https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1655741411080167429

Federal Authorities Seize 13 Internet Domains Associated with ‘Booter’ Websites that Offered DDoS Computer Attack Services

https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/federal-authorities-seize-13-internet-domains-associated-booter-websites-offered-ddos

Criminal Charges Unsealed Against Iranian National for Immigration Fraud and Human Smuggling Conspiracy

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/criminal-charges-unsealed-against-iranian-national-immigration-fraud-and-human

UPDATE: Kari Lake Lawsuit Going Back to Trial May 17, 18, 19 – Attorney Kurt Olsen Makes BOMBSHELL Claim of “Extraordinary Findings of Misconduct” By Maricopa County

Kari Lake and her attorneys appeared in a Maricopa County Superior Court status conference earlier today outlining the schedule for the remanded fraudulent signature verification claim.

Judge Peter Thompson previously dismissed the lawsuit on Christmas Eve, despite the evidence of massive voter disenfranchisement targeting Republicans and obviously false trial testimony by County Elections officials.

As The Gateway Pundit reported, The Arizona Supreme Court ruled in Lake’s favor and remanded the “erroneous[ly]” dismissed signature verification fraud count back to the trial court for further review; however, Maricopa County still refuses to allow her legal team or We The People AZ Alliance to review ballot affidavit signatures from the 2022 Election. See examples of the fraudulent signatures accepted by Maricopa County here.

Lake’s attorneys plan to petition to “inspect the ballots verified by Maricopa, based on new evidence that came to light in 2023″ in Thompson’s reconsideration of Count III on signature verification.

Additionally, the latest Motion by Lake’s attorneys states, “Lake is also contemplating a motion to reconsider the dismissal of Count IV (logic-and-accuracy testing) under ARCP 60(b)(3) within the same likely time frame as the proceedings remand. Indeed, she may also bring a new and separate action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and state law to press her federal and Arizona constitutional claims.”

Kari Lake attorney Kurt Olsen today made a bombshell claim while asking for the reconsideration of counts relating to machine failures on election day, stating that “Maricopa officials conducted secret testing on the tabulators on October 14th, 17th, and 18th” after the County’s Logic and Accuracy tests. Olsen further stated that “260 of those 446 tabulators failed” but were “then used in the election.”

Maricopa County’s Logic and Accuracy(L&A) tests were performed on October 11, 2022.

According to the Elections Procedures Manual, “counties may, in their discretion, conduct additional pre-election L&A tests prior to the county’s and Secretary of State’s pre-election L&A test and/or additional post- election L&A tests after the county’s post-election L&A test, including with participation from representatives of the recognized political parties. If the County conducted further testing after their L&A test without party representatives and public notice, this would likely be illegal.

During the conference Lake attorney Kurt Olson asked for more time to prepare for a case and bring in expert witnesses from out of state, but Attorneys for Katie Hobbs and Maricopa County wanted to expedite the trial bogus excuses such as saving resources. They are terrified that Lake’s attorneys will have time to bring a solid case with expert witnesses.

Thompson tentatively scheduled a three-day trial next week beginning on May 17. The trial will occur on May 17th, 18th, and 19th.

Counsel will be required to disclose who will testify, what opinions they will state, and what basis they have prior to trial.

Judge Thompson indicated that the new evidence could be introduced, and other counts in the lawsuit may be reconsidered. Motions for Reconsideration, Responses, and Replies are expected in the coming days.

Lake attorneys are also expected to file a motion to consolidate the issue of lawful public records requests that the County has denied tomorrow.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/05/update-kari-lake-lawsuit-going-back-to-trial-may-17-18-19-attorney-kurt-olsen-makes-bombshell-claim-of-extraordinary-findings-of-misconduct-by-maricopa-county-video/

Victorian government offers to settle class action over towers' COVID-19 lockdown for $5 million

The Victorian government has proposed a $5 million settlement to public housing tower residents who were subjected to a contentious COVID-19 lockdown.

