Jeb Bush Suspends Presidential Campaign

The one-time GOP frontrunner proved at just about every turn to be the wrong fit for the 2016 Republican electorate. 

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) suspended his campaign after a disappointing finish in the South Carolina primary on Saturday, ending a dismal presidential campaign that was built to “shock and awe” his opponents but barely made them flinch. 

Bush, 63, entered the 2016 race as the presumed favorite for the Republican nomination last summer with a $103 million head start, thanks to his record-shattering fundraising spree during the first half of 2015. 

His fall from frontrunner to afterthought has been as steady as it has been dramatic. His establishment pedigree and famous last name ultimately proved detrimental to his bid, as rank-and-file GOP primary voters in the mood for a much different kind of presidential standard-bearer could not find much to like about one whose father and brother both previously called the White House home. 

Still, as recently as last Wednesday morning, the Bush campaign had reason to believe that things might have turned out differently here. 

Click here for the full article.

Source: The Huffington Post

NBC News: Hillary Clinton is the Projected Winner in Nevada

Trump Wins South Carolina Primary, NBC News Projects

 

By Leigh Ann Caldwell

Donald Trump will win the South Carolina Republican primary, NBC News projects, with a tight battle for second place still undecided between Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

Despite slipping in the polls in the Palmetto State over the final days, Trump was able to hold on for a victory that gives him an added boost as he heads to the Nevada caucuses in three days and Super Tuesday one week after that.

Meanwhile, Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who entered the race amid high expectations, is suspending his campaign after a finish far behind the leaders. 

Click here for the full article. 

Weekly Address: A New Chapter with Cuba

In this week’s address, President Obama discussed his upcoming trip to Cuba, a visit that will further advance the progress we’ve made since he announced the new chapter of U.S. – Cuba relations more than a year ago.

Oval Office Chat: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey

 

The President spoke today by phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the situation in Syria and U.S.-Turkish cooperation in the fight against terrorism.  

The President condemned and offered condolences for the February 17 terrorist attack in Ankara, which killed and wounded both military personnel and civilians, and the February 18 terrorist attack against a Turkish military convoy in Diyarbakir Province.  

President Obama expressed concern about recent Syrian regime advances in northwest Syria and urgently called for a halt to actions that heighten tensions with Turkey and with moderate opposition forces in northern Syria, and undermine our collective efforts in northern Syria to degrade and defeat ISIL. 

President Obama stressed that YPG forces should not seek to exploit circumstances in this area to seize additional territory, and urged Turkey to show reciprocal restraint by ceasing artillery strikes in the area.  He emphasized the unwavering commitment of the United States to Turkey’s national security as a NATO Ally. 

The two leaders expressed their support for the understanding reached in Munich last week on the cessation of hostilities in Syria and called on Russia and the Assad regime to halt airstrikes against moderate opposition forces.  

The leaders pledged to deepen cooperation in the fight against all forms of terrorism, including the PKK, and reiterated their shared goal of degrading and ultimately destroying ISIL. 

Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary

Veep Talk: Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine

 

Today the Vice President spoke separately with Prime Minister Yatsenyuk and President Poroshenko of Ukraine. 

The Vice President sent his respects to the people of Ukraine and their leaders on this second anniversary of the Revolution of Dignity on the Maidan, adding that he was inspired by the progress the country has made. 

He stressed to both the Prime Minister and President that there is still a great deal of work to be done to honor the legacy of the brave Ukrainians who have given so much in their pursuit of a better future for their country. 

He urged Ukraine’s leadership to unite and rebuild popular trust around a strong governing coalition and reform program, and to accelerate Ukraine's efforts to fight corruption, strengthen justice and the rule of law, and fulfill its IMF requirements.  

In light of continuing violence in eastern Ukraine, the leaders noted the continued failure by Russia and combined Russian-separatist forces to comply with their ceasefire obligations and allow the OSCE full access to the areas under their de facto control. 

The Vice President reiterated the importance of Minsk implementation by all sides as the best way forward for resolving the conflict. 

Source: The White House, Office of the Vice President

National Security Council Notes: The Civilian Killings in South Sudan

 

Statement by National Security Advisor Susan Rice

The United States condemns in the strongest terms the violence at a UN compound in Malakal that led to the killing of internally displaced persons, and the burning and looting of a facility that provides refuge and aid to over 40,000 victims of the conflict in South Sudan.  We are especially disturbed by credible reports that a large group of South Sudanese Government soldiers entered the compound and opened fire on civilians seeking refuge within the camp.  We call on the Government of South Sudan immediately to conduct an investigation of this violence, to identify the soldiers responsible, and to bring the perpetrators to justice.  We express our condolences to the families of those killed, including two Médecins Sans Frontières humanitarian workers, and we call on all South Sudanese parties to exercise restraint and avoid retributive violence in the coming days.

The lack of progress by the parties to implement the August 2016 peace agreement, as well as the government's decree to establish 28 states without local consultations, have undermined prospects for achieving peace.  We call on President Salva Kiir to suspend implementation of the decree and on both parties to make rapid progress in implementing the agreement, including establishing the needed security arrangements and forming the transitional government. 

Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary 

White House Press Briefing

West Wing Week: 02/19/16

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama Host Black History Month Reception

Remarks by the President After Meeting with African American Faith and Civil Rights Leaders

Defense Department Briefing

Spokesman Peter Cook briefs reporters and responds to their questions on a variety of military-related topics, including U.S. airstrikes on an Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) camp in Libya. 

Click here for video.

Source: C-Span

Combating Homegrown Terrorism

 

Author Peter Bergen discusses his book, United States of Jihad: Investigating America’s Homegrown Terrorists, which examines Islamist terrorism in the U.S. and what can be done to combat extremism. 

Click here for video.

Source: C-Span

'Flashback Friday': Kennedy vs. Nixon - 1st 1960 Debate

 

Uploaded to YouTube on Aug 15, 2008

Clip from the 1st 1960 presidential debate between Senator John F. Kennedy (D-MA) and Vice President Richard Nixon (R-CA). Held on September 26, 1960, it was the first presidential debate between candidates from opposing political parties as well as the first one to be televised. It is best known not by its subject matter, but by the preparedness and physical appearance of both candidates. Television audiences thought Kennedy won the debate by a landslide, while radio audiences thought Nixon won it by a landslide. Nixon appeared emaciated, unhealthy, and awkward, while Kennedy appeared handsome, tanned and confident. Nixon was recovering from an injured knee that resulted in a recent hospital stay. He had just arrived at the studio after a strenuous campaign in which he made appearances in all 50 states, including newly admitted Alaska and Hawaii. He refused to have makeup applied to his face, and had not shaved, making his stubble clearly visible to television viewers. Kennedy on the other hand, took time to rest before the debates and his suit contrasted well against the background. In effect, Nixon's gray suit seemed to blend in with the background, especially on the era's black and white television screens.

Trailblazers in Black History: Smokey Robinson

Today in History: February 19th

Court of Appeals Delays Baltimore Officer's Trial in Freddie Gray Case

 

By The Associated Press

BALTIMORE — Maryland's highest court has agreed to take up a key issue in the trials for the Baltimore officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray, postponing trial proceedings until it can make a ruling.

The state's Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that it would take up the issue of whether one of the officers, William Porter, whose October trial ended in a mistrial, could be forced to testify against the other officers even though he is awaiting retrial. The issue had previously been pending in the Court of Special Appeals.

The order stalls the trial for Officer Edward Nero, whose trial was scheduled to begin with jury selection Monday. 

Click here for the full article.

Source: NBC News

Is Philadelphia Testing Its Drinking Water Correctly?

By Lisa Riordan Seville

Philadelphia's water passed its last round of lead testing with flying colors, but documents obtained by NBC News show those results may offer a misleading picture of the lead flowing from Philly taps.

A memo obtained by NBC News through a records request shows that in 2014 in a city with up to 50,000 homes with lead pipes, Philadelphia based its clean bill of health on sampling just 34 homes with lead pipes — fewer than required by law — while instead testing far more homes without lead pipes. After inquiries from NBC News, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said it is now reviewing Philadelphia's data.

Experts say the choice of houses, coupled with other flaws in the city's testing methods, may be offering Philly's residents false comfort about the quality of their water - and are a symptom of nationwide testing failures that may have masked lead problems in cities across the country, including Flint. Compared to some other U.S. utilities, Philadelphia Water has a reputation for being well-run and resourced. 

Click here for the full article.

Source: NBC News

Donald Trump's Lead in South Carolina Polling Erodes

Nation Pays Respects to Justice Antonin Scalia in Supreme Court's Grand Hall

By Corky Siemaszko

The Supreme Court, which was often divided during Justice Antonin Scalia's tenure, was united Friday in grief over his passing.

The flag-draped mahogany casket of Scalia, who died last Saturday at age 79, was carried by eight Supreme Court police officers into the Great Hall of the Supreme Court building through a somber line of dark suit-clad law clerks who once worked with the Justice.

They were followed by a dozen honorary pallbearers — all former law clerks.

It was the start of two days of official mourning for the sometimes cantankerous — and always colorful — conservative justice who served on the nation's highest court for nearly three decades. 

Click here for the full article.

Source: NBC News

 

Harper Lee, Author of 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' Dead at 89

 

By Jon Schuppe

Harper Lee, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "To Kill a Mockingbird," a literary classic about racial injustice in the Jim Crow South, has died, her publisher said.

The famously reclusive Lee, 89, had been living in an assisted living facility since suffering a stroke in 2007 that forced her to move home from New York, where she had lived for decades. She died "peacefully in her sleep" Thursday night, HarperCollins Publishers said in a statement. 

Click here for the full article.

Source: NBC News

Turkey’s Erdogan Says Syrian Kurdish Militia Used U.S. Weapons on Civilians

 

Reuters, 19/02 17:46 CET

By Ece Toksabay

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said U.S.-supplied weapons had been used against civilians by a Syrian Kurdish militia group that Ankara blames for a deadly suicide bombing, and said he would talk to President Barack Obama about it later on Friday.

U.S. support for the Syrian Kurdish PYD, which Washington considers a useful ally in the fight against Islamic State, has enraged Turkey and risks driving a wedge between the NATO allies. Turkey sees the group as a terrorist organisation linked to Kurdish militants waging an insurgency on its own soil.

Erdogan and the Turkish government have said the PYD’s armed wing, the YPG, was responsible for a suicide car bomb attack in the administrative heart of the capital, Ankara, on Wednesday which killed 28 people, most of them soldiers.

Erdogan said he was saddened by the West’s refusal to call the PYD and YPG terrorists and would explain to Obama by phone how weapons provided by the United States had aided them.

“I will tell him, ‘Look at how and where those weapons you provided were fired’,” he told reporters in Istanbul.

“Months ago in my meeting with him I told him the U.S. was supplying weapons. Three plane loads arrived, half of them ended up in the hands of Daesh (Islamic State), and half of them in the hands of the PYD,” he said.

“Against whom were these weapons used? They were used against civilians there and caused their deaths.” 

Click here for the full article.

Source: Euronews

Police Arrest Uganda’s Main Opposition Candidate…Again

Source: Euronews

The President Speaks on the Cybersecurity National Action Plan

This video was published on YouTube on February 17, 2016. 

Veep Talk: President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine

 

The Vice President spoke today to President Poroshenko of Ukraine. The Vice President welcomed the passage by the Rada this week of anti-corruption legislation sought by the IMF and EU, and commended President Poroshenko and the government of Ukraine for the hard work that went into ensuring passage. The Vice President also commended President Poroshenko’s decision to replace Prosecutor General Shokin, which paves the way for needed reform of the prosecutorial service. The Vice President urged President Poroshenko to continue on this positive trajectory, to include successful implementation of the new legislation and continued visible progress on anti-corruption reforms, noting this will require unity and stability. The Vice President condemned the increasing violence in eastern Ukraine – which has led to a deteriorating humanitarian situation – and the continued failure by combined Russian-separatist forces to allow the OSCE full access to the areas under their de facto control. The Vice President noted that Minsk implementation by all sides remained the best way forward for resolving the conflict. 

Source: The White House, Office of the Vice President

White House Daily Briefing (The President's Visit to Cuba)

 

Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes joined Josh Earnest at the White House daily briefing to o preview President Obama’s upcoming visit to Cuba, the first such trip by a U.S. president since Calvin Coolidge visited in 1928. 

Click here for video.

Source: C-Span

FCC News Conference on Cable Box Purchases

 

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Tom Wheeler met with reporters following a meeting in which commissioners voted 3-2 in favor of allowing consumers to buy cable set-top boxes instead of renting them from cable companies. Chair Wheeler talked about what the change will mean for consumers. He was followed by FCC Media Bureau Chief William Lake, who answered questions on how the proposal would be implemented. Afterward, the two Republican FCC commissioners talked about why they oppose the measure. 

Click here for video.

Source: C-Span

Preview: The South Carolina Primaries and Nevada Caucuses

 

Washington Examiner Politics Editor James Antle previews the upcoming Democratic and Republican caucuses in Nevada and primaries in South Carolina, including recent polls in each state, campaign ads, campaign strategies, and voter enthusiasm.

Click here for video.

Source: C-Span

African Americans and Campaign 2016

 

National Urban League President Marc Morial talks about what presidential candidates are doing to address issues important to African American voters, as well as his organization’s political priorities. 

Click here for video.

Source: C-Span

The Power of the Pen: New Bills Signed Into Law

 

Statement by the Press Secretary on H.R. 757, H.R. 907, H.R. 3033

On Thursday, February 18, 2016, the President signed into law:

H.R. 757, the "North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act," which strengthens and expands statutory sanctions on North Korea;

H.R. 907, the "United States - Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015," which expedites the sale of defense articles and services to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for a period of three-years; and

H.R. 3033, the "Research Excellence and Advancements for Dyslexia Act or the READ Act," which requires the National Science Foundation to:  (1) include in its annual congressional budget justification the amount requested for its Research in Disabilities Education program; and (2) support research on the science of specific learning disability, including dyslexia, and devote specified funding for such purposes. 

Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary

Cuomo Announces Actions to Improve Water Quality Statewide

Stony Brook - Governor Cuomo announces a four-point agenda to improve water quality statewide and ultimately protect both public health and the environment.

New Free Mobile App Connects Veterans to Vital Services

 

New York - A new free mobile app is available to help the state's 900,000 veterans and their family members connect with valuable services and programs. The New York State Veterans App provides users with a wealth of easily accessible material about federal and state Veterans’ benefits, programs, and services, including: essential materials regarding healthcare, housing, employment, education and filing claims for financial Veterans' benefits with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The app is compatible with both iOS and Android platforms.

"The brave men and women of the Armed Forces have dedicated their lives to defending our nation and this new app helps ensure these heroes and their families have access to the resources and services they need after returning home," Governor Cuomo said. "This is one more way we are using technology to make a smarter and stronger New York."

The app provides a new level of communication and connectivity between New York's Veterans and the state and local government entities that assist them. Using the app's "Near Me" feature, an individual standing anywhere in New York can immediately discover the address and contact information for the New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs field offices and County Veterans Service Agency offices within the closest proximity to that individual’s exact location. Additionally, the state will provide up-to-the-minute updates about state and federal programs that directly impact the lives of Veterans and their family members.

New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs Director Col. Eric J. Hesse said, "New York State always strives to improve our services to Veterans and their family members. Utilizing the popular medium of a mobile app, we now add a new method of ensuring that Veterans and their families learn the full range of benefits, programs, and services for which they are eligible, and discover just how close they really are to state and county offices that can assist them obtain what they have earned." 

New York State Chief Information Officer Margaret Miller said, "When they answered the call of duty, our veterans put the needs of their fellow citizens before their own. The New York State Office of Information Technology Services is pleased and proud to help repay our debt of gratitude to veterans by developing this first-ever mobile Veterans portal, making it easier for vets and their families to access much deserved services."

Individuals interested in accessing the New York State Veterans App can do so at the links below:

For iOS Devices

For Android Devices

The New York State Veterans' App was developed by the New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs, in collaboration with the New York State Office of Information Technology Services.

To explore more of New York State’s official mobile apps, visit www.ny.gov/mobileapps. 

Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo 

Citizens Crime Commission of NYC: Gang and Group Violence Prevention

The Crime Commission was founded on the belief that crime, and the social and economic costs it engenders, seriously damages the quality of life in New York City. By helping to reduce crime and by improving the criminal justice system, we can make New York City a better place for everyone to live and work.

