New J6 Footage Shows Man, Who Hasn’t Been Charged, Firing Gun Twice

Ken Silva
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New J6 Footage Shows Man, Who Hasn’t Been Charged, Firing Gun Twice

(Ken Silva, Headline USA) New footage of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol Hill uprising has been released, showing a man firing a pistol twice into the air. That man, who’s been identified as John Emanuel Banuelos, has yet to be charged for his actions.

The footage was released Thursday by former West Virginia lawmaker and current congressional candidate Derrick Evans, who pled guilty to disorderly conduct and trespassing on Capitol grounds in March 2022.

According to Evans, Banuelos’s gunshots “started it all.” He contended that Capitol Police began firing teargas into the crowd right after the gunshots at 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 6. All hell broke loose soon thereafter.

Other Jan. 6 researchers argued with Evans that the gunshots were fired after the rioting had already begun.

Either way, all agreed that Evans’s footage was incredible. Observers wondered how footage of gunshots could be kept from the public for more than three years.

Perhaps even more incredible is the fact that Banuelos has yet to be charged for his role in Jan. 6.

Banuelos was first in the public spotlight in February 2022, when news broke that he had been arrested in relation to a fatal stabbing of a 19-year-old in a Utah park in July 2021.

When he was arrested, he reportedly told police about his activities on Jan. 6.

“Man, should I just tell the FBI to come get me or what …?” Banuelos, 39, asked detectives, according to a transcript of the interview obtained by KSL.com through a public records request.

“Do you have a warrant?” one detective asked.

“Probably,” he said. “I was in the D.C. riots.”

“On Jan. 6?” the other detective asked. “Did you go inside the Capitol?”

“Yeah, I went inside and I’m the one with the video with the gun right here,” Banuelos said.

Sedition Hunters, the group that is helping the FBI hunt down Jan. 6 prosecutors, has a file on Banuelos. One of the most interesting videos of him is from what appears to be the night before the rally, when he reveals his history of mental-health problems.

“Now I’ve got a purpose … Democrats just give you free stuff and they don’t tell you you’re crazy. How many hospitals have I been to? How many mental hospitals? Because I thought I had a problem … Now I’ve got to reprogram my brain and be humble … I’m willing to play my role. Are you willing to play yours?” he said in the video.

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

Putin Scolds Biden Over Border Chaos Hypocrisy in Carlson Tell-All

Luis Cornelio
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Putin Scolds Biden Over Border Chaos Hypocrisy in Carlson Tell-All

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Russian President Vladimir Putin’s interview with journalist Tucker Carlson drew significant attention following its release. 

During the interview, Putin scolded President Joe Biden and the Western world for what he perceived as the demonization of his character. The Russian leader also seemed to adopt a milder tone compared to previous portrayals. 

Addressing the unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine, currently entangled in a war with Russia, Putin asked: “Do the United States need this? What for? Thousands of miles away from your national territory don’t you have anything better to do?”

In the same segment, Putin underscored the domestic challenges plaguing the Biden administration. “You have issues on the border; issues with migration; issues with the national debt—more than $33 trillion,” Putin added. “You have nothing better to do so you should fight in Ukraine. Wouldn’t it be better to negotiate with Russia? Make an agreement, already understanding the situation that is developing today?”

In another segment of the interview, Putin delved into his version of Russo-Ukrainian history, dating back centuries. “The Russian state started gathering itself as a centralized statehood and it is considered the year of the establishment of the Russian state in 1862,” Putin said. 

The Russian president seemed to imply openness to the release of Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Garshkovich, who was detained over claims of espionage. who was detained over claims of espionage. “We have done so many gestures of goodwill out of decency that I think we have run out of them. We have never seen anyone reciprocate to us in a similar manner,” Putin claimed.

Carlson’s interview with Putin, already amassing over 32 million views, triggered a mixed wave of reactions, with many accusing the American journalist of providing a platform for what some called a war criminal. 

However, in a sneak peek of the interview, Carlson defended his decision, saying he is a journalist. “Our duty is to inform people,” Carlson said in a video posted on Twitter. “Two years into a war that’s reshaping the entire world, most Americans are not informed. They have no real idea what’s happening in our region, here in Russia or 600 miles away in Ukraine. But they should know, they’re paying for much of it in ways they might not fully yet perceive.”

The last interview with Putin conducted by an American occurred in October 2021, when former CBS News Anchor Hadley Gamble sat down with the Russian leader. 

The interview comes at a time when the Biden administration faces scathing criticism for its financial backing of Ukraine, previously rocked by a corruption scandal. Ukraine is grappling with a Russian invasion that began in February 2022, with the U.S. having provided $44.2 billion to Ukraine since the war’s inception.

Currently, the Biden administration is entangled in a battle with House Republicans over a border bill seeking to allocate $60 billion in funding for Ukraine—though most of the money is not directly earmarked in cash for Ukraine.

Watch the full interview below:

Jury: Mark Steyn Must Pay Notorious Climate Alarmist $1M in Defamation Lawsuit

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Jury: Mark Steyn Must Pay Notorious Climate Alarmist $1M in Defamation Lawsuit

(Headline USA) A jury on Thursday awarded $1 million to notorious climate alarmist Michael Mann, who sued a pair of conservative writers 12 years ago after they compared his depictions of global warming to a convicted child molester.

Mann, a professor of climate science at the University of Pennsylvania, rose to fame for a graph first published in 1998 in the journal Nature that was dubbed the “hockey stick” for its dramatic illustration of a warming planet.

The work brought Mann wide exposure but also many skeptics, including popular conservative pundit Mark Steyn, whom Mann took to court—along with another writer Steyn had referenced—over comments that Mann claimed had affected his career and reputation in the U.S. and internationally.

In 2012, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a libertarian think tank, published a blog post by Rand Simberg, then a fellow at the organization, that compared investigations into Mann’s work by Penn State University to the case of Jerry Sandusky, a former assistant football coach who was convicted of sexually assaulting multiple children.

Mann’s research was investigated after his and other scientists’ emails were leaked in 2009 in an incident known as “Climategate” that brought further scrutiny of the “hockey stick” graph, with skeptics claiming Mann manipulated data.

“Mann could be said to be the Jerry Sandusky of climate science, except for instead of molesting children, he has molested and tortured data,” Simberg wrote.

Steyn later referenced Simberg’s article in his own piece for the National Review, calling Mann’s research “fraudulent.”

The six-person jury in Superior Court of the District of Columbia announced its verdict after four weeks of trial and one day of deliberations.

The jury awarded Mann $1 in compensatory damages from each writer; it also awarded punitive damages of $1,000 from Simberg and $1 million from Steyn.

The trial happened as climate change continues to be a divisive and highly partisan issue in the United States.

A 2023 poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 91% of Democrats believe climate change is happening, while only 52% of Republicans do.

Arguments further break down among those who do believe in it as to whether it is predominantly a natural phenomenon, with humans’ contribution accounting for just a small fraction of the greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the scope and urgency of addressing it.

Skeptics have faulted the routine goalpost-moving of climate alarmists, as well as several high-profile examples—including Mann’s—of researchers cherry-picking data to exaggerate the impacts.

Some argue that the benefits and conveniences of modern society far outweigh the adverse effects, and that the free market should be the biggest driver of green-energy initiatives.

Leftists, however, have pounced on the panic to push trillions of dollars into the cottage climate industry while calling for drastic regulations such as restrictions on meat-consumption and air travel for all but the privileged elites.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

Hawaii Supreme Court Snubs 2nd Amendment, Looks to Pre-U.S. Days in Gun Ruling

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Hawaii Supreme Court Snubs 2nd Amendment, Looks to Pre-U.S. Days in Gun Ruling

(Kim Jarrett , The Center Square) A ruling by the Hawaii Supreme Court saying “there is no state constitutional right to carry a firearm in public” drew praise from the state’s attorney general and criticism from people across the U.S.

Hawaii’s history “does not include a society where armed people move about the community to possibly combat the deadly aims of others,” the court’s 53-page ruling said.

“The spirit of Aloha clashes with a federally-mandated lifestyle that lets citizens walk around with deadly weapons during day-to-day activities,” it added.

The court’s decision was based on a case brought by Christopher Wilson, who was cited by police in 2017 on several charges after he told police he was carrying an unregistered gun, according to the ruling.

Wilson challenged the conviction, saying he was carrying the gun for self-defense.

In later filings, Wilson’s attorneys cited a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, in which the justices said carrying a firearm in public is a constitutional right.