Key points:

About 3,000 residents were locked down across nine tower blocks in July 2020

Residents launched a class action against the government in 2021

The government is proposing to settle the class action for $5 million

The class action was launched by residents of nine public housing towers in Flemington and North Melbourne, who were locked down during Melbourne's second lockdown in July 2020.

The residents are seeking damages and declarations that the government's actions were unlawful or beyond its powers.

The class action alleges the government wrongly detained residents of the towers for up to 14 days and wrongly threatened them if they tried to leave the towers.

In a notice posted to its website, the state government denies the claims set out in the class action, but proposes to resolve the issue through a settlement without trial.

The $5 million settlement would be divided between residents who opt in to the agreement, with adults receiving a full share and children a 50 per cent share.

About 3,000 people were living in the towers at the time of the lockdown.

The government said residents wishing to participate in the settlement, which is subject to court approval, must register by June 27.

A Victorian Ombudsman's review released in December 2020 found the state government breached human rights laws when it locked down the public housing towers.

The investigation found the temporary lockdown, which was lifted at eight of the nine towers within five days, was warranted.

But ombudsman Deborah Glass said the timing of the lockdown was not based on direct public health advice.

"The rushed lockdown was not compatible with the residents' human rights, including their right to humane treatment when deprived of liberty," she said.

Ms Glass called on the government to apologise not for taking decisive action, but rather for the "harm and distress caused by the immediacy of their lockdown".

The government has so far resisted calls to make an apology and there is no mention of an apology in the proposed settlement.

One of the residents involved in the class action, Barry Berih, said there had not yet been a discussion about whether the settlement would be accepted.

Mr Berih said he was still seeking an apology from the government.

"I can't speak on behalf of the other residents, but I can speak on my behalf myself. Look, if it's settled at the moment, I can't really go forward for it," he said.

"To me, it's not really that important in terms of the money situation. The main important part is the apology and the community itself."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-09/victorian-government-offers-tower-lockdown-settlement/102319922

Robodebt Cancer – has our public service become the secret service?

The Robodebt saga was not the Public Service’s finest moment. The recent release of the National Cabinet minutes confirms that the problems of secrecy, obfuscation and ignoring legal advice are widespread.

When ‘self-ambition’ cells in a senior public servant’s body grow and multiply, outflanking the ‘do public good’ cells, the diagnosis may be referred to as ‘Robodebt Cancer’; named after the malignant public service cancer discovered by the Robodebt Royal Commissioner. The recent release of National Cabinet minutes has further confirmed that the cancer is more widespread than just in the Department of Social Services and Services Australia.

No-one needs the Robodebt Royal Commissioner to hand down her report next month to understand how bad the whole sad and sorry Robodebt saga has been. That’s already abundantly clear from the evidence and testimony that’s been put on the public record.

The shameful affair centred around a politically-driven cost-recovery measure progressed with little due diligence, with legal advice either not being obtained or being ignored, with Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) rulings being ignored and oversight avoided, and, critical to all the shocking conduct, ambition trumping honesty and the need to care for the public.

National Cabinet formed with little due diligence

In early Robodebt hearings, the Commissioner was told how the Department of Human Services (now Services Australia) progressed the scheme, despite serious doubts within the Department of Social Services about its legality, after it earned the backing of Social Security Minister Scott Morrison. The normal checks and balances were pushed aside, as senior public servants rushed to implement what their political master wanted.

National Cabinet, and particularly the Cabinet confidentiality elements of it, was also progressed at the insistence of Prime Minister Scott Morrison. He got the National Cabinet idea from Health Minister, Greg Hunt, on the morning of 13 March 2020. By that afternoon Morrison had announced the idea to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), advising the first meeting would take place two days later.

No legal or procedural checks were carried out on the confidentiality elements of it. The terms of reference were formalised in a 48 hour period.

