judicialwatch bak
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">1019</font><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">see main
</font><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">see fitton and chris farrell</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">see klayman</font></div><div><h2><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">---</font></span></h2><div><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">rww </font></span><span style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box" transition-duration="transition-duration" s="s" transition-property="transition-property" border-color="border-color" box-shadow="box-shadow" color="color" opacity="opacity" text-shadow="text-shadow" transform="transform" transition-timing-function="transition-timing-function" linear="linear" font-weight="font-weight">Tags:</span><span style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"> </span><a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/ali-alexander/" style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box" transition-duration="transition-duration" s="s" transition-property="transition-property" background-color="background-color" border-color="border-color" box-shadow="box-shadow" color="color" opacity="opacity" text-shadow="text-shadow" transform="transform" transition-timing-function="transition-timing-function" linear="linear" outline-offset="outline-offset" em="em" text-decoration-line="text-decoration-line" none="none">Ali Alexander</a><span style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"> </span><a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/gary-bauer/" style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box" transition-duration="transition-duration" s="s" transition-property="transition-property" background-color="background-color" border-color="border-color" box-shadow="box-shadow" color="color" opacity="opacity" text-shadow="text-shadow" transform="transform" transition-timing-function="transition-timing-function" linear="linear" outline-offset="outline-offset" em="em" text-decoration-line="text-decoration-line" none="none">Gary Bauer</a><span style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"> </span><a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/jack-posobiec/" style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box" transition-duration="transition-duration" s="s" transition-property="transition-property" background-color="background-color" border-color="border-color" box-shadow="box-shadow" color="color" opacity="opacity" text-shadow="text-shadow" transform="transform" transition-timing-function="transition-timing-function" linear="linear" outline-offset="outline-offset" em="em" text-decoration-line="text-decoration-line" none="none">Jack Posobiec</a><span style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"> </span><a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/jenna-ellis/" style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box" transition-duration="transition-duration" s="s" transition-property="transition-property" background-color="background-color" border-color="border-color" box-shadow="box-shadow" color="color" opacity="opacity" text-shadow="text-shadow" transform="transform" transition-timing-function="transition-timing-function" linear="linear" outline-offset="outline-offset" em="em" text-decoration-line="text-decoration-line" none="none">Jenna Ellis</a><span style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"> </span><a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/marjorie-taylor-greene/" style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box" transition-duration="transition-duration" s="s" transition-property="transition-property" background-color="background-color" border-color="border-color" box-shadow="box-shadow" color="color" opacity="opacity" text-shadow="text-shadow" transform="transform" transition-timing-function="transition-timing-function" linear="linear" outline-offset="outline-offset" em="em" text-decoration-line="text-decoration-line" none="none">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a><span style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"> </span><a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/tom-fitton/" style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box" transition-duration="transition-duration" s="s" transition-property="transition-property" background-color="background-color" border-color="border-color" box-shadow="box-shadow" color="color" opacity="opacity" text-shadow="text-shadow" transform="transform" transition-timing-function="transition-timing-function" linear="linear" outline-offset="outline-offset" em="em" text-decoration-line="text-decoration-line" none="none"><b>Tom Fitton</b></a><span style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"> </span><a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/topics/capitol-insurrection/" style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box" transition-duration="transition-duration" s="s" transition-property="transition-property" background-color="background-color" border-color="border-color" box-shadow="box-shadow" color="color" opacity="opacity" text-shadow="text-shadow" transform="transform" transition-timing-function="transition-timing-function" linear="linear" outline-offset="outline-offset" em="em" text-decoration-line="text-decoration-line" none="none">Capitol Insurrection</a><span style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"> </span><a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/topics/house-select-committee-on-jan-6/" style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box" transition-duration="transition-duration" s="s" transition-property="transition-property" background-color="background-color" border-color="border-color" box-shadow="box-shadow" color="color" opacity="opacity" text-shadow="text-shadow" transform="transform" transition-timing-function="transition-timing-function" linear="linear" outline-offset="outline-offset" em="em" text-decoration-line="text-decoration-line" none="none">House select committee on Jan. 6</a><span style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"> </span><a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/topics/jan-6/" style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box" transition-duration="transition-duration" s="s" transition-property="transition-property" background-color="background-color" border-color="border-color" box-shadow="box-shadow" color="color" opacity="opacity" text-shadow="text-shadow" transform="transform" transition-timing-function="transition-timing-function" linear="linear" outline-offset="outline-offset" em="em" text-decoration-line="text-decoration-line" none="none">Jan. 6</a><span style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"> </span><a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/organizations/judicial-watch/" style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box" transition-duration="transition-duration" s="s" transition-property="transition-property" background-color="background-color" border-color="border-color" box-shadow="box-shadow" color="color" opacity="opacity" text-shadow="text-shadow" transform="transform" transition-timing-function="transition-timing-function" linear="linear" outline-offset="outline-offset" em="em" text-decoration-line="text-decoration-line" none="none"><b>Judicial Watch</b></a></div><div><span class="mw-headline"><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></span></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">mma 1 23 not twt</font></p><div class="paragraph paragraph--type--stories-text paragraph--view-mode--editorial" style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="fancy-elems-wrapper field field--name-field-stories-text-formatted field--type-text-long field--label-hidden fielditem" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Right-wing media just can’t seem to quit old-school climate change denial. </b></font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Even as fossil fuel companies moved away from directly questioning established science in their marketing in favor of more subtle forms of climate delay and greenwashing, media influencers on the right repeatedly suggested that climate change is a fake crisis manufactured by global elites, using the energy crisis, extreme weather events, and a general mistrust of our institutions to make the case for climate change denial.</font></p></div></div><div class="paragraph paragraph--type--stories-text paragraph--view-mode--editorial" style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="fancy-elems-wrapper field field--name-field-stories-text-formatted field--type-text-long field--label-hidden fielditem" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The war in Ukraine was convenient for climate change deniers</font></h3></div></div><div class="paragraph paragraph--type--stories-text paragraph--view-mode--editorial" style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="fancy-elems-wrapper field field--name-field-stories-text-formatted field--type-text-long field--label-hidden fielditem" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">As gas prices <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/11/business/energy-environment/gasoline-price.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">skyrocketed</a>, in part due to the global energy disruption resulting from the war in Ukraine, and <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/06/10/high-gas-prices-low-income-us-biden" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">American families</a> started to become frustrated, right-wing media took the opportunity to blame climate policies. They insisted that high prices were being caused by a fake crisis manufactured by the government, arguing that climate change was a hoax from the beginning.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">An<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/joe-biden-and-the-oil-dictators-venezuela-nicolas-maduro-oil-supply-opec-energy-production-11665073129" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;"> October 6</a> Wall Street Journal editorial claimed that “the White House blames the industry for high gas prices while it does everything it can to make drilling more difficult and financially risky.”</font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Soon after Russia invaded Ukraine, Donald Trump went on Fox Business’s <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Mornings with Maria</span> on <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/media/3986013" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">March 2</a> and called climate change a hoax while discussing the Biden administration's energy policy, saying that “this climate situation is killing our country.”</span> </font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">He did the same thing in a <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjoyella/2022/03/21/on-fox-donald-trump-calls-climate-change-a-hoax-in-the-1920s-they-were-talking-about-global-freezing/?sh=513dc55e3787" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">March 21</a> segment of Fox Business’s <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Varney & Co</span>, saying what the left <a href="https://www.indy100.com/politics/trump-climate-change-hoax-1920s" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">does</a> “is a climate hoax.”</span> When asked by host Stuart Varney whether climate change is caused by human activity, Trump responded: “In my opinion, you have a thing called weather, and you go up and you go down. If you look into the 1920s, they were talking about global freezing. … The climate’s always been changing,” he continued. </font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Media Matters documented ample disinformation about <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/climate-deniers/right-wing-media-used-opec-oil-cuts-blame-biden-domestic-gas-price-volatility" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">gas prices</a> and the<a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/zombie-keystone-xl-pipeline-embodiment-fox-news-pro-fossil-fuel-campaign" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;"> Keystone XL pipeline</a> extension during that period. Some right-wing media influencers claimed the Biden administration was adding insult to injury by <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox-news-accusing-biden-administration-deliberately-spiking-gas-prices-represents-0" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">allegedly driving high gas prices</a> and lying to Americans about what could be done to fix the situation in order to carry out its agenda. </font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Fossil fuel shill Daniel Turner of Power</b> the Future wrote on <a href="https://twitter.com/DanielTurnerPTF/status/1516031559429758981?s=20&t=wIFE59n-QfTys8J3wBfcJQ" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">April 18</a>, “There is no climate crisis and oil is back to $110 because everything<a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;"> @JoeBiden</a> says is a lie.” </font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Kurt Schlichter, a Townhall columnist and podcast host</span>, <a href="https://twitter.com/KurtSchlichter/status/1501329132210524160?s=20&t=2roU1cNSsyQBIBFRu7Cxqg" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">alleged that</a> Biden was more committed to “the idiotic members of the climate change hoax cult” than he was to lowering gas prices for families. </font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Schlichter has been a loud and consistent voice for climate change denial. But for someone who believes it doesn’t exist, he certainly spent a lot of time obsessing over it in 2022. He tweeted “climate change is a hoax” or similar statements at least 145 times in 2022, or an average of nearly three times per week, and penned op-eds like “Don’t Let Them Reset Society To Make You Into <a href="https://townhall.com/columnists/kurtschlichter/2022/07/25/dont-let-them-reset-society-to-make-you-into-a-bugeating-serf-n2610710" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">a Bug-Eating Serf</a>” and <a href="https://townhall.com/columnists/kurtschlichter/2022/03/09/climate-hoax-hacks-love-putin-n2604239" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">“Climate Hoax Hacks Love Putin”</a> in which he claimed that “you cannot claim to both oppose Putin and fight global warming.” </font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton was also an influential Twitter climate <a href="https://www.isdglobal.org/isd-publications/deny-deceive-delay-documenting-and-responding-to-climate-disinformation-at-cop26-and-beyond-full/" style="text-decoration-line: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: border-box; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">misinformer</a> in 2022,</b> voicing opposition to climate policy such as the Inflation Reduction Act, and posting climate skeptic and denialist content. “Taxes on energy, subsidies for favored corporations, dangerous drug price controls will increase inflation. And -- Fact check: There is no ‘climate crisis,’” he tweeted on<a href="https://twitter.com/TomFitton/status/1552736650643619840?s=20&t=2roU1cNSsyQBIBFRu7Cxqg" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;"> July 28</a>. </font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><b>Judicial Watch is a member of the <a href="https://spn.org/organization/judicial-watch-inc/" style="text-decoration-line: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">State Policy Network</a>, which has <a href="https://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/2/25/SPN_National_Report_FINAL.pdf" style="text-decoration-line: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">deep ties</a> to the American Legislative Exchange Council</b>, a Koch-funded lobbying group that has most recently been working to <a href="https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2022/02/08/alecs-critical-energy-theory-bills-moving-in-four-states/" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">punish fossil fuel divestment</a>. When Biden was considering declaring a climate emergency in July, Fitton <a href="https://twitter.com/TomFitton/status/1549393538621882368?s=20&t=wIFE59n-QfTys8J3wBfcJQ" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">wrote</a>, “There obviously is no ‘climate emergency’-- for Biden to dictate otherwise is a <b>desperate abuse of power.”</b></font></p></div></div><div class="paragraph paragraph--type--stories-text paragraph--view-mode--editorial" style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="fancy-elems-wrapper field field--name-field-stories-text-formatted field--type-text-long field--label-hidden fielditem" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The right turned reporting on natural disasters into “climate alarmism”</font></h3></div></div><div class="paragraph paragraph--type--stories-text paragraph--view-mode--editorial" style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="fancy-elems-wrapper field field--name-field-stories-text-formatted field--type-text-long field--label-hidden fielditem" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Last year, we clearly saw the impacts of major climate-fueled extreme weather events at home and around the world: Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, a heat wave and drought in Europe, China, and the American West, and massive flooding in Pakistan. As of October, <a href="https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2022/10/world-rocked-by-29-billion-dollar-weather-disasters-in-2022/" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">according to</a> insurance broker Aon, there had been 29 billion-dollar disasters in 2022</span>. Additionally, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/record-heatwaves-drive-eus-july-excess-deaths-2022-high-2022-09-16/" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">according to</a> the European Union’s statistics office Eurostat, the<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> EU experienced 53,000 more deaths in July compared with that month’s averages for 2016-2019. </span></font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">In the aftermath of <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/01/hurricane-ian-was-costliest-disaster-on-record-after-katrina-in-2005.html#::text=Ian%20caused%20between%20%2450%20billion,an%20otherwise%20tame%20hurricane%20season." style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">Hurricane Ian</a>, which pummeled Florida and South Carolina in late September,<b> Fox News’ Tucker Carlson <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/media/3994556" style="text-decoration-line: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">implied</a> that humans cannot influence weather events because “they’re called natural disasters. … They’re products of nature. God’s in charge.” His guest Candace Owens,</b> who has a <a href="https://documented.net/media/candace-owens-espousing-climate-change-denial-at-tpusa-student-action-summit-july-20-2021" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">history</a> of climate change denial, reiterated that climate change does not exist because “if there was no human beings that walked the face of the planet, there would continue to be hurricanes, like there would continue to be blizzards, and like there would continue to be tornadoes.” </font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Carlson responded to natural disasters with climate change denial on more than one occasion. On <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/media/3991247" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">July 20</a>, he devoted a monologue to undermining the existence of climate change, reducing climate predictions to: “It’s gonna be hot and then it’s gonna rain hard.” </font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“No one really believes in global warming,” he continued, “and that’s why all of the liberals in the United States live on the coasts – because they don’t believe it. That’s why many of them fly private, because the entire theory is absurd and they know it. … The whole thing is a joke.” </font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The day before, on<a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/media/3991184" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;"> July 19</a><b>, Fox News host Dan Bongino q</b>uestioned whether the planet is getting warmer and whether humanity played a role in it, asking: “What kind of a dunce believes that? Come on. Is it [the planet] getting warmer? The answer is maybe. … The question isn’t is it getting warmer; the question is what’s human beings' role in it.”</font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Even in the absence of an extreme weather event, right-wing media regularly dismissed and challenged the scientific consensus that warming is making these types of events more severe. </font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">On an <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/climate-deniers/laura-ingraham-hosts-climate-denier-falsely-claim-climate-science-not-settled" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">October 11 segment</a> o<b>f<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><i> </i>The Ingraham Angle</span>, host Laura Ingraham brought on climate change denier Tom Harris</b> to falsely claim that the science isn’t settled: “The real underlying thing is that there is no climate crisis. … It's all based on models that don't work. … In fact, we don't even know whether it's going to be warm or cool in the future. … The only sensible approach is to get ready for it, to make our infrastructure hardened, to use solid, dependable sources of energy like coal.”</font></p></div></div><div class="paragraph paragraph--type--stories-text paragraph--view-mode--editorial" style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="fancy-elems-wrapper field field--name-field-stories-text-formatted field--type-text-long field--label-hidden fielditem" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The “Great Reset” was a magnet for climate skepticism</font></h3></div></div><div class="paragraph paragraph--type--stories-text paragraph--view-mode--editorial" style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="fancy-elems-wrapper field field--name-field-stories-text-formatted field--type-text-long field--label-hidden fielditem" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Also in 2022, some right-wing media framed climate change as a hoax orchestrated by elites to implement <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/climate-deniers/great-reset-conspiracy-theory-hotbed-climate-denial" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">the “Great Reset</a>,” using climate policies and other measures to assert dominance and control over the general population. </font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">These ideas got attention in July, when right-wing media attempted to blame a series of <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/right-wing-figures-are-using-sri-lankas-crisis-push-their-own-anti-climate-agenda" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">complex</a> <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/media/3991184" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">global conflicts</a> and unrest on climate policy, and in November as the global community gathered in Egypt to negotiate climate action. </font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Former Australian journalist and key Twitter climate denial amplifier Peter Clack </b><a href="https://twitter.com/PeterDClack/status/1595251337725640705?s=20&t=xWITlgBl1YM5Do_Ncoz99w" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">attacked</a> plans made during the conference to provide financial climate support for developing nations, tweeting, “This is the reality of the Great Reset. … COP27 has approved - without dissent - reparations starting at $2 trillion because of climate-caused damage. There is none.”</font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>On a <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/media/3998267" style="text-decoration-line: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">December 12 segment</a> of <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Tucker Carlson Tonight</span>, Carlson and meteorologist Joe Bastardi </b>had a nearly unintelligible conversation packed with climate change denial, where Bastardi offered that climate advocates might not want to ban private air travel because “they’ve all got climate vaccines. We don't know about them, but unlike the covid vaccine, they actually work.” </font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Another cockamamie theory, according to Bastardi, is that climate advocates are trying to pollute the air as much as possible so that they can have an excuse to prevent others from using transportation. Bastardi claimed that another option is that “it's a phony climate war, it's fraudulent,” and it “has nothing to do with CO2.” </font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Though not explicitly mentioned, these accusations are consistent with the Great Reset narrative of elites controlling the masses through climate and public health policy. Carlson posited earlier in the segment, “Could it be that the climate movement is really about creating a permanent caste system where the people at the top of society, the Brahmins, can do literally whatever they want?” </font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Right-wing journalist Jordan Schachtel mentioned the Great Reset</span> while <a href="https://twitter.com/JordanSchachtel/status/1586020486638600192" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">celebrating</a> Twitter’s change in ownership, tweeting, “Twitter will now become the network through which we utterly destroy the forces of The Great Reset. … This is why the power-drunk covid addicts, climate hoaxers, commies, etc are furious today.” </font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">On the <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/media/3996328" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">September 12</a> edition of <span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/media/3996328" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">Eric Bolling The Balance</a></span>, host Eric Bolling encapsulated the right’s fearmongering about the Great Reset, claiming that climate change is a hoax being used “in order to make people fear the end of the world, convince us to change everything. They want to control us forever and ever.”</font></p></div></div><div class="paragraph paragraph--type--stories-text paragraph--view-mode--editorial" style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="fancy-elems-wrapper field field--name-field-stories-text-formatted field--type-text-long field--label-hidden fielditem" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Climate contrarians lashed out against so-called censorship</font></h3></div></div><div class="paragraph paragraph--type--stories-text paragraph--view-mode--editorial" style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="fancy-elems-wrapper field field--name-field-stories-text-formatted field--type-text-long field--label-hidden fielditem" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Sometimes, climate change denial was just a drumbeat regardless of current events. Prominent right-wing culture warrior influencers used climate change denial without any context as part of their rotating script attacking different “liberal” beliefs or simply as a protest against what they view as censorship. </font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">For example, after Twitter initially accepted Elon Musk’s acquisition offer on<a href="https://techcrunch.com/2022/04/24/elon-musk-twitter-offer-timeline/" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;"> April 25</a>, right-wing contrarians and other influencers were seemingly <a href="https://twitter.com/pbump/status/1518931141092573184" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">emboldened</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/dr_diarrhea/status/1518775335675908096?s=20&t=ujyFCvB-6X09ZgqhJq0aYQ" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">“test”</a> the new environment by making <a href="https://twitter.com/hammernshackle/status/1518698092836667393?s=20&t=ujyFCvB-6X09ZgqhJq0aYQ" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">statements</a> that might reasonably be labeled as misinformation or hate speech under previous management. This occured in the days following Musk’s takeover of the platform on <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/10/27/twitter-elon-musk/" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">October 27</a> as well, with some tweets garnering tens of thousands of engagements. </font></p></div></div><div class="paragraph paragraph--type--stories-text paragraph--view-mode--editorial" style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="fancy-elems-wrapper field field--name-field-stories-text-formatted field--type-text-long field--label-hidden fielditem" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[twt]</font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">former <b>Daily Wire </b>contributor Greg Price and right-wing Twitter troll and self-described political commentator Gunther Eagleman repeatedly pushed climate change misinformation on Twitter in 2022, along with a plethora of other uncouth and <a href="https://twitter.com/GuntherEagleman/status/1602388360873607169?s=20&t=MeVDwlhNn-FDNcnrSD9qgg" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">conspiratorial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GuntherEagleman/status/1601749908121260032?s=20&t=MeVDwlhNn-FDNcnrSD9qgg" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">statements</a>. Eagleman tweeted about climate change being a hoax, scam, or similar statements 48 times this year.</font></p></div></div><div class="paragraph paragraph--type--stories-text paragraph--view-mode--editorial" style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="fancy-elems-wrapper field field--name-field-stories-text-formatted field--type-text-long field--label-hidden fielditem" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[twt]</font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">despite right-wing media’s repeated claims that climate change is a hoax, it was among the <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/despite-fox-news-claims-contrary-voters-are-concerned-about-climate-change" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">top voter concerns</a> during the recent 2022 midterm elections, suggesting climate change denial is a losing argument</span>.<b> However, as the phenomenon ramps up on Twitter and “free speech” continues to be a major point of contention in the culture wars, right-wing media may be empowered to continue pushing these types of disinformation in 2023.</b></font></p></div></div><div class="paragraph paragraph--type--stories-text paragraph--view-mode--editorial" style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="fancy-elems-wrapper field field--name-field-stories-text-formatted field--type-text-long field--label-hidden fielditem" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Methodology ...</font></h3></div></div><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="mw-headline" /></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="mw-headline" /></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></span></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">rww 12 22</font></span></p><div class="mce-content-body" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear;"><div class="layout-constrain--narrow" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 47.2222em; padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 1em; line-height: 1.5;"><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; line-height: 1.5;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"> House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection released a 150-page summary of its findings and voted Monday to send the Justice Department criminal referrals for former President Donald Trump and others who assisted his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Right-wing political groups and leaders generally responded either by ignoring the historic action altogether or by dismissing it as a partisan move without engaging substantively with the committee’s extensively documented findings.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; line-height: 1.5;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Far-right activist <b>Ali Alexander,</b> who was a leader of the so-called “Stop the Steal” effort to overturn the 2020 election and keep Trump in power, <a href="https://t.me/alialexander/7131" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; background-color: transparent; outline-offset: 0.111111em; text-decoration-line: none;">called</a> the committee’s criminal referrals “a coup against the voters.” Alexander, who participated in the recent disastrous Kanye West and Nick Fuentes appearance on Alex Jones’ show that turned into a festival of praise for Adolph Hitler, also released a statement purportedly on behalf of “Team Ye,” accusing Democrats and the “Republican Establishment” of working together “to rig our GOP primary or choose which candidates can be in the ballot before the American Voter.”</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; line-height: 1.5;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton took to Twitter to <a href="https://twitter.com/TomFitton/status/1605195581718085632" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; outline-offset: 0.111111em; text-decoration-line: none;">charge</a> that “’January 6’ is all about Biden/Left seeking to suppress/jail political opponents who blow the whistle on their election misconduct — and suppressing political opponents in 2024…” Fitton shared a video of himself claiming that “The left has decided that if you are challenging results they like in elections, you’re breaking the law and you should be jailed and prosecuted.”</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; line-height: 1.5;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><b>Fitton also retweeted Claremont Institute Senior</b> Fellow Jeremy Carl’s <a href="https://twitter.com/jeremycarl4/status/1604992616348909568" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; background-color: transparent; outline-offset: 0.111111em; text-decoration-line: none;">suggestion</a> that the threat to democracy was somehow not Trump’s effort to overthrow the election or the violent effort to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power, but the committee’s investigation: “A completely partisan House panel is trying to work hand-in-glove with a completely partisan DOJ to bring criminal charges against the previous U.S. President. If you still think we live in a functional democracy you need to wake up and realize what time it is.”</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; line-height: 1.5;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Former Trump attorney and self-styled “<b>America’s lawyer” Jenna Ellis</b> <a href="https://twitter.com/JennaEllisEsq/status/1605027112770887680" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; background-color: transparent; outline-offset: 0.111111em; text-decoration-line: none;">claimed</a>, “It’s all a political pretext with zero basis in fact or law”—a ridiculous statement given the committee’s meticulous gathering of evidence, including testimony from many Trump administration officials.</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; line-height: 1.5;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000" style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Not to be outdone, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMTG/status/1604942496156434432" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; outline-offset: 0.111111em; text-decoration-line: none;">dismissed</a> the House committee as “communist.”</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; line-height: 1.5;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Writing in his daily email newsletter, longtime religious-right activist </span><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Gary Bauer </b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">called the committee a “kangaroo court” and referred to the criminal referrals as o</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">utgoing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi “seeking to extract one last act of revenge against Donald Trump.</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">” Bauer was similarly grumpy about the committee referring four Republican congressmen to the House ethics committee for refusing to comply with committee subpoenas. Bauer didn’t defend their defiance of the law but railed against what he called a “despicable precedent established by petulant progressives.”</span></font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; line-height: 1.5;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Pizzagate promoter Jack Posobiec greeted the conclusion of the committee’s final public meeting with a <a href="https://t.me/Jack_Posobiec/20499" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; background-color: transparent; outline-offset: 0.111111em; text-decoration-line: none;">message</a> on Telegram</b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">: </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">“Bring it, demons.” Posobiec didn’t pass up the chance to raise money, <a href="https://t.me/Jack_Posobiec/20502" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; outline-offset: 0.111111em; text-decoration-line: none;">urging</a> his readers Monday night to buy Christmas presents from MyPillow using a code that would presumably give Posobiec a cut: <b>“</b></span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><b>Jan 6 wasn’t an insurrection to overthrow the govt but promocode Poso is an insurrection to overthrow prices this Christmas!”</b></span></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; line-height: 1.5;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">The committee is <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2022/12/21/final-january-6-report-about-to-be-released-heres-everything-we-know-so-far/?sh=386932ec780a" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; background-color: transparent; outline-offset: 0.111111em; text-decoration-line: none;">reportedly</a> set to release a massive amount of additional documentation Wednesday.</font></p><div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/maga-die-hards-trash-jan-6-committee-for-referring-trump-for-criminal-prosecution/" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; line-height: 1.5;"><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline" /></font></p><div class="layout-constrain--narrow" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 47.2222em; padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div class="tags" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; border-top: 5px solid rgb(239, 243, 243); margin-bottom: 2em; padding-top: 1em;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; font-weight: 700;">Tags:</span> <a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/ali-alexander/" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; background-color: transparent; outline-offset: 0.111111em; text-decoration-line: none;">Ali Alexander</a> <a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/gary-bauer/" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; background-color: transparent; outline-offset: 0.111111em; text-decoration-line: none;">Gary Bauer</a> <a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/jack-posobiec/" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; background-color: transparent; outline-offset: 0.111111em; text-decoration-line: none;">Jack Posobiec</a> <a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/jenna-ellis/" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; background-color: transparent; outline-offset: 0.111111em; text-decoration-line: none;">Jenna Ellis</a> <a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/marjorie-taylor-greene/" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; background-color: transparent; outline-offset: 0.111111em; text-decoration-line: none;">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a> <a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/tom-fitton/" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; background-color: transparent; outline-offset: 0.111111em; text-decoration-line: none;">Tom Fitton</a> <a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/topics/capitol-insurrection/" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; background-color: transparent; outline-offset: 0.111111em; text-decoration-line: none;">Capitol Insurrection</a> <a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/topics/house-select-committee-on-jan-6/" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; background-color: transparent; outline-offset: 0.111111em; text-decoration-line: none;">House select committee on Jan. 6</a> <a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/topics/jan-6/" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; background-color: transparent; outline-offset: 0.111111em; text-decoration-line: none;">Jan. 6</a> <a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/organizations/judicial-watch/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-color, box-shadow, color, opacity, text-shadow, transform; transition-timing-function: linear; outline-offset: 0.111111em; text-decoration-line: none;">Judicial Watch</a></font></p></div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div></div></div></div><div><span class="mw-headline"><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2022/03/24/judicial-watch-investigator-supported-covid-research-anti-vaccine-former-trump-official">https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2022/03/24/judicial-watch-investigator-supported-covid-research-anti-vaccine-former-trump-official</a></font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</div><div><b>senior Judicial Watch investigator William Marshall</b> twice donated to a GiveSendGo campaign for “Covid Research” started by an anti-vaccine former Trump administration official linked to the Canadian and U.S. trucker convoys, according to Hatewatch’s review of a leaked donation list.</div><div>
</div><div>The donations are further evidence of support by the staff of Judicial Watch, which claims to be a nonpartisan watchdog organization, for hard-right causes that became mainstream during the Trump administration<b>. Hatewatch previously reported Judicial Watch’s director of investigations, Christopher Farrell, paid dues to the pro-Trump, antigovernment extremist Oath Keepers.</b></div><div>
</div><div>[Convoy protest</div><div>
</div><div>Trucks that are part of a trucker convoy to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates for cross-border truck drivers are seen on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Jan. 28, 2022. (Photo by Reuters/Patrick Doyle)]</div><div>
</div><div><b>Marshall supported Dr. Paul Alexander, a Canadian with a doctorate in health research methodologies, who worked as a senior science adviser to the former assistant secretary for public affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during Trump’s term.</b></div><div>
</div><div>The donation list comes from the February GiveSendGo leak. GiveSendGo is a Christian crowdfunding site favored by the hard right. Siblings Heather Wilson and Jacob Wells launched the site in 2014.</div><div><b>
</b></div><div><b>Transparency journalism collective DDoSecrets shared over 5GB of the leaked data with Hatewatch.</b></div><div>
</div><div>Marshall did not respond to Hatewatch’s request for comment.</div><div>
</div><div>COVID research</div><div>Alexander espouses pro-infection, anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine viewpoints. During his time at HHS, he wrote to his superiors that “infants, kids, teens, young people, young adults, middle aged with no conditions” should be exposed to the virus due to their “zero to little risk” of serious consequences, Politico reported.</div><div>
</div><div><b>He continued: “We want them infected.”</b></div><div>
</div><div>Alexander held the position from April to September 2020. Alexander is also a prominent supporter of the anti-vaccine mandate trucker convoys that attempt to shut down major metropolitan areas in Canada and the U.S.</div><div>
</div><div>Alexander titled the GiveSendGo campaign “COVID research stipend support” and wrote to potential supporters that children “must not under any circumstance” receive COVID “vaccines for they could be severely harmed given the harms already emerging from adults and teens.”</div><div>
</div><div>There is no data showing significant harm from the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. These two are the most widely used in the U.S. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine could cause blood clots in rare circumstances.</div><div>
</div><div><b>Marshall first donated $50 to Alexander’s campaign on Oct. 28, 2021. “God bless, Paul,” he wrote in the comments. Marshall donated $50 again on Dec. 22, 2021. “Paul, keep up the fight. A very Merry Christmas to you and your family. God bless you all. Bill,” he commented.</b></div><div>
</div><div>According to the documents shared by DDoSecrets, Marshall used his Judicial Watch email to sign up for GiveSendGo. The email was listed for both donations.</div><div>
</div><div><b>Alexander has raised over $37,500 through the campaign.</b> The donation database lists Alexander’s own name and email address as the first to donate $100 on Oct. 27, 2021. The donator praised Alexander for “standing up for humanity, and for maintaining scientific integrity,” adding: “Your actions have saved lives, and when the Criminal Covid Enterprise is finally brought to justice in Nuremburg 2.0 trials [a reference to the trials where prosecutors convicted Nazis for their atrocities], you will be largely to thank. Thank you for protecting the children … thank you for telling the truth!”</div><div>
</div><div>Alexander denied to Hatewatch he made this donation himself. “I may have donated 1 or 5 $ to me to test how it worked but never 100$,” Alexander wrote in an email response.</div><div>
</div><div><b>Alexander also disavowed any ties to hard-right individuals or organizations but welcomed questioning of the science on vaccine safety and efficacy. He said the Politico report mischaracterized his support for Trump, a</b>nd that he “would have worked for [former President Barack] Obama and even now for [President Joe] Biden if I could help them.”</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">GiveSendGo became a favorite for the hard right after hosting a fundraiser for Kyle Rittenhouse. Rittenhouse was lionized by the hard right after he killed Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz during Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, which he testified at trial he did in self-defense. A jury acquitted Rittenhouse of murder and attempted murder charges in November 2021.</span></div><div>
</div><div><b>Extremist connections</b></div><div><b>
</b></div><div><b>Though it claims to be nonpartisan, Judicial Watch pushes conspiracy theories that adhere with the hard right. The nonprofit has targeted former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a frequent target of hard-right conspiracy theories. Judicial Watch recently sued federal agencies for links to former State Secretary Hillary Clinton’s alleged spying campaign against Trump.</b></div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Marshall also led Judicial Watch’s reports on Clinton’s emails.</span> He discussed in Judicial Watch videos his request for former Clinton aide Huma Abedin’s emails, and he alleged scandals in which he claimed Clinton was involved. Marshall also said the Department of Justice under Obama gave Clinton special treatment during an investigation into her use of a private email server during her tenure as secretary of state.</div><div>
</div><div>Clinton’s emails have played a major role in hard-right conspiratorial thought, including alleged Clinton misconduct. According to several conspiracies, the evidence of Clinton’s misconduct was contained in emails that Clinton deleted. <b style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Judicial Watch founder Larry Klayman has promoted some of these conspiracy theories.</b></div><div>
</div><div>Marshall regularly appeared on anti-Muslim extremist and conspiracy theorist Frank Gaffney’s podcast in 2018 and 2019. He discussed the politicization of intelligence agencies and former FBI director James Comey’s alleged misconduct as part of the Justice Department under former President Barack Obama.</div><div>
</div><div>The podcasts came amid a broad, right-wing attempt to discredit federal agencies as they investigated former President Donald Trump’s contacts with Russia before the 2016 presidential election.</div><div>
</div><div>The hard right and conspiracy theorists call the agencies and bureaucrats the “deep state.” The deep state is an integral part of broad, unfounded theories that D.C. insiders worked to spy on and undermine Trump.</div><div>
</div><div><b>Judicial Watch has partnered with hard-right figures including former Trump adviser Steve Bannon</b>. T<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">he nonprofit has no known partnership with the Oath Keepers or the anti-Muslim Center for Security Policy, which Gaffney founded.</span></div><div>
</div><div><b>But Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton was a member of <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Groundswell, </span>a conservative activist group of which Gaffney was also a member.</b></div><div>
</div><div>Fitton, too, rails against deep state “spying” on Trump.</div><div>
</div><div>Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, started Groundswell in 2013. The activists planned a “30-front war” to push hard-line conservative policies and appointments in the federal government.</div><div>
</div><div>The group focuses on anti-immigration, anti-abortion and anti-gun control issues, as well as numerous other issues the hard right has taken up.</div><div>
</div><div>By 2019, Groundswell pushed Trump to purge the deep state from his administration, Axios reported. Groundswell curated a deep state hit list and delivered it to Trump while he was president, according to the report.</div><div>
</div><div>Groundswell held weekly meetings at Judicial Watch offices, according to Axios and The New York Times.</div><div>
</div><div>Fizzling convoys</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The trucker protests began in the Canadian capital, Ottawa, in January. Organizations tied to the Canadian hard right, including the Maverick Party and the People’s Party of Canada, organized protests in Ottawa. Thousands of truckers disrupted international travel and commerce by blocking ports and crossings on the U.S.-Canada border to protest vaccine mandates and lockdowns.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Alexander told Hatewatch he was unaware of these connections and he “does not stand” for hateful rhetoric or supremacy.</span></div><div>
</div><div>Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared Canada’s first national public order emergency to end the protests on Feb. 14.</div><div>
</div><div>The Canadian protest inspired right-wing organizers, including individuals with extremist ties and ideologies in the U.S. Thousands protested COVID-19 mandates in Washington, D.C., beginning on Jan. 23.</div><div>
</div><div>The protests continued, and Alexander was reportedly present at a protest at the National Mall on Jan. 27, where he expressed anti-lockdown views.</div><div>
</div><div>Organizers across the U.S. called for truckers to descend on D.C. to block traffic in the capital. The convoys failed to cause major disruptions, in part due to unclear plans, D.C.’s traffic laws and regular traffic.</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The U.S. convoy faced increased scrutiny after main organizer Mike Landis invited onstage a man that called for truckers to “take ... back” Black Lives Matter Plaza in D.C., where protesters painted “Black Lives Matter” on 16th Street during the nationwide protests following the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Organizers have disavowed the man’s comments. Alexander told Hatewatch the speaker had “gone rogue” and was not “properly vetted.”</span></div><div>
</div><div>Marshall has not publicly spoken about the trucker convoys, and his name does not appear in the main donation list for the Canadian trucker protests that raised over $540,000. Personal connections between Marshall and Alexander – if there are any – remain unclear.</div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></div><div style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">6 22</font></div><div style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/ali-alexander-and-stop-the-steal-were-central-to-jan-6-heres-what-you-need-to-know/" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none;">https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/ali-alexander-and-stop-the-steal-were-central-to-jan-6-heres-what-you-need-to-know/</a></font></div><div style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</div><div>"I was the person that came up with the Jan. 6 idea with Congressman Gosar, Congressman Mo Brooks, and then Congressman Andy Biggs,” GOP operative Ali Alexander said in a Dec. 28, 2020, Periscope video. “We four schemed up of putting maximum pressure on Congress while they were voting, so that who we couldn’t lobby, we could change the hearts and the minds of Republicans who were in that body, hearing our loud roar from outside.”</div><div>
</div><div>The video, which was captured by investigative reporter Jason Paladino before it was deleted, highlights the role played by Alexander, his so-called “Stop the Steal” campaign, and far-right members of Congress in the failed insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. </div><div>
</div><div>The House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack launches its first public hearings June 9, and Alexander and “Stop the Steal” are likely to figure prominently in its findings. Alexander sat for eight hours of testimony in front of the committee on Dec. 9, and in April, a lawyer for Alexander said he would cooperate with the Department of Justice’s Jan. 6 investigation—a claim on which Alexander promptly threw cold water.</div><div>
</div><div>Right Wing Watch extensively covered Ali Alexander and the so-called Stop the Steal movement ahead of Jan. 6. Here’s what you need to know.</div><div>
</div><div>Who is Ali Alexander? What is “Stop the Steal”?</div><div>
</div><div>On Nov. 4, 2020, as mail-in ballots began to be counted and shifted the election in favor of Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump falsely declared that the ongoing efforts to count millions of outstanding ballots were an indication of fraud and that he had in fact won.</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Hours later, Alexander publicly launched “Stop the Steal,” a campaign to get right-wing activists to discredit mail-in voting, disrupt vote-counting, and falsely accuse Democrats of stealing the presidential election. The campaign held its first rally outside Arizona’s state capitol building in Phoenix that evening, featuring Rep. Paul Gosar, who with a bullhorn in hand, addressed the crowd before introducing “Pizzagate” booster Mike Cernovich, who threatened imaginary anti-fascist activists. </span></div><div>
</div><div>And so began months of “Stop the Steal” rallies featuring far-right members of Congress, QAnon and election conspiracy theorists, Christian nationalists, and far-right anti-government groups, all under the MAGA banner. </div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>Ali Alexander and Roger Stone (Image Source: Twitter)]</div><div>
</div><div>Alexander, née Ali Akbar, has long worked in Republican politics, coming up under the tutelage of “dirty trickster” Roger Stone. He has connections to deep pockets, too: a PAC advised by<b> Alexander received a $60,000 donation in 2016 from pro-Trump billionaire Robert Mercer.<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> </span></b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">These Republican connections have persisted despite his habit of noting when members of the media he criticizes are Jewish and despite associating with far-right figures like Unite the Right white supremacist attendee Matt Colligan and members of the neo-fascist Proud Boys.</span></div><div>
</div><div><b>Alexander’s “Stop the Steal” campaign wasn’t the first to go by that name. Longtime GOP operative and Trump confidant Roger Stone first popularized the phrase “Stop the Steal” during the 2016 presidential election</b>.<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> In 2018, Alexander, Stone, and far-right commentator Jack Posobiec launched a “Stop the Steal” campaign during a ballot recount for Florida’s Senate race between Republican Rick Scott and Democrat Bill Nelson. Pro-Trump activists from around the country descended on Florida to protest and spread misinformation, insisting that Democrats were trying to “steal” the election from Scott. It served as a dry run for the 2020 presidential election. Sure enough, in September 2020, Posobiec and Alexander discussed rebooting the campaign. </span></div><div>
</div><div>What was their role in the lead up to Jan. 6?</div><div>
</div><div><b>Alexander served as the lead organizer for “Stop the Steal.” <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The campaign targeted Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Georgia—battleground states won by Joe Biden and whose cities are home to predominantly Black and brown voters</span>—holding rallies and spreading election disinformation on social media.</b></div><div>
</div><div>He called on figures he knew from his time as a member of the highly secretive<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><b> Council for National Policy</b> a</span>nd through his years in Republican politics to join the effort, including activists<b> <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Amy and Kylie Kremer, Jack Posobiec, Brandon Straka, Scott Presler, Tom Fitton of Judicial Watch, Ed Martin of Phyllis Schlafly Eagles, and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk</span>.</b> <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">He brought into the fold Trump’s short-lived national security adviser Michael Flynn and Trump team attorneys Sidney Powell and Lin Wood—who have since been disciplined for bringing false lawsuits alleging election fraud.</span> Most joined the so-called “Stop the Steal” movement in a public capacity; others promoted the same messaging through their own organizations and organized behind the scenes.</div><div>
</div><div>Ali Alexander and other “Stop the Steal” activists at Dec. 15, 2020 press conference (Image from NTD livestream posted on <b>Epoch Times YouTube channel.)]</b></div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Alexander welcomed extremists into the campaign’s ranks. Male supremacist Mike Cernovich, white nationalist Nick Fuentes, and far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones were among the first to answer Alexander’s call. Alongside white nationalist Patrick Casey, Vincent James, and Baked Alaska, Fuentes galvanized crowds of white men to attend “Stop the Steal” rallies across the county, while Jones spread disinformation through his Infowars network, raised funds for the Jan. 6 rally, and brought a caravan of supporters to rallies</span>.</div><div>
</div><div>On Nov. 14, “Stop the Steal” came to the nation’s capital. Thousands of Trump loyalists, conspiracy theorists, and members of far-right groups took to the streets. Marjorie Taylor Green, Lauren Boebert, and Madison Cawthorn—all recently elected to Congress—addressed the crowd alongside organizers. Radical conspiracy theorist Alex <b>Jones</b> yelled unintelligibly into a bullhorn. Members of the Proud Boys hate group roamed the streets looking for fights and found them late in the evening.<b> Fuentes’ America First group, a youth-focused white-nationalist outfit, commanded the crowd’s attention with chants of “America First.”</b></div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">A second Dec. 12 rally was deeply steeped in Christian nationalist and violent rhetoric<b>. Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes called on Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act and declare martial law, threatening a “much more bloody war” </b>should he fail to do so.</span></div><div>
</div><div><b>While rallies brought the whole of the MAGA movement together, Alexander held regular Periscopes to spread disinformation and provide action items to Trump supporters.</b></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Alexander called on “Stop the Steal” activists to lobby the state legislatures of battleground states won by Joe Biden to ignore the election results and<b> send Republican electors to the electoral college </b>to give Trump enough electoral votes.<b> He called on state Republican legislators to declare the election fraudulent and threatened them with a primary challenger should they not</b></span><b>. </b></div><div>
</div><div>By mid-December, right-wing activists and lawyers were focused on Jan. 6, the day Congress would certify the electoral votes. More than 100 House members and a dozen Senators committed to voting against certifying the election. Trump and the apparatus around him began to pressure Vice President Mike Pence to use his ceremonial duty to block or delay Biden’s certification. “Stop the Steal” fed into that pressure, with “Stop the Steal” friend Lin Wood going as far as to call for the vice president’s execution.</div><div>
</div><div><b>On Dec. 19, Trump declared it “[s]tatistically impossible to have lost the 2020 Election.” [~ his own # guy 1/6 hearing] He encouraged his followers to come to D.C.: “Big protest in DC on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!” </b></div><div>
</div><div><b>Alexander had already planned a <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Jan. 6 D.C. protest, but he began fighting his one-time fellow activists Kylie and Amy Kremer for control </span>of the big Jan. 6 rally.</b> <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The Kremers had used the “Stop the Steal” banner for their cross country bus tour and a competing December rally, much to Alexander’s chagrin. ProPublica reported that <b>Katrina Pierson, whom the White House put in charge of the rally planning, “helped arrange a deal where those organizers deemed too extreme to speak at the Ellipse could do so on the night of Jan. 5.” That meant Alexander and his cohort were relegated to speaking on the evening of Jan. 5, while the Kremers took the lead on the Jan. 6 event held at the Ellipse</b>.<b> Alexander held that Jan. 5 rally and planned his own separate “wild” Jan. 6 protest on the east side of the Capitol </b>building to follow the main “Save America” rally.</span></div><div>
</div><div><b>Alexander spent weeks in the lead up to the Capitol insurrection calling for “rebellion,” starting chants of “victory or death,” and using rhetoric of the American Revolution and spiritual warfare to call for action should Congress certify the election of President Joe Biden</b>.<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"> He engaged in violent rhetoric, appearing to even advocate for physical attacks against members of Congress who he said stole the election. </span></div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The Jan. 5 rally served as the penultimate event of those calls. Speakers delivered <b>Christian nationalist messages and veiled threats of violence </b>if Congress failed to reject Biden electors. Bikers for Trump founder Chris Cox told rally-goers that the United States was on the brink of a revolution and that he would “take the first bullet.” Right Wing Watch reported at the time: </span></div><div>
</div><div>Standing in front of a sign declaring “MARTIAL LAW NOW,” so-called Stop the Steal organizer Ali Alexander led the crowd in chants of “Victory or death!” Alexander told activists, “Our government is only our government if it is legitimate” and declared, “<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">1776 is always an option</span>.” [new boogaloo? less racist?] He said Stop the Steal activists were starting <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">“a rebellion against the Deep State.”</span></div><div>
</div><div>What was Ali Alexander and the campaign’s role on Jan. 6?</div><div>
</div><div><b>On the day of the insurrection, Alexander took to Twitter early in the morning to declare it the “First official day of the rebellion.” Alexander was supposed to hold his “wild” protest by the Capitol, but it would never materialize.</b></div><div>
</div><div>Trump loyalists packed into the Ellipse, eager to stop what they saw as a fraudulent election. Speaking from the stage and wearing a bulletproof vest, Rep. Mo Brooks, whom Alexander had recently called a friend, told attendees that Jan. 6 is “the day American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass. … Are you willing to do what it takes to fight for America? Louder! Will you fight for America?” </div><div>
</div><div><b>“If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore,” Trump told the crowd. He urged activists to march to the Capitol to make their voices heard. They did as they were told</b>.</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Leaving the rally at the Ellipse after Trump’s speech, where he was a VIP guest with far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, Alexander followed Jones through the Capitol grounds, past barricades, and up the Capitol steps. At that point—around 2 p.m.—the Capitol had already been breached</span>.</div><div><b>
</b></div><div><b>“Democrats and Media ended the Republic and the people responded. Welcome to ‘duhhh’,” he tweeted an hour later.</b></div><div>
</div><div>Alexander emerged on <b>One America News Network’s terrace</b> overlooking the Capitol to record a video, posted on the “Stop the Steal” Twitter account by his associate Michael Coudrey at 4:26 p.m.—well after the violence had begun. </div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">“I don’t disavow this. I do not denounce this,” Alexander said, gesturing to the scene behind him. Trump loyalists were descending on the Capitol and up the Capitol steps. “This is completely peaceful, looks like, so far. And there are a couple of agitators that I obviously don’t endorse,” he claimed despite having seen what took place on the steps not long before. By the end of the video, Alexander was back to encouraging rebellion. “StoptheSteal.us is going to be the home of the rebellion against an illegitimate government.”</span></div><div><b>
</b></div><div><b>Right Wing Watch captured the video, which was later deleted.</b></div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>Where is Ali Alexander now? </div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><b>Ali Alexander went into hiding following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. </b>In February, he briefly reappeared and said he had been plotting to restart rallies in March,<b> abolish the media, and build a separate society for Trump supporters. He declared that “civil war” was the only outcome available to those who opposed Biden’s presidency.</b></span></div><div>
</div><div><b>But Alexander was kicked off Twitter and most mainstream social media platforms. He lost access to his Venmo, Cashapp, and Paypal. He turned to alternative social media platforms and<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> briefly became a Bitcoin influencer. </span></b></div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">In <b>October 2021, the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack issued three subpoenas to Alexander,</b> the Stop the Steal organization, and Nathan Martin, who worked with Alexander and reserved the Jan. 6 rally space. Alexander accused the government of “gaslighting” and blamed the violence on “agitators dressed in militant outfits.” Jan. 6, he said, was a government “psyop.</span>” </div><div><b>
</b></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><b>In December 2021, Alexander testified for eight hours in a closed-door hearing</b> and<b> asked the House select committee to suspend reality</b>. In a draft of his opening statement, which was leaked to the New York Times, he denied wrongdoing and passed the buck, placing blame for the violence on Katrina Pierson, Kylie Kremer, and Amy Kremer. </span></div><div>
</div><div><b>In a lawsuit seeking to prevent the select committee from obtaining his phone records, Alexander confirmed to congressional investigators that ahead of Jan. 6, he had communicated with several GOP congressmen—Reps. Paul Gosar, Mo Brooks, and Andy Biggs—as well as with Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr.’s girlfriend and member of Trump’s inner circle.</b></div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">In April, a lawyer for Alexander <b>said he would cooperate with the Department of Justice’s Jan. 6 investigation. The following day, Alexander joined Alex Jones’ show to suggest he wouldn’t cooperate. </b>He went on to call the effort to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol a <b>conspiracy to “stop Trump from running in 2024” and “usher in a New World Order.”</b></span></div><div>
</div><div><b>A few days later, Alexander joined Alex Jones’ show again. He mused that “there is a time for legitimate violence when there is legitimate tyranny.”</b></div><div>
</div><div>Tags: Alex Jones Ali Alexander Jack Posobiec</div></div><div style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/the-propaganda-war-against-voting-by-mail/"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/the-propaganda-war-against-voting-by-mail/</font></a></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> THE FIRST Tuesday in April, as the gravity of the COVID-19 pandemic was becoming all too real, Americans got a scary glimpse of what Election Day in November might look like if the virus were still spreading. We also got a big, loud, ugly preview of the 2020 voting wars.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The state of Wisconsin had no business holding an election on April 7. Sixteen other states had bumped their primary dates back, hoping to give election officials time to adjust to the drastic new conditions and allow more voters to cast their ballots safely by mail. Governor Tony Evers had issued a statewide stay-at-home order. In Milwaukee alone, at least 51 people had already died from the new coronavirus. And so many poll workers were refusing to show up that the city, home to Wisconsin’s largest concentration of voters of color, would be hard-pressed to open even a handful of polling places, never mind the usual 180. “We are over our heads in chaos,” Neil Albrecht, Milwaukee’s election chief, told The Guardian a few days before the voting was slated to start.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
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</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Evers, a Democrat, tried to push the election date to May 23 and send mail ballots to all registered Wisconsinites. But he waited too late. By the time Evers called the state legislature into emergency session the week before the polls were to open, asking legislators to approve the delay and green-light an all-mail ballot, President Donald Trump and his right-wing amen chorus had begun to paint voting by mail not as a public-health necessity during a pandemic, but instead as a Democratic plot to “rig” the 2020 elections—“perhaps the worst of all the scams perpetrated through the COVID nightmare,” as Trump fan Laura Ingraham put it to viewers of her Fox News Channel show.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In addition to the Democratic presidential primary that was to take place on that day, there was also an election for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“A lot of people cheat with mail-in voting,” the president said on April 4. “In Wisconsin what happened is I, through social media, put out a very strong endorsement of a Republican conservative judge, who’s an excellent brilliant judge, he’s a justice. And I hear what happened is his poll numbers went through the roof, and because of that, I think they delayed the election.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>
</b></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>So Wisconsin Republicans forced the show to go on. </b>The Republican leaders of the state Assembly and Senate both gaveled in their special sessions, then gaveled them out within seconds. When the governor responded by issuing an executive order to delay the primary, the majority-Republican state Supreme Court stayed it on the night before the election.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>
