Texas Weekly Online

Texas-trans-white
Menu
Menu

Author:

DOJ denies collusion with Bragg’s office on Trump prosecution in new letter

DOJ denies collusion with Bragg’s office on Trump prosecution in new letter

The Justice Department is pushing back on allegations that it colluded with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in the prosecution of former President Trump, writing in a letter to the House Judiciary Committee that the claims are “conspiratorial speculation” and “completely baseless.”  Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte sent the letter, which was obtained by Fox News, to Committee Chairman Jim Jordan late Monday, less than two weeks after a jury found Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree.  “The Committee has demanded information from the Department because of what you describe as a ‘perception that the Justice Department is’ behind the District Attorney’s so-called ‘politicized prosecution’ and a ‘perception that the Biden Justice Department is politicized and weaponized’ to that end,” Uriarte wrote in response to an April 30 letter than Jordan sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland.  “The Department does not generally make extensive efforts to rebut conspiratorial speculation, including to avoid the risk of lending it credibility,” Uriarte added. “However, consistent with the Attorney General’s commitment to transparency, the Department has taken extraordinary steps to confirm what was already clear: there is no basis for these false claims.”  NEW DOCUMENTS SHOW BRAGG SPENT $1 MILLION ON ATTORNEYS TO ADDRESS HOUSE PROBE OF TRUMP CASE DURING CITY BUDGET CUTS  Jordan had written in April that “New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg is engaged in one such politicized prosecution, which is being led in part by Matthew B. Colangelo, a former senior Justice Department official.”   “Bragg hired Mr. Colangelo to ‘jump-start’ his office’s investigation of President Trump, reportedly due to Mr. Colangelo’s ‘history of taking on Donald J. Trump and his family business.’ Mr. Colangelo is now a lead prosecutor in President Trump’s trial,” Jordan said at the time, requesting certain communications from Colangelo and other Justice Department officials.  MANHATTAN DA ALVIN BRAGG AGREES TO TESTIFY IN HOUSE GOP PROBE, BUT NOT ON THEIR TIMETABLE  But Uriarte said the Justice Department conducted a “comprehensive search for email communications since January 20, 2021, through the date of the verdict, between any officials in Department leadership, including all political appointees in those offices, and the District Attorney’s office regarding any investigation or prosecution of the former President” — including through Colangelo’s email account — and “found none.”  “This is unsurprising,” Uriarte told Jordan. “The District Attorney’s office is a separate entity from the Department. The Department does not supervise the work of the District Attorney’s office, does not approve its charging decisions, and does not try its cases. The Department has no control over the District Attorney, just as the District Attorney has no control over the Department. The Committee knows this.”  Uriarte also said that the “self-justifying ‘perception’ asserted by the Committee is completely baseless” and that “accusations of wrongdoing made without — and in fact contrary to — evidence undermine confidence in the justice system and have contributed to increased threats of violence and attacks on career law enforcement officials and prosecutors.”   “Our extraordinary efforts to respond to your speculation should put it to rest,” he said.  Fox News’ David Spunt contributed to this report.

