SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – OVERNIGHT:

I HOPE THE GOP KEEPS THIS ALIVE – FROM THE HILL:   Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Monday requested additional information regarding potential conflicts of interests related to John Kerry, President Biden's special envoy for climate, and his previous involvement in finance and energy investing after he left his last government post as secretary of State.  In a letter to current Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Grassley wrote that it is “unclear exactly what matters Mr. Kerry has been barred from working on and whether he has received any waivers for specific matters that he would otherwise be recused from,” according to Axios, which obtained a copy of the letter.  “The operation of good government requires faithful adherence to ethical rules,” Grassley added.  The request comes after Axios reported last week that Kerry disclosed millions of dollars in income and divested assets that could pose a conflict of interest between his previous personal finances and current government business, according to his financial filing.  And this is in addition to the news story that Kerry may have disclosed classified information to a hostile country after leaving the Department of State at the end of the Obama administration.   This man's activities must be investigated.  He may consider himself above the law.

LAW AND ORDER IN A WOKE CITY – FROM FOX:    David Bouchard admitted he put a Customs and Border Protection officer in a chokehold. Charles Comfort was indicted by a grand jury of civil disorder for twice charging at Portland Police Bureau officers and hitting them with a makeshift shield then kicking a third officer while being arrested. Both men faced federal charges stemming from their actions during a summer of more than 100 straight nights of often violent protests in Portland. But Bouchard and Comfort are among dozens of Portland federal arrestees whose cases were dismissed or are being deferred without so much as a day behind bars.  Between May 25 and Oct. 7, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon filed federal charges against 97 people connected to the Portland unrest. Since then 58 of those cases have either been dismissed outright or are on track for dismissal through a deferred resolution agreement. Thirty-two cases are still pending, with many likely to also end in dismissal according to sources. Seven people have entered guilty pleas.  Why bother observing the law?

May 3, 2021