Fox News Halftime Report -- Officials may toss House result over fraud

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Dec. 4, 2018
By Chris Stirewalt

 

On the roster: Officials may toss House result over fraud - Hack attack hits GOP campaign committee - Mueller prepares sentencing memos - State house GOP rigs rules against Dems - Triple-dog-dare not included 

OFFICIALS MAY TOSS HOUSE RESULT OVER FRAUD
Charlotte Observer: "A man who worked as an 'independent contractor' for Republican Mark Harris' campaign in North Carolina's 9th Congressional District is a convicted felon who faced jail time for fraud and perjury, according to court records. Over the last two decades, he has been paid by at least nine candidates, all for get-out-the-vote work, according to state records. … The results of Harris' apparent victory over Democrat Dan McCready in November's election have not been certified by the State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement. The nine-member board has twice declined to certify the results and will hold an evidentiary hearing this month due to 'claims of numerous irregularities and concerted fraudulent activities related to absentee mail ballots,' according to Joshua Malcolm, the board's vice chair. [Leslie McCrae Dowless] was paid by the Harris campaign as a contractor for the candidate's top consultant, according to The Charlotte Observer. 'He was an independent contractor who worked on grassroots for the campaign, independent of the campaign ... as he's done for a number of campaigns over the years,' said Andy Yates, Harris' top strategist and the founder of Red Dome Group. In an affidavit given to the Democratic Party, Dwight Sheppard, a fire investigator in Bladen County, said he believes Dowless is in the thick of the controversy. Dowless has denied any wrongdoing to The Charlotte Observer. He could not be reached on Monday by phone or on Sunday at an address listed for him in voting records."

Washington is responding to the case too - NYT: "In Washington, Representative Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the incoming House majority leader, said that Democratic leaders were closely following the case and would resist seating Mr. Harris in the House of Representatives if outstanding concerns about the vote were not resolved first. … The House Administration Committee has the ability to investigate the election itself and make recommendations about disputed cases. That includes potentially calling for a new election. Mr. Hoyer said he would discuss that possibility with Representative Zoe Lofgren of California, the incoming chairwoman of the committee. A spokeswoman for Ms. Lofgren did not return a request for comment. There is precedent for such an investigation. In the 1990s, the House studied a 1996 contest in California between Representative Robert K. Dornan, a Republican, and Loretta Sanchez, a Democrat, after he claimed his 984-vote loss had been caused by non-American citizens voting illegally. After a yearlong review, a House task force concluded there was no basis to nullify the election outcome."

Here's a timeline of how we got here - WSOC: "North Carolina election officials are investigating potential wrongdoing in the U.S. House District 9 race. [Here's a timeline of how we got here:] Nov. 6: Harris and McCready go head-to-head in the tight congressional race. Nov. 7: McCready concedes to Harris. Nov. 12: Harris heads to Washington, D.C. for orientation. Nov. 27: North Carolina's Elections Board delays finalizing the election results. Nov. 29: Channel 9 obtains several sworn affidavits laying out scathing allegations of mishandling elections in Bladen County. Nov. 30: The North Carolina Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement votes to hold an evidentiary hearing about irregularities in the election on or before Dec. 21. Dec. 1: North Carolina State Board of Elections Chairman Andy Penry resigns. Dec. 2: Channel 9 digs into the past of Bladen County electioneer, Leslie McCrae Dowless Jr., who appears to be at the center of the state's investigation. Dec. 3: Channel 9 uncovers similarities between absentee ballots in Bladen County, an apparent targeted effort to illegally pick up ballots."

THE RULEBOOK: STILL TODAY?
"THE THIRD charge against the House of Representatives is, that it will be taken from that class of citizens which will have least sympathy with the mass of the people, and be most likely to aim at an ambitious sacrifice of the many to the aggrandizement of the few. Of all the objections which have been framed against the federal Constitution, this is perhaps the most extraordinary." – Alexander Hamilton or James Madison, Federalist No. 57

TIME OUT: IT'S A STRETCH
New Yorker: "It's difficult to know what to make of the giraffe. … Consider, for a moment, the biomechanical quandaries involved in being a giraffe. To get blood from your heart to your brain, a vertical distance of at least six feet, requires blood pressure two and a half times higher than a human's. Every time you bend down for a drink, spreading your front legs a little in order to get lower, the blood rushes to your head and you risk stroke. Every time you straighten up, the blood rushes back and you risk fainting. And when you're standing, gravity causes fluid to pool in your lower extremities, which makes them swell. The giraffe manages these handicaps with a suite of anatomical innovations. … The adaptations are also neurological. A giraffe's left laryngeal nerve, for instance, which controls the muscles in its voice box, must wind some fifteen feet through the neck, even though the distance between the brain and larynx is only about six inches as the crow flies. And, if the prospect of swallowing food down such a long neck is startling, recall that giraffes are ruminants, and that whatever goes down must also come up. Their esophageal muscles are correspondingly strong."

Flag on the play? - Email us at HALFTIMEREPORT@FOXNEWS.COM with your tips, comments or questions.

SCOREBOARD
Trump job performance 
Average approval: 40.6 percent
Average disapproval: 53.4 percent
Net Score: -12.8 points
Change from one week ago: up 1.6 points 
[Average includes: IBD: 39% approve - 55% disapprove; Grinnell/Selzer: 44% approve - 47% disapprove; Gallup: 40% approve - 56% disapprove; Quinnipiac University: 41% approve - 54% disapprove; CBS News: 39% approve - 55% disapprove.]

HACK ATTACK HITS GOP CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
Fox News: "The National Republican Congressional Committee said Tuesday it suffered a major hacking attack during the 2018 election. 'The NRCC can confirm that it was the victim of a cyber intrusion by an unknown entity,' NRCC spokesman Ian Prior told Fox News. 'The cybersecurity of the committee's data is paramount, and upon learning of the intrusion, the NRCC immediately launched an internal investigation and notified the FBI, which is now investigating the matter.' Prior added: 'To protect the integrity of that investigation, the NRCC will offer no further comment on the incident.' The NRCC is the committee dedicated to electing House Republicans across the country. The GOP ended up losing 40 seats in November's elections, as well as its majority. Politico first reported that the NRCC suffered the cyber intrusion during the midterms. The outlet cited sources in saying the emails of four senior aides were surveilled for months. Politico reported that GOP officials believe the attack was from a foreign agent. Politico reported that the Republican leadership, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Majority Whip Steve Scalise had not been informed of the attack until the outlet began reporting its story."

MUELLER PREPARES SENTENCING MEMOS
Yahoo News: "Special counsel Robert Mueller's prosecutors have told defense lawyers in recent weeks that they are 'tying up loose ends' in their investigation, providing the clearest clues yet that the long-running probe into Russia's interference in the 2016 election may be coming to its climax, potentially in the next few weeks, according to multiple sources close to the matter. The new information about the state of Mueller's investigation comes during a pivotal week when the special counsel's prosecutors are planning to file memos about three of their most high profile defendants — former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former Trump personal lawyer Michael Cohen. A Flynn sentencing memo is due Tuesday, and memos about Manafort and Cohen are slated for Friday. All three documents are expected to yield significant new details on what cooperation the three of them provided to the Russia investigation."

STATE HOUSE GOP RIGS RULES AGAINST DEMS
NPR: "Less than a month after the midterm elections, Republican state lawmakers in Wisconsin and Michigan are working to limit the powers of newly elected Democrats in statewide office. Just two days after the Nov. 6 election in Wisconsin, when Democrat Tony Evers beat two-term Republican Gov. Scott Walker, Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said a lame-duck session agenda was already taking shape. And Tuesday, lawmakers are set to vote on a number of bills that would limit Evers' authority when he's sworn in. Fitzgerald says the party isn't trying to undermine the new governor, 'That's not the case at all. I think there's some stuff that's going to be reasonable.' …Republicans want to make sure Evers can't upend all of their accomplishments come January. … There is precedent for attempts to limit power like this, though not all successful. In 2016, when voters in North Carolina elected Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, Republicans tried multiple ways to limit his power. First in the lame-duck session before his term, then on the ballot. Both ultimately failed."

Georgia holds runoff election today - WJBF: "Georgia Voters will head back to the polls today. The race for secretary of state is getting the most attention. Governor-Elect Brian Kemp left the position up for grabs when he ran for Nathan Deal's seat. Former U.S. Representative for Georgia's 12th Congressional District, John Barrow, is running on the democratic ticket. And State Representative Brad Raffensperger is on the republican ticket, endorsed by President Trump. 'We're having a whole bunch of problems that need fixing and the choice in this election is between someone who doesn't think those are real problems or doesn't think they're big enough to talk about and someone who thinks those are the problems we need to fix,' Barrow told NewsChannel 6. … Republican incumbent Chuck Eaton is also running against democrat Lindy Miller for the public service commission seat."

Stacey Abrams open to future Senate or governor runs - Politico: "Stacey Abrams said Monday that she is considering running for a Georgia Senate seat in 2020 or governor again in 2022 — and possibly even for president. Abrams' drew national attention in her bid to become the first black woman governor in the United States, and the progressive political action committee Democracy for America included her in a presidential poll it opened online last week. But Abrams has largely circulated under the 2020 radar, even as another failed statewide candidate, Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke, draws intense interest from donors and Democratic activists. Asked if she is considering a presidential campaign, Abrams said, 'No … I haven't thought about it.' She stopped short of ruling out a campaign, however, saying, 'I am open to all options, and it's too soon after the election to know exactly what I'm going to do.'"

