Presidential Elections 2016
Republican Primary
Cruz Becomes the First Major Party Candidate to Run for President
Aiming and aspiring for the most powerful office on the earth, first-term Texas Senator Ted Cruz launched his candidacy at the epicenter of America's conservatism, Liberty University in Virginia, on March 23, 2015. By choosing the Liberty University, founded by late Jerry Falwell, Cruz sent an unmistakable message that he would use his conservative credentials and credo to drive his candidacy.
Cruz for Intensified Patrol in Muslim Neighborhoods
Senator Ted Cruz' prescription to prevent March 22, 2016, Brussels-style attacks in the USA rattled liberals, Muslims and civil liberties advocates. Hours after the Brussels attacks, Senator Cruz called for intensified security patrols in Muslim neighborhoods, immediately drawing condemnation from Democrats, American Muslim organizations, and, not surprisingly, New York Police Commissioner. President Barack Obama stepped in on March 23, 2016 from Argentina in the middle of his state visit, and rebuked Cruz harshly by calling Senator's comments "un-American".
Cruz Receives Jeb Bush' Endorsement
The anti-Trump effort by Republican establishment got serious push on March 23, 2016 as one of the establishment stalwarts, Jeb Bush, an also-ran candidate who had dropped out after the South Carolina primary, endorsed Texas Senator Ted Cruz.
Cruz Receives Wisconsin Governor's Endorsement
A week before the crucial Wisconsin Primary, Ted Cruz on March 29, 2016 received the crucial endorsement from the state's popular governor, Scott Walker, an one-time contender for the White House.
Cruz Makes Bold Move, Announces VP Choice
Making a rather unusual move that's construed both as risky and desperate, Ted Cruz pulled a gamble after a total rout in April 26, 2016, Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Rhode Island primaries by announcing Carly Fiorina, an also-ran candidate who had dropped out of the race soon after the primary season kicked off, as his VP choice. Ted Cruz's announcement on April 27, 2016 has underscored the Texas' junior senator's high-stake bid to win May 3, 2016, Indiana primary which will either sustain Cruz campaign for another day, or end his campaign outright.
Cruz' Presidential Ambition Ends with Crushing Loss in Indiana
Texas Senator Ted Cruz on May 3, 2016 suspended his campaign after being trounced by Donald Trump in Indiana Primary. Cruz put his bet on the victory in Indiana, and took an unusual path of naming a vice presidential candidate. It was a high-stake gamble that at the end of the day had failed to yield any favorable result. The day began with a very testy exchange between Trump and Cruz, with Trump claiming that Cruz's father, Rafael, might have been a collaborator with Harvey Oswald in Kennedy assassination and Texas' junior senator upping the ante and calling out Trump a "pathological liar".
************************************* RAND PAUL ******************************
Rand Paul Joins the Fray
15 days after his fellow Senate colleague Ted Cruz became the first major party candidate for 2016 presidential elections, Senator Rand Paul, R-Kentucky entered the race on April 7, 2015. Paul made the pitch at Louisville's Galt House Hotel, focusing his talks on the theme of "return to prosperity".
Paul Blames His Party's Hawks for Rise in ISIL
Appearing on the MSNBC's Morning Joe on May 27, 2015, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul said that his party's hawks were to blame for the rise of ISIL.
Paul Quits Presidential Race
Failing to lift his campaign from the morass where it was stuck from the very beginning and getting only low single digit percent of vote in Iowa Caucuses, Rand Paul on February 3, 2016 called it quits.
************************************* RAND PAUL ******************************
************************************* MARCO RUBIO ***************************
Marco Rubio Enters the Fray
A day after Democratic contender Hillary Clinton announced to run for 2016 presidential elections, Marco Rubio, a first-term Republican senator from Florida threw his hat on April 13, 2015 in a crowded Republican primary with a theme that's focused on moving the US into "another American century".
Rubio Endorsed by Governor Haley
Three days before the all-important GOP presidential primary in the Palmetto State, Marco Rubio on February 17, 2016 notched up crucial endorsement from South Carolina's popular Governor Nikki Haley over his two other challengers, Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz. Beside Haley's endorsement, Senator Rubio won state's Junior Senator Tim Scott's endorsement too.
Rubio Suspends His Campaign after Losing His Home State
Florida Senator Marco Rubio quit the presidential race after losing Florida's March 15, 2016, primary to Donald Trump.
************************************* MARCO RUBIO ***************************
***************************** FIORINA AND CARSON ***************************
Fiorina, Carson Enter the Primary
On May 4, 2015, two long-shot Republican contenders with very scant political experience entered the presidential contest. One was former HP CEO Carly Fiorina and the other was the renowned neurologist Ben Carson.
Fiorina Quits the Race
After failing to get traction with a Republican electorate that's increasingly out of sync with the mainstream viewpoint, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina on February 10, 2016 quit the race for presidential nomination in the Republican primary.
Carson Quits; Endorses Trump
After faring poorly in the Super Tuesday contests, Dr. Ben Carson dropped out of the race, and few days later, on March 11, 2016, endorsed frontrunner Donald Trump.
***************************** FIORINA AND CARSON ***************************
********************************* LINDSAY GRAHAM **************************
Graham Enters into Fray
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham all but confirmed on May 18, 2015 that he would seek Republican presidential ticket. Sen. Graham will make a formal announcement on June 1, 2015.
Graham Drops out of Race
Lindsay Graham on December 21, 2015 became the latest Republican candidate to drop out of the race.
********************************* LINDSAY GRAHAM **************************
************************************ RICK SANTORUM **************************
Santorum Enters into the Fray
Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum on May 27, 2015 announced his candidature for Republican primary in 2016 presidential polls.
Santorum Exits Presidential Race
Failing to make his marks felt in Iowa Caucuses that he had won four years ago, Rick Santorum on February 3, 2016 ended his bid for White House. Former Pennsylvania senator endorsed Marco Rubio.
************************************ RICK SANTORUM **************************
Pataki Readies to Run in Republican Primary
On May 28, 2015, former New York Governor George Pataki announced that he would run in 2016 presidential polls.
*********************************** RICK PERRY ******************************
Perry Runs for the Second Time
Surrounded by Navy Seals and surrogates, former Texas Governor Rick Perry on June 4, 2015 announced his long-shot bid in Republican primary.
Perry Calls It a Day
Failing to raise enthusiasm among conservative base, enough money from donors and credibility as a viable candidate, Rick Perry became the first Republican presidential candidate to quit on September 11, 2015.
*********************************** RICK PERRY ******************************
Jeb Bush Enters the Fray in June 2015
******************************** DONALD TRUMP *****************************
Trump Enters the Race with Pomp and Boast
Boasting his credentials as a billionaire and business mogul, Donald Trump on June 16, 2015 entered the 2016 presidential race as a Republican nominee, and gave a hateful speech, calling some of the Mexican immigrants as "rapists" and the ones bringing drugs to the north of the borders.
Trump Panned for Anti-Muslim Comments
Politicians, presidential candidates and lawmakers of all stripes blasted immediately after Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump made an outlandish demand on one of his campaign stops on December 7, 2015 that US immediately impose a blanket ban on Muslims entering the U.S. pending figuring out a way on how to deal with blocking potential terrorists from coming to the USA. Jeb Bush called Donald Trump totally "unhinged", Marco Rubio called it "outlandish and offensive", and Hillary Clinton called it "reprehensible, prejudiced and divisive".
British Parliament to Debate on Banning Trump
A petitioned signed by more than 560,000 that called for U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump to be banned from visiting Britain is to be debated by British lower house of parliament on January 18, 2016. According to British constitution, any petition that garners more than 100,000 signatures is debated by House of Commons. Although the ban measure will be debated by parliament, there will not be any binding vote on this.
Trump Excoriated by Parliament
For three hours, a high drama with blistering criticism against the U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump played out on January 18, 2016 on the floors of House of Commons. In the end, Trump was severely panned for his anti-Muslim diatribe, but not banned from entry into the United Kingdom, an already expected outcome. British premier David Cameron called Trump's comments as "divisive, stupid and wrong", but said that his government was against the ban. British government has discretion to ban entry of anyone considered to be a potential danger to "public good", and in the past, banned the entry of boxer Mike Tyson, rapper Tyler the Creator, radical Muslim preachers and late Christian fundamentalist Fred Phelps Sr.
Palin, National Tea Party Leader Endorse Trump
Former GOP Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin on January 19, 2016 endorsed Donald Trump, dealing a setback to her one-time favorite Ted Cruz. Former Chairwoman of the Tea Party Express, Amy Kremer, meanwhile announced of formation of a super PAC to support Trump.
Trump Accuses Cruz of Vote Stealing
Republican Presidential contender Donald Trump on February 3, 2016 made one of the most pointed allegations against Ted Cruz, saying that the Texas senator had stolen his victory. Trump referred to one of the Cruz campaign aide's action on the Caucus day to spread rumor that Dr. Ben Carson was planning to drop out of the race.
Fighting Words Ensue between Pope and Trump
Pope Francis steeped himself into the earthly world of the U.S. presidential politics on February 18, 2016, and volleys of political fire immediately began to fly two days before the crucial South Carolina primary. During a conversation with reporters as he was returning to Vatican after a six-day trip in Mexico, Pope Francis responded to a question that someone who only talked about building walls, not bridges, couldn't be a Christian. Immediately afterward, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump fired back at Pope, calling his comments disgraceful. Trump added that "for a religious leader to question a person's faith is disgraceful".
Top Trump Aide Charged
Top Trump campaign aide Corey Lewandowski was charged on March 29, 2016 on a misdemeanor count in a widely publicized manhandling incident on March 8, 2016 involving a Breitbart News journalist, Michele Fields, at a Florida campaign event.
Trump's Road to Nomination Near Certain after Kasich Drops out
Ohio Governor John Kasich on May 4, 2016 dropped out of the Republican presidential race, paving the way for Donald Trump to clinch the party's nomination.
Trump Heaps Insult on Federal Judge
After May 31, 2016, revelation of testimonies of former Trump University employees that called the Republican frontrunner's business success as well as integrity into question, Donald Trump attempted to sully the California judge who had made the testimonies public by calling Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel a "Mexican". The venom, which was furthest from the truth as Judge Curiel was born in Indiana to an immigrant parents of Mexican descent, drew sharp condemnation from across the political spectrum.
Ryan Calls out Trump for His "Racist" Comment
Speaker Paul Ryan on June 7, 2016 took presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump to task, saying at a Capitol press conference that his comments about a federal judge, Gonzalo P. Curiel, over now-discredited Trump University as "racist". Meanwhile, Illinois Senator Mark Kirk, who is in a tough re-election contest, has said unequivocally that he can not endorse Trump in a good conscience.
Trump Fires His Campaign Manager
The presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump on June 20, 2016 fired his outlandish and outspoken campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, who had often outshined his boss in grabbing media spotlight. Also, Trump became wary of confrontational attitude of Lewandowski in the light of real estate mogul's call for party unity. Lewandowski's relationship with RNC was anything but normal, and RNC head Reince Priebus had expressed his frustration in recent days.
Trump Favors Extreme Vetting for Muslim Immigrants
GOP nominee Donald Trump in a speech on August 15, 2016 at Youngstown, Ohio advocated for a near religious litmus test for immigration, an echo of dark past that had haunted both America and Europe for generations. However, Trump was short on specifics on how he would implement such "extreme vetting" process.
Turmoil in Trump Campaign
GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump shook up his campaign staff for the second time in as many months on August 17, 2016. The controversial executive chairman of conservative Breitbart News Stephen Bannon will become the Trump campaign chief executive while Paul Manafort, the campaign chairman, will retain his title. Trump also brought pollster Kellyanne Conway as campaign manager. Political pundits and pollsters are yet to figure out how these three roles--campaign CEO, campaign chief executive and campaign chairman--are aligned, or overlapped, with one another.
Trump Campaign Chairman Steps down
Two days after a major shake-up in the Trump campaign staff, the campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, resigned on August 19, 2016 amidst new revelations that his firm and other related firms had received a total of $12.7 million from a pro-Moscow political party, Party of the Regions, tied to former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
Political Somersault on Both Sides of Borders
GOP Presidential nominee Donald Trump flew to Mexico City on August 31, 2016 to meet with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, emphasizing the bilateral relationship. However, within hours he addressed a GOP rally in Arizona, blasting illegal immigrants. Issues related to borders walls didn't come up during Trump-Pena Nieto talks. However, critics pounced both leaders, especially Pena Nieto for granting an audience and, thus giving credibility, to Trump.
******************************** BOBBY JINDAL *******************************
Bobby Jindal Enters the Fray
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal launched his long-shot campaign for Republican Party nominee for President on June 24, 2015. Jindal became the 13th candidate in GOP to seek presidency.
Jindal Ends His Bid for White House
Bobby Jindal ended his bid in December 2015.
******************************** BOBBY JINDAL *******************************
******************************** CHRIS CHRISTIE *****************************
Christie Gets in Republican Race for President
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on June 30, 2015 announced during an appearance at Livingston, New Jersey that he would run for the Republican Party ticket in the 2016 Presidential elections.
Christie Quits Presidential Bid
After betting big on and then miserably failing to make any dent in the New Hampshire primary, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced on February 10, 2016 that he would suspend his campaign for presidency.
******************************** CHRIS CHRISTIE *****************************
************************************** GOV. SCOTT WALKER ********************
Governor Scott Walker Steps in Already Crowded Republican Field
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker on July 13, 2015 announced at Waukesha, Wisconsin his most ambitious political campaign: US Presidency. Expressing their loath for Governor Walker, the organized labor launched their parting shot as AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka called Walker "national disgrace".
Walker Quits the Race
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, seeing his poll numbers and donations plunging, on September 21, 2015 announced that he was again leading by quitting the race and narrowing down the slot of presidential candidates so that someone alternative to Donald Trump eventually emerged to assume the mantle of conservative movement. Walker bowed down 10 days after former Governor Rick Perry had suspended his campaign.
************************************** GOV. SCOTT WALKER ********************
Ohio Governor Joins Presidential Race
In his long-shot attempt, Ohio Governor John Kasich joined the Republican race for president on July 21, 2015. He announced his candidature at a raucous rally at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
************************************** JIM GILMORE ***************************
Former Virginia Governor to Enter the Fray
Former Virginia Governor and Army Intelligence Officer Jim Gilmore completed his necessary paperwork on July 29, 2015 to run for president.
Gilmore Calls It Quits
Former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore on February 12, 2016 ended his campaign in the same way he had started, with most of the public even unaware of his presence and his longshot candidature having suffered from lack of fund-raising.
************************************** JIM GILMORE ***************************
Fox News to Host First Republican Presidential Debate, Whittles the Field
Based on the recent polls, Fox News narrowed down the Republican presidential field to 10 candidates who would appear during an August 5, 2015, primetime debate. Ten candidates are:
(1) Donald Trump (23.2%)
(2) Jeb Bush (12.8%)
(3) Scott Walker (10.6%)
(4) Mike Huckabee (6.6%)
(5) Ben Carson (6.6%)
(6) Ted Cruz (6.2%)
(7) Marco Rubio (5.2%)
(8) Rand Paul (4.8%)
(9) Chris Christie (3.4%)
(10) John Kasich (2.8%)
Other seven candidates--Rick Perry (2%), Rick Santorum (1.4%), Bobby Jindal (1.2%), Carly Fiorina (1%), Lindsey Graham (0.4%), George Pataki (N/A) and Jim Gilmore (N/A)--will get an opportunity to debate as consolation 4 hours before the prime time debate.
George Pataki Drops Out of Race
Former New York Governor George Pataki, whose campaign never really took off, announced the most expected decision on December 29, 2015 by dropping out of the race and surprising none.
Democratic Primary
*********************************** HILLARY CLINTON *************************
Clinton Steps in with a Low Key Move
Former Secretary of State and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton on April 12, 2015 announced through the release of a video that she would seek the presidency of the United States in 2016 elections. This time, Clinton took a more personalized approach, instead of a big splash announcement in 2008, showing herself as a "champion" of everyday American in the video.
Clinton Gives First Policy Speech on Her Economic Vision
Hillary Clinton on July 13, 2015 gave her first policy speech on economy at New York, and she singled out Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and Scott Walker for what she called GOP's continued handout to super wealthy, intensifying effort on clamping down on trade unions and indifference toward the middle class. Clinton emphasized on tax relief to the middle class, an increase in collective-bargaining right and hike in middle-class wages.
Clinton Referred to US DOJ for Criminal Inquiry
The Inspectors General for the State Department and Intelligence agencies--Steve Linick (State Department IG) and I. Charles McCullough III (ICIG)--asked the US Justice Department to launch a criminal inquiry into Hillary Clinton's e-mail use practice as she might have handled classified e-mails in her personal computer and own server. The request came, as The New York Times reported on July 23, 2015, after two assessments sent to Undersecretary of State for Management Patrick Kennedy, the first one on June 29, 2015, in which both IGs said that there was possibility of "hundreds of classified e-mail" passing through her private server, and the second one on July 17, 2015 that revealed the presence of at least one classified e-mail in Clinton's private server. Clinton and her team insisted that during her time as Secretary of State all e-mails she had handled in her private server were unclassified, and if anyone found classified, it was done later.
IGs Clarify that Clinton's is a Security, not Criminal, Referral
Clarifying the confusion arising out of July 23, 2015, The New York Times report that IGs of State Department and Intelligence Community had referred Hillary Clinton's handling of official e-mails to the U.S. DOJ for criminal referral, Steve Lininck and I. Charles McCullough III, IGs of the State Department and Intelligence Community, respectively, issued a joint statement on July 24, 2015, stressing that they had sent a security referral, not a criminal referral, about the matter to U.S. DOJ. Their joint statement revealed that:
* A sample of 40 e-mails out of total 30,000 turned over by Hillary Clinton included 4 e-mails with "classified IC-derived information"
* These 4 e-mails had "classified IC-derived information" from the very beginning and should have never left from secure government server.
Clinton Comes Down against Trans-Pacific Partnership Pact
Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton opposed TPP agreement on October 7, 2015 during an interview with PBS' Newshour.
State Department IG Rebukes Clinton
A report submitted to Congress by the State Department Inspector General on May 25, 2016 criticized former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for using private e-mails and not taking permission from the department officials. If she sought permission from the officials, her request would have been rejected by the officials, according to the report.
Vermont Senator to Enter the Fray
Nation's probably the most leftist lawmaker, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Ind.-VT, is all set to enter the presidential fray on the Democratic side with a formal announcement on April 30, 2015.
Chafee, Malley to Enter Presidential Race
After Bernie Sanders, former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and former Rhode Island Senator Lincoln Chafee threw their hats in Democratic primary for 2016 Presidential race.
DNC Schedules Six Debates
Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida announced on August 6, 2015 the schedules for six debates among five candidates, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Martin O'Malley, Lincoln Chafee and Jim Webb, respectively, who had officially decided to run in 2016 presidential elections, and other future candidates.
Debate 1: Oct 13, 2015 in Nevada
Debate 2: Nov 14, 2015 in Des Moines, Iowa
Debate 3: Dec 19, 2015 in Manchester, N.H.
Debate 4: Jan 17, 2015 in Charleston, S.C.
The final two debates are planned for February or March 2016, after the Iowa Caucuses, and to be held in Wisconsin and Miami.
Webb Drops out of Democratic Race
After failing to evoke interest, money and excitement for his stalled campaign culminating in a lackluster debate performance on October 13, 2015, Jim Webb on October 20, 2015 called it quits. However, he didn't rule out an independent run for the White House.
Biden Officially Rules out Run for Presidency
Vice President Joe Biden on October 21, 2015 made it official during a press conference at the White House Rose Garden that was attended by none other than President Barack Obama that he would not run for 2016 presidential election. Biden's decision instantly solidifies Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton's position in Democratic primary after her solid October 13, 2015, debate performance.
Chafee Quits Race
Former Rhode Island Senator Lincoln Chafee on October 23, 2015 became the second Democratic candidate to quit the race over fundraising and polls challenges.
******************************** IOWA CAUCUSES *******************************
Cruz Wins Republican Race; Clinton and Sander Neck-and-Neck
On February 1, 2016, Iowans flocked into churches, schools, community centers, city halls and auditoriums to caucus for their respective candidates. At the end, on the Republican side, Ted Cruz won with 28 percent vote, while Donald Trump and Marco Rubio finished at the second and third places with 24 percent and 23 percent, respectively. There was heavy turnout among the Republican voters. The other Republican candidates received single digit figures: Ben Carson (9%); Rand Paul (5%); Jeb Bush (3%); Carly Fiorina (2%); John Kasich (2%); Mike Huckabee (2%); Chris Christie (2%); Rick Santorum (1%); and Jim Gilmore (almost 0%).
On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton, presumptive front runner, has had her money's worth of run. As of late night on February 1, 2016, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were both tied at 50 percent. Meanwhile, faring poorly, former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley suspended his run.
******************************** IOWA CAUCUSES *******************************
******************************* NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY *********************
Trump, Sanders Score Big in New Hampshire
Two so-called outsiders captured the mood and votes of New Hampshire electorate, and carried the state. On the Republican side, Donald Trump won 35 percent of the vote, and gave a gaudy speech at a raucous election watch party that he would be "greatest jobs president that God ever created". Ohio Gov. John Kasich was in distant second with 16 percent, followed by Ted Cruz (12 percent), Jeb Bush (11 percent), Marco Rubio (11 percent), Chris Christie (8 percent), Carly Fiorina (4 percent), Ben Carson (2 percent) and Jim Gilmore (almost 0 percent).
In the Democratic Primary, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders trounced Hillary Clinton by 20 percentage points. Sanders received almost 60 percent of votes.
******************************* NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY *********************
******************** SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY FOR REPUBLICANS ************
Trump Wins Big in South Carolina
Donald Trump bagged his second primary win on February 20, 2016 night by garnering 33 percent vote in South Carolina. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz were back-to-back tied for the second and third spots, getting almost 22 percent votes. What's startling about Trump's victory in South Carolina, a state with large percentage of veteran and active duty troops, was that the real estate mogul had notched up a significant victory even after insulting former President George W. Bush whom he had called a "liar" on Iraq War. Jeb Bush, after receiving just 7.8 percent vote and fourth place, announced suspension of his candidacy that had begun with much fanfare, but failed to generate enthusiasm among rank-and-file Republicans who were craving for an outsider this year. Ohio Governor John Kasich received 7.6 percent vote and Dr. Ben Carson received a paltry 7.2 percent vote. Now, the Republican battlefield shifts to Nevada for the state's February 23, 2016, caucuses.
******************** SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY FOR REPUBLICANS ************
******************* NEVADA CAUCUSES FOR DEMOCRATS ***********************
Clinton Struggles, but Wins with Hispanic Backing
In February 20, 2016, Nevada caucuses, Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton received overwhelming support from Hispanics, a key demographic group in Democratic Party, and cruised to victory by receiving 52.7 percent vote. Her only challenger, Sen. Bernie Sanders, received 47.2 percent vote.
******************* NEVADA CAUCUSES FOR DEMOCRATS ***********************
******************* NEVADA CAUCUSES FOR REPUBLICANS *********************
Angry Voters Propel Trump to Victory
An angry Republican electorate helped propel Donald Trump's victory in February 23, 2016, Nevada caucuses. Donald Trump received about 42%, followed by Marco Rubio (25%) and Ted Cruz (22%).
******************* NEVADA CAUCUSES FOR REPUBLICANS *********************
******************* SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY FOR DEMOCRATS *************
Clinton Trounces Sanders
Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton displayed her strength and stature as standard-bearer of the party among African-Americans by trouncing Democratic Socialist Bernie Sanders in February 27, 2016, South Carolina primary. Clinton received 73 percent of votes, while Sanders received a mere 26 percent. Now, Clinton is headed to the March 1, 2016, Super Tuesday contests with a significant lead in delegate counts over Sanders. What South Carolina primary exposed is Sanders' persistent problem to extend his message and momentum beyond White liberals.
******************* SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY FOR DEMOCRATS *************
******************************* SUPER TUESDAY CONTEST **********************
Clinton, Trump Sprint Ahead on Super Tuesday
On March 1, 2016, the presidential primaries and caucuses made the Republican field narrower, but not certain. Ted Cruz still loomed large in his home state of Texas and the neighboring state of Oklahoma. However, Donald Trump swept through the southern heartlands, winning votes from evangelicals, conservatives and common people alike. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton expanded her lead in delegate count over her rival Bernie Sanders. The Super Tuesday produced the following winners and runner-ups:
* ALABAMA
Republicans: Donald Trump (44%); Ted Cruz (21%)
Democrats: Hillary Clinton (79%); Bernie Sanders (19%)
* ARKANSAS
Republicans: Donald Trump (33%); Ted Cruz (30%)
Democrats: Hillary Clinton (66%); Bernie Sanders (30%)
* COLORADO (Democratic Primary Only)
Hillary Clinton (41%); Bernie Sanders (58%)
* GEORGIA
Republicans: Donald Trump (39%); Marco Rubio (24%)
Democrats: Hillary Clinton (50%); Bernie Sanders (28%)
* MASSACHUSETTS
Republicans: Donald Trump (49%); John Kasich (18%)
Democrats: Hillary Clinton (50%); Bernie Sanders (49%)
* MINNESOTA
Republicans: Marco Rubio (37%); Ted Cruz (29%)
Democrats: Hillary Clinton (40%); Bernie Sanders (60%)
* OKLAHOMA
Republicans: Donald Trump (28%); Ted Cruz (34%)
Democrats: Hillary Clinton (42%); Bernie Sanders (52%)
* TENNESSEE
Republicans: Donald Trump (39%); Ted Cruz (25%)
Democrats: Hillary Clinton (66%); Bernie Sanders (32%)
* TEXAS
Republicans: Donald Trump (27%); Ted Cruz (43%)
Democrats: Hillary Clinton (67%); Bernie Sanders (31%)
* VERMONT
Republicans: Donald Trump (33%); John Kasich (31%)
Democrats: Hillary Clinton (14%); Bernie Sanders (86%)
* VIRGINIA
Republicans: Donald Trump (35%); Marco Rubio (32%)
Democrats: Hillary Clinton (64%); Bernie Sanders (35%)
******************************* SUPER TUESDAY CONTEST **********************
** LOUISIANA PRIMARY, NEBRASKA AND KANSAS CAUCUSES FOR DEMOCRATS **
Clinton Easily Wins Louisiana, Sanders Wins Kansas and Nebraska
Democrats had their primary in Louisiana and caucuses in Nebraska and Kansan on March 5, 2016. Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton easily won Louisiana, the state with maximum number of the delegates for the night, while Bernie Sanders won the caucuses in Nebraska and Kansas.
** LOUISIANA PRIMARY, NEBRASKA AND KANSAS CAUCUSES FOR DEMOCRATS **
** LOUISIANA, KENTUCKY, MAINE AND KANSAS CONTESTS FOR REPUBLICANS **
Cruz Stays in the Way of Trump's March toward Victory
The March 5, 2016 Republican contests in four states played out along the political strengths of the top two Republican candidates. Ted Cruz did well with the closed contests such as Maine and Kansas caucuses where party faithful flocked. This shows Cruz' groundwork and grass-root organizations which have helped the first-term senator from Texas immensely to put up a fight against Donald Trump, who had done well with open contests. The Republican frontrunner, Donald Trump, won the night's primaries in Louisiana and Kentucky.
Meanwhile, the so-called Stop the Trump Movement gained steam on March 3, 2016 as 2012 GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney came out openly against Trump, criticizing the real estate mogul's vulgarity and divisive rhetoric. The Republican party establishment is leery about a Trump candidacy and what it will entail down the ballot candidates, and intent on doing whatever it takes to deprive the frontrunner the necessary 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination.
** LOUISIANA, KENTUCKY, MAINE AND KANSAS CONTESTS FOR REPUBLICANS **
********************* PUERTO RICO PRIMARY FOR REPUBLICANS ***************
Rubio Wins the Puerto Rico Primary
Looking for a badly needed win, Florida Senator Marco Rubio won all 20 delegates by handily beating Donald Trump and Ted Cruz in Puerto Rico Primary on March 6, 2016.
********************* PUERTO RICO PRIMARY FOR REPUBLICANS ***************
********************* MAINE CAUCUSES FOR DEMOCRATS ***********************
Sanders Wins Maine
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders continued to show strength among young voters and liberal White Democrats as the Democratic Socialist won the Maine caucuses on March 6, 2016.
********************* MAINE CAUCUSES FOR DEMOCRATS ***********************
******************** PRIMARIES IN MICHIGAN AND MISSISSIPPI *****************
Trump Sweeps Michigan, Mississippi; Sanders Surprises Pundits One more Time
Reflecting a deep disdain for Republican establishment, Republican voters sided with Donald Trump both in Mississippi and Michigan on March 8, 2016. On the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders pulled the night's most dramatic upset by throwing all the polls to disarray and winning Michigan where Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton was winning even couple of days ago with convincing margin.
MICHIGAN
Republican Primary: Trump (37%); Cruz (25%); Kasich (24%); Rubio (9%)
Democratic Primary: Sanders (50%); Clinton (48%)
MISSISSIPPI
Republican Primary: Trump (48%); Cruz (36%); Kasich (9%); Rubio (5%)
Democratic Primary: Sanders (16%); Clinton (83%)
******************** PRIMARIES IN MICHIGAN AND MISSISSIPPI *****************
******************** IDAHO CAUCUSES FOR REPUBLICAN PARTY ****************
Cruz Wins Idaho Caucuses
Texas Senator Ted Cruz pulled an expected victory in Idaho caucuses in a night (March 8, 2016) when the Republican Party frontrunner Donald Trump all but swept the polls.
IDAHO
Trump (28%); Cruz (43%); Kasich (18%); Rubio (7%)
******************** IDAHO CAUCUSES FOR REPUBLICAN PARTY ****************
******************** DC PRIMARY FOR REPUBLICAN PARTY *********************
Rubio Wins DC Primary
Marco Rubio won DC primary on March 12, 2016.
******************** DC PRIMARY FOR REPUBLICAN PARTY *********************
******************** WYOMING CAUCUSES FOR REPUBLICANS *******************
Trump won the March 12, 2016 Wyoming caucuses.
******************** WYOMING CAUCUSES FOR REPUBLICANS *******************
******************** FL, OH, NC, IL AND MO CONTESTS ***************************
Trump, Clinton Roll in Crucial Contests
Frontrunners Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton lurched forward toward winning their respective parties' nomination in the March 15, 2016, contests in five delegate-rich states. The biggest casualty of the evening was Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who suspended his campaign after badly losing his state to Trump. Ohio Governor John Kasich kept Trump at bay in his home state, and won all the 66 delegates. On the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders failed to replicate his Michigan success model in industrial heartland of Ohio.
FLORIDA
Republicans: Trump (46%); Rubio; Cruz (17%); Kasich (7%)
Democrats: Clinton (64%); Sanders (33%)
OHIO
Republicans: Trump (36%); Cruz (13%); Kasich (47%)
Democrats: Clinton (56%); Sanders (43%)
ILLINOIS
Republicans: Trump (39%); Cruz (31%); Kasich (20%)
Democrats: Clinton (51%); Sanders (49%)
NORTH CAROLINA
Republicans: Trump (40%);Cruz (37%); Kasich (13%)
Democrats: Clinton (55%); Sanders (41%)
MISSOURI
Republicans: Trump (41%); Cruz (41%); Kasich (10%)
Democrats: Clinton (49.6%); Sanders (49.4%)
DELEGATE TALLY
Republicans: Total-2,472; Trump-673; Cruz-411; Kasich-143 (To win: 1,237)
Democrats: Total-4,765; Clinton-1606; Sanders-851 (To win: 2,383) (Delegate count also includes so-called Super Delegates, party officials and elected representatives)
******************** FL, OH, NC, IL AND MO CONTESTS ***************************
*************************** ARIZONA AND UTAH CONTESTS *********************
ARIZONA
Donald Trump won the Republican Primary in the Grand Canyon State while the Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton swept the biggest prize of the March 22, 2016, night.
UTAH
Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders were the winners of Utah caucuses of March 22, 2016.
*************************** ARIZONA AND UTAH CONTESTS *********************
************************* IDAHO CAUCUSES FOR DEMOCRATS *******************
IDAHO
Bernie Sanders was the winner of the Idaho caucuses held on March 22, 2016.
************************* IDAHO CAUCUSES FOR DEMOCRATS *******************
Bernie Sanders trounced Hillary Clinton in March 26, 2016, caucuses in Washington, Alaska and Hawaii.
************************ WASHINGTON, ALASKA AND HAWAII CONTESTS ********
************************ WISCONSIN PRIMARY *********************************
Republican Ted Cruz, who was endorsed by the state's conservative governor Scott Walker, won the party's primary on April 5, 2016 by getting 49 percent while Trump and Kasich had received 35 percent and 14 percent, respectively. On the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders again overwhelmed Hillary Clinton with 56-to-43 percent vote.
************************ WISCONSIN PRIMARY *********************************
Sanders Endorses Clinton
After months of spirited, often acrimonious, policy debate, Bernie Sanders on July 12, 2016 endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton at a Portsmouth, New Hampshire rally, calling her the "far and away the best candidate" in November 2016 elections.
*********** REPUBLICAN CONVENTION IN CLEVELAND (JULY 18-21, 2016) *********
Trump Makes a Safe VP Choice
In the run-up to the Republican Party's convention at Cleveland, Donald Trump on July 16, 2016 picked Indiana Governor Mike Pence, a darling of conservatives, as his running mate.
Convention Begins Amid Absence of a Record Number of GOP Luminaries
The Republican Party's convention began on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loan Arena in Cleveland amidst a heavy security presence and proposed protests outside the arena by a number of groups. The Republican Party's convention this year was anything but normal as none of the former presidents--George Bush, Senior, and George W. Bush--as well as the presidential candidates in 2008 and 2012, John McCain and Mitt Romney, respectively, attended the convention. Even the host state Governor John Kasich, a primary rival of Trump, stayed away from the convention.
DAY 1 (July 18, 2016)
The overarching theme of this year's Republican Party convention was the rule of law and order, and speaker after speaker blasted the Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton amid chants from the floor "lock her up". Donald Trump surprisingly appeared on the stage to introduce his wife Melania Trump.
DAY 2 (July 19, 2016)
The day's high point came in the afternoon when one of Donald Trump's sons called out on behalf of New York delegation to pronounce that his dad was the winner of the Republican Primary. As the night wore on, the decibel of anti-Clinton diatribes reached the new high, with personal insults and invectives being hurled without any restraint. The traditional GOP message of optimism was all but evaporated from the convention floor, and the party seemed to cease to be the party of hope and optimism, a hallmark for the Republican Party.
