The White House on Saturday released a redacted version of a Democratic congressional memo that rebuts a Republican account of alleged FBI surveillance abuses. The release of the Democratic memo came three weeks after the release of the Republican version of events, which was compiled by staffers of House intelligence committee Chairman Devin Nunes of California.…
Read the full storyAuthor: Tennessee Star Staff
Sen. Dick Durbin Barred from Receiving Holy Communion in Springfield, IL, Due to Pro-Abortion Stance
Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Roman Catholic diocese of Springfield, Illinois, is upholding a 2004 decision to block Sen. Dick Durbin from receiving Holy Communion due to his pro-abortion rights views. A statement issued by Bishop Paprocki on Feb. 13 said Mr. Durbin, Illinois Democrat, was among 14 Catholic members of the U.S. Senate who voted against the Pain-Capable Unborn Children’s Act last month, which would have banned abortions nationwide after 20 weeks post-fertilization. The bill failed to pass cloture – receiving 51 votes in favor and 46 against – and could not proceed to a vote on final passage.
Read the full storyWife of Sgt. Rob Forrest, the Former Bodyguard and Lover of Mayor Megan Barry, Files for Divorce
Penny Forrest, the wife of Sgt. Rob Forrest, the former Metro Nashville Police Department officer who conducted a two-year long extramarital affair with Nashville Megan Mayor Barry, has filed for divorce. WKRN reported: Court documents show the complaint was filed on Feb. 23 and cites irreconcilable differences and inappropriate marital conduct. According to the divorce complaint, Penny Forrest would show that her husband “has been guilty of inappropriate marital conduct as to render further cohabitation unsafe and improper.” “Saturday, Rob Forrest’s attorney released the following statement regarding the divorce filing,” NewsChannel 5 reported: Mr. Forrest is aware he will shortly be served with divorce papers. He deeply regrets that his conduct will cost him his marriage. Given the intensely personal nature of a divorce, Mr. Forrest asks for privacy for his family at this difficult time. Mr. Forrest and I will have no further statement. “The divorce complaint also includes a temporary injunction,” WSMV reported: According to the American Bar Association, a temporary injunction is a court order requiring both parties to cease some particular action until a hearing can take place. Failure to do so can result in fines, arrest, or even prison time depending on the circumstances of…
Read the full storyBig Crowd at Williamson County GOP Gubernatorial Forum
FRANKLIN, Tennessee–An overflow crowd of more than three hundred Republicans attended the annual Williamson County Reagan Day Dinner at the Marriott in Cool Springs on Friday night. The evening featured a gubernatorial forum in which the four leading Republican candidates for governor–Knoxville businessman Randy Boyd, Rep. Diane Black (R-TN-06), Williamson County businessman Bill Lee, and Tennessee Speaker of the House Beth Harwell (R-Nashville)–all participated. In addition, U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) and 7th Congressional District candidate State Senator Mark Green (R-Clarksville) both spoke, and two Williamson County Republicans, retiring State Rep. Charles Sargent (R-Franklin), and Williamson County Republican Committee Vice Chairman Stephen Siao, were honored. Sargent was presented a lifetime achievement award for his tenure in the State House, marked by his leadership role in maintaining and improving the state’s sound credit rating, by three members of the Tennessee General Assembly delegation who represent Williamson County, State Senator Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), State Rep. Glen Casada (R-Franklin), and State Rep. Sam Whitson (R-Franklin). Siao received the Republican of the Year award for his tireless work behind the scenes to assist first time political candidates and help in party activities. Nationally syndicated talk radio host and Williamson County resident Phil…
Read the full storyDonald Trump Pushes for Arming School Employees in Speech at CPAC
President Trump said Friday that gun-free school zones don’t protect students, as he renewed his call to arm more qualified teachers and other school employees. “When we declare our schools to be gun-free zones, it just puts our students in far more danger,” Mr. Trump said at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference. “Well-trained gun-adept teachers and coaches and people that work in those buildings who were in the Marines for 20 years … should be able to carry concealed firearms. It’s time to make our schools a much harder target for attackers.”
Read the full storyU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Drops ‘Nation of Immigrants’ from Mission
The federal agency that oversees legal immigration to the U.S. has removed the words “nation of immigrants” from its mission statement, as the Trump administration moves to put Americans as the top priority.
Read the full storyMultiple Governments Are Targeting Clintons’ Biggest Charitable Frauds
Those who believe a certain Arkansas-based political family “always gets away with it” should know that the race to indict, prosecute, and convict multiple actors leading the sprawling, international Clinton Foundation fraud conspiracy is on. Though long overdue, this seems eminently fair since prominent persons who operated porous and loosely controlled false-front philanthropies a tiny fraction the size of the known Clinton “charities,” including former Rep. (D-Fla.), were sentenced to federal prison for lengthy terms.
Read the full storyIngraham Tells CPAC Crowd to Fight for the Trump Agenda
Laura Ingraham said Friday morning the fight for the Trump agenda and against the bureaucracy is not over — and conservatives have to “agitate, agitate, agitate.” Ingraham, the Fox News host of “The Ingraham Angle” and co-founder of LifeZette, delighted a crowd of thousands with her rallying speech, given at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, held this year at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C.
Read the full storyBilly Graham’s Final Message, Shared by His Son
Franklin Graham shared a final message from his father, renowned evangelist Billy Graham, after his death Wednesday at 99. The son recounted in USA Today his father’s 70 years of ministry spreading the message of the Gospel around the world from crowded stadiums during his signature crusades to intimate personal meetings with heads of state.
Read the full storyWhite House Put on Lockdown after Vehicle Crashes into Barrier
The Secret Service took a woman into custody Friday afternoon after she drove a vehicle into a security barrier near the White House. Television footage showed a White van or SUV with Tennessee license plates stopped at barricade along 17th Street with its rear window shattered. The Secret Service said no shots were fired.
Read the full storyMayor Barry Promised Cooperation with All Investigatons But Now Stonewalls, Says Release of Affidavit by TBI ‘Designed to Humiliate Me and Politically Embarrass Me’
The scandal surrounding Nashville Mayor Megan Barry and her admission of a two-year-long extramarital affair with her bodyguard, now-retired Metro Nashville Police Sgt. Rob Forrest, intensified on Thursday when the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) released an affidavit presented to a judge in support of a search warrant for the city-issued cell phone of Forrest and the personal cell phone of Barry. “Authorities believe that Forrest took two photos of a nude woman who is believed to be Barry on his police department-issued cell phone. He allegedly sent the pictures to himself to his MNPD email,” WSMV reported on Thursday. As if those details were not bizarre enough, a defiant Mayor Barry told WSMV later on Thursday in an on-camera interview, “I am furious as you might imagine today when I learned there might be photos of me. If they exist, they were taken without my knowledge and without my consent. It didn’t show that I have done anything wrong or criminal and, in fact, if anything was wrongly done, it was done to me personally.” Barry then attacked the TBI for the manner in which they were conducting their investigation of her, barely three weeks after the January 31 press conference…
Read the full storyNRA’s LaPierre Offers Free Armed Guard Training For All Schools in CPAC Speech
Public schools will get free help from the National Rifle Association (NRA), said Wayne LaPierre, the NRA executive vice president, speaking on the first day of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. “Evil walks among us, and God help us if we don’t harden our schools and protect our kids,” said LaPierre, speaking to thousands of attendees at the annual gathering of thousands of conservative leaders, activists and journalists from across the country.
