courthousenews--2020-06-24--California City Bans Predictive Policing

( CN ) — Santa Cruz , California , became the first known city in the U.S. to ban predictive policing on Tuesday , citing the inherent racial bias in the practice .
The Santa Cruz Council voted unanimously to ban predictive policing and facial recognition technology during a regular meeting , pointing to the current national reckoning with police violence as a motivating factor .
“ We are trying to understand the needs and concerns of our community and the Black community in particular , ” Santa Cruz Mayor Justin Cummings said .
Predictive policing describes the use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past crimes have been committed in an attempt to predict where they might occur again so that police departments can more efficiently allocate their resources .
Proponents say such efficiency can result in significant cost savings .
But critics say predictive policing can reinforce existing biases against communities that are already overpoliced , particularly minority communities .
“ Predictive policing destroys the relationship between police and the community , ” said Santa Cruz Police Chief Andy Mills .
The city council also talked about how facial recognition technology in its current form is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scientific studies show that Asian women and black men are 100 % more likely to be misidentified by facial recognition technology , ” Mills said .
The resolution passed by the council contained language that would allow the city council to revisit the implementation of both policing technology practices , which irked some city residents that said both practices should be banned regardless of the racial injustice implications .
“ If this technology gets better at identifying people of color it will still infringe on civil liberties of citizens and be invasive authoritarian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a citizen who called in during the meeting .
The entire meeting was via teleconference as the city council continues to meet remotely due to the Covid-19 pandemic .
Santa Cruz has seen multiple protests since the killing of George Floyd sent convulsions through the nation and induced a national conversation about how police interact with minorities .
Santa Cruz does not have a high population of black residents but does have a high share of Latino residents .
Mayor Cummings , who is black , said that in his conversations with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the city police department but asked that black and brown people are treated with the same deference and respect as other members of the community .
“ A lot of them did not want to see the problem of systemic racism hijacked by other problems such as homelessness or drug addiction , ” Cummings said .
Many citizens have called into city meetings in recent weeks demanding the city council curtail the police budget and have social services take over for activities typically reserved for the police , including responding to individuals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems .
“ We do not need better trained police , we need less police , ” said Reggie Muddler , a caller .
“ I ’ d like to see more social workers.
” Santa Cruz has a large population of homeless individuals and drug addiction problems are rife in the community .
But Mills said whittling funds was not the answer .
“ It ’ s not about funding or not funding , it ’ s about effectiveness , ” Mills said .
“ The question is what are we going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our country.
” City Councilmember Sandy Brown said she agreed with the chief but noted that there was a sizable and persistent contingent in the community that will continue to call for the city council to take money away from police to fund other programs .
“ It ’ s not a small subset , ” she said .
“ It ’ s a legitimate demand for the city to reevaluate how we spend our money in the law enforcement arena.
” Along with the prohibition of predictive policing and facial recognition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department is working to reduce use of force incidents , including deescalation techniques , a ban on chokeholds , and requiring an immediate — not an imminent threat — for police to use force .

Santa Cruz, California, became the first known city in the U.S. to ban predictive policing on Tuesday citing the inherent racial bias in the practice.
(CN) — Santa Cruz, California, became the first known city in the U.S. to ban predictive policing on Tuesday, citing the inherent racial bias in the practice.
The Santa Cruz Council voted unanimously to ban predictive policing and facial recognition technology during a regular meeting, pointing to the current national reckoning with police violence as a motivating factor.
“We are trying to understand the needs and concerns of our community and the Black community in particular,” Santa Cruz Mayor Justin Cummings said.
Predictive policing describes the use of data analytics to determine where and when past crimes have been committed in an attempt to predict where they might occur again so that police departments can more efficiently allocate their resources.
Proponents say such efficiency can result in significant cost savings.
But critics say predictive policing can reinforce existing biases against communities that are already overpoliced, particularly minority communities.
“Predictive policing destroys the relationship between police and the community,” Santa Cruz Police Chief Andy Mills said.
The city council also talked about how facial recognition technology in its current form is biased against people of color.
“Scientific studies show that Asian women and black men are 100% more likely to be misidentified by facial recognition technology,” Mills said.
The resolution passed by the council contained language that would allow the city council to revisit the implementation of both policing technology practices, which irked some city residents that said both practices should be banned regardless of the racial injustice implications.
“If this technology gets better at identifying people of color it will still infringe on civil liberties of citizens and be invasive authoritarian and dystopian,” said Peter Yeblin, a citizen who called in during the meeting.
The entire meeting was via teleconference as the city council continues to meet remotely due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Santa Cruz has seen multiple protests since the killing of George Floyd sent convulsions through the nation and induced a national conversation about how police interact with minorities.
Santa Cruz does not have a high population of black residents but does have a high share of Latino residents.
Mayor Cummings, who is black, said that in his conversations with minority residents most of them expressed appreciation for the city police department but asked that black and brown people are treated with the same deference and respect as other members of the community.
“A lot of them did not want to see the problem of systemic racism hijacked by other problems such as homelessness or drug addiction,” Cummings said.
Many citizens have called into city meetings in recent weeks demanding the city council curtail the police budget and have social services take over for activities typically reserved for the police, including responding to individuals with drug, mental health or housing problems.
“We do not need better trained police, we need less police,” said Reggie Muddler, a caller. “I’d like to see more social workers.”
Santa Cruz has a large population of homeless individuals and drug addiction problems are rife in the community.
But Mills said whittling funds was not the answer.
“It’s not about funding or not funding, it’s about effectiveness,” Mills said. “The question is what are we going to do to effectively manage institutionalized racism in our country.”
City Councilmember Sandy Brown said she agreed with the chief but noted that there was a sizable and persistent contingent in the community that will continue to call for the city council to take money away from police to fund other programs.
“It’s not a small subset,” she said. “It’s a legitimate demand for the city to reevaluate how we spend our money in the law enforcement arena.”
Along with the prohibition of predictive policing and facial recognition technology, Mills detailed other ways his department is working to reduce use of force incidents, including deescalation techniques, a ban on chokeholds, and requiring an immediate — not an imminent threat — for police to use force.


courthousenews--2020-06-25--Georgia Lawmakers Advance Bid to Ban Automatic Absentee Ballot Mailings

ATLANTA ( CN ) — Georgia lawmakers advanced legislation Wednesday which would ban election officials from mailing absentee ballot request forms unless a voter requests one .
The measure is part of Senate Bill 463 , which also loosens restrictions on ballot signature-matching requirements and provides for the division of large precincts under certain conditions .
The bill could receive a vote in the Georgia House before the Legislature ends its current session Friday .
If the measure passes and is signed by Republican Governor Brian Kemp , it could take effect before the November general election .
If passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials from repeating a large-scale absentee voting effort undertaken by Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger prior to the primary election .
Raffensperger mailed ballot request forms to 6.9 million registered voters ahead of the primary to encourage voting by mail in light of the coronavirus pandemic .
The effort led to increased voter turnout , particularly among Democrats .
Although over 1.2 million Georgians voted in the June 9 primary election via absentee ballot , long lines at polling places throughout the metro Atlanta area caused by precinct closures and voting machine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cast their ballots .
The bill would prevent election officials from sending out “ unsolicited absentee ballot applications ” again .
Georgia Democrats oppose the measure , saying it would make voting by mail more difficult and would force more voters to go to precincts during the November presidential election despite potential health risks caused by the pandemic , which shows no signs of abating and in fact appears to be getting worse .
Democrats also said the bill would unfairly prevent local officials from mailing absentee ballot request forms if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers , who control both chambers in the Georgia General Assembly , said the measure is necessary to reduce pressure on overwhelmed election workers who had to process huge numbers of absentee ballot request forms ahead of the primary .
Rep. Shaw Blackmon , who chairs the House Governmental Affairs Committee , said the proposal “ is in no way an attempt to remove the ability to vote or request in any manner ” and “ is just a capacity issue.
” House Speaker David Ralston , a Republican , has said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an increase in ballot fraud .
Voting fraud is very rare in Georgia and there is no evidence of widespread ballot fraud through mail-in voting .
Although voters would still be able to request an absentee ballot via an application that can be returned by mail or in person at the county election office , the bill would require them to initiate the absentee voting process themselves rather than complete a form that had already been mailed to them .
The bill would not prevent voting groups or political parties from mailing absentee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coalition of voting rights groups issued a joint statement Wednesday voicing concerns about the proposal .
“ Georgia Republicans need to realize that vote by mail is a tool that can benefit either party and that localities , as well as the state , should maintain as many possible tools in their toolbox to promote vote by mail generally and certainly in the midst of a raging , ongoing health crisis , ” the statement issued by the Georgia NAACP , the Southern Center for Human Rights , Black Voters Matter Fund , @ @ @ @ @ @

