Category: New York politics

The Case in Search of a Crime and the Dogs Sniffing It Out

THE WOEFULLY LEGALLY DEFICIENT business records case levied against 45th President Donald Trump by Alvin Bragg in New York is single-handedly making a mockery of the state’s judicial system. 

The prosecution is setting to rest by week’s end, then Trump’s team will ask for a directed verdict, which Judge Juan Merchan will deny, and will proceed with a defense. That it’s difficult to know how to defend a case where no crime has actually been alleged will be a novelty for these experienced lawyers. It’s the case in search of a crime. The jury will deliberate. Hopefully one (or more) will see the problems here and there will either be a hung jury or Trump will be acquitted. If he’s found guilty—who knows? Obviously, he’ll appeal, but…

Keith Davidson, Stormy Daniel’s attorney, testified the $130,000 ‘hush money’ transaction wasn’t that as much as legitimate “consideration.” Hope Hicks testified the N.D.A. with Daniels was meant to shield Melania and Barron from media exposure, not to influence the outcome of the election. These prosecution witnesses helped the defense. As for Daniels’ testimony, it was incredible by any measure as her story has repeatedly changed on whims or schemes, depending how ‘conspiratorial’ one is. 

The latest was star witness and convicted perjurer, Michael Cohen, Trump’s former ‘fixer’/lawyer, who apparently (and awkwardly) still lives at Trump Tower. Cohen has followed Daniels’ path on the stand.  And, like Daniels, he came across  as  a  real  shyster,  not  to  mention,  a  real a$$hole. Oddly for Cohen, his testimony seemed mostly truthful even if he was dishonest and unethical. For example, he admitted to recording Trump (his then-client) without his knowledge or consent. Interestingly, the recordings proved Trump was following Cohen’s own advice. The irony is rather sickening. 

Constitutional attorney and law professor Jonathan Turley aptly titled his article for The New York Post: “The Appearance of Michael Cohen: A Wreck in Search of a Race.” (Read here.) He analogized Cohen’s appearance thusly: “Michael Cohen is to criminal justice what car crashes are to Nascar: few want to admit it, but he is the perverse draw for the wreck-obsessed. The difference is that Cohen was already a rolling smoking wreck when he pulled up to the track.”

Horrified by the notion prosecutors would bring such a case, Turley added, “The assumption was that no rational prosecutor would base a major criminal case virtually entirely on the testimony of Michael Cohen who was just recently denounced by a judge as a serial perjurer peddling ‘perverse’ theories in court.” 

Horrifying is Turley’s conclusion: “The calculus of Alvin Bragg is now obvious. He is counting on the jury convicting Trump regardless of the evidence. He believes that all he needs is to check the boxes on the elements of the crime, no matter how unbelievable the vehicle.”

Also interesting were Tuesday’s revelation about Cohen and Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel’s Office which “wanted a piece of Michael Cohen before he reported to prison in 2018. Indeed, when all the questions are answered, we might discover that it was Mueller’s pitbull, Andrew Weissmann, the FBI, and the DOJ who were responsible for his bizarre plea deal that sparked the idea for this wrong-headed case,” wrote Victoria Taft at pjmedia. 

Cohen testified to meeting with Mueller several times prior to reporting to prison starting in 2018 before he pleaded guilty. He did get a plea deal from federal prosecutors for tax evasion, making false statements to a bank, and—out of the blue—campaign violations. Had he been found guilty of all charges, received the maximum penalties, with concurrent sentencing, he would have faced 45 years rather than the three he ultimately served. (Merchan gave the jury some instructions on this that will likely be grounds for an appeal because they were highly prejudicial.) Oh, and as for the Mueller Report? It seems Cohen’s name was mentioned 75 times. 

Judge Merchan has a blatantly obvious anti-Trump bias. Aside from seemingly biased rulings and his unconstitutionally broad and vague ‘gag order’ on the 45th president, his daughter, Loren Merchan, has not only been a Democrat operative working on the Biden-Harris campaign and profiting off of the trial her father is overseeing in her capacity as a partner in Authentic Campaigns and beneficiary of George Soros cash, it turns out she also worked on ousting Trump from the ballot in Colorado, according to a comprehensive report by Natalie Winters. (Even if he is swayed by his daughter’s activities, which she she should be allowed to do, he should’ve recused himself or at least avoid the appearance of, and actual conflict of interest in shielding Lauren, an adult, from criticism.)

