Tag Archives: DOJ

Articles of Interest

I Have A Few Questions, Mr. Obama . . .

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By Allan Erickson

Obama Little Man Wasnt There SC I have a few questions, Mr. Obama . . .

. . . since the mainstream media won’t ask.

Questions for the President at his next press conference:

Four dead in Benghazi and many seriously injured under suspicious circumstances, a government cover up, witnesses gagged, questions unanswered, investigations derailed.  That’s not a scandal?

Reporters’ records seized, false allegations leveled by DOJ, reporters threatened, reporters and editors prevented from doing their jobs, cover-ups, government intimidation.  That’s not a scandal?

Guns run to drug cartels in Mexico, hundreds killed with them (including our border agents), no following-up to arrest perpetrators (instead ANOTHER cover-up), allegations that American guns cause Mexican violence, border security virtually ignored, government interference with investigations.  That’s not a scandal?

The EPA used as a legislative arm of the executive branch, installing rules that Congress voted down (a clear violation of the Constitution.)  The EPA also used to persecute political opposition.  Not a scandal?

NSA surveillance you authorized seriously suspected of violating citizen rights, and that’s not a scandal?

Recess appointments and an illegal war in Libya, both impeachable offenses.  Not a scandal?

The IRS used to stomp down conservative groups so they cannot educate and influence citizens about Founding principles that contradict your radicalism.  This is clearly an unconstitutional use of power, amounting to illegal political activity.  That is a phony scandal?

ObamaCare, passed illegally and unethically; called a train wreck by the very man who helped write it and get it through Congress; promises to bankrupt the country; a measure designed to redistribute wealth and not provide care; a series of laws and regulations violating privacy, the doctor-patient relationship, and the sovereignty of the states.  That is not a scandal?

Your records, Mr. President.  You’ve released virtually nothing about your life, your education, your term in the Illinois legislature, nothing.  Now a respected country sheriff and his investigators, along with document experts, insist that the birth certificate you released is a forgery.  This means you are hiding something, that it is likely you are not ‘natural born,’ a requirement in the Constitution for becoming President.  And this is not a scandal, Mr. Obama?

What would qualify as a scandal in your view, Mr. Obama?  Oh.  That’s right. You have already answered that question.  It’s scandalous for citizens to own guns, possess private property, keep the fruits of their labor, determine for themselves what kind of schools they prefer, select their own doctor, speak up about matters of conscience, freely exercise their religion, advocate original founding principles, or worse yet, join the Tea Party.

Allan Erickson enjoyed an 11-year career in radio, television and print journalism as a reporter, talk show host, and operations manager. He then turned to sales and marketing for a decade. Twelve years ago he started a training and recruitment company. Allan & wife Jodi have four children and live in California. He is the author of the book “The Cross & the Constitution in the Age of Incoherence,” Tate Publishing, 2012. He is available to speak in churches addressing the topics of faith and freedom.  To contact him, email:  allanlerickson@gmail.com

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Western Journalism

News, Politics, Government

Prison Psych Boss Promoted Despite Federal Findings About Mentally Ill Prisoners Brutalized Under His Watch

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By Matt Stroud, Contributor

At the end of May, the U.S. Department of Justice released a scathing report (PDF) confirming allegations of severe abuse against mentally ill prisoners in a solitary confinement ward at a central Pennsylvania state prison. After nearly two-years of investigations, DOJ came to the same conclusions I did in a report for The Nation last May: that the conditions at the State Correctional Institution at Cresson (SCI Cresson) about 90 miles east of Pittsburgh were inhumane on a level that was “mentally torturous” to the prisoners, routinely leading “to psychosis and a serious worsening” of prisoners’ mental health. The focus of DOJ’s (and my) investigation was a prison ward known as the Secure Special Needs Unit or SSNU. The SSNU houses mentally ill prisoners who have been deemed by administrators to be unruly or dangerous. Staffed by correctional officers as well as psychology staff, the SSNU is designed to oversee mentally ill prisoners and usher them carefully through a therapeutic, five-step mental health program toward re-entering the prison’s general population. Instead, the SSNU devolved into “chaotic conditions”; instead of providing therapy, the SSNU warehoused the mentally ill in solitary confinement for indefinite periods of time, in brutal, often unbelievable circumstances. One section describes a circumstance in which “three of Cresson’s psychology staff …  witnessed a senior member of the staff telling SSNU prisoners with intellectual disabilities that they had to sing, ‘I’m a little teapot’ if they wanted to improve their living conditions and obtain more mental health treatment.” Though that description may sound like fiction, it soon became very real. That prisoner, who had an IQ of 70, devolved into near insanity due to his treatment at SCI Cresson. During five months in the SSNU, this prisoner fell into a “downward spiral,” the report describes. At no time was he offered group therapy or one-on-one therapy. He was mocked and taunted by correctional officers, called a “retard” repeatedly, forced to wear a thin, paper like smock in a solitary confinement cell while temperatures dropped to near freezing temperatures. COs spit in his food, declined to provide him with toilet paper, took away his mattress so he was forced to sleep on cold concrete. The report, which references the prisoner as “LL,” indicates “he was smearing feces on the wall of his cell” by May 2011. Two months later, he was threatening self-harm. The report continues: …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Forbes Latest

Articles of Interest

Obama’s Government-Owned Propaganda Machine

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By Alan P. Halbert

Obama Libs Blow Statue of Liberty Flame Out SC Obama’s Government Owned Propaganda Machine

The MSM is no longer the only propaganda machine for the Obama regime. With the demise of the restriction on propaganda, broadcasting to citizens from our own government has been repealed. The Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012, buried deep within the last National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2013, now allows our dissembler-in-chief to broadcast propaganda directly to American citizens.

It went live on July 2nd. This will be a day that will demarcate the death of the Republic as Obama can now move forward with whatever agenda he wishes and will not have to worry about what the MSM says, does, or broadcasts; he has his own taxpayer-funded machine.

This can only inflame an already disquieted population and proves beyond a shadow of doubt the complicity of Congress with his agenda. It follows that this latest piece of legislation fits nicely with the IRS, NSA, and DOJ initiatives to stifle all opposition to the Obama agenda and can be used to shape public opinion that is turning decidedly oppressive, dictatorial, and capricious.

Curious that this law took effect shortly after all these scandals came to light, with even the MSM reporting on them? This is a wholesale abrogation of our founding principles as found in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution (and can only further the goals of tyranny.)

The full story on Tech Dirt website is found here and WND here.

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  2. Hillary Clinton: U.S. Government Is Losing The Information (Read: Propaganda) War Secretary of State Clinton is very upset with the Internet….

…read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Western Journalism

Articles of Interest

If Sharpton’s 100 Cities Go Violent – Will He Be Held Accountable?

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By Rev Michael Bresciani

Al Sharpton SC If Sharpton’s 100 Cities Go Violent Will He be Held Accountable?

The major difference between civil rights movements of the past and those of today is blaringly obvious. Civil rights movements of the 60s were aimed at freeing many people from oppression and injustice. The faux civil rights leaders of today engage in aiming all their resources at one person. The feeling is not so much about justice as it is about vengeance, venting, and (in some cases) violence.

Al Sharpton announced that he will use his networks to rally protesters in 100 cities this coming weekend to call for the DOJ to drag George Zimmerman back to court to face federal charges on civil rights violations. Without arguing whether this is fair, we are prompted by the barest expediency to ask the all-important question – what if it goes wrong?

The nation is charged since the Florida trial of Zimmerman ended with a not guilty verdict. Blacks are not happy with the verdict and are calling for the proverbial pound of flesh. Millions of others think the verdict was fair, and the FBI has concluded that there were no racial motivation connected to the incident. None of this has undaunted the perennial team of Sharpton and Jackson from doing what they do best – riling up the people.

Since every state in the nation has laws against ‘inciting a riot,’ is there a chance that one of these rallies could be the trigger for just such an eventuation?

Several violent incidents have already erupted over the verdict in the Zimmerman case. Purposely gathering to decry the verdict, so soon after the trail, could be the seed for even more bad behavior.

Will Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson be held to account for any violence, injuries, deaths, and destruction of property that may result from these gatherings? This question may not be foremost in the thinking of people today, but perhaps it should be.

In Oakland, Calif., a conservative filmmaker was beaten mercilessly by an angry mob that was demonstrating against the Zimmerman verdict. In Milwaukee, a 34 year-old white male was brutalized and battered by a group of black teens angry over the verdict. He was saved by another black male who pulled him out of the beating.

Although the business of Trayvon Martin’s past, his record, and his attitude was not allowed as evidence at the trial, now it is pouring forth like a flood. Not everyone sees young Martin as a happy little teenager with a hoodie munching on Skittles.

Black journalist and editor of the Daily Rant Mychal Massie, himself a minister, has declared that Trayvon’s problems are rooted in bad parenting. Massie also believes that Trayvon was shot for only the reasons that came forth in the trial and not because of the color of his skin.

Andrea Shea King writes in an article entitled “It Wasn’t Just Skittles Trayvon Was Carrying,” published on WND July 15, 2013, that Trayvon was jacked up on a combination of a Skittles, Arizona Iced Tea, and Robitussin, all which make for a psychotic inducing cocktail that produces episodes …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Western Journalism

Articles of Interest

DOJ Wants Your Help in Zimmerman Case

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By Arden Dier

The Justice Department is asking for the public’s help in its investigation into George Zimmerman, Fox News reports. A public email address (Sanford.Florida@usdoj.gov) is up and running, and ready to collect any tips you may have on him; Eric Holderpreviously said the DOJ will “consider all available information.” Officials tell the Washington Post the email was set up “because of interest in this matter,” and the paper calls the move an “unusual” one. But Fox News reports it’s pretty much standard procedure when it comes to highly publicized cases like Zimmerman’s.

Still, don’t expect a response if you write in. “Unfortunately, the Department will not be able to respond to all messages received,” the DOJ said in a statement. But police are still responding to those angered by the case: The Los Angeles Times reports that 17 people were arrested last night after a Victorville rally unraveled. And this morning, Trayvon Martin’s parents spoke out in their first post-verdict interview. Mom Sybrina Fulton tells CBS This Morning she was “stunned” Zimmerman wasn’t found guilty of second-degree murder. To President Obama: “make sure all the Ts were crossed and the Is were dotted,” requests Fulton.

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Newser – Home

News, Politics, Government

Industry Veteran Bill Gates Gives New Perspective To The Academy

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By Roger Kay, Contributor

Looking for inspiration this week — for a 194th Forbes column, in the dead of summer, after 20 years of covering “endpoints,” facing the tired news of the day: Apple loses DOJ case, the meaning thereof; Microsoft reorganizes, discounts Surface; smart watch rumors fly; exploding iPhone chatter rattles; likely earnings numbers float, as PC unit shipments plummet and the smartphone market slows; Dell palace intrigue continues in the drum roll up to the shareholder vote; author stifles yawn — I stumbled upon the live Webcast of Bill Gates’s opening speech at the Microsoft Research Faculty Summit, which I found intriguing and almost enheartening. …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Forbes Latest

Articles of Interest

Obama Won't Intervene in DOJ's Zimmerman Decision

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By Evann Gastaldo

Barack Obama famously and controversially weighed in on Trayvon Martin’s death (” If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon “), but the president will not be getting involved in the DOJ’s looming decision on whether to prosecute George Zimmerman on civil rights charges, Politico reports. Obama “has no… …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Newser – Home

Articles of Interest

Case Against Zimmerman No Piece of Cake for DOJ

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By Matt Cantor

Amid protests and a push from the NAACP , the Justice Department is looking into the prosecution of George Zimmerman on criminal civil rights grounds—but that would be a genuinely tough case to win, the AP explains. Says a former US attorney: “They’d have to show not only that the… …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Newser – Home

Articles of Interest

The Zimmerman Trial Circus Continues

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By Fred DeRuvo

zimmerman The Zimmerman Trial Circus Continues

The Zimmerman Trial Circus continues, and it appears that both the prosecution and the judge presiding over the case are attempting to give the jury every possible means of finding George Zimmerman guilty…of something. Judge Debra Nelson has ruled that if the jury finds it difficult to come back with a verdict of guilty of 2nd Degree Murder, then finding Zimmerman guilty on the lesser charge of manslaughter is fine.

As if this was not good enough, the prosecution then felt the need to address what they considered to be a 3rd Degree Murder charge. This means a felony was committed against a “child” based on child abuse. So far, Judge Nelson has not ruled on that.

The entire trial appears to be one huge travesty of justice. But justice is really not something that those who live and move within politically correct circles care about. For them, the only thing that matters is the appearance of “equity.” Facts do not matter.

Former Police Chief of Sanford, Florida Bill Lee indicated that he believed his investigators did a “sound” job investigating the events that led up to and included the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. In spite of this, he also states that pressure came from above him to get an arrest. “They didn’t care if it got dismissed later.” However, there was absolutely no good cause to arrest Zimmerman because it was a simple case of self-defense and didn’t even move into the area of “Stand Your Ground” law in Florida. Yet, 44 days later, Zimmerman was arrested.

All of this came after (what we now know were) DOJ-funded rallies led by Al Sharpton to stoke the racial fires against Zimmerman. That’s quite interesting, when you stop to consider it carefully. We have a Department of Justice that is supposed to treat all Americans fairly, yet it is clear since Holder took over as top cop that justice is the last thing on his mind.

It simply seems that between the DOJ getting involved in this, using Sharpton to do what he does best – incite racism – and the additional charges that the prosecution wants considered, the entire judicial system seems poised against Zimmerman. The only other option is that if given all of these various options and the jury still fails to convict, then it will be concluded that racism is so ensconced within America that it is beyond repair. We know where that will lead.

It’s good to remember though that as far as black racists are concerned, there are no innocent white people. Every white person is guilty simply because they’re white.

This is another aspect of political correctness. It attempts to force all whites to render themselves guilty of injustices toward blacks (and other minorities, but mainly blacks), which results in “white guilt.” This then means that what we get dished out to us in life is simply karma for what we dished out generations ago. I refuse to play that game.

It doesn’t matter which …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Western Journalism

Computers

Arris cleared by DOJ to acquire Motorola's set-top box business

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Arris Group has received clearance from the U.S. Department of Justice for its proposed acquisition of the Motorola Home business.

The broadband device vendor said it now expects to close the transaction on or about Wednesday, as all “required regulatory approvals have been received, or the applicable waiting periods have expired.”

Google said in December it plans to sell the TV set-top box business of its Motorola Mobility subsidiary, which it acquired last year, to Arris for US$2.35 billion in cash and stock.

The Internet giant acquired Motorola Mobility more for its mobile phones business and its patents, and prepared to sell off the set-top box business.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

From: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2034624/arris-cleared-by-doj-to-acquire-motorolas-settop-box-business.html#tk.rss_all

Articles of Interest

Impeach Eric Holder, Repeat Offender

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By Bradlee Dean

“Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.” – Harry Truman, in a speech opposing communism

Attorney General Eric Holder has again shown his true colors – his disdain for America and her laws. Recently, he took action against the German Romeike family, which is seeking asylum in the United States after being forced to flee the country or risk losing their five children to the German government. Germany was attempting to force the Romeikes to put their children in public school against their religious beliefs in a terrifying repeat of history.

Holder said that asylum should not be granted to homeschoolers because, according to him (not the law), homeschooling is not protected under religious freedom.

Regarding education, let me set the record straight: The federal government does not have the right to break the law by implementing any type of educational curriculum. Parents are responsible for training their children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6), not the federal government (Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution).

The fallout of federal education is stupefying. More than 700,000 students who graduate high school each year cannot even read their own diplomas. Bill Bennett, the secretary of education under Reagan, said, “The longer you stay in school in America, the dumber you get.”

Eric Holder, whose position is as a public servant, doesn’t have a right to break the law; his job is to ensure the rights of the people, not to strip them away.

Holder, who is appointed to magnify the law against crime, has instead repeatedly magnified crime against the law.

Wall Street:

On Wednesday, March 6, 2013, Eric Holder testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, implying that Wall Street tycoons are above the law, in essence giving them a license to plunder the American people. Holder’s head of the criminal division did not prosecute a single Wall Street executive for the fraud that destroyed the economy.

Defense of Marriage:

Eric Holder has directed the DOJ not to enforce the federal Defense of Marriage Act. In doing so, Holder has violated his oath of office and clearly shows his violation of the laws of Nature and Nature’s God.

Fast and Furious:

As we all know, Eric Holder is guilty of putting thousands of assault rifles into the hands of Mexican drug lords in an attempt to blame the American people for the crimes administration officials are guilty of contriving and committing. As a result, Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was killed, along with hundreds of Mexican civilians, including teens at a birthday party and a Mexican beauty queen.

Black Panther Voter Scandal:

Soon after being sworn in as Obama’s attorney general, Holder ordered the voter intimidation case against the Black Panthers during the 2008 presidential election to be dropped.

Marc Rich Pardon:

During his tenure as Clinton’s deputy attorney general, Holder was involved

From: http://www.westernjournalism.com/impeach-eric-holder-repeat-offender/

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

1 Critical Detail in Constellation's Earnings Release

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By Nicole Seghetti, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Wine maker Constellation Brands released earnings on Wednesday. The stock initially dropped on the announcement, but there’s one detail from the earnings call that shouldn’t be overlooked. Let’s quickly recap the results. Then we’ll dive into the must-know nugget of information.

Results recap
Constellation Brands delivered full-year 2012 revenues and profits that beat Wall Street expectations. Carving out acquisitions, net sales increased 3%, powered by double-digit growth for its popular Robert Mondavi and Black Box brands. The crown jewels of the company’s Crown Imports joint venture — Modelo Especial, Corona Light, Negra Modelo, and Pacifico brands — enjoyed record sales for the year. 

Beer war beneficiary
In mid-2012, Anheuser-Busch InBev agreed to sell its 50% stake in the Crown Imports joint venture to Constellation, giving Constellation complete control of Crown and rights for Grupo Modelo  brands in the U.S.

Key brands in the deal include Corona, the U.S.’ leading import beer, and Modelo Especial, Mexico‘s premium beer brand, which has enjoyed double-digit growth annually for nearly the past two decades. With the goal of growing the Grupo Modelo brand to 100 million cases from the 35 million sold in 2011, Constellation’s management projects the “transformational” deal will double its annual revenues. 

However, in February, the Department of Justice blocked the deal, debating that AB InBev would have too much pricing control if the deal passed. But just a couple of weeks later, Constellation’s nearly $3 billion purchase of Grupo Modelo’s Piedras Negras brewery in Mexico seemed to satisfy the DOJ. As a result, Constellation shares jumped on the news.

Now that the deal is back on, investors are looking for any clues as to what might happen next, making one nugget of information from the earnings release so critical. Constellation CEO Rob Sands stated in Wednesday’s call, “We’ve reached two key milestones for regulatory approvals for the transaction including an agreement in principle with the U.S. Department of Justice and unanimous approval by the Mexican Antitrust Commission.” This update is exactly what Constellation investors had been hoping for. 

Foolish bottom line
This Grupo Modelo deal comes at an important time for Constellation. Constellation is mostly a wine company with a smaller spirits and beer portfolio, so the company stands to benefit handsomely from diversification of its revenue streams. Constellation’s stock price increased a meteoric 70% in 2012, but investors are wondering if that type of growth can continue. However, this recent nugget of information has Constellation investors hopeful that its star will continue to burn brightly.

The global beer industry has undergone massive consolidation during the past few years.  Boston Beer‘s Samuel Adams brand helped to redefine beer and kick off the U.S.’ craft beer revolution. Success breeds competition, though, and while just a few years ago Boston Beer had claim over most of the craft beer shelf, today the field is crowded. Can Boston Beer rise above the rest, or

From: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/04/11/1-critical-detail-in-constellations-earning-releas/

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Ecolab Reaches Consent Agreement with U.S. Department of Justice on Champion Acquisition

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

Filed under:


Ecolab Reaches Consent Agreement with U.S. Department of Justice on Champion Acquisition

Ecolab expects to close on Champion purchase in the next several days

Acquisition will strengthen Ecolab’s position in fast-growing energy services market

ST. PAUL, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Ecolab Inc. announced today that it has entered into a consent agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which has been filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia. As a result, Ecolab expects to complete the Champion acquisition within the next several days.

The consent agreement with the DOJ requires Ecolab to take certain steps designed to ensure continued independent competition utilizing Champion technology for deepwater Gulf of Mexico energy services. The steps include divesting, to a suitable third party, Champion patented technology related to a single product used in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico, licensing certain other Champion deepwater chemistry to the third party for use in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico, providing an option to the third party to purchase a Champion chemical blending facility, manufacturing relevant products for the third party for a limited period and enabling the third party to recruit certain Champion employees needed to support the business. Importantly, the consent agreement impacts only about 3% of Champion’s business. Also, going forward Ecolab will continue to be able to serve customers in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico region utilizing the Nalco team and technology.

Douglas M. Baker, Jr., Ecolab’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer commented on the announcement, saying, “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the DOJ on this matter. We also remain very excited about the potential of this transaction. The reasons we were attracted to Champion in the first place remain solidly in place. Champion strengthens our position in the fast-growing oil and gas services industry. It bolsters our ability to better serve customers by bringing important and complementary geographic and technology strengths to our Global Energy business – particularly in the upstream production area – and enables us to more fully capitalize on the significant developing oil and gas market opportunities. In addition, we expect that it will provide attractive earnings accretion, adding approximately $0.07 to 2013 earnings per share and rising to $0.50 by 2016.

“This transaction is an important strategic investment in a key growth area. We look forward to welcoming …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

UPS Agrees to Pay $40M to End Online Pharmacy Probe

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By The Associated Press

ups investigation drugs settlement online pharmacies

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Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO — Shipping company UPS agreed Friday to pay $40 million to end a federal criminal probe connected to deliveries it made for illicit online pharmacies.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced that the Atlanta-based company would also “take steps” to block illicit online drug dealers from using their delivery service.

The DOJ said the fine amount is the money UPS (UPS) collected from suspect online pharmacies. UPS won’t be charged with any crimes. Its biggest rival, FedEx Corp. (FDX), has also been a target of the federal investigation.

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The investigation of the two companies stems from a global campaign to shutter illicit online pharmacies launched in 2005. Since then, dozens of arrests have been made and thousands of websites closed worldwide as investigators continue to broaden the probe beyond the operators.

Earlier this week, Chris Napoli, the operator of Safescripts Online, was sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to forfeit $24 million in revenue the illicit pharmacy took in between 2004 and 2006. Two other men were sentenced to prison along with Napoli.

Receipts from UPS and FedEx were used as evidence in the trio’s trial last year.

Seven others have been convicted of operating illegal pharmacies in San Francisco federal court last year.

In 2011, Google Inc. (GOOG) agreed to pay $500 million to settle allegations by the Justice Department that it profited from ads for illegal online pharmacies.

UPS and FedEx each disclosed they were the target of a federal investigation in regulatory filings last year. UPS signaled at the time it was working on a resolution with the DOJ. FedEx, on the other hand, asserted no wrongdoing and said it wouldn’t accept a plea bargain.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Ecolab Announces Extension of Champion Close Timing

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

Filed under:


Ecolab Announces Extension of Champion Close Timing

Closing presently expected to occur before April 15

ST. PAUL, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Ecolab Inc. expects the closing of the previously announced acquisition of Champion Technologies will be delayed beyond March 31 but is expected to occur before April 15. We continue to have productive discussions with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding our filing under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the “HSR Act”) with respect to the Champion transaction. Discussions with the DOJ have progressed, and we believe the likely resolution will not meaningfully impact the strategic value and economics that originally compelled us to make this acquisition.

While we are confident that we will successfully conclude the transaction, it remains possible that the transaction will not be completed on the timing discussed or at all.

A trusted partner at more than one million customer locations, Ecolab (ECL) is the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services that protect people and vital resources. With 2012 sales of $12 billion and 41,000 associates, Ecolab delivers comprehensive solutions and on-site service to promote safe food, maintain clean environments, optimize water and energy use and improve operational efficiencies for customers in the food, healthcare, energy, hospitality and industrial markets in more than 170 countries around the world. For more Ecolab news and information, visit www.ecolab.com.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This communication contains statements relating to future events and our intentions, beliefs, expectations and predictions for the future which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words or phrases such as “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “we believe,” “we expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “may,” “will,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “target,” “forecast” (including the negative or variations thereof) or similar terminology used in connection with any discussion of future plans, actions or events generally identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, resolution of issues raised by the Department of Justice and the expected completion of the Champion acquisition. These statements are based on the current expectations of management of the company. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements included in these communications. These …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Articles of Interest

Voting Rights Group Decries Virginia’s New Restrictive Voter ID Law

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By The Huffington Post News Editors

WASHINGTON — Civil rights advocates say a new voter ID law signed by Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) on Tuesday will creating more hurdles to voting.

“Rather than address the real issues Virginians have faced at the polls on Election Day, such as waiting in line for 6 to 7 hours to vote, the Governor decided to impose unwarranted restrictions that will only further exacerbate existing problems,” said Marcia Johnson-Blanco, co-director of the Voting Rights Project at the Lawyers’ Committee. “This law will inflict undue burdens on the very communities we should be encouraging to participate in our democracy – students, communities of color and poor persons.”

The Justice Department has to sign off on the law before it goes into effect. But that could change if the Supreme Court strikes down Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires states like Virginia with a history of racial discrimination to have their voting laws and procedures approved by either the DOJ or a panel of federal judges in D.C.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Huffington Post

Articles of Interest

Al Franken Sends Eric Holder Letter Over ‘Remarkably Aggressive’ Aaron Swartz Prosecution

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By The Huffington Post News Editors

WASHINGTON — Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder asking for more information about the Justice Department‘s prosecution of Internet icon Aaron Swartz, writing that the case appears “remarkably aggressive — particularly when it appears that one of the principal aggrieved parties … did not support a criminal prosecution.”

Franken’s correspondance follows a January letter to Holder from Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) that asked a series of pointed questions about DOJ‘s case against Swartz, including whether Swartz’s Freedom of Information Act requests had fueled his prosecution.

Franken’s brief letter calls Swartz’s death “tragic,” and the senator asks to be copied on Holder’s response to Cornyn. Franken chairs the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law, which has jurisdiction over laws that Internet activists hope to change in order to prevent further prosecutions for relatively minor computer offenses.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Huffington Post

News, Politics, Government

Report: DOJ, SEC Investigating Microsoft on Bribery Claims

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By Matt Hickey, Contributor According to the Wall Street Journal, the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission are looking into an alleged kickback scheme between Microsoft and China, as well as irregularities in its relationships between itself and resellers in Italy and Romania. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Forbes Latest

Articles of Interest

Holder Defrauds Supreme Court

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By Doug Book

Eric Holder 14 SC Holder Defrauds Supreme Court

In yet another testament to the corrupt if inventive workings of the liberal mind, Attorney General Eric Holder recently decided to defraud the United States Supreme Court in the hope of preventing sections of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) being ruled unconstitutional.

Section 5 of the VRA requires 9 Southern states and a number of jurisdictions in 7 others—all charged with a history of voting rights abuses–to obtain “preclearance” from the DOJ or the District Court of DC before making any changes to state election policies or procedures. Passed into law in 1965, Section 5 was enacted as an “emergency provision” designed to “promote full access to the voting process” and expire in 5 years.

But now, nearly 5 decades later, Section 5 has become the darling of Civil Rights groups, the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ, and liberal bureaucrats throughout the federal government as it has been inexorably extended and amended into a sacrosanct behemoth that virtually guarantees  “election success for certain candidates chosen by certain racial groups.”

It was the Justice Department’s dishonest use of Section 5 that prevented the implementation of Voter ID laws in Texas and South Carolina prior to the 2012 election. In fact, Holder and the Civil Rights Division blocked both laws from taking effect even though the changes proposed by the 2 states were patterned after the Indiana Voter ID law ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court in 2009.

Of course the Department’s behavior should surprise no one, for Section 5 frankly BEGS to be misused by the Democrat Party. After all, it provides a means of accomplishing voter fraud, something that has worked to the benefit of the Party for 6 decades and more. A case in point: Mitt Romney won every state in which Voter ID laws were in effect.

But then something happened. In 2009, the Supreme Court came very close to striking down Section 5 as Justices Kennedy and Scalia lambasted that portion of the VRA, which both believed to be outdated, harmful, and quite probably unconstitutional. And though the Court wrote a VERY narrow ruling allowing Section 5 to escape unscathed in the Northwest case before it, the die had been cast, and the DOJ knew it had to take action in order to maintain its stranglehold on 9 states.

States subject to Section 5 provisions may seek an exemption from DOJ oversight in the form of a “bailout.” This involves satisfying a prescribed list of rigorous requirements in the text of the VRA itself. Once satisfied, Section 5 provisions no longer apply, and the state may initiate the change to its election law.

For years, the DOJ had deliberately made the bailout process virtually impossible to negotiate, even threatening states that dared make the attempt.  But as the Supreme Court had gone to great lengths to grant a bailout in the 2009 Northwest case, the Holder Justice Department decided that bailouts might be the key to salvaging Section 5.

As former DOJ attorney J. Christian Adams …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Western Journalism

News, Politics, Government

CalPERS Criminal Prosecutions Needed to End Public Pension Fraud

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By Edward "Ted" Siedle, Contributor

Yesterday a federal grand jury indicted two former top officials of CalPERS, the nation’s largest public pension fund on fraud, conspiracy and obstruction charges. Three years after the “pay-to-play” influence peddling scandal surfaced at the $225 billion fund, the Department of Justice may be poised to investigate and prosecute public pension corruption nationally. Take my word for it, there’s enough public pension corruption across the country to keep DOJ busy for decades. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Forbes Latest