newsweek--2020-12-12--'Joe Biden Adopted The White House's First Rescue Dog From Us'

In 2013 I had just started a new relationship when my partner mentioned he had a black labrador— well , I was sold .
We got a little more serious and after a few months I moved in with him .
I was looking for a summer job but I 'm originally from New Jersey and I did n't really know anything about Delaware , so I asked my boyfriend where I should look for work .
He suggested the place he adopted his dog from , the Delaware Humane Association ( DHA ) and here I am seven years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For the most part , my role is keeping a good inventory of the animals in the facility , along with a variety of other tasks .
Not just knowing who they are and where they are , but really trying to get to know them .
At DHA we have anything from 40 to 50 dogs and 50 to100 cats in-house at any given time , and we have a lot of animals in foster care , normally between 10 and 30 dogs or puppies and 50 to100 cats or kittens .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shepherd puppies come into the shelter .
Shelters do n't get a lot of `` known '' purebreds but when we do there 's mayhem !
People flock to get these purebred animals , because often people would prefer a certain breed but they 're trying to opt to adopt .
These six puppies presented as healthy initially , but we soon realized they were not in great shape at all .
We knew that we might need to emergency hospitalize them and we were worried about the finances involved in doing that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with animals available for adoption , but the reality of our work is that we see really tragic situations and urgent cases and we need to let people know about that side , too .
So we let go of our fear and we posted about the German Shepherd puppies and the concerns about their health , anticipating a lot of attention and people wanting them .
I believe President-elect Joe Biden 's daughter Ashley saw the post by chance and let her dad know about it .
Joe Biden then reached out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knew ) , who then called us to say Biden was interested and wanted to adopt one of the puppies .
I remember there being a bit of a panic at the shelter and I recall someone saying : `` Oh My God , Joe Biden wants to adopt one of our puppies ! ''
We really did n't believe it at first , but he does live in Delaware so it was plausible .
We generally do adoptions on a first come , first served as long as it is a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them were spoken for and then former vice-president Joe Biden did what any prospective adopter would .
For our part , we treated him like any other adopter and wanted to make sure it was a good match .
I think people think we just adopted Major to the Bidens because of who they are , but we really treated him like anyone else .
I do n't know what the Bidens ' timeline was for adopting a puppy , but I saw a video that had been shared of Joe Biden saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another dog could help his other German Shepherd Champ , who was getting older , to be more mobile and keep him young .
I can personally attest to that because my partner and I did the same with our older labrador—once we got a second dog she was like a one-year-old again !
The Bidens were actually really lucky , because a lot of times with purebred puppies , people are banging on the door for them .
Joe Biden was really one of the first people to say he wanted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We were able to get the puppies healthy , get them onto the right foot , and send them to be socialized them with their siblings in foster care .
During that time , Joe Biden actually came to the shelter to see them .
But we 're actually closed on certain holidays and on the day he came , on Easter in 2018 we only had a couple of staff in .
I was n't there that day , but other animal care staff told us he was at the door with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff wondered who the older guy at the door was and what he wanted .
They were a little hesitant because we try really hard to stick to staying closed on the days we 're shut .
I think someone had gone to the door to see who it was and realized it was Joe Biden .
He was looking for the puppies , but they were in foster care at that point , so the staff showed him around and took a quick picture before he headed out .
They were so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into foster-to-adopt with the Bidens and over time he got neutered and we were able to look at when they could adopt Major .
The day Joe Biden adopted Major we were actually setting up our building for a Harry Potter event .
It was November 18 , 2018 and we were all dressed up in our Harry Potter outfits—when you walked in the front door that day you could see the letters cascading from the ceiling , we 'd put a fake brick wall up and had floating candles everywhere .
Then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to come into the shelter in an hour to adopt Major .
It was pretty hilarious .
His team had let us know that he would n't be able to hang out too long and we 'd probably be able to get one group shot .
He 's a busy guy !
But he wound up hanging out with us for well over an hour and we affectionately refer to it now as `` Story Time with Joe '' .
We all hung out on the bench where I took the well-known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Biden had individual conversations with just about everybody there .
It was a very humbling experience overall .
I was taking most of the pictures , but I do remember right after I took that photo of Joe Biden and Major on the bench , he looked at Major and said : `` Hey , she speaks your language ! ''
I think it was because I make these weird high pitched noises to get the animal 's attention—that 's how I got that head tilt from Major in the photo .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken to making similar weird noises—you hear it a lot walking around the facility .
Now Joe Biden is President-elect we 're all a little thrown off again .
It 's unbelievable that Major is going to be the first rescue dog in the White House .
But the best part is how it 's highlighting shelter animals again—that is the greatest thing .
The fact that Joe Biden himself came to the shelter to even look at puppies is huge .
It shows others that adoption is something people really do now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past about getting an animal from the pound , perhaps seeing those dogs as damaged goods .
But now , people are proud to go to a shelter and adopt an animal .
Once we do see Major in the White House with the Bidens in January , I think we 're all going to be crying hysterically .
I can just feel it .
We all joke about whether we 're going to get invited to the White House , and that we ca n't wait to go and visit Major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a piece of history in general , it 's a piece of DHA history .
We 're so excited to have such a strong light shone on adoption .
When people submit applications to adopt or foster , we have a reference section and people now write `` Joe Biden . ''
It 's probably not a direct referral from him , but it 's been awesome to see people learn about us through his story .
We 've already seen an uptick in in-person adoptions and people asking about ways to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just really excited .
We 're a relatively humble organization and it fits well because Joe Biden was really humble when he came and adopted Major .
We 're obviously in the spotlight now , but we 're more excited about shelter animals being in the spotlight .
Hopefully even more animals can be saved and adopted .
Stephanie Carter is shelter projects manager at Delaware Humane Association in Wilmington , Delaware .
She lives in Delaware with her partner and their dog and cat .
You can find out more about fostering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All views expressed in this article are the author 's own .

In 2013 I had just started a new relationship when my partner mentioned he had a black labrador—well, I was sold. We got a little more serious and after a few months I moved in with him. I was looking for a summer job but I'm originally from New Jersey and I didn't really know anything about Delaware, so I asked my boyfriend where I should look for work. He suggested the place he adopted his dog from, the Delaware Humane Association (DHA) and here I am seven years later as their shelter projects manager.
For the most part, my role is keeping a good inventory of the animals in the facility, along with a variety of other tasks. Not just knowing who they are and where they are, but really trying to get to know them. At DHA we have anything from 40 to 50 dogs and 50 to 100 cats in-house at any given time, and we have a lot of animals in foster care, normally between 10 to 30 dogs or puppies and 50 to 100 cats or kittens.
In early 2018 we had six German Shepherd puppies come into the shelter. Shelters don't get a lot of "known" purebreds but when we do there's mayhem! People flock to get these purebred animals, because often people would prefer a certain breed but they're trying to opt to adopt.
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These six puppies presented as healthy initially, but we soon realized they were not in great shape at all. We knew that we might need to emergency hospitalize them and we were worried about the finances involved in doing that. Typically we highlight the feelgood stories with animals available for adoption, but the reality of our work is that we see really tragic situations and urgent cases and we need to let people know about that side, too.
So we let go of our fear and we posted about the German Shepherd puppies and the concerns about their health, anticipating a lot of attention and people wanting them.
I believe President-elect Joe Biden's daughter Ashley saw the post by chance and let her dad know about it. Joe Biden then reached out to his dog trainer (who we knew), who then called us to say Biden was interested and wanted to adopt one of the puppies. I remember there being a bit of a panic at the shelter and I recall someone saying: "Oh My God, Joe Biden wants to adopt one of our puppies!" We really didn't believe it at first, but he does live in Delaware so it was plausible.
We generally do adoptions on a first come, first served as long as it is a good match. At that point none of them were spoken for and then former vice-president Joe Biden did what any prospective adopter would. For our part, we treated him like any other adopter and wanted to make sure it was a good match. I think people think we just adopted Major to the Bidens because of who they are, but we really treated him like anyone else.
I don't know what the Bidens' timeline was for adopting a puppy, but I saw a video that had been shared of Joe Biden saying that he'd been told that getting another dog could help his other German Shepherd, Champ—who was getting older—to be more mobile and keep him young. I can personally attest to that because my partner and I did the same with our older labrador—once we got a second dog she was like a one-year-old again! The Bidens were actually really lucky, because a lot of times with purebred puppies, people are banging on the door for them. Joe Biden was really one of the first people to say he wanted to adopt one of the German Shepherds.
Major Biden at Delaware Humane Association, with his five siblings, when he was a puppy. Stephanie Gomez Carter
We were able to get the puppies healthy, get them onto the right foot, and send them to be socialized them with their siblings in foster care. During that time, Joe Biden actually came to the shelter to see them. But we're actually closed on certain holidays and on the day he came, on Easter in 2018 we only had a couple of staff in.
I wasn't there that day, but other animal care staff told us he was at the door with his two grandchildren. Initially, the staff wondered who the older guy at the door was and what he wanted. They were a little hesitant because we try really hard to stick to staying closed on the days we're shut. I think someone had gone to the door to see who it was and realized it was Joe Biden. He was looking for the puppies, but they were in foster care at that point, so the staff showed him around and took a quick picture before he headed out. They were so thrown off!
Eventually Major was transferred into foster-to-adopt with the Bidens and over time he got neutered and we were able to look at when they could adopt Major.
The day Joe Biden adopted Major we were actually setting up our building for a Harry Potter event. It was November 18, 2018 and we were all dressed up in our Harry Potter outfits—when you walked in the front door that day you could see the letters cascading from the ceiling, we'd put a fake brick wall up and had floating candles everywhere. Then we were told that Joe Biden was going to come into the shelter in an hour to adopt Major. It was pretty hilarious.
His team had let us know that he wouldn't be able to hang out too long and we'd probably be able to get one group shot. He's a busy guy! But he wound up hanging out with us for well over an hour and we affectionately refer to it now as "Story Time with Joe". We all hung out on the bench where I took the well-known photo of Joe Biden and Major, and Biden had individual conversations with just about everybody there. It was a very humbling experience overall.
I was taking most of the pictures, but I do remember right after I took that photo of Joe Biden and Major on the bench, he looked at Major and said: "Hey, she speaks your language!" I think it was because I make these weird high pitched noises to get the animal's attention—that's how I got that head tilt from Major in the photo. Ever since then our other staff have taken to making similar weird noises—you hear it a lot walking around the facility.
Then former vice-president Joe Biden and Major on Major's adoption day, November 18, 2018. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Gomez Carter/Delaware Humane Association
Now Joe Biden is President-elect we're all a little thrown off again. It's unbelievable that Major is going to be the first rescue dog in the White House. But the best part is how it's highlighting shelter animals again—that is the greatest thing. The fact that Joe Biden himself came to the shelter to even look at puppies is huge. It shows others that adoption is something people really do now. There has been a stigma in the past about getting an animal from the pound, perhaps seeing those dogs as damaged goods. But now, people are proud to go to a shelter and adopt an animal.
Once we do see Major in the White House with the Bidens in January, I think we're all going to be crying hysterically. I can just feel it. We all joke about whether we're going to get invited to the White House, and that we can't wait to go and visit Major over there.
It's not just a piece of history in general, it's a piece of DHA history. We're so excited to have such a strong light shone on adoption. When people submit applications to adopt or foster, we have a reference section and people now write "Joe Biden." It's probably not a direct referral from him, but it's been awesome to see people learn about us through his story. We've already seen an uptick in in-person adoptions and people asking about ways to help out.
In the end we're just really excited. We're a relatively humble organization and it fits well because Joe Biden was really humble when he came and adopted Major. We're obviously in the spotlight now, but we're more excited about shelter animals being in the spotlight. Hopefully even more animals can be saved and adopted.
Stephanie Carter is shelter projects manager at Delaware Humane Association in Wilmington, Delaware. She lives in Delaware with her partner and their dog and cat. You can find out more about fostering and adoption from Delaware Humane Association here.
All views expressed in this article are the author's own.
As told to Jenny Haward.


newsweek--2020-12-12--Donald Trump's 'Big One' Supreme Court Gambit is Shut Down, Likely Ending Legal Push to Reverse Defe

Donald Trump's 'Big One' Supreme Court Gambit is Shut Down, Likely Ending Legal Push to Reverse Defeat

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a lawsuit filed by Texas aimed at overturning election results in four states that voted for President-elect Joe Biden in a major blow to President Donald Trump 's legal efforts to stay in office .
In a brief , unsigned order issued on Friday evening , the court said it would not hear the case filed by embattled Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and none of the nine justices showed any endorsement for the plaintiffs ' arguments .
`` Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas said in a statement that they would have allowed the case to be heard but `` would not grant other relief , '' according to Politico .
Trump and the Republican supporters of the lawsuit had billed it as `` the big one '' that had the potential to throw the 2020 election to the president .
The Supreme Court 's refusal to hear the case may be the end of the road for Trump 's legal challenges as the Electoral College is due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is unfortunate that the Supreme Court decided not to take this case and determine the constitutionality of these four states ' failure to follow federal and state election law .
I will continue to tirelessly defend the integrity and security of our elections and hold accountable those who shirk established election law for their own convenience , '' Paxton said in a statement .
Trump responded to the ruling on Twitter early on Saturday morning .
`` So , you 're the President of the United States , and you just went through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than any sitting President in history , by far - and purportedly lost , '' Trump wrote .
`` You ca n't get 'standing ' before the Supreme Court , so you 'intervene ' with wonderful states that , after careful study and consideration , think you got 'screwed ' , something which will hurt them also .
Many others likewise join the suit but , within a flash , it is thrown out and gone , without even looking at the many reasons it was brought .
A Rigged Election , fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesperson for the Biden campaign , welcomed the court 's decision in a statement on Friday , pointing the numerous legal defeats the president and other Republican litigants have suffered .
`` This is no surprise — dozens of judges , election officials from both parties , and Trump 's own Attorney General have dismissed his baseless attempts to deny that he lost the election , '' Gwin said .
The Texas lawsuit asked the Supreme Court to instruct state legislatures in Georgia , Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to throw out `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own slate of presidential electors .
As Republicans control all four legislatures , it would then have been possible for those states to vote for Trump .
Legal experts harshly criticized the lawsuit and predicted that the Supreme Court would refuse to hear it .
There has also been bipartisan criticism of Paxton , the Texas attorney general , and accusations that he 's angling for a pardon from Trump as he faces an FBI investigation .

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a lawsuit filed by Texas aimed at overturning election results in four states that voted for President-elect Joe Biden in a major blow to President Donald Trump's legal efforts to stay in office.
In a brief, unsigned order issued on Friday evening, the court said it would not hear the case filed by embattled Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and none of the nine justices showed any endorsement for the plaintiffs' arguments.
"Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections," the ruling said.
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Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas said in a statement that they would have allowed the case to be heard but "would not grant other relief," according to Politico.
Trump and the Republican supporters of the lawsuit had billed it as "the big one" that had the potential to throw the 2020 election to the president.
The Supreme Court's refusal to hear the case may be the end of the road for Trump's legal challenges as the Electoral College is due to meet on December 13.
"It is unfortunate that the Supreme Court decided not to take this case and determine the constitutionality of these four states' failure to follow federal and state election law. I will continue to tirelessly defend the integrity and security of our elections and hold accountable those who shirk established election law for their own convenience," Paxton said in a statement.
Trump responded to the ruling on Twitter early on Saturday morning.
"So, you're the President of the United States, and you just went through an election where you got more votes than any sitting President in history, by far - and purportedly lost," Trump wrote.
So, you’re the President of the United States, and you just went through an election where you got more votes than any sitting President in history, by far - and purportedly lost. You can’t get “standing” before the Supreme Court, so you “intervene” with wonderful states..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2020
"You can't get 'standing' before the Supreme Court, so you 'intervene' with wonderful states that, after careful study and consideration, think you got 'screwed', something which will hurt them also. Many others likewise join the suit but, within a flash, it is thrown out and gone, without even looking at the many reasons it was brought. A Rigged Election, fight on!"
Michael Gwin, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign, welcomed the court's decision in a statement on Friday, pointing the numerous legal defeats the president and other Republican litigants have suffered.
"This is no surprise — dozens of judges, election officials from both parties, and Trump's own Attorney General have dismissed his baseless attempts to deny that he lost the election," Gwin said.
The Texas lawsuit asked the Supreme Court to instruct state legislatures in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to throw out "tainted" election results and select their own slate of presidential electors. As Republicans control all four legislatures, it would then have been possible for those states to vote for Trump.
Legal experts harshly criticized the lawsuit and predicted that the Supreme Court would refuse to hear it. There has also been bipartisan criticism of Paxton, the Texas attorney general, and accusations that he's angling for a pardon from Trump as he faces an FBI investigation.


newsweek--2020-12-12--Mega Millions Results, Numbers for 12/11/20: Did Anyone Win the $276 Million?

The Mega Millions jackpot on Friday was estimated to be $ 276 million , with a cash value of $ 213.1 million .
Here is a breakdown of the winners of last night 's draw .
The winning numbers were 19 , 31 , 37 , 55 and 67 with the Mega Ball 25 and the Megaplier 4x , according to the Mega Millions website .
Nobody purchased a ticket that successfully matched all white numbers and the gold Mega Ball , meaning that the jackpot will roll over to the next drawing on Tuesday .
But one ticket matched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of $ 1 million on offer .
There were also 9 winners of the $ 10,000 prize after they correctly chose four of the white balls and the gold Mega Ball .
One of those winners quadrupled their winnings to $ 40,000 for purchasing the additional 4x Megaplier .
Some 440 players won $ 500 by matching four numbers and , of those winners , 92 won $ 2,000 using the Megaplier .
Additionally , 982 people won $ 200 by matching three numbers and the Mega Ball , and 170 of them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Megaplier .
In total , around 647,000 tickets won at least $ 2 last night .
With no winner of the top prize , the jackpot has now gone to $ 291 million , with a cash option of $ 224.7 million .
Some big winners this year came from a ticket sold in Wisconsin on 09/15/20 for a jackpot worth $ 119 million , a $ 372 million ticket sold in Ohio and a $ 227 million ticket that was sold on 09/24/19 in the city of Cedar Park , Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lotteries in the country , Mega Millions first launched on August 31 , 1996 as `` The Big Game . ''
Tickets are sold in 45 states , as well as the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands .
The five states not to sell lottery tickets are Alabama , Alaska , Hawaii , Nevada , and Utah .
Drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at WSB-TV in Atlanta by host John Crow .
Five white balls are drawn from a set of balls numbered 1 through 70 , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set of balls numbered 1 through 25 .
With nine different ways to win a prize , your chances of winning at least $ 2 are 1 in 24 , according to the Mega Millions website .
If you are a lucky winner , you will have between 90 days and one year to redeem your ticket , depending on local rules and regulations .
All jackpot winners are entitled to either a cash option or an annuity option of an initial payout followed by 29 annual payments that are each five percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prizes are subject to income taxes .

The Mega Millions jackpot on Friday was estimated to be $276 million, with a cash value of $213.1 million. Here is a breakdown of the winners of last night's draw.
The winning numbers were 19, 31, 37, 55 and 67 with the Mega Ball 25 and the Megaplier 4x, according to the Mega Millions website.
Nobody purchased a ticket that successfully matched all white numbers and the gold Mega Ball, meaning that the jackpot will roll over to the next drawing on Tuesday.
But one ticket matched five numbers for the second biggest prize of $1 million on offer. There were also 9 winners of the $10,000 prize after they correctly chose four of the white balls and the gold Mega Ball. One of those winners quadrupled their winnings to $40,000 for purchasing the additional 4x Megaplier.
A man walks past advertisements for the Mega Millions and Powerball lottery in October 2018 in New York City. Up for grabs on December 11 was a jackpot of $276 million. Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Some 440 players won $500 by matching four numbers and, of those winners, 92 won $2,000 using the Megaplier. Additionally, 982 people won $200 by matching three numbers and the Mega Ball, and 170 of them quadrupled their prize to $800 using the Megaplier. In total, around 647,000 tickets won at least $2 last night.
With no winner of the top prize, the jackpot has now gone to $291 million, with a cash option of $224.7 million. Some big winners this year came from a ticket sold in Wisconsin on 09/15/20 for a jackpot worth $119 million, a $372 million ticket sold in Ohio and a $227 million ticket that was sold on 09/24/19 in the city of Cedar Park, Texas.
How does Mega Millions work?
One of the most popular multi-states lotteries in the country, Mega Millions first launched on August 31, 1996 as "The Big Game." Tickets are sold in 45 states, as well as the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The five states not to sell lottery tickets are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.
Drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at WSB-TV in Atlanta by host John Crow.
Five white balls are drawn from a set of balls numbered 1 through 70, with one gold Mega Ball drawn from a set of balls numbered 1 through 25. With nine different ways to win a prize, your chances of winning at least $2 are 1 in 24, according to the Mega Millions website.
If you are a lucky winner, you will have between 90 days and one year to redeem your ticket, depending on local rules and regulations. All jackpot winners are entitled to either a cash option or an annuity option of an initial payout followed by 29 annual payments that are each five percent larger than the previous ones. All prizes are subject to income taxes.


newsweek--2020-12-12--WWII Hero and 'Candy Bomber' Contracts COVID-19, Family Says

Gail Halvorsen , known as the `` Candy Bomber '' for his actions during the Berlin Airlift during the 1940s tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday , according to members of his family .
Halvorsen is 100 years old .
The resident of a long-term care facility in Provo , Utah , Halvorsen is reportedly quarantining .
Halversen acquired the nickname of the `` Candy Bomber '' after World War II during the blockade of Berlin which began in 1948 .
Soviet forces prevented citizens in areas of Berlin controlled by the Allies from receiving food , fuel and medicinal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Halverson said he was initially unsure about helping German nationals .
`` They 'd started the war , '' Halverson said , `` and we had been told what beasts these people were—killing Jews and everybody else , whatever it took .
Germans were bad news . ''
During a supply run into Berlin , Halvorsen was met by some German children .
`` Those kids were giving me a lecture , telling me , 'Do n't give up on us .
If we lose our freedom , we 'll never get it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children that the next time he brought supplies , he would drop chewing gum from the airplane as it landed .
However , Halvorsen failed to get permission from his commanding officers .
On a trip to base operations in Berlin , Halverson surprised to find a mass of letters addressed to him .
When he explained his actions to airlift commander General William Tunner , Tunner said , `` Keep doing it . ''
Eventually , the entire squadron began dropping candy to German children in an operation Tunner named `` Operation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Berlin Airlift operation in 1949 , Operation Little Vittles pilots had dropped over 23 tons of candy using over 250,000 parachutes .
`` Without hope , the soul dies , '' Halvorsen said .
`` And that was so appropriate for the day .
In our own neighborhoods people have lost hope , lost function because they have no outside source of inspiration .
The airlift was a symbol that we were going to be there—service before self . ''
Halvorsen continued his famous candy drops after returning from the service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where he would fly over towns in the state and deliver sweets from the skies .
Halvorsen continued to make public appearances for decades .
In 2019 at the age of 99 , Halvorsen sat in the co-pilot 's seat for the annual Christmas Candy Drop at Kitty Hawk , North Carolina .
In 2019 , Utah Congressman John Curtis signed a letter to the White House recommending Halverson be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom , the highest civilian honor that can be bestowed onto a civilian .
`` The colonel has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be better , '' Curtis told KUTV in a 2019 interview .
Newsweek reached out to Curtis 's office for comment .

Gail Halvorsen, known as the "Candy Bomber" for his actions during the Berlin Airlift during the 1940s tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, according to members of his family. Halvorsen is 100 years old.
The resident of a long-term care facility in Provo, Utah, Halvorsen is reportedly quarantining. Halversen acquired the nickname of the "Candy Bomber" after World War II during the blockade of Berlin which began in 1948. Soviet forces prevented citizens in areas of Berlin controlled by the Allies from receiving food, fuel and medicinal supplies. In a 2009 interview, Halverson said he was initially unsure about helping German nationals.
"They'd started the war," Halverson said, "and we had been told what beasts these people were—killing Jews and everybody else, whatever it took. Germans were bad news."
During a supply run into Berlin, Halvorsen was met by some German children. "Those kids were giving me a lecture, telling me, 'Don't give up on us. If we lose our freedom, we'll never get it back.'"
Famed pilot Gail Halverson, who delivered candy via parachute to children in Berlin during the 1940s, has contracted COVID-19, according to members of his family. Carsten Koall/Getty
Halvorsen promised the children that the next time he brought supplies, he would drop chewing gum from the airplane as it landed. However, Halvorsen failed to get permission from his commanding officers. On a trip to base operations in Berlin, Halverson surprised to find a mass of letters addressed to him. When he explained his actions to airlift commander General William Tunner, Tunner said, "Keep doing it."
Eventually, the entire squadron began dropping candy to German children in an operation Tunner named "Operation Little Vittles." By the end of the Berlin Airlift operation in 1949, Operation Little Vittles pilots had dropped over 23 tons of candy using over 250,000 parachutes.
"Without hope, the soul dies," Halvorsen said. "And that was so appropriate for the day. In our own neighborhoods people have lost hope, lost function because they have no outside source of inspiration. The airlift was a symbol that we were going to be there—service before self."
Halvorsen continued his famous candy drops after returning from the service in his home state of Utah, where he would fly over towns in the state and deliver sweets from the skies. Halvorsen continued to make public appearances for decades. In 2019 at the age of 99, Halvorsen sat in the co-pilot's seat for the annual Christmas Candy Drop at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
In 2019, Utah Congressman John Curtis signed a letter to the White House recommending Halverson be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor that can be bestowed onto a civilian.
"The colonel has such an amazing story that inspires people to be better," Curtis told KUTV in a 2019 interview. Newsweek reached out to Curtis's office for comment.


newsweek--2020-12-11--Though Biden Urged To Choose Black AG, All Current Contenders Are White: Report

Although civil rights leaders recently called for President-elect Joe Biden to consider a Black nominee for Attorney General , the president-elect is considering a list of four white Democrats for the position , according to a new report .
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo , former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates , Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama and U.S .
Circuit Judge Merrick Garland constitute the list of those under final consideration , according to a Friday report from The Associated Press , citing an anonymous person with knowledge of the matter who was not authorized to discuss the search @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a Black attorney general , '' Reverend Al Sharpton said on Tuesday after he and other civil rights leaders attended a virtual meeting with Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris .
Sharpton said that being Black was not a requirement for any Attorney General pick he would approve of but stressed that `` the least we can have is someone with a proven civil rights background . ''
Biden was urged to consider a Black nominee due to racial disparities in the criminal justice system and voting rights issues , which have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and mass protesting against police brutality and racial injustice .
Extended Black Lives Matter protests broke out across the nation and beyond following the May 25 death of George Floyd , along with several other incidents of Black individuals being killed or injured by police officers .
Although none of the choices on Biden 's reported list are Black , they do all appear to be qualified to serve as Attorney General .
Yates served as the deputy Attorney General to both the first Black man and Black woman to serve as Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , during the administration of former President Barack Obama .
Jones , who is leaving the Senate in January after losing his bid for reelection , has a legal background in issues related to civil rights and race .
While serving as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama in the 1990s , he successfully prosecuted two members of the Ku Klux Klan who took part in a 1963 bombing of a Black church in Birmingham that killed four children .
While Cuomo has more recently been known his icy relationship with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ qualifications as an attorney , having served as New York Attorney General before becoming the state 's governor .
However , Cuomo made a comment about Obama in early 2008 , complaining that he believed the then-candidate should not `` shuck and jive at press conference , '' which could raise particular concern among civil rights advocates .
Garland is best known for being Obama 's choice to fill the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016 , which was blocked in the Senate by Republicans .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ served as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit since 1997 .
Although they may no longer be under consideration if the report is accurate , previous names floated for the position did include two potential Black nominees , former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick .
Biden 's Cabinet picks have so far been relatively diverse , with half of the 14 choices already announced being women and a majority of nine being people of color .
Five of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General Lloyd Austin , who would be the first Black person to serve as Secretary of Defense if confirmed by the Senate .
Newsweek reached out to the Biden presidential transition team for comment .

Although civil rights leaders recently called for President-elect Joe Biden to consider a Black nominee for Attorney General, the president-elect is considering a list of four white Democrats for the position, according to a new report.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama and U.S. Circuit Judge Merrick Garland constitute the list of those under final consideration, according to a Friday report from The Associated Press, citing an anonymous person with knowledge of the matter who was not authorized to discuss the search process.
"My preference is to have a Black attorney general," Reverend Al Sharpton said on Tuesday after he and other civil rights leaders attended a virtual meeting with Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Sharpton said that being Black was not a requirement for any Attorney General pick he would approve of but stressed that "the least we can have is someone with a proven civil rights background."
Biden was urged to consider a Black nominee due to racial disparities in the criminal justice system and voting rights issues, which have been highlighted by the current political climate and mass protesting against police brutality and racial injustice. Extended Black Lives Matter protests broke out across the nation and beyond following the May 25 death of George Floyd, along with several other incidents of Black individuals being killed or injured by police officers.
President-elect Joe Biden is pictured while announcing retired Army General Lloyd Austin, seated behind him, as his choice to serve as Secretary of Defense in Wilmington, Delaware on December 9, 2020. Chip Somodevilla/Getty
Although none of the choices on Biden's reported list are Black, they do all appear to be qualified to serve as Attorney General. Yates served as the deputy Attorney General to both the first Black man and Black woman to serve as Attorney General, Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch, during the administration of former President Barack Obama.
Jones, who is leaving the Senate in January after losing his bid for reelection, has a legal background in issues related to civil rights and race. While serving as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama in the 1990s, he successfully prosecuted two members of the Ku Klux Klan who took part in a 1963 bombing of a Black church in Birmingham that killed four children.
While Cuomo has more recently been known his icy relationship with President Donald Trump, he has solid qualifications as an attorney, having served as New York Attorney General before becoming the state's governor. However, Cuomo made a comment about Obama in early 2008, complaining that he believed the then-candidate should not "shuck and jive at press conference," which could raise particular concern among civil rights advocates.
Garland is best known for being Obama's choice to fill the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016, which was blocked in the Senate by Republicans. He has extensive legal qualifications and has served as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit since 1997.
Although they may no longer be under consideration if the report is accurate, previous names floated for the position did include two potential Black nominees, former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick.
Biden's Cabinet picks have so far been relatively diverse, with half of the 14 choices already announced being women and a majority of nine being people of color. Five of the choices are Black, including retired Army General Lloyd Austin, who would be the first Black person to serve as Secretary of Defense if confirmed by the Senate.
Newsweek reached out to the Biden presidential transition team for comment.


newsweek--2020-12-11--GOP Group Issues New 'Consumer Protection Alert' Ad Over Trump Election Fund

The group Republicans for the Rule of Law have released a new ad set to air on the conservative networks Fox News and Newsmax warning voters not to donate to President Donald Trump 's `` Official Election Defense Fund '' now that all 50 states have certified their election results , all but guaranteeing that President-elect Joe Biden inauguration .
`` Attention !
Consumer protection alert ! ''
the ad begins , police sirens blaring through its one-minute length .
`` Beware of a new scam from Donald Trump targeting 2020 voters requesting money to be used for an Official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be fooled , '' the ad continues .
`` Joe Biden will be the next president of the United States .
The election has been certified by all 50 states .
Over 50 Trump lawsuits and counting have been thrown out .
Attorney General Bill Barr announced the Justice Department found no widespread voter fraud .
Do n't get fooled by Donald Trump 's post-election scam . ''
The Trump campaign has repeatedly solicited supporters for donations to Trump 's `` Official Election Defense Fund '' for mounting legal challenges seeking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states .
However , legal language in Trump 's solicitations specifies that any donations under $ 8,000 will benefit the Republican National Committee or `` Save America , '' a Trump leadership PAC ( political action committee ) , and not legal attempts to dispute the election , according to Reuters .
Tuesday , December 8 marks the national `` safe harbor '' deadline in which all 50 states were required to resolve any legal challenges including recounts and audits , and finally certify their election results , severely limiting Trump and Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has mounted legal challenges in seven states where he lost—Arizona , Georgia , Michigan , Minnesota , Nevada , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin—51 out of 52 legal challenges alleging widespread voter fraud thus far have been thrown out of courts or withdrawn due to lack of evidence .
Nevertheless , Trump has refused to concede the election .
On Friday , the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge to four swing states ' election results filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton .
After the court 's decision was announced , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next step would be taking his evidence to state courts .
On Saturday , the Wisconsin Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on a Trump campaign appeal to overturn the state 's election results .
The Electoral College 's voters are set to meet on December 14 to cast their final ballots .
After that , the final vote count will be approved by the U.S. Congress on January 6 , the last formal step to finalize the election 's results before Inauguration Day on January 20 .
Republican Alabama Representative Mo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Count Act of 1877 to challenge the electoral vote when Congress meets to approve the vote on January 6 .
If Brooks finds a Republican senator willing to join him , the law would require all GOP Congress members to go on the record in stating whether they support Trump 's effort to overturn the 2020 election .
Biden beat Trump in the election by over 7 million votes and 74 electoral votes .
Newsweek contacted the Trump campaign for comment .

The group Republicans for the Rule of Law have released a new ad set to air on the conservative networks Fox News and Newsmax warning voters not to donate to President Donald Trump's "Official Election Defense Fund" now that all 50 states have certified their election results, all but guaranteeing that President-elect Joe Biden inauguration.
"Attention! Consumer protection alert!" the ad begins, police sirens blaring through its one-minute length. "Beware of a new scam from Donald Trump targeting 2020 voters requesting money to be used for an Official Election Defense Fund."
"Do not be fooled," the ad continues. "Joe Biden will be the next president of the United States. The election has been certified by all 50 states. Over 50 Trump lawsuits and counting have been thrown out. Attorney General Bill Barr announced the Justice Department found no widespread voter fraud. Don't get fooled by Donald Trump's post-election scam."
NEW, from Republicans for the Rule of Law.
"Attention! Consumer Protection Alert! Beware of a new scam from Donald Trump targeting 2020 voters. Don't get fooled by Donald Trump's post-election scam!"
This ad will run on Fox News and Newsmax.@ForTheRuleOfLaw
h/t @barubin pic.twitter.com/ofaoH2nKr6 — Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) December 12, 2020
The Trump campaign has repeatedly solicited supporters for donations to Trump's "Official Election Defense Fund" for mounting legal challenges seeking to overturn the vote in several key swing states.
However, legal language in Trump's solicitations specifies that any donations under $8,000 will benefit the Republican National Committee or "Save America," a Trump leadership PAC (political action committee), and not legal attempts to dispute the election, according to Reuters.
A new ad from a group called Republicans for the Rule of Law is warning would-be donors about giving money to President Donald Trump's election defense fund. In this January 2, 2019 photo, Trump chairs a Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, DC. Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty
Tuesday, December 8 marks the national "safe harbor" deadline in which all 50 states were required to resolve any legal challenges including recounts and audits, and finally certify their election results, severely limiting Trump and Republican efforts to contest their legality.
Although Trump has mounted legal challenges in seven states where he lost—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin—51 out of 52 legal challenges alleging widespread voter fraud thus far have been thrown out of courts or withdrawn due to lack of evidence.
Nevertheless, Trump has refused to concede the election.
On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge to four swing states' election results filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. After the court's decision was announced, Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani said the next step would be taking his evidence to state courts.
On Saturday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on a Trump campaign appeal to overturn the state's election results.
The Electoral College's voters are set to meet on December 14 to cast their final ballots. After that, the final vote count will be approved by the U.S. Congress on January 6, the last formal step to finalize the election's results before Inauguration Day on January 20.
Republican Alabama Representative Mo Brooks has pledged to use the Electoral Count Act of 1877 to challenge the electoral vote when Congress meets to approve the vote on January 6. If Brooks finds a Republican senator willing to join him, the law would require all GOP Congress members to go on the record in stating whether they support Trump's effort to overturn the 2020 election.
Biden beat Trump in the election by over 7 million votes and 74 electoral votes.
Newsweek contacted the Trump campaign for comment.


newsweek--2020-12-11--Rudy Giuliani Says Path for Election Fraud Suits Runs Through State Courts

After the U.S. Supreme Court declined on Friday to hear an election fraud lawsuit brought by the state of Texas , President Donald Trump 's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani said the next step would be taking his evidence to state courts .
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed the lawsuit against four battleground states—Michigan , Pennsylvania , Georgia and Wisconsin—alleging that election rules had been illegally altered in those states .
Specifically , Paxton alleged that the electors in those states had been chosen via an invalid process and asked that they be prevented from casting their votes in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has claimed baselessly that the election was tainted by widespread fraud , requested to join the lawsuit .
More than 100 Republicans in the House of Representatives signed a brief supporting the litigation .
However , the Supreme Court denied Texas 's authority to file the lawsuit .
Giuliani told Sean Hannity on his Fox News program Friday night that the battle to keep Trump in the White House was not over .
`` The legal path [ is ] in the state courts and you have to hope that the justices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show somewhat more determination , somewhat more willingness , to be willing to take some degree of criticism and somewhat more willingness to have an open mind , '' Giuliani said .
`` That 's all we 're asking to do , '' Giuliani continued .
`` We 're just asking them to hear the facts .
Let the American people—let the American people hear the facts and let the judges hear the facts .
So far the facts have been oppressed .
They 've been subject to censorship—censorship by big media , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democrat Party and censorship by the courts .
No court has granted a hearing . ''
`` Listen to the facts , '' Giuliani added .
`` What are you so afraid of ? ''
In its Friday decision , the Supreme Court said the State of Texas had a `` lack of standing '' to file its complaint .
`` Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its election , '' the ruling read .
`` All other pending motions are dismissed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Samuel Alito dissented with the decision .
Some Republicans implied that the Supreme Court decision would have a negative historical impact .
Giuliani said Friday that unless state courts agree to listen to the evidence , `` this will be a scandal that will stand in American history . ''
`` This decision will have far reaching ramifications for the future of our constitutional republic , '' wrote Republican Party of Texas Chairman Allen West in a Friday statement .
`` Perhaps law-abiding states should bond together and form a Union of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Trump 's allegations have election fraud have been decried by many as unsubstantiated .
Multiple lawsuits filed on behalf of Trump 's re-election campaign have been dismissed by state courts for lack of evidence .
Trump has yet to formally concede the election to President-elect Joe Biden .
Despite Trump 's attempts to prevent some electors from casting their votes , all 50 states have certified their election results .
The Electoral College is expected to meet on Monday .
According to the Associated Press , Biden won both the popular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump received 46.9 percent of the popular vote and the accompanying 232 electoral votes , Biden won 51.4 percent of the popular vote and 306 electoral votes .
A candidate must win 270 or more electoral votes to be considered the winner of the election .
Newsweek reached out to Biden 's transition team for comment .

After the U.S. Supreme Court declined on Friday to hear an election fraud lawsuit brought by the state of Texas, President Donald Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani said the next step would be taking his evidence to state courts.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed the lawsuit against four battleground states—Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Wisconsin—alleging that election rules had been illegally altered in those states. Specifically, Paxton alleged that the electors in those states had been chosen via an invalid process and asked that they be prevented from casting their votes in the Electoral College.
President Donald Trump, who has claimed baselessly that the election was tainted by widespread fraud, requested to join the lawsuit. More than 100 Republicans in the House of Representatives signed a brief supporting the litigation. However, the Supreme Court denied Texas's authority to file the lawsuit.
Giuliani told Sean Hannity on his Fox News program Friday night that the battle to keep Trump in the White House was not over.
"The legal path [is] in the state courts and you have to hope that the justices in the state court are going to show somewhat more determination, somewhat more willingness, to be willing to take some degree of criticism and somewhat more willingness to have an open mind," Giuliani said.
"That's all we're asking to do," Giuliani continued. "We're just asking them to hear the facts. Let the American people—let the American people hear the facts and let the judges hear the facts. So far the facts have been oppressed. They've been subject to censorship—censorship by big media, censorship by big tech, censorship by the Democrat Party and censorship by the courts. No court has granted a hearing."
"Listen to the facts," Giuliani added. "What are you so afraid of?"
President Donald Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani said that, after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a Texas lawsuit alleging election fraud in other states, that he would take his case to the lower courts. Jeff Kowalsky/AFP/Getty
In its Friday decision, the Supreme Court said the State of Texas had a "lack of standing" to file its complaint.
"Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its election," the ruling read. "All other pending motions are dismissed as moot." Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented with the decision.
Some Republicans implied that the Supreme Court decision would have a negative historical impact. Giuliani said Friday that unless state courts agree to listen to the evidence, "this will be a scandal that will stand in American history."
"This decision will have far reaching ramifications for the future of our constitutional republic," wrote Republican Party of Texas Chairman Allen West in a Friday statement. "Perhaps law-abiding states should bond together and form a Union of states that will abide by the constitution."
Trump's allegations have election fraud have been decried by many as unsubstantiated. Multiple lawsuits filed on behalf of Trump's re-election campaign have been dismissed by state courts for lack of evidence.
Trump has yet to formally concede the election to President-elect Joe Biden. Despite Trump's attempts to prevent some electors from casting their votes, all 50 states have certified their election results. The Electoral College is expected to meet on Monday.
According to the Associated Press, Biden won both the popular vote and the electoral vote. While Trump received 46.9 percent of the popular vote and the accompanying 232 electoral votes, Biden won 51.4 percent of the popular vote and 306 electoral votes. A candidate must win 270 or more electoral votes to be considered the winner of the election.
Newsweek reached out to Biden's transition team for comment.


newsweek--2020-12-11--Neo-Nazi Has Yet To Pay $14 Million Judgement To Jewish Woman He Harassed

A notorious white supremacist who was ordered to pay $ 14 million for harassing a Jewish woman and her family has failed to pay any of the money and can not be located .
Andrew Anglin , founder of the neo-Nazi website Daily Stormer , was ordered to pay the money in August 2019 following a harassment lawsuit filed against him two years earlier by Whitefish , Montana real estate agent Tanya Gersh .
Anglin 's whereabouts are unknown , although he was said to be living abroad last year .
On Friday , court filings by Gersh 's attorneys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( SPLC ) , revealed that Anglin had not paid and was not responding to any correspondence , according to The Star Tribune .
Earlier in the week , the lawyers reportedly asked that Anglin be sanctioned for failing to `` cooperate '' by providing them with financial documents and other information .
`` Obtaining information on Anglin 's assets is crucial to the post-judgment phase of litigation , and the benefits of obtaining such information through discovery far outweigh the minimal burden on Anglin that producing this information would entail , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gersh and her family were the victims of a targeted harassment campaign after she worked on an aborted real estate transaction with the mother of white supremacist Richard Spencer .
She became the focus of far-right vitriol after Spencer claimed that she had tried to pressure his mother into selling a building .
Anglin later instructed his followers to launch an `` old fashioned Troll Storm , '' resulting in a relentless torrent of anti-Semitic abuse and death threats being sent to Gersh , her husband , their 12-year-old son and friends and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be the same person that I was before Anglin and his troll army started to terrorize me , '' Gersh said in a statement .
`` As a result of the attacks and threats on my life , I have lost my sense of safety and security and I do n't know that I 'll ever get it back . ''
Last year , a federal magistrate judge recommended that $ 14 million in damages be awarded to Gersh .
U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen then adopted the recommendation when issuing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Anglin ultimately refusing to respond to the lawsuit .
Anglin has been on the losing side of several other suits that were decided in default rulings when he failed to respond , owing millions in damages in addition to the amount he owes Gersh .
Although they have yet to locate him or collect any money , Gersh 's lawyers have insisted that they will eventually find Anglin and make him pay .
`` We will go to the ends of the earth to collect the judgment on behalf of our client @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cash , assets or intellectual property , '' David Dinielli , deputy legal director of the SPLC , said in a statement after Anglin was ordered to pay .
Newsweek reached out to the SPLC for comment .

A notorious white supremacist who was ordered to pay $14 million for harassing a Jewish woman and her family has failed to pay any of the money and cannot be located.
Andrew Anglin, founder of the neo-Nazi website Daily Stormer, was ordered to pay the money in August 2019 following a harassment lawsuit filed against him two years earlier by Whitefish, Montana real estate agent Tanya Gersh. Anglin's whereabouts are unknown, although he was said to be living abroad last year.
On Friday, court filings by Gersh's attorneys, from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), revealed that Anglin had not paid and was not responding to any correspondence, according to The Star Tribune. Earlier in the week, the lawyers reportedly asked that Anglin be sanctioned for failing to "cooperate" by providing them with financial documents and other information.
"Obtaining information on Anglin's assets is crucial to the post-judgment phase of litigation, and the benefits of obtaining such information through discovery far outweigh the minimal burden on Anglin that producing this information would entail," the lawyers wrote to the court.
Gersh and her family were the victims of a targeted harassment campaign after she worked on an aborted real estate transaction with the mother of white supremacist Richard Spencer. She became the focus of far-right vitriol after Spencer claimed that she had tried to pressure his mother into selling a building.
A dog is pictured standing near a Nazi flag and other items at a historical reenactment event in Maidstone, England on July 24, 2018. Jack Taylor/Getty
Anglin later instructed his followers to launch an "old fashioned Troll Storm," resulting in a relentless torrent of anti-Semitic abuse and death threats being sent to Gersh, her husband, their 12-year-old son and friends and colleagues.
"I'm never going to be the same person that I was before Anglin and his troll army started to terrorize me," Gersh said in a statement. "As a result of the attacks and threats on my life, I have lost my sense of safety and security and I don't know that I'll ever get it back."
Last year, a federal magistrate judge recommended that $14 million in damages be awarded to Gersh. U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen then adopted the recommendation when issuing a default ruling in Gersh's favor due to Anglin ultimately refusing to respond to the lawsuit.
Anglin has been on the losing side of several other suits that were decided in default rulings when he failed to respond, owing millions in damages in addition to the amount he owes Gersh. Although they have yet to locate him or collect any money, Gersh's lawyers have insisted that they will eventually find Anglin and make him pay.
"We will go to the ends of the earth to collect the judgment on behalf of our client, Tanya Gersh, whether it's cash, assets or intellectual property," David Dinielli, deputy legal director of the SPLC, said in a statement after Anglin was ordered to pay.
Newsweek reached out to the SPLC for comment.


newsweek--2020-12-11--Vets' Groups Demand VA Secretary Resign After Sexual Assault Controversy

Some advocacy groups for military veterans called for the `` immediate removal '' of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie on Friday after a report from the Office of Inspector General ( OIG ) claimed Wilkie had attempted to discredit a woman who alleged she had been sexually assaulted a Veterans Administration medical facility .
According to the OIG report , congressional aide Andrea Goldstein told Virginia police that a contractor at the VA Medical Center in Washington , D.C. `` bumped his entire body against mine and told me I looked like I needed a smile and a good time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bear against the contractor .
During the subsequent inquiry into the incident by the OIG , investigators discovered that Wilkie brought Goldstein 's credibility into question and `` purported that she had made prior similar complaints . ''
Based on the OIG report , the Disabled American Veterans ( DAV ) said it wanted Wilkie removed from his position .
In a Friday statement , the executive of DAV 's Washington headquarters Randy Reese wrote that the organization `` no longer has confidence that Secretary Wilkie can effectively lead the department and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Based on the troubling findings and conclusions of the report , it is clear that from the onset , the Secretary 's and other senior officials ' handling of this case was at serious odds with the department 's no-tolerance policy toward sexual harassment , '' the statement said .
`` The Secretary 's failure to meet this standard or hold others accountable undermines decades of work that advocates—including many VA staff—have done to bring an end to sexual harassment and assault throughout the department . ''
Reese said Wilkie 's actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breached the trust of those whom he is beholden to honor and serve . ''
AMVETS National Commander Jan Brown wrote in a Friday tweet that `` AMVETS supports DAV 's call to remove VA Secretary Wilkie . ''
Newsweek reached out to the VA for comment .
While some witnesses told OIG investigators that Wilkie had researched Goldstein to gain information , the report said those reports could not be substantiated due to `` insufficient evidence . ''
In a Thursday statement , Wilkie denied he had attempted to have Goldstein investigated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation , interviews with 65 people and analysis of nearly 1.5 million documents , VA 's inspector general can not substantiate that I sought to investigate or asked others to investigate the Veteran , '' Wilkie told the Washington Post .
`` That 's because these allegations are false . ''
There are 170 VA medical facilities in the U.S. with more than 9 million veterans enrolled in the VA health program .
In August 2019 , the VA released research that said 1 in 4 women veterans experienced some form of harassment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behavior does not honor or value the traditions of military service and will not to be tolerated at VA , '' read an article on the VA website .

Some advocacy groups for military veterans called for the "immediate removal" of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie on Friday after a report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) claimed Wilkie had attempted to discredit a woman who alleged she had been sexually assaulted a Veterans Administration medical facility.
According to the OIG report, congressional aide Andrea Goldstein told Virginia police that a contractor at the VA Medical Center in Washington, D.C. "bumped his entire body against mine and told me I looked like I needed a smile and a good time." No criminal charges were brought to bear against the contractor. During the subsequent inquiry into the incident by the OIG, investigators discovered that Wilkie brought Goldstein's credibility into question and "purported that she had made prior similar complaints."
Based on the OIG report, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) said it wanted Wilkie removed from his position. In a Friday statement, the executive of DAV's Washington headquarters Randy Reese wrote that the organization "no longer has confidence that Secretary Wilkie can effectively lead the department and calls for his immediate removal."
"Based on the troubling findings and conclusions of the report, it is clear that from the onset, the Secretary's and other senior officials' handling of this case was at serious odds with the department's no-tolerance policy toward sexual harassment," the statement said. "The Secretary's failure to meet this standard or hold others accountable undermines decades of work that advocates—including many VA staff—have done to bring an end to sexual harassment and assault throughout the department."
Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie faced calls to resign amid allegations that he attempted to discredit a sexual assault victim. Alex Wong/Getty
Reese said Wilkie's actions as described by the OIG report "breached the trust of those whom he is beholden to honor and serve."
AMVETS National Commander Jan Brown wrote in a Friday tweet that "AMVETS supports DAV's call to remove VA Secretary Wilkie."
While some witnesses told OIG investigators that Wilkie had researched Goldstein to gain information, the report said those reports could not be substantiated due to "insufficient evidence." In a Thursday statement, Wilkie denied he had attempted to have Goldstein investigated.
"After nearly a year of investigation, interviews with 65 people and analysis of nearly 1.5 million documents, VA's inspector general cannot substantiate that I sought to investigate or asked others to investigate the Veteran," Wilkie told the Washington Post. "That's because these allegations are false."
"Secretary Wilkie has led VA to achieve landmark improvements in Veteran's trust, quality of care and employee satisfaction," Department of Veterans Affairs Press Secretary Christina Noel said in a statement emailed to Newsweek on Saturday. "He will continue to lead the department, including its historic response to the COVID-19 pandemic."
There are 170 VA medical facilities in the U.S. with more than 9 million veterans enrolled in the VA health program. In August 2019, the VA released research that said 1 in 4 women veterans experienced some form of harassment when visiting VA facilities.
"This behavior does not honor or value the traditions of military service and will not to be tolerated at VA," read an article on the VA website.
Updated 12/14/2020 11:32 p.m. EST: This story has been updated with a statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs.


newsweek--2020-12-12--Team Biden Slams WSJ Op-Ed Urging Jill to Drop Dr. Title as 'Patronizing, Sexist, Elitist'

President-elect Joe Biden and the first lady-elect 's communications directors on Saturday criticized a Wall Street Journal op-ed urging Jill Biden to `` drop the doc '' in her name .
In the op-ed , essayist Joseph Epstein calls President-elect Joe Biden 's wife `` Madame First Lady—Mrs .
Biden—Jill—kiddo , '' before arguing that `` 'Dr .
Jill Biden ' sounds and feels fraudulent , not to say a touch comic . ''
`` Your degree is , I believe , an Ed.D.
, a doctor of education , earned at the University of Delaware through a dissertation with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Community College Level : Meeting Students ' Needs , ' '' Epstein said .
`` A wise man once said that no one should call himself 'Dr . '
unless he has delivered a child . ''
As the article received significant backlash online , members of the Biden team began to criticize the disparaging remarks against Jill , with the first lady-elect 's spokesperson calling it `` pretty gross . ''
`` Dr. B earned a doctorate in education , so we call her Doctor , '' she tweeted in reference to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Epstein has earned here is perhaps not fit for mixed company . ''
Newsweek reached out to The Wall Street Journal for comment .
Epstein , a lecturer at Northwestern University , wrote that `` the Ph.D may once have held prestige , but that has been diminished by the erosion of seriousness and the relaxation of standards in university education generally , at any rate outside the sciences . ''
`` As for your Ed.D.
, Madame First Lady , hard-earned though it may have been , please consider stowing it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for now , '' he added .
`` Forget the small thrill of being Dr. Jill , and settle for the larger thrill of living for the next four years in the best public housing in the world as First Lady Jill Biden . ''
A slew of public figures immediately came to Jill Biden 's defense , with some calling the writing `` trash '' and the writer `` a fool . ''
Chasten Buttigieg , husband of 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg , tweeted : `` The author could 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know in my day we did n't have to respect women . '
'' `` Dr. Biden earned her degrees through hard work and pure grit , '' he tweeted .
`` She is an inspiration to me , to her students , and to Americans across this country .
This story would never have been written about a man . ''
Meghan McCain , daughter of the late John McCain , tweeted : `` I am so sick of the way accomplished , educated , successful women like @ DrBiden are talked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
BEYOND SO SICK OF IT . ''

President-elect Joe Biden and the first lady-elect's communications directors on Saturday criticized a Wall Street Journal op-ed urging Jill Biden to "drop the doc" in her name.
In the op-ed, essayist Joseph Epstein calls President-elect Joe Biden's wife "Madame First Lady—Mrs. Biden—Jill—kiddo," before arguing that "'Dr. Jill Biden' sounds and feels fraudulent, not to say a touch comic."
"Your degree is, I believe, an Ed.D., a doctor of education, earned at the University of Delaware through a dissertation with the unpromising title 'Student Retention at the Community College Level: Meeting Students' Needs,'" Epstein said. "A wise man once said that no one should call himself 'Dr.' unless he has delivered a child."
As the article received significant backlash online, members of the Biden team began to criticize the disparaging remarks against Jill, with the first lady-elect's spokesperson calling it "pretty gross."
Kate Bedingfield, Joe Biden's communications director, labeled Epstein's op-ed as "patronizing, sexist, elitist drivel."
"Dr. B earned a doctorate in education, so we call her Doctor," she tweeted in reference to Jill Biden. "The title Mr. Epstein has earned here is perhaps not fit for mixed company."
What patronizing, sexist, elitist drivel. Dr. B earned a doctorate in education, so we call her Doctor. The title Mr. Epstein has earned here is perhaps not fit for mixed company. https://t.co/6rBjZ6u5j5 — Kate Bedingfield (@KBeds) December 12, 2020
Jen Psaki, who was recently named White House press secretary for the new Biden administration, tweeted Saturday evening: "You are not alone if today is the first day you googled "Joseph Epstein" because you were curious who popped out of a 1950's time warp to write the below for the WSJ."
You are not alone if today is the first day you googled “Joseph Epstein” because you were curious who popped out of a 1950’s time warp to write the below for the WSJ https://t.co/Bs5uIx5L7l — Jen Psaki (@jrpsaki) December 13, 2020
Newsweek reached out to The Wall Street Journal for comment.
Epstein, a lecturer at Northwestern University, wrote that "the Ph.D may once have held prestige, but that has been diminished by the erosion of seriousness and the relaxation of standards in university education generally, at any rate outside the sciences."
"As for your Ed.D., Madame First Lady, hard-earned though it may have been, please consider stowing it, at least in public, at least for now," he added. "Forget the small thrill of being Dr. Jill, and settle for the larger thrill of living for the next four years in the best public housing in the world as First Lady Jill Biden."
A slew of public figures immediately came to Jill Biden's defense, with some calling the writing "trash" and the writer "a fool."
Chasten Buttigieg, husband of 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, tweeted: "The author could've used fewer words to just say 'ya know in my day we didn't have to respect women.'"
Doug Emhoff, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris' husband, defended Jill Biden and implicitly accused Epstein of sexism.
"Dr. Biden earned her degrees through hard work and pure grit," he tweeted. "She is an inspiration to me, to her students, and to Americans across this country. This story would never have been written about a man."
Meghan McCain, daughter of the late John McCain, tweeted: "I am so sick of the way accomplished, educated, successful women like @DrBiden are talked about in the media by misogynistic men. BEYOND SO SICK OF IT."
Updated December 13, 2019 10:29 AM ET, to include Psaki's tweet.


newsweek--2020-12-12--Fox News Conspired to Overthrow Trump, MyPillow CEO Tells 'Stop the Steal' March

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell , an ally of President Donald Trump , accused Fox News of conspiring to overthrow Trump at a `` Stop the Steal '' rally in Washington D.C. Thousands of demonstrators marched down the Capitol a day after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit filed by Texas aimed at reversing Trump 's defeat in four battleground states—Pennsylvania , Georgia , Michigan and Wisconsin—that voted for President-elect Joe Biden .
The country 's highest court on Friday evening refused to hear the case filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the latest blow to the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We can not give up ever on this , '' Lindell told the pro-Trump crowd Saturday afternoon .
`` This is a spiritual warfare in our country and in the world . ''
He also called Trump 's claims of widespread voter fraud `` real , '' saying `` it 's of epic proportions that this election was stolen . ''
Lindell claimed that Fox News helped Democrats steal the election .
`` They were going for everything .
They were going to take everything we had , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declared Arizona with only 14 percent of the vote in ?
They already knew what they did !
They were in on it ! ''
`` I 'm serious , they had to be on it ! ''
Lindell concluded .
`` They should all go to prison when they are found out . ''
Newsweek reached out to Fox News for comment .
Lindell 's remarks come one week after he insisted on Fox News that Trump will remain president .
`` I want the word to get out that Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four years , '' he said during an interview with the network , before adding that he was 100 percent sure of it .
Meanwhile , MAGA supporters , once aligned with the GOP , turned on their party for allegedly not doing enough to help Trump overturn the results of the 2020 election .
`` Destroy the GOP !
Destroy the GOP ! ''
a crowd at the rally chanted .
The president and his allies had sold the Texas lawsuit as `` the big one '' that would finally deliver a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Electoral College set to officially confirm President-elect Joe Biden 's win , their latest failed legal effort appeared to have marked the end of the road for Trump 's 2020 campaign .
On Saturday afternoon , U.S. District Court Judge Brett Ludwig ruled that Trump 's lawsuit seeking to overturn Biden 's win in Wisconsin had no merit .
Trump has alleged that a stolen election caused his loss to Biden .
But so far , the contents and claims of the president 's lawsuits have been narrower , lacking in evidence and @ @ @ @ @ @

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, an ally of President Donald Trump, accused Fox News of conspiring to overthrow Trump at a "Stop the Steal" rally in Washington D.C.
Thousands of demonstrators marched down the Capitol a day after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit filed by Texas aimed at reversing Trump's defeat in four battleground states—Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin—that voted for President-elect Joe Biden. The country's highest court on Friday evening refused to hear the case filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the latest blow to the president's legal efforts to stay in office.
"We cannot give up ever on this," Lindell told the pro-Trump crowd Saturday afternoon. "This is a spiritual warfare in our country and in the world."
He also called Trump's claims of widespread voter fraud "real," saying "it's of epic proportions that this election was stolen."
Michael Lindell, CEO of MyPillow Inc., speaks during a COVID-19 press conference at the White House on March 30, 2020. Mandel Ngan/Getty
Lindell claimed that Fox News helped Democrats steal the election. "They were going for everything. They were going to take everything we had," he said. "Why do you think Fox declared Arizona with only 14 percent of the vote in? They already knew what they did! They were in on it!"
"I'm serious, they had to be on it!" Lindell concluded. "They should all go to prison when they are found out."
Newsweek reached out to Fox News for comment.
Lindell's remarks come one week after he insisted on Fox News that Trump will remain president. "I want the word to get out that Donald Trump will be our president for the next four years," he said during an interview with the network, before adding that he was 100 percent sure of it.
Meanwhile, MAGA supporters, once aligned with the GOP, turned on their party for allegedly not doing enough to help Trump overturn the results of the 2020 election.
"Destroy the GOP! Destroy the GOP!" a crowd at the rally chanted.
The president and his allies had sold the Texas lawsuit as "the big one" that would finally deliver a second Trump term. But with the Electoral College set to officially confirm President-elect Joe Biden's win, their latest failed legal effort appeared to have marked the end of the road for Trump's 2020 campaign.
On Saturday afternoon, U.S. District Court Judge Brett Ludwig ruled that Trump's lawsuit seeking to overturn Biden's win in Wisconsin had no merit.
Trump has alleged that a stolen election caused his loss to Biden. But so far, the contents and claims of the president's lawsuits have been narrower, lacking in evidence and routinely tossed out of court.


newsweek--2020-12-12--Kamala Harris' Husband Slams WSJ Op-Ed Urging Jill Biden to Stop Calling Herself a Doctor

Doug Emhoff , Vice President-elect Kamala Harris ' husband , on Saturday criticized the Wall Street Journal for publishing an op-ed urging Jill Biden to `` drop the doc '' in her name .
In the op-ed , essayist Joseph Epstein calls President-elect Joe Biden 's wife as `` Madame First Lady—Mrs .
Biden—Jill—kiddo , '' before arguing that `` 'Dr .
Jill Biden ' sounds and feels fraudulent , not to say a touch comic . ''
`` Your degree is , I believe , an Ed.D.
, a doctor of education , earned at the University of Delaware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'Student Retention at the Community College Level : Meeting Students ' Needs , ' '' Epstein said .
`` A wise man once said that no one should call himself 'Dr . '
unless he has delivered a child . ''
Emhoff , the incoming second gentleman , defended Biden 's title and implicitly accused the publication of sexism .
`` Dr. Biden earned her degrees through hard work and pure grit , '' he tweeted on Saturday afternoon .
`` She is an inspiration to me , to her students , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story would never have been written about a man . ''
Epstein , a lecturer at Northwestern University , insisted in the article that `` the Ph.D may once have held prestige , but that has been diminished by the erosion of seriousness and the relaxation of standards in university education generally , at any rate outside the sciences . ''
`` As for your Ed.D.
, Madame First Lady , hard-earned though it may have been , please consider stowing it , at least in public , at least for now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small thrill of being Dr. Jill , and settle for the larger thrill of living for the next four years in the best public housing in the world as First Lady Jill Biden . ''
Several notable figures immediately came to Biden 's defense , with some calling the writing `` trash '' and `` a bad take . ''
Others lashed out at Epstein , calling him a `` fool '' and `` misogynist . ''
2020 Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg 's husband , Chasten Buttigieg , said , `` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just say 'ya know in my day we did n't have to respect women . '
'' `` I just caught up to this hot trash take on Dr Biden .
A white guy with a BA bragging about his teaching career in academia as in part justification as to why Jill Biden should n't be using her doctorate in education she earned is peak white male supremacy , '' tweeted Democratic political strategist Atima Omara .
`` 1 ) I 'm offended for anyone who actually got a Ph.D or Ed.D unlike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ISH is WORK , '' Omara added .
`` 2 ) This article is a thesis as to why women and esp .
BIPOC end up extra credentialing ourselves because there is that dude who did 1/3 of work for more pay . ''
`` A man who does not have a PhD says Dr. Jill Biden is 'fraudulent ' and 'comic ' to use her title because her doctorate is n't in medicine .
Filed as 'Men threatened by women smarter than them , ' '' tweeted former U.S. Senate candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the The Wall Street Journal for comment .

Doug Emhoff, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris' husband, on Saturday criticized the Wall Street Journal for publishing an op-ed urging Jill Biden to "drop the doc" in her name.
In the op-ed, essayist Joseph Epstein calls President-elect Joe Biden's wife as "Madame First Lady—Mrs. Biden—Jill—kiddo," before arguing that "'Dr. Jill Biden' sounds and feels fraudulent, not to say a touch comic."
"Your degree is, I believe, an Ed.D., a doctor of education, earned at the University of Delaware through a dissertation with the unpromising title 'Student Retention at the Community College Level: Meeting Students' Needs,'" Epstein said. "A wise man once said that no one should call himself 'Dr.' unless he has delivered a child."
Emhoff, the incoming second gentleman, defended Biden's title and implicitly accused the publication of sexism. "Dr. Biden earned her degrees through hard work and pure grit," he tweeted on Saturday afternoon. "She is an inspiration to me, to her students, and to Americans across this country. This story would never have been written about a man."
Dr. Biden earned her degrees through hard work and pure grit. She is an inspiration to me, to her students, and to Americans across this country. This story would never have been written about a man. pic.twitter.com/mverJiOsxC — Doug Emhoff (@DouglasEmhoff) December 12, 2020
Epstein, a lecturer at Northwestern University, insisted in the article that "the Ph.D may once have held prestige, but that has been diminished by the erosion of seriousness and the relaxation of standards in university education generally, at any rate outside the sciences."
"As for your Ed.D., Madame First Lady, hard-earned though it may have been, please consider stowing it, at least in public, at least for now," he wrote. "Forget the small thrill of being Dr. Jill, and settle for the larger thrill of living for the next four years in the best public housing in the world as First Lady Jill Biden."
Several notable figures immediately came to Biden's defense, with some calling the writing "trash" and "a bad take." Others lashed out at Epstein, calling him a "fool" and "misogynist."
2020 Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg's husband, Chasten Buttigieg, said, "The author could've used fewer words to just say 'ya know in my day we didn't have to respect women.'"
The author could’ve used fewer words to just say “ya know in my day we didn’t have to respect women.” https://t.co/jr9hICPzV4 — Chasten Buttigieg (@Chasten) December 12, 2020
"I just caught up to this hot trash take on Dr Biden. A white guy with a BA bragging about his teaching career in academia as in part justification as to why Jill Biden shouldn't be using her doctorate in education she earned is peak white male supremacy," tweeted Democratic political strategist Atima Omara.
1) I’m offended for anyone who actually got a Ph.D or Ed.D unlike the fool who writes this, because that ISH is WORK.
2) This article is a thesis as to why women and esp. BIPOC end up extra credentialing ourselves because there is that dude who did 1/3 of work for more pay — Atima Omara (@atima_omara) December 12, 2020
"1) I'm offended for anyone who actually got a Ph.D or Ed.D unlike the fool who writes this, because that ISH is WORK," Omara added. "2) This article is a thesis as to why women and esp. BIPOC end up extra credentialing ourselves because there is that dude who did 1/3 of work for more pay."
"A man who does not have a PhD says Dr. Jill Biden is 'fraudulent' and 'comic' to use her title because her doctorate isn't in medicine. Filed as 'Men threatened by women smarter than them,'" tweeted former U.S. Senate candidate Trish Zornio.
A man who does not have a PhD says Dr. Jill Biden is “fraudulent” and “comic” to use her title because her doctorate isn’t in medicine.
✔ Filed as “Men threatened by women smarter than them.”https://t.co/PuYV5P7yK4 — Trish Zornio (@trish_zornio) December 12, 2020
Newsweek reached out to the The Wall Street Journal for comment.


newsweek--2020-12-12--'This Is a Phony Pandemic': GOP Congressman-Elect Praises Maskless Trump Supporters at Rally

A Republican congressman-elect of Virginia praised attendees of a pro-Trump march in Washington , D.C. Saturday for not wearing masks amid what he called a `` phony '' coronavirus pandemic .
Republican Bob Good , elected last month to represent Virginia 's largest 5th Congressional District in the House , spoke to the crowd while wearing a `` Trump 2020 '' campaign hat and said the coronavirus crisis does not amount to a pandemic .
The soon-to-be lawmaker 's remarks come just days after Johns Hopkins marked the deadliest day yet of the pandemic and a total of 300,000 dead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maskless Good shook hands with the man who introduced him and addressed the `` Stop the Steal '' rallygoers Saturday afternoon .
`` I ca n't tell you how great it is to look out there and see your faces .
This looks like a group of people that get that this is a phony pandemic , '' Good said , as several attendees offered raucous applause .
`` It 's a serious virus , but it 's a virus , it 's not a pandemic .
It 's great to see your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand up against tyranny .
Thank you for being here today , thank you for saying 'no ' to the insanity , '' the congressman-elect continued , speaking at the Freedom Plaza event .
Good went on to say that the people of the 5th Congressional District in Virginia elected him to `` stand up for the constitution '' when he assumes office next month .
Good defeated Democratic candidate Cameron Webb after being endorsed personally by president Donald Trump during the contentious campaign .
Webb , who lost by about 20,000 votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , had been endorsed by former President Barack Obama and was being aided by national Democratic groups .
Good , 54 , is a graduate of Liberty University and was formerly a branch manager at CitiFinancial .
Like many Republican congressional candidates this election cycle , Good repeatedly touted Trump 's economic policy during his campaign and said he supports the president 's agenda entirely .
Good capitalized on far-right criticism of incumbent Republican Rep. Denver Riggleman , who was blasted by some for officiating a same-sex marriage between two of his staffers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was out of touch with conservative values .
`` This was a victory for true conservative principles at the end of the day , '' Good said at his victory party at Liberty University , the evangelical Christian college in Lynchburg , Virginia , last month .
`` This will be a victory for the nation 's founding Judeo-Christian principles .
And this will be a victory for religious liberty , and the importance of faith and family . ''
Newsweek reached out to Good 's office for additional remarks about his Trump @ @ @ @ @

A Republican congressman-elect of Virginia praised attendees of a pro-Trump march in Washington, D.C. Saturday for not wearing masks amid what he called a "phony" coronavirus pandemic.
Republican Bob Good, elected last month to represent Virginia's largest 5th Congressional District in the House, spoke to the crowd while wearing a "Trump 2020" campaign hat and said the coronavirus crisis does not amount to a pandemic. The soon-to-be lawmaker's remarks come just days after Johns Hopkins marked the deadliest day yet of the pandemic and a total of 300,000 dead from COVID-19 across the country. The maskless Good shook hands with the man who introduced him and addressed the "Stop the Steal" rallygoers Saturday afternoon.
Holy shit. Congressman-elect Bob Good of Virginia starts speaking and immediately proclaims, "this looks like a group of people that gets it. This is a phony pandemic." pic.twitter.com/xre4DWslGW — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 12, 2020
"I can't tell you how great it is to look out there and see your faces. This looks like a group of people that get that this is a phony pandemic," Good said, as several attendees offered raucous applause.
"It's a serious virus, but it's a virus, it's not a pandemic. It's great to see your faces, you get it. You stand up against tyranny. Thank you for being here today, thank you for saying 'no' to the insanity," the congressman-elect continued, speaking at the Freedom Plaza event.
Good went on to say that the people of the 5th Congressional District in Virginia elected him to "stand up for the constitution" when he assumes office next month. Good defeated Democratic candidate Cameron Webb after being endorsed personally by president Donald Trump during the contentious campaign. Webb, who lost by about 20,000 votes, or 5 percent of the vote, had been endorsed by former President Barack Obama and was being aided by national Democratic groups.
Good, 54, is a graduate of Liberty University and was formerly a branch manager at CitiFinancial. Like many Republican congressional candidates this election cycle, Good repeatedly touted Trump's economic policy during his campaign and said he supports the president's agenda entirely. Good capitalized on far-right criticism of incumbent Republican Rep. Denver Riggleman, who was blasted by some for officiating a same-sex marriage between two of his staffers earlier this year. Good claimed Riggleman was out of touch with conservative values.
"This was a victory for true conservative principles at the end of the day," Good said at his victory party at Liberty University, the evangelical Christian college in Lynchburg, Virginia, last month. "This will be a victory for the nation's founding Judeo-Christian principles. And this will be a victory for religious liberty, and the importance of faith and family."
Newsweek reached out to Good's office for additional remarks about his Trump rally comments Saturday evening.