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    Utah Republican Inches Toward Mitt Romney Senate Challenge

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

    A prominent Utah lawmaker appears to be gearing up for a Senate bid, potentially teeing up a competitive primary challenge against incumbent Senator Mitt Romney (R).

    Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson announced Thursday that he is launching an exploratory committee to consider running for Senate, according to reports from Fox News.

    “I’ve really loved the opportunity that we’ve had to keep government small and out of people’s lives, it’s part of why Utah is so special,” Wilson said of his time in public office.

    He continued, “I really believe that what Washington needs is to be a lot more like Utah. We’ve got this amazing opportunity to send Utah values back to D.C., and to have a conservative fighter back there, doing things back there the way we do them here in the Beehive State.” 

    “I’ve been in elected office for a while. And one thing that I know is these offices don’t belong to any of us individually, they belong to the people that elect us,” Wilson said.

    Wilson added, “And so my decision is going to be based on what I hear from people, what I believe is in the best interest of the state of Utah, and what is, quite frankly, in the best interest of my family.”

    Romney has yet to announce if he will run for another term in the Senate but earlier this week filed preliminary paperwork with the Federal Election Commission. 

    Romney was the GOP nominee in the 2012 presidential election and was defeated by former President Barack Obama. The Republican lawmaker has become a controversial figure within the party over the past years, frequently butting heads with then-President Donald Trump. Romney twice voted to impeach Trump.

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

    Report: Trump Special Counsel Probing Potential Wire Fraud Related to 2020 Fundraising

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    3
    Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Former President Donald Trump is reportedly under investigation by federal prosecutors probing the Jan. 6 Capitol riot for alleged wire fraud related to his fundraising efforts between the 2020 presidential election and President Joe Biden’s inauguration.

    The Washington Post reported the news on Wednesday evening, citing “eight people with knowledge of the investigation” who “spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing criminal investigation.”

    The report explains that Special Counsel Jack Smith is investigating potential wire fraud crimes committed by Trump and his “fundraising operation” for using false claims of election fraud to elicit donations, which would “violated wire fraud laws.” The Post notes that under federal law it is “illegal to make false representations over email to swindle people out of money.”

    The report adds:

    Smith’s office has sent subpoenas in recent weeks to Trump advisers and former campaign aides, Republican operatives and other consultants involved in the 2020 presidential campaign, the people said. They have also heard testimony from some of these figures in front of a Washington grand jury, some of the people said.

    The subpoenas, which were issued in early March, have not previously been reported and are aimed at gathering private communications between Trump and his fundraising staff to better understand whether or not they believed the claims behind their messaging, which the Post reports “generated more than $200 million in donations from conservatives.”

    Smith and his investigator are probing whether fundraising emails containing rhetoric such as, “They want you to think this Election is over, but they are wrong” constitute actual fraud.

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

    Trump Sues Former Attorney Michael Cohen

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    2
    Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Former President Donald Trump is suing his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen for more than $500 million, alleging a breach of his attorney-client relationship, unjust enrichment, and more.

    Fox News reports:

    “This is an action arising from [Cohen’s] multiple breaches of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, conversion and breaches of contract by virtue of [Cohen’s] past service as [Trump’s] employee and attorney,” the lawsuit states.

    The lawsuit alleges Cohen breached his attorney-client relationship by “spreading falsehoods” about Trump that were “likely to be embarrassing or detrimental, and partook in other misconduct,” while also breaching contractual terms of a confidentiality agreement he signed as a condition of employment with Trump.

    The lawsuit alleges Cohen spread falsehoods about Trump “with malicious intent and to wholly self-serving ends.” 

    It claims Cohen has recently, “increased the frequency and hostility of the illicit acts” and “appears to have become emboldened and repeatedly continues to make wrongful and false statements” about Trump through various platforms.

    “Such continuous and escalating improper conduct by [Cohen] has reached a proverbial crescendo and has left [Trump] with no alternative but to seek legal redress through this action,” the lawsuit states, adding that Trump has “suffered vast reputational harm as a direct result of [Cohen’s] breaches.”

    Trump’s lawsuit comes after the former president was arraigned on 34 counts of falsifying business records in Manhattan Criminal Court last week.

    Earlier this month a New York grand jury voted to indict former President Donald Trump for his alleged role in a hush money bribe to adult film star Stormy Daniels amid the 2016 presidential election in DA Alvin Bragg’s yearslong investigation into the real estate mogul.

    Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York opted out of charging Trump related to the Daniels payment in 2019. The Federal Election Commission also tossed its investigation into the matter in 2021.

    This story is breaking news. Click refresh for the latest developments.

    Trump To Return To New York For $250M Lawsuit One Week After Bombshell Arraignment

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    3

    Donald Trump is heading back to the Big Apple.

    Nearly one week after Trump was charged with 34 felony counts in part of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s investigation into alleged hush money payments the third-time White House contender is to return to New York to be deposed in a $250 million civil suit brought by state Attorney General Letitia James (D). 

    “This case is complex, but it is not complicated,” Judge Arthur Engoron said last month of the civil suit. “Essentially, it all boils down to whether (Trump’s) statements of financial interest are true or false.”

    AG James claims Trump and others at his Trump Organization deceived lenders and insurance companies by inflating the value of his assets in order to get loans for his real estate and resort business, then undervaluing them for tax purposes. James is seeking to recover more than $250 million in “ill-gotten gains” and to bar the Trumps from doing business in New York. Engoron has set a trial date of October 2.

    James campaigned on a pledge to prosecute Trump, who she once called an “illegitimate president.” Trump has called James, who is black, a “racist in reverse.”

     “I will never be afraid to challenge this illegitimate president,” James said in a 2018 video during her successful campaign to be attorney general. “I believe that this president is incompetent. I believe that this president is ill-equipped to serve in the highest office of this land. And I believe that he is an embarrassment to all that we stand for.”

    On April 5, the New York grand jury voted to indict former President Donald Trump for his alleged role in a hush money bribe to adult film star Stormy Daniels amid the 2016 presidential election in DA Alvin Bragg’s yearslong investigation into the real estate mogul.

    Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York opted out of charging Trump related to the Daniels payment in 2019. The Federal Election Commission also tossed its investigation into the matter in 2021.

    On Tuesday, the former President surrendered to the Manhattan Criminal Court for his arraignment

    Trump-Era AG Says Prosecutors Likely Have ‘Very Good Evidence’ Trump Obstructed Justice

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    The United States Department of Justice, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    Trump Administration Attorney General William Barr said over the weekend that prosecutors likely have “very good evidence” that the former president committed obstruction of justice.

    Barr made the remarks on Easter Sunday during an interview on ABC News’ “This Week” while discussing the numerous criminal investigations into former President Donald Trump.

    Barr expressed his doubts about Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s investigation into Trump’s alleged role in a hush-money scheme. The former AG said that he believes that Democrats are trying to use the investigations to “get into the middle of the Republican primary process and turn it into a circus.”

    “And I think, ultimately, the savvy Democratic strategists know this is going to help Trump, and they want him to be the nominee because he is the weakest of the Republican candidates, the most likely to lose again to Biden,” Barr warned.

    The former AG instead said Trump’s main concern should be the investigation surrounding the classified documents recovered in Mar-A-Lago.

    The raid on Mar-a-Lago was “taken after a long period, about a year-and-a-half of trying to get the documents from him, which he had no claim to,” Barr said. “He had no claim to those documents, especially the classified documents. They belonged to the government. And so, I think he was jerking the government around. And they subpoenaed it. And they tried to jawbone him into delivering documents.”

    “But the government is investigating the extent to which games were played and there was obstruction in keeping documents from them,” he added. “And I think that’s a serious potential case. I think they probably have some very good evidence there.”

    Barr said that there is “a very good chance” that Trump will be criminally indicted in the case.

    Trump Tries to Save Republican Party By Discouraging DeSantis 2024 Run

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    6
    Ron DeSantis via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    It’s no secret Donald Trump wants Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) to stay out of the 2024 presidential race.

    In a recent Truth Social post, Trump tried to discourage DeSantis from entering the race by predicting the devastating defeat would affect the governor’s chances of holding any future political office.

    “Ron DeSantis is a young man who is not doing well against me in the polls, to put it mildly,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I believe that if he decides to run for President, which will only hurt and somewhat divide the Republican Party, he will lose the cherished and massive MAGA vote, and never be able to successfully run for office again.”

    “If he remains Governor, which is what Florida voters assumed, it would be a whole different story….JUST SAYIN’ – But who knows?” Trump added.

    DeSantis has not yet announced whether he is running for president in 2024, but he is widely expected to enter the race once Florida’s legislative session concludes.

    The governor is widely viewed as Trump’s most formidable potential challenger based on polling data, however, national polls have shown Trump with a healthy lead over DeSantis and other potential challengers for the 2024 GOP nomination. 

    Trump and his team have ramped up attacks on DeSantis in recent weeks, even threatening to blacklist any officials who support the Governor from future positions.

    According to a new report by right-of-center publication RealClearPolitics, Trump’s campaign has informed conservative operatives that anyone who works for the Florida governor will be blackballed.

    According to sources with direct knowledge of the edict, Justin Caporale, who helps lead the advance team for the former president, has said that anyone who staffed a recent DeSantis book tour will be considered “persona non grata.” A top Trump ally was more comprehensive, telling RealClearPolitics that the prohibition would apply to more than just the junior aides tasked with setting up folding chairs and hanging banners.

    “It’s a time for choosing,” the source close to the former president said. “If you work for Ron DeSantis’ presidential race, you will not work for the Trump campaign or in the Trump White House.”

    Report: Settlement Reached In Lawsuit Against Fox News, Lou Dobbs

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    0
    Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America,

    A settlement has been reached in a defamation lawsuit against Fox News and former host Lou Dobbs.

    Venezuelan businessman Majed Khalil filed the lawsuit in 2021 alleging statements made on Dobbs’s social media and by pro-Trump attorney Sidney Powell on Dobbs’s Fox Business show defamed him by accusing the businessman of executing an “electoral 9/11” and helping change ballot counts in voting machines.

    “The 2020 Election is a cyber Pearl Harbor: The leftwing establishment have aligned their forces to overthrow the United States government,” Dobbs wrote in a Twitter post.

    According to Khalil’s complaint, as Powell appeared on one of his shows, the host asked, “You say these four individuals led the effort to rig this election. How did they do it?”

    Dobbs and Fox’s attorney had unsuccessfully moved to have the case dismissed on First Amendment grounds last fall.

    The Hill reported that lawyers for the two parties confirmed they had reached an agreement to resolve the matter, however, the financial terms of the agreement were not specified.

    “This matter has been resolved amicably by both sides,” a Fox News spokesperson said when contacted Sunday by The Hill. “We have no further comment.”

    Fox News network is separately fighting a $1.6 Billion defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems over similar claims about the 2020 election made on its air. Fox has also argued the allegations made by Dominion are protected by the First Amendment.

    “This case is and always has been about the First Amendment protections of the media’s absolute right to cover the news,” the network said in a recent statement about the Dominion case. “Fox will continue to fiercely advocate for the rights of free speech and a free press as we move into the next phase of these proceedings.” 

    The trial, which is slated to begin later this month will feature testimony from high-profile officials such as Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch, Tucker Carlson, and Sean Hannity.

    American Liberty News previously reported that in a letter to Judge Eric M. Davis, lawyers for the cable news behemoth told the judge they intend to make Tucker Carlson, Jeanine Pirro and Sean Hannity available to testify. They also named news anchors Bret Baier and Dana Perino. Additionally, they will call top executives and producers, including CEO Suzanne Scott, President Jay Wallace and Justin Wells, executive producer of “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” in its defense.

    House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Major Banks For Biden Family Financial Records

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    The House Oversight Committee issued subpoenas to banks asking for the Biden family’s financial records.

    Fox News has confirmed that the Oversight Committee subpoenaed Bank of America, Cathay Bank, JPMorgan Chase, HSBC USA N.A., as well as former Hunter Biden business associate Mervyn Yan asking for financial records.

    Rep. Jamie Raskin, (D-Md.) the top Democrat on the committee, accused Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) of intentionally trying to hide information regarding the investigation from Democrats on the committee.

    In a statement to Fox News, Rep. James Comer said “Ranking Member Raskin has again disclosed Committee’s subpoenas in a cheap attempt to thwart cooperation from other witnesses. Given his antics with the first bank subpoena, the American people and media should be asking what information Ranking Member Raskin is trying to hide this time. No one should be fooled by Ranking Member Raskin’s games. We have the bank records, and the facts are not good for the Biden family.”

    The Oversight Committee Democrat staff sent a memo to members on Thursday accusing Republicans of conducting their investigation behind a “veil of secrecy.”

    “Despite this massive investment of time and resources, Republican efforts on this and other congressional committees have failed to yield any evidence of misconduct by President Biden. Nevertheless, Chairman Comer has issued six document subpoenas for financial records as part of this renewed investigation, several of which have been based on information Committee Republicans know to be false,” the memo states.

    “On February 27, 2023, Chairman Comer secretly issued the Committee’s first document subpoena as part of Committee Republicans’ ongoing investigation into the Biden family to Bank of America. This subpoena sought, among other information, “all financial records” from January 20, 2009, to the present — a staggering 14-year period — for John R. Walker, a private U.S. citizen… Yet, because of Chairman Comer’s use of a secret subpoena, Mr. Walker was never notified that the Committee had subpoenaed his financial records from Bank of America, he was never notified that Bank of America turned over his records to the Committee, and he was never notified that the Committee was publicly releasing information from these records,” the memo states.

    Sean Spicer Announces Departure from Newsmax

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    3

    Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer is leaving Newsmax.

    In a video posted online late Thursday, Spicer, who had hosted a show on the channel for several years, teased a new venture.

    “The 2024 election cycle will be in full swing before we know it,” Spicer said. “And I want to give you a front row seat to what’s happening.”

    Spicer, who remains a supporter of Trump, did not expand on his new venture, but said he will be working to “expose the false narratives and the hypocrisy the mainstream media is pushing.”

    Newsmax recently inked a new deal with DirecTV, one of its largest providers, after a nasty public dispute over carrier fees. The channel remains well behind the three major cable networks — Fox News, MSNBC and CNN, in the monthly ratings race.

    Legal Expert Says DA Alvin Bragg Violated Donald Trump’s Constitutional Rights

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    2
    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg may have violated Donald Trump’s Constitutional rights according to Fox News legal analyst Gregg Jarrett.

    On “Hannity,” Jarrett said that Bragg’s refusal to disclose the underlying crime the defendant intended to conceal through his alleged falsification of business records violated the Sixth Amendment.

    The Sixth Amendment provides in part for the right of a criminal defendant to “be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor…”

    When questioned by a reporter as to what the underlying crime the indictment fails to name is, Bragg replied in New York State, he does not have to.

    “The indictment doesn’t specify it because the law does not so require,” he told the journalist.

    “He does [have to name it, via] the Sixth Amendment,” Jarrett said. “[The indictment] is therefore facially defective. It is deficient on its face and it would be susceptible to a motion-to-dismiss.”

    Jarrett recalled a warning from former Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson, a Nuremberg Trial prosecutor, who said the “greatest danger to justice is an unscrupulous prosecutor who targets a person and then scours the law books to find an offense he can pin on that person.”

    “That’s what Alvin Bragg has done,” he said.

    Last Thursday, the New York grand jury voted to indict former President Donald Trump for his alleged role in a hush money bribe to adult film star Stormy Daniels amid the 2016 presidential election in DA Alvin Bragg’s yearslong investigation into the real estate mogul.

    Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York opted out of charging Trump related to the Daniels payment in 2019. The Federal Election Commission also tossed its investigation into the matter in 2021.

    On Tuesday, the former President surrendered to the Manhattan Criminal Court for his arraignment. Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records.

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