NationalWatch

House Speaker Mike Johnson is poised to extend a formal invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress amid the country’s war with terrorist group Hamas. 

The Louisiana Republican is expected to send the invite sometime in the next eight weeks. If not in that time frame, the Israeli prime minister could be invited to speak after the August recess, in September, per a senior Johnson spokesperson. The timeline for the invitation was first reported by Punchbowl News. 

Johnson’s office said Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has agreed to the joint address by Netanyahu despite his recent call for new elections in Israel during the war and pressure from the left flank of Democrats for him to oppose it. 

ANTISEMITISM AT YALE, UNIV. OF MICHIGAN TO FACE CONGRESSIONAL SCRUTINY

House Speaker Mike Johnson, inset left, is preparing to formally invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, inset right, to speak to a joint session of Congress despite the public breaks between President Biden and the country. (Getty Images)

When previously asked about the possibility, Schumer told reporters, “Look, I’m discussing that now with the speaker of the House, and as I’ve always said, our relationship with Israel is ironclad and transcends any one prime minister or president.”

This comes as Democrats and the Biden administration itself continue to break with Israel publicly, with the White House most recently coming out against a bipartisan effort to sanction the International Criminal Court over warrants requested against Netanyahu and another Israeli official. 

“The United States said that they would, in fact, back the sanctions bill,” Netanyahu told host Morgan Ortagus on her Sirius XM show, which is set to air Sunday, as Politico first reported. “I thought that was still the American position because there was bipartisan consensus just a few days ago.”

GOP SEN CALLS FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO TRUMP TRIAL JUDGE OVER GAG ORDERS

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was surprised and disappointed by the White House’s stance on ICC sanctions. (Abir Sultan/Pool Photo via AP, File)

The Israeli prime minister said, “frankly, I’m surprised and disappointed” in President Biden. 

The stance against bipartisan-supported sanctions on the ICC is the latest public break the administration has had with Israel. 

While the White House said it rejected the ICC’s decision and did not believe it had jurisdiction, “We don’t believe that sanctions against the ICC is the right approach here, no,” National Security Council coordinator John Kirby said. 

BIDEN ADMIN QUESTIONED OVER ABORTION PILL PUSH WITHOUT PROPER ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY

President Biden, right, previously warned Israel against certain actions in Rafah. ((Fox News/Getty Images))

Israel has come under renewed scrutiny for its actions in Rafah, a southern city along the Gaza Strip. The country has launched attacks targeting senior Hamas leaders in the area, resulting in significant civilian casualties. The move has drawn the elevated ire of activists and lawmakers who have already been critical of the country’s actions in Gaza. 

BIDEN WHITE HOUSE REJECTS ICC SANCTIONS PROPOSED BY LAWMAKERS AFTER ISRAEL WARRANT REQUESTS

Smoke rises following Israeli strikes during an Israeli military operation in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, May 28, 2024. (REUTERS/Hatem Khaled)

Biden had sent a clear message to Israel not to move forward with an offensive in Rafah, even claiming, “I made it clear that if they go into Rafah – they haven’t gone in Rafah yet – if they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities – that deal with that problem,” in a recent interview on CNN. 

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However, the administration has suggested the red line laid out by the president was not violated by Israel’s latest actions in Rafah. “As a result of this strike on Sunday, I have no policy changes to speak to,” Kirby told reporters after the strike. 

Neither the White House nor Schumer’s office immediately provided comment to Fox News Digital.

Former President Donald Trump said prosecutors in the costly and unprecedented NY v. Trump trial are “proving” his point that the legal system is weaponized against him. 

“‘This is becoming a three-card Monte game on: Where is the crime?’ Smart guy. Where’s the crime?” Trump said Thursday outside the Manhattan courtroom, reading insight from Fox News contributor and legal scholar Jonathan Turley before reading excerpts from other experts. “Mike Davis: ‘The U.S. would sanction a country for doing this.’ I think that’s good. I think that’s good. Steve Hilton: ‘It seems that every single day these proceedings go on, the judge or the prosecutor just go out of their way to prove Trump’s point.'”

Trump added after reading the excerpt: “…They are proving my point when you think. That’s why I write some of these things that are very sad.”

Trump has continually slammed the case as a “sham” and that presiding Judge Juan Merchan is “corrupt” and “conflicted,” appearing to refer to the judge’s familial ties to the Democratic Party. Trump has also lambasted the case as “lawfare” promoted by the Biden administration to hurt his chances of succeeding in the 2024 presidential election. 

NY V. TRUMP: JURY TO CONTINUE DELIBERATIONS FOR 2ND DAY IN UNPRECEDENTED CASE

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, alongside his attorney Todd Blanche, speaks to the media as he arrives for his criminal trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. Judge Juan Merchan gave the jury their instructions, and deliberations are entering their second day. The former president faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial.     (Michael M. Santiago/Pool via REUTERS)

Trump is back in court Thursday as the jury continues deliberations regarding whether Trump is guilty of falsifying 34 business records. Prosecutors worked to prove that Trump falsified business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to former porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election to quiet her claims of an alleged affair with Trump in 2006. 

NY V. TRUMP: DEFENSE SAYS PROSECUTORS ‘DID NOT MEET THE BURDEN OF PROOF,’ FORMER PRESIDENT IS ‘INNOCENT’

Trump has pleaded not guilty to all counts and denied an affair with Daniels. 

Former U.S. President Donald Trump exits Trump Tower to attend his criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, at Manhattan criminal court, in New York City, U.S., May 30, 2024.  (REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz)

Amid the trial, Trump has repeatedly noted that security surrounding the trial has prevented most people from coming within blocks of the courthouse, which he again cited Thursday while lamenting the trial is costing the city “millions.” 

TRUMP URGES JUDGE MERCHAN TO ‘SAVE HIS REPUTATION’ BY DISMISSING TRIAL

“It’s a disgrace. The millions and millions of dollars that are spent daily on this case. Outside, it looks like it’s Fort Knox … I’ve never seen so many policemen. Now, with Columbia University, you can plant a tent right in front of the main door no problem. NYU, just put your tent, don’t worry about it … But I just want to say that this is a very sad day for America. The whole world is watching and it’s a very sad day for New York,” he said. 

“It’s all rigged, the whole system is rigged.” 

Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s children, Tiffany Trump, Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump with his wife Lara sit next  to Trump in a front row,  as defense lawyer Todd Blanche presents closing arguments during Trump’s criminal trial on charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S. May 28, 2024 in this courtroom sketch. (REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg )

“The outside world is watching and the outside world is just not going to bring their business to New York. And that’s going to cost the city trillions and the state trillions and trillions of dollars. Businesses are leaving and people are fleeing,” Trump added before heading into the courtroom. 

NY V. TRUMP: PROSECUTION SAYS THEY HAVE PRESENTED ‘POWERFUL EVIDENCE’ AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT

Single and The City began in New York City where founder Amber Soletti was working in the beauty industry and struggling to find her person.  (iStock)

Court kicked off at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, when Merchan again read his jury instructions after the jury sent two notes to the judge on Wednesday. In New York criminal cases, juries are not allowed to receive printed copies of jury instructions or witness transcripts. 

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Trump is required to remain in the courtroom as the jury considers the case in the event they send a note to the judge. 

A verdict could be reached as soon as Thursday. 

Former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page have settled with the Justice Department over alleged privacy rights violations after the release of their disparaging text messages leveraged by former President Trump to challenge the Russia investigation during his presidency. 

The settlement is still pending finalization and approval from a judge.

A tentative agreement was filed Tuesday resolving Page’s 5-year-old lawsuit against the FBI for releasing text messages with Strzok — with whom she had an affair — that were critical of the former president. Strzok’s lawsuit seeking backpay and reinstatement remains unsettled.

Page sought $1,000 in compensation following the leak of her text messages to the media. Additional details about the settlement were not immediately available.

COULD VERDICT IN TRUMP CRIMINAL TRIAL UPEND THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION?

Peter Strzok and Lisa Page are former FBI officials whose extramarital affair came to light amid a release of their anti-Trump text messages. (Chip Somodevilla/Staff I Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Contributor)

In 2019, Strzok argued in a court filing in Washington, D.C., federal district court that his politically charged anti-Trump messages were protected by the First Amendment even though he sent them on bureau-issued phones while playing leading roles in the probes into both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Strzok, once the FBI’s head of counterintelligence, said he was entitled to “develop a full factual record through discovery,” and that it would be premature to dismiss the case at this early stage. He went on to argue that the DOJ’s position would “leave thousands of career federal government employees without protections from discipline over the content of their political speech.”

NY V. TRUMP: FORMER PRESIDENT UNLEASHES SOCIAL MEDIA FIRESTORM AHEAD OF JURY DELIBERATION

Page also filed suit against the FBI and Department of Justice, alleging the government’s publication of her salacious text messages with Strzok constituted a breach of the Federal Privacy Act.

Page’s complaint also sought reimbursement for “the cost of childcare during and transportation to multiple investigative reviews and appearances before Congress,” the “cost of paying a data-privacy service to protect her personal information” and attorney’s fees.

Former President Trump, a Republican presidential candidate, sits in the courtroom during his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City May 21, 2024.  (Michael M. Santiago/PoolAFP via Getty Images)

In a later filing, according to CNN, Strzok’s lawyers wrote that the defendants “should not be heard to complain about the notoriety and putative damage to the FBI’s reputation from Strzok’s speech when it was their own illegal disclosures, magnified and distorted by the false attacks made by the President and his allies, that placed a spotlight on Strzok’s opinions.”

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Ex-FBI official Peter Strzok was fired in 2018 for sending anti-Trump texts. (Reuters)

The two were involved in the FBI’s initial counterintelligence investigation into Russian meddling and potential collusion with Trump campaign associates during the 2016 election and later served on special counsel Robert Mueller’s team.

In 2020, the spotlight was on the lovers’ scandal during a live performance titled “FBI Lovebirds: UnderCovers” at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), which was based on the anti-Trump text messages shared between the former agents. Trump has called the couple the “FBI lovebirds” during his rallies. 

Fox News’ Gregg Re and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.

First lady Jill Biden was blasted on social media on Wednesday after she said during an interview that President Biden is “calm” and “steady” compared to former President Trump, who represents “chaos.”

“We have a choice, this is what I’m out there saying. We have a choice we can have my husband who is calm, and steady and strong and has character and integrity or we have the other choice, which is chaotic,” Biden told “Good Morning America” on Wednesday. “We have to decide. Democracy or chaos.”

The comment drew immediate criticism on social media from conservatives skeptical of the portrayal of Biden as “calm” and “steady.”

“This doesn’t work this time. Does anything feel calm?” conservative commentator Stephen L. Miller posted on X.

JESSE WATTERS: BIDEN IS AN ANGRY RECLUSE OBSESSED WITH HIS LEGACY

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden.

“Narrator: He’s incredibly weak, has a history of anger problems, and has so little integrity that he can’t give a simple speech without telling multiple, already-debunked lies,” Red State writer Bonchie posted on X.

Biden has often been criticized for seemingly losing his cool in recent years. In 2019, he appeared to call an Iowa man “fat,” and a “damn liar.” He later denied calling him fat, claiming he was saying “facts” instead.

Since becoming president, there have been multiple reports of him being prone to angry outbursts at staff and others when not in the public eye. A report last year detailed how he had referred to former President Trump as a “f—ing a–hole” and a “sick f—“

An Axios report detailed how Biden has such a temper that aides try not to meet him alone, in fear of facing his wrath. His admonitions reportedly include “”Godd— it, how the f— don’t you know this?!,” “Don’t f—-ing bulls— me!” and “Get the f— out of here!”

“No one is safe,” one administration official told the outlet.

Biden’s tactics generally came in the form of “angry interrogations” until it became apparent to others in the room that they did not know the answer to a question. It allegedly became so routine that staff named it “stump the chump.”

In March, the White House pushed back against an NBC News report that said Biden is growing anxious and angry about his re-election bid.

“There’s a report that when President Biden was told his handling of the war between Israel and Hamas was starting to affect his poll numbers, the quote is he began to shout and swear. So when he does that, is he shouting and swearing about Netanyahu or about Hamas or about his poll numbers?” Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

“This is the ‘when did you stop beating your spouse’ question because I don’t think he ever did that,” Sullivan responded. 

BIDEN BECOMING INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED AND WORRIED OVER RE-ELECTION EFFORTS: REPORT

First lady Jill Biden. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Human Rights Campaign)

“Excuse me?” Doocy interjected, before Sullivan continued. 

“Well you use that as the premise of your question, which is when he does that. He – I’ve never seen him do that shout or swear in response to that. So from my perspective, that particular report is not correct,” Sullivan said. 

Biden’s anger was on display in February when he reacted to a special counsel report about his mishandling of classified documents. He called some assertions “plain wrong.”

“There’s even reference that I don’t remember when my son died. How the hell dare he raise that? Frankly, when I was asked the question, I thought to myself it wasn’t any of their damned business,” he said.

“I am well-meaning, and I’m an elderly man and I know what the hell I’m doing,” he said.

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A new poll shows President Biden with just a 41% approval rating. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

He also was not keen on some questions from reporters. “My memory is so bad, I let you speak,” he snapped at Doocy.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

President Biden on Wednesday promised to nominate progressives to the Supreme Court if he wins a second term in the White House.

Biden made the pledge at a “Black Voters for Biden-Harris” rally in Philadelphia, where he predicted that more than one Supreme Court justice will retire in the next four years.

“The next president, they’re going to be able to appoint a couple justices, and I’ll be damned — if in fact we’re able to change some of the justices when they retire and put in really progressive judges like we’ve always had, tell me that won’t change your life,” Biden told his audience. 

The president’s comments emphasize what is at stake in the next election for both conservatives, who have lauded their 6-3 majority on the court in recent years, and progressives who have decried landmark rulings ending federal protections for abortion and expanding gun rights.

FIRST LADY JILL BIDEN WARNS ‘THE VIEW’ ‘WE WILL LOSE ALL OF OUR RIGHTS’ IF TRUMP GETS ANOTHER SCOTUS JUDGE

President Biden delivers remarks during a campaign event at Girard College in Philadelphia, on Wednesday May 29, 2024. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Biden’s remarks also serve as a reminder that several justices are in their seventies. Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, both conservatives appointed by Republican presidents, are 75 and 74, respectively. Sonia Sotomayor, a progressive appointed by President Obama, will turn 70 next month.

TRUMP AHEAD OF BIDEN IN THESE KEY SWING STATES: POLL

Supreme Court Justices posing for an official photo at the Supreme Court. (OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)

If one or more justices retire, the next occupant of the White House will fill that vacancy and may reshape the composition of the court for decades. Former President Trump had three such opportunities during his term in office, appointing conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barret — who solidified the current conservative majority.

With the election a little more than six months away, the Biden campaign is sounding the alarm on what could happen if Trump wins as polls show a tight race. 

SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ALITO ADDRESSES FLAG INCIDENTS, SAYS HE WON’T RECUSE HIMSELF IN TRUMP, JAN. 6 CASES

President Biden speaks during a campaign event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 29, 2024. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

First lady Jill Biden said Wednesday there would be disastrous results and a loss of human rights if Trump is re-elected in November.

“We will lose all of our rights,” she said on “The View.” She had warned earlier that “we cannot take things for granted, and think of the Supreme Court for God’s sake. Talk about things getting worse? Can you imagine if we put any more Republicans on the Supreme Court? No!”

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The rhetoric from the Biden campaign echoes Trump’s 2016 strategy after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, with a pending Supreme Court appointment. Trump promised to nominate a conservative who would overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that established constitutional protections for abortion, and he even released a list of people he was considering for the position.

Biden in 2020 promised to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court if given the opportunity. He did so after Justice Stephen Breyer retired at age 83, nominating Ketanji Brown Jackson to fill the vacancy.

Fox News’ Alexander Hall contributed to this report.

Trump supporters, who gathered outside the New York City courtroom on Wednesday where the former president is facing criminal charges, rallied in support of him and sounded off on the “judicial lynching” they say he is facing with the trial.

“I love Trump and I love what he did for me and my people, Black people, he really helped us out,” a Black New Yorker wearing a Trump hat told Fox News Digital.  “What they doing right now is really ridiculous, these court cases and everything that they doing towards him…they trying to stop the momentum from winning the election.”

“It ain’t happening man, we f— with Trump, Black people we really with Trump.”

COULD VERDICT IN TRUMP CRIMINAL TRIAL UPEND THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION?

Trump Protestors and Opponents weigh in on Trump trial (Fox News Digital)

The man went on to dismiss the idea that the Biden administration is defending “Black America.”

“Biden ain’t for no Black America,” the man continued. “I lost everything since Biden been in, I had a whole limousine business, I had a whole car business selling cars, buying and selling cars, that all went down the drain when Biden got in. I had to go now sleep in the God d—  car. I don’t get a free hotel like immigrants get.”

NY V TRUMP: FORMER PRESIDENT UNLEASHES SOCIAL MEDIA FIRESTORM AHEAD OF JURY DELIBERATION

Former President Donald Trump returns from a lunch break for his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 28, 2024 in New York City.  (Julia Nikhinson-Pool/Getty Images))

“We gotta get them outta there,” the man, who identified himself as being from New York, said about politicians who say there is “no place for Trump in New York.” 

“They don’t do nothing for us, AOC don’t do nothing for us,” he added.

“This is a judicial lynching, he did nothing wrong,” a white man wearing a “Gays for Trump” shirt told Fox News Digital on Wednesday afternoon.  “He will be found innocent, even if he isn’t and he’s railroaded by the Democratic Marxist party, I will vote for him regardless of the outcome.”

Conservative activist and artist Scott LoBaido also spoke to Fox News Digital outside the courtroom and said the court is “humiliating not only Donald Trump” and “not only us” but “the judicial system itself.”

“I’m here to return the favor and humiliate them,” LoBaido, who unveiled a portrait he painted mocking actor Robert DeNiro who was strongly criticized for bashing Trump outside the courtroom on Tuesday, told Fox News Digital.

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New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan  listens as former U.S. President Donald Trump watches as Stormy Daniels is questioned by defense attorney Susan Necheles during Trump’s criminal trial on charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S., May 9, 2024 in this courtroom sketch. (REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg)

“This guy’s a cry baby, spoiled rotten, he doesn’t understand these people that can’t afford a dozen eggs, can’t afford gas, that have illegal aliens rampaging through their neighborhoods, crime, he’s protected, and for him to call us haters of Democracy? No.” 

Not everyone gathered outside the New York City courtroom had glowing things to say about the former president including one Black man who told the camera that Trump has “released a spirit of delusion” and a “spirit of division.”

Jurors in the case were handed their final instructions on Wednesday and were sent out to deliberate on Trump’s guilt in the 34 charges against him stemming from allegations he improperly covered up an NDA agreement with porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump has pleaded not guilty on all counts and dismissed the allegations as a political prosecution.

The jury went home for the day around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday and is set to resume deliberations on Thursday morning.

Fox News Digital’s Matteo Cina contributed to this report

Former President Trump unleashed a social media firestorm ahead of the jury in his New York trial beginning deliberations on Wednesday.

Court began shortly after 10:00 a.m. ET with Judge Juan Merchan reading the deliberation instructions to the jury before they seek to reach a verdict on the charges of falsification of business records against the former president.

“KANGAROO COURT! A CORRUPT AND CONFLICTED JUDGE. RELIANCE ON COUNSEL (ADVISE OF COUNSEL) NOT ALLOWED BY MERCHAN, A FIRST,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. 

NY V. TRUMP: JUDGE MERCHAN TO PRESENT JURY WITH INSTRUCTIONS AHEAD OF DELIBERATIONS

Former President Trump unleashed a social media firestorm ahead of jury deliberations beginning in his New York trial. (Donald Trump/Truth Social)

“HIS RULINGS, ON A CASE THAT SHOULD, ACCORDING TO ALL LEGAL SCHOLARS AND EXPERTS, NEVER HAVE BEEN BROUGHT, HAVE MADE THIS A BIDEN PUSHED WITCH HUNT. THERE WAS NO CRIME, EXCEPT FOR THE BUM THAT GOT CAUGHT STEALING FROM ME! IN GOD WE TRUST!” he wrote.

Trump later posted various statements from commentators defending him over the case, and a post railing against the gag order imposed on him by Merchan.

“THE D.A.’s OFFICE WAS ALLOWED TO GO ON WITH 5 HOURS OF BULL…. YESTERDAY. I have no rights against this Crooked Judge’s Gag Order!” he wrote.

NY V TRUMP: DEFENSE SAYS PROSECUTORS ‘DID NOT MEET THE BURDEN OF PROOF,’ FORMER PRESIDENT IS ‘INNOCENT’

Republican presidential candidate former President Trump attends his criminal trial at the New York State Supreme Court in New York City on Wednesday. (Doug Mills/Pool via Reuters)

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all counts. 

The jury instructions came after a full day of closing arguments were delivered by New York prosecutors and Trump defense attorneys. 

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Prosecutors needed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump falsified records to conceal a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, a pornographic performer, in the lead-up to the 2016 election to silence her about an alleged affair with Trump in 2006. The former president has maintained his innocence.

Fox News’ Brooke Singman contributed to this report.

A New York jury will continue deliberations for a second day Thursday in the historic and unprecedented criminal trial of former President Trump. 

Judge Juan Merchan delivered jurors instructions to consider charges brought against the former president and presumptive Republican presidential nominee. 

Merchan on Wednesday afternoon instructed the jury not to discuss or research the case. 

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all counts. 

NY V. TRUMP: DEFENSE SAYS PROSECUTORS ‘DID NOT MEET THE BURDEN OF PROOF,’ FORMER PRESIDENT IS ‘INNOCENT’

Former President Trump gestures while returning from a break during his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court May 28, 2024, in New York City. (Getty)

Court resumes at 9:30 a.m. Thursday. 

During deliberations Wednesday, the jury sent two notes to the judge, including a request to hear his instructions again about how to consider evidence. 

The jury also asked to hear testimony again from former American Media, Inc. CEO David Pecker and ex-Trump attorney Michael Cohen. 

Merchan said the court was still looking to locate the requested testimony. Merchan estimated it would take approximately 30 minutes to read back. 

Former President Trump, flanked by attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, arrives for his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, N.Y., Wednesday, May 29, 2024. (Jabin Botsford/Pool via Reuters)

The jury can decide if it wants to stay until 6 p.m. Thursday evening to continue its deliberations, if necessary. 

Trump spoke to reporters after the first day of deliberations. 

NY V. TRUMP: PROSECUTION SAYS THEY HAVE PRESENTED ‘POWERFUL EVIDENCE’ AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT

“You have a very, very — I mean — what is very unfair is that I’m not campaigning. In this room all day long, from morning to night in the Biden witch hunt,” Trump said.

Trump lamented “a lot of key witnesses” were not called by the prosecution he says should have been. He didn’t name names due to his gag order.

Former President Trump, a Republican presidential candidate, attends his criminal trial at the New York State Supreme Court in New York, N.Y., Wednesday, May, 29, 2024.  (Doug Mills/Pool via Reuters)

“Because of the gag order, I won’t go down into individual names, but you have a lot of big players, very big players that would have solved their problem or actually would have given us the win. We already have the win. … If we had a fair judge, this case would have been over a long time ago,” Trump said.

