freebeacon--2020-07-13--Britain Set to Ban Huawei From 5G

Britain Set to Ban Huawei From 5G

LONDON ( Reuters ) – Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to ban Huawei from Britain 's 5G network in a landmark decision that will anger Beijing but win plaudits from President Donald Trump as the United States grapples with China 's rising economic and technological clout .
The United States has pushed Johnson to reverse his January decision to grant Huawei a limited role in 5G , while London has been dismayed by a crackdown in Hong Kong and by the perception that China did not tell the whole truth over coronavirus .
Britain 's National Security Council ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will meet on Tuesday to discuss Huawei .
Media Secretary Oliver Dowden will announce a decision to the House of Commons later in the day .
The immediate excuse for the about turn in British policy is the impact of new U.S. sanctions on chip technology , which London says affects Huawei 's ability to remain a reliable supplier in the future .
It is unclear how far Johnson will go on Tuesday .
Operators already had to cap Huawei 's role in 5G at 35 % by 2023 .
Reducing it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years is now being discussed , although some telecoms firms have warned that going too fast could delay key technology and disrupt services .
Asked about Huawei in June , Johnson said he would protect critical infrastructure from `` hostile state vendors '' .
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said on Monday the `` priority '' in the decision would be national security .
The United States says Huawei , the world 's biggest producer of telecoms equipment , is an agent of the Chinese Communist State and can not be trusted .
Huawei @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the United States wants to frustrate its growth because no U.S. company could offer the same range of technology at a competitive price .
In what some have compared to the Cold War antagonism with the Soviet Union , the United States is worried that 5G dominance is a milestone towards Chinese technological supremacy that could define the geopolitics of the 21st century .
Angering China just as Britain extracts itself from the European Union will put London firmly back on the side of its closest ally , the United States .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ what former Prime Minister David Cameron cast as a `` golden era '' in ties with China .
China 's ambassador to Britain said earlier this month a U-turn on Huawei would damage Britain 's image and it would have to `` bear the consequences '' if it treated China as a hostile country .
In January , Johnson defied Trump by allowing so-called high-risk companies ' involvement in 5G – including Huawei – to be capped at 35 % .
He excluded such companies from the sensitive 5G `` core '' , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as critical networks and locations such as nuclear and military sites .
Britain 's major telecoms networks have said they need at least five years , and ideally seven , to remove Huawei .
BT CEO Philip Jansen urged the government on Monday not to move too fast on a ban , cautioning there could be outages and even security issues if it did .
`` If we get to a situation where things need to go very , very fast , then you are into a situation where potentially service for 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into question – outages , '' he told BBC radio .
Huawei has said the implications of the U.S. sanctions are not yet clear , and it has urged Britain to wait .
The Telegraph newspaper said on Friday the government was expected to set a deadline of 2025 for removing Huawei equipment .

By Paul Sandle and Guy Faulconbridge
LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to ban Huawei from Britain's 5G network in a landmark decision that will anger Beijing but win plaudits from President Donald Trump as the United States grapples with China's rising economic and technological clout.
The United States has pushed Johnson to reverse his January decision to grant Huawei a limited role in 5G, while London has been dismayed by a crackdown in Hong Kong and by the perception that China did not tell the whole truth over coronavirus.
Britain's National Security Council (NSC), chaired by Johnson, will meet on Tuesday to discuss Huawei. Media Secretary Oliver Dowden will announce a decision to the House of Commons later in the day.
The immediate excuse for the about turn in British policy is the impact of new U.S. sanctions on chip technology, which London says affects Huawei's ability to remain a reliable supplier in the future.
It is unclear how far Johnson will go on Tuesday. Operators already had to cap Huawei's role in 5G at 35% by 2023. Reducing it to zero over an additional two to fours years is now being discussed, although some telecoms firms have warned that going too fast could delay key technology and disrupt services.
Asked about Huawei in June, Johnson said he would protect critical infrastructure from "hostile state vendors". Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said on Monday the "priority" in the decision would be national security.
The United States says Huawei, the world's biggest producer of telecoms equipment, is an agent of the Chinese Communist State and cannot be trusted.
Huawei denies it spies for China and has said the United States wants to frustrate its growth because no U.S. company could offer the same range of technology at a competitive price.
NEW COLD WAR?
In what some have compared to the Cold War antagonism with the Soviet Union, the United States is worried that 5G dominance is a milestone towards Chinese technological supremacy that could define the geopolitics of the 21st century.
Angering China just as Britain extracts itself from the European Union will put London firmly back on the side of its closest ally, the United States.
It would also mark the end of what former Prime Minister David Cameron cast as a "golden era" in ties with China.
China's ambassador to Britain said earlier this month a U-turn on Huawei would damage Britain's image and it would have to "bear the consequences" if it treated China as a hostile country.
HUAWEI BANNED?
In January, Johnson defied Trump by allowing so-called high-risk companies' involvement in 5G - including Huawei - to be capped at 35%. He excluded such companies from the sensitive 5G "core", where data is processed, as well as critical networks and locations such as nuclear and military sites.
Britain's major telecoms networks have said they need at least five years, and ideally seven, to remove Huawei.
BT CEO Philip Jansen urged the government on Monday not to move too fast on a ban, cautioning there could be outages and even security issues if it did.
"If we get to a situation where things need to go very, very fast, then you are into a situation where potentially service for 24 million BT Group mobile customers is put into question - outages," he told BBC radio.
Huawei has said the implications of the U.S. sanctions are not yet clear, and it has urged Britain to wait. The Telegraph newspaper said on Friday the government was expected to set a deadline of 2025 for removing Huawei equipment.
(This story has been refiled to add dropped word 'to' in first paragraph)
(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge and Paul Sandle, editing by David Milliken and Mark Potter)


freebeacon--2020-07-14--Trump Ends Special Status for Hong Kong

Trump Ends Special Status for Hong Kong

President Trump unveiled a new executive order ending the United States ' diplomatic distinction between Hong Kong and mainland China .
The order will end preferential treatment of Hong Kong on matters of democratization and trade , recognizing the island as no different from mainland PRC .
`` No special privileges , no special economic treatment , '' Trump said at a press conference Tuesday evening .
The announcement follows China 's aggressive takeover of Hong Kong 's levers of power via a new national security law .
The law expands Chinese authority to extradite political dissidents and cracks down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such that it will more closely resemble the Beijing regime .
Since 1992 , the United States has maintained a special relationship with Hong Kong codified in law .
While China upheld the `` One Country , Two Systems '' policy with regard to Hong Kong , the State Department recognized Hong Kong ’ s free market and legal institutions as different from those of Beijing and attempted to foster growth through trade .
China 's increasing imposition of its model of governance on Hong Kong has led the Trump administration to rethink @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to act as punishment for China 's `` oppressive '' treatment of Hong Kong , the president said .
Trump also cited China ’ s intellectual property fraud , military buildup , hijacking of multilateral organizations , and manipulation of international trade as reasons to alter relations with the communist regime .
No country has ever `` ripped off '' the United States like China , the president said .
He added that he has `` no plans '' to speak with Chinese president Xi Jinping .
The announcement reflects views on Hong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` No reasonable person can assert today that Hong Kong maintains a high degree of autonomy from China , given facts on the ground , '' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in May .

President Trump unveiled a new executive order ending the United States' diplomatic distinction between Hong Kong and mainland China.
The order will end preferential treatment of Hong Kong on matters of democratization and trade, recognizing the island as no different from mainland PRC. "No special privileges, no special economic treatment," Trump said at a press conference Tuesday evening.
The announcement follows China's aggressive takeover of Hong Kong's levers of power via a new national security law. The law expands Chinese authority to extradite political dissidents and cracks down on the political culture in Hong Kong such that it will more closely resemble the Beijing regime.
Since 1992, the United States has maintained a special relationship with Hong Kong codified in law. While China upheld the "One Country, Two Systems" policy with regard to Hong Kong, the State Department recognized Hong Kong’s free market and legal institutions as different from those of Beijing and attempted to foster growth through trade.
China's increasing imposition of its model of governance on Hong Kong has led the Trump administration to rethink this policy. Washington intends its pivot to act as punishment for China's "oppressive" treatment of Hong Kong, the president said.
Trump also cited China’s intellectual property fraud, military buildup, hijacking of multilateral organizations, and manipulation of international trade as reasons to alter relations with the communist regime. No country has ever "ripped off" the United States like China, the president said. He added that he has "no plans" to speak with Chinese president Xi Jinping.
The announcement reflects views on Hong Kong expressed previously by Trump administration officials. "No reasonable person can assert today that Hong Kong maintains a high degree of autonomy from China, given facts on the ground," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in May.


freebeacon--2020-07-14--Justice Ginsburg Hospitalized For ‘Possible Infection’

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was hospitalized Tuesday morning and underwent surgery for treatment of a possible infection .
The 87-year-old jurist was admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore after bouts of fever and chills .
Just hours earlier , the Court had cleared the way for the first federal executions in almost two decades , issuing opinions around 2:00 a.m. Tuesday .
A spokeswoman for the High Court said in a statement that Ginsburg underwent an endoscopic procedure to clean a stent placed in her stomach in August 2019 .
Ginsburg underwent a three-week course of radiation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period , her third cancer diagnosis since ascending to the Court .
The device , called a `` bile duct stent , '' is sometimes used to treat pancreatic cancer patients .
The justice is said to be resting comfortably and will remain in the hospital for antibiotic treatment for several days .
The statement makes no reference to the coronavirus .
Tuesday 's hospitalization is Ginsburg 's second in just over two months .
She participated in oral arguments from a hospital bed while she was treated for a benign gallbladder condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to loom large over the November general election , and Ginsburg 's health is much-watched by anxious liberal admirers .
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has pledged to appoint a black woman to the Court and is expected to issue a short list of candidates in the coming weeks .
President Donald Trump will likewise release a new roster of prospective picks .
There is scant evidence that unsure health has adversely affected the Court 's work .
Ginsburg featured in some of the marquee cases of the Court 's latest term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choice and the Affordable Care Act 's birth control mandate .
She authored six majority opinions , which puts her on track with her colleagues in terms of outputs .

