Bullet casings from CEO's killing apparently were inscribed with words referring to health insurance claim denial tactics



Bullet casings recovered at the scene of Wednesday's fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson — which New York City police called a "brazen" and "premeditated, preplanned targeted attack" — apparently were inscribed with words referring to health insurance claim denial tactics.

NBC News reported that three live 9mm rounds and three discharged 9mm shell casings were found at the scene. Citing two law enforcement officials, the New York Times said police are investigating apparent messages on the casings, specifically words such as “delay” and “deny," which may point to ways health insurance companies attempt to avoid paying patient claims.

'Threatening patients with a financial penalty for making the wrong decision could have a chilling effect on seeking emergency care.'

The New York Post published a similar report, noting that sources said words such as “deny,” “depose,” and “defend” were engraved on live rounds and shell casings. The Post added that the words are similar to the main title of a 2010 book, “Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It.” CBS News published a video report discussing the apparently engraved words.

The Times added that patients, lawmakers, and others have fiercely criticized UnitedHealthcare — one of the America’s largest health insurers — for denying patient claims.

The Associated Press said Thompson drew attention in 2021 when UnitedHealthcare, "like its competitors," was criticized for its intention to deny payments "for what it deemed non-critical visits to hospital emergency rooms."

“Patients are not medical experts and should not be expected to self-diagnose during what they believe is a medical emergency,” the American Hospital Association's chief executive wrote in an open letter addressed to Thompson, according to the AP. “Threatening patients with a financial penalty for making the wrong decision could have a chilling effect on seeking emergency care.” The AP said United Healthcare responded by delaying rollout of the change.

After his fatal shooting, Thompson's wife said he had been receiving "threats." Paulette Thompson told NBC News in a phone call that "there had been some threats. Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him."

A separate New York Post story — which cites a Wall Street Journal report — added that for years, Thompson, 50, and his wife had been living in separate homes less than a mile from each other in Maple Grove, Minnesota.

The Post also reported that Thompson at the time of his killing was facing a Justice Department probe for insider trading.

What else do we know?

Police continue to look for the shooting suspect. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the suspect appeared to be lying in wait for Thompson for several minutes, CBS News reported, adding that a senior NYPD official said the suspect's arrival before Thompson outside the Hilton indicates that he knew about the CEO's comings and goings.

More from CBS News:

Police are using surveillance footage to determine how the suspect spent the hours before the shooting. At 5 a.m. Wednesday, about two hours before the attack, surveillance cameras captured the suspect outside near the Frederick Douglass Housing Project on Manhattan's Upper West Side, according to NYPD officials. Police executed a search warrant at a building in the area on Wednesday night. Police said they believe the suspect may have stayed there the night before the attack.

Police also released surveillance images showing the suspect at a Starbucks two blocks from the shooting at 6:17 a.m., less than half an hour before the shooting. Police told CBS News they found unspecified "forensic evidence" at the Starbucks and that items recovered there are being tested for possible DNA and fingerprints by the NYPD's Crime Scene Unit. The suspect paid with cash, police said.

Police said the suspect then waited for Thompson, who left his hotel shortly after 6:40 a.m. and headed to the Hilton across the street, CBS News reported. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said police are speaking to Thompson's coworkers to understand why he was headed to the hotel so early but acknowledged that Thompson was in charge of a conference there and may have been headed there to help set up.

The suspect approached Thompson from behind at 6:44 a.m., then shot him at least once in the back and once in the right calf, CBS News said, adding that a security camera captured the moment of the shooting.

Wanted poster for suspect in killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City, Dec. 4, 2024. Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images

According to NBC News, Kenny said at a Wednesday news conference that "the shooter then walks toward the victim and continues to shoot. It appears that the gun malfunctions as he clears the jam and begins to fire again."

The suspect initially was described as a white male wearing a black hoodie, black pants, black sneakers with a white trim, and a gray backpack who was using a gun with a silencer, an individual familiar with the matter told CNBC. Kenny later told CBS News that the suspect was wearing a light brown or cream-colored jacket and that his backpack was "very distinctive."

