Posts

Geraldo Rivera: Donald Trump Is a ‘Civil-Rights Leader’ (VIDEO)

Fox News correspondent-at-large Geraldo Rivera on Tuesday insisted that President Donald Trump is a “civil-rights leader,” pointing to low African-American unemployment to make his case.

The morning after Martin Luther King Day, the former Celebrity Apprentice star reacted to Trump’s arrival at the economic summit in Davos, telling the hosts of Fox & Friends that he feels “awful” for the president because he’s dealing with impeachment during his trip.

“This is an economic summit, the American economy is the envy of the world,” he declared. “I call him, to great controversy, a civil-rights leader, especially yesterday on Martin Luther King Day.”

“Because why?” Rivera continued. “African American unemployment—lowest it’s ever been. Latino unemployment—lowest it’s ever been. The rising tide, the rising tide is lifting all boats, we should be celebrating, instead he’s fighting this—this, you know, cage match.”

(Read more from “Geraldo Rivera: Donald Trump Is a ‘Civil-Rights Leader’” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE

Trump Administration Releases Rule to Restrict ‘Birth Tourism’

The Trump administration on Thursday formally issued a rule allowing customs officials to deny entry to travelers whom they suspect are headed to the U.S. for the sole purpose of giving birth on American soil.

A rule issued by the State Department marks the administration’s first formal effort to cut down on the practice known as “birth tourism,” which President Trump has heavily criticized and suggested should be a reason for ending birthright citizenship.

“This rule establishes that travel to the United States with the primary purpose of obtaining U.S. citizenship for a child by giving birth in the United States is an impermissible basis for the issuance of a B nonimmigrant visa,” the statute reads.

“Consequently, a consular officer shall deny a B nonimmigrant visa to an alien who he or she has reason to believe intends to travel for this primary purpose,” it continues.

The White House said in a statement that “the birth tourism industry threatens to overburden valuable hospital resources and is rife with criminal activity, as reflected in Federal prosecutions.” (Read more from “Trump Administration Releases Rule to Restrict ‘Birth Tourism'” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE

DOJ Concludes That Two FISA Surveillance Renewals on Carter Page Were Illegal

By The Blaze. The Department of Justice concluded that two renewals of the FISA surveillance warrant against a former Trump campaign official were illegal, according to a report Thursday in the Wall Street Journal.

Carter Page was targeted by the FBI for surveillance during the Obama administration because of ties he had to Russia, but critics have accused the government of acting improperly and out of political motivation.

Two of the renewals of the warrant against Page were made in 2017, and the DOJ now believes they had “insufficient predication to establish probable cause.”

The admission will undoubtedly help bolster claims of politically motivated abuse of power against former Obama officials.

“Today’s unprecedented court filing represents another step on the road to recovery for America’s deeply damaged judicial system,” said Page in a statement responding to the report. (Read more from “DOJ Concludes That Two FISA Surveillance Renewals on Carter Page Were Illegal” HERE)

________________________________________________________

Justice Dept. Concedes It Had ‘Insufficient’ Cause to Continue Monitoring Former Trump Campaign Adviser in Russia Probe

By The Washington Post. The Justice Department secretly acknowledged last month that it had “insufficient predication” to continue monitoring a former Trump campaign adviser during the FBI’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, according to records made public Thursday — a notable admission likely to fuel continued criticism over how the bureau handled the high-profile case.

The concession was revealed in an order posted on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court’s website. In December, according to the order, the department told the court it had come to believe that in at least two of the four applications to monitor the former adviser, Carter Page, “there was insufficient predication to establish probable cause” to believe he was acting as a Russian agent. . .

The department’s concession is validating for conservatives who had long criticized the surveillance of Page, and it is likely to fuel continued attacks on the Russia probe, which was eventually taken over by former special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. (Read more from “Justice Dept. Concedes It Had ‘Insufficient’ Cause to Continue Monitoring Former Trump Campaign Adviser in Russia Probe” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE

Report: Co-Workers of Alleged Whistleblower Say They Heard Him Plotting Trump’s Removal in 2017; Ted Cruz Says Adam Schiff Made Hunter Biden’s Testimony ‘Directly Relevant’

By The Blaze. Former colleagues of alleged impeachment whistleblower Eric Ciaramella say they heard him discussing ways to get President Donald Trump out of office within days of his inauguration in January 2017, according to RealClearInvestigations.

The sources, who spoke to RCI under the condition of anonymity, said Ciaramella talked about ousting Trump with Sean Misko. Ciaramella and Misko were holdovers from the Obama Administration’s national security team.

According to the sources, Ciaramella and Misko, who are reportedly friends, were upset about Trump’s policy changes from the Obama administration.

