buzzfeed--2020-01-16--Progressive Groups Are Uniting To Call For A Truce Between Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, And The

Progressive Groups Are Uniting To Call For A Truce Between Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, And Their Allies

Eighteen progressive organizations including major supporters of Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are launching a unity pledge in the middle of the most contentious week of the primary between the two progressive candidates .
The effort , dubbed “ Progressives Unite 2020 , ” is centered on a three-part pledge that includes focusing “ our fight for the nomination against candidates supported by the corporate wing instead of fighting each other.
” The campaign includes some of the most dominant organizes on the political left .
The groups involved include Our Revolution , which is closely tied to Sanders , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is closely tied to Warren .
The Working Families Party , which has endorsed Warren , is also involved , as is the Sunrise Movement , which recently endorsed Sanders .
Democracy For America , which is unaligned , helped organize the campaign .
The groups are also asking members to vote strategically for the two candidates in early voting states like Iowa .
The campaign asks voters in Iowa to move to one of the two top progressive candidates if their preferred candidate doesn ’ t reach 15 % viability threshold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as tensions between the candidates and their supporters have boiled over amid a disagreement over the characterization of a private 2018 meeting where Warren claims Sanders told her that he believed a woman couldn ’ t win the 2020 presidential election , which Sanders denies .
In the hours before the pledge was announced , new audio was released of a heated conversation between Warren and Sanders , in which each senator said that the other had called them a liar on national TV .
On Wednesday , after video emerged of Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic debate , Sanders supporters flooded Warren ’ s social media pages with snake emojis and called her a “ backstabber ” for reiterating the claim about her private meeting with Sanders during the debate .
The escalation of the tension between the candidates supporters is a fruition of what progressive organizers have feared — that a spat between the two candidates could splinter the progressive vote and potentially elevate an establishment Democratic candidate like Joe Biden .
The organizations who signed onto that pledge have acknowledged the tension and are asking their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We are joining this effort out of a belief that it represents leaders in the progressive movement urging everyone from campaign staff to Twitter commenters to focus on defeating a corporate , establishment Democrat like Joe Biden , ” the PCCC said in a joint statement .
“ This effort inherently includes standing opposed to sexism and bad-faith arguments in the primary process .
We look forward to working with our friends to enforce these principles . ''
Joseph Geevarghese , the executive director of Our Revolution , said in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and organize , we will win 2020.
” “ When progressives fight each other , the establishment wins , ” DFA chair Charles Chamberlain said in the statement .
“ We saw it in 2004 when progressives took each other out and John Kerry slipped through to win Iowa and then went on to lose in November to a very unpopular Republican incumbent .
We ’ re determined to not let that happen again.
” The fight between the two candidates , who are self-described longtime friends , first ignited over the weekend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had used talking points for volunteers that intended to move voters away from Warren by saying that she was not bringing anyone new into the Democratic Party .
Sanders distanced himself from the talking points , and Warren told reporters she was “ disappointed ” that Sanders was “ sending his volunteers out to trash me . ''
That conflict vastly escalated on Monday , when CNN first reported , and Warren later asserted herself , that Sanders had told her during a private December 2018 meeting that he did not believe a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sanders has denied Warren ’ s account of the meeting , and did so again during Tuesday night ’ s presidential debate .
Warren maintained her position on stage , but both candidates appeared to try and de-escalate the fight , leaning on their history and shared beliefs .
At the end of the debate , however , the two candidates had a tense conversation as they were leaving the stage .
`` I think you called me a liar on national TV , '' Warren told Sanders , in audio released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by suggesting they talk about it later , and then saying that she had called him “ a liar.
” The groups are hoping the unity effort ends the back-and-forth cycle .
“ We have to keep our eyes on the ball , resist the temptation to form a circular firing squad , and collaborate to ensure a real progressive leader is elected President in November , ” said Be A Hero president Liz Jaff in the statement .

Eighteen progressive organizations including major supporters of Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are launching a unity pledge in the middle of the most contentious week of the primary between the two progressive candidates.
The effort, dubbed “Progressives Unite 2020,” is centered on a three-part pledge that includes focusing “our fight for the nomination against candidates supported by the corporate wing instead of fighting each other.”
The campaign is made up of some of the most dominant organizations on the political left. The groups involved include Our Revolution, which is closely tied to Sanders, and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which is closely tied to Warren. The Working Families Party, which has endorsed Warren, is also involved, as is the Sunrise Movement, which recently endorsed Sanders. Democracy for America, which is unaligned, helped organize the campaign.
The groups are also asking members to vote strategically for the two candidates in early voting states like Iowa. The campaign asks voters in Iowa to move to one of the two top progressive candidates if their preferred candidate doesn’t reach 15% viability threshold on caucus night.
The pledge comes as tensions between the candidates and their supporters have boiled over amid a disagreement over the characterization of a private 2018 meeting where Warren claims Sanders told her that he believed a woman couldn’t win the 2020 presidential election, which Sanders denies.
In the hours before the pledge was announced, new audio was released of a heated conversation between Warren and Sanders, in which each senator said that the other had called them a liar on national TV.
On Wednesday, after video emerged of Warren not shaking Sanders’ hand following the Democratic debate, Sanders' supporters flooded Warren’s social media pages with snake emojis and called her a “backstabber” for reiterating the claim about her private meeting with Sanders during the debate.
The escalation of the tension between the candidates' supporters is the fruition of what progressive organizers have feared — that a spat between the two candidates could splinter the progressive vote and potentially elevate an establishment Democratic candidate like Joe Biden. The organizations that signed onto that pledge have acknowledged the tension and are asking their supporters and the campaigns to move forward.
“We are joining this effort out of a belief that it represents leaders in the progressive movement urging everyone from campaign staff to Twitter commenters to focus on defeating a corporate, establishment Democrat like Joe Biden,” the PCCC said in a joint statement. “This effort inherently includes standing opposed to sexism and bad-faith arguments in the primary process. We look forward to working with our friends to enforce these principles."
Joseph Geevarghese, the executive director of Our Revolution, said in the statement that if progressives “come together and organize, we will win 2020.”
“When progressives fight each other, the establishment wins,” DFA chair Charles Chamberlain said in the statement. “We saw it in 2004 when progressives took each other out and John Kerry slipped through to win Iowa and then went on to lose in November to a very unpopular Republican incumbent. We’re determined to not let that happen again.”
The fight between the two candidates, who are self-described longtime friends, first ignited over the weekend when Politico reported that the Sanders campaign had used talking points for volunteers that intended to move voters away from Warren by saying that she was not bringing anyone new into the Democratic Party. Sanders distanced himself from the talking points, and Warren told reporters she was “disappointed” that Sanders was “sending his volunteers out to trash me."
That conflict vastly escalated on Monday, when CNN first reported, and Warren later asserted herself, that Sanders had told her during a private December 2018 meeting that he did not believe a woman could win the presidency in 2020. Sanders has denied Warren’s account of the meeting and did so again during Tuesday night’s presidential debate. Warren maintained her position on stage, but both candidates appeared to try and de-escalate the fight, leaning on their history and shared beliefs.
At the end of the debate, however, the two candidates had a tense conversation as they were leaving the stage. "I think you called me a liar on national TV," Warren told Sanders, in audio released by CNN Wednesday night. Sanders responded by suggesting they talk about it later, and then saying that she had called him “a liar."
In a separate statement, six of the groups, including WFP, Justice Democrats, and Our Revolution, said: "Sanders and Warren, as well as their campaigns and supporters, will need to find ways to cooperate."
"We hope to build solidarity between delegates affiliated with these two candidates prior to the convention and will encourage campaigns to work towards a unified convention strategy after the final primaries on June 2nd."
The groups are hoping the unity effort ends the back-and-forth cycle.
“We have to keep our eyes on the ball, resist the temptation to form a circular firing squad, and collaborate to ensure a real progressive leader is elected President in November,” said Be a Hero president Liz Jaff in the "Progressives Unite 2020" statement.


buzzfeed--2020-01-16--The Senate Can Now Begin Its Impeachment Trial For President Trump