NYPD News posted on X other images here and here showing the person the outlet says is the suspect.

You can view a Wednesday morning report from CBS News here on the manhunt for Thompson's killer.

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UnitedHealthcare CEO fatally shot in possible targeted attack outside NYC hotel: Report



Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealth Group’s insurance unit, was fatally shot in a possible targeted attack outside a New York City hotel Wednesday morning, CNBC reported, citing an individual familiar with the matter.

The New York Times reported that police believe Thompson was targeted in the attack.

Citing police sources, the New York Post reported that a masked gunman allegedly was waiting for Thompson, opened fire at him repeatedly, and fled eastbound off Sixth Avenue.

The shooting took place outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan, CNBC said.

A New York Police Department spokesperson confirmed that a 50-year-old male was shot in front of 1335 Avenue of the Americas at 6:46 a.m., CNBC said, adding that the spokesperson didn't confirm the male's identity.

The NYPD formal report said the male suffered a gunshot wound to the chest, the news network said, adding that he was unconscious and unresponsive upon arrival at Mount Sinai West hospital and in critical condition; he was later pronounced dead.

No arrests have been made, and an investigation is ongoing, CNBC said, citing the NYPD report.

The suspect is described as a white male wearing a black hoodie, black pants, black sneakers with a white trim, and a gray backpack who was using a gun with a silencer, the individual familiar with the matter told the news network.

UnitedHealth Group was hosting its investor day at the hotel, CNBC said, adding that the insurance giant canceled the day's activities after reports of the shooting came to light. Thompson led UnitedHealthcare, the largest private health insurer in the United States, the news network noted.

UnitedHealth Group did not immediately respond to a request for comment, CNBC said, adding that the company didn't confirm the shooting during its investor day.

“I’m afraid that we — some of you may know we’re dealing with very serious medical situation with one of our team members. And as a result, I’m afraid we’re going to have to bring to a close the event today, which I’m sure you’ll understand," UnitedHealth Group staff said during the investor day, according to the news network, citing a transcript.

Citing police sources, the New York Post reported that a masked gunman allegedly was waiting for Thompson, opened fire at him repeatedly, and fled eastbound off Sixth Avenue.

Witnesses added to the Post that suspect had been spotted milling around near the hotel on Sixth Avenue.

Police sources added to the Post that when the suspect spotted Thompson, he began to fire from a distance, striking him multiple times. The suspect then fled through the Ziegfeld alley and used a bicycle to escape, the Post reported.

Sources noted to the Post that the shooter wasn’t a hotel guest, but it's not clear if he had other business there.

The Post, citing Thompson's LinkedIn account, said he had worked with UnitedHealthcare for the last 20 years, became CEO in 2021, and was based at its Minnetonka, Minnesota, offices.

This is a developing story.

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NYC to add more cops with funds previously earmarked for immigrant crisis



Within a year, there will be more than 1,500 new members of New York's Finest, thanks to an influx in funds that were previously intended to address the immigrant crisis, the New York Post reported.

The next two classes of NYPD officers — set to graduate in January and April 2025, respectively — had been nixed last year amid major budget cuts meant to help address the hordes of illegal immigrants pouring into the city.

Now, with more than $100 million restored to NYPD coffers, those two classes have been reinstated, meaning that 1,600 rookie cops will be out on the streets by next October, according to the Post, citing sources in City Hall.

'We're making even MORE investments to public safety, affordability, and livability for working-class New Yorkers.'

On Wednesday, Mayor Eric Adams (D) basically confirmed that report during a press conference to discuss the new budget cycle.

"The November plan adds two police academy classes, which will put 1,600 new officers on our streets by October 2025, increasing our uniformed force to nearly 34,000, getting back and reaching our goal of 35,000 officers patrolling our streets," Adams said at the press conference.

"That's a lot of officers," he continued, "who alongside all the civilian employees of the NYPD work day in and day out to keep us safe."

The X post with a livestream of the press conference included the message: "We're making even MORE investments to public safety, affordability, and livability for working-class New Yorkers."

