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BUSTED: Feds arrest Capitol rioter after identifying him by his high school varsity jacket
January 25, 2021
On Monday, the Huffington Post reported that federal authorities have arrested a New York man for his role in the violent invasion of the U.S. Capitol — and identified him because he wore his high school varsity jacket during the riot.
"Brian Gundersen, a former varsity football player for Byram Hills High School in North Castle Township, New York, is facing charges after the FBI received tips about a man seen storming the Capitol while wearing a letterman's jacket," reported Ryan Reilly. "The jacket included the name of his high school and his former jersey number."
<p>"Federal authorities received a number of tips about Gundersen, and the North Castle Township police chief called the FBI's New York Operations Center to inform them about the man in the varsity jacket," said the report. "Numerous tipsters provided the FBI with photos of Gundersen wearing the same jacket, including selfies he'd posted with Fox News personalities."</p><p>According to the report, Gundersen's acquaintances confirmed he was "an avid supporter of former President Trump" and also a follower of white nationalist <a href="https://www.rawstory.com/2017/08/white-supremacist-cites-violent-and-toxic-climate-he-created-in-charlottesville-for-leaving-college/" target="_blank">Nick Fuentes</a>, who participated in the 2017 "Unite the Right" neo-Nazi riot in Charlottesville, Virginia. Fuentes was recently banned from YouTube for violating hate speech policies.</p><p>Gundersen initially denied he entered the Capitol in conversation with the FBI but ultimately admitted his role. "We all stormed the us capital [sic] and tried to take over the government," he wrote in one message. "We failed but f*ck it."</p>
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California has paid out $11 billion in fraudulent unemployment claims -- could rise to $30 billion
January 25, 2021
The state of California on Monday revealed the extent of fraudulent unemployment claims during the coronavirus pandemic.
"California has paid out a staggering $11 billion worth of fraudulent unemployment claims since the COVID-19 pandemic began last spring, California Labor Secretary Julie Su said Monday," The Sacramento Bee reports. "The fraudulent payments represent 10% of all payments for pandemic unemployment benefits, Su said. The percentage is likely to go higher. Another 17% of the dollars that have been paid out — more than $19 billion — are considered suspicious and 'a large number of that could be confirmed fraud as well,' she said."
<p>"Most of the fraudulent claims have been made through the federally-funded Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program," the newspaper reported. "PUA was designed to provide unemployment benefits to people who do not qualify for traditional unemployment insurance, such as independent contractors and small business owners. Recipients can currently get up to $750 a week in benefits."</p><p>Stu estimated that the Employment Development Department and local prosecutors have prevented $60 billion in fraudulent claims.</p><p><br/></p>
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Florida offers to host Olympics if Tokyo backs out: state official
January 25, 2021
Florida's chief financial officer on Monday told the International Olympic Committee that the state would be happy to host the Olympics Games amid speculation that current hosts Japan may back out.
Jimmy Patronis sent a letter to Thomas Bach, the head of the IOC, "to encourage you to consider relocating the 2021 Olympics from Tokyo, Japan to the United States of America, and more specifically to Florida."
<p>"With media reports of leaders in Japan 'privately' concluding that they are too concerned about the pandemic for the 2021 Olympics to take place, there is still time to deploy a site selection team to Florida," he said.</p><p>The letter, signed by Patronis and posted online, cited the supposed strength of state's vaccination roll-out, its economic re-opening and sports events it has hosted during the pandemic, as well as the fact that its theme parks, including Disney World, are open for business.</p><p>But Florida has struggled badly in the coronavirus pandemic, with over 25,000 deaths so far in the state as the US death toll nears 420,000.</p><p>"Whatever precautions are required let's figure it out and get it done," Patronis said.</p><p>Last Friday, parties responsible for organizing the Tokyo games -- scheduled for last year but delayed for a year because of the global health crisis -- insisted they would be sticking to the planned dates of July 23 until August 8. </p><p>"I am determined to realize a safe and secure Tokyo Games as proof that mankind will have overcome the virus," said Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.</p>
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