Congress Republicans have a message for Zelenskyy: Stay out of US politics Trump’s allies on the Hill and beyond are sensitive to any perceived slights against the former president. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gestures during a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, July 15. | Efrem Lukatsky/AP By Liz Crampton, Joe Gould, Anthony Adragna and Connor O’Brien 09/26/2024 Volodymyr Zelenskyy hasn’t lost Republicans — but he’s on notice. Even some Republican supporters of Ukraine on Capitol Hill said that the Ukrainian President had made a strategic error when he visited a weapons plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania, over the weekend and separately waded into the presidential race by calling JD Vance “too radical” in a recently published interview. The visit to the plant drew rebukes from Speaker Mike Johnson, who condemned it as a partisan campaign event in solidarity with Democrats, while Zelenskyy’s comment on Vance further complicates his swing through the U.S. as he seeks to shore up support in the war against Russia. Republicans are a key constituency for Zelenskyy to satisfy as the escalated conflict with Russia drags on into its second year with no end in sight. But the Pennsylvania visit — and provoking of Vance — may be a stumble for the Ukrainian president, who is already dealing with former President Donald Trump criticizing him for not making concessions to Russia. And with the election less than two months away, Trump’s allies on the Hill and beyond are sensitive to any perceived slights against the former president, including the Ukrainian leader appearing at an event in a key battleground state with Democrats. “I just think it’s a mistake for any foreign leader to get involved in our domestic politics, and Ukraine needs all the friends it can get — so I think it was an unforced error,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said in a brief interview. “I think he needs not to make that mistake again. We have geopolitical reasons to continue to support Ukraine, so I don’t think that’s going to change over one incident.” But despite Republicans’ frustrations, most are not willing to abandon their support for the key ally over the episodes. Pressed on whether Republicans might reevaluate their support for Ukraine based on Zelenskyy’s recent moves, Cornyn shook his head: “Not on my part, and I think people who support Ukraine support Ukraine, not because of the personalities involved, but because of what it means to further Russian expansion in Europe.” House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.), a supporter of Ukraine aid, said Zelenskyy’s visit to Pennsylvania “was not helpful,” though he said it wasn’t discussed “very much” in lawmakers’ meeting with him Thursday. “It’s never smart in any situation where you’re dealing with another country to get involved in this internal politics,” Cole said. “My advice to anybody would be to stay out of American politics. Don’t become an issue, particularly in a partisan election this close and in the final weeks leading up to it where, even if you’re absolutely innocent, anything you do can be taken out of context.” Zelenskyy’s trip to the weapons plant, where Sen. Bob Casey and Gov. Josh Shapiro also appeared, has sparked House Republican investigations from some of Trump’s allies on the Hill, including Rep. Andy Biggs, and demands from Johnson that Zelenskyy fire his ambassador to the U.S. But those GOP lawmakers supportive of Ukraine’s fight against Russia — a hefty bloc of elected Republicans staunchly opposed more aid to the country previously — left Thursday meetings with the leader vowing to stay the course. During a press conference in New York on Thursday, Trump said he plans to meet with Zelenskyy at Trump Tower Friday morning but also took the opportunity to dig at the Ukraine president over his comment that Trump doesn’t know how to win the war. “I disagree with him. Well, he doesn’t know me, but, I will say this, I believe I will be able to make a deal between President Putin and President Zelenskyy quite quickly,” he said. Trump lashed out at Zelenskyy on Wednesday for not making concessions to Russia, giving his strongest indication to date he would stop backing Kyiv if he wins the U.S. presidential election. Speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania, Trump told the crowd that any deal would be better than the situation Ukraine is currently in. “We continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal, Zelenskyy,” Trump said. Trump has said many times that Russia wouldn’t have invaded Ukraine in 2022 if he was president and has claimed that he’ll negotiate an end to the war if he returns to the Oval Office, though during his debate with Harris he wouldn’t say if he wanted Ukraine to win. On Thursday, ahead of his press conference in New York City, Trump posted a letter to social media purportedly from Zelenskyy requesting a meeting with him in the city on Friday. Still, some of Ukraine’s Republican backers were ready to turn the page and put the emphasis on the current president’s narrowing window to help Kyiv. “You hit him, he’s going to hit you back,” Graham said of Trump. “And we don’t need any more of that. What we need is a change in strategy. The war hinges on what Biden does this week, not what Trump may do.” Several Republicans, of course, have long been skeptical of — and many have outright opposed — continued U.S. defense aid to Ukraine. Vance, has been among the most outspoken in suggesting the war in Ukraine is of little consequence to America. At the White House, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre suggested on Thursday that the GOP outcry was hypocritical, a transparent attempt to justify an opposition to backing Ukraine that is already deeply rooted. Zelenskyy’s visit to Pennsylvania, Jean-Pierre told reporters, was “something the Ukrainians asked for.” She pointed to the Ukrainian president’s July visit to Utah where he appeared with Republican Gov. Spencer Cox. “They did this a couple of months ago in Utah with a Republican governor,” Jean-Pierre said. “We didn’t hear any investigation request when he went to a Republican state.” Lawmakers in both parties said that Zelenskyy ought to be afforded some latitude as he fights for the future of his country. Senate Foreign Relations Chair Ben Cardin (D-Md.) suggested there ought not to be so much pearl-clutching from some Republicans. “Let’s not get overly politically sensitive here,” Cardin said in an interview. “Let’s give this guy a little bit of a break; he’s speaking out for Ukraine. He’s made very clear he’s not engaged in the politics of this country, so don’t draw him into them. It’s too serious of an issue.” Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) said Zelenskyy should stay above the political fray, but underscored the substance of the Ukrainian president’s bipartisan Senate meeting. Zelenskyy previewed the contours of his victory plan for the war, Hoeven said, which focused on a request for more military extensive capabilities using money that Congress provided in April, rather than seeking more U.S. funding for the war effort. In addition to his push for the Biden administration to ease restrictions on striking into Russian territory with U.S. weapons, Hoeven said Zelenskyy told them Ukraine needs more F-16 fighters and long-range missiles. “Obviously, he has to stay out of anything related to our politics or the election here. That’s true in any situation like this, where you’re dealing with a foreign leader,” Hoeven said. “The real key, though, today is that he met with senators on both sides of the aisle. And what we talked about, at least what I really want to talk to him about, is how do you get to an end to the war that works for Ukraine and what does it take.” Eli Stokols and Lisa Kashinsky contributed to this report.
Woman admits to running US brothel network that catered to politicians, execs By Nate Raymond September 28, 2024 https://www.reuters.com/world/us/wo...rk-that-catered-politicians-execs-2024-09-27/ The exterior of John Jospeh Moakley U.S. Courthouse in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., November 28, 2018. REUTERS/Katherine Taylor/File Photo BOSTON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - A Massachusetts woman pleaded guilty on Friday to running a high-end brothel network in the greater Boston area and the suburbs of Washington that served wealthy and well-connected clientele including politicians, corporate executives, lawyers and military officers. Han Lee appeared in Boston federal court to plead guilty to charges that she conspired to persuade, induce and entice primarily Asian women to travel to Massachusetts and Virginia to engage in prostitution and committed money laundering. She was the first to admit wrongdoing of the three individuals who prosecutors charged in November in connection with a sex ring run out of apartment complexes in Cambridge and Watertown, Massachusetts and Fairfax and Tysons, Virginia. Lee, 42, faces up to 25 years in prison when she is sentenced Dec. 20. She stressed when addressing U.S. District Judge Julia Kobick that while she ran an illegal prostitution business, she did not force any women to engage in sex work. "I simply want to emphasize that I did not control the women," she said through a Korean interpreter. Another defendant, Junmyung Lee, is slated to plead guilty on Oct. 30. The third defendant, James Lee, has pleaded not guilty but is in talks to resolve his case, according to court records. Prosecutors say clients paid $350 to $600 per hour for sexual encounters with women featured on two websites that advertised nude models for professional photography as a front for Han Lee's prostitution business, which had operated since at least 2020. Authorities have estimated the network's customer base was in the hundreds and say it included elected officials, pharmaceutical and technology executives, doctors, military officers, professors, lawyers, business executives, scientists and accountants. No client has been identified. Federal prosecutors after announcing the case pursued referrals to local authorities for potential state-level charges in Massachusetts and Virginia against the alleged customers. In December, Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy said authorities were seeking state-level charges against 28 alleged brothel clients in Massachusetts. Those cases have been tied up in litigation now before the state's highest court over whether the media can attend so-called "show cause" hearings that are normally closed to the public in which a clerk-magistrate would decide whether probable cause exists to charge the men with misdemeanors. Prosecutors in Virginia also received referrals but ultimately concluded they did not have sufficient evidence to make a case against any clients under the state's solicitation statute, said Laura Birnbaum, a spokesperson for Fairfax Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano. Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi; Editing by Richard Chang
Israel Is Cut by Moody’s Again as War Takes Economic Toll Two-notch downgrade leaves nation three steps above junk Israel sees cost of conflicts reaching $66 billion by end-2025 By Galit Altstein September 27, 2024 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...as-war-takes-economic-toll?srnd=homepage-asia Israel was downgraded for the second time this year by Moody’s Ratings as the economic costs mount from almost 12 months of fighting in Gaza and an escalating conflict with Hezbollah. Moody’s cut Israel by two notches to Baa1 from A2, the ratings company said in a statement Friday, leaving the country three steps above non-investment grade. The outlook remains negative. The “geopolitical risk has intensified significantly further, to very high levels, with material negative consequences for Israel’s creditworthiness in both the near and longer term,” Moody’s said in an unscheduled announcement. “The intensity of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has increased significantly in recent days.” There’s little sign the war against Hamas is coming to an end, even if the intensity of fighting has eased. Israel has ramped up hostilities against Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based militant group, significantly in the past two weeks, and fears are mounting about a potential ground invasion and regional conflict. The US, France and Arab states are frantically stepping up diplomatic efforts to avoid that scenario. Yali Rothenberg, the Finance Ministry’s General Accountant, called the downgrade “excessive and unjustified.” “The intensity of the rating action taken does not match the fiscal and macroeconomic data of the Israeli economy,” he said. “It is clear that the war on the various fronts exacts a price from the Israeli economy, but there is no justification for the rating company’s decision.” Moody’s decision was made even before Israel struck Hezbollah’s headquarters in southern Beirut on Friday in the heaviest attack on the Lebanese capital in almost two decades. The development, a major escalation of hostilities, could further intensify the raging multi-front conflict in the Middle East, at least temporarily. The conflicts have proved financially costly for Israel. Government spending and the budget deficit are soaring, while sectors such as tourism, agriculture and construction have slumped. Israeli officials estimated the cost of the conflicts through the end of next year would amount to roughly $66 billion, or more than 12% of gross domestic product. That figure was based on the fighting with Hezbollah not escalating into an full-blown confrontation. Israel’s 12-month trailing budget deficit stood at 8.3% of GDP in August. The country’s full-year fiscal gap is set to be the widest this century, excluding the Covid-19 pandemic. This month, the finance ministry cut its 2024 economic growth projection to 1.1% from 1.9%. The estimate for next year was lowered to 4.4% from 4.6%. “Decisive and quick steps” must be taken to approve a state budget for 2025, said Rothenberg. “The state budget must encourage growth engines, investment in infrastructure, consideration of social needs and response to Israel’s security requirements,” he added. The government’s borrowing — most of it in the domestic market — has soared to fund the war effort. The shekel has been resilient, thanks in large part to the central bank announcing a $30 billion package to support the currency soon after the war against Hamas erupted in October. Still, Israeli bonds have taken a hit. Yields on 10-year shekel notes are up almost 100 basis points this year and their spreads over US Treasuries are at an 11-year high. Israel’s dollar bonds are among the worst-performing globally when compared to other sovereign issuers, according to Bloomberg indexes. Moody’s lowered Israel’s rating to A2 from A1 in February, in what was the country’s first-ever downgrade. The conflict will “materially raise political risk for Israel as well as weaken its executive and legislative institutions and its fiscal strength, for the foreseeable future,” Moody’s said at the time. Back then, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu downplayed the impact of the move, which was followed by S&P Global Ratings downgrading Israel to A+ and Fitch Ratings lowering it to A. Hezbollah and Hamas are both backed by Iran and designated as terrorist groups by the US. Netanyahu says the military’s bombardment of Hezbollah targets will continue until Israelis displaced from northern communities are able to return home. Hezbollah says its attacks on Israel won’t stop until there’s a cease fire in Gaza.
There'll be no cease fire in Gaza. Biden will keep supplying bombs, Israel will hasten to use them. The more Israel runs out of bombs, the more USA will want to top up the supply. And round and round we go. Meanwhile "Doh!"