— (@)

During the press conference, Adams celebrated the reduced cost of addressing the immigrant crisis. According to a press release from his office, the city will save nearly $500 million over the next two fiscal years "primarily due to lower-than-expected number of asylum seekers entering the city's care since July 2024."

Earlier this month — just days after President-elect Donald Trump soundly defeated Kamala Harris, largely on account of the border crisis — New York City decided to end a program which provided thousands of immigrants living at the Roosevelt Hotel with prepaid debit cards in lieu of boxed meals. One of the main reasons cited for ending the program was the dwindling number of new arrivals.

Likewise during the press conference on Wednesday, Adams announced the appointment of Jessica Tisch as the new NYPD commissioner and referenced an officer who was shot in Queens on Tuesday night.

Officer Rich Wong, a seven-year veteran of the force, was wounded during a shootout with a violent suspect who had reportedly committed several armed robberies in the Queens neighborhood of Jamaica. During the shootout, the suspect, 57-year-old Gary Worthy, managed to shoot Wong in the thigh. Wong returned fire, fatally striking Worthy in the face.

Thankfully, Wong has already been discharged from the hospital. An innocent bystander was also wounded in the incident but is expected to survive, the Post reported.

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FACT CHECK: Does Viral Video Show Illegal Immigrant Being Removed From NYC Following The Presidential Election?

A post made on X claims to depict a video of New York Police Department Officers removing an illegal immigrant from the street because of President-elect Donald Trump’s policies. Donald Trump hasn’t even taken office yet and it’s starting New York Police Department removing illegal migrants off the streets Many New Yorkers have been making videos […]

NYC Mayor Eric Adams Undermines Harris’s ‘Fascist’ Accusation Against Trump, Makes Call To ‘Dial Down The Temperature’

Major Blue City Mayor Undermines Harris's 'Fascist' Accusation Against Trump, Makes Call To 'Dial Down The Temperature'

Councilmembers seek to silence NYPD officials critical of leftist anti-cop agenda



Several Democratic New York City councilmembers have sponsored a bill introduced in September that would significantly restrict what New York Police Department officials can post on social media.

The legislation, "Establishing rules of decorum for posting on official social media accounts," was proposed by Councilwoman Nantasha Williams (D) and has collected seven co-sponsors, including Democratic councilmembers Gale Brewer, Lincoln Restler, Shahana Hanif, Althea Stevens, Alexa Avilés, Shekar Krishnan, and Christopher Marte.

'The far left is not happy enough tying the hands of our police officers. Now they are trying to silence them too.'

Williams' bill seeks to require the city to "promulgate rules establishing minimum standards relating to decorum that all agencies must follow in posting on official social media accounts."

The posts cannot "insult, intimidate, or harass the public and shall not prohibit the posting of statistical or factual information." The bill's "minimum" standards declare that officials cannot post anything "attributing negative characteristics or traits to particular persons or to groups of persons," "using language that is intended to incite violence," and "using language that is intended to intimidate."

Williams' legislation also mandates that the city establish a complaint-reporting mechanism for potential violations of these standards. Additionally, the city would be required to launch efforts to educate the public about the new standards and its reporting system.

The bill carves out exceptions to official social media accounts of elected officials and accounts associated with an online alias.

Williams wrote to fellow councilmembers in an email, "The need for this legislation has become increasingly evident, most recently highlighted by the actions of NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell."

"This legislation is a proactive step toward ensuring that our social media platforms are used to inform and engage the public, not for personal attacks or politically motivated behavior," she added.

Some NYPD officials, including Chell, have used their social media accounts to push back on leftist politicians' anti-cop agenda.

In May, Chell torched Councilmember Tiffany Cabán (D) for calling the department's response to the Columbia University pro-Hamas protests "a colossal disgrace," "a horrifying affront to democracy in free speech," and "an abject failure of public safety."

Chell responded to Cabán's statement, calling it "garbage" and noting that it "is coming from a person who hates our city and certainly does not represent the great people of NYC."

