Cross-Examination

• Trump Organization tax fraud and J6 criminal referrals: Tuesday was not a good day for Donald Trump. The jury in New York’s case against Trump’s family business, the Trump Organization, found the business guilty on all criminal counts brought regarding criminal tax fraud. The charges included conspiracy, criminal tax fraud, and falsifying business records. Trump’s business faces a fine of up to $1.6 million. That may be small potatoes for someone of Trump’s wealth, but the greater damage will be to Trump’s political aspirations, as this verdict only strengths the civil lawsuits and other criminal investigations that have been raised against him. However, it is important to note, as the judge instructed the jury, “Mr. Trump and his family are not here on trial.” The only individual in this case that will see any jail time is the company’s chief financial officer, Allen Weissberg, who already pleaded guilty. What this does do is give the mainstream media and Trump’s foes the legal talking point of describing Trump running a “felonious” company. The terms “felonies,” “fraud,” and “criminal” will be repeatedly used by the media in association with Trump, which was also the entire aim of Nancy Pelosi’s sham January 6 Committee. Regarding that soon-to-be-dispursed political dog and pony show, the J6 Committee as its last act is readying criminal referrals to the Justice Department that will, of course, include recommended charges against Trump. Painting Trump as a criminal has been the goal of the committee from the moment Pelosi created it.

• House will repeal military vaccine mandate: House Democrats have agreed with Republicans to include within the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) a provision repealing the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for U.S. military service members. This represents a defeat for Joe Biden and his administration’s desire to keep the ill-advised vaccine mandate in place. On Monday, the White House expressed support for keeping the mandate, noting that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin opposed its repeal. The vaccine mandate repeal provision within the NDAA does not address the issue of those military personnel who were discharged or disciplined for refusing to get the vaccine, though lawmakers are seeking to include language within the legislation to assess the impact the mandate had upon service members. The inclusion of a repeal of the vaccine mandate is not only a win for military personnel but also serves as a win for GOP House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who had vowed to end the mandate.

• Biggs to challenge McCathy for House Speaker: Arizona Republican Representative Andy Biggs announced on Tuesday that he will challenge current House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for the role of House speaker. “We cannot let this all-too-rare opportunity to effectuate structural change pass us by because it is uncomfortable to challenge the Republican candidate who is a creature of the establishment status quo, or because the challenge is accompanied by some minimal risk,” Biggs argued. This represents the second time Biggs has challenged McCathy for speaker, losing to him 188 to 31 last time. With Republicans taking over control of the House with a slim 222-213 majority, and with 218 votes needed to secure the leadership position, this challenge will likely force McCarthy to make concessions to the fiscal hardliners in the party.

Headlines

• Senator Raphael Warnock wins reelection, defeating GOP nominee Herschel Walker (Fox News)

• Biden steering clear of border on Arizona trip despite worsening migration crisis (Washington Times) | Biden says “more important things” than border visit, despite 59 trips to Delaware, eight stops for ice cream (Fox News)

• Volodymyr Zelenskyy named Time’s 2022 Person of the Year (USA Today)

• American public support for Ukraine aid slips (National Review)

• Elon Musk fires former FBI lawyer behind Russiagate hoax following “unconvincing” explanation for Hunter Biden laptop censorship (The Federalist)

• Loudoun County Superintendent Scott Ziegler fired after grand jury report on handling of sexual assaults (Fox News)

• Illinois governor signs amendments to controversial HB1095 that would eliminate cash bail (ABC7)

• Richmond restaurant denies pro-life, pro-family group dinner service over Christian values (The Federalist)

• George Soros bankrolls 253 groups to influence global media (NewsBusters)

• Policy: Amnesty for DACA flunks border security test (Daily Signal)

• Humor: Media declining to report on major news story unsure why Americans are going to alternative sources for mews (Babylon Bee)

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