Again, top level public servants rushed to please their master.

It was not until July 2020, after a number of liberty restricting and large economic decisions had been made by National Cabinet, that I decided to challenge the legality of its confidentiality. As a test case, I sought access to the minutes of a single meeting.

I was, of course, refused access, but appealed the matter. It was then argued in May 2021 before a Federal Court judge by Senior and Queens Counsel.

In August 2021, Justice White issued a comprehensive 82 page decision where he opined that “a committee does not become a committee of the Cabinet for the purposes of the FOI Act merely by being given that name,” and found that National Cabinet was not a committee of the Federal Cabinet.

I was happy. The vault had been cracked open. In September 2021 the Government confirmed they would not appeal the decision.

Tribunal ruling ignored

Off the back of Justice White’s decision, I promptly made a further request of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C), this time requesting the minutes of the first 10 National Cabinet meetings.

I was then somewhat surprised when, on 12 November 2021, I received a response from a PM&C decision maker, Assistant Secretary Angie McKenzie, refusing me access to the minutes on the grounds that they were Cabinet documents – the same claim that had been overturned by Justice White.

I was disturbed. As occurred with Robodebt, considered rulings of the AAT were being ignored. On 23 November 2021 I went into the Senate Chamber and let fly. The Hansard recorded what I said.

“Ms Angie McKenzie clearly has no idea of how the law works, even. It’s a disgrace that this sort of material comes from the office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, an organisation that’s supposed to be the pre-eminent department in the Commonwealth. I actually think Ms McKenzie has breached her obligations under the Public Service Act. What’s happened is [that] she has not just trimmed her political sails, she’s actually put up her Liberal Party spinnaker to make this decision.”

https://michaelwest.com.au/robodebt-cancer-has-our-public-service-become-the-secret-service/

Sec. Blinken faces contempt of Congress charge after ignoring multiple House subpoenas

Blinken has refused to supply documents about Biden's Afghanistan withdrawal

Secretary of State Antony Blinken could soon face a contempt of Congress charge after his office ignored multiple subpoenas for documents from the Republican-led House Oversight Committee.

House Oversight Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, says Blinken and the State Department have blown past multiple deadlines to provide documents relating to President Biden's botched withdrawal from Afghanistan in recent months. He is now threatening to hold the top Biden official in contempt if he continues to refuse to provide the documents.

"The Department is now in violation of its legal obligation to produce these documents and must do so immediately," McCaul wrote in a Monday statement. "Should the Department fail to comply with its legal obligation, the Committee is prepared to take the necessary steps to enforce its subpoena, including holding you in contempt of Congress and/or initiating a civil enforcement proceeding."

McCaul and his fellow Republicans seek access to a dissent report from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul dated to just before Biden's withdrawal plans were set in motion. Dissent reports detail any misgivings U.S. officials may have with a current plan of action.

Blinken blew past the original deadline to supply the documents in March, then again in April when McCaul pushed back the deadline. McCaul set his latest line in the sand at May 1, and Blinken again refused to provide the documents.

Rather than comply with the subpoena, the State Department offered to give McCaul and his committee a briefing on the documents' contents. McCaul accepted the briefing in April but clarified that it did not constitute complying with the subpoena.

Despite the briefing, McCaul and other Republicans on the committee said they still had unanswered questions that could only be satisfied by seeing the documents.

"It’s unfortunate that despite having received a classified briefing on the dissent channel cable, as well as a written summary, that the House Foreign Affairs Committee continues to pursue this unnecessary and unproductive action," State Department principal deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said Monday. "Nevertheless, we will continue to respond to appropriate oversight inquiries and provide Congress the information it needs to do its job while protecting the ability of State Department employees to do theirs."

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sec-blinken-faces-contempt-congress-charge-ignoring-multiple-house-subpoenas

FBI Agents Break Rank, Slam Agency For Efforts To Shield Biden: ‘Entrenched With Partisan Politics’

A coalition of former senior FBI agents have spoken out about what they claim is a “politicization” of the country’s top domestic security agency based on recent statements and positions that favor incumbent President Joe Biden.

Speaking with the Daily Caller, the agents — each of whom served for more than 20 years — cited several instances of favoritism for Biden:

“We agree privately and uniformly that [the] FBI is heading in the wrong direction and has been too entrenched with partisan politics, starting from Director Comey and intensified under Director Christopher Wray. We identified with Nicole Parker’s claim that ‘The FBI became politically weaponized, starting from the top in Washington trickling down to the field offices,’ illustrated by inflating domestic violent extremism statistics, directing big tech companies to censor Americans, conducting an unprecedented raid on President Trump’s home while suppressing key details related to the Hunter Biden probe as ‘disinformation’ and so on. We have observed firsthand that too many FBI current agents are suffering low morale and too many Americans have lost trust in FBI,” wrote the agents.

Before his firing, former Director James Comey famously investigated President Donald Trump’s former national security advisor Michael Flynn, and current Director Wray authorized the sweeping search of Trump’s Florida resident under the auspices of recovering classified materials. In April, House Republicans claimed Biden Secretary of State Anthony Blinken worked with former intelligence officials to categorize Hunter Biden’s laptop as “Russian disinformation” ahead of the 2020 elections.

In February, former FBI Agent Nicole Parker testified before Congress about partisanship spilling into the bureau’s ongoing investigations, citing as an example an instance where agents kneeled in solidarity with Black Lives Matter protestors. She added that changes in recruitment policies have diluted the FBI’s ability to find quality field agents.

The group of former agents echoed Park’s call for a top-down house cleaning at the FBI:

“It is no exaggeration to say that [the] FBI has no longer functioned as an apolitical agency, an agency with no bias. The top two floors of the Hoover building are filled with self-served and greedy bureaucrats, not doers, just talkers. It’s time to clean house, restore public trust and start over. A thorough investigation is justified. Creating a select subcommittee and opening up investigation is a step in the right direction. More FBI agents need to come forward, tell the truth and uncover the extent of the FBI’s weaponization. Change only happens when we fight for it. I believe deeply that we need a reformed FBI. To address and fix the problems, we should first identify the problems,” wrote the agents.

https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/fbi-agents-break-rank-claiming-politicization-in-recent-moves-to-defend-biden-mstef/

Jean-Pierre: Joe Biden Would Veto Border Security Bill

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated Monday that President Joe Biden would veto House bill H.R.2 if given the chance.

House Republicans will vote Thursday on H.R.2, a bill to codify some of former President Trump’s strictest border actions.

If the Senate approves the measure, Biden would have an opportunity to secure the southern border, where millions of migrants are expected to invade upon the lifting of Title 42.

But Jean-Pierre said the measure would be dead on arrival. “If the president were presented with H.R. 2 he would veto it,” she stated.

The White House had previously announced the veto threat Monday.

“While we welcome Congress’ engagement on meaningful steps to address immigration and the challenges at the border, this bill would make things worse, not better,” a statement from the White House Office of Management and Budget said. “Because this bill does very little to actually increase border security while doing a great deal to trample on the nation’s core values and international obligations, it should be rejected.”

H.R. 2 is scheduled for a House vote on the same day that Title 42 — a Trump-era policy to be terminated under Biden. Title 42 has ensured that federal immigration officials have been able to quickly return millions of illegal migrants to Mexico over the last three years.

As Title 42 expires, H.R.2 would codify many border security initiatives, including the “Remain in Mexico” program that mandates migrants seek asylum in Mexico until a U.S. immigration court date.

The bill would also resume border wall construction, designate money to improve border security, and block taxpayer funds from being given to NGOs that work to help migrants become legal aliens.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2023/05/08/jean-pierre-joe-biden-would-veto-border-security-bill/