Read the full storyWilliamson County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney: ‘I Apologize to the Community for the Distraction That This Accusation Has Caused. I Completely Deny the Allegations’
Williamson County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney, who was arrested on assault charges Wednesday, released a statement on Thursday that, according to WKRN, said, in part “I apologize to the community for the distraction that this accusation has caused. I completely deny the allegations and have faith that the legal process will result in a positive resolution.” “News 2 reached out to all 12 Williamson County School Board Members for comment. Only one got back to us and directed us to the District Communications Director. Several board members have spoken out on social media,” WKRN reported. Looney has not been placed on administrative leave by the Williamson County Schools Board of Education. Three of the board members who have made public comments on Facebook appear to be strongly supportive of Looney. According to WKRN: Anne McGraw, who serves District 4 wrote on her Facebook, “I cannot, and will not, comment on the incident at Franklin High School this week other than to say that knowing what I know, I’m 100 percent in support of Dr. Looney and his leadership in our district. The official statement issued by Williamson County Schools is below for those who have yet to see it. I expect…
Read the full storyNancy Pelosi’s Border Wall Alternative Includes ‘Mowing the Grass’
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi suggested this week that “mowing the grass” near the U.S.-Mexico border so that illegal immigrants can’t be smuggled through thick vegetation would be a more effective measure to secure the country than President Trump’s proposed border wall.
Read the full storyWSMV on Megan Barry Search Warrant: ‘Authorities Believe That Forrest Took Two Photos of a Nude Woman Who Is Believed to be Barry on His Police Department-Issued Cell Phone’
A judge has signed off on search warrants for the electronic equipment of Nashville Mayor Megan Barry and retired Metro Nashville Police Sgt. Rob Forrest. On January 31, Barry admitted that she had conducted a two-year-long extramarital affair with Forrest, who served as her bodyguard. “Authorities believe that Forrest took two photos of a nude woman who is believed to be Barry on his police department-issued cell phone. He allegedly sent the pictures to himself to his MNPD email,” WSMV reported on Thursday. “Police also found there could be deleted phone logs and hundreds of deleted chats between Forrest and Barry on at least one of the devices that were being searched,” WSMV noted, adding: The warrants specifically asked for records from a silver Apple iPhone 6s Plus and two black Apple iPhone 7 Plus devices. The warrants were approved on Feb. 16 by Criminal Court Judge Steve Dozier and were returned on Thursday to the Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk’s office. “Within the search warrant, a special agent with the TBI mentions an email sent from Sgt. Forrest’s work email address that included a photo of a nude female lying on the bed with a black purse next to her,”…
Read the full storyWKRN: ‘Report States Looney Then Grabbed the Teen by Her Arm and Pulled Her from a Chair Before Escorting Her to His Personal Vehicle’
UPDATE (1:25 p.m): The Tennessee Star has obtained a photo of what it believes to be the original affidavit of complaint in the case of the State of Tennessee vs. Dr. Mike Looney, which can be seen below: 12:30 p.m. Late Thursday morning, WKRN reported that, according to an affidavit, Williamson County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney, who was arrested Wednesday on assault charges as a result of this incident, “grabbed” a female high school student experiencing a psychological emergency at Franklin High School on Tuesday “by her arm and pulled her from a chair before escorting her to his personal vehicle.” “According to an affidavit, the teen’s mother requested her daughter be taken to the hospital. At some point, according to the report, Looney placed himself between an officer and the student and said the teen would be taken to his office,” WKRN reported, adding: Dr. Looney reportedly told the student he would not have a scene at school and told her to stop crying. The report states Looney then grabbed the teen by her arm and pulled her from a chair before escorting her to his personal vehicle. The teen’s…
Read the full storyNineteen GOP State Senators Endorse Marsha Blackburn for U.S. Senate Over ‘Second Thoughts’ Corker
Nineteen of the 27 Republicans in the Tennessee State Senate endorsed Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) on Wednesday for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate over a potential candidacy of Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), who said in September he would not seek a third term but has indicated over the past week he is having “second thoughts.” The Tennesseean identified the 19 state senators who endorsed Blackburn: Sen. Paul Bailey, Sparta Sen. Mike Bell, Riceville Sen. Janice Bowling, Tullahoma Sen. Rusty Crowe Johnson City Sen. Mark Green, Clarksville Sen. Dolores Gresham, Somerville Sen. Ferrell Haile, Gallatin Sen. Joey Hensley, Hohenwald Sen. Jack Johnson, Franklin Sen. Brian Kelsey, Germantown Sen. Bill Ketron, Murfreesboro Sen. Jon Lundberg, Bristol Sen. Becky Duncan Massey, Knoxville Sen. Frank Niceley, Strawberry Plains Sen. Mark Pody, Lebanon Sen. Kerry Roberts, Springfield Sen. John Stevens, Huntingdon Sen. Ken Yager, Kingston “Among the initial group of Senate Republicans to not endorse Blackburn on Wednesday were Lt. Gov. Randy McNally of Oak Ridge and Majority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville,” The Tennessean noted, adding: Later in the morning, McNally posted his endorsement of Blackburn on Facebook, saying, “Marsha Blackburn proved her leadership ability in the House. It’s time to put…
Read the full storyDiane Black Releases Opioid Strategy
Rep. Diane Black, hoping to stand out in a crowded field for Tennessee governor, released a comprehensive blueprint Wednesday for tackling the opioids crisis, saying her training as a licensed nurse gives her a unique perspective into a problem that is ravaging communities.
