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- Salty Ginger Talk Newsletter
White House Press Secretary walks back AG comments on Epstein client list after DOJ/FBI claim no evidence a client list exists
Our take: One of the major tenets that President Trump ran on and was elected for was to make government more accountable to the citizens they are supposed to serve. This did not only apply to wasteful spending and draconian oversight but also to exposing bad acts by the rich and powerful, who many believe are protected by the government and other allies in positions of authority.
An obvious example of this type of person was Jeffrey Epstein. The disgraced financier died in custody while awaiting trial for sexually abusing minors. He famously had several properties where underaged women were regularly available. Many rich and powerful people visited these properties on numerous occasions. For some reason, the details behind Epstein’s associations and partnerships were never released.
The Trump team, both before he was elected and after they were confirmed to their positions, have on multiple occasions referenced the client list and the fact that it was being reviewed and redacted to protect innocent people and would be released to the public once that was done. Last week, the DOJ and FBI stated that there was no evidence any such list existed, despite many members of the Trump administration stating the list was in their possession.
Maybe this is all a misunderstanding. Maybe what we heard and what they meant were two different things. Or maybe they are just lying to everyone like many in their positions have been for decades. Whatever the situation, this lack of transparency and broken promise has the potential to seriously derail Trump’s relationship with those that fervently support him. They trust him to fight for them. They trust him to do and say things that other politicians would not. He better get ahead of this before it snowballs on him.
COURTESY: MSN
A Texas county where campers died in a flood was denied funding multiple times to boost warning systems
Our take: The images coming from the devastating flash floods in Texas are gut-wrenching. Over 100 people are already confirmed dead, with dozens more still unaccounted for. The Guadalupe River overflowed its banks in less than an hour, rising over 30 feet and destroying most things in its path. People in the area had little to no warning.
It is now coming out that the state’s Division of Emergency Management twice rejected requests to upgrade warning systems by the county where most of the devastation occurred. The county has many summer camps, which is what was driving the requests by county administrators and safety officials.
In 2016, there was similar flooding in the area. Then President Barack Obama declared a major disaster, which unlocked more than $100 million in federal funding to both help clean up the damage and prepare for the next disaster. Then County Commissioner Tom Moser and current deputy sheriff and emergency response coordinator Dub Thomas did not respond to requests for comment from the press.
We understand that right now, the only thing that matters is accounting for those that are missing and trying to return some sense of normalcy to the area so people can start putting their lives back together. Once that is done, there needs to be some serious conversation about the decision-making process that led leaders in an area known as “Flash Flood Alley” to twice reject opportunities to enhance early warning systems. It’s impossible to conjecture if it would have helped, but it sure looks like an all-time bad decision, and people that lost loved ones deserve a full accounting for those decisions.
COURTESY: USA TODAY
Judge recommends case against activist judge accused of helping an illegal immigrant escape ICE custody should proceed
Our take: The Wisconsin judge who is accused of helping an illegal immigrant leaving her courtroom evade capture by ICE agents there to detain him was hoping to hide behind the protection of her position as a judge from having to face a trial to determine her guilt or innocence. A fellow judge said her arguments did not hold merit and the case should proceed forward.
Judge Hannah Dugan is facing federal charges. Her legal team filed a motion to dismiss, claiming Dugan was acting in her official capacity as a judge and is therefore immune to prosecution.
US Magistrate Judge Nancy Joseph rejected this argument, stating, “A judge’s actions, even when done in her official capacity, do not bar criminal prosecution if the actions were done in violation of criminal law.” Joseph’s decision will be reviewed and either accepted or rejected by US District Judge Lynn Adleman.
Dugan is innocent until proven guilty. It is good that she is not able to simply hide behind her bench when she is accused of breaking the law. She faces up to 6 years in prison and a $350,000 fine if she is convicted of the crime. No trial date has been set as of today.
COURTESY: MSN
Tip of the day – developing relationships effectively
If a challenging situation arises in the workplace, address the conflict with the person or people involved. Explain your point of view calmly but also actively listen to the other side and try to empathize with their position. This proactive approach promotes respect and can help lead to a positive resolution of the situation.
Quote of the Day
“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading”. - Lao Tzu