After delays , the House voted to send two articles of impeachment to the Senate , which will begin considering whether to remove Trump from office in the coming days .
WASHINGTON — The House voted Wednesday to send two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate , setting up a trial .
The House also voted to approve seven Democratic impeachment managers , who will argue the case against Trump to the Senate during his trial .
The Democrats , who were appointed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi earlier Wednesday , all have legal or law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the trial , arguing that senators must remove Trump from office over abuse of power and obstruction of justice impeachment charges .
The managers physically walked the articles from the House to the Senate Wednesday evening .
The trial is expected to begin in earnest next week , following some procedural setup on Thursday .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that first , the House managers will be invited to officially present the articles of impeachment at noon Thursday ; then Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will arrive at 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After that , the Senate will invite Trump to present his counsel , and the actual trial will start next Tuesday .
The House voted 228–193 in favor of sending the articles to the Senate earlier Wednesday .
Just one Democrat — Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson — voted no .
Peterson also voted against impeaching Trump in December .
Independent Rep. Justin Amash , who left the Republican Party last year in part because of Trump , voted with Democrats in favor of starting the Senate 's trial .
No Republican voted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chair of the House Judiciary Committee and one of the impeachment managers , made the case for removing Trump from office just ahead of Wednesday 's vote .
“ There ’ s overwhelming evidence that the president pressured the Ukrainian government to interfere in our election on his behalf .
Then he covered it up .
These are high crimes and misdemeanors , and we will prove that in the Senate , ” Nadler said .
Pelosi had delayed sending over the articles for weeks after the House voted to impeach Trump in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure that the trial would be fair after McConnell said he would be coordinating his strategy with the White House .
But even some Senate Democrats grew weary with Pelosi ’ s decision to slow-walk the articles .
“ If we ’ re going to do it , she should send them over .
I don ’ t see what good delay does , ” California Sen. Dianne Feinstein told Bloomberg last week .
Rep. Adam Smith , chair of the House Armed Services Committee , echoed the same sentiment during a television @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two politicians walked their statements back ; Smith recanted within hours of criticizing Pelosi ’ s strategy .
“ I misspoke this morning , I do believe we should do everything we can to force the Senate to have a fair trial , ” Smith wrote on Twitter .
“ If the Speaker believes that holding on to the articles for a longer time will help force a fair trial in the Senate , then I wholeheartedly support that decision.
” Republicans meanwhile had called Democrats hypocritical for delaying sending the articles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s impeachment was urgent and a threat to the 2020 election during the House phase of the investigation .
Pelosi said she initially held back from pushing forward with impeachment despite “ obvious violations ” the president had already committed for fear of how it would divide the country .
“ Frankly , I said this president isn ’ t worth it , ” Pelosi said .
“ But when he acted the way he did in relationship to withholding funds from Ukraine in return for a benefit to him that was personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He gave us no choice . ''
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy condemned Pelosi and House Democrats in a speech on the floor just before Wednesday ’ s vote , calling the impeachment process a “ national nightmare ” and criticizing the speaker 's delay in sending over the articles after Democrats expressed urgency to push forward .
“ If impeachment was truly as urgent as Democrats claim , the majority should not have waited for the speaker to choose a political , convenient time , ” McCarthy said .
Nadler addressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ floor speech .
“ My colleagues in the minority would rather talk about anything than try to defend what President Trump actually did .
Because they can ’ t , ” Nadler said .
It will now be up to the Senate to determine the rules for the trial , but McConnell has said that the process will be political and that no one should expect him to be an impartial juror .
He recently announced Republicans had enough votes to shape the rules and structure of the trial without needing Democratic votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been pushing for the Senate to include witnesses in the trial — including former national security adviser John Bolton , acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney , Mulvaney adviser Robert Blair , and Office of Management and Budget official Michael Duffey , all of whom had firsthand knowledge of Trump ’ s interactions with Ukraine , which spawned the impeachment inquiry .
McConnell has n't formally said whether the Senate will allow witnesses to testify , but he has said it will vote on the issue after opening arguments and once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions to both sides in the trial .
Should the trial include witnesses , McConnell has indicated that both Republicans and Democrats would get to call them .

“I misspoke this morning, I do believe we should do everything we can to force the Senate to have a fair trial,” Smith wrote on Twitter. “If the Speaker believes that holding on to the articles for a longer time will help force a fair trial in the Senate, then I wholeheartedly support that decision.”
Republicans meanwhile had called Democrats hypocritical for delaying sending the articles of impeachment after arguing that Trump’s impeachment was urgent and a threat to the 2020 election during the House phase of the investigation.
Pelosi said she initially held back from pushing forward with impeachment despite “obvious violations” the president had already committed for fear of how it would divide the country.
“Frankly, I said this president isn’t worth it,” Pelosi said. “But when he acted the way he did in relationship to withholding funds from Ukraine in return for a benefit to him that was personal and political, he crossed a threshold. He gave us no choice."
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy condemned Pelosi and House Democrats in a speech on the floor just before Wednesday’s vote, calling the impeachment process a “national nightmare” and criticizing the speaker's delay in sending over the articles after Democrats expressed urgency to push forward. “If impeachment was truly as urgent as Democrats claim, the majority should not have waited for the speaker to choose a political, convenient time,” McCarthy said.
Nadler addressed that line of attack in his own floor speech. “My colleagues in the minority would rather talk about anything than try to defend what President Trump actually did. Because they can’t,” Nadler said.
It will now be up to the Senate to determine the rules for the trial, but McConnell has said that the process will be political and that no one should expect him to be an impartial juror. He recently announced Republicans had enough votes to shape the rules and structure of the trial without needing Democratic votes.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has been pushing for the Senate to include witnesses in the trial — including former national security adviser John Bolton, acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, Mulvaney adviser Robert Blair, and Office of Management and Budget official Michael Duffey, all of whom had firsthand knowledge of Trump’s interactions with Ukraine, which spawned the impeachment inquiry.
McConnell hasn't formally said whether the Senate will allow witnesses to testify, but he has said it will vote on the issue after opening arguments and once senators have had the opportunity to submit questions to both sides in the trial. Should the trial include witnesses, McConnell has indicated that both Republicans and Democrats would get to call them.
Paul McLeod contributed reporting to this story.


buzzfeed--2020-01-16--Elizabeth Warren And Bernie Sanders Seemed To De-Escalate In The Debate. The Conflict Is "Not Exactl

Elizabeth Warren And Bernie Sanders Seemed To De-Escalate In The Debate. The Conflict Is "Not Exactly" Over.

Sens .
Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders at the end of the debate , Jan. 14 .
DES MOINES — “ So Sen. Sanders , I do want to be clear here , ” the moderator started .
“ You 're saying that you never told Sen. Warren that a woman could not win the election ?
” Bernie Sanders replied unequivocally .
“ That is correct , ” he said .
The debate moderator , CNN ’ s Abby Phillip , turned back to his Senate colleague .
“ Sen .
Warren , what did you think when Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win the election ?
” The explosive conflict between Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren , two progressive giants and self-described friends , came to a head here in Iowa in one of the most fraught and surreal moments of a yearlong Democratic primary — and ended with a seemingly tense exchange between the two candidates as they parted ways onstage after Tuesday ’ s two-hour debate .
After the fast-developing and chaotic controversy over a private meeting between the two senators — beginning on Monday with Sanders aides calling the reports “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both campaigns seeking to “ de-escalate ” the conflict — Warren seemed to try offering the final word .
Telling viewers she was “ not here to fight with Bernie , ” the Massachusetts senator pivoted the conflict into a case for the electability of women candidates , addressing a longstanding fear among some Democratic voters about her candidacy and drawing the only other woman on the debate stage , Amy Klobuchar , into an alliance .
“ This question about whether or not a woman can be president has been raised and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack it head-on , ” she said onstage in Des Moines .
“ And I think the best way to talk about who can win is by looking at people 's winning record .
So can a woman beat Donald Trump ?
Look at the men on this stage.
” She gestured to the candidates to her left and right : Sanders , Joe Biden , Pete Buttigieg .
“ Collectively , they have lost 10 elections , ” she said .
“ The only people on this stage who have won every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the women .
Amy and me.
” Klobuchar smiled and leaned into her microphone .
“ So true , ” she said .
In the end , the longer back-and-forth between Warren and Sanders was an uncomfortable exchange over Sanders ’ electoral record .
Sanders took issue with Warren ’ s claim that she was the only candidate on stage to have defeated an incumbent Republican “ in 30 years.
” “ Well , just to set the record straight , I defeated an incumbent Republican running for Congress , ” Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved on without incident to other issues .
After the debate was over , though , Warren approached Sanders as the candidates were exiting the stage .
Sanders extended his hand , but the two did not shake hands .
An animated back-and-forth ensued , with another candidate , Tom Steyer , looking on in uncomfortable silence .

DES MOINES — “So Sen. Sanders, I do want to be clear here,” the moderator started.
“You're saying that you never told Sen. Warren that a woman could not win the election?”
Bernie Sanders replied unequivocally. “That is correct,” he said.
The debate moderator, CNN’s Abby Phillip, turned back to his Senate colleague.
“Sen. Warren, what did you think when Sen. Sanders told you a woman could not win the election?”
“I disagreed,” she replied, also unequivocally.
The explosive conflict between Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, two progressive giants and self-described friends, came to a head here in Iowa in one of the most fraught and surreal moments of a yearlong Democratic primary — and ended with a seemingly tense exchange between the two candidates as they parted ways onstage after Tuesday’s two-hour debate.
After the fast-developing and chaotic controversy over a private meeting between the two senators — beginning on Monday with Sanders aides calling the reports “a lie” and ending on Tuesday with both campaigns seeking to “de-escalate” the conflict — Warren seemed to try offering the final word.
Telling viewers she was “not here to fight with Bernie,” the Massachusetts senator pivoted the conflict into a case for the electability of women candidates, addressing a longstanding fear among some Democratic voters about her candidacy and drawing the only other woman on the debate stage, Amy Klobuchar, into an alliance.
“This question about whether or not a woman can be president has been raised and it’s time for us to attack it head-on,” she said onstage in Des Moines. “And I think the best way to talk about who can win is by looking at people's winning record. So can a woman beat Donald Trump? Look at the men on this stage.”
She gestured to the candidates to her left and right: Sanders, Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg.
“Collectively, they have lost 10 elections,” she said. “The only people on this stage who have won every single election that they've been in are the women. Amy and me.”
Klobuchar smiled and leaned into her microphone. “So true,” she said.
In the end, the longer back-and-forth between Warren and Sanders was an uncomfortable exchange over Sanders’ electoral record. Sanders took issue with Warren’s claim that she was the only candidate on stage to have defeated an incumbent Republican “in 30 years.”
“Well, just to set the record straight, I defeated an incumbent Republican running for Congress,” Sanders said.
“When?” Warren asked.
Sanders replied: “1990. That's how I won. Beat a Republican congressman. Number two.”
“30 years ago,” Warren said.
From there, the candidates moved on without incident to other issues.
After the debate was over, though, Warren approached Sanders as the candidates were exiting the stage. Sanders extended his hand, but the two did not shake hands. An animated back-and-forth ensued, with another candidate, Tom Steyer, looking on in uncomfortable silence.


buzzfeed--2020-01-16--Rudy Giuliani’s Indicted Associate Says "Trump Knew Exactly What Was Going On" With Ukraine Meetings

The evidence includes text messages , handwritten notes , and other correspondence from Lev Parnas , one of the men who worked with Rudy Giuliani to dig up dirt in Ukraine .
WASHINGTON — Lev Parnas , a key associate to Rudy Giuliani , a lawyer working for the president who ran the Ukrainian backchannel campaign at the center of Trump ’ s impeachment , told MSNBC on Wednesday that `` President Trump knew exactly what was going on . ''
`` He was aware of all my movements .
I would n't do anything without the consent of Rudy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who was indicted on campaign finance charges , told MSNBC host Rachel Maddow .
`` Why would [ Ukrainian ] President Zelenskiy 's inner circle or Minister Avakov or all these people or President Poroshenko meet with me ?
Who am I ?
They were told to meet with me .
And that 's the secret that they 're trying to keep .
I was on the ground doing their work . ''
The interview aired after House Democrats released dozens of pages of new documents related to the impeachment inquiry into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turned over by Parnas .
Three House committees sent the evidence to the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday “ to be included as part of the official record that will be transmitted to the Senate along with the Articles of Impeachment.
” The House sent the articles to the Senate on Wednesday evening .
In a statement to MSNBC as the interview aired , Giuliani said Parnas had `` never '' spoken on behalf of Trump in his meetings .
He added that Parnas is `` a very sad situation . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Foreign Affairs committees included documents provided recently by Parnas , who helped Giuliani dig up dirt on former Vice President Joe Biden , in response to a subpoena he received from the House in October .
The committees said the evidence also included call records , which they did not make public due to their sensitivity .
“ All of this new evidence confirms what we already know : the President and his associates pressured Ukrainian officials to announce investigations that would benefit the President politically , ” the chairs of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The committees said Parnas “ continues to provide material responsive to the subpoena on a rolling basis.
” Here are some highlights from the documents the committees made public : The notes , written on stationery from the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Vienna appear to be a to-do list related to Parnas ’ s efforts to find incriminating information on Biden , one of the president ’ s top Democratic rivals .
The former vice president ’ s son Hunter worked for a Ukrainian gas company that faced corruption allegations .
Parnas may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as he notes in texts to Giuliani on July 2 that he was headed to Vienna .
“ [ T ] rying to get us mr Z , ” Parnas told Giuliani at the time , appearing to reference a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky .
One bullet in the notes reads , “ get Zalensky to Annonce that the Biden case will Be Investigated.
” In another , Parnas says to “ start commun [ icating ] with ” Zelensky without involving two Ukrainian oligarchs — Victor Pinchuk and Igor Kolomoisky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fruman previously sought to use Kolomoisky to set up a meeting with Zelensky .
“ Put together a package , ” reads the next point , and “ go to DC with package.
” The following bullet says Parnas should do his “ magic ” and “ cut deal.
” ( Deal is underlined twice . )
Two Trumpworld lawyers — Victoria Toensing and Joe diGenova — are mentioned as having been “ retained ” at $ 100,000 per month .
The notes also say to hire one of two well-connected lobbyists in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Robert Stryk .
Parnas cashed two checks totaling $ 45,000 from Ballard ’ s firm in 2018 for work that it has said is unrelated to Ukraine .
In a letter dated May 10 , 2019 , Giuliani introduced himself to Zelensky as Trump ’ s personal lawyer and congratulated Zelensky on his “ truly impressive victory ” in the Ukrainian presidential election .
“ Along with many others , I am very hopeful that your election is a real turning point and allows the Ukraine to prosper and overcome some or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Giuliani wrote .
“ Anything I can do to help you or your country would be a great honor .
“ However , I have a more specific request , ” he continued .
“ In my capacity as personal counsel to President Trump and with his knowledge and consent , I request a meeting with you on this upcoming Monday , May 13th or Tuesday , May 14th .
I will need no more than a half-hour of your time and I will be accompanied by my colleague Victoria Toensing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ familiar with this matter.
” Trump would speak with Zelensky by phone two months later after placing a hold on millions in foreign aid to Ukraine .
Trump has sought to distance himself from Giuliani ’ s efforts to find incriminating evidence on Biden in Ukraine .
Parnas and Fruman were originally represented in the impeachment inquiry by John Dowd , who once served as the president ’ s lead lawyer in former special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s investigation .
“ I have discussed the issue of representation with the President , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s current lawyer , wrote to Dowd on Oct. 2 .
“ The President consents to allowing your representation of Mr. Parnas and Mr. Furman.
” Parnas and Fruman were later arrested on campaign finance charges as they prepared to leave the country , and both have new lawyers representing them in the criminal investigation .
Text messages turned over by Parnas show his efforts to have then–US ambassador Marie Yovanovitch — a prominent anti-corruption advocate — recalled from her post in Ukraine .
Parnas was working with Yuriy Lutsenko , the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up dirt on the Bidens — and text messages between the pair reveal why removing the ambassador was important to them .
“ It ’ s just that if you don ’ t make a decision about Madam—you are bringing into question all my allegations .
Including about B , ” Lutsenko told Parnas last March , according to a translation by the Intelligence Committee .
Texts between Parnas and Robert F. Hyde , a Republican who ’ s running for Congress in Connecticut this year , suggest Yovanovitch was under surveillance in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington .
Yovanovitch had previously said she was told by a Trump administration officials that her recall was related to her “ security , ” but that it was unclear what that meant .
“ Can ’ t believe Trumo hasn ’ t fired this bitch .
I ’ ll get right in that , ” Hyde texted Parnas in March 2019 , after Parnashe sent him press coverage about Yovanovitch .
“ She under heavy protection outside Kiev , ” Hyde wrote later that day .
“ My guy thinks maybe FSB.. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Russian spy agency .
The men continued messaging each other on WhatsApp .
Two days later , Hyde sent Parnas a series of texts about Yovanovitch ’ s supposed movements .
“ The guys over they asked me what I would like to do and what is in it for them , ” Hyde said .
“ They will let me know when she ’ s on the move , ” he later said .
“ They are willing to help if we/you would like a price .
Guess you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... what I was told , ” Hyde said .
In a statement Tuesday night , an attorney for Yovanovitch called the idea that she was being surveilled `` disturbing '' and called for an investigation by the `` appropriate authorities . ''
Hyde ’ s campaign did not immediately return BuzzFeed News ' requests for comment but on Twitter said he was `` never in Kiev '' and called House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff a `` turd . ''

The interview aired after House Democrats released hundreds of pages of new documents related to the impeachment inquiry into President Trump, including texts and notes turned over by Parnas.
Three House committees sent the evidence to the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday “to be included as part of the official record that will be transmitted to the Senate along with the Articles of Impeachment.” The House sent the articles to the Senate on Wednesday evening.
In a statement to MSNBC as the interview aired, Giuliani said Parnas had "never" spoken on behalf of Trump in his meetings.
He added that Parnas is "a very sad situation."
The evidence sent by the Intelligence, Oversight, and Foreign Affairs committees included documents provided recently by Parnas, who helped Giuliani dig up dirt on former Vice President Joe Biden, in response to a subpoena he received from the House in October. The committees said the evidence also included call records, which they did not make public due to their sensitivity.
“All of this new evidence confirms what we already know: the President and his associates pressured Ukrainian officials to announce investigations that would benefit the President politically,” the chairs of all four committees said in a statement.
The committees said Parnas “continues to provide material responsive to the subpoena on a rolling basis.”
Here are some highlights from the documents the committees made public:


buzzfeed--2020-01-16--Here’s What Giuliani’s Associate Lev Parnas Was Sharing On WhatsApp As He Investigated The Ukraine C

Here’s What Giuliani’s Associate Lev Parnas Was Sharing On WhatsApp As He Investigated The Ukraine Conspiracy Theory

House Democrats released dozens of pages of new documents related to the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump on Tuesday night , including texts between Rudy Giuliani , a lawyer working for the president , and one of his associates , Lev Parnas , who in spring and summer 2019 was helping him dig up dirt on former vice president Joe Biden .
These texts provide a glimpse of what these men were consuming online and how that impacted their investigation .
WhatsApp messages from Parnas to Giuliani and Republican congressional candidate Robert F. Hyde are included in the evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Hyde was physically surveilling then–US ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch — whom Trump removed in May 2019 .
Ukraine 's Interior Ministry announced a criminal probe Thursday into alleged illegal surveillance of Yovanovitch following the release of Parnas and Hyde ’ s messages .
On Wednesday night , Parnas told Rachel Maddow that he never took Hyde seriously about the surveillance of Yovanovitch and claimed Hyde was always drunk when he saw him .
But as they discussed Yovanovitch ’ s whereabouts , it was Parnas who was regularly sending Hyde material @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influencers .
Parnas ’ s text messages are the clearest indication yet of what Giuliani and his team were paying attention to online during a critical moment that would eventually lead to Trump ’ s impeachment .
Many of the details make little sense without the context of a sprawling and nonsensical pro-Trump conspiracy theory built by anonymous message boards , Facebook Groups , rabid Twitter gangs , radicalized YouTube channels , and Fox News segments — all of which was shared among the men .
With this new evidence , we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exactly how influenced by this digital morass they were — turns out the answer is : a lot .
In March 2019 , Parnas was working with Yuriy Lutsenko , the former prosecutor general of Ukraine , to investigate Hunter Biden , who sat on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma .
On March 21 , Parnas entered an encrypted WhatsApp chat with Hyde , a Republican currently running for Congress in Connecticut .
Facebook posts from Hyde 's campaign are heavily promoted by two anonymously run pro-Trump networks of pages previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share right-wing memes and stories , some of which are false or misleading .
When asked about his relationship to the network of pages , Hyde told BuzzFeed News in November 2019 that he does not run them .
“ These are bad people , I 'm out to expose their actions .
Attack me all you want , get the facts first , ” Hyde tweeted last night .
“ The media is against me because they 're either complicit or have a hand in it , I welcome an investigation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand my phone over , bring it on .
”

House Democrats released dozens of pages of new documents related to the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump on Tuesday night, including texts between Rudy Giuliani, a lawyer working for the president, and one of his associates, Lev Parnas, who in spring and summer 2019 was helping him dig up dirt on former vice president Joe Biden. These texts provide a glimpse of what these men were consuming online and how that impacted their investigation.
WhatsApp messages from Parnas to Giuliani and Republican congressional candidate Robert F. Hyde are included in the evidence. These messages suggest that someone working with Hyde was physically surveilling then–US ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch — whom Trump removed in May 2019. Ukraine's Interior Ministry announced a criminal probe Thursday into alleged illegal surveillance of Yovanovitch following the release of Parnas and Hyde’s messages.
On Wednesday night, Parnas told Rachel Maddow that he never took Hyde seriously about the surveillance of Yovanovitch and claimed Hyde was always drunk when he saw him. But as they discussed Yovanovitch’s whereabouts, it was Parnas who was regularly sending Hyde material gleaned from hyperpartisan news sites and right-wing influencers.
Parnas’s text messages are the clearest indication yet of what Giuliani and his team were paying attention to online during a critical moment that would eventually lead to Trump’s impeachment. Many of the details make little sense without the context of a sprawling and nonsensical pro-Trump conspiracy theory built by anonymous message boards, Facebook Groups, rabid Twitter gangs, radicalized YouTube channels, and Fox News segments — all of which was shared among the men.
With this new evidence, we’re now closer than ever to knowing exactly how influenced by this digital morass they were — turns out the answer is: a lot.
In March 2019, Parnas was working with Yuriy Lutsenko, the former prosecutor general of Ukraine, to investigate Hunter Biden, who sat on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma. On March 21, Parnas entered an encrypted WhatsApp chat with Hyde, a Republican currently running for Congress in Connecticut.
Facebook posts from Hyde's campaign are heavily promoted by two anonymously run pro-Trump networks of pages previously identified as coordinating with each other to share right-wing memes and stories, some of which are false or misleading. When asked about his relationship to the network of pages, Hyde told BuzzFeed News in November 2019 that he does not run them.
“These are bad people, I'm out to expose their actions. Attack me all you want, get the facts first,” Hyde tweeted last night. “The media is against me because they're either complicit or have a hand in it, I welcome an investigation. I'll provide my email password and hand my phone over, bring it on.”


buzzfeed--2020-01-16--Trump Said He’ll Double-Down On Prayer In School And Give More Federal Tax Money To Religious Groups

When Donald Trump ran for president in 2016 , moderates and liberals noted he hadn ’ t embraced the strident right-wing agenda of his evangelical running mate , Mike Pence .
But on Thursday , Trump ’ s White House kicked off a press briefing with a few words of fealty to the faithful base : “ Happy Religious Freedom Day.
” And what a day it promised to be for Christian conservatives , who have witnessed their agenda rise the past three years in a mountain of new policies .
On a call with reporters , the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ memos designed to ensure less regulation and more money flows to religious organizations , churches , and social service providers — while advancing prayer in public schools .
Most theatrically , Trump will hold an Oval Office event with kids on Thursday “ celebrating ” new guidance to affirm the right to prayer in public elementary , middle , and high schools , according to Joe Grogan , a former pharmaceutical lobbyist who is now director of the US Domestic Policy Council .
“ It will empower students and others to know and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Second , the Office of Management and Budget will tell states that federal grants must also be dispersed to religious organizations , including churches and public schools , in addition to secular groups .
Specifically , the administration will tell federal grantees that they can not condition sub-awards in a way that disadvantages applicants based on their religious character .
Grogan cited the case of Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia v. Comer , where a Missouri church successfully argued at the Supreme Court for a government grant to refurbish its playground .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage from the Blaine amendments — laws enacted by 38 states that bar taxpayer money from flowing to religious schools .
“ After Trinity Lutheran , ” Grogan said , “ it ’ s obvious that these laws are unconstitutional.
” The White House did not answer questions from BuzzFeed News on Thursday about the scope of this directive — for instance , would federal money pay for teachers at Catholic schools or religious Christmas plays ?
Next up Thursday , nine federal agencies will issue draft rules to free social service organizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration had issued rules in 2016 that said religious social service providers that use federal tax money must tell beneficiaries — the people who use their services — that alternative organizations could provide the same services ; the religious groups would then need to provide a referral to go somewhere else .
( For example , a Christian drug treatment center would need to let Jewish patients know about other facilities that can help them . )
Now Trump is directing nine agencies to reverse those regulations .
One senior administration official on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be named , said the Obama-era requirements created an unfair “ burden ” that secular organizations didn ’ t have to bear .
Trump ’ s effort to rescind those requirements for referrals , the official said , “ is another step in the administration ’ s commitment to give religious organizations an equal seat at the table.
” The nine agencies are the Agency for International Development , Department of Agriculture , Department of Education , Department of Health and Human Services , Department of Homeland Security , Department of Housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Department of Labor , and the Department of Veterans Affairs .
Lastly , another senior administration official , who also asked to remain anonymous , said the Department of Education would issue a draft regulation to help religious student groups .
All public colleges and universities , in order to receive further federal funds , could not deny any money , privileges , or rights to a religious student group that secular groups have .
For example , this suggests a religious student group that believes in creationism or a flat Earth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a physics club .
“ This places religious student groups on equal footing as secular groups at institutions of higher education , ” the official said .
“ Religious freedom ” has become a tool of choice for the Trump administration to enact numerous new policies that allow discrimination in the name of constitutionally protected beliefs and cut loopholes in federal civil rights policies .
In 2019 , for example , the Department of Labor proposed a regulation to let businesses with federal contracts cite religious objections as a valid reason to discriminate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LGBTQ status , sex , race , ethnicity , national origin , and other characteristics .
The same year , the Department of Health and Human Services ’ Office of Civil Rights said it would allow faith-based foster care and adoption agencies receive federal funds , even if they refuse same-sex parents HHS also finalized regulations to protect religious health care providers that deny contraception , while creating a Conscience and Religious Freedom Division , which endeavors to let care providers recuse themselves from providing certain services .
Former attorney general Jeff Sessions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employers , saying in a guidance memo they may hire workers “ whose beliefs and conduct are consistent with the employers ' religious precepts ” and that “ the federal government may not condition receipt of a federal grant or contract on the effective relinquishment of a religious organization 's hiring exemptions.
” The Justice Department in 2017 instructed federal agencies and attorneys to protect religious liberty in a broad , yet vague , guidance memo that critics feared could give people of faith — including government workers and contractors — a loophole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women and LGBTQ people .
That came on the heels of the Trump administration arguing to the Supreme Court that a Christian baker had a First Amendment right to deny a gay couple a cake for their wedding .
The Justice Department also formed the Religious Liberty Task Force to find examples of religious entities being denied government funds , saying the practice “ must , and will , stop.
” Grogan summed it up Thursday : “ This administration is committed to using every tool at its disposal to protect the rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government impediment.
” “ Taken together , ” he said of the developments on Thursday , “ these actions exemplify the president ’ s commitment for free exercise for individual believers and for religious organizations .
”

