SNAKE IN THE GRASS: Bill Barr Appointed Prosecutor Who Indicted Pro-Trump Twitter User For Posting 2016 Election Memes

Case targeting Trump supporters who posted Twitter memes in 2016 was put together in 2020 under Barr's Department of Justice

Seth DuCharme, the Eastern District of New York Acting U.S. Attorney who indicted pro-Trump Twitter user Douglas Mackey for “disseminating misinformation” in the form of memes during the 2016 election cycle, was appointed to his position in 2020 by disgraced former Attorney General Bill Barr.

On Wednesday, DuCharme, alongside officials from the FBI and DOJ, announced that Mackey had been arrested and indicted for tweets in 2016 from the “Ricky Vaughn” Twitter account regarding the 2016 election.

“With Mackey’s arrest, we serve notice that those who would subvert the democratic process in this manner cannot rely on the cloak of Internet anonymity to evade responsibility for their crimes,” DuCharme declared.

The prosecution of Mackey for memes that upset powerful Democrats can be traced back to July 2018, when he was appointed Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General under Bill Barr, acting as a confidant.

https://nationalfile.com/snake-in-the-grass-bill-barr-appointed-prosecutor-who-indicted-pro-trump-twitter-user-for-posting-2016-election-memes/

O.J. Simpson gloats over getting his COVID-19 ‘shot’ on Twitter

O.J. Simpson tweeted a photo of himself getting a coronavirus vaccination in Las Vegas on Friday — along with some gloating advice:

“Get your shot. I got mine!!!”

The photo posted to Simpson’s Twitter account shows him getting a jab in his left upper arm; the person wielding the needle is wearing protective gloves, a white lab coat, a surgical mask and a clear plastic face shield.

Within minutes the photo was ricocheting around the web, with some noting that the health care worker’s gloves did not fit.

“OJ getting stabbed by a person whose gloves don’t fit,” tweeted @RichnotRick. “Guess everything really does come full circle.”

Simpson, 73, has been a notorious troll since starting his Twitter account in 2019.

Simpson’s lawyer, Malcolm P. LaVergne, said his Vegas-based client was able to receive the shot due to his age.

“If you’re 70-plus, you’re eligible for the shot — you can schedule your shot and they’ll do it,” the lawyer noted.

“There’s no favoritism with him being a celebrity — that has nothing to do with his getting the shot.”

And there was no trolling or taunting intended in the tweet, LaVergne insisted.

“He has a pretty substantial Twitter following — this is him telling everyone, trying to motivate people, to get their shot,” he said.

“He’s getting his shot at the earliest possible opportunity and he’s urging everyone as a matter of public service to please get yours, too.”

https://nypost.com/2021/01/29/o-j-simpson-gloats-over-getting-his-shot-on-twitter/

Google 'click fraud' legal battle looms

A fresh legal battle is brewing against Google over claims the tech giant is turning a blind eye to 'click fraud'.

'Click fraud' occurs when a bot imitates a legitimate user and clicks on an ad.

This drives up the cost of advertising as it is based on a pay-per-click system.

Lawfirm Matrix Legal says it has been approached by a number of small businesses citing growing concerns over the practice.

https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6227480537001

Government Agent Whose Altered Email Enabled the Russia Hoax Won't Spend a Day in Jail or Pay Any Fine

The Russia hoax undermined a duly elected president and continues to divide the nation. But one of the key figures who abused the trust of the people will not face prison time, reports Fox News.

Former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith was sentenced to 12 months probation and 400 hours of community service Friday after pleading guilty to making a false statement in the first criminal case arising from Special Counsel John Durham’s investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe.

That false statement had major consequences. The altered email cast suspicion on Page and thereby Trump, and created a false justification to wiretap Page.

The judge noted all the bad outcomes Clinesmith endures as consequences of the actions he knowingly took.

