;)
The Commentariat -- August 4, 2021
Afternoon Update:
Spencer Hsu of the Washngton Post: "Attorneys for Donald Trump on Wednesday blasted a Justice Department ruling that directed the Treasury Department to turn over his tax returns to Congress, formally asking a court to block their release and arguing that records of former presidents as well as presidents should be similarly protected from subpoenas by lawmakers. Trump lawyers called last week's decision by the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel the latest effort at partisan retaliation against him by Democrats, and denied that the House Ways and Means Committee sought six years of his tax returns out of a legitimate interest in closing tax loopholes exploited by wealthy Americans."
The New York Times' live updates of Covid-19 developments Wednesday are here. The Washington Post's live updates for Wednesday are here.
Dana Hedgpeth, et al., of the Washington Post: "Authorities have identified the assailant who killed a police officer Tuesday morning in an attack at the bus platform outside the Pentagon as a Georgia man who had briefly enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. A law enforcement official speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and the Associated Press identified him as Austin William Lanz, 27. Officials at the Pentagon Force Protection Agency identified the slain police officer as George Gonzalez, 37. He had been promoted twice and attained the rank of senior officer in 2020. Officials said Gonzalez had served previously with the U.S. Army and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for his service in Iraq." ~~~
~~~ The story has been substantially updated, with a new lead reporter, Justin Jouvenal: "... a Georgia man stepped off a bus outside the Pentagon Tuesday, stabbed a police officer and struggled with him, the FBI said. During the melee, Austin Lanz shot Pentagon officer George Gonzalez with the officer's service weapon, before turning the gun on himself, the FBI said. Other Pentagon officers engaged Lanz and he was killed. The officer later died. The account released Wednesday was the first detailed description of the encounter, which prompted a lockdown of the Pentagon and drew a massive response from police and fire agencies. Officials said a bystander was injured. The FBI statement did not shed light on what prompted the horrific attack and the agency said the investigation into the incident was ongoing, but Lanz had been ordered for a mental health evaluation by a judge in Georgia and had acted violently and erratically in recent months, court and police records show."
Karoun Demirjian of the Washington Post: "The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday advanced legislation to repeal decades-old authorizations for U.S. military missions in the Middle East, a first-time step in a larger effort in Congress to reclaim lawmakers' war powers from the executive branch. A bipartisan majority of the panel voted 14 to 8 in favor of repealing authorizations Congress passed in 1991 and 2002 to approve of hostilities against Saddam Hussein's erstwhile regime, first to push Iraqi troops out of Kuwait and later to depose him. That legislative coalition all but guarantees that when the measure comes to the Senate floor --- which Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) has promised will happen this year -- it will pass."
Reese Oxner of the Texas Tribune: "A federal judge on Tuesday blocked Gov. Greg Abbott and the state of Texas from ordering state troopers to pull over drivers transporting migrants 'who pose a risk of carrying COVID-19.' U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone granted a temporary restraining order against Abbott's move, meaning it will be blocked while the case continues to unfold. The U.S. Justice Department sued Abbott and Texas on Friday, a day after U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland threatened to take legal action if Abbott didn't rescind his order, calling it 'dangerous and unlawful.'"
Jade Jackson of KTHV Little Rock: "Governor Asa Hutchinson [R-Ark.] on Tuesday expressed regret for signing Act 1002 into Arkansas law. The new law bans the state and local officials from enacting any mask mandates. During a press conference, Hutchinson answered questions about why he signed the proposal into law. He said that when he initially approved it a few months ago, both COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations were at a 'low point' in Arkansas and were declining. Now as the delta variant is causing a new wave in the state along with low vaccination rates, Hutchinson said that in hindsight he wishes that Act 1002 had not become law.... Hutchinson expressed his support for an amendment to the mask mandate ban to allow for school districts to enact mask wearing rules."
Karen DeWitt of WAMC Radio Albany: "The New York State Assembly Judiciary Committee held its first meeting of an impeachment inquiry into Governor Andrew Cuomo Tuesday, over allegations that he sexually harassed several women, as well as other controversies. But the chair of the committee, Democrat Charles Lavine, says it could be quite a while before it reaches any conclusions.... Lavine laid out the scope of the investigation, which will include charges by multiple women of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior by the governor, and whether Cuomo and his aides covered up nursing home COVID death numbers and safety concerns over the Thruway's Mario M. Cuomo bridge."
Kevin Breuninger of CNBC: "The district attorneys for Manhattan and Westchester County asked New York Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday for evidence related to her office's bombshell report accusing Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment. Westchester DA Mimi Rocah, in a letter obtained by NBC News, told James she plans to conduct an inquiry into whether the alleged sexual misconduct by Cuomo that occurred in her jurisdiction was 'criminal in nature.' A spokesperson for Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr. told NBC later Wednesday that, 'When our office learned yesterday that the Attorney General's investigation of the Governor's conduct was complete, our office contacted the Attorney General's Office to begin requesting investigative materials in their possession pertaining to incidents that occurred in Manhattan.'" ~~~
~~~ Marie: MSNBC reports on-air that the Nassau County (Long Island) D.A. also is requesting documents.
** The Coup. Philip Bump of the Washington Post puts together the pieces of Trump's plot to overthrow the election: "In recent months..., we've learned that Trump's most direct effort to steal the election unfolded ... over the last few days of 2020. On Tuesday, ABC News published a letter circulated by the then-acting head of the Department of Justice's civil rights division, a man named Jeffery Clark.... [ABC News story linked below.] [Clark's letter] was ... a road map to overthrowing the will of voters. The amount of detail given to the mechanism for handing the electors to Trump was matched by the dearth of specificity about the alleged 'irregularities' in the state.... [Richard] Donoghue's lengthy response, one likely written with an eye toward it eventually being read by external eyes..., made all of the points you might expect. The purported 'irregularities amounted to nothing more than a few ticky-tack questions about individual votes.... 'I do not think the Department's role should include making recommendations to a State legislature about how they should meet their Constitutional obligation to appoint Electors.' In other words: it is not DOJ's place to tell states how to overturn election results.... Clark's letter was almost certainly not something that occurred independently of Trump.... [Clark was] talking to Trump directly." Worth reading it all.
Betsy Swan & Nicholas Wu of Politico: "In early January 2021, one top Justice Department official was so concerned that ... Donald Trump might fire his acting attorney general that he drafted an email announcing he and a second top official would resign in response. The official, Patrick Hovakimian, prepared the email announcing his own resignation and that of the department's second-in-command, Richard Donoghue, as Trump considered axing acting attorney general Jeff Rosen. At the time, Hovakimian was an associate deputy attorney general and a senior adviser to Rosen. But Trump didn't fire Rosen, and Hovakimian's draft email -- a copy of which was obtained by Politico -- remained unsent.... 'This evening, after Acting Attorney General Jeff Rosen over the course of the last week repeatedly refused the President's direct instructions to utilize the Department of Justice's law enforcement powers for improper ends, the President removed Jeff from the Department,' Hovakimian wrote in his never-sent email. 'PADAG Rich Donoghue and I resign from the Department, effective immediately.'"
Dominick Mastrangelo of the Hill: "Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) is suing NBCUniversal for defamation, citing comments made by MSNBC host Rachel Maddow in March regarding his dealings with an individual sanctioned by the U.S. government. The lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Texas alleges that Maddow and the network 'harbor an institutional hostility, hatred, extreme bias, spite and ill-will' toward Nunes. The congressman's lawyers argue that Maddow's criticisms of Nunes are based on his 'emergence as the most prominent skeptic in Congress of Maddow's marquee news narrative from 2017 to 2019: that the Trump campaign colluded with Russians to hack the 2016 presidential elections.'" MB: Maybe Rachel should have a drink with Devin Nunes' Cow & the two can discuss how sorry they are for making fun of Devin.
Eduardo Castillo of the AP: "The Mexican government sued United States gun manufacturers and distributors Wednesday in U.S. federal court, arguing that their negligent and illegal commercial practices have unleashed tremendous bloodshed in Mexico. The unusual lawsuit was filed in U.S. federal court in Boston. Among those being sued are some of the biggest names in guns, including: Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.; Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Inc.; Beretta U.S.A. Corp.; Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC, and Glock Inc. Another defendant is Interstate Arms, a Boston-area wholesaler that sells guns from all but one of the named manufacturers to dealers around the U.S." The Washington Post's story is here.
David Gilbert of Vice: "Facebook has made good on its threat to kick out a group of researchers who've been among the platform's biggest critics. The Cybersecurity for Democracy project at New York University has revealed major flaws in Facebook political ad transparency tools and highlighted how Facebook's algorithms were amplifying misinformation. Most recently, it helped track vaccine disinformation.... Despite the obvious benefits of the work being done by these researchers, on Tuesday evening, the company cut the cord. 'This evening, Facebook suspended my Facebook account and the accounts of several people associated with Cybersecurity for Democracy, our team at NYU,' Laura Edelson, one of the researchers at NYU, tweeted.... Edelson's colleague Damon McCoy called Facebook's decision 'disgraceful' at a time when the disinformation around COVID-19 and vaccines is literally costing lives."
The New York Times' live Olympics games updates Wednesday are here.
~~~~~~~~~~
David Edwards of the Raw Story: "White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki responded to Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy on Tuesday by taking a shot at ... Donald Trump's administration. During a press briefing, Doocy asked multiple questions about the breaking news regarding sexual harassment allegations against Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY). [Finally, he asked,] 'Does the administration want the Justice Department to initiate a civil rights investigation into these harassment allegations revealed today?'... Psaki replied: 'We do something new here that feels foreign from the last four years and allow the Justice Department to act independently on investigations.'"
John Ismay of the New York Times: "An attack on a Pentagon police officer at the building's Metro entrance on Tuesday morning left two people dead, an officer and one other person, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the matter.... The [Pentagon's police] force provides security at the complex, which was locked down for about 75 minutes after the shooting." ~~~
~~~ Justin Jouvenal, et al., of the Washington Post: "The officer's apparent assailant also was killed in the encounter, according to two law enforcement officials.... The officials said there was nothing to indicate terrorism was a motive. But the circumstances of what transpired remained murky.... Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued condolences in a statement after the agency's announcement. He ordered flags at the Pentagon to half-staff to honor the officer." CNN's story is here.
