SolarWinds – Targeted by Massive Cyberattack – Hires Kamala Harris’s Husband’s Former CCP-Linked Law Firm As Lobbyists

SolarWinds, a software vendor used by the U.S. government and recently a target of a massive cyberattack, has retained the former law firm of Vice President Kamala Harris’s husband as its lobbyist.

Emhoff previously served as a Partner in DLA Piper’s Intellectual Property and Technology practice and its Media, Sport, and Entertainment sector. Emhoff, however, departed the firm on November 10th in an effort to “work with the Biden-Harris transition team to develop the portfolio he will focus on to support the work of the administration.”

While Emhoff may have professed to sever ties with DLA Piper, the law firm has continued its government-focused lobbying and legal practice.

On December 16th, 2020, SolarWinds retained DLA Piper’s Washington D.C. office as its lobbyist.

On January 21st – one day after the inauguration of President Biden and Vice President Harris – the firm reported its earnings of $130,000 and continued the contract.

The original filing revealed the company was tasked with lobbying the U.S. House and Senate on the issue of “providing information to Congress regarding the “Sunburst” cyberattack on SolarWinds.”

Among the lobbyists for the account are former Republican Congressman Charlie Dent, who backed Biden in the 2020 election and Tony Samp, a former Senior Policy Advisor to potential Biden administration member Senator Martin Heinrich.

The unearthed filing follows “mounting pressure” for the Biden administration to address the SolarWinds breach per CNN:

Despite announcing a thorough intelligence review of Russian misconduct, President Joe Biden’s administration faces mounting pressure to respond to one of the worst data breaches ever to hit the US government.

“Speaking to reporters Wednesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the administration would “reserve the right to respond at a time and manner of our choosing to any cyberattack,” but that staffers were only “just getting onto their computers.” She declined to answer a question about whether Biden intended to raise the spying issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin,” the outlet added.

https://thenationalpulse.com/news/solarwinds-targeted-by-massive-cyberattack-hires-kamala-harriss-husbands-former-ccp-linked-law-firm-as-lobbyists/

Alleged Leaders of Gangster Disciples Indicted on Federal Racketeering Charges

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/alleged-leaders-gangster-disciples-indicted-federal-racketeering-charges

Democrat Patrick Leahy To Preside Over Trump Impeachment Trial Instead Of Chief Justice Roberts

Democrats push impeachment trial into the realm of Third World kangaroo courts with announcement the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court will not preside

In a move that has left many questioning the legitimacy of the impeachment process, US Senate leadership announced Monday that United States Supreme Court Justice John Roberts will not preside over the second impeachment trial of former President Donald J. Trump.

It was announced Monday that US Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), who also serves and the President Pro Tempore and who is the most senior member of the Senate Democrat Conference, will instead preside over the trial.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, not Supreme Court chief justice, to preside over impeachment trial since Trump is no longer president https://t.co/ANAZrr443a

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) January 25, 2021

The choice of Leahy presents a clear conflict of interest that is two-fold.

First, Leahy voted to convict then-President Trump on two articles of impeachment during the first impeachment trial.

Second, the Senator from Vermont has demonstrated himself to be a partisan Democrat, making his presiding over any adjudication of an impeachment trial of a Republican tainted and illegitimate.

A spokesman for Leahy told reporters that the decision on who would preside over the impeachment trial was the purview of Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

“Leaders have been negotiating all process issues about the trial, and all along we have deferred to them for any announcements about this and all other process matters,” the aide said.

What’s this based on??? There has NEVER been an impeachment trial of a former president because the Constitution does NOT allow for it.

Also, Patrick Leahy is a stone cold partisan.

If Leahy will be presiding, any semblance of fairness or due process goes out the window. https://t.co/uFnr0ZLk1G

— Boris Epshteyn (@BorisEP) January 25, 2021

The Article I, Section 3 of the US Constitution makes it clear that not only is impeachment meant to remove a sitting president from office, but when a President of the United States is to stand trial on impeachment charges the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court must preside.

