By Donald H. Harrison
(Photo: Wikipedia)
SAN DIEGO – Before he was indicted, former U.S. President Donald Trump denounced Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney who conducted a grand jury inquiry into a “hush money” payment from Trump to porn star Stormy Daniels. The ex-President called Bragg a “Soros backed animal who doesn’t care about right or wrong no matter how many people are hurt.”
The statement was viewed in some quarters as a double dog-whistle to white supremacists who neither like Jews nor African-Americans. The Hungarian-born philanthropist and Democratic party contributor George Soros, born György Schwartz, is Jewish and Bragg is African-American.
Business Insider, in a March 23 online article, reported: “To be clear, there is no evidence that George Soros has donated to Bragg. Right-wing claims that the district attorney is controlled by Soros are false. Trump’s claims are likely based on the fact that a group Soros does fund—an arm of the nonprofit Color of Change—has donated to Bragg, though none of those funds were earmarked for Bragg, according to a Soros spokesperson, Michael Vachon. Soros’s son and daughter-in-law have donated directly to Bragg’s campaign.”
Soros has described himself as a non-religious Jew. A political progressive, he has donated huge amounts to Democratic presidential campaigns, causing him to be a favorite target for Republican opprobrium.
In 2018, the Anti-Defamation League published a web page titled “The Antisemitism Lurking Behind George Soros Conspiracy Theories.”
“In far-right circles worldwide, Soros’ philanthropy often is recast as fodder for outsized conspiracy theories, including claims that he masterminds specific global plot or manipulates particular events to further his goals. Many of these conspiracy theories employ longstanding antisemitic myths, particularly the notion that rich and powerful Jews work behind the scenes, plotting to control countries and manipulate global events.”
The ADL says “Even if no antisemitic insinuation is intended, casting a Jewish individual as a puppet master who manipulates national events for malign purposes has the effect of mainstreaming antisemitic tropes and giving support, however unwitting, to bona fide antisemites and extremists who disseminate these ideas knowingly and with malice.”
Wikipedia has compiled a very lengthy biography of Soros. It may be accessed here.
In a USA Today OpEd in 2019, Derick Johnson, the president of the NAACP, noted that efforts to dehumanize African-Americans and play on White fears has a long history in presidential politics. “This radicalized imagery resurfaced in the late 1980’s during George H.W. Bush’s campaign against Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis in an ad featuring an intentionally menacing portrait of Willie Horton. The image was to tap into the cultural fears that previous depictions had established within the public’s mind: that Black people are inhumane criminals.”
Jewish Reactions to Trump Indictment
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut): “No person is above the law — and violations should be pursued no matter how powerful the person is.”
Michael Cohen, former lawyer to President Trump: “For the first time in our Country’s history, a president (current or former) of the United States has been indicted. I take no pride in issuing this statement and wish to also remind everyone of the presumption of innocence; as provided by the due process clause. However, I do take solace in validating the adage that no one is above the law, … Today’s indictment is not the end of the chapter, it is just the beginning … Accountability really matters.”
Lanny Davis, attorney for Michael Cohen: “On July 2, 2018, Michael Cohen made the brave decision to speak truth to power and accept the consequences. And he has done so ever since. I am proud to have been his lawyer and his friend through this long journey on the path to justice and accountability.”
Alan Dershowitz, Trump’s attorney during impeachment: “Just very, very questionable constitutionality. … This is about the weakest case I’ve seen in 60 years of law practice. I’m shocked.”
U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Florida): “No one is above the law in our country, and that includes the former President of the United States. .. People should be patient and peaceful as the judicial process moves forward.”
U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-New York): “Our nation was founded on the rule of law that mandates that no person is above the law. We are blessed with a legal system that is designed to vindicate the robust rights of all defendants. As the process plays out, every elected official from across the ideological spectrum must make unequivocally clear that there is no room for political violence or interference.”
Richard Grennell, former U.S. Ambassador to Germany — “You’re naive to think this is just about Donald Trump. This is about every single Republican, anyone who challenges the power of the Democrats.”
U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Florida): “This is not a moment to celebrate. This is a terrible moment for the country. But no one is above the law.”
U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank): “The indictment of a former president is unprecedented. But so too is the unlawful conduct in which Trump has been engaged. A nation of laws must hold the rich and powerful accountable, even when they hold high office. Especially when they do. To do otherwise is not democracy …If we are to be a nation of laws, then we must apply the law equally and to everyone, regardless of their station. If we are to have justice, if we are to have a rule of law that is meaningful and protective of our democracy, we must hold the rich and powerful to account.”
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer: “Mr. Trump is subject to the same laws as every American. He will be able to avail himself of the legal system and a jury, not politics, to determine his fate according to the facts and the law.”
Former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-New York): “If Alvin Bragg’s newly secured indictment of President Trump looks like a political prosecution, sounds like a political prosecution, and reeks like a political prosecution, then that’s exactly what this is and precisely how most of America will view it.”
*
Verbal Attacks on George Soros from non-Jews
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott: “The George Soros-supported NYC DA is only furthering the radical liberal agenda to have elections determined at the jury box rather than the ballot box,” tweeted Abbott. “America deserves better.”
*
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis: “Florida will not assist in an extradition request [for former President Trump] given the questionable circumstances at issue with this Soros-backed Manhattan prosecutor and his political agenda.”
*
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton: ““The radical left has consistently weaponized our courts to silence conservative voices. The actions by the Soros-backed Democrat DA in NYC is the latest example of this abuse of power. I stand with President Trump! #Trump.”
*
Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo: “Bragg is the same Soros-funded prosecutor who refuses to prosecute violent crimes and who has downgraded more than half of all felonies to misdemeanors. Prosecuting serious crimes keeps Americans safe, but political prosecutions put the American legal system at risk of being viewed as a tool for abuse. DA Bragg: spend taxpayers’ money and your energy protecting law-abiding citizens. Not playing politics.”
*
Former U.S. President Donald Trump: “Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, who was hand-picked and funded by George Soros, is a disgrace. Rather than stopping the unprecedented crime wave taking over New York City, he’s doing Joe Biden’s dirty work, ignoring the murders and burglaries and assaults he should be focused on. This is how Bragg spends his time! I believe this Witch-Hunt will backfire massively on Joe Biden. The American people realize exactly what the Radical Left Democrats are doing here. Everyone can see it. So our Movement, and our Party – united and strong – will first defeat Alvin Bragg, and then we will defeat Joe Biden, and we are going to throw every last one of these Crooked Democrats out of office so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
*
Business
Isaac “Ike” Perlmutter, former chairman of Marvel Comics and former owner of Marvel Toys, has been fired by Walt Disney Co. as chairman of it Marvel Entertainment subsidiary. Perlmutter had been at loggerheads with Disney’s CEO Bob Iger since 2015 when he sought to have Kevin Feige fired as head of Marvel Studios. Instead, Marvel movies were moved from under Perlmutter’s control and made into a separate unit of Disney.
*
Investor Carl Icahn, who wants San Diego-based Illumina to desist from a planned purchase of the cancer-screening company Grail, has called for Illumina to reinstate its former CEO Jay Flatley. Icahn owns 1.4 percent of the biotechnology company.
*
Jewish Political Scene
INTERNATIONAL
Wall Street Journal foreign correspondent Evan Gershkovich has been arrested by Russia on a charge of spying. He had pleaded not guilty and the Wall Street Journal has vigorously denied the charges. Gershkovich is the son of Russian Jewish immigrants to the United States.
NATIONAL
Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Florida) blamed Republican lawmakers for the mass shooting at a Nashville Christian school that left three adults and three 9-year-old children dead. “You know, there are six people that are dead in that school, including three children because you guys got rid of the assault weapons ban! Because you guys made it easy for people who don’t deserve to have weapons, who are mentally incapable of having weapons of war, being able to buy those weapons and go into schools. .. You know, seen what those bullets do to children. You know why you don’t hunt with an AR-15 with a deer? Because there’s nothing left and there’s nothing left of these kids when people go into school and murder them while they’re trying to read. You guys are worried about banning books. Dead kids can’t read.”
*
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) has criticized Republican House Members Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Lauren Boebert of Colorado for saying on one hand that they are against crime, and on the other hand visiting in jail criminals who have been convicted of various offenses in connection with the January 6, 2021 invasion of the U.S. Capitol. Exclaimed Raskin: What an obscenity and what a disgrace to this institution!”
*
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (Indep-Vermont) and Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma) verbally sparred during a committee meeting at which Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz was answering questions about whether he was trying to thwart union organizing at Starbucks outlets. Mullin suggested that despite Sanders’ socialist affiliations, he had acquired $8 million under America’s capitalist economy. Sanders denied this saying: “That’s news to me. I’m not aware of it.” When Mullin claimed that was a matter of public record, Sanders responded that was untrue, instead it probably was “some phony right-wing internet stuff.”
SAN DIEGO COUNTY
San Diego City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera has responded to an allegation in former Metropolitan Transit System employee Grecia Figueroa’s sexual harassment suit against County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, who up until recently chaired the MTS board. Fletcher also has announced he will resign from the Board of Supervisors when he completes his out-of-area treatment for PTSD and alcoholism.
In the court suit, Figueroa said that Fletcher sexually assaulted her on two different occasions, and that this appeared to be known by at least one other member of the MTS board, Sean Elo-Rivera. According to Figueroa’s complaint, prepared by attorney Zachary Schumacher, the councilman went “out of his way to stare at her in the audience while she was entering the MTS boardroom.” Elo-Rivera on Wednesday, March 29, issued a statement saying, “I am alarmed by the allegations against Mr. Fletcher and am very disappointed to learn there was inappropriate conduct. Sexual relationships between a person in a position of power and an employee are unacceptable and unprofessional. I was completely unaware until today of any inappropriate conduct or communications between Ms. Figueroa and Supervisor Fletcher, and I do not condone such behavior.”
Fletcher has said that “I made a terrible mistake engaging in consensual interactions with someone outside my marriage.” He added that “this individual and an attorney demanded millions of dollars from me and my family with the threat of not only embarrassment but a willingness to lie about the circumstances and nature of the interactions.” Late Wednesday, March 29, he announced he would resign his supervisorial seat, on the request of his wife Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, who heads the California Federation of Labor
*
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-San Diego) has invited high school students in her 51st Congressional District to submit art works by April 21 for a contest in which the winners from each of the nation’s 435 congressional district will have their art works displayed in the national Capitol. For rules of the contest, click here.
*
Marsha Sutton, who writes columns for the Del Mar Times about education matters, notes that Danielle Roybal has been promoting herself to be appointed to fill a vacancy on the Del Mar Union School District. In last November’s election, Roybal came in fourth for three spots on the five-member board. Elected were Scott Wooden, Kathrine Fitzpatrick and Doug Rafner, but since then Wooden resigned after being arrested in Florida for solicitation of prostitution. The other board members are Erica Halpern and Gee Wah Mok. Sutton in her column said appointing people to fill vacancies is always tricky. In the overlapping San Dieguito Union High School District, voters recalled Ty Humes who was appointed to replace Kristin Gibson. Humes was then replaced in a special election by Julie Bronstein, who since has been defeated for reelection.
*
Former San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman, in an OpEd March 27 for the San Diego Union-Tribune, sharply criticized San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria for portraying police as “criminalizing homelessness” and transferring responsibility for dealing with homeless people from police to social workers. Before she retired in 2018 as chief, Zimmerman said, neighborhood policing was “responsible for referring more homeless to shelters – more than all the other outreach organizations combined during Operation Shelter to Home. The division’s approach worked because homeless individuals knew there would be consistent rules, and consequences when those rules were not followed.”
*
Jewish Celebrities
Robert Downey Jr. is among celebrity subjects of an exhibition by video portrait artist Robert Wilson that begins April 1 at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park. Others include Lady Gaga, Isabella Rossellini, and Brad Pitt. The exhibit lasts through September 24.
*
Gwymeth Paltrow was not at fault in a 2016 Deer Valley, Utah skiing accident in which retired optometrist Terry Sanderson said she ran into him and in which Paltrow said to the contrary Sanderson ran into her, a Utah jury has decided. Sanderson had sought $300,000 in damages; Paltrow sought only $1 plus attorney fees.
*
Daniel Radcliffe, best known for his role as Harry Potter, and his longtime girlfriend Erin Darke are expecting their first child.
*
While Jennifer Aniston and other cast members of Murder Mystery 2 showed up at the Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles for the movie’s premiere on Tuesday in formal wear, Adam Sandler came in a Knicks sweatshirt with a hoodie. “I’m not standing next to him,” Aniston joked. But she did.
*
Donald H. Harrison is editor emeritus of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com