tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120607382024-03-18T17:31:18.085-04:00Criminal Justice And Human Rights Law BlogI publish an "Editorial and Opinion Blog", <a href="http://armwoodopinion.com">Editorial and Opinion</a>. My News Blog is @ <a href="http://armwoodnews.com">News</a>
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My domain is Armwood.Com @ <a href="http://armwood.com">Armwood.Com</a>.John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.comBlogger12532125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-19091194378063847982024-03-18T17:30:00.001-04:002024-03-18T17:30:46.323-04:00Trump Spurned by 30 Companies as He Seeks Bond in $454 Million Judgment<h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="font-size: 1.95552em; line-height: 1.2141em; hyphens: manual; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; max-width: 100%; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: -apple-system-font;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/18/nyregion/trump-bond-civil-fraud-case.html" id="id_c347_179e_f5ac_42b6">Trump Spurned by 30 Companies as He Seeks Bond in $454 Million Judgment</a></h1><h2 class="subhead" data-reader-unique-id="subheadElement" style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 1.46664em; hyphens: manual; color: rgba(27, 27, 27, 0.65); margin-top: -0.35em; line-height: 1.27275em; max-width: 100%; font-family: -apple-system-font;">“Donald J. Trump’s lawyers said in a court filing that he faces “insurmountable difficulties” as he tries to raise cash for the civil fraud penalty he faces in New York.</h2><div class="metadata singleline" style="hyphens: manual; margin-top: -0.7em; margin-bottom: 1.45em; max-width: 100%; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 17px;"><time datetime="2024-03-18T16:51:15-04:00" data-reader-unique-id="225" class="date" style="margin: 0px; font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%; font-size: 1em !important; display: inline !important;"><span data-reader-unique-id="226" style="margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: normal !important; display: inline !important;">March 18, 2024</span><span data-reader-unique-id="227" style="margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: normal !important; display: inline !important;">Updated <span data-reader-unique-id="228" style="margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 1em !important; display: inline !important;">4:51 p.m. ET</span></span></time></div><header data-reader-unique-id="27" style="max-width: 100%; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 17px;"><div data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" data-reader-unique-id="41" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" role="group" data-reader-unique-id="42" style="margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65);"><div data-testid="imageContainer-children-Image" data-reader-unique-id="43" style="max-width: 100%;"><picture data-reader-unique-id="44" style="max-width: 100%;"><source media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 3dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 288dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/18/multimedia/18trump-bond-pwgz/18trump-bond-pwgz-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=600" data-reader-unique-id="45" style="max-width: 100%;"><source media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 192dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/18/multimedia/18trump-bond-pwgz/18trump-bond-pwgz-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200" data-reader-unique-id="46" style="max-width: 100%;"><source media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 1dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 96dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/18/multimedia/18trump-bond-pwgz/18trump-bond-pwgz-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1800" data-reader-unique-id="47" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Donald Trump in a navy suit and blue tie stands behind a barricade in a court hallway. " src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/18/multimedia/18trump-bond-pwgz/18trump-bond-pwgz-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/18/multimedia/18trump-bond-pwgz/18trump-bond-pwgz-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 600w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/18/multimedia/18trump-bond-pwgz/18trump-bond-pwgz-jumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 1024w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/18/multimedia/18trump-bond-pwgz/18trump-bond-pwgz-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 2048w" sizes="((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 60vw, 100vw" decoding="async" width="600" height="400" data-reader-unique-id="48" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0.5em auto; display: block; height: auto; width: 600px;" id="id_7228_bd80_b621_e4cc"></picture></div><figcaption data-testid="photoviewer-children-ImageCaption" data-reader-unique-id="49" style="max-width: 100%; margin-top: 0.8em; width: 604.484375px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="50" style="max-width: 100%; margin-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom: 0.25em;">Donald J. Trump’s filing one week before the bond is due raised the prospect that the former president might now face a financial crisis.</span><span data-reader-unique-id="51" style="max-width: 100%; margin-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom: 0.25em;"><span data-reader-unique-id="52" style="max-width: 100%;">Maansi Srivastava/The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></header><section name="articleBody" data-reader-unique-id="67" style="max-width: 100%; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 17px;"><div data-reader-unique-id="68" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="69" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="70" style="max-width: 100%;">Donald J. Trump’s lawyers disclosed on Monday that he had failed to secure a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/24/nyregion/trump-fraud-trial-penalty.html" title="" data-reader-unique-id="71" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">roughly half-billion dollar bond</a> in his civil fraud case in New York, raising the prospect that the state could seek to freeze some of his bank accounts and seize some of his marquee properties.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="72" style="max-width: 100%;">The court filing, coming one week before the bond is due, suggested that the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/17/nyregion/trump-civil-cases-millions.html" title="" data-reader-unique-id="73" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">former president might soon face a financial crisis</a> unless an appeals court comes to his rescue.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="74" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Trump has asked the appeals court to pause the $454 million judgment that a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/16/nyregion/trump-civil-fraud-trial-ruling.html" title="" data-reader-unique-id="75" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">New York judge imposed on Mr. Trump</a> in the fraud case last month, or accept a bond of only $100 million. Otherwise, the New York attorney general’s office, which brought the case, might soon move to collect from Mr. Trump.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="76" style="max-width: 100%;">Still, even if the higher court rejects his appeal, Mr. Trump is not entirely out of options. He might appeal to the state’s highest court, quickly sell an asset or seek help from a wealthy supporter.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="84" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="85" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="86" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Trump’s team has also left the door open to exploring a bankruptcy for corporate entities implicated in the case, according to people with knowledge of the discussions. That option, however, is politically fraught during a presidential race in which he is the presumptive Republican nominee, and for now it appears unlikely.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="87" style="max-width: 100%;">The former president has been unable to secure the full bond, his lawyers said in the court filing on Monday, calling it a “practical impossibility” despite “diligent efforts.” Those efforts included approaching about 30 companies that provide appeal bonds, and yet, the lawyers said, he has encountered “insurmountable difficulties.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="88" style="max-width: 100%;">The company providing the bond would essentially promise to cover Mr. Trump’s judgment if he lost an appeal and failed to pay. In exchange, he would pledge cash as collateral, and he would pay the company a fee as high as $20 million.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="113" style="max-width: 100%;">But Mr. Trump does not have enough liquidity to obtain the bond. The company would require Mr. Trump to pledge more than $550 million in cash and securities as collateral — a sum he simply does not have.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="114" style="max-width: 100%;">Although the former president boasts of his billions, his net worth is derived largely from the value of his real estate, which bond companies rarely accept as collateral. Mr. Trump has <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/01/nyregion/donald-trump-money.html" title="" data-reader-unique-id="115" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">more than $350 million in cash</a>, a recent New York Times analysis found, far short of what he needs.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="124" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="125" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="126" style="max-width: 100%;">The judge in the civil fraud case, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/16/nyregion/arthur-engoron-trump-judge.html" title="" data-reader-unique-id="127" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Arthur F. Engoron</a>, levied the $454 million penalty and other punishments after concluding that Mr. Trump had fraudulently inflated his net worth to obtain favorable loans and other benefits. The case, brought by the New York attorney general, Letitia James, has posed a grave financial threat to Mr. Trump.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="129" style="max-width: 100%;">He might have to post an appeal bond worth more — possibly above $500 million, to reflect the interest he will owe — in order to prevent Ms. James from seizing his assets on March 25.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="130" style="max-width: 100%;">Under the law, Ms. James could have moved to collect from Mr. Trump as soon as Justice Engoron ruled, but she offered a 30-day grace period, until March 25. It is unclear whether she will provide Mr. Trump extra time or if she will move swiftly to collect. Nor is it clear whether the appellate court will rule on his plea for help before the deadline.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="131" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Trump could also seek to appeal to New York’s highest court, and it is unclear whether Ms. James will hold off on the seizure while he pursues that route.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="132" style="max-width: 100%;">A spokeswoman for Ms. James did not immediately respond to a request for comment.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="133" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Trump has denied all wrongdoing and claimed that Ms. James and Justice Engoron, both Democrats, are out to get him.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="141" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="142" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="143" style="max-width: 100%;">“This is a motion to stay the unjust, unconstitutional, un-American judgment from New York Judge Arthur Engoron in a political witch hunt brought by a corrupt attorney general,” Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Mr. Trump’s campaign, said in a statement. “A bond of this size would be an abuse of the law, contradict bedrock principles of our republic, and fundamentally undermine the rule of law in New York.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="144" style="max-width: 100%;">The looming deadline could not come at a worse time for Mr. Trump. He also faces four criminal indictments, including one in Manhattan <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/15/nyregion/trump-bragg-trial-date-delay.html" title="" data-reader-unique-id="145" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">that is tentatively set for trial</a> in mid-April.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="146" style="max-width: 100%;">And just last week he finalized a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/08/nyregion/trump-carroll-bond-defamation.html" title="" data-reader-unique-id="147" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">$91.6 million bond in a defamation case</a> he recently lost to the writer E. Jean Carroll, a costly deal that drained him of precious cash.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="148" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Trump, who obtained that bond from the insurance giant Chubb, pledged an investment account at Charles Schwab as collateral, records show. He most likely pledged more than $100 million in cash and stocks and bonds that he could sell in a hurry — investments that are now no longer available for him to use in the civil fraud case.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="149" style="max-width: 100%;">A nearly $500 million bond, Mr. Trump’s lawyers wrote on Monday, “is unprecedented for a private company.”</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="157" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="158" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="159" style="max-width: 100%;">Yet Mr. Trump’s legal team “devoted a substantial amount of time, money, and effort” to finding one, according to a court filing by Alan Garten, the top lawyer at Mr. Trump’s family business.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="160" style="max-width: 100%;">Using four separate brokers, the lawyers approached more than two dozen companies that provide appellate bonds, including Chubb and Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate run for decades by Warren E. Buffett, Mr. Garten said. He added that most of the companies were either unable or unwilling to handle a bond of this size, and that none were willing to accept property as collateral.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="161" style="max-width: 100%;">Their best bet appeared to be Chubb, but within the past week, Chubb notified Mr. Trump’s lawyers that it, too, could not accept property as collateral.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="162" style="max-width: 100%;">“This presents a major obstacle,” Mr. Garten wrote.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="163" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Trump’s company has not ruled out the possibility of having the corporate entities declare bankruptcy, the people with knowledge of the discussions said. That move would automatically halt the judgment against those entities and prevent Ms. James from seizing some of the former president’s properties.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="164" style="max-width: 100%;">But Mr. Trump, scarred from an experience in the 1990s when some of his companies filed for bankruptcy, is likely to balk at a filing.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="172" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="173" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="174" style="max-width: 100%;">And even if he supported it, bankruptcy — which Mr. Trump used to describe derisively as “the b-word” — might not be a cure-all, legal experts said. Seeking court protection could trigger defaults in loans he holds, and would most likely set off litigation over whether Mr. Trump is still responsible to pay his company’s debts.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="175" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Trump’s lawyers on Monday also submitted a filing from one of his insurance brokers, Gary Giulietti, who said his team had for several weeks been “scouring the market” for a bond.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="176" style="max-width: 100%;">“Simply put, a bond of this size is rarely, if ever, seen,” he wrote.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="177" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Giulietti, who testified as an expert witness at the trial, also occasionally golfs and dines with Mr. Trump.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="178" style="max-width: 100%;">In his decision, Justice Engoron criticized his testimony, saying that in more than 20 years on the bench, he had never encountered an expert witness who “not only was a close personal friend of a party, but also had a personal financial interest in the outcome of the case.”</p></div></div></section><div data-reader-unique-id="180" style="max-width: 100%; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 17px;"><div data-reader-unique-id="181" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="182" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="183" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="184" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="185" style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/ben-protess" data-reader-unique-id="186" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Ben Protess</a></span> is an investigative reporter at The Times, writing about public corruption. He has been covering the various criminal investigations into former President Trump and his allies.<span data-reader-unique-id="187" style="max-width: 100%;"> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/ben-protess" data-reader-unique-id="188" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">More about Ben Protess</a></span></p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="189" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="190" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="191" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="192" style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/maggie-haberman" data-reader-unique-id="193" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Maggie Haberman</a></span> is a senior political correspondent reporting on the 2024 presidential campaign, down ballot races across the country and the investigations into former President Donald J. Trump.<span data-reader-unique-id="194" style="max-width: 100%;"> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/maggie-haberman" data-reader-unique-id="195" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">More about Maggie Haberman</a>“</span></p></div></div></div></div> John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-14086936279389243912024-03-18T07:02:00.001-04:002024-03-18T07:02:35.101-04:00Justice Breyer, Off the Bench, Sounds an Alarm Over the Supreme Court’s Direction<h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="font-size: 1.95552em; line-height: 1.2141em; hyphens: manual; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; max-width: 100%; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: -apple-system-font;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/18/us/breyer-supreme-court-interview.html" id="id_1af0_b366_8ff4_449b">Justice Breyer, Off the Bench, Sounds an Alarm Over the Supreme Court’s Direction</a></h1><h2 class="subhead" data-reader-unique-id="subheadElement" style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 1.46664em; hyphens: manual; color: rgba(27, 27, 27, 0.65); margin-top: -0.35em; line-height: 1.27275em; max-width: 100%; font-family: -apple-system-font;">“In an interview in his chambers and in a new book, the justice, who retired in 2022, discussed Dobbs, originalism and the decline of trust in the court.</h2><div class="metadata singleline" style="hyphens: manual; margin-top: -0.7em; margin-bottom: 1.45em; max-width: 100%; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 17px;"><time datetime="2024-03-18T05:05:04-04:00" data-reader-unique-id="180" class="date" style="margin: 0px; font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%; font-size: 1em !important; display: inline !important;">March 18, 2024, <span data-reader-unique-id="181" style="margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: normal !important; display: inline !important;">5:05 a.m. ET</span></time></div><header data-reader-unique-id="26" style="max-width: 100%; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 17px;"><div data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" data-reader-unique-id="41" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" role="group" data-reader-unique-id="42" style="margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65);"><div data-testid="imageContainer-children-Image" data-reader-unique-id="43" style="max-width: 100%;"><picture data-reader-unique-id="44" style="max-width: 100%;"><source media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 3dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 288dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/18/multimedia/18dc-bar-qwgh/18dc-bar-qwgh-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=600" data-reader-unique-id="45" style="max-width: 100%;"><source media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 192dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/18/multimedia/18dc-bar-qwgh/18dc-bar-qwgh-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200" data-reader-unique-id="46" style="max-width: 100%;"><source media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 1dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 96dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/18/multimedia/18dc-bar-qwgh/18dc-bar-qwgh-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1800" data-reader-unique-id="47" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Justice Stephen G. Breyer sitting for a portrait with his hands beneath his chin wearing a dark suit and red tie in front of a pink wall." src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/18/multimedia/18dc-bar-qwgh/18dc-bar-qwgh-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/18/multimedia/18dc-bar-qwgh/18dc-bar-qwgh-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 600w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/18/multimedia/18dc-bar-qwgh/18dc-bar-qwgh-jumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 1024w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/18/multimedia/18dc-bar-qwgh/18dc-bar-qwgh-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 2048w" sizes="((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 60vw, 100vw" decoding="async" width="600" height="400" data-reader-unique-id="48" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0.5em auto; display: block; height: auto; width: 600px;" id="id_c84a_55db_2cbc_8409"></picture></div><figcaption data-testid="photoviewer-children-ImageCaption" data-reader-unique-id="49" style="max-width: 100%; margin-top: 0.8em; width: 604.484375px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="50" style="max-width: 100%; margin-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom: 0.25em;">Justice Stephen G. Breyer retired a little reluctantly in 2022, under pressure from liberals who wanted to make sure the Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority would not get any more lopsided.</span><span data-reader-unique-id="51" style="max-width: 100%; margin-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom: 0.25em;"><span data-reader-unique-id="52" style="max-width: 100%;">Erin Schaff/The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></header><section name="articleBody" data-reader-unique-id="68" style="max-width: 100%; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 17px;"><div data-reader-unique-id="69" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="70" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="71" style="max-width: 100%;">Justice Stephen G. Breyer’s Supreme Court chambers are not quite as grand as those he occupied before he retired in 2022, but they are still pretty nice. As before, they include a working fireplace, which was crackling when I went to visit him on a temperate afternoon in late February to talk about his new book.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="72" style="max-width: 100%;">In <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/13/us/politics/justice-breyer-sees-value-in-a-global-view-of-law.html" title="" data-reader-unique-id="73" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">earlier</a> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/27/us/politics/justice-breyer-supreme-court-retirement.html" title="" data-reader-unique-id="74" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">interviews</a>, Justice Breyer could be rambling and opaque. This time he was direct. He said he meant to sound an alarm about the direction of the Supreme Court.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="75" style="max-width: 100%;">“Something important is going on,” he said. The court has taken a wrong turn, he said, and it is not too late to turn back.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="76" style="max-width: 100%;">The book, “Reading the Constitution: Why I Chose Pragmatism, <em data-reader-unique-id="77" style="max-width: 100%;">Not </em>Textualism,” will be published on March 26, the day the Supreme Court hears its <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/13/us/supreme-court-abortion-pill.html" title="" data-reader-unique-id="78" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">next major abortion case</a>, on access to pills used to terminate pregnancies.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="81" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="82" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="83" style="max-width: 100%;">The book devotes considerable attention to <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/19-1392_6j37.pdf" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="84" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization</a>, the 2022 decision that eliminated the constitutional right to abortion. Justice Breyer, who had dissented, wrote that the decision was stunningly naïve in saying it was returning the question of abortion to the political process.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="85" style="max-width: 100%;">“The Dobbs majority’s hope that legislatures and not courts will decide the abortion question will not be realized,” he wrote.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="108" style="max-width: 100%;">He was more forceful during the interview. “There are too many questions,” he said. “Are they really going to allow women to die on the table because they won’t allow an abortion which would save her life? I mean, really, no one would do that. And they wouldn’t do that. And there’ll be dozens of questions like that.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="109" style="max-width: 100%;">The book is a sustained critique of the current court’s approach to the law, one that he said fetishizes the texts of statutes and the Constitution, reading them woodenly, without a common-sense appreciation of their purpose and consequences.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="110" style="max-width: 100%;">Without naming names, he seemed to call on the three members of the court appointed by President Donald J. Trump — Justices Neil M. Gorsuch, Brett M. Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett — to reconsider how they approach the role.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="114" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="115" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="116" style="max-width: 100%;">“Recently,” he wrote, “major cases have come before the court while several new justices have spent only two or three years at the court. Major changes take time, and there are many years left for the newly appointed justices to decide whether they want to build the law using only textualism and originalism.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="118" style="max-width: 100%;">He added that “they may well be concerned about the decline in trust in the court — as shown by public opinion polls.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="121" style="max-width: 100%;">Textualism is a way of interpreting statutes that focuses on their words, leading to decisions that turn on grammar and punctuation. Originalism seeks to interpret the Constitution as it was understood at the time it was adopted, even though, Justice Breyer said in the interview, “half the country wasn’t represented in the political process that led to the document.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="122" style="max-width: 100%;">There are three large problems with originalism, he wrote in the book.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="123" style="max-width: 100%;">“First, it requires judges to be historians — a role for which they may not be qualified — constantly searching historical sources for the ‘answer’ where there often isn’t one there,” he wrote. “Second, it leaves no room for judges to consider the practical consequences of the constitutional rules they propound. And third, it does not take into account the ways in which our values as a society evolve over time as we learn from the mistakes of our past.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="124" style="max-width: 100%;">Justice Breyer did not accuse the justices who use those methods of being political in the partisan sense or of acting in bad faith. But he said their approach represented an abdication of the judicial role, one in which they ought to consider a problem from every angle.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="127" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="128" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="129" style="max-width: 100%;">In his chambers, he recalled another era, when three different Republican appointees — Justices Sandra Day O’Connor, David H. Souter and Anthony M. Kennedy — largely shared his basic approach to the law.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="130" style="max-width: 100%;">“Sandra, David — I mean, the two of them, I would see eye to eye not necessarily in the result in every case, but just the way you approach it.” Justice Breyer said. “And Tony, too, to a considerable degree.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="131" style="max-width: 100%;">Justice Breyer retired a little reluctantly, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/17/us/justice-breyer-retirement.html" title="" data-reader-unique-id="132" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">under pressure from liberals</a> who wanted to make sure that President Biden could appoint his successor and that the conservative supermajority on the court, currently at 6 to 3, would not get any more lopsided. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, a former law clerk to Justice Breyer, now occupies his seat.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="135" style="max-width: 100%;">Justice Breyer, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1994, has returned to Harvard Law School, where he taught before becoming a judge. But he said he missed his old job.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="136" style="max-width: 100%;">“When you’re a professor, you’re mostly involved in what people decided already in the past,” he said. “When you’re a judge, you’re also interested in that, but what you’re deciding is going to affect present and future. And that’s hard. Because you don’t really know how it will work out. You have to do your best there. I like that kind of job.”</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="139" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="140" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="141" style="max-width: 100%;">He shrugged, seeming to contemplate the passage of time. “What can you do?” he asked. “It’s the human condition.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="142" style="max-width: 100%;">Justice Breyer’s critics say his approach allows judges too much freedom to turn their preferences into law. I asked him for an example of a case in which the law required him to reach a conclusion at odds with his personal views.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="143" style="max-width: 100%;">“What about all the capital punishment cases?” he asked. Though he urged the court in <a href="https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/576/863/" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="144" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">a 2015 dissent</a> to reconsider the constitutionality of the death penalty, he did not adopt the practice of some earlier justices of dissenting in every capital case. “That doesn’t mean I approved,” he said.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="145" style="max-width: 100%;">He added, more generally, that he hoped his book would reach both a broad audience and a narrow one.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="146" style="max-width: 100%;">“I’d love people to read it,” he said. “I’d like for you to agree with me. So would every author. I’d like even to get the members of this court to read it and to say, ‘Oh, not a bad point. Not a bad point.’ And that’s all.”</p></div></div></section> John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-4547855268330248832024-03-18T06:53:00.001-04:002024-03-18T06:53:32.356-04:00White House’s Efforts to Combat Misinformation Face Supreme Court Test<h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="font-size: 1.95552em; line-height: 1.2141em; hyphens: manual; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; max-width: 100%; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: -apple-system-font;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/18/us/politics/supreme-court-white-house-misinformation.html" id="id_582b_90b4_a2b1_643">White House’s Efforts to Combat Misinformation Face Supreme Court Test</a></h1><h2 class="subhead" data-reader-unique-id="subheadElement" style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 1.46664em; hyphens: manual; color: rgba(27, 27, 27, 0.65); margin-top: -0.35em; line-height: 1.27275em; max-width: 100%; font-family: -apple-system-font;">“The justices must distinguish between persuading social media sites to take down posts, which is permitted, and coercing them, which violates the First Amendment.</h2><div class="metadata singleline" style="hyphens: manual; margin-top: -0.7em; margin-bottom: 1.45em; max-width: 100%; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 17px;"><time datetime="2024-03-18T05:04:38-04:00" data-reader-unique-id="150" class="date" style="margin: 0px; font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%; font-size: 1em !important; display: inline !important;">March 18, 2024, <span data-reader-unique-id="151" style="margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: normal !important; display: inline !important;">5:04 a.m. ET</span></time></div><header data-reader-unique-id="8" style="max-width: 100%; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 17px;"><div data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" data-reader-unique-id="21" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" role="group" data-reader-unique-id="22" style="margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65);"><div data-testid="imageContainer-children-Image" data-reader-unique-id="23" style="max-width: 100%;"><picture data-reader-unique-id="24" style="max-width: 100%;"><source media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 3dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 288dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/14/multimedia/00dc-scotus-platforms-mfqb/00dc-scotus-platforms-mfqb-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=600" data-reader-unique-id="25" style="max-width: 100%;"><source media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 192dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/14/multimedia/00dc-scotus-platforms-mfqb/00dc-scotus-platforms-mfqb-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200" data-reader-unique-id="26" style="max-width: 100%;"><source media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 1dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 96dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/14/multimedia/00dc-scotus-platforms-mfqb/00dc-scotus-platforms-mfqb-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1800" data-reader-unique-id="27" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="A person on a scooter rides past shrubbery near the Supreme Court. " src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/14/multimedia/00dc-scotus-platforms-mfqb/00dc-scotus-platforms-mfqb-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/14/multimedia/00dc-scotus-platforms-mfqb/00dc-scotus-platforms-mfqb-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 600w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/14/multimedia/00dc-scotus-platforms-mfqb/00dc-scotus-platforms-mfqb-jumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 1024w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/14/multimedia/00dc-scotus-platforms-mfqb/00dc-scotus-platforms-mfqb-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 2048w" sizes="((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 80vw, 100vw" decoding="async" width="600" height="400" data-reader-unique-id="28" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0.5em auto; display: block; height: auto; width: 600px;" id="id_1e67_d64d_d3ae_b327"></picture></div><figcaption data-testid="photoviewer-children-ImageCaption" data-reader-unique-id="29" style="max-width: 100%; margin-top: 0.8em; width: 604.484375px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="30" style="max-width: 100%; margin-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom: 0.25em;">The Supreme Court this term has repeatedly grappled with fundamental questions about the scope of the government’s authority over major technology platforms.</span><span data-reader-unique-id="31" style="max-width: 100%; margin-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom: 0.25em;"><span data-reader-unique-id="32" style="max-width: 100%;">Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></header><section name="articleBody" data-reader-unique-id="49" style="max-width: 100%; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 17px;"><div data-reader-unique-id="50" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="51" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="52" style="max-width: 100%;">The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Monday on whether the Biden administration violated the First Amendment in combating what it said was misinformation on social media platforms.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="53" style="max-width: 100%;">It is the latest in an extraordinary series of cases this term requiring the justices to assess the meaning of free speech in the internet era.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="54" style="max-width: 100%;">The case arose from a barrage of communications from administration officials urging platforms to take down posts on topics like the coronavirus vaccines, claims of election fraud and Hunter Biden’s laptop. Last year, a federal appeals court <a href="https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/23/23-30445-CV0.pdf" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="55" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">severely limited such interactions</a>.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="56" style="max-width: 100%;">Alex Abdo, a lawyer with the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, said the Supreme Court’s review of that decision must be sensitive to two competing values, both vital to democracy.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="59" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="60" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="61" style="max-width: 100%;">“This is an immensely important case that will determine the power of the government to pressure the social media platforms into suppressing speech,” he said. “Our hope is that the Supreme Court will clarify the constitutional line between coercion and persuasion. The government has no authority to threaten platforms into censoring protected speech, but it must have the ability to participate in public discourse so that it can effectively govern and inform the public of its views.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="62" style="max-width: 100%;">The court this term has repeatedly grappled with fundamental questions about the scope of the government’s authority over major technology platforms. On Friday, the court <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/15/us/supreme-court-social-media-free-speech.html" title="" data-reader-unique-id="63" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">set rules</a> for when government officials can block users from their private social media accounts. Last month, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/26/us/politics/supreme-court-social-media-texas-florida.html" title="" data-reader-unique-id="64" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">the court considered</a> the constitutionality of laws in Florida and Texas that limit large social media companies from making editorial judgments about which messages to allow.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="65" style="max-width: 100%;">Those four cases, along with the one on Monday, will collectively rebalance the power of the government and powerful technology platforms in the realm of free speech.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="66" style="max-width: 100%;">A second argument on Monday poses <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/03/us/supreme-court-nra-new-york.html" title="" data-reader-unique-id="67" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">a related constitutional question</a> about government power and free speech, though not in the context of social media sites. It concerns whether a state official in New York violated the First Amendment by encouraging companies to stop doing business with the National Rifle Association.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="68" style="max-width: 100%;">Monday’s first case, Murthy v. Missouri, No. 23-411, was brought by the attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana, both Republicans, along with individuals who said their speech had been censored.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="71" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="72" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="73" style="max-width: 100%;">They did not dispute that the platforms were entitled to make independent decisions about what to feature on their sites. But they said the conduct of government officials in urging them to take down what they say is misinformation amounted to censorship that violated the First Amendment.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="74" style="max-width: 100%;">A unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit agreed, saying that officials from the White House, the surgeon general’s office, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the F.B.I. had most likely crossed constitutional lines in their bid to persuade platforms to take down posts about what they had flagged as misinformation.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="75" style="max-width: 100%;">The panel, in <a href="https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/23/23-30445-CV0.pdf" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="76" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">an unsigned opinion</a>, said the officials had become excessively entangled with the platforms or used threats to spur them to act. The panel entered an injunction forbidding many officials to coerce or significantly encourage social media companies to remove content protected by the First Amendment.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="77" style="max-width: 100%;">Two members of the panel, Judges <a href="https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/clement-edith-brown" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="78" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Edith B. Clement</a> and <a href="https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/elrod-jennifer-walker" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="79" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Jennifer W. Elrod</a>, were appointed by President George W. Bush. The third, <a href="https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/willett-don-r" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="80" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Judge Don R. Willett</a>, was appointed by President Donald J. Trump.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="81" style="max-width: 100%;">The Biden administration <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/14/us/politics/supreme-court-social-media-misinformation.html" title="" data-reader-unique-id="82" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">filed an emergency application</a> in September asking the Supreme Court to pause the injunction, saying that the government was entitled to express its views and to try to persuade others to take action.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="85" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="86" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="87" style="max-width: 100%;">“A central dimension of presidential power is the use of the office’s bully pulpit to seek to persuade Americans — and American companies — to act in ways that the president believes would advance the public interest,” Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar wrote.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="88" style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23A243/280017/20230920145521680_2023-09-20%20-%20Murthy%20v.%20Missouri%20-%20Opposition%20to%20Stay%20Application%20-%20FINAL.pdf" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="89" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">In response</a>, lawyers for the states wrote that the administration had violated the First Amendment. “The bully pulpit,” they wrote, “is not a pulpit to bully.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="90" style="max-width: 100%;">The court <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/20/us/supreme-court-social-media-biden.html" title="" data-reader-unique-id="91" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">granted the administration’s application</a>, put the Fifth Circuit’s ruling on hold and agreed to hear the case.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="92" style="max-width: 100%;">Three justices dissented. “Government censorship of private speech is antithetical to our democratic form of government, and therefore today’s decision is highly disturbing,” Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. wrote, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil M. Gorsuch.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="94" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" data-reader-unique-id="95" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" role="group" data-reader-unique-id="96" style="margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65);"><figcaption data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" data-reader-unique-id="100" style="max-width: 100%; margin-top: 0.8em; width: 604.484375px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="101" style="max-width: 100%; margin-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom: 0.25em;">“Government censorship of private speech is antithetical to our democratic form of government,” Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. wrote.</span><span data-reader-unique-id="102" style="max-width: 100%; margin-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom: 0.25em;"><span data-reader-unique-id="103" style="max-width: 100%;">Michael Caterina/South Bend Tribune, via Associated Press</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="105" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="106" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="107" style="max-width: 100%;">Justice Alito added: “At this time in the history of our country, what the court has done, I fear, will be seen by some as giving the government a green light to use heavy-handed tactics to skew the presentation of views on the medium that increasingly dominates the dissemination of news. That is most unfortunate.”</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="110" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="111" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="112" style="max-width: 100%;">In <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-411/293780/20231219192259919_23-411ts%20Murthy.pdf" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="113" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">a Supreme Court brief</a>, the administration said it must be free to speak vigorously in pursuing its policy agenda. “So long as the government seeks to inform and persuade rather than to compel, its speech poses no First Amendment concern — even if government officials state their views in strong terms, and even if private actors change their speech or conduct in response,” the brief said.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="114" style="max-width: 100%;">There was no evidence, the brief added, that the government had coerced the platforms. “Although the Fifth Circuit stated that White House officials threatened the platforms with legal reforms,” the brief said, “the only statements it identified were general responses to press questions untethered from any specific content-moderation request.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="115" style="max-width: 100%;">Lawyers for Missouri and Louisiana said the administration routinely crossed the line from general persuasion to particular demands.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="116" style="max-width: 100%;">“The government can speak freely on any topic it chooses,” the states’ brief said, “but it cannot pressure and coerce private companies to censor ordinary Americans.”</p></div></div></section> John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-91259771344819614292024-03-16T11:26:00.005-04:002024-03-16T11:26:49.549-04:00Ankle Monitors and Curfews: Inside Biden’s New Tracking System for Migrant Families - The New York Times<div><h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.95552em; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;">Ankle Monitors and Curfews: Inside Biden’s New Tracking System for Migrant Families</h1><h2 class="subhead" data-reader-unique-id="subheadElement" style="color: rgba(27, 27, 27, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.46664em; font-weight: normal; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.27275em; margin-top: -0.35em; max-width: 100%;">"The goal of the program is to keep people from skipping out on their asylum hearings, joining the millions of undocumented people who stay in the country indefinitely.</h2><div class="metadata singleline" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; hyphens: manual; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: -0.7em; max-width: 100%;"><time class="date" data-reader-unique-id="301" datetime="2024-03-16T05:00:31-04:00" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;">March 16, 2024,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span data-reader-unique-id="302" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;">5:00 a.m. ET</span></time></div><header data-reader-unique-id="8" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="21" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="22" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="23" data-testid="imageContainer-children-Image" style="max-width: 100%;"><picture data-reader-unique-id="24" style="max-width: 100%;"><source data-reader-unique-id="25" media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 3dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 288dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/02/13/multimedia/00dc-immig-01-jfct/00dc-immig-01-jfct-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=600" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="26" media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 192dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/02/13/multimedia/00dc-immig-01-jfct/00dc-immig-01-jfct-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="27" media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 1dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 96dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/02/13/multimedia/00dc-immig-01-jfct/00dc-immig-01-jfct-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1800" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><img alt="A portrait of a mother and son." data-reader-unique-id="28" decoding="async" height="900" sizes="((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 80vw, 100vw" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/02/13/multimedia/00dc-immig-01-jfct/00dc-immig-01-jfct-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/02/13/multimedia/00dc-immig-01-jfct/00dc-immig-01-jfct-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 600w,https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/02/13/multimedia/00dc-immig-01-jfct/00dc-immig-01-jfct-jumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 683w,https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/02/13/multimedia/00dc-immig-01-jfct/00dc-immig-01-jfct-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 1366w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="600" /></picture></div><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="29" data-testid="photoviewer-children-ImageCaption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="30" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">“We know that we didn’t come here legally, but we didn’t have a way to do it legally,” said Sandra, an asylum-seeker who crossed the border with her son, Justin, and her husband.</span><span data-reader-unique-id="31" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="32" style="max-width: 100%;">Loren Elliott for The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></header><section data-reader-unique-id="49" name="articleBody" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="50" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="51" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="52" style="max-width: 100%;">On a recent evening in California, a woman named Sandra was at a birthday party with her 15-year-old son when she glanced at the clock.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="53" style="max-width: 100%;">She started to panic: It was after 10 p.m.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="54" style="max-width: 100%;">She had less than an hour to get home in time for an 11 p.m. curfew set by U.S. immigration authorities, part of a nearly year-old tracking system for migrant families who hope to be granted asylum in the United States.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="55" style="max-width: 100%;">She motioned to her son that they had to leave, and hustled him out the door and into the car.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="56" style="max-width: 100%;">They made it home at 10:58 p.m., the bulky GPS monitor on her right ankle pinging out her location to the authorities keeping track. Her heart, which had been slamming in her chest the whole ride home, finally slowed.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="57" style="max-width: 100%;">Sandra, 45, and her son Justin, who crossed the border in December after fleeing Colombia, are part of a nearly year-old Biden administration program that seeks to quickly process — and potentially deport — many of the migrant families who have arrived in the United States in record-breaking numbers.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="60" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="61" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="62" style="max-width: 100%;">The goal of the program is to keep families from skipping out on their asylum hearings and melting away into American society, joining the millions of undocumented people who<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="63" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/31/us/us-immigration-asylum-border.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">stay in the country indefinitely</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>under the radar of U.S. authorities.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="64" style="max-width: 100%;">If the families fail their asylum screenings, they can be deported within weeks. The asylum process usually takes years, with most claims ultimately rejected.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="65" style="max-width: 100%;">So far, the Family Expedited Removal Management program has tracked more than 19,000 people since May, according to data from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that was obtained by The New York Times. More than 1,500 of them have been deported and around 1,000 have absconded by prying off their ankle monitors, the ICE data show. The rest either passed their initial screenings or still have cases underway.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="66" style="max-width: 100%;">Although the program has been used in only a fraction of claims, some U.S. officials see it as a test case for a faster way to deal with families seeking refuge in America, where laws require the government to consider asylum claims from anyone who makes it onto U.S. soil.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="70" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="71" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="72" style="max-width: 100%;">They hope the program can provide an alternative to the usual options for handling migrant families: detaining them in costly ICE facilities, which President Biden has criticized, or releasing them with court dates years in the future and no consistent way of tracking them.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="106" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="107" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="108" style="max-width: 100%;">Thomas Giles, an ICE official who runs the program, said it was showing signs of promise.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="109" style="max-width: 100%;">“It’s definitely increased our family unit removals over the last nine months compared to before, so it’s been successful with that,” he said. But he cautioned that the program requires an enormous amount of resources and is still in the early days.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="110" style="max-width: 100%;">“This is basically what we’ve needed to do for 10 years, but on a massive scale,” said John Sandweg, who was acting director of ICE during the Obama administration.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="111" style="max-width: 100%;">The Biden administration should expand the program, he said, because it is difficult to deport people — especially families — once they have been in the United States for years, building lives in America while their cases wend their way through the system.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="114" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="115" style="max-width: 100%;"><h2 data-reader-unique-id="116" style="font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">What to do with families?</h2><p data-reader-unique-id="117" style="max-width: 100%;">The U.S. immigration system, chronically underfunded and understaffed, cannot keep pace with the number of people who want asylum in America. Mr. Biden, in an election year with immigration as a dominant issue, is even said to be considering<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="118" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/21/us/politics/biden-executive-order-asylum-border.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">restricting asylum altogether</a>.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="119" style="max-width: 100%;">There were more than 2.5 million migrant encounters at the southwest land border in fiscal year 2023, a record-breaking number that has<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="120" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/12/us/denver-colorado-migrants.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">strained resources</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>in American cities.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="121" style="max-width: 100%;">The questions of how, where and how long to detain migrants have confounded successive administrations. But the issue of what to do with families, in particular, has been among the most fraught, with ethical and political implications at every turn.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="122" style="max-width: 100%;">Years of scientific consensus show that detaining minors, even with their parents, can cause developmental damage. Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald J. Trump all detained families in ICE facilities, hoping that the prospect of being locked up would deter migrant families from making the trip.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="141" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="142" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="143" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Trump tried to expand the practice and detain families indefinitely, but a federal judge said it violated a court settlement that required that families only be detained for 20 days.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="144" style="max-width: 100%;">The Biden administration made a point of ending family detention, instead releasing families with ankle bracelets and traceable cellphones. That model was a precursor to the new program, which uses strict curfews and expedited asylum screenings in addition to the electronic monitoring.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="145" style="max-width: 100%;">The program is being used in more than 40 locations with the resources to keep track of thousands of migrants and make swift rulings in a make-or-break step of the asylum process: the credible-fear interview.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="146" style="max-width: 100%;">In a functioning system, most people seeking asylum would be interviewed at the border to determine whether they have a credible fear of persecution back home. But only about 500 such interviews are conducted every day — for a sliver of the thousands of people who cross.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="147" style="max-width: 100%;">The rest are often released into the country with a court date far in the future.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="148" style="max-width: 100%;">The new program aims to screen families and quickly deport those who don’t meet the bar for credible fear. Mr. Giles, the ICE official who runs the program, said that ICE gives migrants a list of free legal service providers when they are processed into the program.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="151" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="152" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="153" style="max-width: 100%;">If families fail their initial screenings, case managers who track their movements make sure their travel documents are in order and coordinate the trips home, usually on chartered government planes. If they abscond, ICE begins to search for them for immediate arrest.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="154" style="max-width: 100%;">If they pass, they can stay in the United States at least until their cases are concluded.</p><h2 data-reader-unique-id="155" style="font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">‘I didn’t want to come’</h2><p data-reader-unique-id="156" style="max-width: 100%;">Sandra said she came to the United States as a last resort.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="157" style="max-width: 100%;">For years in Colombia, she ran a Christian organization aimed at helping the children of people addicted to drugs. It was, she said, her “dream job.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="158" style="max-width: 100%;">But last year, she said, gang members threatened to kill her because she refused to help them sell drugs. She knew she had to leave.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="159" style="max-width: 100%;">“I didn’t want to come,” she said through a Spanish interpreter, asking that only her first name be used because of fears for her safety. “Many people come here because they are after the famous American dream — but that was not my case.”</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="162" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="163" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="164" style="max-width: 100%;">In Colombia, she said, she was “up here,” motioning above her head. In America she is “down here,” pointing to her ankle monitor.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="165" style="max-width: 100%;">She began organizing the journey to the United States in the winter, with a vague plan for what to do once she arrived with Justin: Her older son, who had come to the United States a few years ago, would buy them plane tickets to Oakland, Calif.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="166" style="max-width: 100%;">But first she had to get across the border. In Mexico, they were robbed and threatened with kidnapping and torture. Cartel members threatened to hold them until their families paid money. There was only one option, she said. Cross the border.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="201" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="202" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="203" style="max-width: 100%;">In early December, they walked into Arizona and told Border Patrol they were afraid to return to Colombia, kick-starting the asylum process.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="204" style="max-width: 100%;">The government saw them as candidates for the new expedited process because they were headed to the Bay Area, where the program has an office. Sandra was given an ankle monitor and told to check in at a government office in San Francisco.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="205" style="max-width: 100%;">The case manager there told Sandra that she was not a criminal but that this was part of Mr. Biden’s program to get things “under control,” she recalled.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="206" style="max-width: 100%;">“This is kind of humiliating in a way,” she said. “We know that we didn’t come here legally, but we didn’t have a way to do it legally.”</p><h2 data-reader-unique-id="207" style="font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">‘Completely untenable’</h2><p data-reader-unique-id="208" style="max-width: 100%;">Many advocates for immigrants say the expedited removal program actually works too fast, making it difficult for people to find legal representation. They also criticize the use of GPS trackers, which are more often used in criminal courts.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="211" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="212" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="213" style="max-width: 100%;">The National Immigrant Justice Center said building an asylum case requires “complex legal research, fact gathering, and numerous in-person meetings with the client for trauma-informed interviews and case preparation.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="214" style="max-width: 100%;">“The speed of the program is completely untenable,” said Cindy Woods, national policy counsel at Americans for Immigrant Justice, an organization that represents families whose cases are processed through the expedited removal program, including Sandra’s.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="232" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="233" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="234" style="max-width: 100%;">Ms. Woods said that over the summer, a mother of two from Ecuador reached out to her two days before her family’s credible-fear screening. But the woman became distraught when talking about “past harm and threats,” Ms. Woods said.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="235" style="max-width: 100%;">There was no time to prepare her for the asylum screening, which she ultimately failed, Ms. Woods said. The woman is now in hiding with her family in Ecuador.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="238" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="239" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="240" style="max-width: 100%;">Ms. Woods said the expedited removal program was preferable to family detention. But she said “it is happening way too fast.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="241" style="max-width: 100%;">For the Biden administration, speed is the whole point.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="242" style="max-width: 100%;">The backlog in the immigration courts surpassed three million cases last year, and there are not nearly enough judges and interpreters to tackle it effectively. The new expedited program is an attempt to keep that backlog from swelling even more with families.</p><h2 data-reader-unique-id="243" style="font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">The future</h2><p data-reader-unique-id="244" style="max-width: 100%;">On a Friday in late December, Sandra arrived at her initial asylum screening in San Francisco.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="245" style="max-width: 100%;">She explained to the officers why she had come to the United States and what she risked back home. One week later, there was a decision: She had passed the credible fear screening, the first administrative step on the road to asylum.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="246" style="max-width: 100%;">She had been in America for four weeks.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="247" style="max-width: 100%;">Now, she waits along with the rest of the asylum seekers for her case to come up in immigration court. There are often multiple hearings, including one where both the migrant and the government present evidence. That can take years.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="248" style="max-width: 100%;">Now that she’s passed the initial screening, government officials took off her ankle bracelet — a relief, she said. She will apply for a work permit so she can earn money.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="251" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="252" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="253" style="max-width: 100%;">But the country still feels deeply unfamiliar to her.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="254" style="max-width: 100%;">“We trust in God and I think everything is going to turn out well,” she said. “But of course we are afraid of what is going to happen.”</p></div></div></section></div><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/16/us/politics/immigrants-tracking-program.html">Ankle Monitors and Curfews: Inside Biden’s New Tracking System for Migrant Families - The New York Times</a>John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-52849807751604400602024-03-16T11:16:00.004-04:002024-03-16T11:16:19.109-04:00Fani Willis Hangs Onto Trump Case, but More Turbulence Lies Ahead - The New York Times<div><h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.95552em; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;">Fani Willis Hangs Onto Trump Case, but More Turbulence Lies Ahead</h1><h2 class="subhead" data-reader-unique-id="subheadElement" style="color: rgba(27, 27, 27, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.46664em; font-weight: normal; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.27275em; margin-top: -0.35em; max-width: 100%;">"A fresh array of problems are in store for Ms. Willis and her prosecution of Donald Trump, one of the most significant state criminal cases in American history.</h2><div class="metadata singleline" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; hyphens: manual; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: -0.7em; max-width: 100%;"><time class="date" data-reader-unique-id="189" datetime="2024-03-15T20:55:43-04:00" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;">March 15, 2024</time></div><header data-reader-unique-id="19" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="32" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="33" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="34" data-testid="imageContainer-children-Image" style="max-width: 100%;"><picture data-reader-unique-id="35" style="max-width: 100%;"><source data-reader-unique-id="36" media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 3dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 288dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/15/multimedia/15nat-georgia-future-tplw/15nat-georgia-future-tplw-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=600" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="37" media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 192dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/15/multimedia/15nat-georgia-future-tplw/15nat-georgia-future-tplw-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="38" media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 1dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 96dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/15/multimedia/15nat-georgia-future-tplw/15nat-georgia-future-tplw-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1800" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><img alt="Fani Willis stands at a podium next to Nathan Wade." data-reader-unique-id="39" decoding="async" height="400" sizes="((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 80vw, 100vw" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/15/multimedia/15nat-georgia-future-tplw/15nat-georgia-future-tplw-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/15/multimedia/15nat-georgia-future-tplw/15nat-georgia-future-tplw-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 600w,https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/15/multimedia/15nat-georgia-future-tplw/15nat-georgia-future-tplw-jumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 1024w,https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/15/multimedia/15nat-georgia-future-tplw/15nat-georgia-future-tplw-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 2048w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="600" /></picture></div><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="40" data-testid="photoviewer-children-ImageCaption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="41" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney, and the prosecutor Nathan Wade at a news conference in August.</span><span data-reader-unique-id="42" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="43" style="max-width: 100%;">Kenny Holston/The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></header><section data-reader-unique-id="63" name="articleBody" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="64" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="65" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="66" style="max-width: 100%;">After revelations of Fani T. Willis’s romance with a subordinate sent the Georgia criminal case against Donald J. Trump down a two-month detour worthy of a soap opera, a judge’s ruling on Friday resolved a major cliffhanger. Ms. Willis could continue prosecuting the case, so long as her ex-boyfriend withdrew from it.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="67" style="max-width: 100%;">But the resignation hours later of the former boyfriend, Nathan J. Wade, whom Ms. Willis hired as a special prosector, only settled so much. A fresh and complicated array of problems lies ahead for Ms. Willis, and for one of the most significant state criminal cases in American history.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="68" style="max-width: 100%;">“Her troubles are far from over,” Clark D. Cunningham, a law professor and ethics specialist at Georgia State University, said in an email on Friday.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="69" style="max-width: 100%;">The defense effort to disqualify Ms. Willis began in early January, upending the case and making it unlikely to reach trial before the November rematch between Mr. Trump and President Biden. Any attempts to appeal Friday’s ruling by Judge Scott McAfee of Fulton County Superior Court could delay matters even further.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="72" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="73" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="74" style="max-width: 100%;">Republicans have smelled blood. The G.O.P. lawmakers who dominate Georgia politics have created new ways to investigate Ms. Willis, which could potentially lead to her removal from office. And last week, a young lawyer named Courtney Kramer, a former intern in the Trump White House, announced that she would run against Ms. Willis in this year’s race for district attorney.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="75" style="max-width: 100%;">Ms. Kramer’s campaign, while unlikely to succeed in heavily Democratic Fulton County, could amplify criticism of Ms. Willis and the case, which charges Mr. Trump and some of his allies<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="76" href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/08/15/us/politics/trump-georgia-indictment-annotated.html?unlocked_article_code=btxvy-ngwaakd3_37zxcb-kgLCfhs7sJ-JTjOy38vxUM5jwvI3XQ4JQRI3nMSTDFp9IObx38NOWnBcInxwVfNR-TY067-jYktVIdF7tmCgLUsyZn9_VKWPiHtAvX61roO-1473V4qV5UpyG0D_2VtHchePWDVJ3KDYGCs_8fnBfUqXGcM-3JCjKzXFvGt5t4kOBXCXzJ_x-bm5UtHJsrUdvYcxbSV1jw6KSRZfI-QEp0wemVJXhLqP2CFdYSDyxjJNatEpFeACZKbAohU2j0ryvZsYMekWK8r-9rUfzFYzeE83AP7hm6EB4qymVD8J1VwtI1Y5pBt-q2L5Ub0khA1xCoCo-g7ddVwOqM2n79OeaN1GrvMtBQVfvhq5KUnUsH&smid=url-share" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">with conspiring to overturn</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>his 2020 election loss in Georgia.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="78" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="79" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="80" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="84" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="85" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">A young lawyer named Courtney Kramer, a former intern in the Trump White House, announced that she would run against Ms. Willis in this year’s race for district attorney.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span data-reader-unique-id="86" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="87" style="max-width: 100%;">Natrice Miller/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, via Associated Press</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="89" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="90" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="91" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Trump has made Ms. Willis’s troubles a recurring talking point at rallies. One of his staunchest allies in Congress, Representative Jim Jordan, is chair of the House Judiciary committee, which has been investigating Ms. Willis and her prosecution of the former president. On Thursday, Mr. Jordan<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="92" href="https://judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/republicans-judiciary.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/2024-03-14%20JDJ%20to%20Willis%20re%20subpoena%20noncompliance%20and%20contempt.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="">sent a letter to Ms. Willis</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>threatening to invoke contempt of Congress proceedings against her if she did not turn over certain documents related to her office’s use of federal funds.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="93" style="max-width: 100%;">All of these attacks could help to sow doubts about the district attorney and her case in the minds of future jurors.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="96" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="97" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="98" style="max-width: 100%;">As the pressure has mounted, Ms. Willis has responded with fierce defiance. Soon after news of the relationship broke,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="99" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/14/us/fani-willis-nathan-wade-trump-georgia.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">she gave a speech at a Black church in Atlanta</a>, calling herself “flawed, hardheaded and imperfect” but also suggesting that her critics were motivated by racism.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="100" style="max-width: 100%;">Just last week, at an International Women’s Day event, she lashed out against “idiots” who criticized her and mispronounced her name as “Fanny” — it’s FAH-nee — and recounted how a friend had recently asked if she regretted becoming district attorney.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="101" style="max-width: 100%;">“Are you kidding?” Ms. Willis recalled responding. “I’m the best D.A. this county’s ever had.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="102" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Cunningham said that even after Friday’s ruling, Ms. Willis and her entire office could still be removed from the case if an appeal were to succeed, which would send it skidding into new realms of uncertainty and potential chaos. The judge, he noted, pointed to lingering questions about whether Ms. Willis and Mr. Wade “testified untruthfully,” even saying in his ruling that “an odor of mendacity remains.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="103" style="max-width: 100%;">“Trump and his co-defendants will surely appeal,” Mr. Cunningham said in his email, “and Judge McAfee’s order gives plenty of basis for them to argue to the court of appeals that just removing Wade is an inadequate remedy.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="104" style="max-width: 100%;">It is not clear how much Mr. Wade’s resignation sets back the case. Ms. Willis has described him as a longtime trusted ally. And as the manager of the Trump prosecution team since November 2021, he possesses a wealth of institutional knowledge that would have been particularly helpful if the case stretches out for months, or even years.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="107" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="108" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="109" style="max-width: 100%;">At the same time, there is<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="110" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/20/us/nathan-wade-trump-prosecutor-atlanta.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">no evidence</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>that Mr. Wade, a lawyer and former municipal court judge from the Atlanta suburbs, ever handled a major political corruption case before Ms. Willis hired him. Indeed, his scant experience was a key argument in the original motion to disqualify Ms. Willis.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="111" style="max-width: 100%;">Ashleigh Merchant, the defense lawyer who filed the motion, claimed that Ms. Willis had hired an underqualified boyfriend, paid him handsomely from public coffers, and then benefited from vacations that she and Mr. Wade took together.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="113" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="114" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="115" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="119" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="120" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">Ashleigh Merchant, the lawyer who filed the motion to disqualify Ms. Willis, claimed that Ms. Willis had hired an underqualified boyfriend, paid him handsomely from public coffers, and then benefited from vacations that she took with him.</span><span data-reader-unique-id="121" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="122" style="max-width: 100%;">Alyssa Pointer/Reuters</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="124" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="125" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="126" style="max-width: 100%;">A more serious problem for Ms. Willis and the case may lie in the new state commission that has the power to investigate and remove elected prosecutors.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="127" style="max-width: 100%;">The commission, made up of Republican appointees, was created last year but was stymied by legal problems that the legislature addressed in a recent measure. It is likely to face a court challenge before it can begin its work.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="130" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="131" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="132" style="max-width: 100%;">A second group made up of mostly Republican state senators and dedicated to investigating Ms. Willis has already begun holding hearings. Its leader, Senator Bill Cowsert, has said that the group does not want to conduct a “witch hunt.” But it has the power to subpoena documents and witnesses,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="133" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/07/us/fani-willis-trump-georgia-state-investigation.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">and it called Ms. Merchant</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>as its first witness last week.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="134" style="max-width: 100%;">Before Ms. Merchant’s motion to disqualify Ms. Willis, the prosecution had secured pleas from four of the original 19 defendants in the sprawling racketeering case. Presumably, any talk of additional deals shut down as defendants waited to see whether Ms. Willis and her office would be thrown off the case. It is unclear whether the events of the last two months will make further plea talks less likely.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="135" style="max-width: 100%;">The best news for Ms. Willis on Friday was that Judge McAfee declined to force her off the Trump case. But she also scored smaller victories, as the judge declined to punish her for other actions. Among them was the speech she gave at the church.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="136" style="max-width: 100%;">Steven H. Sadow, the main lawyer for Mr. Trump in Georgia, had described the speech as “provocative and inflammatory extrajudicial racial comments” meant to “publicly denounce and rebuke the defendants.” He argued that they were troubling enough to disqualify Ms. Willis and her office and dismiss the indictment.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="137" style="max-width: 100%;">Judge McAfee declined to go that far, although he did call Ms. Willis’s statements “legally improper.” And he suggested that he was open to issuing a gag order that would block Ms. Willis from mentioning the case in public from now on.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="140" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="141" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="142" style="max-width: 100%;">But does keeping Ms. Willis quiet help or hurt the case as it drags on? Much like Mr. Trump, she does not shy away from the spotlight. And like Mr. Trump, her talkative, combative nature has won her enthusiastic fans.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="143" style="max-width: 100%;">In December, a few weeks before the relationship was brought to light, Ms. Willis drew applause and cheers as she spoke at an event in New York honoring her.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="144" style="max-width: 100%;">“A lot of folks mad,” she said, “But I’m still here.”</p></div></div></section><div data-reader-unique-id="146" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="147" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="155" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="156" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="157" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="158" style="max-width: 100%;"><a data-reader-unique-id="159" href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/danny-hakim" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Danny Hakim</a></span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is an investigative reporter. He has been a European economics correspondent and bureau chief in Albany and Detroit. He was also a lead reporter on the team awarded the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News.<span data-reader-unique-id="160" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="161" href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/danny-hakim" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">More about Danny Hakim</a>"</span></p></div></div></div></div></div><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/15/us/fani-willis-trump-georgia-case.html">Fani Willis Hangs Onto Trump Case, but More Turbulence Lies Ahead - The New York Times</a>John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-73516574709384535582024-03-15T10:23:00.004-04:002024-03-15T10:23:42.160-04:00Missouri law bars divorce during pregnancy – even in cases of violence | Missouri | The Guardian<div><b>(The United States is quickly moving back to it's primitive, 19th Century past)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.95552em; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;">Missouri law bars divorce during pregnancy – even in cases of violence</h1><h2 class="subhead" data-reader-unique-id="subheadElement" style="color: rgba(27, 27, 27, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.46664em; font-weight: normal; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.27275em; margin-top: -0.35em; max-width: 100%;">"The statute, which can lead to reproductive coercion in a state that has banned abortion, has recently gained nationwide attention</h2><figure data-reader-unique-id="52" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="53" style="max-width: 100%;"><picture data-reader-unique-id="54" style="max-width: 100%;"><source data-reader-unique-id="55" media="(min-width: 980px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 980px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3cd29cbeb5b613a6b96fd064f46489b2b2f6c6d8/0_242_3600_2160/master/3600.jpg?width=620&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="56" media="(min-width: 980px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3cd29cbeb5b613a6b96fd064f46489b2b2f6c6d8/0_242_3600_2160/master/3600.jpg?width=620&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="57" media="(min-width: 740px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 740px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3cd29cbeb5b613a6b96fd064f46489b2b2f6c6d8/0_242_3600_2160/master/3600.jpg?width=700&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="58" media="(min-width: 740px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3cd29cbeb5b613a6b96fd064f46489b2b2f6c6d8/0_242_3600_2160/master/3600.jpg?width=700&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="59" media="(min-width: 660px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 660px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3cd29cbeb5b613a6b96fd064f46489b2b2f6c6d8/0_242_3600_2160/master/3600.jpg?width=620&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="60" media="(min-width: 660px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3cd29cbeb5b613a6b96fd064f46489b2b2f6c6d8/0_242_3600_2160/master/3600.jpg?width=620&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="61" media="(min-width: 480px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 480px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3cd29cbeb5b613a6b96fd064f46489b2b2f6c6d8/0_242_3600_2160/master/3600.jpg?width=645&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="62" media="(min-width: 480px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3cd29cbeb5b613a6b96fd064f46489b2b2f6c6d8/0_242_3600_2160/master/3600.jpg?width=645&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="63" media="(min-width: 320px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 320px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3cd29cbeb5b613a6b96fd064f46489b2b2f6c6d8/0_242_3600_2160/master/3600.jpg?width=465&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="64" media="(min-width: 320px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3cd29cbeb5b613a6b96fd064f46489b2b2f6c6d8/0_242_3600_2160/master/3600.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><img alt="A close up image of a pregnant woman holding her stomach" data-reader-unique-id="65" height="279" loading="eager" src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3cd29cbeb5b613a6b96fd064f46489b2b2f6c6d8/0_242_3600_2160/master/3600.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="465" /></picture><span class="converted-anchor" data-reader-unique-id="66" style="max-width: 100%;"></span></div><span data-reader-unique-id="67" style="max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="68" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="69" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"></span><span data-reader-unique-id="72" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">Under a Missouri statute, those who are pregnant are barred from legally dissolving their marriage.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Photograph: Yui Mok/PA</figcaption></span></figure><p data-reader-unique-id="1" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">At six months pregnant, H decided enough was enough. She had endured years of abuse from her husband and had recently discovered he was also physically violent towards her child. She contacted an attorney to help her get a divorce.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="2" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">But she was stopped short. Her lawyer told her that she could not finalize a divorce in Missouri because she was pregnant. “I just absolutely felt defeated,” she said. H returned to the house she shared with her abuser, sleeping in her child’s room on the floor and continuing to face violence. On the night before she gave birth, she slept in the most secure room in the house: on the tile floor in the basement, with the family’s dogs.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="3" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><gu-island config="{"renderingTarget":"Web","darkModeAvailable":false}" data-island-status="hydrated" data-reader-unique-id="4" deferuntil="visible" name="SignInGateSelector" priority="feature" props="{"contentType":"Article","sectionId":"us-news","tags":[{"id":"us-news/missouri","type":"Keyword","title":"Missouri"},{"id":"society/domestic-violence","type":"Keyword","title":"Domestic violence"},{"id":"us-news/us-news","type":"Keyword","title":"US news"},{"id":"lifeandstyle/divorce","type":"Keyword","title":"Divorce"},{"id":"campaign/email/us-morning-newsletter","type":"Campaign","title":"First Thing (newsletter signup)"},{"id":"law/law-us","type":"Keyword","title":"Law (US)"},{"id":"type/article","type":"Type","title":"Article"},{"id":"tone/news","type":"Tone","title":"News"},{"id":"tracking/commissioningdesk/us-news","type":"Tracking","title":"US News"}],"isPaidContent":false,"isPreview":false,"host":"https://www.theguardian.com","pageId":"us-news/2024/mar/15/missouri-law-divorce-pregnancy-violence-abortion","idUrl":"https://profile.theguardian.com","switches":{"lightbox":true,"prebidAppnexusUkRow":true,"abSignInGateMainVariant":true,"commercialMetrics":true,"prebidTrustx":true,"scAdFreeBanner":false,"adaptiveSite":true,"prebidPermutiveAudience":true,"compareVariantDecision":false,"enableSentryReporting":true,"lazyLoadContainers":true,"ampArticleSwitch":true,"remarketing":true,"oscarsNewsletterEmbed2":false,"articleEndSlot":true,"keyEventsCarousel":true,"abOscarsNewsletterEmbed":false,"registerWithPhone":false,"targeting":true,"remoteHeader":true,"slotBodyEnd":true,"prebidImproveDigitalSkins":true,"ampPrebidOzone":true,"extendedMostPopularFronts":true,"emailInlineInFooter":true,"showNewPrivacyWordingOnEmailSignupEmbeds":true,"prebidAnalytics":true,"extendedMostPopular":true,"ampContentAbTesting":false,"prebidCriteo":true,"okta":true,"imrWorldwide":true,"acast":true,"automaticFilters":true,"twitterUwt":true,"prebidAppnexusInvcode":true,"ampPrebidPubmatic":true,"a9HeaderBidding":true,"prebidAppnexus":true,"enableDiscussionSwitch":true,"prebidXaxis":true,"stickyVideos":true,"interactiveFullHeaderSwitch":true,"discussionAllPageSize":true,"prebidUserSync":true,"audioOnwardJourneySwitch":true,"brazeTaylorReport":false,"externalVideoEmbeds":true,"abSignInGateAlternativeWording":true,"callouts":true,"sentinelLogger":true,"geoMostPopular":true,"weAreHiring":false,"relatedContent":true,"thirdPartyEmbedTracking":true,"prebidOzone":true,"ampLiveblogSwitch":true,"ampAmazon":true,"prebidAdYouLike":true,"mostViewedFronts":true,"discussionInApps":false,"optOutAdvertising":true,"abSignInGateMainControl":true,"headerTopNav":true,"googleSearch":true,"brazeSwitch":true,"darkModeInApps":true,"prebidKargo":true,"consentManagement":true,"crosswordMobileBanner":true,"personaliseSignInGateAfterCheckout":true,"redplanetForAus":true,"prebidSonobi":true,"idProfileNavigation":true,"confiantAdVerification":true,"discussionAllowAnonymousRecommendsSwitch":false,"dcrTagPages":true,"permutive":true,"comscore":true,"ampPrebidCriteo":true,"abMpuWhenNoEpic":false,"newsletterOnwards":false,"youtubeIma":true,"oscarsNewsletterEmbed1":false,"webFonts":true,"prebidImproveDigital":true,"ophan":true,"crosswordSvgThumbnails":true,"prebidTriplelift":true,"weather":true,"disableAmpTest":true,"prebidPubmatic":true,"serverShareCounts":false,"autoRefresh":true,"enhanceTweets":true,"prebidIndexExchange":true,"prebidOpenx":true,"prebidHeaderBidding":true,"mobileDiscussionAds":true,"idCookieRefresh":true,"discussionPageSize":true,"smartAppBanner":false,"boostGaUserTimingFidelity":false,"historyTags":true,"brazeContentCards":true,"surveys":true,"emailSignupRecaptcha":true,"prebidSmart":true,"shouldLoadGoogletag":true,"inizio":true,"abSectionAdDensity":true,"remoteBanner":true}}" style="max-width: 100%;"></gu-island></p><p data-reader-unique-id="5" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Under a Missouri statute that has recently gained nationwide attention, every petitioner for divorce is required to disclose their pregnancy status. In practice, experts say, those who are pregnant are barred from legally dissolving their marriage. “The application [of the law] is an outright ban,” said Danielle Drake, attorney at Parks & Drake. When Drake learned her then husband was having an affair, her own divorce stalled because she was pregnant.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="6" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2024/02/28/pregnant-women-divorce-missouri-texas-arkansas-arizona/72763848007/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Two</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>other states have similar laws: Texas and Arkansas.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="9" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">It took H three months after the birth of her second child to muster the finances and courage to file for divorce again. She believes that had she been able to obtain a divorce when she first tried, she would have been able to leave an abusive environment many months earlier.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="10" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The original intent of the statute in Missouri, which originated in 1973, was “noble”, Ashley Aune, a Democratic representative, said, as it tried to ensure that a mother and her child were provided for by settling custody arrangements and child support after the child’s birth.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="11" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">But in practice, it has created barriers for pregnant people seeking divorce. The precise number of women the current statute affects is unknown – no entity collects this information. But the problem, Synergy Services, a non-profit that provides supportive services to people experiencing violence in Greater Kansas City, said they regularly receive requests for support from pregnant women unable to divorce abusive husbands because of the law.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="12" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Advocates warn the law can enable reproductive coercion, a term referring to behaviors that aim to control the course of another person’s reproductive autonomy. Common examples include forcing a person to continue or terminate a pregnancy, sabotaging their birth control or tracking their ovulation cycle.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="13" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">When the abuse was ongoing, H says she would not have used the term to describe her experience. She does now. Her first child was six months old when she was raped by her former husband and became pregnant again. “I think he knew, in his mind, that it would keep me as his property,” H told the Guardian.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="14" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Aune recently introduced House bill 2402, which would give a family court judge more discretion to grant an expedited divorce in cases of pregnancy. “I want a judge to be able to look at that and say, ‘OK, you’re right. This is a situation where we need to close this divorce out,’” Aune said. The bill has yet to be brought to a vote.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="15" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Missouri is particularly restrictive when it comes to reproductive health and autonomy. It was one of the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="16" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/06/24/abortion-is-now-illegal-in-missouri-in-wake-of-u-s-supreme-court-ruling/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">first</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to ban abortion after Roe v Wade was overturned in 2022, including in cases of rape and incest. Research shows that abortion restrictions can effectively<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="17" href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/dy3yny/abortion-bans-domestic-abusers" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">give cover to</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>reproductive coercion and sexual violence: the National Hotline for Domestic Violence said it saw a<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="18" href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/dy3yny/abortion-bans-domestic-abusers" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">99% increase</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>in calls during the first year after the loss of the constitutional right to abortion.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="19" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Advocates are<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="20" href="https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2024-03-06/missouri-advocates-gather-signatures-to-legalize-abortion-but-republicans-are-trying-to-stop-it" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">currently</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>trying to gather enough signatures to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would make abortion legal until fetal viability, or around 24 weeks.</p><figure data-reader-unique-id="21" data-spacefinder-role="inline" data-spacefinder-type="model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.NewsletterSignupBlockElement" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><aside aria-label="newsletter promotion" data-reader-unique-id="22" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="32" style="margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-top: 0.4em; max-width: 100%;">Our US morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters</p><gu-island config="{"renderingTarget":"Web","darkModeAvailable":false}" data-reader-unique-id="33" deferuntil="visible" name="SecureSignup" priority="feature" props="{"newsletterId":"us-morning-newsletter","successDescription":"Our US morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters"}" style="max-width: 100%;"></gu-island><span data-reader-unique-id="34" style="max-width: 100%;"><strong data-reader-unique-id="35" style="max-width: 100%;">Privacy Notice:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong>Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-ignore="global-link-styling" data-reader-unique-id="36" href="https://www.theguardian.com/help/privacy-policy" rel="noreferrer" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Privacy Policy</a>. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-ignore="global-link-styling" data-reader-unique-id="37" href="https://policies.google.com/privacy" rel="noreferrer" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Privacy Policy</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-ignore="global-link-styling" data-reader-unique-id="38" href="https://policies.google.com/terms" rel="noreferrer" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Terms of Service</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>apply.</span></aside></figure><p data-reader-unique-id="39" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">In Missouri, homicide was the third leading cause of deaths in connection with pregnancy between 2018–2022, the majority (75%) of which occurred among Black women, according to a 2023<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="40" href="https://health.mo.gov/news/newsitem/uuid/8643d922-4c92-4744-8e37-a372cb018033/missouri-s-maternal-mortality-report-published" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">report</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>by the Missouri department of health and senior services, which examines maternal mortality data. In every case, the perpetrator was a current or former partner. And in 2022, 23,252 individuals in the state received services after reporting domestic violence, according to the latest<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="41" href="https://cm20-s3-mcadsv.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ResourceFiles/b6a28450123a40e3a1824ae5b8b1550eStatewide_DV_FINAL_highres.pdf" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">reporting</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>from Missouri Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence, which compiles data from direct service providers in the state.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="42" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“I don’t believe it is hyperbole when I say this legislation could literally save lives,” said Matthew Huffman, chief public affairs officer at Missouri Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence, a state-wide membership association of domestic and sexual violence service providers.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="43" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Having “the agency and ability to have a divorce finalized puts you in a place where you can begin to regain control of your life”.</p><footer data-reader-unique-id="44" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="45" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-dcr-style="bullet" data-reader-unique-id="46" style="max-width: 100%;"></span>In the US, the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="47" href="https://www.thehotline.org/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">domestic violence hotline</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In the UK, call the national<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="48" href="https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">domestic abuse helpline</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>on 0808 2000 247, or visit<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="49" href="https://www.womensaid.org.uk/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Women’s Aid</a>. In Australia, the national<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="50" href="https://www.1800respect.org.au/help-and-support/telephone-and-online-counselling" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">family violence counselling service</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines may be found via<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="51" href="http://www.befrienders.org/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">www.befrienders.org</a>."</p></footer></div><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/15/missouri-law-divorce-pregnancy-violence-abortion">Missouri law bars divorce during pregnancy – even in cases of violence | Missouri | The Guardian</a>John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-16317300711302319332024-03-15T09:52:00.005-04:002024-03-15T09:52:28.357-04:00Another Trump Trial Faces Delay - The New York Times<div><h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.95552em; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;">Trump’s Court Delays Pile Up While the Presidential Race Gathers Speed</h1><h2 class="subhead" data-reader-unique-id="subheadElement" style="color: rgba(27, 27, 27, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.46664em; font-weight: normal; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.27275em; margin-top: -0.35em; max-width: 100%;">"All four criminal cases against Donald Trump have become mired in issues that have pushed back the start of trials.</h2><div class="metadata singleline" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; hyphens: manual; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: -0.7em; max-width: 100%;"><time class="date" data-reader-unique-id="169" datetime="2024-03-14T19:06:06-04:00" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="170" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;">March 14, 2024</span></time></div><header data-reader-unique-id="19" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="25" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="26" style="max-width: 100%;"></span></span><div data-reader-unique-id="39" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="40" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="41" data-testid="imageContainer-children-Image" style="max-width: 100%;"><picture data-reader-unique-id="42" style="max-width: 100%;"><source data-reader-unique-id="43" media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 3dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 288dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/14/multimedia/14trump-on-trial-nl-fpcg/14trump-on-trial-nl-fpcg-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=600" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="44" media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 192dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/14/multimedia/14trump-on-trial-nl-fpcg/14trump-on-trial-nl-fpcg-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="45" media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 1dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 96dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/14/multimedia/14trump-on-trial-nl-fpcg/14trump-on-trial-nl-fpcg-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1800" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><img alt="Donald Trump waves near a police car. " data-reader-unique-id="46" decoding="async" height="480" sizes="((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 60vw, 100vw" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/14/multimedia/14trump-on-trial-nl-fpcg/14trump-on-trial-nl-fpcg-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/14/multimedia/14trump-on-trial-nl-fpcg/14trump-on-trial-nl-fpcg-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 600w,https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/14/multimedia/14trump-on-trial-nl-fpcg/14trump-on-trial-nl-fpcg-jumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 1024w,https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/14/multimedia/14trump-on-trial-nl-fpcg/14trump-on-trial-nl-fpcg-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 2048w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="600" /></picture></div><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="47" data-testid="photoviewer-children-ImageCaption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="48" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">Donald Trump has used a number of tactics to delay his trials.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span data-reader-unique-id="49" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="50" style="max-width: 100%;">Dave Sanders for The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></header><section data-reader-unique-id="67" name="articleBody" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="68" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="69" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="70" style="max-width: 100%;">Donald Trump’s New York hush money case — the only one of his four criminal cases that looked as if it would soon go to trial — suddenly faced the likelihood of delay on Thursday when a big batch of potential new evidence abruptly became available.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="71" style="max-width: 100%;">The<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="72" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/14/nyregion/alvin-bragg-trump-trial-delay.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">news of the likely postponement</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>arrived as the former president was in federal court in Florida for a separate hearing in a different case — the one in which he stands accused of mishandling classified documents, which even now has no solid start date. The judge there rejected one of a multitude of motions from Mr. Trump to dismiss the case.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="73" style="max-width: 100%;">On Friday, a judge in Georgia is expected to rule in yet another of the four cases on whether to disqualify the district attorney who charged Mr. Trump and a group of his allies with tampering with that state’s election results in 2020 — a decision that could be pivotal in determining whether the case goes to trial this year, or at all.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="74" style="max-width: 100%;">And in Washington, prosecutors and Mr. Trump’s lawyers are preparing for a showdown at the Supreme Court, which will hear arguments next month on his claim that he is immune from charges in the federal indictment that accuses him of plotting to overturn his 2020 election loss. That case was originally supposed to go in front of a jury this month.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="77" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="78" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="79" style="max-width: 100%;">The most recent complications make clear how the justice system is struggling to balance fairness and speed against the backdrop of a calendar shaped by the presidential campaign. All four cases in recent weeks have, in one way or another, become further mired in procedural or substantive issues that have resulted in delays.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="81" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="82" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="83" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="87" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="88" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, offered a delay of up to 30 days in the hush money trial.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span data-reader-unique-id="89" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="90" style="max-width: 100%;">Jeenah Moon for The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="92" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="93" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="94" style="max-width: 100%;">The issue of timing is paramount in the Trump prosecutions. Mr. Trump, after all, is a unique defendant.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="95" style="max-width: 100%;">He secured enough delegates this week to assure that he will be the Republican nominee for a third straight election, and if he wins in November, he would be in a position to use the powers of his office to dispose of the charges he is facing or push back any trials until after he leaves office.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="96" style="max-width: 100%;">And if he does not go to trial in some or all of the four cases before voters go to the polls, Americans will be choosing their next leader without having had a chance to hear all the evidence or had a jury determine his innocence or guilt.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="99" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="100" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="101" style="max-width: 100%;">The hush money case, which was scheduled to begin on March 25, is just the latest case to face a delay. Thursday’s startling development occurred after the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which is handling the prosecution, suggested a postponement of up to 30 days in order to let the Trump team review a new batch of records.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="102" style="max-width: 100%;">The office of the district attorney, Alvin Bragg, has been trying to obtain the records from federal prosecutors in Manhattan from a separate investigation they had conducted several years ago into the hush money payments, but it only recently received them.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="103" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Trump, who has used any number of tactics to delay his legal proceedings, asked for a 90-day delay to review what has been revealed to be tens of thousands of pages of new material. It’s now up to the judge in the case, Acting State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, to decide what to do, although the fact that both sides in the case agree there should be some form of delay means it’s almost certain to happen.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="104" style="max-width: 100%;">Justice Merchan could give either side what it wants or pick a period of delay somewhere in between their requests. Either way, it would mean the trial would start at least a month after it was originally scheduled — possibly creating a cascading effect on the timing of the other trials in the heat of a presidential campaign unlike any other.</p><hr data-reader-unique-id="105" style="border: 0px; height: 0.5px; max-width: 100%;" /></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="108" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="109" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="110" style="max-width: 100%;">Any of Trump’s trials could continue through Election Day right up to the moment of his inauguration — and possibly after it as well. If Mr. Trump were to win the election, he would have the power on Jan. 20, 2025, to order his new attorney general to dismiss any federal charges he is facing and could seek to delay any state charges from moving forward in a couple of different ways. But none of that would happen automatically. It would require him or his lawyers to take action, and those actions could take a while before resulting in the cases’ being derailed.</p><hr data-reader-unique-id="111" style="border: 0px; height: 0.5px; max-width: 100%;" /><h2 data-reader-unique-id="112" style="font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">Where does each criminal case stand?</h2><p data-reader-unique-id="113" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Trump is at the center of at least four separate criminal investigations, at both the state and federal levels, into matters related to his business and political careers. Here is where<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="114" href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/us/trump-investigations-charges-indictments.html?action=click&pgtype=Article&state=default&module=styln-trump-civil-inquiry&variant=show&region=MAIN_CONTENT_3&block=storyline_top_links_recirc" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">each case currently stands</a>.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="126" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="127" style="max-width: 100%;"><hr data-reader-unique-id="128" style="border: 0px; height: 0.5px; max-width: 100%;" /><h2 data-reader-unique-id="129" style="font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">What to watch next</h2><p data-reader-unique-id="130" style="max-width: 100%;">Judge Aileen Cannon of United States District Court for Southern Florida has yet to rule on when she intends to start the classified documents trial. The judge held a hearing two weeks ago to pick a start date, but she has not yet issued her decision.</p></div></div></section><div data-reader-unique-id="132" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="133" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="134" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="135" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="136" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="137" style="max-width: 100%;"><a data-reader-unique-id="138" href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/alan-feuer" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Alan Feuer</a></span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>covers extremism and political violence for The Times, focusing on the criminal cases involving the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and against former President Donald J. Trump. <span data-reader-unique-id="139" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="140" href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/alan-feuer" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">More about Alan Feuer</a></span></p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="141" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="142" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="143" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="144" style="max-width: 100%;"><a data-reader-unique-id="145" href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/maggie-haberman" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Maggie Haberman</a></span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is a senior political correspondent reporting on the 2024 presidential campaign, down ballot races across the country and the investigations into former President Donald J. Trump.<span data-reader-unique-id="146" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="147" href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/maggie-haberman" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">More about Maggie Haberman</a>"</span></p></div></div></div></div></div><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/14/us/politics/trump-trial-delays-manhattan-documents.html">Another Trump Trial Faces Delay - The New York Times</a>John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-42962760721499850192024-03-15T09:46:00.006-04:002024-03-15T09:46:41.535-04:00Judge Says Fani Willis Can Stay on Trump Case Without Nathan Wade: Live Updates - The New York Times<div><h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.95552em; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;">Live Updates: Judge Says Fani Willis Can Stay on Trump Case, but Only if Former Romantic Partner Leaves</h1><h2 class="subhead" data-reader-unique-id="subheadElement" style="color: rgba(27, 27, 27, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.46664em; font-weight: normal; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.27275em; margin-top: -0.35em; max-width: 100%;">"The Atlanta district attorney came under scrutiny because of a romantic relationship with the lead prosecutor she hired to oversee the case. The judge said the prosecution can’t proceed unless he withdraws or she steps aside.</h2><div class="metadata singleline" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; hyphens: manual; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: -0.7em; max-width: 100%;"><time aria-hidden="true" class="date" data-reader-unique-id="328" datetime="2024-03-15T13:27:43.133Z" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="329" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;">Updated </span><p data-reader-unique-id="330" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="331" data-time="abs" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;">March 15, 2024, 9:27 a.m. ET</span><span data-reader-unique-id="332" data-time="rel" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;">8 minutes ago</span></p></time></div><div aria-label="Main content" data-reader-unique-id="1" role="region" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><header data-reader-unique-id="2" data-source-id="100000009351257" data-testid="FeedLede" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="7" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="8" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="22" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="23" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="24" data-testid="photoviewer-children-figure" style="max-width: 100%;"><picture data-reader-unique-id="25" style="max-width: 100%;"><source data-reader-unique-id="26" media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 3dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 288dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/11/multimedia/11trump-georgia-live-header-ktjq/11trump-georgia-live-header-ktjq-mobileMasterAt3x-v2.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=600" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="27" media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 192dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/11/multimedia/11trump-georgia-live-header-ktjq/11trump-georgia-live-header-ktjq-mobileMasterAt3x-v2.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="28" media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 1dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 96dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/11/multimedia/11trump-georgia-live-header-ktjq/11trump-georgia-live-header-ktjq-mobileMasterAt3x-v2.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1800" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><img alt="" data-reader-unique-id="29" decoding="async" height="400" sizes="((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 60vw, 100vw" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/11/multimedia/11trump-georgia-live-header-ktjq/11trump-georgia-live-header-ktjq-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/11/multimedia/11trump-georgia-live-header-ktjq/11trump-georgia-live-header-ktjq-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 600w,https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/11/multimedia/11trump-georgia-live-header-ktjq/11trump-georgia-live-header-ktjq-jumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 1024w,https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/11/multimedia/11trump-georgia-live-header-ktjq/11trump-georgia-live-header-ktjq-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 2048w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="600" /></picture></div><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="30" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="31" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney, during a hearing on the Georgia election interference case this month.</span><span data-reader-unique-id="32" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="33" style="max-width: 100%;">Alex Slitz/Associated Press</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div></header></div><div aria-label="Live feed" data-reader-unique-id="35" role="region" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><section aria-label="Live posts" data-reader-unique-id="37" role="feed" style="max-width: 100%;"><div aria-labelledby="post-title-QXJ0aWNsZTpueXQ6Ly9hcnRpY2xlLzFmMjRmMDlkLTg4OTEtNTg3ZS05YTNkLTY0OGE5NDVmOGFkMA==" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="12" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="38" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="39" data-source-id="100000009355221" data-testid="live-blog-post" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/15/us/fani-willis-trump-georgia#trump-georgia-willis-removal" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="41" style="max-width: 100%;">Pinned</p><p data-reader-unique-id="66" style="max-width: 100%;">An Atlanta judge on Friday ruled that Fani T. Willis, the Fulton Country district attorney, could continue leading the prosecution of former President Donald J. Trump and his allies in Georgia, but only if her former romantic partner, Nathan J. Wade, withdraws as the lead prosecutor of the case.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="67" style="max-width: 100%;">The ruling by Judge Scott McAfee of Fulton Superior Court cut a middle path between removing Ms. Willis for a conflict of interest, which defense lawyers had sought, and her full vindication, with the judge sharply criticizing her behavior. Still, with delays mounting, the case is now unlikely to come to trial before the 2024 presidential election, when Mr. Trump is almost certain to be the Republican nominee.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvY2EwZDdhYWYtZjYyMy01NzcwLWJmZjMtNGIwOWE0ZGI0NTI5" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="11" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="68" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="69" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/15/us/fani-willis-trump-georgia#ca0d7aaf-f623-5770-bff3-4b09a4db4529" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="70" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="71" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="72" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Danny Hakim" data-reader-unique-id="73" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/10/18/multimedia/author-danny-hakim/author-danny-hakim-thumbLarge.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/10/18/multimedia/author-danny-hakim/author-danny-hakim-thumbStandard.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/10/18/multimedia/author-danny-hakim/author-danny-hakim-thumbLarge.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="74" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="75" style="max-width: 100%;">March 15, 2024, 9:27 a.m. ET</span><div data-reader-unique-id="80" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="81" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="82" style="max-width: 100%;"></span><span data-reader-unique-id="83" itemprop="name" style="max-width: 100%;">Danny Hakim</span></p><span data-reader-unique-id="84" data-testid="lb-byline-tagline" style="max-width: 100%;">Reporting from Atlanta</span></div></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="85" style="max-width: 100%;">In his ruling, Judge McAfee was critical of recent public comments about the Trump case by Fani Willis, the district attorney, and wrote that “the time may well have arrived for an order preventing the State from mentioning the case in any public forum to prevent prejudicial pretrial publicity, but that is not the motion presently before the Court.”</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-QXJ0aWNsZTpueXQ6Ly9hcnRpY2xlL2Q2MTk4OTY4LWEzODAtNThiNi1hZDVjLTZjMjc3ZjA2M2RjYg==" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="10" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="86" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="87" data-source-id="100000009351368" data-testid="live-blog-post" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/15/us/fani-willis-trump-georgia#fani-willis-trump-georgia-prosecution" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="110" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="111" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="115" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="116" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">Adam Abbate, a prosecutor in Fulton County, speaks during a hearing last month regarding the actions of the district attorney, Fani Willis. Republican efforts to derail her prosecution of Donald J. Trump have extended into the Georgia Legislature.</span><span data-reader-unique-id="117" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="118" style="max-width: 100%;">Pool photo by Alex Slitz</span></span></figcaption></figure></div><p data-reader-unique-id="120" style="max-width: 100%;">A special committee of the Georgia State Senate<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="121" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/07/us/fani-willis-trump-georgia-state-investigation.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">held a hearing last week</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>into accusations of misconduct by the Fulton County district attorney, Fani T. Willis, making it clear that the effort to disqualify her from the prosecution of Donald J. Trump is not the only threat to her case against the former president.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="122" style="max-width: 100%;">Ms. Willis faces a series of inquiries that could perpetuate questions about her character and uncertainty around the Trump case for months to come.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-SW50ZXJhY3RpdmU6bnl0Oi8vaW50ZXJhY3RpdmUvZjg5YTg3MDgtMTAzMC01NTdlLWI3MjctNzRiNjNhNTVlMmJi" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="9" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="123" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="124" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="125" data-testid="interactive-block" style="max-width: 100%;"><a data-reader-unique-id="126" href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/03/15/us/judge-s-decision-on-disqualification-in-the-trump-case.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;"><div data-reader-unique-id="127" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" data-reader-unique-id="128" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/15/doc-1436895-judge-s-decision--promo/doc-1436895-judge-s-decision--promo-articleLarge.png" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" /></div><div data-reader-unique-id="129" style="max-width: 100%;"><h2 data-reader-unique-id="130" style="font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">Read the Judge’s Decision on Disqualification in the Trump Case</h2><p data-reader-unique-id="131" style="max-width: 100%;">Read the ruling by Judge Scott McAfee.</p></div></a></div></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvYzlmNDliY2QtNTFkMS01NGJlLTllNTgtZDMzNTFlYTIyZDcw" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="7" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="138" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="139" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/15/us/fani-willis-trump-georgia#c9f49bcd-51d1-54be-9e58-d3351ea22d70" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="140" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="141" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="142" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Anna Betts" data-reader-unique-id="143" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2023/06/13/reader-center/author-anna-betts/author-anna-betts-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2023/06/13/reader-center/author-anna-betts/author-anna-betts-thumbStandard-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2023/06/13/reader-center/author-anna-betts/author-anna-betts-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="144" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="145" style="max-width: 100%;">March 15, 2024, 9:19 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="154" style="max-width: 100%;">Anthony Michael Kreis, a law professor at Georgia State University, described Judge McAfee’s decision as the “best ruling” Fani Willis could have hoped for. The judge concluded that the facts “do not reveal an actual conflict of interest,” and any appearance of conflict can be easily remedied by removing Nathan Wade as lead prosecutor. “And even better for Willis, this is unlikely to be disturbed on appeal.”</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvOGI5MWJmZDMtZWE3ZS01NWE4LTgzYjUtODY1ZDA5M2FhM2I5" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="6" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="155" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="156" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/15/us/fani-willis-trump-georgia#8b91bfd3-ea7e-55a8-83b5-865d093aa3b9" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="157" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="158" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="159" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Danny Hakim" data-reader-unique-id="160" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/10/18/multimedia/author-danny-hakim/author-danny-hakim-thumbLarge.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/10/18/multimedia/author-danny-hakim/author-danny-hakim-thumbStandard.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/10/18/multimedia/author-danny-hakim/author-danny-hakim-thumbLarge.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="161" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="162" style="max-width: 100%;">March 15, 2024, 9:17 a.m. ET</span><div data-reader-unique-id="167" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="168" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="169" style="max-width: 100%;"></span><span data-reader-unique-id="170" itemprop="name" style="max-width: 100%;">Danny Hakim</span></p><span data-reader-unique-id="171" data-testid="lb-byline-tagline" style="max-width: 100%;">Reporting from Atlanta</span></div></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="172" style="max-width: 100%;">Judge McAfee, a Republican appointee, has said that he had already decided how to rule last week, even before he knew that a Democrat would be challenging him for his seat on the Fulton County Superior Court later this year. “No ruling of mine is ever going to be based on politics,” he told<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="173" href="https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/exclusive-judge-mcafee-talks-about-upcoming-ruling-over-remove-willis-trump-case/ACRJWBKWLRCIVPXWBWQ7ZBU3KU/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="">a local TV station</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>this week.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-QXJ0aWNsZTpueXQ6Ly9hcnRpY2xlLzNkOTk4ZTVkLWViNTAtNTJlNC05NjdmLWM3ZjkyYjRmYzdmYw==" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="5" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="174" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="175" data-source-id="100000009355228" data-testid="live-blog-post" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/15/us/fani-willis-trump-georgia#scott-mcafee-trump-georgia-case" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="198" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="199" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="203" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="204" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">Judge Scott McAfee of Fulton County Superior Court presides during a hearing in the Trump case last month. Though fairly new to the bench, he has already earned the respect of a variety of legal experts.</span><span data-reader-unique-id="205" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="206" style="max-width: 100%;">Pool photo by Alyssa Pointer</span></span></figcaption></figure></div><p data-reader-unique-id="208" style="max-width: 100%;">At 34, Judge Scott McAfee is not old enough under the U.S. Constitution to be president himself. But since last summer, the Fulton County Superior Court judge has presided over one of the nation’s most important cases: The prosecution of former President Donald J. Trump and his allies on charges of election interference in Georgia.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p data-reader-unique-id="209" style="max-width: 100%;">Deciding whether to disqualify the Fulton County district attorney, Fani<span data-reader-unique-id="210" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> </span>T. Willis — his former boss — is just one of the many difficult calls that Judge McAfee, who was sworn in as a judge early last year, has had to make in his Atlanta courtroom while overseeing the Trump case.<span data-reader-unique-id="211" style="max-width: 100%;"></span></p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-QXJ0aWNsZTpueXQ6Ly9hcnRpY2xlLzhkZTAyM2YwLWQzYTMtNThmYS1hNDVmLWUyOGZkODExZDY2OQ==" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="3" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="218" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="219" data-source-id="100000009351316" data-testid="live-blog-post" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/15/us/fani-willis-trump-georgia#fani-willis-nathan-wade-trump-prosecutors" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="242" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="243" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="247" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="248" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">District Attorney Fani Willis and Nathan Wade, a special prosecutor, announced the indictment of Donald Trump and allies on conspiracy charges last August in Atlanta.</span><span data-reader-unique-id="249" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="250" style="max-width: 100%;">Kenny Holston/The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div><p data-reader-unique-id="252" style="max-width: 100%;">The allegations of a romance between Fani T. Willis, the Fulton County district attorney, and Nathan J. Wade first emerged in a January filing by Ashleigh Merchant, a lawyer for Michael Roman, one of former President Donald J. Trump’s co-defendants in Georgia.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="253" style="max-width: 100%;">In her filing, Ms. Merchant said that Ms. Willis and Mr. Wade, whom she hired to manage the Trump case, had been “profiting personally from this prosecution” at taxpayers’ expense. Ms. Merchant also said that Mr. Wade was underqualified, and argued that the entire indictment should be dismissed.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvMjhiZjQyZjktY2E2Yi01NDdiLTg5NzktZThkNzJiNzEzODI5" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="2" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="254" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="255" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/15/us/fani-willis-trump-georgia#28bf42f9-ca6b-547b-8979-e8d72b713829" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="256" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="257" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="258" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Danny Hakim" data-reader-unique-id="259" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/10/18/multimedia/author-danny-hakim/author-danny-hakim-thumbLarge.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/10/18/multimedia/author-danny-hakim/author-danny-hakim-thumbStandard.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/10/18/multimedia/author-danny-hakim/author-danny-hakim-thumbLarge.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="260" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="261" style="max-width: 100%;">March 15, 2024, 9:06 a.m. ET</span><div data-reader-unique-id="266" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="267" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="268" style="max-width: 100%;"></span><span data-reader-unique-id="269" itemprop="name" style="max-width: 100%;">Danny Hakim</span></p><span data-reader-unique-id="270" data-testid="lb-byline-tagline" style="max-width: 100%;">Reporting from Atlanta</span></div></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="271" style="max-width: 100%;">Scott McAfee, the judge presiding over the Trump case, said in his ruling on whether the former romantic relationship between prosecutors creates a conflict of interest that there was an “appearance of impropriety” that needs to be remedied.</p></div><div data-reader-unique-id="272" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="273" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="274" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="275" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="276" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Danny Hakim" data-reader-unique-id="277" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/10/18/multimedia/author-danny-hakim/author-danny-hakim-thumbLarge.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/10/18/multimedia/author-danny-hakim/author-danny-hakim-thumbStandard.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/10/18/multimedia/author-danny-hakim/author-danny-hakim-thumbLarge.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="278" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="279" style="max-width: 100%;">March 15, 2024, 9:07 a.m. ET</span><div data-reader-unique-id="284" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="285" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="286" style="max-width: 100%;"></span><span data-reader-unique-id="287" itemprop="name" style="max-width: 100%;">Danny Hakim</span></p><span data-reader-unique-id="288" data-testid="lb-byline-tagline" style="max-width: 100%;">Reporting from Atlanta</span></div></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="289" style="max-width: 100%;">The judge did not find enough evidence to disqualify Fani Willis, the district attorney, from the case, however. McAfee said “the allegations and evidence” were “legally insufficient to support a finding of an actual conflict of interest.”</p></div></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-QXJ0aWNsZTpueXQ6Ly9hcnRpY2xlLzFkOTZkOWRhLTg5NzItNTQ0OC05N2FlLWJkM2VhYmU2MzQ5NQ==" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="1" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="290" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="291" data-source-id="100000009359286" data-testid="live-blog-post" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/15/us/fani-willis-trump-georgia#donald-trump-charges-quashed-georgia-mcafee" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="316" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="317" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="321" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="322" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee earlier this month.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span data-reader-unique-id="323" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="324" style="max-width: 100%;">Pool photo by Alex Slitz</span></span></figcaption></figure></div><p data-reader-unique-id="326" style="max-width: 100%;">In a surprise move on Wednesday, a judge in Atlanta quashed six of the charges against former President Donald J. Trump and his allies in the sprawling Georgia election interference case, including one related to a call that Mr. Trump made to pressure Georgia’s secretary of state in early January 2021.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="327" style="max-width: 100%;">The judge, Scott McAfee of Fulton Superior Court, left intact the rest of the racketeering indictment, which initially included 41 counts against 19 co-defendants. Four of them have pleaded guilty since the indictment was handed up by a grand jury in August."</p></div></div></section></div></div><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/15/us/fani-willis-trump-georgia">Judge Says Fani Willis Can Stay on Trump Case Without Nathan Wade: Live Updates - The New York Times</a>John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-29830300617570730272024-03-14T10:43:00.005-04:002024-03-14T10:43:52.162-04:00US firm that paid indicted FBI informant tied to Trump associates, records reveal | FBI | The Guardian<div><h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.95552em; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;">US firm that paid indicted FBI informant tied to Trump associates, records reveal</h1><h2 class="subhead" data-reader-unique-id="subheadElement" style="color: rgba(27, 27, 27, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.46664em; font-weight: normal; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.27275em; margin-top: -0.35em; max-width: 100%;">"Alexander Smirnov was paid $600,000 in 2020 – the same year he allegedly began lying to FBI about Bidens’ role in Ukraine business</h2><figure data-reader-unique-id="66" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="67" style="max-width: 100%;"><picture data-reader-unique-id="68" style="max-width: 100%;"><source data-reader-unique-id="69" media="(min-width: 980px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 980px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f0aefaa2bbd23754b066a467e27acec1c49c3f5c/0_150_4500_2700/master/4500.jpg?width=620&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="70" media="(min-width: 980px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f0aefaa2bbd23754b066a467e27acec1c49c3f5c/0_150_4500_2700/master/4500.jpg?width=620&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="71" media="(min-width: 740px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 740px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f0aefaa2bbd23754b066a467e27acec1c49c3f5c/0_150_4500_2700/master/4500.jpg?width=700&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="72" media="(min-width: 740px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f0aefaa2bbd23754b066a467e27acec1c49c3f5c/0_150_4500_2700/master/4500.jpg?width=700&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="73" media="(min-width: 660px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 660px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f0aefaa2bbd23754b066a467e27acec1c49c3f5c/0_150_4500_2700/master/4500.jpg?width=620&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="74" media="(min-width: 660px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f0aefaa2bbd23754b066a467e27acec1c49c3f5c/0_150_4500_2700/master/4500.jpg?width=620&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="75" media="(min-width: 480px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 480px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f0aefaa2bbd23754b066a467e27acec1c49c3f5c/0_150_4500_2700/master/4500.jpg?width=645&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="76" media="(min-width: 480px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f0aefaa2bbd23754b066a467e27acec1c49c3f5c/0_150_4500_2700/master/4500.jpg?width=645&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="77" media="(min-width: 320px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 320px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f0aefaa2bbd23754b066a467e27acec1c49c3f5c/0_150_4500_2700/master/4500.jpg?width=465&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="78" media="(min-width: 320px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f0aefaa2bbd23754b066a467e27acec1c49c3f5c/0_150_4500_2700/master/4500.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><img alt="A sketch of defendant Alexander Smirnov in federal court in Los Angeles, on 26 February 2024. " data-reader-unique-id="79" height="279" loading="eager" src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f0aefaa2bbd23754b066a467e27acec1c49c3f5c/0_150_4500_2700/master/4500.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="465" /></picture><span class="converted-anchor" data-reader-unique-id="80" style="max-width: 100%;"></span></div><span data-reader-unique-id="81" style="max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="82" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="83" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"></span><span data-reader-unique-id="86" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">A sketch of defendant Alexander Smirnov in federal court in Los Angeles, on 26 February 2024.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Photograph: William T Robles/AP</figcaption></span></figure><p data-reader-unique-id="1" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">An American company that paid the now indicted<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-component="auto-linked-tag" data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="2" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/fbi" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">FBI</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>informant Alexander Smirnov in 2020 is connected to a UK company owned by Trump business associates in Dubai, according to business filings and court documents.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="3" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Smirnov is now accused of lying to the FBI about<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-component="auto-linked-tag" data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="4" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/hunter-biden" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Hunter Biden</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and his father, President Joe Biden, alleging that they engaged in a bribery scheme with executives at the Ukrainian energy company Burisma. Smirnov’s accounts to the FBI, beginning in 2020, that federal prosecutors now say are fabrications, served as a major justification of the House impeachment investigation into the Bidens.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="5" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><gu-island config="{"renderingTarget":"Web","darkModeAvailable":false}" data-reader-unique-id="6" deferuntil="visible" name="SignInGateSelector" priority="feature" props="{"contentType":"Article","sectionId":"us-news","tags":[{"id":"us-news/fbi","type":"Keyword","title":"FBI"},{"id":"us-news/joebiden","type":"Keyword","title":"Joe Biden"},{"id":"us-news/hunter-biden","type":"Keyword","title":"Hunter Biden"},{"id":"us-news/us-news","type":"Keyword","title":"US news"},{"id":"us-news/us-politics","type":"Keyword","title":"US politics"},{"id":"world/ukraine","type":"Keyword","title":"Ukraine"},{"id":"world/russia","type":"Keyword","title":"Russia"},{"id":"type/article","type":"Type","title":"Article"},{"id":"tone/news","type":"Tone","title":"News"},{"id":"tracking/commissioningdesk/us-news","type":"Tracking","title":"US News"}],"isPaidContent":false,"isPreview":false,"host":"https://www.theguardian.com","pageId":"us-news/2024/mar/14/company-paying-fbi-informant-trump-connections","idUrl":"https://profile.theguardian.com","switches":{"lightbox":true,"prebidAppnexusUkRow":true,"abSignInGateMainVariant":true,"commercialMetrics":true,"prebidTrustx":true,"scAdFreeBanner":false,"adaptiveSite":true,"prebidPermutiveAudience":true,"compareVariantDecision":false,"enableSentryReporting":true,"lazyLoadContainers":true,"ampArticleSwitch":true,"remarketing":true,"oscarsNewsletterEmbed2":false,"articleEndSlot":true,"keyEventsCarousel":true,"abOscarsNewsletterEmbed":false,"registerWithPhone":false,"targeting":true,"remoteHeader":true,"slotBodyEnd":true,"prebidImproveDigitalSkins":true,"ampPrebidOzone":true,"extendedMostPopularFronts":true,"emailInlineInFooter":true,"showNewPrivacyWordingOnEmailSignupEmbeds":true,"prebidAnalytics":true,"extendedMostPopular":true,"ampContentAbTesting":false,"prebidCriteo":true,"okta":true,"imrWorldwide":true,"acast":true,"automaticFilters":true,"twitterUwt":true,"prebidAppnexusInvcode":true,"ampPrebidPubmatic":true,"a9HeaderBidding":true,"prebidAppnexus":true,"enableDiscussionSwitch":true,"prebidXaxis":true,"stickyVideos":true,"interactiveFullHeaderSwitch":true,"discussionAllPageSize":true,"prebidUserSync":true,"audioOnwardJourneySwitch":true,"brazeTaylorReport":false,"externalVideoEmbeds":true,"abSignInGateAlternativeWording":true,"callouts":true,"sentinelLogger":true,"geoMostPopular":true,"weAreHiring":false,"relatedContent":true,"thirdPartyEmbedTracking":true,"prebidOzone":true,"ampLiveblogSwitch":true,"ampAmazon":true,"prebidAdYouLike":true,"mostViewedFronts":true,"discussionInApps":false,"optOutAdvertising":true,"abSignInGateMainControl":true,"headerTopNav":true,"googleSearch":true,"brazeSwitch":true,"darkModeInApps":true,"prebidKargo":true,"consentManagement":true,"crosswordMobileBanner":true,"personaliseSignInGateAfterCheckout":true,"redplanetForAus":true,"prebidSonobi":true,"idProfileNavigation":true,"confiantAdVerification":true,"discussionAllowAnonymousRecommendsSwitch":false,"dcrTagPages":true,"permutive":true,"comscore":true,"ampPrebidCriteo":true,"abMpuWhenNoEpic":false,"newsletterOnwards":false,"youtubeIma":true,"oscarsNewsletterEmbed1":false,"webFonts":true,"prebidImproveDigital":true,"ophan":true,"crosswordSvgThumbnails":true,"prebidTriplelift":true,"weather":true,"disableAmpTest":true,"prebidPubmatic":true,"serverShareCounts":false,"autoRefresh":true,"enhanceTweets":true,"prebidIndexExchange":true,"prebidOpenx":true,"prebidHeaderBidding":true,"mobileDiscussionAds":true,"idCookieRefresh":true,"discussionPageSize":true,"smartAppBanner":false,"boostGaUserTimingFidelity":false,"historyTags":true,"brazeContentCards":true,"surveys":true,"emailSignupRecaptcha":true,"prebidSmart":true,"shouldLoadGoogletag":true,"inizio":true,"abSectionAdDensity":true,"remoteBanner":true}}" style="max-width: 100%;"></gu-island></p><p data-reader-unique-id="7" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Republican lawmakers have repeatedly touted Smirnov as a reliable informant, and the chairman of the House oversight committee, James Comer, even threatened to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="8" href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-fbi-oversight-comer-congress-0c647e00b2559f59e4a898ee264d8753" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">hold FBI director Christopher Wray in contempt</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>unless he “handed over” a June 2020 FBI form with Smirnov’s claims to the committee.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="9" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Back in 2020, Smirnov was paid $600,000 by a company called Economic Transformation Technologies (ETT), prosecutors said. That same year, Smirnov began lying to the FBI about the Bidens, according to the indictment.</p><gu-island config="{"renderingTarget":"Web","darkModeAvailable":false}" data-reader-unique-id="10" deferuntil="visible" name="InteractiveBlockComponent" priority="critical" props="{"url":"https://interactive.guim.co.uk/uploader/embed/2024/03/archive-zip/giv-13425sfF85q5cTxpx/","scriptUrl":"https://interactive.guim.co.uk/embed/iframe-wrapper/0.1/boot.js","alt":"flow chart","format":{"display":0,"theme":0,"design":0},"elementId":"5ef89ef0-db99-4471-b3ff-17ed879e7e3d","isMainMedia":false}" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><figure data-alt="flow chart" data-reader-unique-id="11" data-spacefinder-role="inline" data-testid="interactive-element-flow%20chart" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><a data-name="placeholder" data-reader-unique-id="14" href="https://interactive.guim.co.uk/uploader/embed/2024/03/archive-zip/giv-13425sfF85q5cTxpx/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">flow chart</a></figure></gu-island><p data-reader-unique-id="15" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">ETT’s CEO is the American Christopher Condon, who is also one of three shareholders in ETT Investment Holding Limited in London. Other shareholders in the UK include Pakistani American investor Shahal Khan and Farooq Arjomand, a former chairman and current board member of Damac Properties in Dubai who is also listed as an adviser on ETT’s American website.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="16" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Last month, Smirnov was charged with lying to the FBI, and is being held without bail. Prosecutors argued he posed a flight risk because of his contacts with Russian officials in the Middle East and access to millions of dollars.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="17" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Smirnov’s indictment alleged that the facts in a document, known as a 1023, and other statements made to his FBI handler beginning in 2020 and continuing until December 2023, were factually impossible.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="18" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The exact business model of Texas-based ETT is murky. Its mission statement reads in part: “ETT set up the chess board to bring in top notch executives from those sectors to help implement its vision of love and social impact to improve the quality of human existence through the application of ‘new age’ technologies.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="19" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The current CEO, Condon, is a California man who has been involved in several civil lawsuits, including a civil Rico case in 2010 that he won on appeal. Condon’s official biography says he is “a former professional tennis player, financial advisor, and currently is an<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="20" href="https://www.chriscondon.com/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">entrepreneur focused on social-impact projects, public-private partnerships</a>, and creating smart communities that benefit both individuals and governments”.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="21" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Condon, Arjomand and Khan registered ETT Investment Holding Limited in the UK on 6 March 2020. Khan, an investor who purchased the Plaza Hotel in 2018, and Arjomand have ties to Donald Trump through Trump associates and Damac, a major Middle East developer that has partnered with Trump for a decade. Arjomand, Khan and Condon owned 34%, 33% and 33% of ETT Investment Holding Limited respectively, according to UK business filings. No other information on the UK company is readily available.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="22" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Former Damac chairman Hussain Sajwani is also close to Trump and has been described as his friend in multiple news reports. Trump has called the billionaire a “friend” and a “great man”, and his family “<a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="23" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kerryadolan/2017/01/03/who-is-trumps-new-years-eve-guest-and-billionaire-pal-from-dubai/?sh=17412b6d1c09" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">the most beautiful people</a>”.