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Supreme Court ruling could overturn 300 J6 convictions, destroy case against Trump

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The case against former President Donald Trump and 300 other felony convictions stemming from the events of January 6 may face a major setback after the United States Supreme Court indicated it would consider an obstruction law that was used against them.

The case, Fischer v. United States, involves the prosecution of January 6 defendant Joseph Fischer. The former police officer was accused of inflaming a mob that tried to enter the Capitol and pushing against police, and he was charged with multiple federal crimes. His case challenges the Justice Department’s interpretation of the charge of “obstruction of an official proceeding,” section 1512(c)(2), which was also used against hundreds of other defendants who took part in the events at the Capitol that day, including Trump. The charge criminalizes “corruptly” obstructing, interfering with, or impeding official government proceedings and has a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The “official proceeding” in this instance was Congress’ official final tally of Electoral College votes, the last step in recognizing Biden’s victory against Trump. The accusation stems from a 2002 statute enacted in the aftermath of the Enron scandal and is primarily used to punish behavior involving evidence destruction. The question of whether it relates to allegedly disrupting the election count process has dominated the prosecutions of January 6 defendants.

Explaining the gravity of the situation, investigative reporter Julie Kelly who wrote on X/Twitter: “This is a day so many J6ers have been waiting for. Lives destroyed, people rotting in prison. All bc Biden’s DOJ abused a post-Enron evidence tampering statute. And what will Jack Smith do now? 2 of 4 counts in his indictment in jeopardy. This is potentially more impactful than immunity issue.”

https://twitter.com/julie_kelly2/status/1734950356138782925?s=20

If the courts do overturn the interpretation of the law, then it might have far-reaching consequences since it served as the basis for numerous major January 6 lawsuits. As a consequence, at least one defendant has already made a move. Ethan Seitz, who was convicted of criminal obstruction of justice after breaking into the Capitol via a shattered glass, urged his trial-level judge to delay a sentence hearing next month due to the ongoing case “in the interests of judicial economy.”

Former federal prosecutor Michael McAuliffe said: “A ruling against the government in the Fischer case in the Supreme Court could well have a ripple effect in many other Capitol riot cases where the defendants were charged with the same obstruction of justice provision, went to trial (as opposed to pleading guilty) and were convicted.”

Some legal experts have predicted that Trump’s federal election interference trial, which is scheduled for March, will be held until a decision on the Fischer case is handed down by the Supreme Court. The high court will be given until June to hand down a ruling.

The move marks the first time the Supreme Court has agreed to review the prosecution of someone who was involved in the events of January 6.

SOURCES: CNN, REVOLVER, NEWSWEEK

2024 Race

U.S. Intelligence Confirms Foreign Interference in 2024 Presidential Election

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U.S. intelligence officials have confirmed that foreign nations are actively attempting to interfere in the 2024 presidential election, specifically aiming to ensure that former President Donald Trump loses. According to reports, these efforts are part of a broader strategy by foreign entities to influence the outcome of the upcoming election.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Iran is among the nations seeking to harm Trump’s presidential campaign through covert online influence operations. U.S. intelligence agencies have observed Tehran working to influence the election, with Iranian leaders reportedly concerned that a return to power by Trump would escalate tensions between Iran and the United States. An official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) shared these findings during a press briefing, highlighting the ongoing attempts by foreign actors to sway American electoral processes.

The report indicates that Iranian operatives are using online personas and propaganda efforts to spread disinformation, continuing a pattern of foreign involvement in U.S. elections that has been seen in recent years. This aligns with previous concerns about foreign entities using digital platforms to undermine American political systems.

The Wall Street Journal’s coverage of this issue has not received widespread attention in mainstream media outlets, raising questions about the level of public awareness regarding foreign interference in the election. The report suggests that other nations, including Russia, could also be involved in attempts to influence the election, though specific details about such efforts have not been confirmed.

In addition to the confirmed activities by Iran, there are ongoing discussions about the potential for other countries to manipulate the election for their own strategic interests. Some analysts have speculated about the possibility of foreign interference benefiting other candidates, such as Vice President Kamala Harris, though there is no concrete evidence to support these claims at this time.

