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Tag: Donald Trump

Trump Hush Money Trial
April 18, 2024
Ed Kozak
Lawfare

DATA: 2 in 3 Think Trump Charges Are Bogus.

An overwhelming number of American voters agree with top legal scholars and the Trump campaign that the charges brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg are spurious. Only about one-third of Americans say they believe former President Donald Trump engaged in illegal activity for which he’s being prosecuted in the New York hush-money trial, which began on Monday.

According to new survey data from AP-NORC, 35 percent of Americans believe the former President engaged in illegal activity. However, 31 percent said they thought his actions were unethical but did not rise to the level of being against the law, and 14 percent said Trump did nothing wrong.

The District Attorney prosecuting the case, Alvin Bragg, has faced criticism from the legal community for bringing the charges against the former President. When Bragg filed charges against Trump just over a year ago, even some of the former President’s harshest critics in Congress expressed skepticism regarding the legal theories underpinning the District Attorney’s case.

“I believe the New York prosecutor has stretched to reach felony criminal charges in order to fit a political agenda,” Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) said at that time. He added: “The prosecutor’s overreach sets a dangerous precedent for criminalizing political opponents and damages the public’s faith in our justice system.” Romney twice voted to impeach then-President Donald Trump.

The AP-NORC survey also reveals that a majority of those polled agree that the former President is unlikely to receive a fair trial in Manhattan. Trump’s attorneys have requested a venue change, but Democrat-connected Judge Juan Merchan has rejected those motions.

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An overwhelming number of American voters agree with top legal scholars and the Trump campaign that the charges brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg are spurious. Only about one-third of Americans say they believe former President Donald Trump engaged in illegal activity for which he's being prosecuted in the New York hush-money trial, which began on Monday. show more
Adriano Espaillat
April 17, 2024
William Upton
Lawfare
Politics

REVEALED: U.S. Congressman Who Blasted Trump’s Bodega Visit Entered America Illegally.

Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) first came to the United States from the Dominican Republic as an illegal alien with his parents, overstaying tourist visas and living in the country illegally for around a year before securing a green card. This fact was noted by The National Pulse’s editor-in-chief, Raheem Kassam, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) earlier on Wednesday. The progressive New York Democrat attacked Donald Trump in a social media post on Tuesday over the former President’s visit to a Harlem bodega — a neighborhood in Espaillat’s district.

“Donald Trump didn’t do his homework. My district is progressive and my constituents are honest hard working New Yorkers who don’t have time for Trump’s division, hate, and chaos,” Espaillat, the first former illegal alien to serve in Congress, said. He added: “Trump has no place in my district.”

Despite the claims by the pro-open borders Democratic lawmaker, residents of Harlem flocked to the bodega location — cheering on Trump. The former President had spent much of Tuesday confined to a Manhattan courtroom where he faces prosecution by District Attorney Alvin Bragg over spurious allegations in the Stormy Daniels ‘hush money’ trial. Harlem residents chanted “Four More Years!” among other political slogans.

On Wednesday, the Bodega and Small Business Group (BSBG), which represents thousands of bodegas in New York City, issued a statement backing former President Trump, slamming local District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and criticizing local politicians who have ignored the widespread criminality in the city. BSBG’s president, Fransisco Marte, said Trump’s visit “highlights just how much we have lost the way in New York,” adding that he hoped the president’s “support for stronger laws and enforcement will spur our own elected officials to action.”

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Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) first came to the United States from the Dominican Republic as an illegal alien with his parents, overstaying tourist visas and living in the country illegally for around a year before securing a green card. This fact was noted by The National Pulse's editor-in-chief, Raheem Kassam, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) earlier on Wednesday. The progressive New York Democrat attacked Donald Trump in a social media post on Tuesday over the former President's visit to a Harlem bodega — a neighborhood in Espaillat's district. show more
Fox News Far-Left Activists Trump Jury
April 17, 2024
William Upton
Lawfare

WATCH: Even FOX Admits Far-Left Activists Attempt Trump Jury Infiltration.

Even the globalist, Rupert Murdoch-owned Fox News is admitting that far-left activists have attempted to infiltrate the jury in former President Donald Trump‘s New York ‘hush money’ trial. Last night, Jesse Waters — a primetime host with the anti-Trump Murdoch’s network — pointed to instances where the former President’s legal team exposed several potential jurors as having lied about their political bias and social media posts regarding Trump.

“Trump’s legal team was given the names of potential jurors, and after googling them, discovered there were undercover activists trying to sneak on to the jury,” Waters said.

JURORS MISLED THE COURT.

The legal team for former President Donald Trump was able to strike several prospective jurors with cause before they could be seated. In almost every instance, the jury candidate had attempted to mislead the court about their knowledge of or bias against the former President.

One potential juror told the court they were impartial, but Trump’s attorneys quickly provided the court with social media posts by that juror stating, “Donald Trump should be locked up.” In another instance, a prospective juror said they couldn’t remember making any negative posts about Trump. Again, Trump’s attorneys produced evidence of social media posts showing the exact opposite.

Another juror, who works in cybersecurity, told the court that she could be unbiased. However, after her dismissal, she was interviewed outside the courthouse and admitted she lied. “It’s very difficult for anyone, really in this country, to not come to this with prior opinions,” she said before continuing: “We all have prior opinions about the defendant unless you’ve been living in a cardboard box.”

‘REMEMBER, THIS IS A MANHATTAN JURY.’

“Remember, this is a Manhattan jury. It [Manhattan] went 87 percent for Biden. And the judge who is overseeing the selection process is a Biden donor whose family was paid by the Biden campaign,” Waters said. He continued: “Yesterday, fifty white women, wearing masks, fled the courtroom claiming they couldn’t be fair to Trump.”

“Anyone wearing a mask at this point is not an impartial juror,” he added.

WATCH: 

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Even the globalist, Rupert Murdoch-owned Fox News is admitting that far-left activists have attempted to infiltrate the jury in former President Donald Trump's New York 'hush money' trial. Last night, Jesse Waters — a primetime host with the anti-Trump Murdoch's network — pointed to instances where the former President's legal team exposed several potential jurors as having lied about their political bias and social media posts regarding Trump. show more
trump bodega
April 17, 2024
Raheem J. Kassam
Election 2024

THOUSANDS of NYC Bodegas Just Issued a Stunning Statement Backing Donald Trump.

The Bodega and Small Business Group (BSBG), which represents thousands of bodegas in New York City, has issued a statement backing President Donald J. Trump, slamming local District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and hitting out at local politicians who have ignored the widespread criminality occurring in the city.

“The Bodega and Small Business Group (BSBG)… is honored to host President Donald J. Trump at the Blue Moon bodega in Manhattan where Jose Alba was arrested for simply defending himself and his business against a convicted felon, the statement began.

“The Manhattan DA, Alvin Bragg, only backed off after an angry public campaign from store owners and their supporters united behind Mr. Alba and his Constitutional rights. The Bodega and Small Business Group appreciates President Trump’s support on behalf of tougher enforcement for retail thieves that are making our stores more dangerous and less profitable at the same time.

“President Trump’s visit and support comes at a time when our own state legislators have refused to strengthen the laws against repeat retail theft offenders: ‘Legislative Democrats have formally rejected Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to make it a felony for assaulting a retail worker, a reflection of how the party remains split over criminal justice issues and how to address voters’
concerns over public safety.’

BSBG president, Fransisco Marte, said: “The visit of President Trump highlights just how much we have lost the way in New York. It is our hope that a former president coming to support NYC’s smallest stores, and also to demonstrate his support for stronger laws and enforcement, will spur our own elected officials to action.”

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The Bodega and Small Business Group (BSBG), which represents thousands of bodegas in New York City, has issued a statement backing President Donald J. Trump, slamming local District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and hitting out at local politicians who have ignored the widespread criminality occurring in the city. show more

Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
A stunningly powerful moment yesterday in Harlem, I am sure you will agree
for exclusive members-only insights
A stunningly powerful moment yesterday in Harlem, I am sure you will agree show more
for exclusive members-only insights
Trump Jury So Far
April 17, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Lawfare

7 of 12 Trump Jurors Have Been Picked. Here’s What We Know About Them…

Seven jurors have been selected to serve on Donald Trump’s election interference trial in New York so far, amid a grueling jury selection process. Here’s what we know about them.

  1. The first juror, who will act as foreman, is an immigrant from Ireland. He is a married, childless salesman described as having “some” college education. He said he receives his news from the New York Times, Daily Mail, far-left MSNBC, and centrist Fox News;
  2. The second juror is a native New Yorker. She is an unmarried, childless oncology nurse who lives with a fiancé. She said she receives her news from the New York Times and CNN;
  3. The third juror is originally from Oregon. He is an unmarried, childless corporate lawyer. He receives his news from The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Google;
  4. The fourth juror is from Puerto Rico. He is married, has adult children and two grandchildren, and runs an IT business. He describes Trump as someone who “makes things interesting”;
  5. The fifth juror is an unmarried, childless black woman who teaches English in a public charter school, with a master’s degree. She has said that as a person “of color” she has friends with strong views on Trump. She is the only juror selected so far who claims to be unaware of the other criminal cases against him;
  6. The sixth juror is unmarried and childless and lives with a trio of roommates. She is described as a recent college graduate who works as a software engineer at a large broadcaster. She receives her news from the New York Times, Google, Facebook, and TikTok;
  7. The seventh juror is originally from North Carolina and lives in Upper East Side Manhattan. A lawyer, she is married with two children. She receives her news from the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Post, and Washington Post and claims she doesn’t “have opinions about [Trump] personally.
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Seven jurors have been selected to serve on Donald Trump's election interference trial in New York so far, amid a grueling jury selection process. Here's what we know about them. show more
April 17, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Crime
Election 2024

Trump Visits Harlem, Crowd Chants ‘Four More Years!’

On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump stepped away from his criminal trial to visit Hamilton Heights bodega worker Jose Alba. Alba had been charged with murder after defending himself against Austin Simon, an ex-convict who jumped the counter in his store back in July 2022. The charges were brought by Alvin Bragg, the Democrat district attorney currently prosecuting Trump in Manhattan.

During his visit to the bodega, Trump was greeted with enthusiastic support. Crowds sang The Star-Spangled Banner and chanted “four more years!” Trump promised them that a new administration was “going to be saving America” after the presidential elections in November.

Alba’s aborted prosecution, which earned public backlash after security footage indicated he acted in self-defense, has given weight to Trump’s campaigning against the Democrats’ harsh attitude towards the law-abiding and leniency towards lawbreakers.

“There’s no crime,” Trump said of Bragg’s case against him. “You know where the crime is? In the bodegas where they come and rob them every week. Alvin Bragg does nothing. He goes after guys like Trump who did nothing wrong,”

During his visit, Trump expressed his fondness for New York City and said his campaign would be “making a big play” for its traditionally Democrat-voting state in November.

“I love this city, and it’s gone so bad in the last three years, four years, and we’re going to straighten New York out,” he promised.

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On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump stepped away from his criminal trial to visit Hamilton Heights bodega worker Jose Alba. Alba had been charged with murder after defending himself against Austin Simon, an ex-convict who jumped the counter in his store back in July 2022. The charges were brought by Alvin Bragg, the Democrat district attorney currently prosecuting Trump in Manhattan. show more
April 16, 2024
Jack Montgomery
NatSec
News

FISA Bill Progresses, As ‘Checks and Balances’ Amendment Fails.

A proposal to renew section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) cleared the House of Representatives by a vote of 259-128 on Monday, and it is now heading to the Senate.

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) had put forward an amendment requiring the authorities to acquire a warrant before accessing information collected on American citizens using FISA, but it was unsuccessful. The Joe Biden regime opposed the amendment, despite FISA’s defenders insisting it is a tool to surveil foreigners rather than U.S. citizens.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) expressed strong disapproval of FISA’s renewal, noting that “the program has been abused to spy on American citizens in direct violation of American liberty and the 4th Amendment” and that “[t]he FISA court found that the federal government violated its own rules over 278,000 times.”

“The swamp won today. The intel bros, uniparty, and deep state won two more years of warrantless surveillance,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Donald Trump had been FISA’s most high-profile opponent, and his intervention helped defeat another attempt to reauthorize it earlier this month.

“KILL FISA, IT WAS ILLEGALLY USED AGAINST ME, AND MANY OTHERS. THEY SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN!!!” he wrote on Truth Social.

Following this initial defeat, Trump said at a joint press conference with Speaker Johnson that, while he was “not a big fan of FISA,” House Republicans “put a lot of checks and balances on and I guess it’s down to two years now so that it would come due in the early part of my administration.”

The former president was referring to changes to the initial bill requiring FISA to be renewed again in two years rather than five.

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A proposal to renew section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) cleared the House of Representatives by a vote of 259-128 on Monday, and it is now heading to the Senate. show more
ny ag
April 16, 2024
William Upton
Lawfare

Trump Tells Tish James ‘PAY UP’ After Her Frivolous Bond Claim.

The attorneys for former President Donald Trump affirmed that his $175 million bond posted in connection with the ongoing civil fraud case in New York is financially sound. They have requested that the judge consider New York Attorney General Letitia James‘s challenge to the bond invalid. Additionally, Trump’s legal team is asking the former President to be awarded costs and fees for having to produce additional documents to comply with James’s challenge of the bond.

A Monday night court filing by Trump‘s attorneys disclosed that the bond, secured through Knight Specialty Insurance Company (KSIC), is fortified by the former President’s Charles Schwab account, boasting over $175 million in cash. In case of any assumed risk, KSIC is covered fully by its parent company, Knight Insurance Company, LTD.

