Former UK Intelligence Chief Says A Trump Re-Election Could Threaten UK's National Security

 

SKY News: Donald Trump re-election could threaten UK's national security, claims ex-MI6 boss 

Sir Richard Dearlove tells Sky News the return of the controversial president could be "problematic" if he acts "hastily" over changes to NATO. 

The former head of the UK's secret intelligence service has warned the return of Donald Trump to the White House could pose a "political threat" to Britain. 

Speaking to Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Philips, Sir Richard Dearlove said the re-election of the former US president would be "problematic" for the UK's national security due to his issues with NATO. 

Read more ....  

Update #1: TRUMP 'THREAT' Re-election of Donald Trump as US President could threaten UK’s national security, ex-MI6 head warns (The SUN)  

Update #2: Trump re-election could be threat to UK national security, says former MI6 boss (Evening Standard)  

WNU Editor: Europe's elites are are making their opinion on the possibility of Trump being re-elected very clear .... Lagarde Says History Suggests New Trump Term Would Be Threat (Bloomberg). More here .... Trump’s return ‘clearly a threat’ to Europe, Christine Lagarde warns (Politicoeu).

NBC News: National Security “Experts” And Pentagon Insiders Preparing To Ignore A Trump Presidency If He Is Elected In 2024

President Trump Participates in a Briefing with Senior Military Leaders. White House Flickr 

NBC News: Fears grow that Trump will use the military in ‘dictatorial ways’ if he returns to the White House  

Among those being mentioned for Trump’s defense secretary are Christopher Miller, who served temporarily during his administration, Michael Flynn and Mike Pompeo. 

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump is sparking fears among those who understand the inner workings of the Pentagon that he would convert the nonpartisan U.S. military into the muscular arm of his political agenda as he makes comments about dictatorship and devalues the checks and balances that underpin the nation’s two-century-old democracy. 

A circle of appointees independent of Trump’s political operation steered him away from ideas that would have pushed the limits of presidential power in his last term, according to books they’ve written and testimony given to Congress. Most were gone by the end. In a new term, many former officials worry that Trump would instead surround himself with loyalists unwilling to say no.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: What a eye-opening article from NBC News. They are basically reporting/admitting that there is a plan, in advance, for the military to ignore a duly elected civilian government and the military chain of command. If this is what "insiders" in the Pentagon are planning, I can only imagine what "insiders" in America's intelligence agencies are planning.

Update: The below tweet from NBC below says it all.

A network of public interest groups and lawmakers, nervous about former President Trump’s potential return to power, is quietly devising plans to foil any effort on his part to pressure the U.S. military to carry out his political agenda. https://t.co/jLbRqC2riT

— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 14, 2024

French EU Commissioner Says Trump Told EU President Ursula von der Leyen In 2020 That He’d ‘Never’ Help Europe If It’s Attacked

Donald Trump with the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on 21 January 2020. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters  

Politico.eu: Trump vowed he’d ‘never’ help Europe if it’s attacked, top EU official says  

'By the way NATO is dead,’ the former (and potential future) US president added in private meeting 

BRUSSELS — One of Europe's most senior politicians recounted how former U.S. President Donald Trump privately warned that America would not come to the EU's aid if it was attacked militarily. 

"You need to understand that if Europe is under attack we will never come to help you and to support you," Trump told European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in 2020, according to French European Commissioner Thierry Breton, who was also present at a meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"By the way, NATO is dead, and we will leave, we will quit NATO," Trump also said, according to Breton. "And he added, ‘and by the way, you owe me $400 billion, because you didn’t pay, you Germans, what you had to pay for defense,'" Breton said about the tense meeting, where the EU's then-trade chief Phil Hogan was also present.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: These remarks were made in 2020. So why is it being resurrected? I guess this is why .... Biden campaign blasts Trump for allegedly saying he wouldn’t defend Europe if attacked (Politico). 

