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Sanders has early lead over Warren in battle of the left – POLITICO
Sanders has early lead over Warren in battle of the left – POLITICO

Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders occupy similar ideological space and will inevitably be competing for many of the same voters. For the time being, they seem intent on avoiding one another. | Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo

2020 elections

The two are heading for a likely collision, but so far they seem intent on avoiding one another.

The Bernie Sanders vs. Elizabeth Warren primary is on.

The run-up to their presidential announcements sparked concern on the left that having both of them in the race would split the activist base and clear the way for a more moderate nominee. Now that they’re both in, the competition between the two promises to be one of the more intriguing subplots of the primary.

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Sanders starts out indisputably ahead. Bolstered by the grassroots army he amassed in 2016, the Vermont senator easily outraised Warren in the first 24 hours of their campaigns. He’s far ahead of her in the polls, too, trailing only former Vice President Joe Biden, who hasn’t announced whether he’ll run.

Sanders’ camp is treating Warren accordingly. He and his aides are avoiding any whiff of public criticism of Warren. They declined even to respond when her allies argued last week that Sanders entering the race would benefit her.

Warren’s team downplays the metrics surrounding their campaign launches, instead taking the long view. If Sanders falters after weeks or months as a front-runner — he is guaranteed to draw more scrutiny now than he did in 2016, given his strength from the outset — the Massachusetts senator wants to be seen as a more viable alternative to beat Donald Trump in a general election.

But the fact remains that the two occupy similar ideological space and will inevitably be competing for many of the same voters. For the time being, they seem intent on avoiding one another.

Warren has sought to head off comparisons with Sanders by creating her own space where she hopes she’ll catch fire. She’s gone out of her way to avoid the “socialism” tag — declaring she is “a capitalist to her bones” — putting her in a position to step in if Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, is rejected for being too far left. (On Thursday, he came under fire from Florida Democrats after declining to answer whether Venezuela’s socialist dictator, Nicolas Maduro, should step down.)

In stump speeches, Warren is not just embracing “Medicare for All” — one of Sanders’ 2016 rallying cries — but attempting to offer her own distinct platform with a menu of proposals such as providing free child care for millions of low-income children.

“One of the mistakes that a lot of presidential candidates make is they try to take the lessons from the last race and apply them to the current campaign,” said Doug Rubin, a Boston-based strategist and past Warren adviser. “I think what Elizabeth is doing, she’s already moving the debate aggressively forward with her tax on the wealthy and child care proposal. She’s not just trying to rerun the last race in a better way, she’s trying to run on new issues that really matter to people.”

Her allies are arguing that she actually benefits from Sanders being in the race, because the “center of gravity” will now move toward their similar economic populist and anti-Wall Street message. Eventually, they believe, voters will decide that she’s the candidate best able to defeat Trump, and offering the best fit for an era in which more record-breaking numbers of women are running for and winning elected office.

“Both are very good on the issues that are popular to voters, and both would conceivably beat Trump,” said Adam Green, co-founder of the pro-Warren Progressive Change Campaign Committee. “We feel Elizabeth Warren is the most electable of the Democratic primary field because she’s a progressive woman who voters see as instinctively fighting for working people and willing to challenge powerful interests.”

Asked about Green’s theory, Sanders’ team didn’t bite.

“Sen. Warren has been a fighter for working people,” said spokeswoman Arianna Jones, “and Bernie considers her a close friend. We look forward to a positive campaign of ideas.”

The Sanders campaign is making a concerted effort to hire women and minorities, unveiling a diverse group of top hires and campaign co-chairs this week. His 2016 campaign was criticized for being too white and male, and for allowing alleged sexual harassment to fester.

In an interview with The Young Turks on Tuesday, Sanders suggested that he would seek a woman younger than him as a running mate.

“I think we would look for somebody who is maybe not of the same gender that I am, and maybe somebody might be a couple of years younger than me,” he said, “and somebody who can take the progressive banner as vice president and carry it all over this country.”

But Sanders’ entry is already creating a strategic challenge for Warren’s campaign on several fronts. Chief among them is small-dollar fundraising. Beyond the sheer competition for small dollars, each time Sanders reports a blockbuster haul it will be compared with Warren’s numbers.

Activists and friendly media outlets already are contrasting the two candidates’ handling of race and gender issues, their policies and their theory of change in government. After his launch, Indivisible’s national political director praised Sanders on Twitter as having an “exciting vision” on Medicare for All and free college tuition, but added that she “laments his racially agnostic language” while discussing economic inequality.

An article in Jacobin, a socialist magazine, described them both as anti-establishment and anti-Wall Street, but said Sanders “prefers to use the government’s power to tax and spend directly to meet America’s needs — or replace the market altogether,” while Warren “wants to empower regulators and rejigger markets to shape ‘pre-distribution’ income, before taxes.”

Had Sanders opted not to run, Warren would have been well-positioned to win over many of his supporters. According to the most recent Morning Consult online survey, 26 percent of Sanders’ supporters said Biden was their second choice and 16 percent said Warren was their second choice.

Sanders’ entry obviously dampens those prospects for Warren.

“Had Bernie decided not to run, I think 90 percent of his people would have flooded to Elizabeth Warren. There’s almost no question in my mind,” said Jonathan Tasini, who served as a national surrogate for Sanders in 2016 and who authored “The Essential Bernie Sanders and His Vision for America.” “If either Bernie or Elizabeth Warren end up being the nominee, the other part of that family will be satisfied. I can’t think of people who are Elizabeth Warren supporters who would be upset or vice versa.”

In 2016, Sanders absorbed a fairly robust movement of progressives who tried to draft Warren to run against Hillary Clinton. The “Ready for Warren” campaign grew to 60,000 people nationwide before turning into a larger “Run Warren Run” initiative.

When Warren declined, many of those people fled to Sanders.

Charles Lenchner, founder of Ready for Warren and then one of the founders of an early drafting effort for Sanders, said dynamics have changed since he attempted to enlist Warren in 2016.

“I think her influence in the primary is a good one,” Lenchner said. However: “Warren surrounds herself with consultants who are lifers in Washington. … She does not surround herself with people who are activists of movements who get arrested and all of that stuff.”

“I think she is not, at this time, doing the kinds of things that will create a relationship between a grass-roots movement and her primary campaign,” he added.

The New Hampshire primary could prove decisive for each of them, given that they hail from neighboring states.

Sanders walloped Hillary Clinton there in 2016. But Warren has worked to steadily make inroads: pumping money to help New Hampshire Democrats win 2018 races, hiring key operatives early and already hosting four campaign events there since January. On Friday, she’ll keynote a major fundraiser for the state’s Democratic Party.

Sanders, though, has the polling edge right now. A University of Massachusetts Amherst survey released this week found that 20 percent of likely Democratic voters said they would back him if the primary contest were held today, while 9 percent said they would support Warren. Biden was in the lead with 28 percent.

Source Article from https://www.politico.com/story/2019/02/22/elizabeth-warren-bernie-sanders-2020-1179747

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ICE: Man who died after shooting at a Napa deputy had been deported 3 times – Napa Valley Register
ICE: Man who died after shooting at a Napa deputy had been deported 3 times – Napa Valley Register

Whenever Courtney Teague posts new content, you’ll get an email delivered to your inbox with a link.

Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

Source Article from https://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/ice-man-who-died-after-shooting-at-a-napa-deputy/article_f4ab2f51-1a99-55e1-879e-3b19771e29bf.html

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House Democrats push ahead with bid to terminate Trump’s emergency declaration – NBC News
House Democrats push ahead with bid to terminate Trump’s emergency declaration – NBC News

WASHINGTON — House Democrats planned to push ahead Friday with a measure that seeks to terminate President Donald Trump’s emergency declaration that he issued last week in order to circumvent Congress and build his wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, was set to file a joint resolution in the House that would repeal the president’s declaration. The measure was to be filed during the chamber’s pro forma session, since lawmakers are on recess and don’t return to Washington until Monday.

As of Wednesday, more than 90 House Democrats had signed onto the legislation as official co-sponsors.

In a letter circulated to lawmakers of both parties, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., urged all members to back it, saying the president’s move “undermines the separation of powers and Congress’s power of the purse.”

“The House will move swiftly to pass this bill,” Pelosi said in the letter, specifying that it would be reported out of committee within 15 calendar days and would be considered on the House floor three days after that. “The President’s decision to go outside the bounds of the law to try to get what he failed to achieve in the constitutional legislative process violates the Constitution and must be terminated.”

Trump declared the national emergency in a speech from the White House Rose Garden last Friday after Congress refused to allot his full funding request for an actual wall in a bipartisan government spending package.

In declaring the emergency, he expected to have access to $8 billion for the wall, including the $1.375 billion in the funding package that he signed last week, $600 million in Treasury forfeiture, $2.5 billion from the drug interdiction program and $3.6 billion in military construction from the Defense Department, a senior White House official said.

The move has drawn bipartisan criticism, with Democrats blasting Trump and Republicans warning him that it sets a dangerous precedent for future presidents.

Under the National Emergencies Act of 1976, Congress has the ability to try to end an emergency status instituted by the president. Democrats in the House will have no problem passing the resolution given their 235-197 majority.

Once it passes the House, the measure would be sent to the Senate, where unlike most pieces of legislation, GOP leaders could not block it from reaching the floor. The federal law requires that the Senate take up the House-passed resolution within 18 days.

The resolution is considered “privileged” — which means it would not be subject to a filibuster and require 60 votes to move forward. Instead, it would simply require 51 votes to pass. If all 47 Democrats were to support the measure, they would need only four Republican defections to pass it — in a chamber that has not lacked for GOP criticism of the president’s move.

In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said the president’s declaration represented a sharp expansion of executive power.

“That’s why you see an awful lot of us concerned about this,” said Johnson, who said he would hear the president out — but did not rule out voting on a resolution of disapproval in the Senate, saying he would “decide when I actually have to vote on it.”

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said on Monday that the money Trump would be raiding from the military construction budget is needed for facilities around the country.

“So I think it’s a bad idea,” he told reporters at Miami International Airport. “I also think it’s a bad idea because usually emergency declarations are for situations in which Congress doesn’t have time to organize itself to vote on it. The Congress just had a vote on this and it just expressed itself.”

A number of other GOP senators have publicly expressed skepticism or opposition to the declaration — with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, saying she would back a measure limited to disapproval of the declaration itself. “If it’s a ‘clean’ disapproval resolution, I will support it,” she said, according to the Associated Press.

If both the House and Senate were to pass the resolution, it would send a major symbolic message — but its impact would be limited to symbolism: administration aides have already made clear Trump would veto any effort that interfered with his declaration, and the measure is unlikely to attract anywhere near the GOP support needed to overturn a presidential veto.

So Democrats are pushing back on other fronts, looking to nullify the declaration by challenging it in court, with California, New York and 14 other states filing a lawsuit on Monday to try to block the move.

Rebecca Shabad is a congressional reporter for NBC News, based in Washington.

Source Article from https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-democrats-push-ahead-bid-terminate-trump-s-emergency-declaration-n974091

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Hint about Mueller closure? Rod Rosenstein says DOJ exit coming ‘a lot later’ than expected – Washington Examiner
Hint about Mueller closure? Rod Rosenstein says DOJ exit coming ‘a lot later’ than expected – Washington Examiner

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said Thursday his exit from the Justice Department is coming “a lot later” than he expected amid reporting that special counsel Robert Mueller could wrap up the Russia investigation within a week.

Rosenstein made the comment during a speech to his alma mater, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, which he called “one of my last significant events” as the No. 2 law enforcement official in the nation.

“My time as a law enforcement official is coming to an end, a lot later than I expected,” he said.

The speech comes one day after CNN reported Attorney General William Barr could announce as soon as early next week the end of Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller to the special counsel role in May 2017 in the days after President Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, has overseen the day-to-day operations of the inquiry, which is also examining possible collusion between the 2016 Trump campaign and the Kremlin and whether the president attempted to obstruct justice.

A DOJ source told CNN on Sunday that Rosenstein plans to leave the department by mid-March, claiming that he always intended to leave after helping with the transition for his successor. In January, a DOJ source told the Washington Examiner that Rosenstein was expected to depart within weeks as he only always expected to serve for about two years.

In recent days, Trump has accused Rosenstein and former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe of planning to carry out an “illegal and treasonous” plan against him.

McCabe, who is promoting his new book this week, provided the first on-the-record corroboration of months-old reports that Rosenstein told Justice Department officials about wearing a “wire” to record conversations with Trump and that he had discussed invoking the 25th Amendment against the president to remove him from office in the days after Comey was fired.

The Justice Department claims his version of events was “inaccurate and factually incorrect” and that Rosenstein never authorized the use of a wire to secretly record Trump.

Source Article from https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/hint-about-mueller-closure-rod-rosenstein-says-doj-exit-coming-a-lot-later-than-expected

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Warren, Harris back reparations for black Americans affected by slavery | TheHill – The Hill
Warren, Harris back reparations for black Americans affected by slavery | TheHill – The Hill

Warren has also said she supports reparations, according to the Times, though her campaign declined to provide further details to the newspaper.

The Hill has reached out to both campaigns for comment.

Warren and Harris are both pursuing the Democratic nomination for president in 2020 and the Times noted that previous Democratic presidential candidates have not supported reparations.

Among those who have not backed the policy are former President Obama, 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonHillicon Valley: Trump pushes to speed up 5G rollout | Judge hits Roger Stone with full gag order | Google ends forced arbitration | Advertisers leave YouTube after report on pedophile ring 4 ways Hillary looms over the 2020 race Hillary Clinton met with Biden, Klobuchar to talk 2020: report MORE and her Democratic rival that year, Sen. Bernie SandersBernard (Bernie) SandersKamala Harris: Trump administration ‘targeting’ California for political purposes Harry Reid says he won’t make 2020 endorsement until after Nevada caucus Gillibrand to appear on Fox News Monday night MORE (I-Vt.), the Times noted. Sanders is running for president again in 2020.

Supporters have said the policy is necessary to address slavery and other racist parts of U.S. history. Such a move could cost several trillion dollars, according to experts.

Source Article from https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/430999-warren-harris-back-reparations-for-black-americans-affected-by-slavery

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Don’t be Kim Jong Un’s dupe, Mr. Trump – Washington Examiner
Don’t be Kim Jong Un’s dupe, Mr. Trump – Washington Examiner

In his State of the Union address, President Trump announced that he’d meet North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un for a second time in Vietnam at the end of February. It’s nearly upon us, and it promises to be highly significant, both for Trump’s presidency and for world history.

With little progress pushing the tyrant to give up nuclear weapons, there’s speculation that this meeting might be less about denuclearization and more about formally ending the Korean War. Trump alluded to as much, talking up “a historic push for peace” and leaving denuclearization unmentioned.

But without real progress on denuclearization, an end to the formal state of war would be a failure for Trump; hostilities ended in 1953. Nevertheless, a peace deal would have many benefits. On one side, it would allow Kim to claim greater legitimacy, pave the way for easing some sanctions, and grant the North leverage to argue that the U.S. and United Nations forces should leave the Korean Peninsula. On the other, a peace deal would make peace in the peninsula less precarious and end Pyongyang’s custom of lobbing missiles over Japan and menacing South Korea with military incursions.

A deal might even help open the closed country. People chuckled at Trump’s pitch to Kim, a video showing the possibilities of a North Korea filled with luxury resorts and foreign investment, but it is not an impossible dream. There is also good, though qualified, news in the fact that Kim seems to be moving against hard-liners and hawks within his regime.

Be all that as it may, North Korea’s leaders have a way of luring well-meaning diplomats deep into talks, only to walk away and return to its warlike posture. Trump must be wary not to hand credibility to Kim and get nothing in return. He will have failed if he does not move Kim on nukes, and he must not let talk of peace overshadow that goal.

Kim has done nothing yet to reduce his nuclear capabilities and seems to have little intention of doing so. He has concealed his weapons and refused to work in good faith with U.S. negotiators, which is all familiar to anyone who has read Pyongyang’s well-thumbed playbook.

Trump can be proud if he gets a peace deal, but only if it is accompanied by nuclear security. If he gets the first and not the second, he will have been duped.

Source Article from https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/dont-be-kim-jong-uns-dupe-mr-trump

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Mueller could tell all in last major court filing in Paul Manafort’s case – CNN
Mueller could tell all in last major court filing in Paul Manafort’s case – CNN

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By Katelyn Polantz, CNN

Updated 7:22 AM ET, Fri February 22, 2019

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what’s happening in the world as it unfolds.