When Donald Trump ran for president in 2016, moderates and liberals noted he hadn’t embraced the strident right-wing agenda of his evangelical running mate, Mike Pence. But on Thursday, Trump’s White House kicked off a press briefing with a few words of fealty to the faithful base: “Happy Religious Freedom Day.”
And what a day it promised to be for Christian conservatives, who have witnessed their agenda rise the past three years in a mountain of new policies. On a call with reporters, the White House announced a dozen new rules and guidance memos designed to ensure less regulation and more money flows to religious organizations, churches, and social service providers — while advancing prayer in public schools.
Most theatrically, Trump will hold an Oval Office event with kids on Thursday “celebrating” new guidance to affirm the right to prayer in public elementary, middle, and high schools, according to Joe Grogan, a former pharmaceutical lobbyist who is now director of the US Domestic Policy Council. “It will empower students and others to know and exercise their rights,” he said.
Second, the Office of Management and Budget will tell states that federal grants must also be dispersed to religious organizations, including churches and public schools, in addition to secular groups. Specifically, the administration will tell federal grantees that they cannot condition sub-awards in a way that disadvantages applicants based on their religious character. Grogan cited the case of Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia v. Comer, where a Missouri church successfully argued at the Supreme Court for a government grant to refurbish its playground. Grogan said the new rule would undo damage from the Blaine amendments — laws enacted by 38 states that bar taxpayer money from flowing to religious schools.
“After Trinity Lutheran,” Grogan said, “it’s obvious that these laws are unconstitutional.”
The White House did not answer questions from BuzzFeed News on Thursday about the scope of this directive — for instance, would federal money pay for teachers at Catholic schools or religious Christmas plays?
Next up Thursday, nine federal agencies will issue draft rules to free social service organizations from some current requirements. The Obama administration had issued rules in 2016 that said religious social service providers that use federal tax money must tell beneficiaries — the people who use their services — that alternative organizations could provide the same services; the religious groups would then need to provide a referral to go somewhere else. (For example, a Christian drug treatment center would need to let Jewish patients know about other facilities that can help them.) Now Trump is directing nine agencies to reverse those regulations.
One senior administration official on the press call, who asked not to be named, said the Obama-era requirements created an unfair “burden” that secular organizations didn’t have to bear. Trump’s effort to rescind those requirements for referrals, the official said, “is another step in the administration’s commitment to give religious organizations an equal seat at the table.”
The nine agencies are the Agency for International Development, Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Lastly, another senior administration official, who also asked to remain anonymous, said the Department of Education would issue a draft regulation to help religious student groups. All public colleges and universities, in order to receive further federal funds, could not deny any money, privileges, or rights to a religious student group that secular groups have. For example, this suggests a religious student group that believes in creationism or a flat Earth would be equally eligible for money as a physics club.
“This places religious student groups on equal footing as secular groups at institutions of higher education,” the official said.
“Religious freedom” has become a tool of choice for the Trump administration to enact numerous new policies that allow discrimination in the name of constitutionally protected beliefs and cut loopholes in federal civil rights policies.
In 2019, for example, the Department of Labor proposed a regulation to let businesses with federal contracts cite religious objections as a valid reason to discriminate against their workers on the basis of LGBTQ status, sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, and other characteristics. The same year, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights said it would allow faith-based foster care and adoption agencies receive federal funds, even if they refuse same-sex parents
HHS also finalized regulations to protect religious health care providers that deny contraception, while creating a Conscience and Religious Freedom Division, which endeavors to let care providers recuse themselves from providing certain services.
Former attorney general Jeff Sessions had been particularly bullish in protecting religious employers, saying in a guidance memo they may hire workers “whose beliefs and conduct are consistent with the employers' religious precepts” and that “the federal government may not condition receipt of a federal grant or contract on the effective relinquishment of a religious organization's hiring exemptions.”
The Justice Department in 2017 instructed federal agencies and attorneys to protect religious liberty in a broad, yet vague, guidance memo that critics feared could give people of faith — including government workers and contractors — a loophole to ignore federal bans on discrimination against women and LGBTQ people.
That came on the heels of the Trump administration arguing to the Supreme Court that a Christian baker had a First Amendment right to deny a gay couple a cake for their wedding. The Justice Department also formed the Religious Liberty Task Force to find examples of religious entities being denied government funds, saying the practice “must, and will, stop.”
Grogan summed it up Thursday: “This administration is committed to using every tool at its disposal to protect the rights of faith-based organizations to operate without unlawful government impediment.”
“Taken together,” he said of the developments on Thursday, “these actions exemplify the president’s commitment for free exercise for individual believers and for religious organizations.”


buzzfeed--2020-01-16--Mike Bloomberg’s Campaign Doesn’t Look Like Anything Else Happening In The Democratic Primary

As other Democratic presidential candidates briefly departed a freezing Iowa ahead of next month ’ s caucuses , Michael Bloomberg was hosting a large and grand rally at the Sheraton in Midtown Manhattan , the first big hometown event for the former mayor since he announced his campaign nearly two months ago .
The theme : women for Mike .
As pop hits spun by a DJ blared — from Robyn ’ s “ Dancing on My Own ” to Dua Lipa ’ s “ Don ’ t Start Now ” — the titular women for Mike , wearing campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which had been made up to look handcrafted , flooded the stage , hyping the crowd up .
A small brass ensemble played briefly .
The ballroom was bathed in pink and blue light .
Attendees clutched glasses of wine and ate hors d ’ œuvres ; the event even had a coat check .
A campaign aide stopped by the press tables during the event to tell reporters that over 1,000 people were confirmed to be in attendance .
It wasn ’ t a typical primary season event , in other words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a typical primary candidate ; he announced his candidacy a little less than two months ago , long after his opponents in the Democratic field , and , a committed centrist , he hasn ’ t always been a Democrat .
He conducted his first and second campaigns for mayor of New York as a Republican and his third as an independent .
Bloomberg toyed with running for president in the past , but only made good on the idea this cycle , and has stormed into the campaign with a shock-and-awe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fund a massive advertising campaign and hire , as of now , 1,000 staffers .
Several women surrogates took turns speaking as warm-up acts to Bloomberg , including the actress Lorraine Bracco , who played Karen in Goodfellas and Dr. Melfi , Tony Soprano ’ s therapist , in The Sopranos .
She exhorted the crowd to “ teach your children about Mike Bloomberg ” — “ rise up ladies , our future depends on it.
” Former Manhattan borough president C. Virginia Fields and Shenee Johnson , the mother of a 17-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , also spoke .
Bloomberg ’ s partner Diana Taylor gave a brief speech on his behalf , sporting a campaign T-shirt .
`` I have spent the last 20 years of my life with Michael Bloomberg , ” she said wryly .
“ You could say I ’ m the first 'woman for Mike . '
'' Fatima Shama , a former New York City official who is working for Bloomberg ’ s campaign , took a selfie with the crowd while giving her remarks , then instructed the audience on which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Slickly produced campaign videos appeared as interstitials throughout the introductory speeches , including one that featured an appearance by Judge Judy , another Bloomberg supporter .
Bloomberg took the stage to enthusiastic cheers and strolled to the lectern , where he mentioned that he had used that same Sheraton ballroom for an election night victory party for one of his mayoral campaigns .
Bloomberg pitched himself as the candidate best prepared to defeat Donald Trump and restore sanity .
“ My whole career I ’ ve been a doer and a problem solver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ less talk , less partisanship , less division , less tweeting — in fact , what about no tweeting from the Oval Office ever again ?
” His anti-tweeting rhetoric struck an odd note after his social media team spent all of Tuesday night , as other candidates debated in Iowa , tweeting a series of head-scratching missives , including a photoshop of Bloomberg ’ s face on a meatball .

As other Democratic presidential candidates briefly departed a freezing Iowa ahead of next month’s caucuses, Michael Bloomberg was hosting a large and grand rally at the Sheraton in Midtown Manhattan, the first big hometown event for the former mayor since he announced his campaign nearly two months ago. The theme: women for Mike.
As pop hits spun by a DJ blared — from Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own” to Dua Lipa’s “Don’t Start Now” — the titular women for Mike, wearing campaign T-shirts and waving signs, some of which had been made up to look handcrafted, flooded the stage, hyping the crowd up. A small brass ensemble played briefly. The ballroom was bathed in pink and blue light. Attendees clutched glasses of wine and ate hors d’œuvres; the event even had a coat check. A campaign aide stopped by the press tables during the event to tell reporters that over 1,000 people were confirmed to be in attendance.
It wasn’t a typical primary season event, in other words. Bloomberg, of course, is not a typical primary candidate; he announced his candidacy a little less than two months ago, long after his opponents in the Democratic field, and, a committed centrist, he hasn’t always been a Democrat. He conducted his first and second campaigns for mayor of New York as a Republican and his third as an independent. Bloomberg toyed with running for president in the past, but only made good on the idea this cycle, and has stormed into the campaign with a shock-and-awe approach, using his enormous fortune to fund a massive advertising campaign and hire, as of now, 1,000 staffers.
Several women surrogates took turns speaking as warm-up acts to Bloomberg, including the actress Lorraine Bracco, who played Karen in Goodfellas and Dr. Melfi, Tony Soprano’s therapist, in The Sopranos. She exhorted the crowd to “teach your children about Mike Bloomberg” — “rise up ladies, our future depends on it.” Former Manhattan borough president C. Virginia Fields and Shenee Johnson, the mother of a 17-year-old boy who was killed by gun violence, also spoke.
Bloomberg’s partner Diana Taylor gave a brief speech on his behalf, sporting a campaign T-shirt. "I have spent the last 20 years of my life with Michael Bloomberg,” she said wryly. “You could say I’m the first 'woman for Mike.'" Fatima Shama, a former New York City official who is working for Bloomberg’s campaign, took a selfie with the crowd while giving her remarks, then instructed the audience on which hashtag to use to share it.
Slickly produced campaign videos appeared as interstitials throughout the introductory speeches, including one that featured an appearance by Judge Judy, another Bloomberg supporter.
Bloomberg took the stage to enthusiastic cheers and strolled to the lectern, where he mentioned that he had used that same Sheraton ballroom for an election night victory party for one of his mayoral campaigns. Bloomberg pitched himself as the candidate best prepared to defeat Donald Trump and restore sanity.
“My whole career I’ve been a doer and a problem solver,” Bloomberg said. He promised “less talk, less partisanship, less division, less tweeting — in fact, what about no tweeting from the Oval Office ever again?”
His anti-tweeting rhetoric struck an odd note after his social media team spent all of Tuesday night, as other candidates debated in Iowa, tweeting a series of head-scratching missives, including a photoshop of Bloomberg’s face on a meatball.


buzzfeed--2020-01-16--Ukraine Is Investigating Whether Marie Yovanovitch Was Under Surveillance By Rudy Giuliani's Associa

Ukraine Is Investigating Whether Marie Yovanovitch Was Under Surveillance By Rudy Giuliani's Associates

“ Ukraine can not ignore such illegal activities on its territory , ” an official from the country 's interior ministry said .
KYIV — Ukrainian authorities said Thursday they had opened a criminal investigation into whether former US ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch was under surveillance by associates of Rudy Giuliani while in Kyiv last spring .
Officials from Ukraine ’ s interior ministry announced the investigation in a televised briefing , citing a trove of documents released by House Democrats on Tuesday that included several cryptic WhatsApp messages between Lev Parnas and Robert Hyde that discussed monitoring Yovanovitch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Ukraine ’ s position is to not interfere in the domestic affairs of the United States , ” an interior ministry official said .
“ However , the published records contain the fact of a possible violation of the legislation of Ukraine and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations , which protects the rights of a diplomat on the territory of another country .
“ Ukraine can not ignore such illegal activities on its territory . ''
The WhatsApp messages in question were sent last March and turned over this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump .
Three House committees sent the evidence to the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday “ to be included as part of the official record that will be transmitted to the Senate along with the Articles of Impeachment.
” The House sent the articles to the Senate on Wednesday evening .
In the texts between the men , Hyde calls Yovanovitch a “ bitch ” and suggests he ’ s in touch with people in Ukraine who were actively watching the ambassador .
“ They are willing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” reads one message to Parnas from Hyde , an avid Trump supporter and a landscaper who is running for a House seat in Connecticut .
Hyde followed that by saying : “ Guess you can do anything in the Ukraine with money… what I was told.
” It ’ s unclear exactly who , if anyone , was monitoring Yovanovitch at the time .
Hyde couldn ’ t be immediately reached for comment , but he tweeted on Tuesday that he had never been to Kyiv .
Yovanovitch told BuzzFeed News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the notion that American citizens and others were monitoring Ambassador Yovanovitch ’ s movements for unknown purposes is disturbing .
We trust that the appropriate authorities will conduct an investigation to determine what happened.
” The US Embassy in Kyiv directed questions on the matter to the State Department , which didn ’ t respond to BuzzFeed News ’ request for comment and hasn ’ t publicly commented since the texts became public .
Trump ’ s associates , specifically Giuliani , had been openly critical of Yovanovitch last spring and were actively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had claimed without evidence that Yovanovitch , a career foreign service officer and two-time ambassador who served both Republican and Democrat presidents , was speaking poorly of Trump in public and behind closed doors .
Parnas is a key associate of Giuliani , a lawyer working for Trump who ran the back-channel campaign in Ukraine that is at the heart of the president ’ s impeachment .
In an interview with MSNBC host Rachel Maddow on Wednesday , Parnas said that President Trump was aware of the work he was doing for Giuliani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my movements .
I would n't do anything without the consent of Rudy Giuliani or the president , '' said Parnas , who was indicted on campaign finance charges .
Ukraine ’ s interior ministry said its goal “ is to investigate whether there were any violations of Ukrainian and international laws ” or “ if it was just bravado and fake conversation between two US citizens.
” The ministry also said it had requested information from the FBI “ about persons who may be involved in this possible criminal offense , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants the US side to take part in the investigation .

KYIV — Ukrainian authorities said Thursday they had opened a criminal investigation into whether former US ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch was under surveillance by associates of Rudy Giuliani while in Kyiv last spring.
Officials from Ukraine’s interior ministry announced the investigation in a televised briefing, citing a trove of documents released by House Democrats on Tuesday that included several cryptic WhatsApp messages between Lev Parnas and Robert Hyde that discussed monitoring Yovanovitch’s physical movements and electronic devices.
“Ukraine’s position is to not interfere in the domestic affairs of the United States,” an interior ministry official said. “However, the published records contain the fact of a possible violation of the legislation of Ukraine and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which protects the rights of a diplomat on the territory of another country.
“Ukraine cannot ignore such illegal activities on its territory."
The WhatsApp messages in question were sent last March and turned over this week to House Democrats as part of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. Three House committees sent the evidence to the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday “to be included as part of the official record that will be transmitted to the Senate along with the Articles of Impeachment.” The House sent the articles to the Senate on Wednesday evening.


buzzfeed--2020-01-16--Key Witnesses In The Mueller Probe Told Investigators How Sean Hannity Advised Trump's Closest Aides

