year history of the United States Senate . ''

After Senate Republicans voted to confirm her to the U.S. Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett took an oath in support of the Constitution at the White House Monday night.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas swore in Barrett in a ceremony on the White House's South Lawn. She will officially become a justice tomorrow at the Supreme Court after taking her judicial oath in a ceremony with Chief Justice John Roberts.
Senate Republicans voted to confirm Barrett 52-48 with only one Republican voting against her confirmation. No Democrats voted in her favor.
She will be joining the Court at a busy time. Justices will soon be ruling on high-profile cases involving absentee mail-in ballot deadlines, abortion, religious freedom, and other contentious topics.
Despite having gained a majority of the public's support over the course of her confirmation hearings, Barrett faced criticism from Democrats because of her originalist jurisprudence and conservative personal beliefs. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) called her confirmation "one of the darkest days in the 231-year history of the United States Senate."


freebeacon--2020-10-27--Nevada Democrat Under Investigation for Campaign Finance Violations

A Democratic state assemblyman in Las Vegas is under investigation for allegedly misusing campaign funds and violating Nevada law by living outside of the district he represents .
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on Tuesday that police are looking into Alexander Assefa 's personal and campaign finance records , as well as physical evidence that the state assemblyman lives outside of his Spring Valley district .
Las Vegas deputy police chief Andy Walsh confirmed to the Review-Journal that the investigation is ongoing .
The news of the inquiry comes just one week before the November 3 elections , in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Investigators executed a search warrant in May and seized cell phones , computers , and other records they believe could contain evidence of transactions between Assefa ’ s campaign and his personal and business bank accounts .
While campaign finance records indicate he ’ s raised $ 200,000 since 2018 , the Review-Journal said it is unknown how much Assefa allegedly funneled toward personal expenses .
Police also searched a North Las Vegas home—which , according to court documents , Assefa 's wife has owned since 2015—where Assefa allegedly resides .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in that home , rather than the apartment he listed as his residence in a sworn declaration in March .
Assefa owns several small businesses in Las Vegas , including trucking company KIB Transport LLC , which was named in the May search warrant .
He was first elected to office in 2018 and faces one Libertarian and one independent challenger in next week ’ s election .

A Democratic state assemblyman in Las Vegas is under investigation for allegedly misusing campaign funds and violating Nevada law by living outside of the district he represents.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on Tuesday that police are looking into Alexander Assefa's personal and campaign finance records, as well as physical evidence that the state assemblyman lives outside of his Spring Valley district. Las Vegas deputy police chief Andy Walsh confirmed to the Review-Journal that the investigation is ongoing.
The news of the inquiry comes just one week before the November 3 elections, in which Assefa is on the ballot for reelection.
Investigators executed a search warrant in May and seized cell phones, computers, and other records they believe could contain evidence of transactions between Assefa’s campaign and his personal and business bank accounts. While campaign finance records indicate he’s raised $200,000 since 2018, the Review-Journal said it is unknown how much Assefa allegedly funneled toward personal expenses.
Police also searched a North Las Vegas home—which, according to court documents, Assefa's wife has owned since 2015—where Assefa allegedly resides. A source told the Review-Journal that Assefa lives in that home, rather than the apartment he listed as his residence in a sworn declaration in March.
Assefa owns several small businesses in Las Vegas, including trucking company KIB Transport LLC, which was named in the May search warrant. He was first elected to office in 2018 and faces one Libertarian and one independent challenger in next week’s election.


freebeacon--2020-10-27--Health Care Workers Help Drive Gun Surge, New Study Says

When the coronavirus hit American shores , nurses and doctors stocked up on guns , a new study reports .
Researchers at New Mexico State University and the University of Toledo found that being a health care provider was one of the strongest predictors of buying a firearm during the first few weeks of the coronavirus pandemic .
Sixty-seven percent of people who reported buying a gun during the pandemic also reported being health care professionals .
`` One of the things we should see , in my limited view , is these are people who are civilians who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of unrest in the past six months , '' New Mexico State University professor Jagdish Khubchandani told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` And they want to be on the front foot with their own safety . ''
Khubchandani said this surprising finding becomes more understandable when considered alongside the study 's other main finding : Gun-ownership demographics as a whole have shifted during the pandemic .
Gun buyers were more likely to be younger , more urban , more female , and less white .
As the gun-owning demographic diversifies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like the demographics of health care , one of the country 's largest industries .
`` America now has more job opportunities in health care , '' Khubchandani said .
`` Almost 15 percent of Americans today have a job in health care .
And as that demographic has changed , so has the gun-owning demographic , and they 've intersected . ''
Khubchandani pointed to two recent surveys finding that between a quarter and half of physicians own guns .
He also noted recent real-world examples of health care professionals lining up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We were having doctors , nurses—you name it—coming in , and they wanted guns , '' Emily Atkinson , owner of Ade 's Gun Shop in California , told Fox 11 Los Angeles this month .
`` First-timers of every age .
You have teachers , you have real estate , you have every day housewives and you have kids that are in college—it 's for everybody now . ''
The researchers designed the survey , a web-based , cross-sectional study based on responses from 1,432 adults , to include all sorts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to home health care assistants and physicians ' assistants .
Khubchandani said that , while ownership among health care professionals appears to be accelerating , it may be better evidence for the demographic shift of gun ownership in general .
`` I do n't think they 're behaving unusual , '' Khubchandani said .
`` They 're just doing what the general population [ of gun owners ] is doing . ''
The reasons all study participants gave for buying guns are also notable .
Most of them identified protection from crime and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , but 10 percent of buyers also mentioned fearing anti-black and anti-Asian racism .
`` Our final analysis finds that race , gender , political ideas , ideology does not matter '' in determining gun ownership , Khubchandani said .
`` What matters is , have you been threatened ?
Have you been exposed to violence ?
Do you know someone who was threatened , and therefore , by default , does that make you a little more protective about your own self and your family ? ''

When the coronavirus hit American shores, nurses and doctors stocked up on guns, a new study reports.
Researchers at New Mexico State University and the University of Toledo found that being a health care provider was one of the strongest predictors of buying a firearm during the first few weeks of the coronavirus pandemic. Sixty-seven percent of people who reported buying a gun during the pandemic also reported being health care professionals.
"One of the things we should see, in my limited view, is these are people who are civilians who are not criminals and they have seen a lot of unrest in the past six months," New Mexico State University professor Jagdish Khubchandani told the Washington Free Beacon. "And they want to be on the front foot with their own safety."
Khubchandani said this surprising finding becomes more understandable when considered alongside the study's other main finding: Gun-ownership demographics as a whole have shifted during the pandemic.
Gun buyers were more likely to be younger, more urban, more female, and less white. As the gun-owning demographic diversifies, then, it starts to look more like the demographics of health care, one of the country's largest industries.
"America now has more job opportunities in health care," Khubchandani said. "Almost 15 percent of Americans today have a job in health care. And as that demographic has changed, so has the gun-owning demographic, and they've intersected."
Khubchandani pointed to two recent surveys finding that between a quarter and half of physicians own guns. He also noted recent real-world examples of health care professionals lining up at gun shops to purchase guns.
"We were having doctors, nurses—you name it—coming in, and they wanted guns," Emily Atkinson, owner of Ade's Gun Shop in California, told Fox 11 Los Angeles this month. "First-timers of every age. You have teachers, you have real estate, you have every day housewives and you have kids that are in college—it's for everybody now."
The researchers designed the survey, a web-based, cross-sectional study based on responses from 1,432 adults, to include all sorts of different health care professionals from doctors to home health care assistants and physicians' assistants.
Khubchandani said that, while ownership among health care professionals appears to be accelerating, it may be better evidence for the demographic shift of gun ownership in general.
"I don't think they're behaving unusual," Khubchandani said. "They're just doing what the general population [of gun owners] is doing."
The reasons all study participants gave for buying guns are also notable. Most of them identified protection from crime and concerns about the societal effects of the pandemic, but 10 percent of buyers also mentioned fearing anti-black and anti-Asian racism.
"Our final analysis finds that race, gender, political ideas, ideology does not matter" in determining gun ownership, Khubchandani said. "What matters is, have you been threatened? Have you been exposed to violence? Do you know someone who was threatened, and therefore, by default, does that make you a little more protective about your own self and your family?"


