He's Just Doesn't Have What it Takes...
It appears that running for reelection for her Agriculture Commissioner job isn’t politically viable anymore for Nikki Fried considering how she has decided to go all out with her attacks against Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Now AG Commissioner Fried has decided to add to her anti-Trump rantings and has now focused on Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, who signed Florida up to contest the presidential election results.
“This is embarrassing to the integrity of our democracy and resolution of this election,” stated Fried. “It’s disappointing, but predictable, that Florida’s Attorney General isn’t acting in the interest of the people she was elected to serve, but in self-interest.”
READ MORE about Moody’s move to reverse the 2020 general election results.
Marco Rubio: Pete Buttigieg is “lacks depth of understanding” to deal with China MUST READ
Speaking of China...
A year or two removed from unleashing a massive and historic fart on national TV, Rep, Eric Swalwell, who accused President Trump of being a Russian agent, is at the center of the Chinese spy scandal, and Sen. Rick Scott wants him booted from the House Intelligence Committee.
“Eric Swalwell has no place on the House Intelligence Committee. His reported ties to a Chinese spy backed by the Communist Party of China are shocking and show just how far President Xi is willing to go to gain access to critical U.S. intelligence. Swalwell spent years promoting Russian disinformation in an effort to take down the President, when in fact he was being used as a pawn by the Chinese government, which we know is doing everything in their power to expand their influence. Swalwell’s failure of judgement is astounding and he must put national security first and step down from his post immediately. Let this be a lesson to all Americans – we must open our eyes to the threat posed by Communist China.“
Marco Rubio @marcorubio-My “Corporate Transparency Act”, the most significant anti-corruption & money laundering law in decades & which forces anonymous shell companies to disclose their true owners is going to pass as part of the end of year defense bill.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell @DebbieforFL-The Republican Party & Republicans in Florida are publicly undermining our democracy by violating the constitution and the rule of law.
Rep. Michael Waltz @RepMichaelWaltz -This is the right move. Thank you @realDonaldTrump for always putting America first and ensuring the American people have access to the #COVID19 vaccine.
Mario Diaz-Balart @MarioDB-Today, the House passed the final WRDA bill, which includes a provision I introduced to rename the "Moore Haven Lock and Dam" to the "Julian Keen, Jr. Lock and Dam" in honor of the late @MyFWC Officer Julian Keen, Jr. I look forward to this legislation finally becoming law.
Rep. Matt Gaetz @RepMattGaetz-When Democrats are targeted by foreign intelligence, they get a defensive briefing. When Republicans are targeted, they get prosecutions, investigations, and jail sentences.
LET'S GO TO COURT >>> Florida Urges Supreme Court To Reverse Biden’s Questionable Win
HUNTER UNDER INVESTIGATION >>> U.S. Attorney’s Office Investigating Hunter Biden Over ‘Tax Affairs’
CAREER ENDING NARRATIVE? >>> Fried continues bashing DeSantis over COVID response
“Gaetz Questions “Russian Collusion” Advocate Swalwell Over Chinese Spy Tie” by The Floridian’s Daniel Molina – Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz (R), a staunch supporter of President Trump (R), is once again going to bat for the president in his efforts to contest the 2020 presidential election results. This week, a bombshell report indicated a Chinese intelligence operative had developed extensive ties with both local and national politicians, and one of those politicians is California Rep. Eric Swalwell (D), who ran in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary but left the race within months of jumping into the contest. According to U.S. intelligence officials, the Chinese operative, named Fang Fang, used campaign fundraising and networking, which is reported to have included romantic/sexual relationships with two Midwestern Mayors, was able to acquire proximity to political power. Moreover, it “was a big deal, because there were some really, really sensitive people that were caught up” with the Chinese operative. In response, Rep. Gaetz took part in an interview with FOX News, taking aim at Swalwell for being entangled with the Chinese operative. Sharing a segment from the internet on his social media, the Florida lawmaker questioned how the presidential hopeful was so sure that President Trump “was ‘an agent of Russia’ when he couldn’t even identify the agent of China working alongside his own campaign?”
“Stephanie Murphy’s anti-child predator bill heads to Trump’s desk” by The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres – The Pedophile or child predator, without question, is the lowest form of individual that unfortunately walk on the face of the earth. Every year, thousands of cases of child sexual abuse are reported and the list of people being added to the sexual predator list is growing expeditiously. The rise of child pornography and pornography as a whole via the “Dark Web” and the mainstream internet has certainly fueled pedophilia, prompting legislators to continue action on curbing the heinous crimes that sexual predators continue committing. Florida Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D) helped write the “Combat Online Predators Act” which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and has now passed in the U.S. Senate. The bill now heads to President Trump’s desk and is expected to be signed into law. “Adults who stalk or harass children online or in our communities commit a serious crime. Our bill will ensure federal judges can give convicted defendants the prison sentence they deserve,” said Rep Murphy in 2019. “It’s an honor to work with Congressman Fitzpatrick, a former FBI agent, and with Senators Toomey and Casey, and we will do everything within our power to get this bill over the finish line in this Congress.”
“Florida Supreme Court considers whether to grant Donald Smith a new trial” by News 4 Jax’s Francine Frazier, Scott Johnson, and News Service of Florida’s Jim Saunders – One of the most high-profile child murder cases in Jacksonville history is back in the headlines as an attorney representing convicted killer Donald Smith argued before the state Supreme Court on Wednesday that Smith should get a new trial. Smith kidnapped, raped and strangled 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle in June 2013, taking the girl from a Jacksonville Walmart after befriending her mother at a store and offering to buy her family clothes. Smith, now 64, was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping of a victim under age 13 and sexual battery on a victim under age 12. He was sentenced to death for the murder and received life sentences on the kidnapping and sexual battery charges. An appeal is automatically granted for any case involving first-degree murder in Florida. As part of that appeal, attorney Richard R. Kuritz argued on Smith’s behalf Wednesday that several errors were committed during the trial, and that those errors add up “to a reversible error” that would warrant a new trial for Smith. The errors he claimed were:
· Comments by the prosecutor during opening statements that he said were inappropriate
· Denial of a change of venue motion made before the trial
· The medical examiner becoming emotional during testimony
· Allowing graphic autopsy photographs to be shown to the jury
“Florida attorney general backs Texas lawsuit challenging election results in battleground states” by 10 Tampa Bay, TENGA – Florida is joining the ranks of states in support of a Texas lawsuit challenging election results in four battleground states. Florida Attorney General made the announcement on Dec.9, sharing the Sunshine State is now involved in the amicus brief urging the Supreme Court of the United States to consider Texas' motion. "The integrity and resolution of the 2020 election is of paramount importance. The United States Supreme Court should weigh the legal arguments of the Texas motion and all pending matters so that Americans can be assured the election was fairly reviewed and decided," Moody wrote. The lawsuit she's referring to was filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who believes the integrity of the 2020 election and the public's trust was compromised due to the violation of statutes in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Georgia. He also claims that these states exploited the coronavirus pandemic in an effort to justify ignoring state and federal election laws.
“SBA names Michael Barrera new director for North Florida District” by Biz Journal’s Timothy Gibbons – The U.S. Small Business Administration has selected an attorney who previously served as its national ombudsman and was CEO of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to be its next North Florida district director.
