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DOJ Moves To Toss Charges Against Former Republican Lawmaker

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Gavel via Wikimedia Commons Image

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday moved toย toss out chargesย against former Rep.ย Jeff Fortenberryย (R-Neb.), who resigned from Congress in 2022.

The request to dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning the same charges canโ€™t be brought again, comes as President Trumpโ€™s Justice Department has moved to end criminal prosecutions of his political allies, including those who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack and Trumpโ€™s co-defendants in his federal classified documents case.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump celebrated the end of the DOJโ€™s โ€œwitch huntโ€ against Fortenberry and claimed he was the victim of a weaponized justice system.

โ€œThe charges were totally baseless,โ€ Trump said. โ€œThat Scam is now over, so Jeff and his family can go back to having a great life together, and be a part of our Countryโ€™s future as we MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. I am very proud of our Department of Justice, something I have not been able to say for many years!โ€

A jury in Los Angeles previously convicted him in 2022 following a federal investigation, but a federal appeals court overturned the case in late 2023. (RELATED: Appeals Court Overturns Ex-Congressmanโ€™s Conviction For Lying To FBI)

The charges centered on statements Fortenberry gave to authorities as they investigated the $30,200 donation to the former congressmanโ€™s campaign at a 2016 fundraising event in California from Gilbert Chagoury, a Nigerian businessperson.

Federal election law prohibits foreign nationals from making contributions in support of any candidate for a federal elected office in the U.S.

That conviction was overturned by a federal appeals court in 2023, after it determined Fortenberry should have faced trial in Nebraska or Washington, D.C., instead.

Federal prosecutors brought the case again in Washington in May, and Fortenberry was awaiting a new trial when Trump won the presidential race.

North Carolina Democrat Resigns After Tampering Trump Election Materials

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A local Democrat Party chairย in North Carolinaย resigned after he was arrested for allegedly ripping out and stealing roadside signs supporting former President Donald Trump.ย 

Lowell Simon, the now former chair of the Moore County Democrat Party, who is also running for North Carolina House in November, was charged with two counts of misdemeanor larceny of political signs.ย 

The Moore Countyย Democratic Partyย announced in a Facebook post on Monday that 68-year-old Simon had resigned as chair “following recent allegations and arrest related to the theft of political signs.”ย 

The Moore County Sheriff’s Office said a deputy working in the West End area observed Simon removing campaign signs from the roadside along Seven Lakes Drive at approximately 5:25 p.m. Thursday. 

Fox News reports:

“The deputy, who was responding to an unrelated call at the time, later followed up at Simonโ€™s residence, where the signs were found in his vehicle,” according to the office. “Simon admitted to removing the signs, which were then recovered and returned to their original owner.” 

A warrant for Simon’s arrest was issued Saturday. He was released “under a written promise to appear in court,” according to the sheriff’s office, and his first court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 30. 

“While we appreciate the hard work and dedication he has shown to the Democratic Party and the community, the Moore County Democratic Party cannot and will not condone the tampering of political signs or any other illegal activity,” the local party wrote on Facebook. “Mr. Simon has offered an apology for his actions, as well as his resignation, both of which have been accepted by the MCDP.”

“My worse angels got the better of me and I removed the signs,” Simon said. “I shouldn’t have done that. I didn’t do it in the stealth of night or anything. I did it when it was five o’clock in the afternoon.”

“We believe in the importance of freedom of expression and speech, and hope that local law enforcement will continue to enforce such laws that protect those freedoms fairly and without bias across party lines,” the local party added. “As we move forward, our focus will remain on electing Democrats up and down the ballot in this critical election. Together, we are committed to promoting the values of justice, fairness, and freedom that our Party holds dear, and we look forward to building a better future for all in Moore County.”

NYC Mayor โ€˜Welcomesโ€™ Possible Trump Support After Corruption Indictment

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams is looking for support anywhere he can get it.

Adams said he would โ€œwelcome support from every Americanโ€ in response to aย questionย from theย Washington Examinerย about whether he would accept former Presidentย Donald Trumpโ€™sย favor.

