US Claims More Classified Records May Be Missing in Trump Probe

US Claims More Classified Records May Be Missing in Trump Probe Donald Trump frowns (Getty Images)

Sarah N. Lynch Thursday, 08 September 2022 07:14 PM EDT

Former President Donald Trump's team may not have returned all the classified records removed from the White House at the end of his presidency even after an FBI search of his home, U.S. prosecutors warned on Thursday, calling it a potential national security risk that needs investigation.

That revelation came in a Justice Department court filing asking U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon to let it continue reviewing about 100 classified records seized by the FBI at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate while it investigates whether classified documents were illegally removed from the White House and improperly stored there.

Trump is under investigation for retaining government records, some of which were marked as highly classified, at the resort in Palm Beach, Florida, his home after leaving office in January 2021.

The 100 documents represent a fraction of the more than 11,000 records and photographs seized, most of which the government said Trump may review because they are not classified.

"This motion is limited to … the seized classified records because those aspects of the order will cause the most immediate and serious harms to the government and the public," the department said in its court filing.

The prosecutors also asked the judge not to allow an independent arbiter, called a "special master," to review classified materials seized from Trump's property.

Trump, in a posting on his Truth Social platform, described the request as a waste of money.

The Justice Department on Thursday suggested there could be more classified records that were removed from the Trump White House that investigators have not yet located. This revelation comes about a week after the Justice Department released a detailed list of property seized from Trump's home which showed the FBI located 48 empty folders labeled as classified and another 42 which indicated they should be returned to a staff secretary or military aide.

Legal experts were perplexed as to why the folders were empty, and it was not clear whether records were missing.

"Without a stay, the government and the public will also suffer irreparable harm from the undue delay to the criminal investigation," prosecutors wrote.

"The injunction against using classified records in the criminal investigation could impede efforts to identify the existence of any additional classified records that are not being properly stored – which itself presents the potential for ongoing risk to national security," they added.

READY TO APPEAL

Prosecutors asked Cannon for a ruling by Sept. 15. If she denies their request, they intend to file an appeal to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where six of the 11 active judges are Trump appointees.

In an order on Thursday evening, Cannon gave Trump's lawyer's until Monday morning to respond to the government's request.

Cannon, also a Trump appointee, on Monday ordered prosecutors to pause reviewing the more than 11,000 recovered records while a special master is appointed to review the material.

The Justice Department said it will on Friday provide the court a list of possible special master candidates in a joint filing with Trump's attorneys, as Cannon has requested.

The Justice Department is also investigating possible obstruction of justice, after it uncovered evidence showing that records may have been removed or concealed from the FBI when it sent agents to Trump's home in June to try to recover all classified documents through a grand jury subpoena.

Cannon granted Trump's request for a special master, despite prosecutors' objections.

The judge said the special master will review documents not just covered by attorney-client privilege, but any records possibly covered by executive privilege as well. Executive privilege is a legal doctrine that can shield some presidential records from disclosure.

The Justice Department has challenged the logic of using executive privilege because Trump does not own the records and is no longer president. Cannon's reasoning has also been criticized by Democratic and Republican legal experts.

"No potential assertion of executive privilege could justify restricting the executive branch's review and use of the classified records at issue here," the Justice Department wrote in its Thursday filing.

In Cannon's Monday order, she allowed U.S. intelligence officials to review all of the seized materials as part of their ongoing national security damage assessment.

But the Justice Department said there is no way to wall off the criminal investigation and the national security review.

"The ongoing Intelligence Community classification review and assessment are closely interconnected with — and cannot be readily separated from — areas of inquiry of DOJ's and the FBI's ongoing criminal investigation," the prosecutors said.

Some legal experts on Thursday lauded the Justice Department's approach to Cannon's order, saying it carefully preserves its right to appeal broader concerns about a special master appointment, while at the same time asking Cannon for a much narrower solution for bigger concerns.

"I think the government has embarked on a shrewd tactical strategy," said David Laufman, an attorney who previously served as chief of the department's counterintelligence section.

He said the department's legal strategy takes "a scalpel" to Cannon's order by seeking immediate relief from its worst parts, while still preserving its right to appeal in the future.

"They are focusing on what is most critical and most time-sensitive, both with respect to protecting the national security interests of the United States and with conducting follow-up investigative action," he said.

Original Article

Michigan’s High Court Puts Abortion Question on Nov. Ballot

Michigan's High Court Puts Abortion Question on Nov. Ballot abortion defined in a dictionary (Dreamstime)

JOEY CAPPELLETTI, SARA BURNETT and ED WHITE Thursday, 08 September 2022 06:34 PM EDT

Voters will determine whether to place abortion rights in the Michigan Constitution, the state Supreme Court declared Thursday, settling the issue a day before the fall ballot must be completed.

Abortion rights would be guaranteed if the amendment passes on Nov. 8. A 1931 state law makes it a crime to perform most abortions, but the law was suspended in May and a judge this week followed up by striking it down as unconstitutional.

Though appeals of that decision are likely, the law would be trumped if voters approve the amendment in the fall election.

There are political implications beyond the ballot question.

Democrats say the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is mobilizing voters and will help Democratic candidates this fall, when top races including governor, secretary of state and attorney general are on the Michigan ballot. They point to conservative Kansas, where voters overwhelmingly defeated a measure that would have allowed the Republican-controlled Legislature to tighten restrictions or ban the procedure outright.

In Michigan, a state elections board on Aug. 31 deadlocked along party lines on whether the abortion initiative should appear on the ballot, with Republicans voting no and Democrats voting yes. The 2-2 tie meant the measure wasn’t certified for the ballot.

Supporters submitted more than 700,000 signatures, easily clearing the minimum threshold. But Republicans and abortion opponents argued the petitions had improper or no spacing between certain words and were confusing to voters.

“What a sad marker of the times,” Chief Justice Bridget McCormack said in a brief statement that accompanied the Supreme Court's 5-2 order.

McCormack said “there is no dispute” that every word was legible and in the correct order.

Republican members of the Board of State Canvassers “would disenfranchise millions of Michiganders not because they believe the many thousands of Michiganders who signed the proposal were confused by it, but because they think they have identified a technicality that allows them to do so, a game of gotcha gone very bad,” McCormack said.

The majority was made up of McCormack, three other Democratic justices and a Republican justice. Two Republicans dissented.

The court ordered the Board of State Canvassers, which meets again Friday, to sign off on the ballot question.

Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat who supports abortion rights, hailed the decision.

“Our state Constitution provides the people with direct access to the democratic process and that access should not be limited by appointed individuals acting beyond the scope of their duty,” Nessel said.

A group called Citizens to Support MI Women and Children said it will campaign against the amendment. Right to Life of Michigan also will be a major opponent.

“Current events continue showing us that any nation that sees the next generation as an existential threat — rather than an existential necessity — has no future,” Right to Life said on Facebook.

There was no immediate comment from Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is in favor of the ballot question and is seeking reelection. Her Republican opponent, Tudor Dixon, opposes abortion rights except to save the life of the mother.

Original Article

Michigan’s High Court Puts Abortion Question on Nov. Ballot

Michigan's High Court Puts Abortion Question on Nov. Ballot abortion defined in a dictionary (Dreamstime)

JOEY CAPPELLETTI, SARA BURNETT and ED WHITE Thursday, 08 September 2022 06:34 PM EDT

Voters will determine whether to place abortion rights in the Michigan Constitution, the state Supreme Court declared Thursday, settling the issue a day before the fall ballot must be completed.

Abortion rights would be guaranteed if the amendment passes on Nov. 8. A 1931 state law makes it a crime to perform most abortions, but the law was suspended in May and a judge this week followed up by striking it down as unconstitutional.

Though appeals of that decision are likely, the law would be trumped if voters approve the amendment in the fall election.

There are political implications beyond the ballot question.

Democrats say the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is mobilizing voters and will help Democratic candidates this fall, when top races including governor, secretary of state and attorney general are on the Michigan ballot. They point to conservative Kansas, where voters overwhelmingly defeated a measure that would have allowed the Republican-controlled Legislature to tighten restrictions or ban the procedure outright.

In Michigan, a state elections board on Aug. 31 deadlocked along party lines on whether the abortion initiative should appear on the ballot, with Republicans voting no and Democrats voting yes. The 2-2 tie meant the measure wasn’t certified for the ballot.

Supporters submitted more than 700,000 signatures, easily clearing the minimum threshold. But Republicans and abortion opponents argued the petitions had improper or no spacing between certain words and were confusing to voters.

“What a sad marker of the times,” Chief Justice Bridget McCormack said in a brief statement that accompanied the Supreme Court's 5-2 order.

McCormack said “there is no dispute” that every word was legible and in the correct order.

Republican members of the Board of State Canvassers “would disenfranchise millions of Michiganders not because they believe the many thousands of Michiganders who signed the proposal were confused by it, but because they think they have identified a technicality that allows them to do so, a game of gotcha gone very bad,” McCormack said.

The majority was made up of McCormack, three other Democratic justices and a Republican justice. Two Republicans dissented.

The court ordered the Board of State Canvassers, which meets again Friday, to sign off on the ballot question.

Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat who supports abortion rights, hailed the decision.

“Our state Constitution provides the people with direct access to the democratic process and that access should not be limited by appointed individuals acting beyond the scope of their duty,” Nessel said.

A group called Citizens to Support MI Women and Children said it will campaign against the amendment. Right to Life of Michigan also will be a major opponent.

“Current events continue showing us that any nation that sees the next generation as an existential threat — rather than an existential necessity — has no future,” Right to Life said on Facebook.

There was no immediate comment from Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is in favor of the ballot question and is seeking reelection. Her Republican opponent, Tudor Dixon, opposes abortion rights except to save the life of the mother.

Hillary Clinton: Mar-a-Lago documents should be taken seriously

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton escaped indictment July 5, 2016, in connection with her private email server. (Jeff Swensen / Getty Images)

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton escaped indictment July 5, 2016, in connection with her private email server. (Jeff Swensen / Getty Images)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 4:59 PM PT – Thursday, September 8, 2022

Hillary Clinton is taking heat for expressing concern over classified documents. On Wednesday’s episode of The View on ABC, Clinton said that the raid on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home should be taken very seriously. The former Secretary of State claimed to be “terrified” knowing a former President was in possession of such sensitive information.

However, The View co-hosts failed to ask Clinton about her use of a private email server during her tenure as Secretary of State.

“Apparently they’ve been moved around. It’s not like they were in a vault, they were in storage room where people go in and out, getting umbrellas for the pool or you know something else,” Clinton said. “So, I think that we have to wait (and) we have to have, I think, two minds about this. No one is above the law.”

During the interview, the former First Lady refused to say if President Donald J. Trump would be indicted.

