Congress, Free Speech

“Congressional Trolls”: Democratic Leaders Pushed Refuted Russian Troll Claims

The latest release of Twitter Files from Matt Taibbi shows that Democratic leaders like Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) were aware that they were pushing a likely false story of “Russian bots” to discredit a report on FBI abuses. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) are also mentioned by Twitter as part of what staff called “congressional trolls” who did not seem to care if the allegations were true and only wanted Twitter to say they were true. Schiff and Blumenthal have been two of most outspoken advocates for censorship on the social media, often using “conspiracy theories” by Republicans to justify limits on free speech.

Continue reading ““Congressional Trolls”: Democratic Leaders Pushed Refuted Russian Troll Claims” →

Columns, Criminal law, Media, Politics

Biden’s “Surprise” Grows With Reported Discovery of Second Batch of Classified Documents

Below is a slightly modified version of my NY Post column on the discovery of the second batch of classified documents in areas previously used by President Joe Biden. A number of questions remain unanswered by the perplexing response of President Biden that he will not even ask about the identity of these documents on advice of counsel.  However, with the discovery of a second batch of classified documents at a different location, the President’s “surprise” could grow exponentially in the days to come. You might want to find a chair . . . the forthcoming spin from the press and pundits could produce global vertigo. Continue reading “Biden’s “Surprise” Grows With Reported Discovery of Second Batch of Classified Documents” →

Academia, Free Speech

Human Rights Professor Shutdown at McGill by Trans-Rights Protesters
McGill University became the latest flashpoint for the anti-free speech movement this month when trans-rights advocates shut down a speech by Robert Wintemute, a professor of human rights law at King’s College London. He is also an alumnus of McGill. The CBC reported that McGill University’s Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism (CHRLP) hosted the event, titled “Sex vs. Gender (Identity) Debate In the United Kingdom and the Divorce of LGB from T.” Students and protesters shouted down every effort by Wintemute and others to be heard. Yet, McGill has not declared any move to punish those responsible for the blocking the event despite videotapes clearly showing those responsible. Continue reading “Human Rights Professor Shutdown at McGill by Trans-Rights Protesters” →
Columns, Criminal law, Justice

Biden’s Classified-Records Headache is Garland’s Special-Counsel Nightmare

Below is my column in the Hill on the implications of the discovery of classified documents in a prior private office of now President Joe Biden. The discovery (and later addition of a second batch of classified material at a second location) is magnifying the inherently conflicted position of Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Here is the column: Continue reading “Biden’s Classified-Records Headache is Garland’s Special-Counsel Nightmare” →

Columns, Criminal law, Media, Politics

Biden’s Closet: It is Not the Crime But the Clarity That Concerns the Press and Pundits

Below is my column in Fox.com on the discovery of highly classified documents in a closet in the private office used by President Joe Biden before 2020. There is still much that we do not know about the documents, though many in the media have already dismissed the matter as no way comparable to the controversy at Mar-a-Lago. Legally, the underlying potential offense of unlawfully possessing classified material is the same, though there are obvious differences in the two cases. Yet, what has been lost may be as serious as any crime for Democrats: clarity. Indeed, the potential crime itself was quickly dismissed by press and pundits who previously insisted that the mere possession of such documents endangered national security and warranted prosecution.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “Biden’s Closet: It is Not the Crime But the Clarity That Concerns the Press and Pundits” →

Academia, Constitutional Law, Supreme Court

Emory Law Professor Denounces the Late Antonin Scalia as “Basically a Klansman”

In the age of rage, it often seems that the most rageful reign supreme. That appears to be the case of Emory law professor, Darren Hutchinson, who has claimed that the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was “basically a Klansman.”  The disgraceful attack was met by silence from most law professors despite the fact that Hutchinson’s support for the claim is breathtakingly off-base and would mean that a majority of the Court in 1986 were basically KKK members. Continue reading “Emory Law Professor Denounces the Late Antonin Scalia as “Basically a Klansman”” →

Columns, Media, Politics

Getting “Personal”: Chuck Todd Dismisses Investigation into Possible Biden Foreign Influence Peddling
YouTube Screenshot

Below is my column in the New York Post on the new narratives emerging in the media in anticipation of the investigation into Biden influence peddling. The comments by NBC’s Meet the Press host Chuck Todd capture the ongoing efforts to dismiss the serious allegations raised in the scandal.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “Getting “Personal”: Chuck Todd Dismisses Investigation into Possible Biden Foreign Influence Peddling” →

Columns, Congress, Politics

The 55th Speaker: Kevin McCarthy is no Nancy Pelosi — and That’s a Good Thing

Below is my column in the Hill on the new rules that came out of the negotiations leading to the election of Kevin McCarthy as the 55th Speaker of the United States. As noted below, I did not support the standoff and I do not support some of the changes that came out of the negotiations. Some of these changes were already in the works with McCarthy’s support. Moreover, some of these changes will make it more challenging for the Speaker by returning to prior rules allowing greater opportunity for amendments and floor fights. However, the holdouts were right that things have to change in Congress, particularly in allowing greater deliberation and debate over legislation. Some of these changes could achieve that worthy goal.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “The 55th Speaker: Kevin McCarthy is no Nancy Pelosi — and That’s a Good Thing” →

Free Speech, Supreme Court

“Lovely One”: Justice Jackson Given Book Deal With a Notable Difference From Her Colleague Justice Barrett

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson just secured a major book deal from Random House. The book, entitled “Lovely One,” is aptly named given the sharp contrast to the reception to the book deal given to her colleague, Amy Coney Barrett. Barrett’s book, also with a Random House company, was opposed by publishers and editors including over 50 who publicly claimed to be working at Penguin Random House companies. She was deemed a persona non grata by editors who wanted to prevent readers from reading about her own personal views and history.  Continue reading ““Lovely One”: Justice Jackson Given Book Deal With a Notable Difference From Her Colleague Justice Barrett” →

Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, Politics, Supreme Court

Set for a Supreme Showdown? The Fifth Circuit Rejects Bump Stock Ban In Contrast to Other Circuits

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has handed down a major opinion in Cargill v. Garland, No. 20-51016, ruling 13-3 that the ATF ban on bump stocks is unlawful. The en banc decision found that a bump stock may be many things but it is not a machine gun. Continue reading “Set for a Supreme Showdown? The Fifth Circuit Rejects Bump Stock Ban In Contrast to Other Circuits” →

Columns, Congress, Constitutional Law, Media, Politics

“We Don’t Do This”: Adam Schiff and the Underbelly of American Censorship

Below is my column in the Hill on the recent disclosure of efforts by Rep. Adam Schiff (D., Cal.) to pressure Twitter to censor critics, including a columnist. This effort occurred shortly after Schiff’s office objected to one of my columns accusing him of pressuring social media companies to censor those with opposing views. While publicly denying that he supports censorship, Schiff was secretly pressuring Twitter to censor an array of critics.

Here is the column:

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Bizarre, Congress

“Enjoying It Too Much”: Democrats Overplay a Simple Adjournment Vote and Elect Kevin McCarthy

For those of us who have worked in and around Congress for years, last night’s final election of a speaker in the early hours of Saturday was nothing short of an extended Nascar race, particularly if you come to watch the cars crash. The evening had everything from gallows humor to a virtual wrestling match on the floor.

It finished as unpredictably as it began. Kevin McCarthy fell just one vote short of winning as tempers boiled over and the GOP sought an adjournment until Monday. The Democrats then overplayed their hand by gratuitously seeking to prolong the pain by opposing the motion. Then something unexpected happened…

Continue reading ““Enjoying It Too Much”: Democrats Overplay a Simple Adjournment Vote and Elect Kevin McCarthy” →

Constitutional Law, Courts, Free Speech, Politics

Ninth Circuit Rules That an Advisory Board Member Can Be Fired Over Antifa Association

There is an interesting free speech decision out of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit this week. In Lathus v. City of Huntington Beach, a unanimous panel ruled that a member of a municipal advisory board can be fired for her association with Antifa. The opinion is clearly correct on a constitutional level, but there are some troubling elements given the underlying exercise of speech under the First Amendment.

Continue reading “Ninth Circuit Rules That an Advisory Board Member Can Be Fired Over Antifa Association” →

Academia

Diversity Through Obscurity: Applicants Told to Delete Names of Schools on their Resumes

Colleges and universities have been implementing controversial new diversity reforms, including dropping standardized test scores, that eliminate objective criteria in academic admissions or advancement. Now, HR&A Advisors, the TriBeCa-based real estate consultancy, has drawn attention to its LinkedIn posting asking applicants to  to remove “all undergraduate and graduate school name references” from their résumés. In order to achieve diversity goals, the company wants applicants to only list the degree and not where it came from. It is equity through obscurity. It is as irrational to eliminate any consideration of an academic institution as it is to rely exclusively on the academic institution.

Continue reading “Diversity Through Obscurity: Applicants Told to Delete Names of Schools on their Resumes” →

Uncategorized

Res Ipsa Hits 66,000,000

crowd vj dayLast night, Res Ipsa passed the 66,000,000 mark in views on the blog. We have used these moments to give thanks for our many regular readers around the world and share our traffic data to give you an idea of the current profile of readers around the world. We do not have a running data page so these periodic postings allow our community to see the traffic profile of our blog. So let’s get at it. Continue reading “Res Ipsa Hits 66,000,000” →