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Democrats ‘fear’ this possible Trump VP pick who ‘could spell the end for Biden’: Insiders

Democrats ‘fear’ this possible Trump VP pick who ‘could spell the end for Biden’: Insiders

Editor’s note: This is the fifth in a series of profiles of potential running mates for presidential candidate Donald Trump on the 2024 Republican Party ticket The race to determine who will be Donald Trump’s running mate this November took a major step forward last week with the acceleration of vetting multiple potential candidates, but political insiders with deep knowledge of presidential campaigns say there is one possible name on the former president’s shortlist Democrats “fear” the most. Trump’s campaign recently entered the next phase of the running mate search by requesting documents from several prospective contenders, including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who has grown to be a staunch ally of the former president since running against him in the 2016 Republican presidential primaries. “Rubio is a familiar face who has become one of the strongest voices in the Senate for the America First agenda, is excellent on TV, and can blast Biden effectively for his failed policies,” one top GOP strategist told Fox News Digital.  INSIDERS PREDICT THIS POSSIBLE TRUMP VP PICK POSES ‘EXISTENTIAL THREAT’ TO KEY AREA OD BIDEN SUPPORT “Trump is doing very well with Latino voters and the addition of Rubio would only strengthen that, which could spell the end for Biden,” they said, adding that “Rubio would be a solid, safe pick, with a lot of upside.” GOP strategist Matt Wolking, who served as deputy communications director for Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign, described Rubio as “an effective, disciplined communicator who rarely makes mistakes.” He noted that Rubio was the only person under consideration who speaks another language, and that his ability to speak Spanish would help the Trump campaign reach Hispanic voters in many states where it could boost their competitiveness, including Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Virginia, New York, and Florida. “While demonstrating his ability to win a slightly higher percentage of White voters in 2022 than Trump did in Florida in 2020, he also appeals to the suburban and independent voters that will be key to Trump’s success, and is the only contender from a true battleground state,” Wolking said.  “Trump would balance out his ticket by picking Rubio for VP, which cannot be said for some of the other options. These reasons are why many Democrats fear the selection of Rubio the most,” he said, citing a May Vanity Fair article specifically noting some of those worries. INSIDERS PREDICT THIS ‘POWERHOUSE’ REPUBLICAN WOULD BRING MAJOR BOOST AS TRUMP VP PICK Wolking added that Rubio’s experience as a leader on the Senate Intelligence Committee would be “valuable” for Trump to “reign in rogue agencies.” A source close to Trump’s campaign echoed what the other two said of Rubio’s Latino heritage boosting the campaign’s ability to connect with Hispanic voters, but also pointed to what they said were a few downsides to Rubio’s potential selection. “I’m not sure he’s a 100% Trump guy. That’s the one thing I would say, that he has not always been enthusiastic about Trump. I think that’s the one area I would find could be a little troubling to the Trump faithful. That might be an issue,” the source said.  They were noting Rubio’s past criticism of Trump, including when he called him “reckless and dangerous” while running against him in 2016, and when he said the former president was responsible “for some of what happened” during the Jan. 6 protests at the U.S. Capitol.  “The other thing is the question of whether Rubio is the right person to carry the Republican colors in 2028 and beyond,” the source said. “I think he’s a good man. Don’t get me wrong. I think he’s been a great senator, and been very effective. I think he would be a more than adequate vice president, but it just gives me pause to think about him as a potential candidate, and whether he’s a Trump-faithful follower.” EXPERTS REVEAL MAJOR ‘DOWNSIDE’ TO POTENTIAL TRUMP VP PICK: ‘NO WOW FACTOR’ Wolking, however, said none of the downsides to Rubio’s selection were “particularly big ones,” but noted he tends “to be more hawkish than Trump when it comes to foreign policy.” He also mentioned concerns over the Constitution’s 12th Amendment, which prohibits electors voting for a president and vice president if they are inhabitants of the same state. Rubio and Trump are both residents of Florida.  “That would likely prove to be more a speedbump than a real obstacle to putting him on the ticket,” Wolking said. A source familiar with Rubio pointed Fox to the senator’s positive performance in states like Virginia and Minnesota during his 2016 primary campaign, suggesting his selection could boost Trump in states now being viewed as potential targets for Republicans. The source also pointed to Rubio’s legislative track-record, his debate performances during his two subsequent Senate re-elections since running for president, his ability to communicate, as well as his ability to “fire up a crowd” as all things that would make him a good addition to the Republican ticket. A number of other big names have also been floated to join Trump on the Republican ticket, including House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Ohio Sen. JD Vance and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. Trump has suggested he will likely wait until July’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee to name his pick. Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Beyoncé gave SCOTUS Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson concert tickets valued at nearly $4,000: report

Beyoncé gave SCOTUS Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson concert tickets valued at nearly ,000: report

