As I head to President Biden's rally here in Madison, WI

A few notes about the impact of the polling and the election on the largest criminal prosecution in US history

(MORE) In a series of recent courtroom incidents I've witnessed .... Jan 6 defendants boasted that they anticipate pardons or some form of reprieve from a future President Trump

Bolstered by polls or by Trump's campaign rhetoric

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SEVEN WORDS

From page 97 of the Supreme Court ruling ===> Dissent (more): “Orders the Navy’s Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune.”

Former House Jan 6 Select Committee members are issuing statements upon Trump’s first trip to Capitol Hill post-Jan 6

Rep Zoe Lofgren (D-CA): “I learned during the January 6th investigation to take Mr. Trump at his word, and his unhinged comments about democracy and America's future make it clear that he is a threat to our system of government.” Rep Adam Schiff (D-CA): “Every Republican meeting today with Donald Trump – who has promised to be a dictator on day one if he’s elected & prophesied a bloodbath if he’s not – should commit today to accepting the results of November’s free and fair election..”

Interesting exchange just now during jury selection in Hunter Biden trial

Prospective juror is called into courtroom. He’s a former police officer who says he’s acquainted with Dr Jill Biden and has met President Biden at events

Under questioning, there are some revelations … Prospective juror, who says he’s a FOX News viewer, told the court about donations he’d made to a candidate for Delaware Attorney General.

It was money for a prior challenger to Beau Biden

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NEW: Trump defense asks judge to reject Jack Smith request in Florida case that Trump be restricted from statements that “pose a significant, imminent, and foreseeable danger to law enforcement agents” & deceptive claims about agents

And Trump seeks sanctions against Smith team MORE: Trump's team claims Jack Smith's request amounts to "censorship" and is "unprecedented"

Full filing: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…

Justice Dept to seek 9 years prison in Jan 6 case of Mark Middleton & 7 years for Jalise Middleton

The feds' 55-page sentencing memo begins:

"Ass whoopin’ comin’” – Jalise Middleton, January 5, 2021"

(MORE) Justice Dept: "Each defendant assaulted two officers from (DC police) who were defending the Capitol. Mark Middleton assaulted one of the officers with a flagpole"

They allege the pair raised money & sought fame from case, lied under oath & "bragged" of their breach at Capitol

HOO BOY: Arraignment now in high-level Jan 6 case of John Banuelos of Illinois, who’s accused of firing gun amid mob outside Capitol

And it went off the rails… with Banuelos concluding: “Trump’s going to be back in office in 6 months, I’ve got nothing to worry about”

(MORE) Banuelos appeared by video feed from jail in Chicago and blasted his appointed defense lawyers, calling them “public pretenders”, said he isn’t being well-represented. “They’re f***ing” with me, he tells judge

The judge is …. Judge Tanya Chutkan

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FLASH: Paul Pelosi reveals he's still suffering dizziness, headaches, balance problems, nerve pain and walking challenges, more than a year after he was attacked inside his California home. The husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi revealed his ongoing health problems in a letter to a federal judge today, at the sentencing of David Depape, who was convicted of attacking Paul Pelosi with a hammer in October 2022 Paul Pelosi’s letter also said, “I walk slowly and have difficulty with my balance. Nearly every day I get headaches that become migraines unless quickly addressed. I need to sleep during the day and cannot tolerate bright lights or loud noises for extended periods of time.”

So...

Rep Matt Gaetz (R-FL) says he was denied a prison visit to Peter Navarro.. and it’s now sparking a review of the US Bureau of Prisons by Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee

(MORE) GOP-led Judicary Cmte has asked director of Bureau of Prisons to testify at public hearing next month, to question decision to deny recent interview/meeting between Navarro & Rep. Gaetz

Navarro is serving 4-month prison sentence at fed prison in Miami for contempt of Congress

Justice Dept seeks a *140 months* prison in Capitol riot case of Leo Bozell, son of a prominent conservative media activist

That'd be one of the longest prison sentences issued in any Jan 6 case so far.. and the feds' argument is lengthy and striking

(MORE) Justice Dept argues Bozell's case qualifies for a terrorism enhancement at sentencing, which swells the potential sentencing guidelines

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…

FLASH: Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) & his wife have been indicted

Justice Dept alleges they accepted at least $598,000 in bribes from two foreign entities:

1) oil & gas company wholly owned & controlled by Government of Azerbaijan

2) a bank headquartered in Mexico City" Justice Dept charging document against Rep. Henry Cuellar (more): "Cuellar promised to use the power and prestige of his office to advance Azerbaijan’s and Foreign Bank-1’s interests in the United States"

Judge sentences Capitol riot defendant Ryan Nichols to 5 years prison and a whopping $200,000 fine

Feds argued he was equipped w/ ballistic plate & crowbar.. "proclaimed on Facebook that “we’re bringing the wrath of God, and there’s not a F**ING thing you can do to stop it,” “If Pence doesn’t do the right thing, WE FIGHT" Feds argued Nichols was "featured in video of the so-called choir of January 6 defendants, although it is unclear if the defendant has received any funds from his participation because organizers stated the Choir’s 'proceeds do not benefit families of people who assaulted a police officer”

Some interesting exchanges at House Subcommittee on Weaponization of Federal Govt hearing just now .. into Biden Administration efforts to combat COVID misinformation and conspiracy theories...

At outset of hearing, one House Democrat called for the disbanding of the committee, "It is safe to say this effort is not even in the same league as the January 6th Committee"

(MORE) House Republicans, led by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) accused the Biden Administration of using "bias" seeking to kick people off of Facebook and "censorship" as Admin. countered COVID claims on social media

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Scorching criticisms of Supreme Court handling of Trump "presidential immunity" argument from Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), a Jan 6 Select Cmte member, on MSNBC

"Rather than decide the case before them, they are going off on tangents that will lead to further delay"

(MORE) Rep. Lofgren (D-CA): "It can't be in our system that a president who tried to overturn the government to stay in power will not be tried before the next election. This is really outrageous."

STAND BY: I'll be in studio for our @CBSNews special coverage of the Supreme Court arguments on Trump's claim of "presidential immunity" in the 2020 election conspiracy case

Watch here soon after 10am:

cbsnews.com/live/ It's worth noting: "Presidential Immunity" is just one of the claims Trump made to disrupt the Special Counsel's prosecution for election subversion and Trump's ties to the Jan 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol

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HEADS UP: Sentencing is beginning now in high-level Capitol riot case of Andrew Taake

He was accused of brandishing metal whip against police… and of assaulting police with chemical spray and causing injuries

(More) Judge Carl Nichols has just read an excerpt from a police officer’s victim impact statement. Officer said he/she was “immediately blinded” by the chem spray… and that it felt “like living death”.. and officer struck head on scaffolding after being sprayed

Ahead of today's sentencing of Jan 6 misdemeanor defendant Kimberly Dragoo, feds note post-arrest statements:

"Once Kimberly’s federal charges were unsealed and reported on by a local news organization, she reposted the news alert and commented that “No charges have been filed!!!"

They say she also wrote to local school board to say she was "innocent until proven guilty"... two months *after* she pleaded guilty Hoo boy. This hearing didn't go quietly. A set of arguments and proclamations unlike I've heard in other Jan 6 cases

Stand by

"They loaded up a van with weapons and traveled across the country with the single-minded purpose to obstruct the certification of the Electoral College results"

Feds seek 8-years prison for Jan 6 defendants linked to 3-%ers, found guilty of conspiracy

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco… MORE: Justice Dept seeks 8-years prison for Erik Warner, Derek Kinnison & Ronald Mele

78 months prison for Felipe Martinez

"On Jan 6.. wearing tactical gear & carrying weapons, they knowingly, voluntarily & enthusiastically joined forces with others in forming a mob that accomplished their goal—for a time"

The US House Rules Committee takes up the following bills next week ("messaging bills" that will not become law)

"Stop Unaffordable Dishwasher Standards Act"
"Affordable Air Conditioning Act"
"Refrigerator Freedom Act"
"Clothes Dryers Reliability Act"
"Liberty in Laundry Act"
"Hands Off Our Home Appliances Act" Democrats plan some amendments on these appliance-related bills, including one that'd require the House debate and pass Ukraine aid

Some tense moments just now at sentencing of Jan 6 defendant Antony Vo

Defense tried to get sentencing delayed & took issue with Feds & court’s handling of plea agreement rejected before trial

But defense & delay were firmly rejected by the judge… It’s Judge Tanya Chutkan

https://twitter.com/macfarlanenews/status/1778062377478426681

Defense is challenging the inclusion of quotes by Antony Vo in the pre-sentencing report .. including messages by Vo in which he acknowledged entering Capitol with his mom on Jan 6… and in which he took partial credit for stopping electoral vote count

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Feds to seek 11+ years prison in Capitol riot case of Zachary Alam, who is accused of being part of mob that overran police outside House Speaker's Lobby

They allege "Alam and other rioters surged forward towards the House Main Door in an attempt to enter the House chamber" MORE: Justice Dept argues "Alam intentionally put himself at the front of the mob, where he threatened the USCP officers, yelling “I’m going to fu**k you up!” in their faces. Alam pushed against the officers, creating an opening so he could punch the glass panes of the doors"