Sharyl Attkisson

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Sharyl Attkisson

D.C. Judge won't speed up Democrats' lawsuit to get Trump's tax returns

This week, a federal judge denied two requests made by House Democrats involving President Trump's tax returns. That's according to Politico.

"D.C. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden denied their request to both expedite consideration of the case and to decide on its merits without holding a trial," reported the website.

This is no ordinary case, but the weighty constitutional issues and political ramifications it presents militate in favor of caution and deliberation, not haste. This case presents novel and complex questions about the privileges and authority of all three branches of the federal government.” 

D.C. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden

Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), head of the House Ways and Means Committee, is suing to try to obtain six years of Trump’s personal federal tax returns and some of his business filings, according to Politico.

Read the Politico story by clicking here.

Fight improper government surveillance. Support Attkisson v. DOJ and FBI over the government computer intrusions of Attkisson's work while she was a CBS News investigative correspondent. Visit the Attkisson Fourth Amendment Litigation Fund. Click here.

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/29/judge-lawsuit-trump-tax-returns-1696419

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/29/judge-lawsuit-trump-tax-returns-1696419

Special prosecutor to investigate handling of Smollett case involving allegedly faked racial claims

A judge has appointed a special prosecutor to investigate "the actions of any person or office involved in all aspects of" the Jussie Smollett case.

Smollett, an actor, alleged on January 29 that white Trump supporters ambushed him, beat him up, and put a noose around his neck.

The following month, Smollett was indicted for allegedly paying two African American acquaintances of his to stage the fake hate crime assault.

In March, Chicago prosecutors agreed to drop all charges in return for Smollett performing community service and giving up his $10,000 bond.

The FBI announced it would investigate why Chicago prosecutor Kim Foxx dismissed the charges and who might have influenced that decision.

Now, a special prosecutor, Chicago attorney Dan Webb, is also looking into that process.

Meantime, Smollett has reportedly doubled down, insisting that every "iota" of his story is true. And Foxx has said she will cooperate with the new investigation.

The following is an excerpt from an editorial about the case in the Chicago Tribune:

What began as an accusation that Jussie Smollett faked a vicious hate crime has evolved into something more: widespread local and national suspicion that someone, or several someones, improperly influenced how the office of Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx prosecuted, then dropped, the criminal case against the actor.

Judge Michael Toomin has appointed a special prosecutor, Chicago attorney Dan Webb, to investigate ― Toomin’s phrase ― the actions of any person or office involved in all aspects of the case. (Continued...)

Read the Chicago Tribune article by clicking the link below:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/editorials/ct-editorial-voices-kim-foxx-jussie-smollett-webb-dan-prosecutor-20190826-iv6chdhxgjbshngnu5xyedoxuy-story.html

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Federal judge tosses illegal immigrant's claim

Culpepr County Sheriff's office vehicle

A federal judge has thrown out an illegal immigrant's claim that a Virginia sheriff violated his constitutional rights.

According to an article in The Epoch Times, Francisco Guardado Rios--the illegal immigrant-- filed a class action suit alleging his rights were violated when the sheriff detained him at the request of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after his arrest two years ago.

The arrest was for driving without a license and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

I am pleased that this lawsuit seeking preferential treatment for criminal illegal aliens within our justice system has been dismissed.

Scott Jenkins, Culpeper County, Virginia, Sheriff, to The Epoch Times

Read the article by clicking the link below:

https://www.theepochtimes.com/judge-throws-out-suit-against-sheriff-over-immigration-detentions_3048221.html

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Should Trump cut unspent foreign aid? Unscientific poll

The vast majority of respondents said they support President Trump's plan to cut unspent foreign aid by $4 billion.

That's according to our latest unscientific poll at SharylAttkisson.com.

Ninety-five percent (95%) said slashing the cash assistance is a good idea.

Full results are below. Meantime, vote now in our new poll on the home page at SharylAttkisson.com. Look for the black box on the right sidebar or scroll down on the mobile site.

Do you support Trump's plan to cut unspent foreign aid by $4 billion?