ICC prosecutor seeks evidence of war crimes in Sudan’s Darfur

ICC prosecutor seeks evidence of war crimes in Sudan’s Darfur

Karim Khan’s appeal comes after escalating violence in and around el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) chief prosecutor has appealed to witnesses to send evidence to aid an urgent investigation opened by his office into allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan’s Darfur region. Sudan has been mired in war since April last year when a rivalry between the leaders of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) exploded into violence. Four weeks of fighting in and around el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has killed more than 190 people and wounded 1,200, according to medical charity Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials MSF. “I am extremely concerned about allegations of widespread international crimes being committed in el-Fasher and its surrounding areas,” ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said in a video statement on Tuesday, adding that the investigation “seems to disclose an organised, systematic and a profound attack on human dignity”. His investigators had seen credible allegations of what looked like ethnically motivated attacks against the civilian population, widespread use of rape and attacks against hospitals, Khan said, calling for anyone with possible evidence, video or audio material to submit it to his office. #ICC Prosecutor @KarimKhanQC announces campaign calling for information and cooperation in relation to allegations of international crimes being committed in #Darfur, Sudan, including in Al Fasher. Info can be sent to #OTPLink:https://t.co/IYVUCvyWCA Watch 👇 pic.twitter.com/H1sMPGB8jP — Int’l Criminal Court (@IntlCrimCourt) June 11, 2024 Khan’s statement came days after an RSF attack forced the closure of a main hospital in el-Fasher on Sunday. The group fired shots and looted the hospital, MSF reported. Home to more than 1.8 million residents and displaced people, el-Fasher is the only state capital in the vast Darfur region not under RSF control and a key humanitarian hub for a region on the brink of famine. People in the city have called el-Fasher “hell on Earth, where they could lose their lives any day”, Toby Harward, the UN deputy humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, told Al Jazeera last month. Previous atrocities The ICC has long been investigating atrocities in Sudan, dating back to a previous devastating conflict in Darfur. The Hague-based court can prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and in some cases, the crime of aggression if committed on the territory of one of the court’s 124 member states or by nationals of ICC members. It can also have jurisdiction through a referral by the United Nations Security Council, as happened with Darfur in 2005. The court has issued arrest warrants for former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges including genocide allegedly committed in Darfur between 2003-2008. The RSF was born out of Arab militias, commonly known as Janjaweed, mobilised by al-Bashir against non-Arab tribes in Darfur. At the time, they were accused of mass killings, rapes and other atrocities. Khan referred back to the previous conflict in his message on Tuesday. “It is an outrage that we are allowing history to repeat itself once again in Darfur,” he said. “We cannot and we must not allow Darfur to become the world’s forgotten atrocity, once again.” Adblock test (Why?)

Taiwan arrests former Chinese navy captain over illegal speedboat arrival

Taiwan arrests former Chinese navy captain over illegal speedboat arrival

The Chinese man reportedly claimed he wished to defect, but Taiwanese officials suspect he could be probing defences. Authorities in Taiwan have said a Chinese man who was arrested on Sunday after entering a Taipei harbour illegally in a speedboat is a former navy captain who could have been on a military probe. The man was arrested by Taiwan’s coastguard after crossing the 160km (100-mile-wide) Taiwan Strait that separates the island state from China, and entering the mouth of the Tamsui River in his small craft. He told authorities that he wanted to defect. But officials say he may have been testing Taiwan’s response to his approach. The 60-year-old, who Taiwan said was an officer in China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy surnamed Ruan, is now under investigation and being questioned. Kuan Bi-ling, head of Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council (OAC), which runs the coastguard, told reporters at parliament that the man was “quite refined and well presented” and had previously served as a Chinese navy captain. Taiwan Defense Minister Wellington Koo, also speaking to reporters at parliament, said the boat incident could be another example of China’s “grey zone” tactics against the island. The phrase is used to refer to irregular tactics to evaluate an area without engaging in open combat and has included China sending boats and surveillance balloons over the island. Taiwan declared independence from China during a civil war in 1949. However, Beijing insists that the island is part of its territory. “These grey zone tactics have always existed,” Koo said. “We must always maintain our vigilance and cannot rule out the possibility of taking countermeasures.” According to Kuan of the OAC, there have been 18 similar cases to the one on Sunday over the past year or so, mostly involving islands under the control of Taiwan that are close to the Chinese coast. “Looking at the accumulated cases in the past, we can’t rule out that this is a test,” she said, referring to Taiwan’s abilities to spot such vessels. She said Taiwan plans to step up its security measures and that personnel managing radar operations and monitoring stations who failed to detect and stop the boat sooner will be held responsible for the incident. In March, two Taiwanese fishermen strayed into Chinese waters near the Kinmen islands, one of the territories close to the Chinese coast. One, a Taiwanese military officer, remains in detention in China, while the other was released soon after. The latest incident comes amid rising tensions between China and Taiwan, and amid concerns China could resort to military action in staking its claim over the island. Adblock test (Why?)

