US Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) is walking away from politics and departing Congress when his term expires in 2018. In an announcement posted to Facebook, the House Oversight Committee chairman said he is following course he’s long championed: that general public service ought to be for the restricted time rather than turn into a lifetime career.
US Rep. Jason Chaffetz has taken enough of Congress, and that is simply fine with online gambling advocates.
Chaffetz’ departure is good news for on line gambling. The Utahan has become a leading sponsor of anti-internet gaming legislation, primarily his authoring and introducing of RAWA, the Restoration of America’s Wire Act.
Though RAWA gained traction that is little Congress (despite billionaire Sheldon Adelson’s tried persuasion through campaign bucks), Chaffetz saying he’s making town is just a welcomed development to many online gamblers and casino operators that are invested in internet gaming.
The Republican legislator has swiftly become a rising star in the GOP in recent years, as he’s overseen the Congressional investigation into Hillary Clinton’s usage of a private email server during her time as United States Secretary of State. Chaffetz grilled the previous First Lady and Democratic presidential candidate, and the scrutiny provided plenty of headlines and talking points for Republicans and Donald Trump during the recent election.
Not About Winning
Chaffetz has made it clear that his choice has nothing to do with any concern about his prospective for reelection.
‘ For those that would speculate otherwise, let me be clear that I have no motives that are ulterior. I have always been confident I would continue steadily to be re-elected by large margins. I’ve the support that is full of Ryan . . . I have produced personal decision,’ Chaffetz noted.
The congressman said he’dn’t rule out a political run in the near future, prompting some to believe he could have his eyes set on the Utah governorship down the line. Sitting Republican Governor Gary Herbert’s term shall be up in 2020.
Sessions vs. States’ Rights
America is dealing with lots of critical issues domestically and around the world. That is why online gambling legislation on the federal level does not appear likely becoming a congressional target anytime quickly.
Nevertheless, concerns remain for Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey, the 3 states with legalized on the web gambling, aswell as additional states which are mulling internet legislation that is betting. The nationwide Governors Association recently issued a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions opining that the legalization of iGaming must be left up to individual states.
During Sessions’ Senate confirmation hearing, he declared he was ‘shocked’ when the Department of Justice issued an opinion in 2011 on the longstanding Wire Act that essentially opened up internet gambling. RAWA seeks to reverse the 2011 DOJ ruling.
It might seem unlikely that a Trump presidency would help legislation that is anti-gambling. But Adelson, the Las Vegas Sands tycoon whom claims to be on a moral crusade to block online gaming, was Trump’s donor that is largest, having offered many millions to his presidential efforts.
Trump famously pledged to ‘drain the swamp’ and rid Washington of politicians catering to effective lobbyists and donors. The issues surrounding online gambling could test that campaign promise.
Brand New England Patriots Visit White House, Trump Happy to See Pals Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick
The New England Patriots went to Washington this week to commemorate their Super Bowl LI name. President Donald Trump, as is customary, invited the NFL champs to your White home following the Pats overcame seemingly insurmountable chances in finding its way back from 25 right down to win the big game in February.
President Trump welcomed the newest England Patriots to the White House this to celebrate their Super Bowl win week. (Image: John Tlumacki/Getty Images)
Utilizing the Atlanta Falcons up 28-3 in the third quarter, live in-game wagering gave the Patriots small chance in hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Las Vegas sportsbooks had been taking bets in the Patriots at 16-1 and moneyline at +1600 during the half that is second.
Trump said at yesterday’s ceremony, ‘ I think we viewed the odds and you were given by them less than one half of just one per cent of winning the game.’
After scoring 31 unanswered, the record-setting comeback punished sportsbooks and capped down a disappointing NFL season for oddsmakers. But for superstar quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick, the victory was maybe their sweetest yet.
On the actions of the South Lawn, Belichick declared, ‘we have had the great privilege to be here many times, but this one, the way we were treated and also the opportunities to be into the Oval workplace, to meet up with the president, to see the inside of the White House, has just been fabulous.’
Patriots Support Trump
While numerous Patriots players opted to miss the White home ceremony, with a few publicly citing Trump’s administration as their explanation, the team’s leadership certainly endorses #45.
Billionaire owner Robert Kraft, whom made his fortune in paper and packaging, typically avoids the governmental arena. But this the Kraft Group CEO donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee year.
Kraft said at the White home, ‘Overcoming long chances through work, perseverance, & most importantly, psychological toughness, could be the foundation of exactly what is great about that nation.’
He said of Trump, ‘A very good friend of mine for over 25 years, a man who’s mentally tough and hardworking as anybody I am aware, launched a campaign for the presidency against 16 career politicians, facing odds almost as long as we faced within the fourth quarter.’
Belichick can also be a friend of Trump’s, and the advisor even had written the then-candidate a letter of encouragement during the election that is presidential.
Brady supported Trump in 2016 too, and the president has said the quarterback and Super Bowl LI MPV has told him he voted in his favor.
Hernandez Commits Suicide
Sunlight was shining on the South Lawn, but a dark shadow hovered over the Patriots organization on Wednesday after news broke that former play Aaron Hernandez took his very own life in prison.
Hernandez invested three years with the Patriots and caught 18 touchdown passes from Brady. However in August of 2013, he had been convicted of murdering their friend Odin that is former Lloyd.
Hernandez ended up being life that is serving prison without the likelihood of parole when he was discovered hanging in his cellular on Wednesday morning.
‘Vegas Dave’ Arrested on Misdemeanor Battery Charge After Not liable Plea in Federal Case
Life simply got a much more complicated for ‘Vegas’ Dave Oancea, the celebrated professional sports bettor, who had been indicted last week by a federal grand jury, accused of misuse of Social Security numbers.
‘Vegas’ Dave Oancea has hired a solid team that is legal David Chesnoff whom helped Paul Phua beat an illegall activities betting rap in 2015. (Image: Nevada Review-Journal)
Oancea was arraigned on to pleaded not guilty to charges that he provided casinos with Social Security numbers that either belonged to other people, or were simply made up wednesday. The prosecution alleges he carried out the ruse in order to avoid declaring any winnings to the taxman.
But simply moments he was arrested by Metro Police on a warrant from a domestic battery case from July after he stood down from the dock. He had been released several hours later.
‘Petty’ Move, says Lawyer
Oancea has made a title for himself as a handicapper that is successful gambler. Their bet on the Kansas City Royals to win the 2015 World Series at 30-1 brought him a certain amount of celebrity in gambling circles, as well as $2.5 million in winnings.
As a result of the Kansas City Royals, he additionally has the means to construct a solid team that is legal which was kept unimpressed by its client’s unexpected arrest Wednesday.
‘Apparently one of the IRS agents decided that they’d call Metro to have him taken on the misdemeanor, even though the federal judge said we had 30 times to clear it up,’ defense attorney Tom Pitaro stated, adding that his client would not know the warrant have been issued.
‘I’ve been doing this 40 years, and I do not think I’ve ever seen such pettiness as this kind of move,’ he included.
Chesnoff regarding the Case
Oancea may maintain a super taut spot but there’s one man you would like by your side in hot water in Vegas, and that man is attorney David Chesnoff, who is also representing Vegas Dave if you ever find yourself.
Chesnoff represented the Malaysian high stakes poker player and businessman Paul Phua, whom was arrested in the summer time of 2014 and accused of being the mastermind of a multi-million-dollar illegal World Cup ring that is betting.
Those arrested with Phua during an FBI sting at Caesars Palace pleaded bad and and received six-figure fines and five years’ probation, during which time they’ve been banned from entering the united states of america.
But Phua https://myfreepokies.com/lucky-88-slot-review/ pleaded not guilty, along with justification: he’d employed Chesnoff. Having identified some suspicious FBI surveillance practices in the event, which he said amounted to an illegal search, Chesnoff got each and every piece of FBI evidence thrown out of court, eviscerating the prosecution’s case. Phua walked, or rather he flew home, on his private jet.
The judge in the Oancea case has set the test date for June 20, when the defendant will face nine counts of abuse of a Social Security number, plus 10 counts of causing a domestic organization to file false reports, and could be considering five years for each count. Vegas Dave will be Chesnoff that is preying can his magic.
Sheldon Adelson’s $5 Million Trump Donation Provokes Fears of Federal On Line Gambling Ban
Is US AG Jeff Sessions planning to ban online gambling at a level that is federal?
Rumors, first reported by Gambling Compliance, that Sessions is about to make good on his promise to ‘revisit’ the DOJ’s opinion on online gambling, have actually been swirling since Monday.
Is talk of Jeff Session’s motives to revisit the 2011 Wire Act interpretation cause for alarm or just rumor? (Image: CNBC)
The revelation on Tuesday in a Federal Election Commission filing that online gambling-hater Sheldon Adelson had contributed $5 million to Trump’s inauguration did little to quell anybody’s anxieties. That is together with the $11.2 million that Adelson reportedly gave Trump and Trump-affiliated PACs during the election.
The Washington Post recently noted that Adelson donated $20 million up to a GOP super PAC called the Senate Leadership Fund September that is last just prior to the Restoration of America’s Wire Act was reintroduced in the Senate.
Sessions ‘Shocked’ by 2011 Opinion
Gambling Compliance reported sources on Capitol Hill saying that Sessions could act on reversing the DOJ’s 2011 opinion on online gambling within times, although other sources have actually denied here is the case.
The opinion in question ended up being that the Wire Act prohibited internet activities wagering alone and perhaps not casino gaming or poker, and it paved the method for individual states to legalize and manage these games of their borders.
Sessions declared himself to have been ‘shocked’ by the opinion when he was quizzed about this during his AG confirmation.
‘Apparently, there is some justification or argument which can be made to support the Department of Justice’s [2011] position, but used to do oppose it whenever it happened and it seemed to me personally to be unusual…’ he said.
Asked whether he would take another look during the opinion he stated, ‘I would revisit it and I will create a choice on it based on careful research. I haven’t gone that far to present an opinion today.’
Ban Would be Un-Trumpist
Still, a federal ban would seem to be an odd one for the Trump administration which describes itself as pro-business and against regulations that stifle business.
In a 2011 interview with Forbes, Trump declared, ‘[Online gambling] has to happen because many other countries are doing it and, like typical, the United States is just lacking out.’
Meanwhile, the Restoration of America’s Wire Act can be an unpopular piece of legislation because of its disregard of states rights, and the National Governors Association wrote to Sessions last month to gently remind him of this.
‘As you review this problem, we encourage you to definitely take note of the current regulatory mechanisms placed in place by the states to make sure that consumers and young ones are protected, and that licensees comply with strict criteria of conduct,’ published the NGA.
‘States are best equipped to regulate and enforce online gaming. A ban drives this activity offshore to unregulated jurisdictions, out