Latest news with #ProfileinCourage
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
JFK'S SECRET SERVICE AGENT, ABRAHAM BOLDEN, FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ON WHITE HOUSE DETAIL, FINALLY TESTIFIES BEFORE JFK ASSASSINATION CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE -- RECEIVES APOLOGY FROM COMMITTEE CHAIR REP. LUNA -- HAD BEEN HONORED LAST YEAR BY CAPA WITH 'PROFILE IN COURAGE' AWARD
WASHINGTON, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Abraham Bolden, 90, the first African American U.S. Secret Service agent in U.S. history appointed to the White House Detail, finally got his chance to testify before a Congressional sub-committee last Tuesday remotely from his home in Chicago. Bolden, who was personally appointed by President Kennedy, had thwarted a plot to assassinate JFK in Chicago in November 1963, just three weeks before the assassination in Dallas. The task force, Chaired by Rep. Anna P. Luna of Florida, heard former agent Bolden tell of Secret Service breakdowns in procedure. Bolden, who sought to testify before the Warren Commission was intercepted and charged with crimes he didn't commit. He served three years in prison before being released and finally, after decades, granted a "Full and Unconditional Pardon" by President Joseph R. Biden on April 26, 2022. In 1963, Bolden, believing the earlier attempt on JFK's life was important evidence, made persistent complaints which led to the arrest of alleged assailants and confiscation of weapons in early November of 1963, just three weeks prior to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. Bolden, who was honored last year with the "Profile in Courage" award by CAPA (Citizens Against Political Assassinations), attempted to testify before the Warren Commission in 1964 but was immediately silenced on false charges and sent to prison as part of the post-assassination cover-up. After spending three years in prison on trumped up charges, Bolden wrote a book, "The Echo of Dealey Plaza" and was released from prison. For more than a-half century Bolden, with the support of CAPA's founder, the late Dr. Cyril Wecht and many supporters, sought to clear his name. After Bolden's emotional testimony and questions from the members of the House sub-committee, chaired by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, closed stating, "I'd like to honor Abraham W. Bolden Sr., the first African American agent," she said. "Bolden bravely spoke out about the cover-up" Luna continued. "For telling the truth, he was unjustly convicted, labeled clinically insane, stripped of his Constitutional rights and incarcerated -- an appalling abuse of power meant to silence his courage. I want to offer him a formal government apology for the injustice he endured and thank him for his loyal service to our nation. His legacy is one of integrity, resilience and truth." Contact: Glenda de Vaney - Phone: (619) 420-5612 For Media Information contact: Stephen Jaffe: Jaffe & Co.: 9663 Santa Monica Blvd., Ste. 633 | Beverly Hills, CA 90210Tel. (310) 275-7327 View original content: SOURCE Citizens Against Political Assassinations (CAPA) Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Boston Globe
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
The courage of Mike Pence
But since Jan. 20, when Donald Trump took office, I'm now regularly asked why people of any party or professional or educational background aren't standing up. Advertisement Why didn't ABC stand up for journalistic independence instead of Why didn't the mega international law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison stand up for its hiring autonomy instead of agreeing Why didn't The answer is that standing up for the truth, or standing up for principle, can be a scary, self-damaging prospect. It can mean intimidation, loss of money, and legal persecution. It can mean loss of friends, death threats, and diminished job prospects. And there's no certain benefit. Advertisement As the nation is learning, it's the rare person or organization that will stand up. No matter the power. No matter the money. It's in this light that we should view the actions of Mike Pence on Jan. 6, 2021, for refusing to overturn the results of the presidential election. He did what ABC, Paul Weiss, and Columbia University feared to do. And he did it when the stakes were even higher — the Constitution, the truth, and the peaceful transfer of power were being threatened. It's why Caroline Kennedy and Jack Schlossberg will present Pence with the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award on May 4 in Boston. From 2021 to 2024, the Republican Party needed more Mike Pences. They didn't emerge. As a result, the moral character of the party has been damaged, perhaps irrevocably. Now, in 2025, the whole country needs more Mike Pences before the moral character of the United States is damaged by acts that would have been unthinkable in previous presidential administrations: betraying allies and cozying up to brutal dictators, pardoning petty criminals, brazenly defying federal courts, and ignoring constitutional rights. The day after I lost my 2024 reelection in Arizona's Republican primary primary for Maricopa County recorder, I received a call from Pence, who encouraged me to keep standing up for the truth and for the Constitution. It meant more to me than any other call because whatever he was asking me to do, whatever he was asking me to sacrifice, and whatever courage he was asking me to show, he'd already done on a much larger scale. Advertisement Just as Pence encouraged me to 'stay in the fight,' I am hopeful that this year's Profile in Courage can inspire this much-needed type of courage. The courage of Mike Pence.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pence to receive JFK Profile in Courage Award for 2020 election certification
Former Vice President Mike Pence will receive the 2025 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for certifying the 2020 election results, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation announced Thursday. Pence presided over the certification of Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election, even as Donald Trump pressured him to overturn the results while the president's supporters waged an angry attack on the U.S. Capitol. In a statement announcing the foundation's decision to present Pence with the award, Caroline Kennedy — the daughter of the former president — and Jack Schlossberg — Caroline Kennedy's son — wrote that Pence's decision on Jan. 6, 2020, was 'an example of President Kennedy's belief that an act of political courage can change the course of history.' Kennedy and Schlossberg are set to present Pence with the award on May 4 at the Kennedy Library in Boston. 'Despite our political differences, it is hard to imagine an act of greater consequence than Vice President Pence's decision to certify the 2020 presidential election during an attack on the U.S. Capitol,' they wrote. 'Upholding his oath to the Constitution and following his conscience, the Vice President put his life, career, and political future on the line.' Pence in the same release said that he was 'deeply humbled and honored' to receive the award. The statement from the two Kennedy descendants also pointedly noted 'political courage is not outdated in the United States,' at a time when Trump continues wielding the power of his office to pressure entities from academic institutions to foreign governments into bending to his will. The foundation has presented the Profile in Courage award annually since 1989 to 'public servants who have made courageous decisions of conscience without regard for the personal or professional consequences.' Last year's recipient was Republican Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, who was awarded for 'expanding voting rights and standing up for free and fair elections despite party opposition.' The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Politico
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Pence to receive JFK Profile in Courage Award for 2020 election certification
Former Vice President Mike Pence will receive the 2025 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for certifying the 2020 election results, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation announced Thursday. Pence presided over the certification of Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election, even as Donald Trump pressured him to overturn the results while the president's supporters waged an angry attack on the U.S. Capitol. In a statement announcing the foundation's decision to present Pence with the award, Caroline Kennedy — the daughter of the former president — and Jack Schlossberg — Caroline Kennedy's son — wrote that Pence's decision on Jan. 6, 2020, was 'an example of President Kennedy's belief that an act of political courage can change the course of history.' Kennedy and Schlossberg are set to present Pence with the award on May 4 at the Kennedy Library in Boston. 'Despite our political differences, it is hard to imagine an act of greater consequence than Vice President Pence's decision to certify the 2020 presidential election during an attack on the U.S. Capitol,' they wrote. 'Upholding his oath to the Constitution and following his conscience, the Vice President put his life, career, and political future on the line.' Pence in the same release said that he was 'deeply humbled and honored' to receive the award. The statement from the two Kennedy descendants also pointedly noted 'political courage is not outdated in the United States,' at a time when Trump continues wielding the power of his office to pressure entities from academic institutions to foreign governments into bending to his will . The foundation has presented the Profile in Courage award annually since 1989 to 'public servants who have made courageous decisions of conscience without regard for the personal or professional consequences.' Last year's recipient was Republican Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, who was awarded for 'expanding voting rights and standing up for free and fair elections despite party opposition.' The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sen. Wiener slams Newsom's remarks on trans athletes
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom raised eyebrows this week with his remarks about trans athletes competing in women's sport. Speaking to conservative influencer Charlie Kirk on the inaugural episode of his podcast, 'This is Gavin Newsom,' the governor called it 'deeply unfair' for transgender athletes to compete in women's and girls' sports. Newsom's remarks have been condemned by several members of his own party. 'Sometimes Gavin Newsom goes for the Profile in Courage, sometimes not,' said California Assemblyman Chris Ward and State Sen. Carolina Menjivar, who head California's LGBTQ legislative caucus. 'We woke up profoundly sickened and frustrated by these remarks.' 'Get your act together': Bay Area rep chased down in airport over Democrats' response to Trump speech The remarks also drew a sharp rebuke from State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). 'The Governor has had many courageous moments over the decades supporting LGBTQ people, including helping turbo-charge the marriage equality movement, protecting LGBTQ kids against forced outing and criminalization, and protecting trans people from criminalization in other states. He has taken significant political hits for doing so. I and so many will be forever grateful for that courage.' 'This is not one of those moments,' Wiener continued. 'Charlie Kirk is a vile bigot, and standing with him on this issue is profoundly disturbing.' Wiener went on to slam 'the Republican strategy to eliminate trans people' as creating 'false moral panics — to falsely paint trans people as threats.' The idea of trans athletes being a threat to women's sports is one that has been widely circulated in rightwing media circles. Yet, as Wiener pointed out in his statement, the NCAA is aware of fewer than 10 trans athletes currently competing in college sports. Newsom, it should be noted, is widely tipped to be considering a Democratic presidential run in 2028. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
