Obama’s Assistant Defense Secretary, Evelyn Farkas, Pictured in Ukraine in Burisma Outfit with Shady Atlantic Council

We reported in March 2017 that Obama’s Defense Department Official Evelyn Farkas admitted Obama was spying on the Trump campaign, transition team and Presidency.

Former Assistant Defense Secretary under the Obama administration, Evelyn Farkas admitted that the Obama administration was trying to collect as much intelligence as possible on the Trump administration:

Evelyn Farkas: “…Frankly speaking the people on The Hill..get as much information as you can. Get as much intelligence as you can before President Obama leaves the administration because I had a fear that somehow that information would disappear with the senior people who left so it would be hidden away in the bureaucracy…

Ummm that the Trump folks if they found out how we knew what we knew about the Trump staff dealing with Russians that they would try to compromise the sources and methods meaning that we would no longer have access to that intelligence.”

Hannity later covered this as well:

https://youtu.be/11wJ8r6b3iA

Evelyn Farkas also served as an advisor to Hillary Clinton during the 2016 Presidential campaign and was up for a position in the Clinton administration if Hillary became President.It’s no big deal that she had access to information on the Trump campaign while advising his opponent, Hillary Clinton, right? Nothing to see here, move along…

We knew three years ago that the fake Russian narrative was to distract from Obamagate and we said so. Now we know that Farkas was also involved in the Ukraine and the now infamous oil and gas company, Burisma.

Who on Obama’s gang didn’t make money in the Ukraine?

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/01/breaking-exclusive-obamas-assistant-defense-secretary-evelyn-farkas-pictured-in-ukraine-in-burisma-outfit-with-shady-atlantic-council/

Turkey's Parliament Authorizes Military To Deploy Troops In Libya

At a moment pro-Haftar Libyan forces have reportedly made advanced near Tripoli International Airport, Turkey's parliament has voted to approve Erdogan's next controversial foreign military adventure — sending troops to Libya to bolster the government under Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj based in Tripoli.

Turkish lawmakers approved the motion (325 to 184) at an emergency session on Thursday to grant a one-year mandate for troop deployment, despite the clearly ratcheting destabilization in the North African country which has been in essentially a state of anarchy since US-NATO regime change aimed at decades-long ruler Muammar Gaddafi.

GNA prime minister Sarraj made the request of Erdogan's government last month, after the two leaders signed a maritime boundary and military cooperation deal that's been hotly contested by other regional countries like Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus.

Interestingly, among the key arguments that supporters of deeper Libya involvement advanced during Thursday's parliament vote is that national security would be weakened by continued fighting in Libya. “A Libya whose legal government is under threat can spread instability to Turkey,” ruling party legislator Ismet Yilmaz argued. “Those who shy away from taking steps on grounds that there is a risk will throw our children into a greater danger.”

Turkey's main opposition party, CHP, argued that it would unnecessarily embroil the country into a complicated conflict with no end in sight that would inevitably contribute to the further "shedding of Muslim blood." One option considered is to simply expand Turkish military training to GNA Libyan troops.

It's as yet unclear just how many troops Erdogan has in mind, but likely it would be in the thousands to make a difference against advancing Haftar's army, who weeks ago declared the 'final' and 'decisive' offensive on Tripoli was on.

Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said to state-run media Turkey is prepared to send “the necessary number (of troops) whenever there is a need”; however, he also suggested there would be no need to the battlefield tide turns decisively in favor of the GNA. “If the other side adopts a different stance and says ‘OK, we are withdrawing, we are backing down,’ then why would we go?” Oktay said.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/turkeys-parliament-authorizes-military-intervention-libya-will-deploy-troops

Fresh CLASHES in Paris as French pension reform strike breaks records

Protests against the French government’s plans to overhaul the pension system have reached a new milestone on their 29th day, breaking national records for the longest-ever strike, as demonstrators and police clashed in Paris.

Thursday’s strike action saw protesters block two bus depots in Paris. Officers dispatched to the protest were filmed spraying what some described as tear gas directly into the faces of some of the demonstrators.

Tear gas was also reportedly used by police on the streets of the city center where protesters marched on Thursday, some bearing brightly-burning flares, and there were several arrests as riot police and demonstrators clashed

Unions began protesting against the pension reform proposals on December 5, 2019, and warned the strikes, which have seriously impacted on the country’s transport services, would continue into the new year unless the Macron government took their concerns about the pension system changes on board.

