Hegseth and Mark Kelly spar over remarks

Hegseth Slams Democrat Sen. Mark Kelly Over Remarks on Classified Briefing Amid Growing War Concerns

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Sunday accused Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) of improperly discussing sensitive information from a classified Pentagon briefing during a national television appearance, raising questions about whether the Arizona lawmaker crossed a legal line.

In a sharply worded post on X, Hegseth did not hold back. Referring to Kelly’s military background, he wrote, “‘Captain’ Mark Kelly strikes again,” before accusing the senator of “babbling on TV (falsely & dumbly)” about a classified briefing he had received. Hegseth went further, suggesting the matter could carry legal implications.

“Did he violate his oath…again?” Hegseth asked, adding that the Department of War’s legal counsel would review the situation.

The controversy stems from an interview Kelly gave earlier Sunday on Face the Nation with moderator Margaret Brennan. According to Brennan, Kelly referenced a classified Pentagon briefing related to the ongoing Iran war, specifically discussing its impact on U.S. weapons stockpiles.

She highlighted his remark that it was “shocking how deep we have gone into these magazines,” suggesting a significant drawdown of munitions.

The American people are less safe,” he said during the interview, arguing that depleted munitions could leave the United States vulnerable in other potential conflicts, including in the Western Pacific or elsewhere.

Hegseth’s response underscores a different concern—whether public discussion of such matters, especially if tied to classified briefings, risks exposing sensitive information. His call for a legal review signals that the administration is taking the issue seriously.

Read more about it...

John Bolton's Indictment

Ty Cobb defends Bolton prosecution as legally sound

John Bolton’s indictment isn’t just a political witch hunt, despite what he claims. Former White House attorney Ty Cobb insists the case against the ex-national security adviser has a solid legal footing, rooted in serious allegations of mishandling sensitive national defense information.

The Hill reported that federal prosecutors charged Bolton with 18 counts tied to retaining and transmitting classified information after his 2019 exit from the Trump administration. The Justice Department alleges he kept sensitive materials at his home and sent over a thousand pages of “diary-like entries” to two relatives.

The Biden administration previously passed on prosecuting Bolton, likely to protect intelligence-gathering methods related to Iran, according to Cobb.

Cobb, however, sees a clear distinction between Bolton’s case and recent indictments of figures like James Comey and Letitia James. While those cases stirred their own controversies, Bolton’s involves specific allegations of mishandling sensitive documents.

The legal merits, not just Trump’s grudges, drive this prosecution, Cobb insists.

Read more about it...

John Bolton in jeopardy

FBI uncovers 'a lot' of evidence against John Bolton as Trump critics concede investigation is serious

John Bolton could be headed to prison for endangering national security after the FBI uncovered a trove of evidence at his home.

Bolton has not been indicted, but top FBI officials say he should face charges for stealing classified information during his brief, tumultuous tenure as national security adviser during Trump's first term, the New York Post reported.

According to sources who spoke with the Post, the FBI raid of Bolton's home and office uncovered "a lot" of evidence that prosecutors could use in a case against him.

The New York Times, hardly a Trump-friendly newspaper, conceded in a new article that the FBI investigation appears to have a credible basis.

Read about it...

John Bolton and "The Room Where It Happened"

Trump, Bolton, and the FBI Raid Details the Media Isn’t Telling You

Hello, this is Victor Davis Hanson for The Daily Signal.

Last week, the FBI—under the aegis of the Department of Justice—raided John Bolton, the former national security adviser to President Donald Trump during his first term. And they raided his home and his house. And they took away documents, which allegedly, the target of the raid were these documents.

Bolton was not arrested. He was not indicted. There was no effort aimed at him personally. But the accusation, apparently, was that he had removed classified documents.

Almost immediately, the Left and the “Never Trump” Right, said, “See, we told you Donald Trump is on a revenge tour. First it was John Brennan, and then James Clapper, then James Comey. He’ll go after Anthony Fauci. Anybody that doesn’t have a pardon is fair game.”

But there’s more to the story than that. In 2019, when Trump fired John Bolton as national security adviser, he was writing a book. And he sold that book on the premise that he had been in the room. The title was, essentially, “This happened in the room” or “What happened in the room.” And he took prodigious notes.

The book was almost out. A federal judge, Royce Lamberth, looked at it and he thought—he basically said, “Well, I can’t really stop the book. It’s gonna be released in a few days.”

But in kind of a rare excursus, he said, “John Bolton, you’re doing something wrong. You are violating, likely, national security laws. And if you don’t stop, you’ll be subject, at some point, to criminal prosecution.” And then he let it rest.

Read about it...

FBI Agent arrested

Anti-Trump FBI Agent Arrested At JFK While Trying To Flee The Country

FBI Special Agent Johnathan Buma, known for his critical stance toward the Bureau since at least President Trump’s first term, was arrested on Monday at John F. Kennedy International Airport while attempting to board an international flight.

Buma, a 15-year veteran specializing in counterintelligence, faces charges of illegally disclosing classified information.

Authorities alleged he printed and shared approximately 130 confidential FBI documents in 2023. The documents included internal files related to investigations into a foreign country’s weapons of mass destruction program.

Court documents also allege that Buma shared a draft of a book about his career in federal law enforcement with colleagues, which contained sensitive information—including details about the FBI’s investigations into nuclear weapon threats emanating from overseas.

According to ABC News, federal agents apprehended the once-esteemed law enforcement official—who had accused the FBI of political bias in favor of President Trump—moments before boarding an international flight.

Read more...

Charges dropped against Mar-A-Lago's Valet and Property Manager in documents case

Trump's DOJ drops Mar-a-Lago classified documents charges against president's co-defendants

Sweet news on President's Day

On Wednesday, Justice Department attorneys requested the dismissal of federal criminal charges against Donald Trump and his two co-defendants for improper handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, as CBS News reported.

“The United States of America moves to voluntarily dismiss its appeal with prejudice (dismissed permanently),” the motion from Assistant U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne states.

“The government has conferred with counsel for Appellees Waltine Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, who do not object to the voluntary dismissal.”

President Trump's valet, Nauta, and Mar-a-Lago property manager, De Oliveira, were charged with conspiring to obstruct federal investigators investigating allegations that Trump unlawfully kept classified documents at his resort property after his first term.

Indictments arose from investigations led by special counsel Jack Smith, who resigned this month after dismissing Trump's criminal charges due to DOJ policy against pursuing a sitting president.

Read more...

Biden gets Dose of own medicine

Trump to Biden: ‘You’re Fired!’ – Security Clearance Revoked

Well, folks, it seems the tables have turned in the political playground

President Donald Trump has decided that former President Joe Biden no longer needs access to classified information. In a move that’s equal parts poetic justice and political theater, Trump announced on Truth Social that he’s revoking Biden’s security clearances and halting his daily intelligence briefings.

Remember back in 2021 when Biden, in a fit of “concern” over national security, stripped Trump of his access to intelligence briefings? At the time, Biden cited Trump’s “erratic behavior” as the reason.

Fast forward to today, and Trump is returning the favor, stating there’s “no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information.” Talk about karma coming full circle. [feedsnorth]

"Just Calm Down" Judge Cannon tells Prosecutor

Smith Prosecutors Reprimanded by Judge in Classified Documents Case

Judge Aileen Cannon finally appears to have had enough of Special Prosecutor Jack Smith and his team.

Cannon went off on them this week when prosecutor David Harbach was clearly getting frustrated during a motion hearing.

Cannon told him to “calm down,” clearly upset with the tone that was being presented.

Prosecutor David Harbach was being asked about an August 2022 meeting with defense attorney Stanley Woodward, who is representing Walt Nauta, a Trump aide who works at Mar-a-Lago.

With Harbach clearly becoming frustrated with the line of questioning, Judge Cannon told him, “I’m going to have to ask that you calm down.”

One courtroom reporter characterized the exchange as “glorious.”

Read more about it...

Quite a difference between Judge Cannon and Judge Merchan.

Biden admin, National Archives, DOJ, and FBI all colluded together in "bad faith

Trump exposed Special Counsel Smith's 'aggressive' efforts and unconstitutional acts in motions to dismiss charges and suppress evidence

Special Counsel Jack Smith abused power and violated laws in his ongoing effort to prosecute former President Donald Trump over his alleged unauthorized retention of classified documents after leaving the White House, and the National Archives similarly violated rules and Trump's rights by secretly colluding with the Biden administration to go after the former president.

Those and other claimed examples of the Justice Department's "aggressive effort to get Trump" were just revealed in lightly redacted filings submitted on Monday by Trump's defense attorneys in the South Florida federal case, according to the Washington Examiner.

The filings included a motion to suppress the evidence gathered during the FBI's August 2022 raid of Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence and a motion to dismiss altogether the criminal charges that stemmed from that unprecedented raid on a former president.

That motion laid out how the Biden administration and the purportedly independent and unbiased National Archives had unlawfully coordinated their efforts with the DOJ and FBI to violate Trump's due process rights and provisions of the Presidential Records Act.

Those violations include misleading Trump and his attorneys that disputes over records were being handled in civil proceedings when criminal proceedings were secretly underway as well as PRA requirements that former presidents be "promptly" notified about any claims or disputes regarding their retained or archived records.

Read about it...