</p><figure data-reader-unique-id="24" data-spacefinder-role="inline" data-spacefinder-type="model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="25" style="max-width: 100%;"><picture data-reader-unique-id="26" style="max-width: 100%;"><source data-reader-unique-id="27" media="(min-width: 660px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 660px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ed0becd2d85adcf1705b7de15dad5dee3f160c27/0_0_2000_1500/master/2000.jpg?width=620&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="28" media="(min-width: 660px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ed0becd2d85adcf1705b7de15dad5dee3f160c27/0_0_2000_1500/master/2000.jpg?width=620&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="29" media="(min-width: 480px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 480px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ed0becd2d85adcf1705b7de15dad5dee3f160c27/0_0_2000_1500/master/2000.jpg?width=605&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="30" media="(min-width: 480px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ed0becd2d85adcf1705b7de15dad5dee3f160c27/0_0_2000_1500/master/2000.jpg?width=605&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="31" media="(min-width: 320px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 320px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ed0becd2d85adcf1705b7de15dad5dee3f160c27/0_0_2000_1500/master/2000.jpg?width=445&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="32" media="(min-width: 320px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ed0becd2d85adcf1705b7de15dad5dee3f160c27/0_0_2000_1500/master/2000.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><img alt="Men line up smiling for photograph" data-reader-unique-id="33" height="333.75" loading="lazy" src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ed0becd2d85adcf1705b7de15dad5dee3f160c27/0_0_2000_1500/master/2000.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="445" /></picture><span class="converted-anchor" data-reader-unique-id="34" style="max-width: 100%;"></span></div><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="35" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="36" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"></span><span data-reader-unique-id="39" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">Hussain Sajwani, far right, with Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in February 2017.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Photograph: AP</figcaption></figure><p data-reader-unique-id="40" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Sajwani attended Trump’s 2016 inauguration, and Trump’s sons<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="41" href="https://apnews.com/general-news-7f19f9500a0f4c0796e5ded47bc2c3ac" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Donald Jr and Eric Trump attended the 2017 ribbon-cutting</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>of the Trump International golf club in Dubai, licensed by Damac in 2014. Sajwani and his family also attended a party in 2017 at Mar-a-Lago. Trump’s sons would go on to attend Sajwani’s daughter’s wedding in 2018.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="42" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">In 2017 FEC filings, Trump disclosed making up to $5m from the Damac licensing deal, but said he would no longer do personal business deals when he became president. The two continued at least talking business into his presidency, however, according to multiple reports.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="43" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“Hussein, Damac, a friend of mine, a great guy. I was<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="44" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/trump-says-he-turned-down-2-billion-deal-in-dubai-but-didnt-have-to/2017/01/11/f9092f56-d82f-11e6-9f9f-5cdb4b7f8dd7_story.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">offered $2bn to do a deal in Dubai</a>, a number of deals, and I turned it down,” Trump said in 2017.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="45" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Arjomand was the vice-chairman of Damac when the Trump International golf club, along with adjoining Trump-branded luxury homes, opened, and he replaced Sajwani as chair in 2021 when Sajwani stepped down to privatize the company.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="46" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Khan, who owns Dubai-based Trinity White City Ventures, is a New York native who partnered with New York City developer Kamran Hakim to buy the Plaza Hotel in 2018 for $600m. He was a board member of ETT from 2019 to June 2020, according to his LinkedIn page, appearing in event photographs with Condon in Miami that year.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="47" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Khan is involved in a range of business from AI to mining to cybersecurity, according to his official biographies. In 2019, he was one of a dozen Pakistani American business owners invited to meet the then Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan the day before Imran<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="48" href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/22/politics/donald-trump-imran-khan-pakistan-prime-minister-white-house/index.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">met with Trump</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and Mike Pompeo, then the secretary of state, in Washington DC. The group was there to discuss the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="49" href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1495516" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">expansion of business in Pakistan</a>.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="50" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">In 2017, Khan reportedly approached Brad Zackson, dubbed Paul Manafort’s “real-estate fixer”, to help him<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="51" href="https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2017/08/31/meet-paul-manaforts-real-estate-fixer/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">broker a deal to buy the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan</a>, owned by the Pakistani government via its national airline, for $500m, according to the Real Deal. When the real-estate publication asked Khan about the reports, he denied that Zackson and Manafort, a former Trump campaign chairman, were involved. Khan purchased the Pakistani embassy building in DC in 2022 for $6.8m.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="52" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Khan is also CEO of BurTech Acquisition Group, a “blank check company”, or public shell company. Patrick Orlando, listed as a “special adviser” and shareholder of BurTech in 2021, was the CEO and chair of Digital World, another blank check company, from September 2021 to March 2023. When it began a merger with Trump Media & Technology Group in 2021, it was held up by an SEC investigation until given the green light last month.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="53" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The finalization of the merger may garner<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="54" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/26/business/trump-media-digital-world-acquisition-cash.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Trump as much as $4bn in shares</a>, and help bolster his finances after his recent civil litigation losses. Orlando has known Trump since at least 2021, according to news reports.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="55" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Arjomand and Khan’s relationship is unclear. Arjomand, a former HSBC banker from the United Arab Emirates, also invests in hospitality businesses, including the celebrity Wahlberg brothers’ restaurant chain Wahlburgers, and owns a coffee company called Reborn Coffee.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="56" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">ETT Investment Holding Limited was dissolved in 2021. Condon and Arjomand also registered a company called Atlas UK Group Limited the same day they registered the UK ETT, now dissolved.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="57" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The American ETT, then called Pandora Venture Capital Corp, was first registered in Florida in 2014 by Wisconsin resident Boris Nayflish, according to Florida business filings.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="58" href="https://www.wsj.com/us-news/informant-charged-with-lying-about-bidens-flaunted-fbi-ties-for-financial-gain-fcf86af2" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Ukrainian American Nayflish is the ex-husband of Smirnov’s current partner</a>, according to a Wall Street Journal report, which also claimed Nayflish stayed close to his ex, Diana Lavrenyuk, and Smirnov after the divorce.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="59" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Smirnov, born in<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-component="auto-linked-tag" data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="60" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/ukraine" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Ukraine</a>, lived in Israel before coming to the US in 2006.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="61" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Pandora changed its name to Skylab in 2017, then in 2018 Skylab seemed to split from what is now ETT, according to a lawsuit, when Condon first registered ETT websites and appeared on ETT’s Florida filings.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="62" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">An unnamed former business associate told the Wall Street Journal that the $600,000 payment from ETT to Smirnov was “in exchange for a stake in an Israel-based crypto trading platform, called Bitoftrade, [that] Smirnov was working on launching”.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="63" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Calls and emails to Condon, Arjomand, Sajwani and Smirnov’s lawyer, and to Trump’s team, were not returned.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="64" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Khan told the Guardian: “I was on the board for a very short period, [and] there was no connection on my part.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="65" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Smirnov is scheduled for a jury trial in April, according to court filings."</p></div><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/14/company-paying-fbi-informant-trump-connections">US firm that paid indicted FBI informant tied to Trump associates, records reveal | FBI | The Guardian</a>John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-51622376760567047432024-03-14T10:40:00.001-04:002024-03-14T10:40:22.947-04:00A New Orleans cop sexually abused a teen after taking her for a rape kit - Washington Post<div><h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.95552em; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;">A police officer took a teen for a rape kit. Then he assaulted her, too.</h1><h2 class="subhead" data-reader-unique-id="subheadElement" style="color: rgba(27, 27, 27, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.46664em; font-weight: normal; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.27275em; margin-top: -0.35em; max-width: 100%;">"Hundreds of law enforcement officers have been accused of sexually abusing children over the past two decades, a Post investigation found</h2><div class="metadata singleline" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; hyphens: manual; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: -0.7em; max-width: 100%;"><a class="byline" data-qa="author-name" data-reader-unique-id="418" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/john-harden/" rel="author" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">John D. Harden</a></div><p data-reader-unique-id="1" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="The 14-year-old did not want to go to the emergency room. Her mother had begged her. Her therapist had gently prodded. And now there was a police officer in her living room.">The 14-year-old did not want to go to the emergency room. Her mother had begged her. Her therapist had gently prodded. And now there was a police officer in her living room.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="2" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“You really should think about it,” he said.">“You really should think about it,” he said.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="3" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="He introduced himself as Officer Rodney Vicknair. His New Orleans Police Department cruiser was waiting outside, ready to take her to the hospital for a rape kit. Early that morning, the girl said, a 17-year-old friend had forced himself on her.">He introduced himself as Officer Rodney Vicknair. His New Orleans Police Department cruiser was waiting outside, ready to take her to the hospital for a rape kit. Early that morning, the girl said, a 17-year-old friend had forced himself on her.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="4" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Under the police department’s rules, a case like this was supposed to be handled from the start by a detective trained in sex crimes or child abuse. But on this afternoon in May of 2020, it was Vicknair, a patrol officer with a troubled past, who knocked on the girl’s door.">Under the police department’s rules, a case like this was supposed to be handled from the start by a detective trained in sex crimes or child abuse. But on this afternoon in May of 2020, it was Vicknair, a patrol officer with a troubled past, who knocked on the girl’s door.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="5" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="He tried to coax her into changing her mind. “If I’m a young man that has done something wrong to a young lady and she doesn’t follow up and press the issue,” Vicknair said as his body camera recorded the conversation, “then I’m gonna go out and do it to another young lady.”">He tried to coax her into changing her mind. “If I’m a young man that has done something wrong to a young lady and she doesn’t follow up and press the issue,” Vicknair said as his body camera recorded the conversation, “then I’m gonna go out and do it to another young lady.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="6" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“And it’s gonna be worse, maybe, the next time,” Vicknair said, “because I’m gonna think in my head, ‘Oh, I got the power. I can go further this time.’ ”">“And it’s gonna be worse, maybe, the next time,” Vicknair said, “because I’m gonna think in my head, ‘Oh, I got the power. I can go further this time.’ ”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="7" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="The girl didn’t want that. She just wanted this to be over.">The girl didn’t want that. She just wanted this to be over.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="8" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="She didn’t know it was only the beginning. Four months later, police would arrest a man for sexually assaulting the girl. But it wouldn’t be her teenage friend. It would be Officer Rodney Vicknair.">She didn’t know it was only the beginning. Four months later, police would arrest a man for sexually assaulting the girl. But it wouldn’t be her teenage friend. It would be Officer Rodney Vicknair.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="9" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="The day the 14-year-old met 53-year-old Vicknair was the day the officer began a months-long grooming process, prosecutors would allege. Within hours of meeting the girl, Vicknair wrapped his arm around her while they took a selfie. He let her play with his police baton. He joked with her about “whipping your behind.” He showed her multiple photos of a young woman dressed only in lingerie.">The day the 14-year-old met 53-year-old Vicknair was the day the officer began a months-long grooming process, prosecutors would allege. Within hours of meeting the girl, Vicknair wrapped his arm around her while they took a selfie. He let her play with his police baton. He joked with her about “whipping your behind.” He showed her multiple photos of a young woman dressed only in lingerie.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="10" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="11" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure data-reader-unique-id="12" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="23" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;">The Washington Post blurred the teen’s face to protect her identity. (Obtained by The Washington Post)</figcaption></figure></div></div><section data-reader-unique-id="24" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="25" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="26" style="max-width: 100%;" text="Americans have been forced to reckon with sexual misconduct committed by teachers, clergy, coaches and others with access to and authority over children. But there is little awareness of child sex crimes perpetrated by members of another profession that many children are taught to revere and obey: law enforcement.">Americans have been forced to reckon with sexual misconduct committed by teachers, clergy, coaches and others with access to and authority over children. But there is little awareness of child sex crimes perpetrated by members of another profession that many children are taught to revere and obey: law enforcement.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="27" style="max-width: 100%;" text="A <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/03/14/police-child-sex-abuse-how-we-reported/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">Washington Post investigation</a> has found that over the past two decades, hundreds of police officers have preyed on children, while agencies across the country have failed to take steps to prevent these crimes.">A<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="28" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/03/14/police-child-sex-abuse-how-we-reported/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Washington Post investigation</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>has found that over the past two decades, hundreds of police officers have preyed on children, while agencies across the country have failed to take steps to prevent these crimes.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="29" style="max-width: 100%;" text="At least 1,800 state and local police officers were charged with crimes involving child sexual abuse from 2005 through 2022, The Post found.">At least 1,800 state and local police officers were charged with crimes involving child sexual abuse from 2005 through 2022, The Post found.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="30" style="max-width: 100%;" text="Abusive officers were rarely related to the children they were accused of raping, fondling and exploiting. They most frequently targeted girls who were 13 to 15 years old — and regularly met their victims through their jobs.">Abusive officers were rarely related to the children they were accused of raping, fondling and exploiting. They most frequently targeted girls who were 13 to 15 years old — and regularly met their victims through their jobs.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="33" style="max-width: 100%;" text="The Post identified these officers through an exclusive analysis of the nation’s most comprehensive <a href="https://policecrime.bgsu.edu/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">database</a> of police arrests at Bowling Green State University, as well as a review of thousands of court documents, police decertification records and news reports.">The Post identified these officers through an exclusive analysis of the nation’s most comprehensive<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="34" href="https://policecrime.bgsu.edu/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">database</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>of police arrests at Bowling Green State University, as well as a review of thousands of court documents, police decertification records and news reports.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="35" style="max-width: 100%;" text="In case after case, officers intentionally earned the trust of parents and guardians, created opportunities to get kids alone and threatened repercussions for broken silence. Unlike teachers and priests, they did it all while wielding the power of their badges and guns.">In case after case, officers intentionally earned the trust of parents and guardians, created opportunities to get kids alone and threatened repercussions for broken silence. Unlike teachers and priests, they did it all while wielding the power of their badges and guns.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="36" style="max-width: 100%;" text="Chuck Wexler, who leads the Police Executive Research Forum, a law enforcement policy and training organization, said the number of officers charged with these crimes is “very troubling.”">Chuck Wexler, who leads the Police Executive Research Forum, a law enforcement policy and training organization, said the number of officers charged with these crimes is “very troubling.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="37" style="max-width: 100%;" text="“Whatever we can do to prevent this and hold those accountable will help restore the trust in the police,” Wexler said.">“Whatever we can do to prevent this and hold those accountable will help restore the trust in the police,” Wexler said.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="38" style="max-width: 100%;" text="But while many school systems and churches have created practices and policies to root out predators, law enforcement agencies have largely treated child sexual abuse as an isolated problem that goes away when an officer is fired or prosecuted — rather than an always-present risk that requires systemic change.">But while many school systems and churches have created practices and policies to root out predators, law enforcement agencies have largely treated child sexual abuse as an isolated problem that goes away when an officer is fired or prosecuted — rather than an always-present risk that requires systemic change.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="39" style="max-width: 100%;" text="There is no national tracking system for officers accused of child sexual abuse. At a time when police departments across the country face staffing shortages and are desperate to hire, there are no universal requirements to screen for potential perpetrators. When abuse is suspected, officers are sometimes allowed to remain on the job while investigations of their behavior are left in the hands of their colleagues.">There is no national tracking system for officers accused of child sexual abuse. At a time when police departments across the country face staffing shortages and are desperate to hire, there are no universal requirements to screen for potential perpetrators. When abuse is suspected, officers are sometimes allowed to remain on the job while investigations of their behavior are left in the hands of their colleagues.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="40" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="41" style="max-width: 100%;">The Post’s findings</p><div data-reader-unique-id="42" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="43" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="44" style="max-width: 100%;">1,800+<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p data-reader-unique-id="45" style="max-width: 100%;">officers charged with crimes involving child sexual abuse from 2005 through 2022<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p></div><div data-reader-unique-id="46" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="47" style="max-width: 100%;">13 to 15<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p data-reader-unique-id="48" style="max-width: 100%;">year-old girls are the children most often targeted by officers<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p></div><div data-reader-unique-id="49" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="50" style="max-width: 100%;">90%</p><p data-reader-unique-id="51" style="max-width: 100%;">of victims were not reported to be related to accused officers</p></div></div></div></div></section><p data-reader-unique-id="52" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="In the New Orleans Police Department, child sexual abuse has been a problem before. The city recently paid $300,000 to settle a lawsuit over its 1980s Police Explorers program led by a lieutenant who was accused of sexually exploiting 10 boys. The case was investigated by the head of NOPD’s juvenile sex crimes unit — who in 1987 was convicted of child sex crimes, too.">In the New Orleans Police Department, child sexual abuse has been a problem before. The city recently paid $300,000 to settle a lawsuit over its 1980s Police Explorers program led by a lieutenant who was accused of sexually exploiting 10 boys. The case was investigated by the head of NOPD’s juvenile sex crimes unit — who in 1987 was convicted of child sex crimes, too.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="53" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="In more recent years, two officers remained on the force after they were accused of abusing young girls. Then they sexually assaulted other children. They are among six NOPD officers who have been convicted of crimes involving child sexual abuse since 2011.">In more recent years, two officers remained on the force after they were accused of abusing young girls. Then they sexually assaulted other children. They are among six NOPD officers who have been convicted of crimes involving child sexual abuse since 2011.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="54" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Vicknair is the latest. His case reflects larger problems that police departments confront in conducting background checks, identifying red flags and responding to complaints of inappropriate behavior. To reconstruct what happened in New Orleans,<b> </b>The Post obtained hundreds of internal law enforcement records, hours of video footage and dozens of text messages.">Vicknair is the latest. His case reflects larger problems that police departments confront in conducting background checks, identifying red flags and responding to complaints of inappropriate behavior. To reconstruct what happened in New Orleans,<b data-reader-unique-id="55" style="max-width: 100%;"></b>The Post obtained hundreds of internal law enforcement records, hours of video footage and dozens of text messages.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="56" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Vicknair was hired in 2007 despite a record that included multiple arrests and a conviction for battery on a juvenile. His sexually charged interactions with the girl he drove to the hospital, though witnessed by another officer, went unreported to superiors. He frequently visited the girl’s home in the summer of 2020, telling new cops he was training that they should stay in the car while he went inside alone. And when concerns about Vicknair’s behavior were reported to the department, police officials allowed him to remain on duty for a week. During that week, the girl said, Vicknair sexually assaulted her.">Vicknair was hired in 2007 despite a record that included multiple arrests and a conviction for battery on a juvenile. His sexually charged interactions with the girl he drove to the hospital, though witnessed by another officer, went unreported to superiors. He frequently visited the girl’s home in the summer of 2020, telling new cops he was training that they should stay in the car while he went inside alone. And when concerns about Vicknair’s behavior were reported to the department, police officials allowed him to remain on duty for a week. During that week, the girl said, Vicknair sexually assaulted her.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="57" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Reached by phone last year, Vicknair declined to comment for this story. In November of 2022, he pleaded guilty to violating the girl’s civil rights, admitting that he locked her in his truck and touched her under her clothing.">Reached by phone last year, Vicknair declined to comment for this story. In November of 2022, he pleaded guilty to violating the girl’s civil rights, admitting that he locked her in his truck and touched her under her clothing.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="58" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="The city of New Orleans and its police department also declined to discuss the case with The Post, citing pending litigation. The victim and her mother filed a federal civil rights<b> </b>lawsuit against the city and its superintendent of police in 2021.">The city of New Orleans and its police department also declined to discuss the case with The Post, citing pending litigation. The victim and her mother filed a federal civil rights<b data-reader-unique-id="59" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>lawsuit against the city and its superintendent of police in 2021.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="60" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="In court filings, the city has repeatedly denied that the police department is responsible for the girl’s abuse, arguing that Vicknair was not on duty at the time of the assault he pleaded guilty to and was not acting on behalf of NOPD “while performing any of the inappropriate actions alleged against him.”">In court filings, the city has repeatedly denied that the police department is responsible for the girl’s abuse, arguing that Vicknair was not on duty at the time of the assault he pleaded guilty to and was not acting on behalf of NOPD “while performing any of the inappropriate actions alleged against him.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="61" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Now, the case will go before a jury. A trial over what, if anything, the girl is owed by NOPD is scheduled to begin March 18.">Now, the case will go before a jury. A trial over what, if anything, the girl is owed by NOPD is scheduled to begin March 18.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="62" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="With the permission of the victim and her mother, The Post is identifying the girl only by her middle name, Nicole.">With the permission of the victim and her mother, The Post is identifying the girl only by her middle name, Nicole.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="63" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><figure data-reader-unique-id="64" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" class="extendsBeyondTextColumn" data-nimg="future" data-reader-unique-id="65" decoding="async" height="4000" loading="lazy" src="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/U7IVECBOTAS2GW4NBRH46FQUA4_size-normalized.JPG&high_res=true&w=2048" srcset="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/U7IVECBOTAS2GW4NBRH46FQUA4_size-normalized.JPG&high_res=true&w=2048 1x" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-inline-start: -43.640625px; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: none; width: 1050px;" width="6000" /><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="66" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;">The teen, Nicole, poses for a portrait at her mother’s home in New Orleans in May 2023.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></figcaption></figure></div><p data-reader-unique-id="67" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="At 14, Nicole was barely 100 pounds. She hadn’t yet gotten braces. A large stuffed giraffe still watched over her bedroom.">At 14, Nicole was barely 100 pounds. She hadn’t yet gotten braces. A large stuffed giraffe still watched over her bedroom.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="68" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="She’d spent her preteen years in custody battles between divorced parents, in a domestic violence shelter with her mom and in a hospital for self-harm. She believed all adults just wanted to tell her what to do. But on the day Vicknair persuaded her to go to the emergency room and then sat with her and her mother for hours, Nicole felt like he actually wanted to listen.">She’d spent her preteen years in custody battles between divorced parents, in a domestic violence shelter with her mom and in a hospital for self-harm. She believed all adults just wanted to tell her what to do. But on the day Vicknair persuaded her to go to the emergency room and then sat with her and her mother for hours, Nicole felt like he actually wanted to listen.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="69" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“If you ever just want to shoot, talk, text me,” he told her as his body camera continued recording. “You having problems, just need somebody to talk to, if I’m working I’ll come swing by and talk to ya, okay? ... We’ll go get some ice cream in McDonald’s or something.”">“If you ever just want to shoot, talk, text me,” he told her as his body camera continued recording. “You having problems, just need somebody to talk to, if I’m working I’ll come swing by and talk to ya, okay? ... We’ll go get some ice cream in McDonald’s or something.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="70" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Nicole saved Vicknair’s number in her phone as “Officer Rodney.”">Nicole saved Vicknair’s number in her phone as “Officer Rodney.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="71" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“Now hit call so I know it’s you and I can save you as a contact,” Vicknair said before leaving. He lifted his phone and aimed his camera down at her. Her bare legs were dangling off the hospital bed.">“Now hit call so I know it’s you and I can save you as a contact,” Vicknair said before leaving. He lifted his phone and aimed his camera down at her. Her bare legs were dangling off the hospital bed.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="72" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“No,” Nicole objected, raising her hand to block his view.">“No,” Nicole objected, raising her hand to block his view.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="73" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Vicknair took the picture anyway. “There we go,” he said. “Perfect.”">Vicknair took the picture anyway. “There we go,” he said. “Perfect.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="76" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Nicole was just a year old when Vicknair applied for the job that would make it possible for him to meet her and other children.">Nicole was just a year old when Vicknair applied for the job that would make it possible for him to meet her and other children.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="77" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“I always wanted to be a police officer in New Orleans,” Vicknair wrote on his NOPD application in 2006. “I truly love helping + serving my community.”">“I always wanted to be a police officer in New Orleans,” Vicknair wrote on his NOPD application in 2006. “I truly love helping + serving my community.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="78" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="He was far from the typical police recruit. He’d worked as an EMT and a hospital security guard, but he was about to turn 40 — an age that would have disqualified him from joining some departments at the time. At 5-foot-11, he weighed 237 pounds. He had lifelong tremors that regularly made his hands shake.">He was far from the typical police recruit. He’d worked as an EMT and a hospital security guard, but he was about to turn 40 — an age that would have disqualified him from joining some departments at the time. At 5-foot-11, he weighed 237 pounds. He had lifelong tremors that regularly made his hands shake.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="79" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="A department spokesperson told The Post that, today, NOPD has some of the most stringent hiring requirements in the state of Louisiana. Since entering into <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-consent-decree-city-new-orleans-resolve-allegations-unlawful?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">a consent decree </a>with the Justice Department in 2012, NOPD has been working to reform its policies and practices.">A department spokesperson told The Post that, today, NOPD has some of the most stringent hiring requirements in the state of Louisiana. Since entering into<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="80" href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-consent-decree-city-new-orleans-resolve-allegations-unlawful?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">a consent decree<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></a>with the Justice Department in 2012, NOPD has been working to reform its policies and practices.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="81" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="But at the time Vicknair applied, NOPD was in disarray following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Public outcry over officers’ actions had resulted in intense scrutiny from the outside and low morale on the inside. Recruiters needed to find people willing to wear the badge. According to the Justice Department, NOPD began lowering hiring standards and performing less rigorous background checks.">But at the time Vicknair applied, NOPD was in disarray following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Public outcry over officers’ actions had resulted in intense scrutiny from the outside and low morale on the inside. Recruiters needed to find people willing to wear the badge. According to the Justice Department, NOPD began lowering hiring standards and performing less rigorous background checks.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="82" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><figure data-reader-unique-id="83" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" class="extendsBeyondTextColumn" data-nimg="future" data-reader-unique-id="84" decoding="async" height="3925" loading="lazy" src="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/2R7C4PY7FIW3S6I4THQ2MGBCO4_size-normalized.JPG&high_res=true&w=2048" srcset="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/2R7C4PY7FIW3S6I4THQ2MGBCO4_size-normalized.JPG&high_res=true&w=2048 1x" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-inline-start: -43.640625px; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: none; width: 1050px;" width="5888" /></figure><figure data-reader-unique-id="85" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" class="extendsBeyondTextColumn" data-nimg="future" data-reader-unique-id="86" decoding="async" height="2238" loading="lazy" src="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/74ADDIDMCVQFLF257Z67O25HHQ.JPG&high_res=true&w=2048" srcset="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/74ADDIDMCVQFLF257Z67O25HHQ.JPG&high_res=true&w=2048 1x" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-inline-start: -43.640625px; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: none; width: 1050px;" width="3000" /></figure><div aria-hidden="true" data-reader-unique-id="87" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="88" style="max-width: 100%;">The police station in New Orleans’s first district, where Officer Rodney Vicknair was based for more than a decade.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="89" style="max-width: 100%;">Vicknair poses for a photo that the New Orleans Police Department published on its website in 2017. (New Orleans Police Department)</p></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="90" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="In his application, Vicknair disclosed to the department that he’d previously been charged with disturbing the peace and aggravated assault. Just the year before he applied, deputies from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office were called when Vicknair reportedly brandished a knife at his ex-girlfriend and beat a man she was dating.">In his application, Vicknair disclosed to the department that he’d previously been charged with disturbing the peace and aggravated assault. Just the year before he applied, deputies from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office were called when Vicknair reportedly brandished a knife at his ex-girlfriend and beat a man she was dating.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="91" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Citing the “potential for future violence, as well as threats made by Mr. Vicknair in the presence of deputies,” law enforcement seized Vicknair’s knife and his gun before taking him to jail, according to a police report included in his background check.">Citing the “potential for future violence, as well as threats made by Mr. Vicknair in the presence of deputies,” law enforcement seized Vicknair’s knife and his gun before taking him to jail, according to a police report included in his background check.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="92" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="The charges were eventually dropped. Vicknair’s ex-girlfriend, Denise Trower, told The Post that she asked authorities to stop pursuing the case because she was afraid of what Vicknair might do if she didn’t. During their relationship, she said, Vicknair choked her and held a loaded gun to her head.">The charges were eventually dropped. Vicknair’s ex-girlfriend, Denise Trower, told The Post that she asked authorities to stop pursuing the case because she was afraid of what Vicknair might do if she didn’t. During their relationship, she said, Vicknair choked her and held a loaded gun to her head.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="93" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“He had threatened that he would make sure somebody did something to my son,” Trower said.">“He had threatened that he would make sure somebody did something to my son,” Trower said.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="94" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Without calling Trower to learn more about what happened, the NOPD background investigator wrote that the arrest “should not reflect poorly” on Vicknair’s application.">Without calling Trower to learn more about what happened, the NOPD background investigator wrote that the arrest “should not reflect poorly” on Vicknair’s application.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="95" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="The incident was not the only time Vicknair had been charged with a serious crime. In 1987, he was convicted in Ascension Parish of simple battery on a juvenile — a part of his past he did not disclose to NOPD. He was sentenced to $50 in fines or 10 days in jail.">The incident was not the only time Vicknair had been charged with a serious crime. In 1987, he was convicted in Ascension Parish of simple battery on a juvenile — a part of his past he did not disclose to NOPD. He was sentenced to $50 in fines or 10 days in jail.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="96" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Three of Vicknair’s family members told The Post that he was charged after he had what they described as a sexual relationship with a minor. Vicknair was 20 years old. The girl, whom The Post is not identifying, was a preteen at the time. She did not respond to interview requests.">Three of Vicknair’s family members told The Post that he was charged after he had what they described as a sexual relationship with a minor. Vicknair was 20 years old. The girl, whom The Post is not identifying, was a preteen at the time. She did not respond to interview requests.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="97" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="There is no indication that the background investigator looked into the simple battery conviction; he didn’t appear to know it existed. Though The Post obtained a record of Vicknair’s conviction from the court, the background investigator reported in his notes that Vicknair had no criminal record in Ascension Parish.">There is no indication that the background investigator looked into the simple battery conviction; he didn’t appear to know it existed. Though The Post obtained a record of Vicknair’s conviction from the court, the background investigator reported in his notes that Vicknair had no criminal record in Ascension Parish.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="98" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><figure data-reader-unique-id="99" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" data-nimg="future" data-reader-unique-id="100" decoding="async" height="387" loading="lazy" src="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/2THFI4E6BJFALBBGUMXDUBPFSA.jpg&high_res=true&w=1920" srcset="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/2THFI4E6BJFALBBGUMXDUBPFSA.jpg&high_res=true&w=691 1x, https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/2THFI4E6BJFALBBGUMXDUBPFSA.jpg&high_res=true&w=1920 2x" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="640" /><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="101" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;">A June 1987 court record from Ascension Parish.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(Obtained by The Washington Post)</figcaption></figure></div><p data-reader-unique-id="102" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Records show the NOPD background investigator also did not contact anyone in Vicknair’s family.">Records show the NOPD background investigator also did not contact anyone in Vicknair’s family.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="103" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Vicknair’s sister, Kim Vogel, said that if she had been contacted, she would have told the department not to hire her brother. She described him as loyal, generous and eager to help other people. But she also said his history of anger<i> </i>and violence still gives her nightmares.">Vicknair’s sister, Kim Vogel, said that if she had been contacted, she would have told the department not to hire her brother. She described him as loyal, generous and eager to help other people. But she also said his history of anger<i data-reader-unique-id="104" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i>and violence still gives her nightmares.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="105" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“I don’t think he should have been a police officer, and I hate even bringing that out there,” Vicknair’s sister said. “But I also blame that on the police department, because I know they do background checks, they do psychological tests and all that. And they missed all of it.”">“I don’t think he should have been a police officer, and I hate even bringing that out there,” Vicknair’s sister said. “But I also blame that on the police department, because I know they do background checks, they do psychological tests and all that. And they missed all of it.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="106" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Vicknair did undergo a computerized voice-stress analysis, a type of lie detector test.">Vicknair did undergo a computerized voice-stress analysis, a type of lie detector test.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="107" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“Did you intentionally withhold any information from your employment application?” the examiner asked.">“Did you intentionally withhold any information from your employment application?” the examiner asked.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="108" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Vicknair answered no. The NOPD investigator rated his application as “acceptable.” He was hired onto the force in March 2007.">Vicknair answered no. The NOPD investigator rated his application as “acceptable.” He was hired onto the force in March 2007.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="109" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="During the next 12 years, he was internally investigated for allegations of misconduct a dozen times, according to NOPD records.">During the next 12 years, he was internally investigated for allegations of misconduct a dozen times, according to NOPD records.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="110" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="In eight of the cases, which included accusations of unauthorized force, theft of $1,000 and drug possession, the department found no evidence of misconduct, could not determine whether the wrongdoing occurred or deemed his actions justified. Vicknair was not disciplined.">In eight of the cases, which included accusations of unauthorized force, theft of $1,000 and drug possession, the department found no evidence of misconduct, could not determine whether the wrongdoing occurred or deemed his actions justified. Vicknair was not disciplined.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="111" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Records show he was formally punished twice for reckless driving and twice for acting inappropriately toward women who claimed he had mocked or harassed them while on duty. The most severe consequence he received was a five-day suspension.">Records show he was formally punished twice for reckless driving and twice for acting inappropriately toward women who claimed he had mocked or harassed them while on duty. The most severe consequence he received was a five-day suspension.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="112" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="In 2016, he was promoted to become a mentor to new officers while he patrolled the neighborhood where he would meet Nicole.">In 2016, he was promoted to become a mentor to new officers while he patrolled the neighborhood where he would meet Nicole.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="115" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="After the swabbing was over, after she stopped hyperventilating, after she stayed at the hospital to ensure she didn’t hurt herself, Nicole was discharged. Then she called Officer Vicknair.">After the swabbing was over, after she stopped hyperventilating, after she stayed at the hospital to ensure she didn’t hurt herself, Nicole was discharged. Then she called Officer Vicknair.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="116" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“Let me know when back home and I’ll come check on you,” Vicknair texted the 14-year-old on May 26, 2020. He’d started messaging her the night he met her, by sending a GIF of a waving puppy.">“Let me know when back home and I’ll come check on you,” Vicknair texted the 14-year-old on May 26, 2020. He’d started messaging her the night he met her, by sending a GIF of a waving puppy.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="117" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="In the weeks that followed, he began showing up at her house in uniform. He’d sip a Dr Pepper while talking about the headlines on Fox News. He’d lecture Nicole about staying out of trouble.">In the weeks that followed, he began showing up at her house in uniform. He’d sip a Dr Pepper while talking about the headlines on Fox News. He’d lecture Nicole about staying out of trouble.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="118" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Nicole’s mother, Rayne, witnessed it all. Rayne — The Post is identifying her by her first name to protect Nicole’s privacy — had grown up with a sheriff’s deputy for a grandfather. She trusted law enforcement and raised her daughter to feel the same way.">Nicole’s mother, Rayne, witnessed it all. Rayne — The Post is identifying her by her first name to protect Nicole’s privacy — had grown up with a sheriff’s deputy for a grandfather. She trusted law enforcement and raised her daughter to feel the same way.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="121" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="So Rayne encouraged Vicknair to follow up on his idea to take Nicole out for ice cream. She called him when Nicole was having a breakdown. She invited him to visit Nicole on her 15th birthday.">So Rayne encouraged Vicknair to follow up on his idea to take Nicole out for ice cream. She called him when Nicole was having a breakdown. She invited him to visit Nicole on her 15th birthday.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="122" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Rayne didn’t worry when she discovered that the 53-year-old officer was talking to her daughter on the phone late at night that summer. She was grateful that Nicole, who had become silent and surly in the weeks following her sexual assault report, was finally opening up to someone. Someone who could be a role model.">Rayne didn’t worry when she discovered that the 53-year-old officer was talking to her daughter on the phone late at night that summer. She was grateful that Nicole, who had become silent and surly in the weeks following her sexual assault report, was finally opening up to someone. Someone who could be a role model.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="123" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“She would be like, ‘Oh, I had the best talk with Rodney last night, Mom. He’s so nice,’” Rayne remembered.">“She would be like, ‘Oh, I had the best talk with Rodney last night, Mom. He’s so nice,’” Rayne remembered.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="124" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="The interest Vicknair was taking in her daughter was so different from how NOPD first responded. On the morning in May when Rayne discovered her daughter on the couch with her 17-year-old friend, two other patrol<b> </b>officers were the first to be dispatched to a report of attempted rape at her house.">The interest Vicknair was taking in her daughter was so different from how NOPD first responded. On the morning in May when Rayne discovered her daughter on the couch with her 17-year-old friend, two other patrol<b data-reader-unique-id="125" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>officers were the first to be dispatched to a report of attempted rape at her house.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="126" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="It was 5:21 a.m. The teenage boy had already fled. Records show the officers spent 11 minutes at the house before leaving. They appeared to take no further action.">It was 5:21 a.m. The teenage boy had already fled. Records show the officers spent 11 minutes at the house before leaving. They appeared to take no further action.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="127" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Their response was exactly what the federal government had spent years trying to fix at NOPD. As a part of the<b> </b>2012 consent decree, the Justice Department’s investigators found that officers were repeatedly mishandling reports of sexual assault. NOPD’s investigations were “seriously deficient, marked by poor victim interviewing skills, missing or inadequate documentation, and minimal efforts to contact witnesses or interrogate suspects.”">Their response was exactly what the federal government had spent years trying to fix at NOPD. As a part of the<b data-reader-unique-id="128" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>2012 consent decree, the Justice Department’s investigators found that officers were repeatedly mishandling reports of sexual assault. NOPD’s investigations were “seriously deficient, marked by poor victim interviewing skills, missing or inadequate documentation, and minimal efforts to contact witnesses or interrogate suspects.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="129" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Years later, NOPD’s special victims unit continued to be understaffed and overwhelmed. According to a recent Justice Department report, the unit closed out 3 percent of cases in 2022.">Years later, NOPD’s special victims unit continued to be understaffed and overwhelmed. According to a recent Justice Department report, the unit closed out 3 percent of cases in 2022.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="130" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Several hours after the first officers left Nicole’s house, her therapist called to report the assault a second time. NOPD sent Vicknair and two other patrol officers to her house. Then a special victims detective, Kimberly Wilson, arrived. Body-camera footage shows she spent a total of four minutes with Nicole before saying she had somewhere else to be.">Several hours after the first officers left Nicole’s house, her therapist called to report the assault a second time. NOPD sent Vicknair and two other patrol officers to her house. Then a special victims detective, Kimberly Wilson, arrived. Body-camera footage shows she spent a total of four minutes with Nicole before saying she had somewhere else to be.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="131" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="She left Vicknair and another officer to drive and sit with the teen at the hospital. Wilson stopped by later that afternoon, but didn’t interview Nicole until two days later.">She left Vicknair and another officer to drive and sit with the teen at the hospital. Wilson stopped by later that afternoon, but didn’t interview Nicole until two days later.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="132" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“I told him to stop,” Nicole said about the 17-year-old. “He said ... ‘No, let me get it over with.’ ”">“I told him to stop,” Nicole said about the 17-year-old. “He said ... ‘No, let me get it over with.’ ”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="133" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Wilson declined to comment on<b> </b>her investigation. There is no record that Wilson ever interviewed the 17-year-old, and it is unclear from the case file whether Nicole’s rape kit DNA was tested by the crime lab.">Wilson declined to comment on<b data-reader-unique-id="134" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>her investigation. There is no record that Wilson ever interviewed the 17-year-old, and it is unclear from the case file whether Nicole’s rape kit DNA was tested by the crime lab.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="135" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Instead of progress in her case, Nicole got visits from Vicknair.">Instead of progress in her case, Nicole got visits from Vicknair.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="136" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><figure data-reader-unique-id="137" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" class="extendsBeyondTextColumn" data-nimg="future" data-reader-unique-id="138" decoding="async" height="4000" loading="lazy" src="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/EYF2URQY7FFJY455LXLJ276DOI_size-normalized.JPG&high_res=true&w=2048" srcset="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/EYF2URQY7FFJY455LXLJ276DOI_size-normalized.JPG&high_res=true&w=2048 1x" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-inline-start: -43.640625px; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: none; width: 1050px;" width="6000" /></figure><figure data-reader-unique-id="139" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" class="extendsBeyondTextColumn" data-nimg="future" data-reader-unique-id="140" decoding="async" height="3585" loading="lazy" src="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/26E2V3PWEFHCWFFWLG5GYJYUGU_size-normalized.JPG&high_res=true&w=2048" srcset="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/26E2V3PWEFHCWFFWLG5GYJYUGU_size-normalized.JPG&high_res=true&w=2048 1x" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-inline-start: -43.640625px; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: none; width: 1050px;" width="5377" /></figure><div aria-hidden="true" data-reader-unique-id="141" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="142" style="max-width: 100%;">Nicole and her mother lived in this New Orleans apartment in the summer of 2020.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="143" style="max-width: 100%;">Nicole’s mother, Rayne, shows a 2020 photo of Vicknair holding their dog on one of his visits to their home.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="144" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="The first time Vicknair came over when her mother wasn’t home, Nicole remembered, he asked if she owned any booty shorts.">The first time Vicknair came over when her mother wasn’t home, Nicole remembered, he asked if she owned any booty shorts.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="145" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“What was running through my mind at that time was ‘Oh, he’s just a guy,’ ” Nicole said. “You know, that’s how guys think.”">“What was running through my mind at that time was ‘Oh, he’s just a guy,’ ” Nicole said. “You know, that’s how guys think.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="146" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="The more he came over and called, the more he learned about what Nicole had been through in her life. Rayne told the officer that her daughter was the “textbook poster child for daddy issues.” Nicole told him about sneaking into bars on Bourbon Street while her mom worked nights — and about the older men who bought her drinks there.">The more he came over and called, the more he learned about what Nicole had been through in her life. Rayne told the officer that her daughter was the “textbook poster child for daddy issues.” Nicole told him about sneaking into bars on Bourbon Street while her mom worked nights — and about the older men who bought her drinks there.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="147" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Vicknair began warning her, Nicole said later, that he could report her mom for child endangerment and get her thrown in jail. He told Nicole he could arrest anyone. He whacked her with his baton.">Vicknair began warning her, Nicole said later, that he could report her mom for child endangerment and get her thrown in jail. He told Nicole he could arrest anyone. He whacked her with his baton.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="148" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="She’d been taught to be afraid of strangers who might want to kidnap her, not adults in positions of authority who increasingly tested her boundaries.">She’d been taught to be afraid of strangers who might want to kidnap her, not adults in positions of authority who increasingly tested her boundaries.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="149" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="So she told no one when Vicknair’s texts shifted from “Lion King” GIFs to tongue emojis. Or when he confided in her about his own childhood trauma, then asked her to send nudes. Or when he went from telling her he wanted to touch her to actually doing it.">So she told no one when Vicknair’s texts shifted from “Lion King” GIFs to tongue emojis. Or when he confided in her about his own childhood trauma, then asked her to send nudes. Or when he went from telling her he wanted to touch her to actually doing it.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="150" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“I passed your house earlier,” Vicknair texted Nicole on Sept. 7, three and a half months after he met her.">“I passed your house earlier,” Vicknair texted Nicole on Sept. 7, three and a half months after he met her.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="151" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“Stalker,” she replied.">“Stalker,” she replied.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="152" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“You like it,” he texted back.">“You like it,” he texted back.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="153" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Later, she would wish she had told him to leave her alone. “I just kept going along with shit,” Nicole remembered. “He knew where we lived, you know?”">Later, she would wish she had told him to leave her alone. “I just kept going along with shit,” Nicole remembered. “He knew where we lived, you know?”</p><div data-reader-unique-id="154" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><figure data-reader-unique-id="155" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" class="extendsBeyondTextColumn" data-nimg="future" data-reader-unique-id="156" decoding="async" height="4000" loading="lazy" src="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/AAHXKYZYCY73B4LDKBS3BGXO2I_size-normalized.JPG&high_res=true&w=2048" srcset="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/AAHXKYZYCY73B4LDKBS3BGXO2I_size-normalized.JPG&high_res=true&w=2048 1x" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-inline-start: -43.640625px; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: none; width: 1050px;" width="6000" /></figure><figure data-reader-unique-id="157" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" class="extendsBeyondTextColumn" data-nimg="future" data-reader-unique-id="158" decoding="async" height="2750" loading="lazy" src="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/BTVNKVGGF5LKYTGECLEJUEYUZI.JPG&high_res=true&w=2048" srcset="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/BTVNKVGGF5LKYTGECLEJUEYUZI.JPG&high_res=true&w=2048 1x" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-inline-start: -43.640625px; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: none; width: 1050px;" width="1942" /></figure><div aria-hidden="true" data-reader-unique-id="159" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="160" style="max-width: 100%;">Nicole, right, listens to her mother, Rayne, talk about the trust she placed in Vicknair.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="161" style="max-width: 100%;">Vicknair and Nicole, then 15, posed for this photo in the summer of 2020. The redaction in this photo was made by the New Orleans Police Department to protect the identity of the victim.</p></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="162" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Vicknair would admit to investigators after he was arrested that he visited Nicole at her house at least a dozen times.">Vicknair would admit to investigators after he was arrested that he visited Nicole at her house at least a dozen times.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="163" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="But it wasn’t anyone within NOPD who raised concerns about Vicknair’s behavior. It was Nicole’s mother, who in September found a photo on her daughter’s phone. In it, Vicknair’s tattooed arms were wrapped around Nicole, pressing the back of her body into the front of his.">But it wasn’t anyone within NOPD who raised concerns about Vicknair’s behavior. It was Nicole’s mother, who in September found a photo on her daughter’s phone. In it, Vicknair’s tattooed arms were wrapped around Nicole, pressing the back of her body into the front of his.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="164" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Nicole told her mom only that Vicknair once followed her in his police cruiser while she was on a run, yelling “Nice ass!” out the window. Rayne consulted with Nicole’s therapist. They both worried there was more going on.">Nicole told her mom only that Vicknair once followed her in his police cruiser while she was on a run, yelling “Nice ass!” out the window. Rayne consulted with Nicole’s therapist. They both worried there was more going on.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="165" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="How, Nicole’s mother began to wonder, do you report the police to the police?">How, Nicole’s mother began to wonder, do you report the police to the police?</p><div data-reader-unique-id="166" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="167" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="168" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="169" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="170" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" data-nimg="fill" data-reader-unique-id="171" decoding="async" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" /></span></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="173" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="174" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="175" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="176" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-position="0" data-reader-unique-id="177" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="178" style="max-width: 100%;"><header data-reader-unique-id="179" style="max-width: 100%;">Listen to Nicole’s mother report Officer Vicknair’s behavior to NOPD<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span data-reader-unique-id="180" style="max-width: 100%;">(53s)</span></header><div data-reader-unique-id="190" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="191" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="192" data-sec="0" style="max-width: 100%;">“[Nicole] and he took a pic, took a picture, a selfie picture in the mirror<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span data-reader-unique-id="193" data-sec="7" style="max-width: 100%;">that I just was uncomfortable with the proximity of </span><span data-reader-unique-id="194" data-sec="11" style="max-width: 100%;">where they, their body touching, you know, him being behind her and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span data-reader-unique-id="195" data-sec="15" style="max-width: 100%;">engaging in that way.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span data-reader-unique-id="196" data-sec="17" style="max-width: 100%;">And, and that kind of physical closeness, that contact, and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span data-reader-unique-id="197" data-sec="21" style="max-width: 100%;">the picture he said was because he had a picture of everybody else in his phone. ...”</span></p><p data-reader-unique-id="198" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="199" data-sec="26" style="max-width: 100%;">“... And, anyway, [Nicole] told me she went on a run after he left<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span data-reader-unique-id="200" data-sec="32" style="max-width: 100%;">and she said during her run that<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span data-reader-unique-id="201" data-sec="35" style="max-width: 100%;">he drove up to her and rolled his window and down and said, nice ass.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span data-reader-unique-id="202" data-sec="40" style="max-width: 100%;">I didn't like that.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span data-reader-unique-id="203" data-sec="41" style="max-width: 100%;">I mean, he's been very kind, don't get me wrong.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span data-reader-unique-id="204" data-sec="44" style="max-width: 100%;">You know, I'm not saying he hasn't been, but that was when,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span data-reader-unique-id="205" data-sec="46" style="max-width: 100%;">when she told me that when she came home from her run and told me that he said that<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span data-reader-unique-id="206" data-sec="50" style="max-width: 100%;">I told her, I said we have to talk.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span data-reader-unique-id="207" data-sec="52" style="max-width: 100%;">I said this has got to stop.”</span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="210" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="On Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, nearly four months after Vicknair met Nicole, the head of the New Orleans Police Department received a text.">On Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, nearly four months after Vicknair met Nicole, the head of the New Orleans Police Department received a text.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="211" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“It’s about potential sexual abuse of a minor by an officer,” read the message to then-Superintendent Shaun Ferguson.">“It’s about potential sexual abuse of a minor by an officer,” read the message to then-Superintendent Shaun Ferguson.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="212" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="The text was sent by Susan Hutson, then the city’s independent police monitor, a civilian oversight agency created after Hurricane Katrina. Hutson’s job included listening to citizens’ complaints about police and trying to get something done about them.">The text was sent by Susan Hutson, then the city’s independent police monitor, a civilian oversight agency created after Hurricane Katrina. Hutson’s job included listening to citizens’ complaints about police and trying to get something done about them.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="213" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Often, that meant contacting NOPD’s version of internal affairs, known as the Public Integrity Bureau. While some<b> </b>police departments turn to outside agencies to conduct investigations when one of their officers is suspected of committing a serious crime, NOPD investigates its own.">Often, that meant contacting NOPD’s version of internal affairs, known as the Public Integrity Bureau. While some<b data-reader-unique-id="214" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>police departments turn to outside agencies to conduct investigations when one of their officers is suspected of committing a serious crime, NOPD investigates its own.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="215" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Hutson notified Ferguson and then-integrity bureau leader Arlinda Westbrook that same Friday evening. Sgt. Lawrence Jones, a criminal investigator with the public integrity bureau, did not begin looking into Vicknair until the following Monday, Sept. 21. (Jones and Westbrook did not respond to interview requests from The Post. Ferguson, who retired in 2022, declined to comment.)">Hutson notified Ferguson and then-integrity bureau leader Arlinda Westbrook that same Friday evening. Sgt. Lawrence Jones, a criminal investigator with the public integrity bureau, did not begin looking into Vicknair until the following Monday, Sept. 21. (Jones and Westbrook did not respond to interview requests from The Post. Ferguson, who retired in 2022, declined to comment.)</p><p data-reader-unique-id="216" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Jones first spoke with<b> </b>Nicole and her mother that Monday. Sitting in on the call was Stella Cziment, the deputy police monitor at the time.">Jones first spoke with<b data-reader-unique-id="217" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>Nicole and her mother that Monday. Sitting in on the call was Stella Cziment, the deputy police monitor at the time.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="218" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Listening to Nicole talk, Cziment later told The Post, she could tell the girl was afraid to speak honestly about Vicknair. She called him her friend, and was clearly trying to protect him. They weren’t certain that sexual abuse had already occurred. But the red flags about the officer’s behavior were obvious, Cziment said. She assumed that NOPD would act to remove Vicknair from duty as quickly as possible.">Listening to Nicole talk, Cziment later told The Post, she could tell the girl was afraid to speak honestly about Vicknair. She called him her friend, and was clearly trying to protect him. They weren’t certain that sexual abuse had already occurred. But the red flags about the officer’s behavior were obvious, Cziment said. She assumed that NOPD would act to remove Vicknair from duty as quickly as possible.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="219" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“What we were scared of was the amount of access he had to the child,” Cziment said.">“What we were scared of was the amount of access he had to the child,” Cziment said.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="220" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="But Vicknair was not removed from active duty that day, even after Jones, the investigator, visited Nicole’s house and saw the photo of Vicknair,<b> </b>in uniform, pressing Nicole into his body and texts in which the officer called her sweetie, honey, buttercup, baby girl and boo.">But Vicknair was not removed from active duty that day, even after Jones, the investigator, visited Nicole’s house and saw the photo of Vicknair,<b data-reader-unique-id="221" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>in uniform, pressing Nicole into his body and texts in which the officer called her sweetie, honey, buttercup, baby girl and boo.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="222" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Vicknair remained on patrol<b> </b>the next day, even after Jones reviewed the body-camera footage from when Vicknair took Nicole to the hospital and showed her photos of a nearly naked woman.">Vicknair remained on patrol<b data-reader-unique-id="223" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>the next day, even after Jones reviewed the body-camera footage from when Vicknair took Nicole to the hospital and showed her photos of a nearly naked woman.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="224" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="The entire week, Vicknair kept his job, his badge, his gun.<b> </b>Not until Friday, Sept. 25, seven days after the text to the head of police,<b> </b>was Nicole interviewed by someone specially trained in child abuse at the New Orleans Child Advocacy Center.">The entire week, Vicknair kept his job, his badge, his gun.<b data-reader-unique-id="225" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>Not until Friday, Sept. 25, seven days after the text to the head of police,<b data-reader-unique-id="226" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>was Nicole interviewed by someone specially trained in child abuse at the New Orleans Child Advocacy Center.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="227" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div aria-label="pull-quote" data-reader-unique-id="228" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="229" style="max-width: 100%;">“I try to keep him happy,” Nicole told the forensic interviewer, according to a videotaped recording obtained by The Post. “He’s a cop, so it’s not like he’s going to get in trouble for any of this.”</p></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="230" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="The last time she’d seen Vicknair, she said, was just two days earlier. He’d come to her house while on duty, then returned after his shift. She went out to his truck and got inside.">The last time she’d seen Vicknair, she said, was just two days earlier. He’d come to her house while on duty, then returned after his shift. She went out to his truck and got inside.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="231" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“Did something happen?” the interviewer asked.">“Did something happen?” the interviewer asked.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="232" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Nicole squirmed in her chair, her Converse high-tops shaking.">Nicole squirmed in her chair, her Converse high-tops shaking.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="233" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“I just can’t say it,” she said.">“I just can’t say it,” she said.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="234" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“I’m not gonna put words in your mouth,” the interviewer said.">“I’m not gonna put words in your mouth,” the interviewer said.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="235" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“Fine,” Nicole said. “He stuck his finger in my, in my — ”">“Fine,” Nicole said. “He stuck his finger in my, in my — ”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="236" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="She pointed downward. At 15, she was too embarrassed to name her own body parts. The interviewer asked her one more time, and then her story came rushing out. How weird it felt. How scared she was.">She pointed downward. At 15, she was too embarrassed to name her own body parts. The interviewer asked her one more time, and then her story came rushing out. How weird it felt. How scared she was.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="237" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="She tried to hug him goodbye, she said, but then, “He stuck his finger in one more time and was like, ‘Just one more taste.’ ”">She tried to hug him goodbye, she said, but then, “He stuck his finger in one more time and was like, ‘Just one more taste.’ ”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="238" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="That night in Vicknair’s truck, Nicole said, he asked her for a favor. He wanted to keep her underwear.">That night in Vicknair’s truck, Nicole said, he asked her for a favor. He wanted to keep her underwear.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="239" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="He still had them, she said.">He still had them, she said.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="240" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="241" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="242" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="243" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="244" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" data-nimg="fill" data-reader-unique-id="245" decoding="async" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" /></span></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="247" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="248" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="249" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="250" style="max-width: 100%;">When the interview was over, investigators did not immediately seek a warrant for Vicknair’s arrest. Instead, they asked Nicole to call the officer who she had just said assaulted her — and ask him if he would do it again.</p></div><div data-reader-unique-id="251" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="252" style="max-width: 100%;">She was deeply uncomfortable. But she did as she was told. She pulled up “Officer Rodney” on her phone.</p></div><div data-reader-unique-id="253" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="254" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="255" style="max-width: 100%;">[Excerpt from call]</p><div data-reader-unique-id="256" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="257" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="258" style="max-width: 100%;">Nicole:</p><q data-reader-unique-id="259" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); max-width: 100%;">Can we do what we did in your truck again?</q></div><p data-reader-unique-id="263" style="max-width: 100%;"><i data-reader-unique-id="264" style="max-width: 100%;">In the background, a girl’s voice can be heard saying, ‘Love you, Dad!’</i></p><div data-reader-unique-id="268" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="269" style="max-width: 100%;">Vicknair:</p><q data-reader-unique-id="270" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); max-width: 100%;">I don’t know if it’s your phone or my phone, it’s breaking up.</q></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="271" style="max-width: 100%;">[Vicknair ended the call.]</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="272" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="273" style="max-width: 100%;">Vicknair already knew that Nicole was going to the child advocacy center for a forensic interview that day. Nicole told him the interview was about another man, one she’d met on Bourbon Street.</p></div><div data-reader-unique-id="274" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="275" style="max-width: 100%;">Now, Nicole feared, Vicknair knew what was going on.</p></div><div data-reader-unique-id="276" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="277" style="max-width: 100%;">Less than an hour after Vicknair hung up on Nicole, he got into his Toyota Tundra, the same vehicle Nicole said she’d been assaulted in two nights earlier. He was followed by an officer who’d been sitting outside his house, conducting surveillance.</p></div><div data-reader-unique-id="278" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="279" style="max-width: 100%;">The officer quickly lost sight of Vicknair’s truck.</p></div><div data-reader-unique-id="280" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="281" style="max-width: 100%;">When the truck returned, it was gleaming, with fresh gloss on the tires and exterior. The officer wrote in his surveillance report that it appeared Vicknair had gone to get his vehicle detailed.</p></div><div data-reader-unique-id="282" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="283" style="max-width: 100%;">If there was any evidence — or underwear — remaining in the truck, it had just been washed away.</p></div></div></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="286" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="By 2 a.m. the next day, Vicknair was inside an interview room, handcuffed to a table.">By 2 a.m. the next day, Vicknair was inside an interview room, handcuffed to a table.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="287" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“Rodney, first of all, I want to thank you for sitting down and talking with us,” said Jones, seated across from his colleague.">“Rodney, first of all, I want to thank you for sitting down and talking with us,” said Jones, seated across from his colleague.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="288" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“I didn’t have much choice,” Vicknair balked.">“I didn’t have much choice,” Vicknair balked.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="289" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Sheriff’s deputies had knocked on the door of Vicknair’s home just before 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 26.">Sheriff’s deputies had knocked on the door of Vicknair’s home just before 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 26.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="290" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Vicknair came out in only his boxer briefs and lit a cigarette. He kept smoking as they cinched cuffs behind his back.">Vicknair came out in only his boxer briefs and lit a cigarette. He kept smoking as they cinched cuffs behind his back.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="291" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="When he learned during his recorded interview that his arrest was related to Nicole, he laughed.">When he learned during his recorded interview that his arrest was related to Nicole, he laughed.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="292" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“On her?” he said. “Okay.”">“On her?” he said. “Okay.”</p><div data-reader-unique-id="293" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="294" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure data-reader-unique-id="295" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="306" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;">The redactions in this video were made by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office to protect the identity of the victim. (Obtained by The Washington Post)</figcaption></figure></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="307" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Over the next hour and a half, Vicknair switched between denials and explanations for what he couldn’t deny. Yes, he’d gone to Nicole’s house just before midnight two nights earlier — but only because she’d asked him to sniff her to see if she smelled like weed, he said. Yes, he had sexual photos of her on his phone — but he’d only taken screenshots of her Snapchats “in case something ever did happen,” he said. Yes, he told her which of her thongs were his favorite and that she had “a nice ass for your age.”">Over the next hour and a half, Vicknair switched between denials and explanations for what he couldn’t deny. Yes, he’d gone to Nicole’s house just before midnight two nights earlier — but only because she’d asked him to sniff her to see if she smelled like weed, he said. Yes, he had sexual photos of her on his phone — but he’d only taken screenshots of her Snapchats “in case something ever did happen,” he said. Yes, he told her which of her thongs were his favorite and that she had “a nice ass for your age.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="308" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“If that was inappropriate, then so be it. It was inappropriate,” he said. “But there was never nothing sexual.”">“If that was inappropriate, then so be it. It was inappropriate,” he said. “But there was never nothing sexual.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="309" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Vicknair was adamant that he did not penetrate her or take her underwear.">Vicknair was adamant that he did not penetrate her or take her underwear.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="310" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“I care about her the same way I cared about several other girls and boys that I’ve given my business cards to and talked to them,” Vicknair said.">“I care about her the same way I cared about several other girls and boys that I’ve given my business cards to and talked to them,” Vicknair said.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="311" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="He accused Jones of trying to “make a case or something of a disturbed child.”">He accused Jones of trying to “make a case or something of a disturbed child.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="312" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“The issue is that we have a 52-year-old, 15-year, veteran police officer who’s seeing … this 15-year-old girl regularly,” Jones said.">“The issue is that we have a 52-year-old, 15-year, veteran police officer who’s seeing … this 15-year-old girl regularly,” Jones said.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="313" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“That ain’t nothing,” Vicknair said. “I talk to a lot of younger people four or five times a week.”">“That ain’t nothing,” Vicknair said. “I talk to a lot of younger people four or five times a week.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="314" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="At no point during the interview did Jones ask for the names of the other young people Vicknair claimed to be talking to, including a runaway girl he mentioned specifically. There is no indication in the internal case records that NOPD ever conducted a review of other children Vicknair had interacted with.">At no point during the interview did Jones ask for the names of the other young people Vicknair claimed to be talking to, including a runaway girl he mentioned specifically. There is no indication in the internal case records that NOPD ever conducted a review of other children Vicknair had interacted with.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="315" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“We just hope,” Jones told Vicknair, “none of them come calling here.”">“We just hope,” Jones told Vicknair, “none of them come calling here.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="318" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Charged with sexual battery, indecent behavior with a juvenile and malfeasance in office, Vicknair spent a week in jail before posting a $55,000 bond.">Charged with sexual battery, indecent behavior with a juvenile and malfeasance in office, Vicknair spent a week in jail before posting a $55,000 bond.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="319" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="He submitted a letter of resignation to the police department in January 2021.">He submitted a letter of resignation to the police department in January 2021.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="320" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="His wife of five years filed for divorce. He suffered three heart attacks and a stroke.">His wife of five years filed for divorce. He suffered three heart attacks and a stroke.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="322" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="The Justice Department, which took over his prosecution from Orleans Parish, charged him with deprivation of rights under the color of law, the same federal charge often filed against officers who use excessive force. In November 2022, Vicknair agreed to plead guilty.">The Justice Department, which took over his prosecution from Orleans Parish, charged him with deprivation of rights under the color of law, the same federal charge often filed against officers who use excessive force. In November 2022, Vicknair agreed to plead guilty.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="323" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="In his plea, he signed a statement admitting that he made sexual comments, requested and received sexually explicit photos and touched Nicole’s genitals under her clothing without her consent inside his locked vehicle.">In his plea, he signed a statement admitting that he made sexual comments, requested and received sexually explicit photos and touched Nicole’s genitals under her clothing without her consent inside his locked vehicle.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="324" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="In exchange, prosecutors asked the judge to send him to prison for seven years.">In exchange, prosecutors asked the judge to send him to prison for seven years.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="325" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="On March 8, 2023, Vicknair shuffled into a federal courthouse for his sentencing hearing using a cane. For the first time since the night in his truck, he was in the same room as Nicole.">On March 8, 2023, Vicknair shuffled into a federal courthouse for his sentencing hearing using a cane. For the first time since the night in his truck, he was in the same room as Nicole.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="326" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="She was 17 years old. She wouldn’t stick with therapy. She and her mother fought so often that she’d moved with a boyfriend to California. There, she reasoned, she would never have to see an NOPD cruiser again.">She was 17 years old. She wouldn’t stick with therapy. She and her mother fought so often that she’d moved with a boyfriend to California. There, she reasoned, she would never have to see an NOPD cruiser again.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="327" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="She spent her days sleeping and<b> </b>watching documentaries about sex crimes and murders, telling herself that what happened to her wasn’t as bad as what happens to other girls. She spent her nights playing “Call of Duty” online with strangers, nearly all of them boys and men. She shot and swore and screamed at them, and reminded herself that none of them knew where she lived.">She spent her days sleeping and<b data-reader-unique-id="328" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>watching documentaries about sex crimes and murders, telling herself that what happened to her wasn’t as bad as what happens to other girls. She spent her nights playing “Call of Duty” online with strangers, nearly all of them boys and men. She shot and swore and screamed at them, and reminded herself that none of them knew where she lived.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="329" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“Is there something you would like to say to the court?” the judge, Lance Africk, asked her.">“Is there something you would like to say to the court?” the judge, Lance Africk, asked her.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="330" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><figure data-reader-unique-id="331" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" class="extendsBeyondTextColumn" data-nimg="future" data-reader-unique-id="332" decoding="async" height="4000" loading="lazy" src="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/CUK7Y4RRQJHYU6PYJ2TKRVRJRA_size-normalized.JPG&high_res=true&w=2048" srcset="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/CUK7Y4RRQJHYU6PYJ2TKRVRJRA_size-normalized.JPG&high_res=true&w=2048 1x" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-inline-start: -43.640625px; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: none; width: 1050px;" width="6000" /><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="333" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;">Nicole wrote this victim impact statement and read it at Vicknair’s sentencing hearing in March 2023.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></figcaption></figure></div><p data-reader-unique-id="334" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="She stood at a microphone in a stiff white button-down shirt she’d purchased just hours before. She hoped it would make the judge take her seriously.">She stood at a microphone in a stiff white button-down shirt she’d purchased just hours before. She hoped it would make the judge take her seriously.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="335" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="All day, people had been telling her how “strong” she was. She thanked them, saying nothing about her recurring nightmare in which uniformed, tattooed arms were wrapping around her again. Or the knife she kept in her closet in case they ever did.">All day, people had been telling her how “strong” she was. She thanked them, saying nothing about her recurring nightmare in which uniformed, tattooed arms were wrapping around her again. Or the knife she kept in her closet in case they ever did.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="336" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“To her, he appears as a helping hand, but little does she know he had other plans,” Nicole said, reading a poem she’d written as her victim impact statement.">“To her, he appears as a helping hand, but little does she know he had other plans,” Nicole said, reading a poem she’d written as her victim impact statement.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="337" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Vicknair, coughing behind a mask, was watching her.">Vicknair, coughing behind a mask, was watching her.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="338" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“He tears her down and makes her suffer, yet she comes out 10 times tougher. Now every night the light stays on, scared he will return. She hopes he has had a change in heart and that he has learned.”">“He tears her down and makes her suffer, yet she comes out 10 times tougher. Now every night the light stays on, scared he will return. She hopes he has had a change in heart and that he has learned.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="339" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="The judge told her she was strong. He told her mother not to feel guilty. Then he began to narrate, in graphic detail, everything Vicknair had done to Nicole.">The judge told her she was strong. He told her mother not to feel guilty. Then he began to narrate, in graphic detail, everything Vicknair had done to Nicole.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="340" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div aria-label="pull-quote" data-reader-unique-id="341" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="342" style="max-width: 100%;">“I guess he was thinking: Who is going to believe a 14- or 15-year-old over me, a New Orleans police officer?” the judge said. “He served himself, not this young, trusting child.”</p></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="343" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="But the child he was talking about was no longer there. The moment the judge began describing it all again, Nicole ran out of the courtroom in tears.">But the child he was talking about was no longer there. The moment the judge began describing it all again, Nicole ran out of the courtroom in tears.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="344" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="While she hovered over a bathroom sink, trying not to vomit, the judge announced that he was refusing to accept the plea. He believed seven years was not enough time. He told both sides to come back the next week.">While she hovered over a bathroom sink, trying not to vomit, the judge announced that he was refusing to accept the plea. He believed seven years was not enough time. He told both sides to come back the next week.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="345" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="When they did, Africk agreed to a new deal. He sentenced Vicknair to prison for 14 years, Nicole’s age when he met her.">When they did, Africk agreed to a new deal. He sentenced Vicknair to prison for 14 years, Nicole’s age when he met her.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="348" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Two months later, Nicole was scrolling on her phone when she started to shake. She rubbed her eyes, thinking she must be imagining the notification that had just appeared on her screen.">Two months later, Nicole was scrolling on her phone when she started to shake. She rubbed her eyes, thinking she must be imagining the notification that had just appeared on her screen.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="349" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="A Snapchat account with a familiar name<b> </b>was trying to contact her.">A Snapchat account with a familiar name<b data-reader-unique-id="350" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>was trying to contact her.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="351" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="A bitmoji of a dark-haired man was waving at her, surrounded in confetti.">A bitmoji of a dark-haired man was waving at her, surrounded in confetti.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="352" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“Officer Rodney,” the notification said, “added you as a friend.”">“Officer Rodney,” the notification said, “added you as a friend.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="353" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Vicknair was not yet in prison. The judge had granted him time to seek medical care before he turned himself in.">Vicknair was not yet in prison. The judge had granted him time to seek medical care before he turned himself in.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="354" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Vicknair’s heart problems had become something more. After he was sentenced, doctors had discovered a fast-growing tumor in his brain. It appeared that Vicknair was trying to contact Nicole from his hospital bed. She did not reply.">Vicknair’s heart problems had become something more. After he was sentenced, doctors had discovered a fast-growing tumor in his brain. It appeared that Vicknair was trying to contact Nicole from his hospital bed. She did not reply.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="355" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><figure data-reader-unique-id="356" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" class="extendsBeyondTextColumn" data-nimg="future" data-reader-unique-id="357" decoding="async" height="4000" loading="lazy" src="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/JDRCOVALAD5QV5YVFYHAIHKWGI_size-normalized.JPG&high_res=true&w=2048" srcset="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/JDRCOVALAD5QV5YVFYHAIHKWGI_size-normalized.JPG&high_res=true&w=2048 1x" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-inline-start: -43.640625px; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: none; width: 1050px;" width="6000" /><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="358" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;">Nicole, now 18, lies down at her mother’s house.</figcaption></figure></div><p data-reader-unique-id="359" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Vicknair had two brain surgeries before his brother and ex-wife drove him to Massachusetts to report to federal prison. He continued to deny to his family members that he had sexually abused Nicole. He continued to be paid police retirement benefits of more than $2,700 per month, records show. Louisiana has no law that automatically disqualifies police officers convicted of serious crimes from receiving their pensions.">Vicknair had two brain surgeries before his brother and ex-wife drove him to Massachusetts to report to federal prison. He continued to deny to his family members that he had sexually abused Nicole. He continued to be paid police retirement benefits of more than $2,700 per month, records show. Louisiana has no law that automatically disqualifies police officers convicted of serious crimes from receiving their pensions.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="360" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Days after Nicole’s 18th birthday, Vicknair was rolled into prison in a wheelchair.">Days after Nicole’s 18th birthday, Vicknair was rolled into prison in a wheelchair.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="361" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Most of his sentence was spent at a<b> </b>federal prison medical facility in North Carolina, where he received chemotherapy and radiation.">Most of his sentence was spent at a<b data-reader-unique-id="362" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>federal prison medical facility in North Carolina, where he received chemotherapy and radiation.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="363" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="He served less than six months. Vicknair died on Jan. 1, 2024.">He served less than six months. Vicknair died on Jan. 1, 2024.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="364" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="Nicole was at a restaurant in California when she heard the news from an attorney in her civil rights lawsuit.<b> </b>She wanted to feel relieved. Instead, she kept thinking about how little time Vicknair served. And how, before he died, he’d given a deposition in her civil case. Under oath, he returned to denying that he’d ever assaulted her.">Nicole was at a restaurant in California when she heard the news from an attorney in her civil rights lawsuit.<b data-reader-unique-id="365" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>She wanted to feel relieved. Instead, she kept thinking about how little time Vicknair served. And how, before he died, he’d given a deposition in her civil case. Under oath, he returned to denying that he’d ever assaulted her.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="366" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div aria-label="pull-quote" data-reader-unique-id="367" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="368" style="max-width: 100%;">Now, it felt like not a single adult was taking responsibility for what happened to her. If she gave up her lawsuit against the city, no one ever would.</p></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="369" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="She’d already endured a day-long deposition in December, when an attorney representing New Orleans asked her questions such as, “Was there any sexual meaning to him hitting you with the baton?” In January at a settlement conference, she listened to the lawyers debate just how much her trauma was worth.">She’d already endured a day-long deposition in December, when an attorney representing New Orleans asked her questions such as, “Was there any sexual meaning to him hitting you with the baton?” In January at a settlement conference, she listened to the lawyers debate just how much her trauma was worth.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="370" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="The same city that had once charged Vicknair with sexual battery and malfeasance in office was now claiming his assault was “wholly unrelated” to his job.">The same city that had once charged Vicknair with sexual battery and malfeasance in office was now claiming his assault was “wholly unrelated” to his job.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="371" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="But a judge disagreed, ruling in February that the city was, in fact, liable for Vicknair’s actions. It would still be up to a jury to decide how much New Orleans owed Nicole — and whether NOPD was at fault for hiring Vicknair in the first place.">But a judge disagreed, ruling in February that the city was, in fact, liable for Vicknair’s actions. It would still be up to a jury to decide how much New Orleans owed Nicole — and whether NOPD was at fault for hiring Vicknair in the first place.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="372" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="As the March trial date crept closer, Nicole’s stomach started to ache. The pain kept getting worse, until it was so agonizing that she couldn’t sleep. But for days, she refused to go to the emergency room.">As the March trial date crept closer, Nicole’s stomach started to ache. The pain kept getting worse, until it was so agonizing that she couldn’t sleep. But for days, she refused to go to the emergency room.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="373" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="When she finally gave in, she reminded herself that this ER was different. That she was no longer 14. That Vicknair was not beside her. She still hyperventilated through every exam.">When she finally gave in, she reminded herself that this ER was different. That she was no longer 14. That Vicknair was not beside her. She still hyperventilated through every exam.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="374" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="She learned that what could have been a relatively minor issue had become a serious kidney infection. It would take weeks for her to recover.">She learned that what could have been a relatively minor issue had become a serious kidney infection. It would take weeks for her to recover.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="375" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="While she waited for the pain to ebb, her attorneys in New Orleans prepared for her trial by deposing the city’s police officials. Why, they asked, had the city hired someone with a history of arrests? Why had no one flagged an officer repeatedly returning to the home of a child who had reported a sexual assault? Why hadn’t Vicknair been pulled from active duty as soon as the photo surfaced of his body pressed against Nicole’s?">While she waited for the pain to ebb, her attorneys in New Orleans prepared for her trial by deposing the city’s police officials. Why, they asked, had the city hired someone with a history of arrests? Why had no one flagged an officer repeatedly returning to the home of a child who had reported a sexual assault? Why hadn’t Vicknair been pulled from active duty as soon as the photo surfaced of his body pressed against Nicole’s?</p><p data-reader-unique-id="376" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="They wanted to understand what NOPD was doing to ensure that what happened to Nicole didn’t happen to another child. But when the sergeant in charge of all department policies was asked that question, he could not cite a specific policy or training method that had changed because of the case.">They wanted to understand what NOPD was doing to ensure that what happened to Nicole didn’t happen to another child. But when the sergeant in charge of all department policies was asked that question, he could not cite a specific policy or training method that had changed because of the case.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="377" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“You don’t know of anything NOPD has done differently,” the attorney confirmed, “to prevent another Officer Vicknair?”">“You don’t know of anything NOPD has done differently,” the attorney confirmed, “to prevent another Officer Vicknair?”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="378" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="The sergeant’s answer was one word:">The sergeant’s answer was one word:</p><p data-reader-unique-id="379" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" text="“Correct.”">“Correct.”</p><div data-reader-unique-id="380" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><figure data-reader-unique-id="381" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" class="extendsBeyondTextColumn" data-nimg="future" data-reader-unique-id="382" decoding="async" height="2532" loading="lazy" src="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/SLEMKZAHBFVC5LI75XZ4KSIHR4.JPG&high_res=true&w=2048" srcset="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/SLEMKZAHBFVC5LI75XZ4KSIHR4.JPG&high_res=true&w=2048 1x" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-inline-start: -43.640625px; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: none; width: 1050px;" width="3798" /></figure><figure data-reader-unique-id="383" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" class="extendsBeyondTextColumn" data-nimg="future" data-reader-unique-id="384" decoding="async" height="3947" loading="lazy" src="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/RCENSBUBC5IWJSMQQRZFDEAWGI_size-normalized.JPG&high_res=true&w=2048" srcset="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/RCENSBUBC5IWJSMQQRZFDEAWGI_size-normalized.JPG&high_res=true&w=2048 1x" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-inline-start: -43.640625px; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: none; width: 1050px;" width="5920" /></figure><div aria-hidden="true" data-reader-unique-id="385" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="386" style="max-width: 100%;">Nicole visits a park she used to spend time in before she moved away from New Orleans.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="387" style="max-width: 100%;">A New Orleans police vehicle, parked in the city’s French Quarter.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="388" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="389" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="390" style="max-width: 100%;"><h5 data-reader-unique-id="391" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 1em 0px; max-width: 100%;">About this story</h5><p data-reader-unique-id="392" style="max-width: 100%;" text="Reporting by <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/jessica-contrera/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">Jessica Contrera</a> and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/jenn-abelson/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">Jenn Abelson</a>. Data reporting and analysis by <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/john-harden/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">John D. Harden</a>. Nate Jones, Hayden Godfrey, Riley Ceder, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/razzan-nakhlawi/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">Razzan Nakhlawi</a> and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/alice-crites/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">Alice Crites</a> also contributed to this report.">Reporting by<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="393" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/jessica-contrera/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jessica Contrera</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="394" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/jenn-abelson/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jenn Abelson</a>. Data reporting and analysis by<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="395" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/john-harden/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">John D. Harden</a>. Nate Jones, Hayden Godfrey, Riley Ceder,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="396" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/razzan-nakhlawi/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Razzan Nakhlawi</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="397" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/alice-crites/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Alice Crites</a>also contributed to this report.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="398" style="max-width: 100%;" text="Photos by <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/carolyn-van-houten/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">Carolyn Van Houten</a>. Photo editing by <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/robert-miller/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">Robert Miller</a>. Video editing by <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/joy-sung/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">Joy Sung</a>. Design and development by <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/tucker-harris/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">Tucker Harris</a>. Additional design by <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/laura-padillacastellanos/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">Laura Padilla Castellanos</a>. Design editing by <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/christian-font/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">Christian Font</a>. Additional images by iStock.">Photos by<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="399" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/carolyn-van-houten/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Carolyn Van Houten</a>. Photo editing by<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="400" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/robert-miller/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Robert Miller</a>. Video editing by<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="401" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/joy-sung/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Joy Sung</a>. Design and development by<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="402" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/tucker-harris/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Tucker Harris</a>. Additional design by<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="403" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/laura-padillacastellanos/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Laura Padilla Castellanos</a>. Design editing by<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="404" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/christian-font/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Christian Font</a>. Additional images by iStock.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="405" style="max-width: 100%;" text="<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/lynda-robinson/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">Lynda Robinson</a> was the lead editor. Additional editing by <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/david-s-fallis/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">David S. Fallis</a>, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/anu-narayanswamy/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">Anu Narayanswamy</a>, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/courtney-kan/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">Courtney Kan</a>, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/tara-mccarty/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">Tara McCarty</a>, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/christopher-rickett/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">Christopher Rickett</a>, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/ashleigh-wilson/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">Ashleigh Wilson</a>, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/jessica-koscielniak/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">Jessica Koscielniak</a>, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/jay-wang/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">Jay Wang</a>, Angela Hill and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/john-sullivan/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">John Sullivan</a>."><a data-reader-unique-id="406" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/lynda-robinson/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lynda Robinson</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>was the lead editor. Additional editing by<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="407" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/david-s-fallis/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">David S. Fallis</a>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="408" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/anu-narayanswamy/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Anu Narayanswamy</a>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="409" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/courtney-kan/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Courtney Kan</a>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="410" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/tara-mccarty/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Tara McCarty</a>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="411" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/christopher-rickett/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Christopher Rickett</a>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="412" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/ashleigh-wilson/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Ashleigh Wilson</a>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="413" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/jessica-koscielniak/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jessica Koscielniak</a>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="414" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/jay-wang/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jay Wang</a>, Angela Hill and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="415" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/john-sullivan/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">John Sullivan</a>.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="416" style="max-width: 100%;" text="Read more about <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/03/14/police-child-sex-abuse-how-we-reported/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" target="_blank">how this series was reported, our methodology and our project team here</a>.">Read more about<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="417" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/03/14/police-child-sex-abuse-how-we-reported/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">how this series was reported, our methodology and our project team here</a>."</p></div></div></div></div><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/interactive/2024/new-orleans-police-child-sexual-abuse-rodney-vicknair/?itid=hp-top-table-main_p001_f001">A New Orleans cop sexually abused a teen after taking her for a rape kit - Washington Post</a>John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-16578904170153524552024-03-14T10:07:00.004-04:002024-03-14T10:07:32.542-04:00How Hur Misled the Country on Biden's Memory - The Atlantic<div><h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.95552em; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;">How Hur Misled the Country on Biden’s Memory</h1><h2 class="subhead" data-reader-unique-id="subheadElement" style="color: rgba(27, 27, 27, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.46664em; font-weight: normal; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.27275em; margin-top: -0.35em; max-width: 100%;">"The saga has been something of a self-inflicted wound for Democrats.</h2><div class="metadata singleline" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; hyphens: manual; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: -0.7em; max-width: 100%;"><address class="byline" data-reader-unique-id="115" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-style: normal !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;">By<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-action="click author - byline" data-event-element="author" data-flatplan-author-link="true" data-label="https://www.theatlantic.com/author/adam-serwer/" data-reader-unique-id="116" href="https://www.theatlantic.com/author/adam-serwer/" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Adam Serwer</a></address><span class="delimiter" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; margin: 0.07em 0.45em 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;"></span><time class="date" data-flatplan-timestamp="true" data-reader-unique-id="117" datetime="2024-03-13T14:59:17Z" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;">March 13, 2024, 10:59 AM ET</time></div><header data-event-module="hero" data-reader-unique-id="1" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="2" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="11" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure data-reader-unique-id="12" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-flatplan-lead_figure_media="true" data-reader-unique-id="13" style="max-width: 100%;"><picture data-reader-unique-id="14" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Robert Hur" data-reader-unique-id="15" height="540" sizes="(min-width: 976px) 976px, 100vw" src="https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/zxuRcWvtvOEWQlp1N2dgZcsiSXs=/0x0:2999x1687/960x540/media/img/mt/2024/03/GettyImages_2078879261/original.jpg" srcset="https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/j3VrJBKssO1lPjpUo0iUhkVepzU=/0x0:2999x1687/750x422/media/img/mt/2024/03/GettyImages_2078879261/original.jpg 750w, https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/1sc6f3EwuGvjy_d-JON91ePiwgY=/0x0:2999x1687/828x466/media/img/mt/2024/03/GettyImages_2078879261/original.jpg 828w, https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/zxuRcWvtvOEWQlp1N2dgZcsiSXs=/0x0:2999x1687/960x540/media/img/mt/2024/03/GettyImages_2078879261/original.jpg 960w, https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/0LpDoAL1cRgi6CqZiIJxsGOPlHw=/0x0:2999x1687/976x549/media/img/mt/2024/03/GettyImages_2078879261/original.jpg 976w, https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/4hq2GzsfbTNA_b2hC1FMowYpHl0=/0x0:2999x1687/1952x1098/media/img/mt/2024/03/GettyImages_2078879261/original.jpg 1952w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="960" /></picture></div><figcaption data-flatplan-lead_figure_caption="true" data-reader-unique-id="16" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;">Win McNamee / Getty</figcaption></figure></div></div></header><div data-event-module="audio player" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen31117857_217="6910" data-gtm-vis-has-fired31117857_217="1" data-gtm-vis-recent-on-screen31117857_217="6910" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time31117857_217="100" data-reader-unique-id="21" data-view-action="view - audio player - start" data-view-label="677740" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="33" style="max-width: 100%;">Produced by ElevenLabs and News Over Audio (NOA) using AI narration.</p></div><section data-event-module="article body" data-flatplan-body="true" data-reader-unique-id="34" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="35" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-flatplan-paragraph="true" data-reader-unique-id="36" style="max-width: 100%;"><small data-reader-unique-id="37" style="max-width: 100%;"><i data-reader-unique-id="38" style="max-width: 100%;">Sign up for<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="39" href="https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/sign-up/the-decision-a-2024-newsletter/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;"><i data-reader-unique-id="40" style="max-width: 100%;">The Decision</i></a><i data-reader-unique-id="41" style="max-width: 100%;">, a newsletter featuring our 2024 election coverage.</i></small></p></div><p data-flatplan-paragraph="true" data-reader-unique-id="42" style="max-width: 100%;">First impressions stick. After a big story hits, the initial conclusions can turn out to be wrong, or partly wrong, but the revisions are not what people remember. They remember the headlines in imposing font, the solemn tone from a presenter, the avalanche of ironic summaries on social media. Political operatives know this, and it’s that indelible impression they want, one that sticks like a greasy fingerprint and that no number of follow-ups or awkward corrections could possibly wipe away.</p><gpt-ad class="clear" data-reader-unique-id="43" format="injector" sizes-at-0="mobile-wide,native,house" sizes-at-976="desktop-wide,native,house" style="clear: both; max-width: 100%;" targeting-pos="csi-ad-0"></gpt-ad><p data-flatplan-paragraph="true" data-reader-unique-id="44" style="max-width: 100%;">Five years ago, a partisan political operative with the credibility of a long career in government service misled the public about official documents in order to get Donald Trump the positive spin he wanted in the press. The play worked so well that a special counsel appointed to examine President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents, Robert Hur, ran it again.</p><p data-flatplan-paragraph="true" data-reader-unique-id="45" style="max-width: 100%;">In 2019, then–Attorney General Bill Barr—who would later resign amid Trump’s attempts to suborn the Justice Department into backing his effort to seize power after losing reelection—announced that Special Counsel Robert Mueller had not found sufficient evidence to indict Trump on allegations that he had assisted in a Russian effort to sway the 2016 election and had obstructed an investigation into that effort. Mueller’s investigation led to indictments of several Trump associates, but he later testified that Justice Department policy<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="46" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/29/robert-mueller-did-not-determine-if-trump-committed-crime.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">barred prosecuting a sitting president, and so indicting Trump was not an option.</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Barr’s summary—which suggested that Trump had been absolved of any crimes—was so misleading that it drew a rebuke not only from Mueller himself but from<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="47" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/04/us/politics/barr-trump-obstruction-russia-inquiry.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">a federal judge in a public-records lawsuit</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>over material related to the investigation. That judge, Reggie Walton,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="48" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/05/us/politics/mueller-report-barr-judge-walton.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">wrote in 2020</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>that the discrepancies “cause the court to seriously question whether Attorney General Barr made a calculated attempt to influence public discourse about the Mueller report in favor of President Trump despite certain findings in the redacted version of the Mueller report to the contrary.”</p><gpt-ad class="clear" data-reader-unique-id="49" format="injector" sizes-at-0="mobile-wide,native,house" sizes-at-976="desktop-wide,native,house" style="clear: both; max-width: 100%;" targeting-pos="csi-ad-1"></gpt-ad><p data-event-element="injected link" data-event-position="1" data-reader-unique-id="50" data-view-action="view link - injected link - item 1" style="max-width: 100%;"><a data-reader-unique-id="51" href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/02/special-counsels-devastating-charge-against-biden/677396/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">David A. Graham: The Special Counsel’s devastating description of Biden</a></p><p data-flatplan-paragraph="true" data-reader-unique-id="52" style="max-width: 100%;">As my colleague David Graham<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="53" href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/05/barr-misled-the-publicand-it-worked/588463/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">wrote at the time</a>, the ploy worked. Trump claimed “total exoneration,” and mainstream outlets blared his innocence in towering headlines. Only later did the public learn that Mueller’s report had found “no criminal conspiracy but considerable links between Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia, and strongly suggested that Trump had obstructed justice.”</p><p data-flatplan-paragraph="true" data-reader-unique-id="55" style="max-width: 100%;">Now this same pattern has emerged once again, only instead of working in the president’s favor, it has undermined him. Hur, a former U.S. attorney in the Trump administration, was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate Biden for potential criminal wrongdoing after classified documents were found at his home. (Trump has<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="56" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-charges-indictment-documents-case-mar-a-lago/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">been indicted on charges</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>that he deliberately mishandled classified documents after storing such documents at his home in Florida and deliberately showing them off to visitors as “highly confidential” and “secret information.”)</p><p data-flatplan-paragraph="true" data-reader-unique-id="57" style="max-width: 100%;">In Hur’s<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="58" href="https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/af07e020c210293d/8dac19a5-full.pdf" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">own summary of his investigation</a>, he concluded that “no criminal charges are warranted in this matter,” even absent DOJ policy barring prosecution of a sitting president. But that part was not what caught the media’s attention. Rather it was Hur’s characterization of Biden as having memory problems, validating conservative attacks on the president as too old to do the job. The transcripts of Hur’s interviews with Biden, released yesterday by House Democrats, suggest that characterization—politically convenient for Republicans and the Trump campaign—was misleading.</p><p data-flatplan-paragraph="true" data-reader-unique-id="59" style="max-width: 100%;">Sparking alarming headlines about Biden’s mental faculties, Hur had written that Biden “would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory” and “diminished faculties in advancing age.” As with Barr’s, that conclusion set off a media frenzy in<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="60" href="https://popular.info/p/manufacturing-a-political-crisis" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">which many mainstream outlets</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>strongly reinforced conservative propaganda that Biden was mentally unfit to serve, a narrative that reverberated until the president’s animated<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="61" href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/03/joe-biden-sotu-congress/677690/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">delivery of the State of the Union</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>address last week.</p><gpt-ad class="clear" data-reader-unique-id="62" format="injector" sizes-at-0="mobile-wide,native,house" sizes-at-976="desktop-wide,native,house" style="clear: both; max-width: 100%;" targeting-pos="csi-ad-3"></gpt-ad><p data-flatplan-paragraph="true" data-reader-unique-id="63" style="max-width: 100%;">In press coverage following the report, Hur’s phrase was<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="64" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/bidens-memory-issues-draw-attention-neurologists-weigh-rcna138135" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">frequently shortened</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to an “elderly man with a poor memory,” turning the evaluation of a potential legal strategy into something akin to a medical diagnosis. A cacophony of mainstream-media coverage<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="65" href="https://www.mediamatters.org/joe-biden/political-press-runs-hurs-scurrilous-partisan-attack" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">questioning Biden’s age and fitness followed</a>, while<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="66" href="https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1755740301300310312" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">conservative politicians</a>and media figures<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="67" href="https://www.mediamatters.org/joe-biden/right-wing-media-figures-call-biden-be-ousted-under-25th-amendment" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">outright declared Biden incapacitated</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and demanded he be removed from office according to the Twenty-Fifth Amendment, which provides for succession in case a president is “unable to discharge his duties.”</p><p data-flatplan-paragraph="true" data-reader-unique-id="68" style="max-width: 100%;">The transcripts of Hur’s interviews with Biden illuminate Hur’s summary as uncharitable at best. As a<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="69" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/03/12/biden-hur-transcript-classified-documents/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">report in<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i data-reader-unique-id="70" style="max-width: 100%;">The Washington Post<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i>noted</a>, “Biden doesn’t come across as being as absent-minded as Hur has made him out to be.”</p><p data-flatplan-paragraph="true" data-reader-unique-id="71" style="max-width: 100%;">Hur wrote that Biden “did not remember, even within several years, when his son Beau died.” Yet the transcript<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="72" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/12/us/politics/hur-biden-memory-transcript.html?campaign_id=190&emc=edit_ufn_20240312&instance_id=117398&nl=from-the-times&regi_id=54305562&segment_id=160545&te=1&user_id=4ee826d5fc3f2f396efceb19e053e04a" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">shows Biden remembering the exact day</a>, May 30, after which staffers offer the year—2015—and Biden says, “Was it 2015 he had died?” In another exchange Hur singled out as indicative of Biden’s poor memory, he said Biden mischaracterized the point of view of an Obama-administration official who had opposed a surge of combat troops to the war in Afghanistan, but left out that Biden correctly stated the official’s views in an exchange later that day. The transcript also shows Biden struggling with other dates while answering questions about when he obtained certain documents or in the interval between the Obama and Biden administrations, when he decided to run for president. But as<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="73" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/12/us/politics/hur-biden-memory-transcript.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;"><i data-reader-unique-id="74" style="max-width: 100%;">The New York Times</i>reported</a>, “In both instances, Mr. Biden said the wrong year but appeared to recognize that he had misspoken and immediately stopped to seek clarity and orient himself.”</p><gpt-ad class="clear" data-reader-unique-id="75" format="injector" sizes-at-0="mobile-wide,native,house" sizes-at-976="desktop-wide,native,house" style="clear: both; max-width: 100%;" targeting-pos="csi-ad-4"></gpt-ad><p data-flatplan-paragraph="true" data-reader-unique-id="76" style="max-width: 100%;">The transcript does not completely refute Hur’s description of Biden’s memory, but it is entirely incompatible with the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="77" href="https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1755695786795348323" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">conservative refrain that Biden</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>has “age-related dementia.” Indeed, both Barr and Hur framed their conclusions with a telltale lawyerly touch that would push the media and the public toward a far broader conclusion about Trump’s supposed innocence or Biden’s alleged decline while allowing them to deny that they had been so explicit.</p><p data-flatplan-paragraph="true" data-reader-unique-id="78" style="max-width: 100%;">There’s no question that both Biden and Trump are much older than they used to be. To watch clips of either of them from 20 years ago is to recognize a significant difference. But the transcript shows Biden exactly as he appeared in the State of the Union last week, as someone who has lost a step or two as he’s aged but is fully capable of grasping the politics and policy implications demanded by the presidency. “Mr. Biden went into great detail about many matters, the transcript shows,”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="79" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/12/us/politics/hur-biden-memory-transcript.html?campaign_id=190&emc=edit_ufn_20240312&instance_id=117398&nl=from-the-times&regi_id=54305562&segment_id=160545&te=1&user_id=4ee826d5fc3f2f396efceb19e053e04a" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i data-reader-unique-id="80" style="max-width: 100%;">Times</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>reported</a>. “He made jokes over the two days, teasing the prosecutors. And at certain points, he corrected his interrogators when they were the ones who misspoke.” During an exchange about Biden’s home, Hur remarked that Biden had a “photographic understanding and recall of the house,” a remark Hur acknowledged in yesterday’s testimony before the House that<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="81" href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1767582923417383128" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">he had left out of his original report</a>.</p><p data-flatplan-paragraph="true" data-reader-unique-id="82" style="max-width: 100%;">People with serious cognitive decline do not simply have verbal flubs or memory lapses of the sort both campaigns are constantly highlighting on social media. They avoid asking questions they fear might betray their loss of memory; they struggle to recollect the season, the time of day, the state they are currently in. They awkwardly attempt to hide their inability to recall recently relayed information in ways that simply underline its absence. They repeat innocuous statements that they do not realize they made minutes earlier. They pretend to know people they’ve never met and fail to recognize people they’ve known for decades. The late Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, the clearest recent example of this in politics, was<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="83" href="https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/dianne-feinstein-health-crisis-senate-resign-1234734590/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">reported to have</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>had incidents such as a meeting at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="84" href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/dianne-feinstein-senate-17079487.php" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">which lawmakers had to</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“reintroduce themselves to Feinstein multiple times during an interaction that lasted several hours,” as the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i data-reader-unique-id="85" style="max-width: 100%;">San Francisco Chronicle</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>reported in 2022.</p><gpt-ad class="clear" data-reader-unique-id="86" format="injector" sizes-at-0="mobile-wide,native,house" sizes-at-976="desktop-wide,native,house" style="clear: both; max-width: 100%;" targeting-pos="csi-ad-5"></gpt-ad><p data-flatplan-paragraph="true" data-reader-unique-id="87" style="max-width: 100%;">During his testimony before the House, Hur<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="88" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/12/us/politics/biden-hur-special-counsel-takeaways.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">insisted<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></a>that “partisan politics had no place whatsoever in my work.” He tried to have it both ways, insisting that his report was accurate while<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="89" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/03/12/robert-hur-testimony-biden-age/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">refuting the most uncharitable</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>right-wing characterizations of Biden’s memory. But as legal experts<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="90" href="https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4016437" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">pointed out</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>after the report was released, Hur’s description of Biden’s memory was not a necessary element of his duties, and it is unlikely that someone with as much experience in Washington as Hur would be so naive as to not understand how those phrases would be used politically.</p><p data-flatplan-paragraph="true" data-reader-unique-id="91" style="max-width: 100%;">Yet Hur’s report is itself something of a self-inflicted wound for Democrats, a predictable result of their efforts to rebut bad-faith criticism from partisan actors by going out of their way to seem nonpartisan. The age story caught fire in the press, not only because of genuine voter concern over Biden’s age but because this is the sort of superficially nonideological criticism that some reporters feel comfortable repeating in their own words, believing that it illustrates their lack of partisanship to conservative sources and audiences. Coverage of the Hillary Clinton email investigation<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="92" href="https://www.vox.com/2017/12/7/16747712/study-media-2016-election-clintons-emails" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">reached saturation levels</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>in 2016 for similar reasons.</p><p data-flatplan-paragraph="true" data-reader-unique-id="93" style="max-width: 100%;">There are more parallels between those stories. Then-President Barack Obama appointed James Comey, a Republican, to run the FBI, in an effort to illustrate his commitment to bipartisanship; Attorney General Garland’s decision to appoint Hur probably had similar intentions. Comey, like Hur, declined to press charges but then broke protocol. In Comey’s case, he did so by first holding a press conference in which he criticized Clinton, and later, during the final days of the presidential campaign, announcing that he was reopening the investigation into Clinton while keeping the bureau’s investigation into Trump a secret. A 2017 analysis published by<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="94" href="https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-comey-letter-probably-cost-clinton-the-election/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;"><i data-reader-unique-id="95" style="max-width: 100%;">FiveThirtyEight</i></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>makes a compelling argument that the latter decision threw a close election to Trump.</p><gpt-ad class="clear" data-reader-unique-id="96" format="injector" sizes-at-0="mobile-wide,native,house" sizes-at-976="desktop-wide,native,house" style="clear: both; max-width: 100%;" targeting-pos="csi-ad-6"></gpt-ad><p data-event-element="injected link" data-event-position="2" data-reader-unique-id="97" data-view-action="view link - injected link - item 2" style="max-width: 100%;"><a data-reader-unique-id="98" href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/02/biden-age-special-counsel/677399/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Helen Lewis: Biden’s age is now unavoidable</a></p><p data-flatplan-paragraph="true" data-reader-unique-id="99" style="max-width: 100%;">For reasons that remain unclear to me, Democrats seem to have internalized the Republican insistence that only Republicans are capable of the fairness and objectivity necessary to investigate or enforce the law. Any lifelong Republican who fails to put partisanship above their duties is instantly and retroactively turned into a left-wing operative by the conservative media. Acting to prevent complaints of bias (as opposed to actually being fair) is ultimately futile: Comey’s last-minute gift to the Trump campaign didn’t prevent Trump from<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="100" href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/04/comey-memo-conservatives/558521/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">smearing him as a liberal stooge</a>.</p><p data-flatplan-paragraph="true" data-reader-unique-id="101" style="max-width: 100%;">These efforts to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-event-element="inline link" data-reader-unique-id="102" href="https://www.americanprogress.org/article/think-again-working-the-refs/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">work the refs</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>pay off. Right-wing criticism of Obama probably influenced him to pick a grandstanding Republican to head the FBI, an agency that has never been run by a Democrat, just as it likely influenced Garland to pick a grandstanding Republican to investigate Biden. Conservative criticism of the mainstream press leads too many journalists to attempt to prove they aren’t liberals, which results in wholesale amplification of right-wing propaganda to deflect criticisms that the media aren’t objective; the facts become a secondary concern.</p><p data-flatplan-paragraph="true" data-reader-unique-id="103" style="max-width: 100%;">Fairness, objectivity, and due process are important values, but there is a difference between upholding them and seeking to convince everyone that that’s what you’re doing. Performatively pursuing the latter can easily come at the expense of the former. If you try too hard to convince people you are doing the right thing instead of just doing the right thing, you often end up doing the wrong thing."</p></section></div><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/03/hur-report-biden-2024-election/677740/?lctg=64e153af6e171284120c07d9">How Hur Misled the Country on Biden's Memory - The Atlantic</a>John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-49713442747914365022024-03-13T09:58:00.002-04:002024-03-13T09:58:13.389-04:00Five key takeaways from the House hearing on Robert Hur’s Biden report | Joe Biden | The Guardian<div>"</div><h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.95552em; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;">Five key takeaways from the House hearing on Robert Hur’s Biden report</h1><h2 class="subhead" data-reader-unique-id="subheadElement" style="color: rgba(27, 27, 27, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.46664em; font-weight: normal; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.27275em; margin-top: -0.35em; max-width: 100%;">"Neither Republicans nor Democrats were pleased with the special counsel’s report, resulting in a contentious hearing</h2><div class="metadata singleline" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; hyphens: manual; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: -0.7em; max-width: 100%;"><a class="byline" data-link-name="auto tag link" data-reader-unique-id="111" href="https://www.theguardian.com/profile/joan-greve" rel="author" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Joan E Greve</a></div><figure data-reader-unique-id="90" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="91" style="max-width: 100%;"><picture data-reader-unique-id="92" style="max-width: 100%;"><source data-reader-unique-id="93" media="(min-width: 980px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 980px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/2acec14f80653bf01ddc6f04a4337628a8c799d5/0_0_5197_3120/master/5197.jpg?width=620&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="94" media="(min-width: 980px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/2acec14f80653bf01ddc6f04a4337628a8c799d5/0_0_5197_3120/master/5197.jpg?width=620&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="95" media="(min-width: 740px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 740px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/2acec14f80653bf01ddc6f04a4337628a8c799d5/0_0_5197_3120/master/5197.jpg?width=700&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="96" media="(min-width: 740px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/2acec14f80653bf01ddc6f04a4337628a8c799d5/0_0_5197_3120/master/5197.jpg?width=700&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="97" media="(min-width: 660px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 660px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/2acec14f80653bf01ddc6f04a4337628a8c799d5/0_0_5197_3120/master/5197.jpg?width=620&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="98" media="(min-width: 660px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/2acec14f80653bf01ddc6f04a4337628a8c799d5/0_0_5197_3120/master/5197.jpg?width=620&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="99" media="(min-width: 480px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 480px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/2acec14f80653bf01ddc6f04a4337628a8c799d5/0_0_5197_3120/master/5197.jpg?width=645&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="100" media="(min-width: 480px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/2acec14f80653bf01ddc6f04a4337628a8c799d5/0_0_5197_3120/master/5197.jpg?width=645&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="101" media="(min-width: 320px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 320px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/2acec14f80653bf01ddc6f04a4337628a8c799d5/0_0_5197_3120/master/5197.jpg?width=465&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="102" media="(min-width: 320px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/2acec14f80653bf01ddc6f04a4337628a8c799d5/0_0_5197_3120/master/5197.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><img alt="Special counsel Hur testifies before a House judiciary committee on his inquiry into the president’s handling of classified documents." data-reader-unique-id="103" height="279.161054454493" loading="eager" src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/2acec14f80653bf01ddc6f04a4337628a8c799d5/0_0_5197_3120/master/5197.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="465" /></picture><span class="converted-anchor" data-reader-unique-id="104" style="max-width: 100%;"></span></div><span data-reader-unique-id="105" style="max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="106" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="107" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"></span><span data-reader-unique-id="110" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">Special counsel Robert Hur testifies before a House judiciary committee on his inquiry into the president’s handling of classified documents.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Photograph: Leah Millis/Reuters</figcaption></span></figure><p data-reader-unique-id="1" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The former special counsel Robert Hur, who investigated Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents, testified before a House committee on Tuesday in an often contentious hearing that found the witness on the receiving end of criticism from both Democrats and Republicans.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="2" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Here were the key takeaways from the House judiciary committee hearing:</p><p data-reader-unique-id="3" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><gu-island config="{"renderingTarget":"Web","darkModeAvailable":false}" data-reader-unique-id="4" deferuntil="visible" name="SignInGateSelector" priority="feature" props="{"contentType":"Article","sectionId":"us-news","tags":[{"id":"us-news/joebiden","type":"Keyword","title":"Joe Biden"},{"id":"us-news/house-of-representatives","type":"Keyword","title":"House of Representatives"},{"id":"us-news/us-news","type":"Keyword","title":"US news"},{"id":"campaign/email/us-morning-newsletter","type":"Campaign","title":"First Thing (newsletter signup)"},{"id":"us-news/us-politics","type":"Keyword","title":"US politics"},{"id":"type/article","type":"Type","title":"Article"},{"id":"tone/explainers","type":"Tone","title":"Explainers"},{"id":"tone/news","type":"Tone","title":"News"},{"id":"profile/joan-greve","type":"Contributor","title":"Joan E Greve","twitterHandle":"joanegreve","bylineImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2023/05/25/Joan_Greve.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8fb2a7cdd798189ef4e496b912c21db0","bylineLargeImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2023/05/25/Joan_Greve.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d282ed49d456148cb21b98feb83c79b7"},{"id":"tracking/commissioningdesk/us-news","type":"Tracking","title":"US News"}],"isPaidContent":false,"isPreview":false,"host":"https://www.theguardian.com","pageId":"us-news/2024/mar/12/key-takeaways-house-hearing-robert-hur-biden-report","idUrl":"https://profile.theguardian.com","switches":{"lightbox":true,"prebidAppnexusUkRow":true,"abSignInGateMainVariant":true,"commercialMetrics":true,"prebidTrustx":true,"scAdFreeBanner":false,"adaptiveSite":true,"prebidPermutiveAudience":true,"compareVariantDecision":false,"enableSentryReporting":true,"lazyLoadContainers":true,"ampArticleSwitch":true,"remarketing":true,"oscarsNewsletterEmbed2":false,"articleEndSlot":true,"keyEventsCarousel":true,"abOscarsNewsletterEmbed":false,"registerWithPhone":false,"targeting":true,"remoteHeader":true,"slotBodyEnd":true,"prebidImproveDigitalSkins":true,"ampPrebidOzone":true,"extendedMostPopularFronts":true,"emailInlineInFooter":true,"showNewPrivacyWordingOnEmailSignupEmbeds":true,"prebidAnalytics":true,"extendedMostPopular":true,"ampContentAbTesting":false,"prebidCriteo":true,"okta":true,"imrWorldwide":true,"acast":true,"automaticFilters":true,"twitterUwt":true,"prebidAppnexusInvcode":true,"ampPrebidPubmatic":true,"a9HeaderBidding":true,"prebidAppnexus":true,"enableDiscussionSwitch":true,"prebidXaxis":true,"stickyVideos":true,"interactiveFullHeaderSwitch":true,"discussionAllPageSize":true,"prebidUserSync":true,"audioOnwardJourneySwitch":true,"brazeTaylorReport":false,"externalVideoEmbeds":true,"abSignInGateAlternativeWording":false,"callouts":true,"sentinelLogger":true,"geoMostPopular":true,"weAreHiring":false,"relatedContent":true,"thirdPartyEmbedTracking":true,"prebidOzone":true,"ampLiveblogSwitch":true,"ampAmazon":true,"prebidAdYouLike":true,"mostViewedFronts":true,"discussionInApps":false,"optOutAdvertising":true,"abSignInGateMainControl":true,"headerTopNav":true,"googleSearch":true,"brazeSwitch":true,"darkModeInApps":true,"prebidKargo":true,"consentManagement":true,"crosswordMobileBanner":true,"personaliseSignInGateAfterCheckout":true,"redplanetForAus":true,"prebidSonobi":true,"idProfileNavigation":true,"confiantAdVerification":true,"discussionAllowAnonymousRecommendsSwitch":false,"dcrTagPages":true,"permutive":true,"comscore":true,"ampPrebidCriteo":true,"abMpuWhenNoEpic":false,"newsletterOnwards":false,"youtubeIma":true,"oscarsNewsletterEmbed1":false,"webFonts":true,"prebidImproveDigital":true,"ophan":true,"crosswordSvgThumbnails":true,"prebidTriplelift":true,"weather":true,"disableAmpTest":true,"prebidPubmatic":true,"serverShareCounts":false,"autoRefresh":true,"enhanceTweets":true,"prebidIndexExchange":true,"prebidOpenx":true,"prebidHeaderBidding":true,"mobileDiscussionAds":true,"idCookieRefresh":true,"discussionPageSize":true,"smartAppBanner":false,"boostGaUserTimingFidelity":false,"historyTags":true,"brazeContentCards":true,"surveys":true,"emailSignupRecaptcha":true,"prebidSmart":true,"shouldLoadGoogletag":true,"inizio":true,"abSectionAdDensity":true,"remoteBanner":true}}" style="max-width: 100%;"></gu-island></p><h2 data-reader-unique-id="5" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;"><strong data-reader-unique-id="6" style="max-width: 100%;">Hur defended his assessment of Biden’s memory</strong></h2><p data-reader-unique-id="7" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">In<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="8" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/08/joe-biden-classified-documents-special-counsel-report" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">his report</a>, which was released<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="9" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/08/biden-classified-documents-special-counsel" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">last month</a>, Hur concluded that no criminal charges were warranted against Biden. While stating that Biden had “willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice-presidency when he was a private citizen”, Hur assessed that a jury would probably view him as “a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory” and thus would be unable to establish his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="10" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">After the report’s release, Democrats celebrated Hur’s recommendation against criminal charges, but they accused the special counsel of overstepping the bounds of his assignment by offering such a stinging opinion on Biden’s memory. Hur directly confronted that criticism in his opening statement on Tuesday.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="11" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“My task was to determine whether the president retained or disclosed national defense information ‘willfully’. That means knowingly and with the intent to do something the law forbids. I could not make that determination without assessing the president’s state of mind,” Hur said. “My assessment in the report about the relevance of the president’s memory was necessary and accurate and fair.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="12" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">When Republican members of the committee attempted to press Hur on whether he found Biden to be “senile”, he said, “I did not. That conclusion does not appear in my report.”</p><figure data-reader-unique-id="13" data-spacefinder-role="inline" data-spacefinder-type="model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.YoutubeBlockElement" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><gu-island config="{"renderingTarget":"Web","darkModeAvailable":false}" data-reader-unique-id="14" deferuntil="visible" name="YoutubeBlockComponent" priority="critical" props="{"format":{"display":0,"theme":0,"design":7},"isMainMedia":false,"id":"3d972128-0a77-4998-a5ea-9fe88aa5cf1a","assetId":"U_i-UB78Wx4","expired":false,"posterImage":[{"url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/048a50851e9b6d6ede7b6cc51c31629e8514ddaf/0_418_3936_2214/2000.jpg","width":2000},{"url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/048a50851e9b6d6ede7b6cc51c31629e8514ddaf/0_418_3936_2214/1000.jpg","width":1000},{"url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/048a50851e9b6d6ede7b6cc51c31629e8514ddaf/0_418_3936_2214/500.jpg","width":500},{"url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/048a50851e9b6d6ede7b6cc51c31629e8514ddaf/0_418_3936_2214/140.jpg","width":140},{"url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/048a50851e9b6d6ede7b6cc51c31629e8514ddaf/0_418_3936_2214/3936.jpg","width":3936}],"duration":113,"mediaTitle":"Robert Hur says Biden memory comments were 'necessary, accurate and fair' – video","origin":"https://www.theguardian.com","stickyVideos":false,"switches":{"lightbox":true,"prebidAppnexusUkRow":true,"abSignInGateMainVariant":true,"commercialMetrics":true,"prebidTrustx":true,"scAdFreeBanner":false,"adaptiveSite":true,"prebidPermutiveAudience":true,"compareVariantDecision":false,"enableSentryReporting":true,"lazyLoadContainers":true,"ampArticleSwitch":true,"remarketing":true,"oscarsNewsletterEmbed2":false,"articleEndSlot":true,"keyEventsCarousel":true,"abOscarsNewsletterEmbed":false,"registerWithPhone":false,"targeting":true,"remoteHeader":true,"slotBodyEnd":true,"prebidImproveDigitalSkins":true,"ampPrebidOzone":true,"extendedMostPopularFronts":true,"emailInlineInFooter":true,"showNewPrivacyWordingOnEmailSignupEmbeds":true,"prebidAnalytics":true,"extendedMostPopular":true,"ampContentAbTesting":false,"prebidCriteo":true,"okta":true,"imrWorldwide":true,"acast":true,"automaticFilters":true,"twitterUwt":true,"prebidAppnexusInvcode":true,"ampPrebidPubmatic":true,"a9HeaderBidding":true,"prebidAppnexus":true,"enableDiscussionSwitch":true,"prebidXaxis":true,"stickyVideos":true,"interactiveFullHeaderSwitch":true,"discussionAllPageSize":true,"prebidUserSync":true,"audioOnwardJourneySwitch":true,"brazeTaylorReport":false,"externalVideoEmbeds":true,"abSignInGateAlternativeWording":false,"callouts":true,"sentinelLogger":true,"geoMostPopular":true,"weAreHiring":false,"relatedContent":true,"thirdPartyEmbedTracking":true,"prebidOzone":true,"ampLiveblogSwitch":true,"ampAmazon":true,"prebidAdYouLike":true,"mostViewedFronts":true,"discussionInApps":false,"optOutAdvertising":true,"abSignInGateMainControl":true,"headerTopNav":true,"googleSearch":true,"brazeSwitch":true,"darkModeInApps":true,"prebidKargo":true,"consentManagement":true,"crosswordMobileBanner":true,"personaliseSignInGateAfterCheckout":true,"redplanetForAus":true,"prebidSonobi":true,"idProfileNavigation":true,"confiantAdVerification":true,"discussionAllowAnonymousRecommendsSwitch":false,"dcrTagPages":true,"permutive":true,"comscore":true,"ampPrebidCriteo":true,"abMpuWhenNoEpic":false,"newsletterOnwards":false,"youtubeIma":true,"oscarsNewsletterEmbed1":false,"webFonts":true,"prebidImproveDigital":true,"ophan":true,"crosswordSvgThumbnails":true,"prebidTriplelift":true,"weather":true,"disableAmpTest":true,"prebidPubmatic":true,"serverShareCounts":false,"autoRefresh":true,"enhanceTweets":true,"prebidIndexExchange":true,"prebidOpenx":true,"prebidHeaderBidding":true,"mobileDiscussionAds":true,"idCookieRefresh":true,"discussionPageSize":true,"smartAppBanner":false,"boostGaUserTimingFidelity":false,"historyTags":true,"brazeContentCards":true,"surveys":true,"emailSignupRecaptcha":true,"prebidSmart":true,"shouldLoadGoogletag":true,"inizio":true,"abSectionAdDensity":true,"remoteBanner":true}}" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-chromatic="ignore" data-component="youtube-atom" data-reader-unique-id="15" style="max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="19" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="20" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"></span><span data-reader-unique-id="23" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">Robert Hur says Biden memory comments were 'necessary, accurate and fair' – video</span></figcaption></div></gu-island></figure><h2 data-reader-unique-id="24" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;"><strong data-reader-unique-id="25" style="max-width: 100%;">Hur asserted his impartiality even as he refused to rule out a potential role in a Trump administration</strong></h2><p data-reader-unique-id="26" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Democrats on the committee accused Hur of directly inserting himself into the 2024 election by knowingly writing a report meant to paint a damning portrait of Biden, even as the special counsel simultaneously concluded that the president should not be charged.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="27" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“You cannot tell me you’re so naive as to think your words would not have created a political firestorm,” said the Democratic congressman Adam Schiff of California. “You were not born yesterday. You understood exactly what you were doing.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="28" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Hur rejected that characterization, telling Schiff: “Politics played no part whatsoever in my investigative steps.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="29" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">And yet, when Hur was directly asked whether he would rule out taking a position in the Trump administration if the former president wins the election in November, the special counsel would not do so.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="30" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“I’m not here to speak about what may or may not happen in the future,” Hur said.</p><figure data-reader-unique-id="31" data-spacefinder-role="inline" data-spacefinder-type="model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.YoutubeBlockElement" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><gu-island config="{"renderingTarget":"Web","darkModeAvailable":false}" data-reader-unique-id="32" deferuntil="visible" name="YoutubeBlockComponent" priority="critical" props="{"format":{"display":0,"theme":0,"design":7},"isMainMedia":false,"id":"a6f30270-eb3b-4b5e-8cea-ec6dc187d65e","assetId":"lIBfROitf9o","expired":false,"posterImage":[{"url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/741f4058422795b71e8230d016634bfda88f9c8f/0_9_4000_2250/2000.jpg","width":2000},{"url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/741f4058422795b71e8230d016634bfda88f9c8f/0_9_4000_2250/1000.jpg","width":1000},{"url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/741f4058422795b71e8230d016634bfda88f9c8f/0_9_4000_2250/500.jpg","width":500},{"url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/741f4058422795b71e8230d016634bfda88f9c8f/0_9_4000_2250/140.jpg","width":140},{"url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/741f4058422795b71e8230d016634bfda88f9c8f/0_9_4000_2250/4000.jpg","width":4000}],"duration":103,"mediaTitle":"Robert Hur won't rule out future Trump admin role and denies exonerating Biden – video","origin":"https://www.theguardian.com","stickyVideos":false,"switches":{"lightbox":true,"prebidAppnexusUkRow":true,"abSignInGateMainVariant":true,"commercialMetrics":true,"prebidTrustx":true,"scAdFreeBanner":false,"adaptiveSite":true,"prebidPermutiveAudience":true,"compareVariantDecision":false,"enableSentryReporting":true,"lazyLoadContainers":true,"ampArticleSwitch":true,"remarketing":true,"oscarsNewsletterEmbed2":false,"articleEndSlot":true,"keyEventsCarousel":true,"abOscarsNewsletterEmbed":false,"registerWithPhone":false,"targeting":true,"remoteHeader":true,"slotBodyEnd":true,"prebidImproveDigitalSkins":true,"ampPrebidOzone":true,"extendedMostPopularFronts":true,"emailInlineInFooter":true,"showNewPrivacyWordingOnEmailSignupEmbeds":true,"prebidAnalytics":true,"extendedMostPopular":true,"ampContentAbTesting":false,"prebidCriteo":true,"okta":true,"imrWorldwide":true,"acast":true,"automaticFilters":true,"twitterUwt":true,"prebidAppnexusInvcode":true,"ampPrebidPubmatic":true,"a9HeaderBidding":true,"prebidAppnexus":true,"enableDiscussionSwitch":true,"prebidXaxis":true,"stickyVideos":true,"interactiveFullHeaderSwitch":true,"discussionAllPageSize":true,"prebidUserSync":true,"audioOnwardJourneySwitch":true,"brazeTaylorReport":false,"externalVideoEmbeds":true,"abSignInGateAlternativeWording":false,"callouts":true,"sentinelLogger":true,"geoMostPopular":true,"weAreHiring":false,"relatedContent":true,"thirdPartyEmbedTracking":true,"prebidOzone":true,"ampLiveblogSwitch":true,"ampAmazon":true,"prebidAdYouLike":true,"mostViewedFronts":true,"discussionInApps":false,"optOutAdvertising":true,"abSignInGateMainControl":true,"headerTopNav":true,"googleSearch":true,"brazeSwitch":true,"darkModeInApps":true,"prebidKargo":true,"consentManagement":true,"crosswordMobileBanner":true,"personaliseSignInGateAfterCheckout":true,"redplanetForAus":true,"prebidSonobi":true,"idProfileNavigation":true,"confiantAdVerification":true,"discussionAllowAnonymousRecommendsSwitch":false,"dcrTagPages":true,"permutive":true,"comscore":true,"ampPrebidCriteo":true,"abMpuWhenNoEpic":false,"newsletterOnwards":false,"youtubeIma":true,"oscarsNewsletterEmbed1":false,"webFonts":true,"prebidImproveDigital":true,"ophan":true,"crosswordSvgThumbnails":true,"prebidTriplelift":true,"weather":true,"disableAmpTest":true,"prebidPubmatic":true,"serverShareCounts":false,"autoRefresh":true,"enhanceTweets":true,"prebidIndexExchange":true,"prebidOpenx":true,"prebidHeaderBidding":true,"mobileDiscussionAds":true,"idCookieRefresh":true,"discussionPageSize":true,"smartAppBanner":false,"boostGaUserTimingFidelity":false,"historyTags":true,"brazeContentCards":true,"surveys":true,"emailSignupRecaptcha":true,"prebidSmart":true,"shouldLoadGoogletag":true,"inizio":true,"abSectionAdDensity":true,"remoteBanner":true}}" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-chromatic="ignore" data-component="youtube-atom" data-reader-unique-id="33" style="max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="37" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="38" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"></span><span data-reader-unique-id="41" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">Robert Hur won't rule out future Trump admin role and denies exonerating Biden – video</span></figcaption></div></gu-island></figure><h2 data-reader-unique-id="42" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;"><strong data-reader-unique-id="43" style="max-width: 100%;">Republicans complained of a double standard of justice, citing Trump’s indictment in Florida, but Democrats noted key differences in the two cases</strong></h2><p data-reader-unique-id="44" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Republicans argued that Hur had made a special exception for Biden to avoid charging a sitting president, and they disparagingly compared the case to Trump’s indictment for mishandling classified information after leaving the White House.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="45" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Matt Gaetz, a hard-right Republican congressman of Florida, mocked the special counsel’s reasoning for not recommending charges against Biden as the “senile cooperator theory”.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="46" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“Biden and Trump should have been treated equally. They weren’t. And that is the double standard that I think a lot of Americans are concerned about,” Gaetz said.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="47" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Democrats fiercely pushed back against that argument, noting that Trump was accused of repeatedly refusing to turn over classified documents after federal authorities requested their return.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="48" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“What kind of man bungles not one, but dozens of opportunities to avoid criminal liability? What must that say about his mental state?” asked Congressman Jerry Nadler, the top Democratic member on the judiciary committee.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="49" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Nadler added, “House Republicans may be desperate to convince America that white conservative men are on the losing end of a two-tiered justice system – a theory that appeals to the Maga crowd but has no basis in reality.”</p><figure data-reader-unique-id="50" data-spacefinder-role="inline" data-spacefinder-type="model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.NewsletterSignupBlockElement" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><aside aria-label="newsletter promotion" data-reader-unique-id="51" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="61" style="margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-top: 0.4em; max-width: 100%;">Our US morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters</p><gu-island config="{"renderingTarget":"Web","darkModeAvailable":false}" data-reader-unique-id="62" deferuntil="visible" name="SecureSignup" priority="feature" props="{"newsletterId":"us-morning-newsletter","successDescription":"Our US morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters"}" style="max-width: 100%;"></gu-island><span data-reader-unique-id="63" style="max-width: 100%;"><strong data-reader-unique-id="64" style="max-width: 100%;">Privacy Notice:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong>Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-ignore="global-link-styling" data-reader-unique-id="65" href="https://www.theguardian.com/help/privacy-policy" rel="noreferrer" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Privacy Policy</a>. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-ignore="global-link-styling" data-reader-unique-id="66" href="https://policies.google.com/privacy" rel="noreferrer" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Privacy Policy</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-ignore="global-link-styling" data-reader-unique-id="67" href="https://policies.google.com/terms" rel="noreferrer" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Terms of Service</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>apply.</span></aside></figure><h2 data-reader-unique-id="68" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;"><strong data-reader-unique-id="69" style="max-width: 100%;">Hur said Biden was not “exonerated</strong><strong data-reader-unique-id="70" style="max-width: 100%;">” even though no charges were filed against the president</strong></h2><p data-reader-unique-id="71" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">In her questioning of Hur, the Democratic congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, zeroed in on the special counsel’s conclusion that no charges should be brought against Biden.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="72" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“You exonerated him,” Jayapal said.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="73" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Hur interjected to say, “I did not exonerate him. That word does not appear in the report.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="74" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Although the word “exonerate” does not appear in Hur’s report, the first paragraph of the document reads, “We conclude that no criminal charges are warranted in this matter. We would reach the same conclusion even if Department of Justice policy did not foreclose criminal charges against a sitting president.”</p><h2 data-reader-unique-id="75" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;"><strong data-reader-unique-id="76" style="max-width: 100%;">Transcripts painted a more nuanced picture of Biden’s conversations with Hur</strong></h2><p data-reader-unique-id="77" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Democrats on the House judiciary committee released<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="78" href="https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5273" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">the transcripts</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>of Biden’s interviews with Hur, and they somewhat clash with how the two have portrayed their conversations.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="79" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">For example, in his report, Hur wrote that Biden “did not remember, even within several years, when his son Beau died”.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="82" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The comment infuriated Biden, who said at a fiery press conference held after the report’s release, “How in the hell dare he raise that? Frankly, when I was asked the question, I thought to myself, it wasn’t any of their damn business.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="83" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">But the report reveals that Hur did not in fact inquire about the date of Beau Biden’s death. Hur was actually asking about where Biden kept certain documents after leaving the White House in January 2017, and the president invoked his son’s death as a reference point in the conversation.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="84" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“And so what was happening, though – what month did Beau die? Oh, God, May 30,” Biden said.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="85" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Biden did not specify which year his son died, prompting an aide to remind him that it was 2015. “Was it 2015 he had died?” Biden asked, and the aide confirmed it was.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="86" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Other exchanges outlined in the transcripts raise questions about Hur’s assessment of Biden’s “poor memory”. Although the president frequently fumbled as he recounted the exact sequence of events related to the transfer of documents, Biden also offered detailed explanations and reminiscences of events in the past.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="87" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">At one point, Biden was so exact in the description of his Wilmington home that Hur joked, “We have some photographs to show you, but you have – appear to have a photographic understanding and recall of the house.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="88" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><em data-reader-unique-id="89" style="max-width: 100%;">The Guardian’s Léonie Chao-Fong contributed to this report"</em></p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/12/key-takeaways-house-hearing-robert-hur-biden-report">Five key takeaways from the House hearing on Robert Hur’s Biden report | Joe Biden | The Guardian</a>John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-3040755049509755592024-03-13T08:08:00.001-04:002024-03-13T08:08:56.719-04:00Fox News fearmongering backfires on live TV<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/vuIgWExBLQc?si=CxBXw2wD8VawZbUo" frameborder="0"></iframe>John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-66630208155567111202024-03-12T13:03:00.002-04:002024-03-12T13:03:18.837-04:00Hate crimes targeting LGBTQ people at schools have sharply risen in recent years - The Washington Post<h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.95552em; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;">In states with laws targeting LGBTQ issues, school hate crimes quadrupled</h1><div class="metadata singleline" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; hyphens: manual; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: -0.75em; max-width: 100%;"><a class="byline" data-qa="author-name" data-reader-unique-id="5" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/hannah-natanson/?itid=ai_top_natansonh" rel="author" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Hannah Natanson</a></div><div class="metadata singleline" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; hyphens: manual; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: -0.75em; max-width: 100%;"><b>(This is what these lawmakers wanted!)</b></div><div data-reader-unique-id="1" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="2" height="400" style="max-width: 100%;" width="600"><img alt="" data-reader-unique-id="3" decoding="async" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 440px) 440px,(max-width: 768px) 691px,(max-width: 1023px) 916px,(max-width: 1199px) 1200px,(min-width: 1200px) 1440px,440px" srcset="https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/HZZ54W5J4OWIGMKZ5DGDJ2ANX4.jpg&w=440 400w,https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/HZZ54W5J4OWIGMKZ5DGDJ2ANX4.jpg&w=540 540w,https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/HZZ54W5J4OWIGMKZ5DGDJ2ANX4.jpg&w=691 691w,https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/HZZ54W5J4OWIGMKZ5DGDJ2ANX4.jpg&w=767 767w,https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/HZZ54W5J4OWIGMKZ5DGDJ2ANX4.jpg&w=916 916w,https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/HZZ54W5J4OWIGMKZ5DGDJ2ANX4.jpg&w=1200 1200w,https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/HZZ54W5J4OWIGMKZ5DGDJ2ANX4.jpg&w=1440&impolicy=high_res 1440w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="600" /></div></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px;">"Nickel Magrdishan, 24, hugs Charlie Ogden, 23, both of Aliso Viejo, Calif., during a Pride at the Pier-led vigil on Feb. 23 for 16-year non-binary student Nex Benedict in Huntington Beach, Calif. Benedict recently died the day after being involved in a fight at school in Oklahoma. (Rick Loomis for The Washington Post)"</span><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/03/12/school-lgbtq-hate-crimes-incidents/">Hate crimes targeting LGBTQ people at schools have sharply risen in recent years - The Washington Post</a></div>John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-14535385577749573402024-03-12T12:53:00.002-04:002024-03-12T12:53:14.996-04:00How Robert Hur’s Portrayal of Biden’s Memory Compares With the Transcript - The New York Times<div><h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.95552em; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;">How the Special Counsel’s Portrayal of Biden’s Memory Compares With the Transcript</h1><h2 class="subhead" data-reader-unique-id="subheadElement" style="color: rgba(27, 27, 27, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.46664em; font-weight: normal; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.27275em; margin-top: -0.35em; max-width: 100%;">"The special counsel, Robert K. Hur, accused the president last month of “significant” memory problems. The interview transcript offers context to his report.</h2><div class="metadata singleline" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; hyphens: manual; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: -0.7em; max-width: 100%;"><time aria-hidden="true" class="date" data-reader-unique-id="200" datetime="2024-03-12T16:51:21.314Z" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="201" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;">Just now</p></time></div><header data-reader-unique-id="19" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="32" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="33" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="34" data-testid="imageContainer-children-Image" style="max-width: 100%;"><picture data-reader-unique-id="35" style="max-width: 100%;"><source data-reader-unique-id="36" media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 3dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 288dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/12/multimedia/12dc-transcript-cmzf/12dc-transcript-cmzf-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=600" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="37" media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 192dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/12/multimedia/12dc-transcript-cmzf/12dc-transcript-cmzf-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="38" media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 1dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 96dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/12/multimedia/12dc-transcript-cmzf/12dc-transcript-cmzf-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1800" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><img alt="A side view of President Biden wearing a blue suit and a white shirt while standing at a lectern." data-reader-unique-id="39" decoding="async" height="400" sizes="((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 60vw, 100vw" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/12/multimedia/12dc-transcript-cmzf/12dc-transcript-cmzf-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/12/multimedia/12dc-transcript-cmzf/12dc-transcript-cmzf-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 600w,https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/12/multimedia/12dc-transcript-cmzf/12dc-transcript-cmzf-jumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 1024w,https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/12/multimedia/12dc-transcript-cmzf/12dc-transcript-cmzf-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 2048w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="600" /></picture></div><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="40" data-testid="photoviewer-children-ImageCaption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="41" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">The special counsel’s report touched off a political furor amid President Biden’s re-election campaign.</span><span data-reader-unique-id="42" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="43" style="max-width: 100%;">Maansi Srivastava/The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div><div data-reader-unique-id="45" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="46" style="max-width: 100%;"><div aria-hidden="true" data-reader-unique-id="47" style="max-width: 100%;"><a data-reader-unique-id="48" href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/charlie-savage" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="Charlie Savage" data-reader-unique-id="49" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" title="Charlie Savage" /></a></div><div data-reader-unique-id="50" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="51" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="52" style="max-width: 100%;">By<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span data-reader-unique-id="53" itemprop="name" style="max-width: 100%;"><a data-reader-unique-id="54" href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/charlie-savage" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Charlie Savage</a></span></p><div data-reader-unique-id="55" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="56" style="max-width: 100%;">Charlie Savage writes about national security and legal policy.</p></div></div></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="57" data-testid="reading-time-module" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="58" style="max-width: 100%;"><time data-reader-unique-id="59" datetime="2024-03-12T10:13:30-04:00" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="60" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024</span><span data-reader-unique-id="61" style="max-width: 100%;">Updated<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span data-reader-unique-id="62" style="max-width: 100%;">10:13 a.m. ET</span></span></time></p></div></header><section data-reader-unique-id="64" name="articleBody" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="65" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="66" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="67" style="max-width: 100%;">A transcript of a special counsel’s hourslong interview of President Biden over his handling of classified files shows that on several occasions the president fumbled with dates and the sequence of events, while otherwise appearing clearheaded.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="68" style="max-width: 100%;">A lightly redacted copy of the transcript, which is more than 250 pages and was reviewed by The New York Times, was sent to Congress hours before the special counsel,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="69" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/12/us/politics/robert-hur-biden-report.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">Robert K. Hur</a>, was<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="70" href="https://judiciary.house.gov/committee-activity/hearings/hearing-report-special-counsel-robert-k-hur" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="">set to testify on Tuesday</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>in front of the House Judiciary Committee. Democrats on the panel<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="71" href="https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/uploadedfiles/doj-hjc-hur-0000033-0000191.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="">later released the document</a>.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="75" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="76" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="77" style="max-width: 100%;">In a report released last month, Mr. Hur concluded that there was<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="78" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/08/us/biden-documents-investigation-report-takeaways.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">insufficient evidence to charge Mr. Biden</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>with a crime after classified documents ended up in an office he used after his vice presidency and in his home in Delaware. But the report also portrayed Mr. Biden, 81, as an “elderly man with a poor memory,” touching off a political furor amid his re-election campaign.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="81" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="82" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="83" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Biden’s lawyers, who were present for five hours of questioning over two days, have<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="84" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/15/us/politics/joe-biden-special-counsel.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">challenged the damaging portrait by Mr. Hur</a>, a former Trump administration official. But<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="85" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/14/us/politics/biden-transcript-release.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">the transcript had not been publicly available</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to evaluate Mr. Hur’s assessment that Mr. Biden’s memory has “significant limitations.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="86" style="max-width: 100%;">Here are some highlights:</p><h2 data-reader-unique-id="87" style="font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">Mr. Biden repeatedly said he did not recall or know certain details.</h2><p data-reader-unique-id="88" style="max-width: 100%;">In trying to determine whether Mr. Biden had willfully retained certain classified documents, Mr. Hur repeatedly pressed him for details, like where and how his staff stored classified documents, who packed up when his vice presidency ended and where particular files had gone.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="89" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Biden, who has denied wrongdoing, repeatedly demurred, saying he did not recall or had no idea how his staff handled such matters, and observing that there was “a continuum of a lot of these people” who assisted with those tasks.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="90" style="max-width: 100%;">He also said he did not recall seeing the most sensitive files investigators found — concerning the Afghanistan war that were in a tattered cardboard box in his garage in Delaware, along with a jumble of unrelated materials — and did not know how they got there.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="91" style="max-width: 100%;">“I don’t remember how a beat-up box got in the garage,” he said, speculating that someone packing up must have just tossed stuff into it. He added that he had “no goddamn idea” what was in a tranche of files shipped to his house and “didn’t even bother to go through them.”</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="94" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="95" style="max-width: 100%;"><h2 data-reader-unique-id="96" style="font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">Mr. Biden particularly fumbled with dates when talking about his son’s death.</h2><p data-reader-unique-id="97" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Hur’s most striking assertion about Mr. Biden’s memory was that he “did not remember, even within several years, when his son Beau died.” The death of his son from cancer, in May 2015, was one of the most emotional moments in Mr. Biden’s personal life — and the subject of a memoir he wrote with a ghostwriter in 2017.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="98" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Biden expressed particular outrage about that line. “How in the hell dare he raise that?” the president said during a news conference held hours after Mr. Hur’s report became public. “Frankly, when I was asked the question I thought to myself, it wasn’t any of their damn business.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="99" style="max-width: 100%;">The transcript shows that Mr. Hur did not specifically ask when Beau Biden had died. Instead, Mr. Hur pressed Mr. Biden about where he kept papers related to work he did after leaving the vice presidency in January 2017, like teaching at a think tank in Washington, a cancer “moonshot” project and the book he wrote about Beau’s death.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="100" style="max-width: 100%;">At that point, Mr. Biden, who sometimes stutters, began to stammer and garble matters. He said “when I got out of the Senate” when he meant to refer to leaving the vice presidency, and he seemingly conflated events in 2015, when Beau died and Mr. Biden chose not to run against Hillary Clinton for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, with events in 2017, when he wrote the memoir and decided to run for president in the 2020 cycle:</p><blockquote data-reader-unique-id="101" style="border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 3px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 6px; max-width: 100%; padding-left: 16px;"><p data-reader-unique-id="102" style="max-width: 100%;">BIDEN: Well, um … I, I, I, I, I don’t know. This is, what, 2017, 2018, that area?</p><p data-reader-unique-id="103" style="max-width: 100%;">HUR: Yes, sir.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="104" style="max-width: 100%;">BIDEN: Remember, in this time frame, my son is — either been deployed or is dying, and, and so it was — and by the way, there were still a lot of people at the time when I got out of the Senate that were encouraging me to run in this period, except the president. I’m not — and not a mean thing to say. He just thought that she had a better shot of winning the presidency than I did. And so I hadn’t, I hadn’t, at this point — even though I’m at Penn, I hadn’t walked away from the idea that I may run for office again. But if I ran again, I’d be running for president. And, and so what was happening, though — what month did Beau die? Oh, God, May 30 —</p><p data-reader-unique-id="105" style="max-width: 100%;">RACHEL COTTON, A WHITE HOUSE LAWYER: 2015.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="106" style="max-width: 100%;">UNIDENTIFIED MALE SPEAKER: 2015.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="107" style="max-width: 100%;">BIDEN: Was it 2015 he had died?</p><p data-reader-unique-id="108" style="max-width: 100%;">UNIDENTIFIED MALE SPEAKER: It was May of 2015.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="109" style="max-width: 100%;">BIDEN: It was 2015.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="110" style="max-width: 100%;">ROBERT BAUER, BIDEN’S PERSONAL LAWYER: Or — I’m not sure of the month, sir, but I think that was the year.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="111" style="max-width: 100%;">MARC KRICKBAUM, HUR’S DEPUTY: That’s right, Mr. President. It —</p><p data-reader-unique-id="112" style="max-width: 100%;">BIDEN: And what’s happened in the meantime is that as — and Trump gets elected in November of 2017?</p><p data-reader-unique-id="113" style="max-width: 100%;">UNIDENTIFIED MALE SPEAKER: 2016.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="114" style="max-width: 100%;">UNIDENTIFIED MALE SPEAKER: ’16.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="115" style="max-width: 100%;">BIDEN: ’16, 2016. All right. So — why do I have 2017 here?</p><p data-reader-unique-id="116" style="max-width: 100%;">ED SISKEL, BIDEN’S WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL: That’s when you left office, January of 2017.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="117" style="max-width: 100%;">BIDEN: Yeah, OK. But that’s when Trump gets sworn in, January.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="118" style="max-width: 100%;">SISKEL: Right.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="119" style="max-width: 100%;">BAUER: Right, correct.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="120" style="max-width: 100%;">BIDEN: OK, yeah. And in 2017, Beau had passed and — this is personal …</p></blockquote><p data-reader-unique-id="121" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Biden then recounted Beau’s death; how he came to write the subsequent book “Promise Me, Dad,” based on his son’s dying request that he stay involved in public service; and how he decided in 2017, after a rally by white nationalists in Charlottesville, Va., to run for president against Donald J. Trump.</p><h2 data-reader-unique-id="122" style="font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">Mr. Biden had several other miscues.</h2><p data-reader-unique-id="123" style="max-width: 100%;">The transcript also contained some minor seeming slips that went unmentioned in Mr. Hur’s report. For example, Mr. Biden needed to be nudged to recall the name of the federal agency that takes custody of official records — the National Archives — or that fax machine is the name of the device that transmits images of documents over phone lines.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="126" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="127" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="128" style="max-width: 100%;">But Mr. Hur made a particularly striking assertion in stating that Mr. Biden “did not remember when he was vice president.” As evidence, Mr. Hur quoted him as saying, “If it was 2013 — when did I stop being vice president?” According to the report, Mr. Biden displayed similar confusion on the second day of questioning, asking, “In 2009, am I still vice president?”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="129" style="max-width: 100%;">The transcript provides context for those lines. In both instances, Mr. Biden said the wrong year but appeared to recognize that he had misspoken and immediately stopped to seek clarity and orient himself.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="130" style="max-width: 100%;">The first unfolded as Mr. Biden stressed that he did not know how material about an internal Obama administration debate in 2009 about the Afghanistan war had ended up in his Delaware garage:</p><blockquote data-reader-unique-id="131" style="border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 3px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 6px; max-width: 100%; padding-left: 16px;"><p data-reader-unique-id="132" style="max-width: 100%;">BIDEN: Somebody must’ve, packing this up, just picked up all the stuff and put it in a box, because I didn’t.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="133" style="max-width: 100%;">HUR: OK. Do you have any idea where this material would’ve been before it got moved into the garage?</p><p data-reader-unique-id="134" style="max-width: 100%;">BIDEN: Well, if it was 2013 — when did I stop being vice president?</p><p data-reader-unique-id="135" style="max-width: 100%;">COTTON: 2017.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="136" style="max-width: 100%;">BIDEN: So I was vice president. So it must’ve come from vice-president stuff. That’s all I can think of.</p></blockquote><p data-reader-unique-id="137" style="max-width: 100%;">The second happened when Mr. Biden was asked about how a particular folder of those same documents ended up in his garage. Again discussing the end of his vice presidency in 2017, he mistakenly instead invoked the year the documents were from:</p><blockquote data-reader-unique-id="138" style="border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 3px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 6px; max-width: 100%; padding-left: 16px;"><p data-reader-unique-id="139" style="max-width: 100%;">BIDEN: My problem was I never knew where any of the documents or boxes were specifically coming from or who packed them. Just did I get them delivered to me. And so this is — I’m, at this stage, in 2009, am I still vice president?</p><p data-reader-unique-id="140" style="max-width: 100%;">[indiscernible whispering]</p><p data-reader-unique-id="141" style="max-width: 100%;">BIDEN: Yeah, OK.</p></blockquote><p data-reader-unique-id="142" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Krickbaum then said he saw that Mr. Biden was “flipping ahead” and the conversation moved on.</p><h2 data-reader-unique-id="143" style="font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">Mr. Hur was selective in portraying Mr. Biden’s memory of an ambassador’s position.</h2><p data-reader-unique-id="144" style="max-width: 100%;">In portraying the president’s memory as unusually faulty, Mr. Hur singled out one other issue: whether Mr. Biden accurately remembered the stance of a diplomat in Afghanistan. According to the report, Mr. Biden, in discussing a memo he wrote to President Barack Obama in 2009 arguing against a surge of additional troops to Afghanistan, had mistakenly said he “had a real difference” of opinion with Karl Eikenberry, who was the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan. In fact, Mr. Hur noted, Mr. Eikenberry, like Mr. Biden, had opposed a surge.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="145" style="max-width: 100%;">That line came when Mr. Biden interrupted himself during a lengthy recollection of the internal administration debate over whether Mr. Obama should order a surge:</p><blockquote data-reader-unique-id="146" style="border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 3px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 6px; max-width: 100%; padding-left: 16px;"><p data-reader-unique-id="147" style="max-width: 100%;">BIDEN: I’ll just tell you one thing, it has nothing to do with the investigation, you’ll understand why this is sensitive. The president thought that I knew a lot more about Afghanistan than he did and other members of the administration. He knew I had a real difference with the key foreign policy types, particularly — whether it was Eikenberry or whether it was — anyway. And he was looking for me to make my case as strong as I could, without him having to ask for it or being associated with it, because his concern in this period was he didn’t have overwhelming foreign policy experience, and how could he take on the most premier members of the foreign policy establishment in his administration. Quite a few that said, go, do this. So he was looking for me to make the strongest case I could. So I’d be the guy that’d basically take the heat, which I was prepared to do because I knew as much about it as they did.</p></blockquote><p data-reader-unique-id="148" style="max-width: 100%;">Notably, later that same day, Mr. Biden invoked Mr. Eikenberry again. In that passage, Mr. Biden made clear that he recalled that Mr. Eikenberry shared his opposition to sending additional troops to Afghanistan. Mr. Biden was discussing a typed file he may or may not have seen before writing his 2009 memo to Mr. Obama.</p><blockquote data-reader-unique-id="149" style="border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 3px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 6px; max-width: 100%; padding-left: 16px;"><p data-reader-unique-id="150" style="max-width: 100%;">BIDEN: I received this before I wrote the other, it was added argument why he should listen to my argument. I’m talking about — you know, “I had a long conversation with Eikenberry, yes, I urge you to call him before you make a decision. Karl can speak for himself and he has eloquently in some of his cables, let me relay just a few things. Adding troops will not speed up the ability to train Afghans because…” etc. So these are criticisms of the proposal that was being made to the president by, by others in the administration wanting him to double down in Afghanistan.</p></blockquote><p data-reader-unique-id="151" style="max-width: 100%;">In his report, Mr. Hur did not mention this second discussion of Mr. Eikenberry’s position.</p><h2 data-reader-unique-id="152" style="font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">Mr. Biden appeared clearheaded most of the time.</h2><p data-reader-unique-id="153" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Biden went into great detail about many matters, the transcript shows. He made jokes over the two days, teasing the prosecutors. And at certain points, he corrected his interrogators when they were the ones who misspoke.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="156" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="157" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="158" style="max-width: 100%;">When Mr. Hur showed him a photograph and suggested that two documents resembled each other, Mr. Biden objected to the comparison. When Mr. Krickbaum misquoted Mr. Biden as having told his ghostwriter that he had found material “marked” classified, Mr. Biden interrupted to question his inaccurate addition of that word.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="159" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Biden also critically evaluated Mr. Hur’s strategy. At the end of the first day of questioning, he told his lawyers, “They’re obviously trying to establish something.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="160" style="max-width: 100%;">On the second day, when Mr. Krickbaum insinuated that Mr. Biden had improperly held onto personal diaries from his vice presidency in which he had recorded accounts of sensitive meetings, Mr. Biden forcefully stressed, “Every president before me has done the same exact thing.” He added, “I just want to make sure we’re on the same page.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="161" style="max-width: 100%;">When Mr. Hur suggested that classified files found in Mr. Biden’s garage may have once been stored in a desk in his house that contained similar-looking folders, Mr. Biden questioned that premise. He argued that it was more likely that both sets were originally shipped to the garage, and someone — not him — had just found the one set and so put it in his desk.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="162" style="max-width: 100%;">And when Mr. Biden provided a lengthy description of the layout of his house in Delaware — portions of which were redacted in the transcript for security reasons — Mr. Hur observed that Mr. Biden appeared to have “a photographic understanding and, and recall of the house.”</p></div></div></section></div><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/12/us/politics/hur-biden-memory-transcript.html">How Robert Hur’s Portrayal of Biden’s Memory Compares With the Transcript - The New York Times</a>John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-13971759342225926272024-03-12T12:51:00.005-04:002024-03-12T12:51:29.063-04:00Robert Hur Testifies on Biden Classified Documents Investigation: Live Updates - The New York Times<div><h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.95552em; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;">Live Updates: Special Counsel Who Faulted Biden’s Memory Testifies</h1><h2 class="subhead" data-reader-unique-id="subheadElement" style="color: rgba(27, 27, 27, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.46664em; font-weight: normal; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.27275em; margin-top: -0.35em; max-width: 100%;">"Republicans are peppering Robert K. Hur about his justifications for not charging the president in the classified documents investigation. Democrats are criticizing him for making broad assertions about Mr. Biden’s memory.</h2><div class="metadata singleline" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; hyphens: manual; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: -0.7em; max-width: 100%;"><time aria-hidden="true" class="date" data-reader-unique-id="1212" datetime="2024-03-12T16:30:00.861Z" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="1213" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;">Updated </span><p data-reader-unique-id="1214" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="1215" data-time="abs" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 12:30 p.m. ET</span><span data-reader-unique-id="1216" data-time="rel" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;"></span></p></time></div><div aria-label="Main content" data-reader-unique-id="1" role="region" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><header data-reader-unique-id="2" data-source-id="100000009344270" data-testid="FeedLede" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="7" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="8" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="23" data-testid="FeedLedePinVideoBlock" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="24" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="25" data-testid="VideoBlock" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="26" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="27" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="28" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="30" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="31" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Video player loading" class="extendsBeyondTextColumn" data-reader-unique-id="32" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/12/multimedia/-12vid-robert-hur-testimony-live--blwf/-12vid-robert-hur-testimony-live--blwf-videoSixteenByNine3000.jpg" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-inline-start: -43.640625px; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: none; width: 1050px;" /></div></div></div></div></div><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="37" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="38" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">Robert K. Hur was appointed last year to oversee the investigation into President Biden’s handling of classified documents.</span><span data-reader-unique-id="39" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="40" style="max-width: 100%;">Kenny Holston/The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div></div></header></div><div aria-label="Live feed" data-reader-unique-id="43" role="region" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><section aria-label="Live posts" data-reader-unique-id="45" role="feed" style="max-width: 100%;"><div aria-labelledby="post-title-QXJ0aWNsZTpueXQ6Ly9hcnRpY2xlL2Y5N2Q1YzQyLWIxMGQtNTFjNS1iODQ5LTRjMDI2MTlkNDEzYQ==" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="56" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="46" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="47" data-source-id="100000009356760" data-testid="live-blog-post" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#robert-hur-biden-report" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="49" style="max-width: 100%;">Pinned</p><p data-reader-unique-id="72" style="max-width: 100%;">Robert K. Hur, the special counsel whose investigation of President Biden’s handling of classified documents raised questions about the president’s mental acuity, defended his inclusion of the disparaging remarks on Tuesday during a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="73" style="max-width: 100%;">In February, Mr. Hur concluded a yearlong investigation into Mr. Biden’s retention of sensitive government documents by finding that the president should face no criminal charges. But Mr. Hur, using language Mr. Biden’s team saw as gratuitous, politically damaging and outside his job description, described the octogenarian president as “a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,” likely to be acquitted by any jury.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvNTAwNTMzODQtOGUyMC01MTg1LWE2M2QtMjk3M2E2YjU0MTFl" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="55" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="74" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="75" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#50053384-8e20-5185-a63d-2973a6b5411e" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="76" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="77" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="78" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Luke Broadwater" data-reader-unique-id="79" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/05/us/politics/author-luke-broadwater/author-luke-broadwater-thumbLarge.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/05/us/politics/author-luke-broadwater/author-luke-broadwater-thumbStandard.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/05/us/politics/author-luke-broadwater/author-luke-broadwater-thumbLarge.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="80" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="81" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 12:29 p.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="90" style="max-width: 100%;">Representative Tom Tiffany, Republican of Wisconsin, accuses Hur of being part of a “praetorian guard” that protects “the swamp” and “elites.” Neither side is happy with Hur or his report.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvNGVlZmViNjMtZjc1Mi01ZmI0LWE3YWEtZjMwODMzZjc2NDI3" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="54" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="91" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="92" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#4eefeb63-f752-5fb4-a7aa-f30833f76427" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="93" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="94" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="95" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Charlie Savage" data-reader-unique-id="96" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbStandard-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="97" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="98" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 12:23 p.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="107" style="max-width: 100%;">Representative Jayapal went on to get Hur to address explanations for why there was insufficient evidence to prove Biden willfully retained classified documents apart from memory issues. He confirms that lines like “In addition to this shortage of evidence, there are other innocent explanations for the documents that we cannot refute” are in his report.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="108" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="109" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="110" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="114" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="115" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="116" style="max-width: 100%;">Tom Brenner for The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-SW50ZXJhY3RpdmU6bnl0Oi8vaW50ZXJhY3RpdmUvODIxM2IxYzUtNDZlMy01NjBmLTliZWQtNTYzOWViYzQzOTc2" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="53" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="118" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="119" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="120" data-testid="interactive-block" style="max-width: 100%;"><a data-reader-unique-id="121" href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/02/08/us/special-counsel-report-on-biden-and-classified-documents.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;"><div data-reader-unique-id="122" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" data-reader-unique-id="123" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/02/08/doc-1435614-special-counsel-r-promo/doc-1435614-special-counsel-r-promo-articleLarge.png" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" /></div><div data-reader-unique-id="124" style="max-width: 100%;"><h2 data-reader-unique-id="125" style="font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">Special Counsel’s Report on President Biden and Classified Documents</h2><p data-reader-unique-id="126" style="max-width: 100%;">Robert K. Hur, the special counsel, delivered his report on the investigation into President Biden and classified documents.</p></div></a></div></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvZjhiZTk5NWEtZDdjZi01NjM0LThkMTUtN2M2N2Y4NzVlOTYy" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="51" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="133" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="134" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#f8be995a-d7cf-5634-8d15-7c67f875e962" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="135" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="136" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="137" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Michael D. Shear" data-reader-unique-id="138" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/13/multimedia/author-michael-d-shear/author-michael-d-shear-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/13/multimedia/author-michael-d-shear/author-michael-d-shear-thumbStandard-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/13/multimedia/author-michael-d-shear/author-michael-d-shear-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="139" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="140" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 12:15 p.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="149" style="max-width: 100%;">If there was one moment so far that will make Biden and his team cringe, it may be the one served up by Representative Pramila Jayapal, when she claimed Hur had exonerated Biden. His retort — "I did not exonerate him" — will be used repeatedly by Republicans and Trump. That’s not helpful to Biden.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvM2Y2ZDEwOWYtMzYwYi01MDRkLThmZmEtNTljMmUxYTE1YTk2" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="50" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="150" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="151" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#3f6d109f-360b-504d-8ffa-59c2e1a15a96" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="152" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="153" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="154" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Glenn Thrush" data-reader-unique-id="155" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbStandard-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="156" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="157" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 12:08 p.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="166" style="max-width: 100%;">The political dynamics of the hearing are basic, and binary. Democrats are defending their candidate by trying to debunk the memory issue, while Republicans are framing the Hur report as proof Trump didn’t do anything worthy of an indictment in his own classified documents case.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvNmVmMThiMWUtZDE4MS01ZTVjLWI3ZWQtNDNiZGMyZjFlODgw" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="49" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="167" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="168" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#6ef18b1e-d181-5e5c-b7ed-43bdc2f1e880" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="169" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="170" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="171" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Luke Broadwater" data-reader-unique-id="172" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/05/us/politics/author-luke-broadwater/author-luke-broadwater-thumbLarge.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/05/us/politics/author-luke-broadwater/author-luke-broadwater-thumbStandard.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/05/us/politics/author-luke-broadwater/author-luke-broadwater-thumbLarge.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="173" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="174" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 12:03 p.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="183" style="max-width: 100%;">You can tell you are entering the third hour of a committee hearing when half the members’ seats are empty.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvOWEzMjg4MDAtOTIzMC01NTgxLWExY2EtMWJmNTRjYjYyZDdh" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="48" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="184" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="185" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#9a328800-9230-5581-a1ca-1bf54cb62d7a" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="186" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="187" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="188" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Michael D. Shear" data-reader-unique-id="189" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/13/multimedia/author-michael-d-shear/author-michael-d-shear-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/13/multimedia/author-michael-d-shear/author-michael-d-shear-thumbStandard-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/13/multimedia/author-michael-d-shear/author-michael-d-shear-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="190" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="191" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 11:57 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="200" style="max-width: 100%;">If there is one performance so far that the White House likely appreciates, it’s the one by Representative Adam Schiff. The deeply held belief inside the West Wing is that Hur was over the top — and purposeful — in using language that questions the president’s cognitive capacity. Schiff’s decision to press that case against Hur was most likely cheered on by the president’s allies.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="201" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="202" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="203" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="207" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="208" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="209" style="max-width: 100%;">Pete Marovich for The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvNTIwNTBmMjgtZGIzOC01ZmNmLTlmMTgtNzgxNDBlMmE2NjEy" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="46" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="217" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="218" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#52050f28-db38-5fcf-9f18-78140e2a6612" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="219" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="220" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="221" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Glenn Thrush" data-reader-unique-id="222" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbStandard-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="223" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="224" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 11:55 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="233" style="max-width: 100%;">Adam Schiff gets to the heart of the Democratic criticism of Hur: Why did he choose “a general pejorative” description of Biden’s mental state rather than “the specifics” of inconsistencies of Biden’s statements?</p></div><div data-reader-unique-id="234" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="235" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="236" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="237" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="238" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Glenn Thrush" data-reader-unique-id="239" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbStandard-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="240" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="241" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 11:55 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="250" style="max-width: 100%;">Hur fires back at Schiff: “You are suggesting I shape, sanitize” my report for political purposes.</p></div></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvYWQyY2Q1YTktZmM2NC01ODBiLTk2YWQtNmFmOTdiYWNmYTRk" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="45" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="251" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="252" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#ad2cd5a9-fc64-580b-96ad-6af97bacfa4d" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="253" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="254" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="255" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Charlie Savage" data-reader-unique-id="256" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbStandard-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="257" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="258" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 11:52 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="267" style="max-width: 100%;">As Republicans like Representative Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey use their questioning of Hur to portray Biden’s and Trump’s actions as equivalent in order to disparage the charges against Trump, Hur could respond by repeating what he wrote in his report, that there are clearly “several material distinctions” between the two cases, and the allegations against Trump, if proved, “present serious aggravating facts” unlike the evidence involving Biden. It is notable Hur is choosing not to speak up.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-QXJ0aWNsZTpueXQ6Ly9hcnRpY2xlL2ViMDNmMTc0LTRjOWQtNWZmYi04ZjhiLTdhOTEyM2E3MDUzOA==" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="44" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="268" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="269" data-source-id="100000009351457" data-testid="live-blog-post" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#hurs-appearance-gives-republicans-a-political-opening-for-their-attacks-on-biden" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="290" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="291" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="295" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="296" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">Robert K. Hur, the special counsel, testifying at the Capitol.</span><span data-reader-unique-id="297" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="298" style="max-width: 100%;">Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div><p data-reader-unique-id="300" style="max-width: 100%;">House Republicans for months have been trying to dig up dirt on President Biden, mostly by focusing on the international business dealings of his son Hunter.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="301" style="max-width: 100%;">But that investigation has not, to date, produced the kind of bombshell revelations Republicans had hoped could fuel his impeachment in the House and help swing the 2024 election to former President Donald J. Trump, who faces 91 felony counts in four separate criminal cases.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvMWY1NTc1NzEtNmFkMy01MmUwLWI2MjctNjI2NjA5ZmNkNGI4" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="42" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="308" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="309" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#1f557571-6ad3-52e0-b627-626609fcd4b8" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="310" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="311" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="312" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Glenn Thrush" data-reader-unique-id="313" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbStandard-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="314" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="315" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 11:45 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="324" style="max-width: 100%;">That is the first time Hur got angry. Hank Johnson suggests Hur “smeared” Biden — he shoots back to say he has no partisan motivations and no aspirations to serve in a future Republican administration.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvNzhhNGJkMzctMDExZi01YmNmLTk2ODgtMzY1MzFjN2VhNTgx" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="41" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="325" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="326" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#78a4bd37-011f-5bcf-9688-36531c7ea581" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="327" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="328" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="329" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Glenn Thrush" data-reader-unique-id="330" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbStandard-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="331" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="332" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 11:41 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="341" style="max-width: 100%;">Republicans are omitting two key facts when they suggest Biden’s retention of a few documents is comparable to Trump’s behavior. First, Trump retained many more files. Second, Trump is accused of obstructing the investigation — while Hur said Biden cooperated fully.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="342" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="343" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="344" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="348" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="349" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="350" style="max-width: 100%;">Kenny Holston/The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvOTk0MDZmNjgtNzJlNi01NGY4LThiOTMtZGZmMDMwYTM5N2Yx" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="40" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="352" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="353" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#99406f68-72e6-54f8-8b93-dff030a397f1" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="354" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="355" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="356" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Glenn Thrush" data-reader-unique-id="357" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbStandard-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="358" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="359" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 11:35 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="368" style="max-width: 100%;">Ninety minutes into the hearing, Hur is calmly navigating the choppy waters between the two parties. But his responses appear to show an undercurrent of disapproval of Biden’s actions — and an unwillingness to offer the president much more than a fairly narrow legal exoneration.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvZDY2NjhiNDAtYWYwZS01YjA2LWE2OGQtMjU3M2JjZTZkMDgy" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="39" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="369" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="370" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#d6668b40-af0e-5b06-a68d-2573bce6d082" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="371" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="372" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="373" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Charlie Savage" data-reader-unique-id="374" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbStandard-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="375" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="376" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 11:33 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="385" style="max-width: 100%;">One emerging pattern is that the hearing is not focusing on weaknesses in the evidence Hur gathered apart from Biden’s mental state. Republicans want to portray Biden as a criminal who is escaping charges only because he is, as Representative Matt Gaetz’s words, “senile.” Hur, who has been accused of violating Justice Department policies and standards for including gratuitous disparaging comments in his report about Biden’s memory, has his own incentive to focus on how Biden’s mental state might come across to a jury as relevant and proper to discuss. Democrats, meanwhile, are focusing on the ways Donald Trump’s hoarding of classified documents, for which he faces charges, was worse.</p></div><div data-reader-unique-id="386" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="387" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="388" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="389" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="390" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Charlie Savage" data-reader-unique-id="391" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbStandard-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="392" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="393" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 11:34 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="402" style="max-width: 100%;">As a result, so far there is little discussion of why the facts Hur found fell short of proof that Biden knew he had any particular classified document – regardless of memory. Hur was unable to ascertain what Biden had been talking about in the tape about finding “classified stuff” in a Virginia house, and wrote that the only documents that were chargeable as unauthorized retention were a set of Afghanistan war files found in a box, with a jumble of unrelated stuff, in the garage of Biden’s Delaware house. But Hur was unable to figure out who packed those documents and how they ended up in the garage.</p></div></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvZmVhMzI4YmUtZDViZS01YzhiLWJlZGYtNjEzMzU0NWZkOGRh" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="37" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="409" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="410" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#fea328be-d5be-5c8b-bedf-6133545fd8da" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="411" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="412" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="413" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Glenn Thrush" data-reader-unique-id="414" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbStandard-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="415" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="416" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 11:30 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="425" style="max-width: 100%;">Key moment: Hur says Attorney General Garland did not pressure him to make changes to his report or request any changes.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="426" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="427" data-testid="VideoBlock" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="428" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="429" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="430" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="431" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="432" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="434" style="max-width: 100%;"><div aria-labelledby="modal-title" data-reader-unique-id="435" role="region" style="max-width: 100%;"><header data-reader-unique-id="436" style="max-width: 100%;"></header><div data-reader-unique-id="460" style="max-width: 100%;"><dl data-reader-unique-id="463" style="max-width: 100%;"><dt data-reader-unique-id="464" style="max-width: 100%;"></dt><dd data-reader-unique-id="465" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="466" style="margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-top: 0.4em; max-width: 100%;">“It makes, really, a perfect case. You did your job. Mr. Garland did his job. And unlike Mr. Barr, he didn’t interfere. Did Mr. Garland ask you to change your report at all?” “He did not, sir.” “Didn’t redact a thing?” “No, sir.” “Like Mr. Barr did, he redacted everything and made the Mueller report look like 180 degrees different than what it was. Mr. Garland did right and you did right. And I commend each of you.”</p></dd></dl></div></div></div></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="467" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="468" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Video player loading" class="extendsBeyondTextColumn" data-reader-unique-id="469" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/12/12vid-Hur-hearing-60161-cover/12vid-Hur-hearing-60161-cover-threeByTwoLargeAt2X.jpg" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-inline-start: -43.640625px; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: none; width: 1050px;" /></div></div></div></div></div><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="474" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="475" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="476" style="max-width: 100%;">Associated Press</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvZGRiZTEwNDYtMDhmMi01YTUyLWFjYjEtMWRjOTc4NDVkYzU0" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="36" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="478" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="479" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#ddbe1046-08f2-5a52-acb1-1dc97845dc54" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="480" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="481" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="482" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Michael D. Shear" data-reader-unique-id="483" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/13/multimedia/author-michael-d-shear/author-michael-d-shear-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/13/multimedia/author-michael-d-shear/author-michael-d-shear-thumbStandard-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/13/multimedia/author-michael-d-shear/author-michael-d-shear-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="484" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="485" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 11:30 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="494" style="max-width: 100%;">The exchange between Matt Gaetz and Hur underscores why Biden’s aides believe his<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="495" href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/02/08/us/biden-documents-trump-nevada-news#biden-remarks-special-counsel-report" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">post-report news conference</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>was<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="496" href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#for-biden-the-hearing-on-capitol-hill-is-a-mixed-political-blessing" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">not helpful to him</a>. The president was angry that night and made several statements in response to reporter questions. Gaetz called the answers “lies,” though Hur would say only that the president’s statements were “inconsistent” with the evidence his team discovered.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvOWIzZDZlNTItNzMyMi01ZDI5LWE5ODktZDkxOTBlYzY2YWUw" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="35" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="497" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="498" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#9b3d6e52-7322-5d29-a989-d9190ec66ae0" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="499" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="500" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="501" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Luke Broadwater" data-reader-unique-id="502" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/05/us/politics/author-luke-broadwater/author-luke-broadwater-thumbLarge.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/05/us/politics/author-luke-broadwater/author-luke-broadwater-thumbStandard.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/05/us/politics/author-luke-broadwater/author-luke-broadwater-thumbLarge.