Why Bill Barr Is The Second Biggest Loser Of Trump’s Regime

Of all the bombastic statements ever uttered by Attorney General William “Bill” Barr, a remark made toward the end of a lengthy interview with CBS News in May will be remembered above the rest. Asked how “history” will look upon his controversial motion to dismiss the criminal charges that Special Counsel Robert Mueller brought against Michael Flynn for making false statements to the FBI, Barr raised his eyebrows, chortled loudly, and flashed a sly smile.

Then he answered:

“Well, history is written by the winner. So it largely depends on who’s writing the history. But I think a fair history would say that it [the move to drop the Flynn case] was a good decision because it upheld the rule of law.”

Barr’s attempt to dismiss Flynn’s prosecution went wildly awry. The dismissal motion was intensely litigated, and Flynn was still awaiting sentencing when, on November 25, President Trump issued the retired Army lieutenant general and former national security adviser a “full and unconditional pardon” for “any and all possible offenses” arising from the Mueller investigation. No matter that Flynn had twice pleaded guilty to the false statement charge. So much for the rule of law. Continue reading.

FDA clears nation’s first COVID-19 vaccine

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The country’s first coronavirus shots are one step closer to getting injected into the general public after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency authorization late Friday to the vaccine manufactured by Pfizer and BioNTech.

The announcement comes as the country is reeling from a new surge of COVID-19 infections, with deaths now exceeding 3,000 people each day.

Now that the FDA has given the vaccine the green light, the federal government is able to start distributing it to states. However, vaccinations won’t begin until after a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) committee recommends the vaccine and the CDC accepts that recommendation. Continue reading.

Letter from 1,500 attorneys says Trump campaign lawyers don’t have ‘license to lie’

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More than 1,500 lawyers condemned efforts by the Trump campaign’s legal team to reverse the election results in an open letter that urged the American Bar Association (ABA) to investigate the conduct of the team, including its leader, Rudolph W. Giuliani.

“President Trump’s barrage of litigation is a pretext for a campaign to undermine public confidence in the outcome of the 2020 election, which inevitably will subvert constitutional democracy,” the letter says. “Sadly, the President’s primary agents and enablers in this effort are lawyers, obligated by their oath and ethical rules to uphold the rule of law.”

The letter escalates the concerns of Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-N.J.) who on Nov. 20 filed complaints with ethics boards in five states calling for Giuliani and other members of the team to be investigated and disbarred. The criticism has been echoed in op-eds and letters by attorneys who have rebuked the team for filing frivolous lawsuits and tarnishing the legal profession. Continue reading.

Two Presidents, Two Messages, One Killer Virus

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In split-screen assessments of the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump focused on the “medical miracle” of vaccines and President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. warned of a “very dark winter.”

WASHINGTON — One president all but declared victory over the pandemic, hailing new vaccines as a “medical miracle” and congratulating himself for doing what “nobody has ever seen before.” The next president declared the pandemic deadlier than ever, calling it a “mass casualty” event that is leaving “a gaping hole” in America with more misery to come.

“We’re here to discuss a monumental national achievement,” President Trump boasted on one screen. “From the instant the coronavirus invaded our shores, we raced into action.”

“We’re in a very dark winter,” President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. said minutes later in his own speech on another screen. “Things may well get worse before they get better.” Continue reading.

Tensions over Minnesota election outcome on display as Senate panel meets

At GOP-led hearing on election integrity, Secretary of State Steve Simon warns of ‘disinformation.’ 

Disinformation and conspiracy theories about this year’s vote are a danger to election workers and democracy itself, Minnesota Secretary of State Simon warned Tuesday at a state Senate hearing called to examine the election’s integrity.

With the presidential race’s outcome under continued but unsuccessful legal attack by President Donald Trump and allies, Republican state Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer of Big Lake raised questions about pandemic-driven changes to Minnesota’s voting procedures that have since been the subject of court wrangling.

Still, Kiffmeyer, a former secretary of state and frequent critic of Simon, said in a subsequent press release that “so far, claims of widespread fraud have not held up under scrutiny or in the courts.” Continue reading.

Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: December 11, 2020

Neighbors,

Please join Sen. Cwodzinski, Rep. Kotyza-Witthuhn and me for a District 48 Virtual Town Hall next Thursday, December 17 at 7 p.m. To participate, go to my Facebook page: Rep. Laurie Pryor | Facebook. You can submit your questions ahead of time here.

SD48 Town Hall

Special Session on Monday

Governor Walz has called us back into special session on Monday, December 14 to consider a COVID package which will provide much needed assistance to small businesses, families and workers struggling during the pandemic. Legislative leaders and the governor have been working around the clock to craft help for Minnesotans to get through this difficult time.

Continue reading “Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: December 11, 2020”

As Trump Rails Against Loss, His Supporters Become More Threatening

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The president’s baseless claims of voting fraud have prompted outrage among his loyalists and led to behavior that Democrats and even some Republicans say has become dangerous.

With a key deadline passing Tuesday that all but ends his legal challenges to the election, President Trump’s frenzied campaign to overturn the results has reached an inflection point: Certified slates of electors to the Electoral College are now protected by law, and any chance that a state might appoint a different slate that is favorable to Mr. Trump is essentially gone.

