Free Republic

Jeffrey Epstein underage abuse victims sue government saying they were kept in the dark about 'sweetheart deal' giving billionaire immunity after he pleaded guilty to hiring teen for sex A decade after police began an investigation into claims that financier Jeffrey Epstein had solicited teenage girls for sex, two women who the government designated as underage victims at the time have filed a lawsuit over his 'sweetheart deal.' The women, identified as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, claim in court papers filed Wednesday that they were unaware of the secret deal being made between the defense team and...

Time is running out fast for the “anyone but Trump” wing of the Republican Party. Donald Trump’s march to the nomination is far from inevitable after a resounding New Hampshire victory, but the state’s failure to whittle down the field to a manageable number is threatening to tip the delegate race in his favor before anyone can stop him. Unless the field can consolidate behind one or two alternatives in the next few weeks, Republicans warn, the odds of a Trump victory or a brokered convention will increase dramatically. “I think if Trump is the front-runner on March 15 and...

Full Title: Deputy's body cam footage debunks accusations of racially charged language, physical force during arrest KERSHAW COUNTY, SC A Camden man was charged after an officer's body camera footage debunked accusations that the officer used racially charged language and physical force while taking the suspect into custody. Sheriff Jim Matthews said deputies were dispatched to a fast-food restaurant in Lugoff on Feb. 2 in reference to a fight in progress. When deputies arrived, Matthews said they separated two groups of females and one male with a baseball bat which were involved in a physical altercation. Matthews said as one...

About two-dozen people filed into Dodd 175 at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) campus last Thursday night, scouting out seats and picking at the kosher pizza in the back of the lecture hall. Miyelani Pinini knows the drill. A former student president of the University of Cape Town in South Africa, she's attended and even organized her share of free-pizza events. But now she and a fellow South African student leader -- both non-Jewish black people -- were the stars of this one, brought to campus by StandWithUs, a pro-Israel education and advocacy organization, and Students Supporting Israel,...

On Aug. 5, 2015, contractors for the Environmental Protection Agency accidentally released 3 million gallons of contaminated wastewater into Cement Creek, a tributary of the Animas River. Six months later, questions about the effects of spring runoff, Superfund status and remediation remain unanswered.N.M. official blasts EPA over Gold King spill‘When storm events occurred, the sediment was remobilized’ Where the Animas goes The Gold King Mine blowout on Aug. 5, 2015 sent 3 million gallons of wastewater into the Animas River, which flows into the San Juan River. The San Juan flows into the Colorado River. The Colorado River is dammed,...

When Ted Cruz took the stage at his primary night party in Hollis, N.H., he gave what sounded like a victory speech. And in some ways, he may have been an overlooked winner of the night."Washington insiders were convinced our wave of support would break in the Granite State," the Texas senator thundered. "The men and women of New Hampshire proved them wrong."The TVs flanking him showed the results; he was edging out former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Cruz finished with just under 12 percent, good enough in the crowded field for third place.All the attention out of New Hampshire...

The powerful agency that manages development on California’s coastline fired its executive director Wednesday after a lengthy and, at times, emotionally charged meeting that veered from accusations about the influence of developers and lobbyists to discussions on the mundane inner workings of government. The California Coastal Commission voted 7-5 to dismiss Charles Lester, who has held the post since 2011. The shake-up raises questions about the direction of an agency often caught in the clash between property rights and conservation. The panel has broad sway over construction and environmental issues in coastal areas that include some of the most coveted...

[SNIP]THE BEST WAYS TO WIN AN ARGUMENT EVERY TIMETiming:Typically, the first person to reply to the thread has a greater chance of swinging the original person's (OP) view than someone who joins the debate later on.Alternative terminology:Use words that are different to those used in the post.For example,if discussing climate change,describing it as global warming in a reply makes more of an impact than using the same terminology as the OP.Use calm language:The study suggests using 'calm' language to make a point is more effective than swearing or using aggressive terms.In the paper,examples of 'calm' words include those that are...

The global Central Banks have declared War on Cash. Historically, one of the safest things to do when the markets begin to collapse is to move a significant portion of your holdings to cash. As the old adage says, during times of deflation, "cash is king." The notion here is that cash is a safe haven. And while earning 1-2% in interest doesn't do much in terms of growing your wealth, it sure beats losing 20%+ by holding on to stocks or bonds during their respective bear markets However, in today's world of fiat-based Central Planning, cash represents a REAL...