The court’s decision upheld “the constitutionality of state ‘place to keep’ firearms laws, which generally prohibit carrying a firearm in public unless licensed to do so,” state Attorney General Anne Lopez said.

“Gun violence is a serious problem, and commonsense tools like licensing and registration have an important role to play in addressing that problem,” Lopez added. “More broadly, Justice Eddins’ thoughtful and scholarly opinion for the court provides an important reminder about the crucial role that state courts play in our federal system.”

Hawaii has aimed at stricter gun laws. Gov. Josh Green signed a bill in June that banned the carrying of concealed weapons in what are called “sensitive places.” That includes hospitals, schools and government buildings. The law went into effect on Jan. 1.

Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst criticized the court’s decision on social media.

“The ‘Spirit of Aloha’ does not give any court the ability to override our constitutional #2A rights,” Ernst tweeted. “This is absolutely disgraceful.”

Kostas Moros, an attorney with the California Rifle & Pistol Association, also dissected the bizarre ruling in a lengthy Twitter thread.

“Sounds like the Hawaii Supreme Court doesn’t even want to be a part of the United States, in this rejection of not just the Second Amendment but their culture and understanding of the Constitution,” he tweeted.

WATCH: Police Catch Wayward Kangaroo Hanging Out at Fla. Swimming Pool

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WATCH: Police Catch Wayward Kangaroo Hanging Out at Fla. Swimming Pool

(Headline USA)  A wayward kangaroo was corralled safely by sheriff’s deputies Thursday after it was spotted hopping around the pool area of a Tampa, Florida, apartment complex.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office released video and still photos of the kangaroo, including some footage shot from a helicopter.

The agency also released audio of a female resident of the complex calling in to report it.

“I actually see a kangaroo,” the unidentified woman said in the call.

“It’s kind of a large kangaroo,” she added. “We got him closed in the pool gate area.”

Deputies were able to figure out the animal’s owner and reunite them after checking for its proper registration, the agency said in a Facebook post.

No injuries to the kangaroo or any people were reported.

Although escaped kangaroos might seem a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence for some, the phenomenon appears to happen with some regularity in Florida.

According to the Miami Herald, a loose kangaroo hopped its way around Fort Lauderdale in July 2020 before police recaptured it and handed it over to the South Florida Wildlife Center.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

Dem. Mass. Gov. Nominates Ex-‘Girlfriend’ to State’s Highest Court

Dmytro "Henry" Aleksandrov
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Dem. Mass. Gov. Nominates Ex-‘Girlfriend’ to State’s Highest Court

(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) Gov. Maura Healey, D–Mass., nominated a woman with whom she previously engaged in a romantic relationship to fill a vacancy in the highest court in the state.

Justice David Lowy announced earlier this month that he was retiring from the Supreme Judicial Court to accept a position at the University of Massachusetts, according to the Blaze Media. As a result of this, on Feb. 7, 2024, Healey, 52, announced that she had nominated state Appeals Court Associate Justice Gabrielle Wolohojian, 63, to fill the seat.

“There is no one more qualified or better prepared to serve on the Supreme Judicial Court than Justice Wolohojian,” she wrote in her statement, further claiming that Wolohojian “has an exceptional understanding of the law” and that “her work is widely respected by members of the bench and bar.”

In addition to Healey’s statement, retired Associate Justice Geraldine Hines also issued a statement, in which Hines claimed that Wolohojian is “uniquely qualified” for the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and that she has demonstrated “the ability to accept and coax consensus from the inevitable debates that arise” among its seven justices.

However, Healey never bothered to mention in her statement that she previously engaged in a romantic relationship with Wolohojian. Healey and Wolohojian met at the Hale & Dorr that is also known as WilmerHale, a law firm, and began “dating” in 2007.

The two moved in together and shared a home in the Charlestown area of Boston. The two were still romantically involved back in 2015 when Healey was state attorney general. They broke up since then.

Wolohojian was appointed to the Appeals Court by Democrat Deval Patrick, who served as governor of Massachusetts from 2007 until 2015, during his first year in office. Since then, Wolohojian has reportedly heard 2,700 appeals and authored more than 900 decisions.

Her nomination to the Supreme Judicial Court will first go to the nine members of the Governor’s Council for consideration and then a confirmation vote.

