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Andrea Mitchell Rushes to Defend Obama's Handling of North Korea NewsBusters (press release) (blog) After the network evening newscasts downplayed or ignored the father of freed North Korea hostage Otto Warmbier criticizing the Obama administration's failure to bring his severely injured son home, on Friday's NBC Today, correspondent Andrea Mitchell ... Father of comatose student freed by North Korea slams ObamaNew York Post Obama Administration Told Warmbier Family Not To Hang Ribbons On Trees Because It Might Offend North KoreaTownhall Otto Warmbier's father lashes out at Obama: Did his administration do enough?Today.com all 304 news articles »

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Andrea Mitchell Rushes to Defend Obama's Handling of North Korea - NewsBusters (press release) (blog)

Republican hopes that the election of President Trump would open the federal government's vaults to investigators probing Obama-era scandals including Fast and Furious and the IRS have died as burrowed-in workers try to "wait out" until the president leaves office, said a top House GOP member.

In a blunt exit interview, retiring Rep. Jason Chaffetz, the outgoing chairman of the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee, said stonewalling by agencies is just as bad as it was during the Obama era.

"I think if we went to the senior most people, even the president himself, they would be pulling their hair out and they would hate to hear that but within the bowels of the organization, they just seem to circle the wagons and think, oh we just, we can just wait you out. We can just wait you out," he said on the upcoming Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson, airing Sunday.

But Chaffetz, who surprised Washington when he announced his retirement set for June 30, also hit the president, top appointees and even congressional Republicans for refusing to play offense.

"The reality is, there aren't very many people that want to play offense. There aren't many people who say, look, we have a duty and an obligation to fulfill the oversight responsibility that was put in place at the very founding of our country," he said on the news magazine show that airs at 9:30 a.m. on Sinclair stations and also livestreams.

He also puts the blame on Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions for not helping investigators gain access to documents hidden by the Obama administration.

"The reality is, sadly, I don't see much difference between the Trump administration and the Obama administration. I thought there would be this, these floodgates would open up with all the documents we wanted from the Department of State, the Department of Justice, the Pentagon. In many ways, it's almost worse because we're getting nothing, and that's terribly frustrating. And with all due respect, the attorney general has not changed at all. I find him to be worse than what I saw with Loretta Lynch in terms of releasing documents and making things available. I, I just, that's my experience, and that's not what I expected," said the Utah lawmaker.

"There was the investigation into the IRS. And one that was more than seven years old is Fast and Furious. I mean, we have been in court trying to pry those documents out of the Department of Justice and still to this day, they will not give us those documents. And at the State Department, nothing. Stone cold silence," he said.

And worst of all, he added, the president has sat on demands from 50 Republicans to fire IRS Commissioner John Koskinen.

"You have more than 50 Republicans pleading with President Trump to release him, to let him go, fire him. Or at least encourage him to retire. No, he's still there. No changes. Nobody was fired. Nobody was prosecuted. Nobody was held accountable. We tried to issue subpoenas, we tried to hold people in contempt and the Obama Administration said, no, and the Trump Administration came in and did zero. Nothing. Nothing changed," he told Attkisson.

Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com

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Obama era-bureaucrats 'waiting Trump out,' block IRS, Fast and Furious probes - Washington Examiner

What's better than 420-friendly bipartisanship?

Contrary to what you might think, Jefferson Beauregard "Jeff Sessions" Sessions did not appear one day out of thin air when a melancholy racist wished upon a star for a glimpse of what the world would have looked like had the south won the Civil War. However, he is now our Attorney General, because the Trump Administration has all but changed the country's motto from "In God We Trust" to "LIGHT SHIT ON FIREEEEEEEEEE." Sessions is a proponent of criminal justice policies that are racist, ineffective, and basically penalize black people for being the victims of institutional racism. He also hates marijuana so much that he once joked that he was okay with the KKK until he learned they smoked pot. That's right, Jeff Sessions hates pot more than he hates the idea of blatant racism and terror! And now that he's AG, he's dead set on going getting rid of rules that keep the DOJ from enforcing federal drug laws in the case of states that allow medical marijuana. What a fun guy!

But in a strange twist for 2017, there's actually bipartisan resistance to this stupid plan. According to Rare, Senators Al Franken and Rand Paul, among others from both sides of the aisle, have come together to craft a bill that would guard against Sessions' misguided weed-hating absurdity.

Thankfully, Republican Senators Rand Paul, Mike Lee and Lisa Murkowski are teaming up with Democrats Al Franken, Cory Booker and Kirsten Gillibrand to support a bill that would protect states that allow medical marijuana from any federal interference. This legislation would also remove current obstacles to medical marijuana research.

There is a House version that also has bipartisan support. The lawmakers are expected to introduce this bill on Thursday.

This is actually pretty great to see, and a nice reminder that there is a lot of common ground that these two sides can find from time to time. It's also great, because I live in California and have a prescription for weed thanks to chronic migraines and now when I smoke I can enjoy it twice as much. First, the normal amount because weed is amazing. And then double that, because I'll know that I'm making Jeff Sessions mad, and that makes me happy.

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Al Franken and Rand Paul Join Forces to Protect Medical Marijuana from Jeff Sessions - GQ Magazine

by: Alex Thomas, Rare.us Updated: Jun 14, 2017 - 9:29 AM

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana and members of his staff wereamong the victims of a shooting early Wednesday during GOP baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who was also present at the practice, recounted the events to Morning Joe. Paul said he was in the batting cage. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., heads to the Senate floor for a vote on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call

"I grew up in the South, and I just thought someone had discharged a shotgun, which isnt that unusual in the South, but then I thought, We are in the city; were not in the country here.'

He said he saw Scalise shot but moving, trying to drag himself out of the dirt into the outfield.

Paul said he wasnt sure where the shots were coming from. He said he heard 50 to 60 shots before the Capitol Hill police responded.

>> Click here to watch

Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., also at the practice and told CNN that he was on deck, about to hit batting practice when the shots rang out.

I look around, and I see a rifle and I see a little bit of a body," he said. "Then I hear another blam, and I realize theres an active shooter.

>> Read more trending news

Brooks ran to the dugout, where a number of people were laying on the ground. The congressman then used his belt as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding from a staffers leg. Brooks heard another shot and looked up to see one of the members of their security detail firing back at the shooter with a pistol.

>> Watch the interview here

2017 Cox Media Group.

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WATCH: Rand Paul, Mo Brooks recall chilling details of shooting at GOP baseball practice - WFTV Orlando

GUNMAN OPENS FIRE AT GOP BASEBALL PRACTICECongressional baseball game: What to expect | 0:42

Lawmakers will continue their congressional baseball game tradition despite the shooting that wounded 5 people, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, during the Republican team's practice. Security will be especially tight. USA TODAY

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House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) was shot among several people shot during practice for a charity baseball game. USA TODAY

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Multiple shots reportedly fired by gunman at GOP congressional baseball practice. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise was among several people shot. USA TODAY

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Police have named the man they believe to be behind the D.C. area suburb shooting, and it turns out he was an ardent Bernie Sanders supporter. Nathan Rousseau Smith (@fantasticmrnate) explains. Buzz60

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Former Alexandria, Virginia Mayor Bill Euille says he met James T. Hodgkinson, the man who opened fire on Republican Congress members. Euille says he found Hodgkinson to be rational, calm and polite. (June 15) AP

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Hours after the attack in Virginia, a picture began to emerge of an attacker with a mostly minor arrest record who worked as a home inspector and despised the Republican Party. But friend says shooter didn't seem prone to violence. (June 14) AP

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The St. Clair County, Illinois Sheriff says deputies warned James T. Hodgkinson in March that it was dangerous to fire a gun near homes. Hodgkinson has been identified as the man who shot at Republican Congress members on a baseball field. (June 15) AP

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Sen. Rand Paul and Rep. Mo Brooks detail the heroic efforts of U.S. Capitol Police during the shooting at a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia. USA TODAY

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The Republican and Democratic leaders of the U.S. Senate took to the floor to express sadness over the shooting at a congressional baseball practice that left House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and a number of others injured. (June 14) AP

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Gov. John Bel Edwards, House Speaker Taylor Barras, R-New Iberia, Senate President John Alario, R-Westwego and lawmakers gathers in the Louisiana Capitol's Memorial Hall Wednesday to pray for the recovery of Congressman Steve Scalise, R-New Orleans, and other victims. Greg Hilburn/USA Today Network

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Leaders in the House of Representatives from both parties joined together in words to heal and unite their members after the shooting of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise. (June 14) AP

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In the wake of the shooting of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise in Virginia Wednesday, police are beefing up security around Capitol Hill. Veuer's Nick Cardona (@nickcardona93) has that story. Buzz60

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Republican Rep. Jeff Duncan says he suspects he spoke with the man who minutes later opened fire on the congressional baseball practice. (June 14) AP

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Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) recounts the shooting in which House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and a number of others were wounded by a gunman in Alexandria, VA. USA TODAY

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Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, speaking on the Senate floor Wednesday, said the Alexandria shooter was someone who "apparently volunteered on my presidential campaign." (June 14) AP

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Authorities identified James T. Hodgkinson as the man who shot Rep. Steve Scalise and several others during a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia. USA TODAY

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Bernie Sanders condemned the actions of the gunman who opened fire at a congressional baseball practice. USA TODAY

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Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) recounts the shooting in which House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and a number of others were wounded by a gunman in Alexandria, VA. USA TODAY

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One Republican congressman is linking the shooting of Representative Steve Scalise to the political rhetoric of Democrats. Veuer's Nick Cardona (@nickcardona93) has that story. Buzz60

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President Trump shared kind words about House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, who is in stable condition after being shot during a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia. USA TODAY

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President Donald Trump describing a "brutal, brutal" assault in the shooting of a top House Republican Wednesday, said, "many lives would have been lost if not for the actions of the two Capitol Police officers." (June 14) AP

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer thanked the U.S. Capitol Police officers who jumped into action during a shooting at a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia. USA TODAY

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Authorities describe the quick response to a gunman opening fire during a congressional baseball practice. USA TODAY

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An eyewitness says the suspected gunman who Rep. Steve Scalise and several others used an assault rifle, such as an AK-47, to open fire on the baseball field Wednesday morning. (June 14) AP

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Was the tragic D.C. shooting politically motivated? One lawmaker at the scene seems to think so. Nathan Rousseau Smith (@fantasticmrnate) reports. Buzz60

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A gunman opened fire on a group of Republican lawmakers who were at a baseball practice field in Alexandria, Virginia early Wednesday. Josh King has the story (@abridgetoland). Buzz60

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A top House Republican, Louisiana's Steve Scalise was among several people shot by a rifle-wielding gunman at a congressional baseball practice just outside of Washington. Amateur video shows one person being wheeled away from the scene. (June 14) AP

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Alexandria Police Chief Michael Brown called the scene where Congressman Steve Scalise was shot "stable" and said there was not addtional threat. AP

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House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana was shot Wednesday at a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Va., congressional officials say. (June 14) AP

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Residents in the Virginia Alexandria neighborhood that was the scene of the shooting recounted to reporters the massive police presence in its aftermath. (June 14) AP

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Congressional baseball game: What to expect

Who is Rep. Steve Scalise?

Gunman opens fire during congressional baseball practice

Here's what we know about alleged Va. shooter James Hodgkinson

Former Alexandria mayor describes meeting gunman

Illinois friend: Shooter didn't seem prone to violence

Neighbor called sheriff about James Hodgkinson

Rand Paul: Alexandria shooting could've been 'a massacre'

Senate leaders: 'We're deeply saddened'

La. Capitol unites in prayer for Congressman Scalise

Ryan calls shooting 'an attack on all of us'

Police beef up security around the Capitol in wake of Va. shooting

Rep. Duncan says he thinks he spoke to shooter

Rep. Mo Brooks said they were 'helpless' in baseball shooting

Sanders: 'I am sickened by this despicable act'

James T. Hodgkinson: What we know

Shooter allegedly worked on Bernie Sanders' campaign

Rep. Mo Brooks: "You have a baseball bat, they have a rifle, you are defenseless."

GOP Rep: Links the shooting of Rep. Scalise to rhetoric from Democrats

Trump: Steve Scalise is a patriot, fighter

Trump: Shooting was a 'brutal assault'

McConnell, Schumer praise Capitol Police for bravery

Capitol Police update Alexandria shooting

Shooting eyewitness: Man with AK-47 opened fire

GOP Rep says before shooting, man asked about political party of group

President Trump responds to shooting of Rep. Steve Scalise and others

Amateur video captures Steve Scalise shooting aftermath

Police: Virginia shooting scene 'stable'

Steve Scalise, officers shot at congressional baseball practice

Virginia residents recount shooting aftermath

Senator Rand Paul chats upon arrival with those assembled at the St. Matthews Community Center on Monday morning. 3/20/17 (Photo: Marty Pearl/Special to The C-J)Buy Photo

Saying that a "massacre" had been prevented, U.S. Senator Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, praised Capitol Police after a gunman opened fire ascongressmen and aides were practicing for an upcoming congressional baseball game in Alexandria, Virginia.

"I was there and am shaken but unharmed," Paul said in a statement. "Many people likely would have died this morning if not for the bravery of Capitol Police. My thanks to them are inadequate but heartfelt."

Paul told MSNBC's Morning Joe that he was in the batting cage when the incident occurred and was not injured.

Police say the suspect, James Hodgkinson, 66,raged against President Trump and once singled out House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, who was wounded in the attack.

Scalise, R-La.was shot in the hip and listed in critical condition at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

Federal authorities said it was too early to determine whether the assault targeted members of Congress. But Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., raised the ominous prospect that the incident may have been politically motivated, saying that a man who appeared to match Hodgkinson's description approached him and others in the parking lot of the Alexandria, Va., baseball field to ask whether the practice involved Republicans or Democrats.

In a March 22 Facebook post, Hodgkinson, who turned his ire against Trump, who he described as a "traitor.''

"Trump Has Destroyed Our Democracy,'' he said. "It's Time to Destroy Trump & Co."

Excerpt from:
Sen. Rand Paul: Capitol Police prevented a 'massacre' after shooting at Virginia baseball field - The Courier-Journal