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    Steve Bannon Asks Supreme Court to Intervene in Effort to Avoid Prison

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    3
    Duncan Lock, Dflock, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

    He’s pulling out all the stops…

    Steve Bannon filed an Emergency Application with the Supreme Court asking for intervention in his four-month prison term for defying a Congressional subpoena from the House Select Committee investigation of the events of January 6th.

    The application comes just hours after an appeals court denied his request for a bid to delay his prison sentence.

    Bannon’s legal team argued the sentence would impede his role as a top adviser to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. Prosecutors dismissed this claim and said Bannon’s “role in political discourse” is irrelevant to the case, stressing the principle of “equal justice under the law.”

    “There is no dispute that Mr. Bannon ‘is not likely to flee or pose a danger to the safety of any other person or the community if released’—indeed, he has been out on release for years now without incident.” reported CBS’s Scott McFarlane who read the application.

    American Liberty News has more:

    “There is also no denying the fact that the government seeks to imprison Mr. Bannon for the four-month period immediately preceding the November presidential election,” McCotter added. “There is no reason for that outcome in a case that presents substantial legal issues.”

    Late Thursday, a federal appeals panel denied Bannon’s efforts to stay out of jail in a 2-1 decision. The majority opined that Bannon “knew what the subpoena required yet intentionally refused to appear or to produce any of the requested documents.”

    In a dissenting opinion, Judge Justin Walker — an appointee of former President Trump — wrote that Bannon should not be incarcerated before the Supreme Court considers the appeal of his conviction.

    “Applicant Mr. Bannon seeks the narrow relief of continued bail pending completion of his further appeals—relief that Judge Walker would have granted below, as explained in his dissent,” McCotter wrote. 

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

    FBI Agents Sue DOJ To Block Release Of Officials’ Names In Trump Investigations

    By
    Patrick Houck
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    6

    Nine anonymous FBI officials who worked on investigations related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and the classified documents case at Mar-a-Lago have filed a class-action lawsuit against the Trump administration. The lawsuit seeks to prevent the Department of Justice (DOJ) from compiling a list of officials involved in these high-profile cases, arguing that such a move could lead to retaliation and security risks.

    Agents Warn of National Security Concerns

    The plaintiffs claim the DOJ’s actions amount to an “unlawful” and “retaliatory” purge, raising alarms about potential misuse of the information.

    “Should this information fall into the wrong hands, the national security of the United States would be severely compromised,” the lawsuit states.

    Beyond job security, the agents fear broader professional consequences, alleging they could face demotions, lost promotions or blocked career opportunities as a result of their past investigative work.

    The New York Times has additional details:

    The lawsuits came in response to a demand by Emil Bove, the acting deputy attorney general, that the F.B.I. compile and turn over a list of everyone who worked on those cases. That group, the lawsuits estimated, could number as many as 6,000 agents.

    The lawsuits said that the agents believed the administration intended to reveal their identities, exposing the agents and their families to profound danger. They seek court orders prohibiting the executive branch from releasing the names.

    The Trump administration has not said it intends to release the identities of the law enforcement officials, but its demand for names of people who worked on the cases has stoked the belief that it may move to fire them en masse. At the Justice Department, prosecutors who have worked on cases involving President Trump or the Jan. 6 rioters have been dismissed. The lawsuits on Tuesday appear to be putting down a marker that could expand into a challenge to any mass firings if they happen.

    “It is clear that the threatened disclosure is a prelude to an unlawful purge of the F.B.I. driven solely by the Trump administration’s vengeful and political motivations,” Chris Mattei, a lawyer for the Federal Bureau of Investigation Agents Association, said in a statement. “Releasing the names of these agents would ignite a firestorm of harassment towards them and their families, and it must be stopped immediately.”

    DOJ Under Scrutiny

    The lawsuit marks a significant legal challenge to the administration’s handling of federal law enforcement personnel, particularly those involved in the cases against President Trump. Critics warn that the creation of such a list could pave the way for politically motivated employment retaliation, a concern that has gained traction, especially on the left, amid ongoing debates over government oversight and accountability.

    A key element of the case is a DOJ questionnaire, which the plaintiffs say was distributed to thousands of FBI officials, asking them to disclose their involvement in Jan. 6 and Trump-related investigations. The lawsuit argues this effort could set a dangerous precedent for targeting law enforcement officials based on past casework.

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

    Colorado Secretary Of State To Put Trump’s Name Back On The Ballot

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    On Wednesday, the Colorado Republican Party filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court to review the decision made by the Colorado Supreme Court, which disqualified Donald Trump from appearing on the state’s presidential ballot. The disqualification was due to his alleged involvement in the U.S. Capitol riot and the subsequent application of the “insurrection” clause of the United States Constitution.

    Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D) announced on Thursday afternoon that Trump will remain on the ballot printed on Jan. 5, unless the United States Supreme Court upholds the lower court’s decision or declines the appeal.

    Griswold expressed her displeasure on X/Twitter and called on the Supreme Court to uphold the earlier decision.

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

    This article was republished with permission from American Liberty News.

