DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Thursday, November 14, 2019
West Wing Reads
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ICE HSI helps remove more than 3,500 sexual predators from community, up 18% over last year
SEATTLE, Wash. – Each year, thousands of children around the world fall prey to sexual predators. These young victims are left with permanent psychological, physical, and emotional scars. Seeking to end this criminal activity and protect children worldwide, U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) developed Operation Predator, an international initiative to identify, investigate and arrest child predators and dismantle the underground networks where they thrive. HSI’s goal is simple: To identify, investigate, and arrest child predators who possess, trade, or produce child sexual abuse material; travel overseas for sex with minors; or engage in the sex trafficking of children.
Over the years, HSI’s child exploitation prevention efforts morphed from a small center in Fairfax, Virginia into a worldwide initiative that includes agents across HSI Seattle’s area of responsibility (AOR), which spans Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. One of these major prevention efforts was the launch of HSI’s flagship initiative, Operation Predator, and key domestic and foreign partnerships, which have been paramount in the expansion of both its reach and success.
Special agents, investigators and analysts from across HSI have dedicated themselves to protecting children and rooting out predators for more than two decades. In FY 19, HSI initiated 4,224 child exploitation cases resulting in 3,771 criminal arrests, and identified or rescued 1,066 victims – an increase of nearly 18% over FY 18 and reflecting HSI’s firm commitment to ending these heinous crimes against children, wherever they occur.
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Over the years, HSI’s child exploitation prevention efforts morphed from a small center in Fairfax, Virginia into a worldwide initiative that includes agents across HSI Seattle’s area of responsibility (AOR), which spans Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. One of these major prevention efforts was the launch of HSI’s flagship initiative, Operation Predator, and key domestic and foreign partnerships, which have been paramount in the expansion of both its reach and success.
Special agents, investigators and analysts from across HSI have dedicated themselves to protecting children and rooting out predators for more than two decades. In FY 19, HSI initiated 4,224 child exploitation cases resulting in 3,771 criminal arrests, and identified or rescued 1,066 victims – an increase of nearly 18% over FY 18 and reflecting HSI’s firm commitment to ending these heinous crimes against children, wherever they occur.
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Fellow Soldiers SLAM Col. Vindman for “Pushing a Coup” by Testifying in Uniform and For Secretly Advising Ukrainians to Ignore US President
Adam Schiff’s star witness Alexander Vindman testified to the House Intel Committee that he “thought” the President was wrong in his policy with Ukraine. So he later told Ukrainians to ignore the President.
Alexander Vindman’s testimony was recently released and it shows an ignorant underling in the NSC who believed the President’s policy in the Ukraine was flawed and because of this Vindman notified a group of ‘Ukrainians’ to ignore the President’s requests.
The Conservative Treehouse reported on the release and highlighted some interesting pieces from the testimony. Apparently in his opening remarks young Vindman stated that he believed the President ‘demanded’ something from the Ukrainians. Representative Ratcliff destroyed him on this assertion.
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Alexander Vindman’s testimony was recently released and it shows an ignorant underling in the NSC who believed the President’s policy in the Ukraine was flawed and because of this Vindman notified a group of ‘Ukrainians’ to ignore the President’s requests.
The Conservative Treehouse reported on the release and highlighted some interesting pieces from the testimony. Apparently in his opening remarks young Vindman stated that he believed the President ‘demanded’ something from the Ukrainians. Representative Ratcliff destroyed him on this assertion.
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**DEAD SILENCE!** – Rep. John Ratcliffe STUMPS SCHIFF’S TOP WITNESSES — They Can’t Name a Crime Trump Committed!! (VIDEO)
Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) tore into Adam Schiff’s top witnesses today.
Rep. Ratcliffe, a former US Attorney from Texas, destroyed the Democrats’ star witnesses.
At one point Ratcliffe asked Ambassador and George Kent to name the crime that President Trump committed on his call with President Zelensky?
More/Video
Rep. Ratcliffe, a former US Attorney from Texas, destroyed the Democrats’ star witnesses.
At one point Ratcliffe asked Ambassador and George Kent to name the crime that President Trump committed on his call with President Zelensky?
Rep Ratcliffe: So in this impeachment hearing today where we impeach presidents for treason or bribery or other high crimes, where is the impeachable offense in that call? Are either of you here today to assert there was an impeachable offense in that call?**Silence**
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Capitol Building To Be Decorated As Giant Circus Tent For Duration Of Impeachment Hearings
WASHINGTON, D.C.—In honor of the impeachment hearings beginning this week, the Capitol Building has been decorated to look like a giant circus tent.
As soon as congressional maintenance staff heard that the impeachment hearings were going to begin, they went into storage and got out "the Big Top," also used during the Kavanaugh hearings last year.
"We keep the Big Top on hand for certain situations," said one staff member. "Usually these big inquisition-style trials, that kind of thing. They're great entertainment. And the kids love the monkeys."
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As soon as congressional maintenance staff heard that the impeachment hearings were going to begin, they went into storage and got out "the Big Top," also used during the Kavanaugh hearings last year.
"We keep the Big Top on hand for certain situations," said one staff member. "Usually these big inquisition-style trials, that kind of thing. They're great entertainment. And the kids love the monkeys."
More
'The Real Ukraine Controversy': John Solomon Exposes How Rogue US Embassy Conducted Foreign Policy
The first time I ever heard the name of U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch was in early March of this year. It did not come from a Ukrainian or an ally of President Trump. It came from a career diplomat I was interviewing on background on a different story.
The diplomat, as I recall, suggested that Yovanovitch had just caused a commotion in Ukraine a few weeks before that country’s presidential election by calling for the firing of one of the prosecutors aligned with the incumbent president.
The diplomat related that a more senior State official, David Hale, was about to travel to Ukraine and was prepping to be confronted about Yovanovitch’s comments. I remember the diplomat joking something to the effect of, “we always say that the Geneva Convention is optional for our Kiev staff.”
The Geneva Convention is the UN-backed pact enacted during the Cold War that governs the conduct of foreign diplomats in host countries and protects them against retribution. But it strictly mandates that foreign diplomats “have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State” that hosts them. You can read the convention’s rules here.
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The diplomat, as I recall, suggested that Yovanovitch had just caused a commotion in Ukraine a few weeks before that country’s presidential election by calling for the firing of one of the prosecutors aligned with the incumbent president.
The diplomat related that a more senior State official, David Hale, was about to travel to Ukraine and was prepping to be confronted about Yovanovitch’s comments. I remember the diplomat joking something to the effect of, “we always say that the Geneva Convention is optional for our Kiev staff.”
The Geneva Convention is the UN-backed pact enacted during the Cold War that governs the conduct of foreign diplomats in host countries and protects them against retribution. But it strictly mandates that foreign diplomats “have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State” that hosts them. You can read the convention’s rules here.
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Adam Schiff is wasting the nation’s time with impeachment hearings
In their first day of public impeachment hearings, Democrats made clear just how weak their case is.
In beyond-dull testimony, the Dems’ first witnesses, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent and US Chargé d’Affaires in Ukraine Bill Taylor, noted their displeasure with the fact that there were “two channels” (a “regular” and an “irregular” one) to Ukraine, and at some point the goals of the two diverged.
Taylor and Kent complained that President Trump conditioned US aid on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announcing that his country would investigate corruption, specifically: Ukrainian interference in the 2016 election and payoffs to then-Vice President Joe Biden’s son Hunter.
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In beyond-dull testimony, the Dems’ first witnesses, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent and US Chargé d’Affaires in Ukraine Bill Taylor, noted their displeasure with the fact that there were “two channels” (a “regular” and an “irregular” one) to Ukraine, and at some point the goals of the two diverged.
Taylor and Kent complained that President Trump conditioned US aid on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announcing that his country would investigate corruption, specifically: Ukrainian interference in the 2016 election and payoffs to then-Vice President Joe Biden’s son Hunter.
More
Berlin: Abuse Leads To Changes For Berlin’s Bulk Pickup Days
BERLIN – Abuse of the town’s bulk trash pickup service has prompted officials to reevaluate Berlin’s existing policy.
On Monday, the Berlin Town Council reviewed proposed changes to the town’s solid waste and special collection policies. While the changes to the solid waste section were insignificant, the proposed alterations to the town’s special waste collection policy require residents to pay if they put more than three items out during bulk pickup. Officials said the change was being proposed because people were taking advantage of the town’s bulk pickup service, which is offered twice a year.
“It’s grown so much in such a short time it can’t be that suddenly everything’s wearing out in all these homes in Berlin,” Mayor Gee Williams said. “I think we’ve become a dumping ground.”
Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood said that in 2018, the town spent $9,500 collecting and disposing of 22.4 tons of items through bulk pickup. In 2019, the town as of Tuesday had collected 38 tons of items at a cost of $18,584. Fleetwood pointed out that figure would go up because there was still one day of bulk pickup set for Wednesday. He showed elected officials photos of the array of items set out for pickup.
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On Monday, the Berlin Town Council reviewed proposed changes to the town’s solid waste and special collection policies. While the changes to the solid waste section were insignificant, the proposed alterations to the town’s special waste collection policy require residents to pay if they put more than three items out during bulk pickup. Officials said the change was being proposed because people were taking advantage of the town’s bulk pickup service, which is offered twice a year.
“It’s grown so much in such a short time it can’t be that suddenly everything’s wearing out in all these homes in Berlin,” Mayor Gee Williams said. “I think we’ve become a dumping ground.”
Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood said that in 2018, the town spent $9,500 collecting and disposing of 22.4 tons of items through bulk pickup. In 2019, the town as of Tuesday had collected 38 tons of items at a cost of $18,584. Fleetwood pointed out that figure would go up because there was still one day of bulk pickup set for Wednesday. He showed elected officials photos of the array of items set out for pickup.
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DISSECTING THE GREAT UKRAINE LIE
A whale in a raincoat turns to a starfish.
“Why do you need a raincoat when we're surrounded by water?" asks the starfish.
The whale laughs, “Water? I don't see any water."
We are the starfish in this situation. There's something suspicious happening. We can sense it. But it's often hard to prove. The media tells us that we're delusional. That all this Ukraine business is a conspiracy theory.
Only it's not.
And we have proof
SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT. SOMETHING SMELLED FISHY.
I was talking about Biden's shady connection to Ukraine months before anyone else. (Perhaps you watched our candidate profile on Joe Biden from April of this year.)
My team and I knew, even then, that something wasn't right. Something smelled fishy.
Then we discovered the truth. We couldn't believe it. The evidence kept piling on. And, thanks to cavalier journalists like John Solomon at the Hill, many of the documents and recordings and videos rose to the surface.
Much Much More
“Why do you need a raincoat when we're surrounded by water?" asks the starfish.
The whale laughs, “Water? I don't see any water."
We are the starfish in this situation. There's something suspicious happening. We can sense it. But it's often hard to prove. The media tells us that we're delusional. That all this Ukraine business is a conspiracy theory.
Only it's not.
And we have proof
SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT. SOMETHING SMELLED FISHY.
I was talking about Biden's shady connection to Ukraine months before anyone else. (Perhaps you watched our candidate profile on Joe Biden from April of this year.)
My team and I knew, even then, that something wasn't right. Something smelled fishy.
Then we discovered the truth. We couldn't believe it. The evidence kept piling on. And, thanks to cavalier journalists like John Solomon at the Hill, many of the documents and recordings and videos rose to the surface.
Much Much More
'The Democrats' Hydra': Here are the FACTS about the impeachment inquiry, Soros, Ukraine
"As one falls, two more will take their place."
Democracy does die in darkness and is being strangled in secret, back-door arrangements. In the third part of our special series on the REAL Ukraine scandal, my team's research exposes a much bigger story into what Democrats were doing in Ukraine. Disturbing details and explosive documents reveal how the Obama Deep State allowed the theft of a country and has set the stage for devastating consequences on our democracy today. It's all happening under the nose of the president and, more importantly, without the approval of the American people.
There's a big difference between conspiracy THEORY and conspiracy FACT. A conspiracy THEORY is an attempt to explain or connect the dots on something, but without any hard evidence. Everything in this is backed up with hard evidence. Is it a conspiracy? Absolutely it is, but it's a conspiracy FACT.
More/Videos
Democracy does die in darkness and is being strangled in secret, back-door arrangements. In the third part of our special series on the REAL Ukraine scandal, my team's research exposes a much bigger story into what Democrats were doing in Ukraine. Disturbing details and explosive documents reveal how the Obama Deep State allowed the theft of a country and has set the stage for devastating consequences on our democracy today. It's all happening under the nose of the president and, more importantly, without the approval of the American people.
There's a big difference between conspiracy THEORY and conspiracy FACT. A conspiracy THEORY is an attempt to explain or connect the dots on something, but without any hard evidence. Everything in this is backed up with hard evidence. Is it a conspiracy? Absolutely it is, but it's a conspiracy FACT.
More/Videos
The year the black vote switched: Will 2020 be 1936 in reverse?
In 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt lost the black vote overwhelmingly, receiving just 21% support from black Americans in Chicago (there were no national polling organizations).
Such a loss was understandable, considering that the Democratic Party was the party of slavery and the party instigating segregation in the South. Moreover, the Democrats had made it clear that black Americans were unwelcome in the Democratic Party. In fact, Roosevelt, as undersecretary of the Navy, had actively assisted in President Woodrow Wilson's resegregation of the military.
Roosevelt had even used the n-word in personal correspondence. Or, as Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. put it generously, Roosevelt “was fairly conventional in his racial attitudes.” Not surprisingly, there had never been any black Americans serving as delegates or alternate delegates to the Democratic National Convention.
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Such a loss was understandable, considering that the Democratic Party was the party of slavery and the party instigating segregation in the South. Moreover, the Democrats had made it clear that black Americans were unwelcome in the Democratic Party. In fact, Roosevelt, as undersecretary of the Navy, had actively assisted in President Woodrow Wilson's resegregation of the military.
Roosevelt had even used the n-word in personal correspondence. Or, as Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. put it generously, Roosevelt “was fairly conventional in his racial attitudes.” Not surprisingly, there had never been any black Americans serving as delegates or alternate delegates to the Democratic National Convention.
More
Md. lawmaker proposes bill prohibiting real estate agents from listing school district in ads
A Maryland lawmaker is proposing legislation that would bar real estate agents from using a home’s school assignment as part of the sales pitch.
Del. David Moon, who represents Montgomery County, is proposing the bill that he said would give homebuyers more information during the purchase process.
“There seems to be a lot of misinformation from homebuyers who think that the school assignment they had when they bought their house was a permanent one, or that it was in some way guaranteed,” he said.
Moon’s legislation comes as Montgomery County is in the process of a districtwide analysis of school boundaries and a proposed shift of school boundaries involving three school clusters: Seneca Valley High School, Clarksburg High School and Northwest High School.
Homeowners who live in areas undergoing boundary changes often say they bought their homes precisely because they wanted their children to go to a certain school.
“I’m hoping we might get to a point where we have homeowners a little bit more educated on this, and to really eliminate the element of surprise for them,” Moon said.
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Del. David Moon, who represents Montgomery County, is proposing the bill that he said would give homebuyers more information during the purchase process.
“There seems to be a lot of misinformation from homebuyers who think that the school assignment they had when they bought their house was a permanent one, or that it was in some way guaranteed,” he said.
Moon’s legislation comes as Montgomery County is in the process of a districtwide analysis of school boundaries and a proposed shift of school boundaries involving three school clusters: Seneca Valley High School, Clarksburg High School and Northwest High School.
Homeowners who live in areas undergoing boundary changes often say they bought their homes precisely because they wanted their children to go to a certain school.
“I’m hoping we might get to a point where we have homeowners a little bit more educated on this, and to really eliminate the element of surprise for them,” Moon said.
More
Police: Baltimore City Reaches 300 Homicides This Year
Detective Donny Moses, with the Baltimore Police Department, has confirmed that as of Thursday morning, Baltimore City has reached 300 homicides so far this year.
Moses confirmed with WBAL News Radio 1090 and FM 101.5's Anne Kramer that the latest victims were a man and woman shot and killed at McHenry and Monroe streets in Southwest Baltimore. That happened around 3 a.m. Thursday.
Another man was killed on Wednesday night in the city on McElderry Street.
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Moses confirmed with WBAL News Radio 1090 and FM 101.5's Anne Kramer that the latest victims were a man and woman shot and killed at McHenry and Monroe streets in Southwest Baltimore. That happened around 3 a.m. Thursday.
Another man was killed on Wednesday night in the city on McElderry Street.
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Intense Meteor Outburst Expected from the Alpha Monocerotids
What's rarer than seeing a unicorn? How about a unicorn spitting meteors at the rate of 400 per hour? You'll have an opportunity to see it for yourself on Thursday night, November 21-22, when the obscure Alpha Monocerotid shower could produce upwards of 400 meteors per hour from a radiant near the star Procyon in Monoceros the unicorn. Even more amazing, the outburst is expected to last only a half-hour.
Peter Jenniskens, a senior research scientist with the SETI Institute and NASA's Ames Research Center, along with Esko Lyytinen of the Finnish Fireball Network, have been keeping tabs on the shower for years. During outbursts, such as those that occurred in 1925 and 1935, activity reached meteor-storm levels with a zenithal hourly rate (ZHR) of more than 1,000. Activity rose to near-storm levels again in 1985 and 1995 with ZHRs around 700 and 400. ZHR is an idealized number based on how many meteors a single observer would see if the radiant were overhead in a dark sky during shower maximum.
The source of the Alpha Monocerotids is unknown, but the stream's orbital characteristics point to a long-period comet with a period of about 500 years. This nameless visitor deposited a dense, narrow ribbon of debris in the distant past with a half-width of only around 55,000 kilometers, equal to the distance from the center of Earth to the geostationary satellite belt.
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Peter Jenniskens, a senior research scientist with the SETI Institute and NASA's Ames Research Center, along with Esko Lyytinen of the Finnish Fireball Network, have been keeping tabs on the shower for years. During outbursts, such as those that occurred in 1925 and 1935, activity reached meteor-storm levels with a zenithal hourly rate (ZHR) of more than 1,000. Activity rose to near-storm levels again in 1985 and 1995 with ZHRs around 700 and 400. ZHR is an idealized number based on how many meteors a single observer would see if the radiant were overhead in a dark sky during shower maximum.
The source of the Alpha Monocerotids is unknown, but the stream's orbital characteristics point to a long-period comet with a period of about 500 years. This nameless visitor deposited a dense, narrow ribbon of debris in the distant past with a half-width of only around 55,000 kilometers, equal to the distance from the center of Earth to the geostationary satellite belt.
More
Shocking moment five brazen men burst into a Nike store in California and steal dozens of sneakers
Shocked customers witnessed at least five men run into a Nike store in California and steal armloads of sneakers.
In cellphone footage, the men are seen brazenly walking out of the Nike Factory Store at the Mountain Grove Shopping Center around 8.30pm on Monday.
Each male appeared to be carrying at least 6 boxes as the storm alarm went off.
One of the males managed to stack 10 boxes in his arms.
More/Video
In cellphone footage, the men are seen brazenly walking out of the Nike Factory Store at the Mountain Grove Shopping Center around 8.30pm on Monday.
Each male appeared to be carrying at least 6 boxes as the storm alarm went off.
One of the males managed to stack 10 boxes in his arms.
More/Video
Criticism Follows Maya Cummings Into Congressional Race
Past allegations against and statements by Maya Rockeymoore Cummings are dogging her as she enters the race for the House seat previously held by her late husband, Elijah Cummings. On Wednesday, she was accused of lying about the events that led her to enter the race.
Larry Gibson, a law professor at the University of Maryland Frances King Carey School of Law, is a longtime confidant to both the late Rep. Elijah Cummings and former Rep. Kweisi Mfume. He was with Mfume when he announced his entry into the race to succeed Cummings, who died last month.
Maya Rockeymoore Cummings told The Baltimore Sun this week that Mfume and Gibson asked her pastor to set up a meeting "less than 36 hours after my husband passed."
She said they scheduled a meeting and it didn't happen and that she texted Mfume and Mfume never responded.
Gibson categorically denied that timeline, telling C4 "that would've been ridiculously insensitive."
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Larry Gibson, a law professor at the University of Maryland Frances King Carey School of Law, is a longtime confidant to both the late Rep. Elijah Cummings and former Rep. Kweisi Mfume. He was with Mfume when he announced his entry into the race to succeed Cummings, who died last month.
Maya Rockeymoore Cummings told The Baltimore Sun this week that Mfume and Gibson asked her pastor to set up a meeting "less than 36 hours after my husband passed."
She said they scheduled a meeting and it didn't happen and that she texted Mfume and Mfume never responded.
Gibson categorically denied that timeline, telling C4 "that would've been ridiculously insensitive."
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Wisconsin Assembly Votes for Christmas Tree, Bible Week
Republicans who lead the Wisconsin Assembly voted Tuesday to call the state Capitol evergreen a Christmas tree and formally recognize National Bible Week, moves they said were necessary to ensure Christianity isn't marginalized as the holidays approach.
The 64-30 vote on naming the tree was a direct response to Gov. Tony Evers' declaration last week that it would be called a "holiday tree." Evers' Republican predecessor Scott Walker, the son of a Baptist minister, declared the evergreen was a Christmas tree during his first term in 2011.
"It seems like the only religion we're willing to take shots at is Christianity," Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke told reporters during a news conference.
Democrat Rep. Jonathan Brostoff, who is Jewish, told Republicans if they want to help Christians they should pass gun control bills to keep them from getting killed.
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Iowa man pleads guilty to planning to bomb White House and kill Trump
An Iowa man pleaded guilty to creating detailed plans to bomb the White House in an attempt to kill President Trump.
Christian Delatorre, 25, admitted in a federal court that he planned to make homemade bombs and detonate them inside the White House. Delatorre was convicted of willfully threatening to take the life of and inflict serious bodily harm on the president of the United States.
The Secret Service found that Delatorre had planned to use drones to detonate bombs around the perimeter of the White House to distract authorities so he could get near Trump. He admitted that he had considered a “suicide” attack on the president. Authorities found evidence that Deletorre had been studying floor plans of the White House in preparation of his attack.
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Christian Delatorre, 25, admitted in a federal court that he planned to make homemade bombs and detonate them inside the White House. Delatorre was convicted of willfully threatening to take the life of and inflict serious bodily harm on the president of the United States.
The Secret Service found that Delatorre had planned to use drones to detonate bombs around the perimeter of the White House to distract authorities so he could get near Trump. He admitted that he had considered a “suicide” attack on the president. Authorities found evidence that Deletorre had been studying floor plans of the White House in preparation of his attack.
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