MORE NEWS: DeSantis Fires Back At Newsom: Calif. Can’t Even Keep Power On

Original Article Oann

DeSantis fires back at Newsom: Calif. can’t even keep power on

A man in a suit looks thoughtful with his hand resting on his cheek, a blurred banner with "California Power" in the background.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis listens to a question during a press conference announcing expanded toll relief for Florida commuters, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, in Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis listens to a question during a press conference announcing expanded toll relief for Florida commuters, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, in Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 4:15 PM PT – Thursday, September 8, 2022

Governor Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) has fired back at his California counterpart Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.). During a press conference on Wednesday, DeSantis refuted the Democrat’s recent criticisms of Florida by saying that California “can not even keep the power on.”

This comes amid an energy crisis in the Golden State. The State is at risk of blackouts which Newsom blames on the summer heat wave. Earlier in the week, Newsom warned about the threat to California’s power grid. He urged residents to reduce their use of electricity.

“Californians, you’ve stepped up to help in a big way to keep the lights on so far,” Newsom said. “But we’re heading into the worst part of this heat wave. And the risk for outages is real and it’s immediate. These triple- digit temperatures throughout much of the are State are leading, not surprisingly, to record demand on the energy grid.”

DeSantis stressed that it was ridiculous that Newsom criticized Florida. The Republican added that the Sunshine State has always stood for freedom, especially during the COVID-19 crisis.

MORE NEWS: Trump: The Queen Leaves Behind A Remarkable Legacy

Original Article Oann

Queen Elizabeth II Met With 13 US Presidents

Queen Elizabeth II Met With 13 US Presidents Queen Elizabeth II Met With 13 US Presidents Queen Elizabeth II, then-President George W. Bush, and then-British Ambassador David Manning arrive at the British Embassy for a dinner hosted by the queen on May 8, 2007 in Washington, D.C. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

By Jack Gournell | Thursday, 08 September 2022 05:13 PM EDT

When Queen Elizabeth II died Thursday at age 96 as Great Britain's longest-reigning monarch, she had met with 13 U.S. presidents: one before she became queen, and only skipping Lyndon B. Johnson.

Her visits with American leaders began in 1951, a year before she ascended to the throne, when she and her husband, Prince Philip, met with President Harry S. Truman and his family at Blair House during a visit to Washington D.C., according to Yahoo News.

In 1957, now-Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip spent four days at the White House with President Dwight D. Eisenhower and first lady Mamie Eisenhower.

In 1961, it was time for an American president to visit the queen. That's when President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy visited her at Buckingham Palace. Elizabeth reportedly felt upstaged by Jackie Kennedy, but still had a friendly relationship with the family.

Though Elizabeth never met Johnson, her sister, Princess Margaret did meet him in 1965 during a famous White House dinner party at which Johnson said in a formal toast that he hoped the two countries' friendship would always remain so close. Later, in a not-so-formal toast, he advised Margaret's husband how to keep her happy: "First, let her think she is having her way. And second, let her have it!"

The queen did meet again with America's next president, Richard Nixon, when he and first lady Pat Nixon visited Great Britain in 1970.

She came back to American soil in 1976 for the U.S. Bicentennial celebration, dancing with President Gerald Ford.

The next year, the United States had a new president, and Jimmy Carter was part of a group of world leaders who arrived at Buckingham Palace for a summit dinner with the queen.

President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan visited the queen at Windsor Castle in 1982, and the president and queen rode horses. The Reagans invited the queen to their ranch, and she later visited.

In 1991, Elizabeth came to the White House where she and President George H.W. Bush planted a tree on the South Lawn. That tree was a replacement for one that had been planted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937 in honor of King George VI's coronation. He was the father of Queen Elizabeth II.

President Bill Clinton met the queen several times, including at a D-Day commemoration at the Guildhall in London. Clinton said of her in his memoir, "Her Majesty impressed me as someone who but for the circumstance of her birth, might have become a successful politician or diplomat. As it was, she had to be both, without quite seeming to be either."

President George W. Bush met Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace in 2003. She gave him a good-natured teasing for saying she had come to America in 1776 rather than 1976.

In 2016, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama had a private lunch at Windsor Castle with the queen and Prince Philip.

Elizabeth met President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump when they visited Buckingham Palace in 2019.

And President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden met the queen in 2021 at Windsor Castle during Biden's first foreign trip as president.

Original Article

Group of Hunter Biden Laptop Dissenters Now Leading DC-Based Spy Museum

Group of Hunter Biden Laptop Dissenters Now Leading DC-Based Spy Museum Hunter Biden Hunter Biden. (Getty Images)

By Jay Clemons | Thursday, 08 September 2022 05:02 PM EDT

The recent additions to the International Spy Museum's advisory board have a common thread, according to the Washington Examiner:

Each appointment involves an ex-intelligence official who dismissed the New York Post's October 2020 story on Hunter Biden's laptop as "Russian disinformation."

The Washington D.C.-based Spy Museum, which touts itself as "lifting the veil of secrecy on the hidden world of intelligence, exploring its successes and failures, challenges, and controversies," just added Jeremy Bash, Malcolm Nance, and Joanna Hiestand Mendez to the board.

Formerly a chief of staff at both the CIA and Department of Defense (DOD), Bash was recently hand-picked by President Joe Biden to join the President's Intelligence Advisory Board.

Regarding Hunter Biden's laptop, Bash said this on MSNBC for Oct. 19, 2020: "This looks like Russian intelligence. This walks like Russian intelligence. This talks like Russian intelligence."

Malcolm Nance, a former member of Navy intelligence, offered this insight on Twitter regarding Hunter Biden's laptop.

Shortly after, Nance posted this response, according to the Examiner:

"BAD SPYCRAFT ALERT: The 'laptop' (briefcase, safe, harddrive, purse, wallet, jacket pocket) full of accidentally abandoned 'secret' is an OLD KGB/FSB TECHNIQUE of PLANTING data to be 'suddenly discovered' just for a gullible newsmedia," wrote Nance.

Later on, Nance likened the Hunter Biden materials to "[Rudy] Giuliani/Russian Intelligence generated fake emails" in a separate tweet.

And Mendez, a founding board member of the Spy Museum, worked at the CIA for 27 years (1966-93), is also the former chief of disguise in the CIA's Office of Technical Service.

For her introductory video at the museum, actor Morgan Freeman reportedly handled the narration.

Among the other Spy Museum notables:

Mike Morelli, the former acting CIA director under former President Barack Obama.

Marc Polymeropoulos, a former senior operations officer at the CIA, told the National Review in 2020 that he and Morelli crafted the letter of intelligence officials denouncing the New York Post's Hunter Biden story as "Russian disinformation."

John McLaughlin's run as former deputy director of the CIA covered the George W. Bush administration.

Doug Wise, who spent 29 years in the CIA, was a former deputy director of the Defense Intelligence Agency under Obama.

And James Clapper, honorary board member at the Spy Museum, was Obama's former director of national intelligence.

Earlier this year, Clapper reasoned to the Post that "sounding such a cautionary note at the time was appropriate."

For what it's worth, the original Post story broke just three weeks before the 2020 presidential election, pitting Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump.

Original Article

DOJ Appeals Ruling That Called for Special Master in Trump Doc Probe

DOJ Appeals Ruling That Called for Special Master in Trump Doc Probe DOJ Appeals Ruling That Called for Special Master in Trump Doc Probe (Dreamstime)

Thursday, 08 September 2022 04:11 PM EDT

The Justice Department is appealing a judge’s decision to name an independent arbiter to review records seized by the FBI from former President Donald Trump’s Florida home.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on Monday granted the Trump team’s request for a so-called special master and temporarily blocked the Justice Department from using for investigative purposes the thousands of records taken from Mar-a-Lago during the Aug. 8 search.

That order has the likely impact of slowing the pace of the investigation into the presence of classified documents at the Florida property.

The Justice Department, which had strenuously opposed such an appointment, filed a notice of appeal Thursday, saying it was contesting the ruling to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Cannon, a Trump appointee, said the yet-to-be-named special master will be responsible for reviewing the records from Mar-a-Lago and segregating out those that are potentially protected by attorney-client privilege or executive privilege.

The Justice Department has been investigating what it says was the unlawful retention of national defense information at Mar-a-Lago as well as efforts to obstruct the probe. It is not clear whether Trump or anyone else will face charges.

The two sides were directed to submit proposed names of a special master by Friday. That role is often filled by a lawyer or former judge.

Original Article

DOJ Appeals Ruling That Called for Special Master in Trump Doc Probe

DOJ Appeals Ruling That Called for Special Master in Trump Doc Probe DOJ Appeals Ruling That Called for Special Master in Trump Doc Probe (Dreamstime)

Thursday, 08 September 2022 04:11 PM EDT

The Justice Department is appealing a judge’s decision to name an independent arbiter to review records seized by the FBI from former President Donald Trump’s Florida home.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on Monday granted the Trump team’s request for a so-called special master and temporarily blocked the Justice Department from using for investigative purposes the thousands of records taken from Mar-a-Lago during the Aug. 8 search.

That order has the likely impact of slowing the pace of the investigation into the presence of classified documents at the Florida property.

The Justice Department, which had strenuously opposed such an appointment, filed a notice of appeal Thursday, saying it was contesting the ruling to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Cannon, a Trump appointee, said the yet-to-be-named special master will be responsible for reviewing the records from Mar-a-Lago and segregating out those that are potentially protected by attorney-client privilege or executive privilege.

The Justice Department has been investigating what it says was the unlawful retention of national defense information at Mar-a-Lago as well as efforts to obstruct the probe. It is not clear whether Trump or anyone else will face charges.

The two sides were directed to submit proposed names of a special master by Friday. That role is often filled by a lawyer or former judge.

Letter: House GOP ‘Gravely Concerned’ About Marines’ Role in Biden Speech

Letter: House GOP 'Gravely Concerned' About Marines' Role in Biden Speech president joe biden and first lady jill biden walking between marines President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden emerge from Independence Hall between Marines before last week's speech in Philadelphia. (AP)

By Jay Clemons | Thursday, 08 September 2022 03:45 PM EDT

The fallout continues from President Joe Biden's controversial speech in Philadelphia last week in which he condemned "MAGA Republicans" as a threat to the republic.

On Thursday, the House Republicans informed the Department of Defense they were "gravely concerned" about President Biden's usage of the Marine Corps in the speech, saying the two Marines standing behind the president were "political props."

In the letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin — which was signed by House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., and Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif. — the Republican lawmakers wrote: "We are gravely concerned that throughout the entirety of this partisan, politically charged, and divisive address to the nation, two United States Marines were visibly present flanking the President in the background."

The letter continued: "The President's use of active-duty Marines as political props undermines the apolitical nature of our servicemembers and erodes trust in our military."

