#NNPA BlackPress

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Sen. Sherrod Brown: GOP Should Allow Impeachment Witnesses but “Republicans are Afraid”

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “Republicans are afraid. I mean, they liked the far right-wing judges that Trump gives them, but they’re fearful of him,” Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) told NNPA Newswire. “They are afraid of him calling them names and coming into their space and campaign against them. Fear, too often here, does the business,” Brown stated.

Published

5 years ago

January 30, 2020

Oakland Post

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) (Photo: Marc Nozell from Merrimack, New Hampshire, USA /Wikimedia Commons)

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

The bombshell information from former National Security Advisor John Bolton that stunned the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump has added more intrigue to the proceedings, and Democrats are hopeful that it could finally force Republicans to agree to witness testimony.

“Republicans are afraid. I mean, they liked the far right-wing judges that Trump gives them, but they’re fearful of him,” Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) told NNPA Newswire.

“They are afraid of him calling them names and coming into their space and campaign against them. Fear, too often here, does the business,” Brown stated.

On Monday, January 27, the New York Times reported that a new book by Bolton scheduled for release in March revealed that the former national security adviser was told by Trump that he didn’t want to release military aid to Ukraine until that country helped with investigations that could hurt Democrats, particularly presidential candidate Joe Biden.

The Times reported that Charles Cooper, a lawyer for Bolton, said he provided a copy of Bolton’s new book to the White House just before the new year. Cooper reportedly said he wanted administration officials to review the book for classified information.

At the heart of the Democrats’ case for impeachment are allegations that Trump struck a quid-pro-quo agreement with Ukrainian officials to dig up dirt on Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden.

In his book, “The Room Where It Happened,” The Times reports Bolton writes that Trump explicitly told him, “he wanted to continue freezing $391 million in security assistance to Ukraine until officials there helped with investigations into Democrats including the Bidens.”

Democrats have sought to call witnesses and submit documents during the impeachment trial, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), has steadfastly refused their requests.

With Bolton’s revelations, Democrats need just four of their Republican counterparts to vote in favor of witnesses, assuming that 10% of the Dems also vote in favor of witnesses.

“It’s clear that this is a sham trial if we don’t get witnesses, and John Bolton should be called,” Brown stated. “The president consistently says this is a witch hunt and then he says it’s all hearsay. Well, then let’s get people who were in the room, and we want to hear directly from those people who the president. Otherwise, it’s not a real trial,” he stated.

When asked about the role and power that Chief Justice John Roberts has over the impeachment trial, Brown said he doesn’t.

“It’s not just your readers that don’t understand what the chief justice does. The chief justice could basically sit there. I guess he thinks it’s his job,” Brown stated. “There is some discussion that if there’s a tie vote if we say have a 50 to 50 tie, on whether Bolton should testify, there’s some belief that the chief justice would break the tie. Some people think he wouldn’t. Nobody knows that.”

Brown added that he and others would like Roberts to decide on whether witnesses can be called. He said having witnesses could help find Trump guilty, or they could exonerate him. “The Democrats want the truth to come out. This would be better for the country,” Brown stated.

When prompted for his message to African Americans in light of the fact that the president has claimed success in lowering unemployment and providing other benefits, Brown stated that Black America and other minorities shouldn’t be fooled by Trump’s rhetoric of an “excellent economy” and his doing great things for African Americans.

“The facts are that [the booming economy] started with President Obama. This is the longest period of economic growth since the Second World War, and the first seven years or the first six started with Obama,” Brown stated.

“The economic growth under Obama’s last three years was higher than it’s been under Trump’s first three years. But, it doesn’t matter because the wages haven’t gone up.”

Brown continued:

“I’m certainly glad for more jobs, but they’re often not good-paying jobs. Today, Trump is proposing cuts to disability and the SNAP program for, in many cases, people who are working or can’t eat or who can’t work because they’re disabled. At the end of it, the president is a bigot. He’s done everything that he can to suppress the vote, to divide the country, and he’s a racist. I think that overrides all of this.”

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Skinner’s Bill Would Raise the Age to be Tried as an Adult

Don't Miss

Time to Ring Census Alarm Bell, Advocates Warn Congress

Oakland Post

Click to comment

#NNPA BlackPress

Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

Published

2 hours ago

May 30, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.

Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”

The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

#NNPA BlackPress

Hoover’s Commutation Divides Chicago as State Sentence Remains

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial.

Published

1 day ago

May 29, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal sentence for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has been commuted, but he remains incarcerated under a 200-year state sentence in Illinois. The decision by Donald Trump to reduce Hoover’s federal time has reignited longstanding debates over his legacy and whether rehabilitation or continued punishment is warranted. The commutation drew immediate public attention after music executive Jay Prince and artist Chance the Rapper publicly praised Trump’s decision. “I’m glad that Larry Hoover is home,” said Chance the Rapper. “He was a political prisoner set up by the federal government. He created Chicago Votes, mobilized our people, and was targeted for that.”

But Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, is not home—not yet. Now in federal custody at the Florence Supermax in Colorado, Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial. “There is a divide in the Black community here,” said Chicago journalist Jason Palmer during an appearance on the Let It Be Known morning program. “Some view Hoover as someone who brought structure and leadership. Others remember the violence that came with his organization.” Palmer explained that while Hoover’s gang originally formed for protection, it grew into a criminal network responsible for extensive harm in Chicago. He also noted that Hoover continued to run his organization from state prison using coded messages passed through visitors, prompting his transfer to federal custody.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has not issued a statement. Palmer suggested that silence is strategic. “Releasing Hoover would create enormous political consequences,” Palmer said. “The governor’s in a difficult spot—he either resists pressure from supporters or risks national backlash if he acts.” According to Palmer, Hoover’s federal commutation does not make him a free man. “The federal sentence may be commuted, but he still has a 200-year state sentence,” he said. “And Illinois officials have already made it clear they don’t want to house him in state facilities again. They prefer he remains in federal custody, just somewhere outside of Colorado.”

Palmer also raised concerns about what Hoover’s case could signal for others. “When R. Kelly was convicted federally, state prosecutors in Illinois and Minnesota dropped their charges. If a president can commute federal sentences based on public pressure or celebrity support, others like R. Kelly or Sean Combs could be next,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of incarcerated people without fame or access to public platforms who will never get that consideration.” “There are people who are not here today because of the violence connected to these organizations,” Palmer said. “That has to be part of this conversation.”

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

#NNPA BlackPress

WATCH: Five Years After George Floyd: Full Panel Discussion | Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real | Live Podcast Event

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

Published

2 days ago

May 28, 2025

admin

https://youtube.com/watch?v=OsNLWTz6jU0&feature=oembed

May 25, 2020. The world stopped and watched as a life was taken.

But what has happened since?

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

She shares reflections, insights, and the story of a community forever changed. What has a year truly meant, and where do we go from here?

This is more than just a date; it’s a moment in history. See what one leader in the Black press has to say about it.

Recorded live at UROC in Minneapolis, this powerful discussion features:

Panelists: