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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 15 November 2022

U.S. says Iran threats to ex-officials Pompeo, Hook persist

By MATTHEW LEE time soon. The administra-
AP Diplomatic Writer tion has blamed Iran for the
WASHINGTON (AP) — The breakdown in talks, saying
Biden administration has it has raised demands out-
determined that Iranian side the scope of the deal,
threats against former Sec- which gave Tehran billions
retary of State Mike Pom- in sanctions relief in return
peo and one of his former for curbs on its nuclear pro-
top aides remain credible gram. In the meantime,
and persist nearly two years Iran has launched a major
after they left office. crackdown on antigovern-
The State Department no- ment protests sparked by
tified Congress last week the death of a woman in
that both Pompeo and custody who was accused
Brian Hook, who served as of violating a law requiring
special representative for women to wear heads-
Iran during the Trump ad- carves in public. The U.S.
ministration, were still both has imposed addition sanc-
subject to a “serious and tions on Iranian officials for
credible threat from a for- human rights abuses and
eign power or agent of a on Monday national secu-
foreign power” stemming rity adviser Jake Sullivan
from their work while in Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo addresses an audience at a periodic “Politics and Eggs” The notifications do not
government. gathering at Saint Anselm College, in Manchester, N.H., Sept. 20, 2022. specifically identify Iran as
The determinations which Associated Press the source of the threats,
mean Pompeo and Hook but Iranian officials have
will continue to receive spect to former Secretary latest determinations the to press ahead with indi- long vented anger at Pom-

government protection of State Michael Pompeo eighth for Hook and the rect talks with Iran aimed peo and Hook for leading
were signed by Deputy persists,” McKeon wrote. He fifth for Pompeo since they at salvaging the 2015 Iran the Trump administration’s
Secretary of State for Man- used identical language to left government in January nuclear deal that former “maximum pressure” cam-
agement Brian McKeon on refer to the threat against 2021 did not give a dollar President Donald Trump paign against Iran, includ-
Nov. 8 and sent to Congress Hook. The AP reported in amount for the protection. withdrew from in 2018. ing designating Iran’s Is-
on Nov. 9, according to the March that the State De- Even as the Biden adminis- Those talks have been lamic Revolutionary Guard
notifications obtained by partment was paying more tration made those deter- stalled for months now and Corps a “foreign terrorist
The Associated Press. than $2 million per month minations and spent mon- the administration has been organization” and subject-
“I hereby determine that to provide 24-hour security ey for Pompeo and Hook’s pessimistic for some time ing it to unprecedented
the specific threat with re- to Pompeo and Hook. The protection, it continued that they will resume any- sanctions.q

High court rules against Arizona GOP

leader in records fight

WASHINGTON (AP) — The she spoke with while trying election was fraudulent.
Supreme Court has cleared to challenge former Presi- She had urged Republican
the way for the House com- dent Donald Trump’s 2020 lawmakers in Arizona after
mittee investigating the election defeat. Ward at- the election to choose their
Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection torney Alexander Kolodin own slate of electors.
at the U.S. Capitol to get said he had not yet seen A federal appeals court
phone records belonging the order and had no im- panel previously ruled 2-1
to the leader of the Arizona mediate comment. against Ward and said the
Republican Party. As is common in situations committee should get re-
The high court on Monday involving emergency re- cords of calls she made Arizona GOP Chairwoman Dr. Kelli Ward speaks at the
rejected GOP state chair quests to the high court, and received from just be- Republican watch party in Scottsdale, Ariz., Tuesday, Nov. 8,
Kelli Ward’s request to halt the justices did not explain fore the November 2020 2022. Associated Press
the turnover of records their reasoning in their election to Jan. 31, 2021.
while a lawsuit proceeds. three-sentence order. Jus- That includes a period tee of Democratic Presi- against Ward.
The court lifted a temporary tice Clarence Thomas and when Ward was pushing dent Bill Clinton, and Eric Kelli Ward and her hus-
order that had been put in Justice Samuel Alito said for Trump’s election defeat Miller, a Trump appointee, band, Michael Ward,
place by Justice Elena Ka- they would have sided with to be overturned and Con- both ruled against Ward. were presidential electors
gan that had paused any- Ward but also did not elab- gress was set to certify the Judge Sandra Ikuta, an who would have voted for
thing from happening while orate. results in favor of Democrat appointee of Republican Trump in the Electoral Col-
Ward’s emergency request Thomas’ wife Virginia Joe Biden. President George W. Bush, lege had he won Arizona.
was at the Supreme Court. “Ginni” Thomas is one of Ruling against Ward at the dissented. Both signed a document
Ward has said her First the people who was inter- appeals court level were The appeals court ruling falsely claiming they were
Amendment rights would viewed by the Jan. 6 com- judges appointed by presi- followed a September de- Arizona’s true electors, de-
be chilled if investigators mittee and has stood by dents of different parties. cision by a federal judge spite Biden’s victory in the
were able to learn whom the false claim that the 2020 Barry Silverman, an appoin- in Phoenix who also ruled state.q