French EU Commissioner Says Trump Told EU President Ursula von der Leyen In 2020 That He’d ‘Never’ Help Europe If It’s Attacked  

Trump told European leaders that US ‘will never come to help you’ -- The Guardian

Trump told EU that US would never help Europe under attack - EU official -- Reuters  

Donald Trump told Ursula von der Leyen that US would never help Europe if it came under attack, EU commissioner says -- Irish Independent  

Donald Trump's NATO Remarks Ring Alarm Bells -- Newsweek

Colorado Supreme Court's Democrat Appointed Judges Ban Donald Trump From The State Ballot. Declares He Is Ineligible For The White House

 

Daily Mail: REVEALED: The four Democrat-picked Colorado justices who booted Trump off the ballot - Ivy League scholars, a gay icon and a jazz musician - as legal experts warn they've lit a fuse under American democracy 

* The Colorado Supreme Court ruled that former President Donald Trump is 'disqualified' from serving as president under the 14th Amendment 

* Justices Richard L. Gabriel, Melissa Hart, Monica Márquez and William W. Hood III all ruled against the former president 

The all-Democrat appointed Colorado Supreme Court last night barred Donald Trump from the state's 2024 Republican ballot over his role in the January 6 riot - with legal experts warning they have imperiled American democracy. 

The bombshell 4-3 decision marks the first time in history that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment - which disqualifies insurrectionists from office - has been used to eliminate a presidential candidate. 

It means Trump has been taken off the ballot in the state - which has nine electoral college votes and which has been won by Democratic candidates in the last four general elections.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: So a bunch of Democrat appointed judges make a decision to intervene in a Republican primary and ban its leading candidate .... Meet the four Dem-picked Colorado justices who kicked Trump off the ballot (NYPost) . Here is an easy prediction. This is not going to go over well. 

 Update #1: This dissenting judge, Democrat appointed Justice Carlos Samour, explains why this ruling is dangerous .... Dem-appointed Colorado justice says Trump ballot ban undermines 'bedrock' of America in fiery dissent (FOX News).  

Update #2: We shall see .... Trump is now 'MORE likely to beat Biden' after Colorado disqualification: State Supreme Court decision will be 'rocket fuel' for ex-president in the polls and reinforces that HE is the victim, pollsters and strategists say (Daily Mail). 

Colorado Supreme Court's Democrat Appointed Judges Ban Donald Trump From The State Ballot  

Colorado Supreme Court bans Donald Trump the state ballot -- AP  

Trump barred from Colorado primary ballot for role in US Capitol attack -- Reuters  

Trump Is Disqualified From 2024 Ballot, Colorado Court Says in Explosive Ruling -- New York Times  

Colorado supreme court rules Trump ineligible for state ballot under 'insurrection' clause -- France 24 

Colorado Supreme Court kicks Trump off ballot, citing 'insurrection' -- BBC  

Trump lashes out after Colorado ruling removing him from ballot -- The Guardian  

Trump fires back at Colorado judges branding their historic ruling ‘election interference’: GOP frontrunner is furious at being kicked off state’s 2024 ballot as his team vows to appeal 'deeply undemocratic decision' -- Daily Mail  

GOP in uproar after Colorado court bars Trump from state ballot -- Roll Call  

Congress erupts after court disqualifies Trump from Colorado ballot -- Axios  

Can Donald Trump still run for president after Colorado ruling? -- BBC  

What happens next after Colorado judges booted Trump off the state’s presidential ballot? Can Trump appeal decision, does it apply to other states and can he still run in 2024 election? -- Daily Mail

Rolling Stone Says ‘Dictator’ Trump Plans To Deploy Massive Number Of Troops On U.S. Soil To Stop The Border Crisis

Rolling Stone: ‘Dictator’ Trump Plans to Deploy Massive Number of Troops on U.S. Soil 

Donald Trump’s plans to give himself sweeping powers on “day one” of a new administration include sending vast numbers of U.S. troops — potentially “hundreds of thousands” — to close the southern border and to help build a new network of immigrant detention camps, three people familiar with the situation tell Rolling Stone. 

Trump and some of his lieutenants have repeatedly stated that any second administration must treat migrant crossings as a “war” on American soil. During Trump’s first term, officials and attorneys had thwarted similar plans for a military police force at the border due to legal fears, according to former top officials such as Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Crisis at the US border!?!?!?! What crisis .... 5,000 illegal immigrants released every day into US, admin officials privately tell lawmakers (FOX News).

Trump's Former Aides And Diplomats Say That If He Is Elected In 2024 He Would Install Loyalists To Reshape U.S. Foreign Policy On China, NATO And Ukraine

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Trump campaigns in Reno

Reuters: Trump would install loyalists to reshape U.S. foreign policy. Diplomats gird for "doomsday" 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Donald Trump in a second term would likely install loyalists in key positions in the Pentagon, State Department and CIA whose primary allegiance would be to him, allowing him more freedom than in his first presidency to enact isolationist policies and whims, nearly 20 current and former aides and diplomats said. 

The result would enable Trump to make sweeping changes to the U.S. stance on issues ranging from the Ukraine war to trade with China, as well as to the federal institutions that implement - and sometimes constrain - foreign policy, the aides and diplomats said.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: This is a silly Reuters report. Of course a US President will install loyalists in his administration to implement his policies. Should he appoint his opponents? 

And I cannot let this one pass. In the above Reuters post it says the following ....  

.... During his 2017-2021 term, Trump struggled to impose his sometimes impulsive and erratic vision on the U.S. national security establishment. 

If according to Reuters President Trump's foreign policy was impulsive and erratic, I would love to know what they would call the current administration's foreign policy goals and achievements. This White House's foreign policy looks like an ongoing train wreck from where I stand.

Former President Trump Does Not Want 'NATO Lovers' In The Upper Ranks Of A Second Administration

Trump NATO/Shutterstock © provided by AlterNet  

Rolling Stone: Trump Plots to Pull Out of NATO — If He Doesn’t Get His Way 

At the very least, the former president wants to put the U.S. on “standby” mode — and undermine NATO’s principle of collective defense Donald Trump wanted to pull the United States out of NATO during his first term, but was repeatedly talked out of it by senior administration officials. 

For a possible second term in the White House, the 2024 Republican presidential frontrunner is already discussing how he could actually get it done, if his demands aren’t met by NATO. He and his policy-wonk allies are also gaming out how he could dramatically wind down American involvement to merely a “standby” position in NATO, in Trump’s own words. 

When the former president has privately discussed the United States’ role in the transatlantic military alliance this year, Trump has made clear that he doesn’t want the upper ranks of a second administration to be staffed by “NATO lovers,” according to two sources who’ve heard him make such comments. The ex-president has made these kinds of jabs at the longstanding alliance during conversations related to the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Trump Could Reportedly Take The US Out Of NATO If Elected For A Second Term (Benzinga)  

Update #2: Trump planning to withdraw US from NATO – media (RT)  

WNU Editor: The Washington political class and the Biden administration are freaking out (See links below): 

Trump’s reported plan for NATO makes him 'biggest internal threat to national security': expert (Alertnet) 

Trump's Plan to Destroy NATO Would Spark Untold Chaos (American Prospect)

"The biggest internal threat": Trump threatens to pull US out of NATO — again -- Salon  

Update #3: Candidate Trump is not alone .... Ramaswamy considering 'reevaluating' US United Nations membership, scaling back NATO involvement: report (FOX News). More here .... Ramaswamy: U.S. pulling out of NATO is 'reasonable,' as is 'reevaluating' UN membership (Politico).

After Indicting Former President Trump Georgia Grand Jury Wanted To Charge 39 Republicans That Included 3 Senators

The Fulton County Grand Jury went insane -

Voting to indict Lindsey Graham, Michael Flynn, David Perdue, and Kelly Loeffler "with respect to the national effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election"

Perdue and Loeffler (and many others) would have faced RICO charges. pic.twitter.com/Zs9Cegn2VH

— Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) September 8, 2023

Zero Hedge: Georgia Grand Jury "Went Insane", Targeted Lindsey Graham And 38 Others Over J6 

The Georgia grand jury, whose 'lunatic' forewoman came under fire in February after she went on national TV, giddy with excitement, and foreshadowed the coming indictments against former President Donald Trump and 18 other defendants went absolutely insane with indictment recommendations. As it turns out, the grand jury actually recommended charges against 39 people, including two former US senators for Georgia, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, as well as current US Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said called him after the 2020 election to ask if it was possible to invalidate mail-in ballots that violated the state's signature-matching law, and whether political bias may have played a role in counties where poll workers accepted higher rates of mismatched signatures.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: This is what happens when the legal system becomes weaponized. 

After Indicting Former President Trump Georgia Grand Jury Wanted To Charge 39 Republicans That Included 3 US Senators 

Georgia special grand jury recommended charges against 39 people, including Sen. Lindsey Graham -- AP

Fulton County special grand jury recommended charges against Lindsey Graham, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler -- CNN 

Fulton County grand jury recommended charging Lindsey Graham, two ex-senators in 2020 election case -- FOX News  

Georgia panel urged criminal charges against Lindsey Graham and other Trump allies -- Politico 

Georgia grand jury recommended charging three US senators -- BBC  

Georgia special grand jury recommended charges for Sens. Lindsey Graham, David Perdue, Kelly Loeffler -- NYPost

Did The U.S. Justice Department Coordinate With The Biden White House To Indict Former President Trump?

New York Post: Biden staffers met with Special Counsel Jack Smith’s aides before Trump indictment  

The White House counsel’s office met with a top aide to Special Counsel Jack Smith just weeks before he brought charges against former President Trump for allegedly mishandling classified documents — raising serious concerns about coordinated legal efforts aimed at President Biden’s likely opponent in 2024. 

Jay Bratt, who joined the special counsel team in November 2022, shortly after it was formed, took a meeting in the White House on March 31, 2023, with Caroline Saba, deputy chief of staff for the White House counsel’s office, White House visitor logs show. 

They were joined in the 10 a.m. meeting by Danielle Ray, an FBI agent in the Washington field office. Nine weeks later, Trump was indicted by Smith’s office on June 8, 2023.  

Read more .... 

 Update: Weaponized Collusion? Jack Smith's Team Huddled With Biden White House Before Trump Indictment (Zero Hedge)  

WNU Editor: The optics of the White House counsel’s office meeting with a top aide to Special Counsel Jack Smith just weeks before he brought charges against former President Trump are horrible. And the kicker is that the US Justice Department and the White House are not even hiding on how they are coordinating their legal efforts aimed at President Biden’s likely opponent in 2024.

He Is Back!!! Former President Trump Tweets His Mugshot In His First Post Since His January 6 Ban

https://t.co/MlIKklPSJT pic.twitter.com/Mcbf2xozsY

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2023

Daily Mail: Trump TWEETS his historic mugshot in first post since January 6 ban: First US president in history to get a booking photo after Georgia fraud arrest which recorded his weight as 215lbs 

* Trump is the first former president in history to have a mugshot taken, and was pictured scowling inside Fulton County jail: he shared the image on X 

* The 77-year-old businessman was officially booked and fingerprinted by authorities inside the infamous Atlanta jail, and released on $200,000 bail 

Donald Trump has made history by becoming the first former president to pose for a mugshot after his arrest for trying to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia - and he shared the image on X, the platform formally known as Twitter. 

The 77-year-old was arrested for the fourth time this year and fingerprinted by authorities at the Fulton County jail. Unlike with his previous three arrests - in New York City, Miami and Washington DC - on Thursday in Atlanta he had his booking photo taken.  

Read more .... 

 Update: Trump returns to Twitter, under its new moniker X (The Hill)  

WNU Editor: Elon Musk is smiling (link here).

Mug Shot Of Former President Trump Released

WNU Editor: They got their mug shot .... Mug shot of Donald Trump during speedy booking at Atlanta jail shows scowling former president (AP). 

 Update: Former US President Trump responds (see video below). 

Former President Trump And 18 Of His Allies Indicted In Georgia Over 2020 Election Meddling

 

Daily Mail: Trump and 18 co-defendants given until midday next Friday to turn themselves in after being charged with 2020 election interference in Georgia: Ex-president faces 13 charges - including RICO - and 71 years in jail 

* Donald Trump has been indicted by a grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, on charges related to interference in the 2020 election 

* The indictment charges Trump and 18 others - among them Rudy Giuliani, his former personal lawyer, and Mark Meadows, his chief of staff 

* Trump facing three indictments: one, on federal charges relating to election interference; another for classified documents, and one for hush money 

Donald Trump has been indicted in Fulton County, Georgia, for his alleged roles in trying to overturn the 2020 election in the state - a key battleground that helped Joe Biden secure the presidency. 

Fani Willis, the district attorney for Fulton County, Georgia, secured the 41-count indictment from a grand jury on Monday, and told a press conference the indictment alleged 'violations of Georgia law arising from a criminal conspiracy to overturn the results of the election in this state.' 

Trump is accused of being head of 'a criminal organization'.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Any predictions that this new indictment will only increase his poll numbers .... Even After Three Indictments, Trump Support Rises: I&I/TIPP Poll (I&I). 

Former President Trump And 18 Of His Allies Indicted In Georgia Over 2020 Election Meddling  

Read the full 98-page indictment against Trump after ex-president was charged in Georgia for alleged 2020 election interference -- Daily Mail  

Trump, 18 allies indicted in Georgia over 2020 election meddling, the 4th criminal case against him -- AP  

Georgia charges Trump, former advisers in 2020 election case -- Reuters  

Trump charged in Georgia 2020 election probe, his fourth indictment -- Washington Post  

Georgia grand jury hands up 10 indictments in Trump 2020 election investigation -- New York Post  

Georgia grand jury indicts Trump, Giuliani, and others over attempts to overturn the 2020 election results -- Insider  

Trump, Giuliani, Powell, Meadows & 15 Others Indicted On 13 Counts By Atlanta Grand Jury -- Zero Hedge

Former President Trump Pleads Not Guilty To Charges Surrounding 2020 Election Interference

 

Daily Mail: Trump says he's being 'persecuted' for leading polls after pleading not guilty to January 6 charges: 'If you can't beat him, prosecute him' 

* The former president entered a not guilty plea in a federal D.C. courtroom on Thursday afternoon 

* He vented about Biden family 'bribes' as he flew in from Newark, New Jersey 

* Faces four federal charges on alleged plot to overturn the 2020 election 

Donald Trump said he's being 'persecuted' because he's leading in the polls and ripped into the 'filth' in Washington, D.C., after pleading not guilty in a federal court to four criminal charges for his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election. 

 'When you look at what's happening, this is a persecution of a political opponent,' Trump said to reporters without taking questions after arriving at Reagan National Airport following his third arraignment in six months. 

'This was never supposed to happen in America. This is the persecution of the person that's leading by very, very substantial numbers in the Republican primary and leading Biden by a lot. So if you can't beat him, you persecute them or you prosecute him. We can’t let this happen in America.' 

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: No kidding .... Jim Jordan says indictment ‘hardens,’ ‘expands’ support for Trump (The Hill). 

Former President Trump Pleads Not Guilty To Charges Surrounding 2020 Election Interference  

Trump pleads not guilty to federal charges that he tried to overturn the 2020 election -- AP  

Trump pleads not guilty of plotting to overturn election loss -- Reuters  

Trump pleads not guilty to US charges he conspired to overturn 2020 presidential election -- France 24  

Trump pleads not guilty to charges that he conspired to overturn 2020 election -- Politico  

Trump pleads not guilty to Jan. 6 charges -- The Hill  

Trump pleads not guilty to four charges over efforts to overturn 2020 election -- The Guardian  

Donald Trump pleads not guilty to election charges in latest arraignment -- BBC

Former President Trump Indicted (Again) Over 2020 Election

 

CBS News: Trump indicted by grand jury in special counsel Jack Smith's Jan. 6 investigation 

Washington — Former President Donald Trump has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges stemming from his efforts to remain in power after he lost the 2020 presidential election, adding to the former president's ongoing legal troubles as he mounts a third bid for the White House. 

According to the indictment handed up Tuesday by a federal grand jury, Trump faces four charges: conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding; and conspiracy against rights.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Another day, another indictment aimed at keeping former President Trump from running in the 2024 Presidential election, and if he should win, to keep him out of the Oval Office.  

Update: A Democrat appointed judge with a history of throwing January 6 defendants in jail and who has a history of with Trump. A Democrat Washington DC jury pool. Yup. The fix is in .... The judge assigned to Trump’s Jan. 6 case is a tough punisher of Capitol rioters (AP). More here .... Trump’s new judge is a tough Jan. 6 sentencer — and has a history with him (Politico). 

 Former President Trump Indicted (Again) Over 2020 Election  

Trump indicted for efforts to overturn 2020 election and block transfer of power -- AP  

Trump Indicted (Again) For 'Efforts To Overturn 2020 Election'; DeSantis Defends -- Zero Hedge 

Here’s how Trump’s 2024 rivals responded to his third indictment -- Politico  

Trump indictment sets dangerous precedent, says Wall Street Journal editorial board -- The Hill 

Trump Indictments: List of 78 Criminal Charges and Prison Time -- Bloomberg

Former President Trump Faces New Charges in Mar-a-Lago Classified Documents Case

 

Politico: Trump charged with new crimes in classified documents case 

In a revised indictment, prosecutors accused Trump of seeking to erase security camera footage at Mar-a-Lago. 

Special counsel Jack Smith has brought three new felony charges against former President Donald Trump, including explosive claims that he asked an employee of his Mar-a-Lago club to delete security camera footage sought by investigators probing his handling of classified documents. 

In a 60-page superseding indictment unveiled Thursday, prosecutors also accused Trump of possessing a highly classified war plan that he shared with people lacking security clearances months after his presidency ended. 

And prosecutors added a third defendant: Carlos De Oliveira, a worker at Mar-a-Lago who is accused of joining Trump and aide Walt Nauta to seek the destruction of the security footage.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Former President Trump has responded .... Trump reacts to 'abuse' by DOJ: 'This is what you get' for leading the polls (FOX News). 

Former President Trump Faces New Charges in Mar-a-Lago Classified Documents Case  

Donald Trump faces new charges in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case. Here’s what to know -- AP  

Trump faces additional charges in Mar-a-Lago documents case -- NBC 

Trump allegedly attempted to have surveillance video deleted: Special Counsel -- ABC News  

Trump faces more charges in classified documents case as second aide named -- The Guardian

Former President Trump Target For January 6 Committee. Could Face Imminent 'Arrest And Indictment'

 

Politico: Trump says he’s received a target letter from special counsel Jack Smith’s Jan. 6 investigators 

It’s the clearest sign yet that Trump may soon face his third criminal indictment — this time for his effort to subvert the 2020 election results. 

Donald Trump said Tuesday he expects to be indicted by special counsel Jack Smith’s Jan. 6 grand jury, citing a “target letter” he received from investigators on Sunday. 

Such a letter “almost always means an arrest and indictment,” Trump, who has already been criminally indicted twice in recent months, wrote on Truth Social. Read more ....  

Update #1: Trump says he’s been informed he’s target of investigation into efforts to overturn 2020 election (AP)  

Update #2: Trump told by special counsel he is criminal target in Jan. 6 probe (CNBC)  

WNU Editor: These charges are serious. If convicted former President Trump could not only be barred from running, but should he win the Presidential election, he could be barred from assuming office. 

Republicans are responding .... Top Republicans Jump To Trump's Defense Over Imminent 'Arrest And Indictment' (Zero Hedge).

Former President Trump Is Dominating The Republican Primary Race

Twice-indicted Trump dominates GOP race, as support for DeSantis stalls © Cheryl Senter/For The Washington Post  

Washington Post: Twice-indicted Trump dominates GOP race, as support for DeSantis stalls 

CONCORD, N.H. — The primary was effectively over for many voters who came out to hear Donald Trump’s speech at a GOP women’s luncheon this week. “It’s Trump all the way — don’t even ask me about anyone else,” said Suzanne Pesaresi, a 62-year-old office manager. 

Forty miles south, at a town hall with Ron DeSantis, plenty of others were convinced the party should move on from the former president. “I have a non-top choice, and that’s Donald Trump,” declared former Republican state lawmaker Bill Ohm. But like many around him, Ohm wasn’t yet sold on the Florida governor — or anyone else, for that matter. 

“I could vote for DeSantis if nobody else got traction,” said Don Hallenbeck, a business owner who identifies as an independent and plans to vote in the Republican primary. He worries the governor would “have a tough time finding his way back to the middle” in a general election.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Former President Trump is clearly dominating the field .... Trump up 5, DeSantis down 10 in NH after indictment (HotAir), and some Republican leaders are reacting .... Paul Ryan: ‘It Is a Disaster if We Nominate Trump,’ ‘He Could Win’ (Breitbart). 

Sighhh ....  I guess this is why they had to indict him.

World Leaders Are Staying Quiet On The Indictment Of Former President Trump

Former U.S. President Donald Trump gestures during an event following his arraignment on classified document charges, at Trump National Golf Club, in Bedminster, New Jersey, U.S., June 13, 2023. REUTERS  

WNU Editor: The following AP article sums it up perfectly. World leaders know that he may be elected in 2024 .... Everyone’s got something to say about Trump — except world leaders who might have to deal with him (AP).

Half Of Americans In New Poll Say They Believe The Federal Indictment Of Former President Trump Is Politically Motivated

The Hill: Nearly half in new poll say Trump indictment is politically motivated  

Almost half of Americans in a new poll said that they believe the federal indictment of former President Trump is politically motivated after he was charged with 37 counts in relation to the alleged mishandling of records at his Mar-a-Lago estate. 

Forty-seven percent of respondents in the ABC News/Ipsos poll released Sunday say the charges against Trump are politically motivated, while 37 percent say they are not. Sixteen percent say they are not sure. 

Most Republicans — 80 percent — say the charges announced last week are politically motivated, with only 16 percent of Democrats aligning with that view. 

By comparison, 71 percent of Democrats say the charges are not rooted in politics. Only nine percent of Republicans say the same.  

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: Only half?!?!?!? 

The details of the ABC/IPSOS poll are here .... Most Americans view latest Trump charges as serious (IPSOS). 

Update: Lawyer Robert Barnes is right (see tweet below). But that is not the media or political narrative right now.

Any executive branch document created before or during a Presidency is the President's to do with as he pleases. That's the point of The Presidential Records Act. It has to be that way to keep Constitutional power in the hands of the only elected official of the executive branch.…

— Robert Barnes (@barnes_law) June 9, 2023

Former President Trump: "I Have Been Indicted"

 

Daily Mail: Trump faces 100 YEARS behind bars if he's convicted of federal charges - including espionage - over classified documents, as sources claim outraged ex-president was blindsided by indictment 

* Donald Trump on Thursday announced that he was being indicted for his handling of classified documents 

* The charges have not been made public, but Trump's lawyer Jim Trusty told CNN that there were seven charges which 'break out from an Espionage Act charge' 

* ABC News reported that, if convicted of all seven, he could face up to 100 years behind bars: Trump has insisted he is innocent and called it a persecution 

Donald Trump could face 100 years behind bars if he is convicted of all seven charges related to mishandling of classified information, according to a report. 

The 76-year-old on Thursday said he had been told he was being indicted in relation to espionage - the first time in U.S. history that a former president has faced federal charges. 

Trump is facing four separate counts each carrying a potential prison time of 20 years: conspiracy to obstruct justice; withholding a document or record; corruptly concealing a document or record; and concealing a document in a federal investigation.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: President Biden's Department of Justice has now indicted his top political opponent. 

And on the same day that we learn the former President is being indicted, in the noise we are now learning about this .... FBI Document Says Alleged $5 Million To The Vice President Biden Was From Ukrainian Natural Gas Company Burisma To Help End Corruption Investigations.  

Update: Former President Trump has responded (see below). 

 

More News On Former President Trump's Indictment  

Live updates | Trump Classified Documents Indictment -- AP

 Trump faces federal charges in classified documents case -- CBC/Reuters  

Trump indicted on SEVEN charges including violation of the ESPIONAGE ACT over classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago: Angrily proclaims his innocence ahead of Miami courthouse appearance next Tuesday -- Daily Mail  

Trump indicted on seven criminal charges in classified documents case -- CNBC 

Donald Trump indicted in classified documents case -- DW  

Trump: "I Have Been Indicted" -- Zero Hedge  

Trump indicted in classified documents case in a historic first for a former president -- AP 

Here’s what we know about the 7 counts Trump is facing in classified documents indictment -- The Hill  

Here are the charges and how many years Trump faces in federal Mar-a-Lago indictment -- NYPost  

Explainer-What Are the Charges Against Donald Trump in the Classified Documents Case? -- Reuters  

Trump indicted: What to know about the documents case and what’s next -- AP