The conservative group American Future Fund will begin airing a TV commercial in South Carolina that labels Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz as "weak" on national security, an especially damaging claim in the military-heavy state. The ad likens Cruz to Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders and President Barack Obama. According to the ad, "Ted Cruz talks tough on national security. But look at his record. Cruz voted with Bernie Sanders against defense spending," and the ad also claims "Cruz sided with Obama to weaken our ability to track terrorists." The Anti-Cruz group - run by GOP bigwig Nick Ryan, is spending...

Losing New Hampshire by 22 points to an avowed socialist was bad enough for Hillary Clinton. But then came the news -- first reported by WaPo -- that the State Department had opened a inquiry regarding the activities of the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation during her time time as secretary of state. And bad went to way, way worse. By my count, this latest State Department inquiry makes for three active investigations by the federal government that touch directly or indirectly on the 2016 Democratic presidential front-runner. 1. The newly revealed State inquiry into the Clinton Foundation and...

Here’s something unexpected. David Cameron's own mother has signed a petition which hopes to stop Conservative cuts to 'essential services'. Mary, 81, has put her name down on a 38 Degrees petition calling for the end to Oxfordshire County Council plans to close 44 children's centres in the area. The Conservative-run council is hoping to save around £8million plans through the closure of centres described in the petition as ‘a lifeline to new parents who rely on locally accessible advice and support at a time when it is most needed.’ Mary, a retired magistrate, told the Mirror: 'My name is...

Former presidential candidate Jim Webb is expected to discuss whether he will make another run at the White House during a speech in Dallas today, according to a local television station. Sources told CBS 11 News that Webb, who dropped out of the Democratic primary race in October, will make his intentions known during a speech the World Affairs Council this afternoon. The group only said that the former Virginia senator will share his “5 Most Important Principles for Foreign Policy.”

SC focus group favors Cruz but sees Trump gains (video)...

The city of Cleveland wants the family of Tamir Rice, the 12-year-old boy who was fatally shot by police 15 months ago, to pay for his ambulance ride. According to a creditor's claim filed Wednesday in Cuyahoga County Probate Court, the city is asking to be reimbursed $500 "for emergency medical services rendered as the decedent's last dying expense." An itemized bill from Cleveland EMS includes $450 for "ambulance advance life support" and $50 for mileage, according to an invoice filed with the claim. "The callousness, insensitivity, and poor judgment required for the city to send a bill — its...

Hong Kong experienced its worst violence on Tuesday since the pro-democracy protests in 2014. The cause of the melee was when authorities attempted to remove illegal street stalls set up for the Monday start of the Spring Festival. Police fired warning shots during the clashes. In turn, demonstrators threw bricks at the police, destroyed street signage and burned trash cans in Mong Kok, reported Reuters.

Cliven Bundy, the father of the man who helped start the protest at a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon, was arrested by the FBI late Wednesday night in Portland. Details of the arrest, including charges and location, were not immediately available. The FBI said those details would be released Thursday morning. Reached early Thursday at the Bundy ranch house near Bunkerville, Cliven Bundy's daughter Bailey confirmed that Cliven had been arrested but wouldn't provide details. "That's all we know at this time and we're not commenting tonight," she said. Meanwhile, federal agents closed in on the four remaining militia occupants...

On Wednesday’s broadcast of Fox News Channel’s “Hannity,” Gov. John Kasich (R-OH), a candidate for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, reacted to the claim that he is a so-called establishment candidate, given his finish in New Hampshire and compared to two of the front-runners, Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), that he is running against. Kasich dismissed the label of “establishment” and touted his record in Congress as proof that he didn’t go along to get along as an establishment politician might do. “I’m not establishment,” Kasich said. “Sean, I make the establishment upset. ...

"In 1775 when the Redcoats attacked the Patriots, they didn't have a livestream..." Gavin Seim, coordinator of the livestream from the FBI siege in Oregon last night. It all started coming down around 4:30 pm Oregon time yesterday when David Fry was on his daily ATV ride around the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters when the FBI tried to stop him and armored vehicles moved in close to the camp in the parking lot (Camp Finicum). Agents were yelling at the four people still there (David Fry, Jeff Banta, Sean and Sandy Anderson) to give up. The FBI claimed to...

".....The Cruz campaign released the following yesterday: Playing Trump