"Last night's criminal conduct by entitled non accountable students and the support they receive from Councilmember Tiffany Caban is a colossal disgrace," Chell fired back at the councilmember. "A horrifying affront to democracy and proper behavior from people who are not accountable for their behavior. This was an abject failure of how civilized people are expected to behave in society while continually acting like a perpetual victim."

Chell's statement prompted the Department of Investigation to launch a probe at the request of Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D) and the Legal Aid Society.

"These posts can often convey inaccurate or misleading information and could potentially incite threats of violence," Adams claimed. "This conduct is dangerous, unethical, unprofessional because included in the department's mission is to preserve peace, protect the people and reduce fear at the preliminary budget."

In addition to Chell's social media posts, the department came under fire after publishing its first "NYPD: Most Wanted" video in March. The two-minute, action-packed clip showed officers taking down "real-life individuals facing criminal charges."

According to NYPD spokesperson Tarik Sheppard, the department created the video and others like it to "push back on the misinformation that's out there."

"Because if we don't, it could cause damage to the reputation of our cops and the work that we're doing," Sheppard told the Associated Press.

Councilman Robert Holden (D) pushed back against Williams' proposed bill, stating, "The far left is not happy enough tying the hands of our police officers."

"Now they are trying to silence them too. When will this lunacy stop?" Holden asked.

Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R) said, "When the City Council starts legislating what public agencies can and can't say, that's not governance — that's censorship."

"This isn't just wrong; it's un-American. Forcing agencies to simply toe the party line and follow a script or face legal retribution is authoritarianism, plain and simple, and it flies in the face of everything that our Constitution and the First Amendment stands for," Ariola added.

Last month, NYPD Interim Commissioner Thomas Donlon announced a plan to enact a "one voice" policy within the department, warning officials, "There's only one voice in this department, and that's me."

The NYPD did not respond to a request for comment from the New York Post.

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Venezuelan gangs getting away scot-free, NYPD says: 'Every single one of them is on the streets today'



New York Police Department Detective Bureau Assistant Chief Jason Savino warned that young and violent members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua are not facing any real consequences for their criminal actions in the Big Apple.

During a Tuesday interview with WNYW, Savino explained that the transnational gang has a significant presence in the Times Square area, particularly around the former Roosevelt Hotel turned immigrant shelter. He warned that the violent group has even started recruiting children.

'It's a product of bail reform.'

Savino stated that the police department is aware that the group has gotten its hands on many firearms, as evidenced by photographs posted online by alleged gang members.

He described TDA as "tremendously brazen" and "absolutely ruthless."

"Individuals ... have committed a multitude of crimes with basically no repercussions," Savino told WNYW.

The assistant chief explained that in the New York City area, the group started out as a robbery crew.

"Twenty individuals arrested for upwards of 50 robberies," Savino said. "And out of those 20 individuals, every single one of them is on the streets today."

According to Savino, the young gang members are not facing consequences because of their age and bail reforms.

"We put a lot on our DA [Alvin Bragg]; we have to look at our judges as well," he added.

As the gang has continued to establish itself in the city, its recruiting process has become more organized, he added.

"Formerly, it was kind of scattered all over the place," Savino said of TDA's recruiting efforts. "But now we're seeing that structure where there's actually kick-ups where people are recruiting these young members — as young as 11, and they've been described in some of these robbery incidents as young as eight years old."

Savino is deeply concerned there will soon be a gang war because the TDA subset in Times Square, which refers to itself as "Los Diablos de la 42" or "Little Devils on 42nd Street," has "called out" the Latin Kings, one of the city's most notorious gang.

"It's a recipe for potential disaster," Savino told WNYW.

He told the New York Post that the gang is communicating with one another using group chats "on their government-issued phones."

"It's a product of bail reform," Savino added. "We tried to try some in criminal court, somewhat unsuccessfully."

Bragg's office did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.

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'Worst of the worst': Cops bust 24-hour immigrant-run brothel in NYC's notorious 'Market of Sweethearts'



NYPD cops conducted a late-night raid on the immigrant-run brothel in New York City on Wednesday, according to officials.

