Republicans File Impeachment Articles Against Rosenstein – Here’s Why They Did It

/0 Comments/in , /by

Several Republicans in the House of Representatives filed articles of impeachment against Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein Wednesday. . .

Republicans claimed in the resolution that Rosenstein had improperly refused to hand over documents requested by Republican members of Congress investigating claims of bias and corruption at the Department of Justice and the FBI.

“We can’t get answers for the American people if we can’t get information from the DOJ,” tweeted Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). “It’s time to impeach Rod Rosenstein.”

“I just filed a resolution with [Jim Jordan] and several colleagues to impeach Rod Rosenstein,” said Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) Wednesday in a tweet.

“The DOJ has continued to hide information from Congress and repeatedly obstructed oversight–even defying multiple Congressional subpoenas,” he added. “We have had enough.”

(Read more from “Republicans File Impeachment Articles Against Rosenstein – Here’s Why They Did It” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

First Lady Melania Has a Defiant Response to Bizarre Report About President Trump

/0 Comments/in , /by

By The Blaze. A spokesperson for first lady Melania Trump responded with a defiant statement to a report that President Trump had acted bizarrely to seeing her television screen set to a hostile news channel. . .

According to a New York Times report, the president allegedly grew angry at seeing that the first lady’s television on Air Force One was tuned into CNN. . .

The first lady did not address the truth or falsity of the report, but a statement from her spokesperson, Stephanie Grisham, slammed reporters for focusing on such trivial issues.

“Did you know that every 15 minutes a baby is born with NAS?” Grisham said, referring to neonatal abstinence syndrome. “Maybe you’d like to talk about the 160,000 kids who skip school every day for fear of being bullied, or that 280,000 students are physically attacked in schools every month.”

“Seems kind of silly to worry about what channel she watches on TV (any channel she wants btw) or if she heard some recording on the news,” she added. (Read more from “First Lady Melania Has a Defiant Response to Bizarre Report About President Trump” HERE)

______________________________________________________

Melania Trump Responds to Cohen Tape ‘by Focusing on Role as Mother and First Lady’, Says Spokeswoman

By The Independent. Melania Trump is focused on her roles as mother and first lady, a spokeswoman said after being asked about her reaction to the Cohen tape – in which Donald Trump apparently discusses making payments to a Playboy model he is alleged to have had an affair with.

Stephanie Grisham made the brief reply when asked for the president’s wife’s response to the recording which was leaked earlier this week.

She said there would be no further comment. (Read more from “Melania Trump Responds to Cohen Tape ‘by Focusing on Role as Mother and First Lady’, Says Spokeswoman” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

AUDIO: Secret Recording of Trump and His Lawyer Discussing Payment Over ‘Mistress’ Released

/0 Comments/in , /by

By The Blaze. CNN’s Chris Cuomo aired Tuesday the much debated recording secretly made of President Donald Trump and his former lawyer, Michael Cohen from before the 2016 election. . .

The conversation was recorded by Cohen in September 2016 just head of the election, and it details the effort to set up a company to buy the story of Karen McDougal, a former Playboy playmate who claims she and Trump had an extramarital affair.

“I need to open up a company for the transfer of all of that info regarding our friend David,” says Cohen on the recording, apparently referring to David Pecker, the owner of the National Enquirer.

“What financing?” says Trump, interrupting Cohen.

“We’ll have to pay,” responds Cohen.

Cohen’s lawyer Lanny Davis says the tape shows Trump saying that they should pay in cash, to which Cohen responds, “no no.”

(Read more from “Secret Recording of Trump and His Lawyer Discussing Payment Over Mistress Released” HERE)

_________________________________________

CNN Airs Trump/Cohen Tape — but Then Trump Makes One Additional Request

By The Daily Caller. CNN aired part of a recorded conversation between President Trump and his former attorney, Michael Cohen, on Tuesday evening’s “Cuomo Prime Time.”

On the September 2016 recording, both Trump and Cohen can be heard discussing how to purchase the rights to Karen McDougal’s story about the alleged affair she had with the then-reality TV star in 2006 from American Media. . .

Trump can be heard asking Cohen “what financing?” and also “pay with cash,” although it was unclear whether that was a question or a statement to Cohen. The tape cuts off before a final decision is made, but not before Trump poses one additional request.