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was hospitalized Tuesday morning and underwent surgery for treatment of a possible infection.
The 87-year-old jurist was admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore after bouts of fever and chills. Just hours earlier, the Court had cleared the way for the first federal executions in almost two decades, issuing opinions around 2:00 a.m. Tuesday.
A spokeswoman for the High Court said in a statement that Ginsburg underwent an endoscopic procedure to clean a stent placed in her stomach in August 2019. Ginsburg underwent a three-week course of radiation therapy for pancreatic cancer during that same period, her third cancer diagnosis since ascending to the Court. The device, called a "bile duct stent," is sometimes used to treat pancreatic cancer patients.
The justice is said to be resting comfortably and will remain in the hospital for antibiotic treatment for several days. The statement makes no reference to the coronavirus.
Tuesday's hospitalization is Ginsburg's second in just over two months. She participated in oral arguments from a hospital bed while she was treated for a benign gallbladder condition in May.
The Court is slated to loom large over the November general election, and Ginsburg's health is much-watched by anxious liberal admirers. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has pledged to appoint a black woman to the Court and is expected to issue a short list of candidates in the coming weeks. President Donald Trump will likewise release a new roster of prospective picks.
There is scant evidence that unsure health has adversely affected the Court's work. Ginsburg featured in some of the marquee cases of the Court's latest term, producing dissents in cases concerning school choice and the Affordable Care Act's birth control mandate. She authored six majority opinions, which puts her on track with her colleagues in terms of outputs.


freebeacon--2020-07-14--Lincoln Surrenders: Anti-GOP Group Caves to Woke Mob in Bid to Avoid Getting Canceled by Left-Wing A

Lincoln Surrenders: Anti-GOP Group Caves to Woke Mob in Bid to Avoid Getting Canceled by Left-Wing Allies

The Lincoln Project , a super PAC founded by failed Republican operatives whose support for Democratic candidates in 2020 has made them darlings of the # Resistance , is trying to avoid getting canceled by its liberal allies .
These anti-cancellation efforts involve cutting ties with affiliates who dare to behave too much like the group 's founder , adorably indecent Twitter personality Rick Wilson , whose list of political clients includes police advocate Rudy Giuliani , immigration opponent Kris Kobach , and investment banker Evan McMullin .
The pro-Democrat group cut ties with Sophia Nelson , a woman of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` retarded ass . ''
On Tuesday , video editor Ben Howe was excommunicated for old tweets in which he `` deployed female anatomy as an insult . ''
The Lincoln Project immediately ended Howe 's affiliation with the group `` based on these unacceptable and offensive posts , '' according to a statement provided to the Washington Post .
Howe used words such as `` vagina '' and `` twat '' to attack his critics and once dropped the c-word in what appears to have been an ill-advised joke about feminism .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweets that had so offended his former employer .
The Lincoln Project 's decision to sever its relationship with Howe is a curious one given its founder 's own history of vulgar tweets .
Wilson has routinely `` deployed female anatomy '' to attack his critics , using terms such as `` humorless twat , '' `` anonymous pussy , '' and `` s— talking pussy , '' among others , often accompanied by a menacing meme or GIF .
Wilson also posted photos on Instagram of a cooler featuring the words , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' along with the Confederate flag , which he described last month as `` the traitor 's flag of the loser confederacy . ''
He has not been fired , obviously .
Wilson is perhaps best known for a CNN appearance earlier this year in which he made Don Lemon laugh by mocking Republican voters using a thick Southern accent .
Howe 's ouster from the Lincoln Project runs counter to Wilson 's own philosophy on old tweets .
During an utterly humiliating appearance on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert , Wilson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2010 about attendees of the left-wing Netroots Nation conference , describing them as `` Barack Obama 's bitch '' and `` pathetic little whores . ''
Wilson defended himself , in marked contrast with the Lincoln Project 's reaction to Howe 's old tweets .
`` The fact of the matter is , everyone on Twitter lives in a culture where there 's a lot of fronting and a lot of s— talk , '' he said .
`` And not every quote that you have on Twitter from the past is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with forever . ''
If you 're struggling to pinpoint a consistent philosophy here , it 's because there is none—apart from the fact that founders are simply less likely to be canceled than video editors .
Democratic governors of states such as Virginia , for example , are less likely to suffer consequences for wearing blackface than , say , a random middle-aged woman at a Washington Post party .
The Late Show appearance was a disaster for Wilson , not least because he had presumably anticipated a softball interview that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump so hard .
Instead , the Lincoln Project was ruthlessly mocked for its founders ' affiliations with the George W. Bush administration and for how much money the group was spending on overhead costs as opposed to political activity .
In any event , it suggests that the Lincoln Project 's mainstream liberal allies are n't so smitten anymore , and they might not object when the woke mob comes to cancel the group and its anti-Trump associates .
It 's only a matter of time , now that Lincoln himself is @ @ @ @ @

The Lincoln Project, a super PAC founded by failed Republican operatives whose support for Democratic candidates in 2020 has made them darlings of the #Resistance, is trying to avoid getting canceled by its liberal allies.
These anti-cancellation efforts involve cutting ties with affiliates who dare to behave too much like the group's founder, adorably indecent Twitter personality Rick Wilson, whose list of political clients includes police advocate Rudy Giuliani, immigration opponent Kris Kobach, and investment banker Evan McMullin.
The pro-Democrat group cut ties with Sophia Nelson, a woman of color, for calling President Trump a "retarded ass." On Tuesday, video editor Ben Howe was excommunicated for old tweets in which he "deployed female anatomy as an insult." The Lincoln Project immediately ended Howe's affiliation with the group "based on these unacceptable and offensive posts," according to a statement provided to the Washington Post.
Howe used words such as "vagina" and "twat" to attack his critics and once dropped the c-word in what appears to have been an ill-advised joke about feminism. He apologized for the "inexcusable" tweets that had so offended his former employer.
The Lincoln Project's decision to sever its relationship with Howe is a curious one given its founder's own history of vulgar tweets. Wilson has routinely "deployed female anatomy" to attack his critics, using terms such as "humorless twat," "anonymous pussy," and "s— talking pussy," among others, often accompanied by a menacing meme or GIF.
Wilson also posted photos on Instagram of a cooler featuring the words, "The South Will Rise Again," along with the Confederate flag, which he described last month as "the traitor's flag of the loser confederacy." He has not been fired, obviously. Wilson is perhaps best known for a CNN appearance earlier this year in which he made Don Lemon laugh by mocking Republican voters using a thick Southern accent.
Howe's ouster from the Lincoln Project runs counter to Wilson's own philosophy on old tweets. During an utterly humiliating appearance on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Wilson was confronted with a tweet he wrote in 2010 about attendees of the left-wing Netroots Nation conference, describing them as "Barack Obama's bitch" and "pathetic little whores."
Wilson defended himself, in marked contrast with the Lincoln Project's reaction to Howe's old tweets. "The fact of the matter is, everyone on Twitter lives in a culture where there's a lot of fronting and a lot of s— talk," he said. "And not every quote that you have on Twitter from the past is something that you're going to live with forever."
If you're struggling to pinpoint a consistent philosophy here, it's because there is none—apart from the fact that founders are simply less likely to be canceled than video editors. Democratic governors of states such as Virginia, for example, are less likely to suffer consequences for wearing blackface than, say, a random middle-aged woman at a Washington Post party.
The Late Show appearance was a disaster for Wilson, not least because he had presumably anticipated a softball interview that would applaud him for "owning" Donald Trump so hard. Instead, the Lincoln Project was ruthlessly mocked for its founders' affiliations with the George W. Bush administration and for how much money the group was spending on overhead costs as opposed to political activity.
In any event, it suggests that the Lincoln Project's mainstream liberal allies aren't so smitten anymore, and they might not object when the woke mob comes to cancel the group and its anti-Trump associates. It's only a matter of time, now that Lincoln himself is on the cancellation block.


freebeacon--2020-07-14--Ilhan Omar’s Payments to Husband’s Firm Hit $1 Million in 2020 Cycle

Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D. , Minn. ) continues to dish out six-figure payments to her husband 's firm , which has now received more than $ 1 million from her campaign this cycle .
Federal Election Commission records released Tuesday afternoon show that Omar 's campaign funneled $ 228,384.93 last quarter to the E Street Group , a D.C.-based consulting firm run by the congresswoman 's husband , Tim Mynett .
The payments , predominantly for digital and fundraising services , bring the total that Omar 's campaign has sent to Mynett 's firm to just over $ 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a freshmen congresswoman , has faced scrutiny over numerous financial and personal issues since she was elected in 2018 .
She has drawn criticism for a lack of transparency about her previous marriages , over campaign finance violations , and for a potential violation of House ethics rules pertaining to the advance she received on a recently published memoir .
Pressed for answers , she has routinely dismissed the inquiries as `` smears '' and `` conspiracy theories . ''
Mynett 's firm is the top vendor for Omar 's campaign , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 and June 30 with Mynett 's share accounting for 44 percent of that total .
The financial relationship between Mynett and Omar began before the two announced they were married this March , but it is unclear how long the two were romantically linked before they tied the knot .
Omar denied the two were romantically involved , but Mynett 's then-wife alleged in divorce papers that the two were having an affair .
Omar refused to answer questions about her relationship with her campaign 's top vendor .
`` I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my personal life to continue and so I have no desire to discuss it , '' she said last year .
Her earliest payment to Mynett 's firm came in August 2018 , during her first run for federal office .
The newly released filings also show that Omar 's Democratic primary opponent , Antone Melton-Meaux , drastically outraised her in the second quarter , bringing in $ 3.2 million to Omar 's $ 471,000 .
Omar 's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the payments .

'Squad' member has paid her new husband more than $1 million from campaign
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) continues to dish out six-figure payments to her husband's firm, which has now received more than $1 million from her campaign this cycle.
Federal Election Commission records released Tuesday afternoon show that Omar's campaign funneled $228,384.93 last quarter to the E Street Group, a D.C.-based consulting firm run by the congresswoman's husband, Tim Mynett. The payments, predominantly for digital and fundraising services, bring the total that Omar's campaign has sent to Mynett's firm to just over $1 million for the 2020 cycle.
Omar, a freshmen congresswoman, has faced scrutiny over numerous financial and personal issues since she was elected in 2018. She has drawn criticism for a lack of transparency about her previous marriages, over campaign finance violations, and for a potential violation of House ethics rules pertaining to the advance she received on a recently published memoir. Pressed for answers, she has routinely dismissed the inquiries as "smears" and "conspiracy theories."
Mynett's firm is the top vendor for Omar's campaign, which doled out $521,000 between April 1 and June 30 with Mynett's share accounting for 44 percent of that total.
The financial relationship between Mynett and Omar began before the two announced they were married this March, but it is unclear how long the two were romantically linked before they tied the knot. Omar denied the two were romantically involved, but Mynett's then-wife alleged in divorce papers that the two were having an affair.
Omar refused to answer questions about her relationship with her campaign's top vendor. "I have no interest in allowing the conversation about my personal life to continue and so I have no desire to discuss it," she said last year. Her earliest payment to Mynett's firm came in August 2018, during her first run for federal office.


freebeacon--2020-07-14--Academic Calls On Colleagues to Repudiate ‘White Supremacist’ University

The University of Cincinnati was founded on `` white supremacist values '' that can only be combated by signing a petition , according to an email distributed to university faculty members by a white academic .
Megan Lamkin , the director of undergraduate research at the taxpayer-funded university , sent an email to faculty asking them to sign her `` Pledge to Dismantle White Supremacy Within Ourselves and Our Institutions . ''
The pledge claims that `` white supremacist values '' served as the foundation of the school 's 1819 creation in a city that played a key role in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Cincinnati is an institution founded on white supremacist values in a country founded on the same , '' the email reads .
`` We have been socially conditioned to fear black men , doubt black women , make assumptions about black students , and otherwise devalue black Americans . ''
A UC faculty member—who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution—told the Washington Free Beacon that the pledge was disseminated through a university-wide email that can only be accessed through the approval of an administration moderator .
According to the faculty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dean can send an email to the school 's staff list .
Lamkin denied that she was given special access to the email list , but said she will continue to disseminate her pledge to allow all faculty and staff to participate .
`` I do not have approval from an administrator or the university ( zero endorsements ) , '' Lamkin said .
`` It 's a grassroots effort that has been discussed in various spaces , providing the opportunity to faculty [ and ] staff both for [ and ] against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The university did not respond to requests for comment .
The stated goal of the pledge is to create a faculty-staff coalition that works alongside the university student government ( USG ) and advocates for a list of demands released by student legislators .
Some of the demands include removing slave trader Charles McMicken 's name from all UC property , recognizing and suspending classes on Election Day and Juneteenth , and divesting from the Cincinnati Police Department .
`` Failure of the University of Cincinnati to commit its unwavering dedication to its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by these deadlines will result in any and all actions necessary for ineluctable change , '' the USG list of demands reads .
Neither the list authors nor a USG spokesman responded to requests for comment .
While the student government has threatened mass protest if their demands are not met , Lamkin said she is taking a different approach to those who do n't sign the pledge .
The program director said she will not ostracize anyone who does not sign the pledge .
`` Anyone at UC who receives access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at their discretion , '' Lamkin said .
`` I understand that it 's not for everyone . ''
Faculty members who sign Lamkin 's pledge are scheduled to meet on September 22 .

The University of Cincinnati was founded on "white supremacist values" that can only be combated by signing a petition, according to an email distributed to university faculty members by a white academic.
Megan Lamkin, the director of undergraduate research at the taxpayer-funded university, sent an email to faculty asking them to sign her "Pledge to Dismantle White Supremacy Within Ourselves and Our Institutions." The pledge claims that "white supremacist values" served as the foundation of the school's 1819 creation in a city that played a key role in the underground railroad.
"The University of Cincinnati is an institution founded on white supremacist values in a country founded on the same," the email reads. "We have been socially conditioned to fear black men, doubt black women, make assumptions about black students, and otherwise devalue black Americans."
A UC faculty member—who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution—told the Washington Free Beacon that the pledge was disseminated through a university-wide email that can only be accessed through the approval of an administration moderator. According to the faculty member, only a dean or assistant dean can send an email to the school's staff list.
Lamkin denied that she was given special access to the email list, but said she will continue to disseminate her pledge to allow all faculty and staff to participate.
"I do not have approval from an administrator or the university (zero endorsements)," Lamkin said. "It's a grassroots effort that has been discussed in various spaces, providing the opportunity to faculty [and] staff both for [and] against the pledge to provide feedback." The university did not respond to requests for comment.
The stated goal of the pledge is to create a faculty-staff coalition that works alongside the university student government (USG) and advocates for a list of demands released by student legislators. Some of the demands include removing slave trader Charles McMicken's name from all UC property, recognizing and suspending classes on Election Day and Juneteenth, and divesting from the Cincinnati Police Department.
"Failure of the University of Cincinnati to commit its unwavering dedication to its black students, faculty, and staff by these deadlines will result in any and all actions necessary for ineluctable change," the USG list of demands reads. Neither the list authors nor a USG spokesman responded to requests for comment.
While the student government has threatened mass protest if their demands are not met, Lamkin said she is taking a different approach to those who don't sign the pledge. The program director said she will not ostracize anyone who does not sign the pledge.
"Anyone at UC who receives access to the pledge can sign it or not at their discretion," Lamkin said. "I understand that it's not for everyone."
Faculty members who sign Lamkin's pledge are scheduled to meet on September 22.


freebeacon--2020-07-14--LA Teachers’ Union Calls for Defunding of Police in Order to Reopen Schools

The Los Angeles teachers ' union released a list of requirements for reopening schools this fall , which includes defunding the police .
`` Police violence is a leading cause of death and trauma for Black people , and is a serious public health and moral issue , '' a recent union research paper said .
`` We must shift the astronomical amount of money devoted to policing , to education and other essential needs such as housing and public health . ''
The demand comes as a wave of anti-police protesters—backed by progressive Democrats—have called to divert police funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and universal basic income .
Reps. Ayanna Pressley ( D. , Mass . )
and Rashida Tlaib ( D. , Mich. ) backed legislation last week that would dismantle the DEA and ICE and divert federal funding for police to universal basic income initiatives and reparations for prostitutes , among other programs .
Along with defunding the police , the teachers ' union also called for other progressive policy goals , including Medicare for All and the closure of charter schools .
President Donald Trump 's recent push to reopen schools this fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left , who fear that sending children back to school could be catastrophic for public health .
United Teachers Los Angeles president Cecily Myart-Cruz called the push `` anti-science . ''
`` It 's time to take a stand against Trump 's dangerous , anti-science agenda that puts the lives of our members , our students , and our families at risk , '' she said .
The Los Angeles Unified School District—which serves more than 600,000 students— announced Monday that all education will be conducted remotely this fall and school buildings will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second-highest number of coronavirus cases in the country .

The Los Angeles teachers' union released a list of requirements for reopening schools this fall, which includes defunding the police.
"Police violence is a leading cause of death and trauma for Black people, and is a serious public health and moral issue," a recent union research paper said. "We must shift the astronomical amount of money devoted to policing, to education and other essential needs such as housing and public health."
The demand comes as a wave of anti-police protesters—backed by progressive Democrats—have called to divert police funding to educational programs, public housing, and universal basic income. Reps. Ayanna Pressley (D., Mass.) and Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.) backed legislation last week that would dismantle the DEA and ICE and divert federal funding for police to universal basic income initiatives and reparations for prostitutes, among other programs.
Along with defunding the police, the teachers' union also called for other progressive policy goals, including Medicare for All and the closure of charter schools.
President Donald Trump's recent push to reopen schools this fall has caused outrage among many on the left, who fear that sending children back to school could be catastrophic for public health. United Teachers Los Angeles president Cecily Myart-Cruz called the push "anti-science."
"It's time to take a stand against Trump's dangerous, anti-science agenda that puts the lives of our members, our students, and our families at risk," she said.
The Los Angeles Unified School District—which serves more than 600,000 students— announced Monday that all education will be conducted remotely this fall and school buildings will remain closed, as California has the second-highest number of coronavirus cases in the country.


freebeacon--2020-07-14--CNN Reporter: Anyone Who Cares About Planet Won’t Vote for Trump

CNN chief climate correspondent Bill Weir said Tuesday that anyone who cares about the `` state of the planet '' would choose a `` loaf of bread '' over President Donald Trump .
`` Well , it ’ s interesting .
Anybody who cares about air and water and animals and the state of the planet will probably vote for a loaf of bread over Donald Trump , but Hillary Clinton 's biggest mistake , she admits back in 2016 , was saying , ‘ We 're going to put coal mines out of business , ' '' Weir said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden 's newly released climate plan , in contrast to Clinton 's , was linked to job creation .
Biden , in a shift to the left since the Democratic primary , has called for a $ 2 trillion investment in clean energies over four years and a carbon-free power grid by 2035 .
`` [ Biden is ] pinning this all on jobs… .
He 's saying , ‘ Imagine all the engineers , all the welders , all the frackers that we could move into building us windmills and solar panels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Weir said .
`` So he 's really turning this into not an ‘ I have a nightmare ' speech , it 's ‘ I have a dream ' speech there .
And it 's a lot more ambitious than where he started . ''

CNN chief climate correspondent Bill Weir said Tuesday that anyone who cares about the "state of the planet" would choose a "loaf of bread" over President Donald Trump.
"Well, it’s interesting. Anybody who cares about air and water and animals and the state of the planet will probably vote for a loaf of bread over Donald Trump, but Hillary Clinton's biggest mistake, she admits back in 2016, was saying, 'We're going to put coal mines out of business,'" Weir said.


freebeacon--2020-07-14--Cops Seize Guns From St. Louis Couple Who Confronted Protesters

St. Louis police confiscated two guns from a local couple that confronted Black Lives Matters protesters gathered outside their home , a sign that the city may soon file charges , according to the family 's lawyer .
Joel Schwartz , who represents Mark and Patricia McCloskey , told the Washington Free Beacon on Tuesday that he expects the couple to be charged with exhibiting or brandishing a firearm in a threatening manner .
The attorney said it is only a matter of time until his clients are vindicated , citing a Missouri law that allows residents to defend their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the gate onto their private property—they had every right to defend themselves to a means necessary under the circumstances , '' he said .
`` And that 's what they did . ''
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that it executed a search warrant on the McCloskeys ' house on Friday .
The department said the search was authorized by a judge , but would not comment on any other aspect of the investigation .
`` Our Department executed a search warrant , which was issued by the Courts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beacon .
`` Since the investigation is ongoing , we have no further comment to provide . ''
The rifle held by Mark McCloskey during the altercation was seized by police during the search , according to KSDK .
The handgun held by Patricia McCloskey was turned over to police by the couple 's former attorney Albert Watkins , who told the St. Louis American the gun was inoperable at the time of the incident .
The controversy stems from an altercation between the McCloskeys and a group of Black Lives Matter protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their way to protest at the mayor 's house .
As the protesters entered the McCloskeys ' street through a gate marked `` Private '' —which was destroyed at some point during the incident—the couple came out of their home holding firearms and yelled at the protesters to leave .
Schwartz said the sidewalk the crowd stood on during the altercation was , in fact , the McCloskeys ' private property .
Schwartz pointed out that Missouri law provides robust protections for those defending their private property .
People in Missouri do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private property if threatened .
Residents are even authorized to use force , including deadly force , against anyone who `` unlawfully enters , remains after unlawfully entering , or attempts to unlawfully enter private property . ''
`` It 's a private neighborhood and each individual owns the property in front of his house including the sidewalk , '' he said .
`` It 's not city property .
It 's private property . ''
The St. Louis Circuit Attorney 's Office , which is handling the investigation , did not respond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCloskey said he feared for his life due to threats made by some in the crowd .
`` I did n't shoot anybody , '' he told Fox News 's Tucker Carlson on Monday .
`` I just held my ground , protecting my house , and I 'm sitting here on television tonight instead of dead or putting out the smoldering embers of my home . ''
No shots were fired by the McCloskeys and there were no other reports of property damage associated with the protest beyond the entrance gate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to outside of the mayor 's home for its protest .
Videos of the altercation went viral on social media and caused a vigorous debate over whether or not the McCloskeys , who are white , were justified in pointing their firearms at members of the crowd , which included mostly black people .
Schwartz said the way the altercation has been portrayed on all sides does not line up with the facts of the case .
`` This is not the racial , political matter that it has become .
it just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The facts are they did n't commit a crime , '' he said .
`` The prosecution needs to quit playing with a political football here . ''

St. Louis police confiscated two guns from a local couple that confronted Black Lives Matters protesters gathered outside their home, a sign that the city may soon file charges, according to the family's lawyer.
Joel Schwartz, who represents Mark and Patricia McCloskey, told the Washington Free Beacon on Tuesday that he expects the couple to be charged with exhibiting or brandishing a firearm in a threatening manner. The attorney said it is only a matter of time until his clients are vindicated, citing a Missouri law that allows residents to defend their private property.
"People violently burst down the gate onto their private property—they had every right to defend themselves to a means necessary under the circumstances," he said. "And that's what they did."
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that it executed a search warrant on the McCloskeys' house on Friday. The department said the search was authorized by a judge, but would not comment on any other aspect of the investigation.
"Our Department executed a search warrant, which was issued by the Courts," a department spokeswoman told the Free Beacon. "Since the investigation is ongoing, we have no further comment to provide."
The rifle held by Mark McCloskey during the altercation was seized by police during the search, according to KSDK. The handgun held by Patricia McCloskey was turned over to police by the couple's former attorney Albert Watkins, who told the St. Louis American the gun was inoperable at the time of the incident.
The controversy stems from an altercation between the McCloskeys and a group of Black Lives Matter protesters that cut through their private property on their way to protest at the mayor's house. As the protesters entered the McCloskeys' street through a gate marked "Private"—which was destroyed at some point during the incident—the couple came out of their home holding firearms and yelled at the protesters to leave.
Schwartz said the sidewalk the crowd stood on during the altercation was, in fact, the McCloskeys' private property. Schwartz pointed out that Missouri law provides robust protections for those defending their private property. People in Missouri do not have a duty to retreat from their private property if threatened. Residents are even authorized to use force, including deadly force, against anyone who "unlawfully enters, remains after unlawfully entering, or attempts to unlawfully enter private property."
"It's a private neighborhood and each individual owns the property in front of his house including the sidewalk," he said. "It's not city property. It's private property."
The St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office, which is handling the investigation, did not respond to a request for comment.
Mark McCloskey said he feared for his life due to threats made by some in the crowd.
"I didn't shoot anybody," he told Fox News's Tucker Carlson on Monday. "I just held my ground, protecting my house, and I'm sitting here on television tonight instead of dead or putting out the smoldering embers of my home."
No shots were fired by the McCloskeys and there were no other reports of property damage associated with the protest beyond the entrance gate. The crowd did eventually make its way to outside of the mayor's home for its protest.
Videos of the altercation went viral on social media and caused a vigorous debate over whether or not the McCloskeys, who are white, were justified in pointing their firearms at members of the crowd, which included mostly black people.
Schwartz said the way the altercation has been portrayed on all sides does not line up with the facts of the case.
"This is not the racial, political matter that it has become. it just needs to stick with the facts. The facts are they didn't commit a crime," he said. "The prosecution needs to quit playing with a political football here."


freebeacon--2020-07-14--China, Russia Tout Space Partnership to Counter U.S.

Russia declared its intention to avoid cooperation with NASA while it courts Beijing as a potential partner in space exploration , Ars Technica reported Monday .
`` Frankly speaking , we are not interested , '' Dmitry Rogozin , chief of Russia ’ s state-owned space corporation , said of a possible joint venture to the moon with the U.S. space agency .
Comparing American moon exploration to invading Afghanistan and Iraq , Rogozin said American officials `` see their program not as international but as similar to NATO . ''
Meanwhile , Moscow announced plans for future space ventures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results , '' Rogozin said of the PRC .
In space , China `` is definitely our partner '' moving forward , he added .
Other Russian officials have touted cooperation with China in recent years as the two nations collaborate on energy pipelines and transport corridors in the Arctic .
`` Today , China is our strategic partner , '' Russian president Vladimir Putin said in 2015 .
China has long worked to counter American interests in space .
As early as 2007 , the PRC tested anti-satellite missiles capable of disrupting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an attack were successful , the United States `` could be propelled back into the nineteenth century , '' said Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy professor and former Air Force adviser William C. Martel .
Sino-Russian military cooperation in space may have already begun in earnest .
One 2019 Pentagon report detailed potential cooperation between Moscow and Beijing to build militarized space technology .
This technology includes satellites capable of destroying or repairing other satellites in orbit .
President Trump authorized the rollout of a sixth military branch—the Space Force—in 2019 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is not enough to merely have an American presence in space , we must have American dominance in space , '' Trump said at the announcement .

