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Friday, March 06, 2020
Illegal immigrants are voting in California and 'it's going to happen in your state soon': Tomi Lahren
State officials and lawmakers from California and Texas to Pennsylvania and West Virginia are raising concerns over the threat that noncitizens on the voter rolls pose to the integrity of U.S. elections.
On "Fox and Friends" on Thursday, Fox Nation's Tomi Lahren said that the issue is most pronounced in California. "We have a voter fraud and election integrity epidemic in the state of California," she said, "I want to expose it so I sat down with the great ladies of Election Integrity Project-California (EIPCa)."
The Election Integrity Project-California, founded in 2010, is a grassroots, nonpartisan, nonprofit volunteer organization that advocates for citizens to become active participants in the electoral process, according to its website.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/illegal-immigrants-voting-election-integrity
On "Fox and Friends" on Thursday, Fox Nation's Tomi Lahren said that the issue is most pronounced in California. "We have a voter fraud and election integrity epidemic in the state of California," she said, "I want to expose it so I sat down with the great ladies of Election Integrity Project-California (EIPCa)."
The Election Integrity Project-California, founded in 2010, is a grassroots, nonpartisan, nonprofit volunteer organization that advocates for citizens to become active participants in the electoral process, according to its website.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/illegal-immigrants-voting-election-integrity
Andrew Yang explains to Joy Behar why AOC is not old enough to be vice president
Former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang had to explain to The View's Joy Behar why Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is not old enough to be vice president.
On Thursday's show, Behar suggested the 30-year-old New York Democrat would be a good choice.
“Besides yourself, who do you think would be a great VP?” Behar asked Yang during Thursday's show on ABC.
"I do think that if Joe [Biden] is the front-runner, which he is right now, he needs to shore up his support among young people in particular, and I think his running mate might have a good opportunity to do that,” Yang said.
"AOC would actually be a good choice, except she’s a Bernie person,” Behar said.
Meghan McCain interjected: "She’s also not old enough."
"She’s not?" Behar asked. "As a VP?”
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On Thursday's show, Behar suggested the 30-year-old New York Democrat would be a good choice.
“Besides yourself, who do you think would be a great VP?” Behar asked Yang during Thursday's show on ABC.
"I do think that if Joe [Biden] is the front-runner, which he is right now, he needs to shore up his support among young people in particular, and I think his running mate might have a good opportunity to do that,” Yang said.
"AOC would actually be a good choice, except she’s a Bernie person,” Behar said.
Meghan McCain interjected: "She’s also not old enough."
"She’s not?" Behar asked. "As a VP?”
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The Democratic Disaster Just Got Even More Hilarious
So, now the Democrats are choosing between a pair of doddering crustaceans. The Crusty Commie Curmudgeon and the Crusty Comedy Relief both did well enough Tuesday to keep going. Big Chief Warren, whose actual people call corn “corn” and not “maize,” may still go on because she’s an insufferable monster whose transcendent yearning to nag us into schoolmarm’d submission knows no bounds, plus because the establishment wants her in the race siphoning Chablis socialist votes away from her Marx brother. But the Hapless Halfling dropped out, a half-billion bucks lighter, and he’s not just returning to his burrow. He’ll want to remain a Dem player – he’ll keep spending like an NFL superstar in the Champagne Room at the Peppermint Pasty gentleman’s club after getting his signing bonus paid in singles, and the Lil’ Loser hopes to make it rain until he drowns Donald Trump in a sea of greenbacks.
But the battle is really for the shriveled heart of the Democrat Party, and no one better represents the yin and the yang of that dying collection of power-hungry elitists and grasping greedos than the doddering socialist Sanders and that Biden guy who should by all rights be chasing that damn know-it-all squirrel around the park.
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But the battle is really for the shriveled heart of the Democrat Party, and no one better represents the yin and the yang of that dying collection of power-hungry elitists and grasping greedos than the doddering socialist Sanders and that Biden guy who should by all rights be chasing that damn know-it-all squirrel around the park.
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Pelosi: A woman can win White House despite 'a certain element of misogyny'
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the highest-ranking elected woman in the United States, cited “a certain element of misogyny” that may get in the way of a woman winning a presidential election, but said “America is ready” for a female president who can “connect well with the American people.”
Pelosi, a California Democrat, told reporters she believes Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden have beaten a slew of female candidates running for the Democratic presidential nomination because voters were familiar with them.
Biden was a high-profile vice president for President Barack Obama for eight years, and Sanders generated a big following when he ran for president in 2016.
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Pelosi, a California Democrat, told reporters she believes Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden have beaten a slew of female candidates running for the Democratic presidential nomination because voters were familiar with them.
Biden was a high-profile vice president for President Barack Obama for eight years, and Sanders generated a big following when he ran for president in 2016.
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Tavis Smiley must pay $1.5 million to PBS following #MeToo lawsuit, firing
A jury officially decided that former PBS host Tavis Smiley will have to pay about $1.5 million to his former employer after he was fired amid allegations of workplace sexual misconduct.
Smiley was suspended in December 2017. The network ultimately removed him after several credible allegations of misconduct came to light at the height of the #MeToo movement, which saw several powerful people in show business and politics lose their positions as accusers felt emboldened to come forward.
Smiley first sued PBS in D.C. Superior Court, contending that racial bias contributed to his dismissal and he was wrongly terminated without proof. He acknowledged having romantic relationships with colleagues over his career, but says they were consensual. He sought $1 million. The network counter-sued, arguing in part that Smiley owed the network for a season that didn't air.
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/tavis-smiley-pay-pbs-metoo-lawsuit-firing
Smiley was suspended in December 2017. The network ultimately removed him after several credible allegations of misconduct came to light at the height of the #MeToo movement, which saw several powerful people in show business and politics lose their positions as accusers felt emboldened to come forward.
Smiley first sued PBS in D.C. Superior Court, contending that racial bias contributed to his dismissal and he was wrongly terminated without proof. He acknowledged having romantic relationships with colleagues over his career, but says they were consensual. He sought $1 million. The network counter-sued, arguing in part that Smiley owed the network for a season that didn't air.
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/tavis-smiley-pay-pbs-metoo-lawsuit-firing
AOC: Brokered convention would hurt Democratic nominee
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez argued a brokered convention to determine the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee would end up putting the eventual pick at a disadvantage.
“I hope just for the sake of the party overall that this does not get to a brokered convention," the New York Democrat, a supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders's White House campaign, told CNN on Wednesday. “I think that hurts the nominee, whoever the nominee is."
Former Vice President Joe Biden surged past Sanders in delegates after his 10 wins on Super Tuesday. As of Thursday morning, Biden had 565 delegates compared to Sanders’s 506, according to NBC News. Candidates need a total of 1,991 delegates to win the Democratic nomination.
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“I hope just for the sake of the party overall that this does not get to a brokered convention," the New York Democrat, a supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders's White House campaign, told CNN on Wednesday. “I think that hurts the nominee, whoever the nominee is."
Former Vice President Joe Biden surged past Sanders in delegates after his 10 wins on Super Tuesday. As of Thursday morning, Biden had 565 delegates compared to Sanders’s 506, according to NBC News. Candidates need a total of 1,991 delegates to win the Democratic nomination.
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CORONAVIRUS PATIENT ZERO IN ITALY WAS PAKISTANI MIGRANT WHO REFUSED TO SELF-ISOLATE
The man believed to be coronavirus patient zero in Italy is a Pakistani migrant refused to self-isolate after testing positive for the virus and continued to deliver food.
Health authorities asked the man to quarantine himself at his home in the Pavia area for two weeks, but he ignored the request and continued to work at a Chinese restaurant.
He then compounded the risk of spreading the virus by making home deliveries of Chinese food.
Authorities were alerted to the situation and the military intervened to return the man to his home.
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Health authorities asked the man to quarantine himself at his home in the Pavia area for two weeks, but he ignored the request and continued to work at a Chinese restaurant.
He then compounded the risk of spreading the virus by making home deliveries of Chinese food.
Authorities were alerted to the situation and the military intervened to return the man to his home.
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Israeli opposition parties may unite to deny Netanyahu power
After an unprecedented three elections this past year and with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political bloc failing to secure a majority of seats, rival parties may form a fragile alliance to oust him from power.
The results of Monday’s election showed Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc falling three seats short of a majority, despite him earlier trumpeting partial results as a “huge victory.” Netanyahu’s Likud Party won a plurality with 36, with allied parties winning 22 additional seats.
Benny Gantz’s Blue and White Party won 33, the liberal Labor Party won seven, and the Joint List, a coalition of Arab parties, won a record 15 seats. Former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s party Yisrael Beiteinu, which split from Netanyahu, received seven seats.
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The results of Monday’s election showed Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc falling three seats short of a majority, despite him earlier trumpeting partial results as a “huge victory.” Netanyahu’s Likud Party won a plurality with 36, with allied parties winning 22 additional seats.