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Ted Deutch (D-FL) explains to CNN’s \u003ca href=\”http://www.cnn.com/profiles/wolf-blitzer-profile\” target=\”_blank\”>Wolf Blitzer\u003c/a> why he believes Federal Judge Amy Berman Jackson was right to impose a gag order on longtime Donald Trump associate Roger Stone.”,”descriptionText”:”Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) explains to CNN’s \u003ca href=\”http://www.cnn.com/profiles/wolf-blitzer-profile\” target=\”_blank\”>Wolf Blitzer\u003c/a> why he believes Federal Judge Amy Berman Jackson was right to impose a gag order on longtime Donald Trump associate Roger Stone.”},{“title”:”Senate Intel eyes Moscow-based former Trump associate”,”duration”:”01:33″,”sourceName”:”CNN”,”sourceLink”:”https://www.cnn.com/”,”videoCMSUrl”:”/video/data/3.0/video/politics/2019/02/21/senate-trump-russia-david-geovanis-nina-dos-santos-dnt-lead-vpx.cnn/index.xml”,”videoId”:”politics/2019/02/21/senate-trump-russia-david-geovanis-nina-dos-santos-dnt-lead-vpx.cnn”,”videoImage”:”http://www.noticiasdodia.onlinenewsbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/190219172722-david-geovanis-print-large-169.jpg”,”videoUrl”:”/videos/politics/2019/02/21/senate-trump-russia-david-geovanis-nina-dos-santos-dnt-lead-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/”,”description”:”Senate investigators want to question a Moscow-based American businessman with longstanding ties to President Donald Trump after witnesses told them he could shed light on the President’s commercial and personal activities in Russia dating back to the 1990s, multiple sources have told CNN.”,”descriptionText”:”Senate investigators want to question a Moscow-based American businessman with longstanding ties to President Donald Trump after witnesses told them he could shed light on the President’s commercial and personal activities in Russia dating back to the 1990s, multiple sources have told CNN.”},{“title”:”WaPo: Climate change skeptic to lead WH climate committee”,”duration”:”01:06″,”sourceName”:”CNN”,”sourceLink”:”http://www.cnn.com”,”videoCMSUrl”:”/video/data/3.0/video/politics/2019/02/21/white-house-climate-committee-william-happer-tapper-sot-lead-vpx.cnn/index.xml”,”videoId”:”politics/2019/02/21/white-house-climate-committee-william-happer-tapper-sot-lead-vpx.cnn”,”videoImage”:”http://www.noticiasdodia.onlinenewsbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/190221171112-white-house-climate-committee-william-happer-tapper-sot-lead-vpx-00001519-large-169.jpg”,”videoUrl”:”/videos/politics/2019/02/21/white-house-climate-committee-william-happer-tapper-sot-lead-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/”,”description”:”The Washington Post reports William Happer, a national security council official and climate change skeptic, has been picked to lead a White House committee on climate change. 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wanted to conduct a mass killing.”},{“title”:”Cuomo explains how Mueller report will fill in the gaps”,”duration”:”03:58″,”sourceName”:”CNN”,”sourceLink”:”http://www.cnn.com”,”videoCMSUrl”:”/video/data/3.0/video/politics/2019/02/21/cuomo-magic-wall-trump-campaign-russia-mueller-report-sot-cpt-vpx.cnn/index.xml”,”videoId”:”politics/2019/02/21/cuomo-magic-wall-trump-campaign-russia-mueller-report-sot-cpt-vpx.cnn”,”videoImage”:”http://www.noticiasdodia.onlinenewsbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/190220215327-cuomo-magic-wall-mueller-report-large-169.jpg”,”videoUrl”:”/videos/politics/2019/02/21/cuomo-magic-wall-trump-campaign-russia-mueller-report-sot-cpt-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/”,”description”:”CNN’s Chris Cuomo breaks down the original purpose of the special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation and the questions surrounding the probe that remain unanswered.”,”descriptionText”:”CNN’s Chris Cuomo breaks down the original purpose of the special counsel Robert 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href=\”http://www.cnn.com/profiles/van-jones\” target=\”_blank\”>Van Jones\u003c/a> discusses with \u003ca href=\”http://www.cnn.com/profiles/brooke-baldwin-profile\” target=\”_blank\”>Brooke Baldwin\u003c/a> whether the money equates to real support for Sanders.”,”descriptionText”:”After Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders raised nearly $6 million in campaign funding over 24 hours, CNN’s \u003ca href=\”http://www.cnn.com/profiles/van-jones\” target=\”_blank\”>Van Jones\u003c/a> discusses with \u003ca href=\”http://www.cnn.com/profiles/brooke-baldwin-profile\” target=\”_blank\”>Brooke Baldwin\u003c/a> whether the money equates to real support for Sanders.”},{“title”:”Why investigations won’t end after the Mueller 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Barr”,”duration”:”02:49″,”sourceName”:”CNN”,”sourceLink”:”https://www.cnn.com/”,”videoCMSUrl”:”/video/data/3.0/video/politics/2019/02/20/bill-barr-mueller-investigation-mccabe-trump-abby-phillip-dnt-tsr-vpx.cnn/index.xml”,”videoId”:”politics/2019/02/20/bill-barr-mueller-investigation-mccabe-trump-abby-phillip-dnt-tsr-vpx.cnn”,”videoImage”:”http://www.noticiasdodia.onlinenewsbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/190114105153-donald-trump-william-barr-split-large-169-1.jpg”,”videoUrl”:”/videos/politics/2019/02/20/bill-barr-mueller-investigation-mccabe-trump-abby-phillip-dnt-tsr-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/”,”description”:”President Trump offered a muted response when asked about the potential end of the Mueller investigation. 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Ted Deutch (D-FL) explains to CNN’s \u003ca href=\”http://www.cnn.com/profiles/wolf-blitzer-profile\” target=\”_blank\”>Wolf Blitzer\u003c/a> why he believes Federal Judge Amy Berman Jackson was right to impose a gag order on longtime Donald Trump associate Roger Stone.”},{“title”:”Senate Intel eyes Moscow-based former Trump associate”,”duration”:”01:33″,”sourceName”:”CNN”,”sourceLink”:”https://www.cnn.com/”,”videoCMSUrl”:”/video/data/3.0/video/politics/2019/02/21/senate-trump-russia-david-geovanis-nina-dos-santos-dnt-lead-vpx.cnn/index.xml”,”videoId”:”politics/2019/02/21/senate-trump-russia-david-geovanis-nina-dos-santos-dnt-lead-vpx.cnn”,”videoImage”:”http://www.noticiasdodia.onlinenewsbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/190219172722-david-geovanis-print-large-169.jpg”,”videoUrl”:”/videos/politics/2019/02/21/senate-trump-russia-david-geovanis-nina-dos-santos-dnt-lead-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/”,”description”:”Senate investigators want to question a Moscow-based American businessman with longstanding ties to President Donald Trump after witnesses told them he could shed light on the President’s commercial and personal activities in Russia dating back to the 1990s, multiple sources have told CNN.”,”descriptionText”:”Senate investigators want to question a Moscow-based American businessman with longstanding ties to President Donald Trump after witnesses told them he could shed light on the President’s commercial and personal activities in Russia dating back to the 1990s, multiple sources have told CNN.”},{“title”:”WaPo: Climate change skeptic to lead WH climate committee”,”duration”:”01:06″,”sourceName”:”CNN”,”sourceLink”:”http://www.cnn.com”,”videoCMSUrl”:”/video/data/3.0/video/politics/2019/02/21/white-house-climate-committee-william-happer-tapper-sot-lead-vpx.cnn/index.xml”,”videoId”:”politics/2019/02/21/white-house-climate-committee-william-happer-tapper-sot-lead-vpx.cnn”,”videoImage”:”http://www.noticiasdodia.onlinenewsbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/190221171112-white-house-climate-committee-william-happer-tapper-sot-lead-vpx-00001519-large-169.jpg”,”videoUrl”:”/videos/politics/2019/02/21/white-house-climate-committee-william-happer-tapper-sot-lead-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/”,”description”:”The Washington Post reports William Happer, a national security council official and climate change skeptic, has been picked to lead a White House committee on climate change. 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CNN’s \u003ca href=\”http://www.cnn.com/profiles/jake-tapper-profile\” target=\”_blank\”>Jake Tapper\u003c/a> takes a closer look.”},{“title”:”Why Mueller cares about Roger Stone”,”duration”:”01:38″,”sourceName”:”CNN”,”sourceLink”:””,”videoCMSUrl”:”/video/data/3.0/video/politics/2019/02/21/why-mueller-cares-about-roger-stone-orig-vstan-me.cnn/index.xml”,”videoId”:”politics/2019/02/21/why-mueller-cares-about-roger-stone-orig-vstan-me.cnn”,”videoImage”:”http://www.noticiasdodia.onlinenewsbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/190220214021-roger-stone-video-thumbnail-large-169-1.jpg”,”videoUrl”:”/videos/politics/2019/02/21/why-mueller-cares-about-roger-stone-orig-vstan-me.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/”,”description”:”CNN’s Marshall Cohen explains how Roger Stone is involved in the Russia investigation.”,”descriptionText”:”CNN’s Marshall Cohen explains how Roger Stone is involved in the Russia investigation.”},{“title”:”North Carolina GOP candidate calls for new election”,”duration”:”02:15″,”sourceName”:”CNN”,”sourceLink”:”https://www.cnn.com/”,”videoCMSUrl”:”/video/data/3.0/video/politics/2019/02/21/mark-harris-north-carolina-us-house-new-election-fraud-sot-vpx.cnn/index.xml”,”videoId”:”politics/2019/02/21/mark-harris-north-carolina-us-house-new-election-fraud-sot-vpx.cnn”,”videoImage”:”http://www.noticiasdodia.onlinenewsbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/190221152627-mark-harris-2-21-large-169.jpg”,”videoUrl”:”/videos/politics/2019/02/21/mark-harris-north-carolina-us-house-new-election-fraud-sot-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/”,”description”:”Mark Harris, the Republican candidate in a US House race in North Carolina, says a new election should be held after evidence presented during a state elections board hearing showed his campaign underwrote an absentee ballot scheme. CNN’s \u003ca href=\”http://www.cnn.com/profiles/dianne-gallagher-profile\” target=\”_blank\”>Dianne Gallagher\u003c/a> reports.”,”descriptionText”:”Mark Harris, the Republican candidate in a US House race in North Carolina, says a new election should be held after evidence presented during a state elections board hearing showed his campaign underwrote an absentee ballot scheme. CNN’s \u003ca href=\”http://www.cnn.com/profiles/dianne-gallagher-profile\” target=\”_blank\”>Dianne Gallagher\u003c/a> reports.”},{“title”:”Coast Guard officer accused of planning mass attack”,”duration”:”01:35″,”sourceName”:”CNN”,”sourceLink”:”https://www.cnn.com/”,”videoCMSUrl”:”/video/data/3.0/video/us/2019/02/21/coast-guard-mass-killing-list-schneider-dnt-newday-vpx.cnn/index.xml”,”videoId”:”us/2019/02/21/coast-guard-mass-killing-list-schneider-dnt-newday-vpx.cnn”,”videoImage”:”http://www.noticiasdodia.onlinenewsbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/190220175230-coast-guard-lieutenant-terror-plot-hit-list-schneider-tsr-vpx-00041724-large-169.jpg”,”videoUrl”:”/videos/us/2019/02/21/coast-guard-mass-killing-list-schneider-dnt-newday-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/”,”description”:”A Coast Guard lieutenant arrested on gun and drug charges allegedly wanted to conduct a mass killing.”,”descriptionText”:”A Coast Guard lieutenant arrested on gun and drug charges allegedly wanted to conduct a mass killing.”},{“title”:”Cuomo explains how Mueller report will fill in the gaps”,”duration”:”03:58″,”sourceName”:”CNN”,”sourceLink”:”http://www.cnn.com”,”videoCMSUrl”:”/video/data/3.0/video/politics/2019/02/21/cuomo-magic-wall-trump-campaign-russia-mueller-report-sot-cpt-vpx.cnn/index.xml”,”videoId”:”politics/2019/02/21/cuomo-magic-wall-trump-campaign-russia-mueller-report-sot-cpt-vpx.cnn”,”videoImage”:”http://www.noticiasdodia.onlinenewsbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/190220215327-cuomo-magic-wall-mueller-report-large-169.jpg”,”videoUrl”:”/videos/politics/2019/02/21/cuomo-magic-wall-trump-campaign-russia-mueller-report-sot-cpt-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/”,”description”:”CNN’s Chris Cuomo breaks down the original purpose of the special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation and the questions surrounding the probe that remain unanswered.”,”descriptionText”:”CNN’s Chris Cuomo breaks down the original purpose of the special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation and the questions surrounding the probe that remain unanswered.”},{“title”:”GOP candidate tears up as son testifies in fraud hearing”,”duration”:”00:14″,”sourceName”:”CNN”,”sourceLink”:”https://www.cnn.com/”,”videoCMSUrl”:”/video/data/3.0/video/politics/2019/02/21/mark-harris-tears-nc-election-voter-fraud-hearing-es-vpx.cnn/index.xml”,”videoId”:”politics/2019/02/21/mark-harris-tears-nc-election-voter-fraud-hearing-es-vpx.cnn”,”videoImage”:”http://www.noticiasdodia.onlinenewsbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/190221055407-mark-harris-cry-2-20-2019-large-169-1.jpg”,”videoUrl”:”/videos/politics/2019/02/21/mark-harris-tears-nc-election-voter-fraud-hearing-es-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/”,”description”:”During a voter fraud hearing before the North Carolina State Board of Elections, the son of Republican congressional candidate Mark Harris brought his father to tears with his testimony.”,”descriptionText”:”During a voter fraud hearing before the North Carolina State Board of Elections, the son of Republican congressional candidate Mark Harris brought his father to tears with his testimony.”},{“title”:”Van Jones: I’ve never seen anything like Bernie Sanders”,”duration”:”02:14″,”sourceName”:”CNN”,”sourceLink”:”http://www.cnn.com”,”videoCMSUrl”:”/video/data/3.0/video/politics/2019/02/20/bernie-sanders-presidential-run-interest-jones-nr-vpx.cnn/index.xml”,”videoId”:”politics/2019/02/20/bernie-sanders-presidential-run-interest-jones-nr-vpx.cnn”,”videoImage”:”http://www.noticiasdodia.onlinenewsbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/190220151859-bernie-sanders-presidential-run-interest-jones-nr-vpx-00004605-large-169-1.jpg”,”videoUrl”:”/videos/politics/2019/02/20/bernie-sanders-presidential-run-interest-jones-nr-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/”,”description”:”After Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders raised nearly $6 million in campaign funding over 24 hours, CNN’s \u003ca href=\”http://www.cnn.com/profiles/van-jones\” target=\”_blank\”>Van Jones\u003c/a> discusses with \u003ca href=\”http://www.cnn.com/profiles/brooke-baldwin-profile\” target=\”_blank\”>Brooke Baldwin\u003c/a> whether the money equates to real support for Sanders.”,”descriptionText”:”After Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders raised nearly $6 million in campaign funding over 24 hours, CNN’s \u003ca href=\”http://www.cnn.com/profiles/van-jones\” target=\”_blank\”>Van Jones\u003c/a> discusses with \u003ca href=\”http://www.cnn.com/profiles/brooke-baldwin-profile\” target=\”_blank\”>Brooke Baldwin\u003c/a> whether the money equates to real support for Sanders.”},{“title”:”Why investigations won’t end after the Mueller report”,”duration”:”03:07″,”sourceName”:”CNN”,”sourceLink”:”http://www.cnn.com/”,”videoCMSUrl”:”/video/data/3.0/video/politics/2019/02/21/investigations-after-mueller-report-avlon-reality-check-newday-vpx.cnn/index.xml”,”videoId”:”politics/2019/02/21/investigations-after-mueller-report-avlon-reality-check-newday-vpx.cnn”,”videoImage”:”http://www.noticiasdodia.onlinenewsbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/190203125946-mueller-file-large-169-1.jpg”,”videoUrl”:”/videos/politics/2019/02/21/investigations-after-mueller-report-avlon-reality-check-newday-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/”,”description”:”CNN’s John Avlon breaks down why Robert Mueller’s investigation may not be the last one launched “,”descriptionText”:”CNN’s John Avlon breaks down why Robert Mueller’s investigation may not be the last one launched “},{“title”:”Trump leaves Mueller probe in hands of new AG Bill Barr”,”duration”:”02:49″,”sourceName”:”CNN”,”sourceLink”:”https://www.cnn.com/”,”videoCMSUrl”:”/video/data/3.0/video/politics/2019/02/20/bill-barr-mueller-investigation-mccabe-trump-abby-phillip-dnt-tsr-vpx.cnn/index.xml”,”videoId”:”politics/2019/02/20/bill-barr-mueller-investigation-mccabe-trump-abby-phillip-dnt-tsr-vpx.cnn”,”videoImage”:”http://www.noticiasdodia.onlinenewsbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/190114105153-donald-trump-william-barr-split-large-169-1.jpg”,”videoUrl”:”/videos/politics/2019/02/20/bill-barr-mueller-investigation-mccabe-trump-abby-phillip-dnt-tsr-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/”,”description”:”President Trump offered a muted response when asked about the potential end of the Mueller investigation. Attorney General Bill Barr is preparing to announce its completion as early as next week, according to people familiar with the plans. “,”descriptionText”:”President Trump offered a muted response when asked about the potential end of the Mueller investigation. Attorney General Bill Barr is preparing to announce its completion as early as next week, according to people familiar with the plans. “},{“title”:”Kellyanne Conway: McCabe is a known liar and leaker”,”duration”:”00:55″,”sourceName”:”CNN”,”sourceLink”:”http://www.cnn.com”,”videoCMSUrl”:”/video/data/3.0/video/politics/2019/02/20/kellyanne-conway-andrew-mccabe-known-liar-leaker-sot-cpt-vpx.cnn/index.xml”,”videoId”:”politics/2019/02/20/kellyanne-conway-andrew-mccabe-known-liar-leaker-sot-cpt-vpx.cnn”,”videoImage”:”http://www.noticiasdodia.onlinenewsbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/190219210749-kellyanne-conway-02192019-large-169.jpg”,”videoUrl”:”/videos/politics/2019/02/20/kellyanne-conway-andrew-mccabe-known-liar-leaker-sot-cpt-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/”,”description”:”White House counselor Kellyanne Conway responds to Andrew McCabe’s claim that it’s \”possible\” President Trump is a Russian asset.”,”descriptionText”:”White House counselor Kellyanne Conway responds to Andrew McCabe’s claim that it’s \”possible\” President Trump is a Russian asset.”},{“title”:”Steyer aims to impeach Trump by targeting Democrats”,”duration”:”01:45″,”sourceName”:”CNN”,”sourceLink”:”http://www.cnn.com”,”videoCMSUrl”:”/video/data/3.0/video/politics/2019/02/20/tom-steyer-billionaire-targeting-democrats-impeach-trump-sot-ebof-vpx.cnn/index.xml”,”videoId”:”politics/2019/02/20/tom-steyer-billionaire-targeting-democrats-impeach-trump-sot-ebof-vpx.cnn”,”videoImage”:”http://www.noticiasdodia.onlinenewsbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/190219201124-tom-steyer-large-169.jpg”,”videoUrl”:”/videos/politics/2019/02/20/tom-steyer-billionaire-targeting-democrats-impeach-trump-sot-ebof-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/”,”description”:”Billionaire Tom Steyer is leading a campaign to push high-profile House Democrats, including House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY), to investigate the actions of the Trump administration and begin impeachment hearings.”,”descriptionText”:”Billionaire Tom Steyer is leading a campaign to push high-profile House Democrats, including House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY), to investigate the actions of the Trump administration and begin impeachment hearings.”},{“title”:”Sources: WH privately looking into dismissing Dan Coats”,”duration”:”02:22″,”sourceName”:”CNN”,”sourceLink”:”https://www.cnn.com/”,”videoCMSUrl”:”/video/data/3.0/video/politics/2019/02/20/dan-coats-dismissal-denial-trump-white-house-brown-lead-dnt-vpx.cnn/index.xml”,”videoId”:”politics/2019/02/20/dan-coats-dismissal-denial-trump-white-house-brown-lead-dnt-vpx.cnn”,”videoImage”:”http://www.noticiasdodia.onlinenewsbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/190130110812-donald-trump-dan-coats-split-large-169-1.jpg”,”videoUrl”:”/videos/politics/2019/02/20/dan-coats-dismissal-denial-trump-white-house-brown-lead-dnt-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/”,”description”:”White House officials have begun to have preliminary discussions about replacing Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats amid concerns that President Donald Trump may soon dismiss him, two senior administration officials told CNN, despite the President’s public denial that he’s considering the move. 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Washington (CNN)Friday may be the day that special counsel Robert Mueller tells all in the long-running court saga of Paul Manafort’s prosecution.

Source Article from https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/22/politics/manafort-sentecing-memo-preview/index.html

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Judge rips into Roger Stone, bars him from speaking publicly on case: ‘There will be no third chance’ – Fox News
Judge rips into Roger Stone, bars him from speaking publicly on case: ‘There will be no third chance’ – Fox News
Video

Roger Stone appears in court again after posting photo of judge in crosshairs

Former Trump adviser Roger Stone appears in court again after posting a photo of Judge Amy Berman Jackson with a target.

A federal judge has completely barred former Trump political adviser Roger Stone from speaking publicly about his ongoing prosecution on obstruction and false statement charges, after a picture of the judge appeared on Stone’s Instagram this week with what appeared to be crosshairs in the background.

The ruling followed a hearing on Thursday in which Stone took the stand to insist he was “heartfully sorry” for the picture, which Stone said he had reviewed prior to posting it — although he suggested someone else had first selected the image.

U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson tore into Stone during the proceeding, saying she simply didn’t believe his explanation that an unnamed “volunteer” was to blame.

“I have serious doubts about whether you learned anything at all,” Jackson said. “From this moment on, the defendant may not speak publicly about this case — period. No statements about the case on TV, radio, print reporters, or Internet. No posts on social media. [You] may not comment on the case through surrogates. You may send out emails about donating to the Roger Stone defense fund.”

Jackson added an apparent threat to revoke Stone’s bail and send him to jail: “This is not baseball. There will be no third chance. If you cannot abide by this, I will be forced to change your surroundings so you have no temptations.”

Jackson had issued a limited gag order in Stone’s case last week, preventing him from discussing the case near the courthouse. Stone was being questioned Thursday by Jackson and government lawyers as to why Jackson should not take action in response to the image.

Exclusive look at FBI raid on Roger Stone’s home

Home security footage of the FBI raiding Roger Stone’s home in Florida on ‘Tucker Carlson Tonight.’

On Thursday, Stone made the risky decision to take the stand, after an initial series of questions from Jackson to Stone’s lawyer, Bruce Rogow.

The longtime Trump confidante walked into court wearing his signature circle framed glasses, but took them off before Jackson entered the courtroom. Stone’s wife and daughter sat in the front row.

Under questioning from prosecutors and Jackson, the 66-year-old Stone — who frequently looked directly at Jackson as he spoke — said the image had been selected by a volunteer who was working for him, though he couldn’t say who picked the photo or list the five or six volunteers who have been working for him when he was asked by prosecutors.

He said he had several photos to choose from and posted the image himself to his profile.

“You had a choice?” the judge interjected.

Stone said he picked the photo “randomly,” a suggestion the judge almost immediately dismissed.

“It was an egregious mistake. I obviously wish I could do it over again, but I cannot,” Stone said. “I recognize I let the court down, I let you down, I let myself down. … It was a momentary lapse in judgment.”

He has said the photo was “misinterpreted,” the symbol was actually the Celtic cross, not crosshairs of a gun, and he was not trying to threaten the judge. But, he added, he wasn’t sure what the symbol meant, because “I’m not into the occult.”

Former campaign adviser for President Donald Trump, Roger Stone walks out of the federal courthouse following a hearing, Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Stone was arrested Friday in the special counsel’s Russia investigation and was charged with lying to Congress and obstructing the probe. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
(Associated Press)

TUCKER: IS AMERICA SAFE NOW THAT ROGER STONE WAS RAIDED BY A SWARM OF FBI AGENTS?

At one point during Thursday’s hearing, Rogow called the post that featured Jackson’s image “indefensible.” Jackson replied: “I agree with you there.”

“I am under enormous pressure,” Stone testified. “I now have TV people saying I will be raped if I go to jail. I’m having trouble putting food on the table and paying the rent.” (Indeed, CNN senior political analyst David Gergen pondered on air Monday if Stone — whom he called a “dandy” — would be raped in prison.)

Stone deleted the Instagram photo shortly after posting it, but later posted the same one again, this time without the apparent crosshairs.

In court, Stone said he “didn’t recognize it as a crosshair” and “didn’t notice” a crosshair in the image.

“This was a screwup,” Stone said. “I admit it.”

CNN ANALYST PONDERS: WILL STONE BE SUBJECT TO RAPE IN PRISON?

Jackson reminded Stone before his testimony that he would be subject to government cross-examination and was under oath. Asked whether he understood the picture could be construed as a threat, Stone replied: “I now recognize that. … I can’t rationalize my thinking because I wasn’t thinking, and that’s my fault.”

“I am kicking myself for my own stupidity, but not more than my wife is kicking me,” Stone later told Jackson. He added that “my consulting business has dried up” and said, “I’ve exhausted my savings.”

“This is not baseball. There will be no third chance.”

— U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson

Stone has pleaded not guilty to charges he lied to Congress, engaged in witness tampering and obstructed a congressional investigation into possible coordination between Russia and President Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. The charges stem from conversations he had during the campaign about WikiLeaks, the anti-secrecy group that released material stolen from Democratic groups, including Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

The political operative and self-described dirty trickster is the sixth Trump aide or adviser charged in Mueller’s investigation. He was arrested last month and has remained free on a $250,000 personal recognizance bond. Stone has maintained his innocence and blasted the special counsel’s investigation as politically motivated.

Fox News’ Jake Gibson, Kelly Phares, Adam Shaw, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source Article from https://www.foxnews.com/politics/roger-stone-apologizes-to-judge-for-instagram-post-my-wife-is-kicking-me

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U.S. Wrangles China for Firm Commitments as Trade Talks Continue – The New York Times
U.S. Wrangles China for Firm Commitments as Trade Talks Continue – The New York Times

The administration has been searching for concrete, commercially based criteria for performance outcomes — not just superficial legal changes that leave no impact on the ground. For example, even though China has changed laws to allow foreign companies greater access to its markets, a variety of regulatory barriers and licensing requirements continue to prevent foreign companies from operating freely, said Scott Kennedy, a China scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“Even if they could agree to some sort of standards on structural reforms, having them come to agreement on what enforcement would look like, that’s even further of a stretch,” Mr. Kennedy said of the talks.

Both countries have also floated measures that could undermine years of efforts aimed at making China’s economy more market oriented. The offers include large state-directed purchases of technological goods, natural gas and soybeans, as well as closer management of China’s currency. Those measures would violate Chinese promises to the World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund.

But that may matter little to Mr. Trump, who has been largely focused on narrowing the trade gap between the two countries by getting China to buy more American products. The United States’ trade deficit with China is likely to increase in 2019, said Derek Scissors, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, increasing pressure on Mr. Trump to reach a deal that involves more American products flowing East.

“It’s coming from, how do we close the bilateral goods deficit really fast,” Mr. Scissors said. “We need large, quick purchases from the Chinese so the president isn’t ripped to pieces for violating the metric he ran on in 2016.”

China’s recent offers have included buying $200 billion of American semiconductors over the next six years, in addition to purchases of soybeans and natural gas. The eye-popping figure would help to reduce the $382 billion trade deficit in goods that the United States ran up with China last year, a metric that Mr. Trump often sees as evidence of a failed economic relationship.

In return for buying more American products, the Chinese have asked Mr. Trump not to follow through on his threat to increase tariffs to 25 percent from 10 percent — and to hopefully remove the tariffs entirely. They have also pushed the United States to remove restrictions on exports of high-tech products to China as well as constraints on Chinese investments in the United States.

Source Article from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/21/business/economy/china-us-trade-talks.html

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Robert Mueller’s “collusion” case so far, explained – Vox.com
Robert Mueller’s “collusion” case so far, explained – Vox.com

President Trump keeps insisting that special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation has found “no collusion” between his 2016 presidential campaign and Russia. But a close read of what we already know about what Mueller’s been doing suggests at the very least, some very questionable things were going on during the campaign.

Mueller’s team has already laid out a startling story in indictments, plea deals, and other court documents that are full of new revelations about the Trump team’s contacts with Russia that year — contacts that have moved from suspicious to downright scandalous.


Special counsel Robert Mueller leaves a closed meeting with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 21, 2017, in Washington, DC.
Alex Wong/Getty Images

The special counsel has not alleged any sinister, high-level election interference conspiracy involving Trump himself and the Russian government. But, particularly in recent filings, he has laid out damaging facts on three major matters that certainly seem at least collusion-adjacent.

1) The business opportunity for Trump: The Trump Organization was secretly in talks for a potentially very lucrative Moscow real estate deal during the campaign, and Russian government officials were involved. Trump and members of his family were briefed several times on the project.

2) A key figure with shady Russia connections: Trump’s former campaign chair Paul Manafort had a history of illegal work for pro-Russian interests and was in debt to a Russian oligarch. Then, during the campaign, he allegedly handed over Trump polling data to a Russian intelligence-tied associate.

3) The hacked — and leaked — emails: Russian intelligence officers hacked leading Democrats’ emails, and WikiLeaks eventually posted many of those stolen emails publicly. Trump associates like George Papadopoulos and Roger Stone seem to have had at least some advance knowledge of this.

These revelations are all significant, and greatly change what we know about what happened in 2016. They tell us that while Trump was praising Putin on the campaign trail, he and his family were trying to make massive amounts of money in Russia. Meanwhile, Manafort was handing out his polling data for unknown reasons, and Stone was at least trying to get an inside line on the emails criminally stolen from Democrats.

We don’t yet know whether there’s more to be revealed about any of these. Mueller also hasn’t indicated how these pieces fit together to form a larger story, and he hasn’t yet assessed how much, exactly, the president knew about each. And there are other incidents, like the infamous meeting with a Russian lawyer at Trump Tower, that the special counsel has not yet said a single word about.

But the bigger picture is that, however you define “collusion,” we’ve learned a great deal more about just what top figures in Trumpworld were doing regarding Russia during the election — and it’s far from being a “nothingburger.”

1) Trump pursued a major Moscow business deal during the campaign

After Donald Trump began running for president in June 2015, Michael Cohen — his longtime lawyer and an executive at the Trump Organization — embarked on a secret effort to build a Trump Tower in Moscow.

Last November, Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about that project, and Mueller has used Cohen’s criminal information and a subsequent sentencing memo to lay out facts related to the project. Namely:

The deal could have made Trump — and Cohen — lots of money: “If the project was completed,” Mueller’s team asserted in the sentencing memo, Trump’s business “could have received hundreds of millions of dollars from Russian sources in licensing fees and other venues.” They added that once Cohen began cooperating, he “explained financial aspects of the deal that would have made it highly lucrative for the Company and himself.”


Michael Cohen, longtime personal lawyer for President Donald Trump, leaves the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on April 26, 2018.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Trump and his family members were briefed on the talks: Cohen discussed the project with Trump personally at least four times, according to his plea agreement, and briefed Trump’s family members about it.

The Russian government got involved: We know that in January 2016, Cohen twice emailed Vladimir Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, asking for help moving the project forward. On January 20, Peskov’s personal assistant got in touch, and in a phone call, Cohen asked for assistance “in securing land to build the proposed tower and financing the construction.”


Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and his press secretary Dmitry Peskov (left) attend a meeting at the Hermitage on October 3, 2018.
Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

Trips to Russia were planned — but scrapped: At one point, Cohen asked Trump whether he’d be able to travel to Russia in connection with the project. In May 2016, Cohen texted an associate that he’d make the trip first, and Trump would do so “once he becomes the nominee after the convention.” Arrangements were made for Cohen to attend the St. Petersburg Forum in mid-June 2016, but days before it began, Cohen called off the trip. The deal, so far as we know, never ended up happening.

Importantly, Trump was either the Republican presidential primary frontrunner or the nominee-in-waiting all this time. He offered an unusually positive assessment of Putin on the campaign trail. It now seems likely this was motivated, at least in part, by Trump’s desire to score a major business deal in Russia.

2) Trump’s campaign chair, Paul Manafort, was compromised in all sorts of ways

Paul Manafort, a longtime Republican operative, joined the Trump campaign in March 2016, and a few months later he was put in charge as campaign chair.

There were three serious problems with that, Mueller’s charges against Manafort and other court filings make clear.

Manafort had skeletons in his closet: The GOP operative had spent much of the previous decade working for Ukraine’s pro-Russian political faction, including various oligarchs and Ukraine’s then-President Viktor Yanukovych.

Manafort made more than $60 million from this work — and hid much of it from the US government, laundering the money into the country through shell companies and dodging $15 million in taxes. He also coordinated an illegal unregistered lobbying campaign on the Ukrainian government’s behalf in the United States. (Manafort was convicted at trial for some of these crimes, and subsequently pleaded guilty to others.)

Manafort needed money: The second problem was that Manafort was in serious financial trouble. His patron Yanukovych had been deposed as president of Ukraine in 2014, and the Ukrainian money dried up.

As a result, Mueller has alleged, and Manafort eventually admitted, both before and after joining the campaign, Manafort made a series of fraudulent declarations to banks to try to get hefty mortgage loans. (He admitted the truth of these charges in his plea deal with Mueller.)


Paul Manafort arrives for a hearing at US District Court on June 15, 2018, in Washington, DC.
Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Clearly, Manafort needed money by the time he joined the Trump campaign. But he took the Trump job unpaid. It’s also worth noting that Manafort was heavily indebted to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, whom he had once worked for.

Manafort gave Trump campaign polls to Konstantin Kilimnik: Manafort had a years-long business relationship with a Russian associate, Konstantin Kilimnik, whom he’d worked with on his Ukrainian projects. And according to the FBI, Kilimnik has ties to a Russian intelligence service.

Manafort remained in contact with Kilimnik during the Trump campaign. And Mueller has alleged that in August 2016, Manafort shared the campaign’s private polling data with Kilimnik at a secret meeting in New York City. Many of the details of this accusation are still redacted.

So at the very least, Manafort was badly compromised due to his history of illegal work for pro-Russian interests and his financial troubles. And handing over the presidential campaign’s polling data to an associate tied to Russian intelligence is certainly highly inappropriate.

However, we don’t yet know what the purpose of transferring the polling data was — whether Manafort was merely trying to impress foreign oligarchs and secure future business and income, or whether he handed over the data in hopes it could inform Russian interference efforts.

3) Trump associates appear to have had at least some knowledge of Democrats’ emails that were hacked by Russia

The most visible, high-profile way the Russian government interfered with the 2016 election was through hacking and leaking leading Democrats’ emails. And we’ve learned, through Mueller’s charges, that some Trump associates appear to have had some information about what was coming.

The hack and leak: During the 2016 campaign, officers of Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU, stole emails and other electronic documents from several leading Democrats and Democrat organizations — including the DNC, the DCCC, and several Clinton staffers, including campaign chair John Podesta.

The Russian intelligence officers publicly posted some of these stolen documents themselves — through a website they had set up called DCLeaks, and through an online persona they created called “Guccifer 2.0.” Other emails from the DNC and Podesta were eventually posted by WikiLeaks.

The Papadopoulos tip: In March 2016, George Papadopoulos, a little-known London-based energy consultant, was named a foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign. Shortly afterward, Papadopoulos met Joseph Mifsud, a Maltese professor. Mifsud said he had ties to the Russian government, began talking with him about a potential Trump trip to Russia, and soon afterward introduced him to two Russians with ties to the country’s government.

Then on April 26, 2016, Papadopoulos heard a bombshell from the professor. Mifsud had just returned from meeting top Russian officials in Moscow, he said, and he’d learned that the Russians had “dirt” on Clinton. Papadopoulos later told the FBI that Mifsud specifically said Russia had “thousands of emails.” (At this time, much of the hacking had been carried out, but it was not yet publicly known.)

Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about these contacts, but it hasn’t been shown that he shared this tip with others in the Trump campaign.

Roger Stone, Jerome Corsi, and WikiLeaks: In June and July 2016, longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone — then supporting the campaign from the outside — allegedly informed top campaign officials that WikiLeaks had documents that would hurt Clinton’s campaign.

Then after WikiLeaks began posting its first such documents — the hacked DNC emails — a senior Trump campaign official “was directed” to get in touch with Stone and learn more about WikiLeaks’ plans, Mueller alleges.

Stone emailed an associate, Jerome Corsi, telling him to “get to” Assange and “get the pending” WikiLeaks emails. Corsi eventually responded with an email claimed that Assange planned “2 dumps,” including one in October. He also mentioned Podesta in the email, claiming he would be “exposed as in bed w enemy.” (At the time, it was not public knowledge that Podesta had been hacked.)

After that, Stone claimed some knowledge of Assange’s plans, both publicly and privately, including to Trump campaign officials like Steve Bannon. He also exchanged private Twitter messages with both Guccifer 2.0 and WikiLeaks, though the messages we’ve seen are brief.

But Stone later said he didn’t actually know anything about Assange’s plans and was just passing on hearsay he’d gotten from a separate source, radio host Randy Credico. Corsi, too, said he didn’t know anything and had just somehow guessed that Assange had Podesta’s emails. (Mueller indicted Stone for allegedly lying to Congress about this.)


