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’s following the path he is long championed: that public service ought to be for a limited time rather than develop into a lifetime career.
US Rep. Jason Chaffetz has taken in enough of Congress, and that is just fine with online gambling advocates.
Chaffetz’ departure is good news for on line gambling. The Utahan is a sponsor that is leading of gaming legislation, mainly his authoring and introducing of RAWA, the Restoration of America’s Wire Act.
Though RAWA gained small traction in Congress (despite billionaire Sheldon Adelson’s attempted persuasion through campaign bucks), Chaffetz saying he’s leaving town is really a welcomed development to many online gamblers and casino operators that are committed to 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 use of a personal email host during her time as US Secretary of State. Chaffetz grilled the former First Lady and Democratic presidential candidate, and the scrutiny provided plenty of headlines and talking points for Republicans and Donald Trump during the election that is recent.
Not About Winning
Chaffetz has made it clear that his decision has nothing related to any concern about his possible for reelection.
‘ For those of you that could speculate otherwise, allow me be clear that I have no motives that are ulterior. I have always been confident I would personally continue steadily to be re-elected by large margins. I’ve the full help of Speaker Ryan . . lucky 88 slot free download . I’ve produced personal decision,’ Chaffetz noted.
The congressman stated he wouldn’t rule away a run that is political the future, prompting some to believe he could have his eyes set regarding the Utah governorship later on. Sitting Republican Governor Gary Herbert’s term will be up in 2020.
Sessions vs. States’ Rights
America is dealing with a lot of critical issues domestically and around the world. That is why gambling that is online on the federal level doesn’t seem most likely to be always a congressional target anytime soon.
However, concerns remain for Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey, the three states with legalized online gambling, too 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 certanly be kept up to states that are individual.
During Sessions’ Senate confirmation hearing, he declared he was ‘shocked’ when the Department of Justice issued an opinion last year in the longstanding Wire Act that essentially opened up internet gambling. RAWA seeks to reverse the 2011 DOJ ruling.
It could seem unlikely that the Trump presidency would support anti-gambling legislation. But Adelson, the Las Vegas Sands tycoon who claims become on a moral crusade to block online gaming, was Trump’s donor that is largest, having given 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.
New England Patriots Visit White House, Trump Happy to See Pals Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick
The brand new England Patriots went to Washington this week to celebrate their Super Bowl LI title. President Donald Trump, as is customary, invited the NFL champs to the White House following the Pats overcame seemingly insurmountable odds in coming back from 25 down to win the game that is big February.
President Trump welcomed the brand new England Patriots towards the White House this week to commemorate their Super Bowl winnings. (Image: John Tlumacki/Getty Images)
Utilizing the Atlanta Falcons up 28-3 in the third quarter, live in-game wagering gave the Patriots little chance in hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Las Vegas sportsbooks had been taking wagers on the Patriots at 16-1 and moneyline at +1600 during the half that is second.
Trump said at yesterday’s ceremony, ‘ I do believe we looked over the odds and they provided you less than one half of just one per cent of winning the game.’
After scoring 31 unanswered, the comeback that is record-setting sportsbooks and capped down a disappointing NFL season for oddsmakers. But for superstar quarterback Tom Brady and head mentor Bill Belichick, the triumph was maybe their sweetest yet.
On the actions of the South Lawn, Belichick declared, ‘We’ve had the privilege that is great be here many times, but this one, the way we were treated therefore the possibilities to be into the Oval Office, to satisfy with the president, to see the inside of the White House, has just been fabulous.’
Patriots Support Trump
While numerous Patriots players opted to skip 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, who made his fortune in paper and packaging, typically avoids the arena that is political. But this the Kraft Group CEO donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee year.
Kraft said during the White home, ‘Overcoming long odds through work, perseverance, and a lot of importantly, mental toughness, may be the foundation of precisely what is great about that nation.’
He stated of Trump, ‘A very good friend of mine for over 25 years, a man who’s mentally tough and hardworking as anyone I am aware, launched a campaign for the presidency against 16 career politicians, facing chances almost as long as we faced into the fourth quarter.’
Belichick normally a friend of Trump’s, and the advisor even composed the then-candidate a letter of encouragement during the presidential election.
Brady supported Trump in 2016 too, and the elected president has said the quarterback and Super Bowl LI MPV has told him he voted in his favor.
Hernandez Commits Suicide
The sunlight was shining on the South Lawn, but a shadow that is dark over the Patriots organization on Wednesday after news broke that former play Aaron Hernandez took their own life in prison.
Hernandez spent three years with the Patriots and caught 18 touchdown passes from Brady. But in August of 2013, he had been convicted of murdering their previous buddy Odin Lloyd.
Hernandez ended up being serving life in prison without the likelihood of parole when he was found hanging in their mobile on Wednesday early morning.
‘Vegas Dave’ Arrested on Misdemeanor Battery Charge After Not liable Plea in Federal Case
Life simply got an even more complicated for ‘Vegas’ Dave Oancea, the celebrated professional sports bettor, who was indicted week that is last a federal grand jury, accused of misuse of Social Security numbers.
‘Vegas’ Dave Oancea has hired a formidable team that is legal David Chesnoff who assisted Paul Phua overcome 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 prevent declaring any winnings towards the taxman.
But just minutes after he stood down from the dock, he was arrested by Metro Police on a warrant from a domestic battery case from July. He had been released hrs later.
‘Petty’ Move, says Lawyer
Oancea has made a name 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 an amount that is certain of in gambling circles, not forgetting $2.5 million in winnings.
Thanks to the Kansas City Royals, he also has the way to assemble a formidable team that is legal which ended up being left unimpressed by its customer’s unexpected arrest Wednesday.
‘Apparently one of the IRS agents decided that they would call Metro to have him taken on the misdemeanor, even though the federal judge said we had 30 days to clear it,’ defense attorney Tom Pitaro stated, adding that his client did not know the warrant had been issued.
‘I’ve been carrying this out 40 years, and I do not think I’ve ever seen such pettiness as this type of move,’ he added.
Chesnoff in the Case
Oancea may be in a decent spot but there is one man you need 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 gambling ring.
Those arrested with Phua during an FBI sting at Caesars Palace pleaded guilty and and received fines that are six-figure five years’ probation, during which time they have been prohibited from going into the United States.
But Phua pleaded not bad, sufficient reason for good reason: he’d hired Chesnoff. Having identified some suspicious FBI surveillance practices in the case, which he said amounted to an illegal search, Chesnoff got every single little bit of FBI proof trashed of court, eviscerating the prosecution’s case. Phua walked, or rather he travelled house, on his personal jet.
The judge within the Oancea case has set the trial date for June 20, once the defendant will face nine counts of abuse of the Social Security number, plus 10 counts of causing a domestic institution to file false reports, and could be considering five years for each count. Vegas Dave will be preying Chesnoff can work their 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. This is certainly on top of 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 to a GOP super PAC called the Senate Leadership Fund September that is last just before the Restoration of America’s Wire Act had been 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 this is actually the case.
The opinion under consideration was that the Wire Act prohibited sports that are internet alone and maybe not casino gaming or poker, and it paved the means for specific states to legalize and control these games within their borders.
Sessions declared himself to own been ‘shocked’ by the opinion as he was quizzed about it during his AG verification.
‘Apparently, there is some reason or argument that may be made to aid the Department of Justice’s [2011] position, but i did so oppose it whenever it happened and it seemed to me to be unusual…’ he said.
Asked whether he’d take another appearance during the viewpoint he stated, ‘I would revisit it and I will create a decision on it based on careful study. I haven’t gone that far to provide you with an opinion today.’
Ban Is Un-Trumpist
Still, a ban that is federal appear 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 is definitely an unpopular piece of legislation for its neglect of states liberties, and the National Governors Association wrote to Sessions last month to carefully remind him of this.
‘we encourage you to take note of the current regulatory mechanisms put in place by the states to ensure that consumers and children are protected, and that licensees comply with strict standards of conduct,’ wrote the NGA as you review this issue.
‘States are best equipped to regulate and enforce online gaming. A ban drives this activity offshore to unregulated jurisdictions, out