In Mueller ’ s published report , Hannity is mentioned just a handful of times , often in relation to comments guests made on his show .
But in the documents — interview summaries with key witnesses that informed the report 's narrative , known as 302s — Hannity is mentioned more than a dozen times and emerges as a central point of contact between the president ’ s allies who were under investigation and Trump himself .
BuzzFeed News will receive thousands more pages of interview summaries with other witnesses in the months ahead .
But hundreds of pages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the depths of the conservative firebrand ’ s relationship with key members of President Donald Trump ’ s orbit as they faced a vast criminal investigation conducted by Mueller ’ s team over two years .
The documents , turned over by the Justice Department and FBI in response to a BuzzFeed News Freedom of Information Act lawsuit , also raise ethical questions about Hannity ’ s role as a trusted adviser to the president ’ s circle at the height of Mueller ’ s inquiry — something the television host failed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WASHINGTON — Sean Hannity has never been shy about using his highly rated Fox News show to express his disdain for former special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s investigation into Russia ’ s interference in the 2016 election and the president ’ s efforts to obstruct the inquiry .
As Hannity and Trump ’ s relationship flourished during the 2016 campaign , the Fox News personality met often with other members of the then-candidate ’ s entourage , according to one witness interviewed by Mueller ’ s team .
“ Trump and Manafort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often , ” Rick Gates , Manafort ’ s former deputy , told the FBI .
Trump , in this case , appears to be the president ’ s eldest son , Donald Jr. , per handwritten notes attached to the interview summary .
A lawyer for Manafort did not respond to requests for comment .
The White House declined to comment .
Fox News declined to answer a series of questions BuzzFeed News sent the network about Hannity ’ s appearance in the documents .
Instead , through a spokesperson , Hannity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has already called into question the reporting of BuzzFeed [ News ] .
I stand by my incredible investigative team and our great sources and reporting.
” “ It ’ s alarming , ” Kelly McBride , senior vice president of the Poynter Institute and an expert in journalistic ethics , said of Hannity ’ s appearances in the interview summaries .
“ It ’ s evidence that Hannity is as much a part of the president ’ s inner circle as he is Fox ’ s inner circle , and so you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same time , Hannity used his nightly Fox News program to question the integrity of the special counsel ’ s investigation , calling Mueller a “ disgrace to the American justice system .
” At one point , the host even “ advised ” witnesses to `` bash '' their phones `` into itsy-bitsy pieces . ''
( Hannity would later clarify that he was being facetious . )
In one instance , former campaign chair Paul Manafort describes Hannity as “ a close personal friend ” who acted as a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In another , Hannity counsels Michael Cohen , Trump ’ s former longtime personal attorney , after he received an inquiry from Congress .
The next year , Hannity ’ s proximity to the president was on full display , according to other witnesses interviewed by Mueller ’ s team .
When Cohen received a letter from the House of Representatives asking him to testify , he turned to Hannity , who suggested a lawyer , Cohen said .
“ Hannity recommended [ Jay ] Sekulow and gave his name and phone number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview summary states , adding that Sekulow ended up representing the president .
Later that summer , Hannity would also advise Manafort after the FBI raided his home , telling him to “ stay strong ” and offering to “ strategize ” with him , according to text messages unsealed by a federal judge last year .
But according to the FBI interview summaries , Manafort understood the Fox News host to be passing along messages from the president — whom Mueller accused of trying to “ influence ” Manafort after he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaking to Trump around then because Hannity would tell Manafort to hang in there , that he had been talking to Trump , that Trump had his back , and things like that , ” reads a summary of an October 2018 interview with Manafort .
“ Manafort understood his conversations with Hannity to be a message from Trump.
” That detail is absent from Mueller ’ s final report , which focuses on Trump ’ s efforts to “ encourage Manafort to not cooperate with the government ” after he was indicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take a plea deal , only to violate it .
The timing of the conversations between Manafort and Hannity is also crucial .
In the weeks after the FBI searched Manafort ’ s home , Trump appeared to distance himself from his former campaign chair , saying he hadn ’ t spoken to Manafort “ in a long time.
” Manafort told investigators he didn ’ t remember exactly when his conversations with Hannity occurred , but that the “ frequency was dependent on what was going on at the time ; sometimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks not at all.
” That summer , Hannity also spoke to several people within Trump ’ s sphere about the now-infamous Trump Tower meeting , where senior campaign officials were offered incriminating information on Hillary Clinton as “ part of Russia and its government 's support for Mr. Trump.
” Reince Priebus , the White House chief of staff at the time , told Mueller he learned about the meeting from Hannity , and Manafort told investigators that he discussed the meeting after news of it broke in July .
“ Manafort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They did not talk about strategy , just the facts , ” his interview summary says .
That month , Donald Trump Jr. would appear on Hannity ’ s show to give his first sit-down interview about the meeting .
It wouldn ’ t be the first time the Trump team would use Hannity ’ s program for messaging purposes .
The interview summaries show Cohen describing how , in 2015 , he used Hannity ’ s radio show to tease a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin after former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Putin at the United Nations General Assembly .
Cohen and Trump agreed “ it would be funny for the two men to meet at Trump Tower and have a burger , ” Cohen told investigators .
After Cohen spoke to Hannity , “ Trump asked a handful of times for updates , ” the summary states .
Cohen then tried to call the Kremlin — after using Google to find a phone number — to set up the meeting .
In another interview , Cohen told investigators that when he prepared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was a specific conversation about keeping TRUMP out of the UNGA narrative ” because he had discussed it on Hannity ’ s show .
Cohen would later plead guilty to lying to Congress about other elements of the president ’ s relationship with Russia .
McBride , who serves as chair of the Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership , a journalistic ethics group launched by the Poynter Institute , is baffled by Fox News ’ acceptance of Hannity ’ s relationship to Trump and his circle .
“ Even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a clear political ideology , you want your talent to place their loyalties with the audience , not the sources , ” McBride said , “ unless your true objective has nothing to do with serving your audience , but your true objective actually is to carry out a political agenda.
” ●

The next year, Hannity’s proximity to the president was on full display, according to other witnesses interviewed by Mueller’s team. When Cohen received a letter from the House of Representatives asking him to testify, he turned to Hannity, who suggested a lawyer, Cohen said. “Hannity recommended [Jay] Sekulow and gave his name and phone number to Cohen,” a November 2018 interview summary states, adding that Sekulow ended up representing the president.
Later that summer, Hannity would also advise Manafort after the FBI raided his home, telling him to “stay strong” and offering to “strategize” with him, according to text messages unsealed by a federal judge last year.
But according to the FBI interview summaries, Manafort understood the Fox News host to be passing along messages from the president — whom Mueller accused of trying to “influence” Manafort after he was charged.
“Manafort knew Hannity was speaking to Trump around then because Hannity would tell Manafort to hang in there, that he had been talking to Trump, that Trump had his back, and things like that,” reads a summary of an October 2018 interview with Manafort. “Manafort understood his conversations with Hannity to be a message from Trump.”
That detail is absent from Mueller’s final report, which focuses on Trump’s efforts to “encourage Manafort to not cooperate with the government” after he was indicted in October 2017. Manafort did eventually take a plea deal, only to violate it.
The timing of the conversations between Manafort and Hannity is also crucial. In the weeks after the FBI searched Manafort’s home, Trump appeared to distance himself from his former campaign chair, saying he hadn’t spoken to Manafort “in a long time.” Manafort told investigators he didn’t remember exactly when his conversations with Hannity occurred, but that the “frequency was dependent on what was going on at the time; sometimes they spoke twice a week, some weeks not at all.”
That summer, Hannity also spoke to several people within Trump’s sphere about the now-infamous Trump Tower meeting, where senior campaign officials were offered incriminating information on Hillary Clinton as “part of Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump.” Reince Priebus, the White House chief of staff at the time, told Mueller he learned about the meeting from Hannity, and Manafort told investigators that he discussed the meeting after news of it broke in July. “Manafort thought he probably just complained about it. They did not talk about strategy, just the facts,” his interview summary says. That month, Donald Trump Jr. would appear on Hannity’s show to give his first sit-down interview about the meeting.
It wouldn’t be the first time the Trump team would use Hannity’s program for messaging purposes. The interview summaries show Cohen describing how, in 2015, he used Hannity’s radio show to tease a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin after former president Barack Obama refused to sit down with Putin at the United Nations General Assembly. Cohen and Trump agreed “it would be funny for the two men to meet at Trump Tower and have a burger,” Cohen told investigators.
After Cohen spoke to Hannity, “Trump asked a handful of times for updates,” the summary states. Cohen then tried to call the Kremlin — after using Google to find a phone number — to set up the meeting. In another interview, Cohen told investigators that when he prepared to testify to Congress in 2017, “there was a specific conversation about keeping TRUMP out of the UNGA narrative” because he had discussed it on Hannity’s show. Cohen would later plead guilty to lying to Congress about other elements of the president’s relationship with Russia.
McBride, who serves as chair of the Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership, a journalistic ethics group launched by the Poynter Institute, is baffled by Fox News’ acceptance of Hannity’s relationship to Trump and his circle.
“Even if you are a partisan network, with a clear political ideology, you want your talent to place their loyalties with the audience, not the sources,” McBride said, “unless your true objective has nothing to do with serving your audience, but your true objective actually is to carry out a political agenda.” ●


buzzfeed--2020-01-17--The Iranian Woman In The #IraniansDetestSoleimani Viral Video Was Also A Lobbyist For A Militia In L

The Iranian Woman In The #IraniansDetestSoleimani Viral Video Was Also A Lobbyist For A Militia In Libya

In the first six days following the death of Soleimani , the head of the country ’ s Quds Force , Kasraie ’ s video was the single most popular piece of content about Iran on Facebook , aside from posts from President Donald Trump ’ s own page .
In the video , Kasraie , who describes herself as an Iranian activist , says Iranians were celebrating Soleimani ’ s death , thanking Trump , and giving out cakes on the street as a symbol of their joy .
“ I feel like we ’ re living in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m completely outraged at this notion that the propaganda machine that is the media is glorifying Qassem Soleimani , ” she says in the video .
At no point during the five-minute video , in which she praised the US drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani , did Saghar Erica Kasraie mention that she had worked in 2019 for Linden Government Solutions , a Texas-based lobbying firm hired to represent the Libyan National Army , a militia in the north African country led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar , a former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who spent much of the last two decades living in Virginia , during which time he worked with the CIA .
A viral video titled “ Truth From an Iranian , ” which has amassed more than 10 million views across Facebook , Twitter , and YouTube , was created by a registered lobbyist who previously worked for a militia group fighting in a bitter civil war in Libya .
The YouTube version of Kasraie ’ s video has been viewed 5.5 million times , going viral as a link on Facebook after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ page called Bakersfield Tuff and a slew of pro-Trump sites and pages .
Another copy of the video , shared on Kasraie ’ s Facebook page , has been viewed another 3.7 million times .
Kasraie does not list her time with Linden on her LinkedIn profile and said in a conversation with BuzzFeed News that her work for the firm in Washington , DC , was strictly logistical .
“ It was short project as a consultant , ” she said .
`` I worked directly for Linden and helped with logistics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ Just facilitated and coordinated meetings for Linden.
” However , public documents filed through the Foreign Agent Registration Act show she worked as a part-time lobbyist last year .
Her lobbying activity was previously reported on by Al-Monitor .
According to her registration , Kasraie ’ s job entailed “ Planning , coordinating meetings with Government , Business representatives , and think tanks , and other government relations services in support of Client 's diplomatic goals ” on behalf of the “ Decision Support Center of Libya ( on behalf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” When asked if the Libyan National Army was the firm ’ s only client , a representative for Linden Government Solutions told BuzzFeed News , “ I don ’ t know what you ’ re talking about , but I ’ d say no and I ’ d prefer not to continue.
” Kasraie denied her work for Linden had anything to do with the Iran video , telling BuzzFeed News that she decided to record the video because her American friends were asking for her opinion about the aftermath of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oh my gosh , the media is crazy .
They 're not reporting about what 's going on , ” she said .
The video first went viral when it was posted on the Bakersfield Tuff Facebook page , which describes itself as a community for “ Racing , rodeo , drinking , trucks , country music , hunting , fishing , drags , choppers , guns , fabrication , country girls.
” The Bakersfield Tuff post was shared 17,000 times .
“ An inside look from an Iranian .
She 's very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really going on .
All sides should watch this .
Her point is logical and calming , ” the Bakersfield Tuff page wrote .
The video was also boosted by large right-leaning Facebook pages , like the American Preppers Network and Chicks on the Right .
In addition to its organic engagement , Kasraie ’ s YouTube video was boosted by being tagged # IraniansDetestSoleimani , a hashtag that was amplified by inauthentic Twitter accounts several minutes after the video was posted .
Kasraie denied that the inauthentic activity surrounding the video was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that her video had been successful because people agreed with what she had to say .
“ I think there was a certain pulse in response to that video , ” she said .
Asked why she chose that hashtag , she said it “ was spinning around ” online .
The huge views on her video earned Kasraie several TV appearances , including on the Christian Broadcasting Network , The Ingraham Angle , and Fox News , which described her as an adviser to the National Iranian Congress , a dissident group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There ’ s no indication that Linden was involved in setting up the interviews .
Kasraie is now the vice president of human rights policy for the Middle East at the Victor Marx Group , a Christian organization that provides humanitarian aid .
Kasraie ’ s employee page for the Victor Marx Group embeds her Iran video but does not disclose her work for Linden .
Libya has been in a civil war for nine years , primarily between the Government of National Accord , a UN-backed government that sits in Tripoli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which control the eastern part of the country , including Benghazi .
“ What they ’ re vying for beyond just control of the capital in Libya , Tripoli , and the country at large — they 're also vying for international legitimacy , ” Anas El Gomati , the director of the Sadeq Institute , Libya ’ s first think tank based in Tripoli , told BuzzFeed News .
El Gomati said Haftar hopes to gain the support of the US government .
“ They need lobbying efforts to do that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a war on terror in Libya , which is deeply divisive and massively contested in terms of the kind of opponents and targets that they have claimed are terrorist targets and legitimate targets , ” El Gomati said .
The International Criminal Court has investigated Haftar ’ s attacks in Libya and issued two arrest warrants for one of his lieutenants .
However , Trump has praised Haftar , and even placed a phone call to him in April 2019 without the knowledge of the State and Defense Departments , before reversing his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grateful for President Trump and the groups that support him , ” Kasraie said of the support her video has received from pro-Trump internet communities .
“ I think I represent Iranians that support Trump .
”

The YouTube version of Kasraie’s video has been viewed 5.5 million times, going viral as a link on Facebook after it was posted to a right-leaning lifestyle page called Bakersfield Tuff and a slew of pro-Trump sites and pages. Another copy of the video, shared on Kasraie’s Facebook page, has been viewed another 3.7 million times.
Kasraie does not list her time with Linden on her LinkedIn profile and said in a conversation with BuzzFeed News that her work for the firm in Washington, DC, was strictly logistical. “It was short project as a consultant,” she said.
"I worked directly for Linden and helped with logistics for meetings in Washington," Kasraie said. “Just facilitated and coordinated meetings for Linden.”
However, public documents filed through the Foreign Agent Registration Act show she worked as a part-time lobbyist last year. Her lobbying activity was previously reported on by Al-Monitor.
According to her registration, Kasraie’s job entailed “Planning, coordinating meetings with Government, Business representatives, and think tanks, and other government relations services in support of Client's diplomatic goals” on behalf of the “Decision Support Center of Libya (on behalf of the Libyan National Army).”
When asked if the Libyan National Army was the firm’s only client, a representative for Linden Government Solutions told BuzzFeed News, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’d say no and I’d prefer not to continue.”
Kasraie denied her work for Linden had anything to do with the Iran video, telling BuzzFeed News that she decided to record the video because her American friends were asking for her opinion about the aftermath of the Soleimani killing. “I thought, Oh my gosh, the media is crazy. They're not reporting about what's going on,” she said.
The video first went viral when it was posted on the Bakersfield Tuff Facebook page, which describes itself as a community for “Racing, rodeo, drinking, trucks, country music, hunting, fishing, drags, choppers, guns, fabrication, country girls.” The Bakersfield Tuff post was shared 17,000 times.
“An inside look from an Iranian. She's very well spoken and clear on what's really going on. All sides should watch this. Her point is logical and calming,” the Bakersfield Tuff page wrote.
The video was also boosted by large right-leaning Facebook pages, like the American Preppers Network and Chicks on the Right.
In addition to its organic engagement, Kasraie’s YouTube video was boosted by being tagged #IraniansDetestSoleimani, a hashtag that was amplified by inauthentic Twitter accounts several minutes after the video was posted.
Kasraie denied that the inauthentic activity surrounding the video was linked to her lobbying firm, saying that her video had been successful because people agreed with what she had to say. “I think there was a certain pulse in response to that video,” she said.
Asked why she chose that hashtag, she said it “was spinning around” online.
The huge views on her video earned Kasraie several TV appearances, including on the Christian Broadcasting Network, The Ingraham Angle, and Fox News, which described her as an adviser to the National Iranian Congress, a dissident group with a headquarters in Washington, DC. There’s no indication that Linden was involved in setting up the interviews.
Kasraie is now the vice president of human rights policy for the Middle East at the Victor Marx Group, a Christian organization that provides humanitarian aid. Kasraie’s employee page for the Victor Marx Group embeds her Iran video but does not disclose her work for Linden.
Libya has been in a civil war for nine years, primarily between the Government of National Accord, a UN-backed government that sits in Tripoli, and Haftar’s forces, which control the eastern part of the country, including Benghazi.
“What they’re vying for beyond just control of the capital in Libya, Tripoli, and the country at large — they're also vying for international legitimacy,” Anas El Gomati, the director of the Sadeq Institute, Libya’s first think tank based in Tripoli, told BuzzFeed News.
El Gomati said Haftar hopes to gain the support of the US government.
“They need lobbying efforts to do that, but also to promote this narrative of a war on terror in Libya, which is deeply divisive and massively contested in terms of the kind of opponents and targets that they have claimed are terrorist targets and legitimate targets,” El Gomati said.
The International Criminal Court has investigated Haftar’s attacks in Libya and issued two arrest warrants for one of his lieutenants. However, Trump has praised Haftar, and even placed a phone call to him in April 2019 without the knowledge of the State and Defense Departments, before reversing his support in June.
“I'm grateful for President Trump and the groups that support him,” Kasraie said of the support her video has received from pro-Trump internet communities. “I think I represent Iranians that support Trump.”