CHPP Daily Brief Thursday June 15, 2015

1. Trump Attorney on WaPo Report: 'The Leak of This Information Is a Crime'- CNS News

"This Russian investigation has gone nowhere, so they're coming up with new charges," said Jay Sekulow, one of President Trump's attorneys.

Sekulow, chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice, was reacting to a report in Thursday's Washington Post that says Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating President Trump "for possible obstruction of justice."

The report, based on five anonymous sources, describes the latest (alleged) development in the investigation as a "major turning point." (Read more)
- Father, we pray You would work on the hearts of these insiders and that someone credible would come forward with the truth, settling this matter completely.

- Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. (Philippians 4:2b)

2. Supreme Court weighs fate of Trump travel ban order - The Hill

It's decision time for the Supreme Court when it comes to President Trump's travel ban. The justices in the coming days must decide whether to lift the temporary injunction on the ban and whether to hear the government's appeal of lower court rulings that stopped the policy from taking effect.

The order, which Trump signed in March, would ban most nationals from six predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States for 90 days. The administration said the countries - Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen - are at heightened risk for terrorism. Critics have fought the policy tooth and nail in court, calling it unconstitutional.

If the court decides to take up the case, some expect that the justices will schedule a special sitting to hear oral arguments before they break for the summer at the end of the month or in early July.

"I don't think they will put it off until next term. It's too big of a case and too important," said Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation. (Read more)
- Father, we pray the Supreme Court will find in favor of the Trump Administration and restore Constitutional authority regarding immigration policy back to the executive branch of our nation.

- The Lord rewarded me for doing right; he restored me because of my innocence. (Psalm 18:20)

3. Trump's pledge to wipe out MS-13 gang paying off in NY - New York Post

President Trump's pledge to wipe out the notoriously violent MS-13 gang is gaining traction - at least in the Empire State.

Federal officials have rounded up close to 40 accused members of MS-13 in New York City and Long Island in the 30 days following vows by Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions to crack down on the gang, known for terrorizing immigrant communities.

Of the 45 New York-area gang arrests over the last month by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security, 39 were affiliated with MS-13, which has been blamed for a string of recent murders in normally placid Long Island, the feds said. (Read more)
- Father, we pray for those caught up in the gang culture. We pray for their deliverance and salvation. We also pray for the complete removal of this gang from our nation.

- The godly will never be disturbed, but the wicked will be removed from the land. (Proverbs 10:30)

4. Russian Cyber Hacks on U.S. Electoral System Far Wider Than Previously Known - Bloomberg

Russia's cyberattack on the U.S. electoral system before Donald Trump's election was far more widespread than has been publicly revealed, including incursions into voter databases and software systems in almost twice as many states as previously reported.

In Illinois, investigators found evidence that cyber intruders tried to delete or alter voter data. The hackers accessed software designed to be used by poll workers on Election Day, and in at least one state accessed a campaign finance database.

Details of the wave of attacks, in the summer and fall of 2016, were provided by three people with direct knowledge of the U.S. investigation into the matter. In all, the Russian hackers hit systems in a total of 39 states, one of them said. (Read more)
- Father, many people in our nation believe articles like this one to be completely true. We pray You would bring Your Light and Truth to this situation so that we may be truly informed about what happened and by whom.

- "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." (John 3:20-21)

5. Senate passes Russia sanctions package - Fox News

The Republican-led Senate voted decisively to punish Moscow for interfering in the 2016 election by approving a wide-ranging sanctions package that targets key sectors of Russia's economy and individuals who carried out cyber attacks.

Senators on Wednesday passed the bipartisan sanctions legislation 97-2, underscoring broad support among Republicans and Democrats for rebuking Russia after U.S. intelligence agencies determined Moscow had deliberately interfered in the presidential campaign. Lawmakers who backed the measure also cited Russia's aggression in Syria and Ukraine.

Despite Russia's bellicosity, there's been no forceful response from President Donald Trump. The president has instead sought to improve relations with Moscow and rejected the implication that Russian hacking of Democratic emails tipped the election his way. (Read more)
- Father, we pray the final bill between the House and Senate will provide the Trump Administration with the flexibility it needs to improve our nation's relationship with Russia.

- So watch yourselves! If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. (Luke 17:3)

6. GOP Senators May Fund Planned Parenthood in Obamacare Repeal Bill - Christian Post

Senate conservatives may be willing to give in to Democrats and pro-choice Republicans and provide direct funding to the nation's largest abortion provider if it means they can pass a bill that repeals Obamacare, according to a recent report.

As the House passed its version of the American Health Care Act last month, pressure mounts on Senate Republicans to pass the bill before the July 4 recess. Fox News reports that "several" GOP senators have indicated that they are willing to back health care legislation that provides funding to Planned Parenthood if it means that they get enough support to push the Obamacare repeal and replace measure through.

With a narrow 52-48 lead in the Senate, the report indicates that any legislation repealing Obamacare would have to be structured in a way that would not lose the support of moderate and pro-choice Republicans, such as Alaska's Lisa Murkowski and Maine's Susan Collins, and secure the necessary votes to pass the legislation.

"However, the apparent concession by conservatives might give leadership more room to maneuver," the Fox News report states. (Read more)
- Father, we pray for consensus to develop around defunding the left, including defunding Planned Parenthood. Help us to rise up and say "Not one more penny!" to this evil organization.

- The leech has two suckers that cry out, "More, more!" (Proverbs 30:15)

7. Iranian naval vessel trains laser on helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz - Fox News

An Iranian missile boat pointed a laser at a U.S. Marine helicopter while two Navy warships and a cargo ship were transiting out of the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, a senior US defense official said.

The laser triggered a response and the U.S. helicopter automatically fired off flares toward the offending vessel. The Iranian vessel came within 800 yards of the U.S. warships.

Cdr. Bill Urban in a statement called the interaction "unsafe and unprofessional." "Illuminating helicopters with lasers at night is dangerous as it creates a navigational hazard that can impair vision and can be disorienting to pilots using night vision goggles," Urban said. (Read more)
- Father, we pray for a de-escalation of tensions with Iran and safety for all our civilians and military personnel traveling in the Persian Gulf.

- "Deliver me from my enemies, O God; be my fortress against those who are attacking me." (Psalm 59:1)

8. Otto Warmbier has extensive brain damage, doctor says - Fox News

An American college student imprisoned by North Korea and in a coma for more than a year has extensive brain damage and is unresponsive to his surroundings, the doctors treating him said Thursday.

A medical team from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center described Otto Warmbier's condition as a "state of unresponsive wakefulness" and did not say -- at the request of his family -- whether the 22-year-old will recover.

"He has spontaneous eye opening and blinking," Dr. Daniel Kanter, director of the hospital's neurocritical care program, told reporters Thursday. "However, he shows no signs of understanding language, responding to verbal commands or awareness to his surroundings. He has not spoken," Kanter said. "He has not engaged in purposeful movements or behaviors." (Read more)
- Oh, Father, we cry out in grief for what has happened to this brave young man. Only YOU can forgive our enemies for us, Lord, and so we ask this now, in Jesus' name. May there yet remain a miracle of healing for his life, and may You strengthen and comfort his family in their time of need. In Your name, amen and amen.

- "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God." (Isaiah 40:1)

9. Tillerson waters down statement that Palestinians 'changed policy' of terror payments - The Times of Israel

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday appeared to walk back his statement that the Palestinians intend to end the practice of paying the families of terrorists jailed for attacking or killing Israelis. Instead, he said that there was an "active discussion" between Washington and Ramallah on the matter.

"We will continue this dialogue with them," Tillerson told the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He went on to say that US President Donald Trump has only a "certain window of patience" and "a certain window which he will remain engaged and be interested. At some point," the top US diplomat added, "he's going to become disinterested. And when we become disinterested, that will certainly alter our level of support." (Read more)
- Father, we pray first of all for the Palestinian people to be delivered from the darkness of Islam and the poverty of their ideas. We pray this policy that incentivizes lawlessness, death and destruction will quickly come to an end.

- Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the Lord." And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. (Psalm 32:5)

10. Congress bill to ensure Israel's qualitative military edge - Arutz Sheva

A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives will strengthen the processes that have ensured Israel's qualitative military edge.

The legislation was introduced Friday, according to the JTA news agency. It stipulates that the president would be required to consult with officials in the Israeli government about their defense needs before authorizing arms sales or defense items to countries in the Middle East.

Reps. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., and Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., introduced the bill, entitled "Defending Israel's QME Act of 2017".

"The United States must continue to ensure that Israel, our closest, most reliable ally in the Middle East, if not the world, has the tools to maintain its qualitative military edge over those who seek to do it harm," Schneider said. (Read more)
- Father, thank You for the bipartisan support of this bill to assure Israel's military advantage over any other nation in the Middle East. Even with this, we pray their faith and trust will be in You first and foremost before any and all of their military might.

- Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. (Psalm 20:7)