FBI authorized use of deadly force at Mar-A-Lago

Unsealed Documents Reveal The FBI Authorized Use of “Deadly Force” During Mar-a-Lago Raid

We just learned more information about the FBI’s raid on Mar-a-Lago, and it’s not good.

Thanks to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon unsealing many documents in the case, we just learned that the FBI authorized the use of Deadly Force during the raid on Mar-a-Lago.

The documents related to the Mar-a-Lago raid in August 2022 were ordered to be unsealed by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon.

Judge Cannon has been presiding over the case involving former President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents and the FBI’s search of his Mar-a-Lago estate.

The decision to unseal these documents is part of the legal proceedings and the public’s interest in the case, balancing the need for transparency with the need to protect ongoing investigations and national security interests.

But that wasn’t all we learned…

Jack Smith on Hold

Jack Smith's classified documents trial postponed indefinitely, as prosecutor admits to destroying exculpatory evidence

The judge in Donald Trump's classified documents case has delayed the trial indefinitely, days after Jack Smith admitted to misleading her about key evidence.

In a Friday court filing, Smith admitted that evidence had been tampered with since it was seized in the notorious Mar-A-Lago raid.

The digital scans of documents do not line up with the physical ordering of the files, Smith said. The chronology of the files is critical in a case where Trump is accused of deliberately hoarding classified information.

Legal experts say Smith may have destroyed evidence that could have exonerated Trump.

Read more...

It never pays to "tamper with exculpatory evidence"

Jack Smith is COOKED After Recent Admission

Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office dropped a bombshell that has reverberated through the halls of justice and into the chaotic sphere of public opinion.

In a recent court filing, Smith’s team admitted to a significant blunder: crucial evidence in the heated case against former President Donald Trump concerning classified documents had been altered or manipulated post-seizure by the FBI.

This revelation is not just a footnote in legal proceedings; it’s a full-blown scandal that raises serious questions about the integrity of the investigation.

The crux of the matter lies in the handling of documents seized from Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s illustrious Palm Beach residence.

According to the filing, the order of documents within some of the boxes was shuffled, leading to a discrepancy between their digital scans and physical arrangement. This mix-up wasn’t just a clerical error; it was initially concealed from U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon’s courtroom. The filing confessed that previous claims about the evidence remaining in its pristine state were, in fact, mistaken.

This admission doesn’t merely add a wrinkle to the case; it throws the entire prosecutorial approach under a microscope.

Read about it...

What was really behind the Mar-A-Lago raid?

New Court Docs Reveal What FBI Was Looking for at Mar-a-Lago Raid

Recent revelations stemming from unredacted court documents in the Mar-a-Lago raid case have set tongues wagging and conspiracy theories brewing.

The documents suggest that Jack Smith, a key figure, was on a mission to secure Obama and North Korea-related documents during the raid. Now, one might wonder, why would the DOJ be so fixated on obtaining these particular pieces of information from none other than President Trump’s storied residence?

After the raid, the Department of Justice expressed satisfaction with their findings, stating, “I think we are in good shape.” But what exactly led them to target Obama and North Korea-related documents? This question hangs in the air like a tantalizing mystery waiting to be unraveled.

It’s not every day you hear about such high-stakes document retrieval operations centering around prominent political figures. The mention of Obama and North Korea in this context adds layers of intrigue and raises eyebrows across the political spectrum. Could there have been sensitive information tucked away in those documents that could shake the foundations of power?

Read more...

Saga of the Judge and the Prosecutor

Smith Files Motion With Judge May Appeal

In a late filing on Tuesday, special counsel Jack Smith criticized the judge presiding over former President Donald Trump’s classified documents case, claiming that her proposed jury instructions contain a “flawed legal premise” that could lead to an appeal.

This development adds a new twist to the ongoing legal battle between Trump and the government, as both sides prepare for a potential trial in July.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, had ordered both the defense and prosecution to submit potential jury instructions based on competing interpretations of two laws relevant to the case.

Her order suggested that Trump may have had a legal right under the Presidential Records Act (PRA) to declare certain records as personal after leaving office, a premise that Smith argues is wrong.

Well of course Jack Smith would say Judge Cannon is wrong. Smith is going after Donald Trump on the Espionage Act which is ludicrous.

Read about it...

University of Delaware misled the courts in order to hide Biden’s Senate papers

Special Counsel Report Reveals University of Delaware Misled Courts to Hide Biden’s Senate Records

The conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch and the Daily Caller News Foundation have requested the Delaware Supreme Court to reconsider their case seeking the release of Biden’s Senate records.

This comes after Special Counsel Robert Hur exposed that the University of Delaware had provided misleading information to the courts.

Despite this revelation, the University of Delaware remains adamant in its refusal to disclose Biden’s records. They have stated that the papers will not be made available until two years after Biden steps down from public office.