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“The other thing, the confusion is nobody knows what the crime is because there’s no crime. Nobody knows what the crime is. The DA didn’t name the crime. They don’t know what the crime is. That’s what the problem is. It’s a disgrace.

“This thing ought to be ended immediately. The judge ought to end it and save his reputation.”

The sound of laughter was revealing.

Inside the media room at the hush money trial, say those who were there, many of the reporters openly chuckled when the prosecutor took jabs at Donald Trump. They found that quite amusing.

For all the craziness surrounding the first criminal trial of a former president, the closing arguments – and the judge’s confusing instructions – packed some surprises. Now the media’s biggest challenge is filling air time and column inches – let’s bring in ex-jurors from other cases! – while waiting for the seven men and five women to deliver a verdict.

TRUMP STRATEGY: HITTING BLUE AREAS, COURTING MINORITIES AND UNFRIENDLY AUDIENCES

The consensus of those who were there is that Trump lawyer Todd Blanche, who has little experience in such cases, spoke in a monotone EXCEPT FOR OCCASIONALLY RAISING HIS VOICE. At least his summation lasted only three hours.

Josh Steinglass of the Manhattan D.A.’s officer was far more passionate and animated, but he spoke for an eye-glazing five hours. Who on earth thought that was a smart idea? The jurors clearly lost focus as he got into the weeds of calls and emails, then repeated much of it, and kept them there until 8 p.m.   

How much information is the jury supposed to absorb?

Former President Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower on his way to Manhattan criminal court, Monday, April 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

That was equally true yesterday as Judge Juan Merchan spent an hour on the crucial jury instructions that only lawyers could love.

If someone testified falsely, you can disregard his entire account.

Michael Cohen, whose credibility was savaged by the defense, is an “accomplice.”

IT FEELS ‘HORRIBLE’ WAITING FOR JURY TO DELIBERATE: CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY

The jury can’t convict on Cohen’s word alone, but can use his testimony if it’s corroborated with other evidence.

The extent of the defendant’s participation doesn’t matter as long as there’s a “general intent to defraud.” Ah, but intent does not require premeditation.

The defendant must be found to have falsified business records or caused them to be falsified.

Former President Trump sits in the courtroom during his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 21, 2024, in New York City.  (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

As long as the jury agrees on the facts, they can use different reasoning, whether it applies to, say, election fraud or taxes. 

And the mystery crime that supposedly boosts this into felony territory? A violation of New York election law, about which we’d heard almost nothing.

Whew. Got that?

JUDGE MERCHAN ‘MUDDIED UP THE WATERS’ TO TRY AND MAKE TRUMP TRIAL A ‘VERY COMPLICATED CASE’: JUDGE JEANINE PIRRO

It comes down to the jurors just using their common sense.

Todd Blanche scored some points, such as branding Cohen the GLOAT (Greatest Liar of All Time). But he left several gaping holes.

The defense lawyer began by saying that Trump and Stormy Daniels have repeatedly denied that a sexual encounter took place in 2006. Well, Stormy did lie about it in exchange for the money from Cohen, but she just as obviously now insists there was a hookup, as she testified.

Blanche said the president may have been too busy to focus on the 11 reimbursement checks he signed for Cohen. He argued that there was no email showing a conspiracy – uh, even incompetent criminals who have seen a couple of mob movies know you don’t leave a paper trail.

Blanche said the National Enquirer didn’t engage in catch-and-kill deals with the Trump campaign – of course they did, while the term wasn’t used, and that was confirmed by David Pecker.

The biggest shortcoming: The Trump defense didn’t address the emails, texts, Signal messages and banking records that back up Cohen’s account – because they don’t have an alternative version of events.

Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s former lawyer and fixer, walks out of a Manhattan courthouse after testifying before a grand jury, in New York, United States on March 15, 2023.  ((Photo by Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images))

The prosecution tried to knock down Blanche’s argument that Cohen did legal work for Trump and his wife in 2017 which the president might have thought was legitimate. But Cohen devoted less than 10 hours to that work and, Steinglass said, had spent more time being cross-examined at the trial.

Yes, Cohen lied over the years, Steinglass said, yes he stole from the Trump Organization, but now he’s just a “tour guide” for the evidence. Right.

The prosecutor said Trump’s team had “shamed” Stormy and suggested her story has not changed over the years. Of course it has!

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Steinglass did rebut the argument that there was no panic as the media pursued the porn star after the “Access Hollywood” tape by citing Hope Hicks’ saying they all felt Trump could lose the election.

The most absurd moment for the prosecution came when he hypothetically reenacted a 90-second call in which Cohen claims he both complained about harassing calls from a 14-year-old and discussed the Stormy situation with Trump. Only took 46 seconds! But if you don’t buy that, Steinglass said, maybe Cohen got the date wrong.

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Oh, and who in the Biden campaign thought it was a brilliant idea for Robert De Niro to show up at the courthouse and start slamming Trump?

Jury instructions concluded on Wednesday in the New York City criminal trial against former President Trump after the jury was given several critical directions on how to determine the guilt or innocence of the former president, including one controversial instruction that Fox News Contributor Jonathan Turley called the “coup de grace.”

“Merchan just delivered the coup de grace instruction,” Turley explained. “He said that there is no need to agree on what occurred. They can disagree on what the crime was among the three choices.  Thus, this means that they could split 4-4-4, and he will still treat them as unanimous.”

Judge Juan Merchan also instructed the jury on knowledge of a conspiracy, according to Fox News’ Lydia Hu, who was inside the courtroom on Wednesday. 

“He said, mere knowledge of a conspiracy does not make [the] defendant a co-conspirator. Prosecutors must prove intent,” Hu reported.  “Also, being present with others when they form a conspiracy does not mean that the defendant is a part of the conspiracy.”

COULD VERDICT IN TRUMP CRIMINAL TRIAL UPEND THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION?

On Wednesday, Judge Juan Merchan, left, revealed the framework a Manhattan jury will use to consider the charges against former President Trump and reach a verdict. (Getty Images)

Hu reported that the instruction makes former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen’s testimony related to his phone call to Trump advising about the Stormy Daniels NDA issues “very important” because if a juror believes that Cohen was advising Trump of the specific NDA and attempting to get a “sign off” to set up the bank account and LLC that a “juror could maybe find intent on behalf of Trump.”

The jury was told that if they have a question on the law, they should send in a note asking to revise and that the foreperson, the first juror selected, does not need to write the note or even agree.

NY V TRUMP: FORMER PRESIDENT UNLEASHES SOCIAL MEDIA FIRESTORM AHEAD OF JURY DELIBERATION

Tiffany Trump and Eric Trump’s wife Lara sit in the front row next to former President Trump as defense lawyer Todd Blanche presents closing arguments during Trump’s criminal trial on charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan state court in New York City on May 28, 2024 in this courtroom sketch. (REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg )

Judge Merchan told the jury that in order to find the defendant guilty, the prosecutors are required to prove that on or about Feb. 14, 2017, former President Trump personally made or caused a false entry in business enterprise, specifically an invoice from his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen.

Second, jurors must conclude that Trump did so with intent to commit another crime or intent to conceal another crime. That leaves 33 remaining counts, each for falsifying business records.  The only difference between the counts is a different business record or date. The jury can ask to repeat the law in its entirely as many times.

“Merchan has instructed that the first count of falsifying business records in the first degree must show that Trump made or caused a false entry to be made,” Turley reported. “Intent means conscious or purpose to defraud. Intent does not require an intent to defraud any particular person or entry but a general intent to defraud.”

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Michael Cohen is questioned by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger on re-direct during former President Trump’s criminal trial on charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan state court in New York City on May 20, 2024 in this courtroom sketch. (REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg )

Turley continued, “Merchan said that the crime being committed was the NY election law by ‘unlawful means.’ However, that ‘unlawful means’ is shown when there is a showing of intent to cause actions or the performance of conduct.”

The jurors will not be allowed to leave the jury room during deliberations and will have to give their cell phones to a court officer. Jurors can only discuss the case among themselves and can only deliberate when they are all gathered in the jury room.

