Aug 4, 2017

GOP donor sues over failed ACA repeal

Alex Brandon / AP

A retired Virginia Beach attorney is so angry that Republicans failed to repeal the Affordable Care Act that he's suing the GOP for raising millions of dollars campaigning on a pledge that they knew they wouldn't be able to fulfill, per The Virginian-Pilot. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court Thursday by 70-year-old Bob Heghmann.

It claims that the GOP "has been engaged in a pattern of Racketeering which involves massive fraud perpetrated on Republican voters and contributors as well as some Independents and Democrats."
Heghmann said he wants Republicans to either give campaign donors their money back or ramp up pressure on lawmakers to repeal the law.
Why it matters: Not every Republican donor is going to sue for their money back, of course. But the lawsuit speaks to a real danger for Republicans: Other donors may stop giving money.

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Rebecca Falconer

Updated 29 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Updates: George Floyd protests continue for 8th day

Police officers wearing riot gear push back demonstrators outside of the White House on Monday. Photo: Jose Luis Magana/AFP via Getty Images

Protests over the death of George Floyd and other police-related killings of black people continued Tuesday across the U.S. for the eighth consecutive day, prompting a federal response from the National Guard, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.

The latest: The National Park Service said in a statement Tuesday that while it "is committed to the peaceful expression of First Amendment rights," it "cannot tolerate violence to citizens or officers or damage to our nation’s resources that we are entrusted to protect."

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Axios

1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

American carnage

Protesters race up a hill to avoid tear gas in Philadelphia, June 1. Photo: Mark Makela/Getty Images

The list of victims has swiftly grown since George Floyd died in police custody just eight days ago.

The big picture: Protests against police brutality have turned into a showcase of police brutality, with tear gas and rubber bullets deployed against crowds. The police have the arsenals at their disposal, but we're also seeing law enforcement officers becoming targets.

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Axios

2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

McConnell blocks resolution condemning Trump's actions against peaceful protesters

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) blocked a resolution introduced by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday that would have condemned the use of tear gas and rubber bullets against peaceful protesters outside the White House on Monday in order to allow President Trump to walk to St. John's Church.

What they're saying: "Justice for black Americans in the face of unjust violence, and peace for our country in the face of looting, riots, and domestic terror. Those are the two issues Americans want addressed," McConnell said on the Senate floor.

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