Archiv: checks and balances


29.03.2020 - 10:55 [ New York Times ]

Military Force Against Americans

(9. September 2019)

After the Sept. 11 attacks, an American citizen who had been arrested in Chicago and accused of terrorism links was deemed to be an “enemy combatant” and transferred to military custody. He was held in wartime detention without trial for years, then transferred back to the civilian justice system before the Supreme Court could resolve his case. In 2011, an American drone strike targeted and killed an American citizen who had been deemed to be an operational terrorist leader whose capture was infeasible, but who had not been charged or convicted in a trial. In 2019, the executive branch was reported to be considering invoking the Insurrection Act to deploy military forces on domestic soil to enforce immigration laws.

Are any of these examples unlawful? Under what circumstances, if any, may a president use military force within the United States or against Americans?

28.03.2020 - 09:20 [ LawAndCrime.com ]

Trump Axed Congressionally-Mandated Pandemic Recovery Oversight with Stimulus Bill Signing Statement

Trump, by way of a signing statement, noted that his administration would quite simply override a provision in the nearly 900-page stimulus bill that would require the country’s newest inspector general–just created and tasked with overseeing the disbursement of the stimulus funds–to report to Congress any time the administration stonewalled about where or how those funds were being spent.

28.03.2020 - 08:41 [ Wikipedia ]

Signing statement

The Supreme Court has not squarely addressed the limits of signing statements.

28.03.2020 - 08:30 [ Huffington Post ]

Trump Claims Power To Gag Watchdog Overseeing New $500 Billion Bailout

President Donald Trump has issued a signing statement declaring that he can block a watchdog from telling Congress when information is withheld about payouts to businesses in the massive new $2 trillion economic relief law.

Democrats fought hard for provisions in the measure to ensure …

28.03.2020 - 08:19 [ Rand Paul, US Senator / Twitter ]

In times of panic, it is good to have someone with a cool, level MIT head asking the tough questions. Thank you @RepThomasMassie

28.03.2020 - 07:57 [ Thomas Massie, Abgeordneter im US Repräsentantenhaus / Twitter ]

Today I joined the Rush Limbaugh show with guest host @kenmatthews to talk about the unconstitutional attempt by leadership on both sides of the aisle to pass the LARGEST SPENDING BILL EVER without actually voting. Miss the interview? You can listen here:

28.03.2020 - 07:48 [ Mike Lee, US Senator / Twitter ]

I don’t know a member of Congress more principled or dedicated to the Constitution than @RepThomasMassie . @SpeakerPelosi delayed this process repeatedly and sent the House into recess before its job was complete. Big mistake!

28.03.2020 - 07:41 [ theHill.com ]

Massie defiant, criticizes leaders for preventing him from speaking on floor

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) blasted Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Friday for not allowing him to speak on the floor before the House approved a $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package.

Massie had sought to force a roll-call vote on the measure, earning a condemnation from President Trump in the process and criticism from a number of members of Congress.

28.03.2020 - 07:03 [ theHill.com ]

House passes $2 trillion coronavirus package — but not without last-minute drama

“This is a 9/11 moment,” Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) said on the floor. “A time to put partisan differences aside, policy differences aside, and work together as Americans.”

26.03.2020 - 14:15 [ i24news.tv ]

Israel: Vote for Knesset Speaker to be held Thursday, Supreme Court orders

Israel’s Supreme Court ordered a Thursday vote to elect a new Knesset (Israeli Parliament) speaker after Yuli Edelstein announced his resignation Wednesday, allowing senior MKAmir Peretz to lead the plenary.

The court decided late Wednesday night to hold the vote Thursday.

26.03.2020 - 02:55 [ Haaretz / Twitter ]

The High Court ruled Thursday overnight that chairman of the Labor Party Amir Peretz will be appointed as the temporary Knesset Speaker

26.03.2020 - 01:52 [ Haaretz ]

High Court Appoints Temporary Knesset Speaker to Elect Replacement

In the ruling, Supreme Court President Justice Esther Hayut attacked Edelstein, saying he had committed „an unprecedented violation of the rule of law.“ Hayut had strongly criticized Edelstein’s decision to lock the plenary contrary to the court’s decision.

Earlier, the High Court debated a petition to accuse Edelstein of dishonoring the court, after he resigned earlier Wednesday, locking the Knesset plenum contrary to the court’s decision, which ruled that a new Speaker will be selected by Wednesday midnight.

26.03.2020 - 00:29 [ Haaretz ]

Knesset Mutiny, Produced and Directed by Netanyahu, Will Live in Infamy

Never before has such a senior public official – Edelstein is second in line to President Rivlin in the state’s official hierarchy – thumbed his nose so directly at Israel’s judicial system, sparking an unprecedented constitutional crisis in the midst of the coronavirus crisis which is plaguing both Israel and the world.

There’s no direct analogy, of course, with the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor that spurred FDR to make his famous “infamy speech” while asking Congress to approve a declaration of war against Japan – other than in the potential if not existential threat that Edelstein’s move poses to Israel’s future.

26.03.2020 - 00:28 [ i24news.tv ]

Israel’s Rivlin: „It is our obligation to obey court’s decrees“

This prompted the High Court to convene urgently to decide how to move forward, with proceedings seemingly set to extend into the night.

25.03.2020 - 14:06 [ Haaretz ]

Knesset Speaker Resigns, Subverts High Court Ruling to Hold Vote on His Replacement

According to Knesset protocols, Edelstein’s resignation will come into effect within 48 hours. The Knesset won’t be able to vote on a new Knesset speaker until then, and Edelstein said that the Knesset will not be able to convene for a vote until Monday. Benny Gantz’s Kahol Lavan is looking into ways to circumvent the protocols and appoint an acting Knesset speaker.

25.03.2020 - 04:20 [ Haaretz ]

Gantz Backs Off of Unity With Netanyahu, Eyes Control of Parliament Instead

While last week Gantz agreed in principle to join a unity government with Likud that would be headed by Netanyahu for a limited period until Gantz replaced him, he has pulled back following criticism from supporters.

“First, we will get Israeli democracy back to working – and later we will form a government that will deal with the coronavirus and the other challenges that are on the line,” Gantz wrote on Facebook on Tuesday. “We must not let the coronavirus crisis, which requires thorough attention – medical, social and economic – trample over Israeli democracy. Not on my watch.”

25.03.2020 - 04:09 [ i24news.tv ]

Netanyahu’s Likud accuses Blue and White of ’stealing the Parliament‘

Other special committees to be established will focus on education, violence in Israeli Arab communities and labor and welfare; the four special panels will need to be approved by the plenum Tuesday.

These included Finance and Foreign Affairs and Defense panels, with the latter set to establish a special committee that will supervise the contentious Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency)-led coronavirus patients surveillance program.

25.03.2020 - 03:45 [ CNN ]

Trump doubles down on Easter timeline to re-open US

CNN’s Kaitlin Collins pressed President Donald Trump on his comments about hoping to re-open the US by Easter, a date that few health experts believe will be sufficient in containing the spread of coronavirus.

24.03.2020 - 18:37 [ Haaretz ]

Top Likud Ministers Change Tune on High Court Ruling, Back Vote on Knesset Speaker

Hanegbi, who heads the Agriculture Ministry, and Elkin, minister for Jerusalem affairs and environmental protection, are joining Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan and Likud parliamentarian Gideon Sa’ar, who is known as a Netanyahu rival, in supporting the court’s decision.

Despite also voicing criticism of the ruling, on Monday Erdan said „we must respect the ruling or else resign ourselves to anarchy,“ while Sa’ar stressed that calls not to accept a direct court ruling are „unacceptable.“

23.03.2020 - 23:12 [ CNN ]

Trump itching to scale back social distancing after 15 day-period, aides say

„The President is right, the cure can’t be worse than the disease, and we’re going to have to make some difficult tradeoffs,“ Trump’s top economic adviser Larry Kudlow said Monday on Fox News. „I spoke with the President about this very subject late last evening, so we’ll be looking at a number of different things. Let’s give it another week.“

23.03.2020 - 22:04 [ Anshel Pfeffer / Twitter ]

Didn’t take long for the High Court to get back to Edelstein and now they’re not “requesting” any more. They’re ordering him in a 19-page ruling to let the vote for his replacement go ahead by Wednesday + accusing him of undermining democracy.

Crazy turn of events.

23.03.2020 - 21:41 [ Ynetnews.com ]

High Court rules Edelstein must allow vote for new Speaker

The High Court ruled in a unanimous decision Monday that Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein must convene the Knesset no later than Wednesday, to elect his replacement.

23.03.2020 - 20:08 [ i24news.tv ]

Israel: Edelstein poised to answer High Court as Likud members call to defy ruling

Israel’s High Court of Justice approved Knesset (Israel’s Parliament) Speaker Yuli Edelstein’s request to submit his answer today at 9 pm (local time) regarding whether he will convene a parliamentary vote for his replacement.

23.03.2020 - 20:05 [ i24news.tv ]

Israel: Supreme Court hears petition on replacing Knesset Speaker Edelstein

Throughout Israel’s 72-year existence, the Knesset Speaker had only been replaced once a new government was sworn in. Thus, replacing Edelstein before a government is formed would represent an unprecedented move, even with a majority vote.

23.03.2020 - 20:03 [ Ynetnews.com ]

Israel’s top court orders parliament to clarify speaker vote

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the country’s parliament to reconvene for the selection of a new speaker, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he tries to steer the country through the coronavirus crisis and fend off a looming corruption trial.

The current speaker, Yuli Edelstein of Netanyahu’s Likud party, suspended the parliament’s activities last week, citing procedural issues and restrictions on large gatherings due to the virus.

23.03.2020 - 15:15 [ Ynet ]

Hundreds protest in front of Knesset, calling on speaker to resign

Edelstein, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party, last week suspended parliamentary activities, preventing the newly elected legislature from choosing a new speaker and forming committees critical to the country’s fight against coronavirus.

23.03.2020 - 11:55 [ Alec Pollard / Twitter ]

Lawmakers arrive at first session of Israeli #Knesset greeted by protesters demanding to replace speakers of the parliament @YuliEdelstein . @Likud_Party say if he is replaced they will scuttle unity government .

23.03.2020 - 10:49 [ Haaretz ]

Coronavirus Crisis Accelerates Israel’s Slide Into Erdogan-style Authoritarianism

Monday is an important test for Israeli democracy. The Knesset is due to resume its deliberations amidst the political crisis and the spread of the coronavirus.

If the Knesset chairman Yuri Edelstein, backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his political hatchetmen from Likud, continue with their delay tactics to prevent the legislative branch performing its duty, Israel will win the dubious title of the only „parliamentary democracy“ to fail to recognize the results of its last democratic general election and to be governed by an inoperative parliament.

23.03.2020 - 10:29 [ Donald J. Trump, President of the United States / Twitter ]

WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO!

23.03.2020 - 10:27 [ Fox News ]

Trump hints possibility of less-restrictive approach in coronavirus fight

President Trump tweeted Sunday that his administration will reassess its response to the coronavirus outbreak at the end of the 15-day period that calls on Americans to limit their normal behaviors in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.

23.03.2020 - 07:58 [ Washington Post ]

Don’t let constitutional rights be a victim of this virus

But the Justice Department’s request doesn’t stop there. Instead, the department has also included an idea that should be immediately rejected: letting federal court chief judges halt all court proceedings during an emergency. This provision would apply to “any statutes or rules of procedure otherwise affecting pre-arrest, post-arrest, pre-trial, trial, and post-trial procedures in criminal and juvenile proceedings and all civil process and proceedings.”

22.03.2020 - 13:15 [ Washington Post ]

With a pandemic as cover, Netanyahu is carrying out a coup in Israel

(19.03.2020)

Under the cover of a pandemic, he is transforming himself from lame-duck prime minister to unelected strongman. He and his henchmen have shut down parliament, enacted extreme “security” measures without legislative oversight and shelved the courts just as Netanyahu was about to go on trial for corruption.

I don’t use the word “coup” lightly. But any weaker description of Netanyahu’s assault on Israeli democracy is a refusal to absorb and report the truth.

22.03.2020 - 12:56 [ Politico ]

DOJ seeks new emergency powers amid coronavirus pandemic

“Not only would it be a violation of that, but it says ‘affecting pre-arrest,’” said Norman L. Reimer, the executive director of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. “So that means you could be arrested and never brought before a judge until they decide that the emergency or the civil disobedience is over. I find it absolutely terrifying. Especially in a time of emergency, we should be very careful about granting new powers to the government.”

22.03.2020 - 10:48 [ Haaretz ]

Knesset Speaker Edelstein and His Puppet Master Netanyahu, Free Israel’s Parliament

Since a majority of Knesset members – 61 out of 120 – oppose the government, Edelstein was dispatched to block the activity of the legislature and prevent it from voting in a new speaker. It is inconceivable that a temporary speaker would use his authority to set the agenda in order to prevent the selection of a permanent speaker. It is parliamentary bullying, and it must stop immediately.

20.03.2020 - 21:17 [ Haaretz ]

How to Stop Netanyahu From Destroying What’s Left of Israel’s Democracy

The government is doing all it can to fight the coronavirus, while the premier moves to demolish Israel’s democracy. Only if the center-left parties are in the coalition will they be able to contain Netanyahu

20.03.2020 - 17:10 [ Haaretz ]

Americans Beware: Trump Could Emulate Netanyahu’s Coronavirus Coup

The United States is facing greater coronavirus upheavals than Israel, led by a president who has less respect for democracy and the rule of law

19.03.2020 - 21:57 [ Haaretz ]

Raise the Black Flag at Home. Stand Up to the Tyrant Netanyahu

For years and years, we wondered when the occupation would come home.

It happened this week.

As the settlers once said in a different context: Yesha Zeh Kan – Judea, Samaria and Gaza are here.

One set of laws for the tyrant’s allies. Another set of laws for everyone else. Innocent civilians hounded. Their persecutor – never held accountable.

Raise the black flag. Stand up to the tyrant.

This is the fitting flag for this new Israel.

19.03.2020 - 21:53 [ Haaretz ]

Netanyahu Is Using Coronavirus to Hold Onto Power

Panic over the coronavirus, justified as it may be, mustn’t blind the public from seeing how the temporary prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and members of his party are exploiting the crisis to hold onto power. Through their management of the coronavirus crisis, Netanyahu and his government are neutralizing the justice system and quarantining the legislature.

19.03.2020 - 15:06 [ Noa Landau נעה לנדאו / Twitter ]

Israeli police tries to stop thousands of cars raising black flags on their way to Jerusalem, to protest anti-democratic measures in midst of #Covid_19 outbreak, such as closure of Knesset. When asked ‘why’, this policeman said ‘because!’

19.03.2020 - 15:04 [ Haaretz ]

Police Arrest Protesters Against ‚Assault on Democracy‘ at Knesset

Protesters said they were angry at anti-democratic measures being taken to fight the coronavirus outbreak, such as this week’s decision to use cyber measures to track the location of people diagnosed with the virus as well as suspected coronavirus patients, in addition to strict restrictions to achieve social distancing, such as barring thousands of people from leaving their homes.

Further, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein dispersed parliament on Wednesday, deepening the paralyzation of Israel’s legislative body, which critics have seen as an attack on the checks and balances within Israel’s democratic institutions.

17.03.2020 - 20:52 [ i24NEWS English / Twitter ]

#Israel’s supreme court rejected a request to halt Shin Bet’s use of cyber-monitoring to track citizens with #COVID-19

17.03.2020 - 20:41 [ i24news.tv ]

Gantz slams decision to track infected citizens for lacking ‚transparency and oversight‘

Taking to Twitter, Gantz wrote that “exceptional times, unfortunately, call for exceptional measures. [However,] Blue & White will insist that the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, along with a special corona sub-committee, the Finance Committee and other sub-committees be enlisted immediately to oversee the process and approve the type of oversight regulation so critical at this juncture.”

He added that “a functional parliament, even and especially in states of emergency, is a hallmark of democracy and we will be steadfast in preserving it.”

17.03.2020 - 20:36 [ Haaretz ]

In Dead of Night, Israel Approves Harsher Coronavirus Tracking Methods Than Gov’t Stated

The Israeli government unanimously passed in the early hours of Tuesday new emergency regulations for tracking the cellphones of coronavirus patients or those suspected of being infected, circumventing the approval of the Knesset in the process.

13.03.2020 - 09:36 [ New York Times ]

House Sends Trump Bill to Restrict War Powers on Iran, Setting Up Veto

(11.03.2020)

The bipartisan measure amounts to an unusual rebuke of the president’s expansive war powers. President Trump has promised to veto it.

13.03.2020 - 09:32 [ Newsy.com/ ]

Congress Approves War Powers Resolution

(13.03.2020)

Sen. Tim Kaine introduced the resolution after President Donald Trump ordered an airstrike that killed a top Iranian general.

12.03.2020 - 11:15 [ The Hill ]

House passes measure limiting Trump’s ability to take military action against Iran

In a largely party-line 227-186 vote, the House approved the resolution that would direct the president to “terminate the use of United States Armed Forces for hostilities against” Iran unless Congress specifically authorizes it. Six Republicans voted for the measure.

The Senate passed the resolution in a 55-45 vote last month, with eight Republicans siding with Democrats to support it. Neither chamber of Congress is expected to have the votes to override Trump’s likely veto.

25.02.2020 - 21:06 [ Walker Bragman / Twitter ]

Michael Bloomberg in 2010 on government: He begins with, „I’m not suggesting we shouldn’t have democracy, BUT…,“ lamenting the lack of qualifications required to seek public office. Then he says progress depends on executives having „far and away“ more power than legislatures.

13.02.2020 - 20:30 [ CNN ]

Senate passes Iran War Powers resolution despite Trump’s opposition

The vote was 55-45. Eight Republicans voted in favor of it: Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Todd Young of Indiana, Mike Lee of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Jerry Moran of Kansas.

13.02.2020 - 18:29 [ Global News / Youtube ]

U.S. Senate expected to vote on Iran War Powers resolution | LIVE

The U.S. Senate are expected to hold a final vote on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020 on a War Powers resolution that is aimed at restricting President Donald Trump’s authority to launch military operations against Iran.

13.02.2020 - 12:52 [ ABC News ]

Senate poised to pass resolution to curb Trump’s war authority on Iran

The resolution underscores that Congress has the sole power to declare war, as laid out in the Constitution. The resolution also requires that any hostilities with Iran must be explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force. It does not prevent the U.S. from defending itself from an imminent attack.

13.02.2020 - 12:41 [ cbs19news.com ]

U.S. Senate begins debating war powers resolution

The U.S. Senate has begun debating a war powers resolution, which was introduced by Senator Tim Kaine.

On Wednesday, Kaine spoke on the Senate floor, urging other members of the congressional chamber to pass the resolution to „prevent further escalation of hostilities with Iran without congressional authorization.“

13.02.2020 - 12:30 [ MSNBC ]

Experts warn democracies facing autocracy: Protect your institutions

Rachel Maddow looks at what has turned out to be prescient advice from Masha Gessen and Timothy Snyder about the necessity of institutions in preserving democracy, and the necessity of engaged citizens in protecting those institutions from a threatening autocracy like the Donald Trump presidency.

24.01.2020 - 06:17 [ Bloomberg ]

America Is Safer When Trump Alone Can’t Start a War

No matter who is president, Congress needs to re-establish its role in the use of force.

24.01.2020 - 05:55 [ Washington Post ]

The Senate should act on legislation to limit Trump’s war-making powers

(17.01.2019)

Kudos to Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Todd C. Young (R-Ind.), Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) for their integrity in standing up for the resolution put forward by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) that joins the House to remind the administration that the Constitution gave Congress the right to declare war.

15.01.2020 - 11:37 [ Congress.gov ]

S.J.Res.63 – A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.

(1) Congress has the sole power to declare war under article I, section 8, clause 11 of the United States Constitution.

(2) Congress has not yet declared war upon, nor enacted a specific statutory authorization for use of military force against, the Islamic Republic of Iran. The 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107–40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) against the perpetrators of the 9/11 attack and the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107–243; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) do not serve as a specific statutory authorization for war against Iran, and neither authorize any such action.

14.01.2020 - 19:17 [ DailyKos.com ]

Kaine and Lee predict as many as 10 Republicans could support war powers resolution

Lee said that the language of the resolution is unobjectionable, saying it simply states that „additional hostilities against Iran need to be authorized by Congress.“ He added, „That is a perfectly unremarkable statement. […] The fact that this would be objectionable to anyone in either political party is really saying something.“ That’s particularly true after Kaine agreed to amendments from Republicans to make the resolution applicable to any president, and to ensure that it wouldn’t force a withdrawal of troops in areas where proxy forces of Iran are present.

14.01.2020 - 19:10 [ theHill.com ]

Up to 10 GOP senators consider bucking Trump on war powers

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) is circulating a bipartisan resolution that would direct Trump to remove U.S. forces from any hostilities against Iran within 30 days of its enactment.
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GOP Sens. Mike Lee (Utah) and Rand Paul (Ky.) have already voiced their support for the measure, and Kaine says about eight more Republicans, including Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Todd Young (Ind.) and Mitt Romney (Utah), are reviewing it.

14.01.2020 - 19:02 [ Rolling Stone ]

Why Is Congress So Afraid to Use Its War Powers?

Congress’ refusal to act — and the ever-growing powers of the president — means endless war and anxiety for the U.S. and the world

14.01.2020 - 18:58 [ Cynthia Gair / Twitter ]

This is not a monarchy – Vote in Congressional war powers!

@GOP @SenateGOP @SenateDems @DNC #TrumpsWar

13.01.2020 - 06:08 [ theHill.com ]

Democrats scramble to rein in Trump’s Iran war powers

Lawmakers looking to limit Trump’s ability to take military action against Iran face a tight time frame with little room for error after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced she will send the articles of impeachment to the Senate this week. Once the trial begins, all legislation is expected to be delayed for weeks.

But a resolution from Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) can come to the Senate floor as soon as Tuesday morning, and he has been trying to win over the four GOP votes needed, in addition to every Democratic senator, to get to 51 votes.

11.01.2020 - 19:40 [ Congress.gov ]

S.J.Res.63 – A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.

(1) Congress has the sole power to declare war under article I, section 8, clause 11 of the United States Constitution.

(2) Congress has not yet declared war upon, nor enacted a specific statutory authorization for use of military force against, the Islamic Republic of Iran. The 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107–40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) against the perpetrators of the 9/11 attack and the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107–243; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) do not serve as a specific statutory authorization for war against Iran, and neither authorize any such action.

(…)

SEC. 2. Removal of United States Forces from Hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

(a) Removal of forces.—Pursuant to section 1013 of the Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 (50 U.S.C. 1546a), and in accordance with the provisions of section 601(b) of the International Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Act of 1976, Congress hereby directs the President to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any part of its government or military, by not later than the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this joint resolution unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force.

09.01.2020 - 21:52 [ Barbara Lee, Abgeordnete im US Repräsentantenhaus / Twitter‏ ]

After 19 years of endless war, the American people do not want another unnecessary war in the Middle East. Congress needs to exercise our constitutional responsibility to #StopEndlessWar. We must come together and stop the march to war. #NoWarWithIran

06.01.2020 - 18:59 [ theHill ]

Schiff calls for open hearings on Trump’s Iran actions

Schiff said there’s “absolutely no way” Trump’s threat to retaliate with “disproportionate” attacks, should Iran strike the U.S., reflects Pentagon planning.

“None of that could come out of the Pentagon,” Schiff said.

A Pentagon spokesperson was not immediately available for comment when contacted by The Hill.

18.12.2019 - 15:22 [ Fox News / Youtube ]

Nunes: Democrats have put people in ‚tremendous danger‘

(15.12.2019)

California Congressman Devin Nunes, Republican ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee demands Schiff to call on IG Horowitz to testify before House Intelligence Committee.

18.12.2019 - 15:01 [ Fox News ]

FISA court slams FBI over surveillance applications, in rare public order

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court has dealt with some of the most sensitive matters of national security: terror threats and espionage. Its work, for the most part, cannot be examined by the American public, by order of Congress and the president. Its work has been mostly secret, its structure largely one-sided.

„The most unusual thing is that there is a body of law that the court has created, but as a practitioner that is part of that law, we have between zero and some very limited knowledge of what that law is,“ Michael Sussmann, a former Justice Department prosecutor and current private attorney in the consumer and computer-privacy field, told Fox News. „But, it’s the fact that there is a secret law and a secret body of law that makes it the most vexing.“

08.12.2019 - 11:34 [ theHill.com ]

‚Fast and Furious‘ impeachment looks like a rush to a failed case

Indeed, another Jackson ruling went a step even further in denouncing “the proposition that the executive may assert an unreviewable right to withhold materials from the legislature” as an offense to the very foundations of our constitutional system. However, those were the words of a different Jackson, Judge Amy Berman Jackson, about a different president, Barack Obama. He withheld evidence in the “Fast and Furious” investigation of the murder of an agent with a gun supplied to criminal gangs by the federal government. Obama not only withheld witness testimony and evidence but also claimed that a court could not even review his order.

08.12.2019 - 11:31 [ Washington Post / Youtube ]

Pelosi: ‘This is about the Constitution’ | Impeachment This Week

When lawmakers returned from Thanksgiving, the House Judiciary Committee took over the impeachment inquiry into President Trump as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Democrats will move forward. Come inside the impeachment inquiry with The Washington Post.

17.11.2019 - 12:15 [ Mother Jones / Twitter ]

.@SpeakerPelosi: “A system of checks and balances—that’s a republic, if we can keep it. And we have the responsibility to keep it as custodians of the Constitution. We are defenders of our democracy.“

(13.11.2019)

17.11.2019 - 11:06 [ New York Times ]

‘The Report’ and the Untold Story of a Senate-C.I.A. Conflict

Senator Dianne Feinstein, the Democratic committee chairwoman, was wavering about making the report public, mulling an Obama administration suggestion that the release be postponed indefinitely. It seemed possible that the report, the product of more than six years of painstaking research, might never reach the American public.

13.11.2019 - 07:59 [ theHill.com ]

GOP senators warn against Trump firing intelligence community official

The New York Times reported Tuesday afternoon that Trump has discussed firing Atkinson because the intelligence official found a whistleblower’s complaint about Trump’s July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky credible and took action to advance it.

01.11.2019 - 13:52 [ Tulsi2020.com ]

Tulsi 2020: Join me in demanding the truth

What was Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the 9/11 attack? Americans deserve an answer to this question. Join me in calling on the Trump Administration to declassify and release all information regarding the 9/11 attack. Add your name to our petition.

01.11.2019 - 13:50 [ apnews.com ]

Tulsi Gabbard: Release documents related to Saudis and 9/11

(29.10.2019)

“Our government should not be invoking secrecy to keep its own mistakes hidden from the American people and should certainly not be used to protect the Saudis from embarrassment or, worse yet, accountability,” said Terry Strada, a Sept. 11 widow and the chairwoman of 9/11 Families and Survivors United for Justice Against Terrorism. “Until there is an accounting, we will never go away.”

30.10.2019 - 19:25 [ theHill.com ]

‚Squad‘ members recruit Raskin to run for Oversight gavel

Three members of „The Squad“ — Ocasio-Cortez, Tlaib and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) — serve on the Oversight panel. The fourth, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), does not but she called Raskin one of her „favorite“ colleagues and said she could back him for chairman.

Raskin “would be a true leader when it comes to holding this Trump administration accountable and especially a leader on this impeachment inquiry,” Tlaib told The Hill in a brief interview before stepping into a closed-door impeachment hearing.

19.10.2019 - 10:25 [ Daily Mail ]

Pentagon DELETES files about Osama bin Laden raid after transferring them to CIA where they can’t be made public

(08.07.2013)

– Military files about the Navy SEAL raid on Osama bin Laden’s hideout have been purged from Pentagon computers
– Associated Press requested information on the raid some 20 times in 2011 but requests were rejected
– A line in an inspector general’s draft report states the files were purged from the defense department to another government department to prevent certain information about the raid being made public
– The sentence was removed from the final report released weeks ago

17.10.2019 - 06:14 [ Nancy Pelosi, Sprecherin des US Repräsentantenhauses / Twitter ]

I am deeply concerned that the White House has canceled an all-Member classified briefing on the dangerous situation the President has caused in Syria, denying the Congress its right to be informed as it makes decisions about our national security.

05.10.2019 - 09:33 [ US House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence ]

White House Subpoenaed in House Impeachment Inquiry

Washington, D.C. (Oct. 4, 2019)—Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, Rep. Adam Schiff, the Chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and Rep. Eliot L. Engel, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, sent a letter conveying a subpoena to White House Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney for key documents as part of the House of Representatives’ impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump.

30.09.2019 - 21:00 [ Adam Schiff, Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee / Twitter ]

We had no choice but to move forward with an impeachment inquiry, And our focus will be on the president’s fundamental breach of his oath office. Coercing a foreign nation to interfere in our election is never ok, No matter what the president and his defenders say.

30.09.2019 - 20:57 [ CNN ]

Trump circulates quote invoking ‚civil war-like fracture‘ if he’s removed from office

President Donald Trump spent the weekend on Twitter defending himself against Democrats‘ upcoming impeachment inquiry by quoting his supporters on cable news, including a pastor’s inflammatory prediction that the country could be destroyed and a civil war would ensue if the President was removed from office.
Evangelical pastor and Fox News contributor Robert Jeffress claimed on the network, „Democrats don’t care if they burn down and destroy the nation in the process“ of impeachment.

30.09.2019 - 20:49 [ New York Times ]

Trump Raises Idea of Arresting House Chairman for Treason

President Trump on Monday questioned whether the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Representative Adam B. Schiff, should be arrested for treason for his description of a phone call Mr. Trump had with the president of Ukraine during a recent congressional hearing.

A day earlier, Mr. Trump called for Mr. Schiff — the California Democrat who is the de facto head of an impeachment inquiry into the call — to be “questioned at the highest level for Fraud & Treason.”

29.09.2019 - 11:04 [ Newsweek ]

Americans Split on Trump Impeachment Inquiry but 73% Say Whistleblower Should Testify Before Congress: Polls

A NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, released on Thursday, shows that 49 percent of Americans approve of the impeachment proceedings, while 46 percent disapprove and five percent said they were unsure.

Despite the divide, an overwhelming portion of respondents—three quarters—including a majority of Republicans, want the whistleblower to testify before Congress so the public can receive more information on the allegations against Trump.

28.09.2019 - 08:53 [ PRI.org ]

Spies and the White House have a history of running wild without congressional oversight

For decades now, the evolving role of congressional oversight of US intelligence has involved major clashes and scandals, from the Iran-Contra affair of the 1980s to the intelligence abuses that led to the 2003 war in Iraq.

Central to all of these clashes are attempts by intelligence agencies, the president and the executive branch to withhold damning information from Congress. Another common element is the use of civilians to carry out presidential or intelligence agency agendas.

20.09.2019 - 18:30 [ Times of Israel ]

Netanyahu lawyers submit defense arguments ahead of pre-indictment hearing

Quoting sources in the State Prosecutor’s Office, Channel 12 news reported Netanyahu’s hearing was not likely to be delayed due to the election results, which left no party with a clear path to forming a government.

It is widely believed that had Netanyahu won the election with a clear majority, he would have sought immunity from prosecution via a Knesset vote and then sought legislation to prevent the Supreme Court from overturning any such Knesset decision. I

17.09.2019 - 20:17 [ Haaretz ]

Mendelblit, Don’t Delay

(14.02.2018)

The police announcement Tuesday – that the investigations into two cases involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been completed – came 13 months after Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit decided that a “preliminary examination” of the allegations, which itself took six months, should become full-fledged criminal investigations.

17.09.2019 - 20:12 [ Washington Post ]

For Netanyahu, winning reelection could be the only way to avoid corruption charges

The prime minister has branded all three cases a baseless “witch hunt.” and his attorneys accused Mandelblit of interfering with elections by announcing his intention to indict during a campaign season.

11.09.2019 - 08:43 [ Buzzfeed ]

60 Words And A War Without End: The Untold Story Of The Most Dangerous Sentence In U.S. History

(17.1.2014)

Written in the frenzied, emotional days after 9/11, the Authorization for the Use of Military Force was intended to give President Bush the ability to retaliate against whoever orchestrated the attacks. But more than 12 years later, this sentence remains the primary legal justification for nearly every covert operation around the world. Here’s how it came to be, and what it’s since come to mean.

07.09.2019 - 09:20 [ Haaretz ]

Casting Doubt on Election’s Integrity, Netanyahu Commits the Worst ‚Terror Attack on Democracy‘

Netanyahu has been in favor, since his earliest days as a politician over three decades ago, of a presidential system of governance – without insisting on a constitution to check and balance the president’s power, however. He sees the Israeli parliament as an unnecessary nuisance. In recent years, he has described every perfectly legal and legitimate attempt to replace him as a “coup.” As far as he’s concerned, the only purpose of an election is to confirm his personal mandate to rule.