</b></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Voting went smoothly enough in the state’s smaller counties and towns, where white Republicans predominate and polling places had no lines. But in the cities, it was an unholy mess. Lines were so long in Green Bay that some people couldn’t vote till after midnight.</b> In Milwaukee, the scene was downright eerie; some poll workers wore makeshift hazmat suits fashioned from plastic bags. National Guard troops, hastily called in to serve as poll workers, dashed around with plastic bottles of disinfectant spray, wiping things down between voters. Local firefighters passed out hand sanitizer to the thousands who waited for hours in lines that stretched for blocks, far past the trail of orange traffic cones that had been set up to keep folks six feet apart. Outside Washington High School, one waiting voter, Jennifer Taft, summed it all up perfectly, holding up a hand-lettered sign reading: “THIS IS RIDICULOUS.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“I’m disgusted,” Taft told a local reporter. “I requested an absentee ballot almost three weeks ago and never got it. I have a father dying from lung disease, and I have to risk my life and his just to exercise my right to vote.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Statewide, overall turnout was higher than expected. Even in that compressed time period, 1.1 million of Wisconsin’s 3.3 million voters had sent in absentee ballots—five times the number of voters who did so in the 2016 primary</b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> And when the votes were all tallied six days later, the Democratic Supreme Court challenger had won easily, giving the lie to Trump’s theory that Evers wanted to delay the election to prevent a GOP victory.</span></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">But the Republicans’ efforts to sew confusion and long lines in the cities had worked in certain ways: In Milwaukee, which saw historically low Black turnout in 2016 after a strict new Voter ID law went into effect, the primary vote was half what it had been four years earlier. “It was voter suppression on steroids,” said Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez. “They tried to steal the election.</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">”</span></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[I have to risk my life just to exercise my right to vote.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">JENNIFER TAFT, MILWAUKEE VOTER]</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The mail balloting hadn’t gone smoothly, either: Nearly 12,000 voters who’d requested absentee ballots, like Jennifer Taft, never got them. Three tubs full of absentee ballots that never reached voters were found in a mail center outside Milwaukee. And 23,000 absentee ballots sent in by voters—more than Trump’s margin of victory in the state in 2016—had been disqualified for technical problems. Here as elsewhere, Republican lawmakers had made the process as complicated and time-consuming as possible to keep mail voting down, including a requirement that a witness sign every ballot. Voters’ signatures had to match the signatures on file with the state; as in other states, it’s left to election volunteers and staffers, not handwriting experts, to decide whether the signatures match. Thousands of votes were tossed on this subjective basis. (In June, after the delayed New York primary, 30,000 votes from Brooklyn, one-quarter of the total, would be tossed out for similar reasons.)</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>
</b></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The threat of robust turnout figures posed by mail-in voting had fully stirred the right-wing propaganda machine by now—and it had given them a fresh new story to tell about what they claimed was the looming threat of mass left-wing “voter fraud.</b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">” The same day Wisconsin’s primary results were announced, an apparently new group called the</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> Honest Elections Project aired an Orwellian TV and digital ad across the country—a six-figure buy—casting what happened in Wisconsin as Democrats’ “brazen attempt to manipulate the election system for partisan advantage by exploiting the coronavirus pandemic.”</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> It was, the narrator intoned, a sign of election-rigging to come: “The facts about the Wisconsin election: Record absentee voting. Five times more than 2016. Democrats didn’t think they could win so they tried lawsuits, changing the rules, even canceling the election. They create chaos. It’s wrong.”</span></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>
</b></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><b>The Honest Elections Project turned out to be a legal alias for the Judicial Education Project, a powerful dark-money PAC funded by the Donors Trust,</b> a nonprofit donor-advised fund often referred to as the “dark money ATM” of the right, with such heavy-hitting benefactors as billionaire Charles Koch and the (Betsy) DeVos family.<b> It was the brainchild of Leonard Leo,</b> a Trump confidant who was instrumental in the choice and confirmations of the president’s Supreme Court nominees, and it would soon begin filing lawsuits seeking to block the expansion of remote voting, and other pandemic-inspired election reforms—using the same lead attorney, longtime Washington litigator William Consovoy, as the Trump campaign.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, a litigious right-wing group that sues to effect voter-roll purges.]</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">At least three other lavishly funded far-right groups—Judicial Watch, the Public Interest Legal Foundation, and True the Vote—are also combining legal challenges with propaganda efforts designed to discredit, and disable, remote voting for November. </b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The Republican National Committee issued a statement this spring promising to devote at least $20 million to such lawsuits as well. </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The messages they’re all promoting are identical to Trump’s rhetoric about the dangers of mail-in balloting and the Democrats’ purportedly cynical promotion of it to allegedly rig the election. Their combined resources and firepower adds up to the biggest coordinated effort to suppress votes in history. Until this year, battles over voting rules were mostly waged by Republican state lawmakers and right-wing legal firms not quite acceptable to the mainstream, <b>cheered on by talk-radio shouters and extremist websites like The Gateway Pundit and Breitbart.</b></span></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">“You used to have these small-time, right-wing operations,” Mark Elias, a top Democratic litigator who’s working on several ongoing lawsuits, told The Washington Post in June. “Because Donald Trump has normalized all these crackpot theories about voter fraud, they’ve all now joined forces under the banner of the legitimate Republican establishment.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">All they want, they say, are the same old “fair” and “normal” elections that Trump keeps calling for. But the president, characteristically, had already given away the game before the Wisconsin primary lit the right wing on fire. On “Fox & Friends” during the week before that primary from hell, he’d warned the friendly hosts what would happen if voting by mail were allowed to metastasize: “You’d never have a Republican elected in this country again.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[Gallows humor from artist Mike Licht regarding Wisconsin’s April 7, during-the-pandemic, in-person Spring election. via Flickr creative commons]</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> </font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">THE CRUSADE TO suppress votes in the 2020 election began long before COVID-19 existed, and long before the pandemic led to a popular clamor for more voting by mail. Three weeks after his razor-thin victory in the Electoral College, still irked at hearing about Hillary Clinton’s edge in the popular vote, President-elect Trump issued a tweetstorm citing right-wing conspiracy theories. His chief claim, often to be repeated: “I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>
</b></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>On stage at the 2017 Conservative Political Action Committee convention three months later, Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, backed up Trump’s claims. “The left would have you believe that we have about 43 million aliens in this country, both lawful and unlawfully present,” he said. “And none of them vote!</b>” The activists in the audience cheered and chuckled. “You know, under the Obama administration, they opposed Voter ID; they opposed the idea of even asking someone whether they were a citizen before they register to vote,” Fitton went on to say. “Why would you be opposed to that, other than maybe wanting to steal elections when necessary?” Cue applause.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>
</b></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Fitton also seconded Trump’s call for a “federal investigation into voter fraud,” promising that it would be “the most significant civil rights investigation in a generation,” because, he said, “We’re on the side of civil rights.</b> We’re on the side of the civil rights of Americans who potentially are having their votes stolen from them by the thousands, if not millions, by illegal votes.” Getting the findings to back up those assertions would be a breeze, he promised. “It’s easy to figure out where there’s voter fraud,” Fitton said, “and obviously that’s why the leftist voters are screaming, because they’re afraid their gig is up.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Not quite, as it transpired. That “investigation” was launched in May 2017, when Trump made appointments to his newly concocted Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, which included top vote-suppression specialists Kris Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state and anti-immigration zealot, and Hans von Spakovsky of the Heritage Foundation. But it didn’t prove so easy to find hard proof of the massive fraud they’d long been claiming. <b>After eight months of trying, the commissioners dug up only scattered cases drawn from media reports, and the president disbanded the effort.</b></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[This is a pretext for blocking voices they do not want to hear.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">STACEY ABRAMS, FAIR FIGHT FOUNDER]</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><b>But voter-suppression is now an industry unto itself, and Judicial Watch and its peers didn’t skip a beat. </b>Ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, Judicial Watch and PILF sent 248 letters to state and local election officials across the country, threatening lawsuits if they didn’t undertake massive, aggressive “purges” of their voter rolls</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">. “Your jurisdiction is in apparent violation of Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act,” the letters claimed. The NVRA, known as the “Motor Voter Act,” was passed in 1993 to “expand voting opportunities” in various ways, including offering registration at driver’s license offices. It also required local elections offices to undertake “uniform, non-discriminatory maintenance” of their registration rolls, striking those who’d become ineligible—by dying, going to prison, or moving out of state.</span></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Under previous administrations, the Justice Department monitored these purges and sometimes stepped in when they became overzealous and were clearly targeting voters of color. “The rationale of removing voters from the rolls to protect against fraud is nonsensical,” Stacey Abrams, who founded the voting-rights group Fair Fight after narrowly losing the Georgia governor’s race in 2018, told Mother Jones earlier this year. “This is a pretext for blocking voices they do not want to hear.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The letters contained legal threats, but their primary purpose was to stoke publicity about voter fraud—and to raise the profiles of Fitton and<b> J. Christian Adams, a former Department of Justice official who heads PILF and served on the ill-fated Election Integrity Commission. Adams is best known as the DOJ attorney who promoted a 2008 “voter intimidation” case against two members of a group that dubbed itself the New Black Panthers.</b></span><b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> On Election Day 2008, the two stationed themselves outside a predominantly white polling place in Philadelphia, one of them holding a nightstick.</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> </span></b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">When Obama’s Justice Department declined to press charges, Adams loudly resigned and wrote a book called “Injustice: Exposing the Racial Agenda of the Obama Justice Department.</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">” In lawsuits and legal threats targeting jurisdictions with large numbers of non-white voters, Adams first launched suits via the <b>American Civil Rights Union (a right-wing group</b> that fancies itself to be the analog to the American Civil Liberties Union), and then with PILF.</span></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[“The rationale of removing voters from the rolls to protect against fraud is nonsensical,” says Stacey Abrams. “This is a pretext for blocking voices they do not want to hear.” (Photo of Abrams on election night 2018 from Abrams’ Facebook page.)]</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Judicial Watch and PILF got a few big victories out of their threats and lawsuits, in 2018 and again last year. In 2018, the Supreme Court upheld a Judicial Watch settlement agreement with <b>Ohio and allowed a massive voter purge</b>—a decision that opened the floodgates for more of the same, permitting states to strike voters who haven’t voted in recent elections.</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">As 2020 began, counties in California and Kentucky were busy removing close to 2 million voters; ditto, Allegheny County, one of the largest Pennsylvania counties carried by Hillary Clinton in 2016. In three other large</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> Clinton-voting <b>Pennsylvania </b>counties Judicial Watch dragged into court this year, the group claimed an almost comically high number of “ineligible” voters—800,000 in all, which would amount to more than 65 percent of all registered voters in the counties. “We 100-percent dispute the claims,” Secretary of the Commonwealth Kathy Boockvar, who was also sued, told state senators.</span></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">Most of this year’s election lawsuits are related to COVID-19—or, more precisely, they target attempts by states and municipalities to make voting easier and safer during the pandemic.</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <b>The number of these cases is staggering: More than 200 </b>were still percolating through the courts in mid-August. Many have been brought by the Trump campaign, the<b> Republican National Committee, Judicial Watch, PILF, and the Honest Elections Project,</b> all of whom have the same agenda: Keep voting restrictions in place. Three more states have switched to all-mail elections this year: California, Nevada, and Vermont. When lawmakers in Nevada, where Trump lost by just 27,000 votes in 2016, approved all-mail voting in a special session on the first Sunday of August, Trump called it “an illegal late-night coup” on Twitter, with the promise, “See you in court!” Two days later, still fuming, he posted a tweet falsely stating that voting by mail would mean a “Rigged Election.” It became the first tweet flagged by Twitter as untrue. The same day, the Republican National Committee, the Trump campaign, and Nevada Republican Party all filed suit against Nevada.</span></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">In most states, election officials and lawmakers have simply tried to ease restrictions that can make absentee voting difficult or confusing: early deadlines for requesting ballots, Election Day deadlines for having them returned or postmarked, requirements that witnesses or notaries sign the ballots, strictly limited forms of acceptable ID. In some cases, the</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> question is whether vulnerability to COVID-19 counts as an “excuse” for needing a mail ballot</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">. </span><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(Most states already allow no-excuse absentee voting, but a few—like emerging battleground Texas—do not.)</b></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Graphic from the National Conference of State Legislatures.]</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Justin Levitt, a Loyola University law professor who tracks all these cases, has not detected a pattern in the decisions. <b>But as he’s noted, it’s already a win for right-wing organizations and the Republicans to keep elections officials tied up in courts—and election rules in a state of suspended uncertainty as states try, with chronically inadequate funding, to manage an election during a pandemic</b>. “My usual election-cycle comment is that we’re trying to find enough duct tape to cover the holes in the bucket,” Levitt said recently. “This time, we’re trying to make the bucket out of duct tape.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>
</b></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>The uncertainty created by the lawsuits, combined with the disinformation about voting that will be plastered all over social media this fall, creates an indirect but powerful form of voter suppression in itself. </b>“Voter suppression is a combination of things,” says Georgia state Rep. and voting-rights advocate Renitta Shannon. “It’s a chipping away of people either not being able to vote, or thinking it will be a major hassle. When people have a question about whether their vote is going to be counted, that [becomes] a reason not to vote.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
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</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">ON JUNE 5, Tom Fitton and J. Christian Adams were both invited to testify at a U.S. House hearing on “Protecting the Right to Vote During the COVID-19 Crisis.” It was another sign of how formerly fringe right-wing conspiracies had become thoroughly mainstreamed in Trump’s GOP. </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">And it provided another platform to spread the falsehood that Democrats were using the pandemic to make real their fraudulent dreams. <b>“It is now about five months until Election Day,” Fitton testified, “and the pandemic’s infection curve has flattened. Insisting now on all-mail-ballot elections seems less like a response to a health crisis and more like a partisan application of the immortal words of Rahm Emanuel: ‘Never let a good crisis go to waste.’</b>”</span></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Fitton’s coronavirus predictions would soon be disproved, but the notion of Democrats using mail ballots to commit grand theft in 2020—“using COVID to defraud the American people,” as Trump expressed it on the first night of the Republican National Convention—remains the central deceit of the right’s propaganda campaign. “The Democrats have cooked this thing up,” Rush Limbaugh bellowed in August, “because they don’t feel confident that they can win in a traditionally fair and normal election.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[J. Christian Adams, president and general counsel of the Public Interest Legal Foundation in 2019 screencap.]</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>In many places, the relative unfamiliarity of mail voting is a boon to the fear-mongering.</b> And with folks on the right having been treated to years’ worth of “voter fraud” talk, they’d been conditioned to take it seriously. “When they talk about voter fraud,” says Tomas Lopez, executive director of the progressive group Democracy North Carolina, “they’re talking about race, of course. They’re lamenting the fact that those people get a vote.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Across platforms—Fox News, talk radio, social media, presidential briefings—the narrative being served up about mail voting has been remarkably consistent in all its main plot points. It’s almost as if Judicial Watch teamed with the Trump campaign and sent out a bullet-point memo, which kicks off with “stealing and rigging” and proceeds, from there, to the following talking points:</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><b>Even more “illegals” get to vote. </b>“Here’s a shocking things for your audience to consider,” senior Trump advise<b>r Stephen Miller,</b> architect of the immigration policy that caged children at the U.S.-Mexico border, said in August on “Fox & Friends.” “Nobody who mails in a ballot has their identity confirmed; nobody checks to see if they’re even a U.S. citizen. Think about that. Any foreign national—talk about foreign election interference—can mail in a ballot, and nobody even verifies if they’re a citizen of the United States of America.” (In reality, every state verifies the identity of the person requesting the mail-in ballot.)</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>This summer, Judicial Watch bought at least 263 ads on Facebook (cost: $210,000) to drive home the same spurious claim delivered by Miller on Fox News.</b>According to a tally from Media Matters for America, 144 of the ads, which were full of disinformation about “voter fraud,” claimed that “illegal aliens are voting,” while 119 got more specific, claiming that “25% of noncitizens are registered to vote.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Ballots Are On the Loose.</b> </font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">On May 1, Trump retweeted<b> Mollie Hemingway, a writer for The Federalist,</b> a right-wing publication, who had some “news” that sounded startling: “Nearly one in five of all absentee and mail-in-ballots between 2012 and 2018 remain unaccounted for, according to data from the federal Election Assistance Commission,” she wrote. Hemingway drew her figures from a new and scholarly looking report by PILF—J. Christian Adams’ organization—which claimed that 28 million absentee ballots had “gone missing” in recent election cycles. Those ballots represent a golden opportunity for mass-scale fraud, Adams said in a statement accompanying the PILF report—“28 million opportunties for someone to cheat.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The “missing ballots” meme spread like wildfire. But as voting-rights advocates (and logical thinkers) pointed out, the ballots aren’t just floating around, waiting for noncitizens and Democrats to scoop them up and send them in; they simply hadn’t been returned by the voters who got them. Twelve million of the “loose” ballots, as they’re also called, had been sent by election officials in Colorado, Oregon, and Washington state, where everyone who registers automatically receives one. About 30 percent of voters in those states typically don’t return their ballots in a given election. “Where are they now?” said Paul Gronke, a Reed College professor who runs the Early Voting Information Center, of the so-called “missing” ballots. “Most likely, in landfills.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>
</b></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Democrats Are Harvesting Those Loose Ballots.</b> </font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Expect to hear several earfuls about “ballot harvesting” between now and November. It’s the hip, scary-sounding new catchphrase for voter-fraudsters, though the practice it describes is a routine feature of absentee voting in more than half the states: Basically, it just means that a third party can collect someone’s vote in its sealed envelope and hand-deliver it to an election office. The laws are meant to help people who live at great distances from polling places without transportation, or who are sick or shut in, to cast a vote. In March, Trump’s own ballot in the Florida primary was “harvested”—he gave it to an (unknown) third party, who delivered it directly to an elections office in Palm Beach. Nonetheless, as he tweeted on April 14, we must “GET RID OF BALLOT HARVESTING, IT IS RAMPANT WITH FRAUD.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Democratic workers sometimes organize “community collections,” leading right-wing pundits to peddle fantastical visions of thugs pounding on doors and demanding people’s blank ballots for harvesting. The proof? Well, in Paterson, N.J., this spring, a postal employee noticed something odd in a local post office five days before an all-mail primary: 347 completed ballots bundled together. They were part of a scheme for which four perpetrators, including one city council member, have all been charged with fraud. Amid the controversy, Paterson’s election board disqualified 19 percent of the ballots in the primary—which, trickling up from Gateway Pundit, a conspiracy theory website, to the West Wing, served as evidence of the fraudulent potential of “harvesting.” “Look at Patterson[sic], N.J.,” Trump tweeted. “20% of vote was corrupted!” In fact, election officials said that most of the uncounted ballots were tossed out for the usual technical reasons—mainly for signatures that didn’t appear to match those on file. <b>The only example of large-scale ballot harvesting occurred in a North Carolina congressional race in the 2018 midterms. It was organized by a paid GOP operative who’s facing both state and federal charges.</b></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“THIS IS GOING TO BE the greatest election disaster in history,” Trump promised reporters in the middle of yet another rant against vote-by-mail in August. He failed to mention how hard he and his right-wing allies were fighting to make his apocalyptic predictions about the election come true—or how much his prospects for victory may hinge on it.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The right’s doomsaying about chaos and fraud at the polls have definitely penetrated the national consciousness. In August, a Pew poll found that nearly half of registered U.S. voters expect to “have difficulties casting a ballot” this year. That might not sound surprising—but it’s a sea change from 2018, when 85 percent expected voting to be “easy.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">When it comes to mail voting in particular, however, it’s only Republicans who are moved by the propaganda. When Pew asked Trump supporters how they planned to vote, 80 percent said they’d do it in person, while just 17 percent would vote by mail. By contrast, most Biden supporters—58 percent—said they’d be voting remotely.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Given those results, it’s no surprise that, in the 2020 battleground states, Democrats are outpacing Republicans in absentee ballot requests.</b> Far more, in fact. Four years ago in Florida, Democrats requested 6,000 more absentee ballots than Republicans; by the end of August this year, ballot requests by Democrats had surpassed those from Republicans by 600,000. In North Carolina, where absentee voting has always been sparse, 177,000 Democrats had asked for ballots compared to 50,000 Republicans. “Everybody’s up,” said Michael Bitzer, a politics professor at Catawba College. “It’s just that Democrats and unaffiliated are through the roof, and Republicans are not even on the second floor.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">This disparity, which is consistent in other battleground states, has saner Republican officials and activists deeply worried. What if the anti-mail campaign ends up backfiring, and suppressing their votes? And with the virus likely to still be raging come November, will GOP voters—seniors, in particular—actually take the risk to show up in person to vote? “What the president is doing when he keeps saying that this mail-in balloting thing is fraudulent, he’s scaring our own voters from using a legit way to cast your ballot,” Rohn Bishop, chair of the Fond du Lac County GOP in Wisconsin, told USA Today. “We’re kind of hurting ourselves.” When he tries to talk up absentee voting to fellow Republicans, Bishop said, he gets a lot of flak that he’s “ignoring voter fraud.” It’s not easy to argue when the Republican president keeps calling vote-by-mail “the greatest scam in history.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>The weird thing, said Bishop and other Republican state leaders, is that while the president continues to slam mail voting on a daily basis, the Trump campaign and RNC have told them to promote it.</b> “I’m out there pushing it at the request of the campaign, because they asked me [to] do that,” said Lawrence Tabas, chair of the Republican Party in Pennsylvania, which Trump carried by less than 1 percent in 2016—and where Democrats have made 68 percent of all mail-ballot requests, while Republicans requested just 24 percent. “And then the president is publicly opposed to it,” Tabas added. “Let’s put it this way; it’s made my job more challenging.” The Pennsylvania GOP website urges Republicans to “Vote Safe: By mail. From home.”</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">GOP voters in California also heard that “safe, from home” message before they voted in this spring’s primary—from two of Trump’s family members, no less. Both daughter-in-law Lara Trump and Donald Jr. recorded robocalls</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> in April urging mail votes for a Republican congressional candidate in a special election. “Nancy Pelosi and liberal Democrats are counting on you to sit on the sidelines this election, but you can prove them wrong,” Lara Trump said in one call. “You can safely and securely vote for Mike Garcia by returning your mail-in ballot by May 12.”</span></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Both Lara Trump and Donald Jr. recorded robocalls in April urging mail votes for a Republican congressional candidate in a special election.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">One major group on the right, Americans for Prosperity, is flexing its considerable muscle to counter the president’s message and urge right-wing voters to take advantage of either early or absentee voting this fall. Tim Phillips, president of the “grasstops” group, which underwrote the Tea Party movement, told Politico this spring that AFP “is absolutely going to up the percentage of dollars that go into absentee and early voting.” The group, which raked in $83 million in donations in 2018, has plenty to spend. It plans to target conservative voters in dozens of competitive congressional districts.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">But Judicial Watch, PILF, the Honest Elections Project, and allied groups like True the Vote—which is recruiting ex-Navy SEALs to serve as GOP poll-watchers on Nov. 3—are delivering a contrary message: It’s perfectly safe to vote in person. “Don’t let the left scare you from voting on Election Day,” Tom Fitton said on a Judicial Watch podcast on July 31. The same message continues to blast out on conservative media. “If people can go to Home Depot and distance six feet,” Fox host Jeanine Pirro said this summer, “why can’t they go to the voting booth and distance six feet?”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Is there a coherent strategy here, somehow? Do the clashing messages make any strategic sense? Perhaps not. But some political observers suspect that Trump is setting up a way to delegitimize the results in November. If more Republicans do turn out in person, their votes will be among those tallied first—creating a chance that Trump may lead on election night, even if only half of the total vote, or less, is counted by then. In that event, Jamelle Bouie wrote this summer in his New York Times column, “There’s no mystery about what Donald Trump intends to do… . First, he’ll claim victory. Then, having spent most of the year denouncing vote-by-mail as corrupt, he’ll demand that authorities stop counting mail-in and absentee ballots. He’ll have a team of lawyers challenging courts and ballots across the country.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">It’s certainly plausible. Just as in 2016, Trump has refused to say he’ll accept the results—unless, that is, they show him winning. “You don’t know until you see,” he said this summer on Fox News. “It depends. I think mail-in voting is going to rig the election, I really do.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In November 2018, when the Republican candidates for governor and senator in Florida held leads on election night that began to dissipate as the vote-counting continued, Trump telegraphed what he might say this November: “The Florida election should be called in favor of Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis in that large numbers of new ballots showed up out of nowhere, and many ballots are missing or forged,” he tweeted. “<b>An honest vote count is no longer possible—ballots massively infected. Must go with Election Night!”</b></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Attorney General William Barr has indicated that the Department of Justice would have Trump’s back if he tries to shut down the count.</b> “I think the people who want to experiment with different ways of voting right now … are playing with fire and are grossly irresponsible,” Barr told Fox News’ Mark Levin in August. Sounding more like a Judicial Watch attorney than the attorney general of the United States, Barr called it “scary” that “most of those mailings go to a lot of addresses where the people no longer live. They’re misdirected. And I think they will create a situation—they could easily create a situation where there’s going to be a contested election.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">That is chilling to hear. It stirs up nightmare visions of Florida 2000 but on a national scale—and in a year that’s already been full of unrest. Realistically, though, it’s also a far-fetched strategy born of desperation. And there’s a much rosier scenario that is just as plausible as Bouie’s, if not more so.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Say this election proves to be less apocalyptic than Trump and the right are hoping—and say Trump is clearly a loser on election night. The president’s defeat, and the pandemic-inspired rise of mail voting, could begin to unravel the elaborate system of barriers to voting that Republicans have been erecting over the past decade. If Democrats retake a majority in the U.S. Senate, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act will surely be one of the first measures to pass, restoring protections and federal oversight to elections. And if Republicans lose control of state houses they captured (which they are poised to do in several battleground states), Democratic majorities can begin to reverse the race-based voting restrictions that the GOP has been cooking up with relentless creativity since the Tea Party insurrection lifted them to unprecedented power in Congress and the states.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“What we’ve had is the 21st century equivalent of the Mississippi Plan of 1890,” says Carol Anderson, the Emory University historian and best-selling author of One Person, One Vote. That “plan” was the template for other states to “redeem” white supremacy after Reconstruction by disenfranchising Black men all over again, through tactics like poll taxes, literacy tests, and violent intimidation. The 2010s were eerily similar. “It’s been legislative evil genius,” Anderson says. “And so Jim Crow.”</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Anderson is a serious historian, so she’ll make no predictions. But there is at least a fair chance that the latest manifestation of the Republicans’ long and fraudulent voter-fraud campaign—the demonizing of remote-voting during a pandemic—will backfire on them in a lasting way. The hollering won’t die down, of course; Trump himself will make sure of that. The voter-suppression industry—the Judicial Watches, the PILFs, the Honest Elections Projects—won’t disappear. Chief Justice John Roberts won’t suddenly start deciding in favor of voting rights. But the more Americans grow accustomed to voting by mail, and the more they keep demanding that it be made easier and more reliable, the harder their votes will be to suppress or toss out. Trump is right, after all, about one thing: Wherever remote voting becomes routine, turnout soars. And we all know who loses then.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Tags: Carol AndersonDonald J. TrumpJ Christian AdamsJamelle BouieJennifer TaftJustice John RobertsJustin LevittLaura IngrahamLawrence TabasLeonard LeoMark EliasMichael BitzerRohn BishopRon DeSantisStacey AbramsTim PhillipsTom FittonTony EversWilliam BarrWilliam Consovoy</font></div></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">=</font></div></span></div><div><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></span></div><div><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">new 720</font></span></div><div><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></span></div><div><span class="mw-headline"><a href="http://foiaproject.org/case_detail/?title=on&style=foia&case_id=30944"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">http://foiaproject.org/case_detail/?title=on&style=foia&case_id=30944</font></a></span></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><table class="myTable" width="100%" style="border: 0px none; margin: 0.5em 0px; background-color: rgb(249, 247, 245);"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td style="line-height: 16px; padding: 5px;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE</font></b></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td style="line-height: 16px; padding: 5px;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">District</font></b></td><td style="line-height: 16px; padding: 5px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">District of Columbia</font></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td style="line-height: 16px; padding: 5px;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">City</font></b></td><td style="line-height: 16px; padding: 5px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Washington, DC</font></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td style="line-height: 16px; padding: 5px;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Case Number</font></b></td><td style="line-height: 16px; padding: 5px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">1:2017cv01283</font></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td style="line-height: 16px; padding: 5px;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Date Filed</font></b></td><td style="line-height: 16px; padding: 5px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">2017-06-29</font></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td style="line-height: 16px; padding: 5px;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Date Closed</font></b></td><td style="line-height: 16px; padding: 5px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Open</font></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td style="line-height: 16px; padding: 5px;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Judge</font></b></td><td style="line-height: 16px; padding: 5px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Judge Emmet G. Sullivan</font></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td style="line-height: 16px; padding: 5px;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Plaintiff</font></b></td><td style="line-height: 16px; padding: 5px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.</font></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td style="line-height: 16px; padding: 5px;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Case Description</font></b></td><td style="line-height: 16px; padding: 5px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Judicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for records concerning communications between NOAA scientist Thomas Karl and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy John Holdren. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Judicial Watch filed suit.
