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Donald Trump Moves to End Georgia Probe

By
Madeleine Jackson
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Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Former President Donald Trump is moving to put an end to the ongoing Georgia election probe.

On Monday, Trump’s legal team made a filing seeking to bar the use of any evidence presented to a grand jury reviewing the matter, according to The Hill.

The Monday filing seeks to block use of a report from a grand jury on the matter, bar Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’s involvement in the case, and attacks a series of interviews given by jury forewoman Emily Kohrs.

In a 50-page filing in a Fulton County court, Trump’s attorneys labeled the investigation as “confusing, flawed, and, at times, blatantly unconstitutional.”

“Given the scrutiny and the gravity of the investigation and those individuals involved — namely the movant Donald J. Trump, this process should have been handled correctly, fairly, and with deference to the law and the highest ethical standards,” attorneys Jennifer Little, Drew Findling, and Marissa Goldberg wrote in the filing.

Last month, Great America News Desk reported that the Georgia grand jury recommended indictments against multiple individuals. So far, no indictments have come from the probe but forewoman Kohrs seemed to indicate Trump, and others could expect to be charged.

“It is not a short list,” the forewoman Kohrs said in an interview.

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

House Speaker Responds to News of Potential Trump Indictment

By
Madeleine Jackson
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House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy delivers remarks at the 2021 Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony in Washington DC, December 1, 2021. USDA Forest Service photo by Tanya E. Flores.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R- Calif.) responded to former President Donald Trump’s social media post saying that he will be arrested this week by pledging to have congressional committees investigate whether federal funding was involved in the case out of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

“Here we go again — an outrageous abuse of power by a radical DA who lets violent criminals walk as he pursues political vengeance against President Trump,” McCarthy said on Twitter. “I’m directing relevant committees to immediately investigate if federal funds are being used to subvert our democracy by interfering in elections with politically motivated prosecutions.”

McCarthy’s remarks come after Trump wrote on social media Saturday morning that he would be arrested on Tuesday.

“ILLEGAL LEAKS FROM A CORRUPT & HIGHLY POLITICAL MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE, WHICH HAS ALLOWED NEW RECORDS TO BE SET IN VIOLENT CRIME & WHOSE LEADER IS FUNDED BY GEORGE SOROS, INDICATE THAT, WITH NO CRIME BEING ABLE TO BE PROVEN, & BASED ON AN OLD & FULLY DEBUNKED (BY NUMEROUS OTHER PROSECUTORS!) FAIRYTALE, THE FAR & AWAY LEADING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE & FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WILL BE ARRESTED ON TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK,” Trump posted to his social media platform. “PROTEST, TAKE OUR NATION BACK!”

The remarks from Trump come after a report from NBC News said federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies were planning to prepare for the possibility that Trump could be indicted next week by a Manhattan grand jury in connection with a $130,000 hush money payment he allegedly made to porn actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Prosecutors are expected to charge Trump with a felony by arguing that the alleged crime was committed to hide an illegal campaign contribution.

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg reportedly wrote in an email to employees that was obtained by POLITICO: “I’m sure you have seen the ongoing press attention and public comments surrounding an ongoing investigation by this office.”

“Please know that your safety is our top priority,” Bragg continued. “We have full confidence in our outstanding security staff and investigators, along with our great OCA and NYPD colleagues, and will continue to coordinate with all of them. We do not tolerate attempts to intimidate our office or threaten the rule of law in New York. Our law enforcement partners will ensure that any specific or credible threats against the office will be fully investigated and that the proper safeguards are in so all 1,600 of us have a secure work environment.”

“This office is full of the finest public servants in the country. I am committed to maintaining a safe work environment where everyone is able to continue to serve the public with the same diligence and professionalism that make this institution so renowned,” Bragg concluded. “In the meantime, as with all of our investigations, we will continue to apply the law evenly and fairly, and speak publicly only when appropriate.”