Last month, Special Counsel Robert Hur published a 345-page report on Joe Biden’s scandal involving stolen classified documents. The report, examined by this reporter, revealed that Biden’s classified documents were discovered at the University of Delaware, and taxpayer funds were utilized to manage his senatorial records.

“In January, February, and June 2023, FBI agents identified and recovered just over a dozen marked classified documents in Mr. Biden’s Senate-era papers housed at the University of Delaware. Almost all of these documents predate the Senate’s establishment of rules for the tracking and handling of classified information,” Robert Hur wrote in his report.

Read about it... Tara Reade wants the world to know.

Jack Smith throwing down the gauntlet

Jack Smith, in Startling Move, Denounces Judge in Documents Case as ‘Wrong’ and a Perpetrator of ‘Manifest Injustice’

It turns out President Trump isn’t the only one who can unleash a tirade against a judge. Could Smith’s next move be a motion for Cannon to recuse herself?

Special Counsel Jack Smith’s strongly worded motion requesting that Judge Aileen Cannon reconsider an order unsealing the names and statements of some witnesses in the Mar-a-Lago documents case against President Trump could be a harbinger of an even more dramatic move to remove her from the case.

Mr. Smith warns that Judge Cannon’s order would “disclose the identities of numerous potential witnesses, along with the substance of the statements they made to the FBI or the grand jury, exposing them to significant and immediate risks of threats, intimidation, and harassment.”

Read about it...

Biden gets off the hook!

Analysis shows Hur's report on Biden 'even WORSE than we thought'

'His cognitive failure can no longer be denied'

A commentator on social media has analyzed special counsel Robert Hur's report on Joe Biden, the report that said he probably committed federal crimes regarding the handling of classified material but no charges were recommended because of his diminishing mental capacities.

The report found that a jury likely would sympathize with an elderly man whose memory was failing so he probably wouldn't be convicted.

But the analysis of that report still continues, and a commentator on social media, who identifies himself as a lawyer who also writes on Substack, listed the problems Hur revealed:

Read more...

Joe gets off the hook because of "poor memory"

Special Counsel Reveals Biden’s SHOCKING Memory Loss

The final report from Special Counsel Robert Hur probing Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents has been released. Appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland approximately 13 months ago, Hur was tasked with investigating potential mishandling of sensitive materials by the President. The comprehensive report concludes that while no chargeable offenses were committed, Biden’s memory limitations pose significant political challenges.

The report presents a concerning depiction of Biden’s recollection abilities. It states, “Mr. Biden’s memory was significantly limited, both during his recorded interviews with the ghostwriter in 2017, and in his interview with our office in 2023.”

The report also noted Biden’s cooperation with the investigation, including reporting that Afghanistan documents were in his Delaware garage. This cooperation could convince some jurors that he made an innocent mistake rather than acting willfully to break the law, as the statute requires.

Despite acknowledging potential violations of legal statutes, which could amount to a felony, the Special Counsel refrained from pursuing charges due to Biden’s advanced age and cognitive challenges.

The report stated, “We have also considered that, at trial, Mr. Biden would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory. Based on our direct interactions with and observations of him, he is someone for whom many jurors will want to identify reasonable doubt.”

Read more...

Biden's response to Special Council's Report on Documents

Biden documents: special counsel releases findings, 'no charges' after probe

According to a Justice Department report, President Joe Biden 'willfully' retained and disclosed highly classified materials. The report from special counsel Robert Hur said, 'Our investigation uncovered evidence that President Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice presidency when he was a private citizen."



His response to the Press:

Special Counsel Lets Biden Off Scot-Free In Classified Docs Case While DOJ Tries To Imprison Trump For The Same Thing

Biden’s Classified Documents Probe

Special Counsel Robert Hur, who has been conducting the investigation for a year, is reportedly not bringing charges against Biden or his staff for all the documents he took while being a Senator and Vice President.

Instead, Biden and team will face sharp criticism for their handling of sensitive materials. This situation has drawn comparisons to the 2016 controversy involving Hillary Clinton’s mishandling of classified information. Former FBI Director James Comey criticized Clinton’s actions but did not recommend charges, leading to accusations of leniency for high-ranking officials in matters of national security.

So, Biden will get a little slap on the wrist but Trump is being prosecuted for the same thing. The difference is, Trump was President and had the legal right to declassify documents, Biden did not.

Bur this is a glaring admission of the two-tiered justice system in America, by a justice department that used to be respected.  Let Hillary off the hook for destroying 33,000 e-mails that were under subpoena; let Biden off the hook for having unauthorized documents in his possession in various places and then there is Donald Trump.

"Victor Davis Hanson says, "But for all of Trump’s loud banter, invective, and over-the-top tweets, he never sicced the bureaucracies on his political and personal enemies, and in that regard was never quite like the Left.

Read more...