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    Report: Democrat Senator to be Indicted

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    Senate Democrats, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

    New Jersey Democrat Bob Menedez and his wife will be indicted on bribery charges on Friday, according to New York prosecutors.

    Fox News has more:

    “A press event will be held today at 11:00 a.m. to announce the unsealing of an indictment charging Robert Menendez, U.S. Senator from New Jersey, and his wife, Nadine Menendez, with bribery offenses in connection with their corrupt relationship with three New Jersey businessmen,” the U.S. attorney’s office posted on X. 

    NBC News 4 reported Monday that the FBI and IRS criminal investigators are attempting to determine if Menendez or his wife had taken up to $400,000 worth of gold bars from Fred Daibes, a New Jersey developer and former bank chairman, or his associates in a swap for Menendez reaching out to the Justice Department to aid the “admitted felon” accused of banking crimes.

    Federal prosecutors announced the charges on Friday and said in a search of his home, they found $100,000 in gold bars and $480,000 in hidden cash. 

    According to the indictment, Menendez and his wife agreed to accept hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange to protect three New Jersey businessmen – Wael “Will” Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes – and benefit Egypt. 

    “Those bribes included cash, gold, payments toward a home mortgage, compensation for a low-or-no-show job, a luxury vehicle, and other things of value,” the document said. 

    Earlier this week, Christine Serrano Glassner, a New Jersey mayor linked to former President Donald Trump announced her campaign to take down Sen. Menendez.

    “Senator Menendez has been in politics his entire life. He’s under investigation yet again,” Glassner says in a campaign kickoff video. ”New Jersey deserves someone with integrity, someone who will work hard to tackle the tough problems that are facing all of us. Someone who will put us first. Someone who cares more about our families — our New Jersey families — than his cronies.”

    “As a fighter for New Jersey residents and businesses throughout my career in federal and state government and based on my experience as a mom and a mayor, I am ready to go to work,” Serrano Glassner said in a statement. “We need a leader to fight for the hardworking men and women of New Jersey — and for America. I am that leader, and I will defeat Bob Menendez and end his career of cronyism.”

    This is a breaking news story. Click refresh for the latest updates.

    Rupert Murdoch Steps Down As FNC Chairman

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    2
    David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

    Media mogul Rupert Murdoch announced Thursday he will be transitioning to a new role within his media empire, handing over the reins to his son Lachlan.

    Murdoch, 92, announced the news to colleagues in a letter Thursday, noting he was in good health. He will officially make the transition in November, and his son Lachlan will become the sole chairman of both companies.

    “I am writing to let you all know that I have decided to transition to the role of Chairman Emeritus at Fox and News,” Murdoch wrote. “For my entire professional life, I have been engaged daily with news and ideas, and that will not change. But the time is right for me to take on different roles, knowing that we have truly talented teams and a passionate, principled leader in Lachlan who will become sole Chairman of both companies. Neither excessive pride nor false humility are admirable qualities. But I am truly proud of what we have achieved collectively through the decades, and I owe much to my colleagues, whose contributions to our success have sometimes been unseen outside the company but are deeply appreciated by me.

    “Whether the truck drivers distributing our papers, the cleaners who toil when we have left the office, the assistants who support us or the skilled operators behind the cameras or the computer code, we would be less successful and have less positive impact on society without your day-after-day dedication. Our companies are in robust health, as am I. Our opportunities far exceed our commercial challenges. We have every reason to be optimistic about the coming years – I certainly am, and plan to be here to participate in them.” 

    “In my new role, I can guarantee you that I will be involved every day in the contest of ideas,” he wrote.

    Lachlan Murdoch released an announcement congratulating his father and the legacy he’s left at his enormously influential companies.

    “On behalf of the FOX and News Corp boards of directors, leadership teams, and all the shareholders who have benefited from his hard work, I congratulate my father on his remarkable 70-year career,” said Lachlan Murdoch. “We thank him for his vision, his pioneering spirit, his steadfast determination, and the enduring legacy he leaves to the companies he founded and countless people he has impacted. We are grateful that he will serve as Chairman Emeritus and know he will continue to provide valued counsel to both companies.”

    Murdoch’s media empire includes FOX News Channel, which launched in 1996 under News Corp.

    Murdoch was Executive Chairman of 21st Century Fox from 2015 to the closing of the merger of 21st Century Fox and The Walt Disney Company in March 2019. Murdoch served as CEO of 21st Century Fox from its inception as News Corporation in 1979 until 2015 and as its Chairman from 1991 to 2015.

    House Republican Openly Pursuing CNN Gig

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    3
    CNN Headquarters via Wikimedia Commons

    House Republican Ken Buck (Colo.) is openly pursuing another gig…

    In a phone interview with the New York Post, Rep. Buck openly expressed his interest in a gig with CNN, among other outlets.

    “I am interested in talking to folks at CNN and other news organizations — on the, I don’t want to call them left, but sort of center-left — and having an opportunity to do that full-time or do that as a contributor would be great also,” Buck said.

