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Defense official fears 'inside attack' from service members assigned to protect the inauguration: report
January 17, 2021
The FBI is vetting all 25,000 National Guard troops after a Defense Department insider confessed that they are fearful of an attack coming from inside the military members assigned to protect the inauguration.
The Associated Press reported Sunday that it has been a massive undertaking in wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection that sent law enforcement to looking for hundreds of President Donald Trump's supporters who broke into the Capitol searching for Democrats.
<p>"Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told The Associated Press on Sunday that officials are conscious of the potential threat, and he warned commanders to be on the lookout for any problems within their ranks as the inauguration approaches," the report said. "So far, however, he and other leaders say they have seen no evidence of any threats, and officials said the vetting hadn't flagged any issues."</p><p><span></span>"We're continually going through the process, and taking second, third looks at every one of the individuals assigned to this operation," McCarthy said in an interview after he and other military leaders went through an exhaustive, three-hour security drill in preparation for Wednesday's inauguration. He said Guard members are also getting training on how to identify potential insider threats.<br/></p><p>Thus far, only <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/15/jacob-fracker-thomas-robertson-charged-capitol-riot.html" target="_blank">a few active-duty National Guard</a> members <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/14/pentagon-review-extremism-after-veterans-arrested-capitol-riots/4159099001/" target="_blank">and veterans</a> have been arrested for the assault on the Capitol. </p><p>"The major security concern is an attack by armed groups of individuals, as well as planted explosives and other devices. McCarthy said intelligence reports suggest that groups are organizing armed rallies leading up to Inauguration Day, and possibly after that," the report said. "The bulk of the Guard members will be armed. And McCarthy said units are going through repeated drills to practice when and how to use force and how to work quickly with law enforcement partners. Law enforcement officers would make any arrests."</p><p>While background checks on American soldiers is unsettling, not having them would likely be more disconcerting. </p><p>Jan. 10, Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO), a veteran Army Ranger, called for a briefing with McCarthy after the insurrection and <a href="https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/01/10/lawmaker-army-secretary-investigate-troops-deploying-inauguration-domestic-terror-sympathies.html" target="_blank">asked specifically about military members involved</a>. </p><p>"Crow asked McCarthy that military members involved in the riot -- some military veterans have already been identified as participants -- receive fast-tracked investigation and courts-martial. He also made an unusual request: that the Army's Criminal Investigation Command review National Guard troops who are deployed for the inauguration "to ensure that deployed members are not sympathetic to domestic terrorists," said Military.com.</p><p><a href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/fbi-vetting-guard-troops-in-dc-amid-fears-of-insider-attack/2544704/" target="_blank">Read the full story at NBC Washington. </a></p>
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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has spent the weeks after the first of the year trying to rewrite history on Twitter about what he accomplished in the office. If it was up to Pompeo, he would be to thank for establishing peace in the Middle East, saving Israel, bringing the troops home and proclaim he stopped Russian aggression.
Guardian opinion writer Simon Tisdall explained that as Pompeo is walking out the door, "he has laid political booby traps for Biden in a democratic onslaught -- with the aim of winning the White House."
<p>Pompeo has spent his time as Secretary of State hosting a series of tax-payer-funded dinners with large GOP funders and political influencers that he'll need if he intends to run for president in 2024. </p><p>Pompeo isn't exactly the presidential type but Tisdall explained that Trump lowered the bar enough that Pompeo almost looks like he could be the next Trump. Unlike Vice President Mike Pence, Pompeo <a href="https://www.rawstory.com/2020/11/secretary-of-state-mike-pompeo-there-will-be-a-smooth-transition-to-a-second-trump-administration/" target="_blank">gleefully told reporters that Trump was the winner</a> of the 2020 election. Pence, by contrast, was forced to count the votes and certify the election against Trump's explicit instructions. Among the chants during the Jan. 6 insurrection was "Hang Mike Pence," and rioters built gallows outside the building.</p><p>"Pompeo has upended established policies, adopted ultra-hardline positions, and claimed imaginary successes to advance his personal standing with the Trump rump," wrote Tisdall. "In fact, he's trying to out-Trump Trump. Like him, he's unscrupulous and aggressive, but here's the difference: he's not stupid. That potentially makes the former Kansas Tea party congressman and CIA chief more dangerous to the Biden presidency, and the progressive cause, than a disgraced Trump, may ever be. He showed his political savvy by steering clear of the impeachment fracas. Instead, Pompeo <a href="https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/01/11/team-trump-last-minute-moves-to-box-in-biden-on-foreign-policy-transition-pompeo-cuba-yemen-taiwan-china-sanctions-iran/" target="_blank" title="">is busy setting future agendas</a>."</p><p>Pompeo is also trying to gin up a war with Iran in his final hours in office. Tweeting this week that al-Qaida has a new home in Iran, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-iran-pompeo-iran-int/iran-denies-pompeos-assertion-it-has-ties-with-al-qaeda-idUSKBN29H2JX" target="_blank">which Iran has denied</a>, and Pompeo couldn't provide any proof of. It was remarkably similar to those attempting to go after Iraq after 9/11, claiming that they were developing weapons of mass destruction. Americans have been there before, but has it been long enough that voters forgot the rush to attack? </p><p>"We ignore this Iran-al-Qaida nexus at our peril," Pompeo announced. "We must confront it. Indeed, we must defeat it." </p><p><span></span>If Biden attempts to build a wave of peace with Iran, Pompeo intends to campaign on the war under the guise of stopping terrorism. </p><p>"In truth, the Pompeo-Trump legacy is best defined in negatives: not achieving North Korean disarmament, wrecking the Iran nuclear deal, quitting the Paris climate accord, alienating allies, undermining the UN," wrote Tisdall. "In this sense, Biden just needs to act positive."</p><p>He closed by predicting Pompeo was about to become the future Trump, even if that means Trump is still alive and kicking. </p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/17/unscrupulous-and-aggressive-pompeo-plans-to-be-the-next-trump-but-smarter" target="_blank">Read the full column.</a></p>
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Trump plans over 100 pardons on his last day in office amid reports his allies are selling them: report
January 17, 2021
President Donald Trump is expected to issue about 100 pardons on his final day in office on Tuesday, CNN reported.
Trump's last full day will show "a mixture of more controversial pardons to white-collar criminals, some high-profile rappers, some of the president's political allies."
<p>
The report didn't say whether or not Trump and his family will be <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/17/us/politics/trump-pardons.html" target="_blank">among the pardons</a>. To issue a pardon, however, Trump would have to outline the crimes he and his family committed in specific detail.
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.rawstory.com/trump-pardons-2649965885/" target="_blank">A report earlier Sunday revealed</a> that Trump's allies have been selling pardons. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/giuliani-associate-reportedly-trump-pardon-costs-2-million-nyt-2021-1" target="_blank">Rudy Giuliani specifically demanded $2 million</a> for a pardon from a former CIA officer. Giuliani is also working to get a pardon for himself.
</p><p>
"One lobbyist, Brett Tolman, a former federal prosecutor who has been advising the White House on pardons and commutations, has monetized his clemency work, collecting tens of thousands of dollars, and possibly more, in recent weeks to lobby the White House for clemency for the son of a former Arkansas senator; the founder of the notorious online drug marketplace Silk Road; and a Manhattan socialite who pleaded guilty in a fraud scheme," the <em>New York Times</em> reported.
</p><p>
It's unclear how many of Trump's pardons will stand, as each <a href="https://www.lawfareblog.com/can-congress-do-anything-about-trumps-abuse-pardon-power" target="_blank">will likely be investigated for potential bribery</a>.
</p><p>
Some of the insurrectionists from last week's attack on the U.S. Capitol are blaming Trump for inviting them <a href="https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2021-01-17/alleged-capitol-rioters-argue-they-were-invited-into-the-building-by-trump-seek-pardons" target="_blank">and demanding that they also be pardoned</a>.
</p><p>
"The January 6 riots that led to Trump's second impeachment have complicated his desire to pardon himself, his kids and personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani. At this point, aides do not think he will do so, but caution only Trump knows what he will do with his last bit of presidential power before he is officially out of office at noon on January 20," CNN said. </p>
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