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Report: Trump Legal Team Files To Dismiss Special Counsel’s Election Interference Case

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Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Lawyers for former President Trump filed a motion on Thursday to dismiss charges related to the 2020 election brought against him by Special Counsel Jack Smith.

In their legal filing, the Trump team claims Smith was unlawfully appointed.

Fox News reports:

“President Donald J. Trump respectfully requests leave to file this proposed motion to dismiss the Superseding Indictment and for injunctive relief—which is timely and, alternatively, supported by good cause—based on violations of the Constitution’s Appointments and Appropriations Clauses,” the filing states. 

The Appointments Clause says, “Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States be appointed by the President subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, although Congress may vest the appointment of inferior officers in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.” Smith, however, was never confirmed by the Senate.

“The proposed motion establishes that this unjust case was dead on arrival— unconstitutional even before its inception,” the Trump filing states.

Trump lawyers argued that in November 2022, Attorney General Merick Garland “violated the Appointments Clause by naming private-citizen Smith to target President Trump, while President Trump was campaigning to take back the Oval Office from the Attorney General’s boss, without a statutory basis for doing so.” 

Trump attorneys argue that Smith “was not appointed ‘by Law,'” and argue that he “has operated with a blank check by relying on an inapplicable permanent indefinite appropriation that was enacted in connection with a reauthorization of the Independent Counsel Act in 1987.” 

“Smith was not appointed pursuant to that Act, which expired in 1999. The appropriation contemplates the possibility of appointment by some ‘other law,’ but no ‘other law’ authorized Smith’s appointment,” the attorneys continue. “The appropriation also requires that the prosecutor be “independent,” in the very particular, rigorous sense that attorneys appointed pursuant to the defunct Independent Counsel Act were meant to be independent.” 

They added: “That is not true of Smith’s appointment, either.” 

“For these reasons, Smith should have never been permitted to access these huge sums of money, and his use of this funding violated the Appropriations Clause,” the filing states. “Based on these violations of the Appointments and Appropriations Clauses, the Superseding Indictment should be dismissed with prejudice. In addition, an injunction against additional spending by Smith is necessary to prevent ongoing irreparable harm and to ensure complete relief for the Appropriations Clause violation.” 

Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges. 

Smith has until Halloween, Oct. 31, to file his response.

Years After Public Feud Trump Endorses South Dakota Senator

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Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

In an unexpected move, President Trump has endorsed Sen. Mike Rounds for re-election despite vowing to “never endorse” him again years ago.

Trump previously endorsed Rounds in 2020, but later eviscerated the senator in 2022 after Rounds appeared on ABC’s “This Week” and described the 2020 election as “fair.”

“‘Senator’ Mike Rounds of the Great State of South Dakota just went woke on the Fraudulent Presidential Election of 2020,” Trump declared at the beginning of a lengthy statement in January 2022.

“Even though his election will not be coming up for 5 years, I will never endorse this jerk again,” Trump later said in the statement.

“The Radical Left Democrats and RINOS, like ‘Senator’ Mike Rounds, do not make it easy for our Country to succeed. He is a weak and ineffective leader, and I hereby firmly pledge that he will never receive my endorsement again!” Trump asserted in that statement several years ago.

But in a surprising turnaround, President Trump is now endorsing Rounds.

In a Monday Truth Social post, the President called the South Dakota Senator “An America First Patriot,” declaring, “Mike Rounds has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”

Sen. Rounds responded to Trump, thanking him for the endorsement.

Hillary Clinton Thinks Kamala Harris Lacks ‘Political Instincts’ to Win Primary

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(Los Angeles - EUA, 09/06/2022) Presidente da República Jair Bolsonaro, durante Sessão Plenária de Abertura da IX Cúpula das Américas..Foto: Alan Santos/PR

Nobody can stand Kamala Harris, even her own party.

According to a New York Times report, former Secretary of State and 2016 presidential nominee Hillary Clinton doesn’t think the vice president has what it takes to survive a presidential primary

“Members of Congress, Democratic strategists and other major party figures all said she [Harris] had not made herself into a formidable leader,” a Monday article from The New York Times read.

“Two Democrats recalled private conversations in which former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lamented that Ms. Harris could not win because she does not have the political instincts to clear a primary field,” the Times reported.

Nick Merrill, a Clinton spokesman pointed to their “strong bond,” but the Times didn’t quote him issuing a specific denial of Clinton’s reported private thoughts of the VP.

“They have built and maintained a strong bond. Any other characterization is patently false,” Merrill said on Clinton’s behalf.

He also claimed the two held discussions focused on their separate experiences of being “a woman in power” and, according to the Times, reiterated that Clinton remains “strongly supportive” of her.

The Times article noted that many Democrats close to the first female vice president have been disappointed by her inability to establish her own political legacy outside of being as many “firsts” – the first African-American, Asian-American and woman to serve as vice president in U.S. history. 

“Even some Democrats whom her own advisers referred reporters to for supportive quotes confided privately that they had lost hope in her,” the article stated.

Harris has faced intense criticism since being elected, largely for her lack of action at the U.S.-Mexico border despite being charged with the mission at the start of the Biden administration. RealClearPolitics reports the vice president’s approval rating is also underwater at 51.8 percent.

Top Democrat Hijacks Senate Floor With Marathon All-Nighter Speech Protesting Trump

By U.S. Army photo by Spc. Vincent Levelev - This image was released by the United States Army with the ID 230711-A-ID763-9272 (next).

Sen. Cory Booker launched into a blistering all-night speech late Monday, taking aim at President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) spoke out against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk on the Senate floor throughout the night after beginning his marathon speech at 7 p.m. Monday.

The senator was still speaking on the floor after 8 a.m. Tuesday, more than 13 hours after he had begun.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) who said he planned to join Booker “for the entirety of his speech,” noted that he was “returning the favor” as Booker joined him when he “launched a filibuster to demand action on gun violence nine years ago.”

Murphy was among the Democrats who provided Booker with some relief by speaking at times to punctuate the marathon session.

Watch:

At around midnight, Booker said he would continue to speak “as long as [he is] physically able” using the chamber’s open floor time to command attention and spotlight Democratic concerns about the direction of the country.

“In just 71 days, the president of the United States has inflicted so much harm on Americans’ safety, financial stability, the core foundations of our democracy and even our aspirations as a people for — from our highest offices — a sense of common decency,” Booker said. “These are not normal times in America. And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate.”

He continued to blast Trump and Musk for “complete disregard for the rule of law, the Constitution and the needs of the American people.”

Among the key issues Booker hammered: proposed GOP cuts to Medicaid.

“It is maddening… to create greater and greater health care crisis,” he said, accusing Republicans of tearing down systems “with no plan to make it better.”

Trump has previously indicated that he will not “touch” Americans’ Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits, but wants to weed out fraud.

While technically not a filibuster — since it hasn’t been tied to any active legislation — Booker’s speech threatens to delay Senate business, which is set to begin at noon.

Rosie O’Donnell Fled US For Ireland After Trump’s Win: Report

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Austin Green, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Rosie O’Donnell has followed through on her promise to leave the United States, confirming on social media late Tuesday that she has officially relocated to Ireland. The 62-year-old comedian and actress made the move to Dublin on Jan. 15, bringing her 12-year-old daughter along with her.

In a TikTok video, O’Donnell explained that she left the country because of the current political climate, saying the move was necessary to protect their well-being after President Donald Trump‘s reelection.

She also revealed that she’s in the process of obtaining Irish citizenship, citing her familial roots in the country.

“I never thought I’d leave the country,” O’Donnell acknowledged. “But this felt like the best decision for me and my child. And here we are.”

O’Donnell revealed that she’s adjusting to life abroad and claimed that she and her youngest child are content. However, she admitted, “But I miss my other kids. I miss my friends.”

Reaction from conservative influencers was swift and relentless, igniting a firestorm of online commentary and debate.

The ’90s comedian and actress’ European emigration follows a growing trend of high-profile liberals fleeing the U.S., including Ellen DeGeneres leaving the U.S. for countries like the U.K. and Ireland, driven by dissatisfaction with Trump’s policies, including his administration’s efforts to dismantle bureaucratic overreach and roll back executive actions on diversity, equity and inclusion.

As reported by Fox News, the former View co-host has been publicly feuding with President Trump since 2006:

O’Donnell disagrees with Trump not only politically. The two have also been involved in a feud since 2006 after she criticized him on “The View” about his decision to be lenient toward a Miss USA winner who had been accused of drug use and other bad behavior.

O’Donnell questioned Trump’s moral authority, referencing his personal history and business practices, and mocked his appearance. She stated, “He’s the moral authority? Left the first wife, had an affair. Left the second wife, had an affair. Had kids both times. But he’s the moral compass for 20-year-olds in America?”

Trump responded to the criticism by calling O’Donnell a “real loser.”

At the time, he said of Miss USA Tara Conner that he is a “believer in second chances. Tara is a good person. Tara has tried hard. Tara is going to be given a second chance.”

The pair continued to spar back and forth, with O’Donnell telling People magazine in 2014 their feud involved the “most bullying I ever experienced in my life.”

Trump launched a series of verbal salvos against O’Donnell, calling her “disgusting,” “a slob” and threatening legal action, although he never followed through with a lawsuit. He also commented on her appearance and personal life, intensifying their rivalry.

While O’Donnell and her youngest child have settled in Ireland, she leaves behind five grown children in the U.S.:

-Parker Jaren O’Donnell (29): Adopted in 1995, Parker attended Valley Forge Military Academy and now serves in the Marines.

-Chelsea Belle O’Donnell (27): Chelsea has faced significant challenges, including a strained relationship with Rosie and legal issues related to drug possession and child neglect.

-Blake Christopher O’Donnell (25): The most private of O’Donnell’s children.

-Vivienne Rose O’Donnell (22): A University of Delaware student who graduated high school in 2021.

Will She Ever Return?

Despite embracing her new life abroad, O’Donnell left the door open for a possible return.

“I miss so much about life back home,” she said. “But I’m trying to find a home here in this beautiful country. When America is safe for all citizens and equal rights are truly protected, that’s when we’ll consider coming back.”

Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News

Results: Congressional Republicans Hold Internal Leadership Vote

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Ted Eytan from Washington, DC, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

On Wednesday, Republicans elected a fresh slate of leaders ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) took home the Senate GOP conference chair position, defeating Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) for the coveted spot. 

Cotton defeated the Iowa Republican in what was the only contested race for a GOP leadership position that was not to become the new leader of the conference. 

He will replace John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), who will take over as No. 2 leader in the conference as whip after Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) was term-limited. 

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) won an uncontested race to become the No. 4 Senate Republican, keeping her hold on a post in GOP leadership.

Capito served the previous two years as the No. 5 Senate Republican and was vice chairwoman of the Senate GOP Policy Committee. She will now be chairwoman of the committee.

Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) formally joined the Senate Republican leadership team on Wednesday, having won an uncontested bid to become the vice chairman of the Senate GOP Policy Committee. 

Lankford ran unchallenged for the position and will replace Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), who moved up to become chairwoman of the committee. 

As vice chair, Lankford is chiefly tasked with keeping the minutes at the weekly Tuesday policy luncheon. 

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) will take over as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and helm the campaign efforts for the 2026 cycle. 

Scott won the chairmanship on Wednesday and ran uncontested for the post. He replaces Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), who steered the party to a potential 53-seat majority and four flipped seats during the 2024 cycle. 

“I am honored and humbled by the confidence placed in me to protect and grow our Republican majority,” Scott said. “With President Trump in the White House and Republican leadership in Congress, help is on the way for the American people. Donald J. Trump proved that when we fight everywhere with the TRUTH, we win. That is why we must secure a Republican Senate for all four years of the Trump administration, and that work starts today!”

Elon Musk’s Drug Use Sparked Campaign Trail Concerns

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An explosive new report from The New York Times revealed the disturbing frequency billionaire Elon Musk consumed illicit drugs while on the presidential campaign trail with Donald Trump.

The article comes as Musk is exiting the Trump administration after a whirlwind several months in which he led efforts to cut down on the government’s size.

Musk told people he was using ketamine so often that it was impacting his bladder, along with utilizing psychedelic mushrooms and taking ecstasy, the Times reported. The Times reporting included interviews with dozens of individuals Musk worked with or knew, along with obtaining private messages. 

The tech executive, who was advising the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) panel on federal government cost-cutting measures, would travel every day with a box containing 20 pills, the Times said, citing individuals who have seen the box and the photo of it. Some of the pills were marked as Adderall. 

Musk has publicly spoken about his mental health before, describing “great highs, terrible lows and unrelenting stress.” The tech billionaire has also refused the use of traditional antidepressants and said he was prescribed ketamine for depression, taking it “about every two weeks.”

According to the Times, some of Musk’s friends have severed ties with the tech billionaire over his public behavior.

“Elon has pushed the boundaries of his bad behavior more and more,” Philip Low, a neuroscientist, told The Times. 

The Times also reports Musk received advance warning of employee drug tests at SpaceX, despite the company’s obligations as a federal contractor to maintain a drug-free workplace.

The Wall Street Journal reported in January 2024 that Musk has used cocaine, LSD, psychedelic mushrooms and ecstasy at private parties, prompting concerns from board members and executives at SpaceX and Tesla.

“After that one puff with Rogan, I agreed, at NASA’s request, to do 3 years of random drug testing,” Musk wrote in a social media post shortly after that article was published. “Not even trace quantities were found of any drugs or alcohol. @WSJ is not fit to line a parrot cage for bird.” 

The report comes after Musk announced Wednesday that he would be departing the White House as his 130-day period as a special government employee expires.

Former Biden Official Demands Media Stop ‘Gaslighting’ Americans About Biden

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Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

On Sunday, a former Biden official made it clear he can’t defend the President anymore.

The shocking remarks come after Biden stunned Americans with his debate performance last week. Throughout the live event, Biden could be seen stumbling over his words and seemed to struggle with hearing responses from Donald Trump and moderators.

Michael LaRosa, who previously served as press secretary to First Lady Jill Biden, lashed out at the White House’s former communications director Kate Bedingfield over her appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” — and argued that she was gaslighting the American people.

Watch:

Bedingfield conceded that debate night had not been “great” for the president — but she then claimed, “The reality is that the race has not fundamentally changed.”

“What we see in all the data that has emerged since Thursday is the fundamental head-to-head hasn’t shifted,” she added.

But LaRosa wasn’t buying it, and said so in an X post.

“The data!? If there is data that counters the impact of what we all saw then WHERE THE HELL IS IT??? WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WAITING FOR?? SHOW US!” he demanded. “Jesus Christ with the gaslighting, the talking points, and the damn spinning. Enough already.”

“Show your supporters or the media this data so we can help you help him! You’ve told us for A YEAR that data and polling can’t be trusted … no one is paying attention … and all of the polling and data are unreliable,” he continued. “Are we NOW supposed to believe it? You’ve been undermining all of the public data and polling and attacking news outlets and their independent data for a year! Is it now safe to trust the data? Should we believe your data instead of independent media data and polling??? Ok, cool. WHERE THE HELL IS IT?”

McCarthy Responds To RNC Endorsement

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Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) appears to be in no rush to dive back right back into Republican politics…

Days after multiple outlets reported Republican National Committee (RNC) chair Ronna McDaniel likely plans to step down after the South Carolina primary McCarthy is responding to speculation he may consider filling the role.

“No, no, no,” McCarthy told reporters Thursday night, waving his hand, when asked about the possible role by NBC’s Vaughn Hillyard.

Trump has said he will make “recommendations” for the future of the RNC after the South Carolina GOP primary later this month.

In a statement to The Hill, RNC spokesperson Keith Schipper said, “Nothing has changed. This will be decided after South Carolina.”

Earlier this week, Florida Republican Matt Gaetz endorsed McCarthy for the role, noting the organization does not make any policy decisions. (RELATED: Former House Speaker Gets Unexpected Endorsement Amid RNC Shakeup)

“I fully endorse Kevin McCarthy for RNC Chair. Kevin is well organized and a very high-revenue fundraiser. He will also be well-liked by the RNC Committee,” argued Gaetz. “The RNC Chair doesn’t make any policy decisions, set any agenda, or negotiate against Democrats, ever. Kevin would be terrific.”

This article originally appeared on American Liberty News. Republished with permission.

Maher Sounds Alarm – Trump Could Flip Marijuana Issue On Democrats

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On Friday’s Real Time with Bill Maher, the long-time cannabis advocate gave credit where credit’s due — to Donald Trump.

Maher acknowledged Trump’s emerging strategy to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. It’s not full legalization, but it’s a significant shift that would loosen federal restrictions and move the ball forward on reform.

He didn’t mince words. “I’ve been telling Democrats for years, the Republicans are gonna steal pot from you as an issue,” Maher said, half-joking, half-dead-serious.

WARNING: EXPLICIT LANGUAGE

What’s notable here isn’t just the policy — it’s who’s moving on it. Trump, once again, is positioning himself as a disruptor who knows how to cut through noise and win over voters issue by issue.

Decider offers more information on Maher’s grudging respect for Trump’s “genius” strategy:

He drove it home with a riff on Trump’s playbook: “He’s the master at winning votes from small groups who are passionate about one issue, picking up a couple percent here, a couple there…” until Election Night turns into something like a bizarre Y-M-C-A celebration.

And when it comes to timing, Maher confessed—with tongue in cheek—that Trump finally swung by his own camp. “Finally, he got around to me,” he teased during his “New Rules” segment—comparing his own potential shift to that of single-issue Black voters who helped Trump make gains in key cities.

“What did you expect?” he shrugged. “He’s the master…” And amid all of this, Trump has already said he’ll have a decision on cannabis rescheduling “in the next few weeks”—a move that would send seismic ripples through the cannabis industry and potentially benefit Maher personally, since he co-owns The Woods, a West Hollywood consumption lounge.

Maher, who still identifies as a Democrat but often breaks ranks — especially with the woke crowd — used the moment to throw up a red flag to his own party. He warned that if Democrats keep dragging their feet, Republicans could flip the script and claim an issue long seen as their turf.

For all his usual sarcasm, Maher’s comments carried real weight: a unenthusiastic but clear nod to Trump’s political instincts — and a warning shot to Democrats who think this base-level issue is locked up.

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