The Front Page Cover
~ Featuring ~
Grassley discusses Comey and Russia Investigation
at Executive Business Meeting
by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
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. Top Headlines
Biggest ICE gang raid ever: 1,378 arrested, 21 murder charges, 3 "Dreamers." (Washington Examiner)
Trump has vowed to eradicate MS-13. What you need to know about the gang. (The Daily Signal)
Trump establishes panel to probe voter fraud. (The Daily Signal)
Full-time jobs are finally easier to get. (USA Today)
U.S. government posts $182 billion surplus in April. (Reuters)
Mormon church takes steps away from Boy Scouts of America; does total exodus loom? (The Salt Lake Tribune)
Did the National Park Service reject a Grand Canyon project because the researcher is a creationist? (Phoenix News Times)
Texas A&M won't fire professor who called for killing white people. (Washington Examiner)
Poll: Americans hold record liberal views on social issues. (Gallup)
Largest U.S. solar panel maker files for bankruptcy after receiving $206 million in subsidies. (The Daily Signal)
Policy: The legal and economic case against the Paris climate treaty. (Competitive Enterprise Institute)
Policy: Fact versus fear: The AHCA and pre-existing conditions. (American Action Forum) ~The Patriot Post
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TOP MILITARY COMMANDER JUST GAVE
TRUMP DARK WARNING
{rightwingvideos.com} ~ The U.S. Coast Guard warned President Donald Trump on Wednesday that Russia is gaining significant control of the Arctic Ocean. According to a report from Foreign Policy, receding Arctic waters are opening space for U.S. rivals to fill in the gap. http://rightwingvideos.com/top-military-commander-just-gave-trump-dark-warning-this-is-one-aspect-i-lose-sleep-over/
Texas Legislators Lead the
Nation on Grid Security
by CENTER FOR SECURITY POLICY
{familysecuritymatters.org} ~ This week, the state legislature of Texas took monumental steps to secure its own part of the U.S. electric grid known officially as the Texas Interconnection... On May 9th, the Texas Senate passed SB83 by a 28-3 vote. Authored by Texas State Senator Bob Hall, SB83 addresses the Texas electric grid's vulnerability to electromagnetic pulse, extreme space weather, physical, and cyber-attack threats. On May 10th, the Texas House unanimously passed Rep. Tan Parker's HB787, which is a similar, but separate grid security bill that creates a grid advisory committee to study the Texas electric grid and its vulnerability to electromagnetic pulse and cybersecurity threats... http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/detail/texas-legislators-lead-the-nation-on-grid-security?f=must_readsby CENTER FOR SECURITY POLICY
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Acting FBI Chief: "There Has Been No Effort to Impede Our Investigation"
VIDEO: http://www.mrctv.org/videos/acting-fbi-chief-there-has-been-no-effort-impede-our-investigation
VIDEO: http://www.mrctv.org/videos/acting-fbi-chief-there-has-been-no-effort-impede-our-investigation
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TUCKER: "Totally Fake, Totally Disingenuous": Tucker Takes on Dem Strategist
VIDEO: http://video.insider.foxnews.com/v/5430991720001
VIDEO: http://video.insider.foxnews.com/v/5430991720001
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Insurance Giant Aetna to Obamacare: We're outta here! Massive Financial Loses
VIDEO: http://video.foxnews.com/v/5430856472001
VIDEO: http://video.foxnews.com/v/5430856472001
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President Trump creates new commission that will investigate voter fraud and other election irregularities
VIDEO: http://video.foxnews.com/v/5431042696001President Trump creates new commission that will investigate voter fraud and other election irregularities
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Former FBI Asst. Director: Trump and the FBI Are Not 'At War'
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Cyber attack spreads across 74 countries;
some UK hospitals crippled
by foxnews.com
{foxnews.com} ~ Cyber attacks that hit 74 countries across Europe and Asia Friday, impacting the public health system in Britain, apparently involved a leaked hacking tool from the National Security Agency... The attack used ransomware, which is malware that encrypts data and locks a user from their data until they pay a ransom. The tool, which was leaked by a group known as Shadow Brokers, had been stolen from the N.S.A. as part of a wide swath of tools illegally released in 2016. Microsoft said that they had rolled out a patch to fix the issue, but certain targets, including the hospitals in Britain, had not yet updated their systems...http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2017/05/12/cyber-attack-spreads-across-12-countries-some-uk-hospitals-crippled.html.
