buzzfeed--2020-07-27--Two Trump-Appointed Judges Rejected Calls To Step Aside From A Florida Voting Rights Fight

WASHINGTON — Two of President Donald Trump ’ s appointees to a federal appeals court have refused calls to recuse from a case that advocates say would affect the right of approximately 750,000 Florida residents with previous felony convictions to vote .
Voting rights advocates are challenging a Florida law that requires former felons to pay any outstanding legal financial obligations before they can vote , even if they can ’ t afford it .
These obligations include the several hundred dollars in court fees and costs that are imposed in felony cases , as well as fines and restitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or even millions of dollars .
Challengers argue a “ pay-to-vote ” policy is unconstitutional and the same as a prohibited poll tax .
The challengers argued Judges Barbara Lagoa and Robert Luck of the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit should disqualify because they were involved in a related legal fight as state supreme court justices .
In an opinion released Monday morning , Lagoa and Luck disagreed and said they would stay on .
The Florida case is one of the biggest voting rights fights pending in federal court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November presidential election .
A federal district judge in Tallahassee ruled in May that the state could not condition voting rights on fines and fees that people with past convictions could not pay .
The full bench of the 11th Circuit is scheduled to hear arguments on Aug. 18 , the same day as Florida ’ s primary election .
Senate Democrats also had urged Lagoa and Luck to recuse .
In letters to both judges last week , Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee wrote that their continued participation in the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recuse yourself from any case in which you participated during your time on the Florida Supreme Court.
” The Senate has confirmed six of Trump 's nominees to the 11th Circuit , which covers Florida , Alabama , and Georgia .
Lawyers for the groups challenging the Florida law originally had asked three of those judges to recuse from the case .
One did so .
Judge Andrew Brasher disqualified himself , citing a general policy he said he adopted after he was confirmed in May 2019 of recusing from cases where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a party for about two years ; Brasher is Alabama ’ s former solicitor general , and that office filed an amicus , or friend-of-court , brief supporting Florida .
Lagoa and Luck wrote that even though the case they heard as state judges involved the same Florida law at issue in the federal case , the cases weren ’ t actually the same “ proceeding ” that would require them to recuse under federal law and the federal judiciary ’ s ethics rules .
They wrote that the state court matter involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruling on how the Florida law squared with the US Constitution , as well as different courts and different participants .
“ We ’ ve reviewed the Code of Conduct for United States Judges and 28 U.S.C .
section 455 .
We have also consulted with experienced colleagues .
We have carefully considered whether disqualification is legally required , and because we did not serve as lawyers or trial or appellate judges in this case , we ’ ve concluded that it is not , ” Lagoa and Luck wrote .
A spokesperson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the groups challenging the Florida law , declined to comment and pointed instead to their briefs in the case .
The voting rights advocates wrote in a filing earlier this month that the outcome of the case “ will be subject to close public scrutiny whatever the result.
” “ The Court must ensure that the legitimacy of its decision is not at issue , ” the challengers argued .
Floridians voted in 2018 to adopt an amendment to the state ’ s constitution that would allow people with past felony convictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terms ” of their sentences .
The Florida state legislature then passed a law that specified that “ all terms ” included fully paying any financial obligations ordered by a court as part of a person ’ s sentence .
In 2019 , Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis asked the Florida Supreme Court to issue an “ advisory opinion ” about whether the phrase “ all terms of sentence ” in the constitutional amendment included paying any financial obligations .
Lagoa and Luck had been nominated by Trump for the 11th Circuit in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Florida state court when the advisory opinion case was argued on Nov. 6 .
A lawyer for DeSantis did not immediately return a request for comment .
In requesting that Lagoa and Luck recuse now that the fight over the Florida law is before the 11th Circuit , the challengers argued that they not only briefed issues related to the US constitutional issues before the Florida court , but also specifically answered questions from Lagoa and Luck about those issues during the November hearing .
Lagoa and Luck were both confirmed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the November hearing .
The Florida Supreme Court issued its advisory opinion in January , finding the phrase “ all terms of sentence ” included payment of legal financial obligations .
Lagoa and Luck wrote that litigation in federal court — which involved the full development of a factual record and court-enforced rulings — was not the same as an advisory opinion proceeding before the state supreme court .
They also wrote that to consider state court and federal court cases as the same “ proceeding ” would undermine the principles of federalism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opinion of the state supreme court , as the name suggests , is advisory only , ” Lagoa and Luck wrote .
They also disagreed that pledges they each made to the Senate Judiciary Committee to recuse from “ any case ” they participated in on the Florida court meant they had to recuse from the voting rights case .
They wrote that the argument relied on the “ same mistaken premise ” that the two cases were part of the same “ proceeding .
”

WASHINGTON — Two of President Donald Trump’s appointees to a federal appeals court have refused calls to recuse from a case that advocates say would affect the right of approximately 750,000 Florida residents with previous felony convictions to vote.
Voting rights advocates are challenging a Florida law that requires former felons to pay any outstanding legal financial obligations before they can vote, even if they can’t afford it. These obligations include the several hundred dollars in court fees and costs that are imposed in felony cases, as well as fines and restitution orders that can run in the thousands or even millions of dollars. Challengers argue a “pay-to-vote” policy is unconstitutional and the same as a prohibited poll tax.
The challengers argued Judges Barbara Lagoa and Robert Luck of the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit should disqualify because they were involved in a related legal fight as state supreme court justices. In an opinion released Monday morning, Lagoa and Luck disagreed and said they would stay on.
The Florida case is one of the biggest voting rights fights pending in federal court with less than 100 days until the November presidential election. A federal district judge in Tallahassee ruled in May that the state could not condition voting rights on fines and fees that people with past convictions could not pay. The full bench of the 11th Circuit is scheduled to hear arguments on Aug. 18, the same day as Florida’s primary election.
Senate Democrats also had urged Lagoa and Luck to recuse. In letters to both judges last week, Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee wrote that their continued participation in the case “appears to contradict your commitment to recuse yourself from any case in which you participated during your time on the Florida Supreme Court.”
The Senate has confirmed six of Trump's nominees to the 11th Circuit, which covers Florida, Alabama, and Georgia. Lawyers for the groups challenging the Florida law originally had asked three of those judges to recuse from the case. One did so. Judge Andrew Brasher disqualified himself, citing a general policy he said he adopted after he was confirmed in May 2019 of recusing from cases where the Alabama attorney general’s office represents a party for about two years; Brasher is Alabama’s former solicitor general, and that office filed an amicus, or friend-of-court, brief supporting Florida.
Lagoa and Luck wrote that even though the case they heard as state judges involved the same Florida law at issue in the federal case, the cases weren’t actually the same “proceeding” that would require them to recuse under federal law and the federal judiciary’s ethics rules. They wrote that the state court matter involved state constitutional questions, and not a ruling on how the Florida law squared with the US Constitution, as well as different courts and different participants.
“We’ve reviewed the Code of Conduct for United States Judges and 28 U.S.C. section 455. We have also consulted with experienced colleagues. We have carefully considered whether disqualification is legally required, and because we did not serve as lawyers or trial or appellate judges in this case, we’ve concluded that it is not,” Lagoa and Luck wrote.
A spokesperson for the Campaign Legal Center, one of the groups challenging the Florida law, declined to comment and pointed instead to their briefs in the case. The voting rights advocates wrote in a filing earlier this month that the outcome of the case “will be subject to close public scrutiny whatever the result.”
“The Court must ensure that the legitimacy of its decision is not at issue,” the challengers argued.
Floridians voted in 2018 to adopt an amendment to the state’s constitution that would allow people with past felony convictions to vote after they completed “all terms” of their sentences. The Florida state legislature then passed a law that specified that “all terms” included fully paying any financial obligations ordered by a court as part of a person’s sentence.
In 2019, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis asked the Florida Supreme Court to issue an “advisory opinion” about whether the phrase “all terms of sentence” in the constitutional amendment included paying any financial obligations. Lagoa and Luck had been nominated by Trump for the 11th Circuit in October, but they were still on the Florida state court when the advisory opinion case was argued on Nov. 6.
A lawyer for DeSantis did not immediately return a request for comment.
In requesting that Lagoa and Luck recuse now that the fight over the Florida law is before the 11th Circuit, the challengers argued that they not only briefed issues related to the US constitutional issues before the Florida court, but also specifically answered questions from Lagoa and Luck about those issues during the November hearing.
Lagoa and Luck were both confirmed to the federal appeals court two weeks after the November hearing. The Florida Supreme Court issued its advisory opinion in January, finding the phrase “all terms of sentence” included payment of legal financial obligations.
Lagoa and Luck wrote that litigation in federal court — which involved the full development of a factual record and court-enforced rulings — was not the same as an advisory opinion proceeding before the state supreme court. They also wrote that to consider state court and federal court cases as the same “proceeding” would undermine the principles of federalism in the US Constitution.
“The opinion of the state supreme court, as the name suggests, is advisory only,” Lagoa and Luck wrote.
They also disagreed that pledges they each made to the Senate Judiciary Committee to recuse from “any case” they participated in on the Florida court meant they had to recuse from the voting rights case. They wrote that the argument relied on the “same mistaken premise” that the two cases were part of the same “proceeding.”


buzzfeed--2020-07-26--A Judge Won’t Force Federal Officers In Portland To Identify Themselves When Making Arrests

WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Friday denied a request by the Oregon attorney general ’ s office for an order that would require federal law enforcement officers in Portland to identify themselves when making arrests and place limits on the detention and arrests of protesters .
US District Judge Michael Mosman found that state Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum lacked standing to bring a lawsuit on behalf of Oregon residents because her office hadn ’ t articulated any specific state interest beyond the constitutional rights of individuals .
Rosenblum ’ s office filed one of multiple pending lawsuits in federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deployment of federal officers , largely from agencies within the Department of Homeland Security , to Portland .
Rosenblum ’ s complaint accuses federal officers of violating the constitutional rights of Oregonians , citing reports that individuals have been picked up off the street and detained without probable cause .
The offices of the inspector general for the departments of Homeland Security and Justice announced this week that they are investigating the actions by federal law enforcement officers in Portland .
Mosman 's ruling came one day after another federal judge in Portland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ granted an order restricting the activities of federal officers .
Simon entered a temporary restraining order on Thursday that bars federal officers from arresting or using force specifically against journalists and legal observers at demonstrations unless there is probable cause that they committed a crime .
Simon also ruled that clearly marked journalists and legal observers did not have to follow dispersal orders , writing that journalists are present to report on whether authorities are acting within the law .
`` Without journalists and legal observers , there is only the government 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 'riot ' was declared and the public streets were 'closed ' and whether law enforcement acted properly in effectuating that order , '' Simon wrote .
Rosenblum ’ s office asked Mosman to also enter an immediate order , while the case is pending , that would bar federal law enforcement officers from making arrests or detaining people without probable cause or a warrant , and require federal officers who do make arrests to identify themselves and explain the reason .
The Justice Department argued that the state of Oregon lacked standing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its citizens because the state hadn ’ t alleged any specific threat to its interests that were separate from those of private individuals .
The government also disputed that any Oregonian ’ s constitutional rights had been violated .
In response to a viral video that showed two officers wearing military-style uniforms that lacked identification forcibly escorting a man into an unmarked van , Customs and Border Protection said it suspected the man had been involved in assaults on federal agents or property .
The man in the video , Mark Pettibone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was arrested and wasn ’ t given any paperwork when he was released .
The Justice Department argued that there wasn ’ t evidence that federal officers violated the First Amendment speech rights of protesters .
Rosenblum ’ s office contends that federal officers were deployed to Portland to discourage otherwise lawful protests from taking place .
In his order on Friday , the judge repeatedly described the case as `` unusual , '' writing that typically in cases involving allegations of constitutional violations during protests , the people affected would be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a state .
Rosenblum 's office was also seeking a future-looking injunction , which set an `` unusually high bar '' for the attorney general 's office to clear , he wrote .
To sue on behalf of citizens — a legal doctrine known as `` parens patriae '' — Oregon had to show that it had an interest that was separate from private individuals , and that a `` quasi-sovereign interest '' had been violated .
Mosman wrote that the state offered mostly `` purely hypothetical '' arguments about the risks facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves during arrests , such as the possibility of counterprotesters pretending to be federal officers to kidnap protesters .
More generally , the judge wrote that the `` chilling effect '' on the speech rights of Oregon residents did n't represent the kind of state-specific issue that the attorney general 's office had to show to have standing to sue .
`` Oregonians , like all Americans , have individual rights to freedom of speech and assembly , conferred by the First Amendment .
They can , and often do , bring individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the State of Oregon has not explained why this case is different , why the chilled speech it alleges here injures the state in a way that is distinct from the individual harms that it also alleges , '' Mosman wrote .
Even if the state did have standing , the judge found that the state failed to present evidence that illegal seizures and arrests by federal law enforcement officers was a `` widespread practice '' that would continue in the future .
Rosenblum said in a statement that she was disappointed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a right to know which federal law enforcement agencies are policing our streets , and why they are detaining peaceful protesters . ''
`` While I respect Judge Mosman , I would ask this question : If the state of Oregon does not have standing to prevent this unconstitutional conduct by unidentified federal agents running roughshod over her citizens , who does ?
Individuals mistreated by these federal agents can sue for damages , but they can ’ t get a judge to restrain this unlawful conduct more generally .
Today ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no recourse on behalf of our state , and if so that is extremely troubling , '' Rosenblum said .
A Justice Department spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment .

WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Friday denied a request by the Oregon attorney general’s office for an order that would require federal law enforcement officers in Portland to identify themselves when making arrests and place limits on the detention and arrests of protesters.
US District Judge Michael Mosman found that state Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum lacked standing to bring a lawsuit on behalf of Oregon residents because her office hadn’t articulated any specific state interest beyond the constitutional rights of individuals.
Rosenblum’s office filed one of multiple pending lawsuits in federal court challenging the Trump administration’s deployment of federal officers, largely from agencies within the Department of Homeland Security, to Portland. Rosenblum’s complaint accuses federal officers of violating the constitutional rights of Oregonians, citing reports that individuals have been picked up off the street and detained without probable cause.
The offices of the inspector general for the departments of Homeland Security and Justice announced this week that they are investigating the actions by federal law enforcement officers in Portland.
Mosman's ruling came one day after another federal judge in Portland, US District Judge Michael Simon, granted an order restricting the activities of federal officers. Simon entered a temporary restraining order on Thursday that bars federal officers from arresting or using force specifically against journalists and legal observers at demonstrations unless there is probable cause that they committed a crime. Simon also ruled that clearly marked journalists and legal observers did not have to follow dispersal orders, writing that journalists are present to report on whether authorities are acting within the law.
"Without journalists and legal observers, there is only the government's side of the story to explain why a 'riot' was declared and the public streets were 'closed' and whether law enforcement acted properly in effectuating that order," Simon wrote.
Rosenblum’s office asked Mosman to also enter an immediate order, while the case is pending, that would bar federal law enforcement officers from making arrests or detaining people without probable cause or a warrant, and require federal officers who do make arrests to identify themselves and explain the reason.
The Justice Department argued that the state of Oregon lacked standing to bring constitutional claims on behalf of its citizens because the state hadn’t alleged any specific threat to its interests that were separate from those of private individuals.
The government also disputed that any Oregonian’s constitutional rights had been violated. In response to a viral video that showed two officers wearing military-style uniforms that lacked identification forcibly escorting a man into an unmarked van, Customs and Border Protection said it suspected the man had been involved in assaults on federal agents or property. The man in the video, Mark Pettibone, said he was not told why he was arrested and wasn’t given any paperwork when he was released.
The Justice Department argued that there wasn’t evidence that federal officers violated the First Amendment speech rights of protesters. Rosenblum’s office contends that federal officers were deployed to Portland to discourage otherwise lawful protests from taking place.
Mosman heard arguments on July 22.
In his order on Friday, the judge repeatedly described the case as "unusual," writing that typically in cases involving allegations of constitutional violations during protests, the people affected would be the ones to file a lawsuit, not a state. Rosenblum's office was also seeking a future-looking injunction, which set an "unusually high bar" for the attorney general's office to clear, he wrote.
To sue on behalf of citizens — a legal doctrine known as "parens patriae" — Oregon had to show that it had an interest that was separate from private individuals, and that a "quasi-sovereign interest" had been violated. Mosman wrote that the state offered mostly "purely hypothetical" arguments about the risks facing Oregonians by federal officers failing to identify themselves during arrests, such as the possibility of counterprotesters pretending to be federal officers to kidnap protesters.
More generally, the judge wrote that the "chilling effect" on the speech rights of Oregon residents didn't represent the kind of state-specific issue that the attorney general's office had to show to have standing to sue.
"Oregonians, like all Americans, have individual rights to freedom of speech and assembly, conferred by the First Amendment. They can, and often do, bring individual lawsuits to vindicate those rights. And the State of Oregon has not explained why this case is different, why the chilled speech it alleges here injures the state in a way that is distinct from the individual harms that it also alleges," Mosman wrote.
Even if the state did have standing, the judge found that the state failed to present evidence that illegal seizures and arrests by federal law enforcement officers was a "widespread practice" that would continue in the future.
Rosenblum said in a statement that she was disappointed and continued to believe that "all Oregonians have a right to know which federal law enforcement agencies are policing our streets, and why they are detaining peaceful protesters."
"While I respect Judge Mosman, I would ask this question: If the state of Oregon does not have standing to prevent this unconstitutional conduct by unidentified federal agents running roughshod over her citizens, who does? Individuals mistreated by these federal agents can sue for damages, but they can’t get a judge to restrain this unlawful conduct more generally. Today’s ruling suggests that there may be no recourse on behalf of our state, and if so that is extremely troubling," Rosenblum said.
A Justice Department spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment.


buzzfeed--2020-07-26--Former Officials Say The Elite Border Patrol Unit Sent To Confront Portland Protesters Is Like A “Fi

Former Officials Say The Elite Border Patrol Unit Sent To Confront Portland Protesters Is Like A “Fish Out Of Water”

Before dawn on April 22 , 2000 , heavily armed federal agents smashed their way into a home in Miami ’ s Little Havana neighborhood , wrenching a 6-year-old Cuban boy named Elián González from his relatives .
The raid , captured in an unforgettable image of the terrified child coming face to face with a helmeted agent brandishing an assault rifle , marked the end of a very public custody battle between Cold War adversaries .
For most Americans it also provided a first glimpse at the methods employed by the Border Patrol Tactical Unit , or BORTAC , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ center of a national controversy after being deployed to the streets of Portland , Oregon , to confront protesters .
Local officials and other critics say the tactical unit , which is trained for high-risk missions and usually conducts operations along the border targeting smugglers and criminal organizations , shouldn ’ t be responding to a matter of civil dissent in a major city far from any national border .
Since arriving last week , BORTAC agents have reportedly been apprehending protesters and whisking them away in unmarked vans , sometimes without revealing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justification for the detentions .
Oregon ’ s attorney general , in a lawsuit filed Friday against the Department of Homeland Security , identified two cases of alleged “ snatch and grab ” arrests they suspect were carried out by BORTAC agents .
“ The fundamental disconnect here is that these forces are being used against American citizens , ” said Doris Meissner , a former Clinton administration official who as head of the Immigration and Naturalization Service oversaw the González operation .
“ It ’ s a really serious misuse of federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose missions are important but very different .
It ’ s basically hijacking local law enforcement ’ s responsibilities and duties that they are equipped to carry out.
” Her criticism echoed the sentiments of other former and current federal officials who believe the tactical unit is being misused by the Trump administration as a reelection ploy .
BORTAC is not trained for deescalation , but rather an overwhelming force most often meant to combat-hardened criminals and terrorists , Meissner said .
Footage of BORTAC agents detaining a protester on the streets of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ van earlier this month sparked widespread outrage .
Some likened the camouflage agents to the gestapo or stormtroopers of Nazi Germany .
The video , shared widely on Twitter , shows two BORTAC agents approaching a protester wearing all black .
Off camera , a woman keeps asking the agents what they ’ re doing and who they are .
The agents do n't say a word ; they walk their captive over to a waiting unmarked van and speed off .
The agents had the word “ police ” emblazoned on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other patches are difficult to see .
Much of the criticism stems from reports of agents refusing to identify themselves and from the fact that they have been wearing militaristic camouflage uniforms in an urban environment .
Mark Pettibone , a Portland resident who was similarly taken away in an unmarked van , on Monday submitted an affidavit in Oregon ’ s lawsuit against DHS in which he said the two men in military fatigues approached him without identifying themselves .
`` I was detained for up to two hours , '' Pettibone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one informed me as to which agency had abducted , detained or questioned me .
I am still unaware as to which agency or agencies were involved . ''
Another video posted to Twitter on Wednesday showed a group of baton-wielding BORTAC agents violently confronting a line of Portland 's so-called Wall of Moms .
Agents could also be seen throwing canisters emitting smoke at the protesters .
Trump administration officials have defended the federal agents ’ actions .
Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf said during a press conference Tuesday it was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In addition to patches that said “ police ” in yellow lettering , he said they also wore patches that mark them as being with Border Patrol and its parent agency , Customs and Border Protection , as well as a unique three-letter identifier .
Unlike most local law enforcement , BORTAC agents do not have name tags , making individual officers difficult if not impossible to identify .
On Friday , a federal judge denied the Oregon attorney general ’ s request for an order requiring federal law enforcement officers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and place limits on the detention and arrests of protesters .
Trump administration officials have said they ordered the agents into Portland to protect federal buildings during weeks of demonstrations against anti-Black racism and police brutality , arguing local authorities aren ’ t doing enough .
“ The smear attacks leveled against our officers is disgusting , ” Wolf told reporters Tuesday .
Rep. Jim Clyburn and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi referred to federal agents as “ gestapo ” and “ stormtroopers , ” respectively , in discussing footage of officers taking protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oregon ’ s senior senator , Ron Wyden , on Wednesday tweeted at Trump : “ get your jackbooted goons out of my city.
” On Thursday , the DHS ’ s Office of Inspector General informed lawmakers it had opened an investigation into allegations that agency personnel “ improperly detained and transported ” protesters in Portland .
The office will also examine the deployment of DHS law enforcement personnel in the city .
The investigation is coordinated with the Department of Justice , which launched its own inquiry on Thursday .
Created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigration detention facilities , BORTAC was trained in a way that mirrors aspects of the US special operations forces ’ selection courses , and it has been described by agents as mentally and physically grueling .
The special response team was also deployed to the streets of Los Angeles in 1992 in response to the riots .
In 2002 , the unit was sent to help secure the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics as the nation feared another terrorist attack less than a year after 9/11 .
Wolf said the agents , whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” given that they usually work near the US-Mexico border , would only leave Portland when the violence against federal buildings and officers stopped .
He also called on local officials to step up and protect their community .
`` We will not retreat .
… We will continue to take the appropriate action to protect our facilities and our law enforcement officers , '' Wolf said .
Kris Cline , principal deputy director of the Federal Protective Service , said at the same Tuesday press conference that the man seen in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an unmarked van was questioned for less than 20 minutes before being released .
The border agents wanted to ask him about protesters pointing lasers at the eyes of federal authorities and took him in the van because they wanted to question him away from the crowd , Cline added .
`` Unfortunately , it got spun out of control with the rhetoric about what happened , ” he said .
In a statement , CBP said the agents ’ names were not displayed due to recent doxing incidents against law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a “ large and violent mob.
” But the widely shared video of the demonstrator being detained shows about five people , some questioning the agents and trying to get the protester ’ s name in order to help get them released .
Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum also disputed CBP ’ s account .
“ The video of that unknown person ’ s detention shows no evidence of a ‘ mob ’ at all , let alone the agents appearing to note or react to a ‘ large and violent mob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motion for a temporary restraining order against the federal agents being deployed in Portland .
Acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan also defended the use of BORTAC in Portland , saying the officers have been trained in riot control .
But Gil Kerlikowske , a former CBP commissioner who served in the Obama administration , said he questioned whether the agents had the appropriate training to handle the situation unfolding in Portland .
Handling a demonstration inside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility or even at an official border crossing is not the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents are engaged in civil disobedience , he said .
Kerlikowske , who has served as Seattle ’ s police chief , also said he believed deploying camouflage-clad agents who could not readily be identified by name sends the wrong message and fuels tensions .
BORTAC is a tactical unit more akin to the Marine Forces Special Operations Command or the FBI 's hostage rescue team that is used to working in remote , rugged areas along the border , so the team ’ s like `` a fish out of water '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an urban area and dealing with crowds of protesters , he added .
`` This is political theater for an audience of one , '' Kerlikowske said , referring to Trump , who he said wants to demonstrate his facade of “ toughness.
” He also noted that the homeland security secretary , the CBP commissioner , and the ICE director were all appointed to their jobs in a temporary capacity , without confirmation by the Senate .
“ They 're one tweet away from being fired , so who are they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he asked .
John Sandweg , a former lead DHS official in the Obama administration , noted that because border agents are used to operating near the border where the agency exercises authority to conduct stops , seizures , and detentions without a warrant , their deployment to a city with a population of nearly 700,000 was bound to lead to problems .
That at-will power is one most Americans don ’ t know about and has long been decried by advocates who maintain the agency doesn ’ t legally have those additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the middle of a city — they don ’ t receive training to operate in that environment , ” Sandweg said .
“ This was a real mistake.
” Last week , the New York Times reported that an internal memo addressed to Wolf said federal agents deployed by DHS were not specifically trained in riot control or mass demonstrations .
Wolf told reporters he never saw the memo .
Although CBP has provided very little information about what BORTAC agents have done in Portland , some information about their actions has come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of criminal charges against demonstrations .
In a complaint against Giovanni Bondurant , who was charged Wednesday with felony assault of a federal officer , a BORTAC agent , identified only as “ agent victim 1 , ” said he confronted two protesters who were throwing rocks and bottles at law enforcement agents .
The agent , assigned to the BORTAC delta squad , said he identified himself as a Border Patrol agent and ordered them to stop and drop their shields .
When one of the protesters tried to run away , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the man ’ s arm and started to remove his shield .
That ’ s when the agent said he was struck by another protester from behind .
“ This rioter pulled me to the ground and began striking my chest and head , ” the agent said in a written statement referenced in the complaint .
“ I gained control of the rioter ’ s hand and arm .
I then restrained the rioter and applied flexible restraints to his hands.
” Vicki Gaubeca , director of the Southern Border Communities Coalition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the southwest border , said that in light of the George Floyd protests , CBP should be reevaluating its tactics and focus on how to deescalate civil unrest “ instead of doing the opposite.
” `` These actions are setting a precedent that is going to be hard to roll back if we do n't nip it in the bud , '' she said .
●

