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Georgia Governor Shoots Down Request To Criminally Probe Fani Willis

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    Georgia National Guard from United States, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

    Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) dismissed Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-Ga.) request to open a criminal investigation into District Attorney Fani Willis (D).

    Last week, the MAGA Congresswoman called on Kemp to open an investigation into Willis’ corruption after the prosecutor was accused of having an affair with the special prosecutor who assisted in securing a grand jury indictment against former President Donald Trump. (RELATED: Fani Willis Accused Of Hiring Lover As Key Prosecutor, Court Docs Reveal)

    Kemp told Newsweek in a statement that Greene had “every right” to refer her complaint to Georgia lawmakers, calling the accusations against Willis “deeply troubling.”

    “Evidence should be presented quickly,” Kemp said. “Georgians need to be able to have confidence in this trial and the Georgia General Assembly laid out a specific process to investigate matters such as these. The Congresswoman has every right to refer her complaint to the oversight commission once it commences full operations.”

    Republicans and allies close to Trump criticized Kemp’s decision to avoid conflict. “That’s bullshit,” said Mike Davis, a Republican operative close to Trump’s world. “He has statutory power right now to order a criminal investigation.”

    Greene explained that a committee process, in general, is a good idea but said action against Willis is an urgent matter. “Governor Kemp and our state Attorney General Chris Carr need to step in and do the job that they have the power to do, and that is to launch a criminal investigation into Willis and Nathan Wade,” Greene exclusively told Breitbart News.

    “What I’m focused on is the fact that I believe our governor and our state attorney general should use their power,” she continued. “They have the power to go after a state district attorney who is abusing her power to go after the former president of the United States.”

    Democrat Seeks To Censure Potential Trump VP Pick

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

    Democrat Rep. Dan Goldman (Ny.) filed a formal censure against House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (Ny.) over her Jan. 6 comments.

    The censure power is a rare congressional punishment typically used only against members convicted of a crime or severe wrongdoing, according to The New York Times

    Earlier this month, Stefanik claimed during an interview on Meet The Press that she was concerned “about the treatment of the Jan. 6 hostages” as they remain imprisoned for trespassing and assaulting law enforcement. Former President Donald Trump has used similar language to defend the rioters.

    The Democrat lawmaker took issue with the Congresswoman’s decision to call the individuals “hostages.”

    “What it comes down to is whether the speech by a member of Congress — does it go over the line where it promotes violence, some form of discrimination or bring serious disrepute on the institution,” Goldman told the Times.

    “It directly relates to the safety and security of this body,” he added. “If you provide comfort to those people who have been charged and convicted of violent attempts to overthrow our government, you are supporting people who attacked the Capitol and attacked this body.”

    Per the NYT:

    Mr. Goldman’s measure also asserts that Ms. Stefanik has filed vindictive ethics complaints against a federal judge overseeing criminal cases involving the Jan. 6 insurrections and has falsely referred to the indictment of Mr. Trump by Jack Smith, the special counsel, as “attempts to criminalize the First Amendment.”

    House Democrats have tried to keep their members aligned in opposing Republican efforts to censure members of their caucus for their speech, arguing that doing so erodes a basic tenant of democracy. And they have generally been successful in keeping Democrats mostly united against the Republican-led censures — with the exception of the official condemnation of Ms. Tlaib, which some pro-Israel Democrats broke with their leaders to support.

    The Republicans will unlikely schedule a floor vote on Goldman’s censure resolution targeting the majority’s senior members. A top aide of Stefaniks told the Times that Goldman’s move was “corrupt” and “radical.”

    Judge Threatens To Kick Trump Out Of Court

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    Gage Skidmore Flickr

    A New York federal judge threatened to kick former President Trump out of his courtroom for being “disruptive” on Wednesday,

    During a trial proceeding to determine how much Trump owes writer E. Jean Carroll for defaming her after she alleged he raped her.

    Carroll, 79, alleged that Trump raped her at the Bergdorf Goodman department store across the street from Trump Tower in Manhattan sometime in 1996. 

    “Mr. Trump has the right to be present here. That right can be forfeited and it can be forfeited if he is disruptive, which what has been reported to me consists of. And if he disregards court orders, Mr. Trump, I hope I don’t have to consider excluding you from the trial,” U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan said Wednesday, according to CNN.

    “I understand you’re probably eager for me to do that,” the judge continued.

    “I would love it,” Trump replied, according to several outlets.

    “I know you would,” Kaplan said back. “You just can’t control yourself in this circumstance, apparently.”

    “You can’t either,” Trump muttered, according to the Associated Press.

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

    2016 Trump Rival Doles Out Major Endorsement

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      Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America,

      Donald Trump’s popularity is building.

      After a blowout in Iowa, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) officially endorsed Trump for president.

      “I am proud to endorse Donald J. Trump for President. Now is the time for us to unite to oust Joe Biden and save our country from the Democrats’ destructive agenda,” Cruz wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

      “To help us win this fight, please make a donation right now to support me and President Trump as we work together to defeat Joe Biden & Save America. Make a strong statement with your support,” he said, alongside a link to donate to Trump’s campaign.

      Cruz narrowly won the 2016 Iowa caucus against Trump before eventually being defeated in the Republican primary.

      “[Iowa] was a dominating victory for Donald Trump: I’ve got to say, there’s no place like the Iowa caucuses. I know it intimately. The men and women of Iowa, they take their responsibility incredibly seriously. They scrutinize the candidates,” Cruz said.

      “It’s an amazing process, and I’m a big believer in letting democracy play out. Well, last night it played out, and I got to say Trump’s victory was across the board… Congratulations to President Trump on that dominating victory,” Cruz said. “And at this point, I believe this race is over.”

      “I’m a big believer we need to let the process play out: It did. And the results last night: 51% [of the vote, which included] 98 counties – that’s compelling. And at this point, I think the contrast needs to be on substance and policy and records [versus Biden],” Cruz said.

      Trump won 98 out of Iowa’s 99 counties.

      Trump also picked up an endorsement from Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) another former 2016 primary competitor, on Sunday.

      The other U.S. senator in Texas, Republican Sen. John Cornyn, has said he will remain neutral in the nomination race

      Trump Hints Ex-Rival Could Hold Position In Future Admin.

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      Image via Gage Skidmore Flickr

      Former President Donald Trump teased that North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum could serve in an “important” role in his administration.

      Trump, who has yet to announce a running mate, ton 98 out of Iowa’s 99 counties on Monday.

      “Doug Burgum from North Dakota, the governor and his beautiful wife, Catherine, and he got out of the race,” Trump said following his projected Iowa win, addressing the North Dakota governor on stage beside him. Burgum notably suspended his 2024 campaign in December, just six months after launching his dark horse presidential bid. 

      “What people don’t know is that he actually supported me on the other side twice already. Right?” Trump said of Burgum. “That he decided to do it and he was outstanding. But the traction is never easy, right? You need controversy for traction sometimes. And this guy is the most solid guy. There’s no controversy whatsoever. And he’s one of the best governors in our country. And I hope that I’m going to be able to call on him to be a piece of the administration, a very important piece of the administration.” 

      Burgum, who dropped out of the race endorsed Trump on Sunday.

      Burgum is in his second term as governor and is eligible to seek a third in 2024, though he has not indicated whether he plans to run again.

      Trump said during a Fox News town hall last week that he already knew who he would choose as his vice presidential running mate but would not announce the decision yet. 

      Asa Hutchinson Drops Out Of 2024 Contest

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      The morning after former President Donald Trump cruised to victory in the Iowa caucus a second presidential contender is bowing out of the race.

      On Tuesday, former Gov. Asa Hutchinson (Ark.) announced he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race.

      “I congratulate Donald J. Trump for his win last night in Iowa and to the other candidates who competed and garnered delegate support,” Hutchinson said in a statement.

      “Today, I am suspending my campaign for President and driving back to Arkansas,:” he added. My message of being a principled Republican with experience and telling the truth about the current front runner did not sell in Iowa.”

      The Arkansas Republican’s announcement came after he came in sixth place in the Iowa caucus.

      Hutchinson’s decision to drop out comes less than 12 hours after Vivek Ramaswamy announced his exit from the race.

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

      Ramaswamy Officially Ends 2024 Campaign

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      Vivek Ramaswamy speaking with attendees at the 2022 AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

      On Monday night, Vivek Ramaswamy made the highly anticipated announcement that he is suspending his presidential campaign.

      After Donald Trump handily won nearly every county in Iowa the tech mogul announced he is endorsing the former president.

      “As of this moment, we are going to suspend this presidential campaign,” Ramaswamy told supporters in Iowa on Monday night.

      “As I’ve said since the beginning, there are two America First candidates in this race. And earlier tonight I called Donald Trump to tell him that I — congratulate him on his victory, and now going forward, you will have my full endorsement for the presidency,” Ramaswamy said later, while one of his attendees interjected during his remarks “don’t do it!”

      Ramaswamy’s exit comes not long after former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) announced he was dropping his White House bid. 

      Ramaswamy launched his longshot bid for the White House in February of 2023.

      Former President Trump is currently poised to emerge the top candidate in 98 of Iowa’s 99 counties after Monday’s caucuses, with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley edging him out in just one county.

      According to reports from The Hill, by Tuesday morning, with about 110,298 votes counted, Trump had won 51 percent (56,260 votes) of all votes in the Hawkeye State, followed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s 21.2 percent (23,420 votes) and Haley’s 19.1 percent (21,085).

      Report: Trump Lawyer Withdraws From Cases

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      Gavel via Wikimedia Commons Image

      On Monday, one of former President Donald Trump’s top trial lawyers resigned from his cases.

      Joe Tacopina had represented Trump in both his criminal hush money case, one of four indictments Trump faces, and a sexual battery civil lawsuit brought by columnist E. Jean Carroll.

      “President Trump has the most experienced, qualified, disciplined, and overall strongest legal team ever assembled as he continues to fight for America and Americans against these partisan, Crooked Joe Biden-led election interference hoaxes,” Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement.

      The motivation behind Tacopina’s departure remains unclear. He confirmed to The Hill he was withdrawing from Trump’s cases but declined further comment. 

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

      Fani Willis Breaks Silence On Latest Misconduct Allegations

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        Gage Skidmore Flickr

        On Sunday, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis broke her silence after former President Donald Trump’s co-defendant accused her of having a romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade in the state’s case against Trump.

        For the first time since the allegations were made, Willis spoke on the matter at the Big Bethel AME Church in Atlanta on Sunday.

        “They only attacked one,” she said. “First thing they say, ‘Oh, she’s gonna play the race card now.’

        “But no God, isn’t it them that’s playing the race card when they only question one,” Willis asked.

        Citing “sources close” to both Willis and Wade, Roman’s lawyer, Ashleigh Merchant, claimed the pair have been involved in an “ongoing, personal and romantic relationship,” and went on vacations together. The filings argued the alleged relationship, which Merchant claims started before the election interference began, makes the indictment “fatally defective” and requests it be dismissed.

        “I’m a little confused. I appointed three special counselors. It’s my right to do, paid them all the same hourly rate. They only attack one,” Willis said Sunday. “I hired one white woman, a good personal friend and a great lawyer, a superstar, I tell you. I hired one white man — brilliant — my friend and a great lawyer. And I hired one Black man, another superstar, a great friend and a great lawyer.”

        Although she never mentioned Wade by name during the speech on Sunday, she referred to the man as “a great friend and a great lawyer.”

        Earlier this month, court documents filed say Willis hired special prosecutor Nathan Wade, her alleged partner, to prosecute Trump and benefited financially from the relationship in the form of lavish vacations the two went on using funds his firm received for working the case.

        “The district attorney chose to appoint her romantic partner, who at all times relevant to this prosecution has been a married man,” court documents read.

        Fulton County records show Wade has been paid nearly $654,000 in legal fees since January 2022.

        Oregon Supreme Court Rules On Trump Eligibility Challenge

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        Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

        The Oregon Supreme Court ruled former President Donald Trump may remain on the state’s primary ballot.

        Instead, the court said it would wait for the U.S. Supreme Court’s upcoming decision on whether Trump can be disqualified from the ballot under the insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment.

        Section 3 of the 14th Amendment states that no person shall hold elected office who “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States.”

        “Because a decision by the United States Supreme Court regarding the Fourteenth Amendment issue may resolve one or more contentions that relators make in the Oregon proceeding, the Oregon Supreme Court denied their petition for mandamus, by order, but without prejudice to their ability to file a new petition seeking resolution of any issue that may remain following a decision by the United States Supreme Court,” the court said in a release.

        The Oregon lawsuit was filed on behalf of five voters by the nonprofit Free Speech For People. The same organization has launched numerous challenges across the country.

        Colorado and Maine removed Trump from the primary ballot last month. Those rulings are on hold as Trump appeals.

        The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to take up the Colorado case, giving the justices with a pathway to provide a national resolution on the 14th Amendment’s insurrection ban in advance of the general election. Oral arguments are set for Feb. 8.

        Oregon’s high court noted the state is not set to finalize its presidential primary ballots until March 21.