Tag: Department of Justice

Prosecutors Say They’re Spies, But Charges Tell a Different Story

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Prosecutors Say They’re Spies, But Charges Tell a Different Story

A review of court filings and transcripts of hearings shows the charges and allegations are far less serious, frequently involving misstatements surrounding a visa application—a violation often punished with less than a year in prison. In only one case has a researcher been charged with acting as a foreign government agent, and she was allowed to return to China eight months before her indictment, leaving little chance she’ll face legal proceedings in the U.S.

Barr — No evidence of fraud that’d change election outcome

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Barr — No evidence of fraud that’d change election outcome

In an interview with The Associated Press, Barr said U.S. attorneys and FBI agents have been working to follow up specific complaints and information they’ve received, but they’ve uncovered no evidence that would change the outcome of the election.

…

Barr didn’t name Powell specifically but said: “There’s been one assertion that would be systemic fraud and that would be the claim that machines were programmed essentially to skew the election results. And the DHS and DOJ have looked into that, and so far, we haven’t seen anything to substantiate that,” Barr said.

The Fixer has spoken! Now stop crying and accept the results!

The 9 discarded ballots were tossed because Republicans won their lawsuit requiring them to not be counted

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

The 9 discarded ballots were tossed because Republicans won their lawsuit requiring them to not be counted

“Because these ballots were returned in envelopes similar to absentee ballot requests, elections officials opened them,” The Washington Post reports. “If the ballots weren’t then enclosed in another envelope which shielded the actual vote being cast, they may have been considered ‘naked ballots,’ a term used to describe mail ballots returned without the voter’s intent being protected.

The Trump campaign and the Pennsylvania GOP in a lawsuit argued that “naked ballots” should not be counted. They won that lawsuit. These nine ballots appear to be “naked ballots,” and that appears to be the reason they were thrown out.

Related:

Voting by mail in Pa.? Don’t forget to use the secrecy envelope to avoid ‘electoral chaos,’ official warns

The administration of Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, supported the Democratic Party’s effort in court. But Republicans, including President Donald Trump’s campaign, the state Republican Party and Republican legislative leaders, have argued in court that the law requires mail-in ballots without secrecy envelopes to be invalidated.

Barr Personally Briefed Trump on DOJ Investigation Into 9 Discarded Ballots

It is generally not regular practice for an attorney general to brief a president about a small situation. It is almost unheard of for the DOJ to issue a press release or comment on an investigation in progress, especially to reveal major details about the case.

Appeals court temporarily halts protections for journalists, legal observers in Portland

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Appeals court temporarily halts protections for journalists, legal observers in Portland

“Given the order’s breadth and lack of clarity, particularly in its non-exclusive indicia of who qualifies as “Journalists” and “Legal Observers,” appellants have also demonstrated that, in the absence of a stay, the order will cause irreparable harm to law enforcement efforts and personnel,” two of the three judges wrote. “This means that journalists could be subjected to the same physical force as that of the individuals participating.”