Beltway Insider: Trump Nat’l Emergency, Israeli PM Election, Venezuela Erupts, El Chapo Jury, Kraft Shocker, ISIS Brides, Bernie Sanders

President Trump has doubled down on his efforts to secure funding for the Border Wall, which he believes will perform multi-purposes in the fight against illegal immigration by stopping the entry of illegals crime will also fall.

According to Gallup, President Trump job approval, for the month of February 2019, decreased seven percentage points to 44% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness as President increased by seven percentage points to 52%. Ratings are calculated monthly.

Governors Respond to National Emergency

Over the past week, sixteen states have joined together to file litigation stopping the diversion of federal military funding to the Border Wall project, which the president secured by circumventing congress.


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"The lawsuit is part of a constitutional confrontation that Mr. Trump set off on Friday when he declared that he would spend billions of dollars more on border barriers than Congress had granted him. The clash raises questions over congressional control of spending, the scope of emergency powers granted to the president, and how far the courts are willing to go to settle such a dispute," reported The New York Times.

Pundits throughout the week have touched on several key areas of the National Emergency declaration including the checks and balance system built into the executive branch to stop a President from using his authority to evade or sidestep congressional authorization.

A key issue which may be considered should the petition reach the Supreme Court is whether the funding in any way infringes on states rights. The right of each state to run itself separate of others or even intervention from the federal government is imperative to the functioning of government.

There would be issues with California or New York government trying to usurp the power of Arizona or Texas if the state government deems the Wall within these two southern borders states necessary to protect the citizens of either.

It's quite possible the monies are available and diverting them from capital projects, such as rebuilding Syria or military capital projects in foreign countries, won't infringe on or weaken any capital projects that are directly related to the defense of the United States both at domestically and internationally.

The suit has been filed in San Francisco and the judge has agreed to hear the case. Should the court rule against the Trump administration. The President has already indicated he will take the case to the Supreme Court.

The recent ruling by the Supreme Court which upheld an earlier ruling, 5-4 with Trump's two appointees voting to review the asylum ban. The migrant, who had yet to reach the US border at the time had begun to grow and concerned the state department.

President Trump has tried on several occasion to limit entry to the United States, either individuals from certain countries from entry and further by addressing the plight of the illegal immigrant, and while he is given small victories the larger scope of what he wishes to do have been stooped by the Supreme Court.

Israeli PM Election

Hareetz, the oldest Israeli newspaper covering Israel the Middle East news, predicting longtime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will lose his re-election bid to Benjamin "Benny" Gantz, a former politician who recently formed a political party.

With the voting process limited to those living in Israel, many predict Gantz, who made history with his formation of the Israel Resilience party which attracted support from two parties and is lead by three former Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Generals.

Israelis, with violence a very real threat from all sides every day, have often criticized Netanyhau as weak on defense, and a party with three IDF leaders appeals to a belief of strong homeland defense will calm the threat.


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The remaining and consistent question is the support or opposition of a two party state. Both Netanyahu and Gantz support, theoretically, a two-state solution. Negotiations often break down as the both parties are often obstinate and unyielding in the process.

The worst violence the region as seen in some time as recently erupted calling for renewed action. Netanyahu's government is facing scrutiny over alleged corruption and bribery charges. Internal party dissension has resulted in the loss of support from within.

On a global scale he has effectively secured the largest United States aid package in history of US Israeli relations.

His recent battles, from within his party and his missteps in attempts to secure favorable media coverage, have cast a long shadow on his accomplishments. The upcoming election against Mr. Benny Getz, a relative unknown in the global political arena, is his first real challenge in his bid for re-election as the nation's Prime Minister.

Venezuela Erupts

The tensions in Venezuela have turned dark with the Maduro regime ordering the still loyal military to stop much needed aid and directing troops to use lethal force if necessary against anyone attempting to open the borders.

"The United States strongly condemns the Venezuelan military's use of force against unarmed civilians and innocent volunteers on Venezuela's border with Brazil.  Press reports indicate that the military has killed two indigenous people and has injured many others attempting to keep the border open to humanitarian aid.  Egregious violation of human rights by Maduro and those who are following his orders will not go unpunished.  The United States strongly urges the Venezuelan military to uphold its constitutional duty to protect the citizens of Venezuela.  The Venezuelan military must allow humanitarian aid to peacefully enter the country," The White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a released statement.

The United States as well as 50 additional countries have recognized Venezuelan Interim President Juan Guaido, as the nation's legitimate leaders. He has requested immediate humanitarian assistance from the international community for the people of his country.

Maduro, whom Russian, China, Syria, Iran and Iraq support as the legitimate leader, has given orders to close the borders and repress those who seek to bring aid into the country.  

El Chapo Jury

The defense team of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman has filed a petition indicating they intend to seek a new trail based on the explosive information which details a single jurors account of multiple instances of jury misconduct.

The petition which was received Friday, February 22, asked for an additional thirty days to craft the petition, in detail, from accounts allegedly reported in the digital magazine Vice that jurors repeatedly violated the judge's order and subjected themselves to daily doses of media coverage through multiple sources.


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The petition which will be sent to Judge Brian Cogan, who recently presided over the explosive Joaquin El Chapo Guzman trial and initially instructed the jurors, is expected to ask for jury nullification and demand a new trial.

"Mr. Guzman intends to file a motion for a new trial based on the disclosures in the article and to request an evidentiary hearing to determine the extent of the misconduct," defense lawyer Eduardo Balarezo wrote in Friday's letter to Brooklyn U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan, Time Magazine reported.

The reputation of the source, Vice Magazine, who has had its share of sexually charged allegations of workplace violations, a culture of toxic behaviors and company indifference and less than noteworthy leadership, of which had been reported in the Daily Beast and can be read here, may be called in to question.

Even as the statements came from a juror to reveal the identity indicates the magazine does not adhere to standard journalistic ethics, as reporters do not reveal their sources, and could weaken the allegations. If the journalist does not reveal the source, the reporter could face jailtime as it could be considered contempt.

Robert Kraft, Owner of the New England Patriots, Arrested in Prostitution Sting

Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, was arrested this week in an undercover sting operation that has continued to send shockwaves around the world as the billionaire businessman continues to categorically deny the allegations.

Rumor ended the day Friday, that another high profile billionaire was also caught up in the sting that targeted the Orchids of Asia massage parlor in Jupiter, Florida in which Chinese women as young as 24 were brought to the United States, illegally, to work in New York City.

The illegal aliens were then forced into the sex slave industry, often forced to sleep in the Orchids of Asia establishment, subject to mental duress, sleep deprivation and physical torture, told if they left or reported the crime they and their families would be killed.

Yelp reviews which detailed sexual activity in exchange for payment initiated the investigation which soon developed into an international human trafficking for sex trade investigation.

In the 16 page Police Arrest record Detective Sharp, of the Jupiter Police Department explains explicitly, the description of the shop, its slang meanings and the descriptions of the men observed under surveillance, the act and the payment exchange. It can be viewed here.


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Kraft, who counts President Trump as a friend and has donated to his campaign, was arrested for two counts of soliciting prostitution. Police have indicated there is videotaped evidence on both count.

According to police, who explained they were as shocked over the amount of high profile individuals who were videotaped, more than 173 men have been named including former Citigroup President, John Havens.

ISIS Brides and Repatriation

With the war in Syria ending and a declaration of victory over the Islamic State by President Trump, the question of foreign born ISIS Brides wishing to return to their native countries, is becoming a humanitarian crisis.

The United States and the United kingdom have recently faced the humanitarian question of allowing these once dedicated ISIS supporters to be repatriated into their homelands.

Essentially the policy of the United States has been to strip these women, who were radicalized online through propaganda available on the dark web, and voluntarily moved to the region, married a sworn enemy of the state, bore children, and now wish to return home.

Recently individuals involved in the nation's most heinous crimes have been released from prisons, after serving judicially imposed sentences and deemed rehabilitated.

Without precedent the administration is available to create a repatriation program, which allows for these few women, (less than twenty), who made serious mistakes while still young and psychologically the frontal lobes of the brain had not even completely formed at the time of their decisions, to be slowly integrated back into society.

Of the women requesting repatriation, they are fully aware of the violence they have committed by aligning themselves with a terrorist organization. The question now becomes should policy prohibit the structured and monitored repatriation of those who may be able to provide intelligence or other information which would assist in furthering a complete eradication of any remaining ISIS enclaves?

Obviously, they will be monitored for life and remain on a terror watch list.

Bernie Sanders Announces 2020 Presidential Run

The spoiler of the 2016 Presidential Race, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has announced his intent to seek the office of President of the United States.

Sanders, whose supercharged what was considered a one person 2016 Democratic 2016 primary season, handily raised over 4million dollars on the day of his announcements. His supporters have remained loyal and showed it.

Sanders who consistently throughout the 2016 primary season created a distracting challenge to presumptive democratic primary presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. Sanders, eventually won more than 17million votes during the primary season and 46% of the pledged delegates. He was second only to Hillary Clinton and pledged those delegates to Clinton at the Democratic National convention.


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Running on an Independent ticket, Sanders raised $228.2MM in 2016 and spent $222.7MM on his campaign. The bulk of his fundraising, 57.70%, came from small individual contributions of less than $200.00. These supporters have remained loyal and at announcement opened their wallets to support his 202 Presidential bid.

The most recognizable candidate, at 99.0%, his politics which many define as "socialism" are essentially liberal democratic and essentially a people's campaign. Quite possibly the allure of his home state, Vermont, and the ideals associated with progressive change have created an image that tends to appear toward lean living.

With an estimated worth of $2MM, of which a sizeable sum came from a book advance, Sanders is has a higher net worth than most would expect from his political message. He owns three homes, two in his home state, his permanent residence and a vacation home, and a modest one bedroom in Washington, DC.

Senator Sanders, who has served the people, first as a Representative and then as Senator of Vermont since 1990 aligns himself with the Democratic Party.

For more information on President Donald Trump: www.whitehouse.gov

Sources: Whitehouse.gov, Wikipedia.com

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