06.09.2019 - 06:29 [ Haaretz ]

Poodles of the Autocracy

Over the past few days, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s intentions and modus operandi have been exposed. It once again turns out that he seeks to get rid of all the checks and balances that he views as impediments to his continued rule, and also to annex the settlements to Israel, including even the most isolated and extreme ones, under a new system of government he has invented – “Jewish sovereignty.”

24.08.2019 - 21:14 [ theHill.com ]

Trump takes aim at media after ‚hereby‘ ordering US businesses out of China

Trump took aim at the press for questioning his authority to order businesses out of China, tweeting, „For all of the Fake News Reporters that don’t have a clue as to what the law is relative to Presidential powers, China, etc., try looking at the Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977. Case closed!“

24.08.2019 - 21:09 [ Washington Post ]

Trump ‘hereby’ orders U.S. business out of China. Can he do that?

President Trump’s extraordinary edict demanding U.S. companies move out of China — delivered in a series of angry tweets Friday — left industries of every stripe scrambling to understand how seriously to take the order, and how the White House might enforce it.

24.08.2019 - 15:40 [ Spiked ]

The strangling of European democracy: The EU is the high point of an anti-democratic project that has been brewing for a hundred years.

So, while the EU might well be the apogee of constrained democracy, constrained democracy has many facets. Moreover, the model of constrained democracy existed on a national level before the EU was created. Indeed, the EU can be seen as the grotesque extension of a flawed system that was first developed within nation states after the First World War. For instance, the model of independent central banking was pioneered in Germany before being transposed to the EU much later on.

04.08.2019 - 11:30 [ FCNL Foreign Policy ‏/ Twitter ]

President Trump does not have the legal authority to drag the U.S. into war with Iran. A great quote from our very own @dohlbaum in this piece on Congress and war powers in the #NDAA. #EndForeverWars #AUMF

(23.07.2019)

04.08.2019 - 11:27 [ joan schwartz ‏/ Twitter ]

@SpeakerPelosi Congratulations on passing legislation to stop fueling war in Yemen by unconditionally suspending arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This must remain in the final bill sent to the President for signature.

(31.07.2019)

04.08.2019 - 11:18 [ Jonathan Cohn / Medium ]

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the FY 2020 NDAA

(13.07.2019)

Recognizing the Flaws & Failures of the 2001 AUMF ( )

Lee, who was the sole NO vote on the 2001 AUMF passed in response to the 9/11 attacks, offered another amendment to express the sense of Congress that the 2001 AUMF has been utilized well beyond the scope that Congress intended, that it has served as a blank check for any President to wage war at any time and any place, and that any new authorization for the use of military force to replace the 2001 AUMF should include a sunset clause, a clear and specific expression of objectives, targets, and geographic scope, and reporting requirements. Eighteen years ago, she feared that the AUMF would be a blank check, and that is exactly what it has been.

The amendment passed 237 to 183. 215 Democrats, 21 Republicans, and Amash voted for it. 167 Republicans and 16 Democrats voted against it.

Here are the 16 warmongering Democrats:

03.08.2019 - 08:53 [ rnz.co.nz ]

Trump drops spy boss choice after criticism

Mr Trump said he would soon announce another nominee to oversee America’s 17 civilian and military intelligence agencies.

03.08.2019 - 08:51 [ Wikipedia ]

List of positions filled by presidential appointment with Senate confirmation

Under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution and law of the United States, certain federal positions appointed by the president of the United States require confirmation (advice and consent) of the United States Senate.

03.08.2019 - 08:42 [ New York Times ]

Trump Drops Plans to Nominate John Ratcliffe as Director of National Intelligence

President Trump on Friday abruptly dropped his plan to nominate Representative John Ratcliffe, Republican of Texas, as the nation’s top intelligence official after questions by Republicans and Democrats about his qualifications and concern over whether he had exaggerated his résumé.

28.07.2019 - 14:15 [ Elijah E. Cummings, Abgeordneter des US Repräsentantenhauses / Twitter ]

I’m begging the American people to pay attention to what is going on. Because if you want to have a democracy intact for your children, and your children’s children, and generations yet unborn we’ve got to guard this moment…this is our watch.

(24.07.2019)

27.07.2019 - 13:01 [ Nancy Pelosi, Sprecherin des US Repräsentantenhauses / Twitter ]

This evening’s Supreme Court ruling allowing @realDonaldTrump to steal military funds to spend on a wasteful, ineffective border wall rejected by Congress is deeply flawed. Our Founders designed a democracy governed by the people — not a monarchy.

27.07.2019 - 02:33 [ theHill.com ]

Supreme Court rules Trump can use military funds for border wall construction

The ruling allows the administration to use $2.5 billion in military funds to begin construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border while litigation plays out. A lower court had issued an injunction blocking officials from using those funds.