A former deputy director of an election commission in Wisconsin faces years behind bars after she was convicted of election fraud and misconduct earlier this week.A jury took about five hours on Wednesday to find Kimberly Zapata‚ the 47-year-old former deputy director of the Milwaukee Election Commission‚ guilty on all four charges: one count of felony misconduct in public office and three counts of misdemeanor election fraud.According to prosecutors‚ in October 2022‚ Zapata used phony names and Social Security numbers to create three fake members of the military and then requested absentee ballots on their behalf‚ taking advantage of Wisconsin law‚ which does not require service members to register to vote or to provide photo ID when requesting an absentee ballot.After the absentee ballots were approved‚ Zapata apparently had them sent to the home of Republican state Rep. Janel Brandtjen in Menomonee Falls‚ a Milwaukee suburb. Upon receiving the unsolicited ballots‚ Brandtjen notified the authorities‚ and Zapata was later fired.The defense did not dispute those facts but claimed Zapata's motives for requesting the ballots ought to exonerate her. Attorney Daniel Adams claimed Zapata is "a whistleblower" who attempted to expose a serious flaw in state election procedures."She was showing ... the truth with an action — an imperfect action but a truthful action — of what was going on‚" Adams argued in court.Adams also insisted that Zapata intentionally sent the ballots to Brandtjen‚ a Republican who questioned Joe Biden's electoral victory in Wisconsin in 2020‚ because she knew Brandtjen would never actually use them."[Brandtjen] is the most vocal election fraud politician that I know of‚" Zapata said at some point‚ according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel‚ "and I thought that maybe this would make her stop and think and redirect her focus away from these outrageous conspiracy theories to something that's actually real.""She is not a whistleblower‚" countered Assistant District Attorney Matthew Westphal. "She’s not exposing information. She’s committing election fraud. As a society‚ we cannot tolerate people who break the law when there are multiple legitimate means to raise those same concerns."It seems the jury agreed‚ and Zapata now faces up to five years in prison. She and her attorney both declined to comment after the verdict. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A judge recently ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation to hand over the manifesto of the Covenant School shooter amid an ongoing lawsuit filed by local news outlet the Tennessee Star.United States District Judge Aleta Trauger ordered the FBI to turn over the writings of the trans-identifying 28-year-old female who shot and killed three children and three adults at the Christian school in Nashville‚ Tennessee‚ on March 27‚ 2023. The suspect was shot dead at the scene by police. Authorities have repeatedly refused to release the shooter's manifesto to the public‚ prompting state-level lawsuits that are currently tied up in court. Metropolitan Nashville Police seized the writings‚ which included a hand-drawn map of the school‚ from the shooter's vehicle. According to the FBI‚ releasing the documents to the public "could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings." Following the tragedy‚ the Tennessee Star filed a public records request for the writings‚ which the FBI denied. The news outlet responded by filing a federal lawsuit against the agency for the release of the documents.The complaint argued that the manifesto has been kept hidden for "long enough" and that the "public has an urgent right to know why this tragedy happened‚ how future events may be prevented‚ and what policies should be in place to address this and other similar tragedies.""The documents are public record‚ and they should be released. Metro government failed to release them; we asked them nicely. They didn't. They shared those documents with the FBI‚ and we asked them nicely in accordance with the law. When government entities don't comply with the law‚ we have recourse through the courts‚" Michael Leheay with the Tennessee Star stated‚ WZTV reported. "At first‚ I thought we'd be more likely to obtain the documents in state proceedings‚ but there are a number of parties who do not want those documents revealed and have taken legal actions to impede its release‚ and I think that's contrary to the public interest‚" Leheay explained.The FBI attempted to have the case dismissed‚ but Judge Trauger ruled that the bureau failed to support its argument "with sufficient clarity or detail." The judge ordered the agency to turn over the shooter's writings for her review before she would decide whether the documents should be released to the public."The FBI is ORDERED to produce ex parte all documents that are potentially responsive to the defendants' Freedom of Information Act request for in camera review‚ with the exception that‚ based on the plaintiffs' concessions in this litigation‚ the FBI need not produce any documents that could not reasonably be construed to bear on Audrey Hale's motives‚" Trauger wrote her decision.In November‚ "Louder with Crowder" released three pages purportedly from the shooter's manifesto‚ Blaze News previously reported. The pages outlined the shooter's schedule for the day of the attack‚ which she referred to as "death day‚" the leaked manifesto showed."I hope I have a high death count‚" the shooter wrote. "Let massacre begin. … Time2die."One of the released pages included the shooter's hate-fueled ramblings."Kill those kids!!!" it read. "Those crackers going to private fancy schools with those fancy kwakis [sic] + sports backpacks. W/ thier daddies [sic] mustangs + convertables [sic].”"F**k you little s**ts. I wish to shoot you weakass dicks w/ your mop yellow hair‚" she continued. "Wanna kill all you little crackers!!! Bunch of little faggots w/ your white privlages [sic] f**k you faggots."The police department placed seven officers on administrative assignment while it investigated who leaked the photographs of the manifesto to "Louder with Crowder." The MNPD ultimately closed the probe after failing to identify the source of the leak."The investigation‚ led by the police department's Office of Professional Accountability‚ determined that the three cell phone photographs were taken in the immediacy of the moment just after the shooter's journals were discovered in her vehicle. Two detectives assigned to the Specialized Investigations Division took the photos (one detective took two photos‚ the other took one) as part of intelligence gathering to learn more about the shooter and determine whether anyone else was involved with her‚" the department stated.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) tried to corner former Hunter Biden business associate Tony Bobulinski on Wednesday — but it didn't work.At a contentious House Oversight Committee hearing‚ Ocasio-Cortez asked Bobulinski a "simple" question: "Is it your testimony today that you personally witnessed President Joe Biden commit a crime?""Yes‚" Bobulinski responded. "How much time do I have to go through it?"What happened next led to Ocacio-Cortez becoming the target of online mockery‚ for she exposed her own ignorance of the law while trying to score political points.After Bobulinski's affirmation‚ she demanded that he "name" the crimes that he allegedly witnessed President Joe Biden commit. Bobulinski cited the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act‚ the Foreign Agents Registration Act‚ "corruption statutes‚" and conspiracy."What is the crime‚ sir? Specifically?!" Ocasio-Cortez demanded."You ask me to answer the question. I answered the question‚" Bobulinski responded. "RICO — you're obviously not familiar with — corruption statutes‚ FARA —""Excuse me‚ sir!" Ocasio-Cortez interjected. "RICO is not a crime. It is a category. What is the crime?"Despite her condescending posture‚ Bobulinski informed Ocasio-Cortez that RICO is a "category of crimes" and asked if she wanted him to list the specific statutes he believes Biden broke. When Ocasio-Cortez said yes‚ Bobulinski tried — though he explained it was unnecessary because most of the lawmakers at the hearing are lawyers — but Ocasio-Cortez cut him off. MUST WATCH: AOC And Ex-Hunter Biden Partner Tony Bobulinski Have Explosive Clash In Oversight www.youtube.com Unfortunately for Ocasio-Cortez‚ she is mostly wrong. While the acronym "RICO" is not a crime per se‚ the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act is a federal statute codified in Title 18 of the U.S. Criminal Code with all other criminal law and criminal procedure. "This is bizarre. RICO — the Racketeer Influenced &; Corrupt Organizations Act‚ 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961–1968 — is most assuredly a crime. It often results in massive felony sentences‚" explained Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)‚ an experienced lawyer.As Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) concluded‚ "Someone needs to remind the Left‚ just because you are loud‚ does not mean you are right."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Comedian and writer Dana Carvey apologized to Sharon Stone for an old "Saturday Night Live" sketch that had the actress removing her clothes at an airport security checkpoint.A 1992 sketch called the "Airport Security Check" featured a star-studded cast of airport security guards that continuously asked a traveler (Stone) to remove her clothes under the guise that she might be carrying something illegal.Kevin Nealon‚ Rob Schneider‚ Phil Hartman‚ Chris Farley‚ and Tim Meadows all made appearances in the sketch‚ as did Carvey. Carvey portrayed an Indian man."The comedy that we did in 1992 with Sharon Stone‚ we would be literally arrested now so‚ she was a good sport about it‚" Carvey laughed as he began to explain. "I want to apologize publicly for the security check sketch where I played an Indian man‚ and we’re convincing Sharon‚ her character‚ or whatever — to take her clothes off to go through the security thing‚" Carvey said on the "Fly on the Wall" podcast."It’s so 1992‚ you know‚ it’s from another era‚" Carvey continued‚ with cohost David Spade jokingly adding that the sketch was "so offensive."Stone‚ however‚ wasn't nearly as offended as Carvey appeared to be on her behalf."I know the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony. And I think that we were all committing misdemeanors [back then] because we didn’t think there was something wrong then. We didn’t have this sense. I had much bigger problems than that‚ you know what I mean?" she explained."That was funny to me. I didn't care. I was fine being the butt of the joke."Stone then commented on the over-sensitivity in audiences who have spent "too much time alone.""We're in such a weird and precious time where because people have spent too much time alone. People don't know how to be funny and intimate and/or any of these things with each other. Everybody's so afraid that they're putting up such barriers around everything that people can't be normal with each other anymore. It's lost all sense of reason."Carvey‚ responding to Stone's thoughts on what may be too controversial for television‚ said that he has a tendency to "self-censor‚" and as a comedian speaking with his friends‚ he has thought‚ "Oh‚ you can't say that or you can't say that or you can't do that. You just automatically get into that zone where you know."The comedian went on to say he meant no offense with his Indian character."When I was doing the Indian character — and I actually have an Indian cardiologist who's famous and whenever I do events for him he wants me to do [an impression of] him — there was no malice in it‚ there was no sense ... it was really me rhythmically trying to get laughs."The same episode of "Saturday Night Live" was controversial for a completely separate reason‚ Stone explained.The actress said she was terrified during the live taping after protesters stormed the stage right before her monologue. Six men were allegedly arrested from the incident‚ Variety reported.Stone recalled that Executive Producer Lorne Michaels saved her life from the activists."I came out to do the monologue live‚ which is super scary‚ and a bunch of people started storming the stage saying they were going to kill me during the opening monologue‚" Stone described. "The security that was in there froze because they never had seen anything like that happen. Lorne started screaming at [security]. ... So all these people were getting beat up and handcuffed in front of me as we went live."According to Stone‚ protesters were upset with her work as an AIDS activist and believed the organization she was working with was anti-gay. "Instead of waiting for an intelligent‚ informative conversation they thought‚ 'Oh‚ let’s just kill her‚'" she said."I was so not prepared‚" Stone added. "I was just terrified. I honestly blacked out for half of the show."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is well aware of the challenges facing America‚ and after an unexpected exchange‚ he’s left Glenn Beck with some concerning insights to chew on. “He didn’t give me calming advice‚” Glenn tells Stu Burguiere‚ relaying that Paxton told him‚ “If you don’t have a rule of law‚ if you have a court system or a country that says you cannot protect your own people‚ then you don’t have a constitutional republic any more.” “And we’re back to the Declaration of Independence and requiring people to stand up for it‚” Glenn says.“I walked away from that interview feeling as though that was a historic comment.” That comment being that Texans are being told they’ll have to stand up for the Declaration of Independence. “That shows we are way down the road‚ way down the road in unsafe territories‚” Glenn says. While both Glenn and Stu don’t believe that Paxton was forewarning of civil war‚ they are concerned by his comments. “I don’t think Ken Paxton is calling for something like that‚” Stu tells Glenn.“He mentioned just standing up and fighting. Look‚ we all stand up‚ stand up every day to argue on behalf of the Declaration of Independence in the Constitution.” However‚ Stu says‚ it’s “just a couple of people really standing in the way now of losing our republic.” “The Constitution is hanging by a thread‚ and we’re in a scissors factory. And the guy rushing to save it is Edward Scissorhands‚” Glenn says.“We’re not really in a stable place.” To learn more‚ watch the clip below. Want more from Stu?To enjoy more of Stu's lethal wit‚ wisdom‚ and mockery‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

