Podcast Summary
Testimony from Attorney Robert Costello Delays Manhattan Grand Jury: Former President Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen's case against him is facing doubts due to damaging testimony from attorney Robert Costello.
The Manhattan grand jury considering charges against former President Donald Trump has been delayed due to potentially case-altering testimony from attorney Robert Costello. Costello, who is not Trump's lawyer, testified before the grand jury about Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, and his role in the Stormy Daniels hush money case. The testimony reportedly seriously damaged the prosecution's star witness, raising doubts about the case's strength. Meanwhile, a football coach who lost his job for praying after games won a 7 figure settlement in a religious freedom case. Inflation and rising interest rates continue to impact the economy, with long-term bonds diminishing in value and crippling banks. Diversifying savings into precious metals like gold is advised in this volatile market. The GOP led committee on the weaponization of the federal government released a report on the government's use of counterterrorism resources against parents. The committee asked if there was a connection between a school board letter and a memo regarding school board issues. Stay tuned for more news and developments on these stories.
Testimony from Michael Cohen's Attorney Challenges Cohen's Credibility: Michael Cohen's attorney, Robert Costello, testified against Cohen's claims, describing a meeting regarding a hush money payment and expressing frustration over limited evidence presented to the grand jury, while no indictment against Trump has been made yet.
Michael Cohen's attorney, Robert Costello, testified for two hours on Monday, attacking Cohen's credibility and describing a meeting regarding the Stormy Daniels hush money payment. Cohen allegedly took out a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) loan to facilitate the $130,000 payment, but only six of the related emails were presented to the grand jury. Despite this, there is still no indictment against Trump, and the process seems delayed from the original timeline. Costello expressed frustration over the limited evidence presented to the jury. Trump had speculated an arrest on Tuesday, but nothing materialized, and the earliest an indictment could come down is later that day. The grand jury did not meet on Wednesday as expected. Legal experts are watching closely for any developments in this ongoing investigation.
Impact of Bob Costello's testimony on Trump investigation: Former Trump Organization exec's testimony may lead to dismissal of case or absence of key witness due to ethical concerns
The testimony of Bob Costello, a former Trump Organization executive, in the ongoing criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump's business dealings, has significantly impacted the case. According to legal experts Alan Dershowitz and John Sale, Bragg now faces two possible outcomes: either proceed without Cohen as a witness due to the ethical implications of his testimony or consider dropping the case entirely. Trump himself has weighed in, praising Costello's testimony and criticizing Bragg for pressing forward despite the lack of clear evidence. The implications of this development remain to be seen, but it's clear that the case against Trump has taken a significant turn.
Biden White House, NSBA collaborate on pressuring DOJ to investigate parents: The Biden White House and National School Board Association coordinated efforts to pressure the DOJ to investigate parents expressing concerns at school board meetings, raising concerns about due process and potential unwarranted investigations.
The Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government has revealed significant coordination between the Biden White House and the National School Board Association (NSBA) to pressure the Department of Justice (DOJ) into investigating parents for expressing concerns at school board meetings. The interim report indicates that the NSBA collaborated with the Biden administration on a letter to the White House, which was then forwarded to the DOJ. This close collaboration between interested parties raises concerns about due process and the potential for unwarranted investigations. Merrick Garland, the Attorney General, has not shown any signs of walking back efforts to target parents, leading to frustration and comparisons to authoritarian regimes. The question remains whether the DOJ's national security vision is necessary for maintaining local school board safety when parents are not domestic terrorists.
NSBA letter raises concerns about parents' rights and national security definition: The NSBA letter's characterization of parents as domestic terrorists and the subsequent investigation into the Biden administration's collaboration highlight the importance of protecting parents' voices and upholding individual freedoms, including the First Amendment.
The National Security Division's involvement in the NSBA letter to the White House, which demonized parents as domestic terrorists, raises concerns about an expansive definition of national security and potential infringement on parents' rights. This comes as parents are increasingly questioning what their children are learning in schools and challenging the education bureaucracy through actions like running for local school boards and advocating for school choice. The parents' activism has led to a subcommittee investigation into the NSBA and Biden administration's collaboration. The subcommittee can help protect parents' voices, but it's the parents, not elected officials, who are leading this fight. Meanwhile, a coach who was fired for praying after football games won a Supreme Court case, highlighting the importance of individual freedoms and the First Amendment for all Americans.
Supreme Court Rules for Coach in Prayer Case: The Supreme Court upheld a coach's right to pray at the 50-yard line after games, ruling it was a private expression not endorsing or coercing students.
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of a high school football coach who had been suspended for leading post-game prayers on the 50-yard line. The case, which began in 2015, saw the coach's prayers grow in attendance and concern from the school district over potential lawsuits and perceived favoritism. After being placed on administrative leave and not having his contract renewed, the coach sued, arguing his prayers were protected under the First Amendment. The case went through several appeals before the Supreme Court finally heard it in 2020. In their ruling, the Court determined that the coach's private religious expression did not constitute government coercion and that the school's actions against him were a violation of his constitutional rights. Since the ruling, the coach has been ordered to be reinstated and the school district prohibited from retaliating against him for his prayers that comply with the Supreme Court's ruling.
Kennedy Coaching Case Settlement: Mixed Community Reaction: A $1.7M settlement was reached in the Kennedy coaching case, stirring controversy over church-state separation and educational resources.
The Kennedy coaching case at Bremerton School District has resulted in a $1,700,000 settlement, with Kennedy set to return when the football season starts. The community reaction has been mixed, with some residents supporting Kennedy and others expressing concerns over the separation of church and state and the substantial cost of the settlement. At a recent school board meeting, parents and students expressed frustration over the lack of clarity on how the settlement would be funded and its potential impact on educational resources. The school board has yet to address these concerns. This case carries significant religious liberty implications.
