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    Investigators Warn FBI Director Faces Charge For Hiding Biden Bribery Memo

    By
    Donny Ferguson
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    8

    The top Republican investigators in the House and Senate warn America may face a constitutional crisis, with the Director of the FBI facing possible Contempt of Congress charges for refusing to turn over a government document alleging a foreign national offered a $5 million bribe to then-Vice-President Joe Biden.

    Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-KY) blasted FBI Director Christopher Wray for defying a congressional subpoena for an unclassified record “alleging a criminal scheme involving then-Vice President Joe Biden and a foreign national.” 

    “The document, an FBI-generated FD-1023 form, allegedly details an arrangement involving an exchange of money for policy decisions. In a new letter to Director Wray, Comer warns that if the FBI fails to produce the record by May 30, 2023, the Oversight Committee will initiate contempt of Congress proceedings,” Grassley reports in a statement. 

    “The FBI has continued to tie itself in knots to ignore a legitimate subpoena from Congress, which has a constitutional duty of oversight. The Bureau’s developed a serious reputation problem through its spate of failures and overreach, and leadership is doing it no favors by attempting to stiff-arm Congress.  The FBI knows exactly what document Chairman Comer and I are seeking, and if they know us at all, they know we will get it, one way or another. If FBI leadership truly cares about protecting the agency’s reputation, they’d cooperate. These needless delays only harm the Bureau,” Grassley said.

    “The FBI’s refusal to provide this single document is obstructionist. Whistleblower disclosures that Joe Biden may have been involved in a criminal bribery scheme as Vice President track closely with what we are seeing in our investigation into the Biden family’s influence peddling schemes. Congress and the American people need to know what, if anything, the FBI did to verify the allegations contained within this record. If Director Wray refuses to hand over this unclassified record, the Oversight Committee will begin contempt of Congress proceedings,” Comer said.

    “Comer issued a subpoena for the unclassified FBI record on May 3, 2023 with a return date of May 10, 2023. After the FBI failed to produce the record, Oversight Committee counsel have attended two in-person meetings with FBI officials where they again refused to produce the FD-1023 form or offer any reasonable accommodation that would allow the Committee to review the document,” Grassley reports.

    On May 16, 2023, Grassley and Comer requested a phone call with Director Wray to discuss the subpoena, but despite repeated requests the FBI has not scheduled a phone call.

    Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of Great America News Desk.

    Governor Signals Plan To Redistrict Lone GOP Rep Out Of His Seat To Make State ‘More Fair’

    By
    admin
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    4

    Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) might be the latest state leader to dive into the ongoing redistricting chaos across the country.

    Governor Wes Moore appeared on CBS News’ “Face The Nation” on Sunday and said that, in the interests of “fairness,” he is considering gerrymandering the lone Republican in his state’s congressional delegation out of a U.S. House seat.

    Republican Rep. Andy Harris in Maryland’s First Congressional District. 

    “I want to make sure that we have fair lines and fair seats,” said Moore. 

    Harris is the only Republican of Maryland’s ten members of Congress. The Daily Wire reported in 2024, President Donald Trump received over a third of Maryland’s vote. He lost the state to former Vice President Kamala Harris, who won 63% of the state’s vote.

    Moore said his plan to potentially gerrymander Harris out of the first district is about fighting against “situations where politicians are choosing voters.”

    “We need to be able to have fair maps, and we also need to make sure that if the president of the United States is putting his finger on the scale to try to manipulate elections because he knows that his policies cannot win in a ballot box, then it behooves each and every one of us to be able to keep all options on the table to ensure that the voters’ voices can actually be heard,” Moore said.

    Watch:

    Last week, the Texas state legislature passed a new congressional map that favors Republicans winning an extra five seats in the U.S. House in the upcoming midterm elections.

    The GOP push to redistrict in favor of Republicans has sparked a backlash from Democratic state officials who want to lean further into gerrymandering. California Governor Gavin Newsom has put forward a plan to draw a new map that could claw Democrats another five seats in California’s already overbalanced congressional delegation.

    However, in order for Newsom’s plan to succeed, California voters must approve the new map since redistricting congressional seats in the state is controlled by an independent commission under a 2010 law. 

    California Republicans filed a lawsuit on Tuesday to stop the Democrat-dominated state legislature from holding a vote by the end of this week to advance the redistricting push.

    “Today I joined my colleagues in filing a lawsuit challenging the rushed redistricting process. California’s Constitution requires bills to be in print for 30 days, but that safeguard was ignored. By bypassing this provision, Sacramento has effectively shut voters out of engaging in their own legislative process,” Assembly member Tri Ta said on X.

    The petition cites a section of the state constitution that requires a monthlong review period for new legislation.

    Obama’s Shadow Agenda Ends Here. Biden was just the puppet — Obama pulled the strings. Now he’s desperate for a comeback in 2026. It’s up to us to stop him cold and save the House. [DONATE NOW TO PROTECT THE MAJORITY]

    Classified Documents Judge Rules On Motion To Dismiss Trump Trial

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    Gavel via Wikimedia Commons Image

    The federal judge presiding over Donald Trump’s classified documents trial has denied his motion to dismiss the federal case.

    According to reports, Trump’s legal team had sought to throw out more than a half dozen of the 41 counts in the indictment, which accused the former commander in chief of illegally hoarding classified documents from his presidency and conspiring with others to conceal sensitive files from the federal government. 

    Fox News has more:

    The defendants had challenged counts related to obstruction and false statements, but U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon issued an order Monday saying that “the identified deficiencies, even if generating some arguable confusion, are either permitted by law, raise evidentiary challenges not appropriate for disposition at this juncture, and/or do not require dismissal even if technically deficient, so long as the jury is instructed appropriately and presented with adequate verdict forms as to each Defendants’ alleged conduct.”

    Cannon did, however, agree to strike down a paragraph from the indictment that defense lawyers argued was prejudicial information that was not essential to the underlying charges.

    At another turn she seemed to criticize Smith for using what is known as a “speaking indictment” where prosecutors lay out their charges in great detail, essentially telling the story of their case through court documents.

    “The Court also notes the risks that can flow from a prosecutor’s decision to include in a charging document an extensive narrative account of his or her view of the facts, especially in cases of significant public interest,” Cannon wrote.

    The decision from Cannon clears from her desk one of the many numerous pretrial motions from Trump seeking to toss the case.

    Cannon has pointed to those motions in indefinitely punting the trial date.

    Trump is facing charges on 41 counts in connection with the case, the majority of which are Espionage Act charges targeting the retention of classified records after he left the White House. He is also facing obstruction of justice charges related to his failure to return the records after a subpoena

    Former Top FBI Official Charged with Violating Russia Sanctions

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    2
    Arrest image via Pixabay

    A former top FBI official involved in the investigation of alleged ties between Russia and Donald Trump has been charged with violating U.S. sanctions against Russia.

    Charles McGonigal, who previously worked as the counterintelligence director in the FBI’s New York field office, was arrested for violating U.S. sanctions against Russia over his work with Oleg Deripaska, a sanctioned Russian oligarch.

    McGonigal was charged along with a court interpreter, Sergey Shestakov, who also had ties to Deripaska according to The Hill.

    According to the FBI, McGonigal took money from Deripaska in exchange for investigating a rival Russian oligarch. The indictment also alleges also claims that the duo was actively trying to conceal the identity of Deripaska when negotiating the deal.

    “They both previously worked with Deripaska to attempt to have his sanctions removed, and, as public servants, they should have known better,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said in a statement. “This Office will continue to prosecute those who violate U.S. sanctions enacted in response to Russian belligerence in Ukraine in order to line their own pockets”

    The FBI alleges that the two attempted to conceal Deripaska’s involvement by “not directly naming Deripaska in electronic communications, using shell companies as counterparties in the contract that outlined the services to be performed, using a forged signature on that contract, and using the same shell companies to send and receive payments from Deripaska.”

    The two were charged with one count of conspiring to violate and evade U.S. sanctions, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), one count of violating the IEEPA, one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, and one count of money laundering, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Shestakov is also charged with one count of making false statements, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. 

    After leaving the FBI, McGonigal worked for Deripaska directly, making $42,000 a month.

    Appeals Court Overturns Republican Lawmaker’s Conviction

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    Gavel via Wikimedia Commons Image

    How embarrassing…

    President Biden’s Department of Justice was humiliated by a recent federal appeals court decision to overturn ex-Rep. Jeff Fortenberry’s (R-Neb.) conviction of lying to the FBI about an illegal campaign contribution.

    Last year, a California jury convicted Fortenberry for false statements he made during interviews in Nebraska and the nation’s capital over an illegal campaign donation from a foreign national.

    The Republican lawmaker resigned from his seat in Congress and was sentenced to two years of probation, a $25,000 fine and 320 hours of community service. However, the federal appeals court ruled that because Fortenberry was tired in the proper venue his conviction must be overturned.

    “Fortenberry’s trial took place in a state where no charged crime was committed, and before a jury drawn from the vicinage of the federal agencies that investigated the defendant,” wrote U.S. District Judge James Donato, who sat on the appeals court by designation. 

    “The Constitution does not permit this. Fortenberry’s convictions are reversed so that he may be retried, if at all, in a proper venue,” the 23-page opinion continued.

    According to reports from The Hill, authorities charged Fortenberry after accepting a $30,200 donation from a Nigerian businessman to the then-congressman’s campaign at a 2016 fundraising event in California. Fortenberry told investigators that he was unaware of any illegal contributions to his campaign. But court filings indicate the agency had listened into an earlier phone call, in which a cooperating witness told Fortenberry that the Nigerian businessman was likely the source of the $30,200 donation. 

    Federal law prohibits campaign contributions from foreign nationals to any local, state or federally elected official.

    “We are gratified by the Ninth Circuit’s decision. Celeste and I would like to thank everyone who has stood by us and supported us with their kindness and friendship,” Fortenberry said in a statement.

    While the appeals court decision reverses Fortenberry’s sentence, the ex-lawmaker could still be retried in the proper venue.

    Report: Trump To Pardon Disgraced Former Governor

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1

    Just in…

    President Donald Trump is expected to pardon former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

    Axios first reported the news.

    Blagojevich served eight years in prison on charges stemming from his effort to sell Barack Obama’s Senate seat after Obama won the 2008 presidential election, until Trump commuted his 14-year sentence in 2020.

    The former governor also appeared on the Trump-hosted “Celebrity Apprentice” after being impeached and removed from office.

    The former governor defended Trump after Trump was indicted in the New York hush money case and likened Trump’s legal problems to his own.

    “I love Trump more today than ever!” Blagojevich said on social media at the time. “When you’ve lived through it yourself you recognize when they do it to someone else.”

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

    Iowa Governor Reveals Reasoning Behind Unexpected Endorsement

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1
    Photo via Gage Skidmore

    Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is explaining why she broke tradition and decided to endorse Florida Governor Ron DeSantis during the 2024 Republican presidential primaries.

    The popular Republican governor told NBC News’ Dasha Burns that she broke with Iowa’s tradition of governors remaining neutral through the primaries because the country has “too much at stake.”

    “I just felt like I couldn’t sit on the sidelines any longer,” she said. “We have too much at stake. I truly believe that he is the right person to get this country back on track.”

    NBC News noted that the endorsement was the “biggest endorsement of the primary” season so far and that it was a significant boost for the DeSantis campaign.

    When asked why she endorsed DeSantis, who is in second place in the race, she said: “I don’t base my decision on polls. I take a look at who I believe is the right person for the right job. I believe that Ron is the right person for the right job. And I believe he’s going to win.”

    Burns later asked about her relationship with former President Donald Trump who has fired off repeated attacks against Reynolds, often accusing her of being disloyal to the former President.

    When asked when the last time she spoke to Trump, she said, “Probably the last time he called to ask if I would endorse him, and I said I wasn’t at this point.”

    Report: Attorney General To Release Special Counsel’s Report On Trump

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    8
    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Attorney General Merrick Garland will release Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on the 2020 election interference case against President-elect Trump.

    Fox News reports:

    “The Attorney General determined that he will not make a public release of Volume Two while defendants’ cases remain pending. That should be the end of the matter,” prosecutors wrote.

    The Department of Justice told the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Wednesday that Garland intends to release Volume One of Smith’s report to Congress, which covers the allegations that Trump attempted to illegally undo the results of the 2020 presidential election.

    However, Garland will not release Volume Two, which covers the classified documents case against Trump, as two defendants in that case still face criminal proceedings. 

    Federal prosecutors made Garland’s plans clear in a Wednesday morning filing urging an appeals court to reject a bid from Trump valet Walt Nauta and property manager Carlos de Oliveira to bar the attorney general from releasing the report in its entirety, per reports from The Hill.

    The filing says the top members of the House and Senate Judiciary committees will be able to review the Mar-a-Lago report at the DOJ.

    Garland’s decision essentially assures the public will never see Smith’s report reviewing Trump’s mishandling of classified records at his Palm Beach home.

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

    Justice Department Indics Texas Congressman

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    2
    Ted Eytan from Washington, DC, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    On Friday, the Department of Justice indicted Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas).

    The news comes more than two years after FBI agents raided Cuellar’s home and campaign office in connection to an Azerbaijan corruption probe.

    Although agents were tight-lipped, reports alleged that after befriending Azerbaijani oil executives, Cuellar pushed the nation’s agenda and business interests in Congress.

    The charges against Cuellar have not been disclosed. An announcement from Justice is expected shortly.

    Cuellar made a statement in response to the rapidly evolving events on Friday morning: “I want to be clear that both my wife and I are innocent of these allegations. Everything I have done in Congress has been to serve the people of South Texas.”

    “Let me be clear, I’m running for re-election and will win this November,” he concluded.

    Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News.

    MAGA Congresswoman Nominates Herself For Cabinet Role

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    4

    Now that Trump is the official presidential nominee Republicans are floating ideas for critical leadership positions.

    During an interview, Colorado Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (R) floated herself as a potential candidate for U.S. Secretary of Interior.

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

    Native Voice One, a radio network that says it serves to bring Native voices to the world, spoke to Boebert on the third day of the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee.

    While Native Voice One was holding a live show from inside the RNC, Boebert walked by the hosts. She was asked who she thought should be the interior secretary under the Trump administration.

    “I think Lauren Boebert needs to be the secretary of interior,” she said, followed by a laugh. “President Trump, I would like to be secretary of interior.”

    Boebert went on to express her feelings on the position.

    “I think this is actually one of the most important agencies within the federal government. Public lands are something that are very dear to me and I’ve spent a lot of time on our tribal lands with our chairman and our councilmembers with the Mountain Utes and the Southern Utes,” said Boebert.

    The Department of the Interior is responsible for the management and conservation of federal lands and natural resources.

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