The outcry over the FBI raid on Donald Trump 's Mar-a-Lago residence has led supporters of the former president to scrutinize the people behind the investigation. Calls have been made to defund the FBI, while Trump himself labeled the incident as "prosecutorial misconduct," and even made unfounded claims the Feds "planted" evidence in his mansion. Left-leaning commentators have hit back at some of these excoriations, but in doing so may have also helped spread inaccuracies. The Claim A number of tweets posted on 9 August, 2022, including one by former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann, claimed that Bruce Reinhart, the district judge who signed off the Mar-a-Lago raid, was a Trump appointee. The Facts It wasn't long after the Mar-a-Lago raid on Monday, August 8, 2022, that conspiratorial voices began to describe the investigation as a "deep state operation," organized by powers determined to silence former president Trump. The notion of that claim is fairly … [Read more...] about Fact Check: Did Trump appoint judge who approved FBI Mar-a-Lago Raid?
Trump administration
Exclusive: An informer told the FBI what documents Trump was hiding, and where
The raid on Mar-a-Lago was based largely on information from an FBI confidential human source, one who was able to identify what classified documents former President Trump was still hiding and even the location of those documents, two senior government officials told Newsweek . The officials, who have direct knowledge of the FBI's deliberations and were granted anonymity in order to discuss sensitive matters, said the raid of Donald Trump 's Florida residence was deliberately timed to occur when the former president was away. FBI decision-makers in Washington and Miami thought that denying the former president a photo opportunity or a platform from which to grandstand (or to attempt to thwart the raid) would lower the profile of the event, says one of the sources, a senior Justice Department official who is a 30-year veteran of the FBI . The effort to keep the raid low-key failed: instead, it prompted a furious response from GOP leaders and Trump supporters. "What … [Read more...] about Exclusive: An informer told the FBI what documents Trump was hiding, and where
I solved the mystery: here’s why Trump wasn’t just subpoenaed | Opinion
I know why former President Donald Trump 's papers were seized in a search, rather than obtained via subpoena. It was to circumvent his Fifth Amendment rights. If Trump were subpoenaed to turn over material that may be classified, his lawyers would have the right to claim that the very act of producing these documents would be incriminating. It would constitute an admission that he possessed these contraband documents. This is a common problem in criminal investigations. The Justice Department generally solves the problem by offering the suspect "production immunity." This is a rather complex constitutional mechanism, but it is one that is frequently used. If a defendant is given production immunity, he must turn over the incriminating documents, but the government is precluded from using the fact that it was he who turned them over. The government remains free to introduce the documents for their substantive content—but the government cannot say whence it obtained them, and it … [Read more...] about I solved the mystery: here’s why Trump wasn’t just subpoenaed | Opinion
Donald Trump suggests FBI agents “planting” evidence at Mar-a-Lago
Former President Donald Trump has suggested that the FBI could have been "planting" evidence at Mar-a-Lago during a raid that the agency carried out on Monday. Trump took to his social media site Truth Social early on Wednesday and criticized the search of his Florida residence, where FBI agents reportedly seized a dozen boxes as part of an investigation into the handling of presidential documents. "The FBI and others from the Federal Government would not let anyone, including my lawyers, be anywhere near the areas that were rummaged and otherwise looked at during the raid on Mar-a-Lago," Trump wrote . "Everyone was asked to leave the premises, they wanted to be left alone, without any witnesses to see what they were doing, taking or, hopefully not, 'planting.' Why did they STRONGLY insist on having nobody watching them, everybody out? Obama and Clinton were never 'raided,' despite big disputes!" When contacted by Newsweek on Wednesday, the FBI declined to comment. … [Read more...] about Donald Trump suggests FBI agents “planting” evidence at Mar-a-Lago
Trump vs. Pence proxy war ends in decisive GOP primary election
Donald Trump has beaten Mike Pence in the proxy war which became a subplot in a number of GOP primary elections. On Tuesday, Pence-endorsed former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch conceded defeat to Trump-backed businessman Tim Michels in the Wisconsin Republican primary for governor. Michels, another primary candidate who supports the false claim the last election was rigged against Trump, will now go on to face Democrat Tony Evers in November's midterm election. The Wisconsin race was the third time Pence and Trump had backed opposing candidates in the GOP primaries. The results were seen as a signifier as to which direction the GOP, and its voters, are heading as both men are reported to be gearing up for a run for president in 2024. In Arizona, the Trump-endorsed candidate Kari Lake, who frequently pushes the false claim the 2020 election was "stolen" from the former president , beat the Pence-backed Karrin Taylor Robson in the race for the GOP nomination for governor, … [Read more...] about Trump vs. Pence proxy war ends in decisive GOP primary election
Trump-Endorsed Tim Michels Wins Wisconsin Republican Primary Race for Governor
Trump-endorsed Tim Michels won Tuesday night’s Republican primary race for governor in Wisconsin, meaning he will face off against Democrat Gov. Tony Evers in November. The Republican primary race in the crucial battleground state set the stage for yet another proxy war, with Trump-endorsed Tim Michels, who co-owns Michels Corp, and Pence-backed former lieutenant governor Rebecca Kleefisch facing off. However, Michels came away as the victor Tuesday night. Michels used his victory speech to promise to focus on jobs and the economy and said he would stand up for people who “have been left behind by the Democratic Party that just wants to focus on the social issues.” “As governor, my number one priority is to take care of the hardworking people of Wisconsin,” Michels said. BREAKING: Tim Michels wins Republican nomination for governor in Wisconsin primary election. #APRaceCall at 10:35 p.m. CDT. https://t.co/2nlgpji7ac — AP Politics (@AP_Politics) August 10, 2022 … [Read more...] about Trump-Endorsed Tim Michels Wins Wisconsin Republican Primary Race for Governor
ROLLINS: The FBI’s Raid On Trump’s Mar-A-Lago Home Has Put America On A Very Dangerous Path
This week’s FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago properly concerns every American — Republican, Democrat, Independent, or beyond — who cares about the rule of law and the system of norms that are the unwritten rules underpinning our formal Constitution. One of the core mechanisms ensuring the continuity of American democracy is the fact — continuously true throughout two and a half centuries of history until, perhaps, yesterday — that it is safe to surrender office and leave power. The United States is nearly unique in the history of the developed world in that former presidents are not routinely investigated, harassed, or prosecuted by their successors. Until now. (RELATED: LEWANDOWSKI: Republicans Can Win Big In New Hampshire If Trump Backs The Right Candidate. Here’s Who He Should Avoid) We should acknowledge two things about former President Donald J. Trump. The first is that he occupies a place in the minds and worldviews of his enemies in the D.C. establishment that utterly deranges … [Read more...] about ROLLINS: The FBI’s Raid On Trump’s Mar-A-Lago Home Has Put America On A Very Dangerous Path
Trump invokes Fifth Amendment rights in deposition for New York AG James’ civil investigation
close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for August 10 Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Former President Donald Trump said he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights, per the advice of his attorneys, during his deposition as part of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ civil investigation, calling it an "unfounded politically motivated Witch Hunt," adding that he had "no choice," due to the Biden administration and prosecutors across the nation having "lost all moral and ethical bounds of decency." Trump was set to sit down with attorneys from the state attorney general’s office behind-closed-doors, just days after the FBI raided his home at Mar-a-Lago, as part of an unrelated federal investigation involving the National Archives and Records Administration and classified materials the former president allegedly took with him from the White House to … [Read more...] about Trump invokes Fifth Amendment rights in deposition for New York AG James’ civil investigation
Pentagon official names 4 countries impeding elimination of nuclear weapons
Colin Kahl, the U.S. under secretary of defense for policy in the Biden administration, has warned that four countries are standing in the way of eliminating nuclear weapons. The Pentagon official pointed to the nuclear threats posed by Russia, China, North Korea and Iran. His comments come as an Iranian opposition group told Newsweek that Tehran will not abandon its plans to obtain a nuclear bomb even as talks resumed in Vienna on Friday over the country's atomic program. Kahl said on Friday that curbing a nuclear arms race was its most challenging since the end of the Cold War. At the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in New York, he cited the rhetoric from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine as one of the examples of barriers to eliminating nuclear weapons. The NPT is a deal aimed at preventing the increase of nuclear weapons and to promote cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. China's rapid expansion of its nuclear weapons … [Read more...] about Pentagon official names 4 countries impeding elimination of nuclear weapons
Har Ghar Tiranga: Angry Garag residents in Dharwad boycott campaign, protest change in flag code
When the tricolour flutters atop households on August 15, marking the 75 th year of India’s independence, the residents of Garag village in Dharwad taluk will not join the celebrations. They are upset with the decision to allow flags of polyester and mill cloth, which has consequently forced the Garag khadi unit, synonymous with the tricolour, to suspend production. Boycott of Har Ghar Tiranga campaign Boycott of Har Ghar Tiranga campaign in Garag village in Dharwad taluk of Karnataka. | Video Credit: The Hindu Every year when the khadi tricolour fluttered atop high masts on independence day, the residents of Garag village felt proud as it was the cloth manufactured in their village that had gone into the making of the national flag. This year, however, even the ready flag cloth in the Khadi unit has not been procured by the KVIC for flag production. Also read: Khadi units in doldrums as costs shoot up, raw material grows scarce The village residents have … [Read more...] about Har Ghar Tiranga: Angry Garag residents in Dharwad boycott campaign, protest change in flag code