Roger Stone arrives for his arraignment hearing at the the US District Court in Washington, DC, on January 29, 2019.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images

The full story of what happened here remains unclear. But at the very least, Stone was clearly trying to get in touch with WikiLeaks regarding the documents it had. There are some indications he knew the group had Podesta’s emails. And he was in touch with top Trump campaign officials about this operation to release Democrats’ stolen documents.

Closer to collusion — but scandalous in their own right

Again, Mueller has brought no charges against Trump officials for criminally conspiring to interfere with the 2016 election.

Regardless of what is still to come from Mueller — and what Mueller puts in his final report, which is rumored to be coming soon — the special counsel’s court filings have already revealed or shed more light on matters like the Trump Tower Moscow talks, Manafort’s Russian contacts, and Stone’s outreach to WikiLeaks.

Whether these count as “collusion” may be in the eye of the beholder. But they’re all scandalous in and of themselves — and should be treated that way.

For more on the Mueller probe, follow Andrew Prokop on Twitter and check out Vox’s guide to the Trump-Russia investigation.

Source Article from https://www.vox.com/2019/2/21/18197995/mueller-report-trump-russia-collusion

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North Carolina orders new U.S. House election after ‘tainted’ vote – Reuters
North Carolina orders new U.S. House election after ‘tainted’ vote – Reuters

(Reuters) – North Carolina’s elections board on Thursday ordered a new election for a U.S. House seat after officials said corruption surrounding absentee ballots tainted the results of a 2018 vote that has embarrassed the Republican Party.

The bipartisan board’s 5-0 decision came after Republican candidate Mark Harris, confronted by days of evidence that an operative for his campaign orchestrated a ballot fraud scheme, called for a new vote in the state’s 9th Congressional District.

“It’s become clear to me that the public’s confidence in the 9th District seat general election has been undermined to an extent that a new election is warranted,” Harris said on the fourth day of the hearing in Raleigh, the state capital.

Elections Board Chairman Bob Cordle said “the corruption” and “absolute mess” with absentee ballots had cast doubt on the entire contest.

“It certainly was a tainted election,” Cordle said. “The people of North Carolina deserve a fair election.”

The race is the country’s last unsettled 2018 congressional contest, and the outcome will not change the balance of power in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives.

But evidence of ballot fraud by the Harris campaign turned the tables on the Republican Party, which has accused Democrats with little evidence of encouraging individual voter fraud in races such as the 2016 presidential election.

Harris’ request for a new vote came as a surprise after he spent months trying to fend off a rerun. He led Democrat Dan McCready by 905 votes out of 282,717 ballots cast on Nov. 6, but elections officials refused to certify him the winner because of allegations of irregularities in the vote.

The pastor capitulated after his son testified he had warned his father of potential illegal activity by Republican political operative Leslie McCrae Dowless.

North Carolina law requires that a new primary nominating election also be conducted in the district, which covers parts of Charlotte and the southeast of the state. Republicans have held the seat since 1963.

‘ILLEGAL SCHEME’

It is unclear whether Harris, 52, will run again. He told the board he was recovering from an infection last month that led to sepsis and two strokes, and said his illness led to memory lapses during the hearing that made him realize he was not prepared for the “rigours” of the proceeding.

North Carolina’s Democratic Party said the hearing laid bare the Harris campaign’s “illegal scheme to steal an election.” McCready wasted no time in tweeting to supporters to donate to his campaign for the new election.

“Today was a great step forward for democracy in North Carolina,” he tweeted.

If Democrats pick up the seat, they would widen their 235-197 majority in the House after taking control of the chamber from President Donald Trump’s fellow Republicans in the November elections.

State Republicans said they respected Harris’ decision to resolve a “tremendously difficult situation.”

“The people of North Carolina deserve nothing less than the full confidence and trust in the electoral system,” party Chairman Robin Hayes said in a statement.

Earlier on Thursday, Harris said he had known Dowless was going door to door on the candidate’s behalf to help voters obtain absentee ballots, a process that is legal. Harris said Dowless assured him he would not collect the ballots from the voters, which would violate state law.

But residents of at least two counties in the district said Dowless and his paid workers collected incomplete absentee ballots and, in some instances, falsely signed as witnesses and filled in votes for contests left blank, according to testimony at the hearing.

Harris campaign officials said they did not pay Dowless to do anything illegal, and Dowless maintained his innocence.

Reporting by Gabriella Borter in New York and Andrew Hay in New Mexico; Editing by Colleen Jenkins, James Dalgleish and Peter Cooney

Source Article from https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-election-north-carolina-idUSKCN1QA1W3

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Andrew McCarthy: Indict the ‘ISIS Bride’ – Fox News
Andrew McCarthy: Indict the ‘ISIS Bride’ – Fox News
Video

Hoda Muthana should return to the US to be held accountable, testify on the evils of ISIS: family lawyer

The lawyer for the family of the Alabama woman turned ISIS wife in Syria tells ‘America’s Newsroom’ that Hoda Muthana is a U.S. citizen who wants to face the American legal system and pay her debt to society.

I had a column in the New York Post Wednesday about the so-called “ISIS bride,” Hoda Muthana, who is detained in a Syrian refugee camp and now pleading to come back home to her family in Alabama. I argued that, despite the fact that she has treasonously waged war against our country, she had a right to be readmitted if she tried to enter because she was – according to the facts available at the time – a natural-born American citizen.

Now Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has announced that Muthana will not be allowed to reenter the U.S. because she is not an American citizen: While born in America, she was the daughter of a diplomat and thus not subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. As the secretary put it in his statement, “Ms. Hoda Muthana is not a U.S. citizen and will not be admitted into the United States. She does not have any legal basis, no valid U.S. passport, no right to a passport, nor any visa to travel to the United States.”

This conclusion is disputed by Muthana’s family and allies, and they may have a case. I would strongly urge the Justice Department to file an indictment against Muthana for treason, material support to terrorism, and any other readily provable offenses. She is less likely to press the issues of citizenship and right to enter if she understands that she faces prosecution and, very likely, lengthy imprisonment if she succeeds in coming here.

 CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

But it’s worth taking a closer look at the citizenship question itself. To my mind, the concept of citizenship implies not just the benefits of being a full-fledged member of the body politic, but also a duty of fealty to the nation. In a rational world, then, a citizen who made war against the United States would be stripped of citizenship.

Alas, that is not the law. As I related in the Post column, Supreme Court precedent holds that natural-born citizens may not have their citizenship revoked without their consent. (This is in contrast to naturalized citizens, who may have their citizenship revoked if they join a subversive organization within five years of being naturalized, but this is not relevant to Muthana’s case).

TO READ THE REST OF THIS OP-ED IN THE NATIONAL REVIEW CLICK HERE

TO READ MORE FROM ANDREW MCCARTHY CLICK HERE

Source Article from https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/andrew-mccarthy-indict-the-isis-bride

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U.S. Bets on China’s Special Envoy in Trade Talks – The Wall Street Journal
U.S. Bets on China’s Special Envoy in Trade Talks – The Wall Street Journal

WASHINGTON—As U.S.-China trade talks reach a pivotal point, the Trump administration is counting on the Chinese leader’s special envoy, Liu He, to get Beijing to accept tough new strictures that are increasingly controversial in Beijing.

High-level negotiations resumed in the executive office building next to the White House on Thursday, with both sides focused on reaching a deal before a March 1 deadline that could see 10% tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports rise to 25%.

…

Source Article from https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-bets-on-chinas-special-envoy-in-trade-talks-11550795104

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Judge rips into Roger Stone, bars him from speaking publicly on case: ‘There will be no third chance’ – Fox News
Judge rips into Roger Stone, bars him from speaking publicly on case: ‘There will be no third chance’ – Fox News
Video

Roger Stone appears in court again after posting photo of judge in crosshairs

Former Trump adviser Roger Stone appears in court again after posting a photo of Judge Amy Berman Jackson with a target.

A federal judge has completely barred former Trump political adviser Roger Stone from speaking publicly about his ongoing prosecution on obstruction and false statement charges, after a picture of the judge appeared on Stone’s Instagram this week with what appeared to be crosshairs in the background.

The ruling followed a hearing on Thursday in which Stone took the stand to insist he was “heartfully sorry” for the picture, which Stone said he had reviewed prior to posting it — although he suggested someone else had first selected the image.

U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson tore into Stone during the proceeding, saying she simply didn’t believe his explanation that an unnamed “volunteer” was to blame.

“I have serious doubts about whether you learned anything at all,” Jackson said. “From this moment on, the defendant may not speak publicly about this case — period. No statements about the case on TV, radio, print reporters, or Internet. No posts on social media. [You] may not comment on the case through surrogates. You may send out emails about donating to the Roger Stone defense fund.”

Jackson added an apparent threat to revoke Stone’s bail and send him to jail: “This is not baseball. There will be no third chance. If you cannot abide by this, I will be forced to change your surroundings so you have no temptations.”

Jackson had issued a limited gag order in Stone’s case last week, preventing him from discussing the case near the courthouse. Stone was being questioned Thursday by Jackson and government lawyers as to why Jackson should not take action in response to the image.

Exclusive look at FBI raid on Roger Stone’s home

Home security footage of the FBI raiding Roger Stone’s home in Florida on ‘Tucker Carlson Tonight.’

On Thursday, Stone made the risky decision to take the stand, after an initial series of questions from Jackson to Stone’s lawyer, Bruce Rogow.

The longtime Trump confidante walked into court wearing his signature circle framed glasses, but took them off before Jackson entered the courtroom. Stone’s wife and daughter sat in the front row.

Under questioning from prosecutors and Jackson, the 66-year-old Stone — who frequently looked directly at Jackson as he spoke — said the image had been selected by a volunteer who was working for him, though he couldn’t say who picked the photo or list the five or six volunteers who have been working for him when he was asked by prosecutors.

He said he had several photos to choose from and posted the image himself to his profile.

“You had a choice?” the judge interjected.

Stone said he picked the photo “randomly,” a suggestion the judge almost immediately dismissed.

“It was an egregious mistake. I obviously wish I could do it over again, but I cannot,” Stone said. “I recognize I let the court down, I let you down, I let myself down. … It was a momentary lapse in judgment.”

He has said the photo was “misinterpreted,” the symbol was actually the Celtic cross, not crosshairs of a gun, and he was not trying to threaten the judge. But, he added, he wasn’t sure what the symbol meant, because “I’m not into the occult.”

Former campaign adviser for President Donald Trump, Roger Stone walks out of the federal courthouse following a hearing, Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Stone was arrested Friday in the special counsel’s Russia investigation and was charged with lying to Congress and obstructing the probe. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
(Associated Press)

TUCKER: IS AMERICA SAFE NOW THAT ROGER STONE WAS RAIDED BY A SWARM OF FBI AGENTS?

At one point during Thursday’s hearing, Rogow called the post that featured Jackson’s image “indefensible.” Jackson replied: “I agree with you there.”

“I am under enormous pressure,” Stone testified. “I now have TV people saying I will be raped if I go to jail. I’m having trouble putting food on the table and paying the rent.” (Indeed, CNN senior political analyst David Gergen pondered on air Monday if Stone — whom he called a “dandy” — would be raped in prison.)

Stone deleted the Instagram photo shortly after posting it, but later posted the same one again, this time without the apparent crosshairs.

In court, Stone said he “didn’t recognize it as a crosshair” and “didn’t notice” a crosshair in the image.

“This was a screwup,” Stone said. “I admit it.”

CNN ANALYST PONDERS: WILL STONE BE SUBJECT TO RAPE IN PRISON?

Jackson reminded Stone before his testimony that he would be subject to government cross-examination and was under oath. Asked whether he understood the picture could be construed as a threat, Stone replied: “I now recognize that. … I can’t rationalize my thinking because I wasn’t thinking, and that’s my fault.”

“I am kicking myself for my own stupidity, but not more than my wife is kicking me,” Stone later told Jackson. He added that “my consulting business has dried up” and said, “I’ve exhausted my savings.”

“This is not baseball. There will be no third chance.”

— U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson

Stone has pleaded not guilty to charges he lied to Congress, engaged in witness tampering and obstructed a congressional investigation into possible coordination between Russia and President Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. The charges stem from conversations he had during the campaign about WikiLeaks, the anti-secrecy group that released material stolen from Democratic groups, including Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

The political operative and self-described dirty trickster is the sixth Trump aide or adviser charged in Mueller’s investigation. He was arrested last month and has remained free on a $250,000 personal recognizance bond. Stone has maintained his innocence and blasted the special counsel’s investigation as politically motivated.

Fox News’ Jake Gibson, Kelly Phares, Adam Shaw, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source Article from https://www.foxnews.com/politics/roger-stone-apologizes-to-judge-for-instagram-post-my-wife-is-kicking-me

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‘We are talking about human beings,’ judge tells Trump admin. lawyers about migrant families – NBCNews.com
‘We are talking about human beings,’ judge tells Trump admin. lawyers about migrant families – NBCNews.com

WASHINGTON–The federal judge overseeing the reunification of migrant families separated at the southern border by the Trump administration told government lawyers on Thursday that it would be arbitrary to leave out of the lawsuit children separated before the president’s “zero tolerance” policy took effect in April 2018.

Lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union pressed Judge Dana Sabraw of the Southern District of California to order that the government reunite potentially thousands of children who were separated under a pilot program beginning in July 2017.

A report by the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services, based on interviews with HHS employees, estimated that thousands of children were separated from their parents at the border months before then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions began the “zero tolerance” policy that prosecuted all parents entering the country illegally while their children waited in separate custody.

As a result of the report, the ACLU asked Sabraw to include the parents of those children in the same group as those affected by zero tolerance, whose reunification he ordered last summer. Sabraw said he would continue to consider the motion by the ACLU, but seemed to be leaning in favor of granting it.

“It’s important to recognize we are talking about human beings,” Sabraw told Scott Stewart, a lawyer from the Justice Department.

Stewart argued that including parents separated from their children as far back as July 2017 in the lawsuit “dramatically changes the complexity of this case from the government’s perspective.”

“We have tried to be a good partner,” Stewart said. “It’s very unfortunate to have done all that [and then] to have the task flown wide open.”

Stewart suggested that parents whose children were taken from them prior to zero tolerance should file elsewhere or through “informal channels.”

“We’re not saying that they can’t be reunified. We’re saying that it’s just not part of the class the court certified, it’s not part of this case. And if there are folks in this category who want to seek relief, there are courts, there are informal channels available to do that,” Stewart said.

Judge Sabraw said the first step of his order, should he issue it, would be to do an accounting of all the parents and children separated between July 2017 and April 2018, when zero tolerance went into effect. He said he may consider other remedies, such as different timelines, but that the central remedy would be reunification.

ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said his organization would put together a steering committee to make calls and find the parents of the separated children.

“We cannot go back into these communities and tell them we are not going to make the effort,” said Gelernt. “I suspect there are parents who want to get their children back and have not been able to.”

Some parents separated under zero tolerance chose to be deported while their children remained in the United States to seek asylum. Both the government and the ACLU acknowledged some parents separated before zero tolerance may have made the same decision.

Julia Ainsley

Julia Ainsley is a national security reporter for NBC News.

Source Article from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/we-are-talking-about-human-beings-judge-tells-trump-admin-n974336

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Tax refunds are a scam and Democrats are feeding it – Washington Examiner
Tax refunds are a scam and Democrats are feeding it – Washington Examiner

President Trump squandered his political capital by using the first two years of his presidency to pass a still unpopular tax cut. That doesn’t make it OK for Democrats to lie about it in an effort to keep scamming the American people.

The lie is that taxes are going up on most middle class people. The scam is that bigger “tax refunds” just means the government is holding more of your money without paying you for it.

Now that it’s tax return season, some reports suggest that filers are surprised they’re receiving less of a “refund” than they had in the past. The Democratic National Committee took advantage of what it apparently sees as a political opportunity, sending out an email Wednesday saying that “taxpayers are receiving tax refunds that are less than expected, or even having to pay more in taxes.”

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., who is running for president, similarly said in a tweet last week that “The average tax refund is down about $170 compared to last year. Let’s call the President’s tax cut what it is: a middle-class tax hike to line the pockets of already wealthy corporations and the 1%.”

This is deception on an evil level.

The DNC email itself included a link to a Washington Post article that explained why 2019 refunds would be less than in previous years, but the DNC must have expected no one to read it.

The Post article from Feb. 10 buries the important information 12 paragraphs in, but nonetheless, it says, “Many Americans may confuse their meager refunds as a sign that they paid more in taxes as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Generally, that is not true.”

The new law cut federal income taxes for the vast majority of Americans, resulting in bigger paychecks from their employers. The IRS also tried balancing out the way it collects taxes so that, ideally, Americans weren’t overpaying and therefore wouldn’t receive a large refund.

This gets into the ridiculous “withholding” ripoff that Democrats are pretending is actually some kind of free gift to people.

Our current joke tax system, which Trump promised to simplify, though his law doesn’t really do that, is set up so that the federal government takes more of your money every year than you owe, before giving it back as a “refund.”

Regular people find some joy each year in getting that check back from the IRS, the same way you might get a rush from finding $20 in a coat you pulled out of storage for the winter. But, why should it be taken for granted that every year, you give the government a nice little loan that they pay back with no interest?

And it’s only paid back after you’ve gone through the miserable process of filing your taxes.

This would be like ordering a shirt, receiving a dress and then the store clerk offering you a refund only after a year has passed and you’ve filled out a 30-minute survey.

Why would anyone jump for joy at this arrangement? And then willingly engage in it year after year?

Right now the government says you have little choice but the new tax law was a step in the right direction away from the withholding con.

Democrats, meanwhile, would rather keep more of your money and act like it’s a gift when they return it.

Source Article from https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/tax-refunds-are-a-scam-and-democrats-are-feeding-it

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Christopher Hasson, Coast Guard officer, was a nihilist and there’s no evidence he was a Trump supporter – Washington Examiner
Christopher Hasson, Coast Guard officer, was a nihilist and there’s no evidence he was a Trump supporter – Washington Examiner

Read news reports about the arrest last week of lunatic Coast Guard Officer Christopher Hasson and you might get the impression that he was in some vague sense a supporter of President Trump. But that’s why I read the full court filing instead to find out the truth. Sure enough, there’s not really any evidence he was.

MSNBC couple Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezski screamed at one of their guests Thursday insisting (without evidence!) that Hasson’s unfulfilled plans to kill a bunch of Democrats and media liberals was directly inspired by a devotion to Trump. (Admittedly, the outburst had less to do with legitimate concern for political violence and more to do with Scarborough and Brzezinski getting to talk about themselves.)

Scarborough was allegedly one of the people Hasson targeted. The court filing says that on Dec. 27 last year, Hasson searched the Internet for Scarborough, after reading a news story quoting Scarborough as having called Trump “the worst ever.” Hasson then added Scarborough’s name to a spreadsheet of names that included high-profile Democrats and other media personalities.

Trump’s name comes up twice in the court filings. On Jan. 17 of this year, among the things Hasson searched the Internet for included “what if trump illegally impeached” and “civil war if trump impeached.”

Those details made it into reports on Hasson’s arrest by the New York Times, Washington Post, NBC News and others. But the motive for Hasson’s unrealized roughshod plan for “complete destruction” wasn’t Trump or anything Trump said. The court document shows that it was a preoccupation with race and a nihilistic view that had no clear attachment to politics at all, outside of an unspecified antipathy for “liberalist/globalist ideology.”

In other words, Hasson was crazy.

According to prosecutors, Hasson wrote in an email drafted June 2, 2017, “I am dreaming of a way to kill almost every last person on the earth,” though he lucidly acknowledged that he would likely need “the unwitting help of another power/country.” He faults “liberalist/globalist ideology” for “destroying traditional peoples esp[ecially] white” ones.

His preferred method for what he called “complete destruction” was a mass plague of disease or poison.

Later in the email he writes to himself, “Read and get education have to move to friendly area and start to organize. Get leadership within the community, sheriff, city manager, mayor, lawyer?” (It’s unclear whether his campaign for city comptroller would begin before or after the extermination of liberalist/globalists.)

He also says he wants to “start small” by learning “basic chemistry.”

Then you get to the part of the email that makes sense of his interest in the potential impeachment of Trump or some civil war resulting from his presidency.

Hasson wrote, “Look up tactics used during Ukrainian civil war. During unrest target both sides to increase tension. In other words provoke gov/police to over react which should help to escalate violence. BLM protests or other left crap would be ideal to incite to violence.”

Hasson didn’t care about Trump. He was looking for a catalyst that would help spark his fantasy, which included shooting up liberals, becoming town sheriff, and learning the periodic table.

The court filing says that in September 2017, Hasson wrote to an unnamed “known American neo-Nazi leader” to say, “We need a white homeland…” The document makes clear that the real inspiration behind Hasson’s ideas (such as they were) and his stock piling of guns and ammunition was the 2011 terrorist attacks in Norway carried out by Anders Behring Breivik.

Prosecutors said that “from early 2017 through the date of his arrest [Feb. 15], the defendant routinely perused portions of the Breivik manifesto that instruct a prospective assailant to amass appropriate firearms, food, disguises, and survival supplies.”

Nowhere outside of Hasson’s two searches for Trump and impeachment or civil war is the president mentioned. There was the search for Scarborough after the host criticized Trump but that only indicates Hasson simply used criticism of Trump as a way of gauging who fit his hazy idea of “liberalist/globalist.”

Hasson said nothing of “fake news,” nothing about making America great. He only harbored hatred for non-whites, a dim hope that some day he might kill a lot of “liberalist/globalists” and aspirations to run for state-level office.

On his show Thursday, Scarborough also claimed (without evidence!) that the mass shooting at the Pittsburgh synagogue, which left 11 dead, was carried out by a Trump lover. In fact, that guy hated Trump, referring to him as a “globalist” with an affinity for Jews.

Scarborough is lying about Hasson and he’s lying about the synagogue shooting. Don’t let him, or anyone else in the media, get away with it.

Source Article from https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/christopher-hasson-coast-guard-officer-was-a-nihilist-and-theres-no-evidence-he-was-a-trump-supporter

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Judge rips into Roger Stone, bars him from speaking publicly on case: ‘There will be no third chance’ – Fox News
Judge rips into Roger Stone, bars him from speaking publicly on case: ‘There will be no third chance’ – Fox News
Video

Roger Stone appears in court again after posting photo of judge in crosshairs

Former Trump adviser Roger Stone appears in court again after posting a photo of Judge Amy Berman Jackson with a target.

A federal judge has completely barred former Trump political adviser Roger Stone from speaking publicly about his ongoing prosecution on obstruction and false statement charges, after a picture of the judge appeared on Stone’s Instagram this week with what appeared to be crosshairs in the background.

The ruling followed a hearing on Thursday in which Stone took the stand to insist he was “heartfully sorry” for the picture, which Stone said he had reviewed prior to posting it — although he suggested someone else had first selected the image.

U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson tore into Stone during the proceeding, saying she simply didn’t believe his explanation that an unnamed “volunteer” was to blame.

“I have serious doubts about whether you learned anything at all,” Jackson said. “From this moment on, the defendant may not speak publicly about this case — period. No statements about the case on TV, radio, print reporters, or Internet. No posts on social media. [You] may not comment on the case through surrogates. You may send out emails about donating to the Roger Stone defense fund.”

Jackson added an apparent threat to revoke Stone’s bail and send him to jail: “This is not baseball. There will be no third chance. If you cannot abide by this, I will be forced to change your surroundings so you have no temptations.”

Jackson had issued a limited gag order in Stone’s case last week, preventing him from discussing the case near the courthouse. Stone was being questioned Thursday by Jackson and government lawyers as to why Jackson should not take action in response to the image.

Exclusive look at FBI raid on Roger Stone’s home

Home security footage of the FBI raiding Roger Stone’s home in Florida on ‘Tucker Carlson Tonight.’

On Thursday, Stone made the risky decision to take the stand, after an initial series of questions from Jackson to Stone’s lawyer, Bruce Rogow.

The longtime Trump confidante walked into court wearing his signature circle framed glasses, but took them off before Jackson entered the courtroom. Stone’s wife and daughter sat in the front row.

Under questioning from prosecutors and Jackson, the 66-year-old Stone — who frequently looked directly at Jackson as he spoke — said the image had been selected by a volunteer who was working for him, though he couldn’t say who picked the photo or list the five or six volunteers who have been working for him when he was asked by prosecutors.

He said he had several photos to choose from and posted the image himself to his profile.

“You had a choice?” the judge interjected.

Stone said he picked the photo “randomly,” a suggestion the judge almost immediately dismissed.

“It was an egregious mistake. I obviously wish I could do it over again, but I cannot,” Stone said. “I recognize I let the court down, I let you down, I let myself down. … It was a momentary lapse in judgment.”

He has said the photo was “misinterpreted,” the symbol was actually the Celtic cross, not crosshairs of a gun, and he was not trying to threaten the judge. But, he added, he wasn’t sure what the symbol meant, because “I’m not into the occult.”

Former campaign adviser for President Donald Trump, Roger Stone walks out of the federal courthouse following a hearing, Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Stone was arrested Friday in the special counsel’s Russia investigation and was charged with lying to Congress and obstructing the probe. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
(Associated Press)

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At one point during Thursday’s hearing, Rogow called the post that featured Jackson’s image “indefensible.” Jackson replied: “I agree with you there.”

“I am under enormous pressure,” Stone testified. “I now have TV people saying I will be raped if I go to jail. I’m having trouble putting food on the table and paying the rent.” (Indeed, CNN senior political analyst David Gergen pondered on air Monday if Stone — whom he called a “dandy” — would be raped in prison.)

Stone deleted the Instagram photo shortly after posting it, but later posted the same one again, this time without the apparent crosshairs.

In court, Stone said he “didn’t recognize it as a crosshair” and “didn’t notice” a crosshair in the image.

“This was a screwup,” Stone said. “I admit it.”

CNN ANALYST PONDERS: WILL STONE BE SUBJECT TO RAPE IN PRISON?

Jackson reminded Stone before his testimony that he would be subject to government cross-examination and was under oath. Asked whether he understood the picture could be construed as a threat, Stone replied: “I now recognize that. … I can’t rationalize my thinking because I wasn’t thinking, and that’s my fault.”

“I am kicking myself for my own stupidity, but not more than my wife is kicking me,” Stone later told Jackson. He added that “my consulting business has dried up” and said, “I’ve exhausted my savings.”

“This is not baseball. There will be no third chance.”

— U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson

Stone has pleaded not guilty to charges he lied to Congress, engaged in witness tampering and obstructed a congressional investigation into possible coordination between Russia and President Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. The charges stem from conversations he had during the campaign about WikiLeaks, the anti-secrecy group that released material stolen from Democratic groups, including Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

The political operative and self-described dirty trickster is the sixth Trump aide or adviser charged in Mueller’s investigation. He was arrested last month and has remained free on a $250,000 personal recognizance bond. Stone has maintained his innocence and blasted the special counsel’s investigation as politically motivated.

Fox News’ Jake Gibson, Kelly Phares, Adam Shaw, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source Article from https://www.foxnews.com/politics/roger-stone-apologizes-to-judge-for-instagram-post-my-wife-is-kicking-me

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Schiffting to Phase 2 of Collusion – The Wall Street Journal
Schiffting to Phase 2 of Collusion – The Wall Street Journal

There’s been no more reliable regurgitator of fantastical Trump-Russia collusion theories than Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff. So when the House Intelligence Committee chairman sits down to describe a “new phase” of the Trump investigation, pay attention. These are the fever swamps into which we will descend after Robert Mueller’s probe.

The collusionists need a “new phase” as signs grow that the special counsel won’t help realize their reveries of a Donald Trump takedown. They had said Mr. Mueller would provide all the answers….

Source Article from https://www.wsj.com/articles/schiffting-to-phase-2-of-collusion-11550794762

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MSNBC guest unchecked after floating theory that Trump-supporting cops may have framed Jussie Smollett – Fox News
MSNBC guest unchecked after floating theory that Trump-supporting cops may have framed Jussie Smollett – Fox News
Video

Jussie Smollett diverts valuable resources away from law enforcement in Chicago

Insight from Tio Hardiman, CEO of Violence Interrupters, and Fox News contributor Mark Fuhrman, former LAPD detective.

MSNBC finally got around to covering the scandal surrounding “Empire” star Jussie Smollett and allowed a guest to float a theory that Trump-supporting cops are lying about the case.

MSNBC completely skipped the Smollett news during primetime on Wednesday night, which was first noticed by The Daily Caller. The same night, rival liberal media news organization CNN dedicated significant time to the Chicago Police Department announcing felony charges against the actor had been approved.

‘THE VIEW’ BAFFLED BY JUSSIE SMOLLETT PAY RAISE MOTIVE: ‘HE’S GONNA HAVE NO SALARY NOW’

Zach Stafford, the editor-in-chief of LGBTQ magazine The Advocate, joined MSNBC’s Kasie Hunt and Al Sharpton on Thursday to discuss Smollett – who faces up to three years in prison.

“It was incredibly shocking on day one to see the police department call it a racist and homophobic attack,” Stafford said. “As someone that has been investigating these for years in Chicago, that was really unprecedented… people in the background were worried they were leaning into this victim part of the story because they didn’t believe him and they wanted to use it against him at the end, when they were able to prove that he was lying.”

Stafford then criticized the fact that information about the investigation has leaked to the media.

“The police were openly confirming and not confirming certain reports and not doing it to other parts of the story, due to the vocal nature in this case, it was really peculiar,” Stafford said. “People have a lot of reason to not trust them… a deep history of openly lying to citizens. This police department did, in 2016, openly, through their union support Donald Trump.”

He said that since the case focused on alleged attackers wearing Trump hats and shouting “MAGA country,” there are grounds to question if the police are being truthful.

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“Many people have felt that they have been so willing to call this a hoax, is because the central question of this case is, ‘Are Donald Trump supporters out here committing hate crimes?’ And that’s what really sparked a lot of the tension,” he said. “To have a police department that hasn’t been as cooperative as they have been this round, do not openly give information, do openly lie and mishold [sic] information in cases and then to know that they have openly supported Donald Trump in the 2016 election, a lot of activists on the ground are saying, ‘Wait, what’s going on here? “

MSNBC host Hunt did not respond to the longwinded conspiracy theory and immediately pivoted to a reporter on the ground in Chicago.

MSNBC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Source Article from https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/msnbc-guest-unchecked-after-floating-conspiracy-that-trump-supporting-cops-framed-jussie-smollett

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Mark Harris just lost any chance of taking a seat in Congress, but the real losers are voters – Washington Examiner
Mark Harris just lost any chance of taking a seat in Congress, but the real losers are voters – Washington Examiner

On Thursday, Mark Harris, the Republican candidate who was in the lead for North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District and had been fighting to have the results certified, backtracked and called for a new election. Later in the afternoon, the North Carolina State Board of Elections unanimously declared that a new election was needed.

After days of testimony investigating the unresolved midterm election, it became clear that an operative hired by Harris had fraudulently tampered with absentee ballots. Evidence showed that Harris’ campaign had also endeavored to conceal the ballot tampering from the state’s investigation.

To be clear, it was ballot tampering with the campaign operative, Leslie McCrae Dowless, going so far as to instruct workers to falsely sign ballots as witnesses or fill in votes for elections that had been left blank before mailing them. Both of those actions are illegal under North Carolina state law.

Those revelations have likely put an end to any aspirations Harris may have had to hold elected office. As state lawmakers passed a new law in December 2018 that mandated that a new primary be held in the case of an uncertified election even if Harris decided to run again, he’d almost certainly lose that primary. Indeed, his initial upset victory in the primary against GOP incumbent Rep. Robert Pittenger seems also to have involved tampering with absentee ballots.

Although that’s all bad news for Harris who had, until Thursday, held out hope to take a seat in Washington, it’s worse news for voters who first had their elections tamped with and have also lacked representation and will continue to lack representation until a new election is held.

By running a campaign that engaged in fraudulent vote gathering, Harris has hurt the people of North Carolina’s 9th District, the very people who he claimed he wanted to serve after he initially appeared to have narrowly defeated Democrat Dan McCready by 905 votes.

The state election board, which can call a new election if the basic fairness of the election had been tainted, made the right call. Harris owes the district he had hoped to represent an apology at the very least.

Source Article from https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/mark-harris-just-lost-any-chance-of-taking-a-seat-in-congress-but-the-real-losers-are-voters

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