Buttigieg Defends Walz’s False Claims About His Military Service

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Buttigieg Defends Walz’s False Claims About His Military Service

(Headline USA) Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg defended Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for making false claims about his military record, insisting that Walz’s dishonesty only happened “one time.”

Walz, Vice President Kamala Harris’s vice presidential pick, has come under fire for misrepresenting the extent of his military service.

For example, Walz has claimed he was a retired command sergeant major, but National Guard officials who worked with him, including his superior officer, said Walz retired before fulfilling requirements for the position.

Walz also falsely suggested he saw combat in Iraq when, in reality, he retired from the National Guard right before his unit was deployed to the Middle East.

“We can make sure that those weapons of war, that I carried in war, is the only place where those weapons are at,” Walz said in a 2018 speech on banning guns.

Asked about these false claims, Buttigieg insisted Walz’s record was reputable.

“The fact that they have to go back to find a clip from 2018 to find the one time that he slipped up when he talks about the weapons of war that he carried and said something instead about carrying weapons in war,” Buttigieg told CNN. “It‘s kind of an exception that proves the rule in terms of how hard you have to look to find him all saying anything that isn’t precise and accurate.”

Buttigieg went on to dismiss the Trump campaign’s criticisms of Walz as “mushy and lazy” in a separate interview.

“Sometimes you get the feeling that Trump’s heart isn’t in this anymore, the laziness of his attacks, not to mention the, again, lack of any coherent account of what he’s actually gonna do to make Americans’ lives better,” Buttigieg claimed.

The former South Bend, Ind., mayor’s tenure as secretary of the Department of Transportation, ironically, may best be remembered for Buttigieg’s reputation for phoning it in, with the slogan “Where’s Pete?” often accompanying a major transportation-related crisis or disaster.

Following a train derailment in Palestine, Ohio, for instance, which left many residents displaced due to chemical contamination, Buttigieg repeatedly rebuffed calls to visit until a visit by Trump shamed him into doing so.

Harris’s campaign also tried to downplay Walz’s false characterizations of his military record, claiming he simply “misspoke” when he mentioned carrying weapons of war.

“In making the case for why weapons of war should never be on our streets or in our classrooms, the governor misspoke,” a campaign spokesperson said. “He did handle weapons of war and believes strongly that only military members trained to carry those deadly weapons should have access to them, unlike Donald Trump and JD Vance who prioritize the gun lobby over our children.”

Fauci Reveals Third COVID Infection, Despite Six Vaccines/Boosters

Matthew Doarnberger
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Fauci Reveals Third COVID Infection, Despite Six Vaccines/Boosters

(Matthew Doarnberger, Headline USA) Former COVID czar Anthony Fauci revealed that he had recently been infected by the COVID-19 virus for the third time, despite his having received a total of six vaccines and boosters.

“I got infected about two weeks ago,” said Fauci, the longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, according to Modernity News. “It was my third infection, and I have been vaccinated and boosted a total of six times.”

Fauci’s personal experience with the mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations seemed to directly contradict his statements from three years ago regarding their effectiveness in preventing viral infection.

In 2021, Fauci claimed that “If you get vaccinated, you are protected.”

Later that same year, he stated “When people get vaccinated, they can feel safe that they are not gonna get infected.”

Despite his initial optimism, Fauci later changed his tune in 2023, when he coauthored a study discussing the possible shortcomings of the vaccine.

Meanwhile, conservatives who questioned the efficacy and necessity of the experimental jabs from very early on have only grown more wary over time as evidence mounts of potentially deadly side effects from the vaccine itself—in some cases creating a far greater risk of adverse health outcomes than that posed by the virus itself.

Earlier this year, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo halted the distribution of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine due to public safety concerns.

Fauci retired from his role as head of the NIAID in December 2022.

When asked in a recent CNN interview about the possibility of being prosecuted if former President Donald Trump were able to win the November election, Fauci dismissed the question by scoffing “I don’t know what one would prosecute me for.”

