Russia withdraws from Council of Baltic Sea States — Foreign Ministry statement

The Ministry noted that Western states have "monopolized the Council in their own conjunctural goals," and no perspectives are seen for restoration of normal operation of the Council, "sinking ever into Russophobia and lies"

Russia made an official decision to withdraw from the Council of the Baltic Sea States, Russian Foreign Ministry announced in its statement Tuesday.

"In response to hostile actions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov sent a message to envoys of CBSS member states, EU High Representative [Josep Borrell], as well as to the Council Secretariat in Stockholm, notifying them about [Russia’s] withdrawal from the organization. Simultaneously, the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation decided to withdraw from the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference," the statement reads.

The Ministry underscored that this decision will not affect Russia’s presence in the region.

"Attempts to push our country away from the Baltic are doomed to fail. We will continue working with responsible partners, hold event on key issues of development of the Baltic Region - our common heritage, we will continue to protect interests of our compatriots," the Ministry added. "The current situation in the council is on the conscience of those who destroyed the foundations of this organization."

"The situation in the Council of the Baltic Sea States is degrading. NATO and EU states within the Council rejected the equal dialogue and the principles that this Baltic regional structure was created upon, and they gradually turn the council into an instrument of anti-Russian politics," the Ministry said. ""Illegal and discriminatory decisions are being made in violation of the rule of consensus. Russia has been ‘barred’ from participation and from projects of the Council, while Belarus has been ‘suspended’ as an observer."

The Ministry also noted that Western states have "monopolized the Council in their own conjunctural goals," and no perspectives are seen for restoration of normal operation of the Council, "sinking ever into Russophobia and lies."

"We consider further presence of our country in the council pointless and counterproductive. Russia will not participate in turning the organization in another platform for sabotage activities and ‘western vanity’," the Ministry stated.

https://tass.com/politics/1452051

Here We Go Again – Unexpected ‘Error’ with Mail-In Ballots in Pennsylvania

With big races in the state of Pennsylvania in tonight’s primaries, the processing of absentee ballots has again become an issue. It’s the 2020 election all over.

President Trump recently endorsed State Senator Doug Mastriano for Governor. This race is expected to be very competitive.

Becker News reports that their are issues in Pennsylvania again:

The Pennsylvania primaries have been thrown into disarray after an election “glitch” caused an issue for thousands of mail-in ballots.

“An error by a company that prints ballots for several Pennsylvania counties made thousands of mail-in ballots unreadable Tuesday as voters were deciding hotly contested primaries for governor and U.S. Senate in one of the nation’s most important battleground states,” PBS reported.

“Officials in Lancaster County, the state’s sixth most populous, said the problem involved at least 21,000 mailed ballots, only a third of which were scanning properly,” the report stated. “The glitch will force election workers to redo ballots that can’t be read by the machine, a laborious process expected to take several days. Officials in the GOP-controlled county pledged that all the ballots will be counted eventually.”

“Citizens deserve to have accurate results from elections and they deserve to have them on election night, not days later,” Josh Parsons, a Republican and vice chair of the county board of commissioners, said at a news conference. “But because of this, we’re not going to have final election results from these mail ballots for probably several days, so that is very, very frustrating to us.”

“The Lancaster Board of Elections, of which Parsons is a member, renewed its criticism of a 2019 state voting law that expanded mail-in balloting but prevented counties from opening mailed ballots before Election Day to check for errors,” the report continued.

https://beckernews.com/pennsylvania-election-thrown-into-chaos-due-to-unexpected-error-affecting-mail-in-ballots-45014/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/05/breaking-go-unexpected-error-mail-ballots-pennsylvania/

Feds Begin 'Major Radiological Incident' Drill In Austin

Dozens of local, state, and federal agencies have begun conducting "a major radiological incident exercise" in Austin, Texas.

The Cobalt Magnet 22 exercise is led by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration in partnership with the Austin Homeland Security and Emergency Management Office, bringing 30 agencies together in a field training exercise to combat threats of radiological attacks

https://www.energy.gov/nnsa/articles/nnsa-working-federal-state-and-local-partners-hold-major-radiological-incident

The exercise is considered regular training and will help scientists and technical experts with radiological monitoring and assessment. It began on Monday and will last through Friday.

"The City of Austin is pleased to welcome NNSA and the numerous local, state and federal agencies participating in Cobalt Magnet.

"Our goal in this exercise is to test our procedures and make improvements to ensure we're keeping the Austin/Travis County community protected," Juan Ortiz, Director of Austin's Homeland Security and Emergency Management Office, told Austonia.

So the bigger question … WHY is the government preparing for a dirty bomb or radiological dispersal device attack on a city now?