freebeacon--2020-10-27--NY Dem Reprimanded for Campaign Fundraising

A Stony Brook University dean reprimanded New York Democrat Nancy Goroff for using taxpayer-funded school resources to boost her congressional campaign , internal emails obtained by the Washington Free Beacon show .
Goroff , a longtime chemistry professor at the university , used `` internal Stony Brook distribution lists '' in July 2019 to announce her candidacy against Republican congressman Lee Zeldin .
The Democrat 's email—which reached more than 150 students , according to the university 's office of the president—touted her accomplishments as a professor before asking recipients to help `` launch this campaign '' by donating through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Goroff sent the fundraising plea , College of Arts and Sciences dean Nicole Sampson emailed the Democrat to rebuke her use of the email list .
Sampson noted that the university had `` already received several complaints , '' which were referred to Stony Brook 's general counsel `` for legal review . ''
Goroff also used her public Stony Brook email address to solicit campaign cash from wealthy liberal donors .
According to communications obtained by the Free Beacon , the Democrat emailed New York astrophysicists Jim and Robin Herrnstein on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a phone call regarding her campaign .
The couple—who donated $ 3 million to Stony Brook in 2013—gave a maximum contribution of $ 11,200 to Goroff 's campaign just two days later .
In addition , on July 6 , 2019 , Goroff used her university email to send a campaign fundraising link to liberal Massachusetts donor Leslie Masson .
Masson and her husband also gave Goroff $ 11,200 within days .
The couple went on to donate more than $ 375,000 to 314 Action , an outside group that Goroff noted was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' in her email to Masson .
Goroff often touts her work at Stony Brook in her bid to unseat Zeldin .
In one recent ad , the Democrat calls herself a `` scientist '' who is `` running for Congress to use science to lead us out of this crisis . ''
Goroff also advertises her former role as `` Chair of the Chemistry Department at Stony Brook '' on her campaign site , pledging to use her `` skills as a scientist to analyze the facts in order to make the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Kendra Arnold , executive director of ethics watchdog Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust , told the Free Beacon that Goroff 's emails constitute a clear violation of federal campaign finance law .
`` States prohibit use of official resources for political or campaign purposes—same as the federal government .
If it is a publicly funded university , that is a state resource , '' Arnold said .
`` So yes , she ca n't use anything from her employer , whether it be an email list , computers , her professional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that . ''
Goroff , who did not return a request for comment , told Sampson that her campaign 's use of internal Stony Brook email lists was `` inadvertent '' in a message obtained by the Free Beacon .
She did not , however , address using her university email to solicit additional campaign contributions .
`` My apologies !
Those inclusions were inadvertent , '' Goroff said .
`` I tried to remove all lists from my contacts , but missed several that I thought I had caught .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ duplicate . ''
While Stony Brook University policy explicitly prohibits employees from using `` university or state resources '' for `` partisan political purposes , '' the school has promoted Democratic politicians in the past .
In 2014 , its Student Affairs office sent an email to the entire student body urging students to attend a campaign rally for former Democratic congressman Tim Bishop .
The university did not promote a Zeldin rally held a month earlier .
This is not the first time Goroff has potentially flouted ethics laws .
The Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than $ 1.1 million , failed to disclose millions in underlying investments in her latest candidate financial disclosure .
Goroff is currently on leave from Stony Brook through the end of the year .
She will face Zeldin in November after winning her June primary by fewer than two points .

A Stony Brook University dean reprimanded New York Democrat Nancy Goroff for using taxpayer-funded school resources to boost her congressional campaign, internal emails obtained by the Washington Free Beacon show.
Goroff, a longtime chemistry professor at the university, used "internal Stony Brook distribution lists" in July 2019 to announce her candidacy against Republican congressman Lee Zeldin. The Democrat's email—which reached more than 150 students, according to the university's office of the president—touted her accomplishments as a professor before asking recipients to help "launch this campaign" by donating through a fundraising link.
Just 30 minutes after Goroff sent the fundraising plea, College of Arts and Sciences dean Nicole Sampson emailed the Democrat to rebuke her use of the email list. Sampson noted that the university had "already received several complaints," which were referred to Stony Brook's general counsel "for legal review."
Goroff also used her public Stony Brook email address to solicit campaign cash from wealthy liberal donors. According to communications obtained by the Free Beacon, the Democrat emailed New York astrophysicists Jim and Robin Herrnstein on July 3, 2019, to request a phone call regarding her campaign. The couple—who donated $3 million to Stony Brook in 2013—gave a maximum contribution of $11,200 to Goroff's campaign just two days later. In addition, on July 6, 2019, Goroff used her university email to send a campaign fundraising link to liberal Massachusetts donor Leslie Masson. Masson and her husband also gave Goroff $11,200 within days. The couple went on to donate more than $375,000 to 314 Action, an outside group that Goroff noted was giving her "a lot of support" in her email to Masson.
Goroff often touts her work at Stony Brook in her bid to unseat Zeldin. In one recent ad, the Democrat calls herself a "scientist" who is "running for Congress to use science to lead us out of this crisis." Goroff also advertises her former role as "Chair of the Chemistry Department at Stony Brook" on her campaign site, pledging to use her "skills as a scientist to analyze the facts in order to make the right decisions for Long Island families."
Kendra Arnold, executive director of ethics watchdog Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, told the Free Beacon that Goroff's emails constitute a clear violation of federal campaign finance law.
"States prohibit use of official resources for political or campaign purposes—same as the federal government. If it is a publicly funded university, that is a state resource," Arnold said. "So yes, she can't use anything from her employer, whether it be an email list, computers, her professional email. She can't use any of that."
Goroff, who did not return a request for comment, told Sampson that her campaign's use of internal Stony Brook email lists was "inadvertent" in a message obtained by the Free Beacon. She did not, however, address using her university email to solicit additional campaign contributions.
"My apologies! Those inclusions were inadvertent," Goroff said. "I tried to remove all lists from my contacts, but missed several that I thought I had caught. I think they were in the lists in duplicate."
While Stony Brook University policy explicitly prohibits employees from using "university or state resources" for "partisan political purposes," the school has promoted Democratic politicians in the past. In 2014, its Student Affairs office sent an email to the entire student body urging students to attend a campaign rally for former Democratic congressman Tim Bishop. The university did not promote a Zeldin rally held a month earlier.
This is not the first time Goroff has potentially flouted ethics laws. The Democrat, who has personally loaned her campaign more than $1.1 million, failed to disclose millions in underlying investments in her latest candidate financial disclosure.
Goroff is currently on leave from Stony Brook through the end of the year. She will face Zeldin in November after winning her June primary by fewer than two points.


freebeacon--2020-10-27--30 Officers Injured in Anti-Police Protests in Philadelphia

At least 30 police officers were injured in Philadelphia on Monday night—including one sergeant who was hit by a truck—while responding to anti-police riots .
Unrest broke out in West Philadelphia after police fatally shot a black man who , they say , had brandished a knife while running toward officers .
NBC 10 Philadelphia reported that rioters then set police cars and dumpsters on fire and looted stores and restaurants .
Rioters also threw rocks and other projectiles at dozens of officers , who were later taken to the hospital .
The sergeant who was hit by a truck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stable condition .
On Monday afternoon , police confronted Walter Wallace Jr. while responding to a domestic incident .
Footage captured by a bystander shows two officers telling Wallace to drop a knife before Wallace ran toward them .
The officers then opened fire .
Danielle Outlaw , Philadelphia ’ s first black female police commissioner , said there is an investigation underway into the incident .
The scene in Philadelphia last night reflected similar incidents in other major U.S. cities following the death of George Floyd in May , which sparked months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in some major cities are now leaving the force in record numbers , citing anti-police sentiment in local city governments and fears for their safety .
The United States now has the lowest number of police officers per capita in 25 years , according to federal data .

At least 30 police officers were injured in Philadelphia on Monday night—including one sergeant who was hit by a truck—while responding to anti-police riots.
Unrest broke out in West Philadelphia after police fatally shot a black man who, they say, had brandished a knife while running toward officers. NBC 10 Philadelphia reported that rioters then set police cars and dumpsters on fire and looted stores and restaurants.
Rioters also threw rocks and other projectiles at dozens of officers, who were later taken to the hospital. The sergeant who was hit by a truck sustained a broken leg but is in stable condition.
On Monday afternoon, police confronted Walter Wallace Jr. while responding to a domestic incident. Footage captured by a bystander shows two officers telling Wallace to drop a knife before Wallace ran toward them. The officers then opened fire.
Danielle Outlaw, Philadelphia’s first black female police commissioner, said there is an investigation underway into the incident.
The scene in Philadelphia last night reflected similar incidents in other major U.S. cities following the death of George Floyd in May, which sparked months of violent anti-police protests. Police officers in some major cities are now leaving the force in record numbers, citing anti-police sentiment in local city governments and fears for their safety. The United States now has the lowest number of police officers per capita in 25 years, according to federal data.


freebeacon--2020-10-27--Rubio, Cornyn Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Designate Uighur Camps as Genocide

Republican senators Marco Rubio ( Fla. ) , John Cornyn ( Texas ) , and Jim Risch ( Idaho ) introduced a bipartisan bill Tuesday to designate China 's ongoing human-rights abuses against its Uighur Muslim population as genocide .
Democratic senators Bob Menendez ( N.J. ) , Jeff Merkley ( Ore. ) , and Ben Cardin ( Md . )
joined their Republican colleagues in introducing the legislation , which will go through the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee .
The resolution urges the executive branch to take all available measures to halt China 's abuses against its Uighur people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 1.8 million Uighurs in labor camps in its Xinjiang region , subjecting them to forced sterilizations , abortions , and other abuses .
The resolution also notes that the Chinese Communist Party has separated roughly 500,000 Chinese Muslim children from their parents to place them in state-run boarding schools , where teachers indoctrinate them into Communist thought and force them to abandon their culture .
An official genocide designation would alter the United States ' legal response to China 's abuses , opening up more opportunities for international recourse .
The United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , to be `` clear about the nature of these atrocities . ''
`` Free nations must urgently come together and press for an end to these crimes and seek accountability and justice , '' he argued .
In response to China 's atrocities , the Trump administration has pursued a series of sanctions targeting individuals and businesses complicit in the labor camps , costing Beijing millions of dollars , though it has stopped short of designating the abuses genocide .
Trump has also withdrawn funding from such international organizations as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been complicit in China 's forced birth control of Uighurs .
`` Where the previous administration and many other world leaders delivered speeches and empty rhetoric , President Trump has taken bold action , '' National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot told the Washington Free Beacon in August .
`` President Trump 's policies have demonstrated that every person—the born and unborn , the poor , the downcast , the disabled , the infirm , and the elderly—has inherent value . ''