DAY 3 (July 20, 2016)
The highlight of the third night of the Republican Party's convention at Cleveland was Ted Cruz' calculated risk to deliver a prime time speech and not to endorse Donald Trump, his primary rival. Ted Cruz' failure to endorse Trump, and instead his call to "vote your conscience", was met with boos, heckles and jeers. The night was truly embarrassing to Trump campaign, and the scene at the convention floor was one of uproar and anger. Even Texas Senator's wife had to be provided security escort as many convention-goers hurled insults at her. Cruz' action overshadowed a much more important event of the evening: Mike Pence's acceptance of vice presidential mantle as nominee.
DAY 4 (July 21, 2016)
The morning of the final day of Republican Party convention was reverberated with the fallout of Texas Senator Ted Cruz' refusal to endorse Donald Trump, with even many of his home state delegates booing the senator at a breakfast. The convention ended with Donald Trump's acceptance speech that was laced with part jingoism to "Make America Great Again", his campaign mantra, part anger, part populism, part appealing to people's fear and part outlining a pessimistic future if Hillary Clinton were elected. Trump said that only he could fix nation's problems, and he was the only law and order candidate in this election.
Trump Double-Downs on Cruz for Senator's non-Endorsement
A day after Republican Party convention came to an end, Donald Trump on July 22, 2016 took parting shots at Ted Cruz for the latter's non-endorsement of the real estate mogul. Standing beside his running mate Mike Pence, Trump told his supporters that the party was united behind him, convention was very successful, he would not accept even if the Texas Senator now endorsed him and might explore forming a Super PAC to take Cruz down in his re-election in two years. Donald Trump reiterated the speculation that Rafael Cruz, Texas Senator's dad, had been photographed with Kennedy assassin Harvey Oswald.
*********** REPUBLICAN CONVENTION IN CLEVELAND (JULY 18-21, 2016) *********
********** DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN PHILADELPHIA (JULY 25-28, 2016) ******
Clinton Goes for Safe VP Pick
Hillary Clinton on July 22, 2016 chose former Virginia Governor Senator Tim Kaine as her running mate. Kaine, a safe bet for Clinton, has been partly chosen taking the swing state of Virginia in mind, but Kaine's choice is not likely to bring enthusiasm for the Bernie crowd as well as some younger Latinas who have been hoping for the first Hispanic to be part of a major party ticket.
WikiLeaks Exposes "Rigged System" in the Democratic Party
WikiLeaks on July 22, 2016 released almost 20,000 e-mails of the Democratic National Committee that showed in embarrassing details how the party officials had tried to manipulate the outcome of the primary process to favor Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders. The leaks are sure to inflame the Bernie delegates and have potential to upend an orderly conduct of the convention. Bernie Sanders supporters are already fuming over the bias of so-called super-delegates, party officials, lawmakers and party higher-ups. Many of the Sanders supporters want to do away with the super-delegates system. Out of 713 super-delegates, Clinton led the pack with 602 and Bernie had the backing of 48. Including the super-delegates, Clinton led 2,807 to 1,894.
Clinton Introduces Kaine in Florida
On July 23, 2016, Tim Kaine and Hillary Clinton jointly appeared for the first time at the Florida International University where Clinton said of her running mate that "Senator Tim Kaine in everything Donald Trump and Mike Pence are not". Kaine, a fluent Spanish speaker, addressing the 5,000-strong jubilant crowd said that faith, family and work defined his life.
Fall-out of e-mail Scandal: Dems Head Out
As a brewing e-mail scandal stemming from the WikiLeaks' release that showed a clear bias by party officials toward Hillary Rodham Clinton posed a serious threat to torpedo the orderly conduct of convention and create an absolute chaos, Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz on July 24, 2016 announced her resignation. The step was taken to calm the Bernie delegates and Bernie supporters as they were reeling under the perceived bias and rigged system of Democratic Party establishment.
DAY 1 (July 25, 2016)
The Democratic Party's convention opened on July 25, 2016 at the gigantic Wells Fargo arena in Philadelphia on a chaotic note and overshadowed by a brewing e-mail scandal that exposed the apparent bias of the party establishment toward Hillary Rodham Clinton over Bernie Sanders. An embarrassing situation was avoided by outgoing Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz's decision to stay away from the arena podium and ceding the privilege of gaveling to open the conference to Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. The first day's speaker list included three heavy weights: Liberal darling Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Senator, First Lady Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders. There were visible presence of so-called "Bernie or Bust" people on the convention floor. Warren ripped Trump in her buoyant speech, targeting the top 1 percent for the economic ills of the country and calling for economic equity. She declared, to the cheers of thousands, that "I Am With Her", a common refrain of the audience and bumper slogan of the Clinton campaign. The biggest attraction of the night was the First Lady Michelle Obama as she presented the choice American people had in this election in the narrative of whom they would trust their kids looking up to. And, the choice is clear, according to Ms. Obama, and that's why "I Am With Her". The last speaker of the night was Bernie Sanders whose mere presence brought tears to lot of his supporters. Bernie Sanders urged his followers to continue the movement they had started with him, but the of this election was clear and it was not "even close". Sanders asked his followers to unite behind Clinton.
DAY 2 (July 26, 2016)
It was a bitter-sweet day for Bernie Sanders as Hillary Clinton was formally anointed the nomination of the Democratic Party, and Sanders formally called out the victor and ended the official nominating session on the second afternoon. Clinton made history by winning the nomination of a major political party and heading the ticket going into the fall election. The night's main attraction was Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the USA. With his southern twang and common-man touch, former President laid out a narrative and life story for his wife. He defended her records as defender of children and working class, and told the audience that she was the best change-maker he had ever come across.
DNC Hack
Meanwhile, the U.S. intelligence community is coming to the terms that the DNC e-mail system may have been hacked by Russians, and many of the Hillary Clinton's surrogates have been saying that Moscow wants to influence the outcome of the U.S. elections since WikiLeaks has released nearly 20,000 e-mails.
DAY 3 (JULY 27, 2016)
The third day of the Democratic Party convention was full of star powers with Vice President Joe Biden, Clinton's VP pick, Tim Kaine, and President Barack Obama presenting a strong case for Hillary Clinton and blasting her Republican opponent Donald Trump for his demagoguery, boastfulness, sloganeering and, according to Biden, lack of "clue" on anything. After President Obama's speech, Hillary Clinton made a surprise appearance on stage with President Obama, who called her an outstanding woman who would make a better president than any other preceding presidents, including himself and her husband Bill. The third day of the convention raised the specter of optimism and air of hope among the people in the convention floor and beyond, setting the stage for nominee herself to wrap up the Democratic convention on a very high note and in a very confidence-instilling way that was always a hallmark for past Republican conventions.
DNC Hack: Trump Asks Russia to Find Clinton's e-mails
In a bizarre turn of events, Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump on July 27, 2016 jokingly asked Russia to hack Hillary Clinton's e-mail in order to find 30,000 missing e-mails from her server. This marked a new low for Trump, or any, campaign to ask, even jokingly, a foreign power to expose a political opponent.
DAY 4 (JULY 28, 2016)
The final day of the Democratic National Convention was capped by an inspiring introduction of Hillary Rodham Clinton, the first ever major party nominee, by her daughter Chelsea Clinton. However, before that, a Gold Star father, Khizir Khan, roused the audience with his challenge to Donald Trump to read the constitution. Khan brought out a pocket-size constitution from his coat's inside pocket, and directly asked Trump if he had read the constitution. Khan then added that he would gladly lend his constitution to real-estate mogul. Khizir Khan, flanked by his wife Ghazala, addressed the convention with the life-size picture of his son, Captain Humayun, who was killed in Iraq, adorning the background. Hillary Clinton was the last speaker of the night, and she put her case for presidency in bold terms, saying the nation needed a steady hand as "America is once again at a moment of reckoning". The convention has ended on an upbeat, positive and optimistic note with an air filled with patriotism, a theme more in sync with the Republican Party, but is missing this year with Donald Trump leading the party ticket.
********** DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN PHILADELPHIA (JULY 25-28, 2016) ******
National Security Experts Blast Trump
About 50 GOP national security experts, many of them were had held positions in the Bush administration, on August 8, 2016 launched a blistering attack on Donald Trump's credentials in key issues such as national security, foreign policies and strong defense. In an open letter, GOP luminaries like Michael Hayden, a former CIA and NSA Director; John Negroponte, a former director of National Intelligence and deputy secretary of state; and Robert Zoellick, a former U.S. Trade Representative emphasized that Trump's lack of knowledge in national security policies and his recklessness would put the country at risk and harm America's reputation abroad.
Trump Wins in a Major Upset
Donald Trump won the presidency in what could be dubbed as the most significant political upset in a generation. After the polls closed on November 8, 2016, the night grew longer and supporters got tenser as Democratic firewalls of Midwest had begun to crumble with hours. At the end, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, but lost the electoral college vote to Donald Trump. Both House of Representatives and Senate were won by the Republican Party. With both executive branch and legislative branch under GOP control, it would be worthwhile to see how Donald Trump's unconventional politics meshes with a Congressional push to drive its long-dormant conservative agenda, including curbing of abortion rights, repealing and replacing Obamacare, rolling back Dodd-Frank Regulation among others.
Trump's Call with Taiwanese Leader Ruffles Chinese Feathers
In a possible diplomatic disaster, President-elect Donald Trump on December 2, 2016 became the first highest, or would-be highest, American official since 1979--the year President Jimmy Carter severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan following the 1978 recognition of the Mainland regime as the sole government of "One China" and seven years after the then-U.S. President Richard Nixon made a historic trip to Beijing to meet Mao Zedong--to talk to a Taiwanese head of state as the brash real-estate mogul fielded a congratulatory call from Taiwan's pro-separatist president, Tsai Ing-wen. China's reaction to President-elect Donald Trump's conversation with Tsai Ing-wen was dismissive as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that the call would change the "One China" policy, the bedrock for "healthy development of Sino-U.S. relations".
Aim of Russian Hacking Is to Help Trump, U.S Intel Agencies Conclude
The New York times and The Washington Post on December 9, 2016 reported that U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA, had concluded that the purpose of Russian hacking of DNC e-mail system was to help tilt the presidential elections in favor of Donald Trump. CIA briefed the key Senators on this too last week. The intel agencies partly based their conclusion on the fact that hackers related to GRU, Russia's military intelligence service, had hacked into both DNC and RNC e-mail system, but had decided to leak only the information from stolen DNC e-mails. President Barack Obama ordered the nation's intel agencies to carry out a thorough probe into the Russian hack and recommend before the expiry of his term on what could be done to prevent such hacks in future. The reaction from Trump's transition team was trivialization and dismissal of the findings. On October 7, 2016, intelligence agencies officially accused Russia of meddling in the U.S. election process without being specific.
Rift between Trump and Intel Agencies Grows
A day after media, including The Washington Post, reported that Russian operatives, including the ones linked to country's military intelligence agency, GRU, had meddled, including hacking, in the U.S. Presidential Election with an intention to help Donald Trump, the business mogul on December 10, 2016 mocked the intelligence community findings on Twitter. Meanwhile, a comprehensive investigation led by the Director of National Intelligence James Clapper will give a report on the Russian meddling before President Barack Obama leaves office next month.
Trump Doubles Down on Intel Findings
Appearing before Fox News Sunday, President-elect Donald Trump on December 11, 2016 dismissed the idea that Russians had carried out hacks and meddling to help him win the Presidential election.
Obama Defends Handling Russian Hack
President Barack Obama on December 16, 2016 gave a forceful defense of his handling of the Russian hack and meddling in the U.S. election system. He said that he did not take any action early because that would have, he feared, triggered additional malice attempts by Moscow to further undermine America's election system. However, in the next 34 remaining days in office, President Obama is mulling various measures to respond Russia's egregious meddling proportionately.
Obama Administration Slaps Punitive Actions against Russia
As a punishment to meddling in the U.S. Presidential elections, Obama administration on December 29, 2016 took a flurry of measures that included expelling 35 Russians from the U.S., blacklisting four officials from Russia's military intelligence services, GRU, and imposing sanctions on Russia's two intel agencies, including GRU. In addition, occupants of the two waterfront luxurious properties outside New York City and Washington were ordered to evacuate as, according to the administration, Russian officials used these two properties to meet, brainstorm and plan attacks on the DNC e-mail system.
Intel Agencies: Russians Helped Trump
A declassified version of USA's intel agencies' report shed a light on how with Russian President Vladimir Putin's direct encouragement, Moscow had not only interfered in the U.S. elections, but tried to tilt its outcome in favor of Donald Trump. The intel agencies shared the report with President-elect Donald Trump on January 6, 2017, and major newspapers carried the report in the following day's editions.
Trump Agrees with Intel Agencies, at least, on Russian Meddling
President-elect Donald Trump, under growing weight of evidence, acknowledged on January 11, 2017 that Russia had, in fact, carried out cyberespionage against the two major political parties, but angrily dismissed the notion that Moscow had collected intimidating evidence against Trump which it might exploit later to extract flesh.
MINIMUM WAGE BOOST
19 States to Raise Minimum Wage Come New Year
As a result of strong support from the grass roots in November 2016 polls and as part of pre-planned increase, 19 states will see boost in minimum wage beginning January 1, 2017. Massachusetts and Washington will ring in the highest in the wage ladder, tying at $11 per hour, while California will have $10.50 per hour for businesses with more than 25 employees. New York will have a regional approach--$10.50 in the New York City, $10 in downstate suburb and $9.70 elsewhere. Voters in Arizona, Colorado, Maine and Washington approved the increase in the November polls.
****************************** 2020 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION **************
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
*****************
Warren Jumps First to Challenge Trump
In what will be a crowded Democratic Primary, Liberal icon and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren on December 31, 2018 announced that she would form an exploratory committee to run in 2020 presidential election. Warren is known to have taken hardened stand against President Trump, calling him in the past "a thin skinned racist bully" and "a wannabe tyrant". Trump, in turn, mocked Warren "Pocahontas".
Warren Launches Her Official Campaign from a Working Class Massachusetts Town
Senator Elizabeth Warren on February 9, 2019, taking the backdrop of working class town of Lawrence, launched her official bid for presidency by vowing to fight what she had called a "middle-class squeeze" and "too little accountability for the rich, too little opportunity for everyone else".
Warren Unveils $20 trillion Price Tag for "Medicare for All"
Elizabeth Warren, after coming under withering criticism for not publicly saying how she was going to fund her "Medicare for All" plan, on November 1, 2019 unveiled a 20-page plan online. Her plan will increase $20 trillion in 10 years in federal spending. Out of that $20 trillion, employers are expected to carry the burden of $8.8 trillion by transferring what they already spend for their employees to the government coffer. However, her Democratic opponents were quick to criticize her plan. Joe Biden called it a "mathematical gymnastics". One respectable think tank, Urban Institute, even disputed the $20 trillion over a decade price tag, and pegged it at $34 trillion.
******************
******************
Castro Joins the Race
Former HUD Secretary Julian Castro on January 12, 2019 announced at a rally in his hometown of San Antonio that he would run for president in 2020. In a sneak-peek of the agenda on which he will be running, he has pledged to support universal pre-K education, reform to cash-bail system and end to police brutality against minorities, especially African-Americans. Julian Castro pledged to support a "Green New Deal" along the line of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal.
Castro Quits
After failing to get traction with core Democratic constituency, Julian Castro on January 2, 2020 called it quits, saying that "simply it's not our time".
******************
******
Kamala Harris Enters the Fray
Senator Kamala Harris on January 21, 2019 entered the 2020 presidential race in crowded Democratic primary. Harris used the occasion of Martin Luther King's birthday to launch her candidacy to become the first Black female president. Harris will hold a kickoff rally on January 27, 2019 at Oakland, California.
Harris Holds a Huge Kickoff Rally at Oakland
At a raucous and rave rally few blocks from the courthouse where Kamala Harris launched her career as prosecutor, the junior senator from California on January 27, 2019 issued an upbeat call to fight against those "trying to sow hate and division" and unify the country for a common purpose.
*******
Tulsi Gabbard Launches Presidential Bid
Hawaii Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on January 24, 2019 formally launched her long-shot bid for Democratic Party's nomination in 2020 presidential election.
************ CORY BOOKER
Booker Enters the Democratic Primary
Using the Black History Month, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker on February 1, 2019 used a video address to enter the Democratic presidential primary contest, becoming the second Black candidate after Kamala Harris. Cory Booker deplored the vile in the nation's politics and struck a civil, compassionate and compelling message for inclusion.
Booker Quits on January 13, 2020.
************ CORY BOOKER
Minnesota's Klobuchar Becomes the Latest Candidate to Enter the Fray
Branding her hardy midwestern image as a grand-daughter of a miner, daughter of a schoolteacher and newsperson and first female Senator from Minnesota, Semator Amy Klobuchar on February 10, 2019 announced at a rally at Bloom Island Park in Minneapolis amid subfreezing temperature on a snowy day that she would run for president "for every worker, farmer, dreamer and builder".
Sanders Enters the Race for Primary of a Vastly Different Democratic Party
In 2016, by all means, Bernie Sanders--with his Socialist policies such as higher tax rates on wealthy and Medicare for all--couldn't be more different than Hillary Clinton. Fast forward to 2020 presidential election, he may be just one of dozens of candidates, with name recognition be the only determinant to set him apart from the rest of the pack. As Bernie Sanders on February 19, 2019 announced his candidacy, he credited his 2016 campaign for the Democratic Party's leftward shift.
***********************
Former Colorado Governor Hickenlooper Enters the Fray as Moderate Democrat
Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper on March 4, 2019 became the latest Democrat to enter the 2020 presidential race. One key separator for Hickenlooper, though, is that he is a moderate and centrist Democrat in a growing field of left-leaning candidates who support liberal programs such as Medicare for All and New Green Deal championed by freshman Rep. Alexander Ocasio-Cortez and other Liberal lawmakers and activists.
Hickenlooper Bows out
Stuck in the bottom and finding no way to break out of pack, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper did what was inevitable, calling it quits on August 15, 2019.
***********************
Texas charismatic Democrat Beto O'Rourke on March 13, 2019 entered the presidential fray.
Beto Quits after Struggling
Beto O' Rourke after struggling with connecting with the Democratic base called it quits on November 1, 2019.
********************* Beto O' Rourke
Massachusetts Lawmaker the Latest to Enter the Presidential Race
U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, an Iraq War veteran, on April 22, 2019 entered the fray to replace President Donald Trump.
Biden, the Ultimate Establishment Powerhouse, Enters the Race
Former Vice President Joe Biden on April 25, 2019 entered the fray for Democratic nomination in the 2020 presidential election, highlighting the task for "battle for the soul" of the USA. Within 24 hours of announcement of his candidacy, Biden Campaign hauled record amount of donations.
Sanders Bows out
A day after Wisconsin Primary, Sen. Bernie Sanders on April 8, 2020 called it quits.
Sex Assault Alleged against Biden
A former aide of Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party, Tara Reade on April 9, 2020 filed a complaint with the Capitol Police that she had been assaulted by Biden at the basement of the Capitol without naming the former vice president. The Associated Press reported the complaint on April 12, 2020.
Sanders Endorses Biden
Appearing alongside in a split screen, two septuagenarian powerhouses of the Democratic causes made rapprochement on April 13, 2020 to make, in Sanders' words, Donald Trump a "one-term president". Bernie Sanders' endorsement to Joe Biden's campaign is likely to provide more energy to the flagging campaign of the former vice president as he has to focus on bridging the gap between the progressive and moderate wings of the party. In 2016, Democratic disunity was a factor to the defeat of Hillary Clinton.
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
Joe Walsh to Challenge Trump
Former Illinois Republican Rep. Joe Walsh, a conservative talk-show host, on August 25, 2019 announced his candidacy for Republican nomination for presidency.
Walsh Ends His Bid
Joe Walsh quit his bid to replace Donald Trump on February 7, 2020.
IOWA CAUCUSES
The opening season of the 2020 election for Democrats was anything but self-assuring as the phone app used to send caucus votes to the state party had a glitch, and state party was unable to announce a victor on the night of Caucus on February 3, 2020. It was an embarrassing moment for Democratic Party and Trump didn't delay in mocking the Democrats. As results started to pour in on February 4, 2020, Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg won the delegates marginally over Bernie Sanders although the Democratic Socialist won the popular vote over the former Marine by a razor-thin margin.
Donald Trump won overwhelmingly in the Republican Primary.
New Hampshire
Bernie Sanders won narrowly the New Hampshire Primary on February 11, 2020 over Pete Buttigieg, heading to Nevada Caucus and South Carolina Primary on a strong footing and tail-on wind for his campaign. Addressing a boisterous crowd, Sanders proclaimed that the New Hampshire Primary win marked the "beginning of end for Donald Trump". Minnesota Senator Amy Klobucher had a strong showing in the New Hampshire Primary, mostly due to a strong debate performance days before the primary, followed by Elizabeth Warren and disastrous fifth-place performance by Former Vice President Joe Biden.
Donald Trump won handsomely in the Republican Primary.
Nevada
Bernie Sanders trounced his primary opponents in February 22, 2020, Nevada Caucus, receiving a little of 47% of the votes. Nevada also presents the candidates with a diverse array of voters, drawing a sharp contrast with Iowa and New Hampshire. Sanders' victory in Nevada Caucus underlines Vermont senator's grassroots connection with non-White voters.
South Carolina
If Joe Biden moves on to getting the nomination of the Democratic Party and eventually win the presidential election in November 2020, pundits and historians will look back to South Carolina and say that it's the Palmetto State where the turnaround has happened and Rep. Jim Clyburn is the key to that historic and unprecedented turnaround. Biden in February 29, 2020, Primary crushed Bernie Sanders by receiving about 50 percent vote.
Super Tuesday (March 3, 2020)
It was a momentous 72-hour period since winning the South Carolina Primary that Joe Biden returned from the political oblivion to frontrunner status. It was the most unprecedented 72-hour period one could recall, and buoyed by Pete Buttigieg's and Amy Klobuchar's endorsements, Biden on March 3, 2020, swept 10 out of 14 states in the Super Tuesday Primaries. However, Bernie Sanders won the remaining four states, including his home state of Vermont and delegate-rich California. Biden won Texas by about 3 percentage point in a nail-biter.
Super Tuesday II (March 10, 2020)
In the run-up to Super Tuesday II that would see five states to go to Primary, Bernie Sanders worked hard in Michigan to have a repeat performance like in 2016 when his upset victory in this crucial Midwestern state had injected fresh energy in his campaign against Hillary Clinton. However, in the March 10, 2020, primary, Joe Biden easily beat Sanders in Michigan, Mississippi and Missouri while there is neck-and-neck race going on in Washington state. Biden eventually won the Washington State Primary by 37.7% to 35.7% vote. Sanders only won the North Dakota Caucus.
FLORIDA, ILLINOIS and ARIZONA
Biden Sweeps Three more States
Joe Biden won hands down in March 17, 2020, Primaries in Florida, Illinois and Arizona.
WISCONSIN PRIMARY
After Gov. Tony Ebers tried to block the Wisconsin Primary, but the state Supreme Court on April 6, 2020 ruled the election to go forward as scheduled on April 7, 2020.
Republican Primary
Cruz Becomes the First Major Party Candidate to Run for President
Aiming and aspiring for the most powerful office on the earth, first-term Texas Senator Ted Cruz launched his candidacy at the epicenter of America's conservatism, Liberty University in Virginia, on March 23, 2015. By choosing the Liberty University, founded by late Jerry Falwell, Cruz sent an unmistakable message that he would use his conservative credentials and credo to drive his candidacy.
Cruz for Intensified Patrol in Muslim Neighborhoods
Senator Ted Cruz' prescription to prevent March 22, 2016, Brussels-style attacks in the USA rattled liberals, Muslims and civil liberties advocates. Hours after the Brussels attacks, Senator Cruz called for intensified security patrols in Muslim neighborhoods, immediately drawing condemnation from Democrats, American Muslim organizations, and, not surprisingly, New York Police Commissioner. President Barack Obama stepped in on March 23, 2016 from Argentina in the middle of his state visit, and rebuked Cruz harshly by calling Senator's comments "un-American".
Cruz Receives Jeb Bush' Endorsement
The anti-Trump effort by Republican establishment got serious push on March 23, 2016 as one of the establishment stalwarts, Jeb Bush, an also-ran candidate who had dropped out after the South Carolina primary, endorsed Texas Senator Ted Cruz.
Cruz Receives Wisconsin Governor's Endorsement
A week before the crucial Wisconsin Primary, Ted Cruz on March 29, 2016 received the crucial endorsement from the state's popular governor, Scott Walker, an one-time contender for the White House.
Cruz Makes Bold Move, Announces VP Choice
Making a rather unusual move that's construed both as risky and desperate, Ted Cruz pulled a gamble after a total rout in April 26, 2016, Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Rhode Island primaries by announcing Carly Fiorina, an also-ran candidate who had dropped out of the race soon after the primary season kicked off, as his VP choice. Ted Cruz's announcement on April 27, 2016 has underscored the Texas' junior senator's high-stake bid to win May 3, 2016, Indiana primary which will either sustain Cruz campaign for another day, or end his campaign outright.
Cruz' Presidential Ambition Ends with Crushing Loss in Indiana
Texas Senator Ted Cruz on May 3, 2016 suspended his campaign after being trounced by Donald Trump in Indiana Primary. Cruz put his bet on the victory in Indiana, and took an unusual path of naming a vice presidential candidate. It was a high-stake gamble that at the end of the day had failed to yield any favorable result. The day began with a very testy exchange between Trump and Cruz, with Trump claiming that Cruz's father, Rafael, might have been a collaborator with Harvey Oswald in Kennedy assassination and Texas' junior senator upping the ante and calling out Trump a "pathological liar".
************************************* RAND PAUL ******************************
Rand Paul Joins the Fray
15 days after his fellow Senate colleague Ted Cruz became the first major party candidate for 2016 presidential elections, Senator Rand Paul, R-Kentucky entered the race on April 7, 2015. Paul made the pitch at Louisville's Galt House Hotel, focusing his talks on the theme of "return to prosperity".
Paul Blames His Party's Hawks for Rise in ISIL
Appearing on the MSNBC's Morning Joe on May 27, 2015, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul said that his party's hawks were to blame for the rise of ISIL.
Paul Quits Presidential Race
Failing to lift his campaign from the morass where it was stuck from the very beginning and getting only low single digit percent of vote in Iowa Caucuses, Rand Paul on February 3, 2016 called it quits.
************************************* RAND PAUL ******************************
************************************* MARCO RUBIO ***************************
Marco Rubio Enters the Fray
A day after Democratic contender Hillary Clinton announced to run for 2016 presidential elections, Marco Rubio, a first-term Republican senator from Florida threw his hat on April 13, 2015 in a crowded Republican primary with a theme that's focused on moving the US into "another American century".
Rubio Endorsed by Governor Haley
Three days before the all-important GOP presidential primary in the Palmetto State, Marco Rubio on February 17, 2016 notched up crucial endorsement from South Carolina's popular Governor Nikki Haley over his two other challengers, Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz. Beside Haley's endorsement, Senator Rubio won state's Junior Senator Tim Scott's endorsement too.
Rubio Suspends His Campaign after Losing His Home State
Florida Senator Marco Rubio quit the presidential race after losing Florida's March 15, 2016, primary to Donald Trump.
************************************* MARCO RUBIO ***************************
***************************** FIORINA AND CARSON ***************************
Fiorina, Carson Enter the Primary
On May 4, 2015, two long-shot Republican contenders with very scant political experience entered the presidential contest. One was former HP CEO Carly Fiorina and the other was the renowned neurologist Ben Carson.
Fiorina Quits the Race
After failing to get traction with a Republican electorate that's increasingly out of sync with the mainstream viewpoint, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina on February 10, 2016 quit the race for presidential nomination in the Republican primary.
Carson Quits; Endorses Trump
After faring poorly in the Super Tuesday contests, Dr. Ben Carson dropped out of the race, and few days later, on March 11, 2016, endorsed frontrunner Donald Trump.
***************************** FIORINA AND CARSON ***************************
********************************* LINDSAY GRAHAM **************************
Graham Enters into Fray
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham all but confirmed on May 18, 2015 that he would seek Republican presidential ticket. Sen. Graham will make a formal announcement on June 1, 2015.
Graham Drops out of Race
Lindsay Graham on December 21, 2015 became the latest Republican candidate to drop out of the race.
********************************* LINDSAY GRAHAM **************************
************************************ RICK SANTORUM **************************
Santorum Enters into the Fray
Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum on May 27, 2015 announced his candidature for Republican primary in 2016 presidential polls.
Santorum Exits Presidential Race
Failing to make his marks felt in Iowa Caucuses that he had won four years ago, Rick Santorum on February 3, 2016 ended his bid for White House. Former Pennsylvania senator endorsed Marco Rubio.
************************************ RICK SANTORUM **************************
Pataki Readies to Run in Republican Primary
On May 28, 2015, former New York Governor George Pataki announced that he would run in 2016 presidential polls.
*********************************** RICK PERRY ******************************
Perry Runs for the Second Time
Surrounded by Navy Seals and surrogates, former Texas Governor Rick Perry on June 4, 2015 announced his long-shot bid in Republican primary.
Perry Calls It a Day
Failing to raise enthusiasm among conservative base, enough money from donors and credibility as a viable candidate, Rick Perry became the first Republican presidential candidate to quit on September 11, 2015.
*********************************** RICK PERRY ******************************
Jeb Bush Enters the Fray in June 2015
******************************** DONALD TRUMP *****************************
Trump Enters the Race with Pomp and Boast
Boasting his credentials as a billionaire and business mogul, Donald Trump on June 16, 2015 entered the 2016 presidential race as a Republican nominee, and gave a hateful speech, calling some of the Mexican immigrants as "rapists" and the ones bringing drugs to the north of the borders.
Trump Panned for Anti-Muslim Comments
Politicians, presidential candidates and lawmakers of all stripes blasted immediately after Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump made an outlandish demand on one of his campaign stops on December 7, 2015 that US immediately impose a blanket ban on Muslims entering the U.S. pending figuring out a way on how to deal with blocking potential terrorists from coming to the USA. Jeb Bush called Donald Trump totally "unhinged", Marco Rubio called it "outlandish and offensive", and Hillary Clinton called it "reprehensible, prejudiced and divisive".
British Parliament to Debate on Banning Trump
A petitioned signed by more than 560,000 that called for U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump to be banned from visiting Britain is to be debated by British lower house of parliament on January 18, 2016. According to British constitution, any petition that garners more than 100,000 signatures is debated by House of Commons. Although the ban measure will be debated by parliament, there will not be any binding vote on this.
Trump Excoriated by Parliament
For three hours, a high drama with blistering criticism against the U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump played out on January 18, 2016 on the floors of House of Commons. In the end, Trump was severely panned for his anti-Muslim diatribe, but not banned from entry into the United Kingdom, an already expected outcome. British premier David Cameron called Trump's comments as "divisive, stupid and wrong", but said that his government was against the ban. British government has discretion to ban entry of anyone considered to be a potential danger to "public good", and in the past, banned the entry of boxer Mike Tyson, rapper Tyler the Creator, radical Muslim preachers and late Christian fundamentalist Fred Phelps Sr.
Palin, National Tea Party Leader Endorse Trump
Former GOP Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin on January 19, 2016 endorsed Donald Trump, dealing a setback to her one-time favorite Ted Cruz. Former Chairwoman of the Tea Party Express, Amy Kremer, meanwhile announced of formation of a super PAC to support Trump.
Trump Accuses Cruz of Vote Stealing
Republican Presidential contender Donald Trump on February 3, 2016 made one of the most pointed allegations against Ted Cruz, saying that the Texas senator had stolen his victory. Trump referred to one of the Cruz campaign aide's action on the Caucus day to spread rumor that Dr. Ben Carson was planning to drop out of the race.
Fighting Words Ensue between Pope and Trump
Pope Francis steeped himself into the earthly world of the U.S. presidential politics on February 18, 2016, and volleys of political fire immediately began to fly two days before the crucial South Carolina primary. During a conversation with reporters as he was returning to Vatican after a six-day trip in Mexico, Pope Francis responded to a question that someone who only talked about building walls, not bridges, couldn't be a Christian. Immediately afterward, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump fired back at Pope, calling his comments disgraceful. Trump added that "for a religious leader to question a person's faith is disgraceful".
Top Trump Aide Charged
Top Trump campaign aide Corey Lewandowski was charged on March 29, 2016 on a misdemeanor count in a widely publicized manhandling incident on March 8, 2016 involving a Breitbart News journalist, Michele Fields, at a Florida campaign event.
Trump's Road to Nomination Near Certain after Kasich Drops out
Ohio Governor John Kasich on May 4, 2016 dropped out of the Republican presidential race, paving the way for Donald Trump to clinch the party's nomination.
Trump Heaps Insult on Federal Judge
After May 31, 2016, revelation of testimonies of former Trump University employees that called the Republican frontrunner's business success as well as integrity into question, Donald Trump attempted to sully the California judge who had made the testimonies public by calling Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel a "Mexican". The venom, which was furthest from the truth as Judge Curiel was born in Indiana to an immigrant parents of Mexican descent, drew sharp condemnation from across the political spectrum.
Ryan Calls out Trump for His "Racist" Comment
Speaker Paul Ryan on June 7, 2016 took presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump to task, saying at a Capitol press conference that his comments about a federal judge, Gonzalo P. Curiel, over now-discredited Trump University as "racist". Meanwhile, Illinois Senator Mark Kirk, who is in a tough re-election contest, has said unequivocally that he can not endorse Trump in a good conscience.
Trump Fires His Campaign Manager
The presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump on June 20, 2016 fired his outlandish and outspoken campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, who had often outshined his boss in grabbing media spotlight. Also, Trump became wary of confrontational attitude of Lewandowski in the light of real estate mogul's call for party unity. Lewandowski's relationship with RNC was anything but normal, and RNC head Reince Priebus had expressed his frustration in recent days.
Trump Favors Extreme Vetting for Muslim Immigrants
GOP nominee Donald Trump in a speech on August 15, 2016 at Youngstown, Ohio advocated for a near religious litmus test for immigration, an echo of dark past that had haunted both America and Europe for generations. However, Trump was short on specifics on how he would implement such "extreme vetting" process.
Turmoil in Trump Campaign
GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump shook up his campaign staff for the second time in as many months on August 17, 2016. The controversial executive chairman of conservative Breitbart News Stephen Bannon will become the Trump campaign chief executive while Paul Manafort, the campaign chairman, will retain his title. Trump also brought pollster Kellyanne Conway as campaign manager. Political pundits and pollsters are yet to figure out how these three roles--campaign CEO, campaign chief executive and campaign chairman--are aligned, or overlapped, with one another.
Trump Campaign Chairman Steps down
Two days after a major shake-up in the Trump campaign staff, the campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, resigned on August 19, 2016 amidst new revelations that his firm and other related firms had received a total of $12.7 million from a pro-Moscow political party, Party of the Regions, tied to former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
Political Somersault on Both Sides of Borders
GOP Presidential nominee Donald Trump flew to Mexico City on August 31, 2016 to meet with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, emphasizing the bilateral relationship. However, within hours he addressed a GOP rally in Arizona, blasting illegal immigrants. Issues related to borders walls didn't come up during Trump-Pena Nieto talks. However, critics pounced both leaders, especially Pena Nieto for granting an audience and, thus giving credibility, to Trump.
******************************** BOBBY JINDAL *******************************
Bobby Jindal Enters the Fray
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal launched his long-shot campaign for Republican Party nominee for President on June 24, 2015. Jindal became the 13th candidate in GOP to seek presidency.
Jindal Ends His Bid for White House
Bobby Jindal ended his bid in December 2015.
******************************** BOBBY JINDAL *******************************
******************************** CHRIS CHRISTIE *****************************
Christie Gets in Republican Race for President
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on June 30, 2015 announced during an appearance at Livingston, New Jersey that he would run for the Republican Party ticket in the 2016 Presidential elections.
Christie Quits Presidential Bid
After betting big on and then miserably failing to make any dent in the New Hampshire primary, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced on February 10, 2016 that he would suspend his campaign for presidency.
******************************** CHRIS CHRISTIE *****************************
************************************** GOV. SCOTT WALKER ********************
Governor Scott Walker Steps in Already Crowded Republican Field
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker on July 13, 2015 announced at Waukesha, Wisconsin his most ambitious political campaign: US Presidency. Expressing their loath for Governor Walker, the organized labor launched their parting shot as AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka called Walker "national disgrace".
Walker Quits the Race
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, seeing his poll numbers and donations plunging, on September 21, 2015 announced that he was again leading by quitting the race and narrowing down the slot of presidential candidates so that someone alternative to Donald Trump eventually emerged to assume the mantle of conservative movement. Walker bowed down 10 days after former Governor Rick Perry had suspended his campaign.
************************************** GOV. SCOTT WALKER ********************
Ohio Governor Joins Presidential Race
In his long-shot attempt, Ohio Governor John Kasich joined the Republican race for president on July 21, 2015. He announced his candidature at a raucous rally at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
************************************** JIM GILMORE ***************************
Former Virginia Governor to Enter the Fray
Former Virginia Governor and Army Intelligence Officer Jim Gilmore completed his necessary paperwork on July 29, 2015 to run for president.
Gilmore Calls It Quits
Former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore on February 12, 2016 ended his campaign in the same way he had started, with most of the public even unaware of his presence and his longshot candidature having suffered from lack of fund-raising.
************************************** JIM GILMORE ***************************
Fox News to Host First Republican Presidential Debate, Whittles the Field
Based on the recent polls, Fox News narrowed down the Republican presidential field to 10 candidates who would appear during an August 5, 2015, primetime debate. Ten candidates are:
(1) Donald Trump (23.2%)
(2) Jeb Bush (12.8%)
(3) Scott Walker (10.6%)
(4) Mike Huckabee (6.6%)
(5) Ben Carson (6.6%)
(6) Ted Cruz (6.2%)
(7) Marco Rubio (5.2%)
(8) Rand Paul (4.8%)
(9) Chris Christie (3.4%)
(10) John Kasich (2.8%)
Other seven candidates--Rick Perry (2%), Rick Santorum (1.4%), Bobby Jindal (1.2%), Carly Fiorina (1%), Lindsey Graham (0.4%), George Pataki (N/A) and Jim Gilmore (N/A)--will get an opportunity to debate as consolation 4 hours before the prime time debate.
George Pataki Drops Out of Race
Former New York Governor George Pataki, whose campaign never really took off, announced the most expected decision on December 29, 2015 by dropping out of the race and surprising none.
Democratic Primary
*********************************** HILLARY CLINTON *************************
Clinton Steps in with a Low Key Move
Former Secretary of State and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton on April 12, 2015 announced through the release of a video that she would seek the presidency of the United States in 2016 elections. This time, Clinton took a more personalized approach, instead of a big splash announcement in 2008, showing herself as a "champion" of everyday American in the video.
Clinton Gives First Policy Speech on Her Economic Vision
Hillary Clinton on July 13, 2015 gave her first policy speech on economy at New York, and she singled out Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and Scott Walker for what she called GOP's continued handout to super wealthy, intensifying effort on clamping down on trade unions and indifference toward the middle class. Clinton emphasized on tax relief to the middle class, an increase in collective-bargaining right and hike in middle-class wages.
Clinton Referred to US DOJ for Criminal Inquiry
The Inspectors General for the State Department and Intelligence agencies--Steve Linick (State Department IG) and I. Charles McCullough III (ICIG)--asked the US Justice Department to launch a criminal inquiry into Hillary Clinton's e-mail use practice as she might have handled classified e-mails in her personal computer and own server. The request came, as The New York Times reported on July 23, 2015, after two assessments sent to Undersecretary of State for Management Patrick Kennedy, the first one on June 29, 2015, in which both IGs said that there was possibility of "hundreds of classified e-mail" passing through her private server, and the second one on July 17, 2015 that revealed the presence of at least one classified e-mail in Clinton's private server. Clinton and her team insisted that during her time as Secretary of State all e-mails she had handled in her private server were unclassified, and if anyone found classified, it was done later.
IGs Clarify that Clinton's is a Security, not Criminal, Referral
Clarifying the confusion arising out of July 23, 2015, The New York Times report that IGs of State Department and Intelligence Community had referred Hillary Clinton's handling of official e-mails to the U.S. DOJ for criminal referral, Steve Lininck and I. Charles McCullough III, IGs of the State Department and Intelligence Community, respectively, issued a joint statement on July 24, 2015, stressing that they had sent a security referral, not a criminal referral, about the matter to U.S. DOJ. Their joint statement revealed that:
* A sample of 40 e-mails out of total 30,000 turned over by Hillary Clinton included 4 e-mails with "classified IC-derived information"
* These 4 e-mails had "classified IC-derived information" from the very beginning and should have never left from secure government server.
Clinton Comes Down against Trans-Pacific Partnership Pact
Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton opposed TPP agreement on October 7, 2015 during an interview with PBS' Newshour.
State Department IG Rebukes Clinton
A report submitted to Congress by the State Department Inspector General on May 25, 2016 criticized former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for using private e-mails and not taking permission from the department officials. If she sought permission from the officials, her request would have been rejected by the officials, according to the report.
Clinton Makes History, Wins Democratic Nomination
June 7, 2016 marked a bright day in American political landscape as Hillary Clinton became the first woman to win the nomination of a major political party. She won convincingly the California and New Jersey primary contests. Observing the historic significance of her victory, Secretary Clinton told a raucous audience in New York that "tonight caps an amazing journey--a long, long journey" that had begun with the march in late 19th century at Seneca Falls to demand for woman suffrage. Hillary Clinton also urged the supporters of her vanquished rival, Bernie Sanders, to rally behind her in an effort to defeat Donald Trump in the Fall. President Barack Obama called Hillary Clinton to congratulate her for winning the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, and praised her "historic campaign".
President Obama Meets Sanders, Endorses Clinton
On June 9, 2016, President Barack Obama met with Bernie Sanders at the Oval Office and requested him to channel his and his supporters' energy behind Hillary Clinton. About one-and-half hour after meeting with the Vermont Senator, Obama endorsed Hillary Clinton.
Fresh Controversy over Clinton's E-mail Server Investigation
A fresh controversy erupted in the days aftermath an unscheduled June 27, 2016, meeting at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport between former President Bill Clinton and Attorney General Loretta Lynch. Apparently Lynch's plane just landed at the airport, and President Clinton's plane was about to take off. President Clinton walked to Lynch's plane to pay a courtesy visit. However, Republicans in general and Donald Trump in particular seized the opportunity to castigate the investigation's impartiality. To extinguish the fire of suspicion and so-called conspiracy theory, AG Loretta Lynch acknowledged on July 1, 2016 that it was a mistake on her part to meet with the former president, and she would recuse herself from any decision making process stemming from the e-mail inquiry.
Clinton Interviewed by FBI
FBI on July 2, 2016 conducted a 3-and-1/2-hour interview of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at the agency headquarters at Washington D.C. related to the ongoing investigation into former Secretary of State's use of a private e-mail server to conduct state department's business.
Clinton's Use of Private Server Careless, not Criminal
FBI on July 5, 2016 cleared Hillary Clinton of any criminal wrongdoing for using a private e-mail server to conduct government business when she was the Secretary of State. Addressing a press conference, FBI chief James Comey said that the then-Secretary of State's use of a private server was extremely reckless and "careless", but there was no strong evidence that she had knowingly broken any law.
Sanders Endorses Clinton
After months of spirited, often acrimonious, policy debate, Bernie Sanders on July 12, 2016 endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton at a Portsmouth, New Hampshire rally, calling her the "far and away the best candidate" in November 2016 elections.
*********************************** HILLARY CLINTON *************************President Obama Meets Sanders, Endorses Clinton
On June 9, 2016, President Barack Obama met with Bernie Sanders at the Oval Office and requested him to channel his and his supporters' energy behind Hillary Clinton. About one-and-half hour after meeting with the Vermont Senator, Obama endorsed Hillary Clinton.
Fresh Controversy over Clinton's E-mail Server Investigation
A fresh controversy erupted in the days aftermath an unscheduled June 27, 2016, meeting at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport between former President Bill Clinton and Attorney General Loretta Lynch. Apparently Lynch's plane just landed at the airport, and President Clinton's plane was about to take off. President Clinton walked to Lynch's plane to pay a courtesy visit. However, Republicans in general and Donald Trump in particular seized the opportunity to castigate the investigation's impartiality. To extinguish the fire of suspicion and so-called conspiracy theory, AG Loretta Lynch acknowledged on July 1, 2016 that it was a mistake on her part to meet with the former president, and she would recuse herself from any decision making process stemming from the e-mail inquiry.
Clinton Interviewed by FBI
FBI on July 2, 2016 conducted a 3-and-1/2-hour interview of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at the agency headquarters at Washington D.C. related to the ongoing investigation into former Secretary of State's use of a private e-mail server to conduct state department's business.
Clinton's Use of Private Server Careless, not Criminal
FBI on July 5, 2016 cleared Hillary Clinton of any criminal wrongdoing for using a private e-mail server to conduct government business when she was the Secretary of State. Addressing a press conference, FBI chief James Comey said that the then-Secretary of State's use of a private server was extremely reckless and "careless", but there was no strong evidence that she had knowingly broken any law.
Sanders Endorses Clinton
After months of spirited, often acrimonious, policy debate, Bernie Sanders on July 12, 2016 endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton at a Portsmouth, New Hampshire rally, calling her the "far and away the best candidate" in November 2016 elections.
Vermont Senator to Enter the Fray
Nation's probably the most leftist lawmaker, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Ind.-VT, is all set to enter the presidential fray on the Democratic side with a formal announcement on April 30, 2015.
Chafee, Malley to Enter Presidential Race
After Bernie Sanders, former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and former Rhode Island Senator Lincoln Chafee threw their hats in Democratic primary for 2016 Presidential race.
DNC Schedules Six Debates
Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida announced on August 6, 2015 the schedules for six debates among five candidates, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Martin O'Malley, Lincoln Chafee and Jim Webb, respectively, who had officially decided to run in 2016 presidential elections, and other future candidates.
Debate 1: Oct 13, 2015 in Nevada
Debate 2: Nov 14, 2015 in Des Moines, Iowa
Debate 3: Dec 19, 2015 in Manchester, N.H.
Debate 4: Jan 17, 2015 in Charleston, S.C.
The final two debates are planned for February or March 2016, after the Iowa Caucuses, and to be held in Wisconsin and Miami.
Webb Drops out of Democratic Race
After failing to evoke interest, money and excitement for his stalled campaign culminating in a lackluster debate performance on October 13, 2015, Jim Webb on October 20, 2015 called it quits. However, he didn't rule out an independent run for the White House.
Biden Officially Rules out Run for Presidency
Vice President Joe Biden on October 21, 2015 made it official during a press conference at the White House Rose Garden that was attended by none other than President Barack Obama that he would not run for 2016 presidential election. Biden's decision instantly solidifies Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton's position in Democratic primary after her solid October 13, 2015, debate performance.
Chafee Quits Race
Former Rhode Island Senator Lincoln Chafee on October 23, 2015 became the second Democratic candidate to quit the race over fundraising and polls challenges.
******************************** IOWA CAUCUSES *******************************
Cruz Wins Republican Race; Clinton and Sander Neck-and-Neck
On February 1, 2016, Iowans flocked into churches, schools, community centers, city halls and auditoriums to caucus for their respective candidates. At the end, on the Republican side, Ted Cruz won with 28 percent vote, while Donald Trump and Marco Rubio finished at the second and third places with 24 percent and 23 percent, respectively. There was heavy turnout among the Republican voters. The other Republican candidates received single digit figures: Ben Carson (9%); Rand Paul (5%); Jeb Bush (3%); Carly Fiorina (2%); John Kasich (2%); Mike Huckabee (2%); Chris Christie (2%); Rick Santorum (1%); and Jim Gilmore (almost 0%).
On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton, presumptive front runner, has had her money's worth of run. As of late night on February 1, 2016, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were both tied at 50 percent. Meanwhile, faring poorly, former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley suspended his run.
******************************** IOWA CAUCUSES *******************************
******************************* NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY *********************
Trump, Sanders Score Big in New Hampshire
Two so-called outsiders captured the mood and votes of New Hampshire electorate, and carried the state. On the Republican side, Donald Trump won 35 percent of the vote, and gave a gaudy speech at a raucous election watch party that he would be "greatest jobs president that God ever created". Ohio Gov. John Kasich was in distant second with 16 percent, followed by Ted Cruz (12 percent), Jeb Bush (11 percent), Marco Rubio (11 percent), Chris Christie (8 percent), Carly Fiorina (4 percent), Ben Carson (2 percent) and Jim Gilmore (almost 0 percent).
In the Democratic Primary, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders trounced Hillary Clinton by 20 percentage points. Sanders received almost 60 percent of votes.
******************************* NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY *********************
******************** SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY FOR REPUBLICANS ************
Trump Wins Big in South Carolina
Donald Trump bagged his second primary win on February 20, 2016 night by garnering 33 percent vote in South Carolina. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz were back-to-back tied for the second and third spots, getting almost 22 percent votes. What's startling about Trump's victory in South Carolina, a state with large percentage of veteran and active duty troops, was that the real estate mogul had notched up a significant victory even after insulting former President George W. Bush whom he had called a "liar" on Iraq War. Jeb Bush, after receiving just 7.8 percent vote and fourth place, announced suspension of his candidacy that had begun with much fanfare, but failed to generate enthusiasm among rank-and-file Republicans who were craving for an outsider this year. Ohio Governor John Kasich received 7.6 percent vote and Dr. Ben Carson received a paltry 7.2 percent vote. Now, the Republican battlefield shifts to Nevada for the state's February 23, 2016, caucuses.
******************** SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY FOR REPUBLICANS ************
******************* NEVADA CAUCUSES FOR DEMOCRATS ***********************
Clinton Struggles, but Wins with Hispanic Backing
In February 20, 2016, Nevada caucuses, Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton received overwhelming support from Hispanics, a key demographic group in Democratic Party, and cruised to victory by receiving 52.7 percent vote. Her only challenger, Sen. Bernie Sanders, received 47.2 percent vote.
******************* NEVADA CAUCUSES FOR DEMOCRATS ***********************
******************* NEVADA CAUCUSES FOR REPUBLICANS *********************
Angry Voters Propel Trump to Victory
An angry Republican electorate helped propel Donald Trump's victory in February 23, 2016, Nevada caucuses. Donald Trump received about 42%, followed by Marco Rubio (25%) and Ted Cruz (22%).
******************* NEVADA CAUCUSES FOR REPUBLICANS *********************
******************* SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY FOR DEMOCRATS *************
Clinton Trounces Sanders
Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton displayed her strength and stature as standard-bearer of the party among African-Americans by trouncing Democratic Socialist Bernie Sanders in February 27, 2016, South Carolina primary. Clinton received 73 percent of votes, while Sanders received a mere 26 percent. Now, Clinton is headed to the March 1, 2016, Super Tuesday contests with a significant lead in delegate counts over Sanders. What South Carolina primary exposed is Sanders' persistent problem to extend his message and momentum beyond White liberals.
******************* SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY FOR DEMOCRATS *************
******************************* SUPER TUESDAY CONTEST **********************
Clinton, Trump Sprint Ahead on Super Tuesday
On March 1, 2016, the presidential primaries and caucuses made the Republican field narrower, but not certain. Ted Cruz still loomed large in his home state of Texas and the neighboring state of Oklahoma. However, Donald Trump swept through the southern heartlands, winning votes from evangelicals, conservatives and common people alike. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton expanded her lead in delegate count over her rival Bernie Sanders. The Super Tuesday produced the following winners and runner-ups:
* ALABAMA
Republicans: Donald Trump (44%); Ted Cruz (21%)
Democrats: Hillary Clinton (79%); Bernie Sanders (19%)
* ARKANSAS
Republicans: Donald Trump (33%); Ted Cruz (30%)
Democrats: Hillary Clinton (66%); Bernie Sanders (30%)
* COLORADO (Democratic Primary Only)
Hillary Clinton (41%); Bernie Sanders (58%)
* GEORGIA
Republicans: Donald Trump (39%); Marco Rubio (24%)
Democrats: Hillary Clinton (50%); Bernie Sanders (28%)
* MASSACHUSETTS
Republicans: Donald Trump (49%); John Kasich (18%)
Democrats: Hillary Clinton (50%); Bernie Sanders (49%)
* MINNESOTA
Republicans: Marco Rubio (37%); Ted Cruz (29%)
Democrats: Hillary Clinton (40%); Bernie Sanders (60%)
* OKLAHOMA
Republicans: Donald Trump (28%); Ted Cruz (34%)
Democrats: Hillary Clinton (42%); Bernie Sanders (52%)
* TENNESSEE
Republicans: Donald Trump (39%); Ted Cruz (25%)
Democrats: Hillary Clinton (66%); Bernie Sanders (32%)
* TEXAS
Republicans: Donald Trump (27%); Ted Cruz (43%)
Democrats: Hillary Clinton (67%); Bernie Sanders (31%)
* VERMONT
Republicans: Donald Trump (33%); John Kasich (31%)
Democrats: Hillary Clinton (14%); Bernie Sanders (86%)
* VIRGINIA
Republicans: Donald Trump (35%); Marco Rubio (32%)
Democrats: Hillary Clinton (64%); Bernie Sanders (35%)
******************************* SUPER TUESDAY CONTEST **********************
** LOUISIANA PRIMARY, NEBRASKA AND KANSAS CAUCUSES FOR DEMOCRATS **
Clinton Easily Wins Louisiana, Sanders Wins Kansas and Nebraska
Democrats had their primary in Louisiana and caucuses in Nebraska and Kansan on March 5, 2016. Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton easily won Louisiana, the state with maximum number of the delegates for the night, while Bernie Sanders won the caucuses in Nebraska and Kansas.
** LOUISIANA PRIMARY, NEBRASKA AND KANSAS CAUCUSES FOR DEMOCRATS **
** LOUISIANA, KENTUCKY, MAINE AND KANSAS CONTESTS FOR REPUBLICANS **
Cruz Stays in the Way of Trump's March toward Victory
The March 5, 2016 Republican contests in four states played out along the political strengths of the top two Republican candidates. Ted Cruz did well with the closed contests such as Maine and Kansas caucuses where party faithful flocked. This shows Cruz' groundwork and grass-root organizations which have helped the first-term senator from Texas immensely to put up a fight against Donald Trump, who had done well with open contests. The Republican frontrunner, Donald Trump, won the night's primaries in Louisiana and Kentucky.
Meanwhile, the so-called Stop the Trump Movement gained steam on March 3, 2016 as 2012 GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney came out openly against Trump, criticizing the real estate mogul's vulgarity and divisive rhetoric. The Republican party establishment is leery about a Trump candidacy and what it will entail down the ballot candidates, and intent on doing whatever it takes to deprive the frontrunner the necessary 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination.
** LOUISIANA, KENTUCKY, MAINE AND KANSAS CONTESTS FOR REPUBLICANS **
********************* PUERTO RICO PRIMARY FOR REPUBLICANS ***************
Rubio Wins the Puerto Rico Primary
Looking for a badly needed win, Florida Senator Marco Rubio won all 20 delegates by handily beating Donald Trump and Ted Cruz in Puerto Rico Primary on March 6, 2016.
********************* PUERTO RICO PRIMARY FOR REPUBLICANS ***************
********************* MAINE CAUCUSES FOR DEMOCRATS ***********************
Sanders Wins Maine
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders continued to show strength among young voters and liberal White Democrats as the Democratic Socialist won the Maine caucuses on March 6, 2016.
********************* MAINE CAUCUSES FOR DEMOCRATS ***********************
******************** PRIMARIES IN MICHIGAN AND MISSISSIPPI *****************
Trump Sweeps Michigan, Mississippi; Sanders Surprises Pundits One more Time
Reflecting a deep disdain for Republican establishment, Republican voters sided with Donald Trump both in Mississippi and Michigan on March 8, 2016. On the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders pulled the night's most dramatic upset by throwing all the polls to disarray and winning Michigan where Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton was winning even couple of days ago with convincing margin.
MICHIGAN
Republican Primary: Trump (37%); Cruz (25%); Kasich (24%); Rubio (9%)
Democratic Primary: Sanders (50%); Clinton (48%)
MISSISSIPPI
Republican Primary: Trump (48%); Cruz (36%); Kasich (9%); Rubio (5%)
Democratic Primary: Sanders (16%); Clinton (83%)
******************** PRIMARIES IN MICHIGAN AND MISSISSIPPI *****************
******************** IDAHO CAUCUSES FOR REPUBLICAN PARTY ****************
Cruz Wins Idaho Caucuses
Texas Senator Ted Cruz pulled an expected victory in Idaho caucuses in a night (March 8, 2016) when the Republican Party frontrunner Donald Trump all but swept the polls.
IDAHO
Trump (28%); Cruz (43%); Kasich (18%); Rubio (7%)
******************** IDAHO CAUCUSES FOR REPUBLICAN PARTY ****************
******************** DC PRIMARY FOR REPUBLICAN PARTY *********************
Rubio Wins DC Primary
Marco Rubio won DC primary on March 12, 2016.
******************** DC PRIMARY FOR REPUBLICAN PARTY *********************
******************** WYOMING CAUCUSES FOR REPUBLICANS *******************
Trump won the March 12, 2016 Wyoming caucuses.
******************** WYOMING CAUCUSES FOR REPUBLICANS *******************
******************** FL, OH, NC, IL AND MO CONTESTS ***************************
Trump, Clinton Roll in Crucial Contests
Frontrunners Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton lurched forward toward winning their respective parties' nomination in the March 15, 2016, contests in five delegate-rich states. The biggest casualty of the evening was Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who suspended his campaign after badly losing his state to Trump. Ohio Governor John Kasich kept Trump at bay in his home state, and won all the 66 delegates. On the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders failed to replicate his Michigan success model in industrial heartland of Ohio.
FLORIDA
Republicans: Trump (46%); Rubio; Cruz (17%); Kasich (7%)
Democrats: Clinton (64%); Sanders (33%)
OHIO
Republicans: Trump (36%); Cruz (13%); Kasich (47%)
Democrats: Clinton (56%); Sanders (43%)
ILLINOIS
Republicans: Trump (39%); Cruz (31%); Kasich (20%)
Democrats: Clinton (51%); Sanders (49%)
NORTH CAROLINA
Republicans: Trump (40%);Cruz (37%); Kasich (13%)
Democrats: Clinton (55%); Sanders (41%)
MISSOURI
Republicans: Trump (41%); Cruz (41%); Kasich (10%)
Democrats: Clinton (49.6%); Sanders (49.4%)
DELEGATE TALLY
Republicans: Total-2,472; Trump-673; Cruz-411; Kasich-143 (To win: 1,237)
Democrats: Total-4,765; Clinton-1606; Sanders-851 (To win: 2,383) (Delegate count also includes so-called Super Delegates, party officials and elected representatives)
******************** FL, OH, NC, IL AND MO CONTESTS ***************************
*************************** ARIZONA AND UTAH CONTESTS *********************
ARIZONA
Donald Trump won the Republican Primary in the Grand Canyon State while the Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton swept the biggest prize of the March 22, 2016, night.
UTAH
Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders were the winners of Utah caucuses of March 22, 2016.
*************************** ARIZONA AND UTAH CONTESTS *********************
************************* IDAHO CAUCUSES FOR DEMOCRATS *******************
IDAHO
Bernie Sanders was the winner of the Idaho caucuses held on March 22, 2016.
************************* IDAHO CAUCUSES FOR DEMOCRATS *******************
Bernie Sanders trounced Hillary Clinton in March 26, 2016, caucuses in Washington, Alaska and Hawaii.
************************ WASHINGTON, ALASKA AND HAWAII CONTESTS ********
************************ WISCONSIN PRIMARY *********************************
Republican Ted Cruz, who was endorsed by the state's conservative governor Scott Walker, won the party's primary on April 5, 2016 by getting 49 percent while Trump and Kasich had received 35 percent and 14 percent, respectively. On the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders again overwhelmed Hillary Clinton with 56-to-43 percent vote.
************************ WISCONSIN PRIMARY *********************************
************************ NEW YORK PRIMARY *******************************
New York Primary battles on April 19, 2016 turned out to be home run for both the frontrunners. Republican frontrunner Donald Trump vanquished rivals John Kasich and Ted Cruz. In his home state, Trump received a whopping 60.1 percent vote, followed by Kasich (25.2 percent) and Cruz (14.7 percent), respectively. On the Democratic side, former New York Senator Hillary Clinton showed her strength over Bernie Sanders, by edging past the Vermont Socialist by 57.6 percent-to-42.4 percent.
************************ NEW YORK PRIMARY *********************************
************************ CO, DE, MA, PA AND RI CONTESTS *********************
Trump, Clinton March Ahead
Republican frontrunner Donald Trump all but vanquished his rivals in April 26, 2016 five-state primaries, padding crucial victories in all of them. In the Republican primary, Trump won more than 50 percent vote in all five states. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton increased her lead over her challenger Bernie Sanders, conceding only Rhode Island to the Vermont Socialist.
CONNECTICUT
Trump (58%); Kasich (28%); Cruz (12%)
Clinton (51%); Sanders (47%)
DELAWARE
Trump (61%); Kasich (20%); Cruz (16%)
Clinton (60%); Sanders (39%)
MARYLAND
Trump (55%); Kasich (23%); Cruz (19%)
Clinton (56%); Sanders (44%)
PENNSYLVANIA
Trump (57%); Kasich (22%); Cruz (19%)
Clinton (56%); Sanders (44%)
RHODE ISLAND
Trump (64%); Kasich (24%); Cruz (10%)
Sanders (55%); Clinton (43%)
************************ CO, DE, MA, PA AND RI CONTESTS *********************
******************************** INDIANA PRIMARY ****************************
Cruz' Presidential Ambition Ends with Crushing Loss in Indiana
Texas Senator Ted Cruz on May 3, 2016 suspended his campaign after being trounced by Donald Trump in Indiana Primary. Cruz put his bet on the victory in Indiana, and took an unusual path of naming a vice presidential candidate. It was a high-stake gamble that at the end of the day had failed to yield any favorable result. On the Democratic side, it was another day of survival for Bernie Sanders as he beat out highly favored Hillary Clinton in a much tighter race. The day began with a very testy exchange between Trump and Cruz, with Trump claiming that Cruz's father, Rafael, might have been a collaborator with Harvey Oswald in Kennedy assassination and Texas' junior senator upping the ante and calling out Trump a "pathological liar".
******************************** INDIANA PRIMARY ****************************
********************* WEST VIRGINIA AND NEBRASKA PRIMARIES ***************
Sanders Wins West Virginia, Clinton Nebraska
Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders again pulled a victory in the coal state of West Virginia in May 10, 2016, primary, exposing frontrunner Hillary Clinton's consistent weakness to earn trust from the blue collar White voters in general, males in particular. Clinton won the primary at Nebraska although all the delegates to the state convention were chosen at a caucus in March 2016.
On the Republican primary, Donald Trump, cleared of any opponents in the field, swept through West Virginia and Nebraska.
********************* WEST VIRGINIA AND NEBRASKA PRIMARIES ***************
New York Primary battles on April 19, 2016 turned out to be home run for both the frontrunners. Republican frontrunner Donald Trump vanquished rivals John Kasich and Ted Cruz. In his home state, Trump received a whopping 60.1 percent vote, followed by Kasich (25.2 percent) and Cruz (14.7 percent), respectively. On the Democratic side, former New York Senator Hillary Clinton showed her strength over Bernie Sanders, by edging past the Vermont Socialist by 57.6 percent-to-42.4 percent.
************************ NEW YORK PRIMARY *********************************
************************ CO, DE, MA, PA AND RI CONTESTS *********************
Trump, Clinton March Ahead
Republican frontrunner Donald Trump all but vanquished his rivals in April 26, 2016 five-state primaries, padding crucial victories in all of them. In the Republican primary, Trump won more than 50 percent vote in all five states. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton increased her lead over her challenger Bernie Sanders, conceding only Rhode Island to the Vermont Socialist.
CONNECTICUT
Trump (58%); Kasich (28%); Cruz (12%)
Clinton (51%); Sanders (47%)
DELAWARE
Trump (61%); Kasich (20%); Cruz (16%)
Clinton (60%); Sanders (39%)
MARYLAND
Trump (55%); Kasich (23%); Cruz (19%)
Clinton (56%); Sanders (44%)
PENNSYLVANIA
Trump (57%); Kasich (22%); Cruz (19%)
Clinton (56%); Sanders (44%)
RHODE ISLAND
Trump (64%); Kasich (24%); Cruz (10%)
Sanders (55%); Clinton (43%)
************************ CO, DE, MA, PA AND RI CONTESTS *********************
******************************** INDIANA PRIMARY ****************************
Cruz' Presidential Ambition Ends with Crushing Loss in Indiana
Texas Senator Ted Cruz on May 3, 2016 suspended his campaign after being trounced by Donald Trump in Indiana Primary. Cruz put his bet on the victory in Indiana, and took an unusual path of naming a vice presidential candidate. It was a high-stake gamble that at the end of the day had failed to yield any favorable result. On the Democratic side, it was another day of survival for Bernie Sanders as he beat out highly favored Hillary Clinton in a much tighter race. The day began with a very testy exchange between Trump and Cruz, with Trump claiming that Cruz's father, Rafael, might have been a collaborator with Harvey Oswald in Kennedy assassination and Texas' junior senator upping the ante and calling out Trump a "pathological liar".
******************************** INDIANA PRIMARY ****************************
********************* WEST VIRGINIA AND NEBRASKA PRIMARIES ***************
Sanders Wins West Virginia, Clinton Nebraska
Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders again pulled a victory in the coal state of West Virginia in May 10, 2016, primary, exposing frontrunner Hillary Clinton's consistent weakness to earn trust from the blue collar White voters in general, males in particular. Clinton won the primary at Nebraska although all the delegates to the state convention were chosen at a caucus in March 2016.
On the Republican primary, Donald Trump, cleared of any opponents in the field, swept through West Virginia and Nebraska.
********************* WEST VIRGINIA AND NEBRASKA PRIMARIES ***************
********************* KENTUCKY AND OREGON RACES **************************
Sanders Wins Oregon, A Neck-and-Neck in Kentucky
Bernie Sanders on May 17, 2016 easily won the Oregon primary over the frontrunner Hillary Clinton while Clinton claimed herself the victor in a nail-biter contest in Kentucky primary.
On the Republican side, uncontested Donald Trump swept the Oregon primary.
********************* KENTUCKY AND OREGON RACES **************************
********************* VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO ***********************
Clinton Close to Clinching Nomination
After a sweep in the June 4, 2016, Virgin Islands and June 5, 2016, Puerto Rico Democratic primaries, Hillary Clinton is now just short of fewer than 30 delegates to reach the magic number of 2,383.
********************* VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO ***********************
************ CA, NJ, ND, MONTANA, SOUTH DAKOTA AND NM CONTESTS *********
Clinton Makes History, Wins Democratic Nomination
June 7, 2016 marked a bright day in American political landscape as Hillary Clinton became the first woman to win the nomination of a major political party. She won convincingly the California and New Jersey primary contests. Observing the historic significance of her victory, Secretary Clinton told a raucous audience in New York that "tonight caps an amazing journey--a long, long journey" that had begun with the march in late 19th century at Seneca Falls to demand for woman suffrage. Hillary Clinton also urged the supporters of her vanquished rival, Bernie Sanders, to rally behind her in an effort to defeat Donald Trump in the Fall. President Barack Obama called Hillary Clinton to congratulate her for winning the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, and praised her "historic campaign".
On the Republican side, Donald Trump, already having secured the party's nomination, swept all the states that had held primaries and caucuses, shedding a bright spot in otherwise very tough few days as the real estate mogul was mired in controversy and mud-slinging, drawing the ire of party brass such as House Speaker Paul Ryan.
************ CA, NJ, ND, MONTANA, SOUTH DAKOTA AND NM CONTESTS *********
******************** CLINTON WINS THE FINAL PRIMARY ***********************
Clinton Wins D.C Primary
Hillary Clinton clinched a predictable victory in June 14, 2016, District of Columbia primary.
******************** CLINTON WINS THE FINAL PRIMARY ***********************Sanders Endorses Clinton
After months of spirited, often acrimonious, policy debate, Bernie Sanders on July 12, 2016 endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton at a Portsmouth, New Hampshire rally, calling her the "far and away the best candidate" in November 2016 elections.
*********** REPUBLICAN CONVENTION IN CLEVELAND (JULY 18-21, 2016) *********
Trump Makes a Safe VP Choice
In the run-up to the Republican Party's convention at Cleveland, Donald Trump on July 16, 2016 picked Indiana Governor Mike Pence, a darling of conservatives, as his running mate.
Convention Begins Amid Absence of a Record Number of GOP Luminaries
The Republican Party's convention began on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loan Arena in Cleveland amidst a heavy security presence and proposed protests outside the arena by a number of groups. The Republican Party's convention this year was anything but normal as none of the former presidents--George Bush, Senior, and George W. Bush--as well as the presidential candidates in 2008 and 2012, John McCain and Mitt Romney, respectively, attended the convention. Even the host state Governor John Kasich, a primary rival of Trump, stayed away from the convention.
DAY 1 (July 18, 2016)
The overarching theme of this year's Republican Party convention was the rule of law and order, and speaker after speaker blasted the Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton amid chants from the floor "lock her up". Donald Trump surprisingly appeared on the stage to introduce his wife Melania Trump.
DAY 2 (July 19, 2016)
The day's high point came in the afternoon when one of Donald Trump's sons called out on behalf of New York delegation to pronounce that his dad was the winner of the Republican Primary. As the night wore on, the decibel of anti-Clinton diatribes reached the new high, with personal insults and invectives being hurled without any restraint. The traditional GOP message of optimism was all but evaporated from the convention floor, and the party seemed to cease to be the party of hope and optimism, a hallmark for the Republican Party.
DAY 3 (July 20, 2016)
The highlight of the third night of the Republican Party's convention at Cleveland was Ted Cruz' calculated risk to deliver a prime time speech and not to endorse Donald Trump, his primary rival. Ted Cruz' failure to endorse Trump, and instead his call to "vote your conscience", was met with boos, heckles and jeers. The night was truly embarrassing to Trump campaign, and the scene at the convention floor was one of uproar and anger. Even Texas Senator's wife had to be provided security escort as many convention-goers hurled insults at her. Cruz' action overshadowed a much more important event of the evening: Mike Pence's acceptance of vice presidential mantle as nominee.
DAY 4 (July 21, 2016)
The morning of the final day of Republican Party convention was reverberated with the fallout of Texas Senator Ted Cruz' refusal to endorse Donald Trump, with even many of his home state delegates booing the senator at a breakfast. The convention ended with Donald Trump's acceptance speech that was laced with part jingoism to "Make America Great Again", his campaign mantra, part anger, part populism, part appealing to people's fear and part outlining a pessimistic future if Hillary Clinton were elected. Trump said that only he could fix nation's problems, and he was the only law and order candidate in this election.
Trump Double-Downs on Cruz for Senator's non-Endorsement
A day after Republican Party convention came to an end, Donald Trump on July 22, 2016 took parting shots at Ted Cruz for the latter's non-endorsement of the real estate mogul. Standing beside his running mate Mike Pence, Trump told his supporters that the party was united behind him, convention was very successful, he would not accept even if the Texas Senator now endorsed him and might explore forming a Super PAC to take Cruz down in his re-election in two years. Donald Trump reiterated the speculation that Rafael Cruz, Texas Senator's dad, had been photographed with Kennedy assassin Harvey Oswald.
*********** REPUBLICAN CONVENTION IN CLEVELAND (JULY 18-21, 2016) *********
********** DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN PHILADELPHIA (JULY 25-28, 2016) ******
Clinton Goes for Safe VP Pick
Hillary Clinton on July 22, 2016 chose former Virginia Governor Senator Tim Kaine as her running mate. Kaine, a safe bet for Clinton, has been partly chosen taking the swing state of Virginia in mind, but Kaine's choice is not likely to bring enthusiasm for the Bernie crowd as well as some younger Latinas who have been hoping for the first Hispanic to be part of a major party ticket.
WikiLeaks Exposes "Rigged System" in the Democratic Party
WikiLeaks on July 22, 2016 released almost 20,000 e-mails of the Democratic National Committee that showed in embarrassing details how the party officials had tried to manipulate the outcome of the primary process to favor Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders. The leaks are sure to inflame the Bernie delegates and have potential to upend an orderly conduct of the convention. Bernie Sanders supporters are already fuming over the bias of so-called super-delegates, party officials, lawmakers and party higher-ups. Many of the Sanders supporters want to do away with the super-delegates system. Out of 713 super-delegates, Clinton led the pack with 602 and Bernie had the backing of 48. Including the super-delegates, Clinton led 2,807 to 1,894.
Clinton Introduces Kaine in Florida
On July 23, 2016, Tim Kaine and Hillary Clinton jointly appeared for the first time at the Florida International University where Clinton said of her running mate that "Senator Tim Kaine in everything Donald Trump and Mike Pence are not". Kaine, a fluent Spanish speaker, addressing the 5,000-strong jubilant crowd said that faith, family and work defined his life.
Fall-out of e-mail Scandal: Dems Head Out
As a brewing e-mail scandal stemming from the WikiLeaks' release that showed a clear bias by party officials toward Hillary Rodham Clinton posed a serious threat to torpedo the orderly conduct of convention and create an absolute chaos, Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz on July 24, 2016 announced her resignation. The step was taken to calm the Bernie delegates and Bernie supporters as they were reeling under the perceived bias and rigged system of Democratic Party establishment.
DAY 1 (July 25, 2016)
The Democratic Party's convention opened on July 25, 2016 at the gigantic Wells Fargo arena in Philadelphia on a chaotic note and overshadowed by a brewing e-mail scandal that exposed the apparent bias of the party establishment toward Hillary Rodham Clinton over Bernie Sanders. An embarrassing situation was avoided by outgoing Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz's decision to stay away from the arena podium and ceding the privilege of gaveling to open the conference to Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. The first day's speaker list included three heavy weights: Liberal darling Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Senator, First Lady Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders. There were visible presence of so-called "Bernie or Bust" people on the convention floor. Warren ripped Trump in her buoyant speech, targeting the top 1 percent for the economic ills of the country and calling for economic equity. She declared, to the cheers of thousands, that "I Am With Her", a common refrain of the audience and bumper slogan of the Clinton campaign. The biggest attraction of the night was the First Lady Michelle Obama as she presented the choice American people had in this election in the narrative of whom they would trust their kids looking up to. And, the choice is clear, according to Ms. Obama, and that's why "I Am With Her". The last speaker of the night was Bernie Sanders whose mere presence brought tears to lot of his supporters. Bernie Sanders urged his followers to continue the movement they had started with him, but the of this election was clear and it was not "even close". Sanders asked his followers to unite behind Clinton.
DAY 2 (July 26, 2016)
It was a bitter-sweet day for Bernie Sanders as Hillary Clinton was formally anointed the nomination of the Democratic Party, and Sanders formally called out the victor and ended the official nominating session on the second afternoon. Clinton made history by winning the nomination of a major political party and heading the ticket going into the fall election. The night's main attraction was Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the USA. With his southern twang and common-man touch, former President laid out a narrative and life story for his wife. He defended her records as defender of children and working class, and told the audience that she was the best change-maker he had ever come across.
DNC Hack
Meanwhile, the U.S. intelligence community is coming to the terms that the DNC e-mail system may have been hacked by Russians, and many of the Hillary Clinton's surrogates have been saying that Moscow wants to influence the outcome of the U.S. elections since WikiLeaks has released nearly 20,000 e-mails.
DAY 3 (JULY 27, 2016)
The third day of the Democratic Party convention was full of star powers with Vice President Joe Biden, Clinton's VP pick, Tim Kaine, and President Barack Obama presenting a strong case for Hillary Clinton and blasting her Republican opponent Donald Trump for his demagoguery, boastfulness, sloganeering and, according to Biden, lack of "clue" on anything. After President Obama's speech, Hillary Clinton made a surprise appearance on stage with President Obama, who called her an outstanding woman who would make a better president than any other preceding presidents, including himself and her husband Bill. The third day of the convention raised the specter of optimism and air of hope among the people in the convention floor and beyond, setting the stage for nominee herself to wrap up the Democratic convention on a very high note and in a very confidence-instilling way that was always a hallmark for past Republican conventions.
DNC Hack: Trump Asks Russia to Find Clinton's e-mails
In a bizarre turn of events, Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump on July 27, 2016 jokingly asked Russia to hack Hillary Clinton's e-mail in order to find 30,000 missing e-mails from her server. This marked a new low for Trump, or any, campaign to ask, even jokingly, a foreign power to expose a political opponent.
DAY 4 (JULY 28, 2016)
The final day of the Democratic National Convention was capped by an inspiring introduction of Hillary Rodham Clinton, the first ever major party nominee, by her daughter Chelsea Clinton. However, before that, a Gold Star father, Khizir Khan, roused the audience with his challenge to Donald Trump to read the constitution. Khan brought out a pocket-size constitution from his coat's inside pocket, and directly asked Trump if he had read the constitution. Khan then added that he would gladly lend his constitution to real-estate mogul. Khizir Khan, flanked by his wife Ghazala, addressed the convention with the life-size picture of his son, Captain Humayun, who was killed in Iraq, adorning the background. Hillary Clinton was the last speaker of the night, and she put her case for presidency in bold terms, saying the nation needed a steady hand as "America is once again at a moment of reckoning". The convention has ended on an upbeat, positive and optimistic note with an air filled with patriotism, a theme more in sync with the Republican Party, but is missing this year with Donald Trump leading the party ticket.
********** DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN PHILADELPHIA (JULY 25-28, 2016) ******
National Security Experts Blast Trump
About 50 GOP national security experts, many of them were had held positions in the Bush administration, on August 8, 2016 launched a blistering attack on Donald Trump's credentials in key issues such as national security, foreign policies and strong defense. In an open letter, GOP luminaries like Michael Hayden, a former CIA and NSA Director; John Negroponte, a former director of National Intelligence and deputy secretary of state; and Robert Zoellick, a former U.S. Trade Representative emphasized that Trump's lack of knowledge in national security policies and his recklessness would put the country at risk and harm America's reputation abroad.
Trump Wins in a Major Upset
Donald Trump won the presidency in what could be dubbed as the most significant political upset in a generation. After the polls closed on November 8, 2016, the night grew longer and supporters got tenser as Democratic firewalls of Midwest had begun to crumble with hours. At the end, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, but lost the electoral college vote to Donald Trump. Both House of Representatives and Senate were won by the Republican Party. With both executive branch and legislative branch under GOP control, it would be worthwhile to see how Donald Trump's unconventional politics meshes with a Congressional push to drive its long-dormant conservative agenda, including curbing of abortion rights, repealing and replacing Obamacare, rolling back Dodd-Frank Regulation among others.
Trump's Call with Taiwanese Leader Ruffles Chinese Feathers
In a possible diplomatic disaster, President-elect Donald Trump on December 2, 2016 became the first highest, or would-be highest, American official since 1979--the year President Jimmy Carter severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan following the 1978 recognition of the Mainland regime as the sole government of "One China" and seven years after the then-U.S. President Richard Nixon made a historic trip to Beijing to meet Mao Zedong--to talk to a Taiwanese head of state as the brash real-estate mogul fielded a congratulatory call from Taiwan's pro-separatist president, Tsai Ing-wen. China's reaction to President-elect Donald Trump's conversation with Tsai Ing-wen was dismissive as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that the call would change the "One China" policy, the bedrock for "healthy development of Sino-U.S. relations".
Aim of Russian Hacking Is to Help Trump, U.S Intel Agencies Conclude
The New York times and The Washington Post on December 9, 2016 reported that U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA, had concluded that the purpose of Russian hacking of DNC e-mail system was to help tilt the presidential elections in favor of Donald Trump. CIA briefed the key Senators on this too last week. The intel agencies partly based their conclusion on the fact that hackers related to GRU, Russia's military intelligence service, had hacked into both DNC and RNC e-mail system, but had decided to leak only the information from stolen DNC e-mails. President Barack Obama ordered the nation's intel agencies to carry out a thorough probe into the Russian hack and recommend before the expiry of his term on what could be done to prevent such hacks in future. The reaction from Trump's transition team was trivialization and dismissal of the findings. On October 7, 2016, intelligence agencies officially accused Russia of meddling in the U.S. election process without being specific.
Rift between Trump and Intel Agencies Grows
A day after media, including The Washington Post, reported that Russian operatives, including the ones linked to country's military intelligence agency, GRU, had meddled, including hacking, in the U.S. Presidential Election with an intention to help Donald Trump, the business mogul on December 10, 2016 mocked the intelligence community findings on Twitter. Meanwhile, a comprehensive investigation led by the Director of National Intelligence James Clapper will give a report on the Russian meddling before President Barack Obama leaves office next month.
Trump Doubles Down on Intel Findings
Appearing before Fox News Sunday, President-elect Donald Trump on December 11, 2016 dismissed the idea that Russians had carried out hacks and meddling to help him win the Presidential election.
Obama Defends Handling Russian Hack
President Barack Obama on December 16, 2016 gave a forceful defense of his handling of the Russian hack and meddling in the U.S. election system. He said that he did not take any action early because that would have, he feared, triggered additional malice attempts by Moscow to further undermine America's election system. However, in the next 34 remaining days in office, President Obama is mulling various measures to respond Russia's egregious meddling proportionately.
Obama Administration Slaps Punitive Actions against Russia
As a punishment to meddling in the U.S. Presidential elections, Obama administration on December 29, 2016 took a flurry of measures that included expelling 35 Russians from the U.S., blacklisting four officials from Russia's military intelligence services, GRU, and imposing sanctions on Russia's two intel agencies, including GRU. In addition, occupants of the two waterfront luxurious properties outside New York City and Washington were ordered to evacuate as, according to the administration, Russian officials used these two properties to meet, brainstorm and plan attacks on the DNC e-mail system.
Intel Agencies: Russians Helped Trump
A declassified version of USA's intel agencies' report shed a light on how with Russian President Vladimir Putin's direct encouragement, Moscow had not only interfered in the U.S. elections, but tried to tilt its outcome in favor of Donald Trump. The intel agencies shared the report with President-elect Donald Trump on January 6, 2017, and major newspapers carried the report in the following day's editions.
Trump Agrees with Intel Agencies, at least, on Russian Meddling
President-elect Donald Trump, under growing weight of evidence, acknowledged on January 11, 2017 that Russia had, in fact, carried out cyberespionage against the two major political parties, but angrily dismissed the notion that Moscow had collected intimidating evidence against Trump which it might exploit later to extract flesh.
MINIMUM WAGE BOOST
19 States to Raise Minimum Wage Come New Year
As a result of strong support from the grass roots in November 2016 polls and as part of pre-planned increase, 19 states will see boost in minimum wage beginning January 1, 2017. Massachusetts and Washington will ring in the highest in the wage ladder, tying at $11 per hour, while California will have $10.50 per hour for businesses with more than 25 employees. New York will have a regional approach--$10.50 in the New York City, $10 in downstate suburb and $9.70 elsewhere. Voters in Arizona, Colorado, Maine and Washington approved the increase in the November polls.
****************************** 2020 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION **************
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
*****************
Warren Jumps First to Challenge Trump
In what will be a crowded Democratic Primary, Liberal icon and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren on December 31, 2018 announced that she would form an exploratory committee to run in 2020 presidential election. Warren is known to have taken hardened stand against President Trump, calling him in the past "a thin skinned racist bully" and "a wannabe tyrant". Trump, in turn, mocked Warren "Pocahontas".
Warren Launches Her Official Campaign from a Working Class Massachusetts Town
Senator Elizabeth Warren on February 9, 2019, taking the backdrop of working class town of Lawrence, launched her official bid for presidency by vowing to fight what she had called a "middle-class squeeze" and "too little accountability for the rich, too little opportunity for everyone else".
Warren Unveils $20 trillion Price Tag for "Medicare for All"
Elizabeth Warren, after coming under withering criticism for not publicly saying how she was going to fund her "Medicare for All" plan, on November 1, 2019 unveiled a 20-page plan online. Her plan will increase $20 trillion in 10 years in federal spending. Out of that $20 trillion, employers are expected to carry the burden of $8.8 trillion by transferring what they already spend for their employees to the government coffer. However, her Democratic opponents were quick to criticize her plan. Joe Biden called it a "mathematical gymnastics". One respectable think tank, Urban Institute, even disputed the $20 trillion over a decade price tag, and pegged it at $34 trillion.
******************
******************
Castro Joins the Race
Former HUD Secretary Julian Castro on January 12, 2019 announced at a rally in his hometown of San Antonio that he would run for president in 2020. In a sneak-peek of the agenda on which he will be running, he has pledged to support universal pre-K education, reform to cash-bail system and end to police brutality against minorities, especially African-Americans. Julian Castro pledged to support a "Green New Deal" along the line of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal.
Castro Quits
After failing to get traction with core Democratic constituency, Julian Castro on January 2, 2020 called it quits, saying that "simply it's not our time".
******************
******
Kamala Harris Enters the Fray
Senator Kamala Harris on January 21, 2019 entered the 2020 presidential race in crowded Democratic primary. Harris used the occasion of Martin Luther King's birthday to launch her candidacy to become the first Black female president. Harris will hold a kickoff rally on January 27, 2019 at Oakland, California.
Harris Holds a Huge Kickoff Rally at Oakland
At a raucous and rave rally few blocks from the courthouse where Kamala Harris launched her career as prosecutor, the junior senator from California on January 27, 2019 issued an upbeat call to fight against those "trying to sow hate and division" and unify the country for a common purpose.
*******
Tulsi Gabbard Launches Presidential Bid
Hawaii Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on January 24, 2019 formally launched her long-shot bid for Democratic Party's nomination in 2020 presidential election.
************ CORY BOOKER
Booker Enters the Democratic Primary
Using the Black History Month, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker on February 1, 2019 used a video address to enter the Democratic presidential primary contest, becoming the second Black candidate after Kamala Harris. Cory Booker deplored the vile in the nation's politics and struck a civil, compassionate and compelling message for inclusion.
Booker Quits on January 13, 2020.
************ CORY BOOKER
Minnesota's Klobuchar Becomes the Latest Candidate to Enter the Fray
Branding her hardy midwestern image as a grand-daughter of a miner, daughter of a schoolteacher and newsperson and first female Senator from Minnesota, Semator Amy Klobuchar on February 10, 2019 announced at a rally at Bloom Island Park in Minneapolis amid subfreezing temperature on a snowy day that she would run for president "for every worker, farmer, dreamer and builder".
Sanders Enters the Race for Primary of a Vastly Different Democratic Party
In 2016, by all means, Bernie Sanders--with his Socialist policies such as higher tax rates on wealthy and Medicare for all--couldn't be more different than Hillary Clinton. Fast forward to 2020 presidential election, he may be just one of dozens of candidates, with name recognition be the only determinant to set him apart from the rest of the pack. As Bernie Sanders on February 19, 2019 announced his candidacy, he credited his 2016 campaign for the Democratic Party's leftward shift.
***********************
Former Colorado Governor Hickenlooper Enters the Fray as Moderate Democrat
Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper on March 4, 2019 became the latest Democrat to enter the 2020 presidential race. One key separator for Hickenlooper, though, is that he is a moderate and centrist Democrat in a growing field of left-leaning candidates who support liberal programs such as Medicare for All and New Green Deal championed by freshman Rep. Alexander Ocasio-Cortez and other Liberal lawmakers and activists.
Hickenlooper Bows out
Stuck in the bottom and finding no way to break out of pack, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper did what was inevitable, calling it quits on August 15, 2019.
***********************
********************* Beto O' Rourke
Beto Joins Presidential Race, Mounts a Three-day Trip to IowaTexas charismatic Democrat Beto O'Rourke on March 13, 2019 entered the presidential fray.
Beto Quits after Struggling
Beto O' Rourke after struggling with connecting with the Democratic base called it quits on November 1, 2019.
********************* Beto O' Rourke
Massachusetts Lawmaker the Latest to Enter the Presidential Race
U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, an Iraq War veteran, on April 22, 2019 entered the fray to replace President Donald Trump.
Biden, the Ultimate Establishment Powerhouse, Enters the Race
Former Vice President Joe Biden on April 25, 2019 entered the fray for Democratic nomination in the 2020 presidential election, highlighting the task for "battle for the soul" of the USA. Within 24 hours of announcement of his candidacy, Biden Campaign hauled record amount of donations.
Sanders Bows out
A day after Wisconsin Primary, Sen. Bernie Sanders on April 8, 2020 called it quits.
Sex Assault Alleged against Biden
A former aide of Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party, Tara Reade on April 9, 2020 filed a complaint with the Capitol Police that she had been assaulted by Biden at the basement of the Capitol without naming the former vice president. The Associated Press reported the complaint on April 12, 2020.
Sanders Endorses Biden
Appearing alongside in a split screen, two septuagenarian powerhouses of the Democratic causes made rapprochement on April 13, 2020 to make, in Sanders' words, Donald Trump a "one-term president". Bernie Sanders' endorsement to Joe Biden's campaign is likely to provide more energy to the flagging campaign of the former vice president as he has to focus on bridging the gap between the progressive and moderate wings of the party. In 2016, Democratic disunity was a factor to the defeat of Hillary Clinton.
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
Joe Walsh to Challenge Trump
Former Illinois Republican Rep. Joe Walsh, a conservative talk-show host, on August 25, 2019 announced his candidacy for Republican nomination for presidency.
Walsh Ends His Bid
Joe Walsh quit his bid to replace Donald Trump on February 7, 2020.
IOWA CAUCUSES
The opening season of the 2020 election for Democrats was anything but self-assuring as the phone app used to send caucus votes to the state party had a glitch, and state party was unable to announce a victor on the night of Caucus on February 3, 2020. It was an embarrassing moment for Democratic Party and Trump didn't delay in mocking the Democrats. As results started to pour in on February 4, 2020, Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg won the delegates marginally over Bernie Sanders although the Democratic Socialist won the popular vote over the former Marine by a razor-thin margin.
Donald Trump won overwhelmingly in the Republican Primary.
New Hampshire
Bernie Sanders won narrowly the New Hampshire Primary on February 11, 2020 over Pete Buttigieg, heading to Nevada Caucus and South Carolina Primary on a strong footing and tail-on wind for his campaign. Addressing a boisterous crowd, Sanders proclaimed that the New Hampshire Primary win marked the "beginning of end for Donald Trump". Minnesota Senator Amy Klobucher had a strong showing in the New Hampshire Primary, mostly due to a strong debate performance days before the primary, followed by Elizabeth Warren and disastrous fifth-place performance by Former Vice President Joe Biden.
Donald Trump won handsomely in the Republican Primary.
Nevada
Bernie Sanders trounced his primary opponents in February 22, 2020, Nevada Caucus, receiving a little of 47% of the votes. Nevada also presents the candidates with a diverse array of voters, drawing a sharp contrast with Iowa and New Hampshire. Sanders' victory in Nevada Caucus underlines Vermont senator's grassroots connection with non-White voters.
South Carolina
If Joe Biden moves on to getting the nomination of the Democratic Party and eventually win the presidential election in November 2020, pundits and historians will look back to South Carolina and say that it's the Palmetto State where the turnaround has happened and Rep. Jim Clyburn is the key to that historic and unprecedented turnaround. Biden in February 29, 2020, Primary crushed Bernie Sanders by receiving about 50 percent vote.
Super Tuesday (March 3, 2020)
It was a momentous 72-hour period since winning the South Carolina Primary that Joe Biden returned from the political oblivion to frontrunner status. It was the most unprecedented 72-hour period one could recall, and buoyed by Pete Buttigieg's and Amy Klobuchar's endorsements, Biden on March 3, 2020, swept 10 out of 14 states in the Super Tuesday Primaries. However, Bernie Sanders won the remaining four states, including his home state of Vermont and delegate-rich California. Biden won Texas by about 3 percentage point in a nail-biter.
Super Tuesday II (March 10, 2020)
In the run-up to Super Tuesday II that would see five states to go to Primary, Bernie Sanders worked hard in Michigan to have a repeat performance like in 2016 when his upset victory in this crucial Midwestern state had injected fresh energy in his campaign against Hillary Clinton. However, in the March 10, 2020, primary, Joe Biden easily beat Sanders in Michigan, Mississippi and Missouri while there is neck-and-neck race going on in Washington state. Biden eventually won the Washington State Primary by 37.7% to 35.7% vote. Sanders only won the North Dakota Caucus.
FLORIDA, ILLINOIS and ARIZONA
Biden Sweeps Three more States
Joe Biden won hands down in March 17, 2020, Primaries in Florida, Illinois and Arizona.
WISCONSIN PRIMARY
After Gov. Tony Ebers tried to block the Wisconsin Primary, but the state Supreme Court on April 6, 2020 ruled the election to go forward as scheduled on April 7, 2020.
U.S. Intel Assessment Points to Russian Interference Favoring Trump
A U.S. intelligence assessment released August 7, 2020 underlined the echo of 2016 presidential election as William Evanina, director of National Counterintelligence and Security Center, a division housed inside the office of Director of National Intelligence, said that "our election should be our own". William Evanina reports to John Ratcliffe. a Trump loyalist and current head of DNI. The unclassified intel assessment, "election threat update", blamed Russia for efforts to undermine Joe Biden and help Trump win the re-election. In addition to Russia, the intel assessment held China and Iran responsible for trying to sabotage 2020 elections.
Biden Chooses Harris as His Running Mate
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden on August 11, 2020 chose his one-time fierce primary rival, Kamala Harris, a former San Francisco's top prosecutor (2004-2011), a former California attorney general (2011-2017) and current U.S. Senator from California, as his ticket's VP nominee.
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION (August 17-20, 2020)
Mostly virtual conference in the era of COVID-19 began in Milwaukee on August 17, 2020, and Democrats wanted to showcase their strengths as a big-tent political party, with liberal icon Sen. Bernie Sanders and former GOP presidential candidate John Kasich giving address. The first night's keynote speaker, though, was Former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Harris Becomes the First Black Female on any Major Party Ticket to Accept V.P. Nomination
California Senator Kamala Harris on August 19, 2020 became the first Black woman to accept a major party's nomination on a presidential ticket. During her inspiring address, she stressed on her family as source of her strength.
Democratic Convention Ends with Biden's Empathy as Primary Focus
Democratic Party's mostly virtual convention ended on August 20, 2020 with a limelight on the party's diversity, Trump's lack of character and courage to deal with crisis-ridden situations ranging from COVID-19 to slumping economy and a clear focus on Joe Biden's empathy and experience. Accepting the Democratic Party's nomination from Chase Center, Wilmington, Delaware, Joe Biden piled on Trump. It was, by far, Biden's best public address, and put a hole to Trump's argument over former vice president's mental fitness.
REPUBLICAN PARTY'S NATIONAL CONVENTION (AUGUST 24-27, 2020)
President Trump Nominated by Roll-Call; President Appears Unannounced
In a very unconventional way, an unconventional president on the first day of his party's convention arrived unannounced on August 24, 2020 at the convention venue in Charlotte Convention Center and addressed the slimmed-down size of convention attendees that he would be fighting for American people every day. Earlier in the day, he and Mike Pence received nomination vote via roll-call. The theme of the convention is "Honoring the Great American Story". The star-studded speakers' list on the first night included Donald Trump Jr., Nikki Haley, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N., and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.
On Day 2, First Lady Melania Trump Puts a Humane Face on Her Husband
On August 25, 2020, First Lady Melania Trump addressed the Republican Party convention from the ornate Rose Garden. She extolled her husband and deeply appreciated the people for taking a chance on her husband for the highest office of the land despite no prior political experience. President Donald Trump turned the White House setting as a backdrop of Republican Party convention, raising questions about legality of such act as it might violate the so called Hatch Act that draws a clear line between political activities and administrative work. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on August 25, 2020 addressed the convention and his pre-recorded address was made in Jerusalem, breaking the long-term tradition for the secretary of state refraining addressing political convention and even if addressing the convention, not from a foreign land.
Day 3: Pence Asks American for Four More Years to Stay America Great
Day 3 of the Republican National Convention marked some of the sharp rhetoric from some of the party's rising stars, including Rep. Dan Crenshaw and Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota, who took aim at Democrats for, in Crenshaw's words, "lecturing over others when they disagree", and as Noem harped on the message of violent mob and lawlessness in Democrats-run cities. The night's biggest attraction was Mike Pence who addressed from Fort McHenry in Baltimore, a scenic place that had inspired Francis Scott Key to write the National Anthem. Mike Pence stressed that because of Trump, America had been "made great again". Mike Pence's address was overshadowed by violence over a Black man's shooting by a White police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Hurricane Laura that was battering the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Texas.
Trump Wraps up Convention by Addressing from the Whitehouse
In an unprecedented way, President Donald Trump converted the White House into a campaign event venue and addressed the Republican Party Convention from the gigantic podium on the South Lawn. Accepting the party's nomination, Trump painted Joe Biden's winning to herald an era of "looting", mayhem, anarchy and violence in America's streets. Trump wrapped up the Republican Party Convention on August 27, 2020 with an address that would go down in the history as probably the only one delivered from the White House.
Biden Chooses Harris as His Running Mate
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden on August 11, 2020 chose his one-time fierce primary rival, Kamala Harris, a former San Francisco's top prosecutor (2004-2011), a former California attorney general (2011-2017) and current U.S. Senator from California, as his ticket's VP nominee.
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION (August 17-20, 2020)
Mostly virtual conference in the era of COVID-19 began in Milwaukee on August 17, 2020, and Democrats wanted to showcase their strengths as a big-tent political party, with liberal icon Sen. Bernie Sanders and former GOP presidential candidate John Kasich giving address. The first night's keynote speaker, though, was Former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Harris Becomes the First Black Female on any Major Party Ticket to Accept V.P. Nomination
California Senator Kamala Harris on August 19, 2020 became the first Black woman to accept a major party's nomination on a presidential ticket. During her inspiring address, she stressed on her family as source of her strength.
Democratic Convention Ends with Biden's Empathy as Primary Focus
Democratic Party's mostly virtual convention ended on August 20, 2020 with a limelight on the party's diversity, Trump's lack of character and courage to deal with crisis-ridden situations ranging from COVID-19 to slumping economy and a clear focus on Joe Biden's empathy and experience. Accepting the Democratic Party's nomination from Chase Center, Wilmington, Delaware, Joe Biden piled on Trump. It was, by far, Biden's best public address, and put a hole to Trump's argument over former vice president's mental fitness.
REPUBLICAN PARTY'S NATIONAL CONVENTION (AUGUST 24-27, 2020)
President Trump Nominated by Roll-Call; President Appears Unannounced
In a very unconventional way, an unconventional president on the first day of his party's convention arrived unannounced on August 24, 2020 at the convention venue in Charlotte Convention Center and addressed the slimmed-down size of convention attendees that he would be fighting for American people every day. Earlier in the day, he and Mike Pence received nomination vote via roll-call. The theme of the convention is "Honoring the Great American Story". The star-studded speakers' list on the first night included Donald Trump Jr., Nikki Haley, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N., and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.
On Day 2, First Lady Melania Trump Puts a Humane Face on Her Husband
On August 25, 2020, First Lady Melania Trump addressed the Republican Party convention from the ornate Rose Garden. She extolled her husband and deeply appreciated the people for taking a chance on her husband for the highest office of the land despite no prior political experience. President Donald Trump turned the White House setting as a backdrop of Republican Party convention, raising questions about legality of such act as it might violate the so called Hatch Act that draws a clear line between political activities and administrative work. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on August 25, 2020 addressed the convention and his pre-recorded address was made in Jerusalem, breaking the long-term tradition for the secretary of state refraining addressing political convention and even if addressing the convention, not from a foreign land.
Day 3: Pence Asks American for Four More Years to Stay America Great
Day 3 of the Republican National Convention marked some of the sharp rhetoric from some of the party's rising stars, including Rep. Dan Crenshaw and Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota, who took aim at Democrats for, in Crenshaw's words, "lecturing over others when they disagree", and as Noem harped on the message of violent mob and lawlessness in Democrats-run cities. The night's biggest attraction was Mike Pence who addressed from Fort McHenry in Baltimore, a scenic place that had inspired Francis Scott Key to write the National Anthem. Mike Pence stressed that because of Trump, America had been "made great again". Mike Pence's address was overshadowed by violence over a Black man's shooting by a White police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Hurricane Laura that was battering the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Texas.
Trump Wraps up Convention by Addressing from the Whitehouse
In an unprecedented way, President Donald Trump converted the White House into a campaign event venue and addressed the Republican Party Convention from the gigantic podium on the South Lawn. Accepting the party's nomination, Trump painted Joe Biden's winning to herald an era of "looting", mayhem, anarchy and violence in America's streets. Trump wrapped up the Republican Party Convention on August 27, 2020 with an address that would go down in the history as probably the only one delivered from the White House.
Trump
Non-committal of Peaceful Transfer of Power
President Donald Trump on September 23, 2020 raised the specter of violence as he, responding to a reporter’s question, stated that he would not commit himself to peaceful transfer of power.
President Donald Trump on September 23, 2020 raised the specter of violence as he, responding to a reporter’s question, stated that he would not commit himself to peaceful transfer of power.
Tax Bombshell: Trump
Paid only $750 in Federal Income Taxes in 2016 and 2017
The
New York Times on
September 27, 2020 came out with a bombshell report on how little
President Donald Trump had paid in federal incomes taxes: a paltry $750
in each of 2016 and 2017. The Times also reported that Trump had claimed
and received $72.9 million in tax refund, starting in 2010, that’s
reported to be under an ongoing IRS investigation.
Trump’s
Private Debt Load Alarms Ethicists, Experts
The
New York Times’ September
27, 2020, bombshell report included additional reasons for deep concern as
President Donald Trump was reported to have been carrying more than $400
million in personal loans, making him susceptible to blackmailing and
taking policy decisions to satisfy foreign powers. Also, the Times
report revealed that President Trump had not paid federal income taxes in 11 of
18 years during 2000-2018 and paid only $750 each for 2016 and 2017
as he had claimed millions of dollars in business losses. President Trump on September
28, 2020, tweeted to clarify his debt load, saying he was in fact
under-leveraged compared to his total assets. After becoming president, President Trump didn’t
divest his properties, passing along day-today operation to his two elder sons,
Eric and Don Jr. According to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in
Washington, or CREW, Trump had benefited from his official position as
Republicans had held at least 88 political events at his properties, Trump
himself had visited his hotels and golf courses more than 500 times, and
foreign governments.
Iran,
Russia Meddling in U.S. Election
U.S.
Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe on October 21, 2020 warned Americans of growing scope of Iranian
effort to influence the outcome of U.S. Presidential election. Ratcliffe also
held Russia responsible for continued intervention in the electoral process in
the U.S., but not anything on a scale that had been done in 2016. According to John
Ratcliffe, Iranian operatives got hold of publicly available voter
registration roll, and sent “spoofed” e-mails using a server located in Estonia
to registered Democrats in key swing states such as Florida and Pennsylvania,
warning the Proud Boys would come after them if they didn’t vote for
Donald Trump. The right-wing hate group Proud Boys denied that they had
sent such e-mails. At the same press conference, FBI Director Christopher
Wray assured the nation that the integrity of the vote system remained safe.
Texas,
Dallas Hit Record Voter Turnouts
As
the early voting (October 13-30, 2020) ended in Texas on October 30,
2020, the record voter turnout had made into history book as the total
early votes—in-person and mail-in ballots—of more than 9 million exceeded the
total votes of 8.9 million-plus votes in 2016 election, according to a brief
analysis by The Associated Press on late October 30, 2020. Dallas
County set its own record of 771,00-plus early votes, exceeding the previous
record of some 770,590 votes cast in the 2016 election, both early and on the
election day. Throughout
the nation, 91 million people are reported to have already cast their ballots,
a record number.
Biden
Wins Presidency
It
was a nail-biter from the beginning. With more than 90 million voters
already cast their ballots either through in-person early voting or mail-in
voting, the November 3, 2020, U.S. Presidential Election was set to
score an all-time record in voter turnout. As the night wore on, Trump pulled
ahead of Biden as the election day votes were counted in the battleground
states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan. In the early morning of November
4, 2020, President Donald Trump appeared in the White House and falsely
claimed that he had won the election while millions of mail-in ballots were yet
to be counted. As mail-in ballots were started to be counted, the huge lead
that Donald Trump once had gradually started to evaporate, and Joe Biden
overtook Trump eventually. On November 7, 2020 morning, major news
networks called Joe Biden the victor. As soon as major networks called the poll
outcomes, hundreds of thousands of people took to streets across U.S. and around
the globe to celebrate Biden-Harris victory. As of November 9, 2020, Joe
Biden had 290 electoral college votes as opposed to Trump’s 214 electoral
college votes. Biden-Harris ticket received a record 76 million-plus votes, a
history-shattering figure, only to be trailed by the second-largest
vote-getters, Trump-Pence ticket, with a total of 71 million-plus. Democrats have
won the House back although by a slimmer margin while Senate’s fate will be
decided by January 5, 2021, Senate runoffs in Georgia.
President-elect
Unveils COVID-19 Advisory Board; Ask People to Mask up
Hours
after Pfizer announced that its vaccine had shown 90% effectiveness in
human trial, President-elect Joe Biden on November 9, 2020 met with his Coronavirus
advisory board via zoom. The advisory panel will have three co-chairs: Former
Surgeon-General Vivek Murthy, Former FDA Commissioner David Kessler and
Marcella Nunez-Smith, associate dean for health equity research at Yale
University. President-elect Joe Biden’s advisory board includes former Trump
administration officials: Rick Bright, former head of Biomedical Advanced
Research and Development Authority, who had often fought with Trump and
later demoted; and Luciana Borio, director of biodefense preparedness of
National Security Council until 2019. The other members of 13-member
advisory board are Ezekiel Emmanuel, Atul Gawande, Celine Gounder, Julie
Morita, Michael Osterholm, Loyce Pace, Robert Rodriguez and Eric Goosby.
Later appearing before the reporters, Joe Biden said that it would be
months away before general public received coronavirus vaccine even with the
good news of the day that Pfizer had stunning results of outcome in Coronavirus
vaccine because it required a massive supply chain of mass-scale manufacturing
and distribution. President-elect Joe Biden also asked his countrymen and
countrywomen to wear face mask to prevent the spread of the virus.
Coalition
of Election Authorities Call the Election “Most Secure”
As President
Donald Trump refused to concede his defeat in November 3, 2020,
presidential election and continued to float unsubstantiated claims of “fraud”
that had “stolen” the election from him, a coalition of federal and state
election officials issued a statement on November 12, 2020, directly
repudiating the president and calling this year’s election as “most secure”.
The statement was posted by Director Chris Krebs of Cybersecurity and
Infrastructure Security Agency, an agency part of Department of Homeland
Security responsible for federal election protection endeavor. The other
signatories of the statement included officials from National Association of
State Election Directors and National Association of Secretaries of State.
The November 12, 2020, statement posted on Twitter said: “The November 3rd
election was the most secure in American history".
Meanwhile,
Arizona’s attorney-general, Mark Brnovich, a fellow Republican, on November
12, 2020 debunked Trump campaign’s complaint of massive voter fraud.
Election
Security Chief Fired by Trump
President
Donald Trump on November 17, 2020
fired the head of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, a government
agency within the Department of Homeland Security responsible for integrity and
security of our election system, after Director Chris Krebs, a former
Microsoft executive hired in 2018 as the first head of election security
agency, publicly repudiated Trump and
tweeted that this year’s election “was the most secure in the American history".
Biden
Notches Georgia, Takes 306 Electoral College Votes
President
Donald Trump received twin setbacks on November 20, 2020 as Georgia
state officials, including Governor Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad
Raffensperger, both Republicans, certified the vote results, paving the way
for President-elect Joe Biden to cement his victory with 16 of the state’s
electoral college votes—first time since Bill Clinton’s 1992 election, the
state has turned Blue—and taking his total electoral college votes to 306 to
Trump’s 232, exactly the same margin that Trump had prevailed over Hillary
Clinton in 2016, and Michigan’s top two Republican legislative leaders—State
Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and State House Speaker Lee Chatfield—who
had visited President Donald trump at the White House during the day at the
request of president, stating categorically after meeting with the president
that they had yet to see any widespread voting irregularities. Meeting with
state leaders—in
this case seven lawmakers from Michigan—marks an extraordinary intervention by Trump by his own standard.
President-elect
Receives Transition Approval, Unveils Cabinet Nominees; Michigan Certifies
Biden Win
On November
23, 2020, Trump administration took the first step to provide incoming
Biden administration the access to administration resources, release $6 million
for transition and make administration staff and resources available for the
Biden team. The General Services Administration’s ascertainment came 20
days after the election date and 16 days after Biden was declared the winner. In
a very personal letter, GSA chief Emily Murphy informed Biden that “I
always strived to do what is right” and “I came to my decision independently,
based on the law and available facts”. Shortly afterward, President Trump
undermined Emily Murphy’s claim that she “came to my decision independently”,
tweeting that he had instructed the GSA to begin the initial protocols as Murphy
“has been harassed, threatened, and abused”, but vowed to continue with his
election lawsuits to challenge Biden’s victory. Without evidence, Trump and his
campaign—led by his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani—continued to say that
election had been stolen from Trump and massive fraud had happened.
Also,
on November 23, 2020, Michigan Board of State Canvassers voted 3-0
to certify Biden’s 154,000-vote victory, with one Republican approving
and another Republican abstaining. The RNC and state Republican committee demanded
a 14-day delay of certification to ensure a full audit of votes in the state’s
largest county, Wayne County, home to Detroit.
Nationally,
Joe Biden won 80,026,721 votes (51%) compared to Donald Trump’ 73,890,295
votes (47.1%)—the largest and second-largest votes, respectively, ever garnered
by presidential candidates in the U.S. history—with the Democratic challenger
notching up 306 electoral college votes as opposed to Trump’s 232
electoral college votes.
The
Washington Post has
reported on November 23, 2020 that President-elect Joe Biden is building
out his cabinet with gusto, tapping the experienced hands such as Janet Yellen
for Treasury, Jake Sullivan as national security adviser, Anthony Blinken as state
secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas—a Cuban-Jewish émigré who had arrived at USA
along with his parents to flee Communist regime—as homeland security head and
Avril Haines as DNI head. Biden also tapped, according to The Washington
Post report, John Kerry to head a newly created cabinet post to fight
global climate change. Biden also chose Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a
career foreign service officer, as the ambassador to the U.N.
Pennsylvania Certifies Biden Victory
Gov. Tom Wolf tweeted on November 24, 2020 that Pennsylvania State department had certified Joe Biden's November 3, 2020, presidential election victory during the day.
Biden’s
Economic Team Brings Diversity, Liberal Focus
President-elect
Joe Biden on November 30, 2020 unveiled his economic team that consisted
of many Liberal intellectual economists and leaders of think-tanks. His pick
for treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, was the first woman head of
Federal Reserve. If confirmed, she will be the first woman to head the treasury
department. Biden’s OMB nominee Neera Tanden headed the Center for
American Progress, a liberal economic think-tank. She will face significant
hurdle in getting confirmation vote if Senate still stays with the Republicans.
On an overall composition point of view, Biden’s economic team will chart a
course for the incoming administration to support president’s goal to increase
minimum wage to $15 per hour, offer free two-year community college to all
Americans and roll back tax cuts for wealthy Americans.
Barr
Refutes Trump on Voter Fraud; Wisconsin, Arizona Certify Biden Victory
IIn
an interview with The Associated Press, U.S. Attorney-General William
Barr said on December 1, 2020 that the DOJ had uncovered no significant
voter fraud on a scale that would have “effected a different outcome” in last
month’s presidential election, undercutting his boss’ persistent claims that
election had been stolen from him by committing voter fraud on a massive scale.
Last month, Attorney-General William Barr wrote a memo (November 9,
2020), asking U.S. Attorney’s offices across the nation to look into any
possible fraud even before the election results were certified. Normally, DOJ
looks into such cases after the results are certified. Trump Campaign and Trump’s
personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, issued a scathing statement, accusing AG
Barr and DOJ of not investigating into even a “semblance” of fraud allegations.
Attorney-General
William Barr’s
interview came a day after Wisconsin and Arizona state officials on November
30, 2020 certified Biden victories in the battleground states.
Biden’s
Defense Chief Choice May Face Bipartisan Harsh Scrutiny, Needs Waiver
President-elect
Joe Biden
has chosen former CENTCOM chief Gen. Lloyd Austin as the next defense
secretary, making him the first Black to hold the defense portfolio, according
to a December 7, 2020, Politico report. Austin headed U.S. Central
Command, or CENTCOM, from 2013 to 2016 in the height of ISIL insurgency. The
four-star general will face bipartisan grilling over his ties to defense firms
such as Raytheon, where he is currently serving as the member of Board
of Directors. Joe Biden is under pressure from the nation’s African American
leaders to diversify his cabinet as pledged during the election campaign. If
confirmed, Gen. Lloyd Austin needs a waiver from Congress as there is a
7-year gap requirement for any former defense official to run the defense
department after retirement. Gen. Jim Mattis, Trump’s first defense
secretary, received that waiver from Congress. Another former Pentagon
official, Michelle Flournoy, was also under consideration for the post.
That would have made history too as the first woman secretary of defense.
Paxton
Files Suit in U.S. Supreme Court against Four States; High Court Rejects PA Case
Texas
Attorney-General Ken Paxton on December 8, 2020 filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Supreme Court,
pleading the justices to order Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and
Michigan not to proceed with electoral college votes scheduled for December
14, 2020. The lawsuit alleged that four states had changed the election
rules unlawfully because of Coronavirus pandemic. The case, many legal
luminaries think, is unprecedented as it is asking the Supreme Court to
greenlight one state to intervene in other states on the premise of how they
conduct the election. A spokeswoman of Georgia Attorney-General Chris Carr,
head of Republican Association of Attorneys-General, blasted the Paxton lawsuit
as “constitutionally, factually and legally wrong".
Separately,
U.S. Supreme Court on December 8, 2020 rejected a Pennsylvania GOP
filing to nullify the certification of Joe Biden’s win over Trump. Pennsylvania
Governor Tom Wolf certified Biden’s win. The case was filed by U.S. Rep.
Mike Kelly of northeastern Pennsylvania. The case added to already dozens
of cases filed by Trump campaign and his allies which had been tossed out by the
country’s court system.
17
Other States Join Paxton Lawsuit
In
a remarkable turning of his back on democratic norms, the attorney-general of
Missouri on December 9, 2020 filed an amicus brief supporting the
Texas Attorney-General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit in the U.S. Supreme Court
to nullify the 10.4 million votes cast for Joe Biden in Georgia, Michigan,
Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. 16 other states—Alabama, Arkansas, Florida,
Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma,
South Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia—joined the
amicus filed by Missouri’s attorney-general in support of Paxton’s suit that
had asked Supreme Court to bar 62 electors from those four states to vote on December
14, 2020 and to let the state legislatures to choose the electors. Trump
also joined this long-shot lawsuit on December 9, 2020.
Paxton’s
Meritless Lawsuit Divides the Union
Whatever
awaits the fate of a lawsuit as outlandish as Texas Attorney-General Ken
Paxton’s to overturn the victory of Joe Biden, it already had inflicted a
significant damage to our body politic. It cleaved through the union, with half
of the nation joining, or supporting, the lawsuit while other half opposing. On
December 10, 2020, six of the 17 states that filed an amicus
brief in support of Texas Attorney-General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit a
day earlier, filed a brief to join the lawsuit itself. The six states are Missouri,
Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Utah. Meanwhile, 20
states—including Republican-run Maryland, Vermont, Massachusetts and Ohio—and
District of Columbia filed briefings opposing the Paxton lawsuit. Paxton’s
argument goes against the principle of American federalism, according to many
legal scholars, as he argues that Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin
have expanded the mail-in voting provision through the action of either states’
judicial branch or executive branch, making such arrangement unlawful as those
prerogatives are vested only with the state legislatures. That argument itself
goes against the heart of federalism as it’s tantamount for one state to
intervene in the affairs of another state’s electoral process. On a moral
dimension, what Paxton is asking is absolutely wrong as he is asking 10.4
million votes cast in favor of Biden in those four states to be tossed out.
Trump keeps saying that he has won the election and received the highest votes
by an incumbent (74,222,108), but often forgets to mention that Joe
Biden has received nearly 8 million more votes (81,281, 890).
U.S.
Supreme Court Denies Paxton Petition
In
a remarkable rebuke to Texas Attorney-General Ken Paxton and in a body
blow to Trump’s chances in the country’s highest court to achieve what he
couldn’t in the ballot box, U.S. Supreme Court on late December 11, 2020 unanimously rejected the petition filed by Paxton and joined or supported by 17
other states. However,
two justices—Justice Clarence Thomas and Justice Samuel Alito—opined
that they would have agreed to hear the case as there was no place other than
the Supreme Court to hear state-on-state issues. Even they had made it clear
that they would not provide any relief to plaintiffs such as delaying the
Electoral College vote. Texas attorney general’s suit tried to toss out almost 10.4 million
votes in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and deny presidency to
Joe Biden. An unsigned brief issued by the Supreme Court late in the evening
made it plain and clear that Texas lawsuit didn’t hold any water for a judicial
approach forward: “The State of Texas’ motion for leave to file a bill of
complaint is denied for lack of standing under Article III of the Constitution.
Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in
which another state conducts its elections. All other pending motions are dismissed
as moot”. Two conservative justices—Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence
Thomas—dissented, opining that they would have admitted the case because
there was no other arbiter to look after in state versus state issues. However,
Alito made it clear, too, that he was not in favor of granting any relief to
the plaintiff such as delaying the Electoral College vote slated for December
14, 2020 in the four states—Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and
Wisconsin—sued by Paxton. Former Vice President and Democratic Party
nominee Joe Biden won the presidential election with 306-232 electoral college
vote and garnered more than 7 million votes than Trump. What
is also disconcerting is the fact that 126 House members filed amicus brief
supporting Ken Paxton’s long-shot lawsuit, feeding energy to the baseless
conspiracy movement.
Biden-Harris
Named Person of the Year; Biden Introduces Several Members of Cabinet
President-elect
Joe Biden and
Senator Kamala Harris were named the Time’s Person of the Year
2020.
Separately,
on December 11, 2020, President-elect Joe Biden introduced few
additional nominees to his evolving cabinet. They include: Rep. Marcia Fudge,
HUD; Tom Vilsack, Agriculture; Katherine Tai, Trade Representative; Denis
McDonough, Obama’s chief of staff for VA; Susan Rice, director of the White
House Domestic Policy Council.
Biden
Cements Victory, with Electoral College Making it Official
The
Presidential Election 2020 has officially come to an end, with Electoral
College on December 14, 2020 confirming President-elect and Former Vice
President Joe Biden’s 306-232 victory among the states’ electors. In an
evening televised address, Biden urged the nation to turn over the page and
slammed Trump and his allies for trying to undermine the electoral system and
deny more than 10 million voters in four states from picking the next president
through an unprecedented lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney-General Ken Paxton in
the Supreme Court to nullify Biden victory in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan
and Wisconsin. In an unusually harsh rebuke to Trump, Joe Biden said that
dozens of his frivolous lawsuits had been rejected by courts, including a clear
message from the U.S. Supreme Court that the country’s highest court would “not
be part of an unprecedented assault on our democracy".
Electoral
College vote is normally a subdued and uninteresting official business, but it
has assumed added significance this year as President Donald Trump spread
the conspiracy theory that election had been stolen from him and his campaign
had filed more than 50 state and federal court cases which they had all lost.
17 states, including Texas, allow their electors to vote for others instead of winner
of that state. In 2016, two Texas Republican electors voted for Ron Paul and
John Kasich, while five Democratic electors from other states won by Hillary
Clinton had voted for somebody else other than Clinton, yielding the final Electoral
College margin of 304 to 227 in favor of Trump. This year, there was no show of
so called “faithless elector".
Biden
Nominates Buttigieg, Intends to Nominate Gov. Granholm to Cabinet
The
Associated Press reported
on December 15, 2020 that President-elect Joe Biden had nominated
one-timerival in Democratic Party Presidential Primary and Former South Bend
Mayor Pete Buttigieg as Transportation Secretary. If confirmed,
Buttigieg will be the first openly gay highest-ranking cabinet member. Biden
also intended to nominate Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm
(2003-2011) as Energy Secretary.
Biden
Choses Interior Secretary, EPA Head
President-elect
Joe Biden
continued to build out most diverse cabinet in the U.S. history as he on December
17, 2020 selected Michael Reagan as EPA chief and Deb Haaland as
secretary of Interior Department. Michael Reagan is currently serving as the
state environmental head in North Carolina, and described by North Carolina
Governor Roy Cooper as consensus-builder and champion of poor. Rep. Deb
Haaland will be the first Native American to lead any executive cabinet
portfolio.
Cruz and 10 Other Senators and Would-be Senators to Oppose Electoral College Vote
Texas Senator Ted Cruz has led 6 Senators and four new-comers to the Senate in writing a letter on January 2, 2021 to oppose the Electoral College vote on January 6, 2021, the day Congress is set to certify the victory of President-elect Joe Biden, and demanded formation of a bipartisan commission to carry out a 10-day emergency audit. Ted Cruz' effort to oppose the Electoral College vote is separate from Missouri Senator Josh Hawley's decision to oppose the Electoral College vote.
************** PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TROUBLING PHONE CALL TO GA SECRETARY OF STATE
Trump Asks Georgia Secretary of State to "Find me Votes"
In a very unusual and disgraceful hour-long phone call on January 2, 2021, President Donald Trump partly prodded, partly berated, partly flattered and partly threatened the Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to change the vote results in his favor. At one point, he was heard asking Raffensperger: "find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have". Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden by 11,779 votes in Georgia. The Washington Post on December 3, 2021 made public the recording of the hour-long call. Many legal experts believe that the call may constitute a criminal offense by Trump. In that phone call, Raffensperger was joined by his counsellor Ryan Germany, and President Trump was accompanied by Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and a conservative lawyer hired by his campaign, Cleta Mitchell.
Fulton County DA Opens Investigation into Trump's Phone Call
Fulton County's new District Attorney Fani Willis, who won the November 2020 election, on February 10, 2021 wrote letters to four top Georgia officials--Gov. Brian Kemp, Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, Attorney-General Chris Carr and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger--imploring them to preserve all records as she had opened an investigation into "potential violations of Georgia law prohibiting the solicitation of election fraud", including, a January 2, 2021, phone call in which Trump had pressed the Georgia secretary of state to "find 11,780 votes".
DA Seeks to Impanel a Special Grand Jury to Inquire into 2020 Election
Intervention
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis on January 20,
2022 requested Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Christopher
Brasher in a letter to impanel a special grand jury to weigh in evidence of
Former President Donald Trump’s post-election intervention in Georgia’s
election process to tilt the outcome in favor of himself. DA Fani Willis
is looking into allegations encompassing events, including a January 2, 2021,
infamous phone call between the Georgia Secretary of State Brad
Raffensperger and Trump in which former president had asked the Geogia
official to find votes for him, a November 2020 call between Sen. Lindsey
Graham and Raffensperger, abrupt resignation of the U.S. attorney for Atlanta
on January 4, 2021 and December 2020 state legislative hearing-related
comments.
Special Grand Jury to be Impaneled to Probe Trump’s Election Interference
In response to a request by Fulton County District Attorney Fani
Willis, county superior court judges on January 24, 2022 approved to
impanel a special grand jury to probe into alleged interference by President
Donald Trump and his associates to overturn the victory of Joe Biden in
Georgia in 2020 Presidential Election. Fani Willis underlined some
of the damning evidence that had come to her office’s scrutiny in the recent
weeks, including (1) an infamous phone call between Georgia Secretary of
State Brad Raffensperger and Trump on January 2, 2021; (2) a separate November
2020 phone call between Raffensperger and Sen. Linsey Graham; (3) the
abrupt resignation of the U.S. attorney in Atlanta on January 4, 2021;
(4) comments made during a December 2020 Georgia legislative hearing on the election.
The special grand jury does not have authority to issue indictment, but
prosecutors may launch a criminal prosecution upon the special grand jury’s
recommendation. Fulton County DA Fani Willis on January 20, 2022 wrote a
letter to Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Christopher Brasher requesting
to impanel a special grand jury. The superior court’s January 24, 2022, majority
decision to impanel a special grand jury marks a significant pressure on Trump
as he is giving a serious thought to mount a campaign to run for 2024
presidential poll.
Fulton County DA Seeks FBI Security for Investigators
After Former President Donald Trump’s weekend rally in Texas where
he had exhorted his supporters to hold the “biggest protest” against “these vicious,
radical and racist prosecutors”, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis
was not taking her prosecution and investigation team’s security lightly. On January
30, 2022, Fani Willis wrote a letter to FBI office in Atlanta, requesting
for deployment of protective resources to “include intelligence and federal
agents”. Willis, though, remained steadfast, writing in her letter that her “staff
and I will not be influenced or intimidated” by Trump’s or anyone else’s scare
tactic. A special grand jury is set to be impaneled on May 2, 2022 to
aid in the investigation into Trump’s interference in 2020 presidential election
in Georgia.
Giuliani Testifies before Grand Jury
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani on August 17, 2022 appeared before a Fulton County grand jury and answered questions behind closed doors for hours. He was accompanied by his lawyer Robert Costello.
Graham's Petition for Testimony Delay Rejected by Judge
A federal judge on August 19, 2022 stuck to his earlier ruling that Sen. Lindsey Graham should appear before a special grand jury in Fulton County as part of District Attorney Fani Willis' investigation into whether Trump or any of his associates broke any law while trying to deprive Joe Biden the victory in Georgia. U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May earlier this week set August 23, 2022 for Sen. Graham's testimony. After the 2020 presidential election, Sen. Lindsey Graham was alleged to have tried to sway the result in favor of then-President Donald Trump. Sen. Graham appealed to the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals as well as submitted a filing to U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May's court, asking the federal judge to issue an order to have August 23, 2022, testimony to be postponed. U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May on August 19, 2022 issued the verdict to uphold his earlier ruling.
Appeals Court Puts Hold on Graham Testimony
A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals on August 21, 2022 ruled in favor of Sen. Lindsey Graham
as it temporarily suspended a subpoena for his appearance before a Fulton
County grand jury. A subpoena was sent to Sen. Lindsey Graham,
seeking his testimony on August 23, 2022. On August 21, 2022, the
three-judge appeals court panel sent the case to U.S. District Judge Leigh
Martin May to further weigh on this case on whether to quash the subpoena altogether
or amend it because of limited immunity from prosecution enjoyed by the members
of Congress.
Judge Delays Kemp's Testimony until after the Nov 2022 Election
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney on August 29, 2022 gave partial victory to lawyers of both Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and District Attorney Fani Willis. Judge Robert McBurney, who is overseeing the special grand jury trial to investigate into Trump campaign's malevolent effort to influence the 2020 presidential election outcome in Georgia, rejected the Kemp attorneys' argument that governor did enjoy immunity because of his official position, but agreed with them on delaying his appearance until after the November 8, 2022, midterm election in order not "to influence the outcome of that election".
Justice Thomas Puts a Hold on Graham Subpoena
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on October 24, 2022 put a hold on Senator Lindsey Graham's deposition while the full court heard the case. Donald McGahn, lawyer of Sen. Lindsey Graham, filed an appeal to a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals verdict rejecting Graham's contention that, as a senator, he enjoyed the immunity. Justice Clarence Thomas handles all the emergency request from the 11th Circuit.
Sen. Graham Testifies before Special Fulton County Grand Jury
After months of legal battles, Sen. Lindsey Graham at last
appeared before a Fulton County special grand jury on November 22, 2022.
After two hours of questioning, the senator’s office issued a statement that
the senator was “treated with respect, professionalism and courtesy”. Fulton
County District Attorney Fani Willis last year launched an investigation
that began with focusing on an alleged January 2, 2021, phone call
between the then-President Donald Trump and Georgia State Secretary Brad
Raffensperger in which the former president asked the Georgia official to
find votes for the president, but now expanded to other areas such as:
* Submission of fake slate of electors from Georgia
* False statements
made by Rudy Giuliani and other state lawmakers
* Arm-twisting a Fulton
County election worker in an effort to prove that there was
something wrong in Fulton County voting system
* Potential criminal breaches in
voting equipment in the rural Coffee County
* Abrupt departure of U.S. attorney
in Atlanta in January 2021
Partial Special Grand Jury Report Calls for Charges on Perjury
A partial report of the special grand jury released on February 16, 2023 said that several witnesses had perjured during testimonies and asked Fulton County District Attorney Fanni Willis to seek indictment. The special grand jury was seated in May 2022 and it submitted its report to Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney on December 15, 2022. The special grand jury doesn't have authority to return indictment, but it can recommend for such measure. If DA Fanni Willis is to follow through the recommendation, she has to seek indictment from a separate jury. Out of nine-page report, only four pages were released on February 16, 2023. The report didn't identify what kind of perjury was, or who had, committed. During the seven-month hearing, the special grand jury had heard testimonies from 75 witnesses, including Governor Brian Kemp, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Former Trump adviser Rudy Giuliani and former Trump legal counsel John Eastman. Media organizations pressed for full release of the special grand jury report, but District Attorney Fani Willis argued for keeping it confidential at present. However, Judge McBurney ruled on February 13, 2023 that he would authorize partial release of the special grand jury report.
Two Panels of Juries Impaneled in 2020 Georgia Election Case
That Fulton County District-Attorney Fanni T. Willis is angling
to charge Former President Donald Trump is evident as two jury panels have been
sat on July 11, 2023. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert
McBurney impaneled the two grand juries. A special-purpose grand jury
heard from circa 75 witnesses over several months last year. The
special-purpose grand jury, which doesn’t have authority to indict, has
submitted its recommendations in January 2023. The recommendation remains sealed,
but the jury forewoman has said that the report recommends indicting some of
the witnesses. The two new regular jury panels seated on July 11, 2023 will
have powers and authority to issue indictments.
Trump Indicted on Multiple Counts
A Fulton County grand jury on August 14, 2023 returned a 41-count, 98-page indictment against Former President Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants for joining "a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favor of Trump". According to the indictment that heavily relies on the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, Trump's criminal effort to overturn the 2020 election outcome has constituted a "conspiracy" with "a common plan and purpose". The co-defendants include:
* Former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows (# of Charges: 2)
* Former Trump aide Rudy Giuliani (# of Charges: 13)
* Former Georgia Republican Party Chairman David Shafer (# of Charges: 8)
* Dallas Attorney Sidney Powell (# of Charges: 7)
* State Sen. Shawn Still (# of Charges: 7)
* Attorney John Eastman (# of Charges: 9)
* Attorney Jenna Ellis (# of Charges: 2)
* Attorney Attorney Bob Cheeley (# of Charges: 10)
* Attorney Ray Smith III (# of Charges: 12)
* Attorney Kenneth Chesebro (# of Charges: 7)
* Former Assistant A.G. Jeffrey Clarke (# of Charges: 2)
* Former Coffee County GOP Chairwoman Cathy Latham (# of Charges: 11)
* Atlanta bail bondsman Scott Hall (# of Charges: 7)
* Former Coffee County Elections Director Misty Hampton (# of Charges: 7)
* GOP Strategist Michael Roman (# of Charges: 7)
* Publicist Trevian Kutti (# of Charges: 3)
* Illinois Pastor Stephen Cliffguard Lee (# of Charges: 5)
* Former Black Voices for Trump Director Harrison Floyd (# of Charges: 3)
Trump Surrenders, Mugshot Taken
Former President Donald Trump on August 24, 2023 was booked in Georgia, his mugshot was taken and was released on bond.
***************** DEFAMATION SUIT AGAINST GIULIANI
Giuliani Faulted in Defamation Lawsuit by the Judge
A federal judge on August 30, 2023 ruled that Rudy Giuliani
had done lip service while “donning a cloak of victimization” and denied the
plaintiff required and relevant information as part of the discovery process.
The case stems from a December 2021 lawsuit filed by a mother-daughter
duo who have been accused of committing election fraud in 2020 presidential
election by Trump confidante Rudy Giuliani. Election Workers Ruby
Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea’ ArShaye Moss, alleged that after Giuliani
accused them of vote fraud, they had been subjected to multiple threats and
intimidation. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell also ordered Giuliani and
his entities to pay $130,000 in attorney fees to the plaintiffs. The jury will give
the final ruling related to the defamation case. The defamation case is a separate lawsuit from the one pursued by the Fulton County DA.
Giuliani Slapped with $148 million Fine
A federal jury seated in Washington D.C. on December 15, 2023 ruled
a $148 million in damage against Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani,
holding him responsible for defaming two Georgia women—Wandrea “Shaye” Moss
and her mother, Ruby Freeman. The fine against Giuliani includes $75 million
in punitive damage and the remainder divided equally to the two election
workers in other damages.
Giuliani Files Bankruptcy
Rudy Giuliani on December 21, 2023 filed personal bankruptcy, to no one's surprise. However, the former New York City mayor didn't back down from his lies about 2020 Presidential Election outcome even after being slapped with $148 million in fines. He repeated that same lies after the December 15, 2023, verdict, and as a result, the defendants filed a new lawsuit against Giuliani.
***************** DEFAMATION SUIT AGAINST GIULIANI
Giuliani Pleads Not Guilty, Waives His Right to Appear in-Person
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani on September 1, 2023 filed a not guilty
plea in the Georgia vote intimidation case related to Trump’s effort to
overturn the victory of Joe Biden in 2020 presidential election. Giuliani
waived his right to appear in-person for the September 6, 2023,
arraignment.
Special Grand Jury Recommends Indictments for 39
At the request of the Special Grand Jury, its recommendation was
made public on September 8, 2023. According to the recommendation,
indictments were recommended for 39 people, including Sen. Linsey Graham, Sen.
Kelly Loeffler, Sen. David Perdue, and Gen. Michael Flynn who were
in the list, but eventually not indicted.
************************ MARK MEADOWS
Meadows Fails to Shift the Case to Federal Court
Former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows received a setback on September 8, 2023
as a federal judge, U.S. District Judge Steve Jones, on September 8,
2023 dismissed Meadows’ filing to transfer the case from the state court to
the federal court. Meadows argued that he worked as a federal employee when as
part of the Trump team in 2020 election he had challenged the victory of Joe
Biden in Georgia. U.S. District Judge Steve Jones ruled that Meadows’ intervention
in Georgia on “behalf of Trump campaign” had affected the “state election
activities and procedures".
Judges Skeptical of Meadows’ Argument on Case Transfer
After U.S. District Judge Steve Jones rejected Mark Meadows’ plea
to transfer the election obstruction case to the federal court, Meadows’
lawyers filed an appeal in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The backbone of Meadows’ argument for the transfer of his case to the federal
court is that the former White House chief of staff and his action have been
covered by the Federal Officer Removal Statute.
During oral argument on December 15, 2023, the three-judge panel
cast doubt on Meadows team’s rationale to request for transfer of the case to
the federal court.
************************ MARK MEADOWS
First Defendant in Georgia Case Flips, Pleads Guilty
One of the 18 codefendants who had been indicted alongside Former
President Donald Trump on September 29, 2023 pleaded guilty to
misdemeanor charges. Bail bondsman Scott Hall’s guilty plea will give
ammunition to prosecutors to prepare a robust case against Trump and his
powerful consiglieres.
Powell Highest-ranking to Date to Plead Guilty
One of the most vocal election deniers, Dallas attorney Sydney Powell,
on October 19, 2023 pleaded guilty to six misdemeanor counts, becoming
the second defendant to plead guilty in Georgia election subversion case. As
part of the deal, Sydney Powell will serve a six-year probation, pay
$6,000 and write an apology letter to Georgia and its residents. Powell’s
flipping is going to complicate Trump’s defense in state-level charges.
Third Co-defendant Pleads Guilty
Kenneth Chesebro, an attorney, on October 20, 2023 became the third
co-defendant to plead guilty to a felony count. As part of the deal, Chesebro
will receive a five-year probation, commit 100 hours of community services,
write an apology letter to Georgia and its people, pay a fine of $5,000, and
testify at future trials related to the case.
Fourth Guilty Plea in Georgia Trial
A former Trump supporter and attorney who was vocal on election
denialism became the fourth witness to plead guilty as Jenna Ellis
expressed “deep remorse” on October 24, 2023 and pleaded guilty to one
felony count of aiding and abetting false statements and writings.
Six Charges Dropped
In a setback to the prosecution team, Fulton County Superior Court
Judge Scott McAfee on March 13, 2024 quashed six counts, including
the three against Trump.
Special Prosecutor in Georgia Intervention Case Resigns
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee on March 15, 2024
rejected the Trump team’s argument that Fulton County District Attorney Fani
Willis had conflict of interest as she had a romantic relationship with the
special prosecutor Nathan Wade, who Willis had hired in 2021 to lead the
investigation into the probable Trump effort to reverse the 2020 presidential
election results in Georgia, and thus the case should be dismissed. Instead,
Judge McAfee ruled that because of “appearance of impropriety”, Wade should resign,
or Willis should step aside from the case. Later in the day, Nathan Wade
stepped down from the case.
************* PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TROUBLING PHONE CALL TO GA SECRETARY OF STATE
Garland
Chosen as Attorney-General
President-elect
Joe Biden has selected federal appeals court Judge Merrick Garland as the
attorney general, The Associated Press has reported on January 6, 2021.
Merrick Garland was denied hearing in 2016 when then-President Obama
named him to the Supreme Court.
************************ INSURRECTION BY TRUMP SUPPORTERS
Insurrection Tried by Trump Supporters; Temple of Democracy Stormed; Congress Certifies Biden Win
As the joint session of Congress had just begun certifying the Electoral College votes after Vice President Mike Pence rejected Trump's open overture to reject the votes and return them to state legislatures, an unruly mob of thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump attacked the Capitol Building at the direct urging from the president himself. The January 6, 2021, insurrection by Trump supporters forced the session to suspend for several hours, and members of Congress and staff had to scurry for their safety. The mob vandalized Speaker's Office and other offices and hallways of the Capitol, sending shivers across a politically fractured nation and beyond. President Trump issued a video message hours later, repeating the false claims that election had been stolen from him and requesting his fellow supporters to leave. National Guards had been called as attention was focused on how inadequate the preparedness of Capitol Police was. As a show of resilience of our democracy, certification process resumed hours later after the Capitol was cleared of mob, and in the early hours of January 7, 2021, Joe Biden was certified as the president. The insurrection against the very temple of democracy instigated by the country's president drew severe condemnation from all around the world and calls for removal of Trump from the highest office of the land by invoking 25th Amendment of the Constitution.