Also, the House Republicans asked Austin to respond to three particular questions, regarding the Pentagon's possible coordination with the White House.

Among the questions:

  • Did the Pentagon know the contents of Biden's speech before his appearance in Philadelphia?
  • Did the DOD know two active-duty service members would be involved in the TV presentation?
  • And if so, what guidance was given to the White House regarding their participation in the event?

"You've expressed your concern about politicization of the military and have insisted the military will not become a political instrument under your watch. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened with the participation of the Marines at this political event," the lawmakers wrote.

The Pentagon reportedly referred questions on the use of the Marines to the Biden administration.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended Biden's usage of the Marines last week, saying it was done out of respect for the Marines and their role in defending democracy.

"It is not abnormal. It is actually normal for presidents from either side of the aisle to give speeches in front of members of the military," said Jean-Pierre. "It is not an unusual sight or is not an unusual event to have happen."

Original Article

Harriet Hageman to Newsmax: Cheney Was Focused on Jan. 6, Not Wyoming

Harriet Hageman to Newsmax: Cheney Was Focused on Jan. 6, Not Wyoming (Newsmax/"National Report")

By Sandy Fitzgerald | Thursday, 08 September 2022 03:14 PM EDT

Much of the focus of the recent Wyoming GOP primary was on incumbent Rep. Liz Cheney, considering her role in the House Jan. 6 committee, and she concentrated more on that than she had in the election to keep her seat, nominee Harriet Hageman, the Trump-backed candidate who beat her, said on Newsmax Thursday.

"I understand that she's a Cheney and she was an incumbent," Hageman said on Newsmax's "National Report." "She's Dick Cheney's daughter. There's no doubt that that legacy has helped her with her name recognition and being elected to the seat in the first place, but in my view in a constitutional republic, which is what we are, we're mere representatives."

And as such, Hageman said the biggest contrast between her and Cheney was that while the incumbent was focusing on the Jan. 6 committee, or on things that are not important to Wyoming, "I was in Wyoming meeting with the people.

"I was talking about the issues such as inflation, the open border, the skyrocketing fuel costs. … I was talking to real people in Wyoming, not only about the problems but real solutions," said Hageman.

She added that as a constitutional attorney for more than 30 years, she has the "experience and background to go back to Congress and be effective for the people of Wyoming as well as people across the country."

However, said Hageman, too many of the nation's leaders only want to talk "about issues that are important to them" rather than what's important to the nation.

Hageman also discussed President Joe Biden's recent speeches, and said that despite his campaign promises to unite the nation, he's "never been a unifier."

"Anybody who's paid any attention to Joe Biden over the last 50 years knows that was rhetoric," she said. "That was political noise, and that was the media attempting to prop up someone incompetent, even at the time that he was running for the office."

And Biden's speech in Philadelphia, where he disparaged "MAGA" Republicans while standing in front of a dark red background was "stagecraft," she said. "It was purely about deflection and the problem is that the media and so many of the people in the public took the bait," said Hageman.

"They want to focus on Donald Trump because they can't focus on their record. The record of the Democrats has been an abysmal failure."

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Original Article

Levell: Trump Stood Up for You, Now Do the Same for Him

Levell: Trump Stood Up for You, Now Do the Same for Him former us president donald j trump

Former U.S. President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in support of Doug Mastriano for governor and Mehmet Oz for U.S. Senate at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania – Sept. 3, 2022. (Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images)

By Bruce Levell | Thursday, 08 September 2022 03:05 PM EDT

President Donald Trump’s red wave continues sweeping the nation.

Despite what the mainstream media tells you, the Trump endorsement is a significant political advantage. Many politicians benefited from his recognition and moral support.

Some candidates straight up begged and cried to receive it.

But, alas, the mainstream media continues to deceive.

The recent politically-motivated raid at the president's Palm Beach, Florida residence (Mar a Lago) seems to have spooked some of the people President Trump so graciously gave his approval to.

This writer, as a friend of President Trump, hates to see him (as well as his family) endure constant political attacks. Rest assured, this writer understands the word loyalty and will continue to speak out against corruption between federal agencies, politicians, and the mainstream media.

Unfortunately, some Team Trump newcomers have lapsed into radio silence.

Loyal members of the original team, like myself, know this is just another distraction organized by those seeking America's destruction.

There are questions for our new members to consider, specfically directed toward those who haven’t spoken up about Mr. Trump being targeted — yet again.

Does a sensational headline scare you that much?

Why would you start to believe the mainstream media now?

Do you genuinely believe in the America First agenda?

If you can’t stand up for President Trump now, how will you stand up to globalists and their radical liberal agenda?

Are you just another swamp creature only motivated by selfish gain?

President Trump has had to come to the rescue of many in the GOP.

Our nation's 45th commander in chief never complained about what he had to do for our country. Even people who had previously turned their back on him.

For example, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, had he not received Trump's endorsement, could have lost his seat to former Congressman Beto O'Rourke, D-Texas.

Or even Gov. Brian Kemp, R-Ga., who in short order denied President Trump.

Yet, Trump still came to save him during a contentious race.

Our team cannot allow the mainstream media to make us run for cover.

We must stand firm and unite against the psychological warfare and poison that the mainstream media spews. If the government had any real criminal evidence on President Trump, don’t you think he would have been arrested long ago?

The point is, when you receive Trump's endorsement, it's like joining a team.

And as a team, we have one common goal, to save America.

Perhaps certain team members remaining silent don't fully understand the word loyalty.