“They were popping off about how they were going to remove Trump from office. No joke,” one ex-colleague told RCI. (Read more from “Report: Co-Workers of Alleged Whistleblower Say They Heard Him Plotting Trump’s Removal in 2017” HERE)

_________________________________________________________

Trump Disrupts Republican Trial Strategy

By Politico. Just five hours after Senate Republicans carefully assembled and passed an impeachment trial framework that could clear Donald Trump by next week, the president himself delivered an unwanted surprise to the GOP: The prospect of a longer trial with lots of witnesses.

Senate Republicans have been publicly and privately maneuvering to give Trump as quick an acquittal as possible while still keeping 51 GOP senators on board. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has largely thrown cold water on the idea of hearing from new witnesses and many of his members are eager to end the trial, not extend it.

In interviews Wednesday morning ahead of House managers’ opening arguments, Republicans empathized with the president’s call for new testimony. But they also said that they will tune out any outside noise if they can — including the running commentary from a president who demands party loyalty — and potentially wrap up the trial far more quickly than Trump desires.

“Certainly, the president has those in the Senate who are very interested in his views,” said Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), but added, “Those are decisions to more likely be made by senators themselves, and individually and collectively, than outside influences.” (Read more from “Trump Disrupts Republican Trial Strategy” HERE)

_________________________________________________________

Ted Cruz Says Adam Schiff Made Hunter Biden’s Testimony ‘Directly Relevant’

By Daily Caller. Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz told reporters on Wednesday that Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff’s day two impeachment arguments before the Senate made testimony by Hunter Biden “directly relevant” and “critical.”

“I think the House managers made a very serious strategic error today,” Cruz said, according to ABC News. “Adam Schiff’s arguments to open the day today directly drew into question Hunter Biden and made not only his testimony relevant which it already was but it is now critical.”

The Texas senator, who last week said he is “open to the possibility” of the Senate calling witnesses, including the whistleblower, contended that if the “House managers’ case is based on the allegations of corruption concerning Hunter Biden and Joe Biden being a scam,” then the Senate being able to hear from Biden is “directly relevant.”

“And I gotta say, the need for the Senate to hear the testimony of Hunter Biden and the need for the senate to grant the White House lawyers the ability to take that testimony has become all the more relevant,” he said per ABC. (Read more from “Ted Cruz Says Adam Schiff Made Hunter Biden’s Testimony ‘Directly Relevant’” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE

Did President Trump Just Accept an Invitation to Show up at His Impeachment Trial?

On his way back from Davos, Switzerland Wednesday, President Trump retweeted an invitation from Republican Senator Rand Paul to join him in the Senate chamber for his impeachment trial.

During a press conference this morning, President Trump called Democrat House impeachment manager Jerry Nadler a sleaze bag. He also said it would be “beautiful” if he showed up to the trial and “sat in the front row.”

“First of all, Jerrold Nadler, I have known him a long time. He is a sleaze bag,” Trump said.

He also addressed a question about whether former National Security Advisor John Bolton should testify and explained why he wants to protect presidential executive privilege.

(Read more from “Did President Trump Just Accept an Invitation to Show up at His Impeachment Trial?” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE

Senators Are Reportedly Considering a Biden-Bolton Witness Trade-Off in Impeachment Trial

While the Senate continues to fight over which witnesses — if any — might be called to testify in its impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, some of its Democratic members are reportedly discussing a potential trade: Hunter Biden for former White House national security adviser John Bolton.

According to a Tuesday night story at the Washington Post, “several Senate Democrats are privately discussing” the prospect of such an agreement:

Publicly, most Democrats have scoffed at the growing GOP clamor to hear former Vice President Joe Biden’s son testify, dismissing him as irrelevant to the charges against Trump and accusing Republicans of trying to distract from the allegations against the president.

But behind closed doors, a small group of Democratic senators and aides has begun to question that logic, sounding out colleagues on whether to back a witness deal that could lead to testimony from former national security adviser John Bolton or other administration officials with possible firsthand knowledge of the Ukraine controversy, according to multiple Democratic officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the private discussions.

The story was published as the first substantive day of the Senate’s impeachment trial lasted late into the night due to debates and votes on several Democrat-proposed amendments to the proposed trial rules having to do with subpoenaing witnesses and evidence. Those efforts were ultimately defeated, putting off the question of calling witnesses until later in the trial process.

(Read more from “Senators Are Reportedly Considering a Biden-Bolton Witness Trade-Off in Impeachment Trial” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE

‘Ruinous’ to Separation of Powers: 21 State AGs Urge Senate to Reject Impeachment

The attorneys general of 21 states have come forward with a blistering rebuke of the impeachment of President Trump, asserting that it “establishes a dangerous historical precedent.”

