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Legal Experts Furious Over Trump Pardon of Arsonists Whose Actions Sparked Occupation of Federal Property

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‘No Good Reason for These Pardons’

‘As an Oregonian, I’m Disgusted’

President Donald Trump Tuesday morning pardoned two Oregon ranchers whose illegal actions inspired, or “sparked,” a 41 day siege and occupation of federal government offices and land that culminated with the death of one of their supporters.

Many remember well Cliven Bundy, the racist rancher who owed over $1 million in grazing fees to the federal government. So-called “sovereign citizens” and “militia” men came to his aid in 2014 during a standoff that pitted the heavily armed anti-government extremists against federal law enforcement agents – the very people President Trump always claims to support.

In 2016, Bundy’s sons, Ammon and Ryan Bundy, took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Harney County, Oregon, to protest the federal government’s treatment of two local ranchers who had been convicted of arson on tens of thousands of acres of federal lands. Among the several fires they set, at least one of reportedly directly threatened the lives of at least four firefighters.

Those two ranchers, Dwight and Steven Hammond, were just pardoned by the President of the United States, and legal experts – along with some who personally lived through the occupation that forced area schools and businesses to close for over a month – are furious.

Calling the pardons “astonishing,” former U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance, now a frequent legal contributor on MSNBC, wrote: “There is no good reason for these pardons. Trump is using a tool meant to do justice in a wholly arbitrary fashion.”

She added:

Anti-government extremism expert and writer JJ MacNab, who covered minute-by-minute the Bundy sons’ siege of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge calls the Hammonds “Serial arsonists who threatened the lives of federal employees and used a sander on a kid’s skin to punish him.”

Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Ryan Haas notes that Trump’s pardon lets the Bundy family claim “complete victory.”

More weigh in:

 

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‘Real Winner’: Internet Destroys Trump for Congratulating Racist, Islamophobic, Anti-Semitic QAnon Conspiracy Theorist

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August 12, 2020

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President Donald Trump Wednesday morning congratulated a QAnon conspiracy theorist who has racist, Islamophobic and anti-Semitic beliefs for winning her Republican Congressional primary. Marjorie Taylor Greene is now the GOP’s candidate to face Democrat Kevin van Ausdal in November.

“Congratulations to future Republican Star Marjorie Taylor Greene on a big Congressional primary win in Georgia against a very tough and smart opponent. Marjorie is strong on everything and never gives up – a real WINNER!” Trump tweeted.

Politico published a video of Greene making vile and offensive remarks, but Georgia Republican voters cast their ballots for her anyway. The remarks were so offensive Politico had to place a disclaimer at the beginning to ensure viewers knew they did not endorse her hatred.

In the video Greene “suggested that Muslims do not belong in government; thinks black people ‘are held slaves to the Democratic Party’; called George Soros, a Jewish Democratic megadonor, a Nazi; and said she would feel ‘proud’ to see a Confederate monument if she were black because it symbolizes progress made since the Civil War,” Politico reported.

She also insists the Quran cannot be used to swear elected officials into office. “No. You have to be sworn in on the Bible,” she says, which is false.

Her QAnon conspiracy theories make her an even less suitable candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Many condemned Trump on Twitter for endorsing Greene – take a look:

 

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‘Propaganda Machine’ Kayleigh McEnany Blasted for False Claim Trump Has ‘Great Record’ on LGBTQ Issues

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July 14, 2020

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White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany is under fire for claiming President Donald Trump has a “great record” on LGBTQ issues.

Trump, who is the most anti-LGBTQ president in modern history, has been rolling back hard-won protections for LGBTQ people in all areas of government, since taking office three and a half years ago.

McEnany was asked about Trump’s ban on transgender service members, which he announced via Twitter on July 26, 2017, as the Washington Blade’s Chris Johnson reminded her Monday. She did not have much to say and appeared to respond by reading from prepared notes on a list of items.

“I haven’t talked to him about that specific policy, but this president is proud that in 2019 we launched a global initiative to end the criminalization of homosexuality throughout the world,” McEnany told Johnson in response to his question about the ban on transgender service members.

“He has a great record when it comes to the LGBT community. The Trump administration eased a ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men and he launched a plan to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030, so we’re very proud of our achievements.”

That “global initiative to end the criminalization of homosexuality throughout the world” is non-existent and has not resulted in any actions or changes in policy or law in any other country. When Trump was first asked about it he said he did not know anything about it.

The easing of the antiquated blood ban was only in response to the coronavirus pandemic. And the “plan to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030” is just a plan. 18 months after it was announced there’s little evidence it was put into action.

Meanwhile, just last month Trump announced he was “surprised” the Supreme Court ruled against his administration when it found anti-LGBTQ workplace discrimination is illegal, because the court “was supposed to be in our favor.”

Also last month Trump’s HHS finalized a move to roll back healthcare protections for transgender people, calling them “unnecessary.”

Just weeks ago Trump’s Dept. of Housing and Urban Development moved to allow taxpayer-funded shelter providers to ban transgender people experiencing homelessness, citing religious rights.

Last year the Trump administration rolled back an Obama-era rule banning adoption agencies from discriminating against LGBTQ people, then bragged about it.

The list goes on and on.

The Trump campaign promoted McEnany’s false claim on social media.

Many have expressed outrage, especially since so many of the Trump administration’s attacks against LGBTQ people are often major life issues.

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Trump Plans to End Coronavirus Task Force: NYT

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May 5, 2020

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Amid multiple projections of coronavirus deaths about to “nearly double” to 3000 per day and new infections to increase about ten-fold President Donald Trump is set to end the Coronavirus Task Force. What started as a January 31 executive order for public relations purposes that did almost nothing until the death toll exploded became a highly-watched group.

But for Trump, who craves the spotlight, its members’ high-profiles have become problematic.

“Trump administration officials are telling members of the coronavirus task force that the White House plans to wind down the operation and it’s not clear whether any other group might replace it,” The New York Times is now reporting.

NCRM earlier today in an exclusive reported that Vice President Mike Pence has “slacked off” on holding the coronavirus Task Force meetings. He led 24 in March, just 18 in April, and only two last week.

The coronavirus pandemic is far from over. On Monday the nation saw a new milestone set, with the death toll breaking 70,000 people.

This is a breaking news and developing story. Details may change. This story will be updated, and NCRM will likely publish follow-up stories on this news. Stay tuned and refresh for updates.

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