As of Tuesday evening, it was being reported that Trump’s motion on the gag order in the New York appeals court was denied. “We find that Justice Merchan properly weighed petitioner’s First Amendment Rights against the court’s historical commitment to ensuring the fair administration of justice in criminal cases..,” quoted CNN anchor, Kaitlan Collins, on X. Appealing that ruling, even if it were favorable and expedited, will be too little, too late. 

Things are out of control in Merchan’s frigid and hostile courtroom. Just to make sure the public sees as little of the unfolding disaster as possible, he has now banned the once per day morning ‘photo spray’ where still photographers were allowed for a few moments to capture the scene before festivities began. Audio and video has been banned altogether.

Catch-and-Kill, Checkbook Journalism, and Kangaroo Courts

WHAT HAS BEEN CALLED the Trump “hush money case” by anti-Trump factions, and “business record case” by MAGA Republicans has been proceeding apace in lower Manhattan this week. By Friday, opening arguments (Matthew Colangelo for the prosecution; Todd Blanche for the defense) and three prosecution witnesses were heard by the jury. Additionally, Judge Juan Merchan heard motions and other matters outside the jury’s presence. Audio/video from the trial is not available publicly. Nor is photography allowed—only artist renditions in the courtroom. It’s likely the norm for state courtrooms throughout the nation today, though hard to see why especially in this case.  After all, we do have the technology…

The first witness (for most of the week) was a man named David Pecker, a former magazine executive. The second was Trump’s longtime assistant, Rhona Graff, and the third, a banker named Gary Farro. You’d almost think they were defense witnesses, depending on whose reporting on the testimony you care to believe.  

Pecker, a friend of Trump’s, was the publisher of the tabloid, the National Enquirer and C.E.O. of American Media, Inc. He testified about “checkbook journalism,” the practice of paying for stories. He was asked extensively about something called “catch-and-kill,” which is a publishing practice of paying for stories with the intention of ‘spiking’ rather than printing them. It was—and is—in widespread use and is perfectly legal. It is a way of enforcing an agreement with a publisher to keep quiet (dare I day ‘hush’?) in the future by providing the consideration to the source, necessary to form a contract. 

Pecker provided examples of two people his companies did this with: Dino Sajudin, once a doorman at Trump Tower, who claimed Trump sired a child with a woman out of wedlock; and Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model, who claimed she had an affair with Trump. (Trump denies both stories.) Pecker testified the deals were to protect his friend, as were the publication of negative stories about then-Trump G.O.P. presidential rivals, Ted Cruz and Ben Carson. 

While this testimony doesn’t absolve Trump of anything, it also doesn’t show him guilty of anything other than being the recipient of the good and legal graces of his friend. Nonetheless, his counsel implied that Pecker’s testimony could be tainted because his company, AmericanMedia, entered into a non-prosecution agreement (sort of an N.D.A. variant meant to keep prosecutors honest) with the Justice Department in 2018. Trump’s team wanted to show Pecker really just wanted to sell magazines, rather than influence the outcome of the election.

As for Sajudin, he was paid $30,000 facilitated by Pecker and Cohen’s efforts, to sell his information about Trump’s supposed love child contained in his book, “Trump Doorman,” which was apparently published in 2021. He claims he had been forced to resign by Trump, and marketed his story as a result. He had signed a contract with AMI putting $1 million at stake if he violated his N.D.A., but it was ultimately lifted in 2018 after The New York Post wrote about the story. For her part, Graff clearly didn’t want to be in court and her testimony added little, though she admitted to having a “vague recollection” of seeing Daniels in Trump Tower before the 2016 election, but that it might have had to do with a possibly appearing on “Celebrity Apprentice,” a TV show Trump starred in at the time. The Trump Organization, she admitted, was paying for her two attorneys in the case. 

Trump faces 34 felony counts (and possibly four years in prison if convicted) for allegedly falsifying business records about a non-disclosure agreement he entered into with adult actress Stormy Daniels in exchange for $130,000 in the final weeks of the 2016 presidential election. The monetary exchange reportedly went through Trump’s then-attorney and fixer Michael Cohen who in 2018 was found guilty of, and served three years for, lying to Congress about it. 

Where’s the crime? Good question. Prosecutors claim, with little or no evidence, that the manner of accounting for Cohen’s payment to Daniels was intended to conceal the real reason for the exchange. Again, where’s the crime? Again, another good question. No one really knows. No one really believes there will be any bombshell testimony, either, but we’ll have to wait and see. Trials can start off slow only to reach a crescendo later on. It’s just hard to envision in this trial. 

As best as can be understood, prosecutors claim the payments were election fraud: concealed to effectuate Trump’s ascendency to the White House rather than to merely spare him personal embarrassment, thereby violating federal election finance laws. (Never mind this didn’t involve campaign contributions.) But this prosecution needs a state crime. Where is it? Somehow, the alleged federal fraud got bootstrapped to a New York State business records law, which would ordinarily only give rise to a misdemeanor unless connected to another crime. But the statute of limitations ran on that, so…? Well, it’s bootstrapped to the federal felony case that apparently isn’t time-barred and can be used to make the business records ‘violation’ a felony somehow. And never mind the feds flatly refused to prosecute the supposed federal case! It’s not only a novel legal theory, it’s a completely absurd, frivolous, and malicious prosecution persecution. Not that Judge Merchan would realize it: he is clearly well out of his league, which includes the monitoring of the treatment of the City’s mentally ill who hope their voluntary participation will get their offenses dismissed or reduced. 

Also absurd is the surely unconstitutional gag order the judge placed on President Trump. It was alleged he violated it another seven times. A hearing on the matter is set for May 1st. Also absurd is his ruling allowing the D.A.’s office to withhold the names of witnesses it will call until immediately beforehand, ostensibly because they fear he will talk about it publicly. 

Thus went the first week of the first criminal trial of a president not in office. For his part, Trump denies any illegality in his payments to Cohen, any sexual involvement with Daniels, or any business records errors giving rise any crime. The trial continues on Tuesday. Trump will again be relegated to watching from the defense table, unable to leave for any reason or talk to the press. New York and its D.A., Alvin Bragg, should be embarrassed—and sanctioned.

A Jury Is Empaneled in the ‘Hush Money’ Case.  How Biased Will It Be?

ON THURSDAY, after only three court days, far-left Judge Juan Merchan announced, “We have our jury” for 45th President Donald Trump’s so-called ‘hush money’ case in New York.  Two jurors who had previously been seated were dismissed, however: one requested to be excused because her identity was inferred online and she suddenly didn’t think she could be impartial, and a second was dismissed over questions about his criminal history.

Potential jurors had been asked 42 questions, of which many legal scholars believe are biased by how they were asked. The 42 questions are here. See a, here, here, here, and here, for a fairly exhaustive discussion on juror bias. Voir dire of jurors followed, with a mere ten peremptory challenges each for the defense and prosecution. The process was not given the degree of care jury selection deserves, especially in cases with such a high profile defendant. Jurors’ identities are to be kept confidential, but this could make the ferreting out of rogue jurors more difficult. No cameras are permitted inside, either. To make matters stranger, prosecution witnesses won’t be identified in advance because Trump may post about it on social media. (Many lawyers believe this is about the most ridiculous case ever brought, let alone, among the most biased.)

Friday was to be a new day. Twelve jurors and six alternates were selected.  Merchan also held a Sandoval hearing, concerning whether and to what extent previous bad acts can be brought up in New York criminal trials, so-called because of the name of the 1974 case which began the practice. The idea is to get Trump to take the stand (he should not do it) and ask him about all his prior alleged attacks on women. Merchan is expected to rule (against Trump) on Monday. Then there is the issue of $1,000 per pop sanctions on Trump for violating Merchan’s unconstitutional gag order in social media posts, including about his highly partisan leftist adult daughter. There was to be a show-cause hearing on why Trump shouldn’t be held in contempt, but this may not be as clearcut as Merchan hopes.

