Stochastic Terrorism

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'Absolutely disgraceful': Calls for Republican Rep Paul Gosar to be removed from office after he posted a disturbing and violent anime video of him slashing firebrand progressive AOC on Twitter
by Michelle Thompson
DailyMail.com
PUBLISHED: 23:14 EST, 8 November 2021 | UPDATED: 03:31 EST, 9 November 2021

• Republican Rep. Paul Gosar shared an anime video on Twitter that depicts him slashing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and lunging toward President Joe Biden
• It's not clear what prompted the Arizona lawmaker to post the video, which was viewed 2.8 million times and shared by nearly 28,000 users as of Monday night
• Ocasio-Cortez responded to the video, calling Gosar 'creepy' and saying he'll 'face no consequences' for sharing the violent cartoon online
• Twitter users called the 'lunatic' lawmaker out for posting the video, and said he should be booted from the social media platform and removed from congress

A Republican lawmaker is facing calls to resign after he posted a disturbing and violent anime video of him slashing Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with a sword.

Republican Rep. Paul Gosar posted the disturbing video on Twitter on Sunday showing a sword-wielding character with Gosar's superimposed face using a jetpack to soar onto a rooftop before attacking AOC.

He slashes the New York liberal across the back of the neck, drawing a spray of blood and prompting the blonde-haired anime character to slump down.

Gosar is shown toward the end of the cartoon lunging toward President Joe Biden's head with a sword.

Ocasio-Cortez responded to the viral video on Monday from Scotland, where she's attending a climate summit.

'So while I was en route to Glasgow, a creepy member I work with who fundraises for Neo-Nazi groups shared a fantasy video of him killing me,' she tweeted. 'And he'll face no consequences bc cheers him on with excuses.'

She added: 'Well, back to work bc institutions don't protect [women of color].'

The video which had received more than 3 million views Monday night has since been deleted by Twitter for breaking its 'hateful content.'



Ocasio-Cortez (pictured: recent social media updates on her Instagram from Scotland) ripped her political nemesis after Gosar's sick video was viewed more than 2.6 million times as of Monday night

WATCH THE FULL VIDEO












Gosar in the video uses a jetpack to reach Ocasio-Cortez on the rooftop before attacking her


Gosar's character then drops down from the air to cut open AOC's anime character


She's slashed with a sword before Gosar jets away and later lunges toward President Joe Biden




Swords pointing upward historically indicate battle or conflict or the readiness for battle or conflict. One example of this is modern fencing where a swordsman holds the sword point upward to indicate his readiness. Swords pointing downward represent peace, rest or the end of conflict.

Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez
@AOC
So while I was en route to Glasgow, a creepy member I work with who fundraises for Neo-Nazi groups shared a fantasy video of him killing me.
And he'll face no consequences bc #GOPLeader cheers him on with excuses.
Fun Monday! Well, back to work bc institutions don't protect woc

Ocasio-Cortez responded to his video from Scotland, where she's attending a climate summit

Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS $RepGosar Nov 7
This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules about hateful conduct. However, Twitter has determined that it may be in the public's interest for the Tweet to remain accessible. Learn more

Gosar's violent tweet has since been deleted by Twitter for 'violating rules about hateful content'


Republican Rep. Paul Gosar posted a bizarre anime video on Twitter that showed him slashing the back of Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Some Twitter users are calling for the 'lunatic' politician to be removed from the platform – and booted from congress.

'Under [no] circumstances should his fantasies of killing people be swept away,' tweeted @fred_guttenberg, whose daughter Jaime was killed during a Parkland, Florida, school shooting.

'We know he is a lunatic. America, we better vote in 2022 for Democrats or he will be in leadership.'

Gosar's Twitter settings prohibit anyone the politician isn't following from directly commenting, and just three of the 4,529 connections who had the opportunity to speak up did so.

'Best Congressman,' said @RepGosarFan. 'Best timeline.'

The Internet's latest death fantasy angered scores of Twitter users.

'Republican @RepGosar has shared a photoshopped animated video that depicts him killing Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,' tweeted @KaivanShroff.

''Absolutely disgraceful. He should be removed from committee assignments just as Marjorie Taylor Greene was.'

Added @DHStokyo: 'I am here to say that I don't want radicalized Republicans who get off on fantasies of violence towards their colleagues, nor their party leaders who ignore it, anywhere near my government.'

It's no secret that Gosar, a staunch Donald Trump supporter, and Ocasio-Cortez with her socialist leanings don't see eye-to-eye.

The politicians from the opposite sides of the political spectrum disagree on just about everything, from vaccine mandates and immigration to universal health care and the Capitol riots.

AOC – who frequently draws the ire of right-leaning pundits and politicians – has previously detailed safety concerns related to her high-profile job.

She revealed in a 2019 Time magazine interview that enough people have threatened to kill her that her staff has been trained to evaluate visitors to her Capitol Hill office — even people who just leave Post-It notes on the plaque in the hallway.

Earlier this year, she recalled hiding in her office's bathroom during the January 6 Capitol riots after hearing that someone was after her.

Kaivan Shroff
@KaivanShroff
NEW: Republican @RepGosar has shared a photoshopped animated video that depicts him killing Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez. Absolutely disgraceful.
He should be removed from committee assignments just as Marjorie Taylor Green was.
2:06 PM Nov 8, 2021

One Twitter user called Gosar's video 'absolutely disgraceful' and said he should be removed from committee assignments

Fred Guttenberg
@fred_guttenberg
@RepGosar should be kicked out of Congress. Under know circumstances should his fantasies of killing people be swept away. We know he is a lunatic. America, we better vote in 2022 for Democrats or he will be in @gop leadership

Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jaime was killed during a Parkland, Florida, school shooting called Gosar a 'lunatic' and said he should be kicked out of Congress

Tokyo Sand
@DHStokyo
I'm not sharing what @RepGosar tweeted.
I am here to say that I don't want radicalized Republicans who get off on fantasies of violence towards their colleagues, nor their party leaders who ignore it, anywhere near my government.

GET OUT!
6:40 PM Nov 8, 2021

User @DHStokyo said he doesn't want 'radicalized Republicans who get off on fantasies towards their colleagues' anywhere near his government

'I just hear these yells of 'Where is she? Where is she?' Ocasio-Cortez said. 'This was the moment where I thought everything was over. I thought I was going to die.'

The congresswoman then revealed it was a Capitol Police officer who was there to secure her office - but claimed that the cop 'was looking at me with a tremendous amount of anger and hostility.'

'I didn't know if he was there to help us or hurt us,' she said.

She ended up sheltering in place in her colleague Rep. Katie Porter's office.

***************************

Rep. Gosar's 'Despicable' Attack On AOC Blasted By His Own Sister
by Lawrence O'Donnell
MSNBC
Nov 8, 2021

Jennifer Gosar, sister of GOP Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar, excoriated her own brother for a social media post including a photoshopped video depicting Gosar assassinating Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and threatening Pres. Joe Biden.



Jennifer Gosar, one of Paul’s nine siblings, called into MSNBC’s The Last Word to give her opinion on the video.

“What is wrong with him? And is it getting worse?” asked host Lawrence O’Donnell.

“Yes, it has been getting worse, because he has not been held accountable in way, shape, or form.” she promptly replied. “He has not been censured, he has not been expelled, he has not had his seat forfeited by any of leadership.” She went on to criticize Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, and Chuck Schumer among other leaders for failing to take any action against her brother.

“Where these people? Does he need to act on his sociopathic fantasy for Representative Ocasio-Cortez? I am very concerned for she and other members and this is absolutely unacceptable.”

Jennifer thanked O’Donnell for having her on the show and said that she appreciates “any opportunity to put a spotlight on this awful man.”

“Is there one policy that Paul has ever brought to his district? The answer is no. What he’s expounding upon in his sick fantasies is that fact that he cannot even approach the intellect of AOC or meet her intelligence,” she continued. “He’s getting worse and it must be stopped.”

[admin]

Gosar Censured Over AOC Murder Video, As AOC Slams GOP: “What Is So Hard About Saying This Is Wrong?”
by Amy Goodman
DemocracyNow!
NOVEMBER 18, 2021
https://www.democracynow.org/2021/11/18 ... ouse_floor

Republican Congressmember Paul Gosar is the first lawmaker to be censured in more than a decade for posting an animated video on social media where he murders Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and attacks President Biden. The U.S. House of Representatives also voted Tuesday to censure Gosar and strip him of committee assignments. He has refused to apologize and after the vote he retweeted the video. Speaking from the House floor before the vote Congressmember Ocasio-Cortez said: “This is not about me. This is not about Representative Gosar. This is about what we are willing to accept.” The co-sponsor of the censure vote, Congressmember Jackie Speier of California, said “Congressmember Ocasio-Cortez has become the go-to subject of the radical right to stir up their base, as too often is the case for women of color.”

Transcript

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.

AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, Democracynow.org, the War and Peace Report. I’m Amy Goodman. The House voted to censure Republican Congressmember Paul Gosar for posting an animated video on social media where he murders Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and attacks President Biden. Just two Republicans voted in favor of the censure, Adam Kinzinger, who said he’s not going to run again, and Congressmember Liz Cheney. Gosar is the first lawmaker to be censured in more than a decade. He was also stripped of his committee assignments. Gosar has refused to apologize and retweeted the violent video after the censure vote.

On Wednesday, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy refused to condemn Gosar and called the censure vote an “abuse of power.” Shortly after the House minority leader spoke, Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez addressed the House.

REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO CORTEZ: I have been serving in this body just under three years. In that three years, an enormous amount has happened. But in response to the Republican leader’s remarks when he says that this action is unprecedented, what I believe is unprecedented is for a member of House leadership of either party to be unable to condemn incitement of violence against a member of this body. It is sad. It is a sad day in which a member who leads a political party in the United States of America cannot bring themselves to say that issuing the depiction of murdering a member of Congress is wrong, and instead, decides to venture off into a tangent about gas prices and inflation. What is so hard? What is so hard about saying that this is wrong?

This is not about me. This is not about Representative Gosar. But this is about what we are willing to accept. Not just the Republican leader, but I have seen other members of this party advance the argument, including Representative Gosar himself, the illusion that this was just a joke. That what we say and what we do does not matter so long as we claim a lack of meaning. Now this nihilism runs deep and it conveys and betrays a certain contempt for the meaning and importance of our work here. That what we do so long as we claim that it is a joke doesn’t matter, that what we say here doesn’t matter, that our actions every day as elected leaders in the United States of America doesn’t matter. That this chamber and what happens in it doesn’t matter. And I am here to rise to say that it does! Our work here matters. Our example matters.

There is meaning in our service. And as leaders in this country, when we incite violence with depictions against our colleagues, that trickles down into violence in this country. And that is where we must draw the line, independent of party, identity or belief. It is about a core recognition of human dignity and value and worth. So when we talk about as mentioned in the resolution that these depictions are part of a larger trend of misogyny and racial misogyny, racist misogyny, this has results in dampening the participation. And so this vote is not as complex as perhaps the Republican leader would like to make folks believe. It is pretty cut and dry. Do you find—does anyone in this chamber find this behavior acceptable? Would you allow depictions of violence against women, against colleagues? Would you allow that in your home? Do you think this should happen on a school board? In a city council? In a church? And if it is not acceptable there, why should it be accepted here?

AMY GOODMAN: That was Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez prior to the vote to censure Republican lawmaker Paul Gosar for posting an animated video on social media where he murders her and attacks President Biden. California Congressmember Jackie Speier also spoke Wednesday, cosponsor of the censure vote. She herself survived the Jonestown Massacre in 1978. She was shot five times. She was then an aide to Congressmember Leo Ryan who was assassinated during the massacre.

REP. JACKIE SPEIER: I take no pleasure in introducing this resolution. No one asked me to introduce it, no one tapped me on the shoulder. I am a victim of violence. I know what it is like. I also was in the gallery clamoring for life when the shots rang out in the Speaker’s Lobby. We are here today because a sitting member thought it was okay—_okay!_—to post a deranged animated video of himself killing a fellow member of this House and also attacking the president of the United States. That video has been seen by three million people. It was up for over two days before it was taken down.

Inciting violence begets violence. Congressman Ocasio-Cortez has become the go-to subject of the radical right to stir up their base, as often is the case for women of color. It is disgusting and profoundly unacceptable. Tragically, the minority leader has not condemned the video. For eight days, he said nothing. Silence speaks volumes. Silence normalizes violence. Violence against women in politics is a global phenomenon. A 2016 survey by the Inter-Parliamentary Union found that 82% of women parliamentarians have experienced psychological violence and 44% have received threats of death, rape, beatings or abduction. The intent of these online threats against women is clear—silence them, strip them of their power and discourage them from running for office.

AMY GOODMAN: California Congressmember Jackie Speier speaking before the 223-207 vote to censure Republican Congressmember Paul Gosar for posting an animated video on social media where he murders Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and attacks President Biden. After the rare censure vote, Congressman Gosar retweeted the video.

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Republicans Mostly Silent Following House Vote To Censure Rep. Gosar
MSNBC
Nov 18, 2021



[Rep. Mondaire Jones, (D) New York] Madam Speaker, not since the Civil War has Congress operated under the constant threat of violence from some of its own members. But here we are! That is the behavior that Mr. Gosar has encouraged. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised, having watched so many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle incite and then express support for the insurrectionists who nearly killed us in this chamber on January 6th. We cannot let the Republican Party make Congress the only workplace in America where violence against your co-workers is not a crime, but a credential. If we don't hold people like Mr. Gosar accountable, we will only embolden the worst people in our politics to bring their fever dreams to life. That is why today we are standing up for the safety of our colleagues, for the safety of Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, and for the future of our democracy.

[admin]

Fox News Host’s Incendiary Fauci Comments Follow a Network Pattern: Comments by Jesse Watters, a host of “The Five,” were in keeping with previous derogatory remarks about Dr. Anthony Fauci by hosts and conservatives.
by Michael M. Grynbaum
New York Times
Dec. 23, 2021, 3:50 p.m. ET

The Fox News host Jesse Watters used notably violent language this week in urging a gathering of conservatives to publicly confront Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the nation’s foremost infectious-disease specialist, who has become a frequent source of criticism on the political right.

Referring to tabloid-style surprise interviews, Mr. Watters said in a speech that activists should “ambush” Dr. Fauci with adversarial questions that he deemed “the kill shot.” Describing the imagined effect of such a filmed confrontation, Mr. Watters added: “Boom! He is dead! He is dead! He’s done!”

Dr. Fauci called the comments “horrible” in an interview with CNN and said Mr. Watters “should be fired on the spot.”

Fox News has not disciplined Mr. Watters for the remarks. The network said in a statement that the comments were “twisted completely out of context” and that “it’s more than clear that Jesse Watters was using a metaphor for asking hard-hitting questions to Dr. Fauci.”

The host’s amped-up language was in keeping with the tone of prominent conservative figures, who for months have routinely and casually referred to Dr. Fauci in bracingly derogatory terms.

