Category: Politics

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Richard Burr: Senate intelligence chief steps down for FBI probe – BBC News

The Republican chairman of the US Senate intelligence committee will step down while an insider trading inquiry is carried out.

Richard Burr of North Carolina said he had decided to do so because he did not want the investigation to distract the committee from its work.

Mr Burr’s phone has been seized by the FBI as part of the inquiry.

The senator, who denies wrongdoing, allegedly used inside information to avoid market losses from coronavirus.

He declined a request for comment.

Mr Burr and his wife sold as much as $1.7m (£1.4m) of equities in February, just before markets plunged on fears of an economic crisis.

It is illegal for members of Congress to trade based on non-public information gathered during their official duties.

Republican Senators Kelly Loeffler of Georgia and James Inhofe of Oklahoma, as well as Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, also reportedly sold holdings before the downturn, but are not confirmed to be under investigation.

Ms Feinstein said she had answered questions from the FBI regarding trades made by her husband, however.

Source: Richard Burr: Senate intelligence chief steps down for FBI probe – BBC News

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Pennsylvania State Senate votes to override governor’s stay-at-home order | TheHill

BY ZACK BUDRYK –
The Pennsylvania State Senate on Wednesday sent a bill that would partially lift the lockdown on most of the state’s businesses to Gov. Tom Wolf’s (D) desk.

The measure, Senate Bill 613, would require the governor’s office to align with federal guidelines in determining which businesses will be allowed to reopen during the pandemic, allowing all those that can safely operate with mitigation strategies under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency guidelines.

The measure passed the senate 29-21 Wednesday after passing the state House 107-95 Tuesday.

Source: Pennsylvania State Senate votes to override governor’s stay-at-home order | TheHill

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Illinois marijuana legalization bill would allow possession up to 30 grams, 5 plants grown at home – Chicago Tribune

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposal to legalize marijuana in Illinois would allow adults 21 and over to possess up to 30 grams, grow five plants at home and open a path to expungement of convictions, including some felonies.

Source: Illinois marijuana legalization bill would allow possession up to 30 grams, 5 plants grown at home – Chicago Tribune

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Oliver North out as NRA president after leadership dispute

Nation Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre applauds behind the empty seat of Retired Lt. Col. Oliver North at the NRA Annual Meeting of Members in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 27, 2019. North has announced that he will not serve a second term as president of the NRA amid inner turmoil in the gun-rights group. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

North, whose one-year term ends Monday, did not show up for the meeting, and his spot on the stage was left empty, his nameplate still in its place. His statement was largely met with silence. Wayne LaPierre, whom North had tried to push out, later received two standing ovations.

It was a stunning conclusion to a battle between two conservative and Second Amendment titans — North, the retired Marine lieutenant colonel with a ramrod demeanor who was at the center of the Iran-Contra scandal of the 1980s, and LaPierre, who has been battle-tested in the decades since he took up the mantle of gun rights. He has fought back challenges that have arisen over the decades, seemingly emerging unscathed each time. In this latest effort, he pushed back against North, telling members of the NRA’s board of directors that North had threatened to release “damaging” information about him to them and saying it amounted to an “extortion” attemp

Source: Oliver North out as NRA president after leadership dispute

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Colorado Sen. Bennet jumps in 2020 race, as Democratic field grows even larger | Fox News

Add Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado to the still-growing list of Democrats running for the White House.

“We cannot be the first generation to leave less to our kids, not more. That’s why I’m running for President,” Bennet announced on Twitter Thursday morning. “Let’s build opportunity for every American and restore integrity to our government.”

On an interview with CBS News, Bennet emphasized that the nation faces two enormous challenges – “a lack of economic mobility and opportunity for most Americans” and the “need to restore integrity to our government.”

And he stressed that “if we continue to go down the path we’re going, we’re going to be the first generation of Americans to leave less opportunity, not more, to the next generation. I just need to do everything I can do that we don’t do that.”

Source: Colorado Sen. Bennet jumps in 2020 race, as Democratic field grows even larger | Fox News

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Watch live: May Day protests turn violent in Paris | Euronews

May Day protests in Paris have erupted into violence as police met demonstrators with tear gas in the city’s Vavin neighbourhood.

French police said it had made 165 arrests by early afternoon and had conducted more than 9,000 searches.

Heightened security has been put in place across Paris for this year’s demonstrations amid ongoing tension with the gilets jaunes movement, and climate protesting.

It’s feared that hooligans bent on violence in the French capital will join the “gilets jaunes”, as trade unionists, students and others turn out to mark International Workers’ Day.

President Emmanuel Macron’s recent promise of tax cuts and other reforms have been rejected in some quarters.

Source: Watch live: May Day protests turn violent in Paris | Euronews

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Venezuela’s Guaido calls for military uprising while flanked by soldiers at Caracas airbase: ‘The moment is now’ | Fox News

The power struggle between embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the opposition met its most bold action on Tuesday when Juan Guaido called for a military uprising to oust the socialist leader.

Emboldened crowds took to the streets of Caracas after the 35-year-old lawmaker and a small contingent of heavily armed soldiers appeared in an early morning video showing him promoting the “final phase” of his putsch to oust Maduro.

“The armed forces have taken the right decision,” Guaido said. “With the support of the Venezuelan people and the backing of our constitution, they are on the right side of history.”

He added: “The moment is now.”

Source: Venezuela’s Guaido calls for military uprising while flanked by soldiers at Caracas airbase: ‘The moment is now’ | Fox News

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JOE BIDEN IN PITTSBURGH: Details of Joe Biden’s campaign visit to Pittsburgh announced

PITTSBURGH —

With Joe Biden’s official declaration that he’s running for president, his campaign website is now confirming that his first rally with supporters will come Monday at the Teamster Temple Union Hall of Local 249 on Butler Street in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood. The former vice president has been a frequent visitor to Pittsburgh, including at the city’s Labor Day parades.

His campaign says Biden’s message will be a “discussion on his plan to build a middle class where everyone comes along.”PITTSBURGH —

Source: JOE BIDEN IN PITTSBURGH: Details of Joe Biden’s campaign visit to Pittsburgh announced

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Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh, on leave amid book probe, has homes and City Hall office raided by feds | Fox News

Federal agents raided two homes belonging to Baltimore’s embattled mayor as well as City Hall on Thursday amid ongoing investigations into lucrative sales of her “Healthy Holly” books.

The Democratic mayor, who is currently on a leave of absence she’s blamed on pneumonia, has faced mounting calls to resign after it was discovered she reportedly received $500,000 from the University of Maryland Medical System for her self-authored “Healthy Holly” children’s book series.

UMMS reportedly paid Pugh for 100,000 copies of her books between 2011 and 2018, while she was on its board, with the stated intention of distributing the books to schools and day care centers.

But some 50,000 copies remain unaccounted for and officials are probing if they were ever even printed.

Source: Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh, on leave amid book probe, has homes and City Hall office raided by feds | Fox News

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Cher questions Bernie Sanders for saying Boston bomber deserves right to vote | Fox News

Music superstar Cher hit back at 2020 frontrunner Sen. Bernie Sanders on Tuesday after he argued that criminals serving time in prison, including the Boston Marathon bomber, should be able to vote.

Cher took to Twitter Tuesday afternoon to sound off on Sanders’ position in a since-deleted tweet.

“Does Bernie Sanders really believe [people] in prison who are murderers!? Rapists!? Child Molesters!? Boston bombers… still deserve the right to vote!?” Cher asked her 3.65 million followers.

Source: Cher questions Bernie Sanders for saying Boston bomber deserves right to vote | Fox News

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JOE BIDEN: Former vice president will reportedly visit Pittsburgh after declaring run for president Wednesday

A visit by Joe Biden to Pittsburgh would be true to past form. He has returned to the city again and again over the years.

Source: JOE BIDEN: Former vice president will reportedly visit Pittsburgh after declaring run for president Wednesday

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Trump blasts Twitter as ‘very discriminatory,’ says the social-media company removes his followers

In two tweets on Tuesday morning, President Donald Trump went after Twitter over what he said were discriminatory practices.

Source: Trump blasts Twitter as ‘very discriminatory,’ says the social-media company removes his followers

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IRS faces a second deadline to release Trump tax returns to Democrats – CNNPolitics

The Trump administration faces another deadline Tuesday to hand over six years of President Donald Trump’s personal and business tax returns.

(CNN)The Trump administration faces another deadline Tuesday to hand over six years of President Donald Trump’s personal and business tax returns.

House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal gave the IRS until 5 p.m. to respond to the request, appealing directly to the tax agencyafter Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin — who oversees the IRS — stepped in to decline a similar request earlier this month citing ongoing consultation with the Justice Department.