Demand for Resignation, Impeachment Mounts as Death Toll Stands at Five
Democrats and few Republicans are now demanding that the president resign in the wake of Donald Trump's action and speech in the run-up to January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol that had killed five people, including a Capitol police officer, Brian Sicknick. Congressional Democratic leaders, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, want Vice President Mike Pence and the cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump from office. If that does not happen, House Democrats are poised to take up articles of impeachment against President Trump on incitement to insurrection charges, according to January 10, 2021, reports from several media sources. If impeached, Trump will become the first U.S. president to be impeached twice.
Social Media Crackdown on Trump
After the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol Building at the urging of President Donald Trump, social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter suspended Donald Trump's accounts.
Democrats
Introduce Removal Option, Impeachment Article
On January
11, 2021, House Democrats are working on two fronts to remove President
Donald Trump from the office although only nine days are left for his term
to expire. House will hold a vote on urging the vice president to invoke 25th
Amendment to remove Trump from presidency which Mike Pence has already made
it clear that he will not oblige. Then the House will vote on an impeachment
article that accuses the president of inciting his supporters for insurrection.
The four-page impeachment article—introduced by Rep. David Cicilline,
R.I.; Rep. Ted Lieu, CA; and Jamie Raskin, MD—describes President Donald
Trump’s action on and in the run up to January 6, 2021 as engaging in “high
crimes and misdemeanors by willfully inciting violence against the government
of the United States".
House Passes 25th Amendment Resolution, Is to Vote for Impeachment; Cheney Backs Impeachment
In a show of Democratic unity in the wake of President Donald Trump's exhortation to his followers to "fight like hell" and to march on the Capitol that had led to an insurrection by Trump supporters on January 6, 2021, leading to the trashing of the temple of democracy and forcing the lawmakers to hide in secret location for hours before regrouping again and giving the final approval to Joe Biden's victory in the presidential election, House of Representatives on January 12, 2021 voted 223-205 to approve a resolution calling on the Vice President Mike Pence to invoke 25th Amendment to remove Donald Trump from presidency. As the proceeding was underway on January 12, 2021, a letter from Pence addressed to Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in which the vice president objected to the 25th Amendment as "invoking the 25th Amendment in such a manner would set a terrible precedent". Invoking of the 25th was always a longshot outcome and Democrats immediately pivoted to passing an article of impeachment that would be voted on January 13, 2021. Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney became the highest-ranking Republican leader to support the impeachment on count of incitement to insurrection. House's third-ranking Republican justified her support for impeachment in an unusually blistering term, saying that "there has never been a greater betrayal by a president of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution".
*****TRUMP'S SECOND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL
Trump Impeached again, First in the U.S. History to be Impeached Twice
A week after a mob incited by President Donald Trump breached the Capitol Hill, desecrated the temple of democracy and forced the lawmakers to hiding, House of Representatives gathered at the same chamber on January 13, 2021 to vote 232-197 to impeach Trump on the count of "incitement of insurrection". 10 Republican representatives joined a unified Democratic caucus to impeach the president. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi condemned Trump in unflattering terms: "He must go. He is a clear and present danger to the nation that we all love". Liz Cheney, the third-ranking Republican in the House, and nine other GOP leaders voted to impeach Trump.
McConnel Says that Mob Attack on Capitol Incited by Trump
Using the Senate floor, Majority Leader Mitch McConnel on January 19, 2021 took aim at President Donald Trump in the most pointed and sharpest criticism ever, saying that mob was "fed lies" and "provoked by the president and others into violence".
House Delivers Trump's Second Impeachment Article to Senate
Nine House impeachment managers on January 25, 2021 walked across their chamber to the Senate to hand-deliver the article of impeachment against Former President Donald Trump. Under an agreement between Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnel, the proceedings in Senate will begin in the week of February 8, 2021.
Senators Sworn in as Jurors; Chief Justice not to Preside; Constitutionality Vote Fails
On January 26, 2021, Senators have been sworn as jurors in the upcoming Senate impeachment proceeding, and a short time later, Sen. Rand Paul has brought a measure that calls the impeachment proceeding against Former President Donald Trump as unconstitutional as he is now a private citizen. The vote on the unconstitutionality measure was 55 to 45, with five Republicans--Mitt Romney, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Ben Sasse and Pat Toomey--joining all 50 Democrats to reject the motion. As it is clear that most of the Republicans are sticking to going along against the impeachment proceeding, it is almost impossible for the Democrats to get 17 Senators on board to convict Trump. Also, in a move that had dealt a setback to the Democratic effort of impeachment, Chief Justice John Roberts declined to preside over the impeachment proceeding, paving the way for the Senate Pro Tempore Patrick Leahy to take his seat instead.
Impeachment Trial to Proceed
A measure to block Former President Donald Trump's trial on the ground that the former president is no more in the office has fallen short on February 9, 2021 with six Republicans--Mitt Romney, Pat Toomey, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Ben Sasse and Bill Cassidy--joining all 50 Democrats to vote 56-44 to begin the proceeding at the Senate chamber.
House Democrats Lay out Arguments against Trump
On the second day of Former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial, House impeachment managers on February 10, 2021 played videos showing how perilously the mob came to lawmakers who were doing the certification of Joe Biden's victory. The mob at the "urging" of Trump tried to hurt, or even worse, the lawmakers, according to the House impeachment managers. One of the House impeachment managers, Rep. Joaquin Castro, said that "On Jan. 6, President Trump left everyone in this Capitol for dead". House managers reminded the 100 Senators, jurors in this impeachment trial, that Trump through his numerous tweets and a speech earlier in the day goaded the mob to resort to violence, especially his speech on that fateful January 6, 2021, that called for his supporters to "fight like hell".
House Impeachment Managers Try to Win GOP Senators
In a poignant and persuasive presentation lined up with graphic images, House impeachment managers continued their case on the third day of the impeachment proceeding on February 11, 2021 and stressed that the mob was clearly acting at the order of President Trump. The lead House impeachment manager, Rep. Jimmy Raskin, D-MD, said that if Trump got in power again, he would again incite to stay in power. The prosecution team rested their case during the day.
Trump's Defense Team Argues against Conviction; Wraps up in Three Hours
In the shortest impeachment trial in the American history, Trump defense team defended the former president on the fourth day of the hearing on February 12, 2021, and emphasized on Trump's credential as "law and order president". The lead defense attorney. Michael van der Veen, accused the impeachment managers of trying to "smear, censor and 'cancel' not just President Trump, but 75 million Americans who voted for him". Another defense attorney, Bruce Castor, stressed that those "criminals at the Capitol were not there at the Ellipse to even hear the president", thus trying to separate Trump from the rowdy insurrectionists on January 6, 2021. The defense team wrapped up their argument in three hours.
57 Seven Senators Convict Trump; Falls Short by 10
In the shortest impeachment trial in the U.S. history, Senate on February 13, 2021 convicted Former President Donald Trump by 57 to 43 votes, leading to one of the most bipartisan rebuke of American president in the impeachment trial. Seven Republicans joined all 50 Democrats to convict the former president on "incitement to insurrection" count. Seven Republicans who joined hands with Democrats are Mitt Romney, Utah; Richard Burr, North Carolina; Lisa Murkowski, Alaska; Susan Collins, Maine; Pat Toomey, Pennsylvania; Ben Sasse, Nebraska; and Bill Cassidy, Louisiana. Although it was a forgone conclusion that 17 GOP Senators would not cross the line to convict Trump, the goal of House impeachment managers was to shed a light on Trump's action and defend the votes of GOP senators. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell took Trump to the task in a floor speech after the vote, saying: "there is no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking" the incident on January 6, 2021, but voted to acquit Trump because Trump was no more in the office and Senate had no jurisdiction to try Trump. McConnell's floor speech is the sharpest rebuke of the former president to date.
*****TRUMP'S SECOND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL
Pelosi Calls for 9/11 Commission-type Panel to Investigate Jan 6 Insurrection
After Trump was acquitted in the second impeachment trial, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is broaching the idea of forming a 9/11 commission-type of inquiry panel. That will require a Congressional mandate, and the very idea may likely be opposed by GOP members. Pelosi wrote a letter to her Democratic colleagues on February 15, 2021, floating the idea of 9/11 commission-type inquiry committee to "investigate and report on the facts and causes relating to January 6, 2021, domestic terrorist attack upon the United States Capitol Complex". Separately Pelosi asked the retired Lieutenant General Russel Honore to lead an immediate review of the Capitol's security process and protocol.
NAACP's Lawsuit against Trump for Insurrection, Rep. Escobar Joins the Suit
At the behest of House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, NAACP in mid-February 2021 filed a lawsuit at a federal court in Washington D.C. holding Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani and far-right groups such as Proud Boys responsible for January 6, 2021, insurrection and attack on Capitol building. Nine other Democratic lawmakers joined the suit. An eleventh Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Veronica Escobar of El Paso, joined the suit on April 7, 2021, citing her lingering trauma and sleeplessness even now. NAACP accused the defendants of violating a Civil War-era Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871.
Oath Keeper Pleads Guilty
In a breaking turn for the prosecutors that would accelerate their investigation into January 6, 2021, insurrection's genesis, planning and execution, one of the founding members of right-wing group Oath Keepers on April 16, 2021 pleaded guilty. John Ryan Schaffer, one of the players of a metallic band, appeared at the court of U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta during the day where he pleaded guilty. This will help the FBI and DOJ investigators to seek more guilty pleas from at least 410 arrestees accused of participating in the January 6, 2021, insurrection.
National
Guards to Leave Capitol
2,149 remaining National Guards personnel will
leave the Capitol on May 31, 2021 as their mandate will expire on May
30, 2021 and no renewal request has been made to Pentagon. Their almost
five-month presence since January 6, 2021, insurrection of Trump
supporters is a reminder of potential danger still lurking and a lingering
doubt on how equipped the Capitol Police will be in protecting the lawmakers
and their staff amidst deep divisions among the lawmakers themselves. GOP
lawmakers have already begun to play down the January 6, 2021,
insurrection as the House of Representatives has passed on May 20,
2021 a $1.9 billion measure to fortify the security of the Capitol
buildings. Next day, May 21, 2021, House Democrats passed a bill, with
the help of 35 Republican lawmakers, to form a bipartisan 9/11-style commission
to investigate into January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Future of both
measures in Senate remains uncertain.
Facebook Freezes Trump's Account for Two Years
Social media giant Facebook on June 4, 2021 announced that it would suspend Former President Donald Trump's account for two years, meaning that the former president's mode of communication through the most popular social media platform would be barred until at least early 2023. Facebook's Vice President for Global Affairs Nick Clegg said on a blog post that company would assess after two years whether Trump's "risk to public safety" still continued. Facebook's decision after an internal investigation into January 6, 2021, insurrection will put the social media giant at the crosshairs of Trump supporters.
***************** HOUSE SPECIAL PANEL TO PROBE JAN 6 INSURRECTION
House
Votes to Form a Special Panel to Probe Jan 6 Insurrection
As
Capitol police personnel, who had fought against Former President Donald
Trump’s supporters defending the temple of democracy, watched, House of
Representatives on June 30, 2021 voted on a partisan line 222-190 to
create a 13-member panel to probe into January 6, 2021,
insurrection. Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that “we will be judged by
future generations how we value our democracy” and lamented Senate Republican’s
thwarting of formation of a bipartisan panel to probe the insurrection, thus
necessitating to take the partisan step of forming a special House panel.
Cheney Appointed to the Select Committee
Speaker Nancy Pelosi on July 1, 2021 chose Liz Cheney, who was only one of two House GOP members to have voted to form a select committee to probe January 6 insurrection, to the 13-member select committee to be led by Bennie Thompson.
McCarthy Names Five Republicans to Select Committee to Investigate into Jan 6 Insurrection
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on July 19, 2021 named five Republican lawmakers to a 13-member select committee that would probe into January 6, 2021, insurrection of the Capitol. The members named by Minority Leader McCarthy are Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio, Troy Nehls of Texas, Jim Banks of Indiana, Rodney Davis of Illinois and Kelly Armstrong of N.D.
Republicans Withdraw from Select Panel after Pelosi Vetoes Two Choices
Speaker Nancy Pelosi on July 21, 2021 vetoed two Republican lawmakers named two days earlier to a select committee, Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection, that would probe the January 6, 2021, insurrection. After Speaker Pelosi rejected the choice of Rep. Jim Jordan and Rep. Jim Banks, two most vehement supporters of Former President Donald Trump, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy fired back at a press conference, calling the investigation as "sham" and Pelosi's action as "an egregious abuse of power". Speaker Pelosi justified her action, saying that "the unprecedented nature of January 6th demands this unprecedented decision". McCarthy vowed to go it alone with Republicans' own investigation and not to participate in the select committee's probe.
Pelosi Names a Second Republican to the Probe Committee
Speaker Nancy Pelosi on July 25, 2021 poached Republican ranks and picked another staunch Trump opponent, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., as a new member of Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection. Rem. Adam Kinzinger said of his appointment: "I will work diligently to get to the truth". He joins another Trump critic, Rep. Liz Cheney.
Testimony Held in Capitol Riot amidst High Emotion
Four Capitol and D.C. police officers appeared before a select committee, Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection, formed to investigate the January 6, 2021, insurrection gave a visceral, graphic and emotional portrayal of the day's events as they had fought against Trump supporters to defend the temple of democracy. Four law enforcement officers appeared on July 27, 2021, the first day of the committee's hearing. A Black police officer, Harry Dunn, recounted how the mob had hurled the "N" word against him and fellow Black officers, imploring forcefully "Is this America?". Another Capitol officer, Aquilino Gonell, an Iraq War veteran, fought back tears as he described that day's mob fury. A third law enforcement official, D.C. Police Officer Michael Fanone banged on the table and blasted some Republicans who had tried to dilute the situation police officers had faced that day. The fourth law enforcement officer was Daniel Hodges of D.C. MPD [Metropolitan Police Department]. Republicans are boycotting the committee, and many of them demanded that two participating lawmakers--Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger--be removed from any Caucus assignment.
Jan
6 Insurrection Investigators Seek Troves of Documents
In
a sweeping move by the Congressional investigators of the Select Committee
on January 6th Insurrection, the panel members on August 25,
2021 sought various documents from DOJ, White House records from the National
Archives, DoD, DHS and FBI as well as the Office of the Director of National
Intelligence to assess, analyze and determine on what Trump administration’s
officials, lawmakers and others knew about the January 6, 2021,
insurrection.
Panel Seeks Document from Tech Companies
Two days after seeking documents from the National Archives and seven other federal agencies, Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection on August 27, 2021 sent letters to Google, Facebook, Twitter and several other technology behemoths, requesting "all reviews, studies, reports, data, analyses, and communications" regarding misinformation generated by U.S. and foreign actors as well as "domestic violent extremists". The letters also seek explanation on how companies worked to mitigate the spread of outright lies about a cheated election.
January 6 Probe Panel Issues Subpoenas to Four Former Trump Associates
In a major escalation after poring through thousands of pages of documents, the head of the Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection on September 23, 2021, Rep. Bennie Thompson, subpoenaed former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, Former White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications Dan Scavino, Kashyap Patel, a former defense department official, and Former White House Strategist Steve Bannon. The subpoenas informed the four former officials that the panel was investigating into "facts, causes, and circumstances" of the January 6 attack. Rep. Thompson asked them to produce documents related to that day's events, including their communication with the former president during and after the attack, and to appear before the panel in mid-October 2021.
11 New Subpoenas Issued
The Associated Press has reported on October 1, 2021 that the 11 new subpoenas issued by the Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection this week are targeted to people and entities who have been key to planning, organizing and funding the January 6 rally at the Ellipse.
*************** STEVE BANNON
Jan
6 Panel Votes to Hold Steve Bannon in Contempt of Congress
The Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection on
October 19, 2021 voted unanimously to hold Steve Bannon in “contempt of
Congress” as the former president’s strategic adviser failed to deliver
document or provide testimony in response to subpoena issued by the panel.
Bannon
Held in Contempt of Congress
A House
of Representative vote on October 21, 2021 held Steve Bannon in the contempt
of Congress. The vote was mostly along the partisan line—229-202.
Now, the case goes to the Department of Justice which has vast
discretion whether to prosecute Bannon on the Congressional contempt charge.
Bannon Indicted in Contempt of Congress
A grand jury on November 12, 2021 indicted Steve Bannon on two counts of charges: (1) failure to appear before the U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection, and (2) refusal to share [subpoenaed] document with the select committee.
Bannon Appears at Court, Remains Defiant
Former Presidential Strategic Adviser Steve Bannon on November 15, 2021 surrendered to FBI and appeared at a court. Federal Magistrate Judge Robin Meriweather let the 67-year-old close confidante of Former President Donald Trump go without bail, but required him to hand over passport. In the usual combative manner, Bannon vowed outside the court to go on "offensive" for the "misdemeanor from hell for Merrick Garland, Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden".
Jury Selection Begins in Bannon's Contempt of Congress Case
The jury selection began on July 18, 2022, with defense lawyer Evan Corcoran leading the most of the questions. The case took a dramatic turn since July 9, 2022 as the former White House strategist, Steve Bannon, expressing his willingness over a week ago to testify before the U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection. Bannon's former lawyer, Robert Costello, said that the change of heart had happened after Former President Donald Trump had waived executive privilege for Bannon.
Bannon Found Guilty of Congressional Contempt
A less than a week-long trial that involves only two witnesses has
yielded a quick verdict that has found former Trump strategist Steve Bannon
guilty on two counts of contempt of Congress. The verdict on July 22, 2022
was probably the most expected verdict as the Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly
Gaston told the jurors earlier in the day as part of prosecution’s closing
arguments that the “case is not complicated, but it is important”, accusing the
68-year-old White Nationalist of choosing “allegiance to Donald Trump over
compliance with the law”. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols set
October 21, 2022 for sentencing hearing.
Bannon Sentenced Four Months in Jail for Contempt of Congress
Steve Bannon on October 21, 2022 was sentenced to four months in jail and $6,500
in fines for the contempt of Congress. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols
allowed Bannon to stay free pending appeals. Bannon will be the first person to
go to jail for the contempt of Congress since 1948.
*************** STEVE BANNON
Committee Issues More Subpoenas
The House Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection issued additional subpoenas on November 8, 2021, seeking documentation and testimonies from six Trump aides who had been deeply involved in former president's effort to block certification of Joe Biden's victory in 2020 Presidential Election. The select committee chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson, sent subpoenas to Bill Stepien, Trump 2020 Reelection campaign's manager; Jason Miller, a senior Trump aide; Angela McCallum, national executive assistant to the campaign; John Eastman, a law professor who had advised Trump; Michael Flynn, a former national security adviser; Bernard Kerik, who paid for booking a room at the capital's Willard Hotel that had served as the "war room" for Trump advisers to plan and strategize actions, leading up to the rally and subsequent siege of the Capitol.
******* Legal Challenge over Trump White House Records
Federal Judge Sides with Select Committee, DOJ in Trump Records
Former President Donald Trump received a legal setback on November 9, 2021 as a federal judge, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan of Washington D.C., gave a 39-page ruling, contending that she agreed with the U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection and the Justice Department that the "January 6 attack is a matter of unsurpassed public importance". Former President Trump's attorneys filed a lawsuit on October 18, 2021 against the head of National Archives and the select committee chairman in an effort to block the release of Trump-era document on the count of executive privilege. Judge Chutkan ruled that the former president's claim to executive privilege had been overridden by the President of the United States' decision to release those 800 pages, and added that "there is one President at a time". Trump attorneys immediately appealed against Judge Chutkan's November 9, 2021, ruling.
Trump Receives another Setback from the Same Judge
Trump attorneys filed for an injunctive relief to the same federal judge. On November 10, 2021, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan dismissed that petition, ruling that "plaintiff has not advanced any new facts or arguments that persuade the court to reconsider its November 9, 2021, order". Judge Chutkan added: "This court will not effectively ignore its own reasoning denying injunctive relief in the first place to grant injunctive relief now".
Trump Receives a Temporary Legal Reprieve
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on November 11, 2021 issued a temporary injunctive relief to a lower court verdict that had okayed the National Archives to hand over relevant call logs, hand written notes and other Trump-era documents to the House Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection by November 12, 2021. The injunctive relief will be in place until a hearing is held on November 30, 2021 before a three-judge panel of the second-highest court of the nation.
Trump
Sues to Block White House Communication Records from Sharing with Jan 6
Committee
Former
President Donald Trump’s lawyers on December 23, 2021 went to the U.S. Supreme Court to block the
release of Trump-era White House communication records to the U.S. House
Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection. In August 2021,
the committee requested the communications and other records that the Trump
White House had related to January 6, 2021, Capitol Riot by a pro-Trump mob.
President Joe Biden decided to release and hand the January 6th
insurrection-related communication records over to the House investigative
panel. A lower federal court and a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of
Appeals dismissed Trump’s suit. On December 23, 2021, Trump team submitted
a filing to the U.S. Supreme Court, saying that the “difference between an
incumbent president and his predecessor from a rival political party is both
novel and highlights the importance of executive privilege".
Supreme Court Rejects Trump’s Executive Privilege Argument to Shield Doc
U.S. Supreme Court on January 19, 2022 dealt a severe jolt to Former President
Donald Trump, rejecting his argument to shield the White House document from
handing over to the January 6 Insurrection panel. In an unsigned
verdict, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with a lower federal court and
D.C.-based Court of Appeals by 8-1 verdict, with Justice Clarence Thomas
casting the only dissenting vote. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a former
White House lawyer for George W. Bush, wrote an opinion, championing the
sagacity of executive privilege: “A former president should be able to
successfully invoke the presidential commination privilege for communications
that occurred during his presidency”. Justice Kavanaugh further added that
concluding “otherwise would eviscerate the executive privilege for presidential
communication”. Despite his full-court press favoring the presidential
executive privilege, Justice Kavanaugh sided with majority of the justices in
the Trump case. U.S. Supreme Court’s action on January 19, 2022 paves
the way for release of the records, videos, notes and other document related to
January 6, 2021, insurrection by the National Archives and Records Administration.
In August 2021, January 6 Insurrection panel chairman Rep. Bennie
Thomson asked U.S. Archivist David Ferriero for “videos, photos and
other media” content on the Capitol siege. Both Trump and Biden were notified
of the request. President Joe Biden favored releasing the records as not doing
so “was not in the best interest of the United States”. In a letter to Archivist
David Ferriero, White House Counsel Dana Remus said that “the
constitutional protections of executive privilege should not be used to shield”
any material that “reflects a clear and apparent effort to subvert the Constitution
itself".
Trump White House Documents Handed over to Jan 6 Panel
The Associated Press reported on January 21, 2022 that National Archives and
Records Administration on January 20, 2022 had handed over more than
700 pages of Trump White House documents containing call logs, diary entries,
texts and communications related to January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
******* Legal Challenge over Trump White House Records
Select Committee Issues Subpoenas to 10 more Former Trump Aides
In widening its dragnet to get ever closer to Former President Donald Trump, the U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection issued subpoenas seeking document and testimonies from 10 former White House aides to know what was going on in Trump's inner circle on January 6, 2021 and beforehand. Among the recipients of the subpoenas are Trump confidante Stephen Miller and Former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany. Issuing the subpoenas, the select committee chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson, R-Mississippi, said that "we need to know precisely what role the former president and his aides played" in efforts to overturn the mandate of voters.
Select Committee Issues Subpoenas against Stone, Jones
The
U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection on November
22, 2021 issued subpoenas, urging former Trump confidante Roger Stone
to furnish related document to the committee by December 6, 2021 and
provide testimony to the committee by December 17, 2021. A similar
subpoena was issued to conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to turn over related
document by December 6, 2021 and testify by December 18, 2021.
Select
Committee Issues Subpoenas to White Supremacist Organizations, Leaders
In an
ever-expanding dragnet to reach as far-flung targets as possible, the U.S.
House Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection on November
23, 2021 issued subpoenas to Proud Boys, its chairman, Henry “Enrique”
Tarrio, Oath Keepers and its founder and leader Elmer Stewart
Rhodes.
Panel Holds Meadow in Contempt of Congress
U.S.
House Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection on December 13, 2021 voted unanimously
to hold Former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in criminal contempt for
defying a subpoena. Weeks of negotiation between Select Committee and Mark
Meadows’ lawyer, George Terwilliger, yielded to turning over of pages of
document to the committee and former chief of staff’s initial nod to testify
before the bipartisan panel. Last week, Terwilliger said that his client would
not testify as some of the questions the panel members were planning to aske
were covered by the executive privilege. However, damage has already been done
as the panel led by Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson has received
document and notes from Mark Meadows. Meadows apparently made comments,
according to turned-over document, that National Guards troops would be there
to “protect” the Trump supporters.
House
Votes to Hold Meadows in Contempt
In
the first such act since 1830s to hold a former member of the body in
contempt of Congress, House of Representatives on December 14, 2021 voted
222-208 against the former chief of staff of the Trump White House, Mark
Meadows, sending his case to DOJ for a possible criminal referral.
January 6 Panel Issues Subpoenas to Four Former Trump Associates
On January 18, 2022, the U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th
Insurrection issued subpoenas to Rudy Giuliani, Jenna Ellis, Sidney
Powell and Boris Ephshteyn, widening the inquiry’s reach to Trump’s
inner orbit. All four were actively involved in the aftermath of 2020
Presidential Election to propagate the narrative of a stolen presidential
election and myriads of legal challenges to President Biden’s victory.
January 6 Committee Issues Subpoenas against Fake Electors
On January 28, 2022, U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th
Insurrection issued subpoenas against 14 people who had posed as alternate
electors from seven states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada,
Pennsylvania and Wisconsin—all of which had been won by President Joe
Biden in 2020 election. The investigating panel asked these 14 people to
furnish documents and testify before the panel. January 6th
committee chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson, said in the letter that his panel
was interested in knowing about “how these so-called alternate electors met and
who was behind that scheme".
RNC Censures Cheney, Kinzinger
In a remarkable flattering of Former President Donald Trump, Republican
National Committee on February 4, 2022 formally censured two Republican
lawmakers of the January 6th inquiry panel. A far harsher measure to
expel them was not adopted, though. Still, a censure motion against Rep. Liz
Cheney and Rep. Adam Kinzinger will be seen as an out-of-norm
punitive action by a national party for not toeing the party line on the
infamous January 6, 2021, insurrection, underlining the strong grip that
Trump still wields over the Republican Party. Reacting to the censure motion
adopted during the winter meeting of the Republican National Committee at the
Salt Lake City, Senator Mitt Romney tweeted: “Shame falls on a party that
would censure persons of conscience, who seek truth in the face of vitriol”.
Romney added: “Honor attaches to Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for seeking the
truth even when doing so comes at a great personal cost".
Six More Subpoenaed in Fake Elector Saga
The U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection
on February 15, 2022 issued subpoenas for documents and testimony from six
additional people related to sitting fake electors and overturning Biden’s
victory in 2020 presidential election. People whom the subpoenas have been sent
are: (1) Michael Roman, an official of Trump 2020 Campaign, (2) Gary
Michael Brown, an official of Trump 2020 Campaign, (3) Douglas Mastriano,
a Pennsylvania state representative, (4) Former Michigan State Republican
Party Chairperson Laura Cox, (5) Arizona State Rep. Mar Finchem, and
(6) Arizona State Party Chairperson Kelli Ward.
Biden Admin Overturns Trump’s Request over White House Visitor Logs
In dealing another setback to Former President Donald Trump, President
Joe Biden decided to hand over the White House visitor logs to the U.S.
House Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection. In a letter
to the National Archives sent on February 16, 2022, White House Counsel
Dana Remus argued that the White House visitor logs, including who had
visited on the January 6, 2021, should be handed over to House probe
panel within 15 days.
Trump Engaged in “Criminal Conspiracy”, Select Committee Says in Court
Filing
The U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th
Insurrection said in a court filing on March 2, 2022 that Former President
Donald Trump had broken laws. The 221-page court filing was in
response to Trump’s former adviser John Eastman’s suit against the select
committee’s subpoena for the document related to January 6, 2021, events
that had ultimately led to Trump mob attacking the Capitol Hill in order to
stop the certification process for Joe Biden’s electoral victory. The select
committee said in its legal filing that it “has good-faith basis for concluding
that the President and members of his Campaign engaged in a criminal conspiracy
to defraud the United States”. This is the most assertive statement, or the official
position, by the select committee to date to implicate Trump to any law-breaking
action. However, the Select Committee’s statement, or legal finding, does not
have any prosecutorial teeth as it can only refer cases to the Justice Department.
Trump might have Broken Law, Judge Says
In a related case concerning over the effort of the U.S. House Select
Committee on January 6th Insurrection to get access to the document
from Trump’s legal adviser John Eastman, a federal judge, U.S.
District Court Judge David Carter, on March 28, 2022 ruled that Former
President Donald Trump might have broken law as he had tried to obstruct
Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s election victory. However, the judge’s
ruling has no implication to Trump’s future as it only requires Eastman to
share 101 of 111 documents with the House investigating panel. However, the
pressure will now mount on Attorney-General Merrick Garland to
investigate into whether Trump did break the law as Judge Carter opined that
the former president might have.
Committee Votes to Hold Former Trump Aides in Contempt of Congress
U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection on March 28, 2022
unanimously voted to hold Peter Navarro and Dan Scavino in
contempt of Congress as the former Trump aides continued their refusal to honor
the panel-issued subpoenas. Now, the full House will vote on the contempt of
Congress resolution and, most likely, will approve it. The House will then
forward the contempt measure to the Department of Justice. It’s up to AG
Merrick Garland to bring the charges against the former aides. Garland is yet
to prosecute another Trump official, Mark Meadows, former chief of
staff, on the contempt of Congress.
Gap in Trump’s Call Log Found
The inquiry of the U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th
Insurrection found a significant gap in information as far as presidential
telephone log was concerned on the very day of insurrection. The Associated
Press reported on March 29, 2022 that there was a mysterious gap in
Trump’s call log for almost eight hours between around 11 AM and around 7PM on January
6, 2021. The gap raises question whether Trump and his team has been
involved in a premeditated conspiracy to deny Joe Biden the victory as
insurrection has continued on the Capitol Hill.
Ivanka
Trump Testifies before House Select Committee
Former
First Daughter Ivanka Trump on April 5, 2022 testified virtually before the U.S. House
Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection, a week after her
husband did the same in more than 6 hours of video testimony.
Rick
Perry Tried to Undo Trump’s Defeat
Although
he had denied the allegations numerous times, Rick Perry tried his best to
enable Trump’s team to chart out a course to retain the former president in
power by suggesting various measures, including GOP-led legislatures in
Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania to send their own electors to deny
certification of Biden’s victory in 2020 election. The Dallas Morning News
published an article on April 28, 2022, pointing out numerous texts that
Former Texas Governor Rick Perry had sent to Mark Meadows in the
aftermath of 2020 Presidential Election. Meadows turned over a trove of text
messages to the January 6th investigation panel in late 2021, but
stopped cooperating with the panel soon after that, leading to the House of
Representatives to eventually hold Trump’s former chief of staff in contempt of
Congress.
McCarthy, Four Other Reps Slapped with Subpoenas
In an unprecedented ramp-up of the investigation by the U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection,
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Reps. Jim Jordan, Scott Perry, Andy
Biggs and Mo Brooks were sent subpoenas on May 12, 2022. The move
escalates the political rhetoric and clash to a new level. The panel has interviewed more than 1,000
witnesses and collected more than 100,000 documents as part of its
comprehensive investigation into a president-instigated insurrection that
undermined the very foundation of the republic.
******************** PETER NAVARRO
FBI Serves Navarro with Subpoena
Former Trade Representative Peter Navarro filed a motion to the U.S. Supreme Court on May 31, 2022 after FBI had served subpoena to him at his Washington D.C. house last week. In April 2022, Peter Navarro and Dan Scavino were held in contempt of Congress for not complying with the subpoena issued by the U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection. Peter Navarro in his 88-page filing requested the U.S. Supreme Court to prevent the Congress from being politically weaponized to settle scores with former Trump officials. His filing has called the special committee as an illegal body, and so are the committee-issued subpoena.
Navarro Indicted for Defying House Select Committee Subpoena
U.S. Justice Department on June 3, 2022 indicted Former
Trade Representative Peter Navarro on charges of defying subpoena issued by
the U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection.
The U.S. DOJ stated in a statement that “one contempt count” involved “his
refusal to appear for a deposition and another involving his refusal to produce
documents, despite a subpoena from the House Select Committee to Investigate
the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol”. Navarro
was also served a federal grand jury subpoena last week.
Navarro Begins Four-month Jail Term
After Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts declined on late March
18, 2024 to entertain a request from Peter Navarro, former Trump
administration’s trade representative, to put a hold on the sentencing handed
down by a lower court, there was no option left for the Trump loyalist. He
argued that he couldn’t comply with the Congressional subpoena because his boss
had invoked “executive privilege”, which the lower courts had found a spurious
defense for non-compliance. The appellate court earlier rejected his request to
let him a free man while he appealed against the lower court verdicts. The
denial of his emergency request by Justice Roberts on March 18, 2024
validated that Navarro might not have enough legal arsenal to overturn the
conviction. On March 19, 2024, Navarro reported to a Miami federal
prison to begin his four-month stint behind bars. Navarro remained defiant and
called it a classic example of “political weaponization” of the Justice
Department.
******************** PETER NAVARRO
*************** PUBLIC HEARINGS *****
Public Hearings to Begin in the Week of June 6, 2022
The U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection is to hold its first public hearing on June 9, 2022, and six additional hearings will happen over a course of the next few weeks. The special committee has promised to tell the nation a story for the next generations to read and learn how the Republic has come to the brink of political treachery on January 6, 2021 when a mob has tried to block the smooth transfer of power at the very instigation of a sitting president. The committee has compiled a very rich storyline and narrative based on testimonies of nearly 1,000 witnesses and 100,000 documents.
1/6 Panel Holds First Public Hearings Covered by Major Networks sans Fox
The U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th
Insurrection began its historic public hearings on June 9, 2022 on a
prime time show to share with the nation the scope and scale of a grand
conspiracy to deny a peaceful transfer of power and an unprecedented assault on
the Capitol for the first time since British troops had set it on fire in 1814.
The panel chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson, said that the insurrection was
the “culmination of an attempted coup” and a “brazen attempt” to overthrow the
government. During the public hearing, Capitol Police Officer Caroline
Edwards, giving a most riveting and captivating testimony, portrayed a
picture of brutalities, describing how protesters had slammed her head with
bike and other metals and left her unconscious. Committee Vice Chair Liz
Cheney accused Former President Donald Trump of hatching a
seven-point plan to deny peaceful transfer of power. Cheney forcefully said
that “Trump summoned a violent mob".
A key highlight of the hearing was Trump’s Attorney-General Bill Barr’s
forceful assertion that there was no fraud of magnitude that could tilt the
poll outcome in favor of Trump. The video clips of both Barr and Ivanka
Trump were played. Ivanka Trump testified, according to the video
clip, before he committee that she would agree with Bill Barr. Rep. Liz Cheney
also told that the mob was looking for Mike Pence and chanting that the vice
president should be hanged. President Donald Trump, according to Cheney, upon
hearing that, muttered that Pence “deserves it”, drawing gasp from the
attendees of the hearing.
Republicans in Congress brushed off the hearing as a political stunt and
sideshow, while Democrats warned the nation on how dangerously the country had
slid to the precipice of anarchy on January 6, 2021 at the behest of a
sitting president. President Joe Biden, attending the Summit of the
Americas in Los Angeles, said that a lot of “viewers are going to be
seeing for the first time” a lot of things about a former president conspiring
to deny a smooth transfer of power. Former President Donald Trump
remained defiant, even calling the January 6th insurrection as the “greatest
movement in the history of our country.
Trump Officials, Advisers Tried to Persuade Trump in Accepting Defeat,
but in Vain
Appearing over a video, Former Attorney-General Bill Barr told
the House January 6th panel at its second public hearing
on June 13, 2022 that he had tried his best to convince Donald Trump
that he had been defeated in the poll, but the former president had become “detached
from reality”. A video clip of former Trump Campaign Manager Bill Stepien
had been played during the hearing from the earlier testimony in which he
called himself as part of the “Team Normal” who was eventually overruled and
tossed out by the pro-conspiracy team led by Rudy Giuliani. Former
Philadelphia City Commissioner Al Schmidt testified in person on June
13, 2022, describing how standing up for the truth had led him to be
labeled as RINO and numerous death threats against him and his family.
January 6th Panel Reveals Weeks-long Pressure by Trump, Aides
on Pence
In the June 16, 2022, public hearing, House Select Committee
on January 6th Insurrection outlined timeline and evidence of
tremendous pressure on Vice President Mike Pence by President Donald Trump
and California lawyer John Eastman, who had advised Trump on legal matter related
to 2020 election. Eastman urged Pence to reject the electoral college votes
outright or order Congress for a pause of 10 days and ask the state
legislatures to reexamine the election results. Both those two suggestions were
at conflict with Constitution’s 12th Amendment, or Electoral
Count Act of 1887.
Meanwhile, House Select Committee on January 6th
Insurrection panel Chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson, said on June 16, 2022
that the panel had requested testimony from the Supreme Court Justice Clarence
Thomas’ wife, Ginnie Thomas.
Republican Officials Tells Jan 6 Panel of Trump’s Pressure
At the fourth
public hearing of the U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th
Insurrection, a parade of state GOP officials on June 21, 2022 told
the panel members that President Donald Trump and his former confidantes
had put pressure on them to alter the outcome of the 2020 presidential election,
including sending “fake electors”. The GOP state officials, among others,
included Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers, Georgia Secretary of State Brad
Raffensperger and Georgia Secretary of State Chief Operating Officer Gabriel
Sterling.
Gohmert, Gaetz Sought Pardon
On June 23, 2022, the U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th
Insurrection made public that a host of lawmakers had proactively reached
out to White House during the last days of Donald Trump to seek presidential
pardon. The lawmakers included Louie Gohmert, R-TX; Matt Gaetz, R-FL; Andy
Biggs, R-AZ; and Scott Perry, R-PA. The move raised the possibility of a
potential culpability of these lawmakers in Jan 6th insurrection in
the Capitol. On June 23, 2022, Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers, Georgia
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Gabe Sterling, Georgia’s
deputy secretary of state, continued their testimonies before the January 6th
panel.
Former Justice Department officials testified how President Trump had
tried to push the Justice officials to sway the 2020 election outcome in favor
of the president, and pressured them to file lawsuit that would claim a corrupt
election. The January 6th panel focused on a handful of meetings
held in the last week of December 2020 and the first week of January
2021. According to the panel, Trump told then-Acting Attorney-General
Jeffrey Rosen and former acting Deputy Attorney-General Richard Donoghue
in a phone call on December 27, 2020 to determine that there was
corruption that had tainted the 2020 presidential election. However, both had
resisted. Trump was also toying with the idea, according to the January 6th
panel, to replace the acting attorney general, Jeffrey Rosen, with Jeffrey
Clark, head of the Justice Department’s civil division. On December 28,
2020, Clark circulated a draft e-mail that would urge the Arizona
legislature to scrutinize the alleged irregularities in the 2020 election in
the state. That draft letter, according to the House panel, was supposed to be the
basis for individual state [Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona and
Georgia] legislatures to overturn the election outcomes and send GOP slates of
electors. Jeffrey Rosen, Richard Donoghue, and Steven Engel, former assistant
attorney general in the Office of Legal Counsel, testified how they had felt
pressure from Donald Trump almost on daily basis between December 23, 2020
and January 3, 2021 to overturn the 2020 election results.
A Last-minute Hearing Session Held as New Information Emerges
Even last week, it was clear that there would not be any hearing for the
special January 6th session before July 2022. Things have rapidly
changed in the weekend as additional information have emerged over Former President
Donald Trump’s behavior during the unfolding hours of the January 6th
insurrection. On June 27, 2022, the chairman of the U.S. House Select
Committee on January 6th Insurrection, Rep. Bennie Thompson,
said that a special hearing would be held on the following day (June 28)
as new information had poured in.
On June 28, 2022, a calm and mild, but resolute, former aide of Trump-era
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows appeared as a key witness before
the panel. Cassidy Hutchinson, a little-known, but an influential, aide
of Meadows spilled the bean during hours-long public testimony that might
damage Trump politically and legally. According to Cassidy Hutchinson’s
in-person testimony, Trump was not concerned that pro-Trump mob was assembling
near the White House with knives, guns and other weapons. When told, Trump
poo-poohed by saying that they were not out to harm him. In the run-up to
January 6th insurrection, White House Counsel Pat Cipollone
warned against president going to Capitol with the demonstrators. On January 6,
2021, morning, Cipollone reiterated the same warning, adding that, if Trump
visited the Capitol, “we are going to get charged with every crime imaginable".
Cassidy Hutchinson, addressing the panel at the sixth publicly held session, said that Trump insisted the Secret Service take him to the Capitol. When the Secret Service refused, Trump tried to grab the steering wheel of the presidential limousine. When the head of the presidential detail, Bobby Engel, prevented Trump from doing that, president used his free hand to lunge at Engel. The account was immediately disputed by Engel. According to Hutchinson, when Trump had heard that insurrectionists had been chanting "Hang Mike Pence", former president retorted that the vice president deserved it. Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony may turn out to be the most damning testimony before the January 6th panel.
Former Counsel Subpoenaed
The U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th
Insurrection on June 29, 2022 issued subpoena to Trump White
House counsel Pat Cipollone for testimony under oath. Cipollone gave informal
interview to the panel before. But, in the light of Cassidy Hutchinson’s
explosive testimony, Cipollone’s testimony has become even more important.
Cipollone to Appear in Private
The Associated Press on July 6, 2022 reported that former Donald Trump counsel Pat Cipollone would appear before the January 6th committee in private on July 8, 2022.
Cipollone Grilled for Eight Hours
Former Trump counsel Pat Cipollone appeared before the January 6th committee on July 8, 2022 for a lengthy private interview.
Cipollone Adamently Opposed to Sidney Powell's Possible Role as a Special Counsel
On July 12, 2022, the U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection played clips of Pat Capillone's testimony during a public hearing. According to the video clip, Cipollone was seen testifying that he had vehemently opposed to suggestions of appointing Sidney Powell as a special counsel to probe 2020 presidential election fraud and seize voting machines. Trump's former campaign manager Brad Parscale sent text messages to Katrina Pierson, another Trump aide, on January 6, 2021, night, lamenting that Trump's rhetoric had contributed to bloodshed, according to the information shared by the January 6th commission during July 12, 2022, public hearing. James Raskin, D-Maryland, a member of the January 6th panel, said that Sidney Powell and other Big Lie propagators arrived at the White House on December 18, 2020--after state electors had certified Joe Biden to be the next president--with a draft executive order that President Trump was urged to invoke to name Sidney Powell as a special counsel and authorize her with powers to seize voting machines and charge people for committing crimes. December 18, 2020, meeting has descended into a chaos and a total free-for-all screams and profanities filling different rooms of the White House.
January 6th Panel Subpoenas Erased Secret Services texts
Hours after a closed-door hearing for DHS watchdog on July 15, 2022,
the U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection
issued subpoenas for erased texts of the Secret Services related to storming of
the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Secret Services agents had deleted many
texts related to the insurrection, apparently because of the migration to a new
system in January 2021. Committee chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson,
R-Mississippi, issued a statement, proclaiming the issuance of subpoena.
January 6th Panel’s Second Primetime Hearing Spotlights Trump’s Inaction
In the second primetime hearing, part of a series of public hearings
begun on June 9, 2022, the U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th
Insurrection told the American public how Former President Donald Trump
had refused to intervene to stop the violence orchestrated by his followers
despite pleas by his own children, White House officials and aides. Instead, according
to the panel which held the second primetime hearing on July 21, 2022,
Trump continued to tweet lies about the 2020 presidential election, “pouring gasoline
on the fire”. For 187 valuable minutes, the former president refused to
urge his followers to leave the Capitol. Even when he appealed to his
supporters on January 6, 2021 to leave the Capitol, he edited the
original statement to call out his supporters who had attacked the Capitol as “very
special”. Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger retorted that, President Trump “didn’t
fail to act”, but he “chose not to act”. The second primetime hearing on July
21, 2022 gave American people an opportunity to see through the minute-by-minute
chronicles of events on January 6, 2021.
The panel played a video of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen.
Mark Milley expressing surprise that Trump didn’t respond in a forceful
manner befitting the commander in chief. As violence was underway in the
Capitol, President Donald Trump was watching TV in the White House dining room.
January 6th Panel to Subpoena Trump
In its 10th public hearing, and may be the last before it disbands, the U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection on October 13, 2022 has voted unanimously to issue subpoena to Former President Donald Trump that will escalate the national political situation just a few weeks prior to the midterm polls. The vote to subpoena what Rep. Liz Cheney had described as "the man who set this all in motion" was unanimous. The 10th public hearing also brought to nation's knowledge the chilling messages of the Secret Services and how they had premonition of violence at the Capitol days before January 6, 2021.
The panel on October 13, 2022 played clips of various former officials and aides, clearly bringing hitherto unseen information that the former president considered long before the 2020 election to declare victory irrespective of the outcome. Although there was no live interviews on October 13, 2022, the panel played clips of various former officials, aides and confidantes, showing that Trump had not been duped and he knew exactly what had been happening on January 6, 2021 and he fueled the fire to stay in power.
January 6th Panel Issues Subpoena to Trump
In an unprecedented move, the U.S. House Select Committee on January
6th Insurrection on October 21, 2022 subpoenaed Former
President Donald Trump for either in-person, or by video, testimony “beginning
on or about” November 14, 2022 and document related to communication with
lawmakers and groups who had violently attacked the Capitol to be turned in by November
4, 2022. The panel accused Trump of action of having “personally
orchestrated” efforts to deny the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in 2020
election. Dhillon Law Group will handle the subpoena on behalf of Trump,
and its lawyer David Warrington accused the committee of “flouting norms
and appropriate and customary processes” to score political points by publicly
releasing the subpoena content.
There are examples in nation’s history of issuing subpoenas to sitting
and former presidents and them appearing before the Congress. If Trump refuses
to comply, the panel can refer the case to the House. House can then hold votes
of contempt of Congress. The full House has so far referred four people to the Department
of Justice for criminal prosecution: Steve Bannon, Peter Navarro, Mark Meadows,
and Dan Scavino Jr. The DOJ is currently pursuing after Steve Bannon and
Peter Navarro. Bannon was sentenced to four months in prison on October
21, 2022, becoming the first person to serve since 1948 for the contempt
of Congress.
Trump Suing January 6th Commission over Subpoena
Former President Donald Trump’s attorney, David Warrington, has issued a
statement on November 11, 2022, saying what had been all along known:
Trump team is filing a lawsuit to skirt the subpoena. Warrington said that “long-held
precedent and practice maintain that separation of powers prohibit Congress
from compelling a President to testify before it".
Select Committee Likely to Recommend for Criminal Prosecution
The U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection is to meet on December 19, 2022 for the last time to discuss on recommendation made by four lawyers in the panel—Rep. Adam Schiff, Rep. Liz Cheney, Rep. Zoe Lofgren and Rep. Jamie Raskin. According to The Dallas Morning News’ December 16, 2022, edition, the recommendation will include referrals to the Justice Department to launch criminal investigations, including Trump’s conduct. A final report of hundreds of pages, based on interviews of more than 1,000 people, will be issued on December 22, 2022. The December 19, 2022, session will be the 11th public hearing. The first hearing on June 9th 2022 was viewed by about 20 million people.
House Panel Makes Referral for Trump’s Prosecution at the Last Public
Hearing
The U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th
Insurrection met for the last public hearing on December 19, 2022,
and recommended that the Department of Justice prosecute Former
President Donald Trump on
(1) Insurrection
(2) Obstruction of an
official proceeding of Congress
(3) Knowingly and willfully making materially
false statements to the federal government
(4) Conspiracy to
defraud the United States
The referral is not binding, but will put the
DOJ on the spotlight on the action and path that it will undertake related to
the referral.
The committee has presented the evidence for referrals in an
introductory section. More information will be shared when the final report
will be unveiled later this week. Addressing the 11th public
hearing—and the last—the panel chair, Rep. Bennie Thompson, said
that “this committee will lay out a number of recommendations” in the final
report.
Former President Donald Trump lambasted the January 6th
panel’s report as the verdict of a “kangaroo court”. The panel also made a referral
to the U.S. DOJ that it should prosecute Trump’s former legal adviser John
Eastman on two criminal charges: (1) obstruction to an official act of
Congress and (2) defrauding the American public.
In addition, the U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th
Insurrection referred four House GOP lawmakers, including Minority
Leader Kevin McCarthy, to the U.S. House Ethics Committee as Rep.
Andy Biggs of Arizona, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, and Rep. Scott Perry of
Pennsylvania—in addition to Rep. McCarthy—had failed to cooperate with the
select committee. These members, according to the select committee, were
central to the “efforts to President Trump’s multi-part plan to remain in power".
*************** PUBLIC HEARINGS *****
Supreme Court Justice’s Wife Sticks to Falsehood
In an interview with the January 6th commission on September
29, 2022, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' wife Virginia Thomas, who had
participated in January 6, 2021, Trump rally before the Capitol insurrection and had exchanged texts with Mark Meadow, Trump’s the then-chief of staff, in the
aftermath of 2020 presidential election in order to find ways to overturn Joe
Biden’s victory, repeated the same falsehood that the 2020 election was
fraudulent, according to the panel chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson.
Trump Knew that There was No Voter Fraud, Judge says
In a case related to Trump’s lawyer John Eastman balking the
January 6th commission’s subpoena, U.S. District Judge David
Carter on October 19, 2022 said that President Donald Trump knew that there
was no voter fraud in Georgia and still insisted on “seeking to overturn the
results in the federal court” through a “knowing misrepresentation of voter
fraud numbers”. Eastman argued that his documents were protected by “attorney-client
privilege”, which the panel had disputed and demanded that those documents
should be allowed to be shared on the basis of “crime-fraud exemption”.
Based on the documents signed by Donald Trump to contest the Georgia results, U.S.
District Judge David Carter wrote, there was enough evidence that Trump
might have tried to defraud the U.S. by willfully making false allegation of
voter fraud.
Select Committee Likely to Recommend for Criminal Prosecution
The U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th Insurrection
is to meet on December 19, 2022 for the last time to discuss on
recommendation made by four lawyers in the panel—Rep. Adam Schiff, Rep. Liz
Cheney, Rep. Zoe Lofgren and Rep. Jamie Raskin. According to The
Dallas Morning News’ December 16, 2022, edition, the recommendation
will include referrals to the Justice Department to launch criminal
investigations, including Trump’s conduct. A final report of hundreds of pages,
based on interviews of more than 1,000 people, will be issued on December
22, 2022.
Panel Releases Its Final Report, Blames Trump as Central to Insurrection
The U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th
Insurrection on December 22, 2022 released the final report, a 845-page
document prepared based on testimonies and interviews from more than 1,000
witnesses, 10 public hearings and millions of pages of supporting documents, that
included recommendations to prevent recurrence of the political and legislative
turbulence that had impacted the transition of presidential powers after 2020
election. The report held one person uniquely responsible for the centrality
and significance related to an effort to undermine the entire electoral process
and smooth transition of powers: Donald Trump. The report recommends
Congress to bar Trump from running for and holding any public office. Among
some of its other recommendations regarding the reform of the electoral process
are:
* Revamp of the Electoral Count Act to ensure that the vice president doesn’t
have authority to change the outcome of the election and overturn the will of
the people
* Expansion of law enforcement agencies’ authorities, resources
and leeway to scrutinize and clamp down against the extreme right-wing groups, White
supremacists and militia groups
* Declaring the counting of electoral votes
by Congress as “National Special Security Event"
House Panel Drops Trump Subpoena
As the work of the January 6th panel has winded down, it's not possible to enforce the subpoena that has been served to Former President Donald Trump. For that, House panel chair Rep. Bennie Thompson on December 28, 2022 sent a letter to Trump attorneys, informing them that the panel was dropping the subpoena. Trump team saw that as a victory of their client.
Social Media, Tech Platforms Faulted on Capitol Insurrection
A 122-page staff memo that didn’t get its place in the 845-page
final report released by the January 6th panel detailed how
social media and tech platforms had allowed conspirators and right-wing groups
to spread conspiracy, lies and fake news as well as organize and mobilize
people to participate in the “Stop the Steal” and other pro-Trump demonstrations
in the aftermath of 2020 presidential election, eventually culminating
to January 6th insurrection and attack on the Capitol. The
memo alleged that the social media and tech platforms didn’t adhere to their
own protocols, and as a result, the American democracy was brought to the “brink
of the ruin”, according to the memo. The Washington Post reported the existence
and content of the memo on January 17, 2023.
***************** HOUSE SPECIAL PANEL TO PROBE JAN 6 INSURRECTION
Two Pleads Guilty in First Such Plea
In the first guilty plea in the January 6, 2021, insurrection, a New Jersey gym owner and martial art pro, Scott Kevin Fairlamb, and a Washington state resident, Devlyn Thompson, on August 6, 2021 have pleaded guilty to assaulting a law enforcement officer at the U.S. Capitol. The first guilty pleas will add pressure on other defendants to plead guilty and help the government to construct a fuller picture of that day's events.
Seven Capitol Police Officers Sue Trump, Stone, Insurrection Groups
Seven Capitol Police officers, some of them were badly injured and name-called with racial slurs defending the Capitol Hill and the lawmakers after the Trump mob had assaulted the building, on August 26, 2021 filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump, Roger Stone, Proud Boys and Stop the Steal group, using a Civil War-era conspiracy law. In their filing, Conrad Smith, Danny McElroy, Governor Latson, Byron Evans, Michael Fortune, Melissa Marshall and Jason DeRoche accused the defendants of propagating "false claims of election fraud". The suit added that the defendants had "encouraged the use of force, intimidation and threats, and incited violence against members of Congress and the law enforcement officers", thereby violating the Ku Klux Clan Act of 1871, meant to provide recovery for those injured by conspiracies such as one to stop Congress from certifying the Biden's 2020 victory. The other counts include negligence, battery, assault and violation of the D.C. Bias-Related Crimes Act.
Milley Calls Top Chinese Military Commander to Assure in Waning Days of Trump Era
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley twice called People's Liberation Army's head, Gen. Li Zuocheng, to assure that U.S. had no plans to attack China as there was wide-spread scare swirling that Trump might trigger a nuclear strike as he headed towards 2020 presidential poll, according to a book, Peril, written by Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Robert Costa. Gen. Mark Milley first called Gen. Li Zoucheng on October 30, 2020, and assured the PLA head that "American government is stable and everything is going to be okay". Gen. Milley even added that if America were to attack China, "I will call you ahead of time". The second phone call was made on January 8, 2021, two days after the January 6 insurrection by Trump supporters, assuring Gen. Li Zoucheng that "we are 100% steady" and "everything is fine". The book will come out next week, but the excerpts have been obtained by Washington Post on September 14, 2021.
Milley Defends His Call to Chinese Counterpart amidst Call from GOP Leaders to Resign
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley on September 15, 2021 defended his call to China's army chief as within his jurisdictional responsibilities. Speaking on his behalf, the spokesperson of Milley, Col. Dave Butler, issued a statement on September 15, 2021, clarifying the two calls--October 30, 2020 and January 8, 2021-- that Milley had made as keeping with "duties and responsibilities conveying reassurance in order to maintain strategic stability".
U.S.
Capitol Police Officer Indicted
A U.S.
Capitol police officer, Michael A. Riley, 48, was indicted on obstruction
of justice charges after he had warned a participant of January 6, 2021,
insurrection to hide posts and pictures taken within the Capitol building. The October
15, 2021, indictment marks the first time that an officer working for the U.S.
Capitol Police, a force that has been the target of some of the most hateful
comments and grave physical attacks by Trump supporters, has been indicted.
New Jersey Man who Hit Police Officer Gets nearly 4 Years
Providing a sentencing template to judges presiding over trials of hundreds Trump backers in January 6 insurrection, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth on November 10, 2021 sentenced Scott Fairlamb, 44, to 41 months behind the bar. Lamberth, a boxing coach and former mixed martial arts fighter, pleaded guilty to charges of assaulting law enforcement officers and received maximum time among 32 sentenced so far. However, he is the first one to face charges related to assault on police officer.
“QAnon
Shamon” Receives 41 Months
Jacob
Chansley,
an Arizona man who became the face of the January 6 insurrection as the
image of a face-painted, bare-chested, horned- and fur-hatted man holding a
flagpole with a spear tip was beamed over TV, social media, web streams and
other feeds, was sentenced on November 17, 2021 to 41 months behind the bar.
Chansley, who proudly called himself “QAnon Shamon”, but later
repudiated the group, expressed regret and remorse to U.S. District Judge
Royce Lamberth for his “indefensible” action.
Longest
Sentence to Date Handed out to a Florida Man
Robert
Palmer, 54, of Largo, Florida was
on December 17, 2021 sentenced to 63 months of imprisonment for attacking
law enforcement personnel during January 6 Insurrection. Palmer became
the 65th defendant to be sentenced out of more than 700 charged. Palmer
wept and apologized for his behavior and complained that he had been lied to by
Former President Donald Trump and his senior aides. U.S. District Judge
Tanya Chutkan said that Palmer’s crimes merited severe punishment.
********************* KEN PAXTON **************
Paxton Violated by not Turning Communications
Travis County District Attorney’s Office on January 13, 2022 said that Texas
Attorney-General Ken Paxton had violated the Chapter 552 of the Texas
Government Code by refusing to hand over his communication in the run-up
and around January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol Hill. The Travis
County DA’s Office said that Paxton had four days to comply. The DA’s office’s
determination came in response to request from The Dallas Morning News
and Austin-American Stateman for Paxton’s communication information.
Paxton Denies Violating any Law
Texas Attorney-General Ken Paxton remained audacious and sent a letter to Travis
County District Attorney’s office on January 21, 2022, denying that he had
violated any state law. Texas-based news outlets sought communications that
Paxton had related to January 6, 2021, Capitol Insurrection. Ken Paxton
and his office stone-walled the media inquiry under the pretext of
attorney-client privilege. In March 2021, a coalition of newspapers published
an article on how attorney general’s office had lacked a coherent policy of
storing official communication records. On January 4, 2022, editors of the
state’s five prominent newspapers—The Dallas Morning News, The Austin
American-Statesman, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Houston Chronicle and
The San Antonio Express-News—have filed a joint complaint to the Office
of Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, detailing the violation of
Paxton’s office with respect to the Texas Public Information Act that guarantees
the sharing of government agency information, communication and meeting minutes
with the public. On January 13, 2022, Jackie Wood, director of Travis
County’s public integrity and complex crimes unit, wrote a letter to Paxton,
stating that her office had agreed with the newspapers, and gave Paxton four
days to comply, failure of which to do so would lead to a lawsuit against
Paxton, already facing three state criminal indictments and an FBI bribery
investigation. Texas Attorney-General Ken Paxton’s January 21, 2022,
response to Jackie Wood “disappointed” the editors of five newspapers
who had brought the complaint to Travis County DA’s Office. In a joint
statement editors added that “these records are public and should be released".
********************* KEN PAXTON **************
************************ OATH KEEPERS' PROSECUTION ********
Sedition Charges Brought for the First Time in the Capitol Siege
On January 13, 2022, federal authorities for the first time
indicted 11 people on “seditious conspiracy” count, upping the ante in
the January 6 Insurrection at the Capitol Hill that had happened last
year. The charges against Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and 10
others link them to an extensive planning to deny Joe Biden the presidency and
training for “unconventional warfare”, including “road blocks”, “convoy
operations” and “hasty ambushes”. On January 14, 2022, Rhodes appeared at a
federal court in Plano and was ordered to be sent to prison.
Oath Keepers Leader to Take Stand
After five weeks of testimony at the D.C. federal court of the U.S. District
Judge Amit Mehta, prosecutors rested their case on November 3, 2022.
Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and four associates—Kelly Meggs,
Jessica Watkins, Kenneth Harrelson, and Thomas Caldwell—are facing
charges related to seditious conspiracy, a Civil War-era count that can land
them to up to a 20-year imprisonment. Rhodes’ attorneys will call their client
to the witness stand, a risky proposition. They will try to make a case that
their client has been at the Capitol under the belief that President Trump would
invoke the Insurrection Act, paving the way for military and militia deployment
to deny Democrats from certifying Joe Biden’s victory.
Stewart Rhodes took stand on November 4, 2022 to testify.
Oath Keepers Leader says Capitol Attack not Part of the Mission
Taking stand in self-defense for the second day, Oath Keepers founder
Stuart Rhodes said on November 7, 2022 that the Capitol attack was
not the group’s mission and any Oath Keepers member who might have entered the
Capitol building was “stupid".
Closing Arguments Begin in Oath Keepers Founder’s Trial
After weeks of testimonies, closing arguments began on November 18,
2022 as Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Racokzy told the court that based
on texts and other evidence, Stuart Rhodes and other Oath Keepers
were planning a “violent overthrow” of the government to deprive Joe Biden the presidency.
Defense Attorney James Lee Bright rebutted the government argument, saying
that Rhodes’ objective was to persuade the then-President Donald Trump to
declare the Insurrection Act.
Oath Keepers Founder Found Guilty
In a significant victory to the government’s aggressive prosecution
strategy against Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, a federal jury of
seven men and five women on November 29, 2022 found—after three days of
deliberations—Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, and Kelly Meggs
of Florida guilty on seditious conspiracy count. The other three
Oath Keepers—Jessica Watkins, Kenneth Harrelson, and Thomas Caldwell—were
convicted on obstruction of Congress, but not on sedition count.
Stewart Rhodes and Kelly Meggs were also found guilty on obstruction of
Congress count. Last time when the federal prosecutors tried on sedition
count, it was in 1995 when federal prosecutors had pursued against
the Islamic militants for bombing in New York.
A Second Sedition Trial Begins for Four Oath Keepers
Nearly two weeks after a jury convicted Oath Keepers founder Stewart
Rhodes and Kelly Meggs, a leader of Florida chapter, a second jury
trial on sedition count began on December 12, 2022 for four Oath
Keepers defendants—Joseph Hackett of Sarasota, Florida; Roberto Minuta
of Prosper; David Moerschel of Punta Gorda, Florida; and Edward Vallejo of
Phoenix.
Four Oath Keepers Convicted
A Washington D.C. jury on January 23, 2023 found four Oath
Keepers--Joseph Hackett of Sarasota, Florida; Roberto Minuta of Prosper; David Moerschel of Punta Gorda, Florida; and Edward Vallejo of Phoenix--guilty on sedition charges, second such win for the DOJ lawyers on
Civil War-era count after winning against Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes
and one of his associates earlier. The jury took 12 hours over three days to
reach the verdict on sedition as well as conspiracy and obstruction of
Congressional work count.
Oath Keeper Receives 18 Years
Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes on May 25, 2023 was handed down the
longest sentence as of date among the sentences given to hundreds of defendants
for attacking the temple of democracy on January 6, 2021. Rhodes was
prosecuted on charges of sedition, and prosecutors were seeking 25 years of
jail time. He was handed 18 years. Leveraging his address at the court as a
political tool, he called himself a political prisoner. U.S. District Judge
Amit Mehta shot back, saying that he had been prosecuted not for his
political opinion, but for planning to violently attack the Capitol. Another Oath
Keeper, Kelly Meggs, convicted of seditious charges was later in the day
sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Two More Oath Keepers Sentenced
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta on May 26, 2023 handed the sentences
to two former veterans and former Oath Keepers, who were earlier cleared of “sedition”
charges. Jessica Watkins of Woodstock, Ohio received eight years and six
months, and Kenneth Harrelson of Titusville, Florida received four years.
Oath Keepers Convicted on Sedition Sentenced
Roberto Minuta of Prosper, who was part of the security detail of Former
President Donald Trump’s ex-associate Roger Stone in the Washington
rally hours before January 6th Insurrection, was on June 1, 2023
handed more than four years behind the bars.
Another Oath Keeper, U.S. Army veteran Edward Vallejo of Phoenix,
was handed three-year imprisonment followed by a year of home confinement. Prosecutors
sought 17-year jail term to U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta.
************************ OATH KEEPERS' PROSECUTION ********
Pence Rebuts Trump on 2020 Election Certification
In his most forceful rebuttal and pushback yet, Former Vice President
Mike Pence on February 4, 2022 said that his former boss was “simply wrong”
when he said that Pence could have overturned the certification of the 2020
presidential election results. Former President Donald Trump started the
recent streaks of harangues over Pence’s role by blasting his former vice
president on January 30, 2022 for not overturning the 2020 election
results during January 6, 2021, certification process. Trump falsely
claimed that Mike Pence “could have overturned the Election!”. Trump doubled
down on February 1, 2022, issuing a statement that January 6th
panel should have investigated into why Mike Pence “did not send back the votes
for recertification or approval”. Mike Pence’s rebuttal came during an address
to the conservative Federalist Society in Florida. Pence is mulling his own
presidential run for 2024 as his former boss is also teasing out another
potential run.
First Conviction in the January 6th Insurrection Trial Handed
Down
U.S. on March 8, 2022 won the first conviction in the federal
jury trial in the January 6th insurrection on the Capitol Hill. A
federal grand jury in Washington D.C. swiftly returned guilty verdict on all
five counts—(1) obstruction of official proceeding, (2) unlawful presence on a
federally restricted Capitol ground while armed, (3) transporting firearm in
the midst of civil disorder, (4) interfering with law enforcement personnel
during a civil disorder and (5) obstruction of justice--against a North Texas “Three
Percenters” leader, Guy Reffitt. The outcome of the shortened jury
trial (March 2-March 8, 2022) does not bode well for other defendants
whose cases are to go to trial.
New Mexico County Official Convicted of Misdemeanor, Acquitted on Criminal
Charges
A New Mexico county commissioner on March 22, 2022 was acquitted
on more serious criminal charges while convicted on misdemeanor charges of
entering into a federally restricted area as he had trespassed into the restricted
Capitol area during January 6, 2021, insurrection. Otero County
Commissioner Couy Griffin, 48, asked for a non-jury trial. U.S. District
Court Judge Trevor McFadden on March 22, 2022 issued the verdict. Griffin
was arrested on January 19, 2021, and stayed behind the bar for couple
of weeks. Griffin is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17, 2022. Griffin’s
case is the second case to go to trial after Guy Refitt has been
convicted on March 8, 2022.
Justice Thomas’ Wife Sends Dozens of Texts to Meadows, Asking
Overturning the Biden Win
The Washington Post on March 24, 2022 reported that the U.S. Supreme Court Justice
Clarence Thomas’ wife, Virginia Thomas, exchanged 32 text messages with
the then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in the aftermath of the
November 2020 presidential election in a concerted bid to overturn the 2020
presidential election.
Ex-NYPD
Cop Convicted Guilty in Jan 6th Insurrection
A New
York City Police Department veteran who had assaulted a Police officer on January
6, 2021 was found guilty by a federal jury on May 2, 2022. Thomas
Webster, a 20-year veteran of the NYPD who retired in 2011, was accused of
assaulting the Metropolitan Police Department Officer Noah Rathbun with
a weapon. Webster is the first defendant tried on assaulting a police officer
and who is the first to have used the argument of “self-defense” against a so
called “rogue” police officer. Thomas Webster is one of more than 780 people
charged in the January 6th Insurrection. U.S. District Judge Amit
Mehta will sentence the defendant on September 2, 2022.
Longest Prison Term Handed
Matching the longest prison term that U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan gave to Robert Palmer, a Floridian who had pleaded guilty to assaulting a police personnel, the same federal judge on July 26, 2022 sentenced Mark Ponder, a 56-year-old Washington, D.C. resident to 63 months in federal prison.
Wylie Rioter Receives Maximum Sentence
A Wylie resident, Guy Refitt, who brought guns to the Capitol and instigated other insurrectionists to charge against the Capitol police officers, received August 1, 2022 a sentence of 7 years and 2 months behind the bar, longest sentence handed out to this date. U.S. District Judge Dabney I. Friedrich, a Trump appointee, sentenced more than seven years because of the "central role" that Guy Refitt, who had been turned over to law enforcement by his children, had played in January 6, 2021, insurrection.
QAnon Follower Gets Five Years
An Iowa construction worker, who became the face of QAnon conspiracy
movement with his T-shirt promoting the brand during the January 6th
insurrection as he had led a group of mob to chase Capitol Police Officer Eugene
Goodman, was given a five-year jail term on seven counts of charges.
Handing down the sentence, Judge Timothy Kelley said on December 16, 2022
that Douglas Jensen’s action had “snapped our previously unbroken tradition
of peaceful transfer of power”. Goodman tricked the mob that day, diverting
them from where lawmakers were and calling in reinforcement. Federal
authorities so far charged about 900 people, including 400 who had pleaded
guilty.
Second Anniversary of Jan 6th Promises a Determined DOJ to
Charge and Punish Attackers
On the eve of the second anniversary of the January 6th
insurrection on the Capitol, the nation’s commitment to uphold the sanctity of the
Republic’s institutional structures remains strong despite a significant
minority still professing Former President Donald Trump’s line of political
thinking and false claims of a rigged election. At least 930 people have
been charged with federal crimes related to January 6th
insurrection. The number of charges will only go up. At least 538 cases have
been resolved through trials, pleadings, dismissals, deaths, and other modes of
resolution.