Lawsuit Targets American Muslims for Palestine
by IPT News
{investigativeproject.org} ~ A national anti-Israel group and several of its activists are "alter egos and/or successors" of a Hamas-support network that was found liable for an American teen's death in a 1996 terrorist attack... litigation filed in Chicago federal court Friday claims. After Stanley and Joyce Boim won $156 million in damages, defendants including the Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP) and the American Muslim Society (AMS) shut down and claimed to be unable to pay. It was a ruse, the Boims' attorneys claim, as many of the same people opened up American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) at a nearby address. A subsequent criminal prosecution found that other defendants in the original lawsuit, like the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF) and the United Association for Studies and Research, were part of a Muslim Brotherhood-created Hamas-support network in the United States called the Palestine Committee...https://www.investigativeproject.org/6123/lawsuit-targets-american-muslims-for-palestineby IPT News
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Grassley discusses Comey and Russia Investigation
at Executive Business Meeting
by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
{grassley.senate.gov} ~ Today we have one nomination and four bills on the Committee’s agenda.
First, I’d note that the nomination of Amul Thapar to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit is on the agenda for the first time. I understand the Minority would like to hold the nomination over, and we’ll take up his nomination next week.
Turning to legislation, the first bill is S.139, the Rapid DNA Act of 2017. It is sponsored by Senator Hatch. The Committee reported this bill and the Senate passed it in the last Congress. The bill would establish standards for a new category of DNA samples that can be taken more quickly and then uploaded to our national DNA index.
The second bill is S. 534, the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act of 2017. Senators Feinstein, Collins, and I introduced this bill in March, in response to media reports about sexual abuse of child athletes. It imposes mandatory reporting requirements for the staff at amateur sports facilities across the country. It also extends the statutory period in which victims can file lawsuits against the perpetrators of sex crimes.
The next bill is S. 583, the American Law Enforcement Heroes Act of 2017. This bill is sponsored by Senator Cornyn. The bill would specify that in the COPS program, an allowable use of funds would be to prioritize the hiring and training of veterans.
The final bill is S. 867, the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act, which is appearing on the agenda for the first time. The bill will be held over, and we will take the matter up at our next exec, which will be held during Police Week.
On a different topic, Mr. Comey testified before the Judiciary Committee last week. Senator Blumenthal asked him whether the FBI had ruled anyone out as a potential target of the investigation of allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians. In response, Mr. Comey stated: “Well, I haven’t said anything publicly about who we’ve opened investigations on. I briefed the Chair and Ranking on who those people are.”
Mr. Comey was asked if the FBI is investigating the President. He refused to answer. Mr. Comey said he didn’t want people to over-interpret his refusal, but that he wasn’t going to comment on anyone in particular. He thought it would put him on a slippery slope of having to answer who else is or is not under investigation. That could reveal who is being investigated.
I understand why he took that position, but I don’t agree – at least not when it comes to the President and senior government officials. The American people deserve to know if senior government officials are under active criminal or intelligence investigation.
Mr. Comey did brief Ranking Member Feinstein and me on who the targets of the various investigations are. It would not be appropriate for me to reveal those details before the professionals conducting the investigations are ready. So, I will not answer any questions about who are targets of the ongoing Russia investigations. But I will say this: Shortly after Director Comey briefed us, I tweeted that he should be transparent. I said he should tell the public what he told Senator Feinstein and me about whether the FBI is or is not investigating the President.
On Tuesday, the President’s letter said that Director Comey told him he was not under investigation. Senator Feinstein and I heard nothing that contradicted the President’s statement. Now Mr. Comey is no longer the FBI director. But the FBI should still follow my advice. It should confirm to the public whether it is or is not investigating the President. Because it has failed to make this clear, speculation has run rampant.
The intelligence community said that one of the Russians’ goals is to undermine the American public’s faith in our democratic institutions. Wild speculation that the FBI is targeting the President in a criminal or intelligence inquiry is not just irresponsible and unfounded. It provides aid and comfort to the Russians and their goal of undermining faith in our democracy.
So, what I suggest is that before this Committee does anything more on this matter, that all the Members get briefed by the FBI on what is actually going on.
Hopefully, that will help temper some of the unsubstantiated statements that have been made.
First, I’d note that the nomination of Amul Thapar to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit is on the agenda for the first time. I understand the Minority would like to hold the nomination over, and we’ll take up his nomination next week.
Turning to legislation, the first bill is S.139, the Rapid DNA Act of 2017. It is sponsored by Senator Hatch. The Committee reported this bill and the Senate passed it in the last Congress. The bill would establish standards for a new category of DNA samples that can be taken more quickly and then uploaded to our national DNA index.
The second bill is S. 534, the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act of 2017. Senators Feinstein, Collins, and I introduced this bill in March, in response to media reports about sexual abuse of child athletes. It imposes mandatory reporting requirements for the staff at amateur sports facilities across the country. It also extends the statutory period in which victims can file lawsuits against the perpetrators of sex crimes.
The next bill is S. 583, the American Law Enforcement Heroes Act of 2017. This bill is sponsored by Senator Cornyn. The bill would specify that in the COPS program, an allowable use of funds would be to prioritize the hiring and training of veterans.
The final bill is S. 867, the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act, which is appearing on the agenda for the first time. The bill will be held over, and we will take the matter up at our next exec, which will be held during Police Week.
On a different topic, Mr. Comey testified before the Judiciary Committee last week. Senator Blumenthal asked him whether the FBI had ruled anyone out as a potential target of the investigation of allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians. In response, Mr. Comey stated: “Well, I haven’t said anything publicly about who we’ve opened investigations on. I briefed the Chair and Ranking on who those people are.”
Mr. Comey was asked if the FBI is investigating the President. He refused to answer. Mr. Comey said he didn’t want people to over-interpret his refusal, but that he wasn’t going to comment on anyone in particular. He thought it would put him on a slippery slope of having to answer who else is or is not under investigation. That could reveal who is being investigated.
I understand why he took that position, but I don’t agree – at least not when it comes to the President and senior government officials. The American people deserve to know if senior government officials are under active criminal or intelligence investigation.
Mr. Comey did brief Ranking Member Feinstein and me on who the targets of the various investigations are. It would not be appropriate for me to reveal those details before the professionals conducting the investigations are ready. So, I will not answer any questions about who are targets of the ongoing Russia investigations. But I will say this: Shortly after Director Comey briefed us, I tweeted that he should be transparent. I said he should tell the public what he told Senator Feinstein and me about whether the FBI is or is not investigating the President.
On Tuesday, the President’s letter said that Director Comey told him he was not under investigation. Senator Feinstein and I heard nothing that contradicted the President’s statement. Now Mr. Comey is no longer the FBI director. But the FBI should still follow my advice. It should confirm to the public whether it is or is not investigating the President. Because it has failed to make this clear, speculation has run rampant.
The intelligence community said that one of the Russians’ goals is to undermine the American public’s faith in our democratic institutions. Wild speculation that the FBI is targeting the President in a criminal or intelligence inquiry is not just irresponsible and unfounded. It provides aid and comfort to the Russians and their goal of undermining faith in our democracy.
So, what I suggest is that before this Committee does anything more on this matter, that all the Members get briefed by the FBI on what is actually going on.
Hopefully, that will help temper some of the unsubstantiated statements that have been made.
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