Federal law enforcement officials reportedly &#8220;delivered subpoenas or paid visits&#8221; to several Pennsylvania Republican lawmakers this week following their raid on former President Donald Trump&#8217;s Florida residence at Mar-a-Lago.
PennLive <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/news/2022/08/fbi-delivers-subpoenas-to-several-pa-republican-lawmakers-sources-say.html">reported</a> that at least some of the state lawmakers who received subpoenas were told that they were not the targets of an investigation.
The contact from federal authorities centered around U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) and alleged efforts to use fake pro-Trump electors to give the state&#8217;s electoral votes to the former president so he could stay in power, according to PennLive.
FBI agents <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-fbi-confiscates-cell-phone-of-republican-congressman">seized</a> Perry&#8217;s phone this week while he was traveling with his family as part of their <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/08/09/rep-scott-perry-says-fbi-seized-his-phone-while-he-was-traveling/">criminal investigation</a> into the alleged attempt to overturn the results of the election.
“This morning, while traveling with my family, 3 FBI agents visited me and seized my cell phone,” Perry <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-fbi-confiscates-cell-phone-of-republican-congressman">said</a> in a statement. “They made no attempt to contact my lawyer, who would have made arrangements for them to have my phone if that was their wish. I’m outraged — though not surprised — that the FBI under the direction of Merrick Garland’s DOJ, would seize the phone of a sitting Member of Congress.”
“My phone contains info about my legislative and political activities, and personal/private discussions with my wife, family, constituents, and friends. None of this is the government’s business,” he added. “As with President Trump last night, DOJ chose this unnecessary and aggressive action instead of simply contacting my attorneys. These kinds of banana republic tactics should concern every Citizen — especially considering the decision before Congress this week to hire 87,000 new IRS agents to further persecute law-abiding Citizens.&#8221;
FBI agents took numerous boxes and documents from former Trump’s home in Florida this week as part of their criminal investigation into allegedly mishandled classified information.
Agents were reportedly at the property the entire day and were dressed in plain clothes, leading staff believe that they were U.S. Secret Service agents, which is why the news of the executed search warrant did not leak.
Trump’s Secret Service agents were notified about the raid shortly before it occurred. Trump had lawyers present during the raid while he was at his residence in New York City.
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-details-emerge-about-what-fbi-agents-were-searching-for-in-raid-on-trump-home-report-says">raid</a> happened after Trump <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/08/08/us/trump-fbi-raid#trump-fbi-mar-a-lago">reportedly</a> delayed returning approximately 15 boxes of material over to the National Archives until after there became a serious threat that the feds were going to forcibly retrieve them. Some of the documents were reportedly <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/10/trump-records-classified/">marked</a> as “top secret.” Agents executed the search warrant because they reportedly believed that even after Trump returned the material that he withheld turning in all of it.
Newsweek <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-informer-told-fbi-what-docs-trump-was-hiding-where-1732283">reported</a> that the FBI specifically targeted three rooms at former President Donald Trump’s residence — a bedroom, an office, and a storage room — and that the information used to obtain the warrant “was based largely on information from an FBI confidential human source.”
The report said that the confidential informant told the bureau which documents were taken and where the documents were located.

US-GOVERNMENT-JUSTICE-FBI

FBI Issues ‘Subpoenas Or Paid Visits’ To Multiple Republican Lawmakers: Report

FBI Issues 'Subpoenas Or Paid Visits' To Multiple Pennsylvania Republican Lawmakers: Report

Donald Trump

Mar-a-Lago

Pennsylvania

The next candidate <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a> sends to the Senate may be the one who can prove himself quickest on the <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/memes">memes</a>.
Lt. Governor John Fetterman, the commonwealth’s Democratic <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/2022-midterms">nominee</a> for the Senate campaigning against Republican rival <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/dr-oz">Dr. Mehmet Oz</a>, was hospitalized on May 13 — days before the primary election — and has been recovering in the wake of receiving a pacemaker-defibrillator. Though he was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hell-be-fine-pa-democratic-senate-nominee-cleared-by-doctor-to-campaign-after-suffering-a-stroke-days-before-primary">cleared</a> by his cardiologist to campaign in the midterm elections, Fetterman made no significant <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pennsylvania-democrat-john-fetterman-to-end-absence-from-campaign-trail-two-months-after-stroke">public appearances</a> until the end of last month.
Fetterman has instead focused on various social media trolling campaigns against Oz, most of which draw attention to the celebrity cardiologist’s longtime residence in New Jersey — for example, by posting a <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/15/entertainment/snooki-cameo-dr-oz-john-fetterman-cec/index.html">cameo</a> from Snooki, a personality from the reality show “Jersey Shore,” and attempting to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/john-fetterman-petition-dr-oz-new-jersey-hall-of-fame-2022-7">induct</a> Oz into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
The memes, however, have been slung in the other direction as well. Following a report indicating that Fetterman <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pennsylvania-senate-nominee-fettermans-parents-gave-him-allowance-as-high-as-five-figures-well-into-his-40s">received</a> five-figure allowances from his parents during his tenure as the mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, the Oz campaign launched a <a href="https://fraudsterfetterman.com/">promotional website</a> called “Basement Bum Fetterman” — complete with an image depicting the candidate as shirtless and overweight, as well as a clarification that the page was “Not Paid For By John Fetterman’s Daddy.”
Pennsylvania’s voters, according to polls, appear to be favoring Fetterman thus far, with <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/senate/2022/pennsylvania/">FiveThirtyEight</a> showing the Democrat with a 10.8% lead as of August 4. One recent SurveyMonkey <a href="https://www.abc27.com/pennsylvania-senate-race/pennsylvania-senate-race-fetterman-leads-oz-in-new-poll/">poll</a> indicated that Fetterman and Oz respectively have 19% and 38% unfavorability ratings, with Fetterman receiving 17% of his support from voters who favored former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election.
The national political equation may be working against Fetterman. One USA Today Network and Suffolk University <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/early-midterm-poll-has-dire-news-for-pennsylvania-republicans">poll</a> showed in June that Pennsylvanians disapprove of President Joe Biden by a 54% to 39% margin, with more than half of the electorate saying that they “want their vote in November to change the direction in which Biden is leading the nation.”
“Voters say they are unhappy with the economy in Pennsylvania and President Biden’s job approval, yet these particular Democrats are threading the needle thus far,” according to Suffolk University Political Research Center Director David Paleologos.
Likewise, 48% of Pennsylvanians said that their standard of living is worse, while 17% said it is better — a significant reversal from 31% reporting better conditions and 17% reporting worse in 2018. In Pennsylvania, gasoline costs an average of $4.34 per gallon, according to <a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/">AAA</a>. When President Biden took office, the national average cost of gas was $2.39 per gallon.
Overall, Fetterman is “slightly favored” to win the election, with FiveThirtyEight’s <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-election-forecast/senate/pennsylvania/">predictive model</a> giving the candidate 67% odds.
Fetterman gave his first media interview since May to the <a href="https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2022/07/20/john-fetterman-health-update-stroke-condition-us-senate-campaign-democratic-candidate-dr-mehmet-oz/stories/202207200082">Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</a> last month — emphasizing that although he may “miss a word” or “slur two together” from time to time, he’s “feeling really good” and has “nothing to hide.”
“I would never be in this if we were not absolutely, 100% able to run fully and to win — and we believe that we are,” Fetterman said.
Both candidates are <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/oz-fetterman-fill-their-war-chests-for-key-senate-race">filling their war chests</a> for one of the nation’s most contentious midterm races. Oz has raised more than $19 million between March 17, 2021, and June 30, 2022, according to <a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/S2PA00638/?tab=raising#total-receipts">filings</a> with the U.S. Federal Elections Commission. Fetterman has meanwhile raised $11 million between April and June.

Lieutenant Governor & Democratic Senate Candidate John Fetterman Holds Campaign Event

Pennsylvania’s Senate Campaign Degrades To A Meme War

Fetterman And Oz Battle It Out On Social Media

2022 Election

2022 Midterms

Dr. Oz

Memes

A woman at an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lgbtq">LGBT</a> pride event in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a> cheered on a young boy working a stripper pole, a video posted by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/libs-of-tiktok-faces-more-censorship-from-major-social-media-platform">Libs of TikTok</a> shows.
Photos confirm the 30th annual Central Pennsylvania Pride celebration, held in Harrisburg on July 30, <a href="https://www.washingtonblade.com/2022/07/30/photos-central-pennsylvania-pride/">featured</a> drag queens and a stripper pole. The event, where the shocking video is sourced, was taxpayer subsidized.
&#8220;A pride event in PA featured a stripper pole where they taught kids how to pole dance,&#8221; Libs of TikTok reported Thursday.
The video, which has amassed 1.3 million views, shows a young boy decked out in rainbow-colored attire climbing up the pole with the help of an older male, who was allegedly the &#8220;instructor&#8221; at the event, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/pennsylvania-gay-pride-event-features-shirtless-instructor-teaching-children-pole-dance">identified</a> as Mikee Bentz. The boy then spins around the pole, hooking one of his legs for leverage, as a stripper would.
&#8220;Alright! Go!&#8221; a female voice says in the video. &#8220;Yes, sir!&#8221;
The text overlapping the video read, &#8220;Central PA Pride had a pole set up with an amazing instructor to assist. My kiddo is a natural!&#8221;
The TikTok video has since been deleted, Libs of TikTok reports.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
A pride event in PA featured a stripper pole where they taught kids how to pole dance <a href="https://t.co/IRBE07lp3q">pic.twitter.com/IRBE07lp3q</a>
&mdash; Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1555236987308625920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The tweet thread included a screenshot of an alleged letter from the Democratic Governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Wolf, promoting the event. 
&#8220;The Governor of Pennsylvania put out a letter in support of this pride event. [Governor Tim Wolf] do you condone these actions?&#8221; Libs of TikTok questioned. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The Governor of Pennsylvania put out a letter in support of this pride event. <a href="https://twitter.com/GovernorTomWolf?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GovernorTomWolf</a> do you condone these actions? <a href="https://t.co/XIpxdRAqD4">pic.twitter.com/XIpxdRAqD4</a>
&mdash; Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1555243641857122304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
A screenshot of the alleged letter is <a href="https://centralpapride.org">featured</a> proudly on the Central PA Pride website. &#8220;Governor Wolf shows his support for Central PA Pride Festival,&#8221; a caption of the screenshot reads.
The Wolf administration on July 13 <a href="https://dced.pa.gov/newsroom/wolf-administration-supports-lgbtq-celebrations-across-the-commonwealth/">announced</a> 17 recipients of the PA Pride Community Grant program to &#8220;bolster Pride celebrations.&#8221;
Central PA Pride Festival was one of those recipients, receiving $10,000 in taxpayer money.
“The PA Pride Community Grant Program reaffirms our commitment to bringing visibility to the LGBTQ+ community and creating a more inclusive commonwealth,” said Carrie Fischer Lepore, an official at the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). “Uplifting events and festivals that celebrate belonging, accessibility and inclusion sends the message that in Pennsylvania, all are welcome to pursue their happiness.”
The Daily Wire reached out to the DCED and asked if support from the administration still stands in light of the disturbing video. We did not immediately receive a response.
The festival, though, is already sticking by the event.
&#8220;The Pride Festival of Central Pennsylvania stands behind the actions of Mr. Bentz whose Metro Enterprises provided nothing more than a vehicle of fun and exercise at last weekend&#8217;s Pride Festival,&#8221; a spokesperson for the event <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/pennsylvania-gay-pride-event-features-shirtless-instructor-teaching-children-pole-dance">told</a> Fox News Digital.
Bentz, who was instructing the young boy on the pole, is not sorry about his actions, either.
&#8220;I am proud to offer Harrisburg/Central Pennsylvania an avenue for fitness, creativity, artistry, and expression in businesses that are not only operated at the highest level of ethical behavior, but that also take into account inclusivity and a deep appreciation for protecting the environment,&#8221; Bentz said, according to Fox News Digital.

Marchers process down Main Street waving flags during a Gay

‘My Kiddo Is A Natural!’: Woman Cheers On Young Boy Working Stripper Pole At Taxpayer-Subsidized Pride Event

Woman Cheers On Boy Working Stripper Pole At Pride Event, Shocking Video Purportedly Shows 

Drag Queens

Pride

A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a> volunteer fireman was among the first to respond to a horrific scene early Friday morning — a house with more than a dozen members of his family inside was engulfed in a massive <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fire">fire</a>.
Harold Baker joined other firefighters at 2:30 a.m. when they got a call to a two-story home on fire in Nescopeck, Pennsylvania. Baker said that when he arrived, the flames had already swallowed the entire house, and he couldn’t get in.
“I couldn&#8217;t get in there to save them. That is the biggest thing that has been on me. I couldn&#8217;t get in there to save them,” Baker <a href="https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/all-lost-firefighter-describes-nescopeck-blaze-that-took-family-members-1st-street-fire/523-316cf3c6-7b7b-4cdd-a1d1-60d797f169dc">told</a> ABC affiliate WNEP.
Pennsylvania state troopers confirmed that 10 of Baker’s family members, including three of his grandchildren between the ages of 5 and 7, had perished in the fire, and at least three of those in the house escaped. Baker also said that there were 13 dogs living in the home.
“I also lost my son, my daughter, grandson, two other grandkids in there, my father-in-law, my brother-in-law, and my sister-in-law. All lost,” Baker lamented.
“The kids that were there and my two kids were just visiting their aunt and uncle,” the firefighter added. “Those were the ones who own the house. They were there visiting and going into the pool and all that.”
Police later identified the adult victims as Dale Baker, 19; Star Baker, 22; David Daubert Sr., 79; Brian Daubert, 42; Shannon Daubert, 45; Laura Daubert, 47; and Marian Slusser, 54, CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/05/us/pennsylvania-house-fire-ten-dead/index.html">reported</a>. The other three victims were two boys, ages 5 and 6, and a 7-year-old girl.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. “We are utilizing multiple department assets to ensure a thorough and complete investigation into this fatal fire,” State Police Lt. Derek Felsman said.
While authorities have not launched a criminal investigation into the origin of the blaze, Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce told CNN, “Should the fire marshals determine the cause to be intentional and incendiary, we would begin a criminal investigation for arson.”
WNEP reported that the Red Cross was providing support and counseling to the victims’ family. A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-nescopeck-house-fire?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&amp;utm_medium=copy_link_all&amp;utm_source=customer">GoFundMe page</a> was also set up by the daughter of the town’s mayor to support those who lost their loved ones and possessions.

Firefighter By Flaming House

Firefighter Loses 10 Family Members, Including Children And Grandchildren, In Massive House Fire

Firefighter Loses 10 Family Members In Massive House Fire

Fire

Senate nominee <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pennsylvania">John Fetterman (D-PA)</a> lived off a yearly allowance as high as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/money">five figures</a> provided by his parents well into his 40s, a recent report revealed.
The lieutenant governor — who bills himself as a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/progressivism">progressive</a> friend of the working class — survived for his 13-year tenure as mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, thanks to his parents&#8217; money. Fetterman, age 52, was elected in 2006 and left the position in 2019 after being elected to his current position. In 2015 alone, his parents gave him $54,000, The Philadelphia Inquirer <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/republicans-target-john-fetterman-blue-collar-image-20220803.html">reported</a>. As mayor, Fetterman received a $1,800 salary. For his part, Fetterman has stated that his family&#8217;s generosity allowed him to serve the public.
Joe Calvello, a campaign spokesperson, defended Fetterman, telling the Philadelphia paper, &#8220;John has spent his career rolling up his sleeves and fighting for forgotten people and communities in Pennsylvania.&#8221;
Calvello pointed out that Fetterman gave up working at an insurance company early in his career to pursue public service.
“He has dedicated his life to public service and helping others,&#8221; Calvello said, according to the Inquirer. &#8220;John had a good job with a good paycheck, but gave it up to focus on serving the forgotten communities in Pennsylvania.&#8221;
Republican critics say that Fetterman is a phony — despite the public image that he has crafted.
&#8220;John Fetterman is not who he seems to be. He is a sheep in wolf’s clothing,” David Urban, a Pennsylvania Republican strategist, told the Inquirer. “Nobody’s ever laid a glove on him.”
In reaction to the story, Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) tweeted, &#8220;Fetterman&#8217;s problem isn&#8217;t that he&#8217;s a lazy socialist who lived off his parents until he was *50.* His problem is he supports 100% of Biden&#8217;s policies that caused inflation &amp; record high gas.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Fetterman&#39;s problem isn&#39;t that he&#39;s a lazy socialist who lived off his parents until he was *50.* 
His problem is he supports 100% of Biden&#39;s policies that caused inflation &amp; record high gas. <a href="https://t.co/K7SRvoop8D">https://t.co/K7SRvoop8D</a>
&mdash; Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomCottonAR/status/1554889326215008257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;
The lieutenant governor also purchased a residency from his sister for just $1. His sister first purchased the loft for $70,000, The Inquirer revealed.
During the campaign, the Democratic nominee has also come under fire for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pennsylvania-lieutenant-gov-spent-taxpayer-funds-on-jersey-shore-vacation-during-covid-lockdowns-records-show">using</a> taxpayer money for a vacation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the Pennsylvania Department of Health warning against non-essential travel, the lieutenant governor and pro-COVID lockdown advocate used taxpayer funds for a Jersey Shore family getaway three months into the coronavirus pandemic.
Records obtained by the <a href="https://freebeacon.com/democrats/pa-dem-pushed-covid-lockdowns-during-taxpayer-funded-jersey-shore-vacay-records-show/">Washington Free Beacon</a> show Fetterman&#8217;s security detail spent $3,500 for overtime, food, and lodging from June 24-27, 2020 in Ocean City, New Jersey.
Fetterman’s family vacation came two days after Governor Phil Murphy (D-NJ) announced a crackdown on maskless beach goers amid a spike in COVID-19 cases at the time.
Calvello confirmed the vacation to The Washington Free Beacon but emphasized he never claimed reimbursement for travel expenses. Calvello added that Fetterman had cut spending on travel, food, conferences, and office supplies during his first two years as Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor.
“John and his family do take modest summer vacations like many folks in PA,” Calvello told the Free Beacon.
Calvello said Alleghany County, where Fetterman lives, “was not in lockdown.”
Fetterman is facing off against GOP senate nominee Dr. Mehmet Oz, a multi-millionaire, in the general election.
Brandon Drey contributed to this reporting.

John Fetterman

Pennsylvania Senate Nominee Fetterman’s Parents Gave Him Allowance As High As Five Figures Well Into His 40s

Democratic Pennsylvania Senate Nominee John Fetterman's Parents Gave Him Allowance As High As Five Figures Well Into His 40s

Democratic Party

Senate Democrats

On Tuesday, July 26, 2021, the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia Police departments <a href="https://broadandliberty.com/2022/07/28/philadelphia-police-department-retains-state-accreditation-but-issues-may-linger/">nearly</a> had their state accreditation <a href="https://www.wesa.fm/2022-07-01/pittsburgh-police-accreditation-threatened-by-law-to-scale-back-traffic-stops">revoked</a>. This all came to a head because they enacted policies that attempted to push back on municipal ordinances and state laws to reduce traffic stops, which were <a href="https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2021-12-16/pittsburgh-city-council-advances-bill-to-prevent-police-from-making-minor-traffic-stops">characterized</a> as “an effort to prevent police stops that could turn deadly for Black and brown people.” In Philadelphia, the “<a href="https://broadandliberty.com/2022/03/20/city-of-philadelphia-hobbles-police-with-dangerous-new-ordinance/">Driving Equality Bill”</a> was passed in 2021, prompting Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw to comply with Mayor Jim Kenney’s executive order 6-21, restricting officers from making traffic stops to enforce eight sections of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code.
In April, the <a href="https://www.psp.pa.gov/About-PSP/Pages/Pennsylvania-Law-Enforcement-Accreditation-Commission-.aspx">Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (PLEAC)</a> <a href="https://www.wesa.fm/2022-07-01/pittsburgh-police-accreditation-threatened-by-law-to-scale-back-traffic-stops">sent a letter</a> to Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw and then-Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert to notify them that their enacting of official department policies to comply with municipal ordinances that attempt to supersede the Pennsylvania vehicle code means that their departments “are no longer in full compliance with the state’s Accreditation Program and Standards.” 
On July 26th, the board met and scheduled separate hearings for Philadelphia and Pittsburgh leading to votes on their accreditation status. 
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Outlaw and her legal advisor, Inspector Healy, made a case that slightly differed from PLEAC’s interpretation. Their <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-police-union-fop-sues-traffic-stop-law-20220223.html">municipal ordinance</a> merely downgraded eight sections of the vehicle code from primary violations &#8211; where an officer can make a stop on observation &#8211; to secondary ones in which a citation can be issued once a stop for another offense was initiated (such as a seat belt violation). Commission members, who are all acting law enforcement chiefs throughout the state and casted a 10-8 vote, had originally considered a 90-day stay on the department’s status. However, several board members told local news outlet <a href="https://broadandliberty.com/2022/07/28/philadelphia-police-department-retains-state-accreditation-but-issues-may-linger/">Broad + Liberty</a> under a condition of anonymity that they were voting to allow the department a 90-day waiver, but they had voiced their belief that the City of Philadelphia was not in compliance.
According to board members, the Pittsburgh Police delegation did not show up at the meeting. Therefore, their accreditation status still remains in jeopardy.
In gaining <a href="https://pcpa.memberclicks.net/accreditation-home">PLEAC Accreditation</a>, police agencies have to comply with <a href="https://broadandliberty.com/2022/07/21/exclusive-philadelphia-police-to-lose-its-accreditation/">standard 1.1.1</a>, which requires:
<blockquote>“A written directive requiring all law enforcement personnel, prior to performing their sworn duties, to take and subsequently abide with an Oath of Office to support, obey and defend the constitution of the United States and the Pennsylvania Constitution and the laws of Pennsylvania and the governmental subdivision and that he/she will discharge the duties of the office with fidelity. 
Newly hired law enforcement officers, in a manner prescribed by the agency, shall also acknowledge that they will uphold, obey and enforce the law without consideration to a person’s race, color, sex, religious creed, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, handicap or disability.”</blockquote>
PLEAC Accreditation Program Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, James Adams, <a href="https://broadandliberty.com/2022/07/21/exclusive-philadelphia-police-to-lose-its-accreditation/">stated</a> that the Philadelphia Police Department Commissioner and Accreditation Manager were sent the April letter advising them that “it came to the attention of the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (PLEAC) that with the enactment of City Code § 12-1700, <a href="https://nypost.com/2021/10/15/philadelphia-passes-bill-barring-cops-from-minor-traffic-stops/">Driving Equality</a> law, Executive Order 6-21 Philadelphia Police Department is no longer in full compliance with the Accreditation Program and Standards.” 
This is due to the commission&#8217;s standards requiring the city to have “a written directive requiring all law enforcement personnel to support, obey and defend the constitution of the United States and the Pennsylvania Constitution and the laws of Pennsylvania.”
PLEAC Board member, Chief Patrick Molloy of the Abington Township Police Department <a href="https://broadandliberty.com/2022/07/28/philadelphia-police-department-retains-state-accreditation-but-issues-may-linger/">said</a>, “The ordinance itself is not in compliance with PLEAC standards. This prohibits police officers from the type of proactive policing that results in a reduction of crime and an improvement of quality of life.” 
“At a time when police reforms are requiring police departments to be more accountable and professional, this ordinance concedes that police officers are incapable of applying the law without consideration to race, which is why it’s not in compliance with our oath and with accreditation standards.” 
By passing these ordinances, James Adams <a href="https://whyy.org/articles/philadelphia-police-department-state-accreditation/">argued</a> that the Cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are trying to supersede constitutionally legislated state law with municipal ordinances, putting law enforcement officers at odds with their oath of office, by barring them from enforcing eight sections of the state’s vehicle code. 
Had the Pittsburgh Police Chief or Philadelphia Police Commissioner and their staff pushed back on these ordinances or come up with a creative solution &#8211; such as allowing officers to make stops but only issue written warnings as opposed to fines for these minor issues &#8211; these departments’ accreditations might not be in jeopardy.
“The PLEAC solicitor has verified that, by law, a first-class city [Philadelphia] or second-class city [Pittsburgh] does not have the authority to supersede state law.” <a href="https://broadandliberty.com/2022/07/21/exclusive-philadelphia-police-to-lose-its-accreditation/">said</a> Adams. 
<a href="https://twitter.com/aweisman1cesaid/status/1287014311731265542">Max Weisman</a>, communications director for Philadelphia City Council member <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/stop-and-frisk-philadelphia-isaiah-thomas-20220719.html">Isaiah Thomas</a> who sponsored Philadelphia’s Driving Equality Law, issued the following statement to <a href="https://broadandliberty.com/2022/07/28/philadelphia-police-department-retains-state-accreditation-but-issues-may-linger/">Broad + Liberty</a>: “Our bill simply reclassifies eight individual vehicle code violations as secondary violations.” Weisman continued, “It is the same method of enforcement of an officer noticing a driver without a seatbelt — it is a violation that can be enforced but cannot be the primary reason for a stop.”
To back up the data supporting Council member Thomas’s claims that these traffic stops targeted black and brown drivers, Weisman wrote that “there was a plethora of data that was included around this bill — data and lived experience is at the heart of Driving Equality.” Weisman reported that the Defenders Association of Philadelphia derived their analysis of data from the Philadelphia Police on traffic stops.
Weisman further remarked that “Driving Equality (and the Executive Order) passed with a complimentary data bill that will serve as an audit of Driving Equality. We believe in this model but are closely monitoring, alongside a Driving Equality Accountability Group, traffic stops to ensure this bill is in fact achieving its goal (of modifying the stops that promote discrimination while keeping the stops that promote public safety).”  When Weisman was requested to detail who is a part of this accountability group, how often they meet, and how members are recruited, Weisman provided a <a href="https://whyy.org/articles/group-monitor-philly-police-car-stop-reforms/">link to a local PBS story</a> and reported that the group “will keep a watchful eye on regulations designed to prevent Philadelphia police from stopping people for minor traffic infractions in the city.” 
The group includes representatives from the Defender Association of Philadelphia, the Abolitionist Law Center, and the Community Bail Fund as well as a pastor, a Villanova professor, and local residents classified as “neighborhood advocates.” The board listed in Weisman’s link states that the law “needs to be carefully monitored to be sure racial equity occurs while also ensuring public safety.” Yet, at the time of this writing, there are apparently no members of the board from the Inspector General, Controller, Police Department, or any trained traffic safety experts from the state police or state Department of Transportation. 
Former Police Chief himself, <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/08/more-than-just-a-police-chief-james-adams-retires-from-upper-allen-twp-after-42-year-career.html">James Adams</a>, acknowledged that officers “regularly use discretion when enforcing minor laws or conducting traffic stops” and noted that police agencies could have internally set those priorities  within the department. However, Adams remarked that “to craft an ordinance that prohibits officers from enforcing the law or being able to make lawful stops that can save lives is what puts Philadelphia and Pittsburgh out of compliance.”
For his part, Adams noted Council Member Thomas’ concerns, remarking that the “PLEAC wanted to review data proving that the Philadelphia police traffic enforcement policies target people of color for enforcement — and more specifically, how the Driving Equality ordinance would address such a problem while preserving public safety.”
“How does this bill actually correct the problem of bias as its proponents suggest?” Adams questioned. “How does prohibiting officers from enforcing these 8 sections of the vehicle code somehow solve the issue of racial disparity?”
Police Departments can operate without state or <a href="https://www.calea.org/">national</a> accreditation &#8211; but at added cost to local taxpayers.
<a href="https://broadandliberty.com/2022/07/21/exclusive-philadelphia-police-to-lose-its-accreditation/">Broad + Liberty</a> noted: “Independent law enforcement accreditation includes review of department policy, institution of best practices, annual reporting, and an independent external audit conducted every three years. One of the big drivers of this process is the reduction of operational risk and loss control, as comparative statistical reviews conducted over the last three decades show a positive correlation between accreditation and a reduction in liability and worker’s compensation claims.”
Further, by gaining accreditation, “agencies can improve their policies, training, and transparency to effectively defend themselves against lawsuits, reduce substantiated citizen complaints, equip command staff with a proven management system, and allow agencies an independent – externally vetted change management and self-audit system.”
Additionally, “in pushing the Philadelphia Police Department to comply with PLEAC standards a decade ago, [then-Commissioner] Ramsey negotiated a $1,500 bonus for each member of the department to meet accreditation standards” at a cost of nearly $10M in taxpayer revenue.
Moreover, “without an annual PLEAC accreditation audit due, what measures will the Philadelphia Police have to maintain compliance and show it is transparent in opening their policies, procedures, and operations to a valid third-party review?”
This is why law enforcement leaders and legal professionals need to be consulted in the drafting of any law or enforcement policies that may have implications to existing laws or public safety concerns. Had these departments delayed establishing policies that conflict with state standards, this issue would not have been up for a PLEAC vote. More importantly, given the record homicides recorded in both <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2022/01/10/philadelphia-record-homicides-2021-police">Philadelphia</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-crime-shootings-violence-pittsburgh-24a2e12ccbf41ccf7360c490c1fee0db">Pittsburgh</a> last year, it may be irresponsible to consider greater restrictions on lawful law enforcement operations. To this, Adams said, “With the rise in crime throughout our nation, why would we prohibit our police from using the lawful tools at their disposal to address it?”
A. Benjamin <a href="https://abmannes.com/">Mannes</a>, MA, CPP served in both municipal and federal law enforcement, leading to his designation as a nationally recognized subject matter expert in security, public integrity, and criminal justice reform. He has served as a consultant and expert witness and as the Director, Office of Investigations for the American Board of Internal Medicine from 2008-2017. 
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Readers Pass – Mannes – Philly To Lose Police Accreditation16x9 (1)

License And Registration: Philadelphia Cops Caught In The Crossfire Over Traffic Stops

Philadelphia

Pittsburgh

Police

Police Reform

Readers Pass

A massive fire engulfed one of Philadelphia&#8217;s most iconic cheesesteak restaurants, severely damaging it.
Firefighters responded to the scene at Jim&#8217;s Steaks on the corner of 4th and South Streets in South Philadelphia Friday. The blaze was officially declared a two-alarm fire, but the number of additional crews supporting first responders on site increased the number of crews to the equivalent of a three-alarm fire, the <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/news/jims-steaks-fire-philadelphia-south-street-20220729.html">Philadelphia Inquirer</a> reported.
The fire was declared under control at about 1:30 p.m. local time, Friday afternoon, nearly four hours after it began.
Evidence pointed to the fire starting somewhere in the shop&#8217;s HVAC system. “They just couldn’t get to it right away,” Jim&#8217;s Steaks owner Ken Silver told the Inquirer. “It was probably somewhere in some little space where those wires that were installed who knows how many years ago were.”
The fire began shortly after assistant manager Christina Lawlor opened the shop for the day. She said she noticed the air conditioner was malfunctioning when she first stepped into the building at around 7:15 a.m. &#8220;I knew it when I walked in this morning something wasn&#8217;t right because it was too hot,&#8221; Lawlor told <a href="https://6abc.com/jims-steaks-south-street-fire-philadelphia-philly-on/12082159/">6ABC Philadelphia</a>. Usually the air conditioner is running, the Inquirer noted. Then around 8:30 a.m., she began to smell electrical wiring burning. &#8220;I started smelling something. It smelled electrical, you know you can smell that,&#8221; she told reporters. &#8220;So I&#8217;m like, &#8216;something&#8217;s not right.&#8217; We looked up and saw smoke coming down from where the walk-in is and it was smoke pouring down.&#8221;
Lawlor said she told the shop&#8217;s staff to get out while she shut off the main circuit breaker box and called the fire department.
Fire crews arrived on scene at around 9:15 a.m. More crews were called to assist throughout the day as smoke enveloped the shop and a neighboring building. By 11:30 a.m., additional fire companies had been called to the scene to substitute for the first responding units who needed to rest after prolonged exposure to high temperatures outside. Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel told reporters that, in all, more than 125 firefighters, medics, and support personnel, and 57 vehicles were present at the site of the fire. The sheer amount of staff made the response the equivalent of a three-alarm fire.
The fire was finally declared under control at around 1:30 p.m., more than four hours after fire crews arrived. The building was severely damaged, and Thiel said there were concerns about the structural integrity of the shop. A clothing store adjacent to Jim&#8217;s was also damaged by the fire. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Established in 1976, Jim&#8217;s Steaks is one of Philadelphia&#8217;s iconic cheesesteak shops, along with a handful of other establishments around the city. According to its <a href="https://jimssouthstreet.com/about-us">website</a>, Jim&#8217;s was named &#8220;Best of Philly&#8221; five times by Philadelphia Magazine, and is rated on the Zagat survey.
Silver committed to rebuilding the shop, a local institution. “Absolutely, absolutely. I owe it to my father’s legacy,&#8221; Silver said. &#8220;I owe it to the street and I owe it to Philadelphia. We are too important a business to go away and I truly view it that way.”