Call me old-school, but I believe loyalty is one of a person's most important attributes.

Loyalty is an unconditional quality. You're either consistently loyal, or you're not.

It's that simple.

Fidelity is certainly not a one-way street or engaged in only when it benefits you.

A winning team must act as a "we," not a singular "me."

When the going gets tough, weak people run, but loyal people remain.

Loyalists don't fade into the background or completely disappear.

They stand firm, act with courage, and do what's morally right.

In these times, we must bravely continue to fight to save America.

This means, we must call out corruption.

Nefarious forces are working against this mission, so we must always stand together courageously.Yes, the politico-media complex is a formidable opponent, but the truth is on our side.

Remember, President Trump has the support of over half of America.

He will prevail. Do not let the mainstream media's deceptive psychological tactics and fake spin make you lose your loyalty.

Remember, all of this is meant to scare the weak-willed and the easily deceived.

Hold on to the vision, hold the line. Stand up for the man who stood up for you.

Bruce LeVell is a longtime adviser and appointee to President Donald J. Trump, Former Trump Campaigns 2016 and 2020 senior adviser.

Original Article

Devin Nunes to Newsmax: Dems, DOJ, Media Working Together on Trump Leaks

Devin Nunes to Newsmax: Dems, DOJ, Media Working Together on Trump Leaks Devin Nunes (Getty Images)

By Jay Clemons | Thursday, 08 September 2022 03:00 PM EDT

Devin Nunes hasn't been shocked by any of the left-leaning media's coverage of the documents dispute between the Justice Department (DOJ) and former President Donald Trump.

That's because it's largely the "same play-call" from seven years ago, when the Democrats, law enforcement agencies, and media first worked together on the Russia Collusion "hoax," says Nunes, which included the "laughable" rumors of then-candidate Trump and a so-called pee tape.

"I don't think it's a [coincidence] at all. [The leaks are] actually quite planned," Nunes told Newsmax on on Thursday while appearing on "John Bachman Now."

"A lot of the conspiracies [the media] has chased around" — including the aforementioned pee-tape incident, allegedly involving Russia — "those were the top news agencies that did that for the better part of a couple years," says Nunes, even after the House Republicans "proved it was a hoax."

Nunes had a front-row street for the House chamber's Russia-collusion investigations. As a then-congressman representing the state of California, Nunes had insider access to the true reality, not just scurrilous rumors.

Back then, "you had the [Hillary] Clinton campaign working with the media to start investigations, and this [media leaking] has never stopped, even though it's been totally debunked," says Nunes, current CEO of the Trump Media and Technology Group.

Nunes says the various news drops coming from the Washington Post, New York Times, and TV outlets — largely quoting unnamed sources — are all designed to paint Trump in a negative light, and also help justify the FBI's Aug. 8 raid on the former president's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

However, if the federal government had something of actual substance against Trump, Nunes says that information would have already been leaked to the media.

"It's the same play-call that was used during the Russia hoax," says Nunes, of how law enforcement agencies and national media pull together for a common cause — supporting the Democrats. "If there were super-secret-type of nuclear documents [involving Trump], everyone would know" by now.

From Nunes' perspective, there's little distinction between the Obama and Biden administrations in how White House officials launch false narratives against political opponents.

"There's no truth to the [Mar-a-Lago] leaks; and I believe this is all about the Russia hoax," Nunes said. "The people at the top" are still looking for the Russia collusion documents.

"And I'm just happy the federal courts are looking into it. … We have an administration that has gone way out of bounds of their constitutional authority," says Nunes.

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Record Number of Migrants Die at Border in Biden’s First 2 Years

Record Number of Migrants Die at Border in Biden's First 2 Years Southern border in Texas Southern border along the Rio Grande River in Texas. (Dreamstime)

By Eric Mack | Thursday, 08 September 2022 01:54 PM EDT

A record number of migrants died at the border this year, 748 to date, a mark that surpassed the previous high set just last year by more than 200 victims, CNN reported.

The Department of Homeland Security data makes the Biden administration the deadliest one on the border for a president's first two years in office.

There have been 1,305 border deaths during the past two years under President Joe Biden. Former President Donald Trump had 581 total border migrant deaths in the 2017 and 2018 fiscal years, the fewest of any president's first two years since the data records began.

Trump's body count was dwarfed by the Biden administration in this year alone and almost surpassed by the previous record of 557 border migrant deaths in fiscal year 2021, which covered most of Biden's first year in office.

Biden's DHS data total almost doubles the previous most deadly border situation in the first two presidential years of former President Barack Obama, which saw 805 migrants die on the border in the 2008 and 2009 fiscal years.

Former President George W. Bush, who formed DHS after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, had 660 total migrant border deaths in 2001 and 2002, according to the DHS data that only goes back to 1998.

The 2022 totals will still rise, as the fiscal year ends Friday, Sept. 30.

Also, CNN reported, the death counts are likely higher because the dead bodies recovered by DHS are the only ones recorded. Other law enforcement agencies recovering deaths at the southern border do not figure in this data.

"Migrants, refugees, and entire families are using more distant and dangerous routes to come to the United States," Border Network for Human Rights Executive Director Fernando García told CNN.

Customs and Border Protection point to transnational human trafficking rings as being responsible for the deaths of migrants at the border. Experts have told Newsmax the Mexican cartels are emboldened and enriched financially by Biden's border policies.

"Transnational criminal organizations continue to recklessly endanger the lives of individuals they smuggle for their own financial gain with no regard for human life," CBP told CNN in a statement. "Smuggling organizations are abandoning migrants in remote and dangerous areas, leading to a rise in the number of rescues but also tragically a rise in the number of deaths.

"The terrain along the border is extreme, the summer heat is severe, and the miles of desert migrants must hike after crossing the border in many areas are unforgiving."

Gen. Flynn working to unite Christians & Conservatives

A man in a business suit with a blue tie walks through an ornate hallway, looking intently towards the camera.

General Michael Flynn in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harrer-Pool/Getty Images)

General Michael Flynn in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harrer-Pool/Getty Images)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 8:23 AM PT – Thursday, September 8, 2022

Former National Security adviser Gen. Michael Flynn is ramping up opposition to the Democrat agenda as part of his ReAwaken American Tour. A new report by the Associated Press found Flynn is building a new movement that will unite Christians and Conservatives in their fight against globalism and far-left ideas.

“There’s a spiritual war and there’s a political war,” he noted. “And they’re going on. They’re going on in this country right now.”

The movement is reportedly aligned with Donald Trump’s goal to Save America. Gen. Flynn said he’s fighting against Big Government tyranny, spearheaded by Democrats and their corporate allies.

“I am fighting for our constitutional rights and, you know, in a big way to save America, I guess.,” stated the former National Security adviser. “We’re gonna go, continue to go around this country and talk about election fraud. We’re going talk about COVID, this health tyranny that we’re facing and we’re going to push that message far up Washington D.C. we can.”

Flynn said every American must pay attention to politics right now because Democrats are aggressively pushing to change this country and that change is not for the better.

MORE NEWS: Hillary Clinton Confirms She Will Not Run For President In 2024

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Sen. Rubio: FBI ‘Trump leaks’ are political, influence narrative

A man in a suit, sitting at a desk with a microphone, looking intently during a discussion. A nameplate reading "Sen. Rubio" is visible in the foreground.

US Republican Senator from Florida Marco Rubio speaks during a hearing of the Senate Intelligence Select Committee on the threats to national security from China on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on August 4, 2021. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP) (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images)

US Republican Senator from Florida Marco Rubio speaks during a hearing of the Senate Intelligence Select Committee on the threats to national security from China on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on August 4, 2021. (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 8:06 AM PT – Thursday, September 8, 2022

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) says reports of “leaks” from the DOJ and FBI about documents seized from Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home appear to be a deliberate effort to influence US politics.

In an interview Wednesday, Rubio said the DOJ and FBI do not comment on ongoing investigations and they don’t usually leak any information. He stressed, if the probe into Trump were an unbiased investigation then the FBI would have consulted with lawmakers, but it didn’t.

“Why didn’t they come to the Gang of Eight or the Intelligence Committee heads and say, ‘we’ve got this major problem on our hands’?” asked the Florida lawmaker. “Instead, what we get is these constant leaks and the only reason to leak to the media is to influence the narrative. Which tells you this is being politicized, which is doing damage to the FBI, the Justice Department, to important institutions, to our country.”

Rubio also said if the FBI was concerned about any counter-intelligence risks related to Trump, it would notify Congress.

MORE NEWS: WH Press Secretary Asked About 2016 Stolen Election Tweets

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DOJ Investigating Trump’s Save America PAC Fundraising

DOJ Investigating Trump's Save America PAC Fundraising Donald Trump Former President Donald Trump (Getty Images)

By Eric Mack | Thursday, 08 September 2022 12:59 PM EDT

The Justice Department is looking into former President Donald Trump's fundraising for his GOP midterm candidates and potentially his own 2024 presidential campaign.

A federal grand jury has subpoenaed Save America PAC for information on its formation and spending, The New York Times and ABC News reported Thursday.

The subpoenas have targeted mid- and low-level aides Beau Harrison and William Russell, according to the reports.

Harrison and Russell representatives did not respond to the outlets' requests for comment.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., said at a June hearing of the House Jan. 6 Select Committee that Trump's campaign raised $250 million in a Trump-led GOP fight for election integrity after claims the 2020 presidential election was compromised by fraud.

Lofgren claimed it constituted a "big rip-off," adding "donors deserve to know where their funds are really going."

Trump has not mentioned these subpoenas — which ostensibly seek to find out how the recognized leader of the Republican Party is funding campaigns against Democrats — in recent Truth Social remarks.

But he did blast the "latest witch hunt" Tuesday by the media, Democrats, and Republicans In Name Only (RINOs), all seeking to stop his America First/Make America Great Again movement, saying he does things "by the book," perhaps a references to fundraising bookkeeping.

"The fake news mainstream media, Democrats, and RINOs are obsessed with pushing the latest Witch Hunt against me," Trump posted to Truth Social.

"All American patriots know that I always do everything 'by the book' and that this hoax will fail miserably just like the Russia, Russia, Russia Scam, Impeachment Hoax # 1, Impeachment Hoax #2, and all other attempts, perpetrated by the same people, to weaponize law enforcement against the 45th President, me."

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Herschel Walker to Newsmax: Warnock Should Put ‘Big Man Pants On’ and Debate

Herschel Walker to Newsmax: Warnock Should Put 'Big Man Pants On' and Debate Herschel Walker (Getty Images

By Sandy Fitzgerald | Thursday, 08 September 2022 12:44 PM EDT

Georgia GOP Senate candidate Herschel Walker laid down a challenge on Newsmax on Thursday to Sen. Raphael Warner to "put your big man pants on and show up" for a debate on Oct. 14 in Savannah, Georgia.