The previous record for the longest continuous strike in France was 28 days, set by rail workers in 1968.

https://www.rt.com/news/477319-france-pension-reform-strike-record/

Pentagon chief threatens Iran with ‘pre-emptive action’ if embassy attacks continue

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper has warned that he will take “preemptive action” to “protect US forces” if he receives word of attacks by Iran or its “proxy forces,” claiming to have indications of such attacks in the future.

Esper said he expects more “provocative behavior” by “Iran-backed” groups – and warned that “they will likely regret it.”

“They’ve been…attacking our bases for months now,” Esper claimed, apparently pinning every rocket attack on a coalition base in recent months on Iran. He called on Iraq to “do more…to address these Iran-sponsored militia groups and to stop their attacks on US and coalition forces,” complaining the US has not “seen sufficient action on that front” from Baghdad.

The Trump administration blamed Tuesday’s siege of the US embassy in Baghdad on Tehran and sent 750 troops to Iraq in order to beef up security at the diplomatic compound. Iran, President Donald Trump has said, will be held "fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities."

However, the protesters who surrounded the embassy were motivated by rage over US strikes that killed 25 members of Kataib Hezbollah, part of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) and officially part of the Iraqi military.

Tehran, meanwhile, has accused the US of punishing it for defeating Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) terrorists. It slammed the “audacity” of Washington fobbing responsibility for the protests off on Iran when US airstrikes – supposedly in response for an attack on a coalition base near Kirkuk – had actually motivated the embassy-storming.

The Trump administration’s rhetoric regarding Iran may trigger deja vu for those who remember the most recent Iraq War, with its talk of pre-emptive strikes against leader Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi leader was said to be sitting on a cache of weapons of mass destruction and had to be stopped before he could use them. Now known to be a complete fiction, the “weapons of mass destruction” trope has been recycled in the Trump administration’s sanctions on Iran, deeming the country’s largest airline a “weapons of mass destruction proliferator.”

The US could send still more forces to the Middle East, Esper said, pledging to “take it day by day.”“A variety of forces” are standing by in case they are needed, Joint Staff General Mark Milley said. The US has some 60,000 troops in the region already.

https://www.rt.com/news/477327-pentagon-chief-threatens-iran-embassy/

"Intensive Shootings" - US Consulate Warns Of Gun Battle In Mexican Border City

The U.S. consulate in Mexico's border city of Nuevo Laredo issued a warning on Wednesday night of intense gunfights across the city, reported Reuters.

"The consulate has received reports of multiple gunfights throughout the city of Nuevo Laredo. U.S. government personnel are advised to shelter in place. Actions to Take: Seek secure shelter. Notify friends and family of your safety.Monitor local media for updates," the consulate tweeted.

Nuevo Laredo is a city in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The municipality sits on the Mexico-US border, and on the other side of the wall, lies the town of Laredo, Texas

More

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/intensive-shootings-us-consulate-warns-gun-battle-mexican-border-city

Ghosn Gone: Turkey Arrests Pilots, INTERPOL Issues International Warrant

Update (0930ET): Japan has requested an international warrant against Carlos Ghosn via the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) on Thursday, according to Nikkei sources.

The warrant comes as Turkish officials on Thursday arrested seven people in connection to the smuggling of Ghosn, who fled Japan on Monday and is now residing in Lebanon.

Japanese investigators are attempting to piece together a complex puzzle of how Ghosn managed to flee the country with his primary passports stripped via terms of his bail. However, as we noted, he was able to keep a French passport, which was able to get him into Lebanon.

• • *

Earlier this week, we provided several updates on the status of Carlos Ghosn, the ousted Nissan boss and now an international fugitive, who fled Japan to Lebanon on Monday to escape what he called a "rigged" justice system. Here is the latest.

The former Nissan chairman, who is facing trial in Tokyo for alleged financial crimes, landed in Beirut on Monday via a private jet operated by a subsidiary of Turkey's MNG Holding, said Bloomberg, citing a senior Turkish official. The official said Ghosn first landed in Istanbul via an MNG aircraft on Monday morning and was transferred to another airplane headed to Lebanon.