Republican senators Marco Rubio (Fla.), John Cornyn (Texas), and Jim Risch (Idaho) introduced a bipartisan bill Tuesday to designate China's ongoing human-rights abuses against its Uighur Muslim population as genocide.
Democratic senators Bob Menendez (N.J.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), and Ben Cardin (Md.) joined their Republican colleagues in introducing the legislation, which will go through the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee.
The resolution urges the executive branch to take all available measures to halt China's abuses against its Uighur people. So far, Beijing has imprisoned about 1.8 million Uighurs in labor camps in its Xinjiang region, subjecting them to forced sterilizations, abortions, and other abuses.
The resolution also notes that the Chinese Communist Party has separated roughly 500,000 Chinese Muslim children from their parents to place them in state-run boarding schools, where teachers indoctrinate them into Communist thought and force them to abandon their culture.
An official genocide designation would alter the United States' legal response to China's abuses, opening up more opportunities for international recourse.
The United States should make the designation, Rubio said, to be "clear about the nature of these atrocities."
"Free nations must urgently come together and press for an end to these crimes and seek accountability and justice," he argued.
In response to China's atrocities, the Trump administration has pursued a series of sanctions targeting individuals and businesses complicit in the labor camps, costing Beijing millions of dollars, though it has stopped short of designating the abuses genocide.
Trump has also withdrawn funding from such international organizations as the United Nations Population Fund, which might have been complicit in China's forced birth control of Uighurs.
"Where the previous administration and many other world leaders delivered speeches and empty rhetoric, President Trump has taken bold action," National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot told the Washington Free Beacon in August. "President Trump's policies have demonstrated that every person—the born and unborn, the poor, the downcast, the disabled, the infirm, and the elderly—has inherent value."


freebeacon--2020-10-27--From the Soviet Union to Indiana, Republican House Candidate Stands Against Socialist Future

Republican House candidate Victoria Spartz has made her childhood in the former Soviet Union the centerpiece of her 2020 campaign , telling Indiana voters that she is uniquely qualified to fight the growing influence of socialism in Washington , D.C. '' I ’ m someone who grew up in a socialist system and sees where it leads to , '' Spartz told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` When the government runs out of money—it ’ s only a matter of time that it does—it becomes a place of corruption , anarchy , and destruction . ''
A naturalized American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her start as a grassroots organizer for conservative causes in the heartland of Hamilton County , Ind.
, and turned her knowledge as a publicly certified accountant into a career in public service .
She was the chief financial officer in the Indiana attorney general ’ s office and has served as a state senator for three years , quickly gaining a reputation as an independent-thinking , tough legislator .
Along the way , Spartz taught business classes at Indiana University and continues to raise two daughters .
As a state senator , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ education and health care policy in Indiana but soon found that federal overreach made the kinds of changes she wanted extremely difficult .
The Republican hopeful seeks federal office to further the reforms she sees as necessary for the prosperity of her constituents .
Spartz made education a main thrust of her legislative efforts , passing bills that stood to deregulate education at the state level and supplement current Indiana curricula with workforce development programs .
`` We ’ ve created a system with very perverse incentives , '' Spartz said of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national levels .
`` We don ’ t give children the fundamentals , then they just graduate and pile up debt with no skills .
Everyone is teaching to the test , not for knowledge . ''
Spartz ’ s opponent to fill the seat left open by retiring Republican Susan Brooks is Christina Hale , a former Indiana State House member .
Hale won a close primary armed with the financial backing of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee .
Propelled by a massive campaign war chest , Hale 's $ 3.5 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending by nearly $ 1 million .
Spartz , nevertheless , hangs tough by playing up her community roots and connection with constituents .
`` [ Hale 's ] a politician , she goes from one job to another , '' Spartz said .
`` When it matters , she ’ ll always vote with her caucus and her leadership . ''
Hale has faced scrutiny from Republicans over her personal finances throughout the campaign .
She has not released her 2020 financial disclosure report , with her last report filed in November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee , candidates for the House must submit a financial disclosure statement during an election year .
Additionally , according to her LinkedIn profile , Hale served as the president of Leadership Indianapolis , a grassroots nonprofit , from June 2017 to January 2018 .
Leadership Indianapolis ’ s publicly available disclosures indicate that Hale took a $ 7,379 salary in 2018 but did not make her earnings public on her 2019 financial statements .
The Hale campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment when asked about the financial issues .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ethics watchdog Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust , found Hale 's failure to submit a financial disclosure in 2020 troubling .
`` The financial disclosure reports are extremely important because it is the only way for citizens to assess whether a candidate has specific conflicts of interest , '' Arnold told the Free Beacon .
`` A candidate must take the disclosure laws seriously and make accurate and timely filings to allow for the voters to assess the information with sufficient time before voting and demonstrate a commitment to the ethics laws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Spartz has earned high marks from colleagues for her honesty and independence as a legislator .
In June , Spartz won a competitive primary with over 10 candidates .
`` As an Indiana State Senator , I have had a front row seat to observe how Victoria Spartz behaves when those tough votes arise .
In fact , she sits right beside me in the senate chamber , '' said state senator Mike Gaskill ( R. , Ind . )
in an endorsement .
`` Not only have I watched her make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were on the line , I have also watched her persuade other senators to stand tall when the pressure was on . ''
The congressional hopeful also spoke at length about the importance of American civics .
A student of President Ronald Reagan and the Founders , Spartz told the Free Beacon a governing priority for her is returning the federal government to a smaller size .
`` The core functions of the federal government should be national defense , enforce our constitutional rights , and have some interstate commerce , '' Spartz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that promotes the strengths of individuals and freedom to decide [ their future ] . ''
Spartz warned that the modern Democratic Party wants to make reforms to the government that would stand to utterly transform the American system to more resemble her native Soviet-era Ukraine .
`` Our country has spent so much energy and so many people have died fighting these crazy , utopic big-government ideas in the last century , '' Spartz said .
`` [ For Democrats ] to do that now is really frightening . ''
Spartz maintained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t be higher .
`` It ’ s a very important election , '' Spartz told the Free Beacon .
`` It ’ s not a choice between individual candidates , but it ’ s a choice about what we want to be as a country .
Do we still want to be a free republic of individuals pursuing happiness and have their own freedom , or do we want to be a big government machine with political elites on top and everyone else equally poor at the bottom ? ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indiana ’ s Fifth Congressional District as a `` toss up . ''

Republican House candidate Victoria Spartz has made her childhood in the former Soviet Union the centerpiece of her 2020 campaign, telling Indiana voters that she is uniquely qualified to fight the growing influence of socialism in Washington, D.C.
"I’m someone who grew up in a socialist system and sees where it leads to," Spartz told the Washington Free Beacon. "When the government runs out of money—it’s only a matter of time that it does—it becomes a place of corruption, anarchy, and destruction."
A naturalized American citizen originally from Ukraine, Spartz got her start as a grassroots organizer for conservative causes in the heartland of Hamilton County, Ind., and turned her knowledge as a publicly certified accountant into a career in public service. She was the chief financial officer in the Indiana attorney general’s office and has served as a state senator for three years, quickly gaining a reputation as an independent-thinking, tough legislator. Along the way, Spartz taught business classes at Indiana University and continues to raise two daughters.
As a state senator, Spartz took on major fights to reform education and health care policy in Indiana but soon found that federal overreach made the kinds of changes she wanted extremely difficult. The Republican hopeful seeks federal office to further the reforms she sees as necessary for the prosperity of her constituents.
Spartz made education a main thrust of her legislative efforts, passing bills that stood to deregulate education at the state level and supplement current Indiana curricula with workforce development programs.
"We’ve created a system with very perverse incentives," Spartz said of the education system at both the state and national levels. "We don’t give children the fundamentals, then they just graduate and pile up debt with no skills. Everyone is teaching to the test, not for knowledge."
Spartz’s opponent to fill the seat left open by retiring Republican Susan Brooks is Christina Hale, a former Indiana State House member. Hale won a close primary armed with the financial backing of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Propelled by a massive campaign war chest, Hale's $3.5 million machine tops Spartz's own campaign in spending by nearly $1 million. Spartz, nevertheless, hangs tough by playing up her community roots and connection with constituents.
"[Hale's] a politician, she goes from one job to another," Spartz said. "When it matters, she’ll always vote with her caucus and her leadership."
Hale has faced scrutiny from Republicans over her personal finances throughout the campaign. She has not released her 2020 financial disclosure report, with her last report filed in November 2019. According to the House Ethics Committee, candidates for the House must submit a financial disclosure statement during an election year.
Additionally, according to her LinkedIn profile, Hale served as the president of Leadership Indianapolis, a grassroots nonprofit, from June 2017 to January 2018. Leadership Indianapolis’s publicly available disclosures indicate that Hale took a $7,379 salary in 2018 but did not make her earnings public on her 2019 financial statements.
The Hale campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment when asked about the financial issues.
Kendra Arnold, executive director of the ethics watchdog Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, found Hale's failure to submit a financial disclosure in 2020 troubling.
"The financial disclosure reports are extremely important because it is the only way for citizens to assess whether a candidate has specific conflicts of interest," Arnold told the Free Beacon. "A candidate must take the disclosure laws seriously and make accurate and timely filings to allow for the voters to assess the information with sufficient time before voting and demonstrate a commitment to the ethics laws and transparency required of all Members."
Spartz has earned high marks from colleagues for her honesty and independence as a legislator. In June, Spartz won a competitive primary with over 10 candidates.
"As an Indiana State Senator, I have had a front row seat to observe how Victoria Spartz behaves when those tough votes arise. In fact, she sits right beside me in the senate chamber," said state senator Mike Gaskill (R., Ind.) in an endorsement. "Not only have I watched her make courageous votes every single time conservative values were on the line, I have also watched her persuade other senators to stand tall when the pressure was on."
The congressional hopeful also spoke at length about the importance of American civics. A student of President Ronald Reagan and the Founders, Spartz told the Free Beacon a governing priority for her is returning the federal government to a smaller size.
"The core functions of the federal government should be national defense, enforce our constitutional rights, and have some interstate commerce," Spartz said. "We have a system that promotes the strengths of individuals and freedom to decide [their future]."
Spartz warned that the modern Democratic Party wants to make reforms to the government that would stand to utterly transform the American system to more resemble her native Soviet-era Ukraine.
"Our country has spent so much energy and so many people have died fighting these crazy, utopic big-government ideas in the last century," Spartz said. "[For Democrats] to do that now is really frightening."
Spartz maintained that the stakes of the election couldn’t be higher.
"It’s a very important election," Spartz told the Free Beacon. "It’s not a choice between individual candidates, but it’s a choice about what we want to be as a country. Do we still want to be a free republic of individuals pursuing happiness and have their own freedom, or do we want to be a big government machine with political elites on top and everyone else equally poor at the bottom?"
The Cook Political Report rates the race in Indiana’s Fifth Congressional District as a "toss up."


freebeacon--2020-10-27--Texas Dem MJ Hegar’s Latest Detractor Is Her Own Mother-In-Law

Texas Democrat MJ Hegar 's bid to unseat Republican incumbent senator John Cornyn will be without the support of her own mother-in-law , who says she would `` never vote '' for Hegar because `` she is not a good person . ''
Patricia Heiman , the mother of Hegar 's husband Stephen Hegar , took to Facebook in the race 's final weeks to warn voters against supporting the Democratic Senate candidate , specifically pointing to Hegar 's failure to lend a helping hand to her three step-children after their home was burned down in a fire earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and she is not a good person , '' Heiman wrote .
`` I know that sounds like a spiteful mother-in-law but I speak on behalf of my son 's three other children that they do not see . ''
Heiman wrote that Hegar and her own son took no action to help her three grandchildren after a fire burned down their home along with all their belongings in January .
`` His other children 's house burned to the ground last January , '' Heiman wrote .
`` And they gave nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out .
MJ is only in it for herself .
If she ca n't help her stepchildren 's situation out , how do you think she 's going to help Texans out . ''
The Washington Free Beacon was able to confirm Heiman 's relationship to Hegar , as well as the fire that burned down the house of Hegar 's three step-children and her husband 's first wife .
A GoFundMe page created for the family says the fire took the home , both the family 's cars , and left the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing when they evacuated the house .
The oldest of the three step-children posted pictures on the destruction caused by the fire on Jan. 7 , and asked friends to help her family with gift cards for groceries and blankets .
Heiman declined to discuss her relationship with Hegar on the record , for fear of repercussions to her grandchildren .
Hegar 's campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment .
Hegar married her husband in 2011 , and the couple now has two children of their own in addition to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marriage .
Marcy Pike , Stephen Hegar 's first wife , confirmed to the Free Beacon that they received `` no help '' from the Hegars after the fire .
`` They did n't say let me take the kids for a weekend and give you a break while you get things together , '' Pike said .
Pike said her ex-husband and Hegar got married shortly after the divorce , and in the years since took her to court seeking full custody of the children .
Now , they do n't even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to .
`` I do n't understand how anybody would n't want to be a part of their lives , they 're great kids , '' she said .
`` But to me , the more they stay out of our lives the easier it is . ''
`` [ MJ Hegar ] is a strong personality , it 's either her way or the highway , and if it 's not her way she has no use for you , '' she added .
`` Had she not been around , my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Hegar shot to prominence in 2018 with an ad on her life story that garnered praise from superstar playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda and earned millions of views on YouTube .
She ultimately lost her congressional bid that year , but used the attention to shoot to the top of the Democratic primary for the seat in the U.S. Senate up for grabs this year .
Polls show her solidly behind Cornyn , who has held the seat since 2002 , but Democrats are spending millions in the state in hopes they can capture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nov. 4 .

Texas Democrat MJ Hegar's bid to unseat Republican incumbent senator John Cornyn will be without the support of her own mother-in-law, who says she would "never vote" for Hegar because "she is not a good person."
Patricia Heiman, the mother of Hegar's husband Stephen Hegar, took to Facebook in the race's final weeks to warn voters against supporting the Democratic Senate candidate, specifically pointing to Hegar's failure to lend a helping hand to her three step-children after their home was burned down in a fire earlier this year.
"I know her personally and she is not a good person," Heiman wrote. "I know that sounds like a spiteful mother-in-law but I speak on behalf of my son's three other children that they do not see."
Heiman wrote that Hegar and her own son took no action to help her three grandchildren after a fire burned down their home along with all their belongings in January. "His other children's house burned to the ground last January," Heiman wrote. "And they gave nothing, I mean nothing to help them out. MJ is only in it for herself. If she can't help her stepchildren's situation out, how do you think she's going to help Texans out."
The Washington Free Beacon was able to confirm Heiman's relationship to Hegar, as well as the fire that burned down the house of Hegar's three step-children and her husband's first wife. A GoFundMe page created for the family says the fire took the home, both the family's cars, and left the children with only the clothes they were wearing when they evacuated the house. The oldest of the three step-children posted pictures on the destruction caused by the fire on Jan. 7, and asked friends to help her family with gift cards for groceries and blankets.
Heiman declined to discuss her relationship with Hegar on the record, for fear of repercussions to her grandchildren. Hegar's campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Hegar married her husband in 2011, and the couple now has two children of their own in addition to the three he had from the previous marriage. Marcy Pike, Stephen Hegar's first wife, confirmed to the Free Beacon that they received "no help" from the Hegars after the fire.
"They didn't say let me take the kids for a weekend and give you a break while you get things together," Pike said.
Pike said her ex-husband and Hegar got married shortly after the divorce, and in the years since took her to court seeking full custody of the children. Now, they don't even take the visitation they're legally entitled to.
"I don't understand how anybody wouldn't want to be a part of their lives, they're great kids," she said. "But to me, the more they stay out of our lives the easier it is."
"[MJ Hegar] is a strong personality, it's either her way or the highway, and if it's not her way she has no use for you," she added. "Had she not been around, my kids would still have a dad."
Hegar shot to prominence in 2018 with an ad on her life story that garnered praise from superstar playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda and earned millions of views on YouTube. She ultimately lost her congressional bid that year, but used the attention to shoot to the top of the Democratic primary for the seat in the U.S. Senate up for grabs this year. Polls show her solidly behind Cornyn, who has held the seat since 2002, but Democrats are spending millions in the state in hopes they can capture a seat in the Republican stronghold on Nov. 4.


freebeacon--2020-10-27--EPA Requests DOJ Investigate Foreign Funding of Environmental Groups

The Environmental Protection Agency has asked the Justice Department to investigate allegations that U.S. environmental groups have received covert funding from China and Russia .
EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler made the request after Rep. Lance Gooden ( R. , Texas ) alleged that left-wing environmental groups—including the Sea Change Foundation , Sunrise Movement , and Sierra Club—have functioned as conduits for `` foreign influence , financial involvement , and election interference . ''
Wheeler noted that it is not against the law for a nonprofit to take contributions from foreign entities but nonetheless asked the DOJ to look into whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Given heightened concerns that foreign countries , primarily China and Russia , are potentially funding U.S.-based ‘ green ' groups to undermine American energy independence and to help maintain the integrity of the EPA 's decision-making , EPA will refer this matter to the DOJ [ Foreign Agents Registration Act ] Unit , '' Wheeler said .
`` The DOJ can then determine what appropriate steps to take , if any , including whether those entities should be registered as foreign agents . ''
Gooden 's allegations follow calls from other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of green groups for potential foreign influence .
In September , Rep. Liz Cheney ( R. , Wyo . )
asked the DOJ to investigate whether Russia and China are working to infiltrate environmental groups as a way of influencing U.S. policy .
Erin Bridges , the fundraising director of the Sunrise Movement , told the Washington Free Beacon that such accusations were baseless , describing them as `` another exhausted attempt from fossil fuel cronies to conjure up some vast conspiracy theory that 's been debunked again and again . ''
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sea Change Foundation , which has utilized offshore entities to pump large sums into its coffers .
Since its founding in 2006 , the Sea Change Foundation has passed nearly $ 500 million to liberal environmental groups , including the Sierra Club , Energy Foundation , U.S .
Climate Action Network , and others .
It has also received money from Klein Ltd. , a Bermuda-based entity , which has led to concerns over its funding .
A 2014 report from the Environmental Policy Alliance alleged that Klein has ties to Russian oligarchs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` All funding to Klein ( now Sea Change Foundation International ) has been exclusively from philanthropic contributions by Bermuda-based family trusts of which I , my children , and family-related philanthropic organizations are the only beneficiaries , '' the group 's director , Nathaniel Simons , said in a forwarded statement first issued in 2018 .
`` Neither Klein nor Sea Change Foundation has ever solicited or accepted contributions from non-family related sources . ''
The Sierra Club did not respond to requests for comment .
The DOJ also did not @ @ @ @ @

The Environmental Protection Agency has asked the Justice Department to investigate allegations that U.S. environmental groups have received covert funding from China and Russia.
EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler made the request after Rep. Lance Gooden (R., Texas) alleged that left-wing environmental groups—including the Sea Change Foundation, Sunrise Movement, and Sierra Club—have functioned as conduits for "foreign influence, financial involvement, and election interference." Wheeler noted that it is not against the law for a nonprofit to take contributions from foreign entities but nonetheless asked the DOJ to look into whether the groups should register as foreign agents.
"Given heightened concerns that foreign countries, primarily China and Russia, are potentially funding U.S.-based 'green' groups to undermine American energy independence and to help maintain the integrity of the EPA's decision-making, EPA will refer this matter to the DOJ [Foreign Agents Registration Act] Unit," Wheeler said. "The DOJ can then determine what appropriate steps to take, if any, including whether those entities should be registered as foreign agents."
Gooden's allegations follow calls from other Republican lawmakers to investigate the anonymous funding of green groups for potential foreign influence. In September, Rep. Liz Cheney (R., Wyo.) asked the DOJ to investigate whether Russia and China are working to infiltrate environmental groups as a way of influencing U.S. policy.
Erin Bridges, the fundraising director of the Sunrise Movement, told the Washington Free Beacon that such accusations were baseless, describing them as "another exhausted attempt from fossil fuel cronies to conjure up some vast conspiracy theory that's been debunked again and again."
But Republican lawmakers are most concerned about the Sea Change Foundation, which has utilized offshore entities to pump large sums into its coffers. Since its founding in 2006, the Sea Change Foundation has passed nearly $500 million to liberal environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, Energy Foundation, U.S. Climate Action Network, and others. It has also received money from Klein Ltd., a Bermuda-based entity, which has led to concerns over its funding. A 2014 report from the Environmental Policy Alliance alleged that Klein has ties to Russian oligarchs. The nonprofit has denied the allegations.
"All funding to Klein (now Sea Change Foundation International) has been exclusively from philanthropic contributions by Bermuda-based family trusts of which I, my children, and family-related philanthropic organizations are the only beneficiaries," the group's director, Nathaniel Simons, said in a forwarded statement first issued in 2018. "Neither Klein nor Sea Change Foundation has ever solicited or accepted contributions from non-family related sources."
The Sierra Club did not respond to requests for comment. The DOJ also did not respond to an inquiry.


freebeacon--2020-10-27--Civil Liberties Union, Legal Aid Society File Lawsuit Against de Blasio

The New York City Civil Liberties Union and the Legal Aid Society filed a lawsuit against New York City mayor Bill de Blasio ( D. ) and other city officials for their `` unjustifiable '' response to anti-police riots this summer .
The groups filed the civil complaint in federal court Monday .
It accuses de Blasio and Police Commissioner Dermot Shea , along with other city leaders , of directing the NYPD to wield unnecessary force against rioters and protesters this summer .
The suit names 11 plaintiffs who claim they were injured or unlawfully arrested by the NYPD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests throughout the City in May and June , NYPD officers descended on protesters with unjustifiable fist and baton strikes , chemical pepper spray attacks , and other acts of physical violence , '' the lawsuit says .
This lawsuit is the largest brought against City Hall regarding the anti-police protests , the Washington Post reported .
By the end of September , 472 police officers were injured—in shootings , stabbings , and vehicular and explosive attacks , among other means—while responding to the riots , according to the New York Post .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an `` anarchist jurisdiction '' last month for city leaders ' failure to support police officers and quell violent riots in the city .
Shootings in the city have nearly doubled this year , coinciding with the riots ' onset .

The New York City Civil Liberties Union and the Legal Aid Society filed a lawsuit against New York City mayor Bill de Blasio (D.) and other city officials for their "unjustifiable" response to anti-police riots this summer.
The groups filed the civil complaint in federal court Monday. It accuses de Blasio and Police Commissioner Dermot Shea, along with other city leaders, of directing the NYPD to wield unnecessary force against rioters and protesters this summer. The suit names 11 plaintiffs who claim they were injured or unlawfully arrested by the NYPD.
"Over and again, at protests throughout the City in May and June, NYPD officers descended on protesters with unjustifiable fist and baton strikes, chemical pepper spray attacks, and other acts of physical violence," the lawsuit says.
This lawsuit is the largest brought against City Hall regarding the anti-police protests, the Washington Post reported.
By the end of September, 472 police officers were injured—in shootings, stabbings, and vehicular and explosive attacks, among other means—while responding to the riots, according to the New York Post.
The Justice Department labeled New York City an "anarchist jurisdiction" last month for city leaders' failure to support police officers and quell violent riots in the city. Shootings in the city have nearly doubled this year, coinciding with the riots' onset.


freebeacon--2020-10-27--Liberals Melt Down Over Barrett Joining Supreme Court

Democrats and liberal media members have lamented the ascension of Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court , declaring @ @ @ @ @ , '' her confirmation `` the darkest day '' in the history of the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ her imprisonment .
David Rutz is senior writer at the Washington Free Beacon .
He @ @ @ @ @ for two years in Atlanta and has done freelance sports reporting for the Washington Post @ @ @ @ @ University in 2010 and lives in Marietta , Ga. His Twitter handle is @ DavidRutz @ @ @ @ @ at rutz @ freebeacon.com .

Democrats and liberal media members have lamented the ascension of Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, declaring her judicial philosophy "sexist," her confirmation "the darkest day" in the history of the U.S. Senate, and calling for her imprisonment.


freebeacon--2020-10-27--FSU Student President, Ousted for Catholic Beliefs, Reinstated by School’s Supreme Court

Florida State University 's student-run Supreme Court has ordered the student senate to reinstate its former president Jack Denton , who was ousted for expressing his Catholic beliefs in a private group chat .
After Denton sued the school in September , a U.S. district judge ruled that the university was under no obligation to reinstate him to his role .
But the student Supreme Court—whose decisions are binding on the student senate—decided to reinstate him anyway , saying that Denton 's ouster violated the senate 's own First Amendment policies .
`` The essential question for this Court is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] constitutional rights has taken place , '' the court 's decision reads .
`` We hold that it has . ''
Alliance Defending Freedom , the religious liberty law firm that represents Denton , commended the school 's Supreme Court for its swift action .
`` All students should be able to peacefully share their personal convictions without fear of retaliation , '' said senior counsel Tyson Langhofer .
In June , the student senate voted almost unanimously to remove Denton from his position after the student newspaper published text messages in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explicitly anti-Catholic '' stances , such as supporting abortion and transgenderism .
Denton was replaced by Ahmad Daraldik , a Palestinian-American student who has a history of anti-Semitic posts online , including `` f— Israel '' and `` stupid Jew . ''
Daraldik joined several student senators in arguing that `` although we are granted freedom of speech , when you are in a public office you are public property and that means you must say things that wo n't necessarily offend other people . ''
Senators pleaded with the court not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not feel comfortable developing a professional relationship further with him . ''
The court responded that principles of free speech supersede personal feelings .
`` A Senator who uses his influence in student government to silence the message of a fellow student , simply because of his disagreement with that message , offends the very principles upon which our Republic was founded , '' its decision reads .
Denton did not respond to requests for comment .

Florida State University's student-run Supreme Court has ordered the student senate to reinstate its former president Jack Denton, who was ousted for expressing his Catholic beliefs in a private group chat.
After Denton sued the school in September, a U.S. district judge ruled that the university was under no obligation to reinstate him to his role. But the student Supreme Court—whose decisions are binding on the student senate—decided to reinstate him anyway, saying that Denton's ouster violated the senate's own First Amendment policies.
"The essential question for this Court is whether a violation of [Denton's] constitutional rights has taken place," the court's decision reads. "We hold that it has."
Alliance Defending Freedom, the religious liberty law firm that represents Denton, commended the school's Supreme Court for its swift action. "All students should be able to peacefully share their personal convictions without fear of retaliation," said senior counsel Tyson Langhofer.
In June, the student senate voted almost unanimously to remove Denton from his position after the student newspaper published text messages in which Denton criticized groups for taking "explicitly anti-Catholic" stances, such as supporting abortion and transgenderism.
Denton was replaced by Ahmad Daraldik, a Palestinian-American student who has a history of anti-Semitic posts online, including "f— Israel" and "stupid Jew." Daraldik joined several student senators in arguing that "although we are granted freedom of speech, when you are in a public office you are public property and that means you must say things that won't necessarily offend other people." Senators pleaded with the court not to reinstate Denton, as they "do not feel comfortable developing a professional relationship further with him."
The court responded that principles of free speech supersede personal feelings. "A Senator who uses his influence in student government to silence the message of a fellow student, simply because of his disagreement with that message, offends the very principles upon which our Republic was founded," its decision reads.
Denton did not respond to requests for comment.


freebeacon--2020-10-27--Facebook Removes Black Man’s Anti-Biden Ad

Facebook removed a black man 's ad that criticized Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden 's record on crime and the Black Lives Matter ( BLM ) movement just days before the election .
The censorship comes in the midst of an uproar over social media platforms ' alleged bias against conservative writers and causes in the closing days of the 2020 campaign .
The advertisement , which Brandon Wallace wrote for the conservative American Principles Project , spotlights Biden 's record of supporting policies that `` keep black men from raising their children , '' pointing to his support for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and praise for Black Lives Matter , which has openly called for the end of the nuclear family .
`` Twenty-six years ago , Vice President Biden admitted that crime in the black community was caused by society , '' the ad 's female narrator says .
`` Democrats said there was no hope for blacks like my grandfather .
They left him in jail , even though he changed… Soon , I was born—no father and no grandfather . ''
The narrator claims that Biden `` supports the BLM organization that also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their children . ''
Wallace noted that now-deleted language in the Black Lives Matter platform supporting the disruption of the `` Western-prescribed nuclear family structure . ''
The group called for `` extended families '' and `` villages '' instead before deleting the language because of criticism .
`` If you examine the since-deleted passage , there are several messages hidden within that , when examined from the perspective of a father in a nuclear family as I am , paint a clear picture of BLM 's true belief , '' Wallace said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that fathers , as a head of the family , have no place in their organization . ''
Facebook cited a fact check from a website called Lead Stories , which said that Wallace 's claims have `` no proof '' and that Biden has not `` formally endorsed '' Black Lives Matter .
Biden has spoken favorably in campaign advertisements about the activist movement but has resisted endorsing many of the group 's proposals .
Lead Stories further argued that the abolition of the nuclear family does not specifically `` refer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the movement 's website contains `` no reference to wanting to keep Black men from raising their children . ''
Politifact also fact checked the claim that BLM supports the abolition of the nuclear family .
`` We found that while Black Lives Matter seeks change in how ‘ family ' is defined , especially with respect to public policy , it ’ s a leap to conclude that it wants to eliminate traditional family structures , '' it stated .
American Principles Project executive director Terry Schilling said the advertisement 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies trying to swing the election in favor of Biden .
Facebook also removed a September American Principles Project ad that criticized Biden and Michigan senator Gary Peters ( D. ) for their support of the Equality Act .
Politifact had deemed the advertisement `` potentially misleading '' but did not point to specific factual errors .
Facebook did not respond to a request for comment .

Facebook removed a black man's ad that criticized Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's record on crime and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement just days before the election.
The censorship comes in the midst of an uproar over social media platforms' alleged bias against conservative writers and causes in the closing days of the 2020 campaign.
The advertisement, which Brandon Wallace wrote for the conservative American Principles Project, spotlights Biden's record of supporting policies that "keep black men from raising their children," pointing to his support for enhanced criminal sentencing during his four-decade career and praise for Black Lives Matter, which has openly called for the end of the nuclear family.
"Twenty-six years ago, Vice President Biden admitted that crime in the black community was caused by society," the ad's female narrator says. "Democrats said there was no hope for blacks like my grandfather. They left him in jail, even though he changed… Soon, I was born—no father and no grandfather."
The narrator claims that Biden "supports the BLM organization that also wants to keep black men from raising their children."
Wallace noted that now-deleted language in the Black Lives Matter platform supporting the disruption of the "Western-prescribed nuclear family structure." The group called for "extended families" and "villages" instead before deleting the language because of criticism.
"If you examine the since-deleted passage, there are several messages hidden within that, when examined from the perspective of a father in a nuclear family as I am, paint a clear picture of BLM's true belief," Wallace said. "What it means to me is that fathers, as a head of the family, have no place in their organization."
Facebook cited a fact check from a website called Lead Stories, which said that Wallace's claims have "no proof" and that Biden has not "formally endorsed" Black Lives Matter. Biden has spoken favorably in campaign advertisements about the activist movement but has resisted endorsing many of the group's proposals.
Lead Stories further argued that the abolition of the nuclear family does not specifically "refer to Black men raising children" and that the movement's website contains "no reference to wanting to keep Black men from raising their children."
Politifact also fact checked the claim that BLM supports the abolition of the nuclear family.
"We found that while Black Lives Matter seeks change in how 'family' is defined, especially with respect to public policy, it’s a leap to conclude that it wants to eliminate traditional family structures," it stated.


freebeacon--2020-10-27--American Airstrikes Take Down 12 al-Qaeda and Taliban Operators

American airstrikes have killed a dozen al-Qaeda and Taliban members in Syria and Afghanistan since Thursday .
On Monday , U.S. Forces-Afghanistan spokesman Col. Sonny Leggett confirmed that American troops had conducted a strike in defense of Afghan troops .
The operation killed five Taliban fighters and had no civilian casualties .
The same day , U.S. Central Command spokeswoman Maj. Beth Riordan confirmed an airstrike that killed seven al-Qaeda in Syria ( AQ-S ) operators .
`` The removal of these AQ-S leaders will disrupt the terrorist organization 's ability to further plot and carry out global attacks threatening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innocent civilians , '' Riordan said .
Reports of these strikes come soon after another major blow to al-Qaeda .
On Sunday , Afghan forces confirmed the death of group propaganda chief Husam Abd al-Rauf , a top aide to leader Ayman al-Zawahiri .
While al-Qaeda and the Taliban claim not to be working together , especially in light of February 's U.S.-Taliban peace agreement , reports of al-Rauf 's death may expose cooperation between the groups .
Al-Rauf appeared to have been hiding in a Taliban-controlled area , which the group did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American airstrikes come as the Pentagon plans to decrease its military commitment to Afghanistan .
After a back-and-forth between President Trump and national security adviser Robert O'Brien , the Pentagon appears to be planning on an extended , conditions-based timetable for withdrawing the full contingent of American troops from Afghanistan .
At present , more than 4,000 American troops remain in the country to keep tabs on Taliban and al-Qaeda threats and support Afghan security forces .

American airstrikes have killed a dozen al-Qaeda and Taliban members in Syria and Afghanistan since Thursday.
On Monday, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan spokesman Col. Sonny Leggett confirmed that American troops had conducted a strike in defense of Afghan troops. The operation killed five Taliban fighters and had no civilian casualties.
The same day, U.S. Central Command spokeswoman Maj. Beth Riordan confirmed an airstrike that killed seven al-Qaeda in Syria (AQ-S) operators.
"The removal of these AQ-S leaders will disrupt the terrorist organization's ability to further plot and carry out global attacks threatening U.S. citizens, our partners, and innocent civilians," Riordan said.
Reports of these strikes come soon after another major blow to al-Qaeda. On Sunday, Afghan forces confirmed the death of group propaganda chief Husam Abd al-Rauf, a top aide to leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.
While al-Qaeda and the Taliban claim not to be working together, especially in light of February's U.S.-Taliban peace agreement, reports of al-Rauf's death may expose cooperation between the groups. Al-Rauf appeared to have been hiding in a Taliban-controlled area, which the group did not deny in a statement.
The American airstrikes come as the Pentagon plans to decrease its military commitment to Afghanistan.
After a back-and-forth between President Trump and national security adviser Robert O'Brien, the Pentagon appears to be planning on an extended, conditions-based timetable for withdrawing the full contingent of American troops from Afghanistan.
At present, more than 4,000 American troops remain in the country to keep tabs on Taliban and al-Qaeda threats and support Afghan security forces.


freebeacon--2020-10-27--Buzz Aldrin Endorses McSally Over Fellow Astronaut Kelly

Famed astronaut Buzz Aldrin on Saturday endorsed incumbent senator Martha McSally ( R. , Ariz. ) over fellow astronaut Mark Kelly ( D. ) in the upcoming election .
`` Martha , check six—Mark ?
Buzz—over 100 jet hours in Arizona , '' Aldrin tweeted .
`` 12 o'clock is straight ahead .
6 o'clock is behind .
Fighter pilots understand what ‘ check six ' means in [ fighter pilot ] lingo talk .
Martha , wave as you move ahead past Mark , to 12 o'clock , and you win for Arizona ! ''
Before he became an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pilot in the Korean War .
McSally also flew fighter jets in Iraq and Afghanistan , becoming the first female pilot to fly a combat mission .
McSally said Aldrin 's endorsement was an `` honor . ''
`` Absolute honor to have the support of hero astronaut Buzz Aldrin in this mission ! ''
McSally tweeted on Saturday .
`` We must hold this seat , the Senate , and save the country .
It 's a dog fight , and as we fighter pilots say : Fight 's On ! ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ set foot on the Moon , endorsed McSally over fellow spacefarer and Democratic challenger Kelly .
The Arizona Democrat flew four missions to space over the course of the 2000s and also started his own aerospace technology business .
In recent months , Kelly and his business have come under fire for investments from a company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party , raising concerns among some national security experts .
As China and Russia have worked to develop their military capabilities to challenge U.S. supremacy in space , Kelly has also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Force , calling the new defense effort a `` dumb idea . ''
In contrast , McSally emerged as a top voice in support of Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett , an integral figure in developing the Space Force mission .
Aldrin is not the only former astronaut to endorse McSally over Kelly .
Earlier this month , three other former astronauts endorsed McSally in an op-ed , citing her record and the Democratic Party 's far-left tilt .
`` But having ‘ astronaut ' on your resume does not mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the astronauts wrote .
`` Mark Kelly is hoping Arizonans are so impressed with his background that they ignore the fact that he 's supported radical gun-control activists , that his plan for the eventual government takeover of health care would end Medicare as we know it , and that he 'd vote to raise our taxes . ''

Famed astronaut Buzz Aldrin on Saturday endorsed incumbent senator Martha McSally (R., Ariz.) over fellow astronaut Mark Kelly (D.) in the upcoming election.
"Martha, check six—Mark? Buzz—over 100 jet hours in Arizona," Aldrin tweeted. "12 o'clock is straight ahead. 6 o'clock is behind. Fighter pilots understand what 'check six' means in [fighter pilot] lingo talk. Martha, wave as you move ahead past Mark, to 12 o'clock, and you win for Arizona!"
12 o’clock is straight ahead. 6 o’clock is behind. Fighter pilots understand what 'check six" means in FTR lingo talk.
Martha, wave as you move ahead past Mark, to 12 o’clock, and you win for Arizona! — Dr. Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) October 25, 2020
Before he became an astronaut, Aldrin served as a fighter pilot in the Korean War. McSally also flew fighter jets in Iraq and Afghanistan, becoming the first female pilot to fly a combat mission.
McSally said Aldrin's endorsement was an "honor." "Absolute honor to have the support of hero astronaut Buzz Aldrin in this mission!" McSally tweeted on Saturday. "We must hold this seat, the Senate, and save the country. It's a dog fight, and as we fighter pilots say: Fight's On!"
Aldrin, the second astronaut to ever set foot on the Moon, endorsed McSally over fellow spacefarer and Democratic challenger Kelly. The Arizona Democrat flew four missions to space over the course of the 2000s and also started his own aerospace technology business. In recent months, Kelly and his business have come under fire for investments from a company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, raising concerns among some national security experts.
As China and Russia have worked to develop their military capabilities to challenge U.S. supremacy in space, Kelly has also criticized the creation of the U.S. Space Force, calling the new defense effort a "dumb idea." In contrast, McSally emerged as a top voice in support of Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett, an integral figure in developing the Space Force mission.
Aldrin is not the only former astronaut to endorse McSally over Kelly. Earlier this month, three other former astronauts endorsed McSally in an op-ed, citing her record and the Democratic Party's far-left tilt.
"But having 'astronaut' on your resume does not mean you'd be a good U.S. senator," the astronauts wrote. "Mark Kelly is hoping Arizonans are so impressed with his background that they ignore the fact that he's supported radical gun-control activists, that his plan for the eventual government takeover of health care would end Medicare as we know it, and that he'd vote to raise our taxes."


freebeacon--2020-10-28--Biden Touts Endorsement From Leading Anti-Semites

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden touted an endorsement from a group of leading Muslim officials who have accused Jews of dual loyalty to America and praised anti-Semitic Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan .
A group of nearly 50 Muslim elected officials across the country expressed support for Biden in a late-July letter sponsored by Emgage , an anti-Israel Muslim-American group funded by liberal billionaire George Soros .
Emgage has drawn scrutiny in recent years for defending terrorist groups and collaborating with Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated organizations .
Biden , in a July video message to Emgage and its supporters , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and inspired by the group ’ s `` one million Muslim voters '' campaign , a nod to Farrakhan ’ s 1995 Million Man March on Washington , D.C. Biden also said he wished `` we taught more in our schools about the Islamic faith '' during his video message .
The Emgage letter is signed by local , state , and federal officials who have endorsed Israel boycotts and come under fire for anti-Semitic rhetoric .
This includes Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D. , Minn. ) , who claimed that Israel and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world . ''
While Biden has vowed to govern as a pro-Israel president , the Democratic Party ’ s alliance with anti-Israel leaders has complicated Biden ’ s message , as evidenced by his pledge to confront Israel over the building of Jewish homes in disputed areas .
The Washington Free Beacon reported on concerns Biden would be pulled left from pro-Israel voters earlier this month , when it was revealed that Biden ’ s running mate , Kamala Harris , worked with the Council on American-Islamic Relations , one of the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for boycotts of the Jewish state .
`` With Joe Biden , we will have a seat at the table and will address and heal the deep wounds that fracture our country , '' the Muslim officials wrote in their letter to supporters of Emgage PAC , which claims to be the largest Muslim PAC in the country .
In addition to Omar , the letter was signed by many elected officials who have joined forces with the anti-Israel activist community .
Rep. André Carson ( D. , Ind . )
, one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ties to Farrakhan and would not rule out future meetings with the anti-Semitic leader .
Former representative Keith Ellison ( D. , Minn. ) , now the Minnesota attorney general , is also a Farrakhan supporter .
`` Keith would go on all the time about ‘ Jewish slave traders , ’ '' associates recalled of Ellison when he was an activist at the University of Minnesota in the 1980s .
Several signatories have longstanding ties to CAIR , which was embroiled in a 1990s scandal over illegal funding to the terrorist group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state senator who signed the letter , has spoken at CAIR events .
Abdullah Hammoud , a Michigan state representative , has advocated against laws meant to counter the Boycott , Divestment , and Sanctions movement ( BDS ) , which seeks to wage economic warfare on Israel .
Hammoud also has accused Israel of war crimes .
Other supporters on the letter—including Dearborn City Council members Dave Abdallah and Mike Sareini—were part of a delegation that went after Sen. Debbie Stabenow ( D. , Mich. ) in 2019 for her support of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that a Biden administration will court anti-Israel leaders .
`` It ’ s a sad indication that under a Biden/Harris administration , anti-Semites would have a seat at the table .
President Trump proudly stands with Israel and has made good on the broken promises of past career politicians , like Joe Biden , '' said Steve Guest , rapid response director for the Republican National Committee .
`` This is one of the many reasons why America needs four more years of President Trump . ''

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden touted an endorsement from a group of leading Muslim officials who have accused Jews of dual loyalty to America and praised anti-Semitic Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
A group of nearly 50 Muslim elected officials across the country expressed support for Biden in a late-July letter sponsored by Emgage, an anti-Israel Muslim-American group funded by liberal billionaire George Soros. Emgage has drawn scrutiny in recent years for defending terrorist groups and collaborating with Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated organizations.
Biden, in a July video message to Emgage and its supporters, said he was honored to receive the endorsement and inspired by the group’s "one million Muslim voters" campaign, a nod to Farrakhan’s 1995 Million Man March on Washington, D.C. Biden also said he wished "we taught more in our schools about the Islamic faith" during his video message.
The Emgage letter is signed by local, state, and federal officials who have endorsed Israel boycotts and come under fire for anti-Semitic rhetoric. This includes Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.), who claimed that Israel and its American supporters have "hypnotized the world."
While Biden has vowed to govern as a pro-Israel president, the Democratic Party’s alliance with anti-Israel leaders has complicated Biden’s message, as evidenced by his pledge to confront Israel over the building of Jewish homes in disputed areas. The Washington Free Beacon reported on concerns Biden would be pulled left from pro-Israel voters earlier this month, when it was revealed that Biden’s running mate, Kamala Harris, worked with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, one of the nation’s top anti-Israel groups and advocates for boycotts of the Jewish state.
"With Joe Biden, we will have a seat at the table and will address and heal the deep wounds that fracture our country," the Muslim officials wrote in their letter to supporters of Emgage PAC, which claims to be the largest Muslim PAC in the country.
In addition to Omar, the letter was signed by many elected officials who have joined forces with the anti-Israel activist community.
Rep. André Carson (D., Ind.), one signatory, has refused to denounce his ties to Farrakhan and would not rule out future meetings with the anti-Semitic leader.
Former representative Keith Ellison (D., Minn.), now the Minnesota attorney general, is also a Farrakhan supporter. "Keith would go on all the time about ‘Jewish slave traders,’" associates recalled of Ellison when he was an activist at the University of Minnesota in the 1980s.
Several signatories have longstanding ties to CAIR, which was embroiled in a 1990s scandal over illegal funding to the terrorist group Hamas.
Sharif Street, a Pennsylvania state senator who signed the letter, has spoken at CAIR events.
Abdullah Hammoud, a Michigan state representative, has advocated against laws meant to counter the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement (BDS), which seeks to wage economic warfare on Israel. Hammoud also has accused Israel of war crimes.
Other supporters on the letter—including Dearborn City Council members Dave Abdallah and Mike Sareini—were part of a delegation that went after Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D., Mich.) in 2019 for her support of an anti-BDS bill.
A Republican official said that a Biden administration will court anti-Israel leaders.
"It’s a sad indication that under a Biden/Harris administration, anti-Semites would have a seat at the table. President Trump proudly stands with Israel and has made good on the broken promises of past career politicians, like Joe Biden," said Steve Guest, rapid response director for the Republican National Committee. "This is one of the many reasons why America needs four more years of President Trump."