SOURCE: WALL STREET JOURNAL

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Trump Announces Plan to Eliminate Taxes on Social Security Checks

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Former President Donald Trump has announced his intention to eliminate taxes on Social Security checks if he wins back the White House in 2024. This pledge forms a key part of the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) recently unveiled 2024 GOP Platform, titled “Make America Great Again!”

The platform, which draws heavily on Trump’s previous administration and political vision, outlines a comprehensive agenda aimed at bolstering American interests. It contrasts sharply with what the RNC describes as “the record of weakness, failure, and dishonesty” under President Joe Biden.

In a statement, the Trump campaign emphasized the platform’s alignment with the values and priorities of American voters. “President Trump’s platform serves as a contract with the American voter that makes clear what we can and will deliver under a President Trump administration with the Republican Party leading the country for the next four years,” the campaign stated.

Central to this platform is a commitment to safeguarding Social Security and Medicare. Trump’s plan promises no cuts or changes to these programs, including no alterations to the retirement age—a message that resonates strongly with the millions of Americans who depend on Social Security for their financial well-being.

One of the twenty core promises highlighted in the platform is to “Fight For And Protect Social Security And Medicare With No Cuts, Including No Changes To The Retirement Age.”

On Wednesday, Trump took to Truth Social to reiterate his commitment to eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits, stating, “SENIORS SHOULD NOT PAY TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY!” He framed this tax elimination as essential to ensuring that seniors can retain more of their hard-earned benefits.

This announcement has been met with enthusiasm from many supporters, who view it as a direct response to the financial challenges faced by older Americans. Trump’s proposal is seen as a way to alleviate some of the economic pressures on retirees and ensure that they receive the full value of their Social Security benefits.

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Harris Campaign Admits It Lied About Trump and Project 2025

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The Harris campaign has come under fire for its misleading claims about President Donald Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, in connection with the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. Despite repeated assertions, fact-checkers have debunked the campaign’s assertions, revealing a deliberate effort to misrepresent Trump’s policies.

At a rally in Wisconsin on Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris criticized Trump and his “extreme Project 2025 agenda.” She claimed, “Can you believe they put that thing in writing? Read it. It’s 900 pages. But here’s the thing. When you read it, you will see Donald Trump intends to cut Social Security and Medicare. He intends to give tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations and make working families foot the bill. They intend to end the Affordable Care Act and take us back to a time when insurance companies had the power to deny people with pre-existing conditions.”

These accusations have been discredited by multiple fact-checking organizations. CNN, for example, highlighted inaccuracies in Harris’s claims. According to CNN, “The Project 2025 document does not show that Trump intends to cut Social Security; the document barely discusses Social Security at all and does not propose cuts to the program.” The document also does not call to “end” the Affordable Care Act or eliminate protections for pre-existing conditions. Instead, it critiques the Affordable Care Act, particularly its Medicaid expansion, but advocates for reforms rather than complete termination.

In response to the criticism, a Harris campaign official stated that the campaign had “made a deliberate decision to brand all of Trump’s policies” as “Project 2025,” believing that the term resonated with voters. Campaign spokesperson Joseph Costello added, “Project 2025 is a blueprint for many of the dangerous policies we know that a second Trump term would include, and it is indisputable that in his first term, Donald Trump repeatedly tried to cut Social Security and end the Affordable Care Act.”

Further scrutiny has revealed additional falsehoods. VERIFY, a website dedicated to combating misinformation, debunked claims that Project 2025 proposed eliminating individualized education plans (IEPs). USA Today also pointed out that Project 2025 is a conservative policy blueprint created by the Heritage Foundation and other groups, not a specific agenda authored by Trump. Trump himself has distanced his platform, which he refers to as Agenda 47, from Project 2025.

Reporter Ben Domenech criticized the Harris campaign for inaccurately associating J.D. Vance with Project 2025. Domenech, who interviewed Vance before his Senate candidacy and the inception of Project 2025, stated, “The Harris campaign is falsely representing this interview, which took place before Vance even announced a run for the Senate and years before Project 2025 existed. I know this because I’m the interviewer.”

The Harris campaign’s misrepresentation of Project 2025 has been widely condemned, underscoring the growing need for accurate political discourse in the lead-up to the election.

SOURCE: CNN

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