Government officials in Lebanon said Ghosn entered legally on a French passport. Ghosn's Japanese lawyers were unaware of the smuggling and said he had given up three passports under the terms of his bail. However, he was able to keep a spare French passport.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/ghosns-great-escape-turkey-arrests-pilots-over-ex-nissan-chairman-illegal-transit

Post-Iraq war US intel report predicting 2020 looks ‘eerily prescient’ only compared to agencies’ political blunders

A 15-year-old intel report predicting the world of 2020 has been hailed for its accuracy, but much of the future it describes was already underway in 2004. Could today’s hyper-politicized intelligence community see even that much?

Rolling out a list of “eerily prescient” predictions in order to brag about their accuracy – no flying cars here! – the National Intelligence Council (NIC) report is just what one might expect from an intel community desperate to shore up its reputation ahead of what’s sure to be a hotly contested presidential election.

https://www.rt.com/usa/477284-intelligence-community-predictions-accuracy-fail/

Marvel set to debut first openly transgender character, says the movie is being shot 'right now'

Coming soon to theaters near you — an openly transgender Marvel character.

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige broke the news during a Q&A session at the New York Film Academy in October after a student asked him if Marvel had plans to introduce more LGBTQ characters into the universe, "specifically the T — trans characters."

"Yes. Absolutely. Yes. Very soon. In a movie we're shooting right now," Feige replied in a video of the Q&A session posted on Saturday.

Feige did not go into detail about what character it will be or which upcoming movie the character would be featured in.

According to Comic Book Resources, Marvel Studios has several films currently in active development, including "Black Widow," "Eternals," "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," "Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness," "Thor: Love and Thunder," "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," "Black Panther 2," "Blade," and a third "Spider-Man" film starring Tom Holland.

However, many of the films in development have already moved past the shooting, or filming, stage. As such, CBR suggested that "Eternals" and "Shang-Chi" are the most likely candidates.

It was previously reveled that "Eternals" will feature an openly gay superhero, CBR noted.

Marvel introduced its first openly transgender actor one year ago

The news of an upcoming transgender character comes a year after Marvel introduced its first openly transgender actor in "Spider-Man: Far From Home," USA Today reports. In that movie, Zach Barack, the transgender actor, played a classmate of Peter Parker.

At the film premiere, Barack argued that superhero movies "always felt like a trans story" because it's talking about identity.

He then went on to call for more transgender representation in the entertainment industry, saying, "the truth is you have to put out there what people want to see and what people need to see."

"As a young person who is trans, I didn't see a trans man on TV ever, ever, really, until I was like, 17," he added. "So having a fun movie about a class going on a trip together, and I get to be part of that, I can't even."

https://www.theblaze.com/news/marvel-to-debut-transgender-character

High-Level Dept. of Education Official Arrested Trying to Have Sex with a Child

Milwaukee, WI — A high-ranking education official in New York’s Department of Education was arrested on Sunday in Milwaukee after he was busted trying to have sex with a child. Deputy Chief of Staff David A. Hay was taken into custody while he was trying to fly out of Milwaukee following an undercover investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies.

Officer Stuart Zuehls, a spokesman for the Neenah, Wis., police department told reporters that Hay is accused of using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime. Adding suspicion to the nature of Hay’s employment with the Department of Education is the fact that this man — who would be making decisions for and working around children — was never given a proper background check to work in education, according to the NY Times.

After Hay was arrested on Sunday, the DOE immediately announced his termination and released a statement.

“These allegations are incredibly disturbing and absolutely unacceptable,” Miranda Barbot, a spokeswoman for the department, said in a statement. “We took immediate action removing Mr. Hay from payroll and are terminating him. We referred this to the Special Commissioner of Investigation and we will fully comply with any investigation.”

While his top-level job inside the DOE did not consist of interacting with children on a daily basis, prior to rising through the ranks, Hay was a principle and left that job under less than pristine conditions.

Hay took a leave of absence from his job as a high school principal in the Kettle Moraine School District in suburban Milwaukee in late 2010, and left that job in early 2011, citing differences with the district’s superintendent, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

“It is not clear whether a completed background investigation would have revealed information relevant to the current charge against Mr. Hay,” said Margaret Garnett, the Department of Investigation commissioner.

The idea that a child predator could infiltrate such high-level ranks within the Department of Education due to a lack of a background check is shocking. However, the problem of failing to do background checks for education officials is reportedly widespread.

https://thefreethoughtproject.com/high-level-dept-of-education-official-arrested-trying-to-have-sex-with-a-child/

Julián Castro Drops Out of Presidential Race

Longshot Democrat presidential candidate Julián Castro ended his flailing White House campaign on Thursday after struggling to achieve a breakthrough in the polls in a crowded Democrat primary field.

“Today, it’s with a heavy heart and profound gratitude that I will suspend my campaign for president,” Castro said in a video statement shared to Twitter, adding it “simply isn’t our time” to clinch the Democrat nomination. “I’m so proud of everything we’ve accomplished together. I’m going to keep fighting for an America where everyone counts—I hope you’ll join me in that fight,” he added.

Castro, the sole Latino to mount a bid for the White House this cycle, was hampered for months by poor fundraising, and failed to qualify for the most recent Democrat presidential primary debate in Los Angeles, California. While he ran an overtly progressive campaign, championing far-left positions on issues such as immigration, his candidacy was often overshadowed by rivals like former Rep. Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke (D-TX) and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor, Pete Buttigieg (D).

Trying to show he could go to-to-toe with Trump, Castro swung for big moments on debate stages, and flirted with a much-needed breakout in June after confronting O’Rourke over not supporting decriminalization of illegal border crossings.

But turning his sights on Biden on a later stage brought swift backlash. During the September debate in Houston, Castro appeared to touch on concerns about the age of the then-76-year-old former vice president and added a parting shot at him.

“I’m fulfilling the legacy of Barack Obama, and you’re not,” Castro said.

Castro — who was Obama’s housing secretary in his second term — denied taking a personal dig at Biden as others in the field condemned the exchange. Three days later, Castro lost one of his three backers in Congress, Rep. Vicente González of Texas, who switched his endorsement to Biden.

Castro had warned supporters in a fundraising appeal that failing to make the November debate stage would spell the end of his campaign. He needed to hit at least 3% polling in four early state or national polls but didn’t get even one.

What is next for Castro is unclear. Back home in Texas, Democrats had long viewed Castro as their biggest star in waiting and some have urged him to run for governor as the state trends more diverse and liberal.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/01/02/julian-castro-drops-out-of-presidential-race/

New Law to Ban Petrol and Diesel Cars in Ireland to Avoid ‘Climate Apocalypse’

The government of Ireland is preparing to ban the registration of new petrol and diesel cars by the year 2030 as a part of its “Climate Action Plan”.

Drivers in Ireland will be forced to buy electric vehicles within ten years according to a new law by the left-wing government in Dublin.

By banning the registration of new petrol and diesel cars the government aims to have one-third of the cars on Irish roads be powered by electric batteries, totalling some 936,000 electric vehicles and hybrids, reports RTE.

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2020/01/02/new-law-to-ban-petrol-and-diesel-cars-in-ireland-to-avoid-climate-apocalypse/

German Greens Plan Car Ban From All City Centres By 2030

The German Green Party has vowed to ban all vehicles from driving in city centres by the year 2030 in order to cut down on traffic jams, engine noise, and exhaust emissions.

The plan was initially developed by the Green Party in Berlin who have demanded that the German capital become a zero-emission zone within the next ten years, along with policies that would make it more expensive for residents to park their cars and a city toll for other motorists, Bild reports.

Werner Graf, the leader of the Greens in Berlin said that “Anyone who is sensible today must act radically,” and noted there would also be an investment in forms of public transportation such as buses and trains as part of the policy as well.

Several Green Party mayors expressed support for the idea with Hanover mayor Belit Onay stating, “My stance on the subject is clear and I have made this clear in the past few months: The stated goal is to have a car-free city centre for Hanover by 2030.”

“Our experience with free public transport on the first Saturday of Advent has shown that there are many people who do without their car anyway if there are good alternatives,” he said.

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2020/01/02/german-greens-plan-car-ban-from-all-city-centres-by-2030/

Pompeo Names Top Iraqi MP as ‘Iranian Proxy’

Amiri is head of second-largest party in Iraq's parliament

US struggles to differentiate between Iraqi Shi’ites and Iran continue to define recent struggles within Iraq, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo looks to be making that worse, declaring Iraqi politician Hadi al-Amiri to be “an Iranian proxy” on Wednesday.