The New York Post reported that the raid took place at an immigrant-run brothel located in the infamous “Market of Sweethearts” — a main strip along Roosevelt Avenue in Queens that is notorious for its rampant prostitution.

‘But there’s prostitution all over. It’s ridiculous. It’s shameful.’

The raid was launched by police officers from the vice squad and the 110th Precinct. Law enforcement officials said prostitutes and johns were arrested in the raid.

“This brothel was the worst of the worst. It operates 24 hours,” Queens Democratic district leader Hiram Monserrate told the Post.

Monserrate noted that the sex workers are illegal immigrants who are forced into prostitution to pay off debts of up to $50,000 to human traffickers.

“The migrant crisis has contributed to the crime — the sheer number who came here in a short period of time. Some of them are part of organized crime rings,” Monserrate added.

The news outlet highlighted that immigrant sex workers solicit business on the busy streets while drugs and stolen merchandise are peddled on the sidewalk in broad daylight.

Mirella Gutierrez, co-owner of a pharmacy near Roosevelt Avenue, said, “But there’s prostitution all over. It’s ridiculous. It’s shameful.”

Guiterrez said her business is hurting because the customers "feel threatened" by the prostitutes and vendors hawking stolen goods.

In New York City, prostitution is a class B misdemeanor — punishable by up to 90 days in jail.

In January, the NYPD announced that it had shut down a dozen brothels posing as massage parlors in Queens' "Market of Sweethearts" that were rife with “inhumane conditions” during a weeklong operation.

However, the Post reported that there were sex workers propositioning potential clients a day after the raids.

In a Blaze News exclusive, it was revealed that the violent Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua has infiltrated the United States in unknown numbers and has been targeting desperate immigrants. Tren de Aragua is actively expanding its transnational criminal empire to include kidnapping, extortion, and human trafficking.

Tren de Aragua purportedly forces women into prostitution to pay off smuggler debt. If they refuse, the gang members reportedly threaten to murder their family members in Venezuela.

In October 2021, Mayor Eric Adams declared that New York City would remain a sanctuary city under his leadership and would welcome undocumented immigrants.

However, the Democratic mayor has changed his tune regarding illegal immigration after New York City has been ravaged by a immigrant crisis.

In August 2023, Adams warned that the influx of illegal aliens would cost New York City an estimated $12 billion over the next three years.

Adams also proclaimed that the Big Apple is "past our breaking point" because of a "broken immigration system."

As Blaze News reported in November 2023, Adams admitted that the influx of Venezuelan immigrants had contributed to the increased numbers of prostitutes in New York City. However, Adams claimed that the women turn to prostitution because they can't find work that is legal.

Last month, Adams called for changes to New York's sanctuary city laws due to several high-profile crimes committed by immigrants.

"What we need to alter are those who are repeat, violent offenders," Adams said. "After they served their time they should be turned over to ICE and be removed from our city."

Blaze News previously reported that more than 60% of suspects arrested in Queens are illegal immigrants.

As of August, over 210,000 illegal aliens had arrived in New York City since the spring of 2022.

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75% of arrestees in NYC neighborhood are illegal aliens, police estimate



Law enforcement officers in New York City estimate that in some neighborhoods, the majority of arrestees are illegal aliens who are emboldened to commit crimes due to the city’s sanctuary status and relaxed bail guidelines.

Police sources told the New York Post that in recent months, as many as 75% of those arrested in Midtown Manhattan are illegal immigrants. The individuals are being detained for assault, robbery, and domestic violence, the sources noted. In Queens, more than 60% of arrestees are illegal aliens, the police sources estimated.

'Commit crimes and attack police officers and be out the next day.'

A Midtown Manhattan officer told the Post, “I would say about 75% of the arrests in Midtown Manhattan are migrants, mostly for robberies, assaults, domestic incidents, and selling counterfeit items.”

He clarified that the figure is an estimate because “you can’t be 100% sure [they’re migrants] unless you arrest them in a shelter or they’re dumb enough to give you a shelter address.”

According to the New York Police Department, the city’s sanctuary policies prohibit it from tracking the immigration status of offenders, the Post reported.

