South Dakota abortion rights ballot initiative thwarted by Republican lawmakers
South Dakota’s Republican-led Legislature is trying to thwart a proposed ballot initiative that would enable voters to protect abortion rights in the state constitution. The initiative’s leader says the GOP efforts threaten the state’s tradition of direct democracy. Supporters need about 35,000 valid signatures submitted by May 7 to qualify for the November ballot. Dakotans for Health co-founder Rick Weiland said they already have more than 50,000. Republican lawmakers say the language is too extreme and overwhelmingly adopted a resolution opposing the initiative after grilling Weiland during a committee hearing. SOUTH DAKOTA GOV. NOEM FILLS 2 LEGISLATIVE SEATS AFTER STATE SUPREME COURT RULING ON CONFLICTS OF INTEREST South Dakota outlaws all abortions except to save the life of the mother under a trigger ban that took effect in 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade. If voters approve it, the three-paragraph addition to the South Dakota Constitution would ban the state from regulating abortion in the first trimester and allow regulations for the second trimester “only in ways that are reasonably related to the physical health of the pregnant woman.” The state could regulate or prohibit third-trimester abortions, “except when abortion is necessary, in the medical judgment of the woman’s physician, to preserve the life or health of the pregnant woman.” “We looked at the rights that women had for 50 years under Roe v. Wade, basically took that language and used it in our amendment,” Weiland said. Seven states have had abortion-related ballot measures since the Dobbs decision, and voters favored abortion rights in all of them. Four of those — in California, Michigan, Ohio and Vermont — enshrined abortion rights in their constitutions. The South Dakota Legislature’s resolution opposing the initiative says the measure “would severely restrict any future enactment of protections for a pregnant woman, her child, and her healthcare providers,” and “would fail to protect human life, would fail to protect a pregnant woman, and would fail to protect the child she bears.” Republican House Majority Leader Will Mortenson said they approved the resolution to help the public by pointing out “some of the unintended or intended, maybe, consequences of the measure so that the public could see what it does in practical effect.” Republican Rep. Jon Hansen — who co-chairs the Life Defense Fund, formed to defeat the initiative — said its language goes too far and “bans reasonable, commonsense, bipartisan protections that this state has had in place for decades.” “When Roe v. Wade was the law of the land, we could at least have protections to say if there’s going to be an abortion, it needs to be done by a physician, under a physician’s supervision, in an inspected facility,” Hansen said. “You can’t have those protections in the first trimester of this proposed constitutional amendment. That’s insane. That’s way too extreme.” Weiland said the language conforms with Roe v. Wade and efforts to say otherwise are misleading and ill-informed. PRESIDENT BIDEN BLASTS ALABAMA SUPREME COURT RULING ON FROZEN EMBRYOS: ‘OUTRAGEOUS AND UNACCEPTABLE’ Democratic House Minority Leader Oren Lesmeister said voters, not lawmakers, should decide. Democratic Senate Minority Leader Reynold Nesiba also supports the initiative. The American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota, however, is not supporting the initiative, telling its supporters in a December email that the language “isn’t sufficient to restore abortion access in South Dakota.” The South Dakota House on Tuesday passed a bill by Hansen that would allow signers of initiative petitions to withdraw their signatures. It now goes to the Senate. Hansen said the bill is about people being misled or “fraudulently induced” to sign petitions. Weiland said Hansen’s bill is an attack on direct democracy. Hansen said, “This is a right squarely in the hands of the person who signed; if they want to withdraw, they can withdraw.” Democratic lawmakers on Thursday brought up concerns about potential abuses and class-action lawsuits over signature removals. They said state laws already exist to ensure ballot initiatives are done properly. The Senate will soon weigh a House-passed bill that would require the state Department of Health, which answers to Republican Gov. Kristi Noem, to create an informational video, with consultation from the state attorney general and legal and medical experts, describing how the state’s abortion laws should be applied. Republican Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt said she brought the bill to provide clarification after questions from providers about when they can intervene to save a pregnant woman’s life. The purpose is to “just talk about women’s health, what the law says and what the health care and legal professional opinions are, surrounding what our law currently says,” Rehfeldt said. Weiland said he is skeptical, not knowing what the video would include. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “Hopefully it’s enough guidance for doctors to be able to make these medical decisions,” he said.
Special attorney hired by Fani Willis to help prosecute Trump donated big bucks to her campaign
An expert Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis retained to help prosecute former President Trump donated $4,300 to her campaign for public office, records show. John Floyd, a prominent Atlanta attorney and partner at Bondurant Mixson & Elmore, was retained by Willis in 2021 to help her prosecute the former president. Floyd is one of the leading experts in Georgia’s intricate and complex racketeering statutes at play in the sweeping case against the former president. One expert told Fox News Digital that while Floyd’s donations present no ethical, legal or conflict-of-interest problems, the previous campaign donations could add to the mounting “optics” problems for Willis. According to public records, Floyd donated to Willis’ campaign for district attorney twice — $2,800 on March 20, and $1,500 on June 25, 2020, for a total of $4,300. BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS AFTER WILD 2-DAY HEARING ON FANI WILLIS AFFAIR: ‘WHAT’S DONE IS DONE’ “John Floyd’s donating to Willis’ campaign and then subsequently serving as her special RICO prosecutor present no ethical, legal or conflict-of-interest problems, regardless of his political leanings or affiliations,” said John Shu, a constitutional law expert who served in both the George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush administrations. 5 EXPLOSIVE MOMENTS FROM FANI WILLIS’ HEATED TESTIMONY IN TRUMP FULTON COUNTY CASE: ‘IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN …’ “Floyd is a well-known and well-respected litigator and RICO expert, and others from his law firm also donated to Willis’ campaign. Besides, there’s no way that any of them could have known in the spring and summer of 2020 that a Trump RICO case even would exist,” Shu added. But, Shu said, “Willis created huge optics and conflict-of-interest problems for herself when she hired Nathan Wade, with whom she admitted to having a romantic relationship, regardless of when the relationship started,” Shu said. “Wade apparently has no felony or RICO [Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations] experience, and Willis is paying him $100/hour more than she is paying Floyd,” Shu said. “She wasn’t required to disclose Floyd’s donations, and they’re a matter of public record anyway, but now they exacerbate the already-bad Wade situation. She would have been better off being as transparent as possible and disclosing everything from the beginning,” Shu noted. Both Willis and Wade confirmed they had a relationship but denied allegations of wrongdoing. Both testified in court last week that Wills always paid Wade back for her share of their travel in cash and said no receipts exist for those reimbursements. Their testimony about the start of their relationship contradicted one witness who said she had “no doubt” that Wills and Wade’s “romantic” involvement started in 2019, before Wade was hired in 2021. Floyd told Fox News Digital in an email his campaign contributions “were made long before the election and could not have been related to events that had not occurred and could not have been anticipated at that time. FULTON COUNTY DA FANI WILLIS ACCUSED OF LYING ABOUT TIMING OF AFFAIR WITH TRUMP PROSECUTOR “I contributed to Ms. Willis’ campaign because I knew from personal experience, including a seven-month trial as her co-counsel in 2014-15, that she would make a good district attorney. The voters reached the same conclusion, voting out a four-term incumbent,” Floyd said. Floyd added that he had previously served as a special assistant district attorney under DAs affiliated with both political parties and under an attorney general who was elected as a Democrat but subsequently changed his affiliation to Republican. He then served under his successor, a Democrat. As a special assistant district attorney, Floyd said he helped prosecute a sheriff who was elected as a Democrat. “No one has questioned my objectivity in any of those matters. There is no reason to be concerned about it now,” Floyd said. Public records also show that Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, who is presiding over the Trump case and will determine if Willis’ should be disqualified from prosecuting Trump and his co-defendants, also donated to her campaign. In 2020 — prior to his judicial appointment while he was an assistant U.S. attorney at the Justice Department — McAfee donated $150 to Willis’ campaign. McAfee held a two-day hearing last week to review evidence for a motion to disqualify Willis from the case. A bombshell admission by the defense’s key witness, Terrence Bradley, the former law firm partner and divorce attorney for Wade, came after he avoided answering certain questions, citing attorney-client privilege. Judge McAfee said he would hold an “in-camera” meeting with Bradley to determine if his privilege assertions are accurate. McAfee said Bradley’s admission reopens questions about what Bradley refused to answer about what he knew about Wade and Fani Willis’ romantic relationship and when he knew. Bradley refused to answer, citing attorney-client privilege. “Mr. Bradley previously testified that the reason he left the firm was totally and completely covered by privilege. When asked by the state, he went into a factual scenario that, to my mind, I don’t see how it relates to privilege at all. And so now I’m left wondering if Mr. Bradley has been properly interpreting privilege this entire time,” Judge McAfee said. McAfee is expected to determine whether Bradley should take the witness stand again further evidentiary review. Neither Willis nor McAfee returned Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
West Virginia House passes Social Security tax phaseout
