Riley Moore tromps opponents in heated West Virginia Republican House primary
West Virginia state Treasurer Riley Moore has easily won a heated Republican primary in his home state and will likely be headed to Congress following the November general election. Moore led the closest of his four opponents by a margin of more than 25 points when the Associated Press called the race. Former Air Force Brig. Gen. Chris “Mookie” Walker, who had been considered Moore’s most competitive challenger, trailed in a surprising third place. Both campaigns spent roughly the same amount of money on the race. DC MAYOR RIPPED FOR PRIVATE JET FLIGHT TO GOLF TOURNAMENT WHILE CRIME PERSISTS, APPROVAL RATINGS NOSEDIVE The primary devolved into a contentious mudslinging contest between the Moore and Walker campaigns. Moore’s victory means he will likely be the next member of Congress to represent the state’s 2nd Congressional District, considering election analysts rate the race as either “solid” or “safe” Republican. Moore comes from a West Virginia family with a legacy of holding public office, including his grandfather, who served as the state’s governor, and his aunt, Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito. He was first elected to office in November 2016 as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates and later as state treasurer in the 2020 election. Moore spent his time in office as a staunch opponent of “woke” environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing standards, which critics say allocate investment funds based on political agendas, such as combating climate change. And he ran as a proponent of America First policies. He was also an early supporter of former President Trump’s current bid for the White House, endorsing him in February 2023. Moore will face Democratic nominee and Navy veteran Steven Wendelin in November. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Blinken, guitar in hand, sings ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’ in Kyiv bar during Ukraine trip
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday took the stage at a bar in Ukraine’s capital to play guitar and sing Neil Young’s 1989 hit “Rockin’ in the Free World” with a local band. The jam session came a day after Blinken spent a day meeting with senior officials, civil society figures and university students when he exhorted them against being discouraged in their ongoing fight against Russia. Blinken assured Ukrainians on his visit that they are not alone and that billions of dollars in American military aid on its way after months of political delays will make a “real difference” on the battlefield. The performance, and a series of sunny comments from Blinken about Ukraine’s battlefield prospects, was a startling juxtaposition to what analysts have called one of the most dangerous moments for Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. US TREASURY PUTS SANCTIONS ON 1 RUSSIAN MAN, 3 COMPANIES FOR ATTEMPTING TO EVADE SANCTIONS Russian forces have taken swaths of territory along Ukraine’s northeast border, and thousands of civilians in the Kharkiv region have fled the increasingly intense attacks. BLINKEN MAKES UNANNOUNCED DIPLOMATIC TRIP TO UKRAINE AFTER CONGRESS APPROVES $60B IN MILITARY AID Blinken told Ukrainian leaders during his visit to Kyiv that despite a lengthy delay in U.S. military aid that left them vulnerable to these renewed Russian military strikes, more weaponry is coming and some has already arrived. He made the case even as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to him personally for more air defense systems to protect civilians under intense Russian fire in the northeast. Blinken, on his fourth trip to Kyiv since the war began, also lambasted Russian President Vladimir Putin for underestimating Ukraine’s determination to fight back. Despite his assurances, Moscow’s troops have captured around 40 to 50 square miles in recent days in the northeast Kharkiv region, including at least seven villages, according to open-source monitoring analysts. “We know this is a challenging time,” Blinken told Zelenskyy after arriving on an overnight train from Poland. But, he added that U.S. military aid is “going to make a real difference against the ongoing Russian aggression on the battlefield.” Congress approved a long-delayed foreign assistance package last month that sets aside $60 billion in aid for Ukraine, much of which will go toward replenishing badly depleted artillery and air defense systems. Since then, the Biden administration has announced $1.4 billion in short-term military assistance and $6 billion in longer-term support. Zelenskyy thanked Blinken for the aid but said more is necessary, including two Patriot air defense systems urgently needed to protect Kharkiv. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Larry Hogan wins Republican Senate primary in Maryland; GOP aims to flip Democratic-held seat
