Nation
Kamala Harris, Bill Clinton to discuss ’empowering women and girls’ at conference
On Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris will take part in a conversation about “empowering women and girls” with former President Bill Clinton, whom numerous women have accused of sexual misconduct.
The chat will occur during the 13th annual Clinton Global Initiative University meeting, which is being held in partnership with Howard University, Harris’s alma mater.
The Clinton Foundation announced on Tuesday that this year’s meeting will feature: “A one-on-one conversation with President Clinton and Vice President Kamala Harris on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women, and empowering women and girls in the U.S. and around the world.”
The one-on-one discussion is set to commence at 3:25 p.m. (Eastern).
Former President Clinton was infamously impeached but eventually acquitted over lying under oath about having a sexual relationship with a White House intern, Monica Lewinsky. Over the decades, other women have accused the Arkansas Democrat of sexual misconduct.
On top of that, the former president’s longtime friendship with the deceased financier — and convicted sex offender — Jeffrey Epstein has drawn more scrutiny.
Moreover, according to the Clinton Foundation, the virtual meeting will “bring together 600 students from across the world who have made Commitments to Act — new, specific, and measurable initiatives that address pressing challenges.”
This year’s event, having already started on Tuesday, will run up through Friday. It is being hosted by former President Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, and Howard University.
According to the Clinton Foundation, the event will also discuss subjects such as faith in democracy, environmental justice, COVID-19 recovery, and creating systemic change.
Also due to appear at the meeting are former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams, and Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), among others.
You can follow Douglas Braff on Twitter @Douglas_P_Braff.
Elections
IRS Whistleblower Receives Retaliation After Speaking Out on Hunter Biden Tax Case
A whistleblower in the Hunter Biden tax investigation, IRS Supervisory Special Agent Gary Shapley, is facing harsh repercussions from the IRS after revealing alleged misconduct within the agency. Shapley, who gained widespread attention following an interview with investigative journalist Catherine Herridge, claims to be under intense pressure to accept a demotion or resign after publicly disclosing his concerns.
National Review reports on the recent developments, shared by Shapley’s attorney, Tristan Leavitt, reveal that the IRS had apparently been withholding a punitive decision until after Herridge’s interview went viral. “Less than an hour after @C__Herridge posted this story yesterday about the retaliation against the IRS whistleblowers, the IRS sent SSA Shapley this notice telling him he had 15 days to choose whether to be demoted or to resign,” Leavitt tweeted, noting that the agency appeared to have delayed this decision by at least two weeks.
On October 15, the IRS officially informed Shapley of a planned reassignment, notifying him he would be moved from his role as a Supervisory Special Agent in the criminal division to a Senior Analyst position—a demotion. Shapley was given the option to either accept the downgrade or, if he chose not to, request a lower-level special agent role or leave the agency entirely.
In response to the alleged retaliation, Shapley’s attorney sent a formal letter to Congress on Thursday. Addressed to House Oversight Committee chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), and House Ways and Means Committee chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.), Leavitt’s letter highlights a history of punitive treatment Shapley claims to have faced since he first disclosed his findings.
“From the moment USA Weiss received access to SSA Shapley’s protected whistleblower disclosures and contacted IRS leadership, the IRS has treated SSA Shapley differently,” Leavitt wrote in the letter. He also added that “the illegal reprisal increased after SSA Shapley made clear he intended to blow the whistle to Congress and others. And it continues to this day, when the IRS knows it can retaliate against SSA Shapley simply by waiting out the clock for him to be forced into the position of resigning or being demoted.”
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is currently investigating the allegations of retaliation, not only against Shapley but also against another IRS whistleblower, Joseph Ziegler, who had similarly come forward regarding the Hunter Biden case. Leavitt has requested that the OSC intervene to prevent what he calls an apparent case of retaliation and has urged congressional Republicans to ask for a briefing on the progress of the OSC’s 17-month-long investigation.
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