Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary, was back on Capitol Hill Tuesday looking to shore up support as he fends off new allegations of misconduct and sexual impropriety. The allegations were top of mind for Republican senators, one of whom called recent reports "very disturbing." Several GOP lawmakers suggested Hegseth needed to come forward and address them. But Hegseth, holding hands with his wife as he walked the halls, continued to ignore questions about the New Yorker report that he was forced to step down from two veteran nonprofit groups -- Veterans for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America -- amid accusations of financial mismanagement, sexist behavior and other disqualifying behavior. The magazine cited what it called a detailed seven-page whistleblower report -- compiled by multiple former C.V.A. employees -- stating that, at one point, Hegseth had to be restrained while drunk from joining the dancers on the stage of a Louisiana strip club, where he had brought his team. The report also says that Hegseth, who was married at the time, and other members of his management team sexually pursued the organization’s female staffers, the magazine said. ABC News has not independently confirmed the magazine's account. Hegseth's attorney, Tim Parlatore, told The New Yorker the claims were "outlandish." MORE: GOP senators seek 'normal process' to confirm Trump nominees, torn over FBI background checks "We're going to meet with every senator that wants to meet with us, across the board, and we welcome their advice as we go through the advice and consent process," Hegseth told reporters as he arrived for a second day of sitdowns with senators. Hegseth was asked dozens of questions by reporters, including what he would say to those troubled by the allegations, whether the women who've spoken out are lying, whether he had a drinking problem and if the Trump transition team had been aware of the allegations. He did not respond, including when asked by ABC's Elizabeth Schulze about GOP Sen. Joni Ernst saying she thinks he should have agreed to a background check. Trump's team came out in defense of Hegseth earlier Tuesday. Senior adviser Jason Miller, in an interview on CNN, attempted to brush off the allegations as "innuendo and gossip." "So, when it comes to Pete Hegseth, there aren't any concerns, and we feel very good about his positioning for being confirmed by the Senate," Miller said. "Now we have to take the process very seriously." Republican senators, peppered with questions on Hegseth and other recent Trump picks as they returned to Washington this week, also say they want a "normal" confirmation process to play -- which would routinely include FBI background checks. But some of their statements, so far, stopped short of glowing endorsements. "I think some of these articles are very disturbing. He obviously has a chance to defend himself here, but some of this stuff is -- it's going to be difficult. Time will tell,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee. "Leadership comes from the top, and I want to make sure that every young woman who joins the military space is respected," Graham said, seemingly referencing Hegseth's comments against women serving in combat roles . Sen. Josh Hawley, another member of the key panel, argued Hegseth would have the opportunity to answer all questions during the confirmation process though notably indicated some of his Republican colleagues are "very worried." "I would just urge my Republican colleagues, who are very worried, I know a number of them are expressing public concern -- it's fine, but I would just urge them, before they make up their minds, right before they make up their minds, let them have this hearing and listen to let's go through the process here and give them a shot to answer this and more and to lay out this vision for you," Hawley said. MORE: Tuberville praises defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth amid misconduct allegations Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who stood by Hegseth as a "great" pick on Monday, had similarly suggested Hegseth could face headwinds. "Obviously, if it's to a certain degree, people are not going to vote to confirm it," Tuberville said when asked about the allegations after their meeting. "But what I know when I talk to him about what I've read, what I've studied and been around him, I'll vote for him." Many suggesting that he needs to come forward and address it. "Well, these allegations that have come up just in the last 12 to 14 hours are a surprise to all of us, and so yes, he does need to address those because this was not something of which we were aware, nor was President Trump aware of them," said Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., who met with Hegseth on Monday night with a group of senators. Asked about his ability to make it through the nomination process, Lummis said she hopes to meet with him one-on-one and deferred to how he addresses the new allegations. "It depends on how he addresses the issues that have been raised," Lummis said. "Some of the earlier issues that were raised about an incident in California I think were satisfactorily addressed and would not have interfered with his nomination, but some new things that have come to light in the last 12 to 14 hours are things he needs to address." "I have read all the articles, I have seen all the allegations. And Mr. Hegseth is going to have to address it," Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said. "I want to know if they're true, and I want to hear his side of the story. And he's going to have to address them," Kennedy added. Hegseth met Tuesday with Sen. Deb Fischer, one of two Republican women on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and GOP Sen. Bill Hagerty in their respective offices. He was also scheduled to meet with Republican Sens. Ted Budd, Shelley Moore Capito, Jim Risch and Eric Schmitt. Schmitt said he was "definitely going to ask questions" about the allegations.
OTTAWA—The RCMP says it has “contingency plans” to deploy more Mounties to the Canada-U.S. border but needs answers from the Liberal government about how much more it intends to spend on additional drones, helicopters or other technology to surveil it. The Trudeau government says it has not yet “finalized” those decisions as it fended off Opposition criticism it is too slow to act to counter incoming president Donald Trump’s threat of 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian products on his first day in office. RCMP Comm. Michael Duheme told reporters there are two “parallel” tracks to the Mounties’ plans — one contingent on how many illegal immigrants might be “removed” from America by an incoming Trump administration and drive a northward surge into Canada, and the other contingent on how much new technology the Liberal government will fund. Speaking after he testified at a public safety committee, the top Mountie said he is not opposed to expanding the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) mandate into the RCMP’s jurisdiction over territory between official border points of entry, as the border guards’ union has called for. “I think we have to do what’s right, to secure the borders. So if that’s increasing authorities to CBSA, I mean, that’s a discussion I would have” with the head of the CBSA and the government, Duheme said. He said it would be a “longer-term” move, “but I think we have to explore different ways of doing things.” Meanwhile, Duheme said the RCMP needs the “nimbleness” to reassign resources where needed, and he will deploy cadets from the RCMP training academy in Regina — as the national police force did in 2014 to provide additional security following the Parliament Hill attacks. “What you saw in Roxham Road (where migrants crossed illegally near Lacolle, Que.) may not repeat itself,” said Duheme. “It might come somewhere else, right? So that’s one thing, but on the parallel track is the planning a way forward with the asks that we’ve put in ... and the resources required to do it.” Defence Minister Bill Blair told the Star Monday night that Canadian Forces may be able to supply surveillance drones and other technological aids, but that soldiers would not be deployed to the border. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Chrystia Freeland — who co-chairs the Canada-U.S. cabinet committee — met with Opposition leaders Tuesday to brief them on the government’s work to address the Trump threat, and on Trudeau’s and LeBlanc’s trip to Trump’s resort at Mar-a-Lago on Friday. Trudeau and LeBlanc discussed trade and the border over dinner with the president-elect at his Freeland later said she was not upset at not being included on the trip, and said “it was the right choice. The meeting was principally about the border. That is what was very clear from the conversation that the prime minister had with the president ahead of time.” Freeland called for a “Team Canada” approach to dealing with Trump, repeating a message she delivered to premiers last week, that it is “important for us to take care not to negotiate against ourselves.” However, when Trudeau’s Commons opponents emerged, they did not offer full-throated support for his efforts. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said he would take a “Canada first” approach,” stress the harm that tariffs would have on Canada and the U.S. and he put the blame for Canada’s problems with Trump squarely at Trudeau’s feet, a line of attack he continued in the Commons. “Whether one thinks that President Trump’s tariff threats are a negotiating tactic or a real plan, what we do know is what we can control. The prime minister has lost control of everything” including borders and control of immigration, he said. Poilievre said Trudeau is an unpopular leader in an “unbearably weak position” to counter Trump, and demanded an election to replace him. Trudeau in the Commons replied that Poilievre should guard against repeating “erroneous narratives that the Americans are putting forward,” saying amplifying “these ‘broken’ narratives is simply not responsible leadership.” New Democrat Jagmeet Singh said he told Trudeau in the meeting that he pressed Trudeau to hire “at a minimum” 1,100 more border guards. That’s a lot fewer than the union says are needed. Erin O’Gorman, head of the border agency, told MPs the CBSA currently has 16,300 full time employees, 8,500 of whom are front-line employees, compared to 13,700 it had in 2014 when the Conservatives were in power. However, the Customs and Immigration Union says only 6,500 are considered front-line employees, including those who work not just at land border points of entry, but at airports and who enforce customs laws at postal facilities. Union head Mark Weber, in an interview with the Star, said the union has called for an additional 2,000-3,000 front-line officers, and was encouraged by LeBlanc’s testimony that showed an “openness” to expanding the role played by border guards to include patrolling in between official points of entry with the RCMP. Weber reiterated in a letter to LeBlanc Monday the union’s request to the Liberal government to review a 1932 cabinet order that directed the RCMP to cover border areas between official ports of entry while leaving the official points of entry to border officers. ” LeBlanc told MPs Tuesday that the government is “interested in taking immediate steps that will reassure Canadians and the Americans that the border remains secure and the integrity of the border is protected ... We haven’t made any decisions in that regard. But are open to considering that as well.” Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet said that the Liberals did not offer details, but seem to have a plan in the works. “We’ll see what it contains,” he said. “I don’t want to fight too much publicly about an issue which is very important for everybody, both in Canada and Quebec and Americans are looking at us now. So I will give some time to Mr. LeBlanc to provide us with the details of the plan.” Former Conservative leader Rona Ambrose in a CBC interview Tuesday said, “look, I think it’s easy to say everyone should be on Team Canada, but that doesn’t mean Team Trudeau.” Ambrose, who previously sat on Trudeau’s NAFTA advisory council, said Poilievre and Singh would all argue they are on Team Canada, but that they also have legitimate criticisms to make of how Trudeau has not positioned Canada’s economy to withstand Trump’s threats and the moves he will make to draw investors and capital away from Canada to the United States.Centessa: Shift In Focus With ORX750 Development Continues To Pay Off
Killer sea creatures seen hunting sea lions off California coast. See ‘exciting’ photos( MENAFN - EIN Presswire) Shirley Chisholm the first ever black woman elected to Congress, and the first woman to pursue a Presidential nomination. "Kurt Vonnegut: Reporter on the Afterlife" The podcast is based on the last novel by author, Kurt Vonnegut, "God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian." Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the U.S. He led the United States through the American Civil War, playing a major role in the abolition of slavery. Nov., 30th“Shirley Chisholm Day” NY City Declaration commemorates, first ever black woman elected to congress & 1st woman to pursue Presidential nomination Fredric King Fountainhead Transmedia, Inc. +1 917-539-8372 email us here Visit us on social media: X LinkedIn Instagram YouTube TikTok Vonnegut Reporter“Election Special” Kurt roams the afterlife meeting legendary political figures, sharing timely messages of resilience for US audiences. Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above. MENAFN30112024003118003196ID1108941710 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Deacon Tony and Rosie Paulino were inseparable until his passing last year. CONTRIBUTED SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Next April will mark the second death anniversary of Antonio Paulino, known as “Deacon Tony” in the Archdiocese of San Francisco where he ministered for nearly 40 years. Congregants of St. Andrew Catholic Church in Daly City and earlier of Good Shepherd in Pacifica – the most recent parishes where the former administrative officer of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco had served – remember Deacon Tony for his inspiring homilies and unquestionable devotion to his faith. When he lost his fight to complications from diabetes in the spring of 2023, he left behind a family for whom he was spiritual, moral and social guide and protector. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . “I think of him every waking moment,” his widow Rosie Robles Paulino told Inquirer.net USA . “But I know he is one with the Lord , where there is no more pain or suffering.” The holiday season brings cheer to many but also tends to sadden people coping with the loss of a loved one, like Rosie, her widower son Ronald, Ronald’s children Valerie and Arron and Arron’s wife Kim. Their South San Francisco home can be a bit too quiet without the patriarch‘s solemn grace before every meal, they say, after he has prepared sushi or adobo sa gata , his specialties. Labor of Love For those in the Paulinos’ shoes, community-based organizations are collaborating with public entities to brighten the coming days for individuals and families with ache in their hearts. Here in South San Francisco, for one, a group called “Friends of Old Town,” has been distributing turkey and Thanksgiving meal boxes to the tight-knit neighborhood for the past six years. Last week they gave away 190 turkeys, said Hermes Monzon, coordinator of the Saturday event that drew lines of folks of every generation and background. The Turkey drive is a Friends of Old Town joint gift to the community with Sociedad Mutualista Mexicana de Morelo, Painters and Drywall Finishers Local 913, Carpet, Linoleum and Soft Tile Workers Local 12 and South San Francisco Scavenger that brought back memories to David Canepa, vice president of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. Though the area is a few blocks out of his jurisdiction, Canepa partnered on the endeavor for a deeply personal reason. “This event means so much to me because Old Town South San Francisco holds a special place in my heart,” he warmed up the crowd. “It’s where my grandmother, Liliana Torres, grew up. This community is rich in history, full of warmth and embodies the true spirit of generosity.” Soon as 209 Miller Street between Linden and Cypress opened its doors at 10 a,m. on Nov. 22, smiling faces streamed with recipients, benefactors and supporters greeting each other. “Come, let’s have a picture together. I want to show this to my mother who’s from Pulilan (Bulacan, Philippines),” Athena Castro Marchisheck approached a Filipino American attendee. As did Yasmil Rodriguez, another community advocate reaching out to a potential ally. Canepa brought along his constant escort, his 7-year-old son Piero, to walk in his shoes growing up with parents in public service. “Old Town is one of South San Francisco’s oldest and most vibrant neighborhoods and the people who live here are some of the most welcoming and gracious,” Canepa said, pointing to a significant impact of the effort. “But many in this working-class community are older adults, some isolated and lonely, and others who are food insecure. This longstanding free turkey giveaway is an expression of gratitude and a way to help people connect at a time when some people might be feeling depressed and have the holiday blues.” He commended the tireless Monzon, Ana Zaragoza, Brittany Burgo and Dana Abarca of Friends of Old Town, Anthony Nuanes of Local 12, Joe Sanders of Local 913, Max Snelling of Local 718, Desiree Green of San Mateo Labor Council, Carlos Martinez of IUPAT and Oscar Gamez and Jesus Galvan of Morelos for hosting what is the unofficial opening of the holidays in the “Industrial City,” the nickname South San Francisco earned for its strong support for labor. And more. “The turkey drive isn’t just about food; it’s about connection,” said the District 5 supervisor representing Daly City, Colma, Brisbane, parts of San Bruno and South San Francisco, municipalities with high concentrations of Filipinos, Asians and Latinos. “It’s a way to bring hope to those feeling isolated, lift up neighbors facing food insecurity and spread joy during the holiday season.” Connecting communities Some of the event participants were able to pick up their turkey as members of Got Wheels! , the affordable transportation program run by Peninsula Family Service funded by San Mateo County and championed by Canepa through his Loneliness to Light initiative. SSF resident and new Got Wheels! member Wing Wong was excited to inaugurate his program membership card by arriving at the Los Morelos distribution site in a Serra Yellow Cab, the transportation program partner provider. You may like: Ride program frees older Fil-Ams from national crisis: loneliness “This allows me to run errands even on days when I don’t feel safe driving because of my vision issue,” he said as he collected his turkey the morning when the sun briefly shone between successive storms. Rosie Paulino, on the other hand, was glad the turkey giveaway took place on the weekend when son Ronald was free to drive her around. Otherwise she would have no second thoughts about using her discounted taxi rides, she said. “I never learned to drive because my husband and I carpooled when we were both working,” said the former See’s Candy employee who has been volunteering as lector and Eucharistic minister and pianist before and now in retirement. As a widow in her 80s, Paulino counts on the kindness of family and friends in the absence of her husband of 60 years. “There isn’t a time when I don’t miss him, but knowing there are many who care to ease my loneliness – people close to me and perfect strangers alike – help me make it through each day. I’m beyond grateful to them,” she expressed a sentiment shared by about 15 percent of the county population known as Baby Boomers, people born between 1946 and 1964. In the beginning of the 21st Century, the US Census found that every day from 2011 to 2029, 10,000 individuals in this country would be turning 65 years old. The results prompted public and private service organizations to build strategies and capacity to respond appropriately and effectively. Lack of transportation and nutrition affects physical health, discouraging older adults from making their doctor’s appointments or picking up medications. Lack of access to resources can lead to poor mental health, as absence of socialization and social connections often results in depression and isolation, aging and adult service agencies concur. Access to such resources can be life-saving to a multitude, hence the collaboration of labor leaders and residents of South San Francisco to work toward ensuring no one is left in want, particularly during the season of comfort and joy. Want stories like this delivered straight to your inbox?Stay informed. Stay ahead. Subscribe to InqMORNING
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New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) In 2012, the then prime minister Manmohan Singh underwent operations for multiple coronary bypasses and never quite recovered physically as it slowed him down and this showed up in governance, veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar says in his latest book. He says that Pranab Mukherjee should have been given the reins of the UPA-II government and Singh elevated to President when the office of Rashtrapati presented an opening in 2012. Aiyar's insight into the period post 2012 comes into spotlight as Singh, who was the country's prime minister from 2004-14, passed away at AIIMS here. The 83-year-old Aiyar states in the book that if this step had been taken, the UPA would not have gone into a "paralysis of governance". He says the decision to retain Singh as the prime minister and shift Mukherjee to the Rashtrapati Bhawan "doomed" any prospects the Congress might have had to form UPA-III. Aiyar puts forward these ideas in his forthcoming book "A Maverick in Politics" published by Juggernaut. In the book, Aiyar talks about his early days in politics, navigating through the Narasimha Rao years, his time as a minister in UPA I, his Rajya Sabha term and then his "decline...fade out...fall". "In 2012, the prime minister (Manmohan Singh) underwent operations for multiple coronary bypasses. He never quite recovered physically. It slowed him down and this showed up in governance. As for the party, there was no official announcement about the Congress president's health when she took ill at about the same time as the PM," Aiyar says. It soon became clear that in both the offices -- the PM's and the party president's -- there was stasis, a distinct absence of governance, while several crises, particularly Anna Hazare's 'India Against Corruption' movement, were either not handled effectively or not handled at all, says the diplomat-turned-politician. "The choice of Rashtrapati: Manmohan Singh or Pranab Mukherjee. Personally, I was of the view that Pranab Mukherjee should have been given the reins of the government and Dr Manmohan Singh elevated to President of India when the office of Rashtrapati presented an opening in 2012," he says. "This was principally because we needed a very active PM in good health and with the energy to lead the government (Pranab Da) and a person of high distinction who had served his country exceptionally well (Dr Singh) to preside over the nation. Pranab's memoirs indicate that this was in fact contemplated," Aiyar points out. He quotes Mukherjee as saying in his memoir that while Sonia Gandhi was 'on holiday in the Kausambi hills', she had given the 'vague impression' that she was considering making Singh the 'presidential nominee'. "This led Pranab to wonder 'if she selected Singh for the presidential office, she may choose me as the prime minister'. For reasons to which neither I, nor it seems anyone else, was made privy, the decision was taken to retain Dr Manmohan Singh as PM and shift Pranab Mukherjee upstairs as Rashtrapati," says Aiyar. That, in my view, doomed any prospects the Congress might have had to form UPA-III, he adds. While the Indian media slammed the government, Time magazine ran a very damaging cover story that described Singh as a 'Do Nothing' Prime Minister, he recalls in the book. Aiyar argues that Mukherjee's left-wing reputation would have disturbed the business community and the Americans if he were made PM, but there was no one more experienced than him. "I hazard the view that if this obvious step had been taken, we would not have gone into a paralysis of governance and thus opened the door to the worst excesses of Hindutva in the general elections of 2014," he says. In the book, Aiyar also recounts his own most telling memory of the "meltdown of UPA II" was when he returned home one evening he found his wife, Suneet, sitting before the TV set with a shattered look on her face. "When I inquired what the matter was, she raised her stricken face and exclaimed, 'No scams today!' We, therefore, went into the 2014 general elections very much a runner up. In the event, the election exposed the Indian National Congress as a broken reed that fell from 404 seats in 1984 to 44 seats in 2014," Aiyar says. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
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Arkansas receiver Andrew Armstrong said Tuesday that he is entering the NFL Draft. Later in the day, a school spokesman told reporters that Armstrong will skip the Razorbacks' bowl game. The destination isn't yet known. Armstrong led the Southeastern Conference in both receptions (78) and receiving yards (1,140) but caught just one touchdown in 11 games this season. His catches and yardage were both second-most in Arkansas history behind Cobi Hamilton, who had 90 receptions for 1,335 yards in 2012. "It's been a journey for the books and I wouldn't trade it for anything because it has made me into the man I am today," Armstrong said of his Razorbacks tenure in a social media post. "... I will never forget all the moments that were shared here in Fayetteville." Armstrong played two seasons at Texas A&M-Commerce before transferring to Arkansas ahead of the 2023 season. In two seasons with the Razorbacks, he caught 134 passes for 1,904 yards and six scores. --Field Level MediaSouth Korea lifts president's martial law decree after lawmakers reject military rule
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