freebeacon--2020-10-29--Supreme Court Rebuffs Republican Requests In Swing State Election Appeals

The Supreme Court dealt a blow to Republicans in battleground states Pennsylvania and North Carolina in a pair of emergency election appeals Wednesday night .
In the Pennsylvania case , the Court left in place the state 's three-day grace period for ballots received after Election Day , but several justices indicated they could revisit the issue after Nov. 3 if necessary .
In the North Carolina case , the justices outright rejected a Republican bid to shorten the state 's mail-in ballot deadline from nine days to three after Election Day .
Republicans have pressed the High Court to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the country on election integrity grounds .
Democrats say such accommodations are necessary given the risks of in-person voting during the pandemic .
They also cite unprecedented strains on mail service .
Hundreds of thousands of ballots are expected to arrive after Nov. 3 .
Justice Amy Coney Barrett did not participate in either case , because she has not had time to review the filings , according to a Court spokeswoman .
Citing the coronavirus pandemic , the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered election officials to count any ballot that arrives by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been sent after Election Day .
Keystone state Republicans argued this ruling violates the federal Constitution , and asked the High Court to say so as quickly as possible , preferably before Nov. 3 .
There were no dissents from the unsigned order , which gave no reasons for denying the Republican request .
The Court indicated that additional opinions may be forthcoming , underscoring the unusual nature of the case .
Both the Trump and Biden campaigns consider Pennsylvania critical to the outcome of the election .
In a short separate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pennsylvania 's balloting is being conducted `` under a cloud . ''
He indicated that the Court could resolve the case after the election if necessary .
Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch joined his opinion .
`` I reluctantly conclude that there is simply not enough time at this late date to decide the question before the election , '' Alito wrote .
`` That does not mean , however , that the state court decision must escape our review .
Although the Court denies the motion to expedite , the petition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and if it is granted , the case can then be decided under a shortened schedule . ''
Alito went on to say that he thinks the Pennsylvania Supreme Court 's decision is probably wrong .
`` The provisions of the federal Constitution conferring on state legislatures , not state courts , the authority to make rules governing federal elections would be meaningless if a state court could override the rules , '' the Justice wrote .
The Constitution provides that federal election procedures `` shall be prescribed in each State by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , lawyers for the commonwealth told the Court that election officials will `` securely segregate all mail-in and civilian absentee ballots received between 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday , November 3 , 2020 , and 5:00 p.m. on Friday , November 6 , 2020 , from all other voted ballots . ''
While Justice Brett Kavanaugh did not join Alito 's opinion , he took the exact same position in a case decided Monday night from Wisconsin .
That means Barrett may provide a fifth vote to say that state courts should n't rewrite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would give the Republican-controlled Pennsylvania legislature exclusive power to dictate election procedures .
Republicans also control legislatures in battleground states like Florida and Wisconsin .
The Supreme Court has intervened to stop federal courts from tinkering with election procedures , the coronavirus pandemic notwithstanding , but Chief Justice John Roberts has voted with the Court 's liberal wing to allow changes made by state courts .
In a brief opinion Monday night , Roberts said that state law may sometimes require late-breaking adjustments , and state courts should have the final word on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the grace period was required by a voting rights provision in the state constitution .
The provision requires that elections be `` conducted in a manner which guarantees , to the greatest degree possible , a voter 's right to equal participation in the electoral process . ''
The decision also cited guidance from the Postal Service indicating that mail service in Pennsylvania has been slowed .
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is an elected body .
Democrats command a five to two majority .
In the North Carolina case , Roberts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow the extended nine-day deadline .
That drew a dissent from Gorsuch and Alito , with Thomas noting his disagreement separately .
The North Carolina legislature established a three-day post-election deadline for ballots , but in October a state court approved an agreement between the state board of elections and a left-wing political group to extend that grace period for nine days .
Gorsuch said that agreement made the case especially troubling .
`` This case may be even more egregious , given that a state court and the Board worked together to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID , '' Gorsuch wrote .
Wednesday 's cases are No .
20-542 Republican Party of Pennsylvania v. Boockvar and No .
20A72 Moore v. Circosta .

The Supreme Court dealt a blow to Republicans in battleground states Pennsylvania and North Carolina in a pair of emergency election appeals Wednesday night.
In the Pennsylvania case, the Court left in place the state's three-day grace period for ballots received after Election Day, but several justices indicated they could revisit the issue after Nov. 3 if necessary. In the North Carolina case, the justices outright rejected a Republican bid to shorten the state's mail-in ballot deadline from nine days to three after Election Day.
Republicans have pressed the High Court to stop extended grace periods for mail-in ballots around the country on election integrity grounds. Democrats say such accommodations are necessary given the risks of in-person voting during the pandemic. They also cite unprecedented strains on mail service. Hundreds of thousands of ballots are expected to arrive after Nov. 3.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett did not participate in either case, because she has not had time to review the filings, according to a Court spokeswoman.
Citing the coronavirus pandemic, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered election officials to count any ballot that arrives by Friday Nov. 6 unless it appears to have been sent after Election Day. Keystone state Republicans argued this ruling violates the federal Constitution, and asked the High Court to say so as quickly as possible, preferably before Nov. 3.
There were no dissents from the unsigned order, which gave no reasons for denying the Republican request. The Court indicated that additional opinions may be forthcoming, underscoring the unusual nature of the case. Both the Trump and Biden campaigns consider Pennsylvania critical to the outcome of the election.
In a short separate statement, Justice Samuel Alito lamented that Pennsylvania's balloting is being conducted "under a cloud." He indicated that the Court could resolve the case after the election if necessary. Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch joined his opinion.
"I reluctantly conclude that there is simply not enough time at this late date to decide the question before the election," Alito wrote. "That does not mean, however, that the state court decision must escape our review. Although the Court denies the motion to expedite, the petition for [review] remains before us, and if it is granted, the case can then be decided under a shortened schedule."
Alito went on to say that he thinks the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's decision is probably wrong.
"The provisions of the federal Constitution conferring on state legislatures, not state courts, the authority to make rules governing federal elections would be meaningless if a state court could override the rules," the justice wrote. The Constitution provides that federal election procedures "shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof."
Earlier Wednesday, lawyers for the commonwealth told the Court that election officials will "securely segregate all mail-in and civilian absentee ballots received between 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, and 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 2020, from all other voted ballots."
While Justice Brett Kavanaugh did not join Alito's opinion, he took the exact same position in a case decided Monday night from Wisconsin. That means Barrett may provide a fifth vote to say that state courts shouldn't rewrite federal election laws. Such a decision would give the Republican-controlled Pennsylvania legislature exclusive power to dictate election procedures. Republicans also control legislatures in battleground states like Florida and Wisconsin.
The Supreme Court has intervened to stop federal courts from tinkering with election procedures, the coronavirus pandemic notwithstanding, but Chief Justice John Roberts has voted with the Court's liberal wing to allow changes made by state courts. In a brief opinion Monday night, Roberts said that state law may sometimes require late-breaking adjustments, and state courts should have the final word on state law.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court said the grace period was required by a voting rights provision in the state constitution. The provision requires that elections be "conducted in a manner which guarantees, to the greatest degree possible, a voter's right to equal participation in the electoral process." The decision also cited guidance from the Postal Service indicating that mail service in Pennsylvania has been slowed.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is an elected body. Democrats command a five-to-two majority.
In the North Carolina case, Roberts and Kavanaugh voted with the liberal trio to allow the extended nine-day deadline. That drew a dissent from Gorsuch and Alito, with Thomas noting his disagreement separately. The North Carolina legislature established a three-day post-election deadline for ballots, but in October a state court approved an agreement between the state board of elections and a left-wing political group to extend that grace period for nine days. Gorsuch said that agreement made the case especially troubling.
"This case may be even more egregious, given that a state court and the Board worked together to override a carefully tailored legislative response to COVID," Gorsuch wrote.
Wednesday's cases are No. 20-542 Republican Party of Pennsylvania v. Boockvar and No. 20A72 Moore v. Circosta.
Moore v. Circosta Supreme C... by Washington Free Beacon
Republican Party of Pa v. B... by Washington Free Beacon