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Bush-Era Attorney General Endorses Harris

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Image via Gage Skidmore Flickr

A surprising betrayal…

Former Attorney General to President George W. Bush, Alberto Gonzales is turning his back on Donald Trump.

In the same op-ed, Gonzales called former President Donald Trump “perhaps the most serious threat to the rule of law in a generation.” Gonzales wrote:

The American presidency is the most powerful position in the world. Of course, our constitution and laws, as well as institutions such as Congress and our courts, act as guardrails to that power. The law provides the certainty of accountability and fundamental fairness. Yet it is the president’s integrity, honesty and respect for our institutions that may be the most important and reliable check on abuses of power.

As the United States approaches a critical election, I can’t sit quietly as Donald Trump — perhaps the most serious threat to the rule of law in a generation — eyes a return to the White House. For that reason, though I’m a Republican, I’ve decided to support Kamala Harris for president.

The Republican AG also officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president.

In his endorsement, Gonzales defended her from critics who have raised concerns as to why she hasn’t accomplished more as Vice President, pointing the finger at Congress:

Trump and his surrogates will blame her for the economic policies of the Biden administration, as well as the border crisis. Based on my experience, however, a vice president truly has little to no influence on economic policy. A vice president may provide input, but it is the president who is the ultimate decision-maker. That is part of the job of being the president. Further, Congress has as much, if not more, power to affect our economy through legislation. It is as much their failure as Biden’s that child care, housing, gasoline and groceries cost too much. And as for the border, Trump and his supporters in Congress assumed partial responsibility for the tough border situation when they killed bipartisan legislation in order to help Trump’s election chances.

Ultimately, Gonzales wrote that he had more faith in Harris to carry out the duties as Commander in Chief:

Harris, meanwhile, has sworn fidelity to the rule of law as a former local prosecutor and state attorney general. Her record in law enforcement shows a clear commitment to pursuing justice. While I may disagree with some of her policies, I am hopeful she will be open to dissenting views and will act always in a manner respectful of the power of all three branches of government.

In his closing, he added that Harris was “the best suited, able and committed to unite us in a manner consistent with the rule of law.”

John Bolton Says AG Garland Doesn’t Stand a Chance Against Trump

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Marine One lifts-off after returning President Donald J. Trump to Mar-a-Lago Friday, March 29, 2019, following his visit to the 143-mile Herbert Hoover Dike near Canal Point, Fla., that surrounds Lake Okeechobee. The visit was part of an infrastructure inspection of the dike, which is part of the Kissimmee-Okeechobee Everglades system, and reduces impacts of flooding for areas of south Florida. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian) [Photo Credit: The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

The legal reasoning of the Department of Justice isn’t too outlandish according to John Bolton, the former Trump National Security Advisor told CNN.

The problem is politically Trump is going to “slaughter” Garland, according to Bolton.

The Daily Caller reports, that Bolton told CNN that Trump doesn’t care about normal procedures, and Garland having to follow normal procedures of the DOJ is leaving him vulnerable.

So vulnerable, Bolton called him a lamb.

Botlon said, “If we were in a Colosseum with two gladiators, one of them Donald Trump, the other Merrick Garland, we’d be about to witness the slaughter of the lambs. The Justice Department understandably wants to follow its normal procedures. It’s facing an adversary who couldn’t care less about the normal procedures.”

Bolton also criticized the department’s PR strategy. Saying the need to do more to explain what they are up to in investigating Trump.

So far the department is “not doing enough” to justify why they needed to search Mar-a-Lago, according to Bolton.

Another big issue is that the DOJ and FBI violated Trump’s rights but violating the search warrant. The FBI overstepped its authority abd took documents that were attorney-client privileged and not considered presidential records.

As we reported yesterday, the FBI took three of Trump’s passports wrongfully.

[READ NEXT: FBI Violated Trump’s Rights in Terrible Way]

Trump Rival Eric Swalwell Suspends Campaign

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Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) announced Sunday that he is suspending his campaign for governor of California, just over 48 hours after multiple reports surfaced alleging sexual assault and misconduct involving a former aide and other women.

“I am suspending my campaign for Governor,” Swalwell wrote in a post on the social platform X. “To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.”

The San Francisco Chronicle first reported Friday that Swalwell allegedly sexually assaulted a former aide in 2019 and 2024, incidents in which the woman was said to be too intoxicated to give consent. CNN later reported that four women had accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct, including one who alleged rape.

Swalwell forcefully denied the claims.

“They are absolutely false. They did not happen,” Swalwell said in a video posted on X on Friday. “They have never happened, and I will fight them with everything that I have. They also come on the eve of an election where I have been the frontrunner candidate for governor in California.”

His attorney has also sent cease-and-desist letters to several of the accusers, according to CNN.

Despite those denials, political support for Swalwell unraveled rapidly. Within hours of the initial reports, his campaign co-chairs — Reps. Adam Gray (D-Calif.) and Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) — publicly urged him to exit the race. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), a longtime power broker in California politics, also called for him to drop out and said the allegations should be “appropriately investigated with full transparency and accountability.”

An unsigned letter from members of Swalwell’s congressional office and campaign described the allegations as “abhorrent, beneath the dignity of those serving in public office and betrays the trust of all Californians,” according to Politico.

Calls for his resignation from Congress have also grown, spanning both parties.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) said she plans to file a motion to expel Swalwell from the House. Expulsion would require a two-thirds vote, meaning significant Democratic support would be necessary. Some Democrats have already indicated they would back such a move if Swalwell does not step down.

Separate investigations may further complicate his situation. The Department of Homeland Security said Sunday it is probing allegations that Swalwell illegally employed a nanny, while Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office confirmed it is reviewing the sexual assault claims.

Before the allegations emerged, Swalwell had been widely viewed as a leading contender in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. He had secured endorsements from major groups, including the California Teachers Association and the California Medical Association — both of which have since rescinded their support.

“CTA’s democratically elected board has voted unanimously to rescind our endorsement of Representative Eric Swalwell in his campaign for Governor of California. We withdraw all support,” the California Teachers Association wrote on X.

The race is now far more uncertain. Democratic strategists say candidates such as billionaire Tom Steyer and former Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) could gain traction as voters reassess their options ahead of the June 2 primary.

Swalwell’s political downfall marks a dramatic turn for a congressman who rose to national prominence as one of former President Donald Trump’s most outspoken critics. A frequent presence on cable news, Swalwell served as an impeachment manager during Trump’s first Senate trial and was a vocal advocate for investigations into Trump’s conduct and associates.

The two have traded barbs for years, with Trump repeatedly targeting Swalwell in speeches and on social media, often mocking him personally and politically. Swalwell, in turn, built a national profile by positioning himself as a leading Democratic counterweight to Trump, including during his brief and unsuccessful 2020 presidential campaign.

RFK Jr. Drops Out Of Race, Endorses Trump

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UPDATE (3:03 p.m. ET):

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed the suspension of his campaign. Although his name will still appear on the ballot in red and blue states, he will be removing his name from the ballot in the 10 competitive states. In those competitive states, he is encouraging his supporters to vote for Donald Trump.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

PHOENIX – Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the most prominent independent presidential candidate, has suspended his campaign and endorsed former President Donald Trump, a move that could dramatically shift the dynamics of an already close presidential race. The announcement follows extensive negotiations between both campaigns.

CNN reported Friday that Kennedy had dropped an attempt to get on the ballot in Pennsylvania. In a filing, he wrote, “It is a result of today’s endorsement of Trump.”

Watch:

Negotiations Behind the Scenes

The possibility of Kennedy endorsing Trump arguably overshadowed the Democratic National Convention, where party leaders celebrated, even as the potential impact of his endorsement loomed large.

Speculation and Statements from Kennedy’s Campaign

It appeared increasingly likely over the course of this week that Kennedy would drop out and endorse the former president. Multiple sources told ABC News on Wednesday that RFK Jr. planned to endorse Trump for president at a live press conference on Friday at 2 p.m. ET in Phoenix, Arizona.

When asked about the reports, Kennedy neither confirmed nor denied the claim. A spokesperson for Kennedy’s campaign hinted earlier on Wednesday that the candidate would be addressing the “present historical moment” and outlining his “path forward” in his Friday remarks.

Hints of an Alliance from Nicole Shanahan

Speculation erupted after Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, mentioned the possibility of an alliance with Trump during an interview on Tuesday. Shanahan said that their campaign was drawing more support from Trump’s base than from Kamala Harris, raising concerns about inadvertently aiding a Harris victory by staying in the race.

“There’s two options that we’re looking at and one is staying in, forming that new party, but we run the risk of a Kamala Harris and Walz presidency because we draw votes from Trump, or we draw somehow more votes from Trump,” Shanahan said.

Aiming to Avoid the “Spoiler” Label

Shanahan, a billionaire attorney from Silicon Valley, emphasized that Kennedy campaign’s goal was not to act as a spoiler. “I did not put in tens of millions of dollars to be a spoiler candidate,” she said. “I put in tens of millions of dollars to win, to fix this country, to do the right thing. We don’t want to be a spoiler.”

The Current State of the Race

The latest RealClearPolitics polling average shows a razor-thin margin in the decisive battleground states. Trump currently holds narrow leads in Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia, while Harris leads in Wisconsin and Michigan by small margins.

So, what do you think? Do you believe Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s endorsement of Donald Trump will significantly impact the outcome of the 2024 presidential election? We welcome your thoughts in the comments below!

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

Impeachment Republican Launches Longshot Senate Bid

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Former Michigan Congressman Peter Meijer (R) announced his campaign for U.S. Senate on Monday.

“We are in dark and uncertain times, but we have made it through worse,” he said in a statement, posted on X. “The challenges are great, but so is our country. If we are to see another great American century, we need leaders who aren’t afraid to be bold, will do the work, and can’t be bought.”

Meijer lost his House seat last cycle after a Trump-backed candidate defeated him in the Republican primary — a challenge brought on after Meijer joined nine other House Republicans in voting to impeach Trump following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

The Michigan Republican already faces a challenge to win the seat left open by Se. Debbie Stabenow (D) as former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), who was sought after by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and former Detroit Police Chief James Craig are among some of the names seeking the GOP endorsement. 

The nonpartisan election prognosticator Cook Political Report rates Stabenow’s seat as “lean Democrat.” 

Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) is the most prominent Democrat running for the position.

New Jersey Governor Declares War On Trump Admin.

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Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Despite Donald Trump’s landslide victory, Democrat Governors are already planning ways to hinder the incoming administration.

In a Q&A following President-elect Trump’s victory, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy warned he will “fight to the death” against the administration if he detects behavior “contrary to our values.”

“[A]s we respect the peaceful transition of power, if there is any attack on the Garden State or any of its communities from Washington, I will fight back with every fiber of my being,” Murphy said.

“If there’s an opportunity for common ground, we will seize that as fast as anybody,” he conversely added. 

Watch:

State Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio (R-Hackettstown) told Fox News Digital that Murphy is “missing the message” voters sent Tuesday with the initial rhetoric.

“It’s time for the governor to recognize that his values may not reflect the values of New Jerseyans as widely as he assumes,” he said.

“While Murphy is prepared to spend resources on political battles with Trump, it’s hard to see how that aligns with the priorities of struggling families, working taxpayers and business owners who want more focus on their needs,” DiMaio said.

Senator Responds To Trump Considering Him For Vice President

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

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott (R) responded to former President Donald Trump’s comments over the weekend naming him as a potential running mate.

Trump revealed to Fox News’s Maria Bartiromo over the weekend he is considering Scott, along with South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to be the next vice presidential running mate. (RELATED: Trump Names Two People When Asked About Potential VP Picks)

“The only thing I can tell you is that the one thing we need is four more years of President Donald Trump,” Scott told Fox News Digital on Monday.

“We were better off under Trump. In order for us to be successful, the one thing I can’t afford to do is take my eye off the ball. The eye on the ball means making sure that President Trump gets four more years,” he added.

Over the weekend, Trump told Bartiromo that his top priority in choosing a vice presidential candidate is selecting someone who could easily step into his shoes in case of an emergency.

“Always, it’s got to be who is going to be a good president. Obviously, you always have to think that because in case of emergency. Things happen, right? No matter who you are, things happen. That’s got to be No. 1,” Trump said.

On Monday, former Trump senior adviser Kellyanne Conway advised the President to consider choosing a person of color for VP during an op-ed published in The New York Times.

“With a crisis on the border, economic dissatisfaction, fears about crime, a parents’ rights renaissance and multiple wars and threats across the globe, Mr. Trump’s deputy must be able to navigate chaos and challenges at home and abroad,” Conway wrote.

“Taking all of this into consideration, if I were advising Mr. Trump, I would suggest he choose a person of color as his running mate, depending on vetting of all possibilities and satisfaction of procedural issues like dual residency in Florida,” Conway wrote. “Not for identity politics a la the Democrats, but as an equal helping to lead an America First movement that includes more union workers, independents, first-time voters, veterans, Hispanics, Asian Americans and African Americans.”

Conway listed Sen. Tim Scott, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) among the potential options.

Republican Issues Impeachment Warning Over Trump’s Greenland Proposal

The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A Republican Congressman signaled he would move to impeach President Donald Trump if he follows through on his threat to invade Greenland and take it by force.

In an interview with the Omaha World-Herald, Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) said he personally would “lean toward” voting to impeach the president if he were to follow through on threats to take over Greenland.

“I’ll be candid with you. There’s so many Republicans mad about this,” Bacon told the paper. “If he went through with the threats, I think it would be the end of his presidency.”

Bacon, a swing state Congressman who is known to split from his Republican colleagues, has become even more outspoken against Trump since announcing he is leaving Congress at the end of the current term.

“It’s about whether the United States intends to face a constellation of strategic adversaries with capable friends — or commit an unprecedented act of strategic self-harm and go it alone,” McConnell said. He added that, “following through on this provocation would be more disastrous for the President’s legacy than withdrawing from Afghanistan was for his predecessor.”

On Wednesday in the Oval Office, Trump snapped at a reporter who confronted him about a potential invasion.

“It sounds like you would potentially acquire Greenland by force,” the reporter said.

“No, you’re saying that. I didn’t say it,” Trump said. “You’re telling me that that’s what I’m going to do — you don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Watch:

In a speech on the Senate floor Wednesday, former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) warned that President Trump’s talk of seizing Greenland by force threatens to “incinerate” the nation’s long-standing ties with NATO allies.

McConnell declared that burning the treaty organization that formed after World War II to contain Soviet aggression would be an “unprecedented act of strategic self-harm.”

“Unless and until the president can demonstrate otherwise, then the proposition at hand today is very straightforward: incinerating the hard-won trust of loyal allies in exchange for no meaningful change in U.S. access to the Arctic,” McConnell said on the Senate floor, delivering one of the strongest statements criticizing the Trump administration’s talk about potentially seizing Greenland by force.

He warned that following through on the “ill-advised threats” from the administration would “shatter the trust of allies.”

“Following through on this provocation would be more disastrous for the President’s legacy than withdrawing from Afghanistan was for his predecessor,” he said.

Watch:

He pointed to polling showing that just 17 percent of Americans think trying to take control of Greenland is a good idea and that 68 percent of Americans view the NATO alliance favorably.

Key Group of Donors Turn on McDaniel Ahead of Leadership Vote

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A powerful group of Republican donors is calling for a change in leadership at the Republican National Committee (RNC).

On Monday, more than two dozen Republicans wrote in a letter stating their support for former Trump attorney Harmeet Dhillon’s challenge to current RNC chair Ronna McDaniel.

Several of the individuals listed in the letter have donated tens of thousands of dollars to the GOP over the years.

“We cannot continue on our current trajectory as a Republican Party,” the letter states. “We must change, in order to fulfill our promise to Republican voters to win elections.”

The donors warned the party “is on the verge of permanent irrelevance if we fail to come together to correct course.”

“As a nationally-recognized constitutional attorney and activist within the conservative movement for several decades, Harmeet has fought on behalf of Republican Party committees, candidates, and GOP interests, both with the party’s support and beyond it. She has served as a county party committee chairman, run for public office, fought for conservative causes at the Supreme Court, and currently leads the Republican National Lawyers Association at a time when election integrity experience is at a premium as a year-round, not seasonal, mandate. Harmeet is also a successful business owner, and as a nonprofit founder and CEO, understands the ethical duties inherent in raising and spending donor funds.”

McDaniel has served as the RNC’s chair since 2017, however, less-than-desirable midterm wins have caused some to question her leadership.

Other key Republicans have signaled interest in new leadership atop the national party organization.

According to The Hill, the Alabama Republican Party has opted to follow the Texas GOP’s lead and will not support McDaniel’s latest bid to run the RNC.

An endorsement letter circulated last month contained the signatures of 107 RNC members backing her to stay on as chairwoman. It is well more than the 84 members she would need to win reelection.

The party will choose its leader at its winter meetings this month.

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

Bill Bar Calls On Prosecutors To Drop Cases Against Trump

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The United States Department of Justice, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Former Trump Attorney General Bill Barr encouraged prosecutors to drop pending charges against President-elect Trump.

“The American people have rendered their verdict on President Trump, and decisively chosen him to lead the country for the next four years,” Barr said in an interview with Fox News, after the White House race was called for Trump.

“They did that with full knowledge of the claims against him by prosecutors around the country and I think Attorney General Garland and the state prosecutors should respect the people’s decision and dismiss the cases against President Trump now,” he added.

Trump was convicted in New York on 34 felony charges related to his hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels and still faces indictments in three other trials. His actions to block the peaceful transfer of power after his 2020 loss sparked federal charges as well as a case in Georgia, while the former president also faced federal counts for retaining classified documents at his Florida estate, before the case was indefinitely postponed by the judge.

Trump is set to face sentencing in the New York case later this month but has also sought to toss the case after the Supreme Court ruled that former presidents retain broad immunity after leaving office.

The Justice Department (DOJ) under a second Trump administration, is widely expected to move to drop both federal cases against the president-elect.

The Florida case was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on technical grounds involving Smith’s appointment.

The GOP presidential nominee has pledged to fire special counsel Jack Smith, who is overseeing the election interference cases, “within two seconds.”

“He’ll be one of the first things addressed,” Trump said last month.

Barr added that Smith and the DOJ should drop the cases before Trump even takes office.

“Further maneuvering on these cases in the weeks ahead would serve no legitimate purpose and only distract the country and the incoming administration from the task at hand,” he said.

“The public interest now demands that the country unite and focus on the challenges we face at home and abroad. Attorney General Garland and all the state prosecutors should do the right thing and help the country move forward by dismissing the cases,” the former attorney general added.