Daily Archives: May 17, 2022

A variety of Trump watchers have tracked Donald Trumps business failures, lawsuits and assorted controversies. Now, Trump's social media venture has released a rap sheet cataloguing the many stains on his long business career.

This remarkable disclosure occurs on page 107 of the registration statement Digital World Acquisition Corp. (DWAC) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 16, providing key details of its planned merger with Trumps new company, Trump Media & Technology Group. DWAC is a so-called blank check company set up last year that in October announced a deal to merge with Trumps company, including the Truth Social messaging app. DWACs shares soared from $10 to $94 on the news. The shares now trade around $45.

The registration statement provides details relevant to shareholders, including risks they might want to know about. Thats where the fun begins. Many of the risks posted in 66 pages of disclosures are boilerplate startup concerns, such as tough competition or possible financing difficulty. Then comes a section you wont see in any other business filing: Risks Related to our Chairman President Donald J. Trump.

This section includes five basic parts: A list of lawsuits Trump is involved in; a fraud charge the government levied against a Trump company 23 years ago; a list of Trump companies that have filed for bankruptcy; another set of Trump ventures that failed without declaring bankruptcy; and the rules governing Trumps role in the company. Most of the information isnt new, but this tidy compilation amounts to overt acknowledgement that Trump isnt the business genius he makes himself out to be.

The first part advises shareholders that President Trump is involved in numerous lawsuits and other matters that could damage his reputation, cause him to be distracted from the business or force him to resign. The filing notes the ongoing Congressional inquiry into the 2021 riots at the Capitol, several lawsuits related to Trumps bogus claims of election fraud, the Georgia probe that could charge Trump himself with election fraud, the New York state attorney generals civil inquiry into possible tax evasion and the defamation suit filed by E. Jean Carroll, an author who accused Trump of raping her.

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The foregoing does not purport to be an exhaustive list, the filing states. Then it helpfully references a 2016 USA Today story that tallied more than 3,500 lawsuits relating to Trump during his career.

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The second part revisits a report Trump Hotels & Casinos Resorts put out in 1999 with inflated earnings. The SEC took note and ordered the company to change its reporting procedures.

The earnings release was materially misleading, the DWAC statement says.

The third part lists the Trump companies that have gone bankrupt. Trump claims there have only been four bankruptcies, because of the way three of the bankruptcies were grouped. But six entities went bankrupt, and the DWAC statement lists six.

There can be no assurances that TMTG will not also become bankrupt, it warns.

May 7, 2022; Louisville, KY, USA; Former President Donald Trump waves to the crowd before the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

The fourth part lists other Trump ventures that failed without declaring bankruptcy, including Trump Shuttle, Trump University, Trump Vodka, GoTrump.com and Trump Steaks.

While all these businesses were in different industries than TMTG, there can be no guarantee that TMTGs performance will exceed the performance of these entities, the statement says.

The fifth part provides details of Trumps personal role in the Trump Media & Technology Group, including Truth Social. Theres this tidbit: Trump is generally obligated to publish any social-media post on Truth Social first, and wait six hours before posting the same thing anywhere else. Trump has said he wouldnt rejoin Twitter (TWTR), which banned him after the 2021 Capitol riots, even if it rescinded the ban. Now we can see hed be constrained in posting on Twitter, anyway. Theres one loophole: Trump can post on any social media outlet if its related to political messaging, political fundraising or get-out-the-vote efforts.

The risk disclosures wrap us by declaring, TMTG expressly acknowledges the controversial nature of being associated with President Trump and the possibility of any associated controversies affecting TMTG adversely. But everybody knew that.

Analysts such as Bloombergs Matt Levine have lampooned the company for shabby financial analysis, but the stock rose about 9% on the day DWAC filed its statement with the SEC. That could reflect optimism that the merger seems to be on track, and it also reflects Tesla CEO Elon Musks on-and-off efforts to buy Twitter, which would be Truth Socials top competitor. Musk has said hed let Trump back on Twitter, but if Musk doesnt buy the company, Trump wouldnt have that option. That, in turn, could make Truth Social more prominent.

