Monthly Archives: February 2022

Clinton Responds To Report Alleging Attempted Infiltration Of Trump Towers, White House

(Washington, DC) Hillary Clinton is blasting reports that her 2016 presidential campaign paid operatives to try and infiltrate Trump Tower servers and servers in the White House. Clinton tweeted that former President Trump and Fox News are desperately spinning up a fake scandal to distract from Trumps real scandals. She added, the more Trumps misdeeds are exposed, the more they lie. The reports are rooted in Special Counsel John Durhams ongoing investigation of the origins of the Russia investigation.

An indictment from Durham reportedly accuses Clinton operatives of trying to establish an inference and false narrative linking Trump to Russia. Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann has already been indicted for allegedly making false statements to the FBI about a possible connection between the Trump Organization and Russia.

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Reports say Hillary Clinton--who delegitimized Donald Trump's election--may have paid operatives to spy on Trump. Her response doesn't disappoint. -...

Most of the Republican candidates backed by former President Donald Trump are expected to win their midterm races in November, according to a betting aggregator.

The odds for his preferred contenders demonstrate that Trump still has a firm grip on the Republican Party, US Bookies has suggested.

The aggregator's predictions will be welcomed by Trump loyalists who are hoping to re-take the House and the Senate from the Democrats in November. Republicans have opened up a significant lead ahead of the midterms, a new poll has found.

Ron Johnson, who is running for re-election as senator for Wisconsin, has the best odds of the Trump allies. He is the overwhelming favorite to win his race at 1-10, according to US Bookies.

A US Bookies spokesperson said: "Control of Congress will likely come down to a few key races during the 2022 midterm elections and it looks like Donald Trump's endorsement will be a significant factor in securing Republican control.

"Most Trump-endorsed candidates are odds-on favorites to win, with some of the only exceptions being gubernatorial candidates."

Trump ally Herschel Walker has odds of 1-3 to win a Georgia Senate seat lost to the Democrat Raphael Warnock in a special election in 2021.

US Bookies has also highlighted the political cost to Republicans who oppose Trump, particularly Rep. Liz Cheney of Wisconsin.

Trump has repeatedly targeted Cheney, who said last week that the hearings of the House select committee investigating the Capitol riot would show the violence was caused by his baseless claims of election fraud. Cheney is vice chair of the committee and one of the former president's fiercest critics in the GOP.

The US Bookies spokesperson said: "Liz Cheney's story proves that not only does Trump's endorsement usually help Republicans win elections but that speaking against the former president also comes with grim results.

"Cheney now holds 4-1 to be re-elected to her seat in the House of Representatives, with Trump-endorsed Harriet Hageman being the odds-on 1-3 favorite."

However, some GOP candidates who are competing against Trump picks are holding their own. In Alabama, the former president has endorsed Mo Brooks for Senate.

A US Bookies spokesperson added: "Of the congressional candidates endorsed by Trump who are favorites to win their respective elections, Mo Brooks has the worst odds. Brooks' 5-4 odds to win are best among all candidates, but fellow Republican Katie Britt is very close behind at 11-8."

Newsweek has contacted Trump's office for comment.

Although betting on elections is not legal in any U.S. state, US Bookies said its aggregate figures were for "illustrative purposes" and based on betting markets in Europe and the rest of the world, where it is legal.

Some polls have shown the Democrats gaining ground in recent weeks. Analysis from poll tracker FiveThirtyEight found there had been an upswing of support for the Democratic Party since late January, but it still needed to close a big gap in order to keep control of the House and Senate.

Should Republicans make significant gains in November it will allow them to significantly weaken President Joe Biden's agenda.

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Majority of Donald Trump-Backed Candidates Expected to Win MidtermsBookmakers - Newsweek

On Jan. 5, marking the one-year anniversary of Jan. 6, Attorney General Merrick GarlandMerrick GarlandOvernight Health Care CDC to change guidance, including masking Senate Democrats urge DOJ to open criminal investigation into Sackler family members McConnell's unconstitutional blockade of Garland poisoned subsequent proceedings MORE promised that, following the facts, the Justice Department would pursue anyone, no matter how powerful, responsible for planning and carrying out the assault on the U.S. Capitol. The Justice Department remains committed to holding all January 6 perpetrators, at any level, accountable under law whether they were present that day or were otherwise criminally responsible for the assault on our democracy.

One month later, its fair to ask: General, what are you waiting for? Why hasnt Donald TrumpDonald TrumpTrump-nominated FAA administrator to resign at end of March Republican voters split over RNC censure of Cheney and Kinzinger: poll Trump issues endorsements in Texas congressional races MORE yet been charged with any crime? How much more evidence do you need?

True, DOJ has aggressively pursued those who actually broke into the Capitol, arresting over 725 rioters so far, several of whom are already serving prison terms. And the departments reportedly still tracking down another 350 persons involved. But going after foot soldiers is not enough. What about the leader of the insurrection? What about Donald Trump? Every day, we see more evidence of his criminal conduct.