Georgia lawmakers advanced legislation Wednesday which would ban election officials from mailing absentee ballot request forms unless a voter requests one.
ATLANTA (CN) — Georgia lawmakers advanced legislation Wednesday which would ban election officials from mailing absentee ballot request forms unless a voter requests one.
The measure is part of Senate Bill 463, which also loosens restrictions on ballot signature-matching requirements and provides for the division of large precincts under certain conditions.
The bill could receive a vote in the Georgia House before the Legislature ends its current session Friday. If the measure passes and is signed by Republican Governor Brian Kemp, it could take effect before the November general election.
If passed, the bill would prevent Georgia election officials from repeating a large-scale absentee voting effort undertaken by Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger prior to the primary election.
Raffensperger mailed ballot request forms to 6.9 million registered voters ahead of the primary to encourage voting by mail in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
The effort led to increased voter turnout, particularly among Democrats.
Although over 1.2 million Georgians voted in the June 9 primary election via absentee ballot, long lines at polling places throughout the metro Atlanta area caused by precinct closures and voting machine problems left many voters waiting for hours to cast their ballots.
The bill would prevent election officials from sending out “unsolicited absentee ballot applications” again.
Georgia Democrats oppose the measure, saying it would make voting by mail more difficult and would force more voters to go to precincts during the November presidential election despite potential health risks caused by the pandemic, which shows no signs of abating and in fact appears to be getting worse.
Democrats also said the bill would unfairly prevent local officials from mailing absentee ballot request forms if they wish to do so.
But Republican lawmakers, who control both chambers in the Georgia General Assembly, said the measure is necessary to reduce pressure on overwhelmed election workers who had to process huge numbers of absentee ballot request forms ahead of the primary.
Rep. Shaw Blackmon, who chairs the House Governmental Affairs Committee, said the proposal “is in no way an attempt to remove the ability to vote or request in any manner” and “is just a capacity issue.”
House Speaker David Ralston, a Republican, has said he believes encouraging absentee voting could lead to an increase in ballot fraud.
Voting fraud is very rare in Georgia and there is no evidence of widespread ballot fraud through mail-in voting.
Although voters would still be able to request an absentee ballot via an application that can be returned by mail or in person at the county election office, the bill would require them to initiate the absentee voting process themselves rather than complete a form that had already been mailed to them.
The bill would not prevent voting groups or political parties from mailing absentee ballot request forms to voters.
A coalition of voting rights groups issued a joint statement Wednesday voicing concerns about the proposal.
“Georgia Republicans need to realize that vote by mail is a tool that can benefit either party and that localities, as well as the state, should maintain as many possible tools in their toolbox to promote vote by mail generally and certainly in the midst of a raging, ongoing health crisis,” the statement issued by the Georgia NAACP, the Southern Center for Human Rights, Black Voters Matter Fund, and 15 other organizations said.


courthousenews--2020-06-25--Second Person Pleads Guilty in San Francisco Corruption Scandal

SAN FRANCISCO ( CN ) — A permit expediter has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy charges and cooperate with investigators in a corruption scandal that took down one of San Francisco ’ s highest-ranking government officials .
Walter Wing Lok Wong , 70 , is accused of conspiring for 15 years to defraud the public in a purported scheme with former Department of Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru , who resigned in February after being charged with attempted bribery and lying to the FBI .
According to federal prosecutors , Wong started colluding with Nuru and other unnamed government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheme involving bribes , kickbacks and efforts to conceal their illegal activities .
Prosecutors claim Wong also worked with Nuru and others to launder money and hide the profits of their corrupt dealings .
Wong is the sixth person to be charged in the city government corruption scandal and the second defendant who has agreed to plead guilty .
He faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $ 500,000 or twice the amount of funds involved in the alleged money laundering scheme .
U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ breathtaking ” in its duration and scope .
He urged those with information on the corruption scheme to come forward , saying the federal court and prosecutors will make sharp distinctions between those who cooperate with investigators and those who do not .
“ If you love San Francisco , and regret your misconduct , you still have an opportunity to do the right thing , ” Anderson said in a statement .
“ Run , don ’ t walk , to the FBI , before it is too late for you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Wong has assisted developers in navigating San Francisco ’ s complex permitting process and offered to speed up authorizations for projects from the city ’ s Department of Building Inspection and other government agencies .
He also works as a building contractor .
Prosecutors say Wong played a role in facilitating the connection between Nuru and a Chinese billionaire responsible for a mixed-use development at 555 Fulton Street in San Francisco .
They say Nuru used his position to benefit that developer , Zhang Li , in exchange for luxury hotel stays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bottle of French wine .
Wong ’ s plea deal follows the June 8 announcement of charges filed against thee others , including Sandra Zuniga , formerly the city ’ s Fix-It Director and director of the Mayor ’ s Office of Neighborhood Services ; Balmore Hernandez , a former longtime DPW employee and now CEO and vice president of the construction engineering firm AzulWorks Inc. ; and Florence Kong , owner of a San Francisco-based construction company .
Zuniga , 44 , is accused of helping Nuru launder money .
Hernandez , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with tens of thousands in labor and materials in exchange for city contracts .
Kong , 62 , is accused of lying to the FBI about her alleged corrupt dealings with Nuru .
Wong is the second person to agree to plead guilty in the widening corruption scandal .
In May , San Francisco restaurant owner Nick Bovis , 56 , announced he would plead guilty and cooperate with investigators .
According to federal prosecutors , Nuru and Bovis tried to bribe a San Francisco airport commissioner to steer a contract for airport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Federal prosecutors also claim Nuru used inside information to help Bovis obtain city contracts to provide bathroom trailers and shipping container-type shelters for homeless people in San Francisco .
Additionally , Nuru is accused of using his position as chair of the Transbay Joint Powers Authority Board of Directors to help Bovis secure a desirable lease for retail space at the city ’ s Transbay Transit Center .
Wong ’ s attorney , Mary McNamara , of Swanson & McNamara in San Francisco , did not immediately return a request for comment .

A permit expediter has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy charges and cooperate with investigators in a corruption scandal that took down one of San Francisco’s highest-ranking government officials.
SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — A permit expediter has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy charges and cooperate with investigators in a corruption scandal that took down one of San Francisco’s highest-ranking government officials.
Walter Wing Lok Wong, 70, is accused of conspiring for 15 years to defraud the public in a purported scheme with former Department of Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru, who resigned in February after being charged with attempted bribery and lying to the FBI.
According to federal prosecutors, Wong started colluding with Nuru and other unnamed government officials as early as 2004 in a scheme involving bribes, kickbacks and efforts to conceal their illegal activities. Prosecutors claim Wong also worked with Nuru and others to launder money and hide the profits of their corrupt dealings.
Wong is the sixth person to be charged in the city government corruption scandal and the second defendant who has agreed to plead guilty. He faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $500,000 or twice the amount of funds involved in the alleged money laundering scheme.
U.S. Attorney David Anderson called the alleged conspiracy “breathtaking” in its duration and scope. He urged those with information on the corruption scheme to come forward, saying the federal court and prosecutors will make sharp distinctions between those who cooperate with investigators and those who do not.
“If you love San Francisco, and regret your misconduct, you still have an opportunity to do the right thing,” Anderson said in a statement. “Run, don’t walk, to the FBI, before it is too late for you to cooperate.”
As a permit expediter, Wong has assisted developers in navigating San Francisco’s complex permitting process and offered to speed up authorizations for projects from the city’s Department of Building Inspection and other government agencies. He also works as a building contractor.
Prosecutors say Wong played a role in facilitating the connection between Nuru and a Chinese billionaire responsible for a mixed-use development at 555 Fulton Street in San Francisco. They say Nuru used his position to benefit that developer, Zhang Li, in exchange for luxury hotel stays and gifts, including a $2,070 bottle of French wine.
Wong’s plea deal follows the June 8 announcement of charges filed against thee others, including Sandra Zuniga, formerly the city’s Fix-It Director and director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services; Balmore Hernandez, a former longtime DPW employee and now CEO and vice president of the construction engineering firm AzulWorks Inc.; and Florence Kong, owner of a San Francisco-based construction company.
Zuniga, 44, is accused of helping Nuru launder money. Hernandez, 55, is accused of bribing Nuru with tens of thousands in labor and materials in exchange for city contracts. Kong, 62, is accused of lying to the FBI about her alleged corrupt dealings with Nuru.
Wong is the second person to agree to plead guilty in the widening corruption scandal. In May, San Francisco restaurant owner Nick Bovis, 56, announced he would plead guilty and cooperate with investigators.
According to federal prosecutors, Nuru and Bovis tried to bribe a San Francisco airport commissioner to steer a contract for airport lease space to an unnamed source. Federal prosecutors also claim Nuru used inside information to help Bovis obtain city contracts to provide bathroom trailers and shipping container-type shelters for homeless people in San Francisco.
Additionally, Nuru is accused of using his position as chair of the Transbay Joint Powers Authority Board of Directors to help Bovis secure a desirable lease for retail space at the city’s Transbay Transit Center.
Wong’s attorney, Mary McNamara, of Swanson & McNamara in San Francisco, did not immediately return a request for comment.


courthousenews--2020-06-25--Judge Blasts Feds on Logging Plan in Pristine Alaska Forest

( CN ) — A federal judge handed a logging project proposed for the Alaskan wilderness a major setback Wednesday , finding the environmental impact studies for the project were inadequate and can not be saved .
The initial proposal for the national forest on Alaska ’ s Prince of Wales Island would have rolled back federal protections and designated roughly 185,000 acres suitable for timber production .
The project would have also included a network of new roads zigzagging across the island .
This year , U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason found the U.S. Forest Service made serious errors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any future decision-making would not require additional review under the National Environmental Policy Act .
The federal government ’ s environmental impact statement did not consider where timber would be harvested and where roadways would be built .
And in a 14-page ruling on Wednesday , Gleason found the U.S. Forest Service ’ s errors weigh heavily toward a full cancellation of the project .
“ The Forest Service now suggests that the project EIS ’ s shortcomings do not necessarily prevent it from serving as a programmatic EIS , to which future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without further amendment , ” Gleason wrote .
“ The Forest Service reads the court ’ s decision and order too narrowly.
” The fact the federal government could not compare the impact from any alternative options for the project amounted to a significant error .
Gleason also rejected the Forest Service ’ s argument that vacating its environmental impact study would set the project back to square one .
“ The agency ’ s chief complaint is that vacatur would leave it unable to tier to the project EIS in future NEPA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ precisely the kind of micromanagement of agency decision-making that courts should avoid , ’ ” Gleason wrote .
“ But the court concludes a partial vacatur of the environmental impact study is the natural consequence of the errors contained within it.
” Nor is the potential economic impact to the timber industry and the local economy a reason to let the Forest Service continue with the project as is , the judge found .
“ The court finds that the economic harm caused by partial vacatur of the project EIS does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that document , such that remand without vacatur is appropriate , ” she wrote .
“ The court acknowledges that the timber industry will suffer economic harm as a result of partial vacatur of the project EIS .
But that harm is not so disruptive and irremediable so as to cause the court to depart from ” the Administrative Procedure Act .
Located in southeast Alaska on Prince of Wales Island , the pristine Tongass National Forest runs the gamut of scenic characteristics including the Alexander Archipelago ’ s coastal mountains , glaciers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Plaintiffs include the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council , Alaska Rainforest Defenders , Center for Biological Diversity , Sierra Club , Defenders of Wildlife , National Audubon Society and Natural Resources Defense Council .
In a statement , Earthjustice attorney Tom Waldo applauded the court ’ s decision as a win for the old-growth forests future generations on Prince of Wales Island .
“ Today all who seek refuge in this temperate rainforest , and those who rely on traditional hunting practices sustained by that ecosystem , can breathe a sigh of relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re thrilled with Judge Gleason ’ s decision to vacate , ” said Meredith Trainor , executive director of the group .
“ The decision today means the Forest Service will not be able to effectively treat future timber sales on Prince of Wales Island as ‘ pre-approved , ’ but will require them to complete a National Environmental Policy Act analysis for any new proposed sale , as they should , including by engaging the public and soliciting their feedback regarding the specific places they propose to allow logging .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our partners , and the old-growth trees on Prince of Wales Island.
” An email to the Forest Service seeking comment was not immediately answered .

A federal judge handed a logging project proposed for the Alaskan wilderness a major setback Wednesday, finding the environmental impact studies for the project were inadequate and cannot be saved.
(CN) — A federal judge handed a logging project proposed for the Alaskan wilderness a major setback Wednesday, finding the environmental impact studies for the project were inadequate and cannot be saved.
The initial proposal for the national forest on Alaska’s Prince of Wales Island would have rolled back federal protections and designated roughly 185,000 acres suitable for timber production. The project would have also included a network of new roads zigzagging across the island.
This year, U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason found the U.S. Forest Service made serious errors in its project studies, like assuming any future decision-making would not require additional review under the National Environmental Policy Act.
The federal government’s environmental impact statement did not consider where timber would be harvested and where roadways would be built.
And in a 14-page ruling on Wednesday, Gleason found the U.S. Forest Service’s errors weigh heavily toward a full cancellation of the project.
“The Forest Service now suggests that the project EIS’s shortcomings do not necessarily prevent it from serving as a programmatic EIS, to which future site specific analyses could tier, potentially without further amendment,” Gleason wrote. “The Forest Service reads the court’s decision and order too narrowly.”
The fact the federal government could not compare the impact from any alternative options for the project amounted to a significant error.
Gleason also rejected the Forest Service’s argument that vacating its environmental impact study would set the project back to square one.
“The agency’s chief complaint is that vacatur would leave it unable to tier to the project EIS in future NEPA analyses, an outcome it characterizes as “precisely the kind of micromanagement of agency decision-making that courts should avoid,’” Gleason wrote. “But the court concludes a partial vacatur of the environmental impact study is the natural consequence of the errors contained within it.”
Nor is the potential economic impact to the timber industry and the local economy a reason to let the Forest Service continue with the project as is, the judge found.
“The court finds that the economic harm caused by partial vacatur of the project EIS does not outweigh the seriousness of the errors in that document, such that remand without vacatur is appropriate,” she wrote. “The court acknowledges that the timber industry will suffer economic harm as a result of partial vacatur of the project EIS. But that harm is not so disruptive and irremediable so as to cause the court to depart from” the Administrative Procedure Act.
Located in southeast Alaska on Prince of Wales Island, the pristine Tongass National Forest runs the gamut of scenic characteristics including the Alexander Archipelago’s coastal mountains, glaciers and a long history of timber operations.
Plaintiffs include the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, Alaska Rainforest Defenders, Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, National Audubon Society and Natural Resources Defense Council.
In a statement, Earthjustice attorney Tom Waldo applauded the court’s decision as a win for the old-growth forests future generations on Prince of Wales Island.
“Today all who seek refuge in this temperate rainforest, and those who rely on traditional hunting practices sustained by that ecosystem, can breathe a sigh of relief,” Waldo said.
Co-plaintiff Southeast Alaska Conservation Council agreed.
"We're thrilled with Judge Gleason's decision to vacate,” said Meredith Trainor, executive director of the group. "The decision today means the Forest Service will not be able to effectively treat future timber sales on Prince of Wales Island as 'pre-approved,' but will require them to complete a National Environmental Policy Act analysis for any new proposed sale, as they should, including by engaging the public and soliciting their feedback regarding the specific places they propose to allow logging. This is a big win for SEACC, our partners, and the old-growth trees on Prince of Wales Island."
An email to the Forest Service seeking comment was not immediately answered.


courthousenews--2020-06-24--California Voters to Decide Fate of Affirmative Action Ban

( CN ) — Californians will have the chance to ditch the state ’ s 24-year-old ban on affirmative action this November after lawmakers on Wednesday moved forward a piece of law to let voters decide whether gender and race should be a consideration in contracting , public hiring and public education .
Voters will be given the choice to undo the California Civil Rights Initiative which amended the state ’ s constitution in 1996 to ban affirmative action .
At the time , 55 % of California voters passed Proposition 209 , which was opposed by civil rights and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support of then-Gov .
Pete Wilson , a Republican .
In a 30-10 vote Wednesday , the state Senate ratified Assembly Constitutional Amendment 5 .
The vote was applauded by gender and diversity advocates across the state .
Elisha Smith Arrillaga , executive director of the educational advocacy group The Education Trust-West , called Wednesday ’ s ratification “ a critical first step toward confronting discrimination and structural inequality.
” State Sen. Holly Mitchell , a bill co-author , said in a statement that Wednesday ’ s vote would reverse a quarter century @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The collective actions against inequality and injustice that we ’ ve seen around the world represent an urgent call for systemic change , ” said Mitchell .
“ We must be affirmative in our actions we take to bend the arc towards justice .
It ’ s time for a new generation of California ’ s voters to stand up and advance equity.
” Assemblywoman Shirley Weber , also a co-author of the bill , spoke from the Assembly floor earlier this week and noted critics of affirmative action quote Dr. Martin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ When he talked about ‘ I don ’ t want to be judged by the color of my skin but by the content of my character , ’ that was contained in the ‘ I Have a Dream Speech , ’ ” said Weber .
“ That was a dream .
That was not reality .
That was aspirational.
” This month , a Democratic-led Assembly approved the bill by a 60-14 margin , with the sole Republican yes vote cast by Palmdale Assemblyman Tom Lackey .
That was followed by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ If we are going to be serious about creating a university that truly serves the public interest , we can not be silent , ” said regents chairman John Perez in the statement .
Affirmative action in the Golden State dates to the landmark 1978 U.S. Supreme Court decision Regents of the University of California v. Bakke .
The decision ruled a quota system once used by the University of California , Davis , was unlawful .

Californians will have the chance to ditch the state’s 24-year-old ban on affirmative action this November after lawmakers on Wednesday moved forward a piece of law to let voters decide whether gender and race should be a consideration in contracting, public hiring and public education.
(CN) — Californians will have the chance to ditch the state’s 24-year-old ban on affirmative action this November after lawmakers on Wednesday moved forward a piece of law to let voters decide whether gender and race should be a consideration in contracting, public hiring and public education.
Voters will be given the choice to undo the California Civil Rights Initiative which amended the state’s constitution in 1996 to ban affirmative action. At the time, 55% of California voters passed Proposition 209, which was opposed by civil rights and feminist organizations. The ban had the support of then-Gov. Pete Wilson, a Republican.
In a 30-10 vote Wednesday, the state Senate ratified Assembly Constitutional Amendment 5. The vote was applauded by gender and diversity advocates across the state.
Elisha Smith Arrillaga, executive director of the educational advocacy group The Education Trust-West, called Wednesday’s ratification “a critical first step toward confronting discrimination and structural inequality.”
State Sen. Holly Mitchell, a bill co-author, said in a statement that Wednesday’s vote would reverse a quarter century of “institutional and educational barriers.”
“The collective actions against inequality and injustice that we’ve seen around the world represent an urgent call for systemic change,” said Mitchell. “We must be affirmative in our actions we take to bend the arc towards justice. It’s time for a new generation of California’s voters to stand up and advance equity.”
Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, also a co-author of the bill, spoke from the Assembly floor earlier this week and noted critics of affirmative action quote Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in their argument.
“When he talked about ‘I don't want to be judged by the color of my skin but by the content of my character,’ that was contained in the ‘I Have a Dream Speech,’” said Weber. “That was a dream. That was not reality. That was aspirational.”
This month, a Democratic-led Assembly approved the bill by a 60-14 margin, with the sole Republican yes vote cast by Palmdale Assemblyman Tom Lackey. That was followed by a statement from the University of California regents.
“If we are going to be serious about creating a university that truly serves the public interest, we cannot be silent,” said regents chairman John Perez in the statement.
Affirmative action in the Golden State dates to the landmark 1978 U.S. Supreme Court decision Regents of the University of California v. Bakke. The decision ruled a quota system once used by the University of California, Davis, was unlawful.


courthousenews--2020-06-24--Pelosi Sets House Vote on Bill to Expand Obamacare

The bill is highly unlikely to pass in the Senate , but the House vote will put the Trump administration ’ s position on health care in the spotlight just months before the presidential election .
WASHINGTON ( CN ) — Calling President Donald Trump ’ s push to eliminate the Affordable Care Act during a pandemic “ beyond stupid , ” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday her chamber will vote next week on a bill to expand the health care law known as Obamacare .
The California Democrat unveiled the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House is expected to file briefs with the nation ’ s highest court calling for the justices to overturn the Affordable Care Act , the signature legislative accomplishment of former President Barack Obama .
The Trump administration argues the law is unconstitutional on its face .
While the current administration doesn ’ t have a replacement prepared , it has long taken umbrage with Obamacare and President Donald Trump used its potential repeal as a campaign cornerstone in 2016 .
The new bill will expand eligibility for insurance premium tax credits and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeks to wind back the Trump administration ’ s modifications to out-of-pocket limits for insurance .
According to Pelosi , these changes will give more people access to insurance who couldn ’ t afford it before .
Medicare would also be in the driver ’ s seat when it comes to negotiating prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical companies and if passed , incentives would be provided to over a dozen states that have not expanded their own Medicaid programs .
Passage of the bill is highly unlikely in the Senate even if it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What the House vote will do , however , is place the White House ’ s position on health care in the spotlight just months before the presidential election and as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to bear down on America .
“ The Supreme Court will hear the brief from the administration as to taking down the Affordable Care Act right in the heart of the time of the pandemic , ” Pelosi said during a press conference Wednesday .
“ It was wrong any time , now it is beyond stupid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried to repeal Obamacare in 2017 while the GOP controlled both the House and Senate .
Republican Senators could not get the votes to scrap the health care law and ultimately lost support from the late Senator John McCain of Arizona and Senators Rand Paul and Susan Collins of Kentucky and Maine , respectively .
Collins bailed on the bill after the Congressional Budget Office published an analysis finding the GOP ’ s reversal would bounce millions of Americans off insurance altogether .
McCain objected largely on the grounds that the process to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was uncertain .
Senator Paul , at the time , felt the repeal effort didn ’ t do enough .
A blue wave of Democrats elected to the House changed the dynamic in 2018 , giving the new majority a chance to defend Obamacare and specific provisions that stop insurance companies from denying insurance to people with preexisting conditions .
Referring to an administration official who appeared on TV recently and said the GOP was not interested in making preexisting conditions an “ obstacle ” to health care or insurance , Pelosi retorted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off the case .
Tell the president to get off the case.
” The Fifth Circuit ruled last December that the Affordable Care Act ’ s individual mandate – a tax penalty against those who can afford health care but choose not to buy it – is unconstitutional after Congress removed the penalty through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act .
The Supreme Court has seen this fight before .
It upheld the individual mandate in 2012 despite fierce contention over whether Americans forced to pay penalties for lack of coverage was lawful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts , that the mandate penalty is legal given Congress ’ powers to levy taxes With passage of the new bill expanding Obamacare , House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said roughly 4 million more Americans would gain access to affordable health insurance as unemployment claims soar and the U.S. economy continues to strain under the weight of the Covid-19 pandemic .
The Trump administration ’ s push to repeal protections for those with preexisting conditions , especially “ at a time when we are facing a pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greatest risk ” is “ deeply unfortunate and irresponsible , ” said Hoyer , a Maryland Democrat .
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
As of Wednesday , the U.S leads the world in confirmed Covid-19 infections , exceeding 2.3 million cases .
Nearly 122,000 Americans have died , according to the Johns Hopkins Covid-19 tracker .
The U.S. Census Bureau reported last September that 90 % of Americans were covered by insurance , with nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population using private health insurance over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people went up in the last two years , however , with some 500,000 Americans losing coverage .

Calling President Donald Trump’s push to eliminate the Affordable Care Act during a pandemic “beyond stupid,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday her chamber will vote next week on a bill to expand the health care law known as Obamacare.
WASHINGTON (CN) — Calling President Donald Trump’s push to eliminate the Affordable Care Act during a pandemic “beyond stupid,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday her chamber will vote next week on a bill to expand the health care law known as Obamacare.
The California Democrat unveiled the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act on Wednesday, just one day before the White House is expected to file briefs with the nation’s highest court calling for the justices to overturn the Affordable Care Act, the signature legislative accomplishment of former President Barack Obama. The Trump administration argues the law is unconstitutional on its face.
While the current administration doesn’t have a replacement prepared, it has long taken umbrage with Obamacare and President Donald Trump used its potential repeal as a campaign cornerstone in 2016.
The new bill will expand eligibility for insurance premium tax credits and other subsidies for individuals and families and seeks to wind back the Trump administration’s modifications to out-of-pocket limits for insurance. According to Pelosi, these changes will give more people access to insurance who couldn’t afford it before.
Medicare would also be in the driver’s seat when it comes to negotiating prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical companies and if passed, incentives would be provided to over a dozen states that have not expanded their own Medicaid programs.
Passage of the bill is highly unlikely in the Senate even if it vaults through the Democrat-controlled House on Monday. What the House vote will do, however, is place the White House’s position on health care in the spotlight just months before the presidential election and as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to bear down on America.
“The Supreme Court will hear the brief from the administration as to taking down the Affordable Care Act right in the heart of the time of the pandemic,” Pelosi said during a press conference Wednesday. “It was wrong any time, now it is beyond stupid. Beyond stupid.”
President Trump first tried to repeal Obamacare in 2017 while the GOP controlled both the House and Senate. Republican Senators could not get the votes to scrap the health care law and ultimately lost support from the late Senator John McCain of Arizona and Senators Rand Paul and Susan Collins of Kentucky and Maine, respectively.
Collins bailed on the bill after the Congressional Budget Office published an analysis finding the GOP’s reversal would bounce millions of Americans off insurance altogether. McCain objected largely on the grounds that the process to repeal was being rushed and a replacement was uncertain. Senator Paul, at the time, felt the repeal effort didn’t do enough.
A blue wave of Democrats elected to the House changed the dynamic in 2018, giving the new majority a chance to defend Obamacare and specific provisions that stop insurance companies from denying insurance to people with preexisting conditions.
Referring to an administration official who appeared on TV recently and said the GOP was not interested in making preexisting conditions an “obstacle” to health care or insurance, Pelosi retorted: “Oh really? Then get off the case. Tell the president to get off the case.”
The Fifth Circuit ruled last December that the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate – a tax penalty against those who can afford health care but choose not to buy it – is unconstitutional after Congress removed the penalty through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
The Supreme Court has seen this fight before. It upheld the individual mandate in 2012 despite fierce contention over whether Americans forced to pay penalties for lack of coverage was lawful. The high court found, in an opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts, that the mandate penalty is legal given Congress’ powers to levy taxes
With passage of the new bill expanding Obamacare, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said roughly 4 million more Americans would gain access to affordable health insurance as unemployment claims soar and the U.S. economy continues to strain under the weight of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Trump administration’s push to repeal protections for those with preexisting conditions, especially “at a time when we are facing a pandemic where those with preexisting conditions are at greatest risk” is “deeply unfortunate and irresponsible,” said Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
As of Wednesday, the U.S leads the world in confirmed Covid-19 infections, exceeding 2.3 million cases. Nearly 122,000 Americans have died, according to the Johns Hopkins Covid-19 tracker.
The U.S. Census Bureau reported last September that 90% of Americans were covered by insurance, with nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population using private health insurance over government plans. The number of uninsured people went up in the last two years, however, with some 500,000 Americans losing coverage.


courthousenews--2020-06-24--Ocean on Jupiter’s Moon Europa ‘Could Be Habitable’

( CN ) — We may not have to go far in our search for extraterrestrial life : Researchers at NASA have uncovered new data that life may have the potential to exist in the oceans of Jupiter ’ s moon Europa .
Europa has for years been considered an ideal destination to search for signs of life .
With its oceans , tidal activity and plate tectonics , it meets a few of the prerequisites right off the bat .
A new study led by Dr. Mohit Melwani Daswani seeks to uncover Europa ’ s geochemical makeup , along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Researchers from NASA ’ s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena used data from the Galileo spacecraft to model geochemical reservoirs within the interior of Europa to search for the conditions necessary to support life .
Much of what we know about the Jovian system comes from flybys of the Voyager and Galileo spacecrafts , launched by NASA in 1979 and 1989 , respectively .
The Juno spacecraft flew by more recently , in 2016 , taking detailed photos of the gas giant on its way to study Pluto .
Europa is one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system .
Discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610 , it ’ s 1,900 miles in diameter — smaller than Earth ’ s moon — but larger than the dwarf planet Pluto .
Its exterior is made of solid ice between two and 20 miles thick , floating on an interior ocean approximately 60 miles deep .
The surface temperature never rises above minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit at the equator , and minus 370 degrees Fahrenheit at the poles .
It ’ s frigid , to say the least .
It ’ s also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our solar system thanks to that icy shell .
According to Melwani Daswani , these oceans may have been formed by the dehydration of water-rich minerals found within its interior .
These water-rich minerals may have dried out due to heat caused by the decay of radioactive elements early in Europa ’ s history , as well as the effect of tides caused by Europa ’ s interaction with Jupiter and its 78 other known moons .
This process , known as metamorphism , may be the driving force behind the formation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and beyond .
“ Europa ’ s ocean could be kept in a liquid state by its tidal interactions with its neighbors Io and Ganymede , and Jupiter , ” said Melwani Daswani .
“ The availability of liquid water is the first step to habitability .
In addition , chemical exchange between the ocean and the rocky interior may have been significant in the past so potential life may have been able to use chemical energy to survive .
We have not figured out whether chemical exchange and potential habitability extends to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next step in our research.
” Europa is thought to contain over twice the volume or water found on Earth .
Despite the inhospitable surface temperatures , scientists think its inner ocean could be quite a bit warmer due to the thermal vents in its mantle layer releasing heat from an iron core , similar to what happens on Earth .
Scientists originally believed water on Europa would be mildly acidic , and concentrated with carbon dioxide , calcium and sulfate stemming from these suboceanic vents .
“ Indeed it was thought that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” added Melwani Daswani “ but our simulations , coupled with data from the Hubble Space Telescope , showing chloride on Europa ’ s surface , suggest that the water most likely became chloride rich .
In other words , its composition became more like oceans on Earth .
We believe that this ocean could be quite habitable for life.
” The next decade holds promise for more fascinating discoveries on the moons of Jupiter .
NASA ’ s Europa Clipper mission will launch in the next few years to follow up on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hubble Space Telescope shooting above Europa ’ s surface .
If scientists can locate these plumes it may become easier to analyze and study the chemical composition of Europa ’ s oceans .
The alternative would be drilling through miles of ice to launch a robotic submarine — an intriguing but substantially riskier and more expensive endeavor .
The European Space Agency has its own mission planned for launch in 2022 to study the organic molecules believed to exist on Europa for clues to the existence of life .
The European mission will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ganymede and Callisto , both believed to have oceans of their own .
“ Europa is one of our best chances of finding life in our solar system , ” Melwani Baswani said .
Melwani Baswani will present these findings at the annual Goldschmidt conference , the world ’ s main geochemistry summit , hosted by the Geochemical Society and the European Association of Geochemistry .

We may not have to go far in our search for extraterrestrial life: Researchers at NASA have uncovered new data that life may have the potential to exist in the oceans of Jupiter’s moon Europa.
(CN) — We may not have to go far in our search for extraterrestrial life: Researchers at NASA have uncovered new data that life may have the potential to exist in the oceans of Jupiter’s moon Europa.
Europa has for years been considered an ideal destination to search for signs of life. With its oceans, tidal activity and plate tectonics, it meets a few of the prerequisites right off the bat. A new study led by Dr. Mohit Melwani Daswani seeks to uncover Europa’s geochemical makeup, along with the origin story behind its oceans.
Researchers from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena used data from the Galileo spacecraft to model geochemical reservoirs within the interior of Europa to search for the conditions necessary to support life.
Much of what we know about the Jovian system comes from flybys of the Voyager and Galileo spacecrafts, launched by NASA in 1979 and 1989, respectively. The Juno spacecraft flew by more recently, in 2016, taking detailed photos of the gas giant on its way to study Pluto.
Europa is one of the largest moons in our solar system. Discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610, it’s 1,900 miles in diameter — smaller than Earth’s moon — but larger than the dwarf planet Pluto. Its exterior is made of solid ice between two and 20 miles thick, floating on an interior ocean approximately 60 miles deep. The surface temperature never rises above minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit at the equator, and minus 370 degrees Fahrenheit at the poles. It’s frigid, to say the least. It’s also one of the most reflective objects in our solar system thanks to that icy shell.
According to Melwani Daswani, these oceans may have been formed by the dehydration of water-rich minerals found within its interior. These water-rich minerals may have dried out due to heat caused by the decay of radioactive elements early in Europa’s history, as well as the effect of tides caused by Europa’s interaction with Jupiter and its 78 other known moons. This process, known as metamorphism, may be the driving force behind the formation of other ocean worlds in our solar system and beyond.
“Europa’s ocean could be kept in a liquid state by its tidal interactions with its neighbors Io and Ganymede, and Jupiter,” said Melwani Daswani. “The availability of liquid water is the first step to habitability. In addition, chemical exchange between the ocean and the rocky interior may have been significant in the past so potential life may have been able to use chemical energy to survive. We have not figured out whether chemical exchange and potential habitability extends to the present, but it is the next step in our research.”
Europa is thought to contain over twice the volume or water found on Earth. Despite the inhospitable surface temperatures, scientists think its inner ocean could be quite a bit warmer due to the thermal vents in its mantle layer releasing heat from an iron core, similar to what happens on Earth.
Scientists originally believed water on Europa would be mildly acidic, and concentrated with carbon dioxide, calcium and sulfate stemming from these suboceanic vents.
"Indeed it was thought that this ocean could still be rather sulfuric" added Melwani Daswani "but our simulations, coupled with data from the Hubble Space Telescope, showing chloride on Europa's surface, suggest that the water most likely became chloride rich. In other words, its composition became more like oceans on Earth. We believe that this ocean could be quite habitable for life."
The next decade holds promise for more fascinating discoveries on the moons of Jupiter. NASA’s Europa Clipper mission will launch in the next few years to follow up on the giant water plumes observed by the Hubble Space Telescope shooting above Europa’s surface. If scientists can locate these plumes it may become easier to analyze and study the chemical composition of Europa’s oceans. The alternative would be drilling through miles of ice to launch a robotic submarine — an intriguing but substantially riskier and more expensive endeavor.
The European Space Agency has its own mission planned for launch in 2022 to study the organic molecules believed to exist on Europa for clues to the existence of life. The European mission will also study two other Galilean moons, Ganymede and Callisto, both believed to have oceans of their own.
"Europa is one of our best chances of finding life in our solar system,” Melwani Baswani said.
Melwani Baswani will present these findings at the annual Goldschmidt conference, the world’s main geochemistry summit, hosted by the Geochemical Society and the European Association of Geochemistry.


courthousenews--2020-06-24--Senate Panel Votes to Let Public Access UFO Records

( CN ) — The Senate Intelligence Committee voted Tuesday to require intelligence agencies and the Defense Department to publicly track and analyze data collected on “ unidentified aerial phenomenon , ” commonly referred to as UFOs .
Concerned that there is no “ unified , comprehensive process within the federal government for collecting and analyzing intelligence on unidentified aerial phenomena , ” the committee added the provision to the annual intelligence authorization bill .
“ The committee understands that the relevant intelligence may be sensitive ; nevertheless , the committee finds that the information sharing and coordination across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this issue has lacked attention from senior leaders , ” the panel wrote in its report on the bill .
The move stems from a 2017 acknowledgment by the Pentagon that it funds a formerly secret multimillion-dollar program , known as the Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Task Force , that investigates sights of so-called UFOs , short for unidentified flying objects .
Managed by the Office of Naval Intelligence , the program is charged with investigating connections that unidentified aerial objects might have to adversarial foreign governments and what threats these objects or phenomena @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With new sightings recorded by Navy pilots in recent years , the committee is urging senators to approve the provision so the program can be regulated .
If passed by the full Senate , the committee says , the policy would enable the country ’ s intelligence branches to more easily share information .
In addition , the provision would require the agencies to publicly provide information about the program ’ s activities .
Foreign adversaries , the committee reported , may be systematically probing military installations and the new measure aims to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unauthorized accesses .
The call for unification is partially due to the fact that U.S. intelligence silos store data in isolated locations , which “ potentially limits advantageous communications among databases ” and “ causes vital intelligence to go undetected , ” according to the committee report .
In the report , the committee said it is concerned that , “ as a result of several recent incidents of attempted unauthorized access to Naval Air Station Key West and Fort Story , Virginia by Chinese nationals , several security vulnerabilities have been discovered.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ provision , officials have 180 days to provide the first detailed , unclassified report .

The Senate Intelligence Committee voted Tuesday to require intelligence agencies and the Defense Department to publicly track and analyze data collected on "unidentified aerial phenomenon,” commonly referred to as UFOs.
(CN) — The Senate Intelligence Committee voted Tuesday to require intelligence agencies and the Defense Department to publicly track and analyze data collected on "unidentified aerial phenomenon,” commonly referred to as UFOs.
Concerned that there is no “unified, comprehensive process within the federal government for collecting and analyzing intelligence on unidentified aerial phenomena,” the committee added the provision to the annual intelligence authorization bill.
Certifying footage first made public in 2017 by journalists and fringe-science investigators, the Pentagon confirmed as genuine three Navy videos of unidentified flying objects. "There's a whole fleet of them," a pilot can be heard saying of the phenomena in this 2015 flight video.
"The committee understands that the relevant intelligence may be sensitive; nevertheless, the committee finds that the information sharing and coordination across the intelligence community has been inconsistent, and this issue has lacked attention from senior leaders," the panel wrote in its report on the bill.
The move stems from a 2017 acknowledgment by the Pentagon that it funds a formerly secret multimillion-dollar program, known as the Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Task Force, that investigates sights of so-called UFOs, short for unidentified flying objects.
Managed by the Office of Naval Intelligence, the program is charged with investigating connections that unidentified aerial objects might have to adversarial foreign governments and what threats these objects or phenomena could pose to the U.S. military.
With new sightings recorded by Navy pilots in recent years, the committee is urging senators to approve the provision so the program can be regulated.
If passed by the full Senate, the committee says, the policy would enable the country's intelligence branches to more easily share information. In addition, the provision would require the agencies to publicly provide information about the program’s activities.
Foreign adversaries, the committee reported, may be systematically probing military installations and the new measure aims to establish uniform reporting requirements for all attempted unauthorized accesses.
The call for unification is partially due to the fact that U.S. intelligence silos store data in isolated locations, which “potentially limits advantageous communications among databases” and “causes vital intelligence to go undetected,” according to the committee report.
In the report, the committee said it is concerned that, “as a result of several recent incidents of attempted unauthorized access to Naval Air Station Key West and Fort Story, Virginia by Chinese nationals, several security vulnerabilities have been discovered.”
If the bill passes with the provision, officials have 180 days to provide the first detailed, unclassified report.


courthousenews--2020-06-24--House Democrats Set to Vote on Police Reform, DC Statehood

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — Members of the House Rules Committee spent nearly two hours Wednesday debating a Democrat-backed police reform bill named for George Floyd , as lawmakers set the stage for contentious votes this week on a range of issues that also includes statehood for Washington , D.C .
The killing of Floyd , a 46-year-old black man and father who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes , spurred Democratic lawmakers to draft a comprehensive bill on police reform .
They are calling it the George Floyd Justice in Policing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senators clashed on the issue of police reform Wednesday , as Democrats voted down a competing GOP bill drafted by South Carolina Republican Tim Scott , saying it lacked key provisions for real reform .
Representative Karen Bass , a California Democrat and chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus , said during the House Rules Committee hearing that the Floyd Act would reimagine policing for the 21st century and hold accountable officers “ who fail to uphold the ethic of protecting and serving their communities.
” Along with banning chokeholds , the bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , prohibit no-knock warrants in drug cases , require the use of body cameras and require police departments to collect data on use of force , creating a national registry of misconduct .
“ Right now , the world is witnessing the birth of a new movement in our country , with thousands marching to register their horror at hearing the cry , ‘ I can ’ t breathe , ’ ” Bass said .
“ People are marching to demand not just change , but transformative change .
Change that ends police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that raises the standard of the profession and that holds accountable officers that fail to meet those standards.
” The committee ’ s Republican members largely took issue Wednesday with the lack of GOP lawmakers involved in the bill ’ s drafting , saying they had been excluded in conversations during the bill ’ s genesis .
Representative Kelly Armstrong , a North Dakota Republican who testified in opposition to the bill , said that while he had relevant personal relationships and conversations on police reform , he was not asked his thoughts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Listen , we offered 12 amendments , I didn ’ t even vote for all 12 of our amendments , ” he said .
“ I get the process , I understand the process , but it became abundantly clear very quickly on , that this bill was going to come in and come out the exact same way.
” Representative Alcee Hastings , D-Fla. , said lawmakers needed to understand many Americans have experienced personal brutalization by police officers .
His own experiences gave him this perspective , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witnessed in his hometown and being physically assaulted in public spaces because of his skin color .
“ I ’ ve seen a man hanging from a tree , black man that I knew , outside of my home city , ” Hastings said .
“ I lived the era of Harry T. Moore and Harriette Moore ’ s Christmas Day bombing no further than 40 miles from my home and the terror that that beat throughout that era .
I witnessed the humiliation of my mother and my father going to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , because they couldn ’ t relieve themselves at a filling station , and then finding themselves at the behest of police , arrested.
” Bass said she had reached across the aisle to Senator Scott to discuss the bill ’ s advancement to the upper chamber , and spoke with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , R-Calif. , about the bill ’ s vote on Thursday .
The legislation goes a long way to preventing violence , she said , which is a good starting place for continued conversation on the reforms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perceptions of the law enforcement community by weeding out bad cops .
“ One of the other things that I think is so important about the bill is that you would think that law enforcement – and I know from talking to the chiefs and the other union , the Fraternal Order of Police – that they support the idea of national standards and accreditation , ” Bass said .
“ I think that the majority of police officers are professional , they don ’ t want to work with corrupt people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with violent folks .
They want their profession accepted , respected and uplifted , and I believe that this bill lifts the profession up.
” The committee ’ s debate Wednesday extended beyond the Floyd Act , as members took up several other bills including one that would Washington , D.C. , the 51st state .
Eleanor Holmes Norton , who represents the District of Columbia as a nonvoting delegate in the House of Representatives , spoke in support of the legislation , which is set for a Friday vote .
The House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in February , and the new version adds transition assistance for the would-be state and permanently increases House membership to 436 .
“ For me , H.R .
51 also is deeply personal , ” Norton said .
“ My great-grandfather Richard Holmes , who escaped as a slave from a Virginia plantation , made it as far as D.C. , a walk to freedom but not to equal citizenship .
For three generations my family has been denied the rights other Americans take for granted.
” The committee also debated the Protecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that would reduce deductibles and co-payments under the Affordable Care Act , making drug prescriptions more affordable .

Members of the House Rules Committee spent nearly two hours Wednesday debating a Democrat-backed police reform bill named for George Floyd, as lawmakers set the stage for contentious votes this week on a range of issues that also includes statehood for Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON (CN) — Members of the House Rules Committee spent nearly two hours Wednesday debating a police-reform bill named for George Floyd, as lawmakers set the stage for contentious votes this week on a range of issues that also includes statehood for Washington, D.C.
The killing of Floyd, a 46-year-old black man and father who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes, spurred Democratic lawmakers to draft a comprehensive bill on police reform. They are calling it the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
In the other chamber, senators clashed on the issue of police reform Wednesday, as Democrats voted down a competing GOP bill drafted by South Carolina Republican Tim Scott, saying it lacked key provisions for real reform.
Representative Karen Bass, a California Democrat and chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said during the House Rules Committee hearing that the Floyd Act would reimagine policing for the 21st century and hold accountable officers “who fail to uphold the ethic of protecting and serving their communities.”
Along with banning chokeholds, the bill would end qualified immunity for police officers, prohibit no-knock warrants in drug cases, require the use of body cameras and require police departments to collect data on use of force, creating a national registry of misconduct.
“Right now, the world is witnessing the birth of a new movement in our country, with thousands marching to register their horror at hearing the cry, ‘I can’t breathe,’” Bass said. “People are marching to demand not just change, but transformative change. Change that ends police brutality, that ends racial profiling, that raises the standard of the profession and that holds accountable officers that fail to meet those standards.”
The committee’s Republican members largely took issue Wednesday with the lack of GOP lawmakers involved in the bill’s drafting, saying they had been excluded in conversations during the bill’s genesis.
Representative Kelly Armstrong, a North Dakota Republican who testified in opposition to the bill, said that while he had relevant personal relationships and conversations on police reform, he was not asked his thoughts on the legislation before it was drafted.
“Listen, we offered 12 amendments, I didn’t even vote for all 12 of our amendments,” he said. “I get the process, I understand the process, but it became abundantly clear very quickly on, that this bill was going to come in and come out the exact same way.”
Florida Representative Alcee Hastings said lawmakers needed to understand many Americans have experienced personal brutalization by police officers.
His own experiences gave him this perspective, Hastings said, describing Ku Klux Klan burnings he witnessed in his hometown and being physically assaulted in public spaces because of his skin color.
“I’ve seen a man hanging from a tree, black man that I knew, outside of my home city,” said Hastings, a Democrat. “I lived the era of Harry T. Moore and Harriette Moore’s Christmas Day bombing no further than 40 miles from my home and the terror that that beat throughout that era. I witnessed the humiliation of my mother and my father going to the back of a car to relieve themselves, because they couldn’t relieve themselves at a filling station, and then finding themselves at the behest of police, arrested.”
Bass said she had reached across the aisle to Senator Scott to discuss the bill’s advancement to the upper chamber, and spoke with Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy about the bill’s vote on Thursday.
The legislation goes a long way to preventing violence, she said, which is a good starting place for continued conversation on the reforms. Bass also said it would help perceptions of the law enforcement community by weeding out bad cops.
“One of the other things that I think is so important about the bill is that you would think that law enforcement — and I know from talking to the chiefs and the other union, the Fraternal Order of Police — that they support the idea of national standards and accreditation,” Bass said. “I think that the majority of police officers are professional, they don’t want to work with corrupt people, they don’t want to work with violent folks. They want their profession accepted, respected and uplifted, and I believe that this bill lifts the profession up.”
The committee’s debate Wednesday extended beyond the Floyd Act, as members took up several other bills including one that would Washington, D.C., the 51st state. Eleanor Holmes Norton, who represents the District of Columbia as a nonvoting delegate in the House of Representatives, spoke in support of the legislation, which is set for a Friday vote.
The House Oversight Committee proposed a D.C. statehood bill in February, and the new version adds transition assistance for the would-be state and permanently increases House membership to 436.
“For me, H.R. 51 also is deeply personal,” Norton said. “My great-grandfather Richard Holmes, who escaped as a slave from a Virginia plantation, made it as far as D.C., a walk to freedom but not to equal citizenship. For three generations my family has been denied the rights other Americans take for granted.”
The committee also debated the Protecting Your Credit Score Act and another bill that would reduce deductibles and co-payments under the Affordable Care Act, making drug prescriptions more affordable.


courthousenews--2020-06-24--Newsom Warns Counties as California Sees Record Spike in Covid Cases

( CN ) — California Gov .
Gavin Newsom Wednesday threatened to use “ the power of the purse ” to ensure local compliance with state mandates to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus by emphasizing $ 2.5 billion of the next budget won ’ t be parsed out to counties that fail to follow health care guidelines during the pandemic .
“ We talk a lot about enforcement , we talk about accountability .
We can not support bad behavior , but we can encourage and support good behavior , ” Newsom said .
“ Counties flouting their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help , ” he added , noting $ 2.5 billion of the budget agreement he reached with lawmakers will “ attach considerations and consequences ” for counties that do not follow economic reopening guidelines .
“ We ’ re not here to threaten anybody but we are now at a stage in this pandemic where we have to attach more accountability , ” Newsom said .
He said the $ 2.5 billion will be allocated to counties on a monthly , rather than yearly basis , to ensure compliance with state Covid-19 rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ budget talk during the press conference Wednesday came as the state , joining others across the country with an increase in positive Covid-19 cases as the economy opens , reported its highest number of positive cases yet .
During the 24-hour reporting period June 23 , 7,149 positive Covid-19 tests were reported in California , a record Newsom stressed was not necessarily unexpected as the state has reopened its economy and seen massive racial justice protests in recent weeks .
The state conducted 96,000 Covid-19 tests Tuesday , continuing California ’ s trend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 60,000 people a day .
California ’ s positivity rate among total residents tested is also rising , which Newsom emphasized was the important figure to look at .
The state ’ s positivity rate is currently at 5.1 % , with the seven-day trend at 5.6 % .
Several weeks ago , the positivity rate was 4.6 % .
Hospitalizations are also rising , with 4,095 Californians hospitalized June 23 .
There has been a 29 % increase in hospitalizations the past 14 days , Newsom said .
While Newsom said those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s more than 52,000-bed capacity for Covid-19 , patients , roughly 30 % of the state ’ s ICU beds for coronavirus are currently occupied .
Over the past 14 days , California has seen an 18 % increase in Covid-19 ICU admissions , Newsom said .
“ These numbers do beg the question of what we can do to protect you from the spread of this virus , ” Newsom said .
But when a reporter asked if the increase in positive Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations would cause the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures , he demurred .
“ It ’ s not a binary choice ; it ’ s not about shutting down the world ’ s fifth largest economy or moving forward with these efforts , ” Newsom said .
The governor did not say whether he was considering mandating a quarantine on out-of-state visitors from areas with an uptick in Covid-19 cases , similar to the agreement reached Wednesday between New York , New Jersey and Connecticut .
Newsom said the state is working toward its goal to train 10,000 contact tracers by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not be met .
“ We will get a cohort close to that number , ” he said .
The governor showed reporters a handwashing diagram when emphasizing the need to follow the state mandate to wear masks and continue to practice social distancing .
“ As we begin to reopen the economy and reopen our households , the consequence is we spread this virus .
It is our behaviors that are leading to the increase , ” Newsom said .
But Newsom cautioned he doesn ’ t want to see the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be fined for not wearing masks , instead calling on Californians use their common sense .

California Gov. Gavin Newsom Wednesday threatened to use “the power of the purse” to ensure local compliance with state mandates to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus by emphasizing $2.5 billion of the next budget won’t be parsed out to counties that fail to follow health care guidelines during the pandemic.
(CN) — California Governor Gavin Newsom Wednesday threatened to use “the power of the purse” to ensure local compliance with state mandates to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus by emphasizing $2.5 billion of the next budget won’t be parsed out to counties that fail to follow health care guidelines during the pandemic.
“We talk a lot about enforcement, we talk about accountability. We cannot support bad behavior, but we can encourage and support good behavior,” Newsom said.
“Counties flouting their own reopening criteria will not get budget help,” he added, noting $2.5 billion of the budget agreement he reached with lawmakers will “attach considerations and consequences” for counties that do not follow economic reopening guidelines.
“We’re not here to threaten anybody but we are now at a stage in this pandemic where we have to attach more accountability,” Newsom said.
He said the $2.5 billion will be allocated to counties on a monthly, rather than yearly basis, to ensure compliance with state Covid-19 rules and regulations.
Newsom’s tough budget talk during the press conference Wednesday came as the state, joining others across the country with an increase in positive Covid-19 cases as the economy opens, reported its highest number of positive cases yet.
During the 24-hour reporting period June 23, 7,149 positive Covid-19 tests were reported in California, a record Newsom stressed was not necessarily unexpected as the state has reopened its economy and seen massive racial justice protests in recent weeks.
The state conducted 96,000 Covid-19 tests Tuesday, continuing California’s trend of surpassing its own goal to test 60,000 people a day.
California’s positivity rate among total residents tested is also rising, which Newsom emphasized was the important figure to look at.
The state’s positivity rate is currently at 5.1%, with the seven-day trend at 5.6%. Several weeks ago, the positivity rate was 4.6%.
Hospitalizations are also rising, with 4,095 Californians hospitalized June 23. There has been a 29% increase in hospitalizations the past 14 days, Newsom said.
While Newsom said those hospitalizations represent only 8% of the state’s more than 52,000-bed capacity for Covid-19, patients, roughly 30% of the state’s ICU beds for coronavirus are currently occupied.
Over the past 14 days, California has seen an 18% increase in Covid-19 ICU admissions, Newsom said.
“These numbers do beg the question of what we can do to protect you from the spread of this virus,” Newsom said.
But when a reporter asked if the increase in positive Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations would cause the state to pause or scale back its reopening measures, he demurred.
“It’s not a binary choice; it’s not about shutting down the world’s fifth largest economy or moving forward with these efforts,” Newsom said.
The governor did not say whether he was considering mandating a quarantine on out-of-state visitors from areas with an uptick in Covid-19 cases, similar to the agreement reached Wednesday between New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Newsom said the state is working toward its goal to train 10,000 contact tracers by July 1, but suggested that goal would not be met. “We will get a cohort close to that number,” he said.
The governor showed reporters a handwashing diagram when emphasizing the need to follow the state mandate to wear masks and continue to practice social distancing.
“As we begin to reopen the economy and reopen our households, the consequence is we spread this virus. It is our behaviors that are leading to the increase,” Newsom said.
But Newsom cautioned he doesn’t want to see the mask mandate enforced punitively or for people to be fined for not wearing masks, instead calling on Californians to use their common sense.


courthousenews--2020-06-24--Prosecutors Warn of Politicization in Justice Department