“[He] lost his job, and his government service is what has given his life much of its meaning,” Boasberg said Friday. “He was also earning $150,000 a year and who knows where the earnings go now. He may be disbarred or suspended from the practice of law, you may never be able to work in the national security field again. These are substantial penalties.”

Boasberg added: “What is more, he went from being an obscure career government lawyer to standing in the eye of a media hurricane. He has been threatened, vilified and abused on a nationwide scale.”

Well, as is all too typical of government employees, he was overpaid.

What about the abuse of trust, the destruction of the FBI’s reputation, undermining the FISA court system, and the Russia hoax Clinesmith enabled and which still infects millions of American minds to this day?

“Altering the email has forever changed the course of my life,” Clinesmith said. “I have lost the means to provide for my growing family…lost the ability to give back to my nation… the shame and remorse will stay with me forever.”

The Trump presidency was not allowed to get off to anything like a normal start and was undermined by this case for most of its four years. Trump never truly overcame it despite being exonerated by the Mueller report, which found no American anywhere colluded with the Russians to impact the 2016 election.

Politico reports the prosecutors wanted Clinesmith to spend time in jail.

While prosecutors urged the judge to send Clinesmith to prison to send a message to others in government not to try something similar, Boasberg said he believed that message had already been sent.

Another message has been sent. Clinesmith will be the only Russia hoax figure prosecuted and he need not worry. Some left-wing foundation will give him a do-nothing job before long. Or CNN or MSNBC will give him an on-air analyst role.

https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/bryan-preston/2021/01/29/breaking-government-agent-whose-altered-email-enabled-the-russia-hoax-wont-spend-a-day-in-jail-or-pay-any-fine-n1418749

Dismissals and Discipline at Air Force Academy After 249 Cadets Investigated for Cheating

The Air Force Academy is undertaking a wide-ranging "honor review" after a massive scandal in which some 249 cadets ended up under investigation for some form of cheating.

The alleged honor code violations appear to be a direct result of changes to class structure last spring due to pandemic restrictions.

"Part of the review will focus on the spring semester of 2020, when the Academy made the unprecedented decision in March to send the lower three classes home, approximately 3,000 cadets, in order to best protect their health and safety," academy officials said in a news release Friday. "The decision forced a swift, 8-day transition of the Academy's academic curriculum to at-home remote classes, a first for the traditionally in-person institution. Unfortunately, amidst these extraordinary circumstances and challenges, 249 cadets were suspected of violating the Academy's Honor Code."

The release noted that the honor code violations entailed various forms of cheating, including improper source citation, "using unauthorized online tutoring websites to receive solutions to exam questions in real time," and completing exams in small groups rather than individually. The cheating behavior was discovered through established Dean of Faculty academic safeguards.

A spokesman for the Air Force Academy told Military.com that two cadets had been dismissed as a result of infractions. He did not immediately have information about how many cadets had admitted to cheating and how many investigations are still underway.

The release noted, however, that the "vast majority" of those suspected have admitted to cheating and been placed on a six-month probation and remediation program.

While on probation, the spokesman said, students cannot represent the academy at any sporting events or competitions or participate in any academy clubs. Remediation, he said, consists of additional honor code training and instruction to make clear what behaviors are off-limits.

"Probation and remediation have proven to be effective tools, where more than 90% of cadets who go through remediation do not commit another Honor Code infraction," officials said.

The review will generate findings and recommendations to improve and clarify the honor code, according to the release. It's being undertaken in collaboration with AF CyberWorx, a public-private initiative with an emphasis on cyber capability, and will entail conversations with alumni, cadets, leaders and other stakeholders.

"The Honor Review Committee will focus on reviewing tenets of the current Honor Program, previous Honor assessments, studies, reports, and surveys," officials said in the release. "They will also look at internal processes, structures, and activities associated with the Honor Program. After completion, changes and timing will be implemented based on the conclusions and suggestions of the review."

Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, superintendent of the academy, emphasized the need to see behavior change as a result of the review.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/01/29/dismissals-and-discipline-air-force-academy-after-249-cadets-investigated-cheating.html