Luke Broadwater & Shaila Dewan of the New York Times: "Congress moved on Tuesday to honor police officers who responded to the Capitol attack, clearing a bill to give them the Congressional Gold Medal just days after word emerged that two more officers who were there on Jan. 6 had taken their own lives. The unanimous vote of the Senate, which cleared the bill for President Biden, came after back-to-back announcements from District of Columbia police officials this week about the suicides of two of the force's officers who were at the Capitol on the day of the riot, bringing to four the known number of officers who have killed themselves in its aftermath."
Betsy Swan & Nicholas Wu of Politico: "Donald Trump's legal team signaled Monday that it will not immediately try to block testimony from former Justice Department officials who have been called before Congress, potentially clearing a roadblock from multiple investigations touching on the former president's tenure. In a letter to one of six Trump-era DOJ officials whose cooperation is being sought in congressional oversight efforts, former Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), a member of Trump's legal team, suggested that it would not try to block testimony by those six. The letter's unusual verbiage makes Trump's position slightly opaque, but Collins also indicated that the former president's team would try to contest all attempts to secure testimony from ex-DOJ officials if Congress sought cooperation from more than those six." (Also linked yesterday.)
** Katherine Faulders & Alexander Mallin of ABC News: "Top members of the Department of Justice last year rebuffed another DOJ official who asked them to urge officials in Georgia to investigate and perhaps overturn President Joe Biden's victory in the state.... The emails, dated Dec. 28, 2020, show the former acting head of DOJ's civil division, Jeffrey Clark, circulating a draft letter -- which he wanted then-acting attorney general Jeffrey Rosen and acting deputy attorney general Richard Donoghue to sign off on -- urging Georgia's governor and other top officials to convene the state legislature into a special session so lawmakers could investigate claims of voter fraud. 'The Department of Justice is investigating various irregularities in the 2020 election for President of the United States,' the draft letter said. '... at this time we have identified significant concerns that may have impacted the outcome of the election in multiple States, including the State of Georgia.'... Clark attached the draft letter in an email to Rosen and Donoghue telling them 'I think we should get it out as soon as possible.'... In the days after the exchange..., both Rosen and Donoghue thwarted an attempt by Clark to have Trump appoint him acting attorney general." Includes the full letter. ~~~
~~~ Marie: Clark pulled this stunt the day after Trump told Rosen & Donoghue they should issue a statement that the election was "corrupt" and "leave the rest" to him & Congressional Republicans. IOW, the proposed letter is part & parcel of the same scheme to have the DOJ falsely challenge the integrity of the election as a pretext for "R. Congressmen" to throw out the Electoral College results & leave the election to the House to decide. Under the Constitution, each state would have a single vote, and since Republicans control more state House delegations than do Democrats, presumably Trump would have "won." The plot had a chance of succeeding.
Meredith McGraw of Politico: "... having whipped his supporters into a frenzy with pledges to overturn the election and promises to support Republican candidates in the midterms, [Donald Trump] is not spending his campaign money on either. A review of election filings from Make America Great Again PAC, Save America PAC, and the Save America Joint Fundraising Committee show that not a single penny was transferred or contributed from those Trump-affiliated entities to GOP candidates or committees involved in the midterm elections. Nor did Trump's various groups write a check to support the audit in Arizona.... He used some of his funds on things like salaries for aides and political advisers, as well as events, travel expenses and fundraising outreach.... He also spent more than $8 million in legal fees paid to various firms and attorneys to advance his attempts to change the results of the 2020 election and defend himself in a second impeachment trial. The one expenditure Trump did make to an outside group was to one in his own orbit: a $1 million contribution to America First Policy Institute, the think tank a handful of his former aides launched when he lost the White House." (Also linked yesterday.)
Annie Karni of the New York Times: "The party plans had been months in the making and many invitees had already arrived on Martha's Vineyard when former President Barack Obama belatedly announced he was canceling his huge 60th birthday bash scheduled for Saturday. 'Due to the new spread of the Delta variant over the past week, the President and Mrs. Obama have decided to significantly scale back the event to include only family and close friends,' Hannah Hankins, a spokeswoman for the former president, said in a statement Wednesday morning.... Hundreds of former Obama administration officials, celebrities and Democratic donors had been planning to attend the party at Mr. Obama's island mansion."
Annals of "Journalism," Ha Ha Ha. Understanding Tucker. Philip Bump of the Washington Post: Tucker Carlson's "surreal forays into conspiracy-mongering ... are simply tactics meant to drag his audience into his universe, where he can stoke their frustrations about his true passion: the purported threat posed by immigrants polluting the United States.... To hear Carlson tell it, the country is imperiled by immigration at an existential level, at risk of seeing its essence diluted, and increased procreation by Americans is less a good in and of itself than as a bulwark against change. He frames this -- in the same way that many white nationalists do -- as a broad battle between Western civilization and outsider hordes encouraged by a cabal of elites who are eager to see traditional values collapse.... This week, Carlson is broadcasting from Hungary. In his broadcast on Monday, he praised the increasingly illiberal country for its success on the metrics Carlson cares about.... Carlson's framing of [Hungary's prime minister Viktor] Orban is uniformly positive and almost entirely centered on his pro-native-Hungarian policies. He even readily echoes Orban's framing."
The Pandemic, Ctd.