Benny Gantz’s Blue and White Party won 33, the liberal Labor Party won seven, and the Joint List, a coalition of Arab parties, won a record 15 seats. Former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s party Yisrael Beiteinu, which split from Netanyahu, received seven seats.
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VP PENCE WAS LIVE W/ CORONAVIRUS UPDATE:
21 new confirmed cases on a cruise ship off of the coast of California.
William Shatner awarded horse semen in his divorce settlement
William Shatner and his ex-wife Elizabeth Martin have divvied up their assets and it looks like the award-winning actor is walking away with the former couple's supply of horse semen.
The "Star Trek" actor, 88, filed for divorce from Martin in December after 18 years of marriage. Court records show the exes reached a divorce settlement this week and their takeaways from the belongings they shared are unique, to say the least.
According to reports, Shatner and Martin split up their four horses, with the actor scoring Renaissance Man's Medici and Powder River Shirley, while Martin will get Belle Reve's So Photogenic and Pebbles.
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/william-shatner-horse-semen-divorce-settlement
The "Star Trek" actor, 88, filed for divorce from Martin in December after 18 years of marriage. Court records show the exes reached a divorce settlement this week and their takeaways from the belongings they shared are unique, to say the least.
According to reports, Shatner and Martin split up their four horses, with the actor scoring Renaissance Man's Medici and Powder River Shirley, while Martin will get Belle Reve's So Photogenic and Pebbles.
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/william-shatner-horse-semen-divorce-settlement
Hallmark backtracks on its censorship of Unplanned
Nothing like a little bad publicity to get a business to change its mind.
After Hallmark scrubbed all mentions of the pro-life film Unplanned from a recent broadcast, pro-life advocates grew outraged. The star of Unplanned, Ashley Bratcher, first revealed that all references to the film had been removed from Hallmark's broadcast of the Movieguide Awards, even though Unplanned was nominated for awards in three categories.
"This is completely UNACCEPTABLE," she tweeted on Sunday.
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After Hallmark scrubbed all mentions of the pro-life film Unplanned from a recent broadcast, pro-life advocates grew outraged. The star of Unplanned, Ashley Bratcher, first revealed that all references to the film had been removed from Hallmark's broadcast of the Movieguide Awards, even though Unplanned was nominated for awards in three categories.
"This is completely UNACCEPTABLE," she tweeted on Sunday.
More
ER Doctor: 98 to 99 Percent Of Coronavirus Victims ‘Are Going To Do Very, Very Well’
As the media continues to spread panic about the coronavirus, one emergency room doctor is warning people not to get too carried away.
Speaking on “America’s Newsroom” this week, Dr. James Phillips, operational medicine fellowship director at George Washington University, said that most people who contract the coronavirus will “do just fine.”
“Most of us are going to get this virus. It’s undeniable,” said Phillips. “You won’t find a single expert out there who is saying that this is going to be contained. “And, the more we learn about it, the more we see that the spread is going to be global and, for the most part, that’s OK because the data we know from China shows that roughly 98 to 99 percent of us are going to do very, very well.”
Phillips said that the main danger with coronavirus is how it affects the lower respiratory system, which presents itself as pneumonia. He called on everyone to just take a deep breath and calm down.
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Speaking on “America’s Newsroom” this week, Dr. James Phillips, operational medicine fellowship director at George Washington University, said that most people who contract the coronavirus will “do just fine.”
“Most of us are going to get this virus. It’s undeniable,” said Phillips. “You won’t find a single expert out there who is saying that this is going to be contained. “And, the more we learn about it, the more we see that the spread is going to be global and, for the most part, that’s OK because the data we know from China shows that roughly 98 to 99 percent of us are going to do very, very well.”
Phillips said that the main danger with coronavirus is how it affects the lower respiratory system, which presents itself as pneumonia. He called on everyone to just take a deep breath and calm down.
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Supermarkets prepare for FOOD RIOTS as part of emergency plans to feed the nation as panic buying Brits strip shelves faster than they can be refilled.. but high streets and shopping centres are deserted
British supermarkets are prepared for food riots if panic buying becomes widespread in the worst-cast scenario of a coronavirus pandemic, a retail expert has said.
Former Tesco supply chain director Bruno Monteyne said a major outbreak of the virus would result in 'panic buying, empty shelves and food riots' but that at this stage retailers would revert to 'feed the nation' status to avoid anyone going hungry.
It came as Boris Johnson tried to reassure Britons he would 'keep the country fed' and urged people to refrain from stockpiling essentials as photos circulated of empty shelves in supermarkets.
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Former Tesco supply chain director Bruno Monteyne said a major outbreak of the virus would result in 'panic buying, empty shelves and food riots' but that at this stage retailers would revert to 'feed the nation' status to avoid anyone going hungry.
It came as Boris Johnson tried to reassure Britons he would 'keep the country fed' and urged people to refrain from stockpiling essentials as photos circulated of empty shelves in supermarkets.
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ICE arrests illegal immigrant facing rape charge after his release under New York City 'sanctuary status'
Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended a man, accused of raping a teenage girl, who was released under New York City’s "sanctuary status" despite the agency’s request to hold him.
Miguel Federico Ajqui-Ajtzalam, a 20-year-old Guatemalan national, was arraigned Friday on charges of raping a 13-year-old girl five times in 2018. However, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office did not ask for bail, and the judge decided to cut him loose on supervised release.
ICE, which had issued a detainer asking the city to keep Ajqui-Ajtzalam jailed, was able to track him days later, bringing him into federal custody on Monday.
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Miguel Federico Ajqui-Ajtzalam, a 20-year-old Guatemalan national, was arraigned Friday on charges of raping a 13-year-old girl five times in 2018. However, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office did not ask for bail, and the judge decided to cut him loose on supervised release.
ICE, which had issued a detainer asking the city to keep Ajqui-Ajtzalam jailed, was able to track him days later, bringing him into federal custody on Monday.
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Emails show Hunter Biden touted political connections to obtain university teaching job
Hunter Biden, the son of former Vice President Joe Biden, reportedly touted his political connections in order to obtain a teaching position at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law.
New emails reveal that, while communicating with university officials, Biden attempted to convince the administration to have him teach a course on drug policy, providing a potential list of guest lecturers who were largely connected to his father.
“In 2019, Hunter Biden inquired about the possibility of teaching a course at UCLA School of Law, and he and school leaders held preliminary conversations about the possibility,” Bill Kisliuk, the law school’s executive director of communications, told the Daily Caller. “Mr. Biden subsequently did not submit further materials for the proposed course, which is a required step when the school is considering adding a course. There are no plans for Mr. Biden to teach at the law school,” Kisliuk continued.
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New emails reveal that, while communicating with university officials, Biden attempted to convince the administration to have him teach a course on drug policy, providing a potential list of guest lecturers who were largely connected to his father.
“In 2019, Hunter Biden inquired about the possibility of teaching a course at UCLA School of Law, and he and school leaders held preliminary conversations about the possibility,” Bill Kisliuk, the law school’s executive director of communications, told the Daily Caller. “Mr. Biden subsequently did not submit further materials for the proposed course, which is a required step when the school is considering adding a course. There are no plans for Mr. Biden to teach at the law school,” Kisliuk continued.
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Facebook, Google Ask San Francisco Staff To Work From Home As Coronavirus Spreads
Social media giant Facebook Inc <FB.O> and Alphabet Inc’s <GOOGL.O> Google on Thursday recommended their San Francisco Bay area employees work from home to minimize the risk of spreading coronavirus.
Facebook said it is “strongly recommending that all Bay area employees and contingent staff work from home starting Friday.”
The decision is “based on the guidance from Santa Clara County on Thursday”, Anthony Harrison, Facebook spokesperson, said in an emailed statement to Reuters.
Employees and contractors involved in the site’s safety and security will continue to work on site, while all Bay Area events will remain canceled, according to the statement.
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Facebook said it is “strongly recommending that all Bay area employees and contingent staff work from home starting Friday.”
The decision is “based on the guidance from Santa Clara County on Thursday”, Anthony Harrison, Facebook spokesperson, said in an emailed statement to Reuters.
Employees and contractors involved in the site’s safety and security will continue to work on site, while all Bay Area events will remain canceled, according to the statement.
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West Virginia man sentenced up to 775 years in prison for filming himself sexually abusing infant
A West Virginia man who recorded himself and his then-fiancee sexually abusing an infant was handed a life sentence of up to 775 years in prison.
Richard Smith II, 41, was sentenced to a minimum of 205 years in prison Wednesday for filming them abusing his then-fiancee’s, Roseanne Thompson, infant granddaughter in 2015. The couple has since broken up.
“I think that you are one of the most evil persons who I’ve ever encountered,” Kanawha Circuit Judge Tera Salango said in court.
A jury found him guilty of 11 counts of first-degree sexual abuse, four counts of sexual assault, and five counts of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian or person in a position of trust.
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Richard Smith II, 41, was sentenced to a minimum of 205 years in prison Wednesday for filming them abusing his then-fiancee’s, Roseanne Thompson, infant granddaughter in 2015. The couple has since broken up.
“I think that you are one of the most evil persons who I’ve ever encountered,” Kanawha Circuit Judge Tera Salango said in court.
A jury found him guilty of 11 counts of first-degree sexual abuse, four counts of sexual assault, and five counts of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian or person in a position of trust.
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Carroll Co. Horse Trainer Shows Off Newly Tamed Chincoteague Pony At Horse World Expo
CARROLL COUNTY, MD. (WJZ) — The nation’s leading horse entertainers came together last weekend at the Horse World Expo in Pennsylvania, and one Carroll County trainer showed off her very own Chincoteague pony.
His name is John Wayne, a pony who was a challenge to train but like the movie star he’s become famous after he was tamed, and now the talents of his breed have become better known because of the efforts of his trainer.
Summer Barrick has made a name for herself by training the ponies, usually wild horses that live on Assateague Island. She trains them at Spring Brook Farm in Carroll County.
“They’ve just always held a certain spot in my heart,” Barrick said.
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His name is John Wayne, a pony who was a challenge to train but like the movie star he’s become famous after he was tamed, and now the talents of his breed have become better known because of the efforts of his trainer.
Summer Barrick has made a name for herself by training the ponies, usually wild horses that live on Assateague Island. She trains them at Spring Brook Farm in Carroll County.
“They’ve just always held a certain spot in my heart,” Barrick said.
More
Federal agents raid dozens of homes in crackdown on 'birth tourism'
Federal agents swarmed three dozen homes in southern California in an operation cracking down on the “birth tourism” industry.
Birth tourism involves operators charging pregnant women from foreign countries tens of thousands of dollars to stay in "maternity hotels" in the United States until their children are born as American citizens. They also oftentimes receive meals and transportation to and from the doctor and hospital visits.
“It is fertile ground for this kind of scheme,” Immigration and Customs Enforcement official Claude Arnold said. “These people were told to lie, how to lie, so that their motives for coming to the U.S. wouldn’t be questioned.”
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Birth tourism involves operators charging pregnant women from foreign countries tens of thousands of dollars to stay in "maternity hotels" in the United States until their children are born as American citizens. They also oftentimes receive meals and transportation to and from the doctor and hospital visits.
“It is fertile ground for this kind of scheme,” Immigration and Customs Enforcement official Claude Arnold said. “These people were told to lie, how to lie, so that their motives for coming to the U.S. wouldn’t be questioned.”
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NASA Worker Michael Hetle Accused In Death Of Maryland National Guardsman Javon Prather
A NASA employee and former police officer is facing charges after police say he shot and killed his neighbor, a Maryland National Guardsman in Springfield, Virginia.
Michael Hetle, 52, was arrested Tuesday after the fatal shooting of Specialist Javon Prather, 24, Fairfax County police said in a news release.
The men had argued for years, according to Prather’s mother, Shavon Prather.
“(Hetle) would call the HOA (home owners association) and say there was dog poop in their backyard,” Prather told The Washington Post. “He would call and complain when they put out trash. Anything he could do to scold them and to get them in trouble.”
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Michael Hetle, 52, was arrested Tuesday after the fatal shooting of Specialist Javon Prather, 24, Fairfax County police said in a news release.
The men had argued for years, according to Prather’s mother, Shavon Prather.
“(Hetle) would call the HOA (home owners association) and say there was dog poop in their backyard,” Prather told The Washington Post. “He would call and complain when they put out trash. Anything he could do to scold them and to get them in trouble.”
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EPIC! ICE Agents Snub Sanctuary City Law and Arrest Illegal Alien as He Entered San Francisco Courthouse
Great news!
Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE] agents on Thursday snubbed the dangerous ‘sanctuary city’ law and arrested an illegal alien as he was entering a San Francisco courthouse for a hearing.
And the liberal California officials are livid!
CBS San Francisco reported:
UPDATE: Click HERE to read the press release from ICE.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE] agents on Thursday snubbed the dangerous ‘sanctuary city’ law and arrested an illegal alien as he was entering a San Francisco courthouse for a hearing.
And the liberal California officials are livid!
CBS San Francisco reported:
Local officials were irate Thursday over the arrest by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents of an individual as he entered a San Francisco courthouse for a hearing in violation of the city’s sanctuary law.More
Both the San Francisco Public Defender and the District Attorney condemned the action on the steps of the courthouse on 850 Bryant St., and called on ICE to stop making courthouse arrests. Immigration rights advocates said it was the first time this type of courthouse immigration enforcement has occurred in San Francisco.
UPDATE: Click HERE to read the press release from ICE.
He has three felony convictions for 2nd degree burglary from 2016, 2017 and 2019. On Oct. 26, 2018, ICE lodged a detainer on this criminal alien. That detainer was not honored and he was released back into the community.
Trump will get a chance at installing a third judge on the influential DC Circuit Court
A judge sitting on the D.C. Circuit Court will retire in September, allowing President Trump the chance to install a third judge on the influential bench.
Judge Thomas Griffith told colleagues at the court that he plans to retire in September, two months before the presidential election and clearing the way for Trump to nominate and the GOP-led Senate to approve another judge to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, according to the Washington Post.
The D.C. Circuit is influential as a pipeline for judges eventually nominated to the Supreme Court and in the types of cases it decides, which largely deals with challenges to federal policies. Two slots on the federal bench are already held by Trump nominees Gregory Katsas and Neomi Rao. Trump has nominated a record 51 judges to fill seats across the system of 13 circuit courts.
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Judge Thomas Griffith told colleagues at the court that he plans to retire in September, two months before the presidential election and clearing the way for Trump to nominate and the GOP-led Senate to approve another judge to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, according to the Washington Post.
The D.C. Circuit is influential as a pipeline for judges eventually nominated to the Supreme Court and in the types of cases it decides, which largely deals with challenges to federal policies. Two slots on the federal bench are already held by Trump nominees Gregory Katsas and Neomi Rao. Trump has nominated a record 51 judges to fill seats across the system of 13 circuit courts.
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Republican-Backed Md. Bill Targets Baltimore Crime, Would Allow Hogan To Declare State Of Emergency
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — A bill backed by more than a dozen Maryland Republican lawmakers targeting Baltimore crime would allow Gov. Larry Hogan to declare a state of emergency based on a community’s homicide rate.
Senate Bill 1078 would allow the governor to declare a state of emergency in any community that sees at least three homicides per 100,000 residents in a 30-day period. To qualify for the declaration, Baltimore would need to see more than 18 homicides in a month.
So far in 2020, Baltimore has seen 51 homicides and 92 non-fatal shootings, police said Tuesday morning.
“There’s clearly a problem with crime in Baltimore City,” Senator Bob Cassilly said. “The murder rates just keep rising to new record levels every month.”
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Senate Bill 1078 would allow the governor to declare a state of emergency in any community that sees at least three homicides per 100,000 residents in a 30-day period. To qualify for the declaration, Baltimore would need to see more than 18 homicides in a month.
So far in 2020, Baltimore has seen 51 homicides and 92 non-fatal shootings, police said Tuesday morning.
“There’s clearly a problem with crime in Baltimore City,” Senator Bob Cassilly said. “The murder rates just keep rising to new record levels every month.”
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FISA court mistakenly says Fusion GPS was digging up dirt on Hillary Clinton, not Trump
A ruling by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court on Wednesday mistakenly said Fusion GPS, the opposition research firm which hired British ex-spy Christopher Steele in 2016, was looking for dirt on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton rather than on then-candidate Donald Trump.
The court fixed the glaring error only after the Washington Examiner brought it to its attention.
Judge James Boasberg, the court’s presiding judge, cited the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act applications against former Trump campaign associate Carter Page in a Wednesday opinion and, in the midst of pointing out the multitude of flaws, omissions, and factual errors in the electronic surveillance filings uncovered by the Justice Department’s watchdog, he made a mistake himself.
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The court fixed the glaring error only after the Washington Examiner brought it to its attention.
Judge James Boasberg, the court’s presiding judge, cited the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act applications against former Trump campaign associate Carter Page in a Wednesday opinion and, in the midst of pointing out the multitude of flaws, omissions, and factual errors in the electronic surveillance filings uncovered by the Justice Department’s watchdog, he made a mistake himself.
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SEN. WALDSTREICHER CALLS FOR POT EXPUNGEMENTS
Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher (D-Montgomery) on Thursday urged a panel of Maryland lawmakers to approve legislation that would provide for the automatic expungement of criminal records related to marijuana possession in cases where no other convictions took place.
“Senate Bill 699 as introduced provides automatic expungement for the mere possession of marijuana where the mere possession of marijuana was the only conviction and was not part of a series of other drug crimes that might include more serious offenses – like dealing and the like,” Waldstreicher said at a Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee hearing in Annapolis.