“Florida Joins 45 States In Lawsuit Targeting Facebook” by CBS News – Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody joined 45 other states Wednesday in a lawsuit against Facebook, accusing the social media giant of exploiting its dominance in the digital marketplace and engaging in anti-competitive practices. The states’ lawsuit, accompanied by a legal complaint filed by the Federal Trade Commission, focuses on Facebook’s allegedly “illegal buy-or-bury strategy that thwarts competition and harms both users and advertisers.” Wednesday’s twin lawsuits came as Facebook and founder Mark Zuckerberg, who launched the social-media platform in 2004 as a way for university students to get and stay connected, face increased scrutiny and criticism from President Donald Trump’s administration and Congress. The states’ lawsuit, also joined by Guam and the District of Columbia, focuses in part on Facebook’s acquisitions of message-sharing app WhatsApp and photo-sharing app Instagram, transactions the lawsuit alleges were predatory because the apps “each posed a unique and dire threat to Facebook’s monopoly” in the social-networking sphere. In addition to buying potential competitors, the lawsuit alleges Facebook employed an “open first-closed later” approach to developers to help grow Facebook’s user base through third-party services.
“Fired COVID-19 data worker accused of accessing state system says Florida made the login info public” by WTSP’s Chelsea Tatham – Two days after her home was raided by law enforcement and she was accused of accessing a state emergency system, fired COVID-19 data worker Rebekah Jones shared that a state health department team's login information is actually publicly accessible. 10 Tampa Bay confirmed that the login information for an emergency response team with the Florida Department of Health was indeed still accessible to the public as of 6:15 p.m. Wednesday. We are not sharing the document that includes a link to the information. "Learned something else new tonight," Jones tweeted. "The username and password for multiple @HealthFla accounts was still publicly available as of the time of this tweet." Jones' Tallahassee home was raided Monday night after the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said she possibly accessed a Department of Health communications system and sent a text to users of the State Emergency Response Team. According to the affidavit, the text read: "It's time to speak up before another 17,000 people are dead. You know this is wrong. You don't have to be part of this. Be a hero. Speak out before it's too late."
“Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis goes to D.C. to offer extremely vague Florida COVID vaccine plan” by News Service of Florida’s Christine Sexton – Participating in a White House vaccine summit on Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined what appeared to be the state’s final COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan. DeSantis said the state’s proposal calls for vaccinating seniors in nursing homes before the end of December, while also getting vaccines into the hands of “high-contact” front line health-care workers in five urban areas by the end of next week. “Then, we think, based on the numbers, at the end of December we can start getting it out into the broader senior population,” DeSantis said during a panel discussion with three other governors and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. “And then [in] January, really focus on vaccinating as many elderly people as we can.” DeSantis offered few insights into how the state would ensure that vaccines are distributed to medically underserved people, and, instead, pivoted and criticized what he called bad information. DeSantis initially said “communication is important” and that hospitals would conduct outreach but then shifted gears. “This was the first vaccine that’s really been politicized, unfortunately [ed. note: hahahaha, no] … and that’s going to be something that people are going to have to deal with,” DeSantis said. The Florida governor, a close ally of President Donald Trump, criticized what he labeled as “unscientific” shutdowns and said he hoped there would be evidence-based science that people could support.
“South Florida assisted living residents ready for COVID-19 vaccine” by Local 10’s Amy Viteri – Hialeah City Council President Jesus Tundidor and the fire department made the rounds to the city’s assisted living facilities Wednesday, passing out masks and hand sanitizer. They developed a task force since Hialeah has the highest concentration of those facilities in the state, Tundidor says. Now, Gov. Ron DeSantis is saying that within weeks, those who live and work in these assisted living facilities could be given the first round of a COVID-19 vaccine, once approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “We could have every resident at every nursing home and long-term care facility vaccinated by the end of December,” DeSantis said. Michele Perez, who owns the Villa Rosa I assisted living facility, says the state has already reached out about the distribution of the vaccine, and the majority of her residents (about 80%) want it. “The provider of choice, CVS or Walgreens, will come to the facility with the doses of vaccine and will be administering it and providing it right here at each facility,” Perez said. “[The residents] want to go to the corner store. They want to go visit family they want to back to their normal lives. It’s affecting their mental health.” As health officials consider authorizing emergency use of a vaccine, 61% of people say they are willing to get vaccinated if a shot is approved, according to a Quinnipiac Univesity national poll released Wednesday. Thirty-three percent say they don’t think they would be willing. In Florida, more than 7,500 nursing home residents and staff have died from COVID-19, almost 39% of the deaths in the state from the virus.
“South Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz Calls For Investigation Into Raid Of Fired COVID-19 Analyst” by CBS Miami – ongresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz is speaking out over the investigation into a fired state COVID-19 analyst. In a statement, the congresswoman calls for an investigation into the raid of Rebekah Jones’ home. Wasserman Schultz also says her office is exploring various options to investigate at the federal level. The congresswoman released the following statement on Wednesday: “Gov. DeSantis’ mishandling of the coronavirus in Florida has made him a global laughingstock and has caused so much needless suffering and death in our state. Now, beyond just deadly incompetence, it appears that he has chosen to abuse Florida’s law enforcement and judicial systems to persecute Rebekah Jones, a scientist who dared to critique his oft-maligned and suspect COVID-19 data. Given the timid complicity and lack of oversight from the Republican-controlled Legislature, the governor’s abuse of power must be investigated immediately by Florida’s relevant inspectors general. My office is also exploring various federal-level investigative options. Our state is in a public health emergency. And rather than use his executive power to protect Floridians, DeSantis abuses it to attack scientists who dare to sound the alarm about Florida’s inept, dangerous response and apparent manipulation of data. That is not leadership; it is autocratic repression.”
“House fails to reach deal on coronavirus but is debating ceiling fan bill” by Fox News’ Vandana Rambaran – The House has yet to pass a long-awaited coronavirus stimulus package to rescue millions of Americans struggling during the pandemic, but they did spend time on Wednesday debating the environmental effects of ceiling fans. The ceiling fan bill, sponsored by Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., and approved in a bipartisan vote, 396-2, will change the energy standard requirements for “large-diameter ceiling fans manufactured on or after January 21, 2020.” Language in the bill establishes parameters for exemptions of large fans under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, which provides guidelines for minimum energy efficiency standards for more than 60 types of home appliances. The new bill focuses on electricity standards for the fans based on “Using an Airflow Constant of 26,500 cubic feet per minute” and “Using a Fan Efficiency Constant of 42 percent.” Reupping energy bills and making changes to standards cut consumer utility bills and saves energy, which in turn mitigates the effects of climate change, environmentalists have argued. But the spirit of bipartisanship over the fans has yet to extend to a COVID-19 bill, with the vote taking place less than three weeks before unemployment benefits stemming from the pandemic are set to expire, the day after Christmas. In addition, moratoriums on evictions and student loan forbearance expire at the end of the year, worrisome deadlines to millions of Americans in financial peril.
“Biden considering Buttigieg for China ambassador: report” by Fox News’ Morgan Phillips – President-elect Biden reportedly might choose his old primary opponent, former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, to serve as ambassador to China. Buttigieg, 38, who offered detailed proposals on foreign policy as a presidential candidate, was reportedly under consideration for U.N. ambassador, but Biden passed on him for this, according to Axios. The Beijing post usually goes to experienced politicians due to its high-profile nature. Many believe Buttigieg will run for the presidency again, and the ambassadorship could give the Chinese a chance to get to know the former mayor. His name remains under consideration for some domestic leadership positions as well, Axios reported. Buttigieg’s name has been floated for Transportation or Commerce, but he’s reportedly signaled interest in the foreign policy or national security realm, sources say. Buttigieg was one of the first former Democratic candidates to endorse Biden after the South Carolina primary. After that, Biden said of Buttigieg: "I don't think I've ever done this before, but he reminds me of my son Beau. I know that may not mean much to most people, but, to me, it's the highest compliment I can give any man or woman."
“Facebook encounters bipartisan backlash as AOC supports Trump administration's lawsuit” by Fox News’ Sam Dorman – Facebook is uniting both sides of the aisle with its alleged anti-competitive behavior. On Wednesday, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 48 state attorneys general brought antitrust suits against the social media giant. Both are targeting the platform's acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. Reacting to the news, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said: "Good." "Facebook is absolutely an out-of-control monopoly - one that has abused its market power to squash competition, manipulate democracies, and crush journalism," she added. New York Attorney General Letitia James, who led the bipartisan coalition of attorneys general, said she would coordinate with the FTC. At a press conference, she accused Facebook of abusing its power. “For nearly a decade, Facebook has used its dominance and monopoly power to crush smaller rivals and snuff out competition, all at the expense of everyday users,” said the Empire State's chief prosecutor. Facebook Vice President and General Counsel Jennifer Newstead blasted the complaints as "revisionist history."
“Federal criminal investigation into Hunter Biden focuses on his business dealings in China” by CNN’s Evan Perez and Pamela Brown – After going quiet in the months before the election, federal authorities are now actively investigating the business dealings of Hunter Biden, a person with knowledge of the probe said. His father, President-elect Joe Biden, is not implicated. Now that the election is over, the investigation is entering a new phase. Federal prosecutors in Delaware, working with the IRS Criminal Investigation agency and the FBI, are taking overt steps such as issuing subpoenas and seeking interviews, the person with knowledge said. Activity in the investigation had gone covery in recent months due to Justice Department guidelines prohibiting overt actions that could affect an election, the person said.
CNN contacted Biden's attorney and the campaign this week seeking comment about the investigation. On Wednesday, they released a statement acknowledging the probe. "I learned yesterday for the first time that the U.S. Attorney's Office in Delaware advised my legal counsel, also yesterday, that they are investigating my tax affairs. I take this matter very seriously but I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately, including with the benefit of professional tax advisors," Hunter Biden said in a statement.
“Giuliani leaves hospital after being treated for coronavirus” by CNN’s Devan Cole – Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump's personal attorney, left the hospital Wednesday after spending four days there battling the deadly coronavirus. The 76-year-old former New York mayor, who is leading Trump's longshot legal challenges to overturn the presidential election results, was admitted to Georgetown University Hospital on Sunday. Giuliani said in a radio interview Wednesday morning that he was feeling well and announced he would be leaving the facility later that day. "I feel just about 100% right now," he told TalkRadio 77 WABC. "I've got to quarantine for a few more days. Because the way they calculate it, I probably got (infected with coronavirus) seven, eight days ago. So I've got about three or four more days to make sure it's out of my system." He was spotted by reporters leaving the hospital in a vehicle just before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, and flashed a thumbs up to the cameras. Giuliani, who noted he wasn't currently experiencing any major symptoms, claimed that some of the medications he was administered while in the hospital worked like "miracles." "There's one that I took -- by the next morning I felt like I was 10 years younger," he said, adding that he took "some of the same medicines" Trump took when he was battling the virus, though he didn't specifically name any.
“Democratic congressman says he did not share sensitive information with suspected Chinese spy” by CNN’s Zachary Cohen – Rep. Eric Swalwell told CNN Wednesday that he was "shocked" when the FBI informed him several years ago that he was targeted by a suspected Chinese intelligence operative as part of a broader effort to establish ties with US politicians, reiterating that he immediately cooperated with federal investigators who were looking into the individual in question. Swalwell was named in an Axios report detailing what US officials believed to be a political intelligence operation run by China's main civilian spy agency between 2011 and 2015.
The woman at the center of the operation, Fang Fang or Christine Fang, took part in fundraising activity for Swalwell's 2014 reelection campaign and helped place an intern in the California Democrat's office, according to Axios. But as stated in the initial report, Swalwell was never suspected of any wrongdoing, a point he reiterated to CNN on Wednesday. "I was told about this individual and I offered to help," he told CNN's Jim Sciutto. "All I did was cooperate and the FBI said that yesterday." Swalwell, who serves on the House Intelligence Committee and was very vocal during President Donald Trump's impeachment proceedings last year, also questioned the timing of the story considering the probe took place several years ago, raising the possibility that it was leaked to harm him politically.