<em>Complaint issues: <a href="http://foiaproject.org/issue_search/?i=1&locate=1&issueid=156" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Failure to respond within statutory time limit</a>, <a href="http://foiaproject.org/issue_search/?i=1&locate=1&issueid=151" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Adequacy - Search</a>, <a href="http://foiaproject.org/issue_search/?i=1&locate=1&issueid=63" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Litigation - Vaughn index</a>, <a href="http://foiaproject.org/issue_search/?i=1&locate=1&issueid=68" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Litigation - Attorney's fees</a></em></font><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td style="line-height: 16px; padding: 5px;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Defendant</font></b></td><td style="line-height: 16px; padding: 5px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE</font></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td style="line-height: 16px; padding: 5px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>Documents</b>
</font></td><td style="line-height: 16px; padding: 5px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><a href="http://foiaproject.org/dc_view/?id=6938869-DC-1-2017cv01283-docket" target="detail" style="">Docket</a>
<a href="http://foiaproject.org/dc_view/?id=3882542-DC-1-2017cv01283-complaint" target="detail" style="">Complaint</a>
<a href="http://foiaproject.org/dc_view/?id=3882543-DC-1-2017cv01283-complaint-attachment-1" target="detail" style="">Complaint attachment 1</a>
<a href="http://foiaproject.org/dc_view/?id=3882545-DC-1-2017cv01283-complaint-attachment-2" target="detail" style="">Complaint attachment 2</a>
<a href="http://foiaproject.org/dc_view/?id=3882546-DC-1-2017cv01283-complaint-attachment-3" target="detail" style="">Complaint attachment 3</a>
<a href="http://foiaproject.org/dc_view/?id=3882549-DC-1-2017cv01283-complaint-attachment-4" target="detail" style="">Complaint attachment 4</a>
<a href="http://foiaproject.org/dc_view/?id=5779827-DC-1-2017cv01283-opinion" target="detail" style="">Opinion/Order [21]</a>
</font><div style="margin-left: 2em;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>FOIA Project Annotation</b><i>: </i>Judge Emmet Sullivan has become the second district court judge in the D.C. Circuit to reject an agency's Exemption 5 (privileges) claims because the agency had not shown that it considered whether or not disclosure would cause foreseeable harm under the standard added by the 2016 amendments. In a case brought by Judicial Watch against the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for communications between Thomas Karl, a NOAA scientist, and John Holden, who served as director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy during the Obama administration, the<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> agency disclosed 900 pages of emails, a large portion of which were partially redacted under Exemption 5</span>.</font></div><div style="margin-left: 2em;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div style="margin-left: 2em;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"> By the time Sullivan ruled, Judicial Watch was contesting only 48 pages. Judicial Watch argued that NOAA had failed to show the existence of any foreseeable harm from disclosing the disputed pages. Sullivan pointed out that Judge Amit Mehta was the only other D.C. Circuit district court judge to consider the foreseeable harm standard in Rosenberg v. Dept of Defense, 342 F. Supp. 3d 62 (D.D.C. 2018). Sullivan observed that in Rosenberg Mehta had found that the agency "had failed to explain how the disclosures of information withheld under Exemption 5 would harm the agency's deliberative process. </font></div><div style="margin-left: 2em;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div style="margin-left: 2em;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The court noted that the foreseeable harm requirement does not go 'so far as to require the government to identify harm likely to result from disclosure of each of its Exemption 5 withholdings' but the government at least needed to do more than 'perfunctorily state that disclosure of all the withheld information �" regardless of category or substance �" would jeopardize the free exchange of information.'" Finding Rosenberg persuasive, Sullivan noted that "the text and purpose of the Act both support a heightened standard for an agency's withholdings under Exemption 5. The text of the Act states an agency may only withhold information if 'the agency reasonably foresees that disclosure would harm an interest protected by [a FOIA] exemption.' In other words, even if an exemption applies, an agency must release the document unless doing so would reasonably harm an exemption-protected interest. </font></div><div style="margin-left: 2em;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div style="margin-left: 2em;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The purpose of the [2016 amendments were] to establish a 'presumption of openness,' and its passing was based on the recognition that 'from the beginning, agencies have taken advantage of these exemptions to withhold any information that might technically fit.' To that end, Congress sought to require an agency to 'first determine whether [it] could reasonably foresee an actual harm' before the agency claims an exemption. Furthermore, an 'inquiry into whether an agency has reasonably foreseen a specific, identifiable har that would be caused by a disclosure would require the ability to articulate both the nature of the harm and the link between the specified harm and specific information contained in the material withheld.'" NOAA had submitted two affidavits supporting its use of Exemption 5 by telling Sullivan that disclosure would chill candid discussions. Sullivan noted that "these general explanations of the possibility of a 'chilling effect' fall short of articulating 'a link between the specified harm and specific information contained in the material withheld.'" </font></div><div style="margin-left: 2em;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div style="margin-left: 2em;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">He observed that "if the mere possibility that disclosure discourages a frank and open dialogue was enough for the exemption to apply, then Exemption 5 would apply whenever the deliberative process privilege was invoked regardless of whether disclosure of the information would harm an interest protected by the exemption." Sullivan explained that "however, in enacting the legislation, Congress intended that the technical application of an exemption was not sufficient without a showing that disclosure also harmed an interest the exemption sought to protect in the first place." He observed that "the question is not whether disclosure could chill speech, but rather if it is reasonably foreseeable that it will chill speech and, if so, what is the link between this harm and the specific information contained in the material withheld." <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Sullivan told the agency it could provide supplemental affidavits to attempt to satisfy the foreseeable harm standard</span>.</font></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></span></div><div><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>seems to be showing up in trump death spiral?</b></font></span></div><div><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>
</b></font></span></div><div><span class="mw-headline"><b times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Joseph E. DiGenova. peter s govt acct inst mercer</font></span></b></span></div><p><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">kinda schizophrenic? maybe that's why there's also Jud Confirm network. not anymore
</font></span></p><p><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">klayman gone, oft cited by Bb and Dc</font></span></p><p><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">capt 12/16</font></span></p><p><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">7/20 may be incomplete, see other html data-entry</font></span></p><p><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></span></p><p><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">random grab from fbk</font></span></p><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">1219 BS</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Judicial Watch </b>announced today that U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg denied a Justice Department effort to block the release of any communications between former FBI General Counsel James Baker and Michael Sussmann, a Perkins Coie law partner and former DOJ attorney, who reportedly met with Baker to share information targeting Donald J. Trump during the presidential campaign.</font></p><p style="margin: 6px 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">While at Perkins Coie, Sussmann represented the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Hillary Clinton’s campaign during the time <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Perkins Coie secretly paid for the development of the anti-Trump dossier the<b> DOJ used to obtain FISA warrants to spy on the Trump campaign</b></span>. The court specifically rejected the FBI’s argument that it needed to protect the “privacy” of Hillary Clinton’s lawyer.</font></p><p style="margin: 6px 0px 0px; display: inline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Read More: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fjwatch.us%2FwUnVQS&h=AT05UDzqG-eQM9YmRaYyc69cHpfuKcwly4BjqluyFh5tcaNSc3PmZE5gOH8ycl20xk3roe6T6zegK142LN4MEyIaB_jcfPOuB7jstwHIWjyl0Dz6iBgufi4qQhMygZz0-iEgwubPYFmPjiggsHSHuOnSGTrc4ZYF-yEaXNM1t-DTfB65yzG4yJDyiPAwDyp4QjPxaGCZNZwvuf3Hx5tjth3_L838164dQEP3ExMMA6vMah5wXqOesUimKMGYu7Kz_0i9HJ8Nn21RDXe6WnYWmVswu2Q9DEkctpvjKBjItEZaUBHcuCmgq3lnWfa7AzVw62y6RQVqNh0eIU3XYsAyu_xy9VGot3MOLFPz7E1wRQk9WMxv5O5jJ1AWq1KkHp6JKWu0v0vFOKC9L9E2QSnIJ0oOi64j7rVO-R1M2nTbZR3pLnNFtMG92XeBBzk-axEignPyjIRL9o0InsEXypg6Nxuf05QP1r1VjTSTvXDOexvUtF9Xp-mkkZCV6K-ytacw_3EiSQ58Apb6kCkbZ1KJ3dtD0N-F5MONkTWumfTagjHMTUxeZ6846f0KmQ3zFyzZAoI7L3eK-cWNvoE8JKEY1f7-Zb6XPkzG4LCCxEcxF6Rrz8CGUVK16CDYVtpmYhm5gHG7gCdAUQwmwGgEWMORf52vy6qcQw" target="blank" data-ft="{" tn="tn" u="U" rel="noopener nofollow" data-lynx-mode="async" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none; cursor: pointer;">http://jwatch.us/wUnVQS</a></font></p></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="margin: 6px 0px 0px; display: inline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">...</font></p></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">udicial Watch announced that it hand-delivered a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives Office of Congressional Ethics calling for further investigation of Rep. #IlhanOmar over new allegations that her alleged lover, Tim Mynett, received nearly $230,000 from her campaign since July 2018. The latest letter supplements Judicial Watch’s July complaint demanding an investigation of alleged marriage, immigration, tax, and other fraud related to the allegation that Rep. Omar ...</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">See More</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">...</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">j Watch announced that it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Commerce for U.S. Census Bureau records concerning the agency’s hiring of non-U.S. citizens to help conduct the 2020 Census.</font></div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /><p style="margin: 0px 0px 6px; display: inline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The request was prompted by a report entitled “Census Bureau Seeks to Hire Non-U.S. Citizens Ahead of 2020,” published on August 6, 2019 by U.S. News & World Report. Federal law generally prohibits the government from hiring of non-citizens,<span class="text_exposed_hide" style="display: inline-block; margin-right: 4px;">...</span></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></p><span class="text_exposed_hide" style="display: inline-block; margin-right: 4px;"><span class="text_exposed_link" style="white-space: nowrap; display: block; padding: 0px;"><a class="see_more_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/JudicialWatch/posts/10157379218441943" data-ft="{" tn="tn" e="e" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;">See More</a></span><span class="text_exposed_link" style="white-space: nowrap; display: block; padding: 0px;">
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</span><span class="text_exposed_link" style="white-space: nowrap; display: block; padding: 0px;">hastag<a class="58cn" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/nancypelosi?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG&xts%5B0%5D=68.ARB_fLosIKg3wIehp-hIWhlWEQGjmObTNl0CTihxI4A48uzXBcNMyh4S1uXWQTdDf-sSI146UVTKGSiLcQ4-IdcjTKJ9QyrOVFxUfzej5PxYO-QFWaytKaaTpiy_gDM0CWzcvB8acm-sCNneGfbifP6qa_6dk7uuQlqn1RrE3z_mMKaBAyDmGX4m0przKZ0WKkDT8NvAbxOzd3d-E_0nR5bE27A07Fhd4y-Pe9em780UzjyolMZEVlOnFwWlsecPQ9E3HJzzTid736UNiyWEXccVrr_IP2t4OskhyLUF95J17RqEyw2NORXZxr8DdDNUP98WAzS5MGCfMM3mEg&tn=%2ANK-R" data-ft="{" type="type" tn="tn" n="N" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="5afx" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: isolate;"><span class="58cm" style="text-decoration-line: underline;">NancyPelosi</span></span></a> has spent millions in taxpayer dollars to travel the world for years. And she has been using American military aircraft to do it.</span></span><p style="margin: 6px 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">She treats the U.S. Air Force like it’s her own personal airline, making trips to Italy, the Ukraine and to her home in San Francisco. Many of these trips included personal friends and family members.</font></p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /><p style="margin: 6px 0px; display: inline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">On top of that, Speaker Pelosi spent over $100,000 on lavish inflight expenses that include gourmet food and alcohol. All on the taxpaye<span class="text_exposed_hide" style="display: inline-block; margin-right: 4px;">...</span></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></p><span class="text_exposed_hide" style="display: inline-block; margin-right: 4px;"><span class="text_exposed_link" style="white-space: nowrap; display: block; padding: 0px;"><a class="see_more_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/JudicialWatch/posts/10157379210111943" data-ft="{" tn="tn" e="e" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;">See More</a></span><span class="text_exposed_link" style="white-space: nowrap; display: block; padding: 0px;">[</span></span></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="margin: 6px 0px 0px; display: inline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[debunked prev by fact check, media bias site?</font></p></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></div><p><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></span></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">no lnx</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">questionable source exhibits one or more of the following: extreme bias, consistent promotion of propaganda/conspiracies, poor or no sourcing to credible information, a complete lack of transparency and/or is fake news. Fake News is the deliberate attempt to publish hoaxes and/or disinformation for the purpose of profit or influence (Learn More). Sources listed in the Questionable Category may be very untrustworthy and should be fact checked on a per article basis. Please note sources on this list are not considered fake news unless specifically written in the reasoning section for that source. See all Questionable sources.</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Overall, we rate Judicial Watch Questionable based on extreme right wing bias, promotion of conspiracy theories and a very poor fact check record.</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Detailed Report</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Reasoning: Extreme Right, Conspiracy, Propaganda, Some Fake News</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Country: USA</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">World Press Freedom Rank: USA 48/180</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">History</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Founded in 1994 by Larry Klayman, Judicial Watch (JW) is an American conservative activist group that files Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuits to investigate alleged misconduct by government officials. They primarily target Democrats such as the Clinton’s, Obama and climate scientists as they label climate science, “fraud science.” Judicial Watch has made numerous false and unsubstantiated claims, with a “vast majority” of their lawsuits dismissed. They describe themselves as “a conservative, non-partisan educational foundation, promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law.” The current President of JW is Tom Fitton.</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Funded by / Ownership</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Judicial Watch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with contributions received from individuals, foundations, and corporations. According to Sourcewatch, JW receives funding from prominent right wing organizations such as the Carthage Foundation and Scafie Foundation.</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Analysis / Bias</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Judicial Watch reports news on their website with the use of strong emotional language that is usually pro-right or anti-left. Common topics covered are anti-immigration, in which they highlight crimes committed by illegal immigrants such as this: Busy Month for Illegal Immigrants Committing Heinous Crimes or dedicating an entire website to exposing former President Obama’s alleged IRS scandal. They have also promoted debunked conspiracy theories such as this. Further, the founder of JW, Larry Klayman recently promoted the conspiracy that the Clinton’s were killing people. In general the majority of content and story selection is anti-left.</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">A factual search reveals a horrible track record with fact checking. Below is a small sample of their failed fact checks by IFCN fact checkers</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">DHS Quietly Moving, Releasing ‘Vanloads’ of ‘Illegal Aliens’ Away from Border – FALSE</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Has Nancy Pelosi spent $100,000 on food, booze and “partying” during her air travel? – FALSE</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4" style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">Judicial Watch says ISIS operating a camp in Mexico–near El Paso – FALSE</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">‘Islamic Refugee’ with Gas Pipeline Plans Arrested in New Mexico Border County – FALSE</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>Did the IRS ‘Fast Track’ Tax-Exempt Status for ‘After School Satan’ Clubs? – FALSE</b></font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Overall, we rate Judicial Watch Questionable based on extreme right wing bias, promotion of conspiracy theories and a very poor fact check record. (7/19/2016) Updated (D. Van Zandt 10/24/2019)</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Source: https://www.judicialwatch.org</font></p><p><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /></span></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/judicial-watch/">https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/judicial-watch/</a></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></span></font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">farrell calls out nyt and they have a tag</font></span></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/topic/organization/judicial-watch"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">https://www.nytimes.com/topic/organization/judicial-watch</font></a></span></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Oct. 2, 2019</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Fox Executive Condemns Remarks by Guest on Lou Dobbs Show</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The show was originally shown on Thursday. But the remarks, which were linked to anti-Semitism, created a firestorm online when the show was shown again on Saturday.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By NELSON D. SCHWARTZ</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Oct. 28, 2018</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Group’s Tactic on Hillary Clinton: Sue Her Again and Again</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The nonprofit organization Judicial Watch has more than 20 active lawsuits involving the Democratic nominee, and has focused on the Clintons since its formation in 1994.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By JONATHAN MAHLER</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Oct. 12, 2016</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Emails Raise New Questions About Clinton Foundation Ties to State Dept.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">A top aide to Hillary Clinton agreed to try to obtain a diplomatic passport for an adviser to Bill Clinton in 2009, according to newly released emails.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By ERIC LICHTBLAU</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Sept. 1, 2016</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Judge Orders Written Testimony From Hillary Clinton on Emails</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The ruling ensures that the issue of the private email server will continue to dog Mrs. Clinton’s presidential campaign until the eve of the election.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By STEVEN LEE MYERS</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Aug. 19, 2016</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">2009 Emails Reveal Intersection of Clinton Family Interests</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Gilbert Chagoury, a donor to the Clinton Foundation, wanted to contact someone in the State Department to offer his insight into elections in Lebanon, his spokesman said.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By ERIC LIPTON and STEVE EDER</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Aug. 10, 2016</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Huma Abedin Says Clinton’s Email Server Caused Frustration</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The aide to Hillary Clinton said her boss only wanted to protect her personal information and never intended to sidestep federal record-keeping laws.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By STEVEN LEE MYERS and ERIC LICHTBLAU</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">June 29, 2016</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Hillary Clinton Aide Says Little Thought Was Given to Potential Issues Over Private Email</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Testimony by Cheryl D. Mills, chief of staff when Hillary Clinton was secretary of state, represented the first sworn public accounting from a member of Mrs. Clinton’s inner circle.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By ERIC LICHTBLAU and STEVEN LEE MYERS</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">May 31, 2016</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ex-Aide to Hillary Clinton Testifies About Email Server</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The testimony by Lewis A. Lukens was part of a lawsuit brought against the State Department by a conservative legal advocacy group.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By ERIC LICHTBLAU</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">May 18, 2016</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Scalia Took Dozens of Trips Funded by Private Sponsors</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Some argue that the trips could create the appearance of a conflict of interest, particularly when the sponsors are known for their political views.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By ERIC LIPTON</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Feb. 26, 2016</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FIRST DRAFT</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Hillary Clinton Personally Signed Off on Job Change for Huma Abedin</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Hillary Rodham Clinton was directly involved in arranging a new government position for a top aide that allowed the aide to begin working for a private consulting firm while remaining at the State Department, according to documents released on Thursday.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Sept. 24, 2015</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Judge Says Hillary Clinton Didn’t Follow Government Email Policies</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Judge Emmet G. Sullivan also set steps for the F.B.I. to examine Mrs. Clinton’s server for messages she may have deleted.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Aug. 20, 2015</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">With Fear of Being Sidelined, Tea Party Sees the Republican Rise as New Threat</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">As Republicans on Capitol Hill move from being the opposition party to being one that has to show it can govern, a powerful tension is emerging between its establishment and its activist wing.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By JEREMY W. PETERS</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Nov. 8, 2014</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">NATIONAL BRIEFING | WASHINGTON</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Judge Gives I.R.S. a Month to Explain Lost Emails</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">A judge gave the Internal Revenue Service until Aug. 10 to explain under oath how it lost emails that Republicans are seeking as part of their ongoing investigation.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By ELENA SCHNEIDER</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">July 10, 2014</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">ADVERTISEMENT</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Continue reading the main story</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">MEDIA DECODER</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The Breakfast Meeting: More Papers Cut and the Navy Seal Story Leaks Out</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Also, ESPN doubles down on baseball and the CIA backs a Hollywood winner.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By THE EDITORS</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Aug. 29, 2012</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">MEDIA DECODER</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Times Reporter Shared Maureen Dowd Column With C.I.A. Before Publication</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">A newspaper spokeswoman, Eileen Murphy, described the action by Mark Mazzetti, who covers national security issues, as “a mistake that is not consistent with New York Times standards.”</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By CHRISTINE HAUGHNEY</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Aug. 28, 2012</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">THE CAUCUS</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Watchdog Group Discloses Cost of First Lady’s Vacation</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Michelle Obama’s summer vacation to Spain in 2010 cost taxpayers more than $467,000 in transportation and security expenses, according to a watchdog group that obtained federal records.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By PETER BAKER</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">April 26, 2012</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Prospects Improve for Sept. 11 Suits Against Nations</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Victims of the attacks may now have their best chance yet to press lawsuits against nations they believe were financially complicit.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By ERIC LICHTBLAU</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Nov. 18, 2011</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">11,000 Long-Awaited Pages of Clinton’s Schedules as First Lady Are Released</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The documents show Hillary Rodham Clinton’s activities, but tell nothing about what she was saying or thinking.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By JOHN M. BRODER</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">March 20, 2008</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Clinton Records From ’90s to Be Released on Wednesday</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The quest for public disclosure of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s schedules as first lady has attracted close attention throughout the presidential campaign.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By JULIE BOSMAN</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">March 19, 2008</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/JudicialWatch">https://www.facebook.com/JudicialWatch</a></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">https://www.facebook.com/JudicialWatch/</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">"metadata"]: from referring page]</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">?hc_ref=ARSbkVm7ohor7fnE_qETyPcZ3J7KUpcbUlBqWdxe5_dm1emJ-8X-guksIKnCZ1_Xn_I&xts[0]=68.ARAU-7cj_8-rprplnAYfmb2-LytCnXf9z57H7hF85hCGClj7lF3rPgVgsM2_Uve39hO1_u_mpcRew2KgKdoC8ZAtsTaaeOtTJMbwKRzpFUiU3bMywIQ3ILKhKUvrGQnf3xo9ZatviUfs8WF2nNpfOETG-8DS_u5E1AXHmpAiIhCXBmavXfuAoBhazfW2Zvnvsz9uEklzM4-25qkt1vZ_EVGVHWHPvt6hzCycgwrnDF06hpz7u_kw2FnQnoKkbAJqxwbZd_vyv6K-Yo39_K16sRaA12m-5gfnRLLL2M0yQZKEYfWjSc60G2rF9KeE166Y9rMntHd9ZJTsQHAlKopmT8aPOVeiDj7Whwnvl-ZITswRczHyxLfy0wfHwIzWiWV1nPdza5E5W3FsP8iXHQv4liACbWF3q8zTaJxfZXKUAV2lnXEP9g-Ec9wufNjlMD0EEoX6ryxnJhjFyKBJS7kc7-BU7A_gnr8rHMzIKKIlO9oBCSYs62Vk&tn=kC-R</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">jw fbk posts</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">pages liked by this page</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Video the Vote</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Bret Baier</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Washington Examiner</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Cause of Action Institute</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Breitbart</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The Wall Street Journal</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Fox News</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Brent Bozell</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">TheBlaze</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">C-SPAN</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Media Research Center</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The Washington Times</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Newsmax</font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/JudicialWatch/posts/10154464575211943?comment_id=10154471842866943&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R%22%7D"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">https://www.facebook.com/JudicialWatch/posts/10154464575211943?comment_id=10154471842866943&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R%22%7D</font></a></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">scrape fbk</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">President Donald J. Trump</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Government Official</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">NRA - National Rifle Association of America</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Nonprofit Organization</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Tucker Carlson</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Public Figure</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Media Research Center</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Fox News</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline" /></font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/trump-impeachment-inquiry/its-own-precedent-fox-should-ban-joe-digenova"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">https://www.mediamatters.org/trump-impeachment-inquiry/its-own-precedent-fox-should-ban-joe-digenova</font></a></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">after a year that has seen Fox News battered by advertiser boycotts over the bigoted language common to its programming, the network's parent company held Thursday’s annual shareholder meetings <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-regular-joe-digenova-claims-george-soros-controls-a-very-large-part-of-the-state-department" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">embroiled</a> in a <a href="https://www.mediaite.com/news/joe-digenova-pushes-bonkers-conspiracy-on-fox-business-george-soros-controls-many-state-dept-and-fbi-agents-abroad/" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">new controversy</a> over over the regurgitation of vile anti-Semitic tropes on its airwaves.