Speaker Johnson was heckled at Columbia University today as he stood up for Israel. It’s too bad he’s coming off a disastrous performance as Speaker. It would be good to see him go to the US border and demand it be closed‚ but it’s too late for that. We should support all our allies‚ including […] The post Fiery Speech by Speaker Johnson at Columbia University appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

When a political fever runs hot among government officials‚ the Bill of Rights is often one of the first casualties. Few fevers have been as hot as the Democrats’ reaction to January 6. It is no surprise‚ then‚ that the investigation by Democrat Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes‚ like that of the Congressional Select Committee in 2022‚ obliterated a sacred norm. In this case‚ the chalk outline is around the Fifth Amendment. I offer this observation as one who recently was compelled to appear in front of an Arizona state grand jury. The sole purpose is for me to repeat my prior invocation of my 5th Amendment right to remain silent in connection with an investigation into my service as an alternate elector for President Trump in 2020. This follows the shameful spectacle of Congress’ House January 6 Select Committee using footage from its investigatory video depositions to produce a slick TV show in advance of the 2022 elections to publicly shame Republican witnesses who invoked their 5th Amendment rights. The Bill of Rights were inserted into the Constitution to protect our essential rights‚ and the Fourteenth Amendment applies them to the states. The Fifth Amendment contains powerful defenses against abuses of power. It includes the right to be indicted by a grand jury for serious crimes instead of at the whim of a prosecutor‚ prohibits the government from prosecuting someone twice for the same offense‚ guarantees due process when the government tries to take your life‚ freedom‚ or property‚ and requires the government to pay for any property it takes from you. The Fifth Amendment has one more essential protection: the government cannot force you to testify against yourself. Importantly‚ the Supreme Court held in Grunewald v. United States that one of this privilege’s basic functions is to protect innocent men who otherwise might be ensnared by “ambiguous circumstances.” The circumstances involving electors in the immediate aftermath of the 2020 election were indeed “ambiguous.” Alternate electors had been used in Hawaii in 1960‚ and the votes of John F. Kennedy’s alternates were ultimately validated long after the election. The day after the 2020 election‚ liberal commentators Van Jones and Larry Lessig published their opinion on CNN that Biden too should select alternate electors in Pennsylvania because Trump was leading in that state’s ballot count and the Democrats should contest the election. Speaking of ambiguity‚ exactly what crime Attorney General Mayes is investigating was unclear from the face of the subpoena I received: It provided no notice of the authority of the Attorney General to convene this particular grand jury‚ no notice of the topic being investigated or the laws allegedly broken‚ and yet it said that I was a target of the investigation and must testify. Concern that Mayes is overstepping her authority for political gain is not mere speculation. Before her election in 2022‚ she campaigned on her certainty — before her investigation — that Arizona’s alternate electors committed a crime. Recently‚ Mayes declared that Democrat attorneys general such as herself “absolutely have to get President Biden re-elected.” With Arizona’s elections only a few months away‚ consider that Arizona’s investigation is somehow still ongoing nearly three and a half years after the events at issue‚ that other states and the federal government investigated and made their prosecutorial decisions long ago‚ and Mayes transparently told the press last year that‚ with regard to the investigation‚ “We’re going to make sure that we do it on our timetable.” For these reasons‚ though I maintain my innocence of any crime‚ I invoked my 5th Amendment right not to be compelled to testify against myself. Longstanding tradition and practice in both state and federal proceedings provides that once an individual subpoenaed by a grand jury informs the prosecution that the individual intends to assert the Fifth Amendment privilege not to testify‚ the individual is not compelled to appear before a grand jury for the purpose of invoking the privilege. And yet‚ I and other Republican witnesses were paraded in front of the grand jury solely to invoke our rights. This has rightly provoked the ridicule of both prosecutors and defense counsel. There is no substantive evidence in the act of invoking one’s Fifth Amendment rights. To force a witness to do so in front of the grand jury is an improper attempt to bias the grand jury and embarrass the witness. In some jurisdictions like the District of Columbia‚ a lawyer can be disciplined for forcing a witness to appear only to invoke their Fifth Amendment right. The damage Democrats like Kris Mayes are inflicting on the 5th Amendment‚ and especially their normalization of its violation for political gain‚ is shameful and an affront to our Constitution. Repairing this damage must be a priority for Republicans this election year. * * * Jake Hoffman is an Arizona state senator in Arizona’s 15th district.  NOTE: DC Bar Ethics Opinion 31 is found on page 91 of the linked reference. The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire. 

“The Daily Show” took a bite out of President Joe Biden’s recent claim that his uncle Ambrose Finnegan — “Uncle Bosie” — might have been eaten by cannibals after his plane went down during World War II. Biden told the story during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania last week‚ saying that “Uncle Bosie” had been a part of the Army Air Corps in the Pacific when he was “shot down” over Papua New Guinea. “He flew those single-engine planes as reconnaissance over war zones‚ and he got shot down in New Guinea. They never found the body because there used to be‚ there were a lot of cannibals‚ for real‚ in that part of New Guinea‚” Biden said at the time. Both the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape tell different stories‚ however. According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency‚ Finnegan’s plane was not shot down at all‚ but suffered an engine failure and had to ditch over the water. Marape issued a statement after Biden’s comments went viral‚ saying‚ “President Biden’s remarks may have been a slip of the tongue; however‚ my country does not deserve to be labeled as such. World War II was not the doing of my people; however‚ they were needlessly dragged into a conflict that was not their doing.” “The Daily Show” gave Biden’s story a comedic makeover on Tuesday‚ courtesy of Jordan Klepper and Ronny Chieng. WATCH: Daily Show hosts Jordan Klepper and Ronny Chieng mock Biden saying his uncle was eaten by “cannibals.” “You’re going to lose the election.” pic.twitter.com/xj6crKO7KE — Julianna Frieman (@JuliannaFrieman) April 24‚ 2024 The segment began with Chieng noting that the Manhattan hush-money trial of former President Donald Trump left the campaign trail wide open for Biden — and then they cut to Biden’s story about “Uncle Bosie.” “You’re going to lose the election‚” Chieng responded afterward. “Look‚ at some point‚ we all get to an age when we confuse our own life story with the plot of ‘Indiana Jones‚'” Klepper argued. “Even if this story was true‚ Americans are in no position to criticize how anyone else eats‚ okay&;#63; These cannibals eat people … yeah‚ well‚ you know what&;#63; We eat Subway sandwiches to lose weight‚” Chieng riffed. “Would a cannibal even eat people out of a wreckage&;#63;” Klepper wondered. “I mean‚ that’s like their version of eating roadkill … Biden apologized to the Papua New Guinea prime minister by inviting him to a dinner with Pete Buttigieg‚ who will be served over rice with balsamic reductions.”

A group of centrist House Democrats called on President Joe Biden and Congress to take steps toward securing the U.S.-Mexico border on Wednesday. Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA)‚ Jared Golden (D-ME)‚ Mary Peltola (D-AK)‚ Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX)‚ and Don Davis (D-NC) — all of whom have 2024 races rated “toss up” or “lean Democrat‚” according to The Cook Political Report — released a statement after Biden signed a $95 billion foreign aid package into law. “Our national security interests don’t stop at our physical borders. That is why we voted to send more weapons to Ukraine for its fight against Russia‚” they said. “The lesson of Pearl Harbor must not be forgotten: appeasement invites aggression against us. As Speaker [Mike] Johnson stated last week‚ we would rather send ‘bullets than American boys.'” After Biden signs the foreign aid bill‚ a group of centrist House Democrats issues a statement saying he and Congress “must act and bring order to the Southern border.” pic.twitter.com/Z0pZg6XMAa — Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) April 24‚ 2024 Beyond defending U.S. allies‚ the group said they “strongly agree” with the National Border Patrol Council on the view “that Congress and the President must act and bring order to the Southern border.” “That is why we also voted for H.R. 3602 on Saturday‚” they said‚ referring to border security legislation that failed to pass as lawmakers considered a bill series for the foreign aid package‚ “and why we all voted last month for $19.6 billion for Border Patrol so that it could ramp up its efforts to secure the border.” The Democrats said they were “calling today on President Biden to use the authority given the executive by Congress to immediately reimplement” a section of U.S. Code geared toward returning migrants to Mexico pending court proceedings. And they called on leaders in both the House and Senate to “to pass legislation to give Border Patrol back the expulsion authority that expired last year‚ alluding to the pandemic-era Title 42‚ which allowed authorities to quickly turn away migrants at the border on public health grounds. With a presidential election coming up in November‚ border security as well as immigration have become top issues for Americans as the backlog of asylum seekers and migrants living in the U.S. is projected to reach more than 8 million by October. Hardline Republicans who opposed the foreign aid package — which seeks to boost U.S. allies such as Ukraine‚ Israel‚ and Taiwan — lashed out‚ in part‚ because of a dearth of provisions geared toward alleviating the border crisis in the final product. The statement from the House Democrats included a quote that Brandon Judd‚ president of the National Border Patrol Council‚ gave to Fox News last weekend. “We are beyond disappointed that the House would give aid to secure the borders of foreign countries but gave nothing to allow the Border Patrol to secure the safety of the United States‚” Judd said. “There’s nothing more backwards‚” he added‚ “I wouldn’t have even expected taxpayers’ dollars. They could have given us policy‚ and that would have been enough.”

The Arizona state House voted on Wednesday to repeal the 160-year-old abortion ban that is slated to go into effect after the state’s Supreme Court upheld the law that protects unborn babies from nearly all abortions. Three Republicans — Reps. Matt Gress‚ Justin Wilmeth‚ and Tim Dunn — joined with 29 Democrats to advance the legislation in a 32-28 vote‚ AZ Central reported. Republican Rep. Barbara Parker passionately argued for her colleagues to vote against the repeal‚ saying that while critics of the law call it “archaic‚” repealing it would send the state back in time and does not value the life of unborn children. “I can hear their silent screams and with my voice‚ I vote no‚” Parker said. After the repeal passed‚ Rep. Gress moved that the bill be sent to the state Senate and returned unamended so it could go to the Democratic governor’s desk as soon as possible‚ according to AZ Central. House Speaker Ben Toma then removed Gress‚ along with Democratic Rep. Oscar De Los Santos‚ from a key budget committee following the vote. Following the state House’s passage of the repeal‚ the Arizona Senate must act to send the legislation to Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs’ desk. The 1864 abortion ban could go into effect on June 8‚ but if it’s repealed‚ the state will revert to the 15-week limit that was signed by Republican Governor Doug Ducey in 2022‚ CNN reported. The state Senate‚ which is also controlled by Republicans‚ introduced its own bill to repeal the 1864 law last week after two Republicans joined all Democrats to approve a motion introducing the legislation. The Arizona Senate could vote on the repeal as soon as next Wednesday‚ NBC News reported. The state House’s move to repeal the abortion law came after two failed attempts by lawmakers in the body to repeal the 1864 law as Arizona Republicans juggle the contentious issue in a major election year. Arizona’s abortion law has become a national controversy as even former President Donald Trump has urged the state’s lawmakers “to remedy what has happened.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP After the state Supreme Court’s decision to allow the abortion law to go into effect‚ pro-life groups such as Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and LiveAction celebrated the ruling and its protection of unborn children.

Former NFL player Reggie Bush has his Heisman Trophy back following “fundamental changes in college athletics” after he forfeited it 14 years ago due to NCAA sanctions at the time for the University of Southern California. On Wednesday‚ the Heisman Trust officially reinstated the former USC star’s 2005 Heisman Trophy‚ along with sending a replica to USC‚ ESPN reported. Bush will also now be invited to participate in all Heisman Trophy ceremonies starting this year. In 2010‚ Bush gave up his famed trophy due to sanctions against the university‚ which included that Bush had received improper benefits while he was a student-athlete between 2003 and 2005. “Welcome Home&;#33; We are reinstating the 2005 Heisman Trophy to the University of Southern California’s Reggie Bush&;#33;” the post from the official page for the Heisman Trophy read. “In 2005‚ Bush gained more than 2000 yards from scrimmage and scored 18 touchdowns‚” it added. “He received 784 first-place votes‚ the fifth-most in Heisman Trophy history‚ while leading USCFB to a national title berth. Welcome back to the Heisman Family‚ Reggie&;#33;” Welcome Home&;#33; We are reinstating the 2005 Heisman Trophy to the University of Southern California’s @ReggieBush&;#33; In 2005‚ Bush gained more than 2000 yards from scrimmage and scored 18 touchdowns. He received 784 first-place votes‚ the fifth-most in Heisman Trophy history‚ while… pic.twitter.com/34oCD7P8CY — The Heisman Trophy (@HeismanTrophy) April 24‚ 2024 Bush also reacted to the news and told ESPN in a statement‚ “Personally‚ I’m thrilled to reunite with my fellow Heisman winners and be a part of the storied legacy of the Heisman Trophy‚ and I’m honored to return to the Heisman family. I also look forward to working together with the Heisman Trust to advance the values and mission of the organization.” President of the Heisman Trophy Trust‚ Michael Comerford‚ said that “we are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments.” “We considered the enormous changes in college athletics over the last several years in deciding that now is the right time to reinstate the trophy for Reggie‚” he added. “We are so happy to welcome him back.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP The decision from the Heisman Trust came after it said it underwent a “deliberative process” to monitor what it called the “fundamental changes in college athletics” in which rules that have allowed “student athlete compensation” to become “an accepted practice” appear “here to stay‚” ESPN noted. In 2021‚ NCAA rules changed to allow athletes to be compensated for their name‚ image‚ and likeness‚ as previously reported. Following the change in rules‚ professional football players threw their support behind Bush to get his 2005 trophy back. One such athlete was former Texas A&;M star Johnny Manziel. On Wednesday‚ Manziel took to social media and wrote‚ “Thank you to the Heisman Trophy for doing what’s right and welcoming a storied member of our history back into the fold.” “There were many voices throughout this process that stood on the table for Reggie simply because of the kind of human being he is‚” he added. “I look forward to being on that stage with you this December Reggie Bush you deserve it.”

The Biden administration’s former “disinformation czar‚” ousted after an apparent attempt to create an Orwellian ministry of truth within the Department of Defense‚ has launched a new nonprofit that declares criticism of “disinformation researchers” such as herself as a chief threat to the United States of America. “The campaign against counter-disinformation work is the greatest threat to freedom of expression and academic integrity since the McCarthy era‚” Nina Jankowicz said in a press release‚ pledging that her group would not “allow it to continue.” “Once researchers are free to conduct their essential work‚ the American people will gain a better understanding of the nature and severity of the disinformation threats we face‚” she said. “Disinformation knows no political party. Its ultimate victim is our democracy.” The group‚ the American Sunlight Project‚ was announced as a bipartisan advocacy organization founded by Jankowicz that was “launched to expose and oppose efforts to weaponize disinformation in the United States.” “The organization will investigate the networks and money driving disinformation and educate the public about the threats disinformation poses to their daily lives‚” it says. “The first step in the group’s program will involve countering the organized campaign currently challenging the work of disinformation researchers.” The group’s advisory board consists of Katie Harbath‚ a former Facebook executive‚ Emily Horne‚ a former National Security Council official‚ Ineke Mushovic of the gay advocacy group Movement Advancement Project‚ and Ben Wittes of the left-wing Brookings Institution‚ who was once described as the “bard of the deep state.” Carlos &;Aacute;lvarez-Aranyos‚ the group’s co-founder‚ claims that “organized campaigns are preventing us from researching and understanding the threat of disinformation and organization an appropriate national response‚” promising to “break the deadlocks holding us back.” In 2022‚ Jankowicz was appointed by the Department of Homeland Security to lead an ill-fated body called the Disinformation Governance Board. An uproar over civil liberties ensued‚ including from 20 state attorneys general‚ with the Biden administration ultimately scrapping the idea. Jankowicz says the criticism of the board was‚ itself‚ misinformation. Jankowicz had posted bizarre videos of herself singing about “disinformation‚” referring to herself as the “Mary Poppins of disinformation.” You can just call me the Mary Poppins of disinformation 💁🏻‍♀️ https://t.co/eGV9lpctYn pic.twitter.com/WVQFA2bPmq — Nina Jankowicz (@wiczipedia) February 17‚ 2021 “Misinformation” groups often purport to rate news outlets in the name of transparency‚ assign failing ratings to center-right news outlets‚ and then refuse to share their data with journalists who want to check their methodology. In the past‚ they have been subsidized by the government‚ and served to enforce government-sanctioned lines — such as that the coronavirus did not leak out of a Chinese lab — in the media. Anti-“misinformation” efforts often hold only the barest pretext to being anything other than partisan enforcers‚ saying they aim to rescue people from early warning signs that they believe could head down a path to extremes — which often amounts to a belief in center-right ideas — while actively advocating for left-wing falsities such as the New York Times’ debunked 1619 Project. Even as they make a living criticizing others‚ “misinformation researchers” have played the victim as soon as people do not react to their work the way they hoped. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan called the scrapped Disinformation Governance Board an “un-American‚ anti-democratic‚ and a dangerous escalation of the Biden Administration’s embrace of government-endorsed censorship‚” and said Americans should not trust Jankowicz to act “as the Biden Administration’s arbiter of truth.” The new “sunlight” group wrote to the Committee faulting it for releasing excerpts from “misinformation experts” own testimony‚ saying it has made them “targets for harassment.” The group lamented that “dozens of AI-generated images of former President Trump posing with Black voters have circulated online” and said the images “are real‚ present-day threats to American democracy.”