DWAC investors seem completely unfazed by Trumps troubled history. When you ride with Trump, you expect some swerving. At least youve been reminded to buckle up.

Rick Newman is the author of four books, including Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman.

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There's an amazing new rap sheet on Trump - Yahoo Finance

Democrats outnumber Republicans 7-2 on the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot, but it's one of the panel's two GOP members that former President Donald Trump views as his greatest threat.

Trump recently said that lawmakers and others with knowledge of the probe have told him that Representative Liz Cheney has been the most adamant about going after the former president during the probe.

"From what people tell me, from what I hear from other congressmen, she's like a crazed lunatic, she's worse than anyone else," Trump told The Washington Post. "From what I've heard, she's worse than any Democrat."

Trump even considers Cheney a more formidable opponent than committee member Representative Adam Schiff, a Democrat who led the prosecution in Trump's first impeachment trial.

Cheney, a Wyoming Republican, has reportedly led the charge against Trump, urging the committee to focus on the former president during next month's public hearings. Other members, meanwhile, have wanted to look into the security failures that allowed a mob of Trump supporters to storm the Capitol building in January 2021.

"We need to look at this issue from all anglesinclusive of the role the president played as well as the security of the Capitol on that day," Democratic Representative Stephanie Murphy told the Post.

Committee investigators are still conducting witness interviews. Last week, the panel subpoenaed five House Republicans, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, after they refused to voluntarily testify before the panel.

McCarthy was initially allowed to appoint five Republicans to the committee, but after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected two of his recommendations, the GOP leader withdrew all of his selections.

Cheney and Representative Adam Kinzinger, who were both appointed by Pelosi, make up the Republican minority on the panel.

Cheney, a longtime Trump critic, has become one of Trump's favorite targets ever since she broke with her party's leadership and joined nine other Republicans in voting for his second impeachment. Several months after the vote, Cheney was ousted as the No. 3 House Republican.

Her feuding with Trump will make her reelection campaign particularly challenging. This year, Cheney is up against a number of pro-Trump candidates in a tough primary race to represent Wyoming's at-large district.

Trump has endorsed attorney Harriet Hageman, even though she hasn't always supported the former president. He is scheduled to stump for Hageman at a rally in Casper, Wyoming, this Saturday.

McCarthy has also joined Trump in backing Hageman in August 16's primary.

Newsweek reached out to Cheney for comment.

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Donald Trump Sees Liz Cheney as Greatest Threat in Jan. 6 Investigation - Newsweek

Just before Pennsylvania Republicans choose their Senate nominee, surprise contender Kathy Barnette was attacked by a super PAC that supports Dr. Mehmet Oz, the candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

"Dont trust phony Kathy Barnette," says the narrator in a TV ad from Our American Century. "Barnette pretends shes America First, but repeatedly attacked President Trump."

Barnette, who vaulted to the top tier of candidates days before the May 17 primary, criticized Trump during his run for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

But after he won the nomination, she pivoted, became a Trump supporter and has campaigned on a platform similar to Trumps "America First" in style.

Anti-Trump until he won 2016nomination

We did not reach Our American Century, a conservative PAC based in McLean, Virginia, that provides no contact information on its website. We received no replies to emails we sent to addresses listed on the organization statement the group filed with the Federal Election Commission.

The groups ad backed up its claim against Barnette by citing excerpts from a May 11, 2022, article on Breitbart, a conservative website.

In four Twitter posts from September 2015, Barnette called Trumps debate performance "horrid," said he would not be a good president, called him liberal" and said his moral character is "questionable."

"Did u c d last Presidential Debate. #Trump2016 was horrid." tweet

"#Trump2016 is good 4 beers & barbeque. BUT, not as President." tweet

#Trump2016 is JUST AS LIBERAL as d leaders we currently hv n office. #MoralityMatters & Trump does not rank high in it" tweet

"#Trump2016 moral character is questionable!" tweet

The article also noted that Barnette wrote in her 2020 book, "Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain: Being Black and Conservative in America," that Trump was her least favorite Republican presidential candidate in 2016. "Out of 16 presidential candidates, Donald Trump was no. 16 on my preferred list," she wrote.

Then became Trump supporter

Much of Barnettes book, however, praises Trump.

Barnette wrote that historically low Black unemployment was the result of Trumps "proactive support for Black communities." She said he enacted prison reform, revitalized urban areas, and forgave loans to four historically Black colleges and universities. Trump is "an extraordinary man with amazing stamina and broad shoulders capable of carrying the weight of his office," she wrote.

Barnettes campaign website includes a page that has a video in which Barnette says she is on her way to vote for Trump in the 2016 general election, and a 2017 tweet in which she writes about why she supports him.

Barnettes campaign also cited to PolitiFact that page and her book.

Barnettes support for Trump also includes participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, protest at the Capitol that turned into an insurrection.

A week earlier, Barnette posted a video saying she was organizing buses to travel to Washington, D.C., for the protest.

On April 27, 2022, Barnette told a Philadelphia TV station that she attended the protest but did not enter the Capitol. Asked if the 2020 election was stolen, she said: "I do have concerns. I believe there are legitimate concerns about what took place during the election of 2020."

On May 16, 2022, NBC News published photos of Barnette marching toward the Capitol alongside members of the far-right extremist Proud Boys group who were later arrested and indicted for breaking into the building and attacking officers. Barnettes campaign responded by saying Barnette "was in D.C. to support President Trump and demand election accountability."

Barnette, who ran for a U.S. House seat in Pennsylvania in 2020, has been put in an awkward position by Trumps endorsement of Oz and his doubling-down by saying that she cant win the general election.

"I lost by 19 points, Donald Trump lost by more than 26 points," Barnette said May 16 in her final campaign appearance, comparing her 2020 performance in the district with Trumps margin there, the New York Times reported. "Whos less electable with those numbers?"

Contest could help decide Senate control

The Pennsylvania race is for the seat held by Republican Pat Toomey, who was first elected in 2010 and decided not to seek re-election.

Besides Barnette and Oz, polls indicate the other major contender for the GOP nomination is former hedge fund CEO Dave McCormick.

The Nov. 8 general election race is rated as a toss-up and as "tilts Republican." The outcome could help determine which party controls the Senate, now split 50-50.

Our ruling

The Our American Century super PAC said Barnette "pretends she's America First, but repeatedly attacked President Trump."

Barnette attacked Trump during his run for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, but she became a supporter after he won the nomination. We did not find evidence shes criticized him directly since, and she supported his re-election campaign in 2020.

We rate the statement Half True.

PolitiFact staff researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report.

Read more here:

Senate hopeful Kathy Barnette criticized Trump until he won 2016 nomination, then became a supporter - PolitiFact

Last January, thePGA of America Board of Directors voted to relocate this week's 2022 PGA Championship away from Donald Trump'sBedminster golf club following the January 6 Capitol riots.

The event, which begins on Thursday, will now take place at Southern Hill Country Club in Tulsa.

Jack Nicklaus isn't pleased by this decision. During a recent appearance onMichael Bamberger's "Fire Pit Collective" podcast,the golf legend claimed that Trump is a victim of "cancel culture."

"Donald Trump may be a lot of things, but he loves golf and he loves this country," Nicklaus said. "He's a student of the game and a formidable figure in the game. What he does in the future in golf will depend on what the cancel culture will allow him to do."

Unsurprisingly, the golf world had quite a bit to say about these comments from Nicklaus.

Nicklaus has long been an outspoken supporter of Trump, endorsing his presidential campaign in 2020. Trump was of course accused of inciting the January 6 insurrection by making claims of election fraud after his loss to Joe Biden.

"We find ourselves in a political situation not of our making," Seth Waugh, the CEO of the PGA of America, said after moving the tournament. "We're fiduciaries for our members, for the game, for our mission and for our brand. And how do we best protect that? Our feeling was given the tragic events (at the Capitol) that we could no longer hold it at Bedminster. The damage could have been irreparable. The only real course of action was to leave."

The 2022 PGA Championship would've been the first men's major to take place at a Trump-owned golf course. Instead, it will tee off at Southern Hills later this week.

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Jack Nicklaus Is Trending For His Comments On Donald Trump - The Spun

Virtually every poll in recent weeks has shown Oz clinging to a tiny advantage within the margin of error. And an internal survey from the pro-McCormick super PAC Honor Pennsylvania shows that Barnette saw a significant jump from the beginning to end of last week, leaving the three candidates locked in a dead heat: McCormick at 25 percent, and Oz and Barnette tied at 24 percent.

In Ohios contentious Republican Senate primary earlier this month, the candidates quickly conceded on election night and pledged to support Trumps pick J.D. Vance, who won by 7 points. The Pennsylvania contest appears unlikely to end with similar GOP unity. Barnette said in a radio interview Monday she has no intentions of supporting Oz or McCormick if either is the nominee, referring to the men as globalists.

Several campaigns in the seven-candidate primary told POLITICO they were prepared for a recount.

Its always possible, said Bob Gillies, Barnettes campaign manager, of a potential recount. We want to make sure were able to fight back if there is something like that.

Pennsylvania U.S. Senate candidate Kathy Barnette speaks during a Republican leadership forum at Newtown Athletic Club on May 11, 2022 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.|Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

As the bitter primary came to a close, the candidates and their allies remained on the attack in interviews, while operatives continued to push last-minute opposition research. Most notably, Trump made a direct appeal to Pennsylvania GOP voters on Monday afternoon, recording a robocall bashing McCormick and Barnette and urging Republicans to turn out for Oz on Tuesday.

People love him, otherwise he wouldnt have been on air for 18 years, Trump said, referring to the yearslong run of Ozs daytime television show. Ive just spent a lot of time with him. I did endorse him, and the reason is hes tough, hes smart and he really loves our country and he wants to do a great job for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Despite calling McCormick a good person, Trump described the former hedge fund CEO as an insider who absolutely sold us out to China.

Cant have that, Trump continued.

Trump mentioned what constitutes an unforgivable sin to the Republican base: Barnettes support in 2020 for building a statue of the Obama family in Washington, D.C.s Lincoln Park. She suggested at the time it should go next to a monument that depicts Abraham Lincoln standing over an emancipated slave.

Thats no good, Trump said of Barnettes idea. These are not candidates who put America first, and thats what we need.

Ozs campaign said it did not pay for the Trump robocalls. A person working for Trumps political arm did not respond to a request for comment.

Trump was also scheduled to participate in a live tele-town hall with Oz on Monday evening which the Oz campaign did fund and the two have spoken several times in the last week.

According to a person familiar with the calls, the former president has urged Oz to keep fighting, while Oz continued to express his gratitude to Trump for the support an endorsement that changed Ozs fortunes in the race. Immediately prior to Trumps early-April endorsement of Oz, polling showed McCormick with a slight advantage over the physician, whose unfavorable ratings are much higher than the other candidates in the race.

Barnettes unexpected rise occurred as Oz and McCormick poured tens of millions of dollars into television advertisements and as outside spending groups supporting the two candidates spent heavily on attack ads. Through Tuesday, spending on TV, digital and radio advertisements in the primary totaled more than $57 million, according to the ad tracking firm AdImpact.

Less than $200,000 of that was from Barnettes campaign. But the Club for Growth, which announced last week its super PAC was endorsing Barnette, just spent over $2 million on a last-minute advertisement on her behalf.

McCormick and Ozs campaigns have nearly matched each other in spending on ads, though the pro-McCormick super PAC has drastically outspent the two pro-Oz groups.

In the last week, however, four super PACs have pivoted to attacking Barnette on television. The pro-Oz American Leadership Action appears to have sent at least four anti-Barnette texts to voters, pushing out messages like BLM Radical Kathy Barnette believes that on every street corner theres a police officer there ready and waiting to shoot a black man. The texts linked to CrazyKathy.com, which redirects to American Leadership Actions site.

Claims about Barnettes views on Black Lives Matter have been misleading, according to independent fact checks.

In another text, the super PAC said Donald Trump and Sean Hannity know Kathy Barnette is lying, before accusing her of lying about aspects of her military experience and almost everything in her past. Barnette, who in recent days declined to answer some questions about her time in the military, maintains she has been truthful about biographical information she has provided.

Barnette over the weekend faced a flurry of news stories including from conservative media outlets calling into question aspects of her resume, her voting record and where she has lived in years past. Until now, Barnette has largely avoided scrutiny from other campaigns or the news media.

Pennsylvania GOP Senate Candidate Dave McCormick speaks during a rally at Bloomsburg Area High School on May 16, 2022 in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.|Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

McCormicks camp has aimed to use a similar line of attack against Oz, who has been portrayed as a shady Hollywood liberal.

You are seeing people move to McCormick because he is a trustworthy conservative, said James Schultz, a former Trump White House lawyer who is close to McCormicks campaign. We have seen for this entire cycle Mehmet Ozs struggle with the truth. With Barnette, there have been many questions surrounding her truthfulness as well.

Messaging from McCormicks campaign on Monday appeared to concede that he is one of multiple candidates crowded at the front of the pack. The campaign wrote in an election eve press release that McCormick would make the case to Republicans that he is the only front-runner who grew up in Pennsylvania and shares the same conservative values as PA voters.

A series of other twists in recent days have added to the sense of volatility ahead of Tuesdays primary election. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, the leading Democratic Senate candidate, remains hospitalized after suffering a stroke over the weekend. And Trump, on Saturday weighed in with a last-minute endorsement in the governors race, picking Doug Mastriano, the candidate who is publicly backing and campaigning with Barnette.

Read more here:

Trump works overtime to push Dr. Oz over the finish line - POLITICO

Donald Trump Jr., a prominent and vocal member of the MAGA crowd, has some concerns when it comes to Finland possibly joining NATO.

On Monday morning, Trump Jr. shared his thoughts on the possibility that the European country may become the newest member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In his statement, posted to Twitter, Trump Jr. brought up Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a reason to reconsider the possible move.

"I get there's nothing going on at home that Congress could be worrying about, but after decades of not being in NATO and being just fine isn't the notion of eliminating this buffer zone a bit how the Ukraine invasion started?" he wrote.

The statement from the eldest son of former President Donald Trump came after the Nordic country and neighboring Sweden both indicated they wanted to join the international military alliance. The decision to apply for membership was influenced by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened retaliation if the countries' applications are accepted.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell recently stated that both of those countries would be "important additions" to NATO, according to the Associated Press. McConnell added that the congressional vote to ratify Finland's admission to the decades-old international alliance could take place "before the August recess," Newsmax reported.

The White House defended Finland and Sweden's application and asserted that their acceptance into the alliance would strengthen America's security. Russia is firmly opposed to the possible addition of the two countries.

On Monday, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov voiced his objection to the NATO alliance possibly growing by two countries, stating, "[NATO] should not have any illusions that we will simply put up with thisin Brussels, Washington or other NATO capitals."

Ryabkov went on to say, "That is, the general level of military tension will increase, and there will be less predictability in this area."

This isn't the first time Trump Jr. has offered his opinions on America's handling of the Ukraine/Russia conflict. In March, he suggested sending his father to Europe to meet with NATO leaders to discuss Russia's invasion of Ukraine instead of President Joe Biden.

In a tweet, Trump Jr. posted that "sending Biden to Europe for 'High Stakes' NATO talks will only embolden our enemies further."

He went on to claim that "if you want to get something done right send Trump."

Newsweek reached out to a representative for Donald Trump Jr. and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland for comment.

See the article here:

Donald Trump Jr. Throws Cold Water on Finland Joining NATO - Newsweek

Tim James must be a big fella, right?

Auburn football records have him at 511 and 209 pounds during his playing career from 1981-82, a 22-game stretch in whichhe rushed for 26 yards in nine attempts and scored one garbage time touchdown against Bill Currys Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets that no one will ever, ever take away from him.

Takes an awful big man to put up those numbers.

Just like it takes a big and brave hombre to go after the real threats facing Alabama, like drivers license exams coming in languages other than English and, in his most recent obsession, Birminghams Magic City Acceptance Academy, a 6-12th grade charter school that caters to LGBTQ students. His ad last month one, which, in his words, decried the first transgender public school in the South was a new low for a candidate who excels onlyin the sad art of bigotry, shamefully distinguishing itself from the other transbaiting weve seen this campaign season as it used pictures of actual MCAA students.

Much like I dont care that James was used primarily as a blockingfullback, James doesnt care about those students; theyre not people to him, only soft political targets to foment rage in GOP primary voters. But, again, thats not much different than Katie Britt talking about full-term abortions in a locker room. It takes, though, a real coward like James to go after children.

Children.

(Lindy Blanchard also has an ad out focusing on the school Im not sure whether its more or less shameful to be a bandwagoning bully.)

The school decided prudently to increase security after the ad, which drew hecklers to campus and one woman who tried to film students, and MCAAs increased profile and status as a target has made at least one student, as she told the New York Times, scared to come to school. There is a reasonable line to draw from Jamess ad to those weirdos and wackadoos, a causal relationship born from callousness and hate.

But what if that behavior escalates? What if someone vandalizes the school or does something even more unthinkable, acting against the very people James has so clearly and reprehensibly made a target? What then would be Son of Fobs legal responsibility for what happens? If we assume (for arguments sake) that his commercial represents a call to illegal action, his accountability and constitutional protections would be analyzed under the Supreme Courts incitement standard, a line of cases that began in earnest during World War I and encompassed the nebulous clear and present danger test before settling into something more workable.

In Brandenburg v. Ohio, a 1969 case in which the Supreme Court overturned the criminal conviction of a Klu Klux Klan leader arrested for promising revengance for perceived slights during a televised rally, the Court established a four-part test for the criminalization of speech calling for violence. First, the government must seek to punish a speaker trying to move others to break the law, meaning that incitement cant cover otherwise lawful activity. Second, that speaker must intend for their speech to motivate the audience. Third, the lawlessness should be imminient, so the violence cannot be either far off in time or at some indefinite point. Finally, there must be a likelihood of violence in that the audience should be willing, ready and able to respond to the speakers call to lawbreaking.

The Brandenburg test is a good one that balances two important interests: allowing for the widest possible universe of speech while also attempting to keep people and property safe. Under Brandenburg, for example, theres nothing wrong with standing in front of a crowd and calling for a large-scale communist revolution that would by definition require violently seizing the means of production because (unfortunately for you, comrade) that revolution isnt coming tomorrow. Its abstract and philosophical, the sort of speech that should be tolerated at least by the government in a democratic society.

And the First Amendment protections extended by Brandenburgcan be surprising in practice. Donald Trumps speech on Jan. 6 looks like incitement, especially if we follow the intellectually seductive desire to blame one man for the storming of the Capitol, yet if we actually apply the case law, it likely falls short of whats criminally actionable incitement. Ransacking Congress and preventing the electoral vote count is clearly illegal, which satisfies the first prong. Likewise, the proposed violence directly followed the speech, which was given in front of the presidents angriest and most ardent supporters ones who were ready and willing to do the things they did.

But unless the congressional committee investigating Jan. 6finds a smoking gun or two in the texts, emails and other missives leading up to Trumps speech, the president likely did not have the intent necessary under Brandenburg. Yes, we can parse his words and point to a line or two (like We fight like hell. And if you dont fight like hell, youre not going to have a country anymore, for example) but I defy anyone to watch the entire hour-plus long speech and conclude it was anything more than his usual collection of imagined nonsense and self-entitled gripes. At the very least, if we could imagine a speech in which Trump was to tell his legion to assault the Capitol in order to disrupt Congress, it would be more to the point and absolutely more explicit.

Applying Brandenburg to a hypothetical in which the worst happens to MCAA and its students, were left with the same intent problem with James. The commercial is offensively craven, but on its face, the gubernatorial candidate is dredging the primary swamps for votes; unless theres some secret email to an adviser that reads Id like a commercial that motivates folks to go down to that campus to tear it all to hell, James doesnt have the necessary intent under the law. Comparing his ad to Trumps speech, however, gives us a stark difference and an even bigger issue: Jamess commercial is broadcast to anyone who happens to be watching television, whereas Trumps diatribe was given only to his supporters theres not much likelihood of violence in the legal realm of incitement where your audience consists of passionate supporters, random channel flippers and anyone unfortunate enough to be stuck on a treadmill at Planet Fitness. Finally, theres no hint of imminence in the ad, meaning theres no sign that someone should act against the school now. All told, there would be no legal liability for James under a theory of incitement if the worst should happen.

Yet legal liability is not the end of the story. Trump was impeached for his role in Jan. 6 in a political process that only happened to have some legal window dressing. Likewise, Jamescould face some type of punishment from Alabamas voters, but that seems more aspirational than anything else.

The real answer here, as unsatisfying as it may be, is to hold James morally responsible for whatever happens. Because while it takes a big, strong man to maybe just maybe if things break right embarrass Gov. Kay Ivey by dragging her into a runoff, only a monster would attack high school students to do so.

His ads will fade. But that shame and the moral consequences for his brazen bigotry never will.

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Opinion | Tim James: Donald Trump and the limits of criminal accountability for speech - Alabama Political Reporter

Former President Donald Trump endorsed State Sen. Doug Mastriano in Pennsylvanias Republican primary for governor, announcing his support for the front-runner just days before Tuesdays election.

The endorsement could very well put Mastriano over the top and deal a crippling blow to eleventh-hour efforts by some establishment Republicans to stop Mastriano, a far-right, staunch Trump ally.

There is no one in Pennsylvania who has done more, or fought harder, for Election Integrity than State Senator Doug Mastriano, Trump said in a statement Saturday morning. He is a fighter like few others, and has been with me right from the beginning, and now I have an obligation to be with him.

The endorsement comes as Trumps chosen candidate in Pennsylvanias U.S. Senate race celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz is locked in a dead heat with two rivals.

Mastriano, by contrast, has been leading by double digits in recent polls of the nine-candidate race.

Im honored to receive the endorsement from President Trump today, Mastriano said in a statement. But the honor is not for me. Its for the millions of hard-working Pennsylvanians who want their individual liberties restored, power returned to the people, and for their elected leaders to fulfill the America First and Pennsylvania First agenda.

READ MORE: Doug Mastriano embodies a Christian nationalist movement as he runs for governor: We have the power of God

The endorsement amounts to a safe bet at a time when other Trump-backed candidates including Oz and David Perdue in Georgias gubernatorial race are at risk of losing. Trumps choice in Nebraska, Charles Herbster, lost in a gubernatorial primary this past week. Of course, plenty of Trumps picks have won like author J.D. Vance in Ohios GOP Senate race.

Trump made his pick in the Pennsylvania governors race days after some establishment Republicans launched a last-minute effort to stop Mastriano, who they think will lose badly in November to state Attorney General Josh Shapiro, the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Mastriano on Saturday mocked those efforts.

The swamp is slapping us around, Mastriano told supporters at a rally in Bucks County. These people are so stupid. Just dumb.

Mastriano said the effort was failing and drew sustained cheering when he noted Trump had endorsed him just hours earlier. He lumped the media in with his rivals, accusing them all of spreading disinformation and false claims about him.

A mention of President Joe Bidens 2020 victory prompted several in the audience to shout out that he did not win that election.

Mastriano used the occasion to repeat Trumps lies that the election was stolen in Pennsylvania, singling out the use of mail ballots in Philadelphia.

Mastriano was a leading figure in the effort to overturn Bidens victory in the state.

He took buses to Washington for the Jan. 6, 2021, Stop the Steal rally that led a pro-Trump mob to storm the Capitol, and has continued to spread baseless conspiracy theories about the election. He has said he left before things turned violent, and has been subpoenaed by the congressional committee investigating the attack.

Trump just endorsed one of the most extreme and dangerous GOP candidates in the country for Governor of PA, Shapiro said Saturday on Twitter. He wants to ban abortion and undermine elections. He attended the 1/6 insurrection and crossed police barricades.

Mastrianos top rivals in the race are former U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, former Delaware County Councilman Dave White, and former U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain.

Barletta had benefited the most in recent days from GOP efforts to coalesce around a single alternative to Mastriano, as numerous current and former elected officials endorsed him. That included state Senate leader Jake Corman, who dropped out of the governors race and asked his supporters to back Barletta instead.

But it wasnt enough to sway Trump.

I will continue making the case to the people that I am the only candidate who can unite the party and bring victory in November, Barletta said in a statement Saturday after Trumps announcement. I look forward to having President Trumps endorsement Wednesday morning.

Without saying his name, Mastriano at the Saturday rally alluded to efforts to coalesce the party around Barletta as an attempt to anoint a golden child.

Mastriano cited Corman by title, drawing boos from the crowd. Mastriano also alluded to another rival, former U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain, without naming him but citing the millions in dark money spent by outside groups to support McSwain and, at times, attack Mastriano. He suggested that made McSwain bought and paid for by the establishment.

READ MORE: A last-ditch GOP effort to stop Doug Mastriano in the Pa. governors race appears to be too little, too late

And he took a shot at Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination for Senate, calling him a radical, left-wing communist. Still, Mastriano shared that Fetterman, who presides over the state Senate, complimented the strength of his support, evidenced by how many people signed his nomination petitions to get on the ballot.

Mastriano drew groans when citing Gov. Tom Wolf, a term-limited Democrat, and his efforts to try to stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He criticized Shapiro mocking him as Little Josh, born with a silver spoon in his mouth for supporting Wolfs policies.

Mastriano also claimed during his 30-minute speech that he and his wife, Rebbie, have endured abuse and death threats for his campaign.

Rebbie Mastriano, speaking before her husband, cast the campaign in biblical terms and said candidates attacking her husband were deflecting from their shortcomings.

Its really insulting to you, she said.

Democrats have been trying to boost Mastrianos candidacy because they appear to see him as the weakest candidate against Shapiro.

Shapiros campaign this month started airing TV ads promoting Mastriano as one of Donald Trumps strongest supporters, and the state Democratic Party sent mailers to registered Republican voters linking Mastriano to Trump.

Trump was said to like multiple candidates in the field, meeting with several over the course of the race. Each, to varying degrees, has amplified or flirted with Trumps false claims of voter fraud. And each of the top contenders has pledged to repeal the states 2019 expansion of mail voting and proposed more stringent voter ID rules, among other policies.

Barletta was one of Trumps earliest supporters in his 2016 campaign, and the former president endorsed Barletta in his unsuccessful 2018 Senate race. Barletta, like other candidates in both the gubernatorial and Senate races, hired former Trump aides for his campaign, and he held a fund-raiser at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

White, a wealthy owner of an HVAC business who pitches himself as a blue-collar businessman, met with Trump in late April. At the meeting, Whites pollster John McLaughlin, who has also worked for Trump showed Trump an internal poll that had White in second place, trailing only Mastriano, according to people familiar with the meeting.

Corman tried to stay in the mix for a while, too. While he trailed in the polls, Corman appears to have struck up a rapport with Trump over golf. And the senator posted pictures of himself with his daughter at Mar-a-Lago this month, where they attended a screening of an election conspiracy film called 2000 Mules. Its a movie every American should see, Corman said on Twitter.

But it was McSwain, a former Trump-appointed U.S. attorney in Philadelphia, who fared the worst in the Trump sweepstakes. The former president condemned McSwain for not prosecuting voter fraud in 2020. Do not vote for Bill McSwain, Trump said last month, calling him a coward, who let our Country down.

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Trump endorsed Doug Mastriano in the Pa. governors race, a late boost for the far-right front-runner - The Philadelphia Inquirer