Jurors were instructed to work until 4:30 p.m.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records linked to alleged hush money payments to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

Fox News’ Maria Paronich, Lydia Hu, and Shannon Bream contributed to this report.

Former President Trump vowed he would win the 2024 presidential election as the jury in the NY v. Trump case on Wednesday began deliberations regarding charges the 45th president says “Mother Teresa could not beat.”

“The judge, who, as you know, is very conflicted and corrupt. Because of the confliction, very, very corrupt. Mother Teresa could not beat these charges. These charges are rigged. The whole thing is rigged,” Trump said late Wednesday morning as jury deliberations kicked off. 

“The whole country is a mess, between the borders and fake elections, and you have a trial like this where the judge is so conflicted, he can’t breathe. He’s got to do his job. … it’s a disgrace. And I mean that, Mother Teresa could not beat those charges. But we’ll see. We’ll see how we do.” 

The jury began deliberations before noon on Wednesday after a lengthy day in court on Tuesday, when they heard closing arguments from both the defense team and a lengthy closing argument from the district attorney’s office. 

ROBERT DE NIRO CLAIMS TRUMP ‘COULD DESTROY THE WORLD’ OUTSIDE MANHATTAN COURT

Former President Trump attends his criminal trial at the New York State Supreme Court in New York City on Wednesday. (Doug Mills/Pool via Reuters)

Trump is facing 34 counts of falsifying business records. Prosecutors worked to prove that Trump falsified business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to former porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election to quiet her claims of an alleged affair with Trump in 2006. 

Trump continued in his comments Wednesday that he will win the 2024 election despite the trial. 

In this courtroom sketch, former President Trump listens next to his daughter Tiffany Trump as defense lawyer Todd Blanche presents closing arguments in Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on Tuesday. (Reuters/Jane Rosenberg )

“We’re going to win this election. Nov. 5 is going to be the most important day in the history of our country. We’re going to take back our country from these fascists and these thugs that are destroying us with inflation and with everything they do. How stupid they are — allowing 15, 16, 17 million people into our country. Totally unvetted, totally unchecked. We’re going to bring back our nation Nov. 5. Remember the most important day in the history of our country. In the meantime, this trial is rigged,” he said. 

TRUMP PREVIEWS CLOSING ARGUMENTS IN ‘SHAM TRIAL’: ‘VERY DANGEROUS DAY FOR AMERICA’

Defense attorneys for Trump told the jury Tuesday that he is innocent and did not commit any crimes, adding that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg “did not meet the burden of proof. Period.” 

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, right, speaks during a press conference on Feb. 8. (Barry Williams for NY Daily News via Getty Images)

“President Trump is innocent. He did not commit any crimes. The district attorney did not meet the burden of proof. Period,” Trump attorney Todd Blanche said. 

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass made a more than five-hour closing argument Tuesday that lasted until 8 p.m., telling the jury that his office had presented “powerful” evidence against Trump. 

Former President Trump speaks to the media on May 13. (Seth Wenig/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

“The name of the game was concealment and all roads lead inescapably to the man who benefited the most: the defendant, former President Donald Trump,” Steinglass said.

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Amid the prosecution team’s lengthy closing arguments, Trump posted to Truth Social a one-word summation of the court proceedings: “BORING!”

Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman contributed to this report. 

Former President Trump’s New York criminal trial is nearing its end as the jury deliberates Wednesday, but the proceedings have been a roller coaster for weeks.

The trial began April 15, and the former president has railed against the prosecutors, Judge Juan Merchan and some of the witnesses throughout the process. Here are some of the biggest moments over the past few weeks.

Michael Cohen admits to stealing from the Trump Org

Ex-lawyer Michael Cohen was the “star witness” for the prosecution, testifying that he had been the middleman for hush money payments from Trump to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

Ex-lawyer Michael Cohen was the “star witness” for the prosecution, testifying that he had been the middleman for hush money payments from Trump to pornography actress Stormy Daniels. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)

Cohen admitted in testimony on May 20 that he stole thousands of dollars from the Trump Organization by overstating how much he paid a tech company that provided services for the Trump Organization.

ROBERT DE NIRO CLAIMS TRUMP ‘COULD DESTROY THE WORLD’ OUTSIDE MANHATTAN COURT

“You stole from the Trump Org, right?” Trump attorney Todd Blanche asked Cohen.

“Yes, sir,” Cohen responded.

The testimony stems from his comments earlier in the trial, when he detailed to the court that he and former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg calculated a $420,000 repayment to Cohen for his $130,000 payment to Daniels. The payment to Daniels came ahead of the 2016 election to quiet her claims of an alleged affair with Trump in 2006. 

Cohen previously testified that the repayment was “grossed up” to prevent him from taking a tax hit, and also included reimbursement for paying tech company Red Finch an alleged $50,000.

NY V TRUMP: AS ‘STAR WITNESS’ MICHAEL COHEN TESTIFIES, TRUMP ALLIES FLOCK TO COURT TO ‘SUPPORT THEIR FRIEND’

Cohen testified Monday that he went to TD Bank and withdrew cash over a couple of days to pay Red Finch for its services, and stored the money in a brown paper bag. The cash ultimately totaled about $20,000, which he gave to Red Finch’s CEO, according to Cohen, but he said he never gave the company the full $50,000. 

During a 2017 meeting on the repayment plan, Cohen said, he told Weisselberg he paid Red Finch $50,000 – meaning he pocketed the $30,000 difference.

Stormy Daniels’ testimony backfires

Daniels testified earlier in the trial about her affair with Trump, telling the court that he paid her off to keep quiet.

Her testimony went into vulgar detail about her interactions with Trump, and many commentators – even those critical of the former president – thought it was a disaster for the prosecution.

“The View” co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump aide who is now a strong critic, also questioned Daniels’ credibility.

“I actually don’t believe she needed to go into salacious detail. I would have liked to hear from Stormy, who is a mom, who wants to live a private life, wants to put this behind her, has been exploited by countless men in her life,” Griffin said. “She was there under subpoena just to confirm what she is able to.”

Daniels testified earlier in the trial about her affair with Trump, telling the court that he paid her off to keep quiet. (Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig offered his own opinion about Daniels taking the stand. Honig claimed that cross-examination by Trump’s team had successfully brought up the topic of her credibility.

TRUMP PREVIEWS CLOSING ARGUMENTS IN ‘SHAM TRIAL’: ‘VERY DANGEROUS DAY FOR AMERICA’

“Her responses were disastrous,” Honig said, referring also to the moment when Daniels said she hated Trump.

“When the witness hates the person whose liberty is at stake, that’s a big damn deal!” Honig said. “And she’s putting out tweets, fantasizing about him being in jail. That really undermines the credibility.”

Judge threatens Trump with jail time over gag order

Much of the drama in the trial has centered on Judge Juan Merchan’s gag order against Trump, which prevents the former president from criticizing witnesses.

Merchan sided with prosecutors when they accused him of violating the gag order multiple times. The judge fined Trump $9,000 – $1,000 for each violation – and warned him that further violations could result in jail time.

Trump speaks to the media on May 13. (Seth Wenig/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

The judge detailed that if Trump carries out “continued willful violations” of the gag order, he could face “incarceratory punishment” if “necessary and appropriate.”

Trump attorneys argue the gag order is a violation of the former president’s First Amendment rights. District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his office alleged Trump violated the order at least 14 times. The gag order was imposed on Trump on April 1.

NY V. TRUMP: JUDGE MERCHAN TO PRESENT JURY WITH INSTRUCTIONS AHEAD OF DELIBERATIONS

Trump complained about the gag order nearly every time he spoke to the press outside the courtroom.

Judge shuts down Trump’s motion for a mistrial

Trump’s defense attorneys moved for a mistrial amid Daniels’ testimony, arguing it had been prejudicial.

Merchan said a mistrial was not warranted and that he was doing everything he could to control the witness, including once objecting to Daniels’ testimony himself.

“I agree that it would have been better if some of these things had been left unsaid,” Merchan said at the time.

Trump’s defense attorneys moved for a mistrial amid Daniels’ testimony earlier this month, arguing it had been prejudicial. (Jabin Botsford/Pool via Reuters)

Blanche argued the prosecution was trying to inflame the jury with Daniels’ testimony, including with evidence that he said does not matter. Blanche said it is prejudicial testimony and evidence, saying Daniels has been trying to sell her story about an alleged consensual sexual encounter since 2016.

“We believe there should be a mistrial,” he said, “or that this witness’ testimony is excluded and extremely limited.”

Blanche said Daniels’ lurid and explosive testimony “has nothing to do with this case” and is “totally irrelevant.”

Biden campaign sends Robert De Niro to Trump’s trial

Actor Robert De Niro crashed Trump’s trial in an appearance with President Biden’s campaign outside the Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday.

De Niro railed against Trump, arguing he would destroy the country if he gains office in 2024.

De Niro was heckled by Trump supporters as he was leaving the podium after giving his remarks. He even got into a shouting match with one man in a MAGA hat who called him a “washed up” actor.

ROBERT DE NIRO’S ‘OVER-THE-TOP’ TIRADE WAS A ‘STUPID MISTAKE’ BY THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN: KARL ROVE

Former President Trump ridiculed Robert De Niro as “pathetic” and a “wacko” after the liberal actor’s chaotic conference on Tuesday outside a Manhattan courthouse was widely derided. (Getty Images)

“De Niro being chased out of his own press conference is epic,” one Trump supporter wrote on X. Another added, “New Yorkers hate him! This didn’t go the way he thought it would.”

The Biden campaign event was mocked as a joke by many commentators on the right.

“It was beautiful!” Juanita Broaddrick added on X. “De Niro’s TDS has metastasized to his brain. He has dual citizenship in Italy. He can move there after November.”

Trump campaign senior adviser Steven Cheung called the Biden camp’s press conference “election interference of the highest order.” 

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“Crooked Joe Biden and his campaign are in complete freakout mode,” he added.

De Niro was joined by the Biden campaign’s communications director, Michael Tyler – who called Trump a “chaos agent” – as well as retired D.C. Metropolitan Police Department Officer Michael Fanone and former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, who were both present at the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot.

Fox News’ Emma Colton, Brooke Singman and Hanna Panreck contributed to this report.

West Virginia Democrats sought to push back on rumors this week that outgoing Sen. Joe Manchin, who was expected to retire, might be mounting a surprise campaign for governor.

The conjecture intensified after Manchin was reportedly bombarded by people urging him to run at an event at the Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, according to WVMetroNews. The Greenbrier is notably owned by the state’s current governor, Democrat-turned-Republican Jim Justice, who is term-limited and now is the GOP’s Senate nominee to replace Manchin.

“The talk about the possibility of Joe Manchin running for West Virginia governor again is real,” wrote Hoppy Kercheval, a news anchor and one of the state’s most recognizable media figures.

Any Manchin run would be complicated by the fact the state’s primaries have already ended, with Huntington Mayor Steve Williams the current Democratic nominee.

MANCHIN ON 2024 PROSPECTS: I’D NEVER BE A SPOILER

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

The senator also only has a few days to make any decision, according to state officials who contradicted reports Manchin would have to take Williams’ place as the Democratic nominee — or be able to run against the mayor of the state’s second-largest city.

Manchin, who previously served as governor from 2005 to 2010 before winning the seat of the deceased Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., would have to leave the Democratic Party to do so, an official in the West Virginia secretary of state’s office told Fox News Digital.

The official said it is too late for Manchin to run as either a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or member of the state’s Mountain Party — and that the deadline is essentially June 1 for anyone else seeking office this year.

Unaffiliated candidates are able to gain ballot access for the November election by gathering signatures from any party’s voters and filing them along with a certificate of announcement by Aug. 1. But, the candidate may not have been a member of a recognized party within 60 days of that filing, which would be June 1, at the latest.

ILHAN OMAR ATTACKING MANCHIN PROVES HE’S RIGHT: PETER KING

A West Virginia welcome sign greets travelers leaving the East River Mountain Tunnel on Interstate 77 near Princeton, West Virginia. (Fox News/Charles Creitz)

Attempts to reach West Virginia Republican Party Chairman Matt Herridge on the matter were unsuccessful, but in comments to WVMetroNews, Herridge said the party is “united squarely behind” the Republican gubernatorial nominee, state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey.

However, state Del. Mike Pushkin — the chairman of the state’s Democratic Party — rejected any claims Manchin is going to launch a surprise bid and instead said much of the conjecture comes from Republicans unhappy with Morrisey as their nominee.

“Over two-thirds of Republicans voted for somebody else,” he said of the GOP gubernatorial primary between Morrisey, who positioned himself to the right of the other major GOP candidate, state Del. Moore Capito — the son of Manchin’s colleague Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V. 

“Sen. Manchin isn’t running. We have a nominee who is Mayor Steve Williams and I think when some of our Republican friends and independent friends take a look at Williams’ record, there will be a lot to support,” Pushkin said.

Pushkin said despite political headwinds, he is confident Williams is the right nominee, irrespective of pressure on the more-recognizable Manchin. He said Huntington was bankrupt and police were underpaid until Williams was elected, adding that the mayor also did not raise taxes.

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With Manchin retiring from the Senate either way, Pushkin said the senator’s potential Democratic successor, Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, also has a “great story to tell” about his time as mayor of the city just west of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and tenure working for Byrd.

In response to the news, an official with the Republican Governors Association said Republican voters spoke loud and clear in selecting Morrisey as the nominee.

“There is only one conservative candidate on the ballot who will stand up to the Biden administration’s disastrous agenda and deliver results for West Virginia families and no amount of wish-casting by anonymous sources will change that,” said RGA national press secretary Courtney Alexander.

Manchin’s office did not respond to multiple attempts to procure comment.

President Biden, while drumming up support from Black voters in Philadelphia on Wednesday, said former President Trump wanted to tear gas those who “peacefully protested” George Floyd’s murder in 2020.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris appeared at Girard College, a predominantly Black boarding school in Philadelphia, thanking Black voters for helping to clinch presidential victory in November 2020.

During his speech, the president focused on items that his administration worked on to better the lives of Black voters, including the elimination of lead pipes for safer drinking water; the removal of pollution near fenceline communities; affordable high-speed internet; and the protection of the Affordable Health Care Act.

“A promise made, and a promise kept,” Biden said.

2024 REMATCH: TRUMP AIMS TO EXPAND THE MAP IN HIS BATTLE WITH BIDEN

President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign rally at Girard College on Wednesday in Philadelphia. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

As he made his pitch to the room, Biden pulled no punches toward his chief opponent in the presidential election.

Biden told the crowd that Trump called Jan. 6 rioters patriots and that he wants to pardon every one of them.

“Let me ask you: What do you think [Trump] would have done on Jan. 6, if Black Americans had stormed [the Capitol],” Biden asked. “I don’t think he’d be talking about pardons. This is the same guy who wanted to tear gas you as you peacefully protested George Floyd’s murder.”

Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.

TRUMP AHEAD OF BIDEN IN THESE KEY SWING STATES: POLL

Smoke rises from a fire on a police cruiser, May 30, 2020, in Philadelphia, during riots that erupted after the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis.  (AP Photo/Matt Rourke/File)

In May 2020, public protests and demonstrations in Philadelphia in response to the death of Floyd and against alleged police brutality started out as peaceful assemblies before turning violent.

The violence involved defacing an iconic statue of famed former Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo, demonstrators climbing atop glass fixtures near the SEPTA subway entrance, and at least a dozen storefronts along the popular Chestnut and Walnut street corridors getting looted or defaced.

Several Philadelphia Police Department vehicles were reportedly set ablaze in the vicinity — as well as a Pennsylvania State Police cruiser — and a Starbucks was seen engulfed in flames on Dilworth Plaza, which sits along the west rampart of City Hall.

FIRST LADY JILL BIDEN WARNS ‘THE VIEW’ WE WILL LOSE ALL OF OUR RIGHTS’ IF TRUMP GETS ANOTHER SCOTUS JUDGE

An undated photo of George Floyd, who died May 25, 2020, after Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck outside a convenience store where Floyd tried to pass a counterfeit $20 bill. (Christopher Harris via AP/File)

Police officers ultimately equipped themselves in riot gear before reportedly confronting a crowd near the Municipal Services Building at 16th and Arch streets. The officers were said to have pressed the crowd back as they threw projectiles, and tried to push through the police line by using a fence.

As a result of the initial night of protests, over a dozen police officers were injured and a mandatory curfew was put in place.

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The White House did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital seeking clarification on Biden’s remarks about the protests being peaceful.

Protests and riots broke out across the nation in the spring and summer of 2020, after Floyd, 46, died in Minneapolis police custody.

Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman contributed to this report.

FIRST ON FOX: The dates for closed-door interviews with top university presidents have been announced as House Republicans continue to probe antisemitism at educational institutions across the country. 

Two university leaders were provided notice by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce on Wednesday of upcoming transcribed interviews that will be closed to the press. 

Yale University President Dr. Peter Salovey is set to speak with the committee in a closed-to-press interview on June 20 at 10:30 a.m., and University of Michigan President Dr. Santa J. Ono is scheduled to appear for his own private interview on Aug. 9 at 10 a.m. 

GOP SEN CALLS FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO TRUMP TRIAL JUDGE OVER GAG ORDERS

Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., announced the dates and times for closed interviews with Yale and University of Michigan presidents regarding antisemitism.  (Getty Images)

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., said, “The Committee has identified patterns of antisemitism on Yale’s and Michigan’s campuses and a general failure by these universities to protect Jewish students that must be addressed. Presidents Salovey and Ono will be required to appear before the committee for transcribed interviews and answer questions on their records.”

BIDEN ADMIN QUESTIONED OVER ABORTION PILL PUSH WITHOUT PROPER ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY

Several university presidents have already appeared before Congress. (Getty Images)

“Questioning will be conducted by counsel(s) and/or Committee staff designated by the Chair and Ranking Member, respectively. The Majority and the Minority will question you in alternating, hour-long rounds, beginning with Majority staff, until neither side has remaining questions,” she wrote in letters to the leaders on Wednesday. 

“We have received the letter and President Santa J. Ono will appear for the transcribed interview,” said Colleen Mastony, spokesperson for the University of Michigan, in a statement. 

A spokesperson for Yale University told Fox News Digital, “We are committed to cooperate with the committee.”

The presidents of Northwestern University, Rutgers University and the University of California, Los Angeles testified in front of the committee earlier this month during a hearing titled, “Calling for Accountability: Stopping Antisemitic College Chaos.” 

BIDEN WHITE HOUSE REJECTS ICC SANCTIONS PROPOSED BY LAWMAKERS AFTER ISRAEL WARRANT REQUESTS

Hundreds of students protest outside the Palestine Solidarity Encampment on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles on May 1. (Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

The hearing came only weeks after a high-profile pro-Palestine encampment dispersed at Columbia University and as schools across the country still struggled with their own demonstrations, which also included incidents of antisemitism. 

The Michigan and Yale presidents were originally slated to appear at the same hearing. 

‘TOO LATE’: TRUMP BACKS CHALLENGER TO FREEDOM CAUCUS CHAIR DESPITE RECEIVING PRIOR ENDORSEMENT

Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., Chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, is leading an investigation into campus antisemitism. (Getty Images)

The outbreak of antisemitism on college campuses has correlated with the onset of the war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas in Gaza, which began in October 2023 after the group murdered Israeli civilians and took hostages in a surprise attack. 

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Since then, antisemitic incidents across the country have skyrocketed. In the first three months following the Hamas terrorist attack, more antisemitic incidents occurred than during the entirety of each year between 2013 and 2021, with the exception of 2022, according to the Anti-Defamation League’s data. The number of incidents in those three months represented a 361% increase from the same period in 2022, during which 712 incidents occurred. 

Requests seeking comment from the University of Michigan went unanswered at press time.

Around 40 Arab-American leaders in the key swing state of Michigan came together with two top Trumpworld figures as the presumptive Republican nominee and President Biden both seek its delegate prize in November.

The Trump campaign told Fox News Digital the meet-up — which featured Michael Boulos and former Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell — was not organized by the campaign.

Boulos, son of Lebanese billionaire Massad Boulos, is married to Tiffany Trump. The elder Boulos was also in attendance, according to published reports.

The meeting took place at an Italian restaurant in the Detroit suburb of Troy, according to the Detroit Free Press, which counted Syrian-American physician Dr. Yahya Basha among its attendees. 

Basha voted for Biden, donated to his 2020 bid and kept a photo of him in his office, but last week he helped organize Boulos and Grenell’s dinner instead, according to the paper, which quoted him as calling the meeting “positive” and a “first step in the right direction.”

Another attendee said Trump’s “Abraham Accords” Mideast peace deal was a noted topic of conversation and well-received by the group.

DEARBORN ‘UNCOMMITTEDS’ PLAN TO MAKE ‘EXAMPLE’ OF BIDEN, TURN PARTY AGAINST JEWISH STATE

When asked about the meeting, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign said that although it was not an official event, they will continue to communicate to Arab-American voters about Trump’s successes in the Middle East and policies that “brought that region historic levels of peace and stability.”

“We understand supporters of President Trump had a meeting in Michigan. While the meeting was not requested on behalf of the campaign, we share the belief that Biden’s failed Middle East policies have brought death, chaos and war to the region,” Brian Hughes, the campaign representative, told Fox News Digital.

“That failure led tens of thousands of Democrats to vote ‘uncommitted’ in Michigan’s recent primary.”

Reports of another meeting on May 17 between Arab American groups and Secretary of State Antony Blinken at Foggy Bottom “wasn’t positive,” according to the Detroit paper.

In a statement about the meeting obtained by New York City broadcaster NY1, Biden campaign rapid response director Ammar Moussa called Trump the biggest threat to the Muslim and Arab community.”

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Moussa told the outlet Biden, by contrast, is “working tirelessly towards a just and lasting peace.”

Biden’s conundrum in Michigan was described earlier this year by Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., to Politico as “an impossible situation,” as the president tries to balance seeking support from moderate and union Democrats while not alienating progressives and the state’s large Muslim and Arab populations.

His headwinds from flipping the state back to the Democrats’ column in 2020 have been buffeted as of late by the more than 100,000 Democratic voters who voted “uncommitted” in the party’s February primary.

The president has been criticized by the state’s sizable Muslim population over his handling of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, as prominent Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib — who is of Palestinian descent — branded him an “enabler of genocide” over the matter.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Biden campaign for official comment for purposes of this story.

Trump, meanwhile, seeks to win back the support of the Great Lakes state, a feat he accomplished in 2016 when he became the first Republican since George H.W. Bush to do so.

Judge Juan Merchan can “save his reputation” if he dismisses the NY v. Trump case, former President Donald Trump said in remarks Wednesday outside of the Manhattan courtroom. 

“The confusion is nobody knows what the crime is because there’s no crime. Nobody knows what the crime is. The D.A. didn’t name the crime of the moment. They don’t know what the crime is. That’s what the problem is. It’s a disgrace. This thing ought to be ended immediately. The judge ought to end it and save his reputation,” Trump said Wednesday evening. 

Trump’s comments came after jury deliberations began Wednesday. 

Since deliberations began, the jury sent Merchan two notes, including asking to rehear his instructions. In New York criminal cases, juries are not allowed to receive copies of jury instructions or witness transcripts. 

TRUMP SAYS JUDGE MERCHAN HAS WAY TO GAIN BACK ‘RESPECT’ DESPITE PRESIDING OVER ‘WITCH HUNT’ TRIAL

Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump attends his criminal trial at the New York State Supreme Court in New York, New York, Wednesday, May, 29, 2024.  (Doug Mills/Pool via REUTERS)

Trump is facing 34 counts of falsifying business records. Prosecutors worked to prove that Trump falsified business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to former pornographic star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election to quiet her claims of an alleged affair with Trump in 2006. 

“The judge, who, as you know, is very conflicted and corrupt. Because of the confliction, very, very corrupt. Mother Teresa could not beat these charges. These charges are rigged. The whole thing is rigged,” Trump said late Wednesday morning as jury deliberations kicked off. 

COHEN’S BOMBSHELL ADMISSION COULD LEAD TO HUNG JURY, IF NOT ACQUITTAL: EXPERT

Judge Juan M. Merchan poses in his chambers in New York, March 14, 2024. The testimony in Donald Trump’s hush money trial is all wrapped up after more than four weeks and nearly two dozen witnesses, meaning the case heads into the pivotal final stretch of closing arguments, jury deliberations and possibly a verdict. Merchan is expected to spend about an hour instructing the jury on the law governing the case, providing a roadmap for what it can and cannot take into account as it evaluates Trump’s guilt or innocence.  (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

“The whole country is a mess, between the borders and fake elections, and you have a trial like this where the judge is so conflicted, he can’t breathe. He’s got to do his job. … it’s a disgrace. And I mean that, Mother Teresa could not beat those charges. But we’ll see. We’ll see how we do.” 

NY V TRUMP: MICHAEL COHEN ADMITS TO STEALING TENS OF THOUSANDS FROM FORMER PRESIDENT’S BUSINESS

Trump has repeatedly called on Merchan to recuse himself as well as dismiss the case, including last week when he said Merchan could “gain back respect” if he dismissed the case. 

Former U.S. President Donald Trump looks on as Rhona Graff testifies during Trump’s criminal trial on charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S. April 26, 2024, in this courtroom sketch. (REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg)

NY V. TRUMP: MICHAEL COHEN TESTIFIES HE’S CONSIDERING CONGRESSIONAL RUN

“This case should be dropped by the judge. I think the judge, if he did, that … could gain the respect back. The appellate court has to step in, something has to happen. Think of it, the Republican Party, one of the two great parties, nominates somebody to be their candidate. And that candidate now has been sitting here for almost five weeks in a freezing cold icebox listening to this stuff,” Trump said last Monday. 

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Court will continue Thursday morning at 9:30, when Merchan will again address jury instructions, followed by the jury resuming deliberations.

New York City – Bystanders outside former President Trump’s criminal trial on Wednesday spoke to Fox News Digital and blasted what they said is a political prosecution of the former president and chief political rival of President Biden.

“This thing is damaging to the American legal system for decades to come,” a man outside the courtroom told Fox News Digital. “The political use of the courts. Listen, on this level, it’s dreadful… never mind Trump, it’s damaging to the country.”

When asked if he thought the trial was politically motivated, the man scoffed in agreement and said, “It’s also economically motivated.”

“Let’s do it fair, let’s lay out the deck of cards, if Biden is scared to lay down the deck of cards and ask what happened with the cocaine in the White House, the people still want to know… why CNN aint publicize that, why?” 

Another man wearing a New York Yankees cap told Fox News Digital, “Why they ain’t making no news about it? It’s not about being a racist, you know I was a Democrat for long [time], but I had to research and start seeing things and I started to come to a clear perception and said, ‘Nah, Donald Trump is right.’”

COULD VERDICT IN TRUMP CRIMINAL TRIAL UPEND THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION?

Trump supporters outside New York City courtroom. (Fox News Digital)

“You don’t have to agree with him about everything but one thing you can say… he  love to take care of the people, he love people,” the man added.

“Because he’s doing everything for us,” a woman outside the courtroom told Fox News Digital when asked why she believes Trump is a “good president.”

Another man told Fox News Digital he thinks Democrats are “desperate” and “losing their s—.”

NY V TRUMP: FORMER PRESIDENT UNLEASHES SOCIAL MEDIA FIRESTORM AHEAD OF JURY DELIBERATION

Former President Trump sits in court before jury deliberations for his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 29, 2024. (Jabin Botsford/Pool via USA Today Network)

“They’re losing their composure and they’re just so scared that he might be elected they’re just losing their stuff totally,” the man, who was holding an American flag, added.

When asked what the outcome of the trial will be, the man said, “His ratings will go up, we have a Constitution, so sooner or later, whatever at first happens will be overturned, so thank God we’re a constitutional republic.”

The man said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Trump was convicted in the New York City case, but the “consensus seems to be a hung jury.” 

“It shows that it’s fragile,” the man said about how this trial reflects the criminal justice system in the United States. “Half the country doesn’t realize that we have a constitutional republic, and they think that the quote ‘majority’ should make the laws and that’s not the way it works. The Constitution supersedes the majority.”

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A man stands outside a New York courtroom while a jury deliberates charges against former President Trump. (Fox News Digital)

Jurors in the case were handed their final instructions on Wednesday and were sent out to deliberate on Trump’s guilt in the 34 charges against him stemming from allegations he improperly covered up an NDA agreement with porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump has pleaded not guilty on all counts and dismissed the allegations as a political prosecution.

Fox News Digital’s Matteo Cina contributed to this report

Sen. J.D. Vance is demanding a criminal investigation into New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan over his enforcement of gag orders against former President Trump during his trial. 

The Ohio Republican, a strong advocate of the former president, called on Attorney General Merrick Garland to open an investigation into Merchan, specifically for depriving Trump of his First Amendment right to free speech. 

“The public evidence suggests that an investigation is warranted at least. And all indications are that the responsible parties have their sights set, not only on rights protected by the Constitution, but on rightsholders of core federal concern, including the leading candidate for the presidency,” Vance wrote in a letter to Garland. 

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Former President Donald Trump and then-Republican candidate for Senate JD Vance greet supporters during the rally at the Dayton International Airport on Nov. 7, 2022 in Vandalia, Ohio.  ((Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images))

He cites two statutes to pursue Merchan under, one which prevents “conspiracies to ‘injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate’ others in the enjoyment of federally protected rights” and another to prohibit anyone from “willfully [depriving] a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.” 

BIDEN WHITE HOUSE REJECTS ICC SANCTIONS PROPOSED BY LAWMAKERS AFTER ISRAEL WARRANT REQUESTS

Justice Juan Merchan instructs the jury before deliberations as Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump looks on during his criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, at Manhattan state court in New York City on May 29, 2024 in this courtroom sketch. (REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg)

“On Merchan’s orders, a Republican presidential candidate has been made powerless to question the credibility of the witnesses testifying against him, the motivations of the prosecutors pursuing him, or the impartiality of the apparently conflicted judge fining him,” Vance claimed. 

The Department of Justice did not provide comment to Fox News Digital in time for publication. 

‘TOO LATE’: TRUMP BACKS CHALLENGER TO FREEDOM CAUCUS CHAIR DESPITE RECEIVING PRIOR ENDORSEMENT

Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during the 36th Annual Candlelight Vigil to honor the law enforcement officers who lost their lives in 2023, in Washington, on May 13, 2024.  (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Vance even suggested that Merchan has deprived Trump of more than just his First Amendment rights. He claimed the judge had tried to prevent the former president from getting an impartial jury. “During jury selection, Merchan refused to dismiss prospective jurors with obvious bias,” he wrote. 

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Former President Donald Trump sits in court before jury deliberations for his criminal trial in Manhattan Criminal Court at the New York State Supreme Court on May 29, 2024.   (Jabin Botsford/Pool via USA Today Network)

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Fox News Digital reached out to the New York court system with a request from Merchan’s office but did not immediately receive a response. 

Republicans and Trump have been critical of the prosecution, charges and the presiding judge in the case against the former president, often referring to it as “election interference.”