Supreme Court appears skeptical of Colorado’s decision to kick Trump off 2024 ballot: ‘Severe consequence’
The Supreme Court appeared very wary Thursday of the state of Colorado’s effort to kick former President Trump off its primary ballot, and questioned how a ruling in its favor would not lead to an “unmanageable situation” for the nation. The court is considering for the first time the meaning and reach of Article 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bars former officeholders who “engaged in insurrection” from holding public office again. Colorado argued that because they determined Trump’s behavior related to 2020 election interference – culminating with the Jan. 6 Capitol riots – amounted to an “insurrection,” he should be removed from the state’s ballot. In more than two hours of spirited, often tense arguments, the justices asked tough questions of both sides about whether the president or a presidential candidate is exempt from the constitutional provision adopted after the Civil War. TRUMP REACTS TO SUPREME COURT ORAL ARGUMENTS: ‘GOOD NEWS IS WE’RE LEADING VIRTUALLY EVERY POLL’ Justice Brett Kavanaugh spoke for colleagues when saying they were confronting “difficult questions.” “When you look at Section 3, the term insurrection jumps out,” Kavanaugh said. “And the questions are, what does that mean? How do you define it? Who decides? Who decides whether someone engaged in it?” Kavanaugh noted the courts looked at these questions in an 1869 decision, known as “Griffin’s case,” which found that an act of Congress was necessary to enforce the 14th Amendment’s ban on insurrectionists holding federal office. “These are difficult questions, and you look right at Section 5 of the 14th Amendment… and that tells you Congress has the primary role here,” Kavanaugh said. “I think what’s different is the processes, the definition, who decides questions really jump out at you when you look at Section 3.” SUPREME COURT TO HEAR TRUMP BALLOT REMOVAL CASE OUT OF COLORADO Many of the queries focused on whether state courts or elected state officials can unilaterally enforce constitutional provisions and declare candidates ineligible for public office – so-called “self-executing” authority – or is that exclusively the jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress. Chief Justice John Roberts questioned Colorado’s attorney Jason Murray about the “consequences” of the state’s position. “What do you do with consequences of your position? There will be disqualification proceedings on the other side, and some will succeed in very quick order, I would expect that a goodly number of states will say whoever the Democrat is, you’re off the ballot,” he said. “It would then come down to a small number of states deciding the election. That’s a pretty severe consequence.” JUSTICE THOMAS ALLY SAYS MEDIA, DEMS ARE TRYING TO PUSH HIM TO RECUSE HIMSELF BEFORE TRUMP BALLOT ARGUMENTS Justice Samuel Alito pressed Murray to “grapple” with “what some people have seen as the consequences of the argument that you’re advancing, which is that there will be conflicts in decisions among the states.” “The different states will disqualify different candidates. But I’m not getting a whole lot of help from you about how this would not be an unmanageable situation,” Alito said. Justice Elena Kagan questioned, “Why should a single state have the ability to make this determination not only for their own citizens, but for the rest of the nation? But Kagan also questioned whether it was “contrary” to say the rule applies to other public office seekers but does not apply to Trump. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson zeroed in on the text of Section 3 and questioned why the president was not listed specifically. The 14th Amendment, Section 3 of the Constitution states, “No person shall… hold any office… under the United States… who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States… to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.” “Why didn’t they put the word president in the very enumerated list in Section 3?” Brown asked Murray. “The thing that really is troubling to me is I totally understand your argument, but they were listing people that were barred and president is not there. And so I guess that just makes me worry that maybe they weren’t focusing on the president.” Murray responded with a reference to history: “This came up in the debates in Congress over Section 3, where Robert Johnson said, ‘Why haven’t you included the president and vice president in the language?’ And Sen. Murrell responds, ‘We have. Look at the language “any office under the United States.”‘” “Yes, but doesn’t that at least suggest ambiguity?” Jackson responded, questioning why such ambiguity would be addressed in a way that goes against democracy. A ruling in the case is expected in the coming weeks. Colorado’s presidential primary takes place on Tuesday, March 5.
New Mexico bill to lower income taxes and cap investment tax break advances
A bill that would reduce personal income taxes across the earnings spectrum and collect more taxes on investment income passed the Democratic-led New Mexico state House on Wednesday. The broad package of tax changes won House endorsement on a 48-21 vote and now moves to the Senate for consideration. State government would forgo about $105 million annually overall through adjustments to personal income tax rates and brackets while collecting more taxes on investment income. WITH PRESIDENTIAL RACE ON HORIZON, NEW MEXICO LAWMAKERS LOOK TO OUTLAW FAKE ELECTORS All income tax payers would see a decrease, with the greatest savings in dollar terms among middle-income earners, according to an analysis by the state Taxation and Revenue Department. Annual income tax would decrease by $16, or 12%, to $136 for a couple with taxable income of $8,000, the agency said. A wealthier couple with an annual taxable income of $400,000 would save about $553, or 2.8%, on annual taxes of $20,042. The bill from Democratic state Rep. Derrick Lente, of Sandia Pueblo, also includes tax credits and deductions aimed at shoring up the medical workforce in remote rural areas and easing the fiscal burden on child care and preschool providers. He said in a statement that the bill aims to “improve access to healthcare and childcare, support clean energy, and provide support for our friends and neighbors who need it most.” The bill would incentivize the construction of large-scale energy storage projects — which can make renewable wind and solar energy production more useful — by reducing local government taxes on the facilities through the use of industrial revenue bonds. Proposed changes for businesses would set a flat 5.9% rate for the corporate income tax at companies with less than $500,00 in annual income. New Mexico residents who saw their homes destroyed in recent wildfires would be eligible for new income tax credit. A statement from House Democrats says the bill reduces a cap on capital gains tax exemptions to $2,500 — limiting a tax break “that overwhelmingly benefits the state’s highest earners.” House Republicans led by state Rep. Jim Townsend, of Artesia, unsuccessfully proposed more aggressive tax cuts in light of an estimated $3.5 billion general fund surplus for the coming fiscal year. In a failed amendment, he suggested a flat 1% tax on personal income. Current rates range from 1.7% on taxable income under $4,000 for individuals to 5.9% on annual income over $157,000.
Republican-led, pro-abortion campaign to amend Missouri Constitution dies
A Republican-led campaign to restore abortion rights in Missouri ended Thursday, clearing the path for a competing, more sweeping constitutional amendment to get on the state’s November ballot. “We started this group to restore access to women’s health care,” Missouri Women and Family Research Fund Executive Director Jamie Corley said in a statement. “No one wants that, so we have decided to suspend our campaign to amend Missouri’s abortion law.” FLORIDA SUPREME COURT WILL DECIDE WHETHER ABORTION AMENDMENT BELONGS ON NOVEMBER BALLOT Corley’s withdrawal means a rival campaign backed by Planned Parenthood and other abortion-rights groups can move forward without competition. The ballot initiative by Missourians for Constitutional Freedom would enshrine abortion in the state constitution while allowing lawmakers to regulate it after viability. Both groups sought to go straight to voters after a law passed by Missouri’s Republican-led Legislature took effect in 2022 barring almost all abortions. Only abortions in cases of “medical emergencies” are legal in Missouri now. Corley pitched her initiative petition as a moderate alternative. Under her proposal, abortions would have been allowed for any reason up until 12 weeks into pregnancy. Abortions in cases of rape, incest and fatal fetal abnormalities would be allowed until viability. Corley said her proposal had a better chance at passing in Missouri, where all elected statewide officeholders are Republicans and anti-abortion groups are hugely influential in state politics. Missourians for Constitutional Freedom has not responded to an Associated Press emailed request for comment. Earlier this week, the campaign kicked off signature gathering with events statewide. The campaign needs to collect at least 172,000 voter signatures by May 5 to make it on November’s ballot.
Israel, Ukraine foreign aid bill clears first hurdle in Senate without border and immigration provisions
A foreign aid funding bill to provide tens of billions of dollars for Ukraine and Israel, without a previously-included border and immigration package, passed the first procedural hurdle in the Senate on Thursday amid Republican disarray. The $95 billion package advanced in a 67 to 32 cloture vote, also known as a motion to limit debate on a bill and move to a final vote. It requires a three-fifths majority. Now, senators will enter into debate to add border amendments. Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham, Pete Ricketts, Tommy Tuberville, Rick Scott, Mike Lee, Katie Britt, John Barrasso, Josh Hawley, Rand Paul, Roger Marshall and Jim Risch were among the dissenting votes. Sen. James Lankford, who negotiated the border provisions that failed to pass the Senate on Wednesday, also voted no. The package includes $48 billion for Ukraine, $11 billion for Israel, $9 billion in humanitarian assistance for Gaza, and nearly $5 billion for Taiwan. The Senate will proceed to hear debate on potential border amendments and reconvene for a final vote to potentially propel the package to full passage. Senate aides told Fox News Digital the process could take several days, as Republicans continue to negotiate which amendments will be up for consideration. The final decision about which amendments make it to the floor will be left up to Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. SENATE RELEASES LONG-AWAITED BORDER LEGISLATION, MAJOR ASYLUM CHANGES “I want to know what the Democratic leadership will agree to. I’m not going to vote for cloture until I know how this movie ends,” Graham told reporters before the vote. “Our border is a bigger national security threat to us in the short term than Ukraine. We have not even begun to do what we could do to secure the border.” Democrats brought the package up for a vote after Republicans had blocked the $118 billion package that also included a slew of border and immigration provisions on Wednesday. Republicans had previously said they would not approve funding for Ukraine unless the overwhelmed southern border was secured first. The border-foreign aid package was unveiled on Sunday night and hit a buzzsaw of conservative opposition from Republicans who said the package would normalize historic levels of illegal immigration and continue catch-and-release. Conservatives joined with some liberal Democrats in shutting down the bill, so Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer prepared a vote without the border package as a backup plan. Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell had backed funding for Ukraine, but drew criticism from party members who urged lawmakers not to pass foreign aid without securing the border first. “Support for our allies is more tenuous and the security of US personnel and interests is more questionable than it was three years ago. These are the circumstances in which the Senate must consider some weighty responsibilities of our own to invest in the hard power that the President instinctively consistently shies away from exercising, to commit to allies and fear of being abandoned,” McConnell said Wednesday. IMMIGRATION HAWKS WARN CONGRESS THAT SENATE DEAL WILL HANDCUFF FUTURE ADMINISTRATIONS ON SECURING BORDER The White House requested the supplemental funding package in October, but it was held up by Republicans who wanted more measures to fix the record-setting border crisis, including greater limits on asylum and limits on releases into the interior. Negotiators worked for months and on Sunday finally released their text. In addition to the foreign aid package, the failed border package included an “emergency border authority” to mandate Title 42-style expulsions of migrants when migration levels exceed 5,000 a day over a seven-day rolling average. The bill would have narrowed asylum eligibility while expediting the process from years to months, provided immediate work permits for asylum seekers and funded a massive increase in staffing at the border and more immigration judges. The package also included greater detention, increased numbers of green cards, extra funding for NGOs and cities receiving migrants, $650 million for border wall funding and $450 million for countries to take back and re-settle illegal immigrants. While the administration and negotiators described it as the toughest border package in years which would curb arrivals, limit asylum and lead to more expulsions, for conservatives it was seen as normalizing a crisis. SENATE TANKS IMMIGRATION, FOREIGN AID SPENDING PACKAGE AFTER GOP BACKLASH AGAINST BORDER PROVISIONS Some Democrats also objected to the bill, saying it was too harsh and did not include amnesty for illegal immigrants already in the U.S. — a long sought after inclusion from immigration doves. There has also been growing opposition to additional funding for Ukraine among Republicans, particularly in the House. On Tuesday, Republicans in the lower chamber instead attempted to pass a standalone bill providing aid only to Israel. It failed after 14 Republicans and 166 Democrats voted against it. This is a breaking story. Please check back for updates.
Missouri Senate kills proposed rape, incest exceptions to state abortion law
Missouri senators on Wednesday voted against amending the state’s strict law against abortions to allow exceptions in cases of rape and incest. The state banned almost all abortions after the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 overturned Roe v. Wade. Abortions currently are only legal “in cases of medical emergency.” Democratic state Sen. Tracy McCreery said Missouri’s current law goes too far and called on her colleagues to “show an ounce of compassion” for victims of rape and incest. THESE STATES WILL VOTE ON ABORTION THIS YEAR “What we’re saying is, ‘We don’t care,’” McCreery said of the state’s current abortion ban. “We’re going to force you to give birth, even if that pregnancy resulted from forcible rape by a family member, a date, an ex-husband or a stranger.” McCreery tried adding amendments to allow exceptions for abortion in cases of rape and incest to a Republican-sponsored bill that would continue blocking taxpayer funding from going to Planned Parenthood. Both of McCreery’s amendments were voted down along party lines in the Republican-led Senate, and debate on the underlying bill was cut off before a final vote Wednesday. GOP Sen. Rick Brattin said abortion is as much of an atrocity as the institution of slavery and argued that giving birth could help women recover from rape or incest. “If you want to go after the rapist, let’s give him the death penalty. Absolutely, let’s do it,” Brattin said. “But not the innocent person caught in-between that, by God’s grace, may even be the greatest healing agent you need in which to recover from such an atrocity.” Republican Sen. Mike Moon was also in favor of the ban and added to Brattin’s comments, calling for rapists to be castrated. But some Republicans said that Missouri went too far in its abortion ban. St. Louis resident Jamie Corley is leading a campaign to amend the state constitution to allow abortions for any reason up to 12 weeks into pregnancy. If Corley’s amendment is enacted, abortions would also be allowed in cases of rape, incest and fatal fetal abnormalities until viability, which typically is around 24 weeks. A competing proposal backed by Planned Parenthood and other abortion-rights groups would enshrine the right to abortion in the constitution while allowing the GOP-led Legislature to regulate it after the point of viability.
Minneapolis City Council overrides Mayor Frey’s veto of Israel-Hamas war cease-fire resolution
A crowd gathered Thursday at the meeting place of the Minneapolis City Council reportedly was heard chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” after lawmakers there voted to override Mayor Jacob Frey’s veto of their resolution calling for a permanent cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war. The controversial phrase rang out inside the Public Service Center as several leaders of Jewish groups in opposition to the resolution were walking through the building’s lobby following the 9-3 vote by the Minneapolis City Council, according to the Star Tribune newspaper. The resolution, vetoed by Frey last week, calls on Minnesota’s state and federal delegations, as well as the Biden administration, to “Advance a full, immediate, and permanent ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip, provide humanitarian aid and to “Support an end to U.S. military funding to the State of Israel and an end to U.S. tax dollars contributing to humanitarian catastrophe and loss of life.” It also calls for the release of all Israeli hostages being held captive by Hamas and the release of “thousands of Palestinians held indefinitely without cause and trial in Israeli military prisons.” BLINKEN LEAVES MIDDLE EAST WITHOUT HOSTAGE DEAL, SAYS HAMAS PROPOSAL HAS ‘ABSOLUTE NON-STARTERS’ Although Frey says he supports a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war, the Democrat noted in a press release on Jan. 31 that the resolution was “one-sided, failing to recognize the history of Israeli Jews,” Fox 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul reports. “The resolution City Council approved uplifts the history of Palestinians, and all but erases that of Israeli Jews,” Frey reportedly added. “Including some people’s history as valid, truthful, and righteous as it may be, while ignoring others, is neither progressive nor inclusive. That’s not in keeping with the Minneapolis I know and love. At a time when antisemitic incidents and Islamophobic complaints have risen nearly 400% and 216% respectively nationwide, we have an obligation to, at the very least, not make things worse. I remain open to signing a truly unifying ceasefire resolution and hope we can all do this work together.” CONSERVATIVES PLOT NEW ISRAEL AID PLAN WITH SPENDING CUTS AFTER JOHNSON BILL GOES DOWN IN FLAMES Frey’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday from Fox News Digital regarding the Minneapolis City Council overriding his veto. The crowd that rallied in the lobby of the Public Service Center were also chanting “Cease-fire motion’s passed, put that veto in the trash” and “free, free Palestine” in the wake of the vote, the Star Tribune reports. Sana Wazwaz, a leader of the American Muslims for Palestine’s Minnesota chapter, said in a statement Thursday that “Our victory signals a radical shift in what is considered acceptable criticism of Israel. “To override [M]ayor Frey’s veto is to send the message that principles win over politics — that Minneapolis stuck to their strong language, and didn’t back down despite pressure to conform to ceasefire resolution norms,” she added.
Hunter Biden was paid $100K through joint-venture with Chinese energy firm, ex-associate testified
Hunter Biden was paid $100,000 a month and James Biden was paid $65,000 a month in 2017 from their joint-venture with Chinese Communist Party-linked Chinese energy firm CEFC, a former associate testified to the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees. Mervyn Yan, who testified behind closed doors at the committees last month, said he did not know the nature of the work the Bidens provided, according to a transcript of the testimony obtained by Fox News Digital. FORMER HUNTER BIDEN ASSOCIATE TONY BOBULINSKI TO TESTIFY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AS PART OF IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY Yan testified that he met Hunter Biden and James Biden in May 2017 through a CEFC business partner Gongwen Dong, also known as “Kevin.” Yan said that meeting lasted less than 15 minutes, but that it was the impetus for the joint-business venture, Hudson West III, with the Bidens. Yan said the business venture was intended to facilitate the investment of Chinese energy infrastructure firms – like CEFC – into U.S. energy companies in exchange for energy exports to China. “It was in May 2017, four of us. And then Kevin asked me to come to a meeting. And then eventually we met. I met Hunter Biden and James Biden and Kevin, just four of us… in Midtown. That was a relatively quick meeting, roughly 15 minutes, because I noticed the time because I couldn’t even get a water in that place,” Yan told the committees. DEMOCRATS BLAST IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AFTER GOP WITNESS SAYS HE WAS ‘UNAWARE’ OF JOE BIDEN’S ROLE IN FAMILY BIZ “So basically we shake hands and basically say we can work together,” Yan continued, adding that he would be “sort of like on-the-ground person who executes and pretty much sources the infrastructure deals.” Yan said he would be “working closely with Hunter.” Yan was asked what he thought Hunter Biden “brought to the table” in the joint-venture. “I don’t know,” Yan testified. “I don’t know what he can contribute.” Yan said he did not know if Hunter Biden had “knowledge” in the energy infrastructure field. Yan said Hunter Biden was given a $500,000 retainer, and then paid $100,000 per month. Yan also testified that Hunter Biden had been working for CEFC prior to their introductory meeting, but did not know for how long. JOE BIDEN RECEIVED $40K IN ‘LAUNDERED CHINA MONEY’ FROM BROTHER IN 2017, COMER SAYS Hunter Biden, though, in correspondence that was shown to Yan during his interview last month, initially requested $30 million for introductions in the industry. Fox News Digital last year reported correspondence between Hunter Biden and Gongwen Dong, in which the first son demands $10 million to “further the interest” of the joint-venture, saying that the “Bidens are the best I know at doing exactly” what the chairman of the CCP-linked firm wanted. “The Biden’s [sic] are the best I know at doing exactly what the Chairman wants from this partnership,” Hunter Biden writes in the WhatsApp message. “Please let’s not quibble over peanuts.” According to a September 2020 report released by the Senate Homeland Security Committee and Senate Finance Committee on their investigation into Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings, Ye Jianming, Gongwen Dong and other Chinese nationals that Hunter Biden had business associations with were linked to the Chinese Communist government and the People’s Liberation Army. That Senate report, showed that on Aug. 8, 2017, just days after this WhatsApp message, CEFC wired nearly $5 million to the bank account for Hudson West III, a firm that Hunter Biden opened with Chinese associates. “These funds may have originated from a loan issued from the account of a company called Northern International Capital Holdings, a Hong Kong-based investment company identified at one time as a ‘substantial shareholder’ in CEFC International Limited along with Ye,” the report stated. “It is unclear whether Hunter Biden was a half-owner of Hudson West III at the time.” The report also stated, “the same day the $5 million was received, and continuing through Sept. 25, 2018, Hudson West III sent request payments to Owasco, Hunter Biden’s firm.” The report stated the payments were described as consulting fees and reached “$4,790,375.25 in just over a year.” Meanwhile, Yan testified that none of the five infrastructure deals he worked on with the Bidens in 2017 came to fruition, but said Hunter and James Biden were still compensated for their work in attempting to bring business. Yan testified as part of the House impeachment inquiry against President Biden. Yan told congressional investigators that Joe Biden was not involved in the joint-venture, and said neither Hunter nor James Biden ever suggested he would be involved. HUNTER DEMANDED $10M FROM CHINESE ENERGY FIRM BECAUSE ‘BIDENS ARE THE BEST,’ HAVE ‘CONNECTIONS’ Yan also testified that he was not aware of any funds from the joint-venture going to Joe Biden. Yan maintained that he was never in contact with Joe Biden, and that Hunter and James Biden did not discuss the then-former vice president in their conversations. Yan was pointedly asked if he was ever told that he could receive political favors from Joe Biden if he engaged in business with Hunter Biden, to which he replied in the negative. “Did you engage in a business relationship with Hunter and James with the expectation that you would receive political favors from Joe Biden?” Yan was asked. “No,” Yan said. After his interview last month, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., pointed to Yan’s testimony in which he “admitted on the record the Bidens had no experience in the energy and infrastructure sectors and was not sure what they brought to the table.” Comer has stressed that evidence collected by congressional investigators reveals that President Biden “was at least aware of some of his family’s business ventures and sought to influence potential business deals that financially benefited his family.” Yan’s testimony came as the committee continues to interview former business associates of Hunter Biden. Next up is Tony Bobulinski on Feb. 13. Then, James Biden will appear for a closed-door deposition on Feb. 21, and
Uddhav Sena leader Abhishek Goshalkar shot in during Facebook live
Uddhav Sena’s leader, Abhishek Goshalkar was shot on Thursday in Mumbai.
Johnson backpedals on divisive Senate endorsement after GOP blowback
A Republican Party civil war nearly broke out over the Montana Senate race before Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., decided to step back from the GOP primary there, Fox News Digital has learned. Three sources told Fox News Digital that Johnson planned to endorse Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., for Senate but reversed course after blowback from fellow Republicans. “Johnson planned to endorse Rosendale, but after receiving extreme blowback from Trump allies on the Hill, he decided to withdraw and not do it,” the source said. “He told at least one senator, at least one congressman…that he was no longer planning to endorse after the blowback.” A second source indicated that those two lawmakers were Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., and Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont. Zinke told Fox News Digital, “I can confirm that upon further reflection, the speaker is not endorsing Rosendale for Senate. I am confident that his decision was based on the reality that Rosendale is the weaker candidate by far against [Democratic Sen. Jon Tester].” JOHNSON CAUGHT BETWEEN WARRING HOUSE GOP FACTIONS: ‘DRIFTING TOWARD MOB RULE’ Daines chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), the Senate GOP’s campaign arm tasked with retaking the majority in the November elections. That includes a pickup opportunity that Republicans see in unseating Daines’ fellow Montanan, Tester. Both he and Zinke have backed former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy, who has also been endorsed by Montana’s governor and other top GOP officials. Rosendale, a member of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, has not entered the race but is expected to do so. SCHUMER-ALIGNED GROUP THAT MEDDLED IN GOP PRIMARY HIT WITH COMPLAINT ALLEGING FEC VIOLATIONS The second source said Zinke and Daines were “pissed” about Johnson’s intention to endorse Rosendale. That source also said it was Rosendale who reached out to the speaker to ask for his backing. A third source, who is familiar with Zinke’s thinking, told Fox News Digital, “The speaker called Zinke last night. It was a good conversation. Zinke supports the speaker’s decision to not get