The Chicago Journal

Mike Pence joins Trump and Biden in holding documents

Image source: The Hill

Mike Pence: Over a dozen pieces of classified documents were discovered at the former vice president’s Indiana home last week by a lawyer working on his behalf.

People familiar with the matter claim that the attorney gave the FBI the papers.

Since then, the National Security Division of the Justice Department and the FBI have taken it upon themselves to review the information.

They are also looking into how the files ended up at Mike Pence’s house in Indiana.

The news

The classified papers were found at Pence’s Carmel, Indiana, residence.

It comes after the discovery of confidential documents in President Joe Biden’s residence and office.

Mike Pence argued strenuously that he possessed any classified data before the information was discovered.

The contents of the documents and their level of confidentiality are not yet disclosed.

When Pence’s staff heard about the documents on Tuesday night, they immediately informed the appropriate congressional leaders and committees.

Out of a sense of prudence, the former vice president requested that his lawyer, who was familiar with confidential information, visit his home.

Lawyer Matt Morgan allegedly found a few papers marked “classified” last week while going through four boxes at Pence’s house.

They advised the National Archives of their discoveries, who subsequently informed the Justice Department.

The pickup

When the FBI sought to relocate the records that evening, Mike Pence reportedly consented, according to his attorney.

On Monday, his legal team returned the boxes to Washington, DC, and gave them to the Archives for examination in accordance with the Presidential Records Act.

According to a letter by Greg Jacob, Mike Pence’s representative at the Archives, a small collection of documents were unintentionally packaged and shipped to Pence’s residence.

“Vice President Pence was unaware of the existence of sensitive or classified documents at his personal residence,” wrote Jacobs.

“Vice President Pence understands the high importance of protecting sensitive and classified information and stands ready and willing to cooperate fully with the National Archives and any appropriate inquiry.”

The boxes

According to sources, Pence’s temporary house in Virginia is where the packages holding the sensitive documents were held before being shipped to Indiana.

The boxes were taped, even though they weren’t kept in a safe place.

According to Pence’s attorney, there was no sign that the things had been opened.

The documents were kept in a safe inside the residence when they were discovered.

The former Vice President’s advocacy organization’s Washington, DC, headquarters, according to the lawyer, are the subject of an investigation.

However, no additional records could be found.

Read also: Kevin McCarthy still short of votes to become speaker

Biden and Trump

The investigation on Joe Biden and Donald Trump was the same that resulted in the revelation of Mike Pence’s possession of sensitive documents.

Rumors that he is getting ready to seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 coincide with the statement.

In August 2022, the FBI filed a search warrant and examined Trump’s Florida home.

Vice President Mike Pence asserted that he didn’t have any classified information at that time.

“No, not to my knowledge,” said Pence.

He was again questioned about whether or not he had carried any documents home in November.

He claimed not to have.

“Well, there’d be no reason to have classified documents, particularly if they were in an unprotected area,” Pence explained.

“But I will tell you that I believe there had to be many better ways to resolve that issue than executive a search warrant at the personal residence of a former president of the United States.”

VP residence and White House boxes

When Mike Pence declared his departure as vice president, the process was drawn out.

They went through every single Presidential Records Act-covered document, both classified and unclassified, and turned it in.

The procedure was avoided since the vast bulk of the papers and Pence’s personal files were located apart from his home.

He maintains a secure area at his home near the US Naval Observatory in Washington where he processes sensitive information.

As the Trump administration drew to a close, some boxes at the Indiana residence were packed from the vice president’s residence, while others arrived from the White House.

Effect on Biden situation

The documents discovered at Mike Pence’s residence mark the third instance of a president or vice president hoarding classified material inappropriately after leaving office.

The mishandling of classified documents by Biden and Trump is currently under investigation by special counsels.

A source claims that Pence’s most recent discoveries point to a structural issue with the Presidential Records Act and classified materials.

The FBI searched Biden’s Wilmington home on Friday in search of further important documents..

When Biden’s attorneys discovered classified info in his private office in November 2022, they conducted the search.

The defense team for Biden highlighted that they are working with the Justice Department and attempting to distinguish their client’s position from that of Trump.

The news from Tuesday is good for Biden’s allies and government officials.

“It turns down the temperature on this being a Biden-only story,” said one official.

They expressed anticipation that the Mike Pence records would show that Biden’s staffers weren’t the only ones to improperly pack sensitive information.

Allen Weisselberg to serve his jail sentence of 5 months immediately

Image source: The New Yorker

Allen Weisselberg: The Trump Organization’s longtime (now former) CFO recently got handed a five-month jail sentence.

The sentence

A New York judge gave Allen Weisselberg a jail sentence for his collaboration in a ten-year tax fraud scheme.

Weisselberg testified as New York’s witness in court against the former president’s organization.

He will start fulfilling his sentence as soon as he arrives at the notorious Rikers Island prison in New York City.

According to a source with knowledge of the situation, Weisselberg won’t be detained among the general population.

He will live in an infirmary facility.

Trump Organization

A Manhattan jury earlier this month found two Trump Organization companies guilty of a slew of tax fraud charges.

They were found guilty of falsifying company records and not disclosing and paying taxes on top of executive wages as part of a 15-year scheme to defraud tax officials.

The Trump Organization and the Trump Payroll Organization were guilty of all the allegations.

Although Trump exploited executive benefits and his name was constantly mentioned, he and his family were not convicted.

Weisselberg

The former CFO admitted guilt to 15 counts in August.

As part of a deal with the prosecutors, Allen Weisselberg was required to provide testimony at the Trump Organization trial.

In addition, he was ordered to pay back taxes, penalties, and interest totaling $2 million.

Furthermore, Weisselberg had to relinquish his right to appeal.

Allen Weisselberg admitted that his over $200,000 annual off-the-books compensation should have been subject to taxation.

This payment covered the following:

  • A luxurious Manhattan apartment overlooking the Hudson River
  • Car leases for two Mercedes Benz 
  • Parking space
  • Utilities
  • Furniture
  • Private school tuition for grandchildren

The judge, Juan Merchan, said on Tuesday that, after hearing the evidence, he would have handed a harsher punishment than five months.

Without the deal, Weisselberg might have been sentenced to five to fifteen years in jail.

He might spend just over 100 days in jail if a third of his sentence is commuted due to good behavior.

Read also: Kevin McCarthy still short of votes to become speaker

Prosecutors

Judge Merchan discovered the CFO’s falsification of a $6,000 payroll check to his wife.

The vilest act of his greed, according to Merchan, was his wife’s eligibility for Social Security benefits.

The CFO’s attorney had requested a lighter sentence due to Weisselberg’s old age and other factors, and the judge stated he had to comply.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s prosecutor testified that Allen Weisselberg had complied with the conditions of his plea deal before Merchan’s decision.

According to prosecutor Susan Hoffinger, he delivered an honest deposition in December against Trump Corp. and Trump Payroll Corp.

She claimed he paid authorities the additional $1 million in back taxes and penalties he incurred last week.

In total, Weisselberg spent more than $2 million.

Attorney & judge

The CFO would likely find Tuesday unpleasant, but Weisselberg’s attorney, Nicholas Gravante, maintained that he had been preparing for months since pleading guilty in August.

“Mr. Weisselberg came to court today ready to begin his sentence, and he is grateful that it has now begun,” said the attorney.

“He deeply regrets the lapse in judgment that resulted in his conviction, and he regrets it most because of the pain it has caused his loving wife, his sons, and wonderful grandchildren.”

Regardless of who you are or who you work for, the plea and sentence, in Manhattan, “you have to play by the rules,” according to New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

“Now, he and two Trump companies have been convinced of felonies, and Weisselberg will serve a jail sentence for his crimes,” he added.

Legal woes

Allen Weisselberg was named as a defendant in the $250 million civil legal case by Letitia James, the attorney general of New York.

She claimed that the Trump Organization defrauded insurers, lenders, and tax authorities for over a decade by inflating the worth of various Trump Organization properties.

James named the perpetrators of the schemes, which included Weisselberg, Trump, his three eldest children, and other executives.

The former US President denied the accusations and argued that political motivations were behind the case’s instigation.

Weisselberg admitted during the tax fraud trial last year that he mingled with others at the Trump Organization.

Donald Trump, Eric Trump, and Donald Trump Jr. were part of a number of talks.

However, he assured the jury that he didn’t plan anything or coordinate with any Trump family members.

Two Trump Organization enterprises were found guilty in December after two hours of deliberation on the following charges:

  • Multiple charges of tax fraud
  • Falsifying business records.

According to someone with knowledge of the situation, Allen Weisselberg allegedly received a severance package when he left the Trump Organization on Tuesday.

Other investigations

Weisselberg’s conviction brings to a close one of the most prolonged inquiries into the Trump Organization by the Manhattan district attorney’s office.

The prosecution has looked into the accuracy of the companies’ financial statements in considerable detail.

Recent developments have brought to light the company’s involvement in the hush-money payments to prevent adult film star Stormy Daniels from publicizing an affair with Donald Trump before the 2016 election.

Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly denied the allegations.

References:

Allen Weisselberg, former Trump Org. CFO, sentenced to 5 months in jail

Trump Organization found guilty on all counts of criminal tax fraud

TikTok ban might be pushed back due to its popularity

Image source: The Pay at Home Parent

TikTok: Over the past few years, the video-sharing app has drawn a lot of attention, and a ban looks inevitable.

Security problems have plagued TikTok consistently from the former President Donald Trump’s administration.

However, the business has endured the Trump term.

Since then, it has gained popularity, becoming the most downloaded app in the US between 2020 and 2022.

If the ban were to go into effect, it would have an effect on numerous business owners who were successful on TikTok.

The future of TikTok

In 2020, there were over 100 million users of the video-sharing app.

Over the following years, TikTok’s influence on American culture, influencers’ lives, and business owners’ lives grew.

During that time, Republican governors had started to be cautious of the app.

They recently ruled that state employees are not allowed to install TikTok on devices that belong to the government.

While this was going on, an FCC panel with a Republican majority pressed Apple and Google to take more severe action against TikTok.

A bill to ban the app in the US was introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio and two other US lawmakers.

A thorough investigation into TikTok’s and other social media platforms’ effects on younger users is currently ongoing as the political witch-hunt continues.

On whether the content on TikTok is appropriate for teenage viewers, there are differences of opinions.

Since the TikTok algorithm could lead to the uploading of potentially harmful content, worries concerning it are also frequently voiced.

Criticism

Washington has criticized TikTok because of its parent company’s connections to China.

The concerns grew after a Buzzfeed News report this year revealed that some US user data had been accessed from China.

According to a worker cited in the article, China could see everything.

While this was going on, TikTok acknowledged that some Chinese employees had access to user data from the US.

Read also: Caroline Ellison and SBF responsible for FTX collapse

Negotiations

Negotiations between the video-sharing app and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) date back a few years.

They have been working to reach a compromise that would meet national security concerns while still enabling the app to run.

However, there have been reports of negotiation delays.

According to national security experts, TikTok’s popularity just makes it more challenging to ban the program.

The effectiveness of a ban on TikTok has been questioned by some of its critics.

A bill written by Senator Josh Hawley forbids TikTok from being used on US government devices.

He said last week that he would be okay with a deal between TikTok and the US government that safeguards user data.

“But if they don’t do that then I think we’re going to have to look at more stringent measures,” said Hawley.

The community

Even as lawmakers have stepped up their calls for stricter rules on the app, TikTok users have been developing a sense of community.

The video-sharing app has become a source of income for many people.

Through TikTok, the following were made possible:

  • Culinary habits
  • Fashion and beauty trends
  • Reviving old music
  • Popularizing new songs

Additionally, US politicians have promoted their campaigns for the midterm elections using TikTok.

The renowned news organization Associated Press, which has been around for 176 years, just joined the app in an effort to reach new audiences.

“So many people, myself included, are always on TikTok,” said user Kahlil Greene.

“That’s where we get our entertainment from, our news from, our musical taste from, our social inside jokes we make with friends come from memes that started on TikTok.”

Green has amassed more than 580,000 followers as a result of his documentation of social and cultural issues, as the “Gen Z historian.”

The Biden administration ultimately took notice of his popularity and invited him to a White House press briefing about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“So much of our culture and lives are driven by TikTok,” Greene added.

“Now that it’s not just something you can rip away easily.”

Popularity

TikTok is unquestionably one of the most popular social networking services in the US.

The company, which is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, is dedicated to moving user data to Oracle’s cloud platform.

Significant modifications are also being made to isolate US user data from that of other business sectors.

Weeks earlier, TikTok declared it will restructure its US-focused legal, policy, and content moderation teams in collaboration with a special internal committee led by US-based authorities.

In response to the bill, a TikTok spokesperson said:

“It’s troubling that rather than encouraging the Administration to conclude its national security review of TikTok, some members of Congress have decided to push for a politically-motivated ban that will do nothing to advance the national security of the United States.”

“We will continue to brief members of Congress on the plans that have been developed under the oversight of our country’s top national security agencies – plans that we are well underway in implementing – to further secure our platform in the United States.”

In addition, the spokesperson highlighted TikTok’s popularity by saying:

“TikTok is loved by millions of Americans who use the platform to learn, grow their businesses, and connect with creative content that brings them joy.”

Read also: The Federal Reserve influences 2022 stock market, Thursday market movement

Other notes

While other tech companies have been dismissing employees, TikTok has continued to hire staff, particularly American engineers.

Recent job listings suggest that the business may be attempting to build its own domestic warehouse network in an effort to overtake Amazon as the top online retailer.

