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    Fani Willis Breaks Silence On Latest Misconduct Allegations

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      5
      Gage Skidmore Flickr

      On Sunday, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis broke her silence after former President Donald Trump’s co-defendant accused her of having a romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade in the state’s case against Trump.

      For the first time since the allegations were made, Willis spoke on the matter at the Big Bethel AME Church in Atlanta on Sunday.

      “They only attacked one,” she said. “First thing they say, ‘Oh, she’s gonna play the race card now.’

      “But no God, isn’t it them that’s playing the race card when they only question one,” Willis asked.

      Citing “sources close” to both Willis and Wade, Roman’s lawyer, Ashleigh Merchant, claimed the pair have been involved in an “ongoing, personal and romantic relationship,” and went on vacations together. The filings argued the alleged relationship, which Merchant claims started before the election interference began, makes the indictment “fatally defective” and requests it be dismissed.

      “I’m a little confused. I appointed three special counselors. It’s my right to do, paid them all the same hourly rate. They only attack one,” Willis said Sunday. “I hired one white woman, a good personal friend and a great lawyer, a superstar, I tell you. I hired one white man — brilliant — my friend and a great lawyer. And I hired one Black man, another superstar, a great friend and a great lawyer.”

      Although she never mentioned Wade by name during the speech on Sunday, she referred to the man as “a great friend and a great lawyer.”

      Earlier this month, court documents filed say Willis hired special prosecutor Nathan Wade, her alleged partner, to prosecute Trump and benefited financially from the relationship in the form of lavish vacations the two went on using funds his firm received for working the case.

      “The district attorney chose to appoint her romantic partner, who at all times relevant to this prosecution has been a married man,” court documents read.

      Fulton County records show Wade has been paid nearly $654,000 in legal fees since January 2022.

      Former GOP State Rep Acquitted In Second Corruption Trial

        By
        Madeleine Jackson
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        1
        Gavel via Wikimedia Commons Image

        On Thursday, Former Michigan Rep. Larry Inman (R) was acquitted on all counts involving bribery and extortion after a second corruption trial.

        Inman, 69, was charged in 2019 for allegedly soliciting a bribe, attempted extortion, and lying to federal investigators, according to the Detroit Free Press.

        According to The Daily Caller, in 2019 a jury originally found Inman not guilty of lying to investigators, however, they could not reach a verdict regarding the remaining counts forcing the trial to go into a second hearing, Detroit Free Press reported.

        “I think he’s very glad to have this behind him,” Inman’s attorney James Fisher stated. “He feels vindicated because this has been a very long struggle for him. And he’s never said anything other than that he is not guilty of these charges, and I think the jury believed that.”

        The jury had allegedly debated for 45 minutes before reaching their final verdict on Thursday. According to the outlet, the first jury deliberated for over 10 hours over two days during the first hearing.

        Inman served as a Michigan representative from 2015 to 2020. However, Fisher noted that Inman is unlikely to get back into politics.

        “I think it’ll be very hard for him to get back involved in politics after this just because he’s struggled through this whole entire process,” Fisher told the Detroit Press. “I hope the people that he represented see this and look at him in a positive way. I think he is a good man who deserves to be credited for what he did for his constituents.”

        Trump Bucks Judge With Courtroom Monologue

        By
        admin
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        5
        Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

        In the end, former President Donald Trump spoke to the court from the defense table in his civil fraud trial.

        Trump’s remarks came during closing arguments, which remain ongoing.

        “The facts are the financial statements are perfect, that there are no witnesses against us. The banks got all their money paid back. There were great loans,” Trump maintained, echoing remarks he has previously made in public.

        Trump spoke for approximately five minutes before accusing Judge Arthur Engoron of having his own agenda.

        “I certainly understand that,” the GOP front-runner persisted. “You can’t listen for more than one minute.”

        At that point, Engoron told one of Trump’s lawyers to “control your client.” The judge eventually cut Trump off.

        Engoron ruled on Wednesday that he wouldn’t allow Trump to speak during his attorneys’ closing arguments because he wouldn’t agree to avoid personal attacks.

        NBC News further reports on the unprecedented courtroom display:

        Speaking from the table sitting next to his lawyers, Trump spoke to denying all wrongdoing while Engoron quietly listened.

        Trump maintained that banks “got all their money back” and “they weren’t defrauded” while repeating his call to receive damages “for what we’ve gone through.”

        The former president accused James’ office of not providing one document proving her allegations of inflating his financial statements and argued that the case presents a “situation where I”m an innocent man.”

        “The legal scholars looking at this case find it disgraceful,” he said, adding “this is a fraud on me.”

        James is asking Engoron to fine Trump and his co-defendants over $370 million and impose a lifetime ban on Trump and two former company executives from the New York real estate industry.

        This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

        This article was republished with permission from American Liberty News.

        Police Respond To Bomb Threat Targeting Judge In Trump Fraud Trial

        By
        Madeleine Jackson
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        3
        Police image via Pixabay free images

        Authorities in Nassau County, New York, are responding to a bomb threat at the residence of the judge presiding over Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial.

        New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron received the threat this morning, hours before closing arguments are scheduled to begin.

        Per ABC News:

        In light of the threat, the court is adding additional security for the judge, the court official said.

        Nassau County Police bomb technicians responded to Engoron’s home out of an abundance of caution. Nassau County Police notified the court system of the threat, which they say they have determined to be unfounded.

        Today’s court proceedings are expected to proceed as planned.

        Trump is prohibited from delivering closing remarks by Engoron after he refused to agree to the judge’s proposed conditions to limit the subject of conversation to what is permissible in a lawyer’s closing argument.

        The former president is on trial for allegedly deceiving lenders.

        This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

        This article is republished with permission from American Liberty News.

        Judge Judy Makes Endorsement Ahead Of Iowa Caucus

          By
          Madeleine Jackson
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          3

          On Wednesday, Judge Judith Sheindlin, better known to fans as Judge Judy, announced she is endorsing Nikki Haley for president.

          Fox News first reported the news:

          “I’m proud to endorse Nikki Haley because she is whip smart, has executive credentials and was a superb governor,” Sheindlin said in a statement. “She has international gravitas as Ambassador to the United Nations. She is principled, measured and has that elusive quality of real common sense. I truly think she can restore America and believe she is the future of this great nation.”

          Haley returned the compliment, calling the judge a “no-nonsense lady.”

          “Judge Judy is a no-nonsense lady who has earned the respect of millions of Americans from her courtroom by being thoughtful, fair, and honest. I’m honored to have her support,” Haley said in a press release. 

          For 25 years, Sheindlin starred on the beloved show “Judge Judy,” where her witty retorts in the courtroom earned her millions of dedicated fans. Instead of stepping away from television for good, she is now the presiding judge on Amazon Freevee’s “Judy Justice,” which became Freevee’s No. 1 original show with more than 150 million viewers over the past two years.

          Sheindlin is a graduate of New York Law School, was appointed to the bench in New York City’s Family Court in 1982 and became the Supervising Judge of the Manhattan Court in 1986. 

          Report: Fani Willis Accused Of Hiring Lover As Key Prosecutor

            By
            admin
            -
            0
            Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

            On Monday, a court motion was filed stating that Atlanta-area District Attorney Fani Willis (D) improperly hired the special prosecutor who assisted in securing a grand jury indictment against former President Donald Trump.

            The filing by Michael Roman, a co-defendant and 2020 Trump campaign official, states that the court should disqualify Willis for the alleged affair that financially benefitted her and her lover.

            Roman alleges that private attorney Nathan Wade, who is married with children, paid for lavish vacations with Willis using funds his law firm received from the county.

            As The Washington Times reports:

            According to court documents reviewed by The Washington Times, Mr. Wade’s firm has been paid nearly $654,000 in legal fees since January 2022 in the prosecution of Mr. Trump over his efforts to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.

            Mr. Roman is a former Trump campaign official and one of 19 defendants charged with election interference in the case. He is seeking to have the charges against him dismissed and for the prosecutors in the case to be disqualified.

            Mr. Roman said Ms. Willis did not obtain county approval in hiring Mr. Wade, and brought him on board to lead the day-to-day prosecution of the former president, despite her own office having “numerous experienced lawyers fully capable of preparing this case for the grand jury and trial.”

            The court filing asserts that “sources close to both the special prosecutor and the district attorney have confirmed they had an ongoing, personal relationship.”

            The motion goes on to state that the lovers went on vacations from Napa Valley to the Caribbean, “and the special prosecutor has purchased tickets for both of them to travel on both the Norwegian and Royal Caribbean cruise lines.”

            his article was republished with permission from American Liberty News.

            CNN Anchor Reveals Cancer Diagnosis On Air

              By
              Madeleine Jackson
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              1
              CNN Headquarters via Wikimedia Commons

              On Monday, “CNN News Central” anchor Sara Sidner announced she is undergoing treatment for stage 3 breast cancer.

              “I have never been sick a day of my life. I don’t smoke, I rarely drink. Breast cancer does not run in my family,” Sidner said on CNN’s air. “And yet here I am with stage 3 breast cancer. It is hard to say out loud.”

              Sidner says she is in her second month of chemotherapy and plans to undergo radiation and a double mastectomy.

              The prominent news anchor recently traveled to the Middle East to cover the ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas and the social unrest the conflict has caused.

              “Seeing the kind of suffering going on where I was and seeing people still live through the worst thing that has ever happened to them with grace and kindness, I was blown away by their resilience,” she told People Magazine as part of an interview published Monday. “In some weird way, it helped me with my own perspective on what I am going to be facing.”

              Trump Moves To Dismiss Georgia Election Interference Case

              By
              Madeleine Jackson
              -
              1
              Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

              Former President Donald Trump’s legal team has moved to dismiss the Georgia election subversion case, arguing that presidential immunity shields Trump from prosecution.

              The GOP front-runner’s attorneys argue that the indictment from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis charges Trump for “acts that lie at the heart of his official responsibilities as President.”

              Willis charged Trump last August with 13 counts for attempting to overturn President Joe Biden’s 11,779 vote victory in Georgia. The headline-grabbing charge was a violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute, a law associated with the American mafia.

              Willis’ case that Trump and his co-conspirators exerted pressure on Georgia election officials in public and private included testimony from 75 witnesses, from former Trump advisers and attorneys to Peach State office-holders.

              As CNN reports:

              Trump’s immunity claims in the Georgia case, filed on Monday as part of a motion to dismiss state-level criminal charges against the former president, are similar to those argued by his defense team in the federal election subversion case.

              “The indictment in this case charges President Trump for acts that lie at the heart of his official responsibilities as President. The indictment is barred by presidential immunity and should be dismissed with prejudice,” the motion filed by Trump’s lawyer in the Georgia case reads.

              Monday’s filing in the Georgia case reiterates what the former president’s lawyers have repeatedly asserted – that Trump was working in his official capacity as president when he allegedly undermined the 2020 election results and therefore has immunity.

              As such, Trump’s indictment in both the Georgia and federal case are unconstitutional because presidents cannot be criminally prosecuted for “official acts” unless they are impeached and convicted by the US Senate.

              Reacting to the filing, Georgia State University constitutional law professor Anthony Michael Kreis called the motion to dismiss “so meritless it borders on the comical.”

              “Trump was acting as a candidate and not as president,” Kreis commented on X. “Despite using the trappings of his office to browbeat officials, nothing that Trump has been indicted for in Georgia constituted an official presidential act. Engaging in racketeering activity is not shielded by Article II.”

              This article was republished with permission from American Liberty News.

              New York AG Demands Trump Pay Over $300 Million In Fraud Case

                By
                Madeleine Jackson
                -
                4
                Image via Pixabay free images

                New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) asked the judge in former President Donald Trump’s civil fraud case to impose a $370 million fine on the former president on Friday.

                In Friday’s court filing ahead of closing remarks James accused Trump, his business, and several top executives — including his adult sons — of using “myriad deceptive schemes” to falsely inflate his net worth by billions.

                “The conclusion that defendants intended to defraud when preparing and certifying Trump’s (statements of financial condition) is inescapable,” reads the state’s post-trial brief. 

                In addition to paying the $370 million penalty, James also asked the judge to issue a lifetime ban on the former president and two top executives from doing real estate business in New York.

                In their post-trial brief, Trump’s counsel repeated claims they made at trial — that banks wanted to work with the Trump Organization, did their due diligence and found no fraud. 

                “Errors or misstatements happen all the time in accounting, if there are no indicia of fraud such as concealment, forgery, or deceit, then there is no basis to determine that these SFCs are fraudulent, and any misstatements are just accidental errors,” the defense brief states.

                Trump’s adult sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, also defendants in the case, urged the judge to dismiss the case against them. They claimed the attorney general failed to show they had “anything more than a peripheral knowledge or involvement in the creation, preparation or use” of their father’s financial statements.

                “The record evidence and testimony adduced at trial conclusively establishes that the SFCs were prepared, in their entirety, by others at the company working in conjunction with the company’s long time outside accountants,” their lawyer, Clifford Robert, wrote in their joint post-trial brief. 

                Senate Campaign Arm Files Brief To Keep Trump On Colorado Ballot

                  By
                  Madeleine Jackson
                  -
                  3
                  Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC via Wikimedia Commons

                  The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and Montana Sen. Steve Daines (R) have filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court to keep Donald Trump on Colorado’s primary ballot.

                  Daines’s amici curiae — or friend-of-the-court — brief is part of a broader Republican backlash against the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling that Trump violated the Constitution’s insurrection clause.

                  Daines, the chair of the Senate Republican campaign arm, argues the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling “breaches” the Constitution’s “bedrock guarantee of American democracy.”

                  According to The Hill, Daines and the NRSC wrote that they have “a unique and profound interest” in the case because they support and seek to uphold the rights of all American citizens to vote for the candidate of their choice, arguing the Colorado court decision deprives Americans of that right.

                  They argue that even if Section 3 of the 14th Amendment bars Trump from holding office, it does not bar him from appearing on the ballot, and that it is solely the prerogative of Congress to disqualify him from the Oval Office if he wins the election.  

                  “So even if the Colorado Supreme Court were correct that President Trump cannot take office on Inauguration Day, that court has no basis to hold that he cannot run for office on Election Day and also seek removal for any alleged disqualification from Congress if necessary,” they wrote.

                  Daines announced last month he would file a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court asking it to reverse the Colorado court’s decision, which he called “a disgrace to our country and our democracy.” 

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