West Virginia’s Republican-led House of Delegates approved a bill Thursday that would cut and gradually phase out the state income tax on Social Security benefits. Eliminating the tax is a key priority for GOP Gov. Jim Justice, who announced it as part of his annual budget proposal during his final State of the State address last month. In 2019, the Legislature passed a bill cutting the income tax on Social Security benefits for the state’s lowest earners — those making less than $100,000 filing jointly and $50,000 for a single person — over three years. BILL LETTING TRAINED TEACHERS CARRY GUNS PASSES WEST VIRGINIA HOUSE The proposal passed Thursday, which now heads to the Senate, would eliminate the tax for everyone else, also over a three-year period. The tax would be cut by 35% this year — retroactive to Jan. 1 — and 65% in 2025. The tax would be phased out completely by 2026. It’s unclear what Justice will make of the proposal. His version would have eliminated the personal income tax on Social Security this year, retroactive to Jan. 1. Speaking in support of the measure, Republican Del. Larry Kump of Berkeley County said states surrounding West Virginia don’t tax Social Security benefits. “This issue regarding taxation on Social Security or any pension or retirement program really grinds my gears, gives me legislative heartburn. We’ve been fooling around with this taxation issue on Social Security for many years now, and I’m grateful that we’re going to be doing some more on it.” Kump said he’s also concerned about retired public employees and how cost of living increases are impacting their pensions. “But that’s another issue,” he said. “Let’s go ahead and pass this bill. It’s certainly better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. And let’s keep the light on for these people.” The tax cut would cost around $37 million in both 2025 and 2026 and would impact more than 50,000 households. Last year, Justice signed a 21.25% income tax reduction into state law, returning more than $750 million to state residents amid a record budget surplus of $1.1 billion. But the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy urged caution Thursday, with Executive Director Kelly Allen saying in a statement that “continued efforts to erode and eliminate the personal income tax are undermining our ability to meet the needs of seniors, children and families across our state.”
Washington legislators push bill making it a felony to threaten election workers
The Washington state Senate voted overwhelmingly Thursday to make harassing election workers a felony, three months after four county election offices received envelopes containing suspicious powder — including three testing positive for fentanyl — and had to be evacuated. “This cannot be something we take as normal,” Democratic Sen. Manka Dhingra said during the vote. “We have to make sure that our election workers are protected, that people who participate and engage in our democracy have faith that the system works well and that we don’t have bad actors that can actually disrupt vote counts.” COAST GUARD LAUNCHES WHALE SIGHTING ALERTS IN SEATTLE SO BOATS WILL STEER CLEAR The bill is among a wave of legislation across the U.S. seeking to boost protections for these workers in the lead-up to the 2024 election amid an increasing number of threats some attribute to false claims by former President Donald Trump and his allies that the 2020 election was stolen. Twenty-three states are considering bills addressing protections, according to the nonprofit advocacy group Public Citizen. In Maryland, for example, lawmakers are considering legislation to enable authorities to prosecute people who threaten to harm election officials or their immediate family members. The bill in Washington would increase the possible penalty for harassing an election worker in person or by mail from up to one year in jail to up to five years in prison. It would also give targeted workers the opportunity to join a program run by the secretary of state’s office designed to keep their address confidential. The measure has already been approved by the House but will need to go back to that body for verification before heading to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk. Mike Faulk, spokesperson for the Democratic governor, said in an email that they haven’t reviewed the bill in detail but that Inslee is “generally supportive of efforts to protect our democratic process and the people who carry it out.” Some Republican lawmakers pushed for the bill to include protections for election observers and people gathering initiative signatures. “They are physically, I would say, unprotected,” Republican Sen. Keith Wagoner said during a vote on an amendment to protect people collecting signatures. “They’re not inside impressive looking buildings like some of our elected election folks are. They don’t have access to security, but they are vulnerable.” The amendments were voted down, with Dhingra explaining that individuals collecting signatures are already protected under a harassment statute. The legislation comes two years after the state made online harassment of an election worker a felony. Democratic Rep. Mari Leavitt, sponsor of the latest bill, said it will better align the punishment for in-person and virtual threats. “Our election workers are unsung heroes,” she told The Associated Press. “They’re workers of democracy and we need to demonstrate to them that we value them and we want them to show up to work and feel safe, and this is one method to be able to do that.” In November, four county elections offices in Washington were evacuated the day after election day after receiving envelopes with powder and a message that said, “End elections now.” Three tested positive for fentanyl, according to a spokesperson for the Washington secretary of state. Linda Farmer, auditor for Pierce County, where one of the elections offices was evacuated, said she remembers over 100 workers being evacuated that morning and hazmat teams along with the FBI and fire department swarming the area, while paramedics made sure the staff member who opened the letter was safe. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “It was terrifying,” she said. “I was nauseous and really scared for the staffer who had opened the letter, but I put on a brave face for the staff.”