A brief history of presidential family members who were a political liability

A brief history of presidential family members who were a political liability

Scandal and crime have plagued the political landscape in the United States for generations, sometimes causing headaches for presidents whose own family members have proved themselves to be a political liability. From gun crimes, arrests for drunk driving, and investigations of alleged influence peddling, several past presidents have been bogged down by legal drama surrounding some of their closest family members. HUNTER BIDEN FOUND GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS IN GUN TRIAL Hunter Biden, the son of President Biden, was found guilty Tuesday on all charges in his historic criminal case focused on his purchase of a firearm in 2018. Though he pleaded not guilty in the case, Hunter Biden was found guilty of making a false statement to purchase a gun, making a false statement related to information required to be kept by a federally licensed gun dealer, and possession of a gun by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance. Hunter Biden’s trial lasted about six and a half days and included emotional testimony from members of his family, including daughter Naomi Biden, ex-wife Kathleen Buhle and sister-in-law turned girlfriend, Hallie Biden. Prosecutors worked to prove that Hunter Biden lied on a federal firearm form, known as ATF Form 4473, in October 2018 when he ticked a box labeled “No” when asked if he is an unlawful user of a firearm or addicted to controlled substances. Hunter Biden purchased the gun from a store called StarQuest Shooters & Survival Supply in Wilmington. President Biden has said he would not pardon his son.  Hunter Biden will return to court on Sept. 5 in California for a tax trial. Special Counsel David Weiss charged Hunter Biden with three felonies and six misdemeanors concerning $1.4 million in owed taxes that have since been paid. Weiss alleged a “four-year scheme” when the president’s son did not pay his federal income taxes from January 2017 to October 2020 while also filing false tax reports. HUNTER BIDEN TRIAL JUROR SAYS HE DIDN’T BUY DEFENSE’S 7-ELEVEN STORY Roger Clinton, the younger half-brother of former President Bill Clinton, has a history of making news headlines. Ahead of the 2016 Democratic National Convention, where Hillary Clinton was announced as the party’s nominee for president, Roger Clinton was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in California in June 2016. He was sentenced to three years probation and two days in jail. Prior to that, Roger Clinton was arrested in 2001 for drunk driving and disorderly conduct in California. Roger Clinton was also arrested in the 1980s for selling cocaine to an undercover officer during his brother’s tenure as the governor of Arkansas. The interaction was caught on camera, and he eventually pleaded guilty in that case before spending a year in prison after he was convicted in 1985. That crime, along with others, however, was erased from Roger Clinton’s criminal record when President Clinton pardoned him and many others on January 20, 2001, his last day in office. Through an investigation by congressional Republicans, the Washington Post reported in 2016 that it was “revealed that Roger gave Bill a list of people he thought should be pardoned, but that he had not been paid to make those recommendations (none of which were granted).” “The investigation did turn up information that Hillary Clinton’s brother Hugh had received $400,000 to lobby the president for some pardons – money that he eventually returned,” the outlet noted. SOCIAL MEDIA ERUPTS OVER HUNTER BIDEN GUILTY VERDICT: COVERS THE BIDEN FAMILY’S ‘REAL CRIMES’ Former President Jimmy Carter also had a brother who created political headaches for him during his tenure in the White House. Dubbed “Billygate,” a federally investigated scandal involving Billy Carter, the younger brother of President Carter, quickly drew the nation’s attention in the late 1970s. Billy Carter traveled to Libya in 1978 and 1979 and later registered as a foreign agent of the Libyan government and received what he said was a $220,000 loan. At the time, Libya was led by Col. Mu’ammar Qadhafi and was barred from arms sales. An investigation into alleged influence peddling took place. A Senate sub-committee was called “To Investigate Activities of Individuals Representing Interests of Foreign Governments (Billy Carter—Libya Investigation).” Ultimately, the committee found no evidence that Billy Carter, who died from cancer in 1988, had influenced U.S. policy. The committee’s report did say, however, that President Carter had been negligent by not dissociating himself from his brother’s activities ahead of the 1980 presidential election. Neil Bush, the fourth child of former President George H.W. Bush, was investigated for the failure of Silverado Banking, Savings and Loan Association, of which he served as director from 1985 to 1988. The U.S. Office of Thrift Supervision investigated the failure and said in April 1991 that Neil Bush engaged in conflicts of interest. Timothy Ryan, the director of the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS), said at the time that Neil Bush “engaged in unsafe or unsound practices and breaches of his fiduciary duties involving multiple conflicts of interest.” A formal complaint against Neil Bush claimed he put the institution at risk by voting on loans to one of his business partners and failed to disclose his ties to at least one other borrower. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) sued Neil Bush and 12 other former directors of the Denver-based Silverado in 1990 for $200 million, alleging “gross negligence” that contributed to the collapse. The FDIC alleged the directors and Neil Bush “repeatedly breached their duties” to the institution and depositors. Bush eventually settled the lawsuit out of court for $50,000. Fox News’ Emma Colton contributed to this report.