Bragg Backtracks, Indicts Cop-Beating Illegal Aliens—Two Still at Large

Luis Cornelio
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Bragg Backtracks, Indicts Cop-Beating Illegal Aliens—Two Still at Large

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has declared the criminal indictment of seven illegal aliens captured on video brutally assaulting two NYPD officers who were responding to reports of a disturbance in Times Square.

The indictments followed widespread condemnation directed at Bragg for his failure to secure bail for four individuals initially accused of participating in the cop beating. After their release, the individuals gestured their middle fingers at reporters outside the police precinct.

“The assault on our police officers in Times Square outraged and sickened me,” Bragg said in a press statement on Thursday. “We have absolutely no tolerance for this despicable behavior.”

Facing mounting criticism, Bragg defended the release of the illegal aliens without bail, asserting that video footage alone was insufficient evidence to identify the suspects. However, on Thursday, he stated that everyone involved had been identified before the indictment.

“Our joint investigation with the NYPD helped us determine the alleged roles of new individuals involved, including some who are charged with having committed the most violent conduct and have not yet been apprehended,” Bragg added. 

During a press conference, Bragg showcased the video and identified five out of the seven individuals. The last two remain at large, and their indictments are currently under seal. 

Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, Yorman Reveron and Kelvin Servita Arocha face charges of two counts of assault in the second degree and one count of obstruction of governmental administration in the second degree. 

Wilson Juarez and Yohenry Brito were charged with one count of tampering with physical evidence. Additionally, Juarez faces two counts of hindering prosecution in the third degree and Brito faces one count. 

The initial release of the illegal aliens prompted bipartisan criticism against Bragg. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James, both Democrats, declared that Bragg should have sought bail for the accused individuals.

On Tuesday, 20 Republicans in the state Senate urged Hochul to remove Bragg from office over his initial failure to obtain bail for the illegal aliens.

Maricopa Swears-In Ex-GOP Sheriff after Exit of Soros-Backed Penzone

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Maricopa Swears-In Ex-GOP Sheriff after Exit of Soros-Backed Penzone

(Cameron Arcand, The Center Square) There’s a new sheriff in town in Maricopa County.

Russ Skinner, previously serving as chief deputy sheriff, was sworn in on Thursday morning after being appointed by the Board of Supervisors.

Skinner is replacing Democrat Paul Penzone, a George Soros-backed lawman who stepped down last month, citing a desire to pursue other opportunities.

“I look forward to serving the community,” Skinner said at a news conference.

Skinner will only serve, however, until a new sheriff is elected in November, unless he decides to run and wins. He said he is unsure if he’ll pursue a bid at this point.

The law requires that the vacancy be filled by someone of the same party. Skinner switched his registration from Republican to Democrat.

“Russ is taking a pay cut, and he wants to do that willingly,” Supervisor Clint Hickman said. “He wants to step into the breach of public service, and I applaud him for it.”

The board voted for him 4-1, with Steve Gallardo, the only Democrat on the board, voting against him.

Although the globalist billionaire Soros is most notorious for his investment in soft-on-crime, highly partisan district attorneys, he sank at least $2 million in a political-action committee to support Penzone’s 2016 race against outspoken, six-term anti-immigration sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Penzone was reelected as part of the county’s dubious 2020 election, which a state-run audit later found to have been subject to multiple irregularities impacting tens of thousands of votes.

Gallardo suggested in a statement explaining his vote to oppose Skinner that the erstwhile Republican was likely to be a throwback to the Arpaio era—coming at a time when illegal immigration has devastated nearby border towns like Yuma and Lukeville.

“The people of Maricopa County made it crystal clear in 2016: they were done with Joe Arpaio—done with the way he’d politicized the office, wasted money, put the county at legal risk, and unfairly and cruelly targeted communities of color,” Gallardo said in the statement.

“They voted for Democrat Paul Penzone because they wanted their trust in MCSO restored,” he added. “I believe the former sheriff made important progress in his seven years in office, but there’s still a long way to go. Ultimately, voters will decide who leads this organization long-term.”

Skinner has been with the county for decades, including through the years when Arpaio was sheriff. His leadership still looms over the sheriff’s department, as it remains under intense federal oversight.

