Category: Abuse of power
Trump Wanted to Shoot Protesters, Says Mark Esper
Former Trump Pentagon General claims in a new book that the former president asked: “Can’t you just shoot them? Just shoot them in the legs or something?” by Andrea Germanos, Common Dreams Tuesday, May 3, 2022…
Documents Show Trump Officials Used Secret Terrorism Unit to Question Lawyers at the Border
In newly disclosed records, Trump officials cited conspiracies about Antifa to justify interrogating immigration lawyers with a special terrorism unit. The documents also show that more lawyers were targeted than previously known. by Dara Lind …
‘Direct attack on the First Amendment’: Trump DOJ secretly obtained Washington Post journalists’ phone records
“When the government spies on journalists and their sources, it jeopardizes freedom of the press,” said the ACLU. by Kenny Stancil, staff writer Advocates for press freedom responded with outrage after the Washington Post reported…
Inspector General launches probe into whether DOJ officials tried to overturn Presidential Election
“Unconscionable a Trump Justice Department leader would conspire to subvert the people’s will,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in response to allegations against former Acting Assistant AG Jeffrey Clark. by Kenny Stancil, staff writer Monday,…
‘That’s insane… He still has the money’: SCOTUS tosses emoluments lawsuits targeting Trump
One watchdog critic angered by the court’s decision said, “Congress must act now to ensure that no future president can profit off the presidency.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Monday, January 25, 2021 The U.S. Supreme…
Big Tech further mutes President, far right megaphone as demands for Trump removal swell
Google yanked Parler from its app store Friday in light of “continued posting… that seeks to incite ongoing violence in the U.S.” by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Saturday, January 9, 2021 Amid ongoing calls for President…
Trump executive order denounced as ‘declaration of war’ against federal employees
The order sets up Trump’s “cronies to burrow into permanent jobs in the U.S. government,” said one critic. by Julia Conley, staff writer Friday, October 23 After years of complaining that career federal employees are part…
Warning ‘patently false’ information ‘will sow confusion,’ federal judge blocks Postal Service from sending mailers to Colorado voters
“The USPS must stop sending misinformation to Colorado voters,” said Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold. by Jake Johnson, staff writer Sunday, September 13 A federal judge late Saturday ordered the U.S. Postal Service to immediately…
Tennessee to strip right to vote from protesters
‘If our votes didn’t matter they wouldn’t work so hard to silence us.’ ‘This is the Opposite of What Americans Fought a Revolution For’ by Common Dreams staff Sunday, August 23, 2020 Tennessee protesters will face…
Alarms sound after Postal Worker reports removal of sorting machines
The removal of key equipment from Post Offices should be viewed as nothing less than “sabotage,” said one observer. by Jake Johnson, staff writer Wednesday, August 12 The head of the Iowa Postal Workers Union alleged…
Trump and Barr to deploy more Federal Agents to US cities – Chicago and Albuquerque, New Mexico,
‘Abuse of Power’ “In case you were wondering, this is precisely what fascism looks like.” by Eoin Higgins, staff writer Wednesday, July 22 President Donald Trump and Attorney General William Barr announced Wednesday afternoon that the…
Trump threat to unleash Secret Police in other US cities is scheme to ‘Steal the November election’
“The exercise also has the advantage for Trump of entrenching a new form of secret police and of turning federal agents into instruments of his authoritarianism.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Monday, July 20 Amid…
Trump seizes on Bush-era torture memo author John Yoo’s call for Extralegal Executive Authority
‘Moral and Intellectual Bankruptcy’ “There is a lot of continuity between the Bush and Trump administration, including an almost limitless view of executive power.” by Eoin Higgins, staff writer Progressives are raising alarm after news Sunday…
Critics say Goya Bean tweet by Ivanka is clear ethics breach
“Si es Trump, tiene que ser corrupto,” “Ethics rules do not allow” such behavior, noted one political reporter, calling the tweet “pretty much unimaginable in previous administrations.” by Eoin Higgins, staff writer Wednesday, July 15 Critics…
Ousted IG says State Dept. tried to bully him into dropping Saudi arms probe
“Mr. Linick addressed head-on the shifting justifications that administration officials have provided to the press for his termination.” by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Thursday, Jun 10 Recently ousted State Department Inspector General Steve Linick was carrying…
Militias evaluate beliefs, action as President threatens soldiers in the streets
Constitutionalists say they fear – a forceful expansion of government power against its people. But most militia groups have been silent. To date, only a few have made any sort of public statement. Members of militia…
New York Supreme Court Judge rules protesters can be detained indefinitely
“This is suspension of habeas corpus, it is unconstitutional,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. by Jake Johnson, staff writer Friday, June 5 A New York State Supreme Court judge on Thursday rejected a petition seeking the immediate…
Law enforcement seizes thousands of masks sent to help protect protesters from coronavirus
“It appears they want to ensure that people who protest are susceptible to the same deadly pandemic that they have failed miserably at stopping.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Friday, June 5 In an effort to…
Trump Condemned as Busloads of US Soldiers Arrive in Nation’s capital: ‘What authoritarianism looks like’
“The numbers of U.S. military security forces in D.C. right now is just ridiculous. This is pure intimidation. Trump is very afraid. The longer we stay in the streets, the more frightened he gets.” by…
Police using rubber bullets on protesters that can kill, blind or maim for life
Liz Szabo, Kaiser Health News June 2, 2020 In cities across the country, police departments have attempted to quell unrest spurred by the death of George Floyd by firing rubber bullets into crowds, even though five…
Militarization has fostered a policing culture that sets up protesters as ‘the enemy’
Teaching cops to think like soldiers and learn how to kill has been part of a training program popular among some police officers. Sheriffs deputies in riot gear move in on protesters in Los Angeles, California….
Warnings of domestic military threat as top US General walks DC streets in combat fatigues
‘This Isn’t a Healthy Democracy’ “The commander of the joint chiefs is surveying the streets of D.C. in uniform like he’s planning a military assault.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Tuesday, June 2 Why was U.S….
From ‘No comment’ to ‘Didn’t really see it’: GOP lawmakers squirm when asked about Trump threat to unleash military on protesting Americans
“This was the same response in Nazi Germany.” by Eoin Higgins, staff writer Tuesday, June 2 “Didn’t really see it.” “I don’t have any comment on that.” “Sorry, I’m late for lunch.” These were but a…
After Trump’s authoritarian ‘law and order’ speech, military helicopters descend low over DC to intimidate protesters
Dancers of Death “Unleashing state violence against peaceful American demonstrators and journalists to create a photo-op is a violation of the president’s oath to defend the Constitution.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Tuesday, June 2 Hours…