Trump recently said he had predicted Adams would be โ€œindicted within a yearโ€ as the mayor called for federal government funds to deal with the cityโ€™s migrant crisis.

โ€œListen, I welcome support from every American,โ€ Adams said Tuesday at a press conference. โ€œNo matter where they are and who they are, I welcome support from every American. Those who know me and know how I am, and those who are just reading up on this. So every American in this great country, I welcome support from.โ€

Trumpโ€™s comments last week suggested that he sympathized with the mayor.

โ€œI watched about a year ago when he talked about how the illegal migrants are hurting our city, and the federal government should pay us, and we shouldnโ€™t have to take them,โ€ the former president said. โ€œAnd I said, โ€˜You know what? Heโ€™ll be indicted within a year,โ€™ and I was exactly right.โ€

Watch:

An Adams spokesman believes press coverage of Adamsโ€™s remarks has been misguided.

โ€œThis is a distortion of what the mayor said today,โ€ Fabien Levy, Adamsโ€™s deputy mayor for communications, said in a social media post. โ€œHe never said he was looking for Trumpโ€™s support. Mayor Adams has said multiple times that he supports Kamala Harris for president. In fact, the mayor traveled to Chicago to support her historic nomination in August.โ€

Adams was recently indicted on five corruption charges, including bribery and wire fraud, for his actions allegedly soliciting benefits from foreign nationals, namely Turkish government officials, in exchange for favors.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams could be facing a bevy of new charges after being indicted last week in a federal corruption case. On Wednesday, prosecutors said that further counts are โ€œquite likelyโ€ and that more defendants may be implicated.

Doug Emhoff Hit With Explosive Allegations From Fed-Up Ex

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Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

New York, NY โ€“ For the first time, a prominent New York attorney has publicly accusedย Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice Presidentย Kamala Harris, of physically assaulting her during their relationship. The allegations,ย shared exclusively with theย Daily Mail, come just 11 days before the upcoming election, creating potential complications for the Harris campaign.

According to the ex-girlfriend, Emhoff slapped her across the face at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival in the French Riviera, causing her to spin around from the impact. The incident allegedly took place while the couple was in a valet line, with Emhoff becoming jealous as she spoke with another man. Her account is corroborated by three sources close to her, who initially spoke to the Daily Mail earlier this month:

Emhoffโ€™s accuser, who DailyMail.com is naming only as โ€˜Janeโ€™, initially declined to comment on the record. But Emhoffโ€™s denial, and his alleged hypocrisy by claiming to be a feminist inย mediaย interviews, finally became too much for her.

โ€˜Whatโ€™s frightening for a woman thatโ€™s been on the other end of it, is watching this completely fabricated persona being portrayed,โ€™ Jane said.

โ€˜Heโ€™s being held out to be the antithesis of who he actually is. And that is utterly shocking.โ€™

In a statement to Semafor published October 3, a spokesperson said โ€˜this report is untrue,โ€™ and that โ€˜any suggestion that he would or has ever hit a woman is false.โ€™

โ€œKamala Harrisโ€™ husband Doug Emhoff slapped me in the face so hard I spun aroundโ€ฆ Iโ€™m disgusted by his fake โ€˜perfect spouseโ€™ persona,โ€ the woman told the Daily Mail. Her comments suggest a stark contrast between Emhoffโ€™s public image as a supportive and devoted partner and the behavior she claims to have experienced during their relationship.

The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Emhoff, who has been referred to as the โ€œwife guyโ€ by political allies, married Harris in 2014. He has two children from a prior marriage to Kerstin Emhoff, which reportedly ended after an affair with the family’s nanny. Claims that the nanny suffered a miscarriage related to Emhoff’s actions remain unverified.

The timing of these allegations could have significant implications for the vice presidentโ€™s campaign as Election Day draws near, adding a layer of controversy that could sway undecided voters.

This article originally appeared on American Liberty News. It is republished with permission.