TikTok’s enormous popularity poses issues for the federal government, according to Rick Sofield, a partner at Vinson & Elkins LLP who specializes in export restrictions, national security reviews, and economic penalties.

“I think their minds are made up that ByteDance owning is a national security concern,” said Sofield.

“The reason that we’ve been hung up is it’s too big to fail, and they’re trying to figure out a soft landing.”

“There’s a whole lot of things I think that would have to happen first, before there’s a ban.”

Reference:

TikTok might be too big to ban, no matter what lawmakers say

Donald Trump slumps in voter standing based on recent poll

Image source: CNN

Although he doesn’t have the same power as before, former president Donald Trump recently announced his bid for the presidency in 2024.

Trump’s support among voters has reportedly dropped to its lowest point in more than seven years, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released on Wednesday.

The poll

Only a tiny 31% of registered voters have a favorable opinion of the former US President, according to a Quinnipiac University survey.

An adverse opinion was held by 59% of poll respondents.

According to the university, Donald Trump’s rating in the study is at its lowest point since he declared his first presidential campaign in July 2015.

Independent voters believed that nothing was improving.

In contrast, only 25% of respondents endorsed Donald Trump, while 62% thought less favorably of him.

The evaluation was his lowest among the group ever since Quinnipiac published the survey in May 2015.

Trump saw a somewhat stronger showing from his fellow Republicans, who gave him 70% favorable and 20% negative votes.

Despite the significant difference, Trump’s approval rating was still at its lowest since March 2016.

One thousand four hundred fifty-six registered voters were questioned between last Thursday and this past Monday for the poll, which had a 2.6 percentage point margin of error.

“Former President Trump’s post-presidential announcement numbers are heading in the wrong direction,” said Tim Malloy, a polling analyst for Quinnipiac University.

“You would have to go back at least six years to find less support for him from Republican, independent, and American voters as a whole.”

Biden

A Quinnipiac University survey found that President Joe Biden’s job approval rating rose to its highest point since September 2021, despite being still below average.

The survey showed an improvement from the Quinnipiac poll in November, even though 43% of participants supported and 49% disapproved of Biden’s initiatives.

According to the poll, he had a 36% approval rating for his performance and a 55% disapproval rating.

President Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in 2020 but hasn’t said whether he plans to run for politics again in 2024.

He did, however, promise to challenge Trump once again.

Despite his assertions, the majority of registered voters polled by Quinnipiac stated they would rather not see Trump or Biden nominated for President in 2024.

Read also: Donald McEachin died from cancer on Monday

Signs

The most recent poll, by Quinnipiac, shows that following the midterm elections in November, Trump’s support is either waning or falling.

Donald Trump has recently come under criticism from his fellow Republicans due to the failure of many of the candidates he personally supported in well-known elections.

As a result, the Democrats strengthened their Senate majority during a season many expected to be favorable to the GOP.

A rising power

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been gaining support as Donald Trump’s standing is eroding.

DeSantis is a rising star in the Republican Party.

He won reelection with ease in November and built a sizable lead over Trump in the early 2024 Republican primary polls.

DeSantis held a double-digit lead over Trump among likely GOP primary voters in a Wall Street Journal poll published on Wednesday (52% to 38%).

The margin of error for the result was six percentage points, plus or minus.

DeSantis didn’t officially announce his candidacy for President, but the polls showed the outcome.

He chose to accept a second four-year term as governor.

The Florida governor was not mentioned as a potential presidential candidate in the Quinnipiac poll, either.

When questioned, a source with ties to Trump cited a recent Morning Consult poll showing Trump as the undisputed front-runner.

He received 49% of the support of potential GOP primary voters, compared to 31% for DeSantis.

Trump

So far, only Donald Trump has officially announced his bid for President in 2024.

Unfortunately, he still needs to put more effort into his campaign.

Instead, scandals and setbacks have damaged his presidential campaign.

For example, Trump posted on social media that the Constitution should be abolished to restore power.

He would later apologize for his comments.

Ye, a rapper who fell out of favor after making antisemitic remarks and identifying as a white supremacist, and Trump also had dinner together.

The former President’s first choice for the Georgia Senate, Herschel Walker, was defeated by Senator Raphael Warnock in a runoff vote in December.

In the end, two Trump Organization companies were found guilty of crimes.

This week, a New York jury found Trump’s businesses accountable for a number of infractions, including:

  • Tax fraud
  • Falsifying business records
  • Conspiracy

Trump was found guilty of 17 charges three weeks after announcing his bid for the presidency in 2024.

Trump said he would appeal the decision because he was unhappy with it.

“It is a continuation of the Greatest Political Witch Hunt in the History of our Country,” he wrote in a statement.

“New York City is a hard place to be ‘Trump.'”

Read also: Maxine Waters firm on having Sam Bankman-Fried attend hearing

Other notes

On Wednesday, Donal Trump hinted on social media that he would make a significant announcement on Thursday.

The article includes a video of Trump saying, “America needs a superhero.”

The movie also included a brief animation of a cartoon Trump shooting lasers out of his eyes in front of Trump Tower.

References:

Trump hits 7-year low in new national poll as Biden approval climbs

Trump Organization convicted in New York criminal tax fraud case

Alex Jones remains unwelcome on Twitter

Image source: ABC News

Alex Jones is one of the banned names on the popular social media platform Twitter for constantly spewing lies.

While new owner Elon Musk lifted the ban on many suspended users, Jones remains on Twitter’s blacklist.

Musk

Last week, Elon Musk said that Alex Jones would not return to Twitter despite some users requesting his return.

Twitter’s new owner this weekend defended his attempt to reinstate several suspended accounts, one of which is former US President Donald Trump.

When a user asked about Jones returning, Musk said, “No.”

Since he lied about the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Alex Jones has been in trouble for saying the tragedy was a hoax.

As a result, he must pay hundreds of millions of dollars in damages to the victims’ families.

The Twitter owner explained on Sunday, citing the Bible and his personal experience with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

“My firstborn child died in my arms. I felt his heartbeat,” Musk tweeted.

“I have no mercy for anyone who would use the deaths of children for gain, politics or fame.”

Read also: Jury settles for almost $1 billion compensation from Alex Jones for damaging the lives of Sandy Hook victims’ families

The response

The news of Alex Jones’ continued ban has caused a wave of reactions.

Some Twitter users praised Musk’s decision, while Jones’ staunch supporters denounced the Twitter owner for his inconsistent support of free speech principles.

Meanwhile, Alex Jones said he is okay with not returning to Twitter and listed other platforms he could use instead.

“Don’t blame Musk at the end of the day because he didn’t bring me back,” Jones told his supporters.

“I’m the most controversial figure in the world because I’m the most threatening to the new world order. So don’t expect him to bring me back on day one.”

Read also: Elon Musk will take more action on Twitter

Musk’s decisions

Twitter’s new owner’s decision regarding Jones was announced abruptly, leaving no room for debate.

However, this contradicted his actions toward Trump.

Musk’s decision was based on an unscientific poll on the platform; the results, he said, are the people’s will.

He also suggested that anti-Trump bots manipulated the poll during the voting period.

Additionally, his stance on Alex Jones strays from his pledge to wait to make any major decisions or restore accounts until a new Content Moderation Council is in place.

Elon Musk told a Twitter Spaces event that it could be months before the council meets for the first time.

Additionally, Musk’s new approach has raised questions about the rubric he will use to determine the future of a suspended account.

Users say it will be a decision matrix based on Musk’s personal beliefs rather than objective free speech principles or clear terms of service.

Reference:

Twitter won’t restore Alex Jones’ account, Elon Musk says

Republicans don’t take kindly to Trump’s campaign run

Image source: Los Angeles Times

Republicans in the House and Senate are not thrilled that former President Donald Trump launched his third presidential race this week.

Trump’s presidential bid announcement came Monday.

Capitol Hill’s response showed a drop in support after years of disputes and scandals.

Moreover, the lack of interest in the Republican Party stems from its disappointing midterm performance.

Interviews

A few dozen Republicans from both chambers were asked about Donald Trump’s presidential bid.

However, very few expressed enthusiasm for the 2024 race.

Instead, many have pinned their hopes on another emerging candidate or in a broader field so voters can choose someone who appeals to wider audiences.

South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds was among those who wanted a new candidate, saying:

“I want someone who is going to unite our party. That’s how we win elections. A reasonable person who would unite the party.”

Idaho Rep.Mike Simpson echoed his sentiments, saying:

“Let’s see who runs. Personally, I don’t think it’s good for the party.”

“I think his policies were good,” Simpson added. “I just don’t need all the drama with it.”

Read also: Hillary Clinton calls out Republicans on their hypocrisy

One-time allies

Many of Trump’s former allies shared Mike Simpson’s sentiments.

Most pointed out how alienated the former president has become on Capitol Hill, especially after Tuesday’s election.

When asked if Donald Trump was in the running again, Texas GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw responded: “Still?”

He was questioned if he would join Trump, and Crenshaw responded, “Hell no.”

“None of us are entitled to these jobs,” said Trump ally and North Dakota Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer regarding the 2024 bid.