    The Congressman called the Post back later in the day to add that he also was interested in a gig with Fox News or Newsmax.

    “I didn’t want to give you the impression that I’ve only talked to folks at CNN, on the Left,” He added. “I’ve also talked to others about this.”

    Ray Epps Charged, Debunks Conspiracy Theory

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    6
    Elvert Barnes, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    Former Marine Ray Epps has been charged with one count related to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, officially debunking a popular conspiracy theory peddled by former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

    According to court documents, Epps was charged with a misdemeanor count of disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds. According to NBC News, “He was charged by information, which suggests that he plans to enter a plea deal.”

    Epps, a one-time chapter president for the Oath Keepers, became the subject of controversy after he was not immediately charged for his actions at the Capitol on Jan. 6th.

    According to The New York Times, Epps was “seen on video encouraging demonstrators to march with him and enter the Capitol at one point. At another point, however, he pleads for restraint once it becomes clear the situation is turning violent. He also pushes past a police barricade into a restricted part of the Capitol grounds.”

    Popular primetime Fox News host Tucker Carlson promoted the conspiracy that Epps was actually an undercover federal agent helping incite the riot. Carlson has since been fired from the network however Epps recently filed a defamation suit against Fox.

    “Fox knew it needed a scapegoat for January 6th. It settled on Ray Epps and began promoting the lie that Epps was a federal agent who incited the attack on the Capitol.”

    Report: Giuliani’s Former Legal Team Sues Him for $1.36M

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s legal team is adding to his laundry list of legal troubles.

    The former Trump attorney’s previous legal team is suing the Republican for failing to pay legal fees amounting to $1.36 million they charged while representing him in numerous controversies.

    According to reports from Politicom Robert J. Costello, a longtime friend of Giuliani, and his law firm Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP filed the complaint on Monday in a state court in Manhattan.

    Politico has more:

    And now his old counsel is turning against him, accusing him of not paying up all the money he owes them for representing him throughout these his legal battles. Giuliani has already paid the firm — which he employed on a retainer agreement that it alleges he broke — $214,000, with his last payment made on Sept. 14 in the amount of $10,000, according to the filing. In total, the firm has charged him $1.57 million from 2019 to 2023.

    “I can’t express how personally hurt I am by what Bob Costello has done,” Giuliani told POLITICO in a statement. “It’s a real shame when lawyers do things like this, and all I will say is that their bill is way in excess to anything approaching legitimate fees.”

    Giuliani is staring down the barrel at a host of legal issues stemming from the 2020 presidential election. Last month Giuliani surrendered to Fulton County jail over charges that he helped conspire with Trump to overthrow the election by lying to state legislators and spreading election fraud misinformation. A week later, a federal judge ruled that he was liable for defaming two Georgia election workers.

    Trump Adviser Sues FBI Director, Former Trump DOJ Officials Over Personal Records

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    3
    Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Ramón Colón-López and the chief of staff to Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller, Kash Patel, arrive at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Jan. 14, 2021. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

    Former Trump National Security Council official Kash Patel filed a lawsuit against FBI Director Chris Wray and former Trump Justice Department officials, accusing them of violating his Fourth Amendment right to protection from unreasonable searches and seizures.

    In the lawsuit filed Monday, Patel alleges that Wray and others violated the Fourth Amendment when they tried to obtain Patel’s personal records.

    Just The News reports:

    The FBI and Justice Department officials in the lawsuit obtained a subpoena in November 2017 for Patel’s “personal information as part of a politically motivated investigation,” Google handed over responses to the subpoena the following month, the lawsuit obtained by Just the News states. 

    Patel said he was kept in the dark about the subpoena until he was notified by Google in 2022.

    The defendants, which include then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, “improperly and politically targeted Mr. Patel’s personal records because of his official position and actions in furtherance of the United States House of Representatives’ lawful investigation into the Department of Justice’s handling of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation,” the lawsuit also states. 

    Patel’s private accounts were subpoenaed while he worked as senior counsel and chief investigator for then Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., on the House Intelligence Committee investigating the FBI and Justice Department for their conduct in Crossfire Hurricane, the federal investigation of the since-disproven allegations that the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to win the 2016 election.

    In addition to Rosenstein and Wray, the defendants also include Rosenstein’s aide Robert Hur, who is now leading the probe of President Joe Biden’s alleged mishandling of classified documents, former U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jesse Liu, former Justice Department National Security official Ed O’Callahan and two unnamed John Does.

    Report: Hunter Biden Sues IRS

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    2
    President Joe Biden hugs his family during the 59th Presidential Inauguration ceremony in Washington, Jan. 20, 2021. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. (DOD Photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Carlos M. Vazquez II)

    President Biden’s son Hunter filed a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Systems (IRS) on Monday, alleging two agents wrongfully released his private tax information.

    “This lawsuit is not about the legitimacy of the IRS investigation of Mr. Biden over the past five years or any decision to penalize Mr. Biden for any failure to comply with his obligations under the tax laws,” Biden’s attorneys wrote in the suit, according to The Hill.

    “Rather, the lawsuit is about the decision by IRS employees, their representatives, and others to disregard their obligations and repeatedly and intentionally publicly disclose and disseminate Mr. Biden’s protected tax return information outside the exceptions for making disclosures in the law,” it added later.

    The lawsuit cites testimony from two IRS agents who worked with the Justice Department, Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, who alleged the Biden investigation was slow-walked by prosecutors.  

    The two men spoke with the House Ways and Means Committee earlier this summer and also testified before the House Oversight Committee in July. However, the lawsuit targets approximately 20 non-sanctioned interviews addressing the case.

    Biden’s suit seeks $1,000 for “each and every unauthorized disclosure of his tax return information” made by the two men. 

    “Mr. Biden has no fewer or lesser rights than any other American citizen, and no government agency or government agent has free reign to violate his rights simply because of who he is. Yet the IRS and its agents have conducted themselves under a presumption that the rights that apply to every other American citizen do not apply to Mr. Biden,” the suit claims.

    Trump to Testify Against Allegations He Pressured Staffer to Delete Evidence

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    6
    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Former President Donald Trump plans to testify that an allegation by prosecutors that he acted with an alleged co-conspirator to delete security footage is false.

    In July, the Justice Department filed a superseding indictment in the case over Trump’s handling of classified documents after leaving office that accused Trump of working with the property manager to delete surveillance footage at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

    Asked about the charge by Kristen Welker on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Trump called the allegation “false.”

    “Would you testify to that under oath?” Welker asked.

    “Sure, I’m going to — I’ll testify,” Trump said.

    The former president went on to claim that there was “nothing done” to the security tapes in question.

    “And, they were my tapes. I could have fought them,” Trump continued. “I didn’t even have to give them the tapes, I don’t think. I think I would have won in court. When they asked for the tapes, I said, ‘Sure.’ They’re my tapes. I could have fought them. I didn’t even have to give them. Just so you understand, though, we didn’t delete anything. Nothing was deleted.”

    The superseding indictment filed in July brought the total number of counts in the case against the former president to 40. 

    Trump has pleaded not guilty in the case, which is set to go to trial in Florida next May.

    Hunter Biden Indicted on Three Gun Charges

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1
    President Joe Biden hugs his family during the 59th Presidential Inauguration ceremony in Washington, Jan. 20, 2021. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. (DOD Photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Carlos M. Vazquez II)

    Delaware prosecutors indicted President Joe Biden’s son Hunter on three gun-related charges on Thursday.

    The Hill reports:

    The court filings detail charges Hunter Biden would have entered a diversion program for under the failed plea agreement, charging him both with failing to disclose drug use when seeking to buy a weapon, resulting in two separate charges, as well as for unlawful possession of a firearm while addicted to a controlled substance. 

    The indictment does not list any tax crimes – a matter that also would have been covered by the prior plea agreement that had Biden plead guilty on two charges of willful failure to pay taxes.

    Hunter-Biden-Indictment-1Download

    This is a breaking news story. Click refresh for the latest updates.

    GOP Senator Dumps Cold Water on Biden Impeachment Proceedings

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    8
    Joe Biden via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville (R) is hesitant about the impeachment proceedings against President Joe Biden…

    Sen. Tuberville joined a growing group of Republicans who have expressed uncertainty over the House GOP’s impeachment inquiry. In a brutally honest assessment, the Alabama Senator said that while the Senate “couldn’t get the votes” to convict Biden in an impeachment trial but hoped the House at least would get to the truth concerning the abuse of power and corruption allegations made against the president.

    “You don’t bring a vote to the floor unless you are pretty sure that you can get the amount of votes that you need,” Tuberville said on NBC’s “Meet the Press NOW.” “I know that wouldn’t make it to anywhere over here in the Senate. That probably wouldn’t even — wouldn’t even let it make it to the floor. But again, this is all up to the House. We got enough problems going on right now.”

    On Tuesday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy gave the go-ahead to begin the impeachment process. An inquiry is the first step of the impeachment process, where evidence is gathered for the articles, or charges, of impeachment against an official. 

    The allegations against Biden concern the president’s role in his son Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings and whether the Biden family used Joe Biden’s public office for personal profit.

    “Today, I am directing our House committees to open a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden,” McCarthy announced in a statement at the Capitol on Tuesday.. “This logical next step will give our committees the full power to gather all the facts and answers for the American public.” 

    However, Tuberville says an impeachment is a waste of time unless it’s “ironclad.”

    “I’m not for impeachment unless it is ironclad,” he said. “As I said about President Trump, if you’re gonna come after a former president or president, let’s not waste time. Let’s know the truth. Let’s be able to bring it out. Let the American people know.”

    “We got enough problems up here right now without going through an impeachment process, but they’ll do the right thing,” he added, referring to the House. “Hopefully we just find out what’s going on and, and American people get the truth.”

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