Ugly GOP primary comes to an end as swing state voters set to decide who will face tough Democrat incumbent

Ugly GOP primary comes to an end as swing state voters set to decide who will face tough Democrat incumbent

The brutal Republican primary in one major swing state is finally coming to an end as voters head to the polls Tuesday to determine which candidate will face off against what is expected to be a tough Democrat incumbent. Former U.S. Army Capt. Sam Brown and former President Trump official Dr. Jeffrey Gunter traded blow after blow in the weeks leading up to the Nevada primary as each sought to paint themselves as the true “America First” candidate in the race.  Both fought — publicly and privately — for former President Trump’s endorsement, a battle Brown, an Afghanistan war veteran who underwent a catastrophic injury while deployed in 2008, ultimately won with a last minute weigh-in by the presumptive Republican presidential nominee on Sunday. WATCH: TRUMP RALLYGOERS REVEAL WHO THEY WANT AS VICE PRESIDENT Gunter, however, hopes his “MAGA” messaging since the launch of his campaign last year, as well as his service to Trump as his ambassador to Iceland, will propel him to a surprise, come-from-behind victory. The winner will likely face the daunting task of taking on Democrat Sen. Jacky Rosen and the well-financed operation her party hopes will keep the Silver State firmly blue in a year when Republicans are expected to perform well across the country. Polling on the race has been sparse, with both Gunter and Brown each touting their own internal polls as evidence they hold the advantage. TRUMP RILES UP FIERY SWING STATE CROWD IN FIRST RALLY SINCE NEW YORK CONVICTION Gunter has largely funded his own campaign, but Brown has had the backing of national Republicans who see him as the best chance to flip the seat. That backing appears to be what ultimately pulled Trump to his corner, making him the widely viewed favorite to win the race. Brown also has the backing of Nevada’s popular Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, a figure who largely stays out of the spotlight and rarely weighs in such instances of increased national attention. Gunter has picked up his own set of high profile endorsements in the race, including Reps. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., as well as former Republican Congressman and New York gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin. Brown and Gunter are facing a crowded primary field that includes former state Rep. Jim Marchant and veteran Air Force pilot Tony Grady. Rosen faces no serious opposition in her primary. Democrats currently hold a slim 51-49 majority in the Senate, and the Nevada race is being viewed as a top flip opportunity for Republicans, along with races in West Virginia, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Maryland and Arizona. Polls in Nevada are open from 7:00 a.m. PT to 7:00 p.m. PT. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Democratic Party to reimburse WH for Jill Biden flights between Paris and Delaware for Hunter trial

Democratic Party to reimburse WH for Jill Biden flights between Paris and Delaware for Hunter trial

The Democratic Party is planning to reimburse for the first lady’s extensive transatlantic travel to attend her son’s trial — but the majority of costs will likely fall on taxpayers. First Lady Jill Biden has been traveling back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean as she tends to official duties in France while also appearing at the trial of her son, Hunter Biden. “In accordance with relevant regulations utilized across administrations, the government is reimbursed the value of a first-class fare for these flights to Wilmington and back to Paris,” the first lady’s office reportedly told DailyMail.com in a statement. JILL BIDEN LEAVES FRANCE FOR HUNTER’S DELAWARE TRIAL, RETURNS TO EUROPE A DAY LATER ON TAXPAYER’S DIME The Democratic National Committee will provide the funds to reimburse for the first lady’s flights, the Daily Mail reported.  Reimbursement rates for travel aboard White House planes are determined by Pentagon cost estimates. Jill Biden spent nearly 24 hours flying between France and Delaware last week, appearing at D-Day events in Normandy before attending courtroom proceedings for Hunter Biden. HUNTER BIDEN’S ATTORNEYS CONSIDER PUTTING HIM ON THE STAND IN GUN TRIAL; DECISION TO BE MADE OVER WEEKEND Hunter Biden is accused in his federal trial of lying about his drug addiction on a form he filled out to get a gun and illegally possessing a gun. He has pleaded not guilty. The modified Boeing 747s that serve as the iconic Air Force One cost about $200,000 per hour to fly and Air Force Two, often used by first ladies, can cost tens of thousands of dollars per hour.  The Democratic Party has asserted it will reimburse the White House for Jill Biden’s travel to and from the trial, but the costs of staffing and security will likely fall to the taxpayers. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Fox News Digital reached out to the White House press office for comment but did not receive a response. Fox News Digital’s Brie Stimson contributed to this report.