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Friday, July 28, 2023

Lawyers for Trump Meet with Special Counsel Jack Smith’s Team Before Potential Indictment

ABC: Lawyers for former President Donald Trump met Thursday morning with special counsel Jack Smith’s team as a potential indictment of the former president looms. Trump attorneys John Lauro and Todd Blanche met with Smith’s team following the receipt of a target letter alerting Trump he is a target of the special counsel’s investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Trump’s lawyers were there to make the case for why they believed Trump shouldn’t be indicted (ABC). Just the News: Members of the grand jury were seen going into the D.C. courthouse. They have been assembling on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Trump was indicted last month on 37 counts related to the handling of classified documents in another probe led by Smith. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. The former president said last week that the Justice Department said he is a target in the 2020 election probe, which is focusing on efforts to challenge President Biden’s win and the Jan. 6 Capitol riot (Just the News).

Special Counsel Jack Smith Tacks on Additional Charges Against Trump

For allegedly deleting footage from security cameras. Wall Street Journal: Special counsel Jack Smith on Thursday brought more charges against Donald Trump related to his retention of classified documents after he left the White House, alleging the former president and his aides sought to have surveillance footage deleted so it couldn’t be turned over to a grand jury. The new indictment also charges Carlos de Oliveira, a maintenance worker at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, making him the third defendant charged in the case. The new charges broaden a indictment brought by a Florida grand jury in June alleging the former president held on to sensitive military secrets he knew he shouldn’t have retained access to, shared them with others and directed his staff to help him evade authorities’ efforts to get them back. The June indictment charged Trump with 37 counts on seven different charges, including willful retention of national-defense information, withholding a record, false statements and conspiracy to obstruct (Wall Street Journal). NBC: The indictment lays out what federal authorities say was a scheme to obstruct the ongoing investigation. Trump was very focused on not allowing officials to get their hands on his boxes. Trump’s lawyer said that Trump later made a “plunking motion” to suggest that he take anything that was “really bad” out. Afterwards, prosecutors suggest, Trump was involved in an effort to delete security camera footage that would show how his employees had moved boxes of documents ahead of the FBI search (NBC).

Teammate of Lia Thomas at UPenn Testifies About Experience Swimming with Trans Athlete

Daily Caller: Former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Paula Scanlan explained how her school blamed and sought to reeducate female athletes who felt uncomfortable with biological male Lia Thomas’ participation on the women’s swim team (Daily Caller). Riley Gaines: Paula Scanlan, Lia Thomas’ teammate at UPenn, drops a BOMB on Congress. As a victim of previous sexual assault, having an intact & exposed man undressing inches away from her is traumatic in ways some could never understand. Our experience is not hypothetical & it’s not unique (Twitter). Townhall: WOMEN’S SPORTS ACTIVIST PAULA SCANLAN: “We were told that Lia swimming and being in our locker room was a non-negotiable, and we were offered psychological services to attempt to reeducate us to become comfortable with the idea of undressing in front of a male” (Twitter).

Chloe Cole Warns Against “Barbaric Pseudoscience” When Addressing Gender Transition Surgery

Daily Wire: Chloe Cole, a 19-year-old woman who was put through sex change procedures as a young teenager, told lawmakers Thursday on Capitol Hill that she was the victim of the “one of the biggest medical scandals” in American history. Cole made the comments during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on “The Dangers and Due Process Violations of ‘Gender-Affirming Care’ For Children.” Cole was one of the several witnesses, including a former teammate of transgender identifying swimmer Lia Thomas, who spoke about the dangers of gender ideology (Daily Wire). Daily Signal Reporter Mary Margaret Olohan: Incredibly powerful plea from detransitioner Chloe Cole to the lawmakers seated before her: “This needs to stop. You alone can stop it. Enough children have already been victimized by this barbaric pseudoscience.” “Please let me be your final warning” (Twitter). Chloe Cole: This is the message I want to send to all of the parents of children who have been victimized by this insidious gender ideology (Twitter). Activist Billboard Chris: It’s Chloe Cole’s birthday today, and she is on fire, testifying to the House Judiciary Committee on the dangers of child transition. Chloe Cole was given puberty blockers and testosterone at age 13, followed by a double mastectomy at 15. She’s now saving kids across the nation with her determination to stop this child abuse. Happy Birthday, Chloe (Twitter)!