PLAY-BY-PLAY
K bye: Avenatti announces he will not run for president in 2020 - Fox News

CIA Director Gina Haspel to brief Senate leaders on Khashoggi murder - Fox News

Nielsen holds on to her job for a little while longer - Politico

Ohio senators to have meeting with GM chief this week - The Hill

AUDIBLE: WEIRD FLEX BUT OK
"I am a gaffe machine, but my God what a wonderful thing compared to a guy who can't tell the truth." – Former Vice President Joe Biden said during a stop on his book tour in Montana.

FROM THE BLEACHERS
"When I fell of the mailing list for a week recently I realized that my days were missing a critical piece of my usual life. I have read your daily pieces religiously. Today, however you were 'over the top.' Thank you for the wonderful article today about George H.W. Bush. It was the best thing I read about him and you, as usual, put it all together. Magnificent. As a rule I read it and delete it but todays is a keeper for the archives." – Hal Goldberg, Kalaheo, Kauai, Hawaii

[Ed. note: Sorry you got unsubscribed! The gremlins sometimes do that. Thank you for coming back for us!] 

"You, sir, are an amazing essayist........thank you.........I am 91 years old and I know one when I read one." – Barbra B. Trotter, Redondo Beach, Calif.

[Ed. note: And I'm almost too modest to share your kind note… almost. Thank you very much.] 

"Your commentary on President Bush 41 is the finest writing you've ever done in this column. I have not always agreed with him, but agree that he was a fine person of exceptional character. Most of the time I do not agree with you so thanks!" – BC Cox, Georgetown, Texas

[Ed. note: And you have paid me one of the finest compliments I can imagine! That someone who disagrees still finds merit in reading our offerings is quite an honor. And I think it says something very fine about you as well. It's good to expose ourselves to voices and ideas outside of our comfort zones. Thanks for reading and taking the time to write.] 

"This is related to your 'From the Bleachers' explanation of a few weeks ago regarding the terms Senate, House, and Congress. In [Monday's] Play-by-Play section, you offer an article from WaPo about 4 women to chair key committees. If the Senate has the DSCC, why does the House use DCCC instead of DHCC? Despite being technically incorrect as I believe you pointed out, it seems to be an all-too-common abuse of the term 'Congress,' both in the media and around Washington in general." – Dave Wittnebert, Seneca, S.C.

[Ed. note: Great question, Mr. Wittenbert! As it happens, the National Republican Congressional Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee are both quite rightly named. They were both founded in 1866 as the campaign arms of the parties in Congress, both the Senate and House. The Senate Republicans formed the National Republican Senatorial Committee in 1948. Senate Democrats did the same in 1966 to form the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The committees they left behind weren't inclined to give up their venerable old names, which also aren't wrong, just not specific.]

Share your color commentary: Email us at HALFTIMEREPORT@FOXNEWS.COM and please make sure to include your name and hometown.

TRIPLE-DOG-DARE NOT INCLUDED
Aurora Beacon-News: "An 11-year-old Sandwich [Illinois] boy learned the hard way that, yes, your tongue will stick to a frozen metal pole. Spencer Cline and his 12-year-old friend Cole Leeper headed to a sled hill around 5 p.m. near their home [last] Tuesday, wanting to enjoy the snow from the recent record-setting storm. After sledding, the boys came across a pole along a fence. What happened next mirrored the infamous scene from the popular film 'A Christmas Story' in which a boy is dared to put his tongue on a frozen pole, and it sticks. In Spencer's case, there was no dare. He has seen the movie, but he didn't think his tongue would actually stick, he said. 'I was just tempted to. I've seen the movie 'A Christmas Story,' which kind of inspired me.' … His tongue froze to the pole immediately. Surprise, then fear kicked in. … Spencer was able to pull his tongue off by the time Sandwich emergency medical service crews arrived. He estimated he was stuck for about seven minutes."

AND NOW, A WORD FROM CHARLES…
"But the third miracle, and the one that I think we appreciate the least, is the fact of the reverence that we have for [the Constitution]. This reverence is so deeply ingrained that we don't even see it; we just think it's in the air that we breathe. But it is extraordinarily rare. It exists in only a handful of countries. For almost all of the world, it is completely alien." – Charles Krauthammer (1950-2018) in the Washington Post on Nov. 29, 2018 from his posthumous book, "The Point of It All." The book, completed and edited by Charles' son Daniel Krauthammer, is out today.  



  

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Chris Stirewalt is the politics editor for Fox News. Brianna McClelland contributed to this report. Want FOX News Halftime Report in your inbox every day? Sign up here.

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