freebeacon--2020-05-28--Here’s Who Joe Biden Could Pick for the Supreme Court

Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee for president , has pledged to appoint the first African-American woman to the Supreme Court if he prevails in November .
Biden 's promise is a nod to the black voters who revived his once-flailing presidential campaign .
His zealous courting of black votes has been awkward in stretches , as when he told radio host Charlamagne tha God that African Americans struggling to choose between himself and President Donald Trump `` ai n't black . ''
There are two broad groups Biden might select from , the first including sitting judges on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with more academic backgrounds .
The leftwing group Demand Justice , which is pressing Biden to release a shortlist of potential nominees , has released its own list , which is heavy on academics and cause lawyers .
A Washington Free Beacon analysis found the most likely candidates are U.S. District Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson , California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger , and U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner , with Stacey Abrams as a possible wildcard pick .
Every president since Ronald Reagan has made at least two appointments to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him a relatively small pool of candidates with a traditional background for elevation to the High Court .
According to biographical data kept by the Federal Judicial Center , there are 17 black female federal judges under the age of 60 , the upper limit for Supreme Court nominees in recent decades .
Trump 's two appointees , Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh , were 49 and 53 respectively .
Only a handful of black women on the federal bench are under 55 , meaning Biden will have to cast a wider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Biden will have to balance three competing problems when selecting a nominee : mounting pressure from the left to pick a candidate with varied occupational experiences , a possible Republican majority in the Senate , and the prospect of an expansive search .
Demand Justice is pressing Biden to pick judicial candidates with civil rights or consumer protection experience , and the group 's list includes black professor Michelle Alexander of Union Theological Seminary , best known as the author of a popular , controversial book on incarceration , and NAACP Legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
, Biden 's onetime rival and a potential vice presidential nominee , has similarly decried `` corporate capture of the federal courts '' —the concern that judges who worked for corporations or represented them in private practice are too friendly to business .
If Republicans retain control of the Senate , Biden will also have to find a candidate palatable to a caucus that proved unyielding when former president Barack Obama tried to replace the late justice Antonin Scalia .
Indeed , the GOP ran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the waning years of the Obama administration , leaving over 100 vacancies for Trump to fill .
Further analyses of the most likely picks in a future Biden administration can be found below .
Jackson , who sits on the federal trial court in Washington , D.C. , has already been considered for the Supreme Court .
Former president Barack Obama reportedly interviewed Jackson in 2016 for the ill-fated nomination that ultimately went to Judge Merrick Garland .
Her stock has only risen in the intervening years .
Since taking the bench in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high profile matters .
Her most significant decision may be a 2019 ruling requiring former White House counsel Don McGahn to comply with a House subpoena , which included pointed rejoinders of President Donald Trump 's legal positions .
Though her 118-page opinion was much feted among the president 's critics , it was overturned on appeal .
Jackson had an unlikely ally in former House speaker Paul Ryan when she was nominated for the federal bench .
The judge 's husband , Patrick Jackson , is the twin brother of Ryan 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during her 2012 confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee .
`` Our politics may differ , but my praise for Ketanji 's intellect , for her character , for her integrity , it is unequivocal , '' Ryan told the committee .
Her confirmation would mark the first time that two African Americans have served together on the Supreme Court .
Jackson lunched with Justice Clarence Thomas as a Supreme Court clerk and recounted the experience to Kevin Merida and Michael Fletcher for their 2007 book , Supreme Discomfort : The Divided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just sat there the whole time thinking : ‘ I do n't understand you .
You sound like my parents .
You sound like the people I grew up with , ' '' Jackson said .
`` But the lessons he tended to draw from the experiences of the segregated South seemed to be different than those of everybody I know . ''
Jackson 's time in private practice could complicate her prospects .
Her résumé—which runs a wide range of law practice—includes experiences liberals will admire , like a three-year tour in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a clerkship for Justice Stephen Breyer .
Yet she also advised corporate clients for nearly a decade , first for a Washington arbitration boutique , then at such `` BigLaw '' standbys as Goodwin Procter and Morrison & Foerster .
One leftwing judicial group is already signaling that her tenure in private practice is a problem .
Jackson is notably absent from Demand Justice 's list of possible nominees .
Kruger holds the credentials typical of a modern Supreme Court nominee but is free of the professional baggage liberals find problematic .
Following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clerkship for Justice John Paul Stevens , Kruger entered government service as an assistant to the solicitor general , the Justice Department official who represents the U.S. government before the Supreme Court .
In that capacity , she argued a dozen cases for the government before the High Court .
University of California Hastings College of Law professor Rory Little described her presentation style as polite and `` uniformly serious '' in a 2015 review of Kruger 's Supreme Court arguments .
Her most notable argument came in a 2011 case called Hosanna-Tabor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a landmark religious liberty dispute .
During oral arguments , the entire bench seemed to think that the Obama administration 's position , which Kruger presented , took a dim view of the First Amendment .
In his decision for a unanimous Court , Chief Justice John Roberts said the government 's position was `` remarkable '' and `` hard to square with the text of the First Amendment itself . ''
As a justice on the California Supreme Court , Kruger has developed something of a moderate reputation on the left-leaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data on the California Supreme Court placed her at the `` ideological center '' of the bench , describing her voting record as `` moderately liberal in civil cases , moderately conservative in criminal cases '' in a January article .
She also dissents sparingly , suggesting a preference for consensus decision-making .
For example , in 2018 Kruger joined with the court 's Republican appointees to turn back a challenge to a voter initiative that requires law enforcement to collect DNA samples from people arrested for felonies .
At a general level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who sometimes votes with the conservative justices on criminal law issues .
A relatively centrist streak could make Kruger 's nomination acceptable to Senate Republicans if they hold their majority .
Though Abrams 's name is most often mentioned in connection with the vice presidency , her nomination as a justice would address oft-repeated criticisms of the Court 's composition .
The justices now serving are something like a legal gentry , ever attentive to decorum and possessed of dazzling credentials .
Before becoming judges , all nine served in prestige positions at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selective firms , or taught on leading law faculties .
It 's an elitist professional bent that skews pro-corporate , pro-government , and pro-prosecution , critics say .
Abrams 's workaday legal experience may be an appropriate antidote .
After graduating from Yale Law School , Abrams practiced tax law with an Atlanta firm , then advised local officials on public works issues as a deputy city attorney .
Her subsequent tenure as the minority leader in the Georgia General Assembly recalls the early career of retired justice Sandra Day O'Connor , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Senate in the 1970s .
After losing the Georgia governor 's race , Abrams founded Fair Fight 2020 , a nationwide advocacy and impact litigation group .
As a state legislator turned cause lawyer , Abrams would follow in the tradition of Southern politicians and activists elevated to the High Court by Democratic presidents .
The Court 's first black member , Justice Thurgood Marshall , was a Marylander who litigated across the South as a lawyer with the NAACP .
Likewise , Justice Hugo Black , an Alabaman , was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Court .
A repentant Klansman , Black became a passionate supporter of school desegregation and civil liberties .
Looking beyond the bench could be an asset to the Court .
Carl Tobias , a law professor at the University of Richmond who studies judicial selection , told the Free Beacon that the current crop of justices is lacking in both racial and experiential diversity .
`` Many observers believe that the Supreme Court needs to be more diverse in multiple ways , '' he said .
`` Eight of the nine justices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ninth served as solicitor general . ''
`` On the lower federal courts , there are many more former prosecutors than public defenders and more former big firm and corporate lawyers than lawyers who worked for legal aid , '' he added .
For her part , Abrams has disclaimed any interest in the High Court for the time being .
`` I have no interest in serving as a judge in any capacity at any point , '' she told the Associated Press on May 7 .
Stacey Abrams 's younger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Supreme Court nominee .
Abrams Gardner is an Obama appointee on the federal trial court in Macon , Ga. , where she has served since 2014 .
Former Georgia GOP senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson both returned `` blue slips '' to the Senate Judiciary Committee endorsing her nomination , which came just weeks after the Obama White House and Georgia Republicans struck a deal on judgeships that some Democrats found overly accommodating .
Abrams 's personal life is particularly compelling .
Her husband , Jimmie Gardner , was falsely imprisoned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , following wrongful convictions for sexual assault and robbery .
Gardner was a victim of the notorious laboratory technician Fred Zain , who fabricated or manipulated evidence in dozens of cases to help state prosecutors obtain convictions .
Gardner was released in 2016 and married Abrams two years later .
Before her elevation to the bench , Abrams Gardner practiced in the Washington offices of Skadden , Arps , Slate , Meagher & Flom LLP , where she advised clients like Bank of America and the Radian Group on corruption investigations and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she helped prepare an amicus brief for the American Bar Association that urged the Supreme Court to abolish the death penalty for minors .
In 2010 , she became a federal prosecutor in Atlanta , where she handled a variety of criminal cases and served as a community outreach coordinator .
She is a graduate of Yale Law School .
The Biden campaign did not respond to requests for comment for this story .

Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, has pledged to appoint the first African-American woman to the Supreme Court if he prevails in November.
Biden's promise is a nod to the black voters who revived his once-flailing presidential campaign. His zealous courting of black votes has been awkward in stretches, as when he told radio host Charlamagne tha God that African Americans struggling to choose between himself and President Donald Trump "ain't black."
There are two broad groups Biden might select from, the first including sitting judges on federal and state courts, the second with more academic backgrounds. The leftwing group Demand Justice, which is pressing Biden to release a shortlist of potential nominees, has released its own list, which is heavy on academics and cause lawyers. A Washington Free Beacon analysis found the most likely candidates are U.S. District Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, and U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner, with Stacey Abrams as a possible wildcard pick.
Every president since Ronald Reagan has made at least two appointments to the Supreme Court. Biden's pledge gives him a relatively small pool of candidates with a traditional background for elevation to the High Court. According to biographical data kept by the Federal Judicial Center, there are 17 black female federal judges under the age of 60, the upper limit for Supreme Court nominees in recent decades. Trump's two appointees, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, were 49 and 53 respectively. Only a handful of black women on the federal bench are under 55, meaning Biden will have to cast a wider net for potential picks.
If elected, Biden will have to balance three competing problems when selecting a nominee: mounting pressure from the left to pick a candidate with varied occupational experiences, a possible Republican majority in the Senate, and the prospect of an expansive search.
Demand Justice is pressing Biden to pick judicial candidates with civil rights or consumer protection experience, and the group's list includes black professor Michelle Alexander of Union Theological Seminary, best known as the author of a popular, controversial book on incarceration, and NAACP Legal Defense Fund president Sherrilyn Ifill. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), Biden's onetime rival and a potential vice presidential nominee, has similarly decried "corporate capture of the federal courts"—the concern that judges who worked for corporations or represented them in private practice are too friendly to business.
If Republicans retain control of the Senate, Biden will also have to find a candidate palatable to a caucus that proved unyielding when former president Barack Obama tried to replace the late justice Antonin Scalia. Indeed, the GOP ran a two-year blockade on judicial confirmations in the waning years of the Obama administration, leaving over 100 vacancies for Trump to fill.
Further analyses of the most likely picks in a future Biden administration can be found below.
U.S. District Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, 49
Jackson, who sits on the federal trial court in Washington, D.C., has already been considered for the Supreme Court. Former president Barack Obama reportedly interviewed Jackson in 2016 for the ill-fated nomination that ultimately went to Judge Merrick Garland. Her stock has only risen in the intervening years.
Since taking the bench in 2013, the judge has decided several high profile matters. Her most significant decision may be a 2019 ruling requiring former White House counsel Don McGahn to comply with a House subpoena, which included pointed rejoinders of President Donald Trump's legal positions. Though her 118-page opinion was much feted among the president's critics, it was overturned on appeal.
Jackson had an unlikely ally in former House speaker Paul Ryan when she was nominated for the federal bench. The judge's husband, Patrick Jackson, is the twin brother of Ryan's brother-in-law William Jackson. Ryan introduced Jackson during her 2012 confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
"Our politics may differ, but my praise for Ketanji's intellect, for her character, for her integrity, it is unequivocal," Ryan told the committee.
Her confirmation would mark the first time that two African Americans have served together on the Supreme Court. Jackson lunched with Justice Clarence Thomas as a Supreme Court clerk and recounted the experience to Kevin Merida and Michael Fletcher for their 2007 book, Supreme Discomfort: The Divided Soul of Clarence Thomas.
"I just sat there the whole time thinking: 'I don't understand you. You sound like my parents. You sound like the people I grew up with,'" Jackson said. "But the lessons he tended to draw from the experiences of the segregated South seemed to be different than those of everybody I know."
Jackson's time in private practice could complicate her prospects. Her résumé—which runs a wide range of law practice—includes experiences liberals will admire, like a three-year tour in the federal public defender's office and a clerkship for Justice Stephen Breyer. Yet she also advised corporate clients for nearly a decade, first for a Washington arbitration boutique, then at such "BigLaw" standbys as Goodwin Procter and Morrison & Foerster.
One leftwing judicial group is already signaling that her tenure in private practice is a problem. Jackson is notably absent from Demand Justice's list of possible nominees.
California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, 43
Kruger holds the credentials typical of a modern Supreme Court nominee but is free of the professional baggage liberals find problematic.
Following brief stints in private practice and a clerkship for Justice John Paul Stevens, Kruger entered government service as an assistant to the solicitor general, the Justice Department official who represents the U.S. government before the Supreme Court. In that capacity, she argued a dozen cases for the government before the High Court. University of California Hastings College of Law professor Rory Little described her presentation style as polite and "uniformly serious" in a 2015 review of Kruger's Supreme Court arguments.
Her most notable argument came in a 2011 case called Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. EEOC, a landmark religious liberty dispute. During oral arguments, the entire bench seemed to think that the Obama administration's position, which Kruger presented, took a dim view of the First Amendment. In his decision for a unanimous Court, Chief Justice John Roberts said the government's position was "remarkable" and "hard to square with the text of the First Amendment itself."
As a justice on the California Supreme Court, Kruger has developed something of a moderate reputation on the left-leaning tribunal. An appeals lawyer who collects data on the California Supreme Court placed her at the "ideological center" of the bench, describing her voting record as "moderately liberal in civil cases, moderately conservative in criminal cases" in a January article. She also dissents sparingly, suggesting a preference for consensus decision-making.
For example, in 2018 Kruger joined with the court's Republican appointees to turn back a challenge to a voter initiative that requires law enforcement to collect DNA samples from people arrested for felonies.
At a general level, her profile tracks Justice Breyer, who sometimes votes with the conservative justices on criminal law issues. A relatively centrist streak could make Kruger's nomination acceptable to Senate Republicans if they hold their majority.
Stacey Abrams, 46
Though Abrams's name is most often mentioned in connection with the vice presidency, her nomination as a justice would address oft-repeated criticisms of the Court's composition.
The justices now serving are something like a legal gentry, ever attentive to decorum and possessed of dazzling credentials. Before becoming judges, all nine served in prestige positions at the Justice Department, practiced at highly selective firms, or taught on leading law faculties. It's an elitist professional bent that skews pro-corporate, pro-government, and pro-prosecution, critics say.
Abrams's workaday legal experience may be an appropriate antidote. After graduating from Yale Law School, Abrams practiced tax law with an Atlanta firm, then advised local officials on public works issues as a deputy city attorney.
Her subsequent tenure as the minority leader in the Georgia General Assembly recalls the early career of retired justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who was the majority leader in the Arizona State Senate in the 1970s. After losing the Georgia governor's race, Abrams founded Fair Fight 2020, a nationwide advocacy and impact litigation group.
As a state legislator turned cause lawyer, Abrams would follow in the tradition of Southern politicians and activists elevated to the High Court by Democratic presidents. The Court's first black member, Justice Thurgood Marshall, was a Marylander who litigated across the South as a lawyer with the NAACP. Likewise, Justice Hugo Black, an Alabaman, was a two-term U.S. senator before his appointment to the Court. A repentant Klansman, Black became a passionate supporter of school desegregation and civil liberties.
Looking beyond the bench could be an asset to the Court. Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond who studies judicial selection, told the Free Beacon that the current crop of justices is lacking in both racial and experiential diversity.
"Many observers believe that the Supreme Court needs to be more diverse in multiple ways," he said. "Eight of the nine justices were formerly members of appeals courts and the ninth served as solicitor general."
"On the lower federal courts, there are many more former prosecutors than public defenders and more former big firm and corporate lawyers than lawyers who worked for legal aid," he added.
For her part, Abrams has disclaimed any interest in the High Court for the time being.
"I have no interest in serving as a judge in any capacity at any point," she told the Associated Press on May 7.
U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner, 45
Stacey Abrams's younger sister strikes a more familiar figure for a Supreme Court nominee. Abrams Gardner is an Obama appointee on the federal trial court in Macon, Ga., where she has served since 2014.
Former Georgia GOP senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson both returned "blue slips" to the Senate Judiciary Committee endorsing her nomination, which came just weeks after the Obama White House and Georgia Republicans struck a deal on judgeships that some Democrats found overly accommodating.
Abrams's personal life is particularly compelling. Her husband, Jimmie Gardner, was falsely imprisoned in a West Virginia penitentiary for 26 years, following wrongful convictions for sexual assault and robbery. Gardner was a victim of the notorious laboratory technician Fred Zain, who fabricated or manipulated evidence in dozens of cases to help state prosecutors obtain convictions. Gardner was released in 2016 and married Abrams two years later.
Before her elevation to the bench, Abrams Gardner practiced in the Washington offices of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where she advised clients like Bank of America and the Radian Group on corruption investigations and complex civil litigation. While at Skadden, she helped prepare an amicus brief for the American Bar Association that urged the Supreme Court to abolish the death penalty for minors. In 2010, she became a federal prosecutor in Atlanta, where she handled a variety of criminal cases and served as a community outreach coordinator. She is a graduate of Yale Law School.
The Biden campaign did not respond to requests for comment for this story.


freebeacon--2020-05-29--Continetti: Bipartisan Coalition Emerging Against Social Media Protections

A bipartisan coalition is forming behind the push to roll back legal protections currently enjoyed by social media companies , Washington Free Beacon founding editor Matthew Continetti said Thursday .
`` The truth is it 's not just senators like Ted Cruz [ R. , Texas ] and Josh Hawley [ R. , Mo . ]
, '' Continetti said on Fox News 's Special Report .
`` It 's also people like Elizabeth Warren [ D. , Mass . ]
and even Joe Biden who have said that Section 230 needs to be repealed . ''
President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change the way the law treats social media companies .
The order is expected to face legal challenges , but Continetti argued it is `` another step along that path '' to undoing Section 230 .
Continetti added that social media companies and other technology giants have been benefiting from ambiguity in the law .
`` Are they publishers or are they platforms ? ''
he said .
Section 230 , part of the act passed in 1996 , broadly exempts tech companies from being held legally liable for the content users post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowing the growth of companies like Google , YouTube , and social media websites .
In 2018 , the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act attenuated some of the legal protections provided by the law .
The act requires companies to remove content that violates sex trafficking laws .
Hawley has introduced legislation in the Senate to amend Section 230 immunity , and Cruz has also spoken out about changing the law .
Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee , said this year that he supports repealing the act , and Warren has introduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protections .

