From Cattle Futures Trader to Real Estate Developer to... Philanthropist...?

The Clintons are crooks, folks; always have been... always will be. Crooks.. liars... degenerates... SCUM...

*  *  *  *  *  *

The charity...

(*SMIRK*)

...run by the Clintons has raised $2 billion since it was founded in 2001 - $144.3 million in 2013 alone - but only a small fraction of the take went to its “life-saving work,” according to analysts who monitor non-profits.

* DO YOU CARE, FOLKS? YOU SHOULD. AND IF YOU DON'T... DO SOCIETY A FAVOR AND SERIOUSLY CONSIDER KILLING YOURSELF.

The Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation claims...

(*SNICKER*)

...that 88% of the money it raises goes to actual charity work, but...

* BUT...

...experts who have looked at the books put the number at about 10%.

* TEN PERCENT. TEN FRIGGIN' PERCENT!

The rest, they say, goes mostly to salaries, benefits, travel and fund-raising.

The foundation, originally called the Clinton Global Initiative, has come under close scrutiny as Hillary Clinton prepares for a presidential run. Revelations in the soon-to-be-released book, “Clinton Cash: The Untold Story of How and Why Foreign Governments and Businesses Helped Make Bill and Hillary Rich,” by Peter Schweizer, have spurred numerous media investigations into the relationship between Hillary Clinton’s tenure as Secretary of State, the foundation’s solicitation of foreign money and the ex-president’s lucrative speaking engagements around the world.

Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon defended the charity's work in Africa and elsewhere and said in a statement there isn’t “a shred of evidence” that Hillary Clinton did anything to benefit Clinton Foundation donors while in office. The foundation has an unlikely defender in conservative newsman Christopher Ruddy, founder of Newsmax and author of the 1997 book, "The Strange Death of Vincent Foster," in which he darkly theorized that the Clinton White House lawyer's death was not a suicide. In a recent post on his site called "In Defense of the Clinton Foundation," Ruddy blasted "numerous unsubstantiated, unconnected, and baseless allegations being made about" the Clintons.

* CHECK OUT THIS APRIL 28TH PALM BEACH POST STORY ENTITLED, "CLINTON CRITIC-TURNED-PAL CHRISTOPHER RUDDY DEFENDS CLINTON FOUNDATION, LIKES JEB BUSH" BEFORE TAKING RUDDY TOO SERIOUSLY.

(*SHRUG*)

The foundation raised $144.3 million – and spent $84.7 million in 2013 – allocating $8.8 million to grants for other organizations, Davis said. The Clinton Foundation’s own IRS tax filings show the organization spent $8.5 million, or 10%  of all 2013 expenditures, on travel, and another $4.8 million - or 5.6% of all expenditures - on office supplies, Davis said, questioning whether plane tickets, hotel accommodations, ink cartridges and staplers “directly change lives.”

* $4.8 MILLION ON... OFFICE SUPPLIES...?!?!

Organizations that rate charities on their effectiveness in spending donations on the causes they champion say gauging the Clinton Foundation is difficult, but they have raised flags.

Charity Navigator added the Clinton Foundation to its “watch list,” noting the organization officials “had previously evaluated this organization, but have since determined that this charity's atypical business model cannot be accurately captured in our current rating methodology.” While maintaining its removal of The Clinton Foundation from its website is “neither a condemnation nor an endorsement of this charity,” the Clinton Foundation is one of only 23 charities on the watch list.

Another charity rating organization, GiveWell, said the Clinton Health Access Initiative declined in November 2012 to participate in its review process, and hasn’t since.

(*SMIRK*)

The Clinton Health Access Initiative in 2008 and 2009 acted as a drug distribution powerhouse, purchasing $226 million in prescription drugs at a discount to distribute worldwide, a practice ended by 2012.

In 2012, the Better Business Bureau reported the Clinton Foundation did not meet the standards of an accountable charity, failing on six counts, largely because of a lack of transparent financial reporting. According to the Better Business Bureau website, the charity is again under review and a new report will be released soon.

(*SHRUG*)

Some of the financial reporting can be messy to follow, in part because the Clintons created separate entities, such as the Clinton Health Access Initiative, the Haiti relief initiative, Clinton Global Initiative, the Clinton Presidential Center and the Clinton Climate Initiative.

While IRS filings show the Clintons do not receive a "salary," compensation comes through other means, such as travel, speaking fees and consulting contracts.

* AND BY GOD ARE THEY COMPENSATED...!!! (IN FACT, I COULD SEE GOV. CHRISTIE TAKING A JOB WITH THE FOUNDATION ONE DAY; HE FAMOUSLY ENJOYS LIVING HIGH OFF THE HOG ON SOMEONE ELSE'S DIME AS WELL!)

As first noted by Politico, the organization’s 990 forms show travel costs for the Clinton Foundation more than doubled in 2013 to $8.448 million largely because of “extraordinary security and other requirements” for the Clintons.

(*SNORT*)

* SECRET SERVICE PROTECTION IS FREE. (TO THEM AT LEAST!)

Schweizer’s book explores one way the foundation brought in money from donors who had business before the State Department. The charity accepted millions of dollars from the head of Uranium One, and a firm promoting its stock, while the Russians sought approval from U.S. agencies, including the State Department, to take over the company. The deal had to be approved by the State Department... then-headed by Hillary Clinton... because the sale gave the Russians control of 20%of the uranium production in the U.S.

During negotiations, Uranium One's chairman donated $2.3 million to the Clinton Foundation.

* JUST AN INNOCENT COINCIDENCE I'M SURE...

(*GAGGING*)

Bill Clinton also reportedly received $500,000 from a Russian firm promoting the company's stocks, for a speech in Moscow. None of these transactions appear in Clinton Foundation disclosures.

(*SMIRK*)

A separate investigation by government watchdog group Judicial Watch revealed Bill Clinton earned $48 million from 215 speeches he made while his wife headed the State Department, and State Department officials, who were charged with flagging conflicts and ethics concerns, did not object.

* AND STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS - WHO WORKED FOR HILLARY CLINTON - DIDN'T OBJECT.

(*SNORT*)

A Washington Post investigation revealed Bill Clinton’s earnings for speeches were closer to $100 million.

* WOW...

In another deal, Canadian mining executive Stephen Dattels donated 2 million shares of the company Polo Resources to the Clinton Foundation, which the foundation did not disclose...

* FOLKS... YA CAN'T MAKE THIS $HIT UP!

...and weeks later, America’s Bangladesh ambassador reportedly used political influence to convince the Bangladesh prime minister to approve open pit mining there, boosting Polo Resources’ profits, according to the Wall Street Journal.

(*RUEFUL CHUCKLE*)

“It seems like the Clinton Foundation operates as a slush fund for the Clintons,” Bill Allison, a senior fellow at the government watchdog group, Sunlight Foundation, told the New York Post.

Reg Baker, a certified public accountant who has offices in Hawaii and Las Vegas and has served on several non-profit boards, told Fox News the foundation is not run like most charities. “It sounds like another out-of-control family affair,” Baker said. “It is totally out of sync with charitable organizations' best practices.”

* AGAIN... RE-READ FROM THE TOP IF NECESSARY... CHARITY NAVIGATOR... GIVE WELL... EVEN THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU FOR GOD'S SAKE...

(*JUST SHAKING MY HEAD*)

The 2014 fundraising numbers for the Clinton Foundation have not been released publicly yet, but the amount raised is likely to increase.

In 2008, the Clinton Foundation raised $188.2 million, and that revenue spiked to $249 million in 2009.

In 2010, while Hillary Clinton headed the State Department, the foundation’s revenue dropped to $140 million in 2010, $56.3 million in 2011, and $51.5 million in 2012. Since she’s returned, the foundation’s revenue jumped back up to $144.4 million, Davis noted.

After a barrage of investigative reports across a wide variety of media highlighting the foundation’s lack of transparency and disclosure, including during Hillary Clinton’s tenure as secretary of state, the Clinton Foundation announced last week it will amend its tax returns for the last five years.

* "AMEND..." HA! HA! HA! THIS SHOULD BE INTERESTING...

Barker's Newsbites: Tuesday, May 5, 2015

And here we have this morning's "above the fold" Drudge Report headlines:

Extreme secrecy erodes support for Obama's trade pact...

Lawmakers forced to surrender notes...

Forbidden from discussing details with public...

USA runs more than $50 billion trade deficit -- in one month!

Economic Confidence Index Down Sharply...

And you wonder why I'm having difficulties in forcing myself to newsbite...

(*HUGE SIGH*)

 

Criminal Charges Lodged Against Six Cops re: Freddie Gray

From the CBS Local News reporting on the "Gray" case arrests:

*  *  *  *  *  *

City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby says Freddie Gray received his critical injuries in Baltimore police custody and has charged all six officers involved in his death.

The state medical examiner’s office turned over Gray’s autopsy on Friday morning, a day after the police turned over their investigation into Gray’s death.

“The findings of our comprehensive, thorough, and independent investigation coupled with the ME’s determination that Mr. Gray’s death was a homicide which we received today, has led us to believe that we have probable cause to file criminal charges,” Mosby said.

She charged all six officers in the death of Gray and said his arrest was illegal.

Mosby described the morning’s event:

She said Lt. Brian W. Rice along with Officer Garret Miller & Officer Edward M. Nero were on bike patrol when they made eye contact with Gray. Gray ran from Rice and Rice dispatched he was involved in a foot pursuit. Other officers got involved.

Gray surrendered to Miller and Nero and the officer handcuffed him behind his back, Mosby said.

* "SURRENDERED," HUH? "SURRENDERED" IN THE FACE OF A WARRANT THAT THE POLICE WHO ARRESTED HIM KNEW WAS ACTIVE?

* THAT'S THE THING, FOLKS... SURE... THE RUNNING IS SUSPICIOUS AND YES... GRAY WAS A CAREER CRIMINAL AND THE OFFICERS IN QUESTION MAY HAVE KNOWN THIS... BUT IS RUNNING FROM THE POLICE IN AND OF ITSELF AGAINST THE LAW? (SERIOUS QUESTION?!) IN OTHER WORDS, DID GRAY'S ACTIONS IN RUNNING CONSTITUTE PROBABLE CAUSE TO ARREST HIM ABSENT A WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST OR CATCHING HIM IN THE ACT OF COMMITTING A CRIME? (AGAIN... THIS IS A KEY QUESTION!)

Gray asked for an inhaler because he “could not breathe,” but the officers did not get him medical attention.

* DID GRAY HAVE AN INHALER WITH HIM THAT OFFICERS DENIED HIM THE USE OF, OR DID HE ASK FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION IN GENERAL - SPECIFICALLY "SUGGESTING" AN INHALER BE SUPPLIED? (AGAIN... DETAILS MATTER.)

* IN EITHER CASE, WHY DIDN'T THE OFFICERS CALL FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE OR TAKE GRAY TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM FOR EVALUATION. (WHAT IS DEPARTMENT POLICY IN SUCH A SITUATION?)

They found a knife clipped inside his pants packet — the knife was not a switchblade and is lawful under Maryland law, she said.

* "LAWFUL UNDER MARYLAND LAW." GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME!

(*SHRUG*)

* OF COURSE... THIS DOESN'T PREVENT ME FROM THROWING OUT THE QUESTION: SHOULD FELONS RETAIN THE RIGHT TO CARRY A KNIFE? (AFTER ALL, THEY LOSE THEIR VOTING RIGHTS... THEY LOSE THEIR RIGHT TO OWN A GUN...)

(*ANOTHER SHRUG*)

The officers then restrained Gray in a “leg lace,” and held him down until the transport van arrived, while he “flailed and screamed.”

The officers failed to find probable cause for Gray’s arrest, Mosby said.

(*SILENCE*)

* OF COURSE I WANT TO HEAR THE COPS' SIDE... BUT THAT'S A PRETTY DAMNING STATEMENT BY CITY STATE'S ATTORNEY.

(*PURSED LIPS*)

When the police transport van arrived, he was placed into the wagon driven by Officer Caesar B. Goodson, but without a seatbelt.

* DOES STATE LAW - AND/OR POLICE REGULATIONS - REQUIRE SEATBELT USE IN THE BACK OF SUCH A VEHICLE? (JUST ASKING!) IN ANY CASE, IT DOES SEEM LIKE A GOOD IDEA. (AS DOES THE IDEA OF HAVING A CAMERA AND MICROPHONE BACK THERE AS WELL...)

“At no point was he secured by a seatbelt while in the wagon contrary to a BPD general order,” she added. “Despite stopping for the purpose of checking on Mr. Gray’s condition, at no point did he seek nor render any medical assistance for Mr. Gray.”

* HEY... STOPPING TO CHECK ON HIS CONDITION... DEFINITELY A POINT IN THE OFFICERS' FAVOR.

(*NOD*)

Gray was then removed from the wagon at Baker Street, places flex cuffs on his wrists and leg shackles on his ankles — while they completed paperwork. He was then placed back into the wagon’s floor head first and stomach down — without a seatbelt.

* NORMAL PROCEDURE...???

(*RAISING ONE EYE*)

“Following transport from Baker Street, Mr. Gray suffered a severe and critical neck injury as a result of being handcuffed, shackled by his feet and unrestrained inside of the BPD wagon,” Mosby said.

* PERHAPS. (OR PERHAPS IT HAPPENED PRIOR TO THIS. HOW EXACTLY DO THEY KNOW... OR RATHER CLAIM THEY KNOW?) (AGAIN... SERIOUS QUESTION!)

After leaving Baker Street, the officers stopped again to check on Gray’s condition, but they did not seek medical attention for Gray. Again, Goodson drove off without buckling Gray into the van.

* WHY...??? (THIS OF COURSE IS THE CRUCIAL QUESTION.)

The van stopped once again, this time Officer William G. Porter met up with Goodson and checked on Gray. Gray asked for medical attention stating he couldn’t breathe. Porter asked Gray if he needed a medic and although Gray insisted he did, the officers allegedly placed him back on the bench and decided he did not need a medic.

* WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN "ALLEGEDLY." (HEY... WHAT CAN I SAY? I NOTICE THE DETAILS OF WHAT I'M READING!)

Then Porter left to assist with another arrest on West North Avenue and Goodson shortly followed with Gray in the back of the police van to help transport another suspect. When they arrived at that located they - Sgt. Alicia White, Goodson and Porter - saw Gray was unresponsive on the floor of the back of the wagon.

(*PURSED LIPS*)

White spoke to the back of Gray’s head and was advised he needed a medic, but Mosby said she made no effort to determine his condition.

* WHERE ARE WE GETTING THIS FROM? IS THIS POLICE TESTIMONY?

The officer did not get Gray medical attention until they returned to the Western District station.

* SO...

(*HEADACHE*)

* MOSBY IS ACCUSING THE COPS OF LETTING GRAY DIE IN THE VAN... THEN... KNOWING HE WAS DEAD... THEY SIMPLY DROVE THE BODY TO THE STATION...?!?! (SOUNDS A BIT "ODD" - DOES IT NOT?) ONE WOULD THINK THAT THE COPS WOULD COVER THEIR ASSES BY RUSHING THE "NON-RESPONSIVE" GRAY TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM. (WOULDN'T YOU...???)

Mosby said the officers are being charged with a number of counts of manslaughter, assault and misconduct. One officer will even be charged with a count of murder.

Officer Caeser B. Goodson, Jr. was charged with second-degree depraved heart murder, involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, two counts of manslaughter by vehicle and misconduct in office.

* DEPRAVED "HEART" MURDER...???

(*SCRATCHING MY HEAD*)

Officer William G. Porter was charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and misconduct in office.

Lt. Brian W. Rice was charged with involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of misconduct in office and false imprisonment.

Officer Edward M. Nero charged with two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of misconduct in office and false imprisonment.

Officer Garret Miller charged with two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of misconduct in office and false imprisonment.

Sgt. Alicia White - involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and misconduct in office.

Warrants have been issued for the arrest of the officers.

“To the people of Baltimore and the demonstrators across America, I heard your call for ‘No Justice, No Peace,’ your peace is sincerely needed as I work to deliver justice on behalf of this young man,” Mosby added.

The officers could face up to 20 years in prison for the charges. The driver — Goodson — could face up to 63 years in prison. They are expected to turn themselves in later today.

As groups take to the streets of Baltimore to celebrate the news, several officials reacted to the findings.

The Baltimore Police Fraternal Order of Police No. 3 issued a letter to Mosby Friday morning on behalf of the officers involved saying that the death was not the officers’ faults and they also requested a special prosecutor citing conflicts of interest with Mosby’s office.

“Each of the officers involved is sincerely saddened by Gray’s passing. They are all committed police officers who have dedicated their careers to the Baltimore City Police Department,” the letter states, “And that has been lost in all the publicity.”

* GRAY WAS A CAREER CRIMINAL... RIGHT? IF THAT'S CORRECT... COUNT ME AS NOT BEING "SINCERELY SADDENED BY GRAY'S PASSING." (JUST SAYIN'...)

“All death is tragic,” the FOP states. “And death associated with interaction with police is both shocking and frightening to the public.”

* SOME DEATHS LESS TRAGIC THAN OTHERS... (BUT, HEY... PERHAPS THAT'S JUST MY FEELING...)

Rep. Elijah Cummings reacted to the charges filed against the officers in a press conference Friday afternoon:

“Let the wheels of justice roll, and it’s good that they are rolling, instead of standing still,” Cummings said. “”One of things that I’m determined to do and I’m hoping we’re able to do is make Baltimore a model for the nation.”

(*SNORT*)

Gov. Larry Hogan who has been working from Baltimore this week due to the state of emergency also commented on Mosby’s findings:

“We finally get the process moving forward, but it’s a process. The criminal justice system is gonna work its way through; we believe in the criminal justice system. It’s just one component of what’s going on down here. There’s the Freddie Gray case, there’s the safety of the people of Baltimore, and then there’s the longer term issues,” Hogan said. “My role in the process is to try to keep folks safe.” … “I know emotions are running high. We want to keep the peace, keep the calm. We’ve got a lot folks out there demonstrating tonight and tomorrow and we want to continue to have the kind of success we’ve had over the past three days of keeping people calm.”

Hogan said he doesn’t have a timeline for when curfew will be lifted.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who has received criticism for her handling of the Baltimore riots on Monday, also discussed the case:

“No one in our city is above the law,” Rawlings-Blake said. "Justice must apply to all of us equally.”

* FAIR ENOUGH! AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE! LET'S ALL KEEP AN EYE ON HOW THIS ALL PLAYS OUT.