    Trump, Meta Settle Lawsuit Over Social Media Ban

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    Image via Pixabay free images

    Donald Trump has officially settled his lawsuit against Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta platforms.

    Earlier on Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed an agreement requiring Meta Platforms to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit he brought after his social media accounts were suspended in 2021.

    The settlement resolves a 4-year-long court battle over free speech and social media censorship, with Meta suspending Trump following his remarks on the January 6 Capitol riot.

    According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, settlement negotiations reportedly became more serious after Mark Zuckerberg dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in November following Trump’s election victory.

    Of the settlement, $22 million will go toward the president’s library, with the remainder designated for legal fees and other plaintiffs.

    This settlement follows efforts by tech companies previously hostile to Trump to get into his good graces, with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Apple CEO Tim Cook, in addition to Zuckerberg, each donating $1 million respectively, to the inauguration.

    Alongside Meta, Trump sued other major platforms, including Twitter and YouTube, over his suspensions, arguing that the companies had wrongfully violated his right to share political speech.

    Although Trump’s Facebook and Instagram access was eventually restored, his attorneys argued that an atmosphere of uncertainty continued for him online.

    Zuckerberg, for his part, had previously explained that Meta saw security concerns in allowing continued engagement by high-profile figures who contested election results.

    Reflecting on the 2021 suspensions, he said the potential risks posed amid that tumultuous period were “simply too great.”

    While the lawsuit with Meta has now been settled, the broader debate over what boundaries, if any, private businesses can set for political speech shows few signs of fading.

    Nate Silver Reveals The One Battleground State That Could Cost Kamala The White House

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    2
    Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Polling and data guru Nate Silver said Thursday that Vice President Kamala Harris is poised to be a “slight underdog” in Pennsylvania, a crucial battleground state with 19 electoral college points.

    Silver, a prominent elections analyst and statistician, wrote on Substack that while Harris is leading by 3.8 points in his national poll tracker and is slated to win the popular vote, his nuanced election forecast model predicts former President Trump is electorally favored to win the White House by a 52.4% chance, versus Harris, who now shows a 47.3% chance of pulling off an electoral victory.

    “Kamala Harris had one of her worst days in some time in our forecast on Thursday despite gaining in our national polling average,” Silver wrote.

    But, he continued, “There’s another, longer-term concern for Harris, though: it’s been a while since we’ve seen a poll showing her ahead in Pennsylvania, which is the tipping-point state more than a third of time in our model.”

    The latest Emerson College swing state poll shows Trump and Harris tied at 48% each in Pennsylvania. 

    “The model puts a lot of weight on this recent data because of all the changes in the race,” Silver explained. “And you can see why it thinks this is a problem for her: if she’s only tied in Pennsylvania now, during what should be one of her stronger polling periods, that implies being a slight underdog in November.”

    At the current date, Silver said his model shows a 17% chance that Harris wins the popular vote but not the Electoral College, calling it “a big concern for her campaign all along. 

    “If she won the popular vote nationally by between 1 and 2 points, for instance, the model estimates that she’d still be a 70/30 underdog in the Electoral College,” he wrote.

    Still, Silver acknowledged that Harris’ unusually late entry into the race could skew his forecast results.

    “While there’s a solid basis for this empirically, you could argue we’re under unusual circumstances because of her late entry into the race. So if you want to treat all of this as a little fuzzier than usual, I don’t really mind that,” he wrote.

    FBI Refuses to Hand Over Docs Linked to Alleged Biden Crime Ring

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    3
    Jsg2020, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has refused to turn over subpoenaed documents related to the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into the Biden family’s business dealings.

    On Monday, the agency refused to provide the document in a private meeting with the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, according to Fox News. The unclassified FD-1023 document details criminal allegations of a pay-to-play scheme related to the Biden family’s business dealings, according to a whistleblower at the agency who spoke with Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).

    Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) who chairs the Oversight Committee, issued the subpoena to the FBI, which previously failed to provide the document by a May 10 deadline. Comer has threatened to hold the FBI’s budget “hostage” until the agency turns over the document.

    “They don’t respect anyone in Congress,” Comer said Monday on Fox News. “They’ve been able to get away with this for a long time. The media continues to turn a blind eye. The Senate Republicans continue to fund the FBI. Why would you change your business model when you’re getting everything you want?”

    House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said he had a call with FBI Director Christopher Wray on Friday and is confident the agency will eventually provide the document.

    “I explained to the director that we will do everything in our power, and we have the jurisdiction over the FBI, and we have the right to see this document,” McCarthy said Sunday on Fox News. “I believe after this call, we will get this document.”

    Comer said Monday he has spoken with McCarthy about holding Wray under contempt if he does not comply.

    Trump Announces New Education Secretary

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1

    On Tuesday evening, President-elect Donald Trump announced his choice to lead the Department of Education.

    Read Trump’s full statement below:

    It is my great honor to announce that Linda McMahon, former Administrator of the Small Business Administration, will be the United States Secretary of Education.

    For the past four years, as the Chair of the Board at the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), Linda has been a fierce advocate for Parents’ Rights, working hard at both AFPI and America First Works (AFW) to achieve Universal School Choice in 12 States, giving children the opportunity to receive an excellent Education, regardless of zip code or income. As Secretary of Education, Linda will fight tirelessly to expand “Choice” to every State in America, and empower parents to make the best Education decisions for their families.

    Linda served for two years on the Connecticut Board of Education, where she was one of fifteen members overseeing all Public Education in the State, including its Technical High School system. She also served as a Member of the Board of Trustees at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, for two stints totaling over 16 years. She is now doing an incredible job as Co-Chair of our Trump-Vance Transition Team. Linda will use her decades of Leadership experience, and deep understanding of both Education and Business, to empower the next Generation of American Students and Workers, and make America Number One in Education in the World. We will send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort.

    Former Top Harris Aide Reveals Which Trump Pick Could Sink Her Candidacy

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    (Los Angeles - EUA, 09/06/2022) Presidente da República Jair Bolsonaro, durante Sessão Plenária de Abertura da IX Cúpula das Américas..Foto: Alan Santos/PR

    A former communications aide to Vice President Kamala Harris thinks one Republican is a major threat to her vice presidency.

    Ashley Etienne, who served as Harris’ communications director in 2021, told CNN on Friday that she believes Ohio Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) is an “incredible debater” and could be the “greatest threat” in the upcoming election.

    “I think JD Vance would pose the greatest threat [to] Kamala Harris, in some respects. I mean he’s an incredible debater,” Etienne told CNN. “I think he has this quality that makes him seem palpable to that one to two percent that actually might vote or that is undecided, that will actually pay attention to the debates because most people don’t pay attention to the debates.”

    Etienne, who also served as deputy assistant to President Biden after his 2020 victory, said Vance is “super smart,” “quick-witted” and could pose a threat to Harris on the debate stage.

    “I think he’s just got a quality about him where he’s super smart and sharp and quick-witted. I just think it’s going to be a challenge to see the two of them face-to-face. I mean, maybe it’s just me, but I think he’s going to be the greatest threat,” she said.

    According to Fox News, after serving as a Marine in the Iraq War, Vance moved to San Francisco to work as a venture capitalist in the tech industry.

    “JD has a Rolodex of Silicon Valley contacts that very few Republican figures can get to. And he put some of those to use on behalf of [Republican U.S. Senate candidate from Ohio Bernie] Moreno,” a source in Vance’s political orbit previously told Fox News.

    Vance is on Trump’s shortlist for vice president along with several other top Republican contenders. However, Fox News recently revealed that the first-term senator was one of only three from the candidate pool who had vetting documents requested from Trump’s campaign team.

    Mark Levin Goes Nuclear Over Andy Biggs Speakership Challenge

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    8
    Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

    Conservative radio host Mark Levin didn’t hold anything back when he hosted Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs on his show this week.

    Shortly after Rep. Biggs announced in an op-ed his plan to challenge House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for the Speakership in January Levin accused him of being a fraud.

    “A phony, a fake, and a fraud, in my humble opinion!” Levin said of Biggs.

    The conservative pundit didn’t shy away from insulting the House Freedom Caucus chair while introducing him to the audience.

    “He appears on cable from time to time with that goofball look. He’s barely able to complete sentences,” Levin said.

    Levin noted that while he considers himself a “strong critic” of McCarthy, slammed Biggs as a minor lawmaker attempting to “create drama” to win himself attention. 

    “I don’t know if McCarthy will turn out to be the greatest Speaker in American history or the worst Speaker in history. That can dealt with after the fact, but right now Biggs is deceiving his constituents, deceiving the American people that he has some plan to go forward,” Levin continued.

    “We’re losing our country. It’s unraveling, and Andy Biggs is not the answer and he doesn’t have any answers. He’s a moron. He’s an imbecile,” he said.

    Levin later topped all his Biggs insults by throwing out the whopper: “He’s a bleeding hemorrhoid on the body politic!”

    The barbs didn’t end after the radio program though, the two conservatives clashed in a Twitter spat too, with both competing to see who could brand the other a bigger a “fraud.”

    What do you think of Biggs’ latest challenge? Tell us in the comments below!

    Report: Top Hegseth Advisor Placed On Administrative Leave

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    David B. Gleason from Chicago, IL, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    A top advisor to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was escorted out of the Pentagon on Tuesday and placed on administrative leave, according to a Defense Department official. 

    Dan Caldwell had been placed on leave for an “unauthorized disclosure” of information amid an investigation into Pentagon leaks an official confirmed to Fox News Digital that Reuters’ initial reporting is accurate but declined to comment on an ongoing investigation. 

    Last month the Defense Department announced a probe into “recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information” and said it planned to use polygraphs to determine the source of leaks. 

    “The use of polygraphs in the execution of this investigation will be in accordance with applicable law and policy,” DOD Chief of Staff Joe Kasper wrote in a memo. “This investigation will commence immediately and culminate in a report to the Secretary of Defense.”

    He wrote that “information identifying a party responsible for an unauthorized disclosure” would be referred for criminal prosecution.”

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

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