February 8, 2019
By Ron Fonger
Flint -- A Hurley Medical Center doctor (click here) says she asked state health officials for the information they had on blood lead levels in Flint children in September 2015 but was never given an internal report that showed what she was trying to prove -- that those levels were spiking.
Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the pediatrician whose study on elevated blood lead levels helped end the city’s use of the Flint River as its water source, told Genesee District Judge Jennifer Manley Friday, Feb. 8, that the state Department of Health and Human Services turned over some information she requested but never shared a state epidemiologist’s report showing a correlation between river water and elevated lead.
“I would have loved to have seen this," Hanna-Attisha testified during preliminary examinations for Robert Scott and Nancy Peeler, two MDHHS officials charged with misconduct in office, conspiracy and willful neglect of duty for their alleged roles in the Flint water crisis....
Friday, February 08, 2019
The Virginia State legislature needs to move forward with investigations to all the allegations in regard to the Governor and the Lt. Governor. They are obviously not going to leave voluntarily.
It is the duty of the legislature to keep the government honest. It is time they did that. This should not be a political issue. It is far too serious for games.
February 8, 2019
By Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns
...That state history on race and politics (click here) is now under intense scrutiny. Gov. Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring, both Democrats, are facing calls to resign for wearing blackface in separate incidents as young men. The most powerful Republican state senator, Thomas K. Norment Jr., is defending himself for his role decades ago editing a college yearbook that contained racist photos and slurs. Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Justin E. Fairfax, the state’s second black politician to win statewide office, is facing an allegation of sexual assault that has imperiled his job....
There is something to this and it crosses political lines. The very uncomfortable process of confronting racism has to begin and come to a clear conclusion that erases it from Virginia forever.
I am assuming the photo of the yearbook indicating a person in blackface and a KKK robe was validated and not some sort of cyber manipulation of that yearbook page.
In regard to the Lt. Governor, the allegations are taking on a typical pattern. One woman comes forward, then another and then another. He is claiming this is some sort of political attack. The women and their lawyers can appear before an investigative committee to validate the allegations.
Civil rights have always been a struggle. In 2019, the landscape still is dotted by reminders of such bigotry. The history is always that the powerful don't want to give up power and the victims continue to struggle to change the course their lives have taken. That is the case with minorities and women, including minority women. We must persist. It is the remedy and that has been the case for more than a century.
It is the duty of the legislature to keep the government honest. It is time they did that. This should not be a political issue. It is far too serious for games.
February 8, 2019
By Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns
...That state history on race and politics (click here) is now under intense scrutiny. Gov. Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring, both Democrats, are facing calls to resign for wearing blackface in separate incidents as young men. The most powerful Republican state senator, Thomas K. Norment Jr., is defending himself for his role decades ago editing a college yearbook that contained racist photos and slurs. Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Justin E. Fairfax, the state’s second black politician to win statewide office, is facing an allegation of sexual assault that has imperiled his job....
There is something to this and it crosses political lines. The very uncomfortable process of confronting racism has to begin and come to a clear conclusion that erases it from Virginia forever.
I am assuming the photo of the yearbook indicating a person in blackface and a KKK robe was validated and not some sort of cyber manipulation of that yearbook page.
In regard to the Lt. Governor, the allegations are taking on a typical pattern. One woman comes forward, then another and then another. He is claiming this is some sort of political attack. The women and their lawyers can appear before an investigative committee to validate the allegations.
Civil rights have always been a struggle. In 2019, the landscape still is dotted by reminders of such bigotry. The history is always that the powerful don't want to give up power and the victims continue to struggle to change the course their lives have taken. That is the case with minorities and women, including minority women. We must persist. It is the remedy and that has been the case for more than a century.
Chairman Nadler has a list of his own and expects all the documents requested be submitted to the committee. There may be additional questions submitted to Whitaker by the members.
There was also questions during the committee proceedings about the elections in Georgia and I apologize for not having ready information about that questioning. I will review the tape of this session.
There was also questions regarding a Republican donor by Representative Jamie Raskin. Mr. Adelson's donations has far reaching implications considering those in the Congress acting in Adelson's interests.
...In 2014, (click here) Adelson began bankrolling a new advocacy group called the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling, and that same year, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, first introduced RAWA in Congress. Graham had not previously been a vocal opponent against online gaming, but in 2013, Adelson began significantly scaling up his political contributions to the South Carolina senator, even hosting a high-dollar fundraiser for Graham at his Las Vegas Venetian hotel. Also in 2014, Adelson emerged as the top GOP donor, giving $13.2 million to help Republicans take control of the Senate....
There was also questions during the committee proceedings about the elections in Georgia and I apologize for not having ready information about that questioning. I will review the tape of this session.
There was also questions regarding a Republican donor by Representative Jamie Raskin. Mr. Adelson's donations has far reaching implications considering those in the Congress acting in Adelson's interests.
...In 2014, (click here) Adelson began bankrolling a new advocacy group called the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling, and that same year, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, first introduced RAWA in Congress. Graham had not previously been a vocal opponent against online gaming, but in 2013, Adelson began significantly scaling up his political contributions to the South Carolina senator, even hosting a high-dollar fundraiser for Graham at his Las Vegas Venetian hotel. Also in 2014, Adelson emerged as the top GOP donor, giving $13.2 million to help Republicans take control of the Senate....
Rep. Veronica Escobar
She is concerned about the border issues including the "Migrant Protection Protocol."
Will those seeking asylum will be provided legal counsel in Mexico. Whitaker cannot make sure the legal counsel will take place in Mexico and it is why the policy is so lousy.
Passport investigations.
Immigrant advocate watch list at the DOJ. Her questions indicate the DOJ is creating lists of people and organizations regarding the southern border. That is not legal UNLESS each individual and/or organization is under investigation for breaking the law.
It sounds to me as though everything Rep. Escobar is asking questions about is a creation of vigilante procedures within the DOJ. The more and more there are concerns by this committee the more and more it sounds as though the DOJ is creating their own laws and not following the legislation it should apply equitably to all Americans.
Will those seeking asylum will be provided legal counsel in Mexico. Whitaker cannot make sure the legal counsel will take place in Mexico and it is why the policy is so lousy.
Passport investigations.
Immigrant advocate watch list at the DOJ. Her questions indicate the DOJ is creating lists of people and organizations regarding the southern border. That is not legal UNLESS each individual and/or organization is under investigation for breaking the law.
It sounds to me as though everything Rep. Escobar is asking questions about is a creation of vigilante procedures within the DOJ. The more and more there are concerns by this committee the more and more it sounds as though the DOJ is creating their own laws and not following the legislation it should apply equitably to all Americans.
Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell
Whitaker can't remember details regarding a 501(c)3 as recent as 16 months ago. Whitaker was executive director and states he did file SEC complaints. He doesn't recall filing complaints against Republicans, but, all complaints are published online.
October of 2017 - Title VII - Anti-transgender discrimination. Memos do not extend that right to transgender Americans. Whitaker was DOJ Chief of Staff from October 4, 2017 - becoming Acting AG. Former Sessions changed the directive of the DOJ.
Whitaker does not state CLEARLY that transgender Americans are protected by Title VII. That is amazing. An American is not an American when they are transgender according to the Trump DOJ.
October of 2017 - Title VII - Anti-transgender discrimination. Memos do not extend that right to transgender Americans. Whitaker was DOJ Chief of Staff from October 4, 2017 - becoming Acting AG. Former Sessions changed the directive of the DOJ.
Whitaker does not state CLEARLY that transgender Americans are protected by Title VII. That is amazing. An American is not an American when they are transgender according to the Trump DOJ.
Rep. Madeline Dean
December 19, 2018 advice was given to Whitaker to recuse himself from overseeing the Special Council investigation. Whitaker states the answer to the question is not simply yes or no and it was his decision to make. There is written documents regarding the ADVICE Whitaker received and he states there is no written documents.
Rep. Greg Stanton
Mr. Whitaker commits to cooperating with the Inspector General regarding investigations about him.
During the shutdown, there exists a memo about eliminating ancillary travel to balance the use of agents working and their assets. During that time Whitaker traveled to Capitol Hill and does not consider it ancillary to speak to the Heritage Foundation with his security detail. He doesn't consider that ancillary.
Rep. Stanton would like the work of "The Religous Liberty Task Force" to be forwarded to Congress.
...The task force (click here) will be spearheaded by Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio and Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy Beth Williams. The Advocate reports that in 2010, Panuccio, as an attorney, defended supporters of Proposition 8, a 2008 ballot measure that banned same-sex marriage in California for nearly five years. More specific details of the task force’s structure and organization have not yet been announced....
During the shutdown, there exists a memo about eliminating ancillary travel to balance the use of agents working and their assets. During that time Whitaker traveled to Capitol Hill and does not consider it ancillary to speak to the Heritage Foundation with his security detail. He doesn't consider that ancillary.
Rep. Stanton would like the work of "The Religous Liberty Task Force" to be forwarded to Congress.
...The task force (click here) will be spearheaded by Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio and Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy Beth Williams. The Advocate reports that in 2010, Panuccio, as an attorney, defended supporters of Proposition 8, a 2008 ballot measure that banned same-sex marriage in California for nearly five years. More specific details of the task force’s structure and organization have not yet been announced....
Rep. Joe Neguse is concerned in the development of cannabis as a method to provide Americans relief from medical conditions. Whitaker states there are some foreign treaties they are working with regarding cannabis.
November 7th was the day Whitaker learned of the resignation of Former AG Sessions.
Whitaker states as he has through the entire hearing that he will not comment on any conversation with the president.
"The Vacancy Act" dictates the DOJ follow a specific succession. The Representative asked Whitaker if he knew of that law. "The Succession Statue" is his defense in accepting his placement into the Acting AG position.
The Succession Statue? I can't find any Succession Statue with the DOJ. There is a Succession Act which states the progression of the replacement of the president should the president no longer be able to serve.
Once again, any USA department is not allowed to draw up their own rules when legislation exists.
November 7th was the day Whitaker learned of the resignation of Former AG Sessions.
Whitaker states as he has through the entire hearing that he will not comment on any conversation with the president.
"The Vacancy Act" dictates the DOJ follow a specific succession. The Representative asked Whitaker if he knew of that law. "The Succession Statue" is his defense in accepting his placement into the Acting AG position.
The Succession Statue? I can't find any Succession Statue with the DOJ. There is a Succession Act which states the progression of the replacement of the president should the president no longer be able to serve.
Once again, any USA department is not allowed to draw up their own rules when legislation exists.
Rep. Sylvia Garcia is concerned about the Whitaker involvement in developing the "Zero Tolerance Policy." She is concerned about the number of children involved and their continued separation from parents. Astounding to me, Whitaker states the DOJ is not involved with the children but only the parents.
Rep. Val Demings observation of the turnover at the FBI correlates with asset deployment to counter domestic terrorists.
She wanted to know if Whitaker was behind the people at the FBI since there has been so many purged from the agency. She felt Whitaker was not standing with the FBI as he should.
Rep. Lou Correa asked if White Supremacists were a threat within the USA and Whitaker stated yet. Rep. Lou Correa believes there are far too few convictions in hate crimes in relation to the number of crimes that exist. There was a 20 percent increase in hate crimes in 2017 and there were only 30 convictions. The Representative believes there is not enough assets assigned to domestic terrorism.
US Rep. Pramila Jayapal wanted to know if the Acting AG knew about the leaked information.
January 18, 2019
Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley (click here) on Friday asked the FBI to open a perjury investigation into Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen following the leak of a 2017 internal draft document that explored separating families as a way to curb illegal immigration at the border.
The memo challenges the assertion by Nielsen last June on Twitter and in media briefings saying "we do not have a policy of separating families at the border. Period."
The Dec. 16, 2017, document, provided by Merkley's office, which said it received it from a whistleblower, appears to be an internal memo on legal options to address families who were arriving at the border. Among the options listed: the "prosecution of family units" and "separate family units."...
Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley (click here) on Friday asked the FBI to open a perjury investigation into Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen following the leak of a 2017 internal draft document that explored separating families as a way to curb illegal immigration at the border.
The memo challenges the assertion by Nielsen last June on Twitter and in media briefings saying "we do not have a policy of separating families at the border. Period."
The Dec. 16, 2017, document, provided by Merkley's office, which said it received it from a whistleblower, appears to be an internal memo on legal options to address families who were arriving at the border. Among the options listed: the "prosecution of family units" and "separate family units."...
Whitaker continues to speak in contempt of the USA Constitution. He was asked by Rep. Ted Lieu if the US Constitution prohibited the president or vice president from being indicted. Rep. Ted Lieu submitted a copy of the US Constitution as proof to that fact. Whitaker could not answer the question.
February 7, 2019
Press Release
Washington - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County), (click here) Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), House Armed Services Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA), Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA), Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) announced the reintroduction of the bicameral Hold the LYNE (Low-Yield Nuclear Explosive)Act. The legislation would prohibit the research, development, production and deployment of a low-yield nuclear warheads for submarine-launched ballistic missiles. So-called low-yield nuclear weapons have the potential to lower the threshold for using nuclear weapons and increase the risk of entering the U.S. into nuclear war. This bill has 22 original co-sponsors in the House.
Upon introduction, the Members said:
“Developing a new ‘low-yield’ nuclear warhead is a fiscal boondoggle and a political mistake. There is no military requirement for this weapon, and its potential use risks a grave miscalculation. Its development is yet another example of how the Trump administration is abdicating American leadership in stopping the spread of nuclear weapons around the world. A nuclear weapon is a nuclear weapon, and the Trump administration’s attempt to market a new one is ill-advised and dangerous. We simply cannot lower the threshold for using a nuclear weapon. No one wins a nuclear war.”...
“Developing a new ‘low-yield’ nuclear warhead is a fiscal boondoggle and a political mistake. There is no military requirement for this weapon, and its potential use risks a grave miscalculation. Its development is yet another example of how the Trump administration is abdicating American leadership in stopping the spread of nuclear weapons around the world. A nuclear weapon is a nuclear weapon, and the Trump administration’s attempt to market a new one is ill-advised and dangerous. We simply cannot lower the threshold for using a nuclear weapon. No one wins a nuclear war.”...
Republican Representative Lesko asked an Acting Attorney General if he is upholding the Third Trimester Abortion law.
Partial - Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003
18 US Code 1531. Partial-birth abortions prohibited (click here)
It would be interesting to know if there are many convictions under that law. The only such conviction I am aware of was a Philadelphia doctor in violation of many laws in 2013. So, other than political reasons I don't know why she would ask about such a law.
It is noteworthy that the Robert's Court now has a radical judge that continues to make a name for himself in Republican Circles, namely Kavanaugh. The Court's decision today involved the radical nature of Kavanaugh. (click here) I just to see widespread abuse of the 2003 law that should change anything with abortion rights for women.
The problem with the radical point of view of Republicans regarding abortion rights for women is that it is theocratic and not democratic.
15 May 2013
A Philadelphia doctor (click here) was sentenced Wednesday to a third life term for killing an aborted baby that he described as so big it could "walk to the bus."
Dr Kermit Gosnell was convicted this week of first-degree murder in the deaths of three babies born alive at his rogue clinic, then stabbed with scissors. He was given two life sentences Tuesday in a deal with prosecutors that spared him a potential death sentence, and the third sentence was handed down Wednesday.
The sentences offer no chance at parole, meaning Gosnell, 72, will spend the rest of his life in prison.
The case has made Gosnell a flashpoint in the nation's bitter debate over legalized abortion....
18 US Code 1531. Partial-birth abortions prohibited (click here)
It would be interesting to know if there are many convictions under that law. The only such conviction I am aware of was a Philadelphia doctor in violation of many laws in 2013. So, other than political reasons I don't know why she would ask about such a law.
It is noteworthy that the Robert's Court now has a radical judge that continues to make a name for himself in Republican Circles, namely Kavanaugh. The Court's decision today involved the radical nature of Kavanaugh. (click here) I just to see widespread abuse of the 2003 law that should change anything with abortion rights for women.
The problem with the radical point of view of Republicans regarding abortion rights for women is that it is theocratic and not democratic.
15 May 2013
A Philadelphia doctor (click here) was sentenced Wednesday to a third life term for killing an aborted baby that he described as so big it could "walk to the bus."
Dr Kermit Gosnell was convicted this week of first-degree murder in the deaths of three babies born alive at his rogue clinic, then stabbed with scissors. He was given two life sentences Tuesday in a deal with prosecutors that spared him a potential death sentence, and the third sentence was handed down Wednesday.
The sentences offer no chance at parole, meaning Gosnell, 72, will spend the rest of his life in prison.
The case has made Gosnell a flashpoint in the nation's bitter debate over legalized abortion....
February 8, 2019
By Mark Osborne
Authorities seize record-setting 1.7 tons of meth (click here) worth $1.29 billion of Los Angeles port originally appeared on abcnews.go.com.
A joint drug bust between Australian and U.S. authorities in mid-January resulted in a record 1.7 tons of methamphetamine being seized at Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport.
Customs and Border Protection announced the seizure of the three containers on Thursday, which were intended to be shipped to Australia before being searched on Jan. 11. The containers were filled with speakers "artfully" stuffed with the drugs.
In addition to the 3,810 pounds of meth, the shipment also contained 55.9 pounds of cocaine and 11.5 pounds of heroin. Australian officials said the total street value of the haul was $1.29 billion....
By Mark Osborne
Authorities seize record-setting 1.7 tons of meth (click here) worth $1.29 billion of Los Angeles port originally appeared on abcnews.go.com.
A joint drug bust between Australian and U.S. authorities in mid-January resulted in a record 1.7 tons of methamphetamine being seized at Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport.
Customs and Border Protection announced the seizure of the three containers on Thursday, which were intended to be shipped to Australia before being searched on Jan. 11. The containers were filled with speakers "artfully" stuffed with the drugs.
In addition to the 3,810 pounds of meth, the shipment also contained 55.9 pounds of cocaine and 11.5 pounds of heroin. Australian officials said the total street value of the haul was $1.29 billion....
Contrary to Rep. McClintock the Steele Dossier has been primarily validated by the Special Council's investigation.
This is all old news. The Dossier is an important document compiled by an ally and friend to the USA. Christopher Steele has no reason what so ever to lie about facts in his concern for his own country and that of an ally in the USA. This is not a game for Mr. Steele. He understands the brevity of such documents all too well.
The only METHOD for the Republicans to follow to maintain their political standing is to attack the integrity of those involved.
January 7, 2019
...The controversial 35 pages of intelligence memos compiled by retired British spy Christopher Steele paint a picture of widespread conspiracy of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. To Democrats and President Donald Trump's critics, the documents tell a story that could amount to treason....
...Steele's memos (click here) lay out specific meetings that haven't been corroborated. But his claim that there was regular contact between Trump's campaign and Russians has held up over time. When he wrote his memos in 2016, hardly any of these contacts were publicly known. They have since been revealed in Mueller's court filings, countless news reports and testimony on Capitol Hill...
The only METHOD for the Republicans to follow to maintain their political standing is to attack the integrity of those involved.
January 7, 2019
...The controversial 35 pages of intelligence memos compiled by retired British spy Christopher Steele paint a picture of widespread conspiracy of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. To Democrats and President Donald Trump's critics, the documents tell a story that could amount to treason....
...Steele's memos (click here) lay out specific meetings that haven't been corroborated. But his claim that there was regular contact between Trump's campaign and Russians has held up over time. When he wrote his memos in 2016, hardly any of these contacts were publicly known. They have since been revealed in Mueller's court filings, countless news reports and testimony on Capitol Hill...
There are numerous findings by the Special Council to wrong doing affiliated with the Trump Campaign by it's members. The Trump Tower meeting involved members of the Trump Campaign and Russians.
Project Safe Neighborhood has been long established and the reference to it during the US House oversight hearing is a political commercial.
Project Safe Neighborhoods was established in 2001 through support from President George W. Bush. The program expands upon strategies used in Boston's Operation Ceasefire, and in Richmond, Virginia's Project Exile.
Project Safe Neighborhood (click here)
It is a fascinating program to witness that brings in all levels of law enforcement to rehearse and enforce safe neighborhood presence of police authority. In coastal communities of ocean and the Great Lakes, the Coast Guard is even involved.
Project Safe Neighborhood (click here)
It is a fascinating program to witness that brings in all levels of law enforcement to rehearse and enforce safe neighborhood presence of police authority. In coastal communities of ocean and the Great Lakes, the Coast Guard is even involved.
The Acting US Attorney General knows how to tell time. The jerk should not be in the DOJ. But, I think the American people know Whitaker never belonged in a responsible position in the DOJ. I think Whitaker's license needs to be reviewed.
Whitaker has no intention of answering Congressional questions. He is obstructing justice. Review his license. I'll go so far as to say he has no intention of honoring the USA Constitution and the power of Congress.
I might add, the Ranking Member, I think his name is Collins; doesn't take up the defense of the US Constitution in calling Whitaker on the carpet for the disrespect of the Chairman. He did not tell Whitaker his answers should be concise and correct.
..."Mr. Whitaker, (click here) like everyone else at the Department of Justice, you are entitled to your political opinions. This Committee should not be in the business of vilifying government personnel for their private views, particularly when the Department takes steps to mitigate even the appearance of a conflict of interest in an ongoing investigation.
"But when career officials at the Department recommended that you take steps to mitigate your apparent conflicts of interest, Mr. Whitaker—when they told you that your public criticism of the Special Counsel was bad for the Department and bad for the administration of justice—you ignored them.
"You decided that your private interest in overseeing this particular investigation—and perhaps others from which you should have been recused—was more important than the integrity of the Department.
"The question that this Committee must now ask is: why?...
The Chairman of the US Congressional Judiciary Committee has a responsibility in oversight. In order to carry out that oversight, he has to be confident the leaders of that department of government are competent and acting in the best interest of the people. If Chairman Nadler is unable to achieve respect for the USA Constitution through honest, respectful and truthful answers to his questions then the government is compromised.
Today, Whitaker attempted to take control of the hearing by insulting Chairman Nadler as to his questions and the time of which he asked them. Whitaker is insulting the US Constitution. In that, he is not competent to be in the leadership of the DOJ as the Congress carries out it's responsibility to the people of this country.
The testimony to a Congressional Committee is not a place for grandstanding with attempts to discredit Congressional Members by refusing to participate wholeheartedly in a hearing. How many hearings do Congressional Committees have to have to realize the Trump White House disregards the Rule of Law and stomps all over the US Constitution. Today's behavior by Whitaker is a prime example of the peril the US Constitution faces with this administration.
The facts are plain. In more than one instance with today's behavior by the Acting Attorney General be one, the Trump White House is proving they violated the oath of office they took to preserve, protect and defend the USA Constitution. A short time ago Senator Menendez brought forward the facts of another violation of the Rule of Law by the Trump White House.
...The U.S. brought the sanctions under a 1991 law (click here) known as the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act, or CBW Act. Moscow has denied any involvement in the poisoning, which Skripal and his daughter survived.
Under the law, a second tranche of sanctions is automatically triggered unless Russia meets a number of strict criteria, including showing it is no longer using chemical or biological weapons and allowing for independent inspections.
The State Department alerted Congress in November that Moscow had not complied with the requirements to avoid a second round of sanctions. However, the U.S. has not formally announced new sanctions on Moscow in the more than two months that have passed....
Not only does Trump stand in violation of USA law, he then circumvented the legislature and allowed a Russian oligarch to be relieved from sanctions through manipulations of the US Treasury that were placed due to Russia's continued violence against the people of Ukraine. The sanctions resulted because Russia not only committed violence but, completely disregarded an international treaty that GUARANTEED Ukraine it's own autonomy without interference. Ukraine trusted in the treaty and it is proving to be a mistake to do so with the people of Ukraine now entrenched in a civil war, propagated by weapons from Russia.
The disrepect for law, be it international or otherwise, is characteristic not only of Russia, but, evidently that of the Trump White House as well.
When does the US Congress, including the US Senate, end this charade of an Executive Branch and invoke the truth and the power of the US Constitution?
Whitaker has no intention of answering Congressional questions. He is obstructing justice. Review his license. I'll go so far as to say he has no intention of honoring the USA Constitution and the power of Congress.
I might add, the Ranking Member, I think his name is Collins; doesn't take up the defense of the US Constitution in calling Whitaker on the carpet for the disrespect of the Chairman. He did not tell Whitaker his answers should be concise and correct.
..."Mr. Whitaker, (click here) like everyone else at the Department of Justice, you are entitled to your political opinions. This Committee should not be in the business of vilifying government personnel for their private views, particularly when the Department takes steps to mitigate even the appearance of a conflict of interest in an ongoing investigation.
"But when career officials at the Department recommended that you take steps to mitigate your apparent conflicts of interest, Mr. Whitaker—when they told you that your public criticism of the Special Counsel was bad for the Department and bad for the administration of justice—you ignored them.
"You decided that your private interest in overseeing this particular investigation—and perhaps others from which you should have been recused—was more important than the integrity of the Department.
"The question that this Committee must now ask is: why?...
The Chairman of the US Congressional Judiciary Committee has a responsibility in oversight. In order to carry out that oversight, he has to be confident the leaders of that department of government are competent and acting in the best interest of the people. If Chairman Nadler is unable to achieve respect for the USA Constitution through honest, respectful and truthful answers to his questions then the government is compromised.
Today, Whitaker attempted to take control of the hearing by insulting Chairman Nadler as to his questions and the time of which he asked them. Whitaker is insulting the US Constitution. In that, he is not competent to be in the leadership of the DOJ as the Congress carries out it's responsibility to the people of this country.
The testimony to a Congressional Committee is not a place for grandstanding with attempts to discredit Congressional Members by refusing to participate wholeheartedly in a hearing. How many hearings do Congressional Committees have to have to realize the Trump White House disregards the Rule of Law and stomps all over the US Constitution. Today's behavior by Whitaker is a prime example of the peril the US Constitution faces with this administration.
The facts are plain. In more than one instance with today's behavior by the Acting Attorney General be one, the Trump White House is proving they violated the oath of office they took to preserve, protect and defend the USA Constitution. A short time ago Senator Menendez brought forward the facts of another violation of the Rule of Law by the Trump White House.
...The U.S. brought the sanctions under a 1991 law (click here) known as the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act, or CBW Act. Moscow has denied any involvement in the poisoning, which Skripal and his daughter survived.
Under the law, a second tranche of sanctions is automatically triggered unless Russia meets a number of strict criteria, including showing it is no longer using chemical or biological weapons and allowing for independent inspections.
The State Department alerted Congress in November that Moscow had not complied with the requirements to avoid a second round of sanctions. However, the U.S. has not formally announced new sanctions on Moscow in the more than two months that have passed....
Not only does Trump stand in violation of USA law, he then circumvented the legislature and allowed a Russian oligarch to be relieved from sanctions through manipulations of the US Treasury that were placed due to Russia's continued violence against the people of Ukraine. The sanctions resulted because Russia not only committed violence but, completely disregarded an international treaty that GUARANTEED Ukraine it's own autonomy without interference. Ukraine trusted in the treaty and it is proving to be a mistake to do so with the people of Ukraine now entrenched in a civil war, propagated by weapons from Russia.
The disrepect for law, be it international or otherwise, is characteristic not only of Russia, but, evidently that of the Trump White House as well.
When does the US Congress, including the US Senate, end this charade of an Executive Branch and invoke the truth and the power of the US Constitution?
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