Trump has reportedly dozed off in court twice. (Drudge hopefully speculated he was drugged.)  He has also bitterly complained abut the bitter cold of the courtroom. For his part, Merchan has conceded the courtroom is very chilly, but claims he’d rather have it cold than too warm, which he claims it would be if he notched the thermostat up even one degree. Old, damp, dank buildings like this court may have a way of being frigid, but one can’t help but suspect the response was intentional, to make Trump, a South Florida resident, as uncomfortable as possible. 

Of note, a man, Max Azzarello, 37, of St. Augustine, Fla., was taken to a hospital and was in critical condition after he lit himself on fire outside the court on Friday. MSM was quick to try to find links between this and Trump, although none are apparent. CNN was absolutely gushing. It will not delay Monday morning’s commencement of opening arguments, however. 

If it is biased, it should be remembered, all the defense needs is one (with balls) stealth juror.

Star Witnesses, Star Defendant, and One Star Chamber

IN A FIRST IN AMERICAN HISTORY, 45th President Donald Trump made his appearance at a downtown New York City courthouse on Monday to appear as a defendant in a ‘criminal’ trial that has been dubbed the Stormy Daniels’ ‘hush money case.’ The date marked day one of jury selection in a deep blue city where Trump doesn’t stand a chance in hell of getting an unbiased jury and everyone in the nation knows it. (Some are okay with it, too.) 

A group of 100 or so pro-Trump patriots waved flags wearing MAGA gear, chanting pro-Trump messages and singing patriotic songs outside the court. Aside from the president dozing off at the defense table inside, little happened. Some 50 New Yorkers called for jury duty Monday actually admitted they cannot be impartial. Another 50 or so couldn’t serve for other reasons. No jurors were selected by day’s end.

Despite other prosecutors refusing to pursue the case, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a staunch Democrat, charged Trump with falsifying records in the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign to cover up a $130,000 payment for Daniels to sign an NDA about a 2006 encounter she had with Trump. Trump pleaded not guilty, though it’s not clear to what, because no actual crime was actually alleged by Bragg, who cobbled together a convoluted combination of federal and state crimes that were unrelated to each other as some new-fangled ‘crime’ that at best, even if they did relate, would amount to mere bookkeeping errors that could be easily remedied in the ordinary course of business.

The prosecutor’s star witness in this star chamber will be Trump’s former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, who reportedly set the payment up and who also happens to be a convicted perjurer. Also on the witness list is Stormy Daniels, who has stated in the past she never had an affair with Trump as had been alleged by a hostile press corps. (Indictment here.)

The judge, Juan Merchan, has incurred Trump’s wrath, and that of his supporters, because he has issued clearly unconstitutional ‘gag orders’ against the president, most recently, barring him from saying anything about his adult daughter who works as a far-left political hack. Merchan has also refused to recuse himself for his obvious conflict-, or appearance of conflict-of- interest as a result of his daughter’s vocation and his own political donations. For his part, President Trump believes these facts are worthy of a very loud mention, and they certainly are. And usually gag orders are issued to protect the defendant, not impede his, or others’, First Amendment rights.

Not only is the judge sitting on the case improperly, he is also apparently an asshole. He told Trump today he would not be excused from one day in his court, expected to last through May at least, including for the president to attend a U.S. Supreme Court session in Washington, D.C. next week, where his lawyers will argue he should or face separate criminal charges of alleged election interference. Nor, apparently, will Trump be permitted to attend his son Barron’s graduation, per Merchan’s diabolical orders. This nonsense continues Tuesday, ad nauseum, ad infinitum…

Be Careful What You Wish For, New York!

THE 45th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES is reportedly insolvent if you are to believe the loathsome mainstream media. This is because of an astounding judgment , amounting to $454.2 million, against President Trump arising out of the so-called ‘civil fraud case’ in New York, along with the nine percent annualized interest rate of over $111,000 per day in interest until it is paid in full. The alleged ‘fraud’ Trump committed was possibly overvaluing his assets, including Mar-a-Lago, though the court clearly undervalued, showing the range of opinion in valuations.

Also a matter of opinion is whether and to what extent this ‘over-valuation’ harmed anyone: Trump’s lenders said unequivocally no, but this was Judge Arthur Engeron, who ruled on the non-jury civil case, prosecuted by state A.G. Letitia James back in 2022, so the outcome was preordained.

Trump can pay cash or post an appeals bond in order to appeal that highly unprecedented and disturbing case. He was given 30 days to do so, lest James seize and forfeit Trump’s assets. The Complaint against Trump and his co-defendants is here.

On Monday, Trump’s attorneys moved the state appeals court to use its discretion and stay the judgment pending appeal based on the apparent fact that securing a bond of that size is a “practical impossibility,” and providing the court with a supporting memorandum of law, here. Alternatively, he’d provide a $100 million bond. (Rejected.)

Given Trump was also barred from running his New York businesses for three years as an additional penalty, it is hardly a wonder he can’t (or won’t) pay up in full. His lawyers say the 30 bonding companies consulted won’t contemplate bonds of that size and don’t accept real estate, where most of Trump’s wealth lies, as collateral, and if he can’t operate his real estate, he is short on liquid assets when he needs to come up with $557 million in marketable securities and cash. And bonding companies may be afraid of the association, too.

Trump has already posted a $91.6 million bond, fully collateralized, prior to appealing the bogus E. Jean Carroll case. In 2022, he posted a $200,000 bond in the Fulton County, GA ‘racketeering case.’ There may be others I’m overlooking, too.

Forbes has previously estimated Trump’s net worth to be between $2.5 billion in 2020-21 and $4.5 billion in 2015, prior to his running for president and prior to the pandemic. 

Most fair-minded Americans should have a disconnect when their states/cities have ‘no bail’ and ‘free counsel’ for violent criminals and illegal aliens, but demand otherwise law-abiding citizens to have to pony up big bucks, in advance, simply to appeal a civil case.

Reasonable bail and right to counsel are guaranteed to criminal defendants by the Constitution, but there are troublesome implications here. It might be okay to hold someone liable for pecuniary damages or fines in civil matters, but they shouldn’t be excessive and in exceed actual damages or costs caused by their error(s) under the Eighth Amendment.

Like bail, a bond should be commensurate with the transgression and not a pay-for-play payoff or discriminatory tax. It cannot constitute cruel and unusual punishment.

For Trump, this case could not only be calamitous to his business, which provides services and employment to others, but a real wake-up call to other wealthy entrepreneurs in the state who don’t want the wrath of government beheading their brainchildren.

Be careful what you wish for, New York!

Law and Disorder in Trump World

AS THE DEADLINE to do so neared, 45th President Donald Trump managed to post a $91.6 million bond on Friday to secure the $83.3 million judgment from the E. Jean Carroll defamation case he has been found liable for. He received it from Federal Insurance Co. and Judge Lewis Kaplan was so informed of the fact. 

Immediately after posting bond, his attorney, Alina Habba, filed a notice of appeal of that jury’s finding in January that Trump defamed Carroll, age 80, when, as president, he denied her rape allegations against him that she never bothered to report or complain of when the ‘rape’ allegedly occurred in a public dressing room at a busy department store in Manhattan. Ordinarily, that should take care of things till Trump exhausts his appellate rights, but these are not ordinary times, so anything could happen. Theoretically, Carroll’s lawyers have been given until 11 a.m. on Monday to oppose or assent to Trump’s bond application before he decides whether to approve it. If they object, he would hear arguments Monday afternoon. 

Then there’s the huge judgment of nearly a half-billion dollars Trump faces in the ‘civil fraud’ case in New York where the highly biased Judge Arthur Engoron found Trump and his organization liable for misrepresenting his net worth when applying for loans for his real estate empire (which no one ever complained about.) In addition to the judgment, hundreds of millions of dollars have proliferated along with high statutory interest. Trump’s fines were $355 million and rose to $454 million as of Friday, and continues to accrue at $112,000 per day/ Adding insult to that injury, Engoron barred Trump and his colleagues from doing business in the state for years. Attorney General,Letitia James has threatened to seize his assets if he doesn’t pay on time.

Next week, on a slightly more hopeful note, lawyers for Trump and Special Counsel Jack Smith will have the opportunity to each present their arguments as to whether Judge Aileen Cannon should dismiss the charges brought against Trump in what has become colloquially known as the classified documents case. There are two motions to dismiss to be heard and if either one is granted, the case is essentially over. Otherwise, the case will go to trial at some point. Cannon is a Trump appointee.

At issue is, in the first instance, the Presidential Records Act, and in the second, the statute being used in the case, and whether it is unconstitutionally vague when applied to a president. Jack Smith is a notorious thug who now accuses Trump’s team of being frivolous in its “transparent and persistent” dilatory tactics. The hearing on the two motions is scheduled for Thursday. 

In Dark Times, NYC Mayor Adams Struggles to See Light.

IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE the State and City of New York are so self-destructive. One of its latest idiotic moves was enacting a new law, popularly known as Local Law 11, allowing illegal aliens residing in the City to vote for City officials. It applies to Long Island, Staten Island, Westchester County, and several other counties north of Manhattan. The New York Supreme Court Appellate Division’s Opinion and Order is here.

It’s easy to see why, in a 3-1 ruling on Wednesday, that the New York State appellate court declared the new law unconstitutional on both procedural and substantive grounds. The Decision upheld most of a lower court ruling from 2022 out of Staten Island. The lower court decision was appealed thanks to New York City Mayor Eric Adams and other (presumably) Democrats, seeking to allow these million-or-so residents to vote in municipal elections. Procedurally, the law failed because Local Law 11 was enacted in the absence of a public referendum as required.  Then there was a buggy little issue that, if an illegal could vote, they’d also have to be allowed to hold public office. It isn’t expected an appeal from Wednesday’s ruling to the New York Court of Appeals would be successful, but desperation fuels many a folly.

Adams wants illegal alien votes even though he doesn’t really need them in the one-party Dem City. He doesn’t much like the responsibility of having to house, feed, clothe, accessorize, transport, medically care for, or otherwise support them, however. And it appears he may be rethinking some of his positions about his Sanctuary City. One involves modifying a Sanctuary City law to allow for the turning over of illegal aliens who commit felonies to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials for possible deportation. What a whimsical, novel idea!

That may be wishful thinking on Adams’ part, but at least he’s thinking for a change. Recall the Manhattan District Attorney is Alvin Bragg. Calling Bragg a ‘catch-and-release’ kind of guy is an understatement of consequence:  he’s really a plain old ‘release’ guy, who ignores the effects that the city’s worst criminals have on quality-of-life issues in the City. And make no mistake about it, some of the worst criminals just happen to be illegal aliens. As 45th President Trump says, “They [foreign countries] aren’t sending their best.” 

In time, perhaps Adams will wise up and not give the best the City has to offer to free-loading aliens, such as luxury hotel rooms, luxury apartments, schools, catered meals, spending money, and other things the Empire State’s taxpayers have been so needlessly burdened with—to the very off-key tune of $10.6 billion through 2025. Maybe he’ll give law enforcement what it needs to keep the neighborhoods safe for those legally here, without a need for curfews for migrants.

One of the City’s prominent citizens (and former mayoral candidate), conservative radio talk show host, Barry Farber, used to say of the U.S. that never has one country given so much and asked for so little in return. I’d simply tag that with, “…and been so unappreciated for it.” 

Let Letitia Eat Dem Bugs!

OVER THE YEARS, I’VE CHANGED MY MIND on a number of things, but one I haven’t is on the question of electing prosecutors or judges—especially prosecutors AND judges. The simplest explanation for my position is that the administration of justice should not be politicized. 