Read the full storyGibson Guitar Fighting for Survival
World-famous guitar maker Gibson, whose instruments have been played by the likes of John Lennon and Elvis Presley, is facing serious financial problems that threaten its very existence. The mythical company — in Nashville, Tennessee since 1894 — on Monday brought in a new financial director, Benson Woo, to try to rescue the ailing group. Gibson…
Read the full storyFour Liberal PACs Outspent the ‘Roadblock’ NRA in 2016 Campaign
Four liberal political action committees (PACs) that only support Democrats gave more than $393 million in independent campaign contributions during the 2016 election cycle, an amount that collectively was seven times more than that reported by the NRA.
Read the full storyIt’s ‘Unequivocal’ Hillary’s Team Colluded With Russians, Lewandowski Says
“There’s one campaign and only one campaign” that colluded with Russians in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and it wasn’t President Donald Trump’s, Corey Lewandowski claimed during a Monday interview on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle.” “It’s very clear. I was there before Donald Trump ever came down that escalator.
Read the full storyNunes Expands Dossier Probe to Find Out What Obama Knew
Rep. Devin Nunes is trying to determine the breadth and reach of the unverified Russia-Trump dossier inside the U.S. government, especially among senior leaders in the Barack Obama administration during the 2016 election. The chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence released a letter on Tuesday that is being sent to as many as two dozen senior leaders in the Trump and Obama administrations.
Read the full storyNewt Gingrich: America Should Arm Teachers to Stop School Shootings
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich said America should begin arming schoolteachers and administrators to protect their students from mass shootings. The first step is to arm people within the schools and give them a fighting chance, Gingrich said Tuesday on “Fox & Friends,” in response to a question on what can be done to stop the next mass shooter.
Read the full storyDem House Candidate in Pennsylvania Special Election Derides Trump’s Increasingly Popular Tax Cuts
Republican National Committee (RNC) officials this week tweaked a Democratic candidate for Congress in Pennsylvania for knocking President Donald Trump’s tax cut reforms even as polls show its popularity on the rise. Democrat Conor Lamb (pictured above), who is seeking an open seat in the House of Representatives in a special election next month, made his marks during a debate with Republican nominee Rick Saccone.