Trump VP auditions: Scott, Ramaswamy hit trail in South Carolina on behalf of former president
Sen. Tim Scott, talked up former President Trump as he spoke with reporters after early voting on Thursday in South Carolina’s Republican presidential primary. Scott, the positive conservative champion who ended his own White House run in November and endorsed Trump last month, said Americans want “someone who was more forceful, more provocative and a little bit more rambunctious” as he pointed towards Trump. Trump, the commanding front-runner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, indicated at a Fox News town hall in South Carolina this week that at least a half a dozen contenders — including three former rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination — are on his short list for running mate. During the program, which ran on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle,” Trump was asked about Scott, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, multimillionaire biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, a Democrat turned independent. WHO’S ON TRUMP’S RUNNING MATE SHORT LIST “Are they all on your short list?” host Laura Ingraham asked the former president. “They are,” Trump answered. “Honestly, all of those people are good. They’re all good, they’re all solid.” Scott received a warm welcome from the large crowd of mostly Trump supporters when he arrived at the Greenville, South Carolina, convention center where the town hall was held. FACING LONG ODDS AGAINST TRUMP, HALEY REMAINS DEFIANT “A lot of people are talking about that gentleman right over there,” Trump said as he pointed to Scott, who was sitting in the front row of the audience. Asked about Trump’s praise, Scott said on Thursday that the former president “certainly was very generous and kind with his words. But more important than who his running mate is is making sure that he’s our next president.” Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate, enthusiastically joined Trump in New Hampshire last month and endorsed the former president. He has also teamed up with Trump on the campaign trail in Scott’s home state of South Carolina a couple of times over the past two weeks, and he will join the former president again on Friday. TRUMP CAMPAIGN PREDICTS ‘A**-KICKING’ FOR HALEY IN HER HOME STATE, BUT SHE SAYS ‘I REFUSE TO QUIT’ The senator told Fox Digital he’ll continue to hit the campaign trail with Trump after the nomination race moves past the Palmetto State this weekend. “I look forward to continuing to campaign with the president everywhere we go. If there’s an election, I look forward to being there, whether in person or through the phone or through the TV screens,” Scott said. And a source in Scott’s political orbit told Fox News to “expect the senator to be a vocal voice in the media and on the campaign trail. Voters should expect to see him traveling to events in other states once South Carolina wraps up this weekend.” Speaking with reporters after voting, Scott took aim at former U.N. Ambassador and former two-term South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who is the last remaining major rival to Trump in the nomination race. Haley has vowed to continue campaigning at least until Super Tuesday, when 15 states hold Republican nominating contests on March 5. Pointing to the latest polls that show Trump maintaining a large double-digit lead in the Palmetto State, Scott said Haley should step aside after Saturday’s primary “for the good of the country.” “I think a win would be sufficient, but I expect a 20-plus point win in the home state where she was the governor and a state representative. If that doesn’t send a clear message, I don’t know what does,” the senator said. TRUMP CHALLENGES BOTH BIDEN AND HALEY AT FOX NEWS TOWN HALL IN SOUTH CAROLINA Scott isn’t the only former Trump rival stumping for the former president in South Carolina. Ramaswamy has made a handful of stops in South Carolina, including Aiken on Wednesday. Ramaswamy, who tangled with Haley multiple times before dropping out of the race last month, told reporters that “she should step down before the South Carolina primary.” Asked about potentially serving as Trump’s running mate, Ramaswamy also demurred. “Donald Trump has got to win this election. That’s my sole focus and making sure he wins by a decisive victory,” he said. “And I’m going to do whatever I can to make sure that his presidency is as successful as it possibly can be.” While the potential running mate contenders are playing coy, seasoned Republican strategist David Kochel told Fox News the appearances on the campaign trail “of course, are screen tests. I think CPAC is going to play that role as well this weekend – obviously big with the MAGA folks.” “Trump likes to talk about people that he hires coming out of central casting, so to use the word audition is apropos,” added Kochel, a veteran of numerous GOP presidential campaigns. Alex Castellanos, another longtime Republican consultant who worked on multiple White House campaigns, agreed that “of course these guys are auditioning.” “In a way they have to. They already failed the taste test for occupying a position in the White House,” Castellanos said as he pointed to Scott and Ramaswamy’s failed presidential campaigns. Fox News’ Brandon Gillespie and Kirill Clark contributed to this report. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
US, European powers back outgoing Dutch PM Mark Rutte as next NATO head
Support of top NATO powers makes Rutte favourite to succeed current Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in October. The United States, United Kingdom, France and Germany have all thrown their weight behind outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to become NATO’s next secretary general, at a crucial time for the alliance as Russia’s war against Ukraine rages on. Top NATO powers on Thursday backed Rutte to succeed current chair Jens Stoltenberg when he steps down in October, putting him in a strong position to win the leadership of the transatlantic alliance. Stoltenberg’s successor will take office at a crucial juncture, tasked with sustaining NATO members’ support for Ukraine’s costly defence while guarding against any escalation that would draw the alliance directly into a war with Moscow. “The United States has made it clear to our allies, our NATO allies, that we believe Mr Rutte would be an excellent secretary general for NATO,” US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told journalists on Thursday. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman said the UK “does strongly back” Rutte, adding that the UK wanted a candidate who would “keep NATO strong and deliver on the alliance’s NATO 2030 vision”. The British Foreign Office also said Rutte was a well-respected figure across NATO, with serious defence and security credentials and who would ensure it remained strong and prepared for any need to defend itself. A senior French official told the Reuters news agency that President Emmanuel Macron had been an early supporter of putting Rutte in the role. And German government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit said on X that Rutte had Berlin’s backing, praising him as “an outstanding candidate”. Diplomats have said Rutte is the only official candidate for the post in the behind-the-scenes contest, although some said the name of Romanian President Klaus Iohannis had also been floated in informal discussions recently. Other candidates may include Estonian Primer Minister Kaja Kallas and Latvia’s foreign minister, Krisjanis Karins. But with the support of Washington – the alliance’s predominant power – and the three big European nations and some 16 other NATO members, according to diplomats, Rutte is in a commanding position. However, some analysts believe he could face opposition from Turkey and Hungary. ‘Interesting’ job After ruling himself out for the NATO post in previous years, Rutte, 57, told Dutch media in October that running the military alliance was a “very interesting” job and he would be open to the prospect. The Netherlands’ longest-serving leader, Rutte has had good relationships with various British, European Union and US leaders – including Donald Trump – during his tenure. Set to run for a second term as US president later this year, Trump drew fierce criticism from Western officials earlier this month for calling into question his commitment to defending NATO allies if re-elected. At the weekend, Rutte urged European leaders to “stop moaning and whining and nagging” about Trump and focus instead on what they could do to bolster defence and help Ukraine. Founded in 1949 to counter the Soviet Union during the Cold War, NATO is a political and military alliance of countries from North America and Europe. NATO leaders are appointed by consensus, meaning all members must consent to a final decision. The alliance currently has 31 members, with Sweden poised to join soon. Adblock test (Why?)