“Facebook Hit With Antitrust Lawsuits by FTC, State Attorneys General” by WSJ’s Brent Kendall and John D. McKinnon – The Federal Trade Commission and a bipartisan group of 46 states filed broad antitrust lawsuits against Facebook Inc. FB -1.93% on Wednesday, alleging the social-media giant engaged in a yearslong campaign to buy up or freeze out nascent technology companies that one day might have become rivals. The FTC’s case is its most ambitious in recent memory and seeks to unwind Facebook’s prior acquisitions of the photo-sharing app Instagram and messaging service WhatsApp. It comes just weeks after the Justice Department brought an antitrust lawsuit targeting Google’s flagship search business. Each federal agency now has its own once-in-a-generation case at the same time, a signal of the level of U.S. concern about the power of dominant online platforms. The FTC, on a 3-2 vote, filed the case in a Washington, D.C., federal court after an investigation that stretched more than a year. Commission staffers had been preparing the lawsuit for months and recommended that the FTC vote to bring a case. The FTC’s two Democrats joined Republican Chairman Joseph Simons in the majority, a sign that the case would likely continue on the same course once President-elect Joe Biden takes office.
“Hunter Biden Says His Taxes Are Under Investigation” by WSJ’s Ken Thomas and Sabrina Siddiqui – Hunter Biden, the son of President-elect Joe Biden, said in a statement Wednesday that the U.S. attorney’s office in Delaware is “investigating my tax affairs,” putting his financial dealings in the spotlight, as his father builds his administration. Hunter Biden said he takes the matter “very seriously” and is “confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately.” The Justice Department declined to comment on Wednesday. A spokeswoman at the U.S. attorney’s office in Delaware declined to comment, citing DOJ policy regarding ongoing investigations. The criminal investigation that included tax issues began in 2018, according to a person familiar with the matter. It is limited to Hunter Biden and his business dealings and doesn’t implicate other members of his family or the president-elect, two other people said. The investigation was sparked in part by reports of suspicious activity filed by a bank that handled foreign transactions related to Hunter Biden, one person said. The younger Mr. Biden said in the statement that he learned about the investigation for the first time Tuesday through his legal counsel, who he said was advised of it by the U.S. attorney’s office on the same day. The Biden transition declined to say when the president-elect learned of the investigation.
“Georgia Senate Runoff Elections Trigger Panicked Door Knocking by Both Parties” by WSJ’s Cameron McWhirter and Joshua Jamerson – Republicans and Democrats have concluded that the outcome of two runoff races here, which will determine control of the Senate, may well hinge on how their supporters reacted to November’s presidential result. Both sides have reason for concern. Republicans worry that disillusioned backers of President Trump, convinced the system is rigged against them, in large part because of the president’s own pronouncements, will stay home. Democrats are wringing their hands over whether suburban and urban voters, motivated in November by the desire to oust Mr. Trump, will declare mission accomplished and not return to the polls on Jan. 5. Both parties are conducting what they describe as enormous voter turnout operations—not only because so much is at stake for both sides, but because they’re fretting about turning out their own people when Mr. Trump is not on the ballot. So far, campaigns and outside groups are on track to spend more than $415 million on television and radio advertising, the most ever for a Georgia runoff, according to political ad tracker Kantar/CMAG. “Normally people say don’t preach to the choir, but in a runoff you want to not just preach to the choir, but sing lovingly to them,” said Tim Phillips, president of the Virginia-based conservative group Americans for Prosperity, during a recent door-knocking trip in the GOP stronghold of Cherokee County. “Even a drop-off of 8 or 10 percent out here…in our base, could be deadly.” Democrats had curtailed face-to-face turnout operation during the general election because of the pandemic. Now, they have concluded the prospects of winning two Senate seats and control of the chamber outweigh the potential health risks, which they are mitigating with masks and distancing.
