No Spin News Summary – September 26, 2018

Avenatti Releases Client’s Identity, Allegations Against Kavanaugh
Michael Avenatti released the identity of his client accusing Brett Kavanaugh of being present for a “gang rape”. Avenatti had been teasing the last few days that he was representing a client who would soon go public with allegations against Kavanaugh.

Avenatti tweeted out a sworn testimony from Julie Swetnick in which she declares she met Kavanaugh in “approximately 1980-1981” and attended several house parties for which Kavanaugh and his friend Mark Judge were also present.

Michael Avenatti’s full tweet: “Below is my correspondence to Mr. Davis of moments ago, together with a sworn declaration from my client. We demand an immediate FBI investigation into the allegations. Under no circumstances should Brett Kavanaugh be confirmed absent a full and complete investigation.”

Julie Swetnick claimed in a statement, “I have a firm recollection of seeing boys lined up outside rooms at many of these parties waiting for their ‘turn’ with a girl inside the room. These boys included Mark Judge and Brett Kavanaugh.” Swetnick says she was victim to “one of these ‘gang’ or ‘train’ rapes,” however, she did not say that Kavanaugh or Judge had sexually assaulted her.

Avenatti also tweeted a picture of Julie Swetnick, calling her “courageous, brave and honest” and asked that “her privacy and that of her family be respected.”

Julie Swetnick's allegations are the third public accusations of sexual misconduct made against Kavanaugh.

Schumer: "There's No Presumption of Innocence" for Kavanaugh
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), told reporters on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, that he doesn't believe Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh should be presumed innocent before Thursday's hearing about sexual assault allegations against him.

Sen. Schumer said, “What I believe is we ought to get to the bottom and find the facts in the way that the FBI has always done. There's no presumption of innocence or guilt when you have a nominee before you. There is, rather – find the facts ... and then let the Senate and let the American people make their judgment, not whether they're guilty or innocent, but whether the person deserves to have the office for which he or she is chosen. Plain and simple.”

Earlier Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said that "everybody in America understands there's a presumption of innocence,” and “that standard of fairness is applied to every American citizen in almost every situation.”

“I think we ought to go into these hearings with a presumption of innocence, but hear the argument on the other side, the testimony on the other side so the members of the Senate can make a decision here on a very, very significant matter."

Antifa Sends Threatening Message to Ted Cruz after Disrupting His Dinner: ‘You are Not Safe’
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and his wife were chased out of a restaurant by anti-Brett Kavanaugh protesters Monday night. A recording of the incident was tweeted by Smash Racism DC, a branch of Antifa based in Washington, D.C., with the hashtag “#CancelKavanugh.” Antifa defended the disturbance on Twitter, claiming Ted Cruz’s politics were an attack.

The Washington, D.C. chapter of Antifa sent a message to Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz on Tuesday telling the Texas senator that he is “not safe.”

“No — you can’t eat in peace — your politics are an attack on all of us You’re [sic] votes are a death wish. Your votes are hate crimes,” Smash Racism DC wrote.
“Tonight Senator Ted Cruz arrived at Fiola, an upscale restaurant mere steps from the White House, to enjoy a hearty Italian dinner.”

“He could have dined on a lavish four course meal for only $145 while millions of Americans struggle to buy groceries. He might have sampled from the top shelf wine list as migrant children languish in cages.”

Smash Racism DC further defended the disturbance, saying it “does not compare in scale to the interruptions his actions as a Senator have had on millions of American lives.”

The group then sent a threat directly to Ted Cruz, Brett Kavanaugh, and President Trump: “This is a message to Ted Cruz, Bret [sic] Kavanaugh, Donald Trump and the rest of the racist, sexist, transphobic, and homophobic right-wing scum: You are not safe. We will find you. We will expose you. We will take from you the peace you have taken from so many others.”

Clinton to Hold Fundraiser for Menendez in New Jersey Next Month
Hillary Clinton is slated to attend a fundraiser for Sen. Robert Menendez's (D-N.J.) reelection campaign next month, according to multiple reports. The fundraiser is scheduled for Oct. 15, in Jersey City, N.J. The minimum contribution for attendees is listed as $500, while the highest-level contribution goes for $5,400.

Menendez is seeking re-election for a third term in his campaign against businessman Bob Hugin (R). Nonpartisan election forecaster Cook Political Report has deemed the race "likely Democratic," and a RealClearPolitics average of polling in the race shows Menendez with an 8.3 percentage point lead.

Menendez was acquitted earlier this year in a corruption trial where prosecutors alleged he exchanged political favors for gifts from a Florida doctor.

BLS: Americans Spent More on Taxes Than on Food, Clothing Combined in 2017
According to a new report released this month by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans on average spent more on taxes than on food and clothing combined in 2017.

“Consumer units” (which include families, financially independent individuals, and people living in a single household who share expenses) spent an average of $9,562 on food and clothing. However, “Consumer units” spent $16,749 on federal, state and local taxes.

Even though Americans spent more on taxes in 2017 than on food and clothing combined, the average 2017 overall tax bill of $16,749 was still lower than the average 2016 overall tax bill of $17,153.

In 2017, there were 130,001,000 consumer units in the United States. “Consumer units” had an average before-tax income of $73,573 and their largest average expenditure was $19,884 for housing, a sum that included the average property tax bill of $2,065.

Dunkin' Donuts is Dropping the 'Donuts' from its Name
After considering changing its name up for more than a year, Dunkin' Donuts will officially drop the "Donuts" portion from its branding and simply be known as "Dunkin'" starting in January 2019.

This name tweak comes after Dunkin' Donuts said it would open a test store known simply as "Dunkin'" in Pasadena, California back in August 2017. The shortened branding will align with the company’s emphasis on coffee and other beverages, Dunkin’ Brands said. The Canton, Massachusetts-based company also noted that fans have long referred to its stores as simply Dunkin’.

“Our new branding is one of many things we are doing as part of our blueprint for growth to modernize the Dunkin’ experience for our customers,” Dunkin’ Brands’ CEO and Dunkin’ U.S. President David Hoffmann said in a statement. “We believe our efforts to transform Dunkin’, while still embracing our incredible heritage, will keep our brand relevant for generations to come.”