Gregory Serio, the previous superintendent of insurance for New York and partner at Park Strategies, stated that KSIC’s bond is reliably secure, dismissing Attorney General James‘s objections about the underwriter’s financial stability. Additionally, Trump’s attorneys have argued that a hearing on the bond question is unnecessary and that the document-based evidence in support of the bond is ample justification.

The National Pulse previously reported that Letitia James‘s office cast doubts about KSIC’s credentials and ability to guarantee a surety bond within New York state. James additionally noted that the company did not possess a certification from the state regulator, which declared its financial competence. In response, Trump‘s attorneys stated that displaying a certificate is not the exclusive determinant of a bond underwriter’s financial health.

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The attorneys for former President Donald Trump affirmed that his $175 million bond posted in connection with the ongoing civil fraud case in New York is financially sound. They have requested that the judge consider New York Attorney General Letitia James's challenge to the bond invalid. Additionally, Trump's legal team is asking the former President to be awarded costs and fees for having to produce additional documents to comply with James's challenge of the bond. show more
Merchan Bragg
April 16, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Lawfare

Democrat DA Bragg Asks Judge to Find Trump in Contempt of Court on Day 2 of Trial.

Manhattan District Attorney (DA) Alvin Bragg has asked New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan to find Donald Trump in contempt of court, alleging he has violated a gag order preventing him from speaking freely about people connected to his case.

Bragg, a Democrat whose election campaign was financed by George Soros via a political action committee (PAC), wants the former president to be fined $3,000 and threatened with up to a month behind bars for further breaches.

Judge Merchan imposed a gag order on Trump, banning him from attacking court staff, witnesses, and others in March. This was later expanded to include his family after his daughter’s ties to the Joe Biden regime reinvigorated calls for him to recuse himself.

Bragg alleges Trump breached the order with Truth Social posts about Michael Cohen, the disbarred lawyer and convicted perjuror, and Stephanie Clifford, who performs sex acts for money as Stormy Daniels.

Trump shared a statement by Daniels admitting she did not have sexual relations with him. Allegations a settlement paid to Daniels by Cohen on behalf of Trump was filed incorrectly in 2017 form the heart of Bragg’s novel case.

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Manhattan District Attorney (DA) Alvin Bragg has asked New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan to find Donald Trump in contempt of court, alleging he has violated a gag order preventing him from speaking freely about people connected to his case. show more
April 16, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Lawfare

CNN Admits ‘It’s An Election Interference Trial’ – BUT Not For the Obvious Reason…

CNN legal analyst and globalist hatchet man Norman Eisen has argued it is “wrong” to describe George Soros-backed District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s prosecution of Donald Trump in Manhattan as a “hush money” case.

“We should call it an ‘election interference’ trial going forward,” Eisen said, echoing a sentiment often expressed by Trump himself – though the CNN employee believes it is Trump, not his Democrat prosecutors, who may be responsible for the interference.

Eisen noted that Democrat-linked Judge Juan Merchan, describing the case to potential jurors, said the allegations “that Donald Trump falsified business records to conceal an agreement with others to unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election.”

“Paying hush money by itself is not a crime. The crime alleged in this case is felony document falsification, as the judge detailed. That requires intent to conceal, aid or commit another crime,” Eisen explained.

“Here, the prosecution alleges that the intent was to violate federal campaign finance laws and also the state statute prohibiting the ‘unlawful influence’ of an election — i.e., election interference.”

NOVEL APPROACH. 

This approach by Bragg, which has allowed him to elevate the charges against Trump from misdemeanor to felony, is novel and, in the eyes of many legal experts, dubious, as the “other crime” the former president supposedly committed is not being prosecuted.

Eisen conceded the alleged accounting issues with so-called “hush money” payments to Stormy Daniels to settle claims of an affair, which Trump denies, date from 2017, after the 2016 election had concluded.

The CNN analyst argues the payment was itself election interference, however, claiming “no one can seriously dispute that the reason… Trump allegedly hatched the scheme was to deprive voters of information that could have changed the outcome of an extremely close election.”

“When information is withheld from voters, as Bragg alleges happened here, that undermines democracy… It is an election interference [trial] and we should say so,” he concluded.

He did not touch on whether censorship of the Hunter Biden laptop story in 2020 would qualify as election interference on behalf of Biden under this definition.

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CNN legal analyst and globalist hatchet man Norman Eisen has argued it is "wrong" to describe George Soros-backed District Attorney Alvin Bragg's prosecution of Donald Trump in Manhattan as a "hush money" case. show more