The Mesa County Clerk’s office was raided via search warrant, Clerk Peters revealed during Mike Lindell’s “Cyber Symposium” on Tuesday night.
The raid came at the “demand” of the Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, according to Peters.
“When I was on a plane to come see you kind folks,” said Clerk Peters, “they provided a search warrant and raided my office.”
“I’ve been persecuted,” she added.
Secretary of State Griswold claims Clerk Peters had caused the “illegal release of passwords to Mesa County election computers,” according to The Daily Sentinel.
But Clerk Peters maintains her innocence and claims instead that any leak would have had to come from the Secretary of State.
“These just happen to be passwords that only the Secretary of State has,” said Peters.
Mesa County Clerk Peters at Mike Lindell’s ‘Cyber Symposium’
WHAT ELSE CLERK PETERS SAID:
“We don’t know what they were doing in there,” said Clerk Peters referring to the officials who raided her office.
“For several hours they wouldn’t even let my Chief Deputy Clerk, who is the acting Clerk for Mesa County when I am absent, would not even let her observe what the Secretary of State and Dominion were doing in my office,” she added, referring to Dominion Voting Systems, used during the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
The officials were “alone with no one that knew anything about elections watching what they did,” according to Clerk Peters.
“I don’t know what they did but I can tell you that I don’t trust them. Because I don’t trust them we are going to find out exactly what’s going on,” she told Lindell.
WATCH CLERK PETERS EXPLAIN AT LINDELL’S CYBER SYMPOSIUM:
BACKGROUND:
The Daily Sentinel reported, “The Mesa County Clerk and Recorder’s Office is under investigation by the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office for a breach in security over its election system.”
Griswold has warned that Clerk Peters is facing criminal charges.
Jon Fleetwood is Managing Editor for American Faith.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stopped monitoring how many vaccinated people contract Covid-19 in May.
QUICK FACTS:
A “breakthrough” case is one in which a person who is vaccinated against the coronavirus nevertheless becomes infected with the coronavirus.
The CDC stopped publicly reporting “nonsevere” breakthrough cases—cases not resulting in hospitalization or death—as of May 2021, according to The Hill.
The CDC is only publicly reporting breakthrough hospitalizations and deaths, “not the total number of cases.“
The agency said the change was intended to “help maximize the quality of the data collected on cases of greatest clinical and public health importance,” The Hill reports.
An opinion piece from The Guardian argues that because “vaccinated people are experiencing breakthroughs,” it is clear that “we cannot afford to navigate yet another phase of the pandemic without data to guide our way.”
CRITICISM AGAINST THE CDC FOR NOT COLLECTING BREAKTHROUGH CASE DATA:
A recent opinion piece from The Guardian says “The US is stumbling in the dark when it comes to breakthrough cases.”
The piece claims the because the CDC is not collecting breakthrough case data we don’t know “how many people,” “which populations, are having breakthrough infections,” or “what are the chances they will develop long Covid.”
“[T]here’s a dearth of rigorous data on breakthrough cases in the United States,” the piece argues.
The piece goes on to urge “This is the kind of information that the public needs in order to understand the risks of daily life during the pandemic, and that scientists need to assess the shifting epidemiology of the virus.”
“We should be able to rely on the CDC to collect and share this data.”
The piece claims the CDC is not as “thorough” in its surveillance of breakthrough cases as it could be.
“The general public must have this information so they understand how and why to protect themselves, even if they are vaccinated.”
Moreover, “researchers must have it so that they can understand how the virus is evolving and track any emerging vaccine-resistant variants that may be driving breakthrough cases,” says the piece.
Why has the CDC stopped collecting data on breakthrough Covid cases? https://t.co/BMo9pNAoyk
The CDC website says “no vaccines are 100% effective at preventing illness in vaccinated people” and that there is only “some evidence that vaccination may make illness less severe for those who are vaccinated and still get sick.”
A study recently released by the CDC examined a coronavirus outbreak in Cape Cod, Massachusetts showing that three-quarters (74%) of the infected had been fully vaccinated.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said Wednesday that local authorities who attempt to undermine his executive order prohibiting government entities from mandating face coverings “will be taken to court.”
“Any school district, public university, or local government official that decides to defy GA-38 — which prohibits gov’t entities from mandating masks — will be taken to court,” Abbott wrote in a tweet:
Any school district, public university, or local government official that decides to defy GA-38—which prohibits gov't entities from mandating masks—will be taken to court.
“The path forward relies on personal responsibility—not government mandates,” he added.
Abbott’s tweet, which included statements from him and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, came in response to an executive order Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins signed, which mandates face masks for businesses and schools in Dallas County.
“Under Executive Order GA-38, no governmental entity can require or mandate the wearing of masks,” Abbott said in the statement. “The State of Texas will continue to vigorously fight the temporary restraining order to protect the rights and freedoms of all Texans.”
Paxton, who has served as attorney general for the Lone Star State since 2015, also released a statement on Jenkins’ order, including him in the “activist characters” category.
“This isn’t the first time we have dealt with activist characters,” Paxton said. “It’s deja vu all over again. Attention-grabbing judges and mayors have defied executive orders before, when the pandemic first started, and the courts ruled on our side — the law.”
“I’m confident the outcomes to any suits will side with liberty and individual choice, not mandates and government overreach,” he added.
Jenkins’ executive order for Dallas County, which took effect at midnight on Wednesday, requires public schools, childcare centers, and businesses to develop and implement safety plans that include the use of masks for employees and visitors.
According to Dallas’s local CBS affiliate, the “order allows any peace officer or person with lawful authority to enforce the order’s provisions” and those who do not offer a safety plan within three days are subject to $1,000 fines for each violation.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra violated federal conscience-protection laws when they told the Department Of Justice to drop a lawsuit against a hospital that forced a nurse to assist an elective abortion, Republican lawmakers said in a Wednesday letter.
The Daily Caller News Foundation first obtained the letter, which calls Becerra and Garland’s handling of the case a “profound miscarriage of justice.”
“Your actions signal to employers all around the country that they don’t need to comply with the law because your agencies will not enforce it,” the lawmakers wrote.
“They also signal that this administration would rather allow consciences to be violated at the behest of the abortion lobby rather enforce the law and protect religious liberty. We demand a full explanation of your agencies’ actions,” the letter said.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra violated federal conscience-protection laws when they told the Department of Justice to drop a lawsuit against a hospital that forced a nurse to assist an elective abortion, Republican lawmakers said in a Wednesday letter.
The Daily Caller News Foundation first obtained the letter to the high ranking Biden administration officials, which demands an explanation as to why Becerra and Garland acted to dismiss the lawsuit filed under former President Donald Trump’s administration in December 2020.
“Your handling of this case is a profound miscarriage of justice and a rejection of your commitment to enforce federal conscience laws for Americans of all religious beliefs and creeds—and especially for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who object to abortion,” the Republican senators and congressmen, led by Tom Cotton of Arkansas and James Lankford of Oklahoma, wrote.
“Your actions signal to employers all around the country that they don’t need to comply with the law because your agencies will not enforce it,” they continued. “They also signal that this administration would rather allow consciences to be violated at the behest of the abortion lobby rather enforce the law and protect religious liberty.”
The Trump Administration Lawsuit
HHS’ Office of Civil Rights (OCR) issued a notice of violation against the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC) in August 2019 for forcing a nurse to help with an abortion against her well-known objections to the procedure.
The letter noted that the hospital’s actions violated the 1973 Church Amendments prohibiting HHS grant recipients from discriminating against individuals who refuse to assist with an abortion due to their religious beliefs.
“UVMMC not only violated one nurse’s conscience rights, but it kept policies in place that explicitly required members with conscience objections to participate in procedures to ‘ensure that patient care is not negatively impacted,’” the lawmakers said, adding that HHS’ OCR discovered that the hospital had scheduled approximately 10 nurses with registered conscience objections to help with approximately 20 abortions.
The lawmakers continued: “UVMMC easily could have accommodated objections without any disturbance to the services it provided, as it had for other non-religious and non-abortion-related objections, but instead continued to perpetuate a work environment that was hostile toward people of faith both in policy and practice.”
HHS let the hospital know that it must conform its policies to the Church Amendments, the lawmakers said in their letter, and HHS “even offered to work with UVMMC to help bring it into compliance.”
But the hospital, which has been receiving grant funding from HHS since 1998, refused to comply with “federal law and its contractual obligations as a federal grant recipient,” according to the letter.
Biden Administration Tells DOJ To Dismiss Lawsuit
The DOJ sued UVMMC in December 2020 at the referral of HHS under the Trump administration, the lawmakers said, but under Becerra and Garland’s leadership, HHS revoked its notice of violation, withdrew the referral to the DOJ, and requested the Justice Department dismiss the lawsuit.
“The DOJ did in fact voluntarily dismiss the case on Friday, July 30, 2021, without any binding settlement or requirement that UVMMC remedy its unlawful policies or make restitution to, or even acknowledge, the nurse whose rights it violated,” the lawmakers said.
The lawmakers highlighted that Becerra and Garland withdrew the lawsuit knowing that there were “no additional legal remedies for victims of discrimination in this case.”
“Instead of supporting proposed legislation like the Conscience Protection Act to allow victims of discrimination to have their day in court, by reportedly unraveling the Conscience and Religious Freedom Division within HHS OCR and dropping this lawsuit, you have spent your time blocking any possible legal remedy for victims of discrimination and making it harder for any further discrimination claims to be filed, investigated, and remedied,” the lawmakers added.
“In a pluralistic society, laws that allow people to live by their conscience should not even be necessary,” they continued. “Nevertheless, due to the coercive actions of employers like UVMMC and the hostility toward religious and moral convictions shown by your agencies in this case, the importance of these laws is plainly demonstrated.”
The lawmakers reminded Becerra that he promised earlier this year that HHS would “continue to provide protections for the civil constitutional rights of all Americans, including those that involve religion,” and follow the law as it relates to abortion, religious liberties, and conscience protections.
“HHS’s actions in this case directly contradict those assurances,” the lawmakers said. “Moreover, they call into question your honesty before Congress and willingness to enforce the law in all other matters. We will continue to monitor the actions of both HHS and DOJ to ensure that the laws as enacted by Congress are fully enforced.”
UVMMC did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the DCNF.
There is growing sentiment inside Trump circles that the former president’s supporters want him to run again — and that he is eager to accept the challenge.
Spurred by two former top Trump aides predicting he will run and a long list of planned rallies this year, the Republican’s supporters are starting to gear up for a 2024 bid on social media and in their front yards, displaying Trump 2024 flags.
“The energy is still out there,” said a key insider. “They want him back for another run.”
His friends describe the president as eager to entertain another campaign, though it is not a lock and depends on how the 2022 midterm election goes.
Former spokesman Sean Spicer this month told Secrets that “he’s in,” and former chief of staff Mark Meadows also hinted at former President Donald Trump’s consideration of a second bid.
Others said Trump has recently lost some weight, feels good, and is engaged in current issues. He is especially watchful of President Joe Biden’s efforts to tear down his legacy and spoil policies the Republican Party believes were winners, such as immigration.
“He’s getting stronger and stronger as each day passes,” an associate said. “The enthusiasm is not dwindling at all, it’s amazing.”
Polls continue to show Trump as the dominant Republican in a possible 2024 primary race.
A new Morning Consult survey out Wednesday even shows that one-third of Republicans believe he will return to office before Inauguration Day 2025. There has been a rumor circulating he will return by Friday, one concerning the Biden administration that Homeland Security sent a notice to local and state authorities to keep a lookout for violent calls on social media related to the rumor.
Trump is planning a “Save America” rally later this month in Montgomery, Alabama, and has a series of rallies planned later this year with journalist Bill O’Reilly.
Those are selling well, and Trump’s online support remains strong.
Recently asked by his social media czar and trusted ally Dan Scavino to post photos and comments about Trump, dozens of fans were quick to react.
“We need him before 2024, but flags flying just in case,” posted Cathy Carson, who included a video of her Trump 2024 flags.
“Best day ever at Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville Georgia! Let’s re-elect President Donald J Trump 2024!!!” posted Andrea Rame Bolds with a video of her 2020 boat parade.
And Nancy Romero wrote, “I still have my sign on my from porch window, HISPANICS FOR TRUMP, and its staying until elections are corrected, or I die.”
The rise in COVID-19 infections isn’t motivating more workers to exit the workforce.
Why it matters: Fear of falling ill or spreading the virus has been the primary reason millions of Americans have either left their jobs or halted their job searches.
By the numbers: According to the Census’ Household Pulse Survey (conducted July 21 to August 2) 2.48 million Americans said they were not working because they were “concerned about getting or spreading the coronavirus.”
This is down from the 2.82 million print from the prior survey (June 23 to July 5).
This number peaked at 6.24 million in July 2020 but has trended lower ever since.
Zoom out: The recent month’s decline comes at a time when more Americans got vaccinated.
From July 5 to August 2, the number of fully vaccinated people in the U.S. increased by 7.4 million to 164.9 million.
What to watch: Through July, the labor force participation rate was still below pre-pandemic levels. If fewer workers are concerned about the virus, labor force participation should be expected to rise.
The next update on this metric will come with the August jobs report, scheduled for Sept. 3.
GOP Lawmakers Accuse Biden Officials Of Working At The ‘Behest Of The Abortion Lobby,’ Ignoring The Law
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra violated federal conscience-protection laws when they told the Department of Justice to drop a lawsuit against a hospital that forced a nurse to assist an elective abortion, Republican lawmakers said in a Wednesday letter.
The Daily Caller News Foundation first obtained the letter to the high ranking Biden administration officials, which demands an explanation as to why Becerra and Garland acted to dismiss the lawsuit filed under former President Donald Trump’s administration in December 2020.
“Your handling of this case is a profound miscarriage of justice and a rejection of your commitment to enforce federal conscience laws for Americans of all religious beliefs and creeds—and especially for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who object to abortion,” the Republican senators and congressmen, led by Tom Cotton of Arkansas and James Lankford of Oklahoma, wrote.
“Your actions signal to employers all around the country that they don’t need to comply with the law because your agencies will not enforce it,” they continued. “They also signal that this administration would rather allow consciences to be violated at the behest of the abortion lobby rather enforce the law and protect religious liberty.”
The Trump Administration Lawsuit
HHS’ Office of Civil Rights (OCR) issued a notice of violation against the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC) in August 2019 for forcing a nurse to help with an abortion against her well-known objections to the procedure.
The letter noted that the hospital’s actions violated the 1973 Church Amendments prohibiting HHS grant recipients from discriminating against individuals who refuse to assist with an abortion due to their religious beliefs.
“UVMMC not only violated one nurse’s conscience rights, but it kept policies in place that explicitly required members with conscience objections to participate in procedures to ‘ensure that patient care is not negatively impacted,’” the lawmakers said, adding that HHS’ OCR discovered that the hospital had scheduled approximately 10 nurses with registered conscience objections to help with approximately 20 abortions.
The lawmakers continued: “UVMMC easily could have accommodated objections without any disturbance to the services it provided, as it had for other non-religious and non-abortion-related objections, but instead continued to perpetuate a work environment that was hostile toward people of faith both in policy and practice.”
HHS let the hospital know that it must conform its policies to the Church Amendments, the lawmakers said in their letter, and HHS “even offered to work with UVMMC to help bring it into compliance.”
But the hospital, which has been receiving grant funding from HHS since 1998, refused to comply with “federal law and its contractual obligations as a federal grant recipient,” according to the letter.
Biden Administration Tells DOJ To Dismiss Lawsuit
The DOJ sued UVMMC in December 2020 at the referral of HHS under the Trump administration, the lawmakers said, but under Becerra and Garland’s leadership, HHS revoked its notice of violation, withdrew the referral to the DOJ, and requested the Justice Department dismiss the lawsuit.
“The DOJ did in fact voluntarily dismiss the case on Friday, July 30, 2021, without any binding settlement or requirement that UVMMC remedy its unlawful policies or make restitution to, or even acknowledge, the nurse whose rights it violated,” the lawmakers said.
The lawmakers highlighted that Becerra and Garland withdrew the lawsuit knowing that there were “no additional legal remedies for victims of discrimination in this case.”
“Instead of supporting proposed legislation like the Conscience Protection Act to allow victims of discrimination to have their day in court, by reportedly unraveling the Conscience and Religious Freedom Division within HHS OCR and dropping this lawsuit, you have spent your time blocking any possible legal remedy for victims of discrimination and making it harder for any further discrimination claims to be filed, investigated, and remedied,” the lawmakers added.
“In a pluralistic society, laws that allow people to live by their conscience should not even be necessary,” they continued. “Nevertheless, due to the coercive actions of employers like UVMMC and the hostility toward religious and moral convictions shown by your agencies in this case, the importance of these laws is plainly demonstrated.”
The lawmakers reminded Becerra that he promised earlier this year that HHS would “continue to provide protections for the civil constitutional rights of all Americans, including those that involve religion,” and follow the law as it relates to abortion, religious liberties, and conscience protections.
“HHS’s actions in this case directly contradict those assurances,” the lawmakers said. “Moreover, they call into question your honesty before Congress and willingness to enforce the law in all other matters. We will continue to monitor the actions of both HHS and DOJ to ensure that the laws as enacted by Congress are fully enforced.”
UVMMC did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the DCNF.