******************************** PROUD BOYS TRIAL *************************
Trial for Ex-Leader of Proud Boys, Others Begin
On January 12, 2024, the trial for Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and his four associates--Ethan Nordean of Auburn, Washington; Joseph Biggs of Ormond Beach, Florida; Zachary Rehl of Philadelphia; and Dominic Pezola of Rochester, New York--began on sedition charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason McCullogh argued that Proud Boys leaders took advice from Former President Donald Trump's "Stand back and Stand by" statement during the first presidential debate with Joe biden and took it as a green light to "mobilize" against smooth transfer of power. Tarrio's Defense Attorney Sabino Jaurgui countered that the government was using Tarrio as a scapegoat in its pursuit for thin conspiracy theory.
Proud Boys Leader, Members Guilty on Sedition Charges
In an empowering verdict that would give the Justice Department further
fuel to pursue groups and people who were hell-bent on denying Joe Biden the
presidency, a Washington jury on May 4, 2023 ruled Proud Boys leader Enrique
Tarrio and three other defendants—Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs and
Zachary Rehl—guilty on sedition charges. The fifth defendant, Dominic
Pezola, was not found guilty on sedition, but on other counts. After three
months of trial, the verdict brings new impetus for pursuing domestic extremist
groups such as Proud Boys and Oath Keepers with the tool that has
been in the book since Civil Rights era, but has been sparsely and sparingly
used.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly on August 31, 2023 sentenced Proud Boys' senior leader Joseph Biggs to 17 years in jail. Zachary Rehl was sentenced to a 15-year term.
Proud Boys Sentenced to 18 and 10 Years, Respectively
A federal judge appointed by President Donald Trump on September 1,
2023 sentenced Ethan Nordean to 18 years in prison. Prosecutors
portrayed Nordean as an undisputed leader of Proud Boys during
the January 6th Insurrection. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly
also sentenced Dominic Pezola to 10 years behind the bar.
Proud Boys Leader Receives 22 Years
Among more than 1,100 defendants prosecuted in the January 6th
Insurrection, Proud Boys’ former leader, Enrique Tarrio, was handed down
the longest sentence. On September 5, 2023, U.S. District Judge Timothy
Kelly, an appointee of Trump, gave Tarrio 22-year sentence. Prosecutors
asked for 33 years behind bars.
Tarrio himself was not there on January 6, 2021 as he was prohibited
from entering the D.C. after getting arrested for defacing a Black Lives Matter
writing during an earlier demonstration, but coordinated and led the violent
takeover by the members of the far-right group.
******************************** PROUD BOYS TRIAL *************************
Three Marines Arrested related Jan 6 Insurrection
The Dallas Morning News reported on January 21, 2023 that three
active-duty Marines linked to military intelligence were arrested on January
17, 2023 and January 18, 2023 at different places. Cpl. Micah
Coomer, Sgt. Joshua Abate and Sgt. Dodge Dale Hellonen were arrested near Camp
Pendleton in California, Fort Meade in Maryland, and Camp Lejune of North
Carolina, respectively. What’s startling about these three Marines’ cases are
they are all active duty and linked to highly classified intelligence setting
in the military as Sgt. Abate and Sgt. Hellonen are attached to intelligence
surveillance intelligence system and Cpl. Coomer works as special
communications signals analyst.
Surveillance Video Footage of Insurrection Shared with Controversial TV
Personality
The Associated Press and other media outlets reported on February 22, 2023 what was
once unthinkable. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy shared thousands of hours
of surveillance video footages of January 6th insurrection recorded
by hundreds of security cameras inside and around the Capitol with one of the
most biased TV personalities: Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson, who had
peddled falsehood and inaccurate information to dilute the severity of January
6th insurrection. In the process of sharing such sensitive video
footage with a polarizing TV personality, many national security experts expressed
fear, Speaker McCarthy might have risked some of the utmost security details of
the temple of democracy.
Trump not Immune from Lawsuit, DOJ says, over Jan 6 Violence
In a related lawsuit filed by two Capitol Police Officers and 11 former
and current Democratic lawmakers, Department of Justice’s Civil Division on
March 2, 2023 responded to a federal appeals court’s December 2022 question
to the U.S. DOJ for the department’s legal opinion on the merit of suing the
former president, stating that defendants had right to bring the suit against Former
President Donald Trump for the violence of his supporters on January 6,
2021. Justice lawyers wrote in support of their argument that the president’s
one “traditional function is one of public communication”, but that “doesn’t
include incitement of imminent private violence".
Kentucky Man Sentenced Longest Term to Date for Jan 6 Violence
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta on May 5, 2023 sentenced a Kentucky
man with long criminal record to 14 years and two months in jail for attacking
police officers with pepper spray and a chair. The sentence handed down to
Peter Schwartz, a welder, is the most severe sentence as of date.
Intel Agencies Ignore Jan 6 Alerts, Senate Panel Says
In a searing report released by the panel chairman, Sen. Gary Peters,
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee said on June 27,
2023 that FBI and Department of Homeland Security’s Office of
Intelligence and Analysis had downplayed and ignored many of threats and information
in the run-up to one of the most serious attacks on our Republic and democracy.
Dozens of tips were not followed up as intel officials “could not conceive that
the U.S. Capitol Building would be overrun by the rioters”. The Senate report
is the latest of several reports prepared by a bipartisan Senate committee,
January 6th panel established by U.S. House of Representatives, U.S.
Capitol Police and several internal agencies.
Judge Orders more than 1500 Records Turned over to the FBI
Rep. Scott Perry, head of the U.S. House Freedom Caucus, is the only sitting
lawmaker whose cellphone has been seized by the FBI related to the
investigation of the January 6th insurrection. A federal judge
ordered Perry to turn over the e-mails and texts to the FBI. Rep. Perry
appealed that ruling to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. A different
lower court judge, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, on December 20, 2023
ruled that Rep. Perry could, based on the judge’s review of the records,
withhold 396 records as they were covered by the speech and debate
clause of the Constitution. The Constitution’s speech and debate clause
protects the work of legislators. However, Judge Boasberg ordered an additional
1,659 e-mails and texts to be handed over to the FBI. Rep. Scott
Perry, R-Pa, worked to keep Donald Trump in presidency and thwart a smooth
transition to Joe Biden’s presidency. Perry was not charged with any crime.
Federal Appeals Court’s Ruling May Reduce Several Defendants’ Sentences
The U.S. Court of Appeals on March 1, 2024 ruled that Larry
Brock’s sentence based on the enhanced sentence criteria as applied by the
government might not be valid as the “administration of justice”
sentencing enhancement was related to judicial proceeding, not to the obstruction
of presidential election certification process.
************************ INSURRECTION BY TRUMP SUPPORTERS
Biden Picks Two Starkly Different New Englanders as his Commerce, Labor Secretaries
The Washington Post reported on January 7, 2021 that President-elect Joe Biden had decided Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo as his Commerce Secretary and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh as his Labor Secretary. Raimondo has been a venture capitalist and she has a lower-grade approval rating from the organized labor, a core constituency of the Democratic Party. Marty Walsh is a life-long union member, and strongly supported by AFL-CIO.
Democrats Win the Senate Majority
With the wins of Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in the January 5, 2021, Georgia runoffs, Democrats will now control the U.S. Senate with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as the tie-breaker.
Veteran Diplomat Named CIA Head
Former State Department official and a respected diplomat, William Burns, who had served in various hotspots in the world, including ambassador to Russia and Jordan, was named by President-elect Joe Biden on January 11, 2021 as his nominee for CIA director.
Biden
Calls for End to “Uncivil” War; Harris Gains a Place in History
Joe
Biden on
January 20, 2021 became the 46th President of the United
States at a ceremony that had more security forces than dignitaries because of
security fears stemming from an insurrection by Trump supporters two weeks ago at
the same venue and a devastating Coronavirus pandemic that had killed more than
400,000 Americans. Kamala Harris became the first woman vice
president and the highest-ranking female official in the nation’s history. Minutes
later, Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president. President Joe Biden
called for unity and end to an “uncivil” war that had pitted blue against red,
urban against rural areas and conservatives against liberals.
Within
hours of swearing-in, President Joe Biden started to undo his predecessor’s
legacies one by one with strokes of pen. In a lightning speed, Joe Biden
signed 17 executive orders that had recommitted the U.S. to Paris
Climate Treaty, aimed at ending a ban on travel from Muslim-majority
nations, made face masks mandatory in the federal properties, strengthened the protection of LGBTQ community from discrimination by ordering the federal agencies to expand the scope of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to cover sexual orientation, sought to fortify the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals
and, among others, targeted to stop any further construction of border wall. Biden’s
other executive orders signed on the inauguration day include:
·
Rescind Trump’s order to exclude undocumented migrants
in the coming redistricting effort
·
Scrap Trump’s “1776 Commission” report aimed at
promoting patriotism
·
Cancel Keystone XL Pipeline
·
Order CDC to extend the eviction moratorium for
renters at least through end of March 2021
President Biden's First Official Press Conference Held after 65 Days in Office
Since President Dwight D. Eisenhower had held his first press conference after assuming the office of presidency in 1953, no other president until Joe Biden waited this long--65 days--to hold his first press conference. White House expected that the March 25, 2021, press conference will give the president an elevated perch to highlight the acceleration of COVID-19 vaccination drive, benefits of a $1.9 trillion relief package to help out the American people and restoration of traditional balance in foreign policy. Instead, the first news conference attracted overwhelming focus on recent migrant surge in the southern border which Biden administration avoided calling a "crisis".
************************** BIDEN'S INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN ***********************
Biden's Infrastructure Plan Emphasizes on Clean Energy
President Joe Biden used the same city that he had used to launch his 2020 presidential campaign to highlight one of the most ambitious infrastructure plans in American history. The $2.3 trillion plan, American Jobs Plan, has been touted by the president as "a once-in-a generation investment in America unlike anything we have seen or done since we built the interstate highway system and space race decades ago". President Biden unveiled his plan on March 31, 2021 at a carpenters union training center in Pittsburgh, and called out the significance of the moment in the American history as 50 years later, when "people are going to look back", they would say that "this is the moment when America won the future". The eight-year, $2.3 trillion infrastructure package that President Joe Biden has unveiled on March 31, 2021 will be funded, among others, by raising the corporate tax rate from 21 percent to 28 percent, but still less than 35 percent rate that was in existence prior to Donald Trump's 2017 tax overhaul plan. Biden's infrastructure proposal includes:
* $115 billion to modernize highways, bridges and roads
* $85 billion for public transit
* $80 billion to address the disrepair and decadence in Amtrak's Northeast Corridor
* $174 billion to build 500,000 charging stations across the nation, electrify the federal fleet, including the U.S. Postal Services vehicles and help electrify 20% of school bus fleet
* $25 billion to upgrade air travel and airports
* $17 billion to upgrade waterways and coastal ports
* $20 billion to address the age-old grievances of communities of color whose neighborhoods have been sliced through highways
* $50 billion to improve the infrastructure resilience in the aftermath of natural disasters
* $111 billion to replace led water pipes and upgrade sewer system
* $100 billion to build a reliable broadband network for 100% coverage of the country
* $100 billion to fund country's electric grid reliance and migrate steadily to renewables
* $213 billion to produce, preserve and retrofit more than 2 million affordable houses and buildings
* $100 billion to upgrade and build new schools
* $18 billion to modernize veterans hospitals and clinics
* $10 billion to modernize federal buildings
* $400 billion to expand Medicaid long-term care services
* $180 billion to be invested in research and development
* $300 billion to fund in manufacturing, including investment in clean energy, improved access to capital and funds for computer chips sector
* $100 billion for workforce development
President Joe Biden asked Congress to work on his infrastructure priorities. However, Biden faces tremendous headwinds from Congressional Republicans and business groups. President Joe Biden's $2.3 trillion infrastructure package will be funded by:
* Raising the corporate tax rate from the current level of 21% to 28%
* Imposing a 21% global minimum tax, potentially preventing corporations from moving the income to low-tax countries
* Making the corporate inversions more difficult
* Eliminating tax breaks for enterprises which shift assets overseas and denying corporations the deductions for sending jobs to overseas
* Imposing a minimum of 15% tax on the incomes reported by corporations to their shareholders
* Eliminating the financial aid being currently provided to fossil fuel sectors
* Proposing increased audit for large corporations
Biden's Infrastructure Package Encourages Shift in Long-term Care
In a wide-ranging consequence for aging Americans, President Joe Biden has carved out a special place within his $2.3 trillion infrastructure package to deliver long-term care for Americans, according to April 9, 2021, report carried by The Associated Press. About 17% of the total price tag of the package, or $400 billion, is allocated for accelerating the shift from institutional care such as nursing homes to home- and community-based care through Medicaid. Many Republicans take exception to including the provision as part of a measure whose primary focus should be on nation's roads, highways, transportation and bridges.
Republican Counteroffer to Biden's Infrastructure Plan Falls Far Short of Democratic Expectation
A group of Republican Senators led by Sen. Shelly-Moore Capito of West Virginia on April 22, 2021 unveiled a two-page, five-year and $568 billion infrastructure package that would shift money from the unspent COVID relief package and leverage user fees to fund the plan instead of raising the corporate tax rate. However, the GOP plan falls short of details of how the funding will happen or where the unspent relief money is sitting. The GOP plan envisions:
* $299 billion for roads and bridges
* $65 billion for broadband internet
* $61 billion for transit
* $44 billion for airports
White House Awaits GOP Counter-offer
After the Biden White House on May 21, 2021 dropped the price tag of infrastructure package from $2.3 trillion to $1.7 trillion by reducing proposed funding in bridges, roads and broadband, the president is now awaiting GOP counter-proposal, according to what White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has told the reporters on May 24, 2021.
GOP Counteroffer on Infrastructure Falls just South of a Trillion Dollar
On May 27, 2021, Republican Senator from West Virginia, Sen. Shelly Moore Capito, unveiled the GOP infrastructure counteroffer to White House's slimmed-down $1.7 trillion package. The $928 billion GOP package includes $500 billion for roads, $98 billion for public transit, $46 billion for passenger rail and more than $70 billion in water infrastructure. The GOP counteroffer does not envision any corporate tax rate increase. Instead, it will tap unspent money from the past Coronavirus packages. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-PA, said that there was about $700 billion unspent money still left from the past relief packages. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told the correspondents in the Air Force One that $928 billion counteroffer was not sufficient to meet many of the goals set by President Biden, but sufficient enough to get the talks going next week.
A
Bipartisan Deal at Hand on Infrastructure Package
That
the compromise is still a virtue and working across the political divide is still
the most efficient tool to get things done in Congress, even in the present
hyper-partisan era, have been proven one more time, with one of the most
sweeping and breath-taking agreements reached to invest in our land’s highways,
bridges, rails and dams. On June 24, 2021, standing on the West Wing
driveway alongside five Democratic and five Republican Senators, President Joe
Biden told reporters that “we have a deal” of about $1 trillion in physical infrastructure
package after it was transparent that “human infrastructure” component such as
investing in child care and elderly care might be too much of a poison pill and
had to be dropped off the overall infrastructure package that the president had
initially unveiled.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Package Fails to Move beyond Procedural Vote
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer set July 21, 2021 for the bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure package for a procedural vote. 51 Senators voted yes, and 49 Senators voted no, far less than 60 needed to consider the bill. However, 22 bipartisan Senators have expressed optimism that the bill will eventually be passed, but there needs to be more discussion among themselves and with the White House.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Package Passes Senate Procedural Hurdle
After making concessions, both Democratic negotiators and the White House on the one side and GOP negotiators on the other, reached a rehashed version of $1 trillion of infrastructure deal that would be the most sweeping ever, or at least in several decades. On July 28, 2021, Senate approved a procedural vote by 67-32 to push the package to the next stage of debate and discussion. According to a 57-page GOP summary, the new funding for the bill has been reduced from $600 billion to $550 billion, with the remainder coming from unspent COVID-19 relief package ($205 billion), suspended state unemployment benefit checks that was part of the COVID-19 package ($53 billion), economic growth ($53 billion) and other sources. A White House Fact Sheet issued on July 28, 2021 said of the $1 trillion infrastructure package that it would be an investment vehicle for $110 billion for highways, $65 billion for Broadband, $73 billion for revamping of electric grid system, $25 billion for improvement of airports, $55 billion for upgrading our waterworks, $50 billion for cyber-defense and climate change, and $7.5 billion for electric station charging stations.
Bipartisan
Infrastructure Package Passes Second Hurdle
The
$1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package on July 30, 2021
passed yet another procedural hurdle in the arcane Senatorial bill-making
process, this time with 66-28 votes.
Senators Unveil the Infrastructure Package on the Senate Floor
A bipartisan group of Senators led by Sen. Krysten Sinema, D-Arizona, and Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, on August 1, 2021 have formally unveiled the $1 trillion, roughly 2,700-page Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that calls for new investment of $550 billion over five years. The remaining money will come from the unspent COVID-19 relief package as well as other sources.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Package Inches Closer to Finish Line; CBO Projects Addition to National Debt
The $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on August 5, 2021 met another small procedural milestone as the Congressional Budget Office issued its impact estimate of this massive bill aimed at infusing billions of dollars for the nation's highways, bridges, waterworks, transit system, broadband and sewers. According to the CBO estimate, the package will increase the national debt by $256 billion over the next decade. The bipartisan infrastructure package is the first part of President Biden's two-part infrastructure plan. The second part is more ambitious, a $3.5 trillion human infrastructure proposal that will touch many aspects of American life including healthcare, childcare and other pressing issues. The more ambitious package can be passed in a partisan manner as part of the regular budgeting process.
Senate a Step Closer to Passing the Landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill
$1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act inched a step closer to a full vote on the Senate floor on August 7, 2021 as a solid bipartisan coalition of Senators pushed it over another procedural hurdle by voting 67-27. At the end, 18 Republican Senators, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnel, voted yes. The House of Representatives is in the summer recess, and will take up the Senate-passed bill in September 2021.
IIJA Passes Another Procedural Hurdle
President Biden's one of the most consequential initiatives on August 8, 2021 received another procedural approval as the $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed a key vote by 68-29 margin.
Senate Hands Biden a Huge Victory as It Passes a Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill
In a sweeping victory to President Joe Biden's "Build Back Better" plan, the U.S. Senate on August 10, 2021 passed the $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by 69-30 votes. President Joe Biden hailed the vote, and didn't forget to mention that Minority Leader Mitch McConnel had supported the bill too. The package calls for $550 billion in new investment that will help cities and regions coast to coast.
House Passes Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill
After months of delay in which progressives hold the bipartisan infrastructure bill as a hostage to pressure the party's moderates to support the more expansive 10-year, $1.85 trillion Build Back Better package that includes transformative social, healthcare and economic changes, House of Representatives on November 5, 2021 has passed the $1 trillion infrastructure bill by 228-206 votes after 13 moderate Republicans supported the measure. Six far-Left Democratic lawmakers voted against the measure. The $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package now goes to President Joe Biden for his signature. This is a sweeping domestic policy victory for President Joe Biden who has needed it badly after his sagging poll numbers and Democratic Party's dismal poll performance in November 2, 2021, gubernatorial election in Democratic-leaning Virginia and New Jersey.
The 10-year, $1.85 trillion Build Back Better package is now going through CBO cost scrutiny as demanded by the moderate Democrats. President Biden has received assurance from the House moderates that, if the CBO estimate stands up as per what the internal estimate of the price tag is, they will support the transformative package.
President Biden Celebrates the Passage of Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill
President Joe Biden on November 6, 2021 faced reporters at the White House, looking relieved and relaxed. The $1 trillion+-bipartisan infrastructure package passed by the House a day earlier includes many of Biden's domestic policy priorities, including:
* $110 billion for roads, bridges, etc.
* $39 billion for public transit
* $66 billion for railways, including Amtrak
* $65 billion for power grid
* $7.5 billion for a nationwide network of EV charging stations
* $5 billion for electric buses
* $25 billion for airports, waterways
* $17 billion for nation's port infrastructure
* $50 billion for climate change
* $55 billion for drinking water
* $65 billion for broadband
* $21 billion for environmental spending
* $1 billion to connect communities divided by previous infrastructure projects
* $11 billion for transportation safety
On the revenue side, the following sources have been identified to provide funding:
* Unspent pandemic relief fund
* Additional tax revenue from the enhanced infrastructure-related activities
* Recouped unemployment benefits from fraudsters and states that have earlier ended the unemployment benefits
* Delaying the Medicare rebate rule enacted under Former President Donald Trump
* Taxes from the Cryptocurrency investors
* Fees on government-sponsored enterprises
* Spectrum auction sales
* Superfund Fees for polluting industries
President Biden Signs Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill
President Joe Biden, surrounded by a bipartisan group of lawmakers and others at the White House South Lawn, on November 15, 2021 signed the $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Biden
Rebrands the Infrastructure Package to Better Connect with Voters
Facing
a strong political headwind and sagging poll numbers, President Joe Biden
is undertaking a weeklong trip through various parts of America to sell his $1
trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework. On his first stop at Kansas
City Area Transportation Authority, the president on December 8, 2021
rebranded the infrastructure package to “Building a Better America”
package.
Biden Administration Issues Guidebook on Infrastructure Package
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris asked the nation’s
governors on January 31, 2022 at the winter meeting of the National
Governors Association in the White House to begin investing in their states’
infrastructure needs with the funds allocated in the $1+ trillion bipartisan
infrastructure package signed into law in December 2021. Biden
administration’s point-person for overseeing the implementation for the
infrastructure package, Mitch Landrieu, touted a 461-page guidebook
that laid out a “roadmap” for infrastructure investment across America’s
communities spanning from big urban areas to small towns. The guidebook, posted
online at build.gov, ensures that best practices, accountabilities and
spending criteria are adhered to for smart investment in the nation’s
infrastructure needs. The package includes 375 distinct programs, out of which
125 are brand new programs.
***************** AFFORDABLE BROADBAND PROGRAM****
Subsidized
Broadband Program Launched by Biden Administration
President
Joe Biden on May 9, 2022
roped in 20 internet service providers, including big names such as AT&T,
Comcast and Frontier, to highlight at a White House ceremony a
signature $14.2 billion Broadband Connectivity Program, Affordable
Connectivity Program, a key component of $1 trillion Infrastructure bill
passed by Congress and signed by Biden. Under the $14.2 billion Affordable
Connectivity Program, millions of poor families will get free high-speed
internet services through $30 monthly subsidy--$75 for tribal families—from the
government as well as service providers’ complementary generous offers.
Subsidies for Broadband Services to be Reduced for 23 million Families
As part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, billions
of dollars were allocated to support providing subsidized broadband services to
23 million families. Under the Affordable Connectivity Program, eligible
families have received subsidies as high as $30 per month. The Federal
Communication Commission asked the Congress several times to extend the
funding of the Affordable Connectivity Program. However, Congress is yet to
oblige the FCC, leading to a harsh decision to cut the subsidies to $14 per
month. The subsidy cut that will begin in May 2024 is likely to
have severe consequences for the poor households. Providers are likely to
increase the cost of providing access to broadband services.
***************** AFFORDABLE BROADBAND PROGRAM****
"Reconnecting Communities" Launched by Transportation Secretary
On June 30, 2022, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg launched $1 billion Reconnecting Communities, a program designed to have an integrated thread of connectivity among various neighborhoods split by a sprawling highway system built in 60s and70s. Secretary Buttigieg launched the program at Birmingham.
Lead Pipeline Replacement Deadline Nears as Cities Scramble
The Dallas Morning News reported on August 27, 2022 that many of the cities had yet to get their acts together for identifying all the lead lines by federally mandated timeline of end of 2024 and filing application to replace them. Under the $1 trillion infrastructure package that President Joe Biden has signed on November 15, 2021, a three-year, $15 billion allocation has been made available to replace the lead water pipelines.
Biden Administration Announces $42 billion Broadband Services for Unserved Areas
Taking the bull of so called Broadband divide by the horns, President Joe Biden on June 26, 2023 announced a $42.5 billion plan to drive internet equity to unserved areas and deliver high-speed internet access to 8.5 million families. 19 states are to receive $1 billion-plus funding, including $3.31 billion for 779,378 unserved people in Texas. Texas was allotted the highest funding for any state, followed by California ($1.86 billion) and Missouri ($1.74 billion). States have until end of the year to submit how and where they are going to invest the money.
According to the Federal Communications Commission, the unserved areas and jurisdictions don't have access to the internet services with 25 megabits per second download speed and 3 Mbps upload speed. Download speed refers to activity streams such as retrieving information from the internet, including streaming movies and TV shows. Upload speed refers to flow of information from the computer to the internet, including sending e-mails and publishing photos online. Creating a precise map of areas that lack 25 Mbps/3 Mbps service is always a challenge, and FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is meticulous and deliberative about providing as accurate map as possible. President Joe Biden called high-speed internet access as "an absolute necessity". The broadband investment that President Joe Biden highlighted on June 26, 2023 stemmed from Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program that Congress had approved as part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill that President Joe Biden signed in 2021. BEAD Program requires states to invest money first in the unserved jurisdictions (lacking 25 Mbps/3 Mbps internet service) before strengthening the internet services in underserved jurisdictions (falling below 100 Mbps/20 Mbps threshold).
The $42.5 billion BEAD Program is designed to create the necessary infrastructure to connect last mile networks. However, for the last mile networks to work efficiently, communities need to have middle mile connectivity. On June 16, 2023, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced the winners of $930 million Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program, a program that's part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Addressing the press corps on June 16, 2023, NTIA chief Alan Davidson and White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landreiu emphasized the importance of the middle mile infrastructure as a critical connecting point between local last mile broadband and massive transport networks that crisscross the nation. The awards announced on June 16, 2023 will fund deployment of over 12,000 miles of new fiber in more than 350 counties.
Unveiling the $42.5 billion BEAD Program, President Joe Biden on June 26, 2023 noted that already 35,000 projects were being, or already, funded by a separate $25 billion package as part of the American Rescue Plan. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin took the stage after Biden on June 26, 2023 to laud $1.2 billion allocation for West Virginia.
************************** BIDEN'S INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN ***********************
Biden to Name a Woman for Army Secretary, Announces Many Other Appointments
President Joe Biden will name a veteran former Pentagon official, Christine Warmuth, as the first woman to step in as the Army Secretary, according to April 12, 2021, reports carried by various news outlets, including The Associated Press. Christine Warmuth, along with the Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville, will be in charge of training and equipping the soldiers.
Other Appointments
* CBP: Chris Magnus, Tucson, AZ police chief
* CIS: Ur Mendoza Jaddou, an immigration policy expert, a former director of DHS Watch
* Cyber Director (a recently created portfolio): Chris Inglis to become first Cyber Director
* Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency: Jen Easterly, former deputy for counterterrorism at the NSA
**************************** BIDEN'S AMERICAN FAMILIES PLAN ******************
Biden Unveils "American Families Plan" in His First Address to the Joint Session of Congress
President Joe Biden on April 28, 2021, addressing a sparsely attended joint session of Congress, unveiled his third big-ticket package, a $1.8 trillion, 10-year measure focused on children, families and education. With the third package, formally known as American Families Plan, President Biden signed or pushed a combined $6 trillion sweeping set of aid packages during the first 100 days of his presidency. Joe Biden had signed a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, and recently unveiled a $2.3 trillion infrastructure package.
President Joe Biden used the backdrop of his first address to a joint session of Congress, with two most powerful women--Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris--of the world behind him in an unprecedented reflection of changed dynamics in the political world of Washington D.C., to boldly proclaim that "America is rising anew" and push the envelope to sell his American Families Plan. Because of the pandemic, many of the lawmakers sat the session out, and only Chief Justice John Roberts attended on behalf of the Supreme Court. Some key elements of Biden's American Families Plan include:
* 10-year, $1.8 trillion plan will be funded by $1.5 trillion in tax hikes on wealthy Americans in the coming decade
* $200 billion for free pre-schooling for all all 3 and 4 years old, helping out about 5 million children and saving a family an average of $13,000
* $109 billion for free community college education
* [over $80 billion] Increase the Pell Grant's maximum disbursements by $1,400
* $46 billion for HBCU and tribal colleges and universities
* $9 in scholarships and training targeted to teachers
* $225 billion to support childcare and to support childcare employees as well as capping the child care spending at 7% for families with incomes up to 1.5 times the respective state medians
* $225 billion to create a national family and medical leave program, providing up to $4,000 per month to families with up to 80% income replaced for low wage earners
* $45 billion to strengthen the school meal plan and sustain student food security in the summer months
* Create an automated system to adjust the duration and amount of unemployment benefits as response to economic downturns
* $200 billion to make a temporary reduction in ACA premiums permanent
* Extend the enhanced child tax credits for eligible families--$3,600 per year per child for kids younger than 6 years and $3,000 per year per child for offspring between 6 and 17--through 2025
* Permanently increase the tax credits for child care
Funding Pipeline
* Increased IRS audit for wealthy people and requiring financial institutions to share investment and business activities with the government like they do it for wage ($700 billion over 10 years)
* Raising the top tax rate to 39.6% from 37%, bringing the top tax rate to pre-Trump-era 2017 massive tax cut measure
* Raising the capital gains tax rate for people earning more than $1 million per year to 39.6% from the current rate of 20%
**************************** BIDEN'S AMERICAN FAMILIES PLAN ******************
Trump
Alleged to Have Pushed the DOJ Official to Declare the 2020 Poll Results
Corrupt
The
U.S. House Oversight Committee on July 30, 2021 released a note
taken by a DOJ official during a December 27, 2020, phone call between
the then-President Donald Trump and the acting attorney general during
that time, Jeffrey Rosen. According to the note taken by Rosen’s deputy,
Richard Donoghue, who had also attended the call, Trump asked Rosen:
“just say the election was corrupt and leave the rest to me and the R.
Congressmen".
****************************************** TEXAS ELECTION 2020 AUDIT ***********************************
Texas Launches Comprehensive Audits of 2020 Votes in Four Large Counties
Hours after Former President Donald Trump wrote an open letter to Texas Governor Gregg Abbott to add 2020 election fraud probe to the ongoing special legislative session, the Office of Secretary of State on late September 23, 2021 announced that "a full and comprehensive forensic audit" was underway for four of the state's largest counties: Dallas, Harris, Tarrant and Collin. President Joe Biden carried the three counties while Trump carried the Collin County. At present, there is vacancy as the most recent Secretary of State Ruth Ruggero Hughes has left the position in May 2021 after failing to win confirmation from the state Senate. Deputy Secretary of State Joe Esparza, a former Abbott staffer, is filling the void on acting basis.
Texas' "Full Forensic Audit" of 2020 Election Will Stretch through Spring 2022
That the state's audit of 2020 presidential election in the four of the state's largest counties were more to do with ginning up the base Republican voters in the run-up to Republican Primary became clearer on September 28, 2021 as the Office of Secretary of State laid out timeline of the "full forensic audit" of the 2020 elections in Tarrant, Dallas, Harris and Collin Counties. As per the timeline, the audit will last until at least Spring 2022 and the results of the audit will not be known before summer of 2022. When the Office of Secretary of State launched the "full forensic audit" of 2020 election, it hoped that the audit expense would be provided by the state's legislature.
Forensic
Audit of Texas Election Finds Very Little to No Fraud
The
findings from much hyped audit of 2020 election in four large counties—Dallas,
Tarrant, Collin and Harris—were partially released on December 31, 2021,
and what one could see from those findings fell far short of any voter fraud
that could taint the voting results. Out of 11.3 million votes cast in
2020, Secretary of State John Scott found 509 cases where voters might
have voted in Texas and another state. 67 votes might have been cast in the
name of deceased voters. Since the 2020 presidential election, close to 225,000
deceased voters have been purged out of the voter rolls, showing that counties were
“performing their fundamental roles". In the election audit of the four counties, it was found that Dallas County had 10-vote discrepancy between hand count and electronic count. For Harris, Collin and Tarrant Counties, those numbers stood at 5, 17, 0, respectively.
Democrats Requests DOJ to Monitor 2020 Texas Election Audit
Ten U.S. House members, including Rep. Collin Allred, Rep. Marc Veasy
and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, on January 19, 2022 wrote a
letter to Assistant U.S. Attorney-General Kristen Clarke, calling for an
active monitoring by the Department of Justice of the ongoing audit of the 2020
presidential election in four large Texas counties: Dallas, Harris, Tarrant and
Collin. The letter expressed “serious concern that this audit may be an attempt
to invalidate properly cast ballots in the 2020 presidential election.” Democrats’
call for action comes in the midst of a higher share of rejection of the mail-in
ballot requests by the county election administrators across the state because
of the recently passed Senate Bill 1’s stricter mail-in voting requirements.
*************************************** TEXAS ELECTION 2020 AUDIT ***********************************
Biden Acknowledges Challenges amidst Progress on Several Counts in the
First Year
On the eve of the completion of the first year in office, President
Joe Biden on January 19, 2022 held a long—a rarity for his
presidency—news conference, second half of which was very caustic as he went
unscripted. Joe Biden acknowledged his administration’s failure to deliver
voting rights bill and a bill encompassing his signature “Build Back Better”
initiatives, two issues he had raised to high-stake political elevation on the
campaign trail. However, President Joe Biden took credit for nudging Congress
to pass the $1.9 trillion COVID relief package as well as $1.2
trillion infrastructure bill. However, his lengthy press conference was not
with gaffe and faux pas. At one point during the press conference, President
Biden even appeared to have implied that things would be very difficult for
Russia if it went beyond a “minor incursion” in Ukraine.
DOMINION vs. FOX NEWS
Fox Settles Dominion Defamation Suit
Hours before a landmark suit, expected to test the reach of the First
Amendment right, was to go to trial on April 18, 2023, plaintiff and defendant struck a $787.5
million settlement. Dominion Voting System filed the lawsuit against
Fox News for the conservative channel’s repeated assertion by some of
their hosts and guests that 2020 election had been stolen and Dominion’s voting
machines were compromised. Dominion was seeking $1.6 billion in damages
from Fox. Dominion CEO John Poulos now can lead his firm, leaving a dark
chapter behind. In the aftermath of 2020 presidential election, Trump
supporters accused Dominion of massive fraud that had deprived Trump of victory.
The trial, if allowed to proceed, would have led to high-profile and
drama-filled testimonies by Fox hosts Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Maria
Bartiromo as well as 92-year-old Fox Corp Executive Chairman Rupert
Murdoch and his son, Lachlan.
A separate $2.7 billion defamation suit was filed by Smartmatic,
the voting software company that Donald Trump and his consiglieres had accused
of depriving Trump of victory. Smartmatic accused Fox hosts Maria
Bartiromo, Lou Dobbs, and Jeanine Pirro of propagating intentional
falsehoods and inaccuracies in their shows after the 2020 Presidential Election
related to the software’s function. The Smartmatic lawsuit is not yet settled,
but many observers believe that the case will be settled too just like Dominion’s
lawsuit.
****************************** 2020 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION **************