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was gifted four concert tickets by pop superstar Beyoncé valued at $3,700, according to a financial disclosure.  The Biden appointee also disclosed a $900,000 advance for her upcoming memoir “Lovely One” out in September, and two gifts of artwork in her chambers worth $12,500.  The disclosures were part of an annual filing deadline for the justices, which all met except for Samuel Alito who asked for an extension, according to The Hill. The filing covered all of 2023.  JUSTICE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON RAISES EYEBROWS WITH COMMENT THAT FIRST AMENMENT ‘HAMSTRINGS’ GOVERNMENT While Jackson’s filing didn’t specify which concert she received the tickets for, it was during Beyoncé’s “Renaissance World Tour.” Vice President Kamala Harris also previously filed that she was gifted tickets by Beyoncé, valuing them at $3,300, according to CNBC.  Last year, Jackson, who was appointed to the court in 2022, also had a couple of eye-popping filings, including more than $6,500 in clothes from a photo shoot and a $1,200 flower display from Oprah Winfrey, according to The Hill.  MICHELLE OBAMA SAYS BEYONCE’S ‘COWBOY CARTER’ ALBUM IS A REMINDER TO VOTE Justice Clarence Thomas also amended his 2019 filing to reveal two trips to Indonesia and Sonoma County, California, that he said were paid for by Republican megadonor Harlan Crow after they were “inadvertently omitted” initially.  CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Justice Brett Kavanaugh also reported being paid $340,000 by Regnery Publishing company. The court confirmed Friday that he is writing a legal memoir. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Gun group vows to ‘defend’ Trump’s concealed carry license after conviction

Gun group vows to ‘defend’ Trump’s concealed carry license after conviction

A Second Amendment group is vowing to sue the New York Police Department in an effort to defend former President Donald Trump’s concealed carry license after his felony conviction in the hush money trial. The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb said in a press release on June 6 that the group is willing to “challenge the law” to defend Trump’s ownership of firearms. “If Donald Trump is further prosecuted for owning firearms,” Gottlieb said, “we will offer to defend him and challenge the law.” CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS FORM ARMED GROUP TO DEFEND AGAINST VIOLENT CRIME The group’s promise to take on the New York court system came despite the state’s law mandating that convicted felons are not allowed to have firearm permits. Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is a federal crime. SAF said that their organization’s position has always been that, “someone should not lose his or her gun rights due to a conviction of a non-violent crime.”  Trump’s concealed carry license was first revoked in April 2023 when he was indicted for the hush money trial in New York. NUMBER OF NEW GUN OWNERS SINCE 2020 ELECTION SURGED TO EQUAL POPULATION OF FLORIDA: REPORT Gottlieb said that the former president “should not lose his Second Amendment rights.” “Donald Trump has no history of violent crime,” Gottlieb explained. “Under the Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen ruling, which requires gun laws to have some analogous connection to historical regulation at the time the Founders wrote the Constitution and Bill of Rights, Mr. Trump should not lose his Second Amendment rights.” “There is no historical nexus to deny someone, including Trump, of their gun rights over such a conviction,” he said. The founder said that the NYPD’s preparation to revoke Trump’s gun license highlights the need for reform in gun rights legislation. “The attack on Trump’s gun rights emphasizes the need to revisit existing gun control laws and change them to protect an individual’s gun rights,” Gottlieb observed. “Until that happens, we will be more than happy to meet New York State or the federal government in court.” If SAF was to pursue a lawsuit against the NYPD, they have experience. Gottlieb said that the foundation has 60 cases currently in progress, and has won decisions that have landed in the U.S. Supreme Court. “Our motto is ‘Winning Gun Rights One Lawsuit at a Time,” Gottlieb stated. “That will include protecting and winning Donald Trump’s gun rights.” Fox News Digital has reached out to The Second Amendment Foundation and Trump’s campaign for comment

Merchan called out for warning about ‘troll’ comment suggesting Trump jury was compromised

Merchan called out for warning about ‘troll’ comment suggesting Trump jury was compromised

The judge presiding over former President Trump’s New York criminal trial is facing scrutiny for risking the credibility of his own jury after he sent a letter to the defense team about a comment posted to the court’s public Facebook page. It implied one of the jurors discussed the guilty verdict with family prior to the trial’s conclusion. The comment was made by a user who described himself as a “professional s— poster,” leading some to wonder why Merchan alerted Trump’s counsel without investigating the matter more thoroughly. In a letter Friday, Judge Juan Merchan told Trump defense attorneys and Manhattan prosecutors, “Today, the Court became aware of a comment that was posted on the Unified Court System’s public Facebook page and which I now bring to your attention. “In the comment, the user, ‘Michael Anderson,’ states: ’My cousin is a juror and says Trump is getting convicted! Thank you folks for all your hard work!!!!’” A comment by the same user on a different post said, “Thank you for all your hard [sic] against the MAGA crazies! My cousin is a juror on Trumps criminal case and they’re going to convict him tomorrow according to her.”  NY V. TRUMP: JUDGE REVEALS FACEBOOK POST IMPLYING JUROR DISCUSSED GUILTY VERDICT BEFORE TRIAL CONCLUDED When someone on Facedbook called out the illegality of jurors discussing a case before a verdict is reached, the user going by “Michael Anderson” posted that he and his cousin “Now are married.” Fox News has not verified the claims made in the comment or the identity of the user who published the post. But the claim made in the comment has a “relatively small” chance of being genuine, according to legal expert and Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley. “As I said when this story first broke, I remain skeptical. Accordingly, I was surprised by the court’s response before even the most rudimentary inquiry on the posting,” Turley, a constitutional law attorney, told Fox News Digital. “All of our sites, from Facebook to blogs, are subject to a constant deluge of trolls, bots and certifiably insane posters. “The odds that such a posting is a genuine account of a juror in this day and age is relatively small. You would have a higher likelihood of finding the key to the Dead Sea Scrolls on the graffiti left on the courthouse. That does not mean that it should not be investigated, but the mere appearance of such a posting is hardly cause for an all-hands-on-deck call from the court,” he added. Jurors were under strict orders from the judge not to discuss the case with anyone while the trial was ongoing. The comment, according to Merchan’s letter, came in response “to a routine UCS notice, posted on May 29, 2024, regarding oral arguments in the Fourth Department of the Appellate Division unrelated to this proceeding.” The Facebook profile for “Michael Anderson” has little publicly available information, but the user identifies as a “Transabled & professional s— poster.” A Trump campaign official told Fox News Digital on Friday evening the campaign was “investigating the matter.” Other legal experts also weighed in on the importance of maintaining the integrity of the jury process. “These are the types of things that result in mistrials,” Mountain States Legal Foundation attorney William Trachman told Fox News Digital. “And this doesn’t need to be about politics. It can be about justice.” The allegations against the juror, if they were true, would throw the “whole verdict into question,” Trachman added. TRUMP ATTORNEYS REQUEST MERCHAN LIFT GAG ORDER AHEAD OF PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE, FOLLOWING END OF TRIAL “Anytime you have a juror who’s talking about what they are going to do — especially in the future, like, ‘We’re going to do this thing tomorrow’ – that’s a really grave issue with a jury,” he added. “If this is true, it absolutely throws the whole verdict into question.” Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Fox News Digital Friday that while jury deliberations are “sacred,” a mistrial could result if “outside influences are brought in.” “Jury deliberations are sacred, and the defense usually can’t use juror discussions as a basis for a new trial or to appeal, even if the jurors misunderstood the facts or the law. One exception, however, is if outside influences are brought into the jury deliberation room,” he said. Rahmani said, in the event of a mistrial, Trump’s defense team must prove “both an improper outside influence and prejudice.” “The burden for a new trial is high, though,” he said. “The defense must show both an improper outside influence and prejudice. Prejudice means the outcome may have been different. “A stray comment on social media is not enough for a new trial.” William Jacobson, a Cornell Law School clinical professor and the founder of the Equal Protection Project, told Fox News Digital it’s important “to take this seriously but not get ahead of the facts.” “Given how important this was for a potential presidential election, I would think if a juror was doing the things that were alleged, it is very likely that the judge would have no choice but to overturn the verdict,” he said. Al Baker, state OCA spokesperson, said Friday that “as appropriate, the court informed the parties once it learned of this online content.” The comment was posted one day before Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. Trump had pleaded not guilty to all charges.  The six-week trial stemmed from charges brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.  Fox News’ Brooke Singman contributed to this report.

Jill Biden leaves France for Hunter’s Delaware trial, returns to Europe a day later on taxpayer’s dime

Jill Biden leaves France for Hunter’s Delaware trial, returns to Europe a day later on taxpayer’s dime

First lady Jill Biden flew from France to Delaware for one day on Friday to support stepson Hunter Biden in his trial before returning to Europe for the president’s state visit with the French president — all at U.S. taxpayer expense. The 73-year-old accompanied President Biden to Normandy this week to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day on Thursday, before she flew back stateside for Hunter’s gun trial.  The first lady was back in France on Saturday for a state visit with Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron.  On Friday, Biden and Macron met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris. 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.  HUNTER BIDEN GUN CRIME TRIAL REVEALS MORE EVIDENCE OF ADDICTION AS BEAU’S WIDOW TESTIFIES The first lady has attended the trial every day this week except Thursday.   In a 2022 interview, the first lady referred to herself as Hunter’s “mom” while speaking about his investigation.  “I mean, I have to support him and love him, and, you know, I’m constantly talking to him, sending him texts; ‘How you doing?’ Because it’s tough,” she said, according to The New York Times.  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.  Prosecutors on Friday rested their case accusing Hunter Biden of lying when he swore that he was not a drug user on a federal form to buy a gun in October 2018. The defense could call at least one more witness when the trial resumes on Monday before lawyers make their closing arguments. Biden has pleaded not guilty  CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The president is not expected to attend his son’s trial.  The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. The Associated Press contributed to this report.