Turning Point Challenges Volunteers to ‘Chase’ 100 Ballots Each in Key Swing States

Dmytro "Henry" Aleksandrov
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Turning Point Challenges Volunteers to ‘Chase’ 100 Ballots Each in Key Swing States

(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) On Aug. 12, 2024, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk announced Commit 100, an extension of Turning Point Action’s Chase the Vote initiative for the 2024 election, to chase ballots in the battleground states of Arizona and Wisconsin in the effort to elect Donald Trump to a second term, despite the vote fraud and illegal aliens being able to vote in the upcoming election.

The newest effort will allow volunteers to sign up and commit to chasing 100 early ballots and 100 election-day ballots. Volunteers can travel to Arizona and Wisconsin to help chase votes in person, with lodging provided, or via the TPAction app.

“There’s only 84 days until Election Day, the final day of voting. Do the work. Help us win,” Kirk wrote in the social media post.

The effort is part of Turning Point Action’s Chase the Vote initiative, which has deployed field organizers in swing states such as Arizona, Georgia, Wisconsin, Nevada, Michigan and Pennsylvania. The organization also deployed field organizers in other states to track and chase critical target ballots.

The Post Millennial reported that, through the initiative, field organizers identify “Republican voters and build key relationships in battleground states,” register voters, encourage them to get involved in the voting process and mobilize voters to get to the poll on Election Day.

Turning Point Action is collaborating with other national organizations, such as Early Vote Action, America First Works, Moms for America and the College Republicans of America, to “build the largest ballot chasing operation the movement has ever seen,” using a “strong national grassroots network and a track record of empowering conservative leaders.”

In June of this year, Trump spoke at a Chase the Vote event in Phoenix, taking questions from the crowd and discussing his goals for the next term. Among them were handling the invasion of illegal aliens through the southern border that grew under Joe Biden, the economy that has seen rampant inflation and how to make the country safer.

Schumer Called a ‘Scumbag’ at NYC’s Dominicans Day Parade

Luis Cornelio
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Schumer Called a ‘Scumbag’ at NYC’s Dominicans Day Parade

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., attended the Dominican Day Parade in New York City on Sunday, where he faced a less-than-friendly reception from one of the attendees. 

A viral video shows Schumer walking down what appears to be 6th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan before being approached by an individual dressed in attire resembling the Dominican flag.

“Hey, Chuck! You know Dominicans actually hate your guts, because you’re a scumbag. You know that right?” the unnamed man told Schumer, who initially thought he was being asked for a selfie.

The man, wearing a white hat with the “DR” acronym and the inner logo of the Dominican flag, continued to call out Schumer. Dressed in a white and blue plaid shirt with sunglasses resting in his chest pocket, Schumer quickly realized the interaction was hostile.

 

“You ruined New York. You’re a loser. You’re a loser buddy,” the parade attendee shouted as Schumer attempted to walk away. Clearly bothered, Schumer dropped the smile he had moments earlier.

Despite the now-viral heckling, Schumer later shared photos of the parade with the caption, “The National Dominican Day Parade in New York City with the amazing Dominican community in New York!” 

In the video, former Yonkers Councilman Wilson Terrero, one of the parade’s honorees, can be seen behind Schumer. 

“I want to thank the Yonkers’ Business community for their continued support,” Terrero wrote in a Facebook post that included a photo with Schumer. “You guys made this parade a memorable day for me.” 

Memorable indeed. The altercation between Schumer and the parade attendee has quickly gained momentum on social media, with mostly positive reactions from conservatives. Several copies of the videos have earned over one million views. 

While Schumer has been re-elected at least four times, his victory margins have decreased, from 71% in 2004, 66% in 2010, 70% in 2016 and 56% in 2022. 

According to Statista, 32% of Americans say they have a “very unfavorable” view of Schumer, while only 10% have a “very favorable” view.

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated for greater clarity regarding Statista data on Schumer’s unfavorable ratings.

Pa.’s Leftist Sec. of State Will Once Again Delay Reporting on Election Results

Dmytro "Henry" Aleksandrov
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Pa.’s Leftist Sec. of State Will Once Again Delay Reporting on Election Results

(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) The leftist Pennsylvania Department of State decided to prepare Americans for vote fraud in advance by announcing that the results of the state’s upcoming election would not be known on election night.

“Pennsylvanians won’t always know the final results of all races on election night. Any changes in results that occur as countries continue to count ballots are not evidence that an election is ‘rigged,'” the department wrote in its social media post.

In the post, the far-left bureaucrats also included a link to a website dedicated to fact-checking claims about Pennsylvania’s election process.

The Post Millennial reported that the announcement reminds Americans about how the establishment stole the 2020 election in the state by including many mail-in ballots to ensure that Donald Trump didn’t win. Even though Trump was supposed to win the state, Joe Biden was still declared a winner in Pennsylvania because many mail-in ballots were counted in the following days.

Conservatives were frustrated by the prolonged counting process and argued that state election results should be finalized and made public on or immediately following Nov. 5, 2020. They are saying the same thing this year as well.

Even though people urged the lawmakers to reform the election system, Pennsylvania lawmakers did not pass legislation allowing the pre-canvassing of ballots, which could speed up the counting process. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed an initiative in May, but the legislative session didn’t change the law.

Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes could be crucial in determining the next president, considering it is one of the battleground states. If the race comes down to Pennsylvania, it may take several days before Americans would know the election’s outcome.

“If the electoral college comes down to Pennsylvania or Wisconsin, we might still face a long period where we don’t know the winner,” Rachel Orey, an elections expert with the Bipartisan Policy Center, said.

However, many election officials in multiple states, including Pennsylvania, stated that they would not certify the election if there is evidence of Kamala Harris “winning” because of voter fraud.

UPDATE: RFK Jr.’s Presidential Run in Doubt after N.Y. Court Rejects his Residency Claim

Elias Irizarry
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UPDATE: RFK Jr.’s Presidential Run in Doubt after N.Y. Court Rejects his Residency Claim

UPDATE: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is not expected to appear on the presidential ballot in New York state after a court ruling determined that he was not a resident, thereby invalidating his petition, the New York Post reported.

The ruling by Justice Christina L. Ryba casts doubt on the status of his petitions in other states, as well, despite the fact that Kennedy indicated on Friday that he expected to be present on the ballot in all 50 states.

“The overwhelming credible evidence introduced at trial established that Kennedy’s connections with the 84 Croton Lake Road address existed only on paper and were maintained for the sole purpose of maintaining his voter registration and political standing in the State of New York,” Ryba wrote.

Because Kennedy’s running mate, Cheryl Hines, is a resident of California, the ruling may potentially invalidate the petition there, as well, due to a provision in the 12th Amendment that prevents running mates from the same state of receiving the state’s electoral votes.

Original report below:

(Elias Irizarry, Headline USA) Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced Friday that he had completed the requisite steps required to be on the ballot in all 50 states, as well as Washington, D.C., for the 2024 presidential election.

“Right now we have enough signatures to be on all 50 states … some of the states are not yet certified, but we’re gonna be on the ballot in all 50 states, for sure,” Kennedy told Fox News’s Neil Cavuto.

However, his quest for ballot access has been met by legal challenges from the Democratic Party and their operatives.

Among the lawfare campaigns seeking to block Kennedy from the ballot was a suit filed in July by the North Carolina Democratic Party against the state’s election board.

To the NCDP’s dismay, however, the Wake County Superior Court ruled in the candidate’s favor on Monday, the Carolina Journal reported.

“There was no basis in fact or law for NCDP’s claims, and their lawsuit was a transparent attempt to suppress voter choice in North Carolina,” said Oliver Hall, a lawyer for the We The People Party, a political party started by supporters of Kennedy.

Republican Party operatives, on the other hand, have reportedly been fighting to keep third-party and independent candidates—such as far-left independent candidate Cornel West—on the ballot, according to documents received by NBC News.

Kennedy’s mission of achieving ballot access in all 50 states has varied state-by-state. The mandatory number of signatures to receive ballot access in 39 states is no more than 10,000. However, California, Florida and Texas all require at least 100,000 signatures.

In some states, Kennedy has relied upon the help of minor political parties to nominate him as their candidate to circumvent the petition process.

In Florida, for example, Kennedy will be on the ballot as a candidate of the Reform Party, and in Michigan he will appear as the nominee of the Natural Law Party.

In California, he will be represented by the American Independent Party—the former party of Alabama Gov. George Wallace, who notoriously received 46 electoral votes as a third-party candidate in 1968 on a staunch segregationist campaign.

In Colorado, the state’s Libertarian Party opted to nominate Kennedy, a jab to their national candidate, Chase Oliver, who was officially designated the party’s nominee at their party’s convention in Washington D.C.

“Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shares many of the Libertarian Party’s core principles, including a commitment to civil liberties, free markets, and a non-interventionist foreign policy,” announced the Libertarian Party of Colorado on their official X page.

Kennedy and former President Donald Trump both addressed the Libertarian National Convention last May as they hoped to earn the support of the third party that has failed to receive a single Electoral College vote since 1972.

Alongside legal challenges, Kennedy’s campaign has been marred by recent scandals, including a recent confession that he dumped a dead bear in New York’s Central Park in 2014.

In July, shortly after Trump’s assassination attempt, his son leaked a video of Trump reportedly attempting to entice Kennedy into withdrawing from the race and joining his team.

The leak from Kennedy’s son led to widespread outrage from Republicans, leading Kennedy to publicly apologize to Trump. He further claimed he was “mortified” when he discovered the video had been posted online without his consent.

Influential podcaster Joe Rogan recently became the subject of controversy after praising Kennedy on his show.

Rogan’s praise of Kennedy led Trump to attack him on the platform Truth Social, posting “It will be interesting to see how loudly Joe Rogan gets BOOED the next time he enters the UFC Ring??? MAGA2024.”

In a match-up between Trump, Kennedy, and Vice President Kamala Harris, Kennedy holds 4% national support among registered voters, according to an August 7 poll by Redfield & Wilton Strategies.

Follow Elias Irizarry at twitter.com/eliasforsc.

High-Profile Texas Democrats Endorse Ted Cruz for Senate, Blast Biden-Harris Border Policies

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High-Profile Texas Democrats Endorse Ted Cruz for Senate, Blast Biden-Harris Border Policies

(Bethany Blankley, The Center Square) Three and a half years into an unprecedented border crisis impacting Texans in border communities and the state’s largest cities, high-profile Democrats are openly endorsing a Republican candidate for Senate who they never endorsed before: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.

Cruz, a Houston Republican, is running for reelection for his third term. He’s being challenged by U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, a Dallas Democrat, who is trailing in the polls.

While Cruz has been characterized as polarizing or far right by those on the left, those on the right argue he’s a conservative stalwart championing their causes: pro-life, supporting traditional marriage, women’s rights, the Second Amendment, and school choice, among other issues. Differing on these views doesn’t matter. Texas Democrats supporting Cruz argue that border security and combating crime are their top concerns.

Under the Biden-Harris administration, the greatest number of illegal border crossers have entered the U.S., with the bulk illegally entering in Texas, and increasing number of violent crimes being committed against Americans, The Center Square has reported.

Texans who have traditionally been Democrats or apolitical say they aren’t anymore after their loved one or friend was killed by an illegal foreign national solely in the country because of Biden-Harris policies or by a violent repeat offender released into their community by who they describe as activist Democratic judges.

Democrat Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg has repeatedly stood up to a progressive Democratic-controlled Harris County judge and commissioner’s court after they attempted to defund law enforcement, prompting the state to get involved. As crime and public corruption reportedly increased under the former Democratic mayor and current Harris County judge, Ogg began working with Houston’s new mayor, John Whitmire, and the Republican attorney general’s office to combat both.

Crime is a top concern among voters in largely Democratic-controlled cities and small border communities in Texas.

While Allred and some Democratic politicians appear to have distanced themselves from Biden-Harris border policies, more Democrats are switching to vote Republican, running for office as Republicans, or endorsing a Republican, The Center Square reported.

This week at a law enforcement rally in Houston, Ogg made history by endorsing Cruz. “We are seeing a problem at our border,” she said.

“My constituents hate crime and expect the government to keep them safe from criminals. They deserve protection, but our country’s laws and policies don’t always work to that end. No case has spotlighted our crime problem and shaken our city more poignantly than the brutal murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, who was tragically murdered by two undocumented Venezuelan nationals who were captured crossing the border illegally but were released from federal custody. Had Senator Cruz’s Justice for Jocelyn Act been the law today, Jocelyn would be alive.”

“I am endorsing Senator Ted Cruz because he has taken action at a time when Americans want solutions, not excuses, about why Democrats and Republicans won’t work together. I appreciate the Senator for reaching out to me, the top law enforcement official in Harris County and Democratic office holder, to work together to protect our nation’s children from predators who shouldn’t be roaming our streets. Crime is bigger than partisanship.”

Prior to her endorsement, Ogg penned an op-ed with Cruz in support of a bill he filed to honor Nungaray, a Houston girl brutally strangled to death by Venezuelan men who illegally entered the country. Instead of being deported, they were released by the Biden-Harris administration through a parole program wearing ankle monitors, The Center Square reported.

Another first for Cruz is a “Democrats for Cruz” coalition that includes lifelong Democratic border sheriffs and judges, law enforcement union leaders, teachers, farmers and parents. Many lifelong Democrats in the coalition say they will be voting Republican for the first time this November.

Endorsements for Cruz have come in from law enforcement associations in the Democratic-controlled cities of Austin, Houston, McAllen and San Antonio and Democratic-controlled counties of Bexar, Dallas, Harris, Hidalgo and Travis, among others. They give the same reason: Allred voted against the POLICE Act, which makes the assault of a police officer a deportable offense. The bill was filed by 16 House Republicans after criminal aliens were increasingly allegedly targeting, assaulting and killing police officers. A similar bill was filed in the Senate but went nowhere under Democratic control.

Democrats at the border are also endorsing Cruz, including Zapata County Sheriff Raymundo Del Bosque, Presidio County Sheriff Danny Dominguez, Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson, Reeves County Sheriff Art Granado, Kenedy County Judge Charles Burns and Reeves County Judge Leo Hung. Many are from the 55 counties that declared an invasion, The Center Square exclusively reported.

“The crisis at our southern border threatens our communities and well-being every single day,” Judge Hung said. “We used to live in a state where we could walk outside without fear of getting hurt. Now, because of the policies of the National Democratic Party, we fear for our safety every time we step outside. I’ve been a Democrat all my life and will continue to be, but no one has fought harder to secure the border than Senator Ted Cruz, which is why I am endorsing him for reelection and look forward to his victory in November.”

Trans ‘Man’ Wants Kamala Win to Get More Abortions

Jacob Bruns
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Trans ‘Man’ Wants Kamala Win to Get More Abortions

(Jacob Bruns, Headline USA) In an interview at a rally for 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, a self-identified transgender rallygoer claimed to support Harris because she will protect abortion “rights” across the nation, the Post Millennial reported.

“Why are y’all voting for Kamala Harris?” Tenet Media’s Tayler Hansen asked several young people in the video.

“I don’t wanna lose my rights,” one person told Hansen, noting that the restriction of abortion access was one of the foremost concerns.

“Like, I’m a trans man and I’m gay and I’ve been pregnant and had an abortion before and I don’t want to lose that,” said the rallygoer, who presented as female, before claiming that Trump would attempt to censor people’s appearances.

“I’m afraid of not being able to be myself anymore, because from what I’ve heard, Trump’s America doesn’t want me to look like this, so that’s why I’m here today and that’s why I’m voting blue,” the interviewee added.

A second interview subject, also presenting as female, likewise claimed to have “had an abortion before.”

If Trump were to win, the person worried about being unable “to express myself through my looks, or anything, and wouldn’t be able to have the piercings or the dyed hair or the tattoos that I want.”

Trump has made no such claim about preventing individuals from expressing themselves through their physical appearance, although a video from roughly 2014, prior to his becoming president, showed him telling his youngest son, Barron, never to get tattoos.

Nonetheless, the rallygoers, appeared to have fallen victim to misinformation regarding Trump’s policies, including his centrist stance on abortion. Trump has expressed his personal support for exceptions including rape, incest and protecting the life of the mother, although he has been firm in stating it was up to the states themselves to decide.

In Arizona, where the rally took place, a state Supreme Court ruling in April initially determined that Arizona should enforce an 1864 ban on abortions at all stages of pregnancy. However, lawmakers soon thereafter repealed the law, resulting in the state’s allowing of abortions up to 15 weeks.

On the state’s ballot in November is a measure meant to further extend that limit to 24 weeks.

Since the Dobbs ruling overturning Roe v Wade, the number of abortions in America has increased, contrary to the claims of Democrats that Trump and Republicans sought to impose a nationwide ban.

Lil Pump Exposes ‘Proud RINO’ Adam Kinzinger in Alleged Risqué Photoshoot

Elias Irizarry
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Lil Pump Exposes ‘Proud RINO’ Adam Kinzinger in Alleged Risqué Photoshoot

(Elias Irizarry, Headline USA) A series of compromising photographs, reportedly from the gay hookup site Grindr, led some to speculate that former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., may have been blackmailed.

Kinzinger, a self-described “proud RINO,” vocal critic of former President Donald Trump and former member of House Democrats’ Jan. 6 committee, picked a fight with Lil Pump over after the rapper vowed to leave the United States if Vice President Kamala Harris were elected president.

Lil Pump (né Gazzy Garcia), the rapper behind “Gucci Gang”made the remark in a video on Friday while announcing an update on his upcoming diss track about Harris.

“I swear on my dad’s grave, if this stupid a** b**ch Kamala Harris wins the f**king election, I’m moving out of America boy, I swear on everything,” said Lil Pump.

On Saturday morning, Kinzinger—who has spent his days obsessively attacking Trump supporters since his retirement from Congress—unwisely decided to start beef with the flamboyant SoundCloud star.

“Expect another jump in her poll numbers now,” Kinzinger posted in response to the video.

Lil Pump was quick to strike back at the snarky comment with a series of risqué photos that appeared to depict the husband and father showing off his rear area.

“Are these your pictures Adam?” he wrote.

While the photos did not show the subject’s face, a memorial bracelet and tattoo matched those previously appearing in photos of Kinzinger on his public social-media channels.

Right-wing activist and investigative journalist Laura Loomer posted on Sunday that Kinzinger had locked down all replies on his X page.

However, his wife, Sofia Kinzinger, took to X to make a long statement attacking “MAGA people” in response to the scandal without directly addressing the photos or allegations of her husband’s infidelity.

“Oh people, l don’t hate you, but sometimes you guys make it really hard not to dislike you,” she said in one of the thread’s posts, which also decried attempts to intimidate her.

Although Sofia Kinzinger also prevented people from commenting directly on the posts, Lil Pump responded to one using the “Quote” feature, pressing her to confirm whether the pictures of her husband were real. She did not respond.

 

Kinzinger became an infamous member of the Republican Party after he and former Rep. Liz Cheney sat as the only non-Democrats on then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Select Committee on the January 6 Attack. He was censured by the Republican National Committee and subsequently left Congress after his term, facing a strong likelihood of being defeated in a primary race, as Cheney ultimately was.

Alongside Lil Pump, Trump has successfully earned the support of many young rappers and influencers. Rae Sremmurd, the hip-hop duo behind “Black Beatles”, notably tweeted “Do not vote for Kamala !!! Do your research on that whole camp,” in July after the coup of President Joe Biden.

Other rappers who have voiced their support for Trump’s 2024 election bid include Lil Wayne, Kodak Black, and Sexyy Red. Kanye West, also known as Ye, was a prominent backer of Trump during his 2020 campaign.

Follow Elias Irizarry at twitter.com/eliasforsc.

Epstein Victims Can’t Remain Anonymous When Suing the FBI, Judge Rules

Ken Silva
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Epstein Victims Can’t Remain Anonymous When Suing the FBI, Judge Rules

(Ken Silva, Headline USA) A federal judge has ruled once again that the 12 Jeffrey Epstein victims suing the FBI for allowing Epstein’s sex-trafficking network to operate with impunity can’t proceed with their lawsuit anonymously.

U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil ruled Friday that the Epstein victims must use their real names, reaffirming her previous ruling from April 30.

The victims sought to sue the FBI anonymously for several reasons, including that they didn’t want to relive their trauma in public, and because they still fear retaliation from Epstein’s cronies. Judge Vyskocil denied those arguments in April, and expressed annoyance that the plaintiffs made similar arguments in asking her to reconsider.

“In their renewed motion, Plaintiffs largely reassert the same arguments already considered and rejected by this Court. Plaintiffs instead appear to use their renewed motion primarily as an avenue to address the findings the Court made on Plaintiffs’ original motion and argue why the Court should now find differently,” she said.

“Such second bites at the apple—i.e., tediously parsing through the Court’s opinion and attempting to convince the Court to change its mind—are improper.”

Judge Vyskocil previously downplayed the Epstein victims’ concerns as too speculative for her to allow the lawsuit to proceed anonymously.

“Plaintiffs’ unsupported theory that unspecified and unknown alleged ‘co-conspirators’ may cause them ‘serious harm’ is too speculative to support their motion. Moreover, this action is not brought against Epstein’s estate or any other alleged co-conspirator. This action is brought against the United States of America,” she said.

It’s not immediately clear whether the plaintiffs will still pursue the lawsuit under the real names, or if some will drop from the case.

The survivors initially filed their lawsuit in February, nearly a year after they filed a complaint with the Justice Department over the matter.

The lawsuit recounts the FBI’s long, sorry track record on the Epstein case, starting when the bureau ignored a complaint from Epstein victim Maria Farmer in 1996.

“Between 1996 and 2006, the FBI continued to receive reports, complaints and tips concerning the illegal sex trafficking of women and underage minors, sex abuse and human rights violations committed by Jeffrey Epstein and associates. In March of 2005, the FBI was alerted by the Palm Beach Police Department of child prostitution. In fact, there was a 14-year-old girl who was solicited to Epstein’s mansion for sex,” the lawsuit said.

Even when the FBI opened an investigation into Epstein in 2006, the result was a sweetheart deal, where he pleaded guilty to solicitation of a minor in exchange for non-prosecution. Epstein served 13 months in jail, during which time he was allowed to leave for work release during the day. The FBI then closed its investigation in 2008, allowing Epstein to again run amok for another decade.

After Epstein’s 2008 unusual plea deal, more reports, tips and complaints were received by the FBI concerning sex with teenagers, minors, sex trafficking and abuse, the lawsuit continued.

“The FBI was aware of Epstein’s sex trafficking ring between New York, Palm Beach, New Mexico, Paris and the U.S. Virgin Islands which continued after Epstein was a registered sex offender,” the lawsuit said.

“It was not until 11 years later, Epstein was arrested on July 6, 2019, and charged with sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy. Epstein died in jail before the case could be prosecuted for these heinous crimes.”

The victims are asking the court to award them damages for the FBI’s negligence.

Ken Silva is a staff writer at Headline USA. Follow him at twitter.com/jd_cashless.

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