The Republican attorneys general, in a letter submitted to the Senate Wednesday morning and obtained by Fox News, urged the chamber conducting Trump’s trial to “reject” the impeachment articles.

“If not expressly repudiated by the Senate, the theories animating both Articles will set a precedent that is entirely contrary to the Framers’ design and ruinous to the most important governmental structure protections contained in our Constitution: the separation of powers,” they wrote.

The letter accuses House Democrats of impeaching Trump as a politically motivated response to the 2016 election and warned that it poses a threat to the 2020 election as well.

“Even an unsuccessful effort to impeach the President undermines the integrity of the 2020 presidential election because it weaponizes a process that should only be initiated in exceedingly rare circumstances and should never be used for partisan purposes,” the letter continued. (Read more from “‘Ruinous’ to Separation of Powers: 21 State AGs Urge Senate to Reject Impeachment” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE

Construction Worker Stabs and Kills Pro-Trump Boss, Drapes American Flag on His Body (VIDEO)

Police say that a man with anti-government views killed his boss on a construction site, and draped his body with an American flag, and some believe it was politically motivated.

[Mason] Toney was a longtime friend of [William] Knight, and he had just been hired on for a construction job widening a freeway exit in Florida. . .

Witnesses told police that Toney and Knight got into a heated debate on Monday, possibly over their political differences, and that Toney stabbed Knight to death with a construction trowel.

Afterwards, he’s said to have draped Knight’s body with a brand new American flag.

Witnesses said they attempted to stop Toney but that he jumped into a company truck and fled the scene while calling them “terrorists.” He was later apprehended by police.

(Read more from “Construction Worker Stabs and Kills Pro-Trump Boss, Drapes American Flag on His Body (VIDEO)” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE

Trump Announces the U.S. Will Join 1 Trillion Tree Initiative

President Trump on Tuesday announced the United States will join the One Trillion Trees Initiative launched at the World Economic Forum as world leaders seek to combat climate change.

Trump made the announcement during an address to global business leaders gathered for the annual event in Davos, Switzerland.

“We’re committed to conserving he majesty of God’s creation and the natural beauty of our world,” Trump said, adding that the U.S. “will continue to show strong leadership in restoring, growing and better managing our trees and our forests.

The announcement that the U.S. will join the initiative drew some of the most sustained applause of any portion of Trump’s 30-minute speech, which focused mostly on his administration’s accomplishments and the strength of the U.S. economy. That economic message contrasted with other world leaders who used the forum to highlight issues like climate change and global collaboration. (Read more from “Trump Announces the U.S. Will Join 1 Trillion Tree Initiative” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE

Goldman Sachs Investors Are Nearly Unanimous About Trump’s Re-Election Chances; Betting Markets View This Democrat as Having the Best Chance of Defeating Trump

By Daily Wire. With the 2020 presidential election now less than 10 months away, President Donald Trump’s re-election is all but guaranteed, top clients of Wall Street powerhouse Goldman Sachs said last week.

During its Global Strategy Conference in London last week, Goldman Sachs surveyed more than 150 of its clients and found that a whopping 87 percent believe Trump will win re-election in November, according to Business Insider. That, of course, comes despite the president’s formal impeachment last month and upcoming trial this month.

The economy is the leading reason that investors believe Trump will win. Under Trump’s tenure, the stock market has soared to break multiple records, unemployment has fallen to record lows, and wage growth is up. . .

At the time, Goldman’s chief economist Jan Hatzius told CNBC that between Trump’s position as the incumbent — who traditionally has a slight election advantage — and the very strong and surging economy, it is more likely than not that Trump will be a two-term president. (Read more from “Goldman Sachs Investors Are Nearly Unanimous About Trump’s Re-Election Chances” HERE)

_________________________________________

Betting Markets View This Democrat as Having the Best Chance of Defeating Trump: Study

By Fox Business. With the U.S. 2020 election months away, betting markets view President Trump’s reelection as the most likely outcome, however, some Democratic candidates have a better chance of unseating him, a new study shows.

According to research from U.K.-based Standard Chartered, which analyzed online betting market data, it is latecomer businessman Michael Bloomberg that has the best chance of defeating President Trump should he secure the Democratic Party’s nomination.

However, his probability of securing the nomination is slightly more than 10 percent. Bloomberg is trailed by former Vice President Joe Biden.

And Bloomberg isn’t a top contender according to most polls. For example, a December Fox News poll found that Biden led the race with 30 percent, followed by Sanders with 20 percent. Bloomberg only had 5 percent. (Read more from “Betting Markets View This Democrat as Having the Best Chance of Defeating Trump: Study” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE