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Trump Appeals To Supreme Court To Overturn E. Jean Carroll Case Verdict

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President Donald Trump has formally asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the civil verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming former Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll, marking the latest chapter in a years-long legal battle that has shadowed his political comeback.

In a petition filed with the Court, Trump’s attorneys argued that the $5 million jury verdict was “propped up” by “a series of indefensible evidentiary rulings” that allowed Carroll’s lawyers to introduce what they called “highly inflammatory propensity evidence.” The filing claimed that these rulings unfairly prejudiced the jury and violated federal evidentiary standards.

“President Trump has clearly and consistently denied that this supposed incident ever occurred,” attorney Justin Smith and his co-counsel wrote in the filing. “No physical or DNA evidence corroborates Carroll’s story. There were no eyewitnesses, no video evidence, and no police report or investigation.”

Carroll first sued Trump in 2019, after publishing a memoir alleging that he raped her in a department store dressing room in New York City in the 1990s. Trump denied the accusation outright, saying he had never met Carroll, that she was not his “type,” and that she fabricated the story to promote her book. His forceful denials led to Carroll’s defamation claims, resulting in two separate trials.

Trump’s lawyers now assert that U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, who oversaw the trial, “warped federal evidence rules” to support Carroll’s “implausible, unsubstantiated assertions.” They further contend that by upholding the verdict, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals created a conflict with other appellate courts over how such evidence should be treated.

When Trump’s legal team first announced in September that they would appeal to the Supreme Court, Carroll’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, dismissed the move. “We do not believe that President Trump will be able to present any legal issues in the Carroll cases that merit review by the United States Supreme Court,” she said at the time.

A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team characterized the Supreme Court filing as part of a broader effort to fight what they describe as politically motivated legal attacks. “The American People stand with President Trump as they demand an immediate end to all of the Witch Hunts, including the Democrat-funded travesty of the Carroll Hoaxes,” the statement said.

The appeal follows a series of defeats for Trump in the lower courts. In December 2024, a three-judge panel of the 2nd Circuit upheld the $5 million verdict, rejecting claims that trial errors had tainted the outcome. In June 2025, the same court denied Trump’s request for a full rehearing by all active judges, leaving him with the Supreme Court as his last legal option.

Trump did not attend the original 2023 trial but briefly testified at a second defamation trial in 2024, which resulted in a separate $83.3 million damages award for Carroll. That verdict was also upheld in September by a 2nd Circuit panel, which described the jury’s damages as “fair and reasonable.” Trump has since asked the full appellate court to reconsider that decision as well.

Trump Pardons Former Lawmaker Convicted In Corruption Probe

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President Donald Trump signs Executive Orders, Monday, February 10, 2025, in the Oval Office. (Official White House photo by Abe McNatt)

President Trump has granted full pardons to former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his ex-chief of staff Cade Cothren — two Republican operatives convicted in a federal corruption case involving a legislator-funded mailer program. The White House announced that the decision came after what the administration describes as a disproportionate prosecution by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Biden administration.

According to a senior White House official, Casada and Cothren were convicted of a “minor issue involving constituent mailers — which were billed at competitive prices, never received a complaint from legislators, and resulted in a net profit loss of less than $5,000.” The official added that “the Biden DOJ responded with an armed raid, a perp walk and suggested sentences exceeding 10 years — penalties normally reserved for multimillion-dollar fraudsters.”

Casada was sentenced in September to three years in prison, and Cothren to two and a half years, following their convictions. Casada resigned from his speakership in 2019 after a no-confidence vote within his party.

The former lawmaker was found guilty of 17 charges in the public corruption case, while Cothren was found guilty of all 19 charges in the trial that began in April. 

Casada resigned in 2019 after a no-confidence vote by fellow Tennessee Republicans. 

President Trump’s recent pardons:

To understand the Casada/Cothren case in context, here are key examples of Trump’s clemency use:

  • Earlier this year, Trump pardoned former Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland (R), who had resigned amid a federal corruption scandal and served prison time.
  • He also pardoned former New York Representative Michael Grimm (R), who pleaded guilty to tax fraud.
  • In February, Trump pardoned former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) — who had been convicted in a high-profile federal corruption case — further underscoring the breadth and partisan ramifications of his clemency decisions.

