LGBTQ news and entertainment
Some news stories you might have missed: • PEOPLE: Willie Garson (above), who played the fashionable yet bashful Stanford Blatch on Sex and the City, has died at age 57 “following a short illness,” just weeks after filming scenes for the show’s reboot. Continue reading “News Round-Up: September 21, 2021”
Donald Trump (image public domain/White House)
“We want to understand what did you want when you said ‘go up there’?” Leonnig says in the recording, referring to Trump saying that he was going to march with the crowd to the Capitol.
“I would have said that you will show — not to go in, although they were ushered in by the police. I mean, in all fairness, the Capitol Police were ushering people in. The Capitol Police were very friendly, hugging and kissing — you don’t see that, but there’s plenty of tape on that too, the Capitol Police, that’s the way it is. I wanted — personally, what I wanted is what they wanted. They showed up. Just to show support. Because I happen to believe the election was rigged. At a level like nothing has ever been rigged before. There’s tremendous proof. There’s tremendous proof. Statistically, it wasn’t even possible that he won. I mean, things such as in Ohio, Iowa, there’s never been a loss.”
“Did you need better lawyers because they took it to court—?” asked Rucker.
“I needed better judges. The Supreme Court was afraid to take it, don’t forget,” said Trump.
Read more at Alternet.
Rudy Giuliani (screen capture)
A New York court ruled that Giuliani made “demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers and the public at large in his capacity as lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump.”
“These false statements were made to improperly bolster respondent’s narrative that due to widespread voter fraud, victory in the 2020 United States presidential election was stolen from his client,” the court wrote.
“We conclude that respondent’s conduct immediately threatens the public interest and warrants interim suspension from the practice of law, pending further proceedings before the Attorney Grievance Committee.”
The court examined a number of instances in which Giuliani made false statements about alleged election fraud in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, and Michigan. Each were found to be in violation of various provisions of the New York Rules of Professional Conduct.
Giuliani is also facing multibillion-dollar defamation lawsuits from two voting-machine companies that were the target of baseless conspiracy theories from Giuliani as well as a criminal investigation by the Southern District of New York for his dealings with Ukraine.
BREAKING: Rudy Giuliani's law license has been suspended.
A disciplinary body says he made "demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers and the public at large in his capacity as lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump."https://t.co/6PfpsrAFeV
— Jan Wolfe (@JanNWolfe) June 24, 2021
Breaking News: Rudy Giuliani’s New York law license was suspended for making “false and misleading” statements about the 2020 election as Donald Trump’s lawyer. https://t.co/bm5t5A5nki
— The New York Times (@nytimes) June 24, 2021
You cannot lie in a court of law and get away with it—not even if Trump has you on speed dial.
I petitioned the NY court to suspend Rudy Giuliani’s law license, and his disbarment is well-earned. His lies have caused serious harm to our democracy.
Don’t mess with Pennsylvania.
— Josh Shapiro (@JoshShapiroPA) June 24, 2021
New Yorker who can still practice law: @HillaryClinton
New Yorker who cannot practice law:
Rudy Giuliani— Travis Akers (@travisakers) June 24, 2021
(image via Lego)
so many people wikipedia-ing dear evan hansen today and so many people finding out it’s not a musical about a gay kid who broke his arm lol
— alex (@alex_abads) May 18, 2021
Donald Trump released a video message today admonishing “violence and vandalism” in regard to the invasion of the U.S. Capitol building last week. “No true supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence,” says Trump in the clip. “No true supporter of mine could ever disrespect law enforcement or our great American flag.” Oh, my sides… The video came shortly after the House approved an article of impeachment against Trump by a vote of 232-197 making him the first president ever to be impeached twice. Plus, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell began hinting he may vote to convict Trump. This comes across as a preemptive legal defense against impeachment to me. Trust and believe, he did not write a word of this. From the New York Times:
“I want to be very clear,” he continued. “I unequivocally condemn the violence that we saw last week. Violence and vandalism have absolutely no place in our country and no place in our movement. Making America great again has always been about defending the rule of law” and supporting law enforcement officials.
As a candidate in 2016, Mr. Trump once encouraged rally attendees to physically attack protesters. But in the video on Wednesday, he said that “mob violence goes against everything I believe in and everything our movement stands for. No true supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence.”
“If you do any of these things, you are not supporting our movement, you are attacking it, and you are attacking our country,” he said. “We cannot tolerate it.”
There was no mention of the people who died in the melee last week including one Capitol Police officer who was reportedly bludgeoned with a fire extinguisher. Looking ahead to the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, Trump added, “There must be no violence, no lawbreaking and no vandalism of any kind.”
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 13, 2021
Trump: “No true supporters of mine could ever endorse political violence.”
Also Trump: “When the looting starts, the shooting starts.” “I’d like to punch him in the face.” “Any guy who can do a body slam, he’s my guy.” — Eli Stokols (@EliStokols) January 13, 2021
TELEPROMPTER: “I did not endorse the violence.”
REALITY: “I sat & watched the violence play out on TV and I did nothing to stop it. Instead, I ignored all calls to intervene as I sat there, clapping my little doll-hands in giddy delight, because the violence was what I wanted.” — Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) January 13, 2021
More lies in Trump video. Says “no true supporters of mine could ever endorse political violence.” (These were his supporters of his at rally. He told them to come. He said he was with them as they marched to Capitol. Also he has stoked violence before calling press “enemy,” etc)
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 13, 2021
He said they were very special, he loved them…he watched it unfold on TV, all for his ego. He chose to do nothing and allow terror to reign in hopes of stopping the count process.
— Bonzai (@BonzaiO69) January 13, 2021
Trump, in his new video statement, said “no true supporter of mine could ever disrespect law enforcement.” Here’s video evidence of a Capitol security guard being beaten with a Trump flag pic.twitter.com/AwNQkgQ1dD
— John Kruzel (@johnkruzel) January 13, 2021
to the rioters: “I love you. You are very special”
— Bill Rubenstein (@wmr251) January 13, 2021
Donald Trump called for the Republican governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, to resign from office today because Kemp wouldn’t attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. After counting the ballots three times in the Peach State, the results show President-elect Joe Biden won the state by 12,000 votes. Trump also tried to allege that some kind of conspiracy theory that Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s brother works for China and somehow figures into the mix. By the way, did I mention Brad Raffensperger doesn’t have a brother? In related news, the Atlanta-Journal Constitution reports an audit of over 15,000 voter signatures from the election didn’t find a single fraudulent absentee ballot as Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed. The report by the Georgia secretary of state’s office released Tuesday. From the AJC: “There were 10 absentee ballots that had been accepted but voter signatures didn’t match or signatures were missing, according to the report. But agents from the GBI and investigators with the secretary of state’s office contacted those voters and confirmed they had submitted those ballots.”
Hearings from Atlanta on the Georgia Election overturn now being broadcast. Check it out. @OANN @newsmax and many more. @BrianKempGA should resign from office. He is an obstructionist who refuses to admit that we won Georgia, BIG! Also won the other Swing States.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2020
…The consent decree signed by the “Secretary”, with the consent of Kemp, is perhaps even more poorly negotiated than the deal that John Kerry made with Iran. Now it turns out that Brad R’s brother works for China, and they definitely don’t want “Trump”. So disgusting! #MAGA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2020
NARRATOR: “Republican Brad Raffensperger doesn’t have a brother.”
REALITY: pic.twitter.com/cWzT0lRUvw
— Brian Sims (@BrianSimsPA) December 30, 2020
Read the Georgia Secretary of State’s report on the Cobb County signature audit that found one missing signature and one mistaken signature out of 15k. #gapol
Highlight: “no fraudulent absentee ballots were identified.” Story in the morning.
Report: https://t.co/eXyoNABU8b pic.twitter.com/vgwsPxKpYR
— stephen fowler covers Georgia's election! (@stphnfwlr) December 29, 2020
Donald Trump (photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr – CC License)
Yet even amid the intractable movement of the transition and the hurried lame-duck activity — some of which he is participating in himself — Trump is steadfastly refusing to acknowledge that he lost.
In his moments of deepest denial, Trump has told some advisers that he will refuse to leave the White House on Inauguration Day, only to be walked down from that ledge. The possibility has alarmed some aides, but few believe Trump will actually follow through.
“He’s throwing a f***ing temper tantrum,” an adviser said. “He’s going to leave. He’s just lashing out.”
The White House declined to comment for this report.
“Temper tantrums, lashing out, talking about not leaving the White House. Trump is not 4, right? He's 74,” @ErinBurnett says.
“And despite his increasingly deranged delusions, he still has the power to instill cowering and fear and sycophancy in others.” https://t.co/nzAk7rq8gV pic.twitter.com/GLbZl79VU2
— OutFrontCNN (@OutFrontCNN) December 17, 2020
Trump flack Kayleigh McEneny
Dead-ender Kayleigh McEnany yells at GA Gov. Kemp on Fox News: “You have the power to call in a special legislative session because right now if we lose these two Senate seats, guess whose casting the deciding vote in this country for our government? It will be Kamala Harris.” pic.twitter.com/IW2o55ohWs
— The Recount (@therecount) December 6, 2020
When even Kemp is not dishonest enough for you.
— Matthew Rettenmund (@mattrett) December 6, 2020
This is racketeering. The powers of the White House do not include authority over how states run elections. Georgia held a lawful, Constitutional election. Using WH office of any kind to pressure others to corrupt that process is criminal abuse of office.
— Joseph Robertson (@poet_economist) December 6, 2020
I think this is the result of raising children and calling them princess’ all their lives. A sense of entitlement in all that they do in life. Undermine democracy because you lost? Of course you can princess.
— Teddysnumberonefan (@Teddysnumberon1) December 6, 2020
Clearly Kayleigh doesn’t know math or law. Even if Kemp decided to do what they are asking(he can’t), it wouldn’t put Biden below 270 or Trump up to 270. Biden didnt need Georgia to win. It’s just ice cream on the peach cobbler.
— Everyone 🌈😷🌊 (@every1wearamask) December 6, 2020
The horror! What if Dems control the Senate so there’s no gridlock — and a Covid Relief Bill actually gets passed — helping millions of Americans who are struggling, through no fault of their own. Rich people gonna be mad! This is awful!
— Jorgé Orwell (@planterspunch7) December 6, 2020
Michael Flynn (photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr)
It came to light that Mr. Flynn was lying to his colleagues about conversations he had in December 2016 with the Russian ambassador, Sergey I. Kislyak.
In the calls, Mr. Flynn urged Moscow not to escalate in response to sanctions imposed by the departing Obama administration over Russia’s covert election interference to help Mr. Trump, and raised the possibility that the incoming Trump administration would work more closely with Russia.
The pattern of lying raised new suspicions about Mr. Flynn. The F.B.I. sent agents to interview him at the White House even though deliberations with the Justice Department about whether to first tell Mr. Trump’s new White House counsel were not yet resolved.
Notes from a meeting related to that interview suggest a purpose of the interview may have been to see whether Mr. Flynn would lie again to the F.B.I. agents — as he did.
Despite Flynn pleading guilty to the eventual charges, Trump – who fired Flynn in 2017 for lying to Vice President Mike Pence and the FBI about his conversation with Russia’s ambassador – continually said Flynn was “treated terribly” by the Intelligence community. As many have noted, a presidential pardon requires admitting guilt. In doing so, Flynn would lose any 5th Amendment protections regarding being called to testify on the issues. In related news, NBC News reports that prosecutors in New York City are seeking to have the state’s highest court revive mortgage fraud charges against Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort. “A four-judge panel in the intermediate court ruled Oct. 22 that the DA’s office failed to demonstrate that the state charges warranted an exception to state double jeopardy protections. That echoed trial court judge Maxwell Wiley’s finding last December that the state charges against Manafort mirrored the federal case that landed him behind bars.” Expect Manafort to receive a pardon in regard to his federal case as well. A new case brought by the Manhattan DA would be exempt from Trump’s pardon powers as state charges can’t be resolved by a presidential pardon.
It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon. Congratulations to @GenFlynn and his wonderful family, I know you will now have a truly fantastic Thanksgiving!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 25, 2020
The chief of staff & press secretary have both congratulated Mike Flynn on his pardon tonight without mentioning how lied to those who preceded them. Trump said he fired Flynn for lying to Pence, but Flynn had also lied to multiple others, including Reince Priebus & Sean Spicer.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) November 25, 2020
Donald Trump has repeatedly abused the pardon power to reward friends and protect those who covered up for him. This time he pardons Michael Flynn, who lied to hide his dealings with the Russians. It’s no surprise that Trump would go out as he came in — Crooked to the end.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) November 25, 2020
Michael Flynn pleaded guilty for lying to the FBI twice—and should be held accountable for it. The President’s decision to pardon him today is corrupt. No one should be above the law—regardless of their connections.
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) November 25, 2020
Donald Trump during ABC News Town Hall (screen capture)
Top election officials across the country said in interviews and statements that the process had been a remarkable success despite record turnout and the complications of a dangerous pandemic.
“There’s a great human capacity for inventing things that aren’t true about elections,” said Frank LaRose, a Republican who serves as Ohio’s secretary of state. “The conspiracy theories and rumors and all those things run rampant. For some reason, elections breed that type of mythology.”
Steve Simon, a Democrat who is Minnesota’s secretary of state, said: “I don’t know of a single case where someone argued that a vote counted when it shouldn’t have or didn’t count when it should. There was no fraud.”
“Kansas did not experience any widespread, systematic issues with voter fraud, intimidation, irregularities or voting problems,” a spokeswoman for Scott Schwab, the Republican secretary of state in Kansas, said in an email Tuesday. “We are very pleased with how the election has gone up to this point.”