Haiti's implosion was years in the making. The country's president was assassinated on July 7‚ 2021. The next month‚ the island was rocked by a devastating earthquake‚ which killed more than 2‚200 people. In the years since‚ the island nation has been gripped by a nightmarish confluence of crime and bloodshed. While NBC News recently reassured its audience that the cannibal gangsters of yesteryear are not presently prowling the body-strewn streets of Port-au-Prince looking for their next meal‚ criminals have nevertheless taken over the country's capital‚ freed thousands of felons from jail‚ engaged in systematic rape‚ forced the prime minister to resign‚ and threatened genocide. Recent news of both a Haitian illegal alien's alleged rape of a girl in Massachusetts and the attempt by a boat containing Haitian migrants and guns to reach Florida shores appears to indicate the failed nation has begun to export its problems. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has made clear he won't tolerate this risk to his state. DeSantis reiterated last week‚ "In Florida‚ we do not tolerate illegal immigration‚ let alone lawlessness committed by illegal aliens who shouldn't be here in the first place." In addition to deploying more soldiers to protect the coastline‚ the Republican leader has indicated he'll bus the Haitian arrivals who managed to steal into the country over to Martha's Vineyard. After all‚ the elite liberal enclave is home to at least three towns that have adopted sanctuary policies in recent years. Armed invaders The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission revealed last week that a pair of officers conducting nighttime water-based patrol near Sebastien Inlet on Feb. 29 stopped a 42-foot boat containing dozens of Haitian migrants along with weaponry. "In their boat‚ in their vessel‚ they had firearms‚ they had guns‚ they had night vision gear and were boating very recklessly‚ which would potentially endanger other folks‚" the governor told reporters during a March 15 press conference. Two among the 25 individuals aboard the boat were American citizens‚ both of whom were turned over to the Brevard County Sheriff's Office. DeSantis indicated the the Haitian migrants were turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard for deportation. Bolstering defenses Prior to publicly acknowledging the Feb. 29 incident‚ DeSantis announced that in anticipation of a flood of illegal aliens from Haiti‚ he had ordered additional state assets to the Florida Keys and the Sunshine State's southern waters. "For quite some time‚ the State of Florida has been dedicating significant resources to combat illegal vessels coming to Florida from countries such as Haiti‚" said the governor. "Given the circumstances in Haiti‚ I have directed the Division of Emergency Management‚ the Florida State Guard‚ and state law enforcement agencies to deploy over 250 additional officers and soldiers and over a dozen air and sea craft to the southern coast of Florida to protect our state." While the state already has a security presence in the area as part of Operation Vigilant Sentry‚ DeSantis' March 13 directive is sending additional personnel and assets to the area‚ including 39 additional officers from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; 23 additional officers and eight seacraft from the FFWC; 48 additional soldiers and four more helicopters from the Florida National Guard; and 30 additional officers from the Florida Highway Patrol along with more drones and aircraft. In addition to these reinforcements‚ the state will send up to 133 soldiers from the Florida State Guard to protect the Keys. Days after issuing his directive‚ DeSantis ratified a triad of bills to make it more difficult for illegal aliens to get around the state: House Bill 1589‚ which increases penalties on individuals who operate a vehicle without a license; House Bill 1451‚ which prevents counties and cities from accepting identification cards issued to illegal aliens by other jurisdictions; and SB 1036‚ which enhances penalties for a crime committed by an illegal alien who was previously deported. Giving sanctuaries what they asked for In recent years‚ Texas‚ Florida‚ and other border states have sent illegal aliens packing to those Democrat-run municipalities that have branded themselves sanctuaries for those who would flout the laws of the land. This campaign has been greatly successful‚ not only in giving northern cities a taste of what border states have long had to deal with‚ but in proving leftists' sanctuary rhetoric hollow. New York City Mayor Eric Adams‚ for instance‚ called last month for changes to the city's "sanctuary" policy. Chicago recently began evicting illegal aliens from its overwhelmed shelters. DeSantis told conservative radio host Dana Loesch this week that the Sunshine State may begin busing illegal aliens from Haiti to Martha's Vineyard. The Republican governor bused around 50 illegal aliens to Martha's Vineyard in 2022. The liberal enclave was quick to get rid of the migrants‚ who were whisked to a military base shortly after their arrival. The governor told Loesch that if Haitians manage to get into Florida‚ the Sunshine State can't simply fly them back to Haiti "because the federal government is going to tell the host countries not to accept our planes." "We really have to get them before they reach the shores‚ which is why we're working so hard to do that‚" said DeSantis. "Although I will say this‚ we do have our transport program‚ also‚ that's going to be operational. So‚ Haitians land in the Florida Keys‚ their next stop very well might be Martha's Vineyard." \ud83d\udea8 BREAKING\ud83d\udea8\n\n"Haitians land in Florida Keys‚ their next stop very well be Martha's Vineyard" ~ @RonDeSantis \n\n #DanaRadio\n\nPodcast: https://t.co/HHFoIyoQxb — (@) Massachusetts — which has effectively been a sanctuary state since 2017 — is already overwhelmed by illegal aliens‚ and it's proving to be exceptionally costly. Democratic Gov. Maura Healey's finance and housing secretaries indicated in December that the projected cost of sheltering migrants in fiscal year 2025 will be an estimated $915 million. DeSantis also told Loesch that Florida will not be welcoming prospective waves of migrants from Haiti. "I've got to defend my state‚" said the governor. "I've got enough issues just dealing with people fleeing from blue states moving into Florida." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

In Episode 341 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger grab a drink at the Captain’s Well in Amesbury‚ Massachusetts. In 1792‚ future Captain Valentine Bagley was marooned in a desolate part of Arabia. Out of his ship’s crew of 25‚ only eight survived the ordeal. Bagley swore to God if he should live‚ he would go home and dig a well for all so no one will suffer thirst like he did. BECOME A LEGENDARY PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/NewEnglandLegends CREDITS: Produced and hosted by: Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger Edited by: Ray Auger Theme Music by: John Judd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST FOR FREE: Apple Podcasts/iTunes | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Pandora | Amazon Podcasts | TuneIn | iHeartRadio JOIN OUR SUPER-SECRET: New England Legends Facebook Group

In this guide‚ we'll show you how to fit a fill port to your PC water cooling system. While filling a reservoir isn't hard‚ doing it in close proximity to your hardware‚ or with your PC powered on‚ can be hazardous‚ as well as inconvenient. Installing a fill port is simple‚ plus the port itself will only cost you a few bucks. Even after you’ve filled the reservoir and primed your loop‚ air bubbles can take hours or even days to work their way to the reservoir where they’re trapped‚ eventually resulting in the coolant level dropping. If you're planning to water cool your PC‚ a fill port makes filling your reservoir much easier. Any spills will then happen away from your components‚ and you won’t even need to remove your case’s side panel. Continue reading How to add a fill port to your PC water cooling system MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card‚ Best gaming PC‚ Best SSD for gaming

Using iron piping‚ aluminium sheets and some genuine 1940s electrical components‚ PC modder Dante Mutti created this stunning retro-industrial gaming PC build‚ called Hydropower. Thanks to our rapidly growing PC building Facebook page‚ we’ve seen many custom gaming PCs‚ from mods based on existing case designs to scratch PC builds. You can even submit yours for consideration right here. Here we chat to Dante about how he built this wonderful steampunk gaming PC. Continue reading Check out this steampunk gaming PC with dials and iron piping MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card‚ Best gaming PC‚ Best SSD for gaming

If there's one thing I find so interesting in videogames‚ it's when faith and religious ideology melds with ultra-futuristic science fiction. As someone who adores the Warhammer 40k universe in all its grimdark glory‚ the premise of Trialforge's upcoming soulslike game‚ Deathbound‚ is absolutely perfect - and that's before you throw in a party system that's reminiscent of Baldur's Gate 3 and my all time favorite fantasy series‚ Dragon Age. Continue reading Stunning soulslike with Baldur’s Gate 3 twist gets shiny new demo MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPGs‚ Best soulslikes‚ Best upcoming games