While Amiri, the leader of the Badr Brigade, has close historic ties to Iran, presenting him as an Iranian proxy oversimplifies matters within Iraqi politics, and dangerously alienates a politically important bloc.

In addition to the Badr Brigade, Amiri is also the head of the Fatah Alliance, the second largest bloc within Iraq’s parliament. This is a large part of the ruling coalition, and second only to Moqtada al-Sadr’s bloc, which the US also is not on good terms with.

Amiri’s role as a top member of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) necessarily puts him in opposition to the US now that US forces are openly attacking PMU bases. In singling him out, however, Pompeo may have sped up the parliament’s talk of expelling US forces.

https://news.antiwar.com/2020/01/01/pompeo-names-top-iraqi-mp-as-iranian-proxy/

Israel killed 149 Palestinians, including 33 children in 2019, NGO

Israeli occupation forces killed 149 Palestinians during 2019, including 33 children, the National Gathering for Palestinian Martyrs’ Families said yesterday.

According to Quds Press, the gathering said in a statement that the number of the martyrs was similar to the number of Palestinians killed each year over the past five years.

While the number of children among those killed was 33, the statement said that 112 of Palestinian martyrs (74 per cent) were killed in the Gaza Strip and 37 (33 per cent) were killed in the occupied West Bank.

The statement noted that 69 of the martyrs killed in Gaza perished under Israeli air strikes, including eight from the same family whose house was attacked and completely destroyed.

The bodied of 15 martyrs were detained by Israeli occupation forces in 2019, raising the number of bodies held by Israel to 306.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200102-israel-killed-149-palestinians-including-33-children-in-2019-ngo/

Demonstrators Will 'Run into a Buzzsaw' If They Try to Overrun US Embassy: Milley

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad was never in danger of being overrun and any attempt by Iran-backed militias to occupy it would "run into a buzzsaw" of fire from U.S. defenders, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley said Thursday.

"We are very confident that the integrity of that embassy is strong and it is highly unlikely to be physically overrun by anyone," Milley said at a Pentagon briefing with Defense Secretary Mark Esper.

The Tuesday demonstrations, in which members of the Iranian-backed Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH) militia threw gasoline bombs and battered the embassy's perimeter in the highly restricted "Green Zone" were "as much for the cameras as anything else" in an attempt "to get attention, which they did," Milley said.

He warned KH not to test U.S. resolve to defend the $750 million embassy.

"There is sufficient combat power there, air and ground, that anyone who attempts to overrun that will run into a buzzsaw," Milley said.

"The temperature has greatly improved in the last 24 hours," Esper said, as demonstrators withdrew from the Green Zone are.

However, Esper said that KH could be expected to carry out additional attacks on U.S. locations in Iraq, following at least 11 rocket attacks on U.S. bases in recent months, and the U.S. was prepared to act preemptively to thwart them.

The latest attack, on a U.S. base near central Kirkuk Dec. 27, killed an American contractor and wounded four U.S. troops, prompting U.S. airstrikes Sunday on three KH bases in Iraq and two in Syria.

"Do I think they may do something? Yes," Esper said of the potential for more provocations by KH, but added that "they will regret it."

He said there were "some indications out there they may be planning additional attacks. That's nothing new. So if that happens, we will act," Esper said, and "If we get word" from intelligence, "we will take preemptive action as well."

In response to the embassy demonstrations, about 100 Marines from the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command boarded MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft in Kuwait Tuesday and flew to Baghdad's Green Zone to bolster embassy security.

Wednesday morning, paratroopers from the Army's 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina began boarding C-17 Globemaster aircraft as the first contingents of a battalion of 750 Esper has ordered to the region to boost the readiness of U.S. Mideast forces.

Milley confirmed that the 82nd Division troops would be based Kuwait and be prepared for "follow-on missions in other places."

Additional forces in the U.S. have been alerted for possible rapid response, but Esper said "we haven't yet decided to deploy them. So far, it's just one battalion," he said.

Both Esper and Milley said the Iraqi government had to do more to prevent attacks on U.S. positions and rein in pro-Iranian militias.

Esper acknowledged that the struggling Baghdad government under caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, who announced his resignation in early December, was "in a lot of turmoil" following months of protests against corruption and the failing economy but "they need to get left of the problem."

Milley said the Iraqi military "has a lot of capability" to increase security nationwide, and it was a "question of will" as to whether they would use it.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/01/02/demonstrators-will-run-buzzsaw-if-they-try-overrun-us-embassy-milley.html

Marine Corps Offering Former Reserve Pilots $30K to Return to Service

The Marine Corps is offering some former Reserve pilots lucrative bonuses to get them back in the cockpit.

Former captains and majors qualified to fly certain aircraft who are willing to rejoin a Marine Corps squadron can pocket up to a $30,000 lump-sum bonus if they agree to a three-year term in the Active Reserve. Those willing to serve two years in the Reserve are eligible for a $20,000 payout.

It's called the Active Reserve Aviator Return to Service Program, and it targets six types of fixed-wing, rotary and tiltrotor pilots "in order to fill critical aviation shortfalls," a service-wide message on the bonuses states.

Top priority will be given to former F/A-18 Hornet and MV-22B Osprey pilots, along with KC-130 Hercule aircraft commanders, according to the message. But the program is also open to former AV-8B Harrier, UH-1Y Venom and CH-53E Super Stallion pilots.

"The retention incentive is distributed as a lump sum of 20,000 dollars for the 24 month service obligation or a lump sum of 30,000 dollars for the 36 month service obligation, less any applicable taxes," the message states. "Lump sum payment will not be paid out until the member is joined to the [Active Reserve] program."

The incentives will be paid out on a first-come, first-served basis "until funds are exhausted," it adds.

Only aviators who previously qualified for – or had not yet applied for – career designation are eligible. Those who applied for but were not offered career designation in the Active Reserve are ineligible, the message states.

Pilots who were already career designated on the Active Reserve will automatically be career designated upon re-accession. Those who hadn't previously applied for career designation will be able to do so once they rejoin.

Top assignments will involve flying operations at the squadron level across several Reserve units in the continental U.S., including California, Virginia, Texas, Arizona, Maryland or New Orleans. Assignments aren't limited to those squadrons though, the message adds.

Captains who served more than 10 years of active-duty service who weren't previously considered for major on an Active Reserve promotion board are eligible to apply. So are majors who weren't previously considered for O-5 who served more than 12 years on active duty, and those who were considered for lieutenant colonel who served more than 15 years.

Earlier this year, the Marine Corps announced it would be offering big bonuses to active-duty pilots as well.

Top bonuses targeted Marines in the grades and communities with the biggest pilot shortages. Active-duty pilots were eligible to earn up to $280,000 bonuses if they agreed to keep flying for eight more years.

The bonuses targeted captains and majors who fly the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, F/A-18 Hornet, AV-8 Harrier, MV-22 Osprey, C-130 Hercules, UH-1 Huey, AH-1 Cobra and CH-53 Stallion.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/01/02/marine-corps-offering-former-reserve-pilots-30k-return-service.html

Trump impeachment saga sees Dems repeatedly haunted by Clinton-era comments

Congressional Democrats have fiercely criticized Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and other top Republicans in recent weeks for what they say is a lack of impartiality regarding President Trump’s looming trial in the Senate.

But the proceedings of the last impeachment have proved a recurring headache for some of these Democrats, whose past comments on then-President Bill Clinton's trial have come back to haunt them – and in some cases undercut their message today.

From Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, both from New York, congressional Democrats are being reminded that they once made comments eerily similar to those being uttered now by their Republican colleagues – and vice-versa.

Schumer recently lambasted McConnell for telling Fox News’ Sean Hannity that he will be “coordinating" with the White House and "there will be no difference between the president's position and our position as to how to handle this."

McConnell was also criticized for telling reporters last month he would not be “an impartial juror” in any Trump trial – which is in a holding pattern as Speaker Nancy Pelosi sits on articles of impeachment for now.

Schumer said recently he is “utterly amazed” by McConnell’s comments and labeled them an “astounding admission of partisanship” during a speech on the Senate floor.

More

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/impeachment-saga-sees-dems-repeatedly-haunted-by-clinton-era-comments