At the news conference, the new sheriff clarified that he has no plans to bring back pink underwear and tent city, two hallmarks of the Arpaio years that were quickly shot down when Penzone took office.

In addition, he addressed concerns about maintaining order during election season, as the politically competitive county continues to be a hub of civil action related to voting processes.

“We have to get past the anger, the separation, the polarization,” Skinner said.

Headline USA’s Ben Sellers contributed to this report. 

Univ. Removes ‘Introduction to Bondage’ Event After Backlash

Dmytro "Henry" Aleksandrov
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Univ. Removes ‘Introduction to Bondage’ Event After Backlash

(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) A public university in Indianapolis canceled a sexually explicit event that was scheduled in advance after the institution received backlash online because the person who was supposed to lead the event was a bondage instructor and reported author of rape erotica.

The “Introduction to Bondage” workshop for students was canceled by Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) after the information about the person came up, Campus Reform reported.

As of Feb. 7, 2024, the event page on the IUPUI website doesn’t exist anymore.

According to an event description, bondage is “a form of consensual and recreational sex play that involves tying, restraining or binding a person with rope, handcuffs or other items that can restrict movement.”

Despite the event’s explicit sexual nature, the workshop was listed as “free and open to all IUPUI students.”

If the event were never canceled, students could’ve had a “hands-on experience with safe rope tying techniques” by a “renowned local expert” who goes by the name “Fynch” and is active on “FetLife,” a fetish-oriented social media platform where her writings, often linked to rape, coercion and suggested child pornography, are reportedly published.

Campus Reform also reported that one such account that belongs to “Fynch” has one piece of erotica titled “playtime” and depicts a terrified girl in a “onesie” with several men raping her after manipulating her and then saying that she should be blamed for being raped.

The university’s Office of Health and Wellness invited and sponsored “Fynch” to teach her class as a part of IUPUI’s Healthy Relationships Week.

Even though “Fynch’s” event was canceled, Healthy Relationships Week is still scheduled to take place, allowing things like “Safer Sex Fest,” “Condom Club training” and free STD testing.

IUPUI students openly criticized the event, mentioning that it doesn’t help prevent sexual assault, make the campus safer or make “the sex lives of students any safer.”

“Although the class is no longer happening, the university still has much to explain. There must be a public apology, as well as an assurance that the staff who were responsible for this will be terminated,” one of the students said.

N.Y. Dem Admits He Doesn’t Want Biden at Campaign Events: ‘Democratic Brand Is In Trouble’

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N.Y. Dem Admits He Doesn’t Want Biden at Campaign Events: ‘Democratic Brand Is In Trouble’

(Headline USA) A New York Democrat vying for the seat of ousted Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., seat admitted this week that he has been avoiding President Joe Biden while the president campaigns, warning Biden and the “Democratic label” are “in trouble.”

Tom Suozzi, a former three-term Democratic U.S. representative, was asked whether he planned to invite Biden to any of his campaign events while the president was in New York fundraising for his own reelection bid.

“I can pretty much guarantee the president is not going to be coming to campaign,” Suozzi said during an interview with CNN on Monday. “I don’t think it would be helpful, just as I don’t think Donald Trump would be helpful to my opponent.”

Suozzi is locked in a tight race with Republican candidate Mazi Pilip in the Feb. 13 special election for the 3rd Congressional District.

“It’s a very tough seat,” he said.

“Democrats have been losing everything on Long Island and northeast Queens for the past three years,” he added. “The Democratic brand is in trouble here, and we have to do a lot to overcome that.”

Suozzi has also tried to distance himself from the radical leftists in the Democratic Party, telling the New York Post last week that the “progressive left wing of the Democratic Party is hurting Democrats throughout the country.”

The New York Democrat isn’t the only vulnerable candidate intentionally keeping Biden at arm’s length. Several top House Democratic leaders, for example, have signaled that they want to keep their politically vulnerable lawmakers away from Biden during the campaign.

Even Biden’s own campaign admitted the president would have limited interaction with vulnerable Democrats.

Asked whether Biden planned to campaign with Democrats in close races this week, Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., the chairwoman of the House Democrats’ campaign arm, said he will be out with “some,” though she did not specify which candidates have agreed to it.

“I think like I said, it depends on where they have their map, where they’re going,” DelBene said. “We obviously have our focus where we have our battleground and front-line districts.”

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