DOJ and Special Counsel Jack Smith End Cases Against Donald Trump

 

In an unexpected move, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Special Counsel Jack Smith have decided to end their cases against President-elect Donald Trump. According to ABC News, the DOJ cited its longstanding policy that sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted, a guideline that has now led to the cessation of legal proceedings against the former president.

While many had anticipated that the DOJ and Smith would continue their work up until Trump’s official departure from office, the decision to close these cases before he even takes office has raised eyebrows.

“What’s interesting here is that the DOJ is moving to end these cases even before Trump assumes office, citing the longstanding DOJ policy that sitting presidents can’t be prosecuted,” a senior official said. “There was some thought that maybe Special Counsel Jack Smith would sprint through the finish line, working up until the last day, forcing Trump to fire him or waiting for a new Attorney General to be appointed, but that does not appear to be the thinking inside the department.”

Legal analysts had speculated that Smith’s team might push to conclude investigations before Trump’s term ended, potentially leaving his successor to decide the next steps. However, the department has now determined that these cases cannot proceed.

The decision has raised questions about the future of Trump’s legal challenges, as several other investigations into his actions during his presidency remain ongoing.

While Trump has repeatedly maintained his innocence, the abrupt closure of the DOJ’s cases marks a major shift in the legal landscape surrounding the former president.

Bill Barr: Prosecutors should 'do the right thing' and dismiss Trump cases: 'Respect the people's decision'

 Former Attorney General Bill Barr, who served in President-elect Trump's first administration, is calling on prosecutors at the state and federal levels to dismiss the pending legal cases against Trump before he takes office once again.

Barr told Fox News Digital that voters were well aware of all the allegations against Trump when electing him to a second term in office on Tuesday, and that it is in the country's best interest for prosecutors to listen to them.

"The American people have rendered their verdict on President Trump, and decisively chosen him to lead the country for the next four years," Barr said. "They did that with full knowledge of the claims against him by prosecutors around the country and I think Attorney General Garland and the state prosecutors should respect the people’s decision and dismiss the cases against President Trump now."

Barr asserted that the legal theories in some of the cases already had been "greatly weakened by a series of court decisions," and that the matters "have now been extensively aired and rejected by the American people."

Once Trump takes office in January, Barr pointed out, prosecutors will be unable to continue the cases during his term. A Trump-appointed attorney general could end the federal cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith, one in Washington, D.C., for alleged efforts to overturn the outcome of the 2020 election, and another in Florida based on allegations dealing with retaining classified documents after his first term.

 The Florida case was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on technical grounds involving Smith's appointment, and the Washington case was undermined by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that presidents have immunity from prosecution for certain official actions.

Joe Biden's 'lonely and lost' final days in office: Netflix binges, quiet tears and shunned by Kamala Harris' campaign

 

You'd think that having a sitting president on your side would be seen as a rather sizeable upper hand in the last hours of your own campaign for the White House.

Not so for Kamala Harris.

On Sunday, as the Democratic nominee made her final push for election, Harris rounded up a star-studded crew of political big names and deployed them to the tightest swing states:

Barack Obama attended a rally in Wisconsin. Bill Clinton was on the trail in North Carolina. Even the current First Lady, Jill Biden, was out for Harris, greeting voters in Pennsylvania.

But Joe Biden was nowhere to be seen.

He was hidden away in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware – a comfortably Blue state – enjoying a long lunch at his golf club with an old friend.

Days before, Biden had embarrassed Harris with yet another gaffe – appearing to refer to Donald Trump's supporters as 'garbage'. Publicly, the White House insisted he hadn't in fact said what everyone had heard.

But, behind closed doors, the message from the Harris campaign to Joe was clear: Stay away.

‘Cowardly’: Kamala Harris fails to concede to her supporters after losing the US election

 

Lindsey Graham sends warning to special counsel Jack Smith

 South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham has sent an ominous message to special counsel Jack Smith as Donald Trump was on the precipice of being announced as the winner of the 2024 election.

Early on Wednesday morning, mere moments before Trump took the stage in West Palm Beach, Florida, to give his victory speech, Graham posted a note on X “to Jack Smith and your team”.

“It is time to look forward to a new chapter in your legal careers as these politically motivated charges against President Trump hit a wall,” Graham wrote.

“The supreme court substantially rejected what you were trying to do, and after tonight, it’s clear the American people are tired of lawfare. Bring these cases to an end. The American people deserve a refund.”

Smith charged Trump last year in Florida over his retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago club, and in Washington over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Trump sees 50% boost in New York’s Jewish vote compared to 2020

 

Donald Trump saw a whopping 50% increase in his support among Jewish voters in New York on Tuesday, compared to the last presidential election, polls show.

Roughly 45% of Empire State voters who identify as Jewish cast their ballots for the Republican nominee in 2024 — compared to just 30% who chose him as their candidate in 2020, according to Fox News exit polls.

Vice President Kamala Harris scored 55% of the Empire State’s Jewish vote, marking a drastic decrease from the 69% President Biden took home in his winning bid for the highest office four years ago.

“I’m so so proud of Jewish turnout across the country. We are getting early reports in and huge groundbreaking numbers,” Maury Litwack, from the Teach Coalition, who was polling Jewish voters in New York House races and in battleground states, said on X.

In another post, Litwack said Jewish voters were throwing their support behind Republicans after finding distrust in the Democratic party’s handling of the rise in antisemitism across the US and on college campuses amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

“I can point to numerous examples of candidates taking terrible positions on antisemitism or staying silent on antisemitism that have cost them their races this cycle,” the Jewish voting advocate said.

The fury of Jewish voters and activists already proved pivotal in Democratic primary elections in recent months — “Squad” Rep. Jamaal Bowman was ousted from New York’s 16th Congressional District, as well as fellow lefty Rep. Cori Bush in Missouri.

The Republican Jewish Coalition spent a record-breaking $15 million this election cycle in support of Trump, with the group alleging that Harris stands with progressive values and not with Jewish voters.

Donald Trump Wins by a Landslide and Still Counting

In a historic win, Donald Trump has emerged victorious in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election, clinching Pennsylvania and securing the crucial electoral votes needed to surpass the threshold for the presidency. The win in Pennsylvania marked a decisive moment in the election, solidifying Trump’s return to the White House as the 47th President of the United States.

Key Moments Leading Up to the Victory
The race was marked by intense campaigning in battleground states, with Pennsylvania emerging as the tipping point in the race. Both candidates invested substantial time and resources in the state, which has been pivotal in recent presidential elections. As results began to pour in, Pennsylvania remained one of the final key states in play, ultimately tipping the scales in Trump’s favor.

A Triumphant Return
This victory represents a historic return to the Oval Office, marking Trump’s second non-consecutive term as President. The win comes as a powerful statement, underscoring Trump’s continued influence and appeal among a substantial portion of the American electorate. His campaign focused on promises of economic revitalization, increased national security, and a commitment to tackling issues impacting everyday Americans.

Celebrations Across the Nation
Following the announcement, celebrations erupted across various parts of the country as Trump supporters gathered to mark the victory. In Pennsylvania, the critical state that delivered the final electoral votes, gatherings took place in major cities and rural communities alike, with supporters waving flags and chanting in celebration of the result.

DIN Doesn't see a path for Harris to win. Republicans take Senate

 

The final polls have closed.

Here are the states left to call: Alaska, Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and three of Maine’s four electoral votes.

The updated scoreboard of electoral votes stands at 247 for former President Donald Trump and 210 for Vice President Kamala Harris.

Vice President Kamala Harris will not speak to the nation tonight, her campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond announced early Wednesday morning.

“We still have votes to count ... so you won’t hear from the vice president tonight," he told the crowd at Harris' watch party at Howard University. "She will be back here tomorrow."

"Go H-U and go Harris," he added.

Donald Trump's chances of returning to the White House are looking fairly bright, according to numerous live forecasts.

The New York Times is currently giving Trump a 93% chance of victory in its election forecast, while Polymarket pegged his chances at 96.6%.

Thus far, the Associated Press has only called on battleground state — North Carolina — leaving six outstanding. Trump is also currently leading in the so-called "Blue Wall states" of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.

Michigan has just 56% of the vote in, while Pennsylvania has 88% and Wisconsin has 83% of its votes reported, per the latest figures.

Grim looks are a common sight at Kamala Harris' Election Night watch party — as roughly half of the crowd headed home by midnight without a visit from the vice president.

In scenes reminiscent of Hillary Clinton's dismal watch party at the Javits Center in 2016, young Harris supporters on the campus of Howard University frowned, crossed their arms and stared with mouths agape at TV screens.

Harris, 60, was expected to triumphantly visit her alma mater in the event of good news — but remained at her official DC residence after losing North Carolina and lagging behind Donald Trump in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

an hour ago

Netanyahו finally gets rid of Gallant as Defense Minister

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday evening.

Netanyahu explained that this is the result of a crisis of trust and significant differences between the two in the management of the war. "My highest commitment as Prime Minister of Israel is to maintain Israel's security and bring us to a complete victory," Netanyahu said in a statement after the dismissal announcement.

He added, "In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense. Unfortunately, although in the first months of the campaign there was such trust and there was very fruitful work, during the last few months this trust has cracked between me and the Minister of Defense."

"Significant gaps were discovered between myself and Gallant in the management of the campaign, and these gaps were accompanied by statements and actions that contradicted the decisions of the government and the cabinet. I made many attempts to bridge these gaps, but they kept getting wider. They also came to the public's attention in an unacceptable way, and worse than that, they came to the knowledge of the enemy - our enemies took pleasure in this and derived a lot of benefit from it," he said.

Netanyahu stated that he is in favor of differences of opinion and debate, "But the crisis of trust that gradually opened up between myself and the Minister of Defense has become public, and this crisis does not allow for the proper continuation of the management of the campaign. I'm not the only one who says this, most of the members of the government and most of the members of the cabinet, almost all of them share this feeling that this cannot continue."

"In light of this," he said, "I decided today to end the term of office of the Minister of Defense. In his place, I have decided to appoint Minister Israel Katz. Israel Katz has already proven his abilities and his contribution to national security as Minister of Foreign Affairs, as Minister of Finance, and as Minister of Intelligence for five years, and no less important than that, as a member of the political and security cabinet for many years."

He noted that he is inviting former Minister Gideon Sa'ar to join the government and assume the position of Foreign Minister from Minister Katz. "In addition, I spoke today with Minister Gideon Sa'ar and suggested that he join the coalition with his faction and fill the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs. As a member of the government and cabinet for many years, Gideon Sa'ar brings with him extensive experience and expertise in the fields of policy and security, and he will be a significant reinforcement for our leadership team."

Gallant stated in response, “The security of the State of Israel always was, and will always remain my life’s mission."

The move was welcomed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who said, "The prime minister did well to remove him from his position.” Ben-Gvir claimed that "it is not possible to achieve absolute victory" with Gallant as Defense Minister.

On the other hand, opposition figures condemned Gallant's firing, Democrats chairman Yair Golan called on the public to "take to the streets" in protest.

National Unity MK Orit Farkash Hacohen said, “A Defense Minister who announces conscription orders for thousands of Haredim is fired in the middle of a war on the eve of an [expected Iranian] attack for the sake of the evasion law.”

IDF Demolishes 29 Villages in Southern Lebanon

 The IDF illustrated how every home in south Lebanon was a rocket launching base:

🔴דובר צה"ל מראה איך חיזבאללה מחביא נשק בתוך בתים בכפרים בלבנון🔴
גם איך לחזבאללה ניסה לשגר טיל שיוט מתוך בית בלבנון, הטיל הושמד כולל המחבלים

דובר צה״ל: "חיזבאללה הפך את דרום לבנון למרחב לחימה. הוא מסתיר נשק בתוך בתים אזרחיים והוא מסכן בכך את האזרחים שגרים בדרום לבנון. במשך… pic.twitter.com/aXRhk16RI4

— אור פיאלקוב (@orfialkov) September 23, 2024

 IDF forces conducting a counterterrorism operation against the Hezbollah terror organization in Southern Lebanon have demolished close to 30 villages and towns that were in proximity to the Israeli border.

According to a report by Asharq Al-Awsat, Israeli forces have destroyed 29 villages dotted across a strip 120 km long from the Rosh HaNikra on the coast in the west, to Shebaa in the east.

Mohamed Chamseddine, policy research specialist at Information International, told the Saudi daily that the villages of Aita al-Shaab, Kfar Kila, Adeisseh, Houla, Dhayra, Marwahin, Mhaibib, and al-Khiam have been “completely destroyed” along with some 25,000 houses.

Israel launched a counterterrorism offensive in the area on October 1, following a year during which Hezbollah bombed Israeli communities and cities, killing dozens of soldiers and citizens.

The terror organization used these villages, many of which overlook Israeli communities, as its base of operations from which it launched missiles, explosive drones, and anti-tank rockets.

Soldiers returning from the battlefield recounted how they found weapons in every home they searched in the area, essentially turning the buildings into legitimate targets according to international law.

The IDF revealed that in one month of combat in Lebanon, it eliminated some 1,500 terrorists and uncovered about 3,000 explosive devices and over 2,500 rocket launchers and anti-tank missiles hidden in the homes of Lebanese civilians in villages across Israel’s border.

The IDF stated on Tuesday that in the past day, the Air Force attacked about 100 terrorist targets in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, hitting weapons warehouses, rocket launcher positions, military buildings, and other terror targets.

by David Israel JP