LGBTQ news and entertainment
In a closed door interview with the House Oversight Committee, former Attorney General Pam Bondi refused to discuss Donald Trump’s connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to Democratic lawmakers, Bondi repeatedly shifted the focus to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who she says is in charge of overseeing the Epstein files release. Continue reading “Bondi Blames Her Replacement For Epstein Files Debacle”
Some news items I thought worth your time:
• ABC News: Lawmakers in Belarus passed a bill Thursday allowing punishments for people who promote LGBTQ causes. Belarus doesn’t recognize same-sex marriages and lacks protection for LGBTQ rights. President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the east European nation for more than 3 decades, has publicly mocked homosexuality.
• Kenneth-in-the-212: This week’s round-up of the latest LGBTQ publications including RAGE Magazine’s spotlight on the arts. Continue reading “Belarus Cracks Down On LGBTQ Rights + More News”
Donald Trump has fired Attorney General Pam Bondi following months of reports that he was extremely frustrated with her inability to secure indictments against his political enemies and her deplorable handling of the Epstein files debacle.
Attorney General Pam Bondi is facing a lot of backlash for her recent claim that antifa is a well-funded, criminal organization because many anti-MAGA protestors have “matching signs.” Continue reading “Bondi Claims Matching Protest Signs Prove Antifa Is ‘Well-Funded Criminal Org’”
A federal lawsuit has been filed against FBI Director Kash Patel (above) and Attorney General Pam Bondi by former acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll and two other fired FBI officials who claim they were the targets of “politically motivated retribution.” Continue reading “Lawsuit Alleges FBI Director Fired Bureau Officials For ‘Political Retribution’”
Some news items you might have missed: • The Advocate: Benjamin Michael, a former U.S. Marine, has been charged with a hate crime after a Maryland tattoo shop’s surveillance camera caught him tearing down their LGBTQ+ Pride flag (click pic to play). Continue reading “New Music From Omar Apollo + Marine Charged In Hate Crime + More”
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| Donald Trump with Florida AG Pam Bondi |
As it turns out, not only did Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi get $25,000 for her reelection coffers from Donald Trump for refusing to investigate Trump University on her state’s behalf, her support will garner another reward: an appointment to a plum role in the new Trump administration.
From the Tampa Bay Times:
Immediately after Donald Trump was elected president, one Florida name was floated above the rest for a job in his administration: Attorney General Pam Bondi.
About two weeks out from Trump’s inauguration, the Tampa Republican still has not been appointed to any job.
But an announcement could be coming soon, reports Bloomberg’s Jennifer Jacobs.
In a tweet, she wrote, “NEW: Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi will be named to a post in the Trump White House, sources tell me. Trump aides finalizing her role.”
Asked Thursday, the Trump transition provided no new information about whether Bondi was even still in consideration for an administration job.
“We have no additional announcements at this time,” said Sean Spicer, who will be Trump’s White House press secretary, on a conference call with reporters. “I don’t want to get ahead of any announcements that may or may not come.”
Bondi has been mum, too. Asked Thursday morning, she would not comment on whether she was being considered for a new job in the administration.
“I’d never discuss anything confidential,” she said, echoing previous statements.
You just gotta love that swamp.
NEW: Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi will be named to a post in the Trump White House, sources tell me. Trump aides finalizing her role.— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) January 5, 2017
The Clinton campaign released this new campaign ad just hours after the New York State Attorney General’s announcement that he will be investigating the Trump Foundation for possible illegal or corrupt practices.
From Politico:
“You’ve probably heard Trump talk about the Clinton Foundation, but you might not have heard that while he attacks one of America’s top charities, his foundation has been fined for an illegal donation,” a narrator intones, as graphics showing the Clinton Foundation’s top ratings from Charity Watch, GuideStar and Charity Navigator are displayed on screen.
“She cashed the check, blocked the case, and he tried to cover up the donation,” the ad alleges, before concluding with a picture of a hard hat-wearing Trump grinning in front of workers. “So, when you hear Donald Trump talk about corrupt politics, remember which candidate actually practices it.”
You’ll recall that in 2013, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office announced it was looking into joining a class action suit against Trump University. At the same time, Bondi asked Donald Trump for a campaign donation.
Three days later, Trump’s $25,000 check arrived in Florida. Within days Bondi announced she would not be following up on the Trump U. action.
Put another way, imagine you were robbed. Before the robber is charged he makes a campaign donation to the police chief, and the next thing you know charges are not filed and he’s set free.
Smell right to you?
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| Donald Trump with Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi |
The editorial board of the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel published an op-ed today calling for an independent federal investigation into Donald Trump’s $25,000 donation to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s reelection fund.
Trump loves to call his presidential opponent “Crooked Hillary” although she has never been charged or found guilty of anything. But in this tawdry campaign donation escapade, it clearly looks like Trump is the one guilty of “pay for play.”
The timing is certainly curious, with the contribution arriving just three days after Bondi’s office said it was considering whether to join a class-action lawsuit against Trump University, an education company that promised to turn students into successful real estate investors, but left many empty-handed. Bondi’s office decided not to join the suit.
The donation from the candidate’s foundation also violated tax rules governing nonprofit organizations. As a result, the GOP presidential nominee recently paid the IRS a pocket-change fine of $2,500.
Maybe there is nothing untoward here. Maybe it’s nothing more than coincidence, as Bondi and the Trump campaign maintain.
[snip]
It’s hard to tell who looks worse in this, Bondi or Trump.
It was learned this week that in 2014, after Bondi decided not to investigate Trump U, the billionaire hosted a $3,000-a-person fundraiser for her at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach.
So, to recap: Trump University investigation comes up, three days later $25,000 appears from Trump, the next day Bondi decides not to prosecute, and then Trump throws a $3K a person fund-raiser for Bondi at his resort.
Nope. Doesn’t sound fishy to me. How about you?
For a more entertaining look at the story, check The Late Show’s Stephen Colbert looking into the debacle.
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| Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi |
A Massachusetts lawyer has requested federal prosecutors look into bribery charges against Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and GOP White House hopeful Donald Trump.
The issue at hand goes back to 2013 when Bondi was reviewing complaints against Trump University, now at the center of several fraud lawsuits.
Just days after her campaign sought, and received, a $25,000 donation to her political action committee from Donald Trump, Bondi decided against investigating the complaints.
From the Orlando Sentinel:
The Orlando Sentinel reported on Sept. 13, 2013 that Bondi’s office was looking into the Trump complaints. Campaign finance records show Bondi’s political committee, And Justice for All, received the $25,000 donation from Trump on Sept. 17, 2013.
“Evidence strongly indicates that Bondi’s decision not to initiate or participate in litigation against Trump University was given in exchange for Trump’s contribution based on the short time period between the receipt of the political contribution and the announcement of Bondi’s decision not to participate in the New York litigation,” Larrabee’s complaint states.
The Associated Press reported earlier this month that Bondi’s political consultant Marc Reichelderfer said she personally solicited the donation from Trump. Larrabee filed state ethics and elections complaints against Bondi over the Trump donation after the report was published.
Those complaints are still being reviewed, but Bondi called the allegations untrue. A spokeswoman for Bondi did not respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday.