Waldstreicher. the lead sponsor of the bill, noted that the House version of the bill is slightly different than its Senate companion. Del. David Moon (D-Montgomery) is the lead sponsor of the House bill. The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the legislation on Jan. 28. Both bills were previously introduced during the 2017 legislative session. Waldstreicher relayed that the House bill provides for the “automatic shielding” of records rather than automatic expungement.
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“Senate Bill 699 as introduced provides automatic expungement for the mere possession of marijuana where the mere possession of marijuana was the only conviction and was not part of a series of other drug crimes that might include more serious offenses – like dealing and the like,” Waldstreicher said at a Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee hearing in Annapolis.
Waldstreicher. the lead sponsor of the bill, noted that the House version of the bill is slightly different than its Senate companion. Del. David Moon (D-Montgomery) is the lead sponsor of the House bill. The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the legislation on Jan. 28. Both bills were previously introduced during the 2017 legislative session. Waldstreicher relayed that the House bill provides for the “automatic shielding” of records rather than automatic expungement.
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Cannabis case dropped, for now
With insufficient evidence against him, Jacob Dylan Forrester, 20, of Berlin was free to go after a prosecutor requested a nolle prosequi, or dismissal, of his case, which involved a suspected marijuana growing operation in his home.
On Oct. 29, 2019, a property damage call led Ocean City police to Forrester’s 57th Street apartment, where they found roughly five pounds of suspected cannabis. Also discovered were what appeared to be several large cannabis plants, two kitchen-sized trash bags full of the plant material, as well as tools used to weigh and designate sales prices.
Forrester was arrested, and charged with possession of more than 10 grams of cannabis, possession with intention to distribute and possession of a gun replica.
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On Oct. 29, 2019, a property damage call led Ocean City police to Forrester’s 57th Street apartment, where they found roughly five pounds of suspected cannabis. Also discovered were what appeared to be several large cannabis plants, two kitchen-sized trash bags full of the plant material, as well as tools used to weigh and designate sales prices.
Forrester was arrested, and charged with possession of more than 10 grams of cannabis, possession with intention to distribute and possession of a gun replica.
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Pentagon linguist charged with espionage for passing secrets to man linked to Hezbollah
A female linguist working for the Pentagon in Iraq was charged with handing over classified information about on-the-ground human sources assisting the United States to a Hezbollah-tied foreign national with whom she was romantically linked, according to the Justice Department.
Mariam Taha Thompson, 61, was charged on Wednesday in a Washington federal court with “transmitting highly sensitive classified national defense information to a foreign national” to a man with “apparent connections” to the Lebanese-based Hezbollah, a foreign terrorist organization tied to Iran. If convicted, she could face life in prison.
The 12-page FBI affidavit put together by Special Agent Danielle Ray said the information that Thompson passed along “included classified national defense information regarding active human assets — including their true names” and that by compromising the identities of these human assets, Thompson placed the lives of both the human assets and U.S. military members in “grave danger.”
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Mariam Taha Thompson, 61, was charged on Wednesday in a Washington federal court with “transmitting highly sensitive classified national defense information to a foreign national” to a man with “apparent connections” to the Lebanese-based Hezbollah, a foreign terrorist organization tied to Iran. If convicted, she could face life in prison.
The 12-page FBI affidavit put together by Special Agent Danielle Ray said the information that Thompson passed along “included classified national defense information regarding active human assets — including their true names” and that by compromising the identities of these human assets, Thompson placed the lives of both the human assets and U.S. military members in “grave danger.”
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VP Pence ridiculed for praying with coronavirus task force
An old adage proclaims that "a picture is worth a thousand words" – and in this case, it's an official White House photo that's triggered some rather nasty comments about prayer.
After a photo of Vice President Mike Pence praying with his coronavirus task force went public, waves of criticism mocking the United States' second-in-command struck social media. In the White House photo (right), Pence is seen seated in a circle with the task force as they bowed their heads in prayer, with the others remaining in the room standing while bowing their heads – 17 in all.
With Twitter and other platforms taking issue with the vice president – a self-described evangelical Christian – his latest prayer has "sparked a heated debate on social media about religion, politics and the efficacy of prayer," according to Christian Headlines.
A writer for New York Magazine and Harper's Magazine, Thomas Chatterton Williams, headed up one wave of derision over the photo on social media channels, generating nearly 10K comments, 5.5K retweets and 20K likes.
"Mike Pence and his coronavirus emergency team praying for a solution. We are so screwed," Williams colorfully tweeted Sunday as a caption to the photo.
