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Senate leaders call for governor to stop allowing feds to house detainees in VT prisons
by Guy Page
In response to the Monday morning arrest in Colchester of part-time West Fairlee resident and Columbia University Palestinian activist-organizer Mohsen Mahdawi, Senate leaders Tuesday afternoon called for Phil Scott to not allow the federal government to hold detainees in Vermont prisons.
Mahdawi is reportedly being held in a Vermont prison while in federal custody. Federal detainees are typically held in Vermont prisons, per an agreement between the federal government and the State of Vermont.
About an hour later, Scott released this statement:
“Yesterday Vermonters witnessed the arrest of Mohsen Mahdawi, a foreign national with legal status to be in the United States of America. That legal status, the Bill of Rights, and Constitution of the United States all grant him, and all people, fundamental rights – including due process.
“Facts matter. If there is evidence that Mahdawi is a threat to the security of our nation, or Vermont, the federal government should make this information known, immediately. Probable cause based on real evidence is the only justification to deny someone their liberty, so if the federal government cannot produce that evidence, Mr. Mahdawi should be released.
“What cannot be justified, is how this action was undertaken. Law enforcement officers in this country should not operate in the shadows or hide behind masks.
“The power of the executive branch of the federal government is immense, but it is not infinite, and it is not absolute. We will remain in contact with the congressional delegation as we all seek further clarification of the facts in this case.”
In one video segment: Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale (D-Chittenden) describes what Vermont elected officials have already done to protest the arrest of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University Palestinian activist and organizer, in Colchester on Monday. Sen. Becca White (D-Windsor) said she was there when authorities took Mahdawi away and that they refused her request to say who they are.
Senate Pro Tem Phil Baruth (D-Chittenden) characterizes the arrest, as well as actions taken against law firms and others, as ‘authoritarian’ and ‘fascist.’ Baruth is asked (by VDC) if such characterizations and complaining about the arrest is likely to draw unwanted attention to Vermont. He said he refuses to ‘keep his head down.’
In another video segment from the press conference, Sen. Becca White (D-Windsor) rebukes your VDC editor for reporting on Mahdawi’s background, including his pledge to revenge himself on Israel and his support and ’empathy’ for Hamas after the October 7, 2023 surprise attack that killed more than 1,000 Israelis, including 45 Americans. Mahdawi made these statements on camera on the CBS news program 60 Minutes.
White: “I don’t know where you’re getting your information…”
VDC: “60 Minutes.”
White (excerpt): “Okay, that’s what we’re going to experience with any individual who is being targeted. They’re going to tell you that this person is a terrorist. They’re going to tell you that this person is dangerous. And they’re going to tell you that this person is connected to an organization. And that is not accurate information. Mohsen is an individual who lives in White River Junction. He is a peacemaker, he is a bridge builder, he is a community leader, and any attempt to decry him as a terrorist, that would be a thing you would do in due process…So I don’t think it’s appropriate for you as a member of the media to promote that without substantiating it.”
In a third video segment, Ram Hinsdale says the governor’s continued cooperation with federal authorities “is making our communities less safe.”
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Categories: State Government
Amazing…….and very good reporting too.
They are calling for them to be held elsewhere, outside their jurisdiction, instead? There are reasons why the Feds try not to do that, and house people where they are caught, REASONS WHICH ARE GIVEN in the clips. To do that distances people from their communities, as well. And what about non-ICE detainees, people who have yet to be convicted of a crime? The State, so long as it remains part of the United States, in bound to its laws, even if they don’t agree.
I say this to both the Right and the Left: They ARE your President, even if you don’t support them. They ARE your laws, even if you don’t agree with them. THIS IS DEMOCRACY.
The Democrats had to hear Republicans saying, “not my president,” for years, and rightfully complained. Now, however, they are hypocritically doing the same, except even worse: they are, in effect, promoting insurrection against the rule of law.
We have one president who is a he. He is not a they them.
I look at those three, and see our State House version of Larry, Curly, and Moe. Whop, whop, whop, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk, eye poke, followed by an early version of a Michael Jackson “moonwalk” They are hilarious, stooges ! How can anybody with a modicum of gray matter see these doults as anything more than comic relief from the serious, tedious business of representative government ? They should be relegated to an “Off Broadway” stage where they can face the critique of professionals, rather than the adulation of awestruck, like minded fans of what they refer to as “Progressivism?” Progressivism ? It’s more appropriately called regressivism !
The contrived self-righteous indignation readily apparent in larry, curly and moe is but political posturing and virtue signaling by these elitists. Instead of doing the job they sought and were elected for, delving into federal government affairs serves to distract and fire up their base from issues such as Education funding, Healthcare funding and ms. white’s favorite grift, ClimateCHange™. Issues these petty tyrants choose to ignore for a while, until they can re-attain their super-majority status and commence their gutting of Vermont’s economy and citizens. Progressivism, as currently defined by this legislature is best described as “All animals are equal, some animals are more equal than others”.
😂😂😭😭😂💯🎯
I agree, don’t house them in Vermont prisons, too expensive (is this Liberal thinking? Send them to El Salvador. Plane flights are cheaper if loaded.
Laws. People are usually detained in the jurisdiction where arrested for initial court proceedings. A Vermonter, arrested for any kind of crime done in Vermont needs to stay here until bail is set. They have family, lawyers, jobs, farms and community roots.
Americans, naturalized citizens, people on the legal pathway to becoming a citizen , student and working visa holders, cannot be sent to El Salvador. This whole el Salvador prison transfer is wrong and illegal. People sent there. Who are not El Salvadorian citizens , have not comit a crime and no due process, court cases here. What if you were say an Italian that ICE said you have to go because you went to a university protest? If they deport you, they need to send you home to Italy, not El Salvador.
Yea like White doesn’t know that CBS is a liberal rag show, love the fact that these liberal a holes are finally getting what’s coming to them, hey Phil, layoff the guns for a while, living here in Waitsfield I’m finally enjoying the beauty of Vermont, thanks Guy and Paul for telling it like it is, vote RED!
These are New World Order pimps doing as they are told.
Take Back Vermont
No Big City Schools
No Big City Drugs and Crime
No Big City, NWO Governance
We need to get back to our country roots.
If anyone would know fascism it’s the Demonrats. Communism. Fascism, and Naziism are all of the same poisonus tree. They poison society and goverment. Unforunately today Demonrat party is falling into this totalitarian realm of thought.
I guess these leaders share “empathy” with the murderous attackers on October 11. The federal government is not required to publicly disclose its evidence — that’s what the hearing is for. Holders of Green Cards do not have the liberty to incite violence. Let the evidence prove the claims per the Rule of Law, and let our leaders stop favoring foreigners committing or advocating violence above the safety and well-being of US citizens and Vermonters. Where were they when Biden called conservatives domestic terrorists? The hypocrisy is at least consistent….
I think we have federal laws about harboring and aiding illegal aliens. They are not migrants, the are aliens, some who are here on visas and others who shouldn’t be here at all. They are free to go home and protest in their own country. Phil and company raised the issue about The Bill of Rights yet he has violated his Vermont oath more than once as he violates our rights expressed in our Vermont constitution article 16 and the 2nd amendment. It’s unfortunate that he and others under the doom can’t be deported back to where they came from. Me thinks the senator has gotten way to big for his britches. Maine just got notice that the DOJ is filing a lawsuit for ignoring title 9. I hope the Vermont leaders attract the attention of the DOJ also since they wish to also ignore the laws of the federal government. Imagine this guy as governor because this is the reason he’s up there. To win the hearts and minds of all the other moon bats that think like him.
John said everything I was thinking. As well, where were these supposed leaders over the past 4 years when millions streamed across the borders thanks to the “leaders” of the previous administration. These bleeding hearts pick and chose who to attack based on who is in charge and today that would be President Trump. Love him or hate him it’s your choice but America is coming back to earth under this current administration. Get over yourself White, Baruth, Hinsdale, Balint.
One would think Gov Scott would know this and could inject some calm into the situation by telling people to wait for the outcome of the hearing. They all need to calm down and wait for due process to take place. No one wants to deport an intelligent, high achieving person who could be a benefit to our country. Clearly there is substantial evidence for Mahdawi to have been detained. It’s no surprise Baruth, Hinsdale, and White mischaracterize the situation as ICE randomly snagging people. Ridiculous.
The critics practice “ad hominem” attacks. They go after Trump and the administration. They don’t adequately address facts.
Amen to that, sir! The ad hominem gaslighting has characterized mainstream and Vermont media for the last eight years.
Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale makes a howler of an error when she states here that Kilmar Ábrego García was a “U.S. citizen” who the government deported to El Salvador. No, Senator, he is not a U.S. citizen. He instead came to the U.S. illegally, and in fact is a citizen of El Salvador.
His parents brought him here at 16. I think he whould have been protected under DACA. Imagine your parents taking to to a diferent country that young. Back then, El Salvador was a crime gang murderous place. Worst in the world. I remember these times. I read about it from my Vermont living room. Do any of you remember? Then they built the prison and put 1000s of men there. Many were forced into gangs, innocent kids threatenedwith death if they didn’t join… most the worse. Kilmars parents fled. You would of too.
And asylum is done with bordering countries, not to any country of your choosing. You and I can’t go into Canada without proper paperwork.
What is so difficult?
Would you bring your children, illegally into another country?
Would you try and make things right the entire time you were there?
We can’t fix the world. If countries want to adopt our constitution and the basis for Western Civilization, the Holy Bible…they are free to do so, there are no copy rights on them.
Why has our country paid for brought in millions of people illlegally through NGO’s and migrant crime gangs and sex trafficking.
El Salvador is now safe to return. All is not lost.
There appears to be an inherent contradiction between the rhetoric and the actions of the Trump administration. The administration demands that universities (viz., Harvard) prohibit students from wearing masks to make them easier to identify – even when engaged in exercise their right to peaceful assembly to seek “redress of grievances.” Yet when the Trump Gestapo (I mean I.C.E. officers) go to pick up the very students who dared to express opinions in support for victims of war they are not only heavily armed but also masked.
Perhaps the officers are ashamed to be seen or identified. Or is it an act designed to intimidate not only the individuals being arrested, but the press, the courts, and the general public?
Regardless, it is a deplorable Gestapo-like tactic.
My guess would be that they wear masks because they don’t want ANTIFA thugs to show up at their home or to threaten their families.
As for Gestapo tactics. I guess it was OK when under Biden they sent SWAT teams and Feds to arrest Pro-Life peaceful protester; raided Mar-A-Lago; little old lady J6 protesters; officials from the previous Trump administration etc. In typical Leftist fashion, it’s OK when your side does it.
Yeah, the masks and unmarked clothes and cars. Scary
Maybe the mask is part of the undercover operations, so people will think they are paranoid left wing vaxxers? Like all the protesters. If they start wearing pink hats, we’ll know the motive for sure.
Undercover cops, they’ve existed for decades. We have to employee them in all the stores in Chittenden county to keep people from stealing stuff off the shelves, including underwear and socks at Walmart.
By the way, Paul: I am firmly pro-life. I never condoned Biden’s response to pro-life activists. ANTIFA is a contrived word for an enigmatic group/ideology.
How is it contrived? That’s what they call themselves.
So, a group that physically assaults Trump supporters, burns down Federal buildings, takes over by force city blocks, and threatens Conservatives is merely an “enigmatic group/ideology”!? Are you serious? Is there anything the Left does that you can’t justify?
Antifa is the US AID funded militIa/agitator group of the democrat party
When the KKK’s reputation was beyond repair, the democrat party needed to go in a new direction when forming their modern militant wing…so now we have Antifa…
Paul, I am a life-long Republican of a right-of-center tilt. I come from a family with Republican roots dating back to ~1870. I am neither an advocate for the hard left nor the hard right.
Ironically, sometimes the most loyal thing one can do for a leader or you party is to point out where they are going too far or making a error.
However, since you asked:
I have also voiced strong opposition for many of our Vermont and national Democrats and liberals and their actions. Example, in this and other outlets, I have vociferously criticized the “Dem-Prog Groupthink” in the Vermont Legislature.
Regards.
mrs Ram Hinsdale looks REALLY TIRED and should probably stay home and read Vermont Daily Chronicle for her news. I cannot imagine wanting to be in the statehouse and miss seeing her beautiful children grow up. She will regret spending her time with a bunch of the big Blue people when she looks back on her _____ life.
Every day things are made more confusing. Your friend today is your enemy tomorrow.
A friend today who becomes your enemy tomorrow is is simply an illustration of disloyalty. A friend who can tell you the truth even when you don’t want to hear it is a loyal friend whom you can continue to trust.
Wow, the visable and audible hostility! Hissing like serpents. It’s almost as though they fear they are going to jail – oh wait, according to Federal law as written – they very well could be and should be – I believe under the definitions of treason, sedition, and conspiracies to commit fraud – willingly and knowingly. RICO is the game-o
They can run on for a long time, run on for a long time, sooner or later, God will cut them down….or the Feds will scoop them up and take them away. Let it be so!
If one is a wife beater, criminal, illegally in the country then one is a super citizen with full support from the Vermont Government, Liberal Press. If you are a legal US citizen with no criminal record school board attendee questioning the treatment of your children, legal gun owner or Trump Supporter you are the enemy and subject to arrest without probable cause or “due process”. Why? because the former intends to disrupt society and bring it down which is why he was brought here in the first place. The latter is trying to preserve our Republice and it’s values. Did effectively anyone stop Biden from illegally importing millions of people?