In matters of criminal behavior – or alleged criminal behavior – on the part of a former President, Article I, Section 3 leaves no doubt that the purview of actions rests solely and exclusively with the Judiciary Branch, not the Legislative Branch.

Constitutionally, the US Senate has no authority to hold an impeachment trial regardless of who is presiding because Mr. Trump is a former President and cannot be removed from office. The argument of the provision of disqualification that can be attached to the impeachment of a sitting president is moot.

Some Republicans on The Hill have advanced these constitutional truths; that the Senate shouldn’t be trying a former-President and that only Roberts should be presiding.

“There’s only one constitutional process for impeachment and it is of the president, not a president,” said Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO). “[And] it requires the Chief Justice to preside.”

https://nationalfile.com/democrat-patrick-leahy-to-preside-over-trump-impeachment-trial-instead-of-chief-justice-roberts/

Leon Black Steps Down As Apollo CEO After Review Of Jeffrey Epstein Ties

Leon Black will step down as CEO of Apollo Global Management, the giant private equity company he founded in 1990 and built into a $433 billion financial powerhouse that has become a big lender to corporate America. The announcement came as Apollo revealed the conclusion of a review by law firm Dechert into Black’s relationship with the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, which reportedly "cleared" Black and Apollo of any "involvement in criminal activities" with Epstein.

“I have advised the Apollo board that I will retire as C.E.O. on or before my 70th birthday in July and remain as chairman,” Black said in a statement.

Over the past year and a half, Apollo CEO and founder Leon Black had been caught in a web of allegations that he was "too close" to suicided and disgraced pedophile Jeffrey Epstein after it emerged Black had paid Epstein $158 million after he was released from jail. And while Black published a letter in which he admitted that "it was a terrilble mistake" to associated with Epstein and "like many people I respected, I decided to give Epstein a second chance," Black said last October, it wasn't nearly enough as some asset managers froze their new capital allocations to Apollo. It eventually prompted Apollo to hire Dechert to conduct an "independent review" of Black's dealings with Epstein to clear Black's - and Apollo's - name.

Well, today after the close, Apollo said the Conflicts Committee completed its independent review of Black’s previous professional relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and publicly released the report which found no evidence that Mr. Black was involved in the criminal activities of the late Epstein, who was indicted in 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges involving underage girls.

Among the key findings of the Dechert report:

Apollo never retained Epstein for any services and Epstein never invested in any Apollo-managed funds

Dechert found no evidence that Black was involved in any way with Epstein’s criminal activities at any time

Black “believed, and witnesses generally agreed, that Epstein provided advice that conferred more than $1 billion and as much as $2 billion or more” in tax savings, the report states, which - needless to say - is ridiculous for a person who was already surrounded by the biggest tax experts on earth who also happened to be Black's employees.

The report supports Black’s contention that he paid Epstein a fee he believed was roughly equivalent to 5% of the value that late financier generated on an after-tax basis, according to the WSJ. It describes the two men’s relationship deteriorating beginning in 2016 after a fee dispute…. even though Black’s last payment to Epstein was made in April 2017.

Black also asked employees of his family office; attorneys at law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP; and other outside accountants, lawyers and tax professionals to vet and challenge Epstein’s advice when it was given, the report states.

“In short, there is no question that Epstein performed substantive work for Black and that Black genuinely believed that Epstein was extremely smart, capable, and saved him substantial amounts of money,” the report says.

And yet, while superficially all that is is great… everything about this announcement stinks. Like for example, why was Black ousted as a result of an "attempted boardroom coup" with the NYT writing that Black "engaged in a brief power struggle this weekend over control of the firm, a rift that opened up after an inquiry revealed that one founder — Apollo’s chief executive and chairman, Leon Black — had paid $150 million to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein."

Needless to say, the so-called "acquittal" doesn't explain why Black is set to retire as CEO effective on or before July 31 (but retain the Chairman title), and is to be replaced with Marc Rowan, a man who last July Apollo said would take a step back from his day-to-day responsibilities and embark on a "semisabatical."

