Ex-Justice Reacts to Calls for Sotomayor’s Resignation Amid Biden’s Last Term

Luis Cornelio
-
0
Ex-Justice Reacts to Calls for Sotomayor’s Resignation Amid Biden’s Last Term

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) A retired Supreme Court justice weighed in on the calls, primarily from the far left, for Justice Sonia Sotomayor to step down to pave the way for a new appointment.

Former Justice Stephen Breyer suggested that Sotomayor should disregard the criticism and reach her decision independently.

“I think anyone can say what they want,” Breyer said in an interview with Shannon Bream on Fox News Sunday. “I was 83 years old, I think, when I retired but Justice Sotomayor is a spring chicken.”

Breyer made these remarks during a special interview with Bream, where they discussed his latest book, Reading the Constitution: Why I Chose Pragmatism, Not Textualism.

“You made your own choice and walked away,” Bream told Breyer, who retired in 2022, before posing the question about his thoughts on the pressure campaign for justices to retire.

“What do you make of these public calls whether they come from academia or op-ed pages, telling any particular justice, ‘We think now is a good time go,’” Bream asked of the retired justice. 

Breyer clarified the difference in age between himself and Sotomayor. “She is a spring chicken and I’m an old rooster,” he said. “There we are. People can say what they want. The decision about what to do is up to the judge.” 

To this, Bream replied, “It’s a lifetime appointment.” 

Breyer concurred but interjected, saying, “I mean, you can stay there if you were 150 years old, if you want. In my mind… there did come a time 83, 84, 85—I don’t know how many eighties you want in there but it’s time for another person.”

Former President Barack Obama appointed Sotomayor to the Supreme Court in 2009. While Sotomayor is only 69 years old, she is the oldest liberal member of the court. 

 Some leftists are suggesting that Sotomayor retire now to allow President Joe Biden to appoint a younger liberal who may serve on the court longer than her. 

 At the center of their worries is the possibility that Democrats could lose the Senate majority and, even worse, the White House after the 2024 presidential election. 

Such a scenario could bolster the conservative majority in the Supreme Court for decades.

There are currently six conservative judges on the court, three of whom were appointed by former President Donald Trump in a single term. Trump is vying for a second term, with several polls showing him in the lead. 

JD Vance Calls Out Graham: Europe, Not America, Should Fund Ukraine

Luis Cornelio
-
0
JD Vance Calls Out Graham: Europe, Not America, Should Fund Ukraine

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, is pushing back against the notion that the United States can sustainably finance multiple global conflicts without compromising its national security. 

During the latest installment of Fox News Sunday, Vance responded to Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who had defended the allocation of $60 billion in taxpayer funds to support Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia.

“It’s not that we don’t admire the courageousness of the Ukrainians, it’s that America is stretched too thin,” Vance told host Shannon Bream.

“We do not have the industrial capacity to support a war in Ukraine, a war in Israel, potentially a war in east Asia if the Chinese invade Taiwan. So, America has to pick and choose,” he added.

Vance’s remarks were prompted by Graham’s assertions aired during the same program on April 21.

At that time, Vance had penned an op-ed for the New York Times, contending that the U.S. lacked the requisite manufacturing capabilities to supply the weapons needed for Ukraine to prevail against Russia. 

“With all due respect Senator Vance, he is wrong,” Graham told Bream last weekend, responding to the Vance’s Times op-ed. “We were told within four days Kyiv would fall. … He’s wrong about the whole concept that we can’t deal with multiple problems.”

In response, Vance advocated for a redirection of focus towards countering China, rather than allocating resources to conflicts such as Ukraine, which currently lack a clear strategy and timeline for victory.

“The math doesn’t make sense. We’re stretched too thin, and we’ve got to focus,” Vance conveyed to Bream on Sunday.

The Ohio senator also called out European nations for their failure to increase aid for Ukraine, despite their geographical proximity to the embattled Eastern European nation. 