involved.” The endorsement would have been an unusual step for Johnson, who has publicly tried to downplay the appearance of intraparty division since taking the speaker’s gavel in October. Johnson’s campaign told Fox News Digital, “The Speaker has committed to sending a contribution to Congressman Rosendale, as he has for other House colleagues and friends, but he has not made any endorsements in Senate races. He is singularly focused on growing the House majority.” GOP CANDIDATE COMPARED DEPORTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO NAZIS, ‘NOT OPPOSED’ TO FAST-TRACKING DACA CITIZENSHIP Montana is seen as critical to the GOP’s chances of retaking the Senate next year. Tester, who has been in office since 2007, has survived several close races in an increasingly red state. Former President Donald Trump won the state by roughly 16% over President Biden in 2020. He has not endorsed anyone in the Montana Senate race. Fox News Digital reached out to Rosendale’s campaign but did not immediately hear back. A spokesperson for Daines’ Senate office referred Fox News Digital to the NRSC.
Biden won’t redact any portion of Special Counsel Hur report on classified docs: White House
President Biden did not assert executive privilege or seek to redact any portion of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s now-complete report following his months-long investigation into Biden’s alleged improper retention of classified records, Fox News has learned. The report, which is expected to be made public imminently, was submitted to Attorney General Merrick Garland on Feb. 5. Garland notified congressional lawmakers that the White House had the right to review the report and findings for “executive privilege consistent with the President’s constitutional prerogatives.” The White House concluded its privilege review Thursday morning. “We notified the Justice Department at approximately 9:00 this morning that our privilege review has concluded,” White House Counsel’s Office spokesperson Ian Sams said. “In keeping with his commitment to cooperation and transparency throughout this investigation, the President declined to assert privilege over any portion of the report.” Hur has been investigating Biden’s improper retention of classified records since last year. Reports suggest there will be no charges filed against the president. Classified records were first found inside the Washington, D.C., offices of the Penn Biden Center think tank on Nov. 2, 2022, but only disclosed to the public in early January 2023. A second stash of classified documents was also found inside the garage of the president’s home in Wilmington, Delaware, in December 2022, prompting Attorney General Merrick Garland to appoint former U.S. Attorney Rob Hur to serve as special counsel in January 2023. Days later, additional classified documents were found in the president’s home in Delaware. The FBI conducted a more than 12-hour search of Biden’s Delaware home, seizing additional classified records. Biden previously defended the storing of classified documents — some of which were found in his Delaware garage. “By the way, my Corvette is in a locked garage, so it’s not like they’re sitting out on the street,” he once said. But Garland, on Nov. 18, 2022, appointed former DOJ official Jack Smith to serve as special counsel to investigate whether Trump was improperly retaining classified records at Mar-a-Lago. When Smith was appointed to investigate Trump, Garland and top DOJ officials were simultaneously conducting an internal review of President Biden’s mishandling of classified records. That review, and the discovery of classified records at Biden’s office, was not disclosed to the public until January. Republicans and allies of former President Trump were outraged, blasting the Justice Department for a double standard. Trump pleaded not guilty to all 37 felony charges out of Smith’s probe. The charges include willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice and false statements. Trump, the 2024 GOP front-runner, was then charged with an additional three counts as part of a superseding indictment out of Smith’s investigation — an additional count of willful retention of national defense information and two additional obstruction counts. Trump pleaded not guilty. That trial is set to begin on May 20. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.