White House pushes back on allegations against former Trump VA pick

This is what Barry said about Ronny Jackson in 2016:

 "Ronny does a great job — genuine enthusiasm, poised under pressure, incredible work ethic and follow through. Ronny continues to inspire confidence with the care he provides to me, my family and my team. Continue to promote ahead of peers."

After Trump nominated Jackson for his VA pick any and all videos of Obama praising Jackson have been removed.

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 Dr. Ronny Jackson , left, withdrew from consideration to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs after criticism from U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont.

The White House is pushing back against allegations that helped sink the nomination of presidential physician Ronny Jackson to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Jackson, 50, a rear admiral in the U.S. Navy and veteran of the Iraq War who has served as White House physician since 2006, was nominated this year to succeed David Shulkin as head of the VA, the second-largest agency in the federal government.

President Trump has called Jackson an "American hero" and "one of the finest men that I've met in the last long period of time."

"One of the finest men that I've met in the last long period of time."

- President Donald Trump, commenting on Dr. Ronny Jackson

But Jackson withdrew his nomination Thursday, in part because of a flood of allegations, including that he drank on duty and once crashed a government vehicle. Many of the accusations were compiled by the office of U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., who dubbed Jackson "Candyman," based on accusations that Jackson liberally distributed medications.

On Friday, however, the White House said internal records, including police reports, revealed that alcohol was never a factor in Jackson's three minor incidents with government vehicles over five years, nor was he ever found at fault – contradicting Tester's claims. 

Instead, the White House said, records show that in one instance an upset driver punched out a window on Jackson's vehicle during a trip to Camp David, Md., and in another case, a side-view mirror was hit by a passing truck.

The Secret Service also challenged a CNN report that said Jackson had to be stopped by agents during an overseas trip for banging on a White House staffer's hotel room door, over concerns that the noise might disturb then-President Barack Obama.

"A thorough review of internal documents related to all Presidential foreign travel that occurred in 2015, in addition to interviews of personnel who were present during foreign travel that occurred during the same time frame, has resulted in no information that would indicate the allegation is accurate," the statement reads, according to the Washington Post.

"A thorough review of internal documents ... has resulted in no information that would indicate the allegation are accurate."

- Secret Service report on accusation against Dr. Ronny Jackson

Jackson "regretfully" withdrew his name from contention 

on Thursday, calling the allegations "completely false and fabricated."

"If they had any merit, I would not have been selected, promoted and entrusted to serve in such a sensitive and important role as physician to three presidents over the past 12 years," he said in a statement, adding that "the false allegations have become a distraction for this President and the important issue we must be addressing – how we give the best care to our nation's heroes."

Trump defended Jackson during an interview Thursday morning on "Fox and Friends."

"He would have done a great job, he has a tremendous heart," Trump said. "These are false accusations. They are trying to destroy a man."

Raj Shah, White House deputy press secretary, also blasted the claims against Jackson.

"Sen. Jon Tester engaged in character assassination against a decorated rear admiral in the United States Navy, and he didn't have a shred of evidence to back it up," Shah said, according to Politico. 

Jackson, who previously served presidents Obama and George W. Bush, was tapped by Trump to lead the VA after Shulkin departed March 28.   

White House pushes back on allegations against former Trump VA pick

North Korea's Kim Jong Un crosses DMZ line for historic meeting with South Korea

I'm still very skeptical concerning North Korea's abrupt about-face. That said, I hope this is a turning point. Who would have imagined 6 to 8 months ago this would ever materialize? 

via https://earloftaint.com

Of course, Trump will NEVER get the credit from the MSM but only he could have pulled this off.

When you think about it Trump is truly amazing. He's gotten more done in his short tenure despite Mueller an anchor around his neck and members of his own party continually stabbing him in the back. Imagine what he could do with a little help!

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Kim Jong-un has become the first North Korean leader to step into the South for 65 years as he met with President Moon Jae-in for a historic peace summit on Friday

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has crossed the line dividing the demilitarized zone to meet with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in what's being described as a historic summit.

Kim made that first step, a great leap for the Korean Peninsula. The two posed for photos facing the North, then facing the South. Just about when Moon ushered Kim to walk toward the red carpet, Kim made a gesture offering Moon to take a step back across the demarcation line, to his side of the border. Whether pre-planned or not, the two smiled and took that step holding hands.

Escorted by traditional music, Moon and Kim walked together to the "Peace House," a three-story building where the official summit will take place.

Inside the "Peace House," Kim signed the guest book, writing in it for more than a minute. The two leaders then went into a reception room for a private conversation.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attend the inter-Korean summit at the truce village of Panmunjom, April 27, 2018.

It's the first time since 2007 leaders of the two countries have met and are part of a recent thawing of relations as South Korea and the United States have focused on diplomacy in their efforts to dismantle North Korea's nuclear program.

The summit has been in the works for some time, with the stage being set by two previous meetings between high-level officials from the North and South, as well as the North's participation in the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, earlier this year. The two nations marched under one flag.

ReutersNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un shakes hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in as both of them arrive for the inter-Korean summit at the truce village of Panmunjom, April 27, 2018.

It was all smiles as North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un (left) and South Korean President Moon Jae-in shook hands and posed for photos inside the Peace House

The meeting is also a precursor to President Donald Trump's own announced meeting with Kim, which is expected to take place in May or early June, though Trump cast doubt on it Thursday.

"It could be that I walk out quickly -- with respect, but it could be. It could be that maybe the meeting doesn't even take place. Who knows?" Trump told Fox News' "Fox & Friends."

The U.S. and North Korea have narrowed down the location to five possibilities, according to Trump, with three or four dates in the running. A senior U.S. official previously told ABC News that Trump had ruled out China and that it was highly unlikely Kim would agree to meet in the U.S. or that Trump would agree with a location in North Korea.

Possible venues are Europe -- including Switzerland, where Kim attended a university, or Sweden, the U.S.'s protecting power in North Korea -- South Asia, and the DMZ between North and South Korea.

Korea Summit Press Pool 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in walk together at the border village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone, April 27, 2018.

North Korea's Kim Jong Un crosses DMZ line for historic meeting with South Korea

Slick Willie calls Trump

Slick Willie calls Trump

One word...Karma

Woman who campaigns against the deportation of migrants Muslims from Sweden was raped and sexually assaulted by two Afghan teenagers she met outside a bar

1. I thought Muslims weren't supposed to drink.

2. Check out the 'punishment' dealt out by the Ulta-Liberal Växjö District Court. 

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A Swedish woman in her 40s was brutally raped by an Afghan teenager while another migrant man molested her, a court has heard. 

Anwar Hassani and Fardi Hesari, both 18, met the victim outside a hotel bar in Ljungby, southern Sweden, in the early hours of Boxing Day last year.

The victim later told police she took an interest in the teenagers, having been told they were migrants from Afganistan.

She explained that she had been a member of a Facebook group which campaigns against the deportation of migrants from Sweden.

Assault: The woman, in her 40s, went back with the teens to Fardi Hesari's accommodation provided for unaccompanied minor refugees, pictured, in the early hours of Boxing Day, where Anwar Hassani raped her and Hesari molested her

In a police interview she said that 'when others have thought that they [migrants] should go home again, she has opposed that'. 

The two Afghan teens asked the victim if she wanted to come back to theirs to continue drinking, and the trio arrived at Hesari's home, a room provided for unaccompanied minor refugees, at just before 3.30am.

After smoking a few cigarettes with the pair, the woman said she tripped and hit her head and laid down on a mattress on the floor, feeling dizzy.

She said Hassani started touching her body, and she pushed him away saying 'I don't want to, I don't want to', but that he then laid on top of her and pulled her jeans down.

Hassani told her to 'be quiet' several times and began raping her despite her screaming in protest. She said Hassani asked her why she had followed them back if she did not want to have sex with them.

Hesari later told police during interrogations that Hassani had turned to him and said in Farsi; 'aren't you going to rape?' 

Rape: The woman had met the two teenagers outside a hotel bar in Ljungby, Sweden

Hesari, who had been lying on the bed next to them, climbed down onto the mattress and began groping her breasts while masturbating.

The victim told police that as she felt Hesari masturbating next to her, Hassani suddenly penetrated her anally causing her 'excruciating pain'.

She claims her screams caused Hassani to stop and that the two teenagers helped put some of her clothes back on before she was able to grab her jacket and boots and 'run out of there'.

According to the victim, Hassani ran after her and 'offered to take her to dinner', but she walked off and called an ambulance.

Witnesses, including medical staff at Växjö Hospital where she arrived shortly before 7am on Boxing Day, described the victim as 'very shocked' and 'in an acute state of crisis'.

The victim said she had been struggling to sleep and suffered other mental health issues following the rape. 

Växjö District Court found Hassani guilty of rape and sentenced him to 15 months in prison. He was also ordered to pay the victim 134,990SEK (£11,326) in compensation.

After time served, Hassani will be deported and banned from returning to Sweden for ten years.

Hesari, who admitted to sexual molestation, was handed a three-month suspended sentence and ordered to pay 23,990SEK (£2,013) in compensation.

One word...Karma

Germany's Jews advised not to wear skullcaps amid recent anti-Semitic attacks

"Schuster similarly warned in 2015 not to wear the skullcaps in areas with large Muslim populations."

Imagine the blowback if the US issued a directive not to wear a burka in Waco, TX because you might provoke an attack!

Members of France's Jewish community wear kippahs while walking the streets of Paris. (Associated Press)

Leaders of Germany’s Jewish community have advised against the wearing of religious skullcaps amid recent anti-Semitic attacks.

Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, told Berlin public radio that Jews should be cautious in larger cities, the BBC reported.

"Defiantly showing your colors would in principle be the right way to go [to tackle anti-Semitism]," he said. "Nevertheless, I would advise individual people against showing themselves openly with a kippa in a big-city setting in Germany, and wear a baseball cap or something else to cover their head instead.”

Schuster similarly warned in 2015 not to wear the skullcaps in areas with large Muslim populations.

His recent comments came just before a “Berlin Wears Kippah" solidarity march Wednesday sparked by an anti-Semitic attack last week against two men wearing kippahs in the German capital.

One victim, Adam Armoush, 21, told German media that he is a non-Jewish Israeli from Haifa and wore the Kippah to prove a point to a friend that Berlin isn’t as hostile to the Jews as some believe, Haaretz reported.

The assailant reportedly shouted anti-Semitic abuse during the attack. The Berlin-based Jewish Forum for Democracy and Against Anti-Semitism shared the footage of the last week’s attack.

Video 406

Germany has been seeing increasing hostility toward the Jewish people, with numerous Jewish organizations alerting officials about the threats they face.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel slammed what she called “another form of anti-Semitism."

She told Israeli media that the Jewish community faces threats not only from far-right groups but also from some Muslim refugees.

The country has taken in nearly 1 million refugees, predominantly from Muslim countries, since the migrant crisis began in 2015.

Germany's Jews advised not to wear skullcaps amid recent anti-Semitic attacks