TYB
The tolerant left:
Critically-acclaimed trans horror author who signed letter decrying New York Times' transgender coverage threatens to SLIT THROAT of JK Rowling, after writing novel where Harry Potter author was burned alive
February 17, 2023
Gretchen Felker-Martin on February 12 tweeted that she wanted to slit the throats of J.K. Rowling and several other authors who've spoken out against gender reassignment procedures for children, or letting trans women access some female-only spaces. One of those she threatened asked how she was able to remain on Twitter. In the transgender activist's debut novel, Manhunt, published in February 2022, Rowling is murdered. The book is promoted as 'an explosive post-apocalyptic novel that follows trans women and trans men on a grotesque journey of survival.' It was lauded by NPR and the New Yorker. According to Twitter's March 2019 policy statement : 'You may not threaten violence against an individual or a group of people. We also prohibit the glorification of violence.'
Gretchen Felker-Martin named a series of writers she accused of transphobia - including Rowling - in a tweet sent on February 12. She added: 'If they all had one throat, man.'
She had earlier decried the murder of British transgender teenager Brianna Ghey 16, and suggested Rowling and her ilk had stoked violence which led to the killing. Cops have yet to share a possible motive for the murder, which has seen two 15 year-olds arrested.
Another writer she railed against, journalist Jesse Singal, condemned Felker-Martin for making the death threat, and said she has a long history of making threats of violence.
In Felker-Martin's debut novel, Manhunt, published in February 2022, Rowling is murdered by being burned alive.
The book is promoted as 'an explosive post-apocalyptic novel that follows trans women and trans men on a grotesque journey of survival.' It has been lauded as 'visceral' 'gripping' and 'brilliant' by NPR and the New Yorker.
Sauce/more: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11765593/Top-horror-author-signed-letter-decrying-NYT-trans-coverage-tweets-death-threat-JK-Rowling.html
3 bobs, picrel
Chicago mayor cracks down on airport homeless encampments
February 17, 2023
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot vowed to remove the homeless encampment at Chicago O’Hare International Airport being blasted by Democratic Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez. The city’s Alderman sounded the alarm about Chicago’s spiraling homelessness crisis on “Tucker Carlson Tonight.”
“We absolutely fundamentally cannot have people sleeping in our airports who are homeless,” Lightfoot, who is facing re-election, assured reporters in a press conference on Thursday.
“That is unacceptable. We are going to continue, within the bounds of the law, to do what is necessary to provide those folks with support but elsewhere. They can’t be in our airports.”
Lightfoot, who has previously been criticized for her handling of crime and homelessness, among other issues facing the Windy City, is locked in a tight re-election race. DemocratPaul Vallas maintains a lead over the incumbent mayor, according to recent polls.
In the Democrat’s remarks, Lightfoot assured Chicagoans that her office is aware of the seriousness of the situation and is working on a solution.
“The fact of the matter is, we have taken and will continue to take the steps that are necessary to move people out of the airports,” Lightfoot said. “The airports are a very different place than on the street, under an underpass. It’s a secure location, and the message is clear from me to the Department of Aviation, the Police Department up there.”
Sauce/more: https://nypost.com/2023/02/18/lori-lightfoot-vows-to-remove-ohare-homeless-days-before-election/
Paul Vallas… Chicago is so screwed..
1/2
more on Jesse Benton follows
Consultant Gets 18-Month Prison Sentence For Scheme To Connect Russian Millionaire To Trump
February 17, 2023
A GOP political operative was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Friday for illegally funneling tens of thousands of dollars from a Russian businessman to the Trump campaign in 2016.
Jesse Benton, 45, was convicted in November of six charges related to scheme to connect a Russian businessman with then-GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump. The Russian, millionaire Roman Vasilenko, wanted to take a picture with Trump to post on social media.
“Benton arranged for the Russian national – whose nationality Benton concealed from the campaign and the candidate – to attend a campaign fundraising event and to take a picture with the candidate,” the Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a press release.
Vasilenko paid $100,000 to Benton’s consulting firm with an understanding with Benton and another political operative that they would get the Russian into a fundraising dinner with Trump. Benton took the money under a falsified invoice for consulting services.
“Benton acted as a straw donor and contributed $25,000 of the Russian national’s money to the campaign, falsely identified himself as the contributor, and pocketed the remaining $75,000,” the DOJ said. “Because Benton falsely claimed to have given the contribution himself, the relevant campaign entities unwittingly filed reports with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) that inaccurately reported Benton – instead of the Russian national – as the source of the funds.”
Vasilenko attended the fundraiser and later posted a photo of himself with Trump with the caption, “Two Presidents.”
Benton has previously worked as an aide to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), and former Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX). Benton is married to Ron Paul’s granddaughter, Rand Paul’s niece.
In 2016, Benton was convicted in a scheme to bribe an Iowa state senator in 2012 to endorse Ron Paul ahead of the state’s Republican caucus. Benton pleaded with the judge for leniency during sentencing, requesting a sentence of home confinement. Benton told the judge that he had reformed and that separation from his family would be hard on them. The judge acquiesced to Benton’s request, according to Mother Jones.
U.S. District Court judge Trevor McFadden on Friday was not as accommodating. Benton pleaded with McFadden for leniency ahead of the sentencing hearing in a letter claimingBenton suffered under federal investigation, that he no longer worked in politics, and drove for DoorDash to provide for his family.
“Sir, I will tell you, frankly, it’s difficult for me to read your letter talking about your integrity and faith with this pattern of deception,” McFadden told Benton in court. “I cannot ignore you were engaging in this incident here while you were facing sentencing in another case for political conspiracy. The judge in that case gave you a real break, it’s shocking to me you would take that break and the mercy you sought from him and only six days later mail in this false contribution.”
Sauce: https://www.dailywire.com/news/consultant-gets-18-month-prison-sentence-for-scheme-to-connect-russian-millionaire-to-trump
Benton is a pay to play frequent flyer:
sauce, 2015 acquittal: https://thebullelephant.com/ron-paul-staffers-jesse-benton-acquitted-dimitri-kesari-convicted-on-one-count/
2/2
Jesse Benson, longtime swamp creature, bonafides; McConnell, Paul and tried to get up close and personal to POTUS
McConnell campaign manager resigns amid scandal speculation
August 29, 2014
Sen. Mitch McConnell's campaign manager has resigned amid allegations of misconduct in a previous campaign.
In the statement issued just after 6 p.m. Friday, Jesse Benton denied wrongdoing but said he didn't want to become a distraction to McConnell's reelection effort.
Questions are swirling about how much Benton knew about an “endorsement-for-pay” scandal involving Ron Paul's 2012 presidential campaign, which Benton managed. A former Iowa state senator pleaded guilty Wednesday to accepting a bribe and switching his allegiance to Paul from Michele Bachmann.
“I cannot, and will not, allow any possibility that my circumstances will affect the voters' ability to hear (McConnell's) message,” Benton said in the statement. “This election is far too important.”
It was not immediately clear how Benton's position would be filled. An adviser, Josh Holmes, has been handling many of the media duties recently.
When WAVE 3 News requested a comment, a McConnell spokeswoman, Allison Moore, ended a phone call abruptly, saying she had to take another call. She sent an email saying she would call back but then did not.
Benton said in the statement that his resignation, which he submitted Friday afternoon, was effective Saturday. No statement was included from McConnell on the situation.
Benton has denied involvement in the bribery scandal, in which Kent Sorenson received $73,000 to switch to Paul's campaign in the 2012 Iowa Republican caucus race.
“The press accounts and rumors are particularly hurtful because they are false,” Benton said Friday. “However, what is most troubling to me is that they risk unfairly undermining and becoming a distraction to this reelection campaign.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said its probe remains open, sparking rumors that Benton could be implicated.
Sauce/more: https://www.wave3.com/story/26407655/mcconnell-campaign-manager-resigns/
The swamp runs deep