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Indicted Congressman Eyes Party Switch After Potential Presidential Pardon

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Speculation on Capitol Hill is building that Congressmanย Henry Cuellarย (D-Texas), who is currently facing federal corruption charges, might consider switching parties if granted a presidentialย pardon. The potential shift has set political tongues wagging, fueled by Cuellarโ€™s complicated legal battle and reactions from both sides of the aisle.

The rumor is as follows:

Itโ€™s alleged someone is going to receive a pardon and flip from blue to red in the House of Representatives.

Now I fully believe that this person has only gotten indicted because of his wide open criticism of the current admin and his opposition toโ€ฆย https://t.co/WjCOGNNbcaโ€” George Santos (@MrSantosNY)ย December 26, 2024

Cuellar, a conservative Democrat, was indicted in May following a two-year investigation by the Department of Justice. The probe, linked to an ongoing corruption case, began after FBI agents raided his South Texas home and campaign office. While initial details were sparse, reports alleged that Cuellar cultivated relationships with Azerbaijani and Mexican business leaders, leveraging his congressional position to advance their interests in U.S. policy.

The indictment, if accurate, presents a damning picture. Between 2014 and 2021, Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, allegedly accepted $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities: an Azerbaijani state-owned oil and gas company and a Mexico City-based bank. Federal prosecutors claim these payments were funneled through bogus consulting contracts to shell companies under Imelda Cuellarโ€™s name, with little to no actual work performed.

In exchange, Cuellar allegedly influenced U.S. foreign policy to benefit Azerbaijan and supported legislative activities favorable to the Mexican bank. The charges against the Cuellars are sweeping, with potential penalties stacking up as follows:

Two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery and acting as an unregistered foreign agent (up to 5 years each).

Two counts of bribery of a federal official (up to 15 years each).

Two counts of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud (up to 20 years each).

Two counts of violating laws against unregistered foreign agents (up to two years each).

One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering (up to 20 years).

Five counts of money laundering (up to 20 years each).

Both Henry and Imelda Cuellar have pleaded not guilty, with the congressman insisting his actions were focused on serving South Texans. Despite the charges, Cuellar secured an 11th term in November, showcasing his political resilience among his constituents.

President-elect Donald Trump has eagerly weighed in on the case. Writing on Truth Social shortly after the indictment, Trump accused the Biden administration of targeting Cuellar and his wife for his conservative stance on border policy.

โ€œBiden just indicted Henry Cuellar because the respected Democrat Congressman wouldnโ€™t play Crooked Joeโ€™s open border game. He was for Border Control, so they said, โ€˜Letโ€™s use the FBI and DOJ to take him out!โ€™โ€ Trump wrote, calling the administration โ€œD.C. Thugsโ€ and labeling President Biden a โ€œthreat to democracy.โ€

The drama surrounding Cuellarโ€™s case, coupled with rumors of a potential party switch, has heightened tensions in Washington. Inside the Beltway, all eyes are on the congressman to see whether he will stay the course or make a stunning shift in a historically narrowly divided Congress.

Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News

Authorities Arrest Suspect After Making Threats Against Trump

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The threats won’t stop…

Aย Pennsylvaniaย woman was arrested earlier this week after allegedly making threats against former Presidentย Donald Trumpย before a scheduled rally at Penn State University.

Paul J. Gavenonis, 74, a registered Democrat and resident of Spring Township, reportedly made alarming comments while purchasing a parking pass at the universityโ€™s transportation office. According to witnesses, Gavenonis, who identifies as transgender, expressed hostility toward Trump, stating,ย โ€œI hate Donald Trump. Iโ€™d like to shoot that guy,โ€ย while making a gesture that resembled cocking a gun.

The remarks prompted the transportation office staff to alert authorities. According to The Daily Wire, Gavenonis also allegedly referenced climbing a building in the area but expressed concern over being spotted by students if carrying a firearm.

During her interrogation, Gavenonis reportedly said, โ€œFrankly, I hope someone would get him.โ€ After her arrest, she admitted to having a rifle at home.

Gavenonis was charged with making terroristic threats and disorderly conduct.

District Judge Steven Lachma denied Gavenonis bail, citing the seriousness of the allegations and potential security concerns.