Anheuser-Busch Lays Off Nearly 400 Corporate Employees

Wall Street Journal: Anheuser-Busch laid off hundreds of workers at its U.S. offices after months of slumping sales at Bud Light. The world’s largest brewer, which also sells Stella Artois and Budweiser, on Wednesday said the cuts would affect less than 2% of its roughly 18,000 U.S. workforce. The layoffs won’t impact front-line workers such as brewery and warehouse staff, the company said. Bud Light sales have tanked since April amid a commercial backlash over a promotion with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Earlier this summer, Mexican brand Modelo Especial dethroned Bud Light as the top-selling beer in the US (Wall Street Journal).

Biden Meets with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

Bloomberg: Meloni’s visit to the White House comes as she gears up for Italy to take over the presidency of the Group of Seven nations next year, and as she is navigating the delicate choreography of pivoting away from a controversial investment pact with China. The US and partners have proposed an alternative financing structure for major infrastructure projects that includes worker and environmental safeguards and private financing that Biden has argued is less onerous than that provided by Beijing (Bloomberg). PBS News Hour: Biden meets with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (Twitter). Townhall: Biden tells Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni: “I may be Irish, but I’m not stupid” (Twitter). Post Millennial: Biden tells Italian PM Giorgia Meloni: “I hope you will be nice to me” (Twitter).

Former Democrat Senator Suggests the GOP is Trying to Indict President Biden for “Loving His Son”

Julio Rosas: Former Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill (D) told MSNBC host Jen Psaki the only reason why Congressional Republicans’ growing call to impeach President Joe Biden is because he loves he drug-addicted son, Hunter (Townhall). Townhall: CLAIRE MCCASKILL TO JEN PSAKI: “They’re going to try to indict a father for loving his son, who has been addicted to drugs and/or alcohol” (Twitter).

Sen. Dianne Feinstein Prompted to “just say aye” During Vote in Awkward Moments

NBC: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., appeared confused during a vote on a defense appropriations bill Thursday, which prompted a fellow Democratic senator to step in. During a Senate Appropriations Committee markup of bills Thursday morning, Feinstein seemed to stumble on a vote. Instead of saying the expected response of “aye” or “nay,” Feinstein began delivering a speech expressing her support of the measure. About 15 seconds into Feinstein’s speech, an aide whispered in her ear. Committee chair Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., then told Feinstein: “Just say aye” (NBC). Citizen Free Press: 90-year-old Dianne Feinstein is told to “just say aye” at vote on the defense appropriations bill. Someone help her (Twitter).

Bronnie James Discharged from Hospital, Resting at Home Following Cardiac ArrestProsecutors Drop Campaign Finance Violations Against Sam Bankman-Fried

New York Post: Federal prosecutors are dropping campaign finance violation charges against alleged crypto crook Sam Bankman-Fried over a legal snafu in his extradition from the Bahamas to the US. The feds moved to dismiss one count of conspiracy to make unlawful campaign contributions against Bankman-Fried, 31, after the Caribbean country clarified that it “did not intent to extradite” him on that charge, according to a letter filed by prosecutors in Manhattan federal court late Wednesday. Under the US’ extradition treaty with the Bahamas, the island nation must consent to the charges against Bankman-Fried, a major donor in the 2022 midterm elections (New York Post). Collin Rugg: Get close with the Washington Uniparty and they will protect you every time. Shortly after the collapse of FTX last December, Bankman-Fried was charged with campaign finance violations as well as fraud. Now, SBF is getting away with it. Our ‘justice’ system is a fraud (Twitter).

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Bronnie James Discharged from Hospital, Resting at Home Following Cardiac Arrest

New York Post: Bronny James appears to have escaped a tragic outcome after suffering cardiac arrest earlier this week. James, an incoming freshman on USC’s basketball team and the oldest son of Lakers superstar LeBron James, suffered cardiac arrest while practicing on Monday. Cedars-Sinai Medical Group cardiologist Merije Chukumerije said in a statement Thursday that Bronny “has been discharged home, where he is resting” (New York Post). LeBron James: I want to thank the countless people sending my family love and prayers. We feel you and I’m so grateful. Everyone doing great. We have our family together, safe and healthy, and we feel your love. Will have more to say when we’re ready but I wanted to tell everyone how much your support has meant to all of us (Twitter).