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U.S. NEWSTuesday 9 January 2018
Maine secretary of state to fight for voting panel documents
By DAVID SHARP
Associated Press
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) —
Maine’s top election of-
ficial vowed Monday to
continue his legal fight for
records from the Presiden-
tial Advisory Commission on
Election Integrity on which
he served.
A judge previously ruled
that Maine Secretary of
Democratic activist pledges $30 million to mobilize voters
By KEVIN FREKING
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Billion-
aire environmental activ-
ist Tom Steyer announced
Monday he will spend $30
million to get young voters
to the polls to help Demo-
crats in this year’s midterm
elections.
Steyer is a former hedge
fund manager who has in-
vested some of his wealth
in an array of political
causes, most notably fight-
ing climate change. Forbes
estimates his wealth at $1.6
billion. Steyer has advo-
cated for President Donald
Trump’s impeachment. He
said he knows that the ef-
fort is making “some of our
friends and allies in this city a fierce battle for the soul is the founder of NextGen ica helped register more
uncomfortable.” But Steyer
said that effort will contin-
ue. He said his organization
will deliver the book “Fire
and Fury: Inside the Trump
White House” to all mem-
bers of Congress this week.
The book portrays the 45th
president as a leader who
doesn’t understand the
weight of his office and
whose competence is
questioned by aides.
Steyer said he will also fo-
cus his financial clout on
helping Democrats running
Educator met with feds to talk Bernie Sanders’ wife college
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A
former trustee at the col-
lege where U.S. Sen. Bernie
Sanders’ wife was presi-
dent when a $10 million
real estate deal was struck
said she testified before a
federal grand jury in Octo-
ber about the deal consid-
ered a major factor in the
demise of the tiny Vermont
school. Former Burlington
College Trustee Robin Lloyd
State Matthew Dunlap, a retary Sarah Huckabee don’t know what it is,” Dun- ment.
Democrat, was entitled to Sanders’ comment that lap told The Associated Trump convened the com-
the documents, but the the commission’s prelimi- Press. “If there’s something mission in May to investi-
commission rejected his re- nary findings were being going on, it’s definitely go- gate the 2016 presidential
quest after President Don- forwarded to the Depart- ing on behind the scenes, election after making un-
ald Trump disbanded the ment of Homeland Secu- and out of view of the substantiated claims that
panel last week. rity, which will take over the commissioners.” between 3 million and 5
Dunlap, who accused the work. The commission’s vice million illegally cast ballots
panel of operating under He said he was unaware of chairman, Kansas Secre- had cost him the popular
a cloak of secrecy, said he any “preliminary findings.” tary of State Kris Kobach, vote. Trump won the Elec-
was especially concerned “Somebody’s been work- didn’t immediately return toral College to assume the
by White House Press Sec- ing on something, but we messages seeking com- presidency.q
Billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer speaks during a news conference in Washington, He credited the effort for
helping Ralph Northam win
Monday, Jan. 8, 2018. Steyer announced Monday he will spend $30 million to get young voters to election as governor, and
he said the effort will ex-
the polls in this year’s midterm elections. pand to 10 states this year,
including California, Arizo-
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) na, Michigan and Nevada.
The organization is look-
for the House and Senate. to win this battle, and we source of cash for a super ing to register more than
250,000 voters this year.
He said Republicans won’t don’t just have to win, we PAC called the NextGen Steyer has also spent $20
million on a campaign to
cross a president who con- have to run the table.” Climate Action Commit- impeach Trump. He was
coy about how much more
trols their base regardless of Steyer considered running tee, which spent more than he would spend on that
front. He said it would de-
what he says or does. for office, but says that’s $90 million in the last elec- pend upon political events,
but was confident of a
“We now know that this not where he can make tion cycle. greater investment.
House Minority Leader
partisan fight has becomes the biggest difference. He Steyer said NextGen Amer- Nancy Pelosi of California
has called impeachment
efforts a distraction and
warned they could back-
of America,” Steyer said. America, a liberal advo- than 20,000 voters in last fire against Democrats.
Michael Ahrens, a spokes-
“And we, the people, have cacy group. He is the main year’s Virginia elections. man for the Republican
National Committee, said,
“Tom Steyer can light as
much of his money on fire
as he wants, but doesn’t
change that Democrats
like Nancy Pelosi view him
as a distraction. If Demo-
crats’ message for 2018 is
a baseless impeachment
threat that the major-
ity of voters disagree with,
they’re going to lose.” q
said she was asked about Bank) and the diocese to unclear. A spokesman for the Sanders family about
fundraising that would be go ahead with the deal,” the Vermont office of the the land deal, released a
used to pay back a bank Lloyd told the Burlington U.S. Attorney did not imme- statement saying there’s
loan used to help buy the Free Press . Lloyd said two diately return calls Monday nothing new in recent re-
property from the Roman FBI agents approached her seeking comment. ports, first made by the
Catholic Diocese of Burling- in October, but she refused The college closed in 2016 news website VtDigger,
ton when Jane O’Meara to speak with them without after struggling under the that Lloyd had been sub-
Sanders was president. an attorney. Two weeks lat- weight of its purchase of poenaed to testify before
“They’re trying to pull to- er, she was subpoenaed to land and buildings in 2010 a grand jury.
gether where did the testify before a grand jury. from the diocese during It’s unclear if any other
money come from to en- The current status of any the presidency of Sanders. college officials have ap-
able Burlington College to grand jury investigation Jeff Weaver, who has peared before a grand
convince (People’s United into Burlington College is served as a spokesman for jury. q