Russia declared its intention to avoid cooperation with NASA while it courts Beijing as a potential partner in space exploration, Ars Technica reported Monday.
"Frankly speaking, we are not interested," Dmitry Rogozin, chief of Russia’s state-owned space corporation, said of a possible joint venture to the moon with the U.S. space agency. Comparing American moon exploration to invading Afghanistan and Iraq, Rogozin said American officials "see their program not as international but as similar to NATO."
Meanwhile, Moscow announced plans for future space ventures with Beijing. "We respect their results," Rogozin said of the PRC. In space, China "is definitely our partner" moving forward, he added. Other Russian officials have touted cooperation with China in recent years as the two nations collaborate on energy pipelines and transport corridors in the Arctic. "Today, China is our strategic partner," Russian president Vladimir Putin said in 2015.
China has long worked to counter American interests in space. As early as 2007, the PRC tested anti-satellite missiles capable of disrupting internet and communications systems. If such an attack were successful, the United States "could be propelled back into the nineteenth century," said Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy professor and former Air Force adviser William C. Martel.
Sino-Russian military cooperation in space may have already begun in earnest. One 2019 Pentagon report detailed potential cooperation between Moscow and Beijing to build militarized space technology. This technology includes satellites capable of destroying or repairing other satellites in orbit.
President Trump authorized the rollout of a sixth military branch—the Space Force—in 2019. "When it comes to defending America, it is not enough to merely have an American presence in space, we must have American dominance in space," Trump said at the announcement.


freebeacon--2020-07-14--Democrats Call for Death Penalty Abolition After Feds Execute White Supremacist

A bevy of prominent Democratic lawmakers and progressive activists called for abolition of the death penalty in the wake of Tuesday morning 's execution of a white supremacist and convicted child murderer .
Just hours after the execution of Daniel Lewis Lee for the 24-year-old murder , Rep. Ayanna Pressley ( D. , Mass . )
wrote on Twitter , `` Abolish the death penalty . ''
Several of Pressley 's close progressive allies , including Reps. Rashida Tlaib ( D. , Mich. ) and Ilhan Omar ( D. , Minn. ) , repeated her sentiment .
Pressley also refloated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death penalty legislatively , writing that `` last night 's Supreme Court decision and overnight execution have made it horrifically clear that we need to bring my bill to the House floor for a vote immediately . ''
The wave of statements from Pressley and allies reveals an uncompromising opposition to capital punishment on the Democratic Party 's left flank , even in the case of a man who committed his crimes in the pursuit of creating a whites-only country .
That opposition puts them out of lockstep with the American people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death penalty since the 1970s , and two-thirds of whom oppose abolition .
Pressley 's call for abolition earned her support outside of her Capitol Hill clique .
Jamaal Bowman , a progressive insurgent who defeated Rep. Eliot Engel ( D. , N.Y. ) in a hard-fought primary , also backed abolition .
So did Charles Booker , a Kentucky Democrat who recently lost a close primary to challenge Sen. Mitch McConnell ( R. , Ky. ) in the fall .
Rep. Barbara Lee ( D. , Calif. ) condemned the Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that said , `` This form of punishment is cruel and inhumane .
Ban the death penalty . ''
Joe Biden , the party 's presumptive presidential nominee , did not mention the execution during the roll-out of an economic platform on Tuesday , and a request for comment on it to his campaign went unanswered .
But Pete Buttigieg—a former 2020 contender and now a prominent Biden surrogate—wrote that `` we should abolish the death penalty in America . ''
Liberal NGOs also signaled their opposition to executing Lee , who tortured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body in a bayou .
Krissy Roth , a senior advocate with the anti-death penalty group Amnesty USA , issued a statement saying her group was `` horrified '' by the `` first federal execution in 17 years . ''
Lee 's execution marks the first time the federal government has carried out the death penalty since 2003 .
His death is the first of three slated for this week , with a fourth expected next month .
Commenting on the execution that he himself set in motion last year , Attorney General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the justice he deserved . ''

A bevy of prominent Democratic lawmakers and progressive activists called for abolition of the death penalty in the wake of Tuesday morning's execution of a white supremacist and convicted child murderer.
Just hours after the execution of Daniel Lewis Lee for the 24-year-old murder, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D., Mass.) wrote on Twitter, "Abolish the death penalty." Several of Pressley's close progressive allies, including Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.) and Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.), repeated her sentiment.
Pressley also refloated a 2019 proposal to abolish the federal death penalty legislatively, writing that "last night's Supreme Court decision and overnight execution have made it horrifically clear that we need to bring my bill to the House floor for a vote immediately."
The wave of statements from Pressley and allies reveals an uncompromising opposition to capital punishment on the Democratic Party's left flank, even in the case of a man who committed his crimes in the pursuit of creating a whites-only country. That opposition puts them out of lockstep with the American people, a majority of whom have supported the death penalty since the 1970s, and two-thirds of whom oppose abolition.
Pressley's call for abolition earned her support outside of her Capitol Hill clique. Jamaal Bowman, a progressive insurgent who defeated Rep. Eliot Engel (D., N.Y.) in a hard-fought primary, also backed abolition. So did Charles Booker, a Kentucky Democrat who recently lost a close primary to challenge Sen. Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) in the fall.
Rep. Barbara Lee (D., Calif.) condemned the Supreme Court's five-to-four ruling in her own tweet that said, "This form of punishment is cruel and inhumane. Ban the death penalty."
Joe Biden, the party's presumptive presidential nominee, did not mention the execution during the roll-out of an economic platform on Tuesday, and a request for comment on it to his campaign went unanswered. But Pete Buttigieg—a former 2020 contender and now a prominent Biden surrogate—wrote that "we should abolish the death penalty in America."
Liberal NGOs also signaled their opposition to executing Lee, who tortured an eight-year-old girl and then dumped her body in a bayou. Krissy Roth, a senior advocate with the anti-death penalty group Amnesty USA, issued a statement saying her group was "horrified" by the "first federal execution in 17 years."
Lee's execution marks the first time the federal government has carried out the death penalty since 2003. His death is the first of three slated for this week, with a fourth expected next month. Commenting on the execution that he himself set in motion last year, Attorney General William Barr said Lee "finally faced the justice he deserved."


freebeacon--2020-07-14--As Tensions With U.S. Mount, China Inches Toward Iran

Iran and China are closing in on a series of economic and security agreements , according to a Saturday New York Times report .
The new partnership will bring Chinese capital to Iran 's energy industry , threatening to curb the effects of President Donald Trump 's `` maximum pressure '' sanctions campaign against Iran .
The new deal would give the PRC a 25-year regular discount on Iranian oil exports .
In return , Iran would benefit from security and research collaborations with China 's military , which is equipped with powerful surveillance technologies .
Beijing has a long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a 75 percent clip , making it the largest oil importer in the world .
A deal with Tehran would free the regime from reliance on energy acquisition from countries less friendly to its interests .
Iran , meanwhile , has suffered from domestic insurrection and an economy weakened by U.S. sanctions and COVID-19 .
`` Two Asian cultures , two partners in the sectors of trade , economy , politics , culture , and security with a similar outlook and many mutual bilateral and multilateral interests will consider one another strategic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the agreement reads .
The new partnership comes amid growing tensions between China and the United States .
Recent developments regarding the South China Sea , Hong Kong , malfeasant Chinese tech firms , Uyghur concentration camps , and controversy over multilateral organizations such as the WHO leave many questioning the future of the superpowers ' relationship .
Some see in these developments the beginnings of a `` new Cold War . ''
One Times story from Tuesday said , `` Lines are being drawn and relations are in free fall , laying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have many of the characteristics of the Cold War . ''
In the face of Beijing 's new partnership with Tehran , Washington shows no signs of flinching .
`` The United States will continue to impose costs on Chinese companies that aid Iran , the world ’ s largest state sponsor of terrorism , '' said a State Department spokeswoman .
`` By allowing or encouraging Chinese companies to conduct sanctionable activities with the Iranian regime , the Chinese government is undermining its own stated goal of promoting stability and peace .
@

Iran and China are closing in on a series of economic and security agreements, according to a Saturday New York Times report.
The new partnership will bring Chinese capital to Iran's energy industry, threatening to curb the effects of President Donald Trump's "maximum pressure" sanctions campaign against Iran. The new deal would give the PRC a 25-year regular discount on Iranian oil exports. In return, Iran would benefit from security and research collaborations with China's military, which is equipped with powerful surveillance technologies.
Beijing has a long history of energy dependence—relying on foreign oil at a 75 percent clip, making it the largest oil importer in the world. A deal with Tehran would free the regime from reliance on energy acquisition from countries less friendly to its interests. Iran, meanwhile, has suffered from domestic insurrection and an economy weakened by U.S. sanctions and COVID-19.
"Two Asian cultures, two partners in the sectors of trade, economy, politics, culture, and security with a similar outlook and many mutual bilateral and multilateral interests will consider one another strategic partners," an initial draft of the agreement reads.
The new partnership comes amid growing tensions between China and the United States. Recent developments regarding the South China Sea, Hong Kong, malfeasant Chinese tech firms, Uyghur concentration camps, and controversy over multilateral organizations such as the WHO leave many questioning the future of the superpowers' relationship.
Some see in these developments the beginnings of a "new Cold War." One Times story from Tuesday said, "Lines are being drawn and relations are in free fall, laying the foundation for a confrontation that will have many of the characteristics of the Cold War."
In the face of Beijing's new partnership with Tehran, Washington shows no signs of flinching.
"The United States will continue to impose costs on Chinese companies that aid Iran, the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism," said a State Department spokeswoman. "By allowing or encouraging Chinese companies to conduct sanctionable activities with the Iranian regime, the Chinese government is undermining its own stated goal of promoting stability and peace."


