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== Born Alive Votes Controversy ==

== Born Alive Votes Controversy ==

: ''Main Article: [[Obama born alive controversy]]''

: ''Main Article: [[Obama born alive controversy]]''

From 1996-2003, Barack Obama made at least seven controversial votes against bills mandating medical care for newborn children after late-term, botched abortions known as D&E procedures. During this time Obama headed an Illinois Planned Parenthood strategy to vote 'Present' on the controversial bills to provide political cover for other Illinois Senators since in the words of Pam Sutherland, head of the IL Planned Parenthood Council, "He came to me and said: ‘My members are being attacked. We need to figure out a way to protect members and to protect women. A ‘present’ vote was hard to pigeonhole which is exactly what Obama wanted. What it did was give cover to moderate Democrats who wanted to vote with us but were afraid to do so" because of how their votes would be used against them electorally. A ‘present’ vote would protect them. Your senator voted ‘present.’ Most of the electorate is not going to know what that means."<ref>Davis, Teddy (2007, July 17). "[https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2007/07/obama-abortion/ Obama Abortion Dodges Blessed by Planned Parenthood], ''ABC News''.</ref>  

From 1996 to 2003, Barack Obama made at least seven controversial votes against bills mandating medical care for newborn children after late-term, botched abortions known as D&E procedures. During this time Obama headed an Illinois Planned Parenthood strategy to vote 'Present' on the controversial bills to provide political cover for other Illinois Senators since in the words of Pam Sutherland, head of the IL Planned Parenthood Council, "He came to me and said: ‘My members are being attacked. We need to figure out a way to protect members and to protect women. A ‘present’ vote was hard to pigeonhole which is exactly what Obama wanted. What it did was give cover to moderate Democrats who wanted to vote with us but were afraid to do so" because of how their votes would be used against them electorally. A ‘present’ vote would protect them. Your senator voted ‘present.’ Most of the electorate is not going to know what that means."<ref>Davis, Teddy (2007, July 17). "[https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2007/07/obama-abortion/ Obama Abortion Dodges Blessed by Planned Parenthood], ''ABC News''.</ref>  

The votes are especially controversial because they fall outside the typical Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice debate, dealing not with abortion, but children left to die after botched abortions. In 2002 the Federal Born Alive Infant Protection Act made it a U.S. crime to let children die like this, and the 2003 Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act was passed outlawing the specific D&E procedures making them possible, even declaring this to be "Infanticide" in Section 2, 14(G) and 14(O).<ref name=partialbirth>''United States Congress'' (2003, March 13). "[http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-108s3enr/pdf/BILLS-108s3enr.pdf S.3: Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003]."</ref> The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act had 70% public approval by the time of its passage<ref>Ray, J. (2003, July 8). "[https://www.gallup.com/poll/8791/gallup-brain-opinions-partialbirth-abortions.aspx Gallup Brain: Opinions on Partial-Birth Abortions]." ''Gallup''.</ref> (a 2011 poll shows 64% support<ref>''Gallup''. "[https://www.gallup.com/poll/1576/abortion.aspx Abortion]." pg. 1.</ref>) yet the Born Alive Infant Protection Act was far more popular, to the extent that in Obama's own words, it was "the federal bill that everybody supported."<ref name=brody>Brody, David (2008, August 16). "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skq5M1Ksp_c McCain/Obama Forum]." ''CNN''. Uploaded to ''YouTube'' by Jill Stanek.<br>David Brody (August 16, 2008). "[http://blogs.cbn.com/thebrodyfile/archive/2008/08/16/obama-gets-heated-on-born-alive-infant-protection-act.aspx Obama Gets Heated on Born Alive Infant Protection Act]." ''CBN News''. The Brody File.</ref>

The votes are especially controversial because they fall outside the typical Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice debate, dealing not with abortion, but children left to die after botched abortions. In 2002 the Federal Born Alive Infant Protection Act made it a U.S. crime to let children die like this, and the 2003 Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act was passed outlawing the specific D&E procedures making them possible, even declaring this to be "Infanticide" in Section 2, 14(G) and 14(O).<ref name=partialbirth>''United States Congress'' (2003, March 13). "[http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-108s3enr/pdf/BILLS-108s3enr.pdf S.3: Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003]."</ref> The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act had 70% public approval by the time of its passage<ref>Ray, J. (2003, July 8). "[https://www.gallup.com/poll/8791/gallup-brain-opinions-partialbirth-abortions.aspx Gallup Brain: Opinions on Partial-Birth Abortions]." ''Gallup''.</ref> (a 2011 poll shows 64% support<ref>''Gallup''. "[https://www.gallup.com/poll/1576/abortion.aspx Abortion]." pg. 1.</ref>) yet the Born Alive Infant Protection Act was far more popular, to the extent that in Obama's own words, it was "the federal bill that everybody supported."<ref name=brody>Brody, David (2008, August 16). "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skq5M1Ksp_c McCain/Obama Forum]." ''CNN''. Uploaded to ''YouTube'' by Jill Stanek.<br>David Brody (August 16, 2008). "[http://blogs.cbn.com/thebrodyfile/archive/2008/08/16/obama-gets-heated-on-born-alive-infant-protection-act.aspx Obama Gets Heated on Born Alive Infant Protection Act]." ''CBN News''. The Brody File.</ref>

==Wiretapping the 2016 election==

==Wiretapping the 2016 election==

{{See also|Obamagate|Obamagate timeline}}

{{See also|Obamagate|Obamagate timeline}}

[[File:Donald Trump Speaking in Fountain Hills.jpg|thumb|Trump in March 2016, prior to being elected U.S. President.]]

[[File:Donald Trump Speaking in Fountain Hills.jpg|thumb|Trump in March 2016, prior to being elected U.S. president.]]

The fact that the Obama administration was investigating the [[Donald Trump]] campaign's links to [[Russia]] was reported in numerous sources, both [[United Kingdom|British]] and American, beginning November 7. Early reports treated alleged surveillance as evidence of just how serious the Trump-Russia link was being taken. After Trump himself complained of surveillance on March 4, the media condemned his claims as a conspiracy theory, reversing its earlier position.

The fact that the Obama administration was investigating the [[Donald Trump]] campaign's links to [[Russia]] was reported in numerous sources, both [[United Kingdom|British]] and American, beginning November 7. Early reports treated alleged surveillance as evidence of just how serious the Trump-Russia link was being taken. After Trump himself complained of surveillance on March 4, the media condemned his claims as a conspiracy theory, reversing its earlier position.

in Recent US Elections.”<ref>The declassified version is "[https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/ICA_2017_01.pdf Background to “Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US Elections”: The Analytic Process and Cyber Incident Attribution]"</ref> The report renewed interest in allegations of Russian interference. In the last days of the Obama administration, procedures were revised to give more analysts access to the raw data.<ref>Saagar Enjeti, "[https://dailycaller.com/2017/03/09/how-are-all-these-intel-leaks-happening-look-at-one-of-the-last-things-obama-did-before-leaving-office/ How Are All These Intel Leaks Happening? Look At One Of The Last Things Obama Did Before Leaving Office]," ''Daily Caller,'' 03/09/2017.</ref> The relaxation of security standards was followed by a series of further [[leak]]s.

in Recent US Elections.”<ref>The declassified version is "[https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/ICA_2017_01.pdf Background to “Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US Elections”: The Analytic Process and Cyber Incident Attribution]"</ref> The report renewed interest in allegations of Russian interference. In the last days of the Obama administration, procedures were revised to give more analysts access to the raw data.<ref>Saagar Enjeti, "[https://dailycaller.com/2017/03/09/how-are-all-these-intel-leaks-happening-look-at-one-of-the-last-things-obama-did-before-leaving-office/ How Are All These Intel Leaks Happening? Look At One Of The Last Things Obama Did Before Leaving Office]," ''Daily Caller,'' 03/09/2017.</ref> The relaxation of security standards was followed by a series of further [[leak]]s.

On January 17, McClatchy reported that an informal, interagency group had been working for months on the issue of Russian attempts to influence the election. The group included representatives of the FBI, the CIA, the National Security Agency, the Justice Department, the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and the office of the director of national intelligence.<ref>"[https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article127231799.html#storylink=cpy FBI, 5 other agencies probe possible covert Kremlin aid to Trump]", ''McClatchy,'' January 18, 2017.</ref> One of McClatchy's sources confirmed the BBC's claims regarding FISA warrants, according to the story.<ref>[https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/03/08/doj-political-surveillance-from-the-irs-in-2011-to-the-fisa-court-in-2016/ DOJ Political Surveillance – From the IRS in 2011 to the FISA Court in 2016], Posted on March 8, 2020 by sundance. theconservativetreehouse.com </ref>

On January 17, McClatchy reported that an informal, interagency group had been working for months on the issue of Russian attempts to influence the election. The group included representatives of the FBI, the CIA, the National Security Agency, the Justice Department, the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and the office of the director of national intelligence.<ref>"[https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article127231799.html#storylink=cpy FBI, 5 other agencies probe possible covert Kremlin aid to Trump]", ''McClatchy,'' January 18, 2017.</ref> One of McClatchy's sources confirmed the BBC's claims regarding FISA warrants, according to the story.<ref>[https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/03/08/doj-political-surveillance-from-the-irs-in-2011-to-the-fisa-court-in-2016/ DOJ Political Surveillance – From the IRS in 2011 to the FISA Court in 2016], Posted on March 8, 2020 by sundance. theconservativetreehouse.com</ref>

On January 19, ''The New York Times'' reported that the White House was directly involved in the investigation: "The F.B.I. is leading the investigations, aided by the National Security Agency, the C.I.A. and the Treasury Department’s financial crimes unit. One official said intelligence reports based on some of the wiretapped communications had been provided to the White House."<ref>“[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/us/politics/trump-russia-associates-investigation.html Intercepted Russian Communications Part of Inquiry Into Trump Associates],” ''New York Times'', January 19, 2017.</ref> The report does not mention warrants or FISA. On March 1, the ''Times'' reported that the FBI was in the midst of a "wide-ranging investigation" of "links between Mr. Trump’s associates and the Russian government."<ref>"[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/01/us/politics/obama-trump-russia-election-hacking.html Obama Administration Rushed to Preserve Intelligence of Russian Election Hacking]," ''New York Times'', March 1, 2017.</ref> Although Trump had been president for six weeks at this point, the FBI was still being run by disgraced Director [[James Comey]], who serves a fixed term designed to overlap Presidential administrations.

On January 19, ''The New York Times'' reported that the White House was directly involved in the investigation: "The F.B.I. is leading the investigations, aided by the National Security Agency, the C.I.A. and the Treasury Department’s financial crimes unit. One official said intelligence reports based on some of the wiretapped communications had been provided to the White House."<ref>“[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/us/politics/trump-russia-associates-investigation.html Intercepted Russian Communications Part of Inquiry Into Trump Associates],” ''New York Times'', January 19, 2017.</ref> The report does not mention warrants or FISA. On March 1, the ''Times'' reported that the FBI was in the midst of a "wide-ranging investigation" of "links between Mr. Trump’s associates and the Russian government."<ref>"[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/01/us/politics/obama-trump-russia-election-hacking.html Obama Administration Rushed to Preserve Intelligence of Russian Election Hacking]," ''New York Times'', March 1, 2017.</ref> Although Trump had been president for six weeks at this point, the FBI was still being run by disgraced Director [[James Comey]], who serves a fixed term designed to overlap Presidential administrations.