It’s on to the general election for Larry Hogan after the former two-term Republican governor was quickly declared the winner of the GOP Senate primary in blue-state Maryland. The Associated Press projected Hogan would win the nomination just over 30 minutes after the polls closed in Maryland at 8 p.m. ET. He now advances to a general election showdown that may decide whether the Republicans win back the Senate majority in November. The general election winner will succeed retiring longtime Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin. With Democrats hoping to protect their fragile Senate majority, Hogan’s late entry into the race in February gave them an unexpected headache in a state previously considered safe territory. Hogan, who left office at the beginning of 2023 with positive approval and favorable ratings, was considered the overwhelming favorite for the GOP nomination in a field that included roughly half a dozen candidates. CONTENTIOUS PRIMARIES IN THREE STATES SET UP CRUCIAL GENERAL ELECTION SHOWDOWNS Hogan will face off in November against either three-term Rep. David Trone, one of the wealthiest members of Congress, or Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, who steers Maryland’s second-most populous county. Trone and Alsobrooks were the clear frontrunners in a crowded Democratic primary race that turned into a combustible fight over whether electability outweighs diversity. WHY SENATE GOP CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE CHAIR IS CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WINNING BACK MAJORITY Trone, the co-founder and co-owner of Total Wine and More, invested more than $50 million of his own money in his primary campaign. “The polls say I’m the only candidate who can beat Larry Hogan. And I intend to use every ounce of my energy to do just that. The stakes are just too damn high,” he said in one of his final ads. While Trone massively outspent Alsobrooks, she enjoyed the backing of much of the state’s Democratic establishment, including endorsements from Gov. Wes Moore, Sen. Chris Van Hollen and five House members. Alsobrooks, pushing back in a recent ad on insinuations from Trone that she’s not experienced enough to handle the Senate, argued that “while my opponent focuses on fighting, I’ll focus on working for you.” While Democrats control the Senate by a razor-thin 51-49 margin, Republicans are looking at a favorable election map this year with Democrats defending 23 of the 34 seats up for grabs. Three of those seats are in red states that former President Trump carried in 2020 — Ohio, Montana and West Virginia, where Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin is not running for re-election. Five more are in crucial general election battleground states. Now Democrats will be forced to spend time and resources defending the open Senate seat in Maryland. Hogan, a successful business leader before entering politics, won the governorship in 2014 and was re-elected to a second term in 2018. But he faces a steep uphill climb as he runs for the Senate during a presidential election year in the overwhelmingly blue state. While the GOP has had success in gubernatorial elections, no Republican has won a Senate election in Maryland in nearly four decades. “It’s much more difficult effort than anything I’ve done before. It’s almost never happened,” the 67-year-old Hogan acknowledged in an interview with Fox News’ Mark Meredith. “I’m an underdog. No question about that. And that’s why we’re working hard.” The Senate Democrats’ campaign committee is spotlighting that if elected, Hogan would caucus with Republicans and that his victory could give the majority in the chamber to the GOP. “Marylanders know that a vote for Republican Larry Hogan is a vote to turn the Senate over to Republicans so they can pass a national abortion ban and push forward Republicans’ extreme policies. That’s a disqualifying agenda for Maryland voters. Democrats have won every statewide federal election in Maryland for the past 40 years, and 2024 will be no different,” Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesperson Amanda Sherman Baity told Fox News in a statement. Hogan, a vocal critic of former Preisdent Trump, mulled a run for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination and made numerous trips in 2022 to New Hampshire, the state that holds the first primary in the GOP nominating calendar. But in March of last year, Hogan announced he wouldn’t seek his party’s nomination. During his last year as governor, Republican leaders in the nation’s capital and in Maryland heavily courted Hogan to run for the Senate in the 2022 midterm elections. But Hogan declined, saying in a news conference in February that year that “as I have repeatedly said, I don’t aspire to be a United States senator.” Fast-forward two years and Hogan changed his mind after another full-court press by national Republican leaders. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice wins Senate GOP primary
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice sailed to victory in the state’s Senate Republican primary on Tuesday evening, boosting the GOP’s already-high hopes of flipping the critical seat. Justice had been the favorite to win ever since he entered the race last year. He beat out a crowded primary field that included House Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W. Va., Justice’s leading opponent, who is a member of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus. Mooney had consistently sought to paint Justice as a “RINO,” or a “Republican In Name Only.” But it appears that Justice’s popularity in the state and pivot to the right were enough to overwhelm attacks against his credibility in the GOP. WHY SENATE GOP CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE CHAIR IS CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WINNING BACK MAJORITY Justice is a former Democrat who announced he was switching party affiliations on stage during a rally with former President Trump in 2017. Trump announced in October that he was backing Justice, writing on Truth Social, “Big Jim Justice, the Governor of the Great State of West Virginia (I LOVE WEST VIRGINIA!), is BIG in every way, but especially in his wonderful HEART! Strong on the Border, our Great Military & Vets, CLEAN COAL & Energy Dominance, the Economy, Stopping Inflation, & Protecting our 2nd Amendment, Big Jim will be a Great UNITED STATES SENATOR, and has my Complete & Total Endorsement. HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!!!” THIS SENATE CANDIDATE CAUGHT ON CAMERA SCREAMING AT REPORTER The ex-president swept West Virginia by roughly 40 points in the 2020 presidential election. Justice’s victory on Tuesday night also gives Republicans good odds of winning the state’s Senate seat in November, particularly because of Sen. Joe Manchin’s decision not to seek re-election. Manchin, D-W.Va., a moderate Democrat who’s fended off past challenges in an increasingly red state, revealed in November 2023 that this Senate term would be his last. TRUMP EDGES BIDEN IN THESE KEY BATTLEGROUND STATES Justice had said in response to Manchin’s announcement, “Senator Joe Manchin and I have not always agreed on policy and politics, but we’re both lifelong West Virginians who love this state beyond belief, and I respect and thank him for his many years of public service.” Mooney had been endorsed by the conservative group Club For Growth. In addition to Trump, Justice’s backers included the Senate GOP’s campaign arm, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), and the Senate Leadership Fund, an outside group linked to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
Biden moving forward on $1B in weapons for Israel after previous shipment paused over Rafah concerns: report
The Biden administration is reportedly moving forward with a plan to send Israel $1 billion worth of weapons after the White House briefly paused a shipment last week over concerns about Israel’s planned ground invasion of Rafah. The weapons package, according to the Wall Street Journal, will include $700 million in tank ammunition, $500 million in tactical vehicles and $60 million in mortar rounds. REPORTS OF BIDEN WHITE HOUSE KEEPING ‘SENSITIVE’ HAMAS INTEL FROM ISRAEL DRAWS OUTRAGE Israel has portrayed Rafah as the last stronghold of Hamas, brushing off warnings from the United States and other allies that any major operation there would be catastrophic for civilians. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Vermont Legislature passes one of the strongest data privacy measures in the country