READ NEXT: Report: Jack Smith Quietly Plotting ‘Counterattack’ On Trump

Marjorie Taylor Greene Reportedly Prepping For 2028 Presidential Run

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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) is reportedly considering a run for president in 2028 — a move that, if realized, could reshape the Republican Party’s post-Trump era and test the staying power of the “America First” movement.

According to a new report from Notus, Greene has privately expressed interest in following in Donald Trump’s footsteps to the White House. The outlet cites four sources familiar with her thinking, saying Greene believes she represents the “real MAGA” faction — the core conservative movement that has reshaped the GOP since 2016 — and that many Republican leaders have drifted away from those grassroots values.

One source told Notus that Greene feels confident she has built the national donor network and grassroots support needed to mount a serious primary campaign, especially as the GOP’s base remains loyal to Trump’s populist agenda.


Building a National Brand

While Greene has long been a lightning rod for criticism from the left, she’s also gained national recognition for her unapologetic defense of conservative causes — from border security to religious freedom, from cutting wasteful spending to standing up against what she calls the “weaponization” of government against political opponents.

In recent months, Greene has sought to expand her reach beyond the hardcore MAGA base. She’s made high-profile appearances on Bill Maher’s “Real Time” on HBO, The View, and CNN, signaling an effort to engage audiences outside of conservative media. Her willingness to enter unfriendly territory underscores her confidence and desire to make the case for conservative principles in front of skeptics.

As one GOP strategist told Notus, “She’s trying to take the MAGA message to a national stage — not just to Republicans, but to all Americans who feel Washington is broken.”


Criticizing the GOP’s Lack of Direction

Greene has also been unafraid to criticize her own party when she believes it has lost focus. On Real Time, she expressed frustration with Republicans who, after years of campaigning to repeal and replace Obamacare, “still don’t have a plan.”

“I’m angry about that,” Greene said on the show, adding that conservatives need to deliver tangible results, not just rhetoric.

In recent weeks, she has also called out male Republican members of Congress as “weak” for caving to establishment pressure, blasted the GOP for having “no plan” to avoid government shutdown chaos, and criticized the party’s leadership for not pushing harder to release Jeffrey Epstein files, saying Americans deserve transparency and truth.


A Populist in the Trump Mold

Those close to Greene describe her as both fiercely loyal to Donald Trump and equally committed to ensuring his populist movement survives beyond him. She was one of Trump’s earliest and most vocal defenders during both impeachments and remains one of his strongest allies in Congress.

At the same time, Greene has worked to develop her own national voice, one that emphasizes restoring American sovereignty, rebuilding manufacturing, reducing foreign entanglements, and protecting traditional values that she argues have been under assault from both the left and establishment Republicans.

The 2028 Question

When asked directly about a presidential run during an appearance on comedian Tim Dillon’s podcast last October, Greene laughed off the speculation — but didn’t shut it down entirely.

“Oh my goodness. I hate politics so much, Tim,” she said. “People are saying that, and I’ve seen a few people saying ‘she’s running’… What I’m doing right now is I very much want to fix problems. That’s honestly all I care about.”

Still, those familiar with her thinking say Greene’s ambitions go beyond her congressional seat. With her growing national platform, fundraising power, and ability to command headlines, she could emerge as one of the most influential Republican figures in the post-Trump era — whether she runs in 2028 or not.

In August, President Donald Trump made his clearest endorsement yet for a future Republican presidential candidate, declaring that Vice President JD Vance is “most likely” to carry the MAGA torch after his second term ends.

Trump described Vance as “probably the favorite” to lead the Republican Party into the next election cycle.

“He’s most likely the heir,” Trump said, referring to Vance. “He understands the movement, he understands the people, and he’s doing a phenomenal job as Vice President.”

Trump also praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling him “somebody that maybe would get together with JD in some form,” suggesting Rubio could play a key role in a future Vance-led administration or campaign.

Rubio, for his part, echoed Trump’s praise of Vance during a recent interview with Lara Trump on Fox News.

“I think he’s doing a great job as Vice President. He’s a close friend, and I hope he intends to do it,” Rubio said of Vance.

Although recent polling has shown Rubio with some early support among Republican voters for a potential 2028 run, conventional political wisdom indicates he wouldn’t start publicly signaling interest in running for president until much closer to the election.

“You never know what the future holds,” Rubio said. “But if I’m able to finish this term strong and we accomplish what we’ve set out to do, I’ll be satisfied with that as the apex of my public service career.”

Justice Department Preparing To Issue Subpoenas In Probe Of Former CIA Chief

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Justice Department officials in Miami and Washington, D.C. are moving forward with grand jury subpoenas as part of an expanding investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan, according to Fox News sources.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Jason Reding Quiñones is supervising the probe, according to Fox News.

Fox News previously revealed that both Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey were under federal investigation as of July 2025. Comey is already facing trial in January, while Brennan has not yet been indicted — though prosecutors are preparing to present evidence to a grand jury in South Florida.

The case gained renewed momentum last month when House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) formally referred Brennan to the Department of Justice, accusing him of lying under oath to Congress.

Jordan charged that Brennan “willfully and intentionally” misled lawmakers during his 2023 testimony, when he denied that the CIA relied on the Steele dossier in compiling the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) — the report that alleged Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump. Brennan also claimed the CIA had opposed using the dossier’s contents — a claim Jordan and other Republicans say is demonstrably false.

The Steele dossier, a controversial collection of memos compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele, accused then-candidate Donald Trump of collusion with Russia. The dossier was later debunked, and evidence showed it was funded by the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

Appeals Court Reopens Path to Dismiss Trump’s Hush Money Conviction

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A federal appeals court has reopened a potential path to dismissing President Donald Trump’s controversial hush money conviction, a major development that could upend the first criminal verdict ever rendered against a U.S. president.

On Thursday, a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit revived Trump’s bid to move the case out of New York state court and into federal court—where he plans to argue that the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity shields him from prosecution for actions connected to his time in office.

The appeals panel said it “cannot be confident” that the lower court properly evaluated Trump’s arguments before rejecting his request last year.

“The court bypassed what we consider to be important issues bearing on the ultimate issue of good cause,” the panel wrote.

The judges did not express an opinion on whether Trump’s strategy should prevail, but sent the case back to the lower court for further review.

“We leave it to the able and experienced District Judge to decide whether to solicit further briefing from the parties or hold a hearing to help it resolve these issues,” the panel added.

Trump’s team has long maintained that the Manhattan prosecution was politically motivated and orchestrated by Democratic officials seeking to damage his 2024 campaign. The conviction—34 counts of falsifying business records—stemmed from what prosecutors described as a “hush money” payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Trump has denied the alleged affair and consistently argued that the payments were legal expenses.

The move to federal court, if successful, could provide a new venue for Trump to challenge what many conservatives view as an abuse of prosecutorial power and a double standard in the justice system. The Supreme Court’s presidential immunity decision in July strengthened Trump’s position, establishing that presidents are entitled to significant constitutional protections against criminal prosecution for official acts.

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

Trump Offers Explanation In First Comments Since Democrats’ Election Success

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Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

President Donald Trump offered an explanation on Wednesday morning after Democrat candidates swept the 2025 elections.

In his first remarks since the elections, President Donald Trump said that the ongoing government shutdown was partly to blame for Republican losses on Election Day.

Trump told reporters during a breakfast with GOP lawmakers at the White House that election night on Tuesday “was not expected to be a victory,” and provided the 36-day government shutdown as one of two possible reasons.

“I think, if you read the pollsters, the shutdown was a big factor,” Trump said. “Negative for the Republicans, and that was a big factor.”

Trump added: “And they say that I wasn’t on the ballot and was the biggest factor. But I don’t know about that. But I was honored that they said that.”

His remarks come after Democrats won resoundingly in multiple states on Tuesday, with exit polls showing economic worries were very much on the minds of voters.

“I don’t think it was good for Republicans,” Trump said of the election results. “I don’t think it’s good. I’m not sure it was good for anybody.”

Some major losses for Republicans included the New York City mayoral race, and contests for governor in New Jersey and Virginia. Democrats also secured another expected win in California, where voters approved a new congressional map that is designed to help their party win five more U.S. House seats in next year’s midterm elections.

On the morning following the defeats, Trump called on lawmakers to bring the 36-day government shutdown, now the longest on record, to an end. 

“We must get the government open,” Trump said, going on to push Republican senators to end the filibuster.

“It’s time for Republicans to do what they have to do,” he said. “Terminate the filibuster.”

Anti-Trump Judge Boasberg Hit With Articles of Impeachment

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Just in…

Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) isn’t backing down. On Tuesday, he filed impeachment articles against U.S. District Judge James Boasberg — the same judge who signed off on subpoenas in the secretive “Arctic Frost” probe targeting Republican lawmakers.