Tyler Pager of the Washington Post: "President Biden on Tuesday denounced Republican officials who have blocked efforts to mandate vaccines, as he encouraged cities and states to require that individuals show proof of vaccination to visit restaurants and other public spaces. In a notable toughening of his message, the president called out Republican governors who have banned businesses and universities from requiring vaccines or defied masking guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 'I say to these governors: Please help. But if you aren't going to help, at least get out of the way,' Biden said. 'The people are trying to do the right thing. Use your power to save lives.' When asked specifically about Republican Govs. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Greg Abbott of Texas, Biden said that 'their decisions are not good for their constituents.' DeSantis signed an executive order last week that prohibits schools from requiring masks, and Abbott signed an order that bans local governments and state agencies from mandating vaccines." ~~~
~~~ Marie: The sound isn't very good on any of the videos available. This one, produced by the White House, appears to be the best.
Jeff Stein, et al., of the Washington Post: "The Biden administration announced a temporary ban on evictions across most of the country on Tuesday, a move that bent to intense pressure from liberal House Democrats but that President Biden acknowledged may not prove constitutional. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a moratorium on evictions for 60 days for U.S. counties with 'substantial and high levels of community transmission' of the coronavirus, according to an agency news release. About 90 percent of the country will be covered by the ban as the virus's delta variant spreads quickly throughout the country, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. The 19-page order lists criminal penalties including fines and jail time if someone is found to have violated the eviction moratorium. The Biden administration had previously said it had no legal authority to extend a separate national eviction moratorium that lapsed over the weekend." ~~~
~~~ Nicholas Wu, et al., of Politico: Rep. "Cori Bush [D-Mo.] ... has led a one-woman protest on the Capitol steps over the last several days that forced the eviction crisis to the top of the nation's agenda even after the House left town without taking action on the issue. Under intense pressure from the left, President Joe Biden on Tuesday afternoon announced a short-term fix to prevent millions of families from losing their homes despite questioning the constitutionality of doing so.... 'This is why this happened. Being unapologetic. Being unafraid to stand up,' Bush told reporters as Biden made his announcement Tuesday after she'd spent several days sleeping, mostly sitting up, on the building's steps.... As Bush continued her protest through Tuesday, she got a boost from Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was pushing Biden privately.... After the Capitol sit-in by Bush, who has experienced homelessness after eviction, millions of Americans will see at least a temporary reprieve from the same threat."
Nick Miroff & Maria Sacchetti of the Washington Post: "The Biden administration is preparing to begin offering coronavirus vaccine to migrants in U.S. custody along the Mexico border, where illegal crossings are at their highest levels in over two decades and health officials are struggling with soaring numbers of infections, according to two Department of Homeland Security officials with knowledge of the plan. Until now, only a limited number of migrants have received vaccine while held in longer-term U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities. Under the broad outlines of the new plan, DHS would vaccinate migrants soon after they cross into the United States as they await processing by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Vaccine would be provided to those facing deportation as well as migrants likely to be released into the United States pending a court hearing, said one of the two officials...."
Sharon LaFraniere & Noah Weiland of the New York Times: "... the Food and Drug Administration has accelerated its timetable to fully approve Pfizer-BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine, aiming to complete the process by the start of next month, people familiar with the effort said.... The F.D.A.'s unofficial deadline is Labor Day or sooner, according to multiple people.... Giving final approval to the Pfizer vaccine -- rather than relying on the emergency authorization granted late last year by the F.D.A. -- could help increase inoculation rates at a moment when the highly transmissible Delta variant of the virus is sharply driving up the number of new cases. A number of universities and hospitals, the Defense Department and at least one major city, San Francisco, are expected to mandate inoculation once a vaccine is fully approved. Final approval could also help mute misinformation about the safety of vaccines and clarify legal issues about mandates."
The New York Times' live updates of Covid-19 developments Tuesday are here: "Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday morning that New York City will require proof of vaccination for people participating in indoor activities, including at restaurants, gyms and performances, his latest attempt to spur more vaccinations. The mandate also applies to workers at those places. The policy is similar to mandates issued in France and Italy last month and is believed to be the first of its kind in the United States." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ The Washington Post's live updates of Covid-19 developments Tuesday are here: "The United States has shipped more than 110 million doses of coronavirus vaccines to over 60 countries across the world, the White House said in a statement Tuesday, calling it a 'major milestone.' 'The United States will be an arsenal of vaccines for the world and is acting with the same urgency to combat the virus abroad as here at home,' the statement said." (Also linked yesterday.)
Alex Azar, in a New York Times op-ed, finally makes himself useful: "I know the [Covid-19] vaccines' features intimately because as secretary of Health and Human Services, I oversaw their development, testing, approval and distribution from April of 2020 until January of this year.... Any claims that the vaccines are unsafe or ineffective, or that corners were cut are not true.... The vaccines [developed during Operation Warp Speed] produced remarkable protection against Covid-19 and were extremely safe.... We did not predict the politicization of vaccines that has led so many Republicans to hold back.... I'm glad former President Trump got vaccinated, but it would have been even better for him to have done so on national television so that his supporters could see how much trust and confidence he has in what is arguably one of his greatest accomplishments." ~~~
~~~ Marie: Azar goes on to ask President Biden to show some "political graciousness" and "acknowledge the historic achievement of the Trump administration in expediting these vaccines." Really, Alex? Show graciousness to the least gracious person in American political history? To the person who tried to frame Biden & then to steal the election from him? Who continues to disparage & lie about Biden? I don't think so. (BTW, if you think "turning the other cheek" should apply here, let me remind you that the whole idea of turning the other cheek was to shame the person who slapped you. Donald Trump cannot be shamed.)