(Read more from “CNN Airs Trump/Cohen Tape — but Then Trump Makes One Additional Request” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Man Claims This Planet Fitness Rule Encouraged Him to Work out Naked

/0 Comments/in , /by

By The Chicago Tribune. A man who stripped naked before working out at a New Hampshire gym told police officers that he thought he was in a “Judgement Free Zone,” before being arrested.

NECN reports 34-year-old Eric Stagno, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, was charged with indecent exposure, lewdness and disorderly conduct on Sunday for taking off his clothes and exercising at a Plaistow Planet Fitness.

Police say he walked back and forth and started doing poses on a yoga mat. He allegedly referenced Planet Fitness’ slogan that it is a “Judgement Free Zone.” (Read more from “Man Claims This Planet Fitness Rule Encouraged Him to Work out Naked” HERE)

__________________________________________________

Man Who Stripped Nude at a Planet Fitness Thought It Was ‘Judgement Free Zone,’ Police Say

By USA Today. . ,Eric M. Stagno, 34, of Haverhill, Mass., was charged with indecent exposure, lewdness and disorderly conduct after police responded to the gym in nearby Plaistow, N.H., according to local media reports.

“The story we got from witnesses was that the guy walked in, stripped down right there in front, left the clothes and belongings at the front desk, walked back and forth across the gym a couple of times and then settled in over at the yoga mats,” Plaistow police Capt. Brett Morgan told the New Hampshire Union Leader newspaper. . .

The gym was fairly crowded at the time, Morgan told The Boston Globe, adding that Stagno checked himself out in the mirror before heading to the yoga mats.

“Some of the comments some witnesses gave were that they felt uncomfortable, disgusted, sick, and unsafe,” Morgan told the paper. “There were more witnesses coming forward than we could take names.” (Read more from “Man Who Stripped Nude at a Planet Fitness Thought It Was ‘Judgement Free Zone,’ Police Say” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Trump Is Very Concerned About This Possible Russia Decision

/0 Comments/in , /by

President Donald Trump appeared to want to flip the script on Tuesday tweeting that he is “very concerned” that Russia will be “pushing very hard for Democrats” this fall in the midterm elections.

Trump tweeted, “I’m very concerned that Russia will be fighting very hard to have an impact on the upcoming Election. Based on the fact that no President has been tougher on Russia than me, they will be pushing very hard for the Democrats.”

“They definitely don’t want Trump!” he added.

Trump received a torrent of criticism from members of the media, as well as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, for seeming to be as ready to accept Putin’s denial of Russia’s meddling in the 2016 presidential race as the U.S. intelligence community’s findings that it did.

The president, following the meeting, clarified that he has “full faith” in America’s intelligence agencies, including their findings concerning Russian attempts to influence the election.

He noted that he has stated multiple times over the past year that he believes Russia sought to meddle, but he does not believe it changed the outcome.

In an interview with CNBC last Thursday, Trump said, “Getting along with President Putin, getting along with Russia, is positive, not a negative.”

He added, “That being said, if it doesn’t work out, I’ll be the worst enemy he’s ever had.”

Trump emphasized the actions he has taken against Putin’s interests.

“Look at the sanctions I threw on. Look at the diplomats I threw out. Look at all of the things that I’ve done,” he said.

The president continued, “Nobody else did what I’ve done. Obama didn’t do it. Obama was a patsy for Russia. He was a total patsy.

“I have been far tougher on Russia than any president in many, many years.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer responded to the president’s assertion that the Russians may help the Democrats this fall by tweeting video footage from the Helsinki summit of Putin saying he wanted Trump to win in 2016. “Let’s go to the video tape (again),” Schumer wrote.

Following the Democrat’s harsh rhetoric toward Trump’s meeting with Putin last week, a 2003 Associated Press photo of Schumer accompanying the Russian president on a visit to New York City circulated widely.

Garrett Graff, writing for Politico, argued that Trump just might be right about the Russians seeking to help the Democrats regain power this November.

“There’s solid geopolitical evidence that boosting the Democrats would be a smart strategy for a foreign actor this fall,” he wrote.

Graff continued, “Vladimir Putin’s goal isn’t—and never was—to help the Republican Party, at least in the long run.”

“Boosting Trump’s presidential campaign was a means to Putin’s end: Weakening the West, and exploiting the seams and divisions of the West’s open democracies to undermine our legitimacy and moral standing.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., agreed with Trump that Putin’s plan is not wedded to a person or a party, but meant to sow chaos.

He wrote, “Putin is pro-Chaos and is an Equal Opportunity Disruptor of the American electoral system.” (For more from the author of “Trump Is Very Concerned About This Possible Russia Decision” please click HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Teens Arrested After Car Chase Leaves Officer Dead

/0 Comments/in , /by

Three teenage suspects are now in custody in connection with a police chase that led to a suburban Seattle officer being struck and killed by a pursuing officer in a patrol car.

Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla said at a news conference Monday that a passenger in the suspect vehicle was arrested with the help of a police dog after the incident early Sunday that killed Officer Diego Moreno.

Two other suspects, including the 16-year-old driver, have since been arrested, he said.

The chase began around 2 a.m. Sunday after a red truck was seen leaving a restaurant parking lot where gunshots were fired, according to Padilla.

Moreno had deployed spike strips at an intersection Sunday to slow the suspect vehicle, police said. He was on foot when he was struck by the patrol car that had been pursuing the suspects.

Authorities haven’t said what specifically led to that collision. Washington State Patrol District Commander Ron Mead on Sunday blamed the suspect for Moreno’s death.

The fleeing suspect’s truck landed on a spike but continued on for another mile before striking a barrier and coming to rest on its hood.

The patrol car also ran into an SUV that spun into two other vehicles. Padilla said three bystanders were provided medical care and that they were all doing OK.

The officer driving the patrol car was hospitalized in critical condition but had improved by Sunday night. He remained in a Seattle hospital Monday with serious injuries, Padilla said.

That officer has been with the department for 18 years and is one of their best, Padilla said. Police said they would release his name at a later time.

Padilla said Moreno made significant contributions during his eight years on the force, and described him as an “incredible human being.”

The Venezuela native was honored last year by the city with a Lifesaving Medal for saving someone from an opioid overdose. In 2016, he was praised for rescuing an elderly woman from a fire.

Kent Mayor Dana Ralph said Moreno’s efforts went above and beyond in the department’s Shop with a Cop holiday event. Ralph said last year Moreno pulled out his own wallet to cover extra costs for the things a child wanted.

“That was the type of person he was, the public servant he was,” Ralph said. “He leaves a huge hole in our hearts.”

Moreno is survived by a wife and two young children.

Community members added Monday to a memorial of flowers, candles, drawings and other items outside the Kent Police Station.

A vigil will take place Wednesday evening at Kent Town Square. (For more from the author of “Teens Arrested After Car Chase Leaves Officer Dead” please click HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

DMV Audit Reveals Outrageous Example of Government Incompetence

/0 Comments/in , /by

With the Democrats’ heightening embrace of socialism, a gander at a recent audit of California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) might serve as a wake-up call to the unromanticized reality of what widespread socialism would really look like.

For example, the audit, which was released on Tuesday, uncovered plenty of expected government incompetence, including the revelation that an employee slept for three hours on the job every single day for three years. And here’s the kicker: despite racking up numerous complaints from colleagues, the sleepy DVM worker remains employed by the state, receiving a paycheck funded by the taxpayers to this day.

Do you think this would happen in the private sector unchecked for three days, let alone three long years?

According to a report from The Sacramento Bee, “Four witnesses told investigators from the California State Auditor’s office that the DMV employee consistently slept at her desk. The auditor estimated the employee misused 2,200 hours of work time between February 2014 and December 2017.”

The Bee noted that the sleepy DMV worker had her doctor inform the department in 2016 “that she could not perform the duties the job required.” The department then “reassigned her to another position in January 2017, but she continued to sleep at work.” (Read more from “DMV Audit Reveals Outrageous Example of Government Incompetence” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Leaked: Trump Sent Plane to Bring Home Otto Warmbier Without Asking North Korea’s Permission

/0 Comments/in , /by

When President Donald Trump learned of American college student and North Korean prisoner Otto Warmbier’s dire medical condition, he immediately sent a plane to land in Pyongyang and bring home the 22-year-old without asking North Korea’s permission first, says a report from GQ.