A spokesperson for the department told the news outlet, “Police officers are prohibited from asking about the immigration status of crime victims, witnesses, or suspects, and therefore the NYPD doesn’t track data pertaining to immigration statuses.”

According to a Manhattan police officer, illegal immigrants are “easily” 75% of arrestees, excluding those arrested for petty larcenies at drug stores. He stated that illegal aliens are responsible for “most” of the pickpocketing incidents in the city.

“Most of the people we arrest are professionals — these aren’t their first crimes,” a law enforcement source told the news outlet.

“Crime would be down significantly if there was a wall and we could account for everyone who comes into the country,” the source added. “And more importantly, throw them out if they commit a crime.”

Police sources noted that illegal immigrants residing in the city’s shelter system know that they will likely be quickly released back out onto the street after an arrest.

A law enforcement officer at Queens Criminal Courthouse told the Post that the increase in crimes committed by illegal aliens can also be observed in the courts.

“There are days we have so many migrant cases we have to call in for extra Spanish interpreters,” the source stated.

Another court officer told the news outlet that nearly all cases on Mondays involve illegal aliens.

Patrick Hendry, the president of the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York Inc., said that the city’s criminal justice system is “failing to protect” residents.

“Now word has gotten out that you can come to New York to commit crimes and attack police officers and be out the next day. That message needs to change in order to keep dangerous people off our city streets,” Hendry remarked.

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Illegal alien released after attack on NYC cops in May just got arrested, released for another alleged crime



An illegal alien who was accused of attacking two New York Police Department officers in May — after which he was granted a supervised release — was just released on his own recognizance for a different alleged crime.

According to a criminal complaint reviewed by the New York Post, 24-year-old Alexander Ayala around 3:30 p.m. Aug. 12 allegedly grabbed an unidentified woman's cellphone and Amazon credit card near the intersection of 11th Avenue and West 49th Street and then bolted on a bicycle. Ayala later that day tried to use the credit card at two businesses, the Post said, citing the complaint.

'The public safety of New Yorkers is clearly at risk.'

Ayala was charged with two counts of third-degree identity theft and one count of criminal possession of stolen property, the paper said. Since neither charge is eligible for bail, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office — headed by Democrat Alvin Bragg — requested that the court grant Ayala supervised release, the Post added.

Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Simiyon Haniff agreed, allowing Ayala to walk free on his own recognizance, the paper noted.

Yet, Ayala at the time was already facing several charges for previous, more severe crimes.

Earlier this year, Ayala was released from custody after he was charged with two counts of assault and one count of obstruction for allegedly participating in a brawl with NYPD officers at the Roosevelt Hotel, which is functioning as a shelter for illegal immigrants.

On May 19, a group of people at the shelter were accused of attacking two officers who were responding to reports of a dispute between two groups of illegal immigrants. In addition to allegedly participating in the melee, Ayala was also accused of attempting to steal one of the officer's hats to keep as a trophy. Three other illegal aliens also were arrested for their alleged participation in the assault.

One of the officers sustained injuries, including a bite on his left arm and bruises on his left leg. The other cop suffered head injuries and wounds on his arm. The NYPD officers were treated at a nearby hospital.

Prosecutors in that case recommended Ayala be held in jail on a $20,000 cash bond or a $20,000 insurance bond and a $40,000 partially secured surety bond, the Post reported. Instead, he and his alleged accomplices were granted supervised release. At least two other individuals involved in the scuffle also were reportedly released for earlier arrests.

What's more, Ayala at that time reportedly had a domestic violence charge on his rap sheet from December.

He's expected in court Sept.12 for both the May assault and recent theft charges.

Sources told the Post that the attack on the cops was similar to a caught-on-camera assault in January where a large mob of illegal aliens kicked and punched two NYPD officers in Times Square.

A group of 20 New York Republican senators wrote a letter in February to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul urging her to remove Bragg. They slammed his handling of the Times Square assault, stating that his failed actions "must be the final straw."

"The public safety of New Yorkers is clearly at risk," lawmakers wrote.

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