Margaret Talev of Axios: "Americans place the most blame for rising COVID-19 cases and the spread of new variants on the unvaccinated, people from other nations traveling to the U.S. and Donald Trump, according to the latest installment of the Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index.... The findings expose a surreal gap between the views of the vaccinated and the unvaccinated, showing how tough getting to herd immunity could be -- and providing new evidence that mandates could make a difference.... The unvaccinated cited as their top five targets of blame people from other countries traveling to the U.S. (37%), mainstream media (27%) Americans traveling internationally (23%), Biden (21%) and the unvaccinated (10%)."
Florida. "Freedom"'s Just Another Word for "White Privilege." Paul Krugman of the New York Times: "... Florida is in the grip of a Covid surge worse than it experienced before the vaccines.... At every stage of the pandemic [Gov. Ron] DeSantis has effectively acted as an ally of the coronavirus, for example by issuing orders blocking businesses from requiring that their patrons show proof of vaccination and schools from requiring masks. More generally, he has helped create a state of mind in which vaccine skepticism flourishes and refusal to take precautions is normalized.... Above all, he has been playing the liberal-conspiracy-theory card, with fund-raising letters declaring that the 'radical left' is 'coming for your freedom.'... When people on the right talk about 'freedom' what they actually mean is closer to 'defense of privilege' -- specifically the right of certain people (generally white male Christians) to do whatever they want.... As you watch DeSantis invoke 'freedom' to escape responsibility for his Covid catastrophe, remember, when he says it, that word does not mean what you think it means." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ Tori Powell of CBS News: "Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that his state will not shut down again despite a record-breaking influx of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, making the Sunshine State the nation's new virus epicenter.... 'These interventions have failed time and time again throughout this pandemic, not just in the United States but abroad. They have not stopped the spread. And particularly with Delta, which is even more transmissible, if it didn't stop it before, it definitely ain't going to stop it now.' DeSantis said Tuesday that 'the media fixates on cases,' while perpetuating 'hysteria' and 'fear-mongering.' 'Our hospitals are open for business,' he said. But over the past month, several major hospitals have postponed elective surgeries in the state to accommodate growing COVID-related hospitalizations."
Missouri. How to "Disappear" Covid Deaths. Jake Kincaid & Derek Kravitz of the Kansas City Star & Cameron Barnard of the Brown Institute for Media Innovation, in the Star: "Macon County Coroner Brian Hayes handles the death certificates [for the county].... And in some cases, it has meant excluding COVID-19 from death certificates." Hayes omitted Covid-19 on at least half a dozen death certificates where another cause of death, like pneumonia, could be substituted.
Beyond the Beltway
** New York. Josh Dawsey of the Washington Post: "New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo sexually harassed current and former state employees, creating a hostile work environment for women in violation of state and federal law, state Attorney General Letitia James announced Tuesday. James released the results of a months-long investigation and interviews with 179 individuals, including women who accused the governor of misconduct, Cuomo himself and a coterie of his top advisers.... The 165-page report laid out a devastating portrait of behavior by the Democratic governor, substantiating an allegation that Cuomo embraced an executive assistant and reached under her blouse to grab her breast. Investigators said witnesses also described an environment in the governor's office that was abusive and vindictive, in which one of the women who came forward was targeted for retaliation through the release of her personnel file. In all, the investigation found that Cuomo harassed 11 women, including a state trooper whom the governor arranged to be put on his detail." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ The New York Times report, in the form of live updates, is here. Politico's report is here. Marie: This was a civil investigation, and neither the independent investigators nor the Attorney General were charged with contemplating or bringing criminal charges. During the press conference, one of the lead investigators, Anne Clark, said that one woman had filed a complaint with the Albany district attorney. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ Matt Flegenheimer of the New York Times: The AG's report "is at once the fullest accounting yet of his executive misdeeds and a meticulous rendering of how that conduct was permitted to fester in the first place. To exist as a woman in Mr. Cuomo's orbit, the report suggested, was to live 'the dichotomy between fear and flirtation,' a space where the boss could toggle between intimate and intimidating and where his senior-most aides seemed to operate with a singular focus on the governor's reputation and personal comfort. In fact, the report says, as Mr. Cuomo sexually harassed women inside and outside his government, greater pains were taken to protect him from himself.... The composition of his circle, in the report's telling, was likewise intended to minimize exposure for Mr. Cuomo and accentuate a culture of fear around confronting him, with access granted chiefly to those with 'a proven, personal loyalty.'" ~~~
~~~ Update. Jonah Bromwich of the New York Times: "Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is under criminal investigation, the Albany County district attorney said Tuesday.... Shortly after the [New York Attorney General's] report was released, [David] Soares [-- the Albany County D.A. --] issued a statement saying that his office was conducting an investigation into Mr. Cuomo's behavior and that it would be requesting investigative materials that the attorney general's office had obtained. Mr. Soares encouraged other victims to come forward to aid in the inquiry. It was not immediately clear when Mr. Soares had opened his investigation or exactly which behavior he was looking into." ~~~
~~~ President Biden says Gov. Cuomo should resign:
~~~ Jordan Williams of the Hill: "The entire Democratic congressional delegation of New York has called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) to resign after an independent investigation by the state attorney general's office found he had sexually harassed multiple women. House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) and Reps. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) issued a statement Tuesday, saying 'the time is right' for Cuomo to resign after an investigation found that he sexually harassed multiple women.... Most of the 19 Congressional Democrats previously called for Cuomo to resign in in March. At the time, Jeffries, Meeks, and Suozzi were the only three New York House Democrats who did not. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.) also called for Cuomo to resign at the time." ~~~
~~~ Michael Sisak & Marina Villeneuve of the AP: "New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo faced mounting pressure Tuesday to resign, including from ... [House Speaker Nancy Pelosi] and other onetime Democratic allies.... The leader of the state Assembly, which has the power to bring impeachment charges, said it was clear Cuomo could no longer remain in office. Speaker Carl Heastie, a Democrat, said he would move to complete an impeachment inquiry 'as quickly as possible.' Cuomo remained defiant, saying in a taped response to the findings that 'the facts are much different than what has been portrayed' and that he 'never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances.'" ~~~
~~~ Right Out of the Old Liars & Bullies' Playbook. Maeve Sheehy of Politico: "New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday denied the findings of his state's attorney general that he sexually harassed women and fostered a toxic work environment, alleging that his accusers had misconstrued what he claimed were well-intentioned gestures and comments."