New York City continues to experience unprecedented sustained reductions in crime, but not all communities have benefited, as some communities still experience significant levels of crime and violence. The New York City Council Gun Violence Task Force reports that 44% of shooting incidents occur in just 11 police precincts and violence is concentrated among youth ages 14 to 24 [GVTF]. Further, the NYPD reports that "crews" (loosely affiliated groups of youth) are responsible for approximately 30% of shootings incidents [NYPD].

To effectively prevent gang and group violence we must understand the drivers of violence and develop long-term solutions that provide appropriate services for youth in these communities. 

Click here for more information. 

Source: Citizens Crime Commission of New York City 

Trailblazers in Black History: Chubby Checker

Ernest Evans was born in Spring Gulley, South Carolina, but grew up in South Philadelphia, where he lived with his parents and two brothers. When he was a small boy, his mother took him to see Sugar Child Robinson, a child piano prodigy and also the famous country singer Ernest Tubb. Young Evans was so impressed, that he vowed to someday enter show business and took his first step toward that goal by forming a street corner harmony group when he was only 11 years old. 

By the time he entered high school, Ernest had learned to play the piano a little at Settlement Music School and could do a number of vocal impressions. He also went to South Philadelphia High School with his friend Fabian Forte, who would have show business success of his own. He entertained classmates whenever he could. After school, Chubby would sing and crack jokes at his various jobs including Fresh Farm Poultry on 9th Street and at the Produce Market. It was Ernest's boss at the Produce Market, Tony A., who gave Ernest the nickname "Chubby".

The storeowner of Fresh Farm Poultry, Henry Colt, was so impressed, he began showing off his employee to his customers through a loud speaker. Henry and his friend Kal-Mann arranged for young Chubby to do a private recording for Dick Clark. A Yuletide novelty tune called, "Jingle Bells" on which Chubby did several impressions of top recording stars, was cut. Dick Clark sent it out as a Christmas greeting to all of his friends and associates in the music business. Cameo-Parkway liked it so much that they wrote a song called "The Class" and it became Chubby's first hit in early 1959. 

Click here for more information. 

Source: ChubbyChecker.com

Today in History: February 18th

Pope Francis to Donald Trump: Building Mexico Wall Is 'Not Christian'

 

By Anne Thompson and Corky Siemaszko

Pope Francis has a message for Donald Trump: building a wall on the Mexican border is "not Christian."

The pontiff delivered that message Thursday during a news conference on his flight back to the Vatican from Mexico.

"A person who only thinks about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian," the Buenos Aires-born pontiff said when asked about Trump's now infamous promises to erect a wall aimed at keeping Mexicans out of the U.S.

Francis insisted he was not telling Americans whether or not they should vote for Trump, the Republican presidential candidate who recently lost his lead to rival Sen. Ted Cruz in a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. 

Click here for the full article.

Source: NBC News

Why The Stakes Are So High in Nevada For Clinton and Sanders

By Chuck Todd, Mark Murray and Carrie Dann

 

First Read is a morning briefing from Meet the Press and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter.

 

Why the Stakes Are So High in Nevada

LAS VEGAS -- We're just hours away from tonight's Democratic town hall and two days out from the state's caucuses, and both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have plenty on the line here in Nevada. A Clinton loss -- in a state where she held the early organizational and demographic advantages -- would launch another week's worth of negative headlines for her campaign, hardly the momentum it wants going into South Carolina. ("Will there be a shakeup?" "Is Mike Bloomberg going to jump in?" "Is there any way that Joe Biden could reconsider?" "How is she losing to a democratic socialist who didn't even belong to the party until now?") 

Click here for the full article.

Source: NBC News

Employers Are Quietly Using Big Data to Track Employee Pregnancies

 

Valentina Zayra / Fortune 

It's legal, but is it ethical? 

Having a child is one of the—if not the—most life-changing moments in life. And while we’d all like to think that day a woman finds out she’s pregnant is a happy one, it’s often accompanied by hours of agonizing about when to break the news to her employer.

Questions like, “What if this gives them an excuse to fire me?” and “What if they pass me up for this promotion?” may creep into her mind, despite the explicit laws that protect against pregnancy-related discrimination.

But what if an employer were find out that an employee is pregnant before she’s ready to disclose that information? While that sounds like it should be illegal, it isn’t—and it’s happening right now, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Health care analytics companies can mine workers’ medical claims, pharmacy claims, and search queries to figure out if an employee is trying to conceive or is already pregnant. One such company is Castlight Health CSLT 8.82% , which counts major employers such as Walmart WMT 0.32% and Time Warner TWX 2.15% among its biggest clients. 

Click here for the full article.

Source: NBC News/Fortune

Putin Removes Head of VEB State Development Bank as Crisis Bites

 

Reuters, 18/02 17:17 CET

By Margarita Papchenkova, Darya Korsunskaya and Oksana Kobzeva

MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin has removed the head of Russia’s ailing state development bank VEB after its bailout needs rose to $16 billion, two sources told Reuters, a sign that in times of crisis Putin puts fiscal discipline before loyalty to allies.

The dismissal of Vladimir Dmitriev, if confirmed, is the latest evidence that fealty to Putin is not the get-out-of-jail card it used to be. He may have a reputation in the West for being a tough leader, but at home he is known for his reluctance to sack people he deems devoted to him, even if they mess up.

Indications are growing however that his country’s economic crisis – fuelled by low oil prices, a weak rouble and Western sanctions – is changing the Russian leader’s calculus.

“Putin doesn’t really like to fire people, even for big failures,” one senior government official told Reuters. “But the crisis has changed this mindset – there is no money any more.” 

Click here for the full article.

Source: Euronews

Libya’s North African Neighbors Brace for Any Western Strikes

 

Reuters, 18/02 16:45 CET

By Patrick Markey and Tarek Amara

ALGIERS/TUNIS (Reuters) – Libya’s neighbours are again preparing for possible Western intervention in Libya, tightening border security and sending diplomatic warnings about the risk from hurried action against Islamic State that could force thousands refugees to flee.

As Islamic State has expanded in Libya — taking over the city of Sirte and attacking oil ports — so too have calls increased for a swift Western response to stop the group establishing a base outside its Iraq and Syria territory.

For Tunisia, Egypt and Algeria, sharing borders with Libya was already a security challenge as the country slipped into war between rival factions and allowed Islamic State to thrive five years after NATO strikes helped defeat Muammar Gaddafi.

Exactly what Western intervention is possible is still under discussion. But President Barack Obama has ordered security advisers to look to halt Islamic State, and U.S. officials say air strikes and special forces operations are options.

Italy’s defence minister has said the West can not afford to let spring come and go without intervening, though most officials say they are pushing for a united Libya government first to ask for help on the ground.

North African officials back international attempts to bring Libya’s factions together, but they worry they will pay the price in instability, refugees and militant counter attacks if an intervention happens without a government on the ground.

Click here for the full article.

Source: Euronews

Turkish Press Says ‘Foreign Powers’ Behind Ankara Blast

Source: Euronews

Egypt’s Best Known Journalist Mohamed Heikal Dies at 92

Source: Euronews

Turkish PM Blames Syrian Kurd Militants for Deadly Ankara Blast

Source: Euronews

Two Attacks Strike Turkish Military in as Many Days

Source: Euronews

EU Leaders Meet in Brussels for ‘Brexit’ Summit

Source: Euronews

Lech Walesa Was ‘Paid Communist Agent’ – Poland’s History Institute

 

By Alasdair Sandford | With AP, REUTERS

Polish historical investigators say newly uncovered documents show Lech Walesa – the former President and hero of the Solidarity movement that famously challenged communist rule – had previously been a paid informant for the Soviet-era security services.

Walesa, now 72, has repeated his long-standing denials over the claims of collaboration.

Documents examined

But Poland’s state Institute of National Remembrance has inspected documents seized this week from the home of the communist era’s last interior minister, the late General Czeslaw Kiszczak. It says they include a signed pledge to provide information from 1970 to 1976.

The institute says an expert has authenticated the documents, which the ex-minister’s widow reportedly tried to sell. 

Click here for the full article.

Source: Euronews