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/feds-begin-major-radiological-incident-drill-austin

Former Head of Anaheim Chamber of Commerce Named in Federal Criminal Complaint Alleging False Statements on Loan Application

https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/former-head-anaheim-chamber-commerce-named-federal-criminal-complaint-alleging-false

PEDO BUN 17 May 22

Former pastor and coach pleads guilty to child exploitation

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtn/pr/former-pastor-and-coach-pleads-guilty-child-exploitation

Oshkosh Sex Offender Arrested for Attempting to Meet a 13 year-old for Sexual Activity

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/pr/oshkosh-sex-offender-arrested-attempting-meet-13-year-old-sexual-activity

Rosebud Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as Sex Offender

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/rosebud-man-sentenced-failure-register-sex-offender-16

Todd County Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/todd-county-man-sentenced-failure-register-sex-offender-0

Farley Man Faces Additional Child Pornography Charges

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmo/pr/farley-man-faces-additional-child-pornography-charges

Steven Charles Amaral lists 44 Saxony A as his home address. He was registered as a sexual offender following an ”adjudication withheld” finding in a 2001 lewd and lascivious case involving a child.

Anthony J. Alfano lives at 22 Valencia A. He was registered as sexual offender after a judge withheld adjudication in a 2006 case in which he was accused of possessing a photo or picture showing sexual performance by a child.

Joyce Natiello lives at 289 Capri G. She is registered as a sex offender. She was found guilty in 1990 of indecent assault and battery on a person under age 14 in Norfolk, Mass.

Joyce Natiello is the only female sex offender living in Kings Point, according to FDLE records.

Ira Neil Goldstein lives at 15443 Fiorenza Circle. He is registered as a sexual offender after being convicted in 2003 for lewd or lascivious exhibition to a victim under age 16.

Craig Jeffrey Koffman lives at 704 Flanders O according to FDLE. He is registered as a sexual offender. He was accused of two counts of sexual conduct with a minor in Arizona. Florida reports that his adjudication is ”not available.”

https://bocanewsnow.com/2022/05/17/at-least-six-sex-offenders-live-in-kings-point-delray-beach/

Stillwater police arrest two in connection with unrelated child sex crimes investigations

https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-stillwater-child-sex-crimes-arrests/40027146

American Legion deputy director one of 11 arrested in child-sex sting operation in Johnson County

https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/crime/american-legion-deputy-director-one-of-11-arrested-in-child-sex-sting-operation-in-johnson-county

South Australian man charged with online child abuse related offences

https://www.afp.gov.au/news-media/media-releases/south-australian-man-charged-online-child-abuse-related-offences

Indictment Charges North Branford Man with Child Exploitation Offense

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/indictment-charges-north-branford-man-child-exploitation-offense

Iron County Man Sentenced to Serve 20 Years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child Pornography

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmo/pr/iron-county-man-sentenced-serve-20-years-federal-prison-receiving-child-pornography

Warren Man Sentenced to Sixteen Years in Prison for Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sex, Possessing and Distributing Child Pornography

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ri/pr/warren-man-sentenced-sixteen-years-prison-enticement-minor-engage-sex-possessing-and

Indianapolis Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Child

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/pr/indianapolis-man-sentenced-30-years-federal-prison-sexual-exploitation-child

Dayton Jones gets 8 years in federal prison for case in which Gov. Matt Bevin freed him

The complicated case of Dayton Jones, who was pardoned by Gov. Matt Bevin after he was convicted of nearly killing an unconscious 15-old boy with a sex toy — only to be charged again by federal prosecutors — came to an end Tuesday with another prison sentence.

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/crime/2022/05/17/pardoned-kentucky-sex-offender-sent-back-prison-same-crime/9811320002/

FBI arrests North Side man in undercover child sex sting

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2022/05/17/undercover-child-sex-sting-fbi-arrest-anthony-antosz-pittsburgh-north-side-charges-coercion-enticement/stories/202205170086

Former Fox News Reporter Carl Cameron Says Biden Regime Should Start Jailing Conservatives For Spreading Misinformation

MSNBC blamed Tucker Carlson after a left-wing lunatic gunned down shoppers at Tops grocery store in Buffalo, New York.

The left-wing media is blaming the shooter’s motivation on his belief in the “great replacement” theory – touted only by Tucker Carlson, Republicans and right-wing reporters, according to MSNBC.

Former Fox News reporter Carl Cameron appeared on MSNBC on Tuesday to trash Tucker Carlson…. and call for Americans to be jailed without due process for the crime of speaking.

“What happens at Fox News when something like this happens?” MSNBC anchor Nicolle Wallace asked Carl Cameron as she blamed Tucker Carlson for the mass shooting in Buffalo.

“I can’t even imagine. Partly the reason why I ended up getting out of there,” Carl Cameron said trashing Tucker Carlson and Fox News.

Carl Cameron continued, “We got to watch out because the Republicans have become the purveyors of misinformation and when our two-party system is broken like that, democracy is seriously in trouble — the president acknowledged that it’s time to actually start doing things and maybe taking some names and putting people in jail.”

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/05/former-fox-news-reporter-carl-cameron-says-biden-regime-start-jailing-conservatives-spreading-misinformation-video/

Retired judges unite to make 'urgent' call ahead of federal election

More than 30 retired Australian judges have united to call on a future federal government to "urgently" establish a new national integrity watchdog, ahead of Saturday's election.

The 31 former judges have penned an open letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Labor leader Albanese, Greens leader Adam Bandt, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, United Australia Party founder Clive Palmer and "all Australian political leaders", calling on them to introduce a national integrity commission in the next parliament.

"We are retired judges who believe that a national integrity commission is urgently needed to fill the gaps in our integrity system and restore trust in our political processes," the letter reads.

When asked about the letter while campaigning in the marginal Victorian seat of Corangamite this morning, Morrison appeared to brush off the judges' calls.

"It's a free country. I express opinions on judges myself and on courts from time to time," he said.

"I'm happy for them to make their contribution."

However, he said the government would press ahead with its own plan for an integrity watchdog.

Morrison has proposed to create a Commonwealth integrity commission that could hold public hearings for inquiries into police or public officials, but not politicians, if he is re-elected.

The proposed commission would not be allowed to launch its own investigations or act on tips from the public.

Morrison has previously said his promise to create a federal anti-corruption commission in 2018 did not eventuate because Labor did not support the Coalition's model.

Albanese has promised to create a federal anti-corruption commission "with teeth" before the end of the year if he wins the election.

It would be able to hold public hearings, launch its own investigations, act on public tips, issue public findings of corruption, Albanese has said.

https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-election-updates-australian-judges-unite-to-make-urgent-call-ahead-of-federal-election/950869b1-027a-4130-9ded-fad65c48a064

US Media Begins Calling To Expel Turkey From NATO As Finland, Sweden Seek Entry

An op-ed in CNN this week has called on NATO to expel Turkey if it doesn't agree to admit new applicants Finland and Sweden into the Western military alliance. Ankara has so far appeared to slam the door on the prospect, calling the Scandinavian nations "terror supporters" over the outlawed Kurdish PKK issue.

The piece by David Andelman, a member of the influential Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), begins by lashing out at both Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Hungary's Viktor Orbán. "Russian President Vladimir Putin has just enough allies in just enough places to throw a wrench in the efforts of Western alliances to thwart his ambitions – deepening the wedge between member states that suits his purposes to a tee," it begins.

Andelman argues that both these countries - with Turkey being NATO's second largest military behind the United States - threaten the West's unified front in standing up to Putin.

"With these kinds of useful friends in Orban and Erdogan, Putin may be perfectly positioned to continue on his current path in Ukraine or beyond – with impunity," he writes, further calling them "lone strongmen" who have managed to "burrow their way deeply into democratic executions." It should be noted as an aside that we didn't see any anti-Erdogan arguments from Andelman as the Turkish strongman helped execute America's proxy war against Assad in Syria - in fact, quite the opposite.

Back to the present and US policy in Ukraine, Andelman questinos: "So, what to do about these toxic delays being forced by Hungary and Turkey? The answer is sadly simple – play the same game Putin's been playing for years. When you can't win by traditional rules, go around them."

He argues for ignoring Erdogan and Orban until the inevitable diplomatic crisis among allies that is sure to ensue leads to their complete exit from NATO and the EU…

In this case, do carve-outs. Make Orban and Erdogan irrelevant. All 26 other EU members should simply implement the oil embargo. And NATO should simply pave the way for Sweden and Finland's accession.

What's the worst Hungary or Turkey could do sue? Pull out? There was a lot of thought given toward banishing Turkey from NATO anyway especially after Erdogan bought Russian S-400 air defense systems from Russia three years ago.

Quoting Harvard international relations professor Robert I. Rotberg, Andelman adds that "The 'unanimity' rule was foolish to begin with and now is the time to test it." Indeed all 30 NATO states would have to achieve consensus to admit a new member. But instead, Sweden and Finland seeking fast-tracked entry is more that likely going to result in tying NATO (and the EU, regarding the oil embargo question) up "in knots".

Some other prominent pundits, such as the below Toronto Sun columnist, have lately been arguing the same…

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/mainstream-media-begins-calling-expel-turkey-nato-finland-sweden-seek-entry