“Germany still, after Donald Trump demanded, still doesn’t spend two percent of GDP on defense,” Vance added. “A lot of the NATO countries have their own industrial mind to atrophy so wire American subsidizing it European security? We should be focused on our own problems which is mostly China.”

Lawmakers Call for Accountability Over Pro-Hamas Campus Violence

Editor 5
-
0
Lawmakers Call for Accountability Over Pro-Hamas Campus Violence

(Casey Harper, The Center Square) Pro-Hamas demonstrations on college campuses have become increasingly intense, and even violent in recent days, pushing lawmakers to call for a change.

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., sent a letter this week to the Columbia University Board of Trustees with an ultimatum: “take action against anti[-S]emitism or lose federal funding.”

“The anti-Israel mobs that have taken over Columbia University in New York City are as disturbing as they are un-American,” Scott said in the letter. “Jewish students no longer feel safe on Columbia’s campus given the persistent threats of violence. One student was assaulted by a pro-Hamas demonstrator over the weekend. This is not a peaceful demonstration supporting a social or civil cause.”

Scott’s letter comes after a Jewish student on Yale’s campus was reportedly stabbed in the eye by a Palestinian flag at a pro-Hamas demonstration. New York University students and faculty conducted a walk-out to protest the pro-Hamas protests. Police arrested about 150 pro-Hamas protesters at NYU and Yale, according to media reports.

New England Patriots team owner Robert Kraft publicly announced he was ending his donations to Columbia over the antisemitic protests.

The on-campus protests kicked off after the Hamas terror group invaded Israel Oct. 7 and killed over 1,000 people, including many civilians, some of whom were also raped, as well as children who were killed by Hamas. Israel has responded with a prolonged bombing of Gaza, targeting Hamas members. Now, though, Iran and Israel have exchanged fire, escalating tensions in the region.

As The Center Square previously reported, video of the protests on Columbia’s campus show protesters chanting calls for violence.

  • “We say justice, you say how? Burn Tel Aviv to the ground!”

  • “Hamas we love you. We support your rockets too!”

  • “Red, black, green, and white, we support Hamas’ fight!”

  • “It is right to rebel, let Hamas give them hell!”

Scott has, along with U.S. Sen. Tim Scott., R-S.C., introduced the Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act, which would end federal funding for colleges and universities “that support, authorize, or facilitate events that promote antisemitism.”

“As members of the Board of Trustees for Columbia University, you must use the power of your position to demand action from the administration, or remove the current leadership and put in place an administration that will ensure the safety of your students. If you fail to do this, Congress will act,” the letter said. “We will not sit silently while American students are threatened by terrorist sympathizers that call for the eradication of Jewish people and the destruction of Israel.”

In a similar move, a coalition of senators sent a letter to the Biden administration calling on the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Education to restore order on the campuses.

“You need to take action to restore order and protect Jewish students on our college campuses,” the letter said. “President Biden issued a statement on Sunday, purporting to condemn the outbreak of anti-Semitism. If that statement was serious, it must be accompanied by immediate action from your departments.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson called on the president of Columbia University to resign for shutting down classes after letting pro-Hamas protests get out of hand, the latest development in chaos unfolding on campuses nationwide.

Johnson joined Jewish students on Columbia’s campus and called on Columbia University President Minouche Shafik to resign, calling her a “weak leader.”

“They cannot even guarantee the safety of Jewish students?” Johnson said on the Hugh Hewitt show. “They are expected to run for their lives and stay home from class? It’s maddening. …

“What we’re seeing on these college campuses across the country is disgusting and unacceptable, and every leader, every political official, every citizen of good conscience has to speak out and say that this is not who we are in America, and we have got to have accountability, and that’s what me and my colleagues are going to be working on.

Even Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called out the antisemitism on American campuses.

“Anti-Semitism on campuses in the United States is reminiscent of what happened in German universities in the 1930s,” he said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “The world cannot stand idly by.”

Columbia University did not respond to a request for comment.

Congress’s Inaction on Debt ‘Irresponsible,’ Says Former Comptroller

Editor 5
-
0
Congress’s Inaction on Debt ‘Irresponsible,’ Says Former Comptroller

(Brett Rowland, The Center Square) The former U.S. Comptroller General said Congress’ failure to address the federal debt burden was “irresponsible.”

David Walker, former Comptroller General of the United States and a member of the Main Street Economics Advisory Board, said recent economic data should prompt lawmakers to take action before the debt problem gets worse.

Federal data showed the U.S. Gross Domestic Product grew at an annual rate of 1.6% in the first three months of the year, down from 3.4% in the previous quarter. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released the data, which came in well below expectations, raised concerns about the near future of the economy, and sent the stock market downward Thursday morning.

The slower growth came at the same time as inflation gathered steam, which could delay an interest rate cut.

Inflation has not returned to the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. U.S. Department of Commerce figures showed that inflation increased by 3.4% in the first three months of the year. That is compared to an increase of 1.8% in the final three months of 2023.

Walker said the reports won’t make reducing unsustainable growth in federal debt any easier.

“Yesterday’s government reports on less than expected economic growth and higher than expected inflation, should be concerning to everyone,” he said. “When you combine these facts with large and increasing deficits, it is definitely not good news for the American people.”

Walker said voters want to see action.

“It’s time for Washington to stop the rhetoric, get to work on resolving the national debt, and show the voters some results,” he said. “Continuing inaction by Washington is irresponsible, inequitable, and immoral.”

Walker’s comments come on the heels of a stark warning from the International Monetary Fund last week. The International Monetary Fund warned the United States that government spending and increasing national debt are not sustainable and could hurt the global economy.

The Washington, D.C.-based group that represents 190 member countries also called the U.S. economy “overheated.”

“Amid mounting debt, now is the time to bring back sustainable public finances,” according to the latest IMF Fiscal Monitor report.

The debt warning follows several other high-profile calls to address growing U.S. debt.

Anti-Israel Protests Result in Suspensions and Expulsions Sparking More Protests

Editor 5
-
0
Anti-Israel Protests Result in Suspensions and Expulsions Sparking More Protests

(Headline USA) College students and their universities are in a nationwide showdown over anti-Israel protests. In the past 10 days, hundreds of students have been arrested, suspended, put on probation and expelled from colleges including Yale University, the University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University and the University of Minnesota.

Barnard, a women’s liberal arts college at Columbia, suspended more than 50 students who were arrested April 18 and evicted them from campus housing, according to interviews with students and reporting from the Columbia Spectator campus newspaper, which obtained internal campus documents.

On Friday, Barnard announced it had reached agreements restoring campus access to “nearly all” of them. A statement from the college did not specify the number but said all students who had their suspensions lifted have agreed to follow college rules and, in some cases, were put on probation.

On the night of the arrests, however, Barnard student Maryam Iqbal posted a screenshot on the social media platform X of a dean’s email telling her she could briefly return to her room with campus security before getting kicked out.

“You will have 15 minutes to gather what you might need,” the email read.

Columbia’s response sparked even more protests last week as students demanded suspensions be lifted.

Columbia is still pushing to remove the tent encampment on the campus main lawn where graduation is set to be hosted May 15.

More than 40 students were arrested at a Yale demonstration last week.

Across the country, college administrators have struggled to balance free speech and anti-Semitic threats in the protests against Israel.

May commencement ceremonies add pressure to clear demonstrations. University officials say arrests and suspensions are a last resort, and that they give ample warnings beforehand to clear protest areas.

Vanderbilt University in Tennessee has issued what are believed to be the only student expulsions related to protesting Israel, according to the Institute for Middle Eastern Understanding. More than two dozen students occupied the university chancellor’s office for several hours on March 26, prompting the university to summon police and arrest several protesters. Vanderbilt then issued three expulsions, one suspension and put 22 protesters on probation.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

Biden Laughs at Cocaine Joke from ‘A**’-Kisser Colin Jost in WH Dinner

Luis Cornelio
-
0
Biden Laughs at Cocaine Joke from ‘A**’-Kisser Colin Jost in WH Dinner

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) President Joe Biden couldn’t hold his laughter when comedian Colin Jost suggested that he might have dabbled in the infamous cocaine discovered at the White House in July 2023. 