Read the account of Trumps second impeachment trial in Rep. Jamie RaskinJamin (Jamie) Ben RaskinPress: Time for Merrick Garland to flush Donald Trump Press: Clubbing cops is not 'legitimate political discourse' Jan. 6 panel hesitates in asking Pence to testify MOREs (D-Md.) powerful new book, Untitled. While their goal was to remove Trump from office, not convict him of a crime, the impeachment managers laid forth a litany of Trumps illegal actions leading up to and on the day of Jan. 6: personally pressing local election officials to falsify election results; inciting supporters to block election officials from certifying the election: all part of an attempt to overthrow the duly-elected U.S. government.

Documents obtained, over Trumps objections, by the January 6 Select Committee reveal even more criminal behavior: efforts by Trump and his lawyers to persuade people to create false slates of presidential electors; lying in multiple courts of law about alleged voter fraud; pressuring the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department, and the Pentagon to seize local voting machines. Again, all with the intent of overturning the government.

Now the latest: A request from the National Archives that the Justice Department investigate possible criminal activity by Donald Trump by refusing to turn over 15 boxes of presidential papers some of them classified and marked top secret and taking them to Mar-a-Lago, instead. Clearly, this was no accident. These boxes contained items, like his famous love letters from North Korean leader Kim Jung Un, that Trump had cherry-picked for his hoped-for presidential library. Trump knew what the Presidential Records Act required, he just didnt care.

For the same reason, Trump apparently used his cell phone to call House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin McCarthyRepublican voters split over RNC censure of Cheney and Kinzinger: poll GOP eyes ambitious agenda if House flips DC delegate: Possible bill to repeal home rule 'radical' and 'very unexpected' MORE (R-Calif.), Rep. Jim JordanJames (Jim) Daniel JordanThe real reason Jim Jordan is ranting against Jan. 6 committee staff Press: Time for Merrick Garland to flush Donald Trump Overnight Defense & National Security Top commander vents on Afghan evacuation MORE (R-Ohio), and others on Jan. 6 leaving no official record of White House calls, as required by law.

In fact, according to Trumps former White House Press Secretary Stephanie GrishamStephanie GrishamPress: Time for Merrick Garland to flush Donald Trump Former Trump press aide Sarah Matthews appears before Jan. 6 panel Trump facing legal, political headwinds as he eyes comeback MORE, a general disdain for the law, led by the president himself, permeated the Trump White House. Everybody knew, for example, he ripped up presidential documents in violation of the law. So what? He would roll his eyes at the rules, so we did, too, Grisham told the Washington Post.

Capping it all off is reporting from New York Times reporter Maggie HabermanMaggie Lindsy HabermanDocument dump turns toxic for Trump Press: Time for Merrick Garland to flush Donald Trump Rubio: White House records at Mar-a-Lago 'not a crime, I don't believe' MOREs new book, Confidence Man, that plumbers were often summoned to theWhite House residence to free toilets clogged by official papers Trump had ripped up and tried to flush. Which gives new meaning to the phrase document dump.

What more evidence does he need? Its time for Merrick Garland to flush Donald Trump.

Press is host of The Bill Press Pod. He is author of From the Left: A Life in the Crossfire.

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Press: Time for Merrick Garland to flush Donald Trump | TheHill - The Hill

Republicans who missed out on former President TrumpDonald TrumpTrump-nominated FAA administrator to resign at end of March Republican voters split over RNC censure of Cheney and Kinzinger: poll Trump issues endorsements in Texas congressional races MOREs coveted endorsements are grasping for ways to tie themselves tohim and his political movement, betting his message will prove more powerful in contentious primary races than the man himself.

The strategy is playing out in GOP primaries across the country, including in South Carolina, where Trump last week endorsed Republican Katie Arringtons primary challenge to Rep. Nancy MaceNancy MaceRepublicans spurned by Trump in primaries still embrace him Lieu, Mace call on NIH to phase out animal experiments Mace touts early support of Trump after he endorses primary challenger MORE, a once-loyal ally who drew the former presidents ire by criticizing him following the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Mace, a first-term congresswoman who worked on Trumps 2016 campaign, responded by filming a video of herself praising the former president and touting her support for him outside Trump Tower in New York City.

I remember in 2015 when President Trump announced his run. I was one of his earliest supporters, she said. I actually worked for the campaign in 2016. I worked in seven different states across the country to help get him elected. I supported him again in 2020 because of policies I believe in.

Im standing in front of Trump Tower with a message this morning#SC01 #LowcountryFirst pic.twitter.com/CpmMYA63qt

Maces video underscores the conundrum that several Republicans are facing: how to use Trumps message to appeal to Trumps voters without the backing of Trump himself.

The titular head of Trumpism is Trump himself, and yet, when hes endorsing in these races, youre still seeing traction by candidates who have found their own embrace of Trumpism but dont have the titular head behind them, one GOP strategist said. And a lot of them have a good fighting chance here.

Georgia Gov. Brian KempBrian KempRepublicans spurned by Trump in primaries still embrace him Raffensperger calls for extra security at Georgia polling sites No 'mass exodus,' but GOP sees Trump grip loosening MORE (R) is employing a similar strategy in his primary fight against former Sen. David PerdueDavid PerdueRepublicans spurned by Trump in primaries still embrace him No 'mass exodus,' but GOP sees Trump grip loosening Trump pushes back at those saying he's lost grip on GOP MORE (R), who jumped into the race late last year at Trumps urging and was promptly endorsed by the former president.

Just days after Perdue unveiled his first campaign ad a 30-second spot featuring Trump himself touting his support for the former senator Kemps leadership committee responded with an ad spot of its own hammering Perdue for outsourcing jobs throughout his lengthy business career despite Trumps campaign promise to bring back jobs sent overseas.

President Trump worked hard putting America first, a narrator says in the ad. But David Perdue sent American jobs to China over and over again, by the thousands, and made millions.

That line of attack has become familiar in other Republican primaries that Trump has weighed in on.

In the Alabama GOP Senate primary, Republican Katie Britt accused her Trump-endorsed primary opponent Rep. Mo BrooksMorris (Mo) Jackson BrooksRepublicans spurned by Trump in primaries still embrace him Trump pushes back at those saying he's lost grip on GOP These people have been subpoenaed by the Jan. 6 panel MORE of turning on the former president when he described two of Trumps judicial appointees in Alabama as liberal, activist judges after a three-judge panel rejected a new congressional map passed by the state legislature.

Likewise, former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) on Tuesday attacked Rep. Ted BuddTheodore (Ted) Paul BuddRepublicans spurned by Trump in primaries still embrace him Midterm primaries might be critical to balance of the Senate Trump under fire over Tennessee primary nod MORE, his Trump-backed rival for the states Republican Senate nomination, for voting against legislation supported by the former president, including a 2018 immigration and border security bill that included funding for Trumps long-promised wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Im more conservative than my two opponents, McCrory said on the conservative podcast Locked In. I mean, I cannot think of anything that Ted Budd has accomplished in six years. In fact, he voted against the wall. He voted against the immigration bill that Donald Trump wanted.

More than a year after losing the 2020 presidential election and leaving the White House, Trump remains the most sought-after endorsement for Republican candidates.

But while hes managed to crown front-runners in some primary contests, other preferred candidates of his are still facing tough nominating fights as Republicans who missed out on his endorsement decide to take their chances against their Trump-backed rivals.While a few including Rep. Liz CheneyElizabeth (Liz) Lynn CheneyRepublican voters split over RNC censure of Cheney and Kinzinger: poll Republicans spurned by Trump in primaries still embrace him The real reason Jim Jordan is ranting against Jan. 6 committee staff MORE (R-Wyo.), a favorite target of Trump are doing so by putting significant distance between themselves and the former president, more seem to be trying to prove to GOP voters theyve loyally aligned themselves with Trump and his policies.

Hes wading into primaries and people just arent dropping out. Theyre not running away from him, Keith Naughton, a veteran Republican strategist, said. No one is running away from him on these primaries, and I think its showing hes still important but theres an erosion.

Theres also some evidence that Trumps endorsement at least in some races may not be as powerful as he and his allies had hoped. A Quinnipiac University poll out of Georgia late last month found that only 44 percent of likely Republican primary voters said they are more likely to vote for a candidate who has Trumps support, while 50 percent said his endorsement does not make a difference to them.

That same poll showed Kemp leading Perdue 43 percent to 36 percent.

And while Democratic opponents could seize on their appeals to Trump in the primary contests as Annie Andrews, the Democrat challenging Mace, did almost immediately not having Trumps outright endorsement could prove to be an asset for some GOP candidates heading into the general election.

A recent NBC News poll found that only 21 percent of voters said that they would be more likely to vote for a congressional candidate backed by Trump, while 42 percent said his endorsement would make them less likely to vote for a candidate. Thirty-six percent said it wouldnt have an impact on how they cast their ballots.

Still, Trump is particularly eager for his preferred candidates to emerge from their respective primaries, seeing their victories as a reflection of his own political strength, especially as he eyes a potential White House bid in 2024. In a statement this week, the former president insisted upon the strength of his endorsement, saying that it is much stronger today than it was even prior to the 2020 election.

Trump is also set to step up his midterm campaigning in the coming weeks and months, including holding a rally in South Carolina, where hes endorsed primary challenges against two Republican incumbents, Mace and Rep. Tom RiceHugh (Tom) Thompson RiceRepublicans spurned by Trump in primaries still embrace him Trump endorses GOP challenger to South Carolina Rep. Tom Rice The fates of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump MORE.

Whether such rallies will actually give his preferred candidates the boost that they need, however, is an open question.

When hes doing these rallies, hes not doing them for one candidate. The candidates are just the sideshow, one Republican operative said. These rallies are more of a Trump show than they are an endorsement show.

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Republicans spurned by Trump in primaries still embrace him | TheHill - The Hill