Illinois. What This Country Needs Is More Blago. Andrew Jeong of the Washington Post: "Former Illinois governor and felon Rod R. Blagojevich (D) on Monday sued the state, demanding that his right to run for state and local elected office-- which was yanked by the Illinois legislature in 2009 -- be restored. 'I'm back from the dead. And it's good to be alive again,' Blagojevich, who served eight years in prison before his 14-year sentence was commuted by ... Donald Trump in 2020, told reporters outside a Chicago federal courthouse. 'It's about the people's right to choose their own leaders.'" (Also linked yesterday.) Politico's story is here.
Missouri. Eduardo Medina & Chris Cameron of the New York Times: "A St. Louis couple who gained prominence last year after they were filmed pointing guns at social justice demonstrators in front of their house were pardoned last week by Gov. Mike Parson. Mr. Parson's decision, made last week and announced in a news release on Tuesday, came more than a month after the couple, Patricia and Mark McCloskey, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges over the confrontation.... Mark McCloskey, who is running for a U.S. Senate seat from Missouri, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree assault and was fined $750. Patricia McCloskey pleaded guilty to second-degree harassment and was fined $2,000.... Mr. McCloskey agreed with prosecutors earlier this year that he had put the protesters in danger. 'That's what the guns were there for,' he said, 'and I'd do it again anytime the mob approaches me.'" Many of the protesters who marched past the McCloskeys' fancy home were Black. Politico's story is here.
Ohio Special Congressional Elections.
~~~ Ally Mutnick of Politico: "The Democratic establishment dealt a crushing blow to the progressive movement Tuesday, with Shontel Brown, the preferred candidate of party stalwarts, triumphing over Nina Turner, a face of the insurgent left, in a special congressional primary election. Turner conceded shortly after 10 p.m. with a biblical reference: 'On this night, we will not cross the river.'" ~~~
~~~ Eric Bradner of CNN: "Mike Carey, a coal lobbyist who was endorsed by ... Donald Trump, will win the Republican special primary in Ohio's 15th Congressional District, CNN projects. Carey's win over a crowded primary field that included better-established candidates showcased Trump's power within the party at a key moment." ~~~
~~~ The New York Times has full results here. ~~~
~~~ Jeremy Peters of the New York Times: "A Democratic candidate backed by the party establishment and a Republican endorsed by ... Donald J. Trump won two primary races for open House seats in Ohio on Tuesday, an assertion of dominance for the leadership of both political parties as they face questions over unity in their ranks."
Oklahoma. DeNeen Brown of the Washington Post: "The bodies of 19 people exhumed from a mass grave that may be connected to the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre were reinterred Friday, despite objections from some descendants. The reburial at the city-owned Oaklawn Cemetery sparked an angry protest from some members of the Tulsa Mass Graves Public Oversight Committee, which is charged with overseeing the search for mass graves connected to one of the worst episodes of racial violence in American history. The committee voted last week to delay reburial until the city delivers its report on the mass grave, where the skeletal remains of a Black man with multiple gunshot wounds to his head and shoulder were among those discovered in June. But the city ignored the vote, said Chief Egunwale Amusan, a committee member and massacre victim descendant, who accused officials of 'a coverup.'"
News Lede
~~~ New York Times: "Col. Dave Severance, the commander of the Marine company that raised a huge American flag over the Japanese island of Iwo Jima in World War II, inspiring the photograph that thrilled the American home front and became an enduring image of men at war, died on Monday at his home in the La Jolla section of San Diego. He was 102." ~~~
~~~ Marie: As you may know, the iconic photo was sort of a fake. First, "The flag-raising atop Mount Suribachi on Feb. 23, 1945, captured by an Associated Press photographer, Joe Rosenthal, was taken when the battle for Iwo Jima was far from over." Second, "In midmorning, a group of Marines from Easy Company raised a flag at the summit, a ceremony photographed by Sgt. Louis Lowery of the Marine magazine Leatherneck. When James Forrestal, the secretary of the Navy, who was on the beach below, saw the flag, he requested that it be kept as a memento. After it was returned to the beach, Colonel Severance sent another group of his Marines to bring a larger flag to the mountaintop. It was the raising of the second flag that was portrayed in Mr. Rosenthal's dramatic photograph. Both flags are now at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Va. Frayed by strong winds, the second flag flew above Mount Suribachi for the remainder of the Iwo Jima campaign. The Joe Rosenthal photograph is in the National Archives."