Jim’s Steaks South Street

More Than 100 Firefighters, Medics Respond As Blaze Engulfs Iconic Philly Cheesesteak Shop

Food

A Baltimore family just filed a $25 million <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lawsuit">lawsuit</a> against <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/sesame-street">Sesame Place</a>, a theme park in Pennsylvania, claiming their daughters were the targets of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/racism">racial discrimination</a> after being ignored by characters in costume.
The filing comes not long after a video of a Sesame Place employee dressed as Rosita seemingly ignoring two black girls during a parade went viral online, sparking nationwide outrage and accusations of racism. Social media was flooded with examples of similar incidents that allegedly took place at the amusement park, which only helped fuel the fury.
Per <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11056259/Black-family-sues-Sesame-Place-alleging-discrimination.html">Daily Mail</a>, the suit seeks class action status as 25-30 families have come forward with similar claims. It was filed in a federal court in Philadelphia against SeaWorld Parks &amp; Entertainment, the owner of Sesame Place, alleging “pervasive and appalling race discrimination.”
The lawsuit claims that four amusement park employees dressed as Sesame Street characters intentionally ignored Quinton Burns, his daughter Kennedi Burns, and other black guests during a meet-and-greet event on June 18. The family insists the employees’ behavior was an example of racism.
The lawsuit says “SeaWorld&#8217;s performers readily engaged with numerous similarly situated white customers.”
“Just looking at her face, it makes me want to cry every time I see it,” Burns said of his daughter during a press conference on Wednesday. 
“[Kennedi] was ignored amongst a sea of other young white children who were able to interact, give hugs, high fives,” attorney Malcolm Ruff said during the press conference. “Kennedi was forced to experience racism at the age of 5. This is unacceptable and we will not stand by and let this continue.” 
&#8220;We will review the lawsuit filed on behalf of Mr. Burns. We look forward to addressing that claim through the established legal process. We are committed to deliver an inclusive, equitable and entertaining experience for all our guests,” Sesame Street reps replied to the filing in a statement to <a href="https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2022/07/27/sesame-place-lawsuit-filed-baltimore-family-discrimination/">Eyewitness News</a>.
Reps for the amusement park apologized multiple times for the viral video of the two little girls appearing to be ignored, The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sesame-place-issues-multiple-apologies-as-video-of-character-seemingly-ignoring-two-black-children-goes-viral">reported</a>, but their apologies were not enough to assuage skeptics. 
“We sincerely apologize to the family for their experience in our park on Saturday; we know that it’s not ok. We are taking actions to do better. We are committed to making this right. We will conduct training for our employees so they better understand, recognize and deliver an inclusive, equitable, and entertaining experience for our guests,” a statement at the time said.
“For over 40 years Sesame Place has worked to uphold the values of respect, inclusion and belonging. We are committed to doing a better job making children and families feel special, seen and included when they come to our parks.”
Per Daily Mail, the mother of the two girls from the video, Jodi Brown, didn’t believe the company was being sincere.
“I don&#8217;t believe it was genuine, I believe they were just putting out statements due to how viral the video has gone,” Brown said.

Social Media On The Sand At Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa – Day 3

Sesame Place Hit With $25 Million Racial Discrimination Lawsuit After Alleged Snub From Costumed Character Goes Viral

Lawsuit

Racial Discrimination

Racism

Sesame Street

Democrats Boost Pro-Trump House Candidate in Michigan
Talk about politics making odd bedfellows.
Democrats are set to spend nearly $500,000 to push a Republican who is a supporter of former President Donald Trump in a highly contested primary for a House seat.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) hopes to knock out another GOP candidate it feels is more moderate, believing that Democrats will have a better chance in November against the pro-Trump candidate.
The DCCC plans to shell out $425,000 on an ad painting candidate John Gibbs as the real pro-Trump candidate compared to Republican Rep. Peter Meijer &#8212; who voted to impeach Trump.
&#8220;Handpicked by Trump to run for Congress, Gibbs called Trump ‘the greatest president’ and worked in Trump’s administration with Ben Carson,&#8221; the ad says, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/26/peter-meijer-michigan-democrats-trump">according</a> to Axios. &#8220;Gibbs has promised to push that same conservative agenda in Congress.&#8221;
Trump endorsed Gibbs after Meijer voted for his impeachment over the January 6 Capitol riot.
While the ad still portrays Gibbs as “too conservative” for Michigan, it casts Gibbs as he paints himself &#8212; the true pro-Trump candidate.
Fetterman A Champion Troll
Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D) dropped off the campaign trail a couple of months ago after sustaining a stroke, but his team has proved adept at trolling his GOP candidate, celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz.
Team Fetterman has been portraying Oz as a carpetbagging New Jerseyan. The team put out a video featuring &#8220;Jersey Shore” star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi wishing Oz luck on his recent move to Pennsylvania to “look for a new job.” Another featured pictures of Oz’s mansions &#8212; it&#8217;s worth noting that not one is in Pennsylvania. And in the team&#8217;s most recent effort, they released a video of Fetterman launching a petition to have Oz inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
We thought it would be *so* nice to honor Dr. Oz&#39;s Jersey Pride. So we&#39;re starting a petition to get him inducted into the <a href="https://twitter.com/NJHallofFame?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NJHallofFame</a>! 🎉 
Add your name here and let&#39;s show him our support: <a href="https://t.co/mMqaHYvGpO">https://t.co/mMqaHYvGpO</a> <a href="https://t.co/2J812jNJbl">pic.twitter.com/2J812jNJbl</a>
&mdash; John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnFetterman/status/1550211995026194432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The team&#8217;s efforts caught the eye of liberal MSNBC, which published a piece <a href="https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/why-john-fetterman-s-twitter-trolling-dr-oz-works-so-n1297452">headlined</a>: &#8220;Why John Fetterman&#8217;s trolling could win him a seat in the U.S. Senate.&#8221;
Oz’s campaign has tried to push back on the residency issue, and his team took a shot at Fetterman being off the trail to recover from his stroke.
“Fetterman hasn’t faced voters in months — but he did have time for a family vacation to the Jersey Shore,” Oz communications director Brittany Yanick said in an email to NBC News.
Fetterman’s campaign once again slapped back smartly, saying: &#8220;John just visited — Dr. Oz still basically lives there.”
Big Money Roils AZ Race
Billionaire Peter Thiel is flexing his wallet in Arizona, throwing his support &#8212; and some big bucks &#8212; behind Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters.
Thiel contributed another $1.5 million to the pro-Masters Saving Arizona super PAC on July 7, according to a Thursday filing with the Federal Election Commission. That means the venture capitalist has now dropped some $15 million to boost the Trump-backed Masters, who has been struggling to raise money.
Masters is being heavily outspent by his Republican primary opponent, Jim Lamon, a solar power executive who has loaned his campaign more than $14 million. But Masters has been relying on Thiel and the super PAC to stay competitive.
Still, Masters remains at the top of the polls and is set to appear at a rally with Trump Friday night in Prescott Valley. The primary is on Aug 2.
Gloves Off In Wisconsin
Republican candidates for Wisconsin governor faced off Sunday night, making their pitch to GOP voters in Milwaukee.
Former Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch was the &#8220;clear&#8221; winner, at least according to conservative Wisconsin radio host Dan O&#8217;Donnell.
During the debate, Trump-backed candidate Tim Michels continually pointed to his business experience, saying he hoped to direct young people to trade schools. Michels also said he would:
<ul>
<li>Back universal school choice</li>
<li>Oppose Red Flag laws</li>
<li>Support paid family leave</li>
<li>Push election integrity bills</li>
</ul>
Meanwhile, Kleefisch cited her experience in office, mirroring Michels support for school choice and other issues, but she did not say if she would support paid family leave.
No Joe For Raphael
With President Joe Biden&#8217;s approval ratings hovering in the 30s, Democratic Senate candidates like Georgia&#8217;s Raphael Warnock are fleeing from the commander-in-chief.
Recently, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution <a href="https://www.ajc.com/politics/politics-blog/the-jolt-sen-raphael-warnock-keeps-distance-from-joe-biden-as-presidents-ratings-sink/IXWQC3Z4MVBKTFNVNDTV2A4SWI/">reported</a> that journalist Shannon McCaffrey asked Warnock whether or not he thought Biden was doing a good job. Warnock wouldn&#8217;t say.
“I’m focused on the job that I’m doing standing up for the people of Georgia,” Warnock told McCaffrey.
He repeated himself when asked a second time.
“I am standing up for the people of Georgia. I’m going to fight for them every single day. When that means standing with this person, it’s based on what it does for Georgia,&#8221; the incumbent said.
Abortion Becomes Big Issue In Nevada
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D) portrays herself as the key to preventing a national abortion ban. She gathered like-minded Republican women in a friend&#8217;s backyard to urge them to back her candidacy.
&#8220;There is no doubt in my mind that the Republicans in the Senate right now — that some of them are writing a draft legislation to further restrict abortion in this country,&#8221; Masto said at the campaign event this month, The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/07/25/nevada-senate-2022-economy-abortion/">reported</a>.
&#8220;Nevada is the seat that’s going to stop that,&#8221; she said.
Currently, Nevada guarantees abortion access, passing the bill by a large margin more than 30 years ago.
But Republican Senate nominee Adam Laxalt, speaking the next day in Las Vegas, focused on soaring gas prices and runaway inflation, blaming Democrats.
“We need someone that will actually stand up for Nevada when the Biden administration takes us away from energy independence, gives us all-time high gas, all these things we’re dealing with every single day,” said Laxalt, who is a former state attorney general but lost his bid for governor four years ago.
Cruz Steps In In Wyoming Race
Rep. Liz Cheney (R) is having a tough time in her re-election campaign &#8212; the latest <a href="https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/latest_polls/house/">poll</a> shows her trailing her GOP primary opponent by 22 points.
And now, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is jumping into the fray, saying on Fox News that he is endorsing her primary challenger, Harriet Hageman.
“Harriet will be a rock-ribbed conservative congresswoman who will always defend the Constitution,” Cruz told the news outlet.
“She knows the importance of standing up for individual constitutional rights and fighting back against the federal government, which wants to seize more land and prevent people from being able to provide for their families.”
Hageman expressed her appreciation for endorsement. “In many ways, Texas and Wyoming face the same struggles against the relentless onslaught of the federal government, and it will be nice to know that I have another ally in the other chamber when I get to Congress.”
A Look At Cook
The Cook Political <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/house-race-ratings">Report</a> has been handicapping congressional races for years, so each week we&#8217;ll tell you what they think will happen in the 2022 mid-terms for the House of Representatives.
Solid Democrat &#8212; 162 
Solid Republican &#8212; 191 
Toss Ups &#8212; 34
Both parties each have 13 seats considered &#8220;likely&#8221; and 11 seats that &#8220;lean&#8221; their way.
But here&#8217;s an interesting pair of numbers: The Democrats currently hold 26 of the toss-up seats, while Republicans hold just 8 of those seats.
Joseph Curl has covered politics for 35 years, including 12 years as White House correspondent for a national newspaper. He was also the a.m. editor of the Drudge Report for four years. Send tips to josephcurl@dailywire.com and follow him on Twitter @josephcurl.

U.S. capitol building on chunk of land being held up by hands

MID-TERM EXAM: All The Latest On The 2022 Elections

Arizona

Georgia

Liz Cheney

Mehmet Oz

Michigan

Nevada

A previously deported <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/illegal-immigration">illegal alien</a> pleaded guilty this week to charges including identity theft and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fraud">benefits fraud</a> in part relating to aid given during the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/covid-19">COVID-19 pandemic</a>.
Pedro Hernandez-Romero, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to using the identity and social security number of an American citizen after illegally re-entering the United States after deportation. According to Eye Witness News, Hernandez-Romero <a href="https://www.pahomepage.com/news/crime-courts/man-pleads-guilty-to-identity-theft-covid-relief-fraud/">received</a> around $26,000 in Pennsylvania Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits as part of its state COVID relief program.
The guilty plea comes as Democrats across the country are <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-new-york-city-major-adams-not-happy-illegal-aliens-are-being-bused-to-their-areas">complaining</a> that illegal immigrants being shipped from Republican-controlled states to their areas are putting a strain on their resources.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded to a question during a press conference this week about the “thousands” of illegal aliens who have been shipped to Washington, D.C., and New York City from Texas and Arizona amid Biden’s Border Crisis.
“We believe it’s shameful that — that some governors are using migrants as a political tool, as a political play, when we should be making sure that we’re doing everything that we can to help — to help folks who are coming into this process in a legal way and making sure that, you know, we do this in a — in a safe — in a safe way and a respectful way,” she said. “And I think it’s shameful that that is happening.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) said during a press conference this week that the influx of illegal aliens being shipped to his city was a “real burden on New Yorkers.”
“As I stated, we already have an overburdened shelter system. So now we’re talking about, as you stated, food, clothing, schools,” he said. “This is going to impact our schools because we do not turn away individuals because they’re undocumented, need translation services. There’s just a whole host of things that this is going to produce. And that’s why we need help in getting this done and we need to write coordination to make it happen.”
It was recently <a href="https://www.heritage.org/crime-and-justice/commentary/bidens-broken-border-gift-violent-criminals">reported</a> that the Biden administration has released 750,000 illegal aliens into this country this year alone. That number does not include individuals who entered the country without detection.
In March, it was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bloomberg-u-s-doled-out-billions-in-fraudulent-covid-aid-wheres-the-accountability">reported</a> that the Secret Service estimated that $100 billion in COVID relief funds may have been doled out in fraudulent claims, corrupt deals, or to dead people.
Ryan Saavedra and Zach Jewell contributed to this report.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-investigating-massive-fraud-in-nonprofits-purportedly-providing-food-for-children-using-covid-19-funds">FBI Investigating ‘Massive Fraud’ In Nonprofits Purportedly Providing Food For Children Using COVID-19 Funds</a>

Migrants wearing “Biden Please Let Us In” tee shirts.