Teamsters union gave max donation to RNC after meeting with Trump
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters’ political action committee infused $45,000 into the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) convention fund last month in a stark departure from the union’s history of giving primarily to Democrats. The Teamsters PAC — known formally as Democrat, Republican, Independent Voter Education — earmarked the donation on Jan. 25, according to federal elections filings reviewed by Fox News Digital. The contribution was made weeks after former President Trump, the clear front-runner to secure the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, met with Teamsters President Sean O’Brien and days before a second meeting between the two. In a statement, Teamsters spokesperson Kara Deniz said the contribution was approved in December before the union’s two meetings with Trump. She added that it represented the first time the Teamsters would participate in both the Republican and Democrat conventions in more than two decades. “The Teamsters contributed $45,000 to both the Democratic and Republican convention funds. It’s not since 2000 that our union has participated in both conventions,” Deniz told Fox News Digital in an email. “In the Teamsters, all our members’ voices will be heard, regardless of party.” BIDEN ADMIN SCRUBS WEBPAGE SHOWING HOW TAXPAYERS FUND UNION ACTIVITIES “Rank-and-file members will be on the ground and active in both conventions this year to make sure elected officials know the Teamsters’ issues and are hearing the challenges that working people face in this country,” she continued. The donation is likely to raise eyebrows as Trump continues to vie for the Teamsters’ endorsement. After his most recent meeting with O’Brien on Jan. 31, Trump told reporters the conversation was productive and that while the union typically supports Democrats, “stranger things have happened,” adding that rank-and-file union members largely support him. REPUBLICANS WARN BIDEN ADMIN’S FOREIGN FARMWORKER RULE IS ‘GIVEAWAY TO BIG LABOR’ The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which endorsed now-President Biden in 2020, is among the largest labor unions in the nation. While its overall membership has declined slightly in recent years, it still reports having just shy of 1.3 million members, according to its most recent filings with the Department of Labor. “Our members want to hear from all candidates of all parties about what they plan to do for working people as President,” O’Brien said in a statement last month. “Teamsters are essential to every trade industry in this country. Our members are working in all 50 states and represent every political background, including no affiliation.” “Our union wants every candidate to know that there are 1.3 million Teamsters nationwide whose votes will not be taken for granted. Workers’ voices must be heard.” According to the FEC, the largest contribution a multicandidate PAC can make to national party committee accounts is $45,000, meaning the Teamsters PAC maxed out with its RNC convention fund donation. In recent months, it has given donations of $45,000 to various Democratic National Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee funds.
UT System names finalist for president of Stephen F. Austin State University
If approved, Neal Weaver will be the first permanent president to lead the East Texas university since it joined the UT System in 2023.
Tribal leader calls for bipartisanship in address to Wisconsin Legislature
The leader of the Forest County Potawatomi tribe on Thursday called on Wisconsin lawmakers and other state leaders to search for bipartisan solutions to problems including human trafficking and affordable housing. James Crawford, chair of the Potawatomi, delivered the annual State of the Tribes address in the Assembly chamber. In addition to Assembly members, other attendees included leaders from the state’s 11 other federally recognized tribes, state senators, Wisconsin Supreme Court justices, Attorney General Josh Kaul and Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski. PLANNED PARENTHOOD PETITIONS WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT TO MAKE 1849 ABORTION LAW UNCONSTITUTIONAL “Despite our differences, Wisconsin’s tribes and our states leaders can and must continue to collaborate and work together for the greater good,” Crawford said. He thanked lawmakers for working to increase Medicaid reimbursements for tribes, ensure access to indigenous foods, and pass bills designed to increase affordable housing and make foster care more attractive and affordable. “There is still much more than needs to be done,” Crawford said. “Find the time to set aside your differences and not be afraid to reach across the aisle.” He specifically called on the Legislature to do more to address the problem of human trafficking in tribal communities, while thanking Kaul for forming a task force on the issue.
Ex-FBI informant charged with lying about Bidens’ business dealings re-arrested
A former FBI informant who was arrested last week on charges of lying to the bureau about the Bidens’ alleged business dealings with a Ukrainian energy company, was re-arrested Thursday after a judge deemed him a flight risk. Alexander Smirnov, 43, was released by a Nevada judge earlier this week. A California judge ordered him arrested again on Thursday after federal prosecutors argued he was a flight risk. FBI REPORTEDLY INVESTIGATING CONTROVERSIAL DEMOCRATIC MAYOR WHO SCHMOOZED WITH BIDEN LAST MONTH The informant, Alexander Smirnov, is “actively peddling new lies that could impact U.S. elections,” federal prosecutors said Wednesday, as they appealed to a judge to keep him behind bars ahead of trial on charges alleging he lied to the FBI about a phony multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving the Bidens and the Ukrainian energy company Burisma.