Outgoing Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus forcefully dismissed a New York Times report that the RNC was hacked by Russians, claiming it is "absolutely not true."
"We contacted the FBI months ago when the when the issue came about," Priebus told ABC News, referring to the hacking of the Democratic National Committee in July. "They reviewed all of our systems. We have hacking-detection systems in place, and the conclusion was then, as it was again two days ago when we went back to the FBI to ask them about this, that the RNC was not hacked."
In separate reports Friday, the Washington Post and the New York Times claimed a secret CIA assessment concluded that Russians hacked both party institutions but only released the DNC's internal communications as part of a deliberate effort to undermine the Clinton campaign.
Priebus said the report "is based on unnamed sources who are perhaps doing something they shouldn't be doing by speaking to reporters or someone talking out of line about something that is absolutely not true."
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Monday, December 12, 2016
Melania Trump appears in Md. courthouse; she's suing a blogger over escort insinuations
ABC7 reporter Brad Bell tells us Mrs. Trump is suing a Maryland-based blogger who claimed that she once worked as a high-priced escort.
Mrs. Trump issued a statement today saying that even though she didn't need to be in court for today's status hearing, she wanted to demonstrate how seriously she takes the case.
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Trump torches CIA report on Russian interference: 'Every week it's another excuse'
President-elect Donald Trump slammed Democratic lawmakers and the mainstream media for claiming the Russian government meddled in last month's election to tip the odds in his favor, a conclusion privately reached among CIA officials, according to a report last week.
"If you look at the story and you take a look at what they said, there's great confusion. Nobody really knows, and hacking is very interesting," Trump told Fox News' Chris Wallace in an interview aired Sunday. "Once they hack, if you don't catch them in the act, you're not going to catch them. They have no idea if it's Russia or China or somebody. It could be somebody sitting in a bed some place."
"Every week it's another excuse," Trump said.
Trump said the story was planted by Democrats who are still grappling with "one of the greatest defeats in the history of politics in this country."
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"If you look at the story and you take a look at what they said, there's great confusion. Nobody really knows, and hacking is very interesting," Trump told Fox News' Chris Wallace in an interview aired Sunday. "Once they hack, if you don't catch them in the act, you're not going to catch them. They have no idea if it's Russia or China or somebody. It could be somebody sitting in a bed some place."
"Every week it's another excuse," Trump said.
Trump said the story was planted by Democrats who are still grappling with "one of the greatest defeats in the history of politics in this country."
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Ohio State U. Activists: Somali Terrorist Wrongly Killed
A group of student activists at held the protest this week and stated the killing of Abdul Razak Ali Artan during a terror attack was unjustified.
Maryam Abidi, a fourth-year Ohio State University student, defended the protest in a statement she made to the Ohio campus newspaper, The Lantern.
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Members of Congress Collect At Least $9.5 Million in Farm Subsidies
Members of Congress collected at least $9.5 million in farm subsidies between 1995 and 2014, according to new data fromEWG’s Farm Subsidy Database – including more than $1.1 million in subsidies over the last five years.
The 36 legislators and their spouses received millions in traditional farm subsidies since 1995. It’s likely that many also received crop insurance subsidies – but those are hidden from the public.
Key findings:
The farm owned in part by Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) received at least $5.3 million between 1995 and 2014. The farm owned by Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-Tenn.) received at least $3.6 million in farm subsidies between 1995 and 2014. Both LaMalfa and Fincher have invoked the Bible to attack anti-hunger programs.
Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) received at least $220,000 in farm subsidies between 1995 and 2012. Stutzman has frequently railed against government spending, warning “there are too many hands in the cookie jar.”
Several Tea Party leaders – including the current and former leaders of the fiscally conservativeRepublican Study Committee – received farm subsidies.
Some current or former chairs of committees overseeing the U.S. Department of Agriculture have received subsidies, including Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.). The most senior Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, Collin Peterson of Minnesota, has also received subsidies.
Overall, ten members of the House Agriculture Committee received at least $3.5 million in farm subsidies from 1995 to 2014.
The 36 legislators and their spouses received millions in traditional farm subsidies since 1995. It’s likely that many also received crop insurance subsidies – but those are hidden from the public.
Key findings:
The farm owned in part by Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) received at least $5.3 million between 1995 and 2014. The farm owned by Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-Tenn.) received at least $3.6 million in farm subsidies between 1995 and 2014. Both LaMalfa and Fincher have invoked the Bible to attack anti-hunger programs.
Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) received at least $220,000 in farm subsidies between 1995 and 2012. Stutzman has frequently railed against government spending, warning “there are too many hands in the cookie jar.”
Several Tea Party leaders – including the current and former leaders of the fiscally conservativeRepublican Study Committee – received farm subsidies.
Some current or former chairs of committees overseeing the U.S. Department of Agriculture have received subsidies, including Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.). The most senior Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, Collin Peterson of Minnesota, has also received subsidies.
Overall, ten members of the House Agriculture Committee received at least $3.5 million in farm subsidies from 1995 to 2014.
ACLU suing Indiana town over cross display as part of Christmas decorations
KNIGHTSTOWN, Ind. -- The American Civil Liberties Union is suing a central Indiana town over the display of a cross as part of its Christmas decorations.
The Indianapolis Star reported that the ACLU’s Indiana chapter and Knightstown resident Joseph Tompkins argue that the Christian symbol on display in the Knightstown town square violates the First Amendment. The lawsuit is seeking for removal of the cross, monetary damages and declaration that the cross display violates the First Amendment.
CBS affiliate WTTV reported that the suit alleges that the Latin cross “is the preeminent symbol of Christianity, representing the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus.” So if the display is religious, the suit argues, it has no business on town property.
Court documents say that the illuminated cross is atop a large evergreen tree and has for a number of years. The documents say there are no other holiday decorations on the square.
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Sick and Evil
There is nothing wrong with insurance … provided you can say no to it. Then it’s like any other thing you choose to buy.
Whether it makes sense to buy it – a subjective value judgment, by the way – isn’tthe point. Exercise makes sense, too.
The point is – or should be – if insurance is something you want, or feel the need of – then you have the right to choose to buy it.
What you haven’t got is the right to force others to buy it – and thereby take away their free choice.
Insurance at gunpoint is dark and vicious. Anything that involves pointing guns at other people (who haven’t pointed a gun at you first) is necessarily a dark and evil thing. Someone – it doesn’t matter which specific individual does the wet work – is threatening to harm you unless you hand over money for something you do not wish to buy.
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Whether it makes sense to buy it – a subjective value judgment, by the way – isn’tthe point. Exercise makes sense, too.
The point is – or should be – if insurance is something you want, or feel the need of – then you have the right to choose to buy it.
What you haven’t got is the right to force others to buy it – and thereby take away their free choice.
Insurance at gunpoint is dark and vicious. Anything that involves pointing guns at other people (who haven’t pointed a gun at you first) is necessarily a dark and evil thing. Someone – it doesn’t matter which specific individual does the wet work – is threatening to harm you unless you hand over money for something you do not wish to buy.
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Trump Blames Democrats For "Ridiculous" Russia Hacking Report
Speaking to Fox News' Chris Wallace on Sunday morning, the President-elect blasted the Friday night Wapo report that a secret CIA assessment concluded Russia intervened in the U.S. presidential election to help him win the presidency.
"I think it's ridiculous. I think it's just another excuse. I don't believe it," the president-elect said in an interview that aired Sunday on Fox News Sunday. "I don't know why and I think it's just -- you know, they talked about all sorts of things."
“Every week it's another excuse. We had a massive landslide victory, as you know, in the Electoral College,” referring to his 306-232 edge.
"If you look at the story and you take a look at what they said, there's great confusion. Nobody really knows, and hacking is very interesting," Trump said. "Once they hack if you don't catch them in the act you're not going to catch them. They have no idea if it's Russia or China or somebody. It could be somebody sitting in a bed some place. I mean, they have no idea."
He blamed Democrats for putting out the media reports and said he did not believe they came from the Central Intelligence Agency. "I think the Democrats are putting it out," he said in the interview. When asked if he thinks the CIA is trying to overturn the election results, Trump said during the Fox News interview he doesn't think "they're saying anything."
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"I think it's ridiculous. I think it's just another excuse. I don't believe it," the president-elect said in an interview that aired Sunday on Fox News Sunday. "I don't know why and I think it's just -- you know, they talked about all sorts of things."
“Every week it's another excuse. We had a massive landslide victory, as you know, in the Electoral College,” referring to his 306-232 edge.
"If you look at the story and you take a look at what they said, there's great confusion. Nobody really knows, and hacking is very interesting," Trump said. "Once they hack if you don't catch them in the act you're not going to catch them. They have no idea if it's Russia or China or somebody. It could be somebody sitting in a bed some place. I mean, they have no idea."
He blamed Democrats for putting out the media reports and said he did not believe they came from the Central Intelligence Agency. "I think the Democrats are putting it out," he said in the interview. When asked if he thinks the CIA is trying to overturn the election results, Trump said during the Fox News interview he doesn't think "they're saying anything."
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Republican John Kennedy wins Louisiana's Senate seat
Republican John Kennedy handily beat out Democrat Foster Campbell to win Louisiana's Senate race, giving the GOP a 52-48 majority in the chamber.
Kennedy, who was favored to win the traditionally red state, secured the nation's last Senate seat for the upcoming term in January on Saturday.
A total of 24 candidates, including Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke, jostled for the top two position on November 8 before facing off on Saturday in a run-off election established by Louisiana's unique primary system.
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Kennedy, who was favored to win the traditionally red state, secured the nation's last Senate seat for the upcoming term in January on Saturday.
A total of 24 candidates, including Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke, jostled for the top two position on November 8 before facing off on Saturday in a run-off election established by Louisiana's unique primary system.
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Delaware quietly disbands death row
Prison officials say the move, which occurred in August, resulted in former death row inmates having five times more recreational time than they had before, and in some cases, sharing cells with other inmates who are not facing the death penalty.
“It’s gone well,” Department of Corrections Commissioner Robert Coupe told The Associated Press this week. “Some of the inmates initially preferred not to interact … but we continued to work with them through our behavioral health folks and eventually all of them were moved out of what was formerly known as death row.”
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Chicago man is charged with beating and robbing elderly US Navy WWII veteran
Police in Chicago have nabbed the suspect in the brutal beating and robbing of a 94-year-old US Navy veteran.
Olajuwon Claiborne, 26, has been charged in the violent attack that left Josephine Regnier, a World War II veteran, with broken ribs and a concussion, WSL reported.
Regnier had been waiting for one of her daughters to pick her up and take her to the dentist shortly before noon on Wednesday.
But when it became too cold for her, she decided to go back inside the hallway.
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Olajuwon Claiborne, 26, has been charged in the violent attack that left Josephine Regnier, a World War II veteran, with broken ribs and a concussion, WSL reported.
Regnier had been waiting for one of her daughters to pick her up and take her to the dentist shortly before noon on Wednesday.
But when it became too cold for her, she decided to go back inside the hallway.
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PAPD Press Release 12-12-16 (Update Regarding Attempted Murder Investigation)
PAPD Press Release 12-12-16
Update Regarding Attempted Murder Investigation
The Princess Anne Police Department is sad to report that one of the victims from the attempted murder investigation on 12-6-16 has passed away over the weekend. The victim that has passed away was identified as Airealle Sells. The Princess Anne Police Department would like to express its deepest sympathy to the Sells family.
As of 8:30 a.m. this morning, the other victims remain in critical but stable condition. Investigators are consulting with the Somerset County State’s Attorney’s Office for modification of charges on the defendant, Sharef Hayward, concerning Airealle Sells.
Soros Connection to Scheme to Take Trump’s Electoral College Votes
NEW YORK – Harvard law professor and progressive activist Larry Lessig has announced that he is teaming up with a California-based law firm to offer “free and confidential” legal services to any members of the Electoral College who will vote against President-elect Donald Trump in violation of state law.
Lessig, a one-time presidential candidate, has served on the boards of numerous groups financed by billionaire George Soros.
Lessig’s Electoral College scheme, which is being called the Electors Trust, is a last-ditch effort to stop Trump from becoming president.
It comes after a petition drive by the Soros-funded MoveOn.org activist organization sought to abolish the Electoral College altogether.
Lessig’s project also follows the largely failed recount efforts of Green Party candidate Jill Stein, who was aided by Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Breitbart News reported that the lawyer representing Clinton’s recount efforts, Marc Elias, recently led legal battles against state voting laws with an infusion of funding from Soros.
More here
Lessig, a one-time presidential candidate, has served on the boards of numerous groups financed by billionaire George Soros.
Lessig’s Electoral College scheme, which is being called the Electors Trust, is a last-ditch effort to stop Trump from becoming president.
It comes after a petition drive by the Soros-funded MoveOn.org activist organization sought to abolish the Electoral College altogether.
Lessig’s project also follows the largely failed recount efforts of Green Party candidate Jill Stein, who was aided by Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Breitbart News reported that the lawyer representing Clinton’s recount efforts, Marc Elias, recently led legal battles against state voting laws with an infusion of funding from Soros.
More here
State Police Investigating Fatal Crash Southeast of Laurel
The incident occurred around 7:50 a.m. Monday December 12, 2016 as a 35-year-old female from Willards, Maryland was operating a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck westbound on Gordy Road, west of the intersection of Wootten Road, negotiating a moderate left curve. A 64-year-old female from Delmar, Delaware was operating a 2005 Ford Explorer eastbound on Gordy Road, approaching the Silverado. As the pick-up was traveling through the curve, the operator lost control and began to rotate counterclockwise, leaving the westbound travel lane and crossing into the eastbound lane. The operator of the Explorer, in an attempt to avoid a collision, swerved to the right, however the front center collided with the right side of the truck. After the impact, the Chevrolet pick-up continued rotating counterclockwise and came to stop in a ditch. The Ford Explorer rotated slightly clockwise and came to a stop in the same ditch, just west of the truck.
The 35-year old female and her 36-year-old male passenger in the pick-up truck, were removed from the scene by EMS and transported to Nanticoke Memorial Hospital. The female was admitted for non-life-threatening injuries. The male was pronounced dead a short time later at the hospital.
The 64-year-old female operator of the SUV was transported to Nanticoke Memorial Hospital where she was treated and released with non-life-threatening injuries.
All names are being withheld at this time pending notification of next of kin.
OC Council: no marine sanctuary
Hoping to help block the National Aquarium’s petition to make the Baltimore Canyon a marine sanctuary, the Ocean City mayor and council agreed Monday to send a letter to state officials declaring their steadfast opposition.
The council’s action followed an appeal by attorney Mark Cropper to join the local sportsfishing industry in opposing the designation sought by the aquarium officials in Baltimore.
“In any method that we can convince the National Aquarium in Baltimore not to file the petition due to the concerns of Ocean City and the fishing community, that’s the best of all worlds,” said Cropper, who represents the Sunset Marina, Ocean City Fishing Center Marina, the White Marlin Club and several recreational anglers and boat captains.
In October, the National Aquarium started a campaign to establish the 28-mile long underwater canyon as its first Urban National Marine Sanctuary. The designation would help protect the rare deep-sea coral and ecosystem in the Baltimore Canyon by restricting offshore exploration for minerals, oil and gas.
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The council’s action followed an appeal by attorney Mark Cropper to join the local sportsfishing industry in opposing the designation sought by the aquarium officials in Baltimore.
“In any method that we can convince the National Aquarium in Baltimore not to file the petition due to the concerns of Ocean City and the fishing community, that’s the best of all worlds,” said Cropper, who represents the Sunset Marina, Ocean City Fishing Center Marina, the White Marlin Club and several recreational anglers and boat captains.
In October, the National Aquarium started a campaign to establish the 28-mile long underwater canyon as its first Urban National Marine Sanctuary. The designation would help protect the rare deep-sea coral and ecosystem in the Baltimore Canyon by restricting offshore exploration for minerals, oil and gas.
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NYT executive editor: ‘We don’t get the role of religion in people’s lives’
The New York Times’ executive editor said that his newspaper — and “media powerhouses” across the nation — “do not understand what motivates devoutly religious Americans.”
Dean Baquet sat down Thursday with NPR for an extended interview on the media landscape following Donald Trump’s presidential election win on Nov. 8. Host Terry Gross essentially engaged in an after-action review in terms of what media outlets can learn from the election cycle.
When Mr. Baquet was asked whether he is “wrestling” with how to cover President-elect Trump, he used the question to pivot to ways to reach religious readers.
“I want to make sure that we are much more creative about beats out in the country so that we understand that anger and disconnectedness that people feel,” Mr. Baquet said. “And I think I use religion as an example because I was raised Catholic in New Orleans.
"I think that the New York-based and Washington-based too probably, media powerhouses don’t quite get religion. We have a fabulous religion writer, but she’s all alone. We don’t get religion. We don’t get the role of religion in people’s lives. And I think we can do much, much better. And I think there are things that we can be more creative about to understand the country.”
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Dean Baquet sat down Thursday with NPR for an extended interview on the media landscape following Donald Trump’s presidential election win on Nov. 8. Host Terry Gross essentially engaged in an after-action review in terms of what media outlets can learn from the election cycle.
When Mr. Baquet was asked whether he is “wrestling” with how to cover President-elect Trump, he used the question to pivot to ways to reach religious readers.
“I want to make sure that we are much more creative about beats out in the country so that we understand that anger and disconnectedness that people feel,” Mr. Baquet said. “And I think I use religion as an example because I was raised Catholic in New Orleans.
"I think that the New York-based and Washington-based too probably, media powerhouses don’t quite get religion. We have a fabulous religion writer, but she’s all alone. We don’t get religion. We don’t get the role of religion in people’s lives. And I think we can do much, much better. And I think there are things that we can be more creative about to understand the country.”
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Fundraiser scheduled at Hooter’s for officer’s child
Doctors discovered a swollen optic nerve on Nov. 3, which was caused by a golf ball-sized tumor in his eye. Townsend was in surgery at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore a few hours after the discovery.
The family has been traveling to Baltimore to take care of Joseph while he continues therapy.
Joseph’s father, Sgt. Ronnie Townsend, was born and raised in Worcester County before logging more than 25 years with the Ocean City Police Department.
During Hooters’ holiday party on Thursday, Dec. 22, from 5-9 p.m., the West Ocean City restaurant will donate all proceeds to the Townsend Family.
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Washington Post on the ‘Fake News’ Hot Seat
The Washington Post—whose coverage of Watergate four decades ago angered the powers that be, toppled a president, and defined courageous journalism—has unleashed a hornet’s nest of a different sort, one unlikely to earn a Pulitzer Prize.
Indeed, Washington’s newspaper of record—which was purchased in 2013 by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos from the storied Graham family—is uncomfortably weathering a barrage of criticism from fellow journalists and others for a front-page story published over the Thanksgiving holiday.
The story, by Post technology reporter Craig Timberg and published Nov. 24, purported to reveal how “sophisticated” Russian propagandists had spread fake news through hundreds of web sites to destabilize American democracy, thwart Hillary Clinton and elect Donald Trump to the White House.
So far the story—which has attracted millions of page views and more than 14,000 comments—has provoked lawsuit threats from at least two of the web sites, notably the widely respected financial blog Naked Capitalism, which fired off a legal letter demanding a retraction and apology even though the Post story does not specifically mention Naked Capitalism or any of the other allegedly Russian-influenced websites.
The critics panned the Post story’s heavy reliance on the judgments of unnamed “researchers” for PropOrNot.com, a shadowy website launched three months ago ostensibly to expose “Russian influence operations targeted at US audiences, distinguish between propaganda and commercial ‘clickbait’, and help identify propaganda and push back.”
More here
Indeed, Washington’s newspaper of record—which was purchased in 2013 by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos from the storied Graham family—is uncomfortably weathering a barrage of criticism from fellow journalists and others for a front-page story published over the Thanksgiving holiday.
The story, by Post technology reporter Craig Timberg and published Nov. 24, purported to reveal how “sophisticated” Russian propagandists had spread fake news through hundreds of web sites to destabilize American democracy, thwart Hillary Clinton and elect Donald Trump to the White House.
So far the story—which has attracted millions of page views and more than 14,000 comments—has provoked lawsuit threats from at least two of the web sites, notably the widely respected financial blog Naked Capitalism, which fired off a legal letter demanding a retraction and apology even though the Post story does not specifically mention Naked Capitalism or any of the other allegedly Russian-influenced websites.
The critics panned the Post story’s heavy reliance on the judgments of unnamed “researchers” for PropOrNot.com, a shadowy website launched three months ago ostensibly to expose “Russian influence operations targeted at US audiences, distinguish between propaganda and commercial ‘clickbait’, and help identify propaganda and push back.”
More here
Police: Man fires indiscriminately into Md. bar, shoots 5
BALTIMORE (AP) — Police say a man who was kicked out of a bar in south Baltimore later returned with a gun and shot five people.
Baltimore police say the man fired indiscriminately from the doorway of Maynard’s Cafe in the Brooklyn neighborhood early Sunday morning.
Three women and two men were wounded and were taken to hospitals for treatment.
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Baltimore police say the man fired indiscriminately from the doorway of Maynard’s Cafe in the Brooklyn neighborhood early Sunday morning.
Three women and two men were wounded and were taken to hospitals for treatment.
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