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, who is widely viewed as a leader of the Republican Party, referred to Dr. Fauci as a “Covid authoritarian” in a fund-raising email this week. “We cannot allow our communities to become Faucian dystopias in which people’s freedoms are curtailed and their livelihoods destroyed,” the DeSantis campaign wrote.

Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, described Dr. Fauci as “the most dangerous bureaucrat in the history of the country” during a Fox News interview last month. On Wednesday, Representative Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican, said on Fox News: “The American people want safe streets, affordable gas and freedom, and the Biden administration has given us record crime, record inflation and Dr. Fauci.”

In April, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, introduced the Fire Fauci Act, a bill that, among other measures, would strip Dr. Fauci of his salary. (It has not progressed in Congress.) Former President Donald J. Trump has called Dr. Fauci “a radical masker” and questioned the doctor’s efforts to combat the pandemic.

Dr. Fauci, who turns 81 on Friday, has directed the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984. He is highly respected for his decades of work on pandemics, including the spread of AIDS in the 1980s. He became a household name in 2020 as a leading spokesman for the government’s coronavirus response. But Mr. Trump grew to distrust him while in office, and conservatives now often blame him for their concerns about the handling of the pandemic.

In an interview with The New York Times in September, Dr. Fauci spoke about the harassment and threats that he and his family, including his children, had received from “radical extreme right individuals,” including hundreds of emails and text messages with violent language accusing the doctor of being “a killer.”

“It’s all part of what you’re seeing in the intense, fiercely intense polarization that we’re seeing in the country,” Dr. Fauci said in September.

Fox News is a frequent venue for the criticism, and where the doctor is occasionally referred to as “Lord Fauci.” The network’s highest-rated hosts often depict him as an authoritarian determined to strip Americans of basic freedoms. Tucker Carlson has claimed that Dr. Fauci “created Covid,” and accused him of spreading “authoritarian germ hysteria.”

On Oct. 4, Mr. Carlson accused Mr. Fauci of deciding “to unilaterally end Christmas,” in remarks that also included a reference to “sneezing, unvaccinated illegal immigrants coming into this country,” which Mr. Carlson said had contributed to more Covid-19 cases.

Lara Logan, a former CBS News correspondent, used an appearance on Fox News in November to compare Dr. Fauci to Josef Mengele, the notorious Nazi doctor and murderer, prompting a rebuke from the Anti-Defamation League. Since then, Ms. Logan has not appeared on Fox News or the streaming platform Fox Nation.

Dr. Fauci, who once appeared fairly regularly on Fox News to discuss the government response to the pandemic, called Ms. Logan’s comments “unconscionable.” He has been mostly absent from the network of late, though he appeared with the anchor Neil Cavuto on Dec. 3; Mr. Cavuto contracted Covid in October and has urged his viewers to be vaccinated.

Mr. Watters has gone about his job as usual since the uproar over his remarks, which he made on Monday. On Wednesday, he guest-hosted Mr. Carlson’s program, the highest-rated show on cable news; during the appearance, Mr. Watters referred to Dr. Fauci as “his holiness.”

Still, the pandemic has had some impact on Mr. Watters and his fellow stars of the Fox News afternoon talk show “The Five.” The hosts taped the show on Wednesday from separate locations, rather than in the same New York studio, because of increasing fears over the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, which prompted Fox News to declare its Manhattan office off limits to unvaccinated employees.

The network had previously allowed those employees to work in its office as long as they tested negative. Fox News attributed the change to new city requirements recently issued by Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Sheryl Gay Stolberg contributed reporting.

Michael M. Grynbaum is a media correspondent covering the intersection of business, culture and politics. @grynbaum

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Texas Man Arrested for Making Election-Related Threats to Government Officials: First Case Charged by Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force
by The United States Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
January 21, 2022

A Texas man was arrested today in Travis County, Texas, for allegedly sending threatening election-related communications to government officials on Jan. 5, 2021.

Chad Stark, 54, of Leander, was arrested this morning in a law enforcement operation carried out by the FBI. He is scheduled to make his initial appearance this afternoon at the federal courthouse in Austin, Texas.

This is the first criminal case brought by the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco in late June 2021, the task force is leading the department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers — whether elected, appointed or volunteer — are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation. The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and investigates and prosecutes these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI field offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country as warranted.

“The Justice Department has a responsibility not only to protect the right to vote, but also to protect those who administer our voting systems from violence and illegal threats of violence,” said Attorney General Garland. “The department’s Election Threats Task Force, working with partners across the country, will hold accountable those who violate federal law by using violence or threatening violence to target election workers fulfilling their public duties.”

“Today’s arrest confirms the FBI’s commitment in our pursuit of justice against those who choose to threaten violence against anyone participating in our elections,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Election workers striving to protect our right to a fair and democratic process deserve nothing less than the utmost safety and assurance they can accomplish their roles without interference. The FBI will continue to focus on our mission of protecting these individuals and the important work they do, as well as every American’s right to vote.”

“The intimidation of those in charge of carrying out free and fair elections in this country is against the law and cannot go unchecked,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine for the Northern District of Georgia. “When someone threatens an election official working at any level of the voting process – whether that be an elected office holder or a volunteer poll worker – our democracy is put in jeopardy. We are grateful to all of those who endeavor to secure our elections and our democracy. We must protect them all.” According to the indictment, on Jan. 5, 2021, Stark allegedly posted a message to Craigslist entitled, “Georgia Patriots it’s time to kill [Official A] the Chinese agent - $10,000.” The message stated:

Georgia Patriots it’s time for us to take back our state from these Lawless treasonous traitors. It’s time to invoke our Second Amendment right it’s time to put a bullet in the treasonous Chinese [Official A]. Then we work our way down to [Official B] the local and federal corrupt judges. It’s our duty as American Patriots to put an end to the lives of these traitors and take back our country by force we can no longer wait on the corrupt law enforcement in the corrupt courts. If we want our country back we have to exterminate these people. One good loyal Patriot deer hunter in camo and a rifle can send a very clear message to these corrupt governors.. milita up Georgia it’s time to spill blood…. we need to pay a visit to [Official C] and her family as well and put a bullet her behind the ears. Let’s be very clear to our local law enforcement who have stood down and watch BLM antifa destroy our country and kill our citizens yet you’ll step up to stop Patriot supporters you’ll enforce face mask and you’ll close American businesses??? Remember one thing local law enforcement the key word being local….. we will find you oathbreakers and we’re going to pay your family to visit your mom your dad your brothers and sisters your children your wife… we’re going to make examples of traitors to our country… death to you and all you communist friends.

Organized by Deputy Attorney General Monaco, the Election Threats Task Force is led by the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and includes several other entities within the Department of Justice, including the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Criminal Division, the Civil Rights Division, the National Security Division and the FBI, as well as key interagency partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security. For more information regarding the Justice Department’s efforts to combat threats against election workers, read the Deputy Attorney General’s memo.

To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office may be found at https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/. You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at tips.fbi.gov. Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.

Stark is charged with one count of communicating interstate threats. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI’s Atlanta Field Office is investigating the case.

Deputy Director Sean F. Mulryne of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Alan Gray of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

[admin]

Raskin: Tapes Show McCarthy 'Radically Changed' Tune On Jan. 6
MSNBC
Apr 27, 2022

January 6th Select Cmte. member Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) joins MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell to discuss the recently released tapes of Rep. Kevin McCarthy and other Republican leaders expressing concern about the far-right members of their caucus after the Capitol insurrection.



1:10
LAWRENCE O'DONNELL: IN THOSE TAPES, WHICH WERE
OBTAINED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES,
MCCARTHY AND TOP HOUSE
REPUBLICAN LEADERS ARE HEARD
EXPRESSING CONCERN THAT FLORIDA
CONGRESSMAN MATT GAETZ AND
OTHER EXTREME MEMBERS OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY COULD INCITE
VIOLENCE AGAINST OTHER MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS IN BOTH PARTIES.

MCCARTHY: OKAY, THE OTHER THING
I WANT TO BRING UP AND I'M MAKING SOME
PHONE CALLS TO SOME MEMBERS.
I JUST, I JUST GOT SOMETHING
SENT NOW ABOUT NEWSMAX
SOMETHING MATT GAETZ SAID WHERE
HE'S CALLING PEOPLE'S NAMES OUT,
SAYING AN ANTI TRUMP IN THIS
TYPE OF ATMOSPHERE, SO MANY
OTHER PLACES.
THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF PEOPLE
ARE DOING THAT HAS TO
STOP.

SCALISE: I THINK MO, ALSO.... MO AND LOUIE'S
COMMENTS TOO.
A LOT OF MEMBERS HAVE SAID SOME
REAL CONCERNING THINGS ABOUT....

MCCARTHY: DID THEY SAY SOMETHING TOO?

SCALISE: NOT TO, I MEAN MO WAS AT
THE RALLY, "WERE KICKING ASS
AND TAKING NAMES THING"
AT THE TRUMP RALLY.

MCCARTHY: GONZALEZ JUST SENT IT TO ME,
SO I'M CALLING GAETZ, I'M EXPLAINING
TO HIM.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO
SAY, BUT I'M GONNA HAVE SOME
OTHER PEOPLE CALL HIM TOO.
BUT THE NATURE OF WHAT, IF I'M
GETTING BRIEFINGS, AND I'M GOING TO GET
ANOTHER ONE FROM THE FBI
TOMORROW,
THIS IS SERIOUS SHIT,
TO CUT THIS OUT.

SCALISE: YEAH THAT'S, THAT'S, IT'S
POTENTIALLY ILLEGAL WHAT HE'S
DOING.

MCCARTHY: WELL, HE'S PUTTING PEOPLE IN
JEOPARDY, AND HE DOESN'T NEED
TO BE DOING THIS.
WE SAW WHAT PEOPLE WOULD DO IN THE
CAPITOL, YOU KNOW, THESE PEOPLE
CAME PREPARED WITH ROPE, WITH
EVERYTHING ELSE.

[admin]

Breitbart Slammed for Doxxing FBI Agents Involved in Mar-a-Lago Raid
by Aila Slisco
Newsweek
8/12/22 AT 11:46 PM EDT

NOTICE: THIS WORK MAY BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT

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Conservative media outlet Breitbart is facing criticism for publishing the names of FBI agents involved in the raid of former President Donald Trump's home.

Breitbart published a leaked version of the Mar-a-Lago search warrant, including the names of an FBI special agent and supervisor agent, on Friday. The agents both signed their names on receipts for property seized from Trump's home, including boxes of classified documents that reportedly may have included nuclear secrets. A redacted version of the warrant, which omitted the names of the agents, was officially released hours later.

Commentators soon took to Twitter to accuse Breitbart, an outlet previously managed by former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, of doxxing—the practice of identifying a person or releasing personal information about them, often with the aim of enabling targeted harassment. Some also accused Trump of leaking the warrant to Breitbart in hopes of targeting the agents.

"[U.S. Attorney General Merrick] Garland called Trump out to make warrant public," tweeted digital strategist Alan Rosenblatt. "Trump tried to get one over on Garland, releasing warrant to Breitbart, w/out redacting FBI agents names. That's right, Trump doxxed FBI agents serving a legal search warrant. Once again, Trump is inciting violence."

((Alan Rosenblatt, PhD)))
@DrDigiPol·Follow
Garland called Trump out to make warrant public.

Trump tried to get one over on Garland, releasing warrant to Breitbart, w/out redacting FBI agents names.

That’s right, Trump doxxed FBI agents serving a legal search warrant.

Once again, Trump is inciting violence.
1:32 PM · Aug 12, 2022

"It's also worth noting that they published the names of the FBI agents, which serves no purpose other than opening them up to threats and harassment," legal analyst and former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti tweeted. "Breitbart is also confused about what 'SSA' means. It refers to Supervisory Special Agent, a FBI supervisor."

Renato Mariotti
@renato_mariotti·Follow
It’s also worth noting that they published the names of the FBI agents, which serves no purpose other than opening them up to threats and harassment.

Breitbart is also confused about what “SSA” means. It refers to Supervisory Special Agent, a FBI supervisor.

Kyle Cheney
@kyledcheney

Breitbart really does have the search warrant, but it's odd that they're leaning into something that was apparent just from the dates in the court docket. Search warrant was filed Friday and executed Monday.

https://breitbart.com/politics/2022/08/ ... lago-raid/
12:29 PM · Aug 12, 2022

"Trump, via Breitbart, released unredacted copy of property receipt containing names of FBI agents," tweeted attorney Mark S. Zaid. "Based on his history, this can only be interpreted as intentional to cause these Special Agents (one of whom I know) & their families grief & subject them to possible threats."

Mark S. Zaid
@MarkSZaidEsq·Follow
Trump, via Breitbart, released unredacted copy of property receipt containing names of FBI agents. Based on his history, this can only be interpreted as intentional to cause these Special Agents (one of whom I know) & their families grief & subject them to possible threats.
7:03 PM · Aug 12, 2022
Read the full conversation on Twitter

"From what I can tell, the court unsealed it - but before that could happen, Trump himself leaked it to Breitbart," author Tessa Dare tweeted. "But the version he leaked had the FBI AGENTS' NAMES in it, whereas the official unsealed one kept those redacted to protect them and their families. A**hole."

"[Breitbart] incl the names of the individual FBI agents involved in the search," Elephant Journal tweeted. "The court issued release of the warrant redacts that sensitive information. Team Trump just put a target on the backs of the agents & their families. That is 100% the intent."

Elephant Journal (V) (@WaylonLewis & Friends)
@elephantjournal·Follow
Replying to @elephantjournal
"[Breitbart] incl the names of the individual FBI agents involved in the search. The court issued release of the warrant redacts that sensitive information."

Team Trump just put a target on the backs of the agents & their families.

That is 100% the intent.
7:09 PM · Aug 12, 2022

"Trump's social media platform sent a push alert this afternoon to an article with an unredacted version of the search warrant that included the names of two FBI agents," tweeted CNN correspondent Donie O'Sullivan. "Those agents' names are now circulating on pro-Trump social media and are being villainized."

Donie O'Sullivan
@donie·Follow
Trump's social media platform sent a push alert this afternoon to an article with an unredacted version of the search warrant that included the names of two FBI agents.

Those agents' names are now circulating on pro-Trump social media and are being villainized.
4:55 PM · Aug 12, 2022

"So... when Trump leaked the warrant docs to WSJ, Fox & Breitbart this afternoon, the names of the FBI agents in moved were not redacted," news anchor Ed Greenberger tweeted. "Anyone who thinks Trump cares about America, or Americans, is a damn fool."

Ed Greenberger
@EdGreenberger·Follow
So… when Trump leaked the warrant docs to WSJ, Fox & Breitbart this afternoon, the names of the FBI agents in moved were not redacted.

Anyone who thinks Trump cares about America, or Americans, is a damn fool.
4:21 PM · Aug 12, 2022

The FBI has received an increase in violent threats in the wake of conservative rage over the raid on Trump's home. FBI Director Christopher Wray has denounced the threats, saying on Wednesday "violence against law enforcement is not the answer, no matter what anybody's upset about."

Less than 24 hours before the Trump search warrant was leaked to Breitbart, an armed Trump supporter who had recently advocated killing FBI agents online was shot dead by police after allegedly attempting to break into the FBI field office in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Newsweek has reached out to Breitbart for comment.

[admin]

Trump & Company Lash Out As The Walls Close In On Them
by Adrienne Lawrence
Rebel HQ
Aug 12, 2022

NOTICE: THIS WORK MAY BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO READ THE COPYRIGHT NOTICE AT THIS LINK BEFORE YOU READ THE FOLLOWING WORK, THAT IS AVAILABLE SOLELY FOR PRIVATE STUDY, SCHOLARSHIP OR RESEARCH PURSUANT TO 17 U.S.C. SECTION 107 AND 108. IN THE EVENT THAT THE LIBRARY DETERMINES THAT UNLAWFUL COPYING OF THIS WORK HAS OCCURRED, THE LIBRARY HAS THE RIGHT TO BLOCK THE I.P. ADDRESS AT WHICH THE UNLAWFUL COPYING APPEARED TO HAVE OCCURRED. THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING THE RIGHTS OF COPYRIGHT OWNERS.

what.i.meme.to.say

It's not looking good for Donald Trump. He's choosing to lash out against judges, the DOJ, and anyone else in his way. He's trying to take as many people down with him as he can. Adrienne Lawrence breaks it down on Rebel HQ.



******************

Florida judge who approved FBI search of Mar-a-Lago faces barrage of antisemitic online attacks: The magistrate, who is Jewish, is facing attacks that are antisemitic in nature.
by Matt Dixon
Politico
08/12/2022 03:59 PM EDT

Updated: 08/12/2022 04:49 PM EDT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida federal magistrate judge who approved the FBI search of former President Donald Trump’s Palm Beach County residence has faced an onslaught of antisemitic attacks and threats online, some of which targeted the synagogue he belongs to.

Magistrate judge Bruce Reinhart, a board member at Temple Beth David in Palm Beach Gardens, has seen sustained antisemitic attacks on right wing message boards and other social media platforms like 4Chan since his name surfaced as the judge who signed off on the FBI’s warrant to search Mar-a-Lago.

Republicans, too, have been heavily critical of the judge, including Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who questioned Reinhart’s impartiality during an appearance on Fox News earlier this week when he claimed: “They found some Obama donor judge, not even a judge, a magistrate, to give them the search warrant.”

No Republican elected official has called for violence against Reinhart, and on Friday afternoon Rubio posted on Twitter that anyone threatening violence over the search should be arrested.

Reinhart had previously donated to President Barack Obama’s campaign but also contributed to Republican Jeb Bush when the former Florida governor was running for president during the 2016 cycle.

Major Paul Rogers with the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department told POLITICO that they are “aware of the threats” and are working with federal law enforcement. The U.S. Marshals Service, which is responsible for protecting federal judges, declined to comment in detail.

The threats against Reinhart highlight the contentious nature of the search of Trump’s residence. On Thursday, police shot and killed a man, identified as Ricky W. Shiffer, in Ohio after he tried to break into the FBI office in Cincinnati, authorities said. The New York Times reported that a person with an account bearing the same name posted on Trump’s “Truth Social” social media platform that people should kill federal agents in Florida.

Aryeh Tuchman, a senior associate director for the Anti-Defamation League’s Center for Extremism, said his organization is “monitoring the increased level of threat language generally, and also towards the specific judge.”

“I think it’s fair to say certainly where the judge is concerned, reports of vitriol directed at him and the synagogue have increased,” he said.

Tuchman said that the synagogue Reinhart belongs to has additional security in place and Temple Beth David had to cancel an outdoor service due to concerns of violence. Officials with the synagogue did not return a request seeking comment.

Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday said he approved the search of Trump’s resort and moved to unseal the search warrant. He also defended federal agents and prosecutors who have been heavily criticized by Republicans and others, saying he will not “stand by silently when their integrity is unfairly attacked. The men and women of the FBI and the Justice Department are dedicated, patriotic public servants.”

Leading Republicans initially defended Trump and claimed the FBI search was an example of the federal government overstepping its authority and the Biden administration targeting political opponents. But some have taken softer stances after it was reported some of the documents could relate to nuclear weapons.

A search warrant viewed by POLITICO indicates that federal authorities are investigating Trump for potential violations of the Espionage Act, obstruction of an investigation and removal or destruction of records. Some of the documents recovered were marked “TS/SCI,” one of the highest levels of classification by the government.

Few, however, have made public statements about threats made toward Reinhardt, even as conservatives on various social media sites and message boards have directly attacked him over being Jewish and over the fact that in 2009 he served as a defense attorney representing employees of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.



Fox News in particular received a backlash after airing a doctored photo of Reinhart receiving a foot massage from Ghislaine Maxwell, a convicted sex trafficker and a longtime companion of Epstein. On Friday, Fox News host Brian Kilmeade posted a mea culpa of sorts, saying the depiction “never took place & we wanted to make clear that we were showing a meme in jest.”

“Right wingers are weaponizing the synagogue affiliation of a judge who was doing his job,” said Jeffrey Salkin, a rabbi and columnist for Religion News Service. “They are slurring the social justice commitments of contemporary Judaism. Their bigotry is appalling, and I would welcome the protests of the Republican Jewish Coalition.”

[admin]

Fox News aired a bizarre fake photo replacing Jeffrey Epstein with the judge who signed off on Trump's search warrant
by Natalie Musumeci
Business Insider
8/13/22

NOTICE: THIS WORK MAY BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO READ THE COPYRIGHT NOTICE AT THIS LINK BEFORE YOU READ THE FOLLOWING WORK, THAT IS AVAILABLE SOLELY FOR PRIVATE STUDY, SCHOLARSHIP OR RESEARCH PURSUANT TO 17 U.S.C. SECTION 107 AND 108. IN THE EVENT THAT THE LIBRARY DETERMINES THAT UNLAWFUL COPYING OF THIS WORK HAS OCCURRED, THE LIBRARY HAS THE RIGHT TO BLOCK THE I.P. ADDRESS AT WHICH THE UNLAWFUL COPYING APPEARED TO HAVE OCCURRED. THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING THE RIGHTS OF COPYRIGHT OWNERS.

A digitally altered photo of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell that replaced Epstein's body with the judge who approved Trump's search warrant @what.i.meme.to.say / Twitter

* Fox News aired a digitally altered photo of the judge who green-lit the search warrant for Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago.
* An image of the judge was tacked onto an old photo of Jeffrey Epstein getting a foot rub by Ghislaine Maxwell.
* The photo aired during "Tucker Carlson Tonight" on Thursday while Brian Kilmeade was a guest host.

Fox News aired a digitally altered photo that replaced an old image of Jeffrey Epstein getting a foot rub from Ghislaine Maxwell with the body and face of the federal judge who signed off on the warrant allowing FBI agents to search former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago.

The altered photo — originally an image of the late convicted sex offender Epstein cozying up to convicted sex trafficker Maxwell on a private jet — was broadcast during "Tucker Carlson Tonight" on Thursday while Fox News' Brian Kilmeade was serving as guest host.

"Also a picture of Bruce Reinhart," Kilmeade said during the segment as the fake image showing Reinhart — a magistrate judge for the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida — was shown to viewers.

Aaron Rupar
@atrupar·Follow
Brian Kilmeade, filling in for Tucker Carlson tonight, shared a clearly fake, photoshopped image of the judge involved in approving the Mar-a-Lago warrant

https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1557 ... fbi-2022-8

In the photo, Reinhart can be seen with a box of Golden Oreos and a bottle of Early Times whiskey in his right hand. Epstein's upper body in the image was replaced with Reinhart's.

"This is the judge in charge of the, of the, of the, um, as you know, of the warrant, and we'll see if he's going to release it next — he likes Oreos and whiskey," Kilmeade said during the broadcast.

During the broadcast, Kilmeade asked Fox News' Sean Hannity whether he can "relate to that," prompting Hannity himself to call out the photo for being altered.

"I think that's actually a picture of Jeffrey Epstein with somebody putting [Reinhart's] head on there," Hannity told Kilmeade, adding, "I'm guessing, I don't know."

Kilmeade responded, "It might be his plane. Who knows?"

"I'll let you determine that in the morning. We'll be watching," a chuckling Hannity said.

The image used for the broadcast was credited to the meme social media account @what.i.meme.to.say. The account didn't immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment on Twitter or Instagram.

Reinhart approved the warrant that allowed the FBI to search Trump's Mar-a-Lago property on Monday.

The judge has reportedly received violent and antisemitic threats by far-right extremists since signing off on the warrant.

Brian Kilmeade
@kilmeade·Follow
Last night while subbing for Tucker Carlson, we showed you an image of Judge Bruce Reinhart w/ Ghislaine Maxwell that was sourced on screen to a meme pulled from Twitter & wasn’t real. This depiction never took place & we wanted to make clear that we were showing a meme in jest.
1:44 PM · Aug 12, 2022

In a tweet on Friday, Kilmeade addressed the use of the doctored photo in Thursday night's segment and said he was "showing a meme in jest."

"Last night while subbing for Tucker Carlson, we showed you an image of Judge Bruce Reinhart w/ Ghislaine Maxwell that was sourced on screen to a meme pulled from Twitter & wasn't real," Kilmeade wrote. "This depiction never took place & we wanted to make clear that we were showing a meme in jest."

When reached on Friday, a spokesperson for Fox News declined to comment further.

[admin]

Armed Trump supporters gathered outside Phoenix FBI office: Peter Strzok: Author, Compromised: Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J. Trump.
CNN
Aug 14, 2022

A group of approximately 25 people gathered outside of an FBI office in Phoenix. Some in the group were armed and wearing tactical gear. CNN has reached out to the FBI Phoenix field office for comment. Phoenix Police Department Sgt. Phil Krynsky told CNN “the group was peaceful and there are no incidents to report.”