The potential problem for Trump centers around how his company reimbursed former attorney Michael Cohen. The payment to Daniels was listed as a legal expense and the company cited a retainer agreement with Cohen. However, according to The Daily Wire, the retainer agreement did not exist and the reimbursement was not related to any legal services from Cohen, thus setting up a potential misdemeanor criminal charge of falsifying business records. The report said that Trump personally signed several of the checks to Cohen while he was serving as president.

Prosecutors can elevate the misdemeanor to a felony if they can prove that Trump’s “‘intent to defraud’ included an intent to commit or conceal a second crime.”

Prosecutors argue that the second crime is that the $130,000 hush payment was an improper donation to the Trump campaign because the money was used to stop a story for the purpose of benefiting his presidential campaign.

Other notable figures have reacted to the news the former president could be charged this week.

Twitter boss and tech mogul Elon Musk speculated that if Trump in fact charged the move will likely be a major boost to his 2024 campaign.

Vivek Ramaswamy, who is running for president, decried the prospect of former President Donald Trump being indicted.

“A Trump indictment would be a national disaster. It is un-American for the ruling party to use police power to arrest its political rivals,” Ramaswamy tweeted on Saturday.

He made a reference to the 2004 presidential election in which Democrat John Kerry lost to George Bush and his running mate Dick Cheney.

“If a Republican prosecutor in 2004 had used a campaign finance technicality to arrest then-candidate John Kerry while Bush & Cheney were in power, liberals would have cried foul – and rightly so,” Ramaswamy said. “Principles go beyond partisanship.”

Georgia Prosecutors Weighing RICO Charges In Trump Probe

By
Madeleine Jackson
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Gage Skidmore Flickr

As criminal charges loom over former President Donald Trump from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, prosecutors under Atlanta DA Fani Willis (D) are weighing racketeering and conspiracy charges against those who conspired to overturn Trump’s 2020 electoral defeat in Georgia.

A source close to the investigation says prosecutors have compiled substantial evidence related to a conspiracy. They added that the work shows the effort didn’t originate in Georgia.

CNN further reports:

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis could make decisions on charges this spring, the source said. Willis will bring her charging recommendations to the regularly seated grand juries, who each serve two-month terms. Two regular Fulton County grand juries were seated in early March, and the next batch of two are scheduled to be sworn-in early May.

Investigators have at least three recordings of Trump pressuring Georgia officials, including a phone call that he made to the Georgia House speaker to push for a special session to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in the state.

There is also a recording of Trump’s call to a top investigator with the Georgia Secretary of State’s office in December 2020, while they were looking into quashed allegations of irregularities with signature-matching in Cobb County in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

Prosecutors in multiple criminal investigations in different jurisdictions face difficult and politically consequential choices over what to charge Trump with if they decide to indict him.

In Atlanta, the Republican-controlled Georgia House of Representatives pushed legislation through this month that would create an oversight mechanism for county prosecutors. The investigatory panels would take disciplinary action against prosecutors who neglect their duties.

Meanwhile, Trump posted on his social media site early Saturday morning, claiming that the Manhattan DA’s office would arrest him on Tuesday.

Behind the scenes, local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are preparing for a possible indictment in New York, as American Liberty News reported last week:

NBC News is reporting that law enforcement agencies are preparing for what was, until recently, largely considered unthinkable.

The indictment of a former president of the United States.

According to five senior law enforcement figures speaking on the condition of anonymity, local, state and federal agencies are discussing security plans involving the Manhattan Criminal Court if New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg decides to charge Trump for his alleged connection to hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels.

Axios Fires Reporter After Calling DeSantis Press Release ‘Propaganda’

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    Ron DeSantis via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    A reporter was fired from the new outlet Axios after calling a news release from Florida’s Department of Education “propaganda” in an emailed response to the department.

    “This is propaganda, not a press release,” Tampa Bay reporter Ben Montgomery said in a reply to a release from Florida’s Department of Education about an event with Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), according to a screenshot posted Monday by the department’s communications director.

    DeSantis’s deputy press secretary Jeremy Redfern replied to the screenshot: “Is this a journalism?”

    Axios’ Editor-in-Chief Sara Kehaulani Goo confirmed that Montgomery is no longer with Axios but declined to discuss the conditions of his departure. Montgomery’s last article listed on Axios’ site is dated Tuesday. 

    Montgomery shared a post from Vanity Fair staff writer Charlotte Klein that said he’d been fired over the email but didn’t comment on the news directly, instead offering a cheeky response to the recent change, “Some personal news: I made crepes this morning for the first time in years. Strawberry compote and whipped cream. They were delicious.”

    The press release Montgomery was commenting on announced that DeSantis would host a roundtable discussion “exposing the diversity equity and inclusion scam in higher education.” The Florida governor in the release argued “the woke mob” is pushing “political indoctrination” onto students.

    Report: Mar-A-Lago Staff, Members Subpoenaed In Classified Docs Probe

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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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]

    At least a dozen people ranging from members to employees of Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago estate have been subpoenaed as part of the Justice Department’s ongoing probe into the former president’s handling of classified materials.

    According to an exclusive report from CNN, multiple sources close to Trump’s inner circle confirmed that multiple individuals have been subpoenaed to testify to a federal grand jury, intentionally casting a “wide net.”

    The report noted that Trump’s communications aide Margo Martin, who worked in the White House and then moved with Trump to Florida, appeared before the grand jury in Washington, DC earlier this week.

    Special counsel Jack Smith has sought testimony from a range of people close to Trump. He’s targeted Trump’s own attorneys who represent him in the matter as well as staffers who work on the grounds of Mar-a-Lago, including a housekeeper and restaurant servers.

    The staffers are of interest to investigators because of what they may have seen or heard while on their daily duties around the estate, including whether they saw boxes or documents in Trump’s office suite or elsewhere.

    “They’re casting an extremely wide net – anyone and everyone who might have seen something,” said one source familiar with the Justice Department’s efforts.

    For instance, federal investigators have talked to a Mar-a-Lago staff member seen on security camera footage moving boxes from a storage room with Trump aide Walt Nauta, who has already spoken with investigators.

    The report noted that many of the Mar-a-Lago staffers are being represented by counsel paid for by Trump entities.

    The Justice Department has been investigating potential mishandling of national security records and possible obstruction. Last August, FBI agents conducted a raid on Mar-A-Lago and recovered more than 100 classified documents during a search.

    Earlier this year, documents marked classified were found in the Penn Biden Center thinktank in Washington, D.C. Shortly after a subsequent search found classified documents in President Biden’s Delaware homes.

    Amanda Head: ‘Jesus Revolution’ Beats Half A Decade Of Movies For Lionsgate

    By
    Amanda Head
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    5

    Liberal Hollywood can’t believe it.

    While most of Hollywood openly steers away from religion-especially Christianity one film is soaring up the box office charts.

    Watch Amanda explain the latest situation below:

    Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of Great America News Desk.

    Report: Georgia Prosecutors Have Another Recording Of Trump Pressuring State Official To Overturn Election

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    10
    Gage Skidmore Flickr

    New reports indicate Fulton County investigators have an audio recording of former President Donald Trump pressuring then-Georgia House Speaker David Ralston (R) to push for a special House session to overturn then-President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the state during the 2020 election.

    The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the Fulton County special grand jury, which has been investigating efforts to overturn the 2020 election, heard the recording.

    Ralston passed away last year following an extended illness.

    The AJC spoke with five jurors about the evidence shown during the trial. The jurors would not disclose any part of the final report that remained under seal, including who they recommended to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to be indicted.

    The Daily Wire has more:

    The report said that jury foreperson Emily Kohrs, who was widely condemned for her bizarre attention-seeking media interviews following the conclusion of the jury’s final report, was not one of the five jurors who were interviewed by the publication. The jurors expressed frustration with how Kohrs conducted herself, saying that it led to the jury being “portrayed as not serious.”

    The report said that five jurors all confirmed the existence of an alleged recording, which has not yet been released to the public, in which Trump called Ralston to pressure him to hold a special session to overturn Biden’s win in the state.

    The jurors said that Ralston “basically cut the president off. He said, ‘I will do everything in my power that I think is appropriate.’ … He just basically took the wind out of the sails. ‘Well, thank you,’ you know, is all the president could say.”

    In describing how they looked back at the events that unfolded throughout the process, one of the jurors said, “I tell my wife if every person in America knew every single word of information we knew, this country would not be divided as it is right now.”

    Report: FBI Raids Home Of Larry Hogan’s Ex-Chief Of Staff

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    Image via Pixabay images

    The manhunt for former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s ex-chief of staff is escalating.

    The FBI has raided the Florida home of Roy McGrath, just two days after the former chief of staff failed to appear in Baltimore on Monday for the start of his criminal trial.

    Joseph Murtha, McGrath’s attorney, confirmed the search in a phone interview with The Associated Press Wednesday afternoon. An FBI spokesperson confirmed to the outlet that agents “conducted court-authorized activity at that residence” but declined to elaborate.

    “I haven’t a clue. I didn’t see this coming,” he said. “This behavior is so out of the ordinary for him. Obviously, his personal safety is a concern.”

    The U.S. Marshals Service released a wanted poster for McGrath on Tuesday after U.S. District Court Judge Deborah Boardman issued an arrest warrant

    https://twitter.com/officer_Lew/status/1635712508752441346

    Earlier this week, McGrath’s attorney said he had no reason to believe his client would skip out on court, noting he had a substantive conversation about the case Sunday evening. (RELATED: Federal Judge Issues Arrest Warrant For Former GOP Governor’s Ex-Chief Of Staff)

    “I looked forward to seeing him at 8:45 this morning,” Murtha said on the day of McGrath’s scheduled appearance. “Most importantly, I’m concerned. I’m hoping he’s safe. These situations are very stressful, the uncertainty of going to trial can cause people to do things many people don’t think are appropriate. We hope that he’s safe.”

    McGrath is facing an eight-count federal indictment stemming from a criminal corruption investigation. Charges include wire fraud, including securing a $233,648 severance payment equal to one year of salary as the head of Maryland Environmental Service. He also faces fraud and embezzlement charges connected to roughly $170,000 in expenses. McGrath has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    McGrath resigned from Hogan’s office a few months after the six-figure payment was reported.

    According to Fox News, McGrath gave up his passport in October 2021 as part of terms set in his pretrial release.

    Authorities have yet to locate McGrath.

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

    Report: Former Governor Will Make Final White House Decision in Next 60 Days

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    Maryland GovPics, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    Is the Republican primary field about to gain another contender?

    Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) said that he will decide on whether to make another bid for the presidency in the next 45 to 60 days.

    “I think running for president of the United States is an intensely personal decision. And that’s one that anybody who’s considering it should have the right to make on their own regardless of anybody else’s thoughts on it,” Christine told the Washington Examiner.

    Christie, who ran for the Republican nomination in 2016, told the Examiner that the GOP should have a “robust primary” given the losses the party suffered over the last four years. He noted that former President Trump is “weaker” now than he was leading up to the 2020 election.

    “With Donald Trump at the top of the ticket, you can be sure of the fact that we’ll have another four years of Joe Biden, and that to me is not acceptable for this country,” he said.

    Christie, who is a regular political commentator on ABC, has previously criticized Trump even after working on his 2016 and 2020 campaigns, saying earlier this month that “he’s not what he used to be.”

    Christie is scheduled to speak at an event in New Hampshire later this month, marking the latest Republican to travel to early primary states. Last week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis traveled to Iowa, sparking fresh 2024 speculation.

    Amanda Head: Leftist Censorship is Now Targeting Talk Radio!

    By
    Amanda Head
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    7
    Image from Pixabay free images

    Nothing is off limits to the radical left…

    Electric vehicle producers are contemplating removing AM radio from future models citing safety concerns…but there’s more to it.

    Watch Amanda explain the controversy below:

    Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of Great America News Desk.

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