News Updates from CLG 21 April 2016

http://www.legitgov.org/
Previous edition: Saudi Arabia blackmailing US over 9/11 bill, which holds Saudis responsible for terror attacks

Trump, Clinton cruise to New York wins; Cruz must rely on contested convention | 20 April 2016 | Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton regained their stride in the presidential race Tuesday night, winning their respective primaries in New York — and sending a message to their rivals that their campaigns are back on track after recent stumbles. Trump, in his home state, notched what appeared to be his biggest victory yet. Speaking to cheering supporters Tuesday night at Trump Tower, he declared: “We don’t have much of a race anymore. [Texas] Senator [Ted] Cruz is just about mathematically eliminated,” Trump claimed…Clinton claimed the race for the Democratic nomination is now entering the “home stretch” and “victory is in sight.”

Japan faces fresh earthquake panic as 6.1 magnitude tremor hits coast near Fukushima nuclear plant | 20 April 2016 | Japan was plunged into fresh panic today as a 6.1 magnitude tremor hit the northern coast – the third major earthquake within a week. The tremors struck near the northern island on Honshu around 60 miles southeast on Sendai. To the dismay of rattled survivors, the latest quake happened close to the site of the Fukushima nuclear disaster – which saw 15,000 killed in March 2011.

Saudi PR firm ran Twitter account for Syrian Opposition Coalition aka ISIS —Saudi government has vast network of PR, lobby firms in U.S. | 20 April 2016 | The Saudi government [the beheading capital of the world] and its affiliates have spent millions of dollars on U.S. law, lobby and public relations firms to raise the country’s visibility in the United States and before the United Nations at a crucial time. And some of Washington’s premier law and lobby firms — including Podesta Group, BGR Government Affairs, DLA Piper and Pillsbury Winthrop — have been tasked with the job, according to a review of Justice Department filings. Five lobby and PR firms were hired in 2015 alone, signaling a stepped-up focus on ties with Washington. The firms have been coordinating meetings between Saudi officials and business leaders and U.S. media, and promoting foreign investment in the Saudi economy…In 2014, consultants at the PR firm Qorvis developed content for the Saudi Arabia embassy’s YouTube and Twitter pages, and ran the Twitter account for the Syrian Opposition Coalition.

New York City Comptroller to Audit Board of Election Due to Hundreds of Thousands of Polling Problems | 19 April 2016 | The New York City Comptroller said hundreds of thousands may be dealing with polling problems on New York’s primary day. CBS2 reported Scott Stringer is going to audit the Board of Elections due to the numerous polling problems across the city. “Why is it alleged that 125,000 people have been removed from the voter rolls? Why did 60,000 people receive notices to vote that didn’t have the primary date? Why were people told they were in the wrong polling place time and time again?” Stringer said.

Irregularities plague U.S. presidential primary vote in New York –Faulty ballot scanners, late-opening polling stations, and scant staffing among irregularities | 20 April 2016 | Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump were favoured to win their parties’ U.S. presidential nominating contests in New York state on Tuesday, but voting was overshadowed by official confirmation that more than 125,000 people were missing from New York City voter rolls and reports of other irregularities. New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer ordered an audit of the city elections board after it confirmed the names had been removed from voter rolls…Stringer complained in a letter to the board that it was “consistently disorganized, chaotic and inefficient.” He cited faulty ballot scanners, late-opening polling stations and scant staffing.

Poll: Donald Trump takes commanding lead in Connecticut | 20 April 2016 | With a resounding victory in New York under his belt, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is taking an early lead in another northeastern state: Connecticut, where a new poll has him beating his closest rival by 20 points. A Quinnipiac University survey released Wednesday shows Trump leading among likely Republican primary voters with 48 percent, compared to Ohio Gov. John Kasich at 28 percent and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz at 19 percent. Just five percent of voters say they are still undecided ahead of the April 26 primary.

Hillary Clinton wins New York primary | 19 April 2016 | Updated: 9:43 p.m. – Hillary Clinton claimed victory in New York on Tuesday, defeating Sen. Bernard Sanders in the Empire State primary and reclaiming control of a Democratic presidential race that has proved a tougher slog than the once-inevitable Mrs. Clinton ever envisioned. Networks called the race at 9:40 p.m. With 36 percent of the vote in, Mrs. Clinton led Mr. Sanders, 61 percent to 39 percent.

CNN lights up the Empire State Building to announce New York primary results | 19 April 2016 | CNN announced the results of the New York Republican and Democratic presidential primaries Tuesday night in an old fashioned way — by lighting up the Empire State Building. When Donald Trump was declared the winner of the night’s contest, the top of the iconic Manhattan skyscraper turned deep red; when Hillary Clinton bested Bernie Sanders, it went dark blue.