Read the full storyWilliamson County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney Arrested on Assault Charges
Williamson County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney was arrested on assault charges Wednesday. Late Wednesday, the Franklin Police Department issued this “statement in response to multiple media inquiries regarding today’s arrest of Dr. Mike Looney, Williamson County Schools Superintendent:” Yesterday, Franklin Police Officers and paramedics were dispatched to Franklin High School for a reported psychological emergency. While working with the student, the student’s mother, and school staff to transport the student to the hospital, Dr. Mike Looney, Williamson County Schools Superintendent, abruptly entered the conference room, grabbed the student by her arm, and forced her out of the school and to his vehicle. Officers intervened and had on-scene paramedics transport the student to the emergency room for evaluation. Today, those officers consulted with the Williamson County Magistrate, who issued an arrest warrant, charging Dr. Looney with Assault. Dr. Looney surrendered himself at the Williamson County Jail after Franklin Police notified him of the warrant. Looney, charged with assault, is free on the $1,500 bond set by the Magistrate. He is due in court 03/08/18 at 1:00 pm. Looney has served as Williamson County Superintendent of Schools since 2009. The unusual circumstances of the incident that resulted in Looney’s arrest raise several…
Read the full storyBilly Graham Dies
Billy Graham, the American Christian evangelist who preached to millions around the world, has died at the age of 99. The evangelical leader prayed with and counseled the most powerful and well-known figures of the late twentieth century, including every U.S. president from Harry Truman to Barack Obama. Graham was a charismatic leader, religion experts say,…
Read the full storyBrian Wilson Named Permanent Host of Nashville’s Morning News on WTN
Veteran journalist and radio talk show host Brian Wilson was named the permanent host of Nashville’s Morning News, which airs weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m, on Tuesday. The announcement was made on-air at 8:45 a.m. by Supertalk 99.7 FM WTN program director and mid-day host Dan Mandis. “In 30 years of radio I’ve never seen a new host accepted in a new city the way Brian has been accepted,” Mandis said. “I am thrilled to be here. I love Nashville. WTN is like a family. Very much like Nashville. I love working with Michael DelGiorno and Dan Mandis, and the crew on the morning show, producer Chris Webber, traffic reporter Michael Vance and news anchor Ken Weaver,” Wilson added. Wilson stayed after the end of his program to appear briefly on the Michael DelGiorno Show, which airs on WTN from 9:00 am to noon on weekdays. When he signed on at 9:06 am, Del Giorno said he was excited to have Brian Wilson as WTN’s new morning man. “I am thankful Brian has accepted the job,” DelGiorno added. Cumulus Media, which owns WTN, issued a press release announcing Wilson’s hiring simultaneous to the on-air announcement by Mandis. You can…
Read the full storyDon’t Worry, Actress Jennifer Lawrence Is Going to ‘Fix’ Democracy
If you were worried about democracy in this country, you can now rest easy — Jennifer Lawrence is on the case. The “Hunger Games” star revealed while promoting her new film “Red Sparrow” that she is taking a year off from acting to focus on political activism — and she has high hopes.
Read the full storyLawyer Mocks Mueller’s ‘Magical Ability’ to Indict with Non-Collusion Allegations
Revelation of a new arrest in special counsel Robert Mueller’s wide-ranging probe into Russian election meddling adds to the growing body of evidence that the investigation has little to do with President Donald Trump, a lawyer said Tuesday. The latest target of the Mueller probe is Alex Van Der Zwaan, who had worked for the prominent law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Prosecutors last week charged him with lying about his talks with someone identified in court papers only as “Person A.”
Read the full storyWest Point Posthumously Admits Heroic Shooting Victim Peter Wang to Class of 2025
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — U.S. Military Academy West Point is posthumously admitting Florida school shooting victim Peter Wang, who dreamed of attending the prestigious academy. Wang could have been in the Class of 2025. The 15-year-old’s funeral is today.
Read the full storyColumbine Survivor Introduces Bill to Expand Concealed-Carry in Schools
DENVER – Some students are calling for tougher gun-control laws after escaping last week’s horrific massacre in Parkland, Florida, but another school-shooting survivor is going in a different direction. Colorado House Minority Leader Patrick Neville, who attended Columbine High School at the time of the 1999 mass shooting, has again introduced legislation to remove limitations on concealed carry in K-12 schools.
Read the full storyThe Left Whines When Laura Ingraham Criticizes the NBA’s LeBron James
“I’m an equal opportunity critic for the Left on topics on which they know little,” Laura Ingraham said on “The Ingraham Angle” Friday night. She was commenting about the left-wing backlash to her earlier comments about NBA superstar LeBron James. “Race had nothing to do with it.”
Read the full storyTennessee Star Editor-in-Chief to Guest Host the Dan Mandis Show on WTN Today and Interview Carol Swain About Moral Leadership
Tennessee Star Editor-in-Chief Michael Patrick Leahy will guest host The Dan Mandis Show from noon to 3 p.m. central time on Supertalk 99.7 WTN today, President’s Day, Monday, February 19. The first hour will address the turbulent recent events in Tennessee politics, including Sen. Bob Corker’s (R-TN) potential re-entry into the U.S. Senate race and the controversy surrounding Nashville Mayor Megan Barry. At 12:30 former Vanderbilt professor Carol Swain will offer her commentary on Megan Barry’s lack of moral leadership and its impact on Nashville, the hypocrisy of the #metoo movement with regards to Barry’s extramarital affair with her Metro Nashville Police bodyguard, and the Megan Barry Must Resign rally Tuesday. In the 1 p.m. hour, conservative icon Richard Viguerie, president of ConservativeHQ.com, will discuss the status of 2018 midterm elections. In the second half of that hour, author and Reagan biographer Craig Shirley will offer his reflections on Ronald Reagan on President’s Day, discuss his most recent books, Reagan Rising: The Decisive Years, 1976-1980 and Citizen Newt:The Making of a Reagan Conservative, and will let us in on his future book projects. The final hour of the program will focus on civic education and instruction of elementary and secondary school…
Read the full storyJustice Department Big Shot May Have Huge Ethics Problem
A senior Department of Justice (DOJ) executive may have broken the law by failing to disclose the fact that his wife worked at Fusion GPS, the firm that employed a former British spy for opposition research on President Donald Trump.
Read the full storyTrump: Dems Should Have Passed Gun Control When They Had The Chance
President Donald Trump responded to criticisms of his administration’s stance on gun control Saturday on Twitter by arguing that if Democrats really cared, they would have passed suitable legislation during the Obama administration.
Read the full storyTennessee College Republicans Hear From Candidates at Annual Gathering
NASHVILLE, Tennessee–The 14th annual Tennessee College Republican State Convention met in the chambers of the Tennessee House of Representatives at the State Capitol in Nashville on Saturday, and heard from a number of GOP candidates, including gubernatorial candidates Bill Lee, and Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell (R-Nashville), U.S. Senate hopeful Dr. Rolando Toyos, and Congressional candidates Dr. Mark Green (7th District) and John Rose (6th District). Supporters of gubernatorial candidates Rep. Diane Black (R-TN-06) and Randy Boyd, as well as U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07), and Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN-08), who is running for re-election to his House seat, spoke as well. Bobbie Patray, President of the Tennessee Eagle Forum, also spoke and was a crowd favorite. Party officials, including Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Scott Golden, addressed the audience as well. About 75 representatives from colleges across the state of Tennessee were in attendance. “It’s good to see young Republicans from across the state joining together to hear from current and future leaders in our government, and be able to obtain information to make a responsible and educated decision for the future of conservatives in our state and country,” Adam Yardumian, who is currently interning for State…
Read the full storyFederal Judge Deals Heavy Blow To Fusion GPS In Dossier-Related Lawsuit
A Trump-appointed federal judge said Friday that he will not recuse himself from a lawsuit related to the Steele dossier. Trevor McFadden, a judge in Washington, D.C., issued the ruling in response to a recusal request submitted last month by Fusion GPS, the opposition research firm that commissioned the dossier.
Read the full storyRussia Indictment ‘Good Day’ for Trump, Former Prosecutor Says
In an indictment handed down Friday charging 13 Russians — but no Americans — with interfering in the 2016 presidential campaign does not quite vindicate President Donald Trump, but it comes close, a Republican congressman said. Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) said on “The Ingraham Angle” on Fox News that special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation began last year with the accusations that Trump’s campaign colluded with Russian agents.
Read the full storyNorth Carolina Judge Throws Mom In Jail For Baptizing Her Daughter
A North Carolina judge threw a mother in jail for seven days for having her daughter baptized without the father’s presence and consent. Kendra Stocks of Charlotte, N.C. will report to jail Friday to begin her seven-day sentence after District Court Judge Sean Smith ruled in March 2017 that she acted in “bad-faith disregard” and was therefore in contempt of court for having her daughter baptized without consulting Paul Schaaf, the child’s father, according to Fox8. Stocks’ sentence is based on a previous custody battle between her and Schaaf, to whom the court gave final authority on all legal decisions regarding the child, including decisions about religion, according to WSOC.
Read the full storyFlorida Gov. Rick Scott Calls on FBI Director to Resign Following Agency’s Failure to Follow Protocols After Receiving Tips on Mass Shooting Suspect
Late Friday, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, called on FBI Director Christopher Wray to resign following revelations that the FBI had failed to follow protocols that might have prevented mass shooting suspect Nicholas Cruz from allegedly murdering 17 people at a Florida public school. “The FBI’s failure to take action against this killer is unacceptable. The FBI has admitted that they were contacted last month by a person who called to inform them of Cruz’s ‘desire to kill people,’ and ‘the potential of him conducting a school shooting,’ ” Scott said in a statement released by his office. “An apology will never bring these 17 Floridians back to life or comfort the families who are in pain. The families will spend a lifetime wondering how this could happen, and an apology will never give them the answers they desperately need.” “We constantly promote ‘see something, say something,’ and a courageous person did just that to the FBI. And the FBI failed to act. ‘See something, say something’ is an incredibly important tool and people must have confidence in the follow through from law enforcement. The FBI Director needs to resign.” As Fox News reported: The agency said earlier Thursday…
Read the full storyJustice Department Official Hid Wife’s Payments by Anti-Trump Researcher
Bruce Ohr, the Department of Justice official who brought opposition research on Donald Trump to the FBI in 2016, did not disclose that the company that produced it at the Democratic National Committee’s behest was paying his wife, documents obtained by The Daily Caller News Foundation show. READ MORE
Read the full storyUS Islamic Group With Ties To Hamas Rejoices Over Court Challenge To Travel Ban
A U.S. Islamic advocacy group suspected of conspiring with Hamas celebrated a federal court’s Thursday ruling against President Donald Trump’s latest travel sanctions. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which the FBI labeled as an “unindicted co-conspirator” with the terrorist group Hamas in 2009, released a statement Thursday celebrating the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling against the latest edition of Trump’s travel sanctions, which CAIR called “Trump’s ‘Muslim ban 3.0.’” CAIR continued its claim that the travel restrictions are part of a white supremacist agenda that specifically targets Muslims, despite the fact that the restriction is not actually a permanent ban and does not include include the two countries that hold one-quarter of the world’s Muslim population.
Read the full storyMueller Indictment Shows Russian Trolls Also Promoted Bernie Sanders, Jill Stein
Russian internet trolls not only used social media accounts to promote President Donald Trump’s election bid, they also operated accounts supporting the candidacies of Sen. Bernie Sanders and Jill Stein. Special Counsel Robert Mueller issued an indictment for 13 Russian nationals affiliated with three Russian companies suspected of interfering in the 2016 election. …
Read the full storyFincher Drops Out of U.S. Senate Race, Encourages Bob Corker to Challenge Marsha Blackburn in GOP Primary
Former Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-TN-08) announced late Friday afternoon that he is withdrawing from the race for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in Tennessee. Fincher’s withdrawal leaves Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) as the only viable candidate in the GOP race, unless Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) decides to change his mind and reverse his decision not to run for renomination. A recent poll by the Senate Conservatives Fund showed that Blackburn handily beats Corker should he enter the race by a 49 percent to 26 percent margin. In his statement of withdrawal, Fincher encouraged Corker to get in the race. “The party must get behind a candidate that can win in November and stop Democrat Phil Bredesen, who would be a rubber stamp for the Chuck Schumer liberal agenda,” he said in a statement. “For that reason, I believe Senator Bob Corker should continue to serve in the U.S. Senate, and stand with the President to fight for Tennessee families,” Fincher added in the statement. “My campaign has always been about what’s best for Tennessee. Tennessee families need a strong conservative voice in the senate, someone who will stand with President Trump and lead the Republican Party forward,” Fincher…
