Watchdog sues DOJ to force release of records related to Durham probe

Empower Oversight group seeking records, among others, about senior official Susan Hennessey, who was a critic of Durham probe before she joined DOJ.

A nonprofit watchdog group on Wednesday sued the Justice Department, seeking to force the release of documents related to Special Counsel John Durham's inquiry into wrongdoing during the FBI's now-discredited Trump-Russia investigation.

Empower Oversight's lawsuit seeks to enforce two Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests from last summer that sought records detailing Durham's independence from political interference.

One of those requests concerns DOJ's hiring of Susan Hennessey inside the department's National Security Division. Prior to her appointment by President Biden's administration, Hennessey deleted thousands of tweets from her Twitter account, including posts that had disparaged the investigation run by Durham, the group said.

"Empower Oversight has been incredibly patient in attempting to work with the Justice Department since last summer," Empower Oversight Founder and President Jason Foster said. "But the issues raised in our filings are key to ensuring public faith in the integrity, independence, and objectivity of the DOJ's handling of the Durham probe."

You can read the full lawsuit here:

File

2022-02-22-eo-v-doj-complaint-exhibits.pdf

Hennesy's appointment has raised concerns in Congress about potential conflicts of interest. Beyond her Twitter criticisms, Hennessey has extensive ties to the Brookings Institution, and one of the men indicted in the Durham investigation, Igor Danchenko, is a former employee of the think tank, the group noted.

Last summer, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland about Hennessey, saying they had "concerns about potential conflicts of several Biden Justice Department officials and can't get a straight answer from the attorney general.”

Empower Oversight's lawsuit seeks documents related to Hennessey's hiring and any steps taken — such as recusing herself from participating in any Durham-related decisions — to mitigate the appearance that Ms. Hennessey's biases could undermine the objectivity and independence of Durham's probe.

It also seeks documents detailing Garland's commitment to fully fund Durham's budget. During his confirmation hearing, he was asked whether he will provide Durham with the requisite funds necessary to see his investigation through, and he refused to make a clear commitment.

https://justthenews.com/accountability/russia-and-ukraine-scandals/watchdog-sues-doj-force-release-records-related-durham

https://justthenews.com/sites/default/files/2022-02/2022-02-22-eo-v-doj-complaint-exhibits.pdf

Mike Pompeo: What Is Happening in Canada Can Happen in America

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that governmental restrictions on human rights in Canada highlight the importance of protecting constitutional rights in America on the Wednesday edition of the Breitbart News Daily podcast with host Alex Marlow.

Pompeo described Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s invocation of the Emergencies Act as “shocking” and “unconscionable.”

He stated, “It’s been pretty shocking to watch them invoke this series of emergency acts [and observe] the lengths that they have taken to use this law to undermine the right of people just to simply go out and demand the things that matter to their families, to their livelihoods.”

Pompeo recalled that the Freedom Convoy arose in opposition to federally imposed vaccine mandates on truckers. Such mandates “[require] people sitting in a cab of a truck who drive thousands of miles [to be] vaccinated,” he noted. “It’s not scientific. It’s deeply political.”

The former secretary of state contrasted the U.S. Constitution with the Constitution Canada and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

“It reminds us how important our Constitution is, as well,” he determined. “They don’t have one. They don’t have a First Amendment. It reminds us how dear these things are, and how much we have to protect them.”

He warned, “We saw some of this — and are seeing some of this — in our own political system. We shouldn’t forget, we had government shut down churches and synagogues and let bars stay open. This is not something that is just on the other side of the border.”

“While what Trudeau has done is unconscionable, we need to make sure that here at home, we don’t permit authoritarian leaders here to take those same kinds of actions,” he concluded.

https://www.breitbart.com/radio/2022/02/23/exclusive-mike-pompeo-what-is-happening-in-canada-can-happen-in-america/

Morgan Ortagus Fundraiser Hosted by Jan 6th-Bashing RINOS Who Declared Donald Trump ‘Unfit’ For Office.

The list of hosts for the Trump-backed candidate raises further questions as to the endorsement.

The controversial, Trump-backed Tennessee congressional candidate Morgan Ortagus is holding a fundraiser sponsored by several people who’ve publicly condemned and declared the former president “unfit” for office, The National Pulse can reveal.

Among the special guests featured at the upcoming Washington, D.C. fundraiser are establishment conservatives including Senator Lindsey Graham – who Trump recently blasted as “a RINO” – as well as Freedom Caucus-basher and Paul Ryan ally Dan Crenshaw.

The news will raise further questions as to the endorsement from Trump, whose base appears overwhelmingly in favor of another candidate, Robby Starbuck.

But even worse than Graham and Crenshaw are the co-sponsors of the event – including officials and commentators who have ruthlessly bashed Trump.

Former Massachusetts Republican lieutenant governor Kerry Healey, a co-sponsor of the fundraiser, publicly stated she wouldn’t vote for Trump in 2016. When asked if voting for a third-party candidate was a throw-away vote, Healey said, “It’s the only scenario that seems to offer an alternative to those of us who feel caught in the middle.”

Similarly, John Noonan, a national security policy advisor to Jeb Bush and foreign policy advisor and speechwriter for Mitt Romney, wrote an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times titled “I was a Minuteman III nuclear launch officer. Take it from me: We can’t let Trump become president” in 2016.

“I believe my party’s nominee for president is mentally unfit to assume this heavy responsibility,” he wrote before adding: “Trump cannot be trusted with weapons that can kill millions. He cannot be handed the nuclear “football” – a briefcase containing the war plans and codes for our nuclear forces—and be made responsible for its contents.”

“These duties are simply too grave to entrust to a man who has exhibited sociopathic and chronically narcissistic behavior throughout his checkered career.”

Gabriel Noronha, a former Trump State Department official who was fired after going on a public Twitter tirade against his boss, is also sponsoring the March 2nd event.

“President Trump fomented an insurrectionist mob that attacked the Capitol today. He continues to take every opportunity to obstruct the peaceful transfer of power,” Noronha tweeted. “These actions threaten our democracy and our Republic. Trump is entirely unfit to remain in office, and needs to go.”

Co-sponsor Charlie Spies appears to have several tweets celebrating the inauguration of President Joe Biden. “Congratulations to President Biden and Vice President Harris. May G-d Bless you with wisdom and justice and continue to bless America. #InaugurationDay 🇺🇸,” he wrote on January 20th, 2021 in addition to expressing his cat’s excitement for the Biden takeover and praising Amanda Gorman’s poetry recitation as “great.”

The Ortagus fundraiser is due to take place on March 2nd on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, with attendees stumping up at least $250 for a ticket.

https://thenationalpulse.com/2022/02/23/trump-backed-ortagus-to-host-rino-fundraiser/

TRUTH Social Slaps 'Sensitive Material' Label on Post from Stew Peters

“I’m ALREADY being censored on Truth Social. Want to know what I said?” Peters wrote in a Gab post. “I said, ‘The people in our government responsible for allowing our kids to be killed with these dangerous Covid shots, should be put on trial and executed.’ Free Speech isn’t free.” The post was slapped with a warning label from Truth Social but left undisturbed by Gab and Telegram.

https://nationalfile.com/truth-social-slaps-sensitive-material-label-post-stew-peters/

Biden Orders More US Troops to Eastern Europe as Russia Evacuates Embassy

The Biden administration on Tuesday ordered more troops into Eastern Europe amid fears Russia will invade Ukraine.

In a speech, President Joe Biden said he would send American troops already based in Europe to the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, as well as Poland.

“Biden directed Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III to move forces within the U.S. European Command’s area of operations to the Baltic Republics, Poland, and Ukraine’s southeastern flank,” said the Department of Defense in a news release. Those forces “will move within a week,” the release added.

Specifically, the DOD “ordered an infantry battalion task force of about 800 soldiers to deploy from Italy to the Baltic region” and also “approved the movement of up to eight F-35 Lightning II aircraft from Germany to operating locations on NATO’s eastern flank.”

Austin ordered some 8,500 U.S. service members to be in a heightened state of readiness if NATO actives its rapid-action forces.

About 20 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters will deploy from Germany to the Baltic states, while 12 Apaches will move from Greece to Poland.

“These additional personnel are being repositioned to reassure our NATO allies, deter any potential aggression against NATO member states, and train with host-nation forces,” DOD officials said in a written statement, according to the release. All forces are under the command of Air Force Gen. Tod D. Wolters, the commander of U.S. European Command.

Overall, there are about 90,000 U.S. troops stationed across Europe, according to the DOD. Earlier this month, the Pentagon ordered all American forces in Ukraine to depart the country amid Russian forces having allegedly massed more than 150,000 troops along its borders.

Biden’s speech, which included an announcement that he would sanction Russian sovereign debt and two banks, came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would recognize the independence of two breakaway Ukrainian regions. Putin also signed an order that authorized sending in Russian troops for what he called peacekeeping purposes.

https://www.ntd.com/biden-orders-more-us-troops-to-eastern-europe-as-russia-evacuates-embassy_743768.html

China Calls Out Canadian Hypocrisy on Human Rights After Crushing Freedom Convoy

The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa on Tuesday lectured Canada on its alleged hypocrisy for denouncing China’s ruthless suppression of the Hong Kong democracy movement in 2019, but using similar iron-fisted tactics to smash the Freedom Convoy protest movement in 2022.

“Back in 2019, when radical elements assaulted the police and wantonly disrupted public order in Hong Kong, the Canadian side asserted that it will “stand up loudly and clearly for human rights all around the world” and wantonly criticized, maligned and smeared the Hong Kong police force,” the Chinese embassy recalled.

“In the eyes of some people in Canada, similar protests and demonstrations should be referred to differently in different places. In Hong Kong, they are a ‘human rights movement,’ but in Canada they are ‘a threat to democracy.’ Such stark double standard is unacceptable,” the embassy snidely concluded.

https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2022/02/23/china-calls-out-canadian-hypocrisy-human-rights-after-crushing-freedom-convoy/

Theft

NSW COVID fine data reveals hotspots in Mount Druitt, Liverpool, Dubbo

During that time the government sought nearly $45 million from people breaching the rules across the state, equating to almost 50,000 individual penalty notices.

That figure has since ballooned to more than $55 million since the start of the pandemic.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-24/nsw-covid-fine-penalty-notice-hotspots-revealed/100855472

FFS nice picture

Australian building giant Probuild collapses after racking up losses

The Australian building giant has become the latest casualty in the construction industry after its financial assistance was pulled.

One of Australia’s major construction companies Probuild, which is working on a number of high profile projects around the country, has collapsed.

Deloitte has been appointed as administrators to handle the company collapse after Probuild’s parent company, WBHO South Africa, announced is was withdrawing any financial assistance for the firm.

“We are caught up in a set of circumstances not of our making,” a Probuild spokesman said.

“We are working closely with the administrator on a number of plans to protect our clients, subcontractors and employees.

“The Probuild brand is strong and we intend to keep it that way. We have several options for raising the necessary capital to continue as a premium Australian building company. These will all be pursued.”

While Probuild directly employs just over 500 staff, there are fears for the impact on thousands more working as subcontractors.

https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/other-industries/australian-building-giant-probuild-collapses-after-racking-up-losses/news-story/29cc4dccaca23d8bebdf51997b75d8e8

Collapse is picking up speed

Pete Buttigieg accepted $250,000 and gifts from mayoral campaign donors who were later awarded $33million in city contracts, raising concerns of 'pay to play' as Transportation Secretary doles out $210billion in infrastructure plan

Documents obtained by DailyMail.com reveal former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg's campaign took a total of $253,750 from 23 companies

Company executives were then awarded a combined $33,310,426 in city contracts from the Board of Public Works whose members Buttigieg appointed

Buttigieg, 40 - now the US Transportation Secretary - will oversee $210billion in discretionary grants under the new bipartisan infrastructure bill

But government watchdogs say the Democrat's pattern of donations and contracts as mayor could present the appearance of a 'pay to play' scandal

'This is alarming, and very concerning, because this is the swamp personified,' Taxpayers Protection Alliance president David Williams told DailyMail.com

Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg's top political donors received millions of dollars in city contracts after giving thousands to his campaigns while he was mayor of South Bend, Indiana.

Buttigieg's political action committees took money from 23 companies who then got jobs from South Bend's Board of Public Works whose members he appointed, documents obtained by DailyMail.com reveal.

On two occasions, the former presidential candidate received donations the same day the companies were awarded contracts.

Other city contractors gifted the mayor cigars, alcohol and golf trips worth hundreds of dollars.

The companies, their executives and spouses donated a total $253,750 to Buttigieg's campaigns, and received a total of at least $33,310,426 in city contracts between 2011 and 2019.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10521059/Pete-Buttigieg-took-250k-donors-awarded-33M-city-contracts-mayor.html

Russia hits back at Morrison 'standing up to bullies' claim

>>15702666

Sauce

https://www.9news.com.au/world/russia-ukraine-update-kremlin-responds-to-australian-sanctions/4bf48b74-0273-4133-b70a-235bc3b80b79

https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1496577835477180425

The letter from Schöpfbeck, BKK board member, on the subject matter to the Paul-Ehrlich Institute, an agency of the German Federal Ministry of Health. The English version is auto-translated (Yandex Translate). h/t @Tim_Roehn

WTF is this supposed to mean

https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1496611640770543619

Fox News' @pdoocy

: "Gas in California is almost $5 a gallon. Should people across the country expect to see that kind of a number when they go to gas up their car?"

@PressSec

: "As you heard the president say last week, standing up for our values is not without cost."

Translate

"our values" are not your values and as such our values include death and pain for you not us

"Widespread societal resistance to COVID-19 is the main route out of the epidemic," Iceland's Ministry of Health said in a statement.

https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1496522581670772738

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/iceland-lift-all-covid-19-restrictions-friday-media-reports-2022-02-23/

Ex-Fort Bragg Soldier Sentenced for Theft of Government Property, Tampering with a Witness, and Fraud

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/pr/ex-fort-bragg-soldier-sentenced-theft-government-property-tampering-witness-and-fraud

Former State Attorney Pleads Guilty To Bribery And Extortion As Part Of Conspiracy With Defense Attorney, As Well As Wire Fraud And Filing False Tax Returns

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/former-state-attorney-pleads-guilty-bribery-and-extortion-part-conspiracy-defense

Dayton-area former investment advisor sentenced to 2 years in prison for Social Security fraud, making false statements regarding theft from local church

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/dayton-area-former-investment-advisor-sentenced-2-years-prison-social-security-fraud

Federal Special Agent Pleads Guilty To Gambling With Government Funds

https://www.justice.gov/usao-nv/pr/federal-special-agent-pleads-guilty-gambling-government-funds

Papadopoulos on Durham Bombshells

LIVE

https://rumble.com/vvojoo-live-papadopoulos-on-durham-bombshells-pfizer-disables-6yr-old-abbott-collu.html

Former Project Manager of the El Reno Wastewater Treatment Plant Sentenced After Pleading Guilty to Violating The Clean Water Act

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdok/pr/former-project-manager-el-reno-wastewater-treatment-plant-sentenced-after-pleading

Three Men Plead Guilty to Conspiring to Provide Material Support to a Plot to Attack Power Grids in the United States

Domestic Terrorism Plot was in Furtherance of White Supremacist Ideology

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/three-men-plead-guilty-conspiring-provide-material-support-plot-attack-power-grids-united

Dr. Shiva Releases Scientific Study Results Revealing Maricopa Counted 200,000+ Ballots with Mismatched Signatures that Were Never Reviewed in 2020 Election

Dr. Shiva released the results of a scientific study of the results of his review of ballot signatures in Maricopa County from the 2020 Election. His results show that Maricopa County likely had more than 200,000 ballots with signature issues that needed to be ‘cured’ but only 25,000 ‘cured’ ballots were reported in the 2020 Election results.

Recall that Dr. Shiva’s team was prohibited from auditing ballot signature matches to records on file during his work performed for the county and presented last fall. Regardless, Dr. Shiva reported over 17,000 duplicates in the 2020 Election results in Maricopa County that he shared in his presentation in front of Arizona’s Senate in September 2021.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/02/breaking-exclusive-dr-shiva-releases-scientific-study-results-revealing-maricopa-counted-200000-ballots-mismatched-signatures-never-reviewed-2020-election/

https://www.scribd.com/document/560905457/ESII-Signature-Verification-Final-Report-Pilot-Study#from_embed

122 Countries On Track To Miss COVID-19 Vaccine Goal

In October 2021, the WHO’s Independent Allocation of Vaccines Group (IAVG) outlined its Strategy to Achieve Global COVID-19 Vaccination by Mid-2022. In it, the group called for an internationally coordinated vaccine rollout to reach the following objectives: achieve 10 percent vaccine coverage in all countries by the end of September 2021, 40 percent coverage in all countries by the end of December and, ultimately, 70 percent vaccine coverage in all countries halfway through 2022.

By the time the strategy was made public, Statista's Felix Richter notes that the 10 percent goal had been missed by 56 countries, while 70 countries had already surpassed the 40 percent target by the end of September.

In late December, the IAVG rang the alarm bells once again, saying that 98 countries were about to miss the 40 percent target, citing “the severe vaccine supply constraints to COVAX, which persisted until the last quarter of 2021” as the main reason for the shortfall.

Aside from supply constraints, which are expected to gradually ease in 2022, the IAVG identified further challenges in achieving the 70 percent coverage goal by mid-2022.

“The increase in volumes will create challenges in absorption capacity in resource-poor settings. This includes the capacity to receive, store, distribute, administer, and to record vaccine use, including wastage,” the group warned, before adding that widespread misinformation fueling vaccine hesitancy will be another hurdle in achieving its immunization goal.

According to latest estimates by Our World in Data, large parts of the world are likely to fall short of the WHO’s vaccination target.

Looking at current coverage and the rate of new vaccinations over the past 14 days, the researchers find that 122 countries are currently on a trajectory to miss the 70 percent vaccination goal by the end of June 2022, while 34 countries are on track to meet the target.

Meanwhile most high-income countries have already surpassed the 70 percent milestone, further illustrating the wide gulf in global vaccine distribution.

https://www.zerohedge.com/covid-19/122-countries-track-miss-covid-19-vaccine-goal

>>15703056

>>15703012 FF averted

Ukraine's parliament votes to allow citizens to carry guns, act in self-defense amid Russian invasion. Gun stores are already bustling.

'If they come, we will shoot at them from every window.'

As Russia continues to threaten a full-scale military invasion, the Ukrainian parliament on Wednesday approved a draft law giving citizens permission to carry firearms and act in self-defense — and within hours, gun stores were bustling.

Reuters reported that the draft measure was approved on "the first reading."

Its authors reportedly stated in a note that "the adoption of this law is fully in the interests of the state and society," adding that the law is needed due to "existing threats and dangers for the citizens of Ukraine."

The move comes only days after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered "peacekeeping" troops to the Russian-speaking regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in southeastern Ukraine. Onlookers, including President Joe Biden, called the brazen maneuver the beginning of an invasion.

Russia has been massing troops on its border with Ukraine for weeks and has recently begun threatening war while continually insisting there are no invasion plans. But as of Wednesday, as many as 80% of Russia's approximately 150,000 stationed troops now appear to be in ready position, a senior U.S. defense official warned, according to the Hill.

The imminent threat of a large-scale assault has prompted Ukraine's government to issue a 30-day state of emergency, under which the Eastern European country has begun calling up military reservists and has drafted the measure to allow ordinary civilians to carry firearms.

Ukrainians reportedly responded to the draft law by descending en masse on gun stores. The Guardian reported Wednesday that the threat of attack on Kyiv has caused "an unprecedented rush to buy arms."

Gun shops are reportedly experiencing long lines already as Ukrainian citizens bolt to purchase guns, ammunition, and sniper rifles. Some weapons, such as the AR-10 and AR-15, have already sold out in gun stores.

"Of course, I’m worried about the situation," one Ukrainian told the news outlet, speaking from the basement of a gun store in central Kyiv. "I’m hoping for the best but preparing for everything."

Another citizen said, "I’ve bought two sniper complexes with good optics. I’ve also ordered a drone on Amazon. It hasn’t turned up yet."

Armed up, he felt bullish about his country's chances against an occupying Russian force.

"We can win against Russia. This isn’t 2014," he said. "We have heavy weapons, thanks to U.S. and U.K. If they come, we will shoot at them from every window."

https://www.theblaze.com/news/ukraine-parliament-allows-citizens-to-carry-guns

https://www.theblaze.com/news/ukraine-parliament-allows-citizens-to-carry-guns

>>15703145

arm the people who hate their government