Republican senator: 62 leaks threatened national security in early days of Trump administration

A top Republican senator called the number of leaks during the first several months of President Trump's tenure "completely out of control." Sen. Ron Johnson, the chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, told Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo that there were dozens of leaks that threatened national security in those days and argued they were part of a scheme to "frustrate and sabotage" the Trump administration. The leaks in that time period have taken on renewed significance as Attorney General William Barr has appointed multiple U.S. attorneys to review politically sensitive investigations, particularly the Russia investigation and the case of former national security adviser Michael Flynn. As Democrats and former Obama administration officials shrug off what they have pegged as a toothless, manufactured controversy, Trump and his allies are pushing claims under the "Obamagate" banner that former President Barack Obama and his team schemed to undermine the Trump administration.

"A leak a day, 125 leaks in the first 126 days, and 62 of these leaks threatened national security, by President Obama's own definition of that, because they were concerned about that as well," Johnson said on Fox News's Sunday Morning Futures. "They had eight leaks of a similar nature in Obama vs. the Bush administration, about nine. They had 62. President Trump had 62 that threatened national security. It was completely out of control," the Wisconsin Republican added before taking a swipe at the media for their role in disclosing sensitive information. Claiming reporters were either "duped or complicit," the senator said there appeared to be a dearth of self-reflection in the journalism field. "It was leaked to 18 different outlets. And I haven't seen too much investigation, reporting, or investigatory reporting, from the media in terms of how they were either duped or complicit in this corruption of the transition process," he said. The leak statistics Johnson and Bartiromo discussed can be found in a report the senator released in July 2017, for which committee staff examined the period between Jan. 20 and May 25, 2017.

Johnson sent that analysis to then-Attorney General Jeff Session after the Justice Department opened investigations into unauthorized disclosures of sensitive matters that were "extraordinarily damaging to the University States security." Johnson has been one of a handful of Republicans seeking the declassification of information related to the Russia investigation, including the "unmasking" of identities in surveillance intercepts of people in Trump's orbit. He has scheduled a business meeting for June 4 to consider the authorization of subpoenas in that effort. That meeting will take place on the same day the Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, will vote on authorizing subpoenas in their own separate inquiry into the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane counterintelligence investigation into Russian interference and the Trump campaign, as well as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act process. Fresh scrutiny in recent weeks has been placed on leaks in early 2017 of conversations retired Lt. Gen. Flynn had with the Russian ambassador to the United States during the presidential transition period. U.S. Attorney John Durham, who is conducting an inquiry into whether there was any criminal misconduct by intelligence and national security officials during the Russia investigation, is reportedly looking into those leaks.

Johnson said these leaks and others helped to set up the "Russia narrative, first of Russia helping Trump and then, all of a sudden, the Trump campaign colluding with Russia, which set up a special counsel, even though, by the end of January, the FBI knew full, full well that there was nothing to that hoax, that they still allowed a special counsel to be set up in May of that year." "This is the corruption of that process. And, Maria, from what I have seen, I really do believe that there was an effort underway from the day after the election. It actually started before that, but really kicked into high gear the day after the election, to sabotage this administration," he said. "And look what — look what it resulted in, in an impeachment trial as well. So there's an awful lot to be uncovered. There's an awful lot the American people need to understand."

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/republican-senator-62-leaks-threatened-national-security-in-early-days-of-trump-administration

Minneapolis city councilman and son of Minnesota attorney general declares support for antifa

Jeremiah Ellison, a Minneapolis city council member and the son of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, expressed support for antifa after President Trump threatened to designate the group as a terrorist organization. "I hereby declare, officially, my support for ANTIFA," Ellison tweeted on Sunday. "Unless someone can prove to me ANTIFA is behind the burning of black and immigrant owned businesses in my ward, I’ll keep focusing on stopping the white power terrorist THE ARE ACTUALLY ATTACKING US!"

Hours earlier, Trump claimed that the United States will be designating the left-wing group as a terrorist organization after protests over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in Minnesota police custody, turned violent with some protesters destroying property, looting, committing arson, and clashing with police. Attorney General William Barr said on Saturday that it appears that "many places" across the country were seeing violent protests spurred by "anarchic" and "far-left extremist groups." He added that agitators were using "antifa-like tactics” and that many of them were traveling from out of state to participate in the protests. Barr added on Sunday that the violence being “instigated and carried out” by "antifa and other similar groups" in connection to nationwide rioting is “domestic terrorism and will be treated accordingly.” He said the Justice Department will look into the "apprehending and charging the violent radical agitators who have hijacked peaceful protest and are engaged in violations of federal law." It is unclear whether the president has the legal authority to designate antifa as a terrorist organization.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/minneapolis-city-councilman-and-son-of-minnesota-attorney-general-declares-support-for-antifa

Biden staffers donate to bail fund for Minnesota protesters: report

Campaign staffers for presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden have donated to a group in Minnesota that is paying the bail for people arrested during the protests over the death of George Floyd by a white police officer, according to a report. At least 13 members of the former vice president’s campaign made donations to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, which opposes cash bail to avoid being jailed before trial, Reuters reported on Saturday. The fund uses donations to pay bail fees in Minneapolis. Andrew Bates, a Biden campaign spokesman, told the news service that Biden opposes the institution of cash bail as a “modern day debtors prison.” Bates declined to answer questions about whether the donations have been coordinated with the campaign.

President Trump’s re-election campaign in a statement to Reuters on Saturday said it was “disturbing” that Biden’s team “would financially support the mayhem that is hurting innocent people and destroying what good people spent their lives building.” In a speech at Cape Canaveral after the SpaceX launch, Trump said he understood the “pain that people are feeling” and supports “the right of peaceful protesters.” “But what we are now seeing on the streets of our cities has nothing to do with justice or with peace,” he said. “The memory of George Floyd is being dishonored by rioters, looters, and anarchists.”

The report said it’s unclear how many arrests have been made in Minnesota since the protests broke out following Floyd’s death last Monday. Derek Chauvin, who has been fired from the Minneapolis police force, has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. Video images showing Chauvin pressing his knee into Floyd’s neck sparked protests around the country seeking justice for Floyd and the arrest of the three officers with Chauvin. Colleen May, who describes herself as a Biden campaign organizer in South Carolina, Florida and Wisconsin, posted her $50 donation to the Minnesota Freedom Fund. “It is up to everyone to fight injustice,” she said.

https://nypost.com/2020/05/31/biden-staffers-reportedly-donating-to-bail-fund-for-protesters/