NY Man Arrested for Threatening Schiff, Schumer Over Impeachment

‘Unhealthy Partisanship’: Move Afoot to Improve the Workings of Parliament

Canada’s Parliament is increasingly moving away from forming decisions based on debates, with decisions instead largely dictated by parties or party leaders, says a veteran MP. A recent report backs up this view, showing the majority of MPs believe that “unhealthy partisanship” has become more prevalent in Parliament, with democratic practices declining, particularly in the areas of MP independence and debates. In the current minority Parliament, some MPs are working toward modernizing the House in order to increase efficiency and eliminate parliamentary dysfunction, among other issues that have long plagued the legislative body. Engaged in the discussions is Conservative MP Michael Chong, who has been committed to democratic reform ever since he was elected in 2004. In his view, Parliament has increasingly gravitated toward conformity to the point that new…

A New York man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly threatening to kill Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

Salvatore Lippa, 57, of Greece, in Western New York, was charged with threatening to assault and murder a federal official on account of the performance of their official duties, said the U.S Attorney’s Office. He was also charged with interstate communication of a threat.

Both charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, the office said.

NY Man Arrested for Threatening Schiff, Schumer Over Impeachment

On Jan. 23, ahead of the impeachment trial, Schiff, who was the lead manager in the inquiry into President Donald Trump, received a death threat at his office in Washington. About 10 days later, Schumer’s office in Albany, New York, received a voice mail that also contained a death threat, according to federal officials.

“The threats were reported to the United States Capitol Police, Threat Assessment Section, which began an investigation. The telephone number that both the calls originated from was traced back to the defendant,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office wrote. “When questioned by Special Agents from the United States Capitol Police, Lippa admitted to making the threatening calls to Congressman Schiff and Senator Schumer because he was upset about the impeachment proceedings.”

Lippa threatened Schiff by allegedly saying he would “put a bullet in your [expletive] forehead,” according to a criminal complaint, reported the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. When he called Schumer’s office, he allegedly said, “Somebody wants to assassinate you, I’m going to be the driver. And he’ll shoot you from 200 yards away,” according to the complaint.

Lippa was ordered to have no contact with Schiff, Schumer, or their staff members.

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Shaking Hands With Bad State Actors Not Smart ‘Chess’

News Analysis Diplomatic relations is a chess game, one that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau didn’t play very well when he had a friendly handshake with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, says former cabinet minister and longtime MP David Kilgour. “You need to know how to move your pieces in a way that you’re going to serve your country and its interests, and not serve the interests of the other country, which is trying to hurt you in every way it can,” Kilgour says. Images of Trudeau greeting Zarif with a friendly handshake and bowing his head on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 14 was shared widely by Iranian state media, with critics raising concerns that the prime minister is being used as a propaganda prop by…