“He’s certainly not entitled to it. And I certainly wouldn’t be making any decision (to endorse) this soon.”

Moreover, according to Cramer, the party would have higher chances of winning if more candidates were running in 2024.

“I think we’re all better if there’s more of them up on the stage.”

Read also: President Joe Biden wary of Elon Musk

Meanwhile, others began fielding competing candidates.

GOP Sen. Jerry Moran said he was focusing on Mike Pompeo, a Kansan colleague and former secretary of state, and Sen. Tim Scott, a Republican from South Carolina.

“I think we have lots of Republicans who are interested in being our nominee for president,” said Moran, referencing Trump.

“And I’m interested in letting the American people make this decision. And I’m interested in seeing those people rise to the top.”

Republican Florida Representative Maria Elvira Salazar avoided questions about supporting Trump, saying instead:

“Let me tell you something: I do know the next Republican presidential contender is coming from Florida.”

Blame and distance

Several Republicans on Monday accused Donald Trump of pushing half-hearted candidates.

They also highlighted his obsession with his 2020 election loss, undermining the case they tried to file against Democrats that year.

South Dakota Senator John Thune of South Dakota said pursuing the 2020 election was not a winning strategy.

Surprisingly, many agreed with his opinion.

“I think looking forward is always a better campaign strategy,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia.

“Looking back to 2020 obviously didn’t work out.”

However, a moderate-leaning GOP lawmaker offered a harsh take on Trump’s presidential bid, saying:

“It’s like we’re on season 7, 8 of ‘The Apprentice.’ People are sick of it, they want to turn the channel. Let’s find something else.”

Meanwhile, Trump’s longtime critics, like Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, want no involvement with Trump’s third run.

Reference:

Trump’s 2024 bid gets harsh reaction among Hill Republicans

Hillary Clinton calls out Republicans on their hypocrisy

Image source: National Review

Hillary Clinton calls Republicans hypocrites for their focus on crime ahead of Thursday’s 2022 midterm elections.

The former secretary of state told CNN’s Don Lemon that Republicans don’t care about voter safety.

Instead, she implied they want to scare voters.

Hillary Clinton

Donald Trump’s former presidential rival praised President Joe Biden’s efforts to fight inflation, calling the efforts impressive.

However, she added that it was more difficult to “focus on the future” than to deal with complaints.

Hillary Clinton’s attacks on Republicans centered primarily on crime.

She said it was ironic that they did not proactively speak out against the attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Crime has been a significant issue for Republicans throughout the 2022 campaign.

Party members have spent millions attacking Democratic opponents for being soft or connecting them to efforts to defund the police.

Read also: Scott Lennox, Chicago resident, threatens Republican candidate

Hypocrisy

One example Clinton cited of Republican hypocrisy is the contest between Kathy Hochul and Rep. Lee Zeldin, her GOP challenger.

Zeldin condemned the crime in New York in his attempt to become the state’s first Republican governor following George Pataki in 2006.

According to ad tracker AdImpact, Zeldin has aired six TV commercials in the past month, with five focusing on crime.

Some ads showed violent crimes in New York, including shootings and assaults – crimes Republicans blame Hochul for.

According to Hillary Clinton, the Republicans are trying to instill fear and anxiety in the people.

“They are not dealing with it. They are not trying to tackle it,” said Clinton.

“So I view it as an effort to scare voters.”

Response to Pelosi attack

Although Hillary Clinton agreed that crime was a legitimate concern for voters, she suggests that Republicans don’t want to solve the problems.

Instead, they want a problem.

Clinton shows contempt for Arizona’s Republican gubernatorial candidate for mocking the attack on Paul Pelosi.

According to her, the Republican response to the attack indicated where the country is to have people like the Republican candidate who laugh at an attack on a person.

“I am rarely shocked anymore, but making fun of that attack, somehow trying to turn it into a joke, the same party that wants us to be worried about the crime,” she said.

“You know the hypocrisy is incredibly obvious.”

Read also: J. Michael Luttig joins the battle against Trump’s attempt to overturn elections

Campaigns

Although Hillary Clinton is one of America’s most famous Democrats, she has been the least visible figure in the party at election campaign events in recent years.

Her event with Hochul is the first candidate-specific rally she will headline this year.

New York Democrats have called for help, emphasizing the party’s concerns as Election Day approaches.

However, according to polls during a ticket rush in New York in mid-October, Hochul has 50% voter support, while Zeldin has 46%.

Hillary Clinton also noted that the tight race between Hochul and Zeldin is more of a “turnout problem.”

She also expects Kathy Hochul to come out victorious on Tuesday.

Reference:

Clinton accuses Republicans of trying to ‘scare voters’ over crime

J. Michael Luttig joins the battle against Trump’s attempt to overturn elections

Image source: Raw Story

In a surprising turn of events, retired federal judge J. Michael Luttig joins Trump’s efforts to have the election annulled.

Luttig is considered a legal celebrity in conservative circles.

It was recently revealed that he joined a voting rights group as co-counsel in a Supreme Court case.

The group is trying to persuade the justices to reject a legal theory adopted by supporters of former President Donald Trump.

Capitol attack

The retired federal judge was instrumental in the attack on the United States Capitol last year.

He advised then-Vice President Mike Pence’s legal team against allegations by Trump allies, including attorney John Eastman.

Eastman argued at the time that Pence could block Joe Biden’s election confirmation.

J. Michael Luttig works with a voting rights group on a separate dispute.

Liberals fear leaving rogue state legislatures free to respond to federal election rules.

The issue at hand

J. Michael Luttig will confront the so-called independent legislation doctrine.

Supporters of the theory argue that state legislatures should be able to set rules for federal elections without being constrained by the state constitution.

“The independent state legislature doctrine was the centerpiece to Trump’s effort to overturn the 2020 election,” said Luttig in a Wednesday interview.

“I have believed since January 6th that I had a responsibility to the country to explain why I rejected the theory in advising the vice president.”

The electoral law landscape would fundamentally change if the Supreme Court in Moore v. Harper decided against J. Michael Luttig and his supporters.

Court

The case is a North Carolina District redistricting dispute involving a lower court ruling invalidating the Congressional map.

The court slammed the map, calling it an illegal partisan Gerrymander.

They replaced it with a court-drawn map that was more pro-democracy.

Republican North Carolina legislature asks judges to beat the lower court

They alluded to the Constitution’s election clause, which states that rules for “elections” must be prescribed in each state legislature.

Using the theory, they argue that state lawmakers should be able to legislate without having to go through the courts.

Traditionally, lawmakers set ground rules for conducting an election, but they have not acted alone or with the last word.

Prepared procedures are prone to the intervention of electoral administrators and state courts.

However, the stricter reading of the independent legislature theory says that state courts should abstain from federal elections.

Most North Carolina Supreme Court justices said the legislature did not have full power to sign electoral maps.

Meanwhile, the state court agreed that the reorganization had been delegated to the legislature.

The court confirmed it had to be executed to comply with the state constitution.

Court papers and arguments

Republican lawmakers have appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that the “text of the Constitution directly answers the question presented in this case” in the court documents.

The electoral clause guarantees “unambiguous language” for federal elections and clarifies that the rules are the legislators.

On Wednesday, J. Michael Luttig presented his side’s response on behalf of the Common Cause.

The common cause is the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters and the Southern Coalition for Social Justice.

The retired judge argued that the legislator’s interpretation of the electoral clause was contrary to the more fundamental premise of the Constitution.

J. Michael Luttig elaborated, saying:

“That a government’s power derives from ‘We the People’ and is limited by the constraints the people impose on their government.”

“Conferring power on the state ‘Legislature’ to regulate congressional elections does not nullify state constitutional limits on that power.”

John Eastman delivered a lengthy amicus briefing urging the justices to embrace the theory, although it lay dormant until after the 2020 election.

Meanwhile, lawyers for the Republican National Committee rejected Eastman’s arguments.

But they also want judges to adopt a version of the theory.

The hearing is set for December 7.

Reference:

Retired Republican judge joins fight against ‘centerpiece’ of Trump’s effort to overturn election

Elon Musk shares a conspiracy theory on Twitter

Image source: Architectural Digest

Elon Musk has finally bought out the popular social media platform Twitter after six months of back-and-forth negotiations.

His Twitter purchase was finalized last Thursday evening.

Four days later, Musk appeared to believe in a conspiracy theory surrounding the recent attack on Paul Pelosi with a link on Twitter.

The tweet

Elon Musk tweeted a link to an article discussing a conspiracy theory about Pelosi.

The site is known for advertising itself as a news channel.

Musk responded to Hillary Clinton on Twitter, addressing Pelosi’s attack:

“The Republican Party and its mouthpieces now regularly spread hate and deranged conspiracy theories.”

“It is shocking, but not surprising, that violence is the result.”

“As citizens, we must hold them accountable for their words and the actions that follow.”

Read also: A letter from Elon Musk reveals plans of pushing through with acquiring Twitter

Elon Musk shared a link to a suspicious story, saying:

“There is a tiny possibility there might be more to this story than meets the eye.”

The website made false claims in 2016, alleging that the real Hillary Clinton was dead.

Additionally, the site supports the idea that the person in the presidential campaign was Clinton’s impersonator.

Musk’s tweet with the conspiracy theory article raises concerns about how he will manage the social media platform.

As a result, many are raising questions about disinformation and hate getting a more prominent platform now.

Elon Musk’s takeover

The Tesla owner finalized his purchase of the social media platform on Thursday evening.

Musk’s acquisition creates an upheaval for Twitter employees and the hundreds of millions of people around the world who use the platform.

Additionally, the Twitter purchase could play an important role in the upcoming US midterm elections.

Months earlier, Elon Musk promised to restore suspended user accounts and limit content restrictions.

Donald Trump is one of the personalities to have been banned from Twitter.

Read also: Elon Musk-Twitter acquisition saga put on hold

Initial goals

When he agreed to buy the company in April, and before attempting to get himself out of the deal, Elon Musk emphasized two goals:

  • To bolster free speech on Twitter
  • To unlock the platform’s extraordinary potential

Musk indicated that he will revise Twitter’s content moderation approach and permanent bans.

However, the decision can influence the civil discourse and political landscape.

Additionally, the Tesla owner reiterated his goal of removing bots from Twitter.

The same argument about the number of bots on the platform eventually became his argument for getting out of the deal months earlier.

Reference:

Elon Musk, Twitter’s new owner, tweets conspiracy theory about attack on Paul Pelosi

Donald Trump’s request to intervene the Supreme Court’s Mar-a-Lago investigations gets rejected

Image source: CNN

In August, former President Donald Trump filed an emergency petition to mediate the controversy over the classified documents of his Mar-a-Lago estate.

However, the Supreme Court rejected his request on Thursday.

The request

Trump has asked judges to overturn a federal appeals court to allow a special master to review more than 100 confidential documents.

The move could have opened the door for his legal team to examine the data and give them reasons to argue that prosecutors should have barred them from a criminal trial.

Instead, the court rejected the request.

For the moment, the special master does not take possession of the acts.

Court decision

The decision pulled the court away from the political battle as the conservative-leaning 6-3 court approval ratings plunged to new lows.

Liberals, including President Joe Biden, have attacked the institution’s legitimacy.

The court order was issued during the House Investigative Commission hearing on the attack on the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.

The Justice Department has asked the court to stay out of the dispute while legal proceedings are underway, calling the records “extremely sensitive.”

Citing an earlier case in a written statement earlier this week, the DOJ stated:

“As this Court has emphasized, courts should be cautious before ‘insisting upon an examination of records whose disclosure would jeopardize national security ‘even by the judge alone, in chambers.'”

Orders

US District Judge Aileen Cannon recently issued two warrants.

She authorized a special master to examine the seized documents, including classified documents.

Previously, the judge temporarily ordered the Justice Department not to use the subset of documents in the ongoing criminal investigation.

However, at the request of the Department of Justice, a jury of the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to freeze some of the injunctions among the pending cases.

Trump claimed that as a former president, he had the right to possess certain government documents.

He said the appeals court overruled his powers by ruling against him.

Last week, Donald Trump’s team told the Supreme Court:

“The Eleventh Circuit lacked jurisdiction to review, much less stay, an interlocutory order of the District Court providing for the Special Master to review materials seized from President Trump’s home.”

They also said Raymond Dearie, the senior US judge appointed special master, would be “substantially impaired” by an appeals court order.

The team added that this would slow down “ongoing time-sensitive works.”

DOJ filing

The filing reads:

“Any limit on the comprehensive and transparent review of materials seized in the extraordinary raid of a President’s home erodes public confidence in our system.”

US Attorney General Elizabeth Prelogar said Cannon made a “fundamental error” in appointing a special master.

She also pointed out that the Justice Department is appealing the decision in lower courts.

Meanwhile, the DOJ argued that the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit found that Cannon abused its discretion.

The record indicates that Cannon committed “a serious and unwarranted intrusion on the Executive Branch’s authority to control the use and distribution of extraordinarily sensitive government records.”

Cannon’s decision to block the Justice Department’s access to confidential information seized in Mar-a-Lago slowed their ability to work on the case and gave Trump a head start to fine-tune his defense.

The Justice Department also submitted its request to the Supreme Court “concerns an unprecedented order by the district court restricting the Executive Branch’s use of its own highly classified records in an ongoing criminal investigation and directing the dissemination of those records outside the Executive Branch for a special-master review.”

Reference:

Supreme Court rejects former President Donal Trump’s request to intervene in Mar-a-Lago documents fight