In early June of 2017, Trump-appointed U.S. special representative for North Korea policy Joseph Yun learned that Warmbier was unconscious. “I was completely shocked,” said Yun of learning the news. “I came back immediately, and I told Secretary Tillerson … and we determined at the time that we needed to get him and the other prisoners out as soon as possible, and I should contact Pyongyang and say I wanted to come right away.”

“When Trump learned of Otto’s condition, he doubled down on the order for Yun to rush to Pyongyang and bring Otto home,” says the report. “The North Koreans were unilaterally informed that an American plane would soon land in Pyongyang and that United States diplomats and doctors would get off.”

An anonymous State Department official said the president sounded like a “dad” when learning of the news. He was determined to retrieve Warmbier and bring him back to his parents as soon as humanly possible.

“The president was very invested in bringing Otto home,” the official told GQ. “Listening to him deliberate on this, he sounded to me a lot more like a dad.”

(Read more from “Leaked: Trump Sent Plane to Bring Home Otto Warmbier Without Asking North Korea’s Permission” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Confirmed: DOJ Used Materially False Information to Secure Wiretaps on Trump Associate

/0 Comments/in , /by

Newly released documents confirm House and Senate investigators’ claims that the Department of Justice and FBI used materially false and misleading information to secure wiretaps on Carter Page, a former volunteer foreign policy advisor to President Trump. The highly redacted documents released in response to Freedom of Information Act requests show how the FBI was able to convince the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to surveil the Naval Academy graduate and energy consultant for a year of his life.

The wiretap was applied for and granted in October 2016, shortly before the end of the presidential campaign. Approved applications last for 90 days. The Department of Justice requested and received three renewals, for a total of one year of surveillance. Despite claiming to the court in 2016 that “the FBI believes that Page has been collaborating and conspiring with the Russian Government,” the government has yet to charge Page with breaking any of the serious laws it alleges he knowingly transgressed. . .

s members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and Senate Judiciary Committee previously reported, a salacious and unverified dossier was essential to the government’s case for spying on Page. The information from the dossier is presented to the court as if it’s believable.

For instance, the application states, “the FBI has learned that Page met with at least two Russian officials during this trip.” The only way it learned that was through the dossier. Steele’s claim that Page had a “secret meeting with Igor Sechin, who is the President of Rosneft [a Russian energy company] and a close associate to Russian President Putin” to lift sanctions is included.

Another secret meeting with Igor Nikolayevich Divyekin to discuss releasing dirt on “Candidate #2” to “Candidate #1’s campaign” is mentioned. Also, while Page had left the campaign by the time the wiretap was sought, it is clear that the FBI believed its wiretap would find information on the Trump campaign, stating that the “Russian government’s efforts are being coordinated with Page and perhaps other individuals associated” with the Trump campaign. (Read more from “Confirmed: DOJ Used Materially False Information to Secure Wiretaps on Trump Associate” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Liberal Ninth Circuit Says Open-Carrying a Gun Is a Constitutional Right

/0 Comments/in , /by

The ultra-liberal and frequently overturned U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit just ruled that the Second Amendment protects one’s right to carry a gun openly outside of the home.

“We do not take lightly the problem of gun violence,” the majority opinion in Young v. Hawaii reads. Here’s more, emphasis added.

For better or for worse, the Second Amendment does protect a right to carry a firearm in public for self-defense. We would thus flout the Constitution if we were to hold that, ‘in regulating the manner of bearing arms, the authority of [the State] has no other limit than its own discretion.’ Reid, 1 Ala. at 616. While many respectable scholars and activists might find virtue in a firearms-carry regime that restricts the right to a privileged few, ‘the enshrinement of constitutional rights necessarily takes certain policy choices off the table.’

. . .

Citing Peruta v. County of San Diego, the court also stated that the Second Amendment does not protect the right of a citizen to carry a gun concealed — a tension that will eventually need to be resolved in another case. Charles Cooke, of National Review has more:

Unless the panel’s decision is reversed en banc, the two decisions will have to be reconciled. When that happens, it seems most likely either that (a) the court will strike down the open carry bans in Hawaii and California, or (b) the court will adopt the argument, presented by the plaintiffs in Peruta, that a state can choose to ban either open or concealed carry, but could not prohibit both. Watch this space.

(Read more from “Liberal Ninth Circuit Says Open-Carrying a Gun Is a Constitutional Right” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.