"Show up because I'm ready to debate you any time," Walker, a former NFL star and Heisman Trophy winner, said on Newsmax's "National Report," while rejecting claims by Warnock and the news media that he won't engage in a campaign debate.

"I've been saying that for weeks I've been ready to debate him, and you know they're raising a lot of money and telling a lot of lies, and I'm going to say they're telling bald-faced lies," Walker said. "I'm saying I want him to come to Savannah, Georgia, on October 14 and quit complaining."

Walker added that he's tired of Warnock "running away" and "hiding behind his Twitter account, hiding behind the news media saying that I don't want to debate him."

In the debate, Walker said, people will see the difference between him and Warnock, as the senator "represents" President Joe Biden while "I will represent Georgia."

Walker and Warnock are in a neck-and-neck race for Georgia's Senate seat, with Warnock just one point ahead of Walker in the polls, according to a RealClearPolitics average.

Walker, who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump, opened another attack on Warnock this week with a new advertisement, slamming him and Democrats for making comments on race.

In Walker's ad, he says that Warnock "believes America is a bad place full of racist people," but he does not agree.

"I believe we are a great country full of generous people," Walker said. "Warnock wants to divide us. I want to bring us together."

Walker told Newsmax Thursday that Biden is also a divider, as shown in his speech in Philadelphia a week ago.
"I'm running against Senator Warnock, who made a statement that America needs to apologize for whiteness," said Walker. "I believe that we've got to come together. We have a lot of good people in this country. We have a lot of good people in the state of Georgia and I'm about bringing people together.

"I remember the great saying, 'A house divided cannot stand.' And right now, it seems like this administration just wants to continue to divide and and I don't believe in that. I believe that we have to come together to get things done."

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Original Article

Biden Administration Rolls Back Trump ‘Public Charge’ Green Card Regulation

Biden Administration Rolls Back Trump 'Public Charge' Green Card Regulation migrants walking on a dusty road (Dreamstime)

By Charlie McCarthy | Thursday, 08 September 2022 11:59 AM EDT

The Biden administration announced it will ease regulations for low-income immigrants seeking to become permanent U.S. residents.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a rule, to take effect Dec. 23, that dictates when immigrants can be considered a "public charge," or an economic burden.

The rule rolls back regulations under the Trump administration, which began to consider supplemental public health benefits such as Medicaid and nutritional assistance as part of the public charge inadmissibility determination.

Under the rule, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) only will consider green card applicants a public charge if "they are likely at any time to become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence."

"This action ensures fair and humane treatment of legal immigrants and their U.S. citizen family members," Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas said in a DHS press release.

"Consistent with America's bedrock values, we will not penalize individuals for choosing to access the health benefits and other supplemental government services available to them."

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Ur M. Jaddou said the policy "treats all those we serve with fairness and respect."

"Though there is still much to do to overcome confusion and fear, we will continue to work to break down barriers in the immigration system, restore faith and trust with our immigrant communities, and eliminate excessive burdens in the application process," Jaddou said.

A noncitizen deemed likely to become a "public charge" can be denied admission or lawful permanent residence (green card).

Before 2019, almost all non-cash government benefits such as Medicaid or nutrition assistance were excluded from consideration. The Trump administration rule, which ultimately was vacated and no longer is in effect, resulted in a drop in enrollments in such programs among individuals, such as U.S. citizen children in mixed-status households, who are not subject to the public charge ground of inadmissibility.

The DHS said that publication of this rule in the Federal Register avoids these effects by formally codifying the historical understanding of the term.

The administration in February released a draft version of its public charge regulation, which received more than 10,000 public comments.

The Department of Health and Human Services also praised the changes, calling Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) essential services.

"People who qualify for Medicaid, CHIP, and other health programs should receive the care they need without fear of jeopardizing their immigration status," HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a release.

Original Article

Poll: Majority of Americans Support Maximum Age Limits for Elected Officials

Poll: Majority of Americans Support Maximum Age Limits for Elected Officials Poll Poll. (Dreamstime)

By Solange Reyner | Thursday, 08 September 2022 11:43 AM EDT

Seventy-three percent of U.S. voters say there should be maximum age limits for elected officials, according to a CBS News/YouGov poll released Thursday.

And 40% say the maximum age limit for elected officials should be 70, compared with 18% who say 80 and 26% who say 60.

Additionally, just 12% think having more older people in elected office would make politics better, compared with 47% who say young people, women (45%), racial minorities (41%) and LGBTQ people (32%).

The poll, conducted Aug. 29-31, also found:

  • 47% of U.S. voters say having young people in elected office would make politics better, while 42% say having older people in elected office would make politics worse.
  • Voters across the board favor maximum age limits for elected officials: 71% of Democrats, 75% of independents and 75% of Republicans and 74% of voters ages 65 and over, 75% of voters ages 45-64 and voters ages 30-44 and 68% of voters ages 18-29.

An analysis from the Congressional Research Service on the current members of Congress published in January found that the current group is the oldest on average of any Congress in at least the past 20 years.

A January YouGov survey noted that the average age of U.S. senators is 64, while 58 is the average of U.S. House members. President Joe Biden became the oldest president in U.S. history when he defeated Donald Trump in 2020.

The CBS News/YouGov poll published Thursday surveyed 2,085 U.S. adults. The margin of error is +/-2.6 percentage points.

Original Article