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — Reigniting calls for Attorney General William Barr ’ s impeachment , two Justice Department attorneys told a House panel Wednesday politics have infested some of the agency ’ s highest-profile actions , including the prosecution of Roger Stone .
“ What I saw was that Roger Stone was being treated differently from every other defendant , ” Aaron Zelinsky , who served on the team that prosecuted Stone , said Wednesday .
“ He received breaks that are , in my experience , unheard of.
” Zelinsky ’ s comments came in a hearing before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Barr has wielded the Justice Department ’ s power as a political tool to aid President Donald Trump and those close to him .
“ He is the president ’ s fixer , ” Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler , D-N.Y. , said at the hearing .
“ He has shown us that there is one set of rules for the president ’ s friends and another set of rules for the rest of us.
” High-profile controversies at the Justice Department , including related to the Stone case and the decision to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adviser Michael Flynn , have prompted calls from some Democrats for the House to go forward with impeaching Barr .
Though Nadler earlier this week said the calls to impeach Barr were a “ waste of time ” because he would not be removed by the Republican-controlled Senate , he was more open to the idea of the House launching an impeachment inquiry against the attorney general when speaking to reporters after Wednesday ’ s hearing .
“ We ’ re looking into that , we may very well , ” Nadler said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Zelinsky withdrew from his job on the Stone case in February after the Justice Department walked back an initial sentencing recommendation for the Trump ally .
One day after recommending Stone spend between seven and nine years in prison , the Justice Department filed a new memo suggesting a significantly lighter sentence after Trump publicly called the initial recommendation a “ miscarriage of justice.
” Zelinsky told the committee the new sentencing memo came together in the hours after Trump ’ s public criticisms of the initial recommendation and that the prosecutors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review it in advance .
Now a federal prosecutor in Maryland , Zelinsky said his team was in particular pressured to drop sentencing enhancements for threats Stone made to Randy Credico , a key witness in the trial .
In written testimony , Zelinsky told the committee then-acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Timothy Shea was under “ heavy pressure from the highest levels of the Department of Justice to cut Stone a break ” and that Stone was receiving special treatment because of his political connections .
When he raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stone ’ s case , Zelinsky said he was told “ this was not the hill to die on ” and that he could lose his job if he deviated .
Painting a similar picture , John Elias , a trial attorney in the Justice Department ’ s antitrust office , said Wednesday the agency was responding to a Trump tweet when it launched an antitrust probe into an agreement between California and a group of car companies to set emissions standards higher than national requirements .
In written testimony , Elias detailed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Justice Department ordered the investigation the day after Trump criticized the companies for joining the compact .
Citing the fact that the investigations were launched so soon after the Trump tweet , Elias said they did not appear to have legitimate backing .
“ To answer your question , no , I don ’ t believe there was a proper basis to actually go forward with an investigation , ” Elias said .
Elias also said the agency opened baseless investigations into the merger of marijuana companies , pulling in “ dozens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a “ gross misuse of resources.
” He testified that when staffers raised concerns about the investigations , Makan Delrahim , who leads the agency ’ s antitrust division , said the probes were being undertaken because the marijuana industry is not popular “ on the fifth floor , ” which refers to Barr ’ s offices at the Justice Department .
The hearing came hours after the D.C .
Circuit ordered a federal judge to grant the Justice Department ’ s request to drop the case against Flynn .
The agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Flynn , who pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI , sparking new claims that the Justice Department was treating Trump ’ s political allies differently than other defendants .
To Democrats on the Judiciary Committee , the Stone and Flynn prosecutions , as well as Elias ’ testimony about antitrust probes , show Barr has used the Justice Department for Trump ’ s political goals .
Shortly after the hearing began , the Justice Department announced Barr will testify at an oversight hearing before the committee next month .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleged wrongdoing in the Trump administration , Republicans defended Barr largely by pointing to perceived faults in the FBI ’ s investigation into the origins of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election .
Representative Jim Jordan , the top Republican on the committee , pointed the finger at the Obama Justice Department and praised Barr ’ s tenure in office .
“ The politics was in the previous administration , Bill Barr is doing the Lord ’ s work to clean it up so that it doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jordan also noted a federal judge ultimately gave Stone a sentence well below the agency ’ s initial sentencing recommendation and in line with the revised memorandum .
The hearing was contentious at times , both between members and witnesses and between the lawmakers on the committee themselves .
Giving a scathing assessment of Barr ’ s performance while testifying alongside Zelinsky and Elias , Donald Ayer , a Georgetown Law professor and former deputy attorney general , went well over the time given him for opening statements .
Noticing the breach , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bang his ring on the table in front of him to mimic a gavel .
Ayer raised his voice to go over Gohmert ’ s tapping , which continued after Nadler allowed the law professor to finish his statement .
When Gohmert resumed the tapping , Representative Hank Johnson , a Georgia Democrat , asked Nadler to call the House sergeant at arms to stop the disruption .
“ He ’ s way beyond his time and if there are no rules about when people can talk , there ’ s no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Gohmert said in response to Johnson ’ s request .
When Nadler allowed Ayer to continue , Gohmert accused the chairman of not enforcing the committee ’ s rules equally .
Representative Doug Collins , R-Ga. , later went after Elias for having sought a job on the committee ’ s Democratic staff and Representative Mike Johnson , R-La.
, criticized Zelinsky for appearing before the committee remotely .
Zelinsky said he did not come to Capitol Hill because he has a newborn and did not want to risk contracting Covd-19 @

Reigniting calls for Attorney General William Barr’s impeachment, two Justice Department attorneys told a House panel Wednesday politics have infested some of the agency’s highest-profile actions, including the prosecution of Roger Stone.
WASHINGTON (CN) — Reigniting calls for Attorney General William Barr’s impeachment, two Justice Department attorneys told a House panel Wednesday politics have infested some of the agency’s highest-profile actions, including the prosecution of Roger Stone.
“What I saw was that Roger Stone was being treated differently from every other defendant,” Aaron Zelinsky, who served on the team that prosecuted Stone, said Wednesday. “He received breaks that are, in my experience, unheard of.”
Zelinsky’s comments came in a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee focusing on allegations that Barr has wielded the Justice Department’s power as a political tool to aid President Donald Trump and those close to him.
“He is the president’s fixer,” Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., said at the hearing. “He has shown us that there is one set of rules for the president’s friends and another set of rules for the rest of us.”
High-profile controversies at the Justice Department, including related to the Stone case and the decision to drop the prosecution of former national security adviser Michael Flynn, have prompted calls from some Democrats for the House to go forward with impeaching Barr.
Though Nadler earlier this week said the calls to impeach Barr were a “waste of time” because he would not be removed by the Republican-controlled Senate, he was more open to the idea of the House launching an impeachment inquiry against the attorney general when speaking to reporters after Wednesday’s hearing.
“We’re looking into that, we may very well,” Nadler said when asked about the possibility of impeachment.
Zelinsky withdrew from his job on the Stone case in February after the Justice Department walked back an initial sentencing recommendation for the Trump ally. One day after recommending Stone spend between seven and nine years in prison, the Justice Department filed a new memo suggesting a significantly lighter sentence after Trump publicly called the initial recommendation a “miscarriage of justice.”
Zelinsky told the committee the new sentencing memo came together in the hours after Trump’s public criticisms of the initial recommendation and that the prosecutors on the team were not able to review it in advance.
Aaron Zelinsky, on screen, a career Justice Department prosecutor who was part of special counsel Robert Mueller's team and worked on the case against Roger Stone, testifies remotely before the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 24, 2020, during a hearing on oversight of the Justice Department and a probe into the politicization of the department under Attorney General William Barr. Testifying in person, at right, is John Elias, a career official in the Justice Department's antitrust division. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh,Pool)
Now a federal prosecutor in Maryland, Zelinsky said his team was in particular pressured to drop sentencing enhancements for threats Stone made to Randy Credico, a key witness in the trial.
In written testimony, Zelinsky told the committee then-acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Timothy Shea was under “heavy pressure from the highest levels of the Department of Justice to cut Stone a break” and that Stone was receiving special treatment because of his political connections.
When he raised concerns to supervisors that politics were corrupting Stone’s case, Zelinsky said he was told “this was not the hill to die on” and that he could lose his job if he deviated.
Painting a similar picture, John Elias, a trial attorney in the Justice Department’s antitrust office, said Wednesday the agency was responding to a Trump tweet when it launched an antitrust probe into an agreement between California and a group of car companies to set emissions standards higher than national requirements.
In written testimony, Elias detailed to the committee how political appointees at the Justice Department ordered the investigation the day after Trump criticized the companies for joining the compact. Citing the fact that the investigations were launched so soon after the Trump tweet, Elias said they did not appear to have legitimate backing.
“To answer your question, no, I don’t believe there was a proper basis to actually go forward with an investigation,” Elias said.
Elias also said the agency opened baseless investigations into the merger of marijuana companies, pulling in “dozens of staff” in what Elias viewed as a “gross misuse of resources.”
He testified that when staffers raised concerns about the investigations, Makan Delrahim, who leads the agency’s antitrust division, said the probes were being undertaken because the marijuana industry is not popular “on the fifth floor,” which refers to Barr’s offices at the Justice Department.
John Elias, a career official in the Justice Department's antitrust division, is sworn in before the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 24, 2020, for a hearing on oversight of the Justice Department and a probe into the politicization of the department under Attorney General William Barr. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool)
The hearing came hours after the D.C. Circuit ordered a federal judge to grant the Justice Department’s request to drop the case against Flynn. The agency moved last month to drop the case against Flynn, who pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI, sparking new claims that the Justice Department was treating Trump’s political allies differently than other defendants.
To Democrats on the Judiciary Committee, the Stone and Flynn prosecutions, as well as Elias’ testimony about antitrust probes, show Barr has used the Justice Department for Trump’s political goals.
Shortly after the hearing began, the Justice Department announced Barr will testify at an oversight hearing before the committee next month.
As has become common in hearings probing alleged wrongdoing in the Trump administration, Republicans defended Barr largely by pointing to perceived faults in the FBI’s investigation into the origins of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Representative Jim Jordan, the top Republican on the committee, pointed the finger at the Obama Justice Department and praised Barr’s tenure in office.
“The politics was in the previous administration, Bill Barr is doing the Lord’s work to clean it up so that it doesn’t happen again,” Jordan said.
Jordan also noted a federal judge ultimately gave Stone a sentence well below the agency’s initial sentencing recommendation and in line with the revised memorandum.
The hearing was contentious at times, both between members and witnesses and between the lawmakers on the committee themselves.
Giving a scathing assessment of Barr’s performance while testifying alongside Zelinsky and Elias, Donald Ayer, a Georgetown Law professor and former deputy attorney general, went well over the time given him for opening statements.
Noticing the breach, Representative Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, began to bang his ring on the table in front of him to mimic a gavel.
Ayer raised his voice to go over Gohmert’s tapping, which continued after Nadler allowed the law professor to finish his statement. When Gohmert resumed the tapping, Representative Hank Johnson, a Georgia Democrat, asked Nadler to call the House sergeant at arms to stop the disruption.
“He’s way beyond his time and if there are no rules about when people can talk, there’s no rules about when you can make noise,” Gohmert said in response to Johnson’s request.
When Nadler allowed Ayer to continue, Gohmert accused the chairman of not enforcing the committee’s rules equally.
Representative Doug Collins, R-Ga., later went after Elias for having sought a job on the committee’s Democratic staff, and Representative Mike Johnson, R-La., criticized Zelinsky for appearing before the committee remotely.
Zelinsky said he did not come to Capitol Hill because he has a newborn and did not want to risk contracting Covd-19.