Local officials and other critics say the tactical unit, which is trained for high-risk missions and usually conducts operations along the border targeting smugglers and criminal organizations, shouldn’t be responding to a matter of civil dissent in a major city far from any national border. Since arriving last week, BORTAC agents have reportedly been apprehending protesters and whisking them away in unmarked vans, sometimes without revealing who they are or providing any legal justification for the detentions. Oregon’s attorney general, in a lawsuit filed Friday against the Department of Homeland Security, identified two cases of alleged “snatch and grab” arrests they suspect were carried out by BORTAC agents.
“The fundamental disconnect here is that these forces are being used against American citizens,” said Doris Meissner, a former Clinton administration official who as head of the Immigration and Naturalization Service oversaw the González operation. “It’s a really serious misuse of federal law enforcement authorities as well as agencies whose missions are important but very different. It’s basically hijacking local law enforcement’s responsibilities and duties that they are equipped to carry out.”
Her criticism echoed the sentiments of other former and current federal officials who believe the tactical unit is being misused by the Trump administration as a reelection ploy. BORTAC is not trained for deescalation, but rather an overwhelming force most often meant to combat-hardened criminals and terrorists, Meissner said.
Footage of BORTAC agents detaining a protester on the streets of Portland and pulling them into an unmarked van earlier this month sparked widespread outrage. Some likened the camouflage agents to the gestapo or stormtroopers of Nazi Germany. The video, shared widely on Twitter, shows two BORTAC agents approaching a protester wearing all black. Off camera, a woman keeps asking the agents what they’re doing and who they are. The agents don't say a word; they walk their captive over to a waiting unmarked van and speed off.
The agents had the word “police” emblazoned on the front of their uniforms, but the other patches are difficult to see. Much of the criticism stems from reports of agents refusing to identify themselves and from the fact that they have been wearing militaristic camouflage uniforms in an urban environment.
Mark Pettibone, a Portland resident who was similarly taken away in an unmarked van, on Monday submitted an affidavit in Oregon’s lawsuit against DHS in which he said the two men in military fatigues approached him without identifying themselves.
"I was detained for up to two hours," Pettibone said in his statement. "No one informed me as to which agency had abducted, detained or questioned me. I am still unaware as to which agency or agencies were involved."
Another video posted to Twitter on Wednesday showed a group of baton-wielding BORTAC agents violently confronting a line of Portland's so-called Wall of Moms. Agents could also be seen throwing canisters emitting smoke at the protesters.


buzzfeed--2020-07-25--The $600 Unemployment Benefits Are Expiring This Weekend Because Senate Republicans Didn’t Do Anythi

The $600 Unemployment Benefits Are Expiring This Weekend Because Senate Republicans Didn’t Do Anything

Over 30 million people are drawing unemployment and will be left with state benefits only , which tend to be less than half of the federal amount .
This is happening right as millions of people are being exposed to the threat of eviction .
When the coronavirus pandemic first caused a spike in unemployment , state and local governments enacted moratoriums on evictions and shutting off utilities .
But now those have expired in about half the states in the country .
The eviction ban in Illinois ends in late August .
In Florida , it expires Aug. 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is scheduled to continue throughout the month of August .
After this weekend , the unemployment subsidy expires .
Congress plans to pass another coronavirus aid bill but is moving at a snail ’ s pace .
Republicans spent the entire week debating among themselves on a proposal .
Bipartisan talks have not yet even begun .
The Senate left Washington on Thursday and won ’ t return until Monday , after the benefits expire .
At the least , a temporary lapse in unemployment aid is all but certain .
One saving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her job at a local university , Congress passed the CARES Act , providing $ 600 per week in federal unemployment insurance aid on top of state benefits .
With this support , Childers has been able to continue paying for essentials like rent and health insurance .
“ It ’ s really stressful too because there ’ s this view that people who aren ’ t taking jobs like Walmart or fast-food companies are just lazy and want to leech off of the government .
And that ’ s just not the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I ’ m desperate for a job .
I ’ ve been applying for jobs daily since March and I ’ ve yet to find one .
I ’ m not optimistic.
” Childers , 30 , has chronic health conditions and is immunocompromised .
For that reason , she ’ s desperate to find a job that doesn ’ t have her facing customers all day .
She has an administrative background and is trying to find something in an office .
But in her part of western North Carolina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by right now .
WASHINGTON — Morgan Childers applies for work every day in and around her hometown of Cullowhee , North Carolina , but the only jobs available have been ones that would put her in danger .
Morgan Childers , who is immunocompromised , has struggled to find a job and is worried about paying for rent and healthcare when the $ 600 per week in federal unemployment insurance runs out .
Economists have been waiting for a surge of evictions since the pandemic hit — but even with the moratoriums @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t happened , said Jenny Schuetz , an urban economist and fellow at the Brookings Institution ’ s Metropolitan Policy Program .
That seems to largely be because of the CARES Act , but also in part because courthouses have been closed so landlords can ’ t file eviction notices .
Courthouses reopening and aid from the CARES Act expiring could lay the groundwork for a spike in evictions in August .
Schuetz said that even a lapse in support will be difficult to bear for many people who are unable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of people who are just hanging on by their fingernails , ” Schuetz said .
`` These are people who have essentially no financial cushion ; they are struggling to pay rent at the best of times .
For those households , any disruption is going to make it difficult for them to pay.
” Schuetz said there is just not enough data to know how big the potential eviction bubble is .
She said many landlords may hold off because they don ’ t think they can find new tenants .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ or taking jobs that put their health at risk .
“ There ’ s a sense there ’ s a lot of distress coming once the courts are up and running , but really there ’ s not a lot of hard data on this , ” said Schuetz .
Republicans broadly oppose extending the $ 600-per-week unemployment benefit , arguing that it is too generous and creates a disincentive to return to work .
They have been internally debating how to extend a smaller amount of aid .
One proposal would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only add up to 70 % of a person ’ s previous income .
But because of antiquated technology in some states , it ’ s not clear whether such a complex system could even be enacted ; Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia previously told Congress that it could not .
Another option is simply extending federal aid at a lower number ; some Republican senators have floated the idea of cutting the amount to $ 200 per week .
Advocacy groups are trying to put pressure on vulnerable Republicans to extend benefits .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ called Piedmont Rising has been running ads against Sen. Thom Tillis , who is in the midst of a tough reelection fight , accusing him of making it harder for people to afford essential healthcare .
“ We ’ re days away from a crisis if these federal unemployment benefits aren ’ t renewed , ” said Casey Wilkinson , executive director of Piedmont Rising .
“ There ’ s going to be a very real human impact .
People are not going to be able to afford their groceries , their prescription @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the unemployment aid and control the House of Representatives .
But as CARES Act provisions begin to expire this weekend , bipartisan talks have not even begun and a second bill remains in limbo .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell laughed and said “ no ” when asked if the bill could pass Congress by the end of next week .
And there isn ’ t much time left to get a deal ; Congress is planning to leave Washington , DC , for a monthlong break ( its annual August recess ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she is still applying for jobs every day , but it ’ s very competitive in a small town with limited opportunities .
She has some savings , but she said that without the additional unemployment aid , between rent and health costs , it won ’ t be long before she has to take any job she can get , despite her high-risk status .
“ I think that ’ s basically what I ’ ll be forced into within the next three weeks , ” she said .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job that puts my health at risk . ''

WASHINGTON — Morgan Childers applies for work every day in and around her hometown of Cullowhee, North Carolina, but the only jobs available have been ones that would put her in danger.
Childers, 30, has chronic health conditions and is immunocompromised. For that reason, she’s desperate to find a job that doesn’t have her facing customers all day. She has an administrative background and is trying to find something in an office. But in her part of western North Carolina, those jobs are hard to come by right now.
“It’s really stressful too because there’s this view that people who aren’t taking jobs like Walmart or fast-food companies are just lazy and want to leech off of the government. And that’s just not the case at all,” she said. “I’m desperate for a job. I’ve been applying for jobs daily since March and I’ve yet to find one. I’m not optimistic.”
One saving grace was that shortly after she lost her job at a local university, Congress passed the CARES Act, providing $600 per week in federal unemployment insurance aid on top of state benefits. With this support, Childers has been able to continue paying for essentials like rent and health insurance.
After this weekend, the unemployment subsidy expires. Congress plans to pass another coronavirus aid bill but is moving at a snail’s pace. Republicans spent the entire week debating among themselves on a proposal. Bipartisan talks have not yet even begun. The Senate left Washington on Thursday and won’t return until Monday, after the benefits expire. At the least, a temporary lapse in unemployment aid is all but certain.
This is happening right as millions of people are being exposed to the threat of eviction. When the coronavirus pandemic first caused a spike in unemployment, state and local governments enacted moratoriums on evictions and shutting off utilities. But now those have expired in about half the states in the country. The eviction ban in Illinois ends in late August. In Florida, it expires Aug. 1. A steady stream of moratoriums lapsing is scheduled to continue throughout the month of August.
Over 30 million people are drawing unemployment and will be left with state benefits only, which tend to be less than half of the federal amount.


buzzfeed--2020-07-26--An Elite Group Of Scientists Tried To Warn Trump Against Lockdowns In March