A bipartisan coalition is forming behind the push to roll back legal protections currently enjoyed by social media companies, Washington Free Beacon founding editor Matthew Continetti said Thursday.
"The truth is it's not just senators like Ted Cruz [R., Texas] and Josh Hawley [R., Mo.]," Continetti said on Fox News's Special Report. "It's also people like Elizabeth Warren [D., Mass.] and even Joe Biden who have said that Section 230 needs to be repealed."
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday seeking to change the way the law treats social media companies. The order is expected to face legal challenges, but Continetti argued it is "another step along that path" to undoing Section 230.
Continetti added that social media companies and other technology giants have been benefiting from ambiguity in the law.
"Are they publishers or are they platforms?" he said.
Section 230, part of the act passed in 1996, broadly exempts tech companies from being held legally liable for the content users post. The section is widely credited with allowing the growth of companies like Google, YouTube, and social media websites.
In 2018, the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act attenuated some of the legal protections provided by the law. The act requires companies to remove content that violates sex trafficking laws.
Hawley has introduced legislation in the Senate to amend Section 230 immunity, and Cruz has also spoken out about changing the law. Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, said this year that he supports repealing the act, and Warren has introduced a plan to weaken online free speech protections.


freebeacon--2020-05-28--Armed Civilians Save Local Businesses During Minneapolis Riots

A group of armed civilians successfully defended a pair of stores as riots tore through Minneapolis on Wednesday .
Protests about the police killing of George Floyd have escalated into riots that have torched many businesses in downtown Minneapolis .
Four men , two white and two black , stood guard outside GM Tobacco and Sally Beauty Supply as rioters looted a Target store across the street and set other nearby businesses on fire .
`` These guys are out here with machetes and shattered windows trying to keep looters out of their business because cops ca n't get in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men told Max Nesterak of the Minnesota Reformer .
`` So , I figure , before there were cops there were just Americans .
So , here we are . ''
The two men who spoke with Nesterak said they had initially ventured into the area to support the protests over the killing of Floyd , a black man , by Derek Chauvin , a white police officer .
Chauvin and three other officers involved in the incident were fired by the police department but have not been arrested or charged over it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerned for local businesses once looting broke out .
When they stopped to try and buy cigarettes , they found the owners were trying to ward off looters without any assistance from the police .
`` They said they 're closed and they 're defending their businesses , '' the first man said .
`` We heard that and were like , ‘ Well , we better kit up and go see if these guys need help . '
'' Another person in the group said looters were not the only concern .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to try and tread on people 's rights when there are other armed Americans with them , '' a second armed man guarding the stores said .
`` I figured that it 's about d— time some heavily armed rednecks stood with fellow citizens . ''
Nesterak returned to the stores early on Thursday morning and found they were among the only ones untouched in the area .
There have been no reports on whether the men in front of the tobacco store ended up in any confrontations .
A man was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shop during the rioting .
Police have not determined if the shooting was related to looting .
The men outside the tobacco shop said they would continue to support the effort to hold police responsible for the killing of Floyd but did not want to see local businesses destroyed .
`` Bottom line : Justice for Floyd and I hope they stop looting soon , '' the first man said .

A group of armed civilians successfully defended a pair of stores as riots tore through Minneapolis on Wednesday.
Protests about the police killing of George Floyd have escalated into riots that have torched many businesses in downtown Minneapolis. Four men, two white and two black, stood guard outside GM Tobacco and Sally Beauty Supply as rioters looted a Target store across the street and set other nearby businesses on fire.
"These guys are out here with machetes and shattered windows trying to keep looters out of their business because cops can't get in here," one of the armed men told Max Nesterak of the Minnesota Reformer. "So, I figure, before there were cops there were just Americans. So, here we are."
The two men who spoke with Nesterak said they had initially ventured into the area to support the protests over the killing of Floyd, a black man, by Derek Chauvin, a white police officer. Chauvin and three other officers involved in the incident were fired by the police department but have not been arrested or charged over it. The group of armed men became concerned for local businesses once looting broke out. When they stopped to try and buy cigarettes, they found the owners were trying to ward off looters without any assistance from the police.
"They said they're closed and they're defending their businesses," the first man said. "We heard that and were like, 'Well, we better kit up and go see if these guys need help.'"
These guys say they support the protests but not the looting. Showed up to help this tobacco store owner stop people from breaking in pic.twitter.com/x2FMQiQwVK — Max Nesterak (@maxnesterak) May 28, 2020
Another person in the group said looters were not the only concern.
"The cops are a lot less likely to try and tread on people's rights when there are other armed Americans with them," a second armed man guarding the stores said. "I figured that it's about d— time some heavily armed rednecks stood with fellow citizens."
Nesterak returned to the stores early on Thursday morning and found they were among the only ones untouched in the area.
Everything is broken into but the stores in the apartment building where residents, owners and volunteers kept guard pic.twitter.com/AFrejICvBZ — Max Nesterak (@maxnesterak) May 28, 2020
There have been no reports on whether the men in front of the tobacco store ended up in any confrontations. A man was shot and killed at a nearby pawn shop during the rioting. Police have not determined if the shooting was related to looting.
The men outside the tobacco shop said they would continue to support the effort to hold police responsible for the killing of Floyd but did not want to see local businesses destroyed.
"Bottom line: Justice for Floyd and I hope they stop looting soon," the first man said.


freebeacon--2020-05-28--The Bully of Beijing

The Bully of Beijing

In 1962 , China and India fought a brief war in the Aksai-Chin region , a mountainous territory along their shared border .
China eventually drove the Indians behind the so-called Line of Actual Control ( LAC ) , where the still-contested borderline remains today .
The LAC has been a sore spot in the two nations ' relationship , one China has repeatedly probed over the decades in ways characteristic of Beijing 's geopolitical opportunistic streak—poke here , harass there , slowly expand the sphere of communist influence .
China 's latest incursion , which came over the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this opportunism yet .
It was clearly instigated by India 's crippling encounter with the novel coronavirus , a terrible ordeal that the People 's Liberation Army apparently sees as a prime opportunity .
India is far from China 's only victim .
Beijing has also taken advantage of the crisis to enact a new national security law for Hong Kong , one that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday will end the city 's independence .
It is pressing its claims in the South China Sea , prompting protests after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vietnamese fishing boat .
And China has refused to forgive loans to hard-hit developing nations , a move calculated to tighten its neocolonial grasp on Africa .
Some refuse to see the pattern : the media , with their vacuous fetish for international cooperation ; isolationists , like those at the Quincy Institute who think the shifting balance of power in the Pacific is reason enough to retreat entirely ; and those , like Obama ambassador to China Max Baucus , who are simply in Beijing 's pocket .
All argue that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bullying regime for which a pandemic has served as an opportunity to make power grabs .
And while President Donald Trump has generally been a steely eyed realist when it comes to China—a welcome departure from Obama 's airy idealism—he has been slow to push back on Beijing here , offering only to `` mediate '' China 's invasion of India .
That 's no way to treat an ally—China crossed the line , and Trump needs to tell the the Chinese to back down .
There are other ways for Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He could go ahead on a direct response to the Hong Kong law , and sign the overwhelmingly bipartisan legislation now on his desk that would sanction Chinese officials for their Uyghur prison camps .
Several members of the Congressional China Task Force tell the Washington Free Beacon they 'd like to see Trump back other aggressive legislation , including sanctions on those who repress Hong Kong .
Otherwise , Beijing will take any sign of weakness as another opportunity to expand its authoritarian reach .
As Rep. Jim Banks ( R. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Free Beacon , `` the situation in Hong Kong is a glimpse at what the world will look like if China 's global ambitions are realized . ''
Standing up to China , we remind the president , matters not just for the global order , but for his reelection .
Majorities in both parties dislike China—for its thuggery , its prison camps , and for causing the coronavirus pandemic .
Taking a stand against these injustices is not just what China 's victims need—but what voters are demanding .

In 1962, China and India fought a brief war in the Aksai-Chin region, a mountainous territory along their shared border. China eventually drove the Indians behind the so-called Line of Actual Control (LAC), where the still-contested borderline remains today.
The LAC has been a sore spot in the two nations' relationship, one China has repeatedly probed over the decades in ways characteristic of Beijing's geopolitical opportunistic streak—poke here, harass there, slowly expand the sphere of communist influence.
China's latest incursion, which came over the past week, is the most bald-faced example of this opportunism yet. It was clearly instigated by India's crippling encounter with the novel coronavirus, a terrible ordeal that the People's Liberation Army apparently sees as a prime opportunity.
India is far from China's only victim. Beijing has also taken advantage of the crisis to enact a new national security law for Hong Kong, one that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday will end the city's independence. It is pressing its claims in the South China Sea, prompting protests after a Chinese ship rammed and sank a Vietnamese fishing boat. And China has refused to forgive loans to hard-hit developing nations, a move calculated to tighten its neocolonial grasp on Africa.
Some refuse to see the pattern: the media, with their vacuous fetish for international cooperation; isolationists, like those at the Quincy Institute who think the shifting balance of power in the Pacific is reason enough to retreat entirely; and those, like Obama ambassador to China Max Baucus, who are simply in Beijing's pocket. All argue that, somehow, we can play nice with a bullying regime for which a pandemic has served as an opportunity to make power grabs.
And while President Donald Trump has generally been a steely eyed realist when it comes to China—a welcome departure from Obama's airy idealism—he has been slow to push back on Beijing here, offering only to "mediate" China's invasion of India.
That's no way to treat an ally—China crossed the line, and Trump needs to tell the the Chinese to back down.
There are other ways for Trump to stand up to the Beijing bully. He could go ahead on a direct response to the Hong Kong law, and sign the overwhelmingly bipartisan legislation now on his desk that would sanction Chinese officials for their Uyghur prison camps. Several members of the Congressional China Task Force tell the Washington Free Beacon they'd like to see Trump back other aggressive legislation, including sanctions on those who repress Hong Kong.
Otherwise, Beijing will take any sign of weakness as another opportunity to expand its authoritarian reach. As Rep. Jim Banks (R., Ind.) put it to the Free Beacon, "the situation in Hong Kong is a glimpse at what the world will look like if China's global ambitions are realized."
Standing up to China, we remind the president, matters not just for the global order, but for his reelection. Majorities in both parties dislike China—for its thuggery, its prison camps, and for causing the coronavirus pandemic. Taking a stand against these injustices is not just what China's victims need—but what voters are demanding.


freebeacon--2020-05-28--China Working to Assume Control of U.N. Agencies

China is working to assume control of multiple key United Nations agencies in order to subvert U.S. influence and advance its anti-democratic agenda , current and former senior Trump administration officials told the Washington Free Beacon .
China currently holds 4 of the top 15 leading positions within the organization , including a seat on the powerful Security Council .
The country ’ s sway was on full display this year when it successfully pressured the World Health Organization ( WHO ) to hide information about the coronavirus pandemic .
The Communist Party is also using its influence at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights record and other state-backed atrocities , including its coronavirus cover-up .
China has blocked dissidents from petitioning the U.N. Human Rights Council and has even threatened retaliation against diplomats seeking an investigation of these abuses .
`` China is constantly working behind the scenes to gain more influence globally , '' Nikki Haley , the administration ’ s former ambassador to the U.N. , told the Free Beacon .
`` That 's especially true at the U.N. , whether it 's distracting from their own human rights abuses , manipulating to gain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smaller countries to vote their way .
For them perception is everything , and it 's why we can never stop being loud , calling them out , and bringing attention to their behavior . ''
China ’ s ambition extends far beyond the WHO , Trump administration officials say .
The White House is placing a greater emphasis on combating China ’ s manipulation of the U.N. , which could entail withholding further funding to the body and sanctions on top Community Party figures .
These efforts are likely to receive bipartisan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Democrats seek to hold China accountable in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic .
Dan Blumenthal , director of Asian studies at the American Enterprise Institute , said the United States can pressure the U.N. by withholding its funding .
`` We need a focused and intensive diplomatic campaign to replace Chinese and Russian-backed heads of international organization , with people who support the values of the free world , '' he said .
The United States discussed new efforts to counter China ’ s influence at the U.N. in its Strategic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published earlier this month that outlines the White House ’ s response to Chinese hegemony .
If China is permitted to exploit the U.N. unchecked , America risks losing its place at the center of global affairs , the document warns .
China ’ s Belt and Road projects—a Communist Party-run global development program aimed at expanding the country ’ s influence—have emerged as particularly concerning to the Trump administration .
In one example of the Trump administration efforts to combat China 's influence , the State Department recently identified efforts by Beijing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into Afghanistan .
By inserting language into a 2019 U.N. Security Council resolution on Afghanistan assistance , China hoped to justify an increased presence in the country that the United States sees as damaging .
The State Department said in a 2019 report on voting practices at the U.N. that it was able to erase the Belt and Road language , describing the action as a significant win for America in its push to counter China , according to a copy of that report obtained by the Free Beacon .
China ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.N. ’ s human rights organs , where China enjoys membership .
It has prevented these bodies from investigating its abuse of the ethnic minority Uyghur population , as well as other human rights abuses .
`` Chinese officials heading international organizations lack independence from the CCP , and have a proven track record of using these leadership roles to mold the U.N. agenda to serve the CCP ’ s own self-serving interests , '' a senior administration official , who was not authorized to speak on record , told the Free Beacon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Road as part of aid packages for developing countries , primarily in Africa , it uses the leverage gained by the programs to infiltrate a country ’ s economy and military , according to the White House .
The United States and China recently engaged in a heated war of words over global health aid during the WHO ’ s annual meeting earlier this month .
As the Free Beacon first reported , the administration renewed commitments to combat China ’ s narrative that it is supplanting America as the world ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress , lawmakers have forwarded a range of initiatives to sanction Chinese officials complicit in human rights abuses and the cover-up of the coronavirus .
Congress could also move to withhold critical funding for bodies it deems under China ’ s thumb .
A spokeswoman for leading China hawk Sen. Ted Cruz ( R. , Texas ) told the Free Beacon the senator and his like-minded colleagues will use their leverage to block the ascension of Chinese officials to key U.N. bodies .
`` The Chinese Communist Party systematically seizes control and subverts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to advance their interests at the expense of those organizations ’ credibility and our national security , '' said Cruz spokeswoman Lauren Aronson .

China is working to assume control of multiple key United Nations agencies in order to subvert U.S. influence and advance its anti-democratic agenda, current and former senior Trump administration officials told the Washington Free Beacon.
China currently holds 4 of the top 15 leading positions within the organization, including a seat on the powerful Security Council. The country’s sway was on full display this year when it successfully pressured the World Health Organization (WHO) to hide information about the coronavirus pandemic.
The Communist Party is also using its influence at the U.N. to thwart investigations into its human rights record and other state-backed atrocities, including its coronavirus cover-up. China has blocked dissidents from petitioning the U.N. Human Rights Council and has even threatened retaliation against diplomats seeking an investigation of these abuses.
"China is constantly working behind the scenes to gain more influence globally," Nikki Haley, the administration’s former ambassador to the U.N., told the Free Beacon. "That's especially true at the U.N., whether it's distracting from their own human rights abuses, manipulating to gain control of U.N. agencies, or bullying smaller countries to vote their way. For them perception is everything, and it's why we can never stop being loud, calling them out, and bringing attention to their behavior."
China’s ambition extends far beyond the WHO, Trump administration officials say. The White House is placing a greater emphasis on combating China’s manipulation of the U.N., which could entail withholding further funding to the body and sanctions on top Community Party figures. These efforts are likely to receive bipartisan backing in Congress, as both Republicans and Democrats seek to hold China accountable in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Dan Blumenthal, director of Asian studies at the American Enterprise Institute, said the United States can pressure the U.N. by withholding its funding.
"We need a focused and intensive diplomatic campaign to replace Chinese and Russian-backed heads of international organization, with people who support the values of the free world," he said.
The United States discussed new efforts to counter China’s influence at the U.N. in its Strategic Approach to China, a comprehensive document published earlier this month that outlines the White House’s response to Chinese hegemony. If China is permitted to exploit the U.N. unchecked, America risks losing its place at the center of global affairs, the document warns.
China’s Belt and Road projects—a Communist Party-run global development program aimed at expanding the country’s influence—have emerged as particularly concerning to the Trump administration.
In one example of the Trump administration's efforts to combat China's influence, the State Department recently identified efforts by Beijing to expand the Belt and Road Initiative into Afghanistan. By inserting language into a 2019 U.N. Security Council resolution on Afghanistan assistance, China hoped to justify an increased presence in the country that the United States sees as damaging.
The State Department said in a 2019 report on voting practices at the U.N. that it was able to erase the Belt and Road language, describing the action as a significant win for America in its push to counter China, according to a copy of that report obtained by the Free Beacon.
China’s influence has been particularly evident within the U.N.’s human rights organs, where China enjoys membership. It has prevented these bodies from investigating its abuse of the ethnic minority Uyghur population, as well as other human rights abuses.
"Chinese officials heading international organizations lack independence from the CCP, and have a proven track record of using these leadership roles to mold the U.N. agenda to serve the CCP’s own self-serving interests," a senior administration official, who was not authorized to speak on record, told the Free Beacon.
While China presents programs like Belt and Road as part of aid packages for developing countries, primarily in Africa, it uses the leverage gained by the programs to infiltrate a country’s economy and military, according to the White House.
The United States and China recently engaged in a heated war of words over global health aid during the WHO’s annual meeting earlier this month. As the Free Beacon first reported, the administration renewed commitments to combat China’s narrative that it is supplanting America as the world’s most generous aid donor.
In Congress, lawmakers have forwarded a range of initiatives to sanction Chinese officials complicit in human rights abuses and the cover-up of the coronavirus. Congress could also move to withhold critical funding for bodies it deems under China’s thumb.
A spokeswoman for leading China hawk Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) told the Free Beacon the senator and his like-minded colleagues will use their leverage to block the ascension of Chinese officials to key U.N. bodies.
"The Chinese Communist Party systematically seizes control and subverts international organizations, one by one, to advance their interests at the expense of those organizations’ credibility and our national security," said Cruz spokeswoman Lauren Aronson.


freebeacon--2020-05-28--Hickenlooper Ethics Trial Will Proceed Despite Former Gov’s Objections to Video Hearing

Democratic Senate candidate John Hickenlooper 's ethics trial will still proceed as scheduled next week despite the former Colorado governor 's objections to it being conducted by video , the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission ruled Wednesday .
Hickenlooper has been accused of violating state limits on gifts and travel for elected officials by allegedly accepting free private flights and luxury hotel stays from donors and corporations during his time in office .
Hickenlooper objected to the remote hearing scheduled for June 4 , saying it would violate his due process rights if he is unable to testify in person with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motion with the ethics commission last week saying he would `` not appear at the hearing as it is now scheduled '' and threatening to sue if the hearing is not delayed .
But the ethics commission rejected Hickenlooper 's motion and his alternative suggestion that he be allowed to submit his testimony in writing .
`` The [ commission ] finds that Respondent 's suggested solution of submitting written testimony in lieu of a hearing would fall short of procedural due process requirements and is plainly an attempt to avoid appearing at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Public Trust Institute , the government watchdog that filed the initial ethics complaint against Hickenlooper , said on Thursday that it will subpoena the former governor to testify at the ethics hearing , which is still slated to take place by video on June 4 .
The group said Hickenlooper already agreed to participate in the hearing last January and he needs to `` come out of hiding . ''
`` Everyone agrees that in a perfect world this hearing would take place in person .
People across the country are dealing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis , including virtually every court across the country moving to an online hearing platform , '' said PTI director Suzanne Staiert in a statement .
`` John Hickenlooper is not above the law and he is not above the inconveniences we are dealing with .
The complaint was filed over 18 months ago and John Hickenlooper needs to just stop playing games and tell the truth for one hour to finalize this issue . ''
The Hickenlooper campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
The watchdog group filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleging that he violated state laws that cap gifts to public officials at $ 59 while serving as governor .
The complaint claims Hickenlooper accepted a corporate-sponsored trip to Italy that included luxury hotels and a chauffeured Maserati .
He also allegedly took a free private flight on a donor 's jet to attend the commissioning of the USS Colorado in Groton , Conn. Hickenlooper 's ethics hearing was scheduled to take place earlier this year but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The former governor is considered the frontrunner for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race .
If he wins the primary on June 30 , he will face off against incumbent Republican senator Cory Gardner .
Update 7:11 p.m. : This post has been updated with further information .

Democratic Senate candidate John Hickenlooper's ethics trial will still proceed as scheduled next week despite the former Colorado governor's objections to it being conducted by video, the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission ruled Wednesday.
Hickenlooper has been accused of violating state limits on gifts and travel for elected officials by allegedly accepting free private flights and luxury hotel stays from donors and corporations during his time in office.
Hickenlooper objected to the remote hearing scheduled for June 4, saying it would violate his due process rights if he is unable to testify in person with his attorney present. He filed a motion with the ethics commission last week saying he would "not appear at the hearing as it is now scheduled" and threatening to sue if the hearing is not delayed.
But the ethics commission rejected Hickenlooper's motion and his alternative suggestion that he be allowed to submit his testimony in writing.
"The [commission] finds that Respondent's suggested solution of submitting written testimony in lieu of a hearing would fall short of procedural due process requirements and is plainly an attempt to avoid appearing at hearing," said the ruling.
The Public Trust Institute, the government watchdog that filed the initial ethics complaint against Hickenlooper, said on Thursday that it will subpoena the former governor to testify at the ethics hearing, which is still slated to take place by video on June 4. The group said Hickenlooper already agreed to participate in the hearing last January and he needs to "come out of hiding."
"Everyone agrees that in a perfect world this hearing would take place in person. People across the country are dealing with new realties caused by the health crisis, including virtually every court across the country moving to an online hearing platform," said PTI director Suzanne Staiert in a statement. "John Hickenlooper is not above the law and he is not above the inconveniences we are dealing with. The complaint was filed over 18 months ago and John Hickenlooper needs to just stop playing games and tell the truth for one hour to finalize this issue."
The Hickenlooper campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The watchdog group filed an ethics complaint against Hickenlooper in 2018 alleging that he violated state laws that cap gifts to public officials at $59 while serving as governor. The complaint claims Hickenlooper accepted a corporate-sponsored trip to Italy that included luxury hotels and a chauffeured Maserati. He also allegedly took a free private flight on a donor's jet to attend the commissioning of the USS Colorado in Groton, Conn.
Hickenlooper's ethics hearing was scheduled to take place earlier this year but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The former governor is considered the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in the Colorado Senate race. If he wins the primary on June 30, he will face off against incumbent Republican senator Cory Gardner.
Update 7:11 p.m.: This post has been updated with further information.


freebeacon--2020-05-28--Beijing Moves Forward With Anti-Democracy ‘Security Law’ in Hong Kong

HONG KONG/BEIJING ( Reuters ) – China ’ s parliament approved a decision on Thursday to go forward with national security legislation for Hong Kong that democracy activists in the city and Western countries fear could erode its freedoms and jeopardize its role as a global financial hub .
China says the legislation will aim to tackle secession , subversion , terrorism and foreign interference in the city but the plan , unveiled in Beijing last week , triggered the first big protests in Hong Kong for months .
Riot police were out in force in Hong Kong as its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bill to criminalize disrespect of China ’ s national anthem , while the United States piled on pressure aimed at preserving the city ’ s autonomy .
Dozens of protesters gathered in a shopping mall to chant slogans but there was no repeat of disturbances the previous day when police made 360 arrests as thousands took to the streets in anger over the anthem bill and the national security legislation proposed by China .
Last year , the city was rocked for months by often violent pro-democracy demonstrations over an unsuccessful bid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China .
The Chinese government ’ s security law for the city is fuelling fear in Hong Kong and beyond that Beijing is imposing its authority and eroding the high degree of autonomy the former British colony has enjoyed under a `` one country , two systems '' formula since it returned to Chinese rule in 1997 .
Members of China ’ s mostly rubberstamp parliament , the National People ’ s Congress , in the Great Hall of the People to the west of Beijing ’ s Tiananmen Square , burst into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes to one in favor of moving forward with legislation , with six abstentions .
Details of the law are expected to be drawn up in coming weeks .
It is expected to be enacted before September .
Chinese authorities and the Beijing-backed government in Hong Kong say there is no threat to the city ’ s autonomy and the new law would be tightly focused .
China ’ s Premier Li Keqiang said the law would be good for Hong Kong ’ s long-term stability and prosperity and the `` one country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a national policy .
Conflict between China and the United States would harm both sides while both stand to gain from cooperation , he told a news conference .
Hong Kong ’ s Beijing-backed leader Carrie Lam said her government would work with Beijing to complete the legislative work as soon as possible .
`` The law will not affect the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents , '' she said in a statement welcoming the Chinese parliament ’ s vote .
Democracy campaigners in the city were despondent , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Hong Kong , make no mistake of it , this is the end of ‘ one country , two systems ’ … the Hong Kong that we loved , a free Hong Kong , '' pro-democracy lawmaker Dennis Kwok told reporters .
The United States , Britain and the European Union have also expressed concern about the security legislation and its implications for China ’ s freest city .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday Hong Kong no longer qualified for special treatment under U.S. law , potentially dealing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a major financial hub .
The proposed security law was `` only the latest in a series of actions '' undermining Hong Kong freedoms , he told Congress .
`` No reasonable person can assert today that Hong Kong maintains a high degree of autonomy from China , given facts on the ground , '' he said .
The security law could see Chinese intelligence agencies set up bases in the city .
Relations between the two countries have been tense over China ’ s claims in the South China Sea and trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the acrimony .
`` Already , international business is facing the pressure of increased tension between the U.S. and China , but the enactment of China ’ s security law for Hong Kong could take the tension to a whole new level , '' said Tara Joseph , president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong .
`` This is show time for Hong Kong , '' she said in a commentary in the South China Morning Post .
U.S. President Donald Trump has promised action over Hong Kong , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
More than 1,300 U.S. companies have offices in the city , providing about 100,000 jobs .
China said it would take necessary countermeasures against foreign interference in what it insists are its internal affairs .
Hong Kong stocks underperformed most of Asia , closing down 0.7 % .
Trump ’ s possible response could include visa and economic sanctions , David Stilwell , the State Department ’ s assistant secretary for East Asia , told reporters .

By Jessie Pang, Yew Lun Tian
HONG KONG/BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s parliament approved a decision on Thursday to go forward with national security legislation for Hong Kong that democracy activists in the city and Western countries fear could erode its freedoms and jeopardize its role as a global financial hub.
China says the legislation will aim to tackle secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference in the city but the plan, unveiled in Beijing last week, triggered the first big protests in Hong Kong for months.
Riot police were out in force in Hong Kong as its lawmakers debated another piece of legislation, a bill to criminalize disrespect of China’s national anthem, while the United States piled on pressure aimed at preserving the city’s autonomy.
Dozens of protesters gathered in a shopping mall to chant slogans but there was no repeat of disturbances the previous day when police made 360 arrests as thousands took to the streets in anger over the anthem bill and the national security legislation proposed by China.
Last year, the city was rocked for months by often violent pro-democracy demonstrations over an unsuccessful bid to introduce a law governing extradition to China.
The Chinese government’s security law for the city is fuelling fear in Hong Kong and beyond that Beijing is imposing its authority and eroding the high degree of autonomy the former British colony has enjoyed under a "one country, two systems" formula since it returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
Members of China’s mostly rubberstamp parliament, the National People’s Congress, in the Great Hall of the People to the west of Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, burst into prolonged applause when the tally showed 2,878 votes to one in favor of moving forward with legislation, with six abstentions.
Details of the law are expected to be drawn up in coming weeks. It is expected to be enacted before September.
Chinese authorities and the Beijing-backed government in Hong Kong say there is no threat to the city’s autonomy and the new law would be tightly focused.
China’s Premier Li Keqiang said the law would be good for Hong Kong’s long-term stability and prosperity and the "one country, two systems" formula would remain a national policy.
Conflict between China and the United States would harm both sides while both stand to gain from cooperation, he told a news conference.
Hong Kong’s Beijing-backed leader Carrie Lam said her government would work with Beijing to complete the legislative work as soon as possible.
"The law will not affect the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents," she said in a statement welcoming the Chinese parliament’s vote.
Democracy campaigners in the city were despondent, however.
"This is the death knell for Hong Kong, make no mistake of it, this is the end of ‘one country, two systems’ ... the Hong Kong that we loved, a free Hong Kong," pro-democracy lawmaker Dennis Kwok told reporters.
‘SHOW TIME’
The United States, Britain and the European Union have also expressed concern about the security legislation and its implications for China’s freest city.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday Hong Kong no longer qualified for special treatment under U.S. law, potentially dealing a crushing blow to its status as a major financial hub.
The proposed security law was "only the latest in a series of actions" undermining Hong Kong freedoms, he told Congress.
"No reasonable person can assert today that Hong Kong maintains a high degree of autonomy from China, given facts on the ground," he said.
The security law could see Chinese intelligence agencies set up bases in the city.
Relations between the two countries have been tense over China’s claims in the South China Sea and trade, with the coronavirus pandemic adding to the acrimony.
"Already, international business is facing the pressure of increased tension between the U.S. and China, but the enactment of China’s security law for Hong Kong could take the tension to a whole new level," said Tara Joseph, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.
"This is show time for Hong Kong," she said in a commentary in the South China Morning Post.
U.S. President Donald Trump has promised action over Hong Kong, with an announcement at the end of the week. More than 1,300 U.S. companies have offices in the city, providing about 100,000 jobs.
China said it would take necessary countermeasures against foreign interference in what it insists are its internal affairs.
Hong Kong stocks underperformed most of Asia, closing down 0.7%.
Trump’s possible response could include visa and economic sanctions, David Stilwell, the State Department’s assistant secretary for East Asia, told reporters.
(Reporting by Jessie Pang, Anne Marie Roantree, Donny Kwok, Noah Sin, Clare Jim, Sarah Wu; Writing by Michael Perry and Marius Zaharia; Editing by Stephen Coates, Robert Birsel)


freebeacon--2020-05-28--After Decrying Corporate Cash, Hickenlooper Hauls in More Than $1 Million From Execs and Lobbyists

Colorado Democratic Senate candidate John Hickenlooper , who frequently touts his opposition to corporate influence in politics , has hauled in more than $ 1 million from corporate executives and lobbyists and hundreds of thousands more from PACs that take corporate donations .
Federal Election Commission records show that Hickenlooper has directly collected more than $ 1.1 million from corporate executives in his bid to unseat Republican senator Cory Gardner .
The cash flowed from high-level executives at Microsoft , Geico , UnitedHealth , BlueShield , and other companies .
Many of the executives made maximum contributions to Hickenlooper 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a major part of his campaign in a race that could determine which party controls Congress ’ s upper chamber .
He has highlighted his call to limit the influence of corporations in fundraising pleas , digital ads , and speeches .
The stance also helped him land an endorsement from End Citizens United , the left 's premier group opposing major moneyed interests .
The former governor 's boost from corporate executives , however , flies in the face of his anti-corporate rhetoric .
Despite his calls to `` get Washington working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` big business , '' Hickenlooper also pulled in $ 70,000 from dozens of federally registered lobbyists who work to influence policy for corporations .
The lobbyists represent a wide array of industries including oil and gas ( ExxonMobil , Chevron , and Trans Atlantic Petroleum ) , health care and pharmaceuticals ( UnitedHealth Group , Amgen , and Purdue ) , and finance ( Blackstone Group , Ernst & Young , and Goldman Sachs ) .
Hickenlooper has also vowed not to accept money from corporate PACs .
Despite that promise , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loophole—taking donations from Democratic leadership PACs fueled by cash from corporate PACs .
These donations include $ 10,000 from Sen. Jacky Rosen ’ s ( Nev. ) Smart Solutions PAC , Sen. Kyrsten Sinema ’ s ( Ariz. ) Getting Stuff Done PAC , Sen. Debbie Stabenow ’ s ( Mich. ) GREAT LAKES PAC , and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto ’ s ( Nev. ) All for Our Country Leadership PAC , all of which have received a vast amount of funding from corporate PACs .
Other PACs that have given thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whitehouse ’ s ( R.I. ) Oceans PAC and Sen. Jon Tester ’ s ( Mont . )
Treasure State PAC—have been flooded with corporate PAC cash .
Hickenlooper is not the only Democratic Senate candidate who received corporate cash through pass-through entities .
As of late last year , candidates who swore off corporate PAC cash and received the endorsement of End Citizens United combined to receive $ 1.6 million from allied PACs that accept corporate-linked contributions .
One such candidate , North Carolina Democrat Cal Cunningham , has claimed that his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interests .
Politifact rated his claim as `` mostly false '' due to the corporate PAC money that made its way into his campaign ’ s coffers through other Democratic PACs .
Cunningham has also taken campaign cash directly from corporate executives .
Another Democratic Senate candidate , Arizona 's Mark Kelly , has also received tens of thousands from Democratic leadership PACs that take corporate cash .
He has also personally received almost $ 300,000 from speaking engagements—some of which were sponsored by large corporations—since his campaign began .
Hickenlooper ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for comment .

Colorado Democratic Senate candidate John Hickenlooper, who frequently touts his opposition to corporate influence in politics, has hauled in more than $1 million from corporate executives and lobbyists and hundreds of thousands more from PACs that take corporate donations.
Federal Election Commission records show that Hickenlooper has directly collected more than $1.1 million from corporate executives in his bid to unseat Republican senator Cory Gardner. The cash flowed from high-level executives at Microsoft, Geico, UnitedHealth, BlueShield, and other companies. Many of the executives made maximum contributions to Hickenlooper's campaign.
Hickenlooper has made anti-corporate rhetoric a major part of his campaign in a race that could determine which party controls Congress’s upper chamber. He has highlighted his call to limit the influence of corporations in fundraising pleas, digital ads, and speeches. The stance also helped him land an endorsement from End Citizens United, the left's premier group opposing major moneyed interests. The former governor's boost from corporate executives, however, flies in the face of his anti-corporate rhetoric.
Despite his calls to "get Washington working for the American people" instead of "big business," Hickenlooper also pulled in $70,000 from dozens of federally registered lobbyists who work to influence policy for corporations. The lobbyists represent a wide array of industries including oil and gas (ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Trans Atlantic Petroleum), health care and pharmaceuticals (UnitedHealth Group, Amgen, and Purdue), and finance (Blackstone Group, Ernst & Young, and Goldman Sachs).
Hickenlooper has also vowed not to accept money from corporate PACs. Despite that promise, he has accepted $180,000 through a loophole—taking donations from Democratic leadership PACs fueled by cash from corporate PACs.
These donations include $10,000 from Sen. Jacky Rosen’s (Nev.) Smart Solutions PAC, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s (Ariz.) Getting Stuff Done PAC, Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s (Mich.) GREAT LAKES PAC, and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s (Nev.) All for Our Country Leadership PAC, all of which have received a vast amount of funding from corporate PACs. Other PACs that have given thousands to Hickenlooper's campaign—such as Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse’s (R.I.) Oceans PAC and Sen. Jon Tester’s (Mont.) Treasure State PAC—have been flooded with corporate PAC cash.
Hickenlooper is not the only Democratic Senate candidate who received corporate cash through pass-through entities. As of late last year, candidates who swore off corporate PAC cash and received the endorsement of End Citizens United combined to receive $1.6 million from allied PACs that accept corporate-linked contributions.
One such candidate, North Carolina Democrat Cal Cunningham, has claimed that his Senate campaign was not funded by special interests. Politifact rated his claim as "mostly false" due to the corporate PAC money that made its way into his campaign’s coffers through other Democratic PACs. Cunningham has also taken campaign cash directly from corporate executives.
Another Democratic Senate candidate, Arizona's Mark Kelly, has also received tens of thousands from Democratic leadership PACs that take corporate cash. He has also personally received almost $300,000 from speaking engagements—some of which were sponsored by large corporations—since his campaign began.
Hickenlooper’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.


Trump in Trouble

President Trump was disappointed .
Bad weather on Wednesday forced a delay in SpaceX 's planned launch of the Dragon spacecraft , robbing the president of a prized photo opportunity .
He plans to attend the next launch window , scheduled for May 30 at 3:22 p.m. EDT , but the spoiled visit to Florida punctuated another week of foreboding news from the campaign trail .
The coronavirus has left President Trump without his signature issue ( the economy ) and without his preferred venue ( the tentpole rally ) .
The bump in his approval rating as Americans rallied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crisis is gone .
Assessments of Trump 's performance during the pandemic look a lot like his approval rating overall : polarized by party , and upside down .
He continues to trail Joe Biden in both national and swing state polls .
The margins are narrow , but they are also consistent .
President Trump has not been ahead in any live interview national poll conducted this year .
Yet an aura of invincibility surrounds the president .
That is why the same polls that show him losing to Biden also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win .
It is why betting markets favor him , too .
After all , the story goes , Trump accomplished the impossible in 2016 .
He defeated the second-most unpopular candidate in American history ( he was number one ) against all odds .
Why can ’ t he do it again ?
The president ’ s imagination , ruthlessness , and guile , the shortcomings of his uninspiring and slightly out-of-it opponent , and the Teflon quality of this campaign have lulled the public and the GOP into a sense of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But Trump will find a way out of it .
He always does .
Well , maybe not this time .
The 2020 election looks more and more like a contest between luck and precedent .
On one side is President Trump ’ s incredible run of good fortune .
On the other side is the weight of history .
Consider : Every president reelected since Mr. Gallup ’ s first poll in 1935 enjoyed at least one day , and often several , when his approval rating was above 50 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not experienced .
Not since 1940 has a president been reelected with a double-digit unemployment rate .
Nor has a president been reelected with an unemployment rate 2 or more points higher than when he entered office .
Unemployment was 15 percent in April 2020 , and is expected to rise for at least a while longer .
It was 5 percent in January 2017 .
The recovery will need to have the trajectory of an Elon Musk rocket for unemployment to fall to less than 7 percent by November 3 .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential election .
In all but 5 of the previous 58 contests , the same man won both the popular and electoral votes .
The fact that two of the exceptions occurred in the past 20 years has distorted our perspective .
We begin to consider it not only possible but probable that President Trump could win reelection without winning the popular vote .
History suggests that what is possible is also unlikely .
Reelection was a prize awarded to just one of the four men before Trump who entered office on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Quincy Adams lost to Andrew Jackson in the rematch of 1828 .
Rutherford B. Hayes did not run for a second term in 1880 .
Benjamin Harrison lost to Grover Cleveland in the rematch of 1892 .
The exception was George W. Bush , who defeated John Kerry in both the popular and electoral votes in 2004 .
Bush , like Trump , faced an unexpected crisis in his first term .
His decisive and compassionate leadership during the 9/11 attacks and their aftermath was an important factor in his reelection .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ important issue backed Bush by a 72-point margin , according to the exit poll , and at that time majorities approved of the war in Iraq ( 51 percent ) and considered it part of the war on terrorism ( 55 percent ) .
Bush ’ s approval rating in the exit poll was 53 percent .
In the May 27 Reuters-Ipsos poll , the public disapproved of President Trump ’ s handling of the coronavirus pandemic , while backing him on the economy and jobs .
His job approval was 41 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it was 44 percent .
Nowhere close to where it has to be to win a second term .
And so , America waits for Trump to pull a rabbit out of his hat .
What might that look like ?
A stunning economic rebound would bolster the president ’ s strengths and restore confidence in his stewardship .
Trump ’ s opponent might delegitimize himself through continued gaffes , a vice presidential selection that frightens more people than it reassures , and debate performances that heighten concerns about age and ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign is young .
As a wise man once wrote , only an idiot would bet against Donald Trump .
Right now , though , Republicans have every reason to be worried about November .

President Trump was disappointed. Bad weather on Wednesday forced a delay in SpaceX's planned launch of the Dragon spacecraft, robbing the president of a prized photo opportunity. He plans to attend the next launch window, scheduled for May 30 at 3:22 p.m. EDT, but the spoiled visit to Florida punctuated another week of foreboding news from the campaign trail.
The coronavirus has left President Trump without his signature issue (the economy) and without his preferred venue (the tentpole rally). The bump in his approval rating as Americans rallied around the flag at the outset of the crisis is gone. Assessments of Trump's performance during the pandemic look a lot like his approval rating overall: polarized by party, and upside down. He continues to trail Joe Biden in both national and swing state polls. The margins are narrow, but they are also consistent. President Trump has not been ahead in any live interview national poll conducted this year.
Yet an aura of invincibility surrounds the president. That is why the same polls that show him losing to Biden also show that the public expects him to win. It is why betting markets favor him, too. After all, the story goes, Trump accomplished the impossible in 2016. He defeated the second-most unpopular candidate in American history (he was number one) against all odds. Why can’t he do it again? The president’s imagination, ruthlessness, and guile, the shortcomings of his uninspiring and slightly out-of-it opponent, and the Teflon quality of this campaign have lulled the public and the GOP into a sense of complacency. Sure, things look bad. But Trump will find a way out of it. He always does.
Well, maybe not this time. The 2020 election looks more and more like a contest between luck and precedent. On one side is President Trump’s incredible run of good fortune. On the other side is the weight of history. Consider: Every president reelected since Mr. Gallup’s first poll in 1935 enjoyed at least one day, and often several, when his approval rating was above 50 percent. That is something President Trump has not experienced.
Not since 1940 has a president been reelected with a double-digit unemployment rate. Nor has a president been reelected with an unemployment rate 2 or more points higher than when he entered office. Unemployment was 15 percent in April 2020, and is expected to rise for at least a while longer. It was 5 percent in January 2017. The recovery will need to have the trajectory of an Elon Musk rocket for unemployment to fall to less than 7 percent by November 3.
That is when America will hold its 59th presidential election. In all but 5 of the previous 58 contests, the same man won both the popular and electoral votes. The fact that two of the exceptions occurred in the past 20 years has distorted our perspective. We begin to consider it not only possible but probable that President Trump could win reelection without winning the popular vote.
History suggests that what is possible is also unlikely. Reelection was a prize awarded to just one of the four men before Trump who entered office on the basis of the Electoral College alone. John Quincy Adams lost to Andrew Jackson in the rematch of 1828. Rutherford B. Hayes did not run for a second term in 1880. Benjamin Harrison lost to Grover Cleveland in the rematch of 1892. The exception was George W. Bush, who defeated John Kerry in both the popular and electoral votes in 2004.
Bush, like Trump, faced an unexpected crisis in his first term. His decisive and compassionate leadership during the 9/11 attacks and their aftermath was an important factor in his reelection. Voters for whom terrorism was the most important issue backed Bush by a 72-point margin, according to the exit poll, and at that time majorities approved of the war in Iraq (51 percent) and considered it part of the war on terrorism (55 percent). Bush’s approval rating in the exit poll was 53 percent.
In the May 27 Reuters-Ipsos poll, the public disapproved of President Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, while backing him on the economy and jobs. His job approval was 41 percent. In the May 21 Fox poll, it was 44 percent. Nowhere close to where it has to be to win a second term.
And so, America waits for Trump to pull a rabbit out of his hat. What might that look like? A stunning economic rebound would bolster the president’s strengths and restore confidence in his stewardship. Trump’s opponent might delegitimize himself through continued gaffes, a vice presidential selection that frightens more people than it reassures, and debate performances that heighten concerns about age and ability. Something unexpected might happen. The campaign is young. As a wise man once wrote, only an idiot would bet against Donald Trump.
Right now, though, Republicans have every reason to be worried about November.


freebeacon--2020-05-29--Clyburn: Minnesota Unrest Damages Klobuchar’s VP Prospects

House Majority Whip James Clyburn ( D. , S.C. ) said Friday that Sen. Amy Klobuchar 's ( D. , Minn. ) chances of being Joe Biden 's 2020 running mate had been damaged by the violent unrest in Minnesota this week .
Following riots in Minneapolis over George Floyd 's death in police custody on Monday , Clyburn told reporters it was `` very tough timing '' for Klobuchar , who reportedly was asked to submit to Biden 's vetting process last week .
`` We are all victims sometimes of timing , '' he said to reporters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amy Klobuchar , who I respect so much . ''
Clyburn 's endorsement of Biden in February helped push the former vice president to a landslide victory in the South Carolina primary that turned around his campaign .
He has urged Biden to pick a black woman as his running mate to reward voters for their loyalty to the Democratic Party , although he has added that that choice is not essential .
Clyburn also told Vanity Fair in an interview published Friday that the crisis did not help Klobuchar 's chances , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has drawn liberal criticism .
She took particular heat during her presidential campaign for her prosecution of black teenager Myon Burrell , who received a life sentence after being convicted of the 2002 murder of a young girl .
`` It ’ s not just this , '' Clyburn said .
`` Her history with similar situations when she was a prosecutor came up time and again during the campaign .
I suspect this incident plays into that . ''
Biden has pledged his running mate will be a woman .
He effectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his only remaining primary challenger , Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) , dropped out and endorsed him .
Along with Klobuchar , Sen. Kamala Harris ( D. , Calif. ) , Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
, and Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams are among those considered top contenders for the role .
No black woman has ever been on a major party 's presidential ticket .

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D., S.C.) said Friday that Sen. Amy Klobuchar's (D., Minn.) chances of being Joe Biden's 2020 running mate had been damaged by the violent unrest in Minnesota this week.
Following riots in Minneapolis over George Floyd's death in police custody on Monday, Clyburn told reporters it was "very tough timing" for Klobuchar, who reportedly was asked to submit to Biden's vetting process last week.
"We are all victims sometimes of timing," he said to reporters. "This is very tough timing for Amy Klobuchar, who I respect so much."
Clyburn's endorsement of Biden in February helped push the former vice president to a landslide victory in the South Carolina primary that turned around his campaign. He has urged Biden to pick a black woman as his running mate to reward voters for their loyalty to the Democratic Party, although he has added that that choice is not essential.
Clyburn also told Vanity Fair in an interview published Friday that the crisis did not help Klobuchar's chances, as her career as a Minnesota prosecutor has drawn liberal criticism. She took particular heat during her presidential campaign for her prosecution of black teenager Myon Burrell, who received a life sentence after being convicted of the 2002 murder of a young girl.
"It’s not just this," Clyburn said. "Her history with similar situations when she was a prosecutor came up time and again during the campaign. I suspect this incident plays into that."
Biden has pledged his running mate will be a woman. He effectively wrapped up the nomination in April when his only remaining primary challenger, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), dropped out and endorsed him.
Along with Klobuchar, Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), and Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams are among those considered top contenders for the role. No black woman has ever been on a major party's presidential ticket.


freebeacon--2020-05-29--Trump to Pull U.S. Out of World Health Organization

WASHINGTON/UNITED NATIONS ( Reuters ) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he is terminating the U.S. relationship with the World Health Organization over its handling of the coronavirus , saying the WHO had essentially become a puppet organization of China .
Appearing in the White House Rose Garden , Trump went ahead with repeated threats to eliminate American funding for the group , which amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars a year .
Trump said the WHO had failed to make reforms to the organization that the president had demanded earlier this month .
He said Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the virus to the WHO and pressured the WHO to `` mislead the world '' when the virus was first discovered by Chinese authorities .
`` China has total control over the World Health Organization despite only paying $ 40 million per year compared to what the United States has been paying which is approximately $ 450 million a year .
We have detailed the reforms that it must make and engaged with them directly but they have refused to act , '' said Trump .
`` Because they have failed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs , '' he said .
Trump has long questioned the value of the United Nations and scorned the importance of multilateralism as he focuses on an `` America First '' agenda .
Since taking office , Trump has quit the U.N. Human Rights Council , the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO , a global accord to tackle climate change and the Iran nuclear deal .
The World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – an independent international body that works with the United Nations .
The WHO and a spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump ’ s decision

By Steve Holland, Michelle Nichols
WASHINGTON/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he is terminating the U.S. relationship with the World Health Organization over its handling of the coronavirus, saying the WHO had essentially become a puppet organization of China.
Appearing in the White House Rose Garden, Trump went ahead with repeated threats to eliminate American funding for the group, which amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
Trump said the WHO had failed to make reforms to the organization that the president had demanded earlier this month. He said Chinese officials "ignored their reporting obligations" about the virus to the WHO and pressured the WHO to "mislead the world" when the virus was first discovered by Chinese authorities.
"China has total control over the World Health Organization despite only paying $40 million per year compared to what the United States has been paying which is approximately $450 million a year. We have detailed the reforms that it must make and engaged with them directly but they have refused to act," said Trump.
"Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs," he said.
Trump has long questioned the value of the United Nations and scorned the importance of multilateralism as he focuses on an "America First" agenda. Since taking office, Trump has quit the U.N. Human Rights Council, the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO, a global accord to tackle climate change and the Iran nuclear deal.
The World Health Organization is a U.N. specialized agency - an independent international body that works with the United Nations. The WHO and a spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s decision
(Reporting by Steve Holland and Michelle Nichols; Editing by Daniel Wallis)


freebeacon--2020-05-29--Trump Orders His Administration to Begin Eliminating Hong Kong Privileges

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he was directing his administration to begin the process of eliminating special treatment for Hong Kong , in response to China ’ s plans to impose new security legislation in the territory .
Trump made the announcement at a White House news conference , saying China had broken its word over Hong Kong ’ s autonomy .
He said its move against Hong Kong was a tragedy for the people of Hong Kong , China and the world .
`` We will take action to revoke Hong Kong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , adding that the United States would also impose sanctions on individuals seen as responsible for smothering Hong Kong ’ s autonomy .
Trump ’ s move follows Chinese plans to impose new national security legislation on the former British colony .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the territory no longer warrants special treatment under U.S. law that has enabled it to remain a global financial center .
Trump said he was directing his administration to begin the process of eliminating policy agreements on Hong Kong , ranging from extradition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would also issue a proclamation on Friday to better safeguard vital university research by suspending the entry of foreign nationals from China identified as potential security risks .
Sources , including a current U.S. official , told Reuters on Thursday that the latter move , which had been expected , could impact 3,000 to 5,000 Chinese graduate students .

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he was directing his administration to begin the process of eliminating special treatment for Hong Kong, in response to China’s plans to impose new security legislation in the territory.
Trump made the announcement at a White House news conference, saying China had broken its word over Hong Kong’s autonomy. He said its move against Hong Kong was a tragedy for the people of Hong Kong, China and the world.
"We will take action to revoke Hong Kong’s preferential treatment," he said, adding that the United States would also impose sanctions on individuals seen as responsible for smothering Hong Kong’s autonomy.
Trump’s move follows Chinese plans to impose new national security legislation on the former British colony. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the territory no longer warrants special treatment under U.S. law that has enabled it to remain a global financial center.
Trump said he was directing his administration to begin the process of eliminating policy agreements on Hong Kong, ranging from extradition treatment to export controls.
He said he would also issue a proclamation on Friday to better safeguard vital university research by suspending the entry of foreign nationals from China identified as potential security risks.
Sources, including a current U.S. official, told Reuters on Thursday that the latter move, which had been expected, could impact 3,000 to 5,000 Chinese graduate students.
(Reporting by Steve Holland, Jeff Mason and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Franklin Paul and Rosalba O'Brien)


freebeacon--2020-05-29--Ellison to Minnesota Protesters: Be Kinder to National Guard Than to Police

Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison ( D. ) told Minneapolis residents protesting the death of George Floyd to direct their ire at local police , rather than the National Guard that has been called into the city to help restore order .
Ellison 's remarks come as Minneapolis has been beset by protests and riots after Floyd died in police custody on Monday .
Video taken shortly before his death shows a police officer pinning the unarmed man 's neck down with his knee for several minutes .
Angry demonstrators set fires across the city , including to a police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to recognize the fact that the National Guard just a week ago was administering COVID-19 tests to help people , '' Ellison said .
`` The presence you see on the street , do n't react to them the way you might react to the Minneapolis Police Department .
It 's not the same group .
They have different leadership , different authority , and their job is to try to bring peace and calm back again .
Please remember that this is not the group that you associate with unfair conduct .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor Tim Walz ( D. ) and other state officials , Ellison said a riot is how the `` the unheard get heard , '' quoting civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. '' Do n't just dismiss that and ignore it , and relegate it to just criminality and bad behavior .
Actually ask yourself what 's going on there , '' Ellison said of the protests .
`` I think we must pay attention to it . ''
Ellison , the former deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee , drew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a picture of the book Antifa : The Anti-Fascist Handbook .
Antifa is a far-left organization that endorses violence against its political enemies .
He is also a former member of the Nation of Islam who once referred to the group 's radical anti-Semitic leader Louis Farrakhan as a `` role model . ''
Before being elected to his current office , Ellison represented Minnesota 's Fifth Congressional District in Congress .
His seat is now filled by Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D. , Minn. ) .

Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison (D.) told Minneapolis residents protesting the death of George Floyd to direct their ire at local police, rather than the National Guard that has been called into the city to help restore order.
Ellison's remarks come as Minneapolis has been beset by protests and riots after Floyd died in police custody on Monday. Video taken shortly before his death shows a police officer pinning the unarmed man's neck down with his knee for several minutes. Angry demonstrators set fires across the city, including to a police precinct.
"I'd like everyone to recognize the fact that the National Guard just a week ago was administering COVID-19 tests to help people," Ellison said. "The presence you see on the street, don't react to them the way you might react to the Minneapolis Police Department. It's not the same group. They have different leadership, different authority, and their job is to try to bring peace and calm back again. Please remember that this is not the group that you associate with unfair conduct."
At a press conference with Minnesota governor Tim Walz (D.) and other state officials, Ellison said a riot is how the "the unheard get heard," quoting civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
"Don't just dismiss that and ignore it, and relegate it to just criminality and bad behavior. Actually ask yourself what's going on there," Ellison said of the protests. "I think we must pay attention to it."
Ellison, the former deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee, drew criticism in 2018 when he posed with a picture of the book Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook. Antifa is a far-left organization that endorses violence against its political enemies. He is also a former member of the Nation of Islam who once referred to the group's radical anti-Semitic leader Louis Farrakhan as a "role model."
Before being elected to his current office, Ellison represented Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District in Congress. His seat is now filled by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.).


freebeacon--2020-05-29--IfNotNow Founder Endorses Minneapolis Looting

As violent protests rage in Minneapolis following the death of a man in police custody , the founder of a leading anti-Israel group lashed out at a Democratic ally who issued a call for calm .
Yonah Lieberman , the founder of IfNotNow , a virulently anti-Israel group aligned with far-left Democrats , took aim at Rep. Betty McCollum ( D. , Minn. ) after she issued an appeal for the protesters to end their violent siege of Minneapolis .
`` Wait what , '' Lieberman tweeted after McCollum said she was `` sickened by the reports of looting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a progressive champion on so many issues , but really gets it wrong here , siding with multi-billion dollar corporations over the people of color that elected her , '' Lieberman said He was responding to a tweet from McCollum in which she said , `` I 'm in Washington sickened by reports of the looting in St. Paul .
This is not a civil rights protest .
It is criminal mayhem against our families and neighbors and I condemn it . ''
McCollum , whose district includes parts of the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for IfNotNow and its anti-Israel agenda , but her appeal for peace did not sit well with Lieberman .

As violent protests rage in Minneapolis following the death of a man in police custody, the founder of a leading anti-Israel group lashed out at a Democratic ally who issued a call for calm.
Yonah Lieberman, the founder of IfNotNow, a virulently anti-Israel group aligned with far-left Democrats, took aim at Rep. Betty McCollum (D., Minn.) after she issued an appeal for the protesters to end their violent siege of Minneapolis.
"Wait what," Lieberman tweeted after McCollum said she was "sickened by the reports of looting in St. Paul."
"Betty is a progressive champion on so many issues, but really gets it wrong here, siding with multi-billion dollar corporations over the people of color that elected her," Lieberman said
He was responding to a tweet from McCollum in which she said, "I'm in Washington sickened by reports of the looting in St. Paul. This is not a civil rights protest. It is criminal mayhem against our families and neighbors and I condemn it."
McCollum, whose district includes parts of the city, has typically been a reliable ally for IfNotNow and its anti-Israel agenda, but her appeal for peace did not sit well with Lieberman.