Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky once again told reporters in a recent interview that there was NO quid pro quo for US aid to Ukraine.
President Trump jumped on this news before leaving for NATO meetings in Britain this week.
Breaking News: The President of Ukraine has just again announced that President Trump has done nothing wrong with respect to Ukraine and our interactions or calls. If the Radical Left Democrats were sane, which they are not, it would be case over!
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has denied an explicit quid pro quo attaching investigations into President Trump’s political rivals to the release of U.S. military aid. But, in a new interview with Time and several European publications, Zelensky did say that delaying nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine was an unfair thing for a “strategic partner” to do.
“Look, I never talked to the President from the position of a quid pro quo,” Zelensky said. “But you have to understand. We’re at war. If you’re our strategic partner, then you can’t go blocking anything for us. I think that’s just about fairness. It’s not about a quid pro quo. It just goes without saying.”
The denial of a quid pro quo echoes similar statements Zelensky has made on the subject. During a joint press conference with Trump in New York last September, Zelensky was asked if he “felt any pressure from President Trump to investigate Joe Biden and Hunter Biden?”
Rally organizers said 380,000 people took the streets of Hong Kong Sunday for a protest themed “never forget” – a reminder to the city’s government that the protest movement’s victory in last week’s district council elections would not silence their four democratic demands.
Hong Kong residents have been organizing peaceful assemblies since June – the largest protest on record attracting 2 million people in a city of 7 million – demanding the government not cede to Chinese Communist Party attempts to subdue it. China has a right to sovereignty over Hong Kong under a policy called “One Country, Two Systems,” which bans Beijing from imposing communism.
The protesters are making five demands of their government: the full withdrawal of proposed legislation to allow Beijing to extradite anyone present in Hong Kong into China’s repressive and secretive prison system; freedom for all political prisoners; the direct election of lawmakers; an end to the government referring to protests as “riots;” and an independent investigation into police brutality.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam ceded to the first demand in September, forcing the Legislative Council to withdraw the extradition bill. The move prompted protesters to coin the new slogan “five demands, not one less,” refusing to allow Lam to disregard the other four – in particular, the demand for the direct election of all lawmakers, rather than subjecting the Legislative Council to the whims of a coalition of special interests that currently chooses who writes the city’s laws.
Sunday was the first day in some time that police issued a permit for large-scale protests in the city. Officers approved three rallies: the “never forget” rally, a protest against the police use of tear gas against children present in protest areas, and a rally thanking the United States for passing the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which allows Washington to curb Hong Kong’s special economic status if China violates “One Country, Two Systems.”
The “never forget” rally was reportedly the largest. According to its organizer, a protester identified only as “Swing,” 380,000 people attended; police claimed only 16,000 participated, though protesters have previously accused the police of deflating attendance numbers.
These numbers also do not apply to the other two large rallies organized on that day.
A pro-democracy protester wears a face mask of U.S President Donald Trump during a March of Gratitude rally to say thank you to the United States for their support on December 01, 2019 in Hong Kong. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
At the largest rally, the crowd reportedly chanted “five demands, not one less” while waving their five fingers in the air, in addition to other, more combative slogans like “disband the police force without delay” and “the heavens will eliminate the Chinese Communist Party, let the entire Party die,” according to the Epoch Times.
Thousands of pro-democracy protesters participate in a “5 Demands” mass rally on December 01, 2019 in Hong Kong. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
“It’s very important for the people to tell the government that we haven’t given up. So this is our demands; five demands not one less,” an unnamed college student told the broadcaster RTHK.
“Swing” had received a permit for a rally lasting from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday local time, but police revolved the permit at 4 p.m. and began attacking the crowds with tear gas and pepper spray.
The early police attack on what appeared to be an otherwise peaceful protest triggered clashes in at least three neighborhoods: Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok, which had previously seen unrest throughout the protest movement, and the Whampoa shopping district. The “never forget” rally occurred in Tsim Sha Tsui.
“At 3 p.m. today (December 1), protestors commenced a public procession in Tsim Sha Tsui. According to the agreed arrangement, the protestors would march from the Clock Tower to Hong Kong Coliseum via Salisbury Road,” the Hong Kong government said in a press statement explaining the abrupt attack on the peaceful march. “As some radical protestors passed by Mody Road Garden via Salisbury Road, they hurled bricks at Police officers. Police officers, in response, deployed the minimum necessary force, including tear gas, to stop their illegal acts.”
RTHK reported following the protest that police attacked the crowd with pepper pray and that “some people were seen throwing objects” at officers, but only after riot police targeted them for attack.
The Asian news outlet Coconuts reported that, following the police attack on the “never forget” rally, protesters began spreading out into Mong Kok and Whampoa. In the latter, the protesters began attacking businesses believed to have ties to the communist government and triads, local organized crime syndicates, by spray-painting anti-communist messages on their walls. Local reports confirmed the use of at least one Molotov cocktail against police in Whampoa
“Earlier in the evening, masked protesters were seen smashing up traffic lights, and several restaurants and shops deemed to be hostile towards the protest movement. Bricks and other debris were strewn all over the road in a bid to block traffic,” according to RTHK.
Some graffiti parodying Xi Jinping and vandalism of the local MTR station took place near Whampoa Gardens, after police departed.
Police responded by attacking crowds in the area. Many online expressed outrage at the police tactic of targeting underground rail stations with tear gas, essentially trapping anyone inside the station regardless of participation in the protests. Protesters recorded an incident in the Tsim Sha Tsui metro station in which police struck down an older woman – wearing white, without any indications of being a protester – leaving her on the floor, where protesters wearing gas masks came to her aid. The shove into the ground appeared to have caused a blow to the head.
Ho Ka-yau, a member of the pro-democracy movement Demosisto, reportedly clarified on Facebook that the woman did receive a blow to the head and, while she did not bleed, did suffer from “swelling and dizziness.” It is not clear at press time if the woman was hospitalized or suffered a concussion.
The South China Morning Postreported that eight individuals, seven men and one woman, required hospitalization following the police attacks on Sunday night.
In looking back at his life, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas says he learned the hard way that the real enemies he faced were not racists, but liberals.
Thomas is the subject of a documentary called “Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words.”
“I felt as though in my life I had been looking at the wrong people as the people who would be problematic toward me. We were told that, ‘Oh, it’s gonna be the bigot in the pickup truck; it’s gonna be the Klansmen; it’s gonna be the rural sheriff,’” Thomas said, according to ABC, which said it was granted a sneak peek at the documentary to be released next year.
“But it turned out that through all of that, ultimately, the biggest impediment was the modern-day liberal,” he said.
“They were the ones who would discount all those things because they have one issue or because they have the power to caricature you,” he said.
The documentary focuses on Thomas’s 1991 controversial confirmation hearings, which were chaired by then-Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware and featured the testimony of Anita Hill, who accused Thomas of sexual harassment. Thomas has always denied the accusation, and says in the documentary it had a sinister purpose.
“Do I have, like, ‘stupid’ written on the back of my shirt? I mean, come on. We know what this is all about,” Thomas said in the documentary, according to ABC. “People should just tell the truth: ‘This is the wrong black guy; he has to be destroyed.’ Just say it. Then now we’re at least honest with each other.
“The idea was to get rid of me. And then after I was there, it was to undermine me,” he said.
Thomas said that he is a victim of a double standard, but not in the way many black Americans might use that term.
“There’s different sets of rules for different people,” he says. “If you criticize, say, a black person who’s more liberal, you’re a racist. Whereas if you can do whatever to me, or to now [HUD Secretary] Ben Carson, and that’s fine, because you’re not really black because you’re not doing what we expect black people to do.”
In one part of the documentary, Thomas is asked about Biden’s line of questioning concerning “natural law.”
“I have no idea what he was talking about,” Thomas said regarding the now-former vice president and current Democratic presidential candidate.
“I understood what he was trying to do. I didn’t really appreciate it. ‘Natural law’ was nothing more than a way of tricking me into talking about abortion,” he said,
Bill Russo, Biden’s deputy communications director, shrugged off the comment in a statement to ABC.
“Then-Senator Biden voted against Clarence Thomas in the Senate Judiciary Committee, he argued against him on the Senate floor, and he voted against his confirmation to a lifetime seat on the Supreme Court. It is no surprise that Justice Thomas does not have a positive view of him,” the statement said.
Thomas said in the documentary that his confirmation was essentially about one issue.
“Most of my opponents on the Judiciary Committee cared about only one thing: How would I rule on abortion rights. You really didn’t matter and your life didn’t matter. What mattered is what they wanted and what they wanted was this particular issue,” said Thomas.
Thomas said his silence in the court during oral arguments reflects his conception of the job.
“We are judges, not advocates. It’s not my job to argue with lawyers,” he said. “The referee in the game shouldn’t be a participant in the game.”
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The recent hospitalization of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg following a year of health scares has raised the prospect of a Supreme Court vacancy in an election year and a partisan battle royal that would likely surpass the impeachment fight.
Liberal activists are already calling on President Trump to keep any possible Supreme Court vacancy open until after the 2020 election, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has indicated he would fill a court vacancy next year, even though he blocked former President Obama’s nominee for most of 2016 after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.
McConnell argued at the time that voters should have a chance to weigh in on the balance of the court.
Progressive groups say McConnell should apply that same thinking if there is a vacancy between now and Election Day.
The Democratic congressman leading the impeachment inquiry is allegedly withholding the transcript of an 8-hour interview with a key witness because he does not want Americans to learn the answers to questions about his office’s involvement with the anonymous whistleblower whose complaint prompted the Democrats’ impeachment effort — so claims House Judiciary Committee member John Ratcliffe (R-TX).
The Texas Republican has made headlines during the public inquiry for strongly pushing back against the Democrats’ impeachment narrative, including when he stacked up thousands of pages of transcripts from interviews in which not a single witness so much as uttered the words “bribery” or “bribe” in reference to any of Trump’s actions related to Ukraine, striking at the heart of the Democrats’ case.
One of the transcripts that has been conspicuously missing from the thousands of pages released by Schiff, however, is the transcript of the committee’s interview with Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson, an omission noted on Friday by Real Clear Investigations’ Paul Sperry.
“Why is Schiff still withholding transcript of ICIG Michael Atkinson’s Oct 4 closed-door testimony which lasted 8+ hours?” asked Sperry. “He’s released 15 witness transcripts but is still hiding Atkinson’s. Also, what’s Atkinson’s connection to Obama officials including David Laufman?”
DEVELOPING: Why is Schiff still withholding transcript of ICIG Michael Atkinson’s Oct 4 closed-door testimony which lasted 8+ hours? He’s released 15 witness transcripts but is still hiding Atkinson’s. Also, what’s Atkinson’s connection to Obama officials including David Laufman?
In response, Congressman Ratcliffe provided a suggestive answer.
“I know why [Paul Sperry]. It’s because I asked IG Atkinson about his ‘investigation’ into the contacts between Schiff’s staff and the person who later became the whistleblower. The transcript is classified ‘secret’ so Schiff can prevent you from seeing the answers to my questions.”
I know why @paulsperry_ It’s because I asked IG Atkinson about his “investigation” into the contacts between Schiff’s staff and the person who later became the whistleblower. The transcript is classified “secret” so Schiff can prevent you from seeing the answers to my questions
In his attempts to keep the whistleblower’s identity under wraps, Schiff has repeatedly shut down questions that could in any way reveal or point to the whistleblower’s identity. But Ratcliffe’s response suggests that Schiff is abusing that “protection” for the whistleblower to also protect himself from further scrutiny about his involvement with the whistleblower leading up to the filing of the complaint.
Schiff’s consultation with the whistleblower before the complaint was filed was first revealed in an Oct. 2 report by The New York Times, which also highlighted the role of Inspector General Atkinson.
“The Democratic head of the House Intelligence Committee, Representative Adam B. Schiff of California, learned about the outlines of a C.I.A. officer’s concerns that President Trump had abused his power days before the officer filed a whistle-blower complaint, according to a spokesman and current and former American officials,” the Times reported. “The early account by the future whistle-blower … explains how Mr. Schiff knew to press for the complaint when the Trump administration initially blocked lawmakers from seeing it.”
“The C.I.A. officer approached a House Intelligence Committee aide with his concerns about Mr. Trump only after he had had a colleague first convey them to the C.I.A.’s top lawyer,” the report continued. “Concerned about how that initial avenue for airing his allegations through the C.I.A. was unfolding, the officer then approached the House aide. In both cases, the original accusation was vague. The House staff member, following the committee’s procedures, suggested the officer find a lawyer to advise him and meet with an inspector general, with whom he could file a whistle-blower complaint.”
The Times made clear that Schiff himself was made aware of the complaint. “The aide shared some of what the officer conveyed to Mr. Schiff,” the Times reported, adding that the aide “did not share the whistle-blower’s identity with Mr. Schiff,” according to one official.
“The future whistle-blower went to Mr. Schiff’s committee after he grew concerned about the first investigation he had touched off,” the Times explained. “The C.I.A. officer decided the complaint he had brought to Ms. Elwood was at risk of being swept aside, prompting him to go to the lawmakers who conduct oversight of the intelligence agencies. He followed the advice of Mr. Schiff’s aide and filed his complaint to Mr. Atkinson. And though Mr. Maguire blocked him from forwarding it to Congress, he did allow Mr. Atkinson to notify lawmakers of its existence.”
The United Nations published a report that found a record-high number of alien child detentions took place under Barack Obama not President Donald Trump.
However you may have missed the report since liberal media outlets pulled news of the report since it confirmed President Trump’s statements.
First Lady Melania Trump Sunday evening unveiled patriotic-themed White House Christmas decorations.
The First Lady called this year’s Christmas decorations, “The Spirit of America.”
““The Spirit of America” is shining in the White House! I am delighted to share this beautiful exhibit of patriotism for all to see, and excited for everyone to experience the beauty of the #Christmas season!” Melania said on Twitter.
Melania looked stunning in a monochrome cream-colored ensemble as she showcased the red-white-and-blue ornaments and decorations.
WATCH:
“The Spirit of America” is shining in the @WhiteHouse! I am delighted to share this beautiful exhibit of patriotism for all to see, and excited for everyone to experience the beauty of the #Christmas season! pic.twitter.com/qGxxl9qBrd
On Thursday the Hong Kong Democracy protesters honored President Trump by carrying his picture — shirtless.
HONG KONG, CHINA – NOVEMBER 28: Pro-democracy protesters hold posters of US President Donald Trump during a Thanksgiving Day rally at Edinburgh Place on November 28, 2019 in Hong Kong, China. Protesters gathered to say thank you to the United States after US President Donald Trump signed legislation supporting the Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters, with new legislation requiring annual reviews of Hong Kong’s rights and freedoms. Demonstrations in Hong Kong have stretched into their sixth month as pro-democracy groups won the recent District Council elections, continuing demands for an independent inquiry into police brutality, the retraction of the word “riot” to describe the rallies, and genuine universal suffrage. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
On Monday Hong Kong democracy protesters marched to the US Consulate carrying Trump 2020 signs, US flags and an eagle!
Trump stands with the freedom protesters.
Here’s the video.
Hong Kong protesters marched to the US Consulate carrying US flags and banners with plenty of Trump signs ?..
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a newly-released interview that he never discussed “quid pro quo” with President Donald Trump, once again denying any link between the release of U.S. military aid in exchange for investigations.
“I never talked to the president from the position of a quid pro quo. That’s not my thing,” Zelensky said in a wide-ranging interview with TIME magazine released Monday.
“I don’t want us to look like beggars. But you have to understand. We’re at war,” he added. “If you’re our strategic partner, then you can’t go blocking anything for us. I think that’s just about fairness. It’s not about a quid pro quo. It just goes without saying.”
Zelensky’s comments come as House Democrats move swiftly with their impeachment inquiry against President Trump. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi formally launched efforts to remove the president after a partisan CIA analyst filed a “whistleblower” complaint alleging that the president pressured the leader of Ukraine to investigate allegations corruption against former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden. The complaint, based on second-hand information, claimed President Trump appeared to have signaled that he would withhold aid unless the probes were conducted — something the president and Zelensky have repeatedly denied.
“There was no blackmail,” Zelensky told reporters in October. “We are not servants. We are an independent country.”
The White House hit back to the complaint’s allegations by releasing a transcript of the conversation showing neither the president or Ukraine’s leader linked aid to any investigations.
On Monday, President Trump highlighted Zelensky’s most recent remarks, pointing to them as further proof that no wrongdoing occurred during their call: “Breaking News: The President of Ukraine has just again announced that President Trump has done nothing wrong with respect to Ukraine and our interactions or calls. If the Radical Left Democrats were sane, which they are not, it would be case over!” he tweeted.
Breaking News: The President of Ukraine has just again announced that President Trump has done nothing wrong with respect to Ukraine and our interactions or calls. If the Radical Left Democrats were sane, which they are not, it would be case over!
Zelensky’s comments come as House Intelligence Committee members are expected to receive a report on the impeachment inquiry. The panel’s chairman, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), will only give members 24 hours to sign off on the report, setting the stage for the House Judiciary Committee’s own round of public hearings on impeachment Wednesday. Notably, House Judiciary panel chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) has yet to release the list of witnesses invited to testify. On Sunday evening, White House Counsel Pat Cipollone notified Nadler that the president’s legal team will not participate in his panel’s hearings.
More than 300 of President Donald Trump’s political ads have taken down by Google and its video platform YouTube, mostly over the summer, according to a report by 60 minutes.
The CBS reporters were unable to find specific reasons for the mass takedowns of Trump ads, a common problem with social media companies, which are often reluctant to explain precisely why a ban or other act of censorship has happened. “We found very little transparency in the transparency report,” concluded 60 Minutes.
CBS reporters investigated the removal of pro-Trump ads after YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki highlighted the company’s decision to ban some of the President’s ads during an interview.
60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl asked Wojcicki, “Have you taken down any of President Trump’s ads at all?” YouTube’s CEO responded, “There are ads of President Trump that were not approved to run on Google or YouTube.” When pressed for an example, Wojcicki added, “Well, they’re available in our transparency report.”
In response to concerns raised after the 2016 election cycle, Google and YouTube, like Facebook, keep a searchable archive of political ads that have run on the site.
60 Minutes reviewed the archive to learn more about President Trump’s problematic political ads. We found that over 300 video ads were taken down by Google and YouTube, mostly over the summer, for violating company policy. But the archive doesn’t detail what policy was violated. Was it copyright violation? A lie or extreme inaccuracy? Faulty grammar? Bad punctuation? It’s unclear. The ads determined to be offending are not available to be screened. We found very little transparency in the transparency report.
The GOP and the Trump campaign have condemned Google’s recent rule-changes around political ads, calling them a “blatant attempt to suppress voter information” ahead of the 2020 election.
Are you an insider at Google, Facebook, Twitter or any other tech company who wants to confidentially reveal wrongdoing or political bias at your company? Reach out to Allum Bokhari at his secure email address allumbokhari@protonmail.com.
Allum Bokhari is the senior technology correspondent at Breitbart News.
