Ethics Panel opens probe into House ethics chair

Rep. Patrick Meehan of Pennsylvania

I just had to laugh when I heard about this. Pat Meehan was the county DA in the corrupt Republican area I used to cover, and somehow he managed to install this thin veneer of integrity when he was installed as U.S. attorney. I’m pleased to see his life catch up with him:

Yet again, another lawmaker is being investigated by the House Ethics Committee for allegations of sexual harassment. The Hill reports that an investigation has been opened into Representative Meehan related to a sexual harassment settlement that was paid out to a staffer. Oh, but this time it is alleged that the payment was made through his… Continue reading “Ethics Panel opens probe into House ethics chair”

Administration gives lucrative waiver to Trump’s bank

Deutsche Bank to post small 2017 loss on US tax reform, weak markets

The Trump administration has waived part of the punishment for five megabanks whose affiliates were convicted and fined for manipulating global interest rates. One of the Trump administration waivers was granted to Deutsche Bank — which is owed at least $130 million by President Donald Trump and his business empire, and has also been fined for its role in a Russian money laundering scheme. Continue reading “Administration gives lucrative waiver to Trump’s bank”

How the Supreme Court could empower the GOP election hijacking gang

Voter suppression in Alabama is in full effect today. AL voters- if you elect a sexist, racist, twice-removed-from-the-bench pedophile over the man who successfully prosecuted KKK murderers today in order to simply garner an extra legislative vote, you’ve

January is shaping up to be a big month for Republican vote suppressors-and not in a good way for anyone who believes American politics benefit when more people vote. On Tuesday, a U.S. District Court in New Jersey reversed a 36-year-old court order barring the Republican National Committee from using a voter-ambush technique known as “caging,” which its insiders notoriously used to purge Democrats from voter rolls. Continue reading “How the Supreme Court could empower the GOP election hijacking gang”

Senate Dems release Russia investigation minority report

SB 6396 Assault Weapons Ban Hearing

Nice to see some hardball, two days in a row! Here’s the link.

Despite the clear assaults on our democracy and our allies in Europe,
the U.S. government still does not have a coherent, comprehensive,
and coordinated approach to the Kremlin’s malign influence
operations, either abroad or at home. Although the U.S.
government has for years had a patchwork of offices and programs
supporting independent journalism, cyber security, and the countering
of disinformation, the lack of presidential leadership in addressing
the threat Putin poses has hampered a strong U.S. response.
In early 2017, Congress provided the State Department’s
Global Engagement Center the resources and mandate to address
Kremlin disinformation campaigns, but operations have been stymied
by the Department’s hiring freeze and unnecessarily long
delays by its senior leadership in transferring authorized funds to
the office. While many mid-level and some senior-level officials
throughout the State Department and U.S. government are cognizant
of the threat posed by Mr. Putin’s asymmetric arsenal, the
U.S. President continues to deny that any such threat exists, creating
a leadership vacuum in our own government and among our
European partners and allies.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein releases Fusion GPS transcript, escalating dispute with Republicans over Russia probe

Democrats fire back at Republicans calling for obscure 'blue slip' process to be changed for Trump's benefit

WASHINGTON — Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Tuesday released the full transcript of the panel’s interview with Glenn Simpson, the co-founder of the firm that researched President Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign. Continue reading “Sen. Dianne Feinstein releases Fusion GPS transcript, escalating dispute with Republicans over Russia probe”

Michael Wolff: It’s ’25th Amendment time’ and the GOP ‘knows it’

Michael Wolff – Writing words of fire and fury

After the explosive preview articles and a rushed publish date, there was little question that this week’s bobbleheads would have little else to discuss but Michael Wolff’s “Fire and Fury”. But here’s the thing about the book: for as much as the Trump administration lashes out and denies it, Wolff isn’t writing anything that hasn’t been… Continue reading “Michael Wolff: It’s ’25th Amendment time’ and the GOP ‘knows it’”

Hallie Jackson’s face is priceless as GOP rep says FBI, DoJ is ‘off the rails’

Rep. Francis Rooney (R-FL)

Rep. Francis Rooney (FL) is a major Republican donor and a freshman Congressman who’s a member of the ultra-right Republican Study committee. He appeared on MSNBC with Hallie Jackson this morning, and her facial expressions are something to see. Continue reading “Hallie Jackson’s face is priceless as GOP rep says FBI, DoJ is ‘off the rails’”

Former intel chief: Putin using Trump like an ‘asset’

DSC06853

Russian leader Vladimir Putin is manipulating President Donald Trump like a skilled intelligence operative, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said Monday. Clapper was discussing calls between Trump and Putin in recent days, when the two discussed North Korea and a foiled terrorist plot in St. Continue reading “Former intel chief: Putin using Trump like an ‘asset’”