Despite his clear loss, Mr. Trump has shown no intention of stopping his sustained assault on the American electoral process. But his baseless conspiracy theories about voting fraud have devolved into an exercise in delegitimizing the election results, and the rhetoric is accelerating among his most fervent allies. This has prompted outrage among Trump loyalists and led to behavior that Democrats and even some Republicans say has become dangerous.

Supporters of the president, some of them armed, gathered outside the home of the Michigan secretary of state Saturday night. Racist death threats filled the voice mail of Cynthia A. Johnson, a Michigan state representative. Georgia election officials, mostly Republicans, say they have received threats of violence. The Republican Party of Arizona, on Twitter, twice called for supporters to be willing to “die for something” or “give my life for this fight.” Continue reading.

Rep. Patty Acomb (HD44B) Update: December 11, 2020

Dear Neighbors, 

As you may have heard, Governor Walz unveiled a COVID-19 vaccination plan earlier this week. The goal is to quickly, equitably, and safely deliver the vaccine to Minnesotans in every corner of the state in partnership with the federal government and local communities.  

No vaccine is available yet, but two pharmaceutical companies – Pfizer and Moderna – have submitted vaccines for FDA approval. Pfizer’s passed a critical milestone yesterday, when an FDA advisory panel formally recommended authorizing it. Other vaccines are currently in clinical trials. Once one is approved, there will be 25 distribution hubs set up across the state to receive vaccine deliveries through the national distribution chain. From there, the vaccine will be distributed to smaller hospitals and clinics.  

Health care workers and long-term care residents will be the first to receive the vaccine, followed by essential workers, seniors, and people with preexisting conditions who are more likely to become seriously ill if they contract the virus. The vaccine, which won’t be mandatory, will be provided to Minnesotans at no cost. You can find more information about Minnesota’s vaccine distribution plan here. 

The expected arrival of a vaccine is good news, but this process will require time and patience. In the meantime, it’s important to do our part to protect each other by wearing masks, social distancing, staying home when possible, and getting tested if feeling sick.  

Economic Assistance for Minnesotans 

House DFLers recently put forth a COVID-19 economic assistance package that would keep small businesses afloat, support workers struggling to get by, and help Minnesota families keep food on their tables. The package includes direct aid for small businesses, an eviction moratorium, a 13-week unemployment extension, and emergency assistance for struggling families. It also includes grants for restaurants to provide food for health care workers, homeless shelters, and long-term care facilities.  

Our plan has Governor Walz’s support, and we’re working with our Republican colleagues to reach an agreement before the next special session on Monday, December 14. I hope we can come together to deliver this critical assistance.  

Economic Package

Climate Action Plan Webinar 

The Minnesota House Climate Action Caucus, which I chair, is gearing up for the next legislative session! We recently released our Climate Action Plan, a comprehensive, science-based framework for addressing the climate crisis. You can view the plan here.  

If you’d like to learn more about the House Climate Action Plan, you can join me and Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light (MNIPL) for an informational webinar on Thursday, December 17 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. I’ll share our plan to fight climate change in Minnesota and answer questions from the audience. You can find more details and RSVP here.  

I always appreciate hearing from you, so please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or feedback. You can contact me at rep.patty.acomb@house.mn or 651-296-9934.  

Sincerely,  

Patty Acomb  
State Representative  

VOA Director Forced Aside In Drive To Embed Trump Loyalists Before Biden Era

The Trump appointee who runs the government’s overseas broadcasters reassigned the head of the Voice of America on Tuesday as part of a broad effort to install supporters of the president before the Biden administration comes to power.

U.S. Agency for Global Media CEO Michael Pack is intending to name as VOA director Robert Reilly, an outspoken conservative ally who briefly served in the job under President George W. Bush nearly two decades ago.

This story is based on interviews with nine people with knowledge of the events described, including current and former USAGM employees and Congressional aides. They sought anonymity given the number of people that Pack has fired in his relatively short time in office. USAGM officials including Pack did not respond to a detailed request for comment. Continue reading

House Education Finance Committee holds hearing to discuss extending free and reduced-price lunch eligibility deadline

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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Yesterday, the House Education Finance Committee held a remote informational hearing to review a proposal that would give an extension to school districts during the current pandemic to collect forms from families for free and reduced lunch. Currently, the deadline is December 15. The proposed legislation would move it to January 4, 2021. A copy of the draft proposal can be found here.

“With distance and hybrid learning coupled with changes to school structures, it’s been more challenging to connect with families about eligibility for free and reduced-price lunches,” said Chair Davnie.  “At the same time we know that the pandemic recession has hit many families hard.” 

The committee heard supportive testimony from the Minnesota Department of Education, Minnesota Independent School Forum, Ed Allies, Hunger Solutions, Schools for Equity and Education, and the Minnesota School Board Association. All organizations stressed the urgency to act due to the challenges families are experiencing accessing and returning the application forms for free or reduced price lunch. 

The bill is expected to be taken up on the House Floor during Monday’s special session. Supporting materials can be found on the committee’s website.