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Re: that nepotism hire, Fox fool Peter Doocy and his question about whether sexual harassment charges against Andrew Cuomo will be investigated by the DOJ…
Before demanding the death penalty for Cuomo (who, by the way, needs to get gone; toot sweet), little Pete, who was handed a plum job at Faux while still in college, has no journalism degree, no experience except as a Fox drone (which means zero experience), or journalistic chops, is an idiot pseudo-celebrity spawn, and was gifted a job at the White House (see above eye popping lack of qualifications for same), where he makes half a million dollars a year for serving as Jen Psaki’s punching bag, should first demand that his own party disown Donald Trump, Matt Gaetz, and admit that they all looked the other way as they rammed a blackout drunk with a lengthy history of sexual abuse, including attempted rape, onto the Supreme Court.
It seems that confederates, in the wake of the Cuomo charges, have discovered that sexual harassment actually exists. Where is all the support for anyone claiming that all those women are lying?
Thanks to Marie for publishing more information re: the Tucker/Orban situation. Bumps' (see above) argument that Tucker's actions "are simply tactics meant to drag his audience into his universe, where he can stoke their frustrations about his true passion: the purported threat posed by immigrants polluting the United States." Yes, but of course it's more than just immigrants that rifle Tuck-ums feathers–-he and other like-minded "white's only" racists envision a country like Hungary with leaders like Orban; no wonder they want Fatty back in the W.H.
And reading today about Missouri's Mark McClosky, that gun toting idiot and his wife who drew their weapons on black protestors peacefully marching in their neighborhood–-in FRONT of their fancy house––WELL! we can't stand for that!–- is running for U.S. Senate. In another era wouldn't he be laughed out of the game? Obviously not today–-another ominous sign (there are so many) that this country is in the midst of a civil war with the word "civil" still with us. When state governors impede the process of curtailing this virus, when we are struggling to get a vote for the Voting Right's Act –––the list goes on–- even though we have a president and an administration worth its salt then------
I have, for years, ever since "you've never seen anything like it, believe me!" guy disgraced our presidency, a foreboding––like black clouds forming suddenly on a sunny day, that we were heading into a shit storm of great magnitude whose winds would blow us into all directions and we might not be able to find out way back home.
Hope, I hope, still lingers for good navigation and honest navigators––my pessimism does have some cracks of light coming through that tunnel.
@AK: Doocy is a dunce––every day he tries to put the screws to Jen who handles him like an unruly child. I think HE thinks he's a real asset for Fox journalists, although as you point out, he really isn't one.
And your "It seems that confederates, in the wake of the Cuomo charges, have discovered that sexual harassment actually exists. Where is all the support for anyone claiming that all those women are lying?"
Shhhhhh––they be lying low in their hypocrisy, snuggling up in their conservative bankies.
"... we have identified significant concerns that may have impacted the outcome of the election in multiple States ... "
This was a phrase in the draft letter that DOJ/Clark wanted the Acting AG to send to Georgia's governor and leg at the end of December 2020.
1. Note that "States" is capitalized. That could be a random error, but who do we know, besides John Adams, who likes to capitalize common nouns for no reason? Hmmm?
2, Mr. Clark must DEFINITELY be one of the DOJ people called to provide witness to the 1-6 inquiry, and be asked to bring with him the documents containing the "significant concerns" that "we" "identified." Expect homina hominas all around. Since "we" did not include Rosen&Co at time of draft, and since Clark (uncrowned) is not yet a "we", what other co-conspirator(s) comprised that "we?"
Radical, Schmadical
I'm getting more than a little tired of reading and hearing this constant whine from confederate liars of all stripes about "the radical left".
First, there IS no radical left. If there is, it amounts to a handful of outliers dreaming of zero carbon emissions and the banning of weapons of any sort. That ain't exactly a movement primed to take over the country.
There hasn't been a real radical left since the days of SDS and the Weathermen, both long gone. And there hasn't been a truly well organized left since the 30's. Talk of a "radical left" coming to take the guns and installing a communist government in which god fearin' Christians (always so persecuted), will be sent to gay re-education camps, is designed for two purposes: keep the droolers scared and in a perpetual state of hate and frenzy, raise money (okay, three purposes), and create the appearance of a balance to the radical right, an actual movement that has all the fantasy, mythic qualities of an eviction notice.
There IS a radical right. These are the people who keep the guns loaded and are ready to kill in order to keep thugs like Donald Trump in power (we saw them on January 6, and it was no fantasy) White supremacists, neo-Nazis, incel asswipes, climate change deniers, supporters of militarized police cracking down on minorities, these are all very real. But the right, in order to deny the existence of the actual truly radical right keep the fabrications about a "radical left" front and center. Lindsey Graham can't order a pizza without mentioning the "radical left" (I guess they're going undercover in the pizza shop to put commie approved toppings on his pepperoni and sausage supreme).
And here's the other thing. Even when there was a radical left (the sixties, let's say), they really were radical, and entirely on the fringe. The goals of the radical right are very much mainstreamed in the Republican Party. In 1968 it would be almost impossible to hear any mainstream Democratic politicians saying "Yeah! Weathermen! Do it, baby!" But today, ALL mainstream Republicans, including their leader, the Fat Fascist, are all in on the Proud Boys, Bundy-like attacks on government, vote rigging, voter suppression in favor of white supremacy, and violence in support of their proto-fascist, anti-democratic agenda.
And one more thing. Advocating for income equality and universal healthcare, an end to official racial animosity, and free education are NOT radical ideas, despite what the truly radical assholes on the right claim. Universal, government funded healthcare was first instituted in Germany in 1883 by Otto von Bismarck, not exactly a 19th century Abbie Hoffman.
So enough with this "radical left" shtick.
Schmucks.
@Akhilleus: I think there is still a radical left. It includes some Antifa types, and some writers like Chris Hedges, Cornel West & Glenn Greenwald (who is so far left he's now right-wing). While Hedges, West & Greenwald enjoyed some mainstream attention, Antifa adherents do not, and none is in a position where he yields much -- if any -- power.
This, of course, is not remotely true of the radical right, where we had a radical right president* along with some members of his Cabinet & other lower-level appointees, and even now a significant majority of House Republicans are members in good standing of the radical right, not to mention influencers like Tucker & Michael Flynn. In the hinterlands, numerous governors are radically right, & quite a few state legislatures are controlled by the radical right. And leave us not forget Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch & Sam Alito.
The radical left is far out on the fringe & has little or no power; the radical right controls one of the two major political parties & runs not only Congress but also a number of states, has a huge influence on the Supreme Court & has controlled the executive branch.
But it is so enjoyable when some nitwit on the right describes Joe Biden & his policies as examples of the "radical left."
Ordinarily, I would be all in with dumping Andrew Cuomo in the nearest polluted river. BUT: there are several reasons I am not celebrating prematurely his exit from the scene. One: he was actually doing his job when he was dealing with the advent of Covid in his state, and his press was pretty good... Two: he is not the worst white older man in the country. He has lots of competition. The worst has gotten away with so much that we can't even list all his faults, of which sexual predatorship looms large, and so far, he has not suffered ANY consequences for his horrible cesspool of a life. Impeached twice, yet not removed. Why should Cuomo be? Three: a lot of the accusers have no idea how the above older men behave, and have never taken personal steps to get themselves out of it. We as a society have permitted the predators to behave this way. Cuomo's self-serving admission that he DID stroke and sympathize and pat and rub and kiss shows that the above men have no clue how offensive they are, and that is partially on us. We were "trained" to be compliant and unworried about the intrusions into our personal spaces. These pigs should have all been slapped into next week, and shame on us for not doing it.
Nope, not victim-shaming, just regretting that we all let opportunities for chastisement of these monstrous men go by, out of fear of employers and other establishment types. Women voted FOR Kavanaugh...FOR Dumpiepants...FOR Cuomo...and Four: Democrats always eat their own after these things--The other side, the Radical Right Morons, rally around, or allow them to disappear, or whatever. No one on the right will EVER admit that these men are toxic, or wrong.
Ugh.
Jeanne,
It tends to happen that way. Democrats pay for their bad acts. Republicans get reelected and are celebrated as hee-roes on Faux.
How's this for an example? Al Franken lost his senate seat for a stupid joke. Matt Gaetz is still in Congress spreading lies. Bart O'Kavanaugh is on the Supreme Court ordering the rest of us how to live. And Fatty?
Collecting millions from the idiots. And nowhere near a jail cell.
@Jeanne: I don't think we were "trained to be compliant"; rather, we were trained to grin & bear it in order to keep the jobs we needed to support our families. The one time I did speak up about "sexually inappropriate behavior" -- the guy shut the door to his office & exposed himself -- I got fired (by a woman) for "upsetting the talent." And what did I do to so upset him? I emphatically told him to zip up. You would think that would have been the end of it. But sexual harassment was so prevalent that he complained about me to corporate HR.
At least one of Cuomo's accusers did try to "do something about it" and Cuomo's toadies punished her for it & circled the wagons around Cuomo.
Sexual harassment & abuse aren't about sex. They're about power & domination over a class of employees (usually women) who for one reason or another can't fight back. It's a form of bullying. Everybody who has ever held a job or been part of an organization where s/he wasn't the boss has suffered some form of bullying. Sometimes it's so mild and/or so occasional that a person can just forget about it. But often it's relentless and/or overt.
"Lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way is an old slogan. Fkorida governor DeSantis is leading in the wrong direction, following the desires of #45, and getting in the way of anything that might offend the gop base.
The man has visions of the oval office and the scary thing is, he just might get there.
Yes, Marie, absolutely. It makes me crazy to think of all those young women in his regime (pick what "him" you want to point the spotlight at--) who have been put in this position. Every time I think of my mom, and I and all the others in our age bracket having NOT made any headway with this patriarchal and sexual power crap--well, it makes me crazy. I am not blaming the young women but I am blamng the atmosphere that doesn't seem to have shifted.