Judge Allows Thousands of UNC Records to Remain Secret in COVID Transparency Lawsuit

Stephen Horn
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Judge Allows Thousands of UNC Records to Remain Secret in COVID Transparency Lawsuit

(Stephen Horn, Headline USA) Thousands of University of North Carolina records about coronavirus research will be kept secret—at least for now—after a state judge ruled on Friday against medical watchdog U.S. Right to Know, which is suing UNC as part of its investigation into the origins of COVID-19.

“In a court hearing today before NC Judge Alyson Grine, the University of North Carolina argued against disclosing to the public about 50,000 pages of documents, mostly of Prof. Ralph Baric, possibly holding clues about the origins of Covid-19,” U.S. Right to Know Executive Director Gary Ruskin said on Twitter/X following Friday’s hearing.

“In her decision today, Judge Grine largely sided with UNC and against public disclosure. However, Judge Grine did order UNC to make 251 documents public,” he said.

 

UNC’s possible connection to the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been previously highlighted by U.S. Right to Know, including in documents related to Project DEFUSE, a research proposal which involved enhancing the infectivity of bat coronaviruses.

A draft of that proposal obtained by U.S. Right to Know shows that the researchers planned to secretly conduct elements of this research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, with a comment by leading UNC coronavirologist Dr. Ralph Baric noting that American researchers would “likely freak out” if they knew that the gain-of-function research would be taking place under the lower biosafety level of the Chinese facility.

In 2022, after filing a number of requests under North Carolina public records law, including documents and communications related to Baric and the Wuhan Institute of Virology, U.S. Right to Know filed a lawsuit in the state court over 50,000 pages of responsive documents that UNC had withheld.

The dispute between the parties involved the interpretation of an exception to the state’s public records act for “research data, records, and information of a proprietary nature”, which the university argued should be interpreted broadly to include the records it had refused to provide.

U.S. Right to Know scored a victory in the case last November, when the judge assigned a 3rd party to review the records at issue over the objection of UNC that its own internal analysis was sufficient.

The ensuing report found that UNC had withheld approximately 250 documents which qualified as public records under its own interpretation of the law, including 120 grant administration documents, 20 manuscripts & presentations, 23 material transfer agreements, and 87 research project collaboration documents. The 3rd-party report also found that another 2,704 documents could only be released if the Judge agreed with U.S. Right to Know’s arguments about the law.

Unfortunately for transparency advocates, Judge Grine agreed at a Friday hearing with the university’s arguments against disclosure, ruling that UNC only has to turn over the 250 records identified by the report.

Ruskin said his group is evaluating its legal options, including the possibility of an appeal.

Raleigh-based journalist Stephen Horn can be found on Twitter at @stephenehorn or on Substack (“This Week in the Triangle”).

Biden-Harris Agents Boat Foreign Nationals After Texas Guard Pepper Spray Incident

Luis Cornelio
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Biden-Harris Agents Boat Foreign Nationals After Texas Guard Pepper Spray Incident

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) A shocking viral video showed federal authorities rushing to assist foreign nationals after the Texas National Guard successfully blocked them from trespassing and entering the U.S. illegally. 

The video, captured by reporter John Ritchie and shared on the “Viral News NYC” X page on Friday, showed 10 individuals (6 adults and 4 children) being shot at with pepper balls by the Texas National Guard as they stood near a border fence. 

The group, desperate to avoid the pepper spray, ran across the Rio Grande, covering their mouths with their hands while assisting the visibly young children. They began pleading for help in Spanish. 

“They’re being shot at. They shot rubber bullets at them,” Ritchie said in the video, as a bystander coughed from the powerful spray. 

Meanwhile, a U.S. Border Patrol airboat hovered nearby, observing the foreign nationals struggling to breathe, with one minor appearing to have difficulty. 

“Ayuda,” they yelled, meaning “Help.”  

Ritchie reported hearing a woman say, “Ayuda, el niño,” referring to the distressed boy.  

“Por favor,” she shouted, pleading for assistance. 

U.S. Border Patrol agents allowed the man with the affected child to board the boat.  

While it’s unclear what happened next, Ritchie claimed the child was taken to receive medical help. 

On X, many criticized the foreign nationals for putting the child at risk, with some speculating that the children may have been trafficked.  

Some accents indicated that the individuals may be of Venezuelan origin.

 

Kamala Bragged about Prosecuting Nonexistent Cartel

Dmytro "Henry" Aleksandrov
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Kamala Bragged about Prosecuting Nonexistent Cartel

(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris lied about many things during the now-infamous Fox News interview with Bret Baier, but some people recently pointed out that there was another thing that she lied about that Americans missed while they were watching the interview.

During the interview, Harris claimed that she prosecuted “transnational criminals.”

“I am the only person running for president who has prosecuted transnational criminals. I have spent a significant part of my career going after people who present a threat to the safety of the American people. I take this work quite seriously,” she wrote on Twitter.

Conservatives in the post’s comments section ruthlessly mocked her, her talking points and the idea that she prosecuted the mysterious “transnational criminals.”

“What in the h*ll is a transnational criminal? Just say illegal, you liar,” @KeenanPeachy wrote.

However, one of Harris’s talking points was not the most important. According to some people who were observant enough to notice, Harris claimed that she prosecuted a cartel that was dissolved long before she became a prosecutor in California.

“An interesting thing is that Kamala Harris bragged about prosecuting the Guadalajara Cartel. Which is interesting, as it dissolved in the 1980s, years before Harris became a prosecutor,” Mike Gonzalez of the Heritage Foundation wrote on Twitter.

After one of the people responded to the social media post by citing a webpage from California Attorney General Rob Bonta that stated Harris seized $5 million worth of cocaine from the cartel, Gonzalez defended his position.

“The Guadalajara cartel did cease to exist in the late 1980s. It broke up into successor cartels that did not use that name. Only California, for a bizarre reason, continued to ocassionally use the name. But most importantly, that action is NOT a prosecution,” he wrote.

Wilson Center supported Gonzalez’s claim on its website.

“The organization began to split apart in the late 1980s, due in part to the 1985 murder of U.S. DEA agent Enrique (Kiki) Camarena,” Wilson Center wrote. “Mexico’s renewed law enforcement efforts [caused by the U.S. government pressuring Mexican government], in turn, contributed to the decline of Guadalajara organization leading to numerous internal divisions.”

Kamala Has Ties w/ Alleged Wannabe Pedophile

Dmytro "Henry" Aleksandrov
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Kamala Has Ties w/ Alleged Wannabe Pedophile

(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has always been a far-left politician who associated herself and collaborated with other leftists in California, including those who could be classified as potential pedophiles if one would look at their political positions. 

The Daily Caller reported that one of those leftists was State Sen. Mark Leno, D-Calif., who was the author of legislation that would have allowed pedophiles to possess up to 99 items depicting child pornography before they could be charged with a felony.

According to the news source, Harris previously called him a “dear friend.”

The Los Angeles Daily News reported that political analyst Pat Caddell was one of the Democrats who opposed the legislation.

“What the Democrats did on AB 50 was insane, insane – 100 exemptions for child porn? They had to figure out this was not good? If this seeps into voters’ minds, my G-d,” he said.

Multiple news outlets, such as the San Fransisco Examiner and KQED, highlighted the politicians’ friendship. Harris was also spotted with Leno in photos shared on social media platforms.

However, Harris did not hide this relationship from anyone. In 2016, Harris praised Leno after he announced he would leave his role as a state senator.

“Senator Mark Leno’s committed service in the Legislature will leave a long-lasting impact on our state. During his time at the Capitol, Senator Leno worked tirelessly to pass the Homeowner Bill of Rights, seek justice for victims of human trafficking, protect consumers, keep firearms out of dangerous hands and secure a better future for California’s most vulnerable children. As both his friend and former constituent, I thank Senator Leno for his incredible leadership as he finishes his final session,” she wrote.

Harris also thanked Leno for his service in a Twitter post.

She also supported Leno and other leftist politicians earlier that year.

“BIRDS OF A FEATHER?” @amuse wrote. “WTAF?”

Other conservatives stated that Americans must protect children from Harris and other pedophile-supporting Democrats.

“I’ve said it a thousand times: this is the hill to die on. We must protect children from these monsters,” @theright_answer wrote.

Trump War Room also responded to the Caller’s article, attaching a screenshot of Harris’s old tweet.

“SICK AND TWISTED!” @TrumpWarRoom wrote.

Kamala Shows True Colors, Mocks Christians at Her Rally

Dmytro "Henry" Aleksandrov
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Kamala Shows True Colors, Mocks Christians at Her Rally

(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris recently admitted that Christians should not be her supporters, exposing once again how far the Democratic Party distanced itself from God and His religion.

During an Oct. 17 rally in Lacrosse, Wis., an unknown person in the crowd shouted, “Jesus is Lord,” and Harris mocked the person.

“Oh, you guys are at the wrong rally. I think you meant to go to the smaller one down the street,” she said, clearly implying Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s rally in the same town.

As expected from Harris’s supporters, all of them cheered in response.

Robby Starbuck, a conservative activist who recently became well-known for leading the successful boycotts of different leftist organizations, shared a video of a woman who captured the moment after attending the rally.

“Clearly, Kamala doesn’t respect Christians, our beliefs and most importantly, our Savior. Every Christian needs to remember this when they vote and share this with their friends. On Election Day, let’s show politicians what happens when they treat Christianity like this,” he wrote.

Conservative political commentator Benny Johnson agreed.

“Kamala hates Christians. She is directly telling you,” he wrote.

Catholic organization Catholic Vote also criticized Harris for her “vile hatred toward Christians once again.”

Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, also suggested Christians learn from Harris’s recent remarks by realizing who they should vote for on Nov. 5.

“Christians are not welcome in Kamala’s Democrat Party. Vote accordingly,” he wrote.

Scott Presler, the founder of Early Vote Action, also admitted that the Democratic Party hates Christians.

Others also wrote even more blatant truth in their responses on social media platforms.

“MAGA is the party of Jesus. Kamala is the party of the devil,” @MJTruthUltra wrote.

People like Xi Van Fleet also wrote that it is not surprising that Harris and the Democrats say things like these because they are communists.

“Communists are anti-Christ!” she wrote.

Some people on Twitter also wrote that they were surprised that some conservatives may think it is possible to be a Christian and a Democrat in 2024, pointing out that Christian values are not aligned with Democratic values at all.

“She’s right. They’re at the wrong rally. Kamala rallies are only about controlling people and murdering babies,” @G_Male_Baby wrote.

AOC Faces Censure from Democratic Socialists of America for Being Pro-Israel

Contributing Author
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AOC Faces Censure from Democratic Socialists of America for Being Pro-Israel

(Headline USA) “Squad” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is reportedly facing a censure from the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America for not being critical enough of Israel.

In a resolution, the far-Left group blasted Ocasio-Cortez for voting for a House bill that affirmed “denying Israel’s right to exist is a form of antisemitism.” According to the DSA, Ocasio-Cortez’s vote was in violation of “DSA’s democratically decided program of anti-Zionism and Palestinian liberation.”

The group also blasted Ocasio-Cortez for signing on to a congressional letter in April that signaled support for increased spending on Israel’s “Iron Dome” rocket defense system.

Some of Ocasio-Cortez’s other transgressions include supporting a congressional resolution “which only condemned Hamas, and not the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] for sexual violence,” and supporting an “anti-human shield Resolution 5917, which allowed the president to sanction members of Palestine Islamic Jihad.”

Ocasio-Cortez’s relationship with the radical group that helped propel her to the House in 2018 has been fraying over the past several months. Even though Ocasio-Cortez is considered one of the least pro-Israel Democrats in Congress, the national DSA withdrew its endorsement from her in July after she participated in a panel on how to combat antisemitism.

Ocasio-Cortez’s inadequate opposition to Israel is a “deep betrayal to all those who’ve risked their welfare to fight Israeli apartheid and genocide through political and direct action in recent months, and in decades past,” the national DSA said at the time.

“A national DSA endorsement comes with a serious commitment to the movement for Palestine and our collective socialist project,” the group continued. “To build a socialist movement that’s capable of defeating capitalism, we must demand more from leaders in our movement.”

The New York City chapter of the DSA will vote on the resolution to censure Ocasio-Cortez at its annual convention on Saturday. Ocasio-Cortez has not commented on it.

 

Indians Flood Twitter Complaining About DOJ Charges Against Indian Official, Not Assassination Plot

Luis Cornelio
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Indians Flood Twitter Complaining About DOJ Charges Against Indian Official, Not Assassination Plot

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) The DOJ foiled an alleged murder-for-hire and money laundering scheme led by an Indian government official targeting an American citizen in New York City.  

Shockingly, many Indian nationals took to Twitter to lash out at the U.S. government over the case, ignoring the disturbing allegations described in the federal indictment.

Many critics, some with verified accounts and Indian flags in their bios, aired grievances about what they called hypocrisy by the federal government. They were upset over charges brought against Vikash Yadav and his co-conspirator Nikhil Gupta. 

According to a federal indictment unsealed on Thursday, Yadav and Gupta allegedly sought to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist in 2023. Pannun is part of a movement pushing for an independent Sikh nation in Punjab, a region in South Asia. 

Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a press release that the DOJ will “not tolerate attempts to target and endanger Americans and to undermine the rights to which every U.S. citizen is entitled.” 

FBI Director Christopher Wray echoed Garland’s sentiments, calling the alleged conspiracy an “act of transnational repression.” 

On X, critics voiced a range of conspiracy theories, including verified user Karthik Ramaswamy, who suggested that the “CIA is manufacturing more unrest,” likely between Sikhs and Hindus. 

Durgesh Kumar, a self-described “Hindu nationalist” with “India First” in his bio, argued that Pannun shouldn’t be called a “U.S. citizen,” saying, “You should call him US terrorist, he is threatening Hindus, want to kill Indian diplomats and politicians…” 

Brahma Chellaney, a self-described strategic thinker and author, claimed the charges were part of a broader effort by President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau against India.

These comments reference Trudeau’s decision to expel six Indian diplomats, accusing them of being part of a network harassing Canadian Sikhs, as reported by The Washington Post.

This expulsion came after the 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh leader and Canadian citizen. 

One user hurled a racist, derogatory slur at Pannun, referring to him as a bug. 

Another user claimed the charges were brought forward because the “Deep State” was unhappy with the Haryana state elections in India. 

One verified user called the charges “another f**king lie.” This user added, “You all are fucking traitors to the American people. We won’t forget. Someone’s kid will be sent to die for this bullshit.  Will it be your kid being sent.” 

None of these individuals provided any evidence to back up their claims.

Read the DOJ’s indictment against Yadav and Gupta below.

REPORT: Rhode Island Encouraging Non-Citizens to Register to Vote

Contributing Author
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REPORT: Rhode Island Encouraging Non-Citizens to Register to Vote

(Headline USA) Rhode Island has been encouraging non-citizens to register to vote in the upcoming election, according to The Federalist.

In emails obtained by the outlet, Rob Rock, the deputy secretary for the Rhode Island State Department, admitted the state had sent voter registration mailers to “eligible but unregistered” residents.

“We sent two versions,” Rock wrote in one email, as reported by The Federalist. ”One to people who have a ‘Y’ citizenship flag and one to those who have a ‘No’ citizenship flag. Each PDF contains the English and Spanish versions.”

The text of the mailer reads, “Our records show that you have not been eligible to vote due to your U.S. citizenship status. If your status has changed recently, you may now be eligible to vote.”

In a statement, Rhode Island Department of State spokesperson Faith Chybowski insisted the only purpose of the mailer was to identify recently naturalized citizens.

However, the Rhode Island State Department confirmed that state law forbids election officials from compelling someone to provide documented proof of citizenship when registering to vote. All that is required is “an attestation that the signer is a citizen,” Chybowski admitted.

Making the matter even more concerning, the Federalist wrote, is the fact that Rhode Island sent out the mailer at the behest of the Electronic Registration Information Center, an organization founded by leftist David Becker, who recently dismissed reports of non-citizens voting in U.S. federal elections as a “made-up threat.”

Several other states have confirmed that non-citizens are, in fact, registering to vote. Just last week, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin removed more than 6,300 non-citizens from the state’s voter Rolls who had either “accidentally or maliciously” registered to vote.

Florida also revealed in a lawsuit this week that it has identified a number of non-citizens in the state’s voter rolls who are ineligible to vote.

Florida Sues Biden Admin. for Obstructing Efforts to Clean Voter Rolls of Illegals

Contributing Author
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Florida Sues Biden Admin. for Obstructing Efforts to Clean Voter Rolls of Illegals

(Headline USA) Florida officials sued the Biden administration this week for allegedly obstructing their efforts to clean the state’s voter rolls of non-citizens ahead of November’s election.

In the lawsuit, Florida reportedly claimed the Department of Homeland Security has refused to shed light on the immigration status of certain voters. According to federal law, DHS is mandated to respond to inquiries from state or local governments seeking to verify the immigration status of anyone in their jurisdiction for a purpose authorized by law.

Florida alleged it has previously used a DHS program, called the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE, program, to verify voters’ immigration status. But this year, despite the fact that Florida’s Department of State has identified a number of individuals who are not citizens, the state has not been able to verify their citizenship status via SAVE.

When Florida officials reached out to DHS directly to request verification, DHS’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services denied their request, the lawsuit adds.

“Because the federal government is refusing to comply with these obligations and frustrating Florida’s ability to maintain the integrity of its elections, Florida files this suit,” the lawsuit says.

Florida pointed out that its “obligation to maintain accurate and current voter registration records” is even more pressing given the millions of illegal aliens let into the country by the Biden administration.

“Voting is a right granted to American citizens — not illegal immigrants or other noncitizens. The Biden-Harris administration has allowed millions of illegal immigrants into the country, and we must ensure that only citizens are on our voter rolls,” Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said in a statement.

“I am taking legal action against the Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Mayorkas to ensure Florida is able to maintain the integrity of our state’s voter rolls.”

2nd Trump Assassin Wants Judge Cannon to Recuse Herself

Ken Silva
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2nd Trump Assassin Wants Judge Cannon to Recuse Herself

The man accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump at his Florida golf course last month has asked the presiding judge to recuse herself to avoid the perception of a conflict of interest.

The judge in accused would-be assassin Ryan Routh’s case is Aileen Cannon, a Trump-appointed federal judge who in July dismissed a criminal case charging Trump with illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

In a motion to Judge Cannon on Thursday, Routh’s attorneys argued for her recusal.

“It is unclear whether this scenario—i.e., a federal judge presiding over a criminal case where the very President who appointed her is the alleged victim of a violent crime—has ever occurred in the history of this country,” Routh’s lawyers, public defenders Kristy Militello and Renee Sihvola, said in their motion.

“The unprecedented facts and circumstances of this case, at the very least, create significant doubts about whether this court could preside consistent with the requisite appearance of impartiality,” they argued.

The Justice Department has not stated its position on whether Cannon should be the judge in Routh’s case.

Prosecutors accused Routh, 58, of Hawaii, of stalking Trump for a month before his attempted hit.

He was arrested on Sept. 15 after a Secret Service agent who was scoping the Trump International Golf Club for potential security threats saw a partially obscured man’s face, and the barrel of a semiautomatic rifle, aimed directly at him. The agent fired at Routh, who sped away before being stopped by officials in a neighboring county.

The Secret Service has said Routh did not fire any shots and never had Trump in his line of sight.

The Justice Department also said that authorities who searched his car found six cellphones, including one that showed a Google search of how to travel from Palm Beach County to Mexico.

Routh was initially charged with two federal firearms offenses. Later in September, the Justice Department announced a five-count indictment in which Routh is also charged with attempted assassination.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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