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North Dakota AG Sounds Off on Concerns Facing His State

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

North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley joins Liberty & Justice to discusses challenges facing his state and the United States of America.

Per Matt Whitaker:

Drew Wrigley is a fourth generation North Dakotan with family roots in Walsh County and Burke County, where Wrigley Brothers Farm still thrives. Wrigley was born in Bismarck and grew up in Fargo. After graduating from Fargo South High School in 1984, Wrigley attended the University of North Dakota, graduating in 1988 with honors in economics and philosophy. He graduated from the American University, Washington College of Law, in 1991, followed by a year-long judicial clerkship in Delaware. Wrigley then worked as an Assistant District Attorney for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office, prosecuting every variety of crime in one of our nation’s most violent cities.

Wrigley and his wife Kathleen married in 1998 and moved home to North Dakota. In 2001, Wrigley was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate as North Dakota’s 17th United States Attorney. Wrigley led his office’s successful efforts to combat violent crime, large-scale narcotics trafficking, illegal immigration, financial fraud and ground-breaking investigations focused on Internet crimes against children. Under Wrigley’s leadership, the office’s Civil Division worked diligently to promote and protect legal and contractual interests of the United States, while battling to ensure the protection of civil rights and the promise of landmark legal protections such as the Americans with Disabilities Act. Even while serving as United States Attorney, Wrigley personally tried several noteworthy cases, including North Dakota’s first federal Internet child-luring case, and the successful death penalty prosecution of Alfonso Rodriguez, Jr., who kidnapped, assaulted, and viciously murdered University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin. That was North Dakota’s first and only federal death penalty case, for which Wrigley served as lead trial and appellate counsel. From 2004 to 2009, Wrigley was appointed by three successive Attorney Generals of the United States to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, a select group of United States Attorneys tasked with advising the Attorney General of the United States and other Department of Justice leaders.

After stepping down as United States Attorney in 2009, Wrigley served as vice-president of a national Medicare and Medicaid contractor based in Fargo. He subsequently served as North Dakota’s 37th Lieutenant Governor, from December 2010 through December 2016. Wrigley served as the President of the State Senate, chaired the State Investment Board and its oversight of then-$11 billion in pension and other state assets, chaired the state’s International Trade Office Board, chaired the Governor’s Cybersecurity Task Force, and led the economic development efforts and oversight authority for North Dakota’s FAA-sanctioned unmanned flight systems testing facility. In 2016, Wrigley and Governor Jack Dalrymple chose to not seek re-election, and in early 2017 Wrigley once again returned to the private sector, serving in a senior advisory role for a regional healthcare, insurance, research and philanthropy enterprise, Sanford Health. In 2019, Wrigley was nominated by President Donald J. Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate as North Dakota’s 19th United States Attorney, becoming the first North Dakotan to twice serve as our state’s chief federal law enforcement officer. Wrigley stepped down in February of 2021 and worked as counsel with his family’s industrial/mechanical/commercial contracting firms, Wrigley Mechanical, Inc. and BDT Mechanical LLC, both located in Fargo. Wrigley maintains an ownership interest in both companies.

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

Larry Hogan Shuts Down 2024 White House Speculation

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

Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) has officially decided against launching a presidential campaign.

Hogan, who has been a staunch critic of Donald Trump, told CBS News that while he gave “serious consideration” to pursuing the Republican nomination he ultimately felt he did not need to run for another office.

“I did give it serious consideration and I talked to people everywhere and I talked to my family,” Hogan told CBS News. “And it was a tough decision. But I’ve decided that I will not be a candidate for the Republican nomination for president.”

The two-term Maryland governor said it was not the idea of running against Trump that deterred him from launching a campaign but noted it would have been an uphill battle. Trump has dominated amongst 2024 prospective polls and handily won the Conservative Political Action Conference’s (CPAC) straw poll.

Trump won with 62 percent, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), likely his closest rival, came in at 20 percent. Businessman Perry Johnson, who announced his candidacy for the White House this week, earned 5 percent.

Trump won last year’s straw poll at CPAC in Orlando, Fla., with 59 percent support. DeSantis scored 28 percent in that straw poll.

“That didn’t really scare me,” Hogan said. “You’re right. It would be a tough race. And he’s very tough. But, you know, I beat life-threatening cancer. So having Trump call me names on Twitter didn’t really scare me off.”

Hogan asserted he was not running to give other candidates who are polling in the “single digits” a chance to challenge front-runners such as Trump and DeSantis.

“I didn’t want to have a pile up of a bunch of people fighting,” Hogan said. “Right now, you have Trump and DeSantis at the top of the field, they’re soaking up all the oxygen, getting all the attention. And then a whole lot of the rest of us in single digits and the more of them you have, the less chance you have for somebody rising up.”

“I didn’t need that job,” Hogan said. “I didn’t need to run for another office. It was really, I was considering it because I thought it was public service and maybe I can make a difference.”

Justice Department Refutes Trump Immunity Claim in Jan. 6 Civil Suits

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    The Department of Justice (DOJ) refused to support former President Donald Trump’s claim that he should be immune from civil suits seeking to hold him responsible for his conduct on Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of his supporters illegally entered the U.S. Capitol building as lawmakers certified the election for Joe Biden.

    The consolidated cases include legal challenges launched by 11 members of Congress who rushed for cover during the riot at the Capitol as well as Capitol Police officers. The cases allege Trump conspired to block lawmakers from carrying out their congressional duties. The suits also seek to hold Trump liable for physical and psychological injuries.

    According to reports from The Hill, the DOJ’s position comes as the former president has appealed a lower court ruling deeming he is not immune from the suits given that a president’s efforts to “secure or perpetuate incumbency” are not part of the White House role that otherwise prevents the president from facing civil suits for actions taken through the office.

    The government in its brief draws a clear line, arguing the broad protections for the president should not cover statements inciting violence. 

    “His briefs advance only a single, categorical argument: A President is always immune from any civil suits based on his ‘speech on matters of public concern’…even if that speech also constitutes incitement to imminent private violence. The United States respectfully submits that the Court should reject that categorical argument,” DOJ wrote in the filing.

    “In the United States’ view, such incitement of imminent private violence would not be within the outer perimeter of the Office of the President of the United States,” they write.

    The Justice Department’s brief doesn’t specifically back the claims from the lawmakers that Trump incited the riot, instead noting that they “plausibly allege” the former president’s speech that day motivated the attack.

    The district court that previously heard the suit also rejected Trump’s First Amendment defense.

    DOJ ultimately encourages the court to make a narrow ruling. The department briefly addressed its own investigation into Trump in a footnote dismissing any connection between outside civil suits and its own probe.

    “The United States does not express any view regarding the potential criminal liability of any person for the events of January 6, 2021, or acts connected with those events,” they write.

    Disgraced GOP Lawmaker Lands New Gig After Stunning Primary Loss

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    So the saying goes, “those who can’t do, teach.”

    It seems that recently ousted Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney has accepted a position with The University of Virginia as a professor at its Center for Politics.

    According to The Hill, Cheney will participate in university-wide lectures, serve as a guest lecturer in student seminars, contribute to the department’s research, and participate in university and community events.

    “With democracy under fire in this country and elsewhere around the world, Liz Cheney serves as a model of political courage and leadership,” the center’s director, Larry Sabato, said in a statement.

    “Liz will send a compelling message to students about integrity. She’s a true profile in courage, and she was willing to pay the price for her principles — and democracy itself.”

    Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, was vice chairwoman of the House select committee that investigated the Jan. 6., 2021 attack at the Capitol. The Republican lawmaker was also one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump for his role in the riot.

    In a statement, Cheney, who lost her primary to Trump-endorsed Harriet Hageman after becoming a leading critic for former President Trump within her party, expressed her excitement with her new role, saying that “preserving our constitutional republic is the most important work of our time, and our nation’s young people will play a crucial role in this effort.”

    “There are many threats facing our system of government and I hope my work with the Center for Politics and the broader community at the University of Virginia will contribute to finding lasting solutions that not only preserve but strengthen our democracy.,” Cheney added. 

    Cheney’s appointment with the department is effective immediately and will run through the fall 2023 semester, with an option to renew for one or more additional years. 

    Critics of the former Congresswoman reacted on Twitter.

    Florida Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Eliminate Democrat Party

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    A Republican lawmaker is trying to change the political landscape of the Sunshine State.

    Following Democrats’ widespread losses in Florida during the 2020 midterms, Republican state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia has filed a bill to eliminate the party entirely.

    According to The Hill, “The Ultimate Cancel Act” (SB 1248), sponsored by Ingoglia (R-Spring Hill), would cancel the filings of any political party that supported slavery during the Civil War.

    “The Democrat party adopted pro-slavery stances in their party platforms and this bill says that if you have done that in the past, then the Secretary of State shall de-certify and get rid of the party,” Ingoglia said. 

    Any “canceled” party would have the opportunity to register again, however, the name of the organization must be substantially different from the name of any other party that was previously registered with the department.

    The proposal is expectedly drawing widespread criticism from Democrats.

    “Shame on the Republican Party for initiating legislation of this magnitude. This is what a dictator does,” newly elected Florida Democrat Party chair Nikki Fried said. 

     “It’s a complete and absolute abuse, and it’s unconstitutional. This bill will go nowhere. It is meritless. It deserves zero airtime and frankly, it’s a distraction from the Republicans’ failed policies,” House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell said.

    Ingoglia said he has not spoken to the governor or legislative leaders about the bill.

    The governor’s office has not commented on the bill. Legislative leaders in the House and Senate have also yet to express interest in taking up the bill during the upcoming session. If this were to become law, it would take effect in July 2023.

    “Florida Democrats are lucky I’m not asking them to return all the political contributions that they got in years past for their Jefferson Jackson dinners since they want to cancel everything. They were raising money based upon two people that, by their own admission, should have been canceled,” Ingoglia said.

    On Wednesday, the Florida Democrat Party issued the following statement:

    “Presenting a bill that would disenfranchise 5 million voters is both unconstitutional and unserious. Under Ron DeSantis, Senator Ingoglia is using his office to push bills that are nothing more than publicity stunts instead of focusing on the issues that matter most to Floridians, such as reforming property insurance, addressing housing affordability and combating climate change.

    “The sooner DeSantis and his puppets in the legislature learn that Florida is a Democratic Republic and not a Banana Republic, the better it will be for all Floridians.”

    Liberal Comedian Admits He’s ‘Afraid’ of Trump

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      0
      Gage Skidmore Flickr

      It’s no secret that comedian Bill Maher has a sour view of former President Trump, the two have engaged in back-and-forth spats online for years often with no kind word between them.

      However, the liberal comedian recently admitted to CNN’s Jake Tapper that he is scared of Trump “on a very personal level,” especially what the first president might do to him if he’s re-elected.

      “I am afraid of Trump on a very personal level because I don’t think he likes me. I understand why,” the HBO “Real Time” host told  Tapper on Tuesday as part of a CNN primetime special. “And I don’t know what he would do in a second term.”

      Maher, 67, told Tapper that after Trump won the 2016 presidential election, “I was afraid for my own wellbeing. I thought I could wind up in Guantanamo Bay. I think I still could.”

      “He’s obsessed sometimes. I don’t know. He went on a tear for about eight months when he was president every time, he’d have a rally. I have a list three pages long of the things he’s called me,” he said of the 45th president.

      “I mean, he is obviously someone who does not know any boundaries, and, you know, you have to worry when you see what other authoritarian rulers do in other countries to people,” Maher told Tapper of Trump.

      “I’m not thinking he’s going to become [Russian President Vladimir Putin] and start pushing people out windows,” Maher said, “but I’m not going to live on the 30th floor anywhere either.”

      Trump has slammed Maher as a “radical left maniac.”

      Earlier this month, Trump attacked CNN for adding Maher’s “Overtime” post-show segment to its Friday night programming. The cable network, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, “wants to give wacky liddle’ Bill Maher a shot at bringing them back to just normal ‘bad’ when Bill Maher suffers from the same affliction as CNN — BAD RATINGS!”

      Former Trump Adviser, Kash Patel Joins Matt Whitaker’s Podcast

      By
      Matt Whitaker
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      Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Ramón Colón-López and the chief of staff to Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller, Kash Patel, arrive at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Jan. 14, 2021. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

      Matt Whitaker hosts prominent Trump adviser Kash Patel on Liberty & Justice.

      Per Matt Whitaker:

      Kash Patel is an American attorney, children’s book author and former government official. He served as chief of staff to the Acting United States Secretary of Defense under President Donald Trump.

      Matthew G. Whitaker was acting Attorney General of the United States (2018-2019). Prior to becoming acting Attorney General, Mr. Whitaker served as Chief of Staff to the Attorney General. He was appointed as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa by President George W. Bush, serving from 2004-2009. Whitaker was the managing partner of Des Moines-based law firm, Whitaker Hagenow & Gustoff LLP from 2009 until rejoining DOJ in 2017. He was also the Executive Director for FACT, The Foundation for Accountability & Civic Trust, an ethics and accountability watchdog, between 2014 and 2017. Mr. Whitaker is the Author of the book–Above the Law, The Inside Story of How the Justice Department Tried to Subvert President Trump.

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

      New Court Filing Reveals Fox News Star’s Private ‘Disgust’ with Trump Election Behavior

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      0
      The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

      New court filings are putting the spotlight on Fox News anchor Sean Hannity for all of the wrong reasons.