Previously Deported Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty To COVID Relief Fraud, Other Charges

Biden Administration

Border Crisis

COVID

Illegal Immigration

The only color <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/education">parents</a> are seeing is red after crayon giant Crayola posted images of a disabled <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender">transgender</a> model who it lauded as a cultural pioneer.
The three images of Julian Gavino were posted to the crayon maker’s Facebook page Saturday. One showed a bearded Gavino in a leopard-print jumpsuit, another seated in a wheelchair wearing a strange chain bra over a green coat, and the other clean shaven and wearing a varsity-style jacket.
“Julian Gavino, aka The Disabled Hippie Life Coaching, (he/him) is a fashion model, writer, and activist who identifies as a transgender man. He was born with a progressive neurological condition,” Crayola wrote alongside the photos. “Julian is passionate about advocating for his respective communities.”
<iframe loading="lazy" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fcrayola%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0ci3dPnvPBevccRWkB8ioBeZnYWViGyZNuKQRzm5bj3Qz1PEk2mYgGKjf5vKu8du9l&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="759" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
The 137-year-old, Forks Township, Pennsylvania-based company, a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards and a mainstay of back-to-school shopping lists for decades, lauded Gavino as a trailblazer.
“As someone who grew up not seeing anyone who looked like him in the media, Julian is determined to normalize disabled and trans bodies in the fashion world,” Crayola wrote. “This #DisabilityPrideMonth Crayola celebrates Julian and everyone like him for their passion and creativity.”
Although some of the company&#8217;s Facebook followers praised the post, many were furious and vowed not to buy Crayola products in the future.
&#8220;Really inappropriate content for children,&#8221; wrote Kristi Van. &#8220;Usually I buy a ton of supplies to donate, this year we will be leaving Crayola out of the donation. Kids don’t need to be taught about sexual preference or changing genders while trying to color.&#8221;
&#8220;Thanks Crayola since you&#8217;ve decided to make this political. I&#8217;ll NO longer be purchasing your product!!&#8221; wrote Ruth Miller.
&#8220;Stop! Children need to be protected from this!&#8221; wrote Charlotte Nelson Fiedler. &#8220;It is sad when I want to go against the school supply suggestions and NOT buy Crayola. Get off the woke bus. Go woke, go broke.&#8221;
&#8220;I’m disgusted that you would push this on children!!!!!&#8221; writes Jennifer Roth. &#8220;Have you not paid attention to all the companies that have gone woke. Check out Disney’s stock lately? Nobody wants this pushed on children.&#8221;

Box of colorful crayons

Woke Crayola Post Praising Disabled Trans ‘Model’ Has Parents Seeing Red

Crayola Post Praising Disabled Trans 'Model' Has Parents Seeing Red

Gender Identity

Public Schools

Transgender

A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a> man expecting his first grandchild and facing up to six months in prison for illegally entering the U.S. Capitol during the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/january-6">January 6 riot</a> has died by his own hand.
Mark Aungst, 47, of South Williamsport, was to be sentenced September 27 by federal Judge Reggie Walton. He had pleaded guilty last month to a single charge of demonstrating or parading in a restricted building. He was reported dead on Wednesday.
“A loyal and dedicated man, Mark showed tremendous pride for God and his country,&#8221; read Aungst’s obituary on <a href="https://www.northcentralpa.com/obituaries/mark-r-aungst/article_f587f600-0961-11ed-b541-cf61f339b80a.html">NorthcentralPA.com</a>. “Above all else, Mark loved his daughter and any time they spent together, as she was truly his world.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
DOJ describing what Mark Aungst, who apparently committed suicide a few days ago, did on Jan 6.
Aungst was arrested in Feb 2021 and accepted a plea on “parading,” a petty offense, in May. No doubt he would face jail time and endure a humiliating rant by Judge Reggie Walton: <a href="https://t.co/rHNSAqcPR7">pic.twitter.com/rHNSAqcPR7</a>
&mdash; Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) <a href="https://twitter.com/julie_kelly2/status/1550844223578062848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Aungst’s death was ruled a suicide by Lycoming County Coroner Charles E. Kiessling Jr.
Aungst and co-defendant Tammy Bronsburg took a bus to Washington on January 6, 2021, for President Donald Trump’s “stop the steal” rally. After Trump’s speech, they marched to the Capitol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst said video evidence showed the pair entering the Capitol through the Senate fire door at approximately 2:45 p.m. and leaving 30 seconds later. They re-entered the building through another door and took photos and videos inside on their cellphones.
Bronsburg, who pleaded guilty to the same charge, later posted a video from inside the Capitol on Facebook and Aungst showed witnesses his pictures, according to Furst.
Neither Aungst nor Bronsburg were accused of assaulting a police officer or stealing government property, the prosecutor previously stated.
A gas field well service technician, Aungst is survived by his mother, daughter Megan, and three siblings. His daughter is currently expecting a child, according to his obituary.
Earlier this year, another Pennsylvania man arrested in connection with the January 6 riots, Matthew Perna, committed suicide. Perna, who had also gone to Washington to support Trump, pleaded guilty in December of 2021 to entering the building and faced years in prison. he hanged himself in his garage.
“He attended the rally on Jan. 6, 2021, to peacefully stand up for his beliefs. After learning that the FBI was looking for him, he immediately turned himself in,” Perna’s family wrote in <a href="https://obituaries.sharonherald.com/obituary/matthew-perna-1084525405" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">his obituary</a>. “He entered the Capitol through a previously opened door (he did not break in as was reported). He didn’t break, touch, or steal anything. He did not harm anyone, as he stayed within the velvet ropes taking pictures.&#8221;
“For this act he has been persecuted by many members of his community, friends, relatives, and people who had never met him. Many people were quietly supportive, and Matt was truly grateful for them,” his family added.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a free hotline for individuals in crisis or distress or for those looking to help someone else. It is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255.

Mark Aungst

Pennsylvania Dad Facing Prison Time For Entering Capitol On Jan. 6 Dies By Suicide

Pennsylvania Dad Facing Prison Time For Entering Capitol Jan. 6 Dies By Suicide

Capitol Riot

Court

January 6

Menu