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    Ronna McDaniel Steps Down As RNC Chair

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    Ronna McDaniel via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    This is big…

    Following Donald Trump’s South Carolina primary win Ronna McDaniel has formally announced plans to step down as chairwoman of the Republican National Committee (RNC).

    McDaniel shared she plans to officially step down next week amid reports Trump wants fresh leadership in the RNC before heading into the general election.

    Maggie Haberman broke the news Monday morning, writing in the New York Times:

    The decision is not a surprise. The chairwoman, Ronna McDaniel, told Mr. Trump weeks ago that she planned to leave shortly after the South Carolina primary, which was held on Saturday. But she now sets in motion a new election within the party’s official body, where Mr. Trump’s preference for chair and co-chair will try to secure enough votes to take over.

    Mr. Trump has publicly backed Michael Whatley, the chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party and the national committee’s general counsel, to replace Ms. McDaniel. And he has said that he wants his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, to be the next co-chair.

    Mr. Trump’s remarks on the R.N.C. leadership came in the run-up to the South Carolina primary on Saturday, and in anticipation of his tightening his grip on the party. He ended up defeating his main rival, former Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina, by more than 20 points in her home state.

    Mediaite obtained a statement from the RNC, which reads:

    “It has been the honor and privilege of my life to serve the Republican National Committee for seven years as Chairwoman to elect Republicans and grow our Party. Some of my proudest accomplishments include firing Nancy Pelosi, winning the popular vote in 2022, creating an Election Integrity Department, building the committee’s first small dollar grassroots donor program, strengthening our state parties through our Growing Republican Organizations to Win program, expanding the Party through minority outreach at our community centers, and launching Bank Your Vote to get Republicans to commit to voting early.

    “I have decided to step aside at our Spring Training on March 8 in Houston to allow our nominee to select a Chair of their choosing. The RNC has historically undergone change once we have a nominee and it has always been my intention to honor that tradition. I remain committed to winning back the White House and electing Republicans up and down the ballot in November. I want to thank my husband Patrick, our children Abigail and Nash, the members of the 168 who elected me four times, President Trump for giving me the opportunity to lead our Party, as well as the RNC staff and donors who have supported me and our mission over the years.”

    Earlier this month, Trump endorsed North Carolina GOP chair Michael Whatley, daughter-in-law Lara Trump, and campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita to lead the Republican National Committee (RNC).

    “Michael has been with me from the beginning, has done a great job in his home state of North Carolina, and is committed to election integrity, which we must have to keep fraud out of our election, so it can’t be stolen,” Trump said.

    “Lara is an extremely talented communicator and is dedicated to all that MAGA stands for,” the former president said. “She has told me she wants to accept this challenge and would be GREAT!”

    New York Judge Rules On Trump’s Penalty Payment In Fraud Case

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    Gavel via Wikimedia Commons Image

    Will that be cash or card?

    On Thursday, New York Judge Arthur Engoron said he would not delay enforcement of the multimillion-dollar judgment in former President Trump’s civil fraud case.

    Last week, Engoron ordered Trump to pay a $354.8 million penalty, plus interest, after finding he conspired to alter his net worth for tax and insurance benefits. Since Engoron’s ruling last Friday, more than $87,000 in interest has been added to that amount each day.

    The Hill has more:

    Trump’s legal team asked the judge to push back enforcement by 30 days in order to “protect” the defendants’ appellate rights and “ensure an orderly post judgment process.”

    “You have failed to explain, much less justify, any basis for a stay,” Engoron wrote in an email reply to Trump lawyer Clifford Robert’s request, filed to the court docket Thursday. “I am confident that the Appellate Division will protect your appellate rights.”

    A judgement has since been docketed, though it is not yet available for public viewing. The order officially starts the clock on paying any penalties.

    Engoron directed Robert to inform him of any “specific” differences the defense judgement would have. The Trump family lawyer said the state’s proposed judgement had two errors and accused New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) of violating standard practices.

    “The Attorney General has not filed any motion on notice, nor moved to settle the proposed Judgment; her unseemly rush to memorialize a ‘judgment’ violates all accepted practice in New York state court,” Robert said, asking for a stay in the judgement’s enforcement.

    Trump Adviser Hits DeSantis With Snarky Insult

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    Ron DeSantis via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    An adviser to Donald Trump hit Ron DeSantis where it hurts…

    On Wednesday, Chris LaCivita attacked the Florida Governor over his speculation into former President Trump’s search for a vice presidential candidate.

    DeSantis told supporters during a call Wednesday that Trump should not play “identity politics” with his vice president pick, NBC News reported, after the former president finalized a shortlist for his ticket.

    “Chicken fingers and pudding cups is what you will be remembered for you sad little man,” LaCivita said Wednesday in a dig at DeSantis on X, formerly Twitter.

    DeSantis endorsed Trump for president after he dropped out of the primary race, but he was notably critical of the former president in the call, NBC News reported.

    Trump’s campaign responded by putting DeSantis down again and brushing off his concerns.

    “Ron DeSantis failed miserably in his presidential campaign and does not have a voice in selecting the next vice president of the United States,” Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told NBC. “Rather than throw cheap shots from afar, Ron should focus on what he can do to fire [President] Joe Biden and Make America Great Again.”

    Judge Orders MyPillow CEO To Pay $5 Million To Made Over Election Claims

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    Mike Lindell via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Time for Mike Lindell to pay the piper.

    On Wednesday a federal judge ruled that the MyPillow CEO must pay $5 million to the man who debunked his 2020 election claims.

    Following the 2020 presidential election, Lindell launched the “Prove Mike Wrong” challenge, which he promised $5 million to anyone who could prove that data pointing to election fraud was not related to the 2020 election and was a product of Chinese election interference.

    Robert Zeidman, a computer forensics expert from Nevada, was able to prove the pro-Trump businessman’s claims were false but has still yet to be paid his reward.

    Mediaite continues:

    That led to last spring’s arbitration panel, which also decided that Lindell had to pay Zeidman the reward that he soundly earned. (That arbitration panel was actually in the fine print of the “Prove Mike Wrong” contest.) After that decision, Lindell vowed to take the case to court, which resulted in Wednesday’s ruling.

    In depositions related to the case, Lindell indicated that he never thought he would have to pay.

    Lindell also claimed that he was “broke” after being “canceled” for spreading election lies. (Though he was also “canceled” by Fox News for being broke.) Lindell was one of many parties sued for defamation related to the 2020 election by Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic.

    Trump Confirms Names On VP List

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    [Photo Credit: The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

    On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump confirmed a short list of names he is considering asking to become his running mate in the coming months,

    Trump joined Fox News Channel’s Laura Ingraham to discuss the upcoming South Carolina primary, which takes place on Feb. 24., Ingraham asked the former president if the rumored names were in fact on his list of potential running mates.

    The list includes three former GOP candidates, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.). He also confirmed that Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), Gov. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who served in Congress as a Democrat but has since shifted to more conservative views.

    Trump confirmed “they are” on his shortlist, but did not provide a timeline for when he will announce his vice presidential pick. He said, “all of those people are good. They’re all solid.”

    Trump specifically commended Scott, who was in the crowd at the event, for his support.

    “A lot of people are talking about that gentleman right over there,” Trump said when asked about a running mate, pointing to Scott. “And he’s, been so great. He’s been such a great advocate.”

    “I have to say, this is in a very positive way, Tim Scott, he has been much better for me than he was for himself,” the former president continued. “I watched his campaign and he doesn’t like talking about himself, but boy, does he talk about Trump.”

    The South Carolina senator suspended his primary bid in November after failing to earn enough support.

    Report: Trump Must Pay Nearly Half-Billion Dollars Before Appealing New York Ruling

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    7
    Image via Pixabay free images

    Before Donald Trump can appeal Judge Arthur Engoron’s ruling he must pay nearly half a billion dollars as a bond to New York State.

    Last week, the judge ordered Trump to pay $354 million in fines, $450 million with interest, after New York Attorney General sued Trump under and obscure New York fraud statute.

    Jonathan Turley points out another astonishing fact at the New York Post: before he can appeal, Trump must pay the whole fine:

    Under New York law, Trump cannot appeal this ruling without depositing the full amount, including interest, in a court account. Even for Trump, $455 million is hard to come by. Likewise, a bond would require a company to guarantee payment for a defendant who has been barred from doing business in New York and is facing the need to liquidate much of his portfolio.

    Nothing succeeds like excess for judges like Engoron. By imposing this astronomical figure, he can make it difficult or impossible for a defendant to appeal, absent declaring bankruptcy or selling off assets at distress prices.

    The excessive fine and its basis raise serious statutory and constitutional questions. Many of us believe it should be substantially reduced or tossed out entirely.

    Trump Inches Toward Tulsi Gabbard As VP Pick

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    5

    Could this be the winning ticket?

    Former President Donald Trump has reportedly been in conversation with former Congresswoman and 2020 presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) in regard to her potentially becoming his running mate.

    Per the Washington Post:

    Former president Donald Trump and top advisers have spoken with former Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard about foreign policy and how the Defense Department should be run in a second Trump term, according to people familiar with the matter.

    Gabbard told Fox News about her willingness to entertain discussions with Trump about potentially joining his 2024 presidential ticket as a running mate.

    I’d be open to that conversation. My mission in life is to serve our country and serve the American people and find the best way to be able to do that.

    She ran for president in 2020 and had issues with the Democrat National Committee throughout her campaign.

    Gabbard served on the following committees when she was in Congress: Judiciary, Intelligence, Financial Services, Foreign Affairs, Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Armed Services. 

    There has also been talk that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (I) is considering Gabbard as a running mate. 

    Hillary Clinton Warns Trump Will Withdraw from NATO

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    2
    Hillary Clinton via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Former Democrat presidential candidate and avid Trump critic Hillary Clinton warned that if elected Donald Trump will make good on his threat to withdraw the U.S. from NATO.

    Over the weekend, Clinton made the claim during remarks at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, telling U.S. allies that they should take Trump’s claims to heart after the former president warned NATO countries to contribute their fair share.

    “We have a long struggle ahead of us, and the obvious point to make about Donald Trump is take him literally and seriously,” she said. “He means what he says. People did not take him literally and seriously in 2016. Now he is telling us what he intends to do, and people who try to wish it away, brush it away, are living in an alternative reality.”

    “He will do everything he can to become an absolute authoritarian leader if given the opportunity to do so. And he will pull us out of NATO even though the Congress passed a resolution saying that he couldn’t without congressional support, because he will just not fund our obligations,” she said.

    Clinton seemed to direct her message to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who has brushed off Trump’s recent comments.

    The Republican presidential frontrunner has repeatedly claimed that member countries should not receive protection if they do not pay their share toward NATO’s budget.

    “The whole idea of NATO is that an attack on one ally will trigger a response from the whole alliance and as long as we stand behind that message together, we prevent any military attack on any ally,” Stoltenberg said.

    “Any suggestion that we are not standing up for each other, that we are not going to protect each other, that does undermine the security of all of us.”

    According to Fox News, the NATO chief announced that 18 of the alliance’s 31 members are on track to meet their pledges of contributing 2% of GDP to the group. European states are on track to contribute $380 billion this year, and Germany will meet its 2% pledge for the first time since the Cold War.

    Manchin Reveals He Will Not Run For President

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    0

    On Friday, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin (D) revealed he will not launch a presidential campaign this year.

    The moderate Democrat who announced he will not seek another term in the Senate has fueled speculation he may launch a third party run for the White House.

    “I will not be seeking a third-party run. I will not be involved in a presidential run,” Manchin said in remarks at West Virginia University. 

    “I will be involved in making sure that we secure a president that has the knowledge and has the passion and has the ability to bring this country together,” he said.  

    Manchin’s announcement comes days after he floated multiple potential choices for a running mate.

    “Hypothetically, if I was picking my running mate, really who I would ask right now is Mitt Romney,” the West Virginia Democrat said during a Q&A at a City Club of Cleveland breakfast Thursday — a stop on the nationwide “listening tour” he launched after announcing he would forgo a reelection bid in 2024. Romney is also not running for reelection this year.

    “Rob Portman would be right there, too,” Manchin quickly added.

    Trump Lawyer Predicts Disappointing Results In Fraud Trial

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    8
    Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America,

    Former President Donald Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba is anxiously awaiting the ruling in the civil fraud trial against Trump.

    During an interview, Habba signaled she does not expect good news from the decision which is expected to be handed down on Friday.

    “If I could file the appeal now, I would,” Habba said in a Newsmax interview Wednesday. “There’s no surprises coming here.”

    “I’ll be loud and booming right after the decision,” she continued. “I don’t have high hopes.”

    Judge Arthur Engoron already ruled that Trump committed fraud in his real estate empire and he is expected to issue a penalty ruling Friday, according to sources familiar with the matter.

    In addition to a $370 million financial penalty, James has asked Engoron to ban Trump from New York’s real estate business for life.

    Multiple Republicans have alleged Engoron is politically biased, and that James also broke ethics rules in prosecution.

    “I’ve been on weeks and weeks and weeks of trial in New York, and the corruption runs deep,” Habba said. “The Trump derangement syndrome, quite frankly, runs even deeper. They can’t see straight. They can’t apply law to fact.”

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