Gavenonisโ€™ arrest follows two assassination attempts against Trump in the last few months of the 2024 campaign, as The Daily Wire reported.

In September, the former president was targeted in an apparent assassination attempt, when a 58-year-old man hid out for 12 hours near Trumpโ€™s golf course in Florida, allegedly to take a shot at him.

The assassination attempt came just two months after Trump was on stage at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13 when a gunman opened fire, hitting him in the ear, killing one Trump supporter, and injuring two others at the rally.

Gavenonisโ€™ preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday, Oct. 30.

Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News

Bill Bar Calls On Prosecutors To Drop Cases Against Trump

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The United States Department of Justice, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Former Trump Attorney General Bill Barr encouraged prosecutors to drop pending charges against President-elect Trump.

โ€œThe American people have rendered their verdict on President Trump, and decisively chosen him to lead the country for the next four years,โ€ Barr said in an interview with Fox News, after the White House race was called for Trump.

โ€œThey did that with full knowledge of the claims against him by prosecutors around the country and I think Attorney General Garland and the state prosecutors should respect the peopleโ€™s decision and dismiss the cases against President Trump now,โ€ he added.

Trump was convicted in New York on 34 felony charges related to his hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels and still faces indictments in three other trials. His actions to block the peaceful transfer of power after his 2020 loss sparked federal charges as well as a case in Georgia, while the former president also faced federal counts for retaining classified documents at his Florida estate, before the case was indefinitely postponed by the judge.

Trump is set to face sentencing in the New York case later this month but has also sought to toss the case after the Supreme Court ruled that former presidents retain broad immunity after leaving office.

The Justice Department (DOJ) under a second Trump administration, is widely expected to move to drop both federal cases against the president-elect.

The Florida case was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on technical grounds involving Smith’s appointment.

The GOP presidential nominee has pledged to fire special counsel Jack Smith, who is overseeing the election interference cases, โ€œwithin two seconds.โ€

โ€œHeโ€™ll be one of the first things addressed,โ€ Trump said last month.

Barr added that Smith and the DOJ should drop the cases before Trump even takes office.

โ€œFurther maneuvering on these cases in the weeks ahead would serve no legitimate purpose and only distract the country and the incoming administration from the task at hand,โ€ he said.

โ€œThe public interest now demands that the country unite and focus on the challenges we face at home and abroad. Attorney General Garland and all the state prosecutors should do the right thing and help the country move forward by dismissing the cases,โ€ the former attorney general added.

Trump Secures Key Border Patrol Endorsement At Arizona Rally

Former President Donald Trump received a significant endorsement from the Border Patrol union during a campaign rally in Arizona, a crucial swing state. The endorsement could prove pivotal as immigration remains a top concern for voters.

The rally, held on Sunday, was marked by Trumpโ€™s promise to increase border security. He announced plans to hire 10,000 additional border agents, provide a 10% pay raise and introduce a $10,000 signing and retention bonus. โ€œThey deserve it,โ€ Trump said, highlighting what he described as unfair treatment of agents.

The Washington Times further reports on border security personnel throwing their support behind the only candidate they believe will secure the border:

Paul Perez, president of the union representing 16,000 Border Patrol agents, said the former president has been aย trueย ally.

โ€œAmerica, I have a message for you: If we allow โ€˜Border Czarโ€™ Harris to win this election, every city, every community in this great country is going to go to hell,โ€ Mr. Perez said, lamenting that millions of unvetted migrants who have entered the country illegally under the Biden-Harris administration.

โ€œOnly one man can fix that. That isย Donald J. Trump,โ€ he said.

โ€œHe has always stood with the men and women who protect this border, who put their lives on the line for the country,โ€ he said.

Illegal immigration has consistently ranked as a key issue, with a study in June revealing that half of the jobs created under President Bidenโ€™s economic policies went to undocumented workers rather than American citizens.

Trumpโ€™s endorsement by the Border Patrol union comes as Democrats face increasing pressure over their handling of the border crisis. Matt Corridoni, spokesperson for the Harris campaign, criticized the endorsement, pointing to what he called Trumpโ€™s broken promises. โ€œTrump told us Mexico would pay for his failed border wall. That was a lie,โ€ Corridoni stated, adding that Trump killed a bipartisan border bill that could have strengthened border security.