John Ioannidis ’ s controversial studies claim that the coronavirus isn ’ t that big a threat .
Before the Stanford scientist did any of them , he wanted to take that message to the White House .
Stanford University scientist John Ioannidis has declared in study after study that the coronavirus is not that big of a threat , emboldening opponents of economic shutdowns — and infuriating critics who see fundamental errors in his work .
But even before the epidemiologist had any of that data in hand , he and an elite group of scientists tried to convince @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country would be the real danger .
In late March , as COVID-19 cases overran hospitals overseas , Ioannidis tried to organize a meeting at the White House where he and a small band of colleagues would caution the president against “ shutting down the country for [ a ] very long time and jeopardizing so many lives in doing this , ” according to a statement Ioannidis submitted on the group ’ s behalf .
Their goal , the statement said , was “ to both save more lives and avoid serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most reliable data.
” Although the meeting did not happen , Ioannidis believed their message had reached the right people .
Within a day of him sending it to the White House , Trump announced that he wanted the country reopened by Easter .
“ I think our ideas have inflitrated [ sic ] the White House regardless , ” Ioannidis told his collaborators on March 28 , in one of dozens of emails that BuzzFeed News obtained through public records requests .
But at this critical juncture , many other public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have the luxury of waiting for perfect data .
In the face of a life-threatening pandemic , they wanted states to order residents to stay at home , immediately , to prevent health care systems from getting crushed .
Ioannidis ’ s ideas “ were scientifically untenable at that time , and untenable from the perspective of decision-making especially , ” Marc Lipsitch , a Harvard T.H .
Chan School of Public Health epidemiologist , told BuzzFeed News .
If you have tips about the coronavirus , reach out to this reporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protonmail.com .
And the group ’ s attempt to convey these preliminary ideas directly to the White House is highly unusual for scientists , said Sheila Jasanoff , a Harvard Kennedy School professor who studies the role of science in politics .
“ It creates the impression that the work that the scientists are intending to do will be shaped by a political purpose , maybe even before they have started doing the work , ” Jasanoff said .
Their decision to push an untested theory to influence federal policy , she added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science.
” Ioannidis assembled at least eight scientists to try to meet the president .
Two of them told BuzzFeed News that , if a meeting did happen , they would make it clear they did not oppose widespread lockdowns .
But others , including a Nobel laureate , feared that their consequences would be greater than the threat of the virus .
Several were already harnessing their prominent platforms to sound the alarm in media appearances and meetings with politicians .
Their leader , Ioannidis , would go on to conclude in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posed a low risk to most people , and hold them up as evidence that lockdowns are an overreaction .
Some of that work has been fiercely called into question , however , and observers have wondered if the iconoclast , lionized for his pioneering critiques of biased and overhyped science , is trying to prove a predetermined conclusion .
Now , the emails reveal that before Ioannidis had collected any data , he was so assured about the dangers of lockdowns that he felt compelled to personally warn the president .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the group that he had submitted their letter to the White House .
His pitch for a meeting — either in DC , or over videoconference — reiterated what he had been saying publicly for days .
“ Dr Ioannidis ( bio below ) is assembling a group of world renowned scientists who can contribute insights to help solve the major challenge of COVID-19 , by intensifying efforts to understand the denominator of infected people ( much larger than what is documented to-date ) and having a science- and data-informed , targeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for very long time and jeopardizing so many lives in doing this , ” the statement read .
It continued : “ The aim is to identify the best way to both save more lives and avoid serious damage to the US economy using the most reliable data , since the infection rate may be off by a very large factor versus the number of currently documented cases.
” This statement didn ’ t capture each member ’ s full views of how the country should proceed .
Klausner , for instance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders should have lasted no more than 10 days while the hardest-hit local areas prepared , and Katz said that , prior to implementing his strategy , shutdowns would likely still be “ fairly ” widespread .
But both of them said they stood by the statement ’ s opposition to a “ one-size-fits-all ” approach .
Bhattacharya , Levitt , and Fowler , who did not return requests for comment , appear to have been keen participants .
As Ioannidis relayed in one email , “ All three of them had wrtten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how they enthusiastically agreed with what I proposed.
” In contrast , two other members told BuzzFeed News they were not in the anti-lockdown camp .
Arthur Reingold , head of UC Berkeley ’ s epidemiology and biostatistics division , said that he was recruited because he “ did not agree with the underlying premise regarding ‘ shelter in place ’ as being unwise in the context of the pandemic in the US.
” Sten Vermund , dean of the Yale School of Public Health , said , “ I ’ ve been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this pandemic.
” He cowrote a letter to the New York Times lambasting Katz ’ s endorsement of herd immunity , and went on a podcast to debate Ioannidis over the importance of lockdowns .
“ That I was part of the group will be interpreted by some that I supported their point of view , which I did not , ” Vermund said .
“ Not in March or April or now.
” He agreed to join , he said , to ensure Trump got accurate guidance .
“ I just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re inviting me and they know how I feel , I ought to go because their point of view is not nuanced and I don ’ t think it ’ s going to be good advice for the president to take , ’ ” Vermund said .
“ I was going to tell him to do it intelligently and to definitely do lockdowns.
” What did unite the group — “ the one thing all of us could agree on , ” as Vermund put it — was a desire for more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the group he sent in the statement , there were signs the White House was backing away from lockdowns : Trump announced that he wanted the country “ raring to go by Easter , ” or April 12 .
( Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert , hastened to add that the timeline was “ really very flexible.
” ) But as European nations issued extended lockdown orders and UK government officials warned they could last for up to six months , Trump changed course , extending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of April .
By the end of March , 32 states were telling people to stay at home .
“ Given the about face yet again from the White House with new the [ sic ] 30 day plus national shut down , seems like our thoughts may have hit a wall and bounced back ?
” Klausner asked over email .
“ Frustrating indeed , ” Ioannidis replied .
“ I am still struggling to see whether we can find a way to get in the White House.
” But as days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the highly anticipated meeting was not going to happen .
The email thread died off .
White House spokesperson Sarah Matthews said that Trump “ has always acted on the recommendations of his top public health experts throughout this crisis as evidenced by the many bold , data-driven decisions he has made to save millions of lives.
” She added , “ As the President has also said , the cure can not be worse than the disease and it ’ s well-documented the impact staying shut down would have , including suicide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She did not answer questions about whether Ioannidis ’ s theories influenced the president ’ s decision-making .
As March turned to April , Ioannidis began collecting data to test the theory he ’ d been putting forward for weeks .
On April 3 and 4 , more than 3,000 Silicon Valley residents lined up to have their blood drawn for a study overseen by Ioannidis , Bhattacharya , and other Stanford researchers .
The goal was to look for antibodies indicating if they ’ d already been infected by the coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ their results , some of the team went on the Fox News show The Next Revolution to promote a “ science-based ” plan to reopen “ safely , but soon.
” Also on air with them that night was David Neeleman , the founder of JetBlue and a vocal opponent of lockdowns .
Later , a whistleblower complaint filed to Stanford would reveal that he was an undisclosed sponsor of the research , and allege that he “ potentially used financial incentives to secure cooperation from ” an external scientist concerned about the @ @ @ @ @

3. The Statement
On the evening of March 24, Ioannidis told the group that he had submitted their letter to the White House. His pitch for a meeting — either in DC, or over videoconference — reiterated what he had been saying publicly for days.
“Dr Ioannidis (bio below) is assembling a group of world renowned scientists who can contribute insights to help solve the major challenge of COVID-19, by intensifying efforts to understand the denominator of infected people (much larger than what is documented to-date) and having a science- and data-informed, targeted approach rather than shutting down the country for very long time and jeopardizing so many lives in doing this,” the statement read.
It continued: “The aim is to identify the best way to both save more lives and avoid serious damage to the US economy using the most reliable data, since the infection rate may be off by a very large factor versus the number of currently documented cases.”
This statement didn’t capture each member’s full views of how the country should proceed. Klausner, for instance, told BuzzFeed News that he thought shelter-in-place orders should have lasted no more than 10 days while the hardest-hit local areas prepared, and Katz said that, prior to implementing his strategy, shutdowns would likely still be “fairly” widespread. But both of them said they stood by the statement’s opposition to a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
Bhattacharya, Levitt, and Fowler, who did not return requests for comment, appear to have been keen participants. As Ioannidis relayed in one email, “All three of them had wrtten [sic] to me to say how they enthusiastically agreed with what I proposed.”
In contrast, two other members told BuzzFeed News they were not in the anti-lockdown camp. Arthur Reingold, head of UC Berkeley’s epidemiology and biostatistics division, said that he was recruited because he “did not agree with the underlying premise regarding ‘shelter in place’ as being unwise in the context of the pandemic in the US.”
Sten Vermund, dean of the Yale School of Public Health, said, “I’ve been arguing with this crowd from the beginning of this pandemic.” He cowrote a letter to the New York Times lambasting Katz’s endorsement of herd immunity, and went on a podcast to debate Ioannidis over the importance of lockdowns.
“That I was part of the group will be interpreted by some that I supported their point of view, which I did not,” Vermund said. “Not in March or April or now.”
He agreed to join, he said, to ensure Trump got accurate guidance. “I just thought, ‘Look, if they’re inviting me and they know how I feel, I ought to go because their point of view is not nuanced and I don’t think it’s going to be good advice for the president to take,’” Vermund said. “I was going to tell him to do it intelligently and to definitely do lockdowns.”
What did unite the group — “the one thing all of us could agree on,” as Vermund put it — was a desire for more comprehensive testing.
On the day Ioannidis told the group he sent in the statement, there were signs the White House was backing away from lockdowns: Trump announced that he wanted the country “raring to go by Easter,” or April 12. (Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, hastened to add that the timeline was “really very flexible.”)
But as European nations issued extended lockdown orders and UK government officials warned they could last for up to six months, Trump changed course, extending the social distancing guidelines to the end of April. By the end of March, 32 states were telling people to stay at home.
“Given the about face yet again from the White House with new the [sic] 30 day plus national shut down, seems like our thoughts may have hit a wall and bounced back?” Klausner asked over email.
“Frustrating indeed,” Ioannidis replied. “I am still struggling to see whether we can find a way to get in the White House.”


buzzfeed--2020-07-26--Jaden Smith And Common Are Partnering With One Of The Largest Voter Registration Orgs To Boost Turno

Jaden Smith And Common Are Partnering With One Of The Largest Voter Registration Orgs To Boost Turnout