      The latest filings from Dominion Voting Systems’ $1.6 billion defamation suit against Fox News and billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch show was the anchor was “privately disgusted” with former President Trump’s actions following his loss in the 2020 election, despite supporting the claims on air.

      According to the filing, which included statements made by the network’s owner former Republican Speaker Paul Ryan (Wis.), who sits on the board of Fox Corp., wrote to Murdoch after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot to express his concerns. (RELATED: Paul Ryan Refuses to Attend RNC if Trump Wins 2024 Nomination)

      The Hill reports Ryans said he believed that “some high percentage of Americans” thought the election had been rigged against Trump “because they got a diet of information telling them the election was stolen from what they believe were credible sources.”

      “Thanks Paul,” Murdoch wrote back, according to the filing. “Wake-up call for Hannity, who has been privately disgusted by Trump for weeks, but was scared to lose viewers.”

      Hannity’s statements around the time of the election and the Jan. 6 riot have been a focus of the media and the House Select Committee for months.

      Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and House Select Committee member focused on a series of text messages the prime-time host sent to then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, showing Hannity telling Meadows “this is hurting all of us. He is destroying his legacy.” 

      Hannity responded to the publication of his text messages on his show at the time, saying, “I said to Mark Meadows the exact same thing I was saying live on the radio at that time and on TV that night on Jan. 6 and well beyond Jan. 6.”

      “I say the same thing in private that I say to all of you,” he continued. “Liz Cheney knows this. She doesn’t seem to care. She’s interested in one thing and one thing only: smearing Trump and purging him from the party.”

      Fox has moved to have the case brought against it by Dominion dismissed on First Amendment grounds.

      “Dominion’s lawsuit has always been more about what will generate headlines than what can withstand legal and factual scrutiny, as illustrated by them now being forced to slash their fanciful damages demand by more than half a billion dollars after their own expert debunked its implausible claims,” the network said in a statement on Monday evening. “Their summary judgment motion took an extreme, unsupported view of defamation law that would prevent journalists from basic reporting and their efforts to publicly smear Fox for covering and commenting on allegations by a sitting President of the United States should be recognized for what it is: a blatant violation of the First Amendment.”

      Amanda Head: Hollywood Star Blasts Covid Inc!

      By
      Amanda Head
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      1

      Hollywood actor Woody Harrelson is facing intense criticism after his recent Saturday Night Live appearance…

      Watch Amanda break down the scandal below…

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

      House Republican Accuses Treasury Dept. of Stalling Investigation into Biden Family

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      1
      Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

      Are the Bidens getting desperate to cover their tracks?

      House Oversight Committee James Comer (R-KY) accused the Biden administration of obstructing his committee’s investigation into the Biden family’s finances.

      In a letter to the Treasury Department, the Congressman called out the department for its “suspiciously slow” responses to the committee regarding matters related to Suspicious Activity Reports filed over deals members of President Joe Biden’s family made with foreign businessmen.

      “During the Committee’s dialogue with Treasury, you have made several excuses for Treasury’s delay regarding this production,” Comer wrote. “Given the amount of time that has passed since our initial request and Treasury’s inability to provide a projected timeframe when the [Suspicious Activity Reports] will be produced, the Committee believes Treasury may be delaying its production to hinder our investigation and operating in bad faith.”

      Last week, Isabella More, the deputy assistant secretary for oversight at the Treasury, told congressional investigators that the department must still meet with “law enforcement partners” because of the sensitivity of the documents requested by the committee. “[T]his entire process takes considerable time to complete,” More said, according to Comer’s letter.

      “Treasury’s excused and delay tactics are unavailing given you have known about our requests since last year and previously produced relevant [Suspicious Activity Reports] to others,” Comer wrote.

      Rep. Comer invited the Treasury official to testify in front of the committee before March 10th.

      The House Oversight Committee has been specifically focused on two of Biden’s direct relatives: his son Hunter and brother James, both of whom were involved in overseas business deals in countries such as China, Turkey, and Ukraine. Comer is seeking to uncover the extent to which President Biden knew about and was involved in any of those deals.

      Biden has repeatedly denied having any knowledge or involvement in his family’s foreign business deals, however, some evidence discovered on Hunter’s laptop suggests otherwise.

      According to The Daily Wire, a voicemail the president left his son in 2018 showed that Biden knew something of his son’s dealings; he left a message for Hunter about a New York Times story on one of Hunter’s former business partners, Chinese businessman Ye Jianming.

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