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    Report: Kari Lake To Forfeit Defense In Defamation Case

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    Kari Lake speaking with supporters at a "Stand for Freedom" rally at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Scottsdale Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. [Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons]

    On Tuesday, Kari Lake’s legal team moved to forfeit a defamation case against her.

    According to The Hill, Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer (R) sued Lake last year in his personal capacity, claiming Lake defamed him after she refused to concede her 2022 Arizona gubernatorial defeat and alleged election fraud.

    The lawsuit claims Lake consistently and systemically lied about Richer’s actions as recorder, causing him to receive harassment and numerous threats to his life. Richer added that Lake claimed without evidence that he stuffed ballot boxes with 300,000 invalid votes and used his role as recorder to make the ballot unclear for voters.

    “For the last seven months, I have been subjected to constant harassment, intimidation, and threats to my and my family’s lives because the defendants in this case were spreading falsehoods about me, my work, and our elections,” Richer said in a statement when the lawsuit was filed last year.

    The court filing Tuesday does not contest Richer’s claims, and requests an accelerated hearing to determine damages. 

    Richer held up the filing as an admission of guilt.

    “Won’t defend / can’t defend,” he wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “I’ll get my due. But not the millions of people she lied to.” 

    “Not the thousands of people who donated ‘to continue the fight.’ Not the people who have gone to jail because they so strongly believed Kari’s lies,” he continued. “Those people won’t get their due.”

    Lake pushed back on the filing as a rejection to participate in what she described as a “political witch hunt” and a “frivolous” lawsuit, refusing to admit culpability.

    “Washington, D.C. operates on blackmail and bribes. Since they can’t blackmail or bribe me, they’ve resorted to filing a punishing lawsuit to try to stop me and bleed me dry,” she said in a video message. “They’re threatening to take everything I own. What they don’t realize is even if they leave me, my husband and children homeless and penniless, that won’t stop us.”

    “By participating in this lawsuit, it would only serve to legitimize this perversion of our legal system and allow bad actors to interfere in our upcoming election,” she continued. “So I won’t be taking part.”

    DOJ Prosecutors Ask Judge to Reject White House Adviser’s Executive Privilege Claims

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    The Justice Department is urging a judge to reject at trial former Trump Administration security adviser Peter Navarro‘s claims of executive privilege.

    On Tuesday, the DOJ filed a last-minute response after Navarro successfully delayed the trial after forwarding a January letter from former President Trump’s attorney shortly before arguments were scheduled to begin.

    According to The Hill, the DOJ argues the letter does not change the case, as the jury “should be charged with deciding only the essential elements of the charged offense, that is: whether the Defendant knew he had been subpoenaed by the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol…to produce documents and appear for a deposition, and nonetheless made a deliberate decision not to do either.”

    Navarro was subpoenaed by the now-disbanded committee in February of last year as lawmakers sought to speak to the trade and coronavirus adviser about the Navarro Report, a three-part series he compiled claiming to “provide a demonstration that President Trump had a good faith belief that the November 3, 2020 Presidential election results, were, indeed, the poisonous fruit of widespread fraud and election irregularities.” 

    At the time, Navarro claimed executive privilege, however, it took nearly a year for Trump to make such an assertion through his lawyer.

    Numerous Trump officials have claimed executive privilege as the DOJ has sought to compel their testimony.

    The House voted to hold Navarro in contempt of Congress last April.

    But the filing also argues that such a privilege cannot be used as a blanket excuse to avoid all questions, noting the committee largely wished to speak with Navarro about “matters undertaken in his personal capacity with persons outside the government” rather than any conversations he may have had with Trump.

    “Because the Defendant failed to raise an immunity claim with the committee, he should not now be allowed to invoke testimonial immunity after the fact to foreclose prosecution,” DOJ wrote. 

    Judiciary Committee Republican Floated As Trump’s VP

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    President Donald J. Trump is presented with a 10th Combat Aviation Brigade challenge coin following an air assault and gun rain demonstration at Fort Drum, New York, on August 13. The demonstration was part of President Trump's visit to the 10th Mountain Division (LI) to sign the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019, which increases the Army's authorized active-duty end strength by 4,000 enabling us to field critical capabilities in support of the National Defense Strategy. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Thomas Scaggs) 180813-A-TZ475-010

    The dream team?

    Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) signaled an openness to being former President Donald Trump’s vice presidential pick when asked over the weekend during a Sunday interview on NBC News’ “Meet The Press” with guest host Peter Alexander.

    “You are reportedly on Donald Trump’s short list of possible running mates,” Alexander said. “Would you accept if Donald Trump asked you?”

    “Well, Peter, Donald Trump’s going to make this choice,” Cotton responded. “I suspect only he knows who’s on his short list.”

    Cotton said that he has not been in direct contact with the Trump campaign about who the presumed candidate will pick as his vice presidential running mate or about any position in his administration.

    When asked if he would accept the job if offered it, Cotton responded: “Peter, any great patriot, if offered a chance to serve our country by the president, would have to consider it seriously. But what I’m focused on, like the president, is making sure that we win this election in November, and I want to help him govern successfully to restore the peace and prosperity that he brought to America for four years that Joe Biden has destroyed.”

    Watch Sen. Cotton:

    Sen. Cotton’s committees include the Judiciary Committee, where he serves as the Ranking Member for the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism, the Intelligence Committee, and the Armed Services Committee, where he serves as the Ranking Member of the Air Land Power Subcommittee.

    The Arkansas Senator served in Iraq with the 101st Airborne and in Afghanistan with a Provincial Reconstruction Team.

    FBI Director Reveals New Details On Trump Shooter

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    2
    Gage Skidmore Flickr

    More details on the recent attempt on Donald Trump’s life…

    On Wednesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray appeared before the House Judiciary Committee to provide an update on the ongoing investigation into the assassination attempt as well as the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks.

    Wray shared that 14 firearms have been recovered from the shooter’s home as well as multiple explosive devices.

    Fox News reports:

    “I would say these are relatively… crude devices themselves. But they did have the ability to be detonated remotely,” he said.

    “In addition to the two devices that we recovered out of his vehicle, there were receivers for those two explosive devices with the devices. And then on the shooter himself, when he was killed by law enforcement, he had a transmitter with him,” Wray revealed.

    “Now, I do want to add one important point here is that at the moment… it looks like because of the on on/off position on the receivers, that if he had tried to detonate those devices from the roof, it would not have worked,” Wray added. “But that doesn’t mean the explosives weren’t dangerous.”

    Wray also said: “We have recovered a drone that the shooter appears to have used. It’s being exploited and analyzed by the FBI lab. The drone was recovered in his vehicle. So at the time of the shooting the drone was in his vehicle with the controller.”

    I, DONALD J. TRUMP, have officially accepted your nomination for President of the United States! Will you stand with me and donate to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN? The future of our beloved country depends on YOU!

    Wray told the House Judiciary Committee that “it appears” Crooks was flying the drone about 200 yards away from the stage area of the Trump rally around 3:50 to 4 p.m. local time on the day of the shooting. Trump was hit with gunfire at 6:11 p.m. as the campaign event was underway.

    Wray also told House lawmakers Wednesday that there are no signs Crooks had any help with the Trump assassination attempt.

    “Not at this time, but again, the investigation is ongoing,” he said about the matter.

    On Tuesday, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle announced her resignation.

    Report: Judge Imposes Gag Order In Trump Hush Money Trial

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    2
    Gavel via Wikimedia Commons Image

    On Tuesday, the New York judge overseeing the Trump hush money trial imposed a gag order on the former President.

    Judge Juan Merchan’s order still enables Trump to publicly attack the judge and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) but protects jurors and court staff as the trial approaches.

    The Hill has more:

    But it prevents the former president from attacking other prosecutors, court staff and their family members “if those statements are made with the intent to materially interfere with” the case.

    Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) charged Trump in the case with 34 counts of falsifying business records last spring over reimbursements Trump made to his then-fixer, Michael Cohen.

    Cohen had paid porn actress Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an affair she alleged to have had with Trump. The indictment accuses Trump of improperly deeming the reimbursements a legal retainer to conceal damaging information from the public ahead of the 2016 presidential election. 

    Trump, who denies the affair, pleaded not guilty.

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

    Iranian Plot Against Trump, Officials More Serious Than Previously Reported

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    4
    Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Trump is facing serious threats…

    U.S. officials have warned more than a half dozen former national security officials from the Trump administration that Iran’s assassination threats against them are serious and likely to continue for the foreseeable future as tensions reach fever pitch.

    The threats, including the ones against former President Donald Trump, stem from the administration authorizing the drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani in January 2020.

    A new report from Politico revealed that the plots against the officials are “even more extensive and aggressive than previously reported,” according to interviews with a dozen officials about the threats.

    “This is extraordinarily serious,” said Matt Olsen, the Justice Department’s assistant attorney general for national security. “Iran has made it very clear that they are determined to seek retaliation against former officials in connection with the Soleimani strike.”

    A former senior Trump administration said that the threats they are facing are “historic” as the U.S. has “never had former senior national security officials,” including cabinet members, face serious threats on their life from a foreign adversary.

    The threat against Trump’s life is so serious that he has not played golf — his favorite pastime — in a month and will not do so until after the election because federal officials are not able to secure courses to the extent needed to guarantee his safety.

    Trump’s motorcade is now being broken up at random times as a precaution and he has started traveling on “nondescript planes that do not have his name on the side instead of his longtime 757 jet.”

    Trump is now requesting military assets to guard and transport him.

    At least seven former Trump officials receive 24/7 protection from the U.S. government, which can include up to six officers at a time.

    Six of the seven are top former officials who were directly involved with the operation going after Soleimani,  including Mark Esper, Secretary of Defense; Mark Milley, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Paul Nakasone, head of NSA and U.S. Cyber Command; Kenneth McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command; Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State; and Brian Hook, the State Department’s Special Representative for Iran.

    Judge Knocks Attorney Over 2020 Election

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    Gavel via Wikimedia Commons Image

    On Wednesday, a California judge recommended disbarring pro-Trump attorney John Eastman for his role in former President Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

    According to The Hill, State Bar Judge Yvette Roland found John Eastman culpable on 10 of the 11 counts filed by the California State Bar last year. The state bar sought to strip Eastman’s license to practice law in the state due to his “false and misleading statements” about purported election fraud and his role in “provoking” the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

    “In view of the circumstances surrounding Eastman’s misconduct and balancing the aggravation and mitigation, the court recommends that Eastman be disbarred,” Roland wrote in a 128-page decision.

    The judge also recommended that Eastman be ordered to pay $10,000 in sanctions to the State Bar of California Client Security Fund.

    Roland wrote in her decision that Eastman showed an unwillingness to admit to “any ethical lapses” in his behavior.

    “This lack of remorse and accountability presents a significant risk that Eastman may engage in further unethical conduct, compounding the threat to the public,” the judge wrote.

    Eastman led the legal strategy attempting to change the election results in several key 2020 states, including by using slates of alternate electors to swing the election’s outcome in Trump’s favor. The plan also relied on then-Vice President Mike Pence throwing out the real electors for the “fake” ones.

    Peter Navarro To Leave Prison Ahead Of RNC Appearance

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    Image via Pixabay

    Sweet freedom…

    Former Trump economic adviser Peter Navarro is set to be released from prison Wednesday after serving a four-month sentence for refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. 

    After leaving prison Navarro is expected to take the stage at the Republican National Convention, according to an email from former President Trump’s campaign.  

    It’s unclear when Navarro will take the stage in Milwaukee, Wisc. where the GOP’s nominating event is taking place. The convention is scheduled to conclude Thursday evening, only one day after Navarro’s sentence ends. 

    Trump himself said in May he would “absolutely” rehire Navarro if reelected to the White House in November. Navarro has said he does not want a pardon from Trump if reelected or one from President Biden. 

    “I would absolutely have Peter back. This outrageous behavior by the Democrats should not have happened,” Trump said in a statement to The Wall Street Journal.

    I, DONALD TRUMP, WILL ACCEPT YOUR NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT ON JULY 18TH! WILL YOU PLEASE DONATE ONE MORE TIME BEFORE I TAKE THE STAGE?

    Navarro was convicted last year of two counts of contempt of Congress — one for failing to produce documents related to the probe, and another for skipping his deposition before the House select committee that investigated the events surrounding the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. 

    “It’s crying out for the Supreme Court to do this,” Navarro said of his appeal the day he began his sentence. “But the tragedy here is, because I have not been released pending appeal, I will have already done my time before that is done. 

    “But that’s the price of living in Joe Biden’s America right now,” he added. “God bless you all. I’ll see you on the other side.” 

    Trump Press Sec. Claims Campaign Will Have ‘Soldiers’ Watching Polling Stations on Election Day

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    3
    President Donald J. Trump is presented with a 10th Combat Aviation Brigade challenge coin following an air assault and gun rain demonstration at Fort Drum, New York, on August 13. The demonstration was part of President Trump's visit to the 10th Mountain Division (LI) to sign the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019, which increases the Army's authorized active-duty end strength by 4,000 enabling us to field critical capabilities in support of the National Defense Strategy. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Thomas Scaggs) 180813-A-TZ475-010

    Is this a step too far?

    On Monday, former President Donald Trump’s press secretary told Kimberly Guilfoyle during an interview that Trump plans to deploy “soldiers” to monitor polling stations on election day in an effort to make sure “there are no irregularities” or “fraud.”

    Karoline Leavitt, who previously ran for Congress and lost, explained the plan during an appearance on The Kimberly Guilfoyle Show.

    Mediaite has more:

    We’re so excited about our recent merger with the Republican National Committee and the new leadership we have there in both Lara Trump and Michael Whatley. Our team is already working hand-in-hand with the staff at the RNC as one very lean and mean machine, as we like to call it, with one goal, and that goal is victory for Republicans up and down the ballot on November 5th.

    We have the team, now it’s time to deploy the troops on the ground. We have an amazing volunteer-led effort right now in all of the battleground states, in addition to our great paid staff who will be making direct voter contact every single hour of every day between now and November 5th to get out the vote. A large part of this is also educating voters on the laws within their state. If you live in an early voting state, we encourage you to get out and vote early, cast your ballot. You don’t know what could happen to you on election day.

    And then we’re also investing a lot of money into voter integrity efforts to ensure that every American knows their ballot will be cast and counted and matter, and we’re gonna play offense this time around. We’re not gonna play defense like we unfortunately did in 2020. We’re gonna have soldiers, poll watchers on the ground who are making sure that there are no irregularities and fraud like we saw in the last election cycle.

    Guilfoyle replied, “I love it. I cannot wait. It’s gonna be fantastic.”

    This is hardly the first time Trump has called for backup at the polls. During the 2020 election, the then-President encouraged supporters to stay vigilant and independently monitor polling stations for evidence of fraud.

    “I am encouraging my supporters to go into the polls and watch very carefully because that’s what has to happen,” said Trump at the time. “I am urging them to do it.”

    Judge Responds To Trump Request To Move Hush Money Case To Federal Court

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    4
    Gavel via Wikimedia Commons Image

    Case closed…

    On Tuesday, a federal judge ruled that former President Trump may not request to move his hush money criminal case to federal court after failing to show “good cause,” meaning the case will remain in New York state court.

    U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein said in a four-page order that the two reasons Trump offered as to why his case should be removed fall short.

    Hellerstein said that district courts do not have jurisdiction to consider alleged bias against Trump in New York state courts, contending that’s an issue for state appellate courts to consider. That means Trump’s second argument, on presidential immunity, is the only one that “deserves attention,” he said.

    On that matter, Hellerstein previously ruled that “hush money paid to an adult film star is not related to a President’s official acts.”

    “Nothing in the Supreme Court’s opinion affects my previous conclusion that the hush money payments were private, unofficial acts, outside the bounds of executive authority,” the judge said Tuesday.

    In a Thursday letter to Juan Merchan, he asked the trial judge to refrain from ruling on outstanding motions, which include his presidential immunity motion and a motion to push back his Sept. 18 sentencing

    Trump was convicted in May on 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 presidential election.

    Read the full court order below:

    gov.uscourts.nysd.598311.50.0Download
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