A nonprofit that targets unlikely voters will launch a major push next week to register and help new voters navigate a general election made trickier by a pandemic .
The group Vote.org has enlisted Common and Jaden Smith — two actors and rappers known for their political activism — and companies such as Twitter to signal-boost their message , beginning Tuesday , July 28 , with the first of several # VoteReady days of action .
These partners and others will use their social media presence and digital platforms to promote the campaign , officials with Vote.org told BuzzFeed News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on nearly 600 companies that have pledged to allow employees paid time off to vote this fall .
A program scheduled for Aug. 25 will be aimed at schools and signing up young voters and helping them request mail-in ballots .
Efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , have created more opportunities for — and confusion about — voting by mail or in other socially distant ways .
Primary elections in many states this year were postponed or converted to largely mail-in formats .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ major political parties have recognized the benefit of voting before Election Day .
But President Donald Trump continues to raise unfounded suspicions about the integrity of voting by mail , even though he cast his primary ballot by mail in March .
“ # VoteReady was created to ensure voters are prepared to vote safely in November , whether they choose to vote by mail , vote early or vote on Election Day , ” Andrea Hailey , Vote.org ’ s chief executive officer , said in a statement to BuzzFeed News announcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Most states weren ’ t prepared for the ravages of COVID-19 , forcing states to reschedule elections , scramble to shift safe social distancing tactics like vote-by-mail , and rewrite election laws to respond to the public health emergency .
Voters should have every possible option to participate and to do so safely , and we want all voters to make a plan to get # VoteReady now .
”

A nonprofit that targets unlikely voters will launch a major push next week to register and help new voters navigate a general election made trickier by a pandemic.
The group Vote.org has enlisted Common and Jaden Smith — two actors and rappers known for their political activism — and companies such as Twitter to signal-boost their message, beginning Tuesday, July 28, with the first of several #VoteReady days of action.
These partners and others will use their social media presence and digital platforms to promote the campaign, officials with Vote.org told BuzzFeed News. Tuesday’s kickoff will focus on nearly 600 companies that have pledged to allow employees paid time off to vote this fall. A program scheduled for Aug. 25 will be aimed at schools and signing up young voters and helping them request mail-in ballots.
Efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, have created more opportunities for — and confusion about — voting by mail or in other socially distant ways. Primary elections in many states this year were postponed or converted to largely mail-in formats. Many states and elections officials from both major political parties have recognized the benefit of voting before Election Day. But President Donald Trump continues to raise unfounded suspicions about the integrity of voting by mail, even though he cast his primary ballot by mail in March.
“#VoteReady was created to ensure voters are prepared to vote safely in November, whether they choose to vote by mail, vote early or vote on Election Day,” Andrea Hailey, Vote.org’s chief executive officer, said in a statement to BuzzFeed News announcing the group’s push. “Most states weren’t prepared for the ravages of COVID-19, forcing states to reschedule elections, scramble to shift safe social distancing tactics like vote-by-mail, and rewrite election laws to respond to the public health emergency. Voters should have every possible option to participate and to do so safely, and we want all voters to make a plan to get #VoteReady now.”


buzzfeed--2020-07-25--Statues Of Christopher Columbus And Robert E. Lee Were Removed From Chicago And Richmond

A crane removes the Christopher Columbus statue in Grant Park from its plinth , on Friday .
Statues of Christopher Columbus have been removed from Chicago parks and a statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee has been taken out of the Virginia state Capitol , as the movement to take down monuments linked to racism and colonialism continues to gather momentum in the United States .
Lee 's name was also removed from a school in Fairfax County , Virginia , on Thursday , and renamed for civil rights icon John Lewis , who died last week at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Columbus were removed from Chicago 's Grant Park and Arrigo Park early Friday morning after protesters had tried to tear them down a week before .
In a statement , staff for Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the statues were being `` temporarily removed ... until further notice . ''
`` It comes in response to demonstrations that became unsafe for both protesters and police , as well as efforts by individuals to independently pull the Grant Park statue down in an extremely dangerous manner , '' Lightfoot 's staff said .
`` This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public safety and to preserve a safe space for an inclusive and democratic public dialogue about our city 's symbols . ''
The statue of Lee was taken out of the Capitol in Richmond Thursday night at the order of Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn .
`` Virginia has a story to tell that extends far beyond glorifying the Confederacy , whose primary objective in the Civil War was to preserve an ideology that maintained the enslavement of human beings .
It is time for our Capitol to truly reflect our history , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Her press release said artifacts commemorating eight Confederate leaders including Jefferson Davis and Thomas “ Stonewall ” Jackson were removed at the same time .

Statues of Christopher Columbus have been removed from Chicago parks and a statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee has been taken out of the Virginia state Capitol, as the movement to take down monuments linked to racism and colonialism continues to gather momentum in the United States.
Lee's name was also removed from a school in Fairfax County, Virginia, on Thursday, and renamed for civil rights icon John Lewis, who died last week at the age of 80.
Two statues of Columbus were removed from Chicago's Grant Park and Arrigo Park early Friday morning after protesters had tried to tear them down a week before.
In a statement, staff for Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the statues were being "temporarily removed...until further notice."
"It comes in response to demonstrations that became unsafe for both protesters and police, as well as efforts by individuals to independently pull the Grant Park statue down in an extremely dangerous manner," Lightfoot's staff said. "This step is about an effort to protect public safety and to preserve a safe space for an inclusive and democratic public dialogue about our city's symbols."
The statue of Lee was taken out of the Capitol in Richmond Thursday night at the order of Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn.
"Virginia has a story to tell that extends far beyond glorifying the Confederacy, whose primary objective in the Civil War was to preserve an ideology that maintained the enslavement of human beings. It is time for our Capitol to truly reflect our history," Filler-Corn said in a statement.
Her press release said artifacts commemorating eight Confederate leaders including Jefferson Davis and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson were removed at the same time.


buzzfeed--2020-07-25--Ukrainian Operatives Are Gearing Up Again To Take On The Bidens. They Say They Have Giuliani And Rep

Ukrainian Operatives Are Gearing Up Again To Take On The Bidens. They Say They Have Giuliani And Republicans On Their Side.

The four are alike in another way too .
Despite their lack of success so far , they still talk a big game .
The operatives have competing personal and political motives but share important similarities : troubles in their past and ties to Russia .
He has since become a darling of the pro-Trump right-wing media and is part of a ragtag group of Ukrainian operatives working with Giuliani and hoping to help Congressional Republicans in the coming weeks surface damaging details about the Biden family .
Telizhenko first emerged on the political scene in 2017 , when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ article in which he alleged that Ukraine had interfered in the 2016 election , a charge that has been debunked .
For three years , he has worked to help President Donald Trump get reelected by exposing what he perceives to be the corrupt actions of the Bidens in Ukraine .
And he said he ’ s not done .
Telizhenko , a former Ukrainian diplomat and associate of fellow cigar aficionado Rudy Giuliani , never drifted far from his obsession : Joe Biden and his son Hunter .
As smoke rolled out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theories .
He paused only briefly to greet some of the VIP guests who sauntered in for lunchtime espressos or champagne ; their bodyguards watched conspicuously from nearby tables .
KYIV — Andriy Telizhenko , his eyes concealed by dark sunglasses , gabbed away between sips of iced tea and puffs of a fat Nicaraguan cigar on the terrace of a glitzy Kyiv hotel in the July heat .
A fan blew cool mist in his direction .
Oleksandr Onyshchenko is a gas industry tycoon and former lawmaker in the now-defunct pro-Russia Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his home country , he is now on the run .
Kostyantyn Kulyk is a former military prosecutor charged with but never convicted of corruption .
He has been accused of pursuing politically motivated criminal cases against his opponents and has admitted having ties to a warlord in eastern Ukraine accused of working for Russian intelligence services .
Andriy Derkach was schooled at a KGB academy in Moscow .
He became a Ukrainian lawmaker and is remembered for voting for a Kremlin-like set of anti-protest laws that passed during the country ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Ukrainian collaborators , whose names surfaced during the Trump impeachment saga , include a fugitive , a tainted former prosecutor , and the son of a KGB officer who also was trained in Russian spy techniques .
“ We are going to expose corruption under the Obama-Biden administration in Ukraine , ” Telizhenko said .
“ There ’ s a lot of new information still to come.
” But Onyshchenko , who spoke to BuzzFeed News on a video call from Hamburg , Germany , where he was enjoying a hotel continental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recordings will come later this summer and in September , “ closer to the election.
” He said Derkach would again present them at press conferences .
The Ukrainians tend to be tight-lipped about what information in particular they have and their plan to release it .
Derkach said he recognized the criticism as a common tactic .
“ If you can ’ t refute truthful information — discredit its source , or try to switch the [ subject ] to another issue , ” he said during a lengthy text message exchange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the news site Ukraine World and director for analysis at Internews Ukraine , a media-focused nongovernmental organization , described the four men as “ dubious personalities ” and “ certainly not idealists trying to unmask corruption.
” “ They can ’ t be trusted , as they are pursuing their own agenda and using all sorts of lies and manipulations for that , ” Daria Kaleniuk , executive director of Ukraine ’ s Anti-Corruption Action Center , told BuzzFeed News about the Ukrainians .
The four Ukrainian operatives certainly are not held in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a written response to questions , the senators told BuzzFeed News : “ As with any inquiry , you get answers by asking questions .
Those who restrict themselves from reviewing matters associated with ‘ people of ill repute ’ won ’ t have much luck uncovering wrongdoing or improving accountability.
” Spokespersons for Johnson and Senate Finance Committee Chair Chuck Grassley , who is aiding Johnson in the Biden probe , defended their inquiry and use of information from Telizhenko and other Ukrainians .
Biden campaign spokesperson Andrew Bates on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influence operation to undermine our democracy .
Senator Johnson , his staff , and pro-Kremlin Ukrainians have now all confirmed his outrageous engagement with foreign interests attacking American sovereignty . ''
“ We are gravely concerned , in particular , that Congress appears to be the target of a concerted foreign interference campaign , which seeks to launder and amplify disinformation in order to influence congressional activity , public debate , and the presidential election in November , ” the letter said in a thinly veiled reference to Senate Republicans ’ Biden investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Monday , Congressional Democratic leaders sent a letter to FBI Director Chris Wray requesting a “ defensive counterintelligence briefing ” for all members of Congress before the August recess , in a sign of mounting alarm over foreign election interference ahead of November .
Their actions are drawing comparisons from Congressional Democrats and the Biden campaign to the Trump campaign ’ s efforts in 2016 to enlist help from Russia to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton .
Telizhenko and Onyshchenko said they have been asked to be interviewed as part of the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of the committee .
The two have plans to visit the US soon , and Telizhenko was setting up to attend the Republican National Convention in Florida before it was canceled .
Undaunted , the Ukrainians hope to take American media by storm before November and be taken seriously by Republicans in the Senate Homeland Security Committee , which has launched an inquiry into Biden ’ s Ukraine interactions even as Democrats have denounced the move as political .
And , so far , the recordings have done nothing to substantiate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , Giuliani , and Republicans of Biden corruption in Ukraine .
Poroshenko ’ s office has called the recordings fake , and Biden ’ s campaign has denounced what it calls a coordinated effort to smear the Democratic candidate .
A campaign spokesperson tweeted at Donald Trump Jr. that the contents of one recording amounted to a “ nothingburger .
” To date , three collections of recordings have been released to the public by Derkach at sparsely attended press conferences inside Interfax-Ukraine news agency .
They purport to capture phone conversations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Poroshenko while the two were in office .
The group seemed to fade away after Trump ’ s impeachment and as the coronavirus and Black Lives Matter protests gripped the US .
But in interviews conducted in person , over video , and in text messages this month , the Ukrainians told BuzzFeed News that they have been working behind the scenes for months and are now ready to return with a vengeance .
Derkach said what he has released so far is “ really only a small part of the vast volume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has been “ transferred to Ukrainian and American law enforcement agencies.
” BuzzFeed News could not verify the authenticity of the recordings released so far , which appear to have been edited .
The question about their authenticity is legitimate , critics say , because Derkach ’ s background raises questions about just whom he is working for .
“ I ’ m convinced Derkach ’ s operations in Ukraine are orchestrated by Russia , ” Kaleniuk said , citing Derkach ’ s biography as well as actions and comments by him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed to Derkach ’ s regular appearances on television channels in Ukraine reportedly controlled by Viktor Medvedchuk , a leader of a pro-Russian faction in parliament and a personal friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin , with whom he vacations on the Crimean coast .
The channels , 112 and NewsOne , are major promoters of Derkach ’ s Biden “ revelations.
” Derkach , who met Giuliani during the former New York City mayor ’ s visit to Kyiv in December and again in the US in February to record a podcast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the purpose of his activity is “ pursuing the interests of Ukraine ” and “ exposing international corruption.
” Derkach said Kulyk , who has joined him at the press conferences promoting the material , lends legitimacy to his campaign against Biden because in his former role as a prosecutor he went after corrupt politicians .
Kulyk said he is working with Derkach because “ he , like me , reveals nuances of an international corruption group ” and wants to fight “ against evil in all its manifestations.
” The nuances , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s favor .
Most of what Biden says in the recordings mirrors what he has previously said publicly , including that he threatened to withhold crucial loan guarantees from Ukraine unless Poroshenko fired his close ally and then–prosecutor general Viktor Shokin .
Shokin was widely viewed in Kyiv and by international observers as an impediment to democratic reforms .
His removal was in line with long-standing US policy toward Ukraine , as well as that of EU allies .
Derkach and Kulyk have also alleged that the Bidens made out with $ 44 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bribe meant for Ukrainian authorities to close an investigation into Burisma , the energy company Hunter Biden worked for .
But no evidence to support the charge has come to light .
Moreover , two former Ukrainian prosecutors general — including Yuriy Lutsenko , who cozied up to Giuliani while he hunted for dirt on the Bidens last year and was a central figure in the Trump impeachment saga — have said they never found any evidence of wrongdoing on the parts of the Bidens in Ukraine while investigating and reviewing cases associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basically a mountain of lies and innuendo being disguised as due diligence , ” Nina Jankowicz , a disinformation expert focused on Russia and Ukraine , told BuzzFeed news about the accusations drawn from the recordings .
She is the author of the book How to Lose the Information War : Russia , Fake News , and the Future of Conflict .
But there is reason to believe the recordings are at least partly authentic .
The voices on them are very similar to both Biden and Poroshenko and the topics discussed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House statements from the time the calls were said to have been made .
To get a hold of such recordings between top-level officials is not an easy task , which is another reason why some critics raise the possibility of Russian involvement .
Derkach and Telizhenko said they secured the recordings separately from an “ investigative journalist ” they wouldn ’ t identify , claiming the man did not want to release them himself out of fear of being attacked by Biden supporters .
On top of the recordings , Telizhenko said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said were made by Poroshenko ’ s office .
( Poroshenko ’ s office has denied this . )
Derkach said he did not know how the recordings were made , but Telizhenko claimed the Security Service of Ukraine ( SBU ) was behind them .
The SBU does have a reputation of being skilled at wiretapping and for overextending its powers .
The agency is also known to be susceptible to infiltration by its Russian counterpart , the Federal Security Service , or FSB , due to their shared legacy as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s KGB — further raising the possibility of Russian involvement with the recordings .
There has at least been some concern about the source of the recordings on the part of Republicans .
In March , as Johnson began ramping up his Senate inquiry , he abruptly called off a subpoena vote for information from Telizhenko after federal authorities shared concerns that Telizhenko could be spreading Russian disinformation , the New York Times reported .
While Johnson hasn ’ t changed his mind , Politico reported that he is considering a subpoena for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked for Burisma .
On the Democratic side , Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon has suggested the Republicans may be helping guide the Ukrainians in their search for the recordings .
In comments to BuzzFeed News , he said his Republican counterparts had requested transcripts of calls between Biden and Ukrainian officials from the State Department .
But before they received any of them , he said , “ Telizhenko , a former Ukrainian official and Republicans ’ star witness , and other foreign nationals then leaked those conversations.
” Added Wyden : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their letter may have sent a signal that leaking the contents of a secure call between Vice President Biden and the former president of Ukraine would be a welcome development.
” Giuliani , on the other hand , was not worried about the origin of the information , according to Telizhenko , who said the two “ spoke on the 4th of July ” after Giuliani left the White House following a holiday visit .
He said he warned Giuliani that cozying up to Derkach might not be a good idea because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Giuliani told him it was more important to get the documents than to worry about where they might have come from .
Giuliani did not respond to a request for comment from BuzzFeed News .
Telizhenko said he passed everything to a “ guy in the US government ” in Washington .
He said the government official , whom he wouldn ’ t identify , then delivered the recordings to the conspiracy-minded One America News ( OAN ) , a favorite network of President Trump .
OAN White House correspondent Chanel Rion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December and regularly posts photos on her Instagram account with Trump and the president ’ s family members , began airing what she called an investigative series on Biden that included the recordings in three July reports .
Onyshchenko told BuzzFeed News that he was also in possession of the recordings , some of which he said he received from a source who allegedly got them from the SBU as far back as 2016 .
He said he tried to give some of the recordings to Andrew Weissmann , a former US Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Robert Mueller 's special counsel team , when the two met in Madrid in December 2016 .
Weissmann could not be reached for comment , but the FBI confirmed that in December 2016 its officials had met with Onyshchenko but cut contact with him afterward .
The purpose of that meeting , Onyshchenko said , was to give the DOJ information about corruption on the parts of Biden and Poroshenko .
But when the DOJ did not accept what he was offering , Onyshchenko said , he grew angry .
On one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public , which Onyshchenko said he also has , Poroshenko is heard telling Biden that Onyshchenko holds a Russian passport and is working in Russia ’ s interests to destabilize Ukraine .
Biden is heard assuring Poroshenko that the FBI is not working with Onyshchenko .
That was enough , Onyshchenko said , to motivate him to join forces with Telizhenko , Derkach , and Kulyk to get back at Biden and Poroshenko .
In attempting to do so , he reached out to Giuliani by phone in early December , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about these tapes , he was very excited , ” Onyshchenko said , adding that Giuliani told him later that he would call Trump and tell him he had “ something very important.
” Onyshchenko said he was supposed to give Giuliani the recordings when he arrived in Washington late last year , but German authorities arrested him three days before his planned flight .
Onyshchenko has been on the run from Ukrainian law enforcement since 2016 .
Authorities in Kyiv accuse him of fraud and money laundering ; he denies the charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December at Ukraine ’ s request , but a court ruled against his extradition in May .
A free man once again , Onyshchenko is able to return to a lavish lifestyle that includes riding horses and mixing with celebrities , documenting it all on Instagram .
He devotes much of his time to coordinating with the Ukrainians how and when to release the Biden-Poroshenko recordings .
Onyshchenko said he has also been invited by Johnson and fellow Republicans to be interviewed as part of their Senate inquiry .
Spokespersons for Johnson and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be in contact and sharing materials with committee investigators .
Invited or not , Onyshchenko plans to visit the US this summer to meet with Republicans , right-wing media , and anyone else who may be interested in helping the Ukrainian crew .
Derkach will not be joining him , however , because he claims his US visa has been revoked , a decision he chalked up to his criticism of Biden .
Kulyk , too , plans to remain in Ukraine .
Telizhenko said he was also invited by Johnson ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ inquiry but never received a follow-up to confirm anything .
He made a short trip to Washington last week but said he did not meet with any politicians .
His first stop ?
Trump International Hotel .
He took a selfie at the lobby bar and a photograph of an expensive bottle of whiskey he ordered to celebrate Trump ’ s commutation of Roger Stone 's sentence .

