Rosenstein hits at Obama for hiding that Russian trolls were infiltrating 2016 election

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed special counsel Robert Mueller to investigate Russian election meddling, had a few things to say about the way it started. Starting with the Obama administration. "The previous Administration chose not to publicize the full story about Russian computer hackers and social media trolls, and how they relate to a broader strategy to undermine America," he said.

Rosenstein punched back at critics during a speech at the Armenian Bar Association’s Public Servants Dinner in New York City on Thursday, where he defended the Department of Justice's handling of the investigation and his role in it. "There was overwhelming evidence that Russian operatives hacked American computers and defrauded American citizens, and that is only the tip of the iceberg of a comprehensive Russian strategy to influence elections, promote social discord, and undermine America, just like they do in many other countries," he said.

But it wasn't for the DOJ to make an ultimate finding. "I did pledge to do it right and take it to the appropriate conclusion. I did not promise to report all results to the public, because grand jury investigations are ex parte proceedings. It is not our job to render conclusive factual findings. We just decide whether it is appropriate to file criminal charges," he said.

The Justice Department came under fire from critics following the release of the 448-page Mueller report. A four-page summary by Attorney General William Barr that determined that while Russia had interfered in the 2016 presidential election, the Trump campaign did not collude with the effort. While Mueller said did not draw a conclusion about whether President Trump obstructed justice, saying the report "also does not exonerate him,” Barr and Rosenstein concluded there was not sufficient evidence to determine whether Trump did so.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/rod-rosenstein-hits-at-barack-obama-for-hiding-russian-trolls-were-infiltrating-2016-election

Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein Delivers Remarks at the Armenian Bar Association’s Public Servants Dinner

https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/deputy-attorney-general-rod-j-rosenstein-delivers-remarks-armenian-bar-association-s

Jack Dorsey to Ilhan Omar: Twitter won’t remove Trump tweet that sparked death threats

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey told Rep. Ilhan Omar the social media giant would not remove a tweet from President Trump that sparked death threats against the Minnesota Democrat. Dorsey called Omar on Tuesday, according to the Washington Post. During the conversation, Omar asked Dorsey why Twitter did not remove Trump's tweet that juxtaposed Omar’s comments about 9/11 with images of the twin towers and Pentagon burning during the terror attacks.

While speaking at a Council on American-Islamic Relations event in March, Omar said the organization was “founded after 9/11 because they recognized that some people did something and that all of us were starting to lose access to our civil liberties.” The clip Trump shared on Twitter did not include the full context of her remarks. It is still visible on the site. Dorsey told Omar the video was not removed, because it did not violate the company’s rules. He also said the tweet and video had been widely shared off of the platform.

He did acknowledge the company needed to be better at removing hate and harassment from the social media site. “During their conversation, [Dorsey] emphasized that death threats, incitement to violence, and hateful conduct are not allowed on Twitter,” Twitter said in a statement. “We’ve significantly invested in technology to proactively surface this type of content and will continue to focus on reducing the burden on the individual being targeted. Our team has also consistently been in touch with Rep. Omar’s office."

Dorsey also met with Trump at the White House on Tuesday. Trump reportedly focused in the meeting on concerns about his follower count.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/jack-dorsey-to-ilhan-omar-twitter-wont-remove-trump-tweet-that-sparked-death-threats

Twitter recruits users in battle against election manipulation

Twitter is adding a feature that will help users identify misleading election content as the 2020 presidential campaign heats up in the U.S. The tool will let Twitter users flag tweets containing inaccurate information about how to vote or register to vote, voting requirements, and the dates or times of elections, the San Francisco-based company said Wednesday. “Voting is a fundamental human right, and the public conversation occurring on Twitter is never more important than during elections,” the company said. “Any attempts to undermine the process of registering to vote or engaging in the electoral process is contrary to our company’s core values.”

Twitter was among the social media platforms, along with Facebook and YouTube, used by Russian actors to spread divisive and erroneous messages to influence the 2016 presidential election. Since the intelligence community revealed the extent of Russia’s interference and the role social media companies played, they have been under pressure to enact safeguards. Facebook responded by displaying the identity and location of advertisers last year, a move intended to help users discern partisan or ulterior motives and assess credibility, and has focused on implementing artificial intelligence capabilities that take down fake accounts.

The new reporting tool from Twitter became available in India on Thursday in time for the general election there, which runs through May 19, and will be operational in the European Union on Monday, before its parliamentary elections in May. Twitter plans to roll the tool out globally through the remainder of the year.

In addition to criticism about Kremlin manipulation, social media companies have come under fire for their efforts to remove hate speech and misinformation. President Trump and conservatives have accused the firms, many based in Democratic-leaning Silicon Valley, of using content management as an excuse for censoring conservative voices. Trump, who is particularly active on Twitter with nearly 60 million followers, met with its CEO Jack Dorsey on Tuesday, before which he accused the company of treating him poorly “as a Republican” and playing “political games.” During the meeting, the president said he and Dorsey discussed “lots of subjects” regarding Twitter and “the world of social media in general.”

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/technology/twitter-recruits-users-in-battle-against-election-manipulation

98,000 illegal immigrants graduating from US high schools

Nearly 100,000 illegal immigrants graduate from U.S. high schools annually, thousands more than long assumed, according to a new analysis. The Migration Policy Institute, in a new report, estimated that at least 98,000 illegal immigrant students graduate every year, up from the earlier estimate of 65,000. “Forty-four percent of these graduates reside in just two states: California and Texas, which account for about 27,000 and 17,000 of the 98,000 graduating every year,” said the analysis.

The report dubbed the students “Dreamers,” attributing the numbers in part to former President Obama’s decision to protect younger illegal immigrants from deportation and provide potential amnesty. The study also estimated that there are 680,000 young aliens in the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program in the U.S.

The report expressed concern that President Trump’s effort to close out the DACA program leaves the nearly 100,000 illegal immigrants that graduate every year in limbo. “While high school graduation represents an important milestone in the lives of many young people, these graduates will face severely limited opportunities to pursue further work and education, and will be at risk of deportation,” said Jeanne Batalova, a senior policy analyst at the institute.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/50-jump-in-illegal-immigrants-graduating-from-us-high-schools

UnauthorizedImmigrant HS Graduates FactSheet Final

https://www.scribd.com/document/407453688/UnauthorizedImmigrant-HS-Graduates-FactSheet-Final#from_embed