Source: IRS faces a second deadline to release Trump tax returns to Democrats – CNNPolitics

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Trump orders crackdown on visa overstays

The Trump administration is considering suspending or limiting entry of nationals from countries with high rates of visa overstays as it seeks to clamp down on illegal immigration.

President Trump signed a memo on Monday giving the State and Homeland Security departments 120 days to come up with measures to tackle the problem.

Source: Trump orders crackdown on visa overstays

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Redistricting push in 1 Westmoreland County community aims to cut wait times and raise voter turnout

A petition for new election districts in Westmoreland County’s Murrysville community will be presented May 3.The petition, filed on behalf of 85 registered electors, is looking to create new election districts in the community in an effort to reduce wait times and increase voter turnout.

Source: Redistricting push in 1 Westmoreland County community aims to cut wait times and raise voter turnout

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Elizabeth Warren: Use wealth tax to wipe out college debt, pay tuition

Warren says her proposal would benefit 95% of the 45 million Americans carrying student debt and wipe it out for 75% of them. She says those steps would stimulate the economy by improving credit scores, increasing homebuying and easing small-business formation.

Source: Elizabeth Warren: Use wealth tax to wipe out college debt, pay tuition

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BUTLER COUPLE INDICTED: Former hospital CEO and ex-county detective charged in $1.3 million fraud

The U.S. attorney in Pittsburgh says the indictment includes charges of mail fraud, conspiracy, embezzlement from a healthcare benefit program and money laundering.

PITTSBURGH —

A former CEO of Butler Memorial Hospital and her husband, a former longtime Butler County detective whose duties involved fraud investigations, are named in a federal indictment that alleges a $1.3 million fraud, authorities said Friday.

The 37-count indictment against Stephanie Roskovski, 48, and Scott Roskovski, 50, includes charges of mail fraud, conspiracy, embezzlement from a health care benefit program, money laundering and false statement in a loan application, U.S. Attorney Scott Brady’s office said.

Source: BUTLER COUPLE INDICTED: Former hospital CEO and ex-county detective charged in $1.3 million fraud

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Biden Expected To Launch Presidential Campaign Next Week | Newsradio 1020 KDKA

Former Vice President Joe Biden is expected to join the crowded 2020 Democratic presidential race next week.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Vice President Joe Biden is expected to join the crowded 2020 Democratic presidential race next week.

The decision answers one of the most significant outstanding questions of the early presidential primary season, which has already seen announcements from 18 high-profile Democrats. Biden, 76, would be the oldest and most experienced politician in the race.

His plans were confirmed by three people with knowledge, who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The announcement is expected as early as Wednesday and would cap months of deliberation over his political future.

Source: Biden Expected To Launch Presidential Campaign Next Week | Newsradio 1020 KDKA

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Democrat Nadler doesn’t think Barr is doing his job properly

Democrats in Congress are debating how to pick up Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation where he left off. Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, joins “CBS This Morning” to discuss his plans to subpoena the full Mueller report and why he doesn’t think Attorney General William Barr is doing his job properly.

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McConnell to introduce bill for a minimum age to buy tobacco of 21

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will introduce legislation to raise the federal minimum age to buy tobacco to 21 from 18.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will introduce legislation to raise the federal minimum age to buy tobacco to 21 from 18, he announced Thursday.

McConnell will introduce the legislation, called the McConnell bill, in May, he said. The bill will cover all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. McConnell’s backing marks the strongest support yet in Congress for what’s been dubbed “T21.”

“For some time, I’ve been hearing from the parents who are seeing an unprecedented spike in vaping among their teenage children,” McConnell said in a statement. “In addition, we all know people who started smoking at a young age and who struggled to quit as adults. Unfortunately it’s reaching epidemic levels around the country.”

Source: McConnell to introduce bill for a minimum age to buy tobacco of 21

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Nikki Haley warns that U.S. forces ‘locked and loaded’ if Syria stages another chemical attack

A senior Pentagon official told reporters that the Syrian government still retained a “residual” chemical capability after the attack.

By Carol Morello, Anne Gearan and Missy Ryan April 14 at 11:53 AM 
Western leaders warned Syria on Saturday that they could launch further missile strikes if chemical weapons are used again, while the pre-dawn attacks were denounced by Damascus and its backers as illegal actions that would carry repercussions.

U.S. forces were “locked and loaded” to strike again if Syria unleashed another chemical assault, said Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, at an emergency Security Council meeting called by Russia.

Source: Nikki Haley warns that U.S. forces ‘locked and loaded’ if Syria stages another chemical attack

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