“Chief Judge Boasberg has compromised the impartiality of the judiciary and created a constitutional crisis,” Gill told Fox News Digital. “He is shamelessly weaponizing his power against his political opponents… Judge Boasberg was an accomplice in the egregious Arctic Frost scandal where he equipped the Biden DOJ to spy on Republican senators.”

Gill’s impeachment resolution hits Boasberg with one count of abuse of power, accusing him of authorizing “frivolous nondisclosure orders” that blocked telecom companies from alerting lawmakers their phone records were being subpoenaed.

Documents released by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) show that Verizon followed those gag orders — while AT&T refused. Both the subpoenas and the gag orders bore Boasberg’s signature, igniting outrage from GOP senators like Ted Cruz, who called the operation “worse than Watergate.”

The judge’s defenders point out that the Stored Communications Act gives him discretion in approving such orders — but it’s unclear what evidence Boasberg reviewed before granting them.

Republicans say the surveillance trampled on the Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause, which protects lawmakers from law enforcement over their legislative work. Legal experts note that protection isn’t absolute — and the balance of power between Congress, the courts, and the executive branch is now back in the spotlight.

This isn’t Gill’s first attempt to oust Boasberg. He threatened impeachment earlier this year when Boasberg halted Trump-era migrant deportation flights but backed off after GOP leaders said it wasn’t the right moment.

Read the entire resolution:

Report: Jack Smith Quietly Plotting ‘Counterattack’ On Trump

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By The White House - https://www.flickr.com/photos/202101414@N05/54581054338/, Public Domain,

Jack Smith, the special counsel who tried to bring down Donald Trump over classified documents, is still talking tough — even after his cases fell apart.

According to The New York Times, Smith made the remarks last month during a discussion at University College London with former Justice Department prosecutor Andrew Weissmann. Smith said the evidence demonstrated Trump’s “willfulness”—a key legal element that distinguished Trump’s case from the separate investigation into President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents, which resulted in no charges.

“The rule of law allows for different outcomes when the facts are different,” Smith said. “One of the major differences between the two cases is the obstructive conduct in the case that I investigated.”

He explained that to prove illegal possession of classified documents, prosecutors must show the defendant knowingly broke the law.

“In my particular case, we had tons of evidence of willfulness,” Smith said, pointing to Trump’s repeated public claims that the documents were his and his refusal to return them after investigators demanded their return.

Smith even cited Trump’s social media posts as proof of guilt — saying Trump’s insistence that the documents were his somehow showed “willfulness.” Critics say that sounds more like criminalizing free speech than proving a crime.

Trump fired back on Truth Social: “He is a CRIMINAL AND SHOULD BE IN JAIL. A MAJOR LOWLIFE AND FAILURE.”

But the facts tell a different story: Biden walked free, Trump’s case got tossed, and Smith’s record of political prosecutions is in tatters.

Both of Smith’s cases have since been dismissed. A federal judge threw out the classified documents case in July 2024, and Smith dropped election-related charges after Trump’s November victory. The Justice Department’s own guidance bars the indictment of a sitting president, and the Supreme Court expanded presidential immunity in a ruling last year.

Meanwhile, congressional Republicans have referred Smith to the Justice Department for allegedly overstepping his authority by subpoenaing metadata from lawmakers’ phones during his probe into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Illinois Man Charged After Repeated Calls For Trump’s Execution

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Federal authorities say an Illinois man repeatedly posted videos calling for President Donald Trump’s execution, prompting a Secret Service investigation and a federal charge for making interstate threats.

A criminal complaint filed Oct. 31 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and unsealed Monday identifies the defendant as Trent Schneider, 57, of Winthrop Harbor. He is charged with making a true threat to injure another person in interstate commerce.

Authorities say Schneider posted violent videos and memes on Instagram as his home faced foreclosure. In a video posted Oct. 16, the complaint alleges he looked into the camera and said, “People like me have suffered real f—ing crimes from f—ing judges, doctors, lawyers, police. They all should be killed. All of them should be executed for what they’ve done.”

The affidavit quotes Schneider continuing, “They need to be killed. They need to be executed, ok? They are frauds, ok? I think it’s time. I’ve waited long enough. I’m going to get some guns. I know where I can get a lot of f—ing guns and I am going to take care of business myself. I’m tired of all you f—ing frauds. People need to f—ing die and people are going to die. F— all of you, especially you, Trump. You should be executed.”

Prosecutors contend Schneider reposted the same video nearly 20 times, often tagging Trump Tower Chicago; each post included the caption: “THIS IS NOT A THREAT!!! … AFTER LOSING EVERYTHING and My House Auction date is 11.04.2025 @realDonaldTrump SHOULD BE EXECUTED!!!”

A viewer in Florida reported one post to authorities, which led the Secret Service to identify Schneider’s Instagram account and open an investigation. Agents visited his Winthrop Harbor home on Oct. 22 and observed cameras on tripods in the driveway. Schneider reportedly came outside, ordered officers off his property and later posted a video showing them leaving, again with the execution caption.

The complaint notes prior encounters with law enforcement: Schneider was interviewed in 2022 over violent posts targeting public officials and later arrested that year after allegedly threatening to “shoot up” a T-Mobile store. A court found him unfit to stand trial in 2023.

According to prosecutors, Schneider’s social-media anger appeared linked to his home’s impending foreclosure, set for auction on Nov. 4. He allegedly referenced “losing everything” and blamed judges and other officials he labeled “frauds.”

CBS Chicago reported the Secret Service enlisted the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and a SWAT team to execute arrest and search warrants; Schneider was taken into custody without incident.

If convicted on the federal charge, he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, the Justice Department says.

Report: Trump Administration Planning New Mission In Mexico Against Cartels

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By The White House - https://www.flickr.com/photos/202101414@N05/54325633746/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=159707159

The Trump administration has launched detailed planning for a bold new mission to send American troops and intelligence officers into Mexico to dismantle violent drug cartels, according to two current U.S. officials and two former senior officials familiar with the effort.


Initial training for this potential operation — which would include ground operations inside Mexico — is already underway, though a full deployment is not, at this moment, imminent. The officials say the scope is still being debated and no final decision has been made.
Under the proposed plan, U.S. troops — many drawn from the elite Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) — would operate under Title 50 status (the U.S. intelligence framework) and coordinate with officers from the Central Intelligence Agency.


This would mark a sharp departure from previous administrations, which generally confined U.S. efforts in Mexico to support roles (advising local police or army units) rather than direct action. The new approach signals that the Trump team views cartels as an insurgent threat to U.S. national security — not simply a law-enforcement challenge.


If green-lit, the mission is expected to remain largely covert, without public fanfare. The administration is framing this as part of an “all-of-government” approach to protect American communities from cartel violence and drug flows.
Key to the plan will be drone strikes targeting drug laboratories and cartel leadership. Some of these drones require operators on the ground, hence the need for special forces and intelligence personnel inside Mexico.


This push builds off an earlier move: the State Department designated six Mexican cartels — along with MS‑13 and the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua — as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. That step unlocked sweeping legal authorities for U.S. spy agencies and military units to go after their networks.


Furthermore, President Trump has publicly acknowledged authorizing covert CIA action inside Venezuela and has signaled that land-based strikes on cartel targets could follow.


The reported move into Mexico thus reflects a two-front strategy: continuing pressure on Venezuela-based narcotics networks while now looking to tackle the land routes and infrastructure of cartels operating in North America. According to the officials, both the intelligence community and military assess that the “hemisphere war” on narco-terror must intensify — and that the U.S. has both the sovereign interest and legal authorities to act.


Context on the Venezuela Campaign

Here are some of the key developments and background on the recent Trump administration effort against drug trafficking and narcoterrorism in Venezuela.

  • In early September 2025, U.S. forces struck a vessel off the coast of Venezuela carrying illegal narcotics. The administration described the target as operated by a designated narco-terrorist organization.
  • In October 2025, President Trump announced that another strike resulted in six “narcoterrorists” killed aboard a boat allegedly trafficking drugs from Venezuela toward the U.S.
  • The administration formally told Congress that the U.S. is now in a “non-international armed conflict” with certain drug cartel organizations, marking a shift in legal posture from purely interdiction to armed confrontation.
  • The region’s deployment has included U.S. Navy warships in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, paired with surveillance platforms and special operations forces.
  • The Trump team argues this is justified by the scale of the drug-flow threat: ships carrying huge loads of narcotics destined for U.S. streets and deaths — making the fight one of national security, not just crime-control.
  • On the flip side, critics argue there are serious legal, sovereignty and human-rights concerns: whether strikes in international waters or even near foreign shores are consistent with U.S. and international law when the targets are suspected smugglers rather than declared enemy combatants.