Criminal law, Lawyering

Michael Cohen Turns Against Letitia James and Alvin Bragg
C-Span/YouTube Screenshot

Michael Cohen is back.

The disbarred lawyer has spent a lifetime marketing his curious skill set: a moral and ethical flexibility that allows him to do things that others would find revolting.  A legal thug who threatened students, journalists, and others on behalf of his former client. He then turned against Trump to cut a deal for himself after being criminally charged for fraudulent conduct. He has now turned against the New York prosecutors who sought to rehabilitate him to prosecute Trump. Continue reading “Michael Cohen Turns Against Letitia James and Alvin Bragg” →

Events, Travel Blog

The Valentine: The Museum Built By Meat Juice and Lovingly Preserved By Generations of Richmonders

Yesterday, I had the great pleasure of speaking at the Valentine Museum and the Library of Virginia on free speech and my forthcoming book for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, “Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution.”  It was a great event, and I appreciate everyone who came out on a frigid Friday to join me. I wanted to share a few images from the museum itself, which is a true gem in the middle of Richmond, Virginia. Continue reading “The Valentine: The Museum Built By Meat Juice and Lovingly Preserved By Generations of Richmonders” →

Congress, Criminal law

Democrats Fight to Keep the Insurrection Myth Alive in the New J6 Committee

The new J6 Committee has started its hearings and, unlike the prior Committee, Republicans have allowed Democrats to select members to sit in opposition. That has led to sharp exchanges, but one of the more interesting occurred between Rep. Harriet Hageman (R., Wyo.) and Jamie Raskin (D., Md.). After Hageman got a witness to admit that no one was charged with incitement, Raskin made the clearly false statement that a few defendants charged with seditious conspiracy was the same thing as incitement. It is not. Continue reading “Democrats Fight to Keep the Insurrection Myth Alive in the New J6 Committee” →

Academia, Politics

Yale Achieves Academic Nirvana: Study Cannot Find A Single Republican Donor on the Faculty

Yale University has finally achieved the academic version of Nirvana, a state of perfect peace and enlightenment. A recent study found that the faculty had finally purged every Republican donor from its ranks. While 98 percent of the political donations went to Democrats, not a single professor could be found who gave to a single Republican candidate. The complete lock for Democrats is in a country that is split evenly between Republicans and Democrats. Continue reading “Yale Achieves Academic Nirvana: Study Cannot Find A Single Republican Donor on the Faculty” →

Columns, Congress, Courts, Criminal law, Politics

“Now is That Time”: Clintons Defy Congressional Subpeona and Trigger Contempt Proceedings

Woody Allen famously said, “80% of success in life is just showing up.” When it comes to Bill and Hillary Clinton and possible congressional contempt, it may be 100%. The two politicians have decided to defy lawful subpoenas issued by the House. For the House Oversight Committee, now is also the time for contempt proceedings. Continue reading ““Now is That Time”: Clintons Defy Congressional Subpeona and Trigger Contempt Proceedings” →

Constitutional Law, Courts, Politics

Minnesota Files Meritless Lawsuit to Stop Increase in Fraud Investigation and Immigration Enforcement

Yesterday, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, on behalf of the state and alongside the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, filed a federal lawsuit that is most notable in the absence of any intelligible legal principle. The effort to stop the surge of federal personnel to investigate fraud and enforce immigration is breathtakingly frivolous and farcical. Continue reading “Minnesota Files Meritless Lawsuit to Stop Increase in Fraud Investigation and Immigration Enforcement” →

Criminal law, Media, Politics

Murder, She Wrote: CBS Reporter Declares Good Shooting to be “Murder” by ICE

CBS News has made great strides under Bari Weiss, but clearly there remains work to be done. On Monday’s “CBS Evening News,” CBS News Homeland Security and Justice Correspondent Nicole Sganga declared that the video released by DHS shows “the minutes leading up to the murder of Renee Good.” It is an all-too-familiar pattern in which the mainstream media aligns its reporting with the advocacy of groups on the left. As I have written, one can certainly disagree with the necessity of using lethal force in this instance, but it fell well within the established guidelines for the use of such force set by the Supreme Court and lower courts. Continue reading “Murder, She Wrote: CBS Reporter Declares Good Shooting to be “Murder” by ICE” →

Columns, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Politics, Supreme Court

The ICE Elephant: Why the Law Requires All the Facts

Below is my column in The Hill on the refusal of many to consider all of the facts in the shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis. The myopic analysis of press and pundits shows how the tragedy is being weaponized for political purposes.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “The ICE Elephant: Why the Law Requires All the Facts” →

Columns, Criminal law, Media, Politics

Going Full Spartacus: Democrats Hold Chest-Thumping Press Conferences to Fuel Anti-ICE Rage

Below is my column on Fox.com on Democratic leaders rushing to outdo each other to ride the rage in the aftermath of the shooting of Renee Good. They are promising everything from arresting ICE officers to defunding the entire agency to stripping officers of their immunity. They are the latest “I am Spartacus” moments and it is playing well to their political base.

Here is the column: Continue reading “Going Full Spartacus: Democrats Hold Chest-Thumping Press Conferences to Fuel Anti-ICE Rage” →

Academia, Criminal law, Free Speech

Stanford Students Defiant As They Stand Trial for Anti-Israel Property Damage

The five Stanford students accused of vandalism in the 2024 anti-Israel protests are finally being tried for the property damage. No comment more summed up the mentality on many of our campuses than that of German Gonzalez, who declared, “It is ridiculous for me or for any of us co-defendants to be accused of property damage.” There remains a sense of license to commit crimes. Continue reading “Stanford Students Defiant As They Stand Trial for Anti-Israel Property Damage” →

Criminal law

“It Saddens Me”: Portland Police Chief Cries in Press Conference After Confirming ICE Account

In Portland, protests have raged after the shooting of two suspects being pursued by ICE officers. Media accounts immediately portrayed the shooting as excessive force on a Hispanic couple in their car. Later, Portland Police Chief Bob Day admitted that they withheld the suspected gang associations of the couple despite the early misleading accounts. Wiping away tears, Day said that he did not want to contribute to the “injustice.” Continue reading ““It Saddens Me”: Portland Police Chief Cries in Press Conference After Confirming ICE Account” →

Congress, Free Speech

Former Special Counsel Jack Smith Confirms his Utter Contempt for the First Amendment Before Congress

For years, some of us have argued that President Donald Trump’s January 6th speech was protected under the First Amendment and that any prosecution would collapse under governing precedent, including Brandenburg v. Ohio.  I was regularly attacked as an apologist for my criticism of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s “war on free speech.” I wrote about his history of ignoring such constitutional protections in his efforts to prosecute targets at any cost. I also wrote how Smith’s second indictment (which the Post supported) was a direct assault on the First Amendment. Now, years later, the Washington Post has acknowledged that Trump’s speech was protected and that Smith “would have blown a hole in the First Amendment.” Continue reading “Former Special Counsel Jack Smith Confirms his Utter Contempt for the First Amendment Before Congress” →

Politics

“The Giant Sucking Sound”: The Exodus from California Continues for Taxpayers and Businesses

During the 1992 Presidential Debate, independent candidate Ross Perot famously warned that “there will be a giant sucking sound going south” due to the cheaper Mexican labor and lower regulatory demands on businesses. That sound is being heard again, but this time it is coming from California, which is virtually chasing taxpayers and companies out of the state with a massive state deficit, rising taxes, crippling regulations, and wasteful programs. Continue reading ““The Giant Sucking Sound”: The Exodus from California Continues for Taxpayers and Businesses” →

Columns, Congress, Criminal law, Media, Politics

“It was an Outright Murder.” Democratic Politicians Pander to the Mob on ICE Shooting

Below is my column on Fox.com on Democratic politicians and pundits immediately declaring that the ICE officer in Minneapolis is a murderer. There is a method to this madness for politicians such as Rep. Dan Goldman (D., N.Y.) who are facing primary challenges from the far left. He and others sit like Madam Defarge, simply knitting the names of expendable officers to fuel the mob.

Here is the column: Continue reading ““It was an Outright Murder.” Democratic Politicians Pander to the Mob on ICE Shooting” →

Columns, Politics

Mamdani and Other Socialists Tout South Africa and Cuba as Models for Good Government

Below is my column in the New York Post on the bizarre effort of Democratic Socialist leaders to herald South Africa and Cuba as models for the United States to emulate. They have apparently replaced Venezuela as examples of the workers’ paradise that can be found through collectivism.

Here is the column:
Continue reading “Mamdani and Other Socialists Tout South Africa and Cuba as Models for Good Government” →

Res ipsa loquitur – The thing itself speaks