The joke came during Biden’s appearance at the 2024 White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday evening, where he received praises and was subjected to some jokes from the legacy media, including Jost, whom some accused of “*ss” kissing during the event. 

During his monologue, which ranged from soft banter to slight jabs aimed at Biden, Jost broached the topic of the cocaine scandal, as seen in clips shared by the Media Research Center.

“The last time I was in D.C., I left my cocaine at the White House. Luckily, the president was able to put it to good use for his State of the Union,” Jost quipped, echoing insinuations that Biden might have resorted to some enhancer for his 2024 State of the Union address. 

“Of course, the president doesn’t call it cocaine,” Jost added. “He calls it high-speed rail.” 

Expanding on the cocaine jest, Jost remarked, “By the way, can you blame the guy for turning to cocaine? He must be exhausted: orchestrating for four separate trials against his rival; rigging the Super Bowl; and gearing up to steal a second election.” 

“Wow. Biden laughed,” he remarked, glancing at the president, who sported a broad smile.

Earlier in his monologue, Jost took a swipe at Biden’s lackluster support among black Americans leading up to the 2024 general election. 

“Like many of you here tonight I pretend to do news on TV,” Jost began, alluding to his Saturday Night Live segment, which he co-hosts with black comedian Michael Shay. 

“My Weekend Update co-anchor Michael Shay was going to join me here tonight but in solidarity with President Biden, I decided to lose all my black support,” he quipped.

Throughout his monologue, Jost scolded Republicans, mocking former President Donald Trump, RNC co-chair Lara Trump and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.

In response to the jokes, Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday morning to voice his thoughts: “The White House Correspondents’ Dinner was really bad. Colin Jost BOMBED, and Crooked Joe was an absolute disaster! Doesn’t get much worse than this!”

Nothing to See: Ukraine Minister Arrested for Multimillion-Dollar Scheme

Luis Cornelio
-
0
Nothing to See: Ukraine Minister Arrested for Multimillion-Dollar Scheme

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) A high-level minister of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government has been arrested over his alleged role in a multi-million-dollar scheme to seize government-owned land. 

Agriculture Minister Mykola Solskyi, responsible for overseeing Ukraine’s expansive agricultural sector, submitted his resignation on Thursday following the damning accusations leveled against him by prosecutors earlier in the week — according to Politico’s European edition.

According to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, Solskyi allegedly led a scheme involving the illegal acquisition of state-owned land valued at $7,331,093 (291 million hryvnias), with additional attempts to seize an additional $4,786,624 (190 million hryvnias) worth of land.

The alleged illegal plot involved illegal payments to local government officials in exchange for the transfer of government-owned land deeds to private entities and individuals. The land in question was never legitimately up for sale. 

Prosecutors assert that these illicit activities occurred between 2017 and 2021 before Solskyi was tapped to head the agriculture ministry, but during his election to the Parliament. 

Solskyi submitted his resignation to the head of the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, responsible for the oversight of cabinet ministries.  

Ukraine operates under a semi-presidential system, with Zelenskyy serving as head of state and cabinet appointments made by the Verkhovna Rada.

“The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine received a statement from Mykola Solsky about his resignation from the post of Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine,” stated Ruslan Stefanchuk, Speaker of the Parliament, in a translated Facebook post. 

He added that “the application will be considered at one of the nearest plenary meetings.”

Despite the charges, Solskyi was released on $1,907,091 bail (75.7 million hryvnas) by the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine, the legal entity presiding over the case. 

According to Politico, Solskyi intends to maintain his role as agriculture minister. He was elected to Parliament in 2019 before being appointed minister in March 2022. 

This scandal unfolds against the backdrop of opposition from America First Republicans to Democrat-led multi-billion-dollar funding for Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression. Among the concerns cited by Republicans are Ukraine’s widespread corruption issues.

Headline USA contacted Zelenskyy’s press office seeking comments on whether he intends to urge the agriculture minister’s resignation. Neither the Ukrainian government’s press office nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately replied to Headline USA’s emails.

Clarence Thomas Asks If Jack Smith’s Appointment Is Illegal

Luis Cornelio
-
0
Clarence Thomas Asks If Jack Smith’s Appointment Is Illegal

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Does Special Counsel Jack Smith lack the authority to bring criminal charges against former President Donald Trump? This pivotal question surfaced during a Supreme Court hearing on Thursday, initiated by Justice Clarence Thomas. 

The Supreme Court met to hear the arguments presented by Trump’s legal team and the DOJ regarding whether the former president enjoys immunity from prosecution for actions performed in their official capacity as commanders-in-chief. 

As reported by Fox News on Saturday, Thomas questioned Trump’s attorney John Sauer whether the former president disputed the legitimacy of Smith’s appointment as special counsel—a contention first raised by some legal scholars. 

While Sauer acknowledged that the defense had not “directly” raised this issue in the current court proceedings, he pointed to its consideration in the “Southern District of Florida case,” specifically referring to the Mar-a-Lago documents battle. 

“We totally agree with the analysis provided by Attorney General [Edwin] Meese [III] and Attorney General [Michael] Mukasey,” Sauser affirmed to Thomas, citing the legal framework proposed by the two former Republican AGs that could undermine Smith’s legal endeavors.

Sauser emphasized that the legal analysis “points a very important issue here because one of their arguments is … that we should have this presumption of regularity that runs into the reality that we have here an extraordinary prosecutorial power being exerted by someone who was never nominated by the president or confirmed by the Senate at any time.”

Thomas’s inquiries likely stemmed from the 42-page amicus brief filed by Meese and Mukasey, which suggested that Smith—who was appointed by Democratic Attorney General Merrick Garland—lacked the requisite authority to prosecute Trump, having never received Senate confirmation. 

“Although this case raises a weighty issue of presidential immunity, it also necessarily raises a preliminary question, i.e., whether Jack Smith actually has authority to prosecute this case all. He does not,” the former Republican attorneys general wrote.

“Those actions can be taken only by persons properly appointed as federal officers to properly created federal offices. But neither Smith nor the position of Special Counsel under which he purportedly acts meets those criteria,” they added.

Meese and Mukasey underscored that neither Smith nor any of his associates had received Senate appointments, not even in past stings. 

“He wields tremendous power, effectively answerable to no one, by design. And that is a serious problem for the rule of law—whatever one may think of former President Trump or the conduct on January 6, 2021, that Smith challenges in the underlying case,” they added.

Smith served as acting U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee from March 2017 to September 2017, following Trump’s request for the resignation of Smith’s superior, Donald Q. Cochran. 

Fox News reported that after Trump’s selection of Cochran’s successor, Smith resigned from his acting role. Acting positions typically do not require Senate confirmation. 

Garland appointed Smith to oversee the investigation into Trump concerning purportedly missing documents and the former president’s challenges to the results of the January 6 presidential election. Trump contends that the latter actions are protected by presidential immunity.

Trump has consistently criticized Smith, characterizing him as a cog in a broader scheme aimed at impeding his presidential ambitions. 

N.Y. DA Berates Cop over Speeding Stop, Igniting Condemnation

Luis Cornelio
-
0
N.Y. DA Berates Cop over Speeding Stop, Igniting Condemnation

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) A New York district attorney is under intense scrutiny after the release of bodycam footage showing her berating a police officer who attempted to pull her over for speeding unsuccessfully.

The six-minute video footage captures Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley’s standoffish attitude toward a cop who pursued her home after she failed to comply with a traffic stop on Monday.

“I’m the DA. I was going to 55 coming home from work,” Doorley asserted from her garage, as seen in the viral video.

“55 in a 35!” the officer retorted, reminding her of the speed limit. 

“I don’t really care,” Doorley snapped back. “You can call Dennis Kohlmeier right now,” she added, referring to the Wester police chief.

In the video, Doorley, visibly agitated, declared, “I know the law better than you.” 