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/leon-black-steps-down-apollo-ceo-after-review-jeffrey-epstein-ties

Former Veterans Affairs Doctor Sentenced to Prison for Sexual Abuse of Veterans

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-veterans-affairs-doctor-sentenced-prison-sexual-abuse-veterans

Biden Admin Ramping Up Effort to Remove Andrew Jackson and Put Harriet Tubman on $20 Bill

The Biden administration is looking for ways to remove Andrew Jackson from the $20 bill and replace him with Harriet Tubman as soon as possible.

The effort to replace Jackson with Tubman had stalled under President Donald Trump.

“The Treasury Department is taking steps to resume efforts to put Harriett Tubman on the front of the $20 notes,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said during a briefing.

Psaki rambled on about “diversity” on money before saying that they are “exploring ways to speed up that effort.”

“It’s important that our notes, our money … reflect the history and diversity of our country, and Harriet Tubman’s image gracing the new $20 note would certainly reflect that,” she added. “So we’re exploring ways to speed up that effort.”

The removal of Jackson was announced by the Treasury Department in 2016 during the Obama administration. They had previously hoped to unveil the redesign by 2020, but was squashed by the Trump admin.

The Treasury Department originally considered replacing Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill, but activists demanded they replace Jackson instead due to his “role in moving Native Americans off their land.”

Trump had criticized the decision during his 2016 campaign, calling it “pure political correctness.”

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/01/biden-admin-ramping-effort-remove-andrew-jackson-put-harriet-tubman-20-bill-video/

FBI Agents Arrest ‘Walkaway’ Founder Brandon Straka

FBI agents arrested ‘Walkaway’ founder Brandon Straka on Monday for his ‘actions’ at the US Capitol on January 6.

The ‘WalkAway’ campaign began on Facebook in the summer of 2018 after Straka, a handsome, gay hairdresser from New York posted a video explaining why he was walking away from the Democrat party.

The Walkaway movement attracted tens of thousands of people, making Straka a target of the Marxist left.

Straka, 44, was taken into custody on Monday by agents from the FBI Omaha Field Office and faces charges of impeding a law enforcement officer during civil disorder, knowingly entering and remaining on restricted grounds without lawful authority and/or engaging in disorderly conduct within proximity to a restricted building to impede official functions and engaging in disorderly conduct with intent to disturb a hearing before Congress.

According to the complaint, the FBI received many tips about Brandon Straka’s involvement in the protest at the Capitol, including one from his own relative.

KETV reported:

Court documents show that officials were tipped off about Straka posting a video near the Capitol entrance, shouting “go, go!” The video was later removed and officials said they could not find any video or posts on his Twitter page relating to his actions at the Capitol.

However, the FBI was sent multiple screenshots. These screenshots reportedly revealed that Straka made the following comments on Twitter on Jan. 6.:

“Patriots at the Capitol – HOLD. THE. LINE!!!!”

“I arrived at the Capitol a few hours ago as Patriots were storming from all sides. I was quite close to entering myself as police began tear-gassing us from the door. I inhaled tear gas & got it in my eyes. Patriots began exiting shortly after saying Congress had been cleared.”

“I’m completely confused. For 6-8 weeks everybody on the right has been saying ‘1776!’ & that if congress moves forward it will mean a revolution! So congress moves forward. Patriots storm the Capitol – now everybody is virtual signaling their embarrassment that this happened.”

“Also- be embarrassed & hide if you need to- but I was there. It was not Antifa at the Capitol. It was freedom loving Patriots who were DESPERATE to fight for the final hope of our Republic because literally nobody cares about them. Everyone else can denounce them. I will not.”

“Perhaps I missed the part where it was agreed this would be a revolution of ice cream cones & hair-braiding parties to take our government back from lying, cheating globally interested swamp parasites. My bad.”

This is a breaking story…please refresh for updates.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/01/breaking-fbi-agents-arrest-walkaway-founder-brandon-straka/