Brace Yourselves for a Trump Conviction Because the Judge Just Tilted the Scales

Matt Vespa / Townhall Tipsheet

 

The jury is deliberating, and we should be prepared for a conviction. That’s not to say there isn’t reasonable doubt all over the hush money trial involving Donald Trump, but this whole trial was a circus from the start so it’s unsurprising that its finish was more of a clown show. As Katie wrote this morning, none of this is normal. The judge’s instructions to the jury is aberrant, with some folks commenting on social media that these guidelines for the jury wouldn’t be legal in Zimbabwe. It will only take four jurors to convict Trump [emphasis mine]: 

"…Judge Juan Merchan has given the jury their instructions…the instructions were given verbally and jurors won't receive printed copies, although they can ask questions. 

According to legal experts, Merchan's standards for a conviction are abnormal and do not require jurors to reach a unanimous decision on the charges. Further, jurors don't have to determine what crime was committed...Read more, see Xs and videos here.

NY v. Trump: Judge Merchan to present jury with instructions ahead of deliberations 

Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges

Brooke Singman / Fox News 

 

The framework a Manhattan jury will use to consider the charges against former President Trump and reach a verdict will be revealed by Judge Juan Merchan on Wednesday.  

The instructions will be issued nearly a week after they were initially set for release. It comes after weeks of speculation about the specific violations the jury will need to determine when weighing the charges of falsifying business records in the first degree against the former president.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all counts. 

The jury instructions are expected to come after a full day of closing arguments were delivered by New York prosecutors and Trump defense attorneys. 

The framework a Manhattan jury will use to consider the charges against former President Trump and reach a verdict will be revealed by Judge Juan Merchan on Wednesday. Read more, see X and video here.

Here's How Biden Will Get on the Ballot in Ohio

Rebecca Downs / Townhall Tipsheet

Democrats are in a pickle when it comes to getting President Joe Biden on the ballot in Ohio, as Sarah covered last week. Per state law, the ballot has to be certified 90 days before the election, but Democrats won't be holding their convention to formally nominate Biden until August 19-22. The president earned enough delegates to become the presumptive nominee when he won the Georgia Democratic Primary in March. Gov. Mike DeWne (R-OH) called a special session to solve the ballot issue, and DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison has announced that Democrats will virtually nominate Biden to get him on the ballot.

As The Hill reported about Harrison's announcement:

“Joe Biden will be on the ballot in Ohio and all 50 states, and Ohio Republicans agree. But when the time has come for action, they have failed to act every time, so Democrats will land this plane on our own,” Harrison said in a statement.

“Through a virtual roll call, we will ensure that Republicans can’t chip away at our democracy through incompetence or partisan tricks and that Ohioans can exercise their right to vote for the presidential candidate of their choice,” he added. Read more and see X here.

Former Quantico staffer warns of terror attack 'dry run' after Jordanian nationals tried to breach base

2 Jordanians posing as Amazon delivery drivers were arrested after trying to enter Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia

Michael Ruiz / Fox News

 

A former federal firearms instructor who worked at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia is warning the strange arrest of two Jordanian nationals in a box truck at the base may have been a "dry run" to test security outside the facility ahead of a terror attack.

The same truck, had it been loaded with explosives, could have been a devastating weapon if it made it close enough to an occupied building, he warned.

"Driving the box truck was a dry run for driving a box truck that was not going to be empty the second time," said Dave Katz, a former DEA agent and the CEO and founder of Global Security Group. "Can I prove that? No. But it's like the 9/11 hijackers trying to get aboard planes with box cutters on other occasions prior to actually perpetrating the act."

According to the report from the federal government's 9/11 Commission, conspirators took cross-country test flights, smuggling box cutters onto planes before determining "the best time to storm the cockpit."

"It's their equivalent of a feasibility study," Katz said. "What would happen if we get off the highway in a box truck and try to get into the base?" Read more and see videos here.

Here's How the Biden Administration Is Reportedly Handling Iran Nuclear Deal

Rebecca Downs / Townhall Tipsheet

 

In case there's any doubt how weak President Joe Biden is on dealing with Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported in the early morning hours of Monday that "Biden Administration Presses Allies Not to Confront Iran on Nuclear Program." Not only is the United States reportedly not going to tell Iran off for their nuclear program, but is urging our true allies to do the same.

As the report mentions:

BERLIN—The Biden administration is pressing European allies to back off plans to rebuke Iran for advances in its nuclear program, even as it expands its stockpile of near-weapons-grade fissile material to a record level, according to diplomats involved in discussions.

The U.S. is arguing against an effort by Britain and France to censure Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s member-state board in early June, the diplomats said. The U.S. has pressed a number of other countries to abstain in a censure vote, saying that is what Washington will do, they said. Read more and see Ted Cruz' X here.

Op-ed:

On Memorial Day...And Always  

By: Diane Sori / The Patriots Factor / Right Side Patriots / Right Side Patriots Radio

This an opinion piece and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.com and was originally published on Memorial Day 2018. 

Today is Memorial Day and while many will go to the beach or enjoy a hearty barbecue, let’s not forget the real reason for this most special and solemn of days…a day to remember and honor those who put their lives on the line for our beloved country…a day to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for a purpose they believed was greater than themselves…a purpose of keeping "We the People" safe and free at home.

And while political battles continue in D.C. and across the nation, Memorial Day offers us the chance for all Americans…no matter our race, creed, color, religion, party affiliation, or whether this president is our president of choice…to unite together and remember the one thing we all we have in common...gratitude...gratitude for those who served…gratitude for the brave men and women who proudly wore but sadly died wearing our nation’s uniform…gratitude so that we can go to that beach and can enjoy that barbecue.

On Memorial Day there should be no hyphenated Americans (nor should there ever be)…just Americans bowing their heads together in prayer as the flag of these United States is raised throughout this great nation, and then as it's solemnly lowered to half-staff. On this day let us remember the more than one million American patriots who gave their lives in service to this country. And when the flag is once again raised high at noon we must also remember to not allow their sacrifice to be in vain for a nation that forgets its true heroes is a nation that loses its soul.

Memorial Day is a day when we should teach our children the importance of the sacrifices made by so many to ensure their freedoms and the freedoms of generations to come.

Memorial Day is a day when many Americans will visit cemeteries or memorials nationwide to place small flags at the base of the headstones of the fallen to let them know they are not forgotten nor will they ever be.

Memorial Day is a day to honor the remains buried at the Tomb of the "Unknown Soldier" for while he, brave soldier whomever he may be, is home resting on American soil he is not with his loved ones, but serves as a reminder of the many who never made it home, and should remind us that there are still some left behind who must be brought home.

Memorial Day is a day when the "Pledge of Allegiance" should take on a renewed meaning, and should reawaken in us all the realization that we do live in the greatest nation the world has ever known, and remind us that some things are indeed worth both fighting and dying for.

Memorial Day is a day to honor courage for while those lost in battle knew fear, they sacrificed with courage of heart and strength of conviction, something that must never be forgotten for without knowing fear there can be no courage and without courage there can be no victory. Those who gave all deemed their love of country and duty to freedom were of greater value and more important then the fears they faced in dying.

Memorial Day is a day to also honor the very freedoms those lost in battle gave to each and every one of us…the freedom we have in our beloved America to act, speak, and think as we so choose without hindrance or restraint…a freedom we intend never to lose…a freedom we will fight for with just as much passion, dedication, determination, and courage as those who sacrificed before us…for we will not allow their sacrifice to be forgotten nor will we allow our freedoms to be taken away.

No…we will never allow their sacrifice to have been in vain.

Memorial Day is a day for prayers for those lost…a day for honoring their memories not just with tearful remembrances but also with a smile…a day to rediscover the meaning of what our military fights and dies for…our liberty, our safety, our individual rights guaranteed us under our Constitution, and the continuing American story of which we all play a part in.

So on this Memorial Day I will bow my head in solemn prayer and thank and remember those who made that ultimate sacrifice to keep our nation free…and pray to God that someday…"nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Isaiah 2:4)

Someday…someday soon I pray. And may God our Father Bless America today, tomorrow,  and always.

Copyright @ 2024 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All Rights Reserved.

Memorial Day

To all my 'Patriot Factor' blog followers and readers,

 

This Monday we honor those in our military who lost their lives defending the very the freedoms we, at times, tend to take for granted. And while I hope you enjoy this Memorial Day weekend, we must never forget those who made such a weekend possible. So please, on Monday, make some time to honor those whose ultimate sacrifice must never be forgotten.

 

Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor