talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-23--The Trump Administration’s Final Push to Make It Easier for Religious Employers to Discriminate

This story first appeared at ProPublica .
ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom .
Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox .
It was the hectic week before Thanksgiving , and Amrith Kaur — the legal director of an advocacy group called the Sikh Coalition — was not prepared for a surprise update from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that could have dramatic consequences for her clients .
With little warning , the EEOC published a 112-page overhaul of its guidance on religious discrimination in the workplace .
The feedback @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spare — she would have to file any comments by Dec. 17 .
“ To my knowledge , that was the first time that pretty much everybody heard about it , ” said Kaur , who was busy handling home schooling for her children , ages 8 and 10 , when the announcement popped up .
“ There ’ s so much happening , and I think it ’ s very strategic the way this was brought out.
” The guidance is among scores of last-minute actions that ProPublica is tracking on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them accelerating as it became clear that President Donald Trump ’ s time in office would end on Jan. 20 .
The EEOC ’ s guidance explains the complicated statutes and legal precedent that govern how employers must deal with religious freedom issues in the workplace .
It doesn ’ t have the force of law , but it can be cited in lawsuits , and it serves as a manual for managers navigating thorny situations .
As she dug into the document ’ s dense language and footnotes , Kaur was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be a slant toward large Christian employers like colleges and social service agencies , rather than smaller religions like Sikhism , which face widespread prejudice .
For example , in recent days , she ’ s had to focus on advising health care workers who keep long beards as part of their religious practice .
Some hospitals and nursing homes ban facial hair to ensure a proper fit for face masks , but Kaur has been able to work out accommodations that are both COVID-19-safe and allow medical staff to observe their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t address .
As the comment period ended , dozens of other civil rights groups and Democratic leaders filed letters appealing for more time and agreeing that the new guidance could allow for more discrimination under the guise of religious freedom , rather than less .
Unlike many midnight regulations that President-elect Joe Biden could roll back , the EEOC commissioners have multiyear terms , so the Biden administration won ’ t be able to change the board ’ s composition until 2022 .
Meanwhile , Kaur fears that adverse case law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ belief that these proposed changes in the manual , and what I think is a clear bias towards Christian viewpoints at the expense of all others , it ’ s just going to have profound negative effects for years to come , ” she said .
Most administrations kick rule-making into high gear once they know their party is leaving the White House , and Trump ’ s is no exception .
A flood of new entries in the Federal Register includes several rules and guidance documents that widen lanes for religious institutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their faith , or narrow the options for beneficiaries of federal programs who feel uncomfortable receiving services in a religious context .
Some of the freshly finalized rules codify an executive order that Trump issued in 2018 declaring that faith-based organizations should have full access to government grant programs without having to modify their operations .
They deliver on the promises that Trump made to evangelical Christians during his presidential run , and which he and Vice President Mike Pence campaigned on again in 2020 — the White House ’ s website contains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in posted speeches , press releases and other official statements .
Earlier in the term , Trump ’ s religious freedom agenda focused on the Department of Health and Human Services , which adopted a rule that protects health care providers who object to certain procedures — namely abortion — on religious grounds , among a host of other actions .
Even now , HHS is witholding funds from states that require their insurance plans to cover abortion .
Later , Trump moved on to further integrating religious organizations into the operations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview with the Religion News Service , Trump touted his administration ’ s work to install religious freedom liaisons in every Cabinet agency .
“ Led by Pastor Paula White , this Initiative is working to remove barriers which have unfairly prevented faith based organizations from working with or receiving funding from the federal government , ” Trump said in a written Q & A .
On that front , the first big change finalized Dec. 7 was at the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs , an agency within the Labor Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among recipients of federal dollars .
The new rule clarifies that private companies can qualify as “ religious employers ” under certain conditions , and that religious employers may deny positions to people who do not subscribe and adhere to their faith .
That could include not hiring people in same-sex relationships or someone of a different religion .
Advocates for marginalized communities say that the rules open the door for religious institutions to use faith as a pretext for firing or simply declining to hire people whom they would prefer not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as sexual orientation or medical disability — even though discriminating on those bases is still illegal .
“ If that employer just throws up their hands and says ‘ RFRA !
’ it ’ s like a get out of jail free card , ” said Human Rights Campaign legal director Sarah Warbelow , referring to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act , a 1993 law that strengthened the test for what can be considered a burden on the free exercise of religion .
Religious employers say that situation likely won ’ t occur @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change .
Jamison Coppola , legislative director of the American Association of Christian Schools , said that most people who work for his member institutions accept that abiding by faith-based principles is part of the deal .
“ It ’ s a rare occurrence where people enter an employment decision and then realize , ‘ Oh , I guess we have some difference of opinion about this , ’ ” Coppola said .
“ I just think that we don ’ t run into it that often , because of how we approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to do as an assembly of believers.
” Among the largest supporters of the rule was Catholic Charities , which , according to USAspending.gov , received approximately $ 189 million in federal contracts and grants in 2020 across all of its affiliated organizations .
The second change , finalized a few days later after a lightning-fast trip through the Office of Management and Budget , was a joint effort of nine agencies that elaborated on the religious freedom exemptions for recipients of their own spending .
It gets rid of the earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social services , from food banks to job training , provide referrals to secular alternatives .
In the case of “ indirect ” aid that travels with the beneficiary , like child care and housing vouchers , it eliminates the requirement that there must be a secular option available .
The concerns with those rules center around the possible exclusion of people who may feel uncomfortable getting aid in an explicitly religious setting , even if providers are not allowed to proselytize as part of the programming .
“ They are really putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these large social service providers ahead of the people who receive the service , ” said Maggie Garrett , vice president of public policy at Americans United for Separation of Church and State .
“ Their priority is not the LGBTQ youth who is seeking services because they were kicked out of their home.
” Not all religious organizations — or even Christian organizations — support the changes .
Some have recommended that the requirements for secular alternatives be kept because of the delicate political balancing that has gone into these rules over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ conscience or concerns about having more faith-based groups be involved in these services , ” said Stanley Carlson-Thies , founder and senior director of the Institutional Religious Freedom Alliance , which represents Christian employers .
Now , he fears a backlash .
“ I personally don ’ t know of anybody who was asking for this change , but there it is , and I don ’ t think it ’ s a good change , ” Carlson-Thies said .
“ And I think that one thing that ’ s going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to go through a regulatory process and take those out , and they ’ ll do other things too that to my mind won ’ t be so positive.
” Finally , the Trump administration is moving forward with its guidance for all employers , whether they contract with the federal government or not , through the EEOC .
The last time the agency updated its religious freedom guidance , in 2008 , it went through an expansive , yearslong process that incorporated feedback from a panoply of groups that represent faith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as advocates for LGBTQ people and women ’ s reproductive rights .
Trump ’ s EEOC has shifted its emphasis toward supporting the rights of religious employers and employees .
For example , it took up the case of two Kroger employees who were fired after they objected to wearing a rainbow heart emblem on their uniforms , which they interpreted as a symbol of support for gay rights .
In a November online forum hosted by the conservative Federalist Society , EEOC General Counsel Sharon Fast Gustafson articulated the new focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the courts getting all aspects of employment discrimination right , whether getting it right helps the employee , or whether getting it right helps the employer , ” she said .
“ Religious liberty has been a high priority for the current administration , where everyone I have spoken with has been unequivocally supportive of religious liberty for all.
” However , many religious groups felt left out of the process that led to the EEOC ’ s new guidance .
The updates were put together in the wake of a landmark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gender identity and sexual orientation to be protected classes in an employment context , making it much more difficult to discriminate against gay , lesbian or transgender people in the workplace .
EEOC spokeswoman Christine Nazer said the new guidance was drafted by the agency ’ s office of legal counsel , with no input from external stakeholders .
Many groups that closely track religious freedom issues found out about the updates during a three-day listening session convened by the commission ’ s Religious Freedom Work Group , which is led by Assistant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to her LinkedIn profile , Lambrou Johnson is a member of the Christian Legal Society , which describes itself as “ a fellowship of Christians dedicated to serving Jesus Christ through the practice and study of law , the defense of religious freedom and life , and the provision of legal aid to the needy.
” Nazer said the Religious Freedom Work Group ’ s duties are separate from the development of the guidance , and that the commission voted to publish the guidance for public comment on Nov. 9 , giving additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting , the body ’ s two Democratic commissioners said that they hadn ’ t had enough time to provide input or that it was rejected by the commission ’ s Republican members .
The Democratic commissioners also raised questions about the legal soundness of some of the guidance ’ s interpretations and pleaded for the vote to be delayed .
It wasn ’ t .
In addition to liberally interpreting exemptions from Title VII of the Civil Rights Act for religious employers to hire and fire on religious grounds , the guidance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one employee might be harassing another on religious grounds .
And it says little about some of the common questions raised by the COVID-19 pandemic , such as the Sikh nurses that Kaur has been helping negotiate accommodations with hospitals , which would be easier if the EEOC had set out a clear position .
In response to these concerns , Nazer said that the commission is “ carefully considering all of the comments provided to us by our stakeholders as we finalize the guidance.
” “ Manuals like this , that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re not , are what our government is going to rely on to make a decision on whether discrimination took place , ” Kaur said .
“ We have the Title VII protections in the Civil Rights Act for a reason , and to try and decimate it in a way that ’ s not supported by the law is a sad and disappointing attempt at getting around having to be fair to everybody .
”

This story first appeared at ProPublica. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.
It was the hectic week before Thanksgiving, and Amrith Kaur — the legal director of an advocacy group called the Sikh Coalition — was not prepared for a surprise update from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that could have dramatic consequences for her clients.
With little warning, the EEOC published a 112-page overhaul of its guidance on religious discrimination in the workplace. The feedback period was proceeding with no time to spare — she would have to file any comments by Dec. 17.
“To my knowledge, that was the first time that pretty much everybody heard about it,” said Kaur, who was busy handling home schooling for her children, ages 8 and 10, when the announcement popped up. “There’s so much happening, and I think it’s very strategic the way this was brought out.”
The guidance is among scores of last-minute actions that ProPublica is tracking on their way through the approval process, many of them accelerating as it became clear that President Donald Trump’s time in office would end on Jan. 20.
The EEOC’s guidance explains the complicated statutes and legal precedent that govern how employers must deal with religious freedom issues in the workplace. It doesn’t have the force of law, but it can be cited in lawsuits, and it serves as a manual for managers navigating thorny situations.
As she dug into the document’s dense language and footnotes, Kaur was particularly distressed because of what she found to be a slant toward large Christian employers like colleges and social service agencies, rather than smaller religions like Sikhism, which face widespread prejudice. For example, in recent days, she’s had to focus on advising health care workers who keep long beards as part of their religious practice. Some hospitals and nursing homes ban facial hair to ensure a proper fit for face masks, but Kaur has been able to work out accommodations that are both COVID-19-safe and allow medical staff to observe their faith — which the new guidance doesn’t address.
As the comment period ended, dozens of other civil rights groups and Democratic leaders filed letters appealing for more time and agreeing that the new guidance could allow for more discrimination under the guise of religious freedom, rather than less.
Unlike many midnight regulations that President-elect Joe Biden could roll back, the EEOC commissioners have multiyear terms, so the Biden administration won’t be able to change the board’s composition until 2022. Meanwhile, Kaur fears that adverse case law could accumulate. “It is our belief that these proposed changes in the manual, and what I think is a clear bias towards Christian viewpoints at the expense of all others, it’s just going to have profound negative effects for years to come,” she said.
Most administrations kick rule-making into high gear once they know their party is leaving the White House, and Trump’s is no exception. A flood of new entries in the Federal Register includes several rules and guidance documents that widen lanes for religious institutions to exclude those who do not share their faith, or narrow the options for beneficiaries of federal programs who feel uncomfortable receiving services in a religious context.
Some of the freshly finalized rules codify an executive order that Trump issued in 2018 declaring that faith-based organizations should have full access to government grant programs without having to modify their operations. They deliver on the promises that Trump made to evangelical Christians during his presidential run, and which he and Vice President Mike Pence campaigned on again in 2020 — the White House’s website contains 228 mentions of “religious freedom,” in posted speeches, press releases and other official statements.
Earlier in the term, Trump’s religious freedom agenda focused on the Department of Health and Human Services, which adopted a rule that protects health care providers who object to certain procedures — namely abortion — on religious grounds, among a host of other actions. Even now, HHS is witholding funds from states that require their insurance plans to cover abortion.
Later, Trump moved on to further integrating religious organizations into the operations of government itself.
In an October interview with the Religion News Service, Trump touted his administration’s work to install religious freedom liaisons in every Cabinet agency. “Led by Pastor Paula White, this Initiative is working to remove barriers which have unfairly prevented faith based organizations from working with or receiving funding from the federal government,” Trump said in a written Q&A.
On that front, the first big change finalized Dec. 7 was at the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, an agency within the Labor Department that enforces compliance with civil rights laws among recipients of federal dollars. The new rule clarifies that private companies can qualify as “religious employers” under certain conditions, and that religious employers may deny positions to people who do not subscribe and adhere to their faith. That could include not hiring people in same-sex relationships or someone of a different religion.
Advocates for marginalized communities say that the rules open the door for religious institutions to use faith as a pretext for firing or simply declining to hire people whom they would prefer not to employ because of other factors — such as sexual orientation or medical disability — even though discriminating on those bases is still illegal.
“If that employer just throws up their hands and says ‘RFRA!’ it’s like a get out of jail free card,” said Human Rights Campaign legal director Sarah Warbelow, referring to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a 1993 law that strengthened the test for what can be considered a burden on the free exercise of religion.
Religious employers say that situation likely won’t occur often, but they still supported the change. Jamison Coppola, legislative director of the American Association of Christian Schools, said that most people who work for his member institutions accept that abiding by faith-based principles is part of the deal.
“It’s a rare occurrence where people enter an employment decision and then realize, ‘Oh, I guess we have some difference of opinion about this,’” Coppola said. “I just think that we don’t run into it that often, because of how we approach the totality of what we’re trying to do as an assembly of believers.”
Among the largest supporters of the rule was Catholic Charities, which, according to USAspending.gov, received approximately $189 million in federal contracts and grants in 2020 across all of its affiliated organizations.
The second change, finalized a few days later after a lightning-fast trip through the Office of Management and Budget, was a joint effort of nine agencies that elaborated on the religious freedom exemptions for recipients of their own spending. It gets rid of the earlier requirement that religious providers of federally funded social services, from food banks to job training, provide referrals to secular alternatives. In the case of “indirect” aid that travels with the beneficiary, like child care and housing vouchers, it eliminates the requirement that there must be a secular option available.
The concerns with those rules center around the possible exclusion of people who may feel uncomfortable getting aid in an explicitly religious setting, even if providers are not allowed to proselytize as part of the programming.
“They are really putting what they believe are the interests of these large social service providers ahead of the people who receive the service,” said Maggie Garrett, vice president of public policy at Americans United for Separation of Church and State. “Their priority is not the LGBTQ youth who is seeking services because they were kicked out of their home.”
Not all religious organizations — or even Christian organizations — support the changes. Some have recommended that the requirements for secular alternatives be kept because of the delicate political balancing that has gone into these rules over the years.
“It eased peoples’ conscience or concerns about having more faith-based groups be involved in these services,” said Stanley Carlson-Thies, founder and senior director of the Institutional Religious Freedom Alliance, which represents Christian employers. Now, he fears a backlash.
“I personally don’t know of anybody who was asking for this change, but there it is, and I don’t think it’s a good change,” Carlson-Thies said. “And I think that one thing that’s going to happen is that the next administration is going to go through a regulatory process and take those out, and they’ll do other things too that to my mind won’t be so positive.”
Finally, the Trump administration is moving forward with its guidance for all employers, whether they contract with the federal government or not, through the EEOC.
The last time the agency updated its religious freedom guidance, in 2008, it went through an expansive, yearslong process that incorporated feedback from a panoply of groups that represent faith communities and those impacted by them, such as advocates for LGBTQ people and women’s reproductive rights.
Trump’s EEOC has shifted its emphasis toward supporting the rights of religious employers and employees. For example, it took up the case of two Kroger employees who were fired after they objected to wearing a rainbow heart emblem on their uniforms, which they interpreted as a symbol of support for gay rights.
In a November online forum hosted by the conservative Federalist Society, EEOC General Counsel Sharon Fast Gustafson articulated the new focus. “The EEOC has an interest in the courts getting all aspects of employment discrimination right, whether getting it right helps the employee, or whether getting it right helps the employer,” she said. “Religious liberty has been a high priority for the current administration, where everyone I have spoken with has been unequivocally supportive of religious liberty for all.”
However, many religious groups felt left out of the process that led to the EEOC’s new guidance.
The updates were put together in the wake of a landmark Supreme Court decision in June that declared gender identity and sexual orientation to be protected classes in an employment context, making it much more difficult to discriminate against gay, lesbian or transgender people in the workplace. EEOC spokeswoman Christine Nazer said the new guidance was drafted by the agency’s office of legal counsel, with no input from external stakeholders.
Many groups that closely track religious freedom issues found out about the updates during a three-day listening session convened by the commission’s Religious Freedom Work Group, which is led by Assistant General Counsel Christine Lambrou Johnson. According to her LinkedIn profile, Lambrou Johnson is a member of the Christian Legal Society, which describes itself as “a fellowship of Christians dedicated to serving Jesus Christ through the practice and study of law, the defense of religious freedom and life, and the provision of legal aid to the needy.”
Nazer said the Religious Freedom Work Group’s duties are separate from the development of the guidance, and that the commission voted to publish the guidance for public comment on Nov. 9, giving additional time for discussion. But at that meeting, the body’s two Democratic commissioners said that they hadn’t had enough time to provide input or that it was rejected by the commission’s Republican members. The Democratic commissioners also raised questions about the legal soundness of some of the guidance’s interpretations and pleaded for the vote to be delayed. It wasn’t.
In addition to liberally interpreting exemptions from Title VII of the Civil Rights Act for religious employers to hire and fire on religious grounds, the guidance also raises the bar for intervention when one employee might be harassing another on religious grounds. And it says little about some of the common questions raised by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the Sikh nurses that Kaur has been helping negotiate accommodations with hospitals, which would be easier if the EEOC had set out a clear position.
In response to these concerns, Nazer said that the commission is “carefully considering all of the comments provided to us by our stakeholders as we finalize the guidance.”
Kaur is not comforted.
“Manuals like this, that are sort of taken as law even though they’re not, are what our government is going to rely on to make a decision on whether discrimination took place,” Kaur said. “We have the Title VII protections in the Civil Rights Act for a reason, and to try and decimate it in a way that’s not supported by the law is a sad and disappointing attempt at getting around having to be fair to everybody.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-23--Dominion Lawyers Tell Giuliani, White House To Retain Records Related To ‘Smear Campaign’

White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and President Trump ’ s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani were both told by a law firm representing the election vendor Dominion to preserve documents related to the company .
The letters , which were first reported Wednesday by CNN , request that a wide variety of records be retained .
Giuliani was warned in the letter that litigation was “ imminent.
” Dominion has been a target of Trump ’ s and his supporters ’ most absurd allegations about the election being stolen .
Already , one of the company ’ s employees has filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and some of its allies .
Dominion is being represented by Clare Locke , a Virginia-based law firm that is a heavy hitter in the defamation law space .
The firm previously warned Sidney Powell — another lawyer advising Trump on his efforts to overturn the election — that she was exposed to “ substantial legal risk for defamation ” if she did not retract her claims about the company .
Powell has laid out an elaborate and over-the-top false theory — involving communist infiltrators and the late Hugo Chavez — about Dominion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lose the election .
She is among those being sued for defamation by the Dominion official .
The new letter to Giuliani referenced the firm ’ s warning to Powell and others .
“ Because you have been , and continue to be , an architect and driver of the ongoing misinformation campaign against Dominion , we write to you now to ( 1 ) demand that you cease and desist making defamatory claims against Dominion and ( 2 ) ensure that there is no confusion about your obligation to preserve and retain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smear campaign against the company , ” the letter said .
It asked Giuliani to preserve any records documenting his involvement in the lawsuits that pushed the conspiracy theories about Dominion , as well as any documents related to his communications to the media about the allegations .
Cipollone , meanwhile , was told to preserve all records documenting any White House communications about the Dominion claims , including White House communications with Giuliani , Powell and other Trump allies pushing the theories .

White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and President Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani were both told by a law firm representing the election vendor Dominion to preserve documents related to the company.
The letters, which were first reported Wednesday by CNN, request that a wide variety of records be retained. Giuliani was warned in the letter that litigation was “imminent.”
Dominion has been a target of Trump’s and his supporters’ most absurd allegations about the election being stolen. Already, one of the company’s employees has filed a defamation lawsuit against the Trump campaign and some of its allies.
Dominion is being represented by Clare Locke, a Virginia-based law firm that is a heavy hitter in the defamation law space. The firm previously warned Sidney Powell — another lawyer advising Trump on his efforts to overturn the election — that she was exposed to “substantial legal risk for defamation” if she did not retract her claims about the company.
Powell has laid out an elaborate and over-the-top false theory — involving communist infiltrators and the late Hugo Chavez — about Dominion technology being rigged so that Trump would lose the election. She is among those being sued for defamation by the Dominion official.
The new letter to Giuliani referenced the firm’s warning to Powell and others.
“Because you have been, and continue to be, an architect and driver of the ongoing
misinformation campaign against Dominion, we write to you now to (1) demand that you cease and desist making defamatory claims against Dominion and (2) ensure that there is no confusion about your obligation to preserve and retain all documents relating to Dominion and your smear campaign against the company,” the letter said.
It asked Giuliani to preserve any records documenting his involvement in the lawsuits that pushed the conspiracy theories about Dominion, as well as any documents related to his communications to the media about the allegations.
Cipollone, meanwhile, was told to preserve all records documenting any White House communications about the Dominion claims, including White House communications with Giuliani, Powell and other Trump allies pushing the theories.
Read the letters below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-23--Trump Tells Congress He’s Vetoing Defense Bill That Would Strip Confederate Names From Bases

President Donald Trump on Wednesday officially informed Congress that he was vetoing the year-end defense package , citing , among other things , Congress ’ insistence on renaming military installations named after generals in the Confederacy .
The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act , Trump said , “ includes provisions that fail to respect our veterans and our military ’ s history.
” The $ 740 billion legislation passed both houses of Congress with more than the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto .
“ Over the course of United States history , these locations have taken on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have helped write it that far transcends their namesakes , ” Trump added in his statement .
“ My Administration respects the legacy of the millions of American servicemen and women who have served with honor at these military bases , and who , from these locations , have fought , bled , and died for their country.
” Trump also objected to language in the bill aimed at blocking the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan , Germany and South Korea , at least pending further evaluation the drawdown .
“ Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is unconstitutional , ” he said .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) said in a statement that the House would take up the veto override vote on Monday .
“ Trump ’ s veto violates our national values , as it would block action to rename military bases and infrastructure named after those who served in the Confederacy – which is supported by an overwhelming majority of the American people , by House and Senate Democrats and Republicans and by our servicemembers and top military leaders , ” Pelosi said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ language dates back to June , when an amendment to rename the military installations from Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-MA ) passed the Senate Armed Services committee via a voice vote .
Several Republicans told TPM at the time that they supported changing the base names .
Sen. Josh Hawley ( R-MO ) , on the other hand , said it was an affront to Americans ’ “ shared struggle ” and argued the Civil War “ gave us heroes and a more perfect union to love.
” Trump threatened to veto the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few days later , and again in early December .
Trump on Wednesday also complained about Congress ’ failure to terminate Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 , which generally holds that websites are not liable for what users post on them .
Section 230 , Trump said , “ facilitates the spread of foreign disinformation online , which is a serious threat to our national security and election integrity.
” Section 230 has become a hobbyhorse for some Republicans , including Trump , who claim social media outlets suppress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has raged about Twitter fact-checking his claims of election fraud .
Trump also faulted the NDAA ’ s language limiting the use of emergency military construction funds — which he ’ s used to build wall on parts of the U.S.-Mexico border — and a provision regarding the development of 5G networks .
This post has been updated .

President Donald Trump on Wednesday officially informed Congress that he was vetoing the year-end defense package, citing, among other things, Congress’ insistence on renaming military installations named after generals in the Confederacy.
The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, Trump said, “includes provisions that fail to respect our veterans and our military’s history.”
The $740 billion legislation passed both houses of Congress with more than the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto.
“Over the course of United States history, these locations have taken on significance to the American story and those who have helped write it that far transcends their namesakes,” Trump added in his statement.
“My Administration respects the legacy of the millions of American servicemen and women who have served with honor at these military bases, and who, from these locations, have fought, bled, and died for their country.”
Trump also objected to language in the bill aimed at blocking the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, Germany and South Korea, at least pending further evaluation the drawdown. “Not only is this bad policy, but it is unconstitutional,” he said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said in a statement that the House would take up the veto override vote on Monday.
“Trump’s veto violates our national values, as it would block action to rename military bases and infrastructure named after those who served in the Confederacy – which is supported by an overwhelming majority of the American people, by House and Senate Democrats and Republicans and by our servicemembers and top military leaders,” Pelosi said.
The debate over the base renaming language dates back to June, when an amendment to rename the military installations from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) passed the Senate Armed Services committee via a voice vote.
Several Republicans told TPM at the time that they supported changing the base names. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), on the other hand, said it was an affront to Americans’ “shared struggle” and argued the Civil War “gave us heroes and a more perfect union to love.” Trump threatened to veto the funding bill over the naming debate a few days later, and again in early December.
Trump on Wednesday also complained about Congress’ failure to terminate Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which generally holds that websites are not liable for what users post on them. Section 230, Trump said, “facilitates the spread of foreign disinformation online, which is a serious threat to our national security and election integrity.”
Section 230 has become a hobbyhorse for some Republicans, including Trump, who claim social media outlets suppress conservative voices. In recent months, Trump has raged about Twitter fact-checking his claims of election fraud.
Republicans feel that Social Media Platforms totally silence conservatives voices. We will strongly regulate, or close them down, before we can ever allow this to happen. We saw what they attempted to do, and failed, in 2016. We can’t let a more sophisticated version of that…. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 27, 2020
Trump also faulted the NDAA’s language limiting the use of emergency military construction funds — which he’s used to build wall on parts of the U.S.-Mexico border — and a provision regarding the development of 5G networks.
This post has been updated.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-23--Trump’s Late Call For $2,000 Stimulus Checks Makes Multimillionaire Kelly Loeffler Squirm

President Donald Trump ’ s after-the-fact pronunciation Tuesday night that he wanted to send Americans $ 2,000 checks — rather than the $ 600 that congressional Republicans had begrudgingly agreed to — has left the two Republican senators currently campaigning in Georgia in a tight spot .
On Wednesday , the richest member of Congress wasn ’ t willing to say that she supported the President ’ s call to amend legislation she voted to include larger stimulus checks .
Instead , Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) simply said she would… take a look at it .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be very targeted at families and businesses who have been impacted by this virus through no fault of their own , ” she told reporters in response to a question about the President ’ s demand , the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported .
Pressed again on the $ 2,000 figure , Loeffler said only , “ I ’ ll certainly look at supporting it if it repurposes wasteful spending for that , yes.
” Loeffler will be on the Jan. 5 runoff election ballot alongside Sen. David Perdue ( R-GA ) , who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s larger check proposal .
Meanwhile , the Democrats in the Jan. 5 runoff election — Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff — immediately said they fully supported quickly amending the stimulus package to change the $ 600 check amount to $ 2,000 , matching calls from Democrats ’ congressional leadership .
“ At a time when Georgians are struggling to pay the bills and keep a roof over their heads , Senator Kelly Loeffler still won ’ t fully commit to increasing economic stimulus checks as soon as possible even when the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for it , ” state party spokesperson Alex Floyd said in a statement .
“ There ’ s bipartisan support for delivering more relief to Georgians , but Loeffler would rather take a victory lap for a bill she didn ’ t help write and one Trump called a ‘ disgrace ’ than work to secure more aid for Georgians.
” Trump , by proposing a bump in the amount of cash welfare Americans receive , has put the two Georgia Republicans in a bind .
They could support the President ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that White House aides reportedly talked Trump out of making while the stimulus package was actually being negotiated — or stay in line behind Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) , perhaps angering Trump himself and cash-strapped supporters of his Georgia .
To twist the knife further : Perdue and Loeffler ’ s races were , reportedly , the primary reason for McConnell decision to support direct payments in the final weeks of 2020 , after months of opposing them .
In a call with Republicans last week , McConnell said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” for not doing more to provide aid to Americans , The New York Times reported .
That , the Times reported , was the basis for McConnell ( and , following him , Republicans in the Senate ) to come to the table on direct payments .
Loeffler and Perdue touted their vote for the COVID-19 relief package — the one with $ 600 checks — on Tuesday .
But now , the senators ’ party leader says they ’ ve failed , and he wants more .
The late pressure from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from some die-hard supporters of the President , who allege that Perdue and Loeffler ( and , for that matter , McConnell himself ) are insufficiently supportive of the President and his attempts to overturn the 2020 election .

President Donald Trump’s after-the-fact pronunciation Tuesday night that he wanted to send Americans $2,000 checks — rather than the $600 that congressional Republicans had begrudgingly agreed to — has left the two Republican senators currently campaigning in Georgia in a tight spot.
On Wednesday, the richest member of Congress wasn’t willing to say that she supported the President’s call to amend legislation she voted to include larger stimulus checks.
Instead, Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) simply said she would… take a look at it.
“I certainly support redirecting any wasteful spending to be very targeted at families and businesses who have been impacted by this virus through no fault of their own,” she told reporters in response to a question about the President’s demand, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Pressed again on the $2,000 figure, Loeffler said only, “I’ll certainly look at supporting it if it repurposes wasteful spending for that, yes.”
Loeffler will be on the Jan. 5 runoff election ballot alongside Sen. David Perdue (R-GA), who has yet to comment on the President’s larger check proposal.
Meanwhile, the Democrats in the Jan. 5 runoff election — Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff — immediately said they fully supported quickly amending the stimulus package to change the $600 check amount to $2,000, matching calls from Democrats’ congressional leadership.
The Democratic Party smells blood.
“At a time when Georgians are struggling to pay the bills and keep a roof over their heads, Senator Kelly Loeffler still won’t fully commit to increasing economic stimulus checks as soon as possible even when the president she supports ‘100%’ calls for it,” state party spokesperson Alex Floyd said in a statement.
“There’s bipartisan support for delivering more relief to Georgians, but Loeffler would rather take a victory lap for a bill she didn’t help write and one Trump called a ‘disgrace’ than work to secure more aid for Georgians.”
Trump, by proposing a bump in the amount of cash welfare Americans receive, has put the two Georgia Republicans in a bind.
They could support the President’s new call for more money — one that White House aides reportedly talked Trump out of making while the stimulus package was actually being negotiated — or stay in line behind Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), perhaps angering Trump himself and cash-strapped supporters of his Georgia.
To twist the knife further: Perdue and Loeffler’s races were, reportedly, the primary reason for McConnell decision to support direct payments in the final weeks of 2020, after months of opposing them.
In a call with Republicans last week, McConnell said Loeffler and Perdue were “getting hammered” for not doing more to provide aid to Americans, The New York Times reported. That, the Times reported, was the basis for McConnell (and, following him, Republicans in the Senate) to come to the table on direct payments. Loeffler and Perdue touted their vote for the COVID-19 relief package — the one with $600 checks — on Tuesday.
Dems blocked relief & played politics w/ Georgians’ lives for MONTHS, but we never stopped fighting. Last night, we delivered nearly $1 trillion in new aid — including new PPP funding, which already saved 1.5 million GA jobs. @Perduesenate & I will ALWAYS put GEORGIANS first. — Kelly Loeffler (@KLoeffler) December 22, 2020
Democrats played politics with Americans’ livelihoods for months. @KLoeffler and I never stopped fighting for you — and never will. More relief is finally on the way. Now, back on the road to win Georgia and save America! #GASen #gapol pic.twitter.com/ShHX3syXt0 — David Perdue (@Perduesenate) December 22, 2020
But now, the senators’ party leader says they’ve failed, and he wants more.
The late pressure from Trump may only play into existing anger from some die-hard supporters of the President, who allege that Perdue and Loeffler (and, for that matter, McConnell himself) are insufficiently supportive of the President and his attempts to overturn the 2020 election.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-23--Talk Heats Up Of Sanctioning Trump Allies For Their Election Reversal Legal Shenanigans

The city of Detroit told the federal judge on Tuesday that sanctions are warranted in a case seeking to disturb Michigan ’ s election results .
The case was brought by allies of President Trump .
Detroit wants the challengers – three local GOP officials and three Trump electors — to pay back to the defendants the costs and fees incurred in the litigation .
Detroit said on Tuesday that , in a coming filing , the city will lay “ out many of the intentional misrepresentations made by Plaintiffs in their filings in this case.
” “ Plaintiffs are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democracy can not be trusted , ” the filing later said .
“ It is time for this Court to send a message back : lies and frivolous claims will not be tolerated .
This abuse of our legal system deserves the strongest possible sanctions.
” A Wayne County voter who has sought to intervene in the case also filed a sanctions request on Tuesday .
He said the challengers and their attorneys had made “ clearly frivolous arguments ” and were “ using the judicial system to obtain unprecedented relief , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agendas.
” The case is one of dozens of conspiracy theory-laden lawsuits that President Trump and his supporters have filed in their effort to stave off his defeat in the presidential election .
And it is not the only one where the potential for legal blowback for those gambits has came up .
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel also suggested Tuesday in public comments that she would pursue sanctions against the lawyers involved in the Michigan election reversal cases , but she did not say specifically which lawsuits or lawyers she was referring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had Trump ’ s ear in the recent days , is among the conservative lawyers who have been involved in the legal gambits trying to disrupt Joe Biden ’ s victory in Michigan , including the case where Detroit is now seeking sanctions .
Additionally , the Arizona Republican Party may face sanctions for a “ meritless ” case it brought in Maricopa County , a state court judge suggested Monday .
While the judge had already dismissed the case , he was still weighing “ whether the Republican Party and its attorneys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delay certification of the election or to cast false shadows on the election ’ s legitimacy.
” In a filing earlier this month , Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs argued that the judge should order the GOP to pay her more than $ 18,000 in fees .
Hobbs said that the Republicans ’ tactics in the case were “ truly amateurish.
” “ Their motives were transparent : delay final election results and sow doubt about the integrity of Arizona ’ s elections system , ” she said .
“ That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and this abuse of the judicial system should not go without sanction.
” The judge , in his opinion Monday explaining why he was dismissing the case , zeroed in on claims the GOP made in their complaint where they suggested a hand count audit of the election had not yet begun , when in fact it had .
“ What exactly the Arizona Republican Party and its attorney knew or had reason to know about the status of hand count audit , at the time of filing the complaint , will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorneys ’ fees , ” the judge said .
“ The Republican Party appears to have had constructive knowledge , at least , of facts that contradicted the allegations in the complaint.
” Meanwhile , on Tuesday , a Trump-aligned lawyer who has been spearheading election reversal several lawsuits in Georgia and elsewhere drew heat from a judge presiding over a non-election case with which the lawyer is also involved .
The lawyer , Lin Wood , is representing Russia probe figure Carter Page in a defamation lawsuit Page brought in Delaware against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court judge said recently that Wood ’ s conduct in the Georgia election challenges may violate Delaware ’ s code of legal professional conduct .
The judge ordered Wood to submit an explanation for why the court shouldn ’ t revoke his representation of Page .
An affidavit that Wood submitted in one of the Georgia cases “ contained materially false information , misidentifying the counties as to which claimed fraudulent voting information occurred , ” the Delaware judge said .

The city of Detroit told the federal judge on Tuesday that sanctions are warranted in a case seeking to disturb Michigan’s election results.
The case was brought by allies of President Trump. Detroit wants the challengers – three local GOP officials and three Trump electors — to pay back to the defendants the costs and fees incurred in the litigation.
Detroit said on Tuesday that, in a coming filing, the city will lay “out many of the intentional misrepresentations made by Plaintiffs in their filings in this case.”
“Plaintiffs are trying to send the message that our democracy cannot be trusted,” the filing later said. “It is time for this Court to send a message back: lies and frivolous claims will not be tolerated. This abuse of our legal system deserves the strongest possible sanctions.”
A Wayne County voter who has sought to intervene in the case also filed a sanctions request on Tuesday. He said the challengers and their attorneys had made “clearly frivolous arguments” and were “using the judicial system to obtain unprecedented relief, to satisfy Plaintiffs’ selfish and destructive political agendas.”
The case is one of dozens of conspiracy theory-laden lawsuits that President Trump and his supporters have filed in their effort to stave off his defeat in the presidential election.
And it is not the only one where the potential for legal blowback for those gambits has came up.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel also suggested Tuesday in public comments that she would pursue sanctions against the lawyers involved in the Michigan election reversal cases, but she did not say specifically which lawsuits or lawyers she was referring to.
Sidney Powell, who has had Trump’s ear in the recent days, is among the conservative lawyers who have been involved in the legal gambits trying to disrupt Joe Biden’s victory in Michigan, including the case where Detroit is now seeking sanctions.
Additionally, the Arizona Republican Party may face sanctions for a “meritless” case it brought in Maricopa County, a state court judge suggested Monday.
While the judge had already dismissed the case, he was still weighing “whether the Republican Party and its attorneys brought the case in bad faith to delay certification of the election or to cast false shadows on the election’s legitimacy.”
In a filing earlier this month, Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs argued that the judge should order the GOP to pay her more than $18,000 in fees.
Hobbs said that the Republicans’ tactics in the case were “truly amateurish.”
“Their motives were transparent: delay final election results and sow doubt about the integrity of Arizona’s elections system,” she said. “That’s simply not what litigation is for, and this abuse of the judicial system should not go without sanction.”
The judge, in his opinion Monday explaining why he was dismissing the case, zeroed in on claims the GOP made in their complaint where they suggested a hand count audit of the election had not yet begun, when in fact it had.
“What exactly the Arizona Republican Party and its attorney knew or had reason to know about the status of hand count audit, at the time of filing the complaint, will be an issue on the application for attorneys’ fees,” the judge said. “The Republican Party appears to have had constructive knowledge, at least, of facts that contradicted the allegations in the complaint.”
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, a Trump-aligned lawyer who has been spearheading election reversal several lawsuits in Georgia and elsewhere drew heat from a judge presiding over a non-election case with which the lawyer is also involved.
The lawyer, Lin Wood, is representing Russia probe figure Carter Page in a defamation lawsuit Page brought in Delaware against certain media outlets.
The Delaware state court judge said recently that Wood’s conduct in the Georgia election challenges may violate Delaware’s code of legal professional conduct. The judge ordered Wood to submit an explanation for why the court shouldn’t revoke his representation of Page.
An affidavit that Wood submitted in one of the Georgia cases “contained materially false information, misidentifying the counties as to which claimed fraudulent voting information occurred,” the Delaware judge said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-23--NY AG Torches Trump For ‘Act Of Sedition’ With Talk Of Martial Law

New York Attorney General Letitia James ( D ) issued a scathing rebuke of President Trump Wednesday after he flirted with the idea of imposing martial law in his last-ditch attempt at overturning election results , .
Last week , Trump hosted a summit at the White House with his former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and discussed imposing martial law as part of the President ’ s long-shot efforts seeking a second term .
During an interview with SiriusXM ’ s Dean Obeidallah that aired Wednesday , the host asked James about Trump ’ s fruitless efforts to overturn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Flynn at the White House .
The New York attorney general slammed Trump ’ s nonsensical tactics as an “ act of sedition.
” “ The days of President Trump are closely coming to an end .
And the reality is is that this is an act of sedition , ” James said .
“ This president is engaging in illegality , and the fact that he would even consider martial law is an affront to our values , and to the Constitution.
” James reiterated that “ the people have spoken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outcome of the election “ as opposed to trying to find fraud where none exists.
” James argued that Trump ’ s shenanigans are “ nothing more than a distraction ” from more important issues , such as the country reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed more than 320,000 Americans thus far .
“ And the reality is that this is nothing more than an attempt by President Trump to raise money .
It ’ s fundraising .
That ’ s all that this is .
Fundraising .
And that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” James said .
“ He ’ s in the White House , and he stews on the fact that he ’ s a loser , and he lost this election , and unfortunately he ’ s finding it hard to accept .
He lost.
” James also called out Republicans in Congress who are “ basically validating this behavior of this President.
” James doubled down on her assertion that Trump is “ engaging in a seditious act.
” James anticipated that “ there ’ s more to come ” next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Electoral College results that cements President-elect Joe Biden ’ s victory , a process that James noted as “ normally nothing more than a ministerial act.
” “ Members of Congress in all likelihood will again try to circumvent the will of the people , undermine our democracy , and delay or attempt to delay the fact that Vice President Biden and VP-elect Kamala Harris will soon be sworn in on January 20 , ” James said .

New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) issued a scathing rebuke of President Trump Wednesday after he flirted with the idea of imposing martial law in his last-ditch attempt at overturning election results,.
Last week, Trump hosted a summit at the White House with his former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and discussed imposing martial law as part of the President’s long-shot efforts seeking a second term.
During an interview with SiriusXM’s Dean Obeidallah that aired Wednesday, the host asked James about Trump’s fruitless efforts to overturn election results, which included his meeting with Flynn at the White House. The New York attorney general slammed Trump’s nonsensical tactics as an “act of sedition.”
“The days of President Trump are closely coming to an end. And the reality is is that this is an act of sedition,” James said. “This president is engaging in illegality, and the fact that he would even consider martial law is an affront to our values, and to the Constitution.”
James reiterated that “the people have spoken” as she implored Trump to accept the outcome of the election “as opposed to trying to find fraud where none exists.”
James argued that Trump’s shenanigans are “nothing more than a distraction” from more important issues, such as the country reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed more than 320,000 Americans thus far.
“And the reality is that this is nothing more than an attempt by President Trump to raise money. It’s fundraising. That’s all that this is. Fundraising. And that’s all that he cares about,” James said. “He’s in the White House, and he stews on the fact that he’s a loser, and he lost this election, and unfortunately he’s finding it hard to accept. He lost.”
James also called out Republicans in Congress who are “basically validating this behavior of this President.” James doubled down on her assertion that Trump is “engaging in a seditious act.”
James anticipated that “there’s more to come” next month when Congress meets to certify the Electoral College results that cements President-elect Joe Biden’s victory, a process that James noted as “normally nothing more than a ministerial act.”
“Members of Congress in all likelihood will again try to circumvent the will of the people, undermine our democracy, and delay or attempt to delay the fact that Vice President Biden and VP-elect Kamala Harris will soon be sworn in on January 20,” James said.
Listen to James’ remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-23--Keeping Tabs: Trump Pardon List Fueled By Rec Letters From High-Powered Loyalists

“ You scratch my back , ” the saying goes , “ and I ’ ll scratch yours… and yours… and yours… ” The latest list of presidential pardons and commutations Tuesday night not only featured a long list of the President ’ s political allies , but also an even longer list of people who recommended those allies for the greatest gift a president can give .
The prime example was Steve Stockman , the Tea Partying former Texas congressman convicted of 23 felonies — what prosecutors called a “ white-collar crime spree.
” Stockman spent more than $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal expenses , including on a bumbling effort to spy on a political opponent and a trip to Egypt .
After his arrest in 2018 , Stockman said that the charges against him came from the “ deep state ” — a potential clarion call to the President .
But in the end , it was his connections that proved most valuable : Former congressmen Bob McEwen and Bob Barr endorsed their friend ’ s release from prison , as did the vocal evangelical Trump supporter James Dobson and L. Brent Bozell , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Ultimately , Mr. Stockman is lucky to have benefited from the Trump presidency , ” the former congressman ’ s lawyer , Gary Tabakman , told the Houston Chronicle .
“ In another political environment and under another administration , this may have not been a reality.
” Noah Bookbinder , executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington , told TPM that Stockman ’ s pardon stuck out for its reliance on political connections .
“ As best as I can tell , it really comes down to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allies were pushing for him to be released , ” Bookbinder said .
“ It ’ s just hard to see that there ’ s any reason that he ’ s in the mix , other than that high-profile allies of the President were advocating for him.
” Many of those on Trump ’ s pardon list Tuesday night had high-powered friends in high places , a fact the White House ’ s press release made clear by ticking off the names of the Trumpworld figures who advocated on behalf of each recipient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the health care fraudster Alfonso Costa , who ’ s clemency request was backed by his friend and former business partner , HUD Secretary Ben Carson .
Former Rep. Duncan Hunter ( R-CA ) , who defrauded campaign donors , got the public support of the former Federal Elections Commission Chair Bradley Smith .
Some Trump allies apparently didn ’ t need the recommendations of power players : Former Rep. Chris Collins ( R-NY ) , who committed insider trading literally on camera , had no names listed in support of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose guilty plea resulted from the Mueller probe .
Alex van der Zwaan , another Mueller “ process-related crime ” prosecution ( to quote the White House ) , was listed as having the support of former Rep. Trey Gowdy ( R-SC ) .
Collins and Hunter , notably , were the first two members of Congress to endorse Trump ’ s bid for president in 2016 .
A fellow victim of “ selective prosecution ” from the deep state , Utah State Rep. Philip Lyman , received a full pardon of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ archaeologically sensitive lands that the federal government had closed to motor vehicles .
The pardon was supported by Sen. Mike Lee ( R-UT ) and former Rep. Jason Chaffetz ( R-UT ) .
Trump , Bookbinder said , “ sees the pardon power like he sees a lot of his other powers , as a way to reward friends and allies.
” Sometimes , that means pardoning those who ’ ve helped Trump themselves , he said , “ but some of it is giving pardons that allies and friends want .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in.
” Lower done on the White House pardon list , the lists of recommendations grew longer .
Philip Esformes , the leading figure in one of the largest Medicare fraud-bribery-kickback schemes in U.S. history , received a sentence commutation with the support of two former attorneys general — Edwin Meese and Michael Mukasey — as well as former Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson .
And while President George W. Bush had already commuted the sentences of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean , the former Border Patrol agents convicted of shooting a drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions , Trump gave the men full pardons .
The White House noted the move was backed by some of the GOP ’ s fringiest Trump supporter : Reps. Louie Gohmert ( R-TX ) , Steve King ( R-IA ) , Ted Poe ( R-TX ) , Paul Gosar ( R-AZ ) and Brian Babin ( R-TX ) .
The individuals on Trump ’ s list with the most support were also those accused of the bloodiest crime : Nicholas Slatten , Paul Slough , Evan Liberty , and Dustin Heard , all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committing the 2007 Nisour Square massacre , killing 14 Iraqi civilians including children .
Or , as the White House put it : “ [ T ] he situation turned violent , which resulted in the unfortunate deaths and injuries of Iraqi civilians.
” Trump has pardoned accused and convicted war criminals before , but these four have special ties : Blackwater founder Erik Prince is an informal Trump adviser with extensive connections inside the administration .
His sister is the Education secretary , Betsy DeVos .
The pardons were supported by Reps. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ralph Norman ( R-SC ) , Bill Flores ( R-TX ) , Michael Burgess ( R-TX ) , Daniel Webster ( R-FL ) and Ted Yoho ( R-FL ) , the White House noted .
The mercenaries ’ was another case , Bookbinder said , “ where it seems like connections , beyond the people who were pardoned themselves , may have played a major role .
”

“You scratch my back,” the saying goes, “and I’ll scratch yours… and yours… and yours…”
The latest list of presidential pardons and commutations Tuesday night not only featured a long list of the President’s political allies, but also an even longer list of people who recommended those allies for the greatest gift a president can give.
The prime example was Steve Stockman, the Tea Partying former Texas congressman convicted of 23 felonies — what prosecutors called a “white-collar crime spree.” Stockman spent more than $1 million of donors’ money on personal expenses, including on a bumbling effort to spy on a political opponent and a trip to Egypt.
After his arrest in 2018, Stockman said that the charges against him came from the “deep state” — a potential clarion call to the President. But in the end, it was his connections that proved most valuable: Former congressmen Bob McEwen and Bob Barr endorsed their friend’s release from prison, as did the vocal evangelical Trump supporter James Dobson and L. Brent Bozell, founder of the right-wing Media Research Center.
“Ultimately, Mr. Stockman is lucky to have benefited from the Trump presidency,” the former congressman’s lawyer, Gary Tabakman, told the Houston Chronicle. “In another political environment and under another administration, this may have not been a reality.”
Noah Bookbinder, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, told TPM that Stockman’s pardon stuck out for its reliance on political connections.
“As best as I can tell, it really comes down to the fact that a bunch of political allies were pushing for him to be released,” Bookbinder said. “It’s just hard to see that there’s any reason that he’s in the mix, other than that high-profile allies of the President were advocating for him.”
Many of those on Trump’s pardon list Tuesday night had high-powered friends in high places, a fact the White House’s press release made clear by ticking off the names of the Trumpworld figures who advocated on behalf of each recipient of clemency.
Take, for instance, the health care fraudster Alfonso Costa, who’s clemency request was backed by his friend and former business partner, HUD Secretary Ben Carson. Former Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), who defrauded campaign donors, got the public support of the former Federal Elections Commission Chair Bradley Smith.
Some Trump allies apparently didn’t need the recommendations of power players: Former Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY), who committed insider trading literally on camera, had no names listed in support of his pardon. Nor did George Papadopoulos, whose guilty plea resulted from the Mueller probe. Alex van der Zwaan, another Mueller “process-related crime” prosecution (to quote the White House), was listed as having the support of former Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC).
Collins and Hunter, notably, were the first two members of Congress to endorse Trump’s bid for president in 2016.
A fellow victim of “selective prosecution” from the deep state, Utah State Rep. Philip Lyman, received a full pardon of his conviction for leading an ATV protest through archaeologically sensitive lands that the federal government had closed to motor vehicles. The pardon was supported by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and former Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT).
Trump, Bookbinder said, “sees the pardon power like he sees a lot of his other powers, as a way to reward friends and allies.” Sometimes, that means pardoning those who’ve helped Trump themselves, he said, “but some of it is giving pardons that allies and friends want. And that’s where these endorsements come in.”
Lower done on the White House pardon list, the lists of recommendations grew longer.
Philip Esformes, the leading figure in one of the largest Medicare fraud-bribery-kickback schemes in U.S. history, received a sentence commutation with the support of two former attorneys general — Edwin Meese and Michael Mukasey — as well as former Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson.
And while President George W. Bush had already commuted the sentences of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, the former Border Patrol agents convicted of shooting a drug smuggler and attempting to cover up their actions, Trump gave the men full pardons. The White House noted the move was backed by some of the GOP’s fringiest Trump supporter: Reps. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Steve King (R-IA), Ted Poe (R-TX), Paul Gosar (R-AZ) and Brian Babin (R-TX).
The individuals on Trump’s list with the most support were also those accused of the bloodiest crime: Nicholas Slatten, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty, and Dustin Heard, all former Blackwater mercenaries, were convicted for committing the 2007 Nisour Square massacre, killing 14 Iraqi civilians including children.
Or, as the White House put it: “[T]he situation turned violent, which resulted in the unfortunate deaths and injuries of Iraqi civilians.”
Trump has pardoned accused and convicted war criminals before, but these four have special ties: Blackwater founder Erik Prince is an informal Trump adviser with extensive connections inside the administration. His sister is the Education secretary, Betsy DeVos. The pardons were supported by Reps. Gohmert, Gosar, King, Babin, Ralph Norman (R-SC), Bill Flores (R-TX), Michael Burgess (R-TX), Daniel Webster (R-FL) and Ted Yoho (R-FL), the White House noted.
The mercenaries’ was another case, Bookbinder said, “where it seems like connections, beyond the people who were pardoned themselves, may have played a major role.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-23--Judge Rips Trump Administration For Games It’s Played In Rushed Census Case

A federal judge didn ’ t hold back in recounting the Trump administration ’ s sketchy behavior in the case challenging its decision to rush the 2020 census .
U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh , of Northern California , on Tuesday night denied the Justice Department ’ s request to dismiss the case , which alleges that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross violated administrative law and the Constitution when he truncated the count timeline earlier this year by several months .
Koh also denied the Department ’ s request to put the case on hold .
While explaining her legal rationales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 56-page opinion ran through the various ways that the administration had acted shadily in the litigation .
The Justice Department has claimed in the case that the Census Bureau had to speed up the count because Congress never granted a four-month extension — requested at the start of the pandemic — to the statutory deadlines the bureau faces for delivering the data .
Koh ’ s opinion indicated why she was highly skeptical of that explanation .
The challengers in the case allege that the decision to rush the count was linked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undocumented immigrants from the congressional apportionment count .
Had the bureau been given the extra time it said it needed to finish the survey , that apportionment data would not be ready until after the inauguration .
Here are some of the ways in which Koh called “ BS ” on the claims that the Justice Department is making in the case .
Judge Doesn ’ t Buy DOJ ’ s Stated Reasons For Why Ross Sped Up The Census Koh discussed at length why she wasn ’ t convinced by the DOJ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late July , the Census Bureau was ordered to come up with a plan that would expedite the census count so that apportionment data would be ready by the end of the year .
She pointed out that President Trump himself had initially supported giving the bureau four extra months to produce that data .
On other occasions in census history , Koh noted , the bureau had blown through the deadlines without first getting congressional approval to extend them .
Furthermore , she cited internal bureau documents from April indicating that administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s mandate for a complete and accurate count trumped any statutory obligation the bureau faced for producing the data by Dec. 31 .
Koh also brought up internal emails showing that , even after there were signals that the White House was reversing on the extension request , bureau officials were continuing to lobby the Commerce Department to grant the bureau more time to finish the count .
In one such email , a top Census official said that it was “ critical ” that they elevate the reality of how the COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in light of the push to complete NRFU asap for all the reasons we know about.
” [ NRFU refers to “ non response follow up , ” a phase in the data collection stage of the census ] .
“ Those reasons are not in the administrative record , ” Koh said , hinting that the administration has not been candid about its motivations for cutting the census short .
Judge Bashes The Government ’ s ‘ Egregious ’ Violations Of Her Previous Orders In The Case The judge recounted how the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the case , so she could discuss how the most “ egregious ” of those violations undermined the Justice Department ’ s arguments in the lawsuit .
Specifically , in September , Koh issued a preliminary injunction blocking the administration from implementing the expedited count timeline , which would have ended data collection on Sept. 30 , so that the data could be produced by Dec. 31 .
Instead of going back to the extended timeline , which would have allowed for continued data collection through Oct. 31 , the Census Bureau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheduled in the case that data collection would end on Oct. 5 .
Internal emails revealed that Secretary Wilbur Ross picked that day because it would still allow the bureau to deliver the data by Dec. 31 , one of the deadlines that Koh had already blocked the administration from implementing at that point .
The emails , between a top Census official and Ross , also revealed that the Trump apportionment policy was discussed in this context .
In the case , the administration has repeatedly claimed the expedition order and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ made clear , ” Koh said , that the Dec. 31 deadline was “ intertwined ” with Trump ’ s anti-immigrant apportionment policy .
A Census Official ’ s Declaration In The Case Was Contradicted By His Own Words Elsewhere And The Reality On The Ground Some of Koh ’ s harshest words came when she was discussing a declaration the administration submitted from Al Fontenot , a career official and Census Associate Director .
In the Sept. 4 submission , Fontenot said that the bureau would still be able to meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the count , even under the expedited timeline .
But he contradicted that assertion , Koh said , in public remarks later that month .
Fontenot admitted that , due to various natural disasters including the pandemic , he did not know whether the field counting operations could be finished by the scheduled date under the truncated timeline .
Then Fontenot filed another submission that “ tried to disavow ” those remarks , an unconvinced Koh said .
Data on the counting process later revealed that by Sept. 30 — when the administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ census under the expedited timeline — several states they were short of meeting the key metric .
“ Thus , Defendants would have missed the completion rate requirement despite Associate Director Fontenot ’ s declarations under penalty of perjury that they would not , ” Koh said .

A federal judge didn’t hold back in recounting the Trump administration’s sketchy behavior in the case challenging its decision to rush the 2020 census.
U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh, of Northern California, on Tuesday night denied the Justice Department’s request to dismiss the case, which alleges that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross violated administrative law and the Constitution when he truncated the count timeline earlier this year by several months.
Koh also denied the Department’s request to put the case on hold. While explaining her legal rationales for the decisions, Koh’s 56-page opinion ran through the various ways that the administration had acted shadily in the litigation.
The Justice Department has claimed in the case that the Census Bureau had to speed up the count because Congress never granted a four-month extension — requested at the start of the pandemic — to the statutory deadlines the bureau faces for delivering the data. Koh’s opinion indicated why she was highly skeptical of that explanation.
The challengers in the case allege that the decision to rush the count was linked to President Trump’s efforts to exclude undocumented immigrants from the congressional apportionment count. Had the bureau been given the extra time it said it needed to finish the survey, that apportionment data would not be ready until after the inauguration.
Here are some of the ways in which Koh called “BS” on the claims that the Justice Department is making in the case.
Judge Doesn’t Buy DOJ’s Stated Reasons For Why Ross Sped Up The Census
Koh discussed at length why she wasn’t convinced by the DOJ’s claims about why, in late July, the Census Bureau was ordered to come up with a plan that would expedite the census count so that apportionment data would be ready by the end of the year. She pointed out that President Trump himself had initially supported giving the bureau four extra months to produce that data. On other occasions in census history, Koh noted, the bureau had blown through the deadlines without first getting congressional approval to extend them. Furthermore, she cited internal bureau documents from April indicating that administration lawyers had concluded that the Constitution’s mandate for a complete and accurate count trumped any statutory obligation the bureau faced for producing the data by Dec. 31.
Koh also brought up internal emails showing that, even after there were signals that the White House was reversing on the extension request, bureau officials were continuing to lobby the Commerce Department to grant the bureau more time to finish the count.
In one such email, a top Census official said that it was “critical” that they elevate the reality of how the COVID-19 outbreak disrupted the count, “especially in light of the push to complete NRFU asap for all the reasons we know about.” [NRFU refers to “non response follow up,” a phase in the data collection stage of the census].
“Those reasons are not in the administrative record,” Koh said, hinting that the administration has not been candid about its motivations for cutting the census short.
Judge Bashes The Government’s ‘Egregious’ Violations Of Her Previous Orders In The Case
The judge recounted how the administration “repeatedly” violated her orders in the case, so she could discuss how the most “egregious” of those violations undermined the Justice Department’s arguments in the lawsuit.
Specifically, in September, Koh issued a preliminary injunction blocking the administration from implementing the expedited count timeline, which would have ended data collection on Sept. 30, so that the data could be produced by Dec. 31.
Instead of going back to the extended timeline, which would have allowed for continued data collection through Oct. 31, the Census Bureau announced just minutes before another hearing was scheduled in the case that data collection would end on Oct. 5. Internal emails revealed that Secretary Wilbur Ross picked that day because it would still allow the bureau to deliver the data by Dec. 31, one of the deadlines that Koh had already blocked the administration from implementing at that point. The emails, between a top Census official and Ross, also revealed that the Trump apportionment policy was discussed in this context. In the case, the administration has repeatedly claimed the expedition order and the policy were not linked.
Those emails “made clear,” Koh said, that the Dec. 31 deadline was “intertwined” with Trump’s anti-immigrant apportionment policy.
A Census Official’s Declaration In The Case Was Contradicted By His Own Words Elsewhere And The Reality On The Ground
Some of Koh’s harshest words came when she was discussing a declaration the administration submitted from Al Fontenot, a career official and Census Associate Director.
In the Sept. 4 submission, Fontenot said that the bureau would still be able to meet a key metric for the success of the count, even under the expedited timeline.
But he contradicted that assertion, Koh said, in public remarks later that month. Fontenot admitted that, due to various natural disasters including the pandemic, he did not know whether the field counting operations could be finished by the scheduled date under the truncated timeline.
Then Fontenot filed another submission that “tried to disavow” those remarks, an unconvinced Koh said.
Data on the counting process later revealed that by Sept. 30 — when the administration wanted to shut off response to the census under the expedited timeline — several states they were short of meeting the key metric.
“Thus, Defendants would have missed the completion rate requirement despite Associate Director Fontenot’s declarations under penalty of perjury that they would not,” Koh said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-24--Latest Pardon Supporter List Is Yet Another Who’s Who Of Trump Influencers

Again and again in Donald Trump ’ s Washington , it ’ s about who you know .
That was the case Wednesday night with the President ’ s latest wave of pardons as he prepares to leave the White House .
Most everyone on the list either had a connection to the Big Man themselves or friends in high places willing to make their case .
In that sense , Wednesday ’ s list was much the same as Tuesday ’ s before it , accompanied by a White House statement chock full of Republican congressmen and television stars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But as Trump progressed toward Christmas , the names got bigger : Charles Kushner , father of Trump ’ s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared ; former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and key confidante Roger Stone , both Russia probe cases ; Margaret Hunter , whose husband former Rep. Duncan Hunter ( R-CA ) Trump had pardoned the day prior .
Even after those names , the Trumpian power players made themselves known as the list progressed .
Jesse Benton and John Tate , for example , were found guilty in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an Iowa state senator in 2012 in exchange for the senator endorsing their then-boss , the then-congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul ( R-TX ) .
But the ties don ’ t end there : Benton also served as chief strategist of Great America PAC , the pro-Trump group , and worked for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ’ s ( R-KY ) 2014 reelection campaign and for a super PAC supporting Ron ’ s son , Sen. Rand Paul ( R-KY ) , CNN reported .
The younger Paul is listed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two supporters of Benton and Tate ’ s pardon .
Mary Ballard McCarty , who was pardoned for an honest services fraud conviction , is a former Palm Beach County , Florida commissioner and , as Law & Crime noted , the sister of Trump mega-fundraiser and lobbyist Brian Ballard .
McCarty ’ s pardon was endorsed by Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy and Pam Bondi , the former Florida Attorney General and Trump impeachment defense lawyer who has worked as a lobbyist for… yes , Ballard Partners , Ballard ’ s lobbying firm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deep-pocketed donor James Kassouf , who pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return in 1989 .
She wasn ’ t alone .
Also in Kassouf ’ s corner : Rep.-elect Darrell Issa ( R-CA ) and Rep. David Joyce ( R-OH ) , and the well-known Trump surrogate Pastor Darrell Scott .
A few more big names lined up behind former Rep. Mark Siljander ( R-MI ) , who pleaded guilty in 2010 to acting as an unregistered foreign agent and obstructing justice .
Namesake of the “ Siljander Amendment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funds to lobby for abortions , Siljander ’ s pardon was backed by former Attorney General Edwin , former House Speaker Newt Gingrich ( R-GA ) , and former Arkansas Gov .
Mike Huckabee ( R ) among others .
Also on Wednesday night ’ s list was a trio of former law enforcement officers found to have deprived people of their civil rights .
Stephanie Mohr , a former K9 police officer , was found to have released her dog on a homeless man despite his surrender .
Gary Brugman , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undocumented man to the ground during an arrest .
Joseph Occhipinti , who worked for the precursor to ICE , the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service , illegally searched bodegas in New York City .
Importantly , all of the officers subsequently earned sympathetic allies in conservative media and politics .
Brugman ’ s pardon was supported by Texas ’ lieutenant governor , both its U.S. senators , and seven members of Congress , not to mention a menu of conservative personalities like Glenn Beck , Lou Dobbs and former pardon recipient himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Rep. Christopher Smith ( R-NJ ) , among others , and Mohr was endorsed by the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund and the Fraternal Order of Police — and supported by months of appearances on conservatives outlets like OANN and Newsmax .

Again and again in Donald Trump’s Washington, it’s about who you know.
That was the case Wednesday night with the President’s latest wave of pardons as he prepares to leave the White House. Most everyone on the list either had a connection to the Big Man themselves or friends in high places willing to make their case.
In that sense, Wednesday’s list was much the same as Tuesday’s before it, accompanied by a White House statement chock full of Republican congressmen and television stars vouching for their friends or favored causes.
But as Trump progressed toward Christmas, the names got bigger: Charles Kushner, father of Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared; former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and key confidante Roger Stone, both Russia probe cases; Margaret Hunter, whose husband former Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) Trump had pardoned the day prior.
Even after those names, the Trumpian power players made themselves known as the list progressed.
Jesse Benton and John Tate, for example, were found guilty in 2016 of a scheme to funnel $73,000 to an Iowa state senator in 2012 in exchange for the senator endorsing their then-boss, the then-congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul (R-TX). But the ties don’t end there: Benton also served as chief strategist of Great America PAC, the pro-Trump group, and worked for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) 2014 reelection campaign and for a super PAC supporting Ron’s son, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), CNN reported.
The younger Paul is listed by the White House as one of two supporters of Benton and Tate’s pardon.
Mary Ballard McCarty, who was pardoned for an honest services fraud conviction, is a former Palm Beach County, Florida commissioner and, as Law&Crime noted, the sister of Trump mega-fundraiser and lobbyist Brian Ballard.
McCarty’s pardon was endorsed by Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy and Pam Bondi, the former Florida Attorney General and Trump impeachment defense lawyer who has worked as a lobbyist for… yes, Ballard Partners, Ballard’s lobbying firm.
Bondi also backed the pardon for the deep-pocketed donor James Kassouf, who pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return in 1989. She wasn’t alone. Also in Kassouf’s corner: Rep.-elect Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Rep. David Joyce (R-OH), and the well-known Trump surrogate Pastor Darrell Scott.
A few more big names lined up behind former Rep. Mark Siljander (R-MI), who pleaded guilty in 2010 to acting as an unregistered foreign agent and obstructing justice. Namesake of the “Siljander Amendment,” which prohibited the use of government funds to lobby for abortions, Siljander’s pardon was backed by former Attorney General Edwin, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA), and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) among others.
Also on Wednesday night’s list was a trio of former law enforcement officers found to have deprived people of their civil rights. Stephanie Mohr, a former K9 police officer, was found to have released her dog on a homeless man despite his surrender. Gary Brugman, a former Border Patrol agent, kicked an undocumented man to the ground during an arrest. Joseph Occhipinti, who worked for the precursor to ICE, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, illegally searched bodegas in New York City.
Importantly, all of the officers subsequently earned sympathetic allies in conservative media and politics. Brugman’s pardon was supported by Texas’ lieutenant governor, both its U.S. senators, and seven members of Congress, not to mention a menu of conservative personalities like Glenn Beck, Lou Dobbs and former pardon recipient himself Bernie Kerik.
Occhipinti had the backing of Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ), among others, and Mohr was endorsed by the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund and the Fraternal Order of Police — and supported by months of appearances on conservatives outlets like OANN and Newsmax.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-24--Over 1 Million Passengers Screened For Flights In US

NEW YORK — The number of passengers screened for flights in the U.S. topped nearly 1.2 million Wednesday for the @ @ @ @ @ pandemic outbreak , but it ’ s still about 38.5 % below the same Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ the smallest percentage decline since March .
The Transportation Security Administration said Wednesday ’ s @ @ @ @ @ the most since mid-March .
On the same weekday a year ago , 1.94 million @ @ @ @ @ , that was Christmas 2019 when travel was lighter than normal .
On several days @ @ @ @ @ pandemic broadsided the U.S. economy , fewer than 100,000 people were screened to board planes @ @ @ @ @ the CDC warns that holiday travel may increase one ’ s chances of getting and @ @ @ @ @ recommends staying home and postponing travel as the best way to protect oneself from COVID-19 @

NEW YORK — The number of passengers screened for flights in the U.S. topped nearly 1.2 million Wednesday for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic outbreak, but it’s still about 38.5% below the same Wednesday last year, by far the smallest percentage decline since March.
The Transportation Security Administration said Wednesday’s tally of 1.19 million was the most since mid-March.
It’s the third straight daily gain.
On the same weekday a year ago, 1.94 million passengers were screened. However, that was Christmas 2019 when travel was lighter than normal. On several days in early April after the pandemic broadsided the U.S. economy, fewer than 100,000 people were screened to board planes.
The bump comes as the CDC warns that holiday travel may increase one’s chances of getting and spreading the virus. It recommends staying home and postponing travel as the best way to protect oneself from COVID-19.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-24--Trump Golfing Again Despite Trump-Induced Legislative Mess

The President was golfing again in South Florida Thursday , a couple days after throwing Congress into chaos by panning @ @ @ @ @ stimulus bill after both sides had negotiated it .
Trump ’ s golf outing in @ @ @ @ @ note on the otherwise-blank public White House schedule for Thursday .
“ As the Holiday @ @ @ @ @ will continue to work tirelessly for the American People , ” the White House said @ @ @ @ @ many meetings and calls.
” It ’ s not clear what sorts of calls Trump @ @ @ @ @ regarding yet another day of doling out pardons for politically-connected friends and allies .
But @ @ @ @ @ seem to be about the funding bill Trump trashed .
Sen. Roy Blunt ( R-MO @ @ @ @ @ Senate Republican Policy Committee , told reporters Thursday morning that he had “ no idea @ @ @ @ @ to do ” with the legislation .

The President was golfing again in South Florida Thursday, a couple days after throwing Congress into chaos by panning a mammoth government funding and stimulus bill after both sides had negotiated it.
After the White House went out of its way to say President Trump had many meetings and calls today, without listing any, @petermorrisCNN got video of him on the golf course. pic.twitter.com/x3jtrUOMmH — Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) December 24, 2020
Trump’s golf outing in Florida came despite an unusual note on the otherwise-blank public White House schedule for Thursday.
“As the Holiday season approaches, President Trump will continue to work tirelessly for the American People,” the White House said. “His schedule includes many meetings and calls.”
It’s not clear what sorts of calls Trump is making — perhaps those regarding yet another day of doling out pardons for politically-connected friends and allies.
But the talks don’t seem to be about the funding bill Trump trashed. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, told reporters Thursday morning that he had “no idea what [Trump] plans to do” with the legislation.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-24--Dominion CEO Weighs Potential Lawsuit Against Trump For Pushing Bogus Fraud Claims

Dominion Voting Systems CEO John Poulos on Thursday signaled that legal action against President Trump is possible as the election vendor has become a target of Trump and his supporters ’ bogus allegations about the election being stolen .
During an interview on CNN Thursday morning , Poulos said that the company plans to sue several individuals who ’ ve been “ promoting lies and amplifying those lies ” on various media platforms since Election Day .
Following President-elect Joe Biden ’ s projected victory last month , Trump and those in his inner circle have waged unfounded claims of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Trumpworld ’ s bogus allegations against Dominion include unsubstantiated claims of the company ’ s machines switching Trump votes to Biden , or deleting votes for Trump .
When asked whether Dominion will sue Trump himself , Poulos seemed to not rule out the possibility by saying that Dominion will “ be looking into absolutely everybody that has made , and repeated , and amplified false statements that have been defamatory and damaging to our company and to our election.
” Asked again on whether lawsuits will involve Trump , Poulos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anybody.
” Hours after Poulos ’ interview on CNN , the network reported that lawyers representing Dominion issued letters earlier this week to conservative media personalities , the White House and Trump ’ s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani that warned of “ imminent ” legal action in response to their baseless claims about the company .
The lawyers sent the letters to Fox News hosts Maria Bartiromo , Lou Dobbs and Sean Hannity ; right wing media personality Rush Limbaugh ; the heads of Newsmax , OAN , Fox News , the Epoch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others .
On Tuesday , lawyers representing Dominion issued letters to White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Giuliani asking them to preserve all records related to the company .
Giuliani was warned that legal action is “ imminent.
” Dominion ’ s director of product strategy and security , Eric Coomer , on Tuesday also sued the Trump campaign , Giuliani , Powell and a handful of right-wing media outlets and figures for defamation in a separate lawsuit .
Coomer told CNN that the baseless allegations against Dominion have led to a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he is “ in hiding because I have received many death threats and it ’ s on a continuing basis .
”

Dominion Voting Systems CEO John Poulos on Thursday signaled that legal action against President Trump is possible as the election vendor has become a target of Trump and his supporters’ bogus allegations about the election being stolen.
During an interview on CNN Thursday morning, Poulos said that the company plans to sue several individuals who’ve been “promoting lies and amplifying those lies” on various media platforms since Election Day.
Following President-elect Joe Biden’s projected victory last month, Trump and those in his inner circle have waged unfounded claims of Dominion’s voting machines being manipulated. The Trumpworld’s bogus allegations against Dominion include unsubstantiated claims of the company’s machines switching Trump votes to Biden, or deleting votes for Trump.
When asked whether Dominion will sue Trump himself, Poulos seemed to not rule out the possibility by saying that Dominion will “be looking into absolutely everybody that has made, and repeated, and amplified false statements that have been defamatory and damaging to our company and to our election.”
Asked again on whether lawsuits will involve Trump, Poulos stressed “we will not be overlooking anybody.”
Hours after Poulos’ interview on CNN, the network reported that lawyers representing Dominion issued letters earlier this week to conservative media personalities, the White House and Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani that warned of “imminent” legal action in response to their baseless claims about the company.
The lawyers sent the letters to Fox News hosts Maria Bartiromo, Lou Dobbs and Sean Hannity; right wing media personality Rush Limbaugh; the heads of Newsmax, OAN, Fox News, the Epoch Times; lawyer Lin Wood, and others.
On Tuesday, lawyers representing Dominion issued letters to White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Giuliani asking them to preserve all records related to the company. Giuliani was warned that legal action is “imminent.”
Dominion’s director of product strategy and security, Eric Coomer, on Tuesday also sued the Trump campaign, Giuliani, Powell and a handful of right-wing media outlets and figures for defamation in a separate lawsuit.
Coomer told CNN that the baseless allegations against Dominion have led to a “complete upheaval of my life” and that he is “in hiding because I have received many death threats and it’s on a continuing basis.”
Watch Poulos’ remarks below: