Congressman Cohen Will Reintroduce Constitutional Amendment to Limit the President’s Pardon Power

Washington, D.C. - November 29, 2018 - (The Ponder News) -- Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN, 9th), the ranking member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, announced today his intention to reintroduce his constitutional amendment to limit the President’s pardon power when the new Congress convenes in January.

Last year, following the indictment of Paul Manafort, Congressman Cohen introduced H. J. Res. 120, a constitutional amendment that would prohibit presidents from pardoning themselves, as well as members of their family, their administration and campaign staff.

“President Trump’s overtures to his convicted former campaign chairman Paul Manafort pose a dangerous threat to the rule of law and are not what the Founders intended when they included the pardon power in the Constitution. The pardon power is supposed to serve justice, not thwart it. It was never meant to immunize presidents’ families and close advisors against laws the rest of us must obey. That’s what kings and dictators do, and if there is one thing the Founders made clear, it was that we don’t have kings in the United States of America.”

“Manafort is not the only convicted former Trump advisor facing serious questions about the legality of their conduct. Michael Flynn, Michael Cohen, George Papadopoulos have all been convicted or pleaded guilty, and questions remain about the conduct of Roger Stone and even Trump’s son and son-in-law. We need to limit the scope of the pardon power to protect the rule of law.”

The amendment would apply to the current as well as future presidents.

Congressman Nadler Joins Members Filing Amicus Brief Opposing Sheriff Arpaio’s Motion To Vacate His Conviction Following President Trump’s Pardon

Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet, joined with House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Ranking Member Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice Ranking Member Steve Cohen (D-TN), Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law Ranking Member David Cicilline (D-RI), Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA), and other Members of Congress, filed an amicus brief opposing Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s motion to vacate his conviction for criminal contempt of court on the ground that President Donald Trump’s pardon of Sheriff Arpaio was unconstitutional.

In 2011, a Federal court found that Sheriff Arpaio's police department routinely engaged in racial profiling of Latinos. The court ordered the department to cease its unconstitutional practices immediately, but Sheriff Arpaio and the department flouted the court's order, and continued to direct their staff to deprive thousands of people of their constitutional rights. This past July, Sheriff Arpaio was held in criminal contempt of court for repeatedly and blatantly ignoring the court’s injunction against him. Just three weeks later, however, President Trump pardoned his contempt conviction.

The Members released the following statement:

“The President's pardon of Sheriff Arpaio was not just disgraceful, but also represented what we believe to be an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers. As our brief argues, it is essential to the independence of the judiciary that courts be able to enforce compliance with their orders through the contempt power, especially those orders that protect the constitutional rights of private parties. By pardoning Sheriff Arpaio, the President threatened this fundamental judicial power. Furthermore, if the President’s pardon is allowed to stand, this case could have severe implications for Congress’s ability to compel compliance with its own investigations and orders.

“President Trump’s pardon was not intended to remedy an unduly harsh criminal punishment, or to correct a mistake in the enforcement of the criminal law—the intended purpose of the power—but to usurp the power of the judiciary to vindicate the authority of the courts and to uphold the rule of law. Despite common misconceptions, the pardon power is not absolute. As Laurence Tribe, one of the nation’s leading constitutional scholars, explained, ‘when the Constitution says that the president ‘shall have power,’ that does not mean unlimited power. It means power that is not inconsistent with other parts of the Constitution.’ In this case, the pardon power was used to upset the careful balance of power among the branches of government, and to undermine the rule of law.

“We agree with Professor Tribe and with numerous other scholars and commentators that the President’s pardon of Sheriff Arpaio was unconstitutional and, therefore, ask the court to deny Sheriff Arpaio’s motion to vacate his conviction.”

A copy of the brief is available here.