I’ve lived in two states, New York and Florida, that do this. I tolerate it better in Florida than New York because I’m more aligned to the political sensibilities of Tallahassee than to Albany, or Palm Beach County than to New York or Kings Counties. Case in point is New York Attorney General Letitia James and a cohort of crazy judges in the news.Her latest nutty caper is a lawsuit she filed in Manhattan against a mega meatpacking company, JBS USA Foods Co. Nuttier still is she tweeted about it:

“I’m suing @JBSFoodsUSA, the world’s largest beef producer, for misleading the public about its environmental impact. The beef industry is one of the largest contributors to climate change, and JBS has falsely advertised its commitment to sustainability and endangered our planet. JBS greenwashed its environmental harms to drive sales and exploited hardworking families. Companies cannot deceive people about their impacts on our planet.”

In a statement, she added:

“Families [are] willing to spend more of their hard-earned money on products from brands that are better for the environment. JBS USA’s greenwashing exploits the pocketbooks of everyday Americans and the promise of a healthy planet for future generations.”

What families? I’m not willing to fork over more for highly-inflated food under the Biden regime. In fact, I don’t even know if meat I buy in NYC is from JBS or not. I don’t think I’m alone, either. And what’s with the beef-shit about a ‘healthy’ planet? Planets are not biological entities that can even have a state of healthfulness or unhealthfulness. And never mind the anthropogenic climate change nonsense. She can eat bugs! I sure ain’t! The Complaint is here.

James is apparently angry that JBS wanted to boost its sales and that the company has “no viable plan” to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, making its commitment to the goal false and misleading and in violation of the law. That would be impossible, especially since JBS plans to increase production—and therefore, its ‘carbon footprint.’ James may be right that JBS ads were misleading, but climate change and ‘net-zero’ benefits are inherently controversial.

James should focus on NYC’s and Mayor Eric Adams’ misrepresentations to the same proverbial ‘hard-working families’ about the dangers of the unvetted ‘paroled’ influx of illegal aliens in the City. (See e.g., here, here, and here for but only a few recent examples of the problem.)

It May Be Time to Repurpose Guantánamo Bay Detention Camp

SO-CALLED PAROLE for illegal aliens took a hit on Tuesday when Judge T. Kent Wetherell of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, a Trump appointee, ruled against the Biden regime and the Department of Homeland Security. The Sunshine State had challenged the regime’s policies, and lo! and behold! It had standing to bring its lawsuit.

Twenty-six Republican state attorneys general had written a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (of impeachment fame) urging him and the regime writ large to “get out of the way” in the ongoing and worsening southern border crisis after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision allowing federal agents to dismantle concertina wire Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas had installed at the border. This lawsuit followed. Florida correctly asserted that the federal government’s actions resulted in an improper release of thousands of illegal aliens who wouldn’t even be in the U.S. but for the Biden regime’s policies.

The ruling from Wetherell stated, “the policies at issue…do not involve arrest or persecution but rather explain how DHS will exercise its statutory ‘parole’ authority under [U.S. Criminal Code] with respect to aliens who are already in DHS custody after arriving at the Southwest Border.”  He added that the if the policies were not previously enjoined, there would “likely be hundreds of thousands more aliens in the country on ‘parole’ but not in any sort of immigration proceedings.” There could be “thousands more aliens on ‘parole’ but not in any sort of immigration proceedings and thousands more who would be completely unaccounted for, which would have further exacerbated the harm to Florida.”

Although that is obvious, it’s good to have the problem understood and heard. The 10-page Order can be viewed here. 

Meanwhile on Friday, Abbott announced the construction of an 80-acre military base to house 1,800 to 2,300 soldiers, and up to 500 more for special deployments, to fight illegal immigration around the Rio Grande and to secure the border. Hopefully, the help hasn’t come too late.

News feeds are regularly updated, naming the latest Angel Families, i..e., those who have a member killed in the U.S. by an illegal alien. It is a term coined under the Trump administration and has resonated. They come in such frequency, Americans have almost become numb, but one in particular has fueled a resurgence of rage. It is the brutal murder by blunt force trauma of a Georgia University nursing student, Laken Riley, age 22. On Friday, campus police arrested an illegal alien from Venezuela named Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, who was living in Athens, GA. He was charged malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements released a press statement shortly thereafter indicating he had been arrested for illegal entry and paroled on 9/8/22 and had also been arrested by the New York Police Department on 9/14/23 for acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17, as well as for a motor vehicle violation. It appears to have been a crime of opportunity.