https://www.freep.com/story/news/lo...ichigan-coronavirus-order-lawsuit/5290141002/ US Justice Department intervenes in lawsuit opposing Whitmer's coronavirus orders LANSING – The U.S. Justice Department put the weight of its office Friday behind a business lawsuit seeking to overturn some of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's executive orders related to the coronavirus pandemic. The governor said the development was a White House move that "seeks to undermine the health and safety of Michigan residents." The Justice Department filed a "statement of interest" in a lawsuit filed April 28 in federal court in Grand Rapids by seven small businesses who allege Whitmer's orders are unconstitutionally arbitrary and discriminatory, allowing some businesses to operate while other businesses in similar situations are forced to close. The Justice Department can intervene in civil lawsuits through statements of interest intended to explain to courts what interest the federal government has in disputes between private parties. Past examples of such filings include cases alleging discrimination based on race, religion or disabilities. In this case, the Justice Department is backing a real estate firm, a property maintenance company, an automotive glass exporter, an engine oil and auto parts distributor, a jewelry store, a dental office and an association of car washes. The filing says Whitmer's orders could violate clauses of the U.S. Constitution related to commerce and equal protection. "It is crystal clear that this challenge is coming directly from the White House, which is ignoring the risk of a second wave of the virus and pushing too quickly to roll back public health guidelines," Whitmer said in a news release. "We know that will only prolong the pandemic and make the economic pain that much worse for Michiganders. No matter what happens, I will always put the health and safety of Michiganders first.” In another development Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, denied an injunction against emergency orders in California, in a case brought by a church opposing limits on the size of congregations. "The notion that it is 'indisputably clear' that the government's limitations are unconstitutional seems quite improbable," the decision said, in part. In the Michigan case, Matthew Schneider, the U.S. Attorney in Detroit who in April was tapped by Attorney General William Barr to help lead a team reviewing coronavirus emergency orders across the nation, said he does not doubt that Whitmer's intentions are good. But he said some of her orders unlawfully put certain business owners at risk of fines or jail time. a recent poll commissioned by the Detroit Regional Chamber suggested 64% of Michiganders support Whitmer's handling of the pandemic. In a state court lawsuit brought by the Republican-controlled state House and Senate, Michigan Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens ruled May 21 that the emergency declarations backing Whitmer's coronavirus orders are lawful. That case is on appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court. Plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit backed by the Justice Department are: Signature Sotheby's International Realty, Inc.; Executive Property Maintenance, Inc.; Intraco Corp. Inc.; Casite Intraco LLC; Hillsdale Jewelers; Shortt Dental, and Midwest Carwash Association. Some of the restrictions cited in the lawsuit — such as ones impacting lawn maintenance companies and dentists — have already been eased by Whitmer.
Thank you once again Mr. Barr for your continuous service to your country. Oh, and I hope y'all understand that Wray is a dead man walking. It is too politically sensitive to fire him right now but there is no one on the planet who wants Biden to be elected more than Christopher Wray. Because he is gone the week after the election if Trump is re-elected. Wray is not an original swampster but his style has always been that all he needs to do is to not do any of the comey bad stuff going forward and then everything will be okay and the ship will have been righted. WRONGO. He is required to reach back root out the swampsters before going forward. Instead, he has dragged his feet on everything and resisted the release of all documents where he could. Anyway. Another swampster gone in the meantime. Might be more to the story too. Durham might have uncovered more than the swampster prefers. Note that lefty NBC is trying to report this as a Fox News driven event just because they were ahead of the curve in reporting documents that showed that the FBI had withheld exculpatory evidence. Maybe Barr will just bite the bullet too and have Trump move Wray out sooner rather than later. He could probably do it right around the release of Durham's findings and get away with it. Let's hope anyway. FBI's top lawyer, Dana Boente, ousted amid Fox News criticism for role in Flynn investigation https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/ju...yer-dana-boente-ousted-amid-fox-news-n1219721
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news...nt-fbi-lawyer-dana-boente-flynn-case-nbc-news Trump justice department forces out top FBI lawyer in Flynn case – report NBC News: general counsel Dana Boente forced out on Friday Fox News host Lou Dobbs slammed lawyer in April Flynn transcripts show he discussed sanctions with Russian A top FBI lawyer who was criticised on Fox News for his role in the investigation of Michael Flynn has resigned after being asked to do so by senior figures at the Department of Justice, NBC News reported on Saturday. The FBI confirmed to NBC that Dana Boente, its general counsel and a former acting attorney general, announced his resignation on Friday after a near-40-year career. NBC cited two sources anonymous sources as saying the decision came from “Attorney General William Barr’s justice department”. Boente joined the DoJ in 1984 and in 2015 became the US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia, after being nominated by Barack Obama. In January 2017, he briefly served as acting attorney general, after Trump fired Sally Yates, an Obama-era deputy, for refusing to defend an executive order on immigration. Temporarily overseeing the investigation of Russian election interference, Boente signed a warrant authorising FBI surveillance of Flynn. The retired general, Donald Trump’s first national security adviser, was fired for lying to the vice-president about contacts with the Russian ambassador during the presidential transition. Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about the conversations and cooperated with the special counsel Robert Mueller as he took over the investigation of Russian election interference and links between Trump and Moscow. Flynn sought to withdraw his guilty plea before sentencing. Earlier this month, Barr said the justice department would drop the case, although a federal judge put that decision on hold. On Friday, the same day Boente was forced out of the FBI, Trump’s new director of intelligence and Senate Republicans released transcripts of the calls in question, between Flynn and the Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Opponents of the president said the transcripts proved that Flynn had been treated fairly. Supporters of Trump said they showed Flynn had been treated unfairly. As Trump attempts to construct a scandal called “Obamagate”, with the surveillance of Flynn at its centre, his administration is releasing material it hopes will put Obama officials in a bad light. Boente also wrote a leaked memo concerning material put into the public domain about Flynn, which he said was not exculpatory. Trump is notoriously open to the views of key Fox News contributors. On 27 April, the Fox News host Lou Dobbs told viewers: “Shocking new reports suggest FBI general counsel Dana Boente was acting in coordination with FBI director Christopher Wray to block the release of that evidence that would have cleared General Flynn.” Trump has reportedly been urged to fire Wray, whom he appointed to replace James Comey, the man he fired in May 2017 in an attempt to close the Russia investigation. Comey’s firing led to the appointment of Mueller, who concluded a near-two year investigation without proving criminal conspiracy between Trump and Russia. Mueller did, however, obtain convictions of Trump aides and say in his report the campaign was receptive to Russian help. He also laid out extensive evidence of attempts by the president to obstruct his investigation. Trump has fired or forced out FBI and DoJ figures including Andrew McCabe, Comey’s deputy, lawyer Lisa Page and Peter Strzok, an FBI agent who worked on the case. On Friday, Wray issued a statement about Boente. “Few people have served so well in so many critical, high-level roles at the department,” he said. “Throughout his long and distinguished career as a public servant, Dana has demonstrated a selfless determination to ensure that justice is always served on behalf of our citizens.”
How bout maybe reading the post above yours, which would be very much the same thing you posted. You are welcome.
https://www.axios.com/antifa-protests-trump-8f7519c2-fcc2-4caf-b881-6781ea1fe3df.html DOJ to treat antifa involvement in protests as domestic terrorism Attorney General Bill Barr said in a statement Sunday that the Justice Department will use its network of 56 regional FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces to identify the "criminal organizers and instigators" of violence during the George Floyd protests, including antifa and similar groups. Why it matters: Barr, President Trump and other members of the administration have pinned the blame for riots and looting over the past few days of protests against police brutality on antifa, a loosely defined far-left movement that uses violence and direct-action protest tactics. President Trump tweeted on Sunday that the United States will be designating antifa, which is short for "anti-fascist," as a terrorist organization. However, the law that allows the government to designate entities as terrorists only applies to foreign organizations. In addition, antifa is a decentralized organization with no designated leadership, so it may be difficult for federal authorities to determine which agitators belong to the movement. What they're saying: Federal law enforcement actions will be directed at apprehending and charging the violent radical agitators who have hijacked peaceful protest and are engaged in violations of federal law.To identify criminal organizers and instigators, and to coordinate federal resources with our state and local partners, federal law enforcement is using our existing network of 56 regional FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF). The violence instigated and carried out by Antifa and other similar groups in connection with the rioting is domestic terrorism and will be treated accordingly.”— Attorney General Bill Barr Without citing evidence, Attorney General Bill Barr denounced what he described as "planned" violence from "far-left extremist groups" on Saturday, in response to many U.S. cities erupting in protest through Friday evening over the killing of George Floyd. Driving the news: President Trump quickly echoed Barr's statement on Twitter, saying that "'Crossing State lines to incite violence is a FEDERAL CRIME! Liberal Governors and Mayors need to get tougher on protestors or the federal government will use "the unlimited power of our Military and many arrests."
how embarrassing.... https://www.elitetrader.com/et/thre...estroying-america.345497/page-10#post-5116209