freebeacon--2020-07-14--Former NYPD Commissioner: ‘Crime Virus’ Will Get Out of Control

Former New York City police commissioner Bill Bratton said Tuesday that America is suffering from a `` crime virus '' that will get worse as the summer continues .
`` The crime virus is potentially going out of control , '' Bratton told MSNBC 's Stephanie Ruhle .
`` My expectation is that this summer is only beginning .
The crime situation , particularly violent crime , is going to get worse , not only in those four cities but many other major American cities , '' he continued .
`` Why ?
Because so much of what we depended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been taken away . ''
Bratton said the rise in violent crime is the result of demoralized police forces that are losing resources amid the movement to `` defund '' cops , in addition to other misguided reform efforts .
It is dangerous to reinvent law enforcement by abandoning what has worked , he argued .
`` A lot of reforms are necessary , but we 're in an etch-a-sketch moment , '' he said .
`` The last 30 years of crime reduction , things that worked , we 're getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're going to try to reinvent many of the things we know already worked while we try to correct those we know that did not work . ''
American cities are seeing spikes in violent crime as calls to defund police departments have grown in the wake of the killing of George Floyd .
Milwaukee and Chicago are both on pace to experience their deadliest years in decades .
The Minneapolis Police Department has drastically pulled back on stopping and searching city residents .
This has coincided with a jump in gun violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw five people shot in Brooklyn Monday night , including a one-year-old baby who was shot and killed in a stroller .
The most recent NYPD crime statistics report showed a 130 percent increase in shooting incidents in the month of June 2020 compared with June 2019 and a 23 percent increase in murders over the first six months of 2020 .
Burglaries have also increased in the city .
Bratton served two separate terms as New York City 's police commissioner and oversaw a significant drop in crime .
He was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angeles and Boston Police departments .

Former New York City police commissioner Bill Bratton said Tuesday that America is suffering from a "crime virus" that will get worse as the summer continues.
"The crime virus is potentially going out of control," Bratton told MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle.
"My expectation is that this summer is only beginning. The crime situation, particularly violent crime, is going to get worse, not only in those four cities but many other major American cities," he continued. "Why? Because so much of what we depended on to deal with the crime virus has been taken away."
Bratton said the rise in violent crime is the result of demoralized police forces that are losing resources amid the movement to "defund" cops, in addition to other misguided reform efforts. It is dangerous to reinvent law enforcement by abandoning what has worked, he argued.
"A lot of reforms are necessary, but we're in an etch-a-sketch moment," he said. "The last 30 years of crime reduction, things that worked, we're getting rid of them. And now we're going to try to reinvent many of the things we know already worked while we try to correct those we know that did not work."
American cities are seeing spikes in violent crime as calls to defund police departments have grown in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. Milwaukee and Chicago are both on pace to experience their deadliest years in decades.
The Minneapolis Police Department has drastically pulled back on stopping and searching city residents. This has coincided with a jump in gun violence in the city.
New York City saw five people shot in Brooklyn Monday night, including a one-year-old baby who was shot and killed in a stroller. The most recent NYPD crime statistics report showed a 130 percent increase in shooting incidents in the month of June 2020 compared with June 2019 and a 23 percent increase in murders over the first six months of 2020. Burglaries have also increased in the city.
Bratton served two separate terms as New York City's police commissioner and oversaw a significant drop in crime. He was also the chief of police for the Los Angeles and Boston Police departments.


freebeacon--2020-07-14--Prominent Blacks Call for NYPD to Bring Back Anti-Crime Unit

Prominent African Americans are calling for the NYPD to bring back the department 's anti-crime unit after a one-year-old was shot and killed this weekend .
Holding up a pair of baby shoes , Brooklyn borough president Eric Adams said that `` babies are not supposed to be wearing these in a coffin '' and that the decision to eliminate the anti-crime unit should be rethought .
`` I think that a total elimination [ of the anti-crime unit ] is something we need to reevaluate , '' Adams said .
`` Right now , bad guys are saying , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blue and white , you can do whatever you want . ''
NYPD ’ s anti-crime unit—a plain clothes unit tasked with curbing violent crimes and uncovering illegal guns—was disbanded in June as protesters called for reforming and defunding the police following the death of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor .
Community activist Tony Herbert blamed New York mayor Bill de Blasio ( D. ) and state lawmakers for the child ’ s death .
`` The blood [ of the one-year-old ] is on the hands of the mayor and the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York .
Though Adams supports the police , he also supports Black Lives Matter and de Blasio ’ s $ 1 billion funding cut to NYPD , which he announced in June as a response to anti-cop protests .
The movement to defund the police comes as year-to-date shooting incidents in the city are up 53.5 percent , and the number of shooting victims is up 63 percent , according to the most recent NYPD crime statistics data .

Prominent African Americans are calling for the NYPD to bring back the department's anti-crime unit after a one-year-old was shot and killed this weekend.
Holding up a pair of baby shoes, Brooklyn borough president Eric Adams said that "babies are not supposed to be wearing these in a coffin" and that the decision to eliminate the anti-crime unit should be rethought.
"I think that a total elimination [of the anti-crime unit] is something we need to reevaluate," Adams said. "Right now, bad guys are saying, if you don’t see a blue and white, you can do whatever you want."
NYPD’s anti-crime unit—a plain clothes unit tasked with curbing violent crimes and uncovering illegal guns—was disbanded in June as protesters called for reforming and defunding the police following the death of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
Community activist Tony Herbert blamed New York mayor Bill de Blasio (D.) and state lawmakers for the child’s death.
"The blood [of the one-year-old] is on the hands of the mayor and the state legislature," Herbert told CBS New York.
Though Adams supports the police, he also supports Black Lives Matter and de Blasio’s $1 billion funding cut to NYPD, which he announced in June as a response to anti-cop protests.
The movement to defund the police comes as year-to-date shooting incidents in the city are up 53.5 percent, and the number of shooting victims is up 63 percent, according to the most recent NYPD crime statistics data.


freebeacon--2020-07-14--Iran Confirms Execution of Alleged CIA Spy

Iranian leaders on Tuesday confirmed the execution of an alleged CIA spy who the country accused of informing the United @ @ @ @ @ and nuclear endeavors , according to the country 's state-controlled press .
Iran accused Reza @ @ @ @ @ of the country 's defense ministry , of providing the CIA with key details about @ @ @ @ @ activities .
Gholam Hossein Esmaeili , Iran 's judiciary spokesman , confirmed Asgari was executed @ @ @ @ @ guilty of spying by the country 's courts .
Iran also claimed to have sentenced @ @ @ @ @ death .
`` Recently an individual named Seyyed Mahmoud Mousavi Majd , who had been @ @ @ @ @ services and had collected and transmitted intelligence on the location of Martyr General Soleimani , @ @ @ @ @ sentence by the Islamic Revolution Court , '' Esmaeili was quoted as telling Iranian reporters @ @ @

Iranian leaders on Tuesday confirmed the execution of an alleged CIA spy who the country accused of informing the United States about Iran's military and nuclear endeavors, according to the country's state-controlled press.
Iran accused Reza Asgari, a onetime member of the country's defense ministry, of providing the CIA with key details about the Islamic Republic's military activities. Gholam Hossein Esmaeili, Iran's judiciary spokesman, confirmed Asgari was executed last week after being found guilty of spying by the country's courts.
Iran also claimed to have sentenced a second accused spy to death.
"Recently an individual named Seyyed Mahmoud Mousavi Majd, who had been connected with Mossad and CIA services and had collected and transmitted intelligence on the location of Martyr General Soleimani, has been given a death sentence by the Islamic Revolution Court," Esmaeili was quoted as telling Iranian reporters on Tuesday.


freebeacon--2020-07-14--Venezuelan Economy in Shambles as U.S. Cuts off Oil Exports

The United States has tightened restrictions on the Venezuelan oil trade , increasing economic pressure on the communist regime , according to a Monday Reuters report .
Thanks to new sanctions on Venezuelan oil shipments , the country ’ s exports have plummeted to their lowest level in 80 years .
Oil comprises about 99 percent of Venezuela ’ s export earnings .
Newly fortified laws taking aim at licensing and registration for commercial vessels will make it difficult for shipping companies to justify doing business with the communist state .
`` What you will see is most shipowners and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn away from Venezuela , '' said U.S. special envoy to Venezuela Elliott Abrams .
`` It ’ s just not worth the hassle or the risk for them . ''
Facing an escalating campaign of American sanctions , the Maduro regime must manage a country in which 65 percent of households live in poverty .
Most Venezuelans make less than 73 cents a day—a dire economic situation exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis .
Washington has refused to recognize the authoritarian governing coalition .
Instead , the White House looks to Juan Guaidó—who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's National Assembly—to replace Nicolás Maduro as leader of the ailing country .
`` Maduro is an illegitimate ruler , a tyrant who brutalizes his people .
But Maduro 's grip of tyranny will be smashed and broken , '' President Donald Trump said in February .
Trump reaffirmed his support for a democratic regime earlier this month in remarks honoring Venezuelan Independence Day .
`` The Venezuelan people are suffering under an illegitimate and tyrannical regime intent on destroying democratic institutions , abusing human rights , engaging in rampant corruption , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent history , '' the statement reads .
`` My Administration will always stand against socialism . ''

