Page 7 - Florida Sentinel 12-1-17

White House And Political News
12 Former Female Staffers Of Cong. John Conyers Defend Him; Call Him A ‘Gentleman’
Cong. John Conyers is being dragged by the media for alleged sexual miscode and Congressperson Kathleen Rice is among De- mocrats calling for his resignation.
Pres. Trump Uses Slur When Honoring Native American Heroes
President Donald Trump returned to his own kind of code talking Monday by deriding Democratic Sen. Eliz- abeth Warren as “Pocahon- tas” at a White House event honoring Native American war heroes.
“You were here long before any of us were here,” Trump said as he honored three Navajo code talkers from World War II. And then he added, without naming War- ren: “We have a representative in Congress who they say was here a long time ago. They call her Pocahontas. But you know what, I like you.”
In fact, Trump deployed that nickname for the Massa- chusetts senator repeatedly during the 2016 presidential campaign and, as president, as recently as a Nov. 3 tweet.
Some Native American lead- ers have called Trump’s past attacks on Warren offensive
President Trump is being accused of using an ethnic slur dur- ing ceremony honoring Native American heroes.
and distasteful. Some Democ- rats have called the nickname racist.
The leader of the Navajo Nation President Russell Be- gaye told CNN that the presi- dent’s injection of a political attack during a ceremony hon- oring Navajo code talkers was “uncalled for.”
Warren (D-Mass.), who
has Native American heritage, called it “deeply unfortunate” that Trump couldn’t refrain from using “a racial slur” dur- ing the ceremony. The White House, however, disputed that characterization, with press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders telling reporters the notion that Trump used a racial slur is “ridiculous.”
A dozen of Rep. John Conyers’ (D-Mich.) former fe- male staffers are pushing back against reports of his alleged sexual misconduct and defend- ing their ex-boss’ reputation, the Huffington Post reported.
“While we do not pass judg- ment on the specific allegations reported in the press or the women who brought them, our experiences with Mr. Cony- ers were quite different than the image of him being por- trayed in the media. Mr. Conyers was a gentleman and never behaved in a sexually in- appropriate manner in our presence. He was respectful, valued our opinions, chal- lenged our thinking, and treated us as professionals,” they stated.
The experiences of those ex- staffers with the congressman contrasts with a picture of him that began emerging on Tues- day.
It came to light that Cony- ers settled a sexual harass- ment claim with a former employee in 2015 for more
than $27,000 with funds from his congressional budget.
Former staff members also accused Conyers, 88, of mak- ing repeated sexual advances on female staff and allegedly transported other women to Washington with whom he was suspected of having affairs.
The high-ranking, longest- serving member of Congress announced on Sunday that he’s stepping down as the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee while he’s under a probe by the House Ethics Committee for sexual harass- ment.
The announcement came after House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi called for “due process” in Conyers’ case, calling him “an icon” who “has done a great deal to pro- tect women.” However, some in the Democratic Party are calling for his resignation.
Two-year Congressperson, Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.) said on Friday that an ethics inves- tigation falls short of holding Conyers accountable.
Donald Trump took to Twitter over last weekend to tell the world TIME maga- zine offered him the presti- gious Person of The Year title, but he passed on it be- cause he didn’t want to do the interview and photo shoot.
It’s not farfetched that TIME would give the honor to Trump. In 2016, the then President-elect was given the distinction, which ruffled quite a few feathers. How- ever, this year, the seasoned news publication took to so- cial media to refute the pres- ident’s claim, and say his
President Trump may not know, but ‘Person of the Year’ is not necessarily a good thing, according to a Time’s editor.
tweet was “incorrect.” According to the maga-
zine’s website, their Person of The Year title began as sort of a mistake during the New Years week of 1928. Editors at the time needed to fill a slow news week and decided they would pick someone who made an indelible mark on America.
As the tradition continued, many wondered what does it mean to be TIME magazine’s Person of The Year? The con- notation to many sounded positive, but as former Man- aging Editor Walter Isaac- son wrote, the distinction isn’t necessarily one of praise.
Rev. Al Visits Meek Mill; Says He Represents The Abusive Nature Of Probation And Parole System
Pres. Trump Claims Time Mag Offered Him ‘Person Of Year’; Time Says That Was Incorrect
Senate Rushes To Amend Tax Plan So It Won’t Be Doomed
Rev. Al Sharpton said he met with Meek Mill in a Pennsylvania prison on Mon- day (Nov. 27) and told re- porters outside that the rapper has become a symbol for the thousands of people who have been “victimized by abusive probationary and parole sys- tems.”
“He’s representative of many people in institutions like this that do little or nothing, they’re violated and their lives, their businesses are ruined,” Sharpton said.
Mill was sentenced last month to two to four years in prison for violating probation on a roughly decade-old gun and drug case. The ruling came after both Mill’s probation of- ficer and a prosecutor recom- mended that the Philadelphia-native not be jailed.
Sharpton, who spoke to reporters alongside Meek’s at-
Rev. Al Sharpton and Meek Mill’s attorney Joe Tacopina at the prison where Meek Mill is incarcerated.
torney, Joe Tacopina, said Meek wants the Reverend to help shed a light on the broken criminal justice system, and that the artist is determined to be a voice for the voiceless.
Sharpton also called for the judge who sentenced the rapper to reconsider or step aside.
Senate Republicans are rushing to change their tax overhaul just days before a planned floor vote, with GOP leaders trying to appease at least a half-dozen holdouts.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell can lose only two votes and still pass the bill by week’s end. The last-minute modifications underscore the speed with which leadership is moving and the narrow margin for error on the party’s top leg- islative priority.
Two critical Republican swing votes, Ron Johnson
Tennessee senator Bob Coker and President Trump have been at odds, and now he is saying he may vote NO on tax overhaul.
of Wisconsin and Bob Corker of Tennessee, on Monday left open the possi- bility that they could vote
against the tax plan in a key committee vote scheduled for Tuesday if changes weren’t madetotheirliking.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 7-A