Derkach said what he has released so far is “really only a small part of the vast volume of records” and that all of it has been “transferred to Ukrainian and American law enforcement agencies.”
BuzzFeed News could not verify the authenticity of the recordings released so far, which appear to have been edited.
The question about their authenticity is legitimate, critics say, because Derkach’s background raises questions about just whom he is working for.
“I’m convinced Derkach’s operations in Ukraine are orchestrated by Russia,” Kaleniuk said, citing Derkach’s biography as well as actions and comments by him that parallel Russian propaganda.
She also pointed to Derkach’s regular appearances on television channels in Ukraine reportedly controlled by Viktor Medvedchuk, a leader of a pro-Russian faction in parliament and a personal friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom he vacations on the Crimean coast. The channels, 112 and NewsOne, are major promoters of Derkach’s Biden “revelations.”
Derkach, who met Giuliani during the former New York City mayor’s visit to Kyiv
in December and again in the US in February to record a podcast, denied working for Russia and said the purpose of his activity is “pursuing the interests of Ukraine” and “exposing international corruption.”
Derkach said Kulyk, who has joined him at the press conferences promoting the material, lends legitimacy to his campaign against Biden because in his former role as a prosecutor he went after corrupt politicians. Kulyk said he is working with Derkach because “he, like me, reveals nuances of an international corruption group” and wants to fight “against evil in all its manifestations.”
The nuances, however, actually work in Biden’s favor. Most of what Biden says in the recordings mirrors what he has previously said publicly, including that he threatened to withhold crucial loan guarantees from Ukraine unless Poroshenko fired his close ally and then–prosecutor general Viktor Shokin.
Shokin was widely viewed in Kyiv and by international observers as an impediment to democratic reforms. His removal was in line with long-standing US policy toward Ukraine, as well as that of EU allies.
Derkach and Kulyk have also alleged that the Bidens made out with $44 million of an alleged $50 million bribe meant for Ukrainian authorities to close an investigation into Burisma, the energy company Hunter Biden worked for. But no evidence to support the charge has come to light.
Moreover, two former Ukrainian prosecutors general — including Yuriy Lutsenko, who cozied up to Giuliani while he hunted for dirt on the Bidens last year and was a central figure in the Trump impeachment saga — have said they never found any evidence of wrongdoing on the parts of the Bidens in Ukraine while investigating and reviewing cases associated with Burisma.
“It’s basically a mountain of lies and innuendo being disguised as due diligence,” Nina Jankowicz, a disinformation expert focused on Russia and Ukraine, told BuzzFeed news about the accusations drawn from the recordings. She is the author of the book How to Lose the Information War: Russia, Fake News, and the Future of Conflict.
But there is reason to believe the recordings are at least partly authentic. The voices on them are very similar to both Biden and Poroshenko and the topics discussed in them align with real events and White House statements from the time the calls were said to have been made.
To get a hold of such recordings between top-level officials is not an easy task, which is another reason why some critics raise the possibility of Russian involvement.
Derkach and Telizhenko said they secured the recordings separately from an “investigative journalist” they wouldn’t identify, claiming the man did not want to release them himself out of fear of being attacked by Biden supporters. On top of the recordings, Telizhenko said he obtained 96 pages of Ukrainian-language transcripts he said were made by Poroshenko’s office. (Poroshenko’s office has denied this.)
Derkach said he did not know how the recordings were made, but Telizhenko claimed the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) was behind them.
The SBU does have a reputation of being skilled at wiretapping and for overextending its powers. The agency is also known to be susceptible to infiltration by its Russian counterpart, the Federal Security Service, or FSB, due to their shared legacy as former offices of the Soviet Union’s KGB — further raising the possibility of Russian involvement with the recordings.
There has at least been some concern about the source of the recordings on the part of Republicans. In March, as Johnson began ramping up his Senate inquiry, he abruptly called off a subpoena vote for information from Telizhenko after federal authorities shared concerns that Telizhenko could be spreading Russian disinformation, the New York Times reported.
While Johnson hasn’t changed his mind, Politico reported that he is considering a subpoena for a company that previously employed Telizhenko and worked for Burisma.
On the Democratic side, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon has suggested the Republicans may be helping guide the Ukrainians in their search for the recordings.
In comments to BuzzFeed News, he said his Republican counterparts had requested transcripts of calls between Biden and Ukrainian officials from the State Department. But before they received any of them, he said, “Telizhenko, a former Ukrainian official and Republicans’ star witness, and other foreign nationals then leaked those conversations.”
Added Wyden: “I’m deeply alarmed that their letter may have sent a signal that leaking the contents of a secure call between Vice President Biden and the former president of Ukraine would be a welcome development.”
Giuliani, on the other hand, was not worried about the origin of the information, according to Telizhenko, who said the two “spoke on the 4th of July” after Giuliani left the White House following a holiday visit.
He said he warned Giuliani that cozying up to Derkach might not be a good idea because of his “pro-Russia associations.” But Telizhenko said Giuliani told him it was more important to get the documents than to worry about where they might have come from.
Giuliani did not respond to a request for comment from BuzzFeed News.
Telizhenko said he passed everything to a “guy in the US government” in Washington. He said the government official, whom he wouldn’t identify, then delivered the recordings to the conspiracy-minded One America News (OAN), a favorite network of President Trump.
OAN White House correspondent Chanel Rion, who accompanied Giuliani to Kyiv last December and regularly posts photos on her Instagram account with Trump and the president’s family members, began airing what she called an investigative series on Biden that included the recordings in three July reports.
Onyshchenko told BuzzFeed News that he was also in possession of the recordings, some of which he said he received from a source who allegedly got them from the SBU as far back as 2016.
He said he tried to give some of the recordings to Andrew Weissmann, a former US Justice Department official and a top member of Robert Mueller's special counsel team, when the two met in Madrid in December 2016. Weissmann could not be reached for comment, but the FBI confirmed that in December 2016 its officials had met with Onyshchenko but cut contact with him afterward.
The purpose of that meeting, Onyshchenko said, was to give the DOJ information about corruption on the parts of Biden and Poroshenko. But when the DOJ did not accept what he was offering, Onyshchenko said, he grew angry.
On one of the recordings that Derkach has shared with the public, which Onyshchenko said he also has, Poroshenko is heard telling Biden that Onyshchenko holds a Russian passport and is working in Russia’s interests to destabilize Ukraine. Biden is heard assuring Poroshenko that the FBI is not working with Onyshchenko.
That was enough, Onyshchenko said, to motivate him to join forces with Telizhenko, Derkach, and Kulyk to get back at Biden and Poroshenko. In attempting to do so, he reached out to Giuliani by phone in early December, he said.
“When I told Giuliani about these tapes, he was very excited,” Onyshchenko said, adding that Giuliani told him later that he would call Trump and tell him he had “something very important.”
Onyshchenko said he was supposed to give Giuliani the recordings when he arrived in Washington late last year, but German authorities arrested him three days before his planned flight.
Onyshchenko has been on the run from Ukrainian law enforcement since 2016. Authorities in Kyiv accuse him of fraud and money laundering; he denies the charges. German authorities briefly arrested him in December at Ukraine’s request, but a court ruled against his extradition in May.
A free man once again, Onyshchenko is able to return to a lavish lifestyle that includes riding horses and mixing with celebrities, documenting it all on Instagram. He devotes much of his time to coordinating with the Ukrainians how and when to release the Biden-Poroshenko recordings.
Onyshchenko said he has also been invited by Johnson and fellow Republicans to be interviewed as part of their Senate inquiry. Spokespersons for Johnson and Grassley declined to comment on who may be in contact and sharing materials with committee investigators.
Invited or not, Onyshchenko plans to visit the US this summer to meet with Republicans, right-wing media, and anyone else who may be interested in helping the Ukrainian crew. Derkach will not be joining him, however, because he claims his US visa has been revoked, a decision he chalked up to his criticism of Biden. Kulyk, too, plans to remain in Ukraine.
Telizhenko said he was also invited by Johnson’s office to be interviewed for the Republicans’ inquiry but never received a follow-up to confirm anything. He made a short trip to Washington last week but said he did not meet with any politicians.
His first stop? Trump International Hotel. He took a selfie at the lobby bar and a photograph of an expensive bottle of whiskey he ordered to celebrate Trump’s commutation of Roger Stone's sentence.