HUNTER REQUESTS PRESIDENTIAL PARDONS FOR FORMER BORDER PATROL AGENTS

Source: House Representative Duncan D. Hunter (R-CA, 50th)

Washington, D.C. - September 27, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Congressman Duncan Hunter (CA-50) sent a letter to President Trump requesting a presidential pardon for former Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean who were sentenced to federal prison in 2006 for assault against the drug smuggler they were apprehending in the performance of their jobs. While President Bush commuted their 10-year sentence in 2009, these agents remain convicted felons adversely affecting their employment opportunities and quality of life.

“These agents were in process of apprehending an illegal alien smuggling over 700 pounds of drugs into our country,” said Congressman Hunter. “In the course of a struggle, and in what appeared to be the suspect brandishing a weapon, these agents fired their guns and hit him in the backside as he escaped back into Mexico. Rather than reward these agents for their $1 million seizure, a U.S. Attorney offered the drug smuggler immunity in exchange for testimony to prosecute and convict them. President Bush’s actions got Ramos and Compean out of prison and I’m calling on President Trump to take the next step and give these agents their lives back.”

Congressman Hunter’s letter comes after President Trump exercised his authority earlier this year to pardon former Arizona Sherriff Joe Arpaio. Both Ramos and Compean were veterans of the U.S. Border Patrol with unblemished service records and Agent Ramos had previously been nominated for Border Patrol Agent of the Year. Conversely, the drug smuggler, Mr. Aldrete-Davila, was captured again after this incident and pleaded guilty to multiple drug charges, including possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute.

Congressman Hunter's letter to President Trump can be viewed here.

Dems Worried Trump will Pardon Himself

by Shonda Ponder

Of all things for the Democrats to worry about, now they're worried that Trump is going to pardon himself or his family members for something. I don't think President Trump has done anything wrong to pardon himself for, but I guess they think he might. In a press release from Karen Bass (D-CA, 37th), the Democrats have decided to create a resolution that will prevent this from happening.

“Due to the current President’s proven willingness to slander the truth and exploit legal ambiguity for personal gain, we must explicitly forbid the possibility of a pardon for himself or his family,” Rep. Bass said. “Throughout this presidency, I’ve heard from thousands of constituents concerned about pardon power. The recent pardon of Joe Arpaio only amplified those concerns. Millions of Americans face the consequences of their own unlawful actions, and they repay their debt to society. If any president of any party or their family commits federal crimes, benign or extreme, they too must suffer the consequences of their actions. I call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to uphold our civic duty to protect our justice system.”

I think the Democrats need to stop focusing on how much they hate Trump, and start worrying about how they are going to get re-elected. The future doesn't look too bright for them these days, unless they know a bunch of dead Democrats.

President Trump Pardons Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Washington, D.C. - August 26, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- President Donald Trump has issued Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio a full Presidential Pardon. The White house stated:

"Today, President Donald J. Trump granted a Presidential pardon to Joe Arpaio, former Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona. Arpaio’s life and career, which began at the age of 18 when he enlisted in the military after the outbreak of the Korean War, exemplify selfless public service. After serving in the Army, Arpaio became a police officer in Washington, D.C. and Las Vegas, NV and later served as a Special Agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), formerly the Bureau of Narcotics. After 25 years of admirable service, Arpaio went on to lead the DEA’s branch in Arizona.

In 1992, the problems facing his community pulled Arpaio out of retirement to return to law enforcement. He ran and won a campaign to become Sheriff of Maricopa County. Throughout his time as Sheriff, Arpaio continued his life’s work of protecting the public from the scourges of crime and illegal immigration. Sheriff Joe Arpaio is now eighty-five years old, and after more than fifty years of admirable service to our Nation, he is worthy candidate for a Presidential pardon."

Just minutes before Hurricane Harvey touched the Texas coast, Donald Trump issued the pardon, then tweeted:

I am pleased to inform you that I have just granted a full Pardon to 85 year old American patriot Sheriff Joe Arpaio. He kept Arizona safe!

Last week, House Representative Trent Franks (R-AR, 8th) issued the following statement:

“Sheriff Arpaio has been a long-respected member of the law enforcement community who has dedicated his life to keeping Arizona communities safe. He has no prior convictions, no criminal record, no record of wrongs. In his twilight years, he deserves to retire peacefully and enjoy the satisfaction of a hard-earned and honorable retirement.

“Let us have an honest moment – this has been a political prosecution from the beginning. The real reason Arpaio is in legal trouble right now is because a Clinton-appointed judge decided to issue a judgment that contradicted every single witness that testified in the case.

“Pardoning Sheriff Arpaio would be celebrated by Arizonans that appreciate and respect a man who has accomplished so much for law and order in our state. It would absolutely be the right thing for President Trump to pardon Sheriff Joe.”

Now, after the pardon, Franks took to Twitter with:

The president did the right thing -- Joe Arpaio lived an honorable life serving our country, and he deserves an honorable retirement.

Senator John McCain (R - AZ) however, was not happy about the pardon. He stated:

“No one is above the law and the individuals entrusted with the privilege of being sworn law officers should always seek to be beyond reproach in their commitment to fairly enforcing the laws they swore to uphold. Mr. Arpaio was found guilty of criminal contempt for continuing to illegally profile Latinos living in Arizona based on their perceived immigration status in violation of a judge’s orders. The President has the authority to make this pardon, but doing so at this time undermines his claim for the respect of rule of law as Mr. Arpaio has shown no remorse for his actions.”

Senator Senator Al Franken (D - MN) tweeted,

"Presidential pardons should not be rewards for bad behavior and discrimination. Granting a pardon to Joe Arpaio is shameful and appalling."

Arpaio, however, is very grateful. He responded to the pardon with:

I am humbled and incredibly grateful to President Trump. I look fwd to putting this chapter behind me and helping to #MAGA

Senator Jack Reed (D - RI) stated:

“All Americans should be outraged by the way President Trump pardoned Mr. Arpaio.

“Mr. Arpaio abused his power as a law officer, even after the courts ordered him to stop because his actions were unconstitutional.

“This is another example of President Trump endorsing discrimination. The President may have the authority to pardon, but the American people have the ultimate power to hold him accountable.”

House Representative Albio Sires (D-NJ, 8th) issued the following statement on President Trump's decision to pardon former Sheriff Joe Arpaio who was convicted of criminal contempt of court:

"Last night, President Trump once again proved he is willing to give a rubber stamp of approval to racism and bigotry when he pardoned Joe Arpaio. Arpaio repeatedly targeted, tormented, and harassed Latinos based on their race, routinely violating the 4th Amendment. By ignoring the court's ruling and abusing his power to pardon one of his early supporters, the President has shown a complete disrespect for the rule of law and elevated a man who sought to sow fear and distrust across the country.

Rather than working to unite the nation, this action follows in the President's pattern of divisiveness and goes against the core values of our nation. I condemn his actions and will continue to stand against racism, bigotry, and hatred in all its forms."

House Representative Adam Smith (D-WA, 9th) said:

“President Trump's pardon of Sheriff Arpaio is an affront to the rule of law and a deeply disturbing use of Presidential Power to sanction discrimination. As Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arpaio flagrantly ignored clear Federal immigration enforcement guidelines and aggressively pursued policies of racial profiling. His continued violation of civil rights led to a conviction in a court of law for his unlawful immigration practices. Trump's pardon is an endorsement of the bigoted and racists actions that led to Sheriff Arpaio's conviction, and undermines the pursuit of justice that our system of government is built on.”

House Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL, 23rd):

"After drawing kudos from racists for his response to a fatal white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Donald Trump chooses now, of all times, to pardon former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. This shameful act – done under cover of a Friday night rollout – is just another ugly, brazen pander to his nativist base. With a notorious reputation for ethnic profiling, Arpaio was found guilty of criminal contempt related to his refusal to stop imprisoning suspected illegal immigrants after being ordered by a federal judge to stop. This pardon will only sew more discord and division within our nation, and maintain the steady stream of shame that Trump heaps upon his sacred office nearly every day."

Senator Elizabeth Warren- (D - MA):

"Speaking of making America less safe, President Trump and Sheriff Joe Arpaio are two of a kind: both believe the law doesn't apply to them and have used their office to create a platform for racism and bigotry. No one - not Trump and not Arpaio - is above the law."

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse- (D - RI):

“Sheriff Arpaio systemically discriminated against Arizona Latinos in defiance of our Constitution and ignored our courts. He does not deserve a pardon. Now is a time to bind the wounds left by‎ white nationalists’ repugnant attacks in Charlottesville. Instead, President Trump has again doubled down on the side of ignorance, bigotry, intolerance, and hate."

House Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ, 5th):

"As a member of the Arizona Congressional delegation, I applaud President Trump for pardoning Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The President brought justice to a situation where the Obama administration had attempted to destroy a political opponent.

“Sheriff Joe Arpaio made many enemies in the judicial system, the media, and the left because he enforced laws that the federal government ignored. He did right by the law – even as the political consequences continued to mount. America owes Sheriff Arpaio a debt of gratitude and not the injustice of a political witch hunt.

“I am very happy for Sheriff Joe Arpaio and hope that he will be able to live out his days in peace and comfort, knowing that his President and country are grateful for his service to this nation. I look forward to seeing how the Sheriff plans to serve this country in the next chapter of his life.”

House Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX, 20th):

“President Trump used the power of the presidency to pardon a bigot today. Sheriff Arpaio is a stain on law enforcement. He directed the targeting of individuals based on their race, and continued the illegal, discriminatory practice after a judge ordered him to stop.

“The President's decision to pardon Sheriff Arpaio in the wake of the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville will embolden racist factions of our society. This callous announcement deepens divisions between Americans and hinders the healing our nation needs.”

House Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN, 9th):

“President Trump's pardoning of Joe Arpaio isn't just bad, it's dangerous. The President continues to show a callous disregard for the independence of our federal judiciary,” said Congressman Cohen. “Even worse, he did so in defense of a man who had been criminally convicted of failing to follow a court order in connection with a lawsuit involving racial profiling. This was not only a terrible decision, but if reports are accurate that he did not consult the Department of Justice, it was also done incredibly irresponsibly. Presidents have a duty to consult professionals and experts before taking action. Authoritarianism always starts with attacks on the press and the judiciary. We must guard against these kind of attacks against democracy. The rule of law is one of our basic precepts. We fought a revolution to place the law above men. By pardoning the former sheriff, the President has once again abused his authority and divided our nation. I will be reviewing the President’s action with my Judiciary Committee colleagues to determine how best to address it.”

House Representative Joseph Crowley (D-NY, 14th):

“President Trump has once again chosen to appease the most anti-immigrant voices in his party. Pardoning one of the country’s most notorious anti-immigrant crusaders sends a chilling message to hardworking immigrants and their families throughout the country. And waving away the crimes of someone who is currently facing jail time for refusing to stop racially profiling immigrants sadly only confirms President Trump’s inability to stand up to those who spread hate.”

House Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD, 7th):

“The President claims that he wants to unite the country and fight against racism, yet his own words and actions show the opposite. He followed up his abhorrent statements about Charlottesville—that some white supremacists are 'very fine people'—by pardoning a racist cop for his crimes against minorities. Over and over again, President Trump has promoted what Speaker Ryan once called ‘textbook racism’ while exhibiting contempt for the rule of law. President Trump is sending a message with these words and his actions, and it is one of hate and divisiveness rather than hope and unity.”

House Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN, 5th):

“Trump's pardon of Joe Arpaio proves what the world already knows: that the President thinks criminal law-breaking is okay, as long as it only harms certain people.

“Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio was one of our country’s most notorious racists who racially profiled Latinos and tortured and humiliated inmates. He was lawfully convicted for refusing to comply with a court order to stop violating people’s constitutional rights.

“Pardons are used when those convicted of crimes show a willingness to reform and become better citizens. Joe Arpaio has not done either. He has not apologized, shown remorse for his crimes or a willingness to repair the damage he’s done to his community.

“Yet, Donald Trump believes that a man who used race as a way to abuse and oppress people is an ‘American patriot’.

“This pardon comes just hours after it was reported that the Trump Administration may end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and signed a directive to ban transgender military recruits - all while a Category 4 Hurricane was making landfall in Texas and putting millions of lives at risk.

“And let’s not forget, just two weeks ago, Trump said that some white supremacists and neo-Nazis were 'fine people'.

“It's clear. President Trump is giving cover to white supremacy.”

House Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL, 4th):

“It isn’t easy to find a convicted, notorious racist, but Trump found him and pardoned him. Sheriff Arpaio chose to ignore the law and judgements by federal courts. He chose to use race and ethnicity as a pretext to deprive people of their rights. He shredded the Constitution and became a celebrity for Fox News, white supremacists and the President.

“Nobody believed the President when he said he would be the ‘Law and Order’ President and he has proven us all right. Joe Arpaio should serve a very, very long time for his crimes, but in him, Trump finds a kindred spirit. Both men are not ashamed to use overt appeals to racism to glorify themselves and both are not ashamed of abusing public office if it enhances their personal brand. This is a sad chapter even by the standards of the tragic saga of Trump.”

News about: Nazi Deportation, Charlottesville, Censure, Monuments, Prisons, Racial Profiling, Right to Work, Pardon, Praying

Camping World CEO has told Trump supporters that they can take their business elsewhere, he doesn't want it. Doesn't he realize that Trump supporters are people who hunt and fish the most? Click HERE to read more about it...

Members of the New York Congressional Delegation wrote a letter urging Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to personally seek the deportation of a Nazi prison guard living in Queens. Led by Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Congressman Joe Crowley (D-NY), and Congressman Dan Donovan (R-NY), the lawmakers asked Secretary Tillerson to use his influence to ensure that Jakiw Palij—a convicted Nazi guard—is deported, so New Yorkers and Americans are not forced to live besides “a painful reminder for Americans who fought against the Nazis or lost loved ones in the Holocaust.” Read more about it by clicking here...

The following Members have signed on as cosponsors of H.Res.496 censuring President Trump for his Charlottesville comments:

Alma Adams (D-NC)
Nannette Barragan (D-CA)
Ami Bera (D-CA)
Karen Bass (D-CA)
Don Beyer (D-VA)
Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)
Anthony Brown (D-MD)
Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Michael Capuano (D-MA)
Salud Carbajal (D-CA)
Tony Cardenas (D-CA)
David Cicilline (D-RI)
Katherine Clark (D-MA)
Yvette Clarke (D-NY)
William Lacy Clay (D-MO)
Steve Cohen (D-TN)
Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA)
John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI)
Joe Courtney (D-CT)
Joe Crowley (D-NY)
Elijah Cummings (D-MD)
Diana DeGette (D-CO)
Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)
Debbie Dingell (D-MI)
Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Eliot Engel (D-NY)
Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)
Elizabeth Esty (D-CT)
Dwight Evans (D-PA)
Bill Foster (D-IL)
Lois Frankel (D-FL)
Marcia Fudge (D-OH)
John Garamendi (D-CA)
Jimmy Gomez (D-CA)
Al Green (D-TX)
Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
Luis Gutierrez (D-IL)
Denny Heck (D-WA)
Brian Higgins (D-NY)
Jim Himes (D-CT)
Jared Huffman (D-CA)
Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX)
Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)
Hank Johnson (D-GA)
Robin Kelly (D-IL)
Joe Kennedy (D-MA)
Rohit Khanna (D-CA)
Ruben Kihuen (D-NV)
Dan Kildee (D-MI)
Derek Kilmer (D-WA)
Ann Kuster (D-NH)
James Langevin (D-RI)
Rick Larsen (D-WA)
John Larson (D-CT)
Brenda Lawrence (D-MI)
Al Lawson (D-FL)
Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Sander Levin (D-MI)
Ted Lieu (D-CA)
Dan Lipinski (D-IL)
David Loebsack (D-IA)
Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
Alan Lowenthal (D-CA)
Nita Lowey (D-NY)
Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM)
Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM)
Stephen Lynch (D-MA)
Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
Doris Matsui (D-CA)
Betty McCollum (D-MN)
Donald McEachin (D-VA)
Jim McGovern (D-MA)
Greg Meeks (D-NY)
Grace Meng (D-NY)
Grace Napolitano (D-CA)
Richard Neal (D-MA)
Donald Norcross (D-NJ)
Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ)
Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ)
Scott Peters (D-CA)
Chellie Pingree (D-ME)
Mark Pocan (D-WI)
Jared Polis (D-CO)
David Price (D-NC)
Mike Quigley (D-IL)
Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
Cedric Richmond (D-LA)
Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
Linda Sanchez (D-CA)
Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
Brad Schneider (D-IL)
David A. Scott (D-GA)
Jose Serrano (D-NY)
Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH)
Brad Sherman (D-CA)
Albio Sires (D-NJ)
Louise Slaughter (D-NY)
Adam Smith (D-WA)
Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
Mark Takano (D-CA)
Bennie Thompson (D-MS)
Paul Tonko (D-NY)
Norma Torres (D-CA)
Nydia Velazquez (D-NY)
Tim Walz (D-MN)
Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
Peter Welch (D-VT)

Is it any surprise that all of them are Democrats?

Rep. Grace F. Napolitano slammed the U.S. Department of Interior for lack of transparency after releasing only a summary of the report on the Trump Administration’s review of certain National Monuments, including the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, issuing the following statement:

“This administration and Secretary Zinke have shut out the voices of the public, turning a review of some of our precious monuments into one of the least transparent and most complicated federal processes. The review was announced on April 26 of this year through an Executive Order by President Trump, yet we in the San Gabriel Valley have still not heard from the Secretary. I placed several requests to Secretary Zinke’s office, inviting him to come to California, visit our monument, and to speak with local residents, businesses, and city officials. I never received a response. I additionally sent a detailed letter describing the history and importance of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument to our community. If the Secretary is not taking the time to meet with nearby locals nor sharing details of proposed changes to these monuments, then who really controls this process? How can the Secretary make a decision behind closed doors in Washington, DC without stepping foot in Southern California? It looks as though no monuments will be fully eliminated as a result of this review, but we sincerely hope Secretary Zinke publicly releases his recommendations and changes to existing monuments he sent to the White House today. The public, including 2.4 million Americans who submitted comments on the process, has every right to know. As we await details relating to the future of our national monuments, I will continue to fight to protect our limited green space in Los Angeles County and across the country."

Typical Democrat: pretending to care about monuments while destroying them.

However, the Public Lands Council and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association were encouraged by the Department of the Interior’s report on National Monuments released today. The final report comes after an extensive review of Antiquities Act designations, ordered by President Trump, which included listening sessions in the field and a public comment period.

Ethan Lane, Executive Director of the Public Lands Council, stated:

“It is clear Presidents have repeatedly abused their authority under the Antiquities Act locking up over 250 million acres of land and water without local input or economic analysis. We are grateful to Secretary Zinke and his team for soliciting feedback from those most affected by executive land-grabs, and look forward to swift action from the White House in response to the recommendations that aligns with the original intent of the Antiquities Act.”

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) filed an amendment to the fiscal year 2018 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill to prohibit the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) from carrying out the law that requires individuals in halfway houses and on home confinement to pay a subsistence fee to offset the cost of being housed or supervised. Currently, BOP charges residents at BOP halfway houses a subsistence fee of 25 percent of their gross income, but in August 2016 stopped charging any fee for home confinement. Norton has taken special interest in eliminating BOP-imposed subsistence fees because District of Columbia Code felons are the only local felons housed by BOP and are subject to the fee when in halfway houses. Norton introduced a stand-alone bill to eliminate the subsistence fees and wrote BOP Acting Director Thomas R. Kane calling on BOP to eliminate or significantly reduce subsistence fees. She states:

“Imposing costly subsistence fees on those living at federal halfway houses puts a heavy financial burden on returning citizens who are trying to save money and prepare to make the already difficult transition back to society. Eliminating these counterproductive subsistence fees would help returning citizens meet their financial obligations and secure employment and housing.”

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) also filed an amendment to the fiscal year 2018 Transportation, Housing And Urban Development Appropriations bill to prohibit states that receive federal transportation funding from engaging in unconstitutional profiling based on physical characteristics. Norton said the Supreme Court has stated that racial profiling violates both equal protection and title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and therefore her amendment states that none of the funds in the transportation title could be used in contravention of the Fifth or Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution or Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Norton’s amendment previously unanimously passed by voice vote on the House floor and was included in the fiscal year 2015 omnibus appropriations bill, which was signed into law in December 2014. She states:

“Despite heightened awareness of racial profiling throughout the country, we continue to see disproportionate stops of African Americans and other people of color by law enforcement officials. My amendment is a straightforward attempt to reduce racial profiling by local law enforcement by holding them accountable and putting their federal funding on the line if they engage in unconstitutional profiling.”

A Chicago worker, assisted by National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation staff attorneys, has appealed the dismissal of federal unfair labor practice charges against the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) and UWUA Local 18007. Gerald Howard is employed by Peoples Gas in Chicago, Illinois. UWUA Local 18007 union officials have a monopoly bargaining contract in place with Peoples Gas that includes a requirement that workers can be fired for refusing to pay dues or fees to the union.

Under federal law, no worker can be forced to formally join a union. However, because Illinois is not a Right to Work state, workers can be forced to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment. Under the National Right to Work Foundation-won Supreme Court case Communication Workers v. Beck, nonmember workers cannot be legally compelled to pay union dues used for union politics and member-only activities. Workers can also demand a breakdown of the dues and fees paid to see which fees are used for which purpose.

In a letter sent to UWUA Local 18007 on February 18, Howard formally resigned his membership in the UWUA and objected to paying full dues, as is his right under the Beck precedent, but UWUA Local 18007 union officials failed to acknowledge his resignation. A month later on March 15, Howard sent another letter, this time to officials at the UWUA International headquarters in Washington, DC.

In a letter dated April 3, Washington-based UWUA officials finally acknowledged Howard’s resignation and objection to paying full dues as of his February 18 letter. The UWUA official’s letter also claimed that Howard would be required to pay 90% of full union dues, but did not provide any explanation for how it arrived at that figure.

Although the UWUA later provided Howard a breakdown attempting to justify that non-chargeable activities like union political and lobbying activities only make up ten percent of full dues, further evidence suggests the figure is not accurate. In required disclosure reports filed with the U.S. Department of Labor under threat of perjury, UWUA officials do not categorize political spending but their report shows multiple examples of political spending that contradict the figures in the breakdown provided to Howard after he filed his unfair labor practice charges.

“UWUA union bosses are ignoring clear Supreme Court precedent, compelling payment for union political and lobbying activities and violating the rights of a worker they claim to ‘represent’ in their grab for more forced union dues,” said Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Foundation. “This type of disregard for the rights of rank-and-file workers highlights why Illinois desperately needs a Right to Work law making union affiliation and dues payments strictly voluntary.”

The National Urban League has condemned the pardoning of Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Click HERE to read about it.

A Washington state high school football coach who was punished for taking a knee at the 50-yard line for a post-game prayer violated the U.S. Constitution, according to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Read about it...

And, Finally, according to Truthfeed,

"A federal judge has denied Democratic Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) from casting any senate votes until his case is closed. Menendez has been indicted on corruption charges and will heading to court next month."

Read more about it by clicking here

Maxine Waters:

"I'm afraid if North Korea nukes us, that man is gonna get us into a war!"

and

"If you come after me...I'm coming after you!"

And she says the President doesn't make any sense...??????????