Read the full storyGOP Gubernatorial Candidate Bill Lee Donated $500 to Megan Barry’s Mayoral Campaign in 2015
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Lee donated $500 to Megan Barry’s Mayoral campaign in May 2015, according to public records obtained by The Tennessee Star. The Williamson County businessman’s donation of $500 to Friends of Megan Barry on May 21, 2015 came two months before the August 2015 election for Mayor of Metro Nashville/Davidson County between Barry, David Fox, and real estate developer Bill Freeman. Though the race was technically “non-partisan,” the battle quickly became highly partisan, with progressive Democrats rallying around Barry, conservatives and Republicans supporting Fox, and more moderate Democrats gravitating to Freeman. No candidate gained enough votes in the general election to claim the mayor’s job, so a runoff between the top two vote getters–Barry and Fox–was held the following month in September. Barry defeated Fox in that runoff, 55 percent to 45 percent, and was sworn in as Mayor of Nashville/Davidson County on September 25, 2015. The Lee campaign confirmed Lee’s $500 donation to Barry, and provided The Star with a statement on the issue late Thursday. “Bill doesn’t support Megan Barry. A few years ago a client asked him to give $500 to her campaign and he did. Politicians make political decisions. Businessmen – including Donald Trump…
Read the full storyTed Cruz: Republicans Moving to the Left of Obama on Immigration, Will Lose Majority
Sen. Ted Cruz said Thursday that if Republicans pass an immigration plan that allows citizenship they will lose the majority in Congress this November. “Mark my words, if Republican majorities in Congress pass citizenship for millions of people, do amnesty, I think it is quite likely we will lose both houses of Congress,” Mr. Cruz said.
Read the full storyTrump Is Rebounding Against 2020 Democratic Rivals
A new Democratic poll shows President Donald Trump in a tie or leading some of his rivals in 2020. The rebound is remarkable, as Trump was suffering from soggy re-election numbers in 2017. It indicates the economy could be helping the president and Republicans in their quest to attract independent voters in this year’s midterm elections — and then in the crucial 2020 contest.
Read the full storyGOP Congressional Candidate Bob Corlew Blasts CNN for ‘Pushing Out Stories With Headlines That Fawn Over North Korea’
Former Tennessee Chancery Court Judge Bob Corlew, a candidate for the Republican nomination in the 6th Congressional District, released a statement today “regarding the recent controversy of the flattery of North Korea’s Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korea’s brutal totalitarian leader Kim Jong Un, by CNN and other mainstream media outlets.” “Instead of highlighting our American athletes that are competing in the Olympics, CNN and other mainstream media outlets are pushing out stories with headlines that fawn over North Korea and their totalitarian regime,” Corlew said in the statement. The statement continued: “I have been to the Indo-Pacific region many times and have heard first-hand accounts about the looming threat that hangs over South Korea and Japan every day. This effort by major news networks to glorify this violent and repressive regime is completely unacceptable. This should be a time of national unity as we cheer on our fellow Americans who are representing our country in the Olympic games.” Bob Corlew has been to the Indo-Pacific region numerous times in his role as International President of Lions Club International, the world’s largest service club organization serving in over 200 countries. Corlew served as International President in 2016 and 2017.…
Read the full storyMisconduct in Trump Surveillance Warrant Request Likely Not Prosecutable
Despite its becoming increasingly clear that the conduct of Department of Justice (DOJ) lawyers investigating President Donald Trump was dishonest, it likely is still not something that could be prosecuted, former federal prosecutor Andrew McCarthy said Monday.
Read the full storySusan Rice Sent ‘Unusual Email’ To Herself Moments Before Trump’s Inauguration
Two Republican senators say they’ve uncovered an “unusual email” that Obama administration national security adviser Susan Rice sent to herself on the day of President Trump’s inauguration. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham say they find the email odd because of the timing and the substance of the message.
Read the full story