</font></font></font></p><div class="paragraph paragraph--type--stories-text paragraph--view-mode--editorial" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="fancy-elems-wrapper field field--name-field-stories-text-formatted field--type-text-long field--label-hidden fielditem" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">If Fox had actual standards like a normal news outlet, it would already have announced a permanent ban on future appearances by Joe diGenova, a Republican lawyer and frequent guest on pro-Trump Fox programs, in light of his Wednesday night interview.</font></font></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">During an appearance on Fox Business’<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Lou Dobbs Tonight</em> alongside his wife and legal partner Victoria Toensing, <b>diGenova downplayed impeachment inquiry testimony that day from State Department diplomat George Kent by <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/lou-dobbs/lou-dobbs-guest-joe-digenova-says-george-soros-controls-large-part-state-department-and" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">arguing</a> that Kent is a pawn of George Soros, a Jewish billionaire whose support of U.S. progressive causes and foreign anti-corruption, pro-democracy efforts has made him the <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/theres-been-a-george-soros-for-every-era-of-antisemitic-panic" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">frequent target</a> of <a href="https://www.vox.com/2018/6/11/17405784/george-soros-not-a-nazi-trump" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">conspiracy theories</a> steeped in </b><a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2018/10/08/president-trump-opened-gates-wave-authoritarian-and-anti-semitic-attacks-george-soros/221606" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;"><b>anti-Semitic trope</b>s</a>. </font></font></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">According to diGenova’s bonkers, evidence-free theory, “Soros controls a very large part of the career foreign service of the United States State Department,” has “corrupted FBI officials,” and is seeking to “run Ukraine” using that influence over the U.S. government to benefit his business interests. </font></font></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">DiGenova’s comments, suggesting that the Jewish financier is a shadowy puppet master controlling vast swaths of the federal government for his own dark purposes, are “right out of the propaganda mills of Hungary’s Viktor Orban and other rightist anti-Semitic movements in Eastern Europe,” as Talking Points Memo’s Josh Marshall <a href="https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/dangerous-when-cornered" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">noted</a>. Indeed, they are so reprehensible that Fox has previously ruled that such remarks earn a lifetime ban from the network’s platform. </font></font></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">When</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> Judicial Watch research director Chris Farrell</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> said the “Soros-occupied State Department”</span></b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> had funded caravans of Central American migrants during an October 2018 appearance on Dobbs’ program, the network </span><a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/lou-dobbs/lou-dobbs-tonight-and-foxs-standards-anti-semitic-and-bigoted-commentary" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 102); box-sizing: border-box; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">condemned</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> his “rhetoric” and said he would not be invited back. (Dobbs himself did not react to Farrell’s statement and in fact </span><a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/lou-dobbs/lou-dobbs-laughs-foxs-effort-restrain-anti-semitism-his-show" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 102); box-sizing: border-box; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">undermined</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> the network’s response; he has his </span><a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/george-soros/lou-dobbs-george-soros-tentacles-reach-out-order-work-against-sovereignty" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 102); box-sizing: border-box; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">own record</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> of anti-Semitic Soros smears.) </span></font></font></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In the wake of diGenova’s comments, Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt called on Fox to “hold the same standard” on diGenova as on Farrell.</font></font></font></p></div></div><div class="paragraph paragraph--type--twitter-tweet paragraph--view-mode--editorial" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="field field--name-field-twitter-tweet field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden fielditem" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="paragraph paragraph--type--stories-text paragraph--view-mode--editorial" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="fancy-elems-wrapper field field--name-field-stories-text-formatted field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;" /><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">But Fox has done no such thing. That may reflect how Fox punishments tend to be based on a <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/tucker-carlson/even-fox-news-wants-distance-itself-fox-news?redirect_source=/blog/2019/03/13/even-fox-news-wants-distance-itself-fox-news/223128" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">sliding scale</a> reflecting both the level of criticism the network is receiving and the relative importance of the perpetrator. And diGenova’s role as a key player in the <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/sean-hannity/introducing-sean-hannity-extended-universe-foxs-anti-mueller-alternative-reality?redirect_source=/sean-hannity/introducing-sean-hannity-expanded-universe-foxs-anti-mueller-alternative-reality" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">Sean Hannity Extended Universe</a> of pro-Trump conspiracy theorists grants him a great deal of protection.</font></font></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Farrell’s comments caused a firestorm for Fox because they drew attention in the wake of a murderous <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/27/us/active-shooter-pittsburgh-synagogue-shooting.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">rampage</a> at a Pittsburgh synagogue by a white supremacist who was obsessed with the idea that Jews were behind the caravans. </font></font></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Farrell’s relatively low status as a sometimes guest made the calculus easy for Fox: By cutting him loose, the network’s PR team could head off the subject and forestall niggling questions about the <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox-personalities-repeatedly-pushed-conspiracy-theories-about-george-soros-funding-migrant" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">Soros conspiracy theory’s pervasiveness</a> on its airwaves</span>. Meanwhile, pro-Trump hosts like Dobbs and Hannity could simply slot in Farrell’s Judicial Watch boss, Fox regular Tom Fitton, for future segments. </font></font></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By contrast, diGenova is essential to Fox’s conspiracy theory machine. He and Toensing were <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/john-solomon/how-conservative-writer-john-solomon-served-conduit-rudy-giulianis-ukraine-conspiracy" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">deeply enmeshed</a> in Trump personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani’s scheme to help Trump’s reelection by running a shadow foreign policy effort in Ukraine. They have employed or been employed by leading players in the plot to smear Joe Biden and undermine the intelligence community's findings that Russia interfered in our 2016 election, all while making <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/joe-digenova-and-victoria-toensing-have-made-over-90-appearances-fox-2019" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">dozens of appearances</a> on Fox News and Fox Business to detail the ins and outs of the twisted narrative they helped assemble (diGenova alone has made at least 65 appearances this year, according to Media Matters research).</font></font></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Indeed, the best argument that diGenova didn’t engage in anti-Jewish animus on Wednesday is that he was simply acting in the interests of his client <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/john-solomon/how-conservative-writer-john-solomon-served-conduit-rudy-giulianis-ukraine-conspiracy" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">Dmitry Firtash</a>, a Ukrainian oligarch with ties to Russian organized crime. Firtash, who retained diGenova and Toensing to prevent his extradition to the United States on bribery charges, has clashed with Ukrainian anti-corruption organizations supported by Soros. </font></font></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Of course, that’s simply another reason Fox shouldn’t allow diGenova on its airwaves: He has an irreconcilable conflict of interest on the topics he discusses -- one that he hid from the network’s audience.</font></font></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The network’s latest failure to take action hammers home the reality that <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/trump-impeachment-inquiry/fox-violates-its-edict-not-name-whistleblower" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">there are no real rules</a> at Fox.</font></font></font></p></div></div><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline" /></font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></font></font></p><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/judicial-watch/right-wing-media-tries-smear-former-ukraine-ambassador-marie-yovanovitch"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">https://www.mediamatters.org/judicial-watch/right-wing-media-tries-smear-former-ukraine-ambassador-marie-yovanovitch</font></a></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline" /></font></font></font></p><div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">no lnx vid many</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Right-wing media tries to smear former Ukraine ambassador Marie Yovanovitch</b></font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>
</b></font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Despite grave Judicial Watch allegations about a “surveillance” campaign from right-wing figures, the facts so far point to mere tracking of a pro-Trump disinformation campaign</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">WRITTEN BY COURTNEY HAGLE</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM BRENDAN KARET & ANDREW LAWRENCE</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">PUBLISHED 10/17/19 10:31 AM EDT</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Representatives of right-wing group Judicial Watch have been claiming during appearances on conservative media shows that former Ukrainian Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch was “spying” on media figures close to President Donald Trump by monitoring public statements they made on social media regarding Ukraine.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>
</b></font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><b>Judicial Watch is alleging that Yovanovitch</b> -- who recently testified to House impeachment investigators that Trump pressured the State Department to remove her over baseless allegations -- was “basically running a war room” by monitoring public statements regarding Ukraine made by figures in right-wing media like Sean Hannity and Lou Dobbs, Trump personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, and Donald Trump, Jr. The list also includes former Obama ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul. Judicial Watch also claims that the searches were looking for the following keywords: “Biden,” “Giuliani,” “Soros,” and “Yovanovitch.”</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">That Yovanovich would monitor public statements made by public figures is unsurprising given her recent testimony claiming that Giuliani had been criticizing her in the months before her ousting, and the people she allegedly monitored are connected to the smear campaign Giuliani was waging. He had accused her of privately criticizing the president and trying to protect the interests of Biden and his son Hunter, who served on the board of a Ukrainian energy company. The smear included accusations that Soros was funding a conspiracy to hurt Trump’s presidency and elect Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Yovanovich said she was “incredulous” about her removal and that it was based on “unfounded and false claims by people with clearly questionable motives” -- claims that have been promoted publicly by conservative media figures.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The Washington Post reported that George Kent, the deputy assistant secretary of state responsible for Ukraine, became concerned around October 2018 that Yovanovitch was the target of a “classic disinformation operation.” NBC News indicated that the State Department was concerned over the effort to oust Yovanovich, reporting that the agency “attempted to ring alarm bells” regarding Giuliani’s efforts to smear her:</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The documents also show that Giuliani, through conservative writer John Solomon’s columns in The Hill, attempted to tie former ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch to the liberal donor George Soros as part of a massive conspiracy to take down Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort and help Hillary Clinton win the 2016 election.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">...</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">When State Department officials saw the disinformation campaign, they attempted to ring alarm bells and strategized to correct the record, the documents show.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Yovanovitch, who has over 30 years of experience in foreign diplomacy, further testified that, as The Washington Post put it, “under Trump’s leadership, U.S. foreign policy has been compromised by self-interested actors who have badly demoralized and depleted America’s diplomatic corps.” The testimony of White House aide Fiona Hill confirmed Yovanovitch’s depiction of foreign policy under the Trump administration.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Still, Judicial Watch is attempting to push the narrative that Yovanovitch nefariously spied on Trump allies among right-wing media, appearing on the radio shows of Sebastian Gorka and Sean Hannity and Fox Business host Lou Dobbs’ prime-time show to spread the message. Some Fox News figures responded with paranoia regarding their own conversations.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Judicial Watch also shared its report on Twitter, announcing that it is “investigating if prominent conservative figures/journalists & persons [with ties] to @realDonaldTrump were unlawfully monitored by the State Dept in Ukraine at the request of ousted U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, an Obama appointee.”</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Fox & Friends hosted Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton, who repeated that his “sourcing tells us that she was asking that folks like Rudy Giuliani, Don Trump Jr., a whole list of your colleagues there at Fox, be monitored on certain phrases.</b>” Co-host Steve Doocy invited Fitton to “go ahead and speculate for a second” about Yovanovitch’s motives, to which Fitton replied, “It looks an awful lot like an enemy’s list to me.” Doocy noted that Yovanovitch is “keeping an eye on television, of all things,” and he called it “particularly disturbing that, you know, somebody in the federal government would be tracking people on TV.”</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CitationFrom the October 16 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">STEVE DOOCY (CO-HOST): So what are you thinking [Yovanovitch] may have done?</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">TOM FITTON (PRESIDENT, JUDICIAL WATCH): Well, our sourcing tells us that she was asking that folks like Rudy Giuliani, Don Trump Jr., a whole list of your colleagues there at Fox, be monitored on certain phrases. And this is around March of this year. Biden, Giuliani, Soros and her own name, Yovanovitch. So the problem is that it's not legal for the State Department to do that type of monitoring, certainly overseas, of American citizens. And it may have been only social media posts but they still can't be tracking American citizens' activities like that. The project was so big, they sought help from D.C. and that's when someone in D.C. said hold on a sec. You can't be doing this. It's not legal.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">DOOCY: And of course she testified behind closed doors, and the way they have set it up is that's all supposed to be confidential. It's supposed to be secret. And yet somehow not so secret to some newspapers.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FITTON: Yeah. The selective leaks of the secret star chamber type testimony is really deplorable, to use a turn of phrase. And I would like to see her full transcript so we can figure out whether members of Congress questioned her about this issue. You know, the State Department is aware of this, guys. And it's about time we get a fuller explanation as to why this ambassador, a career civil service person who had been placed as ambassador by President Obama, was so concerned about Biden and Ukraine and George Soros, who controversially was involved in Ukraine as well through his Open Society funding and foundations. Why were they monitoring the president's lawyer and his son?</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">DOOCY: Sure. And keeping an eye on people on television of all things. And I know you filed a Freedom of Information Act request so perhaps you will get the answer to it. But just, you know, go ahead and speculate for a second. Connect some dots. Why would she want to do that?</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FITTON: Well, you know, it looks an awful lot like an enemy's list to me. And when you are concerned about an issue, you start searching on the terms you are concerned about. Biden, Ukraine, Soros. What was going on in March? What was it about those subjects that our ambassador was tasking her staff with tracking the social media postings of these figures, contrary to law and in a way such that people in Washington said you can't do it and you have to stop. There are issues here that are not just about why they were tracking it, but whether the rights of those being targeted were violated as a result.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">DOOCY: And it's particularly disturbing that, you know, somebody in the federal government would be tracking people on TV.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FITTON: Well yeah I mean, it is social media posts. But look, you know, any of your viewers and you, Steve, do you want the government creating a file on you based on what your social media postings are? No, you don't. And sure enough the law doesn't allow it.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">DOOCY: It does not.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">On America First with Sebastian Gorka, Judicial Watch’s Chris Farrell described Yovanovitch as an “absolute Obama partisan.” Farrell claimed that Judicial Watch has “very reliable information” that the State Department was “basically running a war room” by “documenting, capturing, archiving all the statements, publications, tweets, social media, anything that those folks put out was ordered to be compiled and monitored.” Farrell did not reveal what the reliable information was. He then claimed Yovanovitch’s action amounted to an “abuse of power” and he described it as a “political operative using their government position as leverage against their political opponents.”</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">On Gorka's radio show, Chris Farrell claims Yovanovitch was monitoring journalists</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">OCTOBER 11, 2019</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Audio file</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CitationFrom the October 11 edition of Salem Radio Networks' America First with Sebastian Gorka:</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CHRIS FARRELL (JUDICIAL WATCH): Well, this is an ambassador, Maria -- I'm going to get her name incorrect -- Yovanovitch, I believe it is pronounced, although I am subject to Ukrainian slash Russian checks -- the -- who the -- an absolute Obama partisan, she's unabashedly so. She's complicit in this Schiff show trial, and the reason I say that is because her secret testimony is already in the hands of The New York Times and that of the internet all over, so, so much for the highly classified, confidential, behind closed doors testimony.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>SEBASTIAN GORKA</b> (HOST): Right.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FARRELL: When the New York Times is out peddling it five minutes after she goes in the door. Look, she had the Obama administration's back. She had Joe Biden's back, because we have very reliable information that she was conducting a, or had directed elements, bureaus within the State Department, to conduct a monitoring mission of about a dozen or so people that -- who were either close to the president or were reporters, editorial writers, perhaps even television and radio hosts who were identified as being close to President Trump.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">And they were basically running a war room. They were documenting, capturing, archiving all the statements, publications, tweets, social media, anything that those folks put out was ordered to be compiled and monitored.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">And at some point, somebody in the State Department said, “Hey wait a minute, those are US persons, you can't do that.” The State Department can't run a monitoring mission, a media war room on U.S. persons, particularly when they're targeting those persons and then using key words like “Biden" and “Soros" and “Ukraine" and “Giuliani" of all names.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">And so, we're very interested in this, and yesterday, as we are wont to do, we filed a Freedom Of Information Act request with the State Department with some very specific language, looking for what the dear ambassador was up to and what those bureaus and departments and agencies within the State Department were doing with respect to this monitoring mission.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">GORKA: So Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, recalled by President Trump, who tasked the State Department to monitor U.S. persons, journalists, that handful of names she asked to be monitored, did any of those include radio hosts that you've worked with in the past, Chris Farrell?</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FARRELL: I have reason to believe that that's so, and, you know, when we nail down some additional details -- of course, when we also nail down some of the documentation from the State Department, your listening audience can rest assured that we will make it widely known across the land that this sort of unlawful activity, once we document it, that it was going on -- because you want to talk about an abuse of power, and a political operative using their government position as leverage against their political opponents, you're talking about the definition of corruption.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">GORKA: So, let's be clear here, I don't want to sound didactic and like a pedant, but an ambassador running a foreign mission is there with a very specific job to do. They are the president's representative, an ambassador is the president's representative to that government, and runs that mission to establish and maintain the bilateral relations between the United States and that country, as long as they are running that embassy. Have you ever seen, in your professional history, the national security establishment or at Judicial Watch, an ambassador ever -- ever task Foggy Bottom, ever task the State Department to monitor the work, to monitor the statements, to monitor the activities of U.S. citizens on U.S. soil, Chris Farrell?</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FARRELL: No, it's -- in fact, it's the polar opposite of what they should be doing. I mean, normally they're very busy checking the foreign press, and certainly the nation they're representative of, for anything that may be of interest in the, you know, to the United States, to our national interest, to our defense, to our political advantage. The lens of the telescope, or the microscope, is supposed to be turned around the other way.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">But in this case, you know, it appears that bureaus in the State Department, like the Global Engagement Center, which has a kind of a weird Orwellian title --</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">GORKA: the GEC.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FARRELL: -- that they were running this sort of information operation, this -- but a collection one, not a -- not putting forth the position of the U.S. and advancing our goals and objectives, but instead, flipping it around and carefully tracking the comments, the tweets, the writings, the reporting of U.S. persons -- but in particular, not just with respect to Ukraine, but on this very controversial hornet's nest we've found ourselves in now, with respect to the Bidens, Mr. Giuliani's investigations, and the other thing I found curious was the involvement of Mr. Soros --</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">GORKA: Chris, can -- Chris, can you hold it right there on that cliffhanger? Can you stay with us for one more segment?</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FARRELL: Sure. Certainly.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">GORKA: Alright, the name has been mentioned. Media Matters, are you watching? Are you typing away? We mentioned George Soros, so wake up, because I want to see that transcript when we're done with the next segment, with Judicial Watch's Chris Farrell.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">On Tucker Carlson Tonight, Fox correspondent Trace Gallagher reported on Judicial Watch's story, who claimed that the reporting comes after “news reports that Yovanovitch had an anti-Trump bias.”</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CitationFrom the October 16 edition of Fox News' Tucker Carlson Tonight:</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>TUCKER CARLSON </b>(HOST): America's former ambassador to Ukraine may have ordered government personnel to monitor journalists and allies of President Trump. Our chief breaking news correspondent Trace Gallagher has the latest on this breaking story.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">TRACE GALLAGHER: Hi, Tucker. Yeah, at the center of this is Marie Yovanovitch, the former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine appointed by Obama and ousted by President Trump. Yovanovitch made headlines last week when she testified before the House Intel committee as part of the Democrats impeachment inquiry. Now, two sources with close knowledge of the situation confirmed to Tucker Carlson Tonight that in the spring of 2019 the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine requested that several journalists and people close to President Trump have their social media accounts monitored.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">This happened following news reports that Yovanovitch had an anti-Trump bias. The list includes 13 people including our own Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Lou Dobbs, as well as Fox News contributor's Sara Carter and Dan Bongino along with Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump Jr. According to the sources, the monitoring lasted for at least a few days before stopping, because the State Department is not allowed to conduct this sort of monitoring of U.S. citizens obviously.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The conservative government watchdog Judicial Watch has now filed a Freedom of Information Act request to the State Department. seeking, quoting here, "Any and all records regarding, concerning, or related to the monitoring of any U.S.-based journalists, reporter, or media commentator by any employee or office of the Department of State between January 1, 2019, and the present." Judicial Watch says they have information that indicated Yovanovitch directly ordered subordinates to target this list of people, Tucker.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CARLSON: Shocking story, I would say. Trace Gallagher, thank you.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Fox Business host Lou Dobbs listed a string of conservative media figures Judicial Watch claims were being monitored, noting that “yours truly” was included. Dobbs concluded that the monitoring is “unlawful.”</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CitationFrom the October 14 edition of Fox Business' Lou Dobbs Tonight</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>LOU DOBBS (HOST): </b>A number of journalists, including myself have, well, when they asked the -- one ambassador to Ukraine, the ousted U.S. ambassador, Marie Yovanovich, had asked that we be monitored. Judicial Watch discovering all of that and uncovering our names today, including Fox News hosts Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity, Fox News contributors John Solomon, Sara Carter, Dan Bongino, and yours truly. Others may have been targeted, including Donald Trump Jr., Rudy Giuliani, Sebastian Gorka.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The list goes on, and the -- well, the entire extent we don't know, but we do know this -- it would be unlawful to have done so, and we can't wait to hear which of my fascinating conversations may have been heard as a result. Not really that fascinating, but I had to say that.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Later in the same show, Dobbs repeated that Yovanovitch was “talking about monitoring me and surveilling me.” He asserted that he “take[s] that sort of as a badge of honor honestly” but expressed concern for his colleagues “who are less courageous than me.” His guest Ed Rollins agreed that the story is “absolutely unbelievable.”</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Video file</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CitationFrom the October 14 edition of Fox Business' Lou Dobbs Tonight</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>ED ROLLINS </b>(FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR): I’ve watched all day today people saying the president fired this ambassador, how outrageous. Every ambassador can be fired by the president. They are hired by the president, they are appointed by a president. If she was bad-mouthing the president as people said she was, she should be fired.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LOU DOBBS (HOST): You know what she was doing is -- as terrible as that is -- I mean, she was talking about monitoring me and surveilling me? I mean, I take that sort of as a badge of honor honestly, but my colleagues who are less courageous than me, you know, I feel badly for Sean Hannity, for example, who might be intimidated by such a thing. I'm kidding. I’m kidding.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">ED ROLLINS: Certainly you are not intimidated, and if they wanted to know what you want to think, you have five hours a week on here and three times a day on Salem Radio. So, anybody who wants to know what you are thinking, saying, it's right there out in the public, and it's always very smart.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">...</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">DOBBS: It's just amazing. Sean Hannity, John Solomon, I mean, the foremost reporting on this spygate has been coming from John Solomon, and Sean Hannity, and Sara Carter. It's crazy what she was doing.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">ROLLINS: Unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable, and the public is going to know, and at the end of the day here, this thing is going to -- you know, again, they may put the 218 votes up tomorrow and impeach him, but they’re not going to basically put any evidence forward that he should get -- put out of office.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">On his radio show, Fox host Sean Hannity claimed that if true, the monitoring is a “constitutional violation” that “would be something that you would expect in a third-world banana republic.” He added that Judicial Watch’s reporting shows Yovanovitch may have “violated laws and government regulations by ordering subordinates to target certain U.S. persons,” suggesting at times that the State Department was listening in on personal conversations.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Sean Hannity Tom Fitton surveillance claim</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">OCTOBER 15, 2019</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Sean Hannity</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Audio file</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CitationFrom the October 15 edition of Premiere Radio Networks' The Sean Hannity Show:</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>
</b></font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>SEAN HANNITY (HOST): </b>Well everybody starts sending me this tweet by our friend Tom Fitton over at Judicial Watch, and then I'm looking at the piece that they put out, an investigation that they're involved in, to find out if this Ukraine ambassador ordered State Department officials to monitor journalists and friends of the president, or people that are outspoken in terms of the president. In other words, illegal surveillance perhaps took place, I can't say for sure that this did. Certain figures in the media and elsewhere, private conversations that are being held between private citizens were being monitored, in an effort to find out information that could hurt Donald Trump -- that would be a constitutional violation. That would be something that you would expect in a third-world banana republic. </font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">…</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> </font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Judicial Watch has obtained some information indicating that this ambassador may have violated laws and government regulations by ordering subordinates to target certain U.S. persons, using State Department resources, and apparently, reportedly ordered the monitoring keyed to the following terms: “Biden," “Giuliani," “Soros," “Yovanovitch." And Judicial Watch has filed a Freedom Of Information Act request with the State Department, and continue to gather facts. All right, I want to stay very clear of anything that is not factual here, Tom Fitton. </font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">TOM FITTON (PRESIDENT, JUDICIAL WATCH): That's right. </font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">HANNITY: I've read the piece. Do we know this happened for a certainty? We don't know yet. </font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FITTON: Well, our sources say it did, and so the concern is, and this is the process, is that the government, and certainly the government abroad, our representatives abroad, can't use government resources to track even the public communications, like tweets or public comments by American citizens. And so, evidently that was going on in the Ukrainian embassy, using the search terms that you highlighted, "Biden," "Giuliani," "Soros" and "Yovanovitch." They then sought additional help to do that process, that project, from the State Department here in Washington, D.C., and that's when someone said "Well, hold on a second. You can't be doing this at all, you got to stop it. It's illegal."</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">And so, we don't know if they actually stopped it, we're not sure how long it went on for, but we do know that this target list is pretty darn accurate. I don't know if it's complete, but it included you, other Fox News personalities, and contributors associated with Fox, and other conservatives who are known for taking strong stances on social media, certainly allied with President Trump generally. </font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">So, it's very curious that they would be concerned about these issues, Biden, Soros and Yovanovitch, way back at -- it looks like the date timeframe is back in March of this year, so it was before she was removed. </font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">… </font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">HANNITY: But this wasn't even really an issue at the time, was it? I mean, we were focused on many other things at that time, if I recall, and, you know, not the least of which I guess was the pending Mueller report. When did the Mueller report come out?</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FITTON: The Mueller report came out around the same time, but the noises about Biden and Ukraine began around that same timeframe. I should go back and check. So, you have to wonder why it is -- we don't know why these individuals such as you made it onto that list.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">...</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FITTON: This is why the coup's taking place against President Trump, because they want to freeze any investigation of these issues, both in Ukraine and in China. They're targeting Trump, they're targeting president -- his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani now, and you can see that they were nervous about what others were saying about it. It looks like, according to our reporting, from -- from you on down, and it's just an incredible list, and you know, the idea that you would have illegal monitoring of not only all these Fox News journalists, I'm sure all the other media are rushing to your defense, Sean -- but the president's lawyer and the president's son, it ought to be concerning that this abuse was taking place. This is -- to me, this is just another extension of spygate. </font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">HANNITY: It is -- if we have the powerful tools of intelligence, and by the way, this is not the first time in all of this process, in all of our coverage that I have been told -- you know, I have to go about my daily life, what am I supposed to do -- that this type of thing has happened to me, and I know to others. So, then the question becomes at what point do the American people step up and say we can't live in a country that denies fundamental constitutional rights to people, like is happening here. Because to me, we lose the country if the powerful tools of intelligence are turned on the American people.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">We saw that with the General Flynn case. I mean, what happened in his case is they knew the whole conversation that had taken place, because they had raw intelligence, he had been unmasked, and they had the information when McCabe's -- and Comey, Comey bragging about taking advantage of the chaos, which he'd never do in the Obama or Bush administration, sending his FBI guys in, and his partner, the deputy director of the FBI, McCabe, is saying you don't need a lawyer. Well, that would deny him his Miranda rights, on that issue alone the case should be thrown out. But then, they went into his office knowing the full conversation, because they had unmasked and surveilled him, and they had raw intelligence on the whole conversation. So, they were setting him up, and he was immediately in a perjury trap, without even the benefit of a lawyer to tell him "Maybe you should clam up, here."</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FITTON: Well, it's -- Sean, they're trying to remove a president based on allegations from an anonymous source, who it looks like may have illicitly shared classified information with the investigator, Adam Schiff. It's -- it's -- it's just another -- it's another variation of the theme, of the civil rights of those who are targeted taking a backseat to this power politics where they abuse the rule of law to change political results. It's a constitutional crisis we're in, and it's not because of any misconduct by President Trump. It's because of the misconduct of those investigating him, who were purporting to be concerned about his activities. </font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">HANNITY: Yeah. What do you think -- I know you work with a lot of lawyers, I know you're not a lawyer yourself, but what do you think is the legal recourse if in fact such illegality happens, to citizens, even people like myself as a public figure, do I have a right to -- for recourse, or a path for recourse, in something like this? </font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FITTON: Well, there could be potential violations of the privacy act, that's -- that's an easy call. The other law that covers this is the Smith-Mundt Act, which prohibits the US government from propagandizing Americans or targeting, and, or targeting them, the State Department especially. So, you know, talk to any civil rights lawyer. They'll probably provide you all sorts of other claims you could pursue, when the government is illegally targeting you with a spy operation, even if they are just tracking your public comments. </font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">And, you know, I guarantee you, all your listeners will be very nervous to know if this -- that -- if the government was tracking what they were doing, and keeping a file on them, which is what purportedly may have been going on here, and we're just trying to figure out what the scope of it was and how far it went, but it's just disturbing it took place at all, because the government's not allowed to do that. It -- because obviously, it's a chilling effect, and the law doesn't allow it because it's a chilling effect.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">One America News Network’s Jack Posobiec, who pushed the Pizzagate and Seth Rich conspiracy theories and has ties to white nationalists, covered Judicial Watch’s reporting on the network, highlighting his inclusion. Reporter Stephanie Myers commented that Posobiec now has his “guard up” because it’s “like Big Brother watching you” and called on Yovanovitch to be “held accountable for this unlawful monitoring.”</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Video file</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CitationFrom the October 16 edition of One America News Networks' OAN News</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>STEPHANIE MYERS (OAN ANCHOR)</b>: But first, Judicial Watch takes a look into former Ukrainian ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, who allegedly ordered the monitoring of journalists and those tied to the Trump administration. One of those people named was One America's Jack Posobiec. Jack is live in Washington, D.C. to give us the details on the probe. Good morning, Jack.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>JACK POSOBIEC (OANN): </b>Hey, good morning Stephanie. So we're now learning of course from Judicial Watch and our own One American News sources at the White House and within the administration about this list. Now Maria Yovanovitch, she's the former ambassador, in terms of contacts, the former ambassador to the Ukraine that had been recalled by President Trump. She herself had been appointed by Barack Obama and was seen as a holdover from her administration. Now just last week she testified against President Trump behind closed doors as part of this impeachment inquiry with the Democrats, so we're not really hearing very much what came out of that. However just days later, we see this report from Judicial Watch naming a list, apparently a watch list, that she put together at the embassy but then also reached back to her colleagues at State Department headquarters asking for more resources into what the report describes as monitoring of the people on this list which include myself, a number of other journalists, Donald Trump Jr., Rudy Giuliani, and the list goes on. I found my name to be right at the very top of it and so we're not sure exactly yet what exactly the scope of this monitoring was, whether or not it was simply following on their on-air reports and tweets or whether or not it included something further with government resources. </font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">MYERS: Right, and you mentioned some of the other people, Donald Trump Jr., Rudy Guiliani, and again it's believed that Yovanovitch ordered the State Department to monitor those employees, including yourself, who may be allies of the president. What can you tell us about the investigation conducted by Judicial Watch? </font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">POSOBIEC: So Judicial Watch so far has filed a Freedom of Information Act request. And we are gonna be following up as well with the privacy act requests -- for myself it's a privacy act request because it's actually records pertaining to myself that the government is holding. From sources that have reported back to Judicial Watch, they have essentially said that Marie Yovanovitch was looking for certain key words in reports or in tweets that she was tracking through the State Department, and having her own employees and members of the State Department track one of which, believe it or not was the word "Biden," which is very interesting because apparently this list may have been done as early as a year ago. So those of us who are covering this story, so One American News, we were certainly covering the story. I know I was making it certainly a highlight of my coverage. They've been noting that Joe Biden has had an issue, Hunter Biden has had an issue, for well over a year at this point. And that's something that even members of our own State Department were tracking it, certainly doesn't seem like something that was done in the course of official duties and unfortunately it smacks of the type of partisan political targeting that was done by members of the Barack Obama administration and now we're seeing hauled over into the Trump administration. </font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">MYERS: I can only imagine, especially someone like you who was targeted, that you may have your guard up at this point and it's essentially like Big Brother watching you but can we expect Yovanovitch and other State Department officials who may have been involved in this to be held accountable for this unlawful monitoring?</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">JACK POSOBIEC: Well she's already been pulled from her State Department -- her at least ambassadorship post. She's still at the State Department but we would like to see -- I mean once the Freedom of Information Act request comes back out, I would certainly like to go to the House intelligence committee ,to the Senate intelligence committee to see if the lawmakers there -- and by the way in a bipartisan fashion because this shouldn't be something that's a partisan issue. The United States government should not be using state resources, national security resources for use against partisan political opponents. I myself was a former member of the intelligence community and believe me Stephanie, I would not dream of using any of those assets for my own personal gain. </font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">MYERS: Yeah, we'll have to see if this is just the tip of the iceberg as more information unfollows. It almost seems like an onion and you're peeling back the layers so it's definitely an interesting development, especially since you were one of those names.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">On The Ingraham Angle, host Laura Ingraham invited Fitton on to discuss his report. Ingraham claimed that Democrats' efforts to “note [Yovanitch's] deep integrity” were “a bit premature.” Fitton insisted he has it on “solid gold authority” that Yovanovitch “illegally” monitored conservative personalities.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Video file</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CitationFrom the October 16 edition of Fox News' The Ingraham Angle:</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>LAURA INGRAHAM (HOST):</b> And last week, ousted US ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch testified behind closed doors for ten hours. It was part of the impeachment star chamber against President Trump.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Now, most people didn't even know who she even was, but since she was there to hit Trump, the media and the Democrats were quick to note her deep integrity.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">...</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">INGRAHAM: Well, it turns out that praise may be a bit premature. The group Judicial Watch is investigating whether prominent conservatives, including yours truly, were unlawfully monitored by the State Department in Ukraine.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Now, this was reportedly all done at the request of Yovanovitch herself. Joining me now, the man who first uncovered this, was Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch. He is here with us now.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Tom, what's going on, what have you uncovered, what do we know?</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">TOM FITTON: Well, we understand that she had directed that a list of people, including you, Donald Trump Jr., the president's lawyer Rudy Giuliani --</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">INGRAHAM: I feel so special.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FITTON: Sean Hannity, Lou Dobbs, other Fox News contributors --</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">INGRAHAM: Okay, all the cool kids.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FITTON: -- Be tracked. She wanted to know, the staff wanted to know, the social media postings of what you were saying about Biden, Soros, Giuliani, and her.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">INGRAHAM: Why so defensive, you think?</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FITTON: Well, because this supposedly happened back in March when noise started happening about whether she was a never-Trumper, and whether she was improperly protecting that crowd.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">INGRAHAM: So, people have to understand this, this is a U.S. ambassador to the Ukraine at the State Department, and you have it on -- is this solid gold authority, Tommy? Solid gold?</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FITTON: Is sure is. I wouldn't be here if it weren't.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">INGRAHAM: So, so we were -- I mean, I completely trust, you know -- make sure that she was ordering or requesting that we be tracked. Now, who did the tracking? Do we know?</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FITTON: Well, the staff was doing it and evidently it was a big project and they asked the help of the State Department here in Washington, D.C., someone took the request in, looked at what was going on and said, "Wait, you can't be doing this."</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">...</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">INGRAHAM: I want to show the comment from March that might have triggered this on this show, from me, troublemaker always. Watch.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">...</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">INGRAHAM: Well, she did get -- that was the first time I mentioned her.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FITTON: And around the same time, this list was generated, and it's an -- The concern is it is in violation of the law. The government can't be tracking people like this.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">INGRAHAM: The liberals used to care about this. Going back to what I said in The Angle, liberals used to care about government police state-like behavior, deep state, endless wars. Do you see how they really are turned into these political pretzels by just their opposition to Trump. Like, nothing he does you could ever agree with, even a smidgen of it.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FITTON: And, you know, you are acting as a journalist, and your fellow journalists were also on this list. So, the left doesn't care that journalists were being targeted, according to our source, illegally, because you were critical of a U.S. official abroad.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">INGRAHAM: What's the recourse? What's the recourse here? Any recourse?</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FITTON: Well, the Privacy Act, you know, there are civil remedies, and frankly -- you know, look -- look who's being investigated. Wall Street Journal reports that Sessions gets a subpoena, the man who was sent a letter, Giuliani is being targeted. Violating the Privacy Act carries criminal penalties if you're found to have done it.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">INGRAHAM: I think my D.C. bar license is still pretty active. Get a little pro bono, I will represent myself, so, no problem.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FITTON: Well, maybe we can do it, too. But we're suing, we're asking under FOIA, we want the -- more information, and I want to know whether Congress is going to look at this.</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">INGRAHAM: Spit out the email, we want the emails. They don't like turning over their emails. They hide the emails. Alright Tom, thank you for doing this, and thank you for finding out about the surveillance.</font></font></font></div></div><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></span></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">frenetic? page 5 random</font></span></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>Russia Special Counsel Mueller Worked with Radical Islamist ...</b></font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">https://www.judicialwatch.org/.../russia-special-counsel-mueller-conspired- radical-islamic-groups-fbi-chief/</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="white-space: pre;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"> </font></span></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">May 18, 2017 ... Judicial Watch had to sue to get the records and published an in-depth report on the scandal in 2013 and a lengthier, updated follow-up in ...</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>Obama High Crimes and Misdemeanors - Judicial Watch</b></font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">https://www.judicialwatch.org/.../obama-high-crimes-and-misdemeanors/</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Oct 30, 2015 ... Congress needs to get its act together and consider the impeachment and removal from office the officials, including Barack Obama, ...</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>Judicial Watch Sues CIA for Documents on Dossier Leak to Senator ...</b></font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">https://www.judicialwatch.org/.../judicial-watch-sues-cia-for-documents-on- dossier-leak-to-senator-harry-reid/</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="white-space: pre;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"> </font></span></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Jul 6, 2018 ... News chief investigative correspondent Michael Isikoff and David Corn, the Washington bureau chief of the left-wing Mother Jones magazine, ...</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Open Records Laws and Resources - Judicial Watch</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">https://www.judicialwatch.org/open-records-laws-and-resources/</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Federal open records laws, such as the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), provide access to government documents and public records. State “sunshine” laws ...</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Judicial Watch Statement on State Department Release of Huma ...</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">https://www.judicialwatch.org/.../judicial-watch-statement-state-department- release-huma-abedins-government-documents-weiners-laptop/</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="white-space: pre;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"> </font></span></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Judicial Watch Statement on State Department Release of Huma Abedin's Government Documents on Weiner's Laptop. DECEMBER 29, 2017. Email Print Text ...</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Illegal Aliens Quietly Being Relocated Throughout U.S. on ...</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">https://www.judicialwatch.org/.../illegal-aliens-quietly-relocated-throughout-u -s-commercial-flights/</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="white-space: pre;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"> </font></span></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Jan 19, 2018 ... In the last few days alone, groups of illegal aliens boarded planes at airports in Texas and Arizona accompanied by a taxpayer-funded ...</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Rule</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">www.judicialwatch.org/.../documents/2011/usa-v-hlf-order-07012009.pdf</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Islamic Relations (“CAIR”), the Islamic Society of North America (“ISNA”), and the North. American ... In their Motion, ISNA and NAIT ask the Court to (1) declare.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Judicial Watch: State Department Records Show Obama ...</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">https://www.judicialwatch.org/.../judicial-watch-doj-records-show-<b>obama- administration-helped-fund-george-soros-</b>left-wing-political-activiti...</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="white-space: pre;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"> </font></span></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b><i>Apr 4, 2018 .</i></b>.. The records were obtained in a May 26, 2017, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. ...</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Judicial Watch Sues Justice and State Departments for Uranium ...</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">https://www.judicialwatch.org/.../judicial-watch-sues-justice-state-departments -uranium-one-records/</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="white-space: pre;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"> </font></span></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Apr 10, 2018 ... In July 2014, Judicial Watch released more than 200 Clinton conflict-of interest documents, including a record of a speech in Moscow in June ...</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>New Clinton Benghazi Documents </b>- Judicial Watch</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">https://www.judicialwatch.org/.../new-clinton-benghazi-documents/</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="white-space: pre;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"> </font></span></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /></span></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Apr 22, 2016 ... The documents reveal that the then-Secretary of State informed then-Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Kandil that the deadly terrorist attack on ...</font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">2011 acorn cite by vadum</font></font></font></p><div><blockquote style="box-sizing: inherit; width: 500px; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 40px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">ACORN and its affiliate, Project Vote, successfully pressured Colorado officials to implement new policies for increasing the registration of public assistance recipients during the 2008 and 2010 election seasons. Following the policy changes, the percentage of invalid voter registration forms from Colorado public assistance agencies was four times the national average.</font></font></font></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">404</font></font></font></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">sorta</font></font></font></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2010/03/acorn-operating-under-different-name/">https://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2010/03/acorn-operating-under-different-name/</a></font></font></font></font></p></blockquote></div><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline" /></font></font></p><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">acorn bs</font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org:80/blog/tag/acorn-tag/</font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></div><div><div id="post-48151" class="post" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; position: relative; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-bottom: 40px;"><h2 style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; margin: 11px 0px; line-height: 32px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-sues-hhs-obamacare-navigator-records/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; text-decoration-line: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Judicial Watch Sues HHS for Obamacare Navigator Records</font></a></font></font></h2><div class="byline" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; height: 30px; width: 660px; line-height: 16px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="bydate" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; float: left; padding-right: 5px; line-height: 16px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: 700; max-width: 75%; overflow: hidden;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">APRIL 22, 2014 | <a class="seeall" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org:80/press-room/press-releases/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;">SEE ALL PRESS RELEASES »</a></font></span><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><br class="C" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 2em;" /></font></a></font></font></div><div class="entryexcerpt" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; width: 660px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden;"><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced today that on March 27, 2014, it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to obtain records about controversial Obamacare navigators, including records about navigator qualifications and background checks (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department…</font></a></font></font></p></div></div><div id="post-24267" class="post" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; position: relative; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-bottom: 40px;"><p class="typecatp" style="display: inline-block; clear: both; height: 18px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 7px; background: rgb(207, 168, 92);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">PRESS RELEASE</font></a></font></font></p><h2 style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; margin: 11px 0px; line-height: 32px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/records-obtained-by-judicial-watch-reveal-former-top-acorn-operative-continues-to-advise-cfpb-head-other-high-ranking-administration-officials-on-key-housing-issues/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; line-height: 32px; text-decoration-line: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Records Reveal Former Top ACORN Operative Continues to Advise </span>CFPB<span style="font-weight: 400;"> Head, Other Officials on Housing Issues</span></font></a></font></font></h2><div class="byline" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; height: 30px; width: 660px; line-height: 16px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="bydate" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; float: left; padding-right: 5px; line-height: 16px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: 700; max-width: 75%; overflow: hidden;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">OCTOBER 15, 2013 | <a class="seeall" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org:80/press-room/press-releases/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;">SEE ALL PRESS RELEASES »</a></font></span><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><br class="C" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 2em;" /></font></a></font></font></div><div class="entryexcerpt" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; width: 660px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden;"><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">March 21 Letter from NHRC’s Dorpalen to CFPB Senior Advisor Calls for Extension of Home Affordable Modification Program; Obama Administration Extends Program Eight Weeks Later (Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced today that it has obtained documents from the Consumer Financial Protection Administration (CFPB) revealing that Bruce Dorpalen, the</font></a></font></font></p></div></div><div id="post-23835" class="post" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; position: relative; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-bottom: 40px;"><p class="typecatcc" style="display: inline-block; clear: both; height: 18px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 7px; background: rgb(229, 48, 52);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CORRUPTION CHRONICLES</font></a></font></font></p><h2 style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; margin: 11px 0px; line-height: 32px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2013/09/u-s-ponsors-event-featuring-ex-acorn-chief-trashing-whites/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; text-decoration-line: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">U.S. $ponsors Event Featuring Ex ACORN Chief Trashing Whites</font></a></font></font></h2><div class="byline" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; height: 30px; width: 660px; line-height: 16px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="bydate" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; float: left; padding-right: 5px; line-height: 16px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: 700; max-width: 75%; overflow: hidden;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 | <a class="seeall" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org:80/blog/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;">SEE ALL CORRUPTION CHRONICLES »</a></font></span><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><br class="C" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 2em;" /></font></a></font></font></div><div class="entryexcerpt" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; width: 660px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden;"><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">President Obama and more than a dozen U.S. government agencies participated in a Washington D.C. conference that featured a keynote speaker—a black activist who headed the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN)—who made racist remarks about whites. It gets better; American taxpayers helped fund the annual event, put…</font></a></font></font></p></div></div><div id="post-22259" class="post" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; position: relative; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-bottom: 40px;"><p class="typecatp" style="display: inline-block; clear: both; height: 18px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 7px; background: rgb(207, 168, 92);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">PRESS RELEASE</font></a></font></font></p><h2 style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; margin: 11px 0px; line-height: 32px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-obtains-documents-revealing-acorn-spin-off-received-hud-grant-despite-federal-funding-ban/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; text-decoration-line: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Judicial Watch Obtains Documents Revealing ACORN Spin-Off Received HUD Grant Despite Federal Funding Ban</font></a></font></font></h2><div class="byline" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; height: 30px; width: 660px; line-height: 16px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="bydate" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; float: left; padding-right: 5px; line-height: 16px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: 700; max-width: 75%; overflow: hidden;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">AUGUST 15, 2013 | <a class="seeall" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org:80/press-room/press-releases/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;">SEE ALL PRESS RELEASES »</a></font></span><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><br class="C" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 2em;" /></font></a></font></font></div><div class="entryexcerpt" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; width: 660px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden;"><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Top HUD official transferred more than $200,000 from ACORN spin-off AHCOA for activities of “former AHCOA affiliates” (Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch, announced today that it has obtained documents from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) revealing that on February 12, 2013, HUD Assistant Secretary for Office of…</font></a></font></font></p></div></div><div id="post-13531" class="post" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; position: relative; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-bottom: 40px;"><p class="typecatcc" style="display: inline-block; clear: both; height: 18px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 7px; background: rgb(229, 48, 52);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CORRUPTION CHRONICLES</font></a></font></font></p><h2 style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; margin: 11px 0px; line-height: 32px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2012/06/former-acorn-director-gets-445-mil-from-u-s-treasury/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; text-decoration-line: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Former ACORN Director Gets $445 Mil From U.S. Treasury</font></a></font></font></h2><div class="byline" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; height: 30px; width: 660px; line-height: 16px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="bydate" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; float: left; padding-right: 5px; line-height: 16px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: 700; max-width: 75%; overflow: hidden;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">JUNE 07, 2012 | <a class="seeall" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org:80/blog/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;">SEE ALL CORRUPTION CHRONICLES »</a></font></span><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><br class="C" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 2em;" /></font></a></font></font></div><div class="entryexcerpt" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; width: 660px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden;"><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The Obama Administration has given a former director at the scandal-plagued Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) nearly half a billion dollars to offer “struggling” Illinois homeowners mortgage assistance, a Judicial Watch investigation has found. It means the ACORN official (Joe McGavin) will go from operating a corrupt…</font></a></font></font></p></div></div><div id="post-13435" class="post" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; position: relative; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-bottom: 40px;"><p class="typecatcc" style="display: inline-block; clear: both; height: 18px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 7px; background: rgb(229, 48, 52);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CORRUPTION CHRONICLES</font></a></font></font></p><h2 style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; margin: 11px 0px; line-height: 32px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2012/05/acorn-offshoot-sues-state-for-not-registering-voters-on-welfare/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; text-decoration-line: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">ACORN Offshoot Sues State For Not Registering Voters On Welfare</font></a></font></font></h2><div class="byline" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; height: 30px; width: 660px; line-height: 16px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="bydate" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; float: left; padding-right: 5px; line-height: 16px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: 700; max-width: 75%; overflow: hidden;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">MAY 24, 2012 | <a class="seeall" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org:80/blog/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;">SEE ALL CORRUPTION CHRONICLES »</a></font></span><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><br class="C" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 2em;" /></font></a></font></font></div><div class="entryexcerpt" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; width: 660px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden;"><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The Obama-tied community organization famous for operating fraudulent voter registration drives during the 2008 presidential campaign is suing a state for failing to offer voter registration services at public welfare agencies. New England United 4 Justice (NEU4J), a reincarnation of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), has…</font></a></font></font></p></div></div><div id="post-12174" class="post" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; position: relative; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-bottom: 40px;"><p class="typecatib" style="display: inline-block; clear: both; height: 18px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 7px; background: rgb(25, 89, 134);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">INVESTIGATIVE BULLETIN</font></a></font></font></p><h2 style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; margin: 11px 0px; line-height: 32px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org/bulletins/acorn-documents-from-the-federal-election-commission/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; text-decoration-line: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">ACORN Documents from the Federal Election Commission</font></a></font></font></h2><div class="byline" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; height: 30px; width: 660px; line-height: 16px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="bydate" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; float: left; padding-right: 5px; line-height: 16px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: 700; max-width: 75%; overflow: hidden;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">JANUARY 18, 2012 | <a class="seeall" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org:80/investigative-bulletin/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;">SEE ALL INVESTIGATIVE BULLETINS »</a></font></span><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><br class="C" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 2em;" /></font></a></font></font></div><div class="entryexcerpt" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; width: 660px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden;"><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">ACORN Documents from the Federal Election Commission The following documents were obtained from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) website and are in the public domain. The cases outlined below are examples of FEC’s apparent inability to thoroughly examine complaints. In each of these three complaints filed against ACORN, a number…</font></a></font></font></p></div></div><div id="post-12173" class="post" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; position: relative; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-bottom: 40px;"><p class="typecatib" style="display: inline-block; clear: both; height: 18px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 7px; background: rgb(25, 89, 134);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">INVESTIGATIVE BULLETIN</font></a></font></font></p><h2 style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; margin: 11px 0px; line-height: 32px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org/bulletins/investigation-of-federal-grants-awarded-to-acorn-from-the-corporation-for-national-community-service/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; text-decoration-line: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Investigation of Federal Grants Awarded to ACORN from the Corporation for National & Community Service</font></a></font></font></h2><div class="byline" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; height: 30px; width: 660px; line-height: 16px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="bydate" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; float: left; padding-right: 5px; line-height: 16px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: 700; max-width: 75%; overflow: hidden;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">JANUARY 18, 2012 | <a class="seeall" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org:80/investigative-bulletin/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;">SEE ALL INVESTIGATIVE BULLETINS »</a></font></span><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><br class="C" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 2em;" /></font></a></font></font></div><div class="entryexcerpt" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; width: 660px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden;"><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">On May 1, 2009, Judicial Watch filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS), asking for documents on grants given to ACORN. CNCS handles the programs and paperwork for national grants, including AmeriCorps grants. On June 1, 2009, CNCS produced documents. The…</font></a></font></font></p></div></div><div id="post-12171" class="post" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; position: relative; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-bottom: 40px;"><p class="typecatib" style="display: inline-block; clear: both; height: 18px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 7px; background: rgb(25, 89, 134);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">INVESTIGATIVE BULLETIN</font></a></font></font></p><h2 style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; margin: 11px 0px; line-height: 32px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org/bulletins/fbi-acorn-investigation-documents/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; text-decoration-line: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">FBI ACORN Investigation Documents</font></a></font></font></h2><div class="byline" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; height: 30px; width: 660px; line-height: 16px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="bydate" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; float: left; padding-right: 5px; line-height: 16px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: 700; max-width: 75%; overflow: hidden;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">JANUARY 18, 2012 | <a class="seeall" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org:80/investigative-bulletin/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;">SEE ALL INVESTIGATIVE BULLETINS »</a></font></span><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><br class="C" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 2em;" /></font></a></font></font></div><div class="entryexcerpt" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; width: 660px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden;"><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Judicial Watch obtained documents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) related to the 2007 investigation and arrest of eight St. Louis, Missouri, workers from the “community organization” Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) for violation of election laws and voter fraud.</font></a></font></font></p></div></div><div id="post-12008" class="post" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; position: relative; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-bottom: 40px;"><p class="typecatcc" style="display: inline-block; clear: both; height: 18px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 7px; background: rgb(229, 48, 52);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CORRUPTION CHRONICLES</font></a></font></font></p><h2 style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; margin: 11px 0px; line-height: 32px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2012/01/doj-steers-countrywide-settlement-cash-to-leftist-groups-with-dem-ties/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; text-decoration-line: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">DOJ Steers Countrywide Settlement Cash To Leftist Groups With Dem Ties</font></a></font></font></h2><div class="byline" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; height: 30px; width: 660px; line-height: 16px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="bydate" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; float: left; padding-right: 5px; line-height: 16px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: 700; max-width: 75%; overflow: hidden;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">JANUARY 05, 2012 | <a class="seeall" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org:80/blog/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;">SEE ALL CORRUPTION CHRONICLES »</a></font></span><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><br class="C" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 2em;" /></font></a></font></font></div><div class="entryexcerpt" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; width: 660px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden;"><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The untold story of the Obama Administration’s widely reported, $335 million discrimination settlement with Countrywide Financial Corporation is that, under a secret Justice Department program, a chunk of the money won’t go to the “victims” but rather leftist groups not connected to the lawsuit. The Department of Justice (DOJ) will…</font></a></font></font></p></div></div><div id="post-11616" class="post" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; position: relative; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-bottom: 40px;"><p class="typecatib" style="display: inline-block; clear: both; height: 18px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 7px; background: rgb(25, 89, 134);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">INVESTIGATIVE BULLETIN</font></a></font></font></p><h2 style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; margin: 11px 0px; line-height: 32px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org/bulletins/party-politics-at-the-national-labor-relations-board-nlrb/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; text-decoration-line: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Party Politics at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)</font></a></font></font></h2><div class="byline" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; height: 30px; width: 660px; line-height: 16px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="bydate" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; float: left; padding-right: 5px; line-height: 16px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: 700; max-width: 75%; overflow: hidden;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">DECEMBER 12, 2011 | <a class="seeall" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org:80/investigative-bulletin/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;">SEE ALL INVESTIGATIVE BULLETINS »</a></font></span><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><br class="C" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 2em;" /></font></a></font></font></div><div class="entryexcerpt" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; width: 660px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden;"><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed a lawsuit in April 2011, against Boeing, claiming that the company’s decision to open a Dreamliner production line in South Carolina was in retaliation against The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers for a series of union strikes that reportedly slowed production…</font></a></font></font></p></div></div><div id="post-11453" class="post" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; position: relative; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-bottom: 40px;"><p class="typecatib" style="display: inline-block; clear: both; height: 18px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 7px; background: rgb(25, 89, 134);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">INVESTIGATIVE BULLETIN</font></a></font></font></p><h2 style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; margin: 11px 0px; line-height: 32px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org/bulletins/federal-election-commission-acorn-documents/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; text-decoration-line: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Federal Election Commission ACORN Documents</font></a></font></font></h2><div class="byline" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; height: 30px; width: 660px; line-height: 16px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="bydate" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; float: left; padding-right: 5px; line-height: 16px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: 700; max-width: 75%; overflow: hidden;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">DECEMBER 09, 2011 | <a class="seeall" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org:80/investigative-bulletin/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;">SEE ALL INVESTIGATIVE BULLETINS »</a></font></span><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><br class="C" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 2em;" /></font></a></font></font></div><div class="entryexcerpt" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; width: 660px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden;"><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Documents related to a 2006 complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) about the Project Vote/ACORN collaboration during the 2004 campaign cycle. Includes the final draft version of a document by Brian Kettenring, Project Vote’s Head Organizer in Florida, which said that the ultimate goal of this campaign was…</font></a></font></font></p></div></div><div id="post-11438" class="post" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; position: relative; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-bottom: 40px;"><p class="typecatib" style="display: inline-block; clear: both; height: 18px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 7px; background: rgb(25, 89, 134);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">INVESTIGATIVE BULLETIN</font></a></font></font></p><h2 style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; margin: 11px 0px; line-height: 32px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org/bulletins/acorn/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; text-decoration-line: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">ACORN</font></a></font></font></h2><div class="byline" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; height: 30px; width: 660px; line-height: 16px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="bydate" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; float: left; padding-right: 5px; line-height: 16px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: 700; max-width: 75%; overflow: hidden;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">DECEMBER 09, 2011 | <a class="seeall" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org:80/investigative-bulletin/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;">SEE ALL INVESTIGATIVE BULLETINS »</a></font></span><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><br class="C" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 2em;" /></font></a></font></font></div><div class="entryexcerpt" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; width: 660px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden;"><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The leftist Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) and its affiliated organizations have been the subject of great controversy. Concerns have been raised about fraudulent voter registrations, intimidation tactics, involvement in the housing market meltdown, and a partnership with U.S. Census Bureau. Most importantly, Barack Obama has</font></a></font></font></p></div></div><div id="post-10934" class="post" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; position: relative; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-bottom: 40px;"><p class="typecatcc" style="display: inline-block; clear: both; height: 18px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 7px; background: rgb(229, 48, 52);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CORRUPTION CHRONICLES</font></a></font></font></p><h2 style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; margin: 11px 0px; line-height: 32px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2011/12/acorn-got-doj-grant-combat-juvenile-delinquency/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; text-decoration-line: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">ACORN Got DOJ Grant To Combat Juvenile Delinquency</font></a></font></font></h2><div class="byline" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; height: 30px; width: 660px; line-height: 16px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="bydate" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; float: left; padding-right: 5px; line-height: 16px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: 700; max-width: 75%; overflow: hidden;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">DECEMBER 01, 2011 | <a class="seeall" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org:80/blog/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;">SEE ALL CORRUPTION CHRONICLES »</a></font></span><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><br class="C" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 2em;" /></font></a></font></font></div><div class="entryexcerpt" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; width: 660px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden;"><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">A Justice Department program that annually distributes hundreds of millions of dollars to combat juvenile delinquency is under fire for giving a famously corrupt leftist group—Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN)—money that was fraudulently spent. It marks the latest of several controversies for the DOJ’s Office of Juvenile Justice…</font></a></font></font></p></div></div><div id="post-641" class="post" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; position: relative; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-bottom: 40px;"><p class="typecatcc" style="display: inline-block; clear: both; height: 18px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 7px; background: rgb(229, 48, 52);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CORRUPTION CHRONICLES</font></a></font></font></p><h2 style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; margin: 11px 0px; line-height: 32px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2011/10/acorn-behind-occupy-wall-street-protest/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; text-decoration-line: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">ACORN Behind Occupy Wall Street Protest</font></a></font></font></h2><div class="byline" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; height: 30px; width: 660px; line-height: 16px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="bydate" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; float: left; padding-right: 5px; line-height: 16px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: 700; max-width: 75%; overflow: hidden;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">OCTOBER 05, 2011 | <a class="seeall" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141215022434/http://www.judicialwatch.org:80/blog/" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;">SEE ALL CORRUPTION CHRONICLES »</a></font></span><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><br class="C" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 2em;" /></font></a></font></font></div><div class="entryexcerpt" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; width: 660px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden;"><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">A famously corrupt leftist community organization with deep ties to President Barack Obama is largely behind the national movement to “end economic segregation” and social injustice in the United States.Best known as Occupy Wall Street, the rowdy protests have received quite a bit of mainstream media coverage around the world. Besides New…</font></a></font></font></p></div></div></div><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></span></font></a></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /></span></font></a><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/video/2018/06/08/judicial-watch-s-tom-fitton-says-pardon-may-be-warranted-paul-manafort-whether-he-did-anything-wrong/220404">https://www.mediamatters.org/video/2018/06/08/judicial-watch-s-tom-fitton-says-pardon-may-be-warranted-paul-manafort-whether-he-did-anything-wrong/220404</a></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">DOBBS (HOST): Our first guest tonight says the Manafort indictment is overkill, another example of Mueller abusing his power, and an investigation that's become disastrous. Joining us tonight, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. Tom, good to have you with us.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">I mean, how many -- I mean, Manafort's going to set some sort of record as the most indicted man in political history. What in the world is -- what is gained by the Special Counsel adding to these charges, and making these extraordinary charges that have really nothing to do with the Trump campaign, that have nothing to do even with the modern era in American politics?</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[...]</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FITTON: If I were the president, I would look at this investigation as something requiring a pardon analysis, because I don't know whether Manafort did anything wrong or not, but I don't trust Mueller to figure it out. And I know that if he did anything wrong or not, he would never have been indicted but for his relationship with then-candidate Trump. So, if -- in those circumstances a pardon may be warranted.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Previously:</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Lou Dobbs and Judicial Watch's Tom Fitton call on Trump to "just pardon everybody, you know, just have a field day"</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Judicial Watch's Tom Fitton tells Hannity "It's fair to ask whether" Rod Rosenstein should "be fired, or in the least have to recuse himself"</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Tom Fitton tells Tucker Carlson that Jeff Sessions should order U.S. Marshals to raid FBI offices</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline" /></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">On Fox Business, Judicial Watch's Tom Fitton says Jeff Sessions can "unrecuse" himself from Trump/Russia probe</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">wacko</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">hmmn</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">http://winsipcuster.blogspot.com/2016/10/james-comeys-feud-with-joseph-digenova.html</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">quote by digen]</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><b>An Interview with Lowell P. Wigglesworth</b></span><br style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /><br style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">by Fabian Colbachi CPW News Service</span><br style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /><br style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> The conservative Judicial Watch assembled a panel of five to review the recent developments in the Hillary Clinton email scandal.</span><br style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> Moderated by </span><em style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Judicial Watch</em><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> President Tom Fitton, the panel included Paul Schweizer the author of </span><em style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Clinton Cash, </em><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><b>Jerome Corsi, </b>author of </span><em style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Partners In Crime: The Clinton's Scheme to Monetize the White House for Personal Profit, </em></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline" /></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Christopher J. Farrell, a member of the </span><em style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">OSS Society </em><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">and </span><em style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Investigative Reporters and Editors </em><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">whose 1996 debate between Gary Webb and the </span><em style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Washington Post's</em><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> Jeff Leen was moderated by the University of Missouri's Professor Emeritus of Journalism, </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Steve Weinberg, attempted to skewer Webb's reporting for the <em>San Jose Mercury News </em>and his book <em>Dark Alliance.</em></span><em style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <b> </b></em><b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Also on the panel was former U.S. Attorney in Washington D.C. and founding partner of the K Street legal firm of DiGenova &</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Toensing, Joseph E. DiGenova.</span></b></font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">new 9/17</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/silence-climate-scientists-2491043851.html">https://www.ecowatch.com/silence-climate-scientists-2491043851.html</a></font></font></font></p><div class="headline-container" style="margin-top: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><h1 class="headline h1" style="margin: 10px; padding: 0px; position: relative; line-height: 31px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The Desperate But Effective Attempts to Silence Climate Scientists</font></h1></div><div id="utm_campaign" style="margin-top: 10px;"><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="js-scroll-trigger" data-target="body" data-triggers="render-rebelbar" data-toggle-class="with-floating-shares" data-loaded="true" style="margin-top: 10px;" /></font></p><div class="body js-expandable clearfix js-listicle-body js-update-url" data-elid="2491043851" data-headline="The Desperate But Effective Attempts to Silence Climate Scientists" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 10px; line-height: 24px;"><div class="body-description"><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By Jeremy Deaton</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">People play dirty when they can't win by playing fair. This is, more or less, the story of <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">climate change</a> denial in the U.S.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Scientists <a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/11/4/048002/meta" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">overwhelmingly agree</a> that humans are altering the climate, reaping changes with potentially <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/07/climate-change-earth-too-hot-for-humans.html" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">catastrophic consequences</a>. <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-denier" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Climate deniers</a> can't dispute the data. They can't win on facts. Instead, they impugn the credibility of scientists, a tactic which has proved both ugly and effective.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Right-wing groups are using open records laws to obtain scientists' emails, and then misrepresenting the content of those emails to question the integrity of researchers and cast doubt on their findings, all of which has a chilling effect on scientific inquiry. But scientists have earned powerful allies in the fight to protect their research—including, by a strange set of circumstances, the <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/trump-watch/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Trump administration</a>.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>"Climategate" led to a wave of harassment.</strong></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The current spate of invasive records requests back to "Climategate," a 2009 controversy that erupted when a hacker obtained more than 1,000 emails sent and received by climatologists at East Anglia university in the United Kingdom. Parts of some emails, taken out of context, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/21/science/earth/21climate.html?r=2" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">suggested</a> scientists had manipulated data to exaggerate the warming trend.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Climate deniers <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/11/24/john-lott-climate-change-emails-copenhagen.html" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">harped</a> on the leaks to paint climate scientists as ideologically motivated and dishonest. Though an official <a href="http://www.cce-review.org/pdf/FINAL%20REPORT.pdf" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">inquiry</a> into the matter exonerated scientists, the damage was already done. Their calls for universities to investigate climate scientists prompted institutional <a href="http://www.science20.com/uploads/1770191916-429173860.pdf" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">probes</a> that hampered research efforts. Today, conservative advocacy groups point to "Climategate" when making open records requests.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"I think anyone who looks at the whole 'Climategate' manufactured controversy understands now that it's bogus, but that's the rationale that they've used," said Lauren Kurtz, executive director of the <a href="https://climatesciencedefensefund.org/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Climate Science Legal Defense Fund</a>, a nonprofit working to protect researchers threatened by legal attacks.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The <a href="https://eelegal.org/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Energy & Environment Legal Institute</a> (E&E), a conservative think tank with ties to <a href="https://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/02/13049/bankruptcy-documents-indicate-arch-coal-funding-climate-denial-legal-group" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">coal</a> and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Energy%26_Environment_Legal_Institute#cite_note-16" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">oil</a> companies, cited "Climategate" as the impetus for its "transparency project.</span>" In 2011, the group sued to obtain more than 10,000 emails written or received by Michael Mann, a researcher at the University of Virginia and one of the scientists implicated in "Climategate." The Virginia Supreme Court <a href="http://www.courts.state.va.us/opinions/opnscvwp/1130934.pdf" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">sided with</a> Mann, who <a href="http://www.meteo.psu.edu/holocene/public_html/Mann/news/VAsupremeStatement.php" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">lamented</a> the "coordinated assault against the scientific community by powerful vested interests."</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">That same year, E&E requested more than a decade of emails from University of Arizona climate scientists Jonathan Overpeck and Malcolm Hughes, another researcher ensnared by "Climategate." E&E's <a href="https://eelegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2014.08.28-Petitioners-Reply.pages.pdf" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">legal brief</a> alleged there is a "climate scientific-technological elite" which has "behaved badly" in the past, a reference to "Climategate." In a gesture of surprising candor, E&E acknowledged that it was searching for emails to "embarrass both Professors Hughes and Overpeck," whom it characterized as "academic climate alarmists." That suit continues to this day.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The University of Arizona <a href="http://blogs.law.columbia.edu/climatechange/2016/06/22/az-court-reverses-protection-for-climate-scientists/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">case</a> volleyed back and forth between the trial court and the appellate court, which recently determined the trial court had failed to consider a <a href="http://www.azleg.gov/ars/15/01640.htm" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">statute</a> that protects "unpublished research data, manuscripts, preliminary analyses, drafts of scientific papers" and other documents produced by researchers at Arizona public universities.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Now the case will go back to the trial court, which will reevaluate the records request in light of this statute. The ruling is a pyrrhic victory for researchers and the university, who must dedicate even more time and money to fighting off E&E. "That's basically as good as we could have hoped for," Kurtz said. Even when scientists win, they lose.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>The lawsuit has taken a hefty toll on Overpeck and Hughes</b>. Overpeck said he spent six weeks of his sabbatical sorting through 90,000 pages of emails, explaining the case was a "grave distraction" from his work and family. Hughes spent an entire summer collecting emails, failed to attend to his work and lost a research grant as a result.