The Democrat-controlled Vermont legislature has passed one of the strongest data privacy measures in the country aimed at cracking down on companies’ use of online personal data, which would let consumers file civil lawsuits against companies that break certain privacy rules. However, Republican Gov. Phil Scott has concerns about how part of the legislation could affect small businesses. He hasn’t seen the final bill that passed early Saturday before the Legislature adjourned. He will make a decision once he’s had a chance to review it, his spokesperson Jason Maulucci said Tuesday. VERMONT LEGISLATURE ADVANCING BILL TO REQUIRE FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES TO COVER DAMAGES FOLLOWING EXTREME WEATHER The bill prohibits the sale of sensitive data, such as social security and drivers’ license numbers, financial or health information. It also sets meaningful limits on the amount of personal data that companies can collect and use, according to the nonprofit Electronic Privacy Information Center based in Washington, D.C. More than a dozen states have comprehensive data privacy laws. Vermont’s is “among the strongest, if not the strongest” in the country, said Caitriona Fitzgerald, deputy director of EPIC. State Rep. Monique Priestley, a Democrat and a sponsor of the bill, told colleagues Friday night that without thoughtful and comprehensive measures, gaps can be exploited, undermining the protections legislators were seeking. “At a time when everything we do and everything we are is monetized in a surveillance economy, the urgency of this moment cannot be overstated,” she said, according to EPIC. A big step in the legislation is allowing consumers to sue, which Fitzgerald said has been the most effective way to ensure that companies comply with privacy laws. State attorneys general do not have the resources to enforce these privacy regulations, Fitzgerald said. If there is a violation and a person wants to sue, the company has 60 days to remedy that problem, Priestley said Tuesday. The governor has been concerned about the private right of action and what it could mean for Vermont small businesses and “mom and pop” shops, his spokesperson said. The Vermont Chamber of Commerce said Tuesday that it shares the governor’s concerns. “Ultimately this will make it harder and more expensive for Vermont businesses to compete,” said Megan Sullivan, vice president for government affairs, by email Tuesday. Legislators decided to limit that action to violations by data brokers, which are companies that make a majority of their revenue selling data, as well as large data holders, which are companies processing data from 100,000 Vermonters or more a year, Priestley said. “The biggest feedback we were getting is that this would catch small businesses before they’re ready basically. We haven’t had any data privacy policies in place, so they really need to learn what good data standards,” she said. “But the big companies, they already know.” The bill also includes parts of previous legislation aimed at protecting children. “What’s left is really a product and safety liability bill as far as minimizing addictive features and things like that,” Priestley said. The passage of Vermont’s legislation came the week after Maryland’s governor signed two measures into law aimed at better protecting personal data online from Big Tech, including a bill to try to create limits on information collected on children. The other Maryland law will create consumer protections and rights as well as disclosure obligations relating to online personal data controlled or processed by certain entities that conduct business in Maryland or provide services or products that are targeted to residents of the state. Much of Vermont’s bill, if signed by the governor, would go into effect in 2025. The ability for consumers to sue wouldn’t take effect until 2026 and would sunset in 2028, with a study to look at its effectiveness and risks, Priestley said.
Dems claim Katie Britt’s new bill would create a ‘database of pregnant women’
Shortly after it was introduced, Democrats quickly condemned a new Republican bill that aims to compile resources on a government website for expecting mothers, postpartum women and young mothers. They alleged that it was a covert attempt to establish a “database of pregnant women,” potentially enabling the government to block access to abortions. The More Opportunities for Moms to Succeed Act, which was shortened to the MOMS Act, was introduced by Sen. Katie Britt, the Alabama Republican who made headlines for her response to the State of the Union speech earlier this year. The MOMS Act would establish a government-run website, pregnancy.gov, intended to be a go-to resource for mothers and pregnant women as they seek support through the various stages of both pregnancy and early motherhood. There is currently a government website for abortion resources, ReproductiveRights.gov. The site routes women to AbortionFinder.org, telling visitors that it can assist with obtaining “abortion funds.” The site provides information on rights to abortions, where