“What is it you’re so against me? I’m doing my job. You say you’re a DA?” the officer questioned. 

“I am THE DA,” Doorley declared defiantly, before hastily retrieving her badge from her car. 

In response to accusations of attempting to evade consequences, Doorley defended her actions, asserting that she contacted the police chief “to inform him that I was not a threat and that I would speak to the Officer at my house down the street.” 

As seen in the footage, she conversed on the phone, likely with Kohlmeier, asking, “Can you please tell him to leave me alone.” 

Despite the officer’s request for her to stay, Doorley refused, stating, “No, I’m not staying over here.” 

In light of the controversial exchange, the Rochester City Council urged Attorney General Letitia James to initiate an investigation into Doorley’s behavior during the failed traffic stop, reported local news outlet 9WSYR.

“Recent body camera footage, shared by the Webster Police Department, has raised significant concerns regarding Ms. Doorley’s behavior during a traffic stop in Webster,” the council conveyed in a letter to James, questioning her fitness as district attorney.

Initially elected as a Democrat in 2011 and later re-elected in 2015 after switching to the Republican Party, Doorley is currently serving her fourth term, according to the Democrat and Chronicle newspaper.

Calif. Legislators Advance Bill to Limit ‘Influential’ Anonymous Online Speech

Editor 5
-
0
Calif. Legislators Advance Bill to Limit ‘Influential’ Anonymous Online Speech

(Kenneth Schrupp, The Center Square) – California legislators nearly unanimously voted to limit “influential” anonymous online free speech by requiring social media companies to “seek to verify” personal information — including government-issued identification —  for “influential” accounts.

While supporters say users need help distinguishing between good and bad information, opposition warned the bill, without defining “seek to verify,” threatens anonymous online speech.

With the bill applying to companies with at least one million annual California users, it would affect major social media companies worldwide.

Under SB 1228, by State Sen. Steve Padilla, D-Chula Vista, social media companies would be required to “seek to verify” the personal information of “influential” users, including seeking government-issued identification from “highly influential users.” Influential users who do not comply would have a “notation” on their content for two seconds showing the user is unverified showing the rest of a post, after which the notation would still be visible.

“The average person does not have convenient tools at the moment to distinguish between content produced by a reputable news source or AI generated misinformation,” said Padilla at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for the bill. “Numerous studies have shown that online anonymity results in increased unconstrained postings.”

“Influential” users would need to submit their name, telephone number, and email address if they have 15,000 or more followers, or more than 50,000 views within a week, or rank in the top 6% of platform views within a week. “Highly influential” users would need to submit government-issued identification if they have 30,000 or more followers, or more than 100,000 views within a week, or rank in the top 3% of  views within a week.

Bill supporters clarified the bill would not ban anonymous online speech.

“It does not require platforms to force users to verify their identity, and it does not prevent users from using pseudonyms or no name at all when they are engaging in online speech,” said Mariko Yoshihara of the California Initiative for Technology & Democracy, to the committee. “This bill simply requires platforms to seek to verify the identity of users once they have reached a certain threshold that we have identified as influential.”

Opposition to the bill focused on the historical American importance of anonymous speech, and the danger a lack of clarity on “seek to verify” poses, as companies that fail to “seek to verify” influential users would face lawsuits from state or local government attorneys for “injunctive or other equitable relief.”

“It is unclear what constitutes satisfying the bill’s requirement to seek to verify influential users,” said Khara Boender of the Computer & Communications Industry Association to the committee. “These users may be speaking about sensitive topics, represent dissident opinions under oppressive regimes, or be part of a marginalized community, among other reasons. Anonymous speech is a long held value and tradition in the United States dating back to the Federalist Papers. Protecting anonymity of online speech carries forward such traditions and protections to allow for open and free expression.”

The bill moved forward to the Senate Appropriations Committee nearly unanimously, save for a lone “no” from State Sen. Roger Niello, R-Fair Oaks.

1...1,3271,3281,329...3,862Page 1,328 of 3,862