Another journalist implied that prayer is not and should not be welcomed or permitted in the White House – especially concerning urgent issues.
More here
After a photo of Vice President Mike Pence praying with his coronavirus task force went public, waves of criticism mocking the United States' second-in-command struck social media. In the White House photo (right), Pence is seen seated in a circle with the task force as they bowed their heads in prayer, with the others remaining in the room standing while bowing their heads – 17 in all.
With Twitter and other platforms taking issue with the vice president – a self-described evangelical Christian – his latest prayer has "sparked a heated debate on social media about religion, politics and the efficacy of prayer," according to Christian Headlines.
A writer for New York Magazine and Harper's Magazine, Thomas Chatterton Williams, headed up one wave of derision over the photo on social media channels, generating nearly 10K comments, 5.5K retweets and 20K likes.
"Mike Pence and his coronavirus emergency team praying for a solution. We are so screwed," Williams colorfully tweeted Sunday as a caption to the photo.
Another journalist implied that prayer is not and should not be welcomed or permitted in the White House – especially concerning urgent issues.
More here
California GOP candidates ahead in six of seven districts lost to Democrats in 2018
California Republicans turned in a strong and largely overlooked performance on Super Tuesday, improving their position to take back many of the House seats they lost in 2018.
Millions of late-arriving ballots have still not been counted from Tuesday’s election, but Republicans so far have combined for a majority in six of the seven districts they lost in an embarrassing 2018 midterm that ultimately cost them control of the House of Representatives. Republicans have strong leads in two of those districts, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
“California is a blue state, but parts of it are purple,” a Sonoma State University political science professor said. “It will be a difficult road for the Democrats to run the table again this year.”
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Millions of late-arriving ballots have still not been counted from Tuesday’s election, but Republicans so far have combined for a majority in six of the seven districts they lost in an embarrassing 2018 midterm that ultimately cost them control of the House of Representatives. Republicans have strong leads in two of those districts, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
“California is a blue state, but parts of it are purple,” a Sonoma State University political science professor said. “It will be a difficult road for the Democrats to run the table again this year.”
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Governor Larry Hogan Declares State of Emergency, Expands Statewide Response to Novel Coronavirus
Three Confirmed Maryland Cases in Montgomery County, Patients In Quarantine And In Good Condition
ANNAPOLIS, MD—Tonight, Governor Larry Hogan announced the state’s first positive cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and declared a state of emergency to ramp up Maryland’s coordinated response across all levels of government.
“In order to further mobilize all available state resources in response to this threat to public health, I have issued a proclamation declaring a state of emergency in Maryland,” said Governor Hogan. “With this declaration, I am officially authorizing and directing the Maryland Department of Health and the Maryland Emergency Management Agency to ramp up coordination among all state and local agencies and enable them to fast-track coordination with our state and local health departments and emergency management teams.”
This afternoon, Maryland’s State Public Health Laboratory in Baltimore confirmed three positive cases in Montgomery County. The patients, who contracted the virus while traveling overseas, are in good condition and are in quarantine at their homes.
Earlier this week, the Hogan administration introduced emergency legislation granting the governor the authority to transfer resources from the state’s rainy day fund for Maryland’s novel coronavirus response. Additionally, the governor submitted a supplemental budget today for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) that requests $10 million for emergency coronavirus preparedness expenses.
“While today’s news may seem overwhelming, this is not a reason to panic,” continued the governor. “Marylanders should go to work or go to school tomorrow just as they normally would. At the same time, I want to continue to remind everyone to prepare themselves and continue to stay informed. I am confident in our state’s ability to respond effectively to these three cases of coronavirus as well as to any future cases, and to be a national leader in responding to this situation and in developing treatments and perhaps even a vaccine.”
Information and updates about COVID-19 in Maryland are available at health.maryland.gov/coronavirus. During the press conference, the governor detailed the state’s ongoing response to COVID-19, including:
Dunkin to give away free donuts every Friday in March
Dunkin is hoping to make every Friday in March a little sweeter.
According to the donut chain, Dunkin’ is giving away a free classic donut with a purchase of any drink every Friday in March.
Beginning this Friday, March 6, and on each Friday through the end of the month, DD Perks members can celebrate the weekend with a free donut when they buy any beverage.
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According to the donut chain, Dunkin’ is giving away a free classic donut with a purchase of any drink every Friday in March.
Beginning this Friday, March 6, and on each Friday through the end of the month, DD Perks members can celebrate the weekend with a free donut when they buy any beverage.
More
