Will Congress have AG Bar hearings?

Can Congress make Attorney General Barr testify? Here are the rules

Congress has three methods at its disposal to seek compliance with a subpoena by holding a witness in contempt, and all have shortcomings.

William Barr testifies during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Jan. 15.Andrew Harnik / AP file

April 29, 2019, 12:11 PM CDT

By Ken Dilanian

WASHINGTON — House Judiciary Committee chairman Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., is threatening to subpoena Attorney General William Barr, who has told the committee he may refuse to appear at a hearing Thursday unless members abandon their plan to have him questioned by staff lawyers.

It's one of many potential subpoena battles brewing between Congress and the Trump administration, which is showing an increasing willingness to stiff-arm congressional oversight committees.

So what practical options does Congress have to enforce its wishes?

No easy ones, as it turns out.

Congress has three methods at its disposal to seek compliance with a subpoena by holding a witness in contempt, according the Congressional Research Service. Each has problems.

Under the doctrine of "inherent contempt," the House or Senate could send members of its security force to arrest and detain the witness. There is precedent for this in U.S. history, but not recent precedent — it hasn't been used since 1935.

In the modern world, the House sergeant-at-arms isn't going to be able to arrest the attorney general, who is protected by an armed FBI security detail. As one former White House official once put it, only half in jest, "They have a lot of guns over there."

Attorney General Barr threatens to skip House hearing

APRIL 29, 201908:45

The second method involves seeking to hold a witness in criminal contempt under federal criminal statutes 2 U.S.C. §§192 and 194. The statutes make it a crime to fail to comply with a lawful congressional subpoena, and call for the House or Senate to refer a criminal contempt citation to the office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, which can seek an indictment from a grand jury.

The problem with this in the current case: All federal prosecutors, including all 90-plus U.S. attorneys, work for Barr, and would be under no obligation to pursue a contempt charge.

That leaves a third option — Congress can seek a civil contempt citation from a judge. The Judiciary Committee, for example, could sue Barr in district court, providing a simple majority of the full House voted to authorize such an action.

"If the individual still refuses to comply, he may be tried by the court in summary proceedings for contempt of court, with sanctions being imposed to coerce their compliance," the Congressional Research Service said in a 2017 paper.

A recent precedent for this happens to involve the House Judiciary Committee, then controlled by Democrats under the George W. Bush administration.

At issue was a congressional investigation into the firing of several U.S. attorneys.

The committee subpoenaed former White House counsel Harriet Miers, and the White House instructed her not to comply, citing executive privilege. It made the same instruction regarding a document subpoena to Josh Bolten, the White House chief of staff.

Both were held in contempt of Congress, and the speaker of the House asked the U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., to pursue the matter.

Nadler: Obstruction of justice impeachable, 'if proven'

APRIL 21, 201900:25

But the federal prosecutor declined to do that, citing a Justice Department policy of not prosecuting a White House official for criminal contempt of Congress if that official had invoked executive privilege at the behest of the president.

Congress sued, and a district court judge sided with lawmakers. The Bush administration appealed and President Barack Obama took office while the case was still pending. The new administration settled the case, granting Congress access to some of the documents it sought and allowing sworn testimony from Miers.

By then, a year and a half after Congress issued the subpoena, the oversight issue largely was moot.

Much the same thing happened when the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee sought to subpoena Attorney General Eric Holder in 2012 over a scandal involving a gun investigation known as Operation Fast and Furious.

This time, the Obama Justice Department refused to prosecute a congressional contempt citation against the attorney general. A court battle dragged on, and it wasn't until January 2016 that a court ordered the Justice Department to produce some documents. The Obama administration appealed, and the case lingered until President Donald Trump took office.

In March of last year, the Trump Justice Department settled the case by agreeing to release some records.

"The Department of Justice under my watch is committed to transparency and the rule of law," then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement.

Now that it's Democrats making the demands, the ardor for transparency at the Justice Department appears to have cooled a bit.

Ken Dilanian

Ken Dilanian is a national security reporter for the NBC News Investigative Unit.

10,000 Little Lies—Who is lying?

Trump reaches 10,000 'false or misleading' claims in office, Washington Post 'Fact Checker' finds

Dylan Stableford

Senior Editor

,

Yahoo News•April 29, 2019

President Trump speaks during a rally in Green Bay, Wis., on Saturday. (Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

More

President Trump passed a historic milestone in his presidency over the weekend.

The Washington Post, which has been tracking the truthfulness of the president’s public assertions in tweets, speeches, interviews and press conferences, reports that Trump surpassed 10,000 false and misleading statements since his inauguration.

On Friday, the president passed the 10,000 mark by making 49 false or misleading claims — including 24 in a speech at the National Rifle Association’s annual meeting in Indianapolis. At his rally in Green Bay, Wis., Saturday, Trump made 61 false or misleading claims, for a total of 10,111 claims in 828 days, or an average of more than 12 per day.

According to the Post’s Glenn Kessler, who keeps a database of Trump falsehoods, Trump averaged less than five false claims a day during his first 100 days in office. And it took the president 601 days to reach 5,000, averaging about eight per day. But it took him just 226 days to double that total.

“The tsunami of untruths just keeps looming larger and larger,” Kessler wrote in his “Fact Checker” column.

There seems to be at least two reasons for the growing number of falsehoods: Trump’s belligerent reaction to special counsel Robert Mueller’s report, which Trump continues to falsely claim exonerated him, and the president’s inability to tell the truth about his promised border wall.

According to the Post, about 20 percent of the Trump’s false and misleading claims are about immigration issues. And his “most repeated” false claim — 160 times — is that his border wall is being built. It isn’t.

“Congress balked at funding the concrete wall he envisioned,” the Post noted, “so he has tried to pitch bollard fencing and repairs of existing barriers as ‘a wall.’”

Trump’s false claims extend to other topics as well, including environmental issues, trade, tax cuts, NATO funding and the economy.

Kessler’s count is confined to checkable matters of fact and doesn’t include what could be construed as opinion. Trump’s comments about the deadly 2017 “Unite the Right” march in Charlottesville, that there “were very fine people, on both sides” — cited by former Vice President Joe Biden in announcing his presidential race —was not included in the count.

Fact-checking Trump, though, is not an exact science. The Toronto Star, which has also been keeping track of Trump’s false claims, had Trump at less than half the Post’s figure (4,913) through April 24.

At the rally in Wisconsin, the president launched a series of false and misleading attacks on Democrats, claiming that the Green New Deal will require every building in Manhattan be replaced (it won’t) and saying Democrats support the killing of healthy babies that have been born (they do not).

"The baby is born," Trump said. "The mother meets with the doctor. They take care of the baby. They wrap the baby beautifully, and then the doctor and the mother determine whether or not they will execute the baby. I don't think so."

The president was referring to a Republican bill passed by the Wisconsin state legislature that says doctors who do not provide medical care to babies who are born alive after a failed abortion attempt could face life in prison. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said he would veto the bill because such laws already exist.

___Above is from: https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-has-made-10000-false-and-misleading-claims-washington-post-fact-checker-145444166.html

Boone County government announces vacancies

Boone County government announces vacancies

MOST POPULAR

Posted Apr 27, 2019 at 2:20 PMUpdated Apr 27, 2019 at 2:20 PM

BOONE COUNTY — The Boone County government recently announced vacancies on various volunteer boards.

The boards and vacancy numbers are sanitary district, two; conservation easement and farmland protection, two; board of review, two; board of appeals, one; fire protection district No. 1, one; zoning board of appeals, two; regional planning commission, one.

Interested parties are asked to send a letter and/or resume expressing their interest and qualifications along with their contact information by May 10 to Boone County Board Chairman Karl Johnson, Administration Campus, 1212 Logan Ave., Suite 102, Belvidere, IL 61008.

What Pro-life should mean

Catholic Nun Explains Pro-Life In A Way That Will Stun Many (Especially Republican Lawmakers)

Leslie Salzillo

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday July 30, 2015 · 7:00 AM CDT

In one simple quote, Sister Joan Chittister, O.S.B. sums up the hypocrisy of many in the 'pro-life' movement:

"I do not believe that just because you're opposed to abortion, that that makes you pro-life. In fact, I think in many cases, your morality is deeply lacking if all you want is a child born but not a child fed, not a child educated, not a child housed. And why would I think that you don't? Because you don't want any tax money to go there. That's not pro-life. That's pro-birth. We need a much broader conversation on what the morality of pro-life is."

This quote applies well to many Republican lawmakers who continue to introduce/pass restrictive misogynist laws against woman's reproductive rights. At the same time, the GOP works to shut down women's health clinics, with a special vengeance towards Planned Parenthood (#StandWithPP). You don't see these Right Wing anti-choice extremists adopting children from unplanned pregnancies or putting funds into sex education.

But you do see Republican lawmakers cut access to birth control, which prevents abortions. You do see the GOP's 54 attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and their $24 billion Government Shutdown, both to destroy universal health reform which protects the needs of millions of American children. And you do see Republican lawmakers cut government programs like school lunches for children and block government financial aid to familieswho are homeless and/or in need.

The goals of these so-called anti-choice/'pro-life' hypocrites are not about fetuses or children once born, their agenda is about controlling women's bodies and women's futures. How great to hear Sister Joan Chittister, a Benedictine nun, define the pro-life/anti-choice GOP double talk so well. An outspoken advocate for women, Sister Joan Chittister is a lecturer and author of 50 books. Holding a Ph.D. from Penn State University, she is also a research associate in a division of Cambridge University. Other subjects of her writing include women in the church and society, human rights, peace and justice, religious life and spirituality. She has appeared in the media on numerous shows including Meet the Press, 60 Minutes, Bill Moyers, BBC, NPR, and Oprah Winfrey.You can visit Joan Chittister's website at Joan Chittister.org.

The photo of Sister Joan Chittister is from her book: 'Joan Chittister: Her Journey from Certainty to Faith’ by Tom Roberts. Excerpts of the above story were taken from an earlier Daily Kos piece: 'Anti-Choice Extremists Shut Down Planned Parenthood Website.'

Special thanks to Facebook page Pro-Choice Liberals .

Above is from:  https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/7/30/1407166/-Catholic-Nun-Explains-Pro-Life-In-A-Way-That-May-Stun-The-Masses

Boone County administrator on leave of absence

Boone County administrator on leave of absence

By Chris Green
Staff writer

Posted Apr 17, 2019 at 9:20 PMUpdated Apr 17, 2019 at 9:20 PM

BELVIDERE — Long-time Boone County Administrator Ken Terrinoni has taken an extended leave of absence due to an undisclosed illness.

“He suffered a medical emergency about a week ago,” said Boone County Board Chairman Karl Johnson.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.”

Terrinoni, 58, has served the county for more than 30 years, Johnson said.

Deputy Administrator Dan Streed is acting in his place.

Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen

Above is from:  https://www.rrstar.com/news/20190417/boone-county-administrator-on-leave-of-absence

Crystal Lake 5 year old missing

DCFS has long history with family of missing Crystal Lake 5-year-old, agency confirms as police raid boy's home

Police search for 5-year-old Andrew “AJ” Freund, who went missing from his family's Crystal Lake home on April 17, 2018.

(Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Amanda Marrazzo, Robert McCoppinChicago Tribune

The whereabouts of a 5-year-old Crystal Lake boy remained unknown Friday, a day after he was reported missing, but police said their investigation was focusing on his home and that they don’t believe he was abducted.

Late Friday afternoon, a team of police in about seven vehicles pulled up to the house and went inside. At least one of them said, “Crystal Lake police. We got a search warrant.”

Some of them later emerged outside, but then returned into the house carrying unfolded boxes. Later in the evening, police could be seen leaving the home.

In another development late Friday afternoon, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services said it has had contact with the family of the boy, Andrew “AJ” Freund, since he was born in 2013 with opiates in his system. DCFS continued having contact off and on until late 2018, a spokesman said. A younger son was placed into DCFS custody, officials said.

Andrew was last seen at bedtime, about 9 p.m., on Wednesday in the family home in the first block of Dole Avenue in the northwest suburb. After waking up Thursday morning and being unable to find him in the home, Andrew’s parents reported the boy missing, police said.

After a daylong search on Thursday, police in a news release Friday said, “In reviewing all investigative information thus far, there is no indication that would lead police to believe that an abduction had taken place.” They also said: “Information obtained currently has police focusing on the residence.”

Canine teams that were used during the investigation “only picked up Andrew’s scent within the residence indicating that Andrew had not walked away on foot,” police said.

A neighbor who lives across the street said that the boy’s father, also named Andrew Freund, left the home through the back door about 2 p.m. Friday and began walking down Dole Avenue. While he was walking, he said, “Find my son … find my son,” according to the neighbor, Janelle Butler.

Butler said police approached him and tried to keep others away from him, but not before he made a plea to media members who were at the scene.

“AJ, please come home,” he said. “We love you very much. You’re not in any trouble. We’re just worried to death. Please, please come home.”

Five-year-old Andrew "AJ" Freund has been missing from his Crystal Lake home since Wednesday, April 17. While answering questions for the police, his mother Joann Cunningham felt she was being considered as a suspect, and called for a lawyer. Her attorney George Kililis answered questions for the Tribune outside the family's home today.

Later, the boy’s mother, JoAnn Cunningham, returned to the home. Her attorney, who was with her, told the Tribune she had been questioned by police Thursday.

The attorney, George Kililis, said he was contacted by a friend of Cunningham’s after the mother said she felt she was being considered a suspect. Kililis said she was cooperating fully with police.

Kililis said the mother is “depressed” and “sad.”

Her hope, Kililis said, “is at some point (Andrew) is going to walk through the door.”

“Our focus is on finding the child,” Kililis said. “She is devastated. She’s worried.

“She’s innocent of any wrongdoing. All she cares about is her little boy. That’s it.”

He said Cunningham is asking for the public’s “help and compassion.”

Kililis also said the mother is seven months pregnant.

DCFS, which has the job of protecting children from abuse, released the following statement Friday: “The department’s involvement with Andrew Freund began with his birth in 2013 and continued on and off through the end of 2018. The last contact between DCFS child protection staff and Andrew’s family was in December of 2018 while investigating allegations of abuse and neglect.”

DCFS released a timeline highlighting interactions between DCFS and Andrew’s family:

An undated photo of Andrew “AJ” Freund, who was last seen about 9 p.m. Wednesday in his family's Crystal Lake home. (Family photo)

•In October 2013, DCFS investigated an allegation of neglect by the mother and found there was credible evidence to substantiate the allegation. Andrew was born with opiates in his body.

•The following month, DCFS took Andrew into protective custody. He was placed in a foster home and not returned to his own home until June 2015. The case was closed in April 2016.

•In March 2018, DCFS investigated allegations of neglect by the father and mother, but concluded they were unfounded. The mother agreed to re-enter treatment.

•On Dec. 18, 2018, DCFS investigated another allegation of abuse and neglect by the mother, and the boy was temporarily removed by police, but he was returned to the home after the allegations were ruled unfounded. There was no evidence to support allegations of deplorable conditions in the home, and bruising on the child was attributed to the dog.

On Thursday, Andrew’s younger brother was placed in another home under a DCFS safety plan.

Police said they were reviewing all tips and leads. The department said it has no reason to believe there is a threat to the community.

Crystal Lake detectives were working with members of the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Police said 15 police agencies helped with the search on Thursday. About 373 acres were covered during a foot search and nearly 500 acres were covered via aerial search by drones.

About 6 p.m. Thursday, a sonar team began to scan the waters of Crystal Lake. Sonar technicians used cameras to search under all the docks and piers along the entire shore of Crystal Lake and also used side-scan sonar techniques on the lake itself off the main beach area. The search ended about 10 p.m.

Andrew has blond hair and was wearing a Mario sweatshirt and black sweatpants when he was last seen. He is about 3 feet 5 inches tall and weighs about 70 pounds.

Quirine Dahlquist, who lives around the corner from the home where AJ apparently went missing, said Thursday she was walking around the neighborhood searching for him, as were others. “I’m freaking out for the family and I don’t even know them,” she said.

Janelle Butler, a neighbor of Andrew “AJ” Freund, describes the scene in Crystal Lake as authorities search for the missing boy on April 18, 2019. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Bob Atkinson, who lives nearby, also was helping in the search. “It’s upsetting,” he said. “You think it’s not gonna happen in my backyard and it did.”

Atkinson also said he had seen the family on walks around the neighborhood, which he described as “typical middle class.”

Butler said Thursday evening that officers came to her house just after 8 a.m. and told her the boy was missing. Officers with dogs searched the neighborhood, up and down the streets and backyards.

Butler described the neighborhood as “extremely safe.” She said there are always people walking and taking their dogs out and that if a child were wandering the streets, someone would have called police.

“I hope he’s OK,” Butler said. “It’s heartbreaking.”

Tom McIntyre placed a bouquet of flowers on the ground near the home and shook a police officer’s hand. McIntyre, who lives nearby, said he is “just sad” for the family and wanted to do “just something.”

“My prayers and thoughts are with the family,” he said. “(I would) never think this will happen in my community.”

Authorities ask anyone with information to call the Crystal Lake Police Department at 815-356-3620. Anyone with a cellphone who has information regarding the child can send an anonymous tip to the department by texting the word CLPDTIP along with the tip information to 847411 (tip411).

Chicago Tribune’s Stacey Wescott and WGN-TV contributed.

Amanda Marrazzo is a freelance reporter.

Above is from:  https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-met-crystal-lake-missing-boy-andrew-freund-20190419-story.html