The United States has tightened restrictions on the Venezuelan oil trade, increasing economic pressure on the communist regime, according to a Monday Reuters report.
Thanks to new sanctions on Venezuelan oil shipments, the country’s exports have plummeted to their lowest level in 80 years. Oil comprises about 99 percent of Venezuela’s export earnings. Newly fortified laws taking aim at licensing and registration for commercial vessels will make it difficult for shipping companies to justify doing business with the communist state.
"What you will see is most shipowners and insurance and captains are simply going to turn away from Venezuela," said U.S. special envoy to Venezuela Elliott Abrams. "It’s just not worth the hassle or the risk for them."
Facing an escalating campaign of American sanctions, the Maduro regime must manage a country in which 65 percent of households live in poverty. Most Venezuelans make less than 73 cents a day—a dire economic situation exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis.
Washington has refused to recognize the authoritarian governing coalition. Instead, the White House looks to Juan Guaidó—who was constitutionally declared president by the country's National Assembly—to replace Nicolás Maduro as leader of the ailing country. "Maduro is an illegitimate ruler, a tyrant who brutalizes his people. But Maduro's grip of tyranny will be smashed and broken," President Donald Trump said in February.
Trump reaffirmed his support for a democratic regime earlier this month in remarks honoring Venezuelan Independence Day. "The Venezuelan people are suffering under an illegitimate and tyrannical regime intent on destroying democratic institutions, abusing human rights, engaging in rampant corruption, and exploiting the worst economic and humanitarian crisis in recent history," the statement reads. "My Administration will always stand against socialism."


freebeacon--2020-07-14--NBA Retracts Store Jersey Policy, Will Allow ‘Free Hong Kong’

The National Basketball Association quietly backtracked its policy that forbade the text `` FreeHongKong '' on custom jerseys on its online store after severe blowback .
As the Washington Free Beacon reported Monday , the NBA did not allow the phrase on custom jersey orders but permitted a variety of other phrases , including anti-Semitic messages .
As of Tuesday morning , however , `` FreeHongKong '' is allowed on jerseys .
Public perception of the NBA has taken a hit in the past week , as ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski emailed a profane message to Sen. Josh Hawley ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senator sent an open letter expressing concern about the NBA 's ties with China .
NBA superstar LeBron James voiced support for Wojnarowski after ESPN suspended the reporter over the email .
`` The truth is that your decisions about which messages to allow and which to censor—much like the censorship decisions of the CCP—are themselves statements about your association 's values , '' Hawley 's statement reads .
`` If I am right—if the NBA is more committed to promoting the CCP 's interests than to celebrating its home nation—your fans deserve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

The National Basketball Association quietly backtracked its policy that forbade the text "FreeHongKong" on custom jerseys on its online store after severe blowback.
As the Washington Free Beacon reported Monday, the NBA did not allow the phrase on custom jersey orders but permitted a variety of other phrases, including anti-Semitic messages. As of Tuesday morning, however, "FreeHongKong" is allowed on jerseys.
Public perception of the NBA has taken a hit in the past week, as ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski emailed a profane message to Sen. Josh Hawley (R., Mo.) after the senator sent an open letter expressing concern about the NBA's ties with China. NBA superstar LeBron James voiced support for Wojnarowski after ESPN suspended the reporter over the email.
"The truth is that your decisions about which messages to allow and which to censor—much like the censorship decisions of the CCP—are themselves statements about your association's values," Hawley's statement reads. "If I am right—if the NBA is more committed to promoting the CCP's interests than to celebrating its home nation—your fans deserve to know that is your view."


freebeacon--2020-07-14--Bari Weiss Slams New York Times in Resignation Letter

Citing harassment she received on Twitter and even in her own workplace 's Slack channels for her political views , Weiss said she no longer felt her workplace was an `` inclusive '' one .
`` What rules that remain at The Times are applied with extreme selectivity .
If a person 's ideology is in keeping with the new orthodoxy , they and their work remain unscrutinized , '' Weiss said .
`` Online venom is excused so long as it is directed at the proper targets . ''
The resignation follows several turbulent weeks for the newspaper .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an op-ed by Senator Tom Cotton ( R. , Ark . )
that provoked outrage from writers .
Bennet was soon replaced by former Intercept managing editor Charlotte Greensit , who has a history of left-wing and anti-Israel comments .
Weiss , a self-proclaimed `` centrist , '' came to the Times in 2017 `` with the goal of bringing in voices that would not otherwise appear '' in the Times ‘ s editorial section , according to her letter .
These voices include conservative and centrist voices that upon the election of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much needed for a vibrant opinion section .
`` The paper 's failure to anticipate the outcome of the 2016 election meant that it did n't have a firm grasp of the country it covers , '' Weiss wrote .
However , Weiss said the Times soon veered away from this initial reasoning .
`` A new consensus has emerged in the press , but perhaps especially at this paper : that truth is n't a process of collective discovery , but an orthodoxy already known to an enlightened few whose job is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter reads .

Opinion editor Bari Weiss resigned from the New York Times Tuesday over the harassment she says she received from colleagues, according to a resignation letter she posted to her personal website on Tuesday.
Citing harassment she received on Twitter and even in her own workplace's Slack channels for her political views, Weiss said she no longer felt her workplace was an "inclusive" one.
"What rules that remain at The Times are applied with extreme selectivity. If a person's ideology is in keeping with the new orthodoxy, they and their work remain unscrutinized," Weiss said. "Online venom is excused so long as it is directed at the proper targets."
The resignation follows several turbulent weeks for the newspaper. Longtime opinion editor James Bennet resigned over an op-ed by Senator Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) that provoked outrage from writers. Bennet was soon replaced by former Intercept managing editor Charlotte Greensit, who has a history of left-wing and anti-Israel comments.
Weiss, a self-proclaimed "centrist," came to the Times in 2017 "with the goal of bringing in voices that would not otherwise appear" in the Times's editorial section, according to her letter. These voices include conservative and centrist voices that upon the election of President Donald Trump, were seen as much needed for a vibrant opinion section.
"The paper's failure to anticipate the outcome of the 2016 election meant that it didn't have a firm grasp of the country it covers," Weiss wrote.
However, Weiss said the Times soon veered away from this initial reasoning. "A new consensus has emerged in the press, but perhaps especially at this paper: that truth isn't a process of collective discovery, but an orthodoxy already known to an enlightened few whose job is to inform everyone else," her letter reads.


freebeacon--2020-07-14--U.S. Refuses to Recognize Chinese Claims in South China Sea

The White House announced it would no longer recognize most Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea , the Associated Press reported .
Under the jurisdiction of international maritime and commerce law , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated Monday that Beijing ’ s claims to the resource-rich waters are invalid and subject to redress by the United States and allied countries .
`` The world will not allow Beijing to treat the South China Sea as its maritime empire , '' Pompeo said .
`` America stands with our Southeast Asian allies and partners in protecting their sovereign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their rights and obligations under international law .
We stand with the international community in defense of freedom of the seas and respect for sovereignty and reject any push to impose ‘ might makes right ' in the South China Sea or the wider region . ''
The announcement comes amid rising tensions in the Sino-American relationship over human rights abuses of Uyghur Muslims , an expansive new national security law in Hong Kong , and the exchange of barbs over COVID-19 responses .
It also comes three months after a Chinese naval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the region .
The United States and PRC both engaged in naval exercises last week in the South China Sea .
The U.S. operation had the stated purpose of showing `` an unambiguous signal to our partners and allies that we are committed to regional security and stability , '' according to Rear Admiral George Wikoff , who oversaw the naval exercises .
The Trump administration 's announcement could prove significant for military and commercial reasons alike .
Since at least 2013 , the PRC has built over 3,200 acres of artificial islands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air , naval , and missile bases , which Pompeo said run afoul of international law .
Eighty percent of the world ’ s commercial tonnage flows through these contested seas , amounting to $ 5.3 trillion annually , according to one report .
Meanwhile , the Chinese Communist Party plans to modernize and expand the Chinese Navy at a rate surpassing nearly all other naval forces .
Beijing 's aggressive moves coincide with a more adversarial grand strategy outlined by party chairman Xi Jinping in 2017 .
`` The people ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the path of building a powerful military with Chinese characteristics , '' Xi said , addressing the CCP ’ s National Congress .
`` We have seen a further rise in China ’ s international influence , ability to inspire , and power to shape . ''

The White House announced it would no longer recognize most Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea, the Associated Press reported.
Under the jurisdiction of international maritime and commerce law, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated Monday that Beijing’s claims to the resource-rich waters are invalid and subject to redress by the United States and allied countries.
"The world will not allow Beijing to treat the South China Sea as its maritime empire," Pompeo said. "America stands with our Southeast Asian allies and partners in protecting their sovereign rights to offshore resources, consistent with their rights and obligations under international law. We stand with the international community in defense of freedom of the seas and respect for sovereignty and reject any push to impose 'might makes right' in the South China Sea or the wider region."
The announcement comes amid rising tensions in the Sino-American relationship over human rights abuses of Uyghur Muslims, an expansive new national security law in Hong Kong, and the exchange of barbs over COVID-19 responses. It also comes three months after a Chinese naval vessel sank a Vietnamese fishing boat in the region.
The United States and PRC both engaged in naval exercises last week in the South China Sea. The U.S. operation had the stated purpose of showing "an unambiguous signal to our partners and allies that we are committed to regional security and stability," according to Rear Admiral George Wikoff, who oversaw the naval exercises.
The Trump administration's announcement could prove significant for military and commercial reasons alike. Since at least 2013, the PRC has built over 3,200 acres of artificial islands in the South China Sea to field air, naval, and missile bases, which Pompeo said run afoul of international law. Eighty percent of the world’s commercial tonnage flows through these contested seas, amounting to $5.3 trillion annually, according to one report. Meanwhile, the Chinese Communist Party plans to modernize and expand the Chinese Navy at a rate surpassing nearly all other naval forces.
Beijing's aggressive moves coincide with a more adversarial grand strategy outlined by party chairman Xi Jinping in 2017. "The people’s armed forces have taken solid strides on the path of building a powerful military with Chinese characteristics," Xi said, addressing the CCP’s National Congress. "We have seen a further rise in China’s international influence, ability to inspire, and power to shape."


freebeacon--2020-07-14--Federal Government Puts Child Murderer to Death, First Execution in 17 Years

White nationalist and child murderer Daniel Lewis Lee was put to death Tuesday morning , following a late-night wave of legal disputes that has come to typify the push to restart the federal death penalty .
Lee was pronounced dead at 8:07 a.m. by Vigo county coroner Dr. Susan S. Amos in the federal penitentiary at Terre Haute , Indiana , more than 16 hours after he was originally slated to be executed , and almost a day after a federal district judge stayed his execution in a move that death-penalty expert Kent Scheidegger characterized to the Washington Free Beacon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay was summarily overturned by the Supreme Court in a five to four decision around two in the morning .
Another last-minute stay request was rejected by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals , clearing the way for Lee 's execution .
Lee 's death makes him the first federal prisoner executed since 2003 , when Louis Jones was put to death for the kidnap , rape and murder of fellow soldier Tracie MacBride .
Two more convicted child murderers are slated to follow him over the course of the coming week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains tied up in litigation .
The last-minute rulings by the Supreme Court , overturning yet another of an endless series of appeals , is typical of contemporary death penalty litigation .
Lee 's death may add fuel to ongoing debates over criminal justice in the United States , pitting advocates of death penalty abolition—a minority position—against those who would see a triple-murderer and white supremacist as an obvious candidate for capital punishment .
Lee 's death came only after last-minute action by the Supreme Court permitted it to go ahead .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue a per curiam opinion dismissing the lower court 's claim that the method of execution , an injection of pentobarbital , would cause unconstitutional levels of pain .
Both Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Stephen Breyer—the Court 's most outspoken critics of the death penalty—authored dissenting opinions , joined respectively by Justices Elena Kagan and Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
The Court also dismissed two other appeals to halt Lee 's death without comment , including the coronavirus-driven protest of several family members ' of one of Lee 's victims .
This last-minute legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier in the day , by U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkin , who had again enjoined Lee 's execution over concerns about the federal government 's proposed execution protocol .
Chutkin—who first blocked the administration 's efforts to reinstate the death penalty in November on similar grounds—argued that Lee and his codefendants , also scheduled for execution , would risk intolerable pain from the pentobarbital injection .
Such an argument , the Court noted , ran afoul of their finding in Bucklew v. Precythe last April , in which Justice Neil Gorsuch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , could be constitutionally executed with pentobarbital in spite of a rare medical condition he argued could complicate the procedure .
The execution marks a major victory for the Trump administration , and particularly for Attorney General William Barr , who first announced the restarting of the machinery of death almost a year ago .
In June , after the Supreme Court initially cleared the way for the resumption of executions , Barr cited `` the victims of these horrific crimes , '' `` the families left behind , '' and the `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice system '' as the heart of his motivation .
`` Today , Lee finally faced the justice he deserved , '' Barr said in a statement Tuesday morning .
`` The American people have made the considered choice to permit capital punishment for the most egregious federal crimes , and justice was done today in implementing the sentence for Lee ’ s horrific offenses . ''
Lee 's death was in the works for nearly a quarter of a century , following his 1998 conviction for the 1996 murder of William and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight-year-old daughter Sarah .
Lee , along with Chevie Kehoe—currently serving three life sentences for the crime—tortured the Muellers before duct-taping their plastic bags over their heads and dumping their bodies into a bayou in Arkansas .
Their goal in carrying out the murders was to collect cash and firearms to support their project of erecting a whites-only state in the Pacific northwest .
Despite the horrific and racially charged nature of Lee 's crimes , his execution is still likely to draw condemnation from death penalty opponents .
That includes Democratic nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the abolition of the death penalty , and whose victory in November would likely lead to a reinstatement of the federal moratorium operant under President Barack Obama .
Update 11:11 a.m. : This article has been updated to include a statement from the attorney general and further information from the Department of Justice on Lee 's last-minute stay request .

White nationalist and child murderer Daniel Lewis Lee was put to death Tuesday morning, following a late-night wave of legal disputes that has come to typify the push to restart the federal death penalty.
Lee was pronounced dead at 8:07 a.m. by Vigo county coroner Dr. Susan S. Amos in the federal penitentiary at Terre Haute, Indiana, more than 16 hours after he was originally slated to be executed, and almost a day after a federal district judge stayed his execution in a move that death-penalty expert Kent Scheidegger characterized to the Washington Free Beacon as "deliberate stalling." That stay was summarily overturned by the Supreme Court in a five to four decision around two in the morning. Another last-minute stay request was rejected by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, clearing the way for Lee's execution.
Lee's death makes him the first federal prisoner executed since 2003, when Louis Jones was put to death for the kidnap, rape and murder of fellow soldier Tracie MacBride. Two more convicted child murderers are slated to follow him over the course of the coming week, although at least one of those cases remains tied up in litigation.
The last-minute rulings by the Supreme Court, overturning yet another of an endless series of appeals, is typical of contemporary death penalty litigation. Lee's death may add fuel to ongoing debates over criminal justice in the United States, pitting advocates of death penalty abolition—a minority position—against those who would see a triple-murderer and white supremacist as an obvious candidate for capital punishment.
Lee's death came only after last-minute action by the Supreme Court permitted it to go ahead. The Court's five conservative justices joined to issue a per curiam opinion dismissing the lower court's claim that the method of execution, an injection of pentobarbital, would cause unconstitutional levels of pain.
Both Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Stephen Breyer—the Court's most outspoken critics of the death penalty—authored dissenting opinions, joined respectively by Justices Elena Kagan and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The Court also dismissed two other appeals to halt Lee's death without comment, including the coronavirus-driven protest of several family members' of one of Lee's victims.
This last-minute legal dispute was necessitated by a ruling, earlier in the day, by U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkin, who had again enjoined Lee's execution over concerns about the federal government's proposed execution protocol. Chutkin—who first blocked the administration's efforts to reinstate the death penalty in November on similar grounds—argued that Lee and his codefendants, also scheduled for execution, would risk intolerable pain from the pentobarbital injection.
Such an argument, the Court noted, ran afoul of their finding in Bucklew v. Precythe last April, in which Justice Neil Gorsuch found that the plaintiff, Russell Bucklew, could be constitutionally executed with pentobarbital in spite of a rare medical condition he argued could complicate the procedure.
The execution marks a major victory for the Trump administration, and particularly for Attorney General William Barr, who first announced the restarting of the machinery of death almost a year ago. In June, after the Supreme Court initially cleared the way for the resumption of executions, Barr cited "the victims of these horrific crimes," "the families left behind," and the "sentence[s] imposed by our justice system" as the heart of his motivation.
"Today, Lee finally faced the justice he deserved," Barr said in a statement Tuesday morning. "The American people have made the considered choice to permit capital punishment for the most egregious federal crimes, and justice was done today in implementing the sentence for Lee’s horrific offenses."
Lee's death was in the works for nearly a quarter of a century, following his 1998 conviction for the 1996 murder of William and Nancy Mueller, as well as their eight-year-old daughter Sarah. Lee, along with Chevie Kehoe—currently serving three life sentences for the crime—tortured the Muellers before duct-taping their plastic bags over their heads and dumping their bodies into a bayou in Arkansas. Their goal in carrying out the murders was to collect cash and firearms to support their project of erecting a whites-only state in the Pacific northwest.
Despite the horrific and racially charged nature of Lee's crimes, his execution is still likely to draw condemnation from death penalty opponents. That includes Democratic nominee Joe Biden, whose 2020 platform calls for the abolition of the death penalty, and whose victory in November would likely lead to a reinstatement of the federal moratorium operant under President Barack Obama.
Update 11:11 a.m.: This article has been updated to include a statement from the attorney general and further information from the Department of Justice on Lee's last-minute stay request.