95% Yes

3% No

3% I'm not sure

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Discrimination is the new norm for "wrong" political views.

The following is an excerpt from an article in The Hill.

President Donald J. Trump

A gay Cincinnati man— a lifelong Democrat living with HIV/AIDS  — recently tweeted that a local business refused his request to cater an event.

The story harkens to private bakers in Colorado who, citing religious beliefs, refused to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple in 2012. (Ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that the bakers were within their rights.) News of the bakery incident sparked outrage and was plastered on the news off and on for years.

But judging from the recent past, the reported refusal of a Cincinnati business to serve a gay man is unlikely to prompt across-the-board national outrage for one reason: The man is a Trump supporter. He says that was the reason he was provided for why he was rejected as a customer.

The gay Trump supporter is named Scott Ford and he discussed the incident with me over the phone. He says he planned an event for 20-30 people. When the owner of the business— where he says he’d been “a loyal customer for two years”—  asked what the event was for, Ford told him it was a “pro-Trump event to highlight the president’s accomplishments.” 

“She threw her hands up in the air and said ‘No, as badly as I need the money, I’m not doing this’,” Ford told me. “It blew up into an argument in a matter of seconds. I said ‘This is a great president I’m supporting as a Democrat. I was disappointed and shocked.’”

Ford’s account raises an interesting point: Are people with certain political beliefs becoming America’s new discriminated class?

The question cuts both ways. Some Democrats demonize “all” Republicans. Some Republicans demonize “all” liberals. Some Democrats and Republicans demonize “all” Trump supporters. Most of the vitriol occurs on the news and social media. But some of the hateful rhetoric and behavior bleeds over into real life. (Continued...)

Read the rest of the story by clicking the link below:

https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/458861-is-political-class-the-new-discriminated-class

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Epstein's death stoked distrust in government

Jeffrey Epstein

Trust in the federal government is seriously lacking. And the government conspiracy theories surrounding the death of convicted sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein only further eroded that trust.

That's according to a recent Scott Rasmussen poll and column. Just 19% of those surveyed say they have confidence in the federal government, with 47% saying they don't trust it at all.

Rasmussen says the results to not reflect a purely partisan trend.

This is not the result of the Obama Administration or the Trump Administration. It has been building for a very long time. In fact, it’s been 47 years since a majority of voters have trusted the government most of the time.

Scott Rasmussen on the tension between voters and the federal government.

In times of deep distrust, voters are looking for candidates to bring trust back between the government and the people, says Rasmussen. But Epstein's death had the opposite result. He was said to have held potential blackmail material about important political figures as he awaited trial on underage sex trafficking charges.

Just 36% of American adults believe the official story that Epstein committed suicide. A ScottRasmussen.com national survey found that 30% think he was murdered while 34% are not sure. As if that skepticism isn’t enough, 9% think it’s very likely Epstein faked his death, escaped prison, and is alive somewhere.

Scott Rasmussen on Epstein's death.

You can read more on Rasmussen polling here: Epstein and the reality of 21st century politics.

Fight improper government surveillance. Support Attkisson v. DOJ and FBI over the government computer intrusions of Attkisson's work while she was a CBS News investigative correspondent. Visit the Attkisson Fourth Amendment Litigation Fund. Click here.

Is "money worship" behind record debt?

Americans are in more debt than ever, and it could be due to strange money disorders. That's according to a new CNBC article.

According to CNBC, "The average American has $38,000 in debt — a quarter of which comes directly from credit card charges." Consumer debt hit a record high in December 2018 at about $4 trillion.

It's possible that money disorders are to blame, including money worship and money avoidance, says Robert Exley Jr. of CNBC.

Brad Klontz, author of “Mind Over Money" says that these various money disorders could be due to past trauma and other psychological issues.

Read more about money disorders here: What's behind my compulsive spending?

Fight improper government surveillance. Support Attkisson v. DOJ and FBI over the government computer intrusions of Attkisson's work while she was a CBS News investigative correspondent. Visit the Attkisson Fourth Amendment Litigation Fund. Click here.