to find legal help, and points them towards the Justice Department’s Reproductive Rights Task Force. DEMS PUSH BIDEN TO ACT ON FOOD PRICES WITH INFLATION RANKING AS TOP ISSUE AHEAD OF ELECTION Pregnancy.gov would be “a clearinghouse of relevant resources available for pregnant and postpartum women, and women parenting young children,” per the bill. The site would ask for a woman’s zip code in order to find local resources and populate them for her. It would additionally include “a mechanism for users to take an assessment through the website and provide consent to use the user’s contact information, which the [Department of Health and Human Services secretary] may use to conduct outreach via phone or email to follow up with users on additional resources that would be helpful for the users to review.” Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison slammed the proposal, writing on X, formerly Twitter, “So she creates a database of pregnant women, so Trump then knows who to prosecute if any of those women get an abortion.” “Yet another example of why this election is fundamental to protecting your liberty & freedoms!” he added. BIDEN TORCHED BY REPUBLICANS FOR TOUGHER IMMIGRATION RULE AHEAD OF NOVEMBER ELECTION Democratic lawmakers echoed the claim made by the DNC chairman. Senate President Pro Tempore Patty Murray, D-Wash., wrote on X that the measure is “a dystopian proposal to track, intimidate, & coerce pregnant women into carrying their pregnancies to term, no matter their circumstances.” “It is a dangerous roadmap for how the GOP would weaponize the government to control women’s bodies,” she alleged. Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., attacked the bill as “horrific,” also claiming, “Rs are already escalating their authoritarian repression of reproductive freedom—calling for a pregnancy database and funding for anti-abortion centers,” referencing the crisis pregnancy centers that could be eligible for grants under the measure. Crisis pregnancy centers are organizations that usually provide emotional and financial support to women, among other things. The centers are known for encouraging women to seek out non-abortion alternatives and often providing support for women to do so. Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, piled on, lobbing the same claim and calling the bill “hypocritical,” since many Republicans oppose “a national firearm registry.” DEMS PLAN TO REVIVE BORDER BILL REJECTED BY REPUBLICANS AHEAD OF NOVEMBER ELECTION Britt hit back at the critics, telling Fox News Digital in a statement, “The desperate Democrat smear campaign against the MOMS Act is shameful but not surprising.” “Instead of being a part of a commonsense solution that would help vulnerable women, children, and families, some on the left would apparently rather fearmonger and spread intentionally false disinformation in a blindly partisan attempt to demonize their political opponents,” she said. The proposed legislation is co-sponsored by Sens. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., Steve Daines, R-Mont., Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., Jerry Moran, R-Kan., Thom Tillis, R-N.C., Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Mike Rounds, R-S.D., Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and James Lankford, R-Okla. A review by Fox News Digital found that nowhere in the bill text is any language authorizing the construction of a so-called “database” of pregnant women. And it is not explicitly written that any woman must indicate whether she is pregnant or not, as the site purports it will provide resources for postpartum women and mothers with young children. SCHUMER MAY LET CONTROVERSIAL BIDEN NOMINEE WITH ‘PROBLEMATIC’ TIES QUIETLY EXPIRE: EXPERT According to language in the legislation, there is no compulsory element mandating women to visit the site or provide their zip code, email, or phone number, as the idea of a pregnancy database might imply. If Britt’s measure were to become law, it would not be the first government website to prompt visitors for location or contact information. Healthcare.gov, for example, asks visitors for their home state, email, and data policy consent before taking any other action on the site. Furthermore, when the secretary is tasked under the proposal with preparing a report on the website’s usefulness to Congress, they would be specifically prohibited from including “any personal identifying information regarding individuals who have used the website.” “These claims are intentionally false and dangerous,” top Pro-Life organization Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America told Fox News Digital in a statement. “We encourage everyone to read the bill, which provides a database of help for women, not a database of women. Women’s privacy is expressly protected,” the statement continued. “Any claims to the contrary are nothing but a cynical attempt to distract from the Democrats’ obsession with abortion and their relentless attacks on charities that help women,” per the SBA Pro-Life America statement. Advancing American Freedom, an organization started by former Vice President Mike Pence, also weighed in on the false claims spread regarding the legislation. AAF Policy Director John Shelton told Fox News Digital, “The abortion industry tipped its hand when it made baseless smears against Senator Britt’s MOMS Act.” “Planned Parenthood would rather force hopeful mothers into abortions than ensure they have access to pregnancy resource centers and child support as they seek to raise their kids,” he continued,
Trump VP contenders, sitting senators headline Menendez trial potential witness list
Several sitting U.S. senators — including a couple rumored to be in consideration for the GOP vice presidential nod — are among a lengthy list of prominent individuals who could be called as witnesses in the ongoing corruption trial of Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez, potential jurors were told on Tuesday. Jury selection in the trial carried into its second day without any jurors being chosen, but U.S. Judge Sidney H. Stein told potential jurors that several current and former lawmakers and White House officials may or may not be witnesses in the case. He spent most of Monday questioning the prospective jurors. “You may see them or hear their names, and I want to know if you have a connection with any of these people,” Stein said. The list included: David Axelrod, former political strategist for former President Barack Obama; Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.; Sen. Chris Coons, D-Delaware; Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y.; Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia; former Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.; former Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin; former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.; Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.; Sen. Kristen Sinema, I-Ariz.; and Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland. Once jurors are chosen, the case will proceed to opening arguments. US V. MENENDEZ: DEM SENATOR’S CORRUPTION TRIAL KICKS OFF WITH SURPRISING DELAY Jurors will be expected to determine whether evidence against Menendez and two New Jersey businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, shows they were part of a bribery scheme, including meddling in criminal investigations and taking actions benefiting the governments of Egypt and Qatar. All three have pleaded not guilty. Co-defendant Jose Uribe has pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against the other defendants. A trial for the senator’s wife, Nadine, who is also charged and has also pleaded not guilty, is delayed until at least July due to health reasons. This is the second time in a decade that Menendez has been accused in a federal corruption case. BOB MENENDEZ’S CORRUPTION CASE CO-DEFENDANT PLEADS GUILTY TO 7 COUNTS, COOPERATING WITH INVESTIGATORS Menendez was charged by federal prosecutors with obstruction of justice in another superseding indictment unsealed in March relating to a multiyear alleged bribery scheme involving the governments of Egypt and Qatar. The 18-page indictment is wrapped into Menendez’s existing charges, which allege that he acted as a foreign agent and accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to benefit the Egyptian government through his power and influence as a senator. DEMOCRAT SEN BOB MENENDEZ FACING INDICTMENT ON BRIBERY CHARGES Menendez, his wife and the three New Jersey businessmen were first charged in the federal bribery scheme on Sept. 23.
Fox News Politics: The Final Witness
Welcome to Fox News’ Politics newsletter with the latest political news from Washington D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail. What’s happening? -Biden rejects “full-term” abortion position -Speaker Johnson bashes Trump trial in New York -DeSantis addresses rumor of potential Casey DeSantis candidacy Michael Cohen, the star witness in the landmark New York v. Trump case, received some star treatment by the mainstream media following his testimony Monday. The former lawyer, who will be the final witness in the prosecution’s case against Trump, testified he secretly recorded Trump ahead of the 2016 election, admitted to lying and bullying people for Trump’s benefit, and detailed the alleged attempt to cover up an alleged affair Trump had with adult film star Stormy Daniels. News outlets and pundits that are historically hostile to Trump had the difficult task of making Cohen, who pleaded guilty in 2018 to campaign finance violations, making false statements to Congress and tax evasion, come off as credible. MSNBC legal analyst Danny Cevallos appeared to downplay Cohen’s credibility issues by focusing on the “misconception” that direct evidence is more powerful than circumstantial evidence. CNN aired footage of Cohen praising Trump in 2016, noting that it was a common occurrence when he was on the former president’s payroll. “The question is,” senior legal analyst Elie Honig asked, following the clip. “Is the jury going to be on board with this narrative that, ‘Well, when he flipped, he made a clean break, and now he’s a truthteller?’” Cohen is expected to return for cross examination from Trump’s lawyers on Thursday. ALLIES UNITE: NY v. Trump: Trump allies show up to court in full force …Read more ‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND UN-AMERICAN’: NY court rejects Trump’s appeal of gag order …Read more NOT COORDINATED: GOP Trump allies continue to pour into courthouse just to ‘support their friend’ …Read more DRAWING A CONTRAST: Biden doesn’t support ‘full-term’ abortion stance pushed by RFK Jr …Read more KNOCK KNOCK: Kamala Harris calls on young Asian-Americans to ‘kick that f—ing door down’ during speech …Read more ‘GAME’ CLAIMS: Report on U.S. offer of ‘sensitive’ Hamas intel riles critics …Read more CALLED TO ACCOUNT: State financial officers push Biden on support for Israel amid Rafah invasion …Read more FULL MEDAL JACKET: House Republicans want Trump awarded Congressional Gold Medal …Read more SLOW GOING: Dem senator’s corruption trial sees surprising delay on day one …Read more ‘ATROCITIES’: Speaker Johnson tears into Trump cases in impassioned speech outside court …Read more ‘COUNTRY IS IN CRISIS’: House Dems blasted in new ad spotlighting ‘extreme’ record months before Election Day …Read more IN DENIAL?: Biden doesn’t believe negative polls as Trump leads in most battleground states …Read more PRIMARY SHOWDOWNS: Tuesday’s contentious primaries setting up crucial House, Senate, general election showdowns …Read more BURSTING THE BUBBLE: Ron DeSantis addresses rumors about his wife First Lady Casey DeSantis’ political future …Read more VEEPSTAKES?: Trump allies flank 45th president outside NY courtroom …Read more TRONE DEAF: Racial slur, alleged threat to ‘execute’ man: The most outrageous moments from this Dem candidate …Read more ‘CARTOONISHLY CORRUPT’: Jon Stewart hits Menendez, Pelosi and Hunter Biden during segment on political corruption …Read more FANI-NG THE FLAMES: Trump co-defendants file bid to kick Fani Willis off the case …Read more ‘WE’RE NOT READY’: Hunter Biden attorney seeks delay in DE case …Read more Subscribe now to get Fox News Politics newsletter in your inbox. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Trump unleashes on ‘fascists’ in Dem party after ‘very good day’ of trial
Former President Donald Trump slammed the Democratic Party as a group of “fascists” following a “very good day” in court, which included continued testimony from Michael Cohen. “‘The problem for Democrats is that the extensive polling now shows that the voters see through their scam and don’t like what’s going on,’” Trump said outside of court Tuesday afternoon, reading an excerpt from Fox News contributor Charlie Hurt. “‘Watching 100,000 enthusiastic people gather along the boardwalk in a New Jersey beach this Saturday… to support President Trump on Saturday evening, gives you some idea how terrified Democrats are of Trump.’” Trump interjected: “I don’t think they’re terrified of anything. They’re fascists.” Trump continued reading other news excerpts slamming the case as “election interference,” and went on to describe Tuesday as a “very good day” in court. TRUMP ALLIES JOIN FORCES TO HAMMER ‘SHAM’ TRIAL ‘WEAPONIZED’ AGAINST 45TH PRESIDENT: POLITICAL ‘PERSECUTION’ “We had a very good day. I think we’re exposing this scam for what it is,” he said. The trial Tuesday continued with testimony from former Trump attorney Michael Cohen. The case focuses on Cohen paying former pornographic performer Stormy Daniels $130,000 to allegedly quiet her claims of an alleged 2006 extramarital affair with the then-real estate tycoon. Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels. Prosecutors allege that the Trump Organization reimbursed Cohen and fraudulently logged the payments as legal expenses. Prosecutors are working to prove that Trump falsified records with the intent to commit or conceal a second crime. Trump has pleaded not guilty in the case and has maintained his innocence. Cohen faced cross-examination Tuesday, where he was peppered with questions from Trump’s legal team regarding Cohen’s numerous TikTok videos, including ones where he called Trump “crying little b—-” and “dictator douche bag.” Cohen told the court that he struggles to sleep at night, and that posting TikTok videos regarding Trump served as “an out.” TRUMP TRIAL VEEPSTAKES? TRUMP ALLIES SHOW UP IN FORCE AHEAD OF MICHAEL COHEN’S 2ND DAY OF TESTIMONY Trump defense attorney Todd Blanche asked Cohen if he also regularly commented on a podcast about wanting to see Trump convicted in this case. Cohen responded that he probably said that, as he wants to see Trump held accountable. MASSIVE TRUMP BEACH RALLY IN DEEP-BLUE NJ DRAWS STARK CONTRAST TO BIDEN’S BEACH WEEKEND: ‘BIDEN COULD NEVER’ Cohen’s testimony Tuesday follows Monday’s remarks, when he detailed to the court that he used his own funds to pay Daniels in 2016, as well as admitting to the court that he secretly recorded Trump on his iPhone that same year. Tuesday was another action-packed day for the case, including the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division issuing an order rejecting the Trump team’s attempt to end a gag order that the 45th president has repeatedly slammed as “unconstitutional.” TRUMP BLASTS ‘HIGHLY CONFLICTED’ JUDGE AFTER MICHAEL COHEN’S 1ST DAY OF TESTIMONY WRAPS “We find that Justice Merchan properly weighed petitioner’s First Amendment Rights against the court’s historical commitment to ensuring the fair administration of justice in criminal cases, and the right of persons related or tangentially related to the criminal proceedings from being free from threats, intimidation, harassment, and harm,” the First Department of the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division wrote in its order Tuesday. MICHAEL COHEN TESTIFIES HE SECRETLY RECORDED TRUMP IN LEAD-UP TO 2016 ELECTION Presiding Judge Juan Merchan imposed the gag order on Trump before his criminal trial in New York began, ordering the presumptive Republican presidential nominee not to make or direct others to make public statements about witnesses, counsel in the case or about court staff, the DA staff or family members of staff. Merchan later ruled, amid the trial, that Trump violated the order on 10 occasions, resulting in a combined $10,000 fine. The violations stemmed from messages posted by Trump on Truth Social and the campaign’s website. Trump’s legal team now has the opportunity to appeal the gag order to the New York Court of Appeals. “The gag order imposed by conflicted Judge Juan Merchan in the lawless Manhattan DA case is unconstitutional and un-American. The threat to throw the 45th President of the United States and the leading candidate in the 2024 presidential election in jail for exercising his First Amendment rights is a Third World authoritarian tactic typical of Crooked Joe Biden and his comrades,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung told Fox News Digital earlier Tuesday. Tuesday also saw a strong showing of Trump allies joining the former president in court, including former 2024 presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy and Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, Florida Rep. Cory Mills, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. TRUMP ALLIES POUR INTO NYC COURTHOUSE TO ‘SUPPORT THEIR FRIEND,’ SAY THEY’RE NOT COORDINATING WITH CAMPAIGN The Trump allies also held a press conference Tuesday, where they railed against the trial as a “sham.” “This is a sham. This is not the United States of America. This is some third-rate banana republic,” Ramaswamy said. “There’s nothing that has been wrong here. Nothing that has been done poorly by President Trump,” Donalds said during added. “The only thing that’s being done wrong is by this judge. His daughter is making money, raising money for Democrats, and all of the fundraising emails, and all the fundraising things are about this trial that his daughter is using. He won’t recuse himself. This is a travesty of justice. This is a misuse of the justice system.” Trump’s legal team had previously demanded Merchan recuse himself from the case, citing his daughter’s work as a Democrat consultant. The trial will resume Thursday at 9:30 a.m. and will wrap up slightly early at 4 p.m. due to a juror’s previous commitment. Cohen is expected to return to the stand to continue cross-examination. The prosecution team revealed Tuesday that Cohen is their last witness.