Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein came to his boss’s defense Thursday, saying it was “bizarre” for anyone to claim Attorney General William Barr is “trying to mislead people” by not immediately releasing the special counsel’s report.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, his first since Robert S. Mueller III concluded the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, Rosenstein tried to tamp down criticisms of Barr’s handling of the report and the time it is taking him to release it.
“He’s being as forthcoming as he can, and so this notion that he’s trying to mislead people, I think is just completely bizarre,” Rosenstein said in the interview.

Final election results show record number of newcomers will be sworn into parliament on April 30. From Likud to Ra'am Balad, here are Israel's lawmakers in-waiting

Researchers study Scott Kelly, who spent a year on the International Space Station, and his identical twin Mark Kelly, also a former NASA astronaut, who stayed on the ground

Federal prosecutors in California announced on Thursday three dozen charges against Michael Avenatti, the prominent attorney best known for his criticisms of President Donald Trump, accusing the lawyer of stealing millions of dollars from his clients and funneling their money into his own interests, including co-ownership of a $5 million private jet.
The indictment was sweeping in its scope, accusing Avenatti of defrauding clients for more than four years. The charges included bleak details, including assertions that Avenatti’s alleged actions caused a paraplegic client to lose his Supplemental Security Income benefits, which are paid to adults and children who have disabilities, and prevented the same client from using settlement money to buy a home.

Transportation minister backs management's decision, accusing workers' union of facilitating 'anarchy'; labor federation announces trains to resume later Friday morning

Leading UK Jewish journalist Jonathan Freedland once again turns his hand to fiction as his alter-ego, the best-selling thriller writer Sam Bourne

Family to donate Oved's corneas after he was killed Thursday when vehicle hit tents used by young men; funeral will take place Friday at 12:30 pm in Palmachim

The city of Chicago sued Jussie Smollett for more than $130,000 on Thursday to recover the cost of police overtime spent looking into an alleged hate crime against him.
The “Empire” actor has been accused of orchestrating the Jan. 29 assault, during which he says two men yelled racist and anti-gay slurs while beating him, pouring an unknown chemical substance on him and wrapping a rope around his neck. Smollett, 36, was indicted on 16 felony counts in early March for allegedly lying to police about the altercation – one count per alleged lie – but Cook County prosecutors dropped all criminal charges on March 26, citing his two days of community service and agreement to forfeit his $10,000 bond to the city.

Rafi Peretz reaches out to Shas and UTJ leaders, proposing they work together in coalition talks to advance issues of religion and state where they all largely agree

'The Book of Dirt,' a thoughtful examination of his family’s tortured past wins new author Bram Presser the Jewish Book Council's Goldberg Prize for Debut Fiction

President Trump on Thursday sought to distance himself from WikiLeaks after founder Julian Assange’s arrest in London, even though he praised the group during the 2016 presidential campaign.
“I know nothing about WikiLeaks. It’s not my thing,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked if he still loves the organization.
Trump repeatedly professed his affinity for WikiLeaks during the 2016 campaign, when it published emails that were stolen from Democrats by Russian hackers as part of Moscow’s effort to hurt Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Second man to walk on moon sends his condolences to Israeli team; LunarX says will award SpaceIL $1 million prize for achievements despite vehicle crashing during landing attempt

yahrtzeit-candlesRav Yitzchak of Drovitch (1758). He was the father of R’ Yechiel Michel, the Maggid of Zlotschov. In later years, Rav Yitzchak served as the official maggid or “mochiach” (admonisher) and dayan in the beis din of Brod at the time when Rav Yitzchak of Hamburg was serving as the town’s rav. Rav Yitzchak’s name is specifically attached to Drohobitch, a town that lies 40 miles south of Lelov and today is a major petroleum refining center.

Washington – Newly arrested WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange needs to “answer for what he has done,” Hillary Clinton said on Thursday. The 2016 Democratic presidential nominee and former secretary of state weighed in on Assange while at a speaking event with her husband, former President Bill Clinton. Assange was arrested earlier Thursday at the Ecuadorian [...]

At Wiesenthal Center dinner, Bob Iger calls on US politicians to drop hate, which he says is 'dragging us toward an abyss'

Seattle, WA – Boeing’s CEO says crews have made 96 flights to test a software update for its troubled 737 Max jet and will make more in coming weeks as the company attempts to convince regulators to let the plane fly again. Dennis Muilenburg also said Thursday that the company has met with pilots and [...]

WISH FULFILLED! Trump Welcomes 4 Elderly World War II Vets to Ovall Office [VIDEO]President Donald Trump treated four World War II veterans to an Oval Office meeting Thursday, fulfilling a birthday wish for 95-year-old Allen Jones and giving three other veterans age 100 and older a day to remember.

The PM made history when his Likud party became the first since Israel's inception to win more than a million votes -- a trove he hopes will fend off his legal woes

London – WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has portrayed himself as a champion of a free press, but the U.S. Department of Justice’s decision to charge him with conspiring to hack government computers limits his ability to mount a vigorous free speech defense, some legal experts said. The charge unsealed in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia [...]

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