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BIG NEWS: Eric Holder Announces Transgender People Are Covered By Civil Rights Act

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Outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder today stated the historic Civil Rights Act Of 1964 indeed covers transgender people.

Eric Holder, in a policy reversal, today issued a memo stating that “the best reading” of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does protect transgender people from sex discrimination, Buzzfeed reports today.

“I have determined that the best reading of Title VII’s prohibition of sex discrimination is that it encompasses discrimination based on gender identity, including transgender status,” the outgoing head of the Justice Department said.

“This important shift will ensure that the protections of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 are extended to those who suffer discrimination based on gender identity, including transgender status,” Holder added. “This will help to foster fair and consistent treatment for all claimants. And it reaffirms the Justice Department’s commitment to protecting the civil rights of all Americans.”

The Washington Blade wonders if the new policy could extend to sexual orientation.

“One question is whether the Justice Department will also interpret the prohibition on gender discrimination under Title VII to also cover claims based on sexual orientation,” Chris Johnson at the Blade writes.

In response to pending litigation filed by Peter TerVeer, who says he was fired by the Library of Congress because for being gay, the Justice Department has said he made inadequate claims to demonstrate he has standing to sue under Title VII.

The Washington Blade has placed a request in with the Justice Department to inquire if the Obama administration is considering interpretation of Title VII to cover claims based on sexual orientation.

Other groups are looking at the policy change as a good opportunity to advance equality. In a press release the American Military Partner Association (AMPA), said it is “calling on the Defense Department to end its currently unjustified sex discrimination against transgender troops by lifting the ban against open and honest service.”

And more, via Twitter:

 

Image by Ryan J. Reilly via Flickr

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‘Flashback Much?’: Senator Mocked for Saying IG Report Made Him Feel Like He Had ‘Dropped Acid’

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December 11, 2019

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“About 25 percent of the way through it I thought I dropped acid. It’s surreal.”

A prominent Republican Senator is getting his own special due process on social media after using his precious time to question U.S. Dept. of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz by saying reading the 434 page report on the FBI’s Russia investigation was like dropping acid.

U.S. Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) admitted to Horowitz on Wednesday that he had not finished reading the lengthy document but was about 70 percent done. He also appeared to be trying to make the infractions about FISA warrants committed by FBI agents to be seen as unprecedented and historically offensive, in an attempt to serve President Donald Trump by damaging the reputation of the FBI.

“About 15 percent of the way through it made me want to heave,” Sen. Kennedy announced. “About 25 percent of the way through it I thought I dropped acid. It’s surreal.”

Someone can be heard laughing in the background.

Kennedy chose to focus on the misconduct by the FBI agents instead of on the actual investigation, which the Inspector General found to be warranted: that is, opening up the Russia probe to determine not only how Putin and his cronies attacked the U.S. election but to what extent any Trump campaign officials may have been involved.

The Louisiana Republican Senator was not done. He made clear someone would have to pay for the misdeeds.

Apparently it would not matter to Kennedy who.

“I hope you’ll tell your colleagues at the FBI that we appreciate their work, but this has got to be fixed. At minimum someone’s got to be fired,” he announced.

Many were perplexed and shared their concerns about Sen. Kennedy on social media.

 

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WTH?

Ted Cruz ‘Just Pumped Nonsensical Disinformation Into American Air Waves’: Former FBI Special Agent

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December 11, 2019

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During his turn to question Inspector General Michael Horowitz today, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) didn’t really ask many questions, and instead chose to use his time to rant about what he believes are the corrupt origins of the investigation into Russia’s alleged collusion with the Trump campaign.

In a tweet, MSNBC’s Clint Watts wrote that Cruz “just pumped several minutes of nonsensical disinformation into American air waves.”

Watch Cruz’s rant in the video below:

Related: Lindsey Graham Explodes in Anger Demanding to Know Why FBI ‘Didn’t Tell Trump’ His Campaign Was Under Investigation

 

 

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CAN YOU GUESS WHY?

Lindsey Graham Explodes in Anger Demanding to Know Why FBI ‘Didn’t Tell Trump’ His Campaign Was Under Investigation

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December 11, 2019

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Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham exploded in anger as he questioned Inspector General Michael Horowitz, demanding to know why the FBI did not notify then-candidate Donald Trump and his campaign in 2016 that they were the subjects of a counterintelligence investigation to determine how Russia was attacking the U.S. and if any members of the Trump campaign were involved.

Chairman Graham appeared to ignore all the signs that Donald Trump and his campaign may have been conspiring with Russia to win the 2016 presidential election, including Trump’s infamous “Russia, if you’re listening” remarks.

The FBI “never made any effort to brief Donald Trump about suspected problems within his campaign,” Graham lamented, again, ignoring the FBI was working to determine if Trump or anyone else was colluding with Russia.

The FBI did warn the Trump campaign Russia was working to undermine the election. Trump appears to have taken that warning as an invitation to an opportunity to win the election rather than to protect the nation.

“Why did they not tell him that” people like Carter Page and George Papadopoulos might be working wirh Russia, Graham asked.

Graham later says, “I hope all of us would appreciate if you really believe there may be somebody in my campaign working with a foreign power, please tell me. Why didn’t they tell Trump?”

Again, the FBI likely had reason to suspect Trump was that somebody.

Despite all this, the RNC opted to immediately post a clip of Graham defending Trump on YouTube and Twitter (below).

Watch:

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