Corridoni also defended Vice President Kamala Harrisโ€™s record, stating, โ€œThereโ€™s only one candidate focused on tackling issues for the American people, has taken on transnational gangs, and is focused on keeping our communities safeโ€”Vice President Kamala Harris.โ€

Despite these efforts, Democrats have faced challenges in managing immigration. Harris, in her role as “border czar,” has been criticized for the influx of nearly 10 million undocumented migrants during her tenure. The situation worsened when Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas confirmed on Oct. 2 that DHS may not have sufficient funds to provide assistance through the end of the hurricane season, after spending $1 billion on immigration-related costs.

As Election Day rapidly approaches, immigration is likely to remain a central issue, with both parties vying for voters concerned about border security.

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Republican Says Hunter Biden Investigation Will Move Forward

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President Joe Biden hugs his family during the 59th Presidential Inauguration ceremony in Washington, Jan. 20, 2021. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. (DOD Photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Carlos M. Vazquez II)

The House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep.ย Jim Jordanย (R-Ohio) said the panel will continue its investigation into Hunter Bidenโ€™s criminal activity in a Thursdayย interview with Politico.

โ€œWe think we need to look atย David Weiss,ย the special counsel,โ€ Jordan told the outlet.ย 

โ€œThere will be some additional work we need to do, I think, there because when we deposed him, he wasnโ€™t willing to โ€” he didnโ€™t answer any questions, really, because it was [an] ongoing investigation,โ€ he added.

He criticizedย President Bidenย for pardoning his son ahead of his exit from the White House on all crimes committed in a 10-year period.

โ€œI didnโ€™t agree with it. I think a lot of Americans didnโ€™t,โ€ Jordan said.

But he added that โ€œthe president can pardon anyone he wants to pardon.โ€

Jordanโ€™s committee launched a broad probe intoย Hunter Bidenย and his uncle James Biden for alleged unethical business dealings which prompted their testimony before members of Congress last year.

Former Congressman Madison Cawthorn Arrested

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Former Congressman Madison Cawthorn was briefly arrested this week in Cape Coral, Florida โ€” yet the setback may not slow what many believe is a mounting effort to reenter national politics.

Authorities took Cawthorn into custody on a warrant stemming from an August 19 citation for driving without a valid license in Naples. He was released shortly thereafter on a $2,000 bond and is expected to appear in court to resolve the matter. Supporters have dismissed the incident as a minor technicality, unlikely to derail his ambitions.


From Conservative Trailblazer to Political Lightning Rod

Cawthorn burst onto the national stage in 2020 as one of the youngest Republicans ever elected to Congress, winning his North Carolina seat at just 25 years old. He quickly became a symbol of youthful conservative energy and unapologetic defiance of the Washington establishment.

But his meteoric rise ran into turbulence during his lone term. In early 2022, he alleged that some D.C. elites had invited him to a cocaine-fueled โ€œorgy,โ€ a claim that drew sharp criticism from GOP leadership. Weeks later, police body camera footage showed him being pulled over while driving a car he mistakenly believed he owned, and he was also cited for bringing a firearm through airport security โ€” his second such incident in less than a year.

Republican leadership, once supportive, gradually distanced themselves. The controversies overshadowed his legislative work and contributed to his loss in the 2022 Republican primary.


Florida Could Offer a Second Act

Now, Cawthorn may be plotting a political revival โ€” this time from Floridaโ€™s 19th Congressional District, where Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) is expected to step down to run for governor. Axios recently reported that Cawthorn has been exploring a run to fill the soon-to-be-open seat, potentially offering him a clean slate and new political base in one of the countryโ€™s most Republican-leaning regions.

If he enters the race, Cawthorn could return to Washington older, more seasoned, and still armed with the anti-establishment instincts that made him a grassroots favorite. For many conservatives, his resilience โ€” and willingness to challenge entrenched power โ€” could be the very qualities the GOP needs in its next generation of leadership. for the second time in nine months.