</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">These injuries are temporary. More worrisome is the long-term effect that records requests have on research. Hughes noted that, due to his involvement in the case, other scientists have been reluctant to email him. While Hughes is nearing the end of this career, he said that, were he a young man, he would "consider a different line of work or another institution."</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Even if E&E loses in the trial court—and it most likely will—the group will have nonetheless succeeded in bullying climate scientists. This, rather transparently, was the point. If E&E had concerns about the empirical rigor of climate research, it could have scrutinized the findings of specific studies. Instead of interrogating the final product, it went after the hastily scribed emails exchanged between colleagues.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"I have taught, researched and administered in academia for more than 40 years and have not seen a time in which freedom of inquiry has been more needed, or more imperiled than it is now," Hughes wrote in a letter to University of Virginia president Teresa Sullivan when E&E was working to obtain Mann's emails. "Nothing is more likely to quash the creativity of America's scientists than the ever-present ear of a hostile listener intent on finding, at all costs, the appearance of malfeasance. Nothing is more calculated to discourage research into topics that may challenge power interests."
</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Today, some states are enacting policies to protect scientists. <a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText17/HouseText17/H5098.pdf" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Rhode Island</a> and <a href="https://www.billtrack50.com/BillDetail/786399" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">North Dakota</a> recently passed laws guarding academic freedom. The Rhode Island statute specifically shields "drafts, notes, impressions, memoranda, working papers and work products" from open records requests. Kurtz hopes more states follow suit.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Climate scientists have an unlikely ally in the Trump administration.</strong></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">At the federal level, the issue becomes more complicated. The legal protections that guard the emails of federally-funded climate scientists also shield government employees, including those working for the president. As a result, climate scientists have an unlikely ally in the Trump administration.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>In 2015, the conservative nonprofit <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><a href="http://www.judicialwatch.org/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Judicial Watch</a> made a FOIA request to obtain the emails of climate scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA</span>). </b>Judicial Watch has a history of harassing opponents with records requests—most notably <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/13/us/politics/judicial-watch-hillary-clinton.html?r=0" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Hillary Clinton</a>. Its president, Tom Fitton, <a href="http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-sues-for-documents-withheld-from-congress-in-new-climate-data-scandal/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">claimed</a> the NOAA documents requested would show "the Obama administration put politics before science to advance global warming alarmism."</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"This case is interesting because it was actually started under the Obama administration, but the Trump administration continued it, I think, because the Trump administration recognizes that it's important to maintain these open-records protections," said Kurtz.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The administration, though leaky, is notoriously secretive. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency chief <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/scott-pruitt" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Scott Pruitt</a>, who regularly <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/11/pruitt-climate-report-epa-241546" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">antagonizes</a> climate scientists, recently installed a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/09/26/epa-spending-almost-25000-to-install-a-secure-phone-booth-for-scott-pruitt/?utm_term=.550a18b2d8d9" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">$25,000 soundproof booth</a> in his office. Pruitt has also been sparing in his use of email, in part, as a response to a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/22/us/politics/scott-pruitt-environmental-protection-agency.html?mcubz=3&r=1&mtrref=www.google.com" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">2014 open-records request</a> that revealed his close ties with the fossil fuel industry. "The Trump administration, I don't think, is eager to be turning things over under open-record laws," said Kurtz.</font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The rationale for protecting scientists' emails from public disclosure is simple. FOIA was enacted to make government more transparent, but it also threatened to discourage open conversations among federal employees. Judges have interpreted the law to exclude these conversations from records requests—what's known as <a href="https://content.next.westlaw.com/Document/I0f9fe6beef0811e28578f7ccc38dcbee/View/FullText.html?contextData=%28sc.Default%29&transitionType=Default&firstPage=true&bhcp=1" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">deliberative process privilege</a>.
</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"The deliberative process privilege was designed to allow agency employees to have freedom to communicate with each other and toss around ideas and engage in devil's advocate debates and what-if arguments and really feel like they can be candid with each other," Kurtz said. "In addition, there's the rationale that people might toss out ideas that are later determined to be bad ideas and never implemented, and if you produce all those emails, it's really going to confuse the public."</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>The NOAA suit was settled in August. </b>"The trial court judge agreed that the emails in the NOAA case were exactly the sort of emails that this deliberative process privilege was designed to protect," Kurtz said. Judicial Watch declined to appeal to the ruling.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">As with the University of Arizona case, the damage was already done. If Judicial Watch had concerns about the empirical rigor of the NOAA study, it could have scrutinized the data, the method or the results—all of which were publicly available. But, the group didn't want to debate the merits of the science. Its goal was more specific.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Invasive records requests undermine scientific inquiry.</strong></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">A <a href="http://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/attach/2015/09/freedom-to-bully-ucs-2015-final.pdf" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">2015 report</a> from the <a href="http://www.ucsusa.org/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Union of Concerned Scientists</a> found that researchers in numerous fields—public health, environmental science, genetic engineering—face attacks from groups on both sides of the ideological spectrum.</span> The report explains that "individuals and well-heeled special interests across the political spectrum are increasingly using broad open records requests to attack and harass scientists." It warned that such tactics can "can curb the ability of researchers to pursue their work,<b>chill their speech and discourage them from tackling contentious topics."</b></font></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>With climate change, there is evidence that this is already happening. </b>A <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378015000515#!" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">2015 study</a> found that climate scientists frequently downplay the gravity of their findings in response to harassment. Authors wrote that, " in response to constant, and sometimes toxic, public challenges, scientists have over-emphasized scientific uncertainty, and have inadvertently allowed contrarian claims to affect how they themselves speak, and perhaps even think, about their own research." This erodes public understanding of science.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"We all lose when scientists self-censor due to continued harassment. We have a poorer understanding of the science and are less able to make good personal and policy decisions," said Michael Halpern, head of the Center for Science and Democracy at the <a href="http://www.ucsusa.org/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Union of Concerned Scientists</a>. "Scientists will be more likely to keep their heads down and refuse to publicly engage or ask contentious research questions if they don't feel that their peers who are attacked are adequately protected."</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">How then do scientists balance privacy with transparency? Where is the line between confidentiality and obfuscation?</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"We think it's totally appropriate to FOIA for funding information and conflict of interest information," Kurtz said. "When you're getting into research emails and candid communication, I think that's really harmful." She added, "Short of something where you have actual evidence of criminal fraud, I think those things should be protected."
</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">FOIA is designed to give a window into the policymaking process, but science is already transparent. "When you're doing a peer-reviewed study, your peers are looking at your research and giving you feedback on it, and they are determining whether or not it is appropriate for publication," said Kurtz. Scientists must publish their data, their methods, their results, and they must disclose their source of funding .</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"That sort of transparency is actually what you need to replicate the research, evaluate the research," said Kurtz. "That is not happening in the policymaking field where FOIA was originally designed to operate."</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Because science is transparent, it is also self-correcting</b>. Researchers can interrogate, criticize and improve upon each others' work. In 2013, Thomas Herndon, a graduate student at the University of Massachusetts made <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/04/umass-student-exposes-serious-flaws-harvard-economists-influential-study/316138/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">headlines</a> when he found a number errors in an <a href="http://www.nber.org/papers/w15639" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">influential study</a> authored by two Harvard economists. The paper showed that economic growth slows down in countries with high national debt, and it was used to justify austerity measures following the Great Recession. Herndon, 28, published a <a href="http://darribas.org/WooWii/Assignments/OriginalPaper.pdf" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">paper</a> which called attention to the errors and refuted its conclusions about national debt.
</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">This is how research works. Researchers evaluate and attempt to replicate the findings of their peers. They have every incentive to prove each other wrong. Herndon's work earned him the acclaim of serious economists, weeks of fawning press coverage and a <a href="http://www.cc.com/video-clips/kbgnf0/the-colbert-report-austerity-s-spreadsheet-error---thomas-herndon" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">star turn</a> on <em>The Colbert Report. </em>Any person who could do the same for climate research would be similarly celebrated.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">If E&E, Judicial Watch or any other groups were to find and publicize flaws in peer-reviewed climate research, they would be doing a public service. But, overwhelmingly, the data show that humans are driving the warming trend. So instead, right-wing groups go after emails, looking to defame scientists.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"Scientific transparency is obviously important," Kurtz said. "What we want to preclude is scientists having to live in a fish bowl."</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/the-desperate-but-effective-attempts-to-silence-climate-scientists-9e293887c3b2" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Nexus Media</a>.</font></p></div></div><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline" /></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></p><div class="item-summary" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px 30px 15px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(204, 204, 204); clear: both;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Conservative anti-Clinton group Judicial Watch announced a “special panel presentation” promising a “scandal update” on the Clinton Foundation and the emails of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> Judicial Watch, itself a hub for baseless smears against the Clintons, invited to the panel two discredited Clinton conspiracy theorists known for making claims based on “bogus” data.</span></font></font></font></p></div><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline" /></font></p><div class="item-body" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><h2 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 15px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2px; clear: both; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(0, 153, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Judicial Watch To Hold A “Clinton Scandal Update” Panel On “Emails And The Clinton Foundation”</font></h2><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; margin-block-start: 1em; margin-block-end: 1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Judicial Watch To Host “Educational Panel Discussion” On The Clinton Foundation, Clinton Emails</span>.</span> Right-wing group Judicial Watch announced a “special panel presentation” they entitled “Clinton Scandal Update – Emails and the Clinton Foundation.” The panel is a response to “the revelations about the pay-to-play scandal” related to Hillary Clinton’s “email system and the Clinton Foundation.” From the September 22 press release:</font></p><blockquote style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; padding: 25px 30px 10px; margin: 20px 20px 25px; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); box-shadow: rgb(204, 204, 204) 0px 6px 0px -4px; clear: both;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; width: 543px; margin-block-start: 1em; margin-block-end: 1em; margin-top: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 1em !important;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In response to the revelations about the pay-to-play scandal tied to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s non-state.gov email system and the Clinton Foundation, Judicial Watch announced today that it will host an educational panel discussion: “Clinton Scandal Update – Emails and the Clinton Foundation.”</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; width: 543px; margin-block-start: 1em; margin-block-end: 1em; margin-top: 0px !important;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Panelists include the author of the <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">New York Times</em> best-seller <b><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Clinton Cash</em> and President of Government Accountability Institute Peter Schweizer</b>;<b> Joe diGenova,</b> former U.S. Attorney, Independent Counsel and founding partner of the Washington, D.C., law firm diGenova & Toensing;</span> and Chris Farrell, director of investigations and research at Judicial Watch. Moderator will be Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. [Judicial Watch, <a href="http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-announces-special-panel-presentation-clinton-scandal-update-emails-clinton-foundation/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; font-weight: 700; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);">9/22/16</a>]</font></p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 15px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2px; clear: both; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(0, 153, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Judicial Watch, Schweizer, And diGenova Frequently Peddle Clinton-Related Misinformation</font></h2><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Judicial Watch</font></h3><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; margin-block-start: 1em; margin-block-end: 1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Judicial Watch Is A Driving Force In Peddling Baseless Clinton Scandals.</span> As a leading conservative activist group, Judicial Watch has repeatedly pushed a false narrative about Hillary Clinton’s emails to both the right-wing and mainstream press. Records obtained by Judicial Watch are used in the GOP Majority House of Representatives investigations into the Benghazi attacks and Clinton’s email server. Media outlets have also regularly used Judicial Watch’s baseless reports in stories about the Clinton family, often making misleading claims about Democrats and progressives. [<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Media Matters</em>, <a href="http://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2015/10/02/meet-judicial-watch-a-driving-force-behind-the/205941" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; font-weight: 700; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);">10/2/15</a>]</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; margin-block-start: 1em; margin-block-end: 1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Judicial Watch Was Founded By A Clinton-Obsessed Conspiracy Theorist.</span> Judicial Watch was founded in 1994 by <b>Larry Klayman </b>who, during the 1990s, filed at least 18 different lawsuits against Bill and Hillary Clinton accusing them of various conspiracies, and hundreds more against multiple governmental agencies, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Washington Post</em>, and even his own mother.</span> As <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Week </em>noted in 2013, Klayman pushed a conspiracy theory that “the Clintons orchestrated the murders of several of their associates in the 1990s,” which, in various iterations, has been repeated by right-wing media, notably with Trump confidante Roger Stone who accused the Clintons of murdering over 40 people. Klayman also believes President Obama is "our first 'Muslim' president" and “not even a naturalized U.S. citizen and thus is in the United States illegally.” [<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Media Matters</em>, <a href="http://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2015/03/25/discredited-conspiracy-theorist-larry-klayman-i/203042" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; font-weight: 700; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);">3/25/15</a>, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/04/12/trump-ally-roger-stone-writing-entire-book-alleging-clintons-secretly-murdered-jfk-jr/209885" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; font-weight: 700; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);">4/12/16</a>]</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; margin-block-start: 1em; margin-block-end: 1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Judicial Watch Reports Routinely Dupe The Media.</span> Despite Judicial Watch’s long history of questionable information, media outlets regularly turn to them for damaging stories about the Clintons. In August 2016 Judicial Watch claimed that a Clinton Foundation official, Doug Band, emailed then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s aide, Huma Abedin, to allow a Foundation donor to speak to a “substance person” about Lebanon. The media repeated the story, alleging it raised “questions about whether [the Clinton Foundation] worked to reward its donors with access and influence at the State Department.” Judicial Watch and the media ignored the complete lack of evidence that any Clinton Foundation donors ever influenced State Department policy.</span> [<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Media Matters</em>, <a href="http://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2016/08/10/running-judicial-watch-s-storyline-media-manufacture-another-false-clinton-email-scandal/212311" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; font-weight: 700; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);">8/10/16</a>]</font></p><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Peter Schweizer</font></h3><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; margin-block-start: 1em; margin-block-end: 1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Peter Schweizer’s Marquee Book Is Filled With Lies And Misinformation. </span>Peter Schweizer, President of the Government Accountability Institute (GAI), is also the author of <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Clinton Cash</em>, a discredited anti-Clinton book often cited by right-wing media that purports to expose the corruption of the Clinton family. Schweizer’s book is filled with 20-plus errors, distortions, and fabrications including a false press release, political double-standards, the omission of key information (to which Schweizer admitted,) and taking quotes “badly out of context.” [<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Media Matters</em>, <a href="http://www.mediamatters.org/research/2015/04/30/twenty-plus-errors-fabrications-and-distortions/203480#quotes" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; font-weight: 700; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);">4/30/15</a>, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/video/2016/05/23/fox-hosts-author-error-filled-book-clinton-cash-recycle-debunked-smears-about-hillary-clinton/210532" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; font-weight: 700; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);">5/23/16</a>]</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; margin-block-start: 1em; margin-block-end: 1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Peter Schweizer’s Entire Career Is Full Of Errors, Retractions, And Questionable Sourcing. </span>Peter Schweizer’s career features a long history of sloppy journalism and embarrassing mistakes. In 2005 he falsely accused then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) of underpaying workers at a vineyard she owns. In 2012, Schweizer’s GAI claimed President Obama skipped half of his daily intelligence briefings, though <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Washington Post</em> Fact-Checker blog reported that GAI’s data was “bogus” and that under Schweizer’s standard, “Republican icon Ronald Reagan skipped his intelligence briefings 99 percent of the time." The <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Post</em>’s fact-checker gave GAI’s claim “three Pinocchios.” [<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Media Matters</em>, <a href="http://www.mediamatters.org/research/2015/04/20/clinton-cash-author-peter-schweizers-long-histo/203209" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; font-weight: 700; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);">4/20/15</a>]</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; margin-block-start: 1em; margin-block-end: 1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Peter Schweizer’s Lies And Misinformation Have Been Cited By Donald Trump.</span> Schweizer’s error-ridden <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Clinton Cash</em> has been referenced by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump to reinforce his lies about Hillary Clinton. Trump cited the book on June 22 to claim the Clintons personally benefitted from a uranium deal with a Russian company, Uranium One, headed by a Clinton Foundation donor. However, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Time</em> magazine noted Schweizer’s conspiracy theory was “based on little evidence.” [<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Media Matters</em>, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/research/2016/06/22/discredited-books-heart-trumps-speech/211103" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; font-weight: 700; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);">6/20/16</a>, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/research/2016/06/22/reporters-react-trump-s-clinton-cash-citations-noting-widely-discredited-books-factual-problems/211118" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; font-weight: 700; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);">6/20/16</a>]</font></p><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Joseph diGenova</font></font></font></h3><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; margin-block-start: 1em; margin-block-end: 1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Joseph diGenova Was An Early Benghazi Misinformer.</span> In 2013, Joseph diGenova appeared on Fox News with his wife, Victoria Toensing, and alleged the Obama administration was threatening Benghazi whistleblowers to keep quiet. However, by that time Benghazi witnesses had already reportedly testified to the FBI, an independent review board, and spoken to Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) regarding the events of September 11, 2012. DiGenova also pushed the falsehood that soldiers were “relieved of their duty because they insisted there be a military response” to the Benghazi attacks, even though a military response was ordered by then-Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. [<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Media Matters</em>, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/research/2013/04/30/who-are-the-right-wing-medias-benghazi-lawyers/193842" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; font-weight: 700; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);">4/30/13</a>, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/10/29/scraping-the-bottom-of-the-benghazi-scandal-bar/196642" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; font-weight: 700; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);">10/29/13</a>]</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; margin-block-start: 1em; margin-block-end: 1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Joseph diGenova Was Scolded By A Congressman For “Unseemly, Undignified” Investigative Conduct.</span> In 1998, Roll Call reported that diGenova and his wife were excoriated by then-Rep. Bill Clay (D-MO) for their conduct in the then-ongoing Monica Lewinsky scandal</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">. Clay lambasted diGenova for “becom[ing] so closely aligned with the President's critics and so personally identified with the scandal itself as to have relinquished the air of impartiality, non-partisanship, and professionalism required of leaders of a serious congressional investigation." Clay called their conduct “unseemly, undignified, unworthy of this committee, and generally detrimental to important Congressional functions." [</span><em style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;">Media Matters</em><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, </span><a href="http://mediamatters.org/research/2013/04/30/who-are-the-right-wing-medias-benghazi-lawyers/193842" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; font-weight: 700; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);">4/30/13</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">]</span></font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; margin-block-start: 1em; margin-block-end: 1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Joseph diGenova Led A Right-Wing Media Frenzy About Hillary Clinton’s Indictment.</span> On the January 5, 2016, edition of <b><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Laura Ingraham Show</em>, diGenova predicted that Hillary Clinton would be indicted for her private email server within “the next 60 days.” </b>Even though the FBI investigation was never a criminal investigation, right-wing media from Rush Limbaugh, to the <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Washington Examiner</em>, and the <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Daily Mail</em> ran with what Fox host Sean Hannity called an “overwhelming” case for Clinton’s criminal prosecution. On July 5, 2016 -- 182 days after diGenova’s prediction -- FBI Director James B. Comey announced that the investigation was closed and the FBI could not “find a case that would support bringing criminal charges on these facts.” [<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Media Matters</em>, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/research/2016/01/07/right-wing-media-cite-discredited-republican-la/207839" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; font-weight: 700; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);">1/7/16</a>; Statement by FBI Director James B. Comey on the Investigation of Secretary Hillary Clinton’s Use of a Personal E-Mail System, <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/statement-by-fbi-director-james-b-comey-on-the-investigation-of-secretary-hillary-clinton2019s-use-of-a-personal-e-mail-system" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; font-weight: 700; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);">7/5/16</a>]</font></p></div><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">==</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[poll to capt email]</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">eg chuck johnson troll</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; line-height: 28.16px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Among the 14,900 federal documents Hillary Clinton is said to have failed to turn over to the State Department in 2014 are some related to the Benghazi attacks, according to Judicial Watch.</b></font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; line-height: 28.16px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The conservative watchdog group says that government lawyers admitted in court papers filed on Tuesday that the nearly 15,000 pages of Clinton records recovered by the FBI included some which “satisfied the [Benghazi-related] search terms.”</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; line-height: 28.16px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">That suggests that Clinton withheld or deleted records which referred to the Sept. 11, 2012 attacks which left four Americans dead.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; line-height: 28.16px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Clinton has claimed that a team of her aides searched through her email account using search terms for a variety of issues, including Benghazi.</font></p><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-src="http://dailycaller.com/2016/08/25/judicial-watch-hillary-clinton-withheld-or-deleted-benghazi-related-documents/" data-widget-id="AR_2" data-ob-template="TheDailyCaller" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 28.16px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; line-height: 28.16px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">And though Clinton has claimed that she turned over all of her work-related records, the FBI says that a forensic sweep of Clinton’s server led to the recovery of nearly 15,000 more documents. It is unclear if all of the documents were emails maintained on Clinton’s server or if they resided somewhere else.<span style="line-height: 28.16px;">The bureau transferred the recovered documents to the State Department on Aug. 5.</span></font></font></font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; line-height: 28.16px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; line-height: 28.16px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Amit P. Mehta, the federal judge overseeing the Judicial Watch lawsuit, ordered the State Department to begin releasing Benghazi-related records to the watchdog group by Sept. 30. All of the documents must be produced by Oct. 31, several days before the general election. A hearing is scheduled for Aug. 30 to ascertain how many documents will be provided.</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; line-height: 28.16px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In a separate Judicial Watch lawsuit, a federal judge ruled that the State Department must start releasing deleted Clinton emails on Sept. 13.</font></p></div></div></div></div></span></div></div></div>