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="503" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="504" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 11:28 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="513" style="max-width: 100%;">Representative Matt Gaetz, Republican of Florida, accuses Hur of letting Biden slide for his handling of classified documents under what he calls the “senile cooperator theory.” He says he agrees that Biden shouldn’t have been charged, but argues Trump too should not be charged for mishandling classified documents. Gaetz himself has been investigated by the Justice Department over whether he violated sex trafficking laws. Ultimately no charges were brought.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="514" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="515" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="516" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="520" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="521" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="522" style="max-width: 100%;">Kenny Holston/The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvODIzOGQwOGMtYzU1Mi01NTdjLTk3OWMtZDVhM2NkZmM0ZDk1" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="34" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="524" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="525" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#8238d08c-c552-557c-979c-d5a3cdfc4d95" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="526" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="527" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="528" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Glenn Thrush" data-reader-unique-id="529" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbStandard-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="530" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="531" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 11:28 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="540" style="max-width: 100%;">Matt Gaetz tries to get Hur to say that Biden has lied publicly about his handing of documents. The most Hur will say is Biden’s remarks are “inconsistent” with his findings.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvOTZjNjdiNzItZmYwYy01MGEyLWI2YWYtZjYzMWZiZjA4ZDAx" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="32" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="547" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="548" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#96c67b72-ff0c-50a2-b6af-f631fbf08d01" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="549" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="550" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="551" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Glenn Thrush" data-reader-unique-id="552" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbStandard-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="553" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="554" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 11:16 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="563" style="max-width: 100%;">Hur makes a significant factual mistake — saying Dana Remus was President Obama’s White House counsel. She was President Biden’s.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvNTc4OGJiY2YtMTJlZC01MmZkLTk1ZjMtYzc4NGNlYzgwNjk5" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="31" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="564" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="565" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#5788bbcf-12ed-52fd-95f3-c784cec80699" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="566" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="567" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="568" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Luke Broadwater" data-reader-unique-id="569" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/05/us/politics/author-luke-broadwater/author-luke-broadwater-thumbLarge.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/05/us/politics/author-luke-broadwater/author-luke-broadwater-thumbStandard.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/05/us/politics/author-luke-broadwater/author-luke-broadwater-thumbLarge.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="570" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="571" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 11:14 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="580" style="max-width: 100%;">Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, accuses Republicans of appointing themselves “amateur memory detectives” as they try to use this hearing to attack President Biden for electorate gain</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvNGVmYTg2MGYtMmI5MS01NWNhLWI5MzQtOGJmNmI2MzUxYmRk" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="30" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="581" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="582" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#4efa860f-2b91-55ca-b934-8bf6b6351bdd" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="583" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="584" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="585" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Michael D. Shear" data-reader-unique-id="586" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/13/multimedia/author-michael-d-shear/author-michael-d-shear-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/13/multimedia/author-michael-d-shear/author-michael-d-shear-thumbStandard-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/13/multimedia/author-michael-d-shear/author-michael-d-shear-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="587" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="588" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 11:09 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="597" style="max-width: 100%;">There’s a (knowing) irony in the grilling by Republicans of Hur. They accuse Biden of being prideful and egotistic in his decision to retain classified information — perhaps not wanting to highlight the ego and pride demonstrated by their own candidate for president.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvYTExNDczMTctNWVhOS01MWQ2LWE2ZDMtM2M3ZmFhOTljN2Nj" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="29" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="598" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="599" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#a1147317-5ea9-51d6-a6d3-3c7faa99c7cc" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="600" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="601" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="602" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Glenn Thrush" data-reader-unique-id="603" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbStandard-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="604" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="605" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 11:07 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="614" style="max-width: 100%;">That was a significant moment: Jim Jordan accuses Biden of holding onto secrets to make money off his book and burnish his political image — and Hur says he agrees with that “assessment.”</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvODdlNDdhNWEtMzQ2YS01ZmIxLTg3MzctMDQwNzUxYzQ1ZjE2" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="27" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="621" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="622" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#87e47a5a-346a-5fb1-8737-040751c45f16" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="623" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="624" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="625" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Charlie Savage" data-reader-unique-id="626" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbStandard-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="627" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="628" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 11:07 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="637" style="max-width: 100%;">Jordan shouted a theory that Biden had a motive to keep classified documents because he wanted to write a book off of them and he made $8 million on his book. (The documents in the garage were from a 2009 Obama debate about the Afghanistan war; the book was about the death of Beau Biden and did not mention that issue.)</p><div data-reader-unique-id="638" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="639" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="640" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="644" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="645" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="646" style="max-width: 100%;">Kenny Holston/The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvYTQ3MjQ0ZDYtMmFmNi01NmExLTk3YTYtM2QwZDdhMWJjMmQ4" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="26" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="648" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="649" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#a47244d6-2af6-56a1-97a6-3d0d7a1bc2d8" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="650" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="651" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="652" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Luke Broadwater" data-reader-unique-id="653" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/05/us/politics/author-luke-broadwater/author-luke-broadwater-thumbLarge.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/05/us/politics/author-luke-broadwater/author-luke-broadwater-thumbStandard.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/05/us/politics/author-luke-broadwater/author-luke-broadwater-thumbLarge.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="654" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="655" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 10:59 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="664" style="max-width: 100%;">When a member of Congress begins to talk during the hearing, two clocks posted on the back wall in the hearing room begin to count down from 5 minutes, almost like a shot clock in basketball. Any time the member looks up, he or she can see the clocks and how much time there is left to question Hur. This can lead to some rushed lines of questioning as a member nears the end of the 5 minutes.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvZjk1MDI2ZGMtYjIyYy01MTEyLTkxMDgtMmI3NTVhYzJiOGEz" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="25" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="665" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="666" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#f95026dc-b22c-5112-9108-2b755ac2b8a3" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="667" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="668" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="669" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Michael D. Shear" data-reader-unique-id="670" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/13/multimedia/author-michael-d-shear/author-michael-d-shear-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/13/multimedia/author-michael-d-shear/author-michael-d-shear-thumbStandard-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/13/multimedia/author-michael-d-shear/author-michael-d-shear-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="671" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="672" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 10:59 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="681" style="max-width: 100%;">This hearing is a classic example of Washington at its best: Lawmakers from both sides seem barely interested in Mr. Hur’s responses, and are answering their own questions before Mr. Hur can respond. It’s evidence of the performative aspect of these kinds of politically-charged moments in the nation’s capital.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="682" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="683" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="684" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="688" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="689" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="690" style="max-width: 100%;">Kenny Holston/The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvZDIwNGE3YmUtMjIwOS01N2JiLTg1NzQtMDU4OWNmMWE0Y2Vm" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="24" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="692" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="693" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#d204a7be-2209-57bb-8574-0589cf1a4cef" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="694" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="695" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="696" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Glenn Thrush" data-reader-unique-id="697" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbStandard-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="698" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="699" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 10:55 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="708" style="max-width: 100%;">When a Republican committee member asks Hur if his exoneration of Biden now means it’s acceptable to take “secrets” home, he stumbles a bit, then answers: “I wouldn’t recommend it.”</p><div data-reader-unique-id="709" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="710" data-testid="VideoBlock" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="711" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="712" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="713" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="715" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="716" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Video player loading" class="extendsBeyondTextColumn" data-reader-unique-id="717" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/12/12vid-Hur-hearing-71324-cover/12vid-Hur-hearing-71324-cover-threeByTwoLargeAt2X.jpg" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-inline-start: -43.640625px; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: none; width: 1050px;" /></div></div></div></div></div><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="722" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="723" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="724" style="max-width: 100%;">Associated Press</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvNTY5YWFhZDItYjYwOS01ZGE0LTllZjYtMjg3YWFkZTlmMmU2" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="22" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="732" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="733" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#569aaad2-b609-5da4-9ef6-287aade9f2e6" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="734" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="735" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="736" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Charlie Savage" data-reader-unique-id="737" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbStandard-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="738" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="739" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 10:43 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="748" style="max-width: 100%;">Hur defends his inclusion of disparaging comments about Biden’s memory, saying part of explaining his decision to recommend no charges was to think about how Biden would come across in a courtroom if there were a trial He notes that Biden said he did not remember telling a ghostwriter in 2017 that he had just found “classified stuff” (as a tape shows he did) — or finding classified documents.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="751" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="752" data-testid="VideoBlock" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="753" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="754" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="755" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="756" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="757" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="759" style="max-width: 100%;"><div aria-labelledby="modal-title" data-reader-unique-id="760" role="region" style="max-width: 100%;"><header data-reader-unique-id="761" style="max-width: 100%;"></header><div data-reader-unique-id="785" style="max-width: 100%;"><dl data-reader-unique-id="788" style="max-width: 100%;"><dt data-reader-unique-id="789" style="max-width: 100%;"></dt><dd data-reader-unique-id="790" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="791" style="margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-top: 0.4em; max-width: 100%;">My task was to determine whether the president retained or disclosed national defense information, willfully. That means knowingly and with the intent to do something the law forbids. I could not make that determination without assessing the president’s state of mind. For that reason, I had to consider the president’s memory and overall mental state and how a jury likely would perceive his memory and mental state in a criminal trial. These are the types of issues that prosecutors analyze every day. And because these issues were important to my ultimate decision, I had to include a discussion of them in my report to the attorney general. The evidence and the president himself put his memory squarely at issue. We interviewed the president and asked him about his recorded statement. Quote, “I just found all the classified stuff downstairs,” end quote. He told us that he didn’t remember saying that to his ghostwriter. He also said he didn’t remember finding any classified material in his home after his vice presidency and he didn’t remember anything about how classified documents about Afghanistan made their way into his garage. My assessment in the report about the relevance of the president’s memory was necessary and accurate and fair. Most importantly, what I wrote is what I believe the evidence shows and what I expect jurors would perceive and believe. I did not sanitize my explanation, nor did I disparage the president unfairly. I explained to the attorney general my decision and the reasons for it. That’s what I was required to do.</p></dd></dl></div></div></div></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="792" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="793" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Video player loading" class="extendsBeyondTextColumn" data-reader-unique-id="794" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/12/12vid-Hur-hearing-38456-cover/12vid-Hur-hearing-38456-cover-threeByTwoLargeAt2X.jpg" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-inline-start: -43.640625px; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: none; width: 1050px;" /></div></div></div></div></div><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="799" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="800" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="801" style="max-width: 100%;">Associated Press</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="803" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="804" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="805" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="806" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="807" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Charlie Savage" data-reader-unique-id="808" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbStandard-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="809" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="810" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 11:04 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="819" style="max-width: 100%;">The context of that recorded conversation was discussion of an unclassified memo that Biden wrote to President Obama in 2009 about the war in Afghanistan. Biden has said that he wanted his ghostwriter to keep that private message to Obama confidential. He argued that he just misspoke.</p></div></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvMjk3OWYzZTMtMTEwZS01N2ZjLWE0ZGYtMmRiZTJiYWJjODVi" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="21" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="820" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="821" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#2979f3e3-110e-57fc-a4df-2dbe2babc85b" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="822" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="823" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="824" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Glenn Thrush" data-reader-unique-id="825" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbStandard-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="826" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="827" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 10:42 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="836" style="max-width: 100%;">Much has been made of Hur’s decision to quit the Justice Department earlier this week before testifying. But he signals he will abide by the basic constraints that would have been imposed him had he stayed — saying he will limit his answers to the contents of his report.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvNWI5NTdjMzYtZjc5NC01NTgyLWE1NzEtNDg0ZWJmNmE2ODdj" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="20" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="837" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="838" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#5b957c36-f794-5582-a571-484ebf6a687c" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="839" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="840" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="841" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Luke Broadwater" data-reader-unique-id="842" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/05/us/politics/author-luke-broadwater/author-luke-broadwater-thumbLarge.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/05/us/politics/author-luke-broadwater/author-luke-broadwater-thumbStandard.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/05/us/politics/author-luke-broadwater/author-luke-broadwater-thumbLarge.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="843" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="844" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 10:39 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="853" style="max-width: 100%;">President Biden has few friends on the G.O.P. side at this hearing. The two Republicans seated at the center of the dais — Jim Jordan and James Comer — are leading an impeachment investigation into the president. Even Ken Buck, the member of the committee who has expressed deep skepticism about the impeachment push, has called for Biden to be removed under the 25th Amendment because of the Hur report.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvYTIyNWVmZWEtOGY0NC01MGZhLTg2ZTEtNDE4ZGQ2ODFkMThm" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="19" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="854" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="855" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#a225efea-8f44-50fa-86e1-418dd681d18f" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="856" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="857" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="858" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Glenn Thrush" data-reader-unique-id="859" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbStandard-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="860" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="861" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 10:39 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="870" style="max-width: 100%;">Hur is showing his years of experience as a career prosecutor comfortable making his case in public — this time to defend his own characterizations of Biden’s mental status that Democrats call misleading and gratuitous.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="871" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="872" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="873" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="877" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="878" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="879" style="max-width: 100%;">Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvZDFjMmZiYzItNzFkMy01MjVhLThmNWMtODYxYzVkNjBjMjVi" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="17" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="887" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="888" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#d1c2fbc2-71d3-525a-8f5c-861c5d60c25b" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="889" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="890" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="891" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Glenn Thrush" data-reader-unique-id="892" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbStandard-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="893" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="894" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 10:34 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="903" style="max-width: 100%;">Hur, speaking confidently in a steady voice, begins with his origin story: He is the son of immigrants from Korea who came to the country to avoid violence and privation.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvYTA5MDE3ZDYtNDljYi01ZmVlLTg2YTYtMDdkZGY5ZmM2ODI4" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="16" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="904" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="905" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#a09017d6-49cb-5fee-86a6-07ddf9fc6828" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="906" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="907" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="908" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Charlie Savage" data-reader-unique-id="909" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbStandard-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="910" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="911" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 10:32 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="920" style="max-width: 100%;">Comer, who is leading his party’s attempt to find a basis to impeach President Biden, asserts as fact that Biden was aware that he possessed classified documents. Hur's report says there was insufficient evidence to prove that Biden knew that classified files from a 2009 internal Obama administration debate about the Afghanistan war were in a box that had been shipped to his garage.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="921" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="922" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="923" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="927" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="928" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="929" style="max-width: 100%;">Kenny Holston/The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvYjQ1ZmZmODQtYzliNi01NzAzLTg0M2EtNzY1NmNmNWFmYWJh" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="15" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="931" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="932" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#b45fff84-c9b6-5703-843a-7656cf5afaba" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="933" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="934" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="935" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Glenn Thrush" data-reader-unique-id="936" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbStandard-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="937" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="938" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 10:30 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="947" style="max-width: 100%;">James Comer, chairman of the House oversight committee, just accused the White House of “obstructing” the documents investigation. He made a similar accusation against the F.B.I. for initially refusing to release an internal report — later proven to be fabricated — alleging that Biden accepted a $5 million bribe.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvYzQ4ZGI2MmItZWI0OC01M2M3LWFlYzctZmNiMDJmMTI5OTIx" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="14" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="948" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="949" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#c48db62b-eb48-53c7-aec7-fcb02f129921" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="950" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="951" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="952" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Michael D. Shear" data-reader-unique-id="953" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/13/multimedia/author-michael-d-shear/author-michael-d-shear-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/13/multimedia/author-michael-d-shear/author-michael-d-shear-thumbStandard-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/13/multimedia/author-michael-d-shear/author-michael-d-shear-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="954" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="955" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 10:26 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="964" style="max-width: 100%;">The remarkable thing about this hearing is how much it’s shaped by the rematch that voters are facing this November between Biden and Trump. On paper, Hur is supposed to talk about his report. In fact, the next several hours will be about both sides waging a proxy fight over their 2024 presidential candidates. It’s a preview of everything in Washington for the next eight months.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvMzM5ZDZhZDEtOWEyMy01NTYxLWFiYjgtOTE0M2FkZTI1YzZm" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="12" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="971" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="972" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#339d6ad1-9a23-5561-abb8-9143ade25c6f" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="973" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="974" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="975" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Charlie Savage" data-reader-unique-id="976" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbStandard-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="977" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="978" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 10:24 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="987" style="max-width: 100%;">In his opening statement, the Democratic ranking member, Jerrold Nadler, plays a video of Trump saying he does not remember things, slurring his words, saying the wrong names for people and otherwise looking confused. Nadler argues that Biden had the “mental acuity” to navigate the discovery that classified documents had improperly accompanied him out of office without getting criminally charged, while Trump did not.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-QXJ0aWNsZTpueXQ6Ly9hcnRpY2xlLzJlZGE0ZjdlLWRkY2QtNTY2YS05NTE3LWEwODg3ZjQyNzUxNA==" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="11" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="988" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="989" data-source-id="100000009351528" data-testid="live-blog-post" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#for-biden-the-hearing-on-capitol-hill-is-a-mixed-political-blessing" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="1008" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="1009" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="1013" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="1014" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">The hearing at the Capitol will give allies and opponents of President Biden a chance to question the special counsel.</span><span data-reader-unique-id="1015" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="1016" style="max-width: 100%;">Maansi Srivastava/The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div><p data-reader-unique-id="1018" style="max-width: 100%;">For President Biden, the hearing on Capitol Hill will be a mixed political blessing: an opportunity for his allies to remind voters of his exoneration, but a chance for his adversaries to call attention to his age and health.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="1019" style="max-width: 100%;">The president would like to focus on the first. In their responses since Mr. Hur’s report was released to the public, White House advisers have stressed the contrast with former President Donald J. Trump’s own case involving classified documents.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvMjk5NGI0MzgtZDg0Ni01NTEwLWE1OGYtODdkNDBlMmY3OTdl" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="10" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="1020" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="1021" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#2994b438-d846-5510-a58f-87d40e2f797e" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="1022" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="1023" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="1024" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Glenn Thrush" data-reader-unique-id="1025" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbStandard-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="1026" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="1027" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 10:11 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="1036" style="max-width: 100%;">Jim Jordan’s opening statement reflects the main goal of the Republicans at the hearing: To question the fairness of prosecuting Trump and not Biden — even though Hur has said Trump’s actions were incomparably worse.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="1037" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="1038" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="1039" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="1043" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="1044" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="1045" style="max-width: 100%;">Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvMzQzMmE2MDgtNjAzNC01YzQ5LWEzN2UtMjA5NWU3MzE3MTll" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="8" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="1053" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="1054" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#3432a608-6034-5c49-a37e-2095e731719e" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="1055" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="1056" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="1057" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Charlie Savage" data-reader-unique-id="1058" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbStandard-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="1059" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="1060" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 10:11 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="1069" style="max-width: 100%;">The Republican Judiciary Committee chairman, Representative Jim Jordan, immediately misportrays Hur’s findings, asserting that the now-former special counsel, Robert Hur, determined that President Biden “unlawfully” retained classified information because on the first page of his report Hur wrote that he found evidence Biden had willfully retained such files. Jordan is eliding the difference between finding<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><em data-reader-unique-id="1070" style="max-width: 100%;">some</em><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>evidence that X may be true and finding sufficient evidence to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><em data-reader-unique-id="1071" style="max-width: 100%;">prove</em><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>that X is true. In fact, Hur concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prove Biden willfully held onto the files.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvMjliZTA2YTQtZmVkMC01YWU4LTljZWYtYTE4Nzc2YmE2NGMx" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="7" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="1072" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="1073" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#29be06a4-fed0-5ae8-9cef-a18776ba64c1" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="1074" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="1075" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="1076" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Michael D. Shear" data-reader-unique-id="1077" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/13/multimedia/author-michael-d-shear/author-michael-d-shear-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/13/multimedia/author-michael-d-shear/author-michael-d-shear-thumbStandard-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/13/multimedia/author-michael-d-shear/author-michael-d-shear-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="1078" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="1079" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 10:09 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="1088" style="max-width: 100%;">As the hearing starts, President Biden has a full day focused on other things. He will participate in a campaign event early this afternoon at the Teamsters union headquarters in Washington, D.C. Later he will meet with the president and prime minister of Poland.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvMzk2ODIwMzYtMzkxOS01ODc4LWFkNzUtZDU2NWRiMWYzNmVj" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="6" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="1089" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="1090" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#39682036-3919-5878-ad75-d565db1f36ec" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="1091" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="1092" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="1093" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Charlie Savage" data-reader-unique-id="1094" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbStandard-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/06/12/multimedia/author-charlie-savage/author-charlie-savage-thumbLarge-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="1095" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="1096" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 10:07 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="1105" style="max-width: 100%;">After brief disruptions, the hearing with Hur has started.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="1106" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="1107" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="1108" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="1112" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="1113" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="1114" style="max-width: 100%;">Kenny Holston/The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-UmVwb3J0ZXJVcGRhdGU6bnl0Oi8vcmVwb3J0ZXJ1cGRhdGUvOTVjMjVhNDctOWQyOS01YjBiLWI5MWQtMjU3ZjdiNDYyZjVk" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="5" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="1116" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="1117" data-testid="reporter-update" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#95c25a47-9d29-5b0b-b91d-257f7b462f5d" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="1118" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="1119" data-testid="live-blog-byline" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="1120" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Glenn Thrush" data-reader-unique-id="1121" height="40" loading="lazy" sizes="40px" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbStandard-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 75w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/06/reader-center/author-glenn-thrush/author-glenn-thrush-thumbLarge-v3.png?quality=75&auto=webp 150w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></span><div data-reader-unique-id="1122" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="1123" style="max-width: 100%;">March 12, 2024, 10:06 a.m. ET</span></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="1132" style="max-width: 100%;">Hur interviewed Biden one day after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel. “I just got off the phone with Bibi Netanyahu,” Biden said at the start of the interview, warning that he might be interrupted.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-QXJ0aWNsZTpueXQ6Ly9hcnRpY2xlLzdlOWQ2YzAwLTZhMzktNTU2Mi04ZjQ0LWZlNDI0NDg3MGRhZg==" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="2" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="1141" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="1142" data-source-id="100000009355645" data-testid="live-blog-post" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#robert-hur-is-no-stranger-to-high-wire-investigations" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="1165" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="1166" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="1170" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="1171" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">Robert K. Hur in 2017. He was appointed last year to oversee the investigation into President Biden’s handling of classified documents.</span><span data-reader-unique-id="1172" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="1173" style="max-width: 100%;">Alex Brandon/Associated Press</span></span></figcaption></figure></div><p data-reader-unique-id="1175" style="max-width: 100%;">WASHINGTON — Robert K. Hur, appointed last year to oversee the investigation into President Biden’s handling of classified documents, has two attributes that suited the task — years of prosecutorial experience and a vivid understanding of the perils inherent in high-wire special counsel investigations.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="1176" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Hur, 51, was President Donald J. Trump’s pick to run the U.S. attorney’s office in Maryland, where he earned bipartisan praise for his handling of violent crime and public corruption cases. But it was his 11-month stint as the top aide to the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein — as Mr. Rosenstein oversaw the appointment of a special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, to investigate Mr. Trump’s dealings with Russia — that might have been the most critical.</p></div></div><div aria-labelledby="post-title-QXJ0aWNsZTpueXQ6Ly9hcnRpY2xlLzUyMGI3OWQxLTA2NzMtNTAwZS04ZDUxLTdkMDM1Y2RkY2JiNQ==" aria-live="off" aria-posinset="1" aria-setsize="-1" data-reader-unique-id="1177" role="article" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="1178" data-source-id="100000009351386" data-testid="live-blog-post" data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony#here-are-5-takeaways-from-hurs-investigation-into-classified-documents-kept-by-biden" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="1199" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="1200" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="1204" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="1205" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">The special counsel, Robert K. Hur, cited President Biden’s memory problems as a reason that a jury might reasonably doubt that Mr. Biden had “willfully” retained classified documents after leaving the vice presidency in 2017.</span><span data-reader-unique-id="1206" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="1207" style="max-width: 100%;">Kent Nishimura for The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div><p data-reader-unique-id="1209" style="max-width: 100%;">Last month, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland released the report by Robert K. Hur, the special counsel Mr. Garland had<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="1210" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/12/us/politics/biden-documents.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">appointed</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>about a year ago to investigate how classified documents ended up in an office formerly used by President Biden and in his home in Delaware.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="1211" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Hur concluded that the president should not be charged for retaining classified information from his vice presidency, but it also raised questions about Mr. Biden’s memory. Here are some takeaways from the report."</p></div></div></section></div></div><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/12/us/hur-biden-testimony">Robert Hur Testifies on Biden Classified Documents Investigation: Live Updates - The New York Times</a>John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-90601274744827571992024-03-11T11:52:00.005-04:002024-03-11T11:52:43.648-04:00Revealed: US conservative thinktank’s links to extremist fraternal order | US news | The Guardian<div><h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.95552em; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;">Revealed: US conservative thinktank’s links to extremist fraternal order</h1><h2 class="subhead" data-reader-unique-id="subheadElement" style="color: rgba(27, 27, 27, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.46664em; font-weight: normal; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.27275em; margin-top: -0.35em; max-width: 100%;">"Claremont Institute officials closely involved with Society for American Civic Renewal, which experts say is rooted in Christian nationalism</h2><div class="metadata singleline" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; hyphens: manual; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: -0.7em; max-width: 100%;"><a class="byline" data-link-name="auto tag link" data-reader-unique-id="90" href="https://www.theguardian.com/profile/wilson-jason" rel="author" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Jason Wilson</a></div><figure data-reader-unique-id="69" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="70" style="max-width: 100%;"><picture data-reader-unique-id="71" style="max-width: 100%;"><source data-reader-unique-id="72" media="(min-width: 980px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 980px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4c32c634c48b44f3192acc49a9871b5f72422fbf/0_191_3264_1959/master/3264.jpg?width=620&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="73" media="(min-width: 980px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4c32c634c48b44f3192acc49a9871b5f72422fbf/0_191_3264_1959/master/3264.jpg?width=620&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="74" media="(min-width: 740px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 740px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4c32c634c48b44f3192acc49a9871b5f72422fbf/0_191_3264_1959/master/3264.jpg?width=700&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="75" media="(min-width: 740px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4c32c634c48b44f3192acc49a9871b5f72422fbf/0_191_3264_1959/master/3264.jpg?width=700&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="76" media="(min-width: 660px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 660px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4c32c634c48b44f3192acc49a9871b5f72422fbf/0_191_3264_1959/master/3264.jpg?width=620&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="77" media="(min-width: 660px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4c32c634c48b44f3192acc49a9871b5f72422fbf/0_191_3264_1959/master/3264.jpg?width=620&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="78" media="(min-width: 480px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 480px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4c32c634c48b44f3192acc49a9871b5f72422fbf/0_191_3264_1959/master/3264.jpg?width=645&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="79" media="(min-width: 480px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4c32c634c48b44f3192acc49a9871b5f72422fbf/0_191_3264_1959/master/3264.jpg?width=645&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="80" media="(min-width: 320px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 320px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4c32c634c48b44f3192acc49a9871b5f72422fbf/0_191_3264_1959/master/3264.jpg?width=465&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="81" media="(min-width: 320px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4c32c634c48b44f3192acc49a9871b5f72422fbf/0_191_3264_1959/master/3264.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><img alt="American flag and church steeple against blue sky" data-reader-unique-id="82" height="279.08547794117646" loading="eager" src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4c32c634c48b44f3192acc49a9871b5f72422fbf/0_191_3264_1959/master/3264.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="465" /></picture><span class="converted-anchor" data-reader-unique-id="83" style="max-width: 100%;"></span></div><span data-reader-unique-id="84" style="max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="85" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="86" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"></span><span data-reader-unique-id="89" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">Experts said SACR’s mission statement was ‘anti-constitutional, and many Christians would say it’s anti-Christian’.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Photograph: imdm/Getty Images/iStockphoto</figcaption></span></figure><p data-reader-unique-id="1" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The president of the rightwing Claremont Institute and another senior Claremont official are both closely involved with the shadowy Society for American Civic Renewal (SACR), an exclusive, men-only fraternal order which aims to replace the US government with an authoritarian “aligned regime”, and which experts say is rooted in extreme Christian nationalism and religious autocracy.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="2" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The revelations emerge from documents gathered in public records requests, including emails between several senior members of SACR: Claremont president Ryan P Williams; its director of state coalitions and Boise State University professor Scott Yenor; and others including former soap manufacturer and would-be “warlord” Charles Haywood.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="3" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><gu-island config="{"renderingTarget":"Web","darkModeAvailable":false}" data-reader-unique-id="4" deferuntil="visible" name="SignInGateSelector" priority="feature" props="{"contentType":"Article","sectionId":"us-news","tags":[{"id":"us-news/us-news","type":"Keyword","title":"US news"},{"id":"world/far-right","type":"Keyword","title":"The far right"},{"id":"world/world","type":"Keyword","title":"World news"},{"id":"type/article","type":"Type","title":"Article"},{"id":"tone/news","type":"Tone","title":"News"},{"id":"profile/wilson-jason","type":"Contributor","title":"Jason Wilson","twitterHandle":"jason_a_w","bylineImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/contributor/2014/11/24/1416835880685/Jason-Wilson.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=da58621617d50f2870eab345055bf24a","bylineLargeImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2017/10/06/Jason-Wilson,-L.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=242bf414e03dd3e072236d3da0da34f1"},{"id":"tracking/commissioningdesk/us-news","type":"Tracking","title":"US News"}],"isPaidContent":false,"isPreview":false,"host":"https://www.theguardian.com","pageId":"us-news/2024/mar/11/claremont-institute-society-for-american-civic-renewal-links","idUrl":"https://profile.theguardian.com","switches":{"lightbox":true,"prebidAppnexusUkRow":true,"abSignInGateMainVariant":true,"commercialMetrics":true,"prebidTrustx":true,"scAdFreeBanner":false,"adaptiveSite":true,"prebidPermutiveAudience":true,"compareVariantDecision":false,"enableSentryReporting":true,"lazyLoadContainers":true,"ampArticleSwitch":true,"remarketing":true,"oscarsNewsletterEmbed2":false,"articleEndSlot":true,"keyEventsCarousel":true,"abOscarsNewsletterEmbed":false,"registerWithPhone":false,"targeting":true,"remoteHeader":true,"slotBodyEnd":true,"prebidImproveDigitalSkins":true,"ampPrebidOzone":true,"extendedMostPopularFronts":true,"emailInlineInFooter":true,"showNewPrivacyWordingOnEmailSignupEmbeds":true,"prebidAnalytics":true,"extendedMostPopular":true,"ampContentAbTesting":false,"prebidCriteo":true,"okta":true,"imrWorldwide":true,"acast":true,"automaticFilters":true,"twitterUwt":true,"prebidAppnexusInvcode":true,"ampPrebidPubmatic":true,"a9HeaderBidding":true,"prebidAppnexus":true,"enableDiscussionSwitch":true,"prebidXaxis":true,"stickyVideos":true,"interactiveFullHeaderSwitch":true,"discussionAllPageSize":true,"prebidUserSync":true,"audioOnwardJourneySwitch":true,"brazeTaylorReport":false,"externalVideoEmbeds":true,"abSignInGateAlternativeWording":false,"callouts":true,"sentinelLogger":true,"geoMostPopular":true,"weAreHiring":false,"relatedContent":true,"thirdPartyEmbedTracking":true,"prebidOzone":true,"ampLiveblogSwitch":true,"ampAmazon":true,"prebidAdYouLike":true,"mostViewedFronts":true,"discussionInApps":false,"optOutAdvertising":true,"abSignInGateMainControl":true,"headerTopNav":true,"googleSearch":true,"brazeSwitch":true,"darkModeInApps":true,"prebidKargo":true,"consentManagement":true,"crosswordMobileBanner":true,"personaliseSignInGateAfterCheckout":true,"redplanetForAus":true,"prebidSonobi":true,"idProfileNavigation":true,"confiantAdVerification":true,"discussionAllowAnonymousRecommendsSwitch":false,"dcrTagPages":true,"permutive":true,"comscore":true,"ampPrebidCriteo":true,"abMpuWhenNoEpic":false,"newsletterOnwards":false,"youtubeIma":true,"oscarsNewsletterEmbed1":false,"webFonts":true,"prebidImproveDigital":true,"ophan":true,"crosswordSvgThumbnails":true,"prebidTriplelift":true,"weather":true,"disableAmpTest":true,"prebidPubmatic":true,"serverShareCounts":false,"autoRefresh":true,"enhanceTweets":true,"prebidIndexExchange":true,"prebidOpenx":true,"prebidHeaderBidding":true,"mobileDiscussionAds":true,"idCookieRefresh":true,"discussionPageSize":true,"smartAppBanner":false,"boostGaUserTimingFidelity":false,"historyTags":true,"brazeContentCards":true,"surveys":true,"emailSignupRecaptcha":true,"prebidSmart":true,"shouldLoadGoogletag":true,"inizio":true,"abSectionAdDensity":true,"remoteBanner":true}}" style="max-width: 100%;"></gu-island></p><p data-reader-unique-id="5" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The trove also contains an “internal” SACR “mission statement” with a far more radical edge than the public “vision” now recorded on the organization’s website.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="8" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">That document speaks of recruiting a “brotherhood” who will “form the backbone of a renewed American regime” and who “understand the nature of authority and its legitimate forceful exercise”; whose “objectives” include to “collect, curate, and document a list of potential appointees and hires for a renewed American regime”.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="9" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The document does not indicate that such “renewal” will take place through participation in electoral contests, and nor does it make mention of the US constitution.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="10" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Along with the financial links between the SACR and Claremont – the Guardian previously reported Claremont’s $26,248 donation to SACR in 2020 – the documents raise questions as to what extent SACR is an initiative of the Claremont Institute, and to what extent its participants have abandoned liberal, secular or democratic politics.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="11" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The Guardian contacted Ryan Williams, Claremont’s president, for comment on his involvement in SACR, and on the extent of Claremont’s ties to the organization.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="12" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">In an email he said: “While the Claremont Institute acted as a fiscal sponsor to help the Society for American Civic Renewal establish itself as an incorporated 501(c)(10), that was the end of any corporate collaboration between the Claremont Institute and SACR.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="13" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">He added: “As a founding board member of SACR in my personal capacity, obviously I think that a fraternal order dedicated to civic and cultural renaissance and rooted in community, virtue, and wisdom is a very good thing.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="14" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Williams also confirmed that he continues to serve as a SACR board member.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="15" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The Guardian also contacted Scott Yenor and Boise State University for comment.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="16" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project on Hate and Extremism, said of the SACR documents: “Their planned regime is obviously far from a multiracial democracy. The documents appear to be describing a religious autocracy.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="17" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="18" href="https://www.lkfield.com/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Laura K Field</a>, a writer, political theorist and senior fellow at the Niskanen Center, a Washington thinktank, said the documents expressed “extreme Christian nationalism” where “a particular kind of Christianity should dominate as an ideal, and that it should dominate permanently”.</p><h2 data-reader-unique-id="19" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">Yenor and SACR</h2><p data-reader-unique-id="20" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Scott Yenor is<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="21" href="https://www.boisestate.edu/sps-politicalscience/faculty/scott-yenor/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">a professor of political science</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>at Idaho’s Boise State University and simultaneously the senior director of state coalitions at the Claremont Institute.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="22" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">His Claremont appointment came in February 2023.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="23" href="https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/education/article272333803.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Media reports</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>at that time indicated that Yenor would be working closely with the Florida governor Ron DeSantis and DeSantis-aligned legislators; when the job was announced the governor’s wife, Casey Desantis, tweeted: “Thrilled to welcome Scott Yenor from the Claremont Institute to his new home in Tallahassee.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="24" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Reporting in the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="25" href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/01/20/us/dei-woke-claremont-institute.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">New York Times</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>last month put Yenor at the center of a network of activists tied to Claremont and other rightwing nonprofits to wage an “anti-DEI crusade” against diversity, equity, and inclusion measures in educational institutions, corporations and public agencies.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="26" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Unreported until now is Yenor’s place as an ideological and organizational leader in SACR, and the radical nature of that organization’s aims as understood by he and other core members.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="27" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">SACR is structured as a 501(c)(10) body under the section of US tax law that provides nonprofit status for organizations “with a fraternal purpose”.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="28" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">In 2020 the umbrella organization was incorporated in Indiana with Charles Haywood as principal, and the first local lodge was established in Dallas, Texas. Subsequently, three local lodges were established in Idaho: in Boise and Couer d’Alene in 2021, and Moscow in 2022.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="29" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Idaho company filings show that Scott Yenor became president and the only listed principal officer of the Boise lodge on 5 August 2023.</p><h2 data-reader-unique-id="30" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">Secrecy at SACR</h2><p data-reader-unique-id="31" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">But emails indicate that he had taken a board role in the national organization even earlier than that date.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="32" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">On 25 January 2023, lawyer Clyde Taylor – now at Wagenmaker Law but until 2019 an associate at the rightwing litigation firm the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty – wrote to Haywood and Skyler Kressin about their trademark application for the SACR logo.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="33" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Haywood forwarded the lawyer’s email to Yenor, Claremont president Williams, and Nathanial “Nate” Fischer, copying in Kressin on two addresses including one hosted at SACR’s sacr.us domain.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="34" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“We should probably have a board meeting to discuss this, finances, etc,” Haywood wrote in response to Yenor, suggesting Yenor and the others he copied in were members of that body.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="35" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Haywood added a suggestion on encrypted messaging services, indicating an imperative of secrecy inside SACR. “I vote we create a new Signal group and have a board meeting. Any takers?” he said. The group was then set up.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="36" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The Guardian<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="37" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/22/charles-haywood-claremont-institute-sacr-far-right" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">reported last August</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>that on his website Haywood has repeatedly envisioned serving as a “warlord” at the head of an “armed patronage network” which might at some point find itself in conflict with the federal government.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="38" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Haywood has also expressed a desire to recruit “shooters” to help defend the “extended, quite sizeable, compound” he occupies on the western fringe of Carmel, Indiana. According to documents lodged with the city of Carmel, the latest construction project on Haywood’s compound is a six-bedroom faux-classical mansion with a central library room that occupies both of the building’s floors.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="39" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">He has funded SACR through his Howdy Doody Good Times foundation to the tune of at least $50,000, according to 2021 and 2022 tax filings, along with at least $50,000 to the Claremont Institute.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="40" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">In the same report, the Guardian revealed that Kressin, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, appears to serve a key administrative role in SACR. Idaho and Texas company records show that Kressin incorporated lodges in Boise, Coeur d’Alene and Dallas; serves as a director of the Coeur d’Alene and Dallas lodges; and was named as the principal officer of the parent organization on its 2020-2021 tax return.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="41" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The Guardian<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="42" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/13/far-right-nate-fischer-ammunition-us-government-contract" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">reported last September</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>that Fischer, a Claremont Lincoln fellow, was president of SACR’s Dallas lodge and owns a firm that has won hundreds of thousands of dollars in government ammunition contracts. He also owns another firm that helped produce videos in which Claremont chairman Thomas Klingenstein in which he exhorted rightwingers to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="43" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/04/far-right-republican-donor-woke-thomas-klingenstein" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">join in a “cold civil war”</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>against “woke communists”.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="44" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The Guardian contacted Nate Fischer, Skyler Kressin and Charles Haywood for comment.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="45" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Neither Kressin nor Haywood responded. Fischer did not respond directly, but on Friday morning on X, formerly Twitter, he left a 900-word post offering some material from internal SACR documents, admitting that the Guardian’s reporting had led him to the conclusion that “this is a good time to share more about the organization.</p><h2 data-reader-unique-id="46" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">SACR’s mission: ‘dominance’ and ‘authority’ in an ‘new aligned regime’</h2><p data-reader-unique-id="47" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Another document suggests reasons that SACR’s leadership might want to avoid scrutiny: in internal discussions. “Civic renewal” appears to equate to regime change in America.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="48" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The document is one of two Yenor attached to a 27 April 2021 email, sent from his Boise State email address to a personal email address. The email text simply says “print”.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="49" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The SACR document contains two versions of the organization’s “mission statement” – one “public” and one “internal” – along with a list of “objectives” for the organization.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="50" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Its authenticity as a working document is indicated by the current “vision” articulated on SACR’s website, which currently features what appears to be a reworked version of the “public” mission statement.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="51" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The 2021 document envisions “a vigorous civic renewal that will reflect the past while facing the future”, while the website sets out a “new thing for a new day, informed by the wisdom of the past but facing the future”. Each version promises to “reclaim a humane vision of society”.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="52" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">A harder-edged “internal” mission statement, however, stands in stark contrast to these anodyne public presentations.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="53" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">It first announces: “Our aim is to build and maintain a robust network of capable men who can reverse our society’s decline and return us to the successful path off which America has strayed.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="54" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The document says the organization’s founders are “un-hyphenated Americans, and we believe in a particular Christianity that is not blurred by modernist philosophies.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="55" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">It says: “We are willing to act decisively to secure permanently, as much as anything is permanent, the political and social dominance” of their beliefs.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="56" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">In terms of recruiting, the document says: “Most of all, we seek those who understand the nature of authority and its legitimate forceful exercise in the temporal realm.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="57" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Further down, the document specifies five organizational “objectives” that encompass nepotistic business practices, the grooming of new and emerging “elites” within SACR, and, experts say, an apparently insurrectionary political project.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="58" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The first objective is to “identify and provide formation for local elites … capable of exercising authority and who are aligned with our goal of complete civic renewal”, and warning that “concrete temporal achievements, not furthering intellectual discussion”.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="59" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The second objective is to help those local elites build “fraternal networks which will advance both the members of those networks and our collective goals” including “direct preferential treatment for members, especially in business”.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="60" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The third objectives to coordinate across the “fraternal networks” to bring “political awareness” to matters such as “hiring and promotion; award of contracts; internal policies and procedures; and leadership succession”.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="61" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">A fifth objective is to “collect, curate and document a list of potential appointees and hires for an aligned future regime”, who would likely not be founding participants, but “ … men who grow up in the system”.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="62" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Asked what an “aligned regime” might look like, Williams, the Claremont Institute’s president, wrote: “It would, more likely than not, be some form of the US constitutional order, but with much higher fidelity to that order before it was corrupted and subverted by modern progressivism.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="63" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Perhaps ominously, a fourth objective is to “defend fraternal networks, our own and allies, against attacks by those opposed to civic renewal, and strongly deter such attacks”, though no details are offered on what form this defense or deterrence might take.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="64" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Although the document makes reference to America’s founding, Field, the Niskanen fellow, said that it contradicted its spirit.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="65" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“George Washington, Jefferson, [and] Madison all embraced religious pluralism very explicitly, and the constitution reflects that,” she said.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="66" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“This is anti-constitutional, and I think many, many faithful Christians would say it’s anti-Christian.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="67" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Beirich, the extremism expert, said the mission statement and objectives were “essentially a stealth plan to replace everything about the current government with a religious autocracy”, with the addition of an effort to “fashion young people behind closed doors for the eventual takeover of the regime, right?”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="68" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“They’re going to grow them up as Christian autocrats.”</p></div><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/11/claremont-institute-society-for-american-civic-renewal-links">Revealed: US conservative thinktank’s links to extremist fraternal order | US news | The Guardian</a>John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-74459163785158969372024-03-10T11:58:00.005-04:002024-03-10T11:58:53.692-04:00Why some reforms prompted by police brutality are being rolled back - The Washington Post<div><h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.95552em; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;">Killings by police brought reforms. Fear of crime is unraveling them.</h1><h2 class="subhead" data-reader-unique-id="subheadElement" style="color: rgba(27, 27, 27, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.46664em; font-weight: normal; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.27275em; margin-top: -0.35em; max-width: 100%;">"Some changes were rolled back after complaints that police are too restricted. Officials say other changes amount to fine-tuning.</h2><div class="metadata singleline" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; hyphens: manual; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: -0.7em; max-width: 100%;"><a class="byline" data-qa="author-name" data-reader-unique-id="258" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/robert-klemko/?itid=ai_top_klemkor" rel="author" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Robert Klemko</a></div><figure data-reader-unique-id="253" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="254" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="255" height="400" style="max-width: 100%;" width="600"><img alt="" data-reader-unique-id="256" decoding="async" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 440px) 440px,(max-width: 600px) 691px,(max-width: 768px) 691px,(min-width: 769px) and (max-width: 1023px) 960px,(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1299px) 530px,(min-width: 1300px) and (max-width: 1439px) 691px,(min-width: 1440px) 916px,440px" srcset="https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/4W6UUKICCWYTO4MV5QGGSCEIQE_size-normalized.jpg&w=440 400w,https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/4W6UUKICCWYTO4MV5QGGSCEIQE_size-normalized.jpg&w=540 540w,https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/4W6UUKICCWYTO4MV5QGGSCEIQE_size-normalized.jpg&w=691 691w,https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/4W6UUKICCWYTO4MV5QGGSCEIQE_size-normalized.jpg&w=767 767w,https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/4W6UUKICCWYTO4MV5QGGSCEIQE_size-normalized.jpg&w=916 916w,https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/4W6UUKICCWYTO4MV5QGGSCEIQE_size-normalized.jpg&w=1200 1200w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="600" /></div></div><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="257" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;">Rodney and RowVaughn Wells, the stepfather and mother of Tyre Nichols, attend a state House session on March 4, 2024, in Nashville. Nichols was beaten by five Memphis police officers during a traffic stop and died of his injuries in January 2023 (George Walker IV/AP)</figcaption></figure><div data-reader-unique-id="1" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="2" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="3" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">RowVaughn Wells traveled to the Tennessee Capitol last week hoping to preserve the small silver lining that emerged from<b data-reader-unique-id="4" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>the death of her son, who was fatally beaten last year after being pulled over by Memphis Police. In his memory, the city passed the Tyre Nichols Driving Equality Act, barring officers from conducting certain traffic stops for low-level violations, among other measures.</p></div></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="16" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="17" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">But now state lawmakers are advancing legislation that would nullify the Memphis law. On Monday, state Rep. John Gillespie (R), the bill’s sponsor, ran into Wells and her husband in the Capitol, where they had come to bear witness to debate on the legislation.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="18" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="19" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">Gillespie appeared taken aback at seeing them, Wells recalled in an interview, then collected himself.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="21" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="22" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">“I hope you understand,” he said.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="23" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="24" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">“I don’t,” she shot back.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="35" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="36" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">Gillespie’s measure is part of a groundswell of legislative and voter pushback against reforms initiated over the past four years after the police killings of Black Americans including Nichols,<b data-reader-unique-id="37" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b><a data-reader-unique-id="38" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2022/place-network-policing-strategy/?itid=lk_inline_manual_10" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Breonna Taylor</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="39" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/10/12/george-floyd-america/?itid=lk_inline_manual_10" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">George Floyd</a>. Each killing stunned Americans and inspired activism, rioting and a racial reckoning that translated into hundreds of bills aimed at curtailing law enforcement powers and reshaping how police do their jobs.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="40" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="41" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">In some cases, lawmakers and voters now say those changes needed to be fine-tuned to work well. In others, they are trying to address community backlash at measures that have been labeled anti-police, as well as a perception that crime has worsened while police have been hamstrung by policy changes.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="43" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="44" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">Florida lawmakers are<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="45" href="https://legiscan.com/FL/bill/H0601/2024" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">considering a bill</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>that would ban civilian-run police review boards. Louisiana legislators<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="46" href="https://legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?i=245594" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">voted in favor<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></a>of a law that would make it harder to sue police officers; cities including<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="47" href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/portland-among-u-s-cities-adding-funds-to-police-departments" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Portland</a>, Ore., and<a data-reader-unique-id="48" href="https://www.nbclosangeles.com/investigations/la-council-okays-costly-police-raises-bonuses/3211947/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Los Angeles</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>have restored police funding that was cut after Floyd was killed.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="59" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="60" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">Under pressure to address high-profile incidents of crime on New York’s subway system, Gov. Kathy Hochul<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="61" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2024/03/06/new-york-city-subway-national-guard-crime/6f3e6116-dbd7-11ee-b5e9-ad4573c62315_story.html?itid=lk_inline_manual_15" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">last week said she would<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></a>send the National Guard underground to help police with random searches of riders’ bags. San Francisco voters<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="62" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/03/07/san-francisco-welfare-drug-screening-police/?itid=lk_inline_manual_15" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">last week approved loosening the rules<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></a>around police surveillance and allowing officers to pursue suspects in their cars even for some misdemeanor violations. And in Washington, D.C., lawmakers<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="63" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/03/05/dc-council-public-safety-secure-overhaul-pinto/?itid=lk_inline_manual_15" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">passed a massive public safety bill</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>that increases punishments for a range of crimes and adjusts or walks back accountability measures that addressed police transparency and rules for neck restraints and vehicular pursuits.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="64" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="65" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">In Tennessee, Gillespie declined an interview request, but explained his bill in a written statement that said Memphis, where crime has ticked up in recent years, has become “a safe haven for criminals.”</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="67" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="68" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">“We cannot allow any local government to embolden criminals by nullifying our state laws and demonizing law enforcement,” he wrote.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="79" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="80" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;"><a data-reader-unique-id="81" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/candidates/joe-biden-2024/?itid=lk_inline_manual_20" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">President Biden</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>pushed back against the notion of rising crime in his<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="82" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/03/07/biden-state-of-the-union-2024/?itid=lk_inline_manual_20" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">State of the Union address Thursday evening</a>, pointing to a sharp decrease in the national murder rate and a national decline in violent crime “to one of the lowest levels in more than 50 years.”</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="83" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="84" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">Lt. Tracy McCray, president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, acknowledged that crime is down in San Francisco, but described walking down the street and seeing people under the influence of drugs. She cited personal experience with car break-ins — her own car window was smashed — as part of the reason she supported the policing changes passed by voters in “Proposition E,” which, among other things, expanded the use of vehicle pursuits to “violent misdemeanors.”</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="86" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="87" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">“It’s so in-your-face,” McCray said. “We’re still a compassionate city. We want to help people. But at what point do you have to draw the line?”</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="98" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="99" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">In D.C.,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="100" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/interactive/2024/dc-crime-homicide-victims-shooting-violence/?itid=lk_inline_manual_13&itid=lk_inline_manual_25" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">last year’s homicide spike</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>gave officials fodder to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="101" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/03/03/dc-crime-bill-progressive-council/?itid=lk_inline_manual_25" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">argue</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>that funding cuts to the city’s police force have damaged public safety. Other lawmakers and researchers say it is too early to make that correlation, pointing to other factors like disruptions to schools and social services caused by the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="102" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/coronavirus/?itid=lk_inline_manual_25" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">coronavirus</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>pandemic.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="103" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="104" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">D.C. Council member Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2), a lawyer, was elected in 2020, weeks after Floyd’s<b data-reader-unique-id="105" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>murder. At the time, she voted in favor of sweeping police reform and accountability laws.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="107" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="108" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">Years later, she joined a D.C. police officer for his night shift. She said the officer shared his frustration about a new rule for police body cameras, which barred officers from reviewing the footage. The change was an attempt to keep officers accused of wrongdoing from being able to prepare for questioning by reviewing what had happened. But officers also relied on the footage to write accurate reports.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="119" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="120" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">Pinto this year spearheaded<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="121" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/02/04/understanding-dc-councils-omnibus-crime-bill/?itid=lk_inline_manual_30" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">“Secure D.C.,” the sweeping bill</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>that passed the council in a near-unanimous vote last week and, among many other things, would allow police to review their body-camera footage in all cases except those involving serious or deadly use of force.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="122" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="123" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">“We right-sized some of those interventions in a more balanced and appropriate way,” Pinto said. “We have not swung the pendulum back entirely.”</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="124" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-qa="article-image" data-reader-unique-id="125" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure data-reader-unique-id="259" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="260" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="261" height="399" style="max-width: 100%;" width="600"><img alt="" data-reader-unique-id="262" decoding="async" height="399" sizes="(max-width: 440px) 440px,(max-width: 600px) 691px,(max-width: 768px) 691px,(min-width: 769px) and (max-width: 1023px) 960px,(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1299px) 530px,(min-width: 1300px) and (max-width: 1439px) 691px,(min-width: 1440px) 916px,440px" srcset="https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/7SBB3NHL5EI6XIV2HPRR2NESLA.jpg&w=440 400w,https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/7SBB3NHL5EI6XIV2HPRR2NESLA.jpg&w=540 540w,https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/7SBB3NHL5EI6XIV2HPRR2NESLA.jpg&w=691 691w,https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/7SBB3NHL5EI6XIV2HPRR2NESLA.jpg&w=767 767w,https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/7SBB3NHL5EI6XIV2HPRR2NESLA.jpg&w=916 916w,https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/7SBB3NHL5EI6XIV2HPRR2NESLA.jpg&w=1200 1200w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="600" /></div></div><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="263" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;">Ward 2 D.C. Council member Brooke Pinto, with then-D.C. Police Chief Robert J. Contee III in 2021, led the push for a bill that will toughen the District's criminal code. (Craig Hudson for The Washington Post)</figcaption></figure></div></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="127" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><h3 data-qa="article-header" data-reader-unique-id="128" style="font-size: 1.25em; max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="129" style="max-width: 100%;">Major measures still in place</p></h3></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="130" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="131" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">Policing experts warned against viewing the recent policy shifts as a complete reversal of legislative gains in the fight for police reform.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="133" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="134" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">Both San Francisco and D.C. have been at the forefront of large-city police reforms for decades. Officers in San Francisco have been banned from aggressively chasing suspects in vehicles and shooting into moving vehicles since 2013; in Washington, chokeholds have been outlawed since 1985.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="145" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="146" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">“It’s not going to be NASCAR running through the streets,” McCray said of San Francisco’s newly amended pursuit laws. “Give us a little credit here.”</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="149" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="150" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">Both cities have kept major measures passed in the aftermath of Floyd’s murder. In D.C., the mayor’s office still releases within five business days of the incident names and body-camera footage of officers who used serious or deadly force, and the department can still discipline officers with less involvement from the police union.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="152" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="153" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">In San Francisco, officers are still instructed to limit how often they conduct traffic stops for low-level offenses and to obtain approval from the civilian police commission if the department wants to implement new surveillance technology. The city is still diverting mental health-related calls away from police to specialized teams without armed officers, a change launched after Floyd’s death.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="154" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="155" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="156" style="max-width: 100%;"><a data-qa="interstitial-link" data-reader-unique-id="157" data-testid="interstitial-link" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/02/04/understanding-dc-councils-omnibus-crime-bill/?itid=lk_interstitial_manual_42" style="color: #416ed2; font-style: italic; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">The big D.C. crime and policing bill: Here's what to know</a></span></p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="158" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="159" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">But advocates and experts said there is still much work to be done to improve policing. Even in politically liberal communities that have long welcomed police accountability measures, entrenched biases and constitutionally unsound traditions can counteract legislative changes, they said. And with the<a data-reader-unique-id="160" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/policing-george-floyd-congress-legislation/2021/09/22/36324a34-1bc9-11ec-a99a-5fea2b2da34b_story.html?itid=lk_inline_manual_43" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>failure of the federal George Floyd Policing Act</a>, which was backed by Biden and most Democrats, many parts of the country never felt the policing changes of 2020 and beyond.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="171" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="172" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">In deep-red Tennessee, where Republicans control the branches of state government, the political will that opened the door to sweeping changes to police practices in Memphis following Nichols’s death appears to be running aground.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="174" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="175" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">RowVaughn and Rodney Wells said they went to Nashville on Monday to voice their displeasure with Gillespie’s bill.<b data-reader-unique-id="176" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>During their visit, they said, Gillespie approached the couple and promised to hear out their concerns about the legislation,<b data-reader-unique-id="177" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>which bars cities and localities from passing their own laws limiting traffic stops.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="178" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="179" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">He invited them to join him again in Nashville at the end of the week, they said, then told them he was pushing back the vote, so they could come at a later time.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="180" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="181" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">Yet on Thursday the House approved the legislation, 68-24, and sent it to the state Senate.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="192" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="193" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">“He gave his word and he lied,” RowVaughn Wells said. “He put up a smokescreen in order for us not to return to Nashville.”</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="194" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="195" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">“He knew it would be harder for him to go ahead with the bill with our presence,” Rodney said.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="196" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="197" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">Gillespie did not respond to The Washington Post’s questions regarding his statements to Wells and his actions on the House floor. Accused on the House floor last week of lying to Nichols’s family, Gillespie denied he’d promised to delay a vote until next week, according to local news reports.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="198" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-qa="article-image" data-reader-unique-id="199" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure data-reader-unique-id="264" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="265" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="266" height="400" style="max-width: 100%;" width="600"><img alt="" data-reader-unique-id="267" decoding="async" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 440px) 440px,(max-width: 600px) 691px,(max-width: 768px) 691px,(min-width: 769px) and (max-width: 1023px) 960px,(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1299px) 530px,(min-width: 1300px) and (max-width: 1439px) 691px,(min-width: 1440px) 916px,440px" srcset="https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/F55ZSY37J2FWQBODNXUTRGLJYA_size-normalized.jpg&w=440 400w,https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/F55ZSY37J2FWQBODNXUTRGLJYA_size-normalized.jpg&w=540 540w,https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/F55ZSY37J2FWQBODNXUTRGLJYA_size-normalized.jpg&w=691 691w,https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/F55ZSY37J2FWQBODNXUTRGLJYA_size-normalized.jpg&w=767 767w,https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/F55ZSY37J2FWQBODNXUTRGLJYA_size-normalized.jpg&w=916 916w,https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/F55ZSY37J2FWQBODNXUTRGLJYA_size-normalized.jpg&w=1200 1200w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="600" /></div></div><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="268" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;">Demonstrators protest the death of Tyre Nichols along Riverside Drive in Memphis on Jan. 27, 2023. (Joshua Lott/The Washington Post)</figcaption></figure></div></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="201" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="202" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="203" style="max-width: 100%;"><a data-qa="interstitial-link" data-reader-unique-id="204" data-testid="interstitial-link" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/02/02/memphis-tyre-nichols-police-reform/?itid=lk_interstitial_manual_55" style="color: #416ed2; font-style: italic; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">From George Floyd to Tyre Nichols, pleas for police reform meet bleak reality</a></span></p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="205" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="206" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">Few other state legislatures have gone as far as Tennessee’s to challenge the ability of local lawmakers to reimagine the role of police. Across the country, most rollback efforts have been more precisely targeted.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="207" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="208" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">In Washington state, legislators have twice amended a 2021 law that allowed car chases only when officers had “probable cause” to believe a person in the vehicle had committed a violent crime. Last week, they changed the law to allow chases when officers have “reasonable suspicion” the occupant committed a crime.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="209" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="210" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">Leslie Cushman, policy lead for the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability, which organized in 2020 after Floyd’s death, said the group is disappointed by the rollback but encouraged that the legislature also provided for funds to study the outcomes of police chases.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="211" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="212" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">Police groups trying to change the pursuit law had rallied public support by sharing body camera videos on social media that showed officers declining to pursue egregious violators<b data-reader-unique-id="213" style="max-width: 100%;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>—<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>sending a message that the streets were increasingly unsafe.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="214" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="215" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">Such pushback has prompted Cushman’s group to focus on ensuring the implementation and maintenance of its prior gains, rather than advocating for broader changes like<a data-reader-unique-id="216" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/qualified-immunity-police-lobbying-state-legislatures/2021/10/06/60e546bc-0cdf-11ec-aea1-42a8138f132a_story.html?itid=lk_inline_manual_60" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>ending qualified immunity,</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>a legal framework that protects law enforcement officers from civil liability for their actions.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="217" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="218" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">Some of the group’s allies in the legislature, she said, don’t have the stomach for that fight.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="219" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="220" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">“‘Copaganda’ is a very powerful tool,” she said.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="221" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="222" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-qa="inline-magnet" data-reader-unique-id="269" data-testid="inline-magnet" style="max-width: 100%;"><div aria-roledescription="carousel" data-reader-unique-id="270" role="group" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="271" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="272" style="max-width: 100%;"><div aria-describedby="carousel-title-unaccountable" data-reader-unique-id="273" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="274" style="max-width: 100%;"><label data-reader-unique-id="276" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="277" style="max-width: 100%;">More on policing in America</p></label></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="227" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="228" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">In his State of the Union speech, Biden pledged to “help cities and towns invest in more community police officers.” That irked activists who have campaigned in recent years to replace traditional policing with a heavier reliance on social services.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="229" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="230" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">The “Defund the Police” movement fell far short of those goals. But that hasn’t stopped conservative lawmakers from blaming the effort for a perceived rise in street violence.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="231" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="232" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">While individual cities like Washington and Memphis have seen crime spikes, violent crime on a national scale<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="233" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/01/25/homicides-fell-many-big-us-cities-2023-report-says/?itid=lk_inline_manual_67" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">dropped significantly last year</a>, according to preliminary data sources. The FBI reported after the third quarter of 2023 that violent crime was down 8.2 percent nationwide over 2022, in both big and small population areas, with homicide down 15.6 percent. A<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="234" href="https://counciloncj.org/year-end-2023-crime-trends/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Major Cities Chiefs Association survey</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>of the 69 largest cities showed homicide down 10.4 percent, and violent crime down 2.4 percent in big cities.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="235" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="236" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">Criminologist Charis Kubrin of the University of California at Irvine said California crime trends are at “historic lows” too, yet people in general remain “extremely concerned about crime,” in part because horrific stories of violence are often amplified on social media and in news reports.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="237" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="238" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">“There is always a disconnect between perceptions of crime and data,” Kubrin said. “Most people get their information on crime from headlines and politicians.”</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="239" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="240" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">Phillip Atiba Solomon, chair of African American Studies and professor of psychology at Yale University and a co-founder of the Center for Policing Equity, said the national discourse around crime is plagued by the general belief that the most effective reaction to crime is to increase the ability of law enforcement to fight it.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="241" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="242" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">A better approach, Solomon said, addresses poverty as a root cause of criminal activity.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="243" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="244" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">“We’ve had a failure to launch a more humane approach to communities that are going to produce more violence because they’ve been burdened with the violence of poverty for generations,” Solomon said. “Instead, we end up with some regulations on policing and none of the much more expensive investments in community.”</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="245" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="246" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">In the aftermath of unjustified police killings, the first reform measures often address the law enforcement tactics that led to the deaths. Those changes are vulnerable when communities raise concerns over crime, Solomon said.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="247" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="248" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">For RowVaughn Wells, it’s the latest roadblock in an agonizing odyssey to make her personal loss a community’s gain.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="249" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="250" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">“This is not just about our son,” Wells said of her efforts to keep Memphis’s new police ordinances in place. “This is about every Black and Brown person that lives in Memphis and around the world, because we know police officers harass Black and Brown people for nothing.</p></div><div data-qa="article-body" data-reader-unique-id="251" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-el="text" data-reader-unique-id="252" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null" style="max-width: 100%;">“Our son’s name is on this ordinance, and they want to erase that.”</p></div></div><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/03/10/police-reform-rollback-tyre-nichols-floyd-breonna/">Why some reforms prompted by police brutality are being rolled back - The Washington Post</a><div><br /></div><div><h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.95552em; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;">Too Smart To Be A Cop?</h1><div class="metadata singleline" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; hyphens: manual; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: -0.75em; max-width: 100%;"><p class="byline" data-reader-unique-id="31" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;">By<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span data-reader-unique-id="32" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;">CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff</span></p><span class="delimiter" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; margin: 0.07em 0.45em 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;"></span><time class="date" data-reader-unique-id="33" datetime="1999-09-10T11:47:57-0400" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;">September 10, 1999 / 11:47 AM EDT</time></div><p data-reader-unique-id="1" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Forty-five-year-old Corrections Officer Robert Jordan believes he has been discriminated against after the city of New London, Conn., deemed him too smart to be an enforcement officer and denied him employment.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="2" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">After he filed a lawsuit, the federal judge dismissed it, ruling that the police department's rejection of Jordan did not violate his rights. Jordan strongly disagrees and tells<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b data-reader-unique-id="3" style="max-width: 100%;">CBS<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i data-reader-unique-id="4" style="max-width: 100%;">This Morning</i></b>'s<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b data-reader-unique-id="5" style="max-width: 100%;">Thalia Assuras<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>why.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><hr data-reader-unique-id="6" style="border: 0px; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; height: 0.5px; max-width: 100%;" width="50%" /><br data-reader-unique-id="7" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;" /><b data-reader-unique-id="8" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">"I was just taken aback,"</b><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Jordan says.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><b data-reader-unique-id="9" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">"Philosophically, I found it offensive to the entire profession of law enforcement. We all know talented, intelligent people that pursue successful careers in law enforcement."</b><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px;"></span><p data-reader-unique-id="10" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">In May 1997 Jordan filed a lawsuit against the New London Police Department for denying him the opportunity of becoming a law enforcement officer in the city where he was born and raised and which he still lives nearby.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="11" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><b data-reader-unique-id="12" style="max-width: 100%;">"I just couldn't accept it. And I found out there is absolutely no evidence.Â…There is no connection between your basic intelligence and job satisfaction or longevity on the job,"</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>he says.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="13" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Jordan was deemed too smart for the police force because he received a high score on an intelligence test. Jordan, then 45, scored a 33, the equivalent of having an IQ of 125.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p data-reader-unique-id="15" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The average score nationally for police officers as well as for office workers, bank tellers and salespeople is 21 or 22, the equivalent of having an IQ of 104.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="16" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The city's rationale for the long-standing practice is that candidates who score too high could get bored with police work and quit after undergoing costly academy training.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="17" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Recently U.S. District Judge Peter C. Dorsey ruled the New London Police Department's rejection of Jordan, because of his high IQ test score, was not in violation of his rights.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p data-reader-unique-id="18" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The court dismissed his lawsuit Aug. 31 and his attorney informed him on Wednesday.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="20" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Jordan feels the New London policy is ludicrous primarily because the city, through President Clinton's Fast Cop Program, received federal money to hire new recruits for the police academy, he says.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="21" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><b data-reader-unique-id="22" style="max-width: 100%;">"I don't think it's setting really good seeds for the future of [its] public employees in the town, "</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>he adds.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="23" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Jordan is not new to law enforcement. He had served as a part-time officer in Groton Long Point, Conn., in 1989.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p data-reader-unique-id="24" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">In 1993 he became a seasonal officer for the Department of Environmental Protection, which takes care of law enforcement in state parks. He never took off a single shift, he says.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p data-reader-unique-id="25" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Jordan was never late and he felt he really did his job well. So when he decided to try for his local police force, he thought it could turn into something good, he says.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="26" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">He is currently a corrections officer for the state of Connecticut, on the line, in direct contact with prisoners.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p data-reader-unique-id="27" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Jordan would love to appeal but the cost of litigation may be too much for him, although he has not ruled out the option, he says.<br /><br /></p><h1 class="content__title " style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Publico Headline", serif; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 25px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px 40px 20px 0px; width: 865px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/too-smart-to-be-a-cop/">Too Smart To Be A Cop?</a></span></span></h1></div>John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-37239103318703123602024-03-09T08:50:00.005-05:002024-03-09T08:50:37.349-05:00The 10-Year-Old Boy Who Has Become the Face of Starvation in Gaza - The New York Times<div><h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.95552em; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;">The 10-Year-Old Boy Who Has Become the Face of Starvation in Gaza</h1><h2 class="subhead" data-reader-unique-id="subheadElement" style="color: rgba(27, 27, 27, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.46664em; font-weight: normal; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.27275em; margin-top: -0.35em; max-width: 100%;">"The harrowing image of a skeletal Yazan Kafarneh circulated widely on social media and has served as a graphic warning about the enclave’s dire food situation.</h2><div class="metadata singleline" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; hyphens: manual; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: -0.7em; max-width: 100%;"><time aria-hidden="true" class="date" data-reader-unique-id="165" datetime="2024-03-09T13:24:19.982Z" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="166" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;">23m ago</p></time></div><header data-reader-unique-id="19" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="32" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="33" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="34" data-testid="imageContainer-children-Image" style="max-width: 100%;"><picture data-reader-unique-id="35" style="max-width: 100%;"><source data-reader-unique-id="36" media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 3dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 288dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/08/multimedia/08gaza-hunger-child-01-phjw/08gaza-hunger-child-01-phjw-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=600" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="37" media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 192dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/08/multimedia/08gaza-hunger-child-01-phjw/08gaza-hunger-child-01-phjw-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="38" media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 1dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 96dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/08/multimedia/08gaza-hunger-child-01-phjw/08gaza-hunger-child-01-phjw-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1800" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><img alt="A painfully thin boy in a yellow hoodie lies under a blanket on a hospital bed with tubes issuing from his nose and hand. His eyes and mouth are open." data-reader-unique-id="39" decoding="async" height="400" sizes="((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 80vw, 100vw" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/08/multimedia/08gaza-hunger-child-01-phjw/08gaza-hunger-child-01-phjw-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/08/multimedia/08gaza-hunger-child-01-phjw/08gaza-hunger-child-01-phjw-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 600w,https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/08/multimedia/08gaza-hunger-child-01-phjw/08gaza-hunger-child-01-phjw-jumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 1024w,https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/08/multimedia/08gaza-hunger-child-01-phjw/08gaza-hunger-child-01-phjw-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 2048w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="600" /></picture></div><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="40" data-testid="photoviewer-children-ImageCaption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="41" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">Yazan Kafarneh on his hospital bed in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Sunday. By Monday, he was dead.</span><span data-reader-unique-id="42" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="43" style="max-width: 100%;">Hatem Ali/Associated Press</span></span></figcaption></figure></div><div data-reader-unique-id="55" data-testid="reading-time-module" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="56" style="max-width: 100%;"><time data-reader-unique-id="57" datetime="2024-03-09T00:02:11-05:00" style="max-width: 100%;">March 9, 2024,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span data-reader-unique-id="58" style="max-width: 100%;">12:02 a.m. ET</span></time></p></div></header><section data-reader-unique-id="59" name="articleBody" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="60" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="61" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="62" style="max-width: 100%;">It is all too easy to trace the skull beneath the Gazan boy’s face, the pallid skin stretching tight over every curve of bone and sagging with every hollow. His chin juts with a disturbing sharpness. His flesh has shrunk and shriveled, life reduced to little more than a thin mask over an imminent death.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="63" style="max-width: 100%;">In one of a series of news photographs of the boy, Yazan Kafarneh, taken with his family’s permission as he struggled for his life, his long-lashed eyes stare out, unfocused. In that widely shared picture online, his right hand, bandaged over an intravenous line, contracts in on itself at an awkward angle, a visible marker of his cerebral palsy.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="64" style="max-width: 100%;">He was 10, but in photographs from his last days at a clinic in southern Gaza, he looks both small for his age and at the same time ancient. By Monday, Yazan was dead.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="65" style="max-width: 100%;">The pictures of Yazan circulating on social media have quickly made him the face of starvation in Gaza.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="66" style="max-width: 100%;">Aid groups have warned that deaths from malnutrition-related causes have only just begun for Gaza’s more than two million people. Five months into Israel’s campaign against Hamas and its siege of Gaza, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are close to starvation,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="67" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/03/world/middleeast/gaza-famine-hunger-un.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">United Nations officials say</a>. Almost<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="68" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/04/world/middleeast/gaza-aid-trucks.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">no aid has reached northern Gaza</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>for weeks, after major U.N. agencies mostly<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="69" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/03/world/middleeast/gaza-aid-un-child-deaths-famine.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">suspended their operations</a>, citing mass looting of their cargoes by desperate Gazans, Israeli restrictions on convoys and the poor condition of roads damaged during the war.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="70" style="max-width: 100%;">At least 20 Palestinian children have died from malnutrition and dehydration, according to Gazan health officials. Like Yazan, who required medicines that were in acutely short supply in Gaza, many of those who died also suffered from health conditions that further placed their lives at risk, health officials said.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="71" style="max-width: 100%;">“It’s often that a child is extremely malnourished, and then they get sick and that virus is ultimately what causes that death,” said Heather Stobaugh, a malnutrition expert at Action Against Hunger, an aid group. “But they would not have died if they were not malnourished.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="72" style="max-width: 100%;">Gaza health officials said that two of the children who died from malnutrition were less than 2 days old. While cautioning that it was difficult to say what had happened without more information, Dr. Stobaugh said that malnutrition in pregnant mothers and the lack of formula could easily have led to the deaths of infants, who are the most vulnerable to extreme malnutrition.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="90" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="91" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="92" style="max-width: 100%;">That dovetailed with an account given by an aid group, ActionAid, which said that a doctor at Al-Awda maternity hospital in northern Gaza had told the group that malnourished mothers were giving birth to stillborn children.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="93" style="max-width: 100%;">Yazan’s parents had struggled for months to care for their son, whose condition, experts say, would have meant he had trouble swallowing and needed a soft, high-nutrition diet. After the Israeli bombardment on Gaza following the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="94" href="https://www.nytimes.com/news-event/israel-hamas-gaza" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">Oct. 7 Hamas-led assault on Israel</a>, his parents fled their home, taking Yazan and their three other sons to somewhere they hoped would be safer.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="95" style="max-width: 100%;">Then they fled again, and again, and again, his father said, searching for somewhere better for Yazan, whose condition meant that he could not tolerate the chaotic, unsanitary shelters. Every move was complicated by the fact that Yazan could not walk.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="96" style="max-width: 100%;">His parents could do little but watch as his health steadily deteriorated.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="97" style="max-width: 100%;">“Day after day, I saw my son getting weaker,” said his father, Shareef Kafarneh, a 31-year-old taxi driver from Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="98" style="max-width: 100%;">Eventually, they ended up in Al-Awda, in the southern city of Rafah, where Yazan died on Monday morning. He had suffered from both malnutrition and a respiratory infection, according to Dr. Jabr al-Shaer, a pediatrician who treated him. Dr. al-Shaer blamed the lack of food for weakening Yazan’s already frail immune system.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="99" style="max-width: 100%;">Obtaining enough to eat had already been a struggle for many in the blockaded Gaza Strip before the war. An estimated 1.2 million Gazans had<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="100" href="https://www.ochaopt.org/sites/default/files/HRP_2023.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="">required food assistance</a>, according to the United Nations, and around 0.8 percent of children under the age of 5 in Gaza had been acutely malnourished, the World Health Organization said.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="101" style="max-width: 100%;">Five months into the war, that appears to have spiked: About 15 percent of Gazan children under the age of 2 in northern Gaza are acutely malnourished, as well as roughly 5 percent in the south, the World Health Organization said in February. With half of all Gazan infants fed by formula, Dr. Stobaugh said, the lack of clean water in Gaza to make the formula is compounding the crisis.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="102" style="max-width: 100%;">Adele Khodr, the Middle East director at UNICEF, the United Nations children’s agency, said this week, “These tragic and horrific deaths are man-made, predictable and entirely preventable.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="103" style="max-width: 100%;">The situation has left parents frantic.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="104" style="max-width: 100%;">Ali Qannan, 34, does not know what is wrong with his 13-month-old son, Ahmed, who is being treated at the European Hospital in southern Gaza. Neither, he said, do the doctors at the five hospitals he has taken Ahmed to since the baby developed a swollen belly, diarrhea and vomiting a month after the war began. Ahmed has gotten ever worse, with trouble breathing and worrisome blood tests, but, given the war, the doctors say they cannot run the proper diagnostic tests, Mr. Qannan said.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="105" style="max-width: 100%;">Every pediatrician has had a different suggestion for what to feed Ahmed, Mr. Qannan said — boiled potatoes, bread, special fortified formula used for treating severely malnourished children — but each was either impossible to find or seemed not to help. Mr. Qannan says he is sure that malnutrition has something to do with Ahmed’s problems.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="123" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="124" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="125" style="max-width: 100%;">“Look at him. He’s turned into a skeleton,” Mr. Qannan said of his son on Wednesday. “I need help from someone, anyone, to help me get out of Gaza as soon as possible.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="126" style="max-width: 100%;">World leaders are increasingly warning about catastrophic hunger in Gaza, and even some of Israel’s closest allies are pressing Israel to do more. On Thursday, President Biden announced that the U.S. military would<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="127" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/07/world/middleeast/us-gaza-pier-ships-aid.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">set up a floating pier</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to help move supplies into the enclave.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="128" style="max-width: 100%;">On Friday, the Israeli agency known as COGAT, which regulates aid to Palestinians, said, “Israel is also exerting a constant and significant effort to find solutions that will bring aid more smoothly into the Gaza Strip, and into its northern area in particular.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="129" style="max-width: 100%;">Before war tore Gaza apart, Yazan Kafarneh was gradually seeing an improvement in his long struggle with cerebral palsy, his family said.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="130" style="max-width: 100%;">Physical therapists provided by nonprofits treated him at home, while medicines helped improve his condition, his father said. He might not have been able to walk, but he could swim. Mr. Kafarneh carefully planned out a high-nutrient diet for his son based around soft foods, including eggs for breakfast and the bananas Yazan loved.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="131" style="max-width: 100%;">But the medications disappeared as the war broke out, and as the family’s food supplies dwindled, Mr. Kafarneh said he had been unable to maintain Yazan’s special diet. He swapped out eggs in the morning for bread he made into mush using tea; he struggled to find bananas, so he tried giving Yazan other sweet foods, even though the price of sugar had soared. The already difficult challenge of feeding him properly turned nearly impossible.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="132" style="max-width: 100%;">On Feb. 25, his family brought Yazan to Al-Awda’s pediatric wing. He had pneumonia, which his weeks of hunger and already fragile condition had aggravated. Although the doctors and nurses gave him antibiotics for the infection, they could not find a reinforced nutrition drink that had been used to nourish him before the war, said Halima Tubasi, a nurse who cared for Yazan before he died.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="133" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Kafarneh said the cause of his son’s death was no mystery.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="134" style="max-width: 100%;">“The foods he used to have aren’t being eaten anymore,” he said. “The medicines and supplementary foods weren’t available at all.”</p></div></div></section></div><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/09/world/middleeast/yazan-kafarneh-gaza-starvation.html">The 10-Year-Old Boy Who Has Become the Face of Starvation in Gaza - The New York Times</a>John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-15572227934018022742024-03-06T07:39:00.001-05:002024-03-06T07:39:58.507-05:00If They Can’t Make a Federal Case Out of Trump …<h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="font-size: 1.95552em; line-height: 1.2141em; hyphens: manual; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; max-width: 100%; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: -apple-system-font;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/opinion/trump-trials-supreme-court.html" id="id_c59a_5ec6_2a18_bd42">If They Can’t Make a Federal Case Out of Trump …</a></h1><div class="metadata singleline" style="hyphens: manual; margin-top: -0.75em; margin-bottom: 1.45em; max-width: 100%; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 17px;"><time datetime="2024-03-06T05:03:38-05:00" data-reader-unique-id="344" class="date" style="margin: 0px; font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%; font-size: 1em !important; display: inline !important;">March 6, 2024, <span data-reader-unique-id="345" style="margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: normal !important; display: inline !important;">5:03 a.m. ET</span></time></div><header data-reader-unique-id="10" style="max-width: 100%; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 17px;"><div data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" data-reader-unique-id="20" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" role="group" data-reader-unique-id="21" style="margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65);"><div data-testid="imageContainer-children-Image" data-reader-unique-id="22" style="max-width: 100%;"><picture data-reader-unique-id="23" style="max-width: 100%;"><source media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 3dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 288dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/06/multimedia/06edsall-jcqb/06edsall-jcqb-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=600" data-reader-unique-id="24" style="max-width: 100%;"><source media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 192dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/06/multimedia/06edsall-jcqb/06edsall-jcqb-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200" data-reader-unique-id="25" style="max-width: 100%;"><source media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 1dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 96dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/06/multimedia/06edsall-jcqb/06edsall-jcqb-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1800" data-reader-unique-id="26" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="The Supreme Court building in Washington sits to the left of a tree in the rain." src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/06/multimedia/06edsall-jcqb/06edsall-jcqb-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/06/multimedia/06edsall-jcqb/06edsall-jcqb-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 600w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/06/multimedia/06edsall-jcqb/06edsall-jcqb-jumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 1024w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/06/multimedia/06edsall-jcqb/06edsall-jcqb-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 2048w" sizes="((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 80vw, 100vw" decoding="async" width="600" height="400" data-reader-unique-id="27" class="" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0.5em auto; display: block; height: auto; width: 600px;" id="id_e19f_2de5_a9fb_323f"></picture></div><figcaption data-testid="photoviewer-children-ImageCaption" data-reader-unique-id="28" style="max-width: 100%; margin-top: 0.8em; width: 604.484375px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="29" style="max-width: 100%; margin-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom: 0.25em;"><span data-reader-unique-id="30" style="max-width: 100%;">Damon Winter/The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div><div data-reader-unique-id="44" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="45" style="max-width: 100%;"><div aria-hidden="true" data-reader-unique-id="46" style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/thomas-b-edsall" data-reader-unique-id="47" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;"><img alt="Thomas B. Edsall" title="Thomas B. Edsall" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/04/02/opinion/thomas-b-edsall/thomas-b-edsall-thumbLarge-v2.png" data-reader-unique-id="48" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0.5em auto; display: block; height: auto; width: 150px;" id="id_5701_a288_ba62_6fc0"></a></div><div data-reader-unique-id="49" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="50" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="51" style="max-width: 100%;">“By </span><span itemprop="name" data-reader-unique-id="52" style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/thomas-b-edsall" data-reader-unique-id="53" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Thomas B. Edsall</a></span></p><div data-reader-unique-id="54" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="55" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Edsall contributes a weekly column from Washington, D.C., on politics, demographics and inequality.</p></div></div></div></div></header><section name="articleBody" data-reader-unique-id="56" style="max-width: 100%; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 17px;"><div data-reader-unique-id="57" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="58" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="59" style="max-width: 100%;">While the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/04/us/politics/trump-supreme-court-colorado-ballot.html" title="" data-reader-unique-id="60" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Supreme Court ruling</a> on Monday that states cannot bar Donald Trump from appearing on their presidential ballots garnered a lot of attention, the more politically consequential decision came on Feb. 28, when the court <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/28/briefing/supreme-court-trump-immunity-fires-texas.html" title="" data-reader-unique-id="61" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">set</a>a hearing on Trump’s claim of presidential <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/03/03/supreme-court-trump-history-backlog/" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="62" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">immunity</a> for the week of April 22.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="63" style="max-width: 100%;">That delay is both a devastating blow to the Biden campaign and a major assist to Trump’s multipronged effort to minimize attention to the details of <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/03/donald-trump-legal-cases-charges/675531/" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="64" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">the 91 felony charges</a> against him.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="65" style="max-width: 100%;">It increases the likelihood that neither of the <a href="https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2023/07/politics/trump-indictments-criminal-cases/" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="66" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">two federal indictments</a> against Trump will come to trial before the November election. A failure to hold at least one of these trials before Nov. 5 would undermine a key Democratic goal: to expand voters’ awareness of the dangers posed by a second Trump term.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="67" style="max-width: 100%;">Those trials, should they occur, are very likely to produce a flood of <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/a-look-back-at-the-watergate-hearings-50-years-later" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="68" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">daily headlines</a> and television broadcasts describing Trump’s role in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection and his sequestering of classified government documents in his Mar-a-Lago home — a media onslaught reminiscent of the <a href="https://americanarchive.org/exhibits/watergate" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="69" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Senate Watergate hearings</a>, which stretched out over 51 days in 1973.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="79" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="80" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="81" style="max-width: 100%;">“Early on, I called the federal election subversion case potentially <a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/08/trump-trial-2024-historic-jack-smith-indictment.html" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="82" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">the most important case in this nation’s history</a>,” <a href="https://law.ucla.edu/faculty/faculty-profiles/richard-l-hasen" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="83" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Richard L. Hasen</a>, a law professor at U.C.L.A., wrote on his <a href="https://electionlawblog.org/?page_id=122953" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="84" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">electionlawblog</a>. “And now it may not happen because of timing, timing that is completely in the Supreme Court’s control. This could well be game over.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="85" style="max-width: 100%;">Whether or not the trials are held before the election is crucial to the outcome, for at least two reasons.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="86" style="max-width: 100%;">First, a surprisingly large segment of the electorate either has no idea or slight knowledge of the charges against Trump. Increased knowledge of these charges can only work to Biden’s advantage.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="87" style="max-width: 100%;">Second, a key element of the Biden campaign’s strategy is to mobilize what political strategists are calling the “<a href="https://washingtonmonthly.com/2023/07/05/the-emergence-of-the-anti-maga-coalition/" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="88" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">anti-MAGA majority</a>.” Many anti-MAGA voters cannot be relied upon to turn out unless the threat of a Trump-MAGA victory is put squarely before them — something the trials would help accomplish.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="89" style="max-width: 100%;">A <a href="https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/Awareness_About_Donald_Trump_poll_results_20240130.pdf" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="90" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Jan. 30-Feb. 1 YouGov survey</a> asked voters whether they knew a) that Trump has “been charged with falsifying business records to conceal <a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/trumps-alleged-hush-money-payments-path-criminal-charges-2023-03-30/" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="91" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">hush money</a>payments to a porn star”; b) that he “has been charged with taking highly <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/timeline-special-counsels-investigation-trumps-handling-classified-documents/story?id=101768329" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="92" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">classified documents</a> from the White House and with obstructing efforts to retrieve them; c) that he “has been charged with conspiring to <a href="https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/trump-should-be-on-trial-today-for-trying-to-overturn-the-2020-election-heres-why-hes-not/" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="93" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">overturn</a> the results of a presidential election”; and d) that he “has been charged with attempting to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/trump-charged-us-special-counsel-probe-efforts-overturn-2020-election-2023-08-01/" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="94" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">obstruct</a> the certification of a presidential election.”</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="126" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="127" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="128" style="max-width: 100%;">From 20 to 25 percent of those surveyed said they did not know, and another 20 to 25 percent said they were “not sure,” what the charges against Trump were — in other words, nearly half of those surveyed had little or no comprehension of the array of allegations against Trump.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="129" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-testid="region" data-reader-unique-id="130" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="131" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="132" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="133" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="134" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="135" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="136" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="137" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="138" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="139" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="140" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="141" style="max-width: 100%;">Sign up for the Trump on Trial newsletter. </span><span data-reader-unique-id="142" style="max-width: 100%;">The latest news and analysis on the trials of Donald Trump in New York, Florida, Georgia and Washington, D.C.</span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="143" style="max-width: 100%;">A <a href="https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/Trump_Investigations_poll_results_20240125.pdf" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="144" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">separate Jan. 25-29 YouGov survey</a> asked a different question — “how much have you heard about” each of the indictments. In this case, independent voters, who will play a large role in determining the outcome of the 2024 election, were far less familiar with the charges than either Democrats or Republicans.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="145" style="max-width: 100%;">More than half of Republicans (55.5 percent) and Democrats (50.75 percent) told YouGov they had heard “a lot” about the indictments, compared with 41.75 percent of independents.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="146" style="max-width: 100%;">These poll findings pose interesting challenges to political analysts. While political professionals differ in the details of the strategies they believe Biden should adopt, the Supreme Court decision to postpone adjudication of Trump’s immunity claims is a genuine setback.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="147" style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="https://www.natesilver.net/" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="148" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Nate Silver</a>, founder of <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="149" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">FiveThirtyEight</a>, argues that Biden needs to adopt a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/10/30/should-biden-trump-focus-more-persuading-swing-voters-or-mobilizing-base/" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="150" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">persuasion strategy</a> to convince voters who supported Biden in 2020, but now support Trump, to return to the Democratic fold.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="160" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="161" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="162" style="max-width: 100%;">“Democrats usually assume that they win elections though turnout rather than persuasion,” Silver writes in a recent <a href="https://www.natesilver.net/p/bidens-problem-is-with-swing-voters" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="163" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Substack posting</a>. “It’s not a crazy proposition, by any means. But it looks like a losing approach for 2024.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="165" style="max-width: 100%;">As recently as 2012, according to Silver, putting resources into increasing turnout proved effective in large part because the overall electorate was decisively more Democratic than Republican, 38-32.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="166" style="max-width: 100%;">Since then, Silver writes, “Democrats have lost their edge on party ID in many polls. In Gallup polling throughout 2023, for instance — in contrast to the Democratic edge in 2012 — the same percentage of Americans (27 percent) identified as Democratic and Republican, with 43 percent identifying as independent.” Recent <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/15370/party-affiliation.aspx" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="167" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Gallup polling</a> found that when asked whether they lean to either party, independents now split evenly between voting Democratic or Republican.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="168" style="max-width: 100%;">Silver analyzed details of the recent <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/03/us/politics/biden-age-trump-poll.html" title="" data-reader-unique-id="169" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Times/Siena poll</a> to show “the potential dangers for Democrats of the base-turnout focus”:</p><blockquote data-reader-unique-id="170" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 6px; padding-left: 16px; border-left-width: 3px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="171" style="max-width: 100%;">The poll <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/03/02/us/elections/times-siena-poll-registered-voter-crosstabs.html" title="" data-reader-unique-id="172" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">asked voters</a> who they voted for in 2020 as well as who they plan to vote for in November. This produced a big gap; Biden actually led by 12 points in the recalled 2020 vote, but he trails Trump by 5 points in 2024 voter preferences:</p><p data-reader-unique-id="173" style="max-width: 100%;">2020 recalled vote (excluding nonvoters): Biden 53 percent, Trump 41 percent.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="174" style="max-width: 100%;">2024 vote (including leaners): Trump 48 percent, Biden 43 percent.</p></blockquote><p data-reader-unique-id="175" style="max-width: 100%;">This is, Silver continues, “a bad data point for the White House. In the poll, only 83 percent of voters who say they chose Biden in 2020 plan to vote for him this year, whereas 97 percent who voted for Trump plan to vote for Trump again.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="176" style="max-width: 100%;">More important, these Biden defectors are not part of the Democratic base, Silver argues:</p><blockquote data-reader-unique-id="177" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 6px; padding-left: 16px; border-left-width: 3px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="178" style="max-width: 100%;">If Biden is retaining only 83 percent of his 2020 vote overall, that implies he’s doing quite poorly with people who voted for him in 2020 but who are <em data-reader-unique-id="179" style="max-width: 100%;">not</em> loyal Democratic primary voters. Only about 75 percent of this group say they’ll vote for Biden again.</p></blockquote><p data-reader-unique-id="180" style="max-width: 100%;">Silver’s conclusion?</p><blockquote data-reader-unique-id="181" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 6px; padding-left: 16px; border-left-width: 3px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="182" style="max-width: 100%;">If they want to maximize their chances of winning in November, Democrats ought to focus on this group of vote-switching swing voters first, and the base second.</p></blockquote><p data-reader-unique-id="183" style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="https://twitter.com/admcrlsn" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="184" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Adam Carlson</a> — a former Democratic pollster who still aggregates data on voting trends among key subgroups from multiple surveys — has gathered material supportive of Silver’s argument that Democrats need to restore loyalty among past Democratic voters now considering voting for Trump.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="194" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="195" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="196" style="max-width: 100%;">In a <a href="https://twitter.com/admcrlsn/status/1762934720608768181" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="197" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Feb. 28 posting</a> on X, Carlson wrote: “The seven subgroups that are paying the least attention to the 2024 election are the same seven subgroups that are swinging the most toward Trump in the polls.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="198" style="max-width: 100%;">Specifically, after combining data from polls conducted Feb. 1 to Feb. 27, Carlson found that 17 percent of independents were paying attention to the election and that this group had shifted 26.3 points toward Trump compared with their actual vote in 2020.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="199" style="max-width: 100%;">Similarly, 27 percent of Hispanics said they were following the election, while their vote intentions had moved 16 points toward Trump since 2020. Carlson described similar trends for low-income voters, young voters, Black voters and moderates.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="200" style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="https://substack.com/@michaelpodhorzer" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="201" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Michael Podhorzer</a>, former political director of the AFL-CIO and founder of the <a href="https://analystinstitute.org/about-us/" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="202" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Analyst Institute</a>, makes two basic assumptions in calculating effective Democratic strategies this year.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="203" style="max-width: 100%;">The most important premise underpinning Podhorzer’s analysis is that anti-MAGA voters make up a majority of the electorate. The second assumption is that this anti-MAGA majority is made up of two parts, the first being reliable voters who consistently turn out on Election Day, the second made up of low-turnout, unreliable voters who need to be repeatedly warned in detail of the dangers posed by the election of Trump and his allies.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="211" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="212" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="213" style="max-width: 100%;">“The ‘anti-MAGA majority’ is the most important dynamic in our elections today,” Podhorzer writes in a Feb. 28 posting on his Substack, “<a href="https://www.weekendreading.net/p/democracy-is-not-a-spectator-sport?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=808381&post_id=142151691&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=i922&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="214" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Democracy Is Not a Spectator Sport</a>”:</p><blockquote data-reader-unique-id="215" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 6px; padding-left: 16px; border-left-width: 3px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="216" style="max-width: 100%;">When the question is called, most Americans don’t want a MAGA future. Of the 178 million Americans who have voted at least once beginning in 2016, about 94 million have voted against MAGA, and about 84 million have voted for MAGA.</p></blockquote><p data-reader-unique-id="217" style="max-width: 100%;">The “dangerous mistake” Democrats are quite likely to make going into the November election, Podhorzer argues,</p><blockquote data-reader-unique-id="218" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 6px; padding-left: 16px; border-left-width: 3px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="219" style="max-width: 100%;">is to take for granted that the ordinary voters who will decide this election will invariably make their decisions based on whether they judge Biden or Trump better able to perform the presidency, rather than on what they and their families have to lose if Trump and MAGA win. The evidence of voter behavior since 2016 tells us that people will do the latter, as long as these stakes are made clear to them. But if we treat this like a normal election — just another round of single combat between two individuals, Joe Biden and Donald Trump — Trump and MAGA could win.</p></blockquote><p data-reader-unique-id="220" style="max-width: 100%;">A crucial bloc of voters, according to this view, is composed of “newly engaged voters — those who only entered (or rejoined) the electorate in 2018 or later — and who have been driving historically high turnout, and have been breaking dramatically, and consistently, for Biden and Democrats when the stakes have been a MAGA future.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="221" style="max-width: 100%;">In support of his analysis, Podhorzer points to the 2022 midterm elections. Those contests are “best understood as two different elections — one in the key battlegrounds, where voters understood the stakes and turned out in droves to reject MAGA; the other where voters did not understand the stakes and turned out at low levels more typical of a midterm, allowing the predicted Red Wave to occur.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="222" style="max-width: 100%;">Podhorzer provided data to back up his claim: in 2022, turnout nationwide fell by four points, to 46 percent compared with 50 percent in 2018 — which was widely perceived as a referendum on Trump. Democrats suffered a net loss of nine House seats in 2022.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="223" style="max-width: 100%;">In the states where Republicans ran MAGA candidates in competitive races for statewide office — Arizona, Wisconsin, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Michigan — turnout from 2018 to 2022 remained constant at 53 percent, and Democrats gained four House seats.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="224" style="max-width: 100%;">The bottom line: “When people don’t recognize those stakes, they stay home,” which then “leads us to the unacknowledged problem with the anti-MAGA majority dynamic for Democrats,” Podhorzer writes. “Their majorities in the Electoral College battleground states depend on sustaining ahistorically high turnout and support from people who were not regular voters in 2016.”</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="232" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="233" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="234" style="max-width: 100%;">Not only are these voters “alienated from partisan politics” but they “lack confidence in Democrats’ governing ability.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="235" style="max-width: 100%;">At the same time, Podhorzer adds, “Not only are most voters now not paying attention to Trump’s legal troubles, they know next to nothing about what he’s said on the campaign trail about what he will do if elected again, let alone the very specific and chilling agenda his allies have assembled in the event he wins a second term.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="236" style="max-width: 100%;">Because so many of the anti-MAGA voters are not enthusiastic about Biden, Podhorzer writes, Democrats need to make the case that “in November, we are not choosing a leader; we are choosing the nation we will become.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="237" style="max-width: 100%;">The federal trials that now appear as though they may be deferred until after the election — possibly permanently deferred — may well have persuaded hesitant voters that American constitutional government was on the ballot.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="238" style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="https://www.lakeresearch.com/celinda-lake" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="239" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Celinda Lake</a>, a Democratic pollster, argued in an email that in the drive to mobilize low-turnout voters, it is not so important whether Trump goes on trial but whether he is convicted: “It’s not trials but convictions that matter. If Trump is convicted of a criminal felony by a jury, of plotting to overturn or steal the election, that will matter.” Lake added that “A Trump conviction would increase voting among low-turnout Democratic men, and it would come second to abortion in mobilizing low turnout Democratic women.”</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="247" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="248" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="249" style="max-width: 100%;">In a Dec. 26 Times guest essay, “A Trump Conviction Could Cost Him Enough Voters to Tip the Election,’ Lake, <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/people/norman-eisen/" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="250" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Norman Eisen</a>, special counsel for the 2019-20 impeachment of President Trump, and <a href="https://asocommunications.com/team/" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="251" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Anat Shenker-Osorio</a>, a political consultant, write:</p><blockquote data-reader-unique-id="252" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 6px; padding-left: 16px; border-left-width: 3px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="253" style="max-width: 100%;">Why do the polls register a sharp decline for Mr. Trump if he is convicted? Our analysis — including focus groups we have conducted and viewed — shows that Americans care about our freedoms, especially the freedom to cast our votes, have them counted and ensure that the will of the voters prevails. They are leery of entrusting the Oval Office to someone who abused his power by engaging in a criminal conspiracy to deny or take away those freedoms.</p></blockquote><p data-reader-unique-id="254" style="max-width: 100%;">Why is a conviction so much more important than an indictment?</p><p data-reader-unique-id="255" style="max-width: 100%;">Lake, Eisen and Shenker-Osorio write:</p><blockquote data-reader-unique-id="256" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 6px; padding-left: 16px; border-left-width: 3px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="257" style="max-width: 100%;">Voters understand that crime must be proved. They recognize that in our legal system there is a difference between allegations and proof, and between an individual who is merely accused and one who is found guilty by a jury of his peers.</p></blockquote><p data-reader-unique-id="258" style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="https://www.northstaropinion.com/about/our-team" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="259" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">Whit Ayres</a>, a Republican pollster, described in an email the cross-pressures on voters, particularly Republican voters in the event of a trial and, possibly, a conviction:</p><blockquote data-reader-unique-id="260" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 6px; padding-left: 16px; border-left-width: 3px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="261" style="max-width: 100%;">The exit polls for G.O.P. primary voters asked if voters would consider Trump unfit for office if he is convicted of a crime, and the numbers were significant: 31 percent in Iowa, 47 percent in New Hampshire, and 36 percent in South Carolina. But that tells you nothing about how these people would vote in a Trump-Biden race, because they also likely consider Biden unfit because he’s too old to run again.</p></blockquote><p data-reader-unique-id="262" style="max-width: 100%;">Another key factor, Ayres wrote, is “which trial we are considering. If I were designing a case that would be easy for Republicans to dismiss as a partisan witch hunt, it would be the Alvin Bragg-Stormy Daniels-hush money case in New York.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="263" style="max-width: 100%;">Conversely, Ayres continued, “the Jack Smith indictments — classified documents and the Jan. 6 insurrection — are far more serious, and could conceivably change some voters’ minds if they come to trial before Election Day. But recent events and the current calendar make that highly unlikely.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="264" style="max-width: 100%;">Overall, Ayres was dismissive of the potential of the trials to determine the outcome of the election: “If Democrats want to defeat Trump, they need to get Biden to step aside and nominate someone who would be truly competitive with Trump, which Biden is not right now. Putting their hope in trials that haven’t happened yet is a pipe dream.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="265" style="max-width: 100%;">Ayres’s last point about Biden’s age raises the question: Can the Biden campaign somehow lessen or mute concerns about his ability to perform the tasks essential to the presidency? Can it shift public attention to the broad range of Trump liabilities and to the threats, coming from Trump himself and many others — that a second Trump administration would pose to American democracy, its constitution and the rule of law?</p><p data-reader-unique-id="266" style="max-width: 100%;">These doubts as to Biden’s competence have remained a dominant public concern — despite a significantly improving economy with average annual G.D.P. growth for the first three years of the Biden administration at 3.4 percent, outpacing the 2.6 percent during the first three years of the Trump years, declining rates of inflation and an unemployment rate of 3.8 percent.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="274" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="275" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="276" style="max-width: 100%;">The Biden campaign will not be lacking in one crucial resource: campaign cash. Biden’s campaign committee has raised $107.6 million as of early February, <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/2024-presidential-race" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="277" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">according to Open Secrets</a>, compared with $85.3 million by Trump’s committee. The pro-Biden SuperPAC, Future Forward, has, in turn, announced plans <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/30/us/politics/biden-tv-ads-super-pac.html?searchResultPosition=3" title="" data-reader-unique-id="278" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">to spend $250 million</a> in the current election cycle, much of it in the weeks before Nov. 5.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="279" style="max-width: 100%;">No matter the size of Biden’s cash advantage, campaign spending will be most effective if the campaign has concrete material to work with — something a timely Trump trial would provide.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="280" style="max-width: 100%;">In 2000, the Supreme Court, with a Republican-appointed majority, decided a presidential election in the Republican candidate’s favor. There is something very wrong with our democracy if this happens twice in less than a quarter century.</p></div></div></section><div data-reader-unique-id="315" style="max-width: 100%; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 17px;"><div data-reader-unique-id="316" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="317" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="318" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="319" style="max-width: 100%;">Thomas B. Edsall has been a contributor to the Times Opinion section since 2011. His column on strategic and demographic trends in American politics appears every Wednesday. He previously covered politics for The Washington Post. <span data-reader-unique-id="320" style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="https://twitter.com/edsall" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="321" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="322" style="max-width: 100%;">@</span>edsall</a>“</span></p></div></div></div></div> John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-19393182444295715172024-03-06T07:28:00.001-05:002024-03-06T07:28:41.498-05:00We’re Not Asking the Most Important Questions About Age March 6, 2024, 5:03 a.m. ET<h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="font-size: 1.95552em; line-height: 1.2141em; hyphens: manual; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; max-width: 100%; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: -apple-system-font;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/opinion/biden-aging-america-population.html" id="id_f66b_cef4_e8bc_dd83">We’re Not Asking the Most Important Questions About Age</a></h1><div class="metadata singleline" style="hyphens: manual; margin-top: -0.75em; margin-bottom: 1.45em; max-width: 100%; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 17px;"><time datetime="2024-03-06T05:03:30-05:00" data-reader-unique-id="454" class="date" style="margin: 0px; font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%; font-size: 1em !important; display: inline !important;">March 6, 2024, <span data-reader-unique-id="455" style="margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: normal !important; display: inline !important;">5:03 a.m. ET</span></time></div><header data-reader-unique-id="10" style="max-width: 100%; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 17px;"><div data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" data-reader-unique-id="20" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" role="group" data-reader-unique-id="21" style="margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65);"><div data-testid="imageContainer-children-Image" data-reader-unique-id="22" style="max-width: 100%;"><picture data-reader-unique-id="23" style="max-width: 100%;"><source media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 3dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 288dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/06/opinion/06hcappel/06hcappel-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=600" data-reader-unique-id="24" style="max-width: 100%;"><source media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 192dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/06/opinion/06hcappel/06hcappel-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200" data-reader-unique-id="25" style="max-width: 100%;"><source media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 1dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 96dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/06/opinion/06hcappel/06hcappel-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1800" data-reader-unique-id="26" style="max-width: 100%;"><img alt="A brightly colored illustration of a multilane two-way expressway busy with older people riding in motorized wheelchairs headed both ways. " src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/06/opinion/06hcappel/06hcappel-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/06/opinion/06hcappel/06hcappel-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 600w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/06/opinion/06hcappel/06hcappel-jumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 1024w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/06/opinion/06hcappel/06hcappel-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 2048w" sizes="((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 60vw, 100vw" decoding="async" width="600" height="600" data-reader-unique-id="27" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0.5em auto; display: block; height: auto; width: 600px;" id="id_5c63_c682_cacb_465e"></picture></div><figcaption data-testid="photoviewer-children-ImageCaption" data-reader-unique-id="28" style="max-width: 100%; margin-top: 0.8em; width: 604.484375px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="29" style="max-width: 100%; margin-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom: 0.25em;"><span data-reader-unique-id="30" style="max-width: 100%;">Maxime Mouysset</span></span></figcaption></figure></div><div data-reader-unique-id="44" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="45" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="46" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="47" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="48" style="max-width: 100%;">“By </span><span itemprop="name" data-reader-unique-id="49" style="max-width: 100%;">James Chappel</span></p><div data-reader-unique-id="50" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="51" style="max-width: 100%;">Mr. Chappel is the author of the forthcoming book “Golden Years: How Americans Invented and Reinvented Old Age.”</p></div></div></div></div></header><section name="articleBody" data-reader-unique-id="52" style="max-width: 100%; caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 17px;"><div data-reader-unique-id="53" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="54" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="55" style="max-width: 100%;">After President Biden delivers his third State of the Union address on Thursday, much of the analysis will focus on the apparent signs of the president’s age. How alert does he seem? How spry? Does he look up to the task of running for office, or of governing?<strong data-reader-unique-id="56" style="max-width: 100%;"> </strong>Questions like these certainly matter, but they are not the only ones we should be asking about age and aging right now. They are not even the most important.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="57" style="max-width: 100%;">As a historian who studies aging in America, I see this presidential contest as an opportunity for us to change the national conversation on aging. Right now, the mainstream discussion has focused on the capacities of two individuals, presuming throughout that old age is a problem and that the natural signs of aging are deplorable weaknesses. The problem is not that such a conversation is ageist — although it often is — but that it threatens to once again become the only one we have about aging in this election cycle. It stands in the way of the conversation that matters more: How can we ensure that older Americans, many of whom are vulnerable and precarious, are able to live healthier, happier and more dignified lives?</p><p data-reader-unique-id="58" style="max-width: 100%;">In a way, the persistent debate about Mr. Biden’s age represents a mass delusion that we are still a nation of the young. We have always liked to think of ourselves as the prototypical country of youth: a nation of plucky strivers, distinguished from the old country by our restless, creative spirit. Such a nation, we might think, ought to be led by someone young, or at least young at heart. Maybe this was even true, once. But it’s not anymore.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="59" style="max-width: 100%;">The age of the American president has gone up and down over time, but the age of the American public has not: We get older as a nation every year. The 2020 census showed that, between 2010 and 2020, the number of people over 65 shot up from 40 million to 56 million; this population grew five times as fast as the overall population, in a decade when the size of the under-18 population actually shrunk. It’s worth noting that the older population is also growing more ethnically diverse every year, as those who arrived as young people in the wake of the 1965 immigration reform head into their golden years.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="67" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="68" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="69" style="max-width: 100%;">Our political discussion should reflect this reality. Mr. Biden recognizes this.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="71" style="max-width: 100%;"><section data-testid="inline-interactive" data-id="100000009341900" data-source-id="100000009341900" data-reader-unique-id="72" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-sourceid="100000009341900" data-reader-unique-id="73" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-preview-slug="2024-02-16-presidential-age-population-age" data-birdkit-hydrate="b3a1e7208445dba8" data-reader-unique-id="74" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure role="group" data-reader-unique-id="75" style="margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65);"><div data-reader-unique-id="76" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="77" style="max-width: 100%;"><svelte-scrollstory data-reader-unique-id="78" style="max-width: 100%;"><svelte-scroller-outer data-reader-unique-id="79" style="max-width: 100%;"><svelte-scroller-background-container data-reader-unique-id="80" style="max-width: 100%;"><svelte-scroller-background data-reader-unique-id="81" style="max-width: 100%;"><svelte-scrollstory-background slot="background" data-reader-unique-id="82" style="max-width: 100%;"><h1 data-reader-unique-id="83" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 100%;">Another way to look at Biden’s Age</h1><div data-reader-unique-id="84" style="max-width: 100%;"><svg width="1050px" height="468px" preserveAspectRatio="none" data-reader-unique-id="85"><g data-reader-unique-id="86"><rect x="65" y="153.4426829268293" width="10" height="0" data-reader-unique-id="87"></rect><rect x="81.9090909090909" y="133.7841463414634" width="10" height="0" data-reader-unique-id="88"></rect><rect x="98.81818181818181" y="152.95121951219514" width="10" height="0" data-reader-unique-id="89"></rect><rect x="115.72727272727272" y="133.29268292682926" width="10" height="0" data-reader-unique-id="90"></rect><rect x="132.63636363636363" y="148.52804878048784" width="10" height="0" 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margin-top: 0.4em; margin-bottom: 0.4em;">Median age in the United States</p></div></svelte-scrollstory-background></svelte-scroller-background></svelte-scroller-background-container><svelte-scroller-foreground data-reader-unique-id="343" style="max-width: 100%;"><svelte-scrollstory-foreground slot="foreground" data-reader-unique-id="344" style="max-width: 100%;"></svelte-scrollstory-foreground></svelte-scroller-foreground></svelte-scroller-outer></svelte-scrollstory></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="352" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="353" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="354" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="355" style="max-width: 100%; margin-top: 0.4em; margin-bottom: 0.4em;">Pew Research Center, Census and U.N.</p></div></div></div></figure></div></div></section></div><div data-reader-unique-id="356" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="357" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="358" style="max-width: 100%;">In his <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/02/07/remarks-of-president-joe-biden-state-of-the-union-address-as-prepared-for-delivery/" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-reader-unique-id="359" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">previous State of the Union</a> address, Mr. Biden devoted a fair amount of attention to old-age politics: Social Security and Medicare, of course, but he also called for an expansion of in-home health care services for older people. It is easy to dismiss this as pandering to an interest group that tends to vote. But it’s more than that: Old-age policies affect everyone. Affordable home health care aides, for instance, would primarily benefit the millions of middle-aged people, mainly women, who are currently doing most of the nation’s elder care for free. So when Mr. Biden talks about old age policy, as he likely will, he is laying out his plan to address one of the most important long-term trends challenging the nation.</p><div data-reader-unique-id="360" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-testid="region" data-reader-unique-id="361" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="362" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="363" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="364" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="365" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="366" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="367" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="368" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="369" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="370" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="371" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="372" style="max-width: 100%;">Sign up for the Opinion Today newsletter </span><span data-reader-unique-id="373" style="max-width: 100%;">Get expert analysis of the news and a guide to the big ideas shaping the world every weekday morning. </span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="374" style="max-width: 100%;">Millions of older Americans rely on Social Security to stay out of poverty. The system, though, is set to become insolvent in about a decade — a looming disaster that is eminently solvable. (Passing the bill known as Social Security 2100, which has 183 co-sponsors in the House, into law would be a good start.) Even Social Security is little help for older Americans once they become disabled and need long-term care.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="376" style="max-width: 100%;">As the bitter experience of millions of families attests, the “system” for such care is in crisis. We need, therefore, a vast expansion in public support for home health care and for nursing home care, both of which are often paid for out of pocket. For both of these, too, we need better regulatory oversight and better labor protections for care workers. There is no avoiding the fact that long-term care will be a massive component of the 21st-century economy. We have a political decision to make: Will this remain in the shadows, with underpaid workers and poor conditions? Or will this become, as it ought to be, a glittering centerpiece of our new old country?</p><p data-reader-unique-id="377" style="max-width: 100%;">Politicians and the media used to recognize the centrality of old-age policy. When researching the history of old age politics, I was struck by how widespread and sophisticated the discussion has normally been. In the late 19th century, Americans advocated pensions for Civil War veterans; in the early 20th century, many argued that the formerly enslaved deserved pensions, too. Those discussions were alive to the ways that mass warfare and chattel slavery had marred the lives of older Americans, and how the state might help.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="386" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="387" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="388" style="max-width: 100%;">Between 1935 and 1975, old-age security was arguably, next to military might, the central preoccupation of American policy. The passage of the Social Security Act (1935) and the Medicare and Medicaid Act (1965) are just the two most famous examples. Every year, legislation streamed from Washington that addressed problems in housing, nutrition and care for older people. Some of it was good, some of it was bad, but together that flood of legislation created an admirable safety net for American seniors. And throughout, this safety net benefited Americans of <em data-reader-unique-id="389" style="max-width: 100%;">all ages</em>. One of the most important aims of Social Security, after all, was to free older people from dependence on their children.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="390" style="max-width: 100%;">Since 1975, that flood of legislation has slowed to a trickle and the national conversation about those issues has more or less ceased. It’s not that we’ve ceased talking about old age — we talk about it constantly, as we are now. But those conversations have focused on well-off older people, like Donald Trump and Mr. Biden, and on their place in culture, society and politics. From AARP to “The Golden Girls<em data-reader-unique-id="391" style="max-width: 100%;">,” </em>the American reckoning with age has been, by and large, a reckoning with age for the relatively privileged and able-bodied. The more important issues have been largely unaddressed.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="392" style="max-width: 100%;">The old-age lobby is not as powerful as many believe — even the mighty AARP has supported many failed initiatives, including an effort in 1988 to provide federally subsidized long-term care insurance. Social Security has not been meaningfully reformed in my lifetime; its last major change was voted into law in March 1983, a few weeks before I was born. There have been various efforts to reform a nursing home system that is, by all accounts, in disastrous shape, and to improve labor conditions for home health care workers. Those, too, have come to little, and many of the regulations that were passed have not been enforced.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="393" style="max-width: 100%;">Today, as we continue to have familiar discussions about old age and the so-called gerontocracy, older people are being buffeted by new challenges. Climate change, for instance: Older people are disproportionately affected by the storms, wildfires and electricity shortages that accompany our warming planet. The Covid-19 pandemic is another painful example. More than half of those killed by Covid-19 in the first three years of the pandemic were over the age of 75; three-quarters were over the age of 65. Nursing homes especially became death traps. More than one-fifth of Covid-19 deaths took place among residents or staff of nursing homes, a group that comprises less than one percent of the population.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="394" style="max-width: 100%;">There is a serious conversation to be had about aging. It’s about how we can, as a country, prepare for a century of pandemics, heat waves and hurricanes, and how we can provide humane care to millions of frail older people, many of them people of color who have suffered a lifetime of disenfranchisement. Every word that we use to analyze gaffes or provide armchair diagnoses is a word that is not being used on them. We can do better. More than ever before, demographically speaking, we are a nation of grown-ups. It’s time to start acting like “</p></div></div></section> John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-30910133400039042042024-03-05T13:06:00.003-05:002024-03-05T13:06:27.031-05:00Trump takes bizarre turn as he ratchets up racist rhetoric against migrants | Donald Trump | The Guardian<div><h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.95552em; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;">Trump takes bizarre turn as he ratchets up racist rhetoric against migrants</h1><h2 class="subhead" data-reader-unique-id="subheadElement" style="color: rgba(27, 27, 27, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.46664em; font-weight: normal; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.27275em; margin-top: -0.35em; max-width: 100%;">Republican presidential frontrunner compares undocumented people to Hannibal Lecter: ‘We don’t want ’em in this country’</h2><div class="metadata singleline" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; hyphens: manual; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: -0.7em; max-width: 100%;"><a class="byline" data-link-name="auto tag link" data-reader-unique-id="65" href="https://www.theguardian.com/profile/martin-pengelly" rel="author" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Martin Pengelly</a></div><figure data-reader-unique-id="44" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="45" style="max-width: 100%;"><picture data-reader-unique-id="46" style="max-width: 100%;"><source data-reader-unique-id="47" media="(min-width: 980px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 980px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/28a788675f8b72e0f6a69fc48166c3b502accb2f/0_0_5279_3169/master/5279.jpg?width=620&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="48" media="(min-width: 980px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/28a788675f8b72e0f6a69fc48166c3b502accb2f/0_0_5279_3169/master/5279.jpg?width=620&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="49" media="(min-width: 740px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 740px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/28a788675f8b72e0f6a69fc48166c3b502accb2f/0_0_5279_3169/master/5279.jpg?width=700&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="50" media="(min-width: 740px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/28a788675f8b72e0f6a69fc48166c3b502accb2f/0_0_5279_3169/master/5279.jpg?width=700&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="51" media="(min-width: 660px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 660px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/28a788675f8b72e0f6a69fc48166c3b502accb2f/0_0_5279_3169/master/5279.jpg?width=620&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="52" media="(min-width: 660px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/28a788675f8b72e0f6a69fc48166c3b502accb2f/0_0_5279_3169/master/5279.jpg?width=620&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="53" media="(min-width: 480px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 480px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/28a788675f8b72e0f6a69fc48166c3b502accb2f/0_0_5279_3169/master/5279.jpg?width=645&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="54" media="(min-width: 480px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/28a788675f8b72e0f6a69fc48166c3b502accb2f/0_0_5279_3169/master/5279.jpg?width=645&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="55" media="(min-width: 320px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 320px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/28a788675f8b72e0f6a69fc48166c3b502accb2f/0_0_5279_3169/master/5279.jpg?width=465&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="56" media="(min-width: 320px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/28a788675f8b72e0f6a69fc48166c3b502accb2f/0_0_5279_3169/master/5279.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><img alt="man in a suit and red tie" data-reader-unique-id="57" height="279.1409357832923" loading="eager" src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/28a788675f8b72e0f6a69fc48166c3b502accb2f/0_0_5279_3169/master/5279.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="465" /></picture><span class="converted-anchor" data-reader-unique-id="58" style="max-width: 100%;"></span></div><span data-reader-unique-id="59" style="max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="60" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="61" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"></span><span data-reader-unique-id="64" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">Donald Trump speaks at his Mar-a-Lago estate last month.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Photograph: Rebecca Blackwell/AP</figcaption></span></figure><p data-reader-unique-id="1" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Reaching for racist rhetoric bizarre even for him,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-component="auto-linked-tag" data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="2" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/donaldtrump" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Donald Trump</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>compared undocumented migrants to the US to Hannibal Lecter, the serial killer and cannibal famously played by Sir Anthony Hopkins in the Oscar-winning 1991 film The Silence of the Lambs.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="3" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><gu-island config="{"renderingTarget":"Web","darkModeAvailable":false}" data-island-status="hydrated" data-reader-unique-id="4" deferuntil="visible" name="SignInGateSelector" priority="feature" props="{"contentType":"Article","sectionId":"us-news","tags":[{"id":"us-news/donaldtrump","type":"Keyword","title":"Donald Trump"},{"id":"us-news/us-elections-2024","type":"Keyword","title":"US elections 2024"},{"id":"us-news/us-news","type":"Keyword","title":"US news"},{"id":"us-news/us-politics","type":"Keyword","title":"US politics"},{"id":"us-news/republicans","type":"Keyword","title":"Republicans"},{"id":"us-news/usimmigration","type":"Keyword","title":"US immigration"},{"id":"us-news/us-mexico-border","type":"Keyword","title":"US-Mexico border"},{"id":"type/article","type":"Type","title":"Article"},{"id":"tone/news","type":"Tone","title":"News"},{"id":"profile/martin-pengelly","type":"Contributor","title":"Martin Pengelly","twitterHandle":"MartinPengelly","bylineImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/12/13/Martin_Pengelly.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2a54bf793a229f0783d6af64fd307c8a","bylineLargeImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/12/13/Martin_Pengelly.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d0aca553ad1a93e767cfe7471492c85b"},{"id":"tracking/commissioningdesk/us-news","type":"Tracking","title":"US News"}],"isPaidContent":false,"isPreview":false,"host":"https://www.theguardian.com","pageId":"us-news/2024/mar/05/donald-trump-migrants-hannibal-lecter","idUrl":"https://profile.theguardian.com","switches":{"prebidAppnexusUkRow":true,"externalVideoEmbeds":true,"abSignInGateMainVariant":true,"lightbox":true,"ophanNext":true,"commercialMetrics":true,"prebidTrustx":true,"scAdFreeBanner":false,"adaptiveSite":true,"prebidPermutiveAudience":true,"compareVariantDecision":false,"enableSentryReporting":true,"lazyLoadContainers":true,"ampArticleSwitch":true,"remarketing":true,"articleEndSlot":true,"keyEventsCarousel":true,"registerWithPhone":false,"targeting":true,"remoteHeader":true,"slotBodyEnd":true,"prebidImproveDigitalSkins":true,"ampPrebidOzone":true,"extendedMostPopularFronts":true,"emailInlineInFooter":true,"showNewPrivacyWordingOnEmailSignupEmbeds":true,"prebidAnalytics":true,"extendedMostPopular":true,"ampContentAbTesting":false,"prebidCriteo":true,"okta":true,"imrWorldwide":true,"acast":true,"automaticFilters":true,"twitterUwt":true,"prebidAppnexusInvcode":true,"ampPrebidPubmatic":true,"a9HeaderBidding":true,"prebidAppnexus":true,"enableDiscussionSwitch":true,"prebidXaxis":true,"stickyVideos":true,"interactiveFullHeaderSwitch":true,"discussionAllPageSize":true,"prebidUserSync":true,"audioOnwardJourneySwitch":true,"brazeTaylorReport":false,"callouts":true,"sentinelLogger":true,"geoMostPopular":true,"weAreHiring":false,"relatedContent":true,"thirdPartyEmbedTracking":true,"prebidOzone":true,"ampLiveblogSwitch":true,"ampAmazon":true,"prebidAdYouLike":true,"mostViewedFronts":true,"discussionInApps":false,"optOutAdvertising":true,"abSignInGateMainControl":true,"headerTopNav":true,"googleSearch":true,"brazeSwitch":true,"darkModeInApps":true,"prebidKargo":true,"consentManagement":true,"crosswordMobileBanner":true,"personaliseSignInGateAfterCheckout":true,"redplanetForAus":true,"prebidSonobi":true,"idProfileNavigation":true,"confiantAdVerification":true,"discussionAllowAnonymousRecommendsSwitch":false,"dcrTagPages":true,"permutive":true,"comscore":true,"ampPrebidCriteo":true,"abMpuWhenNoEpic":false,"newsletterOnwards":false,"youtubeIma":true,"webFonts":true,"prebidImproveDigital":true,"ophan":true,"crosswordSvgThumbnails":true,"prebidTriplelift":true,"weather":true,"disableAmpTest":true,"prebidPubmatic":true,"serverShareCounts":false,"autoRefresh":true,"enhanceTweets":true,"prebidIndexExchange":true,"prebidOpenx":true,"prebidHeaderBidding":true,"mobileDiscussionAds":true,"idCookieRefresh":true,"discussionPageSize":true,"smartAppBanner":false,"boostGaUserTimingFidelity":false,"historyTags":true,"brazeContentCards":true,"surveys":true,"remoteBanner":true,"emailSignupRecaptcha":true,"prebidSmart":true,"shouldLoadGoogletag":true,"inizio":true}}" style="max-width: 100%;"></gu-island></p><p data-reader-unique-id="5" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“They’re rough people, in many cases from jails, prisons, from mental institutions, insane asylums,” the former president and probable Republican presidential nominee claimed in an interview with<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="6" href="https://www.rsbnetwork.com/video/live-super-tuesday-preview-special-with-president-trump-at-mar-a-lago-3-4-24/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Right Side Broadcasting Network</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>on Monday. “You know, insane asylums, that’s Silence of the Lambs stuff.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="7" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“Hannibal Lecter, anybody know Hannibal Lecter?”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="8" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">To laughter from the audience at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump added: “We don’t want ’em in this country.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="11" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Trump has made such statements before,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="12" href="https://www.salon.com/2024/02/24/compares-migrants-to-hannibal-lecter-in-bizarre-cpac-rant/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">including</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>in his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland last month. As framed to Right Side, they were the latest piece of extremist and dehumanizing invective from a candidate seeking to make immigration a core issue of the 2024 presidential campaign.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="13" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Trump has a long history of such racist statements, having launched his successful 2016 presidential campaign by describing Mexicans crossing the southern border as rapists and drug dealers.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="14" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">His liking for Lecter led him to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="15" href="https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1710777385153368153?lang=en" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">claim</a>, at a rally last October, that the actor who played the character “said on television, ‘I love Donald Trump’, so I love him”.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="16" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Hopkins<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="17" href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-hannibal-lecter_n_65222027e4b09f4b8d405989" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">has not</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>publicly said he loves Trump. In 2018,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="18" href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/may/26/anthony-hopkins-most-nonsense-most-lie-lear" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">he told the Guardian</a>: “I don’t vote because I don’t trust anyone.” Brian Cox, another actor to have played Lecter onscreen, has called Trump “<a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="19" href="https://deadline.com/2022/01/brian-cox-succession-donald-trump-memoir-interview-johnny-depp-jeremy-strong-politics-1234913875/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">such a fucking asshole</a>” and “<a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="20" href="https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/brian-cox-donald-trump-dull-role-1234828820/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">so full of shit</a>”.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="21" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">In 2016, Mads Mikkelsen, who played Lecter on television,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="22" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doctor-strange-and-hannibal-star-mads-mikkelsen-calls-the-presidential-election-scary/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">told CBS News</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>that though he could “definitely laugh at some of the stuff [Trump] says”, he “can also go, ‘Oh my God, did he say that?’ I think he’s a fresh wind for some people.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="23" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Trump is an alleged serial offender, facing 91 criminal charges as he runs for office.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="24" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Yet despite those charges (17 for election subversion, 40 for retention of classified information, 34 for hush-money payments to an adult film star) and multimillion-dollar civil penalties over his business affairs and a rape allegation a judge called “<a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="25" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/07/donald-trump-rape-language-e-jean-carroll" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">substantially true</a>”, Trump dominates the Republican primary.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="26" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">He also<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="27" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/04/biden-new-yorker-interview-trump-polls" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">leads Joe Biden</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>in most general election polling – surveys subject to warnings from experts about sampling techniques and accuracy so far out from election day.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="28" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Trump spoke to Right Side the night before<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="29" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/05/trump-super-tuesday" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Super Tuesday</a>, when 16 states and one territory were scheduled to hold primary votes. Trump’s last, pulverised Republican opponent, Nikki Haley, was widely expected to end her campaign soon after.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="30" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">As in his successful run for president in 2016, Trump is seeking to use problems at the southern border – high numbers of arrivals from Central America presented as a crisis, real or not – as a central campaign issue.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="31" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">At his direction, Senate Republicans<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="32" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/07/us-senate-vote-bipartisan-border-bill" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">sank</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>a bipartisan deal on border and immigration reform. House Republicans have refused to move on the issue.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="33" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Biden has sought to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="34" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/29/trump-biden-border-visits-analysis" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">emphasise</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Trump and Republicans’ refusal to work on solving the border problem. The president’s campaign has also repeatedly slammed Trump for using far-right, fascistic language when discussing migrants, including a repeated claim migrants are “poisoning the blood” of America. The Biden campaign<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="35" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-says-immigrants-are-poisoning-blood-country-biden-campaign-liken-rcna130141" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">directly compared</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>those remarks to Adolf Hitler’s rhetoric during his rise to power in Germany.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="36" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Speaking<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="37" href="https://www.rsbnetwork.com/video/live-super-tuesday-preview-special-with-president-trump-at-mar-a-lago-3-4-24/#google_vignette" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">to Right Side</a>, Trump repeated another campaign-trail complaint, about languages spoken by migrants to the US.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="38" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“We don’t even have teachers of some of these languages,” he said. “Who would think that? We have languages that are, like, from, from the planet Mars? Nobody, nobody knows how to, you know, speak it.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="39" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">On Trump’s father’s side, his ancestors spoke<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="40" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/02/world/europe/trump-germany-family-ancestry-kallstadt.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">German</a>. His mother was also a migrant, growing up in the Scottish islands, in a household that<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="41" href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jul/25/why-i-quit-gaelic-language-forefathers-vocabulary" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">spoke Gaelic</a>. His first wife, Ivana Trump, the mother of his three oldest children, spoke Czech. Melania Trump, his third wife and the mother of his son Barron, is Slovenian.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="42" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Trump also made a blatantly false claim about everyday life in cities where large numbers of migrants have arrived, many bussed or flown in by Republican governors.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="43" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“We have children that are no longer going to school,” Trump said. “They’re throwing them out of the park. There’s no more Little Leagues [children’s baseball] there’s no more sports, there’s no more life in New York and so many of these cities.”</p></div><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/05/donald-trump-migrants-hannibal-lecter">Trump takes bizarre turn as he ratchets up racist rhetoric against migrants | Donald Trump | The Guardian</a>John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-71201953256464071102024-03-05T12:38:00.006-05:002024-03-05T12:38:51.692-05:00Opinion | The Supreme Court Just Erased Part of the Constitution - The New York Times<div><h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.95552em; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;">The Supreme Court Just Erased Part of the Constitution</h1><div class="metadata singleline" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; hyphens: manual; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: -0.75em; max-width: 100%;"><time class="date" data-reader-unique-id="151" datetime="2024-03-04T17:41:50-05:00" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;">March 4, 2024</time></div><header data-reader-unique-id="2" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="12" data-testid="imageblock-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;"><figure aria-label="media" data-reader-unique-id="13" role="group" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="14" data-testid="imageContainer-children-Image" style="max-width: 100%;"><picture data-reader-unique-id="15" style="max-width: 100%;"><source data-reader-unique-id="16" media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 3dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 288dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/06/multimedia/04french-fcqg/04french-fcqg-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=600" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="17" media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 192dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/06/multimedia/04french-fcqg/04french-fcqg-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="18" media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 1dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 96dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/06/multimedia/04french-fcqg/04french-fcqg-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1800" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><img alt="A black and white photo of the U.S. Supreme Court with a flag flying at half staff." data-reader-unique-id="19" decoding="async" height="750" sizes="((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 60vw, 100vw" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/06/multimedia/04french-fcqg/04french-fcqg-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/06/multimedia/04french-fcqg/04french-fcqg-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 600w,https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/06/multimedia/04french-fcqg/04french-fcqg-jumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 820w,https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/06/multimedia/04french-fcqg/04french-fcqg-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 1639w" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="600" /></picture></div><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="20" data-testid="photoviewer-children-ImageCaption" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.71875px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="21" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="22" style="max-width: 100%;">Samuel Corum/Getty Images</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></header><section data-reader-unique-id="46" name="articleBody" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="47" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="48" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="49" style="max-width: 100%;">"As of Monday, March 4, 2024, Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution is essentially a dead letter, at least as it applies to candidates for federal office. Under<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="50" href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/23-719_19m2.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="">the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>that reversed the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision striking Donald Trump from the state’s primary ballot, even insurrectionists who’ve violated their previous oath of office can hold federal office, unless and until Congress passes specific legislation to enforce Section 3.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="51" style="max-width: 100%;">In the aftermath of the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-reader-unique-id="52" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/08/us/politics/supreme-court-trump-ballot.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">oral argument</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>last month, legal observers knew with near-certainty that the Supreme Court was unlikely to apply Section 3 to Trump. None of the justices seemed willing to uphold the Colorado court’s ruling, and only Justice Sonia Sotomayor gave any meaningful indication that she might dissent. The only real question remaining was the reasoning for the court’s decision. Would the ruling be broad or narrow?</p><p data-reader-unique-id="53" style="max-width: 100%;">A narrow ruling for Trump might have held, for example, that Colorado didn’t provide him with enough due process when it determined that Section 3 applied. Or the court could have held that Trump, as president, was not an “officer of the United States” within the meaning of the section. Such a ruling would have kept Trump on the ballot, but it would also have kept Section 3 viable to block insurrectionists from the House or Senate and from all other federal offices.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="54" style="max-width: 100%;">A somewhat broader ruling might have held that Trump did not engage in insurrection or rebellion or provide aid and comfort to the enemies of the Constitution. Such a ruling would have sharply limited Section 3 to apply almost exclusively to Civil War-style conflicts, an outcome at odds with the text and original public meaning of the section. It’s worth noting that, by not taking this path, the court<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><em data-reader-unique-id="55" style="max-width: 100%;">did not</em><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>exonerate Trump from participating in an insurrection.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="59" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="60" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="61" style="max-width: 100%;">But instead of any of these options, the court went with arguably the broadest reasoning available: that Section 3 isn’t self-executing, and thus has no force or effect in the absence of congressional action. This argument is rooted in Section 5 of the amendment, which states that “Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.”</p><div data-reader-unique-id="62" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="63" data-testid="region" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="64" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="65" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="66" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="67" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="68" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="69" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="70" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="71" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="72" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="73" style="max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="74" style="max-width: 100%;">Sign up for the Opinion Today newsletter </span><span data-reader-unique-id="75" style="max-width: 100%;">Get expert analysis of the news and a guide to the big ideas shaping the world every weekday morning.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p data-reader-unique-id="76" style="max-width: 100%;">But Section 5, on its face, does not give Congress<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><em data-reader-unique-id="77" style="max-width: 100%;">exclusive</em><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>power to enforce the amendment. As Justices Elena Kagan, Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson pointed out in their own separate concurring opinion, “All the Reconstruction amendments (including the due process and equal protection guarantees and prohibition of slavery) ‘are self-executing,’ meaning that they do not depend on legislation.” While Congress<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><em data-reader-unique-id="78" style="max-width: 100%;">may</em><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>pass legislation to help enforce the 14th Amendment, it is not required to do so, and the 14th Amendment still binds federal, state and local governments even if Congress refuses to act.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="80" style="max-width: 100%;">But now Section 3 is different from other sections of the amendment. It requires federal legislation to enforce its terms, at least as applied to candidates for federal office. Through inaction alone, Congress can effectively erase part of the 14th Amendment.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="81" style="max-width: 100%;">It’s extremely difficult to square this ruling with the text of Section 3. The language is clearly mandatory. The first words are “No person shall be” a member of Congress or a state or federal officer if that person has engaged in insurrection or rebellion or provided aid or comfort to the enemies of the Constitution. The section then says, “But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each house, remove such disability.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="82" style="max-width: 100%;">In other words, the Constitution imposes the disability, and only a supermajority of Congress can remove it. But under the Supreme Court’s reasoning, the meaning is inverted: The Constitution merely<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><em data-reader-unique-id="83" style="max-width: 100%;">allows<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></em>Congress to impose the disability, and if Congress chooses not to enact legislation enforcing the section, then the disability does not exist. The Supreme Court has effectively replaced a very high bar for allowing insurrectionists into federal office — a supermajority vote by Congress — with the lowest bar imaginable: congressional inaction.</p></div></div><div data-reader-unique-id="88" style="max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="89" style="max-width: 100%;"><p data-reader-unique-id="90" style="max-width: 100%;">As Kagan, Sotomayor and Jackson point out, this approach is also inconsistent with the constitutional approach to other qualifications for the presidency. We can bar individuals from holding office who are under the age limit or who don’t meet the relevant citizenship requirement without congressional enforcement legislation. We can enforce the two-term presidential term limit without congressional enforcement legislation. Section 3 now stands apart not only from the rest of the 14th Amendment, but also from the other constitutional requirements for the presidency.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="91" style="max-width: 100%;">In one important respect, the court’s ruling on Monday is worse and more consequential than the Senate’s decision to acquit Trump after his Jan. 6 impeachment trial in 2021. Impeachment is entirely a political process, and the actions of one Senate have no bearing on the actions of future Senates. But a Supreme Court ruling has immense precedential power. The court’s decision is now the law.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="92" style="max-width: 100%;">It would be clearly preferable if Congress were to pass enforcement legislation that established explicit procedures for resolving disputes under Section 3, including setting the burden of proof and creating timetables and deadlines for filing challenges and hearing appeals. Establishing a uniform process is better than living with a patchwork of state proceedings. But the fact that Congress has not acted should not effectively erase the words from the constitutional page. Chaotic enforcement of the Constitution may be suboptimal. But it’s far better than not enforcing the Constitution at all."</p></div></div></section></div><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/04/opinion/supreme-court-trump-colorado-constitution.html">Opinion | The Supreme Court Just Erased Part of the Constitution - The New York Times</a>John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-88067829363654010972024-03-04T10:12:00.004-05:002024-03-04T10:12:18.043-05:00Supreme Court Rules Trump Can Remain on Colorado Ballot: Live Updates - The New York Times<div><h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.95552em; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;">Live Updates: Trump Prevails in Supreme Court Challenge to His Eligibility</h1><h2 class="subhead" data-reader-unique-id="subheadElement" style="color: rgba(27, 27, 27, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.46664em; font-weight: normal; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.27275em; margin-top: -0.35em; max-width: 100%;">"The justices ruled that the 14th Amendment did not allow Colorado to bar the former president from the state’s primary ballot. The justices offered different reasons, but the decision was unanimous.</h2><div class="metadata singleline" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; hyphens: manual; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: -0.7em; max-width: 100%;"><time aria-hidden="true" class="date" data-reader-unique-id="21" datetime="2024-03-04T15:03:57.590Z" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="22" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;">Updated </span><p data-reader-unique-id="23" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><span data-reader-unique-id="24" data-time="abs" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;">March 4, 2024, 10:03 a.m. ET</span><span data-reader-unique-id="25" data-time="rel" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 1em !important; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;">5 minutes ago</span></p></time></div><div class="metadata singleline" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; hyphens: manual; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: -0.7em; max-width: 100%;">The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that President Donald J. Trump should remain on Colorado’s primary ballot, rejecting a challenge to his eligibility for another term that could have upended the presidential race by taking him off ballots around the nation.</div><p data-reader-unique-id="20" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Though the justices offered different reasons, the decision was unanimous."</p></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/04/us/trump-supreme-court-colorado-ballot">Supreme Court Rules Trump Can Remain on Colorado Ballot: Live Updates - The New York Times</a>John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060738.post-49445766876551883932024-03-03T10:11:00.002-05:002024-03-03T10:11:58.675-05:00Florida is swamped by disease outbreaks as quackery replaces science | Florida | The Guardian<div><h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.95552em; hyphens: manual; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;">Florida is swamped by disease outbreaks as quackery replaces science</h1><div class="metadata singleline" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; hyphens: manual; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: -0.75em; max-width: 100%;"><a class="byline" data-link-name="auto tag link" data-reader-unique-id="80" href="https://www.theguardian.com/profile/richardluscombe" rel="author" style="display: inline; font-size: 1em; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Richard Luscombe</a></div><figure data-reader-unique-id="59" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div data-reader-unique-id="60" style="max-width: 100%;"><picture data-reader-unique-id="61" style="max-width: 100%;"><source data-reader-unique-id="62" media="(min-width: 980px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 980px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/160521aedeeb183f524009821e37428c9c19ea5c/0_43_3300_1980/master/3300.jpg?width=620&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="63" media="(min-width: 980px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/160521aedeeb183f524009821e37428c9c19ea5c/0_43_3300_1980/master/3300.jpg?width=620&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="64" media="(min-width: 740px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 740px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/160521aedeeb183f524009821e37428c9c19ea5c/0_43_3300_1980/master/3300.jpg?width=700&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="65" media="(min-width: 740px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/160521aedeeb183f524009821e37428c9c19ea5c/0_43_3300_1980/master/3300.jpg?width=700&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="66" media="(min-width: 660px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 660px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/160521aedeeb183f524009821e37428c9c19ea5c/0_43_3300_1980/master/3300.jpg?width=620&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="67" media="(min-width: 660px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/160521aedeeb183f524009821e37428c9c19ea5c/0_43_3300_1980/master/3300.jpg?width=620&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="68" media="(min-width: 480px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 480px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/160521aedeeb183f524009821e37428c9c19ea5c/0_43_3300_1980/master/3300.jpg?width=645&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="69" media="(min-width: 480px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/160521aedeeb183f524009821e37428c9c19ea5c/0_43_3300_1980/master/3300.jpg?width=645&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="70" media="(min-width: 320px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 320px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/160521aedeeb183f524009821e37428c9c19ea5c/0_43_3300_1980/master/3300.jpg?width=465&dpr=2&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><source data-reader-unique-id="71" media="(min-width: 320px)" srcset="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/160521aedeeb183f524009821e37428c9c19ea5c/0_43_3300_1980/master/3300.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none" style="max-width: 100%;"></source><img alt="An image of a man giving a side-eye to a camera" data-reader-unique-id="72" height="279" loading="eager" src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/160521aedeeb183f524009821e37428c9c19ea5c/0_43_3300_1980/master/3300.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.5em auto; max-width: 100%;" width="465" /></picture><span class="converted-anchor" data-reader-unique-id="73" style="max-width: 100%;"></span></div><span data-reader-unique-id="74" style="max-width: 100%;"><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="75" style="margin-top: 0.8em; max-width: 100%; width: 962.719px;"><span data-reader-unique-id="76" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;"></span><span data-reader-unique-id="79" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em; max-width: 100%;">Ladapo, a politically appointed acolyte of DeSantis, wrote to parents telling them its fine for children to send their kids to school amid a measles outbreak.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Photograph: Chris O’Meara/AP</figcaption></span></figure><p data-reader-unique-id="1" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><b>(DeSantis's dumb, incompetent puppy dog)</b></p><p data-reader-unique-id="1" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Shortly before Joseph Ladapo was sworn in as Florida’s surgeon general in 2022, the New Yorker ran a short column welcoming the vaccine-skeptic doctor to his new role, and highlighting his advocacy for the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="2" href="https://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/floridas-surgeon-general-urges-cvs-to-stock-leeches" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">use of leeches</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>in public health.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="3" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">It was satire of course, a teasing of the Harvard-educated physician for his unorthodox medical views, which include a steadfast belief that life-saving Covid shots are the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="4" href="https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/opinion/columns/2024/01/11/fla-surgeon-gen-ladapo-says-covid-vax-antichrist-of-all-products/72174068007/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">work of the devil</a>, and that opening a window is the preferred treatment for the inhalation of toxic fumes from gas stoves.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="5" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><gu-island config="{"renderingTarget":"Web","darkModeAvailable":false}" data-reader-unique-id="6" deferuntil="visible" name="SignInGateSelector" priority="feature" props="{"contentType":"Article","sectionId":"us-news","tags":[{"id":"us-news/florida","type":"Keyword","title":"Florida"},{"id":"science/infectiousdiseases","type":"Keyword","title":"Infectious diseases"},{"id":"science/science","type":"Keyword","title":"Science"},{"id":"us-news/us-news","type":"Keyword","title":"US news"},{"id":"us-news/ron-desantis","type":"Keyword","title":"Ron DeSantis"},{"id":"us-news/republicans","type":"Keyword","title":"Republicans"},{"id":"type/article","type":"Type","title":"Article"},{"id":"tone/analysis","type":"Tone","title":"Analysis"},{"id":"tone/news","type":"Tone","title":"News"},{"id":"profile/richardluscombe","type":"Contributor","title":"Richard Luscombe","twitterHandle":"richlusc"},{"id":"tracking/commissioningdesk/us-news","type":"Tracking","title":"US News"}],"isPaidContent":false,"isPreview":false,"host":"https://www.theguardian.com","pageId":"us-news/2024/mar/03/florida-measles-outbreak-preventable","idUrl":"https://profile.theguardian.com","switches":{"prebidAppnexusUkRow":true,"externalVideoEmbeds":true,"abSignInGateMainVariant":true,"lightbox":true,"ophanNext":true,"commercialMetrics":true,"prebidTrustx":true,"scAdFreeBanner":false,"adaptiveSite":true,"prebidPermutiveAudience":true,"compareVariantDecision":false,"enableSentryReporting":true,"lazyLoadContainers":true,"ampArticleSwitch":true,"remarketing":true,"articleEndSlot":true,"keyEventsCarousel":true,"registerWithPhone":false,"targeting":true,"remoteHeader":true,"slotBodyEnd":true,"prebidImproveDigitalSkins":true,"ampPrebidOzone":true,"extendedMostPopularFronts":true,"emailInlineInFooter":true,"showNewPrivacyWordingOnEmailSignupEmbeds":true,"prebidAnalytics":true,"extendedMostPopular":true,"ampContentAbTesting":false,"prebidCriteo":true,"okta":false,"imrWorldwide":true,"acast":true,"automaticFilters":true,"twitterUwt":true,"prebidAppnexusInvcode":true,"ampPrebidPubmatic":true,"a9HeaderBidding":true,"prebidAppnexus":true,"enableDiscussionSwitch":true,"prebidXaxis":true,"stickyVideos":true,"interactiveFullHeaderSwitch":true,"discussionAllPageSize":true,"prebidUserSync":true,"audioOnwardJourneySwitch":true,"brazeTaylorReport":false,"callouts":true,"sentinelLogger":true,"geoMostPopular":true,"weAreHiring":false,"relatedContent":true,"thirdPartyEmbedTracking":true,"prebidOzone":true,"ampLiveblogSwitch":true,"ampAmazon":true,"prebidAdYouLike":true,"mostViewedFronts":true,"discussionInApps":false,"optOutAdvertising":true,"abSignInGateMainControl":true,"headerTopNav":true,"googleSearch":true,"brazeSwitch":true,"darkModeInApps":true,"prebidKargo":true,"consentManagement":true,"crosswordMobileBanner":true,"personaliseSignInGateAfterCheckout":true,"redplanetForAus":true,"prebidSonobi":true,"idProfileNavigation":true,"confiantAdVerification":true,"discussionAllowAnonymousRecommendsSwitch":false,"dcrTagPages":true,"permutive":true,"comscore":true,"ampPrebidCriteo":true,"abMpuWhenNoEpic":false,"newsletterOnwards":false,"youtubeIma":true,"webFonts":true,"prebidImproveDigital":true,"ophan":true,"crosswordSvgThumbnails":true,"prebidTriplelift":true,"weather":true,"disableAmpTest":true,"prebidPubmatic":true,"serverShareCounts":false,"autoRefresh":true,"enhanceTweets":true,"prebidIndexExchange":true,"prebidOpenx":true,"prebidHeaderBidding":true,"mobileDiscussionAds":true,"idCookieRefresh":true,"discussionPageSize":true,"smartAppBanner":false,"boostGaUserTimingFidelity":false,"historyTags":true,"brazeContentCards":true,"surveys":true,"remoteBanner":true,"emailSignupRecaptcha":true,"prebidSmart":true,"shouldLoadGoogletag":true,"inizio":true}}" style="max-width: 100%;"></gu-island></p><p data-reader-unique-id="7" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">But now, with an entirely preventable outbreak of measles<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="8" href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/feb/25/us-measles-outbreak" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">spreading across Florida</a>, medical experts are questioning if quackery really has become official health policy in the nation’s third most-populous state.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="9" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">As the highly contagious disease raged in a Broward county elementary school, Ladapo, a politically appointed acolyte of Florida’s far-right governor<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-component="auto-linked-tag" data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="10" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ron-desantis" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Ron DeSantis</a>, wrote to parents telling them it was perfectly fine for parents to continue to send in their unvaccinated children.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="13" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“The surgeon general is Ron DeSantis’s lapdog, and says whatever DeSantis wants him to say,” said Dr Robert Speth, a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at south Florida’s Nova Southeastern University with more than four decades of research experience.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="14" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“His statements are more political than medical and that’s a horrible disservice to the citizens of Florida. He’s somebody whose job is to protect public health, and he’s doing the exact opposite.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="15" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;"><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="16" href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24437152/file_1664.pdf" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Ladapo’s advice</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>deferring to parents or guardians a decision about school attendance directly contradicts the official recommendation of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which calls for a 21-day period of quarantine for anybody without a history of prior infection or immunization.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="17" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">It is also in keeping with Ladapo’s previous maverick proclamations about vaccines that health professionals say pose an unacceptable danger to the health of Florida residents. They include official<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="18" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/04/florida-surgeon-general-covid-vaccine-misinformation-joseph-ladapo" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">guidance to shun mRNA Covid-19 boosters</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>based on easily disprovable conspiracy theories that the shots alter human DNA and can potentially cause cancer – “scientific nonsense” in the view of Dr Ashish Jha, a former White House Covid response coordinator.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="19" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Meanwhile, with measles having been eradicated in the US since 2000, the disease’s resurgence, paired with Ladapo’s latest misadventure, have prompted a new round of mocking commentary. Florida: Come for the Sunshine, Leave With the Measles, opined the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="20" href="https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/02/28/florida-measles-desantis-ladapo-maxwell/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Orlando Sentinel</a>; “Measles? So On-brand for Florida’s Descent Into the 1950s”, was the take of the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="21" href="https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2024/02/27/measles-florida-polk-broward-ladapo-vaccine/" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Tampa Bay Times</a>.</p><aside class="pullquote" data-reader-unique-id="22" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.42em; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.38em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-inline-start: 1em; margin-top: 1em; max-width: calc(100% - 1em);"><blockquote data-reader-unique-id="25" style="border-left: 3px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 6px; max-width: 100%; padding-left: 16px;">His statements are more political than medical and that’s a horrible disservice to the citizens of Florida</blockquote></aside><p data-reader-unique-id="28" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The backlash prompted the Florida department of health to publish “<a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="29" href="https://twitter.com/HealthyFla/status/1762966162936058337" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">clarifying information</a>” this week, in which it insisted that the stay-at-home recommendation had in fact been given to parents at Manatee Bay elementary school, and attempted to blame the media for “reporting false information and politicizing this outbreak”.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="30" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Department officials repeated the claim in a subsequent statement.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="31" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“The media has continued to peddle the narrative that Dr Ladapo has defied science in his recent letter. In reality, he has used available data and immunity rates to drive policy decisions impacting Manatee Bay Elementary,” the deputy press secretary Grant Kemp said.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="32" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“97% of students at Manatee Bay Elementary have received at least one dose of the MMR immunization. Outbreaks are occurring in multiple states, and the national immunization rate for measles is less than 92%.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="33" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Reporting false information, incidentally, is something Ladapo is familiar with himself. He was found to have<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="34" href="https://www.politico.com/news/2023/04/24/florida-surgeon-general-covid-vaccine-00093510" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">personally manipulated data</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>in a 2022 study of Covid-19 vaccines to wrongly assert they posed an elevated risk of cardiac illness or death in young men.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="35" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">To Speth, and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="36" href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/02/28/1234483734/floridas-response-to-measles-outbreak-troubles-public-health-experts" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">numerous other medical experts</a>, Ladapo’s risky succession of positions denying even the most obvious benefits of immunization and vaccination is a symptom of a wider political assault by the rightwing, which carries deadly potential.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="37" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Its origins, Speth believes, lie in a long-discredited study by the disgraced British former doctor<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="38" href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/andrew-wakefield" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">Andrew Wakefield</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>falsely tying the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to autism, but which was<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="39" href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jul/18/how-disgraced-anti-vaxxer-andrew-wakefield-was-embraced-by-trumps-america" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">enthusiastically embraced by anti-vaxxers</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and other extremists in the US.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="40" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“The Wakefield study was a gross fraud, yet today up to 25% of our population believes it, and opportunistic politicians seize on the sentiment to tell people what they want to hear about the danger of vaccines,” he said.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="41" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“Republicans are at war with medical science, and that’s a horrible tragedy. But I feel like Cassandra, talking about the public health threat. We’re going to start seeing a lot more children die of infectious diseases that could be prevented if they were vaccinated.”</p><p data-reader-unique-id="42" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Ladapo has been<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="43" href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/01/27/florida-democrats-walk-out-of-confirmation-hearing-for-desantis-surgeon-general-pick-pro-00002397" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">hailed a “superstar”</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>by DeSantis, who<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="44" href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article253777498.html" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">sidelined then dumped</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>his predecessor Scott Rivkees for contradicting the governor’s position on social distancing and face masks during the Covid-19 pandemic.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="45" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Ladapo became a vocal cheerleader of the governor’s anti-mask, vaccine and lockdown decrees; and was a prominent member of Frontline Doctors of America, a fringe cluster of radical physicians that pushed ineffective medicines such as ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine as a cure for the virus.</p><aside class="pullquote" data-reader-unique-id="46" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65); font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.42em; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.38em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-inline-start: 1em; margin-top: 1em; max-width: calc(100% - 1em);"><blockquote data-reader-unique-id="49" style="border-left: 3px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 6px; max-width: 100%; padding-left: 16px;">To pretend that the vaccine is unnecessary to eradicate measles is completely illogical, because that’s the reason it’s been gone from our country</blockquote></aside><p data-reader-unique-id="52" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">The group’s founder, Simone Gold, received a<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-link-name="in body link" data-reader-unique-id="53" href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/dr-simone-gold-leading-anti-vax-figure-sentenced/story?id=85445732" style="color: #416ed2; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;">60-day prison sentence</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>in 2022 for taking part in the 6 January Capitol riot.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="54" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Additionally, Ladapo was a signatory to the Great Barrington Declaration, an open letter claimed to have been signed by 15,000 scientists and medical professionals calling for a herd immunity approach to Covid, but which included a multitude of spoof names including Dr Johnny Bananas, Dr Person Fakename and Dr I P Freely.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="55" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">Democrats in Florida say Ladapo’s handling of the measles outbreak is one more reason why they believe he is unsuited for a job in which he earns in excess of $600,000 a year, paid almost equally by the state and University of Florida, where he was given tenured professorship as an incentive to come.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="56" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“What’s so sad about it is it’s completely preventable,” said state senator Tina Polksy, who has been one of Ladapo’s staunchest critics.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="57" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“In a moment of crisis we need the best level-headed people to be running that department of health, and now we’re in our next crisis after Covid and we have someone who doesn’t want to follow accepted scientific guidelines in charge.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="58" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 26px; max-width: 100%;">“To pretend that the vaccine is unnecessary to eradicate measles is completely illogical, because that’s the reason it’s been gone from our country. It will have some devastating outcomes, it’s going to scare a lot of people, and kids are going to be out of school, which has its own negative outcomes.”</p></div><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/03/florida-measles-outbreak